001Good evening. It is 6 o'clock p.m. The board of trustees of the Brinham Independent School District is now convened. I wish to extend a warm welcome to everyone present. In collaboration with our families and community, Brennham ISD is committed to providing an exceptional education for all students in a safe environment. As the Brennham ISD board of trustees, we are here to provide local citizen governance and oversight. The management and day-to-day operations of the district are the responsibility of the superintendent. This is a public meeting of the board of trustees. Schoolboard meetings are open to all who wish to attend and hear the matters discussed. Audience participation is limited to the public comment portion of the meeting. These proceedings are recorded and I respectfully ask that you please refrain from talking while others are speaking. Thank
002you for taking the time this evening to join us for for your interest in the Brenham Independent School District. At this time, Justin Collie will lead us in the pledge followed by the invitation given by Shan Counz. us this day, but you gave it to us. And Lord, pray that we use every minute uh to be able to make uh the things that you value in this world uh go forward. Father, I pray that as a school board, Lord, that we'll honor you in all that we do, that our integrity will be high and that our word will be strong and that Lord, be supportive of our uh community that's elected us to these positions. Lord, I pray for our educators that they would be encouraged, that they're bringing hope in the lives of young
003people and Lord, that they are truly making a difference even if it takes a while to see it. and pray for the parents who sometimes are quite tired and a little bit overwhelmed that Lord they would be encouraged and that Lord would use our words to encourage them as well and for our students who are just looking for uh that next opportunity and looking for that purpose in life that they would understand that they are uh enough because you've created them just as they are and just that they should be and Lord help us to bring out that full potential in their in our education and also in our personal spaces as well. Thank you again Lord for this opportunity to serve in this capacity. In your name we pray. Amen. Okay, we didn't have
004anyone sign up uh for public comment today, so we're going to go straight into special recognition. Uh I'd like to invite um Principal Watts to come forward as he recognizes the students and employees of the month. Good afternoon uh board president board. It is indeed a pleasure to stand before you today to announce my students of the month and my parah and my uh teacher of the month. First I want to start off with the student of the month. We have two of them. First one is uh Mason Sber. Mason consistently demonstrates a positive attitude, strong work ethic in the classroom and on the field and respects and uh respects others well. He approaches each day with determination and willingness to learn, setting a great attitude for his peers. Mason's hardworking and respectful student who
005leads by example. His positive attitude, dependability, and dedication makes him a great choice for student of the month. Thank you, Mace, for making a difference in other students and making Brinham High School a better place. Thank you. Congratulations. >> My next student of the month is uh Princeton Hall. Prince Hall is committed student um an athlete who knows the importance of putting his uh course work force first. His leadership skills, positive attitude and strong work that can makes him a great example for his peers. He respects others well and leads by example. We are lucky to have a student like Princeton who makes Brenham High School a better place. Thank you for making Brenham High School a better place and for your peers. Thank you. Congratulations. Stay right here. Next is um our pair of
006the month, Miss Capachinsky. The amount of time and dedication Miss Capachinsky position is um immeasurable. From transcripts, registration, withdrawals, scholarships, she makes sure it's all done. Trust me, it needs to get done and she makes sure it's done. She is always on top of grades. And when I say she's on top of grades, she makes sure the teachers gets their grades in. And even though um and they are correct, she has a smile on her face. And sometimes that is all we need to see to her feel better. We're blessed to have her at Brennham High School campus. Miss Capachinsky, stay right here. Next is our teacher of the month, Miss Poda. Miss Pota does so much for Bum High School campus that we may not notice. She pours her heart and soul into everything
007she does and leaves a hand in every and everyone uh who may need help. Carrie is always putting others first in the classroom and out of the classroom as well. Her dedication, time, and energy is always invested in Brennham to make the student, school, and community the best they can be. She did an absolute outstanding job preparing us for the homecoming celebration, which was the largest one ever with 117 entries, and she was the one that led that. So, congratulations, Miss Poda. Thank everybody. Congratulations. Okay. Uh, next we have our National Merit Commended Scholars again, Mr. Watts. Principal Watts. >> Good afternoon again, sir. Brennham High School proudly announced that Levi Dupant, Caitlyn Allen, and Drake Binky has been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars through the National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious honor places
008them among the top 3% students nationwide who demonstrated exceptional academic promise based on their outstanding performance on the uh preliminary SAT national merit scholarship qualifying test. Brenham High School congratulates Levi Caitlin and Drake for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Their accomplishment reflect the strong academic standards and the spirit of achievement that define Brennham High School and Brennham ISD. Congratulations This is Drake Binky and this is Levi the punk. >> Here you go, Drake. >> All right. Okay, next uh we have students advancing in the Texas Association of Future Educators, TF. Um, Miss Cus, >> see y'all go. Y'all go up here. Go up here. >> Scoot back. There you go. >> You want them up there? >> They can come. Come on. >> Come over here. Sorry. We've done that in the
009past. >> Okay. Good evening. Thank you members of the board and Mr. Watts for allowing me to highlight the education and training pathway and our Taffy program. My name is Heather Calis and I have the privilege of teaching and learning alongside these remarkable young adults standing before you. For those who may be less familiar with the pathway, we are now in our fourth year and the program has continued to grow each year. This CTE pathway consists of four courses offered both as high school electives and as dual credit options in partnership with Blend College. The final two courses provide students with hands-on field experience, allowing them to learn and grow under the guidance of a mentor teacher at a Brenham ISD campus. Our students lead cubime groups, support small groupoup instruction, assist with PE classes,
010and contribute in many other meaningful ways. While we may not be the largest program on the campus, our reach extends far beyond our classroom. Because our students spend significant time on BS BISD campuses, they play an active role in supporting young learners and strengthening student success across the district. In addition to the education and training classes, we also established a Taffy chapter. And at this time, I would like to invite our current area 5 officers, Isabella Clover and Bridget Oriana Martell, to share more about this co-curricular organization. Okay. Good evening everyone. My name is Bridget Oriana Martell and I'm currently our chapter's second vice president as well as the 2026 2027 area 5 historian. I have been a member of Taffy for two years. For those who may not know, Taffy stands for the Texas
011Association of Future Educators. It is one of the 13 career and technical student organizations recognized by the Texas Education Agency. Our chapter is incredibly diverse, made up of band members, bells, cheerleaders, football players, and students from all across campus. You can oftent times find us serving our community at babysitting events or assisting our teachers in their classrooms as we continue building our teaching skills. Members who choose to compete have competed in events such as children's literature, interactive bulletin boards, public speaking, and teacher creative materials. This year, a chapter also inserted a design in the area 5 t-shirt competition, and we won. The winning design was created by Kayn Boen. Um, And it's the black shirt worn by our members who competed at the area conference. Thanks. Sorry. Good evening everyone. My name is Isabella Clover
012and I currently serve as our chapter president as well as the area 5 second vice president for the 2025 2026 school year. This is my fourth year in Taffy and throughout my time in the organization, I have learned so much from my peers and gained connections that have helped me grow into the leader I am today. Area 5 covers 21 counties in Texas. This year, our area conference included over 600 competitors representing 25 high schools. Students can compete at the high school, middle school, and collegiate levels. Bham High School brought 29 competitors. Out of those, 20 qualified for the Teach Tomorrow Summit. The state conference will be held in Dallas on February 26th through the 28th. There we will compete against more than 6,000 Taffy members with the hope of advancing to the national conference
013in Portland, Oregon this June. At the summit, our members will also attend breakout sessions similar to many many classes and our seniors pursuing education will take part in a college signing celebration. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your continued support in helping our organization to grow. Your encou encouragement allows us to celebrate these achievements and continuing continue to build the future of education. >> Okay. >> I guess we have to go up there, guys. Get up there. >> Just kind of get in there somewhere. Just back all the way up. >> I'll move this. Thank you, Miss Thank you, Miss Cers. And students, students, stop. Wait a minute. Students, all students, stop. Just think about it. Think about it. You have an opportunity. You're doing what you're doing. You have an opportunity
014to come back here and teach in Brennham ISD. Okay? Let's make it happen. Okay. Um, next we uh consider possible approval of a resolution canvasing the returns and the declaring the results of the bond election. Uh, Mr. Gill. >> Yes. So, this is a day we've been looking forward to for a long time. Uh, the official returns of the bond election were presented to the board for canvasing purposes and the possible adoption of a resolution declaring the election results. So at this time, our board president will read the language. >> The board has been provided with returns which were duly and lawfully made available to us by the judges and clerks holding and conducting the election. And we find that the following vote votes were cast in the election by voters who were resident qualified
015voters of the district. Proposition A, early voting for 2247 against 1473. Election day votes for 1,021 against 961. Total votes cast for 3,268 against 2,434. We officially find, determine, and declare that the election has duly and properly ordered. Proper legal notice of the election was given in the English and Spanish language. That election officers were duly appointed prior to the election. The election was duly and legally held. and all residents qualified voters of the district were permitted to vote. A majority of the resident qualifier qualified voters of the Brennham ISD voting in the election voted for the authorization and insurance of $39 million of bonds. Therefore, we find and determine that Proposition A passed at the election. I'll make a motion to adopt the board resolution canvasing the returns of the bond election as presented.
016>> I'll second. All right, Justin Collie has made a motion seconded by Kelvin Raven to adopt a board resolution canvasing the returns of a bond election as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations, Burnham. That's awesome. >> I'll turn my mic back on and we'll start over again. Uh again uh considering possible approval of a resolution canvasing the returns and declaring the results of voter-approved tax rate election and other matters in connection there within. >> Yes. So again we're very fortunate to take both a bond and a vader voter approved tax rate election uh to the voters. Uh the official returns of the voter approval tax rate election were presented to the board of trustees for candidating purposes and the possible adoption of a resolution declaring the election results. And again at
017this time, board president, >> the board has been provided with the returns which were duly and lawfully made available to us by the judges and clerks holding and conducting the election. And we find that the following votes were cast in the election by voters who were resident qualified voters of the district. Measure A, early voting for 2,14 against 1,610. Election day votes for 932 against 149. Total votes for 336 against 2,659. We officially find, determine, and declare that the election was duly and properly ordered. Proper legal notice of the election was duly given in English and Spanish language. That election officers were duly appointed prior to the election. The election was duly and legally held and all residents qualified voters of the district were permitted to vote. A majority of the resident qualified voters of
018the Brennham ISD voting in this election voted for the voter approved tax rate. Therefore, as provided in measure A. Therefore, we find and determine that measure A pass the election. >> I would like to make a motion to adopt a resolution canvasing the returns and declaring the results of the voter approved tax rate election as presented. >> I second it. >> Okay. The Archer Archers has made a motion seconded by Bonnie Brinkmire to adopt a resolution canvasing the returns and declaring the results of a voter approved tax rate election as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed. Motion carries. Again, congratulations. This is fantastic for us. So, this is awesome. All right, that was a mouthful. Uh, next we have a superintendent monthly update. >> Yes. So, real quickly, I um sometimes I hesitate to
019start recognizing groups because we have so many kids doing great things. And I know I'm going to forget somebody, but uh Mr. Watt said it just a minute ago, what an awesome program that is. Uh us growing, our own teachers right here in Brenam ISD. I've said many times before when I stand in front of the entire staff of almost 800 and say, "How many of you went to school here?" More hands go up than any place I've ever been. And so to have a program like this that grows our own teachers is just absolutely amazing. Uh this past week, as you know, many Veterans Day programs that uh I know some of you uh got out and and got to to be a part of. The band uh was incredible at the state championship.
020That had to be their best performance. It was so cool to watch them. And of course, our our football team uh entered into the playoff competition and and advanced and will be playing again Friday night. So, uh, what a great thing. I just to highlight a few of those groups. Before I move forward, I want to just unpack a little bit of, uh, those motions that were just made because I keep being asked amongst the community what's next, what's next in the way of the the Vader and the bond. So, with the passing of the Vader, um, the district can now move forward uh, with the new higher maintenance and operations tax rate. remember you you passed that already uh on the contingency that it did pass. Uh the administration will begin uh posting additional
021positions based on needs assessments uh with the campus principles. So we'll start those conversations very soon with the principles um about just exactly what they need. As you all know, we absorbed about 50 professional positions across the district over these last couple years uh to help balance the budget. Um and while that was um much needed and we're very proud of that work, we know that uh we need uh to do something about that two teacher student ratio and uh we're excited to be able to uh take this uh past Vader and and and move forward with that. So also employees will uh or may receive you know the additional money um in their paycheck from the evader. So um they'll be back paid um for this fiscal year um when they started their contract.
022Uh some of them July, some of them August their paychecks did I did I and September and some that's right and some of them September uh back pay for those months through December. So they'll see that reflection in their December paycheck. So we'll start those conversations soon and uh Brooke and I will work on pumping out some information in my uh staff FYI so that's that's clear for everyone to understand uh with the bond and that's where most of the questions come from. So again, tonight you certified those results. Um we'll now sort of set up some oversight groups. Um that that consists of a lot of communication with the community. I've heard over and over again, okay, the y'all done great with transparency, but it can't stop, right? It's got to continue now that
023the bonds passed. So we have every intention of of making sure that that continues. Um we will um we'll use an RFQ to hire an architect. Uh that's required under um our laws that we have to uh abide by. Firms submit their qualifications. Uh we review the submissions and then we'll interview the finalist uh the the architects and the board will uh select which which firm they want to move forward with. So from that we'll also secure a construction manager and we'll begin putting that uh that money to use. So a little bit about that the money the bond sale preparer preparation and Darl feel free to jump in if if you need to but I know we have a meeting with uh Steve our financial planner uh just this week uh and bond council
024to help prepare for the sale of those bonds. Um the bond council drafts the required documents. Those documents are submitted to the Texas Attorney General who typically takes four to six weeks to approve them from what I understand. Um after approval, the bonds are sold through a competitive or negotiated process. Of course, a lot of that has to do with uh the market value and timing, etc. So, you could see, you know, anywhere from uh I'm going to be aggressive and say early March to late April. Maybe you think it could be sooner. Actually, I did uh contact our financial adviser this uh this afternoon and he's hopeful that we could maybe have the bond sale by the end of February. >> Okay, great. I thought, you know what? I I saw that was the
025earliest possibility and I didn't even want to say it aloud, but if he said it then, okay, that was his his words, not mine. Any any questions about um that at all from the group? We will again keep you so informed, the community so informed. Uh again, we feel like we've done a real good job of that, which um I I feel like I think you feel like is why both of those passed. So, uh we are charged as a team to continue with that transparency and to be sure everybody knows just exactly what's going on at all times. >> Okay. Okay. Uh we have a board members uh reports and comments. Kyle, >> Mr. I got to be at the uh middle school I think it was last week or the week before and
026love what they're doing. Uh they had a parade of uh nations I guess is what it was called where kids put their floats together had to you know uh look into the uh um the history of a nation and then all all these facts about it. What I loved was the collaboration and the creativity that it unleashed there and it just made education fun and I love that that's happened on a lot of our campuses and so just a shout out to the middle school. I think it was Mr. Lewis's group and Miss Tibido leading that charge there. Uh you got some good people doing some great stuff and I thought that just a lot of fun and the parents, grandparents, everybody that came to see that. Thought that was a neat thing. >> Hey,
027I just want to uh elaborate a little bit more on the the state marching festival or state marching contest for the band. It was a a fantastic Monday and Tuesday in San Antonio. Um I did drive down there and watch the band perform on Monday and it was uh it was their best show of the year and I'll give them a lot of props. they put a lot of effort uh time and effort into that show and it was it was fun to watch and um a little bit overly emotional watching them on the field. So, that was a lot of fun. Um I attended the veterans program at the high school. That was a great program. Uh Don Holly uh gave a a great uh speech kind of charged the students to chase your
028dreams and it was it was a it was a fantastic program put on. Um the ROC continues to blow me away and their routines and their ability and the stuff that they're working on. So, I would encourage anyone in the community um if you have a chance to see the RO the junior ROC perform uh any of their routines, it is it will it will it'll blow you away and and you know, it's just jaw-dropping to be honest. Um so, it's it's really cool to see those students work. Um and then the football game, you know, great turnout from the community Friday night at the football game. Uh hope we can see some more uh another great turnout in Huau. I know it's about an hour and a half drive to get over to Huddle
029Memorial Stadium on Friday night, but I think it'll be well worth it. It should be a good game and and we can cheer on our Cubs. So, that's all I got. >> Well, the guys always like for me to talk a whole lot, but uh I'm not going to take too much time other than it's been a wonderful fall in so many ways. We have so many kids who are doing so well and we're so proud of them. And thank you teachers and principles and those of you who've worked with these kids. It's amazing what we've accomplished in this in this time period if you think about it from the first day that uh we had school uh and now the fact that the community has allowed us to move forward with some real big
030projects that need to be done. Uh somebody years ago asked me why do y'all have the kids come to school on Veterans Day? And that was uh that was at a time when we didn't have Veterans Day programs on a lot of the campuses. And my answer to that is our kids need to understand what Veterans means and how we should celebrate but in a way that shows us how much we appreciate those who have become u who have gone out of their way to keep us safe and to give us the country that we have. And so that's why we have school on Veterans Day. Every once in a while somebody will ask us questions about that. Veterans Day is important and children need to understand it. And this generation may not have may
031not have been uh part of any kind of a war like pre predecessors have been through. But uh I thank to thanks to all of you who were there and helped us celebrate in our own way Veterans Day and that's it. So um just have a few things. Uh participated in the homecoming parade which we said you Miss Poto organized that was 117 floats which was the best we the most we've ever had. The kids were fantastic. It terrifies me to see them all on the road like that. But that's why we were trunking the candy as far as we could to get them out. Uh but it was great. Um the National Honor Society induction for this year's class. I was lucky enough and fortunate enough to go to that to have a child
032that got inducted into it also. So it was it was just really proud moment for me. And then um I I've never seen a band get a standing ovation at a football game before. Uh but I I saw it with my own eyes whenever Brennan was two weeks ago, two or three weeks right before they went to the to the the uh state. It was it was very moving to to see this the community support them and stand up and show them how proud they were. So shout out to Brennham for doing that. You know, they those kids need all the support we can get and they did fantastic. They made us proud. Uh but and that that's it. >> So at the at the Cubs game, I'm looking at employees and you can see
033the shifting. You can see people smiling. You can see people had happy to be here. And I'm just thankful to be a part of it. So, uh, just keep being positive and keep waiting on your blessing. Thank you. >> I just want to thank our community for entrusting us with these two elections. They're massive steps for our district. And I know previously we had a lot of eroded trust in the community and Clay and his team and this board and our staff have done a big job to try and rebuild that trust and I think we've done a good job. And so I just want to thank our community members, our taxpayers, our voters for entrusting us with these bond and this vader so that we can move forward in the future of Brennham ISD
034for our students. And I know that that was a big step for our community. So thank you very much, >> Archer. Thank you for saying that. I I I would say we all feel the exact same way, but I'm really glad that you brought that up because this was a huge step for us and we fought along and hard to get there. So, man, really appreciate you stepping up and saying that today. Okay. Um, next we have a possible adoption of a board resolution electing candidates for membership on the board of directors for Washington County Tax Appraisal District. Uh, Mr. Giline. >> Yes. So, if you'll remember, you saw something uh about this at our last board meeting. Um, there are five positions on the Washington County Appraisal uh district board of directors and five
035candidates running. So, um, I'm recommending that you distribute your votes evenly among all candidates. There's really no reason or benefit to doing it any differently. So, um, unless there's any questions for me. Yep. I make a motion to adopt the board resolution election candidate for membership of board of directors for the Washington County Tax Appraisal District as presented. >> I second that. >> Okay. Kelvin Raven made a motion seconded by Bonnie Brinkmire to adopt a board resolution electing candidates for membership on the board of directors for the Washington County Tax Appraisal District as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Okay, next we have the considering possible approval of targeted campus improvement plans for Brennham Middle School and Krowy Elementary School. Uh, chief academic officer Sarah Bohart and the Bernham Middle School principal
036Aaron Tibido as well as the Krowy Elementary School principal Sarah Cook uh will present. Did I miss anybody? >> I think you got us. So, last board meeting, we went into district and campus improvement plans um with y'all and really talked about the district improvement plan as a whole and how the campus improvement plans feed into that. Tonight, we're going to narrow our focus in to really look at a targeted improvement plan for two of the campuses that we have intentional focus in moving um a letter grade. So, I'm going to kind of review the plan. If you look in board book, you will see that you have this presentation. You also have the board doc that kind of explains as well as both of the plans for you if you're following along in boardbook.
037And then um our principles are just going to jump in when they're ready to jump in or if y'all have questions in field. So I want to give you an overview of a targeted improvement plan. Yes. >> Do what? >> Flag. >> Oh, the flag. Sorry, I'm like what's wrong? >> Okay, so uh the definition for a targeted improvement plan, it is a campus that is been identified for improvement under state or federal accountability. The purpose is to address root causes of underperformance. Um monitoring is that ongoing review of aligned effective school framework levers which you saw all of that in the narrative last month in the district improvement plan and campus improvement plan where we attached to those levers. Um our goal always is continuous improvement and sustained growth and that's what we're working
038towards. So we have Kray and Brennham that are working closely with the TIP and then we also have a locally developed improvement plan at Brennham Junior High that we're watching very closely and targeting data in students as well. Um the school improvement strategy. So when we submit these campus improvement plans to the state, we have to choose a school improvement strategy that we're going to lean into. We chose in Brenham an intensive curriculum and instruction improvement. And if you look at these qu the question that it asks is does the plan increase the quality of instructional materials to be used at the campus and provide adequate time and support for teachers to internalize materials and reflect on student performance. And so looking at the criteria for that we do have the amount of instructional days
039needed. We are using state board of education approved highquality instructional materials or open education resources. We do have high quality PLC's to support that instructional deliver delivery and respond to student outcomes weekly. You've this is a wheel that just kind of keeps coming with me everywhere we go. But I think it's really important to share that part of that intensive curriculum and instruction has a lot to do also with the capacity of the teacher to deliver highquality instruction. So we have curriculum which are the materials that we use and then we have instruction which is how we deliver instruction in ways that increase student outcomes. What we know is that there is a need to build capacity. So through this system that we have and I've gone over it many times with y'all but we
040do have job embedded professional development in our PLC's. We do have data driven instruction where we're looking at data. We have the high quality materials. We have a rigorous education evaluation system with continuous observation and feedback. We're providing teachers um leadership opportunities through PLC facilitator or mentor. We're running instructional leadership teams and we're really working in on our literacy framework and how we mentor new mentees. So all these systems are at play every day on every campus to help really be a capacity lifter for us. This summer, Great Minds um in ESC6 came in and did some intensive work with us for blue bonnet math. Those teachers that did cho choose to come um were paid a stipen to come through the lasso grant. We have HMH that is supported us in ELA. We have
041NIT which is supporting us in our learning acceleration support opportunity grant and then we have Mo Casey that's working with us on really designing a literacy framework to drive teacher action, student action, principal actions, district actions to support literacy. So that plus the wheel is all the CA capacity building support that we have in place. So, part of what we did is we looked at student outcome goals that we would set that would move us a letter grade. You can see I've defined for y'all on the slideshow kind of what each one has to do with. Um, the first one, RLA and math, is strictly a meets grade level, which lets us know did they meet or exceed those grade level expectations, which is going to be tied both to student achievement and academic achievement
042monitored in domain three. Um, domain three really has a focus for us on closing the gaps, which is the federal accountability side, which has to do with our student populations, emergent, bilingual, sped, ecodis, um, racial, ethnic groups to make sure that all students are meeting those targets. We have a growth component that lets us know where the student entered and then a year's growth. Did they maintain or grow, which is part of that growth component. It also Sarah Montes, our emergent bilingual coordinator, came and presented to y'all, was it last maybe soon, like a month ago, um, and really talked to y'all about the English language proficiency component that's tied to Telpas, which is also part because the state and federal are watching to make sure that our emergent bilingual are not staying stagnant and
043that they're learning the language. Um, and then there's the student success component, which really lets us know our overall readiness and on track. So based upon Kray and Brena Middle and these are the targets that we've set to kind of see our outcome goals. These are our benchmarks in which we're measuring as we do that data-driven instructional support to move a letter grade and y'all can follow along with that um as well in your slideshow. So then we have the performance management piece which is a part that's managing to make sure that all those systems are at play and what are the ways that we can serve and support. Um so the leading and learning is helping monitor performance. We're doing quarterly data reviews. We had one today and we're doing calibration curriculum walks with
044district leadership tied to action steps. We also have NIET, which is our external provider. Um, plus principles and APs and instructional coaches are continually walking classrooms and looking at how we're delivering instruction and providing feedback to teachers. So, that performance management piece is in place as well. We have to name a district coordinator of school improvement. That will be the chief academic officer, which is myself. Um, the resources, we've had continual professional development. um curriculum training this summer kicked off. We are doing monthly instructional coaches specialist meetings, those PLC's. We're taking 16 leaders to teach like a champion in Houston in February, which is like seeing Taylor Swift for educators. Like to go see Doug Lamov is like a big deal. So, we're really excited about the opportunity he's coming to Houston. And so, 16
045of us are going to go and learn and then bring back for that. And then we have all the curriculum materials that the board has helped us purchase which has to do with the HMH the blue bonnet mass savas the DBQ project Sirius. These are all new materials that have come in within the last two years. DBQ project has been here. I think we just went more extensive for that um to have that guaranteed and viable curriculum. So that's in place. um the stakeholder feedback. Um they have notifications posted on their website and in their parent square. I'm also working with their guiding coalitions to get feedback from stakeholders that will close that window for feedback will close towards I think it's Thursday that we're going to close all that feedback coming. Um so really
046our next steps are going to be the board approval of these tip plans. Then I will submit them to TA to notify them of our district plan. They'll let me know if they approve them. I'm pretty sure our plan is very extensive. So it should be approved. It meets all the metrics that they're looking at. They'll let us know if we have to have any revision by January 23rd. Then we have to have those revisions if we are asked by March 24th. And then TEA will let us know if our plans approved in April. So I want you to know testing occurs in April. So they they look at school improvement as a two to threeyear process, right? Because we're putting all this in place now, but I think the state does recognize, you know,
047it takes time. So that's those are kind of just the big highlights. So we're here to answer questions or anything that Erin and Sarah would like to add. Sarah, can you explain why only two campuses have tip plans? >> So, a tip plan follows like very closely to that campus improvement plan, but when a targeted improvement plan is when we see that the school performance of a D that has been more than one or two years. So, I think what is important and it's really hard to understand is we have state accountability that has different measures like ABCD F, right? But then we have federal accountability which is tied to all of the closing the gaps the domain three and so they are very the federal accountability is watching how our sub populations that all
048kids are making progress where the state is just going to give us the ABCDF rating. So we're trying to manage both pieces of accountability. So these two campuses were identified mainly because of the domain three closing the gap score. Um, under that. >> Yes. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Thank you very >> That's a lot of hard work. I It It's going to take time, but I know y'all can do it, >> right? >> Well, the principles are work. I mean, all principles are working incredibly hard. there's people in their buildings continually with NIT with the lasso grants um tied which we were awarded those grants really tied to that and so you know I think something that we talked about today in one of the meetings was it school improvement really is a
049whole school effort cannot just be one grade level or one tested subject I was reminded of that today and I think it also has to be looked at as a whole district improvement process right it's not it's going to take all of us rowing in the same direction to be able to create those outcomes. So >> I I like that just uh Miss Cook, Miss Tibido, >> what about from you all because this is an undertaking you guys got to come up against. Are there additional things that you need in order to be successful in this or do you have everything you need right now? >> It's a loaded question. >> It is, >> but they they're they're they're awesome. And so I know they're going to be >> Sarah asks us that all the
050time. So um weekly we're getting contact to see if there's anything else we need. What else do we need? Um and they're very responsive. So, um, just approving the hire of, uh, she was asking me what's made the difference cuz I feel like I'm in the classrooms more this year. And, um, just approving the hire of a DAP administrator has been a tremendous help because my APS are on campus. Um, and so they're able to handle all the things with discipline and such. So, it's afforded me the opportunity to be in the PLC's more. Um, all the things that we have in place are working well. Uh our meeting today was sort of reassurance that we just stay the course because it's it's on track but it's slow. Um and our teachers are doing a
051great job. Our teachers are working really hard. Everybody's continuing to learn and grow. Everybody's getting feedback. And even my c that's I was telling my custodians like that window's dirty. You that plays into if our kids are going to perform you got to clean it so we can get the good scores. You've got to clean that window. So we are preaching it to everybody. creates a whole culture of accountability and growth. And so, yeah, I think we have what we need. >> Yeah, I mean, we're just we're we're improving our systems. Um, and so giving that time to to allow our teachers to learn and grow with new materials and under the the measures that are put in place for us is is just what we're working toward. And it is a slow process, but
052we will see growth with our kids. >> Can I add something to that? I think one thing I could talking about the process you think about I'm just going to use something that y'all have experienced the budget the financial situation right and how tonight we celebrated such great success but that has been years and the undermaking and restoring trust and all the variables that y'all have gone into to really help financially you know that it's the same thing for school improvement I I want to believe with my whole heart that we can do a rally and come in 31 to fourth quarter, right? Like Texas A&M just did. And that's what we're totally focused on. I was using that with them all today. I mean, I don't even watch football very well, but I I
053want to hear his halftime speech because whatever it was, like they came out like fire and they did it. And so, we want to have that passion and energy. And yet, we have new teachers in our buildings, right? We have over 60 teachers that joined us from either different places or new and then the same secondyear teachers. So building capacity, we're building capacity and and I want to believe come May, we are going to come in, you know, and do really well. But I also want to paint a realistic picture of the systemic issues that we're working through and and all of that that plays into it. But we're showing up every day like it is game day and we're giving it our all. I I remember sharing uh when we were at uh central
054office where Krow is very unique and uh Brennan Middle is very unique in our situations um especially emerging language and and then also you're taking all the kids from all the elementary schools. So that in and of itself is a massive lift and so uh just a lot of props to you guys just seeking to raise the bar even more. So way to go and Sarah a lot great work. That's awesome. It >> takes all of us. Is that it? So we will need someone to approve it. I make a motion. I make a motion to approve the targeted campus improvement plans Brennham Middle School and Krowy Elementary School as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Bonnie Brinkmire made a motion seconded by uh Justin Collie uh to approve the targeted campus improvement plans for Bruner
055Middle School and Kray Elementary School as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you for all y'all's work. Okay. Next, uh a possible approval of a payment to bill for property restoration for summer storm damage. Mr. Sinclair, >> good evening. U we did have payments last month as you may recall and uh after checking multiple times to make sure that we have everything uh that we currently are needing to pay to bail for all the invoices that we need to be paying, uh we do have all of them. The last three are included in your board packet. These are the last three final payments totaling 1,25,521.16. Uh again, this is related to our storm damage from Memorial Day weekend, I believe it was, and the hell damage that we had, the repairs,
056the the restoration, the cleanup that went pretty much all summer long. Um and we have already received these funds from our from the TASBY man risk management fund which is basically the district's uh insurance provider. So these funds have already been received by us uh few weeks ago actually. And so uh there really is no delay. They've been reviewed. Uh everything seems to be in order. So we just need a motion from the board to approve this since it is well over $35,000. Um, before we remove all that, um, it's a lot of fees on here. Um, I'm assuming this was, I don't want to say audited, but cross-cheed by somebody cuz just the amount of latex gloves and trash bags and things that they build us for, it's it's kind of ridiculous. But um
057I'm assuming there was some type of oversight other than just saying, "Hey, bill forego and here's a blank check." Um because there's it is page after page after page of overtime hours. And I mean lots of regular hours, but then there's overtime and then as far as materials, the material list is insane. Um, so I mean I don't I I understand we need a lot of mop heads because we're doing a lot of cleaning, but was it really that many? Was it that much really that many gloves and that many? And that's just me nitpicking because that happens to be the page that I'm on, but there was this is I don't know how many pages this is, but it's like 400 pages of just fees. But was was there any oversight on this? Did
058anybody go back and cross check some of the >> or is it TASBY that does that? Yes. Um, where does it where the buck stops here? Who's that guy? >> I've been assured that TASBY has reviewed. In fact, they had a third party vendor review Belffor documents. That was part of the delay in even getting it getting the invoices to us because they wanted to review it and they wanted their third party vendor to review it uh independently to make sure that everything was in line. >> There's a lot. I mean, there was a lot went into this. Um, but we will need some action. >> I'll make a motion to approve the payment for summer storm damage to Bell for property restoration as presented. >> I'll second. >> Justin Collie made a motion seconded
059by Kelvin Raven to approve a payment for summer storm damage to Belffor property restoration as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Darl. since you're here. Love a financial update. All righty. We'll get started with that here in just a second. All right. So you you'll have there you have in your your board packet and then here on the presentation the updated information for our approved budget. Again this is our general fund, food service fund and debt service funds and the approve excuse me the actual excuse me the actual receipts so far the cash receipts on this first slide. So we have now received 17.5 million of the 66 million we're expecting this year. Uh just a reminder, we have received our final TEA payment until next August. So we get
060paid in September, we get paid in October. Those payments have been posted. We've had a you know a small amount of tax collection, but we'll get to more about that here in a second. But moving forward between now and well, next August, we'll be relying mainly on our tax collections to fund the operations of the district. So you'll start noticing the local revenue increasing significantly that first row of data there and the state revenue will probably stay pretty static now for a while. Okay, our investment reports again we have our Texas class text pool lonear investment and actually I guess I should change that technically. Well, I guess in October it was still bank of Brennham. uh is now Cadence Bank. But we have those uh information, those u different investments there. I would like
061to point out that the rates have not dropped significantly. They're just, you know, every month it seems like I tell you they've dropped just a tiny bit more, just a little bit more. Text pools down about uh 1100s of a percent, so not much. Lonear, the same thing. And Texas class only 800s. So even with the uh reduction in the the Fed rate that's not being uh realized very uh very much here so far, we're hoping that our rates will we're expecting they're probably going to drop below 4% before we get to the end of the school year. I did visit with one of our um one of our text pool representatives last week. Uh he was mentioning that their expectation is probably the high threes, 3.8, 8 3.9 before it's all said and done.
062But uh so far we're still holding on to 4 plus. So we're excited about that and and as we always do once I mentioned a second ago, we our tax collections will start up here soon. Uh once we start seeing the bulk of that, we'll start shifting that over. Whatever we don't need in our general operations account to uh to fund the actual day-to-day activities, week-toeek payments and payroll, we'll move as much of that over as we can so we can collect that higher interest rate. Our tax collections uh you will notice that it has been reset to the 2025 current year. Uh it has been 2024 up until this meeting today. Uh the notices are being sent out, probably have been sent out by now uh from the appraisal office. And uh you'll notice
063we really don't have much in the way of current year collections there in that that center column, taxes paid column. Uh we do have just a tiny bit coming in so far, but that's what will shoot up here pretty quick in the next couple of months. And so the the levey's been reset, which is that very uh well, it's in several places in different pieces and parts, but in that very top uh row and that first column in the yellow, our current uh tax year levy is just over 35 million. The delinquent levy just below that, just over 2 million for a grand total of not much more than 37 million. So those will be the numbers we'll be hoping to close in on very closely by the time we get to August, September, well
064July, August, September next year. But as I said, those have been reset and so we'll start seeing the new collections coming in here in the next couple of months. And then finally, our comparison of expenses versus budgeted actual expenses versus budgeted expenses. Uh again, you can see that the expenses are relatively low. We're only into the second well, this is as of the end of October. It's only the end of the second month. And I will say maybe for the last time uh for a while, you know, we did have those August acruals back in August of 2025 where we charge the old year for work done but not paid for until we get to the new year and then in September we basically get a credit back. So these are not especially in function
06511 and function 36. Uh these are not two full months of payroll. These represent all the regular expenses and probably about one and a half one and a quarter to one and a half months of actual payroll. Uh because those credits are there kind of offsetting some of the September payroll. A good chunk of the September payroll. But other than that, uh it things are progressing just as we would expect this time of the year. Any excuse me, any questions about the finance update? >> No, sir. It's uh not a lot of information on there yet, but it's coming in. Thank you for keeping up with it. Um, anybody have any questions for him? >> Okay. Um, since you're here, you want to talk about this uh budget amendments? >> Yes, sir. Uh, we do
066have three budget amendments proposed for tonight. Um, I will preface this explanation with uh you may recall from back in June. I don't I got this information from TEA in June. I probably either shared it with you at the end of June or in in one of our July meetings uh related to House Bill 2 and all the changes, the the TRA, the staff retention aotment, uh all the other changes that were coming from House Bill 2. And one of the things that I I I'm pretty sure I remember pointing this out to you because I think a couple of you even uh chuckled and made a comment or two is that um given the need for immediate action Oh, hold on. That's the wrong sense. Oh, yeah, there we go. Uh given the need
067for immediate action and many other changes to school finance from House Bill 2, school systems should anticipate having to make more budget amendments after the budget is initially adopted in the upcoming school year than is typical. And I would say this one right here is much more than typical. Uh this very first one, if you recall, we were trying to figure out what amount of money we were going to be paying teachers who qualified as a teacher under the teacher retention aotment that would receive the the additional funds. Uh we did have the ABC aotment I believe is what they call it. Uh that we used to fund a good bit of the 3% raises that everyone would received. So we had a lot of moving pieces and parts in June and July and going
068into August. We adopted our budget a little bit earlier than we typically do. Normally it's closer to the end of the month. We did it closer to the beginning of the month. So I say all that to say there was a lot of estimating going on back in the summer. A lot of estimating of salaries. uh not having really enough time to get final coding on salaries as they needed to be. Just a lot of estimating. Uh we did have some unfilled positions at the time, not all of which actually got budgeted in function 11. The money is in the budget. It just wasn't necessarily in the correct function of the budget. And so what we're trying to do here now that we've had time to review, I reviewed the September and October payrolls, the
069actual payrolls to see where exactly our coding is with what we're actually spending. And so I would like to recommend that we move $2.24 million from function 36 over to function 11 for those two main purposes partly of uh catching up to the actual coding. A lot of this is due, you know, uh coaches especially are split funded between functions 11 and function 36. And so at the time back in the summer when we were doing our estimates, a lot of those salaries were being coded strictly to function 36. Well, now they've been recoded correctly throughout the the end of August and the 1st of September. And so now we need to shift those funds around to catch up to where they're actually being spent. So that's that first amendment there. Uh again, doing a
070full review as I did a few weeks ago or a couple weeks ago over all of the September and October payroll to see where where we are right now and predictions about where we will end by the end of the the current fiscal year when all 12 months are done. Uh we're a little bit underfunded it looks like in uh benefits uh and extra duty pay in the transportation department. So I'd like to move about $60,000 again from function 36 where we have really too much money over to function 34. And then the last thing that has recently come to my attention, uh, we did qualify for a mentor program aotment from TEA. And so, uh, that was something that Sarah worked on and I believe did the application uh, so we could receive those
071funds. Now, if you have questions about the individual details about what that provides, you will have to check. We'll have to get talk to Sarah about that. Uh we were just talking about this last week, but anyway, we do have 50,000 additional dollars coming from TEA, but the deal is it's not a grant. A lot of the funding we get, extra funding, we comes as a grant in a separate fund. This is not this is part of our regular ST foundation school funding that we get uh in our three payments that we get from TEA throughout throughout the year. And so this is like uh I guess you could say it's like our state coped payments. It's like our special ed payments. It's like a lot of the revenue that we get that's in identified,
072but it's just part of a big payment we get directly from TEA. So, basically, we need to be able to carve out uh the expense accounts that were not budgeted for this $50,000 program, but we've already got the revenue in our calculations. So, we need to carve this out and actually set up the expense account so we can start spending that money the way that it needs to be spent. So, that's the reason for that that third amendment. Any questions? >> I make a motion to approve the budget amendments as presented and second. >> The motion was Kelvin Raven made a motion seconded by Justin Collie to approve the budget amendments as presented. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Gary. >> Thank you. >> Um, next we have the consent agenda.
073We can approve everything or pull anything if we need to. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Justin Collie made a motion, seconded by Kelvin Raven, to approve the consent agenda as presented. Um, all in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. >> Sorry about that. We've done a lot of those today. I feel like I've been asking for a vote like 50 times tonight. Uh okay. Next we have monthly reports for information purposes and um we will need to go into executive session tonight. So an executive session will be held for the purpose authorized by Texas Open Meetings Act Texas Government Code section 551071 consultation with attorney and 551074 personnel matters. The board of trustees went into executive possession executive session at 7:03 p.m. according to the Texas
074Open Meetings Act, Texas government code 551071 consultant with attorney 55074. Personnel matters. All final votes, actions or decisions will be taken in open meetings. Okay. The board reconvened at 7:18 and with no further business uh to come before the board, uh this meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for being here.