001Dearly Father, we come to you tonight just to give thanks, Lord. We thank you for everyone in this room. We thank you for our kids. We thank you for our district. We ask you to be with us, guide us, direct us as we uh begin to go through this school year. Dear Lord, like to say a special prayer uh for Miss Davis over there that you would heal her and help her get back to like she needs to be. Dear Lord, we ask you to forgive us of our sins where we fail you. Be with us, guide us, and direct us as we attend to the school's business tonight. We ask all these things in your holy precious name. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
002to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee. One state under God and indivisible. [Music] two open. Anybody sign up? >> That's right. I'll move to three consent agenda. You got some budget amendments? >> We do. Okay. Everyone should have a copy of the budget amendments. Um behind those budget amendments are going to be the uh 2020 uh 2425 teacher pay scale um with the 2526 teacher pay scale. Um these budget amendments come in light of house bill 2 implementation. Um, as we discussed in June at that board meeting, we adopted um our budget based on what we knew at the time. Um, now that we're in July, we've had implementation guidelines. So, you will see
003those amendments um as it as it lays out there. Um, of course, the majority of those amendments are in the instructional function because primarily what the state gave us um was in the teacher retention aotment. Um, and so you will see that that's the largest adjustment there. any of the other adjustments are just byproducts of moving uh the teacher scale to the to what I'm proposing for you guys tonight. Um I I' I've been trying all day to to figure out how to concisely communicate um really the approach that we took here. Unfortunately, the state chose the path of the teacher retention aotment versus giving the majority of the funds through the basic aotment, which would have given us a lot more flexibility in regard to how we um how we compensated all of our
004folks, not just the teaching staff. Um I I do want to communicate this because I think it's somewhat um I don't know if I if I go as far as to say it's unknown or or as much as it is um just maybe it's different than what you see other places. So our district is set up um such that every position has a salary scale and that we give those step increases to everybody that has the scale annually. um Huntington ISD for as long as that I can remember um has not um gone a year without doing that, without giving those step increases. Um you will see that there's a lot of um graphics being posted by districts all over the state of Texas. that are um laying out all these things that they're doing
005um for their teachers where they're saying that here's what House Bill 2 does for teaching staff. Um and then we're going to give a 3% raise or a 4% raise to all of our other staff from the midpoint. Um and I thought that it would do some a benefit just to kind of explain that. Whereas the majority of our scales at the midpoint, our step increase for that scale is going to be somewhere right around 2%. So, a lot of districts will have a salary range for a specific non-eing position that will have a a the minimum and the maximum. And then you'll see the language that they use that they're getting a 3 to 4% increase on the midpoint. And really what they're doing is they're saying they're you're going to the midpoint of
006that range. They're calculating a three or a 4% increase and they're applying that to everybody within that range. Right? Whereas us when you go to the middle of our scales as we have them you will find that the majority of those are somewhere right around 2%. So in a bienium and Dr. Fetti and Dr. Thornton have recently been in other districts where they can somewhat attest to this a lot of times if they will apply those increases at the beginning of a bienium and the second year of the bianium they don't do anything for those other positions. Whereas over the course of a bianium, we're going to be giving somewhere between in a two-year period between two, maybe depending on where you're at in the scale, closer to 5% over that two-year period. So, I
007I felt it necessary that I try to communicate to everybody that we did not we did not overlook any position um any type of job related to HISD without looking at that with scrutiny. Unfortunately, the state did not give us a lot of extra dollars outside of those aotments um where they're our hands are somewhat tied to what we can spend that money on. So, I'm I'm I want to communicate to everybody here and to our staff that may be watching is that those step increases are what some districts get at the beginning of a bienium and that's all they get for the bienium. So I I feel like previous leadership took an opportunity to say we want to structure this such that people have a standardized amount that they get that they can plan
008for for their for the next year that they know that that's coming. I hope that there that there's not a time where we we don't we can't approve those step increases. So anyway, I want to answer whatever questions you have in regard to this really those budget amendments that I'm I'm presenting there. You will also see at the bottom um I'm adjusting our total revenue as I'm proposing right now. We have a balanced um revenue to expense. I would say this there are all you know I always throw in the caveats. The unfortunate thing that we have to contend with is that the state has also passed a law for to go from 100 to $140,000 homestead exemption. Um, so what that means is we're going to collect less money locally somewhere. My best guess
009is somewhere around a million dollars less than we would have without that um additional homestead exemption. And our hope is the state makes up the difference dollar for dollar. But we have no control obviously over what they do. Um, and so we will have to kind of play that by ear. So, I promise you that what I have projected here is my best faith effort to say based on the template and the estimates that I have. This is really where I feel like we'll be. Um, I'm I'm happy that we're able to show currently that we feel like we're going to be balanced. Um and and hopefully any margin of error that I have in those estimations based on what they do with us historically spending 96 to 97% of the projected budget may offset
010some of that in hopes that we can either maybe put just a little bit back in fund balance but likely if I had to if I had to guess it's probably going to be a wash which we will take in light of the last two years um that you know the revenue was obviously uh less than what we needed it to be. So anyway, any questions about that? >> So is it safe to say along these pay scales too, you know, you referenced the bianium raise, you know, basically washing that out, but anything short of any financial shortfalls, the following banium, we're still getting that again. >> That's correct. >> That doesn't have to be readressed. >> No, sir. And and really, we've had that in place. Um I know for at least 18 years
011um because it was well, I'm not going to go back that far. I know for a fact 12 years. Um it it's been in place. Um and again I tried to communicate to the admin team today too, excuse me, is that we value all of our people and I wish that we could give a substantial amount to everybody that is commensurate to what was done for teachers. Unfortunately, that's not the way that the legislature rolled those funds out to us. I'm not pointing any fingers at anybody. I'm just simply saying that that that's the those are the rules that we have to play by. Um and so to ensure that what we don't have is in the next bienium build in this big um shortfall that then we have to talk about doing things like
012reducing staff so that we can make payroll. >> U to me that's not that that's not fiscally responsible. Um and and a lot of our districts across the state didn't give any increases over this previous bianium because the money wasn't there. So they they didn't give it at all. Um and some of those are being able to tout now that they're giving a three or 4% increase. Um and and I just want apples compared to apples. Um, and so that's why I'm trying to give y'all the explan I know that's a long explanation for a budget amendment, but I felt like it was necessary to explain, you know, our thought process behind what what we're recommending. >> Well, it is because the funding came from the state and was specifically earmarked and that's how we
013had to deliver this fund. >> Correct. >> It's not just something we decided here at Huntington. >> That's correct. >> Well, and just to put it in layman's terms, the step we gave last year, this is on top of the step. So, we were ahead of Well, we yeah, we give a step and then a step and then a step. >> I know we amended everything last year and we gave a little extra. >> Well, that was actually I think three three years ago that there was an additional step on top of that. So, >> two years ago, >> something like that. >> Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't the I believe it was in place. Um >> I think we were just trying to get ahead of the game. Yes. >> And we gave a
014step an extra step. So over and I don't want to be misqued, but over the last five or six years, y'all y'all have the board has adjusted compensation such that people got more than one step. >> Be careful calling it a step. Yeah, >> these are steps and the other was not a step overall adjustment. >> Overall adjustment. That's right. >> More than one face get too I think. >> Yeah, it was across the board. >> I have just three comments um I wanted to make real quickly. First of all, I went to a first year superintendent conference last week and um 90% of the hands that were raised are not passing a balanced budget in that room for 2526. Just wanted to make that comment that the majority of school districts in the state
015of Texas are not able to do that. So, number one. Number two, um it is very rare to have scales in all areas that there's automatic phrases and he u Mr. Clifton referred to being in previous districts. um that is not common. We just said a little prayer that our district have enough on that midpoint and didn't begin anything. Other than that, our salary never changed. So the fact that it's already built in what um I think a lot of maybe HISD folks don't realize that they're automatically getting 2% every year because the foresight of um previous leaders which is >> in an effort not to be misqued that that is a that is a a moving amount just simply as you escalate up the scale the percentage goes down because it's a standardized amount.
016I'm just simply putting from the midpoint of the scales that I have looked at, it's roughly around 2%. And so if we say on average at the median we're giving around 2%. You know, people can kind of adjust that out based on that. So I I that's why I use that as an example. >> Exactly. Uh last thing, the state did not require um anything for a zero one or twoear teacher and we're giving $2,000. Most school districts are not doing that, I would assume. So we have $2,000 year one or two year teacher four 4,000 then for your year three and four um and then five years on up is the 8,000 so that's something to note because they're not staring at these salary scale so I want everyone to be aware of that
017and the last thing that we have had quite a few questions just from teachers or kind of um where we're going in that we will have communication tomorrow after this board meeting we wanted to make sure the budget amendments were approved prior to that communication and we'll send that um communication You're gonna kind of spell it out in email kind of like what you just described to us pretty much. >> I'm gonna do my best to >> Yeah. >> Again, >> to touch on what Dr. Fishetti said, uh I mean we're we're aligned with the we're aligned with the money that the state has allotted for our teachers. >> Yes, we're going to be compliant. >> Yes. So what I what I was waiting on from June was um really implementation guidelines from TEA to
018ensure that what I was recommending would would keep us in compliance. Um and then additionally I think it's important to note that 01 and twoyear step if we don't increase that that just widens that gap and we still have to we still have to compensate those folks um in a way that it will allow us to get you know qualified applicants. Um and so when Dr. Fishian and I met about that. That was the kind of the discussion. Hey, that doesn't represent a large portion of our so the overall hit to the budget so to speak is not as as great as you would think just simply because really historically we have about 20 to 30 teachers that kind of fit that um that mold and everybody else is the the you know three years
019of experience or more and up. Um and so anyway, that's a that's a valid point. Um, you know, we be to best of my knowledge, we're as compliant as we can be. Um, and I waited for that guidance just to make sure that I didn't lead us down the wrong the wrong path. So, >> well, on this paper, u instance, step number five, well, step 42, uh, you've got 454 and 488. you get an additional 4,000. What's the extra 400? Is that >> Well, that was just the that's the way that the scale was built. And so, essentially what we're looking at is you can see that that when you go from four to five. So, we're looking at the way that the guidance was brought down was that when you go, we had to
020show that we were giving the raise based on what our scale was in the 2425 year. we had to add that amount to the 2526. >> So that's the 4,000 plus their step. >> No, it is the 4,000 from what they made last year. So we we gave the they didn't get the step increase plus the the increase. They got the increase from what they what they would have made last year again in an effort to save balance because if we would have given the step increase on top of the increase we would not have a balanced budget at this point >> any further discussion motion that's part of the consent Make a motion to approve consent agenda as presented. >> Have a motion. >> A second. >> Have a second. All in favor? >>
021Motion carried. All right. Now move us to four action discussion item. A consideration action if anyone resignation from board trustee Michael Roth position 7. Received a letter from him last Monday. All right. Monday, July 21st, 10:44 a.m. Dear Carolyn Phip, after lots of thoughts and prayers between my family and I, I'm choosing to step down from my position as trustee as of 7:21 2025. It's been great serving with all of you. I wish you all well in your future endeavors. I'm always here if you need anything from me. regards Michael and Ross Jr. That was his letter last Monday. Uh any further discussion on that? I will now entertain a motion for Mr. Ross's resignation. >> I'll make a motion to accept Michael Ross' resignation from HISD school board. >> Second Jacob. >> All in
022favor? Motion carried. Mr. be consideration action if needed on HISD goals for 2025 2026. All >> right. Um so our goal is the board approves the overriding goals. Um and we have six overriding goals. Uh we've broken some of those down into uh required uh components based on laws that were passed. So the very the number one student goal goal one is that Huntington will provide high quality curriculum instruction and assessments to promote student learning and post-secary readiness. We've broken that down um with quantifiable uh statements uh four quantifiable statements um three of them comply with House Bill three which was required quite a few years ago um in early childhood literacy, early childhood math and a CCMR component. Objective one, we're looking for an increase um a 5% increase at uh approaches, meets and
023masters in our state assessment from um all grade levels um and all assessments taken. We're just basically overall looking to see and work with our students to increase um performance levels and in all their subgroups and all grade levels. Objective two is the early childhood for the literacy piece and these goals focus on the meets and masters level. They don't focus on approaches. So that's why the progress measures broken down quite a bit. Basically um at meets grade three reading right now currently is at a 34%. Um this is for the information that's been released thus far and uh the state requirement and I put that in the objective um too is to get to 57% by June 2029. Do we want higher than 57%? Absolutely. However, uh that is the requirement by the state.
024So that is how we uh we went from it's more in the next 5year cycle. So um increasing incrementally from a 34 to a 57. You can see those progress meas measures um 2026 40% 2027 46 28 51 and 2957. Do we want all of all of those to be higher? Absolutely. Um, but these are those uh components that uh fall in line with the state law. So again, we're always looking to work with our kids and doing everything that we can to help them achieve. Um, same you'll see the same situation in math. Again, focusing on meets and masters. Approaches is passing. Approaches is not on grade level per se. We want on grade level or above grade level uh performance. And so you can see beginning in math at 39% state requirement begin
025is 57% and the increments in the progress measure there. Um and finally objective 4 is a CCR CCMR um outcome. So all high school students will achieve at least one or more college career military readiness targets. So the targets have are changing um as we speak. There are some adjustments to pathways, courses, um adjustments to what's considered a target. Um, and I have to commend our high school staff counselor and administrators for working with this. It's a lot and they change it. Um, they do they do change which you'll hear updates um throughout the year on the on the changes. Um, so those are um House Bill 3 objective 2, three, and four, House Bill 3 goals. So that's on my instructional goal. Um I will share with you goal two is basically recruiting and
026supporting and retaining staff members uh through professional development competitive benefits which we've just talked about compensation scales and pathways for growth. Uh one of our objectives is that um we will work through professional goals um to lead administrator um to which their lead administrator will support through coaching and professional development. That's all part of test but we don't want it just for our teachers. We want it for all employees to set personal and professional goals so that we can support their growth in whatever area that they are performing. So, uh we look to supporting our principles, principles supporting their teachers, directors supporting their um uh their uh employees as well. Um and we're going to work on that all year long. Uh objective two, I wanted to make note that we are beginning the process.
027Um Huntington um Independent School District has not applied for the teacher incentive aotment. That is a program that the state is continuing to fund at a greater um percentage. They're expanding that program to the enhanced program of including principles. Um as long as you have the basic program. So we are going to we've already put our intent to apply for um for the TIA program. When you hear TIA, that's what that is. We will have a district committee that will be inclusive of administrators um uh teachers of all kinds, CTE teachers, core teachers, um and um people that maybe have positive attitudes towards this program and maybe not so positive. We want all voices heard. And so what we're going to do is meet throughout the year as and I'm going to introduce that in
028our convocation. That's an initiative um that's uh collected between the board, myself, and um I've shared it with the admin staff. We will be uh beginning that process. It takes a year uh to work through the process and then we hope that we get approval by the state. Luckily, that was the position that I was in right before I got here was worked uh for TEA in the um state of the TIA department. So, I happen to know that our approvers, so we're going to get this done as quickly and as well as we can. So, I'm excited about that. And um I want everyone to make note that what they've heard in local school districts surrounding or with their friends does not necessarily mean what we have to do. Uh there are few rules
029that are actually associated with this program and we can make it as expansive as we choose to. Meaning uh it can include as long as they're teacher and as long as they have consistent group of kids we can do qualify and designate whoever we choose to in the plan that we create. It is up to us. So that is uh about our staff. Number three, we're talking about fiscal um accountability and responsibility. Everything that you hear from Mr. Clipton in um our first reporting. Our four is keeping our um facilities to the highest standards of safety and cleanliness. And um you'll see in objective one that we are going to create a a facility committee um and for our needs from 2025 to 2030. So we're going to work on a strategic plan whether whatever
030improvements andor um updates that that might need. We're going to prioritize and we'll be including board members in that as well. Uh goal five is transparent and effective and up-to-date communication um through multiple methods. We are um our new website and I'm I'm very cautious in saying this is actually online right now. It is not up to the standard that we are um ready for quite yet for advertising purposes, but it is if you want to take a little peek um it is actually online already. Uh so we're going to work through our methods of communication with that. And the last one is um our police department in all that it involves in as far as safety and improving practices and facilities for all to ensure safety of all students and staff. Um and that's
031done in so many different ways um drills and information sessions and all the things. So we will give update I will give updates um of our goals throughout whether it's monthly or quarterly throughout the year on the progress through this. So this is what I wanted to make sure that um our admin um were aware of and um that our board is aware of as well. So those are the um goals and those will be placed or um posted on the website for this year with your approval. >> Any questions? Any further discussion? >> I just like to thank you Dr. Fishetti for uh looking out for our teachers and you know trying to get them as much compensation as they deserve. >> Well, I appreciate that. I feel like um our state um has
032is key is to be honest with you when I first started we were a cohort a district in my past and um I actually didn't know how long this program would last. So it was a kind of I I I understand the hesitancy around it. It it is strong and they're adding more to it. So we are going to jump on that wagon. Any questions? I'll entertain a motion for the HSD goals for 2025 2026. >> Motion to approve the HSD goals for 256. >> Have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a second. All in favor? >> Motion car. See consideration action depending upon the 2025 2026 appraisal calendar and appraisers. >> You're going to be sick of hearing me because I have comments for each of these. Thank you for being patient. So
033um you have attachments basically the um Dr. Thornton has done a great job all of our admin our appraisers for our teachers um Dr. Thton's getting t pest trained. That's principal training so that she can assist me in um appraising our principles as well. And so by law we have to um have you all approve those appraisers. We all are on that list because sometimes teachers might ask for a second. We are entering the phase. We just mentioned a TIA which involves a little bit more stringent um observations um and calibrations and our we want to be able to support our administrators with that. So, we just need your approval in uh approving the administrators who are able to um appraise our teachers and stuff and then you'll see a calendar there. That's what we
034follow. >> Any questions? Any further discussion? >> I'll make a motion to uh adopt the 2025 2026 appraisal calendar and appraisers. >> Have a motion. >> I have a second by Mr. S. All in favor? Motion carried. I move to decon consideration action depending upon the 2025 2026 student code of conduct. >> Um and attached the student code of conduct is attached to be honest with you. Um there wasn't a great amount of changes for the student code of conduct. Um obviously the inclusion of House Bill 1481 that is the um cell phone which we'll talk about a little bit further is mentioned in the student code of conduct. Um, and we I think you have you should have Where did we put it under there? The um changes that we made as far as
035dress code under the student code of conduct. I think that is that's where we put it. Um, and the the really the biggest changes that we made in dress code was um not allowing uh pajamas uh during the school day. We are reserving those PJs and slippers and all the fun things for designated dress days um when it is pajama day. That was the uh biggest change um for I don't know if that fell in the handbook or student code >> student handbook >> student I'm sorry I jumped ahead. I jumped ahead. So um there really is not a lot of information for the student code of conduct. It just has to be approved by you all and um these follow the laws for the state that we're required to comply with. questions. >> I'll
036make a motion to approve the 2025 2026 student code cond, right? >> Correct. >> I have a motion by Mr. Sin. >> I second. I have a second by Mr. S. All in favor? >> Motion carried. >> Discussion only on the handbook. >> Discussion need discussion only review the 2025 2026. So the the handbook there are a few pieces that are obviously um there's there are a few attachments that we've shared here with you. Uh let's just uh start with the biggest one and that's going to be the house bill 1481. Uh we have prescribed language that is um going to be put in the handbook and you can see that here. Um it talks about what we're going to do basically that we have to follow that school that students do not have uh
037telecommunication devices uh during the school day which is the beginning of the day to the end of the day uh instructional day. So let me say that instructional day from the beginning to the end. Is the school bus ride to school an instructional day? No, it is not. So we are not asking our bus drivers to work with that FYI. So when they arrive though that uh device is um they can do a few things and and this is where I've described they can they will turn off a device and it could be stored in their backpack and this includes by the way smartwatches all the different telecommunication devices. Um so it can be stored in their backpack. It can be put in a locker. I know that uh lockers are provided. However locks we
038are asking parents to provide those combination locks. um so that that can be a secure location. Um we had a question today. We reviewed this with our admin team at the elementary level. If there is a need for a student to have a a device and uh they don't feel comfortable, of course, we can store it in the office uh for them. A lot of times the littles might have that kind of a communication device um if they're going to another parent's house um situation, mom or dad's house or whatever. So uh we depending on the age level we have some different procedures um basically if they don't follow um this um law and again this mandate um we're going to follow have consequences um according to the student code of conduct. What we are
039not going to do, we have made a decision as a district, we are not, we will be confiscating those um devices, but we're not charging for them. Some districts and that was an option in the law to charge for devices. We are not charging them. Um and confiscated devices. We've talked today as some of those uh devices that might get confiscated. Our high school students that are leaving on an after school event to a game need that for their game for their after school event. So we have included either student student or parent can pick that up at the end of the instructional day. Again closing valid um closing valid school. So um um that just depends on the situation. We need a little bit of flexibility with this. Um there are um and this
040is a miscon maybe not a misconception but uh information that everybody needs to know that this does not apply to somebody with a medical plan that has that needs their device for a medication administration. Example, uh diabetics sometimes have those attached um and reads their blood sugar levels. Um, so that will be documented. It's either going to be in an IEP or in a 504 plan. It'll be and so Mr. Wisnat will help us with that if there is something that is medical and that will be prescribed by a doctor. Um, we we're not going to have a bunch of IEPs or 504 plans um to carry their phone for anxiety or something like that. That will be documented by a doctor in um in a plan that's approved. Uh so there's that. Um that
041is primarily uh the policy and our procedures in general specific consequences and I wanted to bring that up are going to look a little bit different from between elementary and intermediate to our middle and high school. Um in every case confiscation of the device what whatever it is will occur. Um and depending on the age level, they'll be um in school suspension or corporal punishment, their choice. Um uh at the elementary and intermediate school, there'll be a warning. But I can tell you that the plan for the older kids is to very clearly have class meetings and very clearly explain uh what this law entails what those consequences are so that it's it's very crystal clear for our kids. Um do you guys do you all have any questions? Because I do have my staff
042here and we've talked about this today. If there's anything that you have in regard to the implementation, I can tell you we're going to be busy with this. It's going to be a lot and I'm going to ask that anyway. listening or anybody here in the room, help share that information. Um, all school districts are dealing with with this. This is not a Huntington um thing. This is obviously the state of Texas. While I don't disagree, I think that our students will be engaged. But as with anything, uh, when you put a a rule in place, what do kids like to try to do then? So, we'll spend time working until they realize that, uh, we're serious about that. And that is the collective thought that we wanted to share. This takes everyone. It's not
043just the principles. It is teachers, our paraprofessionals. This is an inclusive implementation that we have to do in order to be successful. >> Do you all have any comments? >> Pretty good job explaining that. >> I would like to say I mean I think this has been a long time coming. Kids get distracted by phones. I'm just glad it's a law and distracted >> all it's not up to us. >> So, >> and and actually you bring up a really good point, Mr. Sen, is that and we've talked as an admin group, we have to be the role models. So, we have to be the role models, right? So, we we can't um ask our kids to put away their devices and then Right. So, we have to be and so that is obviously something
044that is going to be expressed by our admin and our directors and our things like that. Uh anyway, I appreciate it because it's it's a bump in the road, but I'm not going to say that it's not about bump in the road. >> Well, >> there's some positives out of it. >> I think probably everybody in this room went through high school without a cell phone. >> And when asked And when asked Yep. And when asked about emergencies, so what's really great um and I'm going to compliment our tech group is that every single classroom has a phone with an outside line. So in an emergency in a classroom, >> kids don't have to turn on their phone and be the one to call 911. We have we have brand new phones without sidelines in
045every single classroom. So there's that. debunk that myth that um what do they do in emergency? Well, there's the phone. It's called a landline >> and and it's what we all grew up with typically. So, we have that um as well. So, um and in changes, what did we used to do when we were at school, got a message from our parent or something, and it was passed on through the office, which is how we'll handle things as well. >> So, every every classroom will have a landline. >> It already does. >> Already does. >> Correct. >> I was looking for chairs. Brand new phones. Brand new phones. Brand new. >> You got loans. No. That doesn't require action. It's just a review. >> That was just a review discussion. Any other discussion that we're
046good? Okay. Thank you. >> I'll move us to have discussion on review investment policy. >> All right. This uh each of you have a copy of our local policy. Policy requires that we review our investment um policy annually, at least annually. Um just to to um remind everyone, we have um pull investments through text pool, through Lonear. Um and then we also have a money market account through Eubank which is a sweep account that when our uh M um account gets to a certain um place, it sweeps that money out and puts it in that money market account. Um those investments have been really good. Obviously um moving forward there is some discussion of rates um being pushed down at the federal level. When that happens, we can rest assure that our investment rates will
047decrease at that point. Um they have been really good to us the last uh four to four to five years. Um just because it's been a a good market for that. Um all our money market account through Eubank. Um you know, we make sure that those dollars are pledged monthly. She sends me a pledge report um so that I can make sure that they're secure and that we have enough that they have enough assets um pledged in security such that if there was some type of major issue, we wouldn't lose capital um or wouldn't be at a huge risk of losing capital. The other two uh pools, text pool and Lonear, are pretty are relatively pretty small um balances um less than a million each one of those. Um the the idea though is the
048money market account allows for um easy liquidity. So if we have to move money from there into our M account to make payroll or whatever, it's there. Um and it's easy to move in and out. So we transfer um I do that on a monthly basis just depending on the month. Um like we're fixing to go into a a a period where we don't get anything from TEA um in in in way of payments. So by doing that, that gives us the ability to reach in there, take that out of investments uh and do that. Um Dr. Fish Yeti and I are both um investment officer trained. Um there's um controls in place um that I cannot I cannot write myself a check out of the I do have the ability to to to withdraw
049funds, but not in the sense that I can write a check out of it. I can withdraw it from the investment accounts to move it to our M account. Um and then only checks that are ever written are out of M and INS. Um and I can't write the check. So controls are in place uh to protect that as well. So anyway, that this is a first requirement um that the auditors are going to look for to make sure that we've discussed our investment. So any questions about that? I'd be happy to answer. Any further questions for Mr. All right, I will move us to G discussion only maintenance custodial ground and transportation updates. All right. It's uh definitely been a busy summer. I know uh Mr. Clifton told y'all about the concrete work at
050the middle school cafeteria. We had a big plumbing issue over there. We had I think last couple weeks of school it kind of bit us in the butt over there. We had main sewer line collapsed on the concrete. So our guys come in, cut the concrete, exposed everything, realized the whole line needed to be relined. So we got strickling down here to reline it. And luckily the line itself was good. We only had to dig up about a I don't know 5x5 by six section of concrete. So, but it was a there was a void underneath that concrete that probably two of us could have crawled down into. And yeah, it was uh it was not pretty when we exposed it for sure. >> So, anyway, we got that back together and uh >> so
051yeah, I know >> it didn't smell good either. >> It did not. Yeah, it did not for for several weeks there. So, So, but it was uh luckily, like I said, we was able to reline it, put it all back together, repack it, and get it, you know, get everything back together. >> One of the kickers when we cut the concrete, I guess that island was an afterthought. So, they didn't run the plumbing and electrical lines under the concrete, they ran it through the concrete. >> So, when we saw cut everything, >> they cut them. >> We cut them. >> Cool. >> So, that was that was that was nice. So, yeah, >> put them under then, right? >> Yeah. So, but the uh the concrete saw is a, you know, water saw, you know,
052water jet saw. So, we cut it. We're sitting there with the vacuum and picking up the water. We're like, "Hey, cut that water back. It's getting too much. Cut the water back." You know, we're like, "The water's turned off at this point, you know, we're still it's still bubbling up around us, you know." So, yeah, that was that was fun. So, anyway, we got all that back together. So, that was a that was a major achievement. So, we poured a little uh pretty good slab there at the act shop. I built them a lean to over the summer. Give them some more working room. We're looking to get some electrical out there so they can work on trailers or whatever, you know, underneath the cover. So, it uh definitely helped them expand a little bit.
053Got the elementary gym. Got it all repainted, primer, repainted everything on it. Got it. Lightened it up a little bit. Make it look a little bit better. We're also looking at replacing some of the insulation up top because it's, you know, torn old metal building style look to it. So, we're going to replace some of that and get that freshened up, too. So, um repaint a couple classrooms over the summer. Um intermediate gym. We already intermediate the whole campus. We replaced the or repaint the red stripe and the black stripe. We didn't have time to repaint the whole building, but we did the black and the red. That's the main where the kids are raking down it and, you know, making a mess kind of. So, got all that repainted. >> And thank you. It
054looks >> I've been using the word sparkly and clean. It looks great. It's crazy what, you know, a fresh coat of paint will do to a to a thing. >> Wonderful. >> One coat of red instead of seven different coats of red. Different colors. >> Really good. The floors look amazing. >> So, yeah. So, that was that was good. Like I said, then we um elementary main building. We've been working on changing the lights out there the last couple of summers and we finally got finished with elementary main building this year. So, it's uh they had the old like surface mount fixtures, not layins like this. They were basically surface mounts. We took all those out, rewired them, put the leans like this in, all LED. So, that whole main building should be good to
055go for several years. Should be no bulbs, no issues, a lot cleaner, just them old covers, they break when you take them loose, and it was just was a nightmare to fight with those covers. So, so that was good. Intermediate cafeteria got a pretty good makeover over the summer. We moved everything out of it. Unhooked all the stoves, wiring, moved everything out. to come in, did the epoxy flooring in there, so it's got a new fresh look. Ceiling tile was kind of stained up in there, so we replaced all the ceiling tile in there. Moved everything back, rehooked up everything. So, it was a it was a pretty good summer just like just in the cafeterias. It was a pretty good We moved out pretty much gutted two cafeterias one way or the other. Then
056we had to, you know, of course, get them all back in. Did it with a couple of weeks to spare. So, it wasn't wasn't too bad. So, >> we were never even concerned about it. >> Yeah. Wasn't wasn't even a problem there. Yeah. >> Uh the locks intermediate, we're still working on replacing all the locks intermediate. Some of my parts are still six to eight weeks out. So, we're going to be we're going to be pushing what our November 2nd, somewhere fourth or 5th, somewhere in there, I think, is our audit that we got. So, we're going to do our best to try to get as much replaced as we can by that point, you know. So, I mean, everything's up and working good right now. It's just we would love to have the new
057hardware on before we before we start school for sure, but before we do the survey, definitely, you know, so we added several more electric locks at the elementary. Um, couple years ago, you know, we did the we contracted high school and their guys didn't do any better than my guys. So, this year we were like, hey, we're just going to throw all the money in parts and my guys will come in there and do it. So we this summer we did all the wiring and installed all the hardware for electric locks. So it's um I think we installed six more electric locks around the district I think. So it moved some elementary gym too. Elementary gym kind of been of anybody in Little Drivers and stuff. The main door to go in was kind of
058on the inside, you know, which was fine 10 years ago whenever we did it, but it kind of we moved electric locks to the exterior doors like the bus lane doors, too. So, it's more accessible for little dribbers and for our people because we kind of come in from that side now, too, instead of the inside door. So, so yeah, just uh just a busy summer. Just uh seemed awful short summer, you know. So, it's >> Are you fully staffed, Mr. Craig? >> We are. Yeah. My new guys, I couldn't I couldn't talk enough good about my new guys. They're they're super. They're doing good. So, little little little patience with them. It's required because, you know, they don't they're not as confident as my old guys. Just walk, you know, walk in there and
059just start tearing stuff apart. I got to kind of walk them through a little bit, but they're not scared to tackle nothing. They uh they'll jump right in there. So, >> I would looked at the intermediate. They did a great job. >> Yeah. Like I said, one of my one of my new guys, he's he actually worked a couple Saturdays and Sundays up there because I told him I said, "Hey, we need to get this done." And of course he's younger. He don't mind working. Likes the money of course you know. So he jumped right in there and couple of them work Saturdays and Sundays and and got us caught up. So >> and what I appreciate too is that they're looking at projects over our breaks. Um we live literally have a week to
060two weeks almost every month. Uh so that there whatever didn't get done they're scheduling those out for breaks which is great too. Thank you. >> Yeah. So everything's going good. I feel good about starting school in a couple weeks. I think we're good to go. And you know, like I said, further our audit coming up, I feel like we're good on doors and everything. So, in next week, we'll start making the rounds and readjust everything and tweak everything. So, we'll be good on doors and everything. Like I said, we'll be we'll be ready to go. So, we'll be ready for the kiddos here in a couple weeks to start start business again. >> Mr. As far as a plumbing problem, uh you foresee any problems coming down? I don't because like I said we we
061relined the bad part and we run a camera through the whole system, pump the tanks out and everything. So I mean I feel good about that building now. Like I said we we were holding our breath there for a little bit. We really thought that that line was going to be just just collapsed. We thought we was going to be want to you know cutting out the whole cafeteria and repiping it instead of rellining it. But camera showed to be good. They run that it's like basically a sandpaper they run through it and cleans inside that pipe and then reines it with a PVC coating. So >> Oh, so y'all reign the the whole pipe. The whole pile? Yes, sir. So, yeah. So, we replaced the bad part right there. Realigned the whole thing out
062to the street. So, I I think we're good to go. >> All right. Custodial grounds. >> Well, on the custodial part, they may not worry. I always worry we're going to finish. It seems like the summers get shorter, but square footage stays the same. So, very proud of my custodial staff. They kind of worked their tails off to get it all finished up. We do have a little bit of carpet we're still working on here and there. Um, but yeah, they did a good job. Got all the furniture moved out and all of it waxed and all back in. U, we are fully staffed and actually added one position that we just started paperwork today. We made a hire today. We started paperwork on. Um, we did have one and a half custodians at intermediate.
063There was only somebody there half a day for part of that building and then the other half they spent it like the fieldhouse. When we first opened the house school building, we had three people in that building. So we're adding a custodian that will clean basically all the dressing room areas, band hall, and dance studio and all the fieldhouse. So basically kind of an athletic custodian that take care of all the facilities over in that area from the gym area back. We built out a lot. High school is our biggest square footage and then we added the health careers and the science and so it became a lot of for two people to do. This will take a load off of them and I think it'll give us better results at our athletic facilities, you
064know, keeping those cleaner and then intermediate now we'll have two there all day. Uh yeah, they'll have two whole people instead of a half a crew uh for part of the day. So u but yeah, everything's any questions y'all may have about it. But pretty much what we do every summer, I mean, but very proud of the staff. They did a really good job. Uh same thing with grounds. U they had a pretty fun summer with all the rain. It's like, yeah, soon as they would get everything mowed down here would come the rain again, then you wait for it to grow and then go back again. So, several of them worked weekend to try to keep it caught up and did a good job of that. Um, we didn't get as much pressure washing
065done as we wanted to. We have got all the fronts done. We made sure we got the fronts of all the buildings to start with and we'll continue working on uh trying to get more of the areas pressure washed that need to be. And we did just get finished doing a lot of patching of asphalt around the district. Um, and we are rocking um Mr. Williams and that got out there and they cleaned up the end of a um we're going to gravel all of that. There's always other projects that set outside. It makes it difficult for us to like get in there and do anything with mowers because you don't know what's set in there or not. And so we've started, haven't finished that yet, but we started graveling all the end of the
066a so that will all stay gravel now. That way we can just come in and spray it, not have to worry about putting equipment in there trying to mow and it'll make it all look better. So appreciate Mr. Stover and Mr. Williams agreeing to help us clean that up where we could get in there and get that project done. But I guess you would say we're fully staffed or we're covered anyway. Yeah, we're considered fully staff or covered in grounds right now. >> Yeah. So, >> thank you for all their hard work to everything that they've done. >> We just finished middle school gym resurfacing of that floor. Um they'll be able to I got an update today. They'll be able to be in on that floor the 21st, I mean the 31st of this
067month. So, this this week. So, it went a little faster than we had anticipated. >> Did we get all of the gold winches replaced? They're coming in on the six. >> So, are you subing that or you doing? >> We're subing it out. Yeah, it's coming out. Yeah, it's >> it's crazy what them guys that came out did. Last time, you know, the scissor lift, they actually literally stood on the second round of the scissors lift reached up and they were working while one guy was bumping the lift forward. >> It's lagger. >> There's no way. No, we we we hire that done just >> it's it's best just from a a pure obviously having the ability to do it and then from a liability standpoint like we >> we get that done. So we've
068gotten that floor done. They screened and recoded all the other gym floors. >> Um and so we should be we should be ready to go. >> They did a full sanding. >> They did. Yeah. Um anybody wants to walk over there after the meeting, I'd be happy to turn the lights on, let you see. >> Sir, >> it's not it's got a nice hardwood looking floor now. Yeah, we had some of the insulation around the brick wall because the brick walls >> shifted a little bit, you know, so it was you could see daylight in that gym there for a little bit. So we took and spray fo everything around the top and resealed everything also a few weeks ago. So >> Mr. It's been a busy short summer like they said all the new
069buses are ready to go. Got the radios and cameras installed. We're going to be selling all the 2010 models except for one. One of those got the AC put in back when we had the money to do that. So, I'm going to keep it. It's going to be a good sub bus. The red and black buses will be gone. >> All right. >> If y'all want to bid, I'll give you I'll send you the auction link. Y >> I'm gonna strip off any good part. Anything you can use later. I lost one driver. Lady showed up a couple weeks ago, so I'm back even again. Um, I did decide for the past 15 years, I've been saying I was going to take everything out of that shop and clean the floors and paint it. And
070this summer, we finally decided to do it. So, Sean's been helping over there and my mechanic Jason been scrubbing the floors and getting it and it's ready to go now. So, we're going to paint it this week and then get everything back in there. Also, I think I've mentioned this before, my secretary, longtime secretary Angie will be leaving in December. So, I'll be looking to replace that position if y'all know anybody that might want to attempt that. But other than that, we're ready to go. >> Mr. Monthly expenditures have been uploaded. Um, again, if you ever have questions, Don't ask me. Just kidding. Just kidding. Just kidding. And we go to the next thing. Facility usage. Um, we have uh you have a copy of the facility usage form. And what this is, it's a
071reservation request. It is not for athletics. You should have it somewhere. Uh, if you don't, I'm sorry. Okay. Sorry. Basically, this is a previous form that had been used for requesting to use our facilities. And what we added was the all critical piece of security. Uh the basically um when an outside entity needs to use our facilities, uh we're asking that they have a police officer. We have our own HISD police that knows our kids, that knows our facilities, and that we're asking that they employ those uh for a minimum of four hours. So that is um example, Operation Graduation is hosting a dance for their fundraiser at the middle school at the end of the first week of school. And we're asking that they utilize our police to help um monitor that event. It
072was one of the I believe kind of the action items or goals that you had for me when I when I got here in February was to to ensure that where our kids are um that we have security. So that that's the point of that. It was just an updated form. Nothing you see. Um Mr. Sto had a great idea. Uh where does this go? And u we're going to work ask um Mr. prepared to come up with um a facility um email where it'll go to all the appropriate channels immediately when this is submitted meaning um uh chief and Matt and myself and all the things so everybody knows uh who's requesting that facility. So again this is not an athletic form this is this is an outside entity. Any questions on that? That
073was just a goal was to add the security uh piece. Um, next one. We talked about communication devices at Nauseium. Um, if there's anything else uh you need to know about Gohead back. >> So, sorry. >> Facility usage. We allow little groupers to utilize our gyms. Yep. That going to >> So, what we've discussed is that was the one that was the one group that they're here all day. Um, and that typically we have either employees or people there on site that are associated with the school district. So essentially that group um has employees that are utilizing it that can serve in dual roles. So we are not because we know that it is uh that is not a fundraiser. That group is not fundraising. Um that is not something that they have uh the
074ability to to pay for the amount of time. Usually um one of our staff members is there or a board member or somebody can serve in the capacity of a district overseer person and and a lot of parents are usually involved in that. So great question that's come up every single time we've talked about facility use. Yes. Um next one again the communication device procedures. We've talked about the procedures uh teacher instead of a lotment already shared with you that there's a timeline as far as we're going to again start our committee to investigate um all of that uh website we've talked about the website I wanted to make two comments um on our website you will see something that is required of us um and this is a letter that's going to go home
075uh with report cards at the beginning of the year and with report cards with advertising it is um a requirement of us to and again this has um it's a it's safety related uh mandate. It is not necessarily a school related but it is how to safely store your guns. Um which seems like it shouldn't be at all uh associated with school. However, I think it's the venue that the state is using. So gun storage and safety will be posted on the website and it will go home. And I wanted to just give you guys um kind of a little bit of acknowledgement that this is a new law that um I don't know Chief Jenkins if you had anything else to add to this one. The communication >> mandated that we publish this >>
076three three times a year. It must go home and it's not mandated that we publish it. I don't think it's a good idea. >> Send a flyer home. >> That's correct. >> Correct. >> Three times a year. >> Correct. >> And we also will bear the expense for producing that to go home as well. >> Other ones don't need to be in cover. Yeah, that's exactly what Mr. Clipton talked about the color copying. >> That's right. >> So, yes, there's that. Uh, so that I just wanted to share with this with you all of why in the world are you sending about how to store your gun safely? Well, that is the avenue that our uh legislators using is um the education system to educate parents on what to do to keep your kids safe
077indirectly. is a safety piece for kids. The last thing I want to say that you're going to see on the new website, accountability is going to be published on August the 15th, which is really interesting, is that year uh 20 2024 and 2025 A throughF rating will be published on the same day. Uh therefore, it's August the 15th, and I'm not really sure what to say, but that was the purpose or the reason that it was 24 was held up because it was in um a lawsuit. um against the commissioner and that's since been uh done and completed and they say it is legal even though they made lots of changes um and still held the same accountability system. Bottom line is you'll see those on our website uh when that is published in August.
078The last F u F is upcoming activities. You can see all of the things that we have this week tonight. Kindergarten camp meeting uh uh August 1st opening convocation August the 7th. you see all the meet the teachers. Uh first day of school is the 11th and you'll see August 18th is the kindergarten meet the teacher because we are having them in camp the first week of school to determine uh balance classes and then they will share that personnel reports. You have copies of uh we have we're nearly fully staffed except for a couple parents. >> Um nope. You've already we've uh we've they're already hired. Everyone's hired. Yeah. No. Any further questions for Dr. Fish? >> Okay. I will now move us to agenda item nine. I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >>
079I'll make a motion to adjurnn. I have a motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a second. All in favor? Making a job.