001school district meeting to order, but records show that a quorum of board members is present and this meeting has been duly called and notice this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. Time is now 6 o'clock. Uh to extend a a welcome to everyone present. I ask that you please turn off the sound on your electronic devices uh and stand for the pledges. Uh we have the American flag and the pledge will be by Jane Long Intermediate and Texas flag by Sam Raburn Intermediate >> and any of you parents can come up and get closer if you want. Then you can sit if you want or >> Yeah, we got lots of room. >> But come on, you're welcome to get wherever you need to
002for good pictures. It's behind the door. >> Okay. So, I'm gonna let each one of them uh Michael Gibson, principal Jane Long, I'm going let each one of them introduce yourself and then we'll get started. >> I'm Nora from uh I'm Nora and I'm in sixth grade. >> My name is Scarlet and I'm also in sixth grade. >> My name is Thomas and I'm also in sixth grade. >> My name is Gabriel and I I am also in sixth grade. I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all. Thank you. Everything's good evening. I'm Becky Ryberg. I'm the principal at Rayburn. And we have some of our student ambassador representatives
003helping us tonight. They're going to introduce themselves. >> Hi, I'm Charlotte Wakefield and I'm in sixth grade. >> Hi, I am J. Sean Canard and I am sixth grade. Hi, I'm Aspen Green and I'm in sixth grade. >> Hi, I'm Alena Valades and I am in sixth grade. >> Hi, I am Rue Ryberg and I am fifth grade. >> Hi, my name's Brady Swornman and I'm sixth grade. >> Hi, I'm Charlie Vinnie and I'm in sixth grade. >> Hi, I'm Jaden Brewer and I'm in sixth grade. >> Hi, I'm Ellen Brian and I'm in fifth grade. >> My name is Brody Sears and I'm in fifth grade. My name is Jackson Liur and I'm in fifth grade. >> My name is Lisa Doo and I'm in fifth grade. Would you please turn to the Texas
004flag? >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God, one indivisible. >> Thank you. Great job. Thank you all. [Applause] Yay. >> All right. Next, we have uh Spotlight, the auxiliary employ auxiliary employee of the month and the uh being this person will be introduced by Rick Scott, custodial supervisor. closer. >> Okay. >> Good afternoon everyone. If you don't know who I am, I'm Rick Scott uh over the custodial department and uh custodial services is proud to recognize Maria Zamora as the August 2025 auxiliary employee of the month. Maria has worked for Brian ISD school uh school district for just under one year. In January, Maria took on a challenging responsibility as the head custodian here at the Brian ISD administration building. Maria consistently exceeds expectations by keeping the
005Brian ISD administration building clean and healthy. Although she's primarily responsible for the cleaning and disinfecting of the Brian ISD administration building, uh she has um provided, excuse me, custodial support for other campuses as well throughout the district uh when needed. She has a strong work ethic and a keen attention to detail when it comes to ensuring her job is done correctly. Maria Zora's outstanding work ethic and attention to detail have demonstrated that she maintains the Brian ISD administration building in an exemplary manner. Maria, thank you for ensuring the high level of cleanness of Brian ISD. Thank you. [Applause] Congratulations. >> All right. The next uh item on our agenda is is a opportunity for public comment. We do have uh one person who would like to speak on an agenda item. Uh WY Tarver, please
006come forward and uh and you have three minutes to speak. Uh and we'll let I'll let you know if we're running out of time, but thank you for being here. >> Thank you. My name is Wy Tarver. I'm a resident here from Brian, Texas. My wife and I both went to Brian High. Went through Brian schools. Both my daughters did. Um little more history, I've served on different boards throughout the district committees. Uh my wife taught here for 29 years, 35 years in all. She retired last summer. Um she's not missing it yet, but she misses the camaraderie, but not all the daytoday, but that's neither here nor there. I want to come to thank a couple groups for their work this summer. First of all, the steering committee for the bonds, Dr. Merrill and
007his group. Um I've been here to watch them report on those findings and how much work and time and blood and sweat and tears went into that. I know that was not some easy decisions to be made because they had a limited number they were working with and I know having served on committees myself that's not an easy job and I commend them on a job well done for that and I appreciate them for that. Also the board here for standing up for our students all the time. Um I heard Miss Benford the other day at the convocation. I think she hit the nail on the head. um you know these kids come from various backgrounds and um sometimes the only good thing that happens to them is that day when they're in school. So
008I want to commend the board for going that extra effort to push making our children first. I would like to propose a change to that. Instead of just children first, maybe in princes, put children, future leaders first. >> And the reason I say that is that's what we're investing our time and money in. Like Miss Benford said, um it's frustrating that we have to make decisions, and I hate to say this, but it's um the board has been hamstrung because of what our legislators have done the last couple years. They really, like y'all have stated, do not give you money where you can kind of put that the money that's been given you, even though it's $ 8.5 billion or whatever, it's dedicated money. And I want to make sure that the voters know and
009that the citizens know, like myself, that we know that that's not what Brian ISD needed. And over and over I tell people in the legislators that I called that when I have a school budget with a negative $6 million and our college station school districts over $2 million that is not adequate funding at all. So I encourage y'all to keep fighting the battle. I know it's hard but keep fighting the battle every day for our teachers, our staff, and our students. We need y'all there. And I've seen at the big colleges right now, they're cutting sports because of financial constraints. I do not want that come to Brian ISD and say, "Hey, y'all got to cut programs more than we already have in schools. I don't want to cut football, band, choir, whatever. I don't
010want it to come to that." And I know y'all don't. And that's the farthest thing from your mind. But I'm tired of the state not giving us the funding we need. So, keep the fight going. And I appreciate all y'all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We don't get to clap for wy >> uh for for future reference. Uh just want to say that citizens may uh always at at meetings make uh comments about topics uh relevant to district business and as I said earlier you know that limited to three minutes so >> bond is good >> thank you have some seconds left so yeah >> thank you >> okay we've got uh now uh board board member reports. Uh well, also the superintendent report, so we'll start with that. Uh Mr. Carabine,
011>> thank you, Mr. SNY. I can't believe it, but uh school is back in session. Uh probably the fastest summer on record, but it's all good. Uh I've talked to kids, actually, all the ones tonight to do the pledge, and every single one of them said they were happy to be back at school, back in their routines, back to see their friends. And with that, as we start my presentation tonight, the first day was wonderful. We welcomed back almost 16,000 students. We're still settling in and we had record turnout when it comes to families participating in the meet the teacher, the schedule pickup, the walk the building, etc. So, I can tell that's uh indicative of our family and community engagement. So, again, we're off to a great start. And speaking of a great start,
012our convocation this year was fantastic. The theme was you make the difference. We are so grateful for our uh generous uh volunteers uh when it came to the donation of $17,000 from Hector and Olivia Bado. Every person stood in uh in unity that day wearing their matching t-shirts and uh we also um I guess uh debuted the letterw writing campaign that we had launched on social media. Uh we declared that day that we received over 100 letters thanking different staff members throughout the district. So we debuted some of them at the convocation. Today we launched another round of them. So it's just an incredible theme throughout the year. Again reminding everyone that they make the difference. But the real showstopper was Miss Felicia Benford. Thank you for stepping in that day as our basically our
013keynote speaker speaker representing our board of trustees. Your message was uh powerful. Every employee left feeling inspired and motivated to serve and support our students to ensure that they have the best year yet. So I think with that you're hired to be a keynote from now on at every single meeting. It truly was the message that everyone deserved to hear that day. That night we launched the year again with a bang uh with a community pep rally. We had over a thousand people in attendance. This night was again the epitome of family and community engagement. We had students turn out in record numbers, their families. We had staff members. We had community members included elected officials. I believe I saw Mayor Bobby Gutierrez, council members Jared Salvado, James Edge, Paul Taus, and others just standing
014again uh as a show of support and unity with us uh sending a message that this is going to be a great year for all of our students and our entire school community in Brian IT. So, we're very very thankful for the turnout and the generous donation from TNT uh security. They sponsored the fireworks. So, there's nothing better again than starting the year with a bang. And in conclusion, uh, keeping with the momentum of just incredible family and community engagement, on Saturday night, we had our third annual hometown reunion sponsored by the Brian Education Foundation. And just when we think it can't get any better, uh, they top what they've done last year. So again, a record turnout of people. We had staff members, we had community, families, uh, former uh, when we say reunion,
015it was a reunion. and lots of people that graduated from schools in Brian ISD and I heard all throughout the night some for some people it was their first time ever and they promised me that they would be back and then we have people that have been there all three years. So, we're just very very grateful to again to the education foundation for their support uh the financial support in particular, but you cannot put a price tag on what happened that night as we looked out and saw over 900 people celebrating and supporting and standing in unity for our school district, Brian ISD. So, we're very very grateful. And that's my report for tonight. Thank you, Mr. Stazzy. >> Thank you, Mr. Caribine. Uh our next report finance committee uh and Mr. Stenis is going
016to present that. >> Yeah, thank you Mr. Stasnney. So on August 14th uh the finance committee met via Zoom. Um board members present were Mr. Stazzy, uh myself and Mr. Leo Gonzalez. Uh staff members present were uh Ginger Carib, Brian Merrill, Barbara Ibara, uh and Norma Friddle. um topics that were discussed. Uh Miss Furle touched on uh some information from the chief appraiser regarding local property values um and the disputes surrounding those. Um the sound system uh for those that were present at the uh community prep pep rally, I think we figured out that maybe the sound system at Mel Green Stadium is is on its last leg. Um and so that was a topic of conversation of of the appropriate funding source uh to potentially look at replacing that. Um obviously reliability, effectiveness, and
017the value uh to support all the future events uh that will be held at the district uh stadium. Uh Miss Mr. uh Merrill and Mrs. Fiddle also um the attorney Robert uh Dansfield uh joined the call. He provided information related to the financial decisions, the order for calling on a bond election, and the required language uh for the three propositions uh that we're anticipating coming up in the bond. We also discussed Miss Friddle and Mr. Merrill also discussed the request to purchase three additional buses um using the transportation internal service fund. Uh that's going to be uh on the agenda uh this evening for the board's consideration. Safety mandates. were also a topic of discussion. Um required equipment for campuses cost and of course the funding sources for those. This is also uh an agenda
018that will be our board me agenda item that will be on the board for consideration. And then also we finished with um an overview and timeline of benefits and district information meetings uh will be shared with the board of trustees during this meeting as well. So that's it for the finance committee. >> Thank you. Good report. Uh, next on the list is information or information items 8A state accountability update. >> Dr. Ubaro. >> Thank you, Mr. Stasney. Uh, so I'm back to give us another update on accountability and we've we've been here several times over the past few years uh providing some context with all of the changes from the state of Texas regarding assessment and accountability. Um, but it's been a pretty busy week in that area. So, I thought I'd come back and
019go down memory lane with you just briefly for for a little bit um and share the good news of the progress in the district. Um, so if you'll walk back in the time machine with me, everything in blue there represents STAR 1.0, the first version of the STAR assessment which began back um years ago and the A throughF system which began in 201718. Uh, we are now on what we call STAR 2.0 0 and the new revised accountability system. And if you remember, we've used this example a few times that typically and historically whenever the state of Texas does a fundamental change to the assessment or to the calculations for school ratings, they change both the name of the assessment and also the nomenclature that goes with the rating system, exemplary, recognized, met standard, whatever
020it may be. In this situation, that did not happen. And that's part of why there's some confusion with it. So, it's STAR and it's STAR and it's A throughF and it's A throughF, but it's a completely different assessment and it's a completely different rating system in many regards. So, because of that, TEA put out a statement um in the spring of 2023 that we might see that campuses do better in 2023 and yet still receive a lower rating under the A throughF system. In fact, they anticipated a full grade level or full grade letter lower even if you improved. So, that came out from the state of Texas. Um, and again, that's when we talk about the test was different. There's now writing across every assessment in every grade. And there's also different indicators um
021and technology enhanced items, which honestly we think is a great idea. Uh, but it is a different mechanism and a different way of assessing student understanding. And then that accountability system, we've we've talked about this often. Um it's a 300page document to determine the letter grade for a campus and for the district. Um and those indicators changed um over the course of that re rewrite and then even up until last year. Um moving forward 2023 and 2024 ultimately ended up in a court injunction because of all of those changes and those ratings were held at the state level. Um, in 24 and 25, we start to see that artificial intelligence is used in the grading of all of those written written responses from students. I mean, think about the volume. Every student, every test has
022a written response. Um, and certainly that is a large volume to grade statewide. Um, you probably saw in the 89th legislature lots of discussion from our legislators about the reliability and validity of the STAR assessment. Several bills made it back back through both um both houses, both the House and the Senate, but they weren't able to come to conclusion. But it has revisit been revisited in the special session. And Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 8 both address um abolishing the STAR assessment and moving through to a through the years assessment. Senate Bill 8 uh was recently passed by the Senate and is awaiting House consideration. Um, so again, we've changed the test pretty significantly, but we still have the same ratings. So, let's fast forward to April of this past year. In April of
023this past year, this graphic might look familiar to you. Uh, the court injunction was lifted on the 2023 data sets and ratings. Um, so we did receive those ratings in April of 2025 for the 2223 school year. Uh, so that's when those ratings came out and what they predicted came to fruition. We improved in graduation rates, in college career readiness, and in almost all areas of STAR EOCC. Yet, the district received a lower grade than in 2022. Um, as did our campuses. And so, again, that's different assessment, different rating system, but it has all of the same names. Um, I I do want to pause here briefly, though. While we didn't have the ratings, we had what we needed to take care of our kids. We had the assessment data. We knew what how students
024were performing. We knew where we had areas we needed to shore up in the curriculum and where we needed to help kids individually. So despite whether we get a letter or not, we have what we need to take care of our kids and move them forward. And we acted on that data and helping our students. All right, fast forward to last week. Court injunction is also lifted now for 2024 and TEA simultaneously releases the 2025 data. So in all of this, you've got two years in one. uh the way the TEA did it uh we saw a number of gains coming down to the most recent ratings in 2025 and in fact we saw 39 distinctions across our campuses. Now those distinctions are no small feat. Um each campus is compared to 40 other schools
025across the state of Texas that mirror their demographics and makeup. And with that they put them in cortiles and you have to hit so many indicators to earn that distinction. So, our schools are outperforming schools just like them all across the state. Um, and certainly proud of those 39 academic distinctions. Uh, so again, we have the assessment data we needed. We have new ratings. Um, that 76 for the 2025 equates to essentially a B under the old system. Um, but again, it's a different calculation and a different way to do it. But it's exactly as TEA predicted. You can improve yet still see a lower grade. There any questions I can answer for you? >> I would like for you to elaborate what happened in the legislative session and what's happening right now in the
026called session. >> Certainly star and accountability. >> So the 89th legislature had talked about abolishing the star assessment and honestly they've talked about this for several years and they want to move to a through the years assessment. By that I mean they want to do a beginning of the year, a middle of the year and an end of the year assessment for students. So, three assessments throughout the year that are supposedly smaller um or in length in duration um but allow for a through the years kind of experience with testing. Um it did pass but they weren't able to come to agreement on some of the intricacies of it. So, it did not go forward. Um even though both parties and both houses, both the House and the Senate voted and celebrated passing No More
027Star, it's still here. Um, and then once again, as I said, the 89th special session, right now, Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 8 both proposed the same thing that the last session had. Um, it has already passed the Senate. Um, but we are waiting on the House, which I don't believe has a quorum at this moment. >> Sorry. >> So, it's dead in the water right now. >> Dr. Bart, go ahead. No, go ahead. >> I was just gonna Just make sure so so everybody knows 2023 24 and 25 are all with the new system as this flies in blue. So um and I I assume last year when we saw where we needed to do kind of understood more where we need to do because I'm really proud that we've bounced back up.
028I mean that's a lot to be proud of and congratulations to our teachers and you guys and everybody that worked to get us to to make up for lost ground there with the with was I'm sure a lot of it was >> 2024 was a different year and we saw those dips across the state of Texas. You might have seen TEA release in June of 2024 that mathematics in particular in grades 3 through 8 saw a market difference than in prior years. Um we don't know how suddenly the entire state of Texas doesn't know how to do math. Um but we did in fact use that data to respond to student need and we're pleased to see that performance improve this year. >> Thank you. That that's what I wanted to point out because like
029you said it's just odd that we can do >> we we for we can't possibly forget everything in one year but but agreeing that the whole state felt that. Yes, sir. >> Thank you, Dr. Moore. >> I wasn't going to read this at first because I know we've talked about this before, but I'm going to. >> Okay. So, uh, Saturday's newspaper, The Eagle, printed this, but it was an AP article or a at least statewide article talking about Dallas ISD and their feelings of the results of 2024 scores, and we feel the same way and we've talked about it. Um several district leaders across the state filed the lawsuit against uh Commissioner Morra and um during the 23 24 school year, the commissioner radically changed the way the new STAR test is being administered by
030replacing human graders with AI grading. The lawsuit stated after the change, many district officials noticed a large number of high schoolers scored zeros on their written responses. This is part of the suit. >> Yes, >> scores generally this Wait, hold on. Let me back up. Scores generated this way threaten to unfairly and unlawfully lower the A throughF ratings of many school districts and campuses. The lawsuit stated a court ruled against them in July saying the state brought forward experts who uh supported the validity and reliability of automated scoring in great detail. That ruling gave the education agency the go-ahead to release the 24 scores. DISISD, Hold on, sorry. DISISD Superintendent Stephanie Elaldi said in June that the district asked the state education agency to review a sample of STAR responses to confirm that students earned
031the correct score. So, this was personally reviewed by people. Yes. >> That scored zeros graded by AI. Of the 5,420 answers that DISD submitted, roughly 35% showed an improvement after they were rescored. The rescored responses caused five Dallas ISD schools to earn higher A throughF grades compared to the district's initial projections. And Commissioner Morath said in response to that that that just showed how the system is designed to provide accurate feedback that it was only 35%. Well, if my child was one of those 35% and my child scored by probably a former English teacher, high school English teacher was one of those that scored better by a person than AI. >> I would really have a real problem with that statement. >> They also charge individually for each one you ask to be reassessed. And
032if you end up coming out with a higher rating, they refund you those that fee. Um, but there is a $50 I believe. I might be wrong on that one, but per student assessment and per question. >> I just um anyway, that was that's a specific event that happened as part of the lawsuit and the result of it. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Just a comment of um how did kids suddenly not know how to do math? So, as someone who I mean, I basically consider myself an expert in teaching and learning. I have a PhD. I've spent many, many years studying student learning and achievement. If students don't do well, that feels like an anomaly, especially when you look at last year's data. >> Chances are the issue isn't with the
033teacher and it isn't with the student. The issue is with the assessment that was used. So the fact that this assessment was never critically challenged for reliability and validity other than in this court case and not because that's the right thing to do when you release a new assessment is really um I wish this the taxpayers of this state would hold our uh Texas education agency accountable to our children. Um that's just unconscionable. >> And Dr. Harlland, I I couldn't agree more. the the prior statute requires the commissioner of education to have an external third party to verify the reliability and validity of the assessment should there be any major changes. Thus the two court cases because that was done with just some experts because they did not change the name. So they did not
034go out for an external uh study for reliability and validity. Um, as I understand it now, um, that that has been removed from statute and the commissioner can select a committee to demonstrate reliability and validity of his own choosing. >> Yeah. Not according to rigorous statistical analysis, I'm sure. >> Yes, ma'am. And the legislature has passed a bill that says school districts cannot sue >> correct >> the state of Texas for anything to do with reliability of scores in A throughF rating. >> Yes, ma'am. That's correct. We we have I've said this many times that one of the things that I'm most proud of about public schools in general and Brian ISD in particular is that we uh we we welcome all students regardless of their circumstances and we will continue to do so. Uh
035but one of the things that the public needs to know when they see these so-called grades is that there have been despite attempts to to uh try to say well okay it doesn't matter what the makeup of your of your student body is uh uh all kids can learn. So therefore doesn't matter whether you're in the uh wealthiest district in Texas or the poorest. uh you're kind of subject to for the most part the very same rules. And uh and yes, uh we want to do well regardless of of who our kids are. Uh and we want all our kids to learn, but but there is uh and probably always will be uh a correlation between poverty and and uh performance in school. And there are lots of lots of reasons for that. Uh the
036home life of children is sometimes challenging. Not the kids' fault. Uh certainly not the teacher's fault that that that things happen. Uh attendance can suffer. Uh help on homework can be very difficult to obtain. All of those things factor into these so-called standardized tests and especially when you got little kids trying to take them on a computer now, which is just uh kind of mind-boggling. Uh so so the reason I bring it up again is because uh I'm sure there are still lots of people who simply look at this uh grade score, this letter letter grade and and say, "Well, gee, I guess they're not a very good school district or this school is not a very good school or whatever because gee, why would the state tell us otherwise?" Uh but but there has
037been and that's one of the reasons that that the that the test is now being challenged even by the legislature is that it's slowly being recognized that you cannot you cannot assume that all students are the same or that that there's no uh I mean every child's unique every single one is unique. Uh and so it's it's just frustrating that people still too many people still uh look at those scores and draw conclusions that that are just simply not valid. So I'm going to say this one more time and then I'll be quiet. And that's and that's that we I know what we're doing in this district and I know we're working very hard and I know that it's frustrating to every teacher who has a student who is is having difficulty mastering what what
038he or she needs to master. Uh and and it's and the effort is there. The the the uh sometimes they go way above and beyond what any teacher should be expected to do in terms of being social workers. Uh, and so, uh, I I I want everybody to, as many people that hear this or see this, uh, to know that because we are very proud of what we're doing. And no, we're not thrilled with a a C, but I don't think we deserve a C. >> And I hope I think they should be the one to get the C. If you look at it, all children do learn different and we every school district has children that are not going to learn at the same rate or at the same pace or in the same
039way. >> Same matter. >> But if they had a test that would test what the child actually knows and not try to put a test on the child that they know they're going to have difficulty with, then shame on them. But the seed doesn't belong to us. The seed belongs to them because they don't have enough sense to see that they're only hurting children and they're not making it fair. The the playing field is not fair whatsoever. And so until they realize that until children become important to them, we're going to have that problem. And the things that they're doing and the decisions that they're making, that's what they're clearly stating. Thank you. >> May I say one more thing and I'll be quiet. I promise. I just want to say bring it piggybacking on
040Felicia's. You know, we we look at this and I think we've done a good job and I know we've discussed this before of not not taking trying to shift the blame and it's not our fault. But, you know, I would hear a lot of the board say that before. Well, that the cards are stacked against us. And when you're not here and you don't see everything that's going on, sometimes it does seem like we're trying to blame somebody else for shortcomings. But being here, being on the board, I have seen that really it is it is not a fair battle. And I I commend everyone here, all of you, all of our admin, staff, teachers, like y'all said, for everything you have done to try to even the playing field because it really is stacked
041against us. That is not an opinion. I mean, I I really just if you look at it, just >> TEA said it you can do better, but we're going to give you a lower grade. So, >> good point. So, >> came right out and said it. I I just always want to remind everyone that we're we're not trying to put the blame elsewhere. We're simply doing the best that we can and you've done y'all done a great job trying to make up for where where they've left us. So, thank you'all. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Uh move on to the next item, which is an overview of the process and timelines related toformational sessions for health insurance benefits. and I believe Norma Friddle, our chief financial officer, will present.
042Thank you. >> Good evening, Mr. President, board members, and superintendent Caribine. This evening, I'm here to provide an overview of the process and timeline uh for health insurance and other employee benefits. There are no items up for approval tonight. This is simply an overview um of some information. The purpose of this presentation is to walk you through the key steps of the benefits process. uh from planning to open enrollment and ultimately to the start of the new plan year. My goal is to give you a clear picture of what happens at each stage along the way. And in addition, I'll highlight the series uh or the series offormational meetings that will begin next month. Uh these meetings are designed to help keep employees informed as we move through the process. So, here we are, August
043the 18th. We are here to review the timeline and share some general information. uh September 8th at our next board meeting, we will share some proposed plans along with potential changes for the 2026 plan year. And as always, we look forward to the board's input and feedback before taking any steps. At that same meeting, we will also review some financial scenarios. We'll look at some employee utilization trends and uh we'll also look at some other key factors that influence the overall medical plan program. No action will be taken at this meeting. On September 22nd, we will present the proposed changes for all the plans scheduled for renewal in the 2026 plan year for board consideration and approval. And then moving on to October 1st, the open enrollment timeline will be shared with staff and throughout
044the month, informational meetings will be occurring. At these meetings, we'll focus on educating employees about what it means to be part of a self-funded health plan. We will walk through the details of the new plan coverages and highlight the benefits of our employee health center so that staff understand how affordable and how accessible it truly is. We will also explain the differences between the freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers um um helping employees make the best choices for their healthcare. In addition, we will we will review workers compensation along with other important updates and benefits uh to ensure employees have a clear and understanding of all of the resources available to them. November 3rd, open enrollment begins. The open enrollment period is a specific uh window of time, usually once a year uh when
045employees are allowed to enroll in health, dental, vision, or other benefits. They can make changes to their existing coverage. They can uh decline or drop drop coverages if they no longer wish to participate. November 21st, open enrollment ends. And then in December, this typically uh is the month when all of the administrative updates are being made. During this time, the benefits team processes all the employee elections and ensures that all their selections and changes are entered accurately into the system. so they are active and ready to take effect when the new plan year begins January 1st, 2026. As I mentioned earlier, we will be conducting anformational road show uh to share the key factors that impact the school district's fund balance. A major focus of these sessions will be educating our employees what about what
046it means to be self-funded. By understanding how the plan works, employees are better equipped to make informed decisions when selecting their medical providers. For example, one of the topics we'll cover is the use of freestanding emergency rooms. Uh in ourformational sessions, we will explain to staff that seeking care at these facilities for non-emergent cases is extremely costly to the district. Because we are self-funded, those costs ultimately affect every single employee. And ultimately, our goal is to support the health and well-being of all employees by educating them on how to use the right care for the right circumstances. because we understand that life doesn't just happen Monday through Friday 8 to5. Making the right health care choices not only supports our employees health but also the district's financial health. Once again, nothing is up for approval
047this evening. Tonight's presentation is simply intended to provide a high-level overview of the benefit plan renewal timeline. I'd be happy to take any questions at this time. >> Mr. Just as if I may, I just want to ask, we I think we talked a little bit about making it mandatory. So I I think a lot of times this information has fallen through the cracks and a lot of our educators have not been privy to it and the ones that I've talked to were really shocked when I explained to them the difference about from the private ERS and such. So is are we making a very very concerted effort to make sure everyone actually gets this information? >> Yes. This year, >> we absolutely are. We are going on anformational road show to make sure that
048all of our employees understand um all of those differences between freestanding ERS, urgent care centers, how that affects the pocketbook, how that affects the district's ability um you know to give raises and everything else that goes along with that. >> And and I think Miss Waller brought it up last time and said we just want to make sure that they understand it's not optional, it's mandatory. So I think that was a really good suggestion on her part. >> Thank you. I I'll uh add to that. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez. Yes, it's mandatory and we have a plan uh scheduled for all campuses and all departments and several of us will be on what we're calling the road show and we're prepared to have very specific examples for some of us who have some lessons learned
049from um mistakes we've made. So, thank you for the board support uh because we're all in this together with self-insured uh insurance plan. >> Yes, thank you very much. The reason it's mandatory, I mean speaking from thinking within um I used to think okay I know this I know my insurance I know the different plans click and I just reclicked every year every year uh depending on how many children I had at the time and so we need to make it mandatory because this year things are so different. >> Yes ma'am. And I wouldn't say that teachers certainly don't need another meeting, but this is a whole different ballgame now. And so it's very important because for a lot of them, they could be on a plan that they need that's less expensive like what
050Miss U Cariban was talking about. >> Yes, ma'am. You know, she found that out with her own example. And so we want everyone to know what we offer, what's uh kind of best monetary for the district, but the main thing is for every one of our employees to be on the best plan so they get the the best for their family and themselves for their benefits that they're paying. >> Yes, ma'am. That's actually a very very good point. uh making these types of selections is a very personal choice and as you've stated um we do want to educate and part of the road show um the informational road show as as we call it is we want to be educating our staff so that they truly are knowing what they're choosing for themselves and their
051families um so that that way they can stay in good health. Um and that's it's it's all it's all a part of it. That's a good point. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Yes sir. Uh, next item is the consent agenda. Several items here. Hope everybody's had a chance to look them over. Uh, the board may remove any item from the consent agenda if uh, chooses to do if if that member chooses to do so so that it can be discussed individually and voted on individually. >> I move approval of all the items listed on the consent agenda. >> Second. Motion made by Miss Dr. Excuse me, Dr. Harland and seconded by uh Miss Benford. Uh it's pardon wolf in it. I'll get it right one of these days. Okay. >> Uh any uh
052any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Pass unanimously. Uh and then now we're in uh number 10, action items. Consider approval of close out of phase 2 construction for Sadbury Intermediate School. And we have uh Dr. Merrill and Mr. Bobby Griffin, I think, are both coming up. Yes, sir. We appreciate the opportunity to come and um close out these two projects. Hopefully, uh Mr. Griffin's been working with uh both architects as well as the campus and finishing up the punch list and making sure that everything gets done. And uh again, this is we've talked uh with our bond oversight committee. Um we're very excited uh that that's been an active uh participant in this process. And this goes all the way back to our 2020 bond with 175 million. And
053there was promises made and promises kept. And so we're very excited to see these project come to f fruition and um just close them out. And so 10A is consider approval for the close out of phase 2 construction of Sadbury Intermediate School. I'd like to just offer up my appreciation to Mr. Griffin uh for coming on board a few months ago and really uh making sure that we crossed this finish line and finishing it up. And so um it's been a wonderful process um for us and I appreciate the accountability that um he's brought to these uh to the district to be completely honest. >> Is it true that he was personally responsible for the 1.4 4 million savings. That's what I heard. >> That's what you heard. I'm not going to I will not
054refute it. Uh but we are very proud of the savings that we're bringing back from both of these projects and obviously they're listed in the line items and uh so thank you for pointing that out, Mr. Gonzalez. Would you like to say anything, >> Mr. Okay. Any questions? >> That is a huge uh relief and plus that we were able to to have that. And so that's uh uh we got other another another bond to talk about this that this this evening and and that's kind of something to remember is that that whatever >> whatever we whatever we talk about in terms of things we we don't know what the final is going to be until it's done. So uh we we going to do everything in our power to make sure that we're we're
055cost effective and efficient. And looks like we did a good job on this one. So >> 1.439 million back is pretty that's pretty big. That's pretty big. I've seen uh deductance, you know, for 50,000, but it's not often you see 1.4 million. So, >> that's why I give Mr. Griffin all the credit. But I was going to say the same thing is as we can looking at a new bond that this is proof that we don't always our goal is not to spend what has been allotted. We're going to, you know, we've got to work on if if it's passed. >> Yes, sir. And then anytime we have any savings, which we uh are very thankful for, we have the bond oversight committee that was established under Miss Carbine, uh that really helps us determine
056where any additional money goes. And so we're very appreciative of their work and we meet uh quarterly and we met just a few weeks ago with them. >> Mr. Mr. Stasnney, I move approval of the final payment in the amount of $77,241 to Dramala Construction and a deductive change order in the amount of 1,439,147 as presented. >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. Gonzalez, seconded by Miss Benford. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. All oppose. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. No trouble passing that one. Uh, all right. Next one is, uh, Ruby Hallebertton Auxiliary Complex. >> It's the same thing. Uh, we're asking for consideration for approval of the close out of the Ruby Hallebertton auxiliary complex. And again, uh, bond savings of a little over 2 million. Again, Mr. Griffin's
057come on board and really uh one of the first projects that we did was walk around and uh I was again very thankful to look at the buildings for him to point things out and for us to talk to those um the architects as well as the contractors about additional items that needed to be cleaned up. And so uh that was an enlightening conversation and it was fun to go back out there a couple weeks later and to see everything just uh taken care of. So we appreciate the work of not only uh Mr. Griffin but also our maintenance department uh and their work uh really with those items as well. So, um, those contractors were, again, accountability is a big big, uh, thing for us and we want to make sure that what we've,
058uh, asked them to do that they're following through with and that they're actually going to give us what we paid for. And so, again, we're bringing savings back to the district of a little over $2 million. >> Mr. Griffin was he was waiting to take credit for this one. I >> I think he should work on Mr. Griffin, let's talk about working on commission because I think you you earned it. >> Yeah. >> All right. I'll consider a motion. I move approval of the final payment in the amount of $470,00039 or 470,339.39 sorry >> to dry mala construction and a deductive change order in the amount of 2 million2 million6,000 or what is that >> go brown high6 $217 >> 2 million $6,217 as presented. >> It's not easy. >> He's not used to dealing
059with such small numbers. >> I second >> not. Thank it is microscopic. Maybe you need to borrow my reading license. I second. >> All right. Mot motion was made by Mr. Brian and second uh by Mr. Stennis. >> All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. >> It's unanimous. Good news. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. We next have dis discussion and consider approval of over 50,000 for the purchase of buses. Uh and I believe uh Mr. Fiddle is going to help us out again and maybe Pat Corbett and maybe Bryant Washington. We got all three of y'all. Afternoon everyone. >> Hello. >> Um I have been with Brian ISD now for um 45 47 others can say years, I say days. >> But you're still here, sir. We appreciate it. >> Oh,
060I'm loving it. I am loving it. Um, so, um, yeah, >> part of the the challenge that we have in transportation is we now have enough drivers, but we don't have enough buses. >> Um, and so that's that's a somewhat good challenge to have. Um, so we we're asking for three new buses. They will go directly to routes to help with the overcrowding of school buses. Um, and this would also help us cut time on routes. So, this will allow us to get to schools um on time in the AM and the PM routes. >> M Mr. Washington, may I ask how long has it been since you've had full drivers or Mr. Corbett? I know you just got here, sir, but >> Well, I historic I' I've been asking historically. Um they >> I
061haven't heard I I've asked people that's been there for about nine years, 10 years, and they have not seen it this way. >> Yeah. He's not going to toot his own horn. uh we haven't seen it. Mr. Corbett uh you know we obviously transitioned he moved from our finance department and really started overseeing um a lot of things over there paying close attention to transportation uh and then we uh were able to post a position and we hired Mr. Washington and between the two of them and Claudell Lipskcom as well uh we've just seen tremendous momentum uh and so really for the first time that we really that we can remember we had more drivers than we had buses and uh it was pretty remarkable for that to take place and that's uh I think
062a lot of uh to Mr. Corbett Mr. Lipkcom and then Mr. Washington as well. Uh bringing them on board, training them, getting them done really quickly and uh really creating a culture where they want to work and um we very very appreciative of that. In fact, I got a text today from SFA. Last bus cleared out at 4:45. That was better than we did all of last year if I'm honest. And so um congratulations to all of our drivers, everyone working out in transportation. So I didn't mean to step up, but we went over last week and I said I I've never had a moment where we had enough drivers. Uh, it's the first time ever in history. >> Well, I haven't gotten any calls from any bus driver. I've been kind of bored because
063I was getting a lot last year, the last couple of years, and it's been absolutely quiet. So, y'all are doing something right, and it is greatly appreciated. >> Just one one question I have. Is there any salvaging or trade-in value or anything to the three existing buses that were replacing or is it do they go end up sitting out on driving ranges as as target practices? >> So, we're we're obligated to auction them off. Okay. >> And so we'll be we'll be doing that. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> So how long will it take to get those >> new buses in? >> About how long what's the turnaround time? >> As soon as you approve it, the buses are on the lot ready to be >> Oh, wow. >> Oh, all of y'all already ordered
064them. Just waiting on us. >> No, no, they're ready. >> She's trying to order them. >> We have confirmed they're on the lot waiting for >> Not our lot. We took the liberty >> the car lot the bus lot. >> Okay. The bus lot. Okay. >> And you might mention >> for sale bus. >> They're on a buy board. So we already have the discount. We don't have to go out for bid for them. So we we have a partnership with the buy board and we're able to get them at a discounted rate and it it is a miracle that they're on the lot because you >> they coincidentally already had Brian ISD. Is that >> once you all approve I'm going to send a text. No. >> Well, well, Mr. Mr. Stazzley, then if
065I may, I would like to move approval of the purchase of three 77 passenger buses from Longhorn Bus Sales. I don't like that name. In the amount of $459,51 to be funded by the Internal Transportation Service Fund as presented. >> Second. >> All right. Motion by Mr. Gonzalez, seconded by Miss Benford. >> Screen. >> All in favor say I. I. >> All oppose. It's unanimous. Uh, these are air conditioned, right? Because when I went, it's too late now. When I went to school, I didn't I didn't have any air conditioning. All right. Even when we went on trips. So, just saying that. >> That's right. >> That's good. >> That number. >> All right. Let's see. Next, we have discussion and consideration of an order calling November 4th, 2025 bond election uh to be held
066in the Brian Independent School District making provision for the conduct of set election and resolving other matters incident related there too. And we have Dr. Merrill and Mr. Riddle and Bobby Griffin. Again, I believe you're all going to perhaps join in on this one. Yes, sir. I appreciate the opportunity to come back. We've been in the boardroom, I guess, and I can't even remember how many times. Four, five, six, a lot. Yes, Miss Benford been for a lot. Um, and we're back in again tonight. Obviously, we've closed closing out 2020 with a few projects left that we're working on. But again, we're uh knew that when we came together in 2020 or 2019 and we went to the election, we knew that that one was going to take us four or five years, which obviously
0672019 plus four or five years is 2025, which is why we're back in the boardroom um asking for consideration. And so you you know that we put a committee together. Uh we've been working for over six months. I appreciate Mr. Tarver's words and him coming in. Thank you for doing that. We've met over 10 times. They've looked at all type of information. And I've asked uh uh Mr. Mvish to come. He presented I think uh a couple weeks ago with us. He served on the committee. He serves on all different committees. He's obviously a citizen. And so we asked him just to come and kind of kick us off and just start a little bit. And so thank you uh for coming today. >> Did he win something the other night? >> He did or
068I heard a rumor. >> That was the first time in 25 years. >> Well, you earned it >> winning a raffle. So, um thank you all. I will say I have one senior left in in Brian ISD. So, all of this that's going to happen that I am going to be knocking on doors for and telling people to vote for, my kids aren't going to see any of this. Uh but it is important for all of the kids that are coming up uh that they have a quality school to go to. And the majority of what we're looking at is we've got a we've got uh air conditioners that are end of life. We've got roofs that are at end of life. Uh if if we want to have a bad name in the city
069of Brian, send our kids to schools with no air conditioners. Uh if we want to have a bad name in the city of Brian, it's hey, we could have spent a couple million dollars fixing a roof and we didn't and now we've got a $20 million problem in one of our one of our elementary schools because we weren't proactive. Uh what I want to make sure that you all know and that uh everybody in the community knows is that the taxpayer was always in the room in every meeting that we had. uh we were balancing the needs of our kids of today, the needs of the kids that haven't even started elementary school yet uh with the taxpayer and that everything has gone up and that people are financially strapped. But again, uh we can
070fix something now by replacing a roof for a few million dollars and you've got to do that at multiple schools or we can come back in a couple years and say, "Hey, we've got a $80 million problem." Uh so those were things that we were looking at was the the the havetos. Um, there are also things that we're needing to look at, uh, that's just making kids feel good about participating in extracurricular activities. Hey, I want to join the band. Oh, sorry. Here's a 15year-old band uniform that's that's tattered up. Hey, uh, softball team, you have to scotch tape the numbers back onto your jerseys. Uh, 90 our kids who are in extracurriculars have a 97% attendance rate. and we want to make sure when they that they want to be in those extracurricular activities.
071Uh so those were the things that we were considering as well. Uh the other thing that we were considering as well when we look at things like making upgrades to to athletics is it is the front door uh for our town. I have been spending seven years of high school going to different football stadiums to watch my girls do Cheyans. We've been going to gyms to do competitions. What I can tell you about all those cities is I know what their football stadium looks like. I know what their gym looks like. And that's the decision I'm making about what the quality of the rest of their the rest of their schools look like in the rest of their town. Uh there is no telling how many businesses we have not been able to bring into
072Brian because they won't even come to Merryill Green Stadium for a playoff game because it is dilapidated in their words. They're not even going to consider it. Well, how many business owners didn't get the chance to see how great our community is because we couldn't have that playoff game. How many people come in from Temple or Coppers Cove or when we were in district in Houston that said, "I'm not expanding to Brian because I don't want people to have to go to that school." Uh, and the only thing they saw was a football stadium. So, when people are going to say, "Hey, we don't need to put money into athletics," it's the front door of our community. Uh and there's millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars on the line. Not to mention what
073all we have for our kids that we've got kids at Rudder who don't even have a locker room. Uh we've got u softball and things that don't have places to go to. We have the only only grass fields left in the in the not just in the district but in the Brazis Valley that don't have astroturf for their fields. Uh we are not providing them the things if we're going to be children first and having the best for our kids. We're not giving that to them. Um, so as I said, my daughter is a senior this year, but I am going to be knocking on doors. Uh, the money that is that is being asked for is for things that are needed. And if the this bond doesn't pass, the citizens can count in a
074couple years, we're going to be asking for two or three or four times more for the damage that's going to happen to the infrastructure here. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> You know, I we started the committee and it was a process and I appreciate u Mr. Mvish and everyone bringing the opinions, their thoughts and their hard work to the committee each and every week. We met for consecutive weeks. We hit them with a ton of information um some of which we'll discuss tonight. Most of everything you've been provided, it's on the website as well. Full transparency in everything that we do, which is again an example of why we came in from 2020 and closeouts and everything. So when you look at what we're talking about, this is the the meeting schedule that
075we had. Again, we sent them home with all types of information. Um, this bond really became about, as Mr. Mvish said, uh, really involvement. When you think about it, almost 60% of our kids are involved in um, athletics. It's the secondary level. 70% are involved in fine arts and almost 80% are involved in CTE. So, when you look at them, they're all all involved in what you're going to see in the recommendations. that truly became what the what the 2025 bond became about. And um we're very excited to uh share the information. Again, we made data informed decisions as Mr. Murvish said. We looked at the conditions of the facilities. We had um our experts that we hired that came in and talked about our facilities, gave us um priority maintenance, tu lifespan. Mr. Griffin
076as well brought his expertise uh to the committee, stood up and presented time and time and again and again. Obviously, we've brought that information to you. the age of the equipment and replacement cycles was a conversation as well. And then our current projected student enrollment was a demographer that you approved and uh they conducted that uh demography study that we looked at. We overlaid all of that information and what started out uh simply as strategic planning uh about six meetings in became bond steering. It became a very formal process. We met in this room. It was full of people. Uh we were talking about all of that uh dis data decision- making and it was really just strategic planning and at some point the committee just kept saying hey what are we just going to
077like plan or are we actually going to do something and that became honestly a formal moment where we said look we would like to transition from strategic planning to bond steering and so the language changed at that point we knew that at some point we would bring a recommendation we met all the way through uh May and then we picked back up in June and then July and again we've presented multiple times in the boardroom and so it was a unanimous decision using the information they said absolutely we would want to go from strategic planning to bond steering and um they looked at all of the factors that were considered in that we've shared this as well our demographer uh report um and again it's really amazing how uh I mean perfect they get within
078one or percent or less of what the enrollment's going to be with 2425 um they predicted did it. And when you look at uh the projections, um you'll see that cone where they kind of give us a range of what it's going to look like all the way out to 2034. And again, we engage with them every year. We don't do a full demographer study every year, but they do geoc code our students. And then from time to time, depending on um what we're seeing in the community, we could obviously authorize or you could authorize that again. and we get that information to look at it to make sure that we're um understanding where growth patterns are happening and what we need to do to campuses and if we need to adjust any of the
079boundaries or anything along those lines. But again, the information is incredibly accurate and it's been from year to years and uh we appreciate them as partners. The recommendation from the committee uh uh ended up being 397 million in three different uh propositions and we're going to go through those three different propositions. I can tell you this as uh Mr. Murvish said the taxpayer were always at the forefront in in the mind of our citizens. Uh we had over $800 million worth of uh kind of needs if you would and we whittleled that down obviously to 397 million and we don't take that lightly. That is a huge number. We understand that. We also looked at the tax implications of 397 million and we appreciate um and will present on that the board's ongoing decision for
080really many years to put us in a financial situation, an an unbelievable financial situation that would allow us to go out for 397 million. With Proposition A, you'll see the major categories there. This is not an exhaustive list, but we do have safety and security, security cameras, immediate priority maintenance needs for all campuses. There isn't a campus in this district that will not be touched by this bond. Again, uh we appreciate that. Uh we look at a complete rebuild of Brian Collegiate High School. We looked at the uh the facility condition index, which gives us a good number of whether or not we should repair it or whether or not we should build another one. That number was so high uh that the committee, I mean, they kept asking like, "Hey, are we really about
081to spend this much money and all we're going to do is sort of repair anything? you won't be able to see any difference or are we going to spend a little more money and get a complete brand new Brian collegiate and so that became honestly a large conversation that at the beginning of it really wasn't kind of on it was on the radar but not as heavily as as it has become now we appreciate that conversation we're very proud of Brian Collegiate it is uh the highest rated high school in the Brazes Valley and again uh so many of those kids are first generation college kids and I think I've reported out over 52 hours is the average uh when those students graduate so we're incredibly ly proud of it. Transportation, you've heard today again
082just keeping up with replacement cycles. There's a trucks as well as other district vehicles like um the white fleet or SUVs. The Rudder uh Ruer High School has a new competition gym. And I'd like to point that out that it's in Prop A. It's not in Prop B. Prop B is athletics. It's in Prop A because traditionally with a 5A high school, you would have three gyms. And when you would build a high school with three gyms, that would be included in it. And it's a classroom to be completely honest with you. That's where PE is going to go. that's going to be used on a daily basis just in the regular scope of a school day. Yes, we'll be playing games in there, but it's going to be available to all students in just
083a general education setting. Um, and with that, we would expand the locker room. Again, I mentioned those numbers at the beginning, that high percentage of students participating in athletics. We are out of space in locker rooms. We need additional locker rooms, not only at Ruer, but at Brian High. We've gone about that differently. The committee looked at it with Mr. Rush's guidance as well as the campus and we look to make sure that we did that um as the campus and as those individuals educators would want dance hall renovation both programs at Brian and Rudder are growing and we need to to make sure that we have space for them a new band hall and by creating a new band hall we create a space for our mariachis which is incredible because we've got an
084amazing program both at Brian and Ruer and the the middle schools a cosmetology and barbering lab CTE again uh providing space we're going to take those portables that are currently at Rudder and we're going to move them to either MC Harris or the CEK and we're going to reuse those spaces to expand that program for both groups of students. Brian High School, the new auditorium, I don't know of a a uh 6A high school in the state of Texas that does not have an auditorium where they could take at least one class in there. So, we're very excited about that again. And that uh is on under Proposition A. CTE renovation, if you've not been, it is the original part of Brian High School. So those labs are in so many cases uh original. Um
085we have done some upgrades to uh various spaces. Those are not things that we are going to go back and undo. Uh but we do have areas that have never been updated. And so we definitely want to do that and we looked very very closely at that. In fact, I've I've presented that to the board a few few uh months ago. Kitchen and cafeteria expansion. The Brian High in general could could accept more students, but it couldn't with the cafeteria and the kitchen. um that was limited and that uh really is determining the overall uh enrollment at Broad High School. So by increasing those we would obviously increase the enrollment if we ever needed to at Brian High School and then fine arts spaces as well. So we're uh very thankful for that. Again, fine
086arts at Brian High and Rudder new band trailers. I don't uh Ruer doesn't currently have a band trailer um like Brian High School and Brian High Schools is very very old and unsafe. And you'll see that um is a consistent theme that Mr. MVish talked on that we do believe uh when you look at it there's a lot of immediate or priority maintenance needs. In fact over $135 million of the $325 in Prop A is just priority maintenance issues. Prop B is athletics 67 million. It's roughly 17% of the overall request. So a relatively uh small number a big number in general but the overall percentage of the request is is 17%. and a lot of items included in this uh Brian and Rudder High School synthetic turf. Again, Mr. MVvis mentioned we are one
087of the only schools in Nebraska Valley that have that really prevents our kids from getting on the field uh in uh all the times that they need to. In fact, we've we've shared that out that um there was a large percentage of the days that we just weren't able to be on the fields because it was wet, it didn't drain properly, and we couldn't get out there to practice and our our kids were at a deficit. Batting cage covers, resurfacing of track at both those schools, and then replacing scoreboards. At Brian High, we do have a concession stand replacement for baseball and softball. Again, those are original. Uh we do need to go in and look at those. We need to rebuild uh the uh fieldhouse at the Miral Green Stadium. That is a district
088used facility primarily used by Brian High. It is used on game day by rudder and obviously visiting teams and a lot of original spaces in there. Again, we've outgrown that and um it's served us incredibly well, but it's time for us to uh the recommendation was from the committee to to obviously tear that down and rebuild it up. Ruer High School, new synthetic turf on football and soccer. This is just part of the replacement cycle. And then locker room expansions as well there at Ruer SFA and Dava Middle School. New synthetic football multi-purpose turf. Uh again, part of the replacement cycle except in Dava. They currently don't have that. If you're familiar at all with their facility, they have one field. They desperately need like SFA, something they can get on daily just because of
089the wear and tear on the field. And then obviously resurfacing the track and replacing the scoreboards. Proposition C is 1%. It is uh a huge item though and it obviously you vote individually on each one of these three items. Um that is something that the legislature has done. They really clearly define what goes in each one. We do refer to bond counsel. They do make recommendations, but this will ensure that all-in-one interactive classroom digital displays will be districtwide. And um this is one of those items you're like, man, what is this? It used to be a chalkboard, then it was a whiteboard, and then it was like a smartboard. And now we got an all-in-one inter interactive classroom digital display. And believe it or not, you can stick a kindergartenner up in a class and
090they start manipulating the board and it is crazy to watch. Uh it's really cool to see them just become uh integrate this into what they do on a daily basis. So again, this would take things districtwide. All right, we'll let Miss Priddle come up. >> Thank you. All right, our famous buckets. We started with cups and we've upgraded to buckets. We will never pass up an pass up an opportunity to explain the difference between uh the M and the INS portions of the tax rate. So, if you are joining our conversation for the first time, please know that the school district's total tax rate uh is broken out into two main pieces. Uh the first part being the maintenance and operations. The M portion of the district's the Mino portion funds uh the district's day-to-day
091needs. Uh this is where the salaries come from, classroom supplies, utilities, transportation, and the general cost of running the day-to-day operations of the school. Revenue from the M comes from local property taxes combined with state aid. And the amount of state funding the district receives is heavily influenced by student enrollment and average daily attendance. The second portion of our tax rate is referred to as the interest in syncing or the debt service fund. The INS portion on the other hand is dedicated solely to repaying the district's debt on voterapproved bonds. These funds cover the principal and interest on bonds issued for major projects like new schools, renovations, buses, technology uh technology upgrades. Unlike the M fund, the INS revenue comes almost entirely from local property taxes and the tax rate is set at the level
092needed to cover our annual debt payments. INS is not tied to student attendance and therefore cannot be used for operating expenses such as salaries and benefits. It is legally restricted to debt repayment. And on a final note, for those wondering why the M fund can't be used to pay long-term capital projects along the way, the truth is the M fund is already at full capacity covering the day-to-day costs of running a school district. It is simply not realistic, especially with the unpredictable state funding and rising expenses. District the district cannot depend on the state to provide consistent support. I'd like to remind everybody that the ability to issue a $300 million in bond sales is no accident. Since 2008, the district has issued over $356 million in bond with a declining tax rate. We'll see
093that in the next slide. By carefully managing the tax rate and taking advantage of opportunities, the district has saved nearly $25 million by avoiding interest by paying off debt early and refinancing. Mr. Gonzalez, to address the point that you've made in previous meetings, even if we chose not to issue the bonds, it has been the district's philosophy with board approval of course to keep our tax rate the same and pay off existing debt. To say the least, what is illustrated here is a remarkable accomplishment and a clear reflection of responsible debt management over the years. Our financial adviserss are sitting here with us today and I would just like to recognize them. Thank you. Thank you for your trust and thank you for keeping our best interest in mind. >> Mr. Just like to remind
094everyone all of this hard work you're showing, you saved 118,000 here. 247. This is in addition to making our payments, our regular payments. So, this is simply I've had people ask me, "Well, that's all that you save. That's not a whole lot. What do you do with all the money?" I'm like, "No, no, no. This is on top of our our debt dedicated debt service already. This is a bonus, which is again, like I've mentioned, why we are in a position, thanks to previous boards and and to you guys, uh, in the position to be able to borrow almost 400 million without a tax increase." So, I know it just it's not as impressive sometimes because everything y'all do behind the scenes is amazing. I just want to say thanks again. >> Yes, sir. Yes,
095sir. Thank you. >> So, as I mentioned in the previous slide, since 2008, the district has issued over $356 million in bonds with a declining tax rate. Despite the reduced tax rate, the district remains in a strong financial position by refinancing and making principal payments on its existing debt. This approach has created the capacity to issue $300 million $397 million in new bonds without raising the INS portion of the tax rate. Some districts adjust their tax rates up and down, but we have kept ours stable. This allows us to consistently pay down principal debt faster, which directly contributes to the strong debt capacity we have today. This practice will continue to guide our approach to manage debt responsibly. If the bond election moves forward, it will be based on several assumptions, all designed to ensure
096that we take a cautious and responsible approach. The assumptions are as follows. The district's taxable valuation grows 3% per year for the next four years and no growth thereafter. This is very conservative because we know that the district will realize some growth every year. The district continues to maintain the current rate of 27 cents, the INS tax rate of 27 cents. In 2026, a $14.5 million prepayment or defeasance will be required. This is already in the budget and accounted for. We are also assuming current interest rates as of August uh plus a 35 basis point cushion and assumes a 10% discount of the additional state aid for homestead exemption. What do all these fancy word means? This simply means we have some wiggle room. And lastly, this assumes the bonds will be paid off over
09725 years, at least the ones tied to construction and renovations. Technology and buses will be adjusted for the lifespan of the assets. they will not be advertised over 25 years. So based on those assumptions, our financial adviserss have modeled the district's bond at the current INS tax rate of 27 cents with issuances spread over the next several years. To be clear, there will be one bond election to authorize $397 million, which will then be issued in three separate sales as outlined here. You might wonder why do bond sales happen in August? It's because the district receives certified values at the end of July, which makes it easier and safer to plan using the most accurate and up-to-date numbers. And now we come to our favorite portion of the presentation, the ballot language. All along, we've
098promised our community that we can issue $397 million in bonds without raising the tax rate, and that remains true. However, the state requires every school district to put the phrase, "This is a property tax increase on the ballot." In all caps, they are very specific. And Mr. Stasney, to your point, the phrase itself is true at its core because if the district chose not to issue the bonds, we would be required to lower our tax rate. But as we've stated before, even if we chose not to issue the bonds, it has been the district's philosophy to keep a stable tax rate and pay off our existing debt. This practice is called defeasing debt. So staff and community members, please understand that this will be the ballot language. Now that we are aware of what it
099will say, we also know what it truly means. Thank you. Well, since you mentioned my name, I want to go ahead and add to that and just say that that the average person will still probably be confused because they're going to think that if their value doesn't go up that somehow or another uh or even though their value doesn't go up, their taxes are still going to that the amount they pay is going to go up, which is not true because the tax rate's not going up. So, it is it is confusing. Uh it's just obviously, as you said, kind of stretches out. you know, eventually you don't do any bonds, you're gonna it's going to go down to zero at some point because you paid everything off. So, so it is very confusing. It's
100misleading. It needs to be a much better informative statement instead of what is it five, six words there that would confuse the average person. So, anyway, I just wanted to add that >> just has I'm sorry, may I ask I was going to ask a quick question, please? I just wanted if if the if we move forward with the bond, I just want to kind of let everybody know and put them at ease that we still have room to figure out what the best use just because we said we're going to build for instance collegiate. If we found a better alternative, if we decided all of a sudden, hey, let's move them into the admin building and move admin somewhere else. We would have the flex, nothing that drastic necessarily, but we do have the
101flexibility as long as our goal is met. And and I I know we don't want to let the taxpayers down, but we do have flexibility if we come up with better ideas, better better use of our spaces that we have. We are able to do we have the flexibility to change is what I'm trying to >> Yes, sir. We do. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. We also have our financial advisors here. We uh we appreciate y'all dropping in. We didn't know if you had any questions for them. Uh we know this, as Mr. Stazzy pointed out, a very confusing thing. Uh the ballot language is not the only thing that's confusing. Uh there's obviously a ton of information and I can tell you with our bond steering committee this uh conversation I think came
102four or five times. It just kept circling back uh because they really wanted to understand it. Again uh m as Mr. Murvish said the taxpayer was in the room the entire time and they really uh took great consideration and care as they uh made decisions to include and what to include in this referend these referendums. >> Dr. Merrell, can I ask a quick question? >> Sure. How how common is it in this day and age for a school district to be able to go out and borrow up to 397 million? Yeah. Without an effective tax rate increase to the >> So, uh that qu that very question was asked uh the day they came and I'll let them answer that question. >> Norma was ready. >> Yeah, >> I couldn't I could say that it
103is absolutely not common at all, but I know that the staff in the community has heard me say it many times. I would like for you to hear uh to hear it directly from the mouth of our financial adviserss. >> Yeah, Stephen Adams. And you know, it goes back to 2008. First of all, there's very very few districts that that can do this. Many of them are up against the 50 cent test. And when you're up against the 50 cent test, you have to stretch your bonds out. And when you do that, the percentage of your tax dollars over time that pays interest versus principal goes up dramatically. So what we've been able to do here, I mean, it's been fortunate. The district's been growing. It's not been up against the 50 cent test and
104the boards have paid off debt. That 25 million that we saved really underestimates the fact that if we hadn't been doing that, we would have had to stretch out our issuances even more and you would end up paying even more of your INS dollars to interest like these other districts are doing. And once you get in that boat, you can't turn it around. So, it's very uncommon. I mean, it was a good situation here. Um, we started in 2008 and the boards since then have kept doing this and it's really worked out well, but it is very uncommon. Sure. >> Yeah. I I think that it just speaks to uh the fiscal responsibility that this board has had over the years um to put us in this position to where um you know we're we're
105addressing the needs um of the district with with no effective tax rate to the to the citizens. And so I think it's a I think it's a huge pat on the back to previous board members um that have been fiscally responsible uh over the years to put us in this type of uh position. Any other questions? Okay. Uh like to go over the voting information just so you have the full perspective before um obviously we ask for action. But we've got early voting dates and times. Uh all of the information there where they're going to go. Um if indeed the board does call for the election tonight, um we then become you've heard the road show. Obviously, Miss Miss Brittle, uh Mr. Styers talked about the benefits road show, we're going to try to tag
106team that and go out at the same time. And then again, um again, if you call for it, we would obviously love to present anytime we possibly can in front of any group of citizens. And then it becomes just about the facts. And so um just as Miss Carbot and myself will go out, we would be talking very uh succinctly about the information and just simply about the the facts and um and nothing more than that. And so again, factually this is all of the information as it relates to uh voting. Again, we have a small population, but we do have a population in Robertson County uh that can cast their vote as well. And then um again, the calendar uh that shows sort of what that looks like. uh and then a fact sheet
107that um if again you do call for the election uh we would obviously make this available and then go around uh putting out the information not only for the campus uh but for the district and what that would look like specifically. So really everyone has the necessary information to know what they're they're voting for. Again we appreciate the opportunity to put the committee together. Mr. Mvish, I'd turn it to you. Would you like to say anything uh final and final conclusion, Mr. Griffin? Anything? I just say for the community, everything that's been done is out in the open. You can go directly to the BISD website and you can find every single piece of information that was used to make these decisions and I encourage people to go check it all out. >> Thank you.
108>> Okay. Any questions for us? May a few words. >> I have I have uh something, you know, um as our different news media have begun sharing pieces of this that we're working on this tonight. Um it's just interesting to see public reaction. Uh one was a uh a misstatement saying that we are intending to purchase land. Can you address that? >> I can. Yes, ma'am. I appreciate that. Obviously in the in the order uh the call for election, our bond council included that. We do not nor it was not a recommendation. It's not been in any of the presentations that we've made. Uh there really isn't a recommendation for land. Our bond council put that in there. uh simply because sometimes you may need an easement or a rightaway, a small piece of something.
109Uh and they wanted to leave us with the flexibility of having that. Uh but as we've presented and as we've shared, you've never once seen anything related to land. And so we do not have any acreage that's proposed. It was not a discussion ever in um our bond uh bond steering. Uh even when we looked at Brian Collegiate, we were looking at u land that we already own. it was never a consideration to buy additional acreage. He need he wanted to make sure that we had the flexibility of a rideway or an easement. And so that's where that language came from. >> My other question um pertains to some suggestions by community members that we need to seek donations from businesses to cover things like the Prop B on athletics. Um, I know we have
110wonderful partnerships with business members uh and community members who do provide donations for like fireworks or t-shirts >> or those kind of things. Are you aware of um anything we've done recently where we did request proposals and did we receive any? >> We did. We did we did go out for naming rights of the of the stadium for not only the uh turf but also um looking for uh the scoreboard and those types of things and we did not get one. Now we have plans of going back out kind of repackaging and hopefully uh getting a donor but we weren't able to to get one and um so I appreciate that point very much. Uh but and we do have wonderful um donors. I mean, uh, I mean, just last Saturday night, we had a
111a community outpouring of of support. Uh, but in this case, you're talking, you know, millions of dollars. It's it's not something that, um, you know, we just can readily go out and request. And so, we've done that and uh, we just weren't successful. In fact, if it was, we would obviously do it for everything because we would collect millions of dollars. It's just not out there. Well, I can remember when my son was on the baseball team, there was an effort by some members to try to get like the batting cages covered and those kind it's just really difficult to uh rely on members of our community and our businesses to fund those pieces. And I, you know, I was only able to attend um I think one or two of of these meetings, but
112um based on all the things I have seen, I think there were complaints early on that this committee was too large. And so I think that was an effort to make sure that it did have a broad base and was well represented. So I would really encourage any community member, as Mr. Mvish mentioned uh transparency. Um it's all out there on the website. If you just do a search for Brian ISD bond 2025, it'll be the first thing that pops up. So, please review it and then reach out if you have questions. >> Well, I appreciate you saying that. You've not seen the website. It'll if if you call for it, it'll eventually go live. And in there is a Google form that you can complete and uh you'll get a phone call from me
113or someone with Brian ISD that'll be happy to to provide you the information or come and sit down and have a conversation. And so um please that that document will be there and we'll be responding to it up until uh the election to make sure that you have all the necessary information that you need to make a educated decision. >> Dr. Marilyn, I would like to just say again, thank y'all for showing us the refunds that we got or the off on the other ones and to know that like I mentioned earlier, you know, I I had a concern about the bond. I that's a lot of money and I'm not ever for borrowing if we don't need it. And after speaking to y'all and understanding that there really is not another way to make
114us competitive. Our students, our teachers, our parents, all of us deserve to have the best that we can afford. And again, I'd like to reiterate, I know Mr. Murvish all said it that >> you know we and I've said this before but we didn't just say hey we we need to find $397 million that's how much we can do without raising the taxes. We, you know, you've told us repeatedly that we we picked the the most important items, the most pressing items and had to bring it down to, and I know that's an astronomical number, but we serve a lot of students. We have a lot of buildings, and we haven't done uh haven't been able to do a lot of the maintenance that we need to do. And I know speaking to y'all that
115we will treat this money with the utmost respect. It will not be, you know, I I don't want it to be wasted. And I feel very very confident that we can do a good job making sure that we get our value out of out of every single dollar because our taxpayers, our students, our teachers, all of us deserve it. >> Yes, sir. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> So, are we ready for a motion? >> Come on, Jo. I think so. I move to adopt an order calling a bond election to be held by the Brine Independent School District on November 4th, 2025, making provision for the conduct of the election and resolving other matters incident and related thereto. >> Second motion made by Miss Walder and >> and I think I
116heard Miss Benford the loudest, so I guess because she's sitting right beside me. So um so we have a motion to second or any further discussion. This is kind of a biggy emotion. So anything else? Speak now forever. Hold your peace. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. It's unanimous. All right. >> The work has just begun for a lot of folks. >> That was the easy part. >> I appreciate it. Thank you very very much. >> Thank you. Uh we are now the board will now convene in close session to discuss following items as sh as allowed by the Texas government code chapter 551.074.0821.087 and 00181. No voting will take place in closed meeting. Any action the board wishes to take as a result of discussion in close session will occur
117after the board reconvenes in the open meeting and the time is now 7:33. Board reconvened and opened session at 9:03 p.m. No action was taken in close session. Uh we will now discuss and consider approval over 50,000 for the purchase of mandated safety equipment. Rich Himmel. Uh well I guess if we're we have any discussion that we need to have on this or I guess we did we did discuss it as we're allowed to in close session. So, I I'll just I guess entertain a motion unless we >> Yeah. Mr. Stazzney, I move approval of the purchase for the mandated safety equipment in the amount of $191,976 with shipping from Cool View as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Gonzalez and second by Mr. Benford. All in favor say I. >> I. I. All
118oppose. It passes unanimously. Uh there being no further business, uh this meeting is adjourned at 9:05. Poor bridge.