001Yes, sir. Trusty Sige, >> Trustee Dunn, >> Trustee Avery, Trustee Evans, >> Trustee Hickman, and Trustee Spooner. regular meeting. >> Please stand and join us for the pledges of allegiance for the United States and the state of Texas. >> Good evening. Tonight's colors are presented by the Bumont United High School NJOTC. Commanded by Cadet Tyrell Johnson, Cadet Diana Hernandez, Cadet John Thomas, Cadet Lauren Garcia, under the direction of Bumont United NJOTC instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Michael Triplet, United States Marine Corps retired. Tonight's pledges will be led by Aria Owens, a third grade student at Felprice Elementary. She is co- captain of the classy cats cheer squad, a member of student council, a UIL spelling winner, and a be brave bullying participant. >> My name is Aria Owens and I currently attend Fairprice Elementary. Please stand and
002put your right hand on your heart. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Now the Texas flag. >> Under the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to thee Texas. One state under God, one indivisible. You may now be seated. One more time for these children. [clears throat] We will now have our recognition. Excuse me. Our recognition by Miss Simeon. [clears throat] >> Good evening, President Sige, board trustees, Dr. Allan and audience members and happy school board appreciation month. >> Thank you. >> It is our pleasure to welcome the Girl Scouts of Saninto who are joining us tonight in recognition of school board appreciation month. Girl Scouts are known for their commitment to
003leadership, service, and community engagement. Values that align closely with the work of our school board trustees. This evening, the Girl Scouts would like to extend a small token of gratitude by presenting cookies to the Bumont ISD Board of Trustees as a way to say thank you for your dedication, time, and service to the students, families, and educators of our district. We are grateful for this thoughtful gesture and for the continued partnership between Bumont ISD and the Girl Scouts of Saninto in supporting and uplifting our community. Speaking on behalf of the organization tonight is community engagement manager Amanda Ardawan. I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the board, not just as a BISD uh parent uh but also as a Girl Scout troop leader of 18 years and a community engagement manager. Thank
004you so much for partnering with us to grow girls of courage, confidence, and character. and we really hope you enjoy your cookies. Thank you. >> Thank you, Amanda. >> Thank you so much Think I'm going to eat these throughout the meeting. >> I was going to say I feel a little like Cookie Monster. We like cookies. >> Thank you, Girl Scouts. And now, board members and Dr. Allen. Please join us in the audience for this next presentation. We are honored to recognize our Bowont ISD students who recently participated in the 2025 region 10 all region middle school and high school coral performances last semester sponsored by TMEA Texas music educators association. The students trained extensively to pass the music audition and had the privilege to collaborate in rehearsal clinics and annual performances with renowned clinicians,
005coral directors, and students from the Southeast Texas region. They represented the top 33% of students from region 10. On average, 600 students participate in the audition process and approximately 200 students are selected to participate based on musical excellence and academic achievement. Join us as we recognize their accomplishments under the musical leadership of the following BISD coral directors. Mr. Kenneth Walls from Westbrook High School. Mr. Christopher Neil from Bumont United High School, Miss Carolyn Turner from ODM Academy Middle School, Miss Madison Juno from Marshall Middle School, and Miss Marleene Munos from Vincent Middle School. Lastly, we would like to thank Mr. Murdoch, the BISD fine arts supervisor, and Mr. Cunningham, the coordinator of fine arts, for their leadership and support. Tonight, these young men and women are performing Why We Sing, composed by Greg Gilpin. We
006sing our voice. [singing] >> [music] >> Take my hand and sing [music] friend [music] again [music] our voice we >> [music] >> This is why we sing our voice. [music] Take my hand [singing] and sing [music] down a wall. [singing] music. [music] This is [music] [singing] what we see. [music] We [music] My hand is [music] >> [applause] [applause] >> Board members, please join these young men and women for a photo before they leave. Hey, >> [applause] >> Trustees, please remain in the audience. [snorts] During school board appreciation month, we proudly recognize and thank each trustee for your dedication, leadership, and service to the students, staff, and families of Bumont ISD. This year's theme, our future is public, reflects the vital role you play in strengthening public education and shaping the future of our community. Your
007commitment to educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and to student success ensures that every child has access to the opportunities that only a strong public school system can provide. Through your thoughtful governance and shared vision, you help lay the foundation for a brighter future for all students. Serving as a school board trustee requires countless hours, careful deliberation, and an unwavering dedication to public education. We are grateful for your leadership, your advocacy, and your continued support of our teachers, administrators, and families as you work to uphold and advance the mission of Bumont ISD. As it's board member appreciation month, I'd like to thank the BISD board members for their dedication and commitment to making our school a better place. >> [music] >> You got to keep off of that axis. >> Did you win? Oh no. >> I
008would like to say thank you to Dr. Allen and also the board members. I just want to say they have been a big help to my future. And I also want to say thank you to the teachers. They have been a big help and a big part of my life helping me graduate. [music] And I am a senior. So let's graduate. Thank you to our board members for our continued dedication to our students and staff. I'm so thankful for our BISD board members for all of their continuous support and furthering our education. Um they are always making us feel safe and here to support us with anything we need. >> Thank you to our dedicated and servant school board members. [music] >> Thank you for being present at all of our sports events. I would
009like to thank the board for approving programs like makerpace so that I can succeed in being an engineer in the future. Thank you for dedicating your [music] time to make our school better every day. >> Thank you board members for your support. >> I'd like to thank [music] the board members for believing in us over the years. >> Thank you to all B members for giving us opportunity [music] and letting us be in this creative and amazing chess club. Thank you our board members for supports our schools. >> Thank you for allowing school days off during the holidays. [music] >> Thank you for serving. >> Thank you Dr. Allen and the board members for everything y'all do. Y'all doing a great job. >> Thank you board members for always being there for us, keeping us
010safe, and just being visible. Thank y'all. >> Thank you. Thank you. [music] >> Thank you school board members. Thank you [music] for leading. >> Thank you school board. [singing] >> [applause] >> Tonight, we present each of you with a personalized clock and copy of the trustee times highlighting your personal accomplishments in the district. Starting with board President Thomas Sige, Senior, you can applaud. President Sige who says he is here to quote provide the humor this board meeting didn't know it needed. You have done just that esteemed president. >> I like it. >> Our board vice president Robert C. Dun senior who says we shouldn't let the silence fool us. He says quote I've already planned the entire year in my head while everyone else is talking about their plans for the weekend. We believe you,
011senior chief. board secretary Denise Wallace Spooner, who says, quote, "I'm not saying I'm a ray of sunshine, but if I were a highlighter, I'd be the neon yellow one that you can't ignore." And that is for certain. Secretary Wallace Fooner, Trustee Matilda Tilly Hickman. And she says, quote, "I'm not intense. I'm just a level of focus that most people find frightening." And if you are a former student, you certainly do agree with that. Trustee Joe Evans Jr. Trustee Evans says his stress level is a two, his we'll figure it out level is a 10. And he says if the district isn't actually on fire, we're doing great. So, thank you, Trustee Evans, for keeping us from going up in flames and trustee Yolanda Avery. She says she hasn't met a stranger yet, just a future
012friend who hasn't realized that she's going to talk to them for the next 20 minutes. Don't ever change Trustee Avery. And now if all of you will come forward for a picture together, a photo together with Dr. Allen. [applause] >> [applause] >> and trustees. the framed photos with messages from your BISD family. Those photos are also yours to keep. Again, happy board appreciation month. [applause] And as always, you can keep track with what's happening in Bumont ISD by following our social media pages and visiting us on bmtisd.com. You pegged me right, Jackie. I laugh at everything. I laugh at myself and I laugh at you. That's just me. Okay, we're moving on to uh student outcomes. Good evening, Mr. President, to our trustees in our Bulmont ISD community. We'll begin tonight's presentation with our vision
013and mission statement. So, if you could please join me in reciting our vision statement. In collaboration with the entire community, we will create an inclusive environment of academic excellence that supports the diverse needs of all learners. And our mission statement, we will inspire and prepare all students for lifelong success by providing an exemplary education in a safe learning environment. Our vision and mission is founded on six core beliefs in tonight's presentation actually focuses on all six. All children can and will learn. We can achieve higher levels of performance within every facet of the organization. Every classroom will have an effective teacher and every school and effective principal and all school and work environments will be safe, secure, and supportive. And we will work collaboratively with our families and community partners. and we will be fiscally
014responsible and accountable to the public. Tonight's presentation focuses on our midyear report as well as an update on the Texas Education Agency. Every year during this time of year, we actually provide a midyear report that showcases the accomplishments from the fall semester. Trustees, you should have a hard copy of the midyear report at your station. This report will also be available online as well as on our social media platforms. But this year's report focuses in on our theme and showcases how as a district we are going all in all year for our students and families. When you open up the report, of course, there's a table of contents that actually outlines the contents of the report. The beginning showcases our district demographics as well as our vision and mission statement followed by our core beliefs
015and then of course meet our board and it outlines our board outcome goals for the next five years which continue to focus on improving the performance of third graders at the meet grade level performance in reading. improving the performance of third graders at the meets grade level performance in math. Increasing the performance our of our graduates in CCMR improving our perception and increasing the percentage and number of students who are attending A and B-rated campuses. Following the board outcome goals, there is a message from the superintendent. And then you dive into the meat of the report which actually highlights and focuses on the strategies and the things that we've done in the fall semester where we've been going all in. And the first area that we were highlighting is our work going all in for
016strengthening literacy and academic foundations. is really proud of an initiative at Charlton Pard Elementary School that focuses on first grade literacy. This initiative was launched during the fall. Exxon Mobile partnered with us with a $50,000 grant which gives families for all first graders in at Charlton Pard support with reading discussion prompts and free books. Tutors from Lamar University and Exxon meet with students to support their reading and progress goals. We are also going in all in on literacy and our support for not just Bulmont ISD but the entire community featured in this picture. you see our Bulmont reads literacy bus and you'll see this bus all throughout the community which is our partnership and our commitment to supporting literacy not just in Bowmont ISD but in Bulmont Texas students as well as adults who have
017an opportunity to get on the bus they can collect free books you know it is great we've been working on this for a while we've been working with our literacy task force and the bus was launched this fall and it has been at different uh different venues throughout the city as well as different uh events that the district has hosted. We're going all in for the whole child for wellness and student support. We have wellness programs, safety initiatives, of course, health services and student centered outreach that occurs where we are touching thousands of students on a daily basis basis supporting the whole child. As you can see, you know, we are we make certain that we are communicating and keeping in contact with our students and getting their opinion and feedback. And one of the
018statistics that you see on this page highlights elementary and secondary students and whether or not they feel like they are actually supported with information on anti-bullying. So we're making certain that we are communicating with our students and providing them with information to help support the whole student. We are also working to ensure that we counsel as many students as possible. you you see listed on this page the QR code because of course the law changed and we must have parent consent in order to actually counsel our students. So we don't have the stats here yet because we're still seeking parent parental consent in order to support students in that endeavor. So we are also going all in empowering our educators through professional learning. We have hosted this year Saturday professional development sessions where more than
019320 staff members across the district have participated in classroom management, small groupoup instruction, trauma informed practices, and digital learning. We also launched Craft Ed, a new online professional development portal where staff completed more than 2,700 hours so far of optional courses for continued staff development. We have incorporated AI integration training for our staff. We are also very excited about continuing to uh invest in our staff members through the brace program which is Bowmont's response to educator certification where we are building our pipeline for teachers and this year we have 10 new participants who are added in the fall. We've had two graduates and again when they graduate they're graduating with a degree and certification and then we are hiring them putting them in the classrooms. We are still conducting uh university visits and recruitment throughout
020the fall semester to continue to recruit educators for uh our district community partnerships. We are going all in and we have continued to go all in on investing in community partnerships. the ROAR louder outreach program. We have more than 250 active reading mentors who are supporting campuses across the district. We had we hosted our fall literacy festival at uh at the different uh apartment complexes. This was was at Pine Club Apartments. We have hosted family fun nights as well as so many other literacy events over the course of the semester in the community. not just events housed here, but all throughout the community. In the fall, we also hosted our 10th annual bilingual parent resource night with over 205 families and 550 participants. It continues to grow. We also host our annual community caravan where
021we are inviting community members to get on the bus and visit our campuses to see what is actually happening on a daily basis. We have a caravan actually coming up uh in a couple of weeks on February the 12th and invite community members to participate in that caravan. This year we launched the influencers cohort to strengthen community connections with parents, alumni, business partners, and community members. We have about 15 to 18 community members who have invested their time in about five sessions once a month where they learn in-depth about the school district and utilize their influence to promote positive things that are occurring across the school district. We hosted events for the community through breakfast and supper with the superintendent and we have continued to expand communication uh efforts through implementation of class dojo, social
022media, uh local media and then of course our new podcast beyond the bell. We have a continued partnership with United Way of Bumont North Jefferson County. United Way has invested a tremendous amount in Bowman ISD through the implementation and installation of the book vending machines. This year they started with the implementation of book vending machines at the secondary school and we have one secondary campus Vincent Middle School where a book vending machine was installed. We also have more and more partners who are connected through United Way who are actually going in to fill those vending machines on a consistent basis. As a result of United Way's continued support of Bowman ISD, we increased our efforts as an organization and we actually uh increased our during the United Way campaign, our commitment to United Way by
023over $20,000. We gave $47,000 donation from Bowmont ISD employees, students, and staff to support the entire Bmont community through United Way efforts. So, we're also going allin on innovation and realworld learning. The district's EV program expanded to more than 100 students and EV is electric vehicle program expanded to more than 100 elementary students and 100 middle school students. participated in hands-on engineering challenges. We also had a new initiative this fall for Ameilia and Peach Elementary students, the NASA STEM Academy for fifth graders at these two campuses. It was a five-day intense inquirybased Starline learning funded again by Exxon Mobile where students had an opportunity to actually attend instructional days at Space Center Houston where they engage in robotics, engineering design, and problem solving with the expectation to expand the program to more students during the
024spring. Exon Mobile also supported our district and worked with us in conjunction to host the Exxon Mobile, the Bulman ISD Exon Mobile family STEM night where over 5,000 participants were able to experience STEM booths from our campuses, 45 community partners. They received door plazas and an awesome opportunity for those students who participated. Of course, Marshall Middle School and Regina How received $1,500 as a result of having the most participants during the STEM night. So, our student performances, you saw our all region choir who did a phenomenal job tonight, but our bands, our choirs, our student performers are, you know, receiving first division ratings. So, we're really excited to showcase and support our students in all in fine arts. At the bottom you see you see the superintendent student leadership council continues to engage every other
025month. This is a great group of junior and senior level students from all three high schools who meet with the superintendent where we talk about initiatives. We talk about things that are important to them and where they have an opportunity to share their voice. So that continues within the district. We also celebrated during the fall our advanced placement students, our AP students through our annual AP night where students who earn high academic achievement in AP were recognized with certificates and yard signs. And of course, we've celebrated our athletes for their uh athletic performance in football, volleyball, tennis, and cross country. We have been all in for building district-wide culture and and the momentum. We had a huge increase this year in our vision week participation with over 8,000 participants which was a 320% jump in
026community engagement where the community had an opportunity to really give us strong feedback on what they think about our schools and our district and what they want to see in schools in the future. as well as a greater percentage of feedback from our students where we get to hear, you know, how our students feel about the education and the learning that they are experiencing on their campuses. We also went all in on a new two-tier bus system where we transitioned from three tiers to two tiers this year, uh, transporting our students to and from school. And last but not least, we have several of our leaders, including coach Mike Thomas, who was named the Texas High School Coaches Association basketball coach of the year, and Dr. Donna Prudin, recognized as national CTE director of the
027year for some of our leaders who have done a phenomenal job leading and being recognized on the state and national level. So this report you can read it in its entirety by accessing it on our website or on our social media platforms. We also have a QR code which provides an opportunity for you to provide feedback on the information that's included in the report. So the the the last portion of my report tonight focuses on just providing an update on Texas Education Agency and intervention that Bulman ISD is currently undergoing. How many just by show of hands, can you raise your hand if you were in attendance at the TEA hosted community meeting last night? Raise your hand. Okay, thank you. Thank you. So last night, many of you who were present, so you'll you'll
028understand and know the context within which this information is being shared because you were present. But last night, TEA hosted a community meeting from about 6:00 to 7:40 for interested citizens, and the deputy commissioner presented information about really about the process for individuals who are interested in becoming a member of the board of managers, the timeline, and essentially how did Bowman ISD get to this point. And I just want to spend just a brief amount of time just highlighting a few things that some information was said, but there were there was information that actually wasn't said or wasn't stated in the presentation last night. So what was missing from the presentation sometimes is just as important as what what was actually shared. So first of all, I certainly want to acknowledge that the data that
029was presented about Bulmont ISD. When you look at the data, you know, the data is very it's very sobering, right? It's not anything that we weren't aware of. It's not anything that we were surprised when you see the data in the context that it was presented. And the data that was presented last night is why we do the work that we do, right? is why we put forth all of the intensity, all of the effort, all of the transitions and the changes and the initiatives that we have been putting in place for a number of years. The reason why we do it is because of the data that was reflected last night. When you see the percentage of students in Bulman ISD who are at meet grade level for reading and math being at about
03030%. That's real data. But I want to say that there are things that are not stated and that were not stated in that presentation. You look at the data, but you don't show the other side of the data, which the other side showcases what man, this data is based on one test. I want you to just take a minute and think about, and I've said this before many, many times, but our schools are rated. The data that you see is literally based on one day, one snapshot in time. And our schools are more than how our students perform on one test. And right now, it's a test that is so controversial that next year is the last year that we're what? were actually going to be administering the STAR test because there's been so much
031controversy over the past several years and concerns about the validity of the assessment that the test that particular test guess what it's going away but we're still held accountable and it's telling it doesn't tell the whole story about the things that we do in our schools. It doesn't tell the whole story about the opportunities that we create. It doesn't tell the whole story about how we take care of the kids in our community on a consistent daily basis. It doesn't tell the story of the effort, the energy, and the intensity of the work that we do every single day. That test doesn't tell you that. You know, I appreciate Pastor Sharp. If you all recall, if you were there, Pastor Carlton Sharp, he really tried to reiterate or get a response about why Bulmont ISD
032is where Bowman ISD is because he was trying to get the point made about what triggered the action. And the action that was triggered was based on failpric elementary which data was shared about the performance of fail price for over the past 10 years as well as ML King. Okay. I really want our community to be able to articulate intelligently what actually happened and what triggered the response the full picture. Not just the fact that Fail Price and ML King are two schools that had more than what the five years, five years consecutive low performance triggers the commissioner to make his decision, which is only one of two options that he has. He can install a board of managers or he can close the school. Those two campuses trigger the response. But what Pastor Sh
033was trying to get out and I don't think it was really clear. We we didn't operate those schools, right? We know we didn't operate them. We did what? We solicited a partner. We solicited different partners. Actually, uh the current partner or the most recent partner was a second partner. What didn't come out was that that was the only partner that we could choose. So, it's it's made to seem like, well, the district had a choice in who you selected to operate these schools. We did not. Okay. When we got to the second partner because the first set of partners failed, there was only one other option that was approved by the state that we could what? Only one other partner. So, we were stuck in a position where, hey, this is the partner that we
034have to choose. We're trying to avoid what closure our border managers. We're gonna give it give you a trial. We're gonna do what TEA is saying that we're doing. That didn't come out last night. We follow state directed initiatives in Bulman ISD with good faith. It is not as though for the past six, seven years we have been sitting twiddling our thumbs, not doing anything, not implementing the things that TEA has said, hey, this will work. this will work, do this, do that. We have not been doing that. What was stated last night repeatedly, especially when we're talking about the partners and other things. I don't know if you heard, but this is what I heard. I heard the statute says, the law says statute says, no, this is the only thing that you can
035do because the law says, but I really want us to think a little bit deeper. That is actually very true. You can only do the commissioner can only do what the law says. But what's the problem? What's the problem? The law is the problem. And the law has been changed strategically over the course of the past y'all, it's been about nine years when the law started changing. The law started changing. Okay. So, we worked this board, myself, we try, we tried to get the law changed. I've told y'all this before. You know, we we were in Austin meeting with legislators. We wrote our own bill, okay? We wrote what we wanted it to look like, which made a lot of sense, which would have kept us from being in the scenario that we're in. But
036ultimately, the commissioner is not going to break the law. He's following the law. But the issue is the law. And the law has been strategically changed and strengthened, okay, in such a way that districts in our circumstances that look like our district unfortunately fall prey to the way the law is written. So, you know, those things were were not said. you know, it was said that and then I think the statement was backtracked a little bit about the money and the initiatives or something to the effect of the things that we didn't take advantage of. And then it was stated, well, I'm not quite sure what Bulma SD didn't take advantage of. So that's what our state does. So we don't have a local control over money. You know, the basic a lotment only increased
037a small few dollars and then money is placed into aotments in our grants, different initiatives. So the big piece of money to increase or give teachers more money is teacher incentive aotment which is a multi-year process to actually qualify for the teacher incentive aotment. So we can tap into this money which we are actually in our second year I think of going through the application process. It takes time to go through the process. That money is not for every teacher. Let me just tell the truth. Some teachers are going to get the money. All the teachers will not get the money. So it's not a scenario that's across the board, but we are tapping into that. We have received millions of dollars in lasso funding, cycle one, cycle two, cycle three, cycle four. Millions of
038dollars that we have received that we have applied for to tap into curriculum support and development, blue bonded implementation, professional development, coaching, all of these things that we're taking advantage of that's available. Uh we have received uh what the safe cycle grants where we've received hundreds of thousands of dollars for safety initiatives and things. Now are there things that are on the table that we haven't take advantage of? Absolutely. Because you have a choice and you have to apply for the money based on the context of your organization which consists of okay what am I already doing? What capacity do I have to actually implement this? because every time you implement something, you almost need a whole body person to maintain and manage it. And I'm just being honest, that's just how it is because
039there's so much red tape and things that you have to contend with to make certain that you're spending the money and using the resources appropriately. So, and and district districts have discretion. We've participated in many things and then some things we said no, we don't want to participate in that because we're doing this instead. So, we have that authority and we have that right as a district to do that. But it was maybe insinuated that we hadn't necessarily tapped into all of the resources. And no, we haven't because I can't tap into all of the resources, but we've tapped into millions of dollars of resource resources. One of the things that I want to make certain that our community understands is that we know that research and best practice says that sustainable improvement takes three
040to five years. But that's when the bar doesn't change, right? That's when your assessment doesn't change. That's when the accountability system doesn't change. And that's certainly when the specific issues in your community don't change like pandemics and hurricanes and storms and all of these things that impact, you know, the local context for your community. And I want to go on the record and say that Bulmont ISD is not and should not be compared to Houston ISD and Dallas ISD. [applause] The only thing that I would say that may be comparable is the percentage of economically disadvantaged students that we educate percentage-wise, right? But when you look at the actual demographic makeup of HISD and Dallas ISD, totally different than Bulmont ISD. When you talk about each of these districts with I think Dallas has 130
041something thousand kids and HISD has 180 something,000 children and we have 15,000 kids. You can't compare us and say that oh these are the comparable districts that are doing the work that you should be doing. So, I do I want to make certain that our community understands that what wasn't stated was that when you look at our data, 16 out of 22 campuses showed improvement on the overall accountability performance or maintain strong academic performance. That's not stated. So, even in the current context that we're in with the obstacles, with the moving bar, with the things that we're doing, we are showing improvement. We are doing some things that are right, but we're also educating every single child that comes to our doors. We're educating every single one. What was discussed was the timeline of course
042for this intervention, the process for individuals who choose to or want to apply. And of course, you know, if there are strong candidates in the community, candidates who don't have a political agenda, candidates who really care about the success of the children in Bowmont ISD, the deadline was extended. You have until the middle of February, I believe, now because it was January 31st, but you have until the middle of February to actually put in an application. I've heard two different things on the number of individuals who've applied. so far. So, I'm not going to give you the number because I've heard two different numbers. One number was reported last night and I heard a different number during a Zoom meeting uh the previous week. People who believe in the potential of our kids who don't
043have agendas, who really don't have agendas or vendettas against BISD, people who really and truly want to see the best for the students. That's what my hope and my prayer is for the individuals who come in and who think they can take the seats of the people here because it's not an easy job, right? It's not an easy job. And there's so many people who, you know, they think they can do it better than this board or they think, you know, hey, just do this, do this, do this. Well, I just want to commend our school board for standing up for our kids, for fighting for our kids, for doing the right thing and focusing on our kids, for the number of years that you have served in the capacity and in the seats. I
044love each and every one of you. I have learned so much from each and every one of you over the course of my tenure in leadership and just appreciate and value the service and the work. And I hope our community over the course of the next several months because they're going to we we're going to be here for a few months, right? We're still here, you know, still in, still doing the work, committed to the work. But the board, you know, has to make one one more important decision regarding, you know, the transition of this board to board of managers, and that's whether or not you want to take advantage of the next opportunity, which is to say we're going to appeal it to a soil hearing, SA, state office of administrative hearings. We went
045in December to appeal for the informal review with the commissioner. I put forth my best effort, best energy, best everything, you know, to share with the commissioner why he should make a different decision and felt like man, you know, even though the law says you could, the law contemplates making the decision based on one campus, which in our situation it was Fail Price and uh ML King. The decision is actually being made based on what? The collective collective view of Bulmont ISD and the academic performance. So does the commissioner did he did he did he make a mistake? Did he not follow the law? The commissioner actually did the only one of only two options that he could do. So when you think about moving forward with the appeal process, taking that into consideration, you
046know, do we expend taxpayer resources in something that when you really look at it clearly clearly when you look at what the law states, what the commissioner's options were, are we able to really appeal it on the level that would actually change change the outcome? And that's what's what's being considered. You know, for me, every decision that we make that I've always made is about what is best for the kids in our community. What is best for the kids in our community? So, should the board make a decision to appeal, then is that the best resource when at the end of the day, you know, what we see, what I see is that it's not necessarily likely to change the outcome. It's not going to stay the decision. It may prolong the timeline a little
047bit, but the 60 days starts immediately. Okay. So, the timeline is there's training for potential board of managers at the end of February. There's training for potential board of managers at the end of March. So, the seat the seating of a new board superintendent happens maybe end of April, beginning of May. No firm date, but somewhere along that time. So, do we continue to go through this turmoil and take focus off of kids right in a decision that for Shannon Allen based on what I see is not necessarily a decision that's going to be swayed at a state office of administrative hearing judge in front of administrative law judge. So, that's that's me. But I would like to uh you know provide opportunity to any of our trustees who want to give commentary on you
048know moving forward or not moving forward uh with the appeal. >> Wait a minute. I firmly support the decision not to move ahead with the law judge simply because the chances of it changing anything are slim to none and our focus has to be on our children and I I can't say what the next board of manag what the board of managers will do but I can promise you this board is all in for our children and we will continue to work for them as long as we're allowed. Mr. Dunn, >> I agree with Miss Hickman and the superintendent. Um, we worked really hard for you guys and you guys have worked really hard for us and we appreciate that. But the bottom line is we would just be wasting taxpayer dollars like the superintendent
049saying and just prolonging this for a little bit. Their mind is made up. The decision was probably before the first decision. So rather than waste some resources that we're going to concentrate on doing the best that we can do and that you have already been doing and I'm sure you will continue to do and I just wanted you to know that we got your back until they tell us get out that seat please. We got you. Thank you for what you have done for us. >> Anyone else? I'm in in total agreement is that it would be a a waste of resources. I don't think that there's anything that we can put together that will make a difference. Mind made up. And now we need to proceed forward with the plans that we have already.
050I don't think it's going to change anyone's mind. You got anything, Miss Abram? Who's never met a stranger? Let's go forward. Let's go forward and work until we can't work anymore. I agree with the other trustees and our superintendent full agreement with this. You want to do all we can do, but we know what the outcome is at this point. So, let's go forward going the rest of the committee and trustees. Okay, Miss Moon, 60 seconds or less. >> I just like to share Dr. Allen said it all and I concur with her. You know, we've done everything possibly that we know how to do in support of this district. We have. And um I have a little something I want to say in closure. So I will say that President Sige, but we will
051continue as Miss Hickman said, we will continue to work for this district, our future, the students who will come back and take these same seats and other places in this city. That's what really matters. And so I'd like to say I concur and thank you all for electing us and trusting us with our greatest asset, the children. Thank you. >> Look at that. Well said. Well, on to the cabinet report. Uh, next up, [clears throat] >> good evening. >> Let me begin while we're waiting on the presentation to pull up to say thank you again for your dedication and your service for always doing what's right for our children. We appreciate you. Tonight's school board outcome goals progress monitoring report will provide an update on board outcome goal 4, which focuses on improving our perception
052in the community. The presentation will be led by one of our task force leads, Lydia Sylvester, who also serves as our director of counseling, Miss Sylvester. Good evening everyone. President Sige, Dr. Allen board. Of course, it's always an honor to present to you all tonight. But I am not by myself. So I will give some data as it relates to our board outcome goal, but I do want to highlight some of our partners that have been so um doing tremendous work with our students and that is revisioning for future success as well as Lamar University. So they are here and I will reintroduce them properly and turn it over to them. Um, but before I do that, I would like to cover just a few pieces of data. Okay. So, our board outcome goal number
053four is of course from 2025 to 2030, which states Bowman ISD will improve its perception with all stakeholders by ensuring all students are safe, supported, and able to develop self-management skills as measured by surveys and other data reports. Within that board outcome goal there are many performance objectives but for tonight we are going to focus on SEO which is a social emotional aspect as well as student perception. So the first measure you have here is the number of students who feel safe in school. So our target for this year was 77% and the report revealed that 80 80% of our students feel safe in schools. Measure two was the number of students who reported being supported by a trusted adult at school. Our target was 86% and the survey uh supported 84% of students are
054uh supported by trusted adults. And then lastly um the number of students who report being able to self-regulate. So our target for this year was 50% and the results revealed 56%. So there are a lot of things that go into supporting our students just in general and within the counseling department there are so many layers of support that honestly under your leadership we would not have if it would not was not for you all. Um and so school counselors, wellness coordinators, behavior interventionists who are uh led by Miss Tara Chavis, our at risk coordinator for the district. We also have a district LPC this year which is the first and so I just want to say from the bottom of my heart I thank you because these numbers show the work of that. We have
055conducted 2,233 guidance lessons for the first semester. All of this data reflects the first semester. Small groups 1,814 individual sessions have been over 12,000. We have done 275 crisis interventions that includes self harm as well as suicidal ideiation. Um, That is a teaalth program that is available at 12 of our campuses that allows students to interact with licensed professional counselors online as well as type uh tap into medication management and psychiatric services. We also have 95 be the one mentors this year that work with our atrisisk students. So we have a be the one mentor on every campus and multiple on several. Our district LPC manages a case load constantly of 40 and it's maintaining a waiting list right now. Um we have kindness clubs available at every campus and of course multiple engagement events
056uh that you've seen just from our midyear report. But one that I would love to highlight is our family funday. So last year we did our first family funday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. It was amazing. We had over 500 families come out and so we we plan to do just the same this year. March 21st, everyone mark their calendars and vendors can begin to register. Many of the vendors that attend are our community partnerships. We have several Spindle, Buckners, Family Services Southeast Texas. So many. But again, tonight the highlight of tonight is revisioning for future success, which the leaders are Miss Katie Robersonson, Robertson, and Miss Birdie Harrison. And then Lamar University, our partner that's highlighted as well under the leadership of Dr. uh Donna Gober. So I will turn it over to them
057at this time. >> Hi guys. So I'm here on behalf of Provisioning for Future Success. Um this is a social emotional learning um sessions that go into third, fourth and fifth graders at seven different campuses. It's being led by the social skills trainers um April High Tower and April Garrett. They are life skills coaches. And so they come into the campuses and they grab a group of third, fourth and fifth graders and teach them social skills and emotional wellness. So uh we serve a seven campus with 132 students attending the sessions. Um we had done 87 sessions from October to December and we're projected for another 168 from January to May. So some of these topics are understanding feelings and practicing gratitude um feelings to thought to act um self-regulation choosing the right strategy for
058real life triggers and managing frustrations. So we are partnered. So we have Lamar students who have come and provided assistance for the social skills trainers. And so October December was the fall 2025 semester and we had total of 50 hours just from Lamar students. Um other supporting groups that came out um Jefferson County Sheriff's Department helped us with meals. Um Antioch Baptist Church uh five beta sigma Omega Sci-Fi Kappa Alphasai and then Leaks Incorporated and then Bulmont United. These have been mentors. People have been reaching out to also help us provide services for these kids beyond the classroom. Miss Harrison has done a wonderful job. So, not only are we teaching these kids life skills, but then we even go into the families. So, Miss Harrison has made a different contacts with 105 parents. Um,
059she's done over 200 different interactions, conversations about behaviors and academics. We had Christmas party. We did food giveaways and a lot of things that come up is discipline and Miss Birdie is able to talk with parents and talk and to be like a middle person for the students, for the schools and for the parents. So she's also provide some intervention. helping um with services for family member especially mental health services for some of the kids such as spindle talk and that's what we've been doing so far for revisioning future success. Any questions for us thoughts? [laughter] the one and only. >> So, how many uh Lamar University students do we have supporting our students and and was there what's the cadence? I guess some support from our Lamar University students. >> So, through Dr. Belinda
060Lopez, who's the chair of the counseling department, we did a search for students who were in their semester before practicum. So, these are counseling students working on their graduate degrees and trying to capture them just as they finish the bulk of their coursework but before they go into practicum which takes up all their time. So it's a finite list of students that we can capture locally and bring into the schools and then also our senior social work majors. So this past kind of pilot semester we had five dedicated committed students that came regularly to sessions. We have two of those committed to come back. two of them entered their practicum and we've generated a new list of students that are now a semester ahead of their practicum and then we've got now got new seniors
061in social work so we're bringing those in as well >> okay really good >> I have the honor and pleasure working with your parents once you know the parents you understand the student >> it's interesting it's rewarding because I meet the parents where they are and I They do not know sometimes how to approach the school. Sometime the principal is intimidating. So I schooled them, talk to them personally and say no, you go this way and you act this way. You don't bring an entourage. You go in and you talk with the teacher, you talk with the counselor. We have some wonderful counselors we're working with and I appreciate this video Sylvester provided and Tara Chavis with these behavior interventionist and wellness. Do you have what you need? So, we're trying to really help. [snorts]
062>> Thank you all so much. Again, I just want to say you all understand that before students can really be successful academically. They have to have multiple layers of support to get through their experiences that we see every day. And so, without you all providing that avenue for these multiple layers of support, they wouldn't have what they need. I really appreciate it. Thank you. [applause] >> Miss Sylvester, sign me up. Next year I'll be one of Santa's elves. >> I think we at the point where Mr. Maxwell, >> not him. >> Public comments. Miss Smith, do we [clears throat] have anyone signed up to address the board? >> Yes, sir, we do. >> The board will now hear comments from those persons who have signed up to speak. This portion of the meeting is set
063aside for parents, student employees, and community members to speak to the board about any matter of interest to them pertaining to the school program. Each person who signed up by 4:30 yesterday may speak for no more than 2.5 minutes. Those who signed up after that time and public prior to public comments today will be allowed to speak for 1.5 minutes. During the public comments, the board will listen, but it is forbidden by the Texas Open Meeting Act from discussing any topic raised or making any decision unless the matter is already on the agenda for this meeting. The board reminds speakers that public comment is not the time to bring board complaints about a particular program, employee, or student. Should a speaker remarks include complaints directed at a particular student, employee, or program, I will respectfully
064act that that individual stop speaking and utilize the board's adopted agreement procedures. Miss [clears throat] Smith, could you call the first part person forward? >> Yes, sir. Jennifer Moore. Hey, Jennifer. >> Good afternoon. Good evening. Before I speak, I just want to say thank you to the board and I really truly honestly appreciate everything you do and continue to do until you're no longer able to do it. And I really appreciate that from the bottom of my heart. I believe you guys have all the right heart for our kids. And I appreciate it very much. >> Thank you. Good evening. In the spirit of open discussion, I'd like to be able to address the district's recent statements on regarding cameras in the classroom. I want to be very clear. My request is not for cameras
065in every classroom. I am asking for cameras only in self-contained special education classrooms where our most vulnerable students spend their days and often cannot communicate what happens to them. I've spent four years in my life being a family peer advocate, serving families across five counties and over 20 school districts. And in all that time, I have never met a special needs parent opposed to cameras in self-contained classrooms. Not every parent asks for them, but I've never met one who felt cameras would harm their child. The law regarding cameras was written to protect the dignity and rights of these children, not to deny transparency. Privacy is already addressed in the law. Audio monitoring is restricted in private areas such as toileting and changing. Dignity and accountability are not opposites. They are partners. Miss Brook stated that
066cameras are a tool and cannot replace well-trained staff, appropriate ratios, and strong behavior systems. And I agree. But until those systems are consistently in place, cameras remain our only concrete layer of accountability that we can rely on. The district has also stated it is responsive and compassionate when concerns arise. And I want to respectfully challenge that. Where was the concern when my child spent eight days in the hospital? Where was the concern for the children who remained in that classroom? CPS notified the district of an open investigation, and yet it took 16 days and two in-person visits for me to receive a phone call. Where was the compassion when I raised concerns for months only to have CPS called on me instead of the teacher being reported? Finally, in response to in where is the
067responsiveness when I have spent eight months asking for cameras and still cannot find the request form or procedure on the district website. It's bigger than cameras. But until systematic change changes are made, cameras are a necessary safeguard. I am asking the board to take responsibility, to do what you can in the time that you have, and to stand with the families who cannot always speak for themselves. Until then, I'll keep asking for cameras and accountability. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Moore. [clears throat] >> Yes, Smith. >> Speaker is Sabrina Winger. Hey, Sabrina. >> Hello. How are you? >> Good. [clears throat] >> Sabrina Winger, 2345 Interstate 10, uh, sweet 17701. Good evening, Dr. Allen, President Sige, and board. My speech tonight is mostly for the community, but if you would indulge me the opportunity
068for the through the charity of the community, I would greatly appreciate it. I have been in education for over 20 years. I was also raised by an educator. I have always been told we go into education for the outcome, not the income. Well, Mr. Kim is going to make more in one hour on the clock than twothirds of our employees make and we're in the classroom. He's not. Uh we as taxpayers need to be requesting what his schedule is going to look like. We didn't need to know how he's going to split his time between the three districts he's been appointed over and also how will we be build for his travel. Will we be build for when he comes to us $50 an hour when he goes away from us or to and from
069us? >> These are things that affect our general fund expenditures. Do we even have enough money to pay him for a while and keep the lights on around here? During the last state takeover, there was so much community involvement that there was standing room only in this room. You had to get here almost an hour ahead of time just to get a parking spot. Well, Balmont, it's time to get back to that. We are all responsible for every child in this district. They are all of our children. It is all of our duties to make sure that we nurture them into productive citizens. We need to ask this new incoming leader for the data that proves that they can guarantee success, which is the rhetoric expounded by Morath and his team. And why is it
070that those districts that are comparable to BISD are only successful says a state takeover? You know, why wouldn't they hadn't they shared already what's working for them? We sure would have given it the old college try around here. We should also ask why it is they did not alert us to why what was working. We need to also ask the new sheriff coming in how they plan to tackle attendance and discipline which are two of our major issues. In conclusion, it is time for all hands on deck. We need everyone to get involved. We could use snacks for students who come to school hungry. You know, we all know that children can't learn on an empty stomach. I know at the elementary level we could use clothing for students or for our little ones who
071mess up their clothes. You know, get in where you fit in community. Many of our parents send us the best that they have. Thank you. In conclusion, this is our district, not Austin's. >> Thank you, Sabrina. >> Thank you. That concludes public comment. >> [clears throat] >> It is now time for ourformational items. >> Mr. Samuel, >> good evening board. You have in front [clears throat] of you this evening a listing of newly hired and separated employees for the month of December. As you peruse, I just want uh the community to save today for our educator job fair. Uh Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 am to 12 pm at Westbrook High School. Any questions? Thank you, >> Mr. Hernandez. Come on down. Good evening. Um, for the month of December, the tax office collected just
072over or just under 20 20 million600,000 in maintenance and operation taxes and just over $4.3 million in debt service. We were a little less collected percentage-wise as of December 31st, but hopefully it'll be made up during January. For the month of December, our general fund had just over $95 million in revenue and expenditures um just over 87 million. We had outstanding POS just under four million and um we are receiving more money now through the state than we had in the past. For activity funds, they collected the campus activity funds collected $184,280. And we had a number of monetary donations this month. BASF donated $10,000 to the Career and Technical Center. Stellar Bank $100. Christa's Health $1,000. Gar House $200. and to Bowmont United High School. West Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Senior Citizen Organization donated $50
073and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas donated $125. This month, we also have a quarterly investment report for the board, and this is as of November the 30th of 2025. Um it's for September 1st, 2025 through November 30th of 2025. And in Lonear, we had 96,27,216.65. And text pool we had $4,770,47047. And this is required under the investment act. Any questions? Uh I I do have a question. [clears throat] You said we had uh 96 mill 95 million >> 96 million. >> Okay. >> In Lone Star that that includes our general fund and our debt service. So all that combined is 96 million. >> How much additional money? You said the state's given us additional money. >> Well, um under the new funding formula, we we received payments, one in um September and the other
074in October, and it was just over $9 million. >> We got big plans for that, right? >> Well, we want to have a a a good amount of cash to make it through the months of September, October, November, and December because tax collections typically don't start really coming in until January. >> Yeah, I know. They bother me now. >> Yes. >> Need to pay Any other questions, board? >> You're more than welcome. >> What you waiting on, Chief? Chief Malro. Come on down. >> Good evening, Dr. Allen, board president and board of trustees. Um after the tragedy of Ubaldi, our governor along with the commissioner and the Texas school safety center implemented uh the intruder detection audits. These audits of course were designed to help ensure that we were keeping our students as well as
075our staff safe. The objective of course uh was to ensure this year as well as the previous year that 100% of our school districts were all audited. Um to date uh we have had 17 of our campuses audited as well as needing nine more left. our district has been doing phenomenally well uh thus far and we still have several more campuses to go. But I also just want to share that the process that goes into this uh deals with uh intruder access uh weekly door lock checks as well as exterior door checks. So again, it's process that is consistently being done and uh again I just want to applaud our principles as well as their staff for ensuring that uh we're meeting state mandate on that. Do we have any questions? >> Any questions? >>
076Chief, would y'all go through that door? >> Excuse me. >> If somebody's in a perious situation, would your office go through that door? >> Not like the guy who in our uh u Yes, sir. We will go through that door. That's the right answer. >> Absolutely, sir. All day. >> All right. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. We'll now hear the facilities subcommittee sport from Miss Spooner. >> Let me scoot up here. The facilities committee met on Tuesday, January 13th. The following members were present. Dr. Allen, myself, chair, President Thomas Sige, Cheryl Hernandez, Randall Maxwell, Dr. Ron Jackson, and Mark Mlelen. The following items were discussed. BISD Trey Transportation Complex Construction continues on schedule. the work will continue. A discussion of the amount of contingency funding that remains was conducted. A redesign of the heater
077apparatus and holes real devices was discussed. Pictures of progress were presented at the meeting. A potential roofing project at King Collegiate Academy was presented due to the structure has a leak where the roof is sitting. It's presently leaking. So, we could possibly have a potential roofing project. The Dogget stadium scoreboard and natiatorum timing system were discussed by Dr. Jackson and Mrs. Hernandez. Walkthroughs by vendors and engineers will be conducted the last week of January and a bid opening will be held during the first week of February. a possible board action item will occur at the February board meeting. Finally, and uh Dr. Jackson before I finally uh just think about coming up and just giving us a little insight on uh what's to take place just share with our audience tonight. But let me conclude
078here. But I would love for you to come up and share about uh the vending process just a little bit. >> Heading up here, doc. >> Okay, President Sig, finally before Dr. Jackson uh comes to the podium, a review of athletic needs was discussed. Smith uh middle school tennis court fence, washer, and dryers. uh middle school's uh preparation will begin for middle school's softball and baseball field preparation and a wait room area for Peach Macau Arthur campus. Thank you. I'll yield to Dr. Jackson. Thank you. >> Good evening, board president, superintendent, board trustees. Uh I am Dr. Jackson, director athletics, but I want you to close your eyes and imagine that there's two other people up here standing with me. Probably to my left should be Kristen Gentry and probably to my right should be
079uh Mark from maintenance. So, I'm going to try to cover information. What we have in the the next few weeks uh we're going to have uh vendors walk through uh to take a look at so they can provide a bid uh to the districts and have an opportunity to go see the source of work that needs to be done. not only putting up the schoolboard, but also adding uh electrical uh power out there that's needed for the schoolboard. And then once they submit a bid, uh then they'll submit a bid process. And then once they submit a bid process, we'll present the best outcome of the company we want to uh present to the board in order for you uh to vote on. So, we're moving forward. We're making sure we following our district policy
080when it comes to purchasing and submitting bids uh in order for to make sure we stay transparent uh not only with our but also with the board and our trustees trustees and the superintendent. So that's where we are with that. Okay. >> Thank you, Dr. Jackson and uh President Sige. Yes, >> Dr. Jackson. I'm sorry about this. Uh Dr. Allen, I couldn't help but think about and I don't know if it's appropriate, but I couldn't help but about think about uh the game. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Coming up >> uh tomorrow uh we have uh district basketball games. The girls play the girls Bulmont United versus Westbrook played their first district ball game on December the 19th. Uh the way the schedule uh fell this year, the girls played theirs first. Tomorrow will be the
081girls second district game against each other. Bowman United versus Westbrook. And it' be the boys first district game against each other. And we're going to have the varsity girls going to start at 5:30 at Westbrook High School. Boy, the boys going to start around 700 pm at Westbrook High School. Uh so one has to win, one has to lose. It's really for uh district uh seating. Uh so uh you know, we're pulling uh for the best outcome for Bowman ISD. Uh people always ask me who is my favorite team. Uh our favorite team in BDS this year is Baytown Sterling. If Baytown Sterling makes the playoffs on the boys side, if Baytown Sterling makes the playoffs on the boys side in district 1958, that means the potential of Westbrook and BEu playing in the playoffs
082again this year to continue in the state playoffs won't happen because one school will go big school, which be Westbrook, and one school go small school, Bulmont United. So, who is our favorite team? Who the team we're pulling for this year in Bulmont ISD? >> Sterling. Okay. But come out tomorrow uh if you don't have anything to do. Uh tickets were about 5:00 pm. We only had like 98 tickets left uh because from being sold out. Uh we are not accepting passes uh tomorrow. And this is the reason why because we have to make sure we control the population of people in the both gyms at uh Westbrook which is tomorrow and then we play again at Bmont United because of fire code. And you can't control that when you have passes. So the benefit
083of selling tickets online. Basically, tickets are sold out. So, when you get there, there won't be no line. You walk in, if you don't have a ticket, uh by tonight, more than likely, you would not be able to get to the game. But that's unfortunate. But again, that's a good problem. That means we have some successful programs here in B. Thank you. >> Any questions for Dr. Jackson? [snorts] We are now ready for the consent agenda. Does anyone want to pull any item off the consent agenda for discussion? Okay, we're now ready for our action items. >> I'm sorry. I'll >> accept agenda. >> Second. >> Motion has been made by Miss Hickman and second by Mr. Dunn. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 6. We're now ready for
084our action items that we'll discuss in close session. discussion. >> Second discussion. >> Second. >> Oh, you said discussion. >> Yeah, it's already been moved. >> Second by Mr. Evans. Any discussion? All those in favor? None opposed? Motion carries 6. >> Mr. President, I recommend that the board approve budget amendments from the general fund 7 and accept amendments for special revenue 15,16 and 17. >> A motion. So move >> second. >> Motion was made by Mr. Dunn, second by Miss Avery. >> Thank you, Mr. Sige. most esteemed >> as you go in. Say it louder. >> Most esteemed president Sige. We have um GF7 which moves um transfers funds between functions for um the career and technical center and then the bilingual program. And then the same for our special revenue funds for title one
085part A, title four part A and then our local grant from the Strong Foundation. They're moving funds between functions. >> Any discussion, questions? All those in favor? Motion carry 6. Okay. To your surprise, we're almost done early. >> Mr. Evans. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, short and sweet. All leaders out in the audience, all leaders, cabinet level, it's no secret. Just lead. Just lead. Uh it's incumbent upon you to just lead. So do what you know how to do and uh continue to carry the district forward. Do not go weary in welloing. Let's work. Thank you for all you do. >> Miss Higman, >> it's fun for it to be board appreciation night. We get all kinds of presents including cookies from several different directions. And we do like cookies. >> Thank
086you. We are not the group that leads this district. No, we may, you know, in theory be the leaders, but all of you in the audience are the ones that lead the district. You take care of the children every day. And we appreciate you more than we can say. Keep up the good work. You are making a difference. We know it. even if the state of Texas is a little blind. >> Mer. [snorts] >> Thank you, President Sige. First of all, I would like to since I have this moment to send a shout out at this meeting to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. We celebrated Founders Day this month and oh Lord, it is just so heartfelt because I don't want to I I I really am having a moment but I
087want to send a shout out and those of you that are here that are my sisters, will you please stand? All of my sisters, this is a part of it. Come on. If you're in the audience, please let's give these ladies a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you. Thank beautiful. First, the first uh AfricanAmerican sorority in this country, founded in 1908, whose root or roots are embedded in education. So I would be remiss not to acknowledge them tonight and kudos to all the other Greeks that have celebrated. Now I do have something President uh President Sige that uh I just want to say and I knew you were going to time me. >> Take time. >> So I said let me jot down a few little notes so I personally can stay on task.
088And I'll start with this. whole list of stuff. >> Okay. In closing for me tonight, reflecting school board governance is the cornerstone of public education. influencing and creating policy, ensuring resource allocation, reviewing and approve and approve it curriculum. Being cognizant of facility needs, staying in sync with the most innovative tools in all content areas for educational success, which that's just to name a few. And all of this overflows into our greatest asset, our students. As trustees, we are servant leaders and we are lifong learners without reservation. We are a voice for the community. On another note on our appreciation night and we really know that we are appreciation appreciated, excuse me. I would like to dispel the misconception of school board trustee compensation due to I have been questioned about this throughout my years of
089service by some, not all, by some. A school board trustee in the state of Texas serves as an elected unpaid volunteer based on the Texas Education Code which dictates trustees are not entitled to compensation for their service in Texas. In Texas, some other states, school board members get paid. There is a rationale behind unpaid service. There's some r there's a rationale. Inquiring minds should find out. Although we may not get monetarily compensated, we get so and I want to linger there because it's like the O's in Spooner. We get so much more the opportunity to shape the future. I personally consider what I do a calling coupled with passion. I'm just having a couple with passion. This year 2026 marks my 40th year of service to BISD. Thank you. And be before I finish this
090is it presidents again >> and this is from all of us. Thank you for allowing us to be education champions. Thank you. >> Well said, Miss Boner. Well said, Mr. Dunn. >> No matter what happens [clears throat] down the road, don't worry about that. We will support you in doing what you do. We will continue to do that until we're no longer sitting here. I want to thank each and every one of you that voted for me twice and at large the entire city. It's just unfortunate that we don't get an opportunity to finish what we started. But you will still be here, all of you. And we will protect you until we are no longer seated. So don't worry about what's going on with us. Just continue to do what you do and know
091that you are truly appreciated for all the hard work and effort that you have put in for the students, the community of Bulmont, Texas. I just wanted you to know that. Thank you very much. Doc >> really. Well, again, I want to echo what Miss Spooner said. Thank you for everything that you have done done for us. Uh I got three four bags up here. I get to take home because you have shown us the appreciation. I got my little coupon to get my toes done from from the career center. Take fully advantage of that. You know, educators are are unsung heroes. You know, the support that you give to our our children, you you never really see the outcome, but you all have produced doctors, lawyers, city councilmen, county commissioners. You don't really see
092the impact that you make because a lot of time it doesn't come back to you right away. But you know, I don't care the worst human being in the world, they'll always be able to tell you who their favorite teacher was. And it's you all, you all have produced some of the world's greatest individuals on that. Plain and simple. I mean, I told you about my story about a lady named Leland Betts who told me that you should learn as though you'll live forever and die as though you'll uh live as though you'll live learn as though you'll live forever and live as though you'll die tomorrow. Mr. Nandis Noah, Maxwell know her. Uh Miss Miss uh Higman just said she know it. uh Miss Greenwood that that lady instilled that in me and it
093pushed me to go to higher heights. She's an educator. You all have that same effect on students. So principles, when you go back to your campuses in the morning, motivate your educators. You cannot quit. We are all in all the time. This Dr. Allen is still your superintendent. Still until the day she leaves. You owe her to work. Roll up your sleeves and work until the day they tell her you're no longer the superintendent of BISD. We are going to support you and her until the day that they tell us you are no longer a board of trustees. And me, even when they tell me that, I'm going to continue to volunteer in the schools. I've been doing that for 30 years. You can't stop me unless they come up with a rule that say
094trustees, former trustees cannot be involved. And that would be crazy of them, plain and simple. But as you know, everyone said, don't get caught up in what TEA is doing. You want to help us, show them that they made a mistake. Press your students and your teachers to go a little bit higher. Show them that the things that we put in place works. Show them that we can go from this D campus or or district rating to a B or a C. Push your students to not just make it, but to get over the hump and that will make them look foolish. They did not give us an opportunity to put our plan in action. Well, no, the plan is in action. They took a sledgehammer to a situation where a scaffold would have done
095it. They could have operated round right around those schools, but they took a sledgehammer. So, we have the opportunity to where we can make them scratch their heads. Plain and simple, but motivate your teeth. Keep them pumped up. They cannot quit. Do not let them abandon ship. Explain to them why they are important to this district. Because when TA come to town, people going to want to jump ship. Don't let them explain to them how valuable that they are to this district. Sometime they don't get it. Sometime you don't tell them how valuable they are. Remind them that they are important to this district and they'll stick around for you. So I stand up for you and you and you and you and you. I stand up for Dr. and I'll be until the last
096day and like I said a volunteer. Ain't nothing tea can do about me volunteering. Plain and simple. Just like I visited every campus, I'm going to continue to visit every campus. You don't quit on me, I won't quit on you. We got a deal. Well, stand up for your superintendent. Get up. The meeting is a journ. Y'all got a time. Y'all got an early meeting. Go on home. Relax. Get out of here. I need some