Belton ISD Board Meeting August 18, 2025

001Welcome to the Belton ISD Board of Trustees meeting. This evening's showcase is extra special. We're going to be celebrating students who stepped into the national stages this summer and showed the world what it's like to be career ready in Belton ISD. You'll get to hear directly from these incredible students and they're going to share their experiences with us this evening. Without further ado, let's hear directly from these incredible students. We're going to start with introductions. If y'all could just share the mic, can each of you share your name, grade level, and the campus in the event that you participated in? >> Uh, hi, I'm Anna. I'm go to Belton High School. I'm a junior and I participated in HOSA International Conference uh doing the event research poster. >> Hi, my name is Shahia Lane. I

002just graduated from Lake Belton High School and I competed in medical coding. >> Uh hi, my name is Joseph. I am a senior and I competed in teamworks for Skills USA. I'm Bel High School. >> Thank you all. Please give them a round of applause. So each one of you are involved in very high skill level event areas. So what inspired y'all to get into these individual fields? Uh so I'm a very people oriented person. I would say I value my relationships, my friendships, my family and I want to help those people. So that led me to medicine. I have a lot of inspiration. um in my life. My dad is a doctor, my mom is a PT. So yeah, that just kind of inspired me to join HOSA and get a head start in

003medicine. So I competed in business professionals of America and my event is like a medical medical coding, right? But I'm going to school for engineering actually. and I just wanted to learn more about like other career fields and I think it's important to like branch out and just understand like what the world has for us. Uh my teacher loves competitions and he's been doing it for years. So, uh every year he'll kind of scout like whoever he thinks will be good for competition and I was one of those people and he really pushed me to, you know, love and really practice for the competitions. Thank you all. So this summer, while everyone else was sunbathing and doing all kinds of things, y'all were making New York Times local news and all the different things. What

004part of the experience are you the most proud of? I think I'm most proud of the uh experience I gained in the lab. So actually uh doing my event research poster I got to learn a lot about working in the lab and um certain procedures you do in the lab I guess. Um I learned how to dilute solutions and micro pipet and plate agar and um bacteria and yeah that was a really cool experience. I think it prepared me for the medical field and actually it got me interested in research. So >> um I think for me it's kind of a funny story. I was supposed to compete in health insurance and the day of I was placed in the wrong event. So I was placed in medical coding, no materials, no books or anything.

005And I think that was like one of the top 10 scariest moments of my life. But um it just really taught me that like even when you're placed in a really hard situation, you just have to persevere and it can take you places. Like six at nationals was really crazy for an event I wasn't supposed to be in. But >> um I'm really proud of like how much we've put into it and getting the recognition we have from like the New York Times and like local like of course right now we're getting recognition like in front of this whole school board. I'm really proud that we have that opportunity at you know being so young. >> So we'd love to know what's next for you. How has this experience shaped your goals for the future?

006Did it open any new doors or shift any way of thinking about your path after high school? >> Uh so yeah, as I mentioned re or earlier, I would like to be in research. So I want to work in a lab. Um maybe do like infectious disease or microbiology. And yeah, I never really considered myself working in a lab, but I do also want to do patient care. But this is a new venue that has opened up for me. Uh me personally, it didn't alter any of my career plans. I'm still sticking with civil engineering, but it was cool to like learn about other careers. >> Um this has helped me uh raise money so I can actually get scholarships and I'll uh know pursue uh more education and what I want to do. Just

007want to say that each of you are modeling our journey of a graduate competency so well, especially overcoming things, getting signed up for stuff that you never signed up for and still excelling at it. You should be super proud. Any other thoughts that you'd like to share with the audience about your experiences or the class you're in or anything like that? So at the national level, we got I got to compete or not compete but participate as a voting delegate. And so we're basically electing representatives for BPA at the national level with the state representatives. And it was different for me because I've competed in like TS technology student association and we've had voting delegates before and I've done that before and it's really just we go into an auditorium, press a button on the

008link and just vote. But this time we got to um we all met together all the voting delegates and we came up with questions or like what we um what we saw or that needed that we needed in our representatives. And I it really showed me like how important our voice is in the community in like electing these representatives and who we choose to put into power. And I think that's something we should open up to more students. So, something really cool we did at uh HOSA International was we did pin trading. So, your state got a certain amount of pins and being from Texas, we got this really cool red truck with like blue bonnets and like this flag inside the truck bed and it was super cute and we got to trade it

009with all the other states and there were actually international students there. So, I got this really cool pin from China with a panda on it. has glitter and I made an international friend. So I think that was a really good introduction to professionalism and networking and you know you have to make friends in your field if you want to get anywhere in that field. So I think that was another experience that more students should get is going to a conference and having some era of professionalism. You know, dressing up, meeting people, taking um yourself, you have to make yourself accountable for making friends and making relationships. >> Thank you. To that note about students, do y'all have some advice for students that want to be where you are that aspire to make it to the

010national level in any area? >> You really have to work hard and hold yourself accountable. Um, nobody's going to do this for you. Yes, I had a lot of help from my teacher and my parents and you know the medical field in general, but I had to uh come up with all my method methodology and write my own abstract and like develop my own poster. So um you can't depend on anyone to do the work for you and you have to work hard to get where you want to be. I think the biggest piece of advice for me is just like starting. That's the hardest part for me. Just putting my name out there and just signing up for clubs. I think that's the hardest part. But if you get over that and you just

011put your mind to it, you work hard, you'll get somewhere. Um, if if you want to get into competitions, do it uh while you're like freshman, sophomore, so you actually kind of know what your competition looks like. Uh, it will take a lot of hard work and a lot of time after school, you know, during your actual class, but if you put your mind to it, you can know win nationals. >> For a minute there, I thought you were going to say do it while you're so young. You all have questions for them? >> Okay, we want to give y'all another round of applause. [Applause] >> Now, I have a question from our audience. >> Well, I was just curious, what skill area did you bring to the team? Tell us a little bit more

012about um what you did at nationals. >> Um I was the plumber for my team. Uh I was also the team lead. So, um, if we ever mess anything up, which we did a lot, obviously, um, I was the main one who decided how we fix it, if we fix it. Um, and we did make a lot of mistakes, which obviously, uh, we did not win. But, uh, plumbing mainly, I did get a max score on my plumbing at state or sorry, nationals. So, um, >> yeah. He says that like he says that like that was an easy feat. You are second in the nation, sir. Okay. What about you girls? Did you want to expound on what he said or anything about what you were doing? It's okay. Okay. So, that concludes our showcase.

013If we could just have one more round of applause for these courageous students. [Applause] I was going to ask you, but your parents are here. I was going to ask you, do you all have to do all kinds of work? Do you have to do the plumbing at home now? And are you expected to save lives and things now at home? >> No. I think I really leave the saving lives to my parents. Um, but but one day, one day. >> I feel like this is more >> Oh, God. Um, yeah, my mom brings up a lot about how if anything is broken, since I'm a plumber, I am now expected to fix it. Ladies and gentlemen, our national students. Our board of trustees is going to transition to the stage and we will take

014it from there. Please stand by. All right. as our board's coming up. I I took some notes while they were talking and I actually literally do need a plumber, but that feels wrong and opportunistic, so I'm not going to ask. Um, but as as they were talking, just sat there capturing the perseverance, the adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and the empathy that they gained through those experiences. So, will you all just join me one last time in congratulating these amazing students? Good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us this evening and for your interest in Belton ISD. I hope you've enjoyed the national competitors and our conversation with them. Let's give them another round of applause. You guys are impressive to say the least. Thank you for agreeing to come up here and talk talk

015to us and and uh share your experiences with us. I see the competencies at work. Thank you. Okay. The time is now 6:16 p.m. and the Belton School District Board of Trustees are now can meet in a regular meeting on Monday, August the 18th, 2025 at the Pittinger Fine Arts Center located at 400 North Wall Street in Belton. A quorum of board members is present. This meeting has been duly called and notice of the meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act Government Code Chapter 551. I want to welcome the members of our audience and our live stream viewers to this meeting. As a Belton ISD board of trustees, we are here to set goals, listen to reports from the superintendent, approve budgets, contracts, personal appointments, and make policy for the

016district. This meeting is this meeting. This is a meeting of the board of trustees held in public. However, it is not a public meeting. Prior to this meeting, board members received information related to items on tonight's agenda. Agenda items may not necessarily be handled in the order listed on the notice. This meeting is open to all who wish to attend and hear the matters discussed. These proceedings are being livereamed on the district's YouTube channel and will be available for review in the days following tonight's meeting. For the video to adequately reflect the proceedings, I respectfully request that you please refrain from talking while others are speaking and that cell phones are on the silent mode. Please rise for a moment of silent prayer or meditation. Please remain standing as our students from Joe M. Purle

017Elementary School lead us in the pledge of allegiance and honor to the Texas flag. 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. >> I honor the Texas flag. I pledge algiance to the Texas. One state under God. One and indivisible. >> Please be seated. >> The first item on the agenda this evening is recognitions. We will turn it over to our communications team to start us off. We are pleased to recognize our students from Joe Murle Elementary who led us in the uh pledges this evening. Indigo and Logan. Indigo is a fourth grader and she loves reading. Um her friends describe her as a good listener, full of energy and bursting with

018creativity. Logan is in third grade and PE is his all-time favorite subject. His friends say he's fast, funny, and always ready for fun. And you guys did an amazing job this evening. Thank you for being with us tonight. And we would like our students who participated in our showcase to come forward now. Um uh you got to hear firsthand uh accounts of what it's like for our students who participate in national competitions. We are so grateful for these three students who were willing to come and uh talk about their experience tonight. Uh we did have many many students that attended nationals this year. Um and uh it's always fun to get to hear about the experience, what it teaches our students and what they bring and teach to those that they encounter at nationals. And

019uh so thank you guys so much for being here and giving of your time. We are super proud. Our future is very very bright. Thank you. [Applause] BHS theater award of distinction. If you we can have our staff from Belton High School come forward. They received an exemplary status in the Texas Educational Theater Association's 2025 Award of Distinction program. Uh that means that they demonstrated excellence in performance, access to resources, and community engagement. We have directors Marie Phillips and Melissa Stuff. And we are truly proud of all that you do for our students in the Belton High School theater department. Congratulations. [Applause] And now we would like to recognize two new administrators. We'll have Cheyenne and Rachel come forward. Cheyenne Bab was been named the principal at James El Burrell Elementary with she comes to

020us with a decade of experience in public education and Rachel Ramirez is the new principal at Lake Belton Middle School and she comes to us with over 18 years of experience in public education. Uh both leaders have already hit the ground running on their campuses and are not only leading but leading the charge well and we are super excited to welcome them to the BISD family. Congratulations. [Applause] And now we have a department showcase. We would love for teaching and learning to come forward. Our teaching and learning department uh provides access to high quality instruction and resources and all kinds of support for our students and staff in the district with a range of specialized programs to meet students unique needs including our ELLs, our gifted and talented students, advanced academics, career and technology education,

021and those students receiving accommodations through 504 and special education. They also guide school accountability and assessment um and the data analysis efforts districtwide. This team works so incredibly hard all year long, but nobody works as hard as them over the summer. So, they have put in countless hours of professional development, countless hours rewriting curriculum and getting resources ready for our students and staff. And we are truly grateful for all of your efforts. >> Thank you. Teaching and learning. And now we would like to recognize our community partner this evening. uh the University of Mary Harden Baylor. Uh UMHB partners with the district in numerous ways, but this year we are recognizing them for a new partnership. Uh asb research team is working alongside our schools to gather data and provide valuable insights that will enhance

022the hope squad program that we will implement districtwide this school year. Hope Squad uh will promote a culture of care and connection and together with um we're working to create a school environment where all students uh feel seen, supported, and never alone. We are so grateful for UMH and your partnership with Belton ISD and all that you do. So, thank you so much for being here with us this evening. Thank you guys. Good to see you. I love our student showcases and the recognitions piece. It's great to spotlight the great work of our partners. Not only does UMHB um join with us to really try to figure out some solutions to complex problems, but they are also the incredible partners that allowed us to have a space for convocation for free. And so, thank you

023all very much. Thanks to our teaching and learning team and all of our incredible students that are here. Let's give our students all one final round of applause. Now that recognitions are concluded, uh, we'll take a couple of minutes to allow you to exit the building unless you want to stay for the building or for the meeting, I'm sorry. Never understand. [Applause] >> I haven't worked with him in a while. Next on the agenda, public comments in accordance with policy beed local. We'll take public comments regarding items on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting and comments regarding non-aggenda items will be heard at the end of the meeting to allow the board to conduct the business of the district. I've been handed one person that will make making comments, Miss Brenda Howard. >>

024Miss Har, before you begin, it looks like you're speaking or making comments about 5B. Now allow me a moment to read this into the record. Okay, >> perfect. >> In accordance with district policy beed local, any person wishing to address the board of trustees during public comments shall shine up shall sign up before the meeting in order to comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act. The board may not respond to comments or otherwise discuss or act upon any issues that are not posted on the meeting agenda. Participants will be allowed three minutes for public comments regarding items on the agenda. We have a timer on the screen that allows you that shows you a lot of time and a sound will occur at the conclusion. The board shall not tolerate disruption of the meeting by

025members of the public. Please state your name for the record and your uh city of residence and you may begin. >> Hi, my name is Brenda Howard and I live in Belton, Texas. And in the 2022 bond, there was a $5 million bond that was for technology or electronics. And at the time, I expressed concern about that particular bond because five years, the electronics with kids probably wasn't going to last five years. it would approximately last, in my opinion at the time, two to threeish years. And so that meant we were financing a depreciable item that wasn't going to last the life of the bond. And here we are three years later and we are asking for an additional now $6 million for again an appreciable item or depreciable item in technology and knowing that

026kids are hard on technology and that technology changes. I mean even let's assume the kids are perfect with the technology and they never break anything. you still have software and hardware that in five years is obsolete and we're getting into AI. So, I would appreciate it if um you would please put technology or depreciatable items like that in maintenance and operation and budget for that so that we're not financing that we're going to be in a negative situation. And I know there'll be a report later on the 2022 bond and maybe that can be addressed to say, but right now it looks like we owe $2 million for an additional two years on the 2022 bond for electronics as we're about to finance another $6 million for another five years. Um, I do want to

027commend you guys because I do know you took a boatload off and I appreciate it and sometimes when you're d, you know, like in a hole you have to stop digging and I appreciate that there were steps taken. Um, this is just something that I still didn't quite see that was addressed and I'd appreciate if you addressed it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Miss Howard. Okay, we move on to item four, action items, public hearing regarding 2025 2026 budget and proposed tax rate. Dr. Goolan. Thank you, board. Melissa Laferty, uh, Belton ISD CFO has come to the podium. So, she's going to provide you with a quick update on the 2526 budget and also discuss um the tax rate and then we'll after that go into a public hearing. >> All right. Good

028evening. Tonight we are here to discuss the 2526 budget and tax rate and then we'll hold a public meeting to give the community members opportunities to voice their concerns about the budget and tax rate. So, tonight I'm going to share with you just a few highlights. um in regards to the budgets and tax rates that are going to be asked to be adopted tonight. So for the general fund total revenues are 153,39,91 50.5 million of that 33% is local revenues which is in the form of tax collections and other local revenues that we uh collect throughout the district. 101.4 4 million or 66% of those revenues is state revenue. And you can see there we're heavily dependent on state funding rather than tax collections. And then federal revenues come in at 1% at $1.4 million

029for the general fund. General fund expenditures are also 153,39,91. So we will be asking you to adopt a uh a balanced budget this evening. Salaries and benefits make up 83% of those expenditures and then all the supply budgets in the campuses and departments is the other 17% at 25.5 million. The Texas Education Code requires school districts to provide accelerated instruction in the applicable subject areas each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument. So built within the general fund budget is $719,123 of our compensatory education funds um have been budgeted for this very purpose. And you can see there the different areas where those dollars are planned uh for that accelerated instruction. All right. And so for tonight for the general fund, we're going to ask you to adopt a balanced budget

030with 153.3 million in revenue and 153.3 million in expenditures for debt service. Um, we're going to ask you to uh propose uh to adopt a budget of 26,44,350 in revenue, $25,233,326 uh for expenditures for a surplus budget of 1,171,24. And for school nutrition, um their budget is proposed at 8,240,000 uh in revenues and for expenditures 9,471,432 for an intentional deficit budget of 1,231,432. Again, he's trying to spend down his fund balance to get within three months operating through uh tax compression and uh the board of trustees reducing the debt rate over time. Since 2017 and 2018, the total tax rate has reduced just a little over 45 cents since that time. So tonight uh we are proposing an M tax rate of 78.69 cents, an INS tax rate of 36.25 for a total tax rate

031of $1.14.94. Basically, uh the same tax rate as last year, just allocating those tax rates between the M and the INS budgets. Mr. President, we're ready to open the meeting up for public hearing. >> Thank you, Miss Laferty. The time is 6:37 p.m. and we will now hold a public hearing regarding 2025 2020 2020 2025 2026. It's been a long day, folks. Budget and proposed tax rate. Anyone signed up? >> None. Okay. The time is 6:38 p.m. and the public hearing is now closed. >> Dr. Goolan. >> Yes. First of all, just want to open up to any questions or comments from the board. We went through a lot of this in detail during the board workshop and just appreciate um all of your guidance and support getting us to the point tonight. It's the

032first time in a while that Belistd has been able to bring a balanced budget and we're just very appreciative to all the staff and team behind the scenes that have helped contribute to getting us to this point tonight. So, just want to open up to any questions for Melissa and myself regarding any of the information we just shared regarding um budget and or tax rate. >> I'll just say I'll just say it's really great to see a balanced budget. I know past couple years we've been in difficult situation where uh we weren't able to do that. Um but yet we still were able to provide great services to our students and that's why we exist for the sake of our kids and our teachers. Um, but it's really great news. You can't have def deficit

033budget every single year. You have problems along the way if you do. But, um, this wouldn't have happened without all of your hard work. So, and your team um, as well as the finance committee as well. So, I know you guys spent a lot of time uh, from what I hear, I didn't see it firsthand, but I heard you guys spent a lot of time. So, thank you very much for that. Um, it's very well noted and appreciated. >> Thank you, >> Chris. Yeah. Um, yeah. First, I want to thank you, Melissa, you, your entire team, the entire business office, everybody who's been pulled into this. I mean, this is a budget cycle like we haven't seen, at least in my time on the board. Um, the effort that's gone into it, the just the

034ground shifting seemingly every other week or two. Um, and so this has been a huge effort. So, thank you. Um, I know you've lost many sleepless had many sleepless nights related to this. So, so thanks for getting us to this point. Um, I also want to thank uh my fellow budget committee member um Brandon Bzen for really helping to helping us get creative uh around this and to really talk through this and try to find a way to keep the total tax rate uh consistent uh year-over-year. Um and so, you know, the the balloon gets squeezed a little bit. you saw the the um the INS go down and the eminent go up a little bit, but we're able to uh net that out and keep the tax rate the same. Um and so I

035think it's really important that we were able to do that for the community and and not have to increase the tax rate. >> Anyone else? >> Well, um thank you for saying that. I couldn't have done it without the help from from Melissa and the team and uh really really appreciate everybody. Um Todd and Mike have to sit through those meetings, too. So, uh, everybody that that's there and and contributes and, uh, I know there were, uh, a lot of challenges. We pushed hard to do what we could, uh, with compensation, certainly got help with the state on the the teacher pay and and certainly are very grateful for that. So, uh, excited that we were able to to get to balance and maintain that tax rate and really appreciate all Dr. Golden and Melissa

036and the team that got us there. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brandon. Anyone else? Well, I want to echo those same sentiments. Um, Dr. Golden, I know I said back in the workshop, thank you for your leadership getting this thing moving forward. Uh, 18 months ago, we were we were sweating it. Um, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears has gone into this. And again, I want to echo the uh the work that that Brandon and Chris have done on the budget committee. It's been instrumental in arriving at this. And Melissa, thank you and your team. I know you guys have spent a lot of time on this, right? >> Yes, sir. So, thank you very much for that. Um, I didn't quite frankly I didn't think I would say balanced budget and I am

037elated to say that. So, >> uh, kudos to everyone involved. So, thank you very much for that. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. And just want to thank this board and, um, past boards. If you looked at our tax rate since 2017, um, the rate the percent rate of change was 28% over those years. meaning based on compression from the state as well as the work that the boards and past boards have done, you've actually been able to lower that tax rate. And while we're proposing a balanced um same tax rate as last year, I think we've gotten also to that point from past boards that have worked hard to and during that time period. Just a reminder, we put um open five new campuses while managing that um as well as renovating two others. we passed

038two bonds during that same period of time and so I'm just appreciate this board and past boards and getting us to this point as well. >> Thank you, Dr. Golden. Anyone else? >> Thank you, Melissa. >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay, that takes us down to >> Hold on. I'd like to make a motion if >> Okay. Um, let me read this into the record. >> Okay. Consider, discuss, take appropriate action regarding adoption of the budget for accelerated instruction for the 2025 2026 school year. Do we have a motion to approve adoption of state compensatory education funds budgeted for accelerated instruction for the 2025 2026 school year as presented? >> So moved. >> Chris Go ahead. >> All right. So, so just to be clear, are we are we talking about the accelerated instruction? >>

039Okay. >> Yes, we are. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, sorry. Here. >> You have to do that. >> We got We have to do them in that order. >> You have to do it. Yes. Excel. You have to do accelerate instruction first, then budget. >> Okay. >> And then you adopt the two resolutions for the tax rate. >> Got it. Right. >> All right. So I second Brandon's motion. >> All right. So Chris number one, Brandon number two. All right. >> Brandon made the motion. >> Brandon number one. Chris number Chris second. All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. >> That passes 720 to zero. All right. Going on item two. consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding adoption of the budget for the 2025 2026 school year. Do we have

040a motion to approve the 2025 2026 fiscal year budget as presented? Miss Bass, do I have a second? Mr. Norwood, all in favor, please raise your hand. That passes 7 to Z. Now number three, consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding resolutions adopting the tax rate for the 2025 2026 school year. >> All right, I got so excited earlier. I'm sorry. >> I understand. >> Uh, all right. So, this is an unusual one. We have to read it a very specific way. So, I'm going to read this um off my sheet off my sheet here. Um, so I move to approve the resolution incorporating an additional um 0317 um uh dollars of disaster pennies uh into the district's maintenance and operations tax rate for the tax year 2025 under the authority of the Texas Tax

041Code section 26.042E as presented. >> Thank you, Chris. Do we have a second? >> Second, >> Mr. close on. All those in favor, please raise your hand. That passes 7 to zero. Also have a second motion here. >> Yes. >> Yeah, there's second motion. >> Okay. All right. So, I move that the property tax uh be increased uh by the adopt I'm sorry. I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 1.1494. uh which is effectively an 11.4% increase in the tax rate. >> Thank you, Chris. Do I have a second? Mr. Norwood, >> and then can we discuss before we take that vote? >> We can. >> Okay. Um that's a very specific motion that we had to read, right? We just went through the public

042hearing uh that talked about the setting of the tax rate, right? And this tax rate is actually holding solid, holding consistent with the tax rate from the the prior tax year. Um, we have to read it this way. Um, the state says we have to read it this way. And it's basically in relation to the no new revenue rate. Um, which doesn't mean a whole lot from a from a schoolboard standpoint. So, we have to read it that way, but the tax rate is uh actually staying consistent. >> Any other comments before we vote? Okay. All those in favor, please raise your hand. It passes seven to zero. >> Yeah, Chris did. >> M uh Mr. Norwood. >> Okay, moving on. The action items. B, discuss, consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding adoption of

043the 2025 2026 campus objectives. Dr. Coen. >> Yes. And thank you, Melissa. She's she's headed back. She's ready to be in that seat right there. Um, and we're uh I'm excited to welcome Dr. Morgan to the podium. And so Mike has been working with our entire district leadership team, campus leadership team on district improvement planning efforts and then Ben and Denise along with Mike supporting campuses in the development of their campus objectives aligned to district goals as well as their campus improvement plan. So Mike's gonna talk to you about this process and then um we'll ask you for some action. >> Thank you Dr. Golden. Trustees, it is my pleasure to be here tonight to uh as kind of a cumulative effect of months of hard work by many many members of our team to

044discuss and request approval of our 25 20 25 26 campus campus objectives. So, I will say on behalf of our principles, I want to thank you, the board, for not only approving our district goals all the way back in February for the 2526 school year, but also approving our key progress measures in May of 2025. It was instrumental in the planning that had to take place at the campus level to have that guidance and have that those things put in place early on in the process. So months of hard work has gone into planning for a successful school year and a part of that is planning for the campus objectives and the campus plan. Um the strategies that are used not only align to the student needs of each individual campus that were developed through

045comprehensive needs assessment based on analyzing student data and trends but also as you saw or as you looked through the campus objectives uh aligned with the bigger district work in our key progress measures. This is a perfect example of why our value and belief in continuous improvement is so important. We will quickly start capturing data to evaluate progress towards these goals that were presented to you in the campus objectives and plans and work towards realizing those improvements throughout the year. Um here's just one example of Charter Oak and it's just one goal and one performance objective. But I think you'll see that um that one thing that they're going to try to accomplish this year is an increase in parents feeling informed about their child's academic progress in goal setting. And they have a range

046there of how much improvement they want to see, which is a direct uh impact or direct support of goal one, which is that we strengthen and support engagement of all stakeholders in our process. So upon review of the campus objectives, hopefully you saw individual strategies that were based on unique campus needs as well as uh fulfilling the district priorities around community partnerships, critical thinking, staff goal setting, implementation of hope squad and teacher incentive aotment strategies that were developed as part of our key progress measures. Um we have provided uh ahead of time the individual campus uh objectives for your review. These are public-f facing documents in in a full transparency. We want our community to know our priorities and know what we're working towards. So tonight, I do open uh the conversation for any discussion

047at this time and would ask that tonight you approve and adopt the campus objectives that have been provided to you. >> Any questions for Dr. Morgan or comments from the trustees? Chris, >> um thanks for kicking the subject off, Mike. Honestly, outside of the budget and and maybe more important than the budget, like I think this is the single most important thing that we're doing. Um, right. This is where we take the vision, the the goals, the mission, the vision, um, you know, our our work on the journey of a graduate like this is this these campus objectives are the next part in bringing those things to life, right? and without a good core set of campus objectives for how we're going to take those things and operationalize those and measure those things for the

048students at that campus right each campus has got a different need um you know different metrics different academic you know posture right like this is where the rubber meets the road this is how those things come to life and so I just want to thank everybody who you know has poured over rows and rows and rows and rows of performance data right uh and the goal setting to get here like this is this is not easy um to get to this point, but again, this is I think the most important thing that that we can do. And so, thank you for everybody who's fed into this um you know, looking over these um I'm super excited about some of them. Uh and some of them are ones that like we just we just need to

049get done. Um and to maybe steal a little bit of thunder from Gabby a little bit later, right? We know there's some great things h there's some great results happening from, you know, prior uh objectives. Uh and we know that there's still some work to do. And so this is where we capture that work that needs to get done. So thank you so much for everything that's gone into this. >> Anyone else? >> I'm sorry. Any comment? Oh, absolutely. >> Okay. Sorry. I just have to also say thank you to the board. So, um this is my 36th year I've been in five different school districts in the central Texas area. I've never seen a school district able to actually have their plans developed, gone through coaching cycles, and ready to go before students walk

050in a building. It's not uncommon that school districts adopt campus improvement plans in October and November. And um so the reason we were able to work on our plans late last spring and all through the summer to be very very prepared is because as a governance team you adopted um goals early enough that actually sets direction that allows that work to happen allows campuses to align their budgets to these plans. And I can't tell you how backwards it is. Often in school districts, you end up where you've got plans and then the board adopts. You have to go back and fix the plans and oh by the way, the budget was already set so you don't tweak the budget. And so I really am proud and thankful for y'all and your leadership and allowing us

051to get ahead of it so that our campuses and departments can do that great work. Um, and then also just want to add the data that's used to inform these plans as well as the academic uh performance data. We pour over every word of listening session data from our teachers. Someone takes notes the entire time. We do listening sessions. We study that. We look for common threads. Um, it's also the result of survey data of our staff and our students and our parents. And so just thankful for y'all allowing us to get ahead of it to be able to do some root cause analysis and put good plans in place. >> Thank you, Dr. Golden. Chris, as well stated, right on point. So, thank you for that comment. Okay, anyone else? >> Thank you, Dr.

052Morgan. >> Thank you. Okay, do we have a motion to adopt the 2025 2026 campus objectives as presented? Mr. Floor, you have a second. Mr. Preston, all in favor, please raise your hand. It passes 7 to zero. It takes us to item 4 C on the agenda. Consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding naming a delegate an alternate to the 2025 TASBY delegate assembly. Tazby Dele assembly gives school boards a direct voice in advocating for Texas public schools and in the overall direction of the association. The board may adopt one delegate and one alternate to serve as its representatives at the 2025 delegate assembly which will be held September the 13th during the TASA Tasby convention that will be held this year in Houston. We'll open up the floor for discussion for nominations. Anyone want

053to take the lead on that? Thank you, >> Chris. >> All right, I'm wearing the mic out tonight. Um, so historically what we've done for the delegate assembly, um, actually for recent history, Aaron and I have been flip-flopping back and forth. So, one of us will be the delegate, the other one will be, um, uh, the alternate. Um, you're only allowed to have one delegate on the floor at a time. And so, typically the alternate sits in the gallery and is there for support if our delegate leaves the floor for any reason so that we always have a vote. Um, and so Aaron and I have flip-flopped for many years. I think last year um Rucker was the uh alternate, right? And Aaron was the delegate. Um, it's just it's kind of an overwhelming situation

054on the floor, right? I mean, um, and I think what the reason it's worked for us for the last several years is we've tried to get a measure of consistency where we're supporting each other on the floor. um uh while we do that and and we're actually actually have played a leadership role with the other schools in our region uh actually um you know sitting with those guys and and collaborating with them um and making sure that their delegates you know kind of come along with us and and uh are are together and I think that that camaraderie is and and sort of consistent presence over the last couple years has been important uh for us um in our participation and so I would like us to kind of to try to keep a consistent

055uh footprint and continue that going forward. Um I would like to suggest I'm not making a motion, right? But I would like to suggest for the group that um since Rucker was the alternate last year, um that Rucker actually be our uh our full-on delegate, right? And then I would serve as the alternate. Um and certainly I would like to open the floor for anybody who else would who hasn't done it. You know, uh Riley, you have you haven't had the opportunity before. Um you know, Brandon, you haven't had the opportunity. if you would love to come and sit along um and sit in the gallery and kind of you know work through it um together as an alternate if if that's a desire that you have in the future that would be my suggestion.

056Um it feels weird making a motion to nominate myself so I'm not going to do that. I'm going to look at Mia maybe down there. Um but I don't know that that's where I stand there. >> Okay. >> Can I jump in there? >> Absolutely. Um yeah, this this has been always I mean I think I've been either a delegate or an alternate the last few years and it's it's really um it's an interesting uh experience and just to give especially you two just a kind of a little bit more context around it. Think of a a a representative from every school board across the entire state of Texas. we're all in one big room and so we conduct a board meeting of board members and so it's the official business meeting of the year

057and so we vote on and we get a big packet and we and it's we're voting on values and beliefs of of us as board members and there's input so it it does take a big chunk of that day when we go to tocon in September so so just know that you know in future if if you are part of that it does take up a very large portion of your day because you can imagine there's a thousand people in there that have opinions, right? Um, but we even talk about um there's there's very specific ways on how we can vote on what are what are the priorities of us as board members and there is there's a process for how we can um as as regions because, you know, we can get together on

058on on what's important to us. But again, we get that packet ahead of time. And another I'll even note um before we meet as um as a huge assembly, we get together in regions. And so we'll get together with our our local our nearby um neighboring um schoolboard members and we talk about what we're about to what we're about to do and and we can have those conversations as well before we get out there. But it really is it's an interesting um I mean I I learned a lot just being kind of a new board member going into that. You know, what does really TASBY stand for? I know that there is some negative um uh maybe some talk I guess if you will about what TASBY is and who they are and and really

059for the most part I I they do really great work and we also I think it's important to note that we even we vote on who the board members that are representative of us they're all volunteers so you can think of um someone who's a board member for their school district and then they're representing the state of Texas they give even more hours and so you vote on those things. So there, even though you're one of a thousand, you you really do have the opportunity to speak for for your what's what's valuable and or what's important to your school district, what's um the values of your stakeholders and your own community. So um it is it's a great it's a um it's a great u experience. So um if there's not any other I mean

060I don't mind making that motion um that Chris mentioned if there's not any other discussion. Okay. >> Do we have a motion to appoint a delegate and an alternate? >> Okay. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Um I move to appoint Rucker Preston as the delegate and Chris Flor as alternate representatives for Belton ISD. >> You want second? Okay. Mr. Bzon. >> All in favor, please raise your hand. Passes seven to zero. >> Yeah. And I want to reiterate if anybody wants to come hang out during the delegate assembly to see what it's all about like I like >> come on down and u you know talk you through what's going on and >> it's a big party >> with Robert's rules. >> Yes. >> Oh, it's very Yes. >> All right. That takes us

061down to item 4 D. consider discuss and take appropriate action regarding the purchase of real property located on Old Road in Temple, Texas. Dr. Goolan. >> Yes. Thank you, board. As you know, the the 2022 bond as a part of that bond was um funding that was allocated for the purchase of land. Um the idea behind that is trying to make sure that um in in the future you don't create a situation where you're purchasing land needing to design a school and have construction costs all within one bond. And so with that past strategy in mind that the board has had um you authorized us well one we studied this all year with our um facilities committee um during the 2425 school year just talking about land um at various times and then in May

062you um authorized a um the you approved the resolution for the purchase of property um which authorized the administration to um continue to move forward identifying property, negotiate terms of purchase and those things. And so this evening, Mike is here to go into some details with you because we're asking for um potential approval of the purchase of some land. >> Thanks, Dr. Golden. trustees. Um, yes, and as I'll as I'll speak on a little later in the bond update, this would be our fourth land purchase from those funds designated and voter approved in our 2022 bond to seek out strategic uh future sites for future Beltonist facilities. So, um, as as Dr. Golden alluded to in May, we brought a uh a resolution to you to allow us to negotiate for a future school site.

063We had identified in the northern region of the district was the one area where we had not uh found uh something or a future school site for a future elementary school, which is really what our next priority was. And so BISD identified several future PL uh school sites and and were able to uh go through a series of evaluations and negotiations and come back tonight with the recommendation to you. Tonight we're asking you to authorize the board president to sign a contract for the purchase of 15 acres at 2115 Old Waco Road for a future elementary school site. This is a strategic area where we've been studying development and identifying potential properties as part of our strategic planning. Included in this project is a $5,000 that will be placed in escrow for site improvements that

064will be made by the developer and released upon completion. Uh contractually the completion of those items would be by May 1st, 2026 um at the time that the escrow funds could be released. Some of the site work that includes an entry road that will be the length of the property will be dedicated to the city of Temple for use and maintenance in which the district will have perpetual unrestricted access. wastewater and water improvements to the site that are sized to our elementary footprint and also connected to the city of Temple water and wastewater services as long as an easement uh with the city of Temple for discharge and drainage of offsite detention for the for the property. And that this is really important because it means that when when in when the time comes that

065a school is needed on this site that we will not have to incur the cost of on-site detention. And uh as we look back at at some of our most recent projects and and talking with uh some construction managers that we've partnered with and that do this type of work all the time, they estimate that on a good site where you don't have to uh construct rock walls or concrete walls where you don't have to do any type of a of a lift station or or have to deal with the sloping site. The cost is generally between 575 $750,000 for a detention pond and it could go all the way up to 1 million 1.5 million if you have to do those things. So in essence what we're bringing to you tonight is in an

066area of high growth an area that we think could be strategic in future development of our elementary schools and we bring to you in essence what would be a finished lot for a future time whenever it is needed that a school be built there. Uh the negotiated price for the property, all of the site improvements that were that were discussed before is $3,573,000. So we would ask tonight that uh we would entertain any discussion about this property or and then ask that that you approve the contract for the purchase of the property and authorize the board president to execute any and all instruments appropriate or necessary to affectuate the purchase of the property. And I would open it up for discussion at this time. >> Mike, any questions, comments? Mike, is that uh 15 acres

067about the Is that consistent with the acreage we've had for previous? >> It is. It's it's within an half acre of what we used at Burell and what we used at Hubard Branch >> and geometrically looking at the shape of the site, I mean, it looks like it's a great spot. >> It is. It's it's a it's almost a complete square. It's going to have good access and I believe that there's going to be a future um city of Temple fire substation right in that area as well which would help for emergency services and things in the future. >> And obviously you mentioned earlier that it's high growth area. It's very strategic. It's a good spot we believe. >> Um it's relatively flat too. Is that correct? So there probably is not going to be

068a lot of site development as well. >> There shouldn't be topography challenges though. What what we won't know and we'll get this information during our our our feasibility period in the contract is we will do an environmental assessment of the property and we'll have the soil analyzed to just make sure that we're not going to have unforeseen uh site costs uh select field those types of things whenever it was is ready to build. So that is part of our feasibility process is we do want to get some soil conditions and have those analyzed. But yeah, it it appears it's an area where there's a lot of development going on and a lot of buildings are going up and we do think that it probably should lend itself to be a good site for a future

069school. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rucker. Good questions. Anyone else? Chris? >> Yeah. Um I mean, you could look at this and kind of raise an eyebrow and be like, why do you need another elementary school site, right? Um I mean, if you look at the demographer report, right? There's not an immediate need for it, right? And this is the exact time that you want to buy something like that in my opinion, right? And so we've been blessed with boards before us um who have had the the forethought to really lay out um and acquire some strategic pieces of land that we've now over the last several bonds been able to put schools on. Right? You sort of put yourself in a position so that when the need is there um you've got

070it and you've got it at a price that you locked in many years before, right? And so again, you could look at it and be like, why are you guys doing this? um you know, we don't need this right now. Well, we don't need it right now, but that's not why we're buying it. Um you know, we're we're really trying to look into the future and to make sure that we've got a tool in our toolbox for when the when and if the time does come, right? Um so, um you know, and and let me be clear, we are not building a school there right now. That that's not what this vote is. This is to acquire the land um to uh to have for our toolbox for the future. Anyone else? >> I think

071the other thing just real quickly to be clear is that it is um from the 2022 bond. We're not able to and we're not purchasing land out of our um maintenance and operations budget. We're we're not in a position to do that, but it is the bond funds that were set aside in 2022 for this specific purpose. And I would also say right I mean this allows our partners our community partners to also plan better right while there is no guarantee that you know of what exactly is going to go on that site right but it does allow our chambers our EDC's our local builders right to have some vis cities right um to have some visibility into what may be there and really helps kind of spur that partnership right because we're putting a

072we're putting our foot in the sand here uh you our foot on the ground and saying, "Hey, look, like this is we think there's something here." And so, so it kind of helps in that partnership as well. >> Exactly. Thank you, Chris. Anyone else? >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Morgan. >> Thank you. >> Do we have a motion to approve the contract for the purchase of the property and authorize the board president to execute any and all instruments appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purchase of the property as presented? Do have a motion. >> Mr. Mr. Mr. Underwood, I have a second. Mr. Preston, all those in favor, please raise your hand. It passes six to zero. >> Six to one. I'm sorry. I always want to say zero, don't I? >> Okay. Takes us

073to item E. Consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding a resolution on the establishment of a school library advisory council. Dr. Golden. >> Yes. and um Gabby Nino came to the podium. So, she's here this evening to talk to you about some of the changes within Senate Bill 13, specifically as it pertains to the possible development of a school library advisory council. So, Gabby's going to get into some of the details with you this evening. All right. So, I want to um start this evening by just connecting to some previous conversations that we've had. Um tonight I'm going to explain the changes that have come about in Senate Bill 13 directly associated with our libraries and those um build on House Bill 900 that we've spent some time discussing over time if you were already

074um on the board previously. So I'll do a little bit of backtrack and forward for us as well. Um during this this legislative session that just um wrapped up, Senate Bill 13 was passed to enhance parental rights regarding school library materials. This is to build on House Bill 900 that took place in the previous legislative session. Um that bill was very vendor um focused and put some demands on vendors um to place ratings on books and those um those restraints that were put on vendors um resulted in some legal action and um have been held up in court since then. this bill, Senate Bill 13, um really wants to give our parents um access as partners in our library services to have um management over the books that their children have access to. Um but

075it also puts some more practices in place involving our school boards over oversight for library materials as well as creates what's called a school a local school library advisory council. And so we'll talk a little bit about what that is, but I want to um highlight some of the key features of this bill um related to parental rights with their students. We believe very much that our parents are partners and we are going to keep focusing on that and our work that our parents are are partners in our work. Um there's three elements to this bill related to access to rec records, restriction of book um access and digital tracking. These elements were already practices that we had in place in Belton ISD um that we'll continue to improve um with our parents as partners

076with our library teams and our campus um teams. But regarding access to records, library checkouts are officially a part of the students academic record. Now, we would always have provided our families with access to books that their child had checked out. Um but those weren't considered an official part of the student's record. and in Senate Bill 13, they officially became a part of the student's academic record. Um, restriction rights. This allows for parents to submit a list of books that they would not like their child to have access to. Um, and so we will have procedures and and processes in place to make sure that um, parents understand that they have that right. Um, we began these practices. We've always wanted to partner with our families, but this is a continuation um, and some tightening

077up of systems for us. The digital tracking um ensures that there's an online portal that shows that academic record of a child's checkout history. Um we use Destiny library management system. Um that's what we've used over time and we continue to use that to manage our uh book records and our families can have access to their students um checkout history in that manner. In addition um to the the parental rights and restriction access, additional definitions were added in Senate Bill 13 to expand on what already existed. Um we have specific definitions around harmful materials that aligns with the penal code. Um in Senate Bill 13, indecent or profane content, sexually explicit content, pervasively vulgar, and materials with links to prohibited online content. The new language or definitions are in indecent and profane and in pervasively

078vulgar materials as well as in addition to our practices. Um really specifically calling out any materials that have a link in them that might take students elsewhere. That was added into definition as well. All right. So let's talk about local school advisory um library councils. This Senate Bill 13 established these as an oversight committee. Um they are not required by school districts, but what the law does require is that if 50 of your parents or 10% of your student population um came to you in opposition of your practices and said we need a a um local school library advisory council, then you would be required to put one in place because we believe our parents are partners with us. Um, I'm recommending that we take a proactive measure and start an eslack moving forward. That

079is what will slip out of my mouth, eslack. Um, but this council for us to work in tandem with our families. Um, and what that that committee or council would do is they do have duties related to making recommendations for library resources that we would add to our collection. Um they also would have responsibilities related to ensuring our policies and procedures are aligned to what is expected and what is best for our um community. The composition of an ESLAC um has to be at least five. What we will ask is that you all each board member nominate one parent to be a part of the ESLAC committee. Um and the voting members must be majority parents who are on this council. and they must meet at least twice annually. I'm going to show you in

080a a couple more slides what the process would look like related to that. But a local um school library advisory council while it is not required um there is a mechanism within the law for it to become required and we feel like this is a proactive measure for us. So what that process would look like is that um we believe very much in the skill and the expertise that our librarians have um and facilitating the experiences for students in their in the library in the training that they've had in the curation of resources for our students aligned to guidelines. So, we would build community with our librarians in um a a district-wide process for identifying what resources we would want to add to our library collections. Those um anything that we want to acquire for

081our library collections must be posted publicly now for 30 days for review by the public and then we would take that for to the advisory committee for additional review. Um the library committee um if they approved the the resources, the books that were on that list would then turn and make a recommendation to you, the board. Um and you as the school board of trustees would make the approval of any library materials that were purchased and added to our library collection. So that was would be the new acquisition process. I will tell you that um we are required to update our policies um regardless of whether you all make the decision to um move forward with the the local school library advisory council. Regardless of whether we have that in place or not, we will

082have to purchase uh post materials for 30 days and bring those to you all for approval before adding to our library collections. So, that's a lot that I've shared with you so far. Um, but I want to give you just a few more details of um what implications for districts are related to Senate Bill 13. Um, first of all, any anyone, this is an expansion of what is already in place. Anyone can submit a written challenge to library material that is in our collections. If anyone submits a challenge, we will hold that challenge up to the guidelines that we have in place to determine is does this um resource belong in our libraries or not. Um if we have already held it up to the guidelines, we'll take it through the process that I just

083um articulated related to purchases. It's similar process if there's a challenge that we go to our ESLAC committee to consider any challenges that were submitted. So this change is not only about the acquisition of resources but also the review and challenges. Any material that is um challenged historically could only be restricted for the child that um that material was challenged by their family. Moving forward, if a resource is challenged, it's removed from all of our district libraries um and for all students um across our district. And that is per Senate Bill 13. So, that's a shift. Anytime there's a challenge, we have a 90-day review period to make a decision related to that challenge. Um, and the the recommendation from ESLAC is then brought to you all, the board to make the final decision on

084a recommendation for our district. We are we're working through the policy updates and those have been provided to you all. Um, the recommendation for adding the the local um school library advisory council. Um, we will be continuing to work very diligently to ensure that we have practices in place that ensure our families understand their rights to restrict their student access and again to continue our partnership with families. Um, that is not necessarily a change but wanting to make sure that we provide that clarity across our system. Um and we will continue the the pulling and review process that we have in place in our libraries to review the existing collection aligned to the guidelines and the standards that are in place. Um and again um there will need to be some work in preparing for

085our parents as partners and this ESLAC um council which we haven't had in place before. What I will tell you is the p the council structure and format is um something we are very familiar with. Um it's very similar to our shack committees. Um and so we are actually using that to help us in thinking about the practices that we have in place. Um and so we will model align to the the shack committee practices as well as we build this out. So I want to ask um for you all to engage in discussion with me any questions that you have um before making a recommendation to um implement or to resolve to implement a Slack committee council or not. >> Um thanks for all your work and presentation and I think it's a great

086idea for us to be proactive. We always want to be as proactive as possible. Um a couple of questions. Um anyone can submit a written challenge. Is that do they have to live in BISD? I'm assuming >> the the way it's written is any um parent, staff member, or resident of Belton ISD. >> Okay. Okay. Um and I I love the idea that it's parents that we name on the council. Um and this going down the line a little bit, but if we create this, if we vote to create it, is this something we would do year after year? Just in the event that maybe you have a parent with a senior who graduates and then they're no longer a parent, we need to name someone else the following year. >> Yes. So, in the

087resolution that you had signed, we outlined the terms of service and we do have a a two-year terms of service. Okay. On the Slack team, >> thanks. Y >> um I was just going to say I I would echo with what Rucker just said and I I think it's great that we're being proactive with this um instead of waiting for it to to go to the um see if we would have got what was it 50 50 people to to sign it. I think it would have been done. But um I think the our leadership knows uh that this is a a value that Belton ISD parents have. And so I appreciate the the proactive nature that you've taken to um address this and um I think it will be good kind again with what

088Rucker said and and the parents being involved uh being able to see what their children are reading. Um and then and then the that someone can just go, you know, when when a book is challenged if if there is something that puts our youth at risk, it it's taken from from all of the libraries and then reviewed. It's not like we're trying to to restrict, you know, um all sorts of books or anything like that, but um it's meant to protect and and let it go through a review process. So, I think this is a a great thing. Thank you. >> Yeah, I agree with with you two as well. Um yeah, Riley and I got to to sit in with on policy a couple of weeks ago and and Gabby um we we could

089have spent a lot more than an hour on on this because you know we we have done a lot of work proactively you know really on EFB local um we I mean we did we had questions because I mean when you really think about this this can be really it's it's going to be it has the potential to be pretty cumbersome especially if you know especially with acquisitions of large amounts of books we, you know, we had lots of what if questions. So, I I know this question is or this topic is is far from over. um because as it begins to play out um but I agree um this is a great proactive step and I and I too agree with Gabby that I I'm a parent and I I and I'm not just

090saying it because I'm on the board but um seeing the lens of a parent I I I truly believe is doing a great job of the work that we're doing with as the parents as partners in in not just the library um um topic if you will but in any sort of situation challenge, we do want parents to come alongside um and be part of their their child's education. So, I know this this topic will is far from over. And I you know, I was on facilities for a while. So, I'm I'm interested to really kind of follow this and how it's going to play out because um while while it's written to to protect our kids, there may be some unintended consequences of some cumbersome work. And so I but I know that I

091know that we'll we'll work through those. Well, so I appreciate you coming today. And um I guess a question I do have is um once we do vote on this um what's what's next steps on like for our librarians around the district? I guess they they're going to be have they been filled in on just what's about to happen with SB13? >> Yes. So a couple of points that um you alluded to that I think are really important to reinforce. This is a change. Um it's a big change for us. Um and so I I want to express some of the concerns um that will likely bubble up um and they already have and how we are working to navigate those. Um one in particular is um posting of materials might cause a delay in

092student access to books or our librarians being able to purchase those. We do recognize that there will it will take us longer to purchase materials but feel very much like related to next steps. This first phase is about getting systems in place so that we will then have a cadence that will not feel like a delay. Just to draw parallel of to some some other um ways that you engage in instructional re resource acquisition. I always bring to you all our process for review of instructional adoptions that we're making. um last year you supported with our adoptions in language arts and and math. And so it's very similar in that we will need to have a review process in place. We will post materials and ultimately we will come to you all with a recommendation

093um with our due diligence on the materials that we're acquiring. So that will be one of our next steps and it is a system change for us and so we're going to s support our team through it and we're going to think about how we elevate our library team's voice in this process to make those recommendations to um the the council that we're working with. >> Anyone else? >> One one more thing that just just I just was just reminded of. Um, this could seem pretty pretty daunting or or overwhelming with potentially thousands of of books and acquisitions and and materials really which it expands into materials not just books now and even links. Uh, but could you just give us a brief excl or description of the the help that we have the um

094the technology piece of that that we have too? >> Absolutely. So, um, with this and I will say that, um, the state board of education as well as TEA have, um, said that or acknowledged that there are some implications costwise to be able to implement the requirements of Senate Bill 13. Um, but a a resource that we have recently invested in is called OnShelf Bookmarked. Um and the the platform was built in order to support school districts um in implementing these practices to help our library teams have information at their hands that they can discern decisions on. If you think about walking into a library, one of our elementaryaries has over 14,000 books in it. And so um in many cases the staff there is not the staff that opened the library. And so to

095expect that one of our library team members um would be able to review the contents of every text um is just it's not manageable for them. And so we are um considering the resources that our library teams need in place to be able to make really informed decisions um and to be empowered with information that they can make decisions on. >> Anyone else? Gabby, I do have one question. um doesn't necessarily apply to us approving this or voting on it, but did I hear you say that it it applies to newly acquired material? >> It does. >> And then it can be challenged if if old material is challenged, it goes through this process, >> right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. So, if you've got a 90-day review and you've got, you know, just

096a number of challenges at one time, what happens if they're not reviewed in that first 90 days because of the number of material or number of topics they have to cover? >> So, we would need to come um and request permission to ex extend the review period. >> Okay. So, that that's in place in the statute. >> There are extenduating circumstances in in place in the statute. Yes. and in the in the policy that we have. >> Thank you. >> I will also say um another comment that Aaron made is really important for me to reinforce. This is the first phase of implementation of Senate Bill 13. Um it requires that the Tesla organization come back with revised standards. We do not anticipate those until April. That is the deadline for those. There are also

097formal um statewide forms that have to be established by the commissioner um and those have not yet been established and we expect some guidance on those later in August. >> So we'll be coming back. >> Yeah. If I could ask a a follow-up question. So as far as that 90-day review period and seeking an extension, that's Beld going to TEA for the extension, right? That's not you coming to the board for extension. would be coming to the board for next. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yes. >> Got it. >> Yeah. I mean that I'm already thinking about implementation. That was one of my questions. >> All right. Anyone else? Okay. Do we have a motion to adopt the resolution to establish a local school library advisory council as presented? We have Mr. Beck. >> Yes. >>

098Two. >> Mr. Preston. All in favor, please raise your hand. It passes seven to zero. >> Thank you, Gabby. >> Thank you. >> Well, that concludes our action items this evening. Next on the agenda is reports. >> Yes. >> 5A, academic progress report. Dr. Goolan. >> Yes. Gabby's going to stay at the podium. So, she has a report for you this evening. um we have some recent data that's been released by the state and so she's going to give you a overview of our data and our progress so far. >> Absolutely. So um tonight's report on academic progress is um related to TEA accountability ratings and our instructional action. Um, if you recall over the summer months beginning in June, um, we reviewed by grade level and content area, student performance as measured by STAR.

099Um, and then, um, shared with you that this month we'd be coming back to you to share our actual accountability ratings. Um, I think it's important as we have this conversation to be aware, um, and remind ourselves of change over time with the STAR accountability system. Um, STAR in 2019, um, is when the the last version of STAR came out and we experienced two years of P pause on the STAR A throughF system um, during the pandemic period. In 2022 and sorry, my animation covered up um, what we're doing. I messed up on that. I apologize. Um, in 2022, we were introduced to a new um, version of STAR and started to see the changes that were coming. Um, but we still took STAR 1.0 is what I'll call it. Um, but during that time,

100we got what was called whatif ratings where the new um, structure for accountability was applied to our old ratings. Um, but we also had litigation at that time that withheld um, ratings from the public. We had some predictions of what those were, which we've shared with you all each year, but they had been withheld from us. 2024, um, we still did not receive our ratings, but we're on a a refresh. What was released in 2024 were ratings from years prior, um, with the um the overturning of the the accountability lawsuit. And just last Friday, our accountability re ratings were released for 2024 and 2025. The structure of our accountability system um for both elementary and middle school is 100% based on star performance. At high school, it is based on a combination of star um

101testing, CCMR, and graduation rates. And then your overall district rating is rated on a combination of all of those with a specific waiting based on campus enrollment and size. Um for every campus and our district, we are rated on three different domains. Student achievement, school progress, and closing the gaps. Um which looks at individual student groups and narrowing of achievement between them. You are given a rating. Um 70% of your rating is based on either student achievement or school progress. Whichever one is higher of those two, 30% on closing the gaps and then you're given an overall rating um on the combination of all those in a in a formula calculation. BISD's overall rating um for the 2520 school year is 2025 school year as you can see is a B or an 80. I

102also have illustrated on here the um performance score and letter grade for 24 and 25 side by side um with the intent of illustrating that in each of the domains that you can be measured in. we demonstrated growth um year-over-year and so um do want to celebrate that we have seen growth in each of the different domains um that contribute to your overall rating um which is a B for Belton ISD. This is the first time since 2122 which is on the previous accountability system that our district has had a B. And so we've we've been pushing pushing pushing um and and we are a B now. Um so some highlights of the accountability ratings um we see growth in all domains and the area that we see the great greatest degree of growth in

103is closing the gaps. That is why we exist is to um provide opportunities that as a society narrow gaps between individuals and provide opportunity for all. Um while I will say to you over and over again, one test one day, this accountability system is not a measure of who we are as a whole. Um it is um important for us to see growth and to see us improving improving in areas and closing the gaps is um an area that I'm very proud to see that we have um made some significant growth in CCMR. Um we have an overall 94% in college career military readiness which equates to an A. Um very proud of the work that has been done over the last few air years in um that area. We have 15 distinctions across our

104campuses. Again um 15 distinctions is 15 badges of celebration. um where compared to your peers you outperformed. Um and then if you look at all of the different areas that we can be measured in 54 of the 60 different total areas where we earn um scores, we are at or above the state and region averages. So those are some highlights for us to take a look at in this accountability system. I will always tell you that while we are happy about growth that we've made, we still have work to do. Um, I saw that eye contact with Chris earlier and yes, I'm going to I'm going to go right there. We still have some work to do. We want to ensure that every single student in our district makes at a minimum a year's worth

105of growth. You've heard some emphasis on the student growth projections this year in my academic um progress reports and we're going to continue um that focus. We've had some really good learning that um has made us smarter in that area and um we are going to ensure that every student in our district makes a year's worth of growth. Um specific to math outcomes um through basic understanding of of math concepts, what the learning progressions are as students understand a concept and what comes next and really developing fluency and number sense. Those are patterns that exist across our system from elementary through high school. And so those are at the core of some of our improvement efforts in the area of math. In language arts, what we see and it when we get our our coordinator

106team together, um they really dig in and can really emphasize that there's not a ton of difference between reading and math in the level of understanding that we need to emphasize in language arts. Um, we really need to emphasize and continue work on synthesizing and understanding what is asked of within a text. Um, and being able to translate our thinking into writing. Um, writing is actually the last thing that develops in a learning progression. Um and so we are looking across um content areas but specifically in reading we really need for our students to strengthen their ability to process what is asked across text and apply that in writing. And then um specific to our English language learners are um limited English proficient students. We have been working very hard to embed strategies within our

107curriculum and resources to support those students and strengthen our professional learning available for teachers and the strategies that will support our students who are acquiring the English language. So I've referenced a bit of it just in talking about the priority areas. Um but instructional alignment is it's kind of our theme like we are really making sure that across all levels of our system that we are aligned in our instructional expectations and that the supports that we have for teachers are aligned to what we are saying um will help students move. So, um, category of emphasis for us is on robust curriculum resources. Some work, um, I hope you had a chance. If you have not, I'm going to point you back to, um, board bulletin last week, some of some videos that give you some

108insight to curriculum work that happened over the summer, but we've established very clear learning targets um, in our curriculum documents over the summer, as well as added differentiated strategies. That is a lot to ask for a teacher to differentiate for a wide range of needs in a classroom. And so it was important for us that we have those strategies embedded into our curriculum documents as resources for our teachers. Um and then as you um supported us in adopting highquality instructional materials, we have um systemic plans in place to support teachers with implementation of those. A priority focus area for our team this year is assessment for learning and really investing um a significant amount of work in understanding what it means to truly assess students for learning. Um building blueprints for assessment um and developing

109some performance-based tasks to include in our um curriculum resources and in experiences for students. What we mean by that is um the the best example that I can think of is what you see when you go to a robotics uh competition. Students are issued a challenge. This is the standard they need to meet and then they work through that challenge to meet the target. Um that is a very much performance-based task and learning experience. And so we want to um we're prioritizing putting more experiences like that in place for students. Um and then um really being able to pull out levels of questions to see how students are performing at those higher level questions that require critical thinking. And then one of the most important things that we need to do is really continue empowering

110our teachers as leaders in our system. A strategy that I think has yielded some um results is that last year our curriculum team each identified a core group of teacher leaders that represents each campus um to bring them into the curriculum work um that actually builds your team. It builds your instructional leadership team on your campuses. And so that work will continue to go to a deeper level. It is those teams that will help an analysis of student performance and plan for what comes next on campuses. And so, um, that's a key strategy for us, growing and empowering our teachers as leaders. And the best way to empower them is to put the best resources in their hands and then let their skills and expertise design the experiences for students. And so, we are looking

111forward um to continuing that work. I want to take some time for questions and discussion. >> Gabby, Gabby, there's so much good here. This is such a great report. Um, thank you for all of your hard work. um I mean from the distinctions seeing the instructional alignment and um the scores I and I also really appreciate your comment about the fact that this does not fully measure what we're trying to accomplish in our in our students especially at the elementary and middle school level where like you said one test one day that does not evaluate any of our kids in a district. Um empathy just one example of one of our values that is not measured by a test right. Um so um thanks for bringing all that up. I I love this instructional alignment

112because this is something you don't just crank out on one day. This is something you've worked hard on with your team, with Ben and Denise um to come down to our campuses. And I'm pretty sure, didn't two of our three high schools get an A. Is that right? >> Yes. Two of our three high schools have an A. And I will also point out that although BHS was not an A, they had the highest growth. >> Significant growth, right? 12 points. Is that right? >> Yes. >> So they went up. So Belton High School went up 12 points. That is a huge amount of growth in one year. And so I I just again just applaud you, the the instructional team, our principal, Steel, Claudia Knox, and then our our teachers that work really really

113hard with our students. So, um it's just great to see this. >> Chris, this is what I get most excited about. Gabby's like, "Let's go." Um can we go up uh three more slides from here? >> Sure. One, two. Yeah, one more. No, maybe. Yeah, this one here. All right. So, I want to start here. Um, completely agree, Rocker, with everything you just said. Like we our kids are so much more than one test one day, right? Um, and you know, we had the created the journey of a graduate for a reason, right? That that's where the values are. Um, this is just one look at what's going on. Um, but I want to call out a couple things here, right, that that I see when I look at this data. Um, closing the gaps,

114right? Take a look at that. That's a massive increase in closing the gaps. Right? If you want to look for what is the definition of each and every, right? This is what we're looking for. We are looking to make sure that each and every one of our students has the ability to achieve, right? Um this is it. This is this is evidence that what we are doing and what we've been doing over the last several years is starting is is making a difference, right? Um and so yeah. Okay. This is based on the one test one day, right? It's not the whole picture, but it's part of the picture. And I'm I'm so proud of the work that's happened here, right? And the way that we're starting to see that in a number. So, I

115hate that the whole teaching and learning team is not here, right? But but this is like top to bottom, right? So, again, this is another example of how do you take the mission and the vision and the values? How do you take the team in the middle, the curriculum and instruction, um how do you take the instructional coaches? How do you get that into the classroom? And how do you get everybody fired up pointed at one in one direction? And what can they do? They can make jumps like this, right? And so I'm so psyched, right? We got work to do. I'm so psyched about this jump, though, right? This is why we're here. This is what we're doing. Um, can we go down one uh one slide? Uh, yeah. Other way. There we go.

116Okay. So, if there's one thing I'm most proud of uh during my time on the board, um and I wish I had I'm blanking on the number right now, but our change in CCMR since I joined the board in 2018 is absolutely ridiculous. >> Um I mean, I I feel like our graduation rate actually was somewhere in like the 60s. Um and like the change in our CCMR, right, college career and military readiness, the fact that we've got an A here, right? again want to point at teaching and learning. I want I know Denise was here earlier from a CTE standpoint. What we are doing from a a readiness standpoint and what you talked about the three high schools, right? That's almost unheard of when you take a look at surrounding districts with multiple high

117schools. Like you don't end up with high schools at that level, right? From from a rating standpoint. Again, this is probably the thing that I'm most proud of out of the whole thing. Like during my time on the board, I've spent a lot of time trying to figure like kind of working items here. Um and just thank you. This is so awesome to see. Um, and and and we're not done, right? Um, and I think that the beautiful thing about what we've got going on here is we've got some successes, but we also know kind of where those spots are that we got to continue, right? And we're not shying away from those things that we need to do. Um, we are taking the steps, we're owning it, we're naming it, we're taking it back

118to the workshop. Um, we're doing what we need to do to to to try to crank the rest of that stuff. Um, and so, you know, while we would love all these to be a across the board, we're we're cranking. And so, thank you. Please get that back to the team. Like, we we are seeing the results. At least for my from my seat, I'm seeing the results and and I'm so energized by it. Um, yeah, I think I think I'll leave it there. Thank you. >> Well, just real quickly, Chris, and we showed y'all data in a past academic progress report, in 2018, the CCMR rate was 46%. Now, there's also been evolution of criteria for CCMR. Um, but I believe this year we were at least projected last time we showed you to

119hit over around 94%. And so there has been just over time not just a change in criteria but also significant work in this area. >> I'll tell you the criteria didn't get any easier. So the change of criteria got harder. Right? Again, our job like what is our job? Our job is to create great citizens who can go out into the world, be productive, impact our communities, right, for the better, change the world, right? That's our job. And like what you that's it right there, right? That that's the measure. So, >> thank you. I I do want to point out the change piece. Um it was just referenced that those the changes they evolve and we are expecting that we will likely see change um there with this being a a priority in special session

120as well. But we are going to stay super close to the changes and make sure that we continue to hold high expectations and continue growing. That's what the alignment's about. Um with our team um yes partnering very closely with Ben and Denise and support for campuses. Um and we're going to keep that alignment happening. Anyone else? >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah, it's hard to follow. >> Yeah. So, I'll just >> be boring. Uh just I mean I'm still excited just not as not as animated as Chris. Uh but I just want to brag. I think I read that like it was and you might have already said it, but I'm going to repeat it anyways. Only 24% of districts in the state saw a letter grade uh change this year and and or an upward

121move in their letter grade and we were one of them. So that's uh something to be proud of and if you look it's a it's across uh all categories of improvement. So certainly way to go. >> Thank you. >> That wasn't boring. >> That was awesome. >> Pretty good. >> So just I will say and I know um many of you have said it. So the amount of curriculum rewriting. So as we looked at root cause, one of our challenges and certainly we heard it in teacher listening sessions um was around the need to significantly alter the curriculum and really identify high priority learning standards in the curriculum and really build resources that were actually resources teachers would take out and utilize. And so the year and a half worth of curriculum revisions, the alignment

122of professional learning, the systems alignment, the data data systems that are being put into place, as well as just aligning systems with, as you said, our instructional coaches, our assistant principles, and our principles. And so, um, that has been a lot of hard work and just really proud of lots of faces in this audience here. Um again, our work's not even close to being finished. I don't know that our work ever will be finished. Um but we are highly motivated. Our um theme for convocation was game on and it is game on because this reflects um the faces of our students in our community. Each and every student we committed to a vision. Each and every learner would be empowered to pursue their dreams. And so we're going to keep working the work and I'm

123proud of our team. You know, Gabby, when you um were going to speak tonight, I'm I'm not surprised as what's happened here. Just listening to you last year, beginning of the year, then you gave us some progress reports during the course of the year. This is not surprising to me. But as was said earlier, this is what it's all about, right? And different things that you do in life, you can pick one area of your life and say, "This is what it's all about." But for us up here, this is what it's all about. you the the evidence can't be any stronger than this, right? So, if there are naysayers out there about about the per performance of BISD and what BISD is doing and what BISD is capable of doing and what BISD is

124going to do, this is just the beginning, right? Uh some of these numbers are just off the charts in in terms of change, in terms of improvement. Um this should bring a smile to everyone's face, right? Everybody. So, thank you. Uh, I know there's a lot a lot of folks that are took a part in this. Dr. Golden, you got some good folks around you. You know what? >> Yeah. And we've got amazing world-class team of teachers and they're working hard every single day in the classroom. That's that you're seeing the their efforts and so yeah, super proud of our entire team. >> And Gabby, it's just ironic that we um celebrated your team this evening. You all the folks that you have behind you. So obviously you've got a great team, Ben, Denise, we

125can't thank you enough for the work that you guys put into this district. Uh proofs in the pudding, right? So thank you very much. >> They are incredible. Thank you all very much for your support. >> All right, this takes us to 5B 2022 bond projects report. Dr. Goolan. >> Yes, Dr. Morgan's coming back up to the podium. he's going to give you um a report on some of our bond projects from the bond 2022. >> Thanks Dr. Golden Board. My pleasure to be here once again and u I would as this report tonight basically will focus on Proposition A as it has and then I will I will address uh a followup on Proposition B later. But you can see our construction projects that was the really the meat of our Proposition A the

126seven primary construction projects. I want to give you a quick update on these and they're they're very rapidly coming to a close. As you can see, the ones in red are the ones that uh we have already finished and we've already closed out. We brought closeout documents to you and if there was a guaranteed maximum price, a GMP, we've we have already settled out with all of our closeout savings, uh, etc. Uh the three in the middle, Belton High School additions and renovations, Lake Belton School, uh middle school additions and renovations, and Southwest Elementary have all been um the work is completed. We are really down to the last thing there. There were some uh auxiliary uh HVAC equipment placed at the BHS auxiliary gym that was installed back in June. We are finishing the

127commissioning of that equipment of those air handlers. and then we just have to complete our construction audit and close out documents on those three projects. And as I talk when I talk about financials later, um that's one of the reasons it's it's a we're still going to have some some some savings from those projects that will impact kind of our final close out and as we as we move into the final phase which is the some of the HVAC uh priorities or some of the HVAC programs that are right here at the end of the bond. The other is Delta and we've been very uh uh face forward with with you guys that we have had some struggles at our Delta facility getting that program getting that project finished. We have uh pushed our design

128team, we've pushed our our contractor, we've pushed our subcontractor, and I will say that we are finally down to the final uh couple of weeks of work it looks like. So today um most of the uh subcontracting work was completed. We are doing they're doing a cleanup of the facility tonight. The crews will be there in the morning to polish uh do all of the polished concrete and then we expect furniture crews to be there first thing Wednesday morning and then we will come back and finish the installation of kitchen equipment and a few uh a few more little things here and there and then next week be able to focus in on commissioning uh start commissioning of the equipment um and do start final punch list items and then allow staff to start getting

129into the facility and be trained on some of the specialized equipment that's going to be located there to serve that population of students. So, uh it has been a a long process to to complete that program that pro the Delta program facility, but we are very happy that that we are in the final stages and we'll have students in that facility very soon. For non-construction projects update from Proposition A, we did have uh MEP roofing and interior finishes. I'll I'll give a followup on on that on the next slide. We do have, as we've discussed, one one more bus purchase. I know that, uh, Vicky Tubbs and her team, uh, we spread those out purposely, uh, over a four and a half year period so that we did not load all of those buses in

130a 1 to one and a half year period where they would all be have to be replaced in that same period as well. So, we will have our final bus purchase this year as well. And then land purchase has switched to red. Uh as tonight we we uh brought forward to you a action item for our final land purchase of the 2022 bond the new tech facility upgrades which we've discussed in depth over the past three years which were completed uh primarily using M funds and not bond funds in the summer of 2022 and then technology infrastructure which was uh included in our proposition A of the bond as well. uh upcoming MEP projects. These have been ongoing. Uh in tonight's consent agenda, you can see the the five campuses in the middle. Per Purle,

131Belton Middle School, Belton Early Childhood School, Belton New Techch, and Sparta. We do have a a over 50 purchase for the um new HVAC equipment for each of those schools. Uh you will see the natiatorum at the top. If you'll remember earlier this summer, we brought an action item for the delivery method of that construction project. We also purchased the new Natiatorum HVAC equipment and we also brought back to you an RFP for a uh company that would come in and install that equipment. Um they are going to start some of the precon work uh within the next two weeks. We expect that equipment to be here uh it's going to ship on September 15th and all of the work will be finished except for installing the units by the time that equipment gets here.

132So we're really excited to get that finished. uh we will be coming back to you with a preferred vendor for the installation of the equipment in the five campuses in the middle. And then the last thing remaining on these upcoming MEP projects is changing out classroom lighting to LED at Lakewood Elementary and Belton Middle School. And that's a that's a portion that was included in the 2022 bond. We do know that that in a in a in a future bond potentially Lakewood and Belton Middle School will be see receiving additional renovations as well. Um to the financial standpoint, we are until the known that come back from Lake Belton Middle, Belton High, and Southwest Elementary. To date, we've closed out uh about um 4.8 million in in buyback buyout savings uh unspent contingencies and allowances

133from the GMP of these projects. Um we do still have some remaining balance of work down below. Um, I will say this that in a time of of rapid inflation and and we saw some new estimates this week that from 20 that came from an article in this this past May that from 21 to 24 uh for non-residential construction saw an average national increase of about 29.4% that we have been we will be able to say that that we will have delivered on all of our construction projects. We will have delivered on our safety and security land, bus purchases, our MEP, and then moving on to Proposition B on our delivery of student devices as well. Um, I will say that we will we owe you and we'll bring we we have been in in

134talks with our our community this summer around bond projects. acknowledged that we would never pursue any type of technology purchase where the the life of the bond or the repayment of the bond extended past the useful life of the of the the product. Uh we do try to get five years life out of our devices and at the time of purchase we do purchase insurance on those that if there's if there's malfunction or or uh damage to that device that we can't have it replaced through insurance. But we'll give a more detailed uh a more detailed review of Proposition B and everything that was done in the in the past bond. I just didn't include it tonight because I was focused primarily on Proposition A. Um and so with that said, I would be open

135to any discussion. Uh tonight was a report. Like I say, we're excited about Delta facility. We're excited to get our our seven construction projects all wrapped up and we're excited to move on to the final stage and that's a significant investment at HVAC in five of our older campuses as well as in our natitorium in addition to the HVAC uh almost $5 million worth of HVAC work that took place at Belton High School, Lake Belton Middle School, Southwest Elementary, and then we did a DAP HVAC improvement over the summer that just completed as well. and we've gotten reports that that's made a big difference in that campus as well. So, I would entertain any discussion at this point and or any comments or questions about our bond program. >> Any questions, comments? Ronnie? >> Yeah,

136I have a question on some of those bonds that have dragged out. Have we been lacking penalty clauses or in the contracts or what's allowed them to drag out? There are there are there are damage clauses in all of those contracts and that's one of the things that will be settled up prior to close out. Great question. >> You have a question. Um just a comment to um just say thank you for just consistently probably meeting after meeting for the last three years of coming and reporting and and really I mean because the voters came out and so like we have been transparent and I and so I applaud you for coming and and allowing um the community to hear how the bond projects have been going. I know we also have the bond um

137oversight committee as well. So, I just I'm appreciative of of the transparent work that has gone into the bond. Um because our voters, I mean, they they they've trusted us. They came out and voted. And so, I just appreciate the the transparent um reporting of of everything that's been done. So, thanks. >> I appreciate all your team. And we have a team that has met every Monday for during that same time period. And we met today at 2 o'clock. and and we're constantly trying to wrap things up, trying to make sure that that we are as um productive as we can and that we save as much money as we can. And as as I've said before and I'll say again, you know, we we are very uh appreciative. We know and appreciate your patience.

138It has been a long process and and some of the projects prove to be a little more challenging than others. uh we are happy that we're going to be able to deliver on what we promised our community and and just I reiterate this every time but with a combination of remaining bond funds savings that comes back from the GMP projects and the use of some of the uh interest earnings we do feel like we're going to be able to fill every obligation of this bond that we had and we appreciate y'all's patience in that our community's patience I I thinking you of the Delta facility it there has been patience seen primarily from our staff and our teachers and our students and families that are going to utilize that facility. But I will say it's

139going to be really really nice uh whenever it's done and we can't wait to get those families and those students in that facility. >> What else? Chris, >> I'll try not to be so exciting uh or excited. Um I know you were mostly focused on the facilities, right? But can we just talk very generically about refresh cycles for equipment and uh generally how we approach that? I know you you'll come back and give us the details, but can you just talk generally how >> are you talking for the devices? >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Student devices, teacher devices. >> And I think and and I do think we have some team members here today that can that can weigh in, but I I think primarily we have over 19,000 devices in in use in the district

140and and and in the last bond it was primarily focused on student devices. uh when the when COVID hit and the schools were closed and we came back to the asynchronous and the alt days and and the students that uh you know were close contacts and so we as a district invested in a little over $6 million in devices at that time. So we went to a true onetoone at our elementary schools. We already had a a a uh a practice in our secondary schools where we were primarily using iPads and we made a significant investment in Chromebooks from our M funds from our our our general fund and our fund balance in 2020. And so that was one of the things that necessitated the need of replacing those 6,000 or so Chromebooks that we

141brought into the system at one time during the pandemic. um the funds that were from the 2022 bond did not replace all devices at once, nor did it replace all of those 2020 devices at the same time. So those devices that we bought in 2020 with operating and and uh and fund balance are those are the ones that are aging out today. So the gap in between has been uh catching up on the devices that were aging out in between that big purchase and today. Um, I will say we try to keep devices online as I mentioned earlier for five years and we try to space it out where we're not replacing uh, you know, all of of our devices at once. So, um, I I think that spoke about it in some general terms.

142I'd be happy to go more specific if I can. Yeah, I I think that was what I >> I will say too though we and we were clear and we're clear in the the current proposal that we brought to y'all last Thursday that we would not um entertain any option for that type of funding that where we did not have that debt repaid prior to or at the useful life of the device. Ren, can I >> uh I just want to say what a great job your you and your team have done uh managing this, you know, from serving all the way back on the bond exploration committee and then getting to serve on the the oversight committee. Um there were times that I really didn't understand how it was going to all get done

143uh with the inflation that was being faced and uh just the challenges generally. Uh and I'm I'm super proud of you guys. So, way to go. >> Thank you for that, >> Riley. Um, I'm guessing a couple of questions might come up from citizens about the the land purchase tonight. >> Sure. >> And that was that's taken from here. So, uh, what's been my observation, I was I served on the bond committee is basically what what is set up what is set out on the bonds. Um, that's that's what we use it for. So, as we as we just, you know, basically if it said it's going to be used for this middle school, this much is going to be used for land. So, could you could you speak to that just so people can

144understand that that was set set up several years ago? >> That that's a great question. and and as as we've been going through um I went back and and studied a lot of the decisions that went into the 2022 bond and initially we only had around $2 million uh set aside for land and it was important to the board that we had then to really be future focused and uh in and and so we did end up with a final recommendation and a final bond program that had about $7 million for future land purchase. We have tried in every way and I think this is the testament to trying to find a way to make sure that we fulfill our obligations at a time whenever uh regrettably some districts have either had to scale back

145on projects uh substantially or even eliminate some projects from their bond package. um we had found a way through really good partners in in in our design teams to try to do some uh be aggressive and and get some fasttrack some designs but also come back and value engineer and try to cut those back and find as many savings as we could. So in particular to the land uh knowing that um you know we're down to the wire and and we probably will you know uh we're going to use all of our buyback savings and some interest earnings to to meet these construction projects. We also made a commitment to our community that $7 million is what we promised we would we would put towards future land use and we're going to be right at

146that amount. So fair question and a good question as well. >> Well, and just one last thing. So all of the elementary devices that we just replaced were five years or older. And um so Mike said we wouldn't extend the payment of a device longer than the life cycle of that vi longer than the life of that device. We can't. It's not just that you you we wouldn't but we can't. And so I just wanted to add that clarification on the device piece. >> Thank you, Dr. Morgan. Thank you. >> Okay, that takes us to item 5B. I'm sorry. Item 5C, board committee reports. Mr. Go, looks like you and I are listed there. >> Yes. So, this is a new item that we have added to the board agenda and we'll keep it as

147a standing um agenda item, but just gives um our committee members an opportunity to just one member per committee, just do a quick high level of what we discussed in our various committees this month. And so, we were going to start with budget. >> All right. Well, good news. This is going to be really short. We've taken all the action today uh on everything that we've been working on. So, we've been talking about budget. We've been talking about tax rate. Um and you got like the workshops that we've gone through for at least the last two workshops around that, right? Have been the work that we're doing. So, nothing new to add. Next committee. >> I think it's facilities. Jeff, what do you >> Okay. Well, I can't do quite as fast as that, but

148I'm going to be pretty close. So facilities, we discussed 2022 bond projects. You just saw that. We discussed the 2025 bond proposals, election, whatever. You saw that last week. And we discussed um land purchase, which you saw tonight. So we had three things on that agenda. All three things you're not experts on, and you know as much as we do. So thank you. Last but not least is policy. >> Ours will be a little bit longer, but I'll be brief. Okay. Um, I did take notes, so Riley, if there's anything I missed, then just fill in. And if I because the notes that I wrote, so if I misspeak, please make sure correct me. But, um, I think I got it pretty accurate. Um, but I will say, um, everything that was on our policy

149agenda a couple of weeks ago is in your consent agenda. So you you probably have already read. So I'll just expand a little bit on on on those. Um policy update 124 involved CDA local which is about revenue and investments and by law we have to re review that every single year. Um and so there was just some added language around um those who can be sellers of investments um specifically investment pools which some of that stuff is so complex. So, um I'm learning a lot of that, but they have to be in good standing and and requ um meet specific guidelines. Um policy update 125 included BDAA local, which is on board officer duties and requirements. Um and so there was a line that was taken out um that had to do about us.

150Um I already moved my paper but uh we can um assign a district employee to essentially do clerical work for the board. That was stricken out stricken struck out. Um but we all know who keeps our board in line and that's Miss Becca. Um she serves under u Melinda and so big shout out to Becca. She keeps us organized and compliant and um she keeps us going in the right direction. Um there was also just some renumbering of the roles of us uh the board officers. It just cleaned up a few semantics of some words literally just a word here and there was was changed. Um but nothing changed in that the context or or meaning. Um and then BDF local uh was also it was a new policy that was based on law that

151talked about forming advisory committees but you know that's already been kind of a practice that we're already doing. Um so super just proud of um I feel like we we take a lot of proactive steps um and so um talked briefly on that one and then local district update on we had three policies which um I won't talk much on but the first reading of EFB local which Gabby came up and talked about the I've been calling it slack but it's eslack um and so I won't talk much about that because Gabby gave such a great report on that. Uh we talked briefly about FNC local, FNC local, which is about the personal communication devices, and it our policy just had to reflect the new state law. And again, we were proactive in that last

152year um back last January. So we just had to make sure that our policy just reflected some of that as well. And then the last one was on FD local, which is around admissions regarding UIL. So, this had to do with another, you know, last month we took board action on the homeschool um uh UIL. And so, basically what we have to do is we have to put that into policy. So, it has to be written. So, we took the board action last last month to not allow homeschool students to participate in UIL. That also had to be reflected in our policy as well. And I think that's it. Riley, anything? Did I miss anything? Okay. Did I say did was that all correct and accurate? Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you, Erin. Okay. That

153takes us now to 5D. Dr. Goolan, your report. >> All right. Thank you, board. Um, a lot's happened since the last time we saw each other in a regular board meeting. Uh, we had an incredible convocation and so thank y'all so much for being there and cheering on our staff and playing along with us. I got so many comments about how just they so many people appreciate that when you go to convocation like you're you're just part of the team. And um that was really recognized um last year and then again this year. And so we welcomed back over 2,000 plus team members and uh again shout out to UMHB. they loaned us this space and so they they don't charge us for that and it's an incredible partnership with UMHB and we had a

154great time kicking off uh this school year and our theme was game on and I love that it was the voices of our staff that helped really shape convocation this year and so shout out to our communications team for the great job they did in creating that and then supporting that whole experience and so I know you know our vision I say it all the time. I'm going to keep saying it because this is what we aspire to be. We want to empower each and every learner to pursue their dreams, enrich their communities. That enriching community piece is so important. And what you see here are pictures. We had a a great event bringing our campus principles and leaders to the table with our military partners. So, it was a great kickoff for the year

155as we launched into this school year. and we are so incredibly blessed and thankful for their service and that they continue to serve their community through their partnerships with each of our campuses. We also kicked off a lot of professional learning. So, a lot of what Gabby was talking about in the academic report. Um there's a lot of professional learning behind the scenes that support that. Again, we listen in listening sessions. We are continuing to get better and better with our professional learning and support of our teachers. And we did para world y'all. So we did a great experience for our par profofessionals really listening to their needs and their concerns shared in listening sessions as well. And so super excited for um what happened this summer and the launch of the school year. We

156already talked about convocation and that's just I love the p just the pictures I think tell the story of the excitement and the energy that was in the room and so the school spirit just within in each individual school or department but also the collective spirit of coming together and being part of a team pursuing worthy goals um was a whole lot of fun. So again, thank you all so much for joining in on that fun. And we've started school since the last time we were in a general session, a general board meeting. And I will tell you, this was the smoothest start to a school year I personally, professionally have ever experienced. And um that is thanks to the incredible work of our teachers, our campuses, our support staff, our transportation team worked so

157hard after some challenges last year to really put some improvements in place and and we really felt that and saw that. And I think just these pictures tell it like our kids were ready to be back. Um they were ready whether whether all will admit that I will tell you they're ready to be back. They're ready to see their friends. they're ready to get these school year started. And I I stood at both Lake Belton High School and Belton High School. I hit both of those campuses during a lunch period and just stood back and watched. I did not see a single device. I saw students actually engaging and talking to each other, laughing, and it was just really great to see our students engaging with each other and connecting. And so we're excited our

158kids are back. I will end with and you know I not to take anything away from our academic performance, but we actually also received some financial awards this week. So we received from the Association of School Business Officials International a certificate of excellence in financial reporting. Um we also received our first rating. Melissa was so busy she didn't have time to go look at it but I was very curious and uh she might have been a little busy and so we received an A rating which is a superior rating and first is financial integrity rating system of Texas and so just a big shout out to Melissa's team and everybody who got us the points tonight where we adopted budget and tax rate and so with that that concludes my report. >> Any questions for

159Dr. building. Thank you, cowgirl. [Laughter] Okay, that takes us to item 5e, board highlights. Anyone want to share anything that they've Oh, Rucker, >> y take off. >> Yeah, it's been a busy couple weeks. Dr. Golden already mentioned convocation was a lot of fun. I didn't know if we could top last year, but I had had a good time this year. It was like you said, a lot of energy. Um, first day of school was awesome. I got to go to Sparta, Belton Middle, and Belton High School. And I witnessed what you just described. It was extremely smooth. Parents walking in. Not too many kindergarteners crying. No high schools, no high schoolers crying that I saw. Um Um, it is interesting seeing the difference in middle school and high school and elementary. It's always fun

160to go to all three of them. Um, Meet the Tigers, been to some tennis matches. Meet Tigers is really great. Um I want to give a shout out to all the coaches um getting the kids ready for the school year. Uh they get started obviously right when school ends in May and then work all through summer uh but the week before leading up whether it's soccer, volleyball, tennis, football. Um they are out there with these kids uh working them so hard and they're so positive. I mean, we have some really, really good coaches out there, I think, and uh I'm just very thankful for them just molding our our young uh men and women, young students, and doing a really, really great job. So, been a good couple weeks. >> Thank you, Rucker. Anyone else?

161>> Are you excited? >> I'm excited. I'm fired up. >> Uh convocation, I mean, awesome. I don't have to say anything more about you. It was uh absolutely energizing. Uh game on I think was uh I think a great way to start it. I think your remarks were awesome. Right on point. Super excited. Um the thing that you said that that stuck with me the most is if it wasn't for everybody in the room, there would be no other professions, right? I mean that's the impact of what uh our teachers and everybody that supports our classrooms, right? From top to bottom, bus drivers, coaches, everything, right? if it wasn't for the group that we've got, there would there would be no other profession. And so that that really stuck with me. And so I'm I'm

162I'm glad you said that. Manuel, awesome. Great job as as always. >> So in your words and convocation, >> um uh walk the halls, back to school, whatever you want to call it, uh various schools. I got to tell you, so I went to Lake Belton Middle and Lake Belton High School with uh with my kids, and those campuses were electric, right? getting like before school had started those campuses were electric. It was like a Thursday night and a Friday night. Who would have thought on a Friday night people would have been excited to be at school. They were on fire and it was electricity that I have not felt in a long time. Uh and so they they kids were happy to be back. They wanted to see each other. Um you know the

163the halls were full and it was just excitement all the way around. Um and so that was that was awesome to uh to to experience. um went to a parent preview for the uh stampede. Um so that's basically where um the band gets to show for their parents and family members what what have they been doing in summer band, right? Getting ready for the season. And I will tell you um there was not a single seat available in the stands at Lake Belton High School for the parent preview. Every single seat in that in those bleachers uh were taken up that if if we had played a football game there, there would be no room for the football fans. Uh, so, um, you know, they got to show the the first act of music and

164movement and the second act of music and and that was awesome. Uh, day one I I hit everything that we would consider in the north. Uh, so my my arm is just finishing healing from directing traffic at Lake Belton Middle School. Um, I went there to to help our new administration there. Um, and walked the halls, uh, talked to the teachers, talked to the kids, um, you know, directed traffic. Uh, everybody had smiles. Uh, I sang a song for the last one in. Um, you know, it's all good. >> Oh, I'm scared. Really? >> Um, >> no, it's all good. Um, Lake Belton High School, did the same thing. You know, walked the halls and and, uh, but I hit North Beltton Middle, Tarver, Purle, Burell, High Point, Lakewood. Um, uh, hit Chisum Trail. I

165even stopped by the admin building on day one because I didn't want them to be, uh, left out. And so, >> it's the only building ad. >> Unfortunately, I wore out the clapper. the clapper that we got from the convocation. Todd, if you got any complaints about some guy making a bunch of noise, that was me. Uh, yeah, I wore out the clapper. I think the folks in payroll, I think, just about fell out of their chairs when I went in there. Um, so I apologize. Uh, as far as I know, everybody's still healthy and has a good working ticker. So, uh, yeah. So, I wanted to make sure they got some love. Uh, and then, uh, last item. Uh, I'm going to start with saying 54 smash burgers, 12 hot dogs, more cookies than

166I can count, and more soda and water than I can account for. Um, we hosted the tuba section uh for a preschool uh social kickoff uh event and uh that's what I put on the flattop grill. So, uh >> Hey, your son's >> game on. >> Yeah, game on. They were uh they ate me out of house at home. So, >> your son's still playing the tuba? >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. So, good to go. >> Yeah, he's a senior. Yeah, I got a senior and a sixth grader. >> Yeah. All right. >> All right. Thank you, Chris. Anyone else? >> No. >> All right, Erin. >> Yeah, it's really hard to follow Chris, but I'll try. >> All right, let's go. >> Cuz I love your energy because I I I agree with

167you. The energy of the meet the the teachers, you know, the the week before, just the the excitement in the halls. I I want to say I I do want to even though I I've got kids um at Chisum and at South and at BHS, I know it's happening everywhere, but I have to I have to give a shout out because you know who else has been working probably all summer long and that's our PTAs. I saw one of the pictures um of the little inflatable apple. Um it may have been the one at Chisom. was maybe it's probably at somewhere else, but I know those PTAs have been working all summer long to be ready for their teachers, for kids. Um, so just super appreciative because, you know, meet the teachers, they're there. They're

168there. Um, they're ready to support kids. And so just really big shout out to our PTAs. I know we you know there's a lot of great things happening in Belton but it's also to to the um contribution of our PTAs and then just the excitement and on first day um I do I even though I want to give a shout out to one particular school again I know this is happening elsewhere but you know Kase is a sophomore at Belton High School and and he is he's in in alt used to be called life skills. I remember last year I tried holding myself just composure last year with him entering in. But this year I there was so much more peace in me because I could sense that he was at peace in in those

169halls. And what I love about the culture that they're creating at BHS and I know again I know this is happening elsewhere but the each and every I love that they're included. They're out in the halls. They're they're excited to see their friends. So, I was just super um I was excited to end the morning there just because granted my son was there, but got to stay there as well. But just I'm I'm thankful for just the culture our our district is creating for our students with with special needs. Um they just they're loved and supported and I just I just applaud our our our team of teachers and staff to just make them feel welcome and excited for their first week back. So, >> I'll just add to that because I was there with

170you and um one of the cooler parts of the morning was when one of the Delta students came up and um said hi and shook our hands and talked to us and it you're right, it just warms your heart and it um it does just renew the understanding of the value of empathy within our district and it's alive and well. >> You know, listening to you guys, Erin, you Chris um what makes me proud to be sitting here just listening. So, I'm I'm sure that everyone watching, I hope they feel the same way because I certainly do. Yeah. Makes me proud to to be here, be a part of this thing. Um, coach, uh, thank you for allowing us to wear those helmets. Yeah, I had I hadn't put one on since I graduated from

171Belton High School. I was telling Yeah, boy, that thing is um I you know, when I was in I was telling Mike early when I was in high school, I couldn't wait to hit something that wasn't red, right? And with that with that helmet, I could have done some damage back then, right? Yeah. >> He didn't you guys wear the leather ones, right? I mean, >> yeah. With no face mask. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Um, but I just say last thing is if convocation's energy is any reflection of what is is to come for this district, we got it going on. So anyway, thank you for for for all of that. Okay, that concludes our uh this evening's reports. Let's move on to the consent agenda. Does anyone wish to pull an item for

172discussion? No. All right. So, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? Miss Bass, do I have number two, Mr. Bzon? All those in favor, please raise your hand. That passes seven to zero. Public comments on non-aggenda items. None. Okay, that takes us to item eight, close session. The time is 8:30 p.m. And the board will now go into close session for A, student disciplinary matter, Texas government code section 551.082. B, personnel text government code section 551.074. Consider superintendent recommend recommendation regarding termination of BTO Geostino term contract employee and C consultation with attorney tax government code section 551.071 071. The time is 9:31 p.m. and the board will now reconvene in open session. Moving on to item 10, action item, termination of Brito Geostino term contract employee. Is there a motion?

173>> Mr. President, I move to terminate the employment of Pietro Guestino under his term contract for the 2526 school year effective immediately. I move that the record reflect the following. On July 21st, 2025, the board proposed Mr. Gastino's term contract be terminated for good cause. The employee received written notice of the proposed termination on July 23rd, 2025. The written notice informed the employee of the right to request a hearing before an independent hearing examiner within 15 days to receive the notice. And Mr. Guestino did not make a timely request for a hearing. I have a second, Mr. Flor. There being no further discussion, all in favor, please raise your hand. That passes 7 to zero. All action items, reports, and consent items for this meeting have been addressed. There being no further business, this meeting

174is adjourned at 9:32