001Call the meeting of the Mount Vernon Independent School District to order. Let the record show that a quorum of board board members is present, that this meeting has been duly called, and that the notice of this meeting has [clears throat] been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. Do I have a motion to certify the agenda? >> Motion made uh by Linda, seconded Kathy. All four 70. All right. And uh Donnie, will you open us in a word of prayer? >> Lord, thank you for this day. As we gather for this meeting, I I ask that you guide us as we make decisions for the best for our students and our community. Lord, please continue to keep our campus safe as along with campuses across our great state.
002We ask this all in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. >> [clears throat] >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to thee Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. >> Recognitions. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. At this time, we will honor our teachers and staff members of the month. And I'm going to start this month with our high school teacher of the month. So, if I could have Mr. Terry P COME FORWARD. [applause] AND THIS is what was written about Miss Fitch. It says, "In just three years at Mount Vernon High School, Miss Fitch has become one of the people who make our
003campus feel like home. Every day, she shows up with a great attitude, a strong work ethic, and a genuine love for what she does. In her biology and environmental systems classes, Miss Fitch creates lessons that are hands-on, engaging, and full of curiosity. Her expectations are clear. She holds students to them and she teaches the skills they need to be successful. One of the things that makes Miss Fitch stand out is how well she connects with all kinds of students. Whether they're advanced, struggling, or working through behavioral challenges, she builds relationships that build them help them feel confident and supported. Her classroom is a place where students feel comfortable, encouraged, and ready to learn. Outside of science, Miss Fitch has started the Mount Vernon High School choir program. if you remember, they were here last month
004and sang national anthem for us, opening the door for more students to get involved, which is another sign of her commitment to helping the whole student grow. She's flexible, open to new ideas, and always looking for ways to make things better for kids. She works well with her team, stays organized, handles her responsibilities without missing a beat, and sets a great example for everyone around her. We're thankful for everything Miss Fitch brings to Mount Vernon High School, and we're excited to see the impact she'll keep making. She's truly deserving to be recognized as teacher of the month. High school teacher of the month, Miss Terry Pitch. [applause] >> Congratulations. You want to say anything? >> No. [laughter] >> Okay. >> I talked a lot today. Next, we're going to do the middle school teacher of
005the month. They'd like to have Miss Kathy Palma come forward, PLEASE. [applause] [clears throat] SAYS, "Miss Palma cultivates a supportive learning environment. Her students hear vocabulary that reinforces a growth mindset, praise for effort, strategy, and perseverance rather than fixed ability. She makes time for one-on-one check-ins, listening carefully to each child's thinking and misconceptions. Miss Palma designs opportunities for students to love math and to see math as meaningful. Hands-on learning plays a central role. Students use concrete manipulatives, base 10 blocks, fraction tiles, geometric reasoning kits to build solid understandings of abstract ideas. Importantly, she integrates opportunities for student voice. students explain their thinking, justify their methods, and negotiate approaches with peers. This not only deepens understanding, but also helps students feel ownership over their learning. Miss Palmer's fifth grade math class is a clear example of
006how consistency and support thoughtfully combined unlock students potential by establishing dependable routines, fostering meaningful student teacher student relationships, and creating authentic opportunities to love and learn math. She helps every child see math as a toolkit for understanding the world. Middle school teacher of the month, Miss Kathy Palmer. [applause] Congratulations. My glasses off here. We'll do that. >> Very good. You want to say anything? Oh, that's yours. Sorry. >> I'm just so honored by the kind words and I am just so thankful to work for such a wonderful district. So, thank you so much. >> Congratulations. [applause] [clears throat] >> Excuse me. Next is our elementary teacher at Miss Muel Parker. She is out. So, you think we might get her here in January? >> Save this till January. Is that okay? >> Yeah. >> Okay.
007Next, we're going to start with our support staff. If we could have Miss Kaitton Trantham [applause] >> says, "Miss [clears throat] Trantham is the true definition of a servant's heart. She continually seeks out ways to help our students and staff and does so in a way not to bring about attention to herself. She creates relationships with her students and families so that they trust her unconditionally. She goes above and beyond to seek solutions for families in need, often giving of her own resources. Her love and commitment to our community is so very appreciated. She has our lunch pals program up and running with which connects third graders in need of a positive role model. She has organized her angel tree for our campus and she consistently provides for students when there is need for shoes,
008backpacks, socks, clean clothes or snacks. More than the material items, she offers love and a safe space for those in need. We are blessed to have Miss Trantham at Mount Vernon Elementary School. [applause] Congratulations. >> Want to say anything? Um, thank you for the kind words and I absolutely love my job and um, the ladies I work with, Cheryl McCertie and Ashley Trantham, we're all at the perfect campus. So, we make a really great team and I love working with elementary. I wouldn't nothing against the other campuses, [laughter] but elementary is where I want to be. So, >> good. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Good. [applause] Next, we have actually two uh cap support members of the month. And so, the first one we'll recognize is Missy Ray. >> Y. [applause] Glad you were
009able to make it. She says, "My rape has demonstrated exceptional dedication, a positive attitude, and a genuine commitment to creating a warm and welcoming environment for our students. Their hard work helps ensure that every child enjoys a safe, friendly, and nourishing meal time experience. Thank you for going above and beyond each day. You make a difference, and we appreciate everything you do, Miss Ray. [applause] Congratulations. >> Very good. You want to say anything? >> No. >> You always got a side, girl. [clears throat] Next, Miss Lindsay Rogers. Is Miss Rogers here? >> Okay, we'll save hers for um for January as well. Next, we are going to recognize our maintenance support staff of the month, Mr. JEREMY. [applause] All right. Says, "The maintenance staff plays a crucial role in ensuring that our buildings, grounds, and
010systems operate smoothly. Their expertise supports everything from heating and cooling to classroom repairs to playground safety to daily upkeep across the district. Their dedication often goes unnoticed, but it is absolutely vital to the to the success of our schools. This month, we honor an individual who consistently exemplifies professionalism, skill, and pride in their work. Jeremy is being recognized for exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, timely and reliable response to work orders emergencies, a positive solutionoriented approach to challenges, strong collaboration with administrators, teachers, and fellow staff, a commitment to maintaining safe, efficient, and welcoming learning environments, willingness to go above and beyond, often stepping in whenever help is needed, and colleagues describe Jeremy as dependable, knowledgeable, and someone who takes great pride in ensuring that every project is complete with care. Their work directly contributes to
011the comfort, safety, and success of our students. Maintenance employee of the month, Mr. Jeremy Railen. [applause] Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Any words? >> Thank you. >> Oh, very good. Congratulations. >> Next, we have our custodian of the month, Miss Michelle Petty. and Miss Petty, >> she's riding the bus. Okay. So, we will we will get that from Miss Petty as well. And as well as our bus driver of the month is Mr. Tim Newman. And we will try to find a time to get with him as well. >> Liberty Hill right now. Well, very good. All right. That's what we have. >> Get everyone up. >> Yes. If you'll all come back up. Let's get one good picture, please. >> [cough and clears throat] >> Now come up here. Come up here. Come up here.
012We need to stand in front. [laughter] >> Mr. just a little bit. >> Very good. >> Congratulations y'all. Thank y'all very much. >> Thank you for what you do. >> Thank you for coming over. Let's move on to our information item. Information item A is our enrollment totals. >> So enrollment total as of December 2nd was 1514, which is up one from November, but still significantly down from previous year. So, we're 154 right now. >> And then our campus department updates. >> You want to go first? You want to go first? Me? >> Okay. So, seems like I was just here. Um, we enjoyed uh celebrating and honoring our substitutes. Mr. [clears throat] McDonald was our substitute of the year. Um thankful for um Melody Pope and Esmeralda for getting that set up. We enjoyed
013that evening with them. We just are in the process of doing our middle of the year MC class which are is our reading assessment for kinder first and second and we added third grade this year. We're still in the process of that and gathering all of our data. But in kindergarten of 85 students, all but one student showed growth. So it we're still not where we want to be, but we know we're in a good start. we're a good place and we're really so we are hopeful that by the end of the year it's really going to be right where we want it. So we're very hopeful there. Um we have a couple of staff members that are dealing with loss and we just ask that you keep them in their prayers. So um it's
014been it's been rough down there. Uh UIL was today. We placed fourth overall. So we are proud of all of our kids and our coaches who participated. They worked hard to prepare for today and we're super proud of them. We honored our teachers with this and our whole staff with a sit down lunch, a catered lunchon for Thanksgiving. That was very, very nice, just a time [clears throat] of fellowship where we could serve them. And then Wednesday evening, we have our Christmas party. We're going to it's going to be a catered meal. We'll have enough prizes for everybody that comes to get something. Uh Key Club has been crucial in um providing to us. They gave us a lot of money for gift or gift cards to to hand out for each campus. So, we're
015very appreciative of that. Let's see. After the choir was here last board meeting with meeting, we invited them to come down. So, they performed at the elementary school last Thursday morning and the band is coming this Thursday morning to hopefully recruit some members so that they can plant a seed and when they get up to middle school, they'll want to join the band or the choir. So, um I think that is about it at the middle school. We got parties coming up next week and we're in full-blown Christmas mode down there. So, y'all have any questions? >> Glitter fine. It [laughter] is. All right. Thank you. All right. Middle school. I'm a little nervous. Never done this before. [gasps] Okay. So, we are also in full-blown celebration mode with our 12 days of Christmas. Um
016I feel like this is me. This is Miss Bates. And this is Coach Kaylee right now. We're just running around. Um, and Miss Bates would never say this about herself, but she has um been spoiling our teachers as always, doing something intentional each of these 12 days just to, you know, make things fun while everything's so chaotic. Um, our girls and boys basketball teams are up and rolling. They're doing well. We've had some wins and some learning experiences. We also competed at UIL today. [cough and laughter] I um haven't heard yet how we're doing. It'll all be contingent on how we do Wednesday with our one act play competition as well. Got to see that yesterday afternoon and it was really it was a really a great show. So I'm confident [clears throat] they will
017do well. Also um next Thursday we are recognizing all of our semester awards for the campus. So each grade level um has a dedicated time if anybody would like to come. Um, our fifth graders won the behavior and academic challenge that we set up at the beginning of the year. Um, so they will get to go to a movie [clears throat] next Thursday also. And our student council is paying for that reward. They'll get to watch Zootopia 2 and have popcorn [laughter] and a drink. Uh, we have 60 sixth graders that are going to be decorating gingerbread houses one day next week for being the top 10 readers of their class. We also have a band concert happening. I think it's the 16th next week. Um, our attendance is up. We were at 97% today,
018which is good being in the middle of festiv festivis times and six season. So, all good things happening. Any questions? >> I really want to throw something at you, but I don't. [laughter] >> Oh, please don't ask a good question. [laughter] There's some love. There's some love. [laughter] >> All right. Good evening. Um, so for the high school, we've been wrapped up in testing here lately. We've got our December EOCC retesting that we've been doing. We'll finish that tomorrow and then [clears throat] we'll be ready to move on to the spring stuff. Um, region 8 has been on campus recently working with our ELA teachers and this goes with some of the things I talked about last time. they've been working with them on their student [clears throat] growth measures and how we're going to
019improve that for this school year because that's a big area that we're focusing on. Uh so that was back right before the break. Um we've kind of went full full on with our ESL intervention that I talked about last time with we got 39 students that were targeting during flex. So that's happening uh Mondays through Wednesdays um as we speak over the next several weeks leading up to their their test in this next semester. Um just a few um competition pieces. We have a young lady Katie Tovar. She's a junior. She competed at state LD Lde recently. Um so she was one of the state semi-finalist in in Creed speaking which is a big accomplishment for her. Um Taffy that is Texas Association of Future Educators. We had five students advanced from the area to
020the state competition in that. That's Katie Tovar, Hassan Guzman, Katie Styles, McKinley Keener, and Kylie Burgger. So, they will be competing in the state competition in Taffy coming up very soon. Katie was elected to the uh to the as the 2026 27 Taffy Area 6 officer. And our teacher, Miss Katherine Blue, is the area 6 Taffy Teacher of the Year. So, she's going to be uh com she's going to be up for the state the state recognition at their state conference coming up [clears throat] as well. So that was great great news for her. Miss Stevens and a couple other teachers took 60 students from our junior class to the NTCC NTCC college fair a couple of weeks ago. Uh so they were able to speak with representatives from about 25 different colleges and military
021branches on that. Today we started our um our annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award interviews. That's RIYA if you don't know that. Um, so these were students in the junior class that were selected by their teachers as [clears throat] top students in their grade for demonstrating leadership, good citizenship, and integrity. So they have to sit through an interview process with members of the Mount B Mount Mount Vernon Rotary Club. And uh, they will select um, two boys, two girls to go to the Raleigh camp, which is a pretty big deal uh, coming up in February. So those students were Kelsey Baron, Kennedy Baron, Satie Burns, Kyle Elmore, Dylan Honeyut, Kate Jordan, Dex Dexton Patrick, Rachel Stevens, Canon Vaughn, and Brie Walker. So we'll see uh who gets the recognition there, but they're all fantastic. And then
022the last thing I was going to mention is Miss Fitch has left, but she's got her choir going this week, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They're going to be doing the the musical backdrop for the Live Nativity over in Pittsburgh. So, they've got pretty cool things going on over there as well. So, she's she's very good and does a lot of good things. So, that's what I have. >> Thank you. >> And next for our updates, um, our construction, [snorts] >> Mr. Dustin Little with Jackson Construction is going to provide that for us tonight. >> I was told y'all I wanted something better to look at tonight. So, [laughter] I told Lou, save the house, take care of >> [laughter] >> I like it. [laughter] >> Good. I hope he sees it. Uh, I'll try to
023go in order um based on the way things are moving as far as the the new admin office getting ready to turn our heat on um getting closed up so that we can start working on some of our interior finishes, meal work, flooring, lights are going in, bathroom tile, um everything that it that needs conditioned air uh to be finished. We're we're trying to push for that over the next couple of weeks. U we're still targeting mid January uh to turn that back over. Keep in mind that'll be the interior of the of the build, not necessarily the front entrance and all that, but at least get the admin back in there where they can get back to some sort of normal. Kitchen, cafeteria, uh is moving pretty good. It's taken a while to get
024to this point, but we're finally finally getting some legs under us. Uh framing is complete in the kitchen. Roofs on uh [clears throat] inwall rough in uh trying to get some inspections this next week or two to be able to start closing the walls up with drywall. Uh which is a big step. The kitchen will take a lot. It'll take a while to get it going. We want to make sure everything's correct in there. So, we've got a lot of time. If we can get the sheetrock going here pretty quick. Uh the cafeteria interior and outside. The steel's almost complete. We'll start decking the roof this week. Uh and then we'll start chasing the roof on it as soon as we can. [cough] Um and [clears throat] then we'll start we'll start framing the walls
025um as soon as we can get that get get the steel completely welded out. um high school entrance, which is what we're calling F the the foyer out here, is going to kind of go mesh now with both the kitchen cafeteria. We're going to start setting the steel this week. We got the crane moved up this this afternoon in position, so we'll start flying some steel tomorrow. Um that'll be going on for a little while there. still targeting end of summer for that those two areas. U we know in order to get into this area, we've got to give y'all something back. So, we want the kitchen, cafeteria, and hopefully the foyer to all be working in working order um as we start school back next year. So, in order for me to feel good
026about that, we need to be done by end of this school year so that we can work out all the kinks, get the get the cafeteria ladies in there where they have got time to adjust to that, and then if we feel good about that, sometime during the summer, we'll come uh we'll come tear this place apart for a little while. So, um storm shelter uh is is really in a really good spot. Uh our critical path we knew from the beginning was going to run through there. There's a lot of work to do in there, but we are currently sheetrocking. Um the walls uh getting ready for for grid ceilings to start going in. We've got bathrooms complete. Uh corridors are being tiled. Um, and the biggest thing, uh, this coming Monday, we're going
027to open back up the exterior corridor in between, uh, storm shelter and a facility for the kids. So, Friday, we'll do away with all the carports, move the fence. We're still going to maintain our drop off pickup point, but we'll we'll narrow that up a little bit in order to finish the brick on the south side of the A. But as far as everyday use for this for the kids, um we'll open that back up from a temporary standpoint. Um I've [snorts] asked my guys to go through there, pretend like their 5-year-old daughter was going to be running up and down it. Uh, now that goes as far as that goes. I would love for you guys to walk that. Um, between now and then, obviously me and Dr. McCulla will walk that, but we
028want to make sure we're good. Uh, from a safety standpoint, I feel good about it. The doors all lock and close and um, so wouldn't do it if I didn't feel good about it, but obviously would love y'all's input if you see anything we're not seeing. Uh but it'll be a big deal to get get them back in there. Um make life a little easier on on everybody. So um we're targeting into summer on on the storm shelter. Um it shouldn't have any issues at this point. We're in the dry a facility. feel like we've been in there forever, but uh a lot of block and uh we will finish that up this week, which is a big milestone for us. Uh once that's finished and we're cleaned up, we'll start setting the steel for
029the mezzanine. We've got to make one more slab pour, which would be that mezzanine. So, um, we're starting to hit milestones, uh, which is which is really good to see after a year and a half of feel like we were spinning our tires there for a little while. But, um, framing will start soon as we can start flying some steel in there as well. A lot of those walls get furred out. So, uh, little bit of work to do, uh, after that, but get the mezzanine poured. We'll get it scheduled here in the next month or so, depending on the weather. Um, but targeting April somewhere 1 to April. Uh, turn that over or at least be ready. U don't necessarily have to turn it over, but it should be uh to that point. Um,
030site work. We're going to pour sidewalks in front of the admin office in the morning at 5. Uh, as well as this parking lot, our last parking lot to pour out here. Uh, we need the room. We're running out of room out there, so we need some parking. So, we went ahead and jumped ahead to to get the parking lot ready. That'll help us out uh while we finish. And then that really just leaves the ramps and the stairs in front of both the high school and the and the admin offices. Few sidewalks here and there, but from a concrete standpoint, pretty close to to getting finished, which is also pretty big milestone for us. Um, overall I feel like we're right where we need to be. Uh, got a year left. U, we hit
031hit our dates for the summer, get things turned over in time for you guys to be able to take it over, then I'll feel good about about the high school remodel. It'll be very, very small with the overall project. So, um, thank you guys for helping us out. We've enjoyed it. I know I have. Uh it's been a booger, but we're finally we're finally uh we're finally off high center and uh things are looking looking pretty good for for the next year. So, Bobby, thank you. Your guys, Taran, thank you for your help. We still got a few obstacles to figure out, but with their help, I know we'll [clears throat] get there. So, any questions? >> You guys done a good job. Oh, good. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, >> we appreciate y'all. >>
032All right. >> Information item D is our star and EOC data comparison. >> Thank you guys. So, uh, just to look at these. I know you got them in board book and she's pulling them up there and and I can't read any of that that's up there. So, I'm going to look at my little paper here, but >> y'all got it right here. >> Okay. So, >> so what this is rather than um [clears throat] first of all, this is really just a time to celebrate uh how well our campuses and students have performed. But rather than look at uh you know what percentage of our kids didn't approach, what percent did approach all those individually, those can be misleading. So the best way to look at if you're looking at comparative data is look
033at your groups uh as who all did not appro see those on the left hand side that's the breakdown of each percentage but if you look at the right hand column where I've got the green for each subject area you've got state region 8 and district averages going across there the the meaningful thing for comparison is to look at how many students were in the approaches and above column, the meets and above and and the masters. And again to clarify, let's look at algebra 1. That first number right there where you see in green, Mount Vernon had 91%. That is all the students in approaches. That's all the students who also met and that's all the students who mastered. That's all of those included in that percentage. And as you move to the right, it
034drops it drops that off. So on your key there, if it's in green, then then Mount Vernon ISD was higher than both the state and the region. And if it's in that teal or light that blue, uh, and I'm probably going to get in trouble by the art teacher because I didn't call that exactly by the right color blue. [laughter] Maybe it's cobalt. I don't know. Uh, that is where we were uh, equal to or greater than the state or the region. And the red means that we were less than the state and region both. So that's how how you can quantify that. But I'm I'm not going to go through and read all of these percentages to you individually. You can look at the key and and see. But as you go through all
035of the high school there, we we were in all areas right there. We were higher than or equal to the either both the state or the state or region except for in biology. Um uh and again uh Mr. Glover has already talked about some things they're going to do with the reordering of their ninth grade science to to try to work on that. So if you see an area in here where we didn't surpass the state or region, I can promise you our campus is already addressing strategies to try to work on those areas. Um if you go into page two, uh that's great. That's all of our RLA grade three through eight. And what an amazing result. You see green in every column. Green in every column. 3 through eight rla. How are kids
036doing reading? Well, we're outperforming the state and region in in every column. Approaches meets and above and in masters. And if you go to the next page, you look at the math 3 through eight. Knocking it out of the park again. And again, just because you see red, it doesn't mean that we were bad. It just means our percentage was like for example on grade 8 math the state average was 44 region average was 42 we were at 40. Okay. Um our percentage of students passing at approaches and above 73%. A higher >> and that's good. And you and also too understand it happens at all campuses across the high school. We do have a high percentage of our eighth graders taking algebra. So they don't calculate into that percentage too when you're looking at
037that M's group right there. A lot of those kids are falling into your algebra. >> I have a question. >> Okay. >> Did your seventh grade honors kids take the eighth grade test this year? >> Did the seth grade honors kids >> take the eighth grade test this past year? >> Don't they have to next year? >> They do this year. >> They're doing it. They're doing it this year because because they they've got the accelerated >> team [clears throat] now. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> I don't I don't know the answer to that for last year. >> Yes. >> Weird. >> So, this is the first year they'll do it this spring. >> Yes. This year, >> it should help grade. >> Yes. The U. If you look at the last page, a grade, you
038got your science, grade five and eight science and then your social studies and again um doing well there and Miss Bates talked about in our campus plan the strategies and things they're doing to work on the social studies. So we're aware of those depth areas. But one [clears throat] thing that's not on here that I just wanted to because I kind of did the the math on it is that there are 60 potential out of all these comparative marks there's 60 potential slots. So on four 80% of those out of all the comparative places 80% we were higher than both the state and region. >> And that's an awesome number. And at um it was like 80 it's like 88% or no no 90%. I'm doing a math 90% we were higher than state or
039region. So there were six areas where we were lower than both. There were six areas where we were below one and then uh out of 48 others we were higher than state and region in both out of all these comparisons. So, super proud of all the work that has been done over the past few years and we've talked about it before. Um, not looking backwards, but if if you if you look back a few years, we weren't in this shape across the district. And so, super proud to the point where we are and uh that goes to the campus leadership and teachers on the campuses to get us there that that that have gotten us where we are. Any questions? sure you don't have no questions for her. [laughter] >> Well, I am gonna >>
040admin if y'all will tell your teachers and staff just thank you. We know that that is not done, you know, without just them giving all they have all the time. And they've overcome so many obstacles. So, we note that. We appreciate that. And, you know, That's just that's fantastic. That's good stuff. So, thank y'all so much for all y'all do. >> All right. Um and then we have our public hearing for the 2023 2024 financial integrity rating system of Texas report. >> What is it? Okay, we'll open our hearing and just kind of go over our first report. This year we made a 92, which is superior. We always tried to get a 100, but we did not hit it this year. Um, we got dinged on a couple of things. Um, but when I
041explain them, they'll make more sense on why. also put those in board book as well. Um, if you have any questions on any different items, ask me and I can kind of go over it. Um, we passed everything, but those three things and those are the things that I was going to kind of address. Um, one of those is the ratio of long-term liabilities to assets for school districts sufficient to support their long-term solveny. Um this now first off the this first report is for 2425 but it's all based on prior year to that. So it is 2324. Um in 2324 in October, the first week of October, we collected 63.9 million in our bond. Um that affected this um test indicator number 11 and our long-term liabilities went up significantly. Um our total assets
042didn't increase as much on that because we were using that to go in towards our construction. So, we got hit on that. Um, I've already calculated for the next year, we will still we will not get hit four points. We will get hit two and possibly the next year after that until we pay some of our debt down. That ratio is going to be a little bit higher than we want it to be. I actually went back and looked at when we passed our last bond. It happened when we had that. I looked at Mount Pleasants. It happened to them and it happened to Winssboro. So it is a very very common thing and tea doesn't >> care. They're just they just have their stuff out there. All right. And if you go to um
043the next one which is the uh test number 12 and that is the uh correlation between future debt requirements and your district's assessed property value. Kind of goes to the same thing. um what you're coming what you're bringing in on your INS tax collections versus your long-term liabilities versus what the appraisal district has for your um values. With that long-term liabilities jumping up, that put us just a little bit over the mark. Um under four is where we want to be. We were at 4.069. Next year we will be at 3.7. [clears throat] So we will we'll be a perfect score on that one. The next one is number 13 and that is our um oh passed it up. School districts administrative ratio and that also goes to how much you're going to how much
044you're spending on your central admin central admin instructional leadership versus um guidance and counseling and all of your instruction and everything. We were at a 12.4. We wanted to be at 11.5. Next year we're going to be at 10.5. So we will be we will be I guess one point below what that is going to be. So that one's going to be good next year. So I just wanted to say that's already addressed the things that we kind of got dinged on everything. We still are a superior A-rated school district on our finances on that. >> Are there any questions on anything? >> [cough] >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. You're welcome. >> Close the hearing. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Wait. And what data was that? You said the 2023 2024 >> 23
04524 school year data. >> Yes. >> Uh we will now move on to our open port for public comments. Miss Bailey. And uh if you want to go ahead and you can come down. I have a much briefer reading today, so it won't take as long, but I'll read it once you get all [clears throat] right. You will have five minutes to speak and you'll be able to see the time. We ask that you name people by their title and not by their name. Please limit all public comments to program situations, situations, and or issues. Remember that the board may not discuss or act upon any issues that are not posted on our agenda for tonight's meeting. If an issue is mentioned, it is listed that is listed on tonight's agenda. The board will defer
046discussion until the appropriate time during the meeting. In addition, the board has adopted compliant policies that are designed to secure at the lowest administration level, sorry, complaint policies that are designed to secure at [clears throat] the lowest administrative level. A prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and concerns. Complaints brought by students or their parents may be heard in accordances with policies FNG legal and FNG local. All right. Um I know [clears throat and snorts] that you all have to be tired of hearing from me, but I want to note that it's not just me that disagrees with Guardian. I speak for members of this community who are small business owners that are treading lightly through the politics of a small town. I speak for parents who don't feel comfortable standing in front of you because
047your children play ball together or because your last names hold weight. And I hope that I speak for the 1500 students within the district, including two of my own. It took me a little bit to realize that Mount Vernon is just gaslighting me on safety. From the outside, from a voter's perspective, the district is doing all it can to facilitate a safe campus. You want us to look at the $65 million improvements, clap our hands, and move along. For most parents, that must be enough, but it's not for me. Prior to being asked to sit on the safety and security meeting by Dr. McCulla, a choice I'm sure he probably regrets now. Um, I was emailing questions regarding safety to several administrators. I had questions and observations, and if nothing else, I wanted to feel
048that my children were secure in district facilities. Now, as a sitting member of this comm uh committee, I can see that the safety for this district is just a facade. To my understanding, the following items have been brought up over the years and not addressed. Elementary playground lacking exterior locks. The elementary playground concealment from view. The elementary cafeteria concealment on windows. The extension of the school zone off Highway 37. Campuswide AED training. Emergency bleed packs in every classroom. Moving to clear backpacks for students, clear bags for athletic events, and no outside food or drink allowed. I know that y'all smell some of the audience sitting in football stadiums. Okay. Mr. Clayton, Mrs. Ramsay, and Mr. Jordan, it's my understanding that you have students in upper campuses. Does it make you feel good knowing that during
049the elementary turkey trot, all of our district officers were at the football field? That the upper campuses would have been completely susceptible to crisis. But we continuously hear when seconds matter as justification to guardian. When seconds matter, we should be maintaining state compliance with an officer on every campus, not at all relying to on a guardian to hold down the campus if need be. If we don't have enough officers to cover an absence, shouldn't we address that? Why wouldn't we seek to hire a roaming officer? Why wouldn't we want to partner with our local law enforcement in SRO format? I'll say this. If you are okay with our district police leaving campuses unattended, I really do feel that you need to reevaluate your positions on this board. Then we reference back to that vulnerability report
050and I want to ask you, did you get a physical copy in hand? Did you have to request it three different times? Or was it read to you and skimmed over? because I think that's what infuriated me the most. The fact that this district is incapable of doing the literal bare minimum in safety standards. You see, I know for a fact that this district is accessible because I've gotten inside buildings. You have teachers that invite people to bypass front offices because I've been told to drive on back on multiple occasions during school hours. I also can't help but remind myself that this district allowed a non-emp employee to hold a key to facilities simply because it made it easier around the daddy-daughter dance. [clears throat] It's a joke, right? That you're considering allowing civilians to
051carry firearms in a gun-free zone. It is a perceived perception of safety. Masking itself is the largest liability this district could have. in response to another speaker from the last board me meeting. [clears throat] No one is saying that teachers don't care about their students enough to protect them. It's quite the opposite actually. I believe that teachers and administration would do whatever it takes to protect their students, but I do not believe they should have to carry a gun in order to facilitate that safety themselves. The district has to provide resources to campuses in order to provide those feelings of safety and security so that the teachers can do what they were hired to do to teach. I've set through multiple stop thebleleed tradings. I hold a license to carry. I have played my fair
052share of first p firsterson shooter games. Does that make me qualified to respond to a crisis to move from educator duties to first responder duties? It absolutely does not. You will not be able to create any guidelines or policy or procedure comparable to that of the extensive training of our law enforcement. you, the same district that didn't even allow law enforcement access to have access to that emergency key box in the beginning of this. You started this conversation with Guardian and now the eyes are back on you. You have the opportunity to set the standard for safety within this district and you have to get it right. There are only advantages to hiring more police officers for this district and building our layers of security. I had a friend that told me to be careful
053pulling back the curtain because once I did, I wouldn't be able to look away. And here we are. Right. I got 10 seconds. You have got to add layers of security to this district. I have been in these buildings during hours. You can get in, y'all. Walk around, open a door, explore a little bit. You can get inside the school. You have got to do the bare minimum here. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> That concludes our open forum for public comment and we'll move on to uh approval of the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Motion made by Donnie. Do I have a second? by Kathy Alfor that is 70 and it is 6:01 p.m. We will now convene into close session for personnel matters pursuant to Texas
054Government Code section 551.074 and to address legal concerns, implications, and questions regarding the posted agendas items pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.071 071 and security devices and security audits pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.089. >> 8:30 p.m. We are convening back into open session. Do you have any um >> professional contracts? >> It is. Uh no ma'am. >> Any resignations to >> Yes, ma'am. Resignations [clears throat] for Paul Stranden, Zoe Alive, and Lyanna Carroll. This meeting is adjourned. It is 8:31 p.m.