001Good afternoon everyone. We'll go ahead and begin the workshop. Uh thank you Mr. Pena, Miss Garcia, Mr. Solis, and Dr. Vera for being here. Um Miss Gonzalez, any items on public uh comments on agenda items? Thank you ma'am. Move on to 4 A finance reports. 4 A1 report on tax collections for the month of February 2026. Good evening. The tax office collections report for the month of February is attached for your review. The report provides collections for the current month as well on a year-to-ate basis. In February, we had collections in M and INS of 2,933,178 for current, $75,958 for delinquent, and $83,867 for penalty and interest. Other collections were $82,992 uh for a grand total collections of $3,175,994. >> Thank you, ma'am. Item 4 A2, report on budget balances for the month of February.
002This report shows the budget balances as of February of 2026. And the fir first one is the shallow nutrition program where we received revenues of 5,391,170. total expenditures of $6,437,16 and we do have a deficiency of expenditures under revenues of 1,45,935. The next one is a general fund and we have had total revenues of $82,443,17 total expenditures of 61 million75,14. We do have right now excess of revenues over expenditures of 20,668,000. And we also have other resources of $2.9 million and other uh extraordinary items that went out for $150,000. So right now we have uh a positive number of $23,422. The next report is for the debt service fund where we've had revenues of 11,726,74, total expenditures of 9,860,38. And right now we also have an excess of revenues over expenditures of 1,866,396. Thank you.
003Item 483, report on monthly check register for the month of February 2026. The school district check registers are presented as a report item on a monthly basis on a monthly basis for the school board's review. Any questions that cannot be addressed at this meeting regarding any check will be researched and the answer will be provided to the school board after the meeting or at the next board meeting. Item 4 A4, report on district staff data for the month of February 2026. This report provides a summary of the total number of permanent staff employed across all campuses and departments within the school district as of the end of the prior month along with a breakdown of overtime payments issued during the same period. The purpose of this report is to inform the board of any notable
004trends or variances in staffing levels and overtime utilization that may have budgetary or operational implications. our overtime has been cut down to how we were during the season >> in some departments. Yes. And I do provide a report comparing um departments uh from this year to the previous year for your review. I know we're under 100,000 in transportation and we used to be above 100 100,000. >> Yeah. >> At one point. >> Item 485, report on budget workshop 2027-2. Good evening once again. Uh this is our second workshop for the school budget of 2026 2027 and I wish that Mr. Eden Ramirez would have been here uh to answer his questions from last uh from the last workshop. Uh so basically the purpose of this budget workshop is to provide you with an overview of
005the district's current budget and overall financial position and factors and to discuss the factors affecting the district's estimated year-end fund balance. The workshop is intended to promote transparency, support informed decision making, and provide an opportunity for discussion regarding the district's uh fiscal outlook and sustainability and ongoing budget planning uh process in accordance with uh school finance requirements in Texas. So the first slide here, uh I'm going to start with the overview of the current budget. And what you see in the first column, that's the original budget that was adopted back in June of 2025. And we adopted a budget with a total deficiency or of a deficit if you look at the very bottom of $66 million. Then uh as you may recall seeing in the in some of the board meetings, we do bring
006budget amendments for your approval that either are uh requested by campuses or departments whenever they are changing from one function to another or also whenever we see an increase in expenditures that we had not planned for or if we have a legislature change which happened this year with uh Senate Bill 2 and so that's why we bring in those budget amendments. So each column like we have August, October, December and February. So we've brought uh before you four different budget amendments for your approval. So basically what I'm going to do is I'm going to uh go each for each budget amendment to so that I can explain to you and so that we can be very transparent as to where the money is coming from or where the money is going and the reasons. So
007basically again we've had four budget amendments and right now after the last uh budget amendment that we had approved by you in February we see a deficiency of $7.5 million at the very bottom. So again uh the fund balance or the estimated fund balance fluctuates throughout the year depending on different uh factors. So the next slide is for uh the budget amendment, the first one in August. And in this one, that's when we had uh Senate Bill 2 approved and we had uh revenues coming in to uh cover some raises that were sent for teachers and other staff. So basically if you look at uh that chart there our net change in fund balance for that budget amendment we are seeing a decrease or yeah a decrease in fund balance or an increase to the
008deficit of 1 93,000 um dollar. So that was composed of a revenues adjustment of 10,841,145 due to the tax ratification election and the Senate Bill Two. So total of $10.8 million that we increased uh the revenues. We also had the employee compensation totaling $5.7 million which was contingent on the TR approval which was not successful. Then we also had the Senate bill to programs adjustment and employee raises through the teacher retention allotment, the support staff allotment and the district share uh totaling $6.1 million. So again, those are the races that each and every employee received in the school district, which was not only composed of the funds that was sent by the state, but also that we subsidize as a district because the state did not send funding for raises for all the employees as
009you may recall. So uh most of the administration were left out and so the district decided to give a raise to everyone. Uh part of that 6.1 uh 43 also included an early education aotment increase of $1.2 million. the safety aotment also increased uh by $370,000 and then the we had the deficit to increase by $1 million. Again, keep in mind that we did give raises to employees for which the state did not send um any funding. So basically that was in August. Then the following slide will show you our second budget amendment in October and the net change in the fund balance here also decreased it by $1.6 million. Now, in here, we included a budget amendment to increase uh our expenditures for the career and technology department for tuition for $650,000, which we
010had not allocated for at the beginning of the year. Then we also had an HVAC service repair to replace shielder number two at Rio High School totaling $522,000. We also had approved the lease purchase of 10 buses and the first payment which is coming up in April. So we had to record the lease proceeds and also the capital asset acquisition of the buses totaling $1.4 million which that one was a wash off because we received the money to cover the payment or the purchase of of the buses. but I had to increase our expenditures by 324,000 which will cover the first payment in April. Uh during that month we also had another amendment of 150,000 to increase in um nonoperational expenses due to a settlement of due to a settlement in court. Then again, as
011I mentioned at the beginning, the net effect was a negative $1.6 million. >> The cost done at DC230 RGB restoration versus RGC. Would that be the when the MPC uh the cleaning of the MPC and all that? >> So that had been back that had been there since back in what year? about 2016 before COVID, right? So that that had been lagging there for all this time. >> Yes. >> And now we had to pay for it until now. >> And then also the the the tuition for fees for CTE and G and Gri High School and Real High School. That's what we paid to STC. >> Yes. To STC >> to pay their tuition. It's not something that we're paying to the high schools, but we're actually paying to for the fees for the
012kids to be able to take courses at STC. >> Right. That is correct. >> All right. Thank you. >> Then the following slide will show our third uh budget amendment which took place in December. And here the net effect was an increase to our fund balance of 187,000. here. It was a simple um just I just had to undo the budget amendment that we did in August uh for the compensation of the TR which was not successful of $1.7 million and also to undo the revenues that we had anticipated from the TR of $1.6 million. Um >> yes >> right >> that was the total net effect combined of uh state aid state aid and colle and tax collections. Yes. Yes. But that >> tax collections were supposed to be $1 million maybe. >> But
013that didn't happen because the tax they didn't go through. So really it washes out completely. >> So right here I am just undoing what I had recorded in August. >> And so let me clarify this. Um a lot of people understand what we're trying to do. very um we're very honest with the student. we're very um we >> we're very proactive to protect our staff. >> We really wanted to give everybody a raise and basically what we were seeing was that we as a community were only going to tax us 1.5 million and the state independent government 1.5 million. And for people not to understand our staff that yes we were going to state but we did have to raise back from uh from our community and I'm telling you I more than many of
014you a lot of my taxes were more than a lot of us. Uh but most the most uh most of us with a normal house of you know 150 200 $250,000 house really what you were going to get year after year uh was way way more than what you were going to do. Um but I just want to make sure that the ones here understood that because I think that that it wasn't here. I don't think so. >> And I think there's still >> I I think there's some some some misconception out there in the in the community. >> They're asking, well, if the tax the TR didn't pass, how come our taxes increased? >> And that's >> and what happens is that the TR never passed. So the tax increment that came from the
015county was not due to the TR, but it was due to the maturing of the bond election that we had back in 20 21 >> 21. Yeah. So that's a reason why you saw a tax increase on your bill this year because the the the the bond that we elected to to to to pass back in 2021 has matured. So now we got to pay it back. And that's why >> it's important that you all as leaders here in our district um understand what we tried to do that it didn't happen because people still out there and I tell you because family members and you know people from from from our my household from but friends will say but it's cuz why did our taxes go up they they don't understand and that's why I
016want you all to understand it. We did not it did not pass. We respected. We had to by law respect what the community said and our taxes didn't increase because we because of that tax ratification. Our taxes increased because in 2021 and I will tell everybody that as we that's when Bacho did the $72 million bond $72 million. We were going to pay at 1.4. We passed a bond of $72 million in 2021 that we are now this year starting to pay. That's what you will see and that's what we all see in our taxes. So, I need you all to help us in educate uh because people will tell you to your school because of school and you might be like, well, yeah, my taxes did go up and and won't ask or won't
017uh get educated on this. But this comes from back then in 2021 that that bond was passed. No one said anything. No one fought it. No one even found out. I didn't even know about it. I didn't even vote for it. But it passed. Uh very the hush hush. It passed. And now we're paying for that. So just make sure I'm making sure that everybody understands and if you have more questions you can ask. >> Who understands better would probably be Miss Roles. We just the number lady >> a little bit the the finance lady. Um >> because I do know my numbers. >> See I wanted to make sure uh people don't see these meetings and really we're counting on you guys. You are leaders. you all represent our school district and if you
018all can understand this and can go out there to the community and and you know at least stand your ground and say no you know our taxes didn't pass didn't increase because of us. We're here trying to help you all out and and it's important that you the same way we have your backs that you all have our backs and that you understand what we're trying to do here. What we're trying to do here is help you all out. Help you all get what you haven't gotten in years. who've been neglected for years and I and a lot of us were willing to pay out of our pockets higher taxes to like take what for the team so that you guys could get what you deserved and it's okay it didn't pass. I I in
019a way I'm happy because we're not going to be the board that raised taxes on our community. So that's a win-win. I always said it's a win-win. If we win it, you all would have gotten an awesome little, you know, race. And if we didn't, of course, my taxes weren't going to go up. a lot of our taxes were going to be up and we weren't going to be the board that was going to be the board because everybody would have paid the board that raises taxes. Uh but we had to do it. I Mr. Pñena, the board Jesse, we had to do it because we swore north an oath that we were going to protect and look over the best interest of the district. And at that time it was the best thing to
020do was to offer that taxification even if it meant to raise taxes. Um, so make sure that you all understand this and that you all can go out there and and and advocate for us because a lot of people, a lot of lies, a lot we have a lot of social media of people saying we raised taxes and we did not raise taxes and that's a a lie. We did not raise taxes. They did not pass because the community decided it wasn't going to pass. All right, >> you can go. >> Okay, so again, this was the budget amendment in December. The next slide will show you our last budget amendment that was submitted and approved uh at the regular uh board meeting in February. And in this one, we saw a net change in
021the fund balance of $1.6 million. However, um in here, we included the ATSI uh program that we just started this year. And here what happened was that I was recording revenues and expenditures of 1.7 almost $1.8 million for uh for this program. This was a washoff because we are budgeting revenues uh as at an equal amount of the expenditures that we're projecting to to pay out. Um so that was it. And then we also had an amendment on revenues for the chapter 313 supplemental payments of $1.6 million. This one is for the wind farms uh that we have for those agreements that we have. And whenever we started the budget, working on the budget back in May, Moasey could not uh give me a number of of these supplement payments. So basically, I had just
022recorded maybe $1.2 million and we received $2.8 million. So this is the difference of $1.6 million that we're seeing as an increase of revenues or or resources coming in to the district. We also had a copier's lease agreement and for accounting purposes I need to record the proceeds for the three-year agreement that is uh for using those copiers but I am also uh recording an equal amount of expenses that will be going out. So that was also uh a wash off. Uh the deficiency or the deficit decreased uh $1.6 6 million almost $1.7 million. So that is a good uh number for our district. So uh and then to finalize the following slide. I'm showing you uh how uh we spent through February through the end of February our our funds. So for payroll costs
023uh we have budgeted uh $98 million and through February we spent $50 million. >> For professional and contracted services $10.5 million that were budgeted for and we spent $5.5 million. Supplies and materials. We budgeted $4.9 million. We spent $1.6 million so far. Other operating expenses, budgeted $4.6 million. We spent $3.2 million. Debt service. Uh these are for uh payments that we have on maintenance tax notes or loans. We budgeted $1.5 million and we've spent we've paid $873,000. And then the last category, capital outlay or fixed assets. We budgeted $3.1 million and we spent only $357,000. So if we look at the totals, a total budget of $122,979 $979,553 expenditures uh paid out 61,771,679 uh and that is equivalent to 50% of the budget more or less and we are at the end of the eighth
024month of the year. So we have four months left and we have half of the budget still to spend. >> Do you foresee us having uh an ex excess of savings at the end out of this more or less? >> We do hope so. However, I want to continue with the presentation so that >> we can get a true picture of how uh this works. So then the next slide um uh I'm just going to go over again the overview of current finances because as I mentioned at the beginning uh the estimated fund balance at the end of the year is constantly changing for many reasons as I've explained to you with the budget amendments. So again general fund balance as audited um we are starting with 34,874 34 million sorry >> 34,874,190 and we
025have a budgeted general fund balance to finish the year of 27,362,49. Uh again that is what is projected. It can change. So basically it changed from my last workshop to this one due to that last budget amendment and that additional revenue coming in from the wind farm. So now our general fund deficit is $7.5 million. I want to remind you that in that $7.5 million we are covering uh onetime expenditures like as a Schiller and the buses. So that's $1.3 million. Again, this is based on a budgeted average daily attendance of 8,300. However, um I do the next slide, please. I do want to uh explain some factors that affect fund balance or revenues or expenses. And the first one is changes in state property values. So when local uh property values which are assigned
026by the appraisal district they defer significantly from state property values which are assigned by the state controller. Funding can be impacted and the state uses its certified values for funding calculations under the state aid program that we have. And so if the state determines that those values are lower than our local certified values, then the district may receive additional funding because we're collecting more taxes than what the state says that we should be. However, if the district property values are lower than what the state says, then we are losing on funding because the state says you should be collecting this much based on your property values. So you are receiving only this. So there is always a gap between the revenues that we should be collecting than what we are actually are. So again at
027the end of the fiscal year whenever uh the state controller uh issues out the final uh property values that will have any effect on our revenue at the end of the year. Another one is the federal grants or special program funds. This is a positive one because it may boost our revenues and they may help uh supplement items or staff positions and things like that. We also have enrollment in ADA which affect revenue and so in Texas as school districts get funded based on enrollment and attendance our revenues will fluctuate if or decrease if we have less a lower enrollment or lower ADA. Uh also other factors affecting are uh salary and benefit costs uh which include raises, stipens or increased benefit cost. They may increase the projected uh expenditures and they may lower our
028ending fund balance if we have not initially uh budgeted for. And then at the end we have unanticipated expenses and this would be unexpected repairs or emergency expenditures that may reduce also our balance uh projections. So again all of these factors u play an important role in our estimated fund balance. So again as I mentioned it fluctuates throughout the year uh depending on what we have in our school district. But here there are some factors that are under our control and there are some factors that are out of our control. Is that correct? >> Right. For example, the changes in state property values that is out of hand that's out of our hand. We don't determine that. >> Federal grants if we apply and if we get or if they increase the funding it can
029be I guess semicontrolled. Uh enrollment or ADA I think we can control it. I do feel that we need to do better. uh salary and benefit cost again we are trying to minimize that and anticipated expenses I think that that is out of our our control uh so yes uh we do play um an important role in controlling some of these uh factors and then the last slide is our student and enrollment and ADA trends and if you look in 2020 20. That's when COVID started. We had an enrollment of 10,194 uh students and our ADA was 8577. So ADA was uh low because we were hit by uh COVID towards that later part of um the the year. And then if you see the changes in there and now you see the enrollment this
030year and we also have an average daily attendance of 80 uh 56 which is below our our ADA. Uh I know that we're trying to mitigate this with the flexible uh attendance and also the ads program. Uh we're looking forward uh for that to bring in more revenues than what we're will be spending. So, so yes, we're trying to mitigate u all of these factors as much as we can. And I just want you to know that Mrs. Ga um along with cabinet are doing their very best to control and to mitigate all this risk. I was going to ask that on that previous slide you had of how much you think um like what you budget and what you're actually spending um who could we attribute that to you accommodation the administration everybody like
031who's who's looking at this and saying >> administration leadership has a lot to do with it. So the superintendent tight underwater >> yes And that's something very important I think uh I've had parents reach out to me and tell me they don't get because our kids need this and our kids need that and and I tell them and they're like we think that it's the school's obligation and I say I agree with you 100%. I do. I really do. But I tell them but remember we are still at a deficit. Uh we've gone down on our deficit with the RIP and with nutrition and other things. But um even though I do understand that it is our responsibility, we still cannot give as much as we would want to to our kids, to our students,
032our athletes, uh we're going to try. We're talking about it. We're seeing how it is that we can, you know, tweak numbers so that more of our kids, for example, the wrestling, for example, the girls softball in Bluya, I know they reached out to Mr. reached out to me. They're like, "Veronica, our kids really need this, this, this, and that." And I I I 100% agree with them. It is a responsibility and I feel shame uh telling them, you know, them telling me we're going to have to fund raise for for uniforms and I'm like, no, like that. It shouldn't be like that. But then I also remind every parent, I remind you all here that we're still at a deficit and that's why we still cannot be as generous as we would want to
033be with all the different uh programs that we have out there because we we are still tight. We're still, you know, having to uh shape up like and and from our our deficit. We we need to for you all because if not um sooner or later it's closing schools or it's letting go of people and that's something that we it's a no. We don't want to go into that and so that's why sometimes we have to be a little bit more with some things. Um but but I know we are really trying to get our our girls our kids uh what >> I mean on how many months did we run that 61 million uh expenditure on how many February how many months is that? Eight months. >> Eight months. >> So, we've got three
034months to go. >> Four. Four months. >> Four months. Three three and a half months. So, I mean, if we can keep 25% of that, that'd be awesome. >> That would be awesome because that goes back to our fund balance, >> right? And the goal is every year get lower our deficit, lower. That's our goal to lower our debt. So, so principles, >> they've been doing a great job and I think all the staff, I think they've taken additional duties as well with what we have and I just, you know, want to thank them all >> and I think the only reason is that we want to look for look out for you all. >> Yes. >> Uh that we want to guarantee that that you're taken care of, your jobs are taken care of,
035everybody's jobs are taken care of because if we spend just to spend but we don't have to, it affects our our our fund balance. And guess what? But it trickles down to staff. It trickles down to students. It trickles down to everything else, you know. So I just ask you to be very very savvy and very, you know, >> frugal. I get messages like toilets that are breaking apart, things that are, you know, falling apart and and same thing. It's like I understand we need to fix it. I understand that it shouldn't be like that, but again, it's like we have to be very careful and try to maybe put something, replace it with something that's already used that's, you know, >> you can't sometimes you can't just get new things. >> But one thing
036that you all have to realize is that we did give you 100% of your budget back plus 10% more, which that was very generous. >> And I don't know, I mean, I could have done a million things with it if if I had that kind of money. But sometimes you got to think, twice, do I have to spend everything that I that I got? I don't have to. not necessarily, >> you know, save it for the following year and and then we'll keep giving you the 100% and maybe plus the 10% if it's available, but we got to be very wise as how be be good stewards of your money. Uh be wise as how to spend it because it only affects your campuses, it affects your students. So yeah, we know that there's still
037a lot to go. A lot a lot a lot it buildings their conditions everything schools everything honestly has been really neglected for a lot of years and um things are breaking apart and but know that little by little hopefully we'll get there. That's our goal. >> So that concludes my u workshop. I don't know if there are any other comments or >> Thank you. We finally hear some good news. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item 4B. Thank you, ma'am. Consider and take possible action on donations to real Grandandy City Gurua ISD. >> The following donations have been received by the school district for the month of February. Uh we have uh donors General Geraldine Gonzalez and Flex Jim. Item 4 C, consider and take possible action on tax refunds. >> Uh this this month,
038um in February, we have refunds totaling $54,58145. >> 4 D considering take possible action on cash management procedures manual. The cash management procedures manual was developed in accordance with guidance from the Texas association of school business officials and following completion of the state and federal programs uh manual template course. Uh TASBO provides ongoing completed updates to the manual which incorporates recent changes in state and federal procurement laws and TEA uh guidance. These procedures establish a standardized processes and internal controls governing the collection, handling, deposit, the safeguarding and dispersement of district funds. This manual ensures consistency, accountability and compliance with applicable federal and state laws, board policy and financial best practices. Formal adop formal adoption of this manual will strengthen internal controls, promote transparency, and ensure the proper stewardship of district resources in support of the
039district's financial integrity and operational effectiveness. We recommend approval of this many. Item four E, consider and take possible action on tax office procedures manual. There is a typo there. Uh the tax office procedure manual again was developed after we completed that course in task. Um and these procedures will establish a standardized processes and internal controls for the assessment, billing, collection, reporting and reconciliation of district property taxes and related revenues. The manual is designed to ensure compliance with applicable state laws, district policies, and best practices while promoting accuracy, accountability, and transparency in tax operations. Formal adoption of this manual will strengthen also internal controls, support consistent procedures, and safeguard district revenues to ensure the effective and efficient management of tax related functions. We do recommend uh the approval of this. Item 4F, consider and take possible
040action on contract delivery method for RGCGISD Gurua Middle School kitchen upgrade. We are requesting uh approval uh for the contract delivery method for the Guya Middle School uh kitchen renovation. uh we plan to use a competitive seal proposal as the method and the funding for this project will be provided through uh bond series uh 2021. Um so basically we're asking permission to advertise um the bid >> this will be funded through >> bond money whatever we >> Mr. Yeah, it doesn't have the money to the >> And I mean, by all means, uh that cafeteria should have been done completely since day one. Uh we shouldn't be adding it now uh a year later. Uh so by all means, uh we'll do what we need to do to get the cafeteria going at Middle School.
041And finally, they get to get their own warm meal served there in their campuses. >> We can check with legal just in case there is a loophole or anything that you know through through cafeteria fund that we should be >> only because you have to wait a year. You have to wait a whole year a year. >> A whole year. >> Yeah, it's going to be a new reimburse. >> Wait, wait a year. >> No, they do it and you can reimburse. >> Yes. >> Item 4G. considering take possible action on contract delivery method for RGCGIC child nutrition uh building old tractor supply. Again, we're asking uh permission to uh advertise uh for the project of the Shell Nutrition Warehouse uh renovations uh at the old tractor supply building. Again, this will be a competitive
042seal proposal. However, the funding for this project will be provided uh by the child nutrition firm. And what exactly like walls and things like that? Is it like actual construction walls and things like that? You want to come up? Good evening, board president, members of the board, Miss Garca. So, it's basically a walk-in freezer. Um, and uh if we have enough funds, uh, also we want a walk-in cooler, but what we need is a walk-in freezer at the warehouse. >> That's what all these pictures are. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. >> Item 4 H, considering take possible, excuse me, action on requisitions for 5,000 and over. The attached uh pages that you see there, uh it gives you a summary of the requisitions that exceed the $5,000 limit. And we are asking or requesting
043approval of these requisitions. There are no questions. We'll move on to item four. I consider take possible action on requisitions under taskby policy ch local purchasing and acquisition. We do have a list of requisitions um that recap uh the policy of CH local and this refers to the responsibility of debts and states persons making unauthorized purchases shall assume full responsibility of uh for all debts. Basically, uh we're asking uh to override this um policy because for reasons beyond our control, um staff uh made these purchases and so we're requesting just approval of the payment of these invoices. There's only four. Item 4J, consider and take possible action on bids or agreements coming up for renewal. Item 4JI, CSP number 26-12, digital billboard. Madame President, members of the board, Miss Garca, superintendent of schools, on this
044item, uh we need to involve an electrical engineer. At the time that we were looking at, uh going into bids, uh we had not involved an engineer, but we were made aware that we do need to involve an electrical engineer. So, administration is requesting that we table this item. And uh once we meet with an engineer, we will probably uh see what recommendation that person gives us. >> And I'm assuming because that will hike up the price way above what we're expected to spend on that. >> We're we're going to see uh I know CLO uh he helped us out with the softball when we had the uh the uh situation here at the Rio High School softball. uh he did that for free for us. So again, we're going to reach out to him
045and see if he could help us out again with this because everything we have pretty much all the plans. Uh we we have the specs, we have everything. It's just we just need this part here. Some direction from an engineer. >> So we're tableling it till the following meeting or later? We once we talk to an engineer, we'll take a direction from from that person as to what route we go from there. >> And we did say that it's just going to save us hundreds and thousands of dollars from putting in >> once you involve an engineer, they give you some specs that hike up the price even higher. I >> I think what the engineer basically is going to do if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Lopez, and you can you can correct me on
046this. I know since we're going I don't know how many feet down because the the yes that structure is going to be very high then they need to make sure that we have the correct uh you know information to be able to do that and also I think to power it up if I'm not mistaken correct we also need that and we had not taken that into consideration >> and and just to follow up on on uh what Dr. Barera was saying we put up billboards as many as we can. They get costly. Uh but again, the amount that we put up to the amount of requests that we get to put up, it's very difficult, very difficult. The requests that we get per month, then we put a billboard up and sometimes we it
047stays up for a few weeks and it goes down to put up another one. So again, all of that is just money, you know, basically being flushed down the drain. So with this uh billboard here, again, we're going to be able to, you know, showcase basically every program, every school, every athletic, uh, UIL, uh, band, fine arts, just everything. So, all these recognitions that we're having on a monthly basis at our board meetings, we're going to be able to just play them over and over and over through uh this new billboard. >> And I'm I know that we're tableabling it, but do we have the funding source for this or will it'll come out of our >> bond money? So, we're going to pull it out of Miss Gonzalez will be pulling that item out
048of uh consent. Thank you, M. Miss Garcia, before we go to the next bit, uh there is also a list of bids or agreements coming up for renewal and it's I believe it's a second page there after the decision- making form. Did I skip 4J? I went straight into 4J1. >> Okay. So, let's go back to item 4J before we go to item 4J2. Consider take possible actions on bids or agreements coming up for renewal. Thank you, ma'am. So, we have uh agreements coming up for renewal. Either we decide to extend or to advertise again for pest control services districtwide for the property and liability insurance and workers compensation excess insurance and the student accident insurance. So, those are coming up. Uh so, we need to decide do we advertise or just extend. >> I
049see. advertise anything better than what we've been offered. >> Okay. And then the ones on the bottom, we will be bidding out uh the pro the plumbing equipment, parts and supplies, electrical equipment, parts and supplies, edgeback equipment, parts and supplies, installation, maintenance and repair for plumbing services, installation, maintenance and repair for electrical services, and installation, maintenance and reg and repair for HVAC services. Basically, for these ones, we're going out for bids. We would usually have Cadillac bids. So, based on our procedures that we approved and recommended by Taso, we are going out just for a regular bid on this one or request for proposal. and the rest are just attachments. Correct. >> All right. We'll go to item 4 J2, CSP number 26-13, fire extinguisher equipment services and supplies districtwide. >> Okay. Again, on this
050one, on this bid, administration is uh recommending to approve all three companies and as needed, we'll contact each one. for example, you need >> the reason we're going with uh all three companies is that they have different uh they sell a lot of the same products, but company A is cheaper with this certain product, company B is cheaper with this other one, and so on. So that's why we're recommending to go with all three. >> Thank you. Item 4J3, CSP number 26-14, fire hydrant replacement and evaluation services. >> Okay. On this one, administration is uh recommending again that we table um I need to get an updated report from our uh local fire department. So, I have a meeting coming up with them, but I have not met with them yet and I don't have
051an updated report. So, uh, we are requesting, uh, this item to be tabled and as soon as I get that updated report from the fire department, we will, uh, bring bring it back, uh, to the board. >> Have we gotten an evaluation on everything we have or not yet? >> That's I need an updated uh, evaluation. We had one, but it's been it's been a while. Item 4, J4, CSP number 26-15, parking lot striping districtwide. >> On this one, um, administration is recommending again the, uh, 3.0 consulting group. >> Yeah, because we don't we don't have an attachment for that. Correct. So, we're going to pass those out to you also. Y'all can review those. My apologies >> for this. We went up for and that was a >> Miss Gonzalez. Item 4 J3. We
052uh pulled that out of defense as well. Thank you, ma'am. And why didn't we do this during we didn't have uh we've been trying to do this for a long time. Was it since the summer? >> Yes. >> And we we didn't have they couldn't do it in the amount of time we had or what was it or they were too expensive last? >> Yeah. At the at the time we were trying to reach out to companies uh but the companies that we were reaching out to were not in a co-op. >> Oh. >> So that's why we ended up going this route. >> Okay. And again on this one here, uh Chris and Miss Pñena uh were the ones uh that went over this. So if there's any questions because I know uh you
053know, one of the things that's going to stand out is uh going to be on some of the prices. So if if you have any questions again, I'll call up uh Miss Pñena or Chris >> because the one that we are recommending Mr. um Lopez would be the 3.0 consulting. >> Yes. that vendor offered the best overall value by including the sweeping of the entire campus, not just the parking lot, and providing a one-year warranty on their work. Uh the other vendors, or one of them, uh submitted a significantly lower bid. However, the references provided indicated concerns when compared uh with the other biders. Their pricing did not appear equitable and other companies were also elevated in price without uh offering the same scope of services or warranty. So based on the overall value scope
054and the quality assurance, that's why that uh bidder was selected. >> Yeah. >> 3.0 double the time for warranty and then they do it in half or no less than half the time >> and and then instead of just sweeping that particular area they'll be doing the entire canvas >> and do we have the proper funding for it or is it bond money as well? >> Bond >> almost we still have some um and then I think also the painting was another that they use quality painting as well. Correct. >> Sherwin Williams. Okay. Any other uh questions on that? >> All right. Item 4, J5, CSP number 26-16, vehicles for real Grandandy City, Gurua ISD, Transportation Department. >> Okay. on these here after we saw the bids. Uh we administration is also going to ask
055uh for this item to be tabled. Uh we want more local uh vendors from here in the valley and uh again from here locally uh to to uh you know come and bid. So we want this one also uh requesting to be tabled. So, we uh go out there and try and get more local vendors to to bid. >> And you don't have Sorry. We don't have any from real Grandandy City. We have Mission other places in Texas. But we definitely need to see if um General Motors um what is it? >> And they're always participating in pretty much every event that we have around the city, the school. So, I think it's fair to give them a try. And of course, if they're not giving us the best deal, uh then we can go
056out. But but it'd be a good a good thing to also reach out to them because I don't know are if you all are reaching out to them, you know, letting them know that we're going to have these uh to make sure they put in a Okay. So, we'll be pulling that out of consent as well. Item 5A, consider and take possible action on request from the core unity project to use Fort Ringle for donor run for for hope. This item uh as you see attached just a request from the core unity project seeking permission to use Fort Wringle as part of their donor run for hope event. The event uh will invite community runners to participate in a donation drive in support of the fight against cancer. All right. Item 6A, consider and take
057possible action on compensation plan amendment. >> Madam President, members of the board, superintendent of schools, Miss Garca, this attachment, you do see two FTEEs that were not allocated at the beginning of the compensation plan. Um there's two positive things to this. One is budget neutral to 199. The second one is as you noticed in in this ro presentation we're at about 40% left in the in the in the fiscal year. So it will not be the full amounts as you see there. Uh these these FTEEs have been identified that we do need to to assist so we can continue with the operations of a department and a campus. Item 6B, consider and take possible action on grow your own aotment. >> Thank you. As you're aware, the district received over a million dollars in the
058lasso grant. This is a learning acceleration program. And today what we're talking about a couple items on this agenda is the personnel portion of it. I I know there's some curriculum portion to where the children for learning acceleration. But tonight the first one we're talking about is what we call grow your own. Uh this is an aotment through the through the lasso grant or the lasso a lotment. And last night we did we held our first meeting to see you know possible candidates or future candidates for grow your own. This is a pipeline to create future certified teachers that are not degreed. So, you're going to lead from a non-deree personnel to degree to a one-year intern to eventually being fully certified. The good thing with this is that it's it's an aotment that we're
059pulling from Lasso and we've applied for the 40 grant for the 40 slots. We received the 40 slots, so up to 40 slots. And again like I mentioned those are the those are the the steps that we want to take at this these individuals agreed intern certificate fully certified and throughout the benchmarks that I just mentioned there would be financial compensation through the lasso aotment. Um last night I like I mentioned there was 40 40 interested personnel that showed up to the meeting and it was a great meeting. the you see as a you see later on on on the memo there's a memorandum that's attached to it and it gives you the whole breakdown which I'm not going to go through but each aotment would receive $4,000 every candidate would receive $4,000 with specific
060benchmarks with specific times but you see at the bottom we could receive up from between $8 to $12,000 additional dollars with a TIA indicator which a TI indicator meaning where we're at with our TIA aotment which we're very confident that we'd be close to the $12,000 and this is once the individual would become degreed and then enroll in an EP which is an it's a educator preparation program. It's alternative certification program. >> Is this doc only for core teachers or it's across the board for everybody? >> We're opening it up for everybody >> for everybody. >> Yes. And we're it it ties into the other items that are on the agenda. I know we skip around for the next one, but we are looking for all individuals who are non-deree who want to receive a
061degree and ultimately their teacher certification. >> So you have 40 people interested. >> Last night we held a meeting for just forformational purposes. We did tell them that we'd be presenting tonight at the board workshop and about between 35 45 people showed up last night. >> And how many can you take? >> 40. and the application process would roll out sometime. We're thinking we're aiming at mid June, late June to get into July so we can be ready for the the next school year and start the grow your own program with with 40 slots. And I think if I answer if I understood Mr. Po's question, we will create a rubric on how those 40 candidates are brought in. And of course, you weigh more on the needed areas, which is of course your core
062areas, your math. >> I know we have our math, science, and English. We've got proficiencies at the high school level. So, correct. I think that we it's it's that we focus on that. Correct. Well, that's the most impactful. >> Exactly. And that'll be pointed out in the interview when we interview every candidate that that applies. >> Okay. Item 6 C, consider and take possible action in amending the 2026 2027 instructional calendar. >> So, we appreciate the board approving our instructional calendar for 2627. I believe it was December, not it was January, but I think it was December. Uh, we're amending here because our ads district committee did get together. That's the the the committee came together and strategically placed some ads days throughout the instructional calendar that was not on the December calendar. I do
063want to point out that EB local EB local allows the superintendent to adjust the instructional calendar at any time as she deems necessary. However, she made it clear that she wanted for us to explain to you a new component which is number one, the ads days are strategically placed throughout the school year next year. Um, you know, as a as a committee saw fit for increased instructional I guess you say output for the for the kids. But also you see two additional T days. There's two TP days, the time equivalency program. And that program means that teachers, this is only for teachers. Teachers would attend 12-hour trainings for two days to complete the 187 days that they're contracted for. And those would be in November, the week of of Thanksgiving. So those are the two
064things we wanted to point out. Um that is again very strategic in nature for for staff development. So we will be interrupting their Thanksgiving week with two days of TE. >> So the teachers for example the TE would open up let's say in early July and I'm a teacher at at Gura High School. I attend my two TE trainings. I get those two days. I don't have to work the two days in November. >> Yeah. >> I thought that you were going to interrupt their Thanksgiving week with two days. >> Yeah. >> So they take it early as they're >> Yes, sir. Because what happened was >> they again they strategically placed some adsy days throughout the year and there was two days short for teachers. You have to work 187 days to complete the
06510-month contract. At that point the committee came up with two T days for teachers so they can get those two additional days. Any other questions? We'll move on to item 6D. considering taking possible action on revised ads and extended learning programs. >> On this item here, we have the revised ads and as Miss Robles did a great job with her presentation. She mentioned the 1.7 that was uh changed or I should say um amended. There you go. That was amended in February. The only thing we're asking today is the 1.776 be amended to 1.808. uh the committee did get together and we did leave out some overtime possibilities with the with the adsy you're looking at hourly employees especially auxiliary employees who work 40 hours a week that means that 41st hour becomes overtime now
066I do want to point out that um I I the ads committee specifically Miss Jones created the ads tracker and it's tracking the children that are enrolled in the ads program at specific campuses with the personnel that we've attained for the program to make sure that you know we're balancing on what we need to balance. So today's item is just a revised amendment to the 1.776 to 1.8 1.808699 and again we're going to be very very careful with that. Who I know and I don't know but I heard that who's at Alto Elementary who's running the axi at Alto Elementary. Who's the principal there at uh Altoonito? I know they were overwhelmed with the numbers the first week. I mean kids showed up like if it was there was no tomorrow. Uh were we able
067to adjust those uh staffing uh ratio to students or not? >> And did the same thing happen at every campus or or it just happened at that campus? Alto 350 >> and that was on a Saturday. Vera >> Sanchez Elementary is at 3:22. >> Yeah, I know. My my grandson was very excited. >> He's not excited about school. vegetable. >> My question was if they can still start that some kids, my girls and others uh um had a >> was it a parade? It was a parade and so they didn't make it. So I didn't know. So then kids know that they can still show up next Saturday. >> Okay. And my other my question was is the the leadership team is Miss Carmona Benz Olivare. Who chose uh the people that were going to
068be doing this program? Do you mean at the campus level? The administrator in charge of administrator. >> That would be the administrator. >> Administrator. And how was that? What was the process of choosing um the people that were going to be running the program? Like did interviews or videos or something like that went on? >> Yes. Good. you all the leadership team or the principal or with some principles and some you all? >> The leadership team chose the um the site supervisors. Sorry. >> Okay. And then the site supervisor chose a team >> together should have been with the administration at the campus as well. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Anything else? No questions. Item 6E, considering take possible action on new teacher residency program. >> Another initiative we're excited about. Again, back to the aotment. And
069this 2627 will be a planning year teacher residency program. Just like when you see a medical residency, we're going to have we're looking at a teacher residency program where these future teachers, we're creating another pipeline to fill in, you know, hard to find core area teachers and other teachers. And this is a pipeline of one-year residency, very rigorous in that we're about we're starting to see it, the modules that are being brought for the one-year residency program. And again, the goal here is to ultimately reach state certification. We also applied for the 40 slots and 40 we retained up to 40 and this just to give you there's a lot of information here but just to give you an idea it would be a minimum pay of $20,000 for the resident 10,000 from the state
07010,000 from the district and of course we're right now we're it's it's a planning phase so we're throwing ideas on how we can try to get it as but budget neutral as possible and $2,000 for the mentor teacher. So that's all that's a that's the base packet there for these residents and um may receive up to $16,000 depending on the completion of that one-year residency model. >> These students are students that are currently enrolled at a university pursuing a career in education or it's somebody that already has been degree and certif certified or what what's the process? >> Great question. So we asked that question right before the meeting with region one. The example we gave is I have a te a teacher aid over at elementary A and this program comes about and I
071get in one of the slots. I'm probably making north of the 20,000 already. So it would not be in my best interest to take that and leave my T TA spot. So what region one saying and that's why we're happy to be in the planning phase that we could allow that TA to continue to work at that elementary A and continue with the EP program which is through region one and be in the residency program and in one year become a certified teacher. So we can get a mixture of in-house or through the EP program at region one. How many do >> 40 is the same? >> 40 and the only the only difference with this is >> a part this is 40 separate teachers. >> Yes, this is 40 from the growing room. >>
072You're going to work with almost 80 teachers that you're going to be developing. >> Now and and of course this is the planning year. This coming year will be the planning year because there's questions for example I have to come to CFO and say we have 40 possible slots that half of it will be local. Okay. So how are we going to attain that? Are we looking at block grants or what are we looking at to attain half of the 40 slots? >> Although once they get certified if let's say vacancies are not available these are going to go any further they can find a job that's that's a great question Mr. Dr. Penny, I know when we attended a training, I'm thinking many years ago, one of the things that other districts saw was
073that they would have this residential program, get them certified, and then, you know, I live close to whatever Fort Worth. So then they would lose that child, that that student, >> I mean, that teacher teacher. Yeah. >> So here again, we're happy to be in the planning phase that we have all this information right now and we're about to kick it off because we're going to we're going to ask that, you know, we don't want to create a certified math. >> The thing is, you don't want to create an overflow of teachers that you're not going to need. Correct. We only have certain vacancies >> and we're going to be leaving. But it doesn't impact our our budget either way because coming from that grant, >> right? >> And and the good thing it's up
074to 40. So as you see staffing patterns, we can see, you know what, we're going to look at possibly 15 teachers retiring in the next three years or whatever. >> Correct. Item six F considering take possible action on new teacher mentor program aotment. So the mentor teacher mentor program is I happy to say I know with Miss Bonitez at the lead we do have a solid program with a teacher mentor program with this a lotment also the state's telling us that they would have an aotment for mentors to mentor our teachers and they would have a specific training for these teachers which is Texas mentorship program they specifically mentioned that well currently we haven't started this but our district has 37 teachers that certified to work this. So, we're proud of that. And uh again,
075because it goes back to the program that's in place now. Now, in this allotment, the minimal pay per if I'm a teacher that I'm mentoring, I would receive last with that last program that we had, this is in the past, it would be $750 per teacher up to two teachers. Now, this a lotment is telling us it has to be a minimum of a,000. Okay? We're going to recommend 1750 per teacher that you're mentoring up to teach two teachers. And again, this is from an aotment. We're excited about this. We currently have 37 teachers that are certified. >> So if you mentor two teachers, that means $3,400 for that mentor teacher. >> Yes, sir. >> Wow. >> Thank you, Dr. Selenas. Item 7A, reschedule regular board meeting minutes February the 25th uh for 2026. Miss
076Gonzalez, any items on uh or anyone signed up, I'm sorry, for public comments on all agenda items. Thank you. And Miss Carmona, do we have an elementary team going out there to compete at region one sometime next week? And what elementary team is that? All five elementaryaries. So we so we wish them the best of luck going out there to compete. We're very proud of them. Thank you. And I just also very quickly want to announce that, you know, due to circumstances that we had not, you know, foreseen um most likely our board meeting that we had scheduled for March the 11th will be rescheduled for March the 23rd. That's what we're thinking right now. So because of that, we're not going to be able to see you before spring break. So, I just want
077to make sure that we wish everyone a safe and enjoyable uh spring break as well. All right. So, thank you and thank you for being here. Have a great evening. Thank you.