001It is 7:0 It is 7:06 p.m. and we call this meeting of the Elgen Independent School District to order. I'd like to announce that there is a quorum of the board present that this meeting has been posted duly called in the time and manner required by law. It's time we shall recite the pledge of >> allegiance to the United States of America and to the republic for it stand with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Next item, public comments. There is none. And before we vote on the next item, I want to make sure just housekeeping things, two things. Make sure that your mic is on, please. And when we're getting ready to vote because maybe we missed some people, so not only do I want you to verbally say your vote, but
002please raise your hand and place. So we want to make sure that everybody's that make sense. So now we're being asked to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2025 board workshop and regular meetings and the June 24th, 2025 special meeting. >> Make a motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Dice, >> second by Mr. Mars. Any question? All in favor said motion respond by I. >> I. I >> any opposers? Motion passes. >> 7. >> Next item, recognitions. >> Good evening, President Mitchell, Dr. Ritter, members of the board. My name is Al Rodriguez. I'm your executive director for communications and community engagement. Tonight, we have two recognitions. Uh the first of which uh is our community recognition. I'd like to ask our volunteers for Western Days to come up over here to stage lift. I guess
003um you know when I was asked to put this together, I was a little concerned about getting student volunteers simply because students want to sleep during the summer. Um, and uh, at least I know the one that does. He's over there. Um, but uh, if there's one thing that that El can count on, it's uh, everybody's commitment to the district, to the city, and to the citizens. Uh, through our partnership with with the chamber, uh, Western's Days was a huge success. these three gentlemen right here uh and the young lady next to them who was one of our PTA uh volunteers uh spent the the morning of Saturday the of western days out there helping with the parade greeting people getting people uh where they need to go in the heat and didn't complain about
004anything uh without them we couldn't have gotten it done uh and uh we're truly thankful so gentlemen I'll Go come by. And this is Miss Teresa White, our United PTA president that's come here behind them. >> And um I'll add to that. Uh it was such a success and and being on the executive board for the chamber of commerce and we've had some turnover at the chamber level and it was just a real need in our community. And so the district volunteered to take on the parade this year and so we helped with the organization of the parade and getting everything in line and signed in. And it's quite an undertaking to do the parade. Some of you may understand that. But these guys were super helpful and we had so many parents, um, some
005teachers, people from many campuses. Just amazing. It was really great. It was such a good turnout. We had more volunteers in there helping, representing the school district >> than we even had issues for them to help with. So, and the guys ran back and forth and got everybody in line and the order they were supposed to be in. And it was just a a joyful day and lots of participation. So, and thank you Al for your organization of that effort as well. So, thank you guys so much for help for your help. >> Those are recent graduates by the way. >> Uh, at this time I'll ask Miss How to come on up for second and last recognition. >> Hi. So, I'm Miss Hull. Um I'm the education and training and taffy um sponsor at
006the high school. Um this summer we had a student compete at nationals um the educators rising national conference uh Madison Wool. Um she's not here at the moment but she is coming. Um but she did a wonderful job um competing and representing Elgen um against um 57 students that were in the same competition as she did. She competed in interactive bulletin board competition and as you can see in the pictures, she created a um donut you love fractions bulletin board um to help students understand and um work with fractions and it was a really neat um competition that she or design that she came up with. So um we're super proud of her. So I when she comes in I'll kind of point her to you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >>
007Proud of you. >> Thank you. Next, we have the superintendent school. >> Right. So things were a little slower in the summer, but we did have summer school going on while we finished up and wrapped up another successful summer school year. Uh several EHS students were able to make up needed credits while our elementary student learning was extended beyond the classroom through engaging field experiences including a visit to the Thinkery where they explored science concepts using all five senses and lots of kids participating. We had so many and it was it was really a great summer with lots of opportunities for them. Um also we have the Elgen public library and book bus partnering with elementary summer school to provide students with books and emergent bilingual students received English language instruction which supported growth in
008listening speaking reading writing in English. So that was a real help and we are always so appreciative of our library partners who provide those books to our kids. The high school averaged 319 participants and awarded 152 credits. Our high school kids do come and yes, it is worth definite clap and applause. But we had more high school participants than I I think that we've ever had. Am I right? High school folks right there. Yes. So, it was huge and thank you all for your hard work with that making that happen. Several seven students also became graduation eligible to their due to their hard work this summer. And so we are going to honor them at summer graduation on July 31st at 6 PM at the cafeteria at Algen High School. And we look forward to
009that as a great celebration of some kiddos who've worked really hard to get there. And so thank you for your work with that. So we have it's time to start talking about back to school um start of school events. We have the summer graduation. We have August 1st Wildcat Academy, which is all of our new to district staff, our new to district teachers in particular, then receive additional training and professional learning to get ready for that school year for welcoming our students back. Our convocation will be August the 8th which is Friday morning and we are having that um at in the Bastrop ISD auditorium because our auditorium isn't quite ready enough with all of the inspections and all of the things and we just were really hoping to get it across the line but
010we're not we're not quite ready to host convocation there yet. Um next year for sure Mr. Vega next year for sure. Um, we've already said that we're planning on doing when we get back in January, we're going to do a big kickoff thing being um when we come back from from the holidays with all the staff there and do kind of a convocation in our new auditorium. Um, okay. Then meet the Wildcats. Guys, this is such a big event that is also August the 8th, 6 PM in the Agen High School gym. We've moved it in last year because it had been so hot and so we're having it indoors. We'll have band and cheer and purple diamonds and all of the amazing things. Booster club and then meeting the Wildcats. It's always one of
011my very favorite events of the school year because it's really kind of kicking it off and making it real that here we go and we're starting supporting with um sports and extracurricular for our kids. That's always a lot of fun. Um Chamber of Commerce also helps with that as well. And then on August the 14th is uh stuff the bus and I don't know exactly is that it do we know is it Milliey's again? >> We probably need to confirm where that is but anyway stuff the bus. We'll be sending out more in social media exactly where that's going to be. But that's what people can bring items of school supplies to donate and we stuff the bus and then those items are donated and delivered to campuses for our students. All right. Um, some
012other events, meet the teacher nights. We have Phoenix High School August the 4th, the middle school August the 5th, intermediate school August the 6th, high school August the 7th. And for secondaries, that's when they get their schedules and information about the new school year and find out who their teachers are. And then elementary is August the 11th and all elementaryaries have it on the same evening. So, another very exciting and fun night when we actually have our teachers get to see their students for the first time for the school year. So, looking forward to those dates. Thank you. >> And that's all. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Uh, as far as president's report, just a couple of things I think it's good for us to be reminded of as we begin a new
013year on last year and many of you served on different committees. that opportunity is coming up again and so we will send you out a list of opportunities if you want to serve on same committee or maybe you want to a different committee. Uh we encourage you to do that. So we're going to send that out uh for the board members to to choose. Also as a we have a board operating proced proceeding procedure document that's a living and breathing doc uh prescribed by the board and so this will give us a good opportunity for each of us to kind of look over that and uh later on maybe next month we'll have an indepth workshop to talk about that document because it speaks to uh communication and information and we know that some of
014us require more information. There's nothing wrong with that, but we just want to make sure that everyone is following the same process so that everybody's on the same page. And so, we have those documents. You all can look those over. Then, when we come back together, we have questions. We can talk about maybe what works, what doesn't, if we want to change something, but that's, you know, strictly something that's that's done by the board. We'll have some expertise help to help us along with that process as well. And uh so I just kind of want to put that on everyone's mind uh that we'll be doing that. >> What's the date for that? >> We haven't set the date yet. We that information coming. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Next item. We will
015move to the consent agenda. We have several items there. There were several that was concerned about some contractual items. Uh Dr. Ritter, do you want to sort of some address some of those before we go through that whole list? >> So on consent agenda, um consent agenda number four, approving purchases greater than $50,000. We have several listed here that are contracted service, excuse me, contracted services for our special education department. Now these are all that are coming up for it's not approval of the actual program or the contract itself because those were already procured through an RFP request for proposals in 2023 and approved by the board at that time. So every year when we look at those again it is merely approving the amounts of the over $50,000 that's all approved by the school
016board. But some of the questions um obviously are why do we have to use contracted services for sped services and these are for um like speech and language pathologists. They are for other therapists folks that come in from outside of the district and work with our students who have individual education plans through special education to meet the needs by law that they must have as part of their educational program. Um, we don't want to have to use outside contracted services, but these are all for positions that we have posted in the school district that we keep posted pretty much year round because we would love to be able to hire them and have our own. And unfortunately, we do not get applicants for those anymore. And really since COVID is when I would say that
017it all changed. Um, you know, we've recovered a lot. We have flex the teachers who come back into the profession. But a lot of these contracted services folks who started working with these outside companies, they have more flexibility maybe in their job and in the requirements of what they are what they're doing and they just would prefer to work with those contracted services rather than come back and work in school districts. So although we continue to we pay very very well, we pay, you know, offer even above market value for those positions, we just don't attract and we don't have the um and this is across the state of Texas. I can ask Dr. Hitman to speak a little bit about that as well. >> Yes, just a couple of additional things I want to
018point out. As Dr. Ritter stated, we um our preference would be not to use these contracted services. However, we're about to start school and we've got uh students coming who we're required to provide these services for and who we want to make sure they're getting what they need. And so these contracts allow us to have these positions in place when school starts. Uh we did I did speak with Ashton Booth, our our spid director. We speak all the time, but we talked specifically about this yet again. They check every morning for applicants and in the event that they have had an applicant, they get that person in within 48 hours to bring them in about uh interviewing and and hiring them. One of the great things about these particular contracts is that we have a
01930-day um we only have to give them a 30-day notice if we no longer need a particular contracted service. So that means if we find a speech pathologist in October that we can hire, we hire them and then we no longer will be expending that money to the contracted service because we would have our own employee. So we will continue to look for folks to fill those positions throughout the school year. This will in the meantime ensure that our students are receiving their services. >> Okay. Another area that we had a question about was with consent agenda G item J armed security and so and I'm going to ask Miss Cornel to speak to this a little bit as well but um our armed security guard services that were awarded back on September 18th of
0202023 3, that is when the contract was actually approved, and that was a third renewal of a five-year bid to go with Texas Public Safety and Investigations, TPSI. And since it's a purchase greater than 50,000, we then bring forward annually the approval from the board, not to approve the contract, but to approve the expenditure over $50,000 because every year it increases a little because we've added schools, so we've added buildings, we have more kids. So when we have those contracts, we bring these forward and they go under consent agenda because it's not that you're approving the program itself or the contract itself. It will come up for approval process again after the five years. In the meantime, we work with Texas Public Safety and Investigations, TPSI, and then this is the amount that is that
021we contract with. And um Miss Cornelius can speak a little bit more specifically about what they provide to us as a district. So before you um speak about this, Miss Corning, I'd like to know um in the event that the company is not holding up their part of the bargain, do we not have a 30-day ability to release them under contract? >> I would have to look further at the contract. I don't know the answer to that specifically, but I do have um if we have an issue with a particular officer, then I have had them released um if we have issues. So, we're in constant contact with TXPSI and their officers. And so, in the event that there is a situation that um causes us alarm, we I certainly contact them and we have
022conversations about that. So, I know one of the things that you may notice is sometimes they're they're different. And so just as we have staffing issues, they have staffing issues as well. The the one of the perks of having contracting with this service is that because through House Bill 3, we are required to have an armed officer on campus all the time regardless of absences, regardless of whatever's happening. And so they cover that. They make sure that someone is there to keep us in compliance and most importantly to keep us safe. So, um, we have the conversations regularly though if there's an issue. I talk to the principles regularly about the officers, the officer on our campus to determine whether or not we need to make some changes or have some conversations to ensure that
023they're providing the best service. >> Thank you. I have a question. So, in terms of that turnover, do we have an idea of what that looks like? Are they constantly turning over officers? Are they pretty pretty good about maintaining that stability? Um I will say uh since this last year was better and so we started um that that first year and it was tough. You know turnover was higher. We were also still trying to hire to see you know whether or not we would be able to fill positions. We were still working out how we were going to fulfill House Bill 3, whether or not we were going to start our own police department or um contract with different services. And so it wasn't as consistent. But I will say last year was much more
024consistent school year in terms of the services that they provided. Now sometimes the turnover is in certain positions particularly like the high school um you have to find the right person in the right fit to be there and serve. But for the most part I would say at the elementary campuses um we were trying to be as consistent as possible. Uh, I will say that every time there's a change, we have the conversation like I'm aware that something is going on or an applicant perhaps or someone who they had assigned decided to go work someplace else. I am made aware of that when it's happening. >> Yeah. The uh question that I have is that we have a lot of extracurricular activities that occur in our district and um there is a budget that calls
025for overtime usage. I believe it's 10% above the uh fixed amount >> for the TXPSI workers contract. And so with that contract, the overtime is included. So for every officer, we get an extra 10 hours of overtime. So in fact, they work 50 hours for us or they can a week instead of 40. And so that helps us when we need coverage at athletic events, which you'll see that we have an officer at at every athletic event that we have in the district. Uh so that helps with that. That helps cover it so we don't have to pay that additional overtime charge. So in the past, if you contract with a police officer, with SRO's or even our local district, local department, it costs a lot more money than what they're charging us to have
026coverage, I So what you're saying if they work overtime that's included in their regular pay. >> Yes. Extra 10 hours is included in their regular pay. >> Yeah. So that's built in into the budget. >> Yes. >> Because it was unclear when I was reading it whether that was extra pay or part of the pay and that's and that was the question. >> So it becomes extra when it's over that allotted 10 hours for that particular employee. But part of the extracurricular and this is a question that arises from that. Do we use other uh staffing to cover those events like at football games? Um we may have one or two of the the security people but we also see some of the uh >> well >> yes. So you may see some Elgen Police
027Department. >> Yeah. EPD may be out there as well. >> Do they charge us for that? >> Yes indeed. Yes, there is extra pay that we have to pay. >> Yes, sir. That's the >> the one question I have, have we had any luck with hiring of our own security officers lately or not? >> We haven't. You know, we have one um we have our officer Salt Longo sitting there at the back um who is is ours retired retired um APD um officer, but no. And so, and the reason being is we want for them to come in already trained with the skills and with the requirements that they need um in order to serve on our campuses. And we just haven't had people who came in with that level of expertise yet. No, this
028is our third year, right? So, we got two more years to go after this. >> Yes, sir. >> Unless we start the RFP process, we >> Yes. >> And did we not start that process? It was probably before you came, Bridget, and it probably became the before the superintendent came. But I was thinking we had did a program uh start the program before to start our own police department. Do you remember that >> conversation about it after the law was passed and imperent was here for that? No, I mean prior to that >> thinking that we had gone through >> and we mentioned the police department it was very briefly because we felt like we're not ready at that time. >> Okay. I'm going to read the agenda and then if you have any other
029questions about any items you can ask at that time. So, uh, we're being asked to approve tax report refunds and adjustments for June 2025. Approve financial statements for June 2025. Approve investment report for June 1425. approved purchases greater than $50,000 which includes uh cander consulting and diagnostics emergence every voice national recruiting consultants sunb belt solat backup internet connection spectrum digital phone lines approval proposition a athletic facility improvements competitive seal proposal CSP 2026-1 arm security uh communities and schools of central Texas uh NWA map and then finally furniture fixtures and equipment for the performing arts center from those make up the consent agend Are there any other questions as it relates to the facility? >> So is G >> is G, H, and I part of the bond >> under the consent agenda. G items G,
030H, and I. >> Um I, the approval for Proposition A, athletic facilities improvements. Yes, that is bond. It's the athletic facilities improvements that we're doing at the football stadium, the press box, and the baseball and softball and tennis facilities approved through bond. Um, the AT&T backup internet connection, Mr. Paige, is that a bond project funded or the Spectrum Digital phone lines? Phone lines are not bond. No. And the internet connection that's not bond. >> Oh, you need more information. Okay. Is that the part where um the other schools were brought up to um the same as our Trinity and Harvest Ridge are the same as our new schools. All the other schools were the phone lines and everything were brought up to par. >> So, we talking about the phone lines or the backup internet?
031I just want to make sure. Okay. So the backup internet we have a district-wide internet connection which covers all campuses. So all campuses come back to our data center bether by fiber or uh microwave antenna and then we have a you know basically a 10 gig connection out. The GE is an AT&T backup internet connection at 5 gig and that was in our my budget that I had adjusted this year which I did not raise my budget. I just moved things around to your question about phone lines. What the spectrum digital phone lines will do is replace our antiquated analog AT&T home service and that actually will cut costs in the process. We'll actually get much better service digital redundant paths in from Spectrum and actually save roughly it's a guess right now uh but
032roughly about 30% on our phone bill. So district one And you read it just now. You didn't read those last five, six, seven, eight. >> Okay. Just making sure. Thank you. >> Oh, have a question. You said about M furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the performing arts center, >> right? Is that also bond? >> That's bond for the auditorium. I just have one other question. The national recruiting consultant firm that we're using, uh, how long have we been using him? >> And Ashton Booth is probably our best person to speak to that. She is saying two years is the message I'm getting from the audience. >> Okay. So that's one of these special ed one of those that I'm talking about that with contracted service for special education. >> So if you you have a
033specific question about that particular one >> we use that specific service to find the other services that we need. Is that what we're using them for or no? >> The specifics of it I need to answer that. Hello, I'm Ashton Booth. I'm the director of special ed. Um, we use National Recruiting for um, recruiting any of our services that we need. We specifically have speech therapy through national recruiting at this time. >> No, currently we serve 963 students >> in special ed overall districtwide. Not necessarily just for speech, just overall the program. That's what we ended the year with. Um, could you just kind of give me a a rough estimate of what that equates to per campus? >> It really depends on the campus. Our highest um our highest elementary was Harvest Ridge Elementary,
034but it really depends on the growth. Um, our highest secondary campus was high school just with the four different um grade levels. And so we are talking about things other than just speech then >> for overall with all the contracts. Yes. National recruiting is just for speech therapy though. >> Okay. Um I guess I'm asking that because the write up for each one of them stated the same 963 students and that was last year's estimate. Correct. >> That's the end of what we ended the year with. Yes. >> Okay. So do we know who uh how many of those students we will possibly have this year? I mean so we we did it on that same number that we had. >> Well, we have already increased um just today we had about three enroll. Um
035so I would expect that number to be higher when we begin the year. >> Okay. Provided that all of them return. >> Yes ma'am. >> Thank you. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion by Mr. Moss. >> Second by Ms. Walterite to approve the consent agenda. Any questions? All in favor of said motion, please respond by I. >> I. >> Any opposers? Motion passes 61. Thank you. Next, we're being asked for consideration and possible approval of an interlocal agreement with the city of Elgen regarding County Line Road improvements. So Patrick was correct. >> Let's get that out of the way because I know he >> So I'd like that to be marked for the record. >> Sorry. >> Put that in the record, please. >> Okay. So then we will need
036an amended motion to include items five, six, where it talks about approve updated hazardous transportation routes for 25.6 six school year seven, consideration and possible approval of administrative external contract work per house bill and number eight second reading and adoption of local policy update uh 125. So we need a motion for that amendment. Please sir >> I make a motion that we amend and add five six seven and eight to the consent agendas. Second >> second by Mrs. Walter Shine to add those amendments. Again, any questions? All in favor, please respond by I >> poss one. Motion passes 61. Thank you. All right. Next information item, uh update on construction projects including the 2021 and 2024 bonds. Mr. Randy. >> Uh, good evening, President Mitchell, board of trustees, Dr. Ritter. Um, I got a full
037full uh presentation tonight, so excited to present these slides this evening. As you know, the uh summer is typically our our busiest time for construction. Um, this photo is a little bit of a throwback, but as we wrap up a lot of the construction on the high school, I just wanted to put this up there. This is uh exactly two years ago. Um just to show you guys what the high school looked like two years ago. As a reminder, um it looked a little bit different. Um right now we uh we sit about 130,000 square feet larger on the high school site than we did roughly two years ago. We've got about 50 more classrooms. And um certainly looking at this, you can tell the difference. We we don't have, of course, the auditorium, the
038multi-purpose facility, um the two-story classroom wing, um CTE edition. And so, um just a quick little reminder of of all the work that our contractors and our our design team, our uh curriculum folks, uh they they put in a lot of effort, a lot of meetings helping our designers uh get through all that uh planning effort over the past two years. So, as these projects wrap up, it's just a a good thought to look back and see where we came from in the past two years. But um it's also going to be a busy next five months. We've got projects to be awarded um each month until we get to December. So, as we'll uh see as we go through the agenda, uh we've we've got that going and appreciate the award on the uh
039um athletics project. That'll be a nice addition to the high school as well. I'm jumping right in. Uh we do have the auditorium project that is coming to a close. As Dr. said we're I'm just going to miss the completion uh date to host convocation. Uh but we are right there at the cusp of completion. We've got uh furniture delivery uh scheduled for this coming Monday. So we'll have uh folks moving in Monday uh with a couple of different furniture vendors. We're doing our final punch list walks with the contractor as you can see there on the bottom right. Landscaping is completed. Uh we've got display cases in uh just awaiting uh those those art pieces with Allison Keller and her team uh being able to get a final look in there soon so they
040can uh start uh getting an idea of what they want to put in those. Um overall this is going to be a really uh beautiful uh showcase uh for the Elgen ISD um community and and for the district itself. 1,200 seats. So, it'll be a nice space for our district and then uh you know any events that we want to host. Um Journey Ranch Elementary. Um Dr. Martinez has um had the opportunity to be on this campus now for a few weeks. He's got a few of his office staff in there. We've um even had a few teachers in there getting comfortable. So, it's it's really become um to take shape. Um all of our furniture has moved in. Um this is a facility that we're uh working through punch list as well. So, um,
041with all of our, uh, contractors still finishing out the things. We're, um, nearing final completion, we've got a, uh, ribbon cutting date, uh, that we'll be pushing out, uh, just in the next couple of days. But we're excited about, uh, getting folks into this, uh, area as well. Of course, this mirror's Harvest Bridge Elementary. We want to get folks in there and and get you guys to take a look at this place, too. But, uh, that library looks really nice. They're inviting for students. But as you can see there, all of those uh classrooms and the break room and the GT classroom, all of those just turned out to be really nice spaces and we're excited to be opening this place up just in the next couple of weeks. Um transportation facility across town. This
042is a project that we've talked about for a couple of years. Um it it had some delays to it and we we had to resite this. We moved it to a different location, but we are finally off the ground. We're finally started. Uh these pictures are a couple of weeks old now or 10 days old or so. Um so if you if you drive by FM100 out past Naid u you'll see a construction entrance, a job trailer. The site looks uh different than this already, but uh you can see rough grading uh going on here. The detention pond is is already dug and that bottom right um everybody knows the rain we've had over the past few weeks. So that that detention pond ended up being kind of a duck pond for a few days.
043It was it was full. Um, but the the site did dry out this past week and and our uh uh large machinery got back to work and and they've really made a good progress on the back lot where all the buses will go in. We've got our soil injection uh team underway and they've made fast work of that. So, we'll see concrete being poured over the next couple of weeks. That's uh a lot of the site work moving really quickly. So, we've seen some fast progress on that. Excited to see that finally getting underway. Uh you'll also see an invitation for a groundbreaking event uh coming out very soon for this uh priority maintenance projects. What we would say is some of the smaller projects but also very important uh district-wide security upgrades. We are
044uh seeing some of the punch list work continue on this as this project is really substantially complete. This was um almost a two-year effort uh to upgrade um all of our security across the district as our burglar alarms, our access control, our um badge access, our cards across the district, really at every facility, not just school campuses, but all of our auxiliary sites as well. And then of course our fiber optic upgrade. This is to get a a hard line from technology center uh to Booker T. Washington and Trinity Ranch. Both of those campuses are operating right now um with fiber. We want to get a hard line to those uh sites. Uh this is about three and a half miles of fiber cabling across town. So it's it's quite a long run. Um we
045do have a good start on that. Right now they've got the underground work um mostly completed even even since I put this slide deck together. Uh most of the underground work has been completed as we go up Swinson Boulevard um to the uh Trinity Ranch route and then some conduit installation has been um installed there at the Booker T Washington route and they've uh put their pole attachments in place from our technology building on the way to Booker T Washington and uh right now we're coordinating with Tex Dot. Uh we have an aerial crossing at Tex Dot at the 290 with Tex dot to get over to Trinity Ranch and uh that may slow us down a little bit. Uh but right now we do have um an aerial or a wireless connection to Trinity
046Ranch uh that we may have to use in the meantime. Uh some of the other summer projects that we're working on is flooring replacements at night elegant elementary and the high school just to replace some uh flooring that was wearing pretty heavily and then water heater and boiler replacements at night in the high school. Um some roofing repairs at BTW, window coverings at Elgen Elementary in the classrooms. A lot of the uh instructional staff and the teachers have put paper and things over the windows in the past few years. So, we'll get some nice roller shades in there so they can uh block out the light when necessary. Um, and then an art room sink installation. Um, they've had to uh be creative, I'll say, um, in that art room in elementary. So, we'll get
047them uh a functioning sink back in their art room in the next couple of weeks. Um, also HVAC installations across the district, installations and replacements. Um, this is just a few pictures of of their work. A lot of these projects are are winding down. We've had some uh cranes uh setting units on the roof at uh Elgen Intermediate, Barker T. Washington, the high school. So, a lot of these units, as I said, were on the roof, but a lot of them are also in the ceiling. So, um a lot of these campuses have seen uh some some heavy construction ceilings um taken down and now being put back up. So, our goal is for what we'll call substantial completion uh to be by July 31st, meaning that most of these AC units will be running.
048We may have to have some call test and balance um and commissioning folks come back in the first week of uh August, but for the most part, all of these units should be running by the end of July when the uh new teachers come back. Uh serving lines, this is kitchen work at the middle school and at Elgen Elementary. This really run about the same schedule. Our goal is to have a substantial completion by uh July 31st or about the 1 of August and there may be a little bit of final work done into that first work uh week of August. Uh but this project is also going pretty well. Uh maybe a little bit delay on the overhead doors there at middle school. Uh but we worked with Elizabeth in child nutrition made her
049aware of that and also talked to Bobby Joe Trudeill about that slight delay. Overall, we don't think it'll be um a large hurdle for the campus and the uh overall results for both campuses will be really nice uh kitchen and serving line for the students and staff there. Uh jumping to the 24 bond uh middle school number two. Couple of images here on what we expect the uh interior of that building could look like there with the entry vestibial uh coming in and then one of the teacher planning or conference rooms um for that facility. But overall, we're at 100% construction documents, meaning that we'll have a full set of bid documents by the end of this month. We do have an early set of documents for site work out now with our general contractor.
050Um, this is a construction manager at risk project with Bartlett Cot Construction. That's a a firm that we selected uh with a request for qualifications uh process several months back. So, they're uh working on GMP1. That's guaranteed maximum price number one. We're planning to bring that back to the board in August. That'll be for site work and utilities and then uh with this 100% construction documents uh that will go out to bid subsequently and then we'll bring the guaranteed maximum price number two back to the board in September. So next few months we'll see um bids coming back for consideration, put those in front of the board and get this project uh awarded. Uh since I put this slide deck together, um Bastrop County has approved our site development permit. Here it just says it
051was submitted, but uh they did approve our site development permit last week. So that was a big hurdle for us. We can we can move forward with uh moving dirt work and and uh site work. So that's good. And then overall our completion is set for June 2027. So I think if we can go ahead and get started uh this fall, we'll be able to wrap up by June 27th. Um, backing up just a little bit, I will um over the next couple of months, I'll probably send um in the weekly um some selections for names. Obviously, middle school number two is not going to stick forever. So, we want to get some names in front of you guys. Um that the uh there's board policy for selecting names for facilities. So, I'll send out
052that along with some options for names. There's a couple of uh geographical references on the 140 acre site that'll be good landmarks to consider, but we'll we'll send some options for the board uh to consider and weigh in on um over the next couple of months. Um athletic improvements. This is the project that was on consent agenda. Um thank you for approval on this. Uh this is a project that'll be uh very exciting for the high school. Um this will convert both fields to artificial turf. just allow us really to get on those fields in inclement weather right now when it rains. Uh we we're fortunately with the multi-purpose facility. Um the coaching staff is able to move some of those kids indoors, but historically during the wet weather, our baseball and softball kiddos were
053just out of luck for a little while as as those fields haven't been drained very well. But um putting artificial turf on here will really help. And then creating four more tennis courts will allow us to host our own meets. uh with only four courts existing, we haven't been able to host our own meets. Uh so both of those will be a nice addition. And then there's some um supplemental things also, bleachers and canopy, new scoreboards. Um just some concrete flat work, things like that. Um seven bids on this pricing came in very competitively, so we think we'll be able to take all of the alternates that were priced on this project. Um ideally, this project would uh start almost immediately. We've got a site development permit already in with the city and then the
054goal will be to wrap up before baseball and softball start this coming January. Um, also out there at the stadium, separate project, separate proposition, but also as part of the 2024 bond, we've got what we're calling studio E. It's a press expansion, but it'll be full-time CTE classrooms. As you can see there in the bottom right, that'll be an example of one of the classroom spaces. Um this will uh we had to trim this down a little bit from an earlier rendition that we saw. We're down to a 7350 square feet um budget is always a concern on these projects. So we have trimmed this down, but we've maintained all of the uh um really all of the critical spaces in this project. Um that we uh talked about with all of our stakeholders and
055team broadcast, film studio, AV production, podcast rooms, all of those areas are still in the project. um new video, schoolboard, and sound system for the stadium. All of that will remain in there. Uh we're looking to get 100% construction documents by the end of uh this month. Um we had to revise it a little bit again due to that reduced square footage. Um what we're planning to do is go ahead and bid this out and get a GMP back to the board this fall. And then the contractor would plan to come in and start construction once football season is over. So they may go ahead and get their contract out, get their subcontractors um on board and then once our football season is over, we would try to mobilize them immediately. Um they would start
056working um through the winter through, you know, the spring season. So we may may impact our home side for uh soccer and uh track. We would have to move some of those fans over to the visitor side. Um but then we want to be ready to go by football season 2026. So, we'll work with our athletic department, um, all of our finance folks that use the field, uh, to move some of those activities over to the visitor side during that time. Uh, but the goal would be to have this facility ready for football season 2026. >> Yes, sir. >> We have one of the games scheduled for the old high school field. the uh this one right here. >> Is that correct? >> I I'd be honest, I I would have to ask Coach And
057Mr. Anderson. I I couldn't tell you. >> Yes. And the reason I ask is probably because I'd be in the middle of the uh of the work that needs to be done. >> This should not impact. >> It wasn't I thought the same thing when I saw that and but it it it honestly is because we're playing I think it's Lockheart, right? Coach Staples in the back. It's a scrimmage against Lockheart and Lockheart and Elgen decided to make this be kind of a a cool event of back to tradition and play in the old stadium. And so it's kind of a >> kind of a vintage bowl. >> A vintage bowl. A vintage scrimmage. >> Yeah. >> So that's what it is because I wondered the same thing that is it because of impact to
058the the high school site, but it's not. So, >> I knew it was a scrimmage game, you know. I was wondering why it was and I thought it was tying into >> No, sir. This this project should have no impact on this fall football season. No, sir. We we work to to avoid that. So, we won't see any site construction until football is over this year. >> Yeah. We'll we may do, you know, contractually we do paperwork with the with the vendors in the background. We order materials, those types of things. But as far as mobilizing on the site, we won't do anything to impact football this season. Um, one other project, um, potentially new uh, to some of you, this is, uh, what we're calling the homestead. Um, I think it it's this is
059it sounds better than the brewery site. This was the the the former the former Circle Brewery. Um most of you know the district purchased uh the former former that's a mouthful uh circle brewery um a year or two ago. Um with this site our our concept there is to have a multi-phase project to get um CTE and culinary arts into that building. This is a really unique and interesting facility. Um we've we've had some um sessions with one of the architects that we work with and had them come out and take a look at it and they've got some ideas. Our CTE and our administration has some ideas to create culinary space there. Um you know the adjacency to the uh Mary Christian Berlin Homestead facility just off of that uh 22 acres that the
060district owns really uh we think it's would really pay homage to that uh to that little oneacre homestead site. So right now that's kind of the the name we've uh put on it just for now. It's it's certainly nothing formal, but uh that may be something we want to consider in the future. But um the idea here is to u get a quick schedule together with a construction manager at risk and um try to get under construction by December of this year and uh do about an eight-month uh construction schedule and uh have kiddos in there by August of 2026. And really this would be a uh a oneclass room uh facility in the bottom floor of that what used to be the uh production area where they used to to brew the beer and
061make the beer. Um we've early on in the process after we purchased that facility we auctioned off all those materials. So it's really just a shell in there now. Uh but we think that would retrofit really well uh for culinary arts and CTE. So um exciting there. um not bond funded but uh still construction. DAP portables um just south of us here. Those are are still moving along well. Um interior buildout is underway. They've got uh the roads are still blocked unfortunately. Um paving was scheduled but then with all the rain uh that did get delayed a little bit. Uh we do already have the uh fiber ran to um or the route ran to Elgen Elementary. The fiber conduit is there um on track, I would say, to complete early August with the exception
062of Encore, which uh not throwing shade at Encore, but they they often um end up being a little bit of an impediment. Um but we're still working with them to get the meter set. So, all of our our meter rack, our electrical in place. We just really need those guys to to set the meter. Um, so that that um might be the hold up, but the good thing is DAP they they have a home right now at the high school. So if if we get a little bit delayed, we've already uh talked to uh uh Dr. Rodman and we have a a plan B, we'll call it uh to keep those uh students where they're at for now. But uh in the meantime, we'll we'll keep moving forward with as much as we can. >>
063Um any final question? >> I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh, and this came up in the forum Saturday with the city council. Uh, the light at 290 at Trendy Ranch, you know, that road that goes in. Um, I guess Tech is not wanting to put that in quickly. But I'm concerned about the traffic when school starts, the bus traffic there at 290 at that light. If we can use that. I don't know. at one time weren't going to be able to use that entrance. So I I guess I'm curious as to where how you're going to work that traffic there. >> So I well I'll speak to the light first. We have heard that the light has been funded by tax but it is to your point it's not scheduled until uh to
064be let to be bid out till next summer. So we're still I think approximately a year out. Uh that's the information we have from tax and bast county. Um, so for this year, we would have to work with uh Miss Cornelius in transportation to figure out what that looks like for our buses. Uh, there I think um probably a left turn out of there is probably not going to be an option. Um, a right turn may be, but I think we would have to have that conversation to see what that looks like or do we, you know, uh, move our buses elsewhere. You know, we're looking at routing right now as we speak, but we already have students a lot of students coming from Trinity Ranch to go to Elgen Elementary School. Correct. Say that
065right. >> So, we do not we do not turn left out of there as it is right now. We're just it's not a safe route. So, they go through the back and around and um we just have to route a different way. And that's what we're going to have to do next school year. And it's because we can't really control that timeline obviously, but we're still putting pressure on them and hoping to and we also have hope with our commissioner David Glass. He's hoping to try to move that faster. We just know that that's what we've been told as far as timeline. >> So, you all are kind of on that because I'm thinking of when Harvest Ridge opened and there that big traffic problem. >> Yeah. But uh you know I I just because
066there is there's only one way that would probably be safe and that's to go out on u upper Elgen River Road, >> right? >> I mean that's still >> Yeah, >> that's not real good. >> It is. And and we have been in constant communication with with the with the city of Elgen, with Commissioner Glass, with Tex Dot. you know, I think it's a joint effort and and everybody has and even the the developers themselves in Trinity Ranch um about that issue of of Swinson and and Upper Elgen River Road being really the the two um you know incoming streets and knowing that both of those have challenges right now >> and the timeline on expansion for both of those uh roadways is something we've talked about multiple times. >> Okay. Just be on top
067of it. Yes, ma'am. >> I know you will. >> Thanks. Thank you, sir. All right. Next item, priority four, the update 4.1 compensation plan. >> So, I do have a quick request based on conversation in the workshop. I need 60 seconds to swap out a slide and then we'll continue if that isable. >> Yes, sir. Sure. >> So, could you go ahead and come forward and >> All right. that we have >> we have Madison here and somebody let's give another like a just a refresh of what she's being recognized for. Go ahead. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. This is Madison Wool and she competed at the Educators Rising National Conference this summer um in Orlando, Florida. So super proud of her. Thank you. >> Now we know we have a future teacher coming back
068to us in a few years to teach in Elgen ISD. We good? >> Okay. All right. >> Good evening, Mr. President, board members, Dr. Ritter. I'm Clark Mley, uh, Elgenist's chief financial officer, and I'm very pleased to bring a recommendation for a compensation plan for you guys to approve this evening. So, many considerations went into the development of the 2526 compensation plan. House Bill Two and other legislative decisions significantly impacted the actions we are proposing as well as the timeline for proposal. While there are still factors to be considered, we are pleased to bring this information to you all today for discussion and approval. Um, tonight we are approving the compensation plan, not the amended budget. As you know, we did approve a budget in June. This is for the compensation plan and that amended
069budget will come to you guys in August. So some of the considerations we took in was House Bill two ruling interpretations um the impact on current compensation plan in relation to all non-eing employment categories. The state of public education finance right now um how employee compensation impacts the students of Elgen ISD through the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff. the overall competitiveness of our compensation plan in relation to districts in our area and around the state and the overall impact on Elgen ISD's current budget as well as future impact to the district's financial position and some TASBY salary study guidance on some of the recommendations as well. So this next slide is our recommendation to you guys. This is the Elgen ISD compensation plan for 2526. It includes the House Bill two teacher raises
070um adjusted increases for years one and year two teachers as well as a 3% of midpoint increase for all other staff. You can see these these numbers are reflected in the chart before you. Um the teachers are broken out differently because it is a set amount to the teachers for the House Bill 2 increases and then the all other employees with the 3% of midpoint pay increase. That's going to be dependent on the pay category that they're in. Questions or discussion? I'll let you You have questions. >> Nobody heard that. In any case, um I was under the impression that we said 3% across the board and not from the midpoint. I think the clarification was going to sit across the board and include the one and twoyear teachers. That was the clarification that was
071made was to ensure that that was at the 3% level that the others are. So the for the teachers that is from their from their pay from last year to this year a 3% increase not a midpoint. For the other employees that does come from a midpoint as they're on a different pay scale. >> Okay. >> Just wanted to clarify. You got it. No problem. >> Other questions from the other board members? And just for clarification, we did discuss this in depth workshop prior to this evening. So, >> yes, sir. >> Oh, and I think we should also make a clarification that there was a recommendation that we give a 4% increase and um we work through that. So, just wanted to make sure that that clarification was there. 4% increase across the board and
072an additional 2%. I know that wasn't in there, but I thought I would go ahead and throw that in there. An additional 2% to match what the ledger was going to get. >> That was a recommendation by business reason, but the majority of the board some 3%. All right. Thank you. So next item we'll ask consideration and possible approval for the 256 compensation plan. So we're asking board to approve that plan. I move second motion by Mr. Mars second by Mrs. Walters to approve the compensation plan and just for clarification was plan two which was a 3%. All right. Any other questions? All in favor said motion respond by I raise your hand. Any opposers? Motion passes 70. Thank you. 8:09 p.m. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Yes, sir. >> Motion by Mr.
073Miles. Second it. >> I'll second it, too. >> Oh, no. You >> I'll second it. Uh, any other question? All in favor say motion respond by I. Any opposers? Motion passes to 70. It is 8:09 p.m. and we are journey.