Bryan ISD School Board Regular Meeting, July 21, 2025

001How are you? >> Yes. Just just FYI. I call this Brian Independence School District meeting to order. Let the record show that a quorum of board members is present. This meeting has been duly called and that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. The time is now 602. extend a warm welcome to everyone present. I ask that you please turn off the sound on all electronic devices and stand for the pledges. We are going to use a recording made by MC Harris High School. >> Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Now the Texas pledge. >> Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to the

002Texas one. Uh we now we do have a spotlight of visual arts recognition district of distinction and director of fine arts Jacob Justice is going to tell us all about >> Good evening. Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to shine a light on our amazing art teachers. Uh behind me we have some of them represented today. 109 districts in the state of Texas will receive the Texas Art Education Association District of Distinction Award for the 2024 2025 academic year. This award recognizes districts with outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their schools and community. Brian ISD visual arts program has exceeded the rigorous 14-point rubric that examined the district's visual arts program from participation in TAEA through membership expeditions contests and community engagement in the visual arts uh through field experiences, community

003service and collaboration with other content areas. The selection committee was impressed and proud of Brian ISD's level of participation in visual art learning experiences at all grade levels. For the sixth year in a row, Brian ISD has been recognized as a district of distinction for the visual arts. We could not have done this without the support of the board and administration, our amazing schools, our phenomenal teachers, and all of our artists of every size that we have in Brian ISD. We also are appreciative of the efforts of Miss Terry Clark from Bone Elementary. Terry's right here. Uh Terry has spearheaded this process for us year after year. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And I just looked up to make sure I didn't get it wrong, but there that sounds like well that's quite a

004few districts, but there are a total of over 1,200 districts in Texas. So, that's really uh a great accomplishment. Um, all right. Well, they're wrapping that up. Uh we uh we're going to move to board member reports. Uh starting with the superintendent uh update on student and staff celebrations. >> Thank you, Mr. Sasy. Even though schools are not in session, we have been busy this summer. There's still many student and staff celebrations as you can see with the uh the visual arts. It's my pleasure to shine a light because we continue to receive awards and recognitions all throughout this summer. on the screen uh before you right now. We just uh had our admin institute which was three days last week. This was amazing. All of our leaders from all of the campuses and departments

005showed up and we rolled up our sleeves to plan out the good work ahead of us. So, we're looking forward to a terrific school year. Uh speaking of fine arts, uh we just learned that Brian ISD was awarded the outstanding district award for theater. Uh not only did our district uh win this as a whole, uh Raburn Intermediate School was honored as the exemplary school for theater award, Dava Middle School was also honored for the outstanding school for theater award. Um as we know uh from Mr. Justice's chairing, this does not happen by chance. Our teachers are committed to serving and supporting our students and uh we are proud to uh reap the benefits as these awards continue to unfold. Speaking of awards, I hope everyone noticed that the uh the annual Eager Eagle newspaper

006reader choice award is out. And if you'll notice, Miss Waller has a uh an artifact. Uh she's one of the the few remaining peoples in the in the Brad County that still uh not only does she take the the real paper. She clipped cuts out the clips, puts them in an envelope, sends them to our staff members and to our students, and people look forward to opening their school district mail because they know Miss Waller is uh shining a light on the good things happening. Uh speaking of good things, congratulations are in order. Uh our community has spoken and the 2025 best public school in the entire community is none other than Brian High School and Brian SD. Mr. Boh House is in the audience. Congratulations, Brian High School. >> Great job, Mr. Mohigh. Great

007job. >> He barely moves into town and they're winning these awards. But uh you're you're welcome for inheriting that. Uh congratulations to the staff and the students, the families, and that community feeding that amazing school. Also, uh congratulations are in order for the best, uh public school teacher, uh Miss Jenny Ponzio from Bonham Elementary. Again, this is a really big deal. Does not happen by chance. We're so appreciative our of our community for uh recognizing the great things happening in our Brian ISTD school district. Uh and then it is with complete gratitude that I recognize and appreciate uh everyone that made uh the 7th annual Hispanic Forum Scholarship Gayla possible. We celebrated that night. Many of us were in attendance. There were 54 Brian ISTD students representing Brian Collegiate High School, Brian High School, and

008Ruer High School who received scholarships and that night over $188,000 were given out in scholarships. Some just happens to be Brian IST received up to $10,000. Uh remarkably, many of these students, in fact, uh it was noted that 58% were the first generation, first in their families to attend higher education. We had 26 different universities, colleges, and trade schools uh representing 40 different majors unfolding. Uh so we are so grateful for the Hispanic Forum. It was a terrific night. In fact, it seemed like uh Mr. Gonzalez, you were there. It seemed like it was uh more in attendance than ever. They maybe have outgrown the Bradley Center at this point. So uh which is a good good problem to have. >> Did they say um they gave out was it 88 scholarships? I I'm forgetting,

009but I know I just wanted to point out that we got the majority. I know that's what you're saying, but we got 50 something out of >> Yeah, we Yeah, Brian SD received 54. I believe there was 80 something >> or something like that. So, really impressive our students and and again, thanks to the Hispanic Forum as well. >> Yes. >> So, look at the >> Jade. Jade, raise your hand. He happened to be there that night. One of the recipients >> right on Yes. So, uh it's it was a wonderful night because we know and love these kids and we're so proud and for them to receive uh these scholarships is just amazing. And then in addition to all of these students receiving awards and this person happens to be in the audience with

010us as well, Alejandre Morales, please stand to be recognized as the recipient of the educator ex of excellence award representing Ruer High School. this was a very big deal to again a Brian ISTD employee uh receiving this kind of recognition is u honestly a a tremendous uh accomplishment for our school district. So thank you for that. And then moving on uh last but not least uh we have watched the new turf installation at Merryill Green Stadium. Uh this is very exciting because the closer we get the closer we are to Friday night lights. Uh I want to give a big shout out to Mr. Joel Bryan. uh he had a lot of the inspiration behind some of the changes uh bringing us into a more uh progressive time, if you will. But you'll notice the

011the grass on the turf how they have the contrasting light and dark colors and a little different uh logo and some different letters and on the endzones. We're not done yet, but you'll see uh Vikings and Rangers painted. So, uh really exciting. Um the kids who play football at both schools have told me that they've seen it. They're sneaking out there to take a look and they're taking pictures of it. So, there's a lot of really uh good energy right now um happening because we're ready for football season and this year it will be a new day on our brand new turf. >> Way to go, Joel. >> Nice. >> So, he has a little more experience than most of us when it comes to that and a good eye for it. So, um >>

012he's the only one that's actually been on the field as far as >> and he may or may not have played on the field once or twice himself. So, u just exciting times, lots of celebrations. So thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. Uh we periodically meet in committees and executive board committees consists of the uh officers uh on the board and I think we're going to get a report to today from Miss Benford. >> Yes. So the executive board met with the administrative team and we were given updates and briefs on the strategic planning and the bond steering and so we're going to wait to eagerly hear from Dr. Merl on that later in the evening. >> All right. Thank you. Anything else to report that? Okay, that covered. All right. And

013then we have the finance board uh committee me uh report. So I believe Mr. Gonzalez is going to handle that. >> Thank you, Mr. Stazy. Uh, we met last Tuesday and discussed compensation and I'm going to take the path that Miss Benford took and allow Miss Riddle to give us a a full presentation of what we discussed here shortly. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, moving right along. Uh, that is the next item, bond steering update. So, uh, or that is the next item and so I think we have a presentation by multiple folks here. If it's okay before we get started, I know Alex is M. Morales is in the audience. If we can get a picture that would be wonderful if you want to come on up. I know your family's here

014as well. So, very proud of the work he does want to honor you. Thank you so much. Miss Could Miss Leighton elaborate a little more than I did and share what he if you want to just put you on the spot. Just share what he actually does uh at Rudder. >> One of the great guys. I could talk forever, but he's our emergent bilingual specialist. So, he helps our ELLL students, you know, as far as um making sure they're getting their credits, progressing towards graduation. Honestly, I think he's sometimes just a shoulder to lean on and to talk about some of the issues. But when he came to Ruer, I just asked him, I felt like there were just some groups of kids, you know, we weren't reaching as far as programs and being involved

015at Rudder and uh if you don't know, we had our Cinco de Mayo where he brought, you know, dancing and he dance and the mariachi and we were able to get a lot of kids involved in some programs and the students to get to see them, which is hard. And so he's done everything we ask. I think, you know, as leaders, when you get those people, you give them like their post-it note with things you need and then he does it. And so he has been an amazing addition to Rudder High School. >> And how long have you been in the district? How long have you been with us? >> Wow. >> Right. >> And you might see him on Friday nights with our kids and the film crew. And I mean he you ask

016and he'll do 10 more things along the way with it. So the kids adore him. I know a lot of the students that you work with and they absolutely uh love you. So thank you. >> All right. All right. Well, we're very excited. Thank you for not taking too much of our thunder to share a little bit of bond string. I've got some friends behind me. We had uh more that uh represented from the 13 days that we're still all friends. Uh which is incredible. >> That's not what he said about y'all earlier, but I'm >> That's not true. That is not true. >> No, it is not true. >> Yeah. I am uh and so what you're going to do is see some staff members share out and then you're going to hear a

017lot from our community members. Um, and so we're going to walk through some process. Uh, if you'll turn down just the lights just a little so they can see it. Uh, Clay, when you get a chance, you're taking a picture, so we'll get through. Y'all have seen these slides and I'm I'm going to go through pretty quickly and then turn it over to MV. It's a comprehensive group. It represents a diverse cross-section. Uh, 13 meetings, various perspectives from the community. Uh, that was truly felt in all of the meetings. uh we reviewed information related to the district's facility, prioritized needs, develop a financially uh a responsible plan. We work with the big picture. All these things, you've seen these slides before, right? I mean, you're going to see this process play out. Um and and

018the process uh was incredible when you look at it. We came in the first few times, we conceptualized kind of what we thought it would look like, framework, uh some goal setting. We started exploring all of the information. We looked at the demographic study. We look at the facility condition index which would play a role and I'll talk about that later if it's not brought up. We look at the financial capacity that took three or four meetings. We looked at conceptual plans and optional bond proposals and then uh reaching consensus. And so I wanted MV to come up just share a little bit about his experience and talk about this entire process. >> Thank you. I think the just for this committee, I think what the city of Brian and and Brian ISD and our

019community can be proud of is anytime you guys want to put something together, you do look for the cross-section. There was representation from every neighborhood, every school. Uh when it came to the staff, it was it wasn't just teachers, it was folks from transportation, it was custodial staff. Everybody was represented. Uh we we had u the right stakeholders were involved. um most importantly who was involved at every meeting that that we were at was the taxpayer in this as well and considering. So we we would have um complete transparency and everything and I would say um I've had folks that were asking about this committee and would say hey all the information is available on the website. There is nothing being hidden from anybody. Everything that I get to see in a meeting you can

020go on to the website and see what's going on. There's nothing that the school district is trying to hide from from anyone here. Uh, one of the great things I mentioned our desire to do what's right for the kids, to do what's right, not just for 2026, but 2036 as we're we're progressing out here, is also to make sure that we are doing what's right by the taxpayer again. Uh, and one example we had of that, there was a list of all these different things that were needing to be done and Brian actually made the comment, "Oh, well, it looks like the committee really wasn't interested in that one." and it was no, it's not that we're not interested in doing this, but we've got to choose. We can't do everything. We have to prioritize

021the needs of the taxpayer with the needs of what's going on with BISD. So, I think in in in this proposal that you all can be proud of and the the citizens of Brian can be proud of what was put together because we were trying to do what's right by everybody here. I >> think that's all I've got, buddy. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. I'll ask you to come up and talk just a little bit about the process uh with M and those things. >> Thank you so much. Good evening board of trustees. I'm sure that you've heard of the famous buckets and the famous cups hundreds and hundreds of times, but you know what? I'm going to give you one last point of clarification here. So, as we know in school finance,

022we have the maintenance and operation side and we have the interest and syncing side. Our tax rate is divided into those two major segments. It is very important to note that the M side can only be used um for day-to-day operations such as salaries, classroom supplies, utilities, transportation. Um the other side of the tax rate, the interest and syncing or debt service uh revenue can only be used to be paid um to pay capital expenditures, land, construction, renovations, those types of assets. We are not able to be crossing pennies or swapping pennies or anything like that. So it is very important to note we are uh getting this bond we're not able to pay salaries with a bond that is strictly for the maintenance and operations side and we'll be looking more into that later

023in the evening. So again big point of clarification our tax rate is divided into two major segments the M side and the INS side. So I think we started with cups and then we upgraded to buckets. So maybe okay and then uh moving on to our debt capacity. So of course the question on everybody's mind at the beginning of any processes how much can we afford right money touches everything and this adventure here is absolutely absolutely no exception to that. Uh this is an amazing visual actually now that I kind of sit back and look at it you're able to see what our district can actually afford. Um, and we are actually able to afford $400 million without a tax rate increase. And as I stated at our last um at one of our last

024bond meetings, it is absolutely a privilege and an honor for Brian ISD to be able to have this much financial capacity. It is unheard of to be able to not raise your tax rate and have $400 million um at the taxpayers's uh approval and ability. So, um, everybody, all past administrations, everybody that has been here, the ones that have come before us, have put us, Brian Independent School District, in an amazing position to be able to have this opportunity. So, um, I just want to say it again, we have capacity of $400 million without a single raise to our tax rate. Um, and of course, we're going to see that required ballot language. It's going to say this is a property tax increase. So, it's very important for our staff and our community to understand

025and this was a huge education piece for us. Um, so this is absolutely not a tax rate increase. We have bond capacity um up to $400 million. Um, so if there's if that helps at all. Um, >> Miss Riddle, may I ask a quick question if Absolutely. >> and I've said this before, I just want to make sure that the public understands that like you alluded to it. We we've worked very hard to pay you guys. You and Mr. Besaw have worked very hard to put us in this position in past boards as well. And that is the equivalent of saving because that's what I again I've said this before but I just want to make sure everybody understands that we can't just hoard cash. We can't save. Mr. Stazzy's brought that up. We can't

026just save money to build a new school. The only means that we have of saving anything is by paying down our debt more quickly and efficiently and effectively in order to leave more funds available like we have now. So when people say, "Well, why don't y'all just save for it?" This is how we save for it. This is the only mechanism that we have to save for it. Is that is that a fair enough statement? >> Absolutely. Yes, sir. It is very Yes. Very well said. Uh bonds act very similar to mortgages. So throughout the year um BISD has been making principal payments towards uh our outstanding debt. So as you know anytime you make a principal payment you avoid hundreds and thousands of dollars in interest. So that savings alone um created the capacity

027for us to be able to pay off some bonds earlier than anticipated. Um so yes that that is actually what brings us the capacity that we have. >> Thank you. One clarification I want to make is is that I there's no way we could again do what we need to do with as you said the maintenance and operation fund but it's te maybe technically possible but with the the what the rules that we're under under school finance now makes it makes it virtually impossible to say well we're just going to try to save money in M and it's not like It's illegal to build something out of M. But if we did that, we would be so far behind everybody else in terms of of salaries and and and the things that that that were

028critically important to our district is that it we would be out of business uh in no time. So or at least severely hampered in what we're trying to do. So So I I don't want anybody to nitpick this too much. Uh I'm just want to say that maybe the technical possibilities there, but it would be uh extremely a negative decision to try to say, well, we're not going to pay people as much as as we need to pay them. We're going to just uh pay them less and and use that money to build something. So So I think I'm correct when I say it's not illegal to build out of M. It's just that uh you know, if we did, boy, we're in trouble. >> It's difficult. Very difficult. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Yeah.

029>> And a young lady that's been up here before uh that's helped us through many uh bond presentations and is uh on bond steering uh truly could probably have done the slide deck. Anyone behind us could have done the slide deck after they've seen it as many times as we did. Uh we've asked Mr. Deose to come up and just share a little bit about the slides as well. >> Absolutely. Hello everybody. Good to see you all again. Um, so one of the things that we looked at and explored was kind of the reality that a lot of other districts are going through right now where if they're trying to do anything that's a capital project, they've got to add 20 30 on top of everything and those are really really difficult for any district

030to pass because that's a direct hit to taxpayers. So for us to be able to have the kind of capacity that we do as a district, it's an extreme point of pride for a lot of people who are on our bond steering committee as well as those in the community because Brian ISTD has proved over and over and over again that you have the ability to be responsible financially but also to do what's right for the students and staff of Brian ISD. And so when we're out in the public talking about it, we want to equate it around things like, "Wow, Brian's got like a 800 plus credit score." Like if you think in those terms, people are like, "Oh my gosh, I'd love to be there. I wish that my interest rate wasn't, you

031know, 32%." So the fact that we can go out and say that we're taking care of these things and it's not going to impact that piece of the tax rate, I think is a huge, you know, thing that we should all applaud and we should all tote on our shoulders because the the public really needs to understand that. And of course the ballot language in 2020 when we passed the last bond of 175 million that was a difficult thing because that was the first time after legislative session that it was required for districts to put it on there. So I think that's a big point of the conversation that we have with the community is like yes it's going to say this however the reality is xyz. So, I just think the district should be

032extremely proud of where they stand right now with that capacity that we have. And I'm extremely proud of the group that came together to get us under that mark so that we can tell people that there's no uh increase to the INS. Thank you. >> It was fun being at her table because she was so smart. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, what is >> table six? >> Yeah. >> We calculated. How long do you have? If we keep going, it's like another >> approximately to 2032. >> So she can't leave till 2032. So that's we said done. Dr. Merrell, before before I if I may, I just want to piggyback on that again and again tell the public, let the public know we're not quote spending this money because we have the ability to

033spend it because we made the capacity to spend it. These are repairs that need to be done. >> So can I That's a great leadin. Thank you. We started with strategic planning and about 3/4 of the way through it moved from strategic planning to bond steering and we had a formal conversation about look we strategically are seeing that that is leading us to a bond referendum. We didn't start with that end in mind. So thank you for making that point and now it comes up well what are we recommending? So we've got uh projects possible uh proposition projects. So I'm going to let uh Rich Pat Julie and Mr. Mr. River, come on up and they're going to talk a little bit about these projects. >> All right. Good evening. I I'll start with transportation.

034I have uh Mr. Washington here with me, our new director of transportation. Uh buses. Our buses wear out we're on a we try to replace our buses every 15 years and then rot and rotate them. But that also includes our fleet of SUVs. uh white fleet as also our maintenance vehicles, our grounds uh department vehicles and all that. And then I'm gonna let Mr. Washington speak a little bit about the technology about the the the tablets and the uh swipe cards that we're going to be doing. >> Yes, sir. Good evening, board. Um, so yes, we are looking into getting tablets where each student will be given a card they're able to scan on and off and that would tell us at it will give us real time where a kid is at, where this

035kid is at. Um, so the parent calling the school asking is my child at school, we could tell them no, your child is on the bus. Um, so yes, that's very helpful in this day and time. and I'll cover 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 is about our um instructional and our infrastructure. So the classroom displays on 1.3, those are our interactive displays our teachers use in their classrooms. Um this would take care of that replacement cycle as ours have been aging out. um infrastructure, the phone system. Um we had a fiveyear um agreement and it is time to renew and that's that price tag for our Cisco phone system. And then the infrastructure technology for our campus uh PA system. Um we have lots of areas where we can improve especially safety wise on playgrounds where maybe

036the sound isn't where we want it to be. um as well as some older systems that need to be improved. The speaker systems need to be improved. So, and that leads right in to Mr. Haml. >> Thanks, Julie. >> Uh good evening. And and what Julie just mentioned about the the public address systems and the speakers, particularly for the outdoor areas, that's that's critical to to public safety on our campuses. I communication is critical. Um, and leaning right into 1.7, um, that, uh, project will phase out all of the oldest cameras in our surveillance network and replace them with brand new 21st century technology. Um, along with that comes increased storage capacity um, to handle all of that uh, that extra technology and that's that's huge. It's huge. >> Thank you. We've got Mr. Raburn.

037Uh when we the last meeting we kind of had gathered consensus with the table and then this table joined that table and then these two tables joined these two tables and that her table was up here and um she led a wonderful conversation and so that's why you got picked. That's what I told her. You said wonderful things in that group. >> You merged with our table and nailed it. >> And yeah, absolutely. So just share a little bit about why it's important to you as a a community member and as >> Hello. Um um >> can you hear >> I said because I'm sorry kind of nervous because I'm a former instructor and now I'm a parent. These things are important because number one the system by cameras and everything you need we we

038need these in there um for telephone system cameras all of this would be uh need to be updated and because by you having to use your own cell phones teachers having to use their own cell phones to communicate with the offices to get um a a student to go down to the um office to um tell another um um parent or uh tell another student to go to the office or go get another um student. That's that's not safe. or I've I've been in in the um in the office where I've had to wait on my son to by um having a the I'm sorry, having the um the having the phone system that's not working. So the um um the secretary having to use her own cell phone because the PA system is not

039working to use her own cell phone to communicate. Those things are not um that's not safe. So having to needing to update all of the this this equipment is safe for not only the um the children that's in in the community now but for the children that's that that's to come. By my son being going to the ninth grade um he's going to see that he needs this now going to the ninth grade at Brian Brian High. He he'll be graduating in 2029. But for the upcoming students that's going that I that's going to be um at SFA or or at um or at um Sam Rayburn or at any of the other schools. All of this needs to be updated or in the buses. I've I've had an incident where my son was sitting

040on a bus, you know, and couldn't he had to sit on the floor. But if this was um if they had feasible situations, they would have known that he was not he was sitting on the on the floor and not in an actual seat. So, uh, if we had cameras or things that was safe, all of this could have been avoided. So, this bond here, you know, having this here to be passed would be sufficient. So, me being a parent and a former educator, this would be something that um, my heart is tr is near and dear to me. So, Thank you. Thank you. >> So, she's right. Believe it or not, this was the highest rated items when we took first vote. So, you're exactly right. Near and dear to everyone's heart to make

041sure that it got included. So, uh absolutely. Absolutely. So, thank you for that. >> What's that? >> So, come on, >> Mr. Ryurn. >> Yes, ma'am. So now that the governor has made it to where cell phones are prohibited having the technology security system, classroom displays, phone system, campus public address system, security cameras and mo monitoring systems all at the top stateofthe-art. As parents, as a grandparent too, I feel much more secure in knowing that my campus is state-of-the-art fitted for with these things, knowing that if your son is needed pretty much at the drop of a hat, they can find him and get a hold of him. >> I I do too. I I do too. and not only my son but someone else's child as well. And I feel I feel good knowing

042that all of our children and grandkids are safe and secure, you know, and everybody got eyes on their kids, >> right? and know that they are safe and secure. Especially with everything that's going on, you know, with guns and everything that we know that at the drop of a dime, we can put eyes on our kids if something was to go go down. You know, our eyes are there if something happens. We can see in in the bathrooms or, you know, in certain places in the restrooms or in in the in the uh in the in the rooms or in the hallways, in the buses, on the buses, outside on the uh on the um grounds, you know, in the lunchrooms, all all over the campuses and everything is secure. So, yes, I feel safe

043and secure. >> So, Brian, yes, ma'am. >> So, Mr. Washington, those um devices we're going to have on the bus. So, they're going to get on the bus and swipe. >> Yes. >> A lot of times the parents always say the kid didn't get off the bus, right? >> They didn't come home. Are they going to swipe when they get off the bus to tell us, "Yeah, Jody got off that bus at 4:00. It's six o'clock. I don't you know, >> it's not my fault. >> I don't know where he is. >> My fault. Jod will have to swipe on and off. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Each student will have to swipe on and off of the bus. >> Thank you. >> Uh good evening board. My name is Joel Dunworth. I'm

044a teacher at Branch. Uh two things kind of stood out to me whenever we were looking at this and whenever everybody was talking about it just now. Um Branch, I don't know if if y'all have been out there, service is almost non-existent in the building itself, especially in the inner uh building. Uh so this the intercom system and the phone system will help with that. I'm also uh kind of piggyback I'm al I'm also the uh I support person at the campus and we've been working on Skyward. I'm pretty sure y'all been briefed on Skyward so I'm going to plug that real quick as well. Um so Skyward the way that the system will work now so high school campuses, middle school, intermediate does not matter. Um if somebody can search up the student there's

045an icon where actually they click on it will tell them where that student should be at that time. Therefore, that intercom system or that phone system can relay and it can work in conjunction with so they can just look at the student call on the phone at the front desk or whatever classroom if a teacher if a maybe a teacher got a message from the parent. Hey, um you know Joey needs to go home. Okay. Well, I'm Joey's home room teacher, but I can click on his information. I know what teacher to get to. That way you don't have to go through the front office to find all the loops and things. So, with that, that's one of the big major things, especially for branch. there's zero uh service at the school itself and so

046us being able to communicate um via that would be great. That way if there's any communication loss due to service it's it's non-existent because of Cisco system. Um as well I wanted to touch on what y'all already touched on with the bus. That is honestly my favorite thing out of this entire bond and it's probably one of the cheapest things that is on the bond. Um, but it is honestly my favorite thing because I cannot tell you how much hearts race and how much blood pressure rises at 3:40, at 3:30, at 3:20 when a parent calls and says, "Hey, Joey was supposed to get on the bus, why is he a car rider?" And or vice versa, right? So, if he's now supposed to be a bus rider and he, you know, all these different

047cross communication things happen. That way, we know exactly where Joey is at that time scanning on and off the bus. Um, and those that's actually one of my favorite things because running in the hallway at that time is not fun for anybody, especially if there's a student maybe sleeping somewhere that you know like, hey, your car is outside. Well, I was supposed to be on the bus and that way we know where he is. Um, so those are the two things that I really wanted to touch on, but I also wanted to make that connection with the phone and Skyward. Uh, because it is now a new rule for the cell phones not to be at campuses. So, mom can't just text, you know, Joseph or or Susie or anything and say, "Hey, I need

048you." They're going to have to communicate differently throughout the system. So, I think updating our phones is pertinent. >> Yeah. And I'd love to say that was the only school that didn't have it. Rudder, you cannot get reception rudder either. So, uh that's a wonderful point. Our next one is our MEP. And I'm going to bring up Mr. Griffin and Miss Bose for this one. >> So, we've discussed this several times and this is not flashy. In fact, this is one of the few things that you don't see. These are felt. Um, plug for our group. They've done an amazing job. Y'all have heard me say this before, but the fact is we do have stuff that is double its life cycle and that is causing us to expend more money. Uh, so we are

049looking to upgrade and update to help with our M, make it more efficient. Sustainability, as y'all have heard me say more than once, is a big deal for me. So, we wanted to invest in things that will last, things that will work, and things that will carry us to the future. There's no sense in going through these, but understand we have um refined some of these numbers, and part of that is because, as we've talked about, the U FCI, it did not make good sense to want to spend money on some of these items when the building itself is in dire need. So, the number has dropped down to a more manageable amount because we're looking at new instead of just putting more money into an old facility. >> So, we've been very fortunate to

050have him leading a lot of these conversations about MEP because it's a very big topic with a very big dollar figure obviously. So, our group's really proud to be able to say that we've got these priority one and priority two items. They're going to give us the some longevity around some of this. A lot of this as well gives us that touch point where every single campus is going to get some attention within the bond because we have chillers, we have roofs, we've got lots of things that we need to take care of. Um, we have an incredible maintenance staff and the stories that they have told us as far as the work that they've had to do to kind of keep things going is pretty incredible. And so this is a huge, you know,

051bonus for them as well to be able to have new equipment and to have this kind of attention on some of those items because as we all know, if you've got a really old AC or if you got a really old roof, the repairs just get more and more expensive as you go along and try to kind of make things work. And so this really gives us a good opportunity to give a good footing for all of our campuses so that we can start fresh on some things. Also, some additional, you know, accessibility requirements and accessibility for some of our bathrooms and those types of places is really important as well to make sure that all students are cared for and taken care of and can access these spaces. And so this is a very

052big number, but there is so much value that comes into that. >> Yeah, thank you for making that point. This really does bring every campus into to focus. All right, our next group is athletics, fine arts, and CTE. And so I'd ask uh Rush, Justice, and Miss Allen to come on up and talk a little bit about this. >> Good evening. Uh first of all, I want to uh highlight our student athletes. Again, these are the numbers I'm going to give you guys real quickly. Uh something that you heard before. So right now, currently in Brian State, 62% of our secondary students participate in athletics at Brian. uh 97% attendance rate per semester uh with our student athletes. Uh 36 student athletes signed uh scholarships this past year and 19 high school athletic programs between

053Rudder and Brun High uh made it to the playoffs this year. And so we're excited about the opportunity uh that these uh facilities will bring to our student athletes, not only to our student athletes, but to our community as well. Again, I think we got to use the word uh is a need, not a want. Uh from that standpoint of it. And so with that being said, uh going through the items real quickly, uh school boards uh uh from that standpoint of it, that's a big deal in the district as far as all the school boards are have three different brand of school boards that we uh need to consolidate that to one. Uh the batting cages are definitely needed uh for our uh baseball and softball teams. Uh turf baseball and softball is definitely

054needed. Again, we're one of the only schools in the Braz Valley that don't have turf at this moment. Uh re-turfing the uh remaining football fields at Rudder uh uh uh SFA and also turfing giving DA a turf field and also resurfacing the tracks. >> Let me let me stop you on that one because this is something that is out in the community that it's like u like this is just a big add-on to what we're doing now. And you might want to briefly explain that that has been looked at uh and we've looked at it as a board uh because y'all presented it to us about the uh the fact that there's a trade-off here. In other words, there's some gain uh I mean obviously some additional cost but at the same time what what

055the cost is that you're leaving that you're that you're going to alleviate. So can you kind of just briefly touch on that on these on these fields? >> Okay. So with the uh uh baseball and softball turf fields, >> yeah, >> uh you know, that's something that's definitely needed. Uh I think as far as the revenue that it may bring to the district as far as uh that's concerned and also the the cost factor u from that standpoint of it compared to turf uh versus uh grass. I want to invite Mr. Griffin up. uh he did a great job of of presenting that and and explaining that will uh very well and carefully to the community from the the possibility as far as the turf versus the >> because there are a lot of people

056out there that want to know about that part of >> Yes. Exactly. >> And uh Coach Rush or Mr. Griffin, can you also mention we had a very specific example because of the inclement weather last year that our teams could not get on the field to practice and to prepare for the game, which you argued and and I agree is a safety concern. If our kids are not conditioned and they haven't experienced the the the practice, then they're not ready for play. Uh do you recall the numbers? >> Yes. No, no doubt. Uh this year during this beginning of baseball and softball season, the first 29 days because of the inate weather and things of that nature, our baseball and softball teams weren't able to get on the field but nine times out of 29

057days. And so that's a that's a disadvantage to to our students, to our student athletes when it comes to competing at a high level. uh from that standpoint. And so uh again, that's a safety issue as well as far as our kids being able to get on the field and and with uh baseball players and softball players throwing the ball and their arms getting warmed up and things of that nature. And so that causes a safety issue from that standpoint of as well. So specifically the uh correlation between turf and grass, the turf field does have a higher impact at the beginning, but once that infrastructure is put in place, and that is one due to the imperviousness of of the turf versus grass, but then you get into a situation where you get more

058playing time. So you get more hours of use on a turf field versus a grass field due to the use of that field. It can be destroyed when it's rain, wet, so and so. But reality is you start using the figures also over long term as we're seeing with our football field currently. We are returfing that field, but it is just basically the carpet. If you went by and saw it, after they removed the old turf, the base and everything, the rock garden underneath it was in perfect condition, they drug it out, leveled it out, and then they put the carpet on top of it. That will be the situation after that when the carpet or the actual turf on top has to be replaced. You won't have to dig down and replace further. Grass

059fields do have maintenance. They have to be cut. They have to be sprayed. They have to be sprigged. you have to change from winter grass to summer grass. There's just a lot more maintenance. So when you take the long term and look at the hourly cost, turf fields over a period of time are cheaper with the understanding that we don't have the manpower to be dedicated to a specific field. You have to also figure that into the cost. That person is there every day cutting the grass and keeping it up with one point or another. University are close. They did go back to grass fields, but they also do have dedicated staff that literally do nothing but keep that grass field up. >> Well, well, thank you for explaining that because I think that's important

060to a lot of folks out there. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, so I'm here to tell us about fine arts and what we're doing here. Uh 77% of our students are involved in fine arts in Brian ISD from kindergarten through 12th grade. Uh this money in particular is for our um looking at our band uniforms and equipment. Our programs are growing. Uh we've said it many times, but if you look at rudder um 10 years ago there were 30 in the band, now we're well over a hundred. With that comes needs for equipment uh instruments. It also um our band trailers. If you've seen Brian Heis band trailer, it has seen better days and Ruters hasn't seen a day because they don't have a full-size band trailer. So, this will um allow for

061both schools to have adequate trailers um that will store our uh equipment as well as uh take us into the future as we continue to grow. >> I'm excited to share on behalf of CTE on 2.10 10 CEK. Uh that building there's roughly about nine and a half million dollars that's been allocated. We're working with the advisory committee to really look and see what that will be. We look forward to bringing future uh conversations in, but we uh with the expansion of MC Harris and uh what that's going to do just in general. Over 80% of our kids are in a CTE program. So it is alive and well. All of these districts of distinction awards, I'll remind everybody we were a district of distinction for CTE. And so we don't know exactly what that

062will be, but we know that um the committee will decide uh and we'll put that together, but it will be a multi-use building of some sort that all kids uh from the high schools, middle schools would be able to use. And I'd ask Miss Allen to come up and talk on behalf of committee. >> Thank you, Brian. >> Good evening. Um so when I look at this list, I'm extremely excited that it touched on so many different areas of um extracurriculars for our students. um our look at fine arts um especially is universally a very underfunded um program across the country and so finally putting some money into something that um literally starts the games off. They're on the sidelines. They're um the heart and soul of our athletic programs. Um the turfields um when

063you look at those numbers you think why are we spending so much money for a sport that runs from August through November? Um but the reality is it's not just the football team that's using that. We have the band, we have the drill team, the cheerleaders, um the middle schools are using that facility, the soccer teams, there's elementary track meets there. Um I as a realtor am always looking at how can we bring in money to the district and I think that we're always I'm traveling to all these other places for tournaments and games. Um, I think Brian ISD really has the opportunity to be a hub um to be able to host tournaments and games in our own facilities, but in order to do that, we have to have facilities worth advertising um for

064people to come. Um, so I think um it was super surprising to me that the baseball team um because of the fieldhouse conditions changes in their cars. Um and so I think about a baseball player getting ready for a game changing in their car. It's not what we want for our team. and visiting teams to experience. Um, and then CEK, um, as a community, we're bringing in so many different businesses to Brian College Station that are going to need to be able to employ our own students. So, being able to have local kids that can be trained here and employed here. Um, such an opportunity and so we really have got to spend the money to be able to um, accept more kids because as we found out, so many kids are being turned away

065from programs because there's just not the space. So, um, such an exciting thing for me just to see, um, so much thought put into the committee for serving so many different areas. >> And Miss Allen, how many children do you have in the district? >> Um, so I have nine children total, two that have graduated from Brian High, five that are currently in the district, and one that I'm really trying to sneak in early. So, >> they've been in all of those programs, to say the least. She has a real vest. >> Before we move on on this one, you're mentioning about the Brazis Valley already is a hub for sports. People are already coming in, not just from the state, but nationally. I get calls from my co-workers from Arkansas and from New York.

066Hey, we're coming to College Station. We're coming to Brian. Here's the other thing that this is for people who say, "Well, I don't have a kid in Brian ISD." Brian ISD is sometimes the front door, the only door that people get to see when they come into the community and they're making decisions. Am I going to put my business in this town? And they're going to see it by what does the football field look like? They're going to see it by there was just a basketball tournament. What does the restrooms look like when they walk into a gym? So, this isn't all the great things about the kids and what it's going to mean for them. But this is also there are business decisions being made for hundreds potentially thousands of jobs based on what

067do the facilities look like in Brian ISD. So it's important not just for our kids but also for potentially millions billions of dollars worth of business that's going to come into this community. >> Amen. Thank you for saying that. That CEK building it'll be interesting to see what grows into with all the feedback that we get. Uh the concessions uh fieldhouse renovations again looking at softball baseball really setting them up to have some unique spaces is exciting. All right. The next one is the Brian High renovations. So, I'd ask Mr. Boheis, uh, Jacob Justice, and Miss Allen to come back up and talk just a little bit about these. Yes, ma'am. You Yes, ma'am. This is the way the committee went. Just so you know, there was moments when I was like, I don't know

068that we're going to get through this and we still going to be friends, but we definitely are. And that's what family does. Yes, ma'am. >> I just want to say something about the um athletics. Um my son, he is a student athlete and um I'm anticipating him getting on the field at um the new field. He's anticipating we moved down here um five years ago from Mississippi from the G Coast and um I've never been on never seen the inside of the stadium. So I'm anticipating seeing the inside of this new um stadium myself. Um and he and he is doing the conditioning right now at um over there at the um this the training and everything. So he is they all of them are peeking and you know taking pictures trying to see how

069it's looking and and what have you. So, and we have been here um and I have seen him transition from Henderson to San Raburn to SFA and now we are going to um Brian High and so and me being a mama bear me being an advocate and and for my son and I and he's a student athlete and he is an honor student. He's SFA. He he is a you know I like I say I advocate for him. So I I'm waiting to see how all of this going to come together and you know and to know that all of us have had our hands on seeing this not only for the children that's here that's coming but for the children to go after my son is gone you know and to see how all

070of these children all of the people behind my son after he's gone and maybe my grandkids to know that they will have their children and their kids and to walk on these fields, play on these fields, walk through these doors and get a chance to, you know, endure and, you know, have a piece of all of this that I can say that I had, you know, part of making come true, you know, and I I'm just excited about the work that all of all of these people, all of us, you know, had a chance to, you know, work with and do. And I mean, because I never got a chance to meet none of these, you know, these fine people until I came here. And but I'm excited and I'm just, you know, ecstatic about

071this work that >> and I think we're going to put you on every committee. >> Yes, ma'am. >> But thank you. >> Absolutely. Brian Hob, if you'll come up, Mr. Boheis, uh, Jacob, and >> Good evening, members of the board and Superintendent Caroline. um I had a unique opportunity to come in and be a part of this committee and so having a set of eyes that's coming from outside the district um came in with the notion of there was some needs that this campus had. Um I don't think there's been a day that I've been on campus that I have not walked that building to try to find ways to repurpose what we have and we've done quite a bit since we've been there. Um but we've reached a point where we can't repurpose anymore.

072uh we've reached our maximum capacity and so when I see uh things like the kitchen expansion when I first came in I'm like where do all the kids go like this is just one and we realize that there was a need there um for safety security and then just general housing of our students for productivity um the renovations and some of the items that we'll talk about here um it's just one of those things that it is an award-winning campus and we want to keep it that way and so uh it's a campus where our students are proud it's a proud community and I think that the work that has gone gone into building Brian High School to what it is um is because of the people that are devoted to seeing this become one

073of the best districts in the state of Texas. And so when I see notions of expansion and renovation um it truly is because there's a need. I mean, do we want it? Yes. But we also need it as well. Thank you. Our programs are growing. I've said it many times and I'll keep saying it. Uh Brian High is no exception. Uh one of the great things with Dr. Dr. Bohis coming in was uh he recognizes that and so he was helping us find solutions um so that some of these numbers that we originally had were much larger um but because he found other spaces like for mariachi and our drill team space now we're looking at renovation instead of building. Another point that did take some discussion uh was a auditorium building addition for Brian

074High School. Uh, but I'm I'm thankful for that discussion because the committee all got to speak into it and we got to really think through what this would look like. And so, um, now we have in here an auditorium that would be for Brian High School. Um, and Ruer High School would have their auditorium. Brian High School would have their auditorium. And it's going to be another it's another front door for our community. Um, just like athletics, the the two largest things that people are going to come to a school for are typically their athletic facilities or their auditoriums. And so Brian High is overdue to have an adequate auditorium for that school. >> Mr. Justice, real quick, I have something to This won't take long, but back to the band trailer for Brian High.

075both of my I go to a dentist and there's several dentists there and they're both both dentist or Brian High band boosters and so I don't know a couple years ago didn't one of them had a cut on his arm and I said where'd you get that Bobo and he said well the Brian had trailer's in my driveway and I've been working on the trailer so I don't know, next time I went six months later, I had the other guy and and I do know their names, but I'm not going to say their names just because I didn't ask about this anyway. And so, so um I said, "Well, Dr. So and so I been working on the trailer." He goes, "No, it's in my yard now." And so that Brian High band was being

076I mean the band trailer was being passed around uh by dentist that could afford to work on. >> Yes. And that speaks one of our amazing community. There is grit in Brian ISD. There are people that are willing to work and we're going to make exceptional things happen with whatever you give us. Um and so hopefully our new trailer will put smiles on dentist faces and not cuts on their arms. It's a good one. >> Um, so the original list for Brian High School was a little bit overwhelming when we first looked at it and after really hearing from um, incoming principal and the meetings that were done, um, I was really interested and excited to see the fact that the items picked are things that are helping with the growth of students. Um, you

077know, when I think about safety and security on another topic, I like to think that our district can get to a place where we're only protecting ourselves from the outside. We're never protecting ourselves from the inside. Our students are so involved um in all of these different things that they're too busy to get into trouble. And I think with Brian High that really I look at every the mariachi, the drill team, the athletic space, the CEK space, and if you don't use any of those things, you're eating for sure in the cafeteria um as a student. So every student is u is is touched by this, which is um which is great. And so I'm excited to see um I know we have a little shining star from Rudder um that's a performer here. and

078having that space at Brian High. I have a student that I would love to take in his footsteps to do that at Brian High as well. And um just the able ability to grow and and grow this from the elementary up and have places where our kids can thrive. >> Well done. >> All right, Ruer High School. I'd like to invite up Miss Leighton, uh Jacob Justice. Who else do we have? Uh Jen Hodson, and then we've Jade Robson. >> All right. Thank you. So, I was excited to go through this bond and to be able to talk about a few big projects that are needed at Rudder. As we all know, um, Ruer has kind of been changed since its beginning, what it was created for to be more of a 3A school. And

079so, we have grown to 5A, which we love. And so, right now, I think we're sitting close to,700 students. Um, and so we were able to get the classrooms which has helped greatly as far as alleviate crowding and floating teachers and all the things. But as we look at the new CTE lab space that's going to be used for barbering and cosmetology and what we are excited about is these are in three portable buildings right now at Ruer High School. So, this will allow them to be all inside a building together. And we're going to do a big open concept so that the teachers and students can collaborate because so many of the skills and classes overlap. And so, instead of them being in individual rooms where they cannot help each other and teach different

080skills that the teachers are stronger with. And so, this is going to be a big open concept lab with two classrooms, I believe, and so that they can all work together. So, we think that will help our students get certified and gain the hours they need for those certifications. The competition gym, uh, we just I mean, I think it's a need for some parts of safety as far as in the games. It's hard when all the teams, all the crowd, they all enter into the lobby at halftime, after the game. And so, uh, we just want to make sure that we can keep everybody separated and, uh, safe. As you know, especially in basketball, sometimes people are a little intense. So, but this will be able to get us a gym that can also hold

081our student body for things like pep rallies and games and things that we do because currently uh we cannot fit the whole uh student body in for a pep rally and things like that. And then it will allow us to have a third gym where we have color guard rangerettes and all the groups that really need a gym to be able to practice in. So then also we're going to be able to renovate and increase the size of the dance hall as the size of the Rangerettes are growing and then uh be able to get a new band hall. And so we're excited about that. I think everyone says a lot and we'll be keep being proud of it. Our band program is growing. Kids want to be in it. Uh and so that is

082always a great thing when you can offer another program for kids to be in. And this will also allow then our mariachi group to be able to have a space once they build the new band hall because right now the mariachi kind of floats around between orchestra and the band hall for practicing. And so we are just excited to be able to get the spaces that our kids need to continue to be successful and grow. >> As always, Rachel's so well spoken, we don't need to say anything, but we would like the committee members to talk. And I'd point out, y'all know Jade is a graduate. He's been in here a few times. Uh Jade, how many meetings did you make? >> All of them. Wow. Yeah. He made every one of them. He made

083every one of them, including tonight. And so, um he's been an ambassador. Uh your mom, we're just so very proud of him. >> Ambassador, uh box score, basketball, leadership on steroids, top 10 graduate, you you name it. Uh an incredible kid. Incredible. >> He will be missed. Uh he will definitely be missed. I will get to hopefully keep in touch. He'll be at UFH, so we'll be cheering uh from him. >> And then he was active in the group and so we wanted to bring him. >> Very very active. And his mom's a counselor at uh Saul Ross. So they're all in for Brian IC and we we loved having Jade because uh you have to have the voice of the student in this process. So thank you again. >> Thank y'all for the comments

084and things like that. Good evening to the board and to my teammates that are standing behind me. Basically back off of what women laden said because she said it perfectly in my opinion. The lab space is necessity. The new competition gym a big necessity because the gym is literally too small to use. Like there's people standing right next to where we're playing at, right next to where the other teams are playing at, whether it's volleyball, basketball, whatever sport it is. So having a new gym would really allow us to have more safety, allow us to play more freely and not have to worry about whether we're going to run into somebody on the sidelines or things like that and just give our school a way better reputation than what it has now because our school

085is a lot better than what some people say it is. But this would just allow us to just prove how much better we are. So the renovation of the dance hall and the band hall, I can say personally from using both from box score, having choreography practice in the dance hall, using the mirrors to each other, having to squish together our choreography cuz you know we move a lot. So having that dance hall is good, but it could be better. It's always could be better. And this would make it extremely better, almost perfect. So not even just require just like you said Ranger and things like that. giving them enough space to be able to practice not have to go out to the field every day know it rains a lot it's it's Texas it's

086five polar weathers you never know what's going to happen so you know just having that space to where they can practice inside or outside and have the choice of any day what they want to do which is really help our school improve and the band hall as well the band is expanding every day like there's people that I know that aren't even in band are talking about joining band there's people that in band talking about trying to learn how to play instrument just to go to football games and be in band so it's just things like that. Just having a student perspective of being able to see these things happen that teachers might not see cuz they're in class all day will just show you how much our school could be improved. And I believe

087with these improvements, our school would really improve. So, >> thank you. >> Yeah, well, >> Pastor Jyn has uh really adopted the campus and adopted a lot of people to be completely honest, but really uh plugged in with their new location and so we'd love to hear your words. >> Okay. Okay. Well, good evening. Thanks for letting me share and I will keep this brief, but um I am uh a pastor. I am a pastor right next to Rudder High School. And um I just have to say that it has just been uh a true blessing to be able to go and cheer on the baseball team or attend a ba basketball game um and just uh love on our teachers um by you know stocking their their um snack rooms with snacks and drinks

088and things like that. Um, and I'm going to say more importantly, I'm a parent of, uh, two littles who attend, uh, an elementary school in this year, uh, SFA, the middle school. And um as a parent, I absolutely love Brian ISD because it is the teachers and the staff and the administrators who are growing not only my children but um many mamas and proud fathers and grandparents and grandparents and they are instilling in them not only reading, writing and arithmetic um but they are building our future leaders in our community. So, our future pastors and teachers and police officers and firemen and doctors and lawyers and city officials. And so, um, Brian ISD, we have a responsibility to not only this generation of students who are coming through, but our future generations who are coming

089through. And, um, I am very supportive of this bond process, uh, and also very supportive of Rudder High School. Um, my children, they are not zoned to go to Rudder High School. they are zoned to go to to Brian High if if um Lord willing uh and and all the stars align. But why Rudder? Uh because whether you're at Brian or Collegiate uh or Brian High or any of the schools in Brian ISD, every child deserves to have an equal opportunity and space to grow and thrive. And that is why I am so supportive of Rudder. and uh they are our next door neighbors and we are going to be there uh this fall and winter and spring cheering them on and so uh I just want to um give a special thank you to

090each of you and to uh Ruer's principal and leaders and that is all. >> Thank you ma'am. >> All right, the one that just took on a life of its own is Brian Collegiate. And uh let me tell you just a little bit as I invite Dr. Capertton up and Tommy Roberts if it wouldn't mind. Uh this one started off we noticed uh the committee said hey strategic planning in that phase the what's the FCI facility condition index of this building and that number gives you some inclination on whether or not you need to maybe do something else with it like the amount of money that you're putting in into it compared to a new build and that was 59% and at 59 that number 59 that would basically could trigger a new build right

091so they all the things and it was millions and millions and millions of dollars that we were going to pump uh to Brian Collegiate as far as new roof, new uh sealant, all of the things that were there, but you would still drive by and it would still look really basically the same. And out of that, the committee just kept saying, "Why are we not considering a rebuild? Why are we not considering a rebuild?" And so we considered it and we had it come in. We had them come in, talk about it. We met multiple times, looked at programming, what do they do in the building? Really got a hard number to bring it. And um that's what you see here is a a Brian Collegiate High School rebuild. Um and I'll let Desiree, Dr.

092Capertton, and Tommy, if at all, talk a little bit about um why this is important and uh what you think this would mean for the community. And I can tell you one of the meetings and I kind of joked about, you know, the family and and the structure of the meetings. There was one meeting, I mean, I just thought this has gotten completely derailed. like you kind of anticipate the way it's going to go and you're thinking you're coming to to consensus and then it just got I mean it just went off the rails and I'm just standing there like here we go it's off the rails and I'm not getting it back like and and you sort of just go with it and there's uh if you have the right perspective on it which

093eventually I got it's like this is happening for a reason this is happening for a purpose and let's figure out what that purpose is and how we come back to it because there were some things that we all felt really strongly about and one of it was keeping under the 400. So, we needed to figure out how to do that. And so, anyway, we're proud. So, if you want to talk about that. >> Sure. >> So, I'm not on this committee, but y'all are doing a fabulous job because when I got the call from Dr. Merryill about a new building, I was like, heck yeah, let's do this. Very exciting. Um, I will say kind of uh piggybacking off of what do Mr. Griffith said, "We are one of those campuses that Brian ISD is

094investing more and more and more money in because of the roof, because of HVAC, because of plumbing and pipes and um all of the electrical things. So to get a new building is very exciting because you guys you know we're right off Villa Maria so people are seeing our building and so to have something to showcase the fact that we are a nationally ranked school and to have the three wings together where it's will also be a safer campus is something that we're really looking forward to and I think can really showcase to the community what we're about. So we're very excited. Mr. Roberts. >> Yeah. I just I'll just piggyback for just a moment. Um, you know, one of the the very first thing that caught my attention during one of the early meetings

095was when Mr. Griffin said, you know, we'll spend 30 something million dollars. >> Um, and then so what's it going to look like? And he said, well, you're going to drive down Bill Marie and it will look like that like it does right now. >> Um, but you know, th this opportunity lends itself to continue to market Brian ISD and to continue to draw family and kids in um to our district to showcase something that's really special and really unique. um because we are the only one in the Brazis Valley. We're the only early college in um high school in the Brazis Valley. So, it would a good uh long-term investment um in my opinion. >> And we're cheaper than Brian Hines's renovations. >> Not that we're counting, but there would Dr. Capton, will you

096remind us how many consecutive years has Brian Collegiate High School been in US News and World Report as a top performing high school in all of the United States of America? Not just Brazis Valley, the the US. Is it nine consecutive years? >> We're over 10 at this point. >> 11 maybe. I want to say 11 or 12. >> I don't have my notes in front of me. >> And we're starting to make uh a name for oursel in AVID. So, we had the national AVID teacher of the year a couple years ago. We've just gotten into the top three AVID site teams in the nation. So, we're definitely doing some good things that we're very proud of. >> Yeah. And this building, just to point out some nuances to it, it it would hold

097550. The core would be able to hold 700. So if we wanted to come back and expand it, we could to increase the capacity by adding classrooms down the line. And we felt that was important because we do think that we have an incredible campus that we want to market. And then if you >> 100% college acceptance rate coming out of Brian Collegiate High School. >> So So Dr. Merl, I'm sorry. So we're going 2700, but we do have the ability to grow. >> Yeah, we're it's 550 right now is our current capacity, and that's what this building's programmed out, but the the core would be 700. So like the cafeteria, the hallways, any of those spaces that would be very difficult to go back. So right now it definitely is sufficient for our needs,

098including the gym is for core capacity of 700. >> And and we shaved off from the original asking price. So Soant, it's not like we're just going down on capacity. We've gone down on price to make this. >> We've gone down on price. That's right. >> Great. Well, thank you'all for all your hard work on that. >> Absolutely. >> So the people don't realize Brian ISD has owned this land for 68 years. So this property has been a part of our district and is one of the oldest I mean not the oldest but one of the oldest and most uh you know profound in the location. So we certainly would never want to get rid of it. We just want to make it better. And what a great place for Brian Collegiate, our number one

099gold star, you know, national performing. And I think it's about time, you know, you've been top performing for over 10 years, over a decade or a decade. And I think we need to again start spreading that word because we think a lot of people understand and know but one of the reasons we want to do this is because of how outstanding this program is. And so along with a new building, I think it's time that we get some more marketing out there about how great this program is because it will help the community understand why you deserve this beautiful, beautiful new building. And you know, at one of the most uh prestigious on Villa Maria, a piece of property, like I said, that we've owned Yeah. >> 68 years. >> Two things. Number one, they

100often think it's a charter school. It's not a charter school. It's Brian ISD. And the other thing is we presented at the city the other day and they became very very excited about like something new going into that area and just the attraction and what it would do to the central location of Brian in general. And so if you wanted to share a few words as well. >> Yeah. So, uh, I had an opportunity starting in 2018 to work with the students at Collegiate when we started, uh, Hopes Locker. And the the core group of students that that go through those programs are exceptional. They're genuine servant leaders just out the gate. They're infused with this energy to serve the community, serve their fellow students, and I feel strongly that with this project and giving

101them a brand new building and taking it to the max here with what we're able to do for them, it really sends a message home to them that you're important in Brian ISD. You may not have some of the things that some of the other schools have because of how you're structured, but you're extremely important. We're very proud of you and we want to show you that we want this program to continue forward in this historic spot as as Miss Ruthie said and we want to also preserve a lot of that history too because there's a lot of conversation around the history of that building and oh my gosh if you rip it down what's going to happen? Um, but we want to drive home for those students and the teachers that it's an extremely

102important program that we're willing to invest time and money and and energy into. Um, because we want them to feel that support and to make sure that the longevity of that program and the longevity of the incredible work they're doing is a is a reality for the future. >> Thank you. All right. Our next project is the Merryill Green Stadium and I'll ask uh Rush Allen and I think he's not here. Do Gray is on his way but I I don't he was coming in from out of town but he won't be here. Good. Again, we're definitely excited about these potential projects here. Uh when you look at the uh Merill Green uh video board and sound system there at Mel Green Stadium. Originally when the uh video board was purchased, it was purchased for

103a from a company out of Ohio and that company no longer exists. uh but one of their IT people branched off and uh he does continue to does does work with video boards and so when the video board breaks down or and things of that nature we have to fly this guy in to uh fix the video board from that standpoint of it. So we're definitely uh video board is definitely needed and the sound system there at Mel Green Stadium definitely need to be uh upgraded as well uh from that standpoint of things. Uh so when you look at the Merrill Green uh fieldhouse uh when it was originally built uh in 1972, I was born in 1973 and so >> Excuse me. >> Yes, >> I have a problem with that. Well, again, it's

104it's definitely have has did a great job of of uh reaching its capacity as far as lifespan, as far as serving the the need of the uh school district and student athletes. And but we're we're definitely in d need of a new fieldhouse when it comes to meeting the needs of our student athletes. Uh not only our students athletes, but our fine arts and and our middle school athletes and and and our community as well from that standpoint of things. So again when Rto was built uh the Mel Green Fieldhouse became a district facility and so that's kind of unique situation uh from that standpoint of things. So when you look at uh the the Merl green fieldhouse that houses Brian High athletes but also Ruer athletes come over as well also our middle school

105athletes. And so, for example, uh during football season, uh Ruer, uh varsity football team comes over and dresses in the Brian High JV locker room. And so, that's has been a a a issue. Uh and so that's something that hopefully we can address and and and get their make them have feel at home and also provide them their own field, their own locker room uh when they come to Mel Green Stadium. Uh, from that standpoint of things, another thing I want to touch on before I Kathy comes up as far as uh I I keep harping on as far as bringing in revenue and and and good things for the for the uh district and also for the city. Uh this past year uh we had like six or seven uh uh football programs and

106soccer programs call uh and they wanted to come play because we are midpoint uh and for a lot of districts in the Houston area and Dallas area and Austin area and and once they found out as far as our facilities and and uh the are not upgraded as far as the locker rooms not big enough for most 5A 6A programs. they want because when those teams get deep in the playoffs, they want to come bring bring their kids to nice things uh from that standpoint of it. So that's another big thing. But the main thing as far as the fieldhouse is concerned as far as meeting the needs of our student athletes and our community when it comes to that. >> Yeah. And this has been adjusted. The numbers here we really took a hard

107look at and uh drilled down into exactly the space that was needed. A lot of these were dominoes in the sense that um this locker room space will free up space space in the building for cheerleaders for drill team like it. It really became a domino that we've talked about in the past. But this number started substantially higher and uh through the work of the board, through the work of Derek and uh our other partners, this number came down without compromising the integrity of what we felt like we needed. Mr. Griffin kept saying if we can't do it right, we don't need to do it at all. He kept reminding us of that. We want to be proud of it and at the same time we don't want to waste money but we we want

108sustainability and so I do think that this has been accomplished with that. Uh we looked very hard at the numbers those coming up to make sure we had enough square footage uh in the lockers all the different locker rooms uh while at the same time having a meeting space big enough that we could host events such as uh uh banquetss and those types of things. And so uh it'll be a beautiful space no doubt u and it's sufficient for what we needed to do. >> Yeah. One of the things I want to add on that as far as we like I said we went back and revisited uh the fieldhouse and and the space and the footage and everything. Uh initially uh we wanted to to provide a a a locker room space for our

109visiting team and so we decided that uh no we're not in the in the business of pleasing our visitors when they come to Stadium. So uh they would be able to dress in the visit the JV locker room the track locker room. And so again, that that cut down on space and so the cost went down from that uh standpoint of things. And so uh again, >> while Miss Allen walks up, uh we also are excited about that flexible space that could be one large room or two or three or four smaller rooms because we do not have enough space in our district for professional development, uh learning, training, etc. So not only will the athletics department use it, uh teachers and staff all across the district will use it as another meeting space. Um,

110so when you look at Fieldhouse, if you're not um someone who's been in it, it would just look like something that's at the end of a football stadium that holds the scoreboard up. So um I did a lot of research into what is a fieldhouse. Um I would call myself an expert in facilities of athletics. I tried to total up how many games I've visited um in six years with one child in athletics and I think I have visited about a hundred away games um for just that one child. So I've seen a lot of facilities um following him through his recruiting process with tech um we've seen other facilities across the state and across the country. Um and it makes you realize when you look at our facilities they're really at a 2 to

1113A level. Um and we have five and 6A schools. Um you think about our kids having um to level up to that 6A and 5A with heart and with drive and they need the facilities to match it. So um what is in a fieldhouse? Um so current weight rooms and training areas are outdated. They're undized for the level of participation. Um Coach Rush has put in amazing people who are taking our involvement in athletics to just an unprecedented rate that I've ever seen. Um, when Tyson was there, they were struggling to get teams together and now they're having to create extra teams. It's great to see kids on the sideline because we have so many kids wanting to participate in athletics. Um, that fieldhouse doesn't only house football. Um, it houses boys track, boys cross

112country, girls soccer, girls cross country, girls track, softball, student trainers. Um, with this addition, we'd actually be able to add water polo, swim, golf, and boys soccer. Um so just expanding who all uses that. Um second thing it's used for is recruiting. We have college coaches who come and they're not coming to the school. They're coming to the fieldhouse um to meet with the coaches. And so it is um like it's been mentioned before, another front door into our community. When they're coming in that space, we wanted to make an impression and open doors for our students. Um I would like to see the um this could be you banners across Mel Green just full of other kids on there. And I think that being able to have that space for um our coaches to

113do better work and have places to meet and bring those coaches in. Um third thing that's housed there is athletic trainers. Um unfortunately I've had to experience a severe injury by a student that ended his senior year. Um and being in a space so small and crowded with other injuries going on, you know, having a kid being told they're not going to be able to play the rest of their season with other people crammed in there. um those student um and trainers and the people who are learning how to take care of our students and go on to have careers in that, they need a dedicated and larger space to be able to do that work as well because um it's just super important. Um not just about competition, it's about community. Um and so

114having that um place be a hub for team events, parent involvement, school spirit. Um when we're having team dinners, we can't fit in there. On average, you can have three people helping. And when we have the restaurants that want to come in and speak to the students, there's not enough room for them. Um, so just having a place where our kids can feel like they can spread out together before the games and have that time together, team building events, guest speakers, um, things that build culture, build unity, and ultimately build success for our students. Um, I think that in closing, the fieldhouse is not just a building. It's a reflection of our commitment to equity, opportunity, and excellence. Um it's the second most um expensive item if you look at it that's on the bond,

115but it is just so many different things um that um we need. So I think it's time to give them tool support and pride they've already earned. >> All right, this is just a summary of sort of the last few things kind of broken down just to give you you've seen this. This is not anything new, but again I would remind you that uh we wanted to stay under that 400 million. It was discussed early on. do we go above and for example if you went a penny above 400 you could raise 30 million. Uh the committee was very cognizant the taxpayers were always in the room. I think MV stood up either the first or second time and and really uh said to the group like we need to take this really seriously and

116we need to really consider this because it's not just about us. It's about everyone else. And I appreciated that perspective. And so I show this to say that we could have gone up. It's remarkable that one penny would have raised $30 million or two penny would have given us 60. I can say that the group behind me and the group that was here meeting all those times really felt like they needed to get those projects under $400 million and we're at 396,911418. And so that's where the projects came in. We're incredibly proud of that. That really is a consensus for for all of the projects. And uh it was just very exciting. Again, I've said this what I've entered into it in sort of with my thoughts and where we've gone. I am incredibly proud

117and honored for the group and their opinions as they brought it uh day in and day out and making recommendations and not letting anything just sort of off the hook. They kept questioning and pushing back and asking for more information. And so I'm very very pleased for that. Our next steps are um we're asking for the the board to consider maybe making calling for an election. The last day to do that would be August the 18th. And then we would get into the voting uh elements and we would obviously look at referendums and those types of things. Uh before we close uh are there any questions for the good of the group? Doc may Dr. Merrill I just want if you'll go back to the uh total the 396 this is >> this is where

118we're projected if if we can save money on that we will. Is that correct? I just want to make that perfectly clear. >> Yes, of course. >> Yes. >> Actually what I was about to to kind of reiterate. >> Um I've been doing this a while. The first one of these I did was in 1980. So, it's it's been a long journey. These folks have put their heart and soul into asking the hard questions and refining and working and bringing out the the passion and the desire to serve the community and our students. With that, the recommendation to the board is still in your hands. Of course, after that, it's in the hands of the voters. Of course, after that, the work really begins. And that's when I will say we will again call our

119local support group, our staff, our people here because up to now it's conceptual. Everything is just an idea of what we need and what we want and what we have. How do we have to get there? We had to put a price tag to it. But ultimately we will then get into the design, the development, the full programming. And that is when we will work diligently to make sure that we are getting sustainable, coste effective and things that will make us all proud. As I said originally, I had no intention of coming out of retirement to do this. But I have one boy that just graduated and another one that still has two more years. But it's not even about them because most of this work will be going on long after they're out of

120school. So it's not about them. But it is about serving our community and serving our students. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Yeah. Have any questions? >> Can I Okay. This is All right. So Rachel, Miss Leighton, I was sending you these. So Jade, you know, we were talking about what a great student Jade was. This is the honor student. This is the honor graduates of brother. And here's Jade right here. Yeah. >> So, I had these in inner school mail to you just tonight. So, here Jay for >> There we go. >> I know. >> Thank you. >> So proud of you. >> Welld deserved. >> Well deserved. I don't have a question. I want to >> I want to thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> This took a lot of work >> and 13

121long meetings. I don't think >> any of the board members were at all 13 meetings. >> They couldn't be. Um, no. But to be able to pull this off and I know you had to deal with before you have to deal with us, you had to deal with the staff, the administration, and the teachers. And that's not always easy because a lot of people have a lot of thoughts and doubts and questions, but you you really held it down. You did a fantastic job. >> And I can speak for myself. I am very proud of the work you and the committee did because to see the community come together in the room and have those hard conversations that were some of them embarrassing. I was like at table six I wanted to get under the

122table sometime but cuz Amy is Amy's a beast but everyone had the best interest of the school district and the children and the staff >> at the top and so I I want to thank you for putting all of this together and um holding us down. >> It was my honor. I was excited I first day I I couldn't sleep. I was so excited. >> I remember that he was bouncing off the wall. >> Yeah. And then I eventually slept for sure and needed some sleep and there were moments when I thought I don't know that we're going to get this in. And then um you know everything happens for a reason. It really does. And I'm so proud of what we get to talk about. I mean and we can't tell people how to

123vote but I mean just in talking about this they're going to see how we feel about it and how we want to vote. And we don't have to manufacture it. It just is exciting. Like we're going to touch every school. Every school is going to have something Brian collegiate to rebuild renovations at Brian High long overdue things at Ruer. You start knocking these things down and I don't know how I mean you can't just get excited about it. And so uh the final meeting Joel just said, you know, we're kind of closing up. We're having a good meeting and and uh he said, "Can I say something?" And you never know with Joel. Uh you just kind of like, "Yeah, I guess." Uh and so but uh he's he just let it out tremendously and

124it led to more conversation. So we thought, hey, would you mind closing tonight's meeting for us? So I'll I'll give Joel But before you do that, may may I miss say one thing, please? I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just want to thank y'all all again like Felicia said, for all the hard work, but I would really also like to thank you for keeping the taxpayers in mind. Mr. Murbish, thank you. that is always has to be at the at the top of our not the students are always at the top but like you said we're community and that is extremely important and I thank y'all for being cognizant of that each step of the way because we have to make sure that we don't only serve our students but that we serve our community.

125>> Thank you. Sorry. >> So, uh I tend to be pretty long-winded uh as Dr. Merrill stated, you never know what I'm going to say. Um and in the spirit of that actually wrote down my thoughts that I had that night into a speech so I don't veer off too bad. Um so good evening. Uh this presentation before you today is the product of months of thoughtful work and collaboration. We have had rich discussions and as Miss Benford had uh mentioned sometimes full agreement and sometimes filled with hard questions all with one goal to refine a bond proposal that truly meets the needs of our students, our staff and our community. What we are presenting this evening is a result of that process. I believe it strikes a careful and responsible balance respecting the $400

126million cap that we established, avoiding that tax increase that we've all talked about tonight and yet still delivering the essential resources our schools need to thrive, not merely survive. And as I reflect on this journey uh that brought us here all those meetings, I'm reminded of a poem that I've heard several summers for the past 16 years uh at Texas Boy State. It is recited at the opening meeting for our staff serving as a charge to the leaders gathered that there. I've come to realize it captures the very essence of what we have worked toward on this bond. The poem is called the bridgeuer and I mentioned it at our last meeting but I'm going to read it to you tonight that way you feel the true effects of it. So again the poem is

127called the bridge builder. An old man going a long highway came to an evening cold and gray to a chasm vast and deep and wide through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim. The soulen stream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other side and built a bridge to span the tide. Old man said a fellow pilgrim near, you're wasting your strength with building here. Your journey will end with the ending of day. You never again will pass this way. You've crossed the chasm deep and wide. Why build this bridge at evening tide? The builder lifted his old gray head. Good friend, and the path that I have come, he said, there followed after me today a youth whose feet must pass this

128way. This chasm that has been as not to me to that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He too must cross in the twilight dim. Good friend, I am building this bridge for him. This poem speaks directly to the heart of what we tried to do. We built something not just for today but for those who follow us. In our conversations, I was reminded the legacy left by those who came before us. the previous administration, the current administration, and people like Kevin Bau, who led our finance department with integrity and foresight helping lay found the laid the foundation of a fiscal responsibility that we stand by today, which we've mentioned tonight. Thanks to that foundation and the tireless work and our strategic planning committee that turned into a bond steering committee, we have been able

129to focus squarely on the future. Many who will vote for this bond won't see a direct benefit. Some have children who have already graduated. Some have high schoolers nearing the finish line. And yet, they recognize this bond's lasting value to Brian ISD. Value that will strengthen our district for years to come. This proposal isn't just about attracting new students, though it will certainly help us do that. It's about serving the students we currently have now and the students that are yet to come. It's about addressing aging facilities, closing gaps in resources, and ensuring our schools remain places of pride in the community. We've talked about the front door all night. There's different front doors all across the community. Though, as an elementary school teacher, I see every day what investments can mean for our young

130learners. As a parent now, I imagine what these improvements will mean for my own son as he grows up in this district. The bond builds bridges not just for today but for the next generation. In closing, I leave you with the image of the old man in that poem. He knew that he would not cross that path again, but he built the bridge anyway for those who would follow. That's the spirit of servant leadership we honor tonight. We've mentioned it multiple times tonight through careful planning, responsible budgeting, and countless hours I'm going to repeat that again. countless hours of discussion, we have crafted the strongest bridge that we could build. Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration. Let's continue building a Brian SD that leads with the heart of a bridge builder.

131>> Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] I want to before everybody leaves, I I want to um thank you again and also tell you that it's hard to keep me from having the few last words. They won't be as long as as we said they won't be as eloquent either, but but I do want to say something that I think is very important. Uh and it's going to be short. Uh there we can never be sure what one person's needs are versus another what other person would call a want. We that's that's kind of a difficult argument to make that well we we absolutely need all this. Some of it is we know it's valuable and we want it because it's going to be make us a better district. And so the the the main point

132I want to get to is is your job if we uh call the bond is not to wait till the election and then vote. You're going to have to do a whole lot more if this is going to work. not just you, but a lot of people that you might recruit and because we can't as a district uh do a whole lot as far as advocating uh particularly the the employees uh the superintendent on down uh just simply can't do it. It's not legal. Uh if you haven't been paying attention, uh there's been a lot of effort put into disparaging public schools and and we we know the value of Brian public schools. I'm preaching to the choir. Y'all know the Bri the value of Brian public schools. We're not trying to convince, we can't

133convince everybody that public schools everywhere are equally good. I think there's some real problems in some public schools. And unfortunately, some of those some of that gets pushed over into into us and say, "Well, y'all are all the same." And we're not. We're not all the same. Uh I think most public schools are good, but the reality is is they're not all equally good. We're we think and we know and we see that we are great. So y'all got a real tough job. Uh we need you to go out there if this is called which is almost a certainty I would say and and and and get out there and make sure people know how valuable and how wonderful the the people in our schools are that they are working hard. Not just teachers either,

134counselors, uh, our administrative staff is working very very hard. A lot of the public absolutely doesn't know that or doesn't believe that and they are going to vote against this bond if they're not convinced otherwise. At best, we they stay home. I mean, some for some of these people, but and they don't vote, but but we want them to vote for this and not say, "What are you talking about? I'm not about to vote for a bond that taxpayers are going to have to repay no matter how you look at it in terms of tax rate because public schools are are not what are what we need anymore. We need more vouchers. We need more whatever. So So uh that's my speech. Maybe it was longer than I thought it was going to be, but

135I I y'all have this yet your job is not done. So So I know you're tired. I know you put a lot of time into this, but your job is not done. So, so please please uh take that to heart and and figure out a way. I I mean I'm pretty sure that some of you have already committed to that. I know some of you have already done it in the past about advocating then for the bond because uh you are our best cheerleaders at this point. way better than school board members, way better than the superintendent anyway because it's like, oh well, sure they're going to say you got to have it, but we need you people to say that if and get your friends and family to say it. So, so that's end

136of my speech. Please do that because if you don't, uh, we might not get it passed. So, thank you. >> I think Mr. Sazney, after hearing and seeing the support tonight, I I think they're all thinking right now, challenge accepted. Our kids are counting on us and it's all worth it. >> Thank you. >> So Jay, do you have to come home and vote for You have to come home from U of and vote. All right. In November. Okay. >> Thank you all very much again. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We uh are now going to move to public comment on agenda or non-aggenda items. citizens might make comments about topics relevant to district business. >> Oh, sure, sure, sure. Mr. Sazzy is about to talk about public comment. Did we have

137any submissions? >> Okay. One of my favorites. >> Perfect. I mean, part of Yeah. Yeah. Great. Pretty much every single >> one more time. Thank you. >> All right. Uh I'll I'll start over on that. Citizens may make comments about topics relevant to district business. Topics should be limited to three minutes. comments concerning specific student or personnel will be home in close session. I'm told we do not have any tonight, but that's important that I read that so that for future reference uh you you you are aware that yes, the public can comment at our meetings. Uh we're going to move on to the consent agenda. Uh item 9B uh is not is going to be removed from the consent agenda. uh the annual audit will include this information at a later date. So uh

138if any other item would like to be removed for cons for separate uh discussion or consideration, please do so at this time. >> Mr. Stazznney, I move approval of all the items listed on the consent agenda. >> Okay, Mr. Exhaust didn't leave much time for removing one, but if nobody wants to remove one, and I think Mr. Brian is not here. >> Uh but I we still got enough folks here. So uh I guess we could wait on him, but uh >> he ran to the restroom. >> Yeah. Okay. So I I don't I don't expect that he has anything that he would like to remove. So I guess we can ask him when he comes back, but uh does anybody want to second that motion? >> I did. Second. >> Okay. All right. >>

139So the motion's made by Mr. Gonzalez and seconded by Mr. Benford. And there he is. So, did you want to move anything from the consent agenda? >> No. >> Okay. >> We figured not, but we're like, we don't ask him. >> Then all in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. >> All right. It's unanimous. It passed unanimously. >> All right. That brings us to close session. Uh board will now convene in close session to discuss following items to be allowed by the Texas government code chapter 55107 0821. No voting will take place in the closed meeting. Any action the board wishes to take result discussion in close session will occur after the meeting reconvenes in the open meeting. The time is now 7:47. May the board reconvene in open session at 8:55. No action

140was taken in close session. Okay. Our action item has to do with uh discussion recommendation of employee compensation for the 2526 school year and our chief financial officer Norma Friddle is going to tell us a little more about that. Good evening, Mr. President, board members, and Superintendent Caribine. As you recall that our last uh board meeting, we adopted the budget and also committed to bringing back a compensation plan for your consideration and approval. Since our last meeting, we have been working diligently to create capacity uh within our budget by closely reviewing uh current positions to determine whether they truly need to be filled. This has been a difficult but necessary process as it has never it's never popular to ask um anyone we need to find we need to find um ways to do more

141with less. This year's planning um was also shaped by several developments including the passage of House Bill 2 which delivered funding for new teachers uh with three or more years of experience. While we're grateful for this investment, it is important to note that the bill did not include adequate funding uh to support raises for all other essential positions that also support instruction. In just a minute, we'll walk through how the district address these challenges and uh how it's offered to prepare uh prepared to offer compensation options for your consideration this evening. Despite the ongoing budget deficit, these options demonstrate that we care about our staff and we want to recognize their value. Compensation planning is an essential part of our work, not just to ensure fiscal responsibility, but to support recruitment and retention. We must

142offer salary and benefit packages that keep us competitive with surrounding school districts. The plan must ensure equitable treatment across all employee groups, maintain fairness within its organization, and remain competitive in the broader labor market. And of course, a compensation plan must align with a budget to ensure that we support our employees while maintaining long-term financial stability. So, let's go down memory lane one more time. We have seen this slide before. Uh, so what have we done in recent years? The the district has taken thoughtful steps towards implementing targeted strategies to reduce the budget deficit. And these here are just a few examples. We've been able to reduce costs by tightening our staff processes, leveraging natural attrition, improving how we track and manage position through the Skyward system, and combining roles where it made sense to

143do so. So, here is the originally adopted budget from last month. As you know, with the transition to a July 1 fiscal year, we are required to adopt our budget in June. While that budget was adopted, we did not formally adopt a detailed compensation plan at that time. We are bringing that forward this evening for a formal adoption. As you can see at the bottom, the first black arrow, the original plan reflected a budget deficit of $6.7 million. Since adopting the budget, we've identified savings through staffing reductions and positions that could not be filled, bringing the revised deficit down to $1.8 million. Now, as I stated earlier, this has not been an easy task, but it's a necessary process to ensure the district's financial health. So, rather than simply reducing the deficit to $1.8 million,

144we will apply the newly identified savings to increase compensation for our employees who truly deserve it. Now, in addition to reviewing staff reductions, we've also been examining other non-payroll expenditures as part of our effort to gradually close the budget deficit. While these reviews have always been part of our process, we are now approaching them with greater scrutiny, focusing on whether expenditures reflect a genuine need or a discretionary want. Now these may not be large ticket items individually but together they move us in the right direction. Okay. So now let's move on to discuss the details of our compensation plan uh being presented for your consideration this evening. This includes options B, C, and D. We'll begin the conversation by listed listing all the elements that remain consistent across all options. I'd like to emphasize an

145important point. As I began this exercise, I quickly learned that if we do not provide increases for all other positions that have historically been tied to the teacher salary scale, we begin to see equity gaps emerge, particularly between teachers and positions such as counselors. House Bill 2 has required us to increase teacher pay. And if we don't adjust pay for related positions, there will be minimal or no difference in compensation between teachers and positions that demand additional credentials, experience, and responsibilities. So, let's talk through this and the price tag attached. So, as I stated earlier, these are the elements that remain consistent and you'll see them across all options. You'll see the year zero teacher increase by $1,500. You'll see the year 1 and two teacher increase by 2500 increase all other positions historically tied

146to the teacher salary scale by $5,000. As I stated earlier, if we do not take this action, then you will start to see those equity gaps emerge. So, House Bill Two has kind of, you know, forced us to give that um follow suit with all the positions that have historically been tied to the teacher salary scale. You'll also see some market adjustments for select paygrades and a December supplement payment for all hourly staff of $500. Um, also packaged is a bus driver attendance incentive, an opportunity to earn $50 a week for um, having perfect attendance. every option is also going to have that contribution to our health insurance fund so that we uh try to keep our uh health insurance fund sustainable. And one of the biggest savings that you're going to see across all

147options are those staffing reductions that we talked about that $4.9 million. Mr. Fiddle, before you leave that slide, could you just remind our community that with House Bill Two, these particular positions were excluded. They they gave us money for the teacher retention aotment that would only address three to fouryear teachers and five plus year teachers. So everything that you're proposing for board consideration is above and beyond what this the state provided as far as an aotment. That is correct. Yes ma'am. Thank you for that reminder. Um House Bill 2 did provide compensation for teachers with uh three and four years of experience of that $2500. Now you can see that we match that at the district's cost. We matched what House Bill uh two did for those three and fouryear teachers. So, we are paying

148our year one and two teacher $2,500. And we're also matching House Bill 2. And we're giving that $5,000 increase to all positions that have historically been on the teacher salary scale >> except for teachers. >> Correct. They received it. We we I've said it before and I think it bears repeating. Historically when we talk about teachers uh counselors, registered nurses, certified librarians, they have always been included with that. So we were quite surprised when they were excluded. Um hence the reason we feel compelled to take care of them. >> Absolutely. Yes ma'am. Well said. >> So now let's discuss where the plans differ. We talked about all the consistent elements across the options. So really where you're going to see that needle move is right here on this slide. So as you can see um

149option B offers a 3% increase to hourly staff and a 2% increase to salary staff. >> Sorry. >> Option C, you can read that right up at the top. So hourly staff are at 4% and salary staff are at 2%. And then the last option there says all non-HB2 staff at 3%. Essentially what that means is hourly and salary staff at this option would just receive a 3% raise across the board. So a lot of times you do hear that that statement like you know 3% across the board. That basically means if you are not touched by House Bill two option D just simply gives a blanket 3% across the board. Um, so and option C once again that hourly staff will receive that 4% salary staff at 2% and then back to option B

150you'll see that three and that two. One of the things I would like to point out though is um actually I'm getting getting ahead of myself. I'm going to talk through this little summary here and then point one very important thing out. So here is a summary of all options side by side and their effect on fund balance. So, we basically brought everything together. You can see all the options here um just kind of summarized and the net effect on fund balance down at the bottom. I do recognize that each of these options keeps us near the original budget deficit. But please know that we are not done looking for ways to improve this. We are still reviewing staffing. Uh we are prepared to engage um TASBY services if needed to help us refine our

151hiring practices. Uh we'll continue to identify opportunities to carefully and thoughtfully consolidate programs uh where appropriate. Uh and additionally uh we do have a solid plan to educate our employees on making informed health care provider decisions which ultimately results in savings for everyone. And lastly, we'll also explore opportunities to increase local revenue where appropriate. >> Mr. Riddle, if I may, I just want to point out and and it's on here clearly, but if you guys had not worked so hard at getting the $5 million reduction to do any of this would be looking at over an 11 million deficit. Is that correct? I mean, we it still looks like a lot of money. Like you said, it looks like we're right back where we started, but the the trade-off is like we had to do

152last year to pass a deficit budget is to take care of our employees. That's that's who we're here for. Here they're here. We can't do anything without our employees, for our children. And I just wanted to point out that that's y'all done a lot of work to get that $5 million reduction to keep us near the deficit budget that we were at versus giving employees nothing and still having a $6 million deficit. So thank you for that work. >> Thank you. >> So so yes. So if you look at the options across the way there, you can see at the very top you can see that base pay that is consistent across the board. That's basically just base pay what uh payroll costs as of right now. And there you can see the 4.9 in

153vacancy reductions and non-fillable positions. We basically said we know that we're not able to uh fund these positions or they're just either not fillable so we're just going to take them off the books. So that equated to about 4.9 million. And the cost of the consistent options, that's basically quantifying this price tag right here, that $16.3 million that you see there. So if you put a pencil uh to every single one of those options, um you get to that 16.3 million. And then once again where the options really differ uh that next line that says option specific cost that's basically these three guys right here. So if you were to choose option B that would give the hourly staff 3% salary staff two and as you can see across the board there you know you've

154got the 42 option and then the 3% across the board. So that's what the option specific cost row is really saying. So that's really that option specific cost is really the what's going to um move the options in any one direction and our everything non-payroll uh those estimates did remain the same. So we just dropped we just dropped those down. So really the net impact on fund balance on our cheapest plan uh is about a $6.3 million deficit. um followed by option C which would give about a 4% increase to hourly staff and 2% increase um to salary staff. That deficit is right at about 6 and a.5 million. And then the last option doing that 3% across the board would take our deficit to about 6.7 million. >> You want to advance this? >>

155I'm going to pop right back over here to the compensation options, the ones that are consistent across the board. I do want to make a couple of comments here. Uh if you see that December payment for all hourly staff of $500, that equates to about a percent increase um for all of our hourly staff. So just kind of keeping that in mind as you're reviewing through these options here. If you add that 1%, we're basically seeing hourly staff at 4%. for option B, you're seeing hourly staff at about 5% um for option C. So, um because we have that uh December supplement payment as an option for our hourly staff, we just wanted to kind of throw that out there. Um it is recognized separately and calculated separately from a true raise, so to speak.

156Um, but it is important to note that it's still part of your salary and you can still I mean some hourly people will see over a 5% raise. >> Well, one of the things that's that it's hard for us to evaluate I would say unless everybody else knows a lot more than I do is that we don't really know what the gap is necessarily between hourly and salary. Uh and so if it was real close, in other words, the hourly people were ended up making about the same as the low paid salary, then that looks that starts to look a little a little unfair. So can is there any way to even comment on that about about uh where our salary people stand in terms of the lowest paid salary versus hourly? Am I making

157sense? because you're talking about possible 5% versus 2% and that's I know it's not really 5% but it's kind of like you said sort of comes out to that. >> So So are we are we in uh possibly shortch changing our some of our salary people because they don't as despite the fact they get a salary they're not really making any more money than an hourly person. Are you asking if there's any like if any of our what is our lowest salary versus some of our higher hourly? >> It just depends on what pay grade you're in. Yeah. Tommy, >> do you have any way to comment on that? >> You want to come up? Um I think you >> you just don't want an hourly making more than >> some of our departments have.

158>> Oh, no, no, no, no. Some of our departments actually have a combination of both. they they work in different for example our technology salary summer hourly >> so that that's not that won't happen where we've got the that's I think that's what Mr. Stazzy's concerned about is if we have our hourly our top our top hourly making more than our bottom salary >> is that >> that something like that would only happen if you had an hourly person that's been with us for a 100,000 years >> and then you have brand new brand new salary person >> I don't necessarily the scenario that you're describing I don't necessarily see happening that for that reason right there right >> okay >> do you want to give a couple of examples of hourly what what positions

159would that maybe include just a full of examples. >> Um well, we can talk through uh the bus driver example. Um for example, if if if a bus driver is receiving a an equity adjustment um on top of the $500 hourly uh payment in December on top of the bus driver attendance incentive um that can definitely you know help the hourly bus driver situation. You know it could be more than 5% in some cases. So or even on the custodian as as well depending on how many years of experience um that particular custodian has. So the range really to answer your question it can be anywhere from um 2% 3% depending on whether you're receiving a market adjustment or not. It could be upwards to even 8% 9% depending on where you're at your position

160and your years of experience. So most are a lot of these I guess a lot of these salary people whoever they are are going to get some adjustments from the that the 1.6 million. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. She she mentioned depending on the person and the situation they could get u a market adjustment which is a very common practice in a red district. >> Correct. But the one thing to to to to point out about all of these options is that everybody is getting something out of out of every single one of these options here, whether you're >> and and my my concern or what I look at is if you're looking at our salary people, they're in this range. I'm sorry, our hourly people are going to be at a lower range. So

161if you're giving them 4% versus 2% at someone at a much much higher range, you know, I don't it's not equitable if you're looking in terms of dollars. to understand, you know, you've got education, you've got experience, you've got responsibilities, and that's the reason that you're salaried and you get paid here anyway, but I I would like to take a look at our hourly that are essential to our are vital to our district and make sure that they are compensated because I think 4% would make a bigger difference to them than it's not as as it's they're still going to get as more probably monet moneywise, dollar-wise as a salaried employee. But I I would like to take I think I like the fact that this takes into consideration the the the hourly and I

162think that they deserve everything we can give them. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. And it's also important to note that as long as we have um to be able to keep that alignment, every option offers that either 2% or 3% across the board. So it keeps that shift. Um you know, so if we don't do anything then we stay below market. But every option here offers us to be able to get into alignment with our peers. Um, and then still offer that across the board percentage whether it's 2% 3% 4%. >> Would you explain what the align I don't think we've really gone into what the alignment is. Could you give a little bit of of detail on what we're doing with the alignment to try to get everybody at the >> absolutely the same

163level? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Um, every option here also includes some market adjustments. What you refer to what you'll hear as market adjustments. So, if you happen to be an employee who was not uh being paid at market, then it is possible depending on your years of experience, your position, and what all that entails, you will receive uh a market adjustment. So, >> which would be a raise. So, there are going to be some raise. Yes. So, the some people are going to be already above the market. So, not everybody with this market adjustment, not everybody will receive an increase or a raise. Is that correct? The ones that are already above are good and we're just trying to make sure the ones that are below the the starting line are at least brought

164up to on par. Is that fair enough? >> Yes, sir. Absolutely. Very well said. Yes, sir. Not not everybody will will receive a market adjustment if you were already found to be at market, so to speak. Um uh but there again, this this um these options you'll there's something for everyone. So you're you're either going to see a 2% a 3% possibly 4% depending on the option that is uh approved this evening >> plus a market adjustment if you're if it's due. >> That is correct. >> Thank you. >> That is correct. Above and beyond. Yes, sir. Thank you for pointing that out. >> It's difficult for me to to to choose an option here that um prioritizes certain employees in such a way over others in terms of the percentages we're offering. Um, I

165think every employee in our district is is valuable. And so when I look at this, I look at option D favorably because I feel like it gives us a chance to be more competitive uh as a district across the board and and gain every inch we can in that space. Um, it's also easier for me not to prioritize certain employees over others. And um, I just I think it's I think it's a good option for us to consider. >> Could you advance it to that one? So that >> And which one did you say, Joel? >> D. Now, I also realize it's the biggest line item, but I've already come to grips with that number uh from our prior meeting. And so, >> it's still less than the budget that we already approved. >> It

166is. >> Yeah. >> But it never hurts to do better. And I just, you know, I like option C personally, and like I just discussed, I I just think and I'm not trying to prioritize anybody. I You're exactly right, Mr. Brian. Everybody is important. Every single employee is is important. I um you know I I feel like our salary staff has uh there there option there there's more room for bonuses and TIA and things like that that our hourly staff is not allowed to they don't they don't have access to. So I think we've got a lot of our hourly staff that are very hardworking and you know we don't pay them enough and so I think anything we can do I would rather I think it would be very helpful to to to get

167as much funding as we could to our hourly staff and that's why I personally would prefer options would would pick option C. Yeah, the the salary staff includes Oh, obviously everybody's important, but but I assume when you say salary staff, that's going to include uh all salary staff that includes our highest paid employees, correct? >> All salary staff. Yes. >> And I was trying to say hourly. I That's what I'm But yes. >> Yeah. That the salary staff includes our highest paid employees. Yes, sir. Because the only thing that's not included in there is the ones that were covered by House Bill Two. So, so that's the reason that just doing 3% for everybody actually increases uh the total fairly significantly. So, I'm struggling too. I'm struggling with uh wanting to do and because one

168of the things that we're not going to talk about till another time is is you know whether we're gonna have to do more with our you know what are we going to be adjusting benefit uh you know the uh again we're not going to talk about that tonight but whether we're going to have to adjust some of our our health care cost as far as employees go you know what what are they paying so uh And that's going to all figure into what what's left down the road. We But again, we're we're not dealing with that tonight, but that's in the back of my mind that that that's going to be a discussion for a later day. So, this is tough. Uh, part of me says what you uh I agree with you, Leo, and

169I also agree that we don't really want to pick and choose who we're going to give additional compensation to, even though the dollar amount is dramatically different with regard to almost every hourly staff versus uh a lot of our our salary staff that are uh much much higher compensation levels. So, and these are tough times. We we uh normally we would just be saying, "Well, let's give everybody the same percentage and it's a good percentage and we can't do that. We just can't do that and without a much bigger digging a much deeper hole here. So, I don't know if anybody else wants to weigh in because uh we we need to get something done. I think we need to pick one of these or modify it in some way." >> I'll weigh in. I

170I agree. All of our staff are important. Uh whether they're salaried or hourly. Um I really don't want to pit any staff against another staff and say one is, you know, more important than another. Um I wish we could get every give everyone a more significant uh bump. And remind me uh this this increase is being done as a um a permanent or it this is not like we did last year with a retention. >> No ma'am this is a permanent raise to your base salary. The other thing if you go back to the other slide um I think it does recognize the this one I think it does recognize our hourly staff in a different way because it also gives them the 500 uh bonus >> in December. So that is a good point.

171Yes. So, for me, if you go to the options again, I'm I would support um option Can you go to the slide with OB? I'm sorry. >> Oh, no, you're fine. >> Right there. Uh I would support option D, the all uh because it's HB2. Uh it's all staff and whether they're hourly or uh salary. >> Thank you for pointing that out. I do want to reiterate what she just said. Coming back to this slide here, these are these elements here are consistent across every option. So to Dr. Harlland's point, our hourly staff here at this option would still receive that $500 U supplement payment in December. All of our bus drivers um um would have the opportunity to earn that $50 a week attendance stipend. >> We I'm sorry. Do you have a price

172tag on that $500 for our staff? >> Which one? I'm sorry. >> How much it will cost to get the 500 times all the hourly? >> Tommy probably can pull >> I don't have it on me. I have it in my bag. >> While Tommy's pulling that up, would you mind going back to a slide that shows the three examples? >> Yes, please. >> And uh I know we've looked at everything and we're grateful for the money from House Bill 2 for our teachers, especially the five plus years getting 5,000. Can you share with our community about what percentage? Because I don't want our teachers to think that well everyone else we're looking at a 2% 3% 4% etc. But my understanding that it's quite a bit more than the two three and four that

173we're discussing on average. Did I see 9% for the House Bill 2 teacher groups? Oh yes, thank you. Yes, ma'am. Uh if if you do want to break it down on a percentage-wise with what House Bill 2 is is actually given, it's about 9.6% 6% uh on the average teacher. So if you take that $5,000 uh and you do the percentage on that, it's about 9.6. So a lot of them are saying, you know, they're just I don't know, they're rounding up or again, it just depends on the the years of experience that you have and where you're at on the scale, but it could be upwards of, you know, you could look at it as 5% this year, 5% next year, or you could just see it as, you know, you're getting a 10%

174raise up front, so to speak, >> right? So for teachers, we are grateful. This this is this is significant for our teachers but to the point of the board and I think our uh dilemma is it takes every single employee all the 3,000 to serve children. Yes. So I I'm proud of the work that you know we've done to uh find some way to provide compensation for all. Not >> Mr. Fiddle and before I forget would you clarify Julie brought up a good point. So if you're looking at option D it says all nonHB2 staff. So does that mean that the teachers in option C that are getting uh uh that are getting their 2500 or 1500 and also getting the uh 2% on option D are they not getting anything other than what they're

175getting from the state? >> That is correct. >> Okay. So that is more equitable then. So everybody that's not getting a bonus from the state would get 3%. >> Okay. I think I kind of missed that. That that makes a huge difference in in looking at it. Actually, I think I honestly would would favor option D as well, quite frankly. >> So, you do you have that number I was looking for? >> Yes, sir. Absolutely. Yes, sir. So, the cost uh the price tag of the $500 stipen for all hourly employees is approximately $600,000. >> 600,000. >> Yes. And the price tag for the $50 incentive uh for the bus driver transportation staff is $275,000. Well, that's an unfortunate number because if if we tried to go up a little more on that then it

176would I was maybe go to 750 that takes us to 7 million. So that's an unfortunate number. Uh well I don't know. I guess I guess I'm not going to go down that road. So I was trying to figure out a way to sweeten the pot for the houries a little more just by by raising that up a little bit. I guess we could go another hundred and say 600 instead of five. that wouldn't be very much uh ju just to because obviously that's kind of a little bit of a compromise. We're not going to give them 4%. But we can give them a little bit more just as that part of that uh December December extra amount. But I I I'm okay with with the way it sounds like that's kind of a sense

177that we may be leaning towards D and and I I can certainly live with that. >> May May I make a motion? >> Sure. >> Okay. Miss >> questions. >> Um Oh, sorry. Right. >> So, okay. I just don't know if everybody understands D because with D, the only people that are getting a raise are the people that didn't get anything from this state. >> Well, that's that's in every option. And so hourly staff and and salary staff are the equivalent of all non-HB2 staff, >> all non-HB staff, but the D just separates out the the hourly from the salary. >> It just says 3% for all non-HP. >> Actually, it doesn't say that, does it? So So, so I thought you said that the in D the people that are getting something from the

178state are not going to get a 3% raise. >> That's correct. So the people if you're doing option C they are getting from the state. In addition to that our salary staff is getting 2% on top and our hourly is getting%. >> That's why I didn't want to make a motion because I think there's still a little misconception. >> I can I can walk through B, C, and D >> because it is confusing because the first time ever in my 30 plus years I've seen the state separate people that have historically been included with the teacher face. >> Before you flip back When on this one where it says on C salary staff, it doesn't say non H House Bill 2. >> It's all salary. It's all salary. >> Is it all salary staff? Meaning

179that the the that the teachers that are getting 5,000 are also getting 2%. >> No, otherwise the numbers would be huge. >> Well, no, that is what she's saying. But I'm >> No. Yeah, we did struggle a little bit with um how to kind of untangle this because to Miss Carabine's point, the House um House Bill 2 only provided salary adjustments >> for teachers. So, so, so that was that was part of part of the challenge here. Um but in an effort to try and separate hourly staff from salary staff, what we mean when we say salary staff, we mean every non-teer. Okay. >> Any non-eing position. We already know our teachers are going to be taken care of by House Bill 2. >> Okay. So, salary staff does not include teachers. >> So, it

180doesn't include the 1500 or the 2500. Right. >> That is correct. >> I'm sorry. In C. It's C. >> Any one of these options. >> Okay. Because that that's where Okay. >> Yes. Yes. >> It's fine. It just that since you didn't use the term nonHB2 salary staff that it was a little misleading. >> So, we are back to where because that would be represented in each option are the same. They're just separated differently in each one by percentages. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Except for the third. >> In summary, option. >> In summary, yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. Every teacher is seeing something. >> Yeah. Okay. This one we can't. >> We're We're good. It just that just was a little bit of a clarification because I I was I think that's what

181you were thinking at first. >> It was. And I was Yeah. Well, then I guess I'll make a motion. I move approval of employee compensation option C as presented. C or D? >> I would like C. >> Okay. You want to go with C? >> Yes, sir. I when I realized I thought it was pulling out this F, so I still would prefer C. >> Shut up. >> Siri wants to vote. >> Is there a second? >> If there's not, then it just dies. >> Yes. So I hear no second. >> No second. Okay. >> So do I hear any other >> Mr. Stazz? I I move approval of the employee compensation recommendation for option D as presented. >> Second motion made by M. Harland, Dr. Harden, excuse me, and seconded by Mr. Brian. Any

182further discussion? Ruthie, did you did you have any more you wanted to comment on? Okay. All right. Well, all in favor uh raise your hand. >> I'll vote for it. >> I think we have >> unanimous. Are you raising your Okay. So, we have uh I think it's five votes. All oppose. >> Okay. Abstaining. >> No, no, I did. Okay. I'm sorry. >> No. >> So, it's unanimous. So, we uh we are adopting option D. None of this means in the future we can't look back and say we can do something else if there if uh circumstances allow. So we will certainly always be trying to do everything we can to be fair to our employees as best we can under >> the confinement of what the state gives us. So thank you very much

183for all the hard work y'all put into that. >> Thank you. And I'll I'll just reiterate we remain committed to working on the reduction of the deficit budget. We're not done. We'll work on it every single week throughout this entire year to see if we can, you know, continue to reduce hoping uh for the future. We're in a bienium. So all the decisions that were made with House Bill 2 as well as everything else remains in place for two years. So just know know that funding sources as far as revenue coming in will not change. >> Correct. Yes, we are not done. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks again and we'll move on to item 12B discuss and consider approval of school resource unit interlock interlocal agreement between Brian ISD and the city of

184Brian. Uh and we have Rich Himl to present. >> I was actually just gonna >> I was simply going to just introduce the topic here. >> Um good evening board of trustees. Superintendent Carabine. Uh this evening we are presenting the renewal of theou between Brian ISD and the city of Brian. This agreement reflects our ongoing partnership to provide school resource officers on our campuses supporting the safety and security of our students, staff, and community. This agreement maintains the same staffing levels we've had over the past two years and also applies the same cost sharing formula. There's a small adjustment for SRO training and the total cost of this renewal is about 4% higher than last year. This does include a 3% increase in salaries and benefits. Uh and lastly, overtime um continues to be built

185separately at 100%. And I'd be happy we'd be happy to take any questions at this time. So, is this the same amount of SRO's we've always had? >> Yes, ma'am. 10 full-time police officers. >> I see you have the one sergeant. >> Yes, ma'am. >> What do they do? >> He supervises uh the SRO's and he evaluates their job performance. Uh takes care of scheduling. >> So, the increase was for their salaries, the benefits and training. Who's responsible for that? for the training. Would that fall under us or would that fall under >> our share of the training expense is above and beyond um their training as police officers. It's the training that's required to maintain their status as school-based law enforcement officers. It's the um uh annual training and reertification uh for school resource

186officer and for uh FURPA training. Anybody? >> Has anything changed in the agreement uh relative to the percent that uh the district pays versus the city pays or did all of that stay the same? The cost sharing formula uh from previous years? Uh it stays the same. Ready? I move approval of the resolution authorizing the district to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with the city of Brian pertaining to the provision of school resource officers. Second motion made by Mr. Waller, second by Dr. Harland. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Passes unanimously. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh item 12 C consider approval of revisions to board policy FNCE local student conduct regarding p personal communication devices electronic devices >> and thank you. Thank you.

187>> Uh so this is out of the 89th legislature. So we're here this evening to review a new uh house bill that has passed and been signed by the governor and is currently law. Uh it goes into effect September 1st, but school districts are kicking off the school year with it. You've probably seen the headlines. Uh the Texas governor and the state officials have banned cell phone use by students in schools. And so in working with our policy, um we have a couple of options to make. TEA has put out some information as well. Uh but we're going to cut right to what the actual law states. Uh so it gives a very clear definition of what is meant by a personal communication device. So it is and we are going to read telephone, cell

188phone such as a smartphone or flip phone, tablet, smartwatch, a radio device, a paging device and then here's the catchall or any other electronic device capable of telecommunication or digital communication. A laptop for example. So, anything that can fall in that um when when you look at the policy or when you look at the law, it gives provisions for school boards in particular. So, to comply with this new section of law, the school board has two options. Prohibiting a student from bringing one of those devices to any school property or designating a method for storage of those devices while on school property during the school day. Um and you'll notice there underneath it there are some provisions where we as a district can authorize the use of a personal communication device. Uh number one is

189rel is relative to a person a student's IEP receiving special education services or 504 services. Uh number two is from a directive from a qualified physician for whatever that reason may be. Um and and for example I can think of one pretty easily there. perhaps you're monitoring your diabetes and your sugar level. That would absolutely be a cause to utilize that cell phone to to recognize those levels. And then number three, to comply with the health or safety requirement imposed by law or a part of this protocol. Um, and that we have not gotten much guidance from TEA on just yet. So, we're holding on that one. >> Well, we have a hard time asking them about their medical condition. >> Uh, so that would be with a directive from a doctor and that would

190be what >> something we're entitled to ask for. >> Yes. Uh so the policy that is attached to the the board agenda and is viewable to the public really just takes into account those provisions only. Uh this evening is not about the consequences of violating the policy. It is only about establishing what the policy would be could be. So to help prepare for this moment uh Mrs. Carbine convened the superintendent advisory committee of parents and we had a nice zoom meeting with them and got some feedback from from the parents whose students would be directly impacted. We also worked during administrator institute with all of the campusbased administrators, district administrators and then other curriculum staff across the district. Um overwhelmingly uh the the feedback was we understand the need to secure those devices so students

191are focused on instruction but we also understand the need to be able to communicate with a parent before or after school. So what you'll see there on the screen is is what is actually drafted in this policy and that is that student communication devices can be brought to campus but must be secured throughout the school day. And by school day, the legal definition is when the first bell rings and when the last bell rings between those two time frames. Uh so that includes passing periods that includes lunch and of course it includes instructional time. However, students are in a number of activities after school and oftentime travel with teams. They may have their personal communication devices during that time to stay in contact with their families and with their parents. Um, so the policy itself

192does not address anything other than either complete prohibition of bringing it on campus or in this situation the draft says they can be brought but they must be stored and storage could be in any way, shape or form. It could be a backpack. It could be a purse. It just needs to be out of sight and out of mind during the instructional day. And with that, I'll turn over to Miss Mononttoya. >> All right. So, with that being said, so um as Dr. Yabaris said, House Bill 1481, it was signed into law on June 20th. So, now it will appear as a section in our student uh code of conduct. And we're working um with campus administration, our legal counsel um and guidance from TEA as we uh develop the guidelines and parameters. So our

193goal is of course uh consistency across all of our campuses. So the timeline set. So Governor Abbott signed House Bill 1481 on June 20th. So during the month of July is usually when we make changes to our student code of conduct. Um and we are um uh during this month and and with the changes to the student code of conduct uh we'll add those changes for our school um our policy our cell phone policy. Uh we are here here this evening to consider changes to the board policy in regard to cell phones and the communication devices. And as I mentioned earlier, this will be in the student code of conduct. uh we're communicating with students and with parents. We've already started doing that and we will continue doing that uh through the beginning of August

194and we are hoping that on our August 4th the next board meeting uh we will bring the student code of conduct to the board uh to consider for approval. >> So do you need a motion? Because there's not a motion in our agenda. >> It's okay. I I think I can handle it. I I was I said is there supposed to be a motion here? >> There is. >> So, what we're asking for is the board to consider approval of revisions to the board policy FNCE local the student conduct personal communication uh devices and electronic devices. >> So, Barbara, it goes into effect September one, >> right? >> Uh technically by by governor's decree, yes, it does. Uh but once the policy is adopted, it actually is in effect then. So, if the board takes

195action this evening, it is in effect for the first day of school. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Now, what we've talked about and we'll share a lot more on August 4th when we come back with the student code of conduct and you can hear what we think are reasonable consequences for violation. We expect there to be a warning period. Kids are going to forget. They're going to reach for it. They're going to pull it out. So, we will uh have some grace extended initially so that we can all settle into it because phones have become a part of our our world. Even our teachers have embraced it. They ask them to take the phone out to do an assignment etc. So we will work with our families and our students and our staff to navigate this

196initially. We don't want it to be uh terribly punitive immediately because there will be a few u mishaps. Uh so that's uh very important for everyone to know >> and I and I agree with that. But we also have to take it seriously because if we don't, it's it's going to be a lot of push back that's saying, "Well, we we knew we should have just said you can't take them to school at all because y'all are not doing it right." >> Well, absolutely. To to your point, this is the law. We're asking you to approve it so that we can declare it to our families. But but again, we we will come back on August 4th and and share all this. I think the parents are a wanting to know, can they can the

197kid have it at school? And the answer is yes. Locked up, turned off. We don't want to see it. We don't want to hear it from bell to bell for any reason. Uh but if you forget on that first day of school and you grab for it, we're you know, we don't want to throw the book. But do we expect them to have it turned off out of sight? Uh absolutely. >> It also allows for parents as if if we adopt the policy this evening and get the communication out as Mrs. Mononttoya was mentioning. There are going to be circumstances where a parent may do a 504 amendment or an IEP clarification that would allow devices in certain circumstances. And it gives those parents time to get that process started so that the student has

198it for what they need it for based on a physician's order or a part of their accommodations. So it it buys that time to make sure we start out strong and not reactively. So, you know, Barbara, I saw a lot of um comments, you know, social media best and worst friend u and even comments from some of our staff that said um concerned about how we were going to vote as a board. But the most that I heard people saying, staff mostly and a lot of parents, if we expect that from our students, what are we going to expect from our staff? We don't want to have our staff out on the telephones all day during instructional time and the students not >> certainly. >> So, I think we kind of need to >> lead

199by example >> a little bit at at times with that. I understand the teachers, they're adults and and whatever, but if you're supposed to be doing >> if you're working instruction and you're supposed to be working, then what do you need your phone for? Why are you on your phone? Well, and my comment would be there's a law that the governor has signed into law that applies to students and personal communication devices during the school day. I mean, we're just following the law. So, he may expand it at some point, but we're addressing what we need to address. And we'll have to be very proactive with uh as faculty with communicating with parents about schedule changes to make sure that they're aware utilizing school district email to email the students who are in the building

200about any changes so that they're informed. >> And how how will they receive the emails? >> So on a district device, you can receive an email. >> So So can they not bring in their personal laptops? >> They may not, sir. >> Okay. >> Good question. That's a very good question. >> Can you speak to that certainly intermediate middle school and high school? What does that look like for laptops or Chromebooks? >> Sure. So, we are a onetoone district um for our secondary campuses as well as Miss Johnson will tell you for our elementary campuses. So, the students do have a device to use throughout the school day and they do receive emails. We do um have some protections in place. We don't allow outside entities to email students directly, but faculty can email students

201directly and update them on information. Um, the law is written in a way that says that catchall phrase I noted earlier, all other communication devices that allow for it, >> a laptop would be that. And so it used to be that students could bring their own laptops and uh that there was some some help in that. Um, that is no longer permissible under this law. So the district would have to provide the device if they were to use communication methods that were electronic. >> And we do have enough to give everybody. We certainly do with testing being online and one to one. We certainly do. Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> All right. I move approval of the revisions to board policy FNC local student conduct personal communication devices electronic devices as presented. >> Second. >>

202Motion made by Dr. Harland, seconded by Miss Waller. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> And I think we're done. There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 9:48. >> Ginger, you get these back. >> Uh, yes. If you're done with anything, clean.