001is now called to order. Item number two on the agenda, the roll call. Establish a quorum. We have everyone present this afternoon beginning with Dr. Fino, myself, Jennifer, Mr. Herman Aano, Mr. Seal Samura, Mr. Adria, Miss Deba, and Mr. Reeds. Not present is Mr. Lee Brown. So, we do have a quorum. This meeting is being duly called and in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, section 551.043 of the Texas Government Code. And at this time, we'll do the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag, the Texas flag, and stand. I pledge algiance 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. >> Honor the flag. I aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God,
002one and indivisible. to item number four on the agenda, the public comment. At this time, we'll have Miss Hunter bring up the signin sheet. And there is no one here to speak on behalf of the public. On to item four, the public hearing for the 2025 2020 states tax rule and tax rate. Dr. >> Good afternoon members of the board, administration in the audience and any community members watching online. I'd like to invite our CFL Melissa Sanchez to the podium to do her presentation on our proposed uh tax role and tax rate. Good afternoon members of the audience, members of the board, Dr. Dino. Uh today we're going to be discussing the proposed budget and proposed tax rate for 2526. Um, so in our budget, so in our budget, we haven't really changed anything. All
003the totals are the same. The only thing I did change was like in between functions. So just like an overview of what assumptions were made when we prepared the first of all, we prepared it with salary increases of 75 cents an hour for high professionals and auxiliary payments. Um, all teachers will receive the HB2 increases, which is $2,000 for those with one to two years experience, $4,000 for those with three to four years experience, and $8,000 with those that have five or more years experience, and all new teachers will be starting at 56,400, which is $1,600 more than last year's starting salary. We also budgeted salary increases of 3% of midpoint for professional and administrative positions. Um, we allocated campus budgets based off of expected ADA. So, Alice High School got $170 per ADA, middle
004school got $140, and elementary school got $115 per ADA. We budgeted for an attendance rate of 91% which is being pretty conservative. We also have an M rate of 7252 an INS rate of 4470 and that brings the total tax rate to 1.172. So here are all three budgets um for our three major funds. You see general fund has 48,40,596 same revenues and expenses. Uh, child nutrition has revenues and expenses equal at 4,662,606 and debt service at 5,530,500 and revenues equal expenditures. So all three budgets will be balanced for a 2526 school year. >> I just want to make a clarification, Miss Sanchez, if you could go back a couple of slides. So in this one, the 2,000 for the first and second, that's not based on House Bill uh two, that's on ours. Okay?
005>> So we made that recommendation. The only thing that the law requires is the three and four years and the five and up. But as an administrative uh recommendation, we're asking for those that have one or two to get a raise also, but at 2,000. It's just not required by the state. The state will be funding us for those 4,000 and 8,000. They'll be giving us money for that. The the rest of it we need to budget. >> I can you go back to that slide again? And I had one question on the third bullet point. Uh professional admin positions are those uh can you define professional admin? Those are principles. >> Principles uh counselors um everybody systems of the rules. >> That includes the U staff here at >> administration >> at administration. Okay.
006Just wanted to make sure that you >> and this is the total budget uh broken out by function. So you'll see all three major funds there by function. And then we move on to our tax rate. So in 2526, our taxable values are at 1.233 billion, which is a 1.52% decrease from 2425, which is 1.244 billion. And this is because of the homestead exemption going from 100,000 to 140,000. And this still has to be voted on in November, but TEA guidance was set your tax rate and budget as it as already passed. So our tax rates for 2425 M was 7427 INS was4470 which was a total of 1.1897. Our rate to maintain for 2526 is 66493 for M INS is 42965 a total of 1.09458 09458 but our proposed rate is 7252 for MN
007ins is at447 for a total of 1.722 so how do we calculate our tax rates at the end of July when we get our certified values we have to submit the our taxable values to tea and we submit them on this template and it gives us the maximum amount they have for our um tier one funding. So if you look at this for our maximum compressed tax rate is 6322. So that comes from TEA and then we're allowed or we have we've already approved in the past eight additional golden pennies and 1.3 additional copper pennies. So that brings us to the tax rate that we're um proposing which is 7252 for M&M. And then we add our INS grade which is 04470. And that brings us to the total 1.1722. >> And just for the
008sake of the audience or people that may not understand your maintenance and operation is used just to for your daily operations of the school district. So paying staff, you know, working on making sure students have the resources needed. The INS is to pay our debt. Okay. So, you have two different buckets. You can't move the money from one bucket to the other. So, we want to make sure that we increase salaries for the staff. It needs to come from the M. We really can't move money from the INS to cover M. So, we're proposing this rate uh because even though the state did give us additional funding through HB2, it still was marked for certain funding and most of it was for teacher salary increases, but we still need to, you know, think about our
009cost for safety mandates. Right now, we're not we're even though they up the amount, it's still not enough to cover the expenses that we have for that and just the overall maintenance of our existing facilities and of course rising prices. And so if the proposed rate will ensure that we have timely debt payments, we complete our capital projects that we kind of had on hold for a little bit and uh just let us continue with the services that we're currently providing our students. And so there is a minimal impact or yeah a minimal impact to taxpayers while meeting these obligations. And so this impact is um The average homeowner in 2024 2025 the average market value was 107,695. They we had the $100,000 exemption that year. So the taxable value is 7 $7,695. The rate
010was 1.1897. So taxes due for that average homeowner was $91.55 for the year. So in 2526 the average market value is 113,854. You take out the homestead exemption of 140,000. So that leaves them with a $0 taxable value. So our new rate is 1.1722. The total taxes due is zero. And so the change in taxes would be $9155 less than they had to pay last year. And this is a modest change that ensures that the district continues to invest in our schools, the citizens continue to invest in our schools. So that's all I have for the tax. >> This is just a very good slide for people to understand that the tax rate is technically going down a little bit, but because they changed the homestead exemption from a 100,000. So, if your home was
011valued at 100,000, before you didn't pay taxes, now they've increased it to 140. So, if your house is appraised at 140, you're not going to pay taxes. And that's why we're seeing a decrease on what we're getting. That's why we said it. We did run the tax rate uh by Mo and Casey, and they also helped us come up with the the figure that we did. >> So, do y'all have any questions? I know. >> So, we will be asking for you all to vote on the tax rate at the board meeting. Yes. This following is public here. >> No members of the board have any questions or comments? Well, the time is now 12:21 and this meeting this public hearing is sorry. officially. The time is now 12:22 p.m. And at this time, I'm
012going to call the specially called meeting of the Alice Independent School District that's been hosted for Friday, August 29th, 2025 to begin at 12:13 in the boardroom on number two pilot trial in Texas 7832. We're going to call this special call board meeting to order. Present at this meeting is Dr. Ino myself, Jennifer Van, Mr. Herman Ariano, Mr. Cedo Samura, Mr. Adrien Pena, Miss Debbie Gera, and Mr. Cody Reeds. Absent is Mr. Lee Rammore. So, we have established the quorum. We can now call this meeting in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, section 551.043 of the Texas Government Code. At this time, we're going to stand also and indivisible. On to item number four. Recommend approving the board meeting. Is there a motion at this time for the approval of the >> I'll take
013a motion. >> Thank you. We have a motion by M for approval of the board meeting minutes. Is there a second? Second it. And a second by Miss. All in favor to item number five, public comment. Check if anyone signed up. Thank you for the first one. since we couldn't find it. I doubt it if anybody signed it. >> Thank you, M. financial. At this time, we have nobody signed up to speak on public comment at this meeting. To item number six, the action item consideration and take possible action of the items posted on the agenda. Dr. First one is just uh looking at a consultation and possible action of the accepting the 2025 appraisal certified tax as presented when the public hears that we post timely in our one of our local papers. So
014we met those requirements set forth. Is there a motion at this time? >> I make a motion that we um accept the 25D appraisal certified tax. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Miss. Is there a second? >> And a second by Mr. Samura. All in favor? >> Motion passes. The next one is consideration and possible action of the 2025 2026 Alice Independent School District budget as presented at the public hearing. A balanced budget for this coming school year. >> Thank you, Dr. Is there a motion at this time? I make a motion that we accept the 2526 Alice Independent School District budget. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Missa. Is there a second? I'll second >> and a second by Mr. >> Motion passes. >> And I'd like to publicly thank
015the board for being very proactive in supporting our teachers, giving the 3% raise for administration along with the 2% for the first and second year teachers, 4,000 and 8,000. It's commendable. I'm sure that they're going to be very happy with that. So at 75 cents an hour for our hourly employees. So, thank you for your support. The next item is adoption of by ordinance of the 2025 2026 Alice independent school district tax rate as presented in the public hearing. >> Thank you, Dr. Tabino. Do we have a motion at this front? >> Yes. I make a motion that we adopt by ordinance 2526 Alice Independent School District tax rate. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Miss. Is there a second? >> I think you want to read. I I left a paper on
016your supposed to read the motion. >> We need to make it official. Oh, right here. >> Yes. Okay. She has it. Is it the B? >> It's so item number one. >> Here it is. >> So, we're going to revise the motion made by Miss and read that. >> It's this one right here. Okay. Okay. I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 1.1722000, which is effectively a 1.78% increase in the tax rate. >> Thank you. So now we have a revised motion made by Miss G. Is there a second? >> And a second by Mr. All in favor. Motion passes. And we have one or a couple more. I invite Miss Vana up to the podium for minutes on consideration of possible action to approve
017the 2025 2026 refinements. I know that you all had already approved it, but the following day we realized that there was a situation that under >> Good afternoon, Madame President, Dr. And for the trustees and audience, uh it's just an updated stipen list and what I have built to do and it was already had mentioned on the first budget uh workshop that we had, but the plumbing support for that was uh the one that was left out in y'all's copies. We already had approved that last year in around the spring that you had approved and that's for Mr. Eddie Dejon and Mr. King. They are now the ones that help us out with the plumbing. Okay. Since we had lost our licensed plumber and for the cheerleader head sponsor, Mr. Pettis had recommended to the
018committee to go ahead and raise it up a stipen to $5,000 due to the fact that they not only help the cheerleaders go and uh are part of it for the district for football games, but also for basketball games, volleyball games, for all events throughout the whole year. So that was recommended by Mr. Fettis to raise it up to 5,000. >> Thank you. >> What was it before? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Do we have a motion at this time to approve the revised it list as presented? I'll make a motion to approve the 2526 revised style list as presented. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Mr. Beno >> and a second by Mr. Ariano. All in favor? >> I motion passes. >> And the next item is consideration and possible action to
019approve the 2025 2026 ISD district of innovation renewal renewal plan. legislation has caused us to re-evaluate where we're at. So, I know a group of uh individuals in the audience helped revise it along with Jenny Hall, our attorney. So, I'll invite Miss V in case you want to elaborate more on this on our district of innovation plan gems that were to be removed from it and then some that were added. And one of the things that was removed was the for the certifications for our teachers that was in place for the 2526 year and that is the legislature has passed a law for this whole state of Texas for that to be removed. So now this coming year all and everyone that's here that are DOI teachers they need to get themselves certified this year
020and it is through the whole state of Texas. what our district is offering and we have looked into and Charles and I is called the >> 240 >> tutoring the 240 tutoring which is a system that guarantees a 90% uh success rate for our teachers are going to get the take the test to get themselves certified for them to pass. We have also asked Dr. Kobala and Dr. Ku to uh help us to offer them a computer lab that is over at Alice High School where our teachers for the district are welcome to go over on Monday and Wednesdays and they're able to log in and be there with each other, help each other as so forth, but they can also log in in the evenings and the weekends from home. And this is just
021one of the ways that our district is trying to offer and help them in any way because we are trying to keep them. They really do enjoy being part of Alice ISD. they are making a difference and they really want to stay with us. So >> and the other changes >> the other changes was the library where the now we have some new changes with the library part where the books the textbooks would have to be now we get them approved by and I know Miss Gracie was helping me with that is where the public and now that uh the parents can go on and are able to look at the textbooks that we are offering in our libraries. >> Okay. And then the other one is the grievance part which is on the grievance
022part we offer and it has been approved where we offer like form one level one level two level three grievance and where we do have them in place and on the instructional part we have added on the instructional part where and that Miss Delena was a big help with that where we do offer what is uh currently in our district. Correct. It has to do with the courses and information about like scope and sequence. And so what we were proposing um in our course catalog >> the DOI is that that's satisfied by our course cataloges for middle school and high school that list you know descriptions of all the courses and then also adding links to the TEICSS for all the courses to the website so that they're able to parents or whoever are able
023to see uh what takes are being covered for a particular class. >> I just have one question. So how long? So they're So a new teacher that comes in this year only has one year to get certified. >> Yes, ma'am. And that's through the whole state. >> And what is the state giving them? What how long is the state giving them >> this year? >> Just one year or is it until 2728? >> Right now for there is a uh for example at the lower levels. Okay. They are going like for math, English, science and social studies. anything up from fifth grade and up, sixth grade and up, it'll be the math and English. Okay? But we I met with them last week on Monday, the elementary DOI teachers, and then on Tuesday, I met
024with them in the afternoon, the secondary. But we are asking to try to get everyone certified and that we are here to help them and support them to get themselves certified. My only concern is that certain programs that are out there are not as cooperative. Yes. And so they kind of slow and so that would just be my worry about >> Yeah. And I discuss that with the teachers because I understand that they almost hold them hostage >> in when they can take the assessment. They make them do all these modules. Yes. Before >> uh what they have found and and the issue is that sometimes they move from one program to another and they start again from step one. >> So we're telling them to discuss with their programs. We need to expedite it,
025>> right? >> Because they're holding them off because they want to get that's their bread and butter, too. The more time that they keep them in their program, well, every month these teachers are paying. So the district will pay this software. We're I think buying 60 licenses and so we're going to try to help them that way but they need to do their part in talking to the programs. The programs have also been informed by TA >> but this is coming down the pipe and they need to get these teachers >> I know there's a couple of programs that you could call them all day long and they do not answer. >> Yes. And you are correct. >> Yeah. And so, like I always try to advise teachers, make sure you get go get into
026a program that is going to be there for you and answer your calls because they're trying and of course, you know, life happens and then they don't and then, you know, they're they run out of time. And so that, you know, that's just my concern that some of these programs are not very good. And that's one of the things when I we hired them on and especially when there are DOI teachers uh especially this year because we already had heard it was coming down the pipeline is we did mention that and then when I had our meetings on Monday and Tuesday I some of them already were aware of it. They already had gotten hold of their programs. The programs were already aware what was going on in the state of Texas. So uh now
027they're working into it to see what they can do. But like I said, we are doing our best to try to offer the software and that we're here to support in every way that we can in our capability. >> How many teachers do we have in uh >> right now on the DOI list? We have 69 teachers. Okay. But not all of them are teaching math, science, social studies, or English. >> Okay. But like I said, >> it's really hard to decipher. You get you need to test and you don't. So that's why we're saying everybody needs to teach. >> And is this everybody or uh like also like CTE teachers or is it does not include them because I know there is no requirement for them. That's why I'm asking. >> Correct. Not the
028CTE but we are like I said when we had our meeting we are asking for everyone to try to get themselves >> get certified. Yes. Absolutely. >> Yes. Yes ma'am. >> Good luck. And those are all the action items. >> Thank you. So at this time, do we have a motion? >> Yes. I make a motion that we approve the 2526 Alice District of Innovation Renewal Plan. >> Thank you. I have a motion by Miss Skeleton. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Mr. D. All in favor? >> I motion passes. On to item number seven. closed our executive meeting or session called in accordance with the following provisions set forth in the Texas government code. 78 Texas Government Code section 5541.074 personnel matters. 781 presentation and discussion of hires. 7818 discussion
029of the superintendent's recommendation regarding the hiring of an individual for the position of principal at Nan Elementary. 782 presentation and discussion of retirements. 783 presentation and discussion of resignations. 784 personnel update regarding investigations. 7D Texas government 551.071 legal matters or attorney advised and 551.074 personnel meetings. My time is now 12:40 now in executive session. We just need to sign. Okay. It's The time is now 2:00 and the board is reconvene and back in the open meeting to consider and take possible action necessary on items discussed in executive session. See the announcement on the action items. 9 A, consideration of possible action regarding new hires. Item A1, consideration of possible action regarding the hire of the principal at Nun Elementary. >> I make a motion to approve the hiring of Samira Massie as principal of Newton
030Elementary as recommended in close session. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Mr. Samoa. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> And a second by Mr. Adiano. All in favor? >> Motion passes. 9B, consideration and possible action regarding retirement. That's information item only. 9 C consideration of possible action regarding resignations. That was anformational only. And 9D consider discussion of possible action regarding ongoing investigations. That was information only. On to item number 10 to adjourn. The time is now 2011. This meeting is adjourned and I hope has a great weekend better. Thank you.