001Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here with us. Uh Thursday, December 11th, 2025, 5:30, Dr. Carlo Chapa boardroom of the Macana Independent School District. >> Uh at this meeting, there may be discussion and action by the board on the items and subjects listed as follow. Item number one, call the meeting to order. I've done so at 5:30. Item number two, moment of silence. >> Thank you all. Item number three, if you'll stand for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. And item number four, public comments. I believe we have two people signed up today for public comments. So, I will call your names out.
002We just have a short video to roll out. Before we do, >> here are the public comment procedures. Number one, individuals who wish to participate during the portion of the meeting designated for public comment shall sign up at mckelenisd.org at least one hour prior to the start of the scheduled meeting. Number two, an individual's comments to the board shall not exceed two minutes per meeting. Number three, the board shall not tolerate disruption of the meeting by members of the audience. Thank you. ISD. Gracias. All right. First speaker tonight we have Mr. Frank Chave. I do not see Mr. >> Chave here. >> And no call out. Okay. Uh next we have Mr. Rafael Sto. >> I do not see him here either. All right. >> Mr. President. Um, I move to reorganize the agenda bringing
003forward items 7B3 and 7B4. >> Items 7B3 and 74. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. >> Motion passes 70. So 7B3 and 7B4 will now be taken up. All right. >> 73. Discussion possible action of the county independent school district policy EFB local school library advisory council resolution. Dr. Gutier MISD policy EFB Local is proposing the establishment of a local school library advisory council. Tasby is recommended this resolution be brought to the board for review. Dr. Canales, uh, chief human resources officer will have more information and we're recommending action on this item. Is there anything you want to add? Uh, Dr. Canales, I think we've talked, we've talked about these items before, but anything else you want to add to this? >>
004Yeah, I think just voting for the voting member, not voting member right now passing the resolution and then next passing the policy. >> Okay. All right. One question for clarification. We have one voting member, one non- voting member. Is there a possibility if a trustee does not have two names that we can have one vacancy? >> Okay. Just for clarification in case. >> All right. >> Move to approve. >> I'll second. >> Okay. I have a motion by trustee and a second by trustee Hadad. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? Motion passes 70. Now 7B4 discussion possible action of the Mac Independent School District policy EFB local slack. Dr. Gutierz. Yes. MISD policy EFP local is proposing the establishment of a local school library advisory council. Tasby is also recommending this policy be
005brought to the board for review. Dr. Canales, our chief human resources officer, will have more information. We're recommending action on this item. And again, we've also had this item in the past, but anything else, any new items or information to talk to the board about? >> Just a question though. Um, where do we put the names? Because I understood we had to submit those today. >> Yes. So, the name is is in the U items that I sent in uh on the back of the uh Slack form. It has name per trustee. So, I think we could uh name those. >> Okay. >> Just to solidify who they are that will >> we can let's print >> okay >> that's sufficient we just email to Natalie >> yeah but I think tonight I think they
006they usually say them >> tonight >> whoever voted for and then we can put it into the actual >> form okay >> and then we'll send it out public >> all right so then the order would be to approve this and then name our nominees. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I move to approve. >> I have a motion by trusty Hadada, a second by Trusty Pñena. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes 70 >> and we will begin. >> Okay. So, I will nominate Lisa Vasquez Gara and I'll retain one vacancy because I haven't been able to fill it yet. >> I nominate uh Jude Linds as a voting member and Natalyia Vidal as a non- voting member. I nominate Andy Munosz as a voting member and I have a vacancy for non-
007voting because I'm waiting to hear back. >> I will nominate Renee Clark as a voting member and will have an open nomination for to be named. >> And I will nominate Cindy Theharina as a voting member and I also reserve a slot. >> Yeah, I will nominate as a voting member Dr. Adrienne Selenas and as a non- voting member, Miss Deborah Rubio. >> And I will nominate Anastasia Rodriguez Perez as a voting member and Tracy Frey Maldonado as a non- voting member. >> Well, I just want to let you know that uh Cindy Tarina, she is a parent, but she's also an employee. So, she would be a non voting member. So then you need to uh pick one person as a parent as a voting member. >> Okay. I'll I'll have one >> voting
008member. >> Okay. >> Voting member vacancy. >> A voting member vacancy. But I'll have one for you shortly. I just need a >> board members. I don't want just curious. >> You could do a letter reading. >> I nominate >> And just for clarification, my nomination would be a voting member. >> Thank you all. >> So she's a non- voting member. but not non voting >> because she's an employee. >> Cool. >> Then we will move on to item number five, public hearing of the Macau Independent School District declaring a public purpose for the expenditure of district funds for the December 2025 employee retention incentive pay. Dr. Gutierrez, >> uh, Texas Local Government Code 180.007 007 provides that a political subdivision may not pay an employee more than an amount owed under a contract with
009the employee unless the political subdivision holds at least one public hearing. The public notice of this hearing was posted on December 3rd, 2025 at the administration building. Miss Lorena Garcia, our deputy superintendent for business and operations, will have more information on this item and this is for information purposes only. And then we'll have an action item u further down on the agenda. Uh yes, right now uh we will open up the public hearing by uh providing the rationale and reasons why the board is moving in this direction for the onetime uh retention incentive pay because uh the board recognizes that uh recruitment and retention of high highly qualified employees is essential to maintaining the district's excellence in education and ensuring success and well-being. Um the administration is recommending that this one-time retention site uh incentive
010uh pay be of $750. Um uh the recommendation is also that it be for full-time employees uh to promote the workforce stability, minimize turnover, maintain program continuity and improve employee employer relation and then ultimately advance the educational mission of the district. Uh this will be for all employees that are employed as of today on a full-time basis um December 11th, 2025. Uh eligible full-time employees are considered anyone that is employed at least 27 and a half hours because that would also include our bus drivers and our bus aids. Um this is a one-time uh retention incentive which would be paid on uh December uh 205th. Uh actually we have it programmed for the 17th of December. Um and uh it is not TRS compensible. Uh the board is granted authority under uh education code 45105C
011where the board may expend district funds for the purpose that the board determines are necessary to conduct public schools. This one-time uh incentive pay is a for a legitimate purpose supporting the district's employees and thereby enhancing the quality of educational services provided to students ensuring that the action does not constitute a gift of public funds but rather a sound mission related expenditure. Uh the school district uh affirms that this is necessary and appropriate use of district funds under Texas Education Code 45.105C 105C serving a vital public purpose in promoting employee retention, ensuring instructional continuity, improving employee employer relations and improving the quality of educational services. And on this chart we do have a breakdown by the type of employee. Uh for example uh professionals uh the total estimated amount is 396,000 paraprofessionals 268,500. Auxiliary as
012you can see is listed there as well. Instructional aids and teachers is the largest group at 1.1 million. um the bi-weekly bus drivers and aids 61,500 for a total of uh two 2.4 uh 75 million. Now after uh tax deductions of $1788, employees would net approximately $57412. And because we are paying it in a separate uh check, the uh deduction is the same across the board. for everyone. Um this is a breakdown by fund number. Uh the majority of the stipen which is 1.5 is being paid by 199 a general fund. We do have uh some state and federal uh programs where it is allowable for those programs to pay for those incentives. Uh we are uh charging them to those funds. Um but the majority is being paid out of local funds and as
013I mentioned before is uh approximately 2.5 million >> and that concludes uh the my presentation at this time would like to open it up for any public comments. >> Okay. Being that it's open for public comments if there's any members in the audience today who would like to come up and speak feel free to do so. Hearing none. you have a question. >> Sure. >> Um, thank you, Miss Garcia. As I'm looking at the first table on, I believe it's slide six, uh, I see it's an estimate, um, which I imagine is a function of maybe daily fluctuation of the number of employees in the district. Is that why the number is so nice and round at 3,300? uh uh we ran a report and on the day that we ran the report that was
014the number that we uh produced. Okay. >> As far as uh the number of employees employed, it could change because people uh get hired between that day that we worked on the report till now or people might leave. So um it may change but that is the number that we had >> uh at the time of the report. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Any further discussion? This is uh for information p uh purposes only. We will come back to this item later on throughout this. >> Okay. Um consent agenda items. >> Mr. President, um I move that we approve consent agenda agenda items 6A through 6G. >> Second. >> Okay. I have a motion by trustee Pñena, second by trustee regal. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion passes 70. And we move on
015to item number seven. 7 78 instructional restructional services 781 discussion possible action onou number 2026181 American Institutes for Research and Independent School District. Dr. Gutierrez. The memor memorandum of understanding is to outline a mutually agreed upon research project between the district and the American Institutes for Research with a primary goal to evaluate the effects of first grade peer assistance learning strategies in kindergarten classrooms to help teachers provide more ambitious reading instruction in an area of challenging standards. Miss Janette Nino, our associate superintendent for instructional leadership, is available to answer any questions and we are recommending action on this item. >> Okay. Is there any discussion by the board? I will entertain a motion >> move to approve. >> All right. >> I'll second. >> All right. I have a motion by trustee, second by trusty
016caron. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. 72 7 A2. Discussion and possible action on request for qualifications number 2026-1018 legal services for special education section 504 of the rehabilitation act and dyslexia. Dr. >> Administration solicited qualifications for legal services for special education including section 504 and dyslexia. Miss Alisando Marvel Alisando our executive director for special ed education is available to answer any questions. We are recommending action on this item and it's a three-part motion item. >> I do have a question. I think it's to Mr. Ball. Um, this request for qualifications. I mean, we already have O'Hanlin on retainer. Is that correct? >> Not necessarily retainer. We have him on an hourly. So, as needed, if we refer something out to him, whether it's um we need a legal opinion on something or
017he does some investigations for us, he meaning the firm, we do it on an hourly basis. >> But it's not a it's not a monthly retainer that we pay him. >> And the RFQ here is just to give us additional options. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Well, specifically for >> special education, right? That's correct. >> Okay. Okay. Um, we have reviewed >> I'd like to move that the administration recommends that the board of trustees approve the ranking of rest request for qualifications number 2026-1018 legal services for special education section 504 of the rehabilitation act and dyslexia. >> Second. >> We have a motion by trusty Kion and a second by trusty KDman. All in favor? >> I. All oppose. Motion passes 70. >> Mr. President, I move to approve that administration begin contract negotiations
018with the highest ranked legal firm. If the district is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the selected firm, the district shall formally and in writing end negotiations with that firm and proceed to the next firm in the order of selection ranking until a contract is reached or all submitts are rejected. >> Second. >> All right, I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> All oppose? Motion passes 70. And I will move to authorize the superintendent to execute the contract or related documents for a period of one year commencing on February 1st, 2026 with the option to renew for three additional one-year terms. >> Second. >> Okay, I have a motion by myself and a second by trustee. All in favor? >> All oppose? Motion passes. Second zoo 7D1 discussion and possible
019action on agreement number 2026-182 consulting agreement related to strategic planning services with Mo Casey. Dr. Utes >> the the board has asked uh to consider setting up a date for workshops and special board meetings to review and discuss potential updates and modifications to the Mckllen Independent School District strategic plan. Dr. Dr. Albertanes, our chief human resources officer is available to answer any questions. We are recommending action on this item uh for us to start the process of a strategic plan for the district. >> Okay. Is there any discussion by the board on this? >> Um I do have a clarification question. Maybe it's for you Dr. Canales. I didn't see anywhere in the proposal the name of the particular individual that would be working with us. Is there a defined individual or would we have
020access to the variety of folks in the firm? There's a couple right now. One of them is Dr. and the other one is Mr. is Bug Gilpress and then Greg Gibson. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. With no further discussion, I will entertain a motion. >> Move to approve second. >> Have a motion by Trusty KD. A second by Trusty Pñena. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. >> No. Just >> uh all opposed. Motion passes 70. >> All right. 7B2. Discussion possible action on number 2026184 reach university memorandum of understanding and 202683 K through2 teacher registered apprenticeship program for employer partners memorandum of understanding that is a mouthful >> um Macallen Independent School District is collaborating with Edwell re uh ridge university at re and region one education service center
021to build a fully aligned registered teacher apprenticeship pathway Dr. Canales, our chief human resources officer. Also, Miss Laura Williams, director for purchasing services are available to answer any questions. We are recommending action on this item. >> Discussion comments >> to approve. >> I have a motion by trusted. Do I have second by trustee KDman? All in favor? I. >> All oppose. Motion passes 70. All right. 7C 7C1 report regarding pre-bond planning. Dr. >> Administration will provide an update on the district's pre-bond planning process. Uh Miss Lorena Garcia, deputy superintendent for business and operations will have more preliminary findings and next steps in the development of a comprehensive bond strategy. Uh this item is for information purposes only. Go ahead, Miss Garcia. >> Uh yes, good evening. Um we met with the facilities forecast advisory committee
022on December 2nd. We we had a pretty large group. All of our principles were present there as well as some of the committee members. Um we uh were given the opportunity to review the project list with the committee members. In addition, we provided priorities that the principles had given us uh their top three uh projects. Um we also uh were able to uh look at the the finance uh the finance options uh that were presented by Estrada Inosa. We uh had a presentation uh from um um Fluger Architects as well uh on the framework and with us today is Dr. Robbie McGawan and he will provide a result of a survey that was conducted as well as give us some more information on the the process uh progress of the pre-bond planning. >> Thank you.
023>> Good evening uh trustees and Dr. Gutierrez. I want to say uh thank you again uh for having us here. It was good to see some of you who were able to be at the FFAC meeting uh last week. I also want to mention uh two uh other of our Fluger architects team uh is here with me tonight. We have Connie Rivera and uh Sean Connor who are here with us uh as well. Uh as Miss Garcia mentioned, we had an opportunity to uh ask for some feedback from the committee. And the first was right after uh Estrada Henosa had presented uh the uh options related to uh potential tax impact uh or lack thereof uh and how uh funds that could be generated uh with no impact to the tax rate. Uh we simply
024asked kind of a thumbs up or thumbs down question uh with the uh with the committee and that is are you in agreement with the district uh approaching this uh uh potential bond uh program as one that would be a zero tax increase. Uh, as you've heard uh from uh your financial adviser and as you you know uh as trustees, the district has worked really hard over the years uh and has established uh very good standing uh with your debt service. And so you have the potential to be able to raise uh about $335 million with uh without raising the the the taxes. And uh so the next slide will show you what the results of that were. You can see it's 3.8 eight uh which is very uh very high uh uh to the
025end of uh strongly agree. Uh so it sounds like the members of that committee I know we have staff members and we also had some community members on that committee are in agreement with that approach and um uh it is important I think you already know this and of course you'll um you'll and we'll talk about the timeline in just a little bit again but I just want to remind you that prior to the board taking any action for calling for a bond election you obviously work with your legal counsel and your bond counsel on language for that. But just be reminded that the state does require uh ballot language that indicates that uh that that a bond bond would be a tax increase even if there is no increase to the tax rate. So
026uh but anyway, back to this question. It does seem like there's a consensus that that is the approach to take. So what we then did is uh we wanted to uh discuss the potential projects in terms of a framework that helped dis kind of describe or attach to the why. Why are these projects important? And so we we presented these uh we call them categories or buckets sometimes that that that uh projects tend to fall into. uh modernization and alignment, uh district equity, uh learning beyond the classroom, wellness, safety, and security, and districtwide improvements, and describe the sample projects that would fall underneath each of those. And then the feedback we wanted from the committee was to help us give give us their opinion as to how would you prioritize those buckets, not individual projects,
027but just how would you prioritize those buckets. It doesn't mean that we're not going to address every single one. In fact, we that this bond will include projects that address each one of those five areas. But we did ask them to say, "Okay, if you were prioritizing uh where would you prioritize those?" And so the next slide shows uh where those came out. Not surprisingly, uh we see this with districts across the state that we work with. You're going to see that wellness, safety, and security uh come up as as a as a a top priority, obviously. Uh and then you can see there modernization and alignment uh district-wide improvements uh district equity and then learning beyond the classroom. Uh and so um uh again what this does is I think it gives the district
028a tool to say uh if you do get down to where you're having to prioritize some projects maybe over the other or the scope of a project over the other, you at least have this uh this data point from the committee. uh that gives you some feedback um to that as well. So I want to tell you kind of where what's happening now. A lot a lot happens obviously in between each time we get an opportunity to present to you. So just want to explain a little bit about what that what is going on. So we continue to work with your district leadership uh to ensure that we have the project programming understood as clearly as possible uh to make sure that obviously uh we're hearing from the district to uh ensure that programming so
029when I think about programming we're talking about uh as we think about how space is going to be designed uh that it's aligned with your district needs your priority and your instructional mission. Um and so in doing that that allows us to get a little bit more laser focused on cost estimation. You know cost estimations can be done very generally. Sometimes they could be done by say well we you know a certain dollar amount per square foot. But when you if you if you're not clear about the specific programming of that space that can impact the the cost estimate. and we want to make sure that you as a board have as uh a refined cost estimate as possible uh when it does come time for you to take action to call for a bond.
030So, we're doing that. >> Excuse me. I got I have one question. >> Yes. >> Can you can you elaborate on in your presentation you say verified by local contractors uh because I >> I think one of the questions we may get in terms of the bond, >> right? >> Um is where did you get the cost estimate from? Um, and that can, I guess, get contentious, right? Want to make sure we're not using some national figure that's not applicable down here. >> Exactly. And so that's what we're trying we're trying to do. We are uh uh working with um obviously there were some figures that were in the MGT report, the the report you received from the uh the the firm that did your facility condition assessment. Uh those are some kind of general.
031So now what we're trying to do is drill down, Mr. head at exactly what you're describing. Uh to make sure that we're getting a more precise and localized look at that. So, we have um we work as a firm with professional estimators. We have them working on it, but we're also working very closely with your staff and with local contractors to make sure we're getting a very localized picture of what those costs may be. um adding a uh fine arts uh addition to a high school uh actually may have some cost differentiation when I'm comparing uh Macallen area to uh let's say the Dallas area. Uh and so we want to make sure that it is as refined as possible. So that's why we're working we're actually working uh with uh with three uh local
032contractors today. And then uh when you do cost estimations, do you all include a I guess a contingency factor or some type of inflator? You know, our local contractor may say it's a dollar a square foot. >> Is it do you all do say well we're going to estimate it at a$110 a square foot to give build in some cushion because you know we may be estimating now but we're not going to build it for two years. >> Exactly. Uh yes sir we do. In fact and when we do that it varies by project. Uh because let's I'll just again le let's use an example. Let's say we're going to do an addition. Uh I'll just stick with the same example. Let's say we're going to do an addition to a high school that's a
033fine arts space at the high school. Um and then another project is replacing HBAC equipment at a campus. You need different uh you need contingency factors for those. You're not going to have as much of a contingency. the HVAC price is pretty well set. There's not design that's going to probably start pretty quickly. You don't have the inflation that factors in. You don't have the chance for this to, you know, you want to build in some factor to continue to define the scope. Uh and so, uh we do that, but just know we don't we don't have just a set percentage across the board. We do we have there's more of a percentage for like new or or add-on construction than there is with a roof replacement or an HVAC replacement. Thank you. Yes, sir.
034Yes, sir. Thank you. Uh and so any other questions about this step, this how how we're doing cost estimations? >> I do have one. Um thank you. And it may be actually for a later phase, but your comment around trying to build in contingencies. What, if any, strategies have you seen school districts employ to try and reduce cost overages or change orders once in motion? >> Right. Um, the first thing that and and it's it's an important part of what we're doing with your staff right now is even though you're never going to have the scope 100% defined before the bond is called, having a good idea of that. Uh, so let me just so I'm not wearing you out with the same example, let me switch up my examples again. So let's say we're
035talking about a CTE edition. >> Um, we uh uh we are right now looking at your high school programs, master schedules, things like that. So we have an idea of of more specifically what we're looking at for CTE uh facilities. That way we have a little bit more defined scope up front. So that in and of itself will help. >> Yeah. Stage one get as clear as possible. >> But the other and and in working with Mr. Trovinho and Miss Garcia and obviously under M Dr. Gutierrez's leadership um there there seems to be a good system in place where there's some set controls over that so you don't get what you probably have heard the the phrase scope creep. uh that can happen. If any of you have ever uh I if you don't know
036what scope creep is, I encourage you just turn on an episode on HGTV and you'll see when people start to want to add on something to their house and all of a sudden it becomes twice as big as they originally planned. having a a system in place where those things have to go through a set of approvals before they can even be presented uh to the superintendent and the board is is also we've seen that in place here already. >> Thank you. >> Uh so I think there are good controls in place but but getting as refined a cost as possible up front uh does help with that. Uh from a timeline standpoint, just want you to know too that uh uh obviously the holiday break is coming up for school districts, but we continue,
037in fact, we have meetings with your staff next week and we'll continue uh working on this and we'll be working on it over the holidays and in early January, we'll have some uh we'll have some prices uh for you. Um just so you know our approach to this. So, uh, we're in defining that program, uh, we're specifically focusing on, uh, making sure that we get a good grasp on the needs for that additional space at your three comprehensive high schools and the areas of fine arts and CTE. Uh, obviously campus additions and improvements related to capacity and equity. uh that you know the front front entrances at five of your campuses classroom additions at Gonzalez Milam and Morris and then the elementary gyms or gym enclosures at Castana Hendrick Houston Perez and Sanchez and then
038and then remaining would be all those other capital remodeling and capital improvements and I just want to be clear here it's not that that blurb at the bottom is less important but those items at the top need to be defined more clearly. Right? I I don't have to do much program definition on roofs and HBAC. Mr. Trevinho and his team have done a great job of that already. Uh it's really more these additional spaces that we're talking about. So, moving forward, just as a reminder of the the timeline, obviously we're here and wrapping up uh uh December. Uh we'll have another FFAC meeting as we come back from the holidays on the 7th where we can share with them uh some of uh the the defined program and cost estimates that we have. Uh we'll
039be presenting that to the board. You have a couple of opportunities then in January to be discussing this because in February and you have a regular meeting scheduled on February the 10th which is just in time. Um February the 13th is the deadline to call for an election on May the 2nd. So your February the 10th uh uh board uh would uh meeting is where you would do that. We will uh work with you. We'll work with both of your uh obviously you have uh uh legal counsel and bond counsel. They'll get involved uh because they have to assist us in the writing of the election order. And that would be action that you would take on February the 10th. Then, and I know it says the month of March, but it's really beginning at
040uh whenever we walk out of the room in your board meeting on February the 10th. Actually, it's already beginning to be quite honest with you. Uh we'll be assisting the district in community engagement and and education. The district is allowed to educate the public. Uh you can't election, but you can educate the public. uh and we will be working alongside and assisting the district in that. We had a great meeting earlier this week with Dr. Getis and and and some of his team members uh related to that. Uh in April uh April the 2nd is the last day to register to vote. Anyone who's not registered to vote, be sure you get that done uh by April the 2nd. And then April voting will be that uh or the early voting will be April the
04120th through the 28th. Uh and then election day is Saturday, May the 2nd. All right. Any questions I can answer that we haven't already addressed tonight? >> So before we call for the bond, if we do that, we will know precisely the projects that we've prioritized and that will be acted on. >> Yes. >> Okay. And the cost. >> And the cost. Yeah. Yeah. The cost estimates. Yeah. As as as closely as we can have them. >> Okay. >> Yes. We're working on that. uh we have some of that information uh that's a little bit easier to calculate now and then we'll have it once we have it all together we'll present it obviously to Dr. get this and his team and then he'll share that with you with the board. Other questions? >> All
042right. Well, uh I just want to say we'll be meeting with your staff again. Uh we have some meetings with them next week as well, but I want to see the trustees uh before the end of the year. So, I want to again thank you for your service and wish you a happy holidays and merry Christmas. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. And I just want to make a quick comment that our email inboxes are open and ready to receive messages from the community as we have been. Uh, and that counts throughout the holiday break. I know my email is going to be on and so please feel free to share your thoughts, comments in our inboxes. Thank you guys. Moving on. 7C2 discussion and possible action of board resolution of
043the Mac Independent School District authorizing a one-time employee retention incentive pay. >> Dr. Tips >> administration is recommending the approval of a 750 retention stipen to be paid to all full-time employees on December 19, 2025. Miss Lorena Garcia, our deputy superintendent for business and operations has more information which we already did earlier. We are recommending action on this item. >> Move to approve. Second. >> I have a motion by trusty deo, a second by trustee pñena. All in favor? >> I. All opposed. Motion passes 6 and discussion and possible action of 2025 Macau ISD tax rule. Dr. >> the property tax code requires a tax assessor to enter the amount of tax determined by per section 26.09E 09E in the appraisal role and submitted to the governing body of the district for approval. The appraisal
044role with amount of tax entered as approved by the governing body and constitutes the district's tax role. Administration is recommending action on this item. >> Okay. Discussion by the board. >> Move to approve. >> Motion by Trusty Pñena. Second, >> second by trustee KDman. All in favor? I. >> All opposed. Motion passes 70. This 7c4 discussion and possible action on county independent school district November budget amendment for fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2025 and ending June 30th, 2026. Dr. >> Administration is recommending the approval of the November 2025 budget amendment for the 2526 fiscal year. Miss Lorena Garcia, deputy superintendent for business and operations will present more details. We are recommending action on this item. Uh this is a small budget amendment. It's uh merely to transfer some money from uh safe and secure for
045Sanchez Elementary, $2,552 uh into their uh general fund so that they can use that for some chess lessons. And that's all. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion by trusty Hadad and a second by trustee Lopez. All in favor? >> All oppose? Motion passes 70. Okay. 7C5. Discussion and possible action of the county Independent School District December 1st, 2025 budget amendment budget amendment for fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2025 and ending June 30th, 2026. >> Administration is recommending the approval of the December 1st, 2025 budget amendment for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Miss Lorenna Garcia, Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations, will present more details. We are recommending action on this item. >> Um this uh budget amendment is necessary uh to move uh 2 million from the different uh funds
046uh allocated uh by function um for the retention stipen. And the reason it's 2 million and not 2.5 because the other 500,000 is coming from federal funds and those the board does not act on as far as budget amendments. >> Okay. Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. Motion passes. 70. And 7C6. Discussion possible action on letter of authorized signatory of the board of trustees of the Macallen Independent School District designating the superintendent authority as authorized signer on behalf of Macallen Independent School District. Dr. Gutierrez. The city of McKelen's grant administration and community development department has provided a grant opportunity to mckllinize and a letter of authorized signatory must be put in place and provided to the city granting the superintendent
047authority to be an authorized signer. So the administration is recommending action on this item. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion by trust and second by trustee Lopez. All in favor? I. >> All oppose. Motion passes 70. 7 D board of trustee items 71 approval of board of education meeting minutes for the regular board meeting on November 11th and the board workshop on November 12th. >> We recommended action on this item. >> Move to approve. >> I have a motion by trusta Lopez. Second by trusty Kdman. All in favor? >> All opposed. Motion passes 702. Discussion and possible action regarding the resolution of the board of trustees from a county independent school district expressing its votes for appraisal district directors for 2026 through 2029 Hidalgo County appraisal district board of directors.
048>> The board may cast its vote for one candidate or distribute the vote among any number of candidates for two expiring positions. I believe that each one of you has a ballot and the votes that um that each member can cast. So, Mr. President is >> So, everybody, you have a slip there. What we'll do is we'll go ahead and write it down. >> Open it. >> All right. >> I can put it together >> and then we'll pass them to Dr. Trusty KDman. >> Count them. >> Secretary, >> you have to do the math. >> Not mental enough, right? No, just use a calculator. Tally them up. >> Right. >> Math wasn't the strongest. >> Let's ask them to send us a little spreadsheet the next time so we can quickly tally them. music.
049>> Yeah, we need Jeopardy music. >> Doctor and a lawyer. >> There you go. Okay. >> I have to write it. >> Okay. Are you ready? >> Yes. >> Two lawyers and a doctor. >> Okay. 134 votes for Richard A. Garza. >> Do I hear each name >> if they have votes? >> And 22 votes for David Morir. >> Okay. And then that is what we have. >> Those are the only votes. >> 156 total. >> Sorry. >> Let me retract that. >> 11 votes for David Moreno and 11 votes for Joe Oliv. >> Okay. After a recount, we have our new totals. Um, >> yeah, I got them. >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you all. >> All right. >> Um, there is no action there. So 7D3 discussion and possible action regarding Mr. >>
050President. Yes sir. >> I think we might need a motion to approve the final tally. >> Was okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve the final tally. Was that motion? >> I will make a motion. I have a motion by second >> trusty caron and a second by trustee dear Lopez. All in favor? >> I all opposed. Motion passes 70. Thank you trustee Kion for keeping me >> solid. Uh okay. 73 discussion and possible action regarding initiating and scheduling the Lonear Governance 2-day workshop for the board of trustees and superintendent Dr. Gutierrez. Yes, we're recommending action on this item and uh I've had Dr. Canales look into this and talked to uh uh we've talked to TA. We spoke to our deputy commissioner uh Steve Lachelo and he gave us a recommendation of uh to
051contact uh Glenn Nathan Glenn. >> Nathan Glenn and so we've been in contact with Nathan Glenn, but I'd like for Dr. Canales to just give us an overview of what the the lowar governance is about and the two-day training that uh we could have as a board and superintendent uh uh to be kind of like a model board to get this kind of a training uh from TEA. Go ahead Miss Dr. Vanalis. >> Okay, so we do have the the PowerPoint that was sent by Mr. Nathan Glenn. So it's on the Lonear governance. Uh the next slide kind of goes over and outlines what Lonear governance is. So it talks about how Lonear govern supports adult behavior uh to change to improve student outcomes uh to include the board members community superintendent and leadership teams.
052Uh it also is a continuous improvement framework for school governance and access to systems that align state and local initiatives right by doing HP3 uh communication and then TA initiatives as well. Uh the next part just talks about our systems and processes that will take place. So it's about building a synergistic relationship between the uh board and superintendent to collaborate and also for the outcome of improving uh student outcomes and the long governance mindset of course is uh I am the genesis of transformation and integrity is my access uh to goals. So it's about creating that mindset. Uh what does zone governance board coach uh provide? Uh they provide monthly support to tailored for the board uh board chair, superintendent and staff. Uh statutory required board member trainings uh collaboration with and learning from other
053high performing governing teams and an active promotion of advocacy for the LSG initiative uh including presenting about the lonear governance philosophy and practice at meetings and conferences. And this is a one-year commitment of support to complete the launch governance milestones and associated activities. And that's kind of what the workshops will look like, right? So, it's a two-day workshop. Uh that's at your convenience. So, you can do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. They can even say, they said they can even come in Saturday, Sunday uh to >> have to obviously would have to be one day after the next. Right. >> One day after the next. Correct. So, whatever day is most convenient, I can work with Miss uh Gos on that with the board to see what days are convenient for the board. Uh
054but it is to approve you know student outcome goals uh progress measures uh superintendent uh and board quadrails and then uh to continue just monitoring for success of our district. >> Dr. Gonales um and I don't want to put any of us on the spot but all of us are in compliance with our our education our continuing education that we have to do. Um just a couple of weeks ago, I think um three of us at least went to the regional seminar at the island and they cover most of these topics and I think over the course of the um continuing ed that I've done uh over the last two years, all of these things are covered. Um this this lonear governance comes at a cost of course. Um but even more important than that,
055I think a lot of this is redundant to what we've already done. Um, but is there anything that I mean am I missing something because I don't see anything here that we haven't already completed through other avenues? No, >> I think it's just a recommendation that came uh forward from a from a trustee just to see about the lonear governance. Uh, I know we'll get a little bit more training as far as it goes also with Mo Casey. Part of their plan and strategic plan is to give credited hours. So, you'll get some more credit hours through them. Uh, this is just brought up as a recommendation uh for your approval. >> Yeah, Mr. President happy to share a little bit more um to those who may be wondering. So um you know we're engaging
056now in a process of strategic planning. We are in motion to ask the community for a vote of confidence through potentially putting a bond on the ballot. Uh it is true that we are all in compliance with the statutoily required trainings um as defined by the Texas Education Agency, but we have done those individually and at different times and we are not in conversation with each other regularly in my opinion as a group with the superintendent present about how we drive improvements for the betterment of our school and our school districts. And the correlary that I would make is that an NFL team has their own individual practices. And so they sort of do what they need to do in their individual roles, but they also come together for team practices. And I view this
057as a training for us as a unit where we are all together in the room with a coach for an extended period of time where we can further clarify how we work best together in service of our students and our community. And there really is very few other opportunities whereby a board as a whole can come together and do this type of work in partnership with the superintendent. So, as I'm thinking about again a strategic planning process, the potential to ask for a vote of confidence from our community, I think it is a logical next step for us to come together as a team and learn how to work better together. >> So, to that point, I know that we do have the requirement that we need to do team building and I think that's
058what I'm kind of hearing you because I agree that we do need to be in the same room and um work together more often. My concern with this specific program is the redundancy of options. Like I do agree we need to do the team building and share with each other how we approach things and what our thought processes are and our priorities for the district and how we go about that but I don't know that this specific program meets that that we can't do otherwise. >> Can you say more about that? >> Sure. Like we uh we have to do team building every year. We haven't done it this year yet. So I think there's an opportunity for us to do team building which is I think kind of the core or part of the
059core of what I'm hearing from you about the concern of wanting to work together and have those opportunities. But I don't know that lonear governance is the right way to go about it given that we do a lot of these subject matters and we already have done them independently. >> Yeah, thank you for the additional clarification. I have a followup which is I've never done team building as a board. So what are the topics of that team building and who facilitates that process? So really it's the president gets to choose and so really it's up to the president. Sometimes we've done well we've only really done it once in my experience so far. >> And you've been on the board for how long? >> Two years. >> Okay. >> So this will be the second
060time we do it. >> Yeah. >> But I think we can address some of those same interests and motives. Um >> what's the cost of this? >> I was going to ask that. What is the cost of this? >> Uh approximately about between $4,000 to $5,000 what they told us >> total. total cost. >> I have also looked into it and there are other I mean there's people out there that the cost varies. Uh so there's other programs that are very similar to the Lonear governance that are similar to but I just want to put this out there. I have been wanting to do something like this since I joined the board. I think that it's productive. Um I've heard comments from former board members that have said, "Oh, well, you know, it's two days
061and this and that back and forth." Well, I want it's an experience that I would like to go through. I think it's a positive experience that uh that that would be worth it. So, thank you for putting it on the agenda. Um and I think at this point there's no further discussion. Then we can take it up for a vote, but I do want to invite my fellow board members to speak. >> Um I I am for um more I guess workshop style towards some of these topics too. I think that's very important especially as we go into the bond. Initially I was thinking oh let's do this after the bond because we're going to be really busy starting in January all the way up until you know the end of the school year. So
062I was thinking the summer but to your point I think it is important that we understand kind of um how to work together and um common goals and as especially as we write our strategic plan and our goals. Um, I will say that some past uh trainings I've been to have been very redundant, just put on by um I love region one, so I'm not giving, you know, any um shade to anyone there, but I'm just saying for all the required trainings that we need to do, I just wonder the return on investment for this specific um and I I'm wondering if >> can we seek other options. >> Can we can we just or can the board see a few options and then all then we all have some buy in more towards I
063mean I haven't even heard feedback about people who do you know people who've gone through this training like do we have any stories from I guess stuff like that I guess I'm saying I would like some more time personally >> but I am very much excited about this idea >> I love the idea too of working together and learning to work together and we you're right we don't ever really communicate much outside of here. >> We're not allowed to. Yeah, absolutely. But I do think the redundancy bothers me as well. I would like other topics if maybe uh I mean lonear governance is exactly that. Maybe there is a different model that's a workshop style where we can still gather and do just I'm being redundant now. talking about redundancy, but um I'd like to
064see some other options of a training that we could do together >> or even the teamwork thing is important. We need to plan that as well. Um I don't know, >> maybe there's also something in, >> you know, the cost different cost range or just some other options. I'm not opposed to absolutely the team building and doing all of that work together. I just like to see more options. >> I um very much am excited for this. I think my opinion and I'm sure the majority of the board shares this is that we are blessed as a board. We uh are professional in inside the boardroom and outside. We um act accordingly in in our meetings versus you know what we see on the news. And so I am always humbled and honored to serve
065on this board for our district. Um we are going into a huge spring semester. Um we know how to work together and we've done that and I think the work that we have done for the last two years to get us where we are now um along with our superintendent um shows that we are a very capable board. Um, and I love that we all bring our different strengths to the table. And for something like this, for Trusty Karion to bring it to us, I value his opinion when it comes to uh anything having to do with education both state and n at the state and national level. So, I am grateful that he brought to brought this to us. He knows that we are a very capable board and we work. This isn't about
066working together because we do do that. Um, do I enjoy all of the education that we sometimes have to do in summers or online? Um, yes, it is redundant, but at the same point that uh, Trusty Karion brought, we don't ever do that as a group. And so for us to be able to reflect on some of the education and the learnings, it's different when you're sitting in a conference room of a thousand people versus us here in the workshop and how does this relate to us and how do you feel about it and how can we relate this to the strategy that we want to implement or change. So I think it's worth a shot to take a look at it. If the trustees aren't ready to vote on it tonight and they want
067more information, I completely understand that because that's one thing about us is that we like information sometimes to our own detriment, but we like to ask questions. We like to know options and um I think it's fair, but I am absolutely in favor of doing something like this, especially coming at a time where we are definitely in need of a revamp of our strategy and um and continue to present ourselves to our community as the leaders in in the region for what we do at Macallen ISD. So, >> thank you. Um, thank you uh, Trusty Delgard. I think you said it very well and trusty Karion. I think you present such an eloquent case for Lonear Governance. Um, you know, being new to the board, I think it's something valuable. Um, to get us all
068in the room. Um, whether it's lonear governance if we don't want to move on that today or something else. Um, but I do think it's it's going to be extremely valuable for all of us, especially when you look at student outcome goals. student outcome goal progress measures um because it is very difficult with all the data that gets thrown at us every day um to think about it strategically um and getting us all in a room uh I think would be extremely valuable I think lonear governance is um worth trying out um I'm also open to looking at other options >> if I may um I sort of live by a mantra of the raft is not the shore right so the shore or the destination for us is working best together as a team
069and improving how we get there. There's lots of different ways to build a raft. So given the tenor of the group and the request for more information, I'm willing to move to table this item for a later date, potentially early January, to give the other trustees who want to find more information a chance to go online. Lonear governance is fairly well documented. All you have to do is type it into your search bar and you find it. um and would also invite other proposals for team building um for the administration to bring forward or for President Rietta to bring forward for consideration and would just ask that we maybe not on the 7th uh on the 13th but by the 27th of January >> that we bring this back to the conversation. >> I think
070that's good. >> Yeah, >> appreciate that. Thank you. >> I can say one great thing just to put a little bit at ease there. So you do have with Casey, part of the training we will we will have together is uh one, you'll have a team of eight. You'll get three hours of team building there. >> I was going to say, do we get credit for that? >> And you'll get credit for that. So, you're going to get credit for that. And then you'll also get receive three hours of eval evaluating and improving student outcomes training. So, uh that'll also get three hours of credit uh as well. >> Perfect. That's great. Um >> well I want to I want to make one distinction there because um >> can you read what you said about
071student evaluation goals? Is that >> I >> Yeah. So I want to make a distinction between >> student outcome goals and measuring progress measures versus just learning how the state measures. Right. >> That's right. >> Because that's the content of the ISO training which we've all done. I don't know that we need those three hours right now for any of our current. So if Mo Casey can integrate some of >> these things, I think >> we're already moving that direction. >> Yeah. It won't be the actual LSG training >> right for that credit, but they could do some of that other work as well. >> Possibly. We can ask. >> I second the motion to table. >> Question. Is it a team of eight or is it just the trustee? >> Team of eight. Right.
072Okay. >> This would be team of eight as well. >> Okay. We need him for the strategy, right? That's what I was thinking. Okay. >> Yeah. There's a motion to table by trusty Kon. Correct. >> Second by trust. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion table passes. 70. All right. Item number eight, recess to close session. The board of trustees may go into close session pursuant to section 551071, 551072, 551074, 551076, and 551089 of the Texas government code to discuss the following human resources recommendations for school year 2025 26. Discussion of human resources employee resignations and retirees for school year 202526. Discussion of the superintendent evaluation and contract. discussion regarding school safety and security, pending and or potential litigation, and possible real estate acquisition. At 6:34, we are entering into close session. Thank you. >>
073Uh Mr. President, one item of personal privilege. Um as we're transitioning, I'd like to welcome members of the class of 45 leadership Macallen. And for any members of the board of trustees that would like to take a photo with members of the class, um can we gather up front to do so? Welcome. >> Class 31 right here. >> Class 39. >> I never did that. >> We're accepting applications. >> Let's do it together. >> Okay. What do I need? >> See that? Would you like to take the photo? Oh my goodness. >> How are you? All right, it's 10:36 and we are back from executive session. I will take up the next item on the agenda which is >> 10. >> Yeah. Uh action items on in close session. We have 10 a discussion and
074possible action of human resources recommendations for school year 202526. >> Move to approve. >> I have a motion >> and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. Motion passes 70. >> And then we have left it inside. That's >> discussion of human resources employee resignations and retirees. Dr. >> um human resources submitted a list of resignations and retirees for the 2526 school year under separate cover for discussion during close session. Did we have any >> any to approve? >> On this one on the retirees and resignations we did. >> So we're recommending action >> to approve. >> I have a motion by trusty pñena. >> Second by trustee Hadad. All in favor? I. >> All opposed. Motion passes 70. All right. Now we have 10 C. Discussion and possible action of the
075superintendent's evaluation and contract. >> Dr. Administration's recommending action on this item. >> All right. I move to approve the superintendent's evaluation and I further move to extend the superintendent's contract by one year. included in that would be a two and a half% to his base pay salary which comes out to 7,750. >> I think that might need to be two. >> Yeah, I think we need to make two different motions on that. >> One to accept the evaluation. >> Sure. Okay. >> I will separate it. I move to approve the superintendence valuation. >> Second. >> Have a motion by trusty and a second by trustee Karion. All in favor? >> I. All opposed. Motion passes 70. I move to extend the superintendent's contract by one year and to include an increase to his base pay
076of 2 and a half% which is equivalent to $7,750 for it achievements that he has achieved in the previous years. I'll second. I have a motion by trusted and a second by trustee Hadad. All in favor? I >> I. >> All opposed? >> I. >> Motion passes. 52. >> All right. And we are on item 10D, discussion regarding school safety and security. All right. Nothing there. 10E pending and potential litigation. Mr. Nothing to report. >> 10F, possible real estate acquisition. >> Okay. We have scheduled meetings coming up on December 16th. We have board workshop student recognitions at MAC high at 5:30. And then we have board workshops facility forecast advisory committee. I invite everybody that's still listening online to make it out. and regular board meeting. We will be here January 13th at 5:30. January
07727th at 5:30 and February 10th after the Super Bowl at 5:30. >> So with that I >> I move to adjurnn. >> Have a motion. >> And happy holidays. >> Second. >> And a second and happy holidays from Dr. Trusty KDman. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes 70. So, good night everybody. Happy holidays. We will see you when we get back. If we don't see you before Tuesday.