Regular Board Meeting - February 18, 2026

001The time is 6:01. At this moment, we don't have a quorum, but we're going to start with the recognitions. Will everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance and the Texas pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. >> Right. Thank you. uh we will be proceeding with the uh recognitions portion of the meeting and we will start as soon as they clear the the stage. Thank you. Go again. Good evening, members of the board, Dr. Cruz, members of the audience, Rebecca Morales, associate superintendent for district administration and student services. For the record,

002it is with great pride and excitement that we gather here today to recognize an incredible group of individuals who embody dedication, generosity, and community spirit. These are the parents who have gone above and beyond in contributed contributing their time and energy to our schools and our students. At United ISD, we understand and appreciate the critical role that our parents play in the success of our district. Their selflessness, their commitment, and their willingness to collaborate makes an immeasurable difference in creating a positive and enriching environment for our students. To honor these efforts, we are thrilled to present to you our MVP honores for the month of February. from Colonel Santos Elementary, Lorenna Variel. And from Kaisen Elementary, Janet Montes. Congratulations once again and thank you for all that you do and for your unwavering support of

003our schools and our United ISD community. Good evening board president Monte Mayor board members Dr. Cruz and me. For the record, my name is Jerry Rodriguez, director of fine arts. It gives me great pleasure to present three of our very talented high school band members who achieve the title of TMA all-state musician. The all-state audition process begins throughout the state in each of the TMEA regions. Initially, over 70,000 individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their region to TMEA area competitions. And from there, 1,875 students are selected to perform in 18 All-State ensembles. These students are in the top 2% in the state of Texas. These all-state students recently participated in three days of rehearsals during the annual

004uh state TMEA clinic and convention in San Antonio and performed before thousands of attendees in their respective ensembles. These incredible uh students who have earned the title of all state musicians are as follows. From John B. Alexander High School, Bruno Diaz Lopez on tuba. And also from John B. Alexander High School, Alina Zhao, who is not only an all-stater, she is a four-time all-stater. And not only that, she was ranked first in the entire state of Texas. So that's the best flute player in the state of Texas right there. Congratulations John B Alexander High School. Directors for the John B Alexander High School band are Joshua Martinez, Ricardo Fuentes, Jose Martinez, Adam Dinkens, Armando Blanco, and Katherine Garcia. Citizen directors, principal Rosanna and her administrative team. Congratulations John B. on your high school band. Congratulations,

005Shambi Alexander. Our next All State musician comes from United High School, Mr. Leo Paulo, Nicolas on flute. >> Directors for United High School are Mr. Samuel York, Martin Tolentino, Luis Vos, Monzerat Gonzalez, assistant directors, principal, Miss Jessica Salazar, and her administrative team. Congratulations, United High School. Congratulations once again to these amazing musicians and the directors for their hard work and dedication. In continuation with the fine arts recognitions, I have the pleasure and the honor to present two of our high school cheer teams. And we start off with United South High School cheer team. They are the 2026 NCA High School National Champions. First place advanced non-tumbling coed crowdleading national jackets. Their principal is Martha Alvarez. Assistant principal that oversees this team is Adriana Cardinas. Their cheer coach is Jennifer Brown. The Panther cheer team competed

006NCA High School National Championship 20 26 cheerleading NCA competition at Fort Worth, Texas January the 23rd to the 24th. They are the first place advanced non-tumbling co-ed varsity crowd leading champions national jackets recipients. Previous competitions attended was the NCA December virtual competition which they garnered the first place advanced non-tumbling co-ed varsity crowdleading award and with cheer America first place advanced non-tumbling co-ed varsity crowdleading and grand champions in advanced division for best choreography. Congratulations to the United South High School cheer team. I know. Our next amazing cheer team is the Johnson High School cheer team. They are the 2026 NCA intermediate non-tumbling co-ed varsity crowdleading national champions. Their principal is Roberto Ortiz and their assistant principal is Thomas Solis. Cheer coach is Giovanni Guerrero. The Wolves cheer team competed in the NCA High School Nationals in

007Fort Worth, Texas, January the 24th of 2026. They earned the title of NCA national champions and the intermediate non-tumbling co-ed varsity crowdleading national champions. Their awards were the impressive score of 96.13 specialty award for best use of stunts, performed a routine with zero deductions, and they earned one of the top overall scores at the entire NCA High School national competition. Congratulations, Johnson High School cheer team. Thank you. Amen. You got me covered. >> Yeah, you're covered. >> All right. Thank you everyone. Uh the time is 6:15 6:16 and let the record show that a quorum of board members is present that this meeting has been duly called >> that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Agenda item number four, public comments. >> Uh yes, Mr. President,

008we do have uh nine public comments I believe. Uh the first public comment is by uh Janice Espinosa and she is speaking on presentation of the preliminary findings of demographic study. >> If if you have a public comment you want to come down so we can set you up to to get ready to make your comment >> and I'll go ahead and keep the time. Um >> there each speaker will have three minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. For the record, those board members that are present, please announce yourselves. >> Gonzalez, present. >> Gilbert, present. >> We didn't do roll call. >> Alisa Oliver, present. Danielle Martinez, present. >> Javier Montay, present. We do have a quorum. >> Good evening, ma'am. >> Good evening. I wanted to talk about the presentation of the preliminary findings for the

009demographic studies. I know you guys stated that approximately we have what 70% of our population is at risk and two of the schools you are closing are at risk as well. Where are you putting those at risk kids? Like I am going to speak about the consolidation because where are these kids going to go if they're already at risk? These kids are already in a high-risisk area and then you're moving them more to where they might not fit in. You're moving a a south school to a north side. They're already at risk. They don't fit in and then you're going to put them somewhere else. What are what are we going to do about that? I know the consolidation is not on the agenda, but this is something that we need to be dealing with

010in every board meeting because why are we going to wait? I want answers. I want answers for everything because my son went to his doctor today saying, "I can't sleep at night because I don't know where I'm going." How can a 10-year-old be okay with that? How can you be okay with that? It's not fair. If we teach our kids to be respectful, to follow orders, to be responsible, to have accountability, I want accountability from you guys. How are we going to close these schools? Where is special education going to go? You're closing over 20 units in those five schools, give or take. They're they're 10 minimum. because I know there's more than 10 in each. That's over 200 kids. 200 kids that are special needs. Where are we going to put them? If Kayla

011already has over 20 kids in each unit, Bonnie has another 15. They don't have the room. I want to know why Clark and Newman were taken off and Finley and were put. Where's the transparency in that? Why out of nowhere and Finley were put? Because it's a south school and a mine school and Clark and Newman are in in the middle. How is that fair? How's that transparency? I want qu I want answers for these questions because these kids need answers. It's not fair. My child was at Newman. That's the school that hurt my child and you want to send them back. That's the school that didn't care for him. That's the school we're coming from. And that's where we found at our home. And you're going to send them back there? You're going to

012send them back to the people that didn't want him. And I didn't want to mention the school. But I think at this point I have to because that's the only school that's close to him and he's here and he wanted to speak, but because we couldn't speak in consolidation, I don't want him to tell him no. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Emlda de la Rosa and she is speaking on a presentation on preliminary findings of demographic study. Good evening board president, Mr. Monttoayor, members of the board and superintendent Dr. Grus. My name is Dr. Emlda Ros and I'm the proud parent of a student in the SLC unit at Matiasano. I'm here tonight because the proposed closure of this campus isn't just a logistical shift for students like my

013son. It is the dismantling of a vital ecosystem that cannot be easily replicated. My son hasn't just managed at this school. He has thrived. This year, he was selected as student of the month. He's an honoral student and was nominated as an exceptional all-star student, a district distinction that proves he is reaching his highest potential. This success didn't happen by accident. It is the direct result of a dedicated team. Miss Padia, his unit teacher, whose specialized structure gives him the floor to stand on. Miss Ers Mrs. Eron Wigg his resource teacher who navigates his academic challenges with incredible expertise. The general education teachers he's been lucky to have Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Hyus, and Mrs. Garcia who haven't just included him, they have embraced him as one of their own, fostering a true sense of belonging.

014When you close a campus, you don't just move a program, you sever these essential bonds. For children with autism, social emotional well-being is the foundation for all academic growth. My son is at high risk for significant regression if his daily structure is broken or if he loses access to the educators who understand his specific needs. We often talk about district excellence. My son's all-star status is the definition of that excellence. Why would the board choose to disrupt a site that is successfully delivering the very results you move to achieve? The numbers of the on the page show the district is in a deficit, but they don't show the faces of the children whose stability is at stake. We can bridge this deficit through central office office consolidations, energy retrofits, and joint purchasing agreements. We shouldn't

015sacrifice the hardearned progress of our schools for a quick fix, especially when more sustainable options are available. I urge the board to find a budget-saving alternative that doesn't uproot our most valuable learners. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is uh Christina Cruz Baron. She's speaking on hiring of the executive special ed director. >> Miss Bon, >> she's coming. I think she's And the next speaker after Miss Baron, if they want to make their way to the stage, uh will be Haime Contas. And then after him, uh Veronica Contras. >> Okay. >> Good evening, M. >> Okay. Good evening, school board trustees and parents. I am here to give input on the new executive director of special education hire. The new director should have a heart for special needs students to avoid situations

016like this. Imagine your non-verbal son or non-verbal daughter being held against their will like a caged animal. They are trapped in a room banging on the window for help from anyone to come get them out. Staff walking by ignoring their cries for help. All while the door is held firmly shut, not letting them out. They are left in that room half naked. No one comes in to help while a staff member checks her phone and continues holding the door shut. Someone said they wait for your child to exhaust themselves and pass out while they hold the door shut. This happened to my non-verbal special needs child in the United High School sensory room. My name is Christina Kruon and I can tell you it was a nightmare watching a video playback of these events. No

017parent should ever have to go through this, but I am here for all parents as well. Board member Miss Molina, your child will be in the same school next year. So, I am fighting for all children. I entrust United Independent School District with my greatest possessions. All our family has is our twin boys, misitos, my father would call them. I will be back to future meetings to go further into details, but I will leave you with this. Matthew 25:40 whenever whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters of mine you did to me parents I am fighting for you. >> Thank you ma'am. >> As mentioned the next speaker >> um hi um is it okay if I can make >> um hi is it okay if I can make a little

018announcement? >> Sure. Yes. So, um I don't really like how they treated my bro my my brother in this situation. I don't like anybody keeping them like like caged zoo animals. This is just disrespectful and it has to stop. >> Thank you. Uh the ne the next speaker is uh Hime Contas. And just a reminder to speakers, you cannot yield your time to any other individual. and Mort speaking on preliminary findings of demographic findings. >> It's not contraso. >> Cortaso. Okay, sir. Cortaso. >> This is the second time I come and put myself in front of y'all. First time was to ask for you ought to come up with a better plan for these school closings y'all want to close. I don't know what y'all come up with. There's no numbers out there yet. I

019keep hearing two different stories. The only bottom line that I want to know is are we wasting our time? Is anything we're coming to talk to you about to bring you solutions to gonna help? Or in April when y'all do vote, fiscal are going to close anyway? Suggestion that CNP facility y'all got out there that y'all are building and I got all these glass windows on there. You know how much it's going to cost to keep that cool? Close it. You're closing the schools. You got the other ones over there by the reserve. These are things y'all need to look at. the facility, the schools. They're telling Lake Palm Lake View that they're going to get a school on their side of town. That's right in front of Kazin on the other side of Mines's

020Road. These are things y'all need to address, not only to me, to the public. They want to know where are they getting all these ideas. So, as far as y'all getting together, give us numbers. Give us a reality. Me personally, the fact that Kazin is going to be put in for for Finley, it's ridiculous. Finley is a bigger school. Yes, they're an A+ school, but so was Finley in the '90s. They were an A+ school because my kids went there and they had one strong uh principal. Y'all gone through three in four four years. Come on, man. Y'all got to make these right decisions. Fastin's got uh Kasin's got portables. Finley doesn't. Think about these choices. We got three entrances to that school. Kase's got one. It's got to stay open. The backyard is schools

021or his houses, apartments, and Joe Rosco on the other side. Somebody gets in there, what are y'all going to do? It's got to be about safety for the kids. Kids walking from portables into a main buildings. That can't be the answer. It really can't. The other thing I'm going to ask you all to do is really think about what you're doing to the kids. Now, if we need to do this, we understand. But make a promise to yourselves for the next 5 years. We don't build nothing. See what that does. See how that helps you. It's going to be hard, but it's possible. Especially if you're shutting down schools. Make a promise to the public, hey, you know what? It's a time crunch. We can't hire this. We can't do Sorry, Danny. We can't buy

022buses. But those are things we need to really think about. There's got to be other ways to to bring all this back together and not hurt the kids. So, I'm asking you, I'm pleading with y'all, put out the numbers. Let each district go back and see, hey, you know what? If I cut it here, I can save. And it's not going to be overnight. Really, it's not. It's a long process, but we as a community, we're here to try to help y'all get over this. Not closing school is not an option. Please, I'm asking y'all. >> Thank you'all. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh the next speaker is Veronica. I believe it's Cortaso as well and she's speaking on preliminary findings uh of demographic uh study after Miss Cortaso will will follow. Marylu Abrego if

023you'd like to make your way down. >> Hi, good evening. Um I just got out of work. I don't have a big speech. I just wanted to follow through with what my husband had said because we discussed it. It all about parent uh child safety. It has to do with have you I don't know has any of y'all walked Kasein? Have y'all gone through it? Have y'all gone through Finley's? Which one's the better choice? I mean, I don't want to throw it out there, but with all the school shootings that are happening right now, do you really think that Kasein is the choice? If that the gate has to stay open because like he said, it's one way in one end. Heaven forgives something happens. What are y'all going to do? How are they going

024to get in there? Kasin is a hole in the wall. Now, it is a a blue ribbon school. Why? Because it's got a good leadership. How many principles have you sent to Finley? Can y'all stop moving principles around? If they're not qualified to be leaders for these children, get rid of them. It on your hand on your manual, it does have performant evaluations. And you are allowed to dismiss these principles when they're not producing, when they're not making the children want to go to school. Our school principal misses twice a week. He she leaves by 2:00. Can't ever find her. You don't see her in the hallways in the morning after school. You do not see her. I'm old parenting schools. I believe that the principal has the right to run the school the way

025they see fit, not the parents. The parents have to follow the leadership of their leaders at school. They have to show and teach their children who are the leaders, who they should respect. The the teachers, the principal, they shouldn't be afraid of the parents because they're not there. They're there for the children. That's what I look for. Give us the opportunity at Finley to be a blue ribbon school again because it was a very good school, but y'all keep giving us principles that y'all don't know what to do with anymore. Principles that are just problems. You either throw them to schools that you don't care about or you put them in administrative positions. Do y'all want me to name names of people principles? I end up in the administration buildings. >> What are y'all doing?

026This is where the money's going into people that don't want to be there. I've heard our principal down the hall say, "My heart is in the South." How would that make you feel? Don't put her there. Get her out. Give us somebody that we can show that our kids are smart and they can be just as good as Kazin. Kaisen was removed from that list because they were a blue ribbon school. Finley was there at one time. Dr. Cruz, do you want this to be your legacy? >> Thank you, ma'am. >> I know we're not allowed to vote for you. >> Okay, but we can bring in tea and let them take care of it. Thank you. >> So please don't let this be your legacy. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is uh

027Marylu Abrego and the speaker following will be Maria del Carmen Garca. Miss Abrego is speaking on preliminary findings of demographic study. >> Good evening board members. Many of the campuses being considered for closures serve high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, bilingual learners, and students receiving special education services. School closures dis uh proportionately affect vulnerable populations. When students are displaced, attendance declines, academic performance can drop, and family engagement often weakens. Larger class sizes and over uh overextended support services will not impact all communities equally. They will impact our high our highest need students the most. I am deeply concerned and honestly upset by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed school closures. As board members, I need to know that you are asking hard questions before making irreversible decisions. Are you demanding clear, detailed data that

028demonstrates exactly how these closures will produce measurable financial services, I mean savings? Have you reviewed transparent projections that show long-term uh fiscal impact, not just immediate reductions? We have been told there has been no misuse of funds. Yet, if the district knew it was operating under a def a def deficit, why was a 3% administrative raise approved at the beginning of the school year? Why was money allocated for largecale events such as the convocational while financial strain was already known. Those decisions do not reflect the financial crisis that is now being used to justify justify closing our campuses. Teachers are constantly expected to do more with less. We absorb additional responsibilities. We manage increasing academic demands. We support students with growing social, emotional, and instructional needs often without adequate resources. We are stretched thin yet

029we continue to show up for our students every single day. If cuts must be made, accountability must begin at the top. Budget reduction should not start in classrooms. They should not begin with the campuses that directly serve children. The burden should not fall first on teachers and students while administrative decisions go unquestioned. Right now, it feels as though educa educators and families are paying the price for decisions we did not make. Our students are paying the price. Before any final vote is cast, I urge you to ensure that your decision is grounded in transparent financial data, a thorough demographic impact analysis, and a genuine commitment to equity and student stability. Our children deserve careful, responsible leadership, not rush decision decisions like it feels now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh the next speaker is Maria

030del Carmen Gara and she'll be followed by Carisa Fraga. Miss Delar speaking on preliminary findings of demographic study. Garcia. for member. investig Kennedy pot. Thank you. >> Gracias. The next speaker is U. Clarissa Fraga. She will be speaking on item 5C which is presentation of preliminary findings of demographic study. And the final speaker after Miss Frag will be Miss Daisy Gomez. >> I'm just going to start by you know the last comment that the parent just made. I was a band member myself. It's an excellent program and it really breaks my heart to find out that they don't have that program there. I think you should bring it back. But uh I'm here tonight to speak as a private citizen um in reference to the zona. And what I want to say is that there

031was a time where schools were overcrowded and we really needed uh desperate measures, right, to alleviate these campuses. I actually worked at a particular campus that that had over a thousand students and so the the um the necessity was there. You know, I had over 30 students in my classroom and it was very difficult to manage a classroom let alone educate um 30 individuals times three cuz I had three classes, right? It is very difficult. And so evidently zona comes in um gives you a projected number of you know the possibility of an increase in enrollment. But I think that what happened or what went wrong there was we or you I should say you not we cuz I didn't have anything to do with it obviously but you decided to overbuild instead of build

032one school at a time and see what happens there. So the numbers were off. We overbuilt in order to alleviate the classrooms which was ne necessary but then as we saw the enrollment wasn't there. So now we had more schools than we needed not enough enrollment and now we are at a particular place where the classroom sizes are smaller. Some see it as something bad. But as a as an individual who was actually in a classroom that was overcrowded, I can tell you that where we're at right now is the perfect scenario. I did listen to the meeting that you held with your constituents. I think it was a wonderful meeting. But what really struck me was a parent's message that said, "Right now, the way our classroom sizes are, it's every teacher's dream." And

033it really is. But more than a teacher's dream, it's a necessity for the students. Smaller class sizes bring better results. Higher test scores. And in addition to that, teachers get to actually engage with the students, build relationships with the students, get to know the students at heart, get to know exactly what's happening at home. You can't do that with overcrowded classrooms. Closing schools means you're going to overcrowd the classrooms again. And that's not what we want. That's not what the students need. This isn't the right choice to make. I think that you need to find better solutions. As many individuals here have said, cutting at the top, putting students in a classroom that's affordable. Not only are you going to overcrowd it, but as some individuals had mentioned, and I used to be a teacher

034in a portable classroom, they're not safe at all. and they're old and they're muggy and they smell and some of them are infested with termites. Rain causes slippery terrain. Accidents happen. And I don't think that the district can handle a liability that big where an injury occurs to a student because they slipped during rainy weather. And nobody likes to go in and out of a building when it's cold weather. It's it's it's bad. It really is bad. So, I don't think that school closures should happen. That's I just came to give my testimony because it is a testimony and I think that you can do the right thing. You just got to figure out how to do it. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> The the final speaker is Daisy Gomez and she's

035speaking on uh demographic study. >> Hi. Hello. Good evening. Um board members and superintendent. Here I am again and I want to address um the so-called demographics being used to justify these decisions. Reports from outside consultants like Sonda are projections. They're not facts. They are based on assumptions about housing migration and future growth that can change overnight. They do not reflect what is happening in our classrooms right now. We have real students, real families, and real enrollment today. Decisions that affect children should be based on current data, transparency, and community input, not forecast that can be shaped to support a predetermined outcome. Demographics should inform planning, not be used as a shield to justify closures or harm harmful decisions. Our kids are not projections. They are here now. Now, I was going to say a

036little bit of what every parent came up here to say about safety portables and they said it for me and you all know I have included all of you all about what we've been going through with Finley. Uh we've been changing principles. We had a prior principal who did a lot of changes in Finley that made us go to a C. Right now we have a current principal. We all have different opinions about her. Um she has tried her best to move us forward to heal in a way. And I mean I've been in contact with my board member Miss Molina. I've been in contact since the first year our past uh principal went in. So, Mr. Cruz, all I have to say to you right now because I do know for a fact that

037it was your decision to do a change and I just want to say thank you for that and thank you all. >> And there are no further speakers, Mr. President. >> Thank you. Thank you for all the comments. Uh agenda item number five, superintendent report. >> Yes, sir. Good evening, members of the board, members of the audience. The United ISD district remains setively committed to providing an outstanding instructional environment that ensures the academic success of every student. During today's Texas Academic Performance Report or taper hearing, we proudly showcase several positive student outcomes that reflect the hard work of our educators and the resilience of our students. UISD continues to outperform the state and region in most star performance categories, maintaining a high graduation rate. Furthermore, our district's postsecondary enrollment metrics and dual credit participation continue

038to exceed state averages, demonstrating that our graduates are wellprepared for the challenges of college and career. While we celebrate these academic milestones, we must also discuss our financial responsibilities and the evolving budget landscape. As we move forward into 202627 academic year, it is my responsibility to provide an overview of the fiscal challenges facing United ISD. Since 2019, UISD has seen 3,500 fewer students in our classrooms, resulting in a 32 million shortfall in state funding. We know that every empty desk represents a change in our community's demographics and we must adapt to ensure our district remains strong. By streamlining administrative costs and optimizing facility use, we can ensure every school in our district remains a strong, high-erforming campus. We are committed to maintaining the quality of education our community expects. Even as the public education landscape

039continues to change, as we manage a projected budget deficit and declining enrollment, we must assess the physibility of keeping campuses operating well below capacity. Beyond potential closures, we are evaluating additional measures to reduce costs. To ensure continued success, we're streamlining operations and adjusting staffing models to reflect our current student population. Lastly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the parents and community members who have participated in our meetings. Your input is vital as we navigate these complex decisions. We recognize the deep, emotional, practical ties families have to their local schools, and we're listening to your voices as we refine the United for the Future plan. We remain committed to datadriven empathetic processes that ensures outcomes that prioritize the safety, well-being, and academic success of United ISD students. >> Thank you. >> Uh agenda item

0405B, presentation on an analysis to determine the number of employees to retire within the 2025, 2026, and 2026, 2027 school year. employees that are current currently qualified for retirement and approximation of associated payroll impact. Mr. Canales, >> good evening, Mr. Montto, board members, community in the audience. I want to share with you once it pops up. I'm not sure if they have it or not. >> We have it. >> We we haven't checked it. >> Okay. Well, let me go off with the disclaimer. First of all, uh the data presented in the is a guesstimate since there are no there are many variables that a person considers in making a retirement decision such as years of service, uh finances, the person's finances at the home, you know, family dynamics. It depends what's going on. If

041there's college kids, it depends on their what's going on with mom and dad and things like that, their health, the economy, where we are in their economy as of today, work life balance, you know, and then we also look at the new variable that's come in which is the teacher incentive aotment. >> Are sorry, Mr. Gonzalez, are we able to see it on >> I that's I don't know. They should have their presentation. I don't know where it is. only the I don't know if it can put it up. >> Is the presentation is it is it loaded on the laptop? >> I don't see it. >> It's not available. >> There it is. >> If someone can uh click it because I I moved it along. >> I don't have anything. I don't know

042if I >> Well, look, let's let's move on to we'll come back to you if you can figure it out and we let's move on to C presentation of preliminary findings of demographic study. >> Thank you, Mr. Ganes. >> And then if you figure it out, we'll we'll bring you back, Mr. Ganes. >> You're first. >> We're on to the next item. Yes. >> Um, so we do have a preliminary demographic study presentation. Uh, we do plan to bring to the board uh the final report in March, but for right now it is um preliminary and uh we have uh Rocky Garnier from Zonda. Uh Mr. Garnier and his group have done several demographic studies, enrollment projections throughout the state. uh he can share with you uh other school districts that he has worked with.

043Um so for right now we'll have uh Mr. Grineer uh present uh his preliminary findings. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening members of the board. Dr. Cruz, pleasure to be back in United. I was here just a couple years ago, I think. Um, yeah, I'm going to run through this and and be be happy to answer questions at at the end or during. You can you can stop me. I can back this up. I'm pretty sure. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yeah, Zonda Demographics has been a firm for technically since 2006. My partner and I started the company in 2006 as Templeton Demographics, which might have been um we were probably here back then, too. And we've worked with we now work about 80 to 85 school districts in Texas, including about um

044probably 10 or 15 school districts outside of Texas. So we got about eight other states that that we work in and continue to grow. U staff does research. We work with we work as part of a large housing company that that basically tracks housing throughout the United States. So we we got a strong background in housing understanding cohort analysis and research and that's how we build our projections and you'll see a lot of that. You know one thing just looking at at United as a district. This is a snapshot based on uh demographics provided by the Census Bureau. What what I want to focus on is the M and the Z that you see on the right corner of that that that that's your millennial and your generation Z's. That that's your basically your um

04510 to 45 year olds. And the strong most of your population falls within that which which means you're very young population and that the mill millennials are now having children and even probably a couple of those Gen Z's are having a few children. So you're you've you've got got a strong base there that's going to continue to evolve within United um single family housing activity. So 43 active subdivisions. We our team comes in and we look for we talk to developers, builders, the city to see if we can find any developments that that we're aware of and then our team researches those developments. So we're we're right now tracking 43 active. By active, that means there there's actually new home activity occurring. So 260 homes were under construction at the time that we were doing

046this research and 2,800 lots were ready to be built on. So, those are called vacant developed lots and that that means they're ready to have a build builder start. Now, we have 10 future subdivisions. They're in yellow and those are there's 4,300 single family lots within those futures. Those futures are often platted, but there hasn't been any dirt move. We So, there's still a future until they start mo moving dirt and actually there's still a future until they can deliver that lot, get the roads in, get the infrastructure in, then they'll move to a vacant developed lot. Um, there's about 10 or 12 of these subdivision slides just to give you an idea. Not all 43, I promise. But but some of these are multiple in one in one place. What I want you to

047focus on possibly on these are the last bullet tells the yield. So a student yield are the number of students that we're getting per new home in that area. So like La Paz is easy. It's one student per home. Now there's 120 occupied homes. That means there's about 120 students coming out of that subdivision right now. And about half of those are going to be elementary in most cases. You can see Harmony Hills there. That yields a more reasonable that 0.527. That means you're seeing about five students for every 10 homes. So that that's what we're seeing. The CES at Winfield a little bit lower yield, but you can see here they're really just getting going. 62 occupied homes right now that they've got a thousand multif family units that will eventually get built there

048as well. Palm Lake, this is this is in that Finley zone there. 500 total lots, 250 futures. We're only yielding about, you know, one student for every 10 homes right now in that area, but there's just 119 of those built. That yield will go up a little bit. And the new housing yields as the homes are built usually climb up a little little bit. Of course, during the same time, your existing home stock is actually declining in yield right right now in United. Um, there's a bunch of there's a bunch of numbers on this one. Windmill Farms PL the plat was filed. They haven't really had any construction yet there. Witherspoon not 91 vacant developed lots. Look there log Vista phase 7 that's a.5 yield. Um Los Mission is 72 field. So that's a little

049bit higher yield there. So it does vary throughout the district. Elden phase you can see there they got a.35 yield. Those yields are what we look at because then as we're building out these neighborhoods and projecting enrollment for these campuses that those neighborhoods sit in is that's how we we kind of use that historical cohort. We all but we also have to use the the future housing to come up with that enrollment as well. RNW Ranch.5 yield Vista delsur 4. I'm just going to kind of read these yields just enough you can't obviously um Ellen the units there 205 occupied homes they're building about 60 homes a year um Celito Lindo con that that's got a a yield of 0.1 so 1.05 5. So we're seeing one and that's 624 homes. So you basically got

050a student per home in that development. That's about the highest yields that we're seeing within your district right there. Um some aqued futures that got groundwork underway. We we put an aerial in from fe February of 2026. So this was flown just just a few weeks ago and you can see the ground the groundwork that's happening there in a cuero. Phase six there is almost done. that the one at the bottom. You can't see all of that chart on there, but there's not a lot of vacant developed lots left there. That that's likely built out even by by now. And then you got Berde Creek is one that's coming in the M Mueller zone. They've got some dirt moving out there. That dirt moving means that we'll probably start they may even have those a

051few more of those roads paved by now. That was in January. So what we might see is maybe students by the beginning of next year depending on if how pace goes but if not the real impact from that that campus is not going to be till the 2728 school year. Cooper landing 47 total lots no plast been filed yet so we know that's coming but you can see there in January 2026 there really has not been been any activity there yet at all. multif family. There is some significant mult multif family, but you know, we got four multif family projects that are under construction right now. Nearly 500 rental units as part of those four projects. We've got some future ones as well. One a one is age restricted with about 500 future multif family

052units. So, not a lot of future. We put a picture just one of them here just because we had that arrow of February. You can see that it's almost done. They should have completion within the next quarter. they'll be le leasing this summer. Um, talking about trends, I think it's important for us to understand trends as we get into projections. There's a lot of numbers on this, but all you have to do is look at the very bottom one. That's the 2425. So, last year's total enrollment statewide, 5.544 million students statewide. That was growth of of just about 13,000 students statewide. That's in all >> all school districts, all charter campuses as well. Keep in mind charter is part part of that number. And the reason I want you to keep that in mind is

053because there's a couple things that impacted that. We also have seen big jumps in virtual campuses, students going to virtual schools. If you can see the growth there in that virtual, it goes from 42,000 to 57,000. That's 15,000 student growth in virtual. So what I was just talking about on the previous slide, brickandmortar school districts only grew by 13,000, which means statewide we saw negative brickandmortar growth of of at least 3,000. And I think if you pull charter school growth into that as well, your regular, you know, school districts as we know them probably declined last year by about 15,000 students. And I think this year it could do that again or even higher. It we're really seeing some of that. student transfers coming in and out. So, this this is based on TEA data.

054These are basically yearby-year students that transfer in to United from other school, excuse me, other school districts or charter schools. Okay, this this is not um we can't track private. So, it's really just stuff that TEA can track transfer out. Now, that 3,100, those are students that live here in United but transfer out of United to go to school. Again, that's chart. Well, I think I got a slide. The incoming transfers, the majority of those incoming transfers are all coming from Laredo ISD. You can see there that's that that jumped up this year to almost 200 students transferring in from LA from Laredo. We only listed the one there. There's several others. If you ever go to the TEA transfer reports on online, you'll see a bunch of NAS. You might see 20 things there,

055but that's cuz they're if they're below 10 by FURPA laws, we can't print those. Transfers out is where it gets kind of interesting. We've got 1191 students that transfer out of of United into the har the Harmony School. You don't see Laredo on there. And this year, for some reason, TEA had an error in their reporting. Last year 1,400 students transferred from from from United out to Laredo. So we assume that was probably about the same this year, but TEA doesn't have the number there for us. Um we but you can see there the virtual campuses. Hallsville, these are these are districts all throughout the state, but because they're virtual, the student can attend those. There's about 200 students there. So after Laredo and after Harmony, most of the students that are transferring out are

056going to virtual campuses right right now in United. Um charter school enrollment, you can see there it jumped up by lot, like I said, by about 13,000. So again, that piles on what we didn't see as real growth in in many school districts in Texas where private schools come into play. you know, there's the voucher impacts is kind of what the the reason we're trying to show these these charter schools here about 9,700 students in region one attend a private school. Um, what we're seeing though this year with recent news, even if you check that out, a lot of private schools have decided not to not to allow vouchers now. So, they're they're just kind of out on the fence on on that, especially in the DFW market, but they're seeing it statewide. Um, the

057voucher programs are new to Texas. Just as a reminder, this will be its first year. I think the impacts will be a little less this year because we're still trying to figure it out. And plus, there's only so much money anyway that can that can be allowed for vouchers. We didn't um we we didn't work in any real scenarios when it comes to vouchers in United because I don't think that's where the there's going to be a problem. Birth rates are something that we we've looked at. Birth rates in have been pretty stable. Well, you can see there in the left column where it says district births, we're right around 3,000. Drop down to 2877. Then we get back over 3,000 again in 2022. And then what what you have on the other side there's

058your kindergarten enrollment 5 years later. So, you know, in 2020 we had 2877 births, 2419 K kindergarten enrollment. That's what I call a capture rate. That's about an 84% capture rate. And you can see historically you've been much lower than that. So your your capture rate is really pretty good and I think that's a a compliment to the district itself. So we are even though the births are staying pretty steady so are our capture rates. So we can stay up around 85%. That's really a pretty good trend there. Um and just real quick too on the births the the birth data is reported to the state's health department by the zip code of the birth mo the birth mother. the zip codes don't necessarily fit to school district boundaries. So we use zip codes that

059primarily make up a district. So that way so it's not a perfect one to one but the capture rates because we use the same zip codes each year create create a nice trend. >> May I ask just one question? >> Yes. >> Um so you would say right with this data that the decline is real but it's not accelerating right. I'm sorry. >> The the decline it's real, but it's not accelerating, right? It's like a stable um it's stably it's stable. It's not like a real collapse. >> It Yeah. Well, you can see there your kindergarten enrollment staying right right around 2400. But yeah, so that's and kindergarten enrollment drives everything. >> That's what you're going to see on this next chart. >> Yes. >> Um this is your where we are this year. So

06039,838 was your enrollment at the snapshot date in October. That the numbers you see there are your historical snapshot numbers. We dropped by about 900 students. The challenge is the 2400 kindergarten students coming in does not make up the 3,400 that are leaving. >> So the district's losing a,000 students just through attrition. >> Yeah. So our forecast if you look at my forecast for next year it actually shows growth be believe it or not it just is is shouted by that yeah by by those exiting classes and this this goes all the way back to about third grade even your third grade class is 300 students bigger than kindergarten. >> Yeah. So if our kindergarten classes even with adding,00 homes a year, still stay at 2400 because the kindergarten classes are being impacted the most

061because that's when they start putting children in if they're going to put put them in a charter do homeschooling. We think homeschooling in Texas has become very large and that those numbers are going to come out soon. And I think you know there's well there's close to 500,000 students in homeschooling right now in Texas. So my forecast is is forecasting next year a decline of 740 students. Again, if you look at that that attrition, I'm growing the district by almost 400 students next year. It it's shielded because that exiting class, but going forward as smaller exiting classes come through, you can see the negative the negative enrollment slows down as well. So, it's we're not going to it's not a better picture. But the good thing is and what I look at and is the

062cohort survival, right? So how many first graders become second, second become third. And in United that that has been at one or right at one, a little over one or just under, which means once you get them here, they're staying. >> We just got to capture those kindergarten students and and we know they're in the district. But right now, this forecast is based on what I'd say a bottom a stabilizing kindergarten class. It's not perfect. Here's some of your en enrollment numbers there. There's a lot I think I could do that. I'm not sure why I wasn't. Um there's a you know you can see the decline in elementary and then it begins to grow in elementary. And the reason that begins to grow is for the next three years we're getting those higher those

063higher third, fourth and fifth grade classes are move are moving on and now you're seeing growth at the elementary level. Not a lot of growth but it's positive. And the same thing has happened at the m middle school. you'll see that negative for a little bit longer because those classes are going to go are going to go through there. So that those enrollment projections I know there's a lot of numbers on on there and we can talk more about those if we need to. Um again enrollment we we we've decreased 1500 students in the last three years and you not noted with 900 of it just in the last year. We're you think you'll decline about another 750 students next year. Um it this is going to be sitting right you know result maybe a

064drop of 3,000 students over the next 10 years. Um there is housing we understand that housing and really your new homes are yielding pretty well but what's beginning to happen is your existing homes your older h housing stock is not regenerating >> and we're so those yields have decreased. So that's kind of what that's based on. >> Okay. >> That's what I got and I'm happy to talk. >> Yeah. So um I loved your presentation. Thank you so much. Uh very detailed. Um but with go seeing it right um the forecast suggests that yes the enrollment declines because of the birth rates. uh but we decline moderately right and eventually we will stabilize maybe I don't know 37,000 students from >> well first um I don't think the decline is happening because of birth rates

065>> okay >> is it's happening because of small kindergarten classes but I think there's more to it than that I think there's other stuff going on whether they're leave they're they're choosing a charter or they're choosing homeschooling so that is a little bit of what's going on. Um the hope is that we'll that we will stabilize that we'll stop losing those kindergarten students and you know we'll stay at that. I'd love to see you hit 2500 by the middle and and maybe be pu pushing 2600 if we see a shift and we see some re regeneration there. >> Okay, perfect. You think you think the uh the decline it's more of a decline in enrollment >> because of these homeschools, homeschooling, these voucher programs. It's a decline in which is what I'm hearing not only

066here but across the state. >> It's a severe decline in enrollment. I mean, I've heard district after district closing schools, closing schools, middle schools, elementary schools. Uh they don't really close high schools, but they're closing elementary schools. >> Yeah. >> Because of declining enrollment. What I'm hearing you say is that you're not seeing lower rates because of the birth rates. You're not seeing lower birth rates. You're seeing >> more kids transitioning into homeschooling. >> School of choice. School of choice is what's going on in Texas right right now. Our company works, like I said, with about 80 80 school districts each year. And we probably do about 40 attendance boundary projects for adding schools or or we're helping them understand where they might might need to close a school. This year, for the first time,

067I've closed more campuses than I've opened. I mean, not me personally, but I mean, that's been the process. I mean, we've got several districts I'm working with right now that are closing five and six that have closed. I have one client that has closed four school dis four six and six three three consecutive years they've closed almost 18 schools >> so the the so looking at the your your population your our millennial here is 25.3 and your generation Z is 30.3 and these are the I'm assuming these are the the ages where births are the birth exist. I guess that's 55.6% of the total population is millennials and Gen Z. And so what is their birth? What is the birth rate of those two combined? Do you have any >> I couldn't tell tell you

068now there if you keep you know keep in mind Z is there's a 10 a bunch of 10 year olds there. So that's really low, right? Um you've got and so most of your births are are occurring from millennials right right now. But again, I you know, they're millennials are having ch children later, too. Instead of having them at 25 and 26, they're having at 32 and 33. >> Yeah. So, >> that's slowed the growth as well. >> Your 1981s are going to be about 43 44 years old up to I guess about 30 close to 30. >> So, there those Yeah. Those we're going to get students from. >> Yeah. >> Or that or or we are getting students from, but school choice is limiting that. and and what you might see and continue

069to see in United especially with some of this you've guys got very high um high school co cohorts I mean some of the highest 12th grade courts I've I've seen in the state that's you know seeing whole if you actually look at your 11th and 12th grade column there like from 11th to 12th you're adding a couple hundred students each each year that just doesn't happen anywhere else >> so that that's really really important and I think what happens too and it's going to happen going forward. There's going to be a point where homeschool students want to come back where parents are either going to decide this is a lot of work or they're they're going to decide um that >> extracurricular activities they want to participate in >> and some some districts statewide are

070starting to allow those that that to happen even without them coming back. >> So, I've got about two more comments and then I'll move on. So you're you're you're looking at our graduations graduation numbers are about 3,300, but you're only seeing about 2400 entering uh kindergarten. >> Yeah. >> More or less. >> So we're losing approximately 1,000 students between kinder >> and we're not replacing those. >> Yeah. And think and really even look look at first and 12th because you know kindergarten is not a mandatory grade. So maybe first is a better but that's still 900. It's still 900. And you're going to and you're looking at an additional an additional loss in 26 27 or you're looking >> next year we're going to see that still happen next year because we're bringing in you

071know you've got a pretty a little bit large you know you're losing 3,400 students but that's being replaced by a 2400 student class and those two and the the class before it that kindergarten class is going to be so those small kindergarten classes are now being destro stream through the district. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I need to absorb your numbers a little bit more, but look forward to coming back. >> There's some growth, right? >> I have I have a couple questions for administration, but I appreciate your presentation. >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. Yes, sir. Thank you. >> I I I do have a couple of questions. Uh Lea, uh Miss Benas, I'm sorry. Um >> our last meeting >> I did state my district is west of 35. It's

072Mines Road area starts in Los Martinez where Boys and Girls Club is Riverbank all the way to 83 North. I did state that we're not landlocked. We're seeing an abundance of growth and residential uh single single and multif family homes. I did state that we have several subdivisions going up right now. I'm looking at these maps and I can appreciate the the work here, but not all our subdivisions that are going up are here. I did state you have five subdivisions going around the three elementaryaries. Fascinating to just one two two subdivisions in in their perspective phase right now. And according just to those two out of the five and those three elementaryaries, this demographer study shows an increase of 12 students for next year at Finley. I did state that Muller would be receiving

073an abundance of students, some at the end of this by the end of this year somehow uh by the first phase of 157 homes that are going up in front of Green Ranch. And out of those 8,000 acres were homebuilders already developing the land right now, which is not in the demographer study. I understand. >> However, those home builders already selected those lands. Like I stated at last meeting, as of right now, the one subdivision that is listed on the demographer study, which I can appreciate, only that one phase, 157 homes out of 8,000 acres is going to increase the enrollment. According to our demographer study at Muller by 39 students, it is no option to move any student up from either Finley, Kasein, Fasin up to Muller. It's not an option. The fact that

074Finley is even on this list as a closure is not a very strategic plan. And I would greatly appreciate if this board would support me to remove that campus because otherwise what's going to happen is that we're going to hinder the growth the growth and potential of our community. And what I'm going to strongly suggest is what I mentioned last meeting. If we have a closure in a growing population like this and we close a campus, a charter is going to move in. Our demographer study shows that 58 charter schools went up in one year last year. That's going to hurt us. 600 800 students like I said last meeting all in one school year. Imagine the enrollments uh that we get of state funding. Imagine the ADA that we get. I mean for 6800

075students that's really going to hinder the growth of our community prospering community out there in Mans. I am going to strongly suggest that we aside from this demographer study we have resources at our fingertips. And I've mentioned this many times Dr. Laredo Builders Association, City Engineer Office, Laredo Economic Development. We need to sit down with our partners. Any decision this board makes, any decision this district does will affect our city, will affect our county. Just last night, city council, they approved more land development for residential homes in Mines Road, aside from the ones I've been talking about. I I will leave my comments there for now, but I would greatly appreciate it. We can create also an advisory community advisory committee so we can continue to get community support and suggestions as we move forward

076with this with this uh plan. That will be my comments for now. Thank you. >> I have one last comment as well, Miss Va. Thank you. And thank you. Um just like Miss Molina, right? I also asked the board um to please consider removing the YANO off of the consolidation list because if we look at the data, the data shows that if we're planning on consolidating schools because of their enrollment, Matia Zano also increases in their enrollment. Not significantly a lot, but they do increase. Now with the study that was done here, there is also growth uh in the Borchers area. Okay. So if we displace the students from theo and we move them to Bo Borchers, we're eventually going to overpop populate that school which is that is not what we want. Now of

077course we know enrollment is not the full story. But by looking at this, if we look at campuses that are really declining in enrollment, Clark Elementary for example, by 28 29 they're going to be at 300. So we need to look into that, not just all these other schools where there is growth. I had a conversation with city councilman Dr. Tyler King and there is a lot more growth coming in that area. There is growth behind um there is growth behind variety meets. There is growth in the Winfield Cooves area. There is growth all around it. So we also really need to look into that. Now several again of the lowest enrollment schools are clustered geographically, right? They're clustered geographically which then I ask myself who in their right mind would approve schools being built

078in such proximity but that is a story of the past right now we need to focus in on the future. So again specifically for Matia Zayano it'll stabilize according to this 410 to 417 range longterm. This is not considering if we bring in a preK3 program into the school. Of course, we need to see if we meet criteria to bring in the Head Start, but we still need to explore that option. We also need to explore other ways in which we can attract our students. Mr. Mayor said it, extracurricular activities. The charter schools really don't have that. The private schools don't really have that and the home schools I mean zero. So we need to really explore that. Now again closing if you if you analyze all this data right closing does not eliminate a

079declining PLA pattern. It'll simply redistri redistribute the stable enrollment that we have. And now I second that. I don't know if we can do a motion to second um or do a motion. >> No, actually we're we're getting off base here. This is a presentation on the demographic studies and we're going into school closures and we're talking about something that is not even on the agenda today. So, I'm going to caution everybody to stick to the demographic study. If you got questions on the demographic study, >> then we can we can do that. All these other questions, we'll be glad to talk take them up at our next board meeting and and talk about closures and things like that. I think that's what we're already scheduled to do. We were supposed to be scheduled to

080do that tomorrow, but it was moved for next week. So, >> that's I I'm just I want to put it out there for everybody. >> The the issue here is presentation on preliminary findings of a demographic study. I don't want to get off base on that. All due respect to everybody, but I do I don't disagree with any what what Miss Martinez, Miss Molina are talking about. I just want to make sure that we stay on on on track here. >> Yeah. And just a real quick comment. Um, just keep in mind too on some of the developments that you might be referring to, there's we're tracking we we didn't put aerials in in there for every development we're tracking. So, some of the information that you have, we likely have some of that, but

081before the next meeting, those those three groups, I I didn't write them down. I'll make sure that our team re reaches out to th those again. So, we'll make sure we have some information. >> I'd be happy to give that information to you. Uh I've spoken uh at length with our administration too and I know they've written it down. Uh so we'd be happy to we just don't have the time to further extend that. I just want to clarify. I appreciate that. >> I just want to clarify that and also and one other thought too as you look at and we can talk go you can go real depth and I know you don't have time for that but when you're looking at some of the growth at those campuses and even though there's housing

082coming you might see look it's only growing by 12. Keep in mind that elementary campuses have same some of the same issues where they have a really big fourth grade and fifth grade class and that's being replaced by a really small kindergarten class. So we're technically if you looked at my cohort growth we might be growing that campus by 40 students >> but because some of those are and we can dig into that >> anyway I saw that because right here you have um >> Oh sorry go ahead. >> Okay and just sticking to that I do want to make a comment. I did um compare the presentation that you did back in September 2024 when you came to the board. I was not um Zeno sitting on the board, but I remember being a

083parent um listening to that meeting. And so if you look at that presentation and you compare compare it to this one um today specifically for my district it says here LAS phase 2 in 2024 was projected to it says current yield.609 right now it's current yield 1.0 zero which means that it's more right like I said >> right so again >> like a public comment said right projections we can project but at the end of the day we won't know what happens right so I think it's very important to also keep that in mind um for administration um when we're you know considering all of these other decisions but thank you for that I know it does take a lot of work to come up with this um so thank you >> Mr. Can Can

084I just make one more comment? Right. >> Sure. I got I've got a board member that needs to ask a question. I don't know if it's with with the uh >> Go ahead. Or >> Go ahead. Ask a question. >> Yeah. I think I think just real quickly. Right. Uh and we haven't done any in a long time. So, as we sit and look at these numbers and we want to balance our schools, we know that uh again when we were opening new schools, we would do boundary changes, right? And that's kind of what we thought this project would be like, a boundary change. And I understand it's way beyond that. So as we go forward, there might be some suggested boundary changes. And they're not the easiest thing, but we try to make them

085as, you know, reasonable for the family members. You know, some, you know, getting this neighborhood and moving it to that school. So that is probably the next reality for UISD. Not necessarily building new schools and we build you know send these kids over there. It's balancing our schools where there are uh available classroom. >> Yes. And I would just say just last comment for me is that you know Muller at the expansion of possibly 39 students to this demographer study you know we've got in um current occupation of Muller at 752 maximum is 796 and we're projected at 794 with this demographer study. We just need to consider that. Thank you. >> And just to finish my comment um I don't disagree with the board members. I know we're going to talk about that in

086the next meetings and this helps us out to see where we at. I just wanted to ask, you know, how accurate is this numbers based on your experience throughout the the state? Because yeah, historically our goal is to be within 1% districtwide. Um, which is tight. It's really tight. That's and um 5% at each campus. We have, you know, a little bit different there. I think this year based on our last numbers I saw that we were like was 1.1% I think was the difference between o overall enrollment you came in a little bit okay >> about 390 students more >> well just looking at the 10-year forecast by group level our our um by grade level you know it's it's by grade level then total right of current enrollment uh we have here listed

087at that's not our current enrollment >> it's 39 >> based on snapshot 500 600. >> So, and then we have a projected growth. >> Oh, no, no, no. I take it back. You're right. You're right. >> But we are about close to about 200 students off though. >> Okay. >> Um, >> keep in mind the current enrollment is based on what you were on October 31st. >> October. Got it. >> Yeah. 1% would be about 390 students, I think. And just to finish my point, you know, the takeaways, what I'm looking at, the district saw a drop of 914 914 students this year and it's expected to decline 750 next year, right? So that's something, you know, thank you for the information cuz we're going to need this. Um, and I know it was mentioned,

088you know, not to build schools. you know, we're not in that, you know, we're not going to build more schools and we're going to look into working and and work getting together as a board and a united board to to figure out this and and this information is going to help us. So, I just want to thank you on that. >> So, you got a 2% we're going to lose 700 students next year, which is about 2% of our current enrollment. >> 39, >> right? But you're 1% >> plus or >> we're looking at 900 students according to this. >> I'm sorry. >> We're looking at about 800 900 students according to the study. >> Well, it looks like uh for next year we'll be losing740 which is a negative 1.9%. >> Yeah. >> And

089then we go on to lose 465 and then following year 471. Then we go 386. It's in the 10year forecast by grade level. So, I think it's also really to um observe, right, that the district is not projected to continue losing 900 students every year. Um it's more likely that we're losing them in smaller increments, right? And the decline eventually will flatten um at some point, right? And then we have to take into consideration that we don't know the growth, what city permits are approved. So, we have to look at all of that. Yes. Thank you. >> Yeah. Right. These are projections. All right. So the next the next item, Mr. Canales, coming back to you, presentation >> on analysis to determine the number of employees projected to retire within 2025 2026 and 2026 2027

090school years school years employees that currently qualify for retirement and approximately. >> Thank the IT department. They were able to pay >> get my presentation up for the audience to see. So, thank you very much. Okay. So, this was the slide that I first covered and the disclaimer is just as Mrs. Martinez had shared earlier, you know, this is a projected uh presentation that the board asked me to to share with you and like I said, it's just a guesstimate because I don't know when people are going to retire. >> There's different variables that come in. >> Yeah, we understand they're just projections, sir. So, whatever you got. So what I can share with you is historical information and that's my first slide with you. And so if you look at our our four-year projection

091is you look at 2122 we have our teacher slide, our administrative slide and our pair professional and our manual trades. You'll see across the board from 21 to 22 across the line we have about 359 people that retired or resigned that particular year for whatever reason that may have been. 22 23 we had almost 373. 23 24 go across we had 357. Last year we had 406. This past year this current year midy year we had 41 people who uh retired and then currently with this early notice. Now remember this is very fluid. So, I want I know the the board is wants to know more or less what you know the decision- making. I get it because we're also in the same boat. Uh, as of the time I submitted this PowerPoint, we had

092about 63 people that have submitted their their early notice. As we are speaking today, those numbers are changing and you need to know tomorrow it's going to change. Friday is going to change and it will continue changing till the end of the school year. Right now we're a total of 104 people that have submitted some form some way either retiring, resigning, or something may be like that. So this is what I do know. We're averaging anywhere between 350 to 406. >> That's what I know for sure. That's been historical. >> Can I ask you a quick question? >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> So you've been around uh HR for now what about three or four years? I don't think in your in your time there has ever been a retirement incentive >> uh or a

093uh some type of uh >> a buyout >> buyout or anything. >> Yeah, just for just a disclaimer uh by law the district cannot offer retirement incentives. So I would just caution the it's an exit incentive. There was a yeah there was there was a there's been in in in my history at least some type of buyout or some type of uh you know >> so there is a thing called an exit incentive uh which is different from the early notice incentive >> okay and that's where I want to ask you >> yes >> if you go back historically and you look at the the period that those incentives what's it called the exit incentives >> exit or early If you look at the the exit incentive when when they were offered, >> could you

094not now obviously, but could you tell me tomorrow or next week if there was an increase? And now I think you're getting about 350 on the average retiring every year, but if you look at the times that those incentives were offered, is there an increase of the number of employees that were that were retiring or not? I'm just I'm just curious. And what was the amount of the incentive that was offered? I will have to find out if we have that data. Fair enough. >> If that's currently we have that and then I can get you that number if I can find it. >> Follow up. Is that possible? Right. It's done before >> again. I have to go back and look. >> Go back. >> Yes. Yes. >> Um I did have one of

095the qu one question. Um out of those hundred, it's 104, right? That already gave you the notice that we know are going to retire. Is it It's the 63. >> Let me go back. If >> you can go back. Yes. I'm trying to click. I'm trying to figure out where I'm >> Okay, >> there we go. >> Okay. Yes, it's the 104, right? That we already know that are >> So, we had those that were midyear. >> I'm including the midyear. >> So, if you really want to look at it, it's really the early notice ones are the ones that are currently. >> So, the midyear we have replaced some of these depending on the position. I mean, if it was a teacher that that we retired in December, we're not going to leave the

096classroom without a teacher. So, we had to fill it. Yeah. >> So, it just depends on what position it may have been. >> Okay. >> So, what I can tell you is that the 63 are the ones that we definitely know that are more is more accurate. >> Okay. And out of those 63 that we already know are going to um I guess more accurate to retire, do we have like a a payroll impact of savings if we don't hire these positions back? >> So again, this is very fluid because it depends on the position. If we if let's pretend it's a principal, we're going to have to bring in a principal. Now the impact will be is that maybe it's a veteran principal that's making X amount and you bring in another type of

097person maybe it's at a lower amount that would be the difference in the gap the difference between those two the the lower and the higher >> but I do not have that number because it depends on who gets selected >> I think it would be important to know what is the average pay of a district employee >> you from the hourly to your professional I guess Even the if you break it down professional, you know, administration. >> So I could that will be something that you will see at our next board meeting. >> Next board meeting. >> Yes. Have that. >> I would really appreciate like a dollar number >> next to that. Even though like of course you would want to put titles and exact, right? Just to protect our employees because there's laws

098around that. >> But if we have like 104, what is that projected to? Like if we just put a number out there is $5 million. >> What's the pay? >> Yeah. So let me move on to my next slide so I can more or less so show you what >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Yes. So professional potential retirements. So again these are just assumptions because I do not know if people are going to retire. Everybody thinks differently. So my immediate assumption and I'm going to give you an example for what I've heard from people who come to my office. Some people are looking uh what they feel comfortable in retiring with a number of years of service. So remember a lot of people use this rule of 80 and then they figure out their percentage.

099So like for instance I've heard people say the magic number is 30 years of service. Well, okay. So if I'm 30 years of service times 3.2, 2. Well, that only gives you 69% of your your salary, and that's the average of your five years. If you feel comfortable with 69% of your salary, then go for it. Uh that some other people look at 35 35 years, that gives you 80%. If you go at 40% uh 40 years, excuse me, then that puts you more or less at 92% of your salary. >> Wow. So it just depends. So when I put the the immediate assumption, I'm looking at maybe someone that has 35 and above. Okay? Someone who's willing to get that 80% and above. Um, from what I've heard from people that have told me

100that come in to retire. So I'm thinking, okay, right off the bat, the two years, because you asked, this is a two-year plan. >> Yeah. uh maybe about 60 people right off the bat will say you know what now next year 60 uh where that gap comes in between 1 to 178 that's the 30-year and above so it varies that's why I can't really tell you uh what's the exact number because I don't have the science because I don't know what people are thinking >> and then uh if you look at the Gazsby report uh so this is basically a report that the finance department uses uh that they they have to have in their area and they look at the rule of 80. So what is the rule of 80? It's someone that is

101they look at the years of service plus the age has to make the rule of 80. Okay. And so they need to know, okay, what does that mean? How many staff members if we if they all retired all at once, what would this school district be responsible for? What what would that look look like? >> And so that's where that number comes in for the Gazsby report, which is 528 employees. Now, not everybody's ready to retire to retire >> because it depends. We have people that come in later in teaching >> and they may be a little older, they may be, you know, whatever may be. So it just depends when you're 80, whatever the age makes to make 80 and whatever it makes to make the years of service makes 80. So it just

102depends. It just a wide range of the 80 rule. >> Am I making sense on that? >> Yes. One of the questions that I did have um and I just wanted to know, you know, do we have a historical uh retirement rate of the rule of 80 for UISD? Well, I I shared that with you with the previous slide. >> Okay. >> Which was that 3 >> 24. >> So all of these are rule of 80 >> for the retirement >> for the historical information >> for the retirement. I'm sorry folks this I'm pressing backwards but it's not going backwards. >> It's okay. Technology. We love technology. >> So for those that have to retire that do retire, it's because you meet the rule of 80. >> The rule of 80. Okay, perfect. >> Okay,

103>> thank you. >> Let me move on. So, let's go back to that question you had earlier. What are the potential savings is dependent on the position type and salary? So, immediate assumption of the prof of the pair professional. Did I went too fast? Too far? Hold on. Okay, I'm going to use a clicker instead. There you go. >> Potential statements depend on the position and type of salary. For instance, a principal. You know, we can't we can't uh get rid of a principal. So, we're going to have to bring a principal back. So, from the immediately the assumption is about 54 employees. You're looking about $5 million more or less. Those employees possibly retire between two to three years. One to 174. That's about $14 million depending. >> About 15 million. >> How do

104you figure 54 equals 5 million? >> Pardon me. >> How do you figure 54 equals 5 million? >> I had uh I had finance help me out with that. >> There's got to be an average salary. That's that's that's what I'm asking for. >> So So basically, if we have 400, that's 20 million >> according to your number more or less. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So if you look at lines A and B, we have not we have almost 20 million. 20 million. Yeah. >> Between the 174 and the 54, you're looking at 20 million. Now, if you look at the gas fee, it's 42 million. >> if they all retire and then >> only professional. >> Yeah. Professionals. And that doesn't include >> um if we replace them. So let's just say >> let's

105just say the assumption, right? Not all 54 employees are going to retire. But let's say if we have half that retire, then for next year we would have a impact in payroll of less than 2.5. But then we would need to look at out of those positions, which ones do we need? >> Yeah. >> To come back, right? Okay. >> That's why it's it's very hard to predict because you don't know which ones have to come back. >> Yeah. You need critical need >> areas of critical need, you know, science, math, reading. >> So, let me ask you, Mr. Gonales, do you all do once you all know, I know towards the end of the year, everybody waits for last minute, right, to to turn in. Right now, everybody's kind of thinking about it, seeing

106if it benefits them or not. But do you all run some sort of analysis that will show us uh show the board that like let's say this year um 25 26 uh we had th the this amount of employees retire let's just say throwing out a number we had 54 employees retire those 5 million right but like I said again out of those 54 we're going to have to replace half right let's just say do you have an analysis that can show us that the savings like a number do you all run those reports once you all know uh once you finalize everything >> so as a management team we talk amongst ourselves we don't typically come to the board and share that because it's a management discussion here uh but I mean if that's

107something you would like that's something we can share down >> yeah it's very difficult to do >> if you don't have the actual >> I mean you could probably do it >> towards the end of the year. Yeah. Right now it's >> maybe July or >> Yeah. Right now it's too too premature to do that. But you run an analysis over um the our our salaries >> and compare one year to the next >> like uh let let me let me expand when it comes down to the to the early notice. You know we have 104 employees and a decision is going to be of these 104 employees which ones are we going to replace? Obviously as Mr. Alice says if it's a high priority or if it may be a police officer, maybe a

108school principal, you know, those are things that we need to consider. Now, considering that these 104 employees have already taken advantage of the early notice, if you're a professional, you're going to get $1,000. If you're a par professional, you're going to get $500. But knowing that 85% of our budget is salary and knowing that we need to make a bigger bite, we need to get more chunks out of our salary. So, you know, uh, the board has already, you know, agreed on a resolution or approved of the resolution of 1,500. If we as a school district are going to make an impact, we need to get more persons to, you know, respond and and let us know that, hey, I'm going to be I'm going to be exiting the school district. Therefore, we can, you

109know, begin to make our make our analysis and maybe perhaps the board may consider increasing that the $1,000 and the $500 uh to attract more individuals to let us plan better. So we can begin to prioritize which positions are we going to fill and which we're going to not. Therefore at the end whoever decides to take advantage there will be a cost savings at the end. >> Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. >> So on the pair on the professional retirement savings again there that's I want to make sure we have any more questions on this particular slide so I can move on. >> No you can move on. >> Okay. Pair professional potential retirements. We're looking again immediate assumption about 40 employees. Uh then this one's even larger 84 to 225. There's a wider range. Uh

110if you look at the Gazsby report, we have about 512 for pair of professionals using the rule of eight. Again, immediate assumption about 1 million 1.6. Uh if we go look at the the longer range, the 84 to 226 about 8.7. If you combine the two, you're looking at 10.3. Combine, if you're just looking at the Gazsby report, that's 17. Now, these may include your custodians, that may include your cafeteria workers, it may include your teacher aids. I mean, so we don't know. And we we got to have people who drive our buses and and help cook our meals and and of course take care of our kids. So, we don't know how many of those. >> Yeah. And again, >> definitely have to keep folks, right? >> Yeah. This is just a projection because

111we do know I mean there's some custodians that are over 65 and they're still working with us. So >> yeah, we appreciate them. Yes. >> Coming to help us. >> So I just want to remind the board you know that we have DEA legal >> policy ID is not to discriminate basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap and program services activities and required title title six of the civil rights act 1964 as amended. Title 9, Education Amendments from 1972, section 504, Reil Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and amended in addition to the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967. This is a delicate topic and I want to make sure everybody understands that this is just for discussion only. >> Exactly. >> And that we're just you just wanted information >> looking at the numbers and

112thank you so much for this. I know um I sent a list of questions um but you know given the time um I just do think it's very important for there to be a dollar amount on it just because by looking at this um and looking historically right that the average we do average out 350 um employees who end up retiring I think that's the the average number um you know before we even you know consider consolidation of schools. I think we really need to look into making sure that we have some sort of workforce planning or a stratei strategic um attrition and retirement plan, right? Because a lot of like Dr. Gr said, a lot of our um our highest expenditure is payroll. So, I think if we start doing analysis, um I know

113it's hard because we're still in the school year, but once we start getting closer to the year, um I would like to see those reports, maybe not in the, you know, as a board meeting setting, but just to kind of give us those updates because I think it's also important when considering um those decisions that we know the savings that we can incur from employees retiring. Just to reiterate, you know, just what Miss Martinez just said right now and going back to our I was talking to administration earlier and looking at the categories of retirement. I I saw it in my in my in my financial statement books. You know, it shows you a trend of retirements. It shows you a trend of, you know, just numbers and and you know, teachers and different categories.

114I was just showing Mr. Montayor just to keep in mind, you know, we're talking about the number and how important that forecasting will be as we're going into this exercise. Um, just alone putting a a a low ball salary times 104, you're looking at anywhere between $3 million to $5 million in in in savings as we're going to close those positions, you know. Uh, and then we're looking at double that amount by by this this um incentive or program that we're looking at, you know, and just to put dollars to that. And then we're I just pulled up, you know, just, you know, Laredo economy at a glance at retirement sector, you know, um, uh, that's 150 in all Larredo that retire, you know, compared to the employment that we have. That's that's big difference

115just to keep those numbers in mind. So, thank you. So I want to just remind this remind the board that the 350 number I shared with you either through resignation retirement not all 350 are are are positions that >> we will remain empty >> remain empty we have lot some of those we do need to bring >> critical positions and so we'll know more you got contracts going out in in midappril uh and so between April and beginning of the year you'll know more about what >> what what's there and and I think the superintendent talking to him has identified some areas of of uh at the schools where perhaps some classrooms like you know >> Yes. Yes. Whenever there's going to be a decrease of employees, you know, definitely or decrease of employees and

116decrease of students is always good practice to reconsider, you know, our staffing ratios. You know, that's something that we're definitely going to implement. And, you know, if we are really going to take advantage of this early exit, early notice, I mean, it's going to come down to decisions where certain positions will not be filled because 85% is in salary and that's where we're going to make the biggest chunk or the biggest difference is in salary. >> So, I'm thinking there there's got to be a percentage. I think we have what about 6600 employees total more or less >> full-time. >> So >> fulltime >> full-time. So 10% would be about 660. One is 66. So, we're looking at about maybe about about 400 employees is I think that that number right there is is, you

117know, kind of a number an average number of of of salaries that that we may be looking at in the millions of of it. It'll it'll represent roughly in my in my head anyway about about 400 employees. Is is that that million where we're where we're uh >> if you multiply it by 30,000? I'm not we're overloading. >> No, but we also also need to consider that a big chunk of that >> of that retirement percentage are teachers and we need to replace our teachers. We we can't you know. >> So I just want to remind you as as uh Miss Cavo presented earlier at 5:00 the tapar report. >> Yeah. >> She showed you all >> and those that were present >> that we have very loyal >> teacher >> uh human capital group.

118I mean they are very loyal to us and she showed you those from 11 years and on they stay with us. We have a higher percentage than what the state is showing and that is also true even with administration. We also have a high uh a high fill rate as as far as staying here with us as well. You know, this this school district has a very low mobility rate as far as people leaving us and this has been their home. When they come, just like the demographer said, once they come here as a kindergarten student, they usually stay. Well, usually or when they're when we pick them up as a staff member, they usually finish their career with us. Now, I can't say that anymore for the IGN group and the millennial group, >>

119but I can tell you that your Gen Xers and your baby boomers, they have this is the only job they've known. >> Well, those are your 30-year employee >> employees and and and we're getting to that where they are going to start retiring, but they've been very loyal to us. And so um you'll that's why we have such a high percentage on the >> I just want to make a comment that you know in reviewing our our financial um audit reports and it gives you you know four-year trend uh very department uh and it's just a testament the fact that we've actually done two hiring freezes. You've seen several many departments uh go down uh in the thousands in the last three years. So that's that's just our part of continuing to to get lean

120in this in this district. So thank you. >> Thank you. And I'll just make one last comment. I know um you work handinhand with finance, right? Um so thank you. really do appreciate this uh presentation, but I just want to ask that you know of course because we are talking about school coned possible school consolidations that we also um use an analysis right to compare the projective savings of this of retirements uh to whatever we're going to save in school closures because it seems like we can probably um offset some of that. So that data probably won't know until the very very end. You need to know that. >> And just like the reality is that there's some schools that we're not going to close. >> Well, yeah, Matias is not going to come. >>

121We need to reshift the focus >> and also hold on. We need to move on. Agenda item number six, consent. Agenda items >> A through >> Go ahead, Miss Martinez. >> Yes. So, I was just going to ask uh once we get that real number right of how many people are going to retire, if you can provide that to us in a Friday packet and then also with information on the positions that we have to rehire because of course there's some >> we're not going to have that number whenever whenever it's ready. That's what I'm saying. >> We're targeted for April 15th. >> Pardon me? So, we're targeted for April 15th on on our on what we're going to do with regards to school consolidations and any other costsaving measures and etc., etc. We're that

122that's the target date. >> I can give you not going to have that. You're not going to have >> I can give you what we have at that point, but I can tell you people keep giving retirements even all up to June. >> Okay, that's fine. Whatever you have up to that point, I think that'll be helpful to see. >> Thank you. >> All right. Agenda item six, consent agenda agenda items. Uh, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed A through J? >> Motion. >> Make a motion. I second. There any discussion? >> Yes, I had a question on the monthly dispersements. I know we were not able to um discuss last board meeting and I did have several questions on some of them. Um, let me just get my

123screenshots. Okay. So, I do know that we had some um that one was already answered. Um I do know that we have several um from the food service uh reimbursement. Um were there like events or like I know there's one from plant and maintenance totaling in 590. It was from account 63410 for 936 which is um facilities I believe it's let me see >> I believe it's fac facilities um they had two events two catering events um but um sorry my name is Rosa Cavayo director of accounting and we did have um those two which is AD232. We had an event on September 26 and on December 5th >> and these were actually for the for the staff, right? >> Good evening, Ala for the record. Yes. Uh so we have uh safety staff meetings

124every month or typically every month and so uh it was just to provide the very minimal uh food, some couple pastries. Uh but just to note uh since the beginning of this u year we have gone to have the meetings without any uh food and water. >> Yes. And I just want to reiterate it you know because it was the end of the year right? Uh was this like for the December meeting or >> we we had a meeting in September uh safety staff meeting in September and in December and so those are the two uh amounts. >> Thank you so much. >> What kind of meetings were proactive? >> What kind of meetings were these? >> Safety staff meetings. So we meet with everybody all the facilities and construction group. So we discuss we

125provide safety videos for them. Uh so we we do hold them in the mornings. >> Of course. Absolutely. >> Correct. >> How many how many people do you bring in? >> We have about 150 people. >> Both well three departments. So we have facilities and operations uh energy environmental and our construction group. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. And I just want to say I'm not against you all. I know that the work that you all are do is it's um hard work. Um, but I just know there's been a lot of comment, you know, on social media and even of us swiping the card, right? So, I just want to make sure that that's cleared out. I know there was another one um that the police department also uh it was a a ch uh

126food reimbursement for 3,000, but I uh did get comment from Chief Salasad that that's basically a program that they have, right, where um I don't know if you can elaborate a little bit more on that. Um I don't know if he's here. >> I don't know if Chief Salisad is here, but it's lunch with that lunch with the cop. >> Yes. It's not that they're actually Yeah. I don't know if you can explain a little bit. >> The lunch with the cop program has been in place maybe about four years. That was an initiative to get local law enforcement to go to the cafeteria and talk to students u you know and to pay for for their particular for their lunch breakfast. >> So it doesn't necessarily mean that they're just eating. It's actually something

127good for the district. Right. Perfect. Want to just point that out. >> Well, there's a time for, you know, uh community outreach for local law enforcement to go into confidence on the children and and and the and the police officers. They go to the schools and they and they eat there and you know, >> and I want to just thank uh the police department because I think that is such a crucial um program, right? So, just want to make sure that that's cleared out. Um and there's other ones. I know there was one for uh Texas Associate Environmental for 7,900. Is that like a subscription or >> Yes. So that's a taxpay subscription for the energy department in this case. uh this manages our business management plan that we need to must comply and it

128also helps us uh remain in compliance in the regulation with Ahira IPM which is your pace management >> perfect >> uh indoor air quality and uh lead and other hazards. It also provides training to our environmental officer so that she can go and train our guys when we have the safety meetings. So when we go do the repairs, we do them in a proper manner and we keep this the students and staff in a you know safe condition. >> Yeah. And this is more for compliance, right? To make sure. >> That is correct. Yes. >> Perfect. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Um and I believe that was it. Um you know, again, I'm just going to if if we can minimize on um I know for the Getty Images, the 4,100, is that

129going to be a monthly subscription that we're going to be paying or >> No. Uh what happened there was that the check was they don't um allow for us to pay them with a so we had to issue a check and the check got in lost in the mail so we had to stop payment and reissue >> reissue. Okay so perfect just want to clear that out that it's not a monthly subscription. >> It's a yearly subscription. >> Perfect. Thank you so much ma'am. Thank you. >> Got a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> motion carries. Agenda item number seven items for individual consideration. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh a approval of donations. >> Yes. Uh donations. A donation by Fan Pledge LLC in the amount

130of 9,464.85 cents for JB Alexander Boys and Track and Field to go towards equipment. A donation by Texas Community Bank in the amount of 1,500 for Kenny Sapata's third, fourth, and fifth grade classes for the end of the year uh end of the year trips. There was a five donations under 1,000 for a total of $12,319.85. >> All right. All those in all those u is there a motion to approve? Motion. >> Motion in a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. Agenda item 7B request from board members in reference to the use of discretionary funds. >> Mr. Moto, members of the board, Dr. Bruce, uh, there are no additional requests other than what's in your packet at this time. >> Thank you, sir. >> Motion

131to approve. >> Motion second and a second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. Agenda item C. Discussion and possible action regarding board policy DC local and matters incident there too. Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Motion for discussion. >> Word. There's a motion. Second. >> Discussion. second for discussion. Go ahead. I just wanted to see if the administration or in the board um I know it's DC local it's more about um it's a whole paragraph but it's more about employees and and you know we're talking about savings and I think if the board can commit to a freeze um where we will evaluate and we will help this cost-saving measures um as a as a team of eight I know we go to

132those trainings of team of and do it together. Um, and going back to I had a comment about the retirees. Um, I was talking to attorney, we won't find a numbers till June uh or July the total amount of people that retired. So to me, if we're going to do a vote in April 15, um we can make have ask the board to do a resolution to increase maybe 15% or 20% of their salary. If they announce um early notice, for example, if you make 100,000 salary, um you would uh 15% would be about $15,000. But, you know, the district would save $85,000. Um, that's instant savings and and it might bring more people than 104 at April meeting. So we can see and like I know the board here is is not in favor

133of any school closures and we can have a better view of what's going to happen in April than in July or August because eventually if we are going to decide to close school or you know take any measures it's going to be in April not in July or August but just something that again it's a what >> a propose and as proposal um I I don't know what the board thinks. I know I spoke to attorney. I don't know if you can elaborate. Mr. Arcia, >> Mr. Can you tell me what DC local is just for the record? >> Correct. DC Local mostly deals with the hiring authority that you've delegated to the superintendent. So, for example, most recently, you um must approve assistant principal hires or recommendations and above. uh but for contractual positions

134besides uh those at the level of assistant principal and above the superintendent is delegated that authority to hire uh without board action and uh for at will employees he non-contract employees he's also been delegated that authority in that policy uh to hire without board action >> I I do agree with with Mr. Agilad, I think we need to look into some u incentives, exit incentives. Um, and I think that'll be, you know, I'd be more than glad to sponsor an item, you know, for the next separately >> for the next board meeting. >> Would it be a resolution since we have to move from December to April? >> Go ahead. >> We have one already. So, we'd have to modify that resolution. >> Yes. So, David Canels, for the record, so I did speak to

135Tasby about this. Uh, we would have to then rescend our previous resolution, and I think our attorneys will have to then fix it because you can't have two resolutions that we like. You can't have an early ex early incentive and an exit. You got to have only one or the other. >> You don't want to sit. >> Can we get this resolution, the retract that resolution, and implement a new resolution by the next special called meeting? So I think we need to need need to work with our attorneys on this because they they believe they can help us with this and we can come back with you. >> So we'd have to put the item on the agenda. >> Yeah. >> Correct. Has to be board action. >> Yeah. So it needs more board action.

136>> I think if the item goes on and allow administration to perhaps provide scenarios, you know, maybe not necessarily percentage but maybe a fixed cost maybe something. So the the catchall phrase would be uh cost-saving measures. I think would be probably it'll be able to be discussed in that in that meeting. >> So I I also support the the recommendation of the freeze. I believe we have one in place. >> Yes, there is one u uh for there are there are still some priority positions when it comes to teachers, when it comes to safety and security, you know, we are still hiring those particularly when it comes to our teacher aids and special ed. You know, all of those will remain a priority, but all other positions are are frozen. And as a matter of

137fact, you know, whenever there is a request, those requests are coming down to management now, and it's up to the associate superintendent or my decision to either, you know, post or not post. Um, so there is a freeze in place right now. >> I would also recommend I I appreciate the comments here uh from Mr. Aguilard about putting maybe a little bit more teeth into that freeze um so we can add that item into next special called meetings agenda as well. Let's get through this this matter here going off the >> so discussion possible acts regarding DC local. There's a motion to second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I just want to make sure uh legal can you just um >> we voted. >> Yeah. Like reiterate. >> Just clarify the

138motion. >> Yes. Clarify the motion. I'm a little unclear. Just clarify for Miss Martinez. So it's regarding the the superintendent's authority to hire. >> Correct. >> Uh from uh director and assistant principal below uh >> well he already has that authority assistant principal below. Um but my understanding is that there was two separate items. So one is the discussion for potentially on on a future meeting to have a discussion about an early an early notice incentive a discussion which is probably and it's no secret it was it was posted temporarily before it was postponed. there was an item in the presentation on costs saving measures. So yes, I agree with Mr. Monttoayora would be included in that and I think this is a separate matter maybe uh to have administration a directive to administration to

139just review DC local and I think there was some discussion right now about the uh the hiring. >> So so this it's on a possible resolution. We just discussed that right now we can bring that. >> No no no this is not on possible resolution. No, this is a different item. This is DC local uh which would be the policy as Mr. Montto mentioned the hiring authority policy. >> I just I don't know we can clarify the motion I can make. >> It's of the the DC local >> to clarify is it gives the superintendent authority to hire directors and assistant principles and below only critical positions that are needed u while the freeze is in place without having to come to the board for authority. That's that's the discussion and action regarding board policy

140DC local. There's a motion in a second >> and I'll recall the vote again. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> I. Motion carries. >> All right. Agenda item 8, close session. Board will adjourn to close session pursuant to the following sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act. 551.074 551.076. The time is 809. Reconvene from close session. >> We're now in open session. The time is 8:34. For the record, no actions taken in close session. Agenda 9A, possible action regarding the appointment of executive director of special education. >> For the appointment of executive director for special education, I recommend Miss Clavia Dovalina Gusman. >> All right. Is there a motion? >> Motion to approve. Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

141>> All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Congratulations. >> Malia. >> Discussion regarding the intruder detection audit report. Sorry, we're can say congratulations. And there's no action on this item, but Mr. Ga does need to read something into the record. >> Yes. Okay, here we go. So, the Texas Education Agency in coordination with region one Education Service Center um recently conducted an intruder detection audit at one of the or more of the district campuses. The IDA tests whether a campus is accessible to an authorized individual. The IDA seeks to help school districts identify how campuses can improve safety for students and provide the district an opportunity to create a safer learning environment for students and staff members. Pursuant to CKC legal information is confidential if the information relates to an

142assessment by or for a district or an assessment that is maintained by a district of the risk or vulnerability of persons or property including critical infrastructure to an act of terrorism or related criminal activity. Specific details will be discussed in the board's executive session. >> They were Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Agenda 9C, discussion, possible action on the resolution adopting a policy designating time for prayer and religious text readings as required by Senate Bill 11 and Texas Education Code 25.08. >> Uh yes, Mr. President, members of the board, the recommendation on that item is to not approve a resolution adopting the policy designating time for prayer and religious text readings uh pursuant to state law. >> There's a recommendation. Any motion to >> to not approve? motion to not approve as as presented. >>

143I'd just like to make a comment. Um, so you know, our district already offers uh or offers the opportunity to our students to have a moment of silence and uh in the morning when the announcements are made. So they are able to do a prayer or um anything you know manifestation anything that they wish um before they begin their day. So, >> so I make a motion >> to not >> so we can have the discussion to >> Oh, sorry. >> So, we have a motion. Second discussion. >> Yes. Discussion. Okay. >> Any other comments? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I agree. >> In accordance with the recommendation then uh all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Motion passes and we are adjourned. Time is 8:37. Second. >>

144You all enjoy your evening. >> Thank you very much.