001Y'all get to march out this year. >> What's the I am going to take those. That's why I [laughter] was coming tomorrow close to my I was like good. >> End of March. And when they go, they'll be like, you come in and you perform here. What's he doing? How's your love? a little I know Heat. Heat. I feel [laughter] you are here. Yeah. My language. Heat. Heat. Would anyone like a Okay. Like 50. I'm not Heat. Heat. Hello. Hello. Hello. Are we all here? >> Okay. Thank y'all for being here. It's board appreciation month and I'm glad that you're all here to appreciate us. You too, Frank. Um, all right. If I can have everyone's attention, it is we're late. We're late. It's 6:03 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, and this is a
002duly filed and posted regular meeting of the Alma Heights Board of Trustees. Thank you all for coming. I'd like to welcome y'all to anyone listening on our live stream broadcast. If anyone would like a recording of this meeting, we will post a link on the district website within 24 hours after the ending of this meeting. In addition, we will also post the materials being presented within 24 hours, so you can review a copy of those as well. The recordings are [snorts] under school board icon on our website Heightsindependent Schooldist.net. If anyone in the audience would like to be addressed by the board tonight, we welcome your input during our citizens to be heard item on the agenda. Please fill out the yellow I I think it's white >> yellow. >> We made white ones. >>
003Yeah, >> uh form by the door, read the instructions, and indicate the agenda item if there is one so we can introduce you to the appropriate time. Um, so I'm going to move to section two, which is delegations and recognitions. At this time, I will turn it over to our communication expert, unaffordable, wonderful person, Julianne. >> Well, I can't read. [laughter] >> Thank you. I have the honor of stepping in for Dr. Al Faro tonight to lead the recognitions. But before I start, I want to give a couple housekeeping notes that we really are thrilled to recognize some amazing staff and students. And so we ask everyone to stay throughout the recognitions. We'll let you know at the end of recognition. So if anyone wants to leave, that would be a great time to do
004it. Um, but we'd hope you can help us celebrate some amazing accomplishments here with us tonight. But first, as Clay mentioned, it is school board appreciation recognition month in Texas. And tonight we are proud to take a moment to recognize our trustees here for their dedication, their leadership, and their commitment to our students, staff, and community. Um, I hope you think word of trustee, you think trust that their community um has placed the trust in them to lead our district thoughtfully and wisely. And they're volunteers and they give a lot of their time and their talents because they truly care about all of our students and staff and community and they want to serve them. >> [clears throat] >> Um, they bring intelligence and common sense to some of the most complex and challenging issues
005facing public education today. They ask tough questions to ensure that our administration is doing the best work on behalf of students employees and they remain focused on what matters most and that's high levels of academic achievement, the growth and development of our students as people as you see reflected in our profile of a learner. And they also model selfless service. They lead without ego and agenda and they always keep the best interest of our kids at heart. So on behalf of all of Almo Heights ISD, I want to thank our trustees for their leadership, for their service, and their continued commitment to our community. We are also deeply grateful for you. So thank you. [applause] Just add some comments. um incredibly grateful for every one of you that's around this table and your passion, your
006big heart for the district because that that's what you lead with. Um you're passionate about every child that that um steps foot on every campus. Um you're thoughtful, you're deliberate, you ask tough questions. Um you help slow us down when we need to slow down. Um and I'm incredibly grateful. I always in board appreciation month like to say some words to my board president because um we're a unique board um that rotates the board presidency every year and so every one of our trustees has the opportunity to sit in this seat. Um and the weight of this seat is different than the other chairs and so I um just want to let Clay know how much I appreciate his support [laughter] and um his passion. He's got you know expertise that really contributes to the
007work that we're doing with construction right now. Um, and so incredibly grateful for you and your leadership, too. >> Okay. Thank you. Absolutely. >> Okay. I'd like to move on to our first recognition, and that is powering the profile. Todd Jorgan, come on over here. [applause] We're going to take a photo. Perfect. Thank you. So every other month during the school year, we recognize an outstanding educator who embodies the profile of a learner and take one of the six traits and highlight them. And so for this month, it is our AP human geography teacher from Alamo Heights High School. And we are talking how he embraces the trait engage socially and globally. And so our department had the opportunity to visit him in his classroom, see him in action, and create a video that he
008has not seen yet that I think we should show now. >> Boy, [laughter] [clears throat] I'm powering the profile by helping students engage socially and globally. [music] Go through the details. have a chat on whether you want or Afghanistan to be federal or unitary based on the positives and negatives. So I've worked in multiple school districts throughout the state and what makes you know students value the diversity a little bit smoother and easier here at Alamo Heights I think comes down to three aspects. Number one, they're curious. They want to know why do [music] things exist where they are. Why do certain groups of people eat what they do for for breakfast and not just, you know, the everyday breakfast taco? Um, number two, I think our students are very empathetic. Once they see it
009and know it, they seem to relate better. And I think that's because number three, we're fortunate enough to have a lot of students who have been able to travel to different parts of the world and have a little bit more understanding. So for me, I think as an educator, it becomes easier to facilitate that uh value and diversity. I don't know if I ever verbalize it. If I do, I try to remind the students, I'm not telling you what to think. I want to try to get you to to understand that it's important how you think. And if there are issues around the world that are going on that you believe in strongly, that is great. I'm not here to change your mind. However, I think it's important that you understand both sides of the
010what's happening and that might help you understand the hollow a bit more and then it could potentially change your what you need to cuz sometimes we change as people because of the more information [clears throat] he definitely gives like a lot of real world examples of like what we learned like hey this is actually really applicable applicable to like right now like in the world and I think that's kind of like oh like actually I do need to know this and like this is going to be actually useful when I'm older. Since this is an AP class, he's got like high expectations and like with all these like assignments and tests and lots of like homework and stuff to do, it's helped me a lot to like know what's to come with more AP classes.
011And I find him like really knowledgeable about what he teaches and he does a great job like just making class entertaining and fun to teach. >> It comes down to why I became a teacher and educator. I had amazing teachers and coaches growing up and I don't think I realized at the time but I wanted to have the same impact on a student that they did towards me. So knowing that I get to impact and potentially change human lives, I think is what makes me that's probably my why. It makes it makes it easy to come to work every day. [applause] >> Funny story. Lindsay created the flag, the official flag for [laughter] any organisms you want to lay on us tonight as we recognize you. >> O, there's a lot. Less is more. Less
012is more. Uh, take a deep breath. Everything's going to be okay. Don't don't choke on a nat. But humble and honored. Uh, cuz let's be honest, every day there's probably more days often than not where you as a teacher think you don't do enough. And I think uh the result of that video is the support from the parents I've got to teach. some of them are school ad uh school board members support of our campus administration you know corore and company support of central admin and support of the school board so thank you humbled and honored and pretty awesome pretty cool a little bit of tearjerker [applause] >> well the video is already on YouTube it's on the front of our website and tomorrow we will throw it out on social media for even more
013people to see and appreciate Mr. organ. So, thank you for being with us tonight. Now, I have the honor of recognizing some all state musicians. So, can I have Julian and Andrew come join me up here? [applause] >> [applause] >> All right. [clears throat] So, we have two allstate musicians selected to the Texas Music Educators Association TMEA Allstate Ensembles this year. Both are seniors. Andrew Krauss was selected for percussion and Julia Mendoza was selected for obo. Now, this is the highest recognition public school award for individual achievement in music that a student can receive. And this means they are the top musicians in the state of Texas. And this process is intense. And so it began with over 70,000 students around the state vying for the honor to perform in these 18 ensembles. Only the
014top 2.6% of musicians who audition become Allstate musicians. and they had a competitive audition process across district, region, and area levels. Next month, they're going to perform with the Allstate band at the TMEA clinic here in San Antonio. And they are here tonight with band directors Michael and Troy Chester. So, please help me recognize our all. [applause] [applause] Would you like to tell us a little bit about this process of attaining this honor and what it means to you to achieve this level of recognition? >> Yes, of course. Um, from when I started freshman year working for Region, um, it was so stressful working up these A2s, it took countless hours. Freshman year, I didn't make it this far. Sophomore year, I didn't make it this far. Uh my junior year I didn't make it
015this far either, but each year I kept getting better and better and this year I pushed hard enough and just beat my competition and now I'm an allstator and it's so incredible to me cuz this is what I've been working for forever. I saw my I saw so many people want to be all stator and I was like, you know, I want to do that. So I did. I pushed as hard as I did and and I did it. It means so much to me. [applause] What does this mean to you, Andrew? >> Yeah. Well, All State is really the culmination of all the hard work. Last year, I didn't even make area. So, the fact that I've made it this far, it's really it's a great honor. I'd like to thank everyone at the
016board, all of you guys have been so helpful pushing our band, making us what we are today. Thank you. My dad's here. Thank him. My parents, all of you guys, thank you so much. Really cool. >> [applause] >> ANYTHING YOU as the instructors want to say about this achievement because I know this is the first all-stater for Mr. Chester. >> Yes. Um hello Troy Chester. I teach primarily percussion here at Elmite High School and the junior school. And um with Andrew, I'm so incredibly blessed to be working with a student like this. Um when I started four years ago, Andrew was a freshman and um just seeing his growth thus far. Um, and I'm just so incredibly proud of him. Um, and all the work that he's done. And just to get some stats, I
017looked on the team website just because I wanted to know. But Alamo Heights High School since the introduction of this process has only had three percussion allstators. Andrew being the third. And he is the first one since 2004. So 22 years of almost. And Andrew finally got it across the mark. So, and I've worked with Julian a lot. He plays percussion hilariously in the fall and he's an all-state on obo. He's incredible. Um, so these kids have worked so tremendously hard. I mean, they're even over here to be recognized and they had to leave a rehearsal because they're constantly playing their instruments. So, congratulations to you guys both. It's been a it's been awesome. SO, [applause] >> YEAH. HI, I'm Mike Miscoco. I'm the new new guy here this year. Uh, I just want to
018say first of all how great it is to come into such a supportive community and district. Happy schoolboard appreciation month. It makes such a difference having a board that works together with the administration for same goals for our students. And then stuff like this is the outcome of the final product of that. Students that get to make the state level on something is just an incredible accomplishment. So, I'm super proud of these guys. I've only known them both about 7 months now, but their achievement and their work ethic has been really exemplary. Uh that all the other students I know look up to these two for their achievements and just how they carry themselves as individuals. Julian, when I first knew that he was playing Yobo and this was a goal of his, we talked,
019what does it take to make the All State band? How do I get there? What do we do? And I kind of helped lay out a road map with him and then Julian really just did all of the work. You just these guys were both relentless with working and practicing every detail and repetition to where they couldn't miss basically. So, uh, all the credit to all their previous music teachers that they've had. Uh, Mr. Chester has spent a lot of time with these guys, Mr. Moreno, our old middle school directors, and both of these guys have had fantastic lessons teachers, uh, Mr. Jack Terry and Miss Mika Valenuela that have worked with them over the years too in getting them to where they are today. So looking forward to these guys getting to represent Almo
020Heights at the convention next month where about 14,000 music teachers from across the state are going to be there and cheering them on in the all state band concerts [applause] and you can go listen to their musical abilities. They are part of the Adams family musical that's this Friday, Saturday, Sunday with theater, orchestra, band, dance, everybody working together in the fine arts. So, you'll want to catch them. They're going to have to leave us and go back to rehearsal in a few minutes, but we're really happy we got the chance to honor you tonight. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. [applause] >> And finally, tonight we have our student council update. So, please welcome Vier Patel and Lindsay Lamb. [applause] >> Hi everyone. I'm the student council president. >> Hi, I'm the vice president. >>
021And recently we had our meeting with our PTSO. We went over different things and activities on how we can help fund raise, but also how we can talk to our PTSO and get more students involved with the parents. And one thing that we're going to do this February is help out with the daddy daughter dance. So, um, me and Lindsay as well as some other student council members are actively getting a couple groups together to help set up dessert booths at the daddy daddy daughter dance and we will be handing out desserts in exchange for like some help fun for fundraising for our groups. Sweet. >> Yeah. So, on that we're also trying to work with them to provide volunteers and stuff. So, there's different organizations around our campus that we want to introduce to
022the Daddy Daughter Dance. But other than that, we're working on our talent show, which is really big. It's in April. And um we're trying to really do this one and do it really well. And we are prep preparing stuff for auditions and just how how we want to decorate and like all the logistics of it. We're trying to figure out, but we're starting that process and we're super excited. Thank you so much for being here. [applause] That marks the official end of our recognition. So, those of you that are here just for recognition, this would be a great time if you need to get on with your rehearsal schedule. But thank you all for being the best. Congratulations. Congratulations. [laughter] We got tacos. [laughter] >> No more pun cakes. >> All right. Well, thank y'all
023for who are still around. Um, we have received 11. >> We're going to >> Oh, no. Excuse me. We are going to section 3 superintendent communication. >> All right. So, um, every month I have the opportunity, the privilege to just talk to you about the celebrations and the district. Obviously, you've met our our two all state, um, our musicians tonight. You see their passion. Um, incredibly proud. I loved hearing the stats about the, you know, number of kids that earned that award. You can just see their passion. Um, incredibly proud that as a district we continue to protect fine arts. Um, you see success in our students, um, all throughout, um, despite the budget challenges that we face. Um, also just this past couple weeks, we heard that our Alma Heights High School once again
024um was named the 2025 AP um school gold honor role, which is the top 5% of high schools in the nation. That's a really really big recognition for us and um weren't worthy of recognition. Two of our teachers were recognized as um touchdown for teachers at the Alamo Bowl. That's Valerie Crump from Cambridge and Brandon Boland from the junior school. they were brought down in the field. Um they received monetary recognition. Um just a a great opportunity to recognize those who choose um to be educators and those who do it so well. And then finally, our um our trainers program was recognized as the Alamo Area Athletic Trainer Association program of the month. And so you can see that that program just continues to grow over the years. We have incredible trainers at our high
025school and it's just a it's a real neat sports medicine program. The final celebration that we have um it's our award-winning um cheer team that just traveled to state competition and it ended up at third place at UIL and then um first place in >> I don't have it here in my notes but you know in the fight song which is a really big deal >> those out of 76 >> out of 76 >> I appreciate the trustee back someone who was there >> love getting to celebrate our amazing students and their accomplishments. And then always um in the superintendent monthly update, I just go through a bond um update for you all. And so you can see some recent pictures that we took. We have a community bond council that comes around the table
026every couple months. Um we actually put them on a bus and we take them out to look at our new facilities. And so we were able to share with them um the visitors complex, the athletic complex over at the visitors side. Um we shared with them our new golf bait simulators. um we took them out to see the new softball field that is um on track to um be released to our softball team February 1st for practice. And so um the plan is that the March 3rd game be played on that field. So it's on on track for that. We're really excited about that opportunity. Um you can see a picture on the top right hand side um that that shows the extensive work that's taking place in the central plant and cafeteria at Cambridge.
027The bottom right um picture shows the new configuration of the Cambridge cafeteria. Um we've lost the kitchen and so all of the the meals are being brought in and our students are being real troopers and our teachers are being troopers through that um construction [clears throat] challenge. In the middle picture on the bottom you can see Mr. Simpson, one of our fifth grade teacher legends um in his new space. all of the um portables have been moved um over there to Woodridge and so the work is continuing inside um on that fifth grade wing. So um those rooms you all know are kind of the smallest rooms in in the building and so they're going to be expanded um to be larger for our largest learners over there and um again just things are on
028track and within budget and and that's a celebration as well. Um, and so the final update that I want to share just relates to the changing landscape that we're navigating through following the 89th legislative session, which created an inordinate number of new education laws. Um, many of these laws implo impose compliance mandates that are disconnected from our classroom practice um and classroom realities. um they often place school communities in positions that invite conflict rather than support for our educators um and for our students and for our leaders. Our community has experienced this most recently with the cancellation of an invited um elementary author visit under the newly enacted Texas Education [clears throat] Code 11.005. districts must ensure that any visitor, whether that be an author, a contractor, anyone that comes under our campus, um will
029fully comply with state restrictions, including prohibition around the mention of gender identity. Despite multiple goodfaith efforts with this author to move forward with the visit in compliance with the law, the author declined to provide those assurance as assurances to us as a district um that he would meet those new expectations, leaving the district with no other options than to cancel that visit. This decision was not based on complaints um about the author's books or their literary value, nor um was this a board decision. And I think that's really important. Um, this was administrative responsibility rooted in legal compliance. Our trustees, the large majority of this community expects that I, as superintendent, follow the law, even when the laws are controversial, like this one tends to be. There are many laws, right, new laws that I
030have to follow. There are laws about security, keeping our kids safe on campuses. There's laws about um health services that we provide through our nurses on campus. um counseling services, um curriculum enrichment, I'm sorry, curriculum and instruction, um library book purchases, the list goes on and on and on. Um quite frankly, it's endless. The conflict we're feeling is not created by our schools nor by our educators. It is the result of state level policies that remove professional judgment and local discretion from communities like this one that knows our kids the best. I understand the frustration that many in our community feel about this situation over the necessary cancellation of this visit. I share it. Our librarians share it. This board shares it. I also share continued frustration about the growing erosion of local control and
031the way that these laws place school communities in no- win situations that often incite conflict and controversy instead of rallying support where it's needed most for our teachers, for our students, and for our leaders. While the outcome is deeply disappointing um especially for students who are looking forward to this visit, it is the result of state level decisions, not local intent or values. Frustration then is most appropriately directed towards the policy makers who create these constraints rather than towards educators who are doing their best to serve students in a climate that's making it incredibly difficult to do so. I can assure you that here in Elmo Heights we're going to continue to push away the distractions like this that that these laws cost um cause and we're going to do the best for children here.
032um we will continue to adhere to the laws that we are required to abide by. I'm personally grateful for those in the community who resolutely stand with us um those of us who choose to continue to serve every day despite these increasing challenges. And so thought it was important that I provide some clarity for you all as trustees and for those who um have showed up today just about what we've been walking through um and the challenging time that it is as a result of what we faced this past session. questions, comments. That concludes my update. >> That was pretty good. Thank you. Um, all right. We're going to move on to section four, citizens to be heard. We have received 11 requests to speak on the agenda item. [clears throat] Um, looks like Chris
033Martin is the theme. When [clears throat] your name is called, you will join us to speak at the table. Each person will have three minutes to speak and Christina [clears throat] right here will hold up a card when there's one minute left and another card when time is up. In making your presentation, we ask that you do not refer to individual students or personnel by name or position. Especially in a public setting, it is best to be careful with comments about specific people. In addition, mindful of the due process and legal obligations, the board will not respond to your comments tonight. However, we are we welcome and appreciate your input as an important member of our community and we will follow up with you separately if necessary. For anyone else listening, please know that if
034a member of the community speaking tonight raises any concerns or questions, we will have a member of the staff contact them directly to follow up. We will begin with Anna Nelson Cho and Nelson and I'm here today to express my disappointment and concern over the cancellation of Chris Barton. Dr. Rashara, it's great that you can give the board here that lengthy explanation, but the parents deserve more than one sentence that was communicated to them on the last day of school of the semester. Um, Alma Heights Independent School District has long prided itself on academic excellence and nurturing a well-rounded learner. According to the school's profile of a learner, students should develop a healthy sense of self, seek knowledge and understanding, think critically and creatively, communicate and collaborate, employ skills for life, and engage socially and
035globally. Cancelling Mr. Barton's visit, which is an opportunity to engage with a public published author and inspire young readers, appears inconsistent with those values. Reports indicate that the visit was cancelled after a small number of parents raised concerns about a sentence in one of the author's books that mentions LGBTQ plus people. Even though that book was not slated to be discussed during the presentations and Mr. Barton had offered to omit it through or though a reason for the cancellation was not given, the decision was reportedly made in response to Senate Bill 12. While SB12 aims to refine parental rights in education, it does not explicitly prohibit all discussion of diverse viewpoints. Nor does it authorize school officials in restricting learning experience for all students based on the objections of a vocal minority. Instead of narrowing
036educational opportunities and limiting student access to meaningful experiences, the district's commitment to preparing students to think critically and engage socially and globally would be better served by transparent communication and clear policies that allow parents to make choices for their own children without restricting participation for others. For example, creating a standardized optout out form that parents can complete if they prefer their child not to participate in specific events or discussions would uphold both parental rights and student access to enrichment. It would also prevent confusion about how the district decisions align with state law and district goals. To restore trust and reinforce our district's educational principles, I respectfully request the board consider inviting Mr. Barton back and allowing students to benefit from its visit while offering optout provisions for any family that chooses not to participate. Thank
037you for your time and attention to this issue. >> Thank you. >> Uh thank you for your comments. Uh next up we have Eric Anderson. >> Whoa. Watch out. >> As you can tell I'm a Anyone who wants to speak can come sit at. >> As y'all can tell, I'm a third grade parent over at Woodidge Elementary. I'm also a donor to the Almo Heights Foundation and a taxpayer. And I must say, I am I'm deeply I'm deeply hurt. I feel deeply betrayed by this district and by this board. And honestly, even the statements I've heard tonight make me feel continue to feel betrayed um about the Chris Barton cancellation. This to me is not about compliance with SB12. Just to be clear for everybody, and I can share you all the district emails that
038we obtained through public information act requests, Mr. Barton agreed not to discuss LBC2 issues. He agreed not to answer any student questions about LGBT issues. What he refused to do was simply not show he refused to not show his book Glitter which was about glitter that happened to reference LGBTQ people and he refused not to mention the concept of glitter. The first two things were about SB12 and this author agreed to them. The third was about avoiding antagonizing free parents. The third and let let's take the law let's play this logic out. Okay, let's think about all the other things if we're going to follow the law to disagree all the other things we can't do as a district. Right? If we're going to say because a text addresses any of the things covered by
039SB12, we must completely avoid it and the subject. So, for example, I get a weekly school email in which we're advocating for students to be heroes for history by fundraising for the Alamo Trust. If I go to the Alamo Trust website, I see discussions of THO and Anglo, two ethnic groups essential for the Texas Revolution. We can't talk about that, right? With following this logic that we must completely avoid entire books, entire subjects because they touch upon SB12. We couldn't have students fundraised for the Alamo. We, my daughter went to the Bristo Brisco feature paintings such as cowboy and cowgirl boots, which was an expression of gender ideology. It showed a picture of a kind of eroticized Navajo woman, the expression of a sexual identity. We could look at a play that my daughter is
040performing in which we have a Dr. Morgan, a working mother with a science PhD. You know, there was a period in our history where that would have seen as an abhorrent gender ideology, right? Gender is not just about the things that the free these free parents were concerned about. gender. I have a gender I have a gender ideology as a married heterosexual man. So we if we're going to apply this, we have to apply it to everybody. >> Thank you, sir, for your comments. >> All right. Next up, we have Annne David. We'll get it. Hi everyone. I've been in this chair before and I've been saying very similar things to what Dr. Basher offered earlier and I always hope [clears throat] that the things that I know about and report on and do research
041on um in the course of my work studying censorship and advocating for intellectual freedom and um English teachers to be treated as the professionals they are. You'll hope that doesn't come to your home community, but it's here. And I'll offer a few brief thoughts on that is um I was hoping we wouldn't end up here because we had laid a strong community foundation, but having read through the public information request the emails that originally were landed in um an inbox here, it's clear those were the goal was to create that conflict. when you use thing terms like LGBTQ ideology, it's clear you are not necessarily thinking in the best interests of all the children and all the families in the district. And so I agree parents do have the ultimate choice around what their children
042engage with in the course of their lives and their world and their schooling. And that's what opt outs are for. Texas has long had that and I know in the past as a teacher I would have parents who say I don't really don't want my kid to read this book and you know what I'd work with them and I would find a book that would still communicate the important things they needed to learn aligned with the standards but didn't cause the problems that parent perceived and I was always willing to do that. I think what's hard here is that's not what happened. um a little a little pebble was very purposefully dropped into a pond and then this is where we've landed. And so I do think all of the people in this room do
043have the best interests of the district and the students and the teachers at heart. Um what I think is the legislature rightly has put us in very difficult positions because how that happens and what that looks like is really hard to navigate. But I always ask myself about the child and the children in the room and how to put them in the center in all things. And there are children who and and young adults, let's be real, um who now feel like the district does not value them. Whether that is true or not or whether that is what was intended or not, that's the outcome. much like when something similar happened 2 years ago in the ninth grade um lit circle situation. That is how people feel because they have told me so. And so
044I would encourage the board, I would encourage the administrators to consider the ways in which we can continue to both welcome all of the things for the for the profile of a learner that are necessary, which means a lot of different viewpoints and still continue to honor parents who need to and for various reasons don't want their children to engage in things. Again, both of those points are valid, but three people cannot drop a pebble that ends up impacting the entire district. And so, I think finding ways to do that will be valuable going forward. Thank you for your time >> and thank you for thank you for your comments. Uh, all right, moving on. We have Linda Cornwell. [clears throat] >> Good evening. As a new resident to Alamo Heights School District, I'm here
045to speak in support of students access to books and authors and school libraries. Gary Pawsome, the award-winning author of children's and never adult books, including Hatchet, which you may be familiar with, wrote in his introduction to his book Winter Room, "If books could have more, give more, be more, they would still need readers. who bring to them sound, smell, and light and all the rest that can be in books. The book needs readers. Indeed, books need readers. But more importantly, readers need books. When students have access to diverse reading materials that reflect their reading interests and broaden their perspectives, they read more. They are more motivated to read. They improve their reading skills and demonstrate higher reading achievement. If Alamo Heights ISD's goal is to create readers who can read, who read well, and who
046love to read, it must provide students with access to interesting books and diverse authors. Books need readers and readers need books. Which is why I am here to beseech the board to vigilantly guard against actions that may block student access to books and readers. Actions such as the unwarranted time delays in purchasing books from school libraries or the cancellation of Chris Barton's author's visit. Both blocks are the result of unintended consequences caused by legislation passed in the 20 or 2025 Texas state legislature. To minimize those blocks tonight, I am requesting two actions on behalf of this board. One is to reconsider its decision to cancel Chris Barton's author's visit. Please bring Chris Barton back to talk to the students at Woodbridge and Cambridge elementary schools. And secondly, to create an opt out procedure for any
047parent requesting that his or her student does not participate in a school sponsored author visit or book celebration. Such a procedure will allow any parent to opt out without cancelling the event for students who wish to participate. Thank you for your consideration of my request. Thank you. Um, okay. We're going to move on to uh Roberta Russell. [clears throat] Uh, thanks for giving me time to speak with y'all. My name's Roberto Russell. So, I have um two children in the district. um one of which attends Woodbridge in third grade. Um so I've come here to com to comment on the cancellation of Chris Barton. Um based on the information that I've seen, it is based on a few parents who have um spoken up about the mention of uh LGBTQ plus in his books. Um
048so first of all, I just wanted to say so I did speak with somebody at the district who was familiar with the situation and so I got the information and kind of what happened. So, I appreciate that openness to to speak with me. Um, I would also like to say that I do have an understanding um of your decision from a riskmanagement perspective. Um, and I understand you're trying to prevent significant upheaval um given the current political climate, sort of the aggressive political climate that we're in. And really, we're we're in unprecedented times. But having said that, I did want to point out some consequences and really some considerations if you are presented with such a situation in the future. So the first consequence is that that [clears throat] there's been a message sent that
049you're going to act from a place of fear based on the input of a small number of parents or at least the uh results of you know parents speaking up and um you know decision-m on this basis can really lead to a slippery slope. Um, and really it leads to an overabundance of caution. Really becoming too concerned with risk management. And really I would encourage you to to make decisions from a place of courage and through the lens of the values and the mission of AHISD. I still think even though the legislature has, you know, essentially hog tied you, I still think there is room to make decisions through the values and missions of Ahid, AHISD, even if it's in small ways, I think that that's still impactful. Um, and you know, I also understand
050the district is not in a position to make any strong or outspoken statements or be activists, but I do think it's imperative that the law is not interpreted to its most conservative end. The second consequence is that you've confirmed the message that Senate Bill 12 is seeking to send, which is that certain voices don't matter. In fact, they care so little that they aren't even allowed to talk about them. So, what message does this send to the children uh especially children who identify as LGBTQ plus? Uh finally, I think it's important to consider what this kind of decision models for the students of AHA ahisd. Are these the same values that we're instilling in them in their daily classrooms? So, we're really living in unprecedented times. We're facing a very volatile and aggressive political climate.
051We need to deal with constant social media and information overload and we're going through rapid technological changes right now. And so because of that, we're really in a moment when we really need to double down on our values and try to make decisions through that lens, even in small ways. The district has very strong, clearly defined and admirable values. I understand the reality, potential gravity of of a decision gone arry, but I think the district can really revisit those values consistently and make good decisions. >> We appreciate your comments. >> All right, we're going to move on to Allison Tree. Hartry. >> I got it. >> Heart and a tree. >> Heart in a tree. >> All right. My name is Allison Hartry. I'm a district president and the parent of a child at Woodridge
052Elementary. And I've been listening carefully to the concerns presented to the board here today. [clears throat] And I'm pleased and heartened that the level of care that parents to students and staff have shown to protect the excellent education that Alma Heights ISD offers to our families. And I am sure that the board is concerned about how to address all of these concerns while staying in compliance with the recent legal challenges. And uh I have drafted a policy that allows you to do exactly that. I'm a lawyer. I uh specialize in employment law, not education law, [clears throat] but I spend all day every day uh counseling employers and employees on how to implement policies that comply with various statutes that are practical and workable. And there is a way to implement these statutes that does
053not supersede our obligation to our students. So I hope that I I didn't see any uh anything against it. I have a copy for everybody. Uh I can also email it. You can pass it around. Um the black type face in the policy is taken directly from the statute uh just verbatim. And the red type face is my additions with legal citations to make it very clear exactly how this can be implemented. Uh and uh in line with the Texas education code. I know you have skilled education attorneys to advise you and I ask you that to share this with them to get their opinion. I fully expect that they will tell you this is a fair and reasonable policy that the district can actually implement that allows our wonderful professional educators to continue to
054do what they do best while staying in compliance with the Texas Education Code. And I did just want to point out one thing um and this comes directly from my conversation last week with Dr. Faro um where I pointed out to him that the statutes in the education code the SB12 they don't say you can't talk about LGBTQ plus issues. They say you can't talk about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain ways. There are lots of exceptions. I think those exceptions were completely ignored when implementing this policy. But be that as it may, the law does not allow the district to treat majority groups differently than they do minority groups. The Attorney General's Office, Texas, issued an opinion on Monday that says, and I quote, that the state of Texas needs to have a
055commitment to symmetrical applications of anti-discrimination standards and ensuring consistent protections for all. And that means regardless of somebody whether somebody identifies as straight, gay, lesbian, queer, trans, anything like that, we can't have statutes that only work or policies that only work one way. So I hope that the district will consider that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Alison. Uh, next up is Julianne Reeves. >> Hello. Um, thank y'all so much. I'm Julianne Reeds and I want to say thank you so much for the school board for your um selfless service to the Alma Heights community. Um I want to be clear though about why I'm here tonight. I'm here because Senate Bill 12 has put school boards, administrators, teachers, librarians, and staff in an impossible position. You're being asked to comply with a vague and intimidating
056law around parental rights while knowing that one complaint or one misstep could place this district in the crosshairs of the governor or the TEA. I understand why that creates fear. I understand why caution can feel like the safest option. But I'm here because that fear is now shaping decisions that directly affect our students. I'm also here as a parent. I have two sons in this district in first and fourth grade. I chose Alamo Heights because of its values, its reputation, and the profile of a learner this district holds up as a promise to families. That's why the cancellation of the author visit was so concerning. While Almo Heights says it wants students to seek knowledge and understanding, think critically and creatively, and communicate and collaborate, those are not abstract ideals. They're supposed to guide real
057decisions. Canceling an author visit for students because of a handful of coordinated complaints undermines those values all at once. I want to be clear. I don't believe this decision was made with bad intentions. I believe it was made out of fear. fear created by SB12 and by an overly overly cautious interpretation of what that law requires. But when fear drives our choices, we risk becoming a district that reacts instead of leads. So my ask tonight is simple. Establish a clear district-wide opt- out process that becomes the standard response when concerns arise. That approach respects parental rights without allowing a small number of objections to eliminate opportunities for everyone else. I know SB12 has made your jobs harder, but this has always been a district that values courage, learning, and leadership. I'm asking you to interpret
058this law with those values in mind and to stand behind the students and families who choose this district because of them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on. We have Sarah Neil. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> Mr. Boy, >> I think that's the appropriate. [laughter] >> Yes. [laughter] >> Happy birthday. >> Sorry for that. >> Your time is not spoken. >> No, I appreciate y'all um making time for our comments today. My name is Sarinel Stribbling. I am a 2005 graduate of Alamo Heights and I have a second grader at Cambridge. Um, like some other commentators today, I'm also an attorney and that's possible because of the great education, the great public education that I got at Alman Heights. Many people in this district choose public education. Lots of people could go
059the private route if they wanted because there's value in public education and part of that value is diversity. Diversity of voice, diversity of background. And I understand as as much as most that it's important that we follow the law um and that that is certainly done through a legislative process that's separate and apart from the school board or the administration. But as has been kind of mentioned and touched upon by others today, there was a lack of effort and a lack of thinking towards the long-term effects of what was happening in the response here. The thing that was disappointing most about this reaction and this decision is that parents weren't really notified about what was going on. Most a lot of us found out about it through word of mouth or through news articles. Um,
060and so it it felt problematic because it was done in a way that was not fully transparent. [clears throat] Mostly, I'm just disappointed for our kids because I remember very distinctly when Naomi and I would come and speak to us and we would sit in that same Cambridge library and we would listen to her words. What a huge huge value that had for us. What a huge impact that had on our lives and on the the people that we became. The message that her poetry instilled in us as young people. And so we're at a crossroads. It's difficult to kind of know what what to do in this moment. And so I would just like to share some words from Naomi Nye from her poem Famous. The river is famous to the fish. The loud
061voice is famous to silence which knew it would inherit the earth before anybody said so. The cat sleeping on the fence is famous to the birds watching and from the birdhouse. The tear is famous briefly to the cheek. The idea you carry close to your bosom is famous to your bosom. The boot is famous to the earth, more famous than the dress shoe, which is famous only to four floors. The bent photograph is famous to the one who carries it, and not at all famous to the one who is pictured. I want to be famous to shuffling men who smile while crossing streets, sticky children in grocery lines, famous as the one who smiled back. I hope all of us will use our voices in the legislature and in that process and continue to speak
062so that our educators and our school district doesn't have their hands tied. >> Thank you so much. Okay, next we have Pam Bryant. >> Is that coming? >> Coming. Here she comes. I'll be here in a minute. >> [clears throat] >> Well, hey guys, we have a dilemma [laughter] and I have no doubt that it was in the wheelhouse of every one of you to have created this differently simply having the opt out option. But I'm here for a really personal reason. I have two precious, beautiful grandsons that are in your program. I'm a product of your program. My children are. And so now our family has worked very, very hard to encourage and instill in our boys compassion, understanding, acceptance. And I expect that to be modeled by every one of you. I expect
063that of you. Each one of you. Regardless of anybody's political anything. I don't care. I want when William and Benjamin are in your presence or any anybody's presence. I want them to see how important respect and acceptance is to every human being. We don't get to just say, you know, I didn't know anything, and Dana knows this. She heard me talk about this four years ago. I [clears throat] did not know anything about LGBTQ people. My grandson has had to teach me. Ben has had to take me by the hand. I talked to your your superintendent, your assistant, who was very polite and very careful with his words, as you can imagine, when I called and said, "Help me with this. I don't understand. Why are we using different pronouns?" All that kind of stuff.
064But what Ben has said to me before I'm introduced to any of his LGBTQ friends, Lita, just be careful. Try not to use these pronouns. Try not to, you know, just just know. And they've all been lovely. Every single one of these children that I have encountered and met and had dealings with have been beautiful, lovely people that any one of us would be happy to have. in our home and being friends with our children. So you guys, we can all do better, all of us. And and we do love you and appreciate you very much. So let's keep on keeping up. >> Thank you, ma'am. Uh we are going to move on to Bianca. And I'm not even going to try this last name. >> Sakira. >> Yes. Let's see. >> Hi everyone. I'm
065a mother of a fifth grader at Cambridge and a third grader at Cambridge. [clears throat] When I saw the email that the visiting author was being cancelled, I assumed like conflict, he [clears throat] was sick or you know, whatever the case may be. Um it wasn't until I heard by word of mouth from other parents what had happened. Um and I was just really disappointed that we weren't given the opportunity to, you know, opt in or opt out. I know impossible to please everyone, right? Um I know you all are in a difficult position making sure that we're in compliance with state laws. Um so I understand that and I know it is difficult but I think that having an option where you can say okay you know I have concerns or whatever it may
066be. I don't want my child to participate. I feel like that's a very um achievable, easy thing to do that addresses parents concerns if they have if there's materials that they don't want their children exposed to, but also provides the rest of the district with the opportunity to enjoy these unique experiences. Uh my son was disappointed because he's like, "Okay, it's my last year at Cambridge and I don't get a visiting author." And you know, all these first graders, the first year, they don't have a visiting author. And I feel like it's such a a magical experience for children to, you know, speak to an author and ask questions about like, well, what made you want to write a book about this? And how do you become an author? And like, what's your favorite book?
067All of these things. But I feel like all of the controversy like the kids, they don't see it. Like it's not like they want to see the magic of of talking to an author. And I I I feel like it's just a really missed opportunity. Um, so I'm hopeful that, you know, with recommendations from the district and attorneys and all of that that we can come to a solution that, you know, still provides our our uh students with opportunity to have different perspectives and, you know, have these really unique opportunities while still being in compliance with the law. So, I appreciate your time and allowing us to speak about this. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Lastly, we have Mary Hey, Josie misses you. >> So does Darden. >> You know, I
068just ran into >> And can you still do the splits? [laughter] >> I ran into a former student yesterday and um I didn't recognize her, but she recognized me. So I'm I guess I'm I'm NOT PETRIFIED YET. >> [laughter] >> I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LAST NAME. THIS IS totally [clears throat and cough] off subject, but I talk about you all the time. [laughter] >> I really do. I said you have you have made ears are ringing. >> You have made a difference. Both of my child, both my children. >> Well, >> no, I mean like >> Okay, I'm going to [laughter] go. >> Sorry. I'm just happy to see you. >> Well, [laughter] I'm happy to be here. kind of um my name is Mary Cabainy. I um taught for 30 years at Cambridge and
069loved it. I could have taught there till I was 80 but co hit. >> I come from a long line of teachers, college professors generations back. Um it deeply pains me when it's happened here in the last month or so. uh Alan Heights professors, they have the profiles of a learner. Those were mounted in my classroom. I incorporated those in my lessons uh versus the practice profiles of the administration. Elmo Height's academic and administrative integrity is under scrutiny surrounding a visiting author's cancellation appearance at its two elementary schools. As a retired elementary school teacher of 30 years in Almo Heights and I loved I loved it. My two children went through Elmo Heights and flourished. Loved it. Um I am pained at the district's decision. AHISDA mandates displayed profiles of learner in my in each
070classroom which teachers incorporate into the daily lessons. I taught now controversial Holocaust book number the stars addressing many of the profile of learner principles including the exhibit exceptional character challenge existing mindsets and ways of thinking and value diversity as a strength is an outrage for the administration to fail the students and sherk responsibility by ignoring the principles that they preach and by cowering shamefully before three spiteful families. I invite Chris Barton to come back. Please invite him to come back and please offer the option to opt out if you don't want your child to participate. Um, and please make amends. We are a community and should not hesitate to protest because I'm also an activist now. I come from a long line of community activists also pick an impetition to uphold the profiles of the
071learner. We have a as a community we have a responsibility to not only support our teachers but our [clears throat] um school board and our administration. But I will speak out against questionable misguided decisions of the school board and administration for the sake of all children. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I want a hug. >> Okay. [laughter] >> I miss you. >> Sorry, a little off subject. >> Okay. Um, I'm sure y'all are all excited about listening to the rest of our presentation, [clears throat] but we're going to move on for items for presentation or possible action, which just got deleted. >> What? >> Uh, there. >> There it is. Uh, TA, PR, and annual report compliance. Our presenter is Dr. Jimmy Walker. Huh? >> Uh, y'all are welcome to stay. Welcome to >>
072do whatever. >> I think so. Hi, good evening. Uh, [clears throat] I'm going to shift into the part of our agenda where we're going to talk about a report that is required each year and it's the Texas academic performance report, affectionately known as the taper report, which is 34 pages of academic data. Um, and I'll be walking through student achievement. One thing I do want to note about taper is it is all lagging indicators. So we'll be looking at student achievement from the 2425 school year star results. We'll be looking at college career military readiness CCMR from the 2324 school year attendance and graduation [clears throat] likewise from 2324 and educator and student profile data from last year. So we'll start by looking at star of note in taper it only include includes the accountability
073subset of students that were with us on snapshot date and then all the way through um testing date in May. Whereas the star data I showed you all earlier was all students not just that accountability subgroup. So if you see minor uh discrepancies that's likely the reason. So we'll start by looking at again we're looking at STAR all students all grades remembering that STAR begins in third grade. Uh this is STAR scores going back to 2019 2020. There's a big old gray rectangle because there was no testing that year because of COVID. And then you can see the yellow is when STAR 2.0 uh came to be. The green line is where we would like to be which is 90% of students that approaches are higher. The blue is all students and the orange is
074economically disadvantaged. So in all students, all grades, we were at 86% of students reaching that. In terms of closing that achievement gap, in 20121 we had a 22 point gap. This past year that began to close to 17 points. We'll now break it down by different subjects. Reading, we were at 88% of students reaching approaches or higher. The gap likewise began at 23 points and is now at 16. Math we were at 83% of students at approaches or higher. GAP was at 23 points now is at 20. And science 89% of students at approaches are higher. That gap went from 23 points to 18. And lastly, social studies. 87% of students that approaches are higher and the gap went from 23 to 14 which I think is a nice celebration. I do want to pause
075here because this is looking at student growth and what I like about taper is it separates this out from accountability. You remember in our conversations through accountability it's that transition table. This is comparing student growth at a peer level as opposed to a transition table. So we have Alamo Heights. The blue is percent of students making expected growth in 24. Yellow is in 25. The gray is compared to the state. So at reading 74% of students made expected growth outpacing statewide peers at 67. The next I think is a nice achievement. 61% of students made growth prior year and then in 25 that went up to 71%. Y'all, this is what we want to see because if we can see ourselves outpacing the state for growth, achievement will follow. We'll never get to raised achievement
076if we don't start with raised growth. So that I think is a very positive uh metric to look at outside of accountability. Looking at CCMR again, this is from the class of 2024 because taper is lagging. Uh you'll notice that our CCMR rate did go to six, excuse me, 76% of students at CCMR. Yes. You'll recall there's multiple ways to become CCMR. Yes. But this class of 2024 was unique. Um we had uh more students identified as emergent bilingual and a lot of newcomers. And so only 29% of emergent bilingual students were CCMR. Yes. And that had an impact on overall CCMR attendance and dropout. Again, this is lagging data in taper. So it's through 2024. Starting at the top, you know, our attendance rate historically was always 96% 96%. uh COVID hit. We didn't
077take attendance the whole final quarter of the year. That's why it's red. Um we ended in taper with 22 23 attendance rate at 95.2. I did check our attendance rate for the first semester of this year. We're at 96.4. >> That is a huge positive improvement because we it's can't teach students if they're not here. >> Uh chronic absenteeism. I will say that those 1920 2021 we had students remote learning. So I wouldn't those numbers are are skewed but we do see our chronic absenteeism going down. I think that is the diligence that our APS and teachers are calling families ensuring that we help families remove barriers and actually come to school. The last two are a trend number that I think we need to keep an eye on because uh we are seeing our
078dropout rate still higher than it historically has been. Um and that's something we want to keep an eye on especially as we've moved our Excel program um over here making sure that we're still level able to meet the needs. [clears throat] Looking at staff and student profiles. So this is our enrollment data going way back to 201213. uh you know enrollment date is a moving target because on any single day students withdraw students enroll but on our snapshot date which is the last Friday in October last year our enrollment was 4735 students this year on snapshot it was I would say that's fairly stable um I think our campuses are really doing more to push the options that we have our prek tuition promoting our kinder preview use partner for the profile where we're taking
079people to our elementary schools to see the amazing things that are going on and also increasing the visibility at our junior school. We saw many students who would leave us for junior school and come back for high school and I think they have done a great job of showcasing how they have a unique environment that really is specialized to that unique age group. Great. and Julian does a phenomenal job just of highlighting all the great things happening across our campus. Uh student demographics here, uh the first one is economically disadvantaged. The last column, the dark blue, is last year we were at 19.6% of students qualifying as economically disadvantaged for the free and reduced lunch program. This year that numbers dropped to 16.5. Some of that probably is authentic shifts in demographics, but some of
080it is also parents who don't want to fill out the paperwork or are hesitant to put that personal level of information uh and turn that in. So, our campuses are trying to [snorts] communicate with families about it's more than just lunch. It's a fee reduction. It's SATP reduction that there are benefits to going through that process beyond just the school lunch program. Our emergent bilingual [clears throat] population, [snorts] we did see a consistent uptick, but this current year, we are beginning to see that trend change. Special education, you see that that's gone up year-over-year. Part of that in prior years was a transition of moving dyslexia from 504 to special ed. That has now completed. So, this increase UC from 14.2 to [snorts] current 15.7. That's authentic addition of students requiring specialized services. You all
081know this. you see all the staffing request for special education GT uh when we removed the provision that uh students could qualify through outside testing that did help level out our uh number of students qualifying for GT services it is at 18.8 eight statewide it's eight >> uh with our new GT process this year all students are considered for GT services three times a year we have our meeting for midyear next week so I think that is a positive change for GT identification of services for students educator profile um I do want to highlight the change in number of total teachers from the year 2020 uh 23 to 4 363 to 2425 339. That is a direct result of budget cuts. We'll see that trend continue when we have our total staffing number for next
082year. I do want to point out also the high caliber of our staff in terms of especially the relationships they build with [snorts] students. But in terms of things we can quantify the percentage of students with advanced degrees over five years of experience in a classroom remaining with our district our turnover rate was below that of the state and increased and decreased over prior year. So uh I will end with one question that I get after people read all 34 pages of taper data and that is when we look at all the great things going on in Almo Heights why is Alma Heights B [snorts] and part of that is because our district A to F rating the methodology is primarily rooted on a proportional rating so high school and CCMR is 40% of high
083school and then the high school is 40% of our whole score. So when we [clears throat] have uh downturns at the high school, there's a disproportionate effect on the overall rating. So I mentioned our emergent bilingual in the class of 2024. Y'all, we got those kids across the stage. >> We got them the credits they needed. We got them passing EOCC's that they needed, but it did impact CCMR and that had an impact overall. At the same time, we also had two areas of testing that went down. one was algebra 1 at the high school had a 13 point percentage drop uh and English 2 and [clears throat] uh extended constructive response also we had a 20% of students score a zero. Those are two areas that we can improve. We're working actively to improve
084because we want to remain steadfast and relentlessly in pursuit of academic excellence but not in pursuit of statewide ratings. That's secondary. That's tertiary. That is not our primary directive. We are putting in a new math adoption. You heard me speak about this last week. That's going to have a direct impact on our math scores. We're having all uh departments use that same rubric for extended constructive response because the responsibility to teach writing shouldn't land exclusively on English teachers [clears throat] at all. And that concludes taper report. >> Well, that was fantastic. Does anyone have any questions or comments? Wow, you're answering my question. That >> was so good. >> I appreciate that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Dr. >> All right, we are going to move along to section six, our consent agenda.
085>> Next item on our uh agenda is consent agenda. There are items that the board considers routine or that have been previously reviewed and discussed in prior meetings and that we therefore enact in one motion. >> Is there anything in the consent agenda that any board member would like to remove or consider as an item on the regular agenda? No. No. Okay. I do want to mention, however, that we did have almost $100,000 in donations. in a month >> which is like crazy >> that our community gives us that kind of money. >> Um, okay. So, if there's no items to pull out, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So, move. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? >> None. Okay. All
086in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose? Nay. >> All right. Thank you. The motion carries. So now we're going to move on to section seven, the board member committee reports. We have two committee reports. Uh our first is the policy review committee meeting which happened on January 13th and the 14th. So who's doing that? >> I'm so [clears throat] conversation about Senate Bill 11 about school prayer. He's had some preliminary conversations around this table. Yes, my brain [laughter] >> look at all the policies that all >> I know I should have a little bit more about the policy committee. >> We didn't [snorts] have a dry ro. [clears throat] >> Well, we also discussed it as a board the next day [clears throat] right after that. So, that's what threw me off.
087Um, but there's really not anything else to report at this time. We're still working through the whole >> Yeah, we have a lot of policies. I think uh if you would look at our uh consent agenda, >> no, I just think there was a lot just a lot within the consent agenda that were approved. >> Legislature is changing a lot of stuff >> all the time >> and it's hard for us as a board to just get our hands around everything they change. I mean, we're just always playing catch-up and you know, we're not perfect, but we're we're trying. Okay, we're going to move on to building committee meeting and that will be our good friend, Mr. King. All right, we actually all were participants in it, but it was a good meeting. Eric with
088our with the arctic firm LPA came and spoke with us. We spoke predominantly about three items. Broadway improvements, uh the district community center building and the junior school to a certain extent. I would say uh the team's doing a great job. We're we're tracking on the projects that are under construction. We really didn't speak on them too much because they're going pretty smoothly. Um Broadway improvements, uh hope to have detailed plans soon, but we talked about uh making sure our parking counts. Mr. Um, Hornberger made sure that we held our parking counts off site uh off the street. I think a couple questions related to that. They're working through the phasing and there's a lot to do with the power poles that they are still working through and making sure we understand the implications of
089that, but our hope is to be able to move forward with it um as quickly as possible. The district community center, which would be just on the block immediately to our south, um is nearing completion. It was slightly over, excuse me, the design is nearing completion, slightly over budget at SD, but um they're getting pricing right now back from Bart Lick Uh should have that in the next couple weeks and hoping to start construction in the summer and be complete in summer of 27. So, they're they're wanting to go fast on that one. And then the junior school, uh they expect to have the pricing back on the the progress set from Bartlett Bartlett this month. There are 22 additional parking spaces being provided versus current. Um they're really thinking about pedestrian access. They're adding
0902,000 square feet to the cafeteria. Uh massive improvement to the out outside gathering and circulation. Um really tying the whole campus together through a series of projects that have been added on lately. It's really nicely done. Hopefully it comes in on budget so that we can start summer of 26 construction through 28 end of the fourth. >> That's awesome. So, I I do have a question that, you know, we see some great, you know, I think our community would be really touched to see what we're doing on Broadway. >> I I don't know how that's thrown out there. >> Yeah. So, it typically comes [clears throat and cough] to you all for approval after the design process, you know, once the GMP is and after the GMP, then we put it out. >> Yeah. Because
091it's, you know, we're getting rid of all the power poles and we're going to trans literally transform Broadway. It's going to be beautiful. >> It's going to be unbelievable. >> Safer for the kids. >> It's going to be safer for the kids. Walks [clears throat] off the street. >> Um the the the challenging thing is that we have four communication companies on those polls and getting that's like an act of Congress to get them to cooperate. But anyhow, okay. I that was my only question because I I think that if the community sees what we're doing on Broadway, I think we you know we'll have a big fan section. >> We um we did share it at the bond council. We went through the um >> renderings you know so there is some good conversations
092about it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, thank y'all. Uh moving on to section 8 business recommendations. Uh it is we are going to have Dana talk about a consideration to call the May 2nd 2026 board of trustee election. >> Yes. >> Oh my. >> So you have um you know documentation around this in your board that this just a standard call for the election. There are two places that are up um in May. Place three and place four. Um and so we present the notice of the general election to meet the deadline requirements and to ask for approval. >> Okay. So do have a motion to approve the consideration to call the May 2nd, 2026 board of trustee election. >> So moved. >> You got it. I'll go second. >> Second. All right. Thank you.
093Any further discussion? The place. >> I don't know your number. I can't make it up. >> All right. three or four. [laughter] >> All in favor, please say I. I. >> Uh, all oppose. Nay. >> All right. Great. Motion carries. All right. We're going to move into our calendar review. [clears throat] >> Okay. Um, look, February doesn't look so bad, y'all. It doesn't look as busy as other days. There you go. Um, building committee meeting. We'll have that first week on February 4th. Um, and then district education advisory council with Karen on the same day. GMP meeting in the morning of February 11th. Um, and then February 18th, um, the school foundation board meeting. David will represent us there. And then our regular board meeting on February 18th. >> Yes. >> Any comments? >> That's
094great. >> I will not. Hey, what is uh We haven't had an XL deal in a while, is it? >> Congratulations. >> Yeah, we're free. Oh, well, >> sorry. I should have did that. >> Uh, okay. Before we move into our next item, uh, there are no objections. I'd like to take a short break, five minute before we enter into executive session. >> And for the record, Ty and I are both running again. He's not going to say it, but I'm going to say it for him. [laughter] >> You're running a