001Good evening. Go ahead and call this meeting to order. >> Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you, Lord, for letting us make it here safely to this meeting. Lord, we just ask you to be with us tonight as we make decisions for the district. Thank you for everyone that present here tonight in Jesus name. Amen. >> 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 justice for all the flagg and indivisible. Mr. Cliff, do we have anybody for >> All right, move on down to education spotlight. We're going to start off with high school band track awards with this over. >> I didn't see Brandt come in. Uh we have athletic banquet tonight as everybody knows.
002We got to run late. >> Kids, kids all over the place, but we were going to recognize Brandt for qualifying in the state track meet 800. competed last weekend up to sixth overall in the state for 3A. So, real proud of him for that. And then we also have uh several band members here tonight. Miss T, if you don't mind coming up so when I mess something up, you can correct me. It see um I'm going to kind of run through this and then we'll uh take pictures with individual groups if that's okay with you guys. Uh, but our senior uh band Bradley Hamilton, Cora Maltby, sorry, Cora Maltby, Cole Johnson, and Braden Spears. >> Somewhere We also have a brass uh quartet uh brass quartet. Luke Riley, >> Lily Vaughn, Axis and Gregory. I
003feel awful for not dressing up. Um, our sax quartet, Ian, also senior as well, so focus on the same one. Addie Gullet, Corbin Davis, >> and Saw Gregory, >> just come on straight up, Brad. Squish like each other. >> Then we also have a uh clarinet solo Gabe Wardo. That's what you >> So, a special thing about this is uh is that Miss T, you correct me when I'm wrong on this, but uh many of these students have qualified for the state solo and ensemble contest, the brass quartet. Raise your hand again. And then the saxophone. We had solo with Gabe. And I learned uh last Tuesday night that Dave trashed his solo that he qualified with and is learning a brand new solo. Um but I thought it was real cool if you guys
004were at the band concert uh Tuesday night. Um I liked the uh the change where Miss T kind of broke up the concert a little bit and let each one of them play their their quartets and their solos for the solo ensemble contest and showcased that as well. So very proud of all these uh young men and women and the countless hours it takes to master an instrument that that they have practiced and parents. I'm sure you guys are you're glad they're at this point so you're not listening to the stuff where they started at. Trust me, I understand completely. But just the hours of practice uh that it takes for them to get to the point where they're at today shows their hard work and dedication. We're real proud of them. Turn face each
005other. Thank you guys very much. >> They actually offered they offered. Thank you, Mr. Time. We appreciate that very very much. They did fabulous job. Good job. Good job. So, um, the next recognition that we wanted to do, um, is a little bit different than your, uh, years past. It's our employee or staff of the year. Um, and I kind of insisted that we do this in May. And I know this is a tide board meeting, but I really wanted to make sure that we were all present to to hear um, and to recognize the staff that make this place happen. Um, it's our teachers, it's our staff members, it's our child nutrition, it's our grounds, it's our maintenance, it's all the things that all the positions that make this um district amazing and we
006thank you. Um, it takes a village, but you guys are top-notch and we really really appreciate this um for all all that you do. So, I'm going to start a little bit backwards, so roll with me. We're going to do campuses at the end just to see if we can buy a couple more minutes. Um, and I would like uh Mr. Ricks to come on up. >> That's okay. >> Do you have to say something? >> Um, um, I would love for Mr. Ricks to announce his employee of the year. >> So, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that has an employee of the year that gave birth to HIM and the 41 child nepotism. It took her 16 years to get this. She has retired already. So, she's not retiring at the end
007of this year. She's actually just quitting. So, I don't I don't think we were able to nail down how many years she's actually worked for Huntington. How many do you think? >> Between five and 70. So, probably around 40 years total. So, it is my mom. She's done a great job this year and she really deserves it. TELL YOU >> I just said it. You didn't hear me. >> You don't want to repeat that one. >> Congratulations. Mr. Sorry, we've packed them in. >> I think we grabbed this in here. We are all right. All right. Uh we are gonna recognize our employee of the year. >> Should you come up? >> So Shirley's our high school custodian, but not only is she a high school custodian, like this past year when we were short-handed,
008and I'm not talking about once, like weeks at a time, she would leave her campus and then go work another campus and clean a whole building area for weeks at a time. like she would go fill in where we were short-handed and that's very appreciative. We're shortanded a lot seems like. >> We appreciate you so much. >> And I have to say that uh Miss Slaughter we do a pride award peers nom. >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Uh we do spirit awards and Miss Slaughter is consistently uh nominated for spirit awards. So frequently um we peers nominate her for all things uh Red Devil and we appreciate her contribution. >> Like five or seven of them. >> I think you got the most in the whole district. So congratulations. And so our grounds department this
009year Preston you'll come up. >> So is Preston Rick >> and the same Preston >> for two days. He's always helps out everywhere he needed to go. Comes and works on the weekend sometimes when we need stuff. So very appreciative. >> You get to smile right here. >> And thank you for what you do. We appreciate >> job. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We're going to recognize our maintenance of the year. >> Oh, wait. No, I'm sorry. He wasn't able to be here. >> Okay. >> Mr. Kelly wasn't able to. That's okay. Travis Kelly is. And so we will make sure he gets that. >> Perfect. Okay. >> We'll do our admin of the year. >> Come on up, Casey. >> We would like to have Casey Jones. >> You can
010be the center of attention. >> There you go, ma'am. Casey is our PES coordinator for the district. She has probably one of the um I would say one of the worst jobs in the district having to make sure all of our student data and teacher data is updated and submitted and that all the fatal errors that come through that's TEA's fault. We have to correct them and she does a a great job of that. So we're very thankful for her and the job she does. So >> yeah, we are very very thankful. Enjoy and child nutrition employee of the year. This year we have Casey Parish. Casey was with us for a couple of years, left us, and then she decided we were way too much fun, so she came back. And we're super grateful
011for that. Um, Casey, kind of like Sean's department, has filled in for us when we've been short-handed, and she has done it well. She's calm, cool, collective in a lot of situations, and I'm super thankful for her. >> Thank you for what you're doing. >> Perfect. Congratulations, Okay. All right. Technology employee of the year. She is always bus is always always doing something. >> She she she does everything we ask and more. >> Amen to that. >> She's all the campuses love her, the teachers love her, we all love you. So >> we say thank you. >> She's also grandma of THE YEAR, BUT I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND WE'RE GOING to provide the plaque for our special services uh employee of the year would be Rachel Brown. And so we will get that
012to her and recognize her. Um and now we're headed to our schools. So we would like um elementary to come on up. And we elementary teacher of the year >> Mr. Mr. Melvin Sawyer. >> Mr. MELVIN SAWYER need >> speech. >> Mr. Melvin can uh he keeps a lot of children under control. Some of them are in his class and some of them he inherits as the day goes on. But um this is his first year as a teacher and >> pretty much the whole campus decided that he earned it. He is the patience. I think the Lord might be the only one with more patience than him some days. Um but he does not give up on the hard days and I appreciate that very much. We also have another newcomer um that is
013our intermediate school teacher of the year. So, Miss Christa Connelly. CONGRATULATIONS. SO, we'll take our picture and then I don't know. There we go. Miss Miss Connley, I just had gotten to know her and since I've been there for eight or nine weeks, she I would never have known that she was a brand new teacher. She is amazing. She brings so much joy to our campus, to everyone. Everybody loves her, mostly our students, but I have enjoyed getting to know you. And uh when I go into her class, it's very busy and the students are always learning and they're just always so excited when they're in there. So, we are so thankful to have you on our campus. You are amazing. >> All right, the camera was here. >> Middle school. And uh we're extremely
014excited to have our middle school teacher of the year, >> Mr. Rivera. >> Thank you. >> CONGRATULATIONS. JUNIOR. >> YEAH. MR. V, how long you've been teaching? >> This is my 11th year. >> Um, but this year she took on a new challenge of not only teaching math, but teaching um our direct teach students. So, working with our special ed students. Um, so not only is she doing the normal things that a teacher is doing, grading papers, making lesson plans, uh, teaching lessons, doing tutorials, but she also added to her plate um with teaching special ed students becomes some paperwork as well. um she jumped right in and you would have never known that it was her first year doing this job assignment and it allowed her to uh love on kids in a new
015kind of way um to reach some of our kids that uh need some extra and special attention. So um those kids have grown so much this year and they uh just love her and don't want to leave her class. Um so we are just so thankful and grateful for the work she's done this year. >> THANK YOU. >> WONDERFUL. AND OUR HIGH school teacher of the year, I have to say it's the only person I think I've ever seen in a true elf costume. Is that correct? OR SORRY, SHAMROCK. SHAMROCK. LEPRECHAUN. SORRY, not Mr. We are so so thankful for you. All right. >> Miss currently teaches English one at the high school. He's been there sixth year. >> Yeah, >> sixth year this year. um just the honestly the growth that we've seen with
016him at the high school since uh since he first got to the high school. He's he's willing to listen and learn and has made leaps and bounds and um he also does our student council. He does our academic uh UIL and like Dr. Betty said he dresses up for dress up day. He's at tons of events. If our kids are involved in something, whether it's sports or band concert or whatever it is, Mr. Kum is there. So, definitely appreciate him and just the support that that he gives to our kids. SO, >> and before you leave, all of the years, come on with your plaques. Come on up. Of the years board members, we stand behind them. I don't think you can do that. >> Yeah, there we go. >> You get to get up
017front. Perfect. Thank you everybody. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. All right. Well, this is the part where we give you the opportunity to leave if you'd like. Otherwise, you just >> maybe 5:30 tomorrow. You heard that tomorrow. >> All right, moving on down to number four, financial reports. >> Yes, sir. Uh cash in the bank remains uh pretty consistent. We did have to draw a little out investment um this month to make payroll um because we didn't get paid in April from TA. So that's a normal eb and flow. Uh but cash in the bank remains strong. Fund balance um still intact. Investment accounts are still doing um relatively well. Expenditures remain pretty consistent um from a month-to-month basis still within the average. So um nothing sticks out to me there. Um any specific
018questions about that? question from board. Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Move on down to item number five, consent agenda. >> And that's our minutes. Uh, no budget amendments. >> No, ma'am. >> And we have a library book that's been on um the website just to be approved. It's one of those things that we is the one of the new laws that anytime there's books to be ordered, we post those and then wait the 30 days and just ask for those to be approved. We need a motion on this one. >> I'll make a motion to approve agenda. >> Second. >> Robertson. All in favor sign. Same sign. >> Sorry. >> No, I'm sorry. I was writing. >> That's okay. >> You can vote however you like. >> On number six,
019action discussion items. >> We have a miss. Dr. Thornton has um a public intent to apply for federal grants. That's check the box. This is just a requirement that we come to you and let you know that we will be posting this intent to apply federal grants. This is our ESSA grant that we apply for every year Perkins fund also our special education grants. Um it's just normal practice that we have to notify you that we are going to do that and that we have to post it prior to in June. >> Discussion only. Move on now to item number B. Discussion only for student school supplies. Arnold. >> Okay. Um I want I would like for us to explore an option that is a balanced approach that would support our budget as well as
020build student responsibility and still keeps our commitment to meeting every student's needs. And the balanced approach is just asking parents to contribute just a small portion for the basic school supplies which is estimated to be less than $10 per student. Now the basic supplies that I consider are things that I purchased myself in the past. And um so they are a shoe box with a lid or a coloring box and the price for that is 147 or 88. Um, scissors, which are 97. A 10 count washable markers are dollar 97. 24count box of pencils, $182. Three packs of the twocount glue sticks are $1.50. Four packs of the 24 count Crayola crayons are $2. And so that price actually ranges from n $94 to $9.73. And you can look for those and get savings from
021July to August. You can go to Walmart, Target, and the parents have some little leeway in what they purchase. So the price may higher if they want to go with glitter pencils. But I know we all share a goal of ensuring that every child starts the school year with the tools they need to learn, grow, and feel confident. And at the same time, I know that we all recog that the families in our school district come from a variety of financial situations and we want to be thoughtful and sensitive with those differences. something that I thought that we could take into consideration. >> And if you don't know, as of right now, the school does buy the supplies for these students. I think Miss Arnold was suggesting that parents help, right? >> So, is there
022enlighten me a little bit? Is there a problem? Are we wasting them? Are we not doing what we need to with them? Well, from my standpoint of having a background as a teacher, when parents purchased those, the students were they had ownership of their own supplies and they were more responsible. I've had students in the past that would literally break the grounds in half because they knew that I could just go get another box from the closet because they knew they were there. So, they don't take any responsibility for taking care of their their items. >> So, the kids don't take responsibility for it. So I just wanted to give them some ownership because in the past um parents, you know, in the past we did the supply list was was long and expensive because
023I was there as a parent myself and I paid that cost. But um parents do want to purchase different things for their you know like pencils. Some of them would come with their names on them already or they would have glittered or animals. I mean it just depended on but those students they knew that principal was theirs and they they treated it better. >> Well, I also know that uh and thanks for bringing that up. Uh our teachers still spend a lot of money out of their pockets even when we do buy supplies. So, I mean our teachers are going to, you know, I hear what you're saying. I'm not We'll talk about it as we get ready for the budget. Uh, and you make a good point on the $10. And you made a
024good point. I mean, we all realize it, but we have some kids that come to school just to eat. So, some of those, I know it sounds crazy. I don't want to hold the one out that can't afford the $10 and the kid that's messing up stuff, send their table to the office. Thank you. When I noticed this on the uh discussion items, I I did a little digging, a little research, and uh talked to teachers on every campus. And to be honest with you, the only con I ever heard was that sometimes uh it's a lot to store. Um and I also looked up online there's a Texas Yes project and it said the hidden benefits of school supplies setting students up for success. Says school supplies boost confidence, force mental well-being and creates
025a sense of belonging. Key factors of in student success to the point where um title one funds can be used to buy school supplies. And we are there are schools touching our school district that that do the same thing. Um a student moves in, they have the supplies that they need immediately. The teachers can have them aside from the Chromebook. Um and it and it allows them to prepare. Um it some of them said it saves them a day of just collecting supplies, seeing what they need and don't need. So they have what they need to get started. So, it saves us time in the classroom as well. So, I'm not opposed to, you know, having some skin in the game. I just don't see any cons of us spending uh as a district less
026than $45 a student in general um to have everything they need. It's like, you know, giving you the setting you up for success. And there is no you got this, this is nicer than this, vice versa. It's all an equal playing field. Here we go. So, >> you're right. And it that would make it an equal playing field. But you also have those that no matter even if you were to provide every single item, they're going to still come in with glittery pencils and fancy this and that. >> They can do that. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's But I'm just saying it's going to make it to where you're still going to have the those that are going to feel like theirs is not as good as the other either way. But >> I don't think
027we can curb that. >> No, there's no way you can. Well, if we're wasting if we're wasting stuff though, if we're not using it or we're hoarding it, >> that's a different internal conversation with all of us. >> Yeah, let me speak to that a little bit if you don't mind. Um Mr. Clifton did a great job. So, obviously presented in the last um week, last week >> um and and he could speak directly to it, but he met with every single principal to look at their campus budgets to determine what was necessary and what wasn't. So, there was no wasteless spending. We we we trimmed all the wasteful spending to the tune of I think it was $500,000 that between all departments and campuses that they So that is a huge piece of the
028conversation that led us to to fine savings that if we don't need a particular supply, we're not ordering that particular supply, but if we needed something different. So I know that th those were pretty lengthy conversations with every single individual. So, um to to that comment at least, um I want you to be aware that um I I would expect that we're only ordering really what's needed and um being efficient with our purchasing. I >> I mean, I think our principles do a really good job of um you know, trying to refine those list to things that we need. um just because we don't want to end up with closets full that are left over. You know, I'll use Miss Whitmore as an example. Sorry, put you on the spot, but um we had a
029conversation. She had a bunch of I don't remember what color the folders were, you know, and a teacher was like, "But I want red ones, but we have yellow ones, you know, so you know, it's we're going to use the yellow ones." I don't remember if those were the colors and the exact conversation, but um yeah, I mean, we we obviously are going to look at that. I tell the the principles and directors every month, they probably get tired of hearing it. Hey guys, if you if you're going to order something, let's uh let's sleep on it 24 hours before we order it, let's make sure we need it before we order it because we don't want to be um we don't want any wasteful spending and we don't want to um to hold inventory
030because that's not what we're that's not what we're it's not how we're funding. That's not what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to spend our money on this current year's kids and then next year we're allocated those funds again. We spend it on that year's kids. And so the goal is to never, you know, I guess build an inventory of supplies or hoard supplies. I can't promise you that over the years that there hasn't been a purchase made that then a direction was changed and that got put in a closet um and it didn't get utilized. But in any organization, you're going to have, you know, some of that. But again, I I'll give the credit where credit's due. They they are trying to only order what is needed. But we want to, you know,
031there's a balance for us because we want to enrich whatever program, you know, we as a as a teacher, we just want to if you come to us and say, "Hey, I'd like to do this unit and I need X supply." We don't ever want to say, "Hey, let's not do that unit." Because we don't have the money to do that. And so that's our goal every time. Um so and from the financial perspective that's the the goal that we push to toward I can't remember the specific so widmore might need to step in but um I've seen this part where students don't and whether it's their own supplies or not maybe don't take as responsibility for those but I noticed in second grade they found an issue with erasers >> pencils can you please
032share because I don't >> they have a pencil challenge The pencil has to have an eraser because for some reason they want to eat it. Um, >> but they have a pencil challenge and on Friday if your pencil is still your pencil, the one that you were given, then you get a prize >> and it might be, I don't know, >> sticker. >> Well, they give these blue tickets and they'll draw a blue ticket for one thing. So, you might not even actually get the prize, but you'll get the ticket to maybe get the one prize. And, um, they will flip out. Don't touch their pencil. >> We've been keeping it with Patricia for a while. That's Andy's pencil. >> Patricia named Patricia. >> Just a way for those teachers to help instill that responsibility
033in the students and to make best use of our supplies and funds. >> And I I think that's a great point. Like I as you can see like I didn't I didn't prompt anybody to do that and neither did Dr. Thorne or Dr. pachetti that the principles recognize that hey we got to you know we we have to make sure that we're good stewards of that and so I mean you have kids naming their pencils I mean taking a little pride in it and keeping up with a a pencil so um it's not it's imperfect I mean we obviously we have some issues at times but we we really do strive to make sure that we spend money wisely >> thanks for bringing it up any other discussion on the school supplies Move on down
034to item number seven, superintendent report. >> Monthly expenditures requested uh attendance enrollment 1482 at about 92% attendance. Um it was we were doing great on some days um 95 over 95% that was amazing in some days and some days we're in the 80s. So uh we're trying to work work towards coming to school. Uh graduation Thursday at 7 and that is at SFA. Please know everybody that is at SFA for those of you watching. um not um at the Pentecostal campground this year. It's going to be a change of venue and we're really excited about that. Um region seven information, we'll talk about that the schoolboard summit. Um our June board meeting is June the 22nd. Um I have a personnel report that I'll share in executive session as well as uh Chief Jenkins will
035share some safety and security audit information. All right, moves on down to item number eight, executive session. During the course of the meeting, discussion of any item on the agenda should be held in a meeting. The board will conduct closed meeting in accordance with Texas Open DN. executive session. All right, go ahead and bring us back into open session. Circle back there number eight out of executive session. Make a motion we approve the personnel report as presented. >> Second. All right. All those in favor? Those opposed? Same sign. All right. I'll move us on down to uh number 11. >> I make a motion we adjourn. >> Thank you. >> I second. >> All right. All in favor? Those opposed? Stay.