001Good afternoon. Um, it is 5:35 and we're going to go ahead and begin our workshop. Item number one, I want to thank you Dr. Vera, Mr. Pña, Miss Garcia, and Mr. Solis for being here today. Um, item number three, any public comments on agenda items? Thank you, ma'am. We move on to item number four, finance public hearing. We're going to Alyssa, can we just We made a mistake and we put it on the on the workshop and it should actually be till December 17th, our board meeting. Can we just remove 4A uh from the workshop? >> Yes, it can. >> Okay. So, those are for December 17th. We're going to go ahead and remove those items. So, let's go ahead and move on to item 4B, finance reports. Item 4 B1, report on tax collections
002for the month of November 2025. And you do have those reports in front. What did I want you to see? Just in case. Just >> [snorts] >> What? Oh my god. Do we have any questions so far? >> Okay. >> We're going to go ahead and move on to item 4 B2, report on budget balances for the month of November 2025. This is right. Any questions? You need some more time to take a look take a look at it? I can hear. Are you good? Move on to item 4 B3 report on monthly check register for the month of November 2025. >> [snorts] >> If there are no questions, we'll move on to item 4 B4, report on district staff data for the month of November 2025. So, we're seeing the overtime reports and we're
003still seeing a lot of overtime, but it's it's decreased. throughout the months and we do understand that there has to be some overtime. We just make sure that it's distributed amongst all the employees that there isn't favoritism. I think that's one of the main things and that it's actually needed that we don't have, you know, people just putting in overtime with no real um, you know, reason. Um, but other than that, everything everything okay, >> any other questions? working over time to give you some feedback as ma'am. >> Yes, ma'am. So we won't see again So I was telling her that our directors [clears throat] have to be held accountable for their staff and uh she did discuss it with them and making sure everything. >> All right, no questions. We'll move on to item
0044 C. Consider and take possible action on donations to Real Grand City Gura ISD. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, we can see those donations. We got a donation from City of Laguya uh for $100, the pediatric care center for $500, uh Headway Marketing LLC for $1,500, and Sandy Hook Promise for $300. So, we want to thank you, >> take the time to thank uh the those businesses for their donations. >> No other comments. We'll move on to item 4 D. Consider and take possible action on tax refunds for the month of November 2025. this way. We'll go ahead and move on to item 4 E. consider and take possible action on 2025 tax role resolution. >> Could you give us a little explanation on that one, Mr. Robles, please? >> Yes. >> Thank you, ma'am.
005>> Good evening. So by state law, we are required to approve uh the current tax role uh through a resolution uh to for the tax rate that we adopted back in August 25 uh 5th of this year. And our district tax assessor and collector, Lara Garcia, calculated that tax role using the certified values provided by the appraisal district and the tax rate adopted. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Robles. If we have no questions, we'll move on to item 4F, consider and take possible action on Star County appraisal district allocation for year 2025 2026 payment schedule. as we're going through the items. Mr. Rob, if you don't mind, go ahead and read the the uh what is it? The decision-making form what we have on it, please. Thank you. No. >> Star County appraisal district total allocation
006for the year of 2526 is $653,92755. Installments are $163,481.90 for each quarter starting on December 31st, 2025. then March 31st of 2026, June 30th of 2026, and September 30th of 2026. The payment schedule is based on the 2026 budget for the appraisal district and the tax levy for our district. Okay, there are no questions. We'll move on to item 4G. consider and take possible action on budget amendment number 2026-3. Budget amendment 20 2026-3 uh is prepared to revise the current budget. Revisions to expenditures and revenues are presented for your review and approval. If there are no questions, we'll move on to item 4 H. Consider take possible action on order authorizing RGCIS tax refunding bonds. Noa, the district's financial advisor is recommending the refunding of select outstanding bonds to achieve potential interest cost savings and
007improve the district's overall debt structure. They have provided us with a detailed plan of finance for the proposed unlimited tax refunding bond series 2026 outlining the refunding strategy, anticipated savings, market considerations, and timeline. Esrada Inohosa will also present this information to the school board to ensure full transparency and understanding of the financial impact. The board will be asked to consider and potentially approve an order authorizing the issuance and delegation of the refunding bonds which would allow the district to move forward with the refunding transaction when marketing conditions are favorable. U Mr. Anel Manes is here. >> Thank you. Good evening, Madame President, trustees, superintendent Garza, and members of the audience. My name is Ana Mayanes. I'm with Esteosa. We are a division of Texas Regional Bank. We're the financial advisors for the district in all
008matters u related to debt service. What we're presenting today is a refunding opportunity. And essentially what that is for anyone that has a mortgage is like refinancing your mortgage. Um looking at lower rates and create savings um throughout the life of the bond. So that's exactly what we're looking at today. Uh we're looking at rates actually becoming more favorable. Um they're coming lower and actually today there was a 25 basis point uh Fed cut that was announced today. And hopefully that will assist us as we proceed forward if the board chooses to go with this transaction. So that first page that you have there is just a debt overview looking at your outstanding bonds. And what we're going to be looking at is essentially that yellow section that's highlighted approximately five five outstanding bonds um
009that we'll be looking to refinance or in the bond world we call them refundings. Um, so your current debt is a total of 115 million that goes throughout 2022. And like I mentioned, we'll be looking at those bonds that right now have potential for refinancing to provide savings. On the next slide, you have a tax debt refunding opportunity. Just summarizing this more detailed by maturity uh by each single maturity in each bond of what we're looking at. Um there are some items that are shaded in red. That's cuz they're currently not producing savings, but we're still monitoring those maturities uh essentially to see if once we move forward and actually price these bonds, hopefully they they are in the money and producing savings that we could uh include into this opportunity. on the next slide
010and just the the final summary here. Currently, what we're looking at including all these bonds, we're looking at a par amount of approximately 31 million and that we will be refunding out of the potential 3 38 million. So, currently they're saving about 3.9 uh% in net present savings, which equals to about 1.4 million in savings. And that's savings throughout the life of the debt that that's savings for the taxpayers here of of the district. So if we were to proceed forward um there's a lot of documents just like how your your mortgages you know the banks ask for various documents. um the same structure uh that we'll work with your administration to put all those documents together and then essentially go out to the market in April uh projected with our timeline currently um to
011price these bonds and then close in May. And there's just a little chart here of of to your right hand in the middle is a refunding sensitivity analysis. So, as I mentioned, if interest rates do continue to trend a little better, your savings will continue to get better. So, 25 basis points will increase that savings to about 1.6 million. Um, and if it increases even further to 50 basis points, we're looking at over just a little over 2 million in in savings throughout the life of this debt. And the final page is the parameter authorization. So, what we're asking for the board to consider next week is a parameter order. Um, this would allow your superintendent, your CFO to transact when the market is right with with our guidance and to ensure that we're getting
012the best uh savings for the district. Uh, those parameters are not to exceed 36 million of what's currently outstanding. So, those are the bonds that we're monitoring to make sure that they're they're savings. Um, not to u exceed a true interest cost of 4.5% to not have a savings below 3%. So, we need to have a savings above 3% in order for this to transaction to occur. Um, it will not exceed what your current uh maturity date is, which is 2037. So, we're not going to extend the life of the these bonds. They're going to stay exactly at where they're at. So, um 2037 and then we have 360 days essentially a year to to transact and and monitor the market. So if all the parameters are met uh we would get with the pricing
013officer, the superintendent and CFO in order to transact and move forward and once we do move forward that that would be a final transaction but we will still come back to the board to uh present the results. >> All right. And um just to clarify these uh 1 million debt is not the current board majorities debt. I want to make sure that we clarify that. Um it said that we have a spending problem, that we have a managing money problem, and um really we've had one year, I believe this month, it's been one year that this board majority has uh been here being able to take uh make decisions with Miss Gara. And um this step is old. This is an old debt. This is I I said it when I ran. my children will
014and their children will be paying for this uncontrollable spending that was taking place prior to us uh being here. And that was one of the reasons that we decided to get in here and and and try to uh find solutions for these problems. Uh so once again, this debt has been throughout the years and at this point, you know, we're trying to make the best that we can to to to fix the situation. Um, can you explain to me also why in uh we've gotten new um taxes, why our taxes have gone up? Because I know it's a question people are asking me, hey, the tax rate uh ratification didn't pass, but uh they're still our taxes still went up. Some people don't understand that. I've even been told that even though the people voted
015against it, that we still raised them because they're seeing a raise. And so, if you can clarify that for for >> most definitely. So, to your first point, um you brought up a good point. uh the debt outstanding currently the last bond original bond that was issued here at the district was in 2021 from the last election. So this debt has all been voter approved uh and it was from previous elections from previous bond elections from before 2021 and some actually some of the debt that we are looking at refunding is actually debt that has already been refunded previously and and we're refunding again because opportunities available. Thank you. I'm sorry. Real quick. So voter approved. People need to understand that we voted for this. Not me because I didn't even know it was happening.
016A lot of us didn't know it was happening because it was hush hush. There were no Facebook posts. There were no campaign signs. There was nothing. It was a very very quiet, secretive kind of thing where they had an election. Only a few knew. And uh yes, people, you know, if you saw the newspaper, but it wasn't publicized as much as it was in this last tax ratification, but basically a bond is a loan and people people don't understand that we all voted the community voted for this loan for millions of dollars that we are now having to pay. So just want to educate the people a little bit, the community so that they better understand. >> Yes. And that's that's absolutely correct. Yeah. vote voter approved U loans or debt that that the that
017the community voted on in previous bonds and they're still outstanding just like a mortgage. They're they're typically 30 years spans. Um so as as we proceed forward, we look for opportunities like the one currently to actually try to reduce that debt service and create savings um specifically on the interest side that's remaining. So that's what we could we could help out with with the current interest, what's remaining on principal. That's that's what that will remain and you pay forward as you continue through 2022. But as you see on that bar chart, you'll have some debt falling off in 2028, then in 2029, and essentially it'll stay level for a little bit, then drop down again until 2022. Um, but it goes through 2022 due to that that the recent uh 2021 uh debt that was
018issued with the voter approval bond. >> Correct. >> That that was passed. >> How far back do these bond uh go? >> Some of these bonds uh potentially go back to 2002. Um so >> so since 2002 up till 2025 >> or 2021. Uh those are the only bonds that have been passed. voter approved bonds that have been passed. >> Cor that's still outstanding. Correct. >> Correct. >> The 2021 was 72 million. >> Yeah, I Yes, I believe so. >> 72 million. >> That's a lot of money. >> Yeah. And currently it's 56 million >> tax ratification that we just um proposed. uh I believe it was 1.5 that we were going to make uh you know that the community was going to end up paying um with that tax increase which is nothing compared
019to what we've been uh you know asking for in the past year >> you know as long as the the percentage points let's say the the the what do you call it the tax rate they they break it down I know it's a quarter point or whatever every so often and now they're pushing uh for it to go back down uh every time it goes down let's say a quarter point or whatever we still get more savings or or no? >> Hopefully. So, they're they're two different the the Fed rate really relates to what the banks borrow from the federal government. So, that Fed rate really then it translates to the consumer um like if you're getting a mortgage. So, that's why you see it really correlate with mortgages a little better. Um then you
020have the the bond market um which is separate from from what the the Fed rate is doing. But we we hope it trends typically with it. Uh but there are times where it doesn't it doesn't trend with it. It it goes on a different >> because I hear a push for lower rates lower rates. >> It it goes on a different tangent. that Fed rate because the banks borrow from that it it then if you're doing a a mortgage or a car loan or anything you're borrowing from the bank and they'll they'll correlate uh with that Fed rate. Uh but the bond market yeah it's it's a separate but we do hope that maybe yeah it trends with it. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> I don't know if you want him. I
021don't think did you get to answer the question because I know you had asked him both. Yes. Um, and then as far as, you know, the the taxes that are being paid, there's various different factors that could be involved in as far as why uh people might see more taxes. Uh, but essentially the only thing the the school board could do and the district could vote on is a tax rate. Um so even if your your tax rate does does not increase um you know appraisal you you do not control the appraisal district um so the appraisal district is the one that decides what the value of of your home or your land or or whatever property you have. If I may [snorts] stop your angle, I think that what we're referring to is that
022uh that 707 $72 million bond that was passed in 2021. Well, it already matured. So, people are seeing a tax increase on their taxes because there's going to start paying on that bond. Uh and that's that's the question that that we wanted answered. That is you that the that bond that bond already matured. So, what does it do? It it goes back to the taxpayer. >> Yeah. So it's been it's been to pay off that note. Yes, you do have to satisfy it with the correct INS tax rate and that the district has to, you know, meet its obligation um depending on on the values. Um and so but on that component, you know, the one the one component that really affects the taxpayer would be the appraisal of of whatever the appraisal district is
023is appraising your home at or your or your company or your business. So, I guess my question to uh you and to Miss Diana Robles is um had we not seen that increase because we still hadn't been we've recently been using some of that bond money that was that is now being used for the bus transportation and we're using it for the roofs. Um does that have anything to do with that increase going up? >> No. >> That the bond was already there, the loan was already there because I myself didn't understand if that was one of the reasons that now we're seeing it in this years. No, it's just that it's reached that time that now >> it's already matured. >> Yeah. >> And it so happened that it was at this point. >>
024Yes. And and we're hoping, you know, as as that chart shows to show some in in 2028, you know, you you're going to have some debt come down. So hopefully that that helps alleviate some of that tax rate. So to clarify, no new no, we did not pass the tax ratification without voter approval. Uh it is not our fault. We will not be the board that increased taxes. We proposed a tax ratification, but we did not uh raise taxes. Um so thank you very much. >> No, thank you. And again, just for your consideration, next week would be that item to to approve the order in order to proceed forward um for this refunding u and obtain savings for the district and the taxpayer um throughout the life of these bonds. >> Thank you, sir.
025>> Thank you. >> We've moved to item 4J. Consider and take possible action on Powers School Enterprise Management Service. There's a yearly maintenance renewal of P school enterprise management service known as EMS. EMS is the support package for the operation of P school, the district student information software. EMS also provides the latest updates to our state reporting software, P school updates and Microsoft OS updates. It is also the support of our off-site backup and data storage. Finally, EMS also monitors our systems regularly to asssure that we are always performing at top efficiency. Do have any questions? Okay, we'll move on to item 4J. consider take possible action on 2025 2026 district and campus improvement plans. As the district continues its efforts to improve student performance across all campuses, it is essential essential to implement a
026comprehensive plan that clearly outlines the district goals, district performance objectives and campus performance objectives. This plan will guide students, teachers, administrators, and staff in supporting the instructional initiatives that drive improved academic outcomes in every classroom. The proposed goals and performance objectives directly support the district's established priorities, academic excellence, learning environment, quality personnel, fiscal management, and parental involvement. These goals are aligned all campuses to ensure consistency, strategic alignment, and measurable progress. No questions. We'll move on to item 4K. Considering take possible action on proposed 2025 2026 elementary and middle school tutorial program >> to support elementary and middle school students at risk of non-mestery and those who have not yet met success on STAR assessments. The district will implement a comprehensive tutorial program as part of the 20 2025 2026 instructional framework. This program will deliver
027targeted datadriven interventions designed to accelerate learning and close achievement gaps. After school tutorials, structured focused instructional sessions provided beyond the regular school day to address individual learning needs reinforce essential skills and improve student mastery of grade level content. Principles, you'll be getting some more information of this tomorrow when we have our principles meeting there. >> She's not here. Is she here today? Sorry. >> There's proper funding for our tutorial for after school tutorial program. >> Yes. >> See, there's no like it's not going to hit us in the budget or >> No, it's for Thank you. Item four 4 L consider to take possible action on title five rural lowincome campus devices. The purchase of teacher laptops and classroom smart TVs aligns with the district's strategic objective to enhance instructional technology integration and support a
028rigorous, engaging, and interactive learning environment. These tools will allow teachers to implement digital instructional resources, facilitate personalized learning, and improve student engagement through multimedia content and inter interactive lessons. Smart TVs in classrooms will also support collaborative learning, display realtime data, and integrate the district approved educational software. funding is available through title five and four if >> if you look at the next I think there's a another attachment there under the attachments you'll have an additional one title five devices equipment per campus what they did basically is that uh it was a percentage if not mistaken correct by students at the campuses and that is the number that they were given so you do have all campuses there and the mud the the budget that was allotted per campus And though I think we did specify
029laptops and uh smart TVs, it is open to any technical uh technology devices, I'm sorry, that the campus would need. If it's a desktop, uh it's not just specific to those two. Do we have any questions? >> Okay, we'll move on to item 4 M. Consider and take possible action on RGCGIS student meal allowance and travel procedures and guidelines. The district student meal allowances have not been adjusted adjusted since 2021. Rising food costs have resulted in insufficient daily meal allocations for students during district approved travel. A review of a comparable neighboring district and current economic conditions indicates the need to a moderate increase ensuring students receive adequate nutrition during supervised travel. Additionally, the district's procedures, travel guidelines, rates, and state travel management program have been updated to ensure consistent practices, compliance with state regulations, and
030sh and clarity for staff responsible for planning student and staff travel. So basically we are proposing uh $1 increase in each of the allowed allowances uh for meals for students for uh instate and out of state uh travel. >> How does this compare to neighboring districts? Are we there? >> I called the Roma ISD. Um and so this is basically what they're at. >> Yes. Okay. And of course it's already it'll probably be budgeted in. Correct. >> Yes. >> We already have we have funding for it. >> Thank you. There are no other questions. We'll move on to item 4n. Consider and take possible action on requisitions under taskby policy ch local purchasing and acquisition. The attached uh pages recaps uh requisitions that fall under CH local for the school district sport policy manual. The
031local policy refers to the responsibility of debts and states persons making unauthorized purchases shall assume full responsibility for all such debts. For reasons beyond our control, staff making these purchases do not submit a requisition in a timely manner. The administration is requesting approval of these requisitions. The policy ch local and detail requisitions are also attached for your review. We had a we're going to do some updates in policy to make sure that people bill us within a like a a time frame, right? A time frame. Have Have you moved with that? Do you know where that at? I don't know. >> Can you give us an update on that next time? Because we're still getting bills from December of last year, >> 2020, >> and that's 3,000. But but yeah, we can't like we need
032to get bills for services and food and stuff within a If there are no questions, we'll move on to item four. Oh, consider and take possible action on requisitions for 5,000 and over. The attached uh report recaps requisitions that exceed $5,000 limit. The administration is requesting approval of these requisitions. The detailed requisitions are also attached for your review. This is [snorts] we have no questions on that item. We'll move on to item 4 P. Consider and take possible action on awarding the following bids. Item 4 P1, CSP number 2609, fire extinguisher equipment. >> The purchasing department requests proposals for CSP 2609, the fire extinguisher equipment supplies and services. Proposals were opened and read out loud on Wednesday, October the 15th, 2025 at 3 p.m. Two proposals were received and the recommendation is to reject all
033proposals. We're respectfully requesting approval. The reason is that we only have two proposals and we feel that we want to have at least three uh vendors so that we can provide those services. Uh of course uh the goal is to have more than three but uh for a minimum of three uh >> by when do we need this? We're still good on time. >> What was that? >> By when do we need to get this? >> Oh, we will have to repeat it. But do we have like a deadline to meet that we haven't urgent? >> These are to go certify the fire extinguishers to make sure they're updated to date >> at the different campuses. >> They're not expired yet. They're not expired yet. >> We're fine. That's what I'm saying. There's no urgent
034need to have that done now. >> On that, Madame President, members of the board, Miss Garca, superintendent of schools. Yeah. If we have uh a campus that comes up with a situation where where one of them will expire, we can just reach out to companies and get quotes and go with the cheapest one. What we're doing with the bids is we're trying to get four or five of these companies to come out here and give us their best and lowest price and we deal with them for the year. But whenever we have a situation that we need to deal with an individual campus, we just reach out to these vendors and get quotes. >> Okay. Thank you. Item 4 P2, CSP number 2611, parking lot striping districtwide. >> The purchasing department requested proposals for CSP
0352611, [laughter] the parking lot striping districtwide. Proposals were opened and read out loud on Wednesday, October the 12th, 2025 at 3M. Eight proposals were received and the recommendation is to reject all proposals. We are respectfully requesting approval. We had an oversight and we did not include the evaluation form um to evaluate the proposal submitted. So basically by law we need to notify uh any uh interested vendors in submitting a proposal of how their proposals will be evaluated and we did not do that. So basically we are recommending to reject this bid and advertise again with the necessary documentation. Any questions? >> I'm just curious, was that because the new purchasing agent? >> He he did not include it. It was an oversight in his background. >> Yes. >> So people understand what happened, not just
036that we're rejecting. >> Correct. >> Any other questions? Item 4 P3 CSP number 26-12 advertising and soliciting DI uh for a digital billboard. We're requesting approval uh to go and advertise uh for a digital uh billboard. And basically uh we're seeking to replace uh an existing billboard with a new two-sided uh digital billboard in a nearby location to improve the visibility, communication, and overall effectiveness. The upgraded structure will feature a 45 ft pylon supporting a double-sided LED display, new poles and framing, a top sign cabinet positioned above the LED screen, and an additional signed cabinet installed between the two poles. So, we're requesting u approval to advertise and solicit proposals. >> So, longterm it's going to save us money, >> I imagine. >> Yes. >> Or and then it's going to give us a little
037more um >> to showcase our students >> showcase and and share information. >> Share information. Um I know right now we're very limited. You know, we put up a billboard that and it is costly. um you know we it's it's not fair to have it up there one week and again because it's very costly you know to be consistently putting up new billboards to showcase all of course our student achievements right and putting out our messages out there uh we had to keep it up there at least for a few weeks which limits us um you know in putting our kids out there again so with this digital billboard we did look at the expenses and I think within four years um you know of expenses on a billboard we'll be able to pay off
038this digital billboard from the expenses that I was looking at so and again, we'll be able to showcase a lot more and put out a lot more out there. Any further any questions? Okay, we'll move on to item 4 P4, item number 26-801, fire hydrant replacement and evaluation. The purchasing department requested quotes or quotations uh for 26 801 fire hydrants replacement and evaluation services. The quotes were opened and read aloud on Thursday, October the 30th, 2025 at 3 p.m. One quote was received and the recommendation is to reject the quote submitted um or this proposal due to we only had one proposal submitted and uh we feel that it was too much uh for our budget and so we want to seek other u compare. Yes. There are no questions. Thank you, Mr. Robles. We'll
039move on to item 5A. Consider and take possible action on request for literacy night book sale. Attached you will find a request from Guya High School librarian, Mrs. Rosario Suna, uh requesting permission for the literacy night book sale. Uh 14 authors have been invited to attend the literacy night at no cost to the district. And this event will open the to will be open to the community and to anyone who wishes to attend. So basically we're asking for approval so that the authors can sell their books uh right there in that event >> and it's an after event from 5:30 to 7:30 in January and everybody's going to be We'll move on to item 5D. Discussion and possible action to approve for shared use of Ringle Central Cafeteria with the city of Rio Grande City,
040Texas for community food pantry. And I guess just as it stated there, an MOU for shared use of Ringo Central Cafeteria with the city of Rio Grande City for the food pantry that they wish to open. So the city would be coming out here once a month using our facility. There are no questions. We'll move on to item. Thank you, Mr. Robles. We'll move uh to item 6A. Consider and take possible action on amendment to 2025 2026 compensation plan. >> Good evening, Madam President, members of the board, superintendent schools. Miss Garca attached, do you have the recommended amendment to the compensation plan? You do see a breakdown of the 101 fund, which is child nutrition. We are recommending our substitute pay move from $8.50 to $10 per hour. Um reclassify three positions as labeled in
041101. We are requesting a maintenance position that we have as a foreman in a in a in a sub department to be moved over to site maintenance, foreman site maintenance. So that is a no cost. That's just reclassifying that title. In the transportation department, you see a mechanic position out auxiliary 5 that we'd like to move over to a transportation worker mechanic at auxiliary 2. So, actually that is a savings for the district. We re we like to reclassify that position. Also, uh we have some some gear up facilitators that were grant funded and we'd like to advertise those before we head out for winter break. These are at no cost to the district. However, we are allocating the midpoint for the admin 4 just in case and again these are grant funded no cost
042to the district and we have some supplemental pay as you see uh for public relations for all after school activities and uh we are including elementary cheer for all 10 elementaryaries for their cheer um activities as you see they're very present everywhere. That's that's the breakdown on the recommended budget amendment, which is a total of $17,000. So yeah, I think it's a good idea for the elementary chair sponsors. They they put in a lot of time and and then the activities sometimes, you know, till late. So that's a good idea. And um public relations funding. Yeah. Because they're they're putting in a lot of work. >> And this is all grant money. Am I is that correct? >> Yes, sir. For the gear up and of course the 101. >> So So once the grant
043is done, >> that's a great we're not held to that. >> That's a great question, sir. Um I know in sitting with the superintendent we were going to meet with legal on how we advertise that is for example if I apply for a grant position then the allocation for my position under 199 would have to stay unvaced or not filled because now you're pretty much absorbing the position if you do fill the position where the person came from. So that's something we need to finalize to make sure that we don't absorb the position once the grant is over. That's that's a great question. Yeah, you always Mr. Pñena is always looking into that and because he kind of already foresees that it becomes a problem when when then this is over and we're left with
044these positions because it's happened in the past. >> Correct. And as as presented tonight, just for the record, it would be the position stays vacated because we're asking for no monies. So if we did >> but but what I'm saying is after the grant is over, >> right, >> that whoever takes that position and that vacancy, we did not fill that vacancy. >> Correct. Because then when the grant is over, we're stuck with two individuals instead of one. Correct. Which has been happening for the longest time. That's correct. And that's what puts us in a fit or that's what many times. So just be very vigilant on that. Make sure that you don't repeat. >> Sir, next item 6B. Consider take possible action on Sed Sedick third party administrator workers comp. >> So this uh
045contract had already been approved for our workers comp. We are self-unded, meaning the district provides its own funding. We do have a couple of stop-loss insuranceances to to protect our our assets, but uh there was no addendum included at the last contract the board approved. So, I'm sure legal would agree with us. I know Mr. This and I sat down, we looked at the at the addendum. The fees were included in the contract. However, we're not comfortable in in approving addendum without going to the board. But, we do recommend that we approve the attached addendum as you see in your board packet. Any questions on that item? >> This has been run solely by the district before or previous to this or >> uh we've always been well as far as I know, Mr. Penny,
046we've always been self-funded. uh the comp the third party administrator which is manages the claims for the district from what I've seen changes names but I believe we tried going out for bids this past year. We did try going out for bids this year but we kept the same company. Uh but the third party administrator changes company names but the district has always been selfunded for as long as I can remember. Yes sir. >> Are there no other questions? We'll move on to item 6 C. consider and take possible action on teacher certification requirements HB2 >> under HB2 the house bill 2 this this past legislative session just to give you a little history and as the board knows the Rio Grand City Guru ISD is a district of innovation and and of course one
047of our largest exemptions that we have is we exempted certification for K3 kinder through fifth and secondary core that's one of the exemptions we have which we hire our district of innovation teachers we refer to as DOI and of course CTE E HP2 now is saying we are now looking at weaning that off and there's a timeline that they've given us and I'll go with in a minute but what they refer to is we have to look at the foundation curriculum and the way tea defines foundation curriculum is English language arts math science and social studies and that includes our elementary teachers reading and math on the third year which is in other words 2526 the state says you're okay you can keep your DOI which is this school year next year You would have
048to look at all math and math and reading in the elementary which we have 33 total in the district district of innovation teachers and by year three which is 2728 you would have to do the whole foundation curriculum which would mean all 33 and just for the record the CTE which is your your your cake classes are not affected by this house bill too it's just core curriculum the foundation like I mentioned earlier math science and social studies so there's a couple options Here the district is DOI till 2028 but pretty much HB2 is saying hey by by 2728 you need to not have these foundation courses. Recommendation tonight is there is a delay of teacher certification requirements application that the district can submit to the state and delay this certification requirement to the 2029
0492030 school year. Our recommendation is to apply for that extension and continue to I shouldn't say kids but they're teachers but we call them kids. These teachers are currently certified. Some are certified in other areas, but they're working to get certified where we're hiring them. Uh, another reason is they're working to get certified as we speak because they they're really getting after that because we see >> how many are getting affected with this. >> 33 teachers are getting >> 33. Yes, sir. 33 would get affected by next year. >> Immediately next year, >> correct? Um, and the other one, we've had designated teachers that are DOI. We've had teachers become designated through the DOI program. So that speaks volumes of some of the quality that we have there. Uh so recommendation would be to push
050apply for this through through the agency. Of course, a commissioner would have to grant it. You would review the application from the district and say yay or nay and push that application deadline. And if approved, our recommendation is there's there's some stipulations as you see in your handout. TA requires you to get into a a partnership with the alter out also certification. We've spoke to several that we can work with. Again, our teachers in the DOI program are really working hard currently to get that full certification. Um, it's just HB2 came up with this and the recommendation tonight is to apply for that uh application which ends March 2nd. So, we have time. Um, I don't know if there's any questions. I know there's a lot of information that I added from HB2, but that's
051basically the the law and we're asking tonight, respectfully, asking for us to submit the application and hopefully granted by the commissioner so we can push those timelines. >> Dr. Sinas, as a district, I know I've asked you before uh in previous years, as a district, what are we doing to help those teachers uh with their certification? >> We in our office, we've had PPR classes for the professional the pedigogy. That's one section of their certification. We have them this year. We have not had one this first semester. >> So, you have one per year. >> We usually have one per year. Yes, ma'am. >> And uh it's a prep class. They're prep course a day, a Saturday or how? >> No, we we do it after school. Uh we we send out a a survey
052and say, "Okay, when when's a good time, when's the test coming up?" >> You know, we try to feel everybody what's a good time for you. So, we send it out and you we usually average 20 to 30 people that show up. And we've even had students from STC other >> and and success rate like >> I've not measured it because I'm the one that gives the class but it we're we're doing well. The kids come back and say we passed and you know we're happy about it. That's one section of it. Uh a a lot of these teachers are in alert I'll cert alter certification programs that are currently working with them with modules and site visits and um >> so there's there's a lot going on with that. >> Okay. So there we're
053doing what we can. Um, yes. >> Have you looked into neighboring districts or just around Texas if the school district has there's other alternatives, >> other things we can do to help them >> like an something extra something else? >> Yeah. No, >> teach them or or get a consultant that >> can work with them, you know, in a prep course. >> Sure. No, I have not. I have not. We'll definitely jot that down. Um, I know that right now the in in discussion, we are concerned with our sped. It's hard to find special ed certified teachers. That's a that's a tough market right now. Um, of course, the bilingual is we have certified teachers, but to reach that bilingual uh certification is also difficult. So, we're we're actually dealing with that pocket where we
054have certified teachers, but are missing that bilingual or certification. >> We're moving into the special ed field because, as you know, special ed is is a lot of documentation. Not that the regular ed isn't, but there's a lot of documentation that goes into that. and you're going to send or you already send emails to these teachers or you've contacted them one by one to let them know because I don't want somebody to come next year and tell us oh it does no one I I never opened that email no one told me that this had you know had happened >> that's a great question Dr. B. So the the the game plan that we have is obviously present this to the board of the board grants us to apply. Obviously we'll find out but in
055the meantime in the interim we need to meet with I will meet personally with these teachers and explain to them what HB2 has brought what it could possibly bring and what our what our plan is as a district. >> Yeah. We need to be careful because if some of those teachers are designated already with their TIA they're going to take a big hit. Correct. >> And it's not coming from the district. It's going to be a state. make sure that they're they know what's going on. They know our plans to get the the >> to provide them with the necessary training >> on top of that. >> This is that it doesn't have >> an additional benefit. Right. Besides what you're doing to help some of the teachers >> if if it's granted the extension
056is an additional >> correct that is correct. The extension would push the the timeline back. It's inevitable, but we do have the we want to continue as if we didn't have the extension and continue working it as if we didn't have that. So, yes, that is correct. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Item 6D, consider take possible action on EIC local. >> On EIC local, uh, this this policy was approved at the November 20th special board meeting. There was some language in there that was approved. I just for the record, the format used for that meeting was incorrect. As you recall in on in September's board meeting, the board did approve the PRS over 60 65 local policies that were amended. It was my oversight. I went to the TASBY website, downloaded EIC
057to prepare for the November 20th meeting, assuming that the September policy had already been posted on our TASBY legal website that we use for cataloging. And one thing that we learned when we went to HR, never use that as a legal source, and that was my fault. So tonight is just for the record and for all uh community members, parents, students, there's no no changes to this policy. It's just the format issue. Just for the record. >> There are no questions. We'll move on to item 6E. Consider take possible action on TTS grant implementation plan spending approval. >> Thank you. with the teacher time study. This is a grant uh Miss Bonita has been working on with our with our campus department with our campus leadership. And as you can see in your in your
058handout, you see participants. We're looking at 10 members, $30 per hour, four sessions, two hours each, eight hours per from for per member. And in this this teacher time study is one that the governor created a task force and find out, okay, why is there so many teaching vacancies in Texas? One of the things that he found or the committee found was teachers are asking for more planning time or actual planning. So this grant the district is uh we do have this grant teacher time study actually some of our campuses did attend a session some of North Texas and we have this proposal for spending this grant which is a it's a great initiative to to learn from it. I don't know if there's any questions on that. We'll move on to item 6F. Consider
059and take possible action on TIA ambassadors point calculation plan. >> Thank you ma'am. So in July actually July 29th the board Thank you for approving the what we call the principal I'm sorry the campus leadership ambassadors program. We were excited about that. There was a rubric that we attached in July and we our departments I know Miss Bonitz and her her group had given trainings on the in how to attain these performance b pay performance-based pay and of course this initiative was budget neutral didn't cost the district anything. However, in in in the meantime the district was happy to take part in a strategic compensation grant that we are happy to be part of. We are taking the position that the state's going to say in two years there will be no longer have pay
060grades or pay scales. There will be strategic compensation. In other words, your pay will be based on your performance on evaluations just like we're some of the TIA formats are. So, we're part of this grant and I know our superintendent has been very very active with our with with some of our directors of Benitas, Miss Ibanz, Miss Carmona, alongside other directors have come in and developed a excellent rubric that you see in your attachment. Now, the elephant in the room is this. We certain administrators met with our principles and said, "Hey, this is the ambassador program approved in July. If you do this, you could get up to $10,000." The difficult part here is we're saying here in December, we're changing to this really, really, really excellent rubric that was created for another grant that
061we're going to use for the principles ambassadors because the state is going in that direction. However, what offsets that is that we feel this rubric has been welldeveloped that it'll guide the principles exactly on what they need to do and not only principal, assistant principles, facilitators at the campus to be able to score for that performance-based pay. So, with that being said, I'd like to invite our our our district leaders to give you a little bit about the about the rubric uh just in case you have any questions how it was developed. And I just wanted to give you some some some information before they came up. Good evening uh board members and superintendent uh public. So uh yes um thank you Mr. Dr. Salenas for that introduction. So uh our committee um we met
062several times and we came up with a new rubric for the TIA ambassador program. This rubric is composed of three main components uh student uh outcomes and postsecary readiness at 50%. And why did we decide this? Because uh we feel that student outcomes is the most important thing in any program that we have. And then the second component it is it's instructional leadership 35% and finally the last component is campus culture and operations which is 50%. And so then it this rubric um we have one that is for principles and then a slightly different rubric for the assistant principles. And then we have categories uh we start with with ECA that's one rubric and then uh elementary uh schools have another rubric and middle schools have another rubric and then the high schools have a
063different one. So pretty much um each one of these components that I spoke of it's then subdivided into other small categories but we will roll out the training to uh principles and all administration so that um they have a very clear understanding as to what path they need to take in order to attain the goals that they set for themselves. >> Any questions? >> You're having a different rubric for each grade like for elementary, middle school and high school. So the expectations are different based on on on on level. >> Um pretty much it's on the first part which is the 50% which is the student outcomes and the reason for that is because for example at the high school we have to take into consideration that we have CCMR EOCC's um TSI TEPAS and
064versus at the middle school where we are going to pretty much use STAR and then TAS. Are you seeing any advantages or disadvantages uh based like let's say early college compared to real high school that that has a tremendous number of kids. How have we dealt with that? >> Yeah, we have talked about that and we found ways that we're going to recommend to the principal so that it is attainable. So pretty much we we have discussed that. >> Are the rubrics already written or they're not do you have them available? >> Yes. >> For the grade level for elementary, middle school and high school. So, if you look, I don't know if you received the the the first two pages is high school and then um middle school. I think we only have a
065we only have one sample of high school. >> We have a sample. >> That's all that we don't have the rest. >> I have a few. >> No, that's fine. That's fine. As long as you all have them. I mean, I'm just as a principal, you start thinking I mean, elementary to compared to a 17, 1800 camp student campus. I mean, that's a big big difference. Uh so just to be fair to to the higher populated campuses and I know the smaller campuses are in a pickle also because I mean there you can't you can't hide anything what it is what it is at the smaller campuses. So just to help them, you know, balance out that that different difference those differences, >> we have uh taken into consideration all of those things and and
066this is a rubric that we're proposing, but uh pretty much it is also a working document. So we do allow for some adjustments to be made as even this is a good thing. At least now our principles and our assistant principles are getting rewarded for their hard work. So that's something awesome that's new and hopefully you all can work out the kinks and make this go forward pretty quick and uh they start reaping the benefits of being a principal and assistant principles cuz it's a tough job nowadays. It is it is a very tough job and just of principles just so you all know um you know the reason for this change when when we took a look at it I felt that it was just too um it was too broad right I think
067we really needed to narrow it down to really help you get where you need to get and I feel very comfortable with what we're putting out now so I think you're going to see the difference and I think you're going to share uh my same sentiments when you do get that training as well um and do know as well I know right now we're talking about the ambassador pay which is basically what we call the PR right the principal incentive aotment but we do want our librarians and our counselors to know as well that we are headed that way with you as well okay we we do notice that we we do see that you know you did not get any type of uh state raises as well uh and just what we're doing with
068our PIA we hope to do the same thing with our librarians and counselors as well okay any other questions or comments Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, ladies. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you, Dr. Selinas. Uh we'll move on to item 7A, approval of board minutes. Item 7 A1, you'll see the minutes there from November. Was that the 12th? Okay. And there are no questions. We'll move on to item 7 A2, special board meeting November 20th, 2025. And those are approval of your board minutes as well. If we have no questions, we do not have executive session. Do we have any public comments on non-aggenda items? Miss Gonzalez, thank you, ma'am. And that it's um it for our workshop tonight. So, thank you'all very much and we'll see you back again on Wednesday.
069What was that? Well, we do have Oh, let me really really quick. What was that? >> Or you do it at the board. At the board. >> I could do it at the board. Um, >> let me see. But we do have one this Friday, which is our very first lighting of the tree. So, uh, hopefully we do expect to see everyone out there. It is open to the community. Uh, hopefully we just, like I said, get to see all our kids out there and our community members uh, you know, share that that night. And that's going to happen. Uh, and I'm sorry and I'm saying it this week. Lord Jesus, they're looking at me like, "No, Miss Garissa, that is next week. the next Yes, that is next week um and Thursday. And we
070also have this one this coming Monday and I think I'm getting this one right. We have our Gura Middle School, our new Agura Middle School unveiling of the plaque on that day as well. And we have invited everyone to attend as well. Okay, so thank you all very much. Have a great evening. Thank you.