001Time now is 7:07 p.m. We do have a quorum present and we will begin this meeting with a word of prayer. Holy Father God, we thank you for today and we thank you for all that you've richly blessed us with. Father God, we thank you for meal that was provided to us tonight and we ask that you bless to our bodies. Dear God, we pray that you uh be with us as we look at the matters of the school and ask that you help us to always keep keep the kids first in our in our thoughts and our minds and our decisions. Father God, we pray that you be with us because we know that we make mistakes and we fall short of your glory with our sins. Forgive us of that. It's in Christ's
002sweet and precious name that we pray. Amen. >> Was there anyone who signed today to appear before the board? Cardinal Spotlight. >> We've been to school for eight days so far since we've gotten out for Christmas. Besid besides a we've had um we have had a powerlifting meet and so want to recognize our our power lifters this year. U got four new girls. Um Harley Henderson, Marel Summer Reinhardt and Kennedy Bowlinger, all first time powerlifters. We we lost a good group of senior girls last year and at least wanted to give it a try. We also have u three three boys lifted. Marcus Mccclure, Zayen Harding, Remington Blood. Um went to Abalene last weekend. Um it the first meet for all the girls. Remington had the highest place. I think he had a fourth place
003finish and he meddled uh in his weight class. So they've done a good job and I think after they get that first meeting in you know whether they're going to stick with it or not and I think they'll stick with it. I'm proud of the pictures. >> Good deal. >> All right. Foundation update. I'm just going to run through it. All right. So, the foundation was reformed last year. Um, some things were changed. Was going to kind of give a report of where we were at. We took over around 8 million um worth of assets. Um, first thing we did is reimburse the legal fees for the foundation for the reformation of the foundation. Um, we also gave a $1,000 per employee retention bonus. Um, we made a donation yearbook. Um, our business manager, Marcy,
004got a statement for the thing she handles for the foundation. We did a donation for school supplies for all the students. Um, and that was uh right about $20,000. We also pulled a maintenance note um for the school and I will get back to that in a minute. Um, also for maintenance, the floor machine, they've been working with one. We donated a floor machine. Um, now they're working with two, which is good. Our scholarships were about $127,000 um for the year, which was up quite a bit from the years um prior. Of course, um we did one page ad in the yearbook, of course, just general expenses, post office, things like that. We also expanded on our high school um dual credit to where we've taken the fees away anybody wanting to do dual credit
005um and also pay for the books or passcodes or calculators or whatever they need. I think I was told there's 34 >> there's 30 um dual credit students this semester >> which is up >> and taking 145 hours I believe. So taking advantage um also in that we increased the scholarship amount from still the $1,000 it was per year of school but if you take dual credit um in your last four years um as a freshman on um it will gain um I believe it's at $500 increments per semester >> per 15 hours. So And if you walk the stage or if you associate degree um then you have a laptop that will be purchased for you for your need for to go to college with. So something we really the foundation was really proud
006to take away some take away things that were in kids' way of taking college classes in high school. Um we also did um some teacher classroom supplies for each teacher that go reimbursement um this year. Um we also donated to the house that was donated finish repairs on the bike looking good. should be done um done in that we'll go to back to the maintenance note. The maintenance note was a 40-year investment of $400,000 or it's $425,000 into the school to help offset some of the costs that things that we needed to get done that had not been done. Um the third chairs, purchased suburban, replaced um some curbs and gutters, pumping station for the septic was pretty big. Um some ice makers. We also did Chromebooks. Um basically, I believe for everybody that needed
007one pretty much the whole school. They're all new other than I think first through third >> first through preK or first through 12. So I guess >> yes >> somewhat um added cardboard out back. Um place motor in the suburban concrete for the transportation area cameras conduit for the a bar cameras for the campus dryers. Miscellaneous few tools for Jerry needer. Commercial fridge tractor loader implement. Um commercial fridge transmission and suburban and other suburban repairs and the cafeteria serving counter. That was all of last week. Um tonight um the foundation um purchased reimbursed the school purchase of a school lunch line and over a little bit of overage for the house and um it's about we're around. So working real hard and we're still right at 8 million. We where we started we're right back
008we're still there. So which is kind of a goal of the foundation was to try to use what we could in the interest and leave the principle behind to gain. So we got this foundation out. >> That's a lot. Thank you. >> Any questions? We'll move along to the SC14 board election notice. >> Uh there's no action on this. This just kind of explains how uh region 14 service center also has a board of directors u who are elected by the member districts. So we there's currently no one to vote for for our district. Um but the areas of Eastland and Abene are currently they are accepting their trustees. So this was just shared with us from the center director just for information. >> Okay. Superintendent report. Enrollment and attendance. Um we're still hanging above
009the 95 percentage mark on 265 students. uh attendance is down a little bit. mainly because right before a holiday and right after a holiday uh you get some some lower attendance days nine students above where we were last year and still above attendance budget budget sheet shown next shows all the percentages by function this will a little bit because the foundation is reimbursing some district expenditures. We replaced the serving line in the cafeteria. Um it had been patched so many times we couldn't couldn't patch it anymore. Um also added garage doors to the house and some extra appliances for the for the new house. So they committed 13,000 go back into our maintenance about the February board meeting date. Um third Monday's President's Day just some things that might have to have to happen between
010here and then. Um February 2nd is the last facilities committee meeting u where the facilities committee will have a recommendation to the board for for projects that the board would have decision to to move forward with. U so After that February 2nd meeting, we'll need a a presentation by the facilities committee to the board about the recommendation. And then following that before the 13th, if if action is to be taken, the board will need to call another special meeting to move forward and approve if the recommendation requires. B. >> So, we're going to need to call meeting on what date? >> Um, I haven't talked to the facilities committee meeting. The facilities committee But they're thinking the 5th for a presentation. And this is just 10 minutes right now. They're thinking February 5th for a
011presentation to the board. I won't be here. >> And then possibly February 9th for board action >> games. >> Those are just those are just tender for us. for the presentation for special board meeting. >> So both of those would be special meetings. >> I would really like to be here first. Friday, Friday, Friday the 6th, home games versus Wednesdays are both open. What do you prefer? Friday, Friday the 6 is home versus Thursday. She can't be here because junior high versus Monday, but then Tuesday girls. So really, I guess the question is made on a high school game or Wednesday. >> I'm okay with February 6th. So if we do Friday the 6th pencil it and then Tuesday the 10th they're both they're both boys are out on Tuesday but are home games >>
012and the girls are looks like the girls are playing versus back to the regular meeting. Monday the 16th, President's Day can't have a meeting that effect or not. But >> so do we need do we need the the special board meeting on the 10th or can it wait till the 16th? It would have to be It would have to be that week. >> Okay. To stay in the timeline. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, 26 and 210 both 7 p.m. That work for everybody. the 16th for 16. >> I'll miss the second. >> All right, that's all. I didn't write it down. We Marcy's doing all the work to get us back into TRS health insurance for the state. That's what we've been waiting on because this once the district opted out four years ago,
013only three years counted, supposed to be two more years out. Um, but they're allowing districts back in this next year. So, we're planning on going back into TRS active care insurance starting in August. So, we won't be on our own health care plan. Um, which should should save our employees money having having the back end of the state insurance plan. Principal report Not a whole lot. Just getting going with the second semester. Um I met with teachers today just kind of as an informal meeting for a teacher incentive aotment to work on getting our teachers more money. Um I've been to the region center a couple of times and I just met with them and gave them kind of an update of what what's kind of coming and what it looks like and answered questions
014trying to be as transparent as we can. So we don't because and they bring up questions too that I need to ask and so moving forward hopefully get our teachers more money and just what the state's making us have to do now. So just working through that and it's frustrating at times but it'll be okay. Um all of our students all of our high school students have passed their star test. So they don't usually we always have three to 10 that have to retest. We don't have any right now. So, we are caught up and from as far as I could tell since the star test has been here, we're caught up now, which is good so that we can just worry about or just focus on the high school kids that have to. It's
015their first time taking it. So, it's good to be caught up finally. So, give kudos to Miss M and Miss Stewart. They have worked at that and been very intentional with their tutoring. So, you see those two. Appreciate them. Um, other than that, just doing some evaluations and getting ready for the rush of the spring. That is all for the principal report. athletic report. Boys basketball 16 and seven. They're two and two in district. Girls basketball 25 and two. They're six and0 in district. Junior high girls are two and three. Junior high boys are two and two. Tomorrow games start at 5 versus Roby. No JB girls game. We're hosting the JB basketball tournament on Saturday the 31st. Cheer recently competed at the state UIL competition. They did really good in prelims. They did not
016advance to finals, but they represented well. All right. They've been repairing the seats in the gym. They come loose. We're starting to replace and repair lights in the parking lot around the outside. Looking at replacing the septic at the Gibson's house for 8500. It currently does not have a septic system. It has a cess pool system which which in and of itself is not up to code. Um the maintenance truck was giving them issues. Um they we took it on a um we had a warranty took it back um to look at repair. They wanted to it's not a full warranty for some reason. They wanted to replace the entire engine for $15,000. Um went picked it up from there. Um ended up taking it to I think he take it to Nick. >> I
017think so. >> Think he took that he took it to SN and ended up just being a broken valve spring and they replaced that, repaired it for 1,800 which is a lot better brand new. Garage doors have been installed in the new house. We're hoping to have it all completed by the end of the month. Just doing small touch-up things left, hanging blinds, cleaning, installing the hood. That's the operations. We um went to Westbrook for UIL in December and elementary and junior high both placed fifth. Um our real essentials classes for sixth through nth grade, that's what we used to call abstinence classes. It's now called real essential classes. Um started on January 12th. She comes every Monday and she'll come for a few a few weeks. Um last week we had um two ladies
018from the Frost Daniel unit come out and present to our 11th and 12th graders and it was interesting. I think they really enjoyed >> it >> the I was multitasking so I didn't stay for the whole thing but I think the kids the students really enjoyed it. Um our senior January senior of the month is Braden Lynch and so he will go this Thursday. um uh joined by his mom and Miss M to the Rotary Club. We will have the Air Force recruiter visit with 11th and 12th graders this week and then the last week of this month I will start GT testing. I have student seven student referrals. So I'll test those seven students and see if they qualify for gift. So, we just got done with county stock. Um, I'll hit a few
019highlights there. Champion American steer shown by Symp British steer shown by Payton Northcut. Three champion York Wel Kenny Champion Doan Hubpper Best of breed English law made best of breed cinnamon keen. So those are just kind of our highlights. Of course all of them did great. Um every student made the sale which is awesome. They can use that money, save it, use it for next year's project. I did a rough estimate. Sometimes you can't always get those numbers when you're at the sale. But for the students showing under Hermley FFA, they were awarded $66,650. That's probably not accurate, but I passed. Um, we've got some vet appointments for guilts going majors coming up, taking some guilts back soon. And then I wrote all of this down, my February schedule, but I'm not going to say
020it all because it's long and I'm not going to bore you. But um Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, it's all all there. But we have plenty of students going and hopefully I'll have some updates, not in February one because I won't be there, but March, some updates on how deal. >> Thanks. We know you're busy. All right. Next is consider and take possible action on the approval of the board minutes from December the 15th, 2025 regular board meeting. I'll make a motion to approve it. >> Have a motion in a second to approve the board minutes as written. Any further discussion? All those in favor? 70. Okay. Next would be to Consider take possible action on the approval payment of bills and investment reports. I'll make a motion and a second to consider and
021take possible action on the approval of payment of bills and investment report. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor? Okay, next item is to consider and take possible action on Senate Bill 11. Mr. >> All right. Bill 11 is it's not real complicated. Um it's asking all the boards in state by March 1st have to take a record vote on whether to create prayer time, a designated prayer time in school during the day. Um, there's two resolutions here. One one's pretty simple. I think it's included in the package. Just states that the board does or does not approve the designated prayer time. Um, So, there's a simple resolution in here. There's also the um the letter sent out by Texas faith leaders um opposing Senate Bill 11. Um, there's also another resolution that
022I emailed. I don't know. It didn't make it back. It did it. Um, >> basically, it's it's a longer resolution that um affirms that students already, you know, retain the right to pray in schools without um passing a policy to set a time. You know, I got I got two two stacks of books on my desk. You know, one top of one's the educational law, the top of the other is my Bible. We don't we don't your rights for religion doesn't end at the schoolhouse door. Um a lot of a lot of districts are opposing it because it's uh politically motivated. It is it's not solving a problem that we have. Basically, what it does is you create a during the day for all kids who opt in whatever faith that they may bring. You
023put them in a Romney 11 pray. That's what that's what it's doing. Um, you know, my recommendation is is to not uh approve C bill 11 just because we already have in our in our policy and in the education code that already guarantee students right to pray without designated time. Uh so this resolution here uh has been it's been passed around uh between between the districts. A lot of lot of superintendents I've talked to in the area. Uh they're recommended not approve of Senate Bill 11, but it states that it affirms that students and staff retain the right voluntarily engage in prayer, reading of religious texts and other religious expression on school property during the school day consistent with state federal law. Declines to adopt Senate Bill 11 at this time. the current law and
024policy sufficiently provide the required opportunities for religious expression. So there's a simple vote you can take to approve it um or disprove it. This was a little bit more wordier that explains how students already have um voluntary expression u but it is to uh decline to adopt Senate Bill 11. So basically the board just needs to vote to approve Senate Bill 11 or decline to adopt Senate Bill 11. So what I'm hearing you say is we have something and they're trying to fix that's not broke, >> right? It's not solving a problem here that we are facing. We already we have we have CU at the poll. we have SCA. Um, and it might be a problem in other districts. I don't know. But, um, all it's it would be it's it's a simple yes.
025We just want to say, hey, you know, 12:00 every day, everybody wants to pray, you sign this form, you can go in the boardroom and pray. Um, but I I I don't I don't really understand the motivations behind it because it doesn't doesn't solve the problem that we have. I mean they can pray any time of the day though >> take away from our teachers and whoever. >> This wouldn't take away from instructional time. I mean it could be at 7:30 in the morning or it could be during lunchtime but it doesn't designate I mean say we have a Muslim student or say we have a a Wikah student we put them all in the same room and say hey here's your prayer time. >> I think that's something you don't want to touch honestly
026in the schools. >> So that's what Senate Bill 11 is. You just either approve it or >> disapprove >> not approve it. You're not you're not voting for it doesn't mean you're voting for prayer or against prayer. >> They can't pray, >> right? You're not you're not voting to allow students to pray or not. >> That's the way it's been reported to make it seem, but that's not the vote because kids can already do that. So, a yes vote tonight would mean that you've got to create a time for them to go pray somewhere >> and make a form and they'll have to sign it and bring it back. >> But a no vote tonight means that we keep doing things the way that they've always been done, which means we don't inhibit them from
027prayer to begin with. >> Right. >> I'll make motion. No. I'll second. >> So the motion is I move to decline Senate Bill 11. >> Any further? There has been a motion made and seconded to decline Senate Bill 11. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor of declining Senate Bill 11. 70. Okay, the last item on our agenda tonight is to consider and take possible action on the superintendent contract extension. However, we will go into executive session to discuss personnel matters under Texas government code 5510.074 which allows us to discuss personnel matters specifically the superintendent annual evaluation. So it is now 7:41. We will go into executive session. It is 8:18 and we are coming out of executive session where we discussed under Texas government code 551.074 personnel matters the superintendent of annual
028evaluation. We'll back up from executive session to action item 5D, consider and take possible action on the superintendent contract extension. We will take no action there. However, we are not, and I do repeat, we are not displeased with the performance of our superintendent. We are solely looking to get back to a three-year contract period instead of a four. Does the rest of the board agree with the statement that I've made. >> Okay. >> You have any rebuttal remarks? >> We have a mo a motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Is there any further discussion? All in favor >> adjournment has to be 820 came out of executive at 89 or we're back in regular at 8:19 >> you do what you need to do there. >> Okay. Okay.