001All right, good afternoon. The time is 4 pm. It is August 4th, 2025. This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Argal ISD board of trustees. This time we'll determine if a quorum is present. >> Leona McDade, present. >> Josh Wester, present. Rich McDow, present. >> Matt Slayton, present. >> Sam Slayton, present. We do have a quorum established. And we will begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. All right. This time we'll have opening prayer. >> Dear Father God, um thank you for today. Lord, we are grateful
002that all of our administrators have so many people joining them today on on the first day with faculty and staff. Lord, we we pray for them, Lord. We pray for perseverance. We we pray for their their well-being, their mental and physical well-being. And ultimately, Lord, we we pray just for another great school year uh here in this blessed district of Argyle. Lord, uh we pray that you be with us um that you continue to guide us, Lord, and and um provide wisdom through you. And it's in your son's holy name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Okay, we have uh one individual signed up for public forum. So at this time I will read my spiel. All right, we'll now move into public forum portion of tonight's meeting. Please note board policy requires speakers sign up
003in poor speakers to sign up in person for the meeting is called to order. During this portion of the meeting board members will listen to comments but as a designated spokesperson only the president may respond to the speaker if needed and refer concerns to the appropriate administrator. Speakers can comment on agenda items but trustees will not be able to discuss the items until they are before the board during the meeting. During special meetings such as today, speakers can only comment on agenda items. Board policy beed local provides the presiding officer the ability to adjust the time allotted per speaker for effective meeting management. Pursuant to that policy, an individual's comments to the board at tonight's meeting shall not exceed five minutes. Presiding officer may reduce the allotted time for each individual to speak to no
004less than one minute for effective meeting management. Speakers are not allowed to receive time from other individuals tonight. Each speaker will receive five minutes. Specific complaints about individual district personnel are to be processed through the district's grievance policies as set out in district policies DBA, FNG, and or GF. Speakers are not permitted to refer to individual students or employees by name during the public comment period. Additionally, if you have a pending grievance that may come before the board in a level three hearing, please refrain from addressing the topic of your grievance except through the grievance process. >> And I'm sorry, I can't read the last name, but Ashley >> Win. >> Okay. Miss W, you'll have a timer up here. You have five minutes to speak. When you have one minute left, Mr. Mr. Sllayton
005here is going to tell you have one minute left. So, whenever you'd like to begin, welcome. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Um, my son was going to sign up, but we had to get a sleeping toddler out of the car, so I think the sheet got pulled before he was able to sign up as well. So, I'm going to read on his behalf. My name is Ashley Wyn. I'm from Ponder, Texas. So, I was born and raised in this area. Um, I've lived in Argyle since 2017. My my husband is a firefighter and a first, you know, he's first responder, paramedic. Um, we've been homeschooling since the end of the pandemic. Um, which worked out beautifully for us. We we started homeschooling after we had noticed that there were a lot of secular issues
006as far as education for our son and just overall just things that didn't work with our family. So, we decided that I would stay home and homeschool our children and teach them. We are very involved in a bunch of co-ops around here. Um, and a shout out to Argal Youth Sports for letting us participate up to sixth grade. We are very involved. Um, in fact, I coach the Talonets, one of the coaches, and I'm on my way to camp right after this. My daughter, Tylenne, has been in the Talonets since she was kindergarten. Yeah. And, um, yeah, I'm here to just speak on behalf of homeschoolers because I've noticed that we haven't had any representation. Um, all of the homeschooled families, and I apologize, I'm losing my voice. So, all of the homesooled families here
007in Argyle, we're very active in town. We um you know, we go to church. We participate in the farmers market. I had posted this on Facebook. I'm sure everybody saw it, but um you know, we we live here. We're as active as we can be. I go to a lot of of the council meetings, town council meetings. I've been very outspoken there over the years as well. Um, but I just wanted to help give people a better view of what we do. You know, we do have a full school day. Um, my, you know, we do all of the curriculum. It's very rigorous. My son, he goes to the Sims, Creationists in the Making, which is a science co-op that teaches creationism instead of evolution, which is what we believe. Um, I would love for
008my kids to be able to participate in UIL sports. Not just sports, but Texas Math and Science Association. That's what I was a part of when I was a kid. I never made it to the competitions, but I loved being a part of the club. I did spelling. I went on to do spelling bees through UIL, and I absolutely loved it. Um, I think that our town is very hyperfocused on sports and they're not realizing the academic availability that children could have if they had access to UIL. Um, we do pay taxes. I live right here in town. We we've always contributed happily. When the bonds come through, I do my research and I have always made my best opinion before I voted. But we, you know, we want the school district to do well
009and continue to grow. We love our town. Um, I'm going to go ahead and read on behalf of my son. He said, "Now that I've shared my story, I want to inform you of the extracurriculars I participate in. I am currently the first by vice president of the Argyle 4 Association. I took violin lessons from New Song School of the Arts for over two years. I've read every single Tuttle Twins book cover to cover for reading and I'm about to start offering beginner vi violin lessons in drone photography. I'm a coach at Argyle Jiu-Jitsu Academy and I've been a producer within two for two of the Argyle Town Council campaigns. I'm also about to start bull riding. The fair is coming up. We're very involved in that. >> One minute. >> When I grow up,
010I want to be an NFL player. Every time I've shared this with any of my friends, they laugh. The thing that The thing is, it only makes me want it more. The first year I played, I didn't know what to do, and I was completely oblivious. But the coaches saw something in me that I couldn't see. And ever since then, youth football has ignited a passion in me. I don't know of any other homeschoolers who want the same thing as me, but I do know that they would love the opportunity to play in higher level sports. Um, that head's hard. My son loves playing football and our only access to football this year, a real tackle games, was to um drive to South Fort Worth four evenings a week, which as a firefighter's wife, I'm
011not physically capable of doing. But here in town, I'll coach the Talonets. I'll show up to the field. I can be there. It's realistic for us. Um, if my time's up. Thank you very much. >> I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that concludes everyone who signed up for public comment. We'll move on to the consent agenda. We have one item there. Does anyone have any questions on that? All right, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> So moved. >> Dr. McDade, motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Matthew Slateman. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. >> Miss Stewart. >> Hello. Um, she could should be up a little. There you go. Budget
012amendment three. Uh so we just did our second budget amendment approval at the last meeting and we talked about that we would have another one. Um this is in preparation for our end of year close. Um you'll see this as a final amendment uh recommendation on our regular August meeting. Um this will include both the general fund and the debt service fund. The debt service fund detail is not included tonight. It will um be included in the regular August meeting. Uh it will cover, as y'all remember, we're pricing our bonds tomorrow for a bond sale. Um and it will cover the details of that. So we don't have the uh the numbers yet to put in for that. Um on the general fund though, there is some um we've included the um attendance and special
013population information through the end of the school year. On budget amendment two, we're talking through just the fifth six weeks. So this takes us through the um final year and through all our final reports. Um there's also some minor changes. If you'll scroll down to the next page. Thank you. just some minor uh changes there. Um and some others when you see the the decrease in the current property taxes, that's based on what we feel like will end up at year end. That is offset there in that state revenue number that that's coming in as well. Um TRS on behalf is a a required um revenue and expenditure entry um based on the state data. Um and then on the expenditure, if you go down to the next page, so the two biggest numbers here
014are going to be your um transportation and your maintenance and operations. And again, we're just trending uh quite a bit higher in all of our supplies, maintenance, um contracted services, salaries, everything that's happening in those functions, trying to get through the end of the year there. Um the rest of them are mainly on um projecting some end of year um salaries for as y'all know um our fiscal year starts September 1. All of our staff are starting back now and in we'll work through August and so we acrew their salaries as of the end of the year and so we have all of our new staff on there as well and the um pay increases. So we've tried to project through end of year on those for the other functions. Some of them were performing
015quite a bit better than um anticipated in curriculum. um we had an item there that um a larger item that we didn't actually end up using this year. And then in co-curricular we had some some travel there that we didn't use. So those those were the two reductions. The rest of it is increases, but we'll bring this back to you on the regular August meeting, but I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have. >> Can can you just explain the um the tax revenue the first very first item? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yeah, the revenue side. So, um it looks like um we're going to end up closer to about 37 um 7 750 million rather than 38 million. That was just a you know a projection based on um we'll get certified
016data as you know in July. >> Um and then that changes as they go through the remainder of the protest throughout the year. And so this is where we feel like we'll settle up but also based on our collection percentage. >> Um and then all of that ties into that state funding and what we believe is in there as well. So you'll see reduction there, but it's really that offset in that that state funding. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Does anyone have any questions on the student code of conduct that was presented to us already? >> So there's no changes there. Obviously, it's it's updated for all the legislative pieces that come out of the 89th session. So, there have
017been no adjustments made in student code of conduct since you've seen that since you saw that July 22nd. >> I entertain a motion to approve action item 7A as presented. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. I have a second. >> Second, >> Mr. Rich McDall with second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. >> So, our next one uh is FNC local. So, that's a localized policy obviously that goes with student personal communication devices. It is the policy required to be updated uh through House Bill 1481. And so, you saw this uh trustees on July 22nd. We had a lengthy discussion about different pieces there. Um, I do think it's important to to note and restate that the new statute um
018passed by the by uh in House Bill 1481 then signed into by our governor, it actually gives the restrictions of any use of personal communication devices. So, the restrictions are in the statute. Um, the districts do not have any flexibility over the actual restrictions from the beginning of the day to the end of the day and all things throughout the day. I know there are some people um I think there's been some conversation out there that maybe we have some flexibility with that. We do not. It also states that school district staff um you know obviously in the educator code of ethics I think it's 1.7 maybe and we also have policy on that that we have to follow state law. So that's where um the enforcement will be become very important on our campuses.
019It also requires the statute requires disciplinary measures to be adopted by the board. Um we have done that through administrative regulations and through the code of conduct. You've seen those. Um it also requires the statute requires us to identify a method of storage of which that's what we have in there and the administrative regulations um as presented on July 22nd and it also requires a board report annually on the implementation of House Bill 1481 and the data that goes along with that. Um the only thing that you're going to have seen in the administrative regulations that were updated um since July 22nd is going to be because TEA and Commissioner Morav put out um additional commissioner rules and those were posted in board book last week for the public but also given to you as
020trustees and he went in there and they identified uh the qualified physician piece. So that's identified in the administrative regs. It identifies the definitions for school day use, possession, school property, and then the rules for the responsibility of schools on the confiscated items. So, those pieces were highlighted uh for you to see, but it did not change our administrative regs. We already had everything else in there that was re that was required of the commissioner rules um as presented. So, that is um nothing else has changed with that. and the principles and their admin teams um have been heavily involved in writing those admin rags and reviewing those. So, we're happy to answer any questions. If not, then we are ready to move forward. One question. One of the things that was expressed in Well,
021first of all, u as it relates to since January, July 22nd, it seems like this was um I mean, you you've posted it, you've shared it, >> it's been out, >> we discussed it, >> and I didn't really get any real feedback about it at all um as it being good, bad, or indifferent. But during our discussion on the 22nd, there was some uh concerns expressed by the different campus leaders about how would be able to schedule these pickup of phones that are that are confiscated. Is there was that updated? >> We did. We did actually. I apologize. I should have pointed that out as well. Yes. So, um they're here and they want to elaborate on that. Why don't y'all come explain that because y'all did came you came up with that yourselves? You
022want to come talk? >> It's a rhetorical question. >> Sure you do. >> Come on down. >> Yeah. I think everybody because elementary is a little bit different than the high school, but and then also storage as they're coming up. We have purchased secured storage bins and so therefore they they have lockable storage bins on the campuses. So Oh, Miss Hayden, are you representing elementary? >> I guess so. I got this. Okay. >> Excellent. Miss Hayden, tell us about elementary. >> There's been a lot happening since then. So, I hope I get this right. But we discussed dismissal time and getting into our elementary parking lots at 3:00 to pick up a phone can be very chaotic. And so and we're all at duty at that time. Um and then after that time at 3:20
023when we're done with duty, we're in meetings or we're, you know, we're wrapping up our day and there's not somebody in the office. And so we're recommending um that phones be picked up next day after arrival. So 7:30 to 2:15 >> is when we're recommending phone or watch. We feel like too in the elementary level, it's not pertinent that they have their phone before they leave. They're not driving. We're also encouraging and recommending they don't even bring it. They have Air Tags if needed. So, there shouldn't be a reason a kid needs their phone. >> Yes. And y'all had put in there as well same day before 2:15 or >> before uh and before four and uh for secondary before four on the same day or the next day after 7:30 for grades prek 5
024and after 8:30 for secondary. >> Yes. So full day for us. >> Yeah. Okay. So yes, they did address. >> So wait a minute. So you're saying they can pick it up the same day it's >> same day, but the parent has to take it home. They can't okay give it back to the child till >> they just gave a deadline of when to come pick it up so it didn't interfere with dismissal or the following day after arrival. >> Okay. >> Makes sense. >> Okay. >> And then if um if if we find that hopefully parents and students can abide by these regulations. Um, I talked with a lot of educators who seem to be on the side of just complete removal and just not even bringing them on campus. So if we find
025that this becomes a management issue or headache um and students aren't being responsible, parents aren't helping the students be responsible. Do we have an opportunity later in the year to just completely remove them from campuses? >> Yes, we do. Because the way the policy is written is that um we do administrative regs to determine that and we can adjust those rags at any point. >> Okay. So if we so if we find that >> between the start of school and weeks things are going bad >> yes >> they're going poorly then come November December we can go ahead and change things for the spring. >> So the way the statute allows you to completely ban um store in a determined which we are doing backpacks or purses or the lockable pouches which we do not
026have. Okay. So those are kind of our three options and we're starting out with storing powered down and storing. >> And of course parents have the choice where they can say my child is not bringing a device at all. >> So correct and make it a moot point. >> And as the the consequences as they do go up, progressive consequences, there is a point where it is banned if you are a repeat offender. But right now it's not that way for everyone, but it can be if we so choose to recommend that or if you're if we're seeing that on campuses. >> Does anyone else have any other questions? >> It's a good question, Mr. Wester. I just want to acknowledge that. >> Yes. And you're right. That's what we discussed about adding. So, that
027was added in there and then the other things came from the commissioner. >> Actually, read the stuff. So, >> all right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action. Item 7B is presented. >> Motion to approve. Mr. Wester. Motion to approve. A second. Second, >> Mr. Rich McDall. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. I believe our next one is FD local and FM local. That's going to be the UIL home school participation. So, Senate Bill 401, it changed where districts have to opt out, whereas in the past it's been opt in. Um, and so this requires districts by September 1st this year. Normally it's a August 1st to take a public vote of opting out if you choose not to include
028homeschool students in UIL activities. So I know there was a lengthy discussion on the 22nd amongst our board members. Um, I know that several of you have had heard from community members over time. So uh, we can continue that discussion. We did have our athletics and fine arts directors and coordinators here on the 22nd along with Miss Lumston and Miss Nolles just to kind of talk through really our experiences. We spent a lot of time discussing uh looking at opportunities. I know there was there was a consideration of cut sports versus non-cut sports and changing it every year and there's just a lot of inconsistencies with that um as we kind of work through there's a lot of there's systems that have to be put in place um from the you know the enrollment checking
029process uh managing everything else we've got with growth um and our you know our strategic growth plan coming forward. So, we pulled forward a recommendation to opt out um instead of trying to pick and choose different activities at this time, but obviously it's up for board discussion. >> Well, um I'll kick that off. I will say that um that was a lengthy discussion we had in our last meeting and I will repeat what I've said in the past which is you know one of the um best things we you've done a lot of good things but one of the best things you did is you put these things onformational items before we vote on them so that we can get feedback from the community and um I got unsolicited feedback and I solicited feedback and
030um you know I would say this the feedback I solicited was overwhelming. I couldn't get anybody to agree with it. Nobody thought it was a good idea. Nobody or they thought it the timing was wrong. Um some of the unsolicited feedback from homeschool families certainly were encouraging us to consider it. And you know, I was I can go either way. And I think most people that think this through see can see the pros and cons of it. Um but when you weigh the cons, I think I think when you get down to the end of At this particular moment in time for our district, I think the cons outweigh the pros. And one of the concerns I have and I think I express to people is I don't want to do things that encourage people
031to unenroll from public school. You know, I don't I don't think I want to advance policies that may do that. And when you have a school year like this where we're going to be making some pretty significant changes like no phones, no devices, no AirPods, and then we take away, you know, and then we say, "Okay, well, but you can go home and enroll in an online class and then play in all the UIL sports, am I encouraging kids to unenroll, to go to their parents going, "School's terrible. They don't have mega lunch anymore. I've heard about it." Or Okay. Um, >> but he understands the why, Miss Nol. >> I understand. I've heard about I don't I don't do I don't do Mega Lunch. But so that's where I kind of I couldn't get
032past that argument that am I by doing this am I encouraging kids to unenroll and is it the right time? Another thing about timing, I don't think we have our policies in place yet. I don't think we have our procedures in place yet. And I would like to see the district over the course of this next year to really drill down and see if there was is a way to establish some policy app where this may make sense in certain sports limited spots. And the last thing I'll say is is I do see this as something I would like this district to really consider if we ever did a virtual learning academy. And and I think it could be it could help jumpstart that academy when you say, "Hey, you you know, education is not
033a one-sizefits-all. I mean, that's that's where our state is. That's where our nation seems to be. It's where our community may be." And and I think that could really help jumpstart the virtual learn academy if you tie that together. So, for that reason, I'm I'm inclined to accept the administration's recommendation. I I I think administration just thank you all for the feedback and the time and and really again being able to have the time to not only get both sides the perspectives from administration how how are we going to handle this? What what's it look like? What are the benefits? What what are the cons to it? But but the community feedback as well. um and being able to have time to talk with other administrators in in in other districts. Um that that's always
034helpful when you have time and resources to um really look at it and and I agree with the timing factor of it all. Um there is a lot there's always there's always new things going with every school year. Always. um the the first 6 to 8 weeks of a school year is drinking from a fire hydrant regardless if anything changes. Um at least that's been the experience in in my household. Um but with so many legislative changes that have gone on, we we look at the amount of participation we have in in UIL right now. Um and a lot of the feedback from families that that I received was you've had a hundred kids try out for a cut sport. Um and and we're going to decrease the the percentage of participation there. Um I
035think it carrot was dangled out in front of districts um from a revenue side. We we know that uh almost every district across this state is struggling uh financially due to uh the the funding lack of funding that we've historically had. And so there are financial ramifications of of saying no uh to this. Um but But if you look at the opportunity um cost the the loss is is far out greater in in my point. I'm not trying to empiricize this because we're talking about student participation um but but if five students to Mr. Westerm's point five students unenroll from school um to go to alternative schooling homeschooling to then participate in UIL. um five students currently enrolled in the district. It it means 28 homeschool students would have to participate in UIL to offset
036the cost of five people unenrolling. Um again, not looking at this as a financial only, but it is part of the equation for sure. Um I also think we do have parent choice. We have parent choice for pubed. Um, and there are benefits to homeschooling and there are benefits to pubed and there's not a perfect where they all fit and and there are situational things that fit better for families on both sides. Um, but ultimately I just don't think it's timing right now that's right. Um, the feedback from administrators was greatly helpful. Um, and I'm not I'm not saying never. I mean um and and I do think there are future opportunities to re-evaluate this is something we look at every year, right? You you have to you have to opt out. >> You have
037to opt out every year >> or you have to make a decision. >> You have to make a decision every year. So as we continue to grow, as we look at our our strategic growth plan for this district, it's not it's multi high school campus is what our strategic growth plan looks like. And so we don't know what the future vision could be. And so there's an opportunity for this I feel in the future um just not as we go into this school year. It's >> and I think it's been asked a couple times throughout this whole conversation is it's actually been allowed since 2021. And I don't think it's ever come to you guys to be discussed. And the reason it is right now is because we have to make the decision because it
038has to be an opt out. No more opt in. And so I don't know that it's ever really been a I mean prior to me arriving that y'all have even had this discussion. >> I don't think I even knew that you could opt in. >> I was going to just say I agree with everything you guys both said. Um you kind of said some of the things that were on my list. Um the only thing that I would add is you know I I agree about the virtual learning academy. I think within a couple of years it might be an opportunity um where we can look at this um and that it might be more of a workable solution and we have some time to to prepare for it. But another thing too is this
039coming year is also a year that we're you know we're doing a lot of work on the split for the two high schools and um I think at this point from on a secondary standpoint I think everybody's got their plate full um right now and we want to do what's best for kids and the feedback I've gotten as well has been majority no do not allow it at this point in time. Um, and so I'm I tend to follow that philosophy at this point. But I agree with both you guys. You said it very well. >> And I'll just say that first of all, Miss Win, thank you for coming and speaking today and speaking on your son's behalf. I've This was one of those items that for the last couple of weeks I just
040kept going back and forth on. I mean, I there are pros and cons to to to both. Um, I get frustrated with the legislature when they force us to opt out of something, but it's also, you know, we're discussing something that we wouldn't be discussing otherwise probably. Um, and I think it is probably something um that or it is something that we'll look at in the future. For me personally, there are just too many variables involved and we didn't have the time to go through and really, you know, determine which are the most important factors and how do you limit or not limit these items. Um, you know, there was talk about just doing it at the high school and um only with non-cut sports and there are all these different variables that may be
041the right thing to do. But, you know, with with middle school and everything else without giving it time, without putting processes and procedures in place to make sure that everything is running as smoothly as possible, it's just difficult to opt into something right now with so many unanswered questions. And so, um, again, please, you know, keep communicating with us. Um, any of the other, you know, friends and family that you have that are homeschooling, you know, feel free to reach out because I don't think, you know, this is a one-year opt out. Um, I don't think it's off the table for future years. Um, and again, there pros and cons to to both sides, and I see a lot of pros in it. But right now, there's just not enough information for me to be
042comfortable opting in. >> I I don't think there's any chance I don't think I don't know. Maybe y'all did, but I didn't think there's any chance you could implement this at the middle school level given the numbers we have, the participation rates we have, the I mean, >> I think that was what we we weren't we weren't going at it at the middle school level. just to to give the community I mean this is for community feedback that are our homeschool communities that we do value and do ask you to support the district because we do think of what um the school district serves us all but I I don't see it in the in the middle school uh near future as maybe you could see it in in the high school in certain sports
043but you know that's just my thoughts you know because our new middle school numbers are ridiculous I mean they're they're really really Any other questions or comments? Okay. Um, I'll entertain a motion to approve administration's recommendation of uh the proposed policies to opt out of SB 401 UIL homeschool participation in Argyle ISD as presented. I make a motion to approve the um opting out of UIL home school participation SB 41. >> Right, Mr. Westerm motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dr. McDade with second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. M >> Stewart, are you taking stops? Okay. Okay. Um, the supplemental uh pay was presented in July 22nd and I believe the question that uh we didn't have for that
044night to answer was what had changed from the previous year. So, Dr. Daniel um has gone here and highlighted um those line items that have changed or been added since last year. So, you can see um uh several of the items were under the middle school section. We did not specifically name out sixth grade center um in some of the areas and they needed to be named out uh similar to the middle school uh like UIL coordinator um yearbook sponsor. Um we also added a dance and drill team director at the middle school, a stipen there. Um a department head at CTE for middle school, a visual and performing arts coordinator for the district. Um a lead diagnostician stipen and then HOSA and CTSO um stipens at the high school and I believe those were
045the all the changes. Do you have any questions on those? >> We we done has doc Dr. Daniel done comparisons with other districts and they play >> I don't know how the most recent. Yeah, I don't know about the most recent comparison he's done. I know >> I don't know the most recent he's done. I mean, those do not seem our our directors do not seem to think that they're out of whack any so compared to what they're you know as far as having in order to you know recruit okay >> for that. But I can we can certainly follow up and ask him when last time we did a comparison. Okay. So, Liz, I know when we did our believe our first budget workshop, we looked at staffing and one of the added positions
046was uh middle school dance team director. So, is the stipen on top of that salary that was put in the budget workshop? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I believe this I believe on that budget workshop we had the base the teacher estimate that we used FTE and so this would be on top of that. Okay. >> Yes sir. >> Does anyone else have any other questions? Right. I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 7D as presented. >> So moved. >> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. I have a second. >> Second. >> Mr. Rich McDow with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I any oppose? All right. Thank you. >> Okay. >> The L show right here. >> Yes. We'll we'll tag team this a little bit. So, um, you
047know, one of the wonderful things about where we were in the spring as we were going through the budget process is we had four budget priorities and those four budget priorities went back out to staff, came back, we talked through that through your workshops and it was compensation increase, reducing class sizes, uh, bringing back some of the positions we had to eliminate and then a balanced budget. Um, you know, Mr. Westerm, I know it was it was made very clear that you wanted to get as many of our classrooms fil filled up as we can to try to get the class sizes down. We did that. We've as a board you adopted a $3.6 million, you know, in positions. It was about 40ome teachers, brand new to the district, not replacement positions, but new FTEEs,
048and I know everyone out there is very thankful for those positions. Um, and we have we're filling them. EVLs. >> Yeah, we're to a point where we need to have some contingency positions in the event we are, you know, continuing to grow. Um, some of our class sizes are creeping up to the 21 already and school starts next week. We've got couple grade levels that are right there at the 22. Um, our challenge, just to be very, very, very honest, is space. And um so we're going to have to get very creative if we end up do if we end up opening some additional sections to the you know the campuses they've they've been in the conversations elementary specifically about where could we put another classroom who could float those kinds of things. And so
049we're working through that right now. But this would give us the opportunity to have an additional five positions. He had already given us five. We've used three of those. Uh we gave one to sixth grade center just this past week for science and social studies. And then we've got two left and this gives us an additional five. We're looking at having possibly having another life skills position to open because our numbers there are growing have increased. Um and so that's what this is for in terms of just having some contingency positions. But we're definitely at West and JRE seeing a need to potentially look get really creative with some space um for this year >> and we know we're going to have another year of it. and next year >> because we're behind a year
050because of 24 bond not passing >> and I think you mean go ahead and talk through the fact that we're looking at what we're doing with portables. >> Yes. So we are currently looking at how quickly we could secure portables, what it takes um you know where where you can run electrical, how to get the water and the sewer there. Um and so we're working in that process um to see you know if it comes to it, do we have to add them this year? Right? If we're out of space and the students still show up, we need a place to put them. So, um we're working through that process. We've got some updated numbers on how much it cost um to get it here. And then again, it's um when we when we built
051West, we did not plan on the need for portables there. So, we did not run the conduit out for electrical to a certain spot. So, there's a little bit more work to do at West um at JRE. We had planned that. So, we have the um conduit already run and we have a spot, but of course, you still have to come back in with the fencing. There's a lot that goes into getting them set up. So, it's not like we could say we want them by the beginning of school and actually have them at that point, but we are working towards a process if we say, you know, we're to a student count and a a lack of space and we need them within a month that we're working towards that process of being able
052to know exactly what it would cost us and what we need to do in that process to have them. So, um it's not a fun conversation, but it's it's the reality of what we're looking at. >> Do you recall our timeline when Hilltop had portables? I I know that those were on loan portables, so they were relatively easy to get. >> They were >> um but I there was still a lot that had to be done to get them classroom ready. >> Yes. Um you know, at that point in time, I believe we had to make sure the pad site was ready. Um you get them moved in. Um then you do the skirting around. You have to have to have the data um run. You have to have the electrical run. If you get
053one with um water, you with the bathrooms and you have the water and sewer run out there. Um they are actually looking at some some ways to do that maybe with tanks rather than lines run on those. Um so it's it's not an instant process. That one I believe we worked on for several months um once we'd secured the portable un loan before we had them up and running. Now you have the fencing um issues, the school safety laws have changed since we put those in and you do have to have the secure perimeter around those included. So there would be that aspect of it as well depending on where you could place them. So, um I do believe it's it's definitely some longer lead time than what we'd looked at in the past. Um
054but we're working towards knowing exactly what that is. You also have to have building permits. Um so it's not again it's not we can't just say we're going to put them up tomorrow and instantly they're there. It's it's a severe process. >> Were they like wasn't it like $300,000 something around there? I think we had spent um a little over a hundred,000 on the ones that were on loan based on the because you were you know required to move them, have them put in everything that had to be um set up on site and then move them off. Um I believe the cost of a portable just the portable by itself without any setup is a little over 100,000 now. Um and then you've got to figure in the cost of what it what it
055costs to get electrical if you're going to run sewer and water, the fencing that would have to go around there, the data out there um and all the skirting and everything. So, we're talking maybe 200,000 plus for what? Two classrooms >> potentially. Depends on the Again, it depends on the site. >> I'm hopeful we'll get them closer to about 150, but that would be again depending on the cost to get everything to it. >> And several grade levels on these campuses, all thinking about all four elementary, several grade levels are right at the 19 mark right now, which is gives us some buffer. That's that's a good place to be in. But we each campus has a grade level or possibly two that are sitting at the 21 to 22. But it's not it's not
056campuswide right now, but it is you know we we are creeping up that way in a couple of grade levels on uh specifically out at JRE and West >> is there >> and Hilltop as well one grade level. >> Is there availability of portables? I mean how >> Yes, ma'am. purchase. Are we talking about p purchasing leasing or >> we would look at both options to see what would be better? Um, you know, if we're looking at that we need them for several years or into the future, you know, purchasing is going to be the better option, but we will look at both and run the numbers and make sure that of what we recommend. >> We've had portables at Hilltop. We've had portables at the middle school. >> It's not ideal, >> but it's
057part of fast grow. >> Um, I don't I when I think about our future, I don't how you get around not having some portables next year. >> So, when we were planning in this past spring and looking at what it was going to take to get through this year, based on the numbers at that point in time, we thought we might make it through this year without portables, but we knew that facing the next year before we open at elementary, we more than likely have to have portables at um several of the campuses at the elementary level. >> And the delay on all that was the 2024 bond not passing. Yes, we lost a year, >> but we are we are now looking at potentially implementing some this year depending on right when we could
058get them. >> And the alternatives to portables are increased class size. >> Correct. >> Floating type teacher situations, >> taking your your uh special teachers and them having to be on a cart, art on a cart. >> Yeah. Taking teachers out of, you know, Yeah. special teachers out of classrooms. um implementing some kind of rule where new enroles can only go where we have space, not to their community school. >> Correct. >> So, none of those are good options either. >> I mean, I've experienced them, but they're not great options. No. >> Yeah. So I obviously cost is one thing but safety and security is the other and and perimeter fencing is one thing but I know at Hilltop I believe if memory serves me right you had one portable that actually had sewage and
059water and you had one portable that didn't. >> Correct. And so, uh, I remember as a watchdog like having to transport all the kids across the the driveway into the school and that. So, just throwing that out there from a safety and security standpoint. I sewage would probably be the best option even though it's costlier. >> Correct. And again, we we're looking at some tank options that you can put with them where you're not actually running a line out there. Um, it would not be drinkable water. Um, so it wouldn't be like having a water fountain, but it would give you bathroom bathroom facilities there, >> right? So there's some options that we can do with that. >> Okay. >> You also have weather, too. >> You do have weather. It's it is not an
060I, you know, it's it's not the choice that we would make if we just had a choice between um having everybody inside the building or portables, but when we have as many students show up as we do in the limited space, it's what we're having to face. >> And I know we've been talking, you checking in with middle school and high school. I think they can both speak for themselves, but uh in the sixth grade center, um I think they feel pretty good right now about the their class size averages. They've they worked with their teachers. Their teachers wanted common planning periods. Um and so some of theirs will be a little offbalance, but that's what they wanted prioritized over every class being smaller. So I think they've worked through that and feel pretty good
061about that. Um and if you have anything else to add, you can. But I think they were they're in a good spot right now. Okay. I know we talked a lot about portables on additional teachers here, but >> yeah, you have to have a place for them to teach. So, >> where they're going to go if we get there as part of the conversation. >> Anyone have any other questions or comments on action item 7E? So these extra positions we're looking at >> the possibility of either in a building or possibly in a portable at some point >> and we we don't have them assigned right now or anything. Um they would be contingency positions to to be able to move forward if if that were the case. >> Okay. >> But they are elementary
062school positions. >> They are. Yes. Because that's where we Yes. We just gave one to the sixth grade center um for science and social studies. Those those core contents were creeping up a little bit. So, we went ahead and released one of the last ones that you approved to her. >> And we have what? Two left there. Or one, two. >> Uh, two, >> I believe. Two. >> So, this would give us eight. >> Seven more. Hers and the seven more. It' be a total of 10 because we had five the first time and five this round. >> Got it. Okay. Yep. >> And talking to Miss Thunderberg, she's expecting to possibly need one for a life skills unit. >> Okay. We'll entertain a motion to approve action item 7E as presented. >> So moved.
063>> Mr. Matthew Sllayton. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dr. McDade with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. The depository contract. We talked about this on um the July board meeting. um walked you through how we every um two years it's required to be looked at and after um you've run out of extensions that you have to put it back out as an RFQ. So we've done that. Uh Point Bank was our um recommendation and um they are here with the local branch. Um there is a specific wording on the motion um that Point Bank does require in order to have um people as authorized signers on the account. And historically we've had the board
064officers um we've had Dr. Carpenter and myself on there. So, um, if you do choose, I would ask that you use language that's here or similar language. >> Liz, why did we go away from Point in the past? >> Um, when we first went away from them, they were having quite a bit of turnover there at their local branch and we were having some issues with corrections on the account. Um, just a lot of changes on there that was it was giving our office a hard time with balancing bank statements and keeping, you know, changes here and changes there. So, we moved away from them. Um we had a great um great contract with Independent Bank. Um we I think we went over they were either bought out or merged by South State um are
065they did not submit in time. Um so we couldn't even consider them whether they would be ranked higher or lower than anybody else. Um, I can tell you though that after the switch over to South State, our we still have a local contact, but as far as any type of help with getting into an account, looking at what something was on a deposit or a check or anything like that, it is you're calling somebody um, you know, in Georgia or somewhere else. So, it's not the local aspect of that is what you've seen in the past. Um, Point Bank is a um, that's you know, work very well with the district. They've been um, a sponsor of many things. They um, work with Eagle Partners quite a bit. um and they're very um active in
066our community. >> Anyone have any other questions for Liz? >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to approve the recommendation for the depository contract to be awarded to Point Bank and authorized board officers Sam Sllayton, Greg Hawksworth, and Matt Sllayton, superintendent Dr. Courtney Carpenter, and CFO Liz Stewart as authorized signers on the accounts. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Western motion to approve. Does he have to read that motion to approve? Okay. All right. I just want to make sure >> you've read it, so I think we can put that in the minutes. Thank you. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dr. McDavid with a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. The next one is the
067delinquent tax attorney contract. Um that one was also presented in July uh recommending that we stay with uh SA Sako and Burroughs as our current delinquent tax attorneys um collections and then work with Limeberger on um delinquent tax sorry on PBS audits and appeals. Um there is not specific wording that has to be on a motion on this one. So you can choose to make any motion that you want. >> any Wow. Wow. Anyone have any questions for Mrs. Stewart? All right, I'll entertain a motion to approve action item 7G as presented. >> Motion to approve by Mr. Wester. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Matthew Slate. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Last one for me
068tonight. Um, purchase of attendance credits. This one is required every year when we're um recognized as a or assigned as a wealthy district. Um this one does have very specific wording that is required on the motion. Um and you'll find that written out on the second page. Um and this one again is something that we do annually every August um once we've been notified and we were notified in July that we met the criteria. Again, >> anyone have any questions for Mrs. Stewart? Okay. All right. Here we go. I will entertain a motion to approve the 2025 2026 school year. We delegate uh contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code 11.1511C4 to the superintendent solely for the purpose of obligating the district under Texas Education Code 48.257 257 and Texas Education
069Code Chapter 49 subchapters A and D and the rules adopted by the Commissioner of Education as authorized under Texas Education Code 49.006. This includes approval of the agreement for the purchase of attendance credit netting chapter 48 funding. >> Thank you. >> So moved. >> Oh, Mr. Sllayton. Motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. McDow with a second. Any further discussion? Rereading of the motion. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Okay. at this time, uh it is 4:54 p.m. We are going to adjourn to executive session. When we come back to adjourn the meeting, there will be no further action taken. Hope you all have a good evening. Thank you.