Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD - Regular School Board Meeting - 4/2/2026

001I have one more comment on my laptop and I'm on my cell phone. >> I call this pre-meeting briefing of the Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees to order at 6:00 p.m. on April 2nd, 2026. The purpose of this pre-meeting briefing is to conduct a briefing session with administrative staff regarding the posted agenda for the regular board meeting which is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on April 2nd, 2026. For the record, board members present are Kim Brady, Eliana Garza Rojas, Marjorie Barnes, Paul Gilmore, Randy Shackmann, myself Cassandra Hatfield, and board member Carolyn Benavides is participating in this meeting via video conference pursuant to board policy BE legal. Ms. Benavides will be considered present for any portion of the meeting for which her audio and video communication is maintained. Should audio or video communication be lost,

002Ms. Benavides will be considered absent for the portion of the meeting that she is not present, and the meeting will continue as long as a quorum of the board remains present. We do constitute a quorum and may conduct business on behalf of the district. The next agenda item is audience for guest. Anyone who wish to speak during audience for guest must have submitted something by 1:00 p.m., the posted deadline, um and via the electronic form. And at this time we don't have anyone wishing to speak in the pre-meeting, so we'll move on to number three, administrative reports. Dr. Elridge, do you have any reports from administration? >> So, our first report is item I Let me check this. I, five I. Um as we focus on our student outcome goals, um I'm super proud of

003the work that Nicole Greenleaf and Eric Cockrum are doing um for Polk and Sheffield. And so, um we put this on the agenda to show you all what we are doing for Polk and Sheffield. Um as they are not a part of the grant, but we are giving them services, correct? >> They are a part of the grant. So, last month you all heard the grant for McWhorter. So, um these two campuses are part of that Lasso grant. So, I wanted to make sure that Chris Julian um spoke to you all about what we're doing to build excellence at those two campuses with the help of some experts. So, um Mr. Dr. Julian, take it away. >> All right, perfect. Good evening, members of the board, um Superintendent Eldridge. Tonight, we are here to share

004a brief review of the targeted improvement plan for Sheffield Elementary and Polk Middle School for the 25-26 school year. As you already recall from March's presentation, in Texas, we have two separate measures for accountability, one at the state level, and one at the federal level. Both systems have three levels of support and associated actions at a base, moderate, and intensive action. The state's A-F system consists of three performance standards, acceptable, needs improvement, and unacceptable, and our federal accountability also has three levels, including targeted supports, additional targeted supports, and comprehensive supports. Both the federal and the state accountability measures have associated actions within the middle with the middle action being a targeted improvement plan. So, you might be wondering why uh Sheffield and Polk, whose letter grade for 24-25 did not require a targeted improvement plan,

005have to submit one this year. And to address this question, we have to think back to last year. Remember that in 24-25, the state accountability ratings, which were based on 23-24 scores, were not released. However, federal accountability was released. So, from a school improvement or an accountability perspective, last year only the right side of this chart was in effect. And Polk and Sheffield, alongside McQuarter, were identified for additional targeted supports, which allowed us to apply for the Lasso grant. One of the stipulations of choosing to utilize Lasso funds is that all campuses who participate must complete a targeted improvement plan, which must be approved by the board. A targeted improvement plan for grant purposes involves conducting a needs assessment, which was completed and submitted. The next requirement is stakeholder engagement, which each campus has already

006completed above and beyond the required elements. A public hearing is not a required element for a grant campus. However, the TIP must be approved by the board. A targeted improvement plan is a strategic school improvement blueprint mandated by TEA. Polk and Sheffield, just like McQuarter, receive support through a Lasso grant focus on strengthening instructional leadership. Because strong Tier 1 instruction is foundational to school performance, a portion of these funds support our partnership with Relay GSE to build leadership capacity through more effective observation and feedback practices. This work enhances, but does not replace existing curriculum, instructional resources, and or personnel supports. Nicole Greenleaf, our district school improvement officer, works closely with Polk and Sheffield, alongside McQuarter, supporting and monitoring our campuses' progress towards their targeted improvement plan goals. Last month, we reviewed the targeted improvement plan

007for McQuarter, and the TIP for Sheffield is nearly identical to the McQuarter tip. Similarly, Polk's Targeted Improvement Plan is identical in almost all areas except for a few key areas where middle school differs from elementary. On this slide, I will share areas that are similar across all three tips and on the next slide, I will highlight areas where they differ. Alike or very similar are our student outcome goals in each Targeted Improvement Plan. These areas are identified based on student performance and they vary based on the prior year's performance. These goals are a guide and a they are a guide and we progress monitor them quarterly. Instructional leadership all across all three campuses involves weekly coaching, tiered feedback, observation and feedback being tracked through a collective team approach, tracked through the observation and tracking tool.

008All three campuses follow the district curriculum and regularly schedule professional learning community meetings. Progress monitoring consists of using Branching Minds for MTSS and utilization of Amira and Progress Learning at all three campuses with the addition of Magma Math at middle school. All three campuses create collective accountability by participating in a consistent schedule of tracking key milestones including a review of weekly observation and feedback trackers, quarterly data check-ins and conducting professional development aimed at improving outcomes based on the data analysis from these meetings. There are some differences in the overall structure, especially between elementary and middle school. Most notably, this year Sheffield schedules PLC weekly meetings while middle school schedules these meetings daily for star tested content area and grade levels. In reading language arts, elementary campuses follow HMH Into Reading Texas throughout the year while

009Polk transitions to HMH in November of 2025. In math, elementary elementary utilizes Savvas Investigations and middle school utilizes Connected Math. Elementary and middle schools both utilize unit assessments and NWEA MAP Growth assessments while elementary also utilizes NWEA MAP Fluency for kinder through second as well as Istation which is now Amira. We thank you for your time to review these targeted improvement plan overviews. While this is not an action item for the pre-meeting, approval of the TIP for Sheffield and Polk is included in the consent agenda for the regular board meeting and it is recommended that the board approve the targeted improvement plans for Sheffield and Polk Middle School later this evening. Are there any questions? >> Thank you, Dr. Julian. I will say that after the last board meeting, I made a visit out to

010McQuarter because I was like, well, if I'm going to approve this thing, let me actually see the reality that they're living in. Um, and it was a great visit. I just walked the campus for about 20 minutes with the principal and I went in a few classrooms and I got to observe some really neat uh, things. Most importantly, um, the amount of student participation and engagement was phenomenal and there was this really cool bingo board on the teachers' doors where they were working on specific actions and teacher behaviors. And if the teacher was seen doing that particular behavior, engaging with students, you like sign their bingo board and if they get, I think it, you know, a bingo in any way, they get a prize and it's, I think it's like Starbucks gift card or

011something. So, who knows, they get something. Um, and so it was just really neat to see because I actually, I was able to identify myself some of the bingo things that were happening in the classroom, but the intentionality between behind students responding and engaging with the work and being able to verbalize and write what they were doing um even the curriculum was really amazing. So um I just wanted to share that with my colleagues because like this is really important work and it really you can see the high quality instruction happening. Um any uh there questions or comments about these? Mr. Shackman. >> I thought that >> Great. >> Ms. Benavidez still let us know when you raise your hand. And so if you'll just raise your hand we have a staff member that's assisting

012and they'll let us know and right now we're going to hear from Mr. Shackman. >> Uh do we have any early data that shows us it's working? >> I mean we we track it constantly and really adapting as we go. So um yeah, I mean we're we're tracking that um throughout the year and if something is working yeah, we're we're adapting like I think you know, I mentioned that shift at Polk into HMH and that's a great example of you know, we were looking at the first nine weeks data and we said okay, this is not the trend that we want to see. So then making some adaptation we're absolutely seeing that progress now that we've made that transition in November. Um and then to be honest a lot of what we are working on

013at Sheffield has just been deepening and growing some of that work it started um the year before. So we're just really using relay to build that in. So yeah, we have lots of data. Um some of it is working really well and if I'm completely transparent it's you know, yeah, we've identified some areas where we need to continue to grow and we're having to continue to adapt to those as well. >> Great. Uh good to hear that and thank you. >> Uh-huh. >> Miss Benavides. >> Again, I was going to ask about the gift cards. Is the community engaging and donating the gift cards and then sending them? >> Ooh, I can't speak to that for sure. I'm not sure what the the prizes are um for the completion of the bingo cards. I will

014follow up with Ms. Soto DeMoss and get back to you on that. >> Thank you. That would be wonderful. >> Mhm? >> Any additional comments or questions? Okay. All right, thank you very much. >> I think those plans, targeted plans, are so important and I think, you know, knowing that Sheffield we have a brand new principal, it also helps uh Ms. Greenleaf work with him to get clean and clear systems in place for great student achievement. And I'm so proud when we know something's not working instead of at the end of the year when the results aren't. So, I appreciate your question, Mr. Shackman. Um it's like a uh a playbook. We're always shifting to call a better play for our kids to perform. So, um we need that. So, our next um pre-meeting item

015is Dr. Stout on item 5Q, and she's going to talk about our internet access and our VMware VMware licensing. Um sometimes we use terms that nobody knows what we're talking about, so I've asked her to explain what we're doing for internet access and what the licensing is. So, Dr. Stout. >> Thank you. Trying to uh there. Got it. I got it here. Let me share. >> It'll go when she switches presenter mode. >> There you go. >> Okay, so I'm here tonight to talk to you briefly about internet access and then also the VMware. I'll address the VMware first. The VMware is essentially the software that we use to run our servers. VM stands for virtual machine. And it it runs the servers in the network operating system and allows them to do their job.

016The first 5 years that we had um those particular servers, the first 5 years of that subscription is included, but we have gone past that window. So now we have to pay an an annual fee until we replace the the servers. Next up is our internet. We completed, thanks to um support from our community and our bond oversight committee and our board of trustees, we were able to complete fiber upgrade for our fiber optic cabling system. However, we still need, just like when you had an old rotary dial or an old landline telephone, I think we're all old enough to at least remember what those are. Um you still have to pay your phone bill. So you have the phone, you have the phone line, but you got to pay the bill, Ma Bell or

017whoever your phone bill comes from. So what we have on the agenda tonight is the phone bill for our internet connectivity through our fiber optic cabling network. So we have two two different providers that split the district in half. The north half of the district is uh Unite and then the south half of the district is through it's Zayo, which is actually purchased through Region 10. We are a hub for the internet traffic through Region 10 to other districts um in the the serve that the service center provides internet for. So, we have Frisco internet traffic running through our network operating system. Um we have to where we have the district split in half, which is actually also convenient from a failover perspective, which has happened before. We had um a fiber cut to the

018Zayo line that we get through the the Zayo fiber that we get through Region 10. We were able to switch our network traffic over to Unite, whereas our friends up to the north lost internet. So, we're very um grateful that we're able to use two different providers for all of our various ISP internet service providers. Um just some information about our network data. This is what a typical day on our um on our internet looks like. The the different colors are from the two different providers. Uh we typically max out at about 8 GB per second, which would be approximately 25,000 songs streamed simultaneously. You'll see that that peak actually is happening between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. So, it's probably when everybody's submitting attendance. Uh there is a larger spike in the evening and that

019is when our traffic routes up to our disaster recovery site that is at Creekview High School. So, if something happens to our network operating center in Irving, we have our data backed up at at Creekview. Again, north and south. So. Um, I also wanted to point out that uh the amount that is on the consent agenda this evening is not the full price of the internet service that we provide to our students. We use something called the SPI method, uh which we pay 20% through through the federal e-rate program that gives um connectivity to public libraries and schools. Uh we pay approximately 20% of the overall bill, and then um the providers invoice the govern the federal government for the other 80% of that bill. And so it is our recommendation that you um approve

020the internet agenda item as stated in the consent agenda. Are there any questions or >> Thank you. >> comments? Thank you. >> Dr. Stout, board members, do you have any questions or comments? Did anybody learn anything new? Yeah, I learned something new. Didn't know all those things. Didn't So, thank you very much for the information. I think we have no questions. >> Thank you. >> All right, that concludes our administrative reports for this evening. Item we'll move on to agenda item number four, which is any additional questions or comments regarding the consent agenda items. Board members, does anyone have any questions or comments regarding the consent agenda? All right, seeing none and hearing none, we have reached the end of our agenda at 6:18 p.m. Um and we are adjourned. >> Mhm. >> I call

021this regular meeting of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 p.m. on April 2nd, 2026. Board members, district staff members, and members of the audience here are free to join me as Candace McCracken provides a message followed by the reading of the pledges by Eliana Garza Rojas with the US flag and myself with the pledge to the Texas flag. >> Our Father in heaven, we are thankful to gather together as the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District Board of Trustees and audience members. We are thankful for thy spirit and thankful that at this time we get to celebrate thy son, Jesus Christ. We thank thee for the chance to gather together and we recognize thy presence and recognize thy hand in our lives and we pray that thy spirit will be poured out

022upon this meeting and those students receiving recognitions tonight as well as those that are in attendance that they may um recognize thy hand and continue to bless and grow this wonderful district. We're thankful for these leaders to pour into our family and communities and our students and we ask for these things in with thy son Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Well, I think March Madness has ended or something has happened. Basketball is my thing but I don't pay that close attention. But exciting things are happening since we're back from spring break and ready to celebrate the end of the year and continue working on student achievement because our teachers and staff are so hard working in our schools. So welcome to the March board meeting April board meeting. I am just I was trying to just

023rewind >> March Madness is not over. Thank you very much. So with that as a district we dedicate all of our efforts and resources to our goal of high expectations for all. I shall work on my basketball skills. The board uses this goal to guide every deliberation, decision and action. As elected trustees, the board is responsible for providing oversight, setting the strategic direction of this district, and ensuring accountability, all in service of student achievement. You will witness the board conducting its work in open session except for specific items that may be discussed in closed session as permitted under Texas Government Code Section 551, commonly known as the Open Meetings Law. These items typically involve personnel matters, consultation with our attorney, or real estate transactions. As we move through the agenda tonight, it is important to

024remember that we are in the business of supporting kids. With that in mind, we ask everyone present to model respectful, responsible, and constructive behavior. With this With this, we model what we expect of our students. For the record, board members present are Kim Brady, Eliana Garza Rojas, Marjorie Barnes, Paul Gilmore, Randy Schackmann, myself, Cassandra Hatfield. Board member Carolyn Benavides is participating in this meeting via video conference pursuant to board policy BE Legal. Ms. Benavides will be considered present for any portion of the meeting during which both audio and video communication are maintained. Should audio or video communication be lost, Ms. Benavides will be considered absent for that portion of the meeting. The meeting will continue so long as a quorum quorum of the board remains present. We do constitute a quorum, and we may conduct

025business on behalf of the district. Our next agenda item is item number two, special presentations and recognitions, and I'll turn it over to Ms. Rodriguez. >> Good evening, President Hatfield, esteemed board members, and Dr. Eldridge. Through our partnership with Chick-fil-A Trinity Mills, we honor those who demonstrate excellence with the CFB Champion Award. This month, we are proud to recognize Victor Johnson, who exemplifies what it means to be a true CFB Champion. He consistently steps up to support students as a mentor, a coach, a leader. Mr. Johnson consistently steps up to support our students as a mentor, a coach, and a leader, inspiring students with messages of resilience, determination, and the belief that they can shape their own future. Over the past years, he has mentored students across the district, including at Blaylock, Bush, and Polk

026Middle Schools, Ranchview High School, and the DAEP. Victor also leads our community ambassadors group, bringing together community members to support and advocate for CFBISD. Thank you, Victor, for your unwavering support and for your belief in our district and our students. Remaining board members, if you'd like to stand and move toward the middle for a photo, and please join me in congratulating him. Congratulations. For our student recognition this month, we are proud to recognize 12 students who earned the prestigious title of Texas Music Educators Association All-State Musicians, the highest representation the district has had in 8 years. This year, nearly 70,000 high school students competed for this recognition at the district, region, and area levels. Having so many CFBISD students achieve the All-State title is a testament of their musical talent and of the district's commitment

027to fine arts. Please join us in recognizing our All-State Musicians who were able to join us tonight. And I apologize if I mispronounce any names. From Creekview High School, Marcos Alvarado. Gabriel Wessel Ramos. Reed Slavinsky. Amaya Caceres. And Lucas Strong. From Ranchview, Gabriel Ruiz. And board members, if you'd make your way to the center of the dais. And Creekview. Congratulations to our talented students, and that concludes tonight's recognitions. >> Well, congratulations to our students. Uh fine arts is excelling in CFB and we're so thankful for our teachers and for these students for the hours and hours they spend practicing to be so successful. So, congratulations and to Mr. Johnson, we are so thankful um for how you support the district and uh our true champion of CFB. So, thank you. All right, item 2B is

028the president's report and I just want to make sure that uh as we approach uh election day, um it is important that we consistently engage in our local government and school board elections do matter. They shape our local community in a very important way. So, for those of you that may not be familiar, our district does use cumulative voting. In this election, there are two seats up and uh they will serve from 2026 to 2029. This means that voters will see each of the four candidates running for school board twice on their ballot, one for each seat. Um as a voter, you can choose to cast both of your votes for one person, one vote each for two different people, only use one of your votes, or you may choose not to vote. I encourage

029everyone um that is eligible to take the time to really understand the process, participate fully, and make your voices be heard. Early voting, it does start on April 20th and election day is May 2nd. You can learn more about um the elections at cfbisd.edu/elections. And with that, we'll move on to district announcements. Dr. Eldridge? Um one more announcement is that um item 6B, for that item tonight, there will be no action and no presentation. Um so, if you are specifically looking for 6B, um that item will have no action and no presentation. And we will move forward to um item 2C, district announcements. Dr. Eldridge? >> We have lots of announcements. Um March was busy. Um once again, thank you, Victor, for being here. I think we left off one accolade for you and that

030is he's reading all the scholarships and in charge of all the scholarships through the education foundation and we're so thankful for that. Um also want to talk about our education day for our community ambassadors which Victor also led and um we've I feel like we need to employ you but um thank you for all your volunteer time. Um we had our community ambassadors um got to experience what programs we have in our district and we had it at the Watten Center. And so the participants got to try on the fire academy jacket. They got to see robotics. They got to see karate. All the things that we offer. It was truly an incredible day. And um we all left there with a sense of pride but also a sense of information for everybody to understand

031what we do in our school district. So what a great day. Um our enrollment season opened yesterday. It was opening day just like baseball. And I want to thank the Creekview coaches who let all of the baseball players out there and help me do a video and I realize it's very hard to throw a baseball. But thank you to communications for making me look good in the video like I actually really could throw a strike. But we had 2100 parents already enrolled for next year because we've streamlined our process. So that is incredible. We have 45 new pre-K students that have enrolled and it's so great to see how excited they are to start big school. And so if anybody needs to enroll our enrollment center is right across the street um right next to

032Metro Crest Services. And what did it take you? 3 minutes and 15 seconds? 3 minutes and 17 seconds to re-enroll. So we've really streamlined the process so you don't have to find all these documents and and it's not painful. So we're very thankful to our student services team. Um right across the street, if you leave before it's dark, you'll see a big mound of dirt over there. We had a groundbreaking for new Carrollton Elementary. It's going to be beautiful. Um it's supposed to open in August of '27. So, we're super excited about that. It's going to be state-of-the-art. And what we've learned, too, is um you know, we need to modernize our facilities to um be able to provide more opportunities for our students and more um access for our community, too, to use our

033facilities. So, we are super excited about the new um Carrollton um Elementary. And I think the teachers are super excited. They said it's about time. So, we're super excited about that. Um So, our NASA HUNCH project at Ranchview, um Carol Miller, thank you Dr. Miller, thank you so much for um being a part of the NASA HUNCH. Our students participate um in developing um robots and different things for the astronauts. And they get to go to competition they um in Houston. And I think it's coming up, right? Okay. Um well, the students told me at the NASA HUNCH that they needed to build more robotic prototypes. But knowing that we're in a budget deficit, they didn't know what to do. So, they decided and they Googled it and said it takes They told President Hatfield

034here, "There's too much bureaucracy to write a grant." So, we just took people in our community and wrote them emails. And so, they wrote to Mark Cuban and within 2 hours, Mark Cuban responded and gave them $5,000. So, our kids our kids truly find the way. So, we're super excited. I can't wait to hear how they do. Um Mr. Taylor at Bush Middle School, they're also competing in their um program. And one of the students designed a shoe that will charge your phone and track your steps. and I think we need to talk to Nike about that. It was incredible to see um it was amazing what our students are doing. We find out in May um May 3rd if we are the winner of the HEB Excellence School District Award. We're in the top

035five. They came to visit. We had 12 judges. It was an incredible visit. So, once again, Victor served on that committee. Thank you again, Victor. Um so, great things are happening and I think what's interesting too um I have to mention something for elementary. Stark Elementary had their carnival auction and uh the kids get to bid, the families get to bid on different things. And the highest bids went to being the nurse of the school and being the office staff and being a custodian. And I think that is just amazing because they are true role models in the campus. So, like that is our kids really respect each other and what we do as a district. So, that's all I have. So, thank you for all the great things that are happening. >> Thank you

036for the updates, Dr. Eldridge. A lot of great things are happening. Um at this time, we do um have a brief update from PTA that is item 2D. And so, it looks like it is Arya Dean. >> Thank you. I am Arya Dean, the advocacy chair for uh Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Council PTAs. Um thank you, Dr. Dr. Eldridge, President Hatfield, and the esteemed board for um for having us. I think that it's really important. I know that we say this pretty much every time that we're here, but if we we have such a wonderful relationship with with our leadership in our in our district and I and I think that that needs to be appreciated very, very deeply because not all organizations and PTA organizations have that relationship with their district. So, thank you all

037very deeply for for for your support. Um we have 5,706 members. It's 92% of last year's membership and still growing. So, let's get more people um involved in PTA. Remember, you can always get your family members, your neighbors, and your community members to come and um be a part of uh PTA. So, also you can join at joinpta.org or you can become a CFB PTA PTA champion by joining at cfbpta.org. Our mission in PTA is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Everything that we do, from our advocacy work to our campus events, is grounded in that mission. Um our registration is open for Texas PTA launch conference. That's going to be super fun. It's at the Gaylord Texan July 10th through 12th,

038and guess what? I'll be presenting. You know you want to see me. Um but also, it will be um every local PTA with at least one registered member earns a free administration uh registration. So, any of your um administrators um in your schools that want to come, we they can come as well, and come learn about advocacy with me. Um as PTA wraps up this year and we elect new officers, please get registered with Texas PTA and start your transitions early. We're talking about just PTA in general, all of our PTA boards in all of our local PTAs, um and our council PTA is here to support everyone through that process. This Monday, April 6th, we are holding a school board trustee candidate forum. We would love for you all to attend. We have um

039the uh event is on on our social media, and then we also have a form that is linked on our event for you as a community to um ask questions to the um potential school board trustees that we are um that that will be at the at the forum. So, we're really excited about that. It is going to be at the Nancy Watten Center. Um like I said, Monday, April 6th, the doors will open at 6:30. We are also partnering with partnering with the American Association of University Women AAUW North Texas Branch, and we're really proud of our um collaboration with that organization. We have done um I I I I think that this candidate forum is one of like it is the candidate forum whenever it comes to CFBISD um school board trustees. So,

040we're really excited about that, and I've been planning it very hard. So, hopefully everybody comes. Um and on April 15th is our lifetime member award celebration also at the Nancy Watten Center. We're excited about that. Please RSVP, and make sure your campus nominees are submitted. You can find that information on our website and also on our social media account. Our final delegate meeting of the year is May 13th at 6:30. Right here in this room. Um today also is um World Autism Acceptance Day. I think that that is important because it's a reminder that acceptance, not just awareness, is what moves us forward. Um it's a value that lives at the heart of everything that PTA stands for. When we talk about um advocating for all children and making sure that all children have access

041to a really good public education, that is at the heart of what we do. And so, I think it's important for us to talk about that today. So, um also, our in Well, this kind of goes hand in hand, but our last PTA challenge of the month, or I mean, of the year, actually. Can you believe this? It's April, y'all. Yeah. So, April's challenge is equity, every day creating a culture of belonging, and we hope that your campus will participate. Um I would like to say just very quickly that that um it's a little it's a personal plug, but um our Rosemeade Elementary um PTA put on a sensory-friendly egg hunt this past past uh Saturday. And that's something that we've been doing for 3 years now, Irma. Um Irma spearheaded it her with Shirley

042Pinson spearheaded it, but it's something that I think that we need to think about when you think about um accessibility and inclusion for all people, that we need to think about events that we can do for everyone in our community. Um so that's my little personal plug. So, tonight it is my honor to recognize our March Challenge winners, and the theme was STEAM: Curiosity Across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Our primary school winner is Janie Stargel Elementary. They brought STEAM to life with a math and science night that had students learning by doing. PTA partnered with the Dallas Arboretum, who set up an engaging constellation activity that had kids looking at the sky in a whole new way. Come on. Come on, ladies. I'm just going to keep talking about you while you come

043up to get your award. And and students also took home hands-on math activities to keep the learning going beyond the school walls. It was a great night of curiosity, discovery, and community. Congratulations. Okay, and our secondary winner is Blaylock Middle School. Their annual Taste of Blaylock uh Blaylock on March 10th set a new record with over 600 guests. What? The event brought the entire Blaylock community together to celebrate cultural diversity from around the world. Students and families and community members decorated booths, and they served served dishes. And this is where the STEAM piece gets put in there, because they're all cooking and everything. And cooking Tell me cooking is not science, right? It is. So, um we uh most of the participants were sixth graders, and they completed a social studies project, but the energy

044was everything. So, thank you all for for work that you've done at Playlab, too. >> Thank you. Thank you all for your continued support. Uh we're we're we are PTA together. Thank you, Ms. Dean, for your energy and excitement for all things PTA. Um we're Thank you very much. All right. Um at this time, we will have a brief pause to allow anyone who would like to step out of the meeting to do so. We do understand that students have homework to do and activities. And so, if you would like to step out, you're more than welcome to. You are also welcome to stay as long as you would like um throughout the meeting this evening. Ms. Benavides, did you have something to say? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay, thank you. All right. Our next

045agenda item is agenda item number three, audience for guests. Persons who wish to speak during audience for guests must have electronically submitted an online form for this purpose prior to the deadline and closing of the form at 1:00 p.m. today. As of the posted deadline, we had three submissions to address the board. So, I will before I begin, I will remind our audience members of the board's procedures for handling audience for guest. Each speaker will be allowed to speak once during audience for guest. Speakers designated as stakeholder will be allowed a maximum of 3 minutes and speakers designated as non-stakeholders will be allowed a maximum of 1 minute to address the board as dictated by board policy B E D local. Because the board wants to hear from as many of you as possible while

046also keeping the meeting running efficiently, groups of more than five people who would like to present on a particular viewpoint or topic should appoint one person to speak on behalf of the group. Please remember that the board does not deliberate on any subject that is not included in the agenda for this meeting. Board members will listen to comments but will not respond or answer any questions. Recognizing that students are at the heart of the work, we ask that speakers model respectful and constructive behavior that we expect from our students. Please refrain or sorry, please keep your comments civil and courteous and avoid profanity or personal attacks. Refrain from discussing students who are not your own child. Yelling, disruptive behavior, or discriminatory remarks will not be permitted. In the event that your comment, in the judgment

047of the presiding officer, constitutes a complaint or charge against an employee or officer, it may be necessary for me to interrupt you and ask you to stop and direct you to proceed with the school district's formal grievance procedures. If a speaker is seeking board resolution of a specific complaint, that concern should be addressed through the district's grievance process which can be found online and include policies DGBA, FNG, and GF. Grievance forms are online on the district website. In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, please note that the board will not respond directly to the public and will address any agenda items as deemed necessary when they're listed on the agenda. As the presiding officer, I may respond with factual information as dictated in board policy BEC local. The timer will be shown on the screen

048in front of you and you will begin when you arrive at the podium to speak. Again, the presentation will be uh limited to the allotted time. Um I will call individuals to the podium in the order in which they forms were received. Nico Ornela is 3 minutes. And just 1 second, sir, while we get the timer up. Okay. >> Nicholas Ornela is 1117 East Vandergriff Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75006. Agenda item 2C, district announcements. Central admin has added to their staffing count again. I think they saw the last name Lawless and couldn't help themselves. A CFB teacher has been arrested and charged with having an improper relationship with the student, indecency with a child with sexual contact, and indecent assault. A police affidavit says a student told police Mendez would call her out of class and

049have her come to his room and touch her inappropriately, including giving her foot massages with lotion. Police interviewed several other girls who said Mendez gave them foot massages during school. A 14-year-old student, an eighth grader, told police Mendez has given her the foot massages over the past 3 years. Um it's been a while. I doubt this is the first time it's been reported, but I digress. Investigators are working to determine if there has been any other possible victims. Uh this was reported by the news and the police. I haven't seen anything by CFB, but I'm sure that they're keeping the community updated and would welcome any type of information and should give out any um communications to the community on this. Um, I would like to correct the record for the news and the police.

050It says that he chose to resign. He shouldn't have that option unless the board and the superintendent give him that option. Because in December and even last month, y'all voted to have other employees reported to the TEA when they resigned. Isn't that correct? But they didn't have good cause. I guess this guy had good cause to resign. We didn't have to report him to the TEA. Uh, CFB maintains that Texas public school districts have the authority to dictate which citizens are permitted to or restricted from reporting and alleging criminal acts. Um, I'm not sure where they're getting off on this. I know this the Commissioner of Education did have a ruling on this, but that is a very niche niche topic. Um, this follows the same pattern as the 5-year-old who was found uh, on

051the side of a road by a stranger. The special needs student. Um, now this also wasn't reported to the community. Um, keeping up with their treatment of special needs children, an SRO tackled and held down a special needs child um, within the past month. That's still getting looked into. There was no report on this even though there's a criminal investigation. Um, according to my open records, uh, there is no budget oversight, uh, training, or workshops, or audits that have ever been requested by this board. Um, so, no oversight of safety and students of the district, nor the budget. >> Mr. Arnaldo, your time is up. Sir, please do not gesture at me. You will be asked to exit. Our next speaker is Sophie Huang, 1 minute. >> Good evening, members of the board. My name

052is Sophie Huang. I'm a junior in high school and a resident of Carrollton. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming education, but many students are using it in ways that will cross into academic dishonesty. In fact, 63% of teachers reported catching AI misuse, while 72% of students say they want more guidance on responsible AI usage. That gap is why my friends and I created AI Smart, which stands for Students Mastering AI Responsibly Together. We provide student-friendly resources and workshops that teach ethical AI use, effective prompting, and how to avoid risks like hallucinations, bias, and misinformation. We've reached over 4,600 people through community events and library partnerships, including distributing bookmarks at the Carrollton Public Libraries. We support Carrollton ISD's AI policy, especially its stance against academic dishonesty. However, since students still access AI outside of school, education, not

053just restriction, is essential. Today, we respectfully ask the district to partner with AI Smart to provide workshops and resources that help students use AI to learn, not shortcuts. >> thank you for your time. This takes a lot of bravery to come up and talk to the board as a student, so I really appreciate your sharing that information with us. >> Thank you so much. >> Mhm. Our next speaker is Liz Mendoza for 3 minutes. >> Good evening. Yes, ma'am. Okay, you can begin when you're ready. >> Okay. Good evening. Liz Mendoza, I'm a parent of a sixth grader at CFBISD. I came here tonight to speak on a a concern regarding AI and data centers. During the meeting in February, there was an offhand comment about AI and kids making caricatures with it or something

054to that effect. I don't know it verbatim, but I did catch it when I was watching it um through YouTube. I spoke to Robin today and was informed that kids do not have access to gener- generative AI tools, which I'm glad to know because AI is harmful to not only the growing minds of our kids, but the data centers that power AI are detrimental to our environment. So, I'm here to raise awareness regarding this issue. Data centers use intensive cooling methods to prevent servers from overhe- overheating, thereby using up our clean water. US data centers consume 17 billion gallons of water in 2023 with projections indicating this could quadruple to 68 billion gallons by 2028 as AI workloads intensify cooling demands. ChatGPT's 300 million weekly users collectively consume 62.4 megawatts daily, equivalent to powering 35,000

055US homes annually through their AI interactions. So, I would really just like us to take stock of this every time we consider jumping on an AI trend and generating AI slop for Facebook Facebook likes. And that goes to all of us. Data centers wreck havoc in communities. Data centers devour our finite resources such as water, energy, and land. Data centers exacerbate pollution and destroy necessary ecosystems, leaving local communities to shoulder the environmental and economic costs. Pollutions Pollution from data centers is incredibly damaging to communities, contaminating and depleting drinking water. AI does not help our kids learn anything that a teacher, a librarian, a book, or a well-researched article can't teach them. I hope we continue to not provide generative AI tools to our kids. Teach them about environmental advocacy, pollinator pathways, and how to continue

056to use their own imagination to create art and read and write stories. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much. For the reference of the public, the board's artificial intelligence policy is CQD. Uh we have a local and a legal policy in relation to technology resources artificial intelligence. That is all of our speakers for tonight. Um is Ms. Ms. Benavidez is pres- not present at this time um at the meeting, so she'll be marked absent at 7:00 34 p.m. Okay. Um Can I please uh we're going to go ahead and take a recess. The time is 7:35. We'll take a 5-minute recess. >> Mhm. >> Okay, the time is 7:38 p.m. and we are back in open session. Our next agenda item is item number four, non-action items for discussion. We'll begin with

057item 4A, the construction update, and I'll turn it over to Dr. Eldridge to introduce the item. >> We have lots of construction happening right now, and also we have um new furniture being introduced. So, um our condolences are with Mr. Blackburn. He had a death family, and so, um you know, we're like one big family, so he couldn't be here tonight. So, I'll turn it over to Chris Moore. So, Chris Moore, if you will give us the construction update for Corey. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Dr. Eldridge, President Hatfield, trustees. Um my wealth of knowledge is not as vast and my depth of understanding is not as complex as Mr. Blackburn's. I'll do my best to fill in his stead, or I guess I could get Mr. Johnson. He just left. He could come up

058here and give it on behalf of us, too. He's got his hand in everything else in the district. So, um this is the uh what's become our our bi-monthly um construction update. The first two slides we're going to look at, we've shared these multiple times at board meetings and with our bond oversight committee. Um just continuing to progress through those three buckets that you see, um renovation work, the replacement work. A couple of points to note in there. Um of course, we were excited, as Dr. Eldridge mentioned, you all were there yesterday for the groundbreaking. Um, Carrollton this week, Carrollton Elementary. It was a great time, it was a great turnout. Um, and we will begin getting foundations in place. You'll see that on on one of the slides here shortly in the in the

059next coming in the coming weeks. And then we're going to start soon on Farmers Branch Elementary. Uh, within those progression slides, our plans are being reviewed there. Uh, and so we are on to permitting after that. This is the overall construction schedule. Uh, if you can, take a look at that third column, 2026, uh, quarter two. As as um, Corey shared at the previous uh, construction update, we um, are about to have work underway on 20 campuses as the summer begins. It's going to be very busy to say the least. We've got seven construction uh, campuses currently underway. Uh, 13 are going to commence this summer. Um, and so much more much of those many of those will continue into the 26-27 school year, but we're going to get as much as done over the

060course of the summer as we can. Um, of note among those, we've got of course the elementary renovations, the middle school renovations, they'll commence at the later end of the summer. Um, Smith High School, Turner High School, those will continue and then um, of course Carrollton, Farmers Branch Elementary as I mentioned. But there's a lot of work, looking forward to getting a lot of that work underway uh, so we can get uh, kids and our teachers going in a in a really good direction with the new design and some really nice significant upgrades to their facilities. Getting into the actual packages, so that's renovation package one, that's Creekview High School. You see there, that's the fire academy. Um, some of the furniture has been installed in the picture on the left in that far back,

061uh, I guess it's the left corner, that's what uh, Corey's calling it the training box. That is the back end of the ambulance that was donated uh, to us so they can have real time, real life training within the within that the the MS class there the MT class so they can jump in there and and practice in real space. So that's in there and then on the right that is a specialized storage area backboards straps oxygen bags cylinders mannequins. There's a lot of specialized equipment that will be stored in there. That's going to be a really nice space and so we're really excited to get that finished up and ready for the next school year. Also in package one that's Rogers Elementary continuing to work through with those phases. They're making good progress. The

062library furniture is soon going to be part as well approved that po today. So the library is going to get an update as well with some of their specific equipment tech supported integrated flexible mobile kid scaled etc. In package two that's Black Middle School. Of course that's another large ongoing major renovation that we've been working through in different phases. Overall that is almost halfway complete and we continue making good progress. There's been some pivots throughout as we kind of knew we would run into but overall it's been good. The staff has been great. Isaiah and Brian have both been wonderful in their principal tenures throughout that. So we're looking forward to continuing to to move in there and and and get that instructional space ready. In package three that's Turner High School. What you see

063there that picture is the new library space. It's really coming together. They're going to finish up most of the steel work this week. You can see once you're inside you can start see it coming together and then certainly when you're inside the construction areas you can see it. Not a whole lot is is you can tell a whole lot from the outside right now. One thing you can tell from the outside is the fly loft. If you were looking at the campus from Josie to the left there was a the fly loft over the theater. Brown, faded, chipped. They've they've resurfaced that with new materials. It looks great. Corey always asks me, "Why are you asking me about the fly loft?" He, you know, he's got this masterpiece of steel going in and you always

064want to ask me about the fly loft. I'm like, "Man, I see the fly loft. Just it's changed the whole look of that side of the building." Um and then really kudos to Corey and his staff and really Ivan certainly for that HEB visit cuz what you see there, Corey's mentioned it multiple times, that goes on every single day during instruction. And so they deal with that on a regular basis. It's been really great. Ivan and his folks in the construction project management people. So the HEB visit went really well in the midst of all of what you see. Um Smith High School, what you see there is the school store. That's a before and after rather the the before and the during. They're wrapping that up and and those phases of renovation that's coming

065along. Again, that's a that's a multi-phase project, 12 or 13 phases. There's still about a year and a half remaining on Smith. Um package five, that's Polk. I was talking to Miss Carlin a second ago. It actually looks like a football field out there now when you drive past it. Since this picture has been taken, they've actually finished sewing in all of the turf. So the the the yardage markers, the down in the distance, all those are sewn in. Um the numbers are in place, hash marks, and they're going to finish putting down the rubber surfing on the track the surface there in the next few days. And so you can see there's a lot of fencing up. So it's really it's really coming along at Polk. That's Carrollton. Mentioned that. Of course, the that's

066they're dropping piers in right there. We had a groundbreaking as I mentioned. As Dr. Eldridge said, Monica, the principal and her staff were absolutely thrilled to see this and it's really unique that they're getting to see it Um as it goes up right next to them, you know, and the students and the learning experiences there seeing this thing come up from the ground. But on that left pic, those are test piles. Those are being installed for the foundation. And so we they're they're driving those in and going to wait for them to cure, do some more testing and then of course confirm the capacity of those piers so they can support the structural load. And then the picture on the right that's the moisture conditioning that's underway for building the pad. So the it's it's

067nice to see the foundation work that's that's underway there Carrollton. And that is the last of the slides. So with that I will attempt to answer any questions you have as elegantly as Mr. Blackburn always does. >> Thank you Mr. Moore. Board members, questions, comments? Ms. Garza Rojas, go easy on him. Thank you for your presentation. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I was just taking a breath and to give you a big long speech, but I just have one question. When is the Farmers Branch Elementary construction supposed to start? >> It will begin Yes, ma'am. This summer. >> We're the That's a good question. We've Rachel Langston, the principal there has done a wonderful job communicating with her families, the timelines, kind of the the celebrations so they can come take in Farmers Branch. They've worked

068with Karen and Communications a great deal. So we will begin the the send-off, the celebration in the next coming weeks. Once the the school is once the school year's closed out within the first few weeks of summer, they're going to begin closing down the building and getting all of that site work ready to begin the the demolition process. Once the demolition takes place, they'll have to clear that and then begin building on site. Those students are of course going to transition to Central Elementary School behind Turner for the next school year. >> Thank you for the update. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Ms. Barnes. Just to piggyback off of uh Miss Garza Rojas's question. So, when it says that uh Turner High School completion date is January 2027, are we talking more specifically about the library

069area, but classrooms will be ready for students beginning in the next school year? >> Yes, ma'am. We we will clear the construction that's requiring the the shift for this school year. It was a um ridiculously intensive schedule, so we could get it done, clear out Central, and get Turner back into Turner High School. And so, once they are back into Turner High School quickly, once the summer concludes, we'll need that time to get them back in and free up and make ready and prep uh Central for Farmers Branch. So, yes, the construction will continue on site, but it will be freed up from what was required of the space at Central Elementary School. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mr. Gilmore. >> And you may not know the answer to this, but

070>> I appreciate that cushion if I don't. >> Um Cuz it was just one of those things I thought of while I was sitting here. Um as the cost of materials and everything are going up, are we projecting we're going to come in under budget? What's it looking like? Do we have any kind of >> We're tracking well now. I mean, we we we of course came in it was about 12 and 1/2 million within each of the elementary projects that we looked at that we set contingencies within. Um since over the course of the last 3 to 4 weeks, there's there's not been a noticeable spike. It's no more than what it has been, but right now we're tracking within budget where we were within the last 3 to 4 months. >> Well, and

071just to clarify on that, we do have guaranteed maximum price on the project. So, any problems would would that more so be on the renovation side if we found like additional plumbing problems or like things beyond the scope? >> Similar to what we've kind of run into at Blaylock, if you will. We We the the plumbing's We know the plumbing work there is probably going to be more intensive than what we are anticipating when we were wrapping that project last at the end of last summer to to begin making ready for the new school year. Trying to get footing in one of those main plumbing pipes there near the kitchen. We ran into some struggles with that. So, we've expedited that project. We've We've moved the the cafeteria project up and we're we're taking over

072some of that space because we know that that's going to be about a We're anticipating 4 to 6 extra weeks to conclude that. But, that is one of those that would be within scope. But, anything along those lines it's Yes, you're right with the guaranteed maximum price. >> Thank you. I just want Mr. Shackman. >> Um might be a Corey Brackman question, but approximately how much has the district saved in the bond fund because we've been able to utilize Central Elementary instead of a whole slew of portables? >> I believe that was around 1 and 1/2 to 2 million dollars savings just in that usage of Central for Turner. Just for Turner. And then that will also using that site for Farmers Branch will result in additional savings. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir.

073>> Yeah, there. Okay, thank you. I do want to take a minute to make it very clear to the community, especially as we're looking at a budget deficit and community members may have concerns. Why are we building new buildings while simultaneously experiencing a budget deficit? So, I want to take some time to make sure that we're sharing with the community why why this is happening. So, in our collaborative vision 2030, we do have a strategic priority of optimizing facilities safety, security, and infrastructure to be adaptable to student needs. And so, the 2023 bond project is a direct reflection of that strategic priority that the voters voted on. And recently the board also adopted educational specifications. Those are the guiding documents that are facilitating this work specifically at Carrollton Elementary and Farmers Branch Elementary. So the

074specifications to those buildings were built around these specifications and they they are not just technical documents. These are documents that are being utilized to ensure that we are aligning with the specifications that the board adopted and are tied to these community values and they do prioritize flexible learning environments, safety and the ability to adapt to students needs. But on the financial side, I think it's very important to clarify. There are two different funding streams for the district, maintenance and operations and interest and sinking funds. So the maintenance and operations budget is our day-to-day operations and the interest and sinking funds, which is all of the construction that you're seeing happening. We cannot mix the two pots. So the interest and sinking funds is a completely separate tax rate voted on and these projects come out

075of that. So while we're experiencing a budget deficit on the M&O side, we are not able to take INS funds and shift them over to M&O and take care of reallocating dollars for operational needs. So when we look at why are we building new buildings? These replacement campuses are very strategic. They are to the specifications we need for the future so that we can house and have the highest quality of instruction in our schools. So I just want to take a moment and really make sure that the community understands. If you have questions about that, you're like, wait a minute. What do you mean you can't do that? Please give a board member a call. Please give administration a call. We are happy to explain that part of school finance as it can be a

076little bit confusing. But it is important to note that we are being very strategic on both the M&O and INS side, but the INS side stays within those bond funds and is really very carefully allocated and these strategic decisions that are being made both on the MNO and INS side are to make sure that we are streamlining and aligning our facility staffing and financing so that we can effectively serve now and in the future. So I just with that if there are any other questions or comments about MNO and INS and kind of how this works. Nope. Okay. I just want to make sure the community is aware of that and thank you for the construction updates. It's very exciting. I know you guys are going to be very busy. We'll be glad to have

077Mr. Blackburn back but you did a very nice job. >> Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate that. >> All right, our next update is the agenda item 4B which is our education and foundation update. Dr. Eldridge. >> We have the great Donna Wald here with us today and we have lots of events happening. We could not do what we do without our educational foundation that focuses on our students and our teachers and lots of opportunities for scholarships and grants and all the things. So Donna, thank you so much for being here tonight you and Mary and we look forward to your presentation. >> Thank you. Good evening Dr. Eldridge, President Hatfield and esteemed board members. I'm excited to be here before you this evening with updates and news from the Ed Foundation. Since our last report

078we have been busy with grants. Our innovative grants actually close tomorrow. Our scholarships are underway and we've had so much more going on. We have been working since last year on a very special project and that is the CFB Teacher of the Year Celebration. We are so excited to bring this to you just as last year the foundation is proud to host and produce the event. This year under the direction of our co-chairs, Mary Lovell and Jan Rugg from Atmos Energy, uh, along with a robust group who comprise the Teacher of the Year Steering Committee, we're excited for what's to come. Uh, the event would not be possible, not at all, without donor support, and we're thrilled to announce tonight this year's champion sponsors, Purdue Brandon and Pat and Al In Low. The committee meets

079every single week. Uh, you if you if I say we're it it's the holiday, they say, "We still need to meet, Donna." We meet every single week. So, this morning they have reported a significant increase in donor participation over last year. We're we're still hearing from individuals and corporations who wish to sponsor. I shared this earlier. We're seeing a 26% increase in the number of, uh, corporations and individual contributors in our community who want to sponsor Teacher of the Year. Uh, we have raised to date, as of this morning, nearly $80,000. On the evening of Thursday, April 16th, we'll celebrate and honor each of our campus teachers of the year. The, uh, event, as in years past, will conclude with the surprise announcement of the district's elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year. We all

080know there are lots of happy tears, cheers. We love this event. Those finalists go on to represent the district for Teacher of the Year title, uh, and then they uh, have the the opportunity to go on, uh, for the state title, as well. All proceeds from the event will go toward Great Start Campus Grants, and just like last year, each of our campuses will receive $1,000 in July uh to to start the school year. We want them We'd like to think of ourselves as being the first donation that each of our campuses receive at the start of school. On behalf of our co-chairs and our entire steering committee and the Educational Foundation board, we're so grateful for our donors and our friends. If you're interested in a list of those donors, you'll find them all

081on our website. We update the website weekly, and it's a growing list. Uh um and it also contains, of course, sponsor information. I know if any of my board uh if any of my steering committee are are out watching, and I know uh Ms. Lovell is here, um it it's not too late to become a donor. So, I'll say that. Of course, my board feels that way, um but we're getting right up to the end, and we're so excited. Our annual scholarship initiative is underway, and this year we're seeing records all the way around. Like Dr. Eldridge said, uh we've had the star of the show is Victor Johnson. Uh we are so thrilled um for Victor's support. He has done an amazing job with scholarships. This year, we've got 432 applicants. That's more than

082we've seen in many years. Um and thanks to your support, your shout-out, um we've had more We've had a record number of reviewers. We've had more reviewers this year than we have ever had in Education Foundation history. So, we all thank you, and we thank any of our friends out watching in the audience. Um we're so excited uh for this to to roll forward. We have uh uh uh, on our calendar for next week, we'll be meeting to determine the final list, the official final list of scholarship recipients, and then we'll share those with our campuses, so we'll be prepared for all of the senior walks and, uh, award assemblies. Last year, the foundation awarded just over a hundred thousand dollars, and it's our hope to meet or exceed that number. So, we're really excited.

083Lastly, the Education Foundation is recruiting new directors, uh, to our board. This is an ongoing, uh, initiative for us. We we recruit year-round. Um, we accept nominations throughout the year for board spots. This year, we're especially excited. The breadth and vastness of, uh, individuals who have either self-nominated or who have been nominated by someone else. So, we've got a lot of exciting energy, um, with these board nominations, and we're very, very, very excited. Um, those new The link for the nominations, by the way, is on our website, so super easy to find. We want to make sure that it's very transparent, and again, you can nominate someone, or you can nominate yourself. Um, the, um, link for those, uh, the link is on the website, and the board, uh, the new terms will begin September

0841st, so which is right around the corner. We've got a little bit of work between now and then, uh, to get those, uh, folks on-boarded and trained and, um, and and elected. So, we're very excited. It has been a really busy spring, and I know that next month is going to be even busier, and I know the one after that's going to be even busier. Um, I would just be remiss. We're we're just so grateful to you all for your continued support. Every time we ask, you deliver. You answer and you're you're always there to help us and support us. And as Ms. Dean said, we don't always see that with education foundations. You know, we're we're different here. We are part of this family and we're so grateful and we thank you. >> Thank

085you very much, Ms. Wald. Um board members, do you have any comments or questions? Where does Yes, Mr. Gilmer? >> I just want to say thanks for all y'all do. It's appreciated and and I'm always happier when I'm around you cuz you're always smiling and uh yeah, we appreciate you and don't get a ticket on the way home. >> Okay, I promise I won't. No tickets. But I didn't get a ticket anyway. I'm I'm ticket-free. I'm ticket-free. I'm ticket-free. We thank you. >> Thank you very much. Really appreciate the update and we're very very excited for Teacher of the Year um because it is the most exciting event to see the teachers and to be able to thank them for their hard work and dedication. >> you are just going to flip out when you

086see We Oh, it's it is it is the event of the year. Okay, no flips. No gymnastics. >> No gymnastics. Okay. >> But I thank you. >> Thank you. All right, our next agenda item is item 4C, the annual announcement of board training credit. I hope that you sit back and really enjoy because I have three pages that I have to read and so here we go. So this is the annual announcement of board training credit for the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees. Under State Board of Education rule, completing required continuing education each year of service is a basic obligation and expectation of any sitting board member. As board president, I am required to announce the name of each board member who has completed the required continuing education, has exceeded the required continuing education,

087and is deficient in meeting the required continuing education. The requirements for training are measured at the first anniversary of the date of the trustee's election or appointment or 2-year anniversary of his or her previous training as applicable. There are eight training areas for board members continuing education. Number one, local district orientation. Number two, orientation to the Texas Education Code. Number three, post-legislative update to the Texas Education Code. Number four, team building. Number five, additional continuing education. Number six, evaluating student academic performance and setting goals. Number seven, identifying and reporting abuse, trafficking, or other maltreatment of children. Number eight, school safety. To the extent applicable, each board member to each board member, I will announce the completion or deficiency to the required training. At the conclusion of this announcement, I will announce any board members training

088in excess of the continuing education requirements. So, for the first one, local district orientation, the following first-year board members have completed the local district orientation training. Paul Gilmore. Orientation to the Texas Education Code, the following first-year board members have completed the orientation to the Texas Education Code. Paul Gilmore. Post-legislative update to the Texas Education Code, the following board members have completed the post-legislative update to the Texas Education Code. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garza Rojas, Randy Shackman, Carolyn Benavides, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. Team building, the following board members have completed the annual team building training. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garza Rojas, Randy Shackman, Carolyn Benavides, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. Additional continuing education, the following board members have completed the additional continuing education requirements. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garza Rojas, Randy Shackman,

089Carolyn Benavides, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. Evaluating student academic performance and setting goals, the following board members have completed completed the biennial training on evaluating student academic performance and setting goals. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garcia Rojas, Randy Shackman, Carolyn Benavidez, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. Identifying and reporting abuse, trafficking, and other maltreatment of children. The following board members have completed the biennial training on identifying and reporting abuse and trafficking. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garcia Rojas, Randy Shackman, Carolyn Benavidez, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. School safety. The following board members have completed the biennial training on school safety. Cassandra Hatfield, Kim Brady, Eliana Garcia Rojas, Randy Shackman, Carolyn Benavidez, Marjorie Barnes, and Paul Gilmore. Exceeding the required continuing education. Board member Cassandra Hatfield exceeded the required training amountments of continuing education by 26.25 hours.

090Board member Kim Brady exceeded the required amount of continuing education by 43.25 hours. Board member Eliana Garcia Rojas exceeded the required amount of continuing education training by 25.25 additional hours. Board member Randy Shackman exceeded the required amount of continuing education training by 10 additional hours. Board member Carolyn Benavidez exceeded the required amount of continuing education training by 1.75 hours. Board member Marjorie Barnes exceeded the required amount of continuing education training by six additional hours. Board member Paul Gilmore exceeded the required amount of continuing education training by 17 additional hours. This report will be added to the minutes of the meeting. Here we go. So, um that is our annual announcement of our continuing education. Um in case you were wondering, we do take a lot of professional development and we do take it very seriously.

091Um as you can see by all of us exceeding our required hours. Um and we do get to choose what we take our professional development on, but we do have a um allotment that is allowed to each board member per our board operating procedures. All right. Anybody need a recess? Are we good? All right. We'll continue on. Thank you, colleagues, for all your hard work on being trained. Um our next agenda item is the consent agenda, which is agenda item number five. It is a mechanism that the board uses to approve a number of routine items together with a single vote. In compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the public notice for this meeting includes the list of all consent agenda items, and the board has been provided ample information about these items in

092advance. Prior to any action taken on the consent agenda, board members may request withdrawal of any individual items for clarification or discussion. Board members, are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? Mr. Shackman? >> I would request that we remove 5F. >> 5F? >> Mhm. >> All right. Any other removals? Okay. So, um if there are no other items to be removed, do I have a motion regarding the consent agenda as amended? Ms. Brady? >> I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented with the um I'm going to say minus without um item 5F. >> All right. I have a motion from Ms. Brady. Do I have a second? I have a second from Mr. Gilmore. Is there any discussion? All right. All those in favor, raise your hand. Uh

093sorry. I have to double verify. Okay. Um by vote of seven in favor and zero opposed, the motion carries. Okay. Um our next agenda item is item number six, items for discussion and our action. So, we have an item removed from the consent, so we'll proceed to 6A. The title of the agenda item is uh 5F, consider and approve administrator contracts. Um Mr. Shackman? >> Yes. I'm going to recuse myself from that vote. >> Okay. Um with that information, do I have a motion on this item? I have a Miss Brady. >> I move that we approve item 5F as presented. >> I have a motion from Miss Brady. Do I have a second? I have a second from Miss um Miss Barnes. Sorry, it was like three three lines. Miss Barnes. Uh is there

094any discussion? All right, all those in favor? All right, any opposed? By motion of six in favor, zero opposed, and one abstention, the motion carries. Um for item 6B, there will be no action taken on this item tonight, and we'll move on to item 6C, which is considering approve a resolution concerning a fiscal year change. >> All right, good evening, President Hatfield, Dr. Eldridge, and esteemed members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight on a proposed change to the district's fiscal year. Uh this presentation will walk through what a fiscal year is, why a change is being considered, and the advantages and considerations, and eventually the recommended next steps should you consider action. So, what is a fiscal year? It is simply a time period in which we measure how the

095district's finances are reported. A fiscal year is typically 12 months, and in the accounting world, that doesn't necessarily mean that it matches a typical calendar year, January to December. Currently, Texas school districts operate on a fiscal year that runs from September 1 through August 31st. However, the Texas Education Agency It allow districts to adopt an alternative fiscal year that begins July 1 through June 30 with board approval. And it's important to note that in the first year of such a transition that the district would operate on a shortened 10-month fiscal year. To provide a little context, this is not an uncommon practice. Across the state, there are currently 269 school districts as of last February uh that operate on a June 30 fiscal year end. This proposed structure is both accepted and widely implemented across

096Texas. Uh in fact, you will find a lot of guidance from TASB and TASBO through each um year end as we adopt budgets and tax rates that um provide accommodations for both types of fiscal years. So, this visual I'll see if I can make all the animation work. Uh illustrates the difference between our current fiscal year and the proposed fiscal year. Right now, our financial reporting spans across two academic years within a single fiscal period. By shifting to a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year, we would better align our fiscal year with the academic calendar. That creates a more logical and streamlined structure for planning and reporting. There are several key advantages to this change, but first and foremost, the number one reason is to serve our campus needs better. Campuses would have access

097to their new budget funds starting July 1, allowing them to order supplies and prepare for the upcoming school year in a timely manner. Second, alignment of the fiscal and academic years simplifies financial reporting and improves transparency. It's a shift where campus and or department managers can align their priorities and needs of one academic year's student body instead of reserving a portion to anticipate the needs and how to start the next fiscal year. And I like to simplify it in this year's funds, this year's kids. Uh it helps with um that kind of alignment, especially as the board has established their priorities. Third, the fiscal year would close would close during a time in the summer months when campus staff requires less operational support from the business office. This is a This is a lift for

098the accounting team. And so this would be the the time when they would need the most concentration and attention uh to accuracy. Uh so not having those competing needs is is very convenient. Additionally, the budget development process would then shift earlier, allowing completion by June 30 with the added board meeting in June instead of August. And finally, there is a one-time increase in fund balance as part of the transit transition uh in operational efficiency. Uh it's not necessarily cash, but it does help us in our financial reporting to bolster our fund balance as that is um a measurement that is both in your CV 2030 priorities and measure measured at the state level in the first report. A couple of other considerations uh from your lens, there are definitely clear advantages, but the the important

099ones to keep in mind that is in legislative years, we may have limited information when building the budgets uh a little earlier in the cycle. But I think as we've experienced in the last couple of legislative sessions, um the legislature doesn't consider a district's fiscal year um, when they adopt their changes. And especially in the last legislative session um, the amount of changes. Um, so it it is uh, important to note that we will be using some estimates. Uh, we would also need to accommodate some uh, different timing on our public notices and hearings. So, that would all be backed up in in June. Um, but should let's say legislative change occur that would need us to modify our budget or tax rate, we would have to re-post because there still is that statutory deadline

100um, for August um, as it relates to getting the property tax statements out. Um, additionally uh, when you consider the certified tax roll data is not required to be delivered until June 15th, it does mean that our budget assumptions will rely on estimates. And finally uh, it's not just the general fund that this helps. It also affects the interest and sinking fund as President Hatfield referenced earlier. We do have two major funding sources. Um, so as it relates to the debt service fund uh, it is something to consider from a governance perspective that you maintain a enough of a fund balance that covers the August bond payment. Uh, but there's no hindrance there. Uh, we have a very healthy uh, fund balance in the debt service fund. Our next steps uh, if the board chooses

101to move forward would include the first the board action of of the approval of the fiscal year change and then we would implement a 10-month transition year starting September 1st, 2026 through June 30th of 2027. Our first full new fiscal year would not be until July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028. We would also require to be required to submit the documentation necessary to the Texas Education Agency and update any relevant board policy where it refers to a specific fiscal year. We would also begin coordinating with our software vendors to ensure a smooth transition. And as I mentioned, the majority of this burden does fall on the accounting team. Our team is very experienced and historically performs at a very high level of execution. They are also fortunate to have some colleagues through our Texas

102Association of School Business Officials Network that they have already begun some collaboration on. They just happen to have done it before us, so they have some friends in the Houston area that have already helped inform us on how to implement this in a positive way. So based on the operational and financial reporting benefits, the administration recommends approval of the fiscal year change to July 1 through June 30 cycle beginning in the 2026-2027 transition year. This change supports improved alignment, planning efficiency, and resource management across the district. And at this time, I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Ms. Settle. Board members, comments, questions? Ms. Barnes? >> Concerning the work studies conversations that we have with budget and all of that, how would that change our calendar? Do you know? >> So a few

103key points, right? So we would be similar to the budget work that the district has already begun. We will begin a little earlier, and so you would still get your preliminary estimates from the CADs in April. We can't do anything with that deadline. But then, we would start building our budget in May for a first draft. And instead of waiting until August to adopt, we would be adopting based you know, no later than I think June 20th of each year. Can I add one thing to that? About the June 20th deadline, you would also have the public hearing for the tax rate for whatever that estimate might be. I just happened to go to a recent conference and you wouldn't have to re-adopt the tax rate unless it was going to exceed. And in light

104of the state's compression and my experience in June 30 districts, I've never really had to go back and re-adopt. But it does kind of expedite everything and so like that extra August meeting would be in June. >> Ms. Garza Rojas. Thank you for your presentation, Ms. Sattel. Just one quick question. How would this affect our legislative years? >> Again, so we don't control the legislative calendar and so we may not have all the answers to our questions and when we need them like say in May. So, we would build a budget off estimates. But in other June 30 districts, what ends up happening if there's something significant that happens in a legislative session, you would go in and you would have time to adopt an amendment between July 1 and when you submit the fall

105submission in October. >> Thank you so much. >> Ms. Brady. >> I just want to comment to my colleagues that this better aligns with our goals as board with CB 2030 and with our priorities because then this more similarly matches a school year. So, it makes more sense to it like this. Not only that, but I think our staff and our teachers would be so happy to be able to have the things that they need when they start the school year versus what they're doing now and not having to wait to ask for things. So, I just wanted to throw that out there to you all if you were considering it. Do you Miss Benavidez, did you raise your hand? >> Yes, I did. I wanted to know how would this impact our deficit budget?

106Will it help it or increase it for >> The budget deficit is independent of the fund balance. However, in the next year we would be presenting a 10-month year, which would be effectively 2 months less of operating expenditures. Um so, like I mentioned, it would increase the fund balance, but the work to make revenues and expenses match is still going on. Uh we're not going to slack on getting to a balanced budget state. Does that answer your question? >> Yes, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um any additional comments or questions? Okay. Um with that, I don't think I have any either. So, we will move to Um this item is marked for possible action. Uh does the board wish to take any action? Miss Brady? >> I move that we accept item 6C as

107presented. >> Have a motion from Miss Brady. Do I have a second? Have a second from Mr. Gilmore. Is there any discussion? So, I did confirm that we do it to read. We do Why don't we go ahead and read it just Let's just cover our bases. Uh Ms. Brady, would you mind to read the resolution? >> Sure. Would it be okay if Mr. Gilmore did it? He has a copy. >> Sure. Mr. Gilmore. >> Okay. Uh we move that we approve the fiscal year change to a July 1st to June 30th year and for that change to take place in the 2026-27 year. >> So, by the resolution, I actually mean the attached resolution in board book. So, there's a There's a longer document that I think Mr. Shackman's referencing. Yeah. So, Ms. Castanon

108has it. So, Ms. Brady, since you made the motion, Ms. Castanon has it. >> Oh, thank you. Whereas Texas Education Code 44.0011 authorizes the school district to establish a fiscal year beginning on either September 1 or July 1, and whereas the Board of Trustees of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District has determined that changing the district's fiscal year will improve financial planning, budget development, and reporting alignment, and operational efficiency. And whereas the Board desires to change the fiscal year from a September 1 to August 31 fiscal year to July 1 to June 30th fiscal year in compliance with the applicable law That's better. and Texas Education Agency requirements. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Trustees of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District hereby approves and adopts a change in the district's fiscal year from

109September 1 to August 31st to July 1 to June 30th. Let me read that again. Adopts a change in the district's financial year moving from September 1 to August 30th to July 1 to June 30th. Be it further resolved that the district's new fiscal year shall become effective beginning July 1 of 2027 and that the fiscal year immediately preceding the change shall serve as a transition year as required by law and applicable reporting standards. Be it further resolved that the superintendent or designee of is authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to implement this change including including submitting required notifications and certifications to the Texas Education Agency, coordinating with the district's external auditors and adjusting budget adoption and reporting timelines as necessary. Adopted the second day of April We haven't taken a vote. Sorry.

110Sorry. >> Thank you. Okay, so I have a motion for Ms. Brady who has also read the resolution and I have a second for Ms. Gilmore. Is there any additional discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? By a vote of seven in favor and zero opposed, the motion carries. >> Do I read the last part? Adopted the second day of April 2026 by the Board of Trustees of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. >> All right, the resolution will be accepted as presented. And Dr. Eldridge, I just like to request an updated budget calendar. If you guys could go ahead and prepare that for us with the proposed months that the workshop the work studies would happen. That way we're all on the same page and kind of can plan forward when we make the calendar

111for the board meetings for next year. Thank you very much. All right, our next agenda item is item 6D. This is consider and approve updates to the board operating procedures. So annually we review our board operating procedures and make updates. And the board subcommittee that is responsible for this is the governance subcommittee. And so throughout the year we collect any recommendations or questions from board members and if we see an immediate change that needs to happen, we might make an immediate change and we can because we we update our board pro- um, board operating procedures at any time. It is a living document. Um, however, annually, typically April-May-ish, we do update our board operating procedures um, if they're just streamlining things um, or based on request. And so, we have some updates that are being

112recommended tonight. So, the subcommittee has met and made these changes uh, proposed changes to the board. And so, the subcommittee is myself, Ms. Brady, and Ms. Barnes. And so, we're going to just walk the board through those updates um, and explain a little bit of the rationale. So, our first update is on page six of the board operating procedures. Uh, section 1.2, revo- review of the board self-evaluation. So, um, it previously said annually in February. And it was determined that identifying a specific month was not feasible because we don't have a March work study. So, if we did it in February, then we would wait 2 months before we had the discussion about it. And that's a long time after you evaluate yourself to remember what you wrote and why you wrote it in the

113evaluation tool. And so, we just removed February so that we can make a decision um, as board president, I would look at the schedule and determine when the evaluation would be. And so, that was page six. And Ms. Brady, moving on to page seven. >> So, page seven, we're talking about allocations and approval of training. Um, so, basically due to our budget crisis, um, not crisis. We're working through the problem. Um, that in order to for any board members to attend out-of-state conferences or national conferences, they will have to seek the approval of of the full board in a properly called meeting prior to registrating registering for that incurred expense. Um, so, we have taken that out. Added that and take it so that any out-of-state trainings will have to be approved by the full

114board. >> All right, moving on Ms. Barnes, page 14. >> On page 14, we have added a line that says no formal action taken in a work study. Basically, this is um this is making sure that we are being very succinct and we're differentiating a work study from a special meeting, which is when action would be taken. Work studies, no action will be taken. >> All right, the next update is on page 15. Um there was a line on page 15 about board subcommittees, but board subcommittees was also on page 19, so we just removed the one on page um 15 so that everything is all together. Uh Miss Barnes, page 18 is next. >> All right, page 18, there's section 5.6, board meeting video conference participation. Primarily, this is being changed for um the

115following line, to preserve the confidentiality of executive session and closed sessions. Any board member attending via video conference may participate only in the open portion of the meeting. But more broadly, um whenever we are following remotely, there is a lot of um work that has to go on behind the scenes um to make sure that we are following policy um and so we would like to make sure that we are uh not taking advantage and that we are participating as much as possible. >> And with that, it is limited that each board member may attend one regular meeting, special meeting, or work study via video conference per school year, which is August through July. The next update is on page 19. Miss Brady. >> Um section section 6.2, board subcommittees. This language is changed um

116so that all the board service on all our subcommittees is consistent among all of the subcommittees. So, um you can read that there, but it's subcommittee must include at least one board member who serves a 2-year term with the remaining member members rotate. Exceptions may be made if requirement cannot be met due to board elections. So, it's a matter of um building capacity and within our board. >> All right, and the last update is on page starts on page 28. >> Um the change to this is due to um a it questions that were sent out to all of our board members asking us to go through the new member checklist and just update it, and that is exactly what page 28 and 29 are are just those changes that have been made for new

117board members. >> All right, so board members, those are the current updates that are being proposed to the board operating procedures. Um board members did receive this in advance so that they could read through the changes. Are there any questions or comments from board members about the proposed changes? Or any other things that need to be considered for the future? All right, so hearing none, this item is marked for possible action. Um does the board wish to take action? Ms. Brady? >> Um I make the motion that we approve item 6D as presented. >> Have a motion from Ms. Brady. Do I have a second? I have a second from Ms. Garza Rojas. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor? All those opposed? By a vote of seven in favor, zero opposed, the

118motion carries. All right, the next agenda item is agenda item number seven, closed meeting as authorized under Texas Government Code, including but not limited to section 551.071, consultation with attorney, 551.072, real property, 551.074, personnel matters, 551.076, security devices, 551.082, school children, district employee disciplinary matter or complaints, 551.082, personally identifiable information, 551.3084, investigation. Item 7A is to discuss an intruder detection audit findings report, and we will now move into closed session. You are all welcome to stay as long as you'd like um while we're in closed session um in the boardroom as we recess into the conference room for deliberations. The time is now 8:31 p.m. >> Mhm. >> Where am I? >> The time is now 8:50 p.m. and we are back in open session. The board will move to the next agenda item, which

119is number nine, comments from board members regarding posted agenda items. Board members, do you have any comments you wish to make at this time related to the posted agenda? All right, seeing then and hearing then, we will move to adjournment and the time is 8:51 p.m.