001All right. Good evening. Time is 5:00 p.m. It's October 20th, 2025. This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Argal ISD Board of Trustees. This time we will determine if a quorum is present. >> Leona McDade, present. >> Josh Western, present. >> Rich McDow, present. >> Matt Sllayton, present. Craig Alsworth present >> and I Sam Slayton present. We do have a quorum established. So under the authority of the Texas Government Code 551 subchapter D, the board will now go into close session at 501 p.m. to discuss Texas Government Code 551.074, Personnel Matters and Public Officers. Texas Government Code 551.071, Consultation with Attorney. Texas Government Code 551.082 082 student and employee disciplinary matter or complaint. Texas Government Code 551.072 deliberation regarding real property and Texas Government Code 551.076 076 deliberation regarding physical safety and Security. All
002right. Good evening. The time is 6:01 p.m. We have returned from executive session. At this time, we will do the pledges with our friends from the sixth grade center. >> Hi everyone. We're so excited to be here. I'm the proud principal of the sixth grade center and these are my awesome peeps that hang out with me every day. >> Hello everyone. My name is Kellen Avery and what I like about SGC is that we get to have outdoor advisory and we have awesome teachers that care about us. >> Good evening. My name is Christian Bfield. I am a student at the sixth grade center and new to the district. What I love most about the sixth grade center is that it has given me the time and opportunity to adjust from a kid to a
003pre-teen. I also like having separate classes for each subject and the choice to choose my electives and how we get to meet new friends. Thank you for your time. >> Hello, my name is Emma Kate Miranda and I love the caring and kindness that the teachers, students, and staff show to everyone. They're so welcoming and enthusiastic about sixth grade. Hello, my name is Carter Ford. My favorite thing about uh SGC is how they brought all the schools together and can still maintain authority. >> Okay, I like that. That is a good one. >> My favorite thing about SGC is the very kind teachers and staff. They are very kind, loving, and always greet us inside the school. And I absolutely love the principal and assistant principal, counselor, and nurse. Very nice. Tell us your name,
004sweetheart. I think I missed your name. Will you tell us your name? >> My name is Taylor >> Thank you, Taylor. >> Hello, my name is Muhammad Javeed and one thing I love about SGC is how kind the um all our peers are to each other. >> Hi, my name is Anika and one thing I love about SGC are the principal and vice principal. They're really fun and I also like my teachers and friends. Hello, my name is Emma Wester and my favorite thing about SGC is my Eagle Time teacher and he helps me learn with science. >> Hello, my name is Ryan Andreas and my favorite thing about the sixth grade center is having electives and I chose theater and art. My name is Yogush and I'm a sixth grade student at SGC. One
005of the things I appreciate most about SGC is the supportive environment created by our teachers and staff. They inspire us to work hard, be kind, and believe in ourselves. I also enjoy our school spirit weeks and school events that bring students and teachers together. I am very proud to be a part of a school that values learning, teamwork, and respect. >> Thank you. >> Very nice. Aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. >> Great job. Hold on. We're going to come take a picture. So, stay there. Sorry. >> Sorry. >> Perfect. Thank you all. Thank you.
006[Applause] >> Josh, what' that cost you? >> Figure you. >> You didn't know what was going to happen. >> Oh, I did. I was so stressed about it last night. What do I want to say? I'm saying this. So, Y talk about Z at times, which is where you go if you fail stalk, right? >> You can't say that. >> Oh, that's where he talks. >> Well, I don't know, but I'm sure everybody needs some sort of assistance. >> Talk about why your kids are so good. >> Thank you again to Sixth Grade Center. Mr. Hawksworth, if you'd like to lead us in our opening prayer, please. >> Sure. Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to pour into these children and uh the administrators the ability to
007lead this district in a way that honors you. Please help us all to understand that that we're here for the kids and that we love you, Lord. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. >> At this time, I will entertain a motion to approve uh items discussed and amended during close session. >> So moved. >> Mr. Hawkworth, motion to approve. Do a second. >> Second. >> Dr. Leon McDade with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. All right. We did not have anyone sign up for public comment this evening. So, we will move on to some recognitions. That's right. So, we have tonight Argal Education Foundation. So, come on up here. Hey, Miss Hannah, and share with us some really good news. I think you have
008to share. >> Yes, I do. >> Hannah Robinson. >> My name is Hannah Robinson. I'm the president of the Argal Education Foundation, and I'm here with part of my board of directors tonight to share what we did last year. Um, as everyone knows, our mission and purpose is to support Argal ISD and all of the education efforts here. Um, of course, we work on having perpetual source of funds to maintain um and provide funds for programs and activities to support the education at Argyle ISD. Um, we were established in 2003. Um, and so we've had over 20 years working with Argyle ISD, and since its inception, we've been able to donate over $2.3 million um towards teacher innovation, programming, grants, scholarships, STEM funding, um, and other recognition programs. Um, this is our current board. Um,
009and then our non- voting members here, we have Dr. Jordan working with us, um, which we're very grateful for her support and insight to us. Um and just thankful for everybody who volunteers their time with us. Um our investment so we are funded by endowments that we have. We have a general endowment uh Liza MZ endowment a cantrell and co-serve and those are what we pull from for program teacher grants scholarships um things of that nature. Um like this year for 2025 teacher of the year, we partnered with the district um and it was funded by the uh Liza MZ teacher excellence endowment and we provided cash prizes for each campus winner as well as an additional cash cash prize for the overall winners. Um we also have our scholarship awards. Um, so our cur
010co-serve scholarship uh went to Pascal Omatayo and then our Cantrell Health Science Scholarship went to Bella Jeff and then our um Rudy men community service scholarship went to Bella Jeff as well. Um and then we were also to get able to give $2,000 of gift cards um to the staff at the end of year lunchon. Um so this this past year was a really big year for us. We raised over $150,000 at our gayla um which allowed us to jumpst start our new mission which is to fund teacher bonuses. Um we're very thankful for all the community support um the administration support um the teachers. Uh it was just a really really awesome year to see everybody jump in um and donate and volunteer their time to meet those goals. Okay, so what's next? We're
011still going on with our teacher bonuses. Um looking to work with uh businesses in the area, individuals, um and we're going to have a really big gayla uh this April 25th, 2026. And we'll be announcing the location soon. >> You can announce it. >> Okay. Uh we're going to be one of the first events at Marty Bee's Reserve. So we're really really excited. Um he's been amazing working with us and really supporting our mission. Um, so we're really excited. We're gonna get those sponsorships out soon for everybody to jump in. It's going to be a good one. Um, we're also going to be doing a car raffle, so we'll start selling tickets for that soon. Um, we'll continue working with the district um to hit goals and support them. Um, and of course, we're always
012looking for new endowments and funding those endowments to, you know, grow our programs and scholarships. Um, so yeah, that's what we've got on the docket for this year. And of course, please go like our Facebook page, Instagram, um save our website address. You can donate online. Um and again, like I said, we'll start having you'll start seeing those gayla announcements and ticket sales for raffle as well. So, thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Oh, yeah. The important piece, >> the monies. We have Okay. Yes. So, we're able to we'll be donated 42,800 towards teacher bonuses. [Applause] One big step to your right. There we go. [Music] There she is. your campaign. >> All right, Dr. Carpenter, >> it's all right. Texas Education Human Resources Recognition. So, October 8th every year, or not every year,
013but October 8th this year was the Texas uh education human resources day that Governor Abbott um had a proclamation for. And so we want to take just a few minutes this evening to recognize our human resources department. They are small but mighty with over 700 employees in the district. And so they're in charge of a lot of different things. There they arrive. That's what a great picture. >> That's a great picture. Yeah, that's awesome. And just a few things. An integral part of the success of our schools is our HR department. Um these professionals play a critical role in our system and they're particularly important in education because they're skilled and efficient in the talent acquisition and retention. So we have to recruit. Um but then the onboarding process if you know in the summertime
014there are people in and out of this building all summer and they do a great job of onboarding our staff and then through suborientations and training. So they're a lot of times the first faces our employees see as they're coming on board and so we appreciate um that department and and serving our staff services. But at this time, we just encourage all Texans to recognize the importance of our human resources department and education. And I would like to personally on behalf of the district and the board recognize Dr. Chris Daniel, our deputy superintendent who leads our staff uh start services department. So Dr. Daniel, if you could please come up. We're going to take a picture. Come on up. And then he has an incredible team um working with him. Jessica Mayor, administrative assistant. Come
015on up, Jessica. Oh, she not here. Okay. All right. Tori Kindred, our benefits and leave specialist. Come on up, Tori. We have Serena Hendricks, our HR specialist. And our sweet smiling face and sweet hello and the answering the phone out front, district receptionist, Becca Lightner, and our sub coordinator. So, thank you to this team for all that they do for our HR department and district. >> Thank you. Such a good picture. Did >> she remind you? >> She's just not a different angle. >> She rolled the dice with this one. First run. >> Yes. Step it up. >> It is easy. >> All right. Our second recognition. October is National Principal School Principles Month. They get a whole month, right? That's we give you a whole month. You should have a whole year, right? Our
016principles are amazing. Um and so again, we recognize in Texas in October. You know, our system, education system depends on the leadership of very, very capable principles and they do an incredible job on our campus. their school work um is tirelessly and it h it's 247 job and so we um are very very very grateful for everything that they do as they lead our teachers, our staff and our students and our families. Um again, October set aside to honor their hard work and dedicated service, but I have a few things I want to say about each one of them individually. So, as I call them up, they get to come up here and stand awkwardly in front of everybody. And our Vanna White, Dr. Jordan is going to shower you with a little token of
017our appreciation. So I'm going to start today with at Jane Rman Elementary, principal Lauren Tullis faced the incredible challenge of opening a new campus and un amid unprecedented growth last year and did so with grace, energy, and excellence. She's built an amazing culture in a short amount of time centered on connection and belonging. So thank you, Miss Lauren Tolles. [Applause] It's a necklace. >> That's right. That's right. That's exactly what it is. That's exactly right. >> Uh, secondly, I want to recognize at South Elementary, Principal Kristen Haynes is a quiet and intentional leader whose thoughtful approach and steady presence bring calm and strength to her campus. She models excellence through servant leadership and a deep care for students and staff alike. Thank you, Miss Haynes. [Applause] At West Elementary, firstear principal Katie Hayden has stepped
018into her new role with confidence, leading with a strong instructional focus, a big heart for kids, and a powerful voice advoc advocacy at the state level. She embodies courage and compassion in her leadership. So, thank you, Miss Hayden. [Applause] At Hilltop Elementary, we have Principal Holly Williams. Holly leads with heart and deep roots in the Argyle community, returning to the very campus where she once taught kindergarten through fourth grade. Her passion for students and her commitment to relationships and Argal ISD make Hilltop a warm and nurturing place to learn. Thank you, Miss Williams. At our sixth grade center, first year principal Heather Vanoi has fit right in with the fun and unique uh world of sixth graders. Uh she's embraced the energy, the trends, and the excitement of this age group while continuing to elevate
019excellence in teaching and learning and somehow is managing the craze of 67. So congratulations to you and handling all of that. >> They're all watching 67. There we go. They're watching. So congratulations and thank you Miss Vanoi. [Applause] At Argal Middle School, Principal Donna Lumson brings creativity, positivity, and lots of fun. Uh with her enthusiasm and everything she does, she's always up for a theme. So if you go visit, you're going to take a picture and you're going to have to be part of the theme. She's up for a challenge and always up for a fun surprise. Creating a campus culture where learning is engaging and her students feel valued. So thank you, Miss Lumston. And at Argal High School, Principal Shannon Nolles leads from the front, facing growth and change head on with strength
020and determination. She continues to inspire excellence at every level and models what it means to be an Eagle every day. Thank you, Miss Nolles. I think y'all will agree that they represent the heart of this district, and I know that you probably have a few words you would like to say to them. So, as they stand here facing us, this is your chance. I know you have something to say. >> I'll go first. >> Okay. >> I don't actually have I'm speechless. You guys, some of you I've known for a long time, others not so long. But, wow. When we get to go do the boardwalks that we just did. I got to see all of you. You got control of your campuses. You know what you're doing. You have a plan. You're ex You're
021delivering on that plan. It's a pretty cool thing to see. Makes our lives easier. >> So, thank you very much. >> I just echo what Mr. Hawksworth said. So, it's, you know, quite unique when us as an individual or a board can just sing the praises of our of our campus administrators and be able to go out and tell everyone that all the things that you all are implementing and doing and with enthusiasm and um it doing the boardwalks is just so rewarding. Not that we could be on our feet longer than you know one day. like I go home and like I'm done. >> Um >> but it but it truly is, you know, not just motivating but inspiring um everything that's going on at your campuses. And um you know, we're we're grateful
022for the countless hours above and beyond that that you all sacrifice to make this district what it is. And so um truly the the heartbeat of your campuses and it it just spreads throughout. So it's easy to see. So, thank you all except for you, okay? Like, you know, the the the tests that you gave us just unfair. >> Oh, that was terrible. That was awful. They're still complaining. It was shaming. And no, but but in all in all seriousness, thank you all. I appreciate it. >> I I'll say this. Uh when I think back about, you know, y'all working with you guys over the last year, you know, I think about the budget workshops and and the feedback that y'all gave and how you advocated for your campuses and and what a great relationship
023that y'all have with your superintendent that you can speak with us directly about things that you need at different campuses and and and you know, so just what great advocates you guys are for what's going on at your campuses, where your needs are, and your willingness to share, you know, ideas with us on how we can improve things. And when you hear bad ideas from my fellow board members, you tell them that, >> you know, I appreciate you guys, you know, letting pointing that out because I try all the time and they don't listen to me, but I appreciate not doing that. >> Don't point at me. >> Well, I was I was going to say I've sat in your seat, those of you that know me. Um, and I know what you do every
024day, and what I love is your tirelessness, your commitment to your campuses. And the thing that I see when I go on your campuses is I see the culture. I see what you've nurtured. I see what you've grown on your campuses and how your staff interacts with one another. And I've always said you can walk into a school building and it hits you right away. You know, if you're in one of those buildings and there's not a one of you here that I don't feel that with when I walk in your buildings. Um I appreciate everything that you do, the tirelessness, the hours. as you know, it's a 247 job, no matter what anybody says because your brain's always thinking. You always got something going on there. Um, and and I do appreciate you guys.
025And, you know, one month out of the year isn't isn't enough to to sing your praises, but um, I really do appreciate from my heart what you guys are doing. So, thank you. And I just whether it's boardwalks or handing out candy at the high school, random Fridays, um it's consistent across the board. I talked to parents and they love their campus leadership. And so I think parents are very lucky, the students are very lucky, administration's very lucky, and the board is very lucky to have you guys as leadership on the different campuses. And so I thank you. I know all the time and hard work you put into it and it's a lot but um we are very grateful for you and so thank you. >> Okay, want me to go? >> I just
026want to tell you I love how each one of your campuses has your vibe. Like each one of you have a different vibe. You can feel it in your campuses. Um seeing the way that your staff interacts like they were saying is really awesome. But when you get out and talk to parents and I've run into people at West and they're like, "We love Miss Hayden." And the people at Hilltop are so excited to have Holly back and it's just really special the way that each one of you kind of fit the personality of your students and it's just really fun to see. So, we appreciate you and thank you for all your hard work. >> I'll just be simple. Thank you for the grace and love you show the kids every single day because
027one boardwalk, I'm tired for two days. It's not even a whole day. It's like 2:00. I'm like, man, my feet hurt. >> In all seriousness, >> love you guys and appreciate everything you do. >> Thank y'all. >> I'm sorry about Mr. West. [Applause] All right, let's balance these up. >> Look at look to your part to your right. They're evil. >> Your other right. Pizza. >> Perfect. >> I really didn't think we should do this. >> Here we go. There we go. >> Perfect. [Applause] >> I'll bring them next time. I'm sorry. >> Back to the future. >> Yeah, the way If I stay down. [Music] >> All right. Donations. >> All right. October 2025 donations um from ABC donation number 31 $4,475.13 boys basketball apparel ABC donation number 32 $1897 for girls soccer VEO
028ABC donation number 33 $1135 for tennis tennis boards ABC donation number 35 $23,400 all sports overnight travel. Uh, Argal South Elementary PTA, $800 for lunches. JRE PTA, $900 for Star Pep Rally Mavericks. JRE PTA, $2,800 for butterfly project. JRE PTA, $200 JRE Safety Patrol Appreciation Party. JRE PTA $200 for Grinch race supplies. JRE PTA $300 for Red Ribbon Week supplies. JRE PTA $400 for two lighted stop signs for crossing guards. AF $142,800. Funding commitment for 2025 2026. Total October donations $179,37.13. [Music] Awesome. 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. >> Mr. Rich McDall with the second. Any further discussion? All in favor say
029I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Thank you. Sorry was meek. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> All right, we're going to do our October construction updates for you. Uh first site here looking at the home side on the stadium project. Uh on the foreground, the video board is uh ready for the LED panels to start going in. That's supposed to start tomorrow. Uh the background, you can see the grandstands uh on this have gone up on one side. Um, and there's one lone lift. You can see orange uh lift there, boom lift up at the press box finishing up the metal panels. Uh, so once he's out of the way, they can go ahead and complete the structure of the grandstands, which of course they now have. And so those grandstands have been built all
030the way across all the way to the top. And we should start seeing some seats going pretty soon. That will be very obvious because they're red seats. So you'll know it. Uh, here's just another angle. Uh you can see the lift better in this shot. Finish up the metal panels on that front side so the bleachers could go ahead and finish all the way across. And a little closer photo. Uh on each end of the press box, we have stairs that will get you between all three levels. They don't take you down to the ground. Uh so you see the yellow uh in there behind that metal grid. Uh that'll all get wrapped with metal and then there's a perforated metal that will go on that grid system to kind of hide the stairs. So
031they'll be enclosed but not, you know, weathertight. Uh just kind of disappear. Here's a shot looking straight on um or the press box. You can see stair towers on both ends here. Lift down lower. Still working on some of the elements there to get out of the way for finishing those cran stands. This picture is one of the three concession stands. Just a shot of the two serving windows here in this picture. Uh they've got uh exterior lighting fixtures being installed. We've got our exterior water fountains installed. Canopies are going on the buildings. In this shot, we're looking at the main entrance canopy outside of press box. So, they've got the brick up. They've got to finish the the top of those columns. gets a cast stone piece on top to close those off. Uh
032in the background, you can't really see it here, but the mason is working to bring the brick up from the ground to the bottom of the press box. That's all brick. And then once you hit the press box, of course, it's all metal and lighter elements above. So, we didn't have to find a way to support that weight. Uh they are working on metal panels on the backside. So, they've made a lot of progress since this photo went in. So, uh, they're probably, uh, 80% complete with metal panels on the back of the press box at this time. This photo you can see the indoor activity center progressing. Uh, they're still working to get uh, complete here on the north side, I guess I would call that. Um, so we can get that parking lot
033aisle open back up as soon as possible. Uh, all the masonry veneers finished around the building, all sides, and working on the exterior sheathing. And then that will also get a metal panel over it. The shots are in inside of the indoor practice facility. Uh so they're working on MEP overhead in here. Uh they're framing walls out uh that will receive plywood on the inside, painted plywood, so everything will be protected from, you know, flying footballs, baseballs, golf balls, whatever. Um, all the overhead doors have been installed. You can see a few of those in this shot. Uh, and then of course here in in another six weeks or so, we should uh see green have turf in there. On our look ahead, uh, LED panels will be going on the video board. Uh, home
034grandstands and chairs on home side will be completing soon. Uh, metal panels on the press box are getting real close to that. and then dry in on the indoor activity center. So, that's just getting the rest of the metal panels on the outside, getting it ready for the turf on the inside. Are there any questions about either of those projects? >> Is the time-lapse camera still going? >> Time-lapse camera is still going. >> Okay. >> Uh, we should have one still on We have one on the website, right? >> Yeah. So, when all that's done, we're going to get them to create time lapse for us. >> Yeah. So, and I I think uh Go Vision is going to do a time lapse of just the video board, I think. So, and we'll ask for
035that when they're complete. And the elevator is here. I know you haven't asked about it yet, but the elevator is here. They are installing it. >> Awesome. Any other questions? >> Okay. >> I know >> it's called conditioning. I said it only took you nine years to get him to say it before. >> Nine years. >> He's been on here nine years. >> Say I haven't been here nine years. >> He's been trying. You're the only one that passed. Oh, >> okay. I gotcha. Uh so now a middle school update. Start out with just kind of an overall shot from the north looking south. Uh you see they've made a lot of progress on getting the the periphery landscape in and done. So that we'll uh have a full growing season in before we open
036and go for our CO. So we should have very well established landscape. Um in the background here, they're still working on some of the sporting um facilities. Uh and we have some better shots uh here later, but still working on tennis courts. Uh got a little bit of work left to do on our discus area and shot put. Uh we've got pretty much all the structural steel up on the building all the way around. Uh still working on some uh detail work, lentils, um things of that nature on that. The shops looking at the front. Uh again, all the the structural steel's up here. They're working on all the detail steel. Uh masonry veneer is continuing on around. Um so they're following the steel erection. So they're coming around from the north side. So, we'll
037see them kind of moving clockwise in this picture, moving around to the front uh to come back to the main entrance and finish that. This shot's looking a little closer shot of a classroom wing. Um here you can see they've got the rooftop curbs on the roof. That's what the units sit on. Uh so, they've got all of those in place and actually now have units sitting on them. Uh you can also see the exterior sheathing and some of the drywall being stocked in the building. So they have been working on framing and sheathing and sheetrock in the building. The shots where they uh have started on the north side. So the framing metal stud framing following structural steel framing masonry veneers coming behind that. This is a shot looking at the main entrance um
038of the building. On the left is the administration area in this photo. This is an inside shot of that main corridor. So after you come in the main entrance, this is looking down past the offices and goes on into the cafeteria and library areas and then a door out the back. This is a shot of the cafeteria space and library space. That wall hasn't been built to separate the two. So on the left would be the library. Uh the rest of the photo on the right, that's going to be our cafeteria and stage in the background where you see the lift here. Um it will be elevated, but that slab will still be poured above that slab. So you can't picture that right now, but we will have an elevated platform in there for performances.
039This is a picture inside the uh storm shelter gymnasium. Uh they've just stored their duck work in here. A lot of that is now in the air. Uh, and we should be getting ready to start doing the block fill and paint in these spaces in the next few weeks. Another overall shot looking from the south. So, this is the one where you can see a little bit better what they're still working on on our sports uh facilities. So, tennis courts. Um, they've now got all the lights stood. You can see fence post in this photo. Uh right in front of that is where we've got our two discus pads. Uh and then we're going to pour a concrete border and then we'll get some granite infill for the actual shopput sector itself. There's tennis courts
040with the lights installed. This picture is the concession stand over by the football field and track. Uh so they have topped those walls out and got the roof on that at this point and they'll be working on veneer very soon on that. Look ahead here. Uh rooftop unit install that was done about a week and a half ago with a helicopter. Same day they did the units here with the helicopter at high school and then went over to middle school and set all of those units in a day. I don't know the number. It's got to be around a hundred units or so total. Um, we'll see them complete the uh exterior framing and interior framing and our classroom wings over the next few weeks. Uh, starting our interior finishes over in the gym and
041fine arts area. That'll be our block filler and our base coats of paint. Uh, still working on our permanent power connections for the building so we can get some heat at this point. I don't think we're going to need air much anymore until next year. Um, and then our bleachers should be going in at the football field soon. Bleacher and press box. Are there any questions on the middle school? >> And the elevator's not here yet on that one. >> Mr. Hawk, >> I was just curious who was going to ask. >> I trust you, Jeff. >> We got it. >> All right. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jeff. >> My turn. I think >> it is your turn. >> You want me to use the clicker or you want to >> Okay, we're going
042to go through the superintendent's report. have several pictures here on this first slide that represent um kind of where we are from a celebration standpoint. So, we're going to talk through a little bit of this. As you can hear the band out here right now, we'll talk about them in just a minute. But, we've had a lot of things going on the first quarter. We've had our team tennis. They were the 5A region one regional semi-finalist. Very proud of the team. Uh they finished up last Thursday, I believe, in Witchaw Falls as they were competing against Abene Wy. Abene Wy ended up advancing and during that match. Um, but had an incredible season and they're gearing up now for spring tennis. So, good news is we get them back in the spring. Cross country, we
043had boys and girls uh both advanced to regionals and they ran this morning in Levik. So, it's been a a long drive out there and they ran and and coming home. um they fell short of advancing to state but represented us very well and so we did not have both teams um advance last year and so we're very very proud of them for doing that football won an exciting game Friday night against Mansfield Summit that puts us at 5-0 in district six and one on the on the year ranked number three and 582 and that puts us sitting top of the district uh leading the district at this point in the season volleyball is 31 and three uh that's pretty good record there ranked number six in 5A and volleyball will begin their playoffs next
044Tuesday. So, it's already or actually Thursday, Thursday the 30th. So, they're already um in playoffs ready for postseason. Boys golf placed third in the Glenrose Invitational and the Granberry Invitational recently. And then our band competed this past Saturday in the UIL region 2 marching contest and have now advanced to area B marching contest, which if you don't know, they practice all the time. They're incredible out here. And so they were practicing last week during fall break and they were ready to go on Saturday. So very proud of our band. And then we also had an event back in September, Hats for Halverson. Uh Chief Davis kind of led this event with our communications department and uh to honor Fort Worth fireman Caleb Halverson who is an Argal High School graduate. He was severely injured in
045a fire uh back in se early September. A garage collapsed and spent a lot of days and nights in critical condition. uh also in a burn unit and at the same time had a brand new baby uh in the NICU. And so the family faced a lot of challenges and still continues to face some challenges. But that one day in Argal ISD for hats for Hal Halverson, our students raised over $7,600 for the family. So thank you to our families for showing up big for the Halverson family. And once an eagle, always an eagle. So, we're proud to support them and glad to know that Caleb and the baby, I think, are now home and so working on uh recovering from those. And then we had our first Soaring Star winner. We got to go
046celebrate Stephanie Wilkinson. She is our bright and shiny face in the front office at the sixth grade center. And that was a big surprise for her. Uh she doesn't like a lot of credit, but um we celebrated big and all she was worried about was she should be running the social media. We're like, "No, this is about you." So, she she thought she was supposed to be taking pictures and we said, "Nope, it's about you." So we had to celebrate uh Stephanie and very excited to do so. And then a new recognition we have this year uh Mr. Heron recognized some things regarding some students and so we have the high flowers recognition and it it really started organically. We were at the I guess it was the parade the carnival the carnival after the
047homecoming carnival. It was late that night. Everyone knows everybody was exhausted. A lot of cleanup and uh there's not very many people left to help clean up and so Mr. Harren's out there with a few people and he looks up and we have three students that were middle school students that are siblings and um on their own just nobody had told him to do it. They just stayed behind and started cleaning and it's those kinds of things that you know just organically see the students in our district. So congratulations to Kaden Cassidy and Carter Hughes. Um some siblings over at the middle school we recognized them. I think they were very surprised and excited about that. So, it was just random acts of kindness and modeling what it is to be an Eagle. So, want
048to appreciate the celebrate them. Um, then we have some district just regular district updates. From an attendance and enrollment standpoint, excuse me, enrollment standpoint, we were at 6552 today. So, we are just 32 students off of the uh demographers projection, which is technically set for next Friday, the 31st. So, there you can see our actuals um as of today on each of our campuses. And then you can also see our class size ratios which continue to remain in a really good place right now um considering where we were last year. And I know again, I always like to make sure everybody re recognizes that this board uh elected to approve 50 new teaching positions new to the budget to help um because our teachers wanted and our parents as well wanted smaller class sizes. And
049we have filled our elementary classrooms with teachers to get those size those class sizes down. And as we continue to grow, they will creep up as we have all of our classrooms full. But right now, those are in really good shape. And you can just feel it. But I know y'all talked about being on boardwalks, those of you that have already been and y'all have commented just being in classrooms and and feeling that in the classroom. So, um want to continue to update um our families and our and you all um monthly on those. And then just from some district and community updates, we have scheduled an East Middle School High School attendance zone meeting next Wednesday, which is the 29th. I know the original email said Wednesday the 28th, but it is Wednesday the
05029th. Um that'll be going that'll go out again tomorrow, I believe. Um that's that's for anybody zone to the east side um in the in that middle school high school attendance zone. We have several things we're going to cover. Some things are, you know, pretty set. Some things are not yet and we're going to have to wait on the fall demographer and spring demographer report to make some final decisions on uh the 27th school year because you've got some options there with um the sophomores and the juniors and we want to do what's best for kids, but we also have the sixth graders coming over as well. So, we're working on we'll go through and explain all of that um that evening. Then we have multicultural night which is a huge event and I know
051Miss Vanoi has been involved in that a lot over the last several years and and uh that's a big event November 12th. This year it's at the middle school not at the high school it's going to be at the middle school from 6:00 to 7:30. We also have a new podcast Capital in the Classroom dropping soon. Um we have Miss Hayden who you saw here a little bit ago. We also have Mattie Fairchild is a teacher at South and Mr. Orlowski and they uh got to do a podcast with some students to highlight how the cell phone bill has impacted their classroom experience and so I think I'm not sure when's the date dropping on that. Do you know? >> Okay. They were they were reviewing it and doing some things but very excited uh
052for that because it's it's been a a nice little podcast for us. And the naming nomination for new schools remains open through November 7th. So if you have it and you're interested that form remains open. and mascot and color submission form for the second high school closed October 3rd. We had 561 submissions and so we're sifting through that now. The transition team, I think they have a meeting tomorrow, in fact, and they'll be working with that and then going back to the students and then bringing some recommendations to the board. Um so November you'll be seeing naming of school recommendations, information only, mascot and colors information only, and then December we have a big meeting because you've got some decisions to make. um consider making some decisions. We will also have the fall demographer report
053and we will also have the recommendation for a new middle school principal as the new middle school principal will be opening. Facebook transition team updates continue and then we have a special ed parent training coming up understanding the IEP and the ARD process. There's a lot of acronyms in that world and so Miss Funberg um her new leadership and the team is beginning to do some parent meetings and so we're excited about that. And then finally, uh, Parent Square is our we launched this year as far as a communication tool with parents. Wanted to let you know we have 94% of our parents receiving emails through parent square and 64% have downloaded and are using the app. So those are really good return rates on parents connecting with parent square. And then each week we
054get a top authors po top post authors from our campuses. And those five teachers happen to have the highest um engagement with post inside of parent square last week. So, that's kind of a neat thing just to celebrate um those that are are in there and using it and getting familiar with it. And then I received an email last week from Miss Casey Tidwell. She's the president of the South PTA. They were recognized as the highest growth percentage of membership year-over-year in the entire state. So, they're up almost 700 members at South and we will be recognizing Miss Tidwell and her board at the November board meeting. >> So, very excited there. I >> think that's it. Can you go back to the enrollment? >> You bet. >> For that school, I was like, >>
055so 700 parents are enrolled out of 783 students, >> correct? >> Okay. >> Yes, I know. >> Wow. >> Yeah. It's pretty impressive. >> State. >> All right. Any questions on any of that? All right. >> Thank you. All right. Our transportation department. >> I looked at Liz. She gave the nod. I think >> we don't usually sit in the back, but it was pretty crowded that we got here today. Um, good evening. >> Good evening. >> It is is time for purchasing of buses again. Um, we did have a consultant to come help us a little bit. This is a a little bit different type of year. Uh we're going to open the middle school up next year and we knew that there were going to be some things that we wanted to be
056sure of. Um we've got some trip buses that have to be entered into our fleet because we've got two middle schools and one high school and then following year after that we're going to have another high school. So we're going to have to add some more. Uh but we we went through our numbers, went through our enrollment, went through our routing, and determined that we needed 16 new buses for this year. Um two of them are going to be replacement buses, and one of them Brady has been working on a grant. >> So the state each year they they start a new grant program. It's been primarily electric until last year. they they transitioned it back to diesel. And so this year they're offering almost 97,000 if you receive the grant towards the purchase of
057a new bus. And so that's that's a large percentage. So we have one bus that qualifies. It has to be a 2005 or older and it has to be in service. It has to be registered. There's all these things that that it has to meet the requirements. So we have one that's that age that is still in use. And so we're hoping um I'm working with another transportation director who's done a lot of grants and he's he's kind of given me the ins and outs of how to get your grant in on the day on day one and and it's first come first serve and so we we I've already got all him the information that we need and so we're trying to be first in line if possible to get that grant. So, >>
058uh we've we've also determined that it will help our our staffing to get to uh 14 passenger buses. These buses don't require a CDL to drive. So, while we have some of our drivers in training after they get hired, they could still be driving this for sped routes or even some smaller u regular routes. So, so that's going to help us a little bit. Uh so all together 16 >> and they're good for you know smaller events for golf I know we we always took those to state and perfect for pole balls tennis those kind of things it'd be good for them to use too because you have that area in the back that's kind of storage and you can you can hold more than a suburban will will hold. So instead of taking two
059suburbans every time, you can take one of these. And so it would be nice for those those events or the smaller events. So we're going to use all of 2022 bond for for this. We the remainder of that that we have to purchase the buses. And price tag is 2,548,252. So, it's a lot, but >> it's cheaper today than it will be, >> right, >> six months. >> And and I was just looking at like the the cost of a bus when I first got on the board to now is the inflation's like 5% a year over the last eight years. So, I mean, it's obviously >> it was 105 probably seven years ago. >> Yeah. And I was going off $100,000 a bus. And so, >> Crazy. >> Yeah. Okay, that's our information. >>
060Thank you, guys. >> Thank you. >> You're not gonna make Greg do this one? >> All right. Okay. So, this one is for uh purchase above $100,000. As you'll know in our uh purchasing authority, it's up to $100,000 if budgeted. Um these are for our computer uh staff refreshes. Um it's for MacBooks um and for iMacs. So, it's not all of our staff um computers as you can tell, but it is a cycle based on um the year and the the software, the processor that's on there. Um and so, Greg has looked at this and looked at what we have out there and what needs to be refreshed. This was part of his department's budgeting, so it's included in our annual budget. Um, and it is um estimated not to exceed $200,000 for those uh
061153 MacBooks and iMacs. And I think y'all remember many years ago we went to the MacBooks for everybody and that's consistent with what we're buying now. Any questions on that? Okay. All right. The next one's the same thing at the purchase above $100,000. Um this one is for um technology vehicles. Y'all remember part of this past bond um that passed in May was for some technology infrastructure and technology department. Um that included three vans and that first um don't know if y'all remember we had it had it sectioned out into each year and what was needed. So in the first year it was three technology vans. These are used to transport technology equipment throughout the district. We have one van right now. So, they're using their personal vehicles transporting back and forth. And so, this
062would be three more onto that department um be part of the 25 bond and it's not to exceed 150,000. Um right now we do have um three selected. Um but, you know, holding a vehicle for 60 days sometimes isn't quite possible. That's why we've got the 150, but right now we've got them secured a little less than that. Um, but that gives us a little flexibility if that vehicle happens to get sold before we bring it back the next month and get it approved. So, any questions on that? >> All right. Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. Yeah, this is good though. So these can you make a little bigger? Thank you. These are the new course proposals. So I kind of like to go through each one because there's not very many
063this time. So the very first one, robotics. This is a student generated request. Um our students are very interested and have been for a little while talking about robotics. So this is super exciting to add this. The second one, the digital art. This will be a great addition for this group of students, especially as we have the fancy media that's going to be available in the stadium for them to be able to start working on that. We have the personal finance class. There's two of them there. There's the AP business with personal finance and the personal finance, financial literacy. This is a requirement from the state that as they move away from economic classes and they add this in. So that is something that we had to add there. The advertising is the level three
064for the marketing and sales pathway. So it's a another class in that pathway and when a students complete a pathway and take an IBC then they earn their CCMR point. So it's another opportunity for students who are interested in that to get their point that way. We have the AP seminar and research. So this goes back to our collaborative visioning and we had a lot of parents and staff members interested in kind of a capstone project for our student class to accompany that. So that is what the AP seminar and research are. So um this is something we haven't offered before but another AP opportunity as well for our students that are looking for those points but a super good opportunity for them to really work on those critical thinking skills with this capstone project
065class. dance wellness is that we added dance wellness one last year so this is the second level we've had a huge interest in it and students who want to continue with it so that is the dance wellness class >> can I can I ask about that >> yes sir >> is it dance wellness >> I mean I could benefit from it certainly >> you're welcome to join them during your boardwalk that'd be fun >> but it kind of goes back to kind of something I always I mean always want to talk about when we talk about education I mean this this is It seems like a neat course and teaches ballet, hiphop, cultural dance, jazz, and that's all cool stuff. They're kind of hobbies and stuff, but I mean, is that you're saying there's a
066lot of interest in that and this and these kids are taking these as an elective and on >> So, they're required to have a fine arts, so they're getting a fine arts credit for it. >> Fine arts credit. >> Yeah. >> And it's, you know, like how many different fine arts classes do we have? Do you know? I don't know right off hand, but once again, if if we don't have enough student interest in it, then the class doesn't make and it's not offered. But what we're hearing right now from students who are in dance wellness one is that they'd like to continue on. They're enjoying that. So, it's a great way for our kids to be active. And a lot of our students who are juniors and seniors, they've taken most of the classes
067they need to graduate. They're still at school, though. So, let's give them some great things to do. and at least they're staying active >> because the other options are usually choir related or instrument related and so this gives the other fine arts pathway of someone who's not necessarily going to sing or >> play instrument. >> I had a daughter take it last spring and she loved it. She took the first one and she said there were a lot of athletes in the class that took it just to work on flexibility and you know being light on their feet. She was like, "It was probably one of the most popular classes." So, I don't know. >> School's fun, too. >> Well, and our dance. >> I know. It's >> high school recess. >> It's just one
068of those things. It's just >> flexible on your feet. >> Teach it if there's interest in it. But it does it does make me kind of go like, hey, I mean, you know, I'm I'm an English, math, science kid, and some of the stuff is so much filler. And I hear about this, oh, we need more. We need more. And I'm like, we're offering dance wellness one and dance wellness two. >> And it seems like we're offering quite a bit >> from for the elective sides. Yeah. For the elective side. Yeah. >> Students, >> but the numbers I think would impress Mr. Westerm if we could share the numbers. >> I would be happy to share those numbers. >> How many people are participating in middle school and high school in these >> and you
069know our electives, they kind of eb and flow and I think a lot of that is determined by the instructor in the class, right? And so you have like somebody who's really dynamic in a class and there's huge interest and then maybe five years later they've retired and somebody else comes it's not as exciting something else tends to go up. So what's popular these few years may not be maybe it wasn't popular five years ago and something else was. But I love the fact that we have electives that kids have fun in because school we do a lot of learning and I love that there's things that they just enjoy that aren't stressful that aren't AP seminar and AP research and AP personal finance and then they can go to dance wellness and have fun
070if that's what they enjoy. >> I hear you. >> I'm sure my kids would be the first ones to sign up for it if they get anything. >> I bet the girls would love it. Josh is against >> they're not going to be in the AP class. >> I will share those numbers with you. Any other questions? >> I think it's also an opportunity for kids who whose parents financially can't afford to do >> these basically required classes outside of >> um you know doing drill team. This is an opportunity. >> Yes. >> You know >> that they can add these courses here as well. So >> for sure. Anyway, >> and it fits within our dance instructor schedule anyway because they've got sections available. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I think
071so. >> Okay. >> Yes. The dip district improvement plan. >> So, I brought the district improvement plan to you. This is actually the third or fourth time you may have seen it because we went through this whole plan during our collaborative visioning that I brought it to you last month for information. So nothing has changed since the other times you have seen it. What has happened in the meantime though is our campuses have had their campus improvement CL teams come together and create their plans based off this and then we've created our goals as staff members of Argaliz based on this plan and um I can look at the plan for student learning and student experience in all of our areas and see that we're making some good progress already on those. So it's exciting
072to see that this is real stuff that we are actually doing. These are not just words. They are really incorporated to um everything that we do. And you saw that just through the new courses, how we took what our collaborative visioning team brought to us and turned it into real life. You have any questions for me on the district improvement plan. Okay. Thank you. >> Right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action 11A as presented. So move. >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. Got a second. >> Second. >> Mrs. Lean Artho with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you. So, we we brought to you last uh month um some issues we have with hiring bus drivers and and keeping bus drivers. Um
073we're still facing those challenges. Uh it just seems like as soon as we get close to to getting ahead, something happens and and we we lose a few drivers. I know that a lot of times this particular arena does go through, you know, the staff at times. Um there's there's lots of reasons. Um but we we do need some help hiring some drivers. We're we're still five short right now currently. Um, so we we've we just feel like that that this is going to make a difference and getting some to come to us. Um, we did talk about some ways to to keep some drivers here after we've got them hired. Um, we decided to kind of table that until the spring to where we could kind of get better a better idea of what
074our budget looks like before we make any uh big decisions with that. We know that there's a need and for us to find something, but right now is is it's it's more important to take care of our our issue at getting drivers hired. >> And Mr. I think part of that conversation y'all had, you talked about how there's other other groups of employees that we felt like we needed to look at from a bigger picture as far as a retention type. Um >> we did we talked about that um >> about moving forward looking at that for some of our other hard to find position >> hourly employees >> and um that this wouldn't might not be just for bus drivers but for other departments as well. And so we wanted to have a bigger
075conversation um moving forward with that aspect of it. Um but we still felt there's a need right now. Um I if you want to just share how many drivers we are short right now and after today. >> Um >> we were doing really good until today. We were doing really good. >> We're back down to five down. >> Yeah, we need five. >> Yeah. So, you know, office staff in the transportation department are still driving every day. Um you know, they have they have long hours. Um we can't provide relief to that. we can't get them back to their eight hour day until we fill these driving positions because students still have to get to and from school every day. Um, and so this is the plan that they've provided and brought to you is
076just a way to try and incentivize um the drivers that are out there and to hire them in order to fill those positions just so we can have a fully staffed department and provide relief for the ones that are having to work so much right now. um because if we wear out all of our employees, you know, they're going to burn out at some point and so we can't do this anymore and that creates even a bigger problem. >> So it's just it's a hard to find position and it's not just with us, it's it's throughout um the state and the nation. It's a very hard to fill position. >> Sure. Just it doesn't offer a lot of hours, you know, in most transportation examples and it requires a lot of training. You know, getting
077a CDL is four to six weeks of of training. Uh, you know, if they really get after it. And so, you know, if if we train a new one, you know, some, you know, I know historically we haven't had this yet this year that anybody that we trained have has stayed this year, but I know historically, you know, you may train somebody and you pay pay to train them, but then they go somewhere else as soon as they're done training and make more money. So, you know, the the two the two things that this is addressing that I that I consistently hear with people that I'm interviewing or I'm talking with on in need or reaching over or they apply is is the hourly rate and how many hours they're getting per day. And so,
078this is addressing both those needs. And so, >> and it is giving some drivers that are already there some incentive to go out and find and recruit for us. And it is helping the drivers also their getting more money out. >> Guys, I'd be surprised if anybody's against this. I think we all understand the challenge you're faced with and you know if we have money in the budget to allocate to solve a problem. This is a problem for the district and I think we should allocate the money to it. >> So, thank you. >> Easy. >> Liz, is there any opportunity? Let's let's say you train someone, you hire them, you train them, they get their CDL, you've paid for the CDL, and they leave immediately to use a fancy school where you recapture on
079that training cost. >> I believe we put that in up front. Yes. >> Um I think they would have to know about it and offline up front, but yes, >> but do we do we do that? >> We do not currently, I believe, do that. >> Is that part of this plan? It it is not. But we have talked about a 90day period if we've trained you and we've paid for your training. We've paid for your test that um you're going to have to reimburse us if you don't stay with it for 90 days. But we haven't we haven't followed through with that. >> Why not? Why 90 days? Why not >> why not longer >> school year? I've had it. >> All they can do is negotiate, right? >> That's true. >> The the
080one part of this plan that might close to that is that the referral bonus um that current employees can get a referral bonus um if the new driver actually gets trained and stays and drives for 90 days. That's the only thing that we have then they get then they qualify for the referral but not we don't have in there right now coming back to the employee. >> I think that's great but I look at the 90 days is all I got is day mark and then I can then I'm free. >> You think it should be a year? >> Yeah. >> And if they say hey I'll do it but I want that to be six months. Well, guess what? You know they're about to leave in six months. >> Right. Right. >> Tells you
081what you need to know, right? >> That's what we do with a contracted employee. We would write it in for a specialized training. You know, I've had that done before. So, >> I would align that with I mean, whatever the best hiring period is for you guys. So, if it's through the end of the school year in the spring, um if they're hired, you know, in the fall or they're hired in the spring, then it's, you know, a full calendar. >> At my business, we prorrate it for 12 months. So, you know, if you leave at month 10, then you've got two months, >> right? >> The summer time when they when they're not working, it's it's an opportunity, so to say, for them to go look for other employment. >> What you're going to
082find, too, is you're going to find those other districts, they're going to tell them, "Hey, I can't leave because I owe them half my training back." >> Well, it's still cheaper for the other district to pay half the training. Give them a sign on bonus to pay half the training because they don't have to pay for all of it. >> Yeah. So, you're getting into you're getting into a world where you're going to have to have some pretty well-written agreements. >> All right. >> That make it painful >> for them to get. >> Yes. >> Sorry to say that, but >> No, >> it is what it is, right? >> Well, if we're going to train them, there needs to be >> So, Dr. Daniel and his team can from an HR perspective come up
083with with those contracts. I definitely have seen it done for contracted employees, so I'm sure it can be done for at will as well. >> Y there any other questions on action item 11B? >> Right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 11B as presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Hawksworth, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Matthew Slayton second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you'all. >> Thank you. Best wishes. >> Let us know how it goes. >> Yeah. >> Give an update. >> Write the contract. Well, >> okay. This is an action item for us to begin um planning for the transition to two middle schools. Um this is a new position that would begin in most likely
084in January. Um if the position is approved, we would post it tomorrow and begin um interviewing in early November. This would be for the second um middle school. And the budget impact for this school year, we're anticipating about 109 days, which is 54,751. And then of course the next school year, this person would be full-time. Any questions? Entertain a motion to approve action items. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Matthew Slate with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Jordan. The time is 7:13 p.m. We are adjourned.