001All right. Good evening. It is 5:00 p.m. September 16th, 2025. This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Argal ISD Board of Trustees. At this time, we will determine if a quorum is present. >> Leona McDade, present. >> Josh Wester, present. Rich McDow present. >> Lean Artho present. >> Matt Slayton present. >> I Sam Slayton present. We do have a quorum established. The time remains 5:00 pm actually 5:01 p.m. now >> and we are going to adjourn to executive session. All right, good evening. Time 6:06 p.m. We have returned from executive session. This time we're going to have our friends from Argal West Elementary come lead us in our prayers. Miss Hayden, do you want to >> It's pledges. >> Oh, pledges, not prayers. I'm sorry. Pledes. >> We'll be back to you. Do >>
002it all. >> Give us the alliteration. I'm sorry. Anyway, Miss Hayden, would you like to introduce >> Absolutely. Well, we have Argyle West here. We have preK through fifth grade. Um, we just kind of have a mixed variety of all so that you guys can see um who's representing our school. So, if you guys want to come line up, >> do you want to line up right here? >> Someday we'll get a little soap box stand. >> We got one. Oh my gosh, look at that. >> Remember, you're sharing your name, grade, and what you love about Argyle West. Okay. Um, hello. My name is Avery Quest and I am in fifth grade. And what I love about Argyle West is how nice the teachers are there. >> My name is Rhett and um I'm
003in third grade. And um what I love about Argal West is that we have very nice teachers and specials teachers. >> My name is Evie Bingham and what I love about Argy West is the teachers. >> My name is Finn Miller. I'm in fifth grade and what I like the most about fifth I mean Argot West is the teachers and they make learning fun. >> What's your name? >> My name is Victor. >> What grade are you in? >> I'm freaking kid. >> And what do you like about what do you like the most? >> Playing with my friends. >> Excellent. Good job, buddy. That's awesome. >> I'm Jacob Smith in fifth grade and what I like best about Argal West is the community. How everyone is very kind and always willing to help. >>
004My name is Delan Richardson and I'm in fifth grade. And what what I love most about our West is that all the teachers uh help you and that they're ready to um >> teach you about like what's next. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. Hi, my name is Kaylee Davis and I'm in fourth grade and I am new to AR West and I came in January and the best things I love about Ara West is that I love I I like all the country accents and I like the E. >> Tell you what, we've got those country accents around here. Good job. My name's Gemma. I'm in >> I'm in third grade. And the thing that I like about Ar West is everyone's nice and will give a hand to help. >> Very nice. >> My
005name is Rhett. I'm in third grade. And what I love about AR West is the teachers. Hi, my name is Liam Mton and I'm in fifth grade at AR Elementary. I just want to say thank you to Miss Hayden for giving me an opportunity to be in student council and representing and to be here at this board council. The reason why I like it is because our teachers are so helpful and helping us guide through and AR West is giving us lots of opportunities. >> Excellent job, sir. Thank you. My name is My name is Ryan. I go to Argyle West and my favorite thing about it is Horizons. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Ready? Yeah. Great job, >> friend [Music] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
006for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to the Texas. One state under God. One and indivisible. Fore shot. [Applause] That was awesome. Really awesome. They would have quite sure. >> Oh my goodness. >> Huh? All right. Now, we'll have our opening prayer. Dear Father God, thank you for the opportunity to serve this district. Um Lord, I I pray that um it be on our hearts um to use discernment and wisdom. And Lord, let every decision that um this board, administration, um this community just be focused on serving our children, serving them well, and being good representatives and and models of um the power of education, Lord, and being good citizens. Lord, again, we thank you for the opportunity to serve, Lord.
007We pray for healing. And it's in your son's holy name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> All right. Wine if we have anything. >> Awesome. All right. Okay. We'll go to the consent agenda and donations for my screen went out. Uh, September 2025 donations ABC fiscal year 2025 number 27 $925 for football sign and locker tags ABC fiscal year 2025 number 28 $4,646 for softball uniforms. Total September donations $5,57160 >> with Z >> right 0 right Liz we're taking it out further out even further >> that is true fiscal responsibility got it rounded to the thousands let's go >> all right does anyone have any questions about uh any of the consent items >> I do actually softball uniforms. I mean, I I take it the district will buy uniforms, but then booster club will
008step in in all the sports at times and >> and supplement. Yes. >> And supplement with a second uniform or >> That's correct. >> Update the uniforms, which is >> Yes. >> Just to point out, it's a nice nice little thing for the district to have that. >> Yes, for sure. >> Yes. The booster club does uh quite a few donations and they support all scores. All right. Any other questions on the consent items? Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent items as presented. So move. >> Dr. McDade. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. McDow with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? All right. Thank you. All right. construction. Mr. Cohen, >> good evening. >> All right, so uh
009here on this photo, we're looking at uh the visitor side. Uh we've got the fencing done outside. We've got the brick columns in between. You can see we've got the canopy uh installed. This where we'll be say taking tickets. I don't think they do that anymore. Scanning tickets or whatever they do. The the visitors will come in through that side. Uh you can also see and there'll be better photos here in a minute. But you can see the press box uh as well in this photo. We've got all the glass in the front of that. Now, this is another shot uh looking at the other side of our visitors grandstands. Uh you can also see here in the foreground the video board structure is up. Uh got all the electrical boxes set and I believe
010LED panels uh will be starting uh maybe this week or next going in. So it'll start to look like a video board at that point. This photo you can see indoor activity center. Um they have got the uh masonry uh the block up all the way around. They're working on the veneer, stone and brick now. Uh you can't see any in this photo, but they've completed the south side and they're working currently on the east side. So, we're trying to get that in the north side complete uh to hopefully open up this drive again very soon. >> Jeff, I have a question. >> Yes. >> I had a couple parents reach out to me since our last board meeting. I referred him to the previous board meeting and we talked about it, but just want
011to bring it up again. So, the traffic flow pattern um when the fencing is removed that's been altered to where there is this turn here. >> We we have a very awkward turn. >> Awkward turn >> currently. Yes. >> Is I know there's a curb that's been put in right there. Is that curb going to be removed to open this drive again or >> No, that is not been planned to be opened again. Okay. >> Do you have something to show in a minute? I I do have a a detailed graphic of all of this if you want to come back to that at the end. I was asked to prepare something. So, >> I just don't want to, you know, don't want to get yelled at. >> I understand. So, we can go through
012that in depth here just momentarily. >> Thank you. >> Here we're on the home side. Uh looking south at the press box. Uh it's easy to see from this angle the glass that's going in. Um, and it looks like there's some glass missing there in the center up top. That's actually our film deck. So, that's why you don't see any glass right there. Uh, in the foreground, we've got one of the concession stands. The roof is on in this photo. They're working on gutters and trim and canopies that go around to cover the doorways. Uh, the little green generator you see here in the foreground, that's something we brought in at the beginning of school. So, we've actually hooked up our Musco lights to that, which is how they're able to practice in the morning.
013They come on, they just flip one switch, lights come on, they're done, they flip it off. So, that's how we've been able to provide light during this interim until we get all the permanent power installed. Closer shot of the press box and the activity going on there. Uh I haven't counted the lifts but there's anywhere from five to seven at any given time uh working on this um uh which has helped speed up the progress. I know may still seem slow but uh the other option would have been scaffolding which they sometimes do that way and it would have probably taken much longer to complete. So, uh, but here you can see, uh, if you look closely at the base of the press box and the structure, you can see some masonry scaffolding, and they're
014actually bringing the brick up on those outside wide columns, if you want to call them that much closer up shot. Um, here on the end where you where you just see the structural steel grid there. Um, that's actually going to be a perforated metal panel is our finish. Um, so you'll kind of still be able to see that structure and that stair through that perforated metal, but not, you know, not as obvious as it is here. And then everything you see with the yellow sheathing on there, that will all be a metal panel. I think we got a couple of different systems going on to give it a little bit of variation. this angle from the front. Also looking down, you can see they're working on the roof. Got all of our wood blocking installed
015on there, getting ready to install insulation and then roof that. So once we get that complete, the press box will be in the dry. I'm going to go back to this one. If you look kind of past that on the ground, you can see the the left and right ends of the canopy on the visitors I mean homeside. Um, we don't have a shot from that uh in this presentation, but they've got that completely installed now. It's ready for roofing and the concrete uh will be poured underneath there. Work that's coming up will be the LED panels on our video board that should be starting very soon. Uh, our home grandstand installation has started. Um, so they've got, I believe, most of the structural steel components in. We'll be seeing them start working on aluminum
016very soon. press box will be dried in. So, they'll be able to start interior finishes in the next month. And then the metal panels, we'll see those starting to go in on the uh concession stands and on the press box. Actually, >> yes. >> Crazy question. Um, on one of the pictures that you had earlier, I was looking at the distance between the uprights and the video board >> and thinking about where we are now in our current stadium and the band on the outside of the track and and those field goal or extra point balls go over they they pretty much just go over the those back stands. So, I'm assuming we're far enough away. >> Uh, yes. I >> have anything correct? I I don't think currently the plan is to set the
017the bleachers up in the end zone, >> right? But even without them, I'm just asking. Okay. >> Yes. >> As far as the distance. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I know that's something you would have already talked about, but it's just the the visual on that was >> right. >> Just a bad angle. >> The angle. Yeah. >> And this just our milestone tracking. Uh we're still uh Pog is really pushing to to get us substantially complete by the end of November. Um I know we we have some weather days built in there, but but they're working hard and they're keeping their schedule updated and they feel like they're still going to be able to deliver that by about the end of November. And I believe the indoor activity center is tracking about
018a month behind that currently. So, I'll go through the middle school update and then we'll come back to the uh the parking lot slides that I have. That's a separate presentation. So, here uh just looking at a a side of the shite s shot of the site cannot talk tonight. Uh from 407 angle. Uh so, we're working on spreading all the top soil. That's the darker earth you see in the photo, the uh the darker brown color. So, we're resp-spreading the top soil that we stripped. getting ready to plant grass. Uh you can see trees along the frontage are already installed. Uh tennis courts are the two concrete slabs you see on the left. And it's kind of hard to see, but they've actually started the fencing in this photo. You can see some metal
019poles around the edge of that tennis court. So that's our tennis fencing. In this shot, we're looking north toward the classroom wing uh of the middle school itself. Um, so this is forming the courtyard. Classrooms will surround it on three sides, front, right, and and the back in this photo. And they are currently uh finishing up the steel erection in the the center uh portion to connect the north and south wings there. In this shot, we're looking down kind of the main the main spine, if you will, from the front toward the back. Um, so you can see uh what looks like some white steel beams here. That's actually a glue laminated wood beam, engineered wood beam. So that's just a plastic to keep the weather off of it till we get the roof on
020there. But that corridor, that'll be the main corridor that goes from front to back. The uh admin offices are dead center in this photo. That's where all the administration is. Behind that, you have the library, followed by the cafeteria, and then the kitchen. And this is just a a little closer shot. This one's looking in reverse from north to south down that main spine. In this photo, you can see we've got roofing being installed. So, we've got areas uh that starting to get dried in so we can start working on interior sheetrock followed by paint and finishes. Another shot just showing progress of steel erection. Uh masonry is also continuing on around the building. That's the scaffolding you can see set up here that masonry will continue on around following the structural steel. Just an
021overall shot of the entire site. It catches uh probably 47 out of the 50 acres in this one shot. And here you can see we've already got grass and trees planted around the perimeter. So we won't have that to do in the end. It's a very good time to be planting right now too. So kind of the ideal time for this and maintenance of that in case anyone's wondering is on the contractor until they're done. So I am not paying that water bill if anyone should ask or mowing. Not doing that. But I mean just so we're clear that those that landscape is a requirement of the town. >> Yes. The last >> it's not it wasn't like hey let's go plant all these beautiful trees and put in these amazing you know. >> Correct.
022>> It's it's a it's >> we love trees but it is a requirement of the town and we didn't plant a bunch of extra trees. >> Yeah. But it's always easier when we're coming up to the the end of a project and we want to get our CO when we have green grass and green trees and versus a lot of times you don't have those and then you got to ask for special permission and so we won't have that issue here when we go to get our CO. So on our look ahead um we should have bleachers um which we only have on one side of this field. on the home side. We'll see those start going in. Uh we are looking at I believe October the 9th or 10th. I'll have to confirm that
023to set the rooftop units. They're going to do it by helicopter if anybody's interested. That's the plan. Weather permitting, of course. Um we should be working on getting our permanent gas and electric connections to the building. So once we get that get our units hooked up, we'll have heat and or air depending on temperatures which will help with the finishes. So we're not fighting that or having to provide temporary heat or air. And then we're going to start working hopefully very soon on site preparations for elementary number five. And then just reminder of our milestones. Um nothing here has really changed and we're still on track for substantial completion in July. But, uh, I'd say once we we get rooftops on and roof dried in, we're going to really make a push and see if
024we can bring this in a little bit early and get furniture a little sooner. There any other questions on middle school? No. >> All right. You'll pull up the special presentation. All right. So, what I got here, uh, I went ahead and and showed, uh, what it was previous. That's on the top. On the bottom is what it currently looks like under construction because we do have a construction fence up, which is preventing full access that we'll have in the end. So, in the top graphic, you can see we had two driveways. both would exit the parking lot towards that, I'll call it a Y-shaped intersection. Um, and because the angle coming out of the bottom drive there, it wasn't straight to the end and then a left full left turn. It's more like a
025left curve. It wasn't the safest corner. And so that's one of the reasons we came up with the the modifications to the parking lot which reduced that to a single point in and out of the parking lot. But we currently uh due to construction needing to get the veneer on the north side of the indoor activity center. We've closed down that lane and that first row of parking on the other side of it. Uh so that allow that construction to happen. So soon as we can get that done, we'll be able to take that fence down which will open up that drive again. So the construction fence in in the bottom graphic here is represented by the blue line with the circles. So that's currently where we have construction fence set up. So when everybody
026enters goes to enter that parking lot, it's forcing them all to do a U-turn to get into that first drive aisle. And then of course leaving it's it's the opposite U-turn currently. So this is what it will look like uh hopefully in the next month. Uh but definitely when construction's over, this is the intent of that where we have one way in and out of the parking lot uh with the ability to go straight in uh and then also still make that U-turn for those that want to get into that first drive aisle. But once this is opened up where that is an option, I think it will relieve and ease a lot of the the current difficulties that that we're having right now. Awesome. >> So, that's the plan. >> Thank you. >> You're
027welcome. >> I'll let you know to hear. >> Absolutely. If you think of questions later, please send them my way. >> I'm good. >> You know what? I have them in there. I'll show them to you just in case. I also threw in photos of the same thing because I know some people may not read plans as well. Uh, and a picture can speak a lot better to a lot of people. So, I just wanted to throw that in there, too. I forgot about that. Uh, so on the left is our future configuration. So, I know the construction fence is still up in this photo if you look really close, but don't look that close. This is what the entrance will look like to the parking lot. >> Yeah. >> On the right, um, I
028was able to turn my Google Maps on my phone into 3D and snapshot that to get that. Only way I could get close to the same angle. And you can see what we had before the project. And so that'll show you the the two drives as they exited. And there was no stop sign or anything from the drive to your left in that picture. And so people would roll right out of there. Um but they were hard to see for the people coming down the other aisle sometimes. And so that's the reason it got redesigned the way it is currently. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that's good. Thank you. >> So, he's got some slides kind of give you all some visuals as I talk through superintendent report tonight. So, we do have some celebrations.
029So, we've got some uh student celebrations here. I'm going to share. Obviously, we had homecoming this past week. Um great event. community again just blew it out of the water being here on the parade. We had 33 floats last year and Mr. Herren, how many floats did we have last Wednesday night? >> 66 floats. I think uh the board I think our I think we lapped the the parade because when we got back over there, the football team was still in the parking lot waiting to leave. So, um great turnout for the homecoming uh parade and then the carnival of course was great. we had um the way it was set up, lots of room to flow out there, but just great organization. So, thank you to everyone. Congratulations to SE Sager Zamzen scholar win,
030our homecoming king and queen this year. And I think Sager's sister won it two years ago. Is that is that Lean's brother? Yeah. So, >> cranking on. >> I know it. Um excellent there. And then we had um let's see. Oh, we also had our National Merit uh semi-finalist announced in the bottom left corner there. So, we had three this year. Last year we had one. Uh this year we have three so that's exciting. We have Leah Cha there on the left. Uh we have Shri Abinav Thavari there in the middle. And then we had Riley Pazana there on the far right. So congratulations. Just to put that in perspective, um we have there's 16,000 seniors in the United States that actually are named. That's less than 1% of all high school seniors. So very
031prestigious uh nomination there and they'll be looking forward to completing the process for National Merit finalist come the spring. Uh we also have volleyball going on here. We've uh the in fact the girls are playing at Collieville Heritage tonight. So I think that's where Miss Nolles is. Is that Oh, you're right there. They're at home tonight. >> Yeah, they're here. >> Why did I think they were over there? >> I said that I was going. >> So you confused me. Okay. All right. Okay. So they're are they're here. Okay. Very good. So they're uh playing CG Heritage. They won their district opener last week. Football won district opener last Friday night. I think the girls are ranked seventh right now. The are 14th. No, wait. The girls are ranked ninth. Boys are ranked seventh in
032football. And then tennis is ranked 14th. So continuing along with fall sports there. Top right corner. I just want to celebrate tacos with transportation. Jane Russman Elementary staff uh celebrated our transportation department last Friday morning and invited them all out. I think Mr. Bell. Did y'all take them on a bus? >> I did. >> You did? So took all the bus drivers out on a bus to JRE and they had breakfast for them. So wanted to thank our JRE staff out there and our students for welcoming our bus drivers. I know they loved it. So, it's a big deal. And then if you um happen to see if you'll go back, sorry I hadn't talked about Gretchen yet. Um Gretch, Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans and her husband Bob, they are have our silver silver
033eagles. They live in Harvest and they were part of the building homes for heroes 433rd home dedication last Thursday um in Harvest and that's partnership of Hillwood which is Ross Pro Jr. He was there and spoke on their behalf and that is a mortgage free home to Gretchen and her husband. So we were honored to have a part of that. We had our band Majestics cheer football. Um it was an incredible event and commemorative especially being on September 11th. So appreciate everyone's participation in that and Gretchen and Bob are like family to us. Um I think they've they've opened you know the door to that and will continue to be a part of this district. So, we're very proud to have them in involved with us. Another celebration I wanted to recognize officer Brandon St.
034John. So, he has been selected for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault Conference. It only accepts 100 officers statewide. Um, it's a very big deal, very competitive application process. So, just wanted to recognize Officer St. John for being selected. Um, it speaks a lot of his professionalism, but also the reputation of our PD department. So, congratulations to him. And then we also have um just some updates, district updates. I know everybody always likes to know what our enrollment numbers are and our class size ratios, enrollment numbers. We uh projected to be at 6584 at the end of October and we are right now at 6534. So we're just 50 students shy of that. Um you can kind of see there where we're over and where we're under as far as our October projections right there.
035um and the difference from snapshot and then our class size ratio are such a relief compared to this time last year. Um again, thank you to our board of trustees. Thank you to all of our staff who named that as a priority. Um for those that uh do not know or have forgotten, the board approved $3.6 million in additional teaching positions, which was 50 new classroom teachers to help with our class size ratios. And I don't know that you would find class sizes like that anywhere in a public school around us right now. So very proud of that. I know our teachers are very appreciative and have been um talking about that even all the way up to the high school about how their classrooms they've they feel they're relieved this year. So just wanted
036to point that out. And then just from district community updates, the Senate Bill 12 parental rights that was all due September 1st, our website, it's linked to the district homepage. So for all of our parents that haven't seen that, it is there with all the required documents and the resolution the board adopted in August. Also, House Bill 1522 had some new requirements for schoolboard meetings. U most of it we were already doing as a practice, a best practice here in Argyle. Um the different the one we are having to do differently is we have to post our agendas now three business days before the date of the meeting. So in the past it's always been 72 hours, meaning Friday at 5:00. Those agendas now are being posted by Tuesday for a Monday meeting, the Tuesday
037week before. Uh so that's that's a new requirement. Um just you know for us as administration just working through those timelines. It's a little bit different but we will get used to that and get in a routine. So that's new. Um wanted to make sure everyone knew that those those requirements are now there. And then we also have a new staffled podcast dropping next week. It's called an Eagle's Eye on Texas Education Policy. super excited and very proud of Stephen Orlowski from the high school. Uh we also have Mattie Fairchild, a teacher at South, and then principal Katie Hayden, who you all saw earlier, from West Elementary, and they have really become our advocates from a from a ground level um voice there with our representatives. And so they have taken this and run with
038it. They have an Instagram and now they have a Facebook page and they will be dropping their first podcast next week. and they will have some guest teachers and students on there over the course of the year, but really just gearing us up for the 90th session, which will be starting a year from January, if you can believe that. So, very proud of them and the work that they're doing making a difference. And then our superintendent teacher and advisory student advisory council's kickoff next week. So, looking forward to that. We'll have our teachers of the year uh on that council. And then we also have sixth through 12th graders serving. Um, and so they've got sent their tasks out to them today and they are talking to their peers about some uh hot topic items
039and we'll be discussing those with them next week. I think that's it. All right, that's it. >> All right, we've got information only now. >> Is that favorite time of year? Dips and sips. >> The district improvement plan. >> Dips and sips. >> Just dips today. So, our district improvement plan is our collaborative visioning document. So, that you've already seen that in the spring when we finished it. So, it just put into a different format. We're using this really great program which is a way for us to track it. So, as you scroll down just a little bit, you'll see that there. Um, just continue to go down a little bit. Keep going. Keep going. You'll see that there's different review points. So, this is what the the um DT the district leadership team will
040will go through and um assess each one of these steps and determine our progress and then make comments. So, it'll it's just a really good way to make sure that we are staying on track and provide updates as needed. So, we have kicked this off. There's there's no real changes from what you presented what I presented the first time you saw it in the spring and that you were part of. We had a couple things in there like we'll use cell phones for educational purposes only. Well, clearly due to legislation that totally changed, but a couple little things like that. Everything else 99.9% exactly the way you saw it. So, no real changes. Now, the campuses took this exact thing. They use the same program. It's called plan for learning and they copy it into
041the campus program and then they make adjustments through the feedback from their campus leadership team. So, they're in the process of doing that. It'll uh finish in se at S September 30th for them. That's their due date to have this finished. And then they'll have those three checks, the same dates that the district leadership team will check in on the plan as well. Do you have any questions for me? >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. have you give me the Okay, so we have been working um kind of behind the scenes on transition teams. Y'all have heard me talk a little bit about that. We are ready to kind of give you an official update on where we are with we transition to middle school, two middle schools and two high schools. uh 2026 for the
042middle schools, 2027 for the high schools. And so we have some of our transition team leaders here this evening. They'll talk a little bit on some updates. Some of our teams are further ahead than others, but that's just part of the process um as we go through here. But we're just going to cond basically do a high level overview tonight. Um but really the purpose of our transitional teams are to make sure we have a smooth strategic and student centered transition. And that's what we're working on across all operational areas. planning and aligning supporting anticipating and then preserving that culture uh traditions and excellence that we've talked about as we've moved through collaborative visioning in our standard. So from a timeline standpoint a year ago spring in 24 we started researching process with other districts.
043Um we had we've talked with some retired superintendents that districts have gone through this uh Dr. Gene Burton with Rockwell ISD. Some of you even met with him and listened to some of the things that he had to say. as they went through this with Rockwell Heath and Rockwell High. We've also been, you know, through whether it's Liberty Hill, Canyon, um Le Cooper, Liberty, Medlotheian, several of those that have gone through this process and we've uh collaborated with them in different areas. We also have um the fall of 24, we went through our zoning process. Sorry, our screens are glitching and we're going in and out here. Uh the fall of 24 may have to reset. Might >> have to turn around. >> Yeah. or you can speak. >> The uh zoning was approved uh
044for middle school and high school zones and so that was done last fall and then we also had our website launched the soaring together 2026 and beyond. I had that launched. I'm just going to turn around and just keep rolling. And then this past spring we really kind of developed our transitional teams and got them off and running. Our financial transition team kicked off a little bit sooner than the others. We had our big kickoff in July with everyone else. And then um we did we're doing our board community update. Now we'll this fall we'll be doing our naming process for new schools aligned to CW local. I'll talk about that in a minute. Also our mascot and color process for new schools. And then the winter of 26, we'll be doing staffing process for
045the middle schools, and then parent meetings, new campus leaderships, extracurricular staff, uh board and community updates, more in the spring, and then of course we'll continue this process as we move forward with middle school and high school. Um just as a reminder, this on our soaring together 2026 website, we have this gra graduation year transition uh chart and it is up to date. Uh thank you. We're back up. And so this shows the year 2526 where everybody is. And this has been on this has actually been on the website for probably about nine months now. Um made a couple of adjustments last week, but it's a live document. So if we make any adjustments, it's automatically on there. But this kind of gives you where we're going into next year and 27, 28, and 29.
046And if you're by class, where your students would fall and so that's a great resource if you have questions on that. As far as naming of new schools, that is CW local board policy. Um, so we'll have that process launching this week. It'll go out to our community for future Argal middle schools. We'll do it for elementary schools and for the future high school. And so basically, we're going to do a nomination name bank. And so that'll go out. It'll be open till the first part of November. Uh there's 10 guidelines and criteria in the naming nominations. It's part of board policy. You'll see that on the form when it comes out in the email. And then our timeline of course will be um through November 7th. We will bring recommendations for naming facilities to
047the board November 17th um with a potential action on naming uh middle schools and new high school at the December 15th board meeting. So that's kind of our timeline to get um all of that done this fall. From a learner services standpoint, I'll let Dr. Jordan talk a little bit about some of her teams. She's got several teams. So you want to talk about your whichever that mic's on. You can talk. >> Okay. >> So the team has met several times. We have >> talked about like as far as curriculum, it's more going to be how many teacher guides do we need because our number of students isn't growing any more than it would grow in a normal year. So once we have the course offering, which the timelines have already been laid out, once
048we know which courses are going to make based on student interest, then we will determine the number of guides. So, we kind of have a timeline worked out. Science labs, we have a list. PE materials, we have a list that will be coming in the next week or so. So, some of those specialized classes, CTE, PT, PE and science labs that need lots of stuff. We have those lists which are that have links and prices. So, we feel really organized there. And um training, we have already kind of set aside some time. We know we'll be hiring some new teachers so that we they are fully trained in all of our curriculum and Dr. Claus has done a great job working with counseling so that we have those master schedules and course requests going and
049on a good schedule. >> Miss Thunderberg, you want to talk a little bit about special programs because I know you were asking for data today, so I know you're hard at work. So, yes, we are looking at continuum of services. So, as we split, we're going to have to decide where our self-contained units are going to be housed. Um, so we're looking at actual student lists to determine who is special ed, who's ESL, so we can determine how many we're going to have at each campus and then and go from there. That's also going to influence, you know, our curriculum needs because our self-contained units have a specialized curriculum that they use. Um, and then any opening inventories for any new units that we're opening, we're gathering that right now. Um, what we use for
050life skills units, what we use for um, functional or academic or the AVLS classes or our base class or anything like that. Um, we are gathering materials now for any motor labs, any additional assessments we might need for speech OT, any assessment basically. Um, and of course, we're not we're always gaining kids every year, but it's just more of a readjustment of where those kids are going to be. So, you know, assessment teams might have to readjust, but um, we're kind of busting at our seams right now with assessment staff. So, we're probably going to need some additional assessment staff moving forward. So that's what we're trying to figure out right now is where would those people best be served. Um and so and then just looking at again our emergent bilingual where our 504
051kids are, how many new dyslexia therapists are we going to need based on what kids we have going where. Um and then additional training and then we partner a lot with transportation because we got to move these kids between the campuses. So, um, all of these things we are gathering information. Um, we are meeting on Monday to kind of set a timeline of where we are right now. So, um, yeah, that's what we're working on right now. >> All right. Thank you. >> Y Dr. Quash, you want to talk about counseling? Wow. >> Hey, so we have met a few times and we have really been focused on the experience of the transition and ensuring that we have all of the resources needed to make sure that transition goes smoothly. Um, especially focusing on course
052selection and making sure that process is well timed um and that it's a good experience for all of the students. We are working on, you know, ensuring that we have a good list of resources for our counseling programming and the prevention programming that we provide as well as the staffing numbers as everybody else. Um, and we are also working on um building one course planning guide for middle schools in Argyle ISD that all students will use. Um, and that's where they will make their course requests through and classes will be uh will make based on their course requests. So, I got some questions about that. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> every year, this is nothing different. I mean, every year the kids put in their request, >> we approve a a long list of offerings.
053Some make, some don't. So, in terms of this process, it's really not going to be any different >> when when these transitions occur. Some courses are going to make and some are not. But at the at at the core of education is um these course both these campuses are going to teach >> English. >> Yes sir. >> Math, science, history. >> And it becomes down to what other little electives may make or not. >> Right. >> I mean >> absolutely. Yes. Yes sir. So we are combining everything from sixth grade to 8th grade. there will be one course planning guide that all students will use at every middle school campus. Um and then from there all of those um electives that you you talk about we'll have to look at you know where are those
054requests taking place and how does staffing work based on that. And so that's why the timing of our course selection process is very important. Our timing is going to be straight from January to spring break. And so we've been going over it and it is just we are moving. But everybody's going to get facetime with counselors. Everybody's going to get the resources and we're going to have all of that, you know, lined up this year. But yeah, but whether the course makes or not is is truly dependent on how the kid how a is it how a sixth grader or a seventh grader fills out their course selections and what they >> Right. Yes. >> And what what's a is a parent playing any role in this? >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. So the way that
055we have it set up this year is there will be a transition night for parents for both campuses. Parents will come in, they'll learn about the courses that are available, learn about what you know the rising sixth graders will learn about going into middle school, what does that look like because it's different. So um and that that'll be a very exciting time. They'll also have a course fair. So they'll be able to see the electives that are available to them. We keep in mind that for our rising fifth graders, this is the first time they're making these decisions. So, that's big. So, we want to make them prepared. They will all get guidance lessons um taught in their classes, rising sixth, seventh, and eighth. So, fifth graders, sixth graders, seventh graders, all the way up
056through 12th grade, too. But, um and from there, they'll get their course card like they typically do, and that will go home. Um, and parents will be able to have conversations and we'll send resources home and things for parents to note as they have those conversations. The course planning guide will be linked so they'll be able to see that um, virtually. Um, so we will have those available and then we will have everybody come down to the campuses. So your sixth grade center and your middle school, they'll come down and visit the students and they'll do what we call kind of a rahrh assembly. get them all excited to go to their new school. Um, and then they will actually enter their course selections. So, while they'll have it on paper, they'll also put it
057into the computer. Um, and then we double check. So, we meet with kids as they have questions and meet with parents. And then right after spring break, there's a course verification window where parents after we've cleaned all that up and gotten gotten it entered in, parents get to view it and then they can send in course change requests if they need to. So we make sure there's several opportunities throughout the spring. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Libraries. Library. So our librarians have been working together. We they're getting three quotes from library perma bound and bound to stay bound. They expect to have those by the end of October to be able to start that process of um turning in the three bids and determining which one is
058best. They're very clear that they're going to provide the legislation and the rules to each one of our vendors so that they have a clear understanding of of the expectations of Texas but also our vital ISD with the content of our books. And we'll look at those lists extremely carefully one by one to make sure that what we are stocking in our library are the safest things for our kids with high interest materials for them. >> All right, Mr. Um I believe you mentioned earlier that our finance transition team started a little bit earlier. We started um last summer and fall um looking at both the middle school and the high school and and starting having having our meetings and working through some things. Um as you know um in our normal budget staffing is
05980 to 81% and so that plays a large role and so that process um has started with human resources and so we're we've taken some preliminary data um and we'll continue to meet and refine those budgets. Uh we're going to you know look at the curriculum because everything you've heard talking about >> they get all the information and then we pull the dollars that that's tied to and you know form the overall budget with that. So, um, you know, there's things to consider like the curriculum plan, the staffing plan, if there's any rebranding, um, FFE for, uh, new buildings. When we, uh, look at transportation, there might be some trip buses needed. So, um, as you split middle schools, and then the ground equipment by the campuses, um, and moving in, as y'all know that
060our budget year starts 91, which is a little bit after our school year. So some costs for um a campus may actually start a year earlier in that budget. So for this year example, we did the um 2526 budget. We have to consider what's happening in the summer of 26 and take those costs into place. So you're looking a year early. So we've already taken some of that pre-work on that middle school transition budget and put that into this year's budget because you do have to account for >> and it would even include like hiring the principal because that's going to start in the spring and >> correct. we included several months of a principal in there. Um, and so we we have some things that we've got to look at a little bit earlier
061than some of the other transition teams. So, we're continuing to work on that and I'm always refining the the list and working with each department because um each department has the information and they're developing the information and then we take that and turn it into a budget. So, >> Greg, I know he their group hasn't really started yet, but it's kind of the actions they'll need there. Do you think would you add to that, Greg? anything in there. That's pretty standard for opening new campuses. Y'all have done that enough with the elementaryaries that you'd have a pretty good system in place for that. Uh transportation. You want to >> um would you like to talk about this a little bit? >> Mr. Bell, >> Brad's been working on this. >> I know we we heard
062from him several times today. >> So, we have obviously several pieces of this. I've been kind of meeting with individuals. Uh Todd and I had about a 45m minute conversation of the day. I've talked with Dr. Carpenter. She's put me in touch with the director of transportation at Lotheian because they've split just like we have. So we have uh some time in the next couple weeks set up to go meet with her and just go through what they got right and what they got wrong and and and how we can plan for that. Um, we have a consultant on campus with us this this week that is looking at what do we need to do to prepare for routing bus buying buses and things to get ready for middle school for elementary 5 and for
063the high school split. And so, you know, it's it's it's down the road, but it's not down the road. So, you know, we can start planning for that now. Uh, you know, we have the bond money for some of the the buses. So, you know, that's we just want to know we want to get the number right. So, we're uh uh we worked on that all day long today and and and got we met with our routing company. He me and the consultant met with the routing company and and created a whole another year for next year and we've been developing routes and so stuff like that today. So, we're working on working through that this week. Um, you know, Todd and I visited about things of, you know, what if our middle schools and
064our high schools are in different different districts, which they're going to be. Um, you know, when this district plays on this night and this district plays on this night, how many buses, what's how's that going to affect busing, band, and all the things. And you know during playoff seasons when you know you have >> uh two football teams overlapping they're in the playoffs basketball starting up you know cross country's going to state you have all these things and you know you you sometimes it's short notice basketball may be playing Thursday well football may be play playing Thursday you know volleyball could still be overlapping a little bit so there's just a lot to consider in the number of buses that we're going to need and uh so you know just working with these people and
065then you know obviously the the uh traffic that we're experiencing in in Argo is is significant too. So you know and uh we're building schools they're not building roads so you know just trying to navigate that as as we can. So um you guys have any questions specific to that? But >> I imagine your buses get bogged down in that traffic. Yeah. Quite I mean I see it. I'm driving from one district. >> Yeah. We were talking today about, you know, the uh middle school because we try to avoid 407 just because it it just backs up. So, you know, >> Sam Davis is a lifesaver. It's >> a good route. >> But at the same time, I mean, I >> I'm on Old Justin and I see, you know, I mean, this is kind
066of when I'm like old Justin is back all the way up because you have the east end of the district coming >> all the way to the middle school cutting through the lakes. The lakes are upset because their neighborhood's stacked up. Absolutely. >> All the way across. And some of that's going to be >> better because some of it diversity. >> Yeah. Once you have a middle school here and you know hopefully we can eventually get where we don't cross tracks which that' be huge. This is going to be helpful. You know just you know people don't think about every bus has to stop at the track. You're crossing them >> you know four or five times a day. That's significant time. And then you know and then you always catch lights and stuff because
067you got cars in between. You know, it's it adds significant time to getting students to school and and back home. >> Do we know any attorneys that work with textile? >> Well, maybe I know I've taken probably six different routes to the high school. >> I mean, I know I mean >> skyro everything. >> And I hear he wants to drive a bus. So, >> I got it. >> Yes, ma'am. So, when you talk about ordering new buses, when we bonded for buses, did we consider that that we were going to need some extra because of the >> Yes, we did. >> high school split. Okay. >> Yes. We we looked at the fact in there and planning for trip buses. Um Okay. >> And for routes and how that would be affected by middle
068schools and high schools. >> Okay. Good. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Student nutrition. >> So, student nutrition is also um an area that we're looking at um main It's based off of uh students location um and the number of participations in in lunches and breakfast. Um and so they will work on their small wares and their campus schedules play a big role into that. And so they're meeting and starting to work with that information and work through getting all of those to have up and running um when the campus is open. >> All right. And staffing and personnel. So uh Dr. Daniel and his group um obviously he's got a lot of members on his team but looking at our current staffing schedules and then determining what
069the staffing needs will be. So setting the timelines for transfers. So obviously for the middle school staffing process that's soon as the uh principal's named that in January we'll be looking at that staffing process. Um the transfer form you know it'll it'll go out to our teachers. those that are interested obviously are going to put in. But we're going to, you know, work with that principal to and then look at the the balance of that. Um, so you kind of look at your veteran teachers and your newer teachers and find a balance of both of those campuses so we so we manage that effectively and efficiently and then program offerings and things like that. So he's working through that with staff services. As you can tell, many of these teams overlap in a lot of
070ways. Um, while they have their own little silo, they do overlap in in in many ways. um from the student experience um you know who better to run that than those that are leading our students in those areas. Uh Mr. Bird obviously is next door right now. You can hear them. And Mr. Turk also had groups of students doing lessons tonight. So they're not in here, but um I did have a message to share with you from Mr. Bird. He said that they're actively gathering data and making plans. Their next meeting is next Tuesday. their transition team members are very excited about being part of the process now so that they can help be in the decision- making moving forward. But they have they've already met a couple times and they've got, you know, our
071um student list of who's on in which uh zone so they can accurately plan for that. So they've done a great job getting kicked off there. Um athletics same way. You know, obviously our coaches are busy in and practicing and finishing things, but they're working through that as well. you know, looking at um state titles, records, monuments, inventories, staffing needs, branding, but I mean, baseball softball transition in year one when we're waiting for this facility to be opened. So, there's a lot there on the athletic side as well. Um he's got key key players at the table in that as far as memberships and then several of us are in on these at various points during that um activity funds, booster clubs, all of those processes are are getting kicked off. Obviously, some of them
072that are in season right now, theirs is a little bit slower taking off, but they are definitely um in they have they have kicked off their process. Uh same thing with boosters and PTO's. Shannon, Donnie, you y'all have anything to add to that? You mind coming up here, please? >> We have been on a lot of the other committees, so our committees haven't started meeting yet. And some of these are kind of there there are some issues that are pressing that we need to make decisions right now and some that we have a little bit of time. Um for this what we've been doing is talking to our leaders of those organizations like the PTO's and making sure that they're thinking like when you're um getting your officers for next year and thinking about splitting
073um you know you need to make sure you have people in place for both sides. So, it's a lot of conversations with the outside um people and um but we have reached out to our committee members and let them know that they are on a committee. We're excited to start meeting and we plan on doing that very soon. I think we're the next committee too. >> You are? >> Yeah, there we are. There you are. >> So, um this is a big committee because organizations and traditions are both really big topics. So, um what we've done on this so far is I don't know why Shannon's sitting over there, but she is. >> She's Come on, Miss Nullles. she started a um shared document where we're just kind of making a list of traditions and
074and organizations. Um a lot of the organizations are at the high school. Obviously, she knows that whole list. I know the middle school whole list. Um and then just making sure all those organizations are prepared to have two, particularly the middle school ones first and then the high school ones eventually. Um so it's kind of a two-tier. Um you know, first we'll need to look at middle school traditions and make sure we have that list and continue those. then we might have a little bit of breathing room to make sure we break off and have the high school because we've got a year, you know, to think on that. So, I think it's important that we're just >> school event and what is a PTO event, you know, like the balloon release, that's not necessarily
075a school, right? But but it is a tradition that you know. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, that's where we're at. >> Very good. >> I got a question. How many kids you get? How many seventh and eighth graders? And I should know that you probably showed it. How many seventh and eighth graders you got? We're at We're at 10:44 and it's like 528 517 give or take. I think I did my math wrong, but something like that. >> Both your seventh and eighth grade class is over 500. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then um and I imagine your your participation in your interest levels in the in the sports like volleyball that we're already going is is pretty high. Football participation. >> Yeah. It'll be nice to have extra seats in those sports when we
076split from running two campuses. more people will get to participate. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, ladies. >> All right. Mascots and colors. So, big part of this will be feedback from the community. So, we will release pretty soon a message to the east zone east high school zone for their feedback on a verd. So our team will evaluate those and present a recommendation to board in November and we talked about how that would look potentially. So some brainstorming has happened on that that presentation of the colors and the bird would would look like some things conversations that are happening right now. Some of the resources we would use to display that to the board. And then obviously a big piece of this is communications and the laying out of that platform
077of how we got to this point uh to the community to our staff to our students to everyone and some of the actions that we how we got to these positions and just along the way it'll have a a large strategic layout of the process and the plans and dedicated web pages. The next slide is dedicated to web pit. a platform that showed the timeline from A to Z of how we got here and the process and all the implications that it has for all the groups. >> Okay. So, questions, comments, feedback. That's kind of in a nutshell the teams that are working behind the scenes that, you know, nobody's going to really see. Um, but those are all things that we are doing, you know, concurrently with this year's work. So >> to make
078it as seamless as possible >> to try to make it as things it will not be perfect but uh we have really great minds behind all these teams and a lot of excitement with the people that are wanting to be a part of those teams. So appreciate it. I mean, it's, you know, it's it's a lot of work on them outside of their day-to-day and everybody has stepped up in big ways and so can't thank them enough for that because they've all done that in their own very very different way, but some like some of them you've seen their you may see their names four, five, six times on different teams and no one everybody wants to be a part of it because they want to be part of the solutions and the decisions. So,
079appreciate that from them. >> Appreciate the update. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. This is Mr. Lemish. >> Mr. Lemish is up. All right. So, I wanted to give a final report on the DVA or the district vulnerability assessment. Uh, this went really well back last March. Uh, what it is is we had two agents from TEA who came and spent two days with us. They looked at everything you could imagine school safety related. Um, about 30 days before they started asking for documents. There were 48 different sets of documents we had to provide. um got all those in and then they came out, spent those two days with us. Uh they give us a rubric ahead of time to look through. There's 57 things we had to get checked off at the district level and
080then 27 items. They checked at every campus as well as looked at the IA, field houses, all those things as well. Um so they walked all those campuses, they checked uh all of our security posture, they talked to uh staff members, they tried to make sure they talked to at least one substitute that was on each campus. They spoke with the nurse, a campus administrator. um talked to lots of different people to make sure that everybody had the training on what to do during various drills so or emergencies. Um they observed lots of best practices, just some of them that I put up here, daily door checks. Uh we're required by law for to check all of our exterior doors once a week, but our officers do a great job pretty much every day. Um
081and there's other folks that will fill in, some administrators will fill in. I'll check doors occasionally and log those as well. uh they were blown away by the number of AEDs uh bleeding control kits and then Nlloxxone or you may know it as Narcan on each campus. We're required to have one AED and one bleeding control kit on each campus. Uh we average about nine uh and then we are required to have one dose of Narcan on all of our secondary campuses. We have them on the elementary also on all of our elementaryaries. We average around nine doses or so of those. They're all in the same places. Everywhere there's an AED. There's also a bleeding control kit and the lock zone. Uh they're impressed. Highly visible police officers. That was a big deal. Um
082and then we have more of the entry resistant film than what's required by law on some of our windows and things. So they were impressed with that that we haven't just done the bare minimum to get by, but we've actually done what we needed to do to do everything we can to keep our students safe. Uh we ended up with a total of three findings. Um those findings, we had one door was missing that window film. I think it had probably been maybe broken by I don't know mowers have broken them before different things. The glass had been replaced but it didn't have the window film. Then they had two doors that they found that had the window film but did not have the necessary cocking to go around the edges to adhere it to
083the frame. So those were found as as findings. That's three doors out of over 400 doors across the district that they found issues with. And they checked every single exterior door. We pushed them from the inside, made sure they latched. Um, and that's on top of all those other things in that rubric. Um, there's hundreds and hundreds of things they could find findings on. So, overall, this was fantastic. Um, all those findings then were corrected very, very quickly. By the end of this last school year, they were done. Um, and that's due Tommy and Angel were fantastic through the entire process really of anything we needed to prep for it or these follow-up things. They everything got fixed really fast. It was basically as fast as a vendor could make it happen. Uh so the
084conclusion then Dr. Carbonar and I met with uh Chip Roberts. He's a senior agent in charge of the north sector for TEA uh safety and security and we our three findings was actually the fewest set a record for the fewest they had found up to that point. So they had been doing these for two years at that point. So u we are very proud of that. Um last thing I'll say and I try and say this every time I get the opportunity but we have an incredibly safe district. Um, and that's because it is a true team effort. Um, school safety doesn't fall on one person or the police department. It's really every employees responsibility and everybody takes it so seriously. I truly truly appreciate that. Um, and then just present staff, the counselors play
085a big part on it with the threat assessment things that they do. Um, campus administration, our nurses, our front office staff that are checking people in. They're really our first line of defense. Maintenance does a great job. Um, yeah, district admin, um, the board, both present and past, we've made decisions. The reason this went so well is really because of the work that's been put in over the last 10 years. The districts that have waited for the state to come through to say what they needed to do and then tried to do it, they're in trouble right now trying to keep up with all this this stuff for the DVA. So, the fact we've been proactive and not waited for the state to tell us what was best to keep kids safe, uh, we just
086did what was right, that really paid off here on this. So, I thank you guys and uh everyone that had a part in this. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you. >> Brady. >> All right. Transportation staffing plan. This will be Mr. Okay. Good evening. How are you guys? >> Good evening. >> Thank you. >> So, uh along with what Limish says, you know, this is an unbelievable school district where we have so much teamwork. I mean, it takes all of us and and it's it's just an awesome place to to be a part of. Um, so giving you a little bit of history about what we're we're trying to do here is we've struggled with with hiring bus drivers. Um, I u going to brag on Brady for just a little bit. He's he's
087done an amazing job at at working so many hours. It's it's I mean he gets at work every day at 5:45 and leaves at 6 p.m. So, uh he's he's working himself to death trying to to get everything done, but he's he's had 61 interviews since um May 1st. So, uh it's it's he's gone through a lot and he's hired 14 people and uh we're still needing six. So, at this time, uh, it seems like every time we hire somebody, they're somebody in line is is ready to retire or they've moved off. They've something happens to where it's it's it's just not working. So, um, he's got to continue to to try to see if we can't interview some more and and find some more uh drivers. And it's it's it's been pretty difficult. Um,
088so we've put together a proposal with him and I did a lot of lot of talking and and kind of did some research on on some other school districts on on what they're paying. Um, we know that Northwest pays to start. Uh, just a few cents more than we do right now. Uh, Denton pays 2350. The the problem though is not the amount of money that they're they're getting per hour. is the amount of hours that they're offered. So, uh, both Denton and Northwest are offering seven and eight hours. We're only offering five. So, for somebody to raise a family on five hours at at that amount of money, it's it's it's very difficult. So, that's where we're struggling more than than anything is is the number of hours. So, um, we've we've put together
089a proposal to, uh, raise the pay of a dollar an hour to 2450 because currently it's it's 2350. Uh, and then, uh, give them a six-hour guarantee instead of a fiveh hour guarantee that we have right now. And since we're in need of separating a few routes that are large right now, we've got two that are overcrowded. Uh maybe more than that after we separate them, but uh we're really needing drivers in a hurry. Uh so we're we're proposing that we give a a $500 uh stipen for drivers that that commit to us and and are able to have a safe driving record for 90 days. And then after that 90 days, they would receive that money. But they would have to stay there at least for that amount of time. and uh $250 for
090our current bus drivers for any referrals that they would have on sending us some some drivers that maybe they've worked with in the past that might be interested in coming over for some of this new stuff that we're offering. So that's what we're trying to do. >> So Northwest and Denton just able to offer more hours because they have more sites in general, more more activities throughout the day. has, you know, we're sandwiched between the two and they and they have so many schools that, you know, they have a lot of intercampus driving during the day. So, it's not just routes, it's not just field trips, you know. I mean, I know I interviewed a guy from Nenton. He said, "I I drive to Salon every day taking people, you know, they have a lot
091of programs where they they take people to other >> other districts even and we we do that some, too. But, you know, they just they off, you know, we had a driver come to us because she said, "I'm trying to get a degree and they want to work me 50 and 60 hours a week and I just have Northwest and I just can't do that." So, she's over here working in the morning. she goes to school online during the break. That works out great for her. But you know, I mean, a lot of the people even I contact on Indeed, they their first question is, "How much do you pay and how many hours do you get?" And as soon as I tell them the hours, it's not enough hours for me to leave somewhere
092else. And so, or the job, they may be working another job and they may be looking to do something different. Uh, but you know, it's just not a 40hour job. So, you know, we can do to make it a little bit more enticing because you know there is if we can get them here there is the aspect of we have great people I mean we have fabulous people and our districts are fabulous and you know the same person that came from Northwest she sits here I've never had kids behave so well >> and I've driven at two other districts so if we can get them to come here they'll stay I think which is you know they just won't leave because you know they they what we when I interview and they start telling them
093what we offer. We just we just can't compete with the districts that are immediately around us. >> What I want to touch on that about people staying here and one of the things we do monitor at our our staffing level certainly on the teachers is you know retention rate and turnover rate. Do you have an idea of what your turnover I mean you're you're just now taking this position but do you know what the turnover rate was for bus drivers? I I mean I think historically I think across every transportation it's pretty high. Yeah. I mean I don't have a percentage. >> I mean it's something I would be interested in knowing because one of the things you know what I see here in this and I'm all for equipping you and arming you to
094solve this problem because I think it's been a I mean it was a problem a few years ago. We allocated some resources to it. Seemed like it was better last year. Here we are again. But one of the things when I look at this, this is incentivizing new people to come on and and and I guess the maybe the dollar per hour helps the existing bus drivers. But one of the things we often overlook is, hey, we have good people we already hiring. How are we keeping them from leaving? And and and and is there some thought that we need to put in to this that says, hey, we need to incentivize people not to leave and retire on us or you know. So I that would be more money and and I just wanted
095>> It's the referral bonus is one thing. >> We do worry about that a lot when we come to you with a plan and we think about what they're thinking when they hear this because we're not taking care of them. We're taking care of somebody that's coming in to help us with our problem. and and sometimes that's that's hard for them to take and we just have to talk through it with them and and just tell them you know we're here for you and this is you know we're trying to get this problem fixed >> I mean you can have sign on bonuses you can have retention bonus >> you can also look at longevity you can look at longevity >> and I would just and this is something that's coming back next month >>
096yes >> I mean just something to think about and get with Liz on about is there I don't want to overlook >> 100% agree >> we appreciate you bringing that up because I know they'll Definitely appreciate that for sure. >> Okay. >> So, I I think the referral bonus is really good. Like the lady that came from Northwest, >> right? She could reach back out and tell them, "Hey, the kids behave over here." >> Um, but what about cross department cafeteria workers when they're their day is done at noon or 1 or whatever, can they go drive a bus? Is there a reason to They're already on board here. So we we've tried that in the past and and it's it's >> they can either drive in the morning or the afternoon. It doesn't work
097for both, right? >> So but but they have driven in the afternoon for us >> for sure. I don't know that we have anybody interested right now currently, but >> we had a we had a monitor last two week we we used aids out of two different campuses to to fill a monitor spot last year so they would work. One of them would do the morning, one of them do the afternoon. They didn't want to do that all, you know, they it it was the last two months of school because of monitor resigning, but yeah, they were willing to do it. It was their students that were going to be on the bus and so um but you know, they were both like, I want to do this for long term. So, you know, it
098we've thought we've thought through that. >> Absolutely. But it's it's kind of like Tommy said, it's usually they can do morning because it conflict it doesn't conflict with their school or afternoon, >> right? You'd have to have one for the morning, one for the afternoon. >> Or you even think about like what you talking about earlier about, you know, different games and away games, things like that that they maybe could fill in in those afternoon hours on those. You know, it's not a real route route that's every day, but >> they could get extra money if they would just get certified to drive the bus. It would help us on field trips for sure. >> Getting our our band to the games on time. >> But I like the idea of the longevity pay, >>
099too. That's something to really look at. >> For sure. >> Okay. Thank y'all. >> Thank you guys for listening to us. >> Okay. >> I think we have is it ele? Are we elementary five? Nope. Where are we on next? >> Investment. >> Oh, investment RFQ. >> Okay. This is our investment management services um RFQ that we talked about last month. Um, just kind of a reminder, we put this out. Um, we had four firms that submitted um, their packets back in with information. We reviewed all four of those and looked through everything and went through a ranking. Um, and Hilltop Securities is the firm that we are recommending. Um, I do believe I think we mentioned last time that price is not a factor in an RFQ. Um but as you know that is
100a consideration during um the actual contract part. And so for Hilltop Investments um the fee is three basis points for the first 150 million and one basis points over two um over 250 million. So um that's the cost factor in there. It would be paid out of the investment earnings. But as you know um over the last couple years we've had quite a bit of bond money that we have sold. um we just had another big bond issue and so we feel the need to have an advisory service with our investments uh to get the best um dollar for the district out of this and and the advisory services that they would bring. >> Do you have any questions over that? >> I entertain a motion to approve action item 10A as presented. >> Moved
101>> Mr. Matthew Slate motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second, >> Mr. West second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Okay. tonight uh bringing you back uh our GMP for elementary number five. We brought it to you last month for information. Uh at that time we were at uh 48.9 million. Um there go there you go. So we're bringing it back to you today. we were able to get down a little over $2 million to 46.8 compared to where we were with the preliminary one we had for information. Um so we've gone ahead here on this. Um we talked about uh the allowance uh for our FM 407 improvements that was a mustave. Uh we kept it separate since
102it's not directly related to the building itself in terms of looking at what our square foot costs are. It's why we've shown it separately, but the GMP that we're bringing to you tonight with that included is 49,322,683. Uh then we did also have a couple of other uh optional allowances that we presented last time. We have those on here as well. Uh if those are things that we would like to add, we certainly can. Uh we have listed here is alternate two, which is an allowance for an access road. That'd be an access road on the western side of the property to get to Sam Davis is what that would be for. And then alternate number three was an allowance uh for landscape water well for irrigation water well and that was something that we
103looked at last month. So we haven't included those already as accepted. Um just kind of if you'd like to we can certainly add those. Um I don't think those are are any that we need at this time. Uh we have looked uh at some of the watering cost and the payback based on watering one inch per week uh is going to be uh right now it's standing about 24 years when we compare that to our estimated water cost with argon water. >> Okay. Um the good I think let's talk about the good. This 46.8 million if I'm not mistaken is roughly about 8% higher than JRE which was like 43 million. >> Was that 43 something? >> I think we came in very close to 43 at the at the final. And the reason I
104I say that's good news is because we're talking we're about two years >> about two years. >> And so we are starting to see perhaps some leveling out here um on inflation and cost. >> Yes. >> And with the fact that we're, you know, we're at a a bid as well, any in um tariff inflation that they may have included, that's included at this point. So we're not, you know, we're not asking them to guess at a budget level like we, you know, were at a 60% budget. >> What we're not seeing is the escalation that we saw between the 22 opening of South and the 24 opening JRE. >> Correct. That that has slowed way down. >> That's slowed way down. So that's good. Still lot still going up, but it's it's better. as
105it relates to the allowances the the alternative two and three what what's the downside to waiting >> to what >> to waiting like you just say hey look let's just see before I put in I'm kind of out just on the water well but on the on the million and a half access road >> if I don't put that in the GMP but I we we realize hey we need this um >> uh the downside side is I mean it's just an allowance. That's what it is. It's our best estimate and and we've you know tried to run some numbers and come up with a real figure. Uh that would be in today's dollars. Um so you know you would have some inflation more than likely. Uh but until we actually have a design and
106put something out there, we won't know the true cost of it anyway. >> And this is the access road that would build north that ties into Sam Davis. >> It would tie into Sam Davis. Yes. and do okay >> and it's not a choice that needs to be you know made today I mean we can we can add it you know in three months in six months in two years and five years what's the drop dead bid on when that would need to be that decision be made >> um to to have it at the time the school completes let me let me look at that and get back to you I don't know what that is um we will I'll need to get with the civil engineer and and see what the design timeline
107looks like >> the design the design I mean the way you've designed the site you're you're planning for that access road to be potentially added at some point. >> Uh well we we've kind of added the idea of that at a later date after we already had the site planning done. So we need to look and see how we can make that work you know with as little adjustment of what we've already built. I believe it will affect our detention and so we have to look at that and and see what changes may have to be made to that detention pond. >> Okay. But if we were to add this later, you're not going to go, "Okay, now that we have to go reconfigure the whole drive aisles or anything like that?" >> No, not
108not any more less than we already have to do today. Okay. >> The the building of the school itself will not affect that. >> Would anyone else have access to that road? Um, >> I'm thinking helping with building cost. >> That would really just be our decision whether or not we we allowed it or not. I mean, it it will go along the the western side of the Grove Church >> property. You know, I don't know what their building plans look like if they might want to connect to that or not, but that would just be totally up to us. >> Okay. I mean, the only thing that makes me think, you know, whether we include it now or later, I I just we're going to have to continue. And I'm glad we got the
109two and a half million in there. I think we're just going to this site's going to need some money spent on it to divert traffic to handle traffic both drop off and pick up. So, I mean, I think we're probably going to probably want to add it, but I also think about gateway to the west. as you know maybe there's some momentum going on there on that site that maybe that could be >> in a few months we may know more about hey that may be instead of going north to San Davis we can spend some money to go west towards gateway >> that's right >> and that may be >> traffic light >> so I think with the fluidity of what's going on out there outside of the boundaries of our land it may
110be prudent to just see what what the latest is the others Right. >> Guess we need to know a date. >> I can I can get you that. I don't have it tonight, but I can certainly get you that that date so we coincide with completion of the school. >> Okay. >> So, do West, South, and JRE all have wells. >> Uh they do not >> any of them. >> None. None of them have wells. >> Okay. Just just this campus here. >> Uh this one and >> Hilltop. >> And Hilltop 377. 377 has a well also. Yes. I'm sorry. >> Um >> the thought for the well on this site was that it was a bigger site just the 50 acres and that's where that discussion. >> So it's actually So is your payback
111on the elementary school only or middle school too? >> No. The the payback is considering the whole site. >> So it's considering both campuses watering at one inch all of the grass and trees. If you go back and look at the picture, I don't know if you were you were here. >> That's not intended to be an insult. It's just an observation of every meeting, but um >> the the there's quite a bit of landscape on that. >> I mean, there's a ton of trees. I mean, it looks like I mean it it calculated out about 19 acres. We had stuff died dead all over the place. >> I mean, I think that stuff's going to die, too. >> Well, maybe we cut back on our landscaping. We'll do what? the town the town force
112dictates. >> Let's have the don't. >> So I mean that's and I I was it all looked pretty right now because >> it does. >> Okay. So you know where I stand on the Well, can can you re-educate me? >> Not you Josh >> on the uh alternate one. >> So am I am I correct in saying we we have to build this? Who who's requiring it again? uh the textile is going to require we can't restripe to create the center turn lane without rebuilding the shoulders. Okay. >> Now, we don't have to do that, but >> um to open the campus to open even the middle school, we believe this is absolutely necessary that we create this the turn lane and have the stop light >> because we were only given one way in
113and out, right? >> That would certainly be a big >> I just want to make sure I understand why we're incurring this cost. Um the other piece of that is though, right, when they do widen 407, they're going to rip up everything we just paid for. >> Yes. I I expect that everything we do will not be their permanent solution >> because we we will go back with asphalt and I believe the new sixlane divide is going to be all concrete. >> I just think that >> I think it will be there for a long time. >> Where this school is situated is just outside of that gateway breakout project. >> It is. So, I mean, I think we're I mean, this may be there 10 years. >> I'm I'm not that point, right? My
114point is that we're incurring $2.5 million because our friends in the town won't give us access out the other way. >> Yeah. I mean, we lost Postmaster and >> Yeah. >> So, I I I agree. I don't think we have a choice, but the other thing about that is is it we're going to spend that money. We'll get to keep the light, but the rest is going to get ripped up eventually, right? >> Yeah, probably. Yeah. >> If we get if we get access gateway >> to be able to cut across to our property, would we need this? >> We still need >> When's that going to happen? You got to we can't at his point, right? >> You can't open it without that. I mean, >> somebody's going to have There'll be a lot
115of >> traffic accidents at home. Jeeoff, with with the access road, do you have a scenario in your head where that road's never needed? >> Uh, I I don't think it will really ever be needed. As long as the gateway comes along and something happens there west of us and we're able to connect to that, I don't think it would be needed in that case. And I have heard that there's there's some things starting to move there. I mean, I haven't had an update in a while, but it could be something that over the next few months that we get a better idea of what what may happen there and >> start some real talks about access. >> Are we planning for that in our site that there could be traffic from the west on
116Gateway? >> Uh, with the site plan we have, it'd be very easy because our western ingress runs right along the western property line. So, we would just connect right to it. There's nothing that we would lose to the west of that. It's just uh setbacks and and easements. I mean, the two and a half million is really I mean, it's a lot. It's I hate it, but we spent money on roads to build south. We spent money on roads to build JRE. And we're going to spend money on roads to build on this 407 site. And um >> those roads I'll stay there. >> Yeah, >> permanent. >> We're in the road building. >> Refused access to a public road. >> You would like to see text have sufficient infrastructure out there >> to support
117this, but they don't. And I think everybody's frustrated by that. >> The unfortunate thing is we'll spend millions on it. >> Correct. Well, it's not even in here. >> So, you're looking for something not to exceed 49? >> No. >> Yes. >> Million 49. >> Yes. >> 49322. >> Yes. >> There page. >> Okay. >> So, that that's including the option one. >> That includes option one, but not alternate one, but not the other two at this time. >> Okay. Does anyone else have any other questions? >> So, my question is if we add two or three, are we going to have to come back and revise our price? >> Uh, do a change. >> We've done that before. >> Well, we have a not to exceed. So, unless we have to get a million
118and a half somewhere, >> you're going to have to do a change order. >> Yeah, we would have to do a change order, which would have to be approved. >> Okay. All right. I will Entertain a motion to approve action item 10B as presented. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Wester. Motion to approve. Got a second. >> Second, >> Mr. Matthew Slate. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Uh so this time around we've got uh our material testing and inspection services back in front of you and we're looking for uh a not to exceed for 217,423. And this is a required code requirement that we test materials, concrete, earthwork densities, masonry, uh structural steel inspections just to ensure that it's all built
119in compliance with codes and safe. Anyone have any questions? >> Mr. Slayton, I'll be recusing myself from this. >> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Matthew Sllayton is recusing himself from voting on this action item. U, I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 10 C is presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Hawksworth, motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second, >> Mr. Westerman. Second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I haven't seen it all. >> Okay. Well, I will take this item then. Okay. So, uh this is the bond oversight committee charge. um chair Josh Comolmes um has worked on this worked on this with the bond oversight committee starting back I think in May June and
120has made just a few adjustments basically you know we had a 22 bond and of course now we have a 25 bond so it was time to revise this a little bit and he and the committee have worked on this and have a recommendation here with the red lines which would add the new bond program which was the May 2025 bond um so you'll see that change there. And then they had a committee will be comprised of 10 to 20 community members and no more than three school board members, which is currently what we have serving on on that committee. And then uh the remaining co-chair will be appointed by the elected co-chair. So they made that adjustment there. And then the final adjustment was originally the no member shall have a conflict of interest.
121The committee wanted to say any member with a conflict of interest with any of the bond programs shall notify the committee chair and recuse from any advice because they're not a decision-making committee. They are just an advisory committee. Um and so that would be their recommendation change there. Does anyone have any questions? >> I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 10D as presented. Motion to approve. >> Mr. Wester, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Rich McDow with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Uh the time is 7:42 p.m. We are going to adjourn to executive session. When we come back to close for the evening, there will be no further action taken. Y'all have a
122good evening. Thank you.