001It is now 6.01. I call the meeting of the Sherrilyn Independent School District to order. Let the record show that a quorum of board members is present and that the meeting has been duly called and that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. Board members present today that are forming a quorum are Mr. David Keith, Mr. Hector Rivera, Dr. Noe Oliveira, Ms. Megan Sullivan, Julio Cerda via Google Meets. We've got him. Hey, Julio. And myself, Maritza Venezia. So we now call this meeting to order at 6.02. Item number three, we've got public comments. We've got one public comment by, so far, Mr. Isaac Petersack. Does that work? Hola. Thank you. So before we get started, if you could just state your name and
002your address, and then I've got to read something really quick, but go ahead. Isaac Peterczak, 2202 East 8th Street, Mission, Texas. Okay, I'm going to read something really quick and then the timer will start. Audience participation at a board meeting is limited to the portion of the meeting designated for that purpose. At all other times during a board meeting, the audience shall now enter into discussion or debate on matters being considered by the board unless recognized by the presiding officer. No presentation shall exceed five minutes. Any individual who wishes to participate in this portion of the meeting shall sign up with the presiding officer and designate before the meeting begins and shall indicate the topic for which they wish to speak. That is it. So, Mr. Peterczak, thank you very much. And time to start
003now. All right. Well, good evening, board members and superintendent. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Isaac Peterczak, and I'm here in support of placing the proposed $250 million bond before our community for our vote here in Maine. Over the past several months, I've had the opportunity to attend multiple facilities and planning committee meetings. We had a total of six. In those meetings, I saw thoughtful, deliberate... work take place, work that considered both elementary and secondary needs, listening closely to parents and student concerns, and resulted in a proposal that prioritized what truly matters for our schools. While our district has done an admirable job, and you as well have done an admirable job in maintaining existing facilities, many deferred maintenance issues are approaching a point where they're going to become critical.
004Safety and structural concerns were clearly identified, including the need to enclose elementary gyms so students can learn and participate more comfortably during the hotter parts of our school year, which seems to be about nine months out of the year. At the high school level, renovations were proposed to enclose portions of both Pioneer and Cherryland High Schools and properly house our CTE and Fine Arts programs, spaces that should highlight student learning, innovation, and real work skills. The bond proposal being brought forth is balanced and transparent, divided into these three clear areas, facilities and infrastructure, technology needs, and a district auditorium. Together, these components represent an investment in not just buildings, but in our students, our staff, and the long-term strengths of our district. If board approved and passed by our community, this bond will help secure
005our district's future, our district's future's educational needs, and keep us competitive with neighboring schools, something that our students deserve. I urge the board to approve placing this bond on our May ballot and allow our community the opportunity to make this very important decision for our district and our community. Thank you for your time and service. Thank you so much. Next, we've got Ms. Kaylee Edwards. Good evening, board members, Madam President Vinencia and Superintendent Dr. Howard. Thank you for allowing me to speak this evening. I'm sorry, just say your name and address. Yes. Kaylee Edwards, 2205 Summer Breeze Road, Mission, Texas, 78572. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. I am a mother of four children, so I have four children here in the district. But actually, I'm not here. I'm actually speaking on behalf of Nikki Jurevic and
006her daughter, Lily, who couldn't be here tonight because Lily had a mandatory softball event she needed to be at. But their story is this. They wanted... Lily is a softball player and she sustained an injury last year that prevented her from playing softball So she was unable to do any activity. But what was recommended and she could do was physical therapy through aquatic training and So she was able to do that and then from there that was how Lily found out about water polo and then joined the water polo team And then, so what we are also proposing as part of this natatorium that we want everyone to know is this is not just for swimmers and water polo players. This is for the entire district. This is for all athletes who have the same
007kind of story as Lily does, who sustain an injury and then could only do, therefore, aquatic physical therapy. We've spoken with some of our trainers at those facilities. and come to find out that there are, as part of their continuing education credit hours, they would be able to do courses in aquatic training. So therefore, we are opening up this to a lot more athletes, and our trainers here and within our district would be available to give them that aquatic training that they would need. So that was also a angle we wanted to present from the natatorium. We just want everybody to know that this is open for the entire district and that we would hope that, you know, and educating our trainers and therefore all the other coaches and stuff that then the other athletes
008would be able to come and take part in that aquatic training as well. Also part of their story is Lily also invited the rest of her softball team to come play water polo because there are different times of the year. Water polo is at the beginning of the year, softball is at the end of the year. But the response that she got was, I don't know how to swim from a lot of her teammates. So then that goes back to our other initiative where we want to start the second graders in our school district with learning how to swim. So then we open up obviously more safety issues and concerns, you know, where we don't have to worry about anybody in our district having kind of any water safety problems because everyone knows how to
009swim. And then therefore, if the goal would be then by a certain year to have everybody. within the Sherryland District, so that that would no longer be a problem, that we don't have athletes anymore who play softball who would love to come play water polo, but they can't because they don't know how to swim. So we hope that you would also take that into consideration as we think on our natatorium. And that's all. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. On to item number four, the only item. Oh, I'm sorry. Andrew Riddle showed up at 6.06. Thanks for telling me yourself. So item number 4A. And before I actually read through this item, I did want to acknowledge our gratitude to those of you who participated in getting this placed on this agenda today. It was students,
010teachers, staff, admin, Dr. Howard, Fluger, band parents, softball parents, swim parents. grandma, grandpa, literally hundreds of people showed up to participate in getting this item on the agenda today. And what it really reflected for me and what this process has shown is just the belief, our collective belief in our greatness and also a collective dream of how much greater we can be. and the willingness to invest in that dream. So thank you to everybody who participated and allowed us to place this on our agenda today. So saying that, I'm going to read our agenda item, which is business 4A. Let me get this information correctly. I'll make sure I read this. Discussion and consideration to approve an order to call a bond election general proposition a 208 million 500 proposition B 6.5 million technology proposition
011C aquatic center 35 million To call a bond election to be held in the district making provision for conduct of the election and resolving matters related to such election I Will now entertain a motion Madam President, you know, again, I couldn't have said it better. This is a historic step for Sherryland ISD, and it is a reflection of months of hard work on behalf of our students and all our communities, so thank you all for that. With that, Madam President, you know, in support of the growth and future of Sherryland ISD, I move that the Board of Trustees approve the order calling the bond election for $250 million as presented. Okay, I have got a motion by Hector Rivera. Second. Second. Okay, got a couple seconds miss Megan Sullivan. So prior to the vote, is
012there any further discussion? I'd just like to comment that the process was something I've never seen or experienced before and I learned a lot. I believe that it's necessary and I believe that it's a valuable move, but I really appreciated the process and the intention every step along the way and the inclusion of The opportunity for everyone who wanted to participate to participate That was that was good. I like I like that and I Appreciate it any further comments. I do yeah, okay I don't want to get emotional, but I might so forgive me for those that may be watching online that haven't heard about the process and how extensive it was and how Intense it was and how deliberate it was Please know that I fully trust 100% in the process that was put
013into place. I couldn't attend everything due to going back to coaching. I coached here for so long, 18 years here in Sheridan ISD. I have four kids that, well, one that's about to graduate as a senior at Pioneer and three that graduated previously. My wife and I were both employed in the district. She's still here. I'm at another district now. I love this district. So there I go with the emotion, right? I love this district. In 1989, I began, I didn't even know what this place was. And I got a job at Beale Gray. And I raised my kids with the help of Sherry on ISD. And amazing district. Something I still hear about from... Coaches who have been coaching a long time where I'm at they hear about it and they said so you
014were there at this time You were there when this was like this you were there when I said yes It is that amazing. I even took my kids over to another district and Realized how amazing it was here and I even in spring break I just pulled him and brought him back even though it was still in that district myself I love this district and when this opportunity comes to improve facilities improve opportunities improve everything the child experiences going through this district. It's something I saw back then and I knew somebody else poured into this place when I got here. And whether they had kids or not in it or they had kids at the time, I will no longer have children in the district, but I will still live in this district and I
015love it. And I know there's a, I have to mention the fact that we have to pay for kids to have a better experience that nothing is free. And so, yes, there is a tax increase. And what you're paying is absolutely worth a young person walking into a facility and seeing the best of the best. Not only with the instructor that's there, but the furniture that's there, the facilities that are available. And like Ms. Edwards, correct, said, I don't know anything about water polo, but I know about that kid's heart. I know that that kid that couldn't find something to do anywhere else found it in water polo. I knew that that kid couldn't find it anywhere else, but they found it in fine arts. They found it in theater. That they found the connection.
016And all of these things lead to the overall education of that young person. It gives them a place to go. It gives them something to do. It gives them a place to express themselves. It gives them a place to learn relationships, to learn failure, and to learn success. That's what we do. That's that's this business. We're not in a business of getting a bond of 250 million dollars to go make money We're in the business of getting a 250 million dollar bond to improve facilities Because the equity the revenue all of that is in the brain of that child in the heart of that child That's going out in the community. I've seen it firsthand. I've seen amazing kids that still come back And they go and visit me where I'm at now from Sherrilyn
017ISD. And I'm so proud to bring them over to where I'm at to let them speak because they came from here. And they know they come from here. And they talk about this place. This place is special. It's big in my heart. It's a big part of my family, a big part of my history now. And I want to be a part of its future. And I'm willing to pay whatever needs to be paid, knowing full well that the process that it's gone through is intense. The process that's gone through is for the needs. It's not just for the wants. Hopefully there's some wants. There's a lot more. Trust me, 250 is good, but it'd be cool to do more, but this is amazing. This is a fantastic start, and this is going to provide
018us a place that attracts people to come to again, that does that again and again and again and pays dividends over and over and revenue through whatever other stuff. But anyway, that's my heart for this. I believe in it. I'm all in it. I love Sherilyn Esty. I know I already commented, but I'd like to say something else. Go ahead. I forgot. This is the time. I was supposed to be attending the Federal Advocacy Conference recently and was unable to go for personal family reasons. But some of the trustees that I was traveling with sent me a picture when they were at the Library of Congress in D.C. that says the foundation of every state is the education of its youth. It's a plaque that's there. And to me, that kind of sums up this
019moment. That is our responsibility to the youth of our community. That's all. Madam President. Hard to believe that some of the buildings here are actually older than me. Many of them were built before I actually started participating in the board. How do we say it, Julio, back in the late 1900s? But I really, I swear, Mr. Peter Zak, his opening statement, I don't know if you remember what he said, and I heard it right away. There were... meetings and meetings and meetings and gatherings and then the natatorium and just all the things like David said, it's chills and it's a great, great thing and I am all in. Thank you. Y'all said it all very well. I will add to it and there's nothing, there's not a priority or there's not a favoritism to it,
020but I'm gonna add the fact that I believe we owe this as well to our teachers. Looking at our, being on the board and looking at the teachers that are coming in and going out, I can't help but say the majority of the teachers that go, they retire, they don't go to a different district. We have lifelong teachers. My history teacher is still here today, my English teacher is here today, my math teacher is still here today that taught me, as David said, raised his kids, raised me to an extent. They're doing all of this a ratings across the board blue ribbon elementaries Year after year, they're doing all this with the facilities that we have, you know science lab robotics winners with ceilings falling down I mean It's just could you imagine what they
021could do with full-blown science labs what they would be able to produce? You know our tennis team is going to state every year with no lights on they practice till the Sun goes down You know, it's just amazing to me What we do is what we have and what they do with what they have sorry not me what they do with what what they have and it's just You know it's for the kids, but I'd love to see what our teachers can do with where I facilities I've spoken to other school districts in the area and they're excited for us also. We are in a democratic process. We love our public. We want our public to come out and let us know exactly what is it that they want. We will have plenty of information
022for everybody to have on what we're proposing. So I'm all in. Thank you. So before I call for vote, I had one last comment. I was at a, believe it or not, a Chick-fil-A conference this last week. A bunch of chicken people in a room. And there was a quote that came up on the screen, and I took a picture of it because I felt like it was put there for me to say today. And the quote was by Warren Buffett, and he said, someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. And I'm so excited to plant that tree. I'm all in. I can't speak for anybody else, but this has just been such an exciting process for me, and I'm excited for the future of Sherrilyn.
023So with that, I'm going to call for, at good faith with the public, and because it's just, you know, in recognition of such a historical significance of this bond, we're about to call them and ask for a roll call vote. So if you could state your name and vote your name, we're going to start with you, Mr. David Keith, not to put you on the spot, but go ahead. I'm glad to be on the spot. I am 100% all in, and yes, yay. Okay. Hector? Hector Rivera, 110% all in. Andrew Riddle? Andrew Riddle, yay. Megan Sullivan? Megan Sullivan, yay. Dr. Noe Oliveira, yay. Julio? Julio Sullivan, yay. And myself, Maritza Venezia, I'm an absolute yay. The motion passes 7-0. Madam President, I just wanted to pause here and first to thank our community who have
024already made the investment of trust and confidence in this administration and in this school board. I am terribly humbled at the work that's ahead of us, and I'll be honest. I've never been more scared in my life, and it tells me wholeheartedly that we're doing the right thing. So I'm honored to be at the helm to do this work with you all, but more than anything, as a superintendent, I am grateful for this table. I have just returned from a conference where there was such an overtone of school boards that are coming undone. and districts are falling apart. And we are not one of those districts because you don't take these decisions lightly. And I'm grateful. I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the integrity of this board and the character of this board because I know
025that we can take on this work and have confidence in one another that we're going to continue to make the right decisions as we move through this. I give you my commitment to work very hard. harder than I've ever worked in my life. And I give you my commitment to make sure to do so in a way that will make this community proud, proud of all of us. So thank you for this tonight. Thank you. That's why we hired you, ma'am. I'm going to earn it now. We will not be going into closed meeting. Item number five so I'd number six either I am now going to go on to item number seven, which is adjournment motion to adjourn I've got a motion to adjourn by dr. Oliva da and a second by Mr. David
026Keith our meeting is now adjourned at 624. Thank you so much for being here