0017:00 p.m. We do have a quorum present and we will we will call this meeting to order. If you would please pray with me as we begin. Holy Father God, we thank you for today and we thank you for all that you richly blessed us with, Father, far beyond what we deserve. We pray that you be with us tonight as we make decisions regarding our school and our kids. We pray that you keep them at our our forefront all the decisions that we make. Father God, we uh pray that you uh be with us and keep us safe in everything that we do and everything that our kids are involved in. Dear God, we pray that you uh forgive us where we fall short of your glory with our sin. It's in Christ's sweet and
002precious name that we pray. Amen. >> Amen. [cough] >> Mr. Elder, do you have anyone has anyone signed for the public forum? >> No, sir. Okay. >> Cardinal Spotlight. >> Uh we've got two groups here tonight. Um, first group we have a a cardinal character award that was started in the elementary. I'm not sure whose brainchild it was. I know as elementary teachers [clears throat] um I know that's a lot of good ideas but um what they do is they recognize a third, fourth and fifth grade student every week um for for different traits. They're elected by their their teachers. We have a we have a couple representatives here tonight. Um those here Casey Moren and Brody Thompson. They they were recognized by their teachers as exhibiting cardinal character. Also chosen were Maverick Rios, Si
003Medina, Bentley Kirby, and Jaden. But Casey and Brody are here today. [laughter] Just kidding. You don't have to speech. I just want to recognize you for exhibiting cardinal character traits. Second uh second cardinal spotlight, Clarissa Rios. She she's probably had a long day. She ran this morning. She's our our regional cross country qualifier. Our our lone runner ran at 11 this morning. They probably just hot tailed it back to get here. Anything y'all want to say? Just want to say thanks. Thank you to everyone showing support. Comment on the Facebook post means a lot and I see it all and just grateful for all the support show. >> Absolutely. Thank you guys. They read the comments and all the posts all the way down there. So, it really does. It means a lot. Thank you
004guys. >> I know it's hard to run cross country your senior year and do it by yourself. I don't look like it, but I ran cross country. I wasn't very good. [laughter] But thank you. Thank you all for being this month's car spotlight being here tonight. [applause] >> You have to stick around. I know you're tired. >> Thank you. >> Good job, bro. >> Proud of you. >> [laughter] >> He didn't even look. He didn't even look at the drill. [laughter] >> Superintendence report. >> Enrollment of attendance. Uh attendants dropped three students from last time. Um I think one home school, one back um and another one >> went back to um so we're at 268 which is 12 above this time last year and our attendance percentage is also higher. We're sitting at 97
005plus percent which is really good. Hope to keep the 95 is our goal and being at 97. We're just counting on that to help us out financially as well. Uh, next page, monthly financial report. Didn't have one last month because didn't have expenditures yet. U, this just shows where we are at currently. It's still really early and it's compared also to to last year's this time. November warming day looks like the 17th is the third Monday of the month and it doesn't fall in break. [snorts] We'll talk about our ESL program evaluation which is another um mandate but we'll do that during the discussion this offer superintendent report. >> Thank you sir. Principal report. >> Okay. So last time I talked about we were preparing for teacher incentive aotment. I went to the region center
006last week. We are beginning that process. It'll take us a year to build our plan. Um, good thing about that. Five years ago, nobody really knew what to do. Now they've kind of given us the guide. Um, the main thing through teacher incentive aotment is teacher evaluations, student growth, put in this big formula, and then the higherend teacher will get more money. Um, so it's starts at, I believe, $5,000, then there's a $7,000, $14,000, then a $21,000. So, a teacher could get $21,000 per year for up to five years. So, they can qualify for that. It's a lot. It's really nothing more than what we're doing because we're already doing evaluations and we're already doing MAPS testing. It's just we got to put it into this formula and make sure all of our Tees are
007crossed, eyes are dotted, but I'm going to the region center and they're helping us walk through that. So, it'll take us a couple years to get through that process, but hopefully it can get our teachers more money. Um, the state has come out and said this is going to be kind of the only way they give teacher [snorts] raises. I wish they would just give us give the teachers the money without having to jump through all these hoops, but we know the state's not that easy to work with. So, but we're working through that. Um, I'm sure there'll be some things that y'all have to vote on as we go through that, but nothing right now. Just gather information for it. Um, working on teacher observations. We are probably a third of the way through
008with those. Um, and that's just me going in observing one lesson, 45 minutes. Um, talking to teachers about things we did good, things that we need to change. Um, the region center, we have had them coming out kind of talking to some observations, talking to teachers, talking to us um about ways we can help our teachers. So, it is not their observation, what they say because they've said things to me and I go, "No, we're not changing that." Uh but they have come up with some good things to help our teachers. Um so, it's to support our teachers and make our teachers better. Um we all know and you know, our star scores aren't what they need to be. So to get better, we've got to be uncomfortable and we've got to try to make
009those have some conversations to see what we can do to make our teachers better. So it's been um it's not comfortable, but I think it's what we need to do is the next step to push our teachers and they've been receptive. You know, nobody likes people coming in your classrooms like that, but we've got to be able to have that help our teachers because through that we're going to say, "Okay, we need some help on this. Okay, let's get some training in there." So, it's just a process we're going through. Um, I think it's what's best for our teachers and it's what's best for our kids. So, it's more work on me, but I think it's going to help our teachers more to help our kids. So, that's all the principal report uh starts with
010girls basketball technically starts on Wednesday. That's junior high and high school. Um, And then so that'll that's after they've been going during the period but it starts full go on Wednesday. Just talked to Carissa competed at regionals that was in Arlington. New course then there was last year about 200 kids competed in that today. So there was a whole lot. Um football junior high three and three. Varsity is five and two. JB 1 and four. It's been really good. I mean kids have been fantastic. Tons of buy in. Um been a lot of fun. Homecoming was last week. Um that was a long week. It was great. Started with uh tailgate. That was on Tuesday. Miss How put that on and it was fantastic turnout. Uh bonfire was on Thursday. It was great. Junior high
011went to Rotan. We hosted Garden City here. Just our people make things work for the best interest of our kids. It's really good. Um, Ranks was crowned king, Clarissa Queen at that homecoming. Um, it was really special to see that. Uh, Cheer has been doing really, really awesome pep rallies and, um, their in-game stuff has been great. They're kind of incorporating some of the stuff that they're doing um for competition during the pep rallies and during the the games. And so um, they'll go to competition in January. I think it's the third weekend of January. That's all I got. >> Operations report. >> Um, [clears throat] we had the water well go down, so we had to replace. We didn't, but we had, >> yeah, twice. Um, we actually ended up having to put a
012new pump and motor in that two weeks ago, a week and a half ago. Um then I met with a couple of contractors to walk through the property that we um got [clears throat] to get the remodel going on that. I guess you guys will probably see that a little later on. Um we had the guys from Target Solutions out last week. I believe it was last Tuesday. Um to do a water test over here try to help us figure out where the water was coming in. They did have success. um found that the parapit wall where it meets the um the panels, the wall panels um right now they kind of have just just an amount of caul which is what everybody's kind of done to it over the years. Um but there's no
013way to terminate the actual um protection in there without removing some of those wall panels to get back there to actually terminate that to install the proper way. Um, so [clears throat] they did make a small repair. They want to kind of watch it to see if that does fix the problem before they actually come up with a solution on on the repairs. Um, so hopefully in the next couple weeks we'll know if that's all of it. Um, they did get quite a bit of water to come in um all the way down that wall where we had issues. So hopefully that'll get that fixed to where we can stop that problem that we've been having for ever I guess. >> And then um outside of that I mean we're just the normal maintenance thing
014and rolling and cleaning things. other than we um Hel was here and they made repairs to the playground turf or underneath the patio that we were having issues with. Um so they were here all last week and they work on it yesterday or live it through the weekend and then finish it up today. Um and then now they started on the football field making some repairs over there that we've had concerns about since we put in so far. >> Yes, sir. >> The playground Feels a lot better. >> Yeah. We all walked through it. >> So, it's got that padding and I guess when they put it in, they just left 2 in gaps everywhere between those 4 foot sections >> and you could walk and feel it. So, they peeled all that up and
015fixed it, fixed some edges. And then that last day we walked through, there was one more section that they didn't want to fix, but we said we weren't signing off until they fixed it. So, they worked on Saturday. They filled that up, patched it. >> It's better. It's at least that padding. counseling. >> We um 11th to 12th graders went to the WTC college fair. That was a success. Um Miss Anderson and I made them at least bring information back from three colleges. So they they did get out there and um and visit with those Um, I have attended the district testing coordinators training that's in Abalene through the service center. So, at some point before spring testing, I will be training the staff on testing. We've started UIL practices for elementary and junior highs.
016That's going good. The Chad Card workshop was good. Um, we had several juniors go to that. They all seem to get something out of it. Um the PSAT all 10th and 11th graders, we had to group them different based on their accommodations and things this year. Um but we've got all them tested. Lincoln Tech presentation for 11th and 12th grade was good. They have the guy comes from Le, but I think it's Dallas area where his where their school is. Um tomorrow juniors we're taking to TSTC and Abene to tour that campus. And then um and also tomorrow's our FASA family night. It's not really at night. It's we'll start at 4. The lady that comes in is from Amarillo, so she likes to get home before midnight. Um [snorts] so I did mention to
017all seniors today [clears throat] they haven't filled out their fast yet, which I've only to show me that they have that they need to come to that. Balffor will be here Wednesday to um do letter jackets and patches for those kids that need it, caps and gowns for seniors and classrooms for juniors. I will give the ASVAB to the juniors on Thursday. The Rotary Club has started um once a month awarding um or recognizing a student from each local school. So one week they recognize a Snyder student and feed them lunch, one week is Ira, one week is Hermaly. So, um, this week is our we're up and, um, I sent out a Google form to all the high school secondary teachers to vote on a senior that they wanted to recommend for senior of
018the month. Um, and this month is Clarissa. So, she will be going to eat with the Rotary Club um, Thursday. Her parents are going to join her and Mrs. Smith, art Mrs. Smith, is going to join her as well. Um, and so we'll do that once Um, Texas Tech tour for 9th grade is coming up on the 29th and the ASU tour for 10th grade um has it was November 19th. I've moved it up a week to November 12th. That's it. >> All righty. A report. So, I've got what has previously happened. I got news. I guess it was either last week or the week before that Levi Gibson and Payton Northcut are selected from Hermal's chapter to represent on the junior board for the Scurry Live Count Livestock Association. So, what that means is
019they'll help out. We have our our normal board with our representatives and then we have our junior board. So, they'll just help out at the White Buffalo blowout, open gates, doing whatever they need to. And then they will also help out at the um county show, helping out wherever they can whenever the adults can. They'll just fill in those spots that need to be filled. Um, tomorrow we have lamb and goat validation at 5:00 at IRA at the old a shop. And so we have we have, let's see, three families that have lambs and or goats. So we'll see them tomorrow and do the rest of the county tomorrow. Um, then we have October 27th, I'll have my stock show entry night where we get all of theies up for county and or majors. Um,
020that'll be a very busy, heavy paperwork night. No one looks forward to that night, but it has to be done. And then November 1st and 2nd, we have our White Buffalo blowout jackpot in Snider. A lot of our kiddos go to that and so it's good first show for most of them. And then rounding it out, LBE November 11th, we have district contest and I'm right now planning on taking about three teams and a couple individual speakers. So, >> all right. Thank you all. [snorts] All right. Next on the agenda is the annual announcement of continuing education for board members. Under the state board of education rule, completing required continuing education each year of service is a basic obligation and expectation of any any sitting board member. As board president, I am required to announce
021the name of each member who has completed, exceeded, and are deficient in meeting the requirement continuing education. The requirements for training are measured as of the first anniversary of the date of the trustes election or appointment or two-year anniversary of their previous training as applicable. The following are training areas for board members continuing education. The Public Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, local district orientation to the Texas Education Code, post legislative update to the Texas Education Code, cyber security, team building, [snorts] additional continuing education, evaluating and improving student outcomes, identifying and reporting abuse, trafficking, and other malreatment of children. and school safety. To the extent applicable to each board member, I will announce the completion or deficiency as to the required training. For members who still have time remaining to complete required training, I'll announce
022those board members who have scheduled timely training and those who have not yet scheduled the training. [snorts] At the conclusion of this announcement, I will announce any board members training in excess of the continuing education requirement. So for public information act all members have completed the public information act training. For the open meetings act all members have completed the open meeting act training for local district orientation. All members have completed the local district orientation training. Orientation to the Texas education code. All members have completed that orientation to the Texas education code. Cyber security. All members have completed the annual cyber security training. Post legislative update which is bianually. All members have completed the post legislative update training. Team building which is three hours every year. All members have completed the team building training. Evaluating and
023improving student outcomes which is also three hours bianually bianially all members have completed the bianial ISO training identifying and reporting abuse one hour bianial the following members are deficient in meeting the identifying and reporting abuse training that would be Mr. Gerald Rodriguez. All others have completed school safety two hours bianually. The following members are deficient meeting the school safety training. Mr. Gerald Rodriguez. All others have completed the school safety training. Continuing education 10 hours for the first year and five hours for subsequent years. All members have completed their required continuing education training. Next up on our agenda is the Hermley ISD ESL program evaluation. >> This is another required announcement for the yearly for our ESL program. Currently, IC currently has six students in grades preK through K, preK through 12 being served in ESL
024for 2526. One student has met the requirements to exit the ESL program and will enter their first year of academic monitoring. Two students will enter their second year of academic monitoring. One student graduated from Herman ISD is and is currently attending Western Texas College. We deliver contentbased language instruction and supplemental English language support. Herly ISD currently has 11 certified ESL teachers. Certified core subject teachers implement English language proficiency standards into the curriculum. One teacher attempted the ESL supplemental certification but was not successful. The number of teachers for whom a waiver is being filed for the 2526 school year is one. The frequency and scope of the comprehensive professional development plan is a one-time training at the ESC region 14 service center along with an online ELPS academy and Elps implementation courses for core subjects. Tail
025pass results for spring 2025. 10 students, one student received an advanced high rating, four students received advanced ratings, three students received intermediate ratings, and two students received beginning ratings. Tail pass results were mailed home to parents. Her will have one district campus testing coordinator to assess tail pass. 2025 star reading results. Eight students participated in the spring 2025 star reading English one assessment. Six students met passing standards. Two students did not meet passing standards. Two students were enrolled in non-EST grades second and 12th. And that is our ESL program evaluation. Next on our agenda is to discuss potential May bond election projects and amounts for RFQ. >> Do you want to talk about our phone call the other day or >> Sure. U we we've had reached out to a lot of different companies about
026being an independent owners rep which is required by law doing a design build um procurement. Um, and the one that we were working with, uh, the the proposal that I've given y'all back in the spring is $5,000 to represent us, but that included a lot of things we had already done. Um, and to choose an independent owner's rep now would require sticking with the same said person throughout and afterwards. Um, the the final proposal bill that I got wasundred $20,000. Um, and about $80,000 of that was travel. Um, so Kevin and I called, well, we we called a attorney the other day to work out a different plan for not having to spend that much money. Um so what we did is we sent out um a request for qualifications um on Monday is open
027through the 31st to send it out to four different firms. They may all respond one or none. Um but what that does is gets us out of from needing an upfront independent owners design rep. This request for services is just for um bond planning and support that may or may not even have a have a price. Um so at the November meeting whatever responses we get uh for bond planning and preparation will be presented to you guys for u selection. I I do want to continue in what you had to say regarding the their fees that we had talked about. So out of the 120 to 130,000 in their fee, 80,000 of that was travel, they had chosen the person that would be coming to Hermley. They were coming out of El Paso and uh
028Mr. and myself said, "No, there's got to be some architects that are closer than that. There's got to be some other way to do that." So, we are actually reaching out to some folks in Abalene Love, etc., trying to see if we can get that a lot closer to home and a whole lot less expense. >> Is that the same people that were here on this? >> Not this. >> No. Uh, you're you're talking about design build group. This would be independent owners rep which is different. The bylaw we are required to have an independent architect that works for us separate apart from whomever we hire for design build and it's a way for by law for us to keep our design build group in check. However, it's still cheaper than going the construction management
029agent route. >> As they say it, but you would pay up to 10% of your bond for an architect and also up to 10% of your bond for your construction management. So, if you pass a $10 million bond, 20 million of that goes out the door, not out the door, but it goes directly to your architect and your on $10 million on a $10 million bond, it would be $200,000. >> Yes. It goes completely straight out. >> Mr. Fa sent this to me this afternoon. is different funds, different amounts and terms and rates potentially for whatever the board wants to potentially look at. He went from 20 years to 10 years, different amounts, different interest rates. Obviously, the lower interest rate is for a shorter term. Um, as well as what that would cost. So
030for instance, if you did a 10year $3 million bond, the interest rate would be 11 cents. 10 year $5 million would be roughly 16 cents. Um you go up [snorts] to 20 years and the interest rates a little higher, but the INS rates a little lower. the the the increase decrease change is not based on this current year but u last year when it was at uh 12 cents. So that shows the amount the year the rate it would take how much would end up being paid with interest for different amounts. Do you have anything else on this material? Uh nothing unless you want to discuss potential projects kind of what you have in mind as far as amount term. I think we're I think we're all seeing that the shorter the term the better
031the interest rate and the lesser amount of interest paid. You kind of need to look to [snorts] what you're going to raise your tax rate. I mean >> that would be this column here. >> Yeah. I'm not see our last bond a year. >> Was it 11 12 cents? >> It ended. What did it start with? It ended up at 124. started. [laughter] >> But your rates depend on your property values. Obviously, the higher your property values, the more that rate generates. And like like they said in that training, you can't set your rate higher than what to collect for that bond. >> Yeah. >> And currently our INS rate for this [snorts] year is at zero. >> Yes. >> So >> and the tax is showing tax. >> Yes. >> Pretty good decrease. >>
032Plus, Mr. the cheapest. We're the cheapest in the county right now, by the way. [laughter] >> That's real [laughter] close. That's real close. Not far away. a little. [laughter] >> Yeah, that might work. >> The other thing to remember too is that whenever we talk about project fund amounts, that doesn't mean the amount that we have to spend on projects. That also includes fees, etc. So >> we'll have we'll have our design build group fees and we'll have other prorated fees depending upon how big the project is. >> Yeah, that that's kind of a minor situation. Want to talk about a few of the projects that's really being necessitated. Of course, the two big ones is your softball and baseball. Then I don't understand you explain the elementary bathrooms. >> Yeah, there's just I mean
033you go to the girls restroom, there's three three commodes for, you know, >> 100 kids to go. Yeah. Or two or three classes to go at the same time, >> you know. And same thing in the boys. You have one commote and two urinals. >> They're just way under sized. >> And we think there's enough room there just moving the wall out >> kind of redoing some. But >> it's okay during the class when you have one or two kids go. >> But when you bring a class of 18, 20, you got 10 boys and they got one commode. >> They're away. That's when you start having accidents. >> Good. Another thing we got in there >> or behavior issues. >> Okay. >> Another another one is the junior high and high school bathroom down
034the other hallway that is currently combined. >> It's a similar similar issue. >> Similar issue. >> 120 kids during a 5minute passing period, >> but they're all having to come to this end of the building. >> Yes. >> When their classrooms are at the opposite end. So something we would want our our design build group to look into would be possible locations for another bathroom. And then with taking that location, what do we do with the classroom that was in that location? It's not like we have spare classrooms that are floating around. So >> and then still keep that project fund amount down. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Then we also have our maintenance issues. >> Air conditioners are starting to give up the ghost. Some are some are doing well, some are on their last
035leg. >> The gym gym panel for sure. >> Gym paneling. Yes. >> Is another issue. >> You know, we got 400,000 officers But I guess didn't get sp >> the gym roof got replaced. It's just those side panels, >> but you know, it was the S was fixed. [clears throat] >> I think everybody was doing that. >> I mean, they repaired the roof several times. They just never fixed it. >> I think that's part of the problem is it just wasn't fixing it. Well, what I saw the other day with a garden hose. I didn't see where they put it, but it's coming in there. >> We don't get a chance to replace that gym floor. >> Yeah, that's that's going to be 300,000. [clears throat] >> It'll probably be at least 500,000 at this
036point. and been fixed in 2011. Sure going to get fixed now if they keep leaking. >> It's a bad design. >> But it can be fixed. >> Everything can be fixed. >> Just got to get it >> in the peace warranty. That's all it is. >> That's a big deal. I think holding the people accountable has been the lack of while we're in the situation. So >> a lot of turnover around here when you have turnover just gets passed down. >> Yeah. >> Because they don't know, >> you know, Joe, several years ago, >> a decade ago, I'm standing in the gym with Mr. roam the with the architect and the construction guy that built it and they both pointed the [snorts] finger right at each other's nose and said it's your fault and and
037it's been that seems like it's been >> it's been that way ever since. >> Yeah. Mr. Roan said one of you's got to fix it and they said well it's his fault. He said I was standing there listening to him. >> I was telling the story about the gym floor. >> Yeah. I went in there I went in there after I don't know was probably 12 years ago and I walked in the gym and it looked like a skate park that I had never seen a gym floor 2 feet high in my life. It was just buckled. And I was like, I called Mr. Otan. Mr. Roan, you ain't going to believe what this looks like. We got to leave somewhere. And he called the I don't remember where the people were from. Somebody does
038hardwood floors, gym floors, and they came out. They were within an hour. Just happened to be. They came and they cut about an inch off the end of it, off the west end of it. And the guy said, "I promise you in the morning that thing will be laid down normally." I said, "There ain't no way. I've never seen something like this before." And I've been cuffed for a long time at that point and I'd never seen it. Came in the next day, looked like nothing happened. >> He said, "It'll dry out and it'll lay back down." >> Lay back down. >> But what it did is it cupped every board. >> Yeah. >> From about the free throw line cuz the water got back to the free throw line. And so it's just been,
039you know, water used to just run down that plaque. Were you guys an angel on the plaque? Built the school. >> I came in one day. Water just a waterfall just running down it. [snorts] >> I mean, it was >> just a garden. >> The problem is though, it leaks in my classroom. At least, you know, it's not just that spot. >> Runs all the way down. Yeah, I always have after it rains there'll be 50 tiles in my classroom that falling on the floor. They fall in the server room here. It just runs every direction on I guess or something that they can >> guys. The only way we're going to fix this is to propose a b. We don't have the money unless you want to go get the foundation. I don't think
040a lot of people will do that. It's pretty good. I know a lot of people don't like bonds. Bonds are hard complaints. >> What was the what was the attitude 16 years ago when did you go door to door? >> Yeah. U lot of questions and I answered a few and Mr. Roan I take I said write the questions out for me and I'll take it and get an answer for and I go back and tell them >> and I went to some hardheaded guys >> and I think they voted for >> cuz from what I remember it passed pretty easily. >> It wasn't >> I know that was 15 years ago. I didn't know how y'all >> how y'all went about back then. I don't I didn't know if it was a big ordeal
041like that lady presented the other day or what you did back then to >> they had presentations at this old school and the contractor show problems and they went through and then we met and then you know they nominated a committee to go to the public and I was on that committee but we had one guy Mr. Roan, he called him and just chewed him out one way and the other. And Roan calls me and he said, "You're coming tonight, aren't you?" I said, "Yeah, I'll be there." I said, "Good." Because this guy is he is vicious. >> And to the school, he was the first one to speak. He said, "I hated to talk to the B. I hated to spend you school. you guys beat him in the worst way. So, I mean
042that was a plus a guy like that. But I went like running out >> I guess. I don't know. >> How does the Homestead Act work for people that are you explain that too. >> So the homestead act you you claim your homestead. It it's different for people who live in town versus people who live out in the country. Let's say you live on on a farm. Say you're on 160 acres. They usually carve out your house and some acreage that becomes your homestead. >> Not the whole farm. >> 100 acres, I think. >> 100 acres max. and then they homestead that. So you get the exemption on that. So it reduces the value of your homestead >> or at least the value that you'll be taxed upon for that. >> Now 140,000 >> right
043>> now. [clears throat] If you're over 65, you get the homestead exemption plus the senior exemption. >> So that can go up to 200,000 for the valuation. So basically $140,000 home you won't pay tax, >> right? >> You've got to be living in it. >> Was that in existence? Was that in existence in 2010? So that's something that's 100,000. >> No, it started out at 40,000. >> It was 40,000 back then. >> Like a couple years ago it went to 100 and now this year it went 100. >> But That only applies where you live. >> Uh if you own a second or something, >> well, a second house or ranch land or something like that. Let's say you you own a second house and you're leasing it out to to coach Wyinners. >> He
044doesn't get that. >> He pays tax. >> Yes. But if people are not taking advantage of the homestead act, the homestead exemption, they should be, bro. >> They should be. >> Yes. Farmland with no home, ranch land, no home. A lot of it falls back to how the deeds were written on the property. >> True. >> So, uh, I know our house, I think, is our house and 3 acres is our homestead. and the remainder acreage that we that we have is not so >> is that something that you think that the people that would be make voting on this know about >> is it for me pretty familiar with >> I think that there's always room for education >> um it's hard to say who does know and who doesn't know >> how does
045it apply to people that live in harmony because I mean it's not the city right they're We're not a city, so anyone that wasn't here could technically do that. Correct. >> Yes. >> And even if we were a city, there would be city taxes that they would also get to apply that Homestead Act, too. So it it not only applies to your school tax, it applies to others as well, reducing your tax bill. Even even with a 12 or 13 cent INS tax, we would be where we were last year. And the highest that we have been in the most recent years was about $1.29. Currently, we're at 66 cents. So, we're half that. uh with the INS rate that we had last year uh that would put us at if I'm not mistaken 89
046>> 72 >> okay >> I think so I don't have my sheet in front of me but you had to pay like when you bought a truck or >> RV or a boat and all that remember you had to pay personal >> taxing team comes in. That's where they help you do the messaging, community meetings, >> personal taxes back then. You bought a travel trailer, you bought a boat, pick up, you had to pay taxes. >> Oh, yeah. [snorts] You buy a new boat, travel trailer, truck or tractor, you had to pay personal tax. To answer your question, Coach Gibson, I think the biggest piece of misinformation is not about Homestead Act or tax exemptions. I think the biggest piece of misinformation out there is actually how recapture works, >> and the fact that local
047tax money is leaving county >> and being sent elsewhere. Um, we're able to collect the the state basically says, "Here's how much you're allowed to run your school." >> Yet, we collect a little bit more than double that. >> And they say, "Well, you're not allowed to have that, so we're going to take that from you." >> Well, the school can't do anything about it >> because it's a law. >> We claim less. >> We could claim less, but that also affects our income coming in. So >> the only way to get out is lower property values or more kids. >> Yeah. >> But if we're going to continue to maintain the facilities that we have, continue to try to correct some of the mistakes that were made 15 16 years ago when the building
048was built. Um, and I I do believe that with the right people and the right inspectors that are looking at the work that's been done, I think we can possibly and probably stop our roof leak. >> Um, so >> something else that wasn't mentioned, we do have an ever aging bus fleet and we we we need to upgrade those. I mean, we did vote not to put seat belts in them because that was cost prohibitive, but we do need to replace those. Um, we're not talking about a $200 million. We're not talking about $200 million bond. >> We're talking about something of 10 million or less. >> Yeah. You know, you're talking about doing your bathrooms and all that's that's good and everything, but the more kids you take, the more you're going to have
049to do to to the school. >> Agreed. >> And you ain't going to have enough where you going to build what you going to do? >> But we still have >> I mean, I'm I'm saying that, you know, right now you got 120 kids going to the bathroom. What happens when you have 200 kids going to the bathroom? >> We can't have, >> you know, what happens to a small school I mean >> because the school only bought what 20 acres or 40 acres >> 40 acres >> because it was 80 acres that Tom Henry had >> half of 40 acres >> they should have bought the whole 80 acres if you wanted and kept building on to it you know >> at that time >> but only bought 40 acres the other 40 acres
050back to the east >> but we're not talking about doing those bathrooms to accommodate take more kids. We're talking about doing the bathroom work to accommodate the kids that we have now. >> Yeah. But if you get more kids, you don't have more big classrooms and more teachers. >> But then you also jump out of a 1A school into a 2A school man to 11 man. >> They did that before over there and that was a big mistake. You know there two years over there cuz they wanted more kids 11 more money and that didn't work out. with the old school. >> I think >> the biggest problem >> to get it to pass right now is if the first thing you go and say softball baseball field that's going to be a big problem,
051you know. So, I think we can I know that needs to be upgraded. to a point, but I think there's other things in the school that need, you know, like a we could extend the egg. We could do a greenhouse build to where everybody in our school could use it. I mean, there's a lot of things that aren't looked at, but if you're just going to go push a bond and say, "First thing we're going to do is upgrade the fields," people's going to be like, "I don't know. You know, going back to when we sued that for that roof, we got a million dollars and I think the lawyers got 600 and we got 400. What we did with that, I think we did that track $350,000 with that kind of money. >> Track
052cost 840. >> I think it was 360 or 350 just to track that time. >> That was the original when we did that that track that time that they all came out here, the people wanted track field. >> That was the original >> during the pandemic or something like that, >> right? It was right after during that >> I think that 350 was the original cost. >> Yeah. >> And then when they pulled it, >> they found more in there. They had to go in there >> the foundation. >> Yeah. The dirt worked and they say, "Hey, we can't fix it for this much. We're going to have to have more cuz that soil and all." >> They never did the They didn't do the soil sample where the track was. They used the [clears
053throat] same soil sample of where the football >> it was all the spots. school was, >> you know, >> I mean, people a place to make all those adjustments. >> The softball and baseball fields. I do know we need restrooms out there. >> Yeah. >> Possibly a concession stand out there. Um, I mean, I don't know. Honestly, >> there's a lot of projects, but we need to focus on what's best for our kids first, >> right? >> And uh care of those needs as as our primary objective and then from there we can take care of other things whether it be turf here there fixing replacing what needs to be done. >> Do we need to set up a committee to make a list of what we need? >> That's what this these companies that
054I sent to that's what they'll do. They'll start consulting. >> Yeah, >> that's that's the start. >> We'll have that by [snorts] the next meeting next start to get this thing going. Will that include Is that just stuff that's here now or anything in the future? You know, like she said the bathrooms or something. Will that include that or is that just stuff? >> They'll they'll include whatever. >> I would I mean personally I would like to ask them for a 5, 10, and 15year assessment. Let's look let's look down the road. Let's see what we're going to need down the road. >> Let's not kneejerk react. Let's plan for the future. >> Things are going up every day. >> Yes. So million dollars today. >> I was I was talking to a uh I
055was talking to another school board president two weeks ago and he told me he said we're going out for a bond. And I said okay. And he said we tried to go out for the exact same bond four years ago. And he said the difference in cost from four years ago to now he said is doubled. [snorts] >> It's doubled. So 2011, Snder built that cafeteria on their high school. They paid $17,000 or $17 million for that cafeteria alone. To debut was to build that cafeteria is close to $40 million for the exact same just a lot. So from [snorts] 2011 to now, that's how much everything's gone. >> Yeah. >> Their bond that they are proposing is the low end. >> Yeah. They've cut it down from $460 million to [snorts] >> high school
056450 million >> and they took you know brought it down >> to repair the old school. >> Yeah, that's high school and additions to some of the other schools or making some changes on some of the other schools too to help with security. That's the reason that we would like to ask our design build group for a 5, 10, and 15 year. [snorts] We're going to reach the point in those three levels of finding out what is necessary right now and what would be nice to have in the future. >> Uh those nice to haves probably won't get funded by a bond, at least not right now. So, but the things that are uncovered that we do need to take care of now need to be fixed [cough and clears throat] now. Um, I think
057a prime example is our our gym floor and and the water leak. >> Here we are 15 16 years into the same process of still having the same water leak. [snorts] How many times have we repaired the gym floor, gentlemen? >> Redo, sand, all that. The time I think it was 26 little 26,000 >> I don't think they said you cannot sand it again we're at that level >> so the old one >> they would have to put new hardwood and everything [snorts] >> it would have to be so it's probably already at its minimum >> yeah when they said >> because of the damage that was on it or whatever it was at the minimal rate or whatever, >> but it it makes no sense whatsoever to go in and replace a gym floor
058>> when when we still have leak. >> Let's go fix the problem first and then fix whatever else happens in the process. >> So, >> well, and this kind of bond that we're looking at, you don't do everything in one year. You do so much, you know, you could fix a roof, make sure we got it not leaking, and then you do your gym floor to here down the road or you know where you know it's looking at the road. >> That's a two to five year project. Yeah, I don't know how many years. >> Well, there's a fiveyear limitation. Once you once the bond less, >> you got five years to spend the money. >> At the end of that five years, if it's not spent, you're done. take whatever's left over and fold
059it back into the but I think that's also where this group needs to pay real close attention. We need to pay close attention to the fact of what can we accomplish in five years >> so that we're not sitting there left holding a bag and we're not paying interest on money that we're not going to use. That's that's foolish. We need to be wise in the decisions we're making. Any other comments, questions, concerns, complaints, items of observation? All right, let's move along to our action items. First up will be consider and take possible action on the approval of minutes. >> I'll make motion second. Motion's been made and seconded to approve the board. minutes from September 15, 2025. Is there any further discussion? All in favor 70. Next up, consider and take possible action on
060the approval of payment of bills and investment report. I'll make a motion. >> Motion has been made and seconded to approve the payment of bills and the investment report. Is there any further any further discussion, questions regarding expenses? All in favor? >> All right. Next up is to consider and take possible action on the approval of budget amendments. >> This is an easy one. Uh when I was making the budget for this year because we had to have it done before the end of August, we had one more check slip through on uh the maintenance note. It was for a a round of chairs. He's just been taking a trailer full at a time. And so we had budgeted 5949 that was left in the maintenance note. Well, that needs to be less 2,160 so
061that we have our bucks written this year. >> That's all. Bridget, >> no. >> That was Casey. I'm sorry. I I hear, but I don't hear accurately. >> So, we have a motion in a second to approve budget amendments as presented. Any further discussion? All in favor? Okay, next item is to consider and take possible action on the approval of house remodel bas the foundation's pledged $70,000 towards this and these two go a little higher. Jerry got three different guys to come out. One of them couldn't get to them. So, this is why there's two here. Um Jerry, you want to kind of talk about the highlights? >> Yeah. So, the one for um [clears throat] JCR, he kind of gave us three different quotes. Um one for all the exterior and interior repairs, the
062one for the fence um around the property and then one for the roof. Um and then wall construction actually included everything on the one invoice. So that's why um it looks like that JCR's invoice has repairs to the siding. Um but wall is actually going to replace all the siding. Um they're going to put a a metal roof on the property and then um the fence and all those things. So wall construction actually came in under um a [clears throat] little bit more work um for a little cheaper. So But it'll be a complete I mean total remodel interior exterior you'll rip out sheetrock cabinets everything I mean it'll be a full >> did the bid include carpet or >> so laminate flooring through the whole house >> laminate flooring in the whole house >>
063so that JRC the 161 or 61000 that's not count 14,000 for the metal or >> so it's in the one >> no so that He'll add that too. So the 14,000 for the roof that he didn't put on the original quote. He gave us a separate quote for the roof and then he gave us a separate quote for the fence instead of including it all together on one like wall. >> Oh place with shingles shingles before. Okay. So it be one of those >> I've never heard of it. >> [snorts] >> 81. >> Yeah. So, apples to apples and 816 time frame on starting is about the same, two to three weeks before they could get to it. Um, Julio [clears throat] said they're probably about looking at about two and a half to three
064months completion. Well, so they could probably complete it in two months. So if obviously whether it's anything on the exterior stuff, we talked about time frame really not I guess we don't have anyone really to move into it. So really they have until I mean I guess next school year maybe we potentially have somebody that the property or whatever. You said how much was pledged by the foundation 70 won't cover the extra the electrical has been done at the house um HVAC system is good um and but the plumbing is not the greatest but that is included in that they would repair all the plumbing needed for be almost a brand new house,000. >> What will that house be worth after they >> probably million and a half? [laughter] >> I'm most impressed that he
065could say that with a straight face. >> What do you think? >> Probably comparable 15 to two. >> Yeah, I was going to say 175 185. Any other questions on those two? What we can do is go back to >> I know coding and they do a lot of construction work. I mean, >> so >> have they done >> so they you can call um me and Michelle actually did call Ira. They remodeled almost all of their houses just within this last year. Um and he said that I mean they did really good work. >> Okay. >> Um they're new to the housing construction side of things. Um he did say that Hyro was probably some of their bigger jobs that they have recently done, but they said all their work has been really good.
066So, I don't know. From what I heard, some of those houses were pretty bad, too. >> Yeah. >> The gentleman that Cody has heading that up, >> he's pretty >> is very experienc. So, he's kind of the >> the guy that kind of runs that construction side of things. I >> mean, they're both local. They both have really good references. I think we would be either one would be great to we had issues or weren't happy with something, they would both jump right in. I don't think we would have, you know, a hard time getting to foundation meeting next November to ask for more fun. Yeah, you can approve it. >> We can prove it >> right now. [snorts] >> Do they provide any plans like they're going to rip everything out? >> Right here.
067You got >> there's actually a massive list here. >> Five pages. [laughter] >> Did you say wall completely replacing the siding? >> All the way around the house. >> And walls does include a metal roof. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then six foot ch which both of them quoted the I think with the trailer house to the west of that probably need a 10ft privacy [laughter] later. I'm sorry. >> No, sir. I'm actually going to abstain from voting since I'm in that business. >> I think that would be >> [snorts] >> A uh I think that might be a >> conflict of interest. Yes, sir. >> Would you be higher than >> Yes, sir? It definitely would. [clears throat] >> In fact, it would probably be higher than the 81. >> That means
068the time frame would be a lot shorter though, right? [laughter] >> Well, I always tell people you can have it fast, cheap, or good. You can pick two out of the three. Fast and >> it ain't going [laughter] to beat you. church. >> Yes. >> [cough and clears throat] >> And that's exactly what they said. What's over there? No, what's over there? You actually have to take the wood out and replace the wood. The problem is you have to work from the bottom to the top. It's difficult to >> and they put different types of siding and they took down I guess probably used to have brick maybe between the windows when they put new windows in, stack windows in and they just stuck regular plywood up and painted it. Of course, it's rotted and
069all the things. [snorts] So even to get to that, you're going to have to remove from the bottom up. So >> and your waterproofing at those joints >> solely relies on caul. >> Yeah. Almost every window jam and everything over there is all going to have to be redone anyway. The fac I don't know either one of them. So, I mean, I know wall, but >> I don't know the word, you know. We have a motion in a second for wall construction bid 75,000. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? One, two, three, four. Those opposed and I 14. >> All right. The next item on our agenda [clears throat] was consider and take possible action on the adoption of a resolution to improve the engagement letter with Leon Alcala for bond council. This
070is a law firm for our bond. Would you like to >> We've done we've had a lot of calls with them financially and They do they do a lot of work in this region and they they work a lot with um Governor Capital who's our financial advisor. Um and this this bond this part of the bond council is actually the basically the nuts and bolts about the election and things and like it says no amount no amounts paid unless it comes to pass. It's just an agreement that they represent the district during the during the bond proceedings. >> And this is for council, not architecture, >> right? Not an architect. >> The one we talked to the other day was from [clears throat] >> I make a motion. So, we have a motion in a
071second to approve the engagement letter with Leona. Any further discussion? All in favor? Those opposed? Okay. consider and take possible action on the adoption of a resolution expressing intent to reimburse expenditures to be incurred. So there will be some expenditures to patch the bond whether it's architecture design bond planning those are generally pretty minimal but this intent lets the bond pay back the district for any expenses incurred before the bond passage. >> I make one So, we have a motion and a second to approve the resolution expressing intent to reimburse expenditures to be incurred. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor and those opposed. Two. So the next item is consider and take possible action on the approval of the owner's rep for design build. We are going to take no action on
072it not having an owner's rep already set. Following item would be consider and take possible action on the approval of the district. uh fish improvement plan attached. It's it's board board approved every year. Board review. Um just um not changes but how how we did from last year compared to this year. Um science improved across the board. Social across the board which changed those numbers to achieve for the next round. Uh math went down last year and English had no change. So those numbers were uh reflective of growth from where we're at currently. And I I on the academic on the academic ones which are which is the front of the improvement plan, I colorcoded them to just show where we're at for the different subject areas. [clears throat] This went to our district advisory
073committee. I'll second it. >> So, we have a motion and a second to consider and take possible action on the approval of the district improvement plan. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? Okay. Considering take possible action on the approval of policy review session recommendations and instructions regarding local policies. It says see the attached list. >> So Mr. Mayor and I spent that entire [clears throat] day with our policy representative and it was really interesting stuff. But these are all the recommended policy changes to make practice reflect policy. Um those reviews are intended to to be completed probably every several years just to make sure because what you're doing isn't always policy because some of the policies I think we have one policy 1980 or something and it was about prom. Um so some
074of some of that it just has to get looked at so often to to update. This this is the update. Um, and if you want to pull any out individually, you can. Um, if you want to approve all as proposed, you can do that as well. If you have any specific questions about any of the policies, um, just let us know. All the all the red is struck out, all the blue is added. It's to make us current with legislation and to reflect what we're actually doing. My question is to uh Mr. Ellerby and Mr. Marman. Are there any items in these revisions that you would rather us not? >> No, these were these were these are reflective of what we're doing and that's what we did when we made this >> simplified and cleaned
075up some good. >> Yes. So, we have a motion in a second to >> We have a motion and a second to approve the policy revision. Is there any further discussion? Motion blind. Second it. Are you ready? >> I mean, we'll go ahead and go into executive session. It is now 8:23 p.m. >> We will be going into executive session under Texas Government Code 551076. >> Deliberations regarding security devices or security audits and we will reconvene before any action is taken. This is how roof leaks don't get finished. >> [laughter] >> I'll make a motion to journ. >> So we have a motion and a second on the floor to adjurnn. Is there any further discussion? >> All in favor? 70.