May 4, 2026 – Board Meeting

001Good evening everyone. I now call this regular meeting of the Goose Creek CISD Board of Trustees to order. The time is now 6:04 p.m. Mrs. Guy, was this meeting properly posted? >> Yes, it was. >> And do we have a quorum? >> We do. >> Let the record show we have a quorum. And it was properly posted. At this time, we'll turn it over to Dr. Bowlinger for our opening exercises. >> Okay. Good evening, President Campy, Dr. Rodriguez, and the board of trustees. The opening exercises for May 4th, 2026 board meeting will be provided by students from Robert Lee High School. The pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags will be recited by John Viegas Ortiz and Abil Castro. The prayer will be led by Mercedes Renteria. So at this time everyone

002please rise for the prayer and remain standing for the pledges. Ready the prayer first. Okay, now for the pledges to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nation indivisibley and justice for all. Honor flaggod indivisible. >> Thank you. You may be seated. The last group of five students will be performing two songs tonight. Good timber grows and from the start. Students include Aro Castro, Alexi Cologne, Isabel Cortiz, Jayen Flores, Meg Gregory, K. Idard, Annalia Herrera Cordinis, Angela Martinez, Ingred Perez, and John Viegas Ortiz. The students are under the direction of choir director, Miss Deb Silverberg, and principal, Mr. Ernest Brooks. Great job, Roberty Lee choir. Um, I risk asking, are there any parents here tonight of these students? If there are, please stand and be recognized. They're amazing. Uh, last

003time I asked this question, they were all drivers and filled spots in our parking lot. Thank you. Thank you. Does that conclude? Okay. Okay, that concludes opening exercises. We'll move on to citizens participation. Miss Garcia, I understand at least one person signed up this evening. Is that correct? Okay. While that makes its way to me, I will go ahead and read the prompt. >> Okay. Thank you. Citizens participation is the time that the board will hear public concerns or public comments from those who have properly signed up to address the board. At regular board meetings, the board shall permit public comment regardless of whether the topic is an item on the agenda posted with notice of the meeting. General public comment is limited to no more than 30 minutes per meeting. At all other board

004meetings, public comment shall be limited to open session items on the agenda posted with notice of the meeting. Each speaker is reminded that he or she is limited in his or her presentation to a maximum of three minutes, which can be further limited or reduced by the presiding officer, and that he or she should respect confidentiality concerns and refrain from attacking the personal character of any individual student, staff member, or board member in addressing concerns or comments. Pursuant to state law and board policy be illegal, the board cannot consider or take action on item on concerns at this meeting unless they pertain to an item on the posted agenda for this meeting. Any deliberation or decision on an item that is not posted for consideration at this meeting shall be limited to a proposal to

005place a subject on the agenda of a future meeting. Miss Guy, our board secretary, will keep time. You'll have three minutes to speak. When you have one minute remaining, she will chime in and say one minute. When you enter or when you come to the podium, please state your name, the topic you're speaking on, and your time will begin at that moment. We have four speakers signed up to speak. And the first speaker is Brenda Lopez. Welcome, Miss Lopez. Miss Lopez, let me get you to start over with the microphone on. I'm sorry. >> So, my name is Brenda Lopez and this is in regards to band and the camps and the, you know, trips and all the other stuff. Okay. So, good evening board members and thank you all for y'all's time and being

006here. So I am a student or my do I have a child who is a student at Lee and I'm a former alumni but my child would not be graduating from DC's ISD as I am pulling her out um because of violation of civil rights and school policies students and staff harassment bullying and which the environment becomes difficult for the education process and yes I have spoken to the principal about the verbal harassment from Donnie Lacy and Julisa Placencia. So, I will be submitting documents to your office and also to TDA. On a more serious matter, I'm here to warn band parents about the lack of protection and guidance that occurs during band camp trips. Uh the band camp, the trips, and the football games. On a recent banned trip, guidelines and procedures did not

007protect my child. On the charter bus, when children were vaping, watching porn on laptops, uh posing pictures and with obscinities and different languages at the hotel, there was no appropriate measure taken to prevent what occurred. Nor was a log written of anything or any of the wrongdoings. There was no chaperones walking the hallways after curfew, nor was there tape on the door to prevent any such access as children leaving the room. On the way home, the gossip started on the bus. So, teachers were notified of a vape because someone left it in the hotel room, not because someone was caught. That teacher then notified his friend Donnie Lacy, which told him, "Don't speak to anybody about this." He then didn't talk to the principal. He himself handled the situation. >> Excuse me, Miss Lopez. >>

008Yes, sir. >> Please refrain from referencing employees by name. Yes, sir. >> You can present general concerns, but specific complaints should be presented during this. >> Understood. I won't mention anyone else's name. So, during the bad camp, similar things occur that have been brought to now my attention. So, I urge y'all council members to look into this so y'all can protect the innocent children that are being destroyed. So parents, ask yourself, does your child possess the necessary developmental maturity to discern the nuance of a healthy and interpersonal dynamics from subtle toxic behaviors such as narcissistic manipulation, bullying, or calculated frenemies? Furthermore, do they have the congenitative and emotional sophistication to identify aggression, especially when insult are masked as humor or when envy is veiled as admiration? Do we as parents question their capacity for assertiveness?

009Do they have the fortitude to establish boundaries and the audacity to refuse or the strength to refuse as well as strength to disengage from tough situations? >> Time. >> I'll I'll extend 15 seconds because I interrupted. >> Equally critical. Are they demonstrating the discernment to recognize pervasive and man manipulative tactics ensuring that they can make good decisions? Finally concerned whether they are rendered silent or perhaps due to the previous conditioning where they weren't allowed to speak. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. >> Our next speaker is Herby Alanise. Herby Elanise. I apologize, sir. >> Same thing. If you would state your name, the topic you're speaking on, your time will start after that. >> My name is Mariana. Uh the topic I'm speaking on is on advocating for school counselors. Uh good evening, members

010of the board and superintendent. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I would like to advocate for school counselors at Goose Creek. School counselors are entrusted with significant responsibilities including supporting student mental health, responding to crisis situations such as suicide and CPS reports, delivering and coordinating social emotional learning to students, scheduling required coursework, and ensuring students meet high school graduation requirements as well as prepare them for college, career, and military pathways after high school. These responsibilities are essential to the overall success and safety of our students. However, counselor salaries, queso, and number of counselor positions in our district do not align with the importance of the work, especially when you consider surrounding districts and the compensation plans, queso, and counselor positions per campus in our district that they provide. Aside from counselor salaries falling behind

011in our area, school counselor cases at Kus Creek CISD far exceed the recommendations of the American School Counselor Association, which advises a ratio of 250 students per counselor, while TEA recommends 350 students per counselor and even propose bills in Texas like House Bill 1122, which is a bill that ultimately failed due to funding and logistics, had to go to require school districts to reduce counsels to 300 students per counselor in Texas schools. School counselor cases that are high negatively impact the comprehensive and effective school counselor support our students receive. The disparity between important responsibilities, heavier course work, low compensation, high case loss to reduce support and less benefits present challenges in recruiting and retaining effective and qualified counselors as fewer educators are willing to assume these roles under the current conditions. At the moment, there

012are multiple teacher positions in our area that can match or pay more than a school counselor at Guski ISD, even without the teacher incentive a lotment. Furthermore, the educational requirements for a school counselor are 48 to 60 graduate hours with practicum, internship, and residency, while an administrator is 30 to 36 graduate hours. And as for teachers, they are not required to hold a graduate degree for their position. And yet comparing all of these positions, school counselors while holding the heaviest educational requirements, important responsibilities in high case ratios, they're often the position with lower compensation and reduced benefits. I respectfully ask the board to review school counselor compensation/benefits case counselor positions at the campus/ district and support systems for the school counseling program at GooC ISD to ensure alignment with the Texas model American school counseling

013association and regional professional guidelines related to TA. I am passionate about school counseling, mental health and helping others and I felt it was important to bring this up at this time as we plan and prepare for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Elanise. Our third speaker is Roland Reyes. Same thing, Mr. Reyes, you'll have three minutes. State your name, the topic you're speaking on, and you may begin when you're ready. >> Roll. So I hear they talk about uh my son is settling for a current placement because of cell phone um which we will honor because he made a mistake but my two issues are uh transportation and that was just from the school district. So let me elaborate a little on that. We we just moved about a

014year ago from Baytown to other side over here 146. In order to get to the point it's a good 4.8 miles. And you know, in the past, my sons, my kids, I've already had four graduate from the school district, but they had point placements. We were able to get them to points. It was a lot closer. Was within within a mile. But now I have no resources to begin to to confirm points. I already went to the administration. I went to the current superintendent dialogue and phone calls and I've got no resolution at all. So today, we will drew Joseph from school because he has no way to get two two points and from point I'm not arguing the uh the cell phone bill. It is what it is. I don't agree with it, but

015it's it's it's a policy. You know, he's got to be held accountable for it. What I don't agree with is the fact that the school district is telling me it's my job to get him to and from the point placement. And I don't agree with that. To me, in my opinion, it's on the school districts. You know, I don't know the law very well, but I know that it's, you know, to get them safely to and from that that's that's the school district responsibility. Okay. Um, so I I've been told that, you know, it's my responsibility. Not happy with it. Like I said, we have four kids from school. We've done it all as far as a placement. But I just think something to be done with this because today after we drop my kid

016from school, he probably back next year and me and wife have all. So that's all I got to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Reyes. >> Thank you. Our fourth speaker is Rebecca Meismer. I saw you somewhere. Welcome, Miss Meisner. Three minutes. State your name, even though I just did, and the topic you're speaking on. You may begin when you're ready. >> Good evening. My name is Rebecca Mesmer and I'm speaking on the grievance policy recommendation that's going up for vote tonight. Um, and I'm also a Goose Creek parent. I'm here tonight because what you vote on matters more than policy. It affects whether parents in this district are truly heard. Right now, the state has put protections in place that give parents more time, more access, and more transparency when filing grievances. And

017tonight, you're being asked to roll some of that back, to shorten the time parents have to file, to limit their ability to add information, and to shift control over whether concerns are heard publicly or behind closed doors. I want to be very clear about something. When you reduce time, restrict information, and limit transparency, you are not improving the process. You're limiting the parent. And when parents feel limited, they feel unheard. And when voices are limited, problems don't disappear. They just stay hidden longer. I am standing here as someone who knows what it feels like when concerns aren't fully addressed. When things don't get the attention they should and when accountability feels unclear, no parent should ever have to wonder if more time, more openness, or more transparency could have made a difference. These policies may

018seem procedural, but they have real impact. Because behind every grievance is a student, a family, and a situation that matters. My son Andrew used to say, "Today is a chance to be better." And that's what I'm asking of you tonight. Be better for the parents who are trying to be heard. Be better for the students who depend on adults to do the right thing. And be better in how transparency and accountability are handled in the district. You are the voice of this this community when you sit on this board. And that means protecting not just process but trust. Trust is built when people feel they can speak openly, when they have time to understand what's happened, and when they believe their concerns will be handled fairly and transparently. So tonight, I'm asking you, please don't

019take steps that could make parents feel that their voices are being reduced or redirected behind closed doors. Choose transparency, choose accountability, and choose to protect the ability for parents to be heard. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Memer. And that concludes citizens participation. We'll move on to item number four on the agenda. Item number four is a public hearing required public comment opportunity for the 2026 2027 federal entitlement applications. Every student succeeds act, ESSA, otherwise known as ESSA, Individuals with Disabilities Act, IDA, Carl D. Perkins 5. And coming to the table is Virginia McKay. >> Good evening, President Campey, Superintendent Rodriguez, and the board. Tonight is the required public comment opportunity for our three different entitlement applications that we have. And so, although most of you have heard me read through this each and every year,

020our audience is not. So, I'll try to do this as quickly as I can. So students, parents, and school district staff, as well as our business and committee members, have an opportunity to express their opinion regarding the design, planning, and implementation of the federal program grants. Our ESSA program grant is the Every Student Succeeds Act, and it is an entitlement grant that provides non-competitive formulas based federal funding to school districts for specific educational purposes. The first one, Title One Part A, is for improving basic programs. And this special revenue fund provides supplemental highquality educational services and resources to help schools with high concentrations of school uh students from lowincome families. Our title one part C is the migrant education program. These funds provide supplemental instructional and support services including conducting our identification and recruitment, data

021collection and records transfer as required by the law for migrant students and their families. We also have title two part A which is supporting effective instruction. These funds provide for improving teacher and principal quality and increasing number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom as well as highly qualified principles and assistant principles in our schools. Title three part A is the English language acquisition language enhancement and academic achievement act. And those special funds are for providing supplemental resources to help ensure that children who are English language learners attain English proficiency at high levels in core academic subjects. And title four part A is our student support and academic enrichment program. And these funds provide for supplemental resources to support a well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and effective use of technology to improve student academic

022achievement. Now with the next one we have IDA which is our federal program grant or our individuals with disabilities act. And this entitlement grant program provides funds to support the federal law ensuring that free appropriate public education FAPE tailored to the unique needs of our eligible children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 to be in the least restrictive environment. And within it we have IDA part B which those provide funds for supplemental resources to help the district identify students for special education services and then to provide those services for children ages 3 to 21 years old. Uh IDA part C provides early intervention services and resources to help the district again identify students and provide the services for children who are ages 0 to 36 months. And then we also have deaf education. These funds

023provide um the resources for our districts to identify students for special education and the services needed for the children who have a hearing loss including children that are deaf or hard of hearing. And the third entitlement grant that we also have in Goose Creek is our Perkins grants. And the Perkins grant is our career and technical education grant program uh providing funds to improve career and technical education programs in secondary and post-secary institutions. And the purpose of it is to develop a more and the fully academic knowledge, technical and employability skills of our secondary education students who enroll in CTE programs and programs of study. And then in this little bitty print, these are the things that u are required of Perkins. We are to provide career exploration and career development activities, provide professional development,

024provide the skills necessary to pursue careers in high-skll, high wage in demand occupations, support integration of academic skills into CTE programs of study. Support integration of programs of study. Evaluate Perkins funded programs through a local needs assessment. And I would also say this, we're doing this publicly in here this evening, but it has been posted on the website under the federal programs page. All three of these, if you would like to uh have an opportunity to also place your comments in writing, um those links are on that web page, they will be there until uh Friday of this week. And are there any other questions or input that I need to take note of so I can have that for any other things we need to do with these three? Thank you, Mrs. McKay. As

025I stated at the beginning of this presentation, this is a public hearing. At this time, if you would like to make a comment to Miss McCay and the board, please approach the podium in the middle of the room. I'll keep it open for about one minute. If anyone would like to make a public comment related to this public hearing, please come forward at this time. >> Last call. >> Thank you. >> Hearing is closed. Thank you, Miss McKay. I almost wanted my poker voice. I'm working on that. Uh we'll move on to item number five, uh recognitions and acknowledgements. I'll turn it back over to Dr. Bowlinger. Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. So, we have several recognitions and acknowledgements this evening. We're going to start off with the live saves recognitions. So, I'm

026going to ask nurse Penny to come to the microphone uh for this recognition. Oh yeah, thank you. Green is green. Good. Okay. Uh, good evening, President Camp Board of Trustees, Dr. Rodriguez, and guests. My name is Patricia Bay, and I'm the health services coordinator. Tonight, we come together for a moment that is both humbling and deeply meaningful. It is not often that we pause to recognize acts that truly define courage. But today, we do exactly that. When there's no time for doubt, no space for second guessing, just action, pure, decisive, and often selfless. The kind of action that doesn't ask for recognition, doesn't wait for permission. It simply happens. And the ones who do, who trust their training, follow their instincts, and lead with heart, become the quiet turning points in someone else's story. Not

027just because they plan to be heroes, but because they chose to act when it mattered most. On December 5th, 2025, a Young Life student at Horseman Junior, Ruben Pedrosa's life was saved because individuals stepped forward without hesitation. We would like to recognize these individuals at this time. from Horseman. Trainer Delaney Osborne, Coach John Hammond, Coach Gerald Williams, Coach Christopher Waller, Merrick Hamilton from Beethon Jr., Coach Michael Contas, Highlands Elementary School nurse Amanda Suarez, and Methodist Hospital Baytown nurse Josie Gaston. Ruben was playing in a junior high school basketball tournament like he has done many times before. But on this evening, an event changed his and his family's life forever. As Reuben was exiting the court for a break, he collapsed. all came together immediately to provide the necessary time and space for life-saving measures to

028allow EMS to arrive and transport Ruben by lifellight to Texas Children's Hospital. Reuben was in the hospital for 3 weeks undergoing open heart surgery. He was able to return to school on February 14th. Please welcome Reuben and his family as they would like to thank these caring individuals that allowed him to see each other another day. Each of you acted with urgency, skill, and compassion. You did not wait. You responded. And because of that, a family still has their child and his future continues to unfold. No, sorry. bring out that one. Thank you. Stay there. We're not done yet. Then again, on March 19th, 2026, history repeated itself, but so did courage. Another life. Ross S. Sterling student Aldridge's life was saved thanks to the actions of Friendley High School trainer Brandy Jones, Coach Titus

029Stanberry, and Coach Roger Sutterfield. Cavoran was running the JB track meet at Robert Ely High School like he had done before. But on this afternoon, an event also changed his and his family's life forever. As he was running the track, he collapsed. All again came together to assist allowing EMS to arrive in transport to Methodist Hospital Baytown. He was later transported to Texas Children's Hospital where he stayed for several weeks. He returned to school April 28th. Please welcome Caboreian and his family. They would like to thank these caring individuals. This is also the first time that they've seen Caborian. This is the first time that Kaborin has seen them. Once again, you demonstrated what it means to be prepared, to be selfless, and to put a life of another above all else. This is your

030To all of you being recognized today, there are no words that can fully measure what you have done. But we try because gratitude matters. A single moment of courage, a gift of another tomorrow. Because of you, life continues and the future remains. Your actions remind us that heroes are not defined by titles, but but by but by what they do when they matter most. You left a permanent mark, not just on the lives you saved, but on this entire community. On behalf of everyone, thank you. Thank you for your courage and thank you for your commitment. And most of all, thank you for choosing to act. Thank you. And I want to acknowledge our nurse coordinator, nurse Patricia Pena, because she is not going to acknowledge herself. Um, we cannot thank these individuals and their

031families enough, but I would also like to thank her not only for her 30 years of dedicated service to our district, but she played a critical role in providing the AED um information to both of these students doctors, which actually helped diagnose um their defects and were able to provide their life-saving measures in surgery. So, we would like to thank you as well. Okay, that was a wonderful recognition. Our next recognition deals with National History Day and also Texas History Day. So, we'll have Amy Maddic coming to the microphone for those recognitions. Good evening, President Campey, School Board, Dr. Rodriguez. We're proud to recognize the following students for their outstanding achievements at the Texas History Day competition. receiving special awards for their projects. We have Jonathan Lewis and Yashir Singh Gil from Goose Creek Memorial

032who received the Naval Order of the United States award as well as the National Maritime History Society Special Prize for Maritime Projects for their group exhibit Subsafe Revolutionizing the Depths through vital reform. They were under the direction of teacher April Vogle. From Gentry Junior High, we have Brinkley Benois. She received the outstanding regional junior division project award for her individual documentary, Up in Smoke, how the tobacco industry lost its grip on America. Brinkley was under the sponsorship of teacher Sarah Capistani. The following students were awarded first or second place at Texas History Day and will be advancing to the National History Day competition in College Park, Maryland June 14th through the 18th this summer. From Goose Creek Memorial under the direction of April Vogle, we have Ana Sud. She was awarded first place for her

033individual documentary, We All Bleed Red, Science, War, and the Fight for Equality. This project also received a special award at Texas History Day for Outstanding Regional Senior Division Project. Thank you. >> An Gupta received first place for his individual website, When Truth Hit the Headlines: How the Pentagon Papers Sparked Reaction and Demanded Reform. Manavendra Shan earned first place for his historical paper the spark and champron revolution through sat satiagra reaction of empire and reform that reshaped India. Arya Patel and Aaron Salazar received second place for their group website, A Voice in Pcan Dust. Emma Tennyuka's Grassroot Revolution: The Red Baiting Reaction and the Reform of Mexican-American Labor. From our junior high campuses, Austin Thomas, David Oralana, and Jack Batine earned first place for their group exhibit on the line of scrimmage, revolution, reaction, and reform

034under the helmet. These Baytown junior students were under the direction of Seth Tunic and Heather Carowway. Okay. Isaac Graham from Gentry Junior High was awarded first place for his individual website, Revolution, Reaction, and Reform: The Vietnam Draft Protest and America's Debate Over Duty. Isaac was under the direction of his teacher, Christina Barlo. We look forward to nationals. Please join us in celebrating these students and their remarkable accomplishment. Okay. Next, we have recognitions related to career technology education awards. So Lita Miller will come to the microphone, please. >> Good evening, President Kimpzy, members of the board, and Dr. Rodriguez. Tonight, the career and technical education department is proud to recognize an outstanding outstanding group of students and educators who have achieved superior honors at the respective state competitions in the areas of future business leaders of

035America host health occupation students of America and the technology student association. These exceptional students not only demonstrated academic and technical excellence, but they also showcase leadership, teamwork, and innovation. We are thrilled to share that each of these students recognized tonight has have advanced to compete at the national level in June. Let's begin by recognizing our GCM winners for for FBLA. The parliamentary procedure team placed first in the state second year in a row. Team members are Patrick Bour Jr. Luis Gomez Kamatine, Maxmilliano Gonzalez, and Clayton Wood II. They are led by their adviserss Mr. Freeman and Miss Rios. Next, we honor our HOSA winner from Sterling High School. Lee Win placed second in jobseeking skills at the state competition. She is led by her adviserss, Miss Allen and Mr. Coun. Okay, >> it must be

036in a Okay, the technology student association team from Goose Creek Memorial High School. We we're going to recognize two teams that are advancing to nationals. The biotechnology team placed first in the state competition. Team members are Nikita Gupta, Ana Sud, and Harun Mahi. Miss James is the adviser for that team. Go ahead. Thank you. >> Okay. And our second team, the forensic science team, plays second in the state. Nikita Gupta is representing her team tonight. She's won two two different teams. Just amazing. So, congratulations to our students. We wish you the very best of luck at nationals. >> Okay. Next, we have awards uh surrounding fine arts. We have two specific awards. So our director of finance Leanne will come to the microphone for these. Good evening Dr. Rodriguez, board of trustees. Um first we

037would like to first acknowledge just for really quick, this is not on the agenda but really really quick the uh opening exercises. uh they had an all state choir student in that particular group and that was the first all-state choir student from Lee in about 20 plus years. So I want to just give them one real shout out. Go ahead and clap for that. Secondly, uh Goose Creek Fine Arts proud proudly request recognition of students who have achieved outstanding success in the state visual arts scholastic event that was held at San Marcos High School. State Vase is one of the most prestigious visual arts competitions in Texas with over 32,000 entries submitted statewide. From these only 2,141 works advanced to the state level where student artwork was adjudicated by panels of experts. I want to

038put a little extra emphasis on those. All Gold Creek CISD students who advanced to state earned the highest possible rating of four and all were awarded state medals. Additionally, Goosegroup Memorial High School student Mr. Gavin Wyatt was awarded the gold seal recognizing his work among the top 7% of all entries in the state. So, the following students and teachers are recommended for recognition and we do have a few people sick today. So, uh we have a stand in. So, first, uh, Miss Annie Watson will be representing her students. Go ahead and clap for Miss Watson. The first student is Miss Vivian Montes. She's actually at a banquet receiving a scholarship right now. And Miss Naelli Perez, uh, she is actually out sick. She's doing her best Vanna White right now. Okay, next from Lee High

039School, we have Mr. Diego Jino. Go ahead and clap for her, state medalist. Next we have Luis Magayon, also a statement medalist from Robert Lee High School. Next we have Miss Holly Hester, another state medalist. Miss Ellanie Rosenbomb also from Lyn High School. And all of these students were taught by Miss Melissa Rangel and Miss Candace Ferguson. All right. From Goose Creek Memorial High School, uh the man with the golden seal, Mr. Gavin Wyatt, accompanied by his teacher, Miss John Morris. Next we have Miss Melody McMurray, a St. Madison, also another student of Miss Morris. And last but not least, we have Miss Daniela Chapo, also from Ghost Creek Memorial High School. Let's give these art students another big round of applause. Our next group of students we would like to recognize is are members

040of the Goose Creek Memorial Theater Company who have earned national qualifier status through the Texas Thespian Festival. Earning national qualifier distinction reflects a high level of performance design and technical theater excellence and qualifies these students to compete at the international thespian festival and also representing Goose Creek CISD on a national stage. The following students are first for hair and makeup design, Miss Autumn Zeruba. And all of these wonderful young people are under the direction of Miss Gina Martin and Miss Payton Wood Smith. You can't tell they're actors at all, can you? They just flip the switch. It just happens. Next we have Miss Cadence Moreno for sound design and playwriting and also selected for the all-star improv team. All right, for prop construction we have Connor Garrett. Next for solo musical we have Malia Martin.

041our next national qualifier for costume design, Mr. Michael Mcdana. She was unable to be here today. But let's go ahead and recognize Valyriia Solis for costume design. So the person standing in for Valyriia Solis is Mr. Matthew Gates with theatrical marketing. Go ahead and give him a round of applause. And next national qualifier for joint musical the dynamic detail Freeman and Daisy Parchmont. All right. And last but certainly not least for scenic design, Jackson Hartus. Thank you again and let's give all of these fine arts students a great big round of applause. Thank you so much. One more recognition. We have a healthy school award presented by Amanda Kennington. >> Good evening. Dr. Akers, director of employee health and wellness, and I are thrilled to be here this evening to recognize the incredible accomplishment of

042Goose Creek CISD and our greater Baytown community in the 2026 Community Challenge, a statewide initiative designed to promote healthier lifestyles across Texas through friendly competition and community involvement. We did it. Out of hundreds of communities and school districts across Texas, Goose Creek CISD earned first place in the medium school category. an amazing accomplishment that reflects the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication of our school, staff, students, and families. The city of Baytown also earned second place for their outstanding commitment to healthier Texas. Congratulations to local leadership for pledging your support and winning the Healthier Texas Community Challenge. This award is a testament to the power of collective action. It shows what happens when a school district and city truly embraces the spirit of wellness. The challenge reflects what's possible when individuals commit to their health and support

043of each other along the way. We want to take a moment to recognize a communitywide top performer, our local champion for the sixth year in a row, Mr. Sam Chapa. You go. You go. Here. Okay. Go. Get in there. Darn it. Sam has consistently inspired so many within our community to participate in the challenge and stay active. While promoting the challenge, he said, "This is our year." And he was right. City leaders will be recognizing Mr. Chapa at a future council meeting for his accomplishments. Congratulations, Sam. Of course, we can't we can't forget about the schools that showed outstanding participation this year. We're proud to recognize the top three GCCSD campuses that earn the most points in their respective categories and this year's recipients of the coveted salad bowl trophy sponsored by awards and engraving.

044Each of these campuses school health committees rallied their team in creative and committed ways and their energy made a real impact by demonstrating what school spirit and healthy habits can achieve. As I call your school, please join us at the front to accept your award. And once all three schools have been announced, we will take a group photo. The high school salad bowl trophy is awarded to Robert Elely High School, principal Ernest Brooks, and wellness champion Joselyn Smith. Lee High School. Lee High School was one of the top organizations in the entire state. The junior high school salad bowl trophy is awarded to EF Green Jr. Principal Dr. Alicia Babin and wellness champions Carla Ariano and Denanishia Reynolds. Go EF green. >> Congratulations. And last certainly not least, the elementary school salad bowl trophy is

045awarded to Carver Elementary principal Erica Smith and wellness champion Jamie Ree. Okay, and that does conclude our recognitions and acknowledgements. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Bowlinger. We'll move on to item six of the agenda, approval of minutes. Prior to this meeting, the board was provided with minutes for March 30th, 2026, April 9th, 2026, and April 13, 2026 meetings. We will take them individually starting with approval of minutes for March 30th, 2026 which was a budget workshop. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Move to approve. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Clim and a second by Mrs. Guy to approve March 30th, 2026 budget workshop minutes. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Seeing 640 against the motion passes. Next is April 9th, 2026

046team of eight training meeting. Pleasure of the board. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mrs. Bars and a second by Mr. Reneria to approve April 9, 2026 minutes for the team of eight training. Any discussion? All in favor, please raise your hand. Seeing 64 and zero against. Nothing. Nothing. Motion carries. We'll move on to 6C. Minutes for April 13th, 2026 regular board meeting. What's the pleasure of the board? >> Move to approve. >> I have a motion by Mrs. Guy and a second by Mr. Clem to approve the minutes for April 13th, 2026 regular board meeting. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. I saw 64. >> I saw it. 64 zero against. The motion passes. Thank you. We'll move on to item number seven,

047discussion item, superintendent reports. And Dr. Rodriguez, I'll turn it over to you at this time. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, tonight we have four uh reports. The first one is the superintendent campus connection grant proposal presentation, followed by the teacher incentive aotment update, then a benefits update, and then finally, we have a budget and financial update. Uh at this moment I'm going to call up uh the team that's going to assist with the presentation for the superintendent's campus connection. We have Dr. Times, Dr. Antonyini, and Mrs. Griffin. And as they make their way uh to the front, I just want to remind the board that this has occurred annually the past few years. There's a superintendent's campus connection. Uh there is a part of the process for the entire year in which

048the committee uh gives a recommendation to utilize specific funds that have been provided uh to them. And at this time I want to go ahead and pass it on to the team so they can begin. First of all, I was a little bit nervous when I walked in and I saw all of >> Oh my talk in front of all of them >> and then it, you know, they started walking out. So, let's go. It's fine. So, I'm part of the superintendent campus connection committee and what that means is that it's a a single person from each campus. Here's a picture, beautiful picture of all of us, right? And so, what we do is we hear the concerns from our campus and we kind of bridge the gap to the admin. Um, and we meet

049with a superintendent once a month. And so what we talk about is a variety of things. And while we're in these meetings, we brainstorm ideas. We vote on different topics. And we also have a budget, which was um it varies each year. And so we have to decide what do we spend this money on, right? And we want to make sure that it has an impact that benefits the school district as a whole. And so a little bit about our history. So in 2024 they implemented the smart hall pass program for the upper grades. In 2023 they did the tailgate at the Baytown Nature Center. And if you were here we know how some people felt about that. In 2022 teacher gift boxes at the 23 convocation. I thought that it was also worth noting

050that in 2018 we did the window covers for the school to, you know, kind of increase the safety for our children as well as our employees. >> Good evening. I'm Dr. Ensini and I also had the pleasure of serving on this committee this year. Um, our main concerns that we heard from teachers for the most part were about student safety. That was the primary um concern that we got. And of course, a lot of these concerns were anonymized and so it was across the district. All of our elementary and middle and high schools had the same uh safety concerns. Um we also had some concerns that addressed student behavior issues and there was some concern from a few campuses about the issue of teacher retention, but far and wide it was campus safety that was

051on everybody's mind. Our target this year, again, as Miss Griffin said, was $50,000 of funding and how to allocate that in the best interest of our teachers, our students, and our staff. Uh, three main ideas emerged from our committee's original poll that we took together. Uh, first was that there was a lack of uniform door lock installations on some of our older campuses. These door locks were completely in compliance with all of the mandates. However, some of the door locks were out of date compared to some of our newer campuses. And so, one of the concerns was how do we update these? How do we make sure that every teacher is having the same safety process as all of our other teachers on all campuses? There was also a concern about studentled safety coalitions that

052may lack incentives or may want to go on field trips. And so, there was some interest there in spending this money towards incentivizing that. There was also a um I think that there was a presentation and some interest in how to allow retired teachers to be awarded for not using up all of their days and to increase their attendance at the end of their tenure. Um ultimately the lack of uniform door lock installation was the winning vote. Um, and I think that this is because campus ingress and egress is always going to be the top priority, especially as we move forward into more modern times with some of our doors that have electronic locks, some of them have key locks, some of them have push locks. And so because of this variability, we wanted to

053help unify the campuses and go, I think, above and beyond the normal call of safety. Good afternoon. As part of this process, FMC was brought in and I have Mr. Ruben Escalon here with me today and I'm Trisha Times. We have a variety of locks throughout the district, but the most prominent locks that are on our campus right now are the classroom lever lock set and the mares lever lock. Um based on that information, we were uh to research some information to give pricing of how much it would cost to replace those locks. As you can see, we have a projection for the elementary campuses that were brought uh forward to us. And you can see the price of 257,000. I know it's astronomical, but we do have some other alternatives. I will uh go

054on to the high school, and you can see all the secondary campuses. If we replace all the locks with the mortise locks which runs about $900 and some dollars, it would be $663,41. However, we do have some alternatives in uh effort to replace these locks and to ensure that our campuses are safe. with these alternatives. Please be mindful that uh it would void the warranty on the locks if we did this. But there are it is an economical solution to the problem that we have and that would ensure that the classroom doors remain locked at all times. There would be no leather to switch back and forth, unlock or lock. They would remain locked all the time. With that, we currently have a need of 980 modest locks. If we just did the locks at

055938, it would be 920,000. If we did face plates, which would go on the uh inside of the door, that would cost us $43,800 something. But if we just bought screws at $15 a box, that would run us $75. However, we with these situations, we would need labor and at this time we cannot truly just equate how much labor is needed or how much it would cost, but this is an alternative to it. Also, we have push locks within the school district. We have approximately 160 of them and to replace them by putting a a pin in, it would cost us $48. So, tonight I have Mr. the Ruben Escalon here with me. He has a demonstration of those locks. Demonstration of the locks that we currently have as well as the replacement. This is

056a um I'm sorry. Okay. This is a standard lever lock with a push button. Okay. So, what we would do is put this in the lock position. Okay. Drill and tap a um tension pin in place. Okay. Once that's inserted, okay, you can open it from the interior, once once you close it, it shouldn't open. Okay? Until you open it from the inside. Okay? It's automatic lock. Okay? That's that one. This is a basic mortise line that you have there. Okay, this screw here. Okay, if we insert that screw there, okay, it stops a function of locking and unlocking. Okay. Um, we've done one here for demonstration. >> Right now, everything locked. It's already been screwed. Okay. Unlocks from the inside. Closes. automatic lock. You have a dead bolt as well as a secondary lock.

057Let me show you the inside. Okay. Your dead bolts on. I believe ma'am, what was your name? >> Ernie Griffin. >> Miss Griffin. >> Yes, sir. >> This is the type of lock you have on your classroom, >> correct? >> Except for it doesn't have the pen part. The bottom part. >> The This does have it. It has the regular one just like that. Not in the one in the picture. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Um Okay. Lock it out. Exterior unlock at this time. Are there any questions? I got a question. Yes, sir. >> So, they feel unsafe because of these locks. Is that what we're saying? The does. You said the number one priority was safety. Is there a special reason why they feel so unsafe? >> It wasn't necessarily that we feel unsafe.

058It was the matter of the incident that took place. And if we had these locks right on the doors, automatically the children wouldn't be able to get in there unsupervised. That's kind of where we took our mindset. And I mean, I'm going to be honest with you, I'm the person who commit submitted the idea to the committee originally. And so my rationale was, you know, if we can prevent one incident from happening, that matters. If we can provide safety for our children, that matters. that I mean as an employee, as a parent, that is my number one priority is keeping my children safe, whether it be my personal or my students. And if we can do something, whether it be that it costs, you know, a lucrative amount of money, if we put x amount

059of money each year and we make that a priority, then, you know, that's a route to go. If you do the other route that was um presented as well, I mean, we completely understand that that's y'all's decision to make. However, we just want to make sure that we put the money that we were provided to good use. We didn't want to provide somebody with a chair or a t-shirt. We wanted to make sure that we were utilizing the funds in a way that had an impact. >> So, let me ask you another question. Go So if so if he locked your classroom with the regular lever lock the the regular one could get in like that if it's locked I mean he showed the presentation was that he showed you couldn't open it unless you

060open it from the inside >> without a key. So if you have the key you can open it from the outside obviously. >> However I'm sorry let me start over. So you it's not a matter of feeling safe. is that we have to have our doors lock feeling safe. Yes. But that piece that you're talking about, we have to have our doors locked when we leave our classrooms and from what took place. Correct. So, a way to help with that is that the doors are automatically locking that there wasn't I forgot or there's a substitute there that day. It's a universal. you leave the classroom, you leave that room, you know that the door is locked behind you because it automatically does it. >> Think about a smart home. >> So, in essence, what it's

061doing is it's preventing anyone from putting it into the unlock position. Correct. >> Correct. >> Right. >> Um, just to add on, there are also some elementary schools, we were told by some of the elementary teachers that still require a key to open and a key to close. So whenever they take their students to PE or to the cafeteria, they are having to physically stick the key in to then lock their door instead of being able to stay with their children in the hallway and then know that their door will lock behind them. So, I think the original desire was for those older campuses that don't have that autolock feature to be updated first and then as we go through increasing the safety. Just like she said, >> we're going to spend $123 for screws

062and pins. So, where's the other $499 of your $50,000 >> on labor? That's true. But >> right, >> it just depends what method you decide to use, sir. That's what's going to be the determining factor and then how much manpower is needed. >> So, what are we going to be asked to do? I think first the decision to whether or not you would like to use the pin method, the screw method, the pin method, and if so, if you would then like to go forward with that and then figure out labor costs and evaluate each campus. We would recommend starting at elementary, moving to middle, and moving to high. Um because that's sort of the areas of need. Um and the age of the campuses hopefully should be a factor. So there is no action

063uh being required from the board. We just wanted to use this opportunity uh to gather information thoughts. Uh we have the money to begin a process that is a longer financial bigger financial commitment or we can go ahead and begin the process with the amount that you mentioned and then identify how much labor is going to be. But tonight's presentation is just so that the board and the community were made aware of uh what the group um was thinking, what their thoughts are when it comes to safety, and then just for us to gather some feedback from from the trustees. >> Well, first I'd like to say that uh I I think the recommendation that's coming back from y'all is pretty amazing. Um obviously, you know, the chairs were nice and the events were nice,

064but this is something lasting. Um I I tip my hat to the idea that we found workarounds that we can do something in a very u less expensive manner. Uh so thank you for coming tonight and bringing the props and showing the board uh exactly how that works. Uh but overall we're just this is a tool to help us remove the human element out of making a mistake and leaving a door open. Is that correct? >> All right. Are there any more questions? >> Yeah. Um, how much input from each committee did you get from our inside police department for us? The safety factor, the locking mechanism, what did they think of this particular idea, what you're trying to do? >> So, the SEC committee simply came up with the idea. We then um, Mr.

065or sorry, Dr. Rodriguez pulled in the experts, right? The building experts, the safety experts, and they dug a little bit deeper into that piece of it. So, I am not 100% sure what data they collected from the police chief or the police staff of Goose Creek. >> And our chief is in the back, but I'm not going to put him on the spot. I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna have her remain out there. >> I was just curious. Um, so we had we had conversations. Um, and I'm not going to speak for Chief, but I do know that he's committed to ensuring that our students are safe. Uh, first and foremost, I mean, that's that literally is the most important thing that we can do for parents. Parents are sending us their the most precious

066part of their life, >> right? >> Their expectation is that uh that we keep them safe. So, we're still in discussions at this moment in time. What we wanted to do is just make the board aware of some of the conversations that were occurring and then we will gather some feedback and then we will make a final recommendation. Uh like I stated earlier and of course uh what the team stated is there's a there's a huge financial amount that we can begin the process with with $50,000. um there's um an area that we can begin doing some work now and address uh the majority of those doors. And of course there's we're always open to any other type of recommendation that comes uh from anybody that's listening at this moment in time. I >> that

067was just, you know, I saw a chief back then. I was like, >> how much did we get, you know, just in general just wanted to >> also the Texas Education Agency that did the uh DBA also uh made a request that we pin all the push locks and so we did receive that information from them and uh just so happened this came out and so it it worked in the favor. Okay, >> I do have the last slide and it's uh the slide that's currently up there. I just want to inform the board um of some of the things that we're going to be doing differently next year. So for 2627, I did pull in uh some representatives from the group and we had a conversation about what does next year look like. Uh

068one of the things is that we are going to maintain the group as it stands. There is a selection process and it is becoming teacher of the year. uh for a campus. If the teacher of the year declines, then there is another representative that does become the voice of the campus. We are going to maintain that uh part of the process. We did decide that in the future we would like to have group discussions. So every month we'd like to utilize our time to not just identify how we can utilize $50,000, but we want to identify some of the actual issues that are occurring within the school district. And we will be having discussions that are um for groups that are formed regarding the budget or the finance, regarding uh HR issues, regarding CNI. So

069we'll be having those conversations and breaking up into smaller groups when we do meet to identify some of those some of those issues and to uh provide solutions. Uh the third part there is the financial commitment. We are not looking to have a $50,000 um amount. We are looking to solve problems and if we can solve the problem and it costs more than $50,000 that would be something that we bring to the board. Um, going back to what the the group was saying earlier. Um, we I'm sure everyone appreciates uh the shirts, the chairs. Um, y'all help me out. I wasn't here last past few years. Umbrellas, uh, things of that nature. But the group is truly committed to identifying the problems, finding a solution, and if there is a monetary amount greater than $50,000,

070that is something that we would then share um with the other administrators and see if we can solve uh whatever problem it is at that moment in time. And at the very end, uh we are committed to having one voice but multiple solutions. Um, I will always honor the past and I think it's important uh with the previous decisions that have been made, but we have a committee of uh teacher representatives from the campuses that are wanting more. And at this moment in time, we're choosing to go in a uh direction that allows them to voice their concerns and to share what is occurring at the campuses and see if we can identify solutions for those issues. So, that is what we're bringing for the 2627 school year. And at this time, that is all

071we have. Mr. President, >> thank you all so much. I appreciate it. Thank you for bringing the props out. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have a presentation regarding the teacher incentive aotment. We have the HR team coming up. And as you recall, this was a board requested item as well. And I do want to say from that teacher incentive a lotment we will be transitioning to the benefits update as well. >> Okay. Good evening. All right. So we have also Kevin Robleski here who's our associate director of compensation. Then Ellen Acres, Dr. trail makers who's our uh director of benefits and so we are uh going to go through the teacher incentive aotment portion for the first part of the presentation and then talk about uh getting back into TRS and the benefit updates.

072So that's that's Dr. Eders will hit that piece. Here's our agenda for the uh teacher incentive aotment portion. So we're going to go through and explain just how uh teachers become eligible for TIA. um the designation and validation process that we go through as a district and also how we communicate uh that information to teachers and then um steps that will happen next year. There will be some changes next year that TEA is rolling out. So, we'll share that as well. Just as a quick history, um the teacher incentive aotment, I'm going to say TIA from here on out. um what was was passed with House Bill 3 back in 2019 as a way to provide extra compensation to teachers um based on performance and so to keep high highly effective teachers in the classroom

073uh TIA was proposed. Districts have the option of applying to become a TIA district. So that's important to note that not all districts in Texas are a TIA district. Some districts have chosen not to pursue that route. We'll get into some of the reasons why um Goose Creek has pursued TIA for the last three years. Okay. Um this is a busy slide, but we did want to show it just to illustrate a point here. On the on the left column, these are all the teachers. Uh if you teach these subject these subjects and grade levels, uh these are the teachers that currently qualify for TIA. So, not all teachers in Goose Creek are eligible for TIA. Each year we try to add more subjects, but there's a process that we go through to add teachers.

074We we've learned from ourselves and also from other districts if you add too many groups too quickly um that what happens is you risk not being approved for for everyone. And so it's it's an all ornone approval process. And so um so right now these are the groups that are that are validated that are that are eligible. And then we've also listed, this is on our T TIA portal uh app, our app that our teachers can see and we'll explain that here in a second, but it lists the assessments that are used for growth for each subject in each grade level. Okay. So, how do teachers become eligible for TIA? There is a formula that we follow. TEA requires us to look at student growth and test observation evaluations. So those are the two required

075components for TIA. Districts have some flexibility and percentages within those two items. They can also add other elements for eligibility, but the two requirements are growth measure and test observation. So if I'm a teacher, it's how well did my students grow uh the pre this current year and then also um how did my appraiser or my administrator evaluate me? So those are the two requirements. You can see that these are weighted differently. Um we did change the waiting this year due due to recommendations um from the groups that we work with. And so growth is weighted at 70%. And then the test observations is weighted at 30%. And so the formula when you when you add those two together 70% plus 30% you get the overall score. Also, what's what's important at the bottom, if

076you look at the very bottom, um TEA has a minimum requirements. And so, a teacher uh cannot be eligible if they fall below one of these two requirements. So, so what does that mean? That means that if uh this year I'm a teacher and my let's say that 50% of my students showed growth, which means 50% of my students do not show growth, then I am not eligible for TIA. Why? Because the requirement is 55%. So, I have to have at least 55% of my students show growth or I'm not eligible. Okay, that's a TEA requirement, not a Goose Creek requirement. Another minimum requirement is um observation score. So, my test observations for domains two and three. There's four domains, but we look at domains two and three for uh for TIA, I have to

077score at least a 3.7. So, that that's on a scale of one to five. So, five is absolute perfection. Um, no one hits that. one is abysmal and so uh three is right in the middle. So I have to score at least a 3.7 and show 55% growth to be eligible for TIA. Okay. Um so that's that's the big picture of how teachers become eligible. Now Mr. Robus is going to get into a little bit more of the weeds with the growth measure and the evaluations. Okay. Here what you're looking at are the state performance standards that are aligned to each one of the designations. So if you see recognized underneath that is 55% which he just mentioned is the minimum exemplary 60% masters is 70%. And how do we calculate this? We take the

078total number of the students who met or exceeded growth and then the total number of the students that that teacher has. So you take that met growth divided by the total number and then you have to at least have the minimum growth to qualify as of 55%. >> Is that the total number of students who took the test or the total number of students on their role? >> The two the total number of students that they have a pre-EST and a post- test for because otherwise you don't show growth if you don't have both of those items. So for the test observations, these are the state standards. Uh as uh he mentioned earlier, you have to have a minimum of 3.7. Uh this has this is in domains two and three. So in domains two

079and three there are eight indicators and on those on each one of those indicators you can score a one through five. So to calculate the average of domains 2 and three, you take all of those indicators, add them up, and divide them by 8. And it must be a 3.7 or higher. So for recognized state standards are 3.7, exemplary 3.9, masters 4.5. And then your overall determining uh qualification is both minimums must be met. And then the designation calculation is growth is converted into a scale score and weighted at 70% as mentioned earlier. And then observations average is weighted at 30%. And then when those are calculated, you're looking for a 3.7 or higher and to put them in one of those designation categories. Okay, another important uh thing to note is that each year

080we have to be validated by TEA. And so the first year we went out for uh for TIA, we were validated. Uh the next year, last year we were not. Uh we overd designated teachers and those designations did not align with our actual star uh growth measure. And so uh so so we made some adjustments and this past year we were designated uh based off of making sure that the teachers who were designated uh strongly aligned to the state performance standard. And so that's uh so we we designated fewer teachers but we wanted to make sure that it aligned with the actual growth of the district. And so that's one thing that um that TEA looked at for validation. So we we validated we had our TIA celebration event last week. Se several of the

081board members attended. I want to thank you for attending that. Um, we had uh we recognized 147 total teachers who were designated as a TIA teacher this year and we had over 300 individuals in the room as a professional development center because they brought friends and family and so it's a it's a big uh big recognition because it uh it adds bonus payout uh for those teachers. So you can see that there's three categories for this year. Recognized, exemplary, and masters. The state is changing that for next year. Mr. Robleski is going to talk about that here in a minute. But uh you can see that we had 64 teachers designated at recognized, 71 in exemplary, and then 12 at masters. And then the total number of designations are over towards the right if you

082if you combine the two years where we have a total of 275 teachers who are designated right now. And the average payout total is about $2.7 million. Um, why don't all teachers I'm sorry, why don't all districts pursue TIA? Uh, because it can be controversial. It can cause some issues if if my neighboring teacher is getting a huge bonus and I'm not and that may create some animosity or unhealthy competition. But many districts believe this is beneficial for our teachers especially as it hits their pocketbook and it's uh it award it rewards them for high performing uh performance with their students and so Goose Creek is has has pursued this. >> So before we move on >> Sure. >> How many teachers were left off of this list? >> So none of the teachers were

083left off this list. Uh and we've we've uh addressed this question. I'll be happy to address it again. uh when there there was a data discrepancy that impacted seven teachers. And so when that data disc discrepancy happened, we were made aware of it. We addressed the concern at that time. This happened a few months ago. And we we addressed that concern. We corrected it. And so they're included in these numbers. >> They're included in these numbers. >> Yes. >> So they were left off. You just added them back in. >> That's right. So the ones that we identify, how how many years do they get paid for? >> They get paid for five years. >> Five years. >> But there's some that get paid for less. Am I help? >> I don't know who's getting

084paid for less. >> Some people are getting paid for a year only. >> No, they're getting paid for five years unless they get designated and then it kicks in with TEA. So that they actually will get paid six years. So of those people that left off, the seven that were added back in, where is that money coming from? >> That's coming from the TIA funds. And so we are able to retain 10% of the amount that's awarded for various reasons related to TIA. So we can use those funds to to address any concerns. >> So such as this, >> as discussed before, we said that this is good for recruitment and retention of teachers. Where did we drop the ball with leaving these teachers off? >> Sure. Yeah, it's a good question. Um, when the

085data was uploaded that there there was a flaw and there there was a uploading error and once we caught it, we corrected it. But that's what happened. >> Okay. And I I'm just going to make a comment. I I I asked those questions, but I do believe that there are a few teachers out there that feel they qualified and didn't get compensated. So, it's out there. I don't know where the confusion is coming in, but you know, it's out there. I can tell you that. >> Yeah, I can address that, too. I think it's a good question. Um, all teachers want to qualify. They all want to be eligible because there's a lot of money at stake. And so, whenever they miss the mark or they're not aware of the mark or they don't know

086how it's, you know, how how they how they qualify, how they're eligible, they're upset just like we would be upset. And so we have avenues where they can pursue information to see if they're they're eligible. Um we they can they can reach out to Mr. Robleski. >> The state criteria. >> That's correct. Yeah. And so they can reach out to Mr. Robleski. Um and I'll also tell you this, TEA changes the requirements each year. So what's important is the teachers who were designated two years ago, um it's different for this year. And so sometimes there's a misunderstanding where if I got designated two years ago, I may explain to my neighbor, hey, well, you know, here's how I got designated. And then um my neighbor, you know, makes a phone call saying, how come I

087didn't get designated? Well, well, the standard has changed and it will continue to change each year. And so >> you're saying they're not aware of the changes. Is that what you're saying? >> They they we have avenues to let them know of the changes, but they may not be aware of the changes. But your your your claim is or you're you're saying that some of these people think that their teachers think that they they made that designation, but they really didn't because the state changed their their criteria. >> Well, well, the state state changed the criteria of how you become eligible. >> So, let me ask you another question. How come no history teachers made TIA? >> So the history teacher so when I'm sorry >> zero teachers >> correct so the designations that were

088put out or I'm sorry the qualifications that they had for their exams none of them met that qualification for the growth metric zero. >> Just wanted to ask that. Okay. Yep. It helped me understand why they didn't make it again. falls back because they didn't meet the state criteria and they don't know this. >> This was the district growth metric that the department put in place for the history teachers. >> I get it. But something's not adding up for me because you know teachers are smart and here they're not understanding why they're not meeting the criteria to and they think they did. They worked hard, you know, they did everything they were supposed to do. I guess their their students the grades that they were supposed to make and y'all are sitting here tell me

089that they don't understand what's happening. >> Well, the growth measures and the grades are two different things. So, the growth measure from a pretest to a post test whether the grades that they make inside the course those are not associated. I've spoken with the the those departments that have reached out and we've worked on the growth measure and those growth measures are changing for this year and they're aware of these growth measures. >> The teachers are >> Yes, sir. Okay. It seems like to me again there's a big disconnect between the teachers and >> and that and that's something that we're working on fixing. We've uh I've worked at a leader we're going to talk about it here in a second, but we through our leadership committee we've put together a a portal for our

090district so all teachers have access to that. We're going to run that through the ILC so that the ILC's can work with all of the campuses uh in May and then we can push that out because we want to make sure we work through any bugs because as you know when something's hard to use then people kind of give up on it. So we're going to get each one of our campus leaders to work with their campuses so they can work their bugs. we can have transparency and then we've got and a lot of teachers have already found this portal and there's a there's a piece on there to where they can ask myself any questions because I'm I'm the team that that they ask and reach out to me so that way we have

091that transparency. >> I got one more question. So this is addressed to Dr. B. So you went to a school and you you congratulated a teacher there for for making TIA and then you had to go back and tell her no she didn't qualify. So there's >> that's not correct. >> Okay. >> Sure. Yeah. We had already had those conversations and so like I said we caught them we caught the error several months ago and we had visited with those teachers at that time. >> Congratulator. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We we we went a district-wide congratulated teachers and so we we did meet with teachers um to to clarify for the ones that you're referring to and is I mean and we've corrected the concern. They were happy with the correction and that several of

092them were there at the TIA celebration last week. >> I'm not I'm not in the understanding that they're happy. I can tell you that. and you're telling me, see, I'm hearing things here, but I'm hearing from the from the the staff that that's not the case. >> So, I'd be glad to have a name so I can reach out to someone. I'd be glad to Yeah, I'd be glad to reach out to someone if you if you have a name that just to make sure if there's still a concern. >> Yeah. >> But can I ask a clarifying question? So, this the teachers who were uh what's the word you say? What what's it called? Um, oh my gosh. Um, they qual designated. Thank you. >> The teachers were who were designated or eligible, they

093like through TA, they're getting five years of this pay. >> That's correct. >> The teachers who were there was the error in the upload. the district is paying that five years of of eligibility unless they're been unless they eventually qualify through TEA like any other through the TIA process. Okay. So, and if that's the case, if I was one of those teachers that was missed in the upload, the district is paying me for this year. But let's say next year I meet the eligibility and get the TIA money. I'm actually getting it for six years instead of the five years. >> That's correct. >> Or if I if the district pays me for two years and then on that third year I mean it since things are changing then I'm getting seven years >> worth

094the pay instead of just the five years. >> So there is an upside to that. Yes. >> Okay. >> So Dr. Mr. Bullinger, if somebody is a recognized or designated recognized the following year they're designated master, then there there can be an adjustment. >> Correct. >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, um my recommendation is that we receive some input from some of the teachers cuz Mr. brings up a good point. Obviously, there is a disconnect. uh trustees are in the position where they receive information uh from the community and from staff. So somewhere there is a disconnect. So my recommendation is that we pull some of the teachers and see what we can do. Is there a better way for us to communicate the information uh just when it's time to share the designation process

095sometime for next year as we begin the school year. >> Sure. And in the presentation, we haven't gotten to the slides yet. We're going to talk about communication and then some adjustments we're making um just to make sure that we're we're overly communicating. So, speaking of which, um They're blaming you guys right here. You know, they're not saying it's the state. They just keep >> and I'll say again, um, when we met with them, they were very happy. Um, if if they are not, I' I'd like to get a name so we can meet with them and reach out just to make sure that that the the problem you're referring to is a current problem, not a problem from from a month ago. Okay. Um, so speaking of communication, we we have a giant con

096each year. We provide professional development districtwide and we do sessions at the elementary level and the secondary level where teachers can sign up to come and hear a session on how they can become eligible for TIA for that year. And so it's well attended. We do several sessions each year. In addition to that, principles can sign up for a TIA presentation where Mr. Robleski will go to their campus and give a presentation to the entire faculty on how you become eligible similar to what we presented to you uh tonight. Um also there's a virtual option where principles could sign up to hear a a presentation virtually and then turn that around and present it to their staff if they if they if they're forgetting additional questions on TIA. And then also on our portal, we

097have a TIA app where teachers can go, educators can go and it provides all the information on on their subject, how they can become eligible, what the criteria is, and then if they have questions, there's a way to ask those questions so that we can answer those. And so that's currently what we have in place. All right. With House Bill 2, some things are changing. So designations, teacher observations, and the state performance measures. So now uh TEA has introduced five designations, four of which you see here. So they've introduced the acknowledge designation and what that does is that changes the performance minimums. So earlier for last year's capture data, the performance minimums we spoke about were 55% for growth and 3.7 for TTS observations. Now moving forward for this capture year and what they call

098that that's where we collect data for this year the acknowledge designation has dropped those minimums to 50% for growth and 3.5 for tests which ultimately we're going to be able to designate more teachers that's what it's going to actually allow correct now the fifth designation is the national board certified designation so earlier when you were earlier that prior years when you were to receive the national board certification uh certificate, you would just be designated as recognized and you would just fall into that category. Now, what they've done is they've pulled that out to make it its own designation and then they are following the payout as the acknowledged designation. And then lastly, when I spoke earlier about having transparency and trying to make sure that we have everybody on board and that the teachers have

099a chance to look and see where they're at during the designation process and prior to data submission in October, we are looking forward to putting together a dashboard that we can put together and have ready over the summer so that a teacher can have like a single single uh sign in. They can look at their growth. So, this is just an example of a teacher having growth of of almost 74%. And then a teacher having a test of 3.725. And then when they open this up, they look at a growth score of 71.7. And then over to the left, they can say, "Well, I think I'm it looks like I'm going to be an exemplary teacher moving forward." or they can look at it, you know, based on whatever that data is, whether it's no

100designation or and it well, if it is no designation, we're going to have a way to where they can submit a ticket and say, "Hey, I don't think this data looks right. Could we please look at it?" >> Okay. Any other questions on TIA? So, and this is just for the new thing that they're rolling out. So, if you're a national board certified teacher and you receive that designation, plus you qualify through growth measures and TESS and all of that, could you potentially get both? >> You won't get both. >> Oh, you get the higher one that supersedes it. >> Okay. Correct. >> Is there any way I mean I know you mentioned that these teachers that are angry or whatever that y'all would like reach out to them. The ones or y'all probably already

101did. I don't know. >> Well, yeah, that's what I was saying. We we we met with them. Um >> I met with each individual oneonone >> and so the issue was resolved months ago. So, if you're getting a new complaint, I would like a name so we can reach out to that individual. >> Understand they're going to come to you, but even though you you explain to them that they there, you know, they might not agree. They're not happy, right? It's understandable. They didn't get their that little compensation that they felt they worked so hard for. You know, they're not going to tell you nothing to your face. >> Well, they are they are getting the compensation. >> So, that's what that's what I believe is happening. And you know, I don't know what the

102answer is. I just know that they're not happy with what has happened. You know, cuz we don't want, like I said, it's it's a retention and a recruitment issue here that we're talking about. For me, the good teachers, you know, if they're not getting compensated, >> they are. Well, the >> they are >> Well, you didn't talk to the ones obviously and I >> but >> I'm just saying that if they're not let let me jump in here real quick if I may. Mr. Entry, if you would please have a private conversation uh with Dr. Bowlinger about a specific person and then Dr. Bowlinger >> or or whoever they are and then Dr. Bullinger, if you would forward that information through Dr. Rodriguez and Miss uh Garcia so the whole board will find uh get

103all that information. >> Um >> I just like speak publicly because it affects everybody the school district doing it in private back door executive session. You know there's things set back that people never hear like the safety issue. >> Right. But because you want everybody to know that we're trying to keep the students safe. Correct. Correct. It's the same thing with the teacher. We're trying to recruit and retain those teachers. So, you want everybody to know, >> right? I agree with you. Um, but we can't discuss the individual employee in public. So, that's why I'm asking for you to, >> right? So, I'm asking you in general, you know, >> right? But let's get the information. >> Still, even like Tiffany said, well, they're getting paid. Well, she don't know that the people that, you

104know, I'm asking you to have a >> that's just a comment. That's just an opinion she has. But everybody has opinions. So, I'm just saying this right now. >> I know. So, if I don't know that they are, then how do you know that they're not? >> Because they came to me. I just told you that. >> They talked to me and told me they felt like they qualified. >> That's what I'm telling you. As a board member, we can >> Did anybody talk to you? >> That's why I'm telling you, too. Nobody talked to you, >> right? But as a board member, we can request that information specifically about those, Mr. Andrea. And once that information is had, then we'll have the two sides to the story where we can really look at it.

105Uh and then uh since it is being requested by one board member, it will have to come to all the board members as well. So and then let's look at that after we have all the facts from all sides. >> Yeah. Well, we you know it wouldn't even hurt, I think, to have a committee to look into that because there is an issue. I can tell you that. >> Well, let let's start with you address it as an individual board member request and they'll come to us uh so we can get administration's uh side of it. Is that fair enough, Dr. Bing? Yeah, we'd love to have the names concern. >> Even if they do want to come forth because you know they it's their job and I get it. >> Yeah. If there's a

106concern we need to address, we'd like to address it. So, >> I understand. >> Okay. We're going to shift to TRS medical plans. And so, Dr. Acres has an update on uh what we've found out through TRS. >> Hi, good evening. It's nice to see everyone again. Just wanted to give you some updates. Um, we voted back in September to move to TRS Medical. So, I wanted to give you an update on where that is and give you some information because there is one thing you may get a phone call about. I want to make sure you're well informed and we're transparent. Um, so the first thing is of course uh all of these will be effective September 1st. Um the dental plan we are changing in response to employee surveys stating that they felt

107the network of dentists was not broad enough. So we found a better plan for that. And then the accident cancer and disability are changing um only because they're richer benefits but the price is not going up on those. And then we're also adding two new products. Uh a term life. Currently the term life we offer is a one-year term. This particular product will offer a 10, 20, and 30 year term life, which is really nice for financial planning for our employees and then also a medical transport voluntary product. So, um, you can go to the next slide. Thank you. So, we have been communicating to everyone since the first week in April that the benefits enrollment is coming up. I was really concerned that we were not going to be able to enroll until this

108summer when everyone was on break, but fortunately TRS released the rates on Friday at about 5:00. So I apologize you didn't have those in your slides. Bridget and I were here very late um trying to work on that. Um but they did release them and so we are able to do the enrollment in May which I'm very excited about. We'll be able to have enrollment meetings at every single location, communicate all of the changes with our employees, take questions, um, and then even after school is out, we're going to have an enroller here at central administration for two weeks so that if teacher got busy at the end of the year with lots going on at the end of school, they can still come up and meet with someone one-on-one if they wish. And then,

109of course, they can also go online and enroll as well. Um, okay. I think next slide there. So, let's talk about the plans. Um, and I want to give you a little information on these. So, the good news is I do feel like the plans are richer. They're better than what we had in terms of out-of pocket expenses. Um, on this plan, the primary HMO, that's comparable to what we currently have as the HMO standard plan. As you can see, the deductible went down to 2500 for an individual and 5,000 for a family. Office co-pays went down to $30. Um, really great part of these benefits that urgent care has a co-pay of $50. And before it was simply co- insurance and when when you're going to urgent care, that's $300 or $400. So that

110$50 co-pay really provides a lot of options. And then the two I'm really excited about that I wanted to share with you, we have two virtual healthc carees. The TRS ready med, which is your typical I've got a sinus infection, my kid has a rash, I need to call somebody, it's on the weekend. So that's available at no cost um to everyone on all three of the plans. But then we also have a virtual mental health benefit, which I think is incredibly important and something our employees have wanted. Um, so that's through the virtual health of TEDOC and the co-pay on that is $12 per session. So again, that provides me access to mental health care 24/7 from home. Of course, we also continue to have our employee assistance program which provides six free counseling

111sessions. Um, but this is just an additional benefit for our employees. Um, I will say with the rates that across the board in region 4, rates went up about 12%. Um, as we've talked about before, industry analysts state that the rates for health insurance are going to continue to go up 10% in perpetuity. Um, and one of the reasons that I I wanted to share with you that um, the rates went up in region 4 a little more. So they ranged across the state from 7% to a high of 15% in Arlington. They had the highest rate increase. You'll notice where it says all covered services and that's on this plan only 30% 40% co insurance. I want to be very transparent. This is where you'll get a phone call and I want to tell

112you why that is. Um, essentially TRS and Blue Cross Blue Shield went to all of the providers and said, "Hey, we have 700,000 lives across the state. Can we negotiate some some good rates in an effort to keep premiums down?" Um, every single player came to the table except Methodist. Methodist refused to even come to the table um because they do consider themselves an institution of innovation. Um, and I know they're our backyard provider. That's okay. They're still in network. Our employees can still go to Methodist. They can still choose Methodist providers. However, if they happen to have this plan, this plan only. Then if they seek services at Methodist, it'll be a 40% co insurance and any other provider will be a 30% co insurance. Now, on the other plans, it's not a two-tier

113system. This is something that TRS is doing as a plan of in innovation in region 4, but really the entire effort is to try to keep premium costs down because Methodist is billing about 30% higher than everyone else anyway. Um, so it's okay. You can still see Methodists on this plan and if you don't want to pay the 40%, if you want to pay 30%, we have two other plans to choose from. Okay, Matt. Um, this is the primary plus plan. It's even richer. Um, the deductible for individuals is $1,200. The office visit is 15. Still, the $50 co-pay on urgent care. And you can see here, all covered services on this plan have a co insurance of 20%. So, on this plan, if I go to Methodist or Memorial Herman or HCA, it's going

114to be a 20% co insurance. And then, um, Matt, next slide. Thank you. So, one of the things I really want to do, one of my goals during this enrollment season is to help educate our employees on how to be consumers of healthcare. You know, we're consumers of everything else. If you want a new car, you don't just walk to the car lot and go, I'll take that one. You choose your car. You start calling around all the dealerships. You try to get the best price. And healthcare, it's been too easy just to hand that insurance card over and go wherever I want. So, here's just an example and one that I'm going to use in my presentations. Let's say that I need to get an X-ray or an MRI and it's going to cost

115$1,000. I can make choices as a consumer of healthcare. First of all, I can now go to an urgent care and get an X-ray for 50 bucks. That's all it'll cost me out of pocket. I can go to one of my freestanding emergency rooms, which I know are really great partners in education. However, as an consumer of health care, I need to understand I'm going to have to pay $500 out of pocket plus 30% co insurance. That same X-ray that cost me $50 at urgent care is going to cost me 800 at a freestanding if I want to go to the hospital or the Methodist system than 30 or 40% depending on what plan I'm in. But I think it's important if we can help employees understand they have choices in where they receive the

116same highquality health care, we can really bring down prices which will help us control premiums, but it's got to be an education for employees to do that. And then finally, the high deductible plan. Um, again, deductible still comes down. This is a plan that you can use in conjunction with the health savings account. And on this one, 30% co- insurance and um it also does have the Teddoc and ReadyMed. Um those have a higher uh out of pocket of $3042 because IRS regulations state that on a high deductible plan the first dollar um cannot be covered. So that is why that is there. Um I did want to take just a minute because I'm so proud and I know you will be too. So, I wanted to share this um this good moment with you.

117You remember I brought Jessica Brown, our nurse practitioner, over in September when we hired her. We talked about our goal was to really increase the number of employees using our wellness clinic. Um we do a survey of five questions with every employee who goes over to the clinic. We continue monthto month to receive A and A+ ratings. Not one single complaint I should knock on one have I had. Um, since Jessica has been our provider over there. We started in January seeing about 261 employees a month. By April, we are up to 346 employees. That's about 17 employees a day. Um, we're we're about maxing out um with what we can provide. Um, but I am so happy and I just want to tell you the stories that I hear of employees who, you know,

118um, their blood, uh, excuse me, blood pressure is being managed, their diabetes is being managed. Um, she has even got extensive experience in mental health and has helped with some employees who are going through some crisis. Um, so I knew you'd be really proud of those numbers and I wanted to share those as well. Do you have any questions, >> please? But I'm glad we're coming back to TRS because I remember when we left, we had a lot of complaints. I would say, you know, I don't know why we left and left TRS in the first place, but I do know. >> Me either. >> But I kind of do. Yeah. But anyway, I'm glad we're coming back. Looks like it's a lot better and advantageous for all the >> It is. And here's the

119best part. I I didn't even say the very best part and Bridget will talk about this next, but really um by next year our medical plan should be stabilized. We should not have to subsidize anymore. So think about where we were two years ago, where we were a year ago, and where we are now. So yeah, we're very proud of the work that we've done. >> I remember when we changed. >> Absolutely. And again, as always, I thank you so much for your support. You have just been so supportive through the whole process. We appreciate it. Would you please send us this updated >> um PowerPoint because we don't have all those data pieces, >> right? >> Yes, absolutely. I'll share that with no Amy first. >> I can't believe you didn't send it Saturday

120morning. >> I was we were still president was still working this morning. >> Correct. >> She called me and she's like, "Okay, the wheels have landed. Let's let's revisit this again." So, yes. >> Correct. That's that's that's good news for GCCSD. >> Yes. And in all fairness to administration, I'm a real stickler for getting information on time and we did talk about this and we knew that the information would come until late Friday. So, thank you for working through the weekend to get the solid information to us and what you're doing. Uh it's it's a good feeling when we know we have you in charge of this. >> Thank you. >> Any more questions, comments? Absolutely. >> But Dr. Bakers, thank you and and the rest of the team for this and Bridget for this

121because um really show a commitment to our to the staff of Goo Creek because right now insurance and anything from medical and all that is really up in the air for so many um and this is a lot of work that you put into this and and in ensuring that we navigate this system and and you navigated it and and that's I just want to give you sometime we always have to give a a compliment. So thank you. >> Thank you so much. We appreciate that. >> I do for sure. >> Two years ago, it was a >> It's a little different. >> Our blood pressure was up, >> but thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Yeah. Um Dr. Acres and I talk because I'm on a TASBY um benefits board. So we talk about

122how we can help the employees here in the district and when she gave me the numbers I was like wow we have gone up and I commend her because she probably do more work than I do but we try to talk about what can happen you know if we constantly tell employees about the things that they could get through going through our wellness center and I want to commend her on what she's doing. >> Thank you. Thank you. We had a wonderful um presentation MD Anderson with our operations people and they were talking about cancer screenings that you should get and the question came up well where can I go to get these and it was so great because I was like the wellness clinic. Um, so yeah, and they were so pleased to learn

123that these things MD Anderson was telling them they needed were available to them at no cost. >> Great. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next, we are going to transition to our last uh superintendent report and we're going to move to budget and financial update. the purse. >> Thank you. Okay, good evening. Uh tonight we are going to talk about the budget and financials. Uh we're on the home stretch and this is going to be our last May meeting and then we have two more meetings in June. So with that, we'll get right into it with the finance update. Good evening, President Campey, board of trustees, uh, Superintendent Rodriguez, and guest. Um, we today, tonight, I'm going to go over the financials as of March 31st, 2026. All of our major um, funds are

124strong and in a stable position across the board. We're on track to end the year in a positive position. From a capital perspective, the district continues to make strategic planned investments. So looking at our general fund, like I said, it remains strong. Revenues are at 97% of budget with the local revenues outperforming at 105% due to an increase in our tax collection. In our local collections expenditures are at 74% which is showing continued discipline spending and we are projecting a healthy ending fund balance of $17 million. >> I like it when you say that. You can say that after every she keeps saying it. >> Um the debt service fund is supported by strong revenues. see we have um good collections coming in through property taxes and it's projected to end the year with approximately

125$44 million. This ensures that we are well positioned to um take care of our long-term debt commitment. And looking at our child nutrition fund, it is operating at a planned deficit. This was something that we had to do to get our fund balance down. Uh revenues are currently at 76% while expenditures are trending about 49% currently. And although we're operating at a deficit, the fund maintains a positive fund balance of about 10.7 million for the year end. Looking at our our long range um planning fund, capital improvement fund. This is this fund is continually supporting our um strategic planning efforts, infrastructure, and right now we're currently focused on taking care of some of the safe and secure uh projects for 2026. The plan also includes a transfer out to the general fund to help with

126the health insurance costs that Miss Clark will discuss in a future slide. The series 2019 bond fund is nearing completion with approximately 96% of the projects complete. Most of the projects that are are substantially complete with minimal variances. We have approximately $185 of unallocated funds remaining and our goal is to have the bond program wrapped up by the end of the school upcoming school year. Any questions on the financial part? >> Ending with7 million. Status is good. We're strong. >> Okay. for the uh compensation portion. These are slides you've seen previously, but just just to uh refresh your memory. Um we are compared to 21 other school districts. And so whenever we look at offering compensation for our employees, we uh do go through TASBY so that they can get recommendations as far as how

127other districts compare to Goose Creek. U last last uh board meeting, we shared how we fall with our teacher salaries compared to again the 21 other school districts. And at the bottom you can see uh year zero where we rank versus a fiveyear salary, 10ear salary, 15 all the way down the line in fiveyear increments. And so we showed this chart um just as an illustration to show over the last three years we made a concerted effort um to really make sure that we uh increase compensation with especially with our veteran teachers. And so uh 2324 we were a little bit below the median in each category in 5year increments. And then in 2425 we we got closer to the median um except for our zero year salary. And then this uh this past year

128you can see that we're above the median especially with our 10 15 20 year um teachers. And so that that's making progress. We're moving in the right direction as far as how we compensate. Um we also shared that what uh a 2% increase including equity adjustments that have been added for several groups um due to the teacher retention aotment um that came out of the last legislation. It it created a a a compressed issue with payroll and with pay. And so um so there's equity adjustments that help spread out different positions along the way. And so as a total it's about $5.4 4 million to offer a 2% raise that includes all the recommended equity adjustments. >> Okay, with that we'll get into the budget. But first we'll talk about taxable values. We received um

129Thursday evening we received the uh preliminary taxable values. We are showing a slight decrease which makes sense because the housing market is cooling. Real estate uh is calming down from the huge gains that we've experienced in the last few years since CO. So we are showing a slight decrease about 255 million. Again, this is preliminary values. We won't have certified values until July 25th for Chambers County. And then HCAD usually doesn't get their sent until the end of August, but right now just a slight decrease subject to change >> In July. Yes, sir. Um tax rates, we're not expecting a tax rate change um at this time. We're looking at the point 7475 for uh Maintenance and operations. And then the INS tax rate, interest in syncing, that's the 325, which is the same rate

130that we have currently and uh $1.725. So that is looking stable. And then on the debt service proposed budget um we are showing approximately my glasses my eyes are getting bad. Goodness gracious. Uh we are showing a is it 66 69 69.8 I'm sorry I need to start wearing my readers again. Darn it. Um 69.8. But you can see our our dead service is very robust. Um we're we're totally in the black and in the flush on that particular budget as well as the child nutrition budget. You can see here we have a planned you know we have the planned expenditures. Those are um not expenditures that will continue in the operations after we have to spend down the fund balance. We're purchasing additional items um to support child nutrition. And so those items will

131not continue to hit once we get to the optimum um 3 months uh fund balance of operating expenditures. So we're making progress on that. And then the big one is um general fund uh budget projections here. Everything is pretty much the same that we've discussed the last few meetings. I will however uh direct your attention to item uh line item 17, 18, and 19. Line 17 in particular, you can see TRS care came in at the highest um penalty increase they were get. They told us they gave us a range of 10% penalty up to 40% penalty um to reenter a year earlier, right? And so when we got the news on Friday afternoon, it was the full 40%. And so after I put my hair out from being on fire for a minute, I

132said, "Well, how are we going to fix this?" And so we went back to our capital improvement projects and we had to postpone a couple of projects that we had planned um to be able to cover that expense of $6.3 million to reenter TRS a year earlier. I will also tell you that had we not reentered TRS, it would have cost us $10 to 12 million to remain in the plan that we had. And so obviously this was the correct choice um for multiple reasons. financial and service-wise. So, we still have a balanced budget thankfully um after a lot of hard work by a lot of people and uh we're real proud of that. So, um looking good right now. Next steps are going to be this evening we're going to ask you to uh

133consider and approve the 2% compensation plan for 2627. And then, as I mentioned earlier, we have scheduled the June 15th um budget adoption, but since we've presented everything to you as of this evening, you wouldn't receive anything new, it is conceivable that we could adopt the general the entire budget on June 1st and do it a little bit early if you all would like to do that. Um otherwise, we can we can adopt on June 15th as we normally would. And that's just >> any reason we would not want to do that. >> No, there's no reason to stop us from doing that since you've received all the information. If you're satisfied, we can we can move forward with that a little couple of weeks early. >> I'm seeing a lot of heads nod. Yes.

134>> And you got time to post it and all that. >> Yes, sir. >> We have a lot of space in between this meeting and the June 1st meeting and so we have plenty of time. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Something definitely. >> So, there's a couple things I want to point out. Number one, that penalty that we're paying at the highest amount, uh, you and I met, uh, during a gender briefing, and that was scary and, um, it came true. I want to make a publicly the point that the district is absorbing that. Not one penny of that is being passed on to the employee. Uh, I want to make sure we state that publicly and I am accurate in stating it that way. Correct. Yes sir, you are. Thank you for mentioning that. >> And

135then also >> transparency, >> right? I mean, we've been very upfront and transparent. We've even had public members come and say that. And then the other thing is, as long as I've been on this board, we have not had a balanced budget. Uh I came into doom and gloom when it come to finances through no fault of our own. It's what we inherited. But this board has been dedicated to helping administration see through to a balanced budget. And I know it did not come easy. I know administration worked extremely hard on this. And it wasn't just administration. It's all the way down to every employee at Goose Creek uh deserves accolades for getting us to a balanced budget. So, thank you to you and for all of the employees of Goose Creek and to my

136uh peers on this. Uh congratulations. That's something to be proud of and thank you so much. huge team effort. Yeah. From the ground up. Every every single person in the district has contributed something. So, yes. Thank you. >> And we're all in this. >> Truth be told, I think because of the new leadership we have now, uh Bridget felt a little ease to be able to make some adjustments that she probably couldn't have made before and you know, it worked out for the best I think in the big picture of things. So, >> yes, I feel very supported. So, yes. Thank you. >> Any uh questions or comments? Thank you all so much. >> Okay. Thank you. >> See you again soon. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's always good. >> I'll introduce it. >>

137That concludes superintendent reports. We'll move on to action items. Item number eight, Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh item 8A is consideration and possible approval for proposed District of Innovation DOI amendments. >> Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. And before we move forward on this, I believe this is the one that requires a supermajority vote. I'm seeing a nod. Yes. >> Yes, sir. and that super majority. Uh we did some research on the back side of this and it requires five votes in the affirmative regardless of how many board members are present. So with that being said, what is the pleasure of the board? I move to approve the DOI amendments as presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Clement and a second by Mrs. Barins to approve the DOI

138amendments as presented. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Seeing 64, the motion passes. Super majority. >> Super duper. Dr. Rodriguez, 8B. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, the next items are for the consideration of consent agenda. We have six items. Uh number one, donation from GCCISD education foundation. Item two is the 2627 compensation plan. Item three is one innovative course for high school newcomer students. Item number four is Senate Bill 546 resolution relating to school bus seat belt requirements and to authorize the superintendent to file an appropriate report to the Texas Education Agency. Item number five is board policy EIE local academic achievement retention and promotion proposed revisions. And last is item number six, tax refunds. Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. Before

139us, we have item 8B, consideration of consent agenda items 1 through six. Are there any items that a board member would like hold for separate discussion? >> Hearing none, what is the pleasure of the board? I move to approve consent agenda items 1 through six as presented. >> Second. I have a motion by Mr. Clemen, a second by Mr. Renley to approve consent agenda items 8B 1 through six. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Seeing 64 zero against, the motion passes. I'll take the next one. Item 8 C is consideration of report on continuing education credit. This is related to the board. The number of training hours board members have earned must be read into the record at the at a board meeting and included in the minutes.

140This report is for information only. As of May 4th, 2026, board member Helen Barat Tims, 19.0 hours. James Campey, 36.5 hours. Richard Clem, 15.0 hours. Tiffany Guy, 17.0 hours. Jesse Martinez, 3.0 hours. Mercedes Renteria, 11.0 hours. And Howard Simpson, 26.0 hours. Let the record show that these hours have been read into the record and they will be included in the minutes for said meeting. We'll move on to item D, future board agenda items. Do any board members have any requests for items to be placed on the upcoming board agendas? Hearing none, we will move on. Was it the program? >> That was the guardian program. >> Yeah. And we can discuss that a little bit. >> Yes, sir. >> Anything else? >> All right. Board updates. Are there any share routes from the board? Uh,

141at this time you can talk about trainings, visitations to schools, anything that interests you? I'm seeing a head nod. No. No, >> I did career day all day at Alamo last week and spoke to each grade level. I don't recommend you sign up to do that for kindergarten. I just told them stories, but it I thought it was a really cool thing to to be able to talk about. First, they wanted to know what being retired meant and how the first question, how do you get to be retired? That's so I answered that first. talked about uh you know 32 years as a band director and then um I told them about my current job and I'm amazed that even elementary kids gasp when you say schoolboard members don't get paid. Well then why do

142you do it? So, and I I would say because I love you and they'd all go, "Oh, that that was quite fun." And if you ever get an invitation to do that, I just don't do kindergarten. They're evil. >> Let the evil word be stricken from the record. >> That way, >> Mr. Samson, >> Miss Bro, >> turn on your mic on, please, so we can >> of speaking to and at the group of um future teachers at Ross Sterling High School and um Mr. Clim, they were kind of brutal, too, when I told them that that we as board members don't get paid. So, but um and kind of sympathetic for about a second, >> but uh was really really um interested, but they did their homework. They they did a whole um they

143Googled me, LinkedIn, whatever it was. They made sure they knew everything about me and knew more than I knew about myself probably. But, uh really enjoyed the group. That's a great program that they have over there at Sterling. I I learn from them as well. So, um, just kudos to to that group at Sterling for the future education. >> Thank you, Miss Bratz. Mr. Ren, >> Miss Guy, second chance. >> Uh, the only thing I'll report on, I had the pleasure of uh, representing region 4 on the uh, TASBY Legislative Advisory Council up in Austin. We uh, met uh, two, three weeks ago. It's it's all a blur now. And a small group of us uh aside from the grassroots legislative advisory um task that we had, a small group of us uh participated in

144extra training where we uh spent time really learning how to uh present to uh legislators and committee hearings and such. Uh and we actually had some good one-on-one time, well 15 or 18 of us on one time with a couple legislators. I won't name them, but uh it it was really rewarding. Um we actually sat in the chamber. We practiced mock hearings. Uh we questioned each other and it was really insightful. So the priorities that we have here in Goose Creek, they go up to region four and they're group or put together and then we go to Austin and it's every region across the state is represented where we came come up with the state legislative priorities. Uh so Goose Creek is represented in that as well as region 4 and is a great training

145opportunity for me as a person and as a board member. So thank you for allowing me to share that as well. upcoming board meetings. The next one will be on June 1st, followed by June 15th, July 13th, and August 3rd. >> All right. At this time, >> I'm good on the on June 1st on the 15th. Yeah. nights. Yeah. Then what's on July 13th and I'm on the heights, you know, I'm good in August. But yeah, I know Mrs. um Garcia had reached out and really tried to reschedu these. However, um it wasn't feasible for all board members at the time, >> right? So, I think we're going to stick with the posted um meetings on that you're working nights. Is it is it possible for you to be for part of the meeting or

146just because your schedule it's it's a nogo? >> Well, I mean I go in late get out of here till midnight already. >> Well, aside from public comment, we do have the uh privilege of rearranging uh the agenda. So, if there's an item that you can be present for at the beginning that would uh require or uh for you to vote on, I'd be happy to entertain that if possible. >> I think that's in all fairness to everybody. >> So, let's talk about that if that's an option for you. >> All right. At this time, the board will now recess into close session pursuant to one or more of the following sections of Texas Government Code. Sections 551.071, 071 072 073 074 075 076 082 083 084 087 and 089. No action will be taken

147while the board is in close session. The time is now 8:37 p.m. The board will now recommend an open session. The time is 9:40 p.m. No action was taken while the board was in closed session. Resuming the agenda, we are on 8G consider consideration of personnel. Dr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. administration is recommending for item G 1 A uh that the board approve all professional new hires >> as presented. What's the uh pleasure of the board? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mrs. Bars and a second by Mr. Ria to approve the new hires as presented. Any discussion? All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Seeing 64 and zero against. Motion passes. >> Yes. Uh Mr. President for item G2 A, B, and C,

148administration recommends that the board approve the hiring of 2A, educational diagnostician, Ashley Barkman. G2B, Marissa Phillips as a district specialist, early education and outreach. and G2C Grace Collins as a CTE recruiting and marketing facilitator. >> Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez. What is the pleasure of the board for G2 A, B, and C? >> So move. >> I'll second. >> Have a motion by Mr. Ria, second by Mrs. Guy. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by raising your hand. Seeing 64, the motion passes. >> Yes, sir. Mr. President U administration recommends for item G3 the renewal non-renewal or termination of employment of instructional personnel contracts that the board uh approve this item. >> What is the pleasure of the board? >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Enter and a second by

149Miss Barat to approve renewal non-renewal or termination of employment of instructional personnel contracts as presented. Uh any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor please signify by raising your hand. Seeing four one more time. Let me count against and abstain. Seeing five four zero against and one abstension. That motion passes as well. No further business before the board. We are adjourned. The time is 9:43 p.m. And I would like to thank our community members for staying with us through the whole meeting. All right.