001This April 13th meeting of the board of trustees for the Berles Independent School District is now called to order at 6:54 p.m. This meeting was duly posted according to legal requirements and a quorum is present. We welcome employees and guests to this meeting. Board of trustees um have two items to take care of from the close session. I recommend that the board of trustees grant the board president the authority to approve new hires between now and the next regular meeting in May. The board will consider ratifying those new hires at the next meeting. I need a motion. Ryan, I need a second. Dallas, all in favor. See none opposed. Motion passes. I also recommend that the board of trustees approve the hiring of an elementary principal as presented. I need a motion at I need
002a second. Mike, all in favor, please raise your raise your hand. I see none opposed. Motion passes. Um, you may have noticed we just hired a new principal. Uh, recently uh, well, I say within the last little bit, we realized we were going to have an opening at, uh, at Bransom Elementary. Rob Valentine, uh, has decided it was time to retire. And, uh, we tried everything we could to get him to stay. and uh we all made turns at him, but uh but it it was he had too good of an offer outside of education that he could retire and do this and take the job. And I'm thinking, okay, I can't blame him for that, but but I will blame him for that. >> So, but uh Rob's been with us, is it eight?
003Eight years. Eight years. Uh even had uh nearly all of my kids at one time or another go through there. my kids, that's their zone school that they all went through. So, Rob had all of mine. I've known Rob a long time. And, uh, it's been a great place. And so, uh, when Rob decided to retire, we immediately started, and I say we, let me rephrase that, the infamous we, uh, Dr. Sharelli actually began the process in earnest and of course with the help of the, uh, with our cabinet and the interview committee and things of that nature. And uh it it was it really became a no-brainer. Uh his partner in crime for how many years? All eight. He was all eight, man. All eight. Were you Dave? Okay. Remember that. Dave and I
004met what was it 20 years ago? A long time ago. Anyway, uh they've been together and have has has helped to to create and establish such a culture at Branson that it's fun. Kids enjoy coming to school. Teachers enjoy working there. Uh that all came across as she you know has been we we all know and uh and it was really the the best part is is Dave decided that uh he wanted to apply to become principal at Branson Elementary and ascend to the next spot. and uh and we are so thankful that he did because we think that is absolutely the best thing for that school is to keep that continuity and the man who's been there from the beginning actually before the beginning before Rob and uh and continue to add on. So
005I'm rambling now I will stop. I would like to now introduce the new principal at Branson Elementary, Mr. Dave Mason. you uh you say board, thank you for hiring you. >> Board, thank you much for this opportunity. >> And I'm at my home and I want to stay there as long as I can. >> Dave Dave is all about Bransome. He's been there for a long time. He's uh I always tell the story. He and I met years and years ago. Our wives actually taught together back in Grand Prairie ISD years and years ago, Crockett Elementary. And uh that's where he and I met was at a one of them was getting married and we all met and sat together and at that time he was the drummer in a Texas country band. What was
006the name of that band again? Robert Donahghue band. Robert Donahghue band. And uh he used to all over the country. Just kidding. He didn't. But uh he's got music in his blood. He's always had music in his blood. That's part of the reason he's such a great fit at the Fine Arts Academy at Bransom. And Dave, we're looking forward to great things. Rob, you will be missed. But with Dave replacing you, not quite as much as we would have otherwise. >> So anyway, congratulations, Dave. >> Glad to have you there. Thank you very much. >> Okay, let's all stand for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all the flaggis. Next, I need
007a motion that the board of trustees adopt the order of items for the April 13, 2026 agenda as presented. Michael need a second. Dallas, all in favor? See none opposed. raise any hand. I see none opposed. Motion passes. >> Hold on. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for pointing that out. I should have asked and I failed to do so. Dave, where's Dave? Is your family here with you? I did not see. Will you please There they are. >> There they are. Dave's family. And forgive me. I got ahead of myself. I didn't think about that. But thank you all for being here tonight. It's a pleasure to have you here. Uh and thank you for supporting your dad to grease this position. So, thank you'all for being here. >> Okay, now it's time for special
008recognitions with Dr. Hill. >> Good evening, everyone. Tonight, we have a full agenda. Uh we're going to start with recognizing our state champion cheer team from BHS and I invite coach Butler to the podium. Want to say hello. My name is Victoria Butler. I am the head cheer coach and very blessed to work with all of these amazing athletes and Mr. Leak here in Berles at Berles High School. Um I just want to brag on this team a little bit about them. I have 26 seniors out of 30 on Matt. Um, I've been really blessed to coach these athletes the past three years. When they welcomed me three years ago, they were pretty much sophomores and we've been able to be the same team pretty much for three years. So, it's been really special, kind
009of like a college team to enjoy these same athletes for so many years. Um, and so these athletes set a big goal this year. They got second in state last season we were here and they were determined to win. Um, they won every single competition they went to in the state of Texas. They won three regional competitions and two other in-state competitions. They went into state and got first place and then we went to nationals where we placed third which was the best Berles has ever done in school history. So I am just so proud of these kids. They work so hard. Um just one moment I want to share is that in our final competition routine we had a few issues and in cheerleading that can be really serious and we just immediately hugged
010each other. They could have easily turned on each other, but that's not the people they are. That's not the humans that their parents raised them to be. That's not who we are in Berles. They loved each other. They were hugging each other. These boys had tears rolling down their eyes hugging each other. And they did. These boys have truly these boys have truly fallen in love with cheerleading. It has been so special. And we went into awards ready for whatever place that we were going to get. But how blessed were we to be the state champions? And so, um, thank you for having me in Berles. I will miss these seniors so much. And I guess we get a photo. >> Yes. Okay. So, so real quick, I just want to uh of course I
011want to congratulate y'all um for the recognition, but I want to I want to brag on Coach Butler here for just just real quick. Uh the things that she's done since she's been here has have been amazing. But other than other than she's the teacher of the year at BH BHS, She has made such an impact in regards to culture on the campus and the spirit that BHS has um that people sometimes don't see and it's all because of coach Butler. So, I want I want to say thank you. And me and the team kind of put something together for Coach Butler here, an autograph of everybody in the team. And >> so, but but thank you. Thank you for what you do. >> Over there. Over here. >> I think I might have to
012have you over here. I was going to say I think I got to try to balance this up. These guys are so much taller than me. >> All right. Ready? One, two, three. But uh well to follow up with that I want to recognize a different form of accolades that we see in school and sometimes don't see because these kids are just doing it on Saturdays. for 14 plus hours every time we go to compete. Uh and that's our debate kids. So coming up um well from coming up with terms to how to abolish uh the presidency to removing tax exemptions for megaurches and banning stock trading in Congress. These are all crazy legislative ideas that we see time and time again in congressional debate in UIL. And these students were challenged this year to
013write these speeches affirming or negating uh any of these bills or resolutions in the competition. And I would love to recognize today Preston Hamilton who is a junior. In November, he placed first at regionals in the 5A category, which automatically qualified him for state. And then this January, he competed in two preliminary rounds and advanced to the final round at the capital, which has never been done in our school's history. He there competed with the top 18 competitors in the state in the 5A category. And again, while we have competed at the state level before, this is the first time this has been accomplished. And it is an achievement all the more remarkable given that this is his first year in debate. Yeah. Uh, Saturday tournaments, after school meetings, multiple drafts of research and tweaking
014of rhetoric have brought him before you today, but so have upsets and stuttering speeches that have set the foundation necessary to make this remarkable young man the decorated winner you see today. So, um, when I inherited this program four four years ago, I had six students and because of kids like Preston, we've now grown to over 40 for next year. and it's just solely based on the inspiration that they instill in countless kids around our campus. So, thank you for taking the time to recognize him and thank you Preston for your amazing hard work. >> You can't handle the truth. >> So, at the risk of No, please. >> So, I'll say my personal opinion. >> Um the bill was basically um churches that have congregations over like a certain number so many people every
015week and make over I think it was $3 billion a year. the bill was going to remove their tax exemption. Um, but but like there was also for them to keep it like if they're going to keep their tax then they have to like be contributing whatever to the community. They have to have like educational opportunity for that one. You could argue the other side. >> That's right. First time I met him. How what grade were you in? >> Well, I have a question. Is this mom? >> This is mom. >> Okay, mom. I've got a question for you. >> Was he one of those students of two children that as you raised him, he argued with everything? >> Absolutely. >> Unlike the other argument. Now, the other two argue, >> but he can build
016it on. >> I gota Well, you present yourself very well. >> Very well. Thank you. >> No, it's it's amazing seeing him when he goes in the room and he gets his turn to speak. The judges immediately go, >> "Whoa, his volume, his tenor." Okay. >> It just his presence is really it's present in Preston. Yeah. >> All right. Now, so now on to our model UN team uh teammates. So from its inception three years ago, this team has consistently excelled in earning rewards each time we compete in one of the largest model UN competitions in the nation over at the University of Houston. This year our team once again went there uh and this conference this year was over 1500 delegates from Texas and Louisiana and our team came home with two second place
017awards otherwise referred to as outstanding delegate in two of the 14 committees. So Hudson Bracken who's here today is a junior. He competed in IMO, that's the International Maritime Organization, where he represented the country of Nigeria where over two days he argued over how to counter piracy in Western Africa and Asian waters and how to handle marine litter, right? And so much fun and the disposal of mine waste around the globe. Um it his room got very heated and it was a very very tough competition and I'm just glad he he broke third. Yeah, >> he did. history. >> Yeah. >> He did. He did. >> Yeah. And uh and Caitlyn Wright, who couldn't be here today, she's a senior. She competed in the spec pole committee, the special political and decolonization committee, where she
018represented Guatemala, where they addressed unresolved decolonization in nonself-governing territories. Um and again that was a program we started just three years ago. Every year we come back with an award and I'm just so proud of them even though they didn't get first. Um side bit this is again model UN decorum matters right they announced third place tensions rising and then they show second place and Hudson broke and he's in our little area. He goes, "No. Dang it." I was like, "God see." It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. And because we knew it was him or it was who's the kid that won. I forgot the country he represent. It doesn't matter because we're here rewarding you today. We're recognizing you. But it was just one of the highlights of the trip. >>
019Exactly. It's It's the It's the model. >> Yes. if you ain't first or last. >> And that's the drive. Like I mean, he's he's been here so many times for other accolades, but yeah, this is uh >> say I remember him when he was this tall coming in for accolades. >> Yeah, this is a team I'm very proud of and they they really helped a lot of the noviceses this year in Hudson. I'm very proud of you. Thank you so much for your work. All right. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the board. You'll have to excuse me for reading this tonight because I don't think I could make it through if I didn't have a script to stick through because this one's special. Tonight is my honor to recognize Miss Laney Holt for her
020outstanding accomplishments this year at Texas Major Livestock Shows. The highlight of her season was her participation in the overall grand drive at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo where she exhibited the reserve champion Herford Steer. To our knowledge, this is the first in school history and is something that we are incredibly proud of. But I want to make it clear that this moment did not just happen. It was earned through an extraordinary amount of hard work, discipline, and commitment. If it's all right with you, I'd like to take a couple minutes to brag on Laney because she would never brag on herself. This year, Laney had eight steers in the barn. For context, as a teachers, we often struggle to get students to fully commit to just one. Each one of those animals requires
021hours in the barn each day, feeding twice daily, washing, working hair, halter breaking, and practicing showmanship. And just so we're all on the same page, it takes time to blow dry a400 lb steer. Like it takes me 30 minutes for my own hair. We tell those kids who have been blow drying for 30 minutes, go back and do it again. And Laney chose to do it with eight. She didn't just raise these steers, she competed with them. At Heart of Texas, she showed four steers, placing third, fourth, and sixth in highly competitive classes. But more importantly, that's where we learned that there was a whole lot of grit and maybe a little bit of crazy in Laney Holt. On day one of the show, her largest steer, 1300 pounds at the time, stepped on her
022foot while she was in the holding ring about to go into showmanship, which she competed in anyway, got pulled into the top 10. And only after that let us take her to the ER where she was treated for an open fracture. Getting her there was no small task because she didn't believe us when we said we'd let her compete even if the doctor didn't clear her. But in true Laneany fashion, she came back and she showed all of her steers in a fancy steeltoed boot. At the Johnson County Show, one of the most competitive county shows in the state, she placed second and third, both of her steers, in the same heavyweight cross class, only beat by the grand champion overall. She also won for the second year in a row, Grand Champion Senior Showman,
023earning $2,000 in scholarships. Laney competed at two national shows as well, the Arizona National and the National Western in Denver. At Arizona, she placed 10th overall showman, earning this blue ribbon, and third with both of the steers in her classes. at Denver, which many call the Super Bowl of steer shows. I had the opportunity to watch her compete. And I'll be honest, I felt like a shrimp amongst sharks in that barn. Every steer there was an insane caliber, and she showed she belonged there and placed 10th among some of the best steers in the country. At St. Angelo, she and her dad nearly gave me a heart attack because they decided to play the weight game with her black steer. And when we showed up in the barn the next morning, show day, it was
02420 pounds over its way back weight. I've never prayed harder than an animal would urinate in my entire life because at that point, that was the only thing that would save us. >> Nothing. Starve it. Thankfully, she placed fourth one outside of a way back hole. Then came San Antonio where everything came together. She placed second in her class with her only behind the eventual grand champion. and went on to earn reserve champion in the Herford Breed Drive. This is where I have to give a shout out to my administrators because I ran into the office at BHS screaming like a crazy person. She did it and I begged Leak night to let me go down for the grand drive which they looked at me like I was crazy but then they found a way
025to make it happen and Miss Wilson said she was coming too. So we get down there for the grand drive and I'm very thankful they let me go because I watched Laney fan girl over the kids in the drive with her. She knew every kid there. She's been looking up to them for the past seven years. She knows their names, where they're from, where they've won. And for the first time, I got to point out that she was one of them. At Austin, she won first in her class with her American Heer or Steer, sorry, qualifying for the Austin sale of champion and then immediately turned around and met us in Houston so that she could show her heer. The Houston steer show was our last stop. And I'd be lying to you if I
026said I didn't fall apart dropping her off at the staging area for the last time. While we didn't have the results that we hoped for, she showed something even more important, her character. She stayed positive, supported her teammates, spent time with family, and just soaked in her final show. Outside of the majors, Laney competed in the Cadillac Jackpot Series, where she earned reserve champion overall steer, reserve champion overall showman, champion overall exotic, four champion senior showman buckles, and countless banners along the way. And because it apparently eight steers wasn't enough, Laneie also showed a heer this year just so she could go to the Heer shows and support her teammates. She placed second at County, third at San Angelo, and fourth at Houston. Now, Laney does miss her fair share of school at all these
027events, but she balances it all, maintaining over 3.5 GPA. She serves as our chapter FFA president, leads our big little committee, competes in job interview, and is a senior member on my wildlife CDE team. More importantly, Laney lifts everyone up around her. She never complains. She never asks why me. And she never backs down from a challenge. She simply puts her head down and goes to work. If I haven't made it abundantly clear in these few minutes, I'll say it plainly. Laney Holt is one of the hardest working and most exceptional young ladies I've ever had the privilege to teach. She embodies everything we hope for in our students. Dedication, kindness, resilience, and drive. And it has truly been a blessing to teach her. I couldn't be more proud of her, and I think you
028should be, too. Do we want buckles in the picture? >> Hold those Hold those buckles up. Get those buckles, Randy. Get those buckles. Hold those up. Hold those buckles. Yeah. Wait, wait, wait. Let's get the picture with the books. >> Yeah. I'm almost 24 hours. Dad, how many miles >> quick a special thanks to the Holts. Um, they're not expecting this, but they have been a part of this program for the last several years, and we couldn't do it without their support. They help haul other kids. They go with our female adviserss to make sure that they're safe. They they support this program. Um, and without them, it's going to be very difficult. So, a huge shout out to them for their support as well. >> Big night. Congratulations. Congratulations, Mom and Dad. >> Wonderful.
029Wow. Um, now it's time for comments from individual board members. Any of you have anything that you'd like to say? >> Wow. We're all going, "Wow." >> That's right. Wow. Well, I got to go. >> You want me to You want me to >> No. Okay. >> It cuts short my card games, too, because I can't sit for very long. Anyway, thank you. Um, I got I got to go to the to the uh live burn for our fire academy a couple of weeks ago. And I tell you what, that is a wonderful program. And to see those those students and uh just it's just amazing. I'm so Just looking at all the diversity that we have in our district and the things that we are doing, working together and supporting one another and these
030great families. We live in a great city. So, >> and I'm I'm gonna stand here for a couple minutes. >> Okay. >> Stand as long as you need. >> It's great. Did I on what Pat said? >> Oh, shut up. I heard today uh and I know we'll be coming so I'm gonna let the cat out of the bag, but uh I think our CTE program did very very very well at Skills USA if I'm not mistaken. Uh we had a lot of We had blue ribbons. We had what was it? Bird two. It wasn't one, it was two. Hey, Woolsey. Okay, Skills USA. I was just going to brag on that a little bit because it just happened, by the way, but we had two >> and our construction team did pretty well, too,
031as I recall. So, and and they were out there in the rain. for three days building and had a great showing and the preparation they put into that was amazing, too. So, so we did well. So, congratulations. >> Uh, speaking of teams doing well, the Centennial Spartan Ladies soccer team was regional champs. Is that right? >> Yes. And semiinal. >> State semi-finals. That's correct. So, they did that uh this past couple weeks ago. >> It was last >> last Thursday. >> Oh, what night was that? >> I don't know. >> I went >> They did really well. Good Friday cuz I went. That's right. Good Friday. It was over there. They lost two to nothing. >> Collieville. >> Oh, no. They beat Collie. No, we beat Collieville. >> Yes, >> we lost to Walnut Grove.
032>> That's correct. Well, well done. >> Sorry. Thank you, Brett. >> And well, you just remind me. And two of our kids were named to the uh state tournament team. First time in school district history we've had obviously the first time we've had a team reach the final four, the state tournament. And then we had two of them actually make the all state tournament teams. >> That's great. >> Oh, and another thing. Tonight's a big week. We've got And another thing for Tuesday night, Lil Wayne, Dena, we're gonna get it on. We got softball at 5:30, BHS, CHS. And then at 7 o'clock, we've got baseball at CHS. Both games there. So, come on out. It ought to be good because everybody's positioning for first place. So, so that's a good night. And then next
033Friday, we had numerous kids from both high schools qualify last Friday at the district meet to go on to area areas this week at Joshua High School. And we've got a lot of kids that are competing to try to go to the next level. So, big week, big week in OBSD. So, >> great. Great. Thanks. Lots going on. Okay, next on the agenda is safety, security, and intruder detection audit update with Mr. Steve Logan. >> Well, good evening everyone. Um, tonight I've got updates on our school safety officer training program and on our TEA random intruder detection audits. On April 2nd, our SSOs took advantage of the early dismissal and they had a group training session here in the boardroom. Um the training session was focused on advanced life saving and um first aid techniques
034and it was led by SSOs Stacy Singleton and Richard Morris. Um and then since our last board meeting in March, we've had several campuses audited um with our TA random intruder detection audits. We had BCHS Crossroads KUR and Stribbling and all those campuses passed with no findings. So, just once again, I want to thank our administrators and our staff and our students for continuing to follow those safety protocols and doing everything we can to keep our our schools safe. That's for tonight. >> Thank you all. >> Okay. Our last uh information item this evening is the annual report of board member continuing education hours. board members have so many hours per year that we're required uh to accomplish uh in order to uh uh meet our um well requirements just like teachers do only we
035have set hours that we participate in every year. So for the 2025 school year each board member earned the following continuing education hours in addition to their annual required trainings. So Mikey received six hours, Stacy Eisner received 5 hours. Jerry McNair received five hours. Shawn Miner 6.25 hours. Dallas Owens, six hours. Ryan Richardson, five hours. And Pat Warl, 11 hours. >> Pat wins. >> Why are you trying to show everybody up? What's up with that? >> Oh man. So, uh, I'm pleased to report that all members have completed the required hours of continuing education for the school year by the April 30th deadline. And there are no members who are deficient in their continuing education hours for 2025 26. >> And I want to thank you all for doing that. I know that uh they
036actually uh have have jobs and other things going on in their lives in addition to serving on this board and showing up at meetings. and then to be able to to uh spend time getting those additional hours on top of that oftent times in the summer on their own time and and it's quite a commitment. So, thank you for doing that. Uh I know it's not easy, but you do it and you do it well. So, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Okay. So, board members should have received the consent agenda in their packets. And so, I need a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda as presented. Ryan, do I hear a second? Dallas. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. I see none opposed. Motion passes. Now, it's time
037for the monthly financials with Miss Brenda M. It's fun before the deadline. It's impressive. Okay. I am here to present the financials for February. Get my clicker. Okay. So, starting with general fund, this uh starting with general fund, we're at 97.8 million um through February. This is the last month that we start receiving the bulk of our tax receipts. So you'll see we're a little bit over 100% of what we were budgeted and then our state revenue is higher from last year. We're a little bit over 55%. So state revenues come in through September. So we're about halfway there. Um and then expenditures at 73.4 million. Food service um up 120,000 from last year. They're a little over 5 million at this time and expenditures at 4.6. Debt service uh revenues at 36 million. Um
038a little bit uh less than we were at last year this time. And then our expenditures are at 18.9 million. We've made both of our payments um through this year. Special revenue funds, you'll see we are at 49.6% uh about 12 million. We have a little over 12 million in special revenues and we are at 6.2 million at this time. School for early learning revenues at 560,000 and then expenditures are at 581,000. and capital projects which is oil and gas uh you'll see at 13.4 million our revenues were 510 expenditures 4.8 the bulk of that is the mound gym um which leaves us a balance of 9.1 million sorry tax report uh as I mentioned February is one of the last months that we received the bulk of our tax receipts we received 13.2 2
039million. Year to date, we're at 81.3 million. And then the construction update, we just uh the total project for mound is 7.8 million. As I'd mentioned, we're at 4.8. Um the kids are in there, so we're pretty much done. We're just finishing up the the punch list and things of that nature. And then we'll make our final payment and be done with the mountain gym. >> And you all saw pictures of those kids when they went in their first talent. And to hear her describe each of those classes that came in was >> yeah the pictures their faces were just >> and that picture was representative she said it was every class all day long. >> Yeah. It's a beautiful project. It's really beautiful. So all did great. Um if you have any questions I
040don't think that the slide was on there for our checks over 10. Was it? >> It's in your Yeah. I apologize. I usually I have a slide, but I don't know what happened. Yeah, but if you have any questions uh of your list, then let me know. I'll be glad to answer. That's it for me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brenda. >> Well, that brings us to the end for tonight. So, this meeting is adjourned at 7:36 p.m. Thank you for being here.