AISD School Board Meeting 1-20-26

001All right. Good evening. It's January 20th, 2026. The time is 5:00 p.m. This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Argal ISD Board of Trustees. At this time, we will determine if a quorum is present. Leon McDade present. >> Josh Westerm present. >> Rich McDow present. >> Lean Arthur present. >> Matt Sllayton present. >> Craig Hawksworth present. >> N Sam Sllayon present. We do have a quorum established. Uh under the authority of the Texas Government Code 551 subchapter D. The board will now go into close session at it is still 5:00 p.m. for 551.074 personnel matters and public officers 551.082 082 student and employee disciplinary matter or complaint 551.072 deliberation regarding real property. Thank you. All right. Good evening. Time is 6:05 p.m. We have returned from executive session. Uh at this time, we are

002going to have our Argyle High School uh come up here and help lead us in the pledges. Drake. >> Good evening. Um I'm Mr. Humphre. I'm one of the assistant principles over at Argal. Um I'm super excited for our Circle of Friends program to be here and lead you guys in the pledge. And I'd like to welcome up individually uh some of our teachers also to introduce themselves before we lead you guys in the pledge. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Talon Kindred. I'm a student at Argal High School. And one thing that I love about Argal is the awesome programs I get to be a part of like Circle of Friends. Thank you. [snorts] >> Hi, my name is Sam and I really enjoy being at Argyle because I like my

003classmates. They're very nice and I like circle of friends, too. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Elijah. I I'm in 11th grade and I like um sports in Argal High School. >> Excellent. >> Welcome, Elijah. >> Thank you. >> My name is Natasha Fox. I'm a sponsor of Circle of Friends and I love getting to come spend my days with these guys every day. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Marie Morrison. I'm also a sponsor of Circle of Friends and I'm happy to be here. Thank you for having us. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. All right, >> whenever yall are ready to flag the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

004flaggis. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. All right. Take a picture. Perfect. >> Great job, guys. All right. Thank you again for um Argal High School, our circle of friends helping us with our pledges today. All right, this time we'll have Mr. Hawksworth lead us in our opening prayer. >> Dear Lord, thank you so much for all you do for us each and every day. Things we're aware of, the things we're not aware of. Please be with us um as a board and as administration. Guide our decisions to do things and treat others in the way that um would honor you. Um, also help us get through the school year. We're on a home stretch. Be with our students and our staff and give them a calmness and a peace each and every day.

005We love you, Lord. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Mr. Hawk. >> Thank you. >> So good. >> All right. So, we have it is January, so we get to celebrate across the state of Texas board appreciation month. And we always enjoy doing this. I know there are lots of goodies um in front of you. We also have some posters and things made by all of our campuses. I think several of our principles are here. Um we had we enjoyed seeing the portraits. Um I'm not sure who made who made the poster over there through the portraits. >> High school. Um so if you haven't seen if you haven't taken opportunity there to see the portraits, we have had had a good time looking at those. They also have some great cards. Um, I know Hilltop

006provided some cookies, but just an opportunity for us to come together publicly and say thank you to our board of trustees. They um, they work tirelessly behind the scenes in our communities. They really do a great job of representing our community, their constituents across the district and many of them are also parents, but they they hold full-time jobs and they do this um, in conjunction with that and this takes a lot of time. And so I I know I personally appreciate each and every one of them. They do a great job um advocating for our community and we um have do spend a lot of time together in different areas and different ways. But appreciate y'all very much. I know this year's theme is our future is public. Um and so we you know we

007talk a lot about the the story of public schools and you know Argyle is a special story and we're it's special because of the office the places that you serve but also keeping the high expectations in this district and so we greatly appreciate that. Um, but we do have our seven trustees and we'd like to celebrate you all this evening. I'm going to, if you don't mind, take just a moment to read a proclamation and resolution in honor of our AR Argal ISD board of trustees. Whereas the mission of public schools is to meet the educational needs of all children and to empower them to become competent, productive contributors to a democratic society and an everchanging world. And whereas local schoolboard members are elected by their community members to do what's best for students. And

008whereas local schoolboard members work closely with parents, educational professionals, and other community members to create the educational vision we want for our students. And whereas schoolboard members are responsible for ensuring the structure that provides a solid foundation for our school system. And whereas local schoolboard members are strong advocates for public education and are responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public. and the public's expectations to the district. Now, therefore, I, Courtney Carpenter, do hereby declare my appreciation to the members of the Argyle ISD board and proclaim January as school board recognition month in Argyle, Texas. I urge all citizens to join me in recognizing the dedication, hard work of our local schoolboard members and in working with them to mold an education system that meets the needs of today's and tomorrow's

009children. So, officially recognize you all. Thank you so very much for what you do and uh would like to get up and take a picture. And I think y'all need to check your what's in your bags real quick, please. >> Thank you. Another crown. >> And it's not a crown. >> Crown just for your crown. >> Already. >> You might need it cold. We can do that. >> Thank you. Mhm. Yeah. >> All right. Let's make sure we get a picture of the board. >> Good deal. >> Some swag. >> Take the swag. >> Wherever you want to hold up. >> Should we have to do our swag or just the bag? Bag's good. Are you taking your bag? >> Just the bag. What they're going to be in the future's >> there's a future

010stormchaser in there 45 years. Thank you. [applause] >> Celebrate one day. We always enjoy celebrating you all, but January is your month. >> Motion to approve. [laughter] January is your month. Second. >> Here comes the motion here. That was >> a quick second over. >> Yeah, I mean that was quick down there. >> So, he does know how to do that. >> Yeah, he does. [laughter] >> Has no wife is watching her on pouring salt in the wound, aren't you? >> Oh gosh. >> Just trying to help, sir. He read Robert's rules over last month. >> All right. Just trying to get some >> There we go. >> Real estate up here. All right. We do have public forum now and we're going to move into I'm going to do my reading. We have two

011people that are signed up to speak this evening. So, here we go. All right. Well, now we're now moving into the public forum portion of tonight's meeting. Please note that board policy requires speakers to sign up in person before the meeting is called to order during this portion of the meeting. Board members will listen to comments, but as the designated spokesperson, only the president may respond to the speaker if needed and refer concerns to the appropriate administrator. Speakers can comment on agenda items, but trustees will not be able to discuss the items until they are before the board during the meeting. Board policy beed local provides the presiding officer the ability to adjust the time allotted per speaker for effective meeting management. Pursuant to that policy, an individual's comments to the board at tonight's meeting

012shall not exceed 5 minutes. The presiding officer may reduce the allotted time for each individual to speak to no less than one minute for effective meeting management. Speakers are not allowed to receive time from other individuals. Tonight, each speaker will receive five minutes. Specific complaints about individual district personnel are to be processed through the district's grievance policies as set out in district policies DBA, FNG, and or GF. Speakers are not permitted to refer to individual students or employees by name during the public comment period. Additionally, if you have a pending grievance that may come before the board in a level three hearing, please refrain from addressing the topic of your grievance except through the grievance process. Per board policy BEED and this board's operating procedures. The board will not allow disruption of the board meeting

013by members of the public. If after one warning from the presiding officer, any person continues to disrupt the meeting by words or actions, the person will remove be removed from the meeting. All right. >> Okay. >> Four more times. >> What's that? >> Four more times. You have to read that. >> Oh, okay. Let's start a countdown. All right. Thank you, Mr. Hawksworth, there's so many. >> Just reminding you. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Maybe four. That could be the last one right there. >> How was that? >> Never mind. Go. >> Okay. All right. All right. Our first speaker tonight, uh, Angela Martinez. [snorts] All right. Good evening. >> All those rules. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Well, >> he's really helpful. He'll he'll let you >> Mr. Sllayton's here. He will keep you

014on the rails. So, when you do have one minute left, Mr. Sllayton will let you know you have one minute left. Um, but as soon as you're ready to begin, the the floor is yours. So, welcome. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, at the last meeting that we had that was I guess for this side of town, um, poor Mr. Westerm got cornered by me at the end of the meeting and we talked for a while afterward. Um, very patient. But I'm going to start this off by saying it. It's kind of important. So, obviously my husband and I just well, you don't know this, but we just paid over like a $36,000 tax bill. Uh, one of the line items over $25,000 going to AISD. As of two weeks ago, I no longer have an

015AISD student. I had to pull her from school. Um, so these are just some of the things I'm hoping that are going to be discussed coming up very soon that we don't have to keep our kids in limbo. Um, one is she's on the bus over an hour every morning. I personally think that's absolutely ridiculous. And that's only when she's remembered. She's forgotten about quite frequently. The poor guy that runs the bus department is an angel. He knows who I am. Unfortunately, he picks up my phone calls every single time. But she is lost, forgotten about. It's been a horrible the the app is I know it's trying. You're trying. It does not work. It is wrong all the time. Um I just think that in the busing also that have you guys thought about

016how you're going to deal with this construction that's starting this year. It's going to be a huge issue. If she's already on that bus an hour now, what is it going to be with road construction? I mean, we all deal with it every day. It's a nightmare. I just hope that you guys are thinking about this and you're going to let us know soon the plans to deal with the transportation of 377 with the road construction. Um, another one is curriculum. I'm a little frustrated. Um, I have a child that is still in LSD. I cannot bring him to AISD. I want to more than anything I do not like having to drive my children in two different directions, but there's not a curriculum in AISD in the elementary school program to match LISD. He

017is in the Spanish immersion program and if you're not familiar with it, it is phenomenal. My daughter, who is now in seventh grade, which will come up in a little bit, um is very sad that she's not in school right now. She's crying every single day. She wants to go back to her friends. Very popular. not happy with me at the moment, but she is not even getting credit for Spanish in school. She's in seventh grade. She is auditing seventh grade Spanish because she already has high school credit for Spanish. And so, she's not in PE because she has early out for dance. Her first class is Spanish. She gets no credit for it. She does a couple of classes, has lunch, and she's gone. The and then she's on the bus an hour in

018the morning. So, until all this gets addressed, I want her in school. I paid $25,000 to ASD. I this feel that I need to get more from ASD. I know you guys are trying. I know there's been a horrible growth crunch, but there's still a lot more to go. And I just hope that we're going to hear from parents because in our neighborhood, I speak with a lot of the parents. They don't really have a lot of high school kids yet in middle school. We have there's a lot more elementary school kids in our neighborhood, but they talk to me and we speak and these are all concerns. It's not just coming from me, it's coming from our neighborhood. Um, but I'd like to see more at the elementary level. Like I would love to

019have him in AISD. I hate having to go all the way to Wellington every day. Um, and then back and then when my daughter doesn't get on the bus, now I'm having to drive her up to the middle school and then come back. It's like almost a two-hour circle. That's crazy. Um, so anyway, I just would like for that as a curriculum just to start thinking more about foreign language and the kids. It's amazing they learn it. Um, and the last part is, which is what I cornered him about and I feel so bad, but it's still an issue is our three neighborhoods of Pepper Creek, Monino, and to are being busted to the far north when this whole redistricting thing happens when we drive right by this one right here. >> One minute. >>

020Okay. Thank you. Um, that's it. It's really just I hope that I know that at least what it said that it's not finalized, that the redistricting like plans are not finalized, but I find it a little absurd that we have to pass this school right here to drive all the way to the far north, especially with the road construction. If you can't tell, I'm not a fan of road construction and I know it's coming just because I've lived around it forever. Um, but that's it. Those are just a few things I just want to address with you guys because I don't know how to do it individually. So, I just figured I'd just do it all here. No complaints. I mean, not in a bad way, just things to think about and hope that there

021are people that are out there that are wanting this information [clears throat] um soon so that we can all make decisions because she really wants to go back in the fourth quarter. Actually, she'd want to go back tomorrow. But, thank you. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. And our last speaker this evening, uh, Justin Ford. >> Good evening, Mr. Ford. You know the rules of the road, so the floor is yours. >> Can you all hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. Um, I just wanted to introduce my myself to everyone uh either in the room watching online. Um, and let you know that as of last week, I submitted my application to uh run for school board uh for place one for this election. Uh just as a

022quick intro to everyone who um may not know me, I live in the Harvest community with my wife and three kids. My wife's a teacher at JRE currently. I have three kids graduating class of 2031, 33 and 35. Uh so a pretty even spread there. They're all in activities and I they can't drive themselves. So it's it's busy, right? Um I've been an active member of the community since moving here in uh 2019. Uh coaching youth sports through multiple organizations. I volunteered through the watchd dogs program both at West and JRE. Um, also actively supporting and leading the different groups at the Well Community Church on 407. Uh, I volunteered my time also to support the advisory and planning committee for the high school back in 2022 and then the bond planning committee both for

02324 and 25. Um, basically I submitted my application to run in an effort to continue leading the the whole district through all the change and growth and everything that's coming. We're all really well aware of what's happening. there's just more coming, right? Um, and also just want to be able to provide open, honest communication to everyone in the district. Um, you know, online, in person, whatever method I can and be as, you know, I guess reachable as possible, right? Um, regardless of where I live or where my kids attend school year to year, um, I plan to do my best to, you know, just address all the unique challenges we face and be a representative of everyone in the community from the far north, south, my own community, the unincorporated areas and everything. Um, happy

024to meet with anyone to answer questions about myself or, you know, what I plan to do as part of the school board and just, you know, hear concerns about the district [clears throat] in general. I appreciate for the time. >> Thank you. >> I did tell you it's one meeting a month, right? Is that right? >> Just one. >> All right. Thank you. Sorry. You've been here 12 years. Learn the rules. All right. Thath closes our public forum here. We'll have consent items. We may have donations. Okay. And for [clears throat] January of 2026, donations ABC fiscal year 2026. Number five, $6,676.91 for football sweats. ABC fiscal year 2026. Number six, $3,873.99 for boys track apparel. All right. And then CompuDop Incorporated, $500. JRE, 100 computer mice. And Argal Band Boosters, $20,000 for the color

025guard position. Total January donations, $31,50.90. Okay. Does anyone have any questions on any of the consent items? I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent items as presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Oh, Mr. McDow with a second. All right. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. [clears throat] >> Raise your hand, Josh, please. Thank you. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Okay. Get to move on to construction. Mr. Cohen. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So, I have two reports for you tonight. We'll start with construction and then I've got a bond update for you afterwards. [clears throat] So, starting with the stadium, I've got an overall shot for you here. Uh, I think you've seen this before.

026All the red seats are in. All the red panels on the grandstands are in. So, they're kind of wrapping up finishes in the press box. So, uh, this view is not going to really change a whole lot from month to month now as they wrap everything up. [clears throat] Another shot from the top of the grand stands looking at our video board. Uh, the district logo that you see on the video board there. That is approximately the size on the board of the logo that will be out on the face of the press box in case anyone's wondering. It's going to be that's about 24 feet there. 24 feet tall. This picture is one of our uh two break rooms. We have one on each occupied level of the press box. Uh I think this

027is the lower level. So this the coaching level uh PA uh timekeeper scorekeeper. This will be their little break area where they can get drinks or snacks during a game. This picture is of a large hospitality suite we've got up on the second floor. Uh so this would be uh probably board members suite frequently I'm sure uh special guest and the like. [clears throat] This picture is of our video production room. So this is kind of where all the magic's going to happen behind the scenes. So there'll be four to six, seven people in this room. Uh they're the ones that are going to make the video board work, the scoring work, run the ads, run the replays, uh stadium lights, anything technology-wise that happens is going to happen out of this room. Picture of

028the indoor activity center. Uh they are uh complete with wall panels on this end. There's only half of them in this photo, but that has been completed since this was taken. shot another angle north side of that. You can see here in the foreground where we've got some parking lot that we've demoed out in preparations to replace that. And what we've done is we've widened that drive. This was uh this came up a few months ago and we talked about it at a board meeting where it was difficult where we had to make a U-turn uh to get into that parking lot while we had the other drive closed. So, this will improve that turn when it's complete. And we're just currently waiting on site plan approval from the town so we can put this

029back in. Look ahead. Uh, getting all the technology in that production room you saw, getting all that finished. Uh, and then starting testing. I think they're going to start testing video board tomorrow. Uh, so we'll probably see a lot of different images on that throughout the day. uh interior finishes. They're completing those now. Getting into punch list and touchup of those. Uh they did walk and and create some punch list this morning with the architect. So that'll be ongoing till they get all those complete and still working with the town to get all of our final inspections. Uh I think we may have uh three or four buildings final this week. Uh they won't issue COS. Uh that's just how the town works until we close out the indoor activity center which will be the

030last one. and then they have to do a final sitewalk and that's that's the last piece for the town before they actually give you those cos. So all of that should be happening over the course of the next couple weeks. Um I hope to maybe not have a report on this for you next month other than to say it's done and there's just a reminder of the milestones. Uh substantial completion in January that's going to be very close. it may actually roll into February before they achieve that substantial completion, which is kind of the contractual goal that they have. Moving on to the middle school here, we've got an overall site looking north or over overall shot of the site looking north. Uh they have completed the uh shopput areas that you see in the

031foreground in front of the tennis courts there. Uh, so they'll actually be able to coach from the center of those two so that one coach can actually coach two students at the same time. The way that we've set this up, this shot's looking at our building, kind of looking northwest, uh, they've got the building is in the dry and everywhere you see the white on the roof there, that's the the final sheet or the cap sheet as we refer to it. So anywhere it's black, it's in the dry, so it's not going to get wet if it rains, but they haven't got the final layer on. And that's that has been progressing and that will will wrap up this month. Same angle, just a little lower shot. So you can see the masonry completed all

032the way around the classroom wing here. Uh the areas you see in gray [clears throat] is going to get a metal panel in there and they are currently starting to work on those. This shot is of our band hall, one of the band hall spaces inside uh what we're actually looking at here. This pocket that you see, that is where all of our winger practice rooms will go. So, that's a a soundproof room uh where you can have one-on-one practice, and you really can't hear that. So, it doesn't disturb the rest of the group outside of the main band hall while they're doing that practice. This shot we're looking in the kitchen. So, we're looking uh hanging from the ceiling. You can see our two exhaust hoods installed. And then in the background, that's the

033uh the walk-in cooler and freezer that's been installed. [clears throat] Uh those are always items that have to go in very early just due to their physical size. This is just a shot of a typical classroom interior. Uh they're continuing to work their way through the the classrooms. Uh but they have started taping bed in most of those. I believe at the end of last week they got uh the last framing inspection. So they'll actually be closing up both sides of all those walls now. Uh here are the bleachers at our football field have been installed. We have uh seats for approximately 750 on one side. And so these uh have some stairs and ramps left to go, but the bulk of it's in and there in the center at the top is the space

034where we have a pre-fabricated press box that will be coming in and and set on top of there. Just a small press box. Look ahead. Uh we're looking at getting uh the roofing complete all the way to the cap sheet done. Um interior finishes in the gyms and fine arts will be ongoing. uh complete the glass around the perimeter of the building. That's nearly 100% complete. And where it's not, most of the areas have been temporared in for now. And then looking at making our permanent power connection, uh all of our easements and things just got approved for that. So now we're now looking to get on uh co-serves construction schedule. So that gets main power to the building with completion of that work. And that will probably take about a month to get them

035on site to do that. >> Hey Jeff, I know it's ticky tacky, but we've got some time until completion. >> So for our buildings that have names on them, maybe Pogue or Mr. Herren could get the names actually put in those slides. >> It takes beating us over the head a few times to, you know, it's middle school to us. Middle school one. We've known it for so long that way. It's tough, but we'll try. >> Awesome. >> And I will try when I speak of it. bring up playground equipment or elevators. Again, that >> it's a deal, >> right? [laughter] >> And then here we just got our uh just our reminder slide, some of our key milestone dates. And so we're still tracking uh to achieve a July 26 substantial completion. Michael Ball

036Elementary School. >> There we go. >> Or number five. >> Look at that. >> Learn quick sometimes. Uh so this is on the same site as the middle school. U so there's not a lot to see in these photos. Uh but in in here the building pad has been prepped. Uh they've done the moisture conditioning, brought it back up to grade, capped it with the select fill. Uh on the right you can see an excavator starting to work there on some utilities, the red excavator. Uh and the site's actually very torn up right now. There's actually a lot of work going on since these photos were taken. It's just a reverse angle of the same. You can see all the utility materials have been delivered and stored. So, those are going in the ground now.

037And look ahead, continuing on our underground utilities. Uh working on underground electrical. They're going to start concrete pier drilling. Uh and then steel erection. We've got all that steel in production. It's starting to be fabricated. We're getting pictures of stored materials. So, it's going to be coming out real soon and start to see that structure going up. The goal is to try to get as much of that heavy work with the cranes and the large equipment done before we have to open a middle school so that we're not trying to manage that while we've got all the traffic and the parents and the kids and keep it safer. And there's some key milestone dates uh just that we'll track throughout uh from permitting all the way through substantial completion. So currently we're tracking for a

038February midFebruary substantial completion on that. Any questions on any of those? >> So, are you hoping to be dried in by the time the middle school opens? >> Um, it's pretty close. >> It's going to be close. I don't know if we'll be dried in on this one by the time it opens, but we'll be getting we'll be making good progress getting close. >> [snorts] >> So, next I have a uh just an update on the 2025 bond. Since normally we don't bring anything and present to you until we're in construction, we thought we'd bring you something just kind of tell you where we're at with with everything that's in the bond because there's a whole lot that happens before we get to those construction reports. That's good. Thank you. Uh, and just to start

039with, we wanted to put this out there. Uh, I don't know that everybody knows this or not, but we've got a subcommittee that was formed, uh, consisting of three of our board members that we work with, and we meet on a regular basis to discuss all the construction issues as we're working through there. Uh, this has been going on for several months now. And uh that just helps uh us uh support what we need and getting answers and decisions and uh hopefully it helps you all with with transfer of some knowledge uh in at a more detailed level than just a quick once a month report that I give you. So start off with Proposition A, our facilities uh infrastructure and renovations. Uh this was the amount approved in the bond. This has not all

040been sold yet, but that is what was approved for Proposition A. Uh starting off, uh we've got capital improvements projects at Hilltop Sixth Grade Center and 377 that we identified. And so we've broken them into phases. We didn't sell all of the funds uh that were allocated or budgeted for those projects. So we looked at the scope, determined what needs we really need to do now, and made sure we got that in the first sale. So, we've been working on that. Our construction documents are in progress on all those. We're probably at about 90% complete on those drawings. Uh, probably within a matter of a week or two, they could be 100% and out on the street. Uh, we're just working through a few last minute changes there and determining scope, maybe determining some alternates

041that we need to bid. Uh on that uh we've got a projected start date of summer 26 on these and projected completion date of fall 27. I think that should say fall 26 for phase one. So that must be a typo that I had. Uh so here are just a few details for you um on what was included in our phase one and then I've just referred the rest as phase two. I don't know if it can turn into more more phases than than two. Uh at Hilltop, it's mostly exterior work. Uh there's really no interior work at this point. Uh so we're addressing some erosion issues that we've got ongoing, repairing some sidewalks, um some retaining walls that are starting to have issues, uh and and some sight sealant. Um some brick repairs around

042the building. [clears throat] at 377. Uh our phase one uh improvements um cover some things at baseball softball. We're looking at doing some covers for the seating at baseball and softball. Uh we've got renovations at the concession stand with some things at the fields as well. Uh we are replacing turf on all the fields over there, including the indoor activity center uh this summer. that's actually being led by uh our maintenance department, maintenance group. Uh not part of our contract documents that I work with the architects on. Uh resurfacing of the track is included. Again, that's something that we're uh handling through the maintenance department, not through our architect. We'll just coordinate. Um and then on the interior, we've got a major theater uh overhaul which will include a lot of lighting, rigging. There'll be

043some architectural elements that we get into. Um some painting just a whole lot of various things uh related to the theater sixth grade center. Uh phase one uh here on this campus that works a lot less that we've got planned. Uh we've got some MEP stuff that we're looking at. Uh and then some utility issues that we're also looking at addressing. the connector hallway over here at Canyon Falls connecting our two classroom wings. We've got schematic design in process. We had a meeting with architect last week to review where they're at. Um so there there's not a lot uh we can change at this point. It is a just a hallway. Uh so there's not a lot of architectural things to deal with. So that one should probably progress quite rapidly through the rest of

044the phases getting that into the town for site plan approvals and things. Uh we do have an RFQ that was issued to hire our construction manager on that project. So that is currently open. We've got some interviews scheduled for Thursday with some firms and uh after that we'll be bringing you a recommendation in February. Um got a fall 2026 projected start date for that project. Um that would be a late fall, I suspect. And then a fall 2027 projected completion date. >> Is that to begin the fall or sometime during the fall in 27? >> Other words, would it be ready for the school year? >> No. No. To actually complete in the fall, not not complete by August of 27. >> Okay. Gotcha. >> Yeah. Sometime in the fall. >> Um, we've got some

045I feel like something's got out of order here, but I'm going to roll with it. um land purchases. We've got uh 128 acres uh that we purchased off of Robson Ranch Road that's been completed. It's closed. Um and that's just some land that we're we're holding. As needs could arise, we have that available. Uh that we just back in December uh completed closing on 50 acres on Harpell Road just north of the current middle school campus. and Jeff. So, um, okay, never mind. It's on the next slide. You've got it. >> Okay. Yeah, I feel like we may have somehow these may have moved on me or something. Okay, I wasn't expecting that one yet. [clears throat] >> Uh, so, new middle school 2. Uh, we're currently in the process of architect selection on that

046project. And in fact, uh, we'll bring that to you later tonight for approval of an architect. Um the location uh is on the Harpole site mentioned in the slide before and then the projection would be for this to open for the school year of 2029 and I'll clarify that and not use fall anymore. Okay. >> Elementary school number six. Uh same with architect. We'll be bringing that later tonight for architect approval. uh same schedule for opening uh for school year 2930 and that location currently will be in First Ranch on 50 acres that we've already purchased about a year ago I want to say. >> Yep. So it'll be on about theif the 15 acres of that 50, right? Yes. Okay. >> Uh transportation parking lot here at Kenyon Falls that we've been we've been

047working on that one. Uh we've actually got construction documents in progress. Um projected start uh will be summer of 2026 sometime probably later. Projected completion uh sometime fall winter of 2026. It won't be a very long duration project once we get approvals from the town. We have made our initial site plan submission submission to the town. and they have uh returned comments and so we're in the process of addressing those and getting a resubmission uh back to them for their second review. New middle school uh number three planning was included along with some buses and technology uh kind of group these together on one slide. We actually have not done any work on these particular items at this time. Proposition B, this was our baseball and softball facility here at Canyon Falls. So, we are

048currently in the design development process. Um, our RFQ for construction manager on this one is also open. It was issued the same time as our connector hallway on this campus. And those same interviews for this one will be Thursday as well. And we'll be bringing you a recommendation for construction manager in February. Projected start date would be later this fall 2026 with a target completion date of late fall 2027. The goal being that this is complete for the start of baseball season in 2028. >> And I believe that is it for that any questions? >> Appreciate the detail. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for the update. All right, >> Dr. Carpenter, >> my turn. All right, thank you. Yeah, so we have several things going on that I mean, we

049haven't been back to school but a couple weeks and lots of celebrations just in those in those two weeks to go through with you. So, we've got a kind of smattering of pictures here, but um we just had Music Man, the theater production for the high school this past weekend. Last week we got to have a traveling uh the traveling barbership quartet entertaining around the district. And so in fact I've had an email somebody was asking how they could get them signed up to come to their business. So um they have that has that word has spread. They did a great job such such talent. Um I know Miss McGarvey got to take her grandchild grandchildren and she was raving over that. So great job by our theater production with music man. We also had

050this past weekend simultaneously going on. We had UIL spirit competition with our cheer team and our ladies did that group did a great job at a 5A division 2 there were 76 teams and they placed 12th. So they made finals on Saturday and ended up placing 12th. So great job to Miss Hawk and and the entire spirit competition team. We also had on Friday we had our UIL elementary academics. [clears throat] So um just you know for perspective here a lot of districts will have combined uh UIL elementary academic competitions and we have so many students we only have our own so we have 442 actually participating last Friday and so um usually it's at the first United Methodist Church but this year we held it at the the fellowship of the parks church in

051North Lake. Um so great utilization of their space. They opened their doors. They helped us move chairs. I know um our Horizon teachers were very very thankful for that. But just all the teachers and the coaches that go in and the work that goes into that. It's quite a production and our kids love it. They let them off the buses and they come running in the front doors and they're excited and I know did you judge Miss Arthur? Did Dr. McDday? Did you judge? Anybody else judge this time? >> So I know it's a it's a huge event. So thank you for being a part of that. Um very proud of them. And then we also have our DECA and our Hostessa students at the high school. They had competitions last week and we had

052a record number of students at the high school participating in DECA. So we had 108 students participate in that's the most in our history and 33 advanced to the state DECA meet um which will be held and Mr. Kershaw is our representative uh sponsor for that group and that's our distributive education clubs of America and then our HOSA which is our health science group we had um future health professionals we had six students qualify for state and that'll be in Corpus Christie in March. So great uh results coming out of those organizations. And then we also had a top 10 finisher in the fall national qualifier for the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist Competition and that student was Rithic Douglas. So congratulations to Rithic on that. Top 10 finisher and a national qualifier. Uh we also

053have Julian Caldwell. Uh if you don't know Julian, he is um one of our junior standout football players at the high over here at the high school. He participated in the Under Armour All-American game over Christmas break in Florida. Um so just an incredible honor for Julian and I know his recruiting has has really heated up and he's been seeing a lot of coaches coming through the the school school over here to see him, but um going to have a great senior year and we're very proud of Julian. He serves on my superintendent advisory council and he's just an incredible incredible young man. So we're very very proud for him. And then we also had right before the break, uh, Representative Andy Hopper, our state rep, um, brought, uh, presented a resolution to our band

054program, our high school band for their, uh, place at the state UIL marching contest. So, we appreciate his um, recognizing our band program. And then from our winter sports, boys soccer, they're ranked 10th in state right now. Girls soccer's ranked sixth, and our girls basketball continues to soar through district, and they're number two in state right now. So, a lot of things going on with our um all of our programs and you'll notice our school our campus administrators are all over the place at different activities going on. Um in fact, we've got district basketball going on tonight. So, girls wrestling won the Coyote Classic meet this weekend. And then the last thing I want to celebrate is our Capitol the Classroom podcast which is head up by Maddie Fairchild, teacher at South Mr. Orlowski, teacher

055at the high school, and Katie Hayden, our principal at West. Their third episode dropped today. So, if you do not know about the Capital to the Classroom uh podcast, you should join that. Join in on that and check out their third episode today. So, believe that's all I have as far as celebrations, but I do want to share as always an enrollment update and our class size update because that is was a board budget priority coming out of last year into this year. um where we added I know the board approved um $3.5 million worth of teacher positions to get our class sizes down. So always like to make sure you see that every month and then see where our enrollment is is hovering over and we're right there um at our October projections holding

056holding right there. And then really just some updates. Um we have the schoolboard election that'll be on May 2nd. So filing is currently open. Um Mr. Harren and his team, Mr. sailor are working currently on the process for the mascot and colors logo for Argal Middle School and Argal Legacy High School. So, we'll be sharing some drafts with our East Zone families um in the coming weeks. We also have Argyle Education Foundation's annual gayla coming up and new location this year. It's going to be at the reserve at Marty Be. So, we're excited about that location. And then February 4th will be National Signing Day at the high school where our student athletes will be signing for their uh schol college scholarships. And it's also for the first time I believe Mr. Herren is being

057sponsored by UniVal. Is that correct? So we have a sponsorship for this year's or this time. We also have a couple school holidays coming up. No school for students February 9th and 10th. I believe Dr. Jordan that is Super Bowl Monday. >> Okay. So no school for students on Super Bowl Monday. And uh that will be a virtual workday for staff and then district professional learning day on the 10th. Then we have a meet and greet with Miss Wheeler, the new principal for Scott Gibson Middle School coming up February 26th. And so that'll be going out to our parents uh for zone to that campus. We also will be starting our budget process and teacher of the year process is coming up. We'll have our prize parade on Friday, March 20th. And then if you

058are an Argo High School parent or live in Canyon Falls or part of this building, you received notification today. We have I know everyone's kind of laughing, but it is a real problem. We have a to turkey vulture infestation and they're damaging property. So we are finally in partnership with the USDA working to um eradicate safely eradicate this property of turkey vultures because there are Mr. Western. You can't they're protected. So, we're working with the USDA. >> They're going to be safe. Trust me. >> He's never read a regulation. >> They're going to be safe. >> We [laughter] We actually have We're on our fifth damaged vehicle so far with turkey vulture. So, we are trying that started. >> They will be here tomorrow to start the pyro technic process. >> So, if you hear

059those sounds, they're coming from the >> partnership with the USDA for a couple of weeks to see if we cannot relocate >> our a new subcommittee to be created by Mr. Wester. >> So deal with new examples >> when you think there's nothing else, right? So that is all we have for the superintendent report. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Carpenter. All right, Dr. Daniel got all >> almost 1500 pages here. >> He's going to read them all. >> We're going to go over them. Or do you want Matt to read them all? >> [laughter] >> Where has >> it's like the Andy Kaufman reading. [snorts] >> Okay. So, as you know, there were um a lot of House bills, Senate bills that went through legislation last summer, and this is a result

060of that. This is called update 126. It comes from TASBY. Although we're looking at these as information only, many of these um policies have already been put into place that um cell phones um the grievance process me uh reporting requirements. There were um quite a few changes and as you already know there's two parts to policy. There's the legal part of it and there's the local part of it. The legal is the law and that's that is included in this as well. But tonight we're going over the local because TASBY sends model local policies and you're able to adapt those to your district. Um they give you suggestions and then you can change it however you want. So our process for this and it is a lot. I mean he was joking about 1500 pages.

061It's a lot. It's a whole lot. >> Serious. And so we go through each one of the local policies and our cabinet is assigned different portions of it depending upon their expertise. This first one B which I'll start with that is Dr. Carpenters's expertise. So she um reviewed those and then Rick Liz myself and Don Dr. Jordan sorry um reviewed the other policies. So, as Mr. Sllayton said, I'm not going to go through all of the um every single word in the policy, but I am going to give you a brief summary of each one. And again, this is information only. It's a lot to digest, although I think a lot of it's going to already sound familiar because you've heard about this since August. Um just with us giving you updates on things that

062were going on. So, first we'll start with B. um local policy be and beed. Mr. Sllayton um was reading parts of BED earlier about public speaking, but some changes with this. As you know, we now have um time different timelines as far as when we need to post the agenda. Um the roll calling of votes, which you guys have been been doing, and then um one of the things that changed as well with BED is our start time um of 5:00 PM. You have to publish that in your policy as well. Can you go ahead and go to see? And along the way, if you have questions about any of these, you feel free to ask and I may look at Liz or I may look at Dr. >> And some of them are just

063kind of a rearranging of words >> of words. A lot of times they do that. >> The meaning may not necessarily change, but they just re rewarded things. And so we have to kind of figure that out, too. >> And most of it's just pretty ridiculous. I mean honestly I mean if you look at how the they they run their meetings down in Austin and the lack of notice and all that stuff and then they sit there and they they spend all their time telling us how to run meetings and when we have to post stuff and I mean it's just it's totally ridiculous. It's it's like >> what happened to local control, you know, I just can't even stand it. But go ahead. Well, and I we had the opportunity back in October um

064at the region 11 superintendent meeting, we actually had the opportunity to have Representative Hopper and Representative Hayes come and visit with us. And one of the thing that the both of them recognized is they there's been, you know, the talk about how central offices are bloated. There's too many people at central office. Well, they realize that it's because of the I mean, they when they start seeing it on paper and they see how many things they put in place, although we're lean up here, but >> there somebody has to >> somebody has to read all this stuff and somebody has to tell us what we need to do because the board isn't going to do it. I mean, it's just like it's just utterly ridiculous micromanaging local government. >> They're just justifying theelves, right? >>

065Yeah. It's for the few that the few districts that haven't done things right. Again, it goes back to that. >> It's exactly it's an overcorrection to a few districts that weren't doing things the right way. >> And and I think that's the sentiment that, you know, I've heard in talking with other superintendents and other uh trustees across Denton County. It's like, yes, local control is going away, but again, we're seeing our our legislators in Austin are stamping the entire state um with rules and laws and changes based upon a couple of, you know, districts. They want they want oneizefits-all for everything. And that's not who we are as a state. That's not how each district is. We're we're not the same. We're all different. Um, but our legislators time and time again just want to

066paint us with the same brush. So whether that's with finances, whether that's with grading policies, whether that's with, >> you know, rules. >> I mean, what it is is Dr. Carpenter was saying, I mean, when they pass policies and they pass new policies, it usually requires people >> to implement them, >> but they don't give you any money. They just pass the policy. They don't give any extra money to implement it. And so then you go, "Okay, well, we got to hire somebody." And then they go, "Oh my gosh, you're big and fat at the central office. You're spending too much, you know, and you're just going, it's your policy. It's >> unfunded mandates over and over again." [clears throat] >> All right. >> Can you fix We have to read them. We need to

067read them. >> That's how I feel. >> You have questions, email. So, as far as policy, um, under C, the only things I'll highlight here are, um, there's a, you'll see this on multiple tabs under policy, board policy, the removal and prohibited DEI, um, activities, whether it's contractors, teachers, staff. Um, and then the use, designating the use of private spaces by biological gender, which we were already doing. So, I'll just highlight those two there. Um, E. So, I'm sorry. Can I ask a question about the last one? >> I thought that was set by our policy where we require >> Senate Bill 8 came into effect December 3rd or 4th. So, we had to post. So, anything that's used as a multi-use space, so like a locker room. >> Sorry, I wasn't talking about that.

068Oh, >> the last one. >> Competitive bidding. >> Oh, sorry. Oh, I thought you were talking about >> I thought that was our policy. the the local side is and they allowed it to up to 100,000 which we implemented when the law changed. >> So we're already there. You're already doing it. Okay, >> listen up. We talked about this before the meeting in case it came up. Okay. Uh E uh this is instruction. Um again, these are things already already doing and some of these things we were already doing. It just puts a law requirement behind it. Um that teachers provide an instructional plan or a syllabus for each class prior to the beginning of each semester. Um there's an a review of instructional materials process now which we discussed last year as well. Uh,

069one of the big changes, and you'll see this referenced in the students section, the changing of a the reporting requirements for any kind of abuse or neglect. This one specifically is special education students because it falls under E, but it's across the board where it changed from 48 to um 24 hours. and then allowing parent conferences um designated dates and times two times per year. F uh deals with um students. Senate Bill 12 with um FA local requires a parent portal on the district's website which we have [clears throat] >> where you can submit comments um to administrators or the board. >> Uh let's see, we talked a little bit about nurses earlier this evening. Um allows nurses or other employees to administer nonprescription med in accordance with legal requirements. Uh, one of the things

070that is new is house is FFF notification to a parent within one business day if a district employees alleged to have engaged in misconduct with a student as defined by law. And then it goes into um FFG which again changes the timeline or the time frame from 48 hours to 24 which you saw in policy E earlier. And then FNG, there were a lot of changes to the grievance complaint policy as far as um timelines and bringing additional um information to um a hearing >> and we're this will update according to the new law. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. Because there are several districts that are choosing to DOI out of that. Um, but we are not. We're updating it according to the the new law. >> So, DOI will let you get out of

071that. >> Right now, it will, but I'm sure they'll it's probably going to >> DOI was just the blanket get out of jail free card for [clears throat] anything you didn't want to do, >> right? That it'll be addressed next session, I'm sure. But right now, it's being used. >> Okay. This all has to do with employees and contracts and um everything to do with employees. So, we discussed um the financial benefit for personal benefit earlier back in gosh, it July or August with, you know, if you have staff that may be providing lessons outside of the um school day or and it prohibits administrators, specifically assistant superintendents and hire from doing a similar job, but I we took brought all of those names to you. Um there were some changes to the FMLA leave

072again DEI is is a reason for you not to have a teacher come back. Um and then again more DEI. >> Oh with specifically with assisting with social transitioning. >> Cannot do that. >> Sure. I'm sure you can't give it. Thank you. >> Okay. And then G changed, this goes back to grievances. It changed the timelines for um community complaints, although it's not the same as a parent complaint, but the timelines are different. And then language regarding handguns. I was talking to Mr. Lemish about that earlier. It basically allows for somebody with an out ofstate license to be able to carry in the in the state and not be charged with a crime if you're on school property. So that is a very brief overview of the local policies. There's a more exhaustive handouts um

073of policy comparisons that if you want to go through those and look at those and have any questions between now and next month, I would be more than happy to answer those for you. >> And like you said though, you know, they became law by certain dates. They're just now coming to you as policy updates. We have already put enacted these. They're just now getting to US policy updates. >> Yeah, they had to hire people to review them and then give their thoughts on >> We're actually still waiting on the commissioner rules on some of them. >> It took us a while to get just this. I mean, we've had a couple Yes. >> It was late October or maybe early way later than that because the first round went out and we weren't in

074the first round. They did it in kind of sections. >> What's What did you say the language was regarding handguns? They changed it. They can you pull that up? Uh that is G. Go back to the other one. You're gonna have to go back to one of the other >> back to the agenda. [snorts] Yeah. Okay. It's the very last sentence. That was the big change there. Talking about prohibited items on campuses and there were exceptions to the policy and there's no violation. It used to just say Texas, but now it'll it it's not specific to Texas. If you have a handgun license from another state and you have it in your in the parking lot, it is not considered a violation. >> Okay. >> Just says it's in a >> Okay. >> It's in

075the vehicle. >> Not in the >> No, no, not in a building, but locked vehicle in a parking lot garage. Yeah, that would be fun. >> Thank you. Go up to the top. Hasn't come through yet. I think I forgot. >> Okay. The district leadership team came up with three different options for calendars. We do this every year. We send it out to the district for vote. All district staff members have the opportunity to vote. So the three options are fairly similar. Mostly the changes have to do with when spring break is and what fall break looks like. So option number one receive the most votes. That calendar is the most similar to this year's calendar. It does have the fall break. It has the parent conference days and the spring break that's approximately the

076same time as it is this year. If you'll scroll down just one more page and you can see there, that's how the votes turned out. Option one had over 50%. Option two did not have a fall break. So, you can see how that went over with 11%. Option three did have the fall break, but it had a later spring break which was attached to Easter at the end of the month just to shake it up a bit, but that one didn't get enough votes. So, right now we're looking at a calendar for next school year that is very similar to the calendar for this school year. [snorts] >> 447 responses. >> How many? >> Uh, probably I mean close to 700. >> Any questions for me >> if you talk about everything. >> Okay. Thank

077you. Okay, we're going to talk just a little bit about this year's budget before we get into our audit for last year. >> All right, so this is the uh budget amendment number two um for this fiscal year. Um, and this one actually deals with um all expenses uh just like the first one did. Um, it's increasing our expenses overall. It still keeps us um at a surplus budget. It it's all at the general fund. Um, this goes into and I think I've got it listed there. Uh, there's some required math academy training that was new in this legislative session and we're going to try and implement some of that this summer. I believe Dr. Jordan has a plan of spreading that out over several years because you have some timelines of when we have

078to have all of the teachers through that training. Uh there's some additional staff development um at the campus level. Uh there's an FTE for the dean of uh student support. Um there's some additional cameras um under that were requested under our sped department. Um and then a replacement of a police department vehicle. So we had our police department truck which transmission blew. Uh they've had it reviewed and looked at. Uh the police department feels like even fixed it would no longer be a vehicle that would be valuable to their department. Um they would rather move forward [snorts] with a new vehicle. Um what we want to do is fix it still and use it for our maintenance department because a lot of those vehicles stay local. Um so we do still see value in keeping

079the vehicle and having it fixed. Um that repairs around uh 9 or $10,000. A new police department vehicles around 65,000. Uh we did look at replacing it with a used vehicle. um for the cost of the use and the mileage that was on it. Um we felt it was better going with the new and it um this one was on the schedule to be replaced I believe in one more year. So this does bump up a replacement schedule for it um in a year. So we didn't actually have that planned in the budget originally, but that's where why it's coming in now because it's currently sitting in a shop and they are that officer is driving one of our Suburbans currently at the moment. um it's on loan from the transportation department from them. Keep

080on scrolling down and if you'll keep going past the revenue because we haven't u made any changes there to the last page which is the expenses um the functions you'll see how that um affects the functions here um curriculum there that is the uh reading academy staff development um school leadership there's an FTE and there's some more of that staff development training in that function and then the security has the uh police department vehicle as well as the cameras and I believe the cameras were 25,000 of that. Some of that um is work that we're required to put some cameras in and the remaining of that 25,000 is in case we have to put some additional ones in throughout the year. We didn't have a line item that um allotted for uh the request of

081cameras in there originally in the budget. So, this is going back and and covering what we've had to do so far and addressing any potential requests um before this fiscal year is over. So, it's still uh go down just a little bit further. It's 306,000. Again, it still keeps us in a surplus at this point. Um brings us down to about 436,000 surplus surplus if everything was spent. I saw some some quizzical looks there if you got some questions on that. >> Cameras. Um are we using the same these are in the room? This this one is specifically in a room and in a special special education department room um where a parent is able to request that camera. >> Okay. >> Are we using Austin? Are we using Vicotta? Are we granting them access

082to that camera through Vicata? >> It's not for >> staff. It's it's only if >> Oh, so it's not in our on our network. >> It is, but [snorts] the only access that we're supposed to have Just to make sure that it's online, >> you got to go where Liz is. >> Will you go up there so he can >> say everything you just said? >> Mr. Hawker is new to this. >> Um, this the way that this works is um a lot different than everything else as far as our cameras go. Um, we we really the only accesses um in technology to ensure that it's operational. um if and when uh video is necessary to be viewed, we would um either provide that individual the the footage or uh allow them access to review

083it. >> Okay. >> So there it's not everybody can have access to >> it's not something that you know the principal has. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And it's honestly the same >> we've we've restricted it from our standpoint as well. Um like I said the only um >> our only use case is to make sure that it's operational. >> Okay. And we are using the same provider. >> Correct. Okay, >> thank you. >> But it's another unfunded >> state mandate. >> That is absolutely correct. Unfunded mandate >> as was the math academy, right? >> As was the what? >> The [clears throat] training for the math academy. >> That is uh that one there was some funding in there. Um it is not directly, but they've uh put some additional funding in for

084early childhood um early education, I believe. Um, we're still trying to figure out how that directly ties uh the funding is supposed to flow to it, but you're supposed to use that category of funding for the training. >> Okay. >> And [clears throat] the the um FTE was for >> um Can you go back up? It was uh make sure I get the title correctly on that one. >> The first page. Yeah, Dina student. >> Dean of student, I believe, is what that is. One more page. >> There we go. >> So, we have that person. Dean of Student Support, FTE. >> I've noticed that on several district websites, >> uh, other districts that are adding this position >> for Hilltop. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Got it. >> That's the >> Okay, now >> it

085was a it was a administrative position that we already had. So, we >> Okay. >> Yes, we had that had that uh bill it but did not have it in the budget. >> Right. >> So, this this covers it on the budget end. I think one of the things I I learned just walking the campuses last year, budget workshop last year and then you know um walking the campuses last week when we had the opportunity to meet with the campus leaders. >> Um it was I mean consistently they feel like um their needs certainly at the elementary school levels are for more counselor AP type roles because of the amount of paperwork and 504 >> threat assessments and they feel very our elementary schools are pretty large >> and our campus leadership positions are pretty

086thin >> and so I think that you know this is meeting a need >> you know >> that I hear that I hear about >> and we're going to bring back more for the next for next year with the other campuses Okay, >> we had a need right now and then we'll have some others moving forward. >> All right, any other questions on this? >> Okay, we'll bring it back to you next month. Okay, >> and then then you're ready for the next one. >> Oh, we're ready. >> All right. So, this is our audit report for fiscal year 2425 and Dan Ton is here to present that to you. Why don't you come up? >> Um, the report's here online, but you also have a bound coffee in front of you. >> Good evening.

087>> Appreciate the opportunity to be with you tonight and to go over the audit. Uh, I want to recognize one of my staff members. Maddie Wilson is attending this meeting tonight with me. He's one of our newer staff accountants. Wanted to see how the sausage was made. >> We're typically an easier audit. So, >> we don't we don't have too many curve balls. Liz doesn't bury any Easter eggs. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Of course, she buries. I'm sorry. I'll start with our independent auditor's report which is on pages five, six, and seven. The auditor's report is what's referred to as an unmodified report. That's the highest level of reporting that you can receive as a governmental entity. The term unmodified refers to the fact that no modifications were necessary to the standard clean audit auditors

088report. There's no findings. There's no compliance issues noted. So it's an an excellent report. The audit went very well. We didn't have any uh problems during the audit. Um Liz and her staff do a great job getting us the information that we need and um the district had a good year financially. Um your uh fund balance improved. I know that staff throughout the district did a lot of work, you know, looking at expenses and you were able to to end the year with a a surplus and we'll look at that in just a minute. Um, the first section of the audit report is called manage management's discussion and analysis. It's primarily a a narrative section that just talks about what is in the financial statements and things of that nature. There are some numbers on

089pages 11 and 12 that are comparative numbers. Uh looking at fiscal year 25 compared to fiscal year 24. You're these are governmentwide numbers from the government governmentwide financial statements. And we'll talk about the difference in those in just a minute. But you can see on page 11, your net position went up from 6.5 million to 13 million. These are the numbers that include all of your capital assets, includes long-term debt. So, it's more of a consolidated type presentation as opposed to your fund by fund statements that we'll also look at. Um there was a um change in accounting principle this year. Um the standard setting body for governmental entities is referred to as the governmental accounting standards board. They issued a new pronouncement that was effective for this year dealing with compensated absences. Um, which

090for a school district is sick leave primarily. And you, as you know, Texas school districts have both state and local sick leave that can be carried over from year to year. And this standard dealt with measuring that and recording a liability for that that's been earned but will be used in a future year. Uh that resulted in a in an adjustment to your beginning net position to reduce it by 2.7 million which would have been the the liability [snorts] at the beginning of the fiscal year and then the liability went up about 200,000 during the year for additional leave that was earned but not used. Um this is another accounting standard that's that's kind of a I don't know. It's just a number. It's like your pension liability and your OPED liability. It's it's not

091going to be paid out at any specific time, but they want it measured. So, that's that's what we've done. It's a little bit harder to do in Texas because Texas has specific rules on their state leave. the state portion of all your accumulated leave. An an employee can leave next year and take that with them. So it's no longer a liability to the district, but likewise an employee can come in and bring state leave with them. So you kind of have to look at trends and do estimates to to come up with a number for that accumulated leave. I want to look at the fund financials real quickly. I know you're interested in fund balances. On pages 20 and 21, it shows your fund balances. Your general fund, which is the first column, you ended

092the year with 15.6 million of fund balance. Um on pages [snorts] 24 and 25, it shows the revenues and expenditures of the various funds. Uh you can see that your general fund went up by 2.9 million from 12.6 million to 15.6 million. Your fund balance is um about 26% of your of your expenditures. Uh that's right at three months which is a which is a good solid uh working capital base. And so before this year, you were down more like 12 uh 20%. So it was uh No, that's not right. Um it was 12, I think. So as you grow, you know, you you need to increase your fund balance because your expenditures are growing. So to to maintain the same percentage of expenditures which that's one of your indicators and first and things like

093that you have to add money to fund balance based on the growth in your expenditures. But the 15.6 million that you're at now is a is a [snorts] is a healthy amount. Uh also on page 24 and 25. You can see that your capital projects fund increased significantly um due to the bond sale that was done in in fiscal 25. You issued approximately 281 million of new bonds. Your ending fund balance is now 352 million in capital projects. Um, and that just really represents the unspent bond proceeds in the capital projects fund. And the presentation that you saw earlier shows you what all is planned for those dollars. the debt service fund went up. And again, as your debt grows, your your fund balance and debt service will will also hopefully grow to to maintain

094u good working capital in that fund. Um so I think you're in in good shape financially regarding uh your funds. And um I want to cover one other thing real quick which is towards the back of the report. It's called the federal award section begins on page 85. There's two more independent auditors reports. The first of those reports deals with all of your grant funds that you receive from both the state and the federal government. The second report deals with what are referred to as major federal fun federal grants. Your major programs are determined each year on a rotation basis so that all of your large programs are audited at least once every three years. And when I say audited, I mean audited as a major program which includes additional procedures. All of your grant

095programs are audited, but these major programs, we apply more stringent audit procedures. Um, and again, like I said, each program is covered as a major program every three years, at least once every three years. Again, both of both of those reports are unmodified reports. >> There were no findings. there were no um compliance issues noted. Um I'll be happy to try to answer any questions that you might have over the financial statements of the audit. I I just want to emphasize maybe some points if I'm if I'm the conclusions I'm drawing are correct. Based on your audit of our financials, you determined that um our revenue was higher than our expenditures >> in the general fund. >> General fund. >> Yes, sir. >> So, basically, we brought in more than we spent. >> That's correct.

096>> Pretty fiscally responsible. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> Um and we were able to uh build up our fund balance at this >> compared to the previous year. compared to the previous year, right? >> Yes. I think it was 2.9 million, right? Yeah, it went up by 2.9 million in the general fund. >> And that's a positive, right? >> Yes. >> Is there anything in that you want to draw my attention to in your analysis of our financials that says, "Hey, you're you got there's some red flags in here. Um you got some problems coming. Anything you see?" No, I mean when we look at a school district, there's there's the financial statements which we've just talked about, but in terms of bond credit ratings and things, there's a lot of non numbers issues like

097student growth, which we all know that you're growing at a high rate, property value growth. So, all of those are on a positive upbeat. So, not only just the specific numbers, but the things that make those numbers come about are all on a positive slope. So, I don't I wouldn't say that there's any specific red flags. >> Thank you. Now, you also know as y'all deal with every month that growth brings with its its issues, but I think you've done a great job of dealing with those and managing the desk and um getting the buildings built and thank you. >> All right. Anything else? I just want to give a public accolade to Miss Liz Stewart because without her this doesn't happen. So, she always does a great job. Keeps us informed, tells us stuff

098in English, which I like, not financial ease and understand it. And um great credit to her and her staff doing that. >> Very well done. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I will uh entertain a motion to approve [snorts] action item 11A as presented. >> First, >> okay, Mr. Matthew Slade, a motion to approve. Do I second? >> Second. >> All right, Dr. Leona McDade with second. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand, say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. [snorts] Everyone's so eager tonight for motions and seconds. It's amazing. What a >> Thank you all for being here. Appreciate it. >> Thank y'all. Appreciate it. >> All right. Welcome back, Liz. >> All right. >> Okay. This one was um brought to you

099last month as information [snorts] for action tonight. Um, this has to do with purchases over the local limit of $100,000. Um, which talked about just a minute ago in that policy update. Um, and if you'll remember, we tried to organize these a little bit differently and a little bit different fashion to give you a little more information about what you're seeing each time. Um, all of these I know each one of them has a description. And a lot of these are very similar because all of these have to do with the FFN at uh the new Scott Gibson Middle School, but it's broken down to um based on department um vendors and what type of items they are. Um I know you've kind of had a month to look at it and view it. Do

100you have any questions about it? Any particular items or um amounts that are on there? [snorts] >> Okay. We will have um several other items on FFN that don't have as long of lead times as some of these later on, but we're still well within our budget and project to be well within that budget that that's in that um capital construction budget. >> Okay. >> All right. Entertain a motion to approve action item 11B as presented. >> So moved. >> This is the anartha with motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. [snorts] >> Mr. Chair Rich McDall with the second. Any further discussion? All in favor raise your hand say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Cohen. Welcome back. >> Thank you. >>

101First item I have for you tonight is uh approval of our construction procurement method. And this uh is for the elementary school number six and middle school number two. Um at this time there's no budget impact. U state law gives us up to seven different procurement methods. Uh if we do not go uh competitive bid just straight which is basically low bid. Uh then we've got to get board approval for that. And so we are recommending [snorts] the construction management at risk method for both of these projects. And that's what we have for you tonight for approval. >> Mr. Western, do you have any questions on the procurement? >> And you have been working with our board subcommittee, correct? On those? >> Yes, we have. We've had several discussions about it, right? >> Yes, you're

102on that. >> But really, I I I do this um this is one of the areas that I've grown in since I've served. I I I have >> Is that trust? >> Um It's it's always been, as you know, you know, there are with rising cost, you know, with every building that we're building, it just seems like it's hard to maintain within the projected budget because of inflation and different things. Um, and so we've challenged this in our over the years. And there the other one we've have is it's called CSP, right? >> That's correct. competitive proposals which most people >> um and in my serving on that committee it's been beneficial to I thank Dr. carpet. [clears throat] I think when you have opinions about things, she does what any good leader does and

103says, "Well, you get to serve on a committee." [laughter] >> Um, >> so that we can hear we can hear all of your opinions. >> And so >> in asking architects and and others uh it does seem that um we had the opportunity to ask them and say, "What would you recommend for these projects?" [clears throat] you know what procurement method and it seemed unanimous that they would uh all prefer this CMR correct I mean that what you heard >> correct >> um and can you just speak and I just just for the benefit of the public >> why do you think CMR is the preferred procurement [snorts] method as opposed to the seal bid >> absolutely so this this method allows us to get our our general contractor director will our construction manager on

104board early at the beginning of the project while we're still in design. Uh so they are a partner in the process uh helping us with material selections uh different systems, what type of structural, what type of foundation, what type of mechanical system uh because they're the ones in daily contact with subcontractors with the trades that are really the ones that do the work. uh and so that allows us to manage the budget from the beginning toward that goal of ensuring that we are at or below what we have versus the other method we don't have the advantage of having them involved at that stage. So until we finish the drawings, send it out for bid, receive those bids, we don't really know what the cost is. Yes, the architect will do some some budgeting and

105they'll reach out and request favors of contractors. I do a lot of work with, you know, as as a guide, but it's not as indepth. Uh those contractors doing favors, they they have no skin in the game, if you will. So, you know, they're not going to give it the time. So, this method allows us to get them on board and help control those costs. Doesn't always work. Doesn't mean we always bring a project in, you know, in budget. We have examples where we've gone over what we've had, but it gives us a better chance to manage those and to mitigate those issues that we may have down the road. And one of the things I think I consistently heard is that when you do the CSP bidding process, you don't know who your subs

106really are. >> That that is uh can be true. I mean, we can certainly request the [snorts] information. Um, but with the CM method, we have a lot more input into which subs are selected. U you know, because there could be subs that have done work for us in the past that that did not perform well and we really don't want them. And so we have the opportunity to provide that input or vice versa, they can, you know, give us the same input. Uh, so it allows us as a team to make those decisions where we want to spend the the money. So, it's not necessarily going to be the lowest price, but that is not necessarily always the end goal because we need a good product. We need to know it will be done

107on time and sometimes that's worth a little bit more money for that partnership to make sure we get the product we want when we need it. >> Okay. [clears throat] Um, JRE was built under the CMR. >> It was. And we're doing the middle school, uh, Gibson Middle School and Ball Elementary under CMR. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have built a school under CSP. >> We have. >> And was that South? >> That was South. >> Okay. Um, have you seen any indication that one procurement method uh, from a cost standpoint, I mean, it generates lower cost versus the other? >> Uh, it it really doesn't. I mean you you can you know I've looked at many many projects throughout the years uh and have compiled the data uh and sometimes the CM method it

108brings a cheaper product you know when you look at a square foot cost of you know comparable elementary schools other times CSP does so I don't think the method determines the cost >> because it's not the quality of the buildings the schools are magnificent best I can tell they they seem to all everybody seems to be really pleased with the product the frustration has been the cost. >> Mhm. >> And so you're telling us that um I don't think you're um going to get a better price by doing a different method. I I don't think the method will will drive the price. No, it's >> just control and transparency. >> Yes, there's much more transparency with CM at risk. It is still competitive because you still have all the trades. uh you know, a drywaller

109sub is going to be competing against all the other drywall subs for that project. So, we still get the competition. It's just not at a general contractor level. But the general contractors, you know, they self-perform very little. So, they really have very little of the expense of of the overall project >> and the the CSP can have surprises sometimes. the CSP can have surprises which we will carry contingencies or allowances, you know, to deal with those things. Um, but with a CSP, they're going to bid only what they see in the documents versus a CM will assume certain things that may not be shown, but we know we're going to do. And so, we're seeing those cost basically managing risk. And so, we're trying to account for everything we can think of in the beginning.

110And that's why we get the guaranteed maximum price versus the other way. They're they're not going to look at it that way. If it wasn't shown, they're not going to say, "Well, I know I need to do it. Let me put some money in." because the other contractors will not and so they're going to inflate their price if they do that. So we're liable for all of those expenses as a district versus the other one. There's some partnership there as we build up to that GMP. I think one of the words we used a lot in our committee meetings was accountability. >> [clears throat] >> we've done CM projects as you mentioned um you can have the right architect and the wrong contractor the right contractor and the wrong architect and that accountability so it's

111really incumbent upon us not just picking the method that gives us the most opportunity to work together sooner in the process but with partners that are going to be accountable >> and I think that's we've seen that with some of the projects that we've done um recently ly um we're we're addressing it in other areas where maybe we haven't. But I think it's that's another piece of it to me anyway is you got to have partners, good partners in both cases. So, >> and you think that the CMR lends itself to early a partnership early on because the construction manager that is is got a lot of ownership >> because you know the contractor early and you know the architect and they can start working early [snorts] um to identify things like Jeff said that

112are maybe not in there, but it's kind of assumed. Well, in a CSP, which is your point is typically that I think everybody thinks CSP you're going to get a better price because you're competitively sealing your bid and bidding against someone else. And typically you open it on bid day and whoever the lowest wins. Well, we've learned, right, that's not always the best. The lowest doesn't mean the best, you know, for for our needs. So, um, anyway, I think accountability is another word that would go along with CMR for me, assuming you have the right partners. Any other pontifications, questions? All right, I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 11C as presented. Mr. Hawksworth, motion to approve. I have a second. >> Second, >> Dr. Leona McDavid with a second. Any further discussion? All

113in favor raise your hands. Say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you, Mr. Cohen. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> You're still up >> back again. Uh so next uh we have recommendation for approval of our architect for the elementary school number six and middle school number two. Uh so we had a pool of six firms that have been previously qualified. Uh and from that pool uh we selected three which we looked at additional qualifications did interviews sit down interviews with each of those firms uh to see which one was the best [snorts] fit for these projects at this time. Uh and so after going through that process uh it was determined that uh Fluger Architects they uh were ranked highest and so we reached out to them and have negotiated fees that

114we're bringing you tonight for approval. So we went through a couple rounds of negotiations with them on fee. Uh, we're bringing you a fixed fee, although I know we always like to to look at what percent of our construction budget it is because that's kind of the standard that the industry goes by. Uh, and so after negotiation, uh, we're at 5.6% of our construction budget is their fixed fee. So that won't go up uh throughout the project, but it is equivalent to 5.6%. And uh what we're bringing you for uh approval tonight would actually be a not to exceed because we've got to uh consider reimburseable expenses. Uh printing uh they have to file for a a TAZ inspection, ADA inspection with the state, not average daily attendance, but Americans with Disabilities Act means something

115different to me. Um uh in addition uh just contingencies uh not knowing some of the off-site issues that we might encounter, we might have to get into some extra design work on certain aspects of that. So this also includes a contingency for unforeseen things on that side. So, uh, for the middle school, number two, uh, it would be a not to exceed, uh, price of $6,379,630. And for the elementary school, it would be a not to exceed price of $3,275,333. And that would include those contingencies for those items, >> but they're guaranteed those numbers. We are guarant that those numbers I just gave you that is not their fee that includes those allowances but yes their fee fixed fee is less than that and that is the fee unless we you know say hey we

116want to add a classroom we could please go design eight more classrooms that would result in an additional services fee because that's not part of our original scope [clears throat] we added that to the project. >> Okay got the same at the same >> I don't foresee we're doing that but so yes the fee should remain fixed. Okay. >> Okay. Well, again, I I'm going to go through this exercise for my own benefit, but hopefully the benefit of others that may be listening had I did have the opportunity to sit in on the architect interviews. And I mean, um I think we interviewed I can't remember. It was in the fall. >> Two different rounds. We went through two different rounds in the one in the fall and then came back again in the last

117few weeks and interviewed three architectural firms for this these two projects. Correct. >> Correct. >> Um I'll just you know for the benefit of the board that you know my my first time I had been through this prior to this meeting I've never been a part and I don't think the board has ever been a part of those interviews. We just you just kind of showed up and told us we've interviewed them. This is what they scored and >> this is who we recommend. >> That's not true. >> Is that not true? >> No. >> Okay. I just wanted that for >> whoever was on that committee never spoke up. >> Whoever's watching [laughter] just want that on record that that wasn't a factual statement. >> There's a lot more that went into that >>

118really >> that we don't need to. >> No. Well, I wouldn't pardon um >> so I I just want I'll tell you that my my board members and the community. I mean, the architects are all great. I mean, they were they are fantastic. They're all qualified. They had a great presentations, their resumes, their schools, the things that they've done. It's it's a really a difficult process to kind of figure out, you know, wow, what makes one stand out over the other because they have impressive resumes. Um the the other thing I mean I guess I'll I'll add is is is the frustrating part for me and and I want people to understand this is you know because it's hard to separate the three that I think we kind of were honing in on. Gosh darn

119it. I really wish I could get those three to bid on these projects because that would probably be the tiebreaker is if I could see, well, you know, we got Fluger and VK and PBK and others. I mean, God, I mean, maybe whoever would be doing it for the best price would I'd be most interested in, but tell me why we can't do that. Yeah, that that is not allowed by state law because this is professional services. Architecture and landscape architecture, engineering, there's a whole list of them. I think uh accounting is one of those services. So, it's got to be awarded based on qualifications. >> Yeah. >> So, we are not allowed to ask for fees until we identify who is the most qualified and then we can only negotiate with the most qualified

120firm. If that negotiation fails, we can move to the second most qualified. So, let's be real honest. I mean, my my opinion is, and I think many would agree with me, the only reason we can't talk to all three about price is because the architecture industry has a very strong lobbyist down in Texas that have passed that has said, "Hey, man, don't let them make us compete. Don't make them don't don't allow these districts." >> Well, not not to >> competitively bid. >> Not to compete on price. >> Yeah. Not to compete on price. don't afford these school districts the things that you would do with any project of these sizes. We're talking about $10 million in architectural fees and I can't really get three firms to bid it. [snorts] That's how crazy >> the

121process is. >> Because what you're telling me is if I say, "You know what, man? 10 million bucks a lot. Man, that's that's a big commitment. >> What do we do? >> If we don't approve it, then >> we have to go back and continue negotiations >> with >> I would have to consult to see if we can continue negotiations with Fluger at this point or does that mean that those have concluded and we move to the next most qualified? I'm not sure. >> So, can I can I add >> some legal input would be needed on that? So, um, remind me of the percentage. It's a flat fee. Remind me of the percentage that that it's at. >> 56 5.6 >> industry typical they're going to tell you 6%. >> Traditionally that number six

1226 and a half%, right? And and most of the time that number is a percentage, right? So, we >> oftentimes Yes, it is as a percentage. >> Oh, it's been a while. >> What school was the first one that we did? Was it West? West. >> West. >> So, um, >> actually probably phase one over here. >> Phase one, but that same contract. >> So, um, about five years ago, how long? I don't know. >> West opened in 19. >> So, back then >> we, um, went to, we had a bond oversight committee, Josh, that went and said, >> hey, we think this is at odds having a percentage. >> It's at odds with what we're trying to do because now >> you're you're getting a set number of $10 million. And I agree with

123you when you when you said the numbers out loud I my stomach turned over. Right. But the alternative has been in the past that you're going to have a percentage and if an architect or or a contractor or collectively they come back to the customer, the district and say, "Hey, we think you should do this." And it's another $5 million. Guess what? Their fee just went up more. So, traditionally it's 6 to 6 1/2. We got it fixed at 5. And the I'll say one more thing being in those architect meetings. Um, one of the things that impressed me about at least two of the three were their projects under budget, right? They found ways to deliver the project under budget. I think our experience has let me rephrase that. My experience with this professional

124service in my board days has been um hasn't been that right. It's been they just it just there's no I I used the word accountability earlier. There's been no accountability. >> There's nobody in the process that's in it to save money because they all get they all make their money the more it >> cost. Well, not in a way we've made. No, that's what you were saying. Right. >> But um so anyway, I just I understand your frustration. I I've felt it. I've said it for eight, nine years sitting here. But >> but what I want people to understand is you're telling me if I said, "Hey, you know, they're all very close. They're all more than qualified to build these schools." I think you'd agree with me. >> I would. Um if I said,

125"You know what? this fees too much. Let's go to number two. You you would start this process over. No guarant they could be higher. >> Mhm. >> Correct. >> And then you can't go back to number one. >> And then but you're saying the problem is you go, "Wow, they're higher. We can't go back." >> Correct. >> By law. >> Correct. >> By law. Now that I mean >> I mean at the end of the process if we go through all three, we'd have to throw it all out and start all the way. >> And we don't have time. We don't have time. And so I just want people to understand >> it frustrates me to no end that I can't get the I can't use competition to get a better price for a professional

126service which I would do in my private life. And it's a product of a law that the state has imposed upon us likely because they got a lot of money from an architectural lobbyist firm. And that's the system we're dealing with. Having said that, Fluger seem like a great architectural firm. They have an experience in our district. I I see them here. [laughter] We had we have a >> what they say. >> This is just in they've withdrawn. [laughter] >> I haven't received that. and they and they have a great reputation that I know others have checked in on and had said, "What's it like working with it?" >> Yes. >> And they have and my understanding is is they it's been an excellent experience and for that reason I I I can't given the

127limitations that are imposed upon us and going through the process. I do agree Fluger is worthy of these projects. >> We appreciate you going through the exercise. We do. >> That's good. >> It's therapeutic. I know >> and and you are correct that we do have a team from Fluger here tonight. Um we have Terry Hoy CEO. We have Dr. David Young, Kip Shep, and I think is that Jennifer back there? >> Yes. >> Thought I saw Jennifer. Jennifer Bean. So they did bring a team tonight. So thank y'all for being here. >> One more question. >> Construction budget. >> Yes. >> What is it? >> Construction budget. From memory, I didn't write that one down. Uh we have around 111 million I believe for the middle school [snorts] and I want to say it's

12856 million for the elementary school. >> So I look forward to working with this arctic on beating that number and maybe their percentage goes from 5.6 to six. >> Hey, what do you mean it doesn't go up? >> Go down because if they if we get >> No, no, the percentage goes up. will go up cost. >> I thought you were throwing in a kicker. >> No, I look forward to working with them on ways to >> You can't do that. By the way, you can't do that either. [laughter] >> Like we, to your point, we've even talked about, hey, finish early. You can't do that either. >> I know. I I look forward to looking on into ways to come in under those numbers. >> We know you do. >> We'll make sure you're

129there every step of the way. >> I think I just got myself in some more meetings. >> You are not rotating off. All right, I'll uh entertain a motion to approve action item 11D as presented. >> So moved, >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second, >> Mr. Josh Westerm with the second. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand, say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. [laughter] >> It's therapy for us all. It's all it is. >> Hello, Dr. Jordan. >> Well, hello. We are changing gears, bringing you an action item tonight. Virtual and hybrid learning. So, Senate Bill 569 passed last summer, allowing us to receive full funding for students who are enrolled in virtual or

130hybrid programming. The reason we're doing this is to offer our families more choices and flexibility in making decisions of how their child learns best, what meets their needs as a family. [snorts] So, some of the things that we've considered as we've started to put this together is um and some of these I have some answers to or propose some answers to is keeping it within the Argyle ISD zones. Um we we don't have to decide about extra classes at this point. AP classes, however, for only in-person students. So, thereby not creating a competition for that GPA. Students in person will be more likely for that that GPA race, earning the extra points. Students who do participate in athletics bands and extracurriculars, the same opportunities for students in person, hybrid, and virtual. It will require staff

131members. I cannot give you a number at this time because it really depends on how many students we enroll in this program if it is passed district finances because we can continue to get the fast growth aotment. We are not opening a secondary campus for this purpose and we do receive full funding for these students should offset any cost associated with any staff members that we would have to bring on. We have some things in place I'll talk about about ensuring high expectations and the rigor of Argyle ISD and affecting overall student learning. Once again going back to providing flexibility and choices for our families is at the foremost of why we want to offer this program. But some other considerations to think about is that it it could potentially free up some seats in

132our buildings which long term could be a benefit to us. So what's the difference? The virtual program is all online at home. Hybrid is some classes at home, some classes in person using egeneuity as our curriculum with some additional work for students with books they have to read, reports they have to submit. They are still required to take the star test EOC. Students can graduate, however, completely virtual. they can meet CCMR requirements and graduate with a multid-disciplinary or business endorsement. Some suggested parameters is only high school doesn't mean that we wouldn't one day open it up to other grade levels, but starting with only high school and thinking about what students would be more most successful are some of those other parameters listed there. I've talked a lot with many other districts, including spending most

133of today at a district in the metroplex who's been doing virtual for eight years and really gleaning all I can from their experiences. Would only allowing students to enroll in virtual or hobbit at the beginning of the semester, but allow students to move to in person at any time. And the reason for that is students who are in person teachers can catch them up a lot easier if they're not in the exact same place in the curriculum. So, just some FAQs there. Homeschool students can participate. One fact I got today is from the school district I was with is a lot of homeschool students did enroll and about 20% on average over the last two years would choose not to continue in the program because of the rigor. And they also use egeneuity in um

134they use a few other things as well, but egeneuity was the main one. Accommodations can be made for 504 and special ed students. Just kind of depends on what those accommodations are. So, it's an individual basis. AP and most credit classes are only available in person and students can only be on campus during their assigned class time and attendance is taken and that's how we can earn full funding for them. So, it's important for families to think about if this is right for their student. So there's a lift list of some important things that families need to consider. Kind of talked about this a little bit about receiving the fast growth. We're not going to we wouldn't open it up to more than 50% and most of the schools that or districts that I've talked

135to start you know a few students and then word spreads pretty quickly. The next steps we have options. You can consider approving virtual and hybrid program. You can consider approving only one or the other, virtual or hybrid, or you can consider not approving either one, of course. But it's not an all or nothing. So, I wanted to make sure and mention that to you, but what questions do you have as you're thinking about your decision tonight? >> I I'll go. So, [clears throat] funding, you you know, obviously we get full state funding for these students. Um you mentioned um we lose the fast growth law. >> We do not we do not lose the fast No, we would only campuses that lose it or districts that lose it is when they they open a separate

136campus a virtual campus. We are not doing that. Our students would be enrolled in Argal High School. >> Okay. >> The funding I assume as you mention I think you mentioned more than takes care of the staff required. Um what [clears throat] about um you mentioned that you can only enroll at the beginning of a semester um but you could move to in person throughout the semester. >> So if virtual isn't working out for a student and their parents come and say this isn't working for us can we move to in-person learning? The answer is yes. >> So so that doesn't apply to a student that's in person. They a student that's currently in person has to wait till the start of the next semester. >> Correct. And in talking to other districts, they do

137make exceptions. They they gave some examples. The student who was diagnosed with cancer and had to start undergoing chemotherapy. They made an exception for that. >> But it's not like the pandemic where your seniors would be like, "Oh, we're switching to virtual for a little bit. We'll be back." >> Yeah. I mean, I guess that's really where I'm going is >> how do we control bouncing back and forth >> by only allowing them to enroll at the beginning of the semester. Now, they could bounce back and forth from one semester to the other. That is possible, but >> not throughout the semester. >> Yeah. Not back and forth throughout the semester. >> Okay. Um, can you go back a slide where you talked about homeschool? homeschool students are welcome and can continue to participate in

138co-op groups. So, they have to I think I saw earlier some of the stuff you sent us in the last few weeks, they're fully registered students. They're not just taking a class here or there. They're fully registered. So, they're really not You're just saying homeschool students are eligible to enroll >> and they can still they they're homeschool co-ops that get together and plan field trips or other educational experiences for their students. And so they're not necessarily they can choose how they work their schedule. So some students do, you know, four or five hours every day and do a little bit of all subjects. Some students are going to knock it out in three days during the week and have two other days free. And so any other activities that they're normally doing for that social

139interaction or outside educational experiences through their homeschool co-op, just making sure that they know they don't have to stop that. So I think the important distinction for me with homeschool is learning and understanding. You know we had this topic come up in a different way recently about homeschool students participating in UIL. >> The difference here is these kids have now registered >> in school. >> Um so we received funding for them. Previously it was we received nothing >> 1500 I mean it was >> yeah it was a small aotment per >> so so [clears throat] that's the main differentiator there's still required as you've said they have to >> they have to still be here when they have to be here if they want to be a part of those clubs >> yes >> um

140>> there was something else >> they're on athletic team they have to be here for practices just like any other student who's on that team >> okay >> well AP and dual credit are on the >> what does the yeah there was something else a high I mean, are you are you saying I mean, you're asking us to approve virtual program, but it could when y'all get into the details of rolling this program out of are you saying it could be >> so hybrid component to it? >> No, I'm saying we could start it that way where that would mean that say students are doing um their English class, their math class at home, but they come to campus for physics and AP US history every day. So they could pick and choose which classes

141they're going to do from home and which classes they're going to do in in person. If they're doing classes in person, they're doing it with all of our students. So if we offer physics third and AP history fourth, they're on campus for third and fourth every single day with all of our other students. It's not a special class. >> So if it's virtual only, that those kids would never come. >> Well, and then they they couldn't if they were an AP, they couldn't do it. >> Correct. They couldn't be a part of it. Correct. That is correct. or if they're trying to >> if we're going to include AP in this, you have to have a hybrid. >> It has to be hybrid. That is correct. >> When I asked this question, could you set

142up the program that says if you want to be in the extracurriculars, you have to be the hybrid. >> That's the only way they could do it. >> That's the only way you could >> because they're going to have they'll have to practice on campus. >> Well, but just your point is they're only on your point is they're only on campus for their activities. just their activity, >> all their core subjects they're taking at home, >> but they're on campus for for fine arts or whatever. >> But I mean, I'm just asking, do you have that flexibility in how >> from what we understand, you can set it up however you want. >> Okay. >> So, there's no minimum amount of in-person classes to be a hybrid. Correct. Could just be your >> that could

143be that could be the district's decision. >> Okay. >> So, when you talk about engine >> Yeah. Thank you. It's getting later. Um, tell me tell me what other Have you looked at other programs um other than that? I know we already have it in the district or we already use, you know, pieces of that. Um, or when in speaking to other districts, have you talked to them about the program that they're using? Is it a high percentage that's using egeneuity or >> Yes. Most if not all that I've talked to are using egeneuity. Some of the bigger district, let's say um Frisco, a lot of them, the big districts are writing their own curriculum and that's not something that can happen overnight and it takes a big team of people and so >> and

144time, right? So the district districts that are not writing their own curriculum, what I have heard consistently is they're using egeneuity. There's another um one I heard today that's out of Florida that isn't doesn't have 100% TICSS alignment, but they felt like it was a good program, but that was the first time I've heard of that one. >> So, Egeneuity a Texas product. >> I don't know if it's a Texas product, but is TESS aligned? >> TS. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um and any concerns? I mean, okay. I guess I would ask, you know, you [snorts] think back about COVID and the social isol isolation and everything else that was going on back then and and some of the repercussions even to this day. I I believe with with kids, probably adults too in some

145fashion, but um how do we know? I guess we know based on the pace of how they're doing or that that they're having some issues with working on their own, working alone, working you know that that social isol is isolation thing, >> right? And because we are not during COVID, everybody had to do it. It wasn't a choice, >> right? >> Now it's a choice for families that this works best for. And before a student would be enrolled, there'd be a conversation with that family of, you know, here are the qualities that would make a student successful. Do you have transportation? Do you have a place for this student to work? Do they self- advocate? can they're expected to get up and get going every single day. All those things and so having that conversation

146to help try and help them decide is this a good fit. What I've heard from teachers that are currently working as a virtual teacher is they are doing check-ins with their students every single day. Egeneuity has the availability to send parents a report, an email report every single day to let them know the child's progress throughout the platform. And they have counselors or directors or different titles of people who are checking in with all the teachers, getting lists weekly of who is not staying, who is not where they need to be in the program, who is not performing well on benchmarks [snorts] and other assignments. And then they're reaching out and and what I heard a lot of they're not only are they helping teachers, they're working a lot with parents on parent training on

147how to be that co-teer with the the virtual teacher. >> And these are the this is the egeneuity staff >> or >> so no this is so that we would have to have staff members that would offer office hours where they could offer tutoring um just checking in with students. Somebody has to also transfer the grades from Egeneuity into our system and then any extra projects those have to be graded as well. >> So where where are those staff members? >> Are they opting at home? >> Are they on us on our campus? >> So that those those decisions haven't all been made yet. What I think will happen is that we would start off with a small number where we would give teachers extra planning periods to be able to manage that from their

148classroom. >> You've had some actually show interest, right? Yeah, I've had a couple who have emailed me like if this passes like I'd love to do this. So, we have some that have already shown interest, you can get to a large enough size and then if you don't have a space, they there are a lot of districts that have teachers who are working from home and I heard some of the parameters for the staff is they have 10 minutes to reply. If somebody reaches out to them, they have to send a picture of their home office and so there's things in place there as well. So, how does that possibly offset the cost, you know, of the program and the funding that we get per student? We're obviously if we're utilizing our own staff, then

149we're taking away teaching time >> and that would mean possibly hiring >> additional teachers. So where does where does that fit in the balance? >> Well, we're getting the funding for the extra students that enroll and we're already using egeneuity and so it would be a small increase on the egeneuity. I want to say it was it was less than $10,000. I don't remember the exact amount for us to get the on demand tutoring part of it. So but because we already have that most of it already built into our budget, the staffing part, right? It can it would have to make sense but because I have no idea would it be 20 students or would it be a hundred students or but either way truthfully the numbers I heard today where teachers were around

150about 250 they had about 250 or more students on their roster. >> So we're not talking Yeah. on their virtual roster. So we're not talking like a typical classroom. Some of them had even more if it was electives where they didn't do a lot of instructing because they might have such a wide range. They may have 400 students on their roster that they're just transferring grades in checking things and so they but that was their they didn't teach any inerson classes. >> Um so go ahead. >> Oh um first and foremost Dr. Jordan I I appreciate you guys looking into this. I appreciate the administration looking into this because I think it plays to the school choice aspect of it. I guess my question would be on the hybrid uh virtual model. What heartburn or

151concerns do you have if we were to approve it? >> I think right now it's just the unknown of the numbers is where my concern is and then moving forward with the staffing piece of it. That's really my only concern because we're already using egeneuity. So, we have a pretty good idea of how to operate within that program. And I've talked to so many different districts and and heard how well it's working for them that I have no reason to believe it wouldn't work well for us as well. >> Is there any district that it's they're like, "Oh, wish we wouldn't have done that." >> I have not heard that at all. Okay. >> No. >> And I would say I think you know [clears throat] from in terms of student learning and student impact

152the again it's an option. It's a flexibility piece. families are going to choose it if it's right for their kids. >> And I don't know if you if y'all have seen the webinar yet or not, and I I'll share it. I think I may have had it last week for y'all, but the the one that Bob Templeton just did, um he where he talked about the enrollment trends, and about halfway through it, he starts talking he talks about private school, he talks about charter, but he said where where this is all changing is homechool. Um he I think he gave the number there's like 620,000 homeschool students in the state of Texas based on what he could find through their research and that far exceeds private and charter school kids. And so he talked about

153the microchooling and this is the new you know this really is the way and because he's been at the homeschool convention for parents for the last two years and they've interviewed families and it's not a beef on public ed for them. It's more about the flexibility, the ability to be more involved in their students education. So that micro schooling is becoming the new way of homeschooling. So they're some of it's homeschooling and then they have these little micro schools that are popping up. Um you know the Texas Sports Academy, it's an elite athlete program. I mean that one's they've got a whole website set up now where they go to school for two and a half hours in the morning they do school, they have lunch and then the next four hours they're doing their

154sports skills. I mean, those are the kinds of things that this affords public schools the opportunity to potentially have some of those students enrolled in our district that live here and not choosing some of these other options. And so, I think as we've been talking through that, it's pretty fascinating to hear this really this micro schooling coalition taking off like it is um because they're really getting the best of both worlds. are getting the flexibility that they need, but their students are also I mean any student that can handle um that kind of that kind of work and then a schedule whether it's a fine arts or sports schedule outside they're going to be able to be high performing students. That's just that's just those are the kind of students that can do it. So,

155so those kids that are spending, let's say, four [clears throat] hours a day here or in person or virtual learning or whatever and then they're doing their their outside activity, how are they earning their credits or do they wind up graduating later than some of the other kids because >> No, because their their other credits are virtual. I mean, their other credits are egenuity, so they're still getting the same amount of credits. >> Oh, but they're just not spending the personal time in class. >> They're not on the seat time in the classroom. Okay. >> So, I want to echo what Rich said. I mean, I I just appreciate y'all taking the time to look into this, to do the research, to bring it to us because, you know, I think it's something I've been

156harping on about choice in education. And so, it's just something I'm inclined to support because and I it doesn't support it because it's not necessarily for my kids and I and I kind of don't even really want it to be successful because I want kids in school. I mean, because that's just my personal preference, you know, but I have to recognize >> that, you know, choice. >> People want choice and and public [snorts] school needs to be more creative in how they compete for children in that in in their district. And so it just I thank y'all for doing this. It it speaks to me not for my family, but in terms of meeting that, you know, need I think that's potentially out there. the the details matter, but you don't want me doing planning

157them. But um >> take him off that committee. >> I'm just going to criticize [laughter] them. >> Yeah. >> I'm just going to be here to second guess you. >> I wasn't on that second committee. >> There's an opening on >> and another thing I'll tell you is it's not if it doesn't work, it's not like >> we can't adjust it. I mean, it's, you know, you can take it away. I can also see, you know, at the high school level, we got a capacity problem coming. >> Oh, yeah. >> Absolutely. you know on I don't I'm you know in three four years I'm kind of interested does this you know what does that look like does it help us with that does it extend that runway a little bit >> I don't know so

158>> um >> I can give you one more data point as well is it came from Templeton 4 400,000 to 500,000 families are moving to Texas every single year and the enrollment in public schools has was like 90,000 60,000 it's down to 12,000 and that does not mean that only families without school age children are moving here, right? So they're not choosing public school. >> So of the 400,000 families that are moving, >> enrollment in public school from those 400,000 is 12,000 students. >> No. >> Yes. That's because it's gone at we've gone from 16,000 to 57,000 in 5 years in virtual and online. That's just virtual and online and the home school's been even larger. Does it make sense to entertain for at least the first year or to cap it and say, "Hey,

159we're we're still we need to get our feet under us. We you know, so hey, I don't know what the number is. I have no idea, but just to say, hey, listen, anything beyond this, we're going to be scrambling and it and maybe it's not as good of an experience as it could be." So, I think that's the one thing I would say. I agree with the choice I just wrote. It's our, you know, the sign over there I keep looking at that says our future is public. We agree, but this is a way to give public school choice and >> and I hope their doctor program fails is what I hope. So, um, anyway, >> we haven't seen a big impact from [music] that at this point. Where we're seeing the impact is these

160micro schools, charter schools, private schools, other options, not from >> Listen, I think you're going to do it if we're going to do it and I have no doubt this would be the case. We're going to do it ar the argal way and it's going to be topnotch and it's going to be another thing that we're known for. So I would I my only thought in all this is there's a lot of information here. There's a lot of options you can do is baby steps like let's don't let's don't go crazy. >> Absolutely. >> The first year or two let's figure it out you know hey that was that's going to be a problem. We're going to have to figure that out you know kind of thing. And what I heard from some districts is

161they didn't set their cap until they knew they were there. >> So at some point they said this is all we can handle. We aren't accepting anymore this year. They didn't set it at the beginning. >> I think it's, you know, I just don't know what that number is, >> right? >> And so >> so maybe if one of those districts had could tell you how many they have now, you know, maybe you say, "Hey, well, >> we want to take half of that for your just >> goal. Why did they have a ceiling? what caused the ceiling? >> What was the what was the cause of the ceiling? And and just finding things out, >> right? And the cause of the ceiling was the number of staff members and so they [clears throat] needed

162to add staff members and before they wanted to add any more students, >> right? And are they a destination district that struggles with getting people hired versus Argyle who were were very, you know, blessed to have a great talent pool that's seeking openings here. So anyway, things like that to look at. Again, >> Mr. Westerm, not the expert. We trust y'all. >> Thank you. >> Um, >> but I think you brought up some great points >> tonight. >> But I do think I do think it also is like we look at preparing our kids like we want to have college preparedness >> um for our kids here because a majority of the kids that graduate from Argyle um school district go on to college >> and sit on a computer and take a class, >>

163right? So we're going to prepare them. We're going to prepare them for that. you're paying for their >> we're preparing him for that. So take your virtual class, do your hybrid because it's what you're going to do in college. So where you've got 800 people in a chemistry class and you're not going to go to class. >> I do have one other comment if I could. >> Um [clears throat] you talk about the possibility of I mean the unknown and not knowing how many teachers we're going to need and need to add to our staff. >> Um I look at the flip side and I look at the people that we have here already. Um, and the need, I'm sure, next year for, you know, if you have a grade level that has six sections

164or seven sections and then you go, they're going up to a grade level next year, I'm thinking elementary, that only has five teachers for five sections. You know, I know you can we can move kids, but obviously we're going to get more kids. And I don't want I mean, I don't want this to affect that. I want us to be able to have the flexibility to make sure that we cover the staffing and keep our our our goal of class sizes low at the elementary level in particular >> shouldn't affect the elementary since this is only open to 9th through 12th is as it's proposed now. >> Well, I'm just talking about budget budget wise >> from FTE standpoint. >> Yeah. If you're looking from an FTE standpoint, you know, we're spending money on FTEES

165for secondary like that >> that we don't that we don't sacrifice that we don't sacrifice the elementary group because we worked really hard to get that where we have it this year >> and I just I don't want to lose that. >> I agree. Yeah, that >> for next year. So, I you know, I'm thinking about a cap. I kind of get it, >> you know, like kind of starting small, see how it affects everything. >> Um I don't know. I'm just I'm kind of up in the air about that and that's you know up to you guys. But I mean I like the idea. I just don't want it to um I don't want one to pay for the other if that makes any sense. So just throwing that out there. >> Dr. Jordan,

166how would this affect those electives every year that don't make? >> Would are there situations where, you know, if if a certain class doesn't make in a traditional environment, those students, those five or 10 students can take advantage of it in this environment >> potentially as long as Egeneuity offers it. And they do offer a wider range. They say like astronomy. We don't offer astronomy in our high school, but they do offer astronomy. So definitely would that would be another advantage. >> So So in a in a hybrid model, right, where they're there >> and there's one class that didn't make to his point, can we offer them, hey, go to the library. So you don't have to leave like you can go to the library and take it virtually and go back with the

167rest of your day. >> Again, these are detailed. >> Yes. I mean, yes, it could be. could be >> it's more Yeah. And I think the camp [clears throat] use of those things, >> but the campus admin I think from a from a account who's on campus standpoint that's because they won't have them on a roster in there. So, you know, so that's >> details. I'm just thinking he's right. I mean, it brings up opportun more opportunities, right? To take more things. >> We heard languages. be heard, you know. So, I I I don't see a I don't see a drawback at least >> to try it. >> And and for me, I would say both. It needs to be virtual and hybrid. >> All right. I'll uh I'll entertain a motion to approve action

168item 11E for virtual and hybrid programming. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Wester, motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second, >> Mr. Rich McDow with a second. >> Thank you, Dr. >> We didn't know. We didn't know. Any further discussion? >> All in favor, raise your hand. Say I. I. Any opposed? >> All right. >> She knew better. She knew. She knew better. She walked away from the mic. [laughter] >> She's like, I'm out. >> Thanks for answering all our questions. >> Okay. The last item I believe is really just a board. >> It's reading, right? >> It's a board item. >> You get to present it. [clears throat] >> Mr. Sllayton, >> Secretary, Mr. Slayton, >> would you like to read? >> I'm sorry. >> Would you like to read? >> I

169would love to read for you tonight. >> All right. Are you ready, Mr. President? >> Counting down. >> Excellent. Okay. Order of election for Argyle Independent School District. An election is hereby ordered to be held on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 for the purpose of electing three members to the board of trustees, places one, place two, and place three. The first day to file for a place on the ballot is Wednesday, January 14th, 2026. Applications for a place on the ballot shall be filed by Friday, February 13, 2026. Early voting by a personal appearance we conducted each weekday during early voting at Denton County Elections Administration 701 Kimberly Drive, Denton, Texas 76208. Additional designated locations to be determined by a contract with Denton County Elections beginning on April 20th, 2026 and ending on April 28th, 2026.

170hours TBD by Denton County Elections. Applications for ballot by mail can be mailed to Elections Administrator, Denton County Elections Administrator, 701 Kimberly Drive, Denton, Texas 76208. Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on the 11th day before election day. The polling place listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 for voting in a general election. Denton County Elections Administrator 701 Kimberly Drive, Denton, Texas, 76208. Additional locations to be determined by Denton County Elections issued this the 20th day of January, 2026. >> Austin, you said we had a microphone issue. We need that read again. >> [clears throat and cough] >> We're good. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Sllayton. Uh, all right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item

171[snorts] 11F as presented. >> So moved. >> All right. Mr. Oworth, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. McDow with the second. >> Two times making up. >> Uh, any further discussion? All right. All in favor, raise your hand say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Okay. So, at this time, under the authority of the Texas Government Code 551 subchapter D, the board will now go into close session at 8:28 p.m. to discuss 551.074, personnel matters, and public officers. When we do return to adjourn for the evening, there will be no action taken. Thank you all for being here. Have a great night.