001Well, you know, I had my husband in Good afternoon. A regular meeting of the board of trustees of the Macau Independent School District will be held Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Ricardo Chapa boardroom administration building of the Macau Independent School District 2000 North 23rd Street Texas 78501. Items listed on this agenda may be taken in any order other than as shown on the agenda unless removed from the consent agenda. Items identified within the consent agenda will be acted on at one time at this meeting. There may be discussion and action by the board on the items and subjects listed as followed. Item number one, call the meeting to order. I have done so at 5:30 p.m. Item number two, moment of silence. Thank you. Item number three, pledge of allegiance. I
002pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, for liberty and justice for all. Okay. Item number four, public comments. We do not have any public comments today. So, we will move on to item number five, consent agenda items. Move to approve. A second. I have a motion by trustee Rael and a second by Trustee Pena for 5A to 5D. Uh all those in favor? I oppose. Motion passes 70. All right. And we move on. Item number six, instructional services, instructional leadership, human resources, business and operations, and board of trustee items. Item 6A, instructional services, and structured leadership. Items 6A1, discussion and possible action for the approval of the donations to Homer J. Morris Middle School. Dr. Yes. Board of
003Trustees, the Morris Middle School parent and teach organization would like to give a donation to Morris Middle School. Dr. Deos, associate superintendent for instructional services will share more information and we are recommending action on this item if there's any questions on this uh donation to Morris Middle School. Any discussion? Thank you to the PTO at Morris Middle School for all of your hard work to make this possible. Do does anybody want Do you want to say something? Annie, Serge, Annie, come say something. Yeah, do it. I mean, the opportunity. Um, I do I want to say we've worked really hard at Morris. Um, not just to raise money, but to build community. And this the money that we've raised is a total reflection of the community we've built. This is not money. We did not
004go out and raise this money to do these things. It is money that we raise selling merch and selling all kinds of junk food to kids and um after school hours. After school hours. Absolutely. Um it has been a true community effort and we have this money sitting in an account. We're going to be celebrating Morris's 40th anniversary next year and we're planning to go out and raise money next year. Um, but we feel like we need to take this money and do something with it. And in looking at what we might do, these spaces, the gym, the library, the cafeteria, that it's our living room. It's our community's living room. And so, we're really excited. Um, we don't have a lot of details for you today because it was like in the week or
005two we've been like we gota we got to do this this summer right now and so we're getting to work on it but um we hope to have the ability to work within those parameters we'll work with Ruben we'll of course work with Mrs. and we're really excited. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all the hard work. Thank you. [Applause] All right. I'd like to make a motion. I have a motion by trustee Karion. Second. Second by trustee. All in favor? I I. All oppose. Motion passes 70. We're looking forward to to seeing what that's going to be great for the kids. 6B, human resource items. Uh 6B1, discussion of the Texas Association of School Board, TASBY, localized policy manual update 124, first reading. Yes. Presented from TASBY, the Texas Association of School Boards,
006and reviewed by our staff. This update represents legal and local reference policies recently adopted by the state. administration is presenting this item as a first reading with a final approval at the next board meeting for which will be the second reading. Mr. Canales uh chief human resources officer will have any uh share any information or any questions you may have. So this legal update here is uh consists of 52 legal updates uh that TASBY has already put into our uh localized policy and then we do have about uh I think it is eight uh uh total local policies that we need to do an update on. Uh those policies range anywhere from the uh fiscal management goals and objectives, uh revenue investments, intellectual property, employee standards of conduct, uh curriculum design and special programs, uh
007special programs for GT students, student welfare, and community relations. Uh these are all recommendations by TASBY that we update the local policy based on what legal update says. So they have already created a guideline for us and we're just uh asking for the first reading through for the approval. Well, I don't think there's an action uh until we bring in the second reading. Sure. Or second reading. Correct. This is only for the first reading. Okay. Okay. All right. Word. Any questions, discussion? All right. Thank you all. So we are at 6B2 discussion and possible action of revisions to board policy FNG local second reading. Dr. administration is recommending a change to FNG local uh policy as per TASBY's uh recommendation in regards to the extracurricular activity complaints and level three appeals. Dr. Canales, chief human
008resources officer will have more information or answer any questions on this item. We are recommending action on this item since this is the second reading that uh we're bringing to the board. Any questions? Um less of a question um but just more of a comment. I think I might have been one of the people that wanted to pull this initially. Um, and so I just wanted to clarify that, um, the reason that I did that initially was because I wanted to make sure that we were not, um, infringing or cutting off uh, our community from being able to come to the board on things that they needed to. But, um, after having conferred with you all, I just want to clarify this policy um, implementation essentially just cuts it off at what they're entitled to.
009In other words, if there is a a grievance that um does not or that involves basically decisions at the high school level or at the administ school level such as playing time and that kind of thing. Those are the types of grievances that would end at level two. Correct. That's correct. Okay. So, if anything else happens, say discrimination, we always do a discrimination first. That's that's your FFH policy. So anything with discrimination, retaliation, uh or harassment, we always go through that policy first and then we go through those things and then the level one, level two, it'll stop at the level two. Now if it goes through discrimination, then of course we we go and go through that and then that can get to the board at a level one, two or three. Okay. Okay.
010So any uh do I have any motion? I move to approve. Second. Okay. Trustee uh have a motion by trustee regard. Second by trustee PÑA. All in favor? I. All opposed. Right. Motion passes 70. 6B3. Discussion of possible action of revisions to board policy BF local. Second reading. Dr. Administration is recommending a change to BF uh local policy as per TASBY's recommendation in regards to adoption and amendments. Dr. Canales, chief human resources officer. We'll have more information or answer any questions. And since this is a second reading, this uh we're also recommending action on this item. So, are there any questions on this policy for the second reading? Again, I'm sorry, but policy is my thing, I guess. Um, but as it relates to the current policy, I just in my opinion, I think it's
011a lot more clear than what the proposed policy is, um, in so far as the proposed one, um, includes this idea of a special circumstance and it's not defined. And so I think that that may create a problem where who decides what the special circumstance is, what qualifies as a special circumstance. whereas the other the the policy as we have it written I think allows for us to just proceed with first and second reading. Um and I just think it's a lot more clear. So I'm in favor of leaving the policy as is unless we define those things. In other words, what uh struck out in red to leave it to leave it like it is because I think that's what the current policy is is to leave the redu just to Well, I'm not
012looking at that copy. I'm sorry. Let me go back. I was introduced to the board books. So, as it currently reads, local policies may be adopted or amended by a majority of the board at any regular or special meeting provided that board members have had advanced written notice of the proposed change and that it has been placed on the agenda for such meeting. Yes. So, that's that's what I would say. That's the current policy. That's what I propose that we leave it at. So, uh, just a question for clarification because the second the proposed change would change it to where you introduce it one meeting and the second meeting. So, it's two readings. The first one is just you can approve it on the first. So, you're proposing to Well, I think the I think
013if we could maybe come to a middle ground on it. Um, I think a subsequent meeting. We generally do that already. um even though it's not in policy, but the issue that I see is more so on the the tail end of that proposed language where it says emergency adoption may occur in one meeting um because again it doesn't specify what a special circumstance is or who decides what that is. Um and I think that's just kind of a too vague but as the language currently stands we can adopt a policy on the first reading without declaring in a special circumstance. Correct. That's what it it seems to allow that but in practice I think we always do a two two readings. So maybe but this would require us to u at least declare a
014special circumstance. Although the mechanism for doing that is not uh clear. I agree with you on that. But at least we would have to publicly state this is a special circumstance. We're going to adopt it on the first reading. Right. Um, and then I guess just between us know what a special circumstance is or who decides the special circumstance. Like the example I had was uh like say we did the update 124 right now that we just went over. Say we had to have that done before the next board meeting. You all could say that's considered a special circumstance. We're going to do one reading for update 124 and then I would think you all would either agree or not agree to do that on a special circumstance is kind of how I relate that
015to but up to you all how you want to. So the administration will propose what the special circumstances. No, no, we don't propose that. That would be the board the board to propose that. Well, if we leave it like it is, as trusted Galad is saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, John, but we could take no action and it stays like it is, right? Circumstances language, the way that I see that it would come back to y'all, right? Ultimately, in order for it to be considered special circumstance, four of you are going to have to say it meets that criteria. So with within that is built in some flexibility to determine for yourselves what is a special circumstance. I I I am a very much a definitions and um type of person. I like
016to have that. However, I can certainly see the the practical practicality of having this to where there's the flexibility that if something comes up and it doesn't meet a specific criteria, you guys as the seven that are leading the district get to say at least four of you get to say this is the special circumstance. That said, leave it as is. Take no action. You're good to go. You don't have to vote it down. You just have to take no action. It will stay the same. I don't know if that clarified or made it worse. I I I think the the proposed policy revision provides more more I wouldn't say protection, but gives us at least we have to publicly state why we're going to adopt something on first notice. It just doesn't provide for
017what those circumstances are. So, I guess I kind of foresee a situation where um four people could just decide that something is a special circumstance that perhaps isn't necessarily like a deadline or something like that um that's out of our hands. But I think I mean I mean a middle ground might be you want us to u go back with Tasby to kind of like blend in both the original and the revised one to Well, I think um I think a a policy that would implement two readings because I think that we we do it in practice but it's not written. Um and then also that would define what a special circumstance would be. Okay. Did you take note of that, Dr. Gardes? We can just go back and then bring you a define. Yeah.
018What if we narrow it too much to what a special circumstance is or not enough? A special circumstance implies that some it's something that's out of the ordinary or not. Everything's changing so much. So to say define a special circumstance, it will be just that something out of the ordinary, something that requires immediate attention, I guess. But to define it, I don't know how else you And if that doesn't make it very Yeah. And I understand that because I I mean I can't really foresee what a special circumstance would be other than like an emergency situation of some sort. Exactly. I mean something to the effect of action is required to be taken before a second reading could be scheduled. Something to that effect. Well, that could happen on any situation though. That's why it's
019hard to it's hard to right because you don't want to delineate like John said uh you know list some items because there's something unforeseen that may come maybe a special circumstance is something that would uh result in a detrimental effect on the district like whether it be financial or an extenduating circumstance or an emergency that needs our attention within 24 hours or something like that. Well, to trustee point, if if the trustees are able to state it at the next meeting, the circumstance, I mean, we have to justify that where future boards would have to justify it. But yeah, I see both your points, right? Yeah. I just trying to figure out a way to make it work. Yeah. I I wonder um as I'm looking at the draft language, the portion of the language
020that is struck includes the statement adopted or amended by a majority of the board that has been taken out of that portion. And Mr. Ball, when you were talking about the special circumstances, you had mentioned that that would potentially be defined by the majority of the board, but that language is no longer in this section as proposed. And is that potentially the path forward where we define a special circumstance simply as something that has four members of the board or a majority of the board um indicating that it is indeed a special circumstance based in their but how would we know that unless we're meeting unless we're meeting I mean publicly it's well and I kind of think that TASBY has um in the whole policy review we've been doing for the last year policy
021seems uh TAS seems to be just kind of cutting the fat on things and so I think it's a redundancy because we can't pass anything without a majority. Y um but yeah I mean I just but to even bring it to a meeting right like to say well there's four of us that say we want it on to revise it. Yeah quum was had or some discussion was had prior to I didn't read it that way but I could see that. What if you were to add the language that trustee had was saying the trustees shall state on the record at that meeting the reason for the special circumstance? I know that still leaves it vague but yeah I mean without the majority I mean basically it means one person who feels it's a special
022circumstance can put it on the agenda for review. That's the way I would have read that with if we're marking out the majority at the end of the day it might fail. Sorry. Yeah. I don't think it's talking about bringing it to the board. I think it's just passing it. So number four, yeah, so to speak troubling. You can in all discretion say require a super majority of five to make to render something a special exception. I think that makes sense. I think I like that. I think that's a good What is it? It's a good to make it be a super majority of is going to be a special circumstance where there is doesn't need to be the procedural safeguard five members five board members have to vote for that to be considered but
023that's just that's not a suggestion I'm saying that is a possible remedy if the number four is by voting for the proposed policy on the first reading is that automatically um indicating it's a special circumstance or we would have to vote have two votes, a supermajority vote to declare a special circumstance and then a majority vote to adopt the policy. I'm going have to reread this. I think the way it's written, just a supermajority because I don't the way that this policy is written, I don't think it's about whether you can bring it to the board and put it on a on agenda. No, I'm talking about adopting it. Would you have to declare I mean would you have to would you need a supermajority of five to declare a special emergency and then four
024majority to adopt it or you just have one vote at five? I think just super majority if you're going to do subsequent meetings. So you have your you usually have the one meeting and then you go to the second meeting right and then you're only going to need four. If you're going to do it the first reading when it comes out that's where you would need the five. Yeah. if that is the route you wanted to go. Yeah, not a recommendation. I'm saying that's So you want us to go, we can take it back to TASBY just to rewrite it or edit it and and include the super majority as a special circumstance. Yeah, I'll make that if if we have an understanding because I'm not sure that we uh if somebody got that down
025then yes, I would make a motion that we um take it back for a second reading or I guess third now with the amendment that it would require a super majority to pass under a special circumstance with one reading. We'll do that. Okay, we have a motion. Do we need a We have a motion by I'll second trust second by trustee Hadad. All those in favor? I all opposed. Motion passes 70 with the language that trustee said that I was trying to catch up with. They they did. Okay. All right. They got they got it. Okay. I'll send it off to Kevin and I'll bring it back to you. Yeah. All right. Thank you guys. Uh 6C business and operation items. 6C1 report regarding schoolyard forest grant. Dr. Guts. Yes. Uh Mallen Skint Masatlan has
026received a grant from the Texas A&M forest. Uh the grant will be used to create nature-based learning spaces and improve the environment on seven elementary school campuses within our district. The grant will fund tree planting, outdoor learning spaces, and educational components. Miss Colin and Hook, executive director from Kinta Masatlan, will give us more information about this grant and this is uh for information purposes only. Miss Cook, thank you and welcome. Thank you very much. Do I have a remote or Yeah. I think they're they're pulling it out. Oh, okay. Thank you, President Trustee, Superintendent for this opportunity to give you an update on the um Texas A&M Forest Service Grant. What a gift. Uh when we opened in 2006, we coined the phrase a mansion with a mission working to connect children to nature to
027grow healthier, happier, and smarter students. And so through the years, our partnership with MISD has grown tremendously and we're so excited about that. We started with a third grade contract with MISD in 2006 and now every fifth grader comes, every seventh grader comes in high school science AP. And this curriculum is written in partnership uh with the curriculum department here at MISD to make sure it addresses all the standards required for the students. We've also grown tiny forests on your campus. Uh, one at Kathy Middle School planted in 2023 and one at Sam Houston Elementary planted in 2024. Uh, we've taken a grass area that was not used by kids or wildlife and turned it into a beautiful natural environment uh that benefits the children's and the neighborhood. And now, thanks to Texas&M for a
028service we received in partnership with MISD, a $2.7 million grant. Um, before we submitted the grantor, asked both partners, city McAllen and MISD, to sign anou stating they wanted this gift, they welcomed this gift, and we would maintain and operate this gift. We are presently in the design development stage and looking forward to presenting shortly the seven designs with Hefner design team a very professional landscape firm in the Rio Grandandy Valley who has a lot of experience in this area. Um there are four other districts who received this grant. So the Rio Grandandy Valley received $14 million. Um PSJA, Laredo, Donna, and Mercedes. So, we're significantly um improving the Rio Grandandy Valley, which is the ultimate goal for all of us. So, we get a lot of calls from the schools saying, "Well, how can
029I get an outdoor learning campus?" And actually, we did not pick the top seven. Uh the Grand Tour picked the top seven based on a CJS tool. Um it was based on climate and economic justice screening tool. Um the average tree canopy on our school campuses is about 11% and the uh Texas A&M Forest Service Grant, one of their goals is to raise it to a 30% tree canopy. So outdoor learning campuses are more than just a tiny forest. They provide a whole lot of benefits. And for every dollar that we invest in greening and operating and maintaining these campuses, we receive at least triple in benefits. And other districts around the country have experienced increase in enrollment um academics, attendance, um improvement in social emotional development. They see a 50% decrease in bullying on
030the campus. Um and then of course increased physical activity and creative opportunities for teachers um to teach outdoors. So our partnership with the principles began in January. I put 100% on board. I'd actually like to say 200% on board. Uh it was such a pleasure to go to all seven of these campuses. Uh we spent half a day with Andrew Hefner and team and basically we left with a schematic design. It was a basically a mini cheret of what the principal and the school leadership wanted and the locations that they wanted these amenities. We were there um to listen and to help direct the cheret, but the direction came from the principles and the campus. Followed by the seven mini cheretses, we had a lunchon and workshop at Kintto Mazatlan. Dr. Gutieres welcomed everybody. Um,
031I can't say enough about Lorena Garcia who is chairing this for MISD. Robert Trevenho, we had instructional leadership involvement, human relations, um, police, security, safety, they were all part of this key, uh, being key stakeholders in the design of these plans. So, each school is receiving eight features, and you'll hear from Andrew shortly in terms of uh the layout of each of the seven, but they'll all receive a tiny forest, uh trails and educational interpretive signage with direction from the teachers, a budding botist, hands-on learning area, a tiny outdoor library, uh natural playscape, a cultural wiki up, um a learning hill. We're really excited about this opportunity. It's an outdoor amphitheater where a teacher could come out in the morning and have 25 students or 250 students and and use the beauty of the great
032outdoors. And then there's significant funding for workshops and working with MISD and the curriculum writers uh in terms of developing curriculum to accompany these outdoor learning campuses. So, uh, one of the primary goals of the campus goal is to obviously get to 30% tree canopy. So, these are some of the native trees. It will be 100% native. Uh, some of our beauties, cedar elm, Texas ebony, rama, tanaza. Um, so basically we're supporting our regional unique biodiversity, but we're also creating a living science lab on each of these seven school campuses. And the same goes for the shrubs. uh some of our beauties skeleton leaf dies daisy turks cap once you plant those you have hummingbirds within an hour um so again highlighting our regional biodiversity and creating living science labs so in terms of making
033this a success funding was awesome planning was awesome uh the design phase was great fun uh construction comes next uh and we're looking at a completion of the seven 2026 and 2027. And so what we need to start thinking about is operating and maintaining these uh districts that have put these in on a district-wide bas basis have adjusted their scope of work for their staff um and their vendors to make sure these amenities are addressed and cared for. And that needs to be done upfront because basically you're taking an area that possibly they mowed, blowed, and watered and edged and now they're going to do XYZ. So, so that needs to be identified in contracts. Um, the principal decided what would go in the school park zone and what would go in the school zone.
034The school zone being behind the fence. So, anything any of the amenities that fall within the school park zone will be maintained by parks and wreck. um they have the list of those amenities and they will update theou with MISD listing those specific amenities so that there's clarity on maintenance and then anything that falls in the school zone uh would be maintained by MISD as as we presently um partner together on this landscape. So the benefits again are huge. Um increased attendance, increased enrollment, increased academic skills, um in addition to the environment, storm water management, cooling the campus, um and just beautifying the campus and the neighborhood. Tremendous benefits. So um we're talking about all these benefits, but what about the remaining 11 elementary schools and how do we provide equity for those? I'm happy
035to report that we received a grant from Children and Nature Network for $50,000 to do conceptual plans and budgets on the remaining 11 campuses. This grant also includes creating a guideline booklet for MISD um on what they want in these campuses, how they operate, how you maintain them, and the curriculum that goes with those. So, uh, and the timing I hear is amazing because, uh, MIT is presently updating their master plan. So, this would be an amazing, um, addendum or addition to your master plan, you know, for short-term or long-term goals because you'll have conceptual drawings and rough budgets for the remaining 11 elementary campuses, getting us to 18 um, elementary campuses, which is such a win-win. And now I'd like to introduce our professional landscape architectural firm uh Hefner Design Team, the president, Andrew
036Hefner here. Uh thank you uh trustees uh for allowing us to do this presentation today. We're really excited about the project. Like Colleen uh mentioned, we have a lot of data that we went through to get to this point. So we're hoping that we enthusiasm comes through during the presentation. Like Colleen mentioned, we have a specific number of elements that we want at each individual site that's mandated by the grtor, but also in our conversations with the individual uh principles and teachers. Now we want all of these component at at each school but each one will be uh customized in their layout based on the use of that facility um and uh the the best use of the available area working with the u the user group the principal and the students. Uh so here
037we have our our wiki up learning hill u uh trail arbor etc. All of these elements will be implemented in some uh form or fashion into the individual uh school uh designs. Uh starting off um here we have uh Alvarez. Um the green line that we've added to the plan is the indicator of the school zone that Colleen mentioned and the parks zone. So the uh north of this green line or above the green line is the city school park and then inside the green line is where we have our uh school zone. Um, one of the highlights of the project is, uh, what I'll show on the next slide here. We're actually removing 6,000 square feet of asphalt paving. One of the big pushes nationwide is to remove asphalt and replace it with green
038space. And we're doing that at this campus and two other campuses where that's needed. Um, you'll see the layout of the different elements here, all integrated into the best use based on our walkthrough with the principal and staff. Next we have fields. Um this green line um uh to the right of the green line is the school zone. To the left is the park zone. Um our highlight here is really the expansion of the of the existing trail system to include our tiny forest, also indicated here as a pocket forest. Uh and then building on the existing playground to uh offer our nature playground elements um just north of that um at this at this campus specifically. Um, next we have Houston. Houston already has a great tiny forest, but we needed a little bit
039more interaction with that tiny forest. So, we've indic uh uh designed a decomposed granite trail that leads the students now through that uh to get as many touch points as possible. And they since they have a tiny forest already were able to expand the footprint of their nature playground or their proposed nature playground um to to use those funds in in in creating a much more uh a much larger nature playground than some of the other schools because they have the tiny forest. Um and providing a lot of shade uh is the key uh at each one of these. uh Jackson Elementary. Um that everything actually um uh the green line indicates that school zone and uh to the to the right uh I'm sorry, school zone to the left, park zone to the right.
040So all of these elements are inside the school zone. Our major highlights here are uh on the north courtyard really expanding some existing seating that they currently have into a multi-layered um education environment with the learning hill with the uh budding botnist etc. And then on the south uh side we are expanding the existing basketball pavilion not the footprint but the area underneath all the shaded trees uh for our nature playground and additional shade trees etc. I know they recently just added a few picnic tables that they didn't have in that area and it's been a a huge success. So, imagine what the kids will think once we have all of these improvements. Roosevelt's also a big um uh uh has a has a huge impact in that we're also removing about 7,000 square feet
041of asphalt in the center of kind of the play zone between the shaded area um uh that's that's inside the school and then the the uh traditional playground to the right. So in this uh case the obviously the school zone is to the left and the park zone is to the right. Um, another great element is improving this east courtyard to include the budding botist, reading nook, etc. that will really u give additional uh learning space and recreational space within the confines of a courtyard. So, we thought that that was a good uh solution there. Uh, we have Sigin Elementary. This uh uh is um also uh a little bit more challenging because uh we have a huge asphalt area just to the east of the school that's underutilized. It has staff parking sometimes. Um
042I have an enlargement here that we're actually removing about 8,000 square feet of asphalt. We're still keeping enough asphalt to keep the circulation patterns moving through there. Um, but that's our one of our highlights in in that area is to really take the asphalt out and create great green spaces for these for the kids. And then finally, we have Wilson. Uh, Wilson is a one of our more urban campuses. Um, it really is highly programmed along the entire southside. So, what we're doing is focusing on the north side. It's a little bit more passive space right now. And there's two portables north of the gym. Those are planning to be removed. And as part of that removal, then we have a lot more elbow room under existing shaded trees to in uh do our uh
043learning hill, install the reading nook, etc. Um while also screening the perimeter for the improvements that it looks like the church is going to do next door. Um that is the conclusion of the design section. Uh we open up to any questions. I don't have a question per se. I just want to say this. I am so excited about this project and I want to thank Gintam Mazatlan, Mr. Hefner, Miss Garcia, and everybody at MISD that made this possible before I got here. Um, I'm just um I want to see how we can do this at all elementary schools and then junior high and high schools as well. It's an amazing project. Thank you. I second that. I just think that I don't know any other districts who have partnered with the city in beautifying
044their campuses and I think we're just so lucky. I don't think you guys got anything in return on all this work, right, for the grants and things like that. It's all going to our schools. Um, I'm I'm a huge advocate in outdoor learning. I'm a former second and first grade teacher and I took my kids out constantly and you couldn't compare classroom versus outdoor learning. So, um, huge, huge, remarkable benefits. I second what, uh, Trusty Hadad says that I would love to see this at all of our campuses. I mean, in our master plan, we're talking about beautifying some of our outdoor spaces, and what a great way to kind of merge the two um project ideas that we have here. So, thank you everyone. Thank you, Miss Garcia, and and uh staff here as
045well for partnering together on this. Thank you. Yeah. No, it's great. I was looking at the pictures and I know a lot of us were there when Sam Houston just amazing. It's the growth that it's done in over in a year is insane. And and shout out to Principal Low for and her community and the students because if you guys haven't been, you have to go. It is truly amazing. And seeing students who might not get a lot of time in spaces like that is really really awesome. So yeah, I I agree. President, I do have a question though on the asphalt removal. And Ruben, maybe you want to chime in. I'm not sure. But my question is and that's expensive to remove concrete asphalt or how is that is that budgeted in the removal?
046Are we going to do it? Reuben, it's budgeted as part of the project. Okay, great. I would like to just make another comment to the board and maybe we can talk about this um at a workshop or something, but I'd like to ensure that the project is going to be so well done with the landscape architects and everyone working behind it. I want to make sure that our district can protect the um the plan and the and the investment investment and all of those amazing things and making sure that we can continue the upkeep in a way that honors, you know, the gift that we've been given. So, making sure that we really understand the long term. Yeah, that's a really good point. I mean, we're being given this amazing asset for our children. So,
047make sure schools maintained their own too. Like they go in, they use them, they you know, I think Roosevelt just had uh for um Arbor Day or whatever it was, they had a a day where they asked everybody to come in, bring some shovels, bring some, you know, plants, wind chimes, whatever you've got. And so, um they do a great job of maintaining the spaces themselves. Well, it's part of the plan, right, that they kind of do part of the upkeep themselves. Uh, I'm talking about the schools. Yes. Yeah. There's I think I think that scope of work needs to be looked at closely. Um, and what they can handle on campus and and what the uh maintenance grounds crews need to address. Um, in terms of the ash fault is probably 150 or $200,000.
048So, if there were in-house opportunities, then that monies could be put uh back into the campuses to even do more amenities. Um, we do have it budgeted right now, but it can be used for other amenities um, if that were done another way. Just uh, food for thought. Great. Thank you. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Okay, that was for information purposes. Uh, moving on. 6C2 report regarding the extension of agreement number 2024254 city of Macau community development block grant funding for track lighting project at Dorththia Brown Middle School. Dr. Administration requested an extension to the agreement with the city of Macallen for the track lighting project at Dortha Brown Middle School. Mr. Ruben Trevenir, executive director for facilities uh is available to answer any
049questions if needed. Uh and this is for information purposes only. Okay. Board any that's okay. All right. Questions? No. All right. Moving on. Thank you. 6C3. Discussion and possible action of setting public meeting date for budget and vote on proposed tax rate. Dr. The education code section 44.004 requires a meeting notice for the budget and proposed tax rate for school district. Prior to the notice being published, the board of trustees must decide on the public meeting date and vote on a proposed tax rate that will be published in the notice of a public meeting to discuss budget and proposed tax rate. Administration is requesting action on this item and this is aligned with the June 24th budget uh meeting that we're going to have to for final approval. But prior to that date, we have
050to advertise 10 days before uh to give a public notice. And this is what this is about. So that date would be like tomorrow. Yes. Yes. It's it's already in the works. It's on the It's in the It's part of the plan. Yeah. Well, it's got to be 10 days before and then the day of the meeting. And the notice we're providing is just that we're going to have a a meeting about the tax rate or are we providing notice of what we think the tax rate is going to be? We're going to be the tax rate doesn't get approved until officially until what? September. September. We take it in September. It doesn't, but the notice does contain uh the proposed tax rate and it contains some financial information that are estimates. At this point,
051it's it's kind of a very wordy uh notice. And does the notice contain state required language that says it's a tax rate increase even if it's not? Yes, that's correct. And it we did uh our CFO, Mr. Orcia did meet with uh County today to work on the notice because they do help us prepare uh and uh there's a template that we utilize to analyze the data and and create the template. All right. Okay. Administration is requesting action on this. Second motion by trusteal, second by trustee Pñena. All in favor? All opposed. Motion passes 70. 6C4. Discussion and possible action of the disposal of out of adoption instructional materials. Dr. Vutz. Out of adoption instructional materials are recommended to be removed from all classrooms. Administration is recommending approval to dispose out of adoption instructional materials
052through recycling. Miss Angela Allen, director of student operations, is available to answer any questions and we are recommending action on this item. Move to approve. Second. I have a motion by Trusty Pñena, second by trust. All in favor? I. All oppose. Motion passes 70. All right. And 60. Board of trustee items 61. Approval of board of education meeting minutes. School safety and security committee meeting May 7th, 2025. Special board meeting May 13th 2025 5:00 p.m. Special board meeting May 13th 6 p.m. Board workshop May 19th 5:30 p.m. Board workshop May 22nd 5:30 p.m. Regular board meeting May 27th 5:30 p.m. Special board meeting May 28th 5:30 p.m. Administration is recommending action on this item. Move to approve. Oh, I did notice something. Uh uh on number nine, the nomination of officers, it says the motion
053was ba made by me and it was made by trustee Deagarzo, right? So can we that was the special board meeting on the 13th, right? At 5 p.m. 5 p.m. and item number five. Yes. Uh it's number nine. Number nine. Yes, we can approve with that. Okay. With that change? Yeah, I think that's all that I noticed. Does anyone else get that? M. You got it. Oh, yeah. That was a the May 13th at 5:00 PM. And the correction is that who made the motion? Yeah. Well, it says that the motion to nomination. Okay. No motion was made. I think I made the motion to seize. That is correct. And then trustee deaga seconded. Okay. Okay. So, we'll update that without correction. Okay. N Okay, then. Do we have to approve with those corrections? All
054right. Second. Motion to move to approve with those corrections by Trustee Regalado, second by Trustee Pñena. All in favor? I. All oppose. Motion passes seven. All right. Item number seven, recess to close session. Board of trustees may go into close session pursuant to section 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, 551.076, and 551.089 Texas Government Code. Discuss the following. 7 A human resource recommendations school year 2526. 7B discussion of human resource employee resignations and retirees for school year 2024 25. 7 C discussion on establishing consensus for communication standards and practices among among trustees and between superintendent and school board. 7D discussion on establishing policy and or operating procedures for district personnel management. and 7E, discussion regarding school safety and security. 7F, pending and potential litigation. 7G, possible real estate acquisition. At 618, we are in close session. All right.
055It is 8:43. We are back from close session. Okay. So item 9A, discussion and possible action of human resources recommendations for school year 202526. Dr. Human Resources submitted a list of recommendations for the 2526 school year under a separate cover for discussion during close session. We are recommending action on this item. Okay. Much approve. I have a motion by trustee, second by trustee dena. All in favor? I. All opposed. Motion passes 70. 9B. Discussion of human resources employee resignations of retirees for school year 2425. Human resources submitted a list of recommendations for the 24-25 school year under a separate cover for discussion during close session. Um we are recommending action on this item. So move second. Motion by trustee Pñena, second by Lopez. All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes 7. Okay. Item 9 C,
056discussion and possible action on establishing consensus for communication standards and practices amongst trunks trustees and between the superintendent and the school board. So we move to take no action. A second. Okay. I have a motion to take no action by trustee dea. Second by trustee pena. All those in favor? I. All oppose. Motion passes. Say 70 90. discussion and possible action on establishing policy and/or operating procedures for district personnel management. Move to take no action. Second. Second. Got a motion by trustee Lopez. A second by trustee KDman. Dr. Trusty KDman. Uh all those in favor signify by saying I. I. All opposed. Motion passes 70. Item 19. Discussion regarding school safety and security. Nothing to report. 9F pending and potential litigation. Nothing to report. 9G possible real estate acquisition. Same announcement. Thank you, sir. And
057item 10, adjournment. Second. All right. Uh Sophie Pñena, trustee motion. Second, trust Lopez. All in favor? I. All opposed. Motion passes 70. We are adjourned at 8:45. Thank you guys. Thank you.