001I like to call the order of the dealing with the ISD Board of Trustees meeting 6:00. >> [clears throat] >> Everybody's present except for Josh Mangan around here and he's coming. I guess invocation Dirk, you want to lead us? Okay. >> Dear Lord, thank you for this day, for your blessings, Lord. Thank you for this time we can gather here tonight. We thank you, Lord, for the new school year that's just got kicked off here this second semester. We pray just a blessing and and guidance for for all of DSD DISD members, students, faculty, community, everyone, Lord. We pray for for your guidance. We ask for God those that are that they have needs tonight, physical, financial, emotional, whatever the needs may be, Lord, we pray that you would just meet the the individuals where
002they're at tonight and be that that comfort, that peace that that meet them where they're at in their life tonight. We ask that you would guide us through this agenda, through every decision we have to make. We pray for your divine wisdom and guidance throughout. We we trust and believe in you. Not our will will, but yours be done, Lord. In your name we pray. Amen. >> Please rise and we'll do 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. >> At your places you'll notice that you have a little goody boxes and uh community matters, which is really, really, really nice. And there's a beautiful gift bag, but now
003you may open it. And this is from you from the staff from community matters and the high school was responsible for putting it all together, but all the all the faculties participated in it and I was asked to remind you not to be very careful not to throw everything away that looks like trash because there's there's a gift certificate in it somewhere. So, uh in one of the envelopes, there's a gift certificate. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> And before we before we forget it and everybody gets gone, let's do take the picture. Do you take a picture, Lisa? >> Thank >> Yeah, do you have a cell phone or camera? You'll type. I promised Don Aubrey that we would do it if we were ever all here at the same
004time. >> [clears throat] >> Do we need to do it? >> I want you around it. >> Do we do the action shot or the serious one? >> I think we're all closer together. I'm probably not the best one to You might take two or three just >> I will. Just because Tara and I didn't want to have our eyes closed. Smile. Smile again. One more. Okay. Thank you, Eva. >> Josh, are you here for citizen participation or are you just >> I would like to speak here at some point, yeah. >> I brought up something >> I guess you got the floor. >> Okay, right now. Go ahead. Okay. All right. Uh my deal is pretty simple, I think. Uh it's just a little safety. I was asked uh or I had I've been
005talking talked to several people about it about getting a trained uh peace officer or retired police officer up at the school, you know, even just having one up there for each campus. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> I spoke with several >> [snorts] >> teachers and administrators. Everybody seemed like they were really gung-ho for it, you know. I know you got to find the money and stuff, but in these day and times, >> [snorts] >> I think it's pretty necessary. And if you don't have listen to any of the stuff or uh transcripts or anything like that that's coming out about the tragedy in Uvalde, you know, I mean, it's just gut-wrenching and uh I think I know we have a guardian deal going, and that's great, but if we had someone up there that
006was trained uh And it may [snorts] be not even a long term plan as far as the personal problem about it. And I I had to wait till after the first of the year to come bring it up to y'all because uh it's Brad Couch. I mean, he's a state trooper or one of our local state troopers here. He uh is kind of looking at retirement. Uh It would be facilitated a lot quicker, I think, if he was able to find employment at and he didn't want to work for the sheriff department and uh me and him both discussed it with uh each other and have reached out to retired police officers who are working through districts. And yes, what he would like to do is work through BISD, and he has all the qualifications
007uh to do the open carry and to uh you know, even basically be, in my opinion, like the lead guardian and uh threat assessment guy, you know, of all three uh uh campuses. Um I know he's trained and all that as far as uh going in and doing the drills in schools, you know? And uh I I I up-to-date on all that. I know he's, you know, matter-of-fact. And what brought it about more is we don't have a police department here any longer. We just have a county, which is, you know, what it is. But if, you know, you only have one deputy on duty, and he is in uh south uh east Comanche County, and he gets called in for something, he's going to have it's going to be 20, 30 minutes where he's
008even in the area to respond to something, you know? And I know in the past, it would rather even be in here around here working, they they called the sheriff department, and they actually called him and said, "Hey, we know your kid goes to school over there, your kid your kid's in the program or anything. Can you get over there?" And he said, "Yes." He'd go over here, and it was, you know, all it was was a parent threatened on the phone or being unruly or something like that, but he would be here. He, you know, he would show up. And when that when that parent arrived, everything kind of calmed down after that, you know? And I just think it'd be very important that we have that. And uh I I I I don't
009I can't think of anybody else that would do a greater job far as, you know, he does have kids here. Uh one that has just gotten [snorts] out of elementary. He has one in, you know, so he has They're in middle school and high school. But, you know, I talked with him at length about it, you know, because it's something I feel passionate about. And I I you know, and I was just kind of bringing it up to him, and he was like, "Man, I'll do that in a heartbeat if it all worked out everything." And he said, he he's going on 26 He's going on 26 years with the state troopers right now. And so, you know, that's why I asked before I come up here if I could use his name, say his
010name, and stuff, because I didn't want any any backlash or anything like that. He said, "No, and everything was good there." You know, he would he would be honored to be able to come up here and and do that. He would have been here tonight, but his just had a game out of town. And so, that's where he's at, but uh I told him I just feel more comfortable about having someone up here like that. And whether it's Tim or someone else, but I mean I I just can't think of anybody else that would make a bigger impression and uh and ability. And I I don't think he would ever run away from anything. I think he would lean into it. And I think this threat assessment alone would go a long ways. And if
011he could work for DISD, you know what I mean? And uh You know, everything's filmed now. Everything's on video and all that. It's all the witness statements. All that's already there, you know, you have little paperwork, but I mean you know, all that would be taken care of and and it'd be taken care of by a professional, you know? And I know we have teachers or guardians and and whatnot and coaches or whatever, but you know, I I would I [snorts] I think, you know, if you're in a if you're in a something were to happen, tragically happen, then you're you're in a You got that only you want three or four or do you want 10? You know what I mean? Do you want Do you want a fifth or sixth person? And especially
012someone that is as trained as he is. And I just think it would be a blessing to have him. And I mean, he goes to most everything already anyway, you know? But that's all I had to say about that. I just wanted to bring it up. I think it's very important. And especially now that we don't even have a police department in here that And he And I'll just say it. I mean, the police that we have here is what what they are. I mean, they're a local town police, but he is well well over qualified more than they were to respond to anything like that. And you know, I just I would feel more comfortable having someone like that up there. And I just that's all I wanted to come up and bring it
013up. And I just hope y'all can find it in the budget somewhere. I was I kind of looked into it. There's supposed to be money coming out for school safety and and whatnot. I don't know if that's any I mean, that's, you know, for Miss Barbara to look into and figure out everything. Yeah. Well, you know, I mean, you're a professional on that. I'm just a guy over here sitting here hoping that we can get something done and and, you know, >> Well, I would be I think the board is glad to hear this, but it's not on the agenda tonight, so I'll make sure it's on the agenda so they can discuss it at the next board meeting. >> Okay, that'd be great. I mean, maybe he'd be able to >> I'll put it
014on the I'll put it on the agenda. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, thank you, ma'am. >> All right. >> Thank you. Thank you, too. >> And I'll be and I'll be looking at budgets. >> Yeah, I know. >> We've already done two board presentations, so >> Correct. Uh previous minutes, did anybody see any mistakes? I didn't, but >> I typed it. >> When I read over it, I I can scan over mistakes, too. >> My name was spelled wrong somewhere there. >> I typed it wrong. >> I did it on this time. I did it on this time. I'm sorry. >> It was just once. >> Just one time, though. >> Uh >> [clears throat] [cough] >> You coming? Review of the budget. >> We're doing really, really well and we're staying in line with
015the timeline that we're that we're supposed to be. Call your attention to the fact that this past since the board last board meeting, we've collected $857,342.28 in taxes. Um that we budgeted to receive 2,877,895, [clears throat] so almost a third of our of our taxes have already been paid. I I don't think we've ever talked about it in that term before, but I just happened to think about it and I thought, you know, that's really, really good because that's how December looks on the first. So, um we'll get you here in a couple more minutes. >> Well, they'll be late the next time we discuss this. >> Well, hopefully they'll all So, people pay their taxes in January, though. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think in January they'll be okay, but I don't know how that
016works. If you There's programs for certain people over certain ages and that may be kind of in the fourths or maybe it's only half. >> Some's fourth, some's half. >> Some's half, yeah, they're >> It depends on how you do it. >> So, they may they may not be too late, but >> Okay. Uh looking for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Terrell, second by Josh to approve the consent agenda. All in favor? Carried 6 to 0. Uh I'm going to jump to Kevin. >> You know, Kevin and >> I'm going to let Kevin go first, that way he can >> Okay, then we'll get Vicky. >> And then get Vicky. >> Okay. >> And that way they can If they want to stay,
017they're more than entitled Welcome to the meeting. >> Abilene. >> [laughter] >> As they want. But Kevin, I'll [clears throat] let you have the floor. >> Thank you. Good evening. I'm Kevin Randolph. I'm with Whitley My firm did the district's financial statement audit for fiscal year ended August 31st, 2025. I believe you have a copy of my presentation in front of you. I'm going to I'm going to go through that briefly. I'd be glad to answer any questions thereafter. >> There There's at least one over there on the table that's been passed around. >> If we go to the second page, labeled auditor's opinion. So, the purpose of an audit is for us to give our opinion on the financial statements. A lot of wording in there. I'd like to boil it down. We issue
018what we call an unmodified audit opinion this year. It's the same opinion we've given several years. It's a clean opinion. It means that we found that the district's financial statements were consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. We had no issues or findings. So, a good clean audit this year. I'd like to point out that management of the district is responsible for the financial statements, not the auditor. >> [clears throat] >> The auditor's responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements that they're they're free from any material errors. So, we give again an unmodified clean opinion. I'm going to go to the next page. This is a statement of net position or balance sheet, assets, liabilities, and equity. And again, this is as of August 31st, 2025. This is a more comprehensive view of
019the district's financial statements. So, it's going to include long-term assets, such as capital assets, which is land, buildings, and equipment. It's going to include long-term liabilities, such as bonds payable. And the district does have a a net pension liability and a net OPEB liability for TRS post-retirement So, if you look at assets, total assets were approximately 28.4 million. 15.2 million of that is the land, buildings, and equipment. So, that's a big chunk of the assets. Liabilities were 11.6 million, and 6.7 million of that was the pension and post-retirement health care liabilities. Now, that 6.7 million liability is not a liability you actually pay. It's TRS hires an actuary each year, and they value the plan statewide. And that's just your employees right now if they work until retirement, what they would get paid over their
020retirement. That's not what you actually pay each each month. You have a payroll and your employees have however many dollars they're subject to TRS withholdings. TRS gives you a withholding percentage. You take the pay times the percentage, [clears throat] that's what you send in each month. And the district also has $440,000 in a bond payable that will be paid off this year. And your bond will be paid off. I'm going to go to the next page. This is the balance sheet for the governmental funds. This is probably a little more useful. Now, this excludes long-term items such as capital assets and things like bonds payable and the pension liability. Governmental funds, this is going to be general fund, debt service fund, and then all the various grant funds the district has. Total assets as of
021August 31st was $9,994,096. Cash and investments was $9.5 million of that. So, most of the assets are held in cash and investments. Receivables was $373,000. Property taxes that haven't been paid and there's some grant funding that hasn't been paid yet. So, that's just [clears throat] waiting to turn into cash. Other assets of $170,000, that's what we call due from due to the the various funds in the districts will borrow and loan money to each other. So, it's like an internal due to due from >> [clears throat] >> among the various funds of the district. Total liabilities $2,073,223. That's made up of several buckets. Accounts payable is just money due to vendors for things you bought that just haven't had a check run yet to pay for. That was $78,000. Accrued wages and payroll withholdings, that's
022pay that employees have earned, but the the payday hasn't hit yet, so you haven't paid that cash out yet. That was $447,000. Other liabilities are $1.4 million. The biggest piece of that is a $1.1 million liability due to state. That's for the state foundation overpayments during the year. So, that money in essence is owed back to the state for foundation overpayments, and that'll be deducted from payments in this year. Deferred inflows of resources are $138,000. That's your net property tax revenue. The way we do property taxes that have been paid under the government accounting method, shows up as a liability until you get paid. But, as you get paid, the liability goes away, >> [clears throat] >> and it becomes cash. The net assets and liabilities are the Fund balance overall was $7,920,000. Not $7,920,873.
023Last year it was $1.8.1 million, excuse me. So, it went down about $200,000 from the year. Now, the next slide, that breaks down the fund balance a little more. And again, total fund balance was $7.9 million. There's four buckets that we put that fund balance in. First is called restricted, and it's $104,942. That is your debt service fund balance. That is tax collections that are restricted to future debt service payments for your bonds. That's legally restricted. It can only be used to pay off your bonds. Can't be used for anything else. So, we have to show it as a restricted fund balance. It's not available for use other than bonds. The next two are called committed and assigned. Those are fund balances that the district has set aside at its discretion. It's not legally binding.
024It's district policy, district decision. We set that aside. Committed fund balance is $37,189. That's the campus activity funds for the various campuses. Assigned is $2,856. That's for the SHAC fund. Biggest piece is unassigned fund balance, which is held entirely in general fund. This This was $7,775,886. Last year it was 7.67 million dollars. So it went up a little bit from last year. Pretty flat overall. Go to the next page. That's revenue. Revenue this year was $13,516,000. Last year it was $14,181,000. So it went down a little. Revenue's broken up into three buckets. Local, state, federal. Local was $4.6 million. That's primarily going to be property tax collections and the interest income. There's a few other little miscellaneous things in there, but the the bulk of that's property tax and interest income. State revenue was just
025under $6.5 million. That's going to be your foundation revenue. It's based on AEA, so it's primarily attendance based. >> [clears throat] >> Federal revenue was $2.4 million. That's just the various federal programs the district participates in. There's three big ones. There's special education, title one, and child nutrition. Of course, the district's the fiscal agent for special ed operation co-op, so that's the bulk of the of the federal revenues for that co-op. Next slide is expenditures. Expenditures this year were $13.7 million. Last year they were actually $12.5 million. That's almost a $6 million increase. That's kind of skewed if you look at the debt service line. This year your debt service is $448,000. Last year it was $5.4 million. The reason it was so large last year was you paid off your QSCB bond. So that
026was a about a little over $5 million bond that you paid off last year. So that's completely wiped out last year, so it didn't repeat in this year. And like I mentioned before, you've got $440,000 left on your bond that will be paid off I think in a few weeks, and then that'll [snorts] be zero down. Otherwise, expenditures were were fairly flat. Instruction went up a little bit. Next slide. That's it for the financial statement audit. Since the district spends more than $750,000 in federal funding, we have to do another audit. It's called a grant compliance audit, or it's also called a single audit. And what that is is we we look at your grant compliance, and there's ways when you get federal grants, there's things you can spend money on and things you can't
027spend money on, and you have to have policies and procedures over how you spend that federal money. So, we look at both the policies and procedures and the actual dollars to make sure you're spending it in accordance with the the grants' legal requirements. We don't look at every program. We have a risk-based approach. We take a sample of programs each year. Here, your special education, it's usually around 70% of your federal grant, so we tend to look at it most of the bulk of the dollars. Special education is a higher-risk program, so we tend to look at that a lot of years. And this year, that's what we looked at. So, we looked at your internal controls, your policies around how you spend your spend money. Then, we look at a sample of actual transactions
028and make sure that everything was in accordance. And like the financial statement audit, we had an unmodified opinion on the compliance, meaning we had no issues or findings with the grant compliance audit, so that was clean as well. And that's all I have. I'd be glad to take any questions. I did just want to thank you for the opportunity to work with the district again. I enjoyed working with y'all. I'd like to commend Ally. I've been working with Ally a few years now, and I'm really seeing her grow into her role each year. I think she does a really good job, she's just she grows every year, and she's turning into a really good business manager, so I'm glad y'all have her here. I always like to point out Mr. Thompson. I think he's a
029great resource for the district. I work with a lot of smaller districts, and not everyone has a Mr. Thompson. And I think you definitely benefited from his expertise and experience. That that's really hard to find, and it's harder for small schools, so I think having him on your team is a really good decision. That's all I have. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I appreciate it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Uh I guess we're going to jump to 8.2. >> Excuse me. >> No. >> 8.2 Uh Consideration for the independent audit. >> I'll make a motion to approve 8.2. >> I'll second. >> Motion by him, Jody. Seconded by Karen. To approve the independent audit for 2024-2025 school year. All four. Uh passed seven or six to zero. Okay. >> I'm going to keep
030one. He's going to take one with him. >> We have to have that to file the TEA. >> I understand. >> [snorts] [snorts] >> What? >> I've taken care of it. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> It's taken care of. >> You don't need to You don't need to check approve. >> I did it on one. >> He did. >> Oh, okay. >> I did it on one. >> Okay. >> Mr. Miller did. >> Thank you all very Thank you. >> Thank you. I apologize. >> No, you're fine. >> You were before him on the agenda after him on my little notes. >> Thank you for letting us us come. I'm Mickey Hayes with Region 14. Um and I brought Amelia Reed from the Workforce Solutions. She also works with us on the ARPA
031grant. So, what I'm supposed to do is report to the board twice twice a year on the progress of the ARPA grant that De Leon is participating in. Um this is the Comanche County Rural Collaborative that has been created between De Leon and Gustine to be able to offer programs um to students that maybe one of the districts is not offering but the other one is. So, um this is a way that the state it's a new initiative. It's been in place for about >> Is it 5 years? >> 5 years. They started it in the South Texas area and now we have there's 10 ARPA grants across the state and we're one of them. Um this is an initiative that the state legislation this year um upped it to uh $20 million for this
032funding source. It was $5 million now it's up to $20 million. So, they do see this as an opportunity for small rural districts to be able to work together and um to be able to to grow and give students opportunities. So, this is just going to tell us what has happened so far uh within this collaborative. You'll notice at the top we also branded the uh CCRC. So, this is our brand at the top which represents uh De Leon and uh Gustine, and then we we call the programs academy. So, we have a future med acad- academy and then a future tech academy. We have a an advisory board, and so you'll see in the list of the advisory board, we have three rep- representatives from each school district, and then we also have a
033representative from Ranger College, and then one from Texas State Technical College, and then we have Dr. Reese from the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas. Um before I go further than that, the ESC is acting as the coordinating entity for the ARPA. Uh so, that we we do the oversight for the for the ARPA. Um the academy pathways that were chosen was nursing science, which is housed here at De Leon, and then programming and software development, which is housed at Gustine ISD. And you'll see the list of courses that have been designated within those academies. Uh student enrollment, our first semester, so in our future med academy De Leon, um they had 91 enrolled and 79 completed the semester. So, this is not something where students, if they enroll in it, um they're stuck. There
034there's lots of flexibility with this. It just gives them the opportunity to be able to um try it. If it's not something that fits well with them, then then they can move out of it as well. So, Gustine had uh nine enrolled, and then they had three complete uh the semester. In the future tech academy, and I have a marker here, should have been 18 enrolled and then 18 completed uh for De Leon, and then Gustine had 18 enrolled, and 18 completed. On the backside, you're going to see student enrollment for second semester. So, starting this semester, we have 65 students enrolled from De Leon for the Future Med Academy, and eight enrolled from Gustine. And then, the Future Tech Academy, uh we had uh 18 enrolled from De Leon, and 18 from Gustine. So,
035what's nice about this um I don't know how much Superintendent Arredondo has shared about on the funding side of things uh for this is it's not um apples to apples, okay? So, it's okay um the numbers the the district is funded by the number of students from their district that's in these programs. So, it's it's okay if we have if De Leon has 70-some students, and Gustine has two, because that funding goes directly back to the district under the ARPA umbrella. So, that's one of the differences between um a district being able like sharing programs, and they're trying to decide how much are we going to charge, and you know, and and a lot of times they'll say, "Well, we'll send 10 students if you have 10 students." ARPA doesn't work that way. This uh
036the funding is an extra incentive allotment that is designated for the ARPA. So, it's a funding on top of your CTE funding already. They did the board did set goals um to be um met by 2027-2028. So, you'll see where they have 80% of students in shared pathways earning an IBC, and completing a dual credit course. Um they support 70% of graduates in post-secondary education, training, or career placements. Provide 100% of students with advising and career support. And engage all K-12 students annually in career exploration. And then ensure 75% of juniors and seniors participate in work-based learning. So, those were the goals that have been set by the board, by the advisory board. And uh we'll have measurements and when I come back in June, uh then I'll have those metrics that I can share
037with you as well. Um we also broke it up into strategies. So, we took the goals and what we're working around is alignment of systems because we [clears throat] do have to align um you know, with the districts everything so that this will work and then effective advising is the other one. So, our next steps right now is an application amendment. So, um as we got into this, Gus Dean and Delion had a discussion in the board advisory board had a discussion about the programming and software development. We felt like that was too narrow as a pathway um for our students based on the job opportunities that are within this area. So, it was uh decided to we're going to change from that program to information technology technology support and services. So, those that will
038begin in 2026-2027 and we'll still be able to collect funding for the previous program that we'll be able to move into the new one in the next year. So, we're hoping with making that change with that, it's going to broaden the uh opportunities for students within that area. And then eventually we're hoping to add cyber security to it and add some other programs to it as well. Uh right now we're working on recruitment for these programs. So, both districts are working with family nights and spring spring student registration, and then also some tours for the students for Gustine students to come over to see the the health science program over here, and then for the De Leon students to go and see Gustine and see where the um or things like that. The information technology
039is basically virtual. I mean, all of the program is. But, there are going to be opportunities that where students can engage with each other eventually. [clears throat] So, we're in the planning year of this program. So, everything right now is being built. So, we have operation manuals that are being built. We have marketing pieces that are being built. So, all of those pieces are being built by the coordinating entity right now with some help. So. Uh Yeah. So, that's that's where we're at right now. Does anybody have any questions? >> Oh, Carol's on this board. >> Yeah, Carol is. >> Yes, I missed the last meeting. I'm sorry. >> Oh, that's okay. That's all right. Well, we have one coming up. Yeah, we meet four advisory board meets at least four times a year. So,
040and we'll the next meeting that we're having is really around the financial side of everything, and so we'll be spending time around that. But, >> I think it's a win-win for our kids. I think it is, too. >> I think it is, too. I really like the structure of this program because it it really is an incentive funding, and it's um allows districts to do something that's hard to do Um because of funding a lot of times whenever you're trying to share. And we can and what we hope to do too is be able to bring other districts into this as well. So because they have programs that they can offer that Dilley on doesn't have or Jourdanton doesn't have too, so. So we're in that process as well. Okay. All right. >> I guess
041we'll go and jump back to campus reports. >> I'm going to put I'm going to put the couch on the floor. >> Athletics is going good. We're full swing in basketball. Obviously your school basketball is up and running. They have about 3 weeks left. Doing a good job. Both groups. Big numbers on the boys side. We have three teams and have moved a couple of our seventh graders up and playing with the eighth grade to make sure we have three teams and keep those guys from having to play with five guys. It's been good but I think it's really good from the standpoint of lots of guys are getting a lot of you know opportunity to play and continue to play and develop with that seventh grade group being so big. We're able to space
042some of the kids out and get everyone games. I know our girls group I just up there for a little bit watching that game. They're doing a great job seventh and eighth grade. High school teams are chugging along. They're struggling a little bit but our JV's been doing a good job I think. The high school boys and our varsity has struggled some. Um >> [snorts] >> Obviously, right now, we're just way behind on the fundamentals for basketball. And so, obviously, that's going to be our big point of emphasis going forward when we get to the off-season in the summer. We've got to get a basketball in our hands more cuz we're just >> [snorts] >> we're not not where we need to be basketball-wise. And it's nobody's fault. We're just you can tell we're just
043way behind fundamentally. >> [snorts] >> We've got to improve there. Um powerlifting kicks off the season this week. So, we got some powerlifters going over to Highco on the 22nd. And then, off-season's been in full swing since really the 1st of December. And then, it's going really good. And um have our kids doing weekly weigh-ins, weekly flying 10 times, weekly vertical jump testing, booster club. They will get us some some lasers for timing and a jump pad for vertical jump testing. And so, we've been able to do that. And we got us a weight scale and weigh them weigh them in every week and trying to see their progress with weight. And I know our our boys have taken a huge ton of pride in that. And I know Mr. Miller asked Chris the other
044day, "Why are all the boys carrying around gallon jugs with them and snacking between classes?" So, they did I mean, they bought into it though, and they're buying into it. And all the kids are carrying around a gallon jug. And that's a challenge from the time they leave morning weights third period they get back to have that gallon jug of water uh drink. And so, just trying to really focus on nutrition and stuff. Um put calories in the back into their body and staying well hydrated. And they've been doing that. And I've seen this group already in just about this month and a half of off-season really start to come together, which was, you know, one of our big main key focuses that we wanted to see with this off-season. That's what we kind of
045struggled with um my first few months here. And that kept us from, you know, going further in football and didn't keep us going further in, you know, our other sports as well. And so, that's one thing we've been trying to build the more camaraderie and leadership on the boys' side. Um, we've really seen that take off, and they're buying into that. And then, the girls' side, um, continuing, you know, obviously a work in progress still. And so, I went and spent a lot of time with the girls' athletics in the mornings, um, asking them to meet some of them and watching them in the girls' room there with weights and stuff, and um, they've been doing a great job with the weight room with the middle school group under their belt. And so, they're they're
046young, though. Um, but now it's just trying to keep our high schoolers with it. And cuz it looks like the trend we've been taking I've kind of noticed, um, after kind of being able to kind of sit back and watch for a while now, is seems like we keep getting the varsity sports wanting to play freshman and sophomores every year. We play as freshman and sophomores, and our girls are quitting as juniors and seniors. They're getting frustrated with losing, and they just don't want to be a part of it anymore, which then ultimately now the next season, our varsity team is a bunch of freshman and sophomores again. We don't get out of JV, and the next year, freshman and sophomores playing varsity again. And they're having to play varsity when they're not ready to
047play varsity, which is putting them in uncomfortable situations, and um, you know, just in situations they're not ready for. And so, they can play JV for two years and be successful, find a role, and find confidence in themselves. And so, that's kind of a big thing I had a thought with all of those athletics, um, about a week ago, um, with the middle school, you know, we're proud of them. We're we've seen the growth in volleyball from the start to end. We've seen the growth from the first basketball game to where they are now. And I mean, it's it's not big, but it's just if they can just stay with it for two more years, you know, I just asked them that, you know, when you're 25 years old, look back and think about all
048the hard times y'all went through as high school girls in athletics. And y'all went all your younger siblings with all the little girls in junior high on their third, fourth, fifth grade, y'all want them to feel that same misery y'all felt and seeing as where y'all just walk off the court so defeated, do y'all want them to feel that same way? And then you know, y'all have a chance to change that. Stay with it. But I do think success is coming. But obviously if they can stay with it and keep our numbers, you know, to where we'll add great numbers from the junior high classes and the JV teams going. And you know, I also explained to them about districts and how our districts that we play in right now are cuz I don't think
049they understand that that the district we play in for basketball, boys and girls, is one of the best 2A districts in the state of Texas for both sides. And that's something that I don't think they realize, but I mean we have four schools on the girls' side that don't play volleyball. We're literally just adding volleyball within the last year or two. Three schools on the boys' side that don't play football. And that's all they do. [snorts] And it's just dribble the ball year round. And so obviously they're coming to middle school way ahead of us in that aspect. So obviously that's coming soon and hopefully we'll get some, you know, some luck on our side at least for our volleyball and basketball. And then we'll lose Hamilton, which is another really great girls' program. They're
050going 3A. And I know Grapevine dropped back down to 1A. So we know we at least lost two programs that are in our districts now that have been, you know, very successful in basketball and volleyball and cross country. So still, you know, obviously work in progress, but just any encouragement we can put out there to the community and these parents, just tell them to stay with it. And so I've had a couple meetings with some girls' athletes' parents and just told them the same thing. Just any way y'all can help as parents just to keep their kids >> [snorts] >> you know, it's hard. And I've been getting to the point where you've heard it around the school the past few weeks of girls saying they don't want to play anymore and they're ready to
051be done, they're not playing athletics next year. So, we're trying to find any positives we can as a coaching staff. We talk about it, we try to highlight girls every week as much as we can and on social media and stuff and just get them to realize that if they just stick with it two more years that, you know, luck of the draw of districts and then honestly volleyball we lose one girl, basketball we lose one girl. You know, our our teams are young but our teams are also young as our girls are waiting as juniors and seniors and all staying with it. I hope it creates [snorts] a program and I think all it takes is a year or two of that and then we'll see the benefits in the long run and get
052it stabilized where then now it's just continues on an uphill or stays on an uphill trend but right now I think we're just trying to get to the top of the hill and it's a struggle right now with just our numbers of girls who quit and not staying with it. So, tough spot success and track and we make them run track. So, um but it's been great [snorts] so far up to this point. All the kids are excited and looking forward to the next day every day of athletics and seeing numbers continue to grow as far as just volunteer workouts and kids joining weights when they don't even have to be there and are coming anyway. They say, "We want to lift again even though we're playing a basketball game." They're like, "Coach, we want
053to be here. We want to lift more." And you know, we put them on a different system of taking care of all this stuff like that but I mean it's just they're bought in and they're all so >> How's that weight room looking? >> It's been awesome. It's been awesome. I think that's been a key part too. Um obviously it helps us you know, get all the kids and we've got it down where we're able to start lifting at 6:30 and we're done by 7:15 and that's three main tier lifts and another four auxiliary lifts so we're getting a really really good workout in to do it minutes of crisp 45 minutes or get through it by 7:15 and then we'll go. Probably go to the highway 6 and get breakfast and then still go
054to the twirls at 7:30 and have grades. Um on the girl's side, I think we had one or zero a semester that were still on the failure report. And then boy's side, we were down to two kids on the failure report. And so that was we probably had five boys that had been on it every single time this year that got off of it that semester, which typically goes the other direction when football ends and we really get a lot of those that have been on it all year back off. So. Getting any hard on that? >> [clears throat] >> When do the district realignments come out? Is that March? >> Um February 2nd. So I'm not being That'll be the first. That's That's football, cross country, and volleyball, I guess. I think it comes
055out February 2nd. And then about a month later is when they'll release I guess basketball comes out at that time, too. And then I think later they'll release spring districts. In March is when like baseball and track and softball come out. So. >> I just wish they'd let us play the same people all of the time. >> So I don't know if that'd be so nice cuz same district all the way. >> Yeah, same district. Oh, I know. >> There's rivalries and places you used to be there. And you used to be real close. >> It's so crazy. You You never know who your district chair is or >> No, it's something different for every sport. >> Crazy. >> Baseball and softball is up around 2 for them. They just started practicing. Coach Nessel said
056this is by far the most kids he's had come out since he's been here. And >> [snorts] >> the number of baseball are way up in softball. Um we should be able to have a small JV schedule this year. But we're going to be right at 18-ish girls. But there'll be some of them that can play you know a few games of JV so that the younger girls still go and get a couple games of JV and they'll get at least get a small sample of a JV schedule where they'll get >> [snorts] >> like a eight-game schedule or so with JV. I'll say six >> We're getting there. >> Slowly but surely. >> Right. >> Good. Good. >> Are you good? >> Thank you, sir. >> You're good. >> Yep. >> Well, everything's going
057well. It It really is. Um Our Our enrollment continues to decrease. People I I I have just taken kids out to home school. And our freshman class has been hit pretty hard uh this year. We've had uh I think we've lost 15 freshmen since school started. 15 from the high school. Maybe Maybe they weren't all freshmen. But anyway, uh I saw one of them at the ball game. They They continued to come to all the events. I saw one on Friday night at the ball game. I walked behind him and I said, "Come back to school." And he said, "Why? I'm having fun where I am." And I said, "I need you. I I need you here." He said, "Why do you need me?" And I said, "Well, it makes us more complete. You're very
058very smart. I'd like to have your grades averaged in with all the others. And I said, "And by the way, that's how we get funded." I just thought, you know, they all need to know. This is This is This is how we get funded. Uh Now, they think that we'll be sitting here getting not funded, but when they want us again, they can just pop back in. And And we will. That you mean we will take them. But people need to understand that I I've tried to preach as it in as many locations as I can about it. We need them here now, not take a semester off or take two semesters off and then come back and say, "Well, I've I've been home schooled and I'm ready to go." But, they don't bring any
059proof of home schooling. We had one come back and and the mother did a little transcript and it was every all 100s and everything. When the child left, they were failing a couple of classes. But, when they came back, they were making 100s in those classes. Well, um it does it doesn't seem possible, but maybe she's a better teacher than I think. But, but anyway, well, we we do take them and we do [snorts] remediate where we can and and get them caught up as much as we can, but it is very difficult. It's hard on our teachers. It's hard on the other students because sometimes you have to slow down if you're trying to get someone up. But, anyway, we continue to to work on it and do it on a personal call and
060then begging them to come back to school. So, hopefully they'll all come to their senses and decide they're tired of playing video games and they'll all come back. They They don't all go to video games. Some of them are a legitimate home school. I know they are. But, some of them are not. >> And that's most of the attrition is it's home school. >> Almost almost 100% of it is is people saying they're going to home school their children. >> I just think when our P-Tech program really gets up and rolling, I mean that that it's such an incredible program. I just think that would really draw people in. Like literally pull them off of other schools that they're at to come over and participate in that program because you just can't beat it. And
061so, is is that kind of >> We had a good turnout at the eighth grade meeting and with a lot of interest to from students last week week before. Last week. >> I just spoke >> Yeah. Uh, yeah, 15th, I think. And It was a It was a very good turnout. Eighth grade parents and and interest in it. So, we we pumped up all of them, the P-TECH, the R-TECH, what we've got with the construction program at Gorman, and we talked about all the different programs. Yeah. What Joshua said. >> There is a national narrative out there that state-funded schools are terrible and you should get your kids out of there as fast as you can. >> [clears throat] >> Um I obviously don't believe that. I'm in rural Texas for the most part, anyway.
062It's still out there. >> It is. Some people other day said to me, you know, what I thought vouchers were going to do to us because, of course, vouchers don't go to the effective the school. And I said, You know, I I I had worried so much about vouchers, but vouchers seem distant to me right now because this home-school phase is just it it started with a couple of kids saying and they talked talked their parents into it and in their little friend group, now it has grown tremendously. And our freshman class is really balanced, especially boys. It's just And then And these are not kids that aren't being successful in school. These are kids that are being successful in school. They are very capable. And the truth of the matter is, I didn't need
063that kid's scores because he would probably be exemplary to me if any scoring is on on the report because he's very, very bright. Um But I do come distances. Next time he comes to a game, I'll catch you again. But I just think we we have to continue to to open our arms and say please come back. If this facility have done this the next Everything everything's in good working order right now. We're >> [snorts] >> mostly doing maintenance maintenance things. Of course this woman has some walls that she needs torn out and replaced and whatever because what what she sees coming for next year. So she's already been talking to David about that. But but things are really really in good shape. But it requires constant maintenance. everywhere. We have a good crew right
064now. We really do. >> [snorts] >> Did you add somebody? Pardon? Did you add somebody in? Yes. Mr. Burkeen, Brandon. Brandon. Yes. And he came with a CDL but not a bus driving CDL but he's already studying for it and so that will be a real plus to have another CDL. >> [snorts] >> I guess we're two 7.5 of Joe Trillo's budget. Uh team of eight study. >> I gave that out to you all last week. This this is more for you to go through on your own to look at to review on yourself to to think about. It's not a thing that that we keep a record of or or anything. It's just one of those things that that we're required to do every year for you to think through what you're supposed to
065be doing and what you whether you think doing it well, or not. >> Just remember, sorry, we're supposed to be calling you Mr. President. I learned that on the >> [laughter] >> Let's not worry about that. We'll call it We'll call it good. Yes, I did hear that I tried to >> [laughter] >> I'm supposed to call you board member Morris. >> [laughter] >> Uh I guess we we want to discuss the team eight study, or >> I didn't have anything in particular on it. I always read through that, and >> I mean, to me to me we work real good as board. We work good together. Yeah. There's anything I think incorrect, please >> [snorts] >> say but I try to let everybody have a voice, and I mean try not to shut people
066down. >> It is good to see you. >> It is It is. >> It's also not like we have a board filled with issues. >> Yes. I think that that's the main thing is the self reflection on that. Just so that you can you can do it. We all do it, okay? Cuz it is a team action. It is. I've been through it, too. So >> Okay. Uh let's jump to 7.6. >> This is This is the from the service center. Uh there's a vacancy for on the board of directors of the service center for Comanche County. And so, our we're part of that group. Stephen Easley, one Comanche is one person. Right now uh uh it's vacant. And so if you're interested or know someone who might be interested, they have to apply at
067the service center through the service center. You know, we It is posted on our board outside. So, we did post it for them that we received this and he asked that I share it with you all and to share it with the the community. So, we have done that. >> [snorts] >> Uh okay. 7.7 is training opportunities. >> Uh several of you completed the one we had last week. Uh-huh. And and that's still I I think you can still access the recording. Uh and and so if I find those, especially when they're free like that online, I'll send them out to you and and we'll get as much training as we can. I I really like being able to have it recorded so that I get interrupted, I can go back and catch up and
068listen. Well, actually I went on and got on and was sitting and listening and it just went away. I mean, it just bumped me right off. So, >> Well, it was she she had trouble starting. She had trouble starting. It didn't start till 10:00 7:12. >> But Betty, it was about 5 minutes into it and it just went away. >> Yeah. Well, mine said the waiting room was full. Plugged in air PC in and kept going what I was doing and she kind of scared me when she started talking. >> Anyway, I will I will keep watching for those and get them out to you and and get them the recording as quick as I can. >> I I was going to say that it wasn't one of the best ones I've seen, but I
069think I'm getting an argument here. That's good. kept me >> Okay, I guess we'll jump to action items. 8.1's donations and gifts to Donations and gifts >> We only have one Manatee County Child Welfare Board. Every year they after Angel Tree is done, then they take funds that are left over and send them out to various schools. And this is our seed for our students when we go Christmas shopping before Angel Tree the next year. So >> Good. >> How many students did the Angel Tree shopping for for this school year? Which group? >> I think it was the student council. I know it was the student council at the middle school. >> Middle school and student council. >> And and they student council, NHS >> And they do their own funding though. >> NHS
070and and um student council. Yeah. And they they do their own funding. Yeah, so maybe just student council. >> Yeah, the the student council get the Angel Tree shopping. >> Well, it's good that we have that many >> Angel Tree Angel Tree was very successful this year. We had more angels and they were gone quicker than ever before and And it it is nice not having a December board meeting because the this room is filled with gifts. >> So >> [snorts] >> And that's um is that is that Mike Carroll and Daryl? >> I think it's Mike. >> Nathan Brown >> And Nancy Carroll. >> Yeah. She's the boss and they're the workers. Every year I ask you all to to do this statement of assurance. Sometimes I think I ask you more than once
071during the year just to make sure it's done, but it was in in the January folder, so this is just a statement that you vote on saying that we have a district wide salary schedule that we have policies showing that that we pay the same that we don't pay one campus more than the other and that we have supplies and everything in the budget process. So, we do all of that. If you vote on it and people sign it and we'll be legal. >> [snorts] >> Okay. I guess let's jump back to the donations and gifts while I have a motion. >> [laughter] >> No, I I don't I wasn't going to stop you. I didn't catch you. >> Okay. Go to the one card. >> Did you say it first, Carolyn or did I?
072>> I'll make a motion to approve 8.1. >> Carrie. >> And Terrell. >> Motion by Carrie, second by Terrell to approve donations and gifts. Uh all four? Six to zero. Okay. Now, let's jump to statement of assurance. >> I'll make a motion. >> Yeah. >> I'll make a motion to approve the statement of assurance. >> I'll second. >> Uh motion by Derek, second by MJ to approve the statement of assurance. All four? Pass [snorts] six to zero. Uh 8.4 consideration of 2025 results for driven accountability summary. >> This just addresses our special populations and our non-English speaking whatever. And this is if if you go to the very bottom of the page, meets requirements. We met requirements in all of them and so so we're we're good. >> I'll make a motion to approve 8.4.
073Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh motion by Gerald, second by Derek to approve results of the driven accountability summary. Uh all for. Passes [snorts] six to zero. Uh 8.5 is consideration of regulations of board facility use. >> This is the result of of the Um what was it? Senate Bill 8? I think it was Senate Bill 8. Anyway, it specified the use of private and non-private spaces. Uh I'm surprised that that Coach Whitaker didn't state this. He was very distraught about this a few weeks ago. He came in and just so worried because our dressing rooms we have men coaches men coaching coaching hours and so we we actually have to change the signages on those on those coaching mats so that we are in line with saying that now it is a
074multi-use facility because um because there's a restroom in there. Uh but we didn't change in anything about anything being more separate. It's just making sure the signage just correct and that's why they specified that the the sign is correct and and we're being very very careful. And if somebody reports to us that we didn't do it, we have 24 hours to get it corrected. So, but but we we have been proactive in this and I think all of our facilities now have the correct signage at the correct times. >> So, it's just changed out for that event? >> For that event. Because sometimes it is just a private. Sometimes it is just girls. >> when they turn around and the male [snorts] coach can step into the female locker room and say, "I want to
075give you the pep talk for the game." And then >> Because normally coaches don't go in the girls dressing room during the you know, when we're practicing. If they want to conference with them, they do it somewhere else. But during a game, they they wouldn't go in there. So, that was something that was brought up with the legislature. And that's not policy, it's a regulation. >> Okay, so this isn't policy, this is just approval of the regulations. >> Yes. It means it won't go online. It won't It won't go online. It's a regulation that addendum to our policy. >> Addendum. Okay. >> I'll make a motion to approve 8.5. >> I'll second. >> Uh motion by Carrie, second by Terrell to approve the regulation for facility use. All four? >> [snorts] >> Passes six to
076zero. Uh consideration of contract renewal for I Bailey for audit services. >> I really like Kevin. I think he does a great job. His team does a great job and I think that Ali works really well with them, and I don't think it just Every time it's ever been presented, it just is really I always felt really solid about it. >> I would agree with that. No reason to change the main I've got I can't think of any reason. I know >> They do a great job. >> Couple of two or three years ago we considered They're expensive, but they're thorough. >> They are. Yes, they are. They are. They're more thorough than some others. >> Well, I think that's a good thing. >> Yes, that is a very good thing. It's a good thing.
077It is a good thing. I We >> [snorts] >> We like We like the questions they ask because we know that these are the questions that need to be asked. >> Right. And the way they pull their samples where it's a different, you know, something different that they look at each year. Eventually over, you know, whatever five years they look at it, it'll Yeah, it ties everything together and everything. >> I'll make that. >> Yep. So, is there a motion to do >> I'll make it. I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> [snorts] >> Motion by Josh, second by Carrie to renew contract with Ivey for audit services offered. Uh >> Sounds good. Always wanted to make a motion. >> Do what? >> Who made the motion? >> I made the motion. >> You
078said seven people made the motion. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> Big old fan. >> That's good. >> [snorts] >> Uh 9.1 is acceptance of resignation for for Cody Hodges for DS D I S D board trustee. I hate to do this, but >> So, we got to >> We have to >> We've got to accept it. >> Or to be legal. >> I don't know if he's right, but >> I don't know either. >> I I agree. >> Can't argue with that. >> [snorts] >> I mean, so I don't think he's worth it at this point. >> No. But I think if we do approve that we don't have any choice but to approve it. And so >> No, it is what it is. >> Uh elections in May, we'll just >> I [snorts] honestly
079think if we didn't approve it, we're just throwing a kink in his >> his way. >> Yeah, I agree with that. >> Yeah, true. >> Well, he's already resigned. It's just nothing >> Yeah. >> But the official part is you know, what we've got to do. >> Well, we can get it on the agenda last time. >> Last time because it didn't He brought it to us with like days of the meetings. >> [snorts] >> I make a motion that we accept the resignation from Cody on this. >> Second. >> Motion by Josh, second by Derek to approve resignation from Cody. All for? Passes to zero. >> [cough] [snorts] >> I'm going to >> [laughter] >> I got something in my foot. I can't get rid of it. >> I'm going to move before you
080go into closed session. >> I add [snorts] I >> I thought this light causes a delay. That's why I was like, wow. >> At least you don't have to wipe. >> I don't know. Will somebody keep up with the time? >> I will keep up with the time. >> I've got a few things to do, so I'll go ahead