001Good afternoon. This September the 8th meeting of the board of trustees for the Berlesen Independent School District is now called to order at 5:30 p.m. This meeting was duly posted according to legal requirements and a quorum is present. We welcome employees and guests to the meeting. Ashley, do we have any cards? All right. Thank you. Okay. Uh board encourages uh public comments during the public comment section of the meeting and anyone wishing to speak must fill out a card prior to the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes per person and the public comment section will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. The board may not discuss any issues that are not posted on our agenda. The board may defer agenda item discussions until the appropriate time during the meeting. The board asked
002citizens not present not present complaints or concerns regarding individual employees or students at this time as the district has a complaint policy that must be followed before the concern is addressed to the board. All right. So I would like to call um Helen Kerwin. >> Well, thank you superintendent and board members. Um I'm thrilled to be here and thank you for letting me come and give you a quick legislative update with um five m three minutes. Five minutes five minutes. I am going to hurry >> and five minutes and I will try to give you a one or two minute >> heads up if I can. All right. >> Yes. And I'll go really fast. Um we just finished the 89th legislative session. uh just finished two special sessions and I know that just to
003give you an introduction of what you're probably going to anticipate, I'm going to say uh because the caucus was split at the beginning and we had a quorum walk out at the end that it looked like it probably was going to be a mediocre at best session. I think you're going to be surprised with what I'm going to tell you what we actually got done. So, I'm going to tell you three things. what we did well, mixed results, what the bad bills were, and what we should have passed, and hopefully I think we will pass the next session. So, what went well? Border security. We authorized cooperation finally between the feds and the state. We didn't have during the Biden years. So, now we have a really, really secure force on the border. Hostile foreign
004nation ban. I call it the ch China land grab ban. We passed the strongest bill in America. No one can buy or lease Texas farmlands or ranch lands. So, we're really, really proud of that. Grid security. We took tangible steps protecting critical infrastructure. We didn't go as far as we wanted to, but it's a good start. We passed the Ten Commandments. That was a six-hour debate, but we got it done. Election integrity. We passed two good bills. Number one, if anyone involved in the election, candidate, poll watcher, counter observes any irregularity, they can go right to the secretary of state. No layers of bureaucracy on the local level. And the other election integrity one we passed, the AG now can get involved to go ahead and uh hear cases. So, we're thrilled about that. parental
005rights in the public school. I think a lot of you will probably um be interested in our school choice and I will I will get back to that and what happened on that. But we did as far as parental rights in the school, we passed about five bills. Parents now have the right to go in the library, ask for curriculum, uh express opinions about religion, classroom discipline. We did a lot of parental and teacher bills and I'll get to that later. Um, we banned red flag laws. They've wanted that for the grassroots have wanted that a long time. Mixed results. School choice. Uh, a lot of mixed results. This district 58 voted uh by 76% to support the concept. So, it did get passed. I still have a few concerns about the vendors, although we
006finally did get in the bill that there has to be at least one RFP, one request for proposals on vendors or curriculum or anything. You just can't reuse vendors. So, I thought that was really good. Um, high school civics, we now have a bill where civics and the financial class before they graduate will be required. >> Miss Kerwin, there's about a minute left. >> Oh. Oh, okay. bad bills. Number one was the 300 million for Hollywood. I voted against it. Why should we spend your tax dollars on a Hollywood industry coming to Texas from California attempt to advance LGBT agenda passed the House got killed in the Senate massive budget growth which I voted against the budget because it grew almost 8%. What bill should have passed? Proof of citizenship. We need to pass that
007ban on taxpayer funded lobbying. Ban on drag queen story time, library pornography, repeal of the star test. We did at 10:00 on our last night and replaced it with three very short assessment tests. And the reason we like that, and I was on the pub ed committee, so I kept hearing teachers, we teach the tests, star tests, stress, kids. These three tests are short. fall, winter, spring. So after the fall test, in the winter teacher can go, well, we're doing well in literacy, but we're not doing well in math. So it gives a teacher accessibility as well as the students. I loved that part of the bill. Um, okay. So what education reform am I down to? Okay. >> Sorry, somebody changed my tone. Somebody changed my ringtone. My phone. I have a lot of
008children. M may we give Miss uh Representative Cerwin about one more minute? Is that okay to to wrap up? Please take one more minute. >> Okay, one more minute. Okay, this is the most important HB2, the education reform bill. And the reason why I think it's the most important, we listened to over 105 hours uh of witnesses. We had teachers, we had all educators, we had superintendents, we had parents, we had students. Everything as a new member that I heard was the teachers are not being recognized. They're not We can't retain them. We can't recruit them. We need to focus on the teachers. This bill does it. We call it the teacher bill. We didn't give anyone an administration a raise. We drew the line. all of the teachers and non-administrative, so your cafeteria and
009your bus drivers, they're all going to get a raise. Here's the neat thing about the bill is we divided rural midsize as opposed to large urban and we gave races to the rural schools and the midsize schools to recognize them threeyear, fiveyear to keep them there. Another thing that I love is they're permanent raises. It's not a bonus. We need to keep growing on the recognition of teachers. Um, we gave 400 300 million to small and midsize schools. I'm trying to hurry. 850 million for special ed. We learned over and over that if the child does not read by third grade, eight years old, his success as an adult drops by 50%. So, we focused on early education. We're funding prek, full prek, early education. We are instead of basic aotment, instead of throwing it
010all in one bucket, we picked extra buckets. We picked the teacher raises. We picked the special ed program is growing. We picked uh the prek performance-based increases. I love that. You're really good teachers. Pay them more. It's a merit-based system. Um 500 million for non-administrative raises. Rural teachers get a pay raise up to $8,000 to keep them. Um targeted to support to retain teachers. Every eligible teacher in every ISD will get a permanent raise. That's the beauty of this. Now I I know 8.5 billion sounds like a lot of money, but two things. Number one, it doesn't come from property taxes. This bill is from general revenue along with the ESA bill and um it it it tries to give you support whereby you can do this every fiscal year. So questions. I'm under my
011minute. Okay. >> Thank you, Representative Kurt. And by the way, we're not allowed by law to ask questions in public comment. No, ma'am. So, uh, but so please do not take that as a sign of disrespect. Okay. >> But we do appreciate you coming in and what you had to share. >> Well, thank you so much. As your representative, I need to let you know. I did not have a clue till I got done, but I have left detailed in uh information for school choice property tax and um also And there are your Thank you, Representative. Thank you. >> There's a lot up here if anyone out here wants >> Okay. Okay. At this time, the board of trustees of the Berles Independent School District will adjourn into close session at 5:41 p.m. for the
012purpose of consideration of matters for which closed sessions are authorized by Title 5, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code. 071-.084, whereupon the superintendent at the request of the president of the board of trustees, will present for the board's consideration or discussion the following matters. Consider teacher administrator employment or other appropriate personnel matters. Deliberate a negotiated contract for a prospective gift or donation. Deliberate the use of security personnel devices and/or audits. Intruder detection audit. Deliberate a matter regarding a student or student discipline. Deliberation regarding real property or consultation with attorney. So at this time we go into close session. The board of trustees of the Berles Independent School District will reconvene at open session at 6:40 p.m. We have one item to take care of from the closed session. The motion I recommend that the board of
013trustees grant to the board president the authority to approve new hires between now and the next regular meeting in October. The board will consider ratifying those hires at the next meeting. Do I hear a motion? Okay, Ryan second. Dallas. Thank you. All in favor? The motion passes. Now it's time for the pledge of >> 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. on the Texas flag. I aliance to the Texas one state and indivisible everybody. Okay. >> All right. I know. We're having too much fun. Okay. Next, I need a motion that the board of trustees adopt the order of items for the September 8th, 2025 agenda as presented. Make your motion. Mike, second,
014Pat. All in favor? Motion passes. Now, it's time for special recognitions with Dr. Hill. >> Good evening, everyone. Is this on? Okay. Um, so tonight if if you can feel it feels like the IQ level has come up a bit in the boardroom. Um, I'm going to begin by we've got two items and it is not just Dr. Jimmerson. So we have two items on our agenda for tonight and I'm going to turn the rest of the show over to Dr. Pierce. >> Good evening Dr. Gmerson and board. Um, tonight we have two special recognitions. But first, we will um honor our Lonear Leadership Academy program. And we I'll invite Luke Chandler to come on up. He represented um Berles ISD in the annual Lonear Leadership Academy um presented through education in action. Um these
015outstanding students from Texas meet for a week of fun learning, leadership, development, and um you work on collaboration, motivation, creativity, communication, teamwork, and action. Please join me in honoring Luke for his accomplishments video. Sure. >> Hey, Mom. >> Hey, buddy. Congratulations. Our next recognition will honor the highest level of performance on our college board exams from high school students. Tonight, we're going to represent um two groups of students for you to acknowledge um their achievements. Our first group was a part of the graduating class of 2025. they are off living their best life and doing wonderful things. So we have >> they are um and we have a presentation that will honor them tonight. This these students are given the award for participating in the AP capstone program which consists of seminar and AP research.
016These are projectbased um courses and classes that then you go on to take the AP exam. To be honored tonight, you would have to have a three or higher on both exams as well as a three or higher on additionally four AP exams. So, we are proud of their hard work and uh we want to honor their success tonight. So this is the 2025 AP Capstone Diploma Award winners who have already graduated. [Applause] We would also like to honor a student who has achieved this AP Capstone diploma award at the end of their junior year. Um, please come forward, K. Jones from CHS. [Applause] We have yet to have a junior receive this award. So, congratulations. >> Until today. >> Did you want to get in the pick or no? >> I'm going to quit
017inviting you if you just Sure. Just come on down >> front [Applause] because you're going to be part of the next round as well. >> Yeah, just hang out, man. Stay up here with me. Our second group of students are those who earned the AP scholars distinction recognition. This is AP Scholar and distinction is the highest level of AP awarded. Um we have in order to earn this you have to have 3.5 out of five um score on all AP tests and a score of three or higher on five or more um AP tests. And tonight I'm going to present our 29 students that earned this distinction. From CHS we have Hudson Bracken. Come on up. Sorry. Come on up. Adeline Daly. Ferris Holidayiday. Kay Jones, Emily Pavlowski, Braxton Curer, Ehare [Applause] Chris Nur Salado,
018[Applause] Haley Vega, and Gabriella Vilifin. [Applause] >> This is all of CHS. Are we good or do we need to scooch? >> And then do you want him to step forward? >> And then can you see Sasha? >> Two up here. Is that it? I see one more. Did you get it? >> We do also post these. So feel good. >> Congratulations everyone. >> And now we will honor our BHS students. Joshua Dewald [Applause] Luke Folks, [Applause] >> Samantha Gonzalez [Applause] shirt on. >> Sorry guys. >> Micah Vitus Sawa Anna Newton Allora Sanders, [Applause] Sophia Wason, [Applause] Colin Williams, [Applause] and Macy Williams. [Applause] Everybody >> act like you like each other. One more. >> Get it. >> Did I get it? >> And thank you for being a congratulations. Well done. Hard work. >>
019And we'd also like to end by recognizing you guys can wick your baby back, but thank you uh to the parents and teachers again for all the hard work that involves [Applause] Okay, now it's time for comments from individual board members. Does anyone have anything they'd like to say? >> Of course. Missed that. >> Well, I'm just excited about the new clinic. Um I went over and toured it before they before we opened. And y'all need to make a trip over there to see to see that is so nice. We really It It reminded me of after we redid Frasier and turned it into to steam and the footprints the same but nothing looks the same on the inside. And u thank you to our nur where's our nurse? There she is. Courtney. Yes. Because
020she she met me over there and gave me the grand tour. So um u and we've got students or people over there now. So awesome. And and by the way, she called and wanted to see it. We were not trying to exclude anyone else. >> I was not trying to exclude. Okay. Okay. You see what you did? >> You know, that's what happens when you when you don't have a spouse and you're retired. You think of things. So, uh, uh, Nurse Pets, Courtney Beats will be glad to take anyone and everyone on a tour to go check out the place. I have not been on a tour yet either because I haven't been invited. Apparently, I'm not as cool as Miss Pat. So, >> I know. I know. I don't even want to see it
021anymore. So, anyway, uh, so anyway, nurse pets. >> All right. I will say when I drove in tonight, I noticed the building and I was parking and I thought, you know, it's both exciting and maybe a little humbling to realize that we're just used of excellence now. That that's kind of how we do things and you don't expect anything different and every one of y'all deliver all the time and so it's never a surprise. Thank you. Speaking of excellence, um I had a wonderful opportunity on Friday to visit Norwood Elementary because they were celebrating the opening of their food pantry that is in their building on their campus. It's a partnership with Tarant Food Bank. It is incredible. it. I was blown away first of all by the inventory of foods that were there and
022those foods are available for people in our community that are in need. And I think that's something that we tend to not really be aware of in the same way that we should be that there are a lot of our families in need and those families. It is a beautiful site. It is just gorgeously appointed. it it's welcoming and the foods huge refrigerators that have been uh donated uh freezers produce fresh produce and this was brought up while I was there and it's a very important fact that sometimes when foods are given to families we assume they live in a home where they have a refrigerator they have an oven they have a range where they can cook or heat even the foods we give they were made aware we have a number of families
023in our community that don't have a kitchen because of where they're living, maybe in a car, in a hotel. And so, guess what they have? They have foods that are safe on the shelf that do not need refrigeration that can be uh eaten and utilized by families who don't have those appliances available. So, it was not only a wonderful experience, but I can tell you it was an eyeopener for me and I encourage any of you to go and see what's going on at Norwood Elementary. And I want you to know, Miss Booer, great job. We do a lot of things in our schools and and we know that curriculum and academics and all of those things are important, but we do a lot of things extra and those are equally as important. And thank
024you so much for making us very, very proud. Yeah, I just want to tag on to that. I correct me if I'm wrong, but the counselor at Norwood, Sarah Peters, wrote a grant >> for those things. Is that correct? >> Okay. >> I was going to say I knew we had a local food partner, Golden State Foods. Now they have a manufacturing plan or a distribution plan. Is it manufacturing? >> I thought it was too >> packaging. Okay. But they're local food distributor packaging plant here partnering with Tarant Tarant area food bank and us. And uh it's a great partnership all the way around public private taking care of those uh in need. So And then the Tarant area, I guess they the refrigerators and things like that. So, and then we provide the space
025and help to uh get the food to who who needs to get to. So, it's a great partnership. Great partnership. And I was even going to say I was going to ask you say, Sam, is it go? It's Golden State Foods. That's awesome. >> Thank you. >> And Jerry, something else that happened. Ivonne um had invited me. She invited all of us, but I got to go to the >> Are you talking about Yvon? Who's Yvon? You talking about WVON? >> Cut that out. >> Wvon. Where's >> Won? I'm Yes. Um to to honor our recognize our students that are both English and another language. Um I can't even speak in English in here. They can do it in two of them. But anyway, it was so awesome and the families that showed up for
026that. Uh that was that was really special to get to to see those kids. And the young lady that spoke, that sixth grade young woman, she's got there, that girl, she gave her speech in English and then she did it in Spanish and she had the motions to go with it. She had the articulation much better than me. I mean, which isn't saying a whole lot, but anyway, she was amazing at sixth grade. It It was just such an uplifting experience to get to go to that. We've got good stuff here. Thank you, Ashley. Um, good grief. Who's on the end? >> Stacy, thank you. I'm feeling my birthdays today. Anyway, it's awesome. Thank you. Okay, the next item on the agenda is safety security and intruder detection audit update with Mr. Steve Logan. >>
027Brief TA has not started our random intruder detection audits yet and we haven't really done any major >> I spoke to them today. >> Yes, sir. >> So now they can start. >> It'll start soon but it hadn't started yet. Um and we haven't made any other major changes or upgrades since our last meeting. So my only update tonight is that I have no update. No news is good news today. >> Thanks, Steve. >> Okay. The board members should have received the consent agenda in their packets. And I need a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda as presented. Now, hear a motion. Ryan, do I hear second? Dallas. Thank you. All in favor? All right. I see none opposed. Motion passes. Now, it's time for the monthly financials with Miss Brenda Mise. Dr. Jimmerson. >>
028Hey, Brenda. High five. >> Um, okay. I'm gonna work this with my left hand. Still better than Tommy with his right hand. >> Wow. >> Sorry. That just came out. I'm sorry. >> And I need your help tomorrow. And I feel like I might have. >> By the way, he he does have the microphone in a few minutes. Just saying. I know, but >> I would never mess with Tommy of all people, too. That was a terrible mistake. Okay, so we are into the 2526 school year. So, this is July. So, we have put that in the past. Now, we're moving on to 2526. Uh revenues at 200,000. Uh similar to last year, we don't receive a whole lot of revenue the month of July. Um and then our expenditures are at 3.6 million. For
029food service, uh we do have revenues a little bit over 12,000 and then our expenditures at 31,000. For debt service, uh same thing. We just receive a few tax uh information or tax revenues at 106,000 and then we made our debt payment 13.8 million. So it's due on August 1st. We always do it on July 31st just to make sure they get it on time. We send it at the very end of the day on July 31st to make sure it's received. And then special revenues, we're at 50.5%. We cleaned this up a little bit. We've had some that have fallen off because of the end of the school year, but if you see here when we go through, we've expended um year today at 6.2 million. Child care. Uh we just received a few
030of the payroll deductions. So, we're a little over under 2,000, excuse me, for revenues and then expenditures at 22,000. Uh capital projects, which is oil and gas. Uh if you see up here, we just have our interest revenue. We did not receive our royalty until August. So it's just uh blank for the month of July. It'll catch up once uh August comes around. And then our expenditures at 30,455. That includes the mountain gym on that. So you'll see that on our capital outlay. So beginning balance 14,99,000. Once you add the revenues and take out the expenditures, we're at 14.1 million. >> Hey Steve, let's get uh maybe next month. get up here and see some pictures of the mound gym in the progress. I don't know that everybody's been by there yet, but it's really
031coming along pretty nicely and the new awnings and the things that are already started. So, be kind of cool. >> They tore the roof on Friday. >> So, it's concrete roofing. So, they're doing that this Friday. >> Very nice. So, you're going to take some pics, aren't you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Where your heart head? >> Yes. I told him next week, come get me and I would like to take the tour next week. >> Awesome. Anyway, get some pics kind of see some updates. That'd be kind of cool. payments over 10,000. If you'll see in your packets, they're listed out. So, this is the time of the year, right? When July comes in, then everybody wants to spend their money because we're going into the new year and we have to get open for
032school. So, >> shouldn't that So, I don't know what else to do. Tommy, where my [Laughter] >> lamb chop away? >> Did you say we did the pledge? I'm like I pledge allegiance. >> What are you going to walk like an Egyptian if you want? >> I'm uncomfortable and it's I'm sensitive and you guys are making fun of me. >> Hey, lamb chop. Um, anyway, back to this payments over 10,000. Uh, mostly out of 199, some special revenue funds. We have our IMAP money, so we start ordering textbooks. Uh, and then our construction and workers comp. If you have any questions, please let me know. Uh, and then our tax report, as I mentioned earlier, our collections, 53,000 for M in July, 34 for INS for a total of 87,000 for the month of July.
033and then our construction update. So, as we spoke earlier, the clinic is complete um and looks great. It's exciting. So, Courtney will be ready to give you >> and Dr. Rashad is over there full-time now. Uh seen him on the sidelines at all the games and uh which has been very nice to have him out there. He's got his BISD med uh med program shirt on on the sidelines, which is pretty cool. So, >> yeah, >> very very nice. And I think some of us got trained on using the X-ray machine. Did you get trained? >> I got partially trained. >> Partially trained. Slow learner. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. But I know we were getting some of our folks trained and understanding and uh we'll be uh we can use that especially
034on Friday nights if we if we have some issues that we can run run our students over there and hopefully rule out that kind of injury without having to do more. So it's pretty cool. And then mound, like we mentioned, we're we're uh in the midst of sharp. And that awning out there looks pretty nice, too. >> It's a very nice building. >> Yeah, >> it looks pretty good. >> We're waiting on the the the signing the where it says mountain on it. But yeah, >> it's coming. >> And then windows and >> Oh, those Thanksgiving break hopefully. >> Listen, when those whatever's up there now come down and the windows go in, I think it's going to transform the look of that campus. >> It will. I'm excited for that campus. It's been It's
035overdue. We got Norwood. Now we're hitting M. So, >> very exciting. And that is all for the financials. I just have one action item. >> Okay. Thanks, Brenda. Um, yes. Next, we need to consider adoption of the tax rate. >> Yes. Uh, so I have one slide for this. Back in June, we did our required posting for this. It's got to be a public hearing, and we did that because we adopt the budget in June, and so we we post the tax rate. We post it at 1.2552 and it's going to remain the same. So what happens is in the reason we don't adopt it until August or September is because we as school districts in July we have to wait for certified values. We report our certified values to the state and the state
036gives us our tier one tax rate. So they mandate that for us um and they have since 2020 to 2021. So we wait until they give us our tax rate. We we compile that together and then we bring it here. So, they did not make any changes. When we reported, they took into account the 140,000 exemptions. So, I think that played into it. Um, that won't go to vote till November, but I I think they feel very confident that it'll pass because it's a it's a huge benefit to homeowners. So, so a lot of school districts in the state of Texas did not have a tax rate change, and we're one of those that fall into that. So, we're at the 1.2552. Um the when you go through and you see read the resolution as
037you will Miss McNair uh it says that there's a slight increase and the reason is for that is they compare the no new revenue rate compared to the tax rate that we're at existing and so there is a slight increase but we have to we have to have that verbiage because it's mandated. It's different for school districts because we have state funding that comes into play which is why the state gives us the the tax rate right it all makes sense. So we have to have that in our verbiage but the tax rate remains the same as it was in the prior year. >> Okay. So basically what she's going to read is is the no new revenue tax rate. I believe in other words our tax rate is remaining the same as you can
038see yet what you are going to read says that we are raising taxes. Okay. It's because the rate the property values have gone up and at that same rate there are additional taxes that will be raised at that rate. So it does go up as far as the tax collection. The rate itself has remained constant. Back to who told us, let me ask you this. Where did that $12552 come from? >> TA mandates her tier one tax rate. >> TEA sent that to us and said and directs us to adopt this tax rate. Correct. >> Or tier one. Yes, sir. >> If we were to not adopt this tax rate, would we be in violation of the TEA directive? >> Yes. >> Could they potentially sanction us certainly financially? >> Yes, we would be penalized.
039>> So, in other words, we have to set this rate because the state told us to set this rate. >> Yes. Yet we're going to read something that says that we locally are raising the taxes >> even though they told us >> yes >> this is the rate we have to set. >> Yes. >> Okay. So I am clear on that. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. So we really as far as meaningful discretion to set the tax rate. This board doesn't have a whole lot of discretion do they? >> No they don't. I was just I was just verifying. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Yeah. Okay. So, I'm going to need a motion that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of a dollar.2552, which is effectively a 4.22%
040increase in the tax rate. Do I hear a motion? >> Yes, >> Stacy. Second, Mike. Okay. All in favor? See none opposed. The motion passes. >> Thank you. And that brings us to our remaining action items this evening. First up is Dr. April Sharelli to consider approval of district and campus performance objectives. >> Every year I come to you at this time of year with our district improvement plan as well as our campus improvement plans. All of those have gone through the district education improvement committee or campus education improvement committees. They have all agreed to them. There are no major adjustments or changes this year. As you can tell, for the last several years, we want to keep our plans going in the same direction. Our principles have done a fantastic job with their staff
041and their teachers of really staying focused and keeping ahead student growth, student achievement, keeping that at the forefront, as well as taking care of all of our students in other ways. And you hear some of that and have seen some of that in their improvement plans that I have in y'all's board books. You'll see little slight things that each one of them do different, but they have all turned those over and I'm here to ask for you to approve those plans so they can get to work. >> Not that they're not getting to work. >> No, they're working already. Correct. >> Theoretically, >> we've been they've been very busy for the last >> I know. I know they have. A matter of fact, between your reports, Bird's reports, and what I've seen, man, y'all are
042getting after it early. >> They are. They are. It's been a very smooth start. We're very blessed to have them. >> Good job. Okay. And now I need a motion that the board of trustees approve the district and campus performance objectives as presented in the district and campus improvement plans. There motion Pat. >> Dallas second. All in favor? Seeing none opposed. Motion passes. Thank you, April. Okay. Next, uh, we need to consider revisions to local policy EFB with Dr. Tommy Dyer. >> Let's see. Maybe you can help me with the [Music] >> Wow. >> I'm not sure how to work this thing, but uh, >> use your left hand. >> That's what I have to use my left hand. Never gonna let Brendon hear the end of that one. Um, before we get to Senate
043Bill 12, the first thing to do is to discuss uh uh what actually Senate Bill 13 did. You just heard a minute ago about you not having a whole lot of local control. That's true right here. Uh TASBY finally gave us a a edited version of EFB Local, which is to comply with Senate Bill 13's changes regarding library materials. You have that in your packet. Again, there's not much to do here. Senate Bill 13 tells us what we have to do. TASBY has written the draft. It's here. We just need you to adopt it. And this is another emergency adoption. So, that goes into place right now. That's all I have on that one. >> So, consistent with board policy BF local. I move that the board approve uh an emergency adoption of revisions to
044local policy EFB as presented. And we'd like to make that motion. All right. Ryan, do I hear a second? Sean. All right. All in favor, raise your right hand. Seeing none opposed, the motion passes. Okay. So then the last item uh for the evening is to consider certifying Senate Bill 12 compliance. >> Yes. So Senate Bill 12 is a significant and lengthy bill and it has many small changes and some major ones. We'll cover the highlights and then we'll ask you to certify compliance by adopting the resolution. The resolution was drafted by TASBY to assist us in this process. But let's hit the highlights of Senate Bill 12. The big highlight to start off with, the law says that it is protecting the right of parents to direct the moral and religious training of their
045children and that's what their they say their goal is. So the first thing except as by as required by state or federal law, a school district may not assign diversity, equity, and inclusion duties to any person. They define that as influencing hiring or employment practices or promoting differential treatment, developing and implementing policies, procedures, or training programs all based on race, sex, color, or ethnicity, except as is necessary to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. That's all we do. We've been doing this for years. We comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. We don't do more. So, complying with this is easy. We've been doing it for a long time. Next, we are prohibited from assisting a student enrolled in the district with social transitioning. That is, social transitioning is defined as transition from the person's biological sex at
046birth to the opposite biological sex, the adoption of a different name, different pronouns, or other expressions of gender that deny or encourage a denial of the person's biological sex at birth. So, they tell us not to do it. We don't. Uh the next one, a school district and and other entities may not provide or allow a third party to provide instruction, guidance, activities or programming regarding sexual orientation or gender identity to students. That is not part of our curriculum. So easy. Uh these are some parent rights. They have the right to withhold consent for or exempt the parents child from course of study, instructional materials, library materials, health education instruction, instruction regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. That was interesting. We're not allowed to provide instruction on gender, identity, or sexual orientation. But if we
047do the thing we're not allowed to do, parents can opt out of the thing that we're not allowed to do if we did it. >> So, >> okay, >> that that was >> Say that one more time for the slower listeners. >> It's just bad writing. >> Yes, we know. >> They they they told us that parents can opt out of doing something that we're not allowed to do, which doesn't make any sense. It says we cannot provide instruction in this >> which we don't >> but if we do >> if we did >> they have to have a right to be excluded from that. >> Yeah it's good. >> Brilliant. >> Good uh right to information about health services changes to the timeline and process for parental grievances. There's several small changes in there.
048And then we may not authorize or sponsor a student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Okay. Then we won't. And one of the interesting things about this is the the next provision says subject to subsection B, which that previous bullet point is subsection B. Subject to subsection B, a school district or open enrollment charter school may authorize or sponsor other student clubs. So in other words, we can keep sponsoring the student clubs that we have, which is great news for all the rest of our clubs, especially our very popular clubs like thesaurus clubs. Now, some of you might be thinking that you didn't know that we had thesaurus clubs, and you might even suspect that you haven't heard of thesaurus clubs. And you're right, you haven't. The reason is the first rule of
049thesaurus club is that you don't mention, discuss, speak, talk, or paddle about thesaurus club by different names. >> Very important. So in the end we ask you to affirm, attest, confirm, assure, and yes, certify that we are in compliance with Senate Bill 12. Thank you. >> That was painful. Very beautiful. Mhm. I need a motion that the board of trustees approve a resolution certifying compliance with Senate Bill 12 as presented. I hear a motion. Sean, I hear a second. Dallas, all in favor? See none opposed. Motion passes. And with that that brings us end of the meeting tonight and this meeting is adjourned and it is 7:20.