001Barrett Thomas >> presents present tonight. Please rise for our prayer led byust by first lieutenant Smith and second. Father, we gather tonight to begin the work of the district for a new school school year. Lord, just pray that you provide us clarity and direction whatever our roles and responsibilities. Lord, I just pray that uh for all the individuals, students, staff, administration, faculty, that somehow someway that all that we do by doing so Lord that that we prosper financial success, career successes. just pray each and every one of us as well as all of our students in the four Lord that we're full of prosperity this year. pledges. US pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisibley and justice for alliance
002to one indivisible. This time I will open the floor for any board remarks that you may have. Uh, I'll say one thing real quick just because I have a quite teacher at the high school. Wanted to give a shout out to the staff and everybody there on the cell phone policy. Sounds like it's been going really well. I know u everybody was worried about how happened whether or not kids would just totally revolt or not. Sounds like they are doing well. Not giving too many problems. We had to take up a few, but overall nobody's given any problems without that. So, kudos to the staff for standing firm on making sure we comply with the state law. >> Um, [Music] thank you to the administrators at the high school and middle school. Um the drop
003offs morning and pickup has been very smooth and um I think that I appreciate the citizens who posted in comb red asking parents for their patience was like two weeks and I think that helped because the expectation and the patience level um is totally different this year. So um the middle school itself is a lot going on but the drop off and pickup has been great. So, thank y'all. I know it's hot in the morning and hot in the afternoon and y'all standing out there squirting bullets, but I appreciate you because, you know, it's been great. Um, also just, you know, with my, uh, middle schooler, um, the cell phone policy and the block schedule, I I don't know if I was on board with the block scheduling at first, but, I do see that
004I feel like it's going to be a positive impact on the middle school. I can already see a change in my seventh grade. So, um, thank y'all. Okay, we'll move forward with public hearing public comments. Um, at this time in accordance with the board will provide an audience with individuals who sign up for her support. Tonight we have two requests to comment in person. At this time, our board clerk will serve as time requested to speak. The timer will also be visible on the screens. Public comments in person only. Anyone wishing to speak in person at the board meeting must register five minutes prior to meeting. The start of the board meeting with the board cler or sign up. Citizen part participation is permitted to the hearing citizens portion of the agenda. The board is
005not allowed to respond to comments pertaining to items not included on the agenda unless the response is limited to specific factual information or reciting existing policy in response to the approved. Each citizen is limited to three minutes to speak. And with that being said, I will call Mr. A start off with thank you board for what you do. Superintendent. Um I'm here about the uh school traffic. I know Miss Thomas just spoke a little bit about it. Uh I live on Pan Street and u uh last year uh it it was you know it it was a little bit of a problem but uh this year uh last Monday my next door neighbor totalled out her car with one of the school mamas. And um I don't know if uh at the first of the
006year y'all give some kind of I know you can't tell the mothers how to drive but uh maybe a notation of uh do not use people driveways turn around or intersection turn around but this particular mother had turned on Nelson Street and what they're doing instead of going around the block and getting behind the line they circumvent it and try to you know be three cars ahead of where they would have been. So they'll back up and that's what she did is back up in the intersection and the person was turning right there back into bar. Um also I do have cameras and I have been filming as going as the year goes on it does get a lot better quicker better. I don't know if there's any solution to it, but uh I do
007know that the buses are having to go on the opposite lane to go down to the school because all the corners are taking up this lane. I'd hate to see one of the cars running the bus flip the bus over. I mean, I've been seeing flipped over buses here lately. Anything can happen. I I just think this problem needs to be addressed. You know, I don't know what can be done about it. Um but uh it is going to be cause more issues. I I have heard some war stories about 1942 with Barrett. Those cars are going really fast and when the cars you turn to, you know, get in line, they're hit. Someone could be killed. But um anyhow, like I said, I don't know what can be done, but uh it there is
008a young man that works the traffic at over there, and he does a great job. He he goes down through there, he moves around. He does a good job. But anyhows I I did put up some u post and I I put up a chain over my driveway so they can turn in there now. But uh anyhows maybe just a notation to uh to school riders, you know, not to be turned around or maybe send some more cross down there to maybe plumb them up the first few weeks, you know, hey, you can't do that, you know, and maybe they'll, you know, just get like they're supposed to and not block people's driveway. If I have a trailer on the back of my vehicle, I cannot get in my driveway until all that's gone. But
009I can just see >> I'm here to talk about SB10. SB10 requires all public elementary and secondary schools of Texas to display a durable poster or frame copy of conspicuous plates within each classroom. The bill mandates that display be 16 in wide 20 text per command is prescribed in the legislation to ensure uniformity across the school. the ten commandments. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt make to thyself any great. Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God has made. Remember the Sabbath day keep honor thy father and thy mother, but thy days upon the land which the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Th shalt not cover thy neighbor's house. Thou
010shalt not coveret thy neighbor's wife or his man servant or his maid servant or his town or anything but thy neighbors. Just reading these words out loud, I can think of three ways to work this class. Obviously, the history class, the Bible. The second one is being classed in the current I don't think anyone here could or would argue that the ten commandments is a pretty good moral compass for everyone to go by. God should be in our classrooms in this very small way by having the ten commandments there. The separation of church and state all the time is not in our constitution. Thomas Jefferson said we should keep the state out of the churches not the other way around. I challenge the school board and superintendent administration to find a way to have a
011command in every classroom as a state office. Some of the administration thought it was a good idea to spend almost $20,000 on bags for student cell phones. I know that didn't pass. Why can't we find a way to spend less than 10% of that amount to get the ten commandments to every classroom? If it comes down to it chooses not to fund this, if we can get a commitment for half, I know that I can get with other members of the community and find the other half. And you guys knew this was before you put it under was any money you put in your budget. I'm here today ask you all soft your hearts. >> Okay, moving on to reports. When we restart our construction, we have earned almostion interest. So the funds for the
012capital is over 99 from this amount. We reduce the high school edition which is near completion of the parking lot which is we also have the sixth grade center which is in design stage with that current estimated remaining balance. Next slide. At the beginning of 2425, we had 12.15 million in fun and for that we have 1 million for three and a half million for safety and security upgrades and then 7.6 for so we have paid most of the safety project and safion. And the next slide is a list of some projects that identified previously discussed and current. Any questions? I have to do some testing tomorrow. I'm trying to find something [Music] very carefully. That's some other solutions. [Music] Good evening president. Tonight members of cabinet will present to you our 2025 2026 and
013beginning of the year update. hear wonderful things about activities, sequences and performance of our cross as we start the new year. Who are we? We remain a 5A school district servicing 7,1 students as of August. Looking at our demographic breakdown, we serve about 12.9% African-Amean, 56.4% 4% Hispanic students, 27.19% white, 3.24% two or more races. And looking at our highest students, we have 58.79% economically disadvantaged, 20.95% emerging bilingual students this year, and 14.46% special education students as we start this year. Looking at curriculum this year, our mission will continue with our district initiatives as well as introduce the concept of public in our classrooms. Our district initiatives as we began to plan for the 2526 school year, our administration thought it was important to continue with our district initiatives that we implemented starting last school
014year. This provides our staff and our leaders with an opportunity to dig deep and really understand what we mean as we move forward and make tweaks to these initiatives. We're still looking at better instruction, more time on task, and write a little note. When we think about better instruction, our teachers and our principles and staff members will look at teaching instruction, scripted questioning to help with high thinking skills and moving our students forward so that they can make grade level expectations and then checks for undersizing engage time, minimizing classroom distractions and transitions, and then using our data to monitor and improve instruction. Our board test, as we mentioned tonight, focused on a block schedule at the middle school. We also have continued our success with our interventions at the elementary level and as well as
015at the secondary level. Our principles have got together and they're also using a form a new form to help our students stay in classroom work with our teachers and they have a hall pass that will make them or force the students to really work there certain amount of time to get to class and to get back because we know learning takes place in class not. So we're really excited about that in this new work. And then when we think about our writing a lot, last year we wanted our students to write, right, right, right, right. This year we're honing in on shared writing, which is the teacher model with the students. They write back and forth. We're looking at power writing where students are given a topic and they must address that topic, stick with
016that topic in small. So I'll add to something that's a brainstorm. I'll give you three minutes, think about it, and then I'll actually add then some more time think about it. advocate. So, we're using power techniques to get our students writing more. And finally, writing through sources. So, as our students move and metriculate all the way through high school, one of the things that we know that we must support is that research base and utilizing sources to back whatever stance they take. So, if it's persuasive, if it's argumentative, they'll have to use their sources to really cite those in their soy level. When we think about our fundamental five, these are strategies that we're implementing on all of our campuses to improve the rigor, the relevance, and our student performance. Teachers and staff members are
017framing their lessons. In other words, they're identifying what they will do together as a class and the work the student is expected to do each day. Working in the power zone, our teachers are working in the power zone. the power zone means you're in close proximity to students, not necessarily at the lecture area all the time, but working with our students and having that closeness with them. When we think about frequent small group purposeful talk, FSGPT, that's providing students with turn and talk opportunities, opportunities to talk with each other two to three minutes at a time. So it's not the entire class period, but he's giving them an opportunity to have that voice to utilize their voice to understand and then sometimes help and teach each other. We want to continue to focus on as
018we move through the fundamental five this year recognizing and reinforce it. We want to recognize students efforts with their work, their ability to complete tasks. And sometimes it's not all about the a but it's just did you make the progress that we needed for you? And we celebrate you for that. And then reinforcing that positive behavior that we expect. We see a student pick up trash. This is something a health thing. Some student I saw a student drop a backpack to do their backpack. All the things that allow students stop and say, "Hey, let me help you." We want to make sure that we're reinforcing those five to be productive citizens of our society. And finally, critical writing. And when we think about critical writing, it's very important that our students are writing every day.
019this compensates effect as well. So we'll be implementing all of these fundamental five practices or strategies throughout the year student services. Again this year we're happy to provide for our parents and our students after school programs and private programs. The 21st century program will continue at Barrett Elementary and Charles Archer Elementary and it begins on September the 2nd this school year. The YMCA is still a discounted tuition based program for our families who need after school care or Friday only care. And the YMCA has subsidized again cost for that child care for our families across the program is housed at elementary but it serves all of our users. The Houston Food Bank makes school market program this school year. Um we we've enjoyed the success that we've had with the program but this school year
020we were not selected as a school market site here in cross Texas. So we are again on their list and at any point in time which you would like to be a part of that but we were not selected based on the economics and they looked at the different areas depending on where your geographic location is in the city and then how you supported and are there other banks in the area? Are there other avenues that people can access the food? And so we we're asking them to be on their waiting list. So we hope that the funds come through will be back on the list. And then we want to make sure that as student services we are providing answers to the questions for our parents and community members. And so we have very
021hard school. I hope it's been successful for you guys as well that we work very hard to answer questions. We will start with the last four years who we are. You will see our first column number of teachers. Our second column is on the first day of school. I'm sorry I should have mentioned that. This is a snapshot of first day of school for each of those. the long-term subs that we have in each classroom, the uncertified teacher that we have hired by the first school, active teacher vacancies. And what this means is that these are vacancies. We have not found the person we want for it. If you look back over to the long-term subs classrooms, some of those you'll see five are working actually as of today six are working on certification and
022two is certified in other areas and once they become certified we will hire those people but four are ones where we may have a substitive position but is not the person who's working to take over that position. I just want to make sure I'm clear on that. And then the number of first year teachers. Again, these are fluid. So as we fill some of those vacancies, that first year teacher may go up if that is teacher that we hire. And then our growing our growing our own programs [Music] currently for this school year compared to last year 27%. And I'm very proud that over the last few years we hire seven professionals that teachers and that was three for last year and this year that installed in offices and classrooms. And this new phone system
023also allows driver sessions to now multiple lines to the main campus number at one time. So right now we are up to three. We can't expand. So hopefully that people won't get straight to signal that we can put one line on. And then we have a transportation app to see their child's information in real time. operations on the maintenance side since the end of the school year until the first day of school and completed 157 work orders and child nutrition meals last year. Breakfast meals sold 294,588. Lunch meal 627,670 and then snatch 6,356. At the beginning of this school year at fish camp, the department actually donated snacks to the high school for their project for their new freshman students. And then good news from the TVA is for the 25 26 school year. All
024students who qualify for free four or reduced price meals, we will have more cost this year. In transportation, we have three buses and servers and routes this year. Now we're up to two mechanics, which we're happy about. And then the ladies really worked really hard over the summer trying to get our students routed. So by the first day of school, they had routed 3,854 students. And some of those ladies were working to one o'clock in the morning trying to get those students routed in the first day of school. I think we were here at 10 o' trying to get all of our students routed buses and then as of August 15th we're up 4,354 students routed and so if you remember our enrollment so far is 7,100. So we're still busting over 50% of our
025student population this year. I mean you've already heard about the safety and security performance services will be increased some safety and security and we look to continue to improve on those and then one of the highlights from the beginning of the year we heard trusty Thomas talk about the arrival and dismissal procedures and so we noticed that the middle school road was really backing up all the way to 21 traffic and so we looked at it and we decided to actually put an officer down by the stadium on the middle school side. It start to divert that traffic into the parking lot and make lines and then the officer directs them back into the main line. And so it keeps that road clear for my buses to get through a lot easier. Uh it's been
026some challenges from parents. I've been a few things so far this year, but now they're getting in the mood and they're following it pretty much now. And also at CVS, we're already the traffic cross. So, we were getting a lot of complaints about people skipping the line and going around to the crossover and then jumping in line. So, I've been standing out there for the last four days pushing the line and they didn't like it at first, but they're getting used to it now. And that's never been part of their procedure. Just parents did it and their parents was nice enough to let them but the people behind were very we and that's helped also keeping that road one way to be able to get down to the cross and then at the we're addressing
027some traffic issues there because they've gained probably 200 more car riders this year and that poses a serious issue for them and they had the same problem CVS had trying to stick And so what we did was we moved the crossover down to Holly Street to then come up into the car line instead of those other and we're beginning to put some columns out and stop people coming. So we're trying our best to address those situations with all our [Music] diver. That's the reason why I stand out there and say yes because they're not going to listen to it because the map sent out this is the way you're supposed to come. >> Yes. >> So unfortunately we don't have enough man every stop that's only stop [Music] that's a little different but I know
028better and I please you know be patient around the streets and I did see the cars and you know I did see >> you know people don't like change but we're changing Thank you. >> Good afternoon everyone. I bring you greetings new face very much but I'm very proud to be able to serve the community that served me as a student. Um, so for communications, just basically letting you know, I can read the words to you, but I can tell you is that we are just going to be transparent and we're going to do our very best to show the very best of what we have in the district. Our goal is to push out all the positivity that happens here in the district because also make sure that we're informing our community. So by
029that we have listed 47 points of my goal is we already have a great brand, right? We are the Coopers. So, we're going to continue to strengthen that brand and our messaging for everything that we do. We're going to be proactive and as timely as we can with information, making sure that the information correct. Um, sometimes people don't think that's as timely as it is, but it's about us being correct as well. Um, we're going to make sure we continue to um partner with our community um and engage them. And this is my home. I may not have I live in my parents house, too. Um but you know being here in the community and being a part of it um staff communication support so making sure that we're supporting our staff um and whenever
030they're speaking to um parents or communicating with anyone out messaging um crisis communication readiness but whatever that may um unfortunately be something we need to do celebrating the achievements we kind of talked about that and then making datadriven decisions when it comes to how we communicate and how we send our message out. Um, so just to show you a picture, one of the very first things that we did, we also work on complication as well, but back to school. And I can't see the numbers before I didn't memorize it, so I apologize. But, um, basically we gave over 500 backpacks. Um, this is something that Mr. Rine when we first got here, I had the pleasure of working with him from the very first year where we started in the gym and there was a
031girls volleyball game and we just had a few things to what it's grown to now. um 33 haircuts in um three hours by four to five members, most of them across the Oh, thank you. My team, sorry. Um 28 community vendors and seven CIS departments were available for parents that day. Um six special presentations by CMS and transportation um to give parents information about the block schedule and also for talk about transportation discipline and other concerns. six goats, three chickens, a few dogs, a few ducks, and one adorable pig and hundreds of families that participated. Um, and smile share. So, thank you so much. >> Okay, business office. I just want to highlight some things. For the past few years, we have been running budget. We've also continued usually don't take very proud of those
032things. Some things that have kept us busy last year. We're wrapping up instructions instruction very open serving students. We have the parking lot that is ready school where they start. We also have the mares playgrounds security coming up things that will keep us busy for next year. Uh we are design phase for the sixth campus. So that moving along quite well and then localization has beg for a couple projects the pool chillers which will unit throughout the district and then the lonear project which also includes and also lighting led. Pardon when you start the lonear should start within the month. So they said six weeks time contract six week period Google chillers we are waiting for all the chillers long time I said 6 months that got started January so we hoping September I'll start
033[Music] talking about just and that's how it's going was just administr,000 students. So yes, it's it is we are inching that way. We've had it better, but will we ever be able to answer all the phone calls at once? Probably not. >> But we are we are doing the best we can and we're hoping to expand that to five lines soon. As part of the training process, our maximum is five. We started them with three. When they can handle three, we will go to five. Thank you so much. >> And then I transport. Um I know the last two we were doing double routes for CMS and CHS. So like they have double kids that one drop all the way back and then go back. Are we still doing that or >> still have several
034not all of them like that but we do have some >> what is what is the need to not have that? I think it's just having both of those campuses going at the same time. It's just too many kids kids putting those two campuses together. >> So, do we need more buses or more bus drivers so that they have two >> drivers and a tier system? >> So, we had more drivers. So, they could not do I just I feel like I can just when I drive into my neighborhood a lot of times after 5:00 I see elementary kids getting dropped off and I I'm concerned that they're getting dropped off an hour and a half after they get out of school. And what I hear from the families is that I'm gonna say the
035word excuse behind. The reason the reason they're doing that is that they're the middle school. They dropped off high school kids. They dropped off middle school kids. Now they have to go. They got those kids in the entire neighborhood. They've been out of school since elementary. And so it's like 5:15. So they've been out of school hour and they're just getting home. It's literally a 10inut drive and so I don't know what the solution is to get more drivers but we're working for them. I'll say we are working toward is a nationwide epidemic and you know an issue that a lot of districts you know are are dealing with. We are doing everything we can to keep who we have and recruit more. Um, and so really the other option is the tiered system and
036it's the drivers that we have and we're on three different tiers. Now with that once the sixth grade campus opens I think it's almost inevitable that we have to go to the tier system at that point but that solution that would I don't think that's it. I'm just saying ahead and looking at where we are because this is the challenge >> but yes shared writing. So shared writing is in shared writing is I am the classroom teacher and we have a topic which season would you appropriately dress with the colors but the teacher would model for the students this is how we start the writing we have to answer this particular problem we have to answer what the question is we have to provide an answer so start off there and you're showing them shared
037writing. I'm showing you and I'm thinking out loud, I should start here. So the kids begin to think and they're sharing and ask them what do you think I should put here? Even though the teacher knows you're including the students in that shared process. So the finished product is the product that the teacher has given some guidance on as well as the students have included their writing. So the final draft for that particular lesson on topic of writing would be shared together. So together we have come up with the right. Another piece could be as you move through our system looking at our secondary campuses shared writing is teacher writes teacher explains students answer and they come back here. Here's what we now finished product before I move to that practice. I want to say
038a few things real quick. Um the to the transportation I want to say I didn't evidently it's gone smoother this year much smoother than last and I want to say we didn't hear as much on Facebook. I didn't get as many phone calls or emails or texts or whatever. So I want to say thank you for that. I know it's a work in progress. I know we're a growing district and with that comes growing pains. So, I want to say thank you to that to you for taking over Mr. Bine's position and knowing that I saw him everywhere um I went and know that he was other places as well. Um you answering I'm assuming it's you or your department is answering the the post on Facebook um as often and frequently as you can.
039um that helps with communication to the public as well. Um so kudos to you guys for answering those in a timely manner, I'll say. And um then to the teachers and the hiring, I want to say that's that's amazing, too. And to know that people are moving on and that we're hiring people that have the first to do something more to help our district is is great as well. So I want to say thank you to all of y'all for the hard work and efforts and numbers that come with us adding more to the district and the people who are coming here and adding to the district. So, I just want to say thank you to the SRO for standing up there and running traffic with you. That's all I have to say. Anybody else?
040>> Thank you. Okay, next on the agenda for tonight's meeting is the consent agenda. Items above items requested to be pulled from the consent agenda. I have a motion to approve the consent agenda by a second by Thomas. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I opposed. Motion carries six. Moving into regular business consider approval of current treatment for agreements in the amount of 77,694 importers solution via choice partners cooperative contract 24 003 MR-9 approve treatment best solution part cooperative contract. [Music] Second motion by Trusty Humphre, a second by Trusty Roach. Any discussions? >> All those in favor signify by saying I >> opposed my name. Motion carries 6. Item B, discuss and consider an increase of $42 a month to the district's contribution to employee health insurance. I have a motion by
041trusty Roach, a second by Trusty Humphre. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying >> I post my name. Motion carries 6. It see discuss and consider approval of a contract with Metropolitan Landscape to provide reoccurring grounds maintenance for an annual amount of $251,370 via Choice Partner Co-op contract 2448. Have a motion by trusty Chapman and a second by trustee police. Any discussion? >> How many people do we currently have on the grounds? Five. And so those five people will be doing what? >> So they're going to be helping out with the maintenance because we're also short over there. So they'll be helping out with some of those small tasks. um going to put some on power washing and that's enough to last all year long on all the campuses. Um we are keeping
042the stadiums under us and so two of them will stay on those projects all year round. >> I just wanted to say thank y'all for your work on this. This is something for years since the board hoping we can make something like this happen. um our uh it's just something that we obviously our our guys were spread too thin working we were doing regular maintenance and then also trying to deal with blocks and grass and weed is just too much. So, I'm actually excited those other five because there's other type of stuff. There's plenty of little stuff here to work on include I know those some of the things we talked about with um door hops and things like that that are out of code now that need to be replaced or they're going to
043be out of code. I'm excited. They're going to be freed up. We'll be able to do this stuff. I think without some of those projects, without hiring outside help now, we'll have to get a contractor to do those things. And I would be critical items, but I'm super excited about this because it's been it's been a complaint from the community. We haven't kept up on that end and this should totally fix that problem along with freeing up our guys to take care of other things that didn't need to get done. So, thank you all for this a lot. It's been a long time coming. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed by. >> Motion carries 6. >> Discuss and consider approval of the 2025 2026 Brley Independent School District student conduct.
044>> So moved. Second. I have a motion by trusty Chapman, a second by any discussion just like to reiterate my concerns with federal cell phone policy and so um I think that I I sent you all this and Dr. Patter this via email, but um I'm concerned that taking student phones for an extended period of time poses some safety concerns for our students who travel after school. Um, I know that there's the argument that we all survived the 90s without cell phones and I did also, but I think that our world has changed in that many parents count on their students to have their phones for tracking them and for their jobs or depending taking care of younger siblings and also um many families I know we don't have a house at our home. So,
045we're sending kids home with no way to communicate an emergency. So, that makes me very nervous. And then I also um I just question that this is not an infringement on parental rights whenever we take away their phone at home. I think that we definitely should take it away during school, but I'm not convinced that taking their phones away at home is is um safe and most appropriate. Also know that, you know, like there there are places specifically out 90 where you can't get reliable highspeed internet. So students depend on their hotspots on their phones to to complete homework. I know whenever we lived out there, my voice that's how they did homework was on hotspots. So um I I recognize that behavior has consequences. I'm just not sure that this is the right answer.
046So I'm I'm super concerned about that. >> I'll add to that. Um I'm very supportive of what you know the team has come up with but I I do have some, you know, we're waiting into rainy territory for this and so having confiscating the funds for five to 10 days and I'll just throw this to Dr. Patter. I I'm uncomfortable with it, but I would hope that if we see that it's just not working, we can always go back and we've already done that when you know we're trying new things. This is something that we're all having to do. So, um, I want to respect all the work that went into that and the thought and what our administrators want to do, but I have full faith if we think we need to modify this
047that we will I think we um, if my son already taken away, there's nothing to do with it because I shouldn't. It's the rules. I didn't make the rules and in order to enforce them, it has to something has to be done in order to enforce it. And it may be harsh, but maybe it'll teach them a lesson. It may be hard on the parents, but it also help the parents reinforce it as well. And I think that that's probably where a lot of all of this kind of gets juggled because it's putting a lot of pressure on the administrators and the teachers at school because we're not enforcing the way we should it. So I my kids know if they are in trouble at school behind those phones, we have a problem. And I
048don't want to I don't want to face that. And I don't want them to face it either cuz I know they love their phones. But um I just think it's the best way to try to make it work because if you take that phone away, it's like gold to them. So you take it away, it's it's it's hurtful. You know, they can't stand it. So it's a way to teach them. It may be harsh, but we'll teach them and we'll also help the parents as well. Of course, we want to be protective of everything, but for instance, they'll find a way. So, for instance, um to communicate, they'll find a way. So, Andrew need to make sure that I dropped his tennis shoes off. He couldn't call me. So, he went to the teacher and
049asked the teacher to send me a message on school on the school app to check to see what time he was going to drop I was going to drop the tennis shoes off. So in return, I saw the message, I sent the message back to the teacher, and that's how we communicate. So, you know, they're learning, but it's a curve and all of that and it's consequences, but it may be harsh, but I think it will help. And I I really think it's going to help, especially in middle school. I really think it's going to help. >> I agree with Trusty Thomas on this as well. I think several instances of you having your phone taken up. I do believe that there should be stronger, more stringent punishment for it. And I think that that
050this is a learning lesson uh after, you know, so many times getting taken up, it's gone for a couple days. It's the same thing that we do at home. You know, you take something away from your child that you know is important to them. Back then it was I don't know our bikes or we couldn't go to our friends house to stay the night because of that. They don't do that anymore. They communicate by phone or their game systems when my kids were growing up their game systems. Uh their game system is now their phone. Yes, we use it to communicate. But if I chose to take my phone out here to school as many times as it took for me to get my phone taken away uh for several days at a time, I
051think that that's a proper punishment. Maybe they can use their own communicate if they need to or or what have you. But um I mean in the real world when you get a job, I can't show up to work in pants and I'm supposed to be in a skirt. Um and I can't show up in plain clothes when I'm supposed to be in uniform. So I think that it's a it's a great way if we're going to be preparing our students to be productive members of society to also make sure that they have consequences for the things that they the rules that they break. I also think it's going to help the teachers uh should be able to teach and not have to keep enforcing the same rule on the same students. Um if they
052don't learn the first time or the second, then I think that um consequences should come and it should help relieve this. Yeah. So I agree with some >> and all I'll say is I'll reiterate my point from earlier. I think at least at the high school speak to I think they're doing a great job. I had to throw this in. It's been one of those I don't normally like the state making a law every district that says, you know, you have to do this. But I'm really glad they did this one because this is one of those things that two years ago if you mentioned it, you would have been crucified by parents. And even people in education, conferences I've been to, things like that, if you mentioned this, people said it was impossible. I
053I've heard it for 6 years on this board. It's impossible. You'll never fix that problem. It's never gone away. We enforce a policy and it's working. It's like hold this business to account and it works. So, um again, just wanted to say great work. I hope we keep it up. Uh I was nervous, very nervous. I was nervous for my wife. didn't know if she had to didn't know if uh she was going to stand by it or not. And um she's going to kill me for saying that, but um she's done great. And she said it's been much easier than she expected. Admin has backed them up from day one. So that's how it works. Teachers do their job. Admin do their jobs. Accountability back them. >> Well, I guess I'm the only one
054left, right? I guess I need to say something. So, um I'm going to say I guess that's the the beauty of a board or a collective group of people because um I don't think there's an absolute right, absolute wrong. Um I don't specifically truly know the indepth of everyone's opinion here, but I'm going to make sure to say that I'm probably the furthest extreme of this. Um I've expressed this to Dr. Patter. Um I don't believe six chances, you get warned, right? You've been warned from the very beginning. And in my opinion, three, you're done. And I'm to the point of whatever it will be the be expelled from school. I'm serious about it. Um, and it's because, uh, we have to support, we've got to back our teachers, our administration, and we've got to
055say what we mean and mean what we say. And that's got to carry out of this school district. It's got to carry for the real world because each and every one of these students that graduate graduate or leave this school at some point uh in their time. They're going to live in the real world for a very long time. And I don't like using big bubble words. Um but we hear of the lack of respect men and women in the uniform today from um you know people towards parents. Um, and we sit here and we talk about disciplinary issues in middle school and high school and a lot of that stems from cell phones and a lot of it stems from two, three, four, five, six chances. So, I'm the I'm the extreme and I'm
056going to say that's enough. And when we say it, we've got I want everyone to understand that we mean this. And when we say to not bring your phone to school, don't bring your phone to school. Okay, we all said something in discussion today >> for that part. Okay, so all those in favor signify by saying I >> opposed by name. >> Motion carries. Item one. Item B, receive, discuss, and consider as we update 125 legal policies. Discuss and review local policies. Discuss, review, and adopt CDAA local officers and officials duties and requirements of board officers. BDB local board internal organization board committees. Media local board internal organization advisory committees. EI local academic achievement FTE local admissions school safety transfers FEC local attendance attendance for credit. I have a motion by trusty, a second by
057trusty chap. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed by n. Motion carried 6. Item F, discuss and consider revisions to policy EFB local. Move to approve policy revision EFB local. I have a motion by trustee and second by trustee Chapman. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed by nay. Motion carries 6. Item G, discuss and consider update to FMCE local personal communication device by students on school property during school hours. Second have a motion by trustee, second by trustee Lewis. Any discussion? >> I don't know if it's as much discussion. It's just justification. I'm going to vote against his points back to the student coach that I voted against. So, I just want to be clear. I I don't think that
058kids should have cell phones in class. Let me say that to you all. Um I think that you it's been great and I've heard great reviews from families, kids, and teachers. So, it's not I don't want them to have phones in class to be clear. So, and I hope that you all continue to be consistent with that, but I just disagree with people. So that's that's not voted against. >> Anybody else? All those in favor signify by saying I >> opposed by name. Motion carries 51. Item H discuss and consider revision to F local revising attendance requirements related to participation in extra group activities. I >> have a motion by Trusty Roach, a second by Trusty Lewis. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. Motion carries 6. Item nine, discuss
059and consider updates at the local to opt out of including homeschool students in participation in UIL events. >> So move second have a motion by trusty chap by trusty Cruz. Any discussion? Um I just want to share what I'm going to not because we're opting out. The motion maker is opting out. I know that there I've been contacted by several families about about this and my decision I I've actually gone back and forth but ultimately my decision was not about excluding students but about protecting the resources and opportunities that are directly tied to the families who have chosen our schools. Um so our UI programs are funded and staff through dedication public school staff administrators. So I want to protect those opportunities for the kids who are enrolled. Also think that um families who choose
060homeschool and private school have so many brands and opportunities and I respect those choices but I feel like my responsibility is to prioritize the students enrolled in our district and really to ensure that the staff time and opportunities that are competitive remain focused on each student that we are serving. [Music] I'm wondering if I don't know the way you explain that. I'm not sure you should be voting against it. >> I'm voting for us to opt out. It seems like >> Yes. >> I'm voting to opt out of private and homeschool kids attending participating in our events. >> Okay. Sorry. That was confusing. >> I just asked that, you know, I sent my children to private school when they were younger and uh that was a choice that we made as parents. We passed right
061by drill venture every morning and dropped them off at private school. But when it was time for us to there was a time when we needed some more growth and development and we knew that public schools had that that private schools didn't. So um I'm going with that to say you know we had that choice to put them in public school. And um if you're going to want to take advantage of public school opportunities, then you need to be doing a long school. I'll say I went back and forth on this as well. Um a lot um I had a lot of discussions with a lot of people who have a lot of friends who homeschool their kids. Um I contacted a lot of people about this one. Um but I think ultim they have
062to do what I have promised to do when I sit here and that's to serve the students um and staff that are part of across and it it hurts to go against my friends who homeschool their kids and I say against but I'm ultimately for public school and what we have to offer and while I respect the fact that they homeschool their kids and that's the decision that they've I also have to respect the decision that I send my kids to public schools and have opportunities in the public schools to my kids. And while it may not be specifically UIL events, there are still many, many opportunities for homeschool and private school students to participate in all types of, you know, competitions cuz my kids did from spelling to science to uh writing essays, speech,
063everything. So, for opportunities. Anybody else? Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries 6. >> Okay. discuss and select a Crosby board trustee to serve as a Tazby delegate and a Tazby alternate delegate. Um, I have, but my attendance is that I don't think it's a good idea. I have a friend that >> have been Jennifer is the Crosby board. >> Thank you. >> Have a motion by our trusty Humpies and a second by Trustee Chapman. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Nay. Motion carries 6. The board will now move into close session 751 close session. The time is 8:39 p.m. to the meeting. Okay, I have a motion by Jesse Hump and second by Roach. All those in favor signify
064by saying >> I motion I mean meeting at 8:30.