001Ranch ISD board of trustees to order at 5:30 p.m. on September 18th, 2025. For the record, board members present are Kim Brady, Iliana Garza Rojos, Carolyn Benabidas, Paul Gilmore, Randy Shackman, and myself, Cassandra Hatfield. We constitute a quorum and may conduct business on behalf of the district. Um, the next item on the agenda is audience for guest. Parents who wish to speak during audience for guests must have electronically submitted an online form for this purpose prior to the deadline of the closing of the form which was today at 1:00 p.m. for this meeting. Based on policy beed local, each speaker's comment will be limited to the posted agenda items. U for the record, Miss Barnes is also present. Before we begin, I will remind our audience members of the board's procedures for handling audience for
002guest. Anyone interested to speak in person um as already stated must have submit a form by 1 pm today at the deadline. Each speaker will be allowed to speak once staring audience for guests. Speakers designated as a stakeholder will be allowed a maximum of three minutes and speakers designated as non-stakeholders will be allowed a maximum of one minute to address the board dictated by board policy beed local. Because the board wants to hear from as many of you as possible while keeping the meeting running efficiently, groups of more than five people who want to present a particular viewpoint on a topic should appoint one person to speak on behalf of the group. Please remember that the board cannot deliberate on any subject that is not included on the agenda for this meeting. Board members will
003listen to comments but will not respond or answer questions. We ask that you not discuss students who are not your own child. The timer will be shown on the screen in front of you and you will begin when you arrive at the podium to speak. Again, that presentation is limited to the allotted time. Tonight, we have one uh stakeholder comment and so the time is three minutes and that is Lisa Setter. >> Hi, I'm Lisa Setter and I and I am the guardian of a student at CFBSD. Last Monday, September 8th, Carmen had the unfortunate experience of having been turned away for care because I had not signed your Senate. >> Miss Sutter, could you please pause for a second? >> Go further close. Okay. Okay. >> If you'd like to, you may begin again.
004>> Okay. Thank you. Can I hold it? >> Yes, of course. Last Monday, September 8th, Carmen had the unfortunate experience of having been turned away for care because I had not signed your Senate Bill 12, Parents Bill of Rights. She informed me late that night and was very concerned. She is type 1 diabetic and a 504 student. I have also learned of another child who was denied care due to a severe nose bleed. I do want to state that the teachers, nurses, and principles of her school and across CFBISD are outstanding and caring. But unfortunately, we have a district that appears to have required denial of care until a form was signed, even though we all filled out forms during registration period at the beginning of the year for their care. I came to speak
005on SB12 because the interpretation by the school district in my mind lacks common sense application. The over lawyered interpretation by the TEA and the school districts are concerning. I will read a post from State Representative Jeff Leachch. Today, Senator Kraton and I, as the authors of SB12, the parents bill of rights, sent this letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, responding to reports that some educators and school nurses are refusing to render basic first aid to children, like band-aids and ice packs, which is clearly not at all provided for, are required under the new law. While we expect educators to comply with the clear provisions of the bill, we also expect them to not suspend common sense when it comes to providing basic care for the children at their schools. So on on with that statement,
006my closing, I'm going to ask you guys, all of y'all, all the trustees, I'm sorry, to please reconsider the intent of your approval of SB12 tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Setter, for um your comments. Administration will follow up with you with regards to your concern. You're welcome. So, our legislative session this year um had many different um adoptions of um You can't hear me? Okay, my microphone's on. It's on you. Let me use yours. Okay, I think he can you hear me now? >> Okay, so our legislative session this year had many different um bills that were passed for us to implement as a school district in which we are required to um implement them. And so this resolution tonight that Mr. commercial will present is to allow us more time to write the
007implementation plan for each one of these as we are working on many of them. But again with the session ending late and also going through the Texas Education Agency there is a lot of work to be begun on the requirements and so Mr. Mch is going to explain um the purpose of this resolution. So Mr. Mch. >> Thank you Dr. Dr. Eldridge, President Hatfield, members of the board, and I I will repeat some of the things that Dr. Eldridge said. So, Senate Bill 12 is a product of the 89th legislative session. There are,482 education related bills that were submitted. Of those, 103 were passed. Of those, there are over 230 actions that must take place as a result of the passing of the bills. There were numerous actions that had to be taken by September
0081st and we did not have all the information. We don't have the policies and some of these uh we were waiting on other entities like tea who were developing the forms and the procedures. One example we received some of that information on August the 28th that had to be in place by September 1st. So all the districts in Texas use TASBY policy services except for one district and the reason for that is they have very large policy staff that are studying the policies uh daily. They have a large legal staff to review all the policies and to make recommendations to ensure that they're compliant with the law. So they will not have those policies available until midocctober mid the middle of next month. The challenge is is that there's also another requirement that the district
009certify by September 30th that all of these have been completed. Everything that's listed on that uh resolution, 25 items and there's a a related 28 policies that will be in that uh TASBY update the middle of next month. So, Tazby Legal came out with this resolution so that districts could be in compliance. So, they could sign off and certify by September 30th that we're we are in compliance with the requirement. And so what that resolution is stating is is that employees contractors will be in compliance with the law and then once policies are available they will go through the vetting process that we currently have and it goes through the subcommittee goes through staff ultimately it comes to the board for discussion. So, this resolution is just allowing the district to provide certification and stating
010that district employees and contractors will follow the law and that policies will be put in place once they've been through the process. I'll just summarize. This is the largest legislation for parents rights and impacting operations that any district any any of us have seen in many many years. There's a lot of moving parts. There's a lot of challenges challenges and I can assure you that the staff is working diligently and dedicated uh to doing this entire process with fidelity with clear communication and to be in compliance. I'd be happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Mr. Mur. Board members, any questions? Miss Garza Rojos. >> Mr. Msh, thank you so much for uh all the hard work all of our employees here and you to try to implement everything that our legislature has uh
011mandated for us to do. Can you please again for the community tell us how many bills came into session that are going to affect public education? There are 103 which is actually an increase of 22 over prior year. But what's different about these is there are more actions required within each bill as we've seen ever. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Gilmore. >> All right, I think I understand this. Um, so this is for compliance. I got that. >> Yes, sir. Um, and it's yet to because it's very vague and this shows why it's important for us to be in contact with our state reps. There was the district didn't put out anything telling nurses don't treat for a bloody nose or don't give a band-aid or anything like that. There was an issue with
012the nurses. Um, >> yes, >> there's a can we make that clear to the community? >> So, what we have is we have the law that's stated. Then we have some additional clarification which we received more this week. The nurses are put into a very challenging position because it's about their license. So they really have to rely on the board of nurses and their organizations to comply with what they're telling them they need to do so that they're not in jeopardy of losing their license. And that is a little different. It's a little inconsistent with the information provided by the state. So, we put in measures to go ahead and be able to provide the care that's needed and I know there was example brought up tonight and we will follow up and find out
013what happened on that. Every kid should be provided the care they need. Uh whether it's by a nurse, we've set up situations so that we have supplies in classrooms so basic care can be provided by the teachers. We have administrators that have the supplies and they're able to support the students. We're not going to allow students not to receive the assistance that they need. >> Miss Benvitas, >> thank you for that information. Um, regarding that same subject, uh, the forms that need to be signed by the parents, how is that being done and where are we on percentages and hopeful that, um, they're get we're getting the word out so that they know this is required. Yes, it's been put out extensively on parent square and through the campuses. Uh I don't have that percentage.
014The report is going to be run in the morning. So we'll have that percentage in the morning. Uh campuses tomorrow are calling all the parents and guardians who have not submitted the form to be able to explain it to them and walk them through the process so we can get as many signed up or opted in as possible. Miss Barnes. >> So, just to bring it back to this resolution, what this resolution essentially is doing is us giving you permission to enact these policies as soon as you have direction from um from TEA. Is that correct? So what you're if you approve this resolution, it is allowing the district to be in compliance by September 30th >> and it's only stating that the district employees and contractors will follow the law as written, >> which
015that's the expectation regardless, >> right? >> And that when the policies are available, >> they will be put into place. There's still a lot that's unknown. There's a lot of things that have to be defined. M >> so there's a lot of work to be done >> and like I said it still will go through the process be vetted by staff vetted by the governance board and then ultimately vetted by the board and no policy can be put in place unless uh authorized and approved by the majority of the board. >> Thank you so much for the clarification. >> Any other board members before Mr. Gilmore goes again? All right, Mr. Gilmore, >> can I go ahead? Okay. And so if a parent has been missed and hadn't signed that yet and something happens to
016well they're off tomorrow but next week they're going to be taken care of, right? >> Yes, sir. And we have processes in place. And just for clarity, that's only for general medical care. Emergency care is not part of that. If there's any type of uh emergency medical care that's needed, they will provide that immediately whether regard if there's a a form or not. Additional questions or comments? Um, Mr. Marsh, have we had any additional staff for um this to work on the legislative work or are we still working within the staff we have available? >> There has been no additional staff. >> All right. Thank you. Do you have Miss Garza? >> I just I had one more question. I'm sorry I forgot about that. Um, just board members, Mr. Gilmore, I know our school
017and as a parent with the kid in this district, we've received the form and we had to electronically sign it. Not only did the principal send it to us, but also the teacher sent it to us and anybody else. I mean, they could basically say send a waiver and show it to us up above our head. So, it's been they've been working diligently to get it done. Uh my question for you, Mr. Merch, is just are we the only district that's having to deal with this? Uh >> no, ma'am. All districts are having to deal with this exact situation. Thank you. >> You have anything? I was gonna Okay. Um, do you have something else? Okay. >> So, I just want to add to today we had at 3:00 a um a superintendent call with
018the commissioner and the commissioner defined um you went over the um health related services um bill and he there has been a lot of confusion. So the first information that was sent out August 28th has now been was revised again on September 8th and you know when we use terms like common sense we're also define that for a nurse that has a license. So we have to protect our nurses because they are licensed but we also have to provide care. So there has been mass confusion on this subject and he defined it again and also sent out more notes today. So we are constantly in conversa in communication with our tea commissioner and we are required. These are mandates when they are passed as through legislation. We are mandated to do these things and we
019want to do them right. We want to take care of kids and we want to take care of our teachers but also our staff. And so it's not anyone saying they don't want to. But if you're a nurse with a license you and you are bound by that you it's a question of what we have to do and I don't think it was defined clearly from the beginning and um which puts us all in a and no one wants to be in this situation. So we are working diligently with our campuses and our parents and we want to provide care and safe for all of our students. So just wanted to give you all an update. >> Thank you Dr. Eldridge. Um, for the benefit of the community, I also want you to know that
020on the TEA website, um, you can Google TEA legislative updates, and they have a page with all of the legislative updates with approximate dates that they're going to be providing additional guidance on all of the bills. And there you can also see for Senate Bill 12 where not only did they release something on August 28th, they released something on September 11th. And when you click into the links on September 11th and you click on those links, I looked at them today, they say updated on August 8th. And so what you're going to see is that everyone is working to be in compliance with what our legislators have passed. But not only is it taking time for our staff who we have not added to um because we're focused on student outcomes and focusing on the
021the classroom and spending our dollars in the classroom, we are working within the boundaries that we have to be able to comply with the law while also recognizing that the Texas Education Agency provides guidance to districts so that they can be in compliance because they're also taking that legislative look and looking at all those details and making sure they're writing rules. So, I just want you to be aware that you do have that website available where you can follow along. There are monthly updates on there about various bills and it's quite fascinating. Some of the bills are not even going to have updates until the 2027 year and so it is going to take time for TEA to provide guidance um as they are also limited in staff as we continue to work for student
022achievement. Board members, do you have any additional questions or comments? All right, seeing none, um this item is marked for possible action. Um, I do note that this item does require the resolution to be read. And so, um, do I have a motion, Miss Garza Rojos? I move that we adopt the Senate Bill 12 and parents rights resolution as presented. And go ahead and read the resolution. Okay. Resolution regarding Senate Senate Bill 12 and parent rights. It's going to be a long one, y'all. Whereas Senate Bill 12 from the 89th legislative session relates to parental rights and public education, including requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, assistance with districts student social transitioning and student clubs. Whereas Senate Bill 12 becomes effective on September 1st, 2025. And whereas local policies relating to
023matters in Senate Senate Bill 12 will be adopted as soon as practicable but after the effective date. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of trustees of the Carolton Farmers Branch Independent School District directs all staff and contractors to comply with the following requirements and directives. Number one, all policies shall be implemented and followed. Number two, parental rights, including the right to direct the moral and religious training of the parents child, make decisions concerning the child's education, and consent to medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment of the parents child, will not be infringed unless required by law, or to provide life-saving care to the child. Number three, except as required by state or federal law, employees and contractors may not assign diversity, equity, and inclusion duties to any person in the district hereby prohibits a
024district employee, contractor, or volunteer from engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion duties for at, for, or on behalf of the district. Number four, an employee or contractor who intentionally or knowingly engages in or assigns to another person diversity, equity, and inclusion duties will be appropriately disciplined up to and including termination. Employees. Number five, employees of the district are prohibited from assisting a student enrolled in the district with social transitioning, including providing any information about social transitioning or providing guidelines intended to assist a person with social transitioning. Number six, no information about a parent's child may be withheld from the parent unless required by law. And parents are entitled to access all written records of the district concerning the parents child, including library records and health records. Information may be withheld if disclosure is likely to
025result in the student suffering abuse or neglect. Number seven, information regarding a parent's right to access records relating to the parents child shall be posted on the district's homepage of the internet website. Number eight, instructional plans or course syllabi for each class offered in the district for a semester must be posted on the district's internet website at the beginning of each semester. Number nine, the superintendent is directed to provide for an internet portal through which parents of students enrolled in the district may submit comments to campus or district administrators and the board. Number 10, the board shall prioritize public comments by hearing comments at the beginning of each board meeting. Number 11, the board will only hold board meetings outside of typical work hours. Number 12, parents are entitled to notice no later than one
026school business day after the date an employee first suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against a parents child. Number 13, employees are not prohibited from providing parents with information regarding a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being or a change in services provided to or monitoring of the student related to the students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. Number 14. No employee will encourage or have the effect of encouraging a student to withhold from the student's parent information about the students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. Number 15. Employees may not discourage or prohibit parental knowledge of or involvement in critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. Number 16. Unless authorized by law, no employee may disclose a child's health or medical information to any
027person other than the child's parent. Number 17. Unless authorized by law, no employee may collect, use, store, or disclose to any person other than the child's parent a child's biometric identifiers. Number 18, unless authorized by law, no employee will provide healthc care services or medication or conduct a medical procedure to a student. Number 19, all grievances received by the district on or after September 1st, 2025 will comply with the legal requirements in Texas Education Code Chapter 26A. Number 20. Before a student may be provided with human sexuality instruction, the district must obtain the written consent of the student's parent in the manner prescribed by law. Number 21. No employee may provide or allow a third party to provide instruction, guidance, activities, or programming regarding sexual orientation or gender identity to students enrolled in preK through
028pre kindergarten through grade 12. Number 22. Each parent will provide at least two opportunities for in-person conferences with the child's teacher during each school year. Number 23, no student club authorized or sponsored by the district may be based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Number 24, written parental consent is required before a student may participate in a student club authorized or sponsored by the district or campus. Number 25. The superintendent is directed to provide a copy of this resolution to all district employees and contractors electronically. Adopted this 18th day of September 2025 by the board. >> Thank you, Miss Garza Rojos. Uh do I Have a second from Mr. Shackman. Um is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, raise your hand. All those opposed by a vote of seven in favor, zero
029opposed. The motion carries. The board will now move to the next agenda item number four, which is condiments from board members regarded posting agenda items. Board members, does anyone have any comments regarding the posted agenda? All right. Uh, seeing none, you are more than welcome to stay and join us for our six o'clock meeting um where we will be focused on uh student outcomes and working on our goal progress measures for one of our um district goals. And so we welcome you to stay for that. That meeting starts at 6 o'clock. Um but at this time we'll adjourn this meeting at 5:54 p.m. >> We're going downstairs down into the Do we want to take picture here or do you want to wait and take it?