001All right. Good evening. It's 5:00 p.m. It's August 18th, 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. >> Matt Slayton, present. Craig Hawksworth, present. Sam slight present. We do have a quorum established. The time is still 5:00 p.m. We will adjourn to executive session. All right. Good evening. The time is 6:14 p.m. We have returned from executive session. Uh at this time we have some special guests from Argos South Elementary that lead us in our pledges today. H. So, you want to do some introductions here? >> Yes. Good evening. I brought some staff kids with me tonight um to lead the pledges and we just had
002a meeting today to talk about expectations and they are great leaders on our campus. So, they are going to be great leaders in the pledge and they're going to introduce themselves and tell you what they love about South. >> Okay. Ready? >> Right here in the microphone. I love how my name is Kade and I love how um I love our I love PE. >> Are you all going to go together? >> You want to go first or no? >> Okay, go Cooper. Say I'm Cooper. >> My name is Cooper and and I love about our South is is the books. >> The books. That's how you can get a lot of there. >> My name is Nala and my favorite thing about Argyle South is the teachers. >> Oh, nice job. >> My name
003is Alex Dobs and what I love about Argyle South is everybody is kind. >> All right. >> My name is Cedric Kvasos and what I love about Argal South is math with all my favorite teachers. >> Nice. >> My name is Ara Bernie. What I love about Argal South is the very welcoming teachers and all the nice students there. And we also love our principal, Miss Haynes. >> Good job. >> Hi, my name is Esley Rollston and what I love about Oral South is um Miss Ward and all the teachers. >> Say your name. >> Hi, my name is Eric. And >> what do you love? >> I love PE. >> Good. >> All right. Good job, brother. >> Good job. >> Anybody else? >> Awesome. >> Okay. >> All right. Y'all ready to lead
004us in our pledges? >> To the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge algiance to the Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. >> Thank you. >> Thank y'all very much for coming. How's your first week of school been? >> Is it good? All right. I'm glad you came back today. >> All right. >> Thank y'all for bringing them. >> That's terrible. That's terrible. All right, Mr. Hawksworth, if you'll lead us in our opening prayer, please. Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for all that you do for us. Thank you for the things you do that we see and the many things that you do that
005we don't know about. Please be with our staff as they completed their first week and they're into their second week. Watch over them. Keep them safe. Help the students stay safe. Um help us make decisions as a board that honor you and put the child first. In your name we pray. Amen. >> All right, Liz, it's your time. Okay. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So, this is our public hearing on the proposed tax rate and budget. >> I just confirmed no one signed up for public comment before the meeting started. I trusted you, Mr. Hotsworth. Don't know about that. Sorry, Liz. Just >> that's okay. We'll keep going. So, this is um more of an overview of what we've talked about in our budget workshops along the way. Um kind of our timeline. Just
006as a reminder, we had a district financial strategy team that worked um throughout the budget season helping prepare the budget and look at strategies for efficiencies and additional revenue streams. We also had a legislative session that ran from January 14th to June 2nd and we had some ma major um funding bills in there. Uh we had the preliminary budget information on February 17th at the regular board meeting. We had the workshop in on March 3rd where we discussed our budget priorities. Um on the April 10th uh we looked at the staffing plan in the workshop. on the June 5th. Uh we looked at the legislative update with House Bill 2's compensation and all the changes for the uh House Bill Two. Um then you approved the compensation plan in June and then tonight we're in
007August 18th at our regular board meeting talking about adopting the budget and tax rate. Uh just kind of a recap, we want to jump back to 2425. Um, as a reminder, when we started this fiscal year, we had spent quite a few more workshops planning for that one and looking at a rather large deficit and working our way down um from that. However, when we started the school year last year, our enrollment exceeded um projections and as y'all know, we are funded on a per student basis. So, financial wise, that um helped our budget quite a bit. Um so during the year we added classroom teachers, we added support positions, there was additional compensation that the board approved for staff and in the end we'll have a balanced budget as we end the 2425 year
008going into 2526. The priorities that uh were set the four priorities were the compensation package, class size ratios, instructional support positions um and a balanced budget. And those were all set um with district stakeholders input. We had the superintendent teacher advisory council, the listen and learn chats with Dr. Cap uh Carpenter. We had principal feedback. If y'all remember, we did a staff survey to help determine the ranking of those priorities and get some input on that. And then, of course, the board input on those priorities. As we work through those priorities, um to keep our class size ratios lower and to add back in that support, we added 64 and a half FTEEs um at a little um just under 4.2 million. And these are the different positions that we're added. Now, remember, some of
009those teaching positions are contingency that we've talked about through the summer. So, as our as our enrollment grows throughout the year, if those class size ratios get a little bit higher, um, then we do have the ability to add teaching positions in there, and those are already built into the budget. Um, there were some program support. >> Can I But I mean, for some, I mean, we just we don't have the space. We may we we may have the money, but we don't necessarily have the space. >> Correct. We are out of space at uh I believe all of our elementary schools. We may have one classroom left potentially at South I think. >> Um we're trying to get creative with some other spaces to free up what might be a classroom or free up
010some some areas that are being used with um smaller groups that could become a classroom to try and make it through the year that if we do get to a higher class size we could add it. Um we did talk about the fact that we were looking at potentially portable buildings if we had to. that's not the pro, you know, that's not the choice that we would want to make. But if the enrollment continues to trend that way, that's the um route that we would have to go to keep those class sizes smaller. So, we're looking at the cost of those, it doesn't necessarily mean that we're moving forward on that today. >> Well, and and what I'll add to that is had we not filled up all of our classrooms to help reduce class
011sizes for this year. We would we could potentially have some classroom space right now, but you know the the direction we took was to put teachers in every classroom, get our class sizes smaller, make room for a little bit of cushion growth for going into the next year because we know the 26 27 school year is definitely a pinch point waiting on five to open. This year we have all our classrooms full, but our class sizes, you know, are very manageable right now. So that's why we we we've been talking about that if they continue to grow and we need to keep the class sizes low, we're going to have to look at some other places to put our students if unless we just, you know, keep adding to the classrooms we have. So that's
012where those conversations have have been lately. Okay. So um major budget initiatives there with the staffing um plan and additions. And then as we were talking about our compensation plan, the um legislature passed House Bill Two, which was a major um funding increase for public schools in Texas. So just as a reminder, this is not everything in House Bill 2, but these are some of the larger things in House Bill 2. There was a small basic a lotment increase, but it was offset by the freeze guaranteed yield. Um the teacher retention aotment is in there for teachers. Uh 3 to four years was 2500. Five years and plus was 5,000. It was up to local schools to figure out what to do with anybody up to three years of experience. There's a support staff retention,
013the aotment for basic costs. Um those are both new and then the sped aotment is supposed to shift to intensity based service that is to come next year. TEA is still defining um those um intensity based services. And then the school safety aotment was increased. The teacher teacher incentive allotment was increased. And then the URG early education aotment has additional support for preK. So what did it mean for us? It was about 315,000 in basic aotment increase. We lost about 180,000 though of that towards the guaranteed yield. Um just under 1.6 in classroom teachers. Um and then you'll see there's support staff 253,000. The um ABC was 700,000. Early education about 120,000. School safety is about 175,000. A couple of those that uh we won't know for a little bit further um are still to
014be determined. And then just an overview of what this bill has done for Argal ISD is um you know estimated revenues of uh just under 3.3 and expenditures of 1.2 that are required out of that. Uh we still are working through some of the things in House Bill 2 and some of those will still develop over this year because some of them won't go into effect until um September of 26. Um that brought us to our compensation plan. So that changed, the look of that changed as House Bill 2 passed. Um and we set a maximum of 2.5 million for that comp plan. Uh those that were covered by House Bill 2, um three to four years experience, the five years and greater on the classroom teachers and then the non-administrative staff uh was partially
015covered by the $45 for the adjusted ADA. Um as you can see there, the um percentages there were uh basically about 4% and 8% for classroom teachers. And then what wasn't covered by House Bill 2 is the teacher pay scale for the 0ero to two years teachers. We set that at 2100 which is about 3 and a.5% and then all others at 3 and a.5% um for a total compensation plan of about 2 and a.5 million. Um as you know again since we're built on a um per student funding basis the demographer projections play a large part in our budgeting process. So, um, just a reminder that we budget based on those projections and if those projections don't hold true, if they're either, you know, if if those projections, if we come in under that,
016then we don't have the funding we've budgeted on. If we come in over that, then we have more funding than what we budgeted on. So, it's all based on those projections. Um, and that this is from the spring update. Um, and then just kind of a breakdown by campus, what we ended the year at versus what the projection was. And now, we know we've all started school at this point. Um those numbers are a little different. Uh we started a little over 100 students short from that projection. I think high school was the largest campus off on that. Um they were under by about 80 students or a little more. >> Um but we are gaining every day in students and getting closer to that actual projected amount and that projected amount that the demographer
017gives us is supposedly as of snap snapshot date in October. And one thing I did share in my end of first week newsletter email that went out Friday is last year, if you'll remember, we started the year with allowing the temporary transfers and we had a tuition based prek opened. So we had about 170 temporary transfers plus 75 I think or so uh paid prek students that were in those first week numbers that we don't have in this right now um because we closed that off just to make sure we didn't overload. So, >> and so the the result of that is you may go from a 12% growth rate last year to an more manageable 8% >> which is what we're projected right now. >> Okay. Property t property tax values are another part
018of our budget. Um so just kind of a look since 2021. Um so we get a pre preliminary value at the end of April every year from our appraisal district and then we get certified in July. So on July 25th they released certified values. Um and you'll look that there's a similar relationship every year except for the 232 24 year and 2526 year. Both of those years were homestead exemption changes um by the legislature and so there is a larger decrease going into the certifies. For example, this year it's going from 100,000 to 140,000. Um the direction under the law change is that still has to be voted on in November um by the state of Texas. However, anytime you're going to put out there to increase the homestead exemption, it's assumed that it will
019pass. And so, we are to uh set our tax rates based on that new exemption rather than the old exemption. >> Um, >> so we were held harmless in 2324, but we're not in 2526. Is that right? >> We are held harmless in both years. That's correct. Um, M is a little different than INS. >> So, we're held harmless on M in both of those years. on the INS they held us harmless in 232 24 for anything that was authorized but not issued. So anything that had already been issued any bonds or any bonds that had been authorized even if hadn't been issued at that point. So anything that the voters had passed you were held harmless on this 2526. However, they only hold you harmless on anything that is issued at the time. So
020issued by September 1st. So, if you remember our discussions in June and July, um some changes that we made on our bond issue for this year were due to that law and um we worked with our financial adviserss to wrap up our next three years of issues into this year in order to save taxpayers in this district money and have the state hold us harmless on that and save us millions of what our taxpayers would have owed had we waited until after September one to issue some of that debt. So, >> gonna the answer there is a little bit longer than what you probably wanted. It depends on whether you're looking that you distinguish between M and INS because is the INS that we weren't that there were changes. >> That's correct. Anything after September
021one that's issued. >> Um all right. I'm looking at this graph and I look at years 2020 through 2023 the the delta between preliminary values and certified values is very minimal at least. And then when you get 23, four all the way to 26, that gap is getting wider. >> That's correct. >> Does that make your job harder? >> It can. Yes. Um so typically we look at our um preliminary values and we use a historical trend to project our certified values and we continue to budget that way. um you know the the change in the homestead exemption, you know, you've been budgeting you projecting all along and then you get to the end of May when you have a law passed and that changes what you're looking at. Now, should it hold us harmless
022on the M side? Yes, it should. It shouldn't change the overall budget. should change where the money is coming from in what category. But it does make it harder to estimate that certified value if you're using a trend um and you're not taking into account the fact that uh the homestead exemption change. >> But you're seeing that trend and now you're factoring it in that the the preliminary values and the certified values that it's getting wider. The delta >> it is. >> Okay. >> Is is that also because the taxes collected are larger and it's kind of a similar percentage you've been working with. >> That's a simplistic explanation. I know >> I think it's also the number is larger. >> I think it all it has to do a lot with the number of
023protests. I mean if we look at just the um appraisal district's data not just for RIT but for their own um all their data the number of protests each year gets larger for them which could vary their preliminary and they're certified a little bit more than what our trends have shown in the past. So, there's several factors that that fall into those. And this does not exactly this chart doesn't exactly change how we collect taxes or or impact the um rate that we're setting, but we always get asked what you know what what are the categories and percentages. So, we try and include this just for information. Um it just verifies that we are still um heavy residential. We're 90% residential and we have been for a while. Um, we do see that potentially changing
024with some commercial areas being developed or potentially being developed in the future. But again, as far as setting a tax rate, um, taxes collected, all of that, this chart doesn't play into that. It's just information for you and for the public to have. So, the process again, April 30th, um, you get the the certified estimate. July 25th are the certified values. And all of the blue up here are hot links. Um, more for information if you want to go out and look at what our certified values look like. Um, August 2nd is a notice of public meeting. Will you pull that one up? Thank you. So, you're required to post that in the paper um, so many days in advance. And so, that went in on August 2nd. Um, and it's a set form with
025calculations in there. It's two pages. Um, will you scroll to the second page on that one? Um, the best part about this one, and we'll get a little more to it in in a minute. um there in the middle of the page, the comparison of property levy with last year's levy on average residents. So, on the average residents, we are proposing to go down um just under $400 in taxes for this coming year. So, um that is a really good thing for our taxpayers and our tax base overall. Thank you. You go back. Um and then the truth and taxation worksheet that's required every year. Again, that's more just information if you want to go out and see how do we get to our numbers and how do we get to a tax rate. Uh
026there's quite a bit of that in there and it always gets posted on our website um as well. Um August 5th is a deadline for TEA to calculate our maximum compressed rate which we call MCR. And then we've got our board meeting tonight. In this process, school districts have to calculate seven tax rates. Um they're all listed there for you. You can find them all on those different forms that we looked at. Um but what it comes down to is what the proposed rate on the M that's basically set um through TEA they um set a range for the MCR based on the growth in the overall state property tax values. There is a range there. Um the bottom value cannot be greater than 90% of the the top value. So based on the individual
027district's property value growth is how that places you within that range each year. So, our local MCR is 0.5797 for this coming year. And then to that, you add the tier 2 voter approved pennies. And if y'all remember back in 2012, the voters here approved 10 pennies. I think we've talked about this quite a bit in the past. In 2019, those got compressed to um 9.3 pennies. So, that's where we're at today. So, our total proposed M rate for next year is 6727. And if you want to know what that does for the overall tax rate, it decreases our tax rate by just under four pennies. Um, and then >> say it again, Liz, >> decreases the tax rate just under four pennies. So, if you want to look at the trend of what our
028tax rates have done over the past several years, the red is total tax, the blue is M, and then the green is the INS. Our INS tax rate is set based on the um outstanding debt that we have and what it takes to pay that outstanding um scheduled outstanding debt payment. that's at 50 cents. We've talked about the probability that will remain at 50 cents for the near future. So, it is that M rate that's getting compressed each year that takes our tax rate down. So, I think that's a great thing for our taxpayers. And again, it's because we had strong growth in values. Um, we had a lot of new growth out there, a lot of new value on the ROS and that continues to compress that tax rate down. and the the INS
029rate when is it starting we start to see it in in all of those tons of small little numbers when we project it to start decreasing again >> I don't remember the exact year it was um either four or five years out I believe >> okay so if you want to look at trends um takes our general fund revenue over the last several years and again when you have more students and it's funded on a per student basis. So your student number increases, your revenue number increases. The ones in the light blue are because they aren't final yet. Uh we're estimating 2425 and everything that you see for 2425 includes the budget amendment numbers that you're getting presented tonight for budget amendment three. If you look at the breakdown, we typically look at those in
030property taxes, other local, state, and then federal. And if you look over there in the proposed budget for 2526, the majority of our property taxes are I'm sorry, the majority of our revenue is either property taxes or state revenue. And then um a lot of people want to look that in a trend in a percentage way. So we've kind of put that out there for you as well. You'll notice some of these charts kind of repeat themselves. It's whether you want to look at the amount or the percent. And you'll notice that property taxes back in 1920 were 74.1% and they've trended down to 57.8% now. that is due to the compression at the state end where the state is funding more of the revenue versus the local taxpayer um and wanting that th those
031M rates to go down and again just a different way to look at it there uh some people likes graphs better than charts um and then we move on to the general fund expenditures and the big picture so we've talked through during our budget workshops we talked about campus allocations we talked about department zerobased budgets um the two largest increases there. We talked about the staffing plan and the compensation plan. And then we came back in and we also had a collaborative vision um worked on this year. And you should always tie your expenses back to the reason you're here and the vision that you have. So here you've got a collaborative uh vision year one plan. Do you mind clicking on it? So um every part of the collaborative vision here was lined out.
032You've got your um your student learning objectives one, two, three, and four. And then there's a um there's a value and objective one, two, three, and four. So all of them are in there. And you'll notice there is a column M there says budgetary impact. So we went back through the budget and tried to make sure that everything that had a dollar amount here was picked up somewhere in our budget. So if it wasn't included at the campus level, it wasn't included at the department level, we made sure that if we said it was in our vision that we've planned on it for this year. So that was a big part of our budget process as well. >> And we will do that just that same way each year. That'll have an action plan each
033year for that. >> That's correct. Every single year. And so the expense trend again, those two last years in lighter blue because they aren't final yet. Um but they kind of align with your revenue going up. Your expenses are going up. And then we look at expenses a couple of different ways. We look at it by object and we look at it by function. And this is just a reminder that um in the state of Texas, boards approve their budget. School public school boards approve the budget by fund and function, but we still like to look at it by object as well. So objects break it down to payroll, contracted services, supplies, travel, things like that. Um so you've got some history there of what what different um expense by object categories we have. >>
034Can I make a can you go back? Sure. Okay. No, you just did. Go. You were going where I was going. >> There you go. >> 81 and a half%. >> That's right. 81 and a half%. And if you want to compare that to where we were at, I did write that down. So in 2425, we were at 80.2%. So over the years, school districts um 6100 categories have increased. You know, if you look back 20 years ago, we would have told you 75% was the trend and ongoing trend. And every year that's kind of gone up a little bit over and over and over again. So you're trending around 80 to some districts are up as 80 as high as 85% of payroll um is their overall budget in general fund. Um for us
035we're at 81 and a half for next year. Um and then you can see the next largest is your contracted services. Um that's usually because that's where your utilities are. Your property casualty insurance are in there. So that's why that happens to be your second category. And then we talk about it by function because again um you have to approve it by funding function. And so if you look at all of those functions you want to I mean I'm always going to tell you that function 11 instruction should be the highest place you spend your money. That should be the highest percentage in any school district. If you're not spending more on instruction than you are anywhere else and you might want to rethink what we're doing, right? So as you see there instruction is
036quite a bit higher than anything we have and it breaks down for every single category. And then if you like to look at it in um in a percentage, we've given you a trend there on um the percentages and you'll see ex um the instruction has grown a little bit over the years. There was a little bit bigger growth this year uh mainly for the push in the overall comp plan and the um reduced class class sizes and the um instructional support at the campus level with plant maintenance um coming in at the second largest expenditure category. So just as an overview, if you put up both of those together and just looking at an overview, I want to mention again these are based on assumptions based on um projections student enrollment and from that
037enrollment projection from the demographer uh we we project an average daily attendance which is what we get paid on. So if we don't meet that 6,242 students then our revenues will not get there. If we come in over that 6,242 students, then our revenue is going to be more. So, just, you know, quick flashback to last year when we were in here telling you how many more students we had, that was good financially. Um, wasn't great in the classroom when they got tight in the classroom, but it was on the financial end. Again, if we come in under, so like to mention that over and over again that these are b built on assumptions. You've got your tax rate there. And then you've just got a quick look at total revenue and total expense expenses
038and where we feel like we're going to be at based on that. I've also got a breakdown of the fund balance. So, if we end this year with exactly if you approved budget amendment three tonight and we ex end it exactly dollar for dollar, we'd be at two and a half months operating fund balance and um with a little bit over a million dollar surplus, we'd be at 2.4 at the end of next year. Do you have any questions at this point? Okay. Couple other funds that you're going to be asked to approve tonight. The INS, again, this is our debt service. this is really how much does it take to pay our um our debt payments at this point and that is based on the uh what tax rate that you need to set
039to cover those debt payments. And so we are um projecting at 50 cents which is not a change from last year. You'll see a um draw on fund balance. If you remember when RBC um talked to us about our bond plan and going forward with the uh selling a larger bond plan this year, it was going to be capitalized interest and using some of our fund balance. And that's what this takes into effect um to make that happen for this coming year. And that was to get um those bonds issued and qualified under that holdless to to save our taxpayers here locally um payments over the years. All right. Then you also have student nutrition. Student nutrition, you have two funs. We have um our elementary campuses are on the federal student lunch program. So
040that is our fund 240. And then our secondary campuses are not on the program. And since that does not include federal funds, we separate that out into a local fund of fund 495. And you get the same overview there. Um you'll notice that fund 240 is projected to increase its um operating fund balance a little bit. So we we feel like we're coming in well under our um our budget for this year. And so we've kind of done a little bit better look at it for next year, trying to get a little bit of tighter budget on that. Um, and then 495, we just separated th those out a couple of years ago. So that fund is just now starting to build on its fund balance and move forward. Do you have any questions on
041student nutrition, right? If you want to look at, we looked at um expenses by um fund and object and we looked at expenses by fund and function. If you want to see by fund, function, and object, here's a nice report that you could go out and click on and see all the detail there. Um, and then uh the actual recommended budget page. Again, in the state of Texas, you approve by fund and function. And so when it comes time to look at this on as the action item on the agenda, this is by fund and function what you would actually be asked to approve for the budget. Um, but there is all the detail in the supporting documents. And then we're still working on our budget book that we presented last year for the first
042time. Uh we're working on that again to get some more information out there on our website. It'll have a future look as well for the next couple of years. Um and our plan is to get that out by midepptember out there. Do you have any questions on the the budget or the tax rate that we're talking about for tonight? Any questions? >> Thank you for the clarity. >> Thank you. >> This is also opportunity. Anybody else has questions on that? All right. Thank you'all very much. Then we'll close our public hearing. >> Thank you Liz. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We'll go to the consent items >> for our August 2025 donations. ABC fiscal year 2025 donation number 21. $4,470 for weight room BBT units. ABC fiscal year 2025 number 22 $3,160 for all
043sports subscription smart speed plus system ABC fiscal year 2025 number 23 $1,429 for football GoPro monopod ABC fiscal year 2025 donation number 24 $6795 for baseball signage total August donations $15,854. Does have any questions on any of the consent items listed? And I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent items as presented. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Wester, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second, >> Mr. McDow with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Move on to construction, Mr. Cohen. >> And I've brought a POE team in tonight to uh present to you because I'll be up here enough. So, I'm going to let them help me out tonight. >> That's good. >> All right. >> Got Jason Davis and
044Dale Davis here. >> Good evening. >> Good to see you guys. I guess we'll start right at the big monster that you guys look at when you pull in the parking lot right there at the stadium. There's a great picture. Uh from about this angle here, you can see we've got a lot of sheathing on the on the press box there. If you guys if we could zoom in on that thing, you guys will be able to see there's probably eight or nine lifts around that thing uh at most times during the day. We do have uh our side planted out here in the areas and we've started to clean up all the way around the where the practice fields and things are as well. But but that picture does show your uh your press
045box there. There's another angle of it. You can see all of our uh our columns in ready for bleachers to be installed right there in front of the press box. We just have to finish the front of that press box before we can get them in our way. So, that is our critical path right there is uh they will be back next week starting, but we've got to finish the front of that press box before we uh put them in our path. There's your visitor side uh bleachers. Those have been uh installed. We're working on uh punch list still. Working to get those done. Yes, we're also doing the roofs and the brick on the visitors concession stand as well. >> IA building roof almost complete on that. Um then we'll start working on on
046the inside buttoning that thing up and and getting our field built on the inside as well >> on the the west side of the the parking lot right here. Is do you anticipate that bottleneck being opened up before the IA is completed or that open up after the IA is completed? >> Right now we got it funneling bottleneck into that north side. What we'll try to do is get the fire lines opened up. I still have fence around the IA uh just to finish that last last month of construction there, but everything else should be opened up before then. Okay. Just another angle, guys, of you can see they're putting the roof on that concession stand right there. As we get into these pictures, there's a closeup of what everybody wants to see. Um, there's
047just a lot of that work has to be done from this. There's no other safe way of getting it done. So, that's what we're working on currently. Dale, when will you be done with the sheathing? You think? >> Sheathing should be complete by the end of next week. Uh, the glass is going in in the front of the Right now, all the spandro glass is in other than a couple uh pieces on the ends, but they started today installing the main sheets of glass on the actual press box itself. That is a view from the press box. So, that is where everybody will be set and that'll be your main view looking down at the field when we're complete. So, that window frame is in glass be right there. So that'll be a beautiful view
048from the press. See the glass panes that started to go in upstairs. And we just got to get that sheathing done so we can start getting metal wall panels in. Here's a look ahead. You know, we're going to be uh getting the LEDs and the vision board completed by midepptember. Home grand stands are starting. Uh we've actually held them off, but I think they're going to start first part of next week. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh roof on the press box is also getting started uh later this week. And then uh our home entry canopies are are in the process of starting now. So, uh our shape is there. It's just going and putting all of our finishes on it and bringing this thing home. exciting. >> Any questions on the stadium before I move
049on to middle school? >> Are there any um any issues right now with any of the material, any timeline snags that we've hit recently? It looks like we're still, you know, on schedule for the substantial completion, but there is there anything known at this point that might cause us a few weeks or >> No, nothing that we have that we're not working through, Matt. We we uh we had uh all of our metal wall panels were delivered last week and when they took them off the truck, they damaged a substantial amount of them. So, we're working through that process. >> I'm sorry. >> That's what we do as management. >> Oh, they damaged. >> Yeah. They were damaged when they took them off the truck. The material was. So, it was a lot. >> How
050long's the manufacturing time for those? >> They're saying that we'll have them back. We'll have them in our hands. Three to four weeks is going to be the delay. We're working to better that with Padcloud, which is our manufacturer at this time, but but currently we we're we're making adjustments and trying to work through that internally. We don't see that costing the project any more time. >> How are we holding them accountable for that? they're paying for it. We we we won't pay for it at all. It's just a matter of it's a manufacturer issue. So, we're going through our our trade and we're trying to to ex force them to accelerate the the delay as much as possible. Um, as long as we we do have a portion of the material that's usable. So,
051if we can get on the front side of the press box, it may work itself out. But, uh, currently that would be the only thing of mentioned at this time. >> Yeah. Because you mentioned that you can't start the grandstands until the front of the press box is done. Correct. >> So if we don't have enough panels because they were damaged when they were delivered, then that will potentially delay things a little bit further. >> Potentially. Yes, sir. >> And so the substantial completion date has moved a little bit. I think it was October, November. Now it's December. >> It has. And and and in the very very beginning due to some permit delays, we end up getting pushed back a little bit. And then we we've encountered the weather over the last year with
052rain and and I'd mentioned this once before, guys, but because of the nature of of the footprint of the project and how we're working out there, there's so much of this that has to be done in a lift. And rain is the only thing that's impacted us. There's days when you stand out there, you can barely stand up on the ground and these guys are trying to hold 4x8 sheets of materials above their head in a lift 120 ft off the ground. It's been rather challenging. We're working through it and I think uh we're confident in this substantial completion date and we work every day to to try to try to re it in as much as possible. >> Well, in some way, I mean, we're not going to use it this football season. I
053don't know that it makes that big of a difference. I'd rather you much be safe obviously, but I think this was a product of you were telegraphing maybe through the winter in the spring that you were encountering some wind and weather delays and and that's that's materializing here in the it is yesterday in this substantial commission >> very much so and and all of all of the the challenges with materials and everything they've all been overcome. We've got everything here, you know, to to to complete the project with the exception of the damaged material that showed up last week. And um I my expectation is is that PatCloud wants to do more of our work. So they're going to figure it out over the next couple of weeks. >> No further questions. I'll move on
054to the middle school. This project is going extremely well. Um, as you can see, our football field's already in. Tennis courts already in. Del have been putting a fence around tennis courts later this week. There's an aerial from where we're at. A lot of the structure will be done over the next month. Slabs around. If you guys look over there to the left, you'll start seeing that around the perimeter of They've already started planting trees and and and finishing the project all the way around. Perimeter fences are in, fire lines are in. This project's going very well. There's that big beautiful football field. Tennis court fence install like I mentioned storm shelter roof be completed in the next couple of weeks. Second floor concrete pores are beginning to happen and then our landscaping out around
055407 and and trying to to give the community the best view over the next year while we're still in construction. We're trying to wrap up as much of that on the outside if we can as quick as possible. We're done with our mass construction out there. We'll complete our retaining walls. Substantial completion here is holding steady July 2026. And and as long as we don't uh encounter any any challenges, I think we we may even be able to better that. So that date holds strong. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> All right, Dr. Carpenter. >> All right, so got a lot to share this evening. Um, obviously great start to the new year. Uh, new school year last week on Tuesday. I put out kind of a a note or an
056email at the end of the week last week um kind of going through some uh enrollment and class size ratios which I'll address. But first thing I wanted to share is and celebrate um we appreciated uh WFAA being out here Friday. They were out here bright and early starting I think at 4:30 a.m. in the parking lot and then had different live feeds between 5 and 8 a.m. But Dia Wall came out and really showcased um just kind of all things, you know, Argal High School students. Um she was at one point was with our band Drum majors and we got to hear the drum line live on TV and then at one point she was over on the football field talking to some of our seniors over there and then back over here in
057the parking lot talking to I think student council president. In fact, I think it was Miss Hawkworth was on there. We had UIL academics. We had cheer Majestics. So, just a good smattering of our students um being celebrated and just talking about the years of tradition of successes in the district. So, appreciate WFAA coming out and uh um spotlighting us in their Boomtown series and really showcasing our district. And then um from a from a staff perspective, we had New Eagle Academy back at the first part of August. We have had about 150 new staff this year. 98 of those are teachers. But I think the important piece I want to really note here is that 50 of those 98 teachers were part of the $3.5 million investment that the board of trustees approved to
058help reduce class sizes going into this year. And so I think that's a very important metric for our parents, community, and even our staff to hear over and over because that was a a large investment and again goes back to why we talked about our classrooms being filled up at this point uh going into the school year. And then um just from an enrollment standpoint, uh we had we opened up with 6,425 students last Tuesday. Today we had 6,495 students. And so, um, we were up another 24 students just today since since Friday, we are right now 89 students off of our October projection as far if you're looking at student by student. And, um, I explained kind of in the email on Friday that this time last year, we were over 200 students over
059again, we had allowed our temporary transfers, which were about 170 plus the tuition paid prek. So, if you put those back in the mix, we would already be over the October projection. So that that has us trending right now just 89 off of that number. And then our class size ratios. Um hopefully you all saw those in the email that went out Friday. Um pretty incredible. Right now we have um really really nice district average class sizes anywhere from the 17s to the 19s. And then we have every campus has at least three to four grade levels below district average. So very very even across there. Um and I know our teachers are appreciating that in the classrooms. And obviously of course we have some grade levels that are a little closer than others being
060to that 22 possibly. But right now all of our district class size ratios are under 19.4 across the district and all grade levels. So that is something um to to to commend our board on and just everyone for coming to the table on that. uh transportation. Uh we had um few challenges the first part of the week and I think our routines and grooves got in got in play by Friday. I think we had what' you say two phone calls. You were over there. Two phone calls. >> Two phone calls at the end of the day on Friday. So Mr. Bell and I know we were you know we're um short on bus drivers right now. So I think anybody that has a CDL is driving a bus on our routes um getting our kids
061to and from school. But we recognized we had some issues over there. I know that one of the things we rectified is we realized the voicemail box was full and figured out got it over there to help them get that you erased and started back up again. So, worked through some kinks there, but appreciate everybody's patience. Um, I know that it doesn't always um you know, there's always some fears sometimes when transportation starts out and especially with parents, but with the with the new Smart Tag um portal, when Mr. Bell rolls that out in the next week or so, parents can see live on their portal exactly where their bus is. So that'll help them um see see those routes. I know Miss Start, we talked a little bit about portables while ago, so I
062won't go back into that. Again, that conversation is out there right now just so we know our other classrooms are full and if we need to continue adding classrooms, that will be our option for the next couple of years. Um branding updates. So um we began discussing phasing in district branding quite some time ago. Um we revealed at convocation with our staff um our a our argyle a with our with our wing component there and we're excited about that brand. Um I think you know we've we've shared in different publications that wing keeps us focused on soaring together but this is a phase in approach. So it kind of begins with our website um and our Facebook and some of our branding there district level resources um it'll be things like in this building here
063and then also our district fleet of vehicles. Um but other than that, our campuses will keep the eagle and um some sports and fine arts, if you've noticed, uniforms, helmets, logos, everyone kind of has a different version of an eagle anyway um at this point, but we'll be um using the A as far as a district brand. And then this fall, we will be going um in line with our timeline and CW local board policy working on naming our new facilities. So, our new schools are going to be opening and with that will be our transition teams will be working on mascots and colors for our second high school. Um, so all that's going on this fall. A lot of information will be coming to the board. Probably the November board meeting will be kind
064of the first reading of those of those items and um we'll be utilizing students in our middle grades that reside in the impacted zone for the new high school. So, Mr. Heron and some of our coaches and directors and our fine arts and campus principles will be involved in that process with them. Um I think that is about it. U just some little metric on House Bill 1481. So obviously we all started out the school year last Tuesday with the ban on cell phones and personal communication devices. Our kids have done incredible. We had uh 28 violations at the high school the first week which is just 1.5% of this total student population. And so those students are figuring things out very quickly. Uh we had three at the middle school and one at the
065sixth grade center. So very small numbers in terms of violations in 1481. And the high school also has the new vape sensors installed and there were two hits on the first day of school and have had none since. So, I think those um are things that were all important to us as we're working to make sure campuses are safe and our students are making making good choices. And then from a community update, second special session, legislative session kicked off. Uh star testing remains on the priority list. We have homecoming coming up uh September 12th, I believe. And the parade and carnival's on the 10th, so that Wednesday. And then Wednesday, September 11th, we have been invited as a district with some of our students from the high school to go over to the Harvest Homes
066for Heroes. If you'll remember, um we became um friends, really good friends last year with Army Command Sergeant Gretchen Evans and her husband, Captain Robert D. Evans, Chaplain with the US Navy. They live in Harvest and they are going to be receiving the mortgage free home on September 11th um from the Hero Homes for Heroes. And so our band and Majestics and some of our students will be involved in that celebration and recognition and we are very honored to be a part of that as Miss Gretchen is very near and dear to our heart. So >> awesome. >> That's what's going on in the next few weeks. >> All right. Thank you. >> Absolutely >> Liz. Okay, I think we had briefly mentioned this in the past about investment management services. So, with um our
067bond proceeds at this point and with the projected bronze proceeds that will be here in the next few weeks, we will have a significant number of dollars um on hand. And um you know, being we are not a massive large school district, so we do not employ anyone here to be an investment manager, even though some of us have to be um have to have the training for public funds investment act. uh we are looking for some a firm with more expertise especially when you look at the potential for rates to be decreased over the next several months and tearing in some of those uh some of our investments into a little bit longer term of when they may be drawn down and being able to to um still earn some of the rates that
068are out there right now. So we put it on an RFQ uh for that and there were some four firms. It was Hub Investments, Hilltop Securities, uh Luther King Capital Management and US Bank Corp Asset Management all responded. Um after reviewing all of the submissions and going through the ranking process, uh we believe that Hilltop Securities would be the best overall value to the district. Um and this would be the cost of the investment management services would be paid for from the interest earnings. Um and this would come back to you in September for consideration as action. Do you have any questions about that process or um anything on the investment management? >> How how did Hilltop end up at the top of the list? Uh so we had a ranking criteria just as we
069do with any other RFQ. Um and go through there with the um I think there were five categories um and each firm individually is is reviewed and ranked in those five categories and then the firm that has the highest ranking overall is the one that comes up to the top of the list. Um and that's how we went through and and had Hilltop Securities at the top of that. >> Was it close or did they >> It was very close. Yes. Um and as as y'all know in in the RFQ process, cost is not a factor um as far as the ranking process, but that is something that we look at um you know after the fact um and look at it and they have a their um cost that they are at is three
070basis points up to 250 million and one basis points on balances above 250 million. Um that kind of gives you an idea of the cost of the services. Right. Any other questions? All right. We'll bring this back to you next month then for consideration. Thank you, >> Mr. Cohen. Okay. So, tonight uh bringing for information uh what we're calling the preliminary GMP for elementary number five. We're we're calling that because we wanted to get it to you a month sooner so we can get a month ahead when we get that approved. Uh so preliminary means that next month when it comes back to you for action, the number will not be any higher. uh I expect it to be less, but we thought this would be a good way to to save that month worth
071of time. And so that's why we've brought this in this way to you. So uh before we get on the the budget impact based on this number that you're going to see is the 38.68 million from 22 bond funds. And then we had an additional amount included in this latest bond in 25 uh because we knew we were already over on the construction cost. uh based on number four. And so it would be approximately 12.27 million from 2025 bond funds for a total of nearly $51 million. And that's where we're at today. >> So >> go ahead, finish and then I'll have questions. >> Okay. And we do have POG team still here if they have any. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Questions for them. Uh so here we uh have got our uh executive
072summary. Uh we'll get into more detail in a minute. Uh our 60% estimate that they brought us back in May was at 49.9 million. Uh today we're at 48 almost 49 million almost a million less than what we had in May, 60% estimate for the same scope uh that we had at that time. Uh we've listed some alternates here separately. You'll see uh the first one alternate one FM 407 improvements which is combined shoulder improvements and traffic signal. Uh so during the course of uh constructing the deceleration lane to turn into the middle school when we cut into that pavement uh it was determined by text dot that it could not support traffic uh which was part of our middle school project was to restripe it create center turn lanes. So, in order to be
073able to do that, we've actually got to reconstruct uh both the north and south shoulders of the road to create the turn lane. Uh and then in addition, the traffic signal uh that we're installing. Uh I believe we need some supplemental funds uh on the elementary school to help pay for that cost. Uh we had 500,000 in the middle school. I don't think that's going to be enough. Uh so we've added that in here as well. Um, this is an item that we've got to have, but it's not shown with the rest of the GMP uh since it's an off-site cost and it was not included uh at 60% either. So, we didn't want to skew those numbers. But the GMP we're bringing you for information includes that $2 million. That's how we get to
074the $51 million >> and in and the road improvements to 407, the traffic signal, the other access road. I mean that's that's also going to benefit the middle school. >> Yes. >> So I mean in some in some sense I mean those costs are getting tagged to the elementary school but it's benefiting the middle school. >> It does. >> Okay. I mean, you could allocate that differently, I guess, but >> we we could >> just timing of it. >> Yes, timing of it. But also, uh, with the middle school construction, we've built most of the infrastructure we need for the elementary. So, we've kind of shifted some cost early there. Now, we're coming back. You know, some of these costs are going here. I think it all balances out fairly well in the end. Okay.
075And I I would assume that the construction of the turn lane, the traffic signal is going to happen well before texttop does anything in 407. >> Absolutely. It's going to be well before. >> Yes. No, it would have would have been nice to be able to coordinate with their project and do something permanent, but this is what I'd call semi-permanent. I would not be surprised if it's there a decade or more before they get to it. And one of the things I think, you know, I've learned um and I think the community community would benefit um from understanding is that Argal is situated in a community that has pretty underdeveloped road infrastructure and the growth is occurring is here. The traffic is um enormous. 407 is one of the worst and it's just not adequate.
076So the unfortunate reality is is that you know we're going to be bringing more traffic to those locations by building schools. But it also makes us in the road building business. And um and it's just something that when you see these numbers, you go look, I mean, it's just maybe other communities, you know, the road infrastructure is better, but I think in some ways we've we we've had, you know, leadership in government locally that they don't want to build bigger roads because they want to keep it rural. And um we're we're having to absorb some of that. Is that is that a fair? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. that if you're building in more developed areas and suburban areas, they have the road infrastructure and you don't have to. I mean, the idea that we're spending millions
077of dollars on a textile road is, you know, I think slightly unusual. Um, you would like to have seen them build that road to to meet the demands of traffic in advance. >> Absolutely. So a lot of like what Highland Village mound area went through on 407 itself. >> Sure. >> For for years where forever it was two lane and by the time you needed it it was 10 years later when they got it when >> But we have to have I mean 407 improvements have to happen. I mean if we have we have to have turning lanes. We have to have wider shoulders. We're I don't go there. I mean, I I try to avoid that intersection now. Um, so I I can't imagine not including that in >> right >> our construction, >>
078right? As fortunate as it is, >> it's unfortunate, but it is definitely something we do need, you know, to open the the school to be safe and make sure we get traffic off the road and we're not backing up traffic on that road any any more than it already does without that. Uh, the other uh two alternate two, the access road. So, that's uh for a potential access road if you wanted to build it going north up to Sam Davis. We've got an easement that we acquired from the Grove Church on their two properties. Uh so, that's a possibility and that's why that's there. It's not included in the GMP, but it's certainly something we could add if if it was desired that we really look into doing that. Uh and then alternate three, uh
079something that we discuss all the time here in administration is the water bills. And so we've got this uh for consideration if you wanted in there. This would be uh the installation of a new well storage tank. Uh all the pumps that go with that to put that on well water >> pumps. >> What's that? What's the warranty? >> Warranty on those pumps? >> Probably a year. I don't know. We haven't gotten that far. >> Got laughing. That's awesome because it's a good joke. >> Just so I'm clear, are you asking >> are you asking us as the board between now and and next month when we're going to approve this, do we want to consider alternate one, alternate two, and alternate three being included in the GMP? >> Yes. >> And that's that's kind
080of where we're going to be next month. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, and we can either show them all in or or not show them in. We can show it to you either way you want, but for today, I didn't want to skew our building cost comparison by putting any of that in. >> And what you're telling me is that we have the we're over budget on this site from when we bonded originally. >> We are, >> but we we we considered these off-site costs for roads in our 25 bond. We did. Um >> I don't know about the landscape water well though. >> Yeah, I guess. Have we looked at the offseted costs of like how much we potentially going to spend on utilities and and in and water irrigating alone versus $3 million
081on a well? >> I I have not specifically looked at it on that site. I have looked at it over here uh on the high school site and uh I think the payback was between five and seven years but I have not looked at it with uh the rates uh from Mar water supply which is still an exercise that we need to go through and these can be added later too as well. I mean it it's not a add it today or not. It's not like that. >> It's but this would this good to have this water well would serve again both sides. >> It would serve both sides. Yes. >> Middle school. I mean, I I can't imagine not including the roads. I think anything to improve access out there. When we acquired that
082site, we we specifically negotiated access to Postmaster. We specifically negotiated access easements to San Davis. We knew we had 407 frontage and we were hopeful and negotiated access to some future road they called Gateway that they promised or thought would be there, but it's not there. >> Correct. >> So, you don't have gateway. And then Argyle took away Postmaster. And so all we really got is Sam Davis and 407. We got to improve 407. We probably got to have a million bucks to get to Sam Davis, >> right? >> I mean, I see it as a worthwhile investment. So I have a few. What was the JRE GMP? Remember? >> Uh I think I've got that on next page. If you want to scroll >> while you're looking at uh we did have road project
083there as well, >> right? >> We did have some road to build there. >> Does that include that wasn't in the GMP? >> That was in the GMP there. >> So I look forward to those numbers. >> Keeps going. It's almost there. >> Keep going. >> One more. >> A little bit further. >> I think it's the next page where I've got the comparison. There you go. So our GM3 >> including that included the road >> that included that road. >> That's a different >> which is which is less extensive. >> Yeah. >> You're talking about a residential Cleveland Gibbs two lane. Half of it was >> versus adding a one deceleration lane. >> Well, I'm actually we're actually going to have to build the shoulders re improve the shoulders and then we restripe to
084create traffic lane. So, the shelters currently won't support traffic, the daily traffic >> Plus the traffic signal. Yes. >> And then textile will destroy it when they do. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Uh, and do you remember I guess it was you guys. What um inflation factor did you put into ES5 when you built the budget for the bond? >> We did that. >> You didn't do that. Who did that? Is it okay? Did that >> with this current bond? >> ES5. I don't know. Talk to somebody on the bond committee. >> That would have been uh >> talked to Rich >> Huck Rich did the bond. >> We talked to the chair. >> You were chair of that. I don't know off the top of my head. I I know we had a sliding
085scale. >> I think it was over like 12% or higher. >> No monthly basis. Monthly bas. Because my understanding the 20 the 22 bond was more of a six >> or 9% >> which we missed because it >> but it actually was 12. >> Yeah, that's >> it was a graduated scale higher for a few months then it dropped for a few months and I don't remember the specific levels. >> Um okay. >> Yeah. I don't know. I you know we we had a lot of meetings over ES4. We're overbudget. Everybody pointed to COVID. Now we're in ES5. Here we are again. Over budget. Having to build more roads. And now a water well shows up for $3 million through a hole in the ground. Like I just don't >> Can I Can I >>
086Please do. >> It's always excited to hear this. I so when I got got on in 22 and we were building schools the everything I heard was um COVID inflation material shortages that's what's contributing to this this cost problem. So, you know, it's okay. I mean, everybody's experiencing it. And then we get to JRE and the stadium and indoor and it's well, materials are starting to balance out. Um, but man, we just have a a problem with bits. You know, there's no subs and there's a shortage of, you know, subs bidding on projects and so that they're driving up the cost. And so my question is today I don't think we have material shortages. I don't think we have a bid problem. What's causing the cost problem? >> Well, today with this, if you'll look
087on our project total here, um over elementary 4, uh it's up about 13.2%. And that's in roughly a two-year time frame, maybe 25, six months. uh that historically would be the inflation rate that we would have experienced, you know, say 10 years ago up until COVID at about a half percent per month. So, I'm pleased that that's, you know, where we're at over the last two years, but now some of the things we're facing are the uncertainty with the tariffs. What is the tariff today? What will it be tomorrow? >> Okay, >> so that does affect some of the bids. Um, you know, and I can't tell you how much because that, you know, the subcontractors are the ones that going to set that and put that in their number and they're competing against others.
088So, they're balancing how much you know they put in there. >> They're setting it in a number. >> Yeah, I know. And >> they they don't know what it is. They're >> correct. And so, do does and Po Mr. Davis, you you you worked on this GMP with us, right? I mean, that that was >> very >> we if you can't approve that and paid you to work with us to come up with this number. >> Yes. Do you agree >> that >> what's causing ES5 to come in 14% higher or so is tariff fear or tariff? >> I think it's a factor. I think I think there's several other things that are factors as well. >> Okay. Can you list those for me? >> I can. Yes, sir. So, for instance, our HBAC units
089went to a different refrigerant. >> Yeah. That refrigerant is more flammable. It requires more fire alarm structure. It requires more uh safety components inside the HBAC units. >> Is that R22, >> sir? >> R22 or is it something? >> Oh, >> I don't know what they call it, but it just went into effect earlier this year >> and it is more flammable, but it is supposed to be more. So, that across the board that went that went into effect earlier this year. The cost of those units is up considerably. Um, our HBAC and our plumbing contractors have said that they've went through five price increases since we bid Jane Rusman. Some of that is in regards to the simple things like the valves and the fixtures and things of that nature, but I think a
090lot of the cost that you're seeing is related to that HBAC thing alone. I think is is is responsible for my estimation would probably be close to 2 million of that cost right there. >> And are you saying there's that's just we have to buy this certain HBASC that has this? That's the only option. >> We have phased out. >> And when do we But like help me understand like >> you knew that was coming. >> When do we know? >> Knew that. >> So I I think we we knew it was coming. Middle of last year. >> The year before. Middle of the year before. So middle of 2023 is when we knew we were coming. I don't think anybody understood what the cost impact was going to be. We knew that they were
091changing the refrigerants, but I don't think anybody completely understood what the cost impact was going to >> um I think another contributing factor here is in our fire suppression thing code changed there. So now we have to have a fire cabinet at each exterior door. You used to be able to spread them out every 150 200 feet depending on which jurisdiction you're in. Now code is you got to have one at every door, exterior door. that's what they're making us do. So there there's there's there's a few things here that I think are are very explainable due to circumstances and code requirements that have changed and there's some other things that you know as Jeff mentioned we brought you guys this uh GMP for information purposes only. Okay. I I have a few other things
092I'm still still working on and trying to level as well. But >> let's let's I'm sorry I'm taking up time. >> No, sir. I just want to know this. when are bids when you so this this GMP is based on actual bids that you've gone out and received for these different skills and >> we did and and and I think we got over 250 bids on bid day so it's not it's not an issue people want to work here we got a lot of bids >> so it's not I mean I'm just I'm just astonished I mean 250 bids seems like I mean more than I've heard of on any project we've been doing since 22. >> Very much so. >> And it and but we're not seeing any improvement in price. Are we are
093we asking the same people or I mean I mean are all the bids the same or are we just picking the highest ones or what are we doing? >> We're not picking the highest ones. We we uh those bids are very visible. Jeff has access to them. We've shared them. Um there there's a I mean >> if I went and asked somebody to share me, would I see HVAC bids come in at 3 million and HVAC bids come in at 5 million? >> No sir. Our bids on ES5 are right there in that 4.8 to we got some of them up to six and seven million range. >> Okay. Now let's talk about tariffs. Do you think tariffs are just buried into the bids? >> Tariff fears. >> I think there's a fear factor there
094that that that that no one will probably share what what what that what that factor is. I think there potentially is. Um but I will say we've got some a lot of very competitive bids and and some of the commodities that you would expect there to be a our steel guy very competitive. I got a great number from him. We're confident in it. That would be one that I would expect to see that in. We didn't I think it's really our our our raw materials that we're seeing a lot of cost increases in our copper and our and our computer chips and things of that nature that you know some of those items come overseas. Is there a way to take to itemize out with the subs when you get these bids how much of
095this bid is based on tariff >> fear? I can ask, but I don't know that they're ever going to show their cards completely. I can I can I can ask them to do so, but I just don't know that anybody's going to they all competitively. >> Yeah. And I And the reason I'm asking because I don't I get it. >> I mean, I believe tariff fear is real, but I also believe it can be used as leverage. >> And it just seems like, you know, I mean, this is just the unfortunate reality of, you know, what some of the policies. This is a the kind of the on the ground impact of some of the policy decisions we've made at the government level. But what I mean I'm thinking can we be creative here? Because
096I mean if some of these tariffs I hear 10 15 20%. Is there a way to say hey you want to work on this project itemize out how much tariff inflation you're putting in there and we'll put it in the contingency part of the budget. We'll we'll increase it and if it happens we'll pay it. If it does it, we're not approving it. >> Yeah. I I I I I can uh I can see I don't know how successful I will be. So I I don't want to promise you that I can >> When you say success, you're saying they they'll say I'm not going to do the work. If you're going to make me itemize out how much tariff fear is in this bid, then we don't want this work on this project. >>
097Yes, sir. I I think that after living it over over five years ago, I think there's several contractors that that did get bit when when those things did turn upside down. And I'll tell you right now, our contracts with our subcontractors now are written in a way that when I write that contract with them, it's going to be really hard for them to get a tariff out of us after the fact. So when we come into them and we write them this contract and you're looking at a $5 million number, they're not going to come back to me and say, "Well, a tariff hit and now I I I need help paying for X, Y, or Z." Because we write our contracts now, and we're going to hold them accountable for what they bid us
098and what what contract the tariff doesn't hit. >> They they've brought it to you at 5 million when it may be 4 million. I >> I understand. And I I it's really hard to see what that factor is, guys. But has we I mean I just want to know and maybe I'm unrealistic. I mean I guess I would ask if I was building a house or if I was building a barn or if I was building something, I would ask the contractor, hey, are you is you got some tariff in here? Yeah. Okay. Well, let's itemize that out. I'm I don't want you to get hung. I don't you know, if if you do pay the tariff, boom, let's put it into contingency. We we've established that the way we would all build a home,
099everybody in here, including these guys, is not how we're forced to build a school, right? Legislation, they they force us to do it a certain way. So, I have a question. So, I would say that Pog has been a really good partner to this district. >> Agreed. >> Y'all done great job. You've done great work. So, this isn't an attack on you. But if the district came back to you and said, "The budget's the budget. Can you build it?" Right? You'd have to I get it. The HVAC's changed. It is what it is. Code has changed. It is what it is. The district will have to make some tough decisions in certain areas, but my guess is it could be done. >> I I I'm not ever going to tell you there's not a path
100to do it. What I'm going to say is the fact that um there would be some cuts to the project. >> Sure. >> Most definitely. >> You might not have this type of tile. You might have carpet. I don't I'm just making it, >> right? You may have the district may have to make some tough decisions and they may choose in some areas to say, you know what, that's not negotiable. I'm willing to pay a little more for that. But I I mean I feel like we get in the same situation every time where it's the budget's the budget. You can't come back to me with a number. You can say I can build it, but it's not going to look like that. It's going to look like this. >> This becomes fake news the
101next year. Like we're gonna >> the budget really doesn't mean anything, right? when we go out and ask the voters to vote for a budget to build a school because very few times has it ever actually the GMP ever actually met the budget or been under. It just doesn't happen and we can come up every every time we do it. It's something different. Oh, it's co it's tariff fear. It's whatever it is. It's always something. And again, I don't I don't believe that's on you. I I agree. I know that HVAC has changed. I know the fire code changes all the time. Those are non-negotiable. So guess what? If the bud if the bud you said when you build a house you have a budget you don't get to go over it right in most
102cases. >> Agreed. Mr. Hogworth I'd like to say if you took if you took the contributing factors that I just described with your HBAC out and you took the fire suppression piece of it out. And um there is a true impact that is that is quantifiable to the plumbing pieces of it. And you took those factors out of what we're looking at today. I think your inflation rate is much closer to what you would be considered normal. I think we've got these driving factors that are putting us just a tad bit over that. You know, if you go a half a percent per month over two years, we're at 12 and we're at 13.2 now. I think if you take those contributing factors out that are real, you know, >> yeah, you don't you don't
103have a choice on those. But we may have to in order to stay in budget knowing that we have certain elements that we don't have a choice on, >> we probably have to make some cuts in other places. >> Yes, sir. >> If the budget's the budget, it is what it is. >> But you may or may not, if you pick subs, it's you may find out those 250 subs. There's some subs that say, "Hey, yeah, I don't if you if you're willing to protect me in a contingency basis." >> I I don't want to get into the sub selection because these guys know my personal opinion. Me personally, I don't want to get in to telling them what sub to use because over the history of what they do, they know the subs they
104can rely on and trust on. And you could probably go to your sub list and take every lowest price on that list and probably get pretty close, but they know that it's going to come back over time. That sub's not going to deliver. they've they've got the experience that sub may say, "Yeah, you know what? I'll do your contingency plan and they're going there's no these people can deliver this job." >> As as I will speak to the fact there is some guys there that are that are lowhanging fruit, >> but I'm just going to be honest with you. If they're 25% low, >> that's not somebody that you guys want me doing business with. >> They miss something, it's going to come back as a change order. And and also I think that's part
105of what you guys get with us is we're we're going to pick get a qualified people that are going to give you guys a quality building at the end of the day as well. And um so I think that you know you said if I went through and I picked all the low guys could I get there? >> I I don't know if I could quite get there >> on paper. >> Yes. But but at the end of the day I don't know if you guys are going to be happy with the building that we give you at the end of the day >> and because I mean we don't want to overlook that. I mean, I there's sometimes and to speak to what my own personal experiences are, you know, if I had a
106good experience with a contractor who remodeled my house or built this house, I'm probably not going to really go out and bid it. I'm like, I like that. That was a good experience and I'm going with them. I swear by this contractor. And to some extent, Pogue deserves credit for that. You built South, you know, it's a good school. Great school. We had problems. You built JRE all in case great school. And so I mean we don't I mean I want to be respectful of that as well. I mean it does seem expensive. These costs don't seem to go down and I don't I want to we got to be cost sensitive at some point here. Um and I would also like to say Jeff set the expectation we expect that number to go down.
107We bid this thing a little over three weeks ago. Um there's still some leveling opportunities there and we're not done working. So when we come back to you this time next month, we expect that number to go down. Um I just we we wanted to put something in front of you so that way we could start uh start this process and we expect that the it'll be positive news when we're standing here next. >> On the plumbing side, that's one of the areas the most with the highest inflationary hit. What what's primary material that those subs are coming back with? the the the plumbing side is the one that I'm still digging into myself. What I'm getting is that there has been five price increases across the board from all plumbing suppliers over the last
108two years. So they've advertised, hey, there going to be a 15% increase on January 1st or there's going to be a 15% increase on, you know, on March. And those have cons continued to come that we've continued to track and we've got documentation on. Um, we do have a a a lower plumber number than what I am than what I'm showing you today. Um, but I have not vetted that sub yet. And it would be irresponsible for me to sit here and tell you that that number was valid. So, as we get through that process and we walk we walk through them, if the guy's financials speak to the fact that he can do the project, his scope is whole. I have no problem doing business with somebody that that that that proves they can
109do the project. Um, so we do have a couple of lower numbers that need to be vetted through. We're just not setting on those numbers today. >> That that 27 that's up there. Is that copper? >> Is that X? What are they What are they running in those lower bids? Is it the same material? >> I think a lot of it could potentially just be labor shortages, guys. I think there's some guys out here that that are that are there there's a lot of work What I think I continue to hear that we're in the just right here in the metroplex between here, Houston and San Antonio, we're in the sixth largest economy of the world. There's a lot of projects going on. And I think it's really hard to get contractors that you can
110rely on to do schools. a lot of them don't want to tie up uh you know their entire company doing these type of projects because of their their durations and and how many resources it ties up. So I think it limits us in some capacity to to who we can do business with. But we also just want to make responsible decisions for you guys. And um you know that we we'll work with Jeff, we'll work with Corgan, we'll make sure that we we make the right decisions and we'll continue to uh to to vet through these guys, but plumbing is is probably the only one that I don't have a a a true answer for you tonight. Fire suppression makes a lot of sense. It's code related. HBAC is code related. uh finished carpentry. We
111had some scope gaps in and JRE that we picked up in our bid packages as we bid this project. Um it's explainable. Uh doors and hardware. I think a lot of that stuff comes from overseas and I think that there could potentially be, you know, some some fear in being able to get those materials. But the plumbing one is the one that I that I need to spend a little bit of time. Admittedly, that number looks a little high, but like I said, I do have a lower guy. We're just not there tonight. >> It's hard because I I'm not in the day today. I mean, I you know, you're just showing me these numbers for the not, you know, kind of the first time. And I I don't know what the buildup I don't
112know how well you've added them. >> And it's good to hear those stories because it gives me more confidence in the process. And I'm trying to think how do I get more confident that these numbers are legitimate that um and fair and in line with the market. And is there a way without overkill or micromanaging it >> is there a way for you to say hey on the plumbing I had bids go from you know a million and a half to three and a half million and I'm using 2.7 and this is why. Is there a way to say on HVAC I went I had three million and I had six and a half million but I'm using five and this is why >> Yes sir. So every just so you guys are aware every
113bid that we collect on bid day Jeff has access to so he gets to see those things and and Jeff holds me accountable to a lot of those things already. So he he he's we're having daily dialogue as we're picking those trades and we're we're vetting through some of those together. I I with this amount of money being spent, I won't stand at this podium and tell you that I'm making those decisions on my own. >> Uh Jeff and I have conversations about, hey, we used XYZ contractor on the last one. This is where it's at. We've got this other guy. What's your thoughts? And we'll continue to do that. I know that that internally we have a team of three or four guys whether it be from our operations team or our estimating team
114that have worked on this daily for the last three weeks just vetting through and making sure and it's just a bid leveling process but all of that data that we that we capture is available to Jeff and his team at all times. >> Yeah. I mean I don't again I don't want to give you more work or just you know if it's not if it's easy to do just say bids ranged on this task from that to that and we use this and here I mean because I had a good experience with this contractor this is the guy I would use >> it just give me more confidence >> and I'll tell you in this setting some things that that are driving factors to us is you know we we may get a low plumbing
115number but if his financials say that is going to be a risk for us to do business with I don't include him in in your number and I think that's part of what you guys are asking asking us to do with managing the project is make, you know, financially responsible decisions. And >> um so as as we get those low guys, we we do a lot of vetting and making sure that they're that's what's going on between now and next month is if we have a low guy, we're capturing their financials on their company if we have not done business with them and we're trying to vet through them before we say we can or cannot use that number. Anything else? >> There's definitely a process. >> I know that it's not a part of
116what do you want me to be >> and and it is not difficult to to do what you asked and say we had this range in bids and this is why we chose that. That's that is not hard to do at all. >> Okay. Well, thank you. I mean that that's what we work through but yes it's easy to that we present as well >> Liz for for good old days syndrome we had we had sticker shock I think when we built Argal west that was that was 28 million >> oh >> 20 two or three I believe it was more in the 200 >> 226 a square foot >> we didn't have to build a or buy a $3 million well. >> Not I I will tell you guys because I I I did
117some prep work square footage wise. Were right across the board with what we're seeing elsewhere >> at 460. >> We are. >> Yeah. Golly, >> it's uh >> I I when I got on the board, we saw a school that was at $200 a square foot. We thought that district had lost their mind at $200 a square foot. We're like 150 a square foot. >> Yeah. But you also bought your house for 85 bucks a square foot. >> Well, that's true. I'm just speaking to inflation in general. So, just >> Well, schools are a lot different, too. There were a lot of cinder block walls and that was it. >> One window, >> no glass, one window, high up window. >> They're beautiful buildings. I I think that that at the end of the day,
118we just we just want to ensure that that uh we're picking the right bets. >> Right. Yeah. And to the most seems like you have and we we got to have confidence in that process. >> We are there. There is some opportunity here though still >> to to be captured. We just want to make sure that we do it in a responsible fashion and you guys got faith in it and we're going to be able to play. >> Thank you for being here. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Appreciate the insight. >> Yeah. Thank you. Good question. All right, Jeeoff, let's talk about construction materials. >> Materials testing and inspection. Yes. Code required services with any project. Uh so again, for information only tonight, um working with Geoteex Engineering, uh used to be DNS engineering, somebody
119worked with for a long time, currently doing the work on the middle school. And so we reached out to them, requested uh their estimate for those services. it came to 197,000 and change. And then we've got $20,000 contingency in there in case we should go over any of those testing services because it's actually based on a uh as performed. So, uh they may estimate 300 concrete cylinder tests and and we may have to do 320 based on how the project gets built. So, uh it's about 10,000 more than uh it cost for Jane Russ. Uh, so that shows a little bit of inflation, but we also have some reduced scope. So, it's about $10,000 more. Uh, and so far we've come in under their estimate every time on every one of their projects. >> Did
120we Did we do this for the middle school? >> We did. >> You know, like 100 yards to the north. We got to do it again. >> We have to do all the testing for every project we build. All the concrete gets tested, all the masonry gets tested, structural steel gets inspected. Those are code requirements. We We can't opt out of it. >> They got a good lobby. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, this will come back to you next month for uh action. We're not going to hear about inflation here. >> No dollar signs on my information page. So, we brought you legislation last month, but kind of held off a little bit on SB13, which was had some library stuff in it because we wanted an opportunity for our board subcommittee to meet
121and discuss Senate Bill 13. So, in meeting with our board subcommittee, Dr. McDade, Mrs. Artho um were available for our for this second meeting and Mr. Hawksworth um wasn't available at that time, but provided some input later. So, we have some policies that we a policy we created last year with the subcommittee that addressed the things that came up this year during legislation. And um in reviewing that, we feel very confident that the processes that we put in place last year meet the needs of our community. And even though they're not exactly the same as the legislation that was enacted, it covers the same areas. So, we took that information then to the district leadership team to review it because we are proposing to opt out of some of the things in Senate Bill 13,
122which is challenges, acquisitions, and the committee because we have all of those processes already built into our own EFB local. So, the DT also supported that recommendation. However, waiting on the TASBY update 123 in October, we can't go forward with adding that to the DOI at this time. Dr. McDade or Mr. Hawksworth, do you have anything you want to add about the subcommittee? >> He can't add he wasn't there. >> He >> I was a part of the other one. >> He was part of the first one and then he proi provided us with some input afterwards. >> I'm good at providing input after. Uh, I I just think it's, you know, I was glad to see that they finally caught up to us. >> Exactly. >> We were leading the way once again. >>
123That's it. >> Yeah. >> Y >> there. How about that? >> Good job. >> I agree with that, too. I think I think last year we had the foresight to set it up before we even knew >> the legislative stuff was going to come down the pike. So, um, and the whole idea of, you know, parents being able to see the system that we have, be able to see what their kids check out. I mean, I think we've just kind of been ahead of the curve. So complying with this new law to me was was pretty easy. I think there were a lot of things already in place. >> Absolutely. And that is live on our website for parents to go on to learner services and they go on to parent resources to be able
124to see exactly how they can view their child's checkout history and um put a hold on any books they prefer they don't check out. So we're up and going. Do you have any questions for me? >> Thank you. All right, >> back to construction. >> Welcome back. >> So, this uh this item is for action tonight. Um so, this would be um for our construction procurement methods. Uh state law allows up to seven different types. uh if we use anything other than competitive bidding, it's got to be approved by the board. So that's why you're seeing this item. Uh no budget impact in this decision. That'll come later when we bid the projects. So here I've listed for you uh the projects and the methods uh that we are recommending. Um and this is for
125the uh the projects that uh I think it's the next item that I'll be recommending architecture firms for. So, construction management risk procurement. Uh, we're recommending that for the Canyon Falls connector hallway and also the Canyon Falls baseball softball complex. And then we're recommending the competitive seal proposal method for the transportation parking here at Canyon Falls, uh, renovations at 377 campus for baseball, softball fields there, and then, uh, part of the capital improvements that were identified in the 2025 bond. So, we've just called it capital improvements phase one. Uh, so this would be some exterior improvements at Hilltop Elementary. Uh, some auditorium uh related upgrades at 377 campus and then some HVAC uh unit replacement at sixth grade center. That's the big items in there. I don't have I just have one question on the
126uh CM projects is the are we proposing the connector and the baseball softball that's one and those two different projects is one contractor >> no no this has got nothing to do with the number of contracts this is just procurement method >> the two steps ahead if we I just I thought that one we talked about CSP but maybe maybe I'm confusing that with the one below >> uh there was a question uh I believe on the capital improvements >> okay >> related to that method okay >> CSP versus CM but I don't remember the question on the hallway >> but those would be separate contracts >> more than likely or they would be separate contracts >> Mr. Western, you have anything? >> Um, yes. I'd like to I do like to see a mix
127of procurement methods just because I think it's gives us feedback that we need to see and I think you've allocated them well. >> How about that? >> That was pretty good. >> I've matured. I've matured just like Dr. Jordan mentioned the board subcommittee. We have had Mr. Westerm and Mr. Sllayton I believe down there, Mr. Matt Sllayton and Mr. Hawksworth involved kind of as a subcommittee with some of these conversations. So, anything you guys would like to share as we're going through these items, feel free to to do so. I probably don't have to give you permission, but >> there's your formal permission. >> I've used up my time. >> Okay, >> I think we good. >> All right. I'll uh entertain a motion to approve action item 11A as presented. So moved. >> Mr.
128Hawksworth motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Russ second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. At least we ordered at this time so you don't have to sit down. That's right. Stay right here. >> Well, it's difference between information and action. So, had to take a break. Next item I have for you is uh there's no attachment. There's no document. >> It's it's in there, but it was probably it's it was the cover sheet for architects because they were named on there. >> I thought it was in there. >> Well, I have the information. I can >> read from my notes. >> Go ahead. You're good. >> Just kidding. >> You're good. Go ahead. >> No problem. So this is for
129uh our recommendations for approval for our architect selections for the projects uh that you just took action on for the uh procurement methods. So for the Canyon Falls maybe not in the same order the Canyon Falls connector hallway uh we are recommending Corgan uh for that project. uh they uh brought to us a fee uh $252,000 and we'd like to include $20,000 uh for reimbursible expenses when that gets approved. So that includes things uh like copies, you know, plan reproduction, those kind of things. Um it should not get to 20,000, but we always include that. Uh the Canyon Falls baseball softball complex, uh we are recommending PBK Architects. uh they had proposed a fee on that project of1,182,000 and again plus $20,000 for reimburseables and this is our numbers on the reimburseables not their numbers.
130Uh so this is our contingency um transportation parking at Canyon Falls. We are bringing recommendation for VLK architects on that project. Uh they proposed a fee of $184,000 and I'm recommending $10,000 for reimburseable on that project. Uh the 377 baseball softball renovations, we are recommending Corgan on that project and they've proposed a fee of $55,000 on that project and again plus $10,000 in reimburseables. That's a project uh just so you know that we had actually started uh two or three years ago on. So we've actually got some progress on there which we did start with Corgan and so that's one of the reasons that we're we're recommending them just finishing that project out. So we've already got some documents that we produce. We have to revisit the scope and and make sure it's still all
131the same. It hasn't changed, but that's one reason that we're recommending them on that project. Uh and then for our capital improvements uh work, we are uh recommending Fluger Architects and they've proposed a fee uh of 10.75% of the cost of work and I'd like to include $20,000 for reimburseable expenses on that. One of the reasons that uh that we've brought that one to you as a percentage fee is the the cost of work needs to be identified. Again, I know we walked it with creation of the bond, but we don't have good documentation on that and with the recommendation of architect, I'd like to get them to walk it and us identify together again with the list we have reviewing those needs to make sure we've got all that scope included. Uh this also
132will involve a lot of consultants for them uh more so than it would architectural services that they might perform in house. So we felt the best way to approach that project would be as on a fee basis, a percentage basis. >> Well, what's your budget for capital improvements? >> Oh, looks like you found it. >> There it is. >> Um, so, uh, >> phase one, >> three, >> phase one, capital >> phase one. Yeah, the these are highlights. So, at Hilltop, we've got miscellaneous sidewalk repairs, uh paving repairs, some retaining wall areas that need repairs. We've had a lot of uh erosion issues that have happened through time. So, we're looking at going back and and correcting that. Uh accessibility upgrades. uh that would have to do with things like redoing ADA ramps where we've
133had movement and you no longer have smooth transition to uh maneuver that ramp at the sixth grade center. Uh it' be replacement of HVAC units uh at the end of their life cycle. I don't have the quantity but it's uh it's probably 25 could even be more than that. I haven't counted in a while. and then correcting some drainage issues, some storm water drainage issues we've got on that campus. At 377, it would be replacement of the theatrical lighting, uh, theatrical rigging, and then replacement of auditorium AV system. So, basically auditorium equipment is what would be in that part. >> Put in a percentage of the work and don't have a total on the work. That that's heartburn. So, >> how what was the budget for phase one? The budget is >> 3 million. >>
134It's about 3.6 million. Just adding in my head. >> Yeah, I thought it was three something >> for for the phase one work. You know, that's been pulled out of of the overall budgets that we had for all the improvements in the 25 bar too. >> And so I I understand the capital improvement. I mean I I think what you're saying is you understand it being a a higher percentage than other projects because it's kind of messy. >> It it is it's smaller u you know so the the percentages are going to be higher on smaller projects anyway just in general >> but this one is is a little bit tricky in that we've got to go walk it and reidentify this and really determine what the scope is today because it's been two years
135since we put that bond together. >> Yeah. One of the things I'm stressed with is like, >> do I need to hire an architect and pay him 10% to replace HVACs? That one in particular, probably not. We we could potentially go straight to an engineer, but all of these things will have to be permitted. Uh, and so there's some coordination effort that goes into creating a set of documents that we get reviewed that can get reviewed by the town for permits. And so I think our best value is for combining all of these together. I mean obvious they'll be submitted separately but combining the work on the design and the teams so that we'll have the same team you know work on all the projects the same MEP team on the sixth grade center could
136be the same MEP team on the 377 campus. And along those same lines, I mean, one of I'm just kind of going, is there an opportunity here to go more direct and say, "Hey, look, sidewalk repairs, retaining wall repairs, paving repairs. >> Those aren't necessarily I mean, those are engineering in my understanding. I mean, all the architects really well, right? I'm sure you're doing more. I know there's some architects here and I and you can forgot to mention they are all here but >> I mean you're really just going to hire an engineer. >> Yes. >> Who's going to go and get this permitted? And so what's happening here is we're we're hiring an architect. We're paying them an architectural fee who's just going to hire an engineer and mark up the engineering fee >>
137and it's just whereas we just go or you could just go hire the engineer. >> Yeah. Now, we we would have to do an RFQ. Yes, we can. We would have to go through an RFQ process to get engineers uh that we could hire >> and we could eliminate an architectural fee and eliminate the markup of an engineering fee. >> So, so Jeeoff, we're always >> there the architectural markup on the engineering fee, but that would take time. I was told that we were trying to get some of this work done next summer. So I don't know that we have time to go out for an RFQ for some engineers, put it together, get it permitted to hit that summer window. >> One of the but and so one of the downsides of the pursuing
138the that avenue of just saying we're going to directly hire the engineer and do some of these things. It really puts a lot more pressure on you to oversee that project as you're managing all these other. would I mean >> because you're now >> you don't have an architect helping you manage the engineer. I mean >> and the architect the architect does hire the engineer. They do provide the insurance. They do do things that bring value to these. >> They do they provide on-site services for contract administration, >> you know, sort of making sure the work's being done properly and inspecting it versus the other way that would, you know, be on us as a district, whether that's me or, you know, Tommy Leadford or myself or however we divide that up. it would be
139on us. >> So there is value there. >> And so I I think I think I want to look at that. I'm not sure I want to do it here on the phase one. >> I mean, but I think I want to look at that. >> Now there there are other elements of phase one not up here that we are talking about which is turf replacement which is something we can go through by board contracts and do. So that's why it's not part of this package because the intent is we go through by board and manage that inhouse. >> But that's still part of that 3.6 million. >> It is not part of that 3.6 million. >> 3.6 is just these >> just this. Yes. >> We end up with 3.2 because I have to
140give 10 point 10 points to >> to the architect. It >> I don't know if >> is that scope is that working? I mean we've worked on this. I mean, is that scope pretty defined or is there like we can put things in, take things out if we approve this today? >> Well, we can put things in, take things out. We don't have to do that today. >> But based on this contract, it changes your how much you're paying the architect on that one. >> So, if you add things, they're getting >> lesser fee. Take things out. >> Yeah. >> It's higher fee. I think we do about that one right now. >> Well, I will I will speak to this aside from that issue. I mean, >> we did have the opportunity to meet
141with these. It was >> I appreciate the opportunity to put us on a a committee >> where we got to actually visit with these architects and I appreciate all the architectural firms coming and making presentations. I know not all it was just a few of us that were sitting there and so it was educational for me. I thought their presentations were good. I thought and I and I appreciate the effort they put into them and I do like how the district is, you know, the administration is recommending that we do it's thoughtful in the way that hey Corgan's worked on the high school site. They understand it. Do the connector. Corgan's worked on the 377 baseball field is involved in it to do it. I thought PBK I mean that's the big inchelot in this
142project. I thought their presentation was fantastic in terms of uh their sports uh >> division for it. >> The sports division and I think Sean Sean right is is is here and I thought was very strong in terms of his understanding of sports complex and the different ways to go about it. I just want to share that with the board. You know, obviously VK is very involved in the site on the on and it makes sense that the bus transportation park is going to be down there. It makes a lot of sense to to have them there and and um and Fluger is got an excellent reputation in the is is what we've been able to vet. So, I I I overall like what you're doing here. We can nitpick some of this stuff on
143the on the renovation side of it, but um I like I think these projects need to go forward >> and I think they're quality, reputable architectural firms. >> How far are we out from um needing to name architects for middle school 2 and the elementary 6? What what's our timeline kind of on those? >> Timeline is is roughly six weeks, you know, kind of end of the year was always the target. Six weeks, sorry, six months. >> Six months. Okay. So not not six weeks sorry. Uh so that's what I have you know kind of always said is you know by the end of the year we need to be very very close you know not necessarily by the end but moving forward with information and action over the next couple of months thereafter. >>
144Okay. >> So Jeff >> So we keep them on online. >> I realize the other projects are different size projects like you said. What what's the the total cost of each one of these above projects for PBK, VLK, and Corgan? And what's the what would that percentage be? >> Okay. >> And then in in a fee, >> I have that. Um so, uh the budget, construction budget on the connector hallway was 6.3 million. So that fee, these are fixed fees, equates to 4% of that for Gorgon. On the Canyon Falls baseball softball complex, we had a construction budget of 19.7 million. That equates to a 6% fee. Uh on the transportation parking, um that one was based on uh 2,150. Um I think it may be a little higher than that. Should be under three.
145So I'm going to give you a range at what they based it on. is 8.55 but if it gets closer to three that brings it down to about 6%. So depending on the final cost if we go back and that is a fixed fee if we look at that it the percentage of it changes >> in that range. >> I'm just having a hard time like and and again I I hear the size of the project and you know it's kind of like a Louis Vuitton like the smaller the bag the bigger the tag. I get that. Um, but historically in my time on the board, it's 6% and under, and that's something we've been able to successfully negotiate as as a district. Um, I'm just having a hard time with going from 4% on
146one project, 6% on another, and then almost 11 on the other. So, um, so I don't know, >> some of some of that has been in the prototype elementary school design that we've had, so we've repeated it. So, that's one of the reasons we've been able to get some of those lower fees on that. >> I mean, >> to me, it's just as simple as if, you know, what am I going to pay to design a house and what am I going to pay to design a remodeled bathroom and you're going to pay a higher percentage. I mean, you know, I mean, no different. So, I get it. Um I I had a friend that used to say, what was it? Pennywise, pound foolish kind of what was that line that somebody always used? >>
147I don't know if you call that person a friend, but >> they were on the board with you. >> Yeah. No. >> Um >> and so I I mean some of these are smaller projects. They're higher percentages, but the overall number is not >> that big. I mean, the big one is is is the stadium at 1.1 million and at 6%. >> Well, when we met with them, to your point, they all came in and did great presentations, you know, we were pretty clear. What was it? What was the budget on that? 19 >> 19.7. >> Yeah, we saw plenty that could be done for 15. Well, that 6%'s going to go up significantly, right? The percentage, right, as a percentage if it's 15. >> So, I don't know. I I don't >> We can't
148have our cake. We We We tell these guys we want them to hold them to a a hard fee, a flat fee. And now now I'm saying on baseball, softball, I want to go back to percentage. So, I don't think we can do it. I think it's we have to trust that we have good partners and and you know I mean look how it's worked out for Poke and they've been great partners and they you know they'd have to take some take some arrows at times but I think that's what we're looking for is good partners. So >> and what I like about it >> and Sam I'll tell you this this gives us a chance to see >> some of these architects are firms that we haven't worked with before. >> Absolutely. It's very
149diversified here >> and it gives us an opportunity as we know we got other projects coming down the pipeline to figure out, hey, >> you know, how's this partnership working? >> Yeah. >> And I like the diversification. >> No, I I I do like the diversification. I I agree with that. I again just the >> it's a sticker shock. the sticker shock of 10.75% when >> kind of the the hard and fast rule of we've >> you know done some done some done some hard-nosed negotiations. I I hope Mr. Deenball's not >> somewhere Mr. Defin I mean if that's >> Dave Heler's upset somewhere >> and we're this is an action item right? >> Yes sir. >> Sure is. >> I mean does anybody else have a problem? >> Well you can't ask that. Well,
150I'm just trying to figure out do we do we leave it in? I I mean, we need to approve some of these. I think I'm sensitive to the timing of these things. Like, we need to get these people on. >> Some of these we should have already started design on. >> I'd be worried about killing the whole action item over. >> I understand. >> Won't hang up. >> You can adjust it too. >> So, you can if you want to, you can take it off. just take the last one on >> and talk about it more if you want or you just >> would >> tell me about the timing of the capital improvements from the administration standpoint. I mean what are your >> I mean is just do you feel that I mean obviously
151you feel the urgency is there that's why it's in the action item. >> Correct. Uh both it's a higher priority need in that it needs corrected sooner rather than later and uh if we're going to hit that next summer window. That's the other reason for the priority is trying to have enough time so we can do the design, get it submitted, reviewed, permitted by the town. We've got to, you know, we've got to procure HVAC units and have them on hand before the end of May or we're not going to be able to get them replaced. So, that's one of the reasons for for the urgency in that project is to make sure we have the time to to do that and get it done over the summer. And do you think if if if
152something that we didn't act on today over the next month you could refine the scope of this work and that would drive the percentage down from a 10% to 8% or do you think you'd probably still be at 8%? >> I don't think we're going to >> you have inflation on top of that that outpaces. So, I don't know that a month gives us >> we we could improve the scope for sure to know better exactly what we're going to do, but I I don't know that we're going to gain a lot in dollars, you know, percentage- wise it may be 2%, but what is that in in the dollars? And it it's not going to to gain us a whole lot in my opinion. >> Okay. All right. I'll entertain a motion to approve
153action 11B as presented. Motion to approve, Mr. Wester. Motion to approve. Do you 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. >> Thank you. >> Okay. budget amendment three for the fiscal year that uh is ending 831. This is um brought it to you last month. The only change on here is we talked about we were going to add the INS fund as we got pricing from our bond issue that we just completed. And so if you'll um scroll down, keep going. There we go. So there is the um INS on there that you had not seen yet. we've got to uh incorporate that uh premium on there on bonds sold. Um and so
154that's the change from last month, but the rest of the amendment is the same as what you saw. Um getting our six six weeks final ADA and student counts in there. Um and then looking at where we felt like we would be at the end of the year for all of our different functions. Do y'all have questions about those? >> Okay. Entertain a motion to approve it. Action item 11C is presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Matthew Slate. Motion to approve. A second. >> Second. >> Mr. Rich McDall. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. >> Where you going? >> Liz, what are you doing? >> Where you going, >> Liz? Liz, >> there for a little bit more. >> We'll be there a couple more,
155too. Oh, you want to approve the budget tonight? >> Yes. So, um, we had our hearing, public hearing earlier. We went through this presentation. >> Yeah. >> Um, if you will scroll to the very last page of the presentation and bring up the link there. Um, the um good thing there is the uh this will be a we call it a balanced budget. is actually presented as a surplus but it is a balanced bud budget. Uh on the general fund uh we discussed briefly about the INS fund and the um the plan on that to use the capitalized interest in the draw in the fund balance there but this is what we talked about um again through all of our workshops bring us to this point. Um I do want to take one quick time
156moment to thank everybody that's in this process. There were quite a few people that worked on this in developing the 2425 budget when things looked a lot bleeer. Um, we had buying from everybody that really, you know, went into looking at what did we need to do as a as a district as a whole to try and overcome that deficit. Um, and that doesn't happen by uh just happening in this office. That happens with all of our staff involved. It happens with our public involved. It happens with the board involved. And so I do want to tell everybody thank you for working through that process and getting us to this 2526 where we're coming in and recommending a surplus budget to you >> here. Here >> does anyone have any questions? I entertain a motion
157to approve action item 11D as presented. So move >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Josh Westerm with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you. We're doing the text right next. It's refresh. They were in there. They were just >> Okay. Uh the cover page. Um there you go. So, there is an actual resolution that is another attachment on there that you're actually um to approve the tax rate, but it again it is a decrease um in taxes due on the average home value of $39,428. That's due to the compression on the M side of just under four pennies. Um it sets the INS
158rate at 50 again. total tax rate of $1.1727 uh for tax year 2025 which is our fiscal year uh 2526. Yes, please. And this is your actual resolution. would like to point out um in bold or sorry in all caps there this tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. That's a required statement because um while the tax rate is going down it will bring in a larger dollar amount than it did last year. >> Yep. >> So >> you might have to say that a couple more times. >> Have to say that a couple more times. But that is a required statement that has to be on this resolution. >> Okay. Um can we go back to the cover sheet? So, Mr. Sllayton can read the motion
159accurately. Anyone have any questions? >> Read the resolution. >> Got to read the resolution. >> Not the motion. I thought >> Okay. I'm sorry. Read the resolution. >> Go back to where you are. >> I think you have to make a >> I have to make a you have to read. >> All right. Go right ahead. >> There you go. >> You want to read the resolution first? >> Mr. I don't care. As long as it makes the list happy. >> Punchy. >> Go ahead. Are you ready? >> I'm ready. >> Okay. >> Gosh, I'm ready. >> August 18th, 2025. On this date, we the board of trustees of Argal Independent School District hereby levy or set the tax rate on $100 valuation for the district for the tax year 2025 at a total tax
160rate of $1.1727 to be assessed and collected by the duly specified assessor and collector as follows. 0.6727 6727 cents for the purpose of maintenance operations and 50 cents for the purpose of payment principal and interest on debt. Such taxes are to be assessed and collected by the tax officials designated by the district. This tax rate will will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Even though it's a decrease. >> Yeah, it should say that. Okay, now we can go back to the cover sheet. >> All right, I'll I will uh entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> No, no. >> I move that the property tax rate for the 2025 tax year be approved as presented in the tax rate resolution. >> Mr. Matthew
161Slate with a motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Hawksworth with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you all for your help. >> That's what we're here for. a few uh I think it was a few weeks ago you approved some contingency positions um teaching positions and as the school year started we and looking kind of at our special education students we realized the need that we need some we need some immediate needs for special education aids but we also are wanting to add some contingency positions as well so that we don't have to come to you each month requesting one here, one there. So, at this time, we're requesting five
162special education aid positions to hold in contingency. And then probably two of those of those five, maybe three, we'll we'll be hiring those right away. >> I appreciate the forethought and glad we're in a position from a budgetary standpoint that we can do this. >> This is coming at surplus. Seems like a good use of it. >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 11F as presented. >> So move. >> Mr. Hawker with motion to approve. I have a second. >> Second. >> Mr. McDow with second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed. All right. more staffing. Um, as you know, we are currently short three police officers um, two at one of two at the elementary schools and then a K9 unit and we are having
163difficulty um, attracting qualified applicants and we have looked at other districts pay pay plans and we're trying to be competitive with some of our outlying districts. Um, and so we have Chief Davis, he was the lead behind this, um, did a lot of research and we found a pay plan that really, um, is more attractive to a police officer who is more towards the beginning of their career, so there's a a higher starting pay. Um, so that plan, which I think it's on the next page, um, also includes the addition of adding a sergeant position. Chief Davis and I have been discussing this for probably two years now, that whenever he is away, he's he's out this week actually. he's in Fort Worth for training all week. Um or when he's um in Austin or
164San Antonio for anything, it would be nice to have somebody else in charge and he finds somebody to take that role, but we would like to have a designated person that can fulfill that role and that can be the go-to. And so we've added that PD2 position, which is would be a sergeant position, which would be one person um of our staff. Not a new position, just a new level of >> just a new level. It's not another unit. We're not asking for any more units. We're just asking for a change in the pay schedule, >> which Miss Stewart and uh Dr. Carpenter kind of ran the numbers on this when I I think I was away or I don't remember what was going on at that time. Um but we looked at what it
165would cost the district and it would be about $40,000 to make the adjustments to the pay plan and add that sergeant level position. You know, I think when the state mandated that all schools have police officers or armed, you know, officers, you create a shortage in, you know, personnel and a demand and, you know, in order to keep up with that, you're probably going to have to increase your compensation plan. I mean it's just you know we didn't two years ago there wasn't a law and we were one of the few that had right offered a position like this and now virtually every school but I guess chief that makes it more difficult that the competition's out there for these officers. >> Yes sir. Competition uh >> if you'll come on up to Yeah. Thank
166you. >> to answer your question Mr. Wester. Absolutely. ISTD police departments, the the applications for ISTD police departments have gone through the roof. Um most recently, um Lake Dallas ISD just started their uh police department this last year came in with an incredibly aggressive and very um uh competitive pay scale. Um, typically when we're putting them in the tiers, uh, as as an educator tier or, um, the the the current play pay plan that our officers are on currently, there's a 40-year pay step. And for officers going 40-year pay, especially considering um the the bottom of that pay scale, is not competitive for for anything in this area, whether it be ISD police departments or uh local police departments. So by taking a scale like this com compressing it to only six steps uh that
167allows our bottom it really affects our bottom. Um those of you and Mr. Westerrom you know officer very well. Officer is is an incredible asset here who has been offered different positions. Um and he's not the only one on the team but I'm just highlighting him for for sake of conversation. This impacts him big time and it also allows us to be more competitive to bring people uh in his walk of life currently who uh you know we foresee to have years left on their career as opposed to a second career which again we have incredible officers throughout the district. Um this just uh allows us to be extremely uh much higher uh competitive level to bring some younger officers in who we foresee to stay a while. And if I could say one more
168thing, we had two tremendous officers leave us uh this last year and both of them went to higher paying jobs. >> Both of them. >> It seems like an investment we need to make. >> And just to clarify, I know we we're short right now, but you've got all the coverage every we're covered everywhere. We're just needing to get the the full-time officers on. >> Correct. our our part- timerrs have have hopped in and um have have contributed significantly over at West. We have quality rotations throughout the district on a day-to-day basis. Um we're continuing to provide the traffic control up in Harvest uh that we've that we've needed. Um uh for both of those campuses, um we do uh we have our eyes on a couple other candidates who were waiting to see what
169was going to happen here tonight. So, we are very we're very hopeful and um uh yes, our campuses are covered. It's just a bit of a shell game. >> We can do it. >> Okay. >> Any other questions for Dr. Daniel or Chief Davis? >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 11G as presented. >> Mr. Hawksworth, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second, >> Mr. Matthew Slate. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. >> All right. The last thing we have, I believe, tonight to consider is uh Senate Bill 12. Um you've probably heard us talk a little bit about this, but Senate Bill 12 is a very lengthy, large bill coming out of the legislative
170session. It's the parental rights bill. And so there are many components to it that are already in play. some things that require um effective by September 1. And as we wait on additional uh guidance, commissioner rules and things to come down, it was important that we go ahead and adopt the resolution. The board consider and adopt a resolution for Senate Bill 12, parental rights. And so we have that in front of you this evening. The highlights are pretty much here on the cover sheet. Um if you'll if you don't mind going over to the actual resolution, I need to point a few things out just for the record. much of what this bill has already has in it has already been practiced in our ISD just because um we understand the values of this community
171and so much of what's in here is what we already practice and do on a daily basis. There are some things that it requires to be more formalized and so that is I'm going to kind of go through those um this evening with you for just a moment. But the local policies relating to matters in this bill will be adopted as soon as practicable, but they're all effective, you know, obviously September one. And so this bill actually directs um requires the board to adopt a resolution and these policies were applicable that directs all staff and contractors. So notice it's also contractors, that's all of our vendors um that that do business with us to comply with the following requirements and directives. So, as you go through this, we have as an internally as a team,
172we've gone through and looked at where our compliance is in each of these. And so, we've been making notes of those. But, I think it's important to know we we did a district-wide training with staff. We did kind of a flip learning model where we gave them all the legislative updates, went through Senate Bill 12 with them prior to the staff returning, and then campus principles and uh district department leaders went through it as well. Um but there are some things in here specifically related to um diversity uh equity and inclusion duties. Um there's prohibition on all of that now. So employees and contractors cannot assign any of those duties. And so that is not anything that's been happening in this district, but it's in law now for us to make sure that it's not
173happening or by a vendor that that comes in and works with us. Um we'll be creating a vendor list. Um we will be making sure that all of our vendors receive a copy of this resolution as well as um part of the resolution is the superintendent's directed to give this resolution via electronic and um hard copy format to all employees. So we'll be putting it in frontline for staff to sign off on. Um some other points of note here that I think um need to make sure that's that's on the record um that districts are and employees are prohibited from assisting students with social transitioning. I think number five is very important and that's including providing information about social transitioning or providing guidelines intended to assist a person with social transitioning. Transitioning that has not
174been a practice in this district nor will it be a practice in this district but it puts it in um to this bill. I think it's also important to remember last summer we updated one of our policies regarding pronouns um and that staff would not be required to call a student by a different pronoun than what was on their birth certificate um at at or near birth or their birth sex and um unless it had parent permission or a parent requested it. That's no longer the case. It is against the law for any staff member um anymore to comply to comply even with a parent request. And so that is spelled out and we will continue to make sure our staff know um our parents know that they they cannot even request that we do
175call a student by a different name or a different pronoun. Um in the eyes of the law that's considered um assisting with social transitioning. So those are some things that we're we're working on and making sure compliant in compliance with. Um we have to make sure that access to records relating to parent uh child all that's online which is what we've been doing. course syllabi for each class. It's under learner services on our website. We've had those posted and so that's we're in compliance there. We will also be setting up an internet portal through which parents of students enrolled in the district can provide feedback to every campus um to the district as well as the board of trustees. We have our Just Ask Argal platform that's more of a Q&A type uh dialogue. This
176will be just a leave of comments and so we'll be setting those up for overampus, one for the district and one for the board and uh you will know when that's up and going. We also have Senate Bill 12 requires uh public comments to be heard at the beginning of every board meeting. That's already been our practice. Um we have that's nothing to need to be changed there. Uh we will also um not start any board meetings before 5:00 p.m. They have to start outside of the work hours. And so we will make sure that we don't start anything before 5:00 pm moving forward. And then um also just a notice no later than one business day after an employee first suspects a criminal offense has been committed against a child, the parents have to
177be notified. So we will have a practice in place for within the 24 hours. Um there's several things in there about the counseling services, health services. um with permission slips that will be going out. There will be notices going out to parents next week that will have counseling services, health services, and HB6 discipline u notifications to all parents. Um it's also human sexuality has to um before it can has to be an opt-in process. We don't provide that anyway. However, our fifth grade students that they do get permission slips for the human growth and development session that they lesson that they receive. Um there's also uh things in there regarding two opportunities for in-person parent conferences on number 22. So we have established those as Friday, October 17th, Monday, March 16th as the designated days
178during this school year. Um campuses will communicate that information. No student club can be based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Um so that's been made very clear at our our campuses. There cannot be any clubs based on that. And then any clubs that we do have have to have parent permission and those forms have been created have been given to the campuses to gather parent permission. So a lot of stuff is packed into Senate Bill 12. Again, much of what's already been our practice. Some of it has to just be formalized in sign u forms and permission slips, but those things will be um communicated as become available. And then of course this resolution will be distributed to all staff and all vendor contractors. Any questions? >> No, but I do feel compelled to
179say, >> okay, >> that you know this is just I mean a lot of this is fine and great doesn't really apply to us. It just see I get concerned it sets a little bit of a dangerous precedent that the state needs to mandate all these things on this district or any district and where does this kind of a slippery slope for me in some regards. Um, and it just when I when you read through that list, I go, "Yeah, that's that's that's okay. That's okay." I just wonder if they're going to make these schools that get vouchers do all these things. It just seems like, you know, it just raises all those things. I mean, do they regulate these schools that they're sent? No, they just impose all this stuff on us. I don't
180need them to tell me when to set meetings, >> right? >> I really don't, >> you know, and and there's just different things in there. I don't need them to tell us how to handle public comments. I I don't need the state interfering in that. that this law passed, we we'll prove it. But >> well, and this resolution has 25 points. It's hundreds of pages. >> I don't know anybody would read all 25 and say they'd agree with all 25, >> right? >> But I think I think, you know, this is all imposed and expected to be, you know, for us to oversee it and make sure nothing happens with over 700 employees and 6,500 kids. >> And they didn't give you any money. >> No people and no money. give you any money to
181impose all these new policies and all these new demands for these 25 things they articulated but they said do it allocate people to do it implement it run it monitor it respond to it >> but here's no money for it >> right >> and that's why they don't impose it on private schools that get vouchers they just impose it on public schools >> so thank you for listening >> pretty special observant you you observe good observance >> very cathartic you're Yeah. >> Do you need Mr. Matthew Sllayton to read? >> No, he does not have to read the whole thing, but we will have it posted online and we will get it sent out to everyone. >> Awesome. >> All staff and an action item. Can I oppose it? >> You can. It is an
182action item. >> But it's the law. >> It is the law. >> What if we all oppose it? >> How does that work? >> No. >> We'll have We'll have Ken Paxs in here. >> Can I Can I just pick out the ones I don't like? All right. Make them. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 11H as presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Hawksworth. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> I can't do both. Second is Matthew Slate with the second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Opposed. >> It was coming. >> All right. >> What are you doing? The time is >> 8:38 p.m. We are ajourned.