Granbury ISD Board Meeting - August 25, 2025

001No, that says it's 5. >> Good evening. The time is now 5:00 p.m. I call this meeting of the Granberry Independent School District to order. Let the record show that a quorum of board members is present, that this meeting has been duly called, and that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. The board will now adjourn into executive session pursuant to the following sections. Personnel to under Texas Government Code Chapter 551.074 to discuss staff recommendations. Second job disclosures and school marshall list under consultation with attorney under Texas Government Code 551.071 if needed and to discuss real property if needed under Texas Government Code Chapter 551.072. The time is now 5:01 p.m. We will reconvene back into open testing at 6 pm. 6

002pm we will reconvene into open session by beginning with invocation led by Mr. Mike Moore. >> Good evening everyone. Would you please pray with me? Uh, dear Lord, we are so thankful for the great start of this new school year and Lord, we ask for guidance for all of the students, teachers, and staff as we begin this new year. Um, please be with us through this meeting. Give us wisdom as we make the right decisions for Granberry ISD. Open our minds and open our hearts that we do the best for this district. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. And now we will go into our pledges. Um, and we have Actton Elementary here to help us with that. Please stand and join us. >> Good evening board. My name is Haley Briggs

003and I'm an assistant principal at Actton Elementary. It's my honor tonight to help introduce some very important students. These students are genuine leaders on our campus and have been a part of our AES family since kindergarten. They demonstrate responsibility, kindness, and p perseverance and they represent our school with pride every single day. Joining us tonight is third grader Piper Sandalin and wave. Fourth grader Aliana Zeris and fifth grader Gideon Richards. Toward the end of our campus spotlight, you will have the opportunity to hear from these students directly, but for now they will lead us in the pledges. Ready? >> Please stand and join us in the pledges. I pledge alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

004justice for all. >> Now for the Texas flag. I flag. I aliance to the Texas. One state one indivisible. [Music] Sorry. All right. Good evening, board. Dr. Morowski, board of trustees. We're excited to be here tonight. We are the first campus spotlight. And so, no pressure. We know every other campus is watching what we're doing. And so, we hope that you enjoy our presentation tonight. Here with me are my two assistant principles, Haley Briggs on this side and Mallerie Myers on this side. They uh help support all the things that we do at our school. And so, we're excited to be here. up on the screen you can see how sweet it is at Actton Elementary and that is our theme for this year. Uh if you know elementary campuses you know that every elementary

005campus loves a good theme and so our theme drives a lot of the things that we do as a campus and so that is our theme this year. So we're going to keep on going. Let's see if this works. So back in 2012 which is the year that I actually started at Actton Elementary and starting year 14 there. your four as campus principal, the principal at the time, Anna Row, and assistant principal Carla Wimouth, we uh together as a campus uh created a mission and vision of reaching hearts, building character, growing learners, and embracing families. And oftentimes with organizations over the years, you uh adapt and you change the mission and vision of your school. But the truth is is that this mission has carried us for 14 years and it continues to carry us

006in all the things that we do. And so at the heart of every decision that we make, everything that we do, these are our four guiding principles. We believe in reaching hearts. We believe in, we're going to talk about capturing kids hearts tonight, but we believe that um building relationships with our students, building relationships with our families, it's critical. It's critical to everything that we do and it helps us make a difference in the lives of our kids. Building character, we do that in everything we do. It's not just a program. Capturing kids hearts truly is a process. And so many of the things that we talk about tonight are about character building in our kids, growing learners. I think oftentimes people think that the primary reason kids in our building is to learn. And

007of course, it's it's at the it's at the uh it's one of the most important things, but it's not everything. We are so excited to share so many of the incredible accomplishments that we've had academically. Um but all of that, I will say, we believe as a result of the culture that we've built on our campus. And so I'm excited to share some of those things with you tonight, too. Embracing families. Um, if you were to ask our families what they love most about our school, I think it's that they feel like they're a part of it. And so that's um just foundational to who we are is embracing our families. So our mission and vision for the last 14 years, who knows as a new principal comes in down the road, but I can't

008imagine um that changing. a little bit about who we are as a campus. Current enrollment and I didn't get a a number today, but we're hovering around 850 about up about 20 students from where we were last year. Um economically disadvantaged population at the end of the year we were at 43.5. I anticipate that number being similar this year. Um percentage of special education population is 17.4%. This number is up from um where we were about five years ago. And we're going to talk about that in a bit when we talk about just the culture of inclusion that we have fostered on our campus. And the number of teachers and staff, we have 81 staff members. If I had an hour and a half, I would go through every headsh shot of every staff member

009because they truly are uh the heartbeat of our campus. And they are the magic makers. If you ask our students what they love most about coming to school, it's their teacher. They are um they're just wonderful. And so everything we talk about tonight wouldn't be possible without their support and just their commitment to our school. Um what I love most about Actton Elementary and I was a student in Actton Elementary myself going uh kindergarten through third grade is just the rich tradition. So many of the things that we do on our campus have been done for generations. Um when you hear families come in and meet the teacher, you hear parents sometimes even grandparents say to their student, "Oh my gosh, this is where I went to this. I was in this pit. I can't

010believe the pit's still here." We hear that all the time, but it's because there are so many families that had such an incredible experience, not only in our school district, but also in uh in our school, that they want their children to have that same experience. And so that is an honor for us that we get to uh continue to serve families as they come in. Uh and then a neighborhood school, despite being the largest elementary school in the district, which we are, it still feels like a family. And when you walk into our uh walk through our halls, despite them being sometimes feeling crowded, the truth is is that it feels like a big family. And so that is something that we are super proud of. Next up, Miss Myers is going to talk

011about capturing kids hearts. Thank you. Okay, so at ACT Elementary, we are a proud capturing kids hearts campus. We are excited along with the other elementaryaries in our district. We earned CKH rising star campus and that is a recognition earned for first year implementation schools and so we were excited to get that and we are looking forward to possibly earning the national showcase school as well. The capturing kids heart excel model is more than a program for us. It is embedded into our daily practices. It guides how we build relationships, support students and create a culture where every child feels valued. So many of these things we were already implementing and doing at our campus. You'll notice the bottom two pictures. The one in the middle is one of our students. We did a good

012news call of the week every week from our positive office referrals. And we love to shout out our amazing staff and teachers as well. And a lot of those come straight from parents. So this year our staff started the year and they created a social contract and then they created social contracts with their classroom. In the bottom left picture you'll see it's is the social contract is what we follow. how we're going to treat each other, how we're going to treat others, and the respect that we want from others. And so, in a lot of our common areas, we take those social contracts that we that they made in their classroom, we make them into a quilt and put them in our common areas. And so, when you walk into a room, you will be

013greeted by an ambassador um for capturing kids hearts, and they'll ask you about the social contract, see if you want to sign it, and if you agree to those things in the classroom. Um our counselor, Miss Jernigan, is a phenomenal resource to our students and to our families um in our weekly pirate press that we send out. She shares information about CKH and community resources. And then we also highlight her on social media, just sharing with our families about capturing kids hearts, but also resources that they need may need through the community. So our focus for this year is um student leadership. We are committed to expanding opportunities for our students to use their voice, serve others, and grow as leaders. We're kind of doing a little revamp for our student council, our ambassadors program,

014um, and just giving them more opportunities for leadership roles. We are doing a training once a month with our capturing kids hearts ambassadors, just training them on how to be leaders, how to step up, how to set a good example for others. Um, in that, let's see here. Um okay we believe in leadership and character go hand in hand by grounding both in the principles of capturing kids hearts. We are shaping a school environment wherever where every student can thrive. And so we believe um that the goals we have in place and things that we started before capturing kids hearts will help guide us in that direction. Okay. So the next one is a culture of inclusion. And Miss Walton kind of spoke to this earlier about our um special education population growing, but at

015ACT, we are deeply committed to building a culture of inclusion where every student and every family feels valued. On our campus, we have three structured learning classrooms in one SLS classroom. And we take pride in creating spaces and opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our learners. So, one example of that is for Meet the Teacher. We all know with 850 families in the fun parking that we experience at Actton Elementary, it's a little overwhelming when you have that many families and students coming in. So, we offer a meet the teacher earlier during the day, just a little bit less chaotic. Um, students get to tour the campus, get familiar with the location and meet some of their friends from class. And so, also, our students play a key role in building this inclusive culture.

016Each month, our fifth graders look forward to partner PE where they build friendships and connections with our SLC students. They get to go in with our PE teachers and our specials team and um make those partnerships and build friendships with our SLC students. And then even at the beginning of the year, we had a um a fourth grader saying, "Is he still here? Will I get to see him? I can't wait to play with him again." So, we love that. And beyond our campus, we expand opportunities through community partnerships. Um, we participate in the CAST for kids, which provides meaningful experiences for our students and families. We, uh, partner with the Brazes River Authority. You'll see at the top picture. It's one of our favorite events, and I know that we've seen a bunch of

017y'all there. Um, our SLC students and their families get to go out on Lake Granberry. They have their own life jacket. They get to ride on boats, go fishing. It's one of the greatest experiences. Um, even getting them outside of the classroom, seeing that joy in their face, it it's one of our favorite things that we do. We get to partner with the YMCA for monthly field trips. That bottom right picture is the swimming. Uh one of our events towards the end of the year is um swimming. So they all get to go splashing around in the pool. They have the best time. We partner with Stonewater um several times throughout the year, but one of our favorite things we do a respit night for our SLC classrooms. And so sometimes um families that have

018special needs, it is very hard to get um child care or even a night out. And so we offer we allow families to drop off their students after school. Our staff volunteers their time. We have stations set up. We have dinner, a lot of activities for them. Their siblings get to come as well, no matter what age they are. I think the past couple years we we've even had a little 2-year-old running around with us. Um, and Stonewater gives gift cards to the family so that they can go out, enjoy dinner, a night away from the kids just to have some times to oneself because we know that's hard for them. Um, in addition, we highlight inclusive schools week, spread the word day across our campus and announcements helping all students understand the importance of

019kindness, belonging, and acceptance. We are also a purple star campus and our amazing librarian does a a phenomenal job um facilitating this. She hosts a an annual lunchon for our military connected families. Um she works with our ambassadors to help greet them, tour them around, just make that transition very easy for them. So at ACT Elementary, inclusion is not just a program, it's a core part of our identity. Is that Mr. Briggs or back to Miss Walton? >> Sorry, back to me. Sorry, back to you. >> Um so I'm just going to talk a little bit about how we continue to grow and develop as not just as leaders, but also with our staff. Obviously, um having a a heart of continuous growth and improvement starts at the top and we feel like we model

020that for our staff really well. Um instructional rounds is a huge piece of that. Um we attended our leadership team uh attended a session at TESA a couple of years ago on instructional rounds which really at the heart of it is learning from each other. Uh we believe that the best professional development happens within the like within the four walls of our of our school building. And so, uh, sending a teacher down the hallway to see what another teacher is doing is incredibly impactful, but that takes a culture, like a culture to support that. And so, about 3 years ago, we rolled out instructional rounds. It has been just phenomenal. We've seen phenomenal gains. And when we talk about academic achievement in a second, we attribute so much of that to um just the the

021growth in practice in our classrooms. Um, our instructional specialists, of course, support our staff in incredible ways. This is the way we use our title funds and the way that most of our elementary campuses use title funds. Um they are an incredible support. Um our mentoring program which this year we've rolled out a um a district-wide mentoring program that's uniform across the district. We're excited about continuing to develop our new teachers in that way. Um and really this past year we've as the leadership team had the opportunity to lead a lot outside of our school district which has been uh an incredible honor but also an incredible growth opportunity for us. And so this last summer at the TPS summer conference, we got to lead two separate sessions. One on cultivating a strong school culture

022and the other on delivering targeted PD um to our staff. We know that that really providing professional development to 85 staff members is challenging. They all have different needs and so we got to share a lot of the things that we've done on our campus and that was an exciting experience. Um also we've uh gotten to share at two separate uh roundt events. one in Hood County at the council round table and then we were asked to speak um in a couple of weeks in Wise County. And so we're just excited to get to share the amazing things that we're doing on our campus. We learn so much from other campuses and other school districts. It's exciting that we get to share those things with others, too. Next up, that big A on the screen.

023We're excited to share about our rating this year. Uh obviously, we felt like we were headed in this direction, but you never know until you get the numbers in. And so we were thrilled over their summer to find out that we were an A campus. Um like I said, we attribute this to a lot of things. Uh when you look up at the screen, you can see kind of how the breakdown goes for reading, math, and science. Um what I want to hone in on specifically is the closing the gap, the change over time. Um that is for those that are because it's accountability is confusing. Closing the gap is the percentage gap between different student populations. So you look at how all students perform compared to how your Hispanic students perform. You look at

024how all students perform compared to how your special education students perform. How all students perform against even your economically disadvantaged students. To see those gains from 2022 at 78 to a 92 in 2024 25. Like we attribute so much of our rating to that and that is intentional interventions uh responsive interventions. So finding out what students um what what they didn't understand and how to meet those gaps quickly. Um we attribute all of that to that. And so we're very proud of that. We have huge goals for uh this next school year. A lot of it is in that school progress area, which you can see is our uh the area that we're the lowest in. But overall, we're thrilled about having a 911 and being an A campus this year. Up on the righthand

025corner, you can see the two distinctions that we earn. One in science, which our science teachers in fifth grade just blew it out of the water. They did amazing. Um, and then also we were the in the top 25% of schools for closing the gap. So that's a huge area that we're proud of and we were excited to celebrate. Yes. All right, Miss Haley Briggs. Okay, so engaged and connected families. Um, at Actton Elementary, one of our top priorities is making sure that families feel connected and informed and involved. And so, uh, we do that through multiple different methods. The first one being the pirate press. And this is our weekly newsletter that Miss Walton sends out every Friday just celebrating things that had happened during the week, maybe important details coming up in the

026following week or even just events that are um needing to be put on parent schedules. And so uh we really communicate a lot through that. Uh we have a strong social media presence. Um in our opinion, we feel like every school has a story and um if we don't tell it, somebody else is going to. And so we try through social media to um really just convey the heart of our campus and the heart of our teachers and um the values that we put in place for um our campus. And so we hope that that's the message that people are getting through our social media presence um because that's really what it's intended for. And it's such a quick and easy way to um engage with families as well. Um, every grading period we have

027family huddles where the entire school, all 850 kids come down to the pit at one time and it, uh, you can see in that top picture, truly is um, it's really it's magical. The first time I saw it, I was like, how are we going to make this happen? And they pile in and they get to, um, just have community with each other, which very rarely happens as an entire campus. And so, uh, using that as an opportunity to celebrate students, maybe see a program that another grade level has prepared, uh, academic awards, um, you name it, that is just a special moment for our campus and really helps us engage with, uh, students and their families. Um, like Miss Meyer said, we are a purple star campus and so we try our best to

028stay engaged with our military connected families. Um, and then throughout the summer, we try to stay engaged with uh, students and their families. We've planned multiple summer events where we'll um meet one example day pickle ball courts and we sent out a message and students came over the summer and just helped us stay connected with them uh while we were away from school. Um throughout the year you'll see multiple pictures up there of different family events that we have. Um these are our pride and joy because you get to see um like Miss Walton was saying, families truly appreciate the the inside um view of what we do on campus. And so, uh, we feel like if you were to take a poll of our families, they would say that one of their favorite things

029about Actton Elementary is just getting to have those opportunities to connect on campus, uh, with our teachers and with, um, our students and, um, really just creating that family-like atmosphere. Um, we every year do family conferences, parent conferences face to face. Um, of course, we're communicating daily on dojo and remind and phone calls, but we just feel like face to face conferences um, are important. um they really help us form that partnership with parents and and make us both aware that we're on the same side for their child and just wanting success for um him or her in the classroom. We do family surveys frequently and try to implement all of the uh feedback that we get back um from families. That's really important to us because they can see a different view um than

030we often can just um within the walls of our school. And then lastly, our PTO is just incredible and they partner with us on all of these um family events and service projects and really um help us make things possible that sometimes we don't even know how we're going to accomplish it. And so we just truly cannot thank them enough for their partnership, community service, and engagement. Um obviously connecting with our community is very important to us. We try to leverage our community partnerships um as often as possible. And so frequently uh different local businesses or even families at our school will bring in treats for teachers just to try to help us uh maintain a positive culture on campus. Um we another example we had a family over the summer who um has a

031local landscaping business and they uh provided all the funds and did all the work to give us a complete facelift of our front drive. And so we have brand new landscaping uh thanks to them. And the same family last year actually uh donated um to allow us to open up the Susan Moore Memorial Garden. And so that was just um you know a few examples of how we've leveraged those community partnerships, but also provided us an opportunity to then partner with Granberry Chamber of Commerce and host a a red ri or a ribbon cutting uh ceremony in Susan's honor. And so um just a couple examples of how truly impactful community partnerships have been on our campus um and for our students. We also try to foster a love for uh service in our students

032hearts. You'll see up there several uh studentled service projects. Um student council really upped their game last year and did a number of campuswide service projects and communitywide service projects. So a few examples, they did a blanket drive in partnership with the Triple Cross Cowboy Church and collected over 100 blankets to donate to their uh drive that they then put out in the community to families in need over the holidays. um they did a birthday blessing box fundraiser where they um basically created a birthday party in a kit um and donated that to the United Way to be distributed to families who might not have the privilege of having a birthday party every year. And so seeing them make that connection of oh my goodness, this is not something that everybody um experiences and then

033understand the importance of giving back um has been one of my favorite um memories of any role really. Um we also do a lot of schoolwide fundraising. Um so one example up in the top right corner is the Booware Foundation. This is a Granberry based um nonprofit who uh supports families who are experiencing the loss of a a sudden loss of a child. And so um through our penny war um annually we have raised over $5,000 each year and then have seen firsthand how that um how that um nonprofit has impacted not only our campus but our community as well. And so, um, just partnering with that throughout the community service aspect has been a huge, um, push the last few years. And again, a push that we're going to make in our student leadership

034organizations moving forward. Um, and then lastly, just another example of, um, engaging with the community is hosting campuswide tours. And so, posting um, and seeing, hey, is anybody interested in coming to our campus and walking our halls and seeing what our teachers and our students are doing doing day in day in and day out? um has made an incredible impact of just giving perspective uh to what the school day actually looks like. And so um we're going to continue partnering with our community um in those ways. >> And I will add to that that uh our last campus tour, a teacher from Keller ISD who follows us on social media took a day off, came to the tour, and we hired her this year. And she's a rockstar teacher who just saw us on social

035media and came for a tour. So they do work. Even for recruitment, they work. Um, okay. So, we talked a lot. We know who who really matters, whose opinions really matter are our students. So, we're going to invite our students up here, Miss Piper, Aliana, and Gideon. They're going to share very briefly just what they love about our school. Piper, >> I love Actton Actton Elementary because it is the best school ever. The food is really yummy and I like getting to eat lunch with my friends. I love Miler's club because I get to run with my friends and special teachers. It makes it feel makes me feel fast and strong. Learning is fun too and it is not boring at all. And we get to do cool things every day. My school feels like

036Disneyland because it is happy, exciting, and I never know what fun thing is going to happen next. [Applause] Hi, my name is Aliana Zerz and I'm in fourth grade at Actton Elementary. I'm honored to be here this evening and have this evening and have the opportunity to speak to you about how great Actton Elementary School is. Honestly, I love everything about Actton, but here's my top five favorites. The teachers are so supportive, kind, and always willing to help with any questions I have about school work. I love how fun school is and how everyone encourages you to follow your dreams and your journey and your journey wherever life takes you. Actton Elementary. Actton Elementary isn't just a place. It's a feeling. And that feeling is safe, happy, welcoming, and really fun. There are dull moments.

037There's there are never dull moments because all the activities are specials specials. And of course, recess. Actton Elementary has everything you could ask for like extend day. I can stay after school, be creative, and finish homework and play with my friends. In closing, there is many other things about Actton Elementary. An amazing place to be a kid. Five reasons are just the beginning, but I know that you guys don't have all night to hear every single one. Me, many blessings to y'all and thank you for your so so much for your time. [Applause] I love being at Actton Elementary because there is always something fun to do. My favorite is Milers because I get to run with my friends and see how many laps I can do. Math is awesome, too, because I like figuring

038out problems and feeling proud when I get the answers right. The teachers here are the best because they actually make learning fun, and they help me when I don't get something. I also really like AR because it's cool to take tests and see my points go up. That's why I love Actton Elementary. It's fun, challenging, and the best school ever. >> Great job, boys and girls. Great job. All right. Thank you all so much for your partnership and supporting our students. And if y'all have any questions, we're more than happy to answer them. >> Thank you for sharing all the wonderful, amazing things happening at your campus. My kids go there. I went there when I was a kid. It really truly is a special place. But it's the people in the building that make

039it special. So, thank you so much. You're >> welcome. >> And if we have any family in the audience, if you would please stand and be recognized. [Applause] All right. Do you want to get [Music] sorry? [Applause] There she is. >> Okay. Next up, we have our public hearing on the budget and tax rates. Mr. EMTT Whitefield. >> Thank you, Madam President. That's going to be a tough act to follow, but I'll do my best. You do have in front of you this packet right here. This does have some things in it. There are packets in the back for people out in the audience if they want to look at that as well. In your packet, you will have the calendar that we've been going by for this year. Um, then the page right after

040that will be what I call the budget worksheet. So, you can see what different departments and campuses are doing. And then you will have where our revenues are coming from, how our budget is broken down by functions, and then by objects. And then you'll have a copy of the uh debt service budget that we're going to be presenting, the child nutrition budget that we'll be presenting, and then you will have a budget summary that we were required to post by the state. And then the next page will be what we hope we posted in the paper as a notice of our public meeting. And then our tax rate calculation worksheet will be the last thing in that booklet. Like I said, there are copies in the back um for the people in the audience so

041they can take a look at this as well so they can see what you're seeing. First, we'll talk about our revenues and where they're coming from. You can see that our current our budget that I'm presenting to you is a 98.120 uh million budget. And that is in that's a little different from what I presented to you in in July. July budget was $96.8 million. You can attribute that to the increased tax base in um in Granberry and Hood County and to the uh the a lotments that we were presented by the state legislature that were added in as well. Now, these will be on certified value, so they're a little bit different than what we presented in July. So, our budget is 98.1 million. Um, and you can see down through there that we

042have all the 5700s are going to be our local budgets and then our 5800s will be our state budgets and then the 5900s will be our federal budgets that are included in our maintenance and operations. The next page in there will be the budget for expenditures broken down by function. You can see that our instruction is 61% of our budget net of recapture because we like to calculate it that way because that recapture money is going to um other school districts and not necessarily ours. The next highest one would be your 50 function 51 which is our plant maintenance which does include our utilities and everybody knows that utilities are going up. So you can see that is the second largest part of our budget but it is only 10.7 compared to the 61 net

043of recapture for um that pos that particular budget. Um the next the next chart that you're going to look at will be the salary broken down by our object codes which means salaries contracted services supplies other operating and debt services in our capital. If you look at 2526 budget of our salaries it's at 80,462,000 that is 85.4% 4% of our budget net of recapture. So the the majority of our budget is salaries. We are the largest employer in Hood County with,200 plus employees. So to kind of recap what we just talked about in the general operating and then we can talk about the general operating budget if you want to at that point. Um based on certified values, it is a $98.1 million budget in revenues. Um, it is a balanced budget with the expenditures

044being $98.1 million and it is an increase from last year's proposed budget an amount of $4.2 million. This budget >> I think um can we catch up the slideshow with what we're talking about? >> It's okay. We just want to make sure that they're able to see what you're talking about. >> I apologize and we didn't take this part out but here's here's where we are right now. >> Um revenues are $98.1 million. The expenditures are also $98.1 million and that will be a balanced budget. Again, that is increased from last year's proposed or proposed budget that we adopted of $4.2 million. This budget does include the state legislaturator's um state uh Texas retention aotment which is $2.2.5 million and it does include the support staff required amount of $281,000. However, with our auxiliary and

045para increases, it was actually a 7 $754,000 increase for those salaries. It also includes a basic aotment um increases. These are the increases that the state gave us for um utilities and for fuel. And now the project, we'll go through the fund balance and then we can ask questions about general operating. This will create a fund balance of $43 million. Now, if you'll remember, that will include the 16.8 872 million. That was the rev the reverse frozen levy settle up that uh we'll talk later in the meeting that where we're going to put that in a committed fund balance knowing that that money is going to eventually go back to the state, but right now it is in is in an investment that is gaining interest. So the 40 it created a $43 million um

046fund balance, but net of the 66.872 that's about 27% of our operating budget. And you know, we've talked in the past that um fund balance is not a one-size fit all fits all for districts. Okay? They they decided that about 25 to 30% is considered a healthy fund balance. Board policy requires us to be at 20%. So between 25 and 30% is considered healthy. That would put us at 27%. Now, having said that, when we do when we commit the 16.88772 million later on in the meeting, there's also commitment of 1.2 and then another million dollars for vehicles and HVAC utilities. When we do that, it will put our net um fund balance for our un unrestricted fund balance at about 24%. So it gets us closer down to where we should be at our

04720%. Because we'll we know those are going to be used for um particular things and we'll do that as well. Now that is the end of the general operating. If you have any questions about that particular budget, we can do that right now or we can wait till the end. >> Any questions? So what do we >> what do we think right now our recapture is going to be >> right now if you go back to the um go back to the function level which was the second get past this it's going to be function 91 >> okay >> under function 91 last year or this budget this budget cycle we were about 3.7 which is actually a little less about 3.3 when we settled up with the eight. Um, next year we're projecting $3.8

048million to be recaptured under function 91. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Any other questions about general operating? Okay. Debt service. This is what we use to service our debt that is out there from past years. Um the budget that is being presented to you is at 14 1.5 cents and that will include a defeasance. You can see here on this budget worksheet here that our taxes that we'll bring in are $13.7 million. Um prior year $75,000 penalties and interest $75,000 and interest income on those funds would be about $400,000 for the year. And then we are scheduled for a $515,000 hold harmless from the state. You can see the expenditures under there are our bond principal, our interest, and our other debt fees. Then of course our payment to Clever ISD at 14825 which

049creates a deficit budget of $525 which is not necessarily a bad thing because we will be defeasing $1.65 million. So at the 14.5 cents that we're proposing tonight, we will be able to defease $10.165 million of our uh series 2020A. that will save taxpayers approximately $1.756 million in interest payments over the life of that bond. >> And when you say the fees, can you explain what that means? >> The fees is prepayment. >> So, we're paying it early. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> The next slides you're going to see are these are what BOK presents us with when they talk about the defeasement or the prepayment of this bond. It is for our 2020 and it includes the 10.165. You can see at the bottom of the PAR amount there, that is a

050two $10.165 million that we're going to prepay. And then the next page in your in your slide set will show that that saves the district uh the district taxpayers 1.75599.95. So the 1.756 interest in payments over the years. And then our favorite little slide that we like to show from 2005, we've prepaid or refinanced $178 million in um bonds, saving the district taxpayers in if we include this one tonight, saving district taxpayers over since 2005, $31.2 million in interest payments. Wow. That's your debt service budget. If there are any questions about that, I'd be glad to address those. >> Hey, so for what do we pay Cleburn ISD? >> Cleburn is uh so we uh the back the back road in um PCON is actually Clebrurn ISD. Those students come here because Cleburn will not

051send a bus into PCON to pick those kids up. So when they pass their um bonds over there, we're responsible for that portion. And it's just we're it's about what I say it's a I don't want to guess it. I'm going to give tell you the number 21,216 is what we pay them. And that's about what it is annually and that includes principal and interest. >> But we collect property tax from those homes and then we have to pay it out to them. >> We collect the ADA from those students. >> I see. I think you that's a better way to say it. >> Yes. Any other questions about debt service? The next budget that we'll discuss will be child nutrition. It will be a balanced budget at about $5 million, just just slightly over

052$5 million. You can see there that with most of the funds come from our federal programs because it is a federal program that they are fed under. And then you look down under expenditures where the 6,300s, that's where all the food is. So that's going to be their major expense there other than their salaries which is $1.9 million. Again, it is a balanced budget at just over $5 million. The revenue is projected to increase this year from last year and so are the expenditures. And it will project we'll have a projected fund balance of about $1.6 million in that account at at August 31st, 2026. That'll have the program sitting at about 32.22% of their operating u revenues. And um just recently um TDA has bumped theirs to a six-month. So we're we're below the

05350% level on that. So that should keep us healthy there. Are there any questions about child nutrition that I can answer? Okay, we'll move into tax rates. I'll put everything up on the board here. The current tax rate is at the 9319. The tax rate that will be presented to you tonight will be 92.96 cents. That is a maximum compressed tax rate, which is what TEA sets as our our projected tax rate due to the compression from House Bill 3 and the last legislate, not this last legis legislative session, but the session before. It will put us at 61.46. And then we will add our 17 cents of enrichment pennies that we had five golden pennies, three golden pennies, and then nine copper pennies that the taxpayers voted on November of 2023 to allow us

054to add those 17 cents to our maximum compressed tax rate. Even with that tax rate, um, based on with the homestead exemptions, based on our projections, the average home, the average, u taxpayer in Hood County or in Granberry will have a $351 savings on their school taxes this year compared to last year. And that is on the average home. Some will be more, some will be less. So the tax rate we will be presenting will be 92.96. That will include the 61.46, 46 the 17 cents and then the 14.5 cents for the debt service rate. Are there any questions about the tax rate that I can answer? >> Yes. Um I've heard a lot of talk about this no new revenue tax rate and um I notice on here our tax rate versus the no

055new revenue tax rate. It's only a difference of 0.009 cents. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> That includes the defeasance. Yes, ma'am. And that's with us paying our our bonds early. >> That is correct. Yes, ma'am. That Yes. The prepayment is in that calculation. Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. >> Etheas is the legal word. >> Etheas. I like to use uh normal language, not everybody uses the school words and it's uh it can get confusing. So, >> I appreciate that. And I also appreciate your um your fiscal conservatism and um stewardship. And I appreciate the use of the committed fund balance to bring another level of transparency to help show our community what we're planning for and how we're allocating those funds to plan ahead to purchase things like ACS and buses. >> Yes, ma'am.

056That is the end of my slideshow. Unless you have some other questions, I'll be glad to answer any of them that I can. >> Any questions? Thank you, Mr. Whitefield. >> Thank you. >> All right. Now, we're going to move into closing the public hearing on our budget and tax rate. And now we're going to move into our achievement spotlight. First, we have our community donations. Uh, and Mrs. Karen Lowry, will you present those for us? >> Yes, ma'am. Community donations. Donations from State Farm Angela Parker to the Oakwoods Campus Activity Fund to fund teacher appreciation needs. $4,500 from HB Pat Wilson to the GMS campus activity fund for teacher lunchon. $100 donation from Brookshshire's Matt Owens to the GMS campus activity fund for staff lunchons $50. Kroger Hillary Baker to the GMS campus activity

057fund for staff lunches $316.56 donation from Bass Roofing Keith Keller to the GMS campus activity fund for staff lunches $269.11 donations from Stonewater Church serve our schools initiative to the GMS campus activity fund for family night at the Brazo's drive-in $500 donation from Russell Feed and supply to the GHS FFA student activity account for t-shirt sponsorship $3,000. Donation from the GHS volleyball booster club to the GHS volleyball campus activity fund to supplement travel $32928. Donation from the Pirate Touchdown Club to the GISD Athletic Department campus activity account to help fund fieldhouse shower renovation. $931.14 from A1 Donuts to the GHS Junior Optimist Student Activity Fund for Swim Safety Project. $800. Uh donation from Shottenkirk Hyundai to the GHS Junior Optimist Student Club Fund for Scholarship for Summit, $500. And donations to staff t-shirts from Shottenkirk,

058$11,411. or total donations to the community $22,769. Thank you, Miss Lowry. And thank you to all the different organizations in our community that continuously um support our school district, whether through volunteering their time or donating funds um like we just recognized tonight. We are truly um appreciative of it. We couldn't do it without your partnership. So, thank you. Okay, moving on. After our community donations, we have a be an angel sped grant presentation by Sandy Ser Morani Samarini and Wayne Cooper. Y'all come on up here. Stand beside me. Uh, madame president and the school board. Um, thank you for letting me be here tonight. And, uh, my name is Wayne Cooper. I'm physical therapist for the Granberry School District. And after 28 years, I think this is my second school board meeting to be at.

059All that's good or bad, but um, but so do appreciate all of y'all and and all that you do. And and while I have your attention, just a little plug how much I love working here at Granberry. and uh working with our special a kids and I just get to play with kids all day. So uh what a blessing that is. But it is an honor to be here tonight and uh tonight I want to give a big special thank you to an organization called Be an Angel. It's up on your screen and introduce you to this is uh Denise Kaufman and this is Brandy Giden. Um they are with Be Angel, an organization uh in North Texas that helps families and children um with special needs to get equipment uh that they can use

060within their home, their uh environments to be as independent as they can. And there's a there's a long story and it includes Sandy uh Samarini, our OT, and of course Shelly, our our special director, and filling out a grant to to be able to get some equipment that we need. and and uh I know Sandy and Denise uh got together and and they were just talking about different things and then Sandy said, "Hey, can what about uh the school? Can you know help us with that?" And and so then I became involved and said and Sandy said, "Wayne, what what equipment should do we need or is there needs?" And I said, "You know, we really need uh some more activities, some more seating chairs and equipment for our classrooms, and we need some a

061couple more walkers. uh they're called gate trainers for our kids with multiple disabilities who are learning how to walk and be independent and get out of the wheelchair being more independent in the classroom. And so um these this equipment is very expensive. And so with their help and uh through a grant application process, we were able to see close to $70,000 worth of equipment uh this year and we got it over the summer. And as you see in the pictures, uh, we have three of our kids. Uh, two and they're walkers. That's Braden. He's kind of the bottom left with with the blue shirt. And then, um, Bladen, excuse me. And then Braden next to him. Uh, he's at the high school. He's a senior this year. And I tell you what, I told him

062he was getting a new walker. And he has flipped out. And, uh, uh, he has been so excited about getting his new walker. And the first day of school, he's like, "Are we walking today?" I said, "Well, we're going to get in it. We're going to get fitted in it, and maybe we'll walk." And sure enough, we went all the way through the cafeteria and uh and had a great time. And so, uh but what's really been helpful is our our seating chairs. Up in the leftand corner, you'll see uh that's a Riftton activity chair. That one is an older one. Um that's not even the oldest one. you know, I inherited some when I came here and I love Ripton equipment. I love Ripton equipment and there's there's a lot of equipment uh vendors,

063but uh I'm not a Ripton salesman, but I love their equipment because again, I've been here a long time and we still use that equipment that I inherited when I got here. And so, you'll see, you know, the wooden chair is actually not a Ripton chair, but that's something that we were using last year for a student, actually for Anthony. He's in the orange shirt in the bottom uh corner and he's in his new Ripton activity chair. And so uh a lot of advancement in the last since the summer with with those chairs. We were able to receive uh seven chairs and they're about seven grand a piece. And so uh when you include all the laterals and the and the and all the supports that come with that chair, those activity chairs, they're able

064to go up and down. They're able to tilt back, tilt forward. So help with transfers. They help with positioning, help with seating. So, you see Braden in the right hand corner. He's playing Uno. That's his favorite thing. He loves to beat Mr. Tom every day. And um but it allows us to to get out of his wheelchair to go straight up. If you can see in the picture, he is straight up next to that desk and we are able to go up and down. We can we don't have to to come in and carry desk like I've had for years and adjust the desk for the wheelchairs or whatever chair we have. We can go up and down at any desk table and they can be right up there with their peers doing their schoolwork

065playing their games and and they're just like everybody else and that's what we're all about. I know we've already talked about that and it's Actton Elementary even and so u very excited uh to receive this. So y'all welcome me and let's give big thanks to be an angel and u for all they've done. And so um anyway, is it okay? I think Denise would like to say a few words. That'd be okay. That'll be good. >> We were glad to be able to help. Um, it's just the two of us in the Dallas Fort Worth area and that means from Tyler to Witchah Falls to Stevenville. We try to hit all the districts, meet with a therapist, uh, Cooks Children's, meet with therapist because those people are working with kids we can help every day.

066Um the fun side thing we get to do is help schools along the way too. Um but if you know special needs kids, please share our organization with them. We provide equipment to individual families and children, hearing aids, hearing devices, family camps four times a year. We pay for 12 hours of inhome respit care per month. Mom and dad can get a date night, spend time with the other siblings, whatever they want to do. Um the wait list right now with the state for respit care is 10 years long. So for mom and dad to just get any time for themselves is important to us. Um we have a Christmas program that Granberry ISD could uh be part of next year because we've already decided for this year the districts that are involved. Um, we

067do a lot. Uh, we like to call ourselves the best kept secret in Texas, but we're trying to change that. And, uh, I do want to mention I have friends here from the Hood County Stampede. Um, they we are their beneficiary this year. So on the development side, on the development side, if you would like to support us by supporting them, uh they have a gayla coming up in October, uh that you could be part of here in the community. Um other than that, share, share, share, uh our website with uh the families that you know. uh we don't have a waiting list for any of those services and if you need more school equipment we've already told him that just let us know what what he needs. We were we are blessed with a

068big grant um that we get for the next two years that strictly has to be spent on school equipment or children's services. So uh we want to get all of that spent. We don't want to send anything back to the state. [Applause] >> Should we do this? >> Absolutely. >> Hold it up just a little bit. >> Hold it up. >> Yeah, just a little bit. >> Which committee? I don't know. It doesn't say who. It doesn't say what committee. So, I don't know. >> Thank y'all so much. >> Okay, moving on. There is no board committee update, so we're skipping that and going right into the superintendence report. >> Yes, thank you so much. Um it's great to be here after the first days of school and so we had an excellent start and

069very excited about um the year already. I wanted to give an enrollment update just in case those of you that are listening would like to know. Uh last Friday our enrollment was 7,865 students which is right in line with our enrollment last year. So we will watch that number um as we usually do each week. Um, also we've got some transportation um, information that's coming out for elementary parents about a new bus system that we'll be implementing soon. And so we're going to start after Labor Day uh, some trial and uh, doing some uh, what do you call it? Scanning on and off with um, an ID and then parents will get more information about how that will be useful to you as a parent soon um, in the next few weeks. So you'll get

070information by email I believe on Wednesday about that. So be on the lookout for that. Also, our cell phone policy is going really well. So, it has created a lot of wonderful um consequences like a lot of um talking and playing and engagement with our kids and they're just doing a great job and we're so proud of them and we want to thank our community and our families for really reinforcing that at home because we couldn't do it without you. So, thank you. Um also I want to highlight that we did get our preliminary first ratings. Um, so for 10 years in a row, we've had straight A's, and I'll tell you what the first rating is in a minute. And this is our third year to have a perfect score of 100. So, first

071is our financial integrity rating system of Texas. Um, and it's a through the Texas Education Agency. And it's a system that evaluates the financial management practices of Texas public school districts and charter schools. So, we're very proud proud of that score. And for the third year to have preliminary results back to have a 100 score is pretty amazing. Also, I'm always thankful to the board. you'll hear tonight a little bit about our scores um and our data. And although there's always room to grow, we are definitely on the move up and we couldn't do it without a supportive board. So, I'm always grateful when we start talking about data um and monitoring and making decisions and and we appreciate your support. And going forward each month, we'll update our community and our board about how

072we're doing on the strategic plan. And so, you'll see different priorities each month in front of you so that you'll be updated on how we're um going forward with those results. And lastly, we're about to move into public comment, and we value our public comments and grateful to have those at the beginning of our meeting. But there's a new Texas law um from Senate Bill 12 that prioritizes our district parent um comments. So, when we have our public comments, we're going to ask our parents to be prioritized first because that's what the the state has asked us to do and we agree. We want to hear from them. So, as we go through our public comments, you hear hear our parents first. And that moves us into our next section. I do have the public

073comment list. >> Okay, next up is public comments and as Dr. Moroski said, we are starting with parents in our district. First up is Amy Forest speaking on item 12J for out of state travel for the band. Uh, good evening board member, superintendent, and the members of the audience. Um, I'd like to take a moment to speak about um why the pride of Granbury High School and the Actton Middle School band should be allowed to travel to perform out of state. This isn't just about music. It's about education, growth, and an opportunity that may never come again. First, the educational value is tremendous. Music is not only an art. It is a discipline that teaches teamwork, perseverance, and excellence. When our students perform outside of their own community, they are challenged to raise rise to

074a higher standard. They learn from exposure in different cultures, audiences, and in some cases, they get to hear from worldclass musicians that they might not otherwise meet. This kind of hands-on experience is simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. Um, second, this particular invitation is truly a once in a-lifetime opportunity. Being selected over hundreds of bands that did apply um is an honor that acknowledges the hard work that the kids do and the directors and all of the parents that have ever supported a band member. If you don't believe me and or if you don't know, the kids work really hard. And if you want to see how hard they're working, go out 7 am to the grid. You'll see them there marching. Um uh for our students, this is the moment where they can

075showcase their talent in a bigger stage and bring pride to our school and to our community. Finally, the life lessons are just asu as important as music. Traveling together teaches responsibility, unity, independence, and respect. Students return with memories and confidence that will stay with them long after high school. They gain a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves, and that experience can inspire them for years to come. So I ask you to consider not only these kids to not only let these kids participate in the all for music um concert but also finding ways to support them whether it be investing financially in their for their trip or just cheering them on publicly. This program has had a few setbacks. I think all programs have um Oh gosh. Um these kids are now making

076something positive that we should be proud of. By allowing these kids to perform in all for the music for all, we are opening doors for them, doors of education, personal growth, and pride that represents not only the Granberry ISD school district, but also our entire community. Thank you so much. Thank you. [Applause] Okay, next up we have Kylie Haye speaking on item 13B policy FD UIL and Actton Elementary. Hi, thank you all very much. I will be very brief um because I am thankful for this platform to get to come speak and to say hi to everybody. I really just want to I was getting I got a chance to be a part of the UIL homeschooling committee with several of you and I just want to express my sincere gratitude for that. I feel

077like getting a platform to speak and to hear and to be a part of that was something I had never been a part of and I'm just very appreciative for that. There were three board members in attendance and I just appreciate your willingness to hear and be um you know use these insights to inform your decisions on the vote tonight. I don't know how it's going to go, but I appreciate um being a part of that. And since Actton Elementary was a line item tonight, I just cannot leave here and not express just the amazing school that that is. You heard from these precious people. they should be the ones up here speaking right now. But they I mean my kids are a part of it too and it's just the best school. Thank you

078to the leadership of that school. Um you feel respected. You feel a part of it when you walk through those doors and I just wanted to plug that as well. So thank you. Thank you. And thank you. Thank you for taking the time to volunteer. Okay. Next up, we have Stuart Neil speaking on item 13B, the UIL policy. >> Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Moroski, honorable members of the board. I'm a dad of two that are both in the high school band. Thank you, Miss Amy, for what you do for the band. And on behalf of all the parents, especially myself, I want to thank you for this opportunity to address the board. Um, specifically, I want to talk to you briefly about item 13b. uh more specifically proposed policy revision two. I applaud the

079board for the idea of wanting to create the committee to further study the homeschool um inclusion into our UIL activities. My children are both involved in UIL and when I was re reviewing the agenda um I just kind of had a couple of questions that I hope that I can pose to the board for your discussion and further consideration. The first one being while I applaud the idea of u creating a committee to further study the issue, I do question why we would create the pilot program tonight as opposed to studying the issue first and getting the answers to all of our questions and then maybe revisiting the issue at a later date which leads to my second question which is do we know what other districts in the area are doing? Um earlier this

080morning I actually reviewed the education code and the specific section in the education code says that um if we implement this policy and create the um allow the homeschool children to participate. Other surrounding districts that do not implement that policy, we have to accept their children as well. And the law specifically says the the district that is closest to their geographical house. So if we don't know what other districts are doing, I wonder if we could be opening ourselves up to taking children from such districts as Toller, Leipan, Glenn Rose, Alo who touches us in the north and even Clever who touches us out by PCON which leads to the final to the next question which is what does that mean to the net impact for our children that are enrolled in the district? And

081I'm going to I will admit this is a somewhat selfish question on my part because I do have two children in the band and I wonder if we suddenly um accept students from all of these other districts and we don't know what the net net impact is, does that mean that there's going to be opportunities for our current children now that will go away? Do are there certain children that are involved in the Granberry ISD schools and the programs today that will no longer be allowed to participate because their spots are given to another child? And I just it's I think it's something that's worth studying. And then finally, I'm an attorney. Um and so from the lawyer brain of me says, have we studied what the liability impact is? And does the liability change

082if the student that's involved in the program is not actually enrolled in our schools? And while the TOR Claims Act does protect the district from a lot of personal injury lawsuits, it does not protect against suits involving motor vehicles. And heaven forbid something happened on a bus. Have we studied the liability issue? I just wonder if maybe we need to create the committee, study the issue, and then reconsider how we move forward later on into 2020 2026. But I appreciate y'all very much. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Neil. Okay, that includes all the parents in our district. Uh, next up is Monica Brown speaking on items 6, 12 I, 12 M, 13 C, 14D, and the budget. >> Somebody help me. Every time I talk, I'm like too close or something.

083So, like, what's better? Is that okay? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. I am running for school board. I'm so excited. Um, I wanted to say something about the budget. If we have someone who's offering us a product that will save the school, say $300,000 a year and their deductibles are lower, would we consider that? Okay. Would we would we give them the time a day? And if we do, could we put this as a transparent accountability issue on the website so the people of the community can see the people who bid who threw bids out and what they offered, what the comparison is because even and if you make a great decision, we'll applaud it, which I heard a lot of good things tonight. I love what I hear about ACT and always like

084to hear them. Um I would say her last name, but I can't think of it right now. Maggie. Miss Maggie. That sounds outstanding. But anyway, would you consider all those budgets all I mean all those bids and give people equal time a day and then put that kind of contract and agreement on the website? A lot of people don't know but that's a contract or understanding between organizations. Would you put those on the website? Would you just go ahead and put the Decker Gym United Way thing on the website so we can see it? Just be transparent. So, could you for transparency's sake put bids online and a chart that outlines the differences so we understand how you chose a vendor? And if they're saving you that much money, what would happen to $300,000 extra

085dollars a year? Now, I read a memo written by Mr. Whitfield. It's August 15th. It was in your agenda here. This is about budget. He says, "By maintaining adequate bonding capacity, we will be able to go out for a bond in the future without a larger than needed increase in the tax rate." I'm just reading what's written here. So maybe he will explain it tonight, but he says, "By maintaining adequate bonding capacity, we will be able to go out for a bond in the future without a larger than needed increase in the tax rate." Now, I appreciate the new tax rate where we're at. I would like to see no new revenue. I'm going to take it as a win because I came here last year and spoke about it and it was it felt

086like it was being ignored. Maybe we're moving ourselves closer to that. I really appreciate it. Um, did you discuss no new revenue tax rate? Will you disapprove the HCAD budget this year if it's out of order again? Will you support a forensic audit? Would you consider Okay, I'm going to skip real quick to my CIS because communities and schools. It would be lovely if communities and schools meant actual community members in the schools, but that's not what it means. I've got their manual right here and right at the top it says diversity, equity, and and inclusion. And a simple Google search on our president and on our state governor, our legislature is against DEI. United Way is steeped in it. uh CIS communities and schools is steeped in it and I would caution you. I

087our lawyer friend here is talking about liability. I would really caution you about getting rid of DEI today yesterday and I don't know why you didn't because I brought it up last year. It's clear. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Hey, our next speaker is Mr. Jim Brown speaking on the budget. Hello board. Thank you for your time. Um, I've been looking at the budget. Uh, I have noticed that it keeps going up uh year after year. Yet, the total student enrollment is not going up as is at a much slower rate. So, I'm just trying to wonder why does a budget continue to go up? Uh, is it is it are we spending the money on students is my bigger concern. Many people in the community would like a better understanding where the

088extra money is going. Can you explain this? Is the extra money going to truly help students? Are cost savings being looked at? I'm not here to be critic to be to be criticized. I'm not here to be critical. Thank you. I'll be criticized later. Um I just think it's important for us to understand how this proposed budget matches up to student needs. As more and more money flows in from rising property taxes, will the district stop adding this money to its budget, increasing the budget number, and give it back to the taxpayers in the form of larger tax decreases instead of keeping larger share and only giving small tax decreases to make you think or make us as a public think that you're for us. when as a whole responding to a larger budget. It's

089a larger budget. A larger budget is budget costs more money from us the taxpayers. Can you explain how you will spend the money wisely? The budget's gone up 61% in the last 9 years since 2017 school year or literally from 60.8 million to obviously this new budget proposed tonight for 98 million. What is being done to cut cost? I I I don't hear from this school board, we're trying to cut cost. I hear we're getting more money for property taxes and our budget's going to continue to rise. Yet, the total school enrollment has gone up only 13% in the last 8 years and only 3% in the last four years. If student numbers stay low, what plans are in place to lower the budget? Again, how will you make sure the money is spent in

090actually helping students succeed when they graduate? Lastly, will you adopt a no new tax revenue rate? Please understand to give additional monies back to the taxpayers. I understand the tax rate, but as the president of the board just stated recently, the tax rate numbers can be confusing. I would just implore you to please do research on what it means no new tax rate. No new tax rate means that as property values go up, large amounts of money are coming into the school board. If the school board already has a budget, then give that extra money back. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Brown. Our next speaker is Denise Rivers speaking on item 13C, insurance. Good evening, trustees. My name is Denise Reeves and I'm a Granberry ISD resident. I'm a retired K12 administrator

091and a former school board trustee with Lano ISD. I know firsthand the weight of the decisions that you are facing tonight. Serving on a school board requires balancing fiscal responsibility with the duty to protect students, staff, and the community's investment in our schools. I want to begin by thanking you for your time and energy that you devote to this responsibility. Because I've been in your seat, I can empathize with how challenging property insurance decisions can be. Premiums are high, the market is volatile, and every dollar saved is a dollar that can be redirected into classrooms and student services. At the same time, experience has taught me that the fine print in deductibles and policy limits often matters more than the quoted premium. That is why I'm deeply concerned about the proposal being offered through TPS

092or Texas political subdivisions. On the surface, it may appear competitive, but when you look closely at the deductibles and coverage limits, they're simply not in the district's best interest. The deductibles are so steep that Granberry ISD could be have be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket before the insurance even begins to help. The coverage limits also leave dangerous gaps that could expose the district to devastating financial strain. We all know the reality of living in North Texas. What we are one storm, one hail event, or one tornado away from a catastrophic loss. In those moments, it's not the quoted premium that matters. It's whether the policy truly protects the district. If Granberry ISD were to experience a major storm under the proposed TPS policy, the district could find itself writing

093checks in the six or seven figure range just to cover deductibles and excluded losses. Unlike the insurance one proposal with mainly ad advantageous deductibles and a very few coverage limits, a sign a significant claim under the TPS proposal would take critical resources away from classroom staff salaries and student programs for years to come. I urge you with all the respect of someone who has served in your role to look beyond the surface and protect Greenberry ISD with coverage that is comprehensible, comprehensive, dependable, and financially responsible. TPS is not the best option as their policy leaves the district widely exposed. As a taxpayer in Granberry, this greatly concerned me. Thank you for your service to this community and thank you for considering not just the cost of coverage but the true cost of risk. Thank you.

094>> Thank you, Mrs. Reeves. And I apologize for mispronouncing your last name. I apologize for mispronouncing your last name. It was spelled wrong on here. >> No problem. >> Okay. Our next speaker is Randy Reeves, also speaking on item 13C, insurance. >> I'm glad she got to go first. You just heard from the good cop. Uh I'm Randy Reeves. I am a I I am a ex uh trustee of Etric County Independent School District where I served as a president for three three years plus. Uh I know exactly how heavy the responsibility is when you make decisions that affect not only budgets but the long-term stability of our entire school system. That's why I'm here tonight, not as a past trustee, but as someone who has seen what happens when districts put their trust in

095the wrong partner, in this case, the wrong insurance partner. Let me be clear, what I see in this proposal is deeply troubling to me as an ex trustee and as a taxpayer of Granberry ISD. The district's long-term carrier, TPS, quietly increased premiums year after year, confident confident there would be no competition to hold them accountable. Then suddenly when that competition comes up, they find a $300,000 reduction. That is not working with you. That's not working with the school district. And that's not being a good partner that we trust to do help us do our business. I have to tell you that a former trustee uh as a former trustee that did not look good at all. The 300,000 didn't just fall from the sky. It came out of the taxpayers's budget. The taxpayers paid that

096300,000 and you in good faith paid that. But you were being led down the wrong path. I want to tell you that that could be used in teacher salaries, in special ed, and some of these other things that we have seen on the board tonight that you need money to further education in Granberry ISD. This should be the school boards are tasked with safeguarding the public funds and nothing undermines public trust faster than rewarding a vendor who acts unfairly unless his stronghold is is threatened. I want to tell you that I I I deeply appreciate what you do. I've sat back there with the many different decisions that have to be made. None of them easy. But I do think that if you look at this situation fairly, you can come up with a solution

097that will satisfy all and make sure that we're doing the right thing for not only Granberry ISD, but for the the students of Granberry ISD. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Reeds. [Applause] >> Next up, we have Rick McCra, also speaking on item 13C, insurance. May I approach? Thank you, Madam Superintendent, for the honor of being here tonight. My specific uh assignment is to discuss the differences in the two proposals that you're looking at tonight after a review of the documents that were posted on your website uh last week. The significant differences are tremendous. They require really more time than what we have to dig into each one of them because they are a difference maker. I've highlighted a spreadsheet for you. This side by side is drawn up and prepared from the information that

098was posted on the website. We're very careful about interpreting competitors policies. So you'll see on the competitor's side if we were not sure, we indicated that we're not sure. It may be incomplete information, but we dealt with the best. We attempted to get a uh face-to-face meeting, but we were denied. So I'm sorry that this information is just getting to the trustees tonight for you to review, but bear with us. So I'll start and I'll go quick because I'm not going to get through in my time. Um they hired and not owned auto. There's a difference the asalent. There's a difference the students while participating in internships. There's a difference in the sexual abuse. There's a big difference. 1 million on our policy. 1 million excluded by the student to student abuse. And we know

099studentto student abuse is very active. Uh I'm going to jump down to the property. You can read the others. Big difference in property. The AOP, all other perils, fire and vandalism. Our deductible is 50,000. Theirs is 100. The single ply roofs, we have no sublimmit. Most policies may have a sublim. Big big item next. Windhale deductible or weather deductible. Ours is a 2% with a $100,000 minimum. Theirs is a 2% with a $500,000 minimum. So in simple terms, once you've met our wind and hail deductible at a 100,000, we begin paying a claim. On the competitor's policy, you have to meet the 2% wind and hail deductible and 500,000 before you get first dollar. So in a wind and hail claim where most of your exposure is, there's a $400,000 difference in that deductible. I'm

100going to skip because my time is over. Um, I will let you read the comments from the T website. Once I saw what the comments were, I knew that our materials that were presented to the finance office did not make it to this board. I presented your questions and our answers there. And I want to thank you for your time and ask you for strong consideration for your business. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, next up we have Brandon McCra also speaking on item 13C, insurance. All right. Hey, I want want to thank you. Uh a little bit off. I know my time's limited, too, but I I'll be I'll be efficient, but I do want to compliment all of you. Listening to some of the just the giving back to the community. Uh I've

101I've got a cousin that's has special needs. Listening to some of the stories, it feels like a really good environment. So, just give you a compliment from that side instead of talking about insurance. But, so I'm Brandon U with Insurance One. Um Insurance One has actively been in the business for over 53 years. We've served schools, universities, nonprofits, businesses, and churches across Texas. With 15 offices statewide, and over 20,000 policies brokered, we've built our reputation, our expertise, and client services, and cost-effective coverage. We also partner with IPMG. IPMG, which brings 28 years of claims administration experience, serving over 630 entities, including 210 school risk pools. What sets them apart is a 98% retention rate, which means 98% of their clients renew every year. And 210 schools is a large number of risk pools. Together, Insurance

102One and IPG delivered more than a policy. We provide customer service, proactive risk management consulting, training, in the field support, a network of trusted vendors, and a self-service dashboard that helps districts prevent losses and keep costs low. equally important and I' I've handed this out just so you could have uh some documentation on some of the financial uh stability of our carriers uh that we are proposing is Arch Insurance they're an A+ superior rating Lloyds of London A+ superior Munich Re A+ superior Berkeley A+ superior Zurich A+ superior Lexington A excellent Allied world A excellent CV Star A excellent. These companies represent the top tier of the financial security in our industry. Their ratings A excellent to a superior are independent assurance that when a disaster strikes, Granberry's ISD claims will be paid and your

103schools will be protected. At Insurance One, we don't just offer insurance. We offer a long-term partnership backed by decades of experience, proven client satisfaction, and strength of the best carriers in the world. We are committed to protecting Granberry ISD so you can stay focused on your education or your mission, which is educating the students. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is David Rogers speaking on item 12, budget amendments. Madam President, I'll yield my time for the insurance if he needs more time. I'll my time for >> Um, no. I could I couldn't hear you. I'm sorry. >> You're yielding your time. >> Is there somebody else that's I'm sorry. >> Let the insurance people talk. >> Okay. >> Oh, ma'am. Madam President, if it's necessary, I'll yield my time so that the

104mccuries can discuss the insurance issue. >> No, it's okay. Everybody gets three minutes. >> Okay. Uh well, first of all, I'm thankful to hear that uh the budget was increased to 98 million, not because of GISD, but because Governor Abbott and the legislature through SB26 and HB2 decided to give the teachers an across the board pay raise. They don't do much right down there, but they did that right. A lot of our teachers do sacrifice. They do give of their time so that parents can have their PTA meetings and the teacher has to lose their PTA meetings to meet the needs of parents. So, I'm thankful for that. Uh I am very concerned about many issues. use the insurance as one of many. But the budget here before this year's budget between 2018 and 2024,

105the budget grew over 56%. They said the enrollment only grew 13%. That can't be accurate because after co there were 600 students and never outprocessed. The try course the try court was backlogged for over two years. So we're still forced to budget and pay for all those students dispersed among 10 campuses. So the budgets continually grown. The test scores for ACT and SAT are below the state average. So while the revenues severely increased, the scores have not severely increased and the enrollment has not increased. So I'm very concerned about our young people and what we're leaving them and what they're inheriting. We need more transparency from this board. We need muous posted online. We need more time to speak. The right now we're setting our young people up for a terrible situation. We're have over

106a $37 trillion deficit in the US. The state budget has increased spending over 44% in the past two sessions. The households are not getting an in working parents are not getting an increase in income. They're not getting an increase in paycheck. But the spending of government is skyrocketing. And we need transparency. We need responsibility and accountability from every trustee on this board. um on award my time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Okay. And our next uh speaker is Matteline Kano. Item 13C, insurance. Looks like she is not here. So, we will be moving on. Okay. Next up, we have consider action on items discussed in close session. First is to approve staff recommendations. Now, we have to take two different um motion, actually three different motions. Um but the first one is just

107our regular staff recommendations. Do I have a motion? >> Madame President, I move that we approve those um staff recommendations as discussed. Do I have a second? >> Mr. Bolton? >> Yes. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. Let the record show. That is seven in favor. And the motion passes. All right. So, now we have to take another motion. And this has to do with a new law that our legislature passed regarding second job disclosures. Um, and you should have, if you don't have your motion language in front of you, let me know and we'll get you a copy. I have one. Um, but if you're going to approve the motion, there's specific words, language that you have to use. If you're going to deny the motion, there is specific

108language that we have to use. So, the first one that we will be voting on is Jessica McNeel Johnson, who is and I have to say all of this, correct? >> The motion will say, >> okay, just the motion. So, the first one is the teacher who is also a I'm sorry, the AP who is also a waitress at Pon Plantation Golf Course Restaurant. Do I have a motion to approve? Madam President, I move that the board of trustees approve the outside employment of administrator Jessica McNeel Johnson, who works part-time as a waitress at the comp plantation country club restaurant is disclosed under House Bill 3372 that the board find this arrangement will not harm the district, does not present a conflict of interest, and will be performed entirely on personal time. >> Okay, I

109have a motion by Mr. Wimberly. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. And I have a second by Mrs. Townsen. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. Let the record show. That is seven in favor. The motion passes. Okay. The next one is voting on another AP at Bakus Elementary. Um disclosing adjunct professor for Tarant County Community College and Weatherford College. The district has a contract with Tarant County Community College for dual enrollment. Because GISD maintains a business relationship with Tarant County College, the board approval is required. Um, do I have a motion to approve? >> Go ahead. Go ahead. You do it. >> Yes, ma'am. All right. I have a motion by Mrs. Lowry to approve a second. >> I'm sorry. Do I have a motion? You have to read the

110motion first. Excuse me. Sorry, this is new. I'm running right along with you. Okay. >> Okay. I move that the board of trustees approve Lacy Clark, assistant principal, to engage in an outside employment as an adjunct professor at Tarant County College as disclosed under House Bill 3372 and that the board finds this arrangement will not harm the district, does not present a conflict of interest, and will be performed entirely on personal time. >> Hey, do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Bolton. All in favor raise your hand. Let the record show. That is seven. In favor, the motion passes. Okay. Next, we're moving on to the consent agenda items. >> Oh, that's not on here. >> Okay. >> No, we that's just a review. Yeah. Okay. So, uh consent agenda items. Does anybody

111wish to pull any of the items for further discussion? Okay. Okay. All right. So, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as presented? >> So, moved. >> As a motion by Mr. Bolton and a second by Miss Alana. All in favor, raise your hand. Let the record show that's a 70 vote. The motion passes. Okay, moving on. Discussion, action items. 13A, it's page 195 in your board book. Discuss and take action on the student code of conduct for the 2025 2026 school year. Mrs. Tammy Clark, sorry. Thank you. I'm trying to get everything done. Um so you'll find in your packet the um presented student code of conduct for um the 2025 2026 school year that reflect both the legal changes uh made as a result of the legislative session and

112procedural changes made within the district. It must be approved by the board and so it is for your consideration tonight. Do I have any questions? Yes. So if you have any question, >> Madam President, I move that this 202526 student code of conduct be approved as presented with required changes and updates. >> Okay. I have a motion by Mrs. Mr. Wimberly to approve or have a second. >> I'll second >> and a second by Mr. Moore. Any further discussion? All in favor? Raise your hand. Let the record show. That's a 70 vote. The motion passes. Okay. Next is item 13B. discuss and take action on the revision of local policy FD student admissions. That is page 241 in your board book. This is regarding the UIL activities in homeschool student participation. Just so we're all

113clear. >> Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. Um so I have written a memo here to talk about um the conversation that we started at our last board meeting. And the conversation was about whether this board decided if we were going to allow um homeschool students to join our UIL activities. And so one of the things we were charged with as a district um was to create a committee, which we did. And so we um met with a committee that comprised one of our parents was here earlier. Um we had uh staff members, we had board members, um we had our director of athletics, uh we also used our community um engagement form with all the feedback from our community members. Um and I am sharing with you my re recommendation going forward for um the

114next two years of our homeschool students in the area. So as a reminder um this is the first year the legislation has said that we have to opt out by September 1. So in the past we have had to opt in to allow students to join as homeschool students to join our activities. Um so the big question was are we going to opt out? We've noticed that the last couple of legislative sessions that there have been slight changes to the homeschool um law and so at first they were not allowed and then um they were allowed with optin and then there were u money allowed money allocated to that and so we're wondering if the next session u may be that we won't be allowed to opt out and that's where we're um that's where

115this recommendation is um grounded and so I'm recommending based on the the feedback and being the um the mediator of all of these conversations that we not opt in to students allowed to not allow students to participate in our activities this year, but to have a committee and I've listed on our our memo when the committee would start and to bring back to the board in March a recommendation for a pilot program for next year and that would be year 2627. What that would do for us is it would allow the the um coaches that are actually going to be managing it to have a great voice in that and to think about all those things that were mentioned earlier by one of our community members about really looking at the implication of allowing um

116students that were not enrolled in our campus um full-time to participate. So that would give us this year to do that and have some kind of pilot in place determined by this the the committee. Um and then that would set us up for the next legislative session if the legislator said it is required and we'd be ready to go and if they didn't the board would have the option again to look at that policy and decide. So that is my recommendation. So what we would be approving tonight or discussing um however the board wants to proceed is the language in our local policy that would says um for the year a student enrolled in private school including a home school shall not be eligible for enrollment in the district or for participation in curricular extracurricular

117activities but then in the year 202627 the district shall implement a pilot program that permits participation in university or UIL activities by homeschool students accordance with the law. So that is my recommendation and I'm very happy to hear feedback from the board about this. >> Madame President, I move that the board approve the revised EFB local homeschool students participating in UL activities policy as presented. >> I have a motion by Mr. Wimberly to approve the policy as presented. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> And I have a second by Mr. Bolton. Any discussion? I have questions. what is the pilot program going to look like? What was the feedback from the community? What was the feedback from um the people participating in the committee? So, there was um uh several people on

118the committee that were not at that time. They were not ready to have homeschool students join their activities. Um, but as the conversation went on, we talked a lot about how this may be law and to to avoid running into the problem that we were in right now about being thrown on us with not a lot of prep time that they appreciated the chance to get together this year and really talk through and think through what that could look like. We don't know what the pilot would look like. That would really be up to the committee. It could be that the committee says we want one academic to try it and and maybe one fine art and one um athletics. But the people, my main concern is that the people leading those programs would be

119in charge of that committee really listening and thinking um but knowing that in the end we would have a pilot program in place. So they would design it and we're not sure how that would look because we really do want their feedback. Okay. The committee that I sat in on uh was heavily well it was teachers, coaches, uh parents and uh three school board members and it was heavily weighted uh against having uh participation from homeschool and uh and and I I'm with them. Um, I think I made it pretty clear when we discussed this last time that I'm very pro public school and felt like that, you know, that um, in order to represent the public school students and teachers that that my representation would be, you know, that we would um represent the

120public school students and and u only allow our public school students students in in these programs. And that was the the pretty much the consensus of everybody in that room at that time. And um even though we felt like that uh that it may be coming in from the state um you know there was very few people in that room that that that were wanting that program at this time. So, um, you know, I'm I'm still voting. My vote will still be for the public school students. >> And what were some of the concerns you heard? Um but that the public school students have fought have prepared themselves for these positions for so many years and and uh they just felt like the the parents were the ones that uh uh just felt like that

121homeschool uh parents had made the choices for those kiddos to be schooled at home and uh they just they just felt like it that they had already made that choice. and um coaches. One of the coaches made a very interesting observation and uh it was something that I really had not thought about in and his observation was that he had worked really hard with his team to build a team spirit that it was a team effort and that when you bring someone in um that is really wanting to do something for themselves ves to participate in a team sport that they may not have that team uh camarad camaraderie that they are only there to compete for themselves and not compete for the team and uh that that was his concern and that was something

122I had not truly thought about and I but I could see that that they that that might be a concern. Um but um that was just their their general observation. >> Thank you for that feedback. I appreciate it. Um I'm sure we would have all liked to have served on that committee, but by law we can only have three board members. That's the max. So um that's why we couldn't all be there. Um, but I appreciate the members that did serve on the committee, the parents, staff, teachers, and all the input that we've got. And thank you for sharing that feedback, Nancy. Um, do I have any further discussion or questions? >> Yeah, I think that we're in the business of children, of child education, of child health and well-being, and we should relish the

123opportunity. We should relish the opportunity offered to us to extend our care to a broader field of children. So, let them play. It matters not that the children come to us for everything. It's okay for them to come to us for some things. We don't disown them as dead to me because their parents chose to put them in an accelerated pace or to take their challenges at home in a more controlled environment. They're kids no less and we care about kids. Period. No participate. Does participation, excuse me, does participation in sports and other extracurricular activities positively affect a child's health and well-being? Uh, yes, I think so. And then I'm in. Let them play. The people, that is the voters in this town want this. The people in this state want this. Voting for a

124legislature that is progressing toward a mandate at some point. To Dr. Moroski's point, from no requirement to an opt-in option to an opt out option. And the evolution of that is trending toward a mandate. And we need to be ready when that comes. I don't see a better way to get ready than to than the way that's mapped out here in Dr. Moroski's memo and so I'm in favor. Okay. >> I I hear your concerns about the state moving towards a mandate for this. Um that does seem to be like what the trend is. Doesn't mean we won't be ready whether this passes tonight or not. Um it doesn't mean that we don't have incredible leaders in this district that can get our district ready for a mandate if and when that happens. So regardless

125of what happens tonight, I have full confidence in the leadership of this district to get our campuses, our teachers, our UIL um extracurriculars ready and prepared for any legislation that may be coming our way regardless of what happens tonight. Um so I want to be clear on that. Um we're going to take care of kids. We're going to take care of our kids no matter what decision is made here tonight. Um so I have a motion on the table. Any further discussion or questions? I have a couple of things I'd like to say. Um, Weatherford, just 30 miles up the road, was the first in the state to allow UIL homeschool in their programs. Uh, it's been a success for them. I've talked to um the coach that was in charge of the athletic portion

126of that. He said it only amounts to like 12 or 13 kids after four years. Also, um several of those kids, about 20% of them end up going to public school and and leaving uh homeschool after they find out that it's uh not um um what they expected or maybe because they got in high school and the parents kept them out as a personal choice. And then once the child um became old enough to make that choice uh the child elected to uh to join public school and the parents uh evidently allowed them to do that. So um I see this as something that's coming. Also um I'm in favor not only of the students, I'm also in favor of the taxpayers. um taxpayers pay into these programs um and our mission statement in Granberry

127and a lot of work went into the vision statement probably um 30 to 50 people involved in this mission statement and I think it's very important that uh a couple of sentences make the difference in what we actually do. The mission, the vision statement for Granberry ISD is Granberry ISD inspires excellence, empowers all students to be future ready and positive contributors to their community. couple simple words, but I think they're pretty important in the fact that um we do include all students, not just uh um public school kids, but also um just because you're in a UIL program and part of a team doesn't mean that you're going to be an actual actor of an academic team or a football team or basketball team or uh all state in in band. All those are UL

128activities and you can be a part of that as a team, but that doesn't need necessarily mean that you'll be the first team football player or anything else, but you're part of a team and it'll teach you um how to um respond in society and I think we have that obligation. >> I'll share my biggest concern with the board just so y'all can hear my thoughts and the community can as well. Um and one of our public com speakers tonight brought it up this issue of liability and he may have been thinking of in a different sense. Um the way it came to me was we have so many kids trying out for different um competitions whether it's academic or athletic to get on a team. And so many of our own kids that are

129already enrolled in our schools don't make it. And then when we add in a few more, my concern is that if those kids don't also make it, I don't want us to be in a position where we're possibly being um accused of discrimination against a homeschool student because they didn't make the cut for whatever reason when so many of our own children also don't make the cut. That's my biggest concern. I think that that's whether we decide to go with that committee or not tonight, that is something that needs to be looked at, especially if we think that the legislature is going to cause this to be another mandate for us. Um, that is my biggest concern because that can cause uh tension between districts and families and can ultimately affect our relationships with the

130community which has it ultimately affect student outcomes. And so, um, I just wanted to share that thought with the board. Um, before we take a vote, do I have any further discussions or questions from the board? >> I'll just add I'll just add that the because Billy, you mentioned about um, Weatherford and the scope is 10 or 12 students. 10 or 12 students at at a bigger district. I think if it would fade into the into the shadows in a in an 8,000 student district, I don't think we're talking about a very big scope of children who are going to come in and take over. And I think they are our children. I'm a child of this community and I didn't go to didn't go to our schools, these schools, public schools, and uh now

131I'm an adult here. >> So, we have a district that's nearby that the current homeschool students in our district could attend if they wanted to. Do any of the students from Granberry ISD attend Weatherford for the UIL program they have? >> I don't know that. >> I don't know the answer to that. I do know that um the rule on that is very very specific uh in the fact that the school that they participate in if they go to a different district it has to be the closest district that allows those kids to come in to their household. So, it's a very specific u if they went to Weatherford and um say that um I don't know if I don't think Glenrose allows it, but if they if they for example were closest to Glenrose,

132they would have to go to Glenrose to to take part in that that uh program. Even if they wanted to go to the Weatherford, they couldn't go to Weatherford unless they lived in the northern part of the county. So, it's it's very specific and and and ambiguous a little bit of of how that works, but it's very specific to uh where they are. >> I don't think that's correct. >> I want to throw to Dr. Morski on >> I just want to remind the board that um that uh UIL has a frequently asked questions part of their website and um we've confirmed that the local policy designed by this group can decide whether to allow students to come into our district. So, you guys can set that. you I know originally the law um was

133um interpreted at least that's what was communicated to us is that we had to allow students that were we were the next one but the local um policy we can determine that. So I just wanted to remind that group that we have the ability to do that we're not doing that tonight because we don't have anything designed but going forward that would be within our our purview. >> Does anybody know what Weatherford ISD's policy states? Do they accept out of district UIL students? >> I don't know. But tonight we're not even >> Well, I'm curious because if they did and we had homeschool families here in our district that wanted to do that, they would you would think they would already be doing that at Weatherford IOD. And that would give us an idea if

134that's actually something that our community, the families in our community that homeschool would like us to do. >> Yeah. And I think that part of the part of the committee that Dr. Dr. Mosski has proposed will answer some of those questions that I think will do some of the research and find out what what truly is the scope of what would be included or students who are interested or parents who are interested in their homeschool children coming to participate in UIL activities. And so that can be part of the the responsibility of the committee is to determine some of those things. What this what's the scope, who's coming and who's interested. I would also en encourage our homeschool parents to consider enrolling their students in Granberry. >> That's possible. That's right. If if there are

135certain programs that they are truly interested in uh in having their students participate, then I would encourage them to come into our schools and look at these programs and uh and possibly enroll their students in our schools and and become a part of all our programs. >> Yeah, we have some great we have some great teachers. We have some great uh campuses. We've got great programs. Um, and if they would like to come tour a school, do a site visit, um, that's available for them as well, so they can come see all the great things happening. >> We've got wonderful programs. We've got wonderful teachers and students. And, uh, I would encourage them to come and and and become a part of our schools and the programs that we have. I' I'd like to reiterate

136too that the the motion on the floor at the moment is that the plan is to opt out and then to go to work to try to figure out what is possible for us next year. That's right. >> So, we are opting out right now. The other option is you could you could amend it and you could opt out and do the committee and look at possibly implementing a pilot program the following year. It it doesn't have to be set in stone. It's not something that we say we're going to for sure do this next year. It's based on the on uh the committee throughout the year and the research and uh policy that they come up with and then looking at the issue again next year before we decide if we want to move

137forward with a pilot program or not. >> Well, there's a little bit that there's a little bit of confidence that goes into writing it the way that it's written. U but in truth, this board always has that option. A year from now or a year from two months ago would make that a little more timely. discussion, but but 10 months from now, we could have this discussion and make another policy change that would undo the pilot program if that's what we opted for. >> But right now, uh the way the law is written, if we opt out, we have to hold this meeting and opt out every year. >> Correct. That's what I'm suggesting. >> Yeah, >> that's what I'm suggesting. It says what I'm suggesting. >> I know. All right. Any further discussion? Any

138more questions? >> I think from what I've heard tonight, we have to have this committee and have to look at it. I mean, we would not be doing justice to our community unless we do go through the committee and look at all the options, uh, look at all the, uh, questions that have come up from our community and that will continue coming up as we go through this. But I I feel very comfortable going ahead and doing this committee. And I agree with uh what Mr. Bolton said. If we decide later on that no, we don't want to do it next year, then we can opt out of it that way. But I think having it written the way it is right now, this is what came from the community or the committee that you

139put together. I think that's what we should go with. So again, for the 2025 20226 school year, Granberry ISD will opt out of allowing homeschool students to participate in UIL activities during the 2025 2026 school year. For the 2026 school year, a pilot program will be implemented. Granberry ISD will establish a pilot program for homeschool student UIL participation beginning in the 2026 2027 school year. Details of the program will be developed and recommended to the board in advance of implementation. A committee and pilot program development plan to prepare for the 2026 2027 pilot. A UIL homeschool participation committee will be formed to research, design and recommend program parameters. And then we have the committee composition listed and the different dates in action. And then it'll come back to the board in March of 2026 to

140ensure that eligible homeschool students may participate in spring tryyouts for all for fall UIL activities as part of the pilot program roll out. After that, we will approve the revised FD local policy formalizing the 2025 2026 opt out and the 2026 2027 pilot program. The superintendent will then initiate a committee formation and return with a recommendation in March of 2026. This plan reflects our commitment to thoughtful, inclusive implementation aligned with our district values, operational readiness, and community feedback. So, this will be revisited again in March of 2026, regardless of what is decided here tonight. If this passes, I'm sorry, if this passes, this will be revisited again in March of 2026. We will vote on this again on how to move forward. If this passes tonight, I just want everyone to be clear on that.

141>> Madame President, can I make an amended motion? >> Absolutely. I'd like to amend the motion that we opt out of the home of allowing homeschool students to participate in UIL activities during the 2025 26 school year and the 26 and 2027 school year. >> So you want to make an amendment to add in the following school year as a opt out as well. >> Correct. >> Okay. but continue with the pilot pro or continue with the committee and developing a possible pilot program >> to strike the the number two. >> So, we're getting rid of the committee and the pilot program and you want to opt out >> for the next two years. >> Okay. >> I don't know if that works. I think we still have to hold another vote. I think we

142still have to hold another meeting and vote on it anyway. It's by law we have to vote on it every year. >> So, but that's the amendment. um to opt out this year and next year and scratch the committee and pilot program. >> Correct. >> Okay. That's a motion or amendment to the motion by Mr. Moore. Do I have a second for that? >> I'll second the motion. >> I have a second by Miss Alana. Any further discussion on the amendment? All in favor of the amendment. Okay, motion passes. So, we're back to the original motion. >> I'm sorry that I'm sorry, >> not the original motion. So, we're back to the original item, agenda item. >> Um, motion, which is >> which is the recommendation to program. >> Yep. To prepare for the 2026

1432027 pilot, a UIL home school participation committee will be formed to research, design, and recommend program parameters. We're going to revisit this again in March 26 if this passes. So, in March of 2026, this will get revisited again. And um recommendations may change based on community feedback and committee recommendations. So depending on what happens throughout the year, if this passes tonight, the committee is going to be meeting and we'll get more recommendations from the committee, revisit this again in March, and then vote then on whether to continue to move forward with that pilot program or scratch it all together. Does that make sense? Is everyone following? Okay. Do I have any further questions or discussion? Okay. All in favor of approving the board to revise the EFB local homeschool students participating in UI activities policy

144as presented. All in favor raise your hand. And against. Hey, let the record show that is five in favor, two against. The motion passes. So we will revisit this again in March. We will have a committee formed and we'll get further recommendations and vote again in March. Okay, moving on. Next item is to 12c. discuss and take action on the renewal of the property, crime, general liability, educators liability, and automobile insurance with Texas political subdivisions. And that is page 246 in your board book. >> EMTT Whitefield. >> Thank you, Madam President. Board, in front of you, you do have the uh RFP for the uh renewal of the property and casualty insurance. Um you do have the uh analysis that uh the team the risk management team did go through and um it is recommendation

145of administration that we are to approve TPS proposal through UIC brokerage for the 2526 coverage year for $836,157. I can answer questions if you like. >> Okay. Do I have any questions for Mr. Whitefield? >> Yes. >> First, then you >> No. Go. >> Okay. First of all, uh comment. Does competition create fairness and better pricing and cost savings? Uh is the staff recommended insurance company on our pre-approved buy? >> Are they on the buy board? >> We did not go through by board on this. No, ma'am. >> No, we didn't. But are they usually on there? >> Uh Mr. Shabby's not here, but I don't believe that. I don't know if they are. >> Okay. We did not use the byboard. So, what did we do in order to get these bids? We solicited

146three different insurance companies. >> Three. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And were there any RFPs sent out for the biders? >> We just requested those three >> with an RFP. >> It was a informal RFP is what Mr. Shrabby called it. An informal. It was not put out in advertisement. No, ma'am. >> Okay. Who who filled out the online application for TE? >> That would have been Mr. Shravy. >> Okay. Um, did he have any other contact with them? >> I don't know the answer to that. I mean, he tal he talked to all three insurance companies and visited with them. >> Okay. Um, let me see here. And so, we had an informal RFP. >> That is what Mr. Strawby called it this morning. He called it informal RFP. >> Okay. So, was every all

147three companies were they aware um of each each person had the had a specific uh question? Did they have the deadlines? Did they have the groups? Um was everything sent out to each of the three companies was all the same numbers, quotes, the whole thing. >> Mr. Stra is not here to answer that question, but I I can assure you that when he does that, he he uh gives all the information to all three companies. Is he the one that um is a is a cotar or is he a similar representative to review the RFPs when they come back in or the proposals or the the ones that aren't really RFPs and the bids and deal directly with the bidding vendors? >> Mr. Shrabby is who we use as our risk manager. >> Okay. Um

148from last year's premium from the staff recommended insurance company to this year's proposal, there was a significant cost reduction. So, we can assume we've been overcharged for our required coverage over the past few years. How would $200 to $300,000 savings have helped Granberry students? If there had been a competitor last year, would there have been a cost reduction? >> That I cannot answer that question because we did not do it. I know that we going forward we will do it every year. >> Okay. Uh do we have any idea why they decided they would reduce their premium this year? >> I do not. >> Okay. because risk has not gone down, our insurance rates have not gone down, liability has not changed. So, it's interesting that they were able to reduce their costs. um by

149not executing the RFP and performing a quality cost analysis process seems like it can lead to a reduction in quality of services and potentially higher costs for GISD and taxpayers as demonstrated with the staff recommended insurance company dropping their fees so significantly when the competition existed. Once there was competition, the staff recommended insurance company was able to drop their fees. It would be a very good practice to bid our insurance coverage every three to five years instead of saying we have worked with them for years and this should be in um included and the bid practice should also be included lawyers and accounting firms and we should do our best for the taxpayers by making this our practice to bid these things out every 3 to five years. >> Okay, any other questions for Mr.

150Whitefield? I don't know that there are questions. Um I I think that the incumbent company has been milking us for a quarter mill a year and I don't know how many teachers that might employ otherwise or how many air conditioners that might fix or how much we might otherwise be able to contribute to the special ed program or any other of the programs that we have. But uh that just rubs me the wrong way. I think that not only for uh insurance but all others that we need to shop around all contracts as they expire even months before they expire so that this board has the opportunity to research our options to consider and discuss and to take action I I'm trying to keep a cool head. It just rubs me the wrong way. And

151and I I would not go with these guys again just just because they uh took advantage of the of the free money from the government. It's not free money. It's taxpayer money and and we have a responsibility to take care of and safeguard the taxpayer. Uh with that, I I'd move to accept the proposal as offered by TE and approve the administration to execute that policy. >> All right. All right. I have a motion on the floor by Mr. Bolton to approve TE as um the broker for the 2025 2026 coverage. Um do I have a second? >> A second. >> I have a second by Mrs. Lowry. Any further discussion? >> I have a question. because of the insurance one folks that came here tonight. Um were you aware that they were interested in

152in providing insurance coverage for us? >> I believe they are with they're representative uh they are from TE. TE is using them. Yes, that is my understanding. I think they did not make that clear when they came up. >> Yeah, I was a little confused too. I thought it was a third broker. >> So it's not. It's the same It's the same broker that was was put out before. >> It's the same. It it's it's this proposal. >> Okay. >> So, you're with TE. Is that correct? >> No. >> Okay. Sorry. My bad. No. If I can't I can't. >> Yeah. >> Can I come up and discuss? >> It's not fair because nobody's >> No. Question. >> Not technically >> because No. >> May I answer your question? >> Yeah. I just I was

153just clarifying on whether you were they they contract you for services and that's that was my cl that that's where I needed clarification. >> A question. Do we have to make this decision tonight? >> That's what I asked. >> We do. >> Okay. >> So, um I have a concern here. >> We have to make it by September one. Is that correct? >> We do have to have board action by September. >> By September one. >> Yeah. >> So, we have a few more days. >> So, so let me help with that. there. There's sort of the same relationship that you have if you have a if you have an insurance agent might be >> No, I get it. I totally get it. >> Yeah. >> Um I have a concern though. Um in here

154it says that um the proposal underinsures the district at an amount from TE. The proposal underinsures the district at an amount of $224 million. So I am a little leery going with a company that is going to underinsure us. >> I can help with that. So I I've done a lot of of homework on this. So the 224 was the amount in the original RFP and so the response was 224 million and at some point that changed to 254 million and I think it's because the uh TSP respon or TPS response came back with a a proposal that was in the 254 million range. >> I don't know where that additional 30 million would come from or why it was added. We haven't included. We haven't built any new assets. We haven't accumulated $30 million

155more worth of uh appreciative value on our on our assets. None of that has changed. So uh just comparing apples to apples then is why we got the second revision of the of the proposal from TE and insurance one. >> Okay. Our guest >> I want to clarify on that. That revision came in after the deadline. So, if you want to vote on the TEE um >> yes I do >> one that updated one is not what we're voting on. >> But they were given a um they were not given a certain deadline. >> But so that's fine with me anyway. That's fine with me anyway because part of the solution of any insurance company maybe except for the incumbent but would be to come in and make an appraisal of our of our assets

156that are subject to be insured. And so they would come in and make that and then make make adjustments to that. Anyway, >> can you speak into that um 224 underinsured amount that's in this packet? >> The uh insurance companies received our asset listing which was the 254. the two uh I believe uh 224 came in um with the uh first initial quote and um I believe that I believe that we decided that it was August the 5th and then the uh second quote came in August the 19th after all the information was evaluated and sent to the board by Mr. Shrabby and I >> okay so our guidelines were clear on the amount of insurance that we needed >> information I received from Mr. Shravi said he spoke to m Mr. Petri on the

157April the 5th and the April the 10th given those dates to him. >> Okay. >> And I think 254 million overinsures us not 224 underinsures us. But that again would would be reconciled when we engage with it. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All right. I have a motion uh by Mr. Bolton and a second by Miss Lowry to approve TE as the broker for our 2025 2026 coverage. All in favor raise your hand. T E not it's yeah not it's TE um not the recommendation. The recommendation is to go with TPS. Okay. Let the record all against raise your hand. Okay, let the record show that is five uh 24 five against. The motion fails. So, I will entertain another motion to accept TPS or whatever the board's pleasure is. We got to pick somebody

158and we have to do it by September 1st. So, if I have to absolutely call a special meeting to make that happen, we can do that. Um, but it will be a special called meeting and it will we're on a crunch time. >> You don't have time to call a special called meeting and get proper notice for that meeting. >> Yeah, it's >> can't do that next week. >> Yeah, we got 72 hours for a special club meeting and then we got to have time to put more and there's laws that surround that how long we have to put that out for. Um, so we really are we're really stuck having to make a decision tonight. $200,000. >> I know. >> When is he return? >> Mr. Strawberry back in the district next Monday. >>

159What's the date? That would be the first. Well, we don't because we're off. It would be the second. It would be Tuesday. >> Yeah, that's too late. >> That's too late. And the only the only two insurance companies we could consider whether we call whether we table this and call a special meeting to discuss separately. These are the only two insurance companies we can talk about. But that is an option if y'all want to table this and have a special called meeting to just discuss this. [Music] Is there a motion on the table? Because I don't think >> Not right now. We are just discussing. >> We can't discuss until there's a motion on the table. >> Well, we had we had your motion and then that failed. So, do I have I have a

160motion to approve? Do I have a motion to table? Do I have a motion? No. We could the o we could table and call a special called meeting. That is the only other option besides approving TPS tonight. The motion to approve TE failed. So the only other option is to approve TPS or table it have a special called meeting and discuss again and decide then. But we have to have the decision made by September 1st. Even in a special called meeting, we will not have the benefit of Husin's testimony. >> No, but we could definitely reach out to him and get questions answered from him. >> Why wasn't he here tonight? >> He's out of country. >> He is in France >> um caring for his mother and so he is there with her. And

161um you know the information that we received was that there was a process uh we had a board member approach us about going through a competitive bid and so we were very excited about doing that. Um we got two great bids um by the deadline which was set um and then as as you guys know we I had asked all documentation to be submitted to me by the 8th and so I could start presenting it to you guys that which is a Friday and I start meeting with board officers on that next Monday. So, but ne next Monday is when we were talking about our recommendation. So, um the information that came later really was not considered whatsoever because that was not part of meeting the deadline that we needed in order for me to

162um explain to the board and have have you guys participate in that before the board meeting tonight. So, that is an explanation of the timeline. Um, and you know, I understand that there are still lots of questions and I want to be able to answer those and be respectful to the questions that are out there. Um, and so I think there is Labor Day is Monday, September 1st. And I will be able to come up if you guys want to set a special called meeting. We need 72 hours I believe is the new which we would post tomorrow. We could post a special board meeting that would get us some time um to answer some of the questions. We were in a rush today. I know when the questions came in um and trying to

163answer this um and so I think I'm definitely yeah so we've got lots of communications we can pull together in a better report. It's just it was so many questions coming so fast that we weren't able to summarize it >> very well. So um >> they contracted out. >> Yeah. Yeah, he's he's referring to we have some information that we could pull together from Hussein who did the the process um and why he's recommending it. And um you know, the will of the board is what we're we're ready to do. And so um we went through a process. We called references um and you know, looked at at uh the the making a recommendation, which is what we're charged to do. We can't choose both. And so we made a recommendation, but it is not

164not something that can that we we can't change if the board wills us to do that. >> All right. I'd like to make a motion that we table this discussion in favor of a special meeting. >> For when? >> Well, within you got 72 hours notice. >> Yeah. >> So what is that? Friday. >> In 72 hours. Okay. So I have a motion on the table to I have a motion to table this action item for 72 hours have a special called meeting and discuss at that time. Do I have a second be the date of the special meeting? >> I just remembered that actually September 1st is when the new 72-hour we've been trying to follow the 72-hour law since legislation but it actually doesn't go into effect I think until September 1st. >>

165What is it currently? >> Is it 36? It's currently three days. >> Three days. So still >> it was 72 business hours which is what backed it up to Wednesday. >> Uhuh. >> Starting September 72 days. >> And that was the >> we just can't count the weekend days. >> So that puts us in scope for Thursday or Friday this week. >> No, it's just Friday. It was Tuesday, Wednesday. >> Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and then Friday. Yeah. So it would be for August 29th, Friday, August 29th. >> I'm in. So, I have a motion on the table by Mr. Bolton to table this action item until August 29th, at which time we would have a special called meeting. >> Can I amend my motion? >> I I do I even have a second for your

166motion yet? >> Yes. >> Okay. You seconded. Okay. Yes, you can amend it. >> Point of order to lay on the table to put something on the table is to normally discuss it later in that particular meeting, not put it off until another date. >> Correct. That is correct. >> Do I need to do I need to >> We take no action. We just take no action and then we have a special called meeting. >> Okay, I'll take that. That's my motion. >> Okay. So, >> and then I want to I want to add that that I want to >> Wait, wait, wait. We got to If your motion is to take no action, >> what are you going to add? >> That's okay. Do I have a second to take no action today? take

167no action tonight. A second by Miss Lowry. >> All right. Now, thank you. May I make an amendment? >> Yes. >> During that during that time, in the next three days, I want to have seen a tea bar with sideby-side comparisons. So, to some of the speakers point that I want to see side by side what our deductibles are from one proposal to the other, what are I want to see those things side by side. I did a lot of that homework myself and um I can happy to share it with you guys, but >> Okay, great. >> Okay. Can we have more discussion? >> Yes, because we have a motion on the table and we have a second. So, >> okay. So, I reached out to Husine yesterday by text. I didn't know he

168was out of town. I thought he'd probably be here tonight, but I did reach out to him and asked about this and he sent me back a message that I received this. I guess it came in at 1:50 in the morning because it that's French time or something. But it says, "Hi, Billy. TE and insurance one do not carry AMS ratings. TE is a nonprofit association that organizes group insurance programs and insurance. One is a broker program manager since neither underwrites or assumes risk. AMB best does not rate them. TPS and USI are also not rated themselves because they function as program managers and brokers. However, the insurance carriers they place coverage with are Amst and it's probably similar to what uh insurance one put out for their AMB best. It says, for example, TPS

169partners with carriers such as Safety National, A+ Superior, US and USI places coverage with carriers like Crumb and Foresters, the United States Fire Insurance Company, A Excellent, and Star Indeimnity A Excellent. This may not fit exactly into what we're discussing here, but that's the the only um communication that I know that we've had with Husin over the last 24 hours. I mean, and I'd like to refute that in so much as we have those ratings. That's >> the people that they contract with are rated. >> They are rated, but TE and insurance are do not carry AM ratings. >> That's right. TE wouldn't because they're more of a of a broker or an agent, right? The carriers do and that's what matters and that's what they're describing there. Even in his response, he says the

170response from Chrome and Forester and USI, same the same sort of situation. They they really farm this out to the underwriters are these companies and they do have those ratings and they're in our hands. Every one of us has this form. Okay. I have a motion on the table to take no action on this item tonight. We will have a special called meeting for Friday and discuss this item further. Then I have a second by Miss Lowry. All in favor of the motion on the table to to take no action tonight? >> Take no action tonight. take no action tonight. We'll have a special called meeting on Friday with time to be determined and we will discuss and decide at that point. Okay. And that's so that's what we're voting on. All in favor? >>

171Hey, let the record show that is 54 and any against? I'm sorry. >> 54 is too many. >> Six in favor and one against being Mr. Billy Wimberly. So, uh, we're taking no action on this item tonight. We will have a special called meeting for Friday, which >> time to be determined. >> Yeah, time to be determined because um I may not be able to make it either. So, we'll just >> I may not make it. >> As long as there's four members. As long as there's four board members, we have a quorum. So, it just depends on the time. >> But for the record, Billy voted no because he has a hot date that night. >> Okay. So, next item up. That was no action on that one. Um, we're going to have a

172special called meeting on Friday. Time to be determined. Next up, we have item 13D. Discuss and take action on an adoption of an order authorizing defeasance and redemption of a portion of Granberry Independent School District unlimited tax refunding bonds. Mr. Whitefield. >> Thank you, Madam President. board in front of you, you do have the defeasence order for 10.165 million, saving taxpayers 1.75599.95 in interest payments on that particular bond defeasence. The feeasance is a prepayment and it is the recommendation of the uh administration that the board authorize the defeasance and redemption of a portion of the Granberry Independent School District unlimited tax refunding bonds taxable series 2020A and all matters incident and related there too. Thank you, Mr. Whitefield. Do you have any questions for Mr. Whitefield? >> Give me that number again. I appreciate the

173taxpayer savings that that will result in. 1,7 I'll let you keep going. >> 1,755,999.95. >> Beautiful. Thank you. >> Okay. Do I have a motion? >> So move. All right. I have a motion by by Miss Townson to order the authorization of the defeasants and a second by Mr. Wimbley. Any further discussion? All in favor of authorizing the defeasants? Raise your hand. Let the record show that's 70. All in favor? The motion passes. Next item is 13E. Discuss and take action on the adoption of the 2025 2026 general operating nutrition and debt service budgets. Mr. Mr. EMTT Whitefield again. >> Thank you, Madame President. Board in front of you do have the budgets that we discussed earlier in the budget workshop and the tax rate workshop. Um tax rates are set with by the actually

174you set the budget and then you're allowed to set the tax rate, but the budgets are set on um the maximum compressed tax rate of 61.46 cents plus a 17 cents of enrichment pennies that the voters voted on in November of 2023. The budget did change a little bit from um the budget workshop in July and we talked about those changes in the workshop this this afternoon. Um there were a few changes to debt service as well but it also includes the defeasance and that was due to those two changes were due to um certified values received on July 2025 uh July 2025. Um the child nutrition budget did not change from the workshop and it is set at the $5 million but you have all those budgets behind there and how they are affecting

175they're just like what they were in the workshop. So you will be adopting a general fund budget of 981 98,120,224. A debt service budget will be not the the one that you have in your packet is incorrect. It's going to be the one that's in the budget board book at the front and that will be Let me get out of here. I apologize. The debt service budget will be at revenues of 14,824,495 with debt service expenditures and 148 $800,825,000 20 and that will be a defeasence of 10,165 included in that saving that 1.756. And then your child nutrition budget will be 5 million $10,025. And those are the three budgets that you will be adopting at this time. >> Okay. Any further question or any questions for Mr. Whitefield? >> No. Madame President, I move

176that we adopt the budgets as presented by the administration. >> Okay. I have a motion by Miss Alana to approve the recommendation as presented. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> And a second by Mr. Moore. Any further discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. Let the record show that's 70. All in favor? Motion passes. Next item up is to discuss and take action on the adoption of the 2025 2026 tax rate. Mr. Emtt Whitefield again. >> Thank you, Madam President. Now that you have adopted the budget, the the feasants and the budgets for um the next year, you will to adopt the adopt the tax rate. The tax rate will be at a for the M side will be at 78.46 cents which includes the 61.4 61.46 cents maximum compressed tax rate

177and the 17 cents of enrichment pennies approved by the voters in November 2023 and the 14 1.5 cents on the debt service side that will fund the defeasance and the debt service for the next year bringing that total tax rate to 92.96 being 78.46. 46 on the M side and 14.5 cents on the debt service side. There is a suggested language for the uh motion highlighted on your memo. >> Okay. >> Madam President, I move that the property rate be increased by the adoption of tax rate and 92 or 9296 um per 100, which is effectively an increase in the tax rate. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Hey, I have a motion by Mr. Rimbley and a second by Miss Townsen. Do I have any further discussion? >> As Miss Alana. >>

178Oh, I'm sorry. A second by Miss Alana. I'm sorry. I wasn't looking. I was going off of a voice. So, that's a motion by Mr. Wimberly, a second by Miss Alana. Any further discussion? >> Yes, please. Mr. Whitefield, can you help uh the people to understand why we would not uh bring a more significant tax uh rate reduction? >> I will need some clarification on your >> I really just mean for you to talk about how uh we have a restriction that we can't go below a certain amount or we can't exceed a certain ceiling of >> well the 6146 is TEA's recommended maximum compressed tax rate for us. Any district has to be within 90% of any other district and they set a range. We're we're really kind of in the middle of that

179range this year. So 6146 is TEA's maximum compressed tax rate for us. >> And the reason for the difference is because of the VAT that the voters passed for teacher raises. >> So the only other way to reduce that tax rate would be to get rid of those teacher raises >> in in the in the 17th century >> that the voters approved. For the record, no one is suggesting that. Uh so, but I do want to I do want to kind of have an opportunity to explain the way that the motion has been made is by law. It has to be made that way because it it describes uh property tax rate being increased when we know that the the actual is that we're we're reducing the tax rate by 23 cents. Uh but it's

180described as a tax increase because the tax rate has an effect when it's applied to your property values that that you in total overall the effect is that you'll pay a little more in taxes because the appraised value of your property has increased. >> Actually with the new homestead exemption the average home buyer will will see a $351 decrease in their taxes this year. This will be in property growth which will be the construction in progress last year is now active and is taxable on the ROS. >> So I read up on this and I don't know that our motion really has to say that it's a tax increase unless the overall result is that taxpayers are paying more than they paid last year. >> This is guidance from TEA. So that's what we follow

181and appreciate. >> We make that motion. >> Okay. I'll let that go. Thank you. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All >> I do think though that what uh Tim said is really important for people to understand is that we say this because we're told to say this where really our tax rate is going down and the tax for the average homeowner from Graanbury ISD is expected to go down by $354. And I think that's really important to have said >> that is correct and that is contingent on that passing the ballot in November and I don't expect that would anybody would expect anything different. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor raise your hand. Let the record show that is 54. Any against? >> Cannot be 54.

182>> Five. Sorry. Five in favor and any against? >> I abstain. >> You're abstaining. Would you like to state your reason for abstaining? >> Just because I've made a promise to the people that I won't vote for a tax increase and that's the way it's raised. >> Okay. Well, essentially when we voted to adopt the budget, we have to adopt this tax rate to support that budget. >> That's fine. The eyes have it. >> Okay. And you're abstaining as well, Miss Lowry. >> I think so. >> And would you like to state your reason for abstaining? >> Okay. So, that is five in favor, two abstaining being Mr. Bolton and Miss Lowry. The motion passes. Okay. Next item up is 13G. Discuss and take action on a resolution committing fund balance. Mr. Init again. >>

183Thank you, Madame President. Board, you do know that last year we did commit fund balance in um vehicles and equipment for $750,000 and instructional improvement fund of $540,000. We did reallocate some of those funds this year and we did purchase a million dollars in buses and we did do $1.2 million in HVAC upgrades. So again, this year I'm bringing a defeasance to you. I mean, not defeated, I apologize. A committed fund balance to you again um under construction and land purchase and renovations of $1.2 million. That would be the area where you would pull money from for additional HVAC renovations. And then a capital expenditures for vehicles and equipment for another million dollars which is where we would pull the uh vehicles from for new transportation buses. And then the last one I put in

184there is other purposes and I called it frozen levy retention fund and that's where we're putting the 16.872738 in so that we know that money is committed somewhere else. We talked about this earlier in the workshop and net of the uh 16872 and then net of the 1.2 two and the $1 million that we put in the in the uh committed fund balance. That'll bring us to about 24% of our operating on our on our unrestricted fund balance. This is all projections based on the audit, but this is what we believe where we believe we're going to land. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Whitefield. Any questions for Mr. Whitefield? Do I have a motion? Madame President, I move that the board approve the proposed res resolution to maintain the committed fund balances as presented. >>

185Have a motion by Miss Alana. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> And a second by Mr. Bolton. Any further discussion? All in favor? Raise your hand. Let the record show that seven in favor. Motion passes. Next item up is 13H. discuss and take action on delegating authority to the superintendent to obligate the school district under chapter 49. Mr. EMTT Whitefield, you are the star of the show tonight. >> Thank you, Madam President. Board in front of you, you do have the agreement for purchase of of attendance credit. This is your recapture payment and this is the way this is one of the accepted ways that the voters of this district approve for us to pay back recapture to the state of Texas and TEA. Um the uh delegation of authority is for

186allowing um Dr. Moroski to actually upload your decision into TEA and it is uh it's required by TEA for her to be able to do this for you. Uh you are making the decision to uh for the agreement of the purchase of attendance credit and that is what you will sign tonight. So when she uploads it into the TEA teal, she will actually put your signatures actually electronically in there. So this is just giving her the authority to do so for you. There is specific language and it is highlighted and I apologize it's on two different pages but that's that specific language has to be word for word and I have to upload those minutes to tea for it to be accepted. >> Okay. Do I have any questions for Mr. Whitefield? >> Okay. Do

187I have a motion? Madame President, for the 2526 school year, we delegate contractual authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code TEC subsection 111511 C4 to the superintendent solely for the purpose of obligating the district under TEC subsection 48257 and TEC chapter 49 subchapters A and D and the rules adopted by the commissioner of educ education authorized under TEC subsection 4906. This includes approval of the agreement for the purchase of attendance credit. >> So moved. >> So I have a motion by Mr. Wimberly, a second by Mr. Bolton. Any further discussion? All in favor raise your hand. Let the record show that's 70 in favor. Motion passes. Okay. Next action item is to discuss and take action on the technology purchases for 2025 2026 school year and we have Brent Wilson, our director

188of technology. >> Good afternoon board. Board policy ch local requires board approval on purchases in excess of $50,000. Uh before you is a list of items that will be purchased in the school year 2526 in excess of $100,000. The recommendation of the technology department is to approve as presented and I should answer any questions should you need it. Okay. >> Do I have any questions for Mr. Brent Bilson? >> Hey, do I have a motion? >> Madame President, I move that we approve all the purchases as presented. >> I have a motion. >> Do we have to move? >> I second. Yeah, it says this is under action. >> Okay. Then we have >> over a certain amount of money. >> Over $100,000. Yes. >> As presented. >> I second. >> So I have a

189motion by Miss Alana to accept as presented. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> I have a second by Mr. Bolton. Any further discussion? >> And third. In. >> Okay. All in favor raise your hand. Let the record show that is seven in favor. Zero against. The motion passes. Okay. Moving on to reports, school up. Well, we moved out to the beginning. >> Um, our strategic plan priority one student achievement, Miss Stacy Brown. And I just want to make one update since we're talking about data. It was stated earlier in the meeting that we were below average in our ACT and our um SAT. So, I'll just pull the information that's from Texas Education Agency. So, our our high school average ACT score is 21. The state average is 19.3 and the national

190average is 19.5. So we are well above that national that um average of both state and national in the ACT. The SAT our our average score is uh 1047 1047. The state average is 978 and the national average is 1028. We're both we are above both the national and the state in both of those scores. So I just want to make sure that was clear. Now you can talk about our certificate plan update. >> I was going to introduce myself. I'm not EMTT Whitefield. Good to see everyone. Good to see you. I know everybody stayed for this because, you know, we like to talk about data from Sunday to SATA. So, here we go. We're going to talk a little bit about achievement and growth. Um, first, um, I want to let you guys know

191that on August 13th, the state of Texas did release the final A throughF accountability. Um, and for the 232 24 and 2425 school year, in conjunction with really our priority one from our strategic plan, I'm presenting the achievement and growth data over the last three school years. This gives us a baseline. We wanted to make sure that we had full transparency and so we're going to give that to you. I will tell you that the growth data has only been tracked for the last two years in this capacity. So we have three years of achievement, two years of growth. Everybody with me? I knew that you would be. All right, here we go. So this data is for all students that take all forms of star. So you have star, star alt, and star Spanish.

192First one is our student achievement data. Uh this is reading language arts achievement. And this data like we said um is representing all students that pass the star reading test. Achievement is based upon a standard, a common standard. across the state growth is different and we'll talk a little bit about that later. Um the some of the high points that I'd like to mention is that although the graph does not include state and regional levels, the GISD scores for 2025 were at or above the region and all were above the state. So again for reading language arts we have the data from 23, 24 and 25. >> Thank you. All right, moving on. Guys are like, let's go. Um, for mathematics, again, um, all GISD scores for the 2025 school year were at or above

193the region and above the state, um, with the exception of 8th grade. Um, keeping in mind, and I know board, you're very familiar with the adoption that we just made for Bluebond, which we're currently implementing, um, the math adoption uh, was 10 years old in 2024. um and it lacked the rigor needed for STAR. We knew this. We tried to implement some quick fixes before we could get to the adoption process, but now we are in the adoption process and we're promoting that alignment from kinder all the way through algebra 1. And just a quick brag on our teachers, Blue Bonnet is currently being implemented. And although the curriculum is very is a very different process, our teachers and our our campuses have committed to the process and have already put forth an enormous effort

194to make sure our students are getting the very very best. All right, next one is science. Here's our science data. Science is tested at the fifth and eighth grade as well as for uh biology which is taken at the nth grade level. As a district, we implemented new science tees and a newly adopted science curriculum K through 12 in 24 and 25. Both fifth and eighth increased over last year's scores. Biology dropped a whopping two points which really is not that big of a deal. Um, specifically, and they were at an 89 as opposed to the state which was at a 91, but they have historically been at 94. So moving on to social studies. This data represents social studies for 8th grade and US history. Both also performed above the state and the region.

195Um just to to kind of highlight our achievement. Our districts and our campuses have all set target areas for increasing our overall achievement with a focus on ensuring again that alignment of that written, taught, and tested curriculum which is part of our priority one for strategic our strategic plan. All right, questions so far on just achievement. >> You're killing it. >> All right, here we go. All right, we're moving on to growth. All right. Academic growth specifically in STAR is measured from year to year. So it may not include passing, but it includes making gains from a previous year. So what you see specifically is you have two years of growth data beginning at grade four. Achievement was beginning at grade three, but there is no star test before grade three. Therefore, we start the

196growth data at grade four. It goes into uh multiple categories but the categories that you see on on the graph up here are represented of expected growth which is a year and then you have accelerated which is more than a year. It could be 18 months. It could be two years but it lets you know here's where we are for expected growth. Here's where we are for accelerated growth. >> Wait, wouldn't accelerated growth be less than a year? Not more than >> accelerated growth is actually more than a year. Did I say less >> than a year? >> You have expected is a year. Accelerated is more than a year. >> Like kitten the gas. >> Accelerated >> meaning they grew more than that amount. >> They grew more than a year. Yes. >> Oh,

197thank you. >> Yes. >> They they grew more than a year's worth of curriculum. Yes. >> Not that it took 18 months to get that year. >> No, no, no, no. You are correct. I'm sorry that must confused you. I didn't mean to. >> Well, and it's a lot of information and so it's up, down, up, down, but it's really not up, down, up, down. >> Well, and I think you answered this, too. We're really talking about a class, right? So, you take the class that was in the third grade and they move to the fourth grade and we're talking about their growth over that period. >> Correct. >> Third grade now versus fourth grade next year because that's a different class. >> No, this is grade to grade. Third to fourth, fourth to fifth,

198fifth to sixth especially. And we calculate growth that is only reading, language arts, and math. >> Thank you. And you only go back, you only go back one year. It's not like you're we're seeing fourth grade and now those are eighth graders. We're seeing fourth to fifth one year at a time. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> On this specific slide, however, you can go back on achievement and see. >> Thank you. >> If where they were in fifth grade in 2025, they were in fourth and then third. So, you can do that as well. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um I'm getting I'm getting >> on that one. >> Okay. All right. So, >> hey, she's really saying that to me, not you. >> No, no, >> she's she's looking at you, but it's

199really meant for me. >> Okay. Um, so this specific graph, uh, is reading language arts. And then if you go to math, um, the math expected and accelerated growth. Also, it's important to remember that not all students are listed on the achievement data because some haven't taken the star before and after. So, it's different numbers, different kids, etc., etc. um >> both reading and math. Oh, I'm sorry. >> By and large, it's the same kids. >> By and large, it's the it is the same kids, but we have to pull out those that don't have a what we call a growth measure. >> Yep. Yep. Thank you. >> Both reading and math growth shows that we are growing and in some cases extending beyond a minimum target. All right, the last one. This one shows

200overall GISD is making progress. As a district, we will continue to have high expectations and focus in on our target areas. These scores reflect that when challenges come our way, Granberry moves forward. We regroup, we work together, and we keep raising the bar. We had five campuses that moved letter grades this year up letter grades this year. That's significant. Any questions? >> No. Thanks so much. Okay, bye. >> Thank you so much. I appreciate everything you do. And now and that white >> that's well no not quite not quite we got we got one more. Okay. Uh moving on to item 14C support services report. Brian Johnson director of support services. >> Thank you Stacy. >> But EMTT Whitefield does get to close us out. >> Okay. All right. Good evening. Um, Madame President, Dr.

201Morowski, members of the board, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to present this evening. Um, just want to take you through the last three years um, September 1st, 22 to present where we're at. Um, as we go um, we've got lots of pictures um, of our staff and um, we'll go through those um, along the way. If you have any questions, please ask and I will get those answered for you. So um first we want to thank the board for bringing custodial back in house and um for recognizing that need and then also giving me the opportunity to lead this team. Um and then also u just want to be a big thank you to our campuses, our staff um or the campus staff, excuse me, for um taking our teams in and really

202making them feel like um part of the campus team. Um that's been very huge um for our teams and um just very grateful for that. Um, so as we know in in-house uh, excuse me, custo excuse me, custodial services started September 1st of 22 after being outsourced for approximately eight years. Um, our staff um, what we present to them. Um, they're not just custodians, but they're health healthc care providers, excuse me. And we are in it for the well-being of our staff and our students uh, students and staff. Our mission um is to provide exceptional customer service uh that promotes clean, safe, and healthy learning environments for our students with integrity, attention to detail, a commitment to excellence. We support the well-being of every individual who enters our facilities, ensuring the spaces we maintain are

203not only clean, but welcoming and respected. So, um uh there on the left, that is um Miss Rennell. who takes care of our day at the maintenance and transportation area. And then we have Anhelica to the right of that. Um she takes care of our evening uh STARS BTC and also our maintenance transportation area. Um in the middle that is our um day crew from the um the high school. We ran during the summer we ran two two crews, a morning and an evening. So that's day crew, excuse me. To the right of that we have our AM and our PM leads, district leads, uh Chassity and Randy. And then to the right we have um our AM leads um Dr. Morowski and our amazing secretary Mr. Rondaera. So um in our our excuse our

204inner house main objectives was to provide c uh improved customer service um develop solid processes for each task accountability with our teams. We wanted to drive the details of the business every single day. Okay. uh staffing um was a big issue or excuse me an opportunity. It wanted to ensure the campuses were staffed every day. Um as we know when we started um when we brought this back in house back in September of uh 1st of 22 um our people that we brought on prior to that with the previous companies they were making anywhere from $9 to $10 an hour. we immediately with your support, we appreciate that. Gave them a pay bump and to our um our most current wage a little over $17. So that's huge. Um if you think about where we

205started um for $9 to $10 an hour to support a household that was pretty pretty tough back then. So thank you for that and and your support. Um and then we also our recognition just um appreciating our our folks for a job well done and um recognizing that transparency and clarity with our teams uh to promote a health a healthy culture. And then one that I don't have on there is safety. Um safety is very big with us. We um across the district each team um we have monthly safety topics and um they go through those and we just really want to um just drive safety in our campuses. Um since day one, our staff has been working diligently to ensure our students and staff have a clean and healthy work learning and working environment

206each day. Uh we are very uh thankful for every team member and extremely proud of their accomplishments. And on this slide here, that left one, that's our backis team and in the center there um our team from Mrino and to the right that's our GMS team, our staff members. support services staffing. So, what that looks like for us, um we have 72 uh total staff members. Uh 63 full-time and nine part- timerrs. Um and then as of right around 2023 is when we actually were able to um start a substitute position where if we had an absence, we could pull from that sublist. and that has been very instrumental in helping to ensure our campuses um are staffed daily um and and to try to minimize any messes. department structure. Again, we have our amazing

207secretary, uh, Rhonda. We have two district leads, an AM and a PM that support the campuses. Um, we have one lead at every campus, two at the high school, uh, because of its size and square footage, an AM and a PM. We have our custodial teams, and then we have our subs. So, our total square uh, excuse me, total district square footage is over 1 mill, excuse me, 1.5 million square feet. But as far as what we touch every day on a eight hour basis um is um just under 1.4 million square feet. So pretty pretty tall order for our folks. Um each custodian is responsible at 8 each FTE is up to 24,000 square ft. Our high schools running a little bit a little bit more than that. Um but proud of them for

208what they're doing um with that extra square footage. We run four shifts 6:30 to 3. that consists of 14 staff members and their uh main responsibility is the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch and then also campus calls and supporting the campus and the students. Our second shift is uh 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. That's um composed of 10 staff members. first half of their shift um is dedicated to the support of the campus students um lunch and cleanup and then the back half of their shift is dedicated to specific areas um classrooms, offices, restrooms, uh whatever that that may be. Then we have our 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. shift that's um u comprised of 32 um staff members and then our high school uh which is 16 um staff members and they work the

2095 pm to 1:30 a.m. So what does this look like? Um 58 staff are dedicated to approximately uh 1.3 million square feet in an 8 hour period. That's that's on the back half of the shift and that's what they touch in an 8 hour period. Uh so again a pretty pretty tall order. Extremely proud of our teams where they started and where we are today. Um and then that's also after like 9,200 people have uh persons have been in and out our building. doesn't take into consideration um athletic events, visiting athletes, parents, band choir, all these these extra bodies. Um so again, very proud of our staff. This picture here at bottom left is our Bronner team. Uh to the right there in the middle is our AES team and then our AMS team to

210the far right there. So our budget um you can see there's oop sorry our budget is 219 350 a year. Um we are very very cautious as to what we spend and um take a lot into consideration. Um we have six six of our big categories listed here. Our first one um we're we we put here as as number one is because our first year we spent $36,000 in just chemicals alone. We recognized a need to look at cost where we could save and we were able to do that. So, we made a change our second year and you can see that um this year um we we spent only 13 a little over $13,000. So, uh we came in at our um our um proposed or um our guesstimate as to what that reduction

211would be and I'm super super proud of that. So, um then we have our soap. We spent $21,000. You can see um year one to you know our second year or third year we made a soap change um the beginning of last year um there's been some fluctuation there for some reasons um we're going to continue to monitor that um and we will always look for ways to save um without compromising um quality um or effectiveness and whatever that product is. plastic was another big or is another big category. You can see again we spent 34 a little over $34,000 this year um our first, second, and third year. Um we just renegotiated, excuse me, some uh price reduction in our plastics uh which is our trash bags and everything. Um so we're looking about

212a 14% reduction u for this year and then we're also still looking at some other options to see if there's anything else better out there. Paper's a big category for us. We spent $39,000 this year. you can see our cost from uh our first or second or third year. Um we did last year or excuse me our second year we saw a little bit of an increase um with our paper and then um they just passed on another little bit of increase about a 40% increase on one of our paper products and again we're continuing to monitor all of those costs as we go um to see where we can save again without compromising quality or effectiveness. Excuse me. Um, so bottom left, that's our team at, uh, the Emma campus. The middle there, um,

213is our Oakwoods campus. And then to the right, we have, um, Miss Louise from AES and Francisco from here at the admin building. And then we have the Grinch there, um, which was part of our Christmas party. All right. So, um, >> Maroski in the Grinch suit. >> Oh, it wasn't next year. um floor refinishing. That's that's another big cost. Not only cost, but um it's just a very tedious process. Um so our our first year we just piggy piggybacked off um the previous company. They did a top scrub and a reco during the Christmas break. Um we followed suit and then we did the top scrub and recode during um the summer. Um so you can see that was a little over $34,000. Um again, we were looking for ways to to save. Um

214and so we did that with our second year. um looking at some different options during our Christmas break um where we could still maintain the floors and get the results that we're looking but also save save um some cost there. Um Christmas of 2023 we started actually stripping the floors which is actually uh chemical process which is removing all of the floor finish all the way down to the Barrett BCT. Very um uh very tedious process um a little dangerous um but we make sure our folks are safe. they're wearing their proper safety equipment. Um, but it's a very rewarding um, process to see the end results and also just driving the details, edges, corners, um, trying to pay special attention to dig out from from previous. So, um, and going to the picture, that

215top picture there, um, that's, uh, Jennifer from the Bakis campus. She's on a, uh, propane stripper. We purchased two of those. um they're the most efficient way to strip these floors versus the old swing method with the chemicals. Um so those are proven to be very very valuable. Um and then that second picture we stripped the oak woods campus. Kind of hard to tell from the picture, but that top half is um had just been freshly stripped. That's down to the bare BCT, excuse me. And of course that front side has not been yet stripped. And you can see just the yellowing um which just happens over time. equipment um was a big year for us um where we could take those savings and put them back into our bucket and uh get on a

216threeyear replacement plan, excuse me, for um some of our major equipment like our floor scrubbers and our burnishers. Um we also had the opportunity to p purchase some equipment that will help our teams be more effective in what they do on a day-to-day um and then also do some things that they've never been able to do. So, um pretty pretty thankful for that. Um so, where are we headed? Um continue focus on maintaining a healthy environment. We're never going to let that go. Uh sorry. Um continue to drive the processes and maintain the uh details daily. I mean, down down to the, you know, the the nooks and crannies. That's even with lime scale um buildup. It's very hard to to manage here. Um we bought a piece of equipment and they take came out

217and tested our water. It's like 460 parts per million coming out of the side of the high school. And uh when you look at Fort Worth and some other areas, they're like one 140. So some pretty hard water. But um that's that's our drive is to um maintain those those types of details. Uh continue the floor stripping program. Our our goal is to strip every 5 to seven years, and that's just really based off of um the size of the school, um traffic, um and then some some other factors we will look at as well. Um, but number one is just getting there. Um, floor scrubbers, um, which in the past hadn't, uh, but floor scrubbers and burnishers, they're on the floor every single day. So, I'm very grateful for our teams for driving that

218process, um, just to help with the cleanliness and the overall appearance um, of our campuses. Um, last year, beginning of summer, we purchased carpet extractors, one for every campus. Um, prior to that, we only had four. So trying to bounce four carpet extractors across 10 11 campuses um including the daycare was pretty tough. Um my thought is extracting is better than using the old swing and bonnet method which is kind of spreading. Um I'd rather pull everything out as much as we can um and and use that method. So we're going to continue with that. Uh we'll continue with our uh equipment replacement plan. um continued recognition for our teams which I think is very important in recognizing our folks um helping boost morale and uh we will continue to drive that. Um we're going

219to continue to drive culture and clarity and then obviously teaching and training is huge with our teams um with any team. So, um, to the right there, that is our admin team. Um, Franc or excuse me, uh, Merina MNA, excuse me, MNA on the left, Francisco on the right. And, um, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them at this time. >> I appreciate Oh, go ahead. Go >> ahead. >> I was going to say I appreciate the way the buildings look. Every time I go in them, they look great. Uh, what is a burnisher? >> So, burnisher is just, uh, it's a propane powered. It just polishes the floor. So, um I guess you could do it one of two ways. You have the old school swing, which I call swing

220or side by side. You put the old pad on there and you polish the floor. These are propane powered. Same process, but it goes so much quicker. You can cover so much area in in less time. So, each campus has one of those and those are on the floor, and their expectation is to get through the whole campus um within a week's time. So, that's a pretty pretty tall ask. But if they're taking a section, at least one section a night, then they get through and they just start that crossover or excuse me, that process the following week. >> Thank you. You guys do a great job. >> Yes, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. >> I saw that in action right outside Coach Moore's office when I went over there. They were doing this uh

221stripping the floor and such. >> So, at the high school, so at the high school, um the high school this summer, we um that's where we we put our focus as far as stripping floors. um high school has some opportunities. So we um the teams there um stripped over 12,000 square feet um 12,767 square ft with those two propane stripping machines um in about 15 days um to get it down to the berry BCT. Then it was weeks and weeks of details around edges and corners to try and get as much out as possible. So, um that's the stripping process. Um as far as a top scrub, um what that looks like is um either we have the the floor scrubbers with a prep pad um and then that that they use and then they

222also have the old style swing machines they're still using um to get those floors. And then yes, after that, that whole process and the top the top um the top scrub and then the recote, then they go back and use that burnisher to to complete the process. Yes, sir. >> All right. You're the right guy for the job. You're rocking that department. >> Yeah. And I just want to compliment you, too, on the culture you've built um with your team and also we hear compliments all the time about um the work that that that your team does. So, I want to thank you for that as well. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. And um I just I got to give it back to our teams every day because they're the ones that are on

223the front lines. They're in the trenches and uh we could not do um what we do without without them each one. So >> they are awesome. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. That is one rock and enviable beard, too. >> Thank you. >> All right. On to our categorical spending report. Mr. Emtt Whitefield. >> Thank you, Madam President. This is a categorical spend that we bring to you occasionally when we do spend between 50 and $100,000. as long as we use the approved purchasing method. We bring those to you as uhformational only. You can see this is to CDW government and the amount is $240,663.89 that is above the $50 to $100,000. The explanation behind that is this is an -ate purchase and there will be an appeals process and a rebate that comes

224in next year. So, the PO for this year does have to be at that $240,000 level, but it will net out to around 60 or $70,000. And Mr. Wilson and I are here if you have any questions about that. >> I like that. And I want you to spend another minute on it that it cost us $60,000 to get $300,000 worth of benefit. >> I'm I'm going to punt Mr. Wilson because he can tell you this in a much more elegant way than I can. >> Yeah. So, so based on on our our free and reduced lunch numbers, our socioeconomic disadvantaged population, um our district is entitled to 80% reduction in cost when we use -ate for those services. Um to to apply for we have to be SIPA compliant, we have to be COPA

225compliant. There's all these these measures that we had to put in place. But the benefit of that is we do get to you know have a 80% discount in services of these natures. Uh our category one ex expenditures are are things like internet service. So your LAN your WAN your physical cables. The category 2 services are things like switches, access points, things of that nature. Um they take a little bit longer process. We started this process in October. Um it went through bill of materials was finally laid down in March and then approved in late July. Um and then the appeals process would take us into the fiscal near year next year. And this the reason we are actually getting this categorical expense so we can purchase these products now in this fiscal year and

226then get the reimbursement for next year. >> Right. Beautiful. >> Thank you. Any further questions? All right. Moving on to the next one. Financial statements for period ending July 31st, 2025. Mr. Emit Whitefield. >> Thank you, Madam President. Board in front of you do have the financials that include transactions between September 1st, 2024 and July 31st, 2025. Revenue collected to date equals 96.29% of the budgeted amount compared to 90.1%. 01% in 2324. Expenditures today represent 85.42% 42% of the budget compared to 84.34% of the budget in 2324. As you can see that we are right on pretty much right on target to where we should be for that. And then next month when I bring it to you will be the August report and it will not be shorted up for the audit yet but

227it will be pretty close and there will be some final entries that we do for August. So I can answer any questions about the financials if you have any. >> Any questions? >> I I'll say that you brought up audit just now. Um, and back in February, we talked about looking at other audit firms. >> Uhhuh. Next month. >> All right. That that audit that audit RFQ will be issued in September and brought to you either in October or November. >> Thank you. >> All right. And last but not least, take us home with our cash flow and investment report for period ending July 31st, 2025. Mr. Emtt Whitefield. >> Thank you again, Madam President. Board in front of you do have the cash flow and investment report. You can see that as of July

2282025, we uh we processed $310,826.80 in interest revenue based on our investments. That does include that 16.872 that is hanging out there and collecting those interest. Last year at this time, July, we collected $275,2947. So it is up from there. You can see that's the difference in those two places there. The total for the year currently is 2,664,285.95 and last year at this time we were at $2,310,49. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Emtt Whitefield. Any questions? >> Can I? >> With no further business, this meeting is adjourned. It is 9:10 p.m.