001All right. Good evening. Time is 5:00 p.m. It's Wednesday, April 8th, 2026. [snorts] This is a special meeting workshop of the Argyle ISD Board of Trustees. At this time, we will determine if a quorum is present. Leona McDavid present. >> Josh Western present. >> Rich McDowell present. >> Leanne Ortho present. Matt Slayton present. Craig Horton present. >> Yes. And as everyone is present, we do have a quorum established. It is now 5:01 p.m. and under the authority of the Texas Government Code 551 Subchapter D, the board will now go into closed session to go over 551.074 personnel matters and public officers, 551.071 consultation with attorney, 551.0821 personnel personally identifiable student information, and 551.072 deliberation regarding real property. >> Mhm. >> All right. Good evening. Time is 6:06 p.m. We have returned from executive session. At
002this time we will have the pledges of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. Mr. Hawksworth, I believe you requested you do the opening prayer this evening. Go ahead and give us to >> Absolutely. Thank you. Dear Lord, thank you for all you do for us each and every day. Thank you for all the educators and students and staff and everybody in this district. Please be with us tonight as we discuss the future, do things that honor you and then honor the students and staff. We love you, Lord. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Mr.
003Hawksworth. I did not have anyone sign up. All right. We can now move into our workshop. All right. And Stuart, you can forget some. And we are staying here since it's live streaming with action items instead of moving back and forth, so. Sounds great. Thank you. All right. Good evening. So tonight the combination workshop for construction and budget. So I'm going to open it with just a couple of slides and then we're going to turn it over to construction first. Both Jeff and Rolla are here for construction. Jeff will be presenting and then Rolla's here if you have any questions over the 25 bond projects as we go and then we will get into the budget portion. So just quick overview of what we're talking about in construction are 2017 remaining bond funds, the 2022
004projects, configuration decision that's on for later tonight, the 25 projects that are in planning and some construction this summer. On budget we're talking about some legislative impacts that we talked about last meeting or last workshop. We've got some updates on that and some different changes with the law on taxes. Talking about an early look at a balanced budget and some some variables that will come along the way. Okay, so we're going to start with construction first in this part of the meeting. We'll let Jeff start there. Good evening. >> Good evening. So just uh to expand on that quick overview, 2017 bond funds almost 2. uh 2.2 million nearly remaining funds, so we're looking to get some direction on on what we do with those interest earnings. It is all interest earnings from the bond.
005All of the actual bond dollars have been used. Uh and then some potential uses of those remaining funds with your approval. One of those would be some FF&E dollars for the Legacy High School, which wasn't considered when the bond was put together. As that becomes a high school, there'll be some needs there and that's one of the possible uses of those funds with your approval. We're not seeking that approval tonight, but that's just something to think about. We need to to make that decision so we can get that those bonds closed. Okay. Uh here we've got a snapshot of where we stand on our 22 bond proposition A. Um so we've got our different issues uh listed at the top with the amounts. We've got our total interest earned to date, uh almost 15.5 million
006showing there. And then below we've listed the projects. You can see original budget, current budgets, what we spent to date, and then what is remaining. Uh so for example, elementary four, uh that project is closed, so that is the under on that total project, the 1.7 million. The other ones, [snorts] of course, still all in progress. So those numbers uh will still be subject to change. Um but what you can see down at the bottom, uh when you look at the total proposition A, 2.36 million or 236 million is our current budget. And uh with our interest factored in there, um we've got a total of 236 .5 million. So we're actually approaching uh a zero position. You know, we had some overages on elementary four, elementary five. Uh we pulled back middle school number
007two's design. And so we're approaching that zero where 22 bond funds with interest will be able to pay for the 22 bond projects. Yeah. So on element just elementary four, we have 1.7 million remaining of unspent bond funds? From from the current budget. So so we had the original budget 39 million construction was over, which drove that budget to the 48 million. Uh but then we've actually only spent 46 of that projection. So that would be, you know, savings on construction. It would be we came under probably on some architectural costs, FF&E probably came in under what we needed. >> would have done all the close out on that though where they gave us the We've We've closed out the contract on that one. They've returned >> 300,000. >> I think that's right, 300 some
008odd thousand on that one for construction. So what was allocated with the increased construction cost, we are under what that projection was essentially. So Does that Does that include the extra money from the 2025 bond? It does not. It does not. >> That's That's what I'm saying. With the interest that we've earning with these higher rates of return, the 22 fund will be able to pay for all of the 22 projects without having to use those dollars that we thought we needed and that's why they went into the 25 bond. >> Okay. Hold on. So you So what if our my recollection is correct, the 20 five bond had 15 million or something in it I believe it was 15 million. >> the deficit of five elementary five. >> For five, that's correct. >> saying
009based on coming in under budget, unused bond funds, uh higher interest rates, we may not we may be able to actually complete five with those funds. With the 22 bond funds. Consider It's It's the interest. I mean, $15 worth of interest goes a long way. So Good. It's all good news, I guess. It is good news. Yeah. Awesome. All right. Um here's our proposition B and C. Again, same thing. Um Here we've actually been uh to the good on both of these projects uh already as far as dollar-wise, we're going to be under uh what we had in the bond plus interest earned on those. So our 22 bond, um these are our current projections. Um so I try to project where we're going to be at final completion of construction. Um so with some
010of that factored in, it looks like we're going to uh be finishing proposition A about four to 4.2 million dollars under what was available. Uh B, proposition B, just over a million. >> [cough] >> Proposition C, uh very close to 1 million under what was available considering interest earned along the way on those funds. And of course, these will change as we update our projections um as and we get closer to final completion of construction as we get, you know, to the point where we can say we're done buying FF&E and we shut shut that off and we're not buying that, then we can actually reconcile that and see what the final numbers are. But these are our projections. Like to know where we're headed, not just wait till we get there. Uh on status
011of current projects, uh Michael Ball Elementary >> sorry. So on those approximately $6 million across the three in remaining funds, what's left to be closed from um FF&E stuff? Is that all that's left to be closed? No, not on 22 bond. Uh we've got the middle school, Gibson Middle School, and Ball Elementary School, which were 22 projects, still ongoing. Um we're at the tail end of the stadium and indoor activity center wrapping those up. So there were still some construction costs, still some potential FF&E going into those. So if you look at the slide before this, this is what, you know, budget off the current versus what we're spending and where we're tracking. What he's showing you on the next slide is where he's projecting, if you look at this in as a whole and
012where some items are going to come in under, he's projecting what what the total will be at the end. But we haven't updated those budgets yet cuz they're still ongoing projects. If that helps between the difference in the slides. >> But the total Go to the next slide. One more. It's still saying, "Hey, these aren't final cuz there's more to come." Right? So it's not 6 million. We're projecting 6 million at the end. Even after these it says projections will change. So they're really they're going to change slightly is what you're telling me. Could be up, could be down. Mhm. Correct. Okay. I'm glad I asked cuz that's not how I read that. Okay. Uh so just some updates where we're at on Michael Ball Elementary School, uh we've got foundations [clears throat] and underground
013plumbing ongoing. Uh underground electrical is ongoing. Uh we should be starting on the storm shelter, which is masonry walls. Takes a long time to build those, so we should be starting on that very soon. Uh but some of the the things uh we're doing out there are also dependent on the configuration discussion that's on the agenda for later tonight. Uh and that would probably, if we make that move, that will involve some alterations to some of the spaces, not a change in the footprint, not a change in the structural steel package, which we've already, you know, procured. It's already been fabricated. Um but it will also in it will involve um some acoustical treatments for band spaces uh as one area. Um probably an additional art room to serve those grades, some of those kind
014of things. But we'll work that within the envelope that we have rather than changing the the footprint. And [snorts] I have some more of that in my presentation, too. >> Okay. Um it will require some time for the redesign, time for pricing of that redesign, then we'll have to get that approved, potential permitting timelines with that as well with the town. Uh and of course, some of the scope uh would be deleted. Uh there would no longer be the need of a pre-K at lower grade level age level playground with that configuration. So there'll be some things that offset some of these uh alterations that we'd have to make. So, you know, we hope that we could come out at a a net zero on that. Uh but until we get approval of that and
015then get the design, we won't won't really know. Uh status on Gibson Middle School, uh our finishes are ongoing. We've got ceramic tile happening, millwork installation, uh lab casework installation. We're painting. Uh ceilings are in, all the grid is in, not the tile. Uh but that allows them to drop lights, HVAC grills. Uh we can start installing cameras and some of those things that attach to the grid at that point. Uh utilities, uh we have gas connected. Um had a little issue with CoServ on setting the meters last Friday. They came out expecting one thing and saw something else even though they told us how many conductors we needed, they weren't prepared for that. So they're going to be back on Friday of this week to complete. Uh and then our access agreement that we
016have with the Well Church, we got that all finalized uh back in late February. Um all the documents have now been signed, they've been sent to the county to be filed and all of that recorded. So moving on, there's no questions. Moving on to 2025 proposition A. Uh again, summary of our projects and our original budgets, current budgets, what we've spent. Um again, our interest, uh which will probably be significant in a few more months, but right now at 3.5 million dollars. Um and of course, the current projections are that uh we have the money in this bond to pay for this bond. And then there is the elementary five escalation cost that appears will not be needed for that use. So I'm sorry. He was talking to me. What'd you Tell me that line
017>> answering a question he asked me. >> [laughter] >> Uh so we have the line item in here for the elementary number five escalation. >> I was asking him, by the way. >> Which it appears that we will no longer need from this bond. So that's 15 million dollars that will not need to be spent on that. And it hasn't been sold those haven't been sold yet anyway, right? That was or had it been? Was that part of the original sale? It has been sold. It was included in what was the first issue. The first issue. However, you know, that is just it's a building it would be included with the others. We can move that to the end if those funds aren't needed and then potentially not sell that at the very end. >>
018Okay. Thank you. Here's our 2025 proposition B. Um and nothing really to report here with that project. Give you a few details here in a minute. Um project quick updates. Um we've got middle school number two in the very early stages of design work. Uh elementary six will be very soon in those same stages of of early design and planning work with our architect. Um projects that are in design and permitting design {slash} construction and permitting stages are transportation parking lot here at Argyle High School. Uh we've been into the town for two rounds of review on site plan. Uh I haven't heard if we've gotten comments back on round two. There'll probably be a third round. I hope that is the final round. Uh I think the permitting process will be much quicker since
019there's no building. So once site plan approval the rest should go pretty quick with that. On the connector hallway here at Argyle High School, um we are set to have I believe it's 100% documents issued tomorrow. So our CM is got the bid process set. He's ready to run the advertisements and the bid date on that is April 29th. Make sure I don't confuse my dates. Uh so we are hoping to bring you GMP on that one in May at the regular board meeting. Um baseball softball complex at Argyle High School uh again in design. It's been into the town for it's in the town's second review for site plan right now currently. Uh I think comments will probably not be coming back for at least 2 weeks uh on that one. We have seen
020uh 100% DD drawings which are actually very well progressed really into almost CD drawings especially on the civil side. So that one should not take long to put together design-wise to where we can get that out and I think we're looking at a around October date I believe it is for GMP for you on that project. Our baseball softball complex renovations down at 377 that project is out for bid currently. Bid date is April 23rd. Uh that's a CSP project so we are looking to bring you recommendation probably for the May 6th board meeting on that project for a GC. And capital improvements at Hilltop and 377 uh that was issued contractors was approved at the last board meeting. Uh and we are working with them to get all their submittals in and procurement process
021started. Um working through the ceiling scope PA fire alarm those things. And uh they're they're ready to kick it off as soon as we can get people out of the building in the summer. And then just some uh upcoming decisions that will be asking you to make. Uh campus configuration is on uh for tonight. Um use of 27 remaining 2017 bond funds will be coming up soon. Um we've got our CM at risk contractor for middle school two and elementary six. That should be uh in front of you at the April board meeting. And then as I just said we're looking to have the GC for that baseball renovation uh to you on the May 6th meeting. Do you have any questions for me or for Rolla? Are you going to be making a recommendation
022to us about what for the use of the remaining 2017 bond funds are you saying Yes. Okay. Yes. We will we will bring the recommendation. >> Blank check for that. >> Just want to put it in your mind tonight. >> [laughter] >> No, we're not asking for that. >> [snorts] >> Thank you, Jeff. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move into budget planning a little bit. Uh if you have any questions just stop me at the time and we'll we'll go into it a little bit further. Uh we're going to look at just some things tonight. We talked a lot about the um frozen levies uh last meeting. Uh we're going to look in a little bit deeper this time. I told you last time we were going to look at some legislative
023changes for this meeting that affect [clears throat] the tax rate um and budget adoption. So we've got a couple of things there we're going to look at. Uh we're going to review the 2026-2027 staffing um and then we're going to have a snapshot of the 2026-2027 budget outlook and I believe last discussion also y'all wanted to look at the fund balance and the history of that and where we're projected to go. So we've got that in here as well. So last month we talked about the um Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23 the frozen hold harmless and the issue that we were seeing um this year and that's an impact for 2025-2026 which also impacts any future year planning. So the expectation of that bill just as a reminder was that there would be
024a significant drop in frozen levy and that the bill language would hold districts harmless through additional state aid for adjustment of limitation on tax increases and homestead of homestead of elderly or disabled. So we're just going to call this frozen hold harmless to shorten that down a lot, right? And last [clears throat] meeting I showed you what had happened in 23 cuz that was the first year of this, what had happened in 24 and if [clears throat] you remember um the 25 amount there last month was or when we looked at this was zero and that we knew there were issues there were statewide issues with how it was being interpreted um at the comptroller's office. There were data issues from all the the CADs throughout the state and so TEA came out um they
025were working with you know, agencies throughout the state. There was um you know, input from everyone and they came out with some changes and said, you know, we understand this was not the intent. We're going to look at it and this way. And so with the TEA changes our frozen hold harmless for 24 so for the 25 tax year which is this current fiscal year is uh a little over 600,000. And so that's much better than the zero. Still not as much as we had the year before, right? Wasn't exactly what our expectation was but this was a it was really good progress in a short amount of time. So um that was that was really good for us to see in our budget planning and that also means we could use that information moving
026forward into next year's budget planning. That affected what we're looking at. What I can tell you though what I feel like is going to happen year to year is this is going to be a moving target um that with it's it's always going to be based on some some data of what it would have been, right? Under the old law versus what it is under the current law and depending on what your CAD sends and under that data depends on what works out on that if there's any other interpretations along the way. So at this time we're taking the information that's been changed with TEA and we're using that data moving forward. We'll use that um budget amendment three you already saw last month. It's also going to be in front of you in the
027April meeting it will be unchanged. We will use this information moving forward in any future budget amendment that we rework for the 2025-2026 school year. But we are also using this information to redo our numbers for 2026-2027. So that was a little bit of a change from what we talked about last meeting. Um and Can I ask you a question about about that very confusing subject? The the legit the the the hold harmless language in the legislation hasn't changed. How how you calculate it what we're entitled to. That's not but how much we receive changes pretty significantly. >> That is correct. And so it's must be the data that's going into the formula. Uh well this year there were two issues. One was the data and one was the way the comptroller interpreted the legislation.
028Well, that makes sense to me because the legislation didn't change between 24 Did it change between 24 and 25? >> Yes. So the first original hold harmless came in 23. And so that you had that for 23 tax year and the 24 tax year. And then in the 25 tax year they added Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23 which changed [clears throat] from 100,000 um homestead exemption to 140 and it increased over 65 and disabled from 10 to 60 because years ago when they increased that homestead exemption they forgot to write in the law about the over 65 frozen. So they've gone back and caught that up. So there was a change in law. It increased what was captured in that um frozen hold harmless. It shouldn't it should not have decreased it. But
029along with that the comptroller's office changed how they interpreted the calculation and what data would be considered. Um and to complicate that every CAD has to generate their own data and send in and based on their software vendors they had some difficulties generating that data. So depending on what CAD you were in you had difficulties with that but you also had difficulties with the interpretation. Some districts did not see reduction at all they saw an increase exactly like what they were expecting. There were a lot of districts like us that saw a decrease or zero. Um and so again there was a change but it should have increased. It only added to the law that was already there. So then that means the data from Denton County CAD was the challenge. At this point, the
030difference between >> the same either either theirs was wrong and the others was right or the others was wrong and theirs was right. >> Right. The in >> And nobody's checking that out? So, we we do work with them to check that out and they work They're relying on their software vendors. Right. I mean, their their main thing that they're doing is as tax evaluations and getting that out to property uh holders, right? Um and to businesses and everything. This is something that's specific only to schools. It's only in this calculation of school funding and it's something that um you know, their software vendor will generate for them and send it. >> couldn't make it more confusing. You really I mean, school funding You just couldn't make it more complicated. I mean, >> It's unreal.
031And I think you and I have talked a few times about historically um this would be data we would have going into the year. There was a change several legislations ago where we went to using prior year values in state funding to using current year values. So, if we were back in that um frame of mind, we would have this data now to budget for next year. Now, we're in though you don't get this data until the end of January um in the school year you're in or in the fiscal year you're in. So, it's it's a little different and we're all adjusting. Um what I can tell you is I do believe this number will be something that we have to look at every year. We have to work on every year and um
032But but in last year when we were sitting in this budget workshop, you knew man, we under this hold harmless provision, we got a million dollars. I didn't Last year. Didn't know it at the time. Well, you >> Yeah, yeah. We were getting there. You're getting there, but you were getting close to a million dollars. So, you were kind of working that number in thinking, "Okay, so when I build the 25 26 budget I'm I'm thinking a million dollars is what and then We thought a million minimum because we thought there would be an increase because of the new laws. And then we get Now, we're like, "Okay, it's zero and now it's 600 and Right. It it's a very >> we're building the budget again, you you're kind of like I'm going to use
033600? Am I going to use less? We're using 600. The data won't come out until January of next year. I mean, Man, just >> It's It's the best that we can do with, you know, if we had more data on this, if you had more years to go back, you would have, you know, some historical trends you could use, but right now it's 3 years old. Um this year's data is not exactly comparable to 23 and 24 because there's supposedly more hold harmless in there even though you're not recognizing it. It's So, I'm guessing [clears throat] that this time last year, like you said, we didn't find out until January the real number. Any idea where we were day of this presentation last year? What you were forecasting? Was it 600 because the year before
034was 600? >> We were using 600 at that point, yes. Okay. So, in theory, it could still be a million. Right. It can It will This is my opinion only. I think this is going to be a moving target every year. It's like the formula transition grant. Yeah. So, but we were very concerned and that's why we brought it to your attention was the fact that we had lost it completely when we knew that wasn't the intent of the law. So, I did want to let you know that that had been updated to EIA did take some steps and this is where we're at now. So, and we are using that data in 26 27. Good luck. Thank you. I feel like it's luck on this and and not data driven. That's what we're That's
035all we got. >> Yeah. Good luck. We guessed right. All right. Some other changes in the law. There's some new truth in taxation requirements. This is just to make you aware. Senate Bill 1023 it requires that when the comptroller's tax rate calculation forms to include a hyperlink to all the documentation that we used to generate the data. So, in the past, the requirement was that we post this on our website and if you'll click that 25 26 link there, so just so you know what what we've done and what was required of us and you go to the right there at the 25 26 adopted budget. Okay. So, this is a required summary after you adopt the budget that is required to be on our website. And if you scroll down and go to starting
036on page three, that is the truth in taxation worksheet of how we derive our current calculation. So, that's required to be out there as well. So, it's out there on our website. If you've never gone and looked for it, you probably didn't even know it was on our website, but included in this for next year, we will have to include a hyperlink into this document that has the detailed backup of any formula any number that was used in this calculation other than a you add these two numbers together, you divide these two numbers, right? And other than just a calculation, we've got to provide that. So, all of that said, it may take us a a little bit longer just because that's not something we've done in the past. We've >> [clears throat] >> We've
037always gathered the data, we just never had to hyperlink it. So, um we were talking about some some new issues and some timing. That's one of them. Um For what purpose? Uh tax Yeah, transparency for taxpayers. Using transparency. Transparency into a formula they're not sure is correct. >> [laughter] >> Right. This hyperlink will change every year. So, um additional, there's House Bill 1522 and this requires that a physical copy of the proposed budget is in the open meeting notice or on the district's website when we post the meeting notice to talk about the proposed budget. So, when we bring you the proposed budget in August, we either have to put the details in that open meeting notice, which is very cumbersome, we will more than likely put it on our website, a link on our
038website that has that information. So, that is new. Also, you have to have a taxpayer impact statement in the open meeting notice. Now, this one does not give you the option to put it on your website. It must be in the open meeting notice. And so, um you know, some of the uh agencies that we work with will help provide you a standard form for us of how to how to incorporate this in. But you've got to compare the median value homestead property to the property tax bill for the current fiscal year and an estimate for the upcoming fiscal year. So, in the notice of the public meeting, we already used the average taxpayer value, right? The average homestead and we provide that comparison. But now they're also making us go in and do a
039median value and it's got a the notice is in the paper, right? This will have to be in the open meeting notice. So, you'll have two different places with two different numbers because one calls for the average, one calls for the median. So, if you happen to be a taxpayer looking at both, you may be a little confused of why they aren't the same. Just letting you know it will be out there. They have two different meanings. Um but it is more information that's required. All right. Another change on the tax rate adoption. This has to do with our I&S tax rate calculation. This is Senate Bill 1453. It was effective January 1st of 2026, so it did not affect us in last year's tax rate calculation, but it will affect us in this year.
040It calls out that you have to use the minimum value of debt in your I&S tax tax rate calculations. If you do not use the minimum value, [clears throat] then you have to have a specific motion and a 60% supermajority vote for adoption. If it's if the rate is higher than the new rate with the minimum. So, in the past, if we used a rate that we said, "Hey, we've got the opportunity to pay off some debt. We're going to save the district taxpayers [clears throat] money by doing a um paying off some debt earlier, doing something different, we could use that in our calculation. And this changes that unless y'all agree supermajority vote, 60% specific motion. So, just know those are some things we're going to talk about. Um you'll see different things in
041our August meeting. This is one reason that um when we were going through all of these and looking at the quick turnaround for what had to be posted in the newspaper and on our website and all that, our August meeting may for the budget tax rate is a week later this year. It gives us a little bit more time to try and incorporate some of these changes uh cuz they were rather quick turnaround from timing for us. >> Can Can you in those two different places you have to post two different numbers? Can you We need to put some kind of disclaimer in there that, "Hey, this number is this, the other number is over here." Cuz otherwise, you're going to get 18 billion questions or accused of doing it wrong or all the wonderful
042things that you receive. So, a suggestion that you're talking through looking at is in the past, the notice has been required in the newspaper and this is a new notice in the open meetings act, maybe putting those on our website so that we can post both with a with a description of what the difference is and that way we can direct anybody to that so that they can see what what they both are and why there's a difference in information. So. Okay. Um staffing details because you'll know staffing makes up a lot of our budget, right? Um in our school district, it's about 81%. Um they are linked here. You can go back and look at them. Dr. um Daniels um discussed them with you. The main point for this workshop though in this discussion
043is to let you know that phase one and phase two are both within our budget. You were I know there were questions when you were asked to approve phase one of you know, what's included, what keeps us balanced, are we approving something that's going to take us to a deficit? So, we've looked at phase one and phase two are in budget. Phase three is a potential and you're going to see phase three tonight. Um I don't believe it's going to come back to you for approval until later and that's going to give us time to work on our budget a little bit more because we are early in our budget process, right? Our budget doesn't start till 9 1. Um some of our the districts around us, their budget starts July 1. You're going to
044see them approve a budget in June. Right, they're a couple of months ahead of us. We're a couple months behind them. So, right now, we're still in that development. We've got a lot of things to work out. Our campus and department budgets are due back to our office April 20th. Once we have those, we'll work through them. Um, we'll know a little bit more. We'll be able to massage those numbers some, see if what we estimated as increases are actually what's needed. Do we need to go back and do some more work? Um, we've got some things, you have some other large increases that we know you typically your um, opening a campus, right? Your operations on that um, are significant the first year you open a new physical location. We won't have quotes back
045on that for another month or two. So, we've got some things that we we have some estimates for, but we need to get further in that budget development. And as that happens, then we may be able to pull phase three into budget, but that's just a we don't know at this point if we can make that happen. But, to keep things moving, it will be presented. You will look at it. It gives you time to think about it and and discuss it before we ever bring it back for consideration. And we're we're going around and doing our state of the district meetings on campuses. So, we've completed three three of the seven so far. We've been to sixth grade center, middle school, and high school, I believe. To this point. And one of the things
046and we've gone over this with our staff and also shared with them because of the during the mid-year superintendent survey, they prioritized those priorities again from last year. Compensation being the highest. And so, Ms. Dirt's been sharing with them in these meetings that we aren't waiting until the end to try to figure out compensation. We have a set aside in this budget already, the way she's presenting it for when we get those numbers back from TASB. So, there is a set aside in here for compensation package that will be done in June, but we do have a set aside in here because it was the number one priority from staff along with the staffing requests. Thank you. Okay. So, this is again a very early and I may label this early and tentative cuz y'all
047know this is going to change. But, this is where we're at at this point in time in working on the 26-27 budget. So, we always start with the base budget from the current year we're in and we look at the changes. So, we looked at the revenue, we've run our summary, we looked we're using the demographer's estimates, which drive that. We've got estimates in for our property values. We'll get more information on that later. Um, we see what that does with revenue. And then you look at at our expenses. What are our big line items that change from year to year in expenses? So, we knew we had some one-time costs built into 25-26 that again, they were one-time, so they'll come out of the budget for next year. We've got some again, what we
048feel like are holds for department and campus budgets increases. Once we work through those, those numbers that 678,000 will change. Right, we hope that we've projected enough and we can bring that down some. Um, opening GMS, the operations. This is taking in to consideration anything from utilities to um, property insurance to uh, taking care of the campus. That's our first uh, run at an estimate for that. We use historical data on what our campuses currently cost us to project that out for a new campus. And then just as we did with uh, the middle school opening, the year before it opens, so in the um, 25-26 budget, we had items budgeted for middle school for for Gibson Middle School. We didn't have a name at the time. We were calling it Middle School One. But,
049we had some line items in there because your staff all comes to work before the fiscal year starts. Remember, the fiscal year starts September 1st. They've been at work for a month, some of them for two months. Sometimes you're hiring a principal six months early. There are costs associated with that the year prior. So, we've got that in here for LHS, too, at our best estimate of what that year prior to opening will be. Um, the staffing plan phase one and phase two. If y'all add those up, it's not exactly 5 million, but that's the that's the dollar amount we were using. We're close to that. So, I know if you go take those two numbers and add them up, you're going to come back and tell me I was wrong on that. Just know
050we're close, okay? You are under that 5 million with those two. Most people are okay with you rounding is fine. >> everything. I know you don't [clears throat] like to do that, but >> Wait, we like to round in in these big pictures here. So, and then as uh, Dr. Carpenter mentioned, the compensation planning amount. We've set aside $2 million for that. We use again historical data on what the uh, raise packages have been in the past, how much they've been, how much they've grown, what we're expected to grow in staff and feel like that that's enough to cover what TASB may suggest back as a compensation package next year. Will you also explain real quick the what we've been sharing with staff as well as the HB2, the raise that was for teachers last
051year and how that's impacting year over year so that everybody's clear on that. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, um, as a reminder, um, HB2 last year that the legislature put into place, they funded teacher raises. Remember, they did a lot of that they infused a lot of money into public ed, but they told us what to do with it, right? The biggest amount of that was for teacher raises. So, for a district of our size, um, if you were a three or four year teacher or had three or four years of experience, um, it was a $2,500 raise. If you had five years or more, it was 5,000. The early end of that scale for zero, one, and two, um, that was a local decision. And locally, the board approved raises for those positions as
052well. So, how that works is moving forward, the state still funds we're going to we're going to say I'm a a 10-year teacher. So, I got that $5,000 last year, right? Y'all don't hold me to these numbers. I don't know our pay scale off the top of my head. But, say it was um, say as a teacher I had $60,000 and then the state, you know, funded that 65. So, I make 65,000 this year. Next year, I still get that 5,000, right? I get that 65,000, but I don't get an additional 5,000 on top of that. It's not added to it year over year. So, it doesn't jump up to 70 and then 75. It's that they're going to fund that same either 5,000 or that same 2,500 year over year and it's up to
053the district to do a local raise on top of that. So, we had some discussions, we had some questions. There was some confusion on how that worked moving forward and we just wanted to make sure that all of our staff were aware of how it worked cuz, you know, the last thing we want for somebody to do is to show up and get their first check in September and be extremely disappointed because it's not what they were expecting. So, we're trying to make sure that we're all clear on how that HB2 um, pay plan works. Thank you. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you, but That's great. Is that a 3% raise? In the compensation We don't have the in the compensation. We don't have the data [clears throat] back of what is recommended from
054TASB. We feel like we put enough in there to cover a range in there of percentages, but I don't have the data from TASB. I know Dr. Daniels working with them. Um, he's got it like a first round and and he'll have the data back in time for the June meeting. June workshop. >> Yes. But, we Does that line item or is it included in here anywhere the potential for leveling up certain like campus administration? It won't cover that. Um, it wouldn't it would include anything we want to include in that. In the compensation package. >> not in there now. That $2 million placeholder It is just earmarked. We haven't done anything with it yet. We just earmarked it based on But, to your point, we knew we know that 3% we know what that
055generates typically. >> if 3% comes back at at 1.8, you know, there's some leeway there to do other things. Right. If 3. If 3% comes back at 2.2, we've got to go back to work and find that extra two, right? But, yes, right now and what we're explaining to our staff when we're going to these meetings is we can't tell you what that means individually for you. It's not it's not a percent, it's not a dollar amount, it's not anything at this point. It's just us saying based on history, we feel like this is the amount we need to set aside so that we're not asking you to approve all these phases of staffing, all these different department budgets and everything and then coming back at the end and going, "Oh, we've asked you to
056spend all the money. Now, can you give a compensation package on top of that that puts us in a deficit budget?" So, we're just trying to be any potential leveling up would come there in that line. Yes. And again, as these as we develop this budget more, all of these numbers will change and we can move things around from line item to line item. These are just where we're at at this point in time. Okay. And I think I mentioned April 20th is when campus department budgets are are due. Um, we also get our first look at property values at the end of April from DCAD. We'll get weekly updates on that, I believe, through early July. Um, and then we get our certified values um, July 25th. Any more questions on this part before
057we move forward? All right, fund balance. This is the best estimate at fund balance. So, 25-26 and 26-27 are estimated. The 20 through 21 through the 24-25 are actuals. [clears throat] So, I know if you you take a look at that so you go, "Okay, that that that fund balance is is going the wrong direction." Right? And we're talking about a balanced budget. Board policy says 17%. We've always tried to operate in practice at 25%. But, if you're in a growing district, that means your budget is growing every year. That means if you have a balanced budget, your fund balance percentage is going down. Right? You would have to put back surplus budget every year in a growing district in order to maintain your your fund balance percentage. Um, there are years, you can see
058there in 24-25, that's the year that we had all the students show up in addition to what was projected by our demographer. That created surplus budget for us. We ended the year it went up. Um, there's going to be years of it going up and down, but this is my best guess. Y'all know I'm a little conservative on that. So, I would hope that both of these years would finish higher. If you look at our trend right now in 25-26, we're coming in under on some of our expenditures and we're coming in better on some of our revenues. So, I would even though the books don't say we have a a large surplus, I would tell you we have a a little more of a surplus and that's how we should probably end. So, I
059don't want you to be alarmed when you're looking at this, but you I think I've worked with all of y'all long enough to know that I'm going to give you more of a conservative approach when I'm giving you a future look um than what we may actually end up. But, that is the trajectory that I believe that we're in. And I have read in recent years where the state looks at fund balances and when they see high fund balances, they conclude that the schools are overfunded and just sitting on tons of cash. They kind of punish you in some ways as you grow your fund balance. I have heard that as well. So, are we better off to stay at the Would the state make a recommendation to So, in some of their Why is
060it they rate us? Um you're looking more at the 25%. Those would be in our first rating um that we get every year. There's some some Some of the factors in there are going to look at your fund balance, but they're also going to look at your cash flow, which is separate than your fund balance. Um So, they are going to rate you at a little bit higher percentage, but that is the only place that they're really rating us on fund balances in there. >> you that way, but they'll criticize you and say >> my point. Like, we should if that's the case then other than our first rating, which we don't want to give up, is we should be closer to 17. All right, cuz that's the only way we're going to get a
061a positive support from the state. Yeah. I mean, [snorts] I would I would tell you best practice is to aim to getting closer to that 25%. >> [snorts] >> And you've done it and you've and first rating is something that you've achieved for a long time and we don't want to sacrifice that. It's just trying to play the game. There shouldn't be a game we have to play with the state, but they're making it into Right. >> You done? All right, any other questions on that or or any other items that we want to talk about in the budget or in the budget development? So, it it takes more money each year in a growing budget to equal 17%. That's correct. Cuz you're not looking at a dollar amount, you're looking at a percent. >>
062Percent percentage. Okay. Okay, so our next steps. Uh we won't have anything related to the actual budget development on April 20th meeting, but we have another budget workshop on May 6th. That's when you're going to be asked to consider the staffing plan phase three potentially. We'll have some more information and some more details. Again, we're still looking at big picture right now. We'll have We'll have some details to share with you. Um 18th regular meeting and then June 4th is when we're going to um have a workshop and we're going to talk about the compensation plan. That'll be the majority of that meeting as well as the compensation plan. Um and then we I didn't list it on here, but we do aim to uh bring a budget recommendation to you at the same night
063as our tax rate um recommendation in our August meeting. Technically, tax rate can be adopted in September if needed, but we we like to keep them together in the same meeting if we can. Are there any questions or any more information that y'all want to look at or discuss um or some things that you want to see in the next workshop that we haven't gone over or more details? Um I know [snorts] we're going to talk a little bit about the audit the demographer audit. Will any of that, I guess depending upon the findings, impact what you present or possibly? I think it's more about the long-term growth >> Yeah. numbers. When we get it back, we don't have it yet. Yeah. Okay. I mean, if there was a drastic drastic difference, we'd probably want
064to maybe rethink something, but Okay. um it's more of a long-term approach look at it. Okay. So, I I know I brought it up. I know we just got some data on it today about uh administration compensation. Looking at these dates and my status I may have to be here on the 4th after in the in public's forum, but it's something that I want to make and I know you guys have you've got the data um but I think it's really important that we look at that and >> And you're referencing campus administration. >> Yes. Okay. Got you. I I'm talking about I wanted them to hear that. >> I'm kidding. I wanted them to hear that. >> Yes, I am. I just think there's you know, we always talk about I've used this example
065before and every We talk about all kinds of different departments compared to those around us um rightfully so, but I feel like and I've been a part of that board those boards that not that we didn't talk about them, but we didn't make changes. So, that's why I think there's some places um positions that we need to really take a look at. I mean, and Yeah. Dr. Daniels has been working on gathering da- data and um I know we'll work with TASB as well as getting some other data. They did it. Right. And I got to see some of that today, so I know you're working on it, but when I look at the dates and know that I'm not going to necessarily be here, so I got to get it in by not being
066here, it's man. I mean, I've been on the board. Trust me. I mean, on that side. We all got that calendar. So, we're we're going to pencil We're going to pencil you in for public comment that night. >> Yes, just go ahead and write put me on every day. Every meeting, we'll give you a response within 7 days. Cuz you know I'm going to come in right at the last second. Okay. 39 or 40? He's part of the permanent document. Who's counting? Any other questions or comments on this? All right, thank y'all very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. One information only item and then we'll move into the two discussion Okay. >> [snorts] >> Three, two, and one. Have y'all You haven't seen phase three at all, right? >> Yeah, no, we
067haven't. Okay. A lot of people have. So, this is phase three. This is information [snorts] only. >> You've been presenting it on the campuses. That's why it's top of mind right now. So, phase three as Mr. Stewart mentioned is not included in the budget. This is something that we're going to look at later um early May or mid-May to see if these are positions that um that will work within the budget, but these are positions that are um needed. So, you can Thank you. Um not too many. Um the first is teacher residency program. And we are hoping I think we're going to have eight potential elementary school student teachers. You want to talk a little bit more about the details of that? >> here. Yes, I think so. Can Is she on the mic
068there? Greg from over there? Okay. Yes. So, I just got notification today that we are actually signed six instead of eight. >> Okay. I'm resident teachers. So, what it is is teachers uh students who are in their final year of college get a paid student teaching residency. We have interviewed all these candidates. We had a team plus we had any teacher that was interested that was selected by their principal as a potential mentor sit in on the interviews as well. So, we've gone through that process and like I said, six were awarded. So, it comes at a cost of $10,000 per resident for >> [snorts] >> our part of their salary and TEA pays another 10,000. So, they're receiving $20,000 a year to work as basically a full-time aide. The first semester they're there 3
069days a week, the second semester they're there 4 days a week. Um the mentor teacher also gets $2,000 stipend from TEA. >> [clears throat] >> And it's setting our teachers up our our campuses up to have a year-long interview with some potential teachers giving them the opportunity to learn our curriculum, to learn our expectations, and as we are opening new campuses, we'll have hopefully six awesome teachers ready to enter the pipeline and and be ready to go. And I think it's important to note cuz sometimes we talk about student teaching in the business world, internships are paid. Student teaching is not a paid thing. It never has been and so this is a a grant program or I guess it's kind of a grant program. >> It is a grant and per allotment through TEA
070and so we have applied Dr. Jordan applied and we were have received that and so she's been She and her team have been working on this process with the principals, so. Next is a uh counseling position at AMS. This is a position that will we would look to hire mid-year who would transition to um the new high school and help with the opening of that. So, it's not a counselor that would that we would need right now at that smaller campus, but it's more of a planning type position. And then with added um bus routes, we need another bus monitor, locksmith, HVAC, and technology administrative assistant. I don't know if you remember a couple years ago, there was a administrative assistant here. She moved to the high school. It was kind of split between two
071positions. Now, that person is split between student nutrition and technology and so we're looking to bring that position back. That was the one that was partially eliminated a few years ago. So, on the counselor one for AMS, would it be half that money if they're going to come mid-year? Actually, we talked about it being coming on full because it will transition into planning for It actually would be We would actually bring it on full at the beginning. Okay. And then and then transferred into cuz obviously the course selections and all that for high school starts and that's a pretty big process. So, master scheduling, all those things. Are any of the positions under operations and maintenance in the phase two things that we contract out currently like locksmith, HVAC that it would balance out in
072the budget? Do you know? Have we We've done that in the past. pull that phase two, but on these right here So, on you don't phase two or phase three? Well, we can go to phase I mean just in general like the like some of them are probably [clears throat] things we're contracting out now. So, does bringing them on >> Some of them So, HVAC for instance, we come in back in August. Some years we've been hit harder than others with more units down than we could handle at one time trying to get everybody back in time and the classrooms to a comfortable temperature. We have contracted some work out there in the past. Um it would be a you know, different amount each time depending on the the problems that we had. Typically during
073the year unless we have something major happen, we try and handle it in-house. We are adding though with the addition of a campus, it you know, adds several more units on to the staff that we already have. As far as the locksmith, typically it just takes longer for us to get to the issue right now than what it would be. I think we every once in a while contracted something out, but most of the time they just have to wait on our current locksmith that's in place. Some of the others as far as grounds that were on phase two right now and if you look at our campuses, we we do have weeds showing up and I want to just say that when we made the decision two years ago to cut two grounds positions
074and we added a campus, we you know, we knew that's what we were doing. We knew it would take longer and our ground staff takes great pride in what they do and so it you know, it hurts them to go out there and and and see the weeds growing up that they haven't been able to get to it at that point. And we're assuring them every day we understand and we know that you're doing the best you can. And so we have not contracted grounds out. We've had some summer help come in every single year, but we that's been ongoing for years. The other one on phase two operations irrigator Currently right now, the irrigator stays mainly at the high school. That's about all they can handle. It takes almost all day. So, when we
075add the campus at Gibson and eventually the elementary part of that too, you've added a lot more irrigation and so sometimes our we know to answer your question, we have not been contracting that out, but it does take longer to get to a leak and pulls them off of something over here. So, between this campus and just the new site alone would keep the two people busy the majority of the time. Does that help with And just out of curiosity like whenever you decide which positions you're going to propose for approval, like what is the process in general? Like what how do you decide, okay, we're going to approve these positions, we're going to wait on these. And is there any kind of log of like every year, I know that the librarians ask for
076aids, the nurses ask for aids. Like how do we make sure we're keeping track of who is asking for support? So, Dr. Daniel works with the campus principals. They have they meet during their staffing process. Obviously, they're going to be the the spokesperson for the needs on their campuses. So, they meet on that and then that we also have our departmental leads come in and do five-year plan presentations every year. So, they they build their staffing request from this year to five years out. We look at that. All of those requests, all of their requests, the fine arts, the anything from athletics, those all come on to we we have an internal working sheet that we have and that's where we started phasing them. Looking at starting obviously, priority was to get Gibson open. First
077priority is classroom. Anything that's on the campus as far as instructional support, you'll see in the phase two tonight the campus support aid. There's four of those, one for each elementary. That's because they all kind of need something different. Some principals need help in in the nurse, some need help with reception, some need help maybe as a library, but then they all need permanent sub help cuz they've got classes that happen to merge. So, one aid that they can use however they need to making sure the classes are covered first. So, that would give them the flexibility to to plug that person in cuz you know, they they know and kids should be able to make the decisions where that where those people could be plugged in. So, that's on phase two for approval tonight.
078So, like That would be up to the campus. The campus principal could determine where the need was. First priority would be to make sure a teacher is not taking on two classes. That would be the first priority. All classes covered and then they could decide where they needed them beyond that because there'll be needs each day. But those those those that's all part of the process and we pull all that into one spreadsheet and then from that spreadsheet we make the phases which is what we're bringing bringing to you all deciding which let which layer to put them on. But we always start with Classroom impact first or the opening of a campus. What does it take to open programs? So, when we get to the end of this, I'm going to look at the
079overall budget and 80% or more is going to be going to instruction. Staffing Staffing Staffing And but I mean when our overall budget though, I mean it's just it really we're prioritizing instruction in our budget. That's correct. We're prioritizing competitive pay. Yes. And we're prioritizing maintaining small class sizes as as we can manage at the elementary school level. That's correct. >> Yes. In phase one phase one that you already approved was 3.1 million and that was all classroom campus level, a few administrative positions at GMS cuz opening that campus, special ed and then the 10 bus drivers. So, all of that was campus level, 10 bus drivers. That was phase one, the 3.1 million. Phase two that he'll go over in a little bit is 1.9 million. That includes campus all campus, campus administration support
080with dean of student support, testing specialist and the campus support aids, fine arts administrative assistant and another band teacher. All special program support dyslexia, ESL, sped, OT, speech, inclusion aids, life skill aids. Operations, the positions that were cut two years ago that we're bringing back. The accountant that was cut two years ago that we're bringing back trying to bring back in. Student nutrition positions that are self-funded. And the transportation manager which was cut two years cut two years ago and brought back. Brand new position positions would be the director of staff student learner services into this building which has not had it any administrative positions added. That would be a new new position. And then the fine arts admin assistant similar to what Kelly Perkins does for athletics. That's so that's kind of where the
081dollars are going on that. And then phase three is up there right now. So, any any other questions on phase three from the information standpoint and then y'all can discuss phase two for consideration. So, we're officially on to phase two discussion now. I think we're we good? Are y'all good on three? Okay. All right. So, you're now moving on to discussion action. Probably not till the 6th. The next workshop. So, phase two was and you just kind of got an overview of it. Brought to you last month and these are the positions that we would we're asking for your approval on. They are within budget. And I'll take any questions about any of the individual positions. The reason that dean of student support is not listed there for Hilltop is cuz that position already we
082had a position existed and at the break in January, we filled that for Hilltop. So, theirs is already in there. So, just to clarify why there's only three in there. And when we mentioned the testing specialist at the high school meeting yesterday, they clapped. >> [laughter] >> They were excited. The teachers were excited. That's a much needed position. Right now, that position's been split [clears throat] 504 and testing together and that's those are two really separate jobs. So, >> [snorts] >> with all of the assessments that go on different levels at the high school. I don't have any questions. I mean it's gives us a balanced budget. That makes sense. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 8A as presented. I move to approve action item 8A as presented. Dr. McDaniel motion to approve.
083Do I have a second? Second. Mr. Matthew Slayton with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand and say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you, Dr. Daniel. >> [applause] >> Thank you all. See, they're they're happy. I knew they would be. Thank you. >> smiles. Give them a minute. I think that was just cuz there's only one more action item and then I get >> [laughter] >> I saw I saw a little bouncing over there on the chairs, too. Okay. That's right. That's right. Okay. I will not represent all the slides, but I do have a few I added at the beginning of this um just based on some questions we received. I know uh uh back on the 23rd, I think that's when it was, presented the long-range
084planning study that we have been working on internally as a district. So, I just wanted to go over a little bit of the communication uh to the community and staff where this has been sent out. We had the public presentation March 23rd. That I'm not sure where the 2206 came in. That's a random year. Um 2026, we'll fix that. March 23rd, 2026. And it was released in board briefs on March 24th, 2026. So, that same week we released it out in board board briefs. Then we also later that week emailed separately to all parents and staff through Parent Square so that everyone had that. Um we went and checked our metrics. It was delivered to over 7,700 emails. There was a 72% open rate of that particular email. So, that just kind of shows the
085the communication side of that going out separately outside of the board briefs as well from a communication standpoint. So, It was a great open rate, yes. Um we have had really good open rates with Parent Square. We've been really pleased with that. So, questions since the the presentation that we've received, um and I'll go over these uh couple of them on here, but then I've got a chart on the other ones. Just modifications, what would we need to be able to create the academic and elective specials programs to meet the needs of fifth and sixth since it was designed essentially as a pre-K 5. And so, I'll go over that in a minute. And then if fifth and sixth runs over capacity of 850 at Mockingbird Ball, how would that be addressed? And so, I'll
086show that to as well. But current elementary campuses, they already have an 850 capacity footprint. Um they operate over that. They have been um for the last several years with flexibility to expand to a degree. But at GMS, per enrollment projections, should have enough space through 2033 and would be able to host some of those sixth grade overflow classes. So, they could because they're right there on the same campus, could have some of the sixth grade electives uh in that building if need be. And then the cafeteria, questions about it as far as handling elementary school lunches and intermediate school. Um if we needed to make any necessary serving line adjustments, we could do that. Um but the space itself meets the needs of students regardless of grade configuration. And the age the uh cafeteria
087uh furniture, of course, will be age-appropriate. And then a question on class sizes. So, as far as the modifications for that campus, what we've already discussed with the um with the architects just preliminarily, science lab and Mr. Cohen talked about this a little bit. Science lab and classroom space created for sixth grade with a dedicated prep room, uh space for the lab. And that would be lab prep room space and then two dedicated science classrooms. It would also remove the classroom millwork cubbies um and sinks on the first floor. So, essentially if you had your sixth graders on the first floor, they wouldn't have the cubbies. Fifth grade upstairs would still have an opportunity for that, which is what they're used to having in elementary. The common spaces, we would remove the pre-K restrooms attached
088to the those classrooms, which provides um the extra classroom space in there. Modifying the playground for age-appropriate equipment, it actually removes one full playground cuz we would not need the primary playground equipment. Um updating the finish colors to match GMS. So, removing the elementary colors of the blue, yellow, green, etc. to the more of the the colors that are over in the Gibson campus. And then the cafeteria doesn't need any necessary modifications. If anything, just some serving line adjustments. From an elective space standpoint, having the dedicated band space with the practice rooms and office. Talked about the acoustic additions. Um current music room would be converted to a locker room, like a dressing space for pre-athletics cuz they would need that. And fifth grade music would be relocated to an adjacent location near the band
089spaces. Um and then an additional art room would be created, but both would share the existing kiln and supply storage. So, those are all the um adjustments that would be made that can be made with the same square footage footprint. As far as classroom size comparisons, uh Mr. Cohen was able to get that those metrics for us. The Mockingbird Ball classrooms, the average classroom space is 822 square feet. Um he measured some samples. The small was 745, the large was 872. Gibson, the average classroom space is 789 square feet with a a range for 772 kind of average to the large side of 804. To put that in perspective of what we already have at AMS, the average AMS classroom size is 532 square feet. Um and of those samples measured, he measured a 440
090and a 712. So, he said basically if you know the the footprint of three AMS right now at 377, the 100 200 hallways as our classrooms are larger and the standard classrooms in 4 and 500 hallway are the ones that are smaller. So, just to give everyone an idea of what those classroom sizes are from a comparison, wanted to share that information. And then this is just based on uh the numbers for the the two campuses. If we run over the 850, the flexibility there. And uh as we grow up grow into that point where we don't have space left, but being able to utilize some of Gibson um if they run in the 900s when they have a 1200 capacity, being able to have some overflow courses, potentially electives, etc. on that campus. And
091that's with a rezone um of which we talked about. So, the second part to that presentation was looking at knowing that originally we had um the undeveloped portion of First Ranch in the East Zone. And we were with our enrollment projections, we were running into capacity issues at Legacy High School by 2030. Um the within two and a half three years uh of getting into that campus. So, we had them uh our demographer run the zoning taking out the undeveloped portion of First Ranch, not the portion that's currently houses are going in cuz there's two sections of that. Um and pulling that over and looking at what that would do from a from a you know, a long-range standpoint to the next 10 year the 10 year program out. So, um you could see there
092that that definitely gives us out into that middle school standpoint of the 2034-35 school year. And then from a high school standpoint, um it gets us to the 2034-35 instead of being in the 2030. We know there will have to be some decisions made going into [clears throat] that, but that's still far enough out that would give us time as a district to continue studying what's going to happen in First Ranch, the speed and size of that. Um and then looking at the options, is it going to be High School 3? Is it going to be some sort of a a different type of campus um expansion to what we currently have seat-wise. But we have some time to to determine that as the uh projects in that area of the district unfold. So, that
093is where we are right now on those numbers if we were to rezone that section there. Um we did have an additional consideration. We've had um I know we had someone on the dais ask last meeting, you know, what about the choice for a feeder in that far south uh east section of the district, which is really just a couple of neighborhoods. Um specifically 218, Monticello Estates. Um that section has been is currently zoned for the East. When we did the original zoning in December 24, we heard from 218 residents. They provided feedback that the East Zone was uh more desirable because of their use of Shilo and not using 377 and and the traffic going on there. Um during discuss this discussion, we've heard from the Monticello Estate families. And their feedback is different.
094They want to use they want to be on the West Zone um using 377. Um when you look at the number of students in that that section of the district, it's really approximately 10 or less students per grade level. It's not a densely populated section of the district. Talk to transportation. Um transportation says, you know, from a recommendation standpoint, the way it's zoned is better suited for transportation cuz it eliminates the crossing of the railroad tracks for our buses getting stopped by trains. Obviously, they have to stop every time they across a train railroad track whether there's a train or not, they have to stop. Um if there is a train that has stopped them, of course, it delays their routes. Um you know, 377 it high traffic right now what they do is if
095there's high traffic on 377, they will use Shilo. Eventually, 377 will be, you know, completed and it will be a nice highway. Um but their recommendation from a transportation standpoint is that it remain in the zone it is. So, we can have discussions because of the impact of the number of students in that section doesn't really, you know, swing much on either side to leave it as is, um move it over to the west, or to leave it and then provide choice if those families any of those families want to attend Canyon Falls High School and Scott Gibson Middle School pattern, then they could or they could do that. So, that's the information that we have for you this evening. If they're given choice, though, transportation would be on them? Yes. If if if we
096leave the if we leave the zone where it is in the eastern that that's where the transportation is provided. If they chose [clears throat] to use the western feeder, then they would transportation would be on them. And is this something that this would just be grandfathered just for the families that are currently there, or is this in perpetuity? I think that I think because of the number of homes that are there, the few number of students, I think it could just be part of the the zoning package, if you will. Mhm. But we need to be really clear. Right. Whatever you all >> everywhere. You don't get to send an email and tell your story and change zones. >> Yeah, it's a it's >> willing to give up transportation, Right. >> it's opening a door
097that I get it. >> it could be really hard to And once they choose, they choose. >> Mhm. There's no going back. Yes, there's >> And again, we don't need to make that decision today, >> Right. tonight. Right. Yeah, that's like a May 18th decision. No, no, no. Master Why wouldn't you? No, May 18th is fine. Yeah. But why wouldn't you? I think we need to give it some more thought. Yeah. And we got one email today. I I know I'd like to think more on it. Well, I raised it last month and I've been thinking about it for a month. I'm not giving And I do want to I did want to share as well, we did have some some few families in the Monticello actually go through the Just Ask Argal, so I
098wanted to say I appreciated them using that system to enter their comments. [snorts] So, I know we received those in a couple of them today, maybe one earlier in the week. Um so, that was good because then I was able to filter those to the trustees as well. So, wanted to thank them for using the Just Ask Argal platform to provide their input. Here's what I would say. If I think that it makes sense to give this difficult area within the geographical area within the district choice. Okay. Um of course, I like anytime you use the word choice, I'm kind of like, let's let's do it, except school choice. Um but and so, if if that's where I'm probably going to land on this deal is like, you know, I don't know what green and
099purple make, but shade that's that that color that for that that two or three neighborhoods in there. And >> dead end back in there anyway. >> Yeah, and then and then and and make the decision because you're not really impacting any I mean, they got a choice. You're not changing anything on them. I mean, if you were going to say, let's leave them in or move them to the west zone, I'd say, you better, you know, announce that and give it a month, but if you're saying, hey, you got choice, why would you sit around and wait. Well, here's so, I I hear what you're saying, but if if we're keeping them in the east zone for now because it's easiest on transportation now, then I don't know is that the best decision for the
100next 3 years or are we or is this the best decision in perpetuity? Because I don't know that when 377 is completed, that that's that the zone the east zone is the best zone. And so, having having the choice, but having the choice may be the best thing, but the zone that they're in and the the zone the most efficient zone for our transportation department may not be the zone. So, are we just making the decision that we're giving this area a choice, but then we we may rezone them in the future if it makes sense >> It's It's a fair point. I just think that that's a decision that would be a lot easier to make in 3 years when or 4 years when 377's done and transportation comes back and says it's a
101lot easier to provide transportation to that area to the west zone. You leave it choice, but you just all you're changing is their transportation. I think to Sam's point, that's the There's more discussion because you can point to other parts of the district that are outskirted, you know, north, west as well that make where they make the same choice. >> I still think they could. >> make the same argument. >> So, when do you all want to make the decision? I I I honestly think like the feedback we received and yes, you brought it up last month and you know, say that, but the feedback we received today, I I I don't I think it brings on more things that we need to discuss. Ask, you know, not everyone's looked at it every day like
102you have, Mr. Westerman. So, um We going to make this after you're gone? I I can't speak to that. The Dr. Carpenter and I will talk about what goes on the agenda later date. Um but I think tonight we have an action item ahead of us that we have had a month to look at. Um and this is definitely something that we can um have future consideration, look at the ramifications of uh what that means for the district in totality based upon the feedback we received from this neighborhood and what we've received in the past from others as well. So, um So, you really have reconfiguration and then the zone the re- the zoning of the undeveloped First Branch piece. And then I guess it would be a third piece for later if that's what
103you want to do if that you all want to do. No, that's not what I want to do. I mean, you could do it and then just set it up to have a review in 3 years. And bring, you know, bring it up again, you know, in 3 years it'll be reviewed and whatever's going on then is fine. It doesn't have to be permanent. So, I mean, you could just make a motion to approve the long-range plan and facilities plan with an amendment to Yeah. Yeah, you could do that. Yeah, and just leave. All right. Okay, so I'll I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 8B long-range growth and facilities planning as presented. I move that we approve that action item as presented. All right. Action item 8B as presented, motion by Mr. Hawksworth.
104Do I hear a second? Second. Mrs. Leen, are there with the second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. Raise your hand. I. Any opposed? Opposed. All right. He didn't raise his hand. He did not raise his hand. Opposed. So, to confirm, that was the long-range plan and the First Branch portion zoning. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. undeveloped the undeveloped piece. Thank you. Good. Time 7:25 p.m. We are adjourned. Thank you.