001All right. Appreciate it. Good evening everyone and welcome back to Mayor ISD school year. Um in compliance with the open meetings act Texas government code chapter 551. I call this meeting of the mayor in the school district to order on August 4th at >> 5 p.m. >> that the record show that a quorum is present. This meeting has been duly called and notices of this meeting have been posted in accordance with the open meetings act. Now we're going to go go into close session. The board will now adjourn into exe executive session act >> 501 p.m. >> Pursuant to the following sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act 551.071 551.072 551.074 551.076 76 and 551.129. All right, we're back into open session and um the board will reconvene and open session at >> 5:47 p.m.
002August 4th. >> We're going to start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stand with liberty and justice for all the flaggis. All right, we're gonna I'm gonna take volunteers for the vision statement. >> I'll do it. >> I was looking at your guess. Trusty Larry. >> Mayor ISD is the best district in Texas where we provide an equitable education for all scholars and graduate them ready to become leaders in our you. And for the mission statement, >> Mr. Martinez, Trusty Martinez, >> collectively as a community, Mayor ISD provides equitable resources, safe learning environment, and high quality educational services for all scholars to successfully achieve and reach their full potential. >> Thank you, Trusty Martinez. We're going to go to
003public forum. We don't have any public forum signed up. So, we're going to move on to number seven. 7.1 action item. Do we have a motion for 7.1? There is no motion for 7.1. I will move on to 7.2. two, consideration and approval of an order calling a bond election in the Mayor Independent School District and approving other matters incident and related there too. >> Madam President and board of trustees, uh, our staff's here tonight to present to you uh the work of many, many, many months with a lot of our partners who will introduce and the citizens committee. we will present both to the community what we believe is the future of Mayor ISD. I'm going to turn when we're talking about facilities. So we'll turn it over to Mr. Joe Mendes. >> Good
004evening team of eight. >> Thank you team. >> So uh I'd like to uh I also like to uh just introduce some of the guests that we had with city our citizens committee meeting. We have Keyn up there. Thank you. Michelle Henderson as well. And then I have uh HPN in the back with us. Uh in case y'all have any questions, Anna Sullivan and Scott as well. And then with our bomb council, we have uh one um one with Esavia. And then we also have Angel with as our um so I'd like to gonna be able to point. Okay. And just to recap while this is coming up right now, back in February the third, if you recall, I I kind of present what I presented to the board. And uh what it was it
005was really about is getting us ready this pre recall for the uh or or just a status to see where we were at as far as facility conditions. And so when I I introduced that to you guys uh last time what what I had on there was it's really just conditioning long range planning with facility condition FCI scores and also it tied in demographics with capacity and utilization. Uh go back there. So and in the Bron process again it's uh what we did is that many months ago uh probably uh 12 or 18 months ago uh we were we were conducting facility assessments throughout we had we partnered up with HPN that came in and they helped us do the longrange plan but in the process we also we hired some engineers well it was
006under their umbrella but they had engineers to come and facilitate or do some the assistance throughout the district. uh they came back and they gave us a scorecard if you would of our facility condition based on either revert maintenance that we needed or any capital improvements that we had and then we were also we were looking at doing uh design uh planning as well. After that uh after that we uh we came we put together a citizen environment committee and uh we actually met six times there were five different times in one time that presented to the school board with that. Um after that we uh we did a district leadership team survey and that was uh done by Dr. Shermani as well citizen advisory presented to the boards in June again. And then uh
007uh the last piece is that we did consult with our both were bond uh financial advisors and uh and then bond council and don't forget we consulted with a financial advisor to ensure that we could issue this debt without raising this tax rate. I'm sorry. What' you say >> exactly? Yeah, I can't hear you. We can't hear you. >> I said that we have planned to issue the debt on this bond without raising the INS tax rate. >> We're trying to present a bond without raising tax rate because of the growth in property values and the stewardship of the debt of the district. we reduce the property I mean the debt of the district over time which is going to allow us enough capacity to issue debt not all at once but over time we
008should be able to do that without raising taxes >> makes so uh just to recap on the u on the facilities committee advisory committee the series of meetings that we had uh there was five of them but they were very they were in series and we talked everything about uh utilization as as far as elementary schools are concerned capacities for high school deferred maintenance and any auxiliary like if we needed new technology or new buses all of that was talked about those partic what we've done is after every after we put everything together um looking at all the development plan planning framework that we had we came up with three different uh propositions here uh and A, B and C. One of them is is about school buildings and equipment. The other one is technology
009and then the other one is going to be an addition additional wing to our high school as well. Uh 359.5 million will encompass construction uh renovations, safety and technology uh vehicles and equipments. Okay. Uh B is technology which is really just stack devices which is our computers and maybe some other peripherals that we might need for that. And then the the last one is going to be the additional wing that we're looking at at uh for performing arts. >> I have a question really quick. Can you um just as a refresher um let us know like what the uh citizens facility committee who who it consisted of and how many were they and just just >> so so the charter was is where every board member were the three uh three candidates and so we
010brought them in and it was a base out of 21 not all 21 showed up or not everybody participated 100% but we did have majority in there. And so what we do is that we work through the facilities uh the the bonding council and everybody else. And then what we gathered as far as uh data as far as our facilities were concerned, we shared that with the committee and we told them, hey, these are our needs right now. And then they were they asked questions along the way. We provided a lot of different types of reporting. Uh and then at the very end what they did is that they actually went back out there and they ranked uh the number of projects that they thought we needed. And so that was all on them. And
011then they brought back to the board and presented that to me back in in June the 7th. >> And I want to thank the facilities committee for um all those meetings and the hard work and the prioritizing of the needs of our district because of course our committee members are part of our community community. So um we really want to thank you guys for hard work and knowing that our district really does need um this this bond. according to all the needs that you guys >> Ke serious >> chair and secretary >> chair secretary. >> Thank you. >> And they were very instrumental in helping us move along. Okay, next. Okay, go back. >> Yes. Um, Proposition B student stat devices devices the school district procure them they have a certain life cycle >> yes
012it's it's usually between four and five maybe straight to go to six years so we're already past the six year mark >> I want to point out something used to be in the old days you would never put devices in a bond because you don't want debt on the bonds but there's two things that are changing with the way that school schools are being financed we're having to push technology items like that into bond propositions to be able to for what we're going to do to make sure we're good stewards of of the tech bonds. We're not going to take a 30-year note out device that's on the last six years. There are some short cycle bonds that you can put out there that will work with our financial advisor to have a shorter life
013cycle on those bonds. This device doesn't last as long. We'll work that with our financial advisor go. >> Yeah. You go back 10 years, you wouldn't have seen this, but it is the realm in the world we're in now. So we did provide point out we're ever in a situation where we have to recapture the bond money is not subject to recession. >> That's correct. INS um funds are not subject to recapture. Um they are treated very differently than maintenance and operation dollars. So when you hear talk about budget later on today, we're talking about maintenance and operation side of things. uh we get the full value of property taxes when we do an INS tax rate. That's not like you hear in the news like with Austin ISD and many school districts where the
014state comes and scoops their share off its that money will stay here in Mayor ISD and for the kids. So, we did provide a list for the ABC uh propositions on here and as you can tell all the A's, it's almost 99% of it right uh that we have out here. So, it includes renovations uh for some of our campuses. It also includes a additional wings at a couple of our campuses and then we have preferred maintenance on there as well on >> um proposition number C which is um performing arts. >> Yeah, performing arts. Can you >> It's a theater. So, >> and and and then can you just explain because this is the very first time that Mayor ISD goes into this new law of of going out for this this bond. Can
015you explain why we have to put proposition C in alone? >> Yes. So um so the reason for um the performance arts center is because it could be used for other than academics. It could be used to rent out and it could be used to to do different things in that but that's m major that's the major difference. If it was 100% used for academics and nothing there then it could be it could be going on. Yeah. >> A question too likewise. Can you help us in the community understand why the safety upgrades that includes the cameras why the cameras component wouldn't be necessarily part of proposition B for that technology advice? >> So anything that's that has a tag or can be uh or could be placed under safety and security is allowed to
016be under proposition A. Uh but but if it's outside of that like devices then it has to be its own proposition. So if it's tagged as safety and security then it can go on proposition I'd like to point out one thing about the theater proposition C. One of the main um conversation topics for our community assistance committee was the need to get arming a Mustang single campus because they've been split for a long time. Right now the facility at 973 does not have the capacity to have all the students there. So, one one of the big items on here that was very important. It's high on the party list is the Mayor High School wing to build on there. But the other thing is the Mayor High School complex on 973 has no theater. It
017has a blackbox theater. So, we're talking about having a major high school in the area, maybe the only one that doesn't actually have a theater, which is why um I hate that they we have to put as it own proposition because it makes it seem like it's its own theater standalone. It's really just the theater for the theater kids, for the band, for the choir, for all those groups at Mayor High School complex. It just doesn't exist. So those kids, if they want to practice on stage, have to go all the way back over here to the old Mayor High School, and they share that complex with New Tech, which also has to send its kids over there. And of course, we have some money here to begin the renovation there, which is another high
018priority item. And somewhere along that line we'll have that addition for them also. But for the time being they would start using the pack solely for their use. So they can start leaving their stuff there and then your high school have their own. And that's the reason why that is there. So many many items under a involve logistics as well. Dr. was mentioning is that transportation would be a little bit more efficient. I believe uh we had more capacity at some of our campuses. Instead of building a brand new campus, we just opened it up a little bit more and uh we we just we're just more efficient, financially efficient. >> I have a question. Um and this is um I've and I've asked in the past and I just want to make sure that
019with these numbers this has been included. um how much for contingencies inflation from the last 2019 bond to this I mean we had a like inflation was outrageous I mean startup costs I know that we had issues with new facilities because we didn't or it was the startup to opening a facility wasn't included so I was just wondering have all this been considered especially for the new any of the new facilities that are you know doing and how much for inflation or contingencies to make sure everything is done you know >> so there are things called construction costs and soft costs right so what we were talking about is soft cost that they go into soft costs so under construction costs we know that we have to pay sometimes we might have to pay fees
020for the permits or different things like that we know escalation costs uh metal or or you know steel might go up in a certain percentage. The reason that we we were kind of running out of money with our last bond with that is because of when COVID hit, right? Everybody wanted materials and so forth. So escalation, we saw it go from, you know, on average it's between 4 and 6%. Uh but on average, we saw it go from 8 to 12 and then on some items it was even up to 22 24% like on roofing materials, HVAC systems that we had. So we we did uh account for that in this on the soft cost side of every project that we were looking at. >> I know because clear the numbers that you see up
021there that includes all the escalation costs in those dollar amounts. So for each project we asked HPM to um consult with us on ensuring that that's on there and those information is in there. And then our financial advisors took that into account when they were projecting years out already about the inflation about the bond capacity for the district without raising taxes. >> So we feel really good about the soft cost that we built in for all these projects. >> So part of the soft costs are are also uh furniture and things like that. >> That is correct. So now that's all been we accounted I think we put 5% for some of the major projects. I think one of the things in looking at this and I know we've had time as a board to
022sit with the the package and everything and big rock updates and stuff like that, but when Dr. Thomas Fabian and I came on two years ago, we look at that $50 million that you have for the deferred maintenance. I mean, that was your team going through and really not even having a list of deferred maintenance, right? And now our district is looking forward to the ability to maintain our facilities. We now also have a requirement for um one of the house schools that recently passed. We've got to know our percentage right of number of students and when we're going to hit capacity for those. And those are some of the long range planning that our team has already done. So, um, thank you and your team and the details that you had already prepared to
023even give to Michelle and the committee. Um, really the insight um, the community has a lot more than we have in the past and I think that this really sets our kiddos up for success long term um, in great education here at Mayor. So, thank you for your work. >> Thank you. >> Yes. and and uh just to mention a couple of things with that but we we partnered up with HPM we did uh they introduced a new platform for us is Amoresco. So Amorisco helps us keep all the life cycles in place and and actually tells us hey this is how much plumbing you need. This is how much electrical you need. This is how much HVAC you need. It's not a guessing game anymore. And so we have those numbers now just just
024FYI but uh the numbers that we use for 50 million should help us within the next seven to 10 years right and uh but there there are other needs after that doesn't stop there so it's a cycle that we look at >> that cycle just so you can make sure you see the finances you have this document that our financial advisor provided to you and I just want to call your attention to page six it's really small But page six is where Estradosa and our financial advisors um work the numbers to show that we would be able to do this without raising our our taxes. And really, just so you know, it's really about ensuring you don't issue more debt than you have the capacity to maintain. um you will see that um it's kind
025of hard to see but there this scenario we're going to call it because again we're going to take a look every single time we get ready to sell debt to see what the interest rates are, what is the property values predicted so that we don't issue too much debt. But for example in this scenario we'll be issuing um the first issue of $25 million in January and then two years after that 75 million and two years after that and 104 um.5 million. This is just a scenario to show that it is um doable to keep the tax rate at 37 cents throughout the life of this bond. I I want to bring that up because it could come in January when our financial team gets together if the conditions in the country change that we
026may come back to you and say, "Hey, we're going to prioritize our projects that not issued $25 million debt in order to keep the tax rate down." It could also be we come back and say, "Wow, I think the interest rates have dropped tremendously so we can issue this much debt." But that's where our our citizens bond committee is so important because they prioritize for us. They told us what they think is the most important. And just so you know, those four things off the top of my head, I could tell you are Mayor High School, Wayne, the Mayor New Tech Extension, Lubont Trail Elementary School. It's not counting deferred maintenance, but it is deferred maintenance. There needs to be some upgrades there. And then finally, the deferred maintenance. I I love that our citizens
027community really recognizes that we can save the district money. We can take care of a lot of those deferred maintenance projects. I like to call this bond. I'm not allowed to say this. After tonight, if you can quote us on this, I like to call this the safe schools that inspire bond. So, we're talking about safe schools that are going to inspire our kids to do great things. So, you can take that tagline because I have thought it safe. But I just want to let you know that you have that financial document in front of you. So if there are any questions about that that I can answer for you or Santiago can answer. >> This is for a future if you guys don't have it. I don't even remember you guys. But you know
028what I would love to see too is I want to see and show how much um money we um I don't know if it's our bonds, financial advisor, they can tell like really how much money we've paid off in debt, how much savings that equates to and you know that would be just great information to show you know good financial stewardism and in the the financial position that we are And yeah, Mr. Santiago can work with the FA for our financial update on the 18th. We just recently, you authorized us if he's $28 million in um debt, which is why we can't issue new debt to get some schools upgraded with that financial stewardship. And we can certainly show that. There's a chart in here, but I would rather make it bigger so that the
029public can see it. >> Thank you. Any more questions? >> Any more questions? >> Wonderful. Well, this has been a very very long process. We've been asking a lot of questions and once again we've had right-hand people, our community uh community citizens committee and and of course our mayor is D staff, superintendent, everybody who's put a lot of hard work into making sure that they present the best makeor the best. >> If there's no further questions on >> one more question for Dr. for money specifically. >> Um I I love how this entire process has been about not only including the community but empowering the community to be able to speak to what they're seeing as our needs and what their experiences are in our district. How will we ensure throughout the bond process that
030we keep this level of transparency and communication with the community regarding like how much money has been spent, what timelines are being met, that sort of thing. That's a it's a great question and you know I hope my my two chair people behind me will will volunteer to stay on because the the vision is that that bond citizens committee that citizens committee now rolls over to become a bond oversight committee. Um assuming I'm assuming that there's a a positive response from our community and then trustees would have a chance if we had some people roll off to appoint new members of that committee. And this is a cycle that just continues forever, frankly. So, um, this group would continue to, um, oversight, see, and make sure projects are going, make reports that we'll post on
031the website. And then someday they're going to say, you know what, we see more meetings and we don't have the money. We think you need to go out for another bond or to Dr. Shani. And so, that'll be sometime in the future. And once again they will form a committee to review the needs presented to you and once again will become a bond oversight committee. So I intend for this committee to be self-perpetuating long time into the future so that the community will always have voice on that committee and also >> and to ensure yeah that when we say we're going to do this in a way that doesn't raise taxes then they're there to watch what we're doing. It would be nice and in the future, however that looks like a little bit more
032work, but it's okay. You can do it, Dr. I was envisioning probably even a bond dashboard or whatever for transparency purposes, but I don't know how that would look. No, there's there's actually a lot of bottles out there that we can we can draw from and certainly we'll we'll start a bond information website and then ultimately that transfers into a bond oversight if the voters give us approval to move forward. And so there will be some sort of dashboard where people can always go for information. That's really what we want. We want factual information. Madame President. >> Yes. Trustee uh Patterson. >> I move that the mayor is board of trustees call for bond election on November 4th and approve all other matters and incidents related to two. I have a motion by trustee Patterson
033to um consider a consideration approval of an order calling a ball election in the mayor independent school district and approving other matters incidents and related there too. Do I have a second? >> I'll have a second by trustee Martinez. There's no discussion. Further discussion then I will entertain a vote to accept this motion. All those in favor say I. Raise your hand. >> Dr. Thomas, I have a unanimous uh 70 vote to go for a calling of a bond election on 7.2. Thank you very much everyone. Thank you trustees and everybody for the hard work. >> Madam President, thank you for that. And if I could, I would like to invite Mr. Mark Boule, our our school district's general counsel to come. Would you mind coming to the front? Um he would like to give
034you a few words on now that this order has been done. Um what trustees can communicate, what they can't, I um now information boat. So community out there, when you see me um at church next Sunday, um when you ask me about the bond, I will give you factual information. And if you ask me whether you should vote for it, I'm going to tell you you're the facts. You can decide for yourself. So uh Mr. Goule, would you like to tell trustees what their role is or what they can and can't do? >> Certainly, Dr. Sami, Madam President, members of the board, uh a lot of legal issues are very complicated. This one is really simple. Um, so the source of the law that we're going to that you're subject to now that the matter
035is going to be a measure on a ballot. So any measure that's on a ballot or any candidate that is for election, we cannot spend any school funds for what is called political advertising. Political advertising under that law. And if you like the citations, it's Texas election code 255.003. That's an important one. So, no public funds spent on political advertising. Now, what is political advertising? Political advertising is a communication that advocates for or against a measure or for or against a candidate. So, we can't spend any funds on that. That would include, [Music] you know, speaking at a a school event. uh that would include using school email, things of that nature. And as Dr. Shamani has said, he's pretty much on the clock 247. So he wants to, you know, be that person who's
036giving information rather than advocacy. But then the question comes up, what about trustees? we don't receive any salary. So, we're we're not um So, what I would tell you is that when you're at a school event, when you're here in your official capacity, um you're you're not to advocate for or against a measure, including this one. But when you're on your own time, uh then you are free to do so just like other school employees are. Um and there's an interesting case, and this is something that people have asked about social media. What about a someone who has their own social media page? And this happened in Michigan where there was a public official, city council member named um Kevin Linty. And Kevin Linty had a Facebook page that started just for his family and
037friends. But then, you know, he was a elected official, so he had lots of friends and family and got above 5,000 people. And after that, you can't have a regular Facebook page. You have to have one that where you're you call yourself a public figure. So he got a one of these Facebook pages for famous people. Um there was someone in the community who didn't approve of what the government in Porton, Michigan was doing and and Mr. Linky was posting some things about the city government and things of that nature. Even though it was his personal page, it wasn't the city page. And this person didn't like it named James Frerieded. James Freed would always post comments that were negative on Mr. Lindkey's Facebook page. And so after a while, he started deleting them. Lindy
038would delete the comments he didn't like. And finally, he blocked this guy on his page. And uh Mr. Freed sued him in federal court in Michigan. And then on appeal, it went up to the sixth circuit and then it finally went to the Supreme Court. And we got a really valuable decision from the Supreme Court that says that a public official who has their own page that's not supported by the school district or the city or whoever they they're working with. Um that's not a government page and there's no free speech that a person has to come up and post on your page. You don't have to let every person come onto your private page and u so how do you make sure that your page is not a public page? So if your pl
039if your page is the only place that person could get mayor ISD information that okay you have to go to president Cortez's page to get everything then it might be seen as a government page but if the information is available on MISD channels and you're just reposting it then that's your private page uh and so the Supreme Court gave us that decision about in March of 24 so about almost a year and a half ago and it's very valuable because before that time there was confusion as to what you could do on social media. >> Trustees advocate on their social media pages. Is that what I'm here? >> They can't. Um, you know, my best advice is to have somewhere on the page a disclaimer that this is my personal page. It's not an MISD
040page. Uh, that was not required by the Supreme Court, but it was suggested that that that's a best practice. So the bottom line is is that you're free as a citizen to advocate for or against any measure including this fund. Uh and uh but you're you nor the school can use any public funds to to advocate for or against. Now some people have asked me and have complained about uh brochures and websites and information pages that schools have put out that just inform about the bomb. And the Texas law is very clear that there's nothing wrong with that because we're asking voters to make a big decision. And so we have to inform them as to what are the consequences of that decision. And what you'll find is that when your information, your administration is
041putting out that information, it will beformational rather than advocacy. meaning that it's going to to factually describe like for example something like uh the bond package would fund the construction of a new elementary school. That's just factual. This is what it would do. Not your bond, but a a bond. Um uh we need this bond in order to help our children excel. That's not factual. That's someone's opinion. We can't go and and look that up and measure that. So, we want to stay away from when we're talking about school messages from those sorts of emotional appeals, slogans, taglines, things of that nature, information for uh for the school's presentation, but you can go out, pass out flyers, you can, you know, campaign for it. You can campaign against it. you can you're you have free
042speech uh when you're not in your capacity and you're not using school funds. So any questions about that? Pretty like I said it's not not real difficult but it's a it is an important distinction that school communication has to be informational and then personal communication can be at >> I appreciate you taking the time to clarify all of that. >> My pleasure. All right. So, um, we'll move on to 7.3, discussion and consideration of board approval of a delegate, an alternate to the 2025 Texas Association School Boards Delegate Assembly. Do I have a motion for that, >> Madam President? >> Yes. Trusty Brothers Barnett >> recommend that the board of trustees name Dr. for Mary Thomas as the official voting delegate and trustee Patrick Patterson as the alternate for the 2025 Padsby delegates. >> Okay.
043I have a motion by trusted to name Dr. uh as a delegate and doc uh trustee Patterson as an alternate for the 2025 uh taskby delegate assembly. Do I have a second? >> I'll have a second by trustee Larry. No discussion. All those in favor? 70. We'll move on to >> we do attach to that item. I do have the mayor strategic main line cath. I don't know. I know trusty probably seen this already. I wanted to make sure that trust had any commentary because of course our delegates are going to go delegates representing us. Thank you. Um, I'll move on to >> Did any Did anybody have any questions or comments on the priorities? >> Oh, the final >> and one of the things um I've been to DC both um MISD official business
044as well as personal. My most recent trip this summer um was a personal trip where I met with 11 different senators um and congressional members um offices. One of the challenges we have currently as a district is the way that we have written our um our particular legislative priorities are really focused at the local and state level, not necessarily at a federal. So, one of the things that I'd like to see here over the next couple of months is if the administration can help us in really honing in on what federal priorities they would like to see. Um, it really helps for us as we're up there on Capitol Hill having those conversations to be able to have very crystal clear here's what we want and here's what we're asking. And then even more so
045the ability to take those stories and how things are impacting us at a district level. Um, they are wanting to hear from our families. They want those real life stories on how it's impacting. So if we can have some targeted points that really >> and then just um and including with the targeted points just a summary of our funding state percentage. >> Yeah. And to that it's a good point too. Um one of the things that helps from and I know Dr. money. You and I have had several conversations about grant funding, but really talking about per capita, right? I mean, we're looking at an organization, a state, a county, um really per capita, how much, but what's that funding look like per student, right? So, really being able when we're talking about a bond
046election, right? Also, let's talk about that from a per student basis, right? Federal dollars, this is what we're getting. federal grant dollars, any of those. Um, if you need help, um, I've worked with several organizations. I can pull some of their documents. >> Thank you, >> Madam President. Would you mind if uh we jump back to 7.2 for just a second because there is one thing that I was supposed to bring up 7.2. >> Well, we'll go if there's no objection, we'll go back to 7.2. Go ahead. Um, as everyone heard, we're not raising taxes. It's going to be 37 cents. But I forgot to remind everybody, just like with the Vader, I got to change my um the proposition and the ballot will say this is a tax increase and uh capital letters that
047are going to have to ballot no matter what. >> And that's due to state law, >> correct? >> Yes. Legislation. They haven't changed that. So it has to be on there even though we're not we're not going to raise >> it will say it on the top of all three proposition. So say three times >> even though we're not raising taxes whatsoever. >> That is correct. >> It's just a lonely and that's something else that we could advocate to our state legislators but right now I guess >> no I appreciate your reminder of that. >> Yes it will be definitely part of myformational presentation wherever I go. >> Thank you. It's so important. >> Other thing, um, there was a, um, was a sheet on the propositions that was color coded. >> Yeah, >> I
048don't see that. Could you make sure we get that? Just that thing. >> Yeah, that >> All right, >> we're good. Okay, so now we already Okay, so we it's 7.3. We'll go to 7.4. Considering possible action regarding a proposed utility easement consisting of point of a 0.2931 2931 acre which is approximately 20 foot wide wastewater utility easement and temporary construction working space and assessment easements situated in the S baking survey survey abstract 63 Travis County Texas and being a portion of a cloud 65063 acres tract of land described to Vayner ISD school district as shown on instrument recorded under volume 12597 7 page 1548 of the official public records of Travis County, Texas being a portion of called 24.8354 acres of rural property in Travis County, Texas under volume 12597, page 1543 of the
049official public records of Travis County and that is 7.4. Do we have to read it over again? Do I have a motion? Madame President, I move that the board approve the proposed easement for a force main wastewater utilities with DG Mater downs property owner L as presented by administration and delegate authority to the super or designate to continue negotiating the terms of the ement move the board to authorize the board president to execute the ement in a form approved. >> I have a motion by trustee Howard. I have a second by Trustee Patterson. There's no discussion. All those in favor? Passes seven. >> Just so you know that uh it's a little blurry, but you can see the tennis courts of Mayor High School at the top there. And you can see where the the
050yellow box is right along Hill Street, right? Where that eman's actually going to go. There's actually a ditch there. So, it's actually going to that ditch. She doesn't might make our driveway earlier it was but doesn't quite make it there. >> Thank you Dr. Shani. >> And now we're going to move on to information items 8.1 to Does anybody have any of our trustees have questions on >> 8.1? >> Yeah. 8.1. Um this is going to be our policy training with Dr. Loy who's been waiting patiently on there for us. In your packets, >> thank you Dr. Lori. >> In your packets, you have Dr. Lloyd's presentation in front of you so that you can see it if you'd like. >> You also get a penny. You earned a penny for this this presentation. >>
051Thank you. >> I'm Dr. Lloyd. >> That makes you a paid employee in the district. try not to spin it in one place. >> So, at this time, I'm gonna turn over to Dr. Lloyd. I pulled out a few policies that I know are of interest of different trustees. And so, we're going to give her an opportunity to talk about policy development uh with administration and board members. And so, Dr. Lloyd, uh you are on. >> Well, thank you so much, Dr. Sani. And good evening, everyone. I'm glad to see you you all uh the wonderful Mayor ISD board of trustees that team of eight. I've been so proud just actually viewing this open session and really seeing the growth in each and every board member that's here this evening. I really appreciate your your
052dedication and your grounding your governance in Lonear governance principles and your continuation to make sure that you're following uh that uh tenant all the way. It's just improving your impact and your professionalism in the governance profession and nothing but great things will be in your future. So, I'm just so excited from the things that I'm hearing this evening. You all have a a copy of the slide deck and we're just going to talk briefly about uh policies. And as we have discussed before, we've talked about board work and superintendent work. They're not the same thing. board work, governing and superintendent work, getting the job done in the district are two very distinct and very very important work uh efforts. And so you each have a penny and this penny is going to represent for you
053a student, maybe a student that you know, maybe a student that you just want to represent all students. And so if you'll just look to the person to your left or to your right and let them know just really really quickly who your penny represents. I'll give you about 15 seconds to do that. Go. >> Okay, >> you got it. >> All right, Dr. Smani, can you confirm that everyone has their penny? >> Everybody has their P. >> Okay, great. So, next slide, please. When we talk about policy, uh sometimes people get it twisted, right? And we think that everyone has to do everything about policy. And so let's talk for just a minute about whose work is it anyway. When we talk about board work and superintendent work, especially in a year like this
054year, we know that there's just been recent legislation. We've referred to it already. So in the legislation, the Texas legis Texas legislature does pass the law, right? So that's our state government. They are the leader in that. But then as it trickles down, our state agency, the Texas Education Agency, gives us guidance, interpretations, and models of that policy. Okay, moving down, we have our superintendent. Remember, that's the superintendent work. The superintendent and his or her team tailor that policy and helps uh give uh recommendations for a response or an explanation of that policy. But then the board gets into action. The board discusses, revises, and adopts policy. The policy that's already been tailored out by the superintendent. So the superintendent helps to provide what we call sometimes regulations to that policy. So the board doesn't
055always just use the legal policy. You'll see even Mayor ISD for almost uh a majority of your legal policies. You also have something called your local policy which is something that this board of trustees has reviewed and approved that's specifically for Mayor ISD. Moving from that board action, then it comes to the day-to-day operations with the superintendent. How does that policy become practice across the entire district? And we know some things just from this recent legislative session that you've discussed that we're already going to have some policies that will become practices in the district. And then finally, as the board of trustees has approved that local policy as well as a legal policy, they will track the implementation whether it's academic using the student outcome goals or whether it's u some something else other than
056just your accountability. Right? So when we think about whose work is it anyway, think about what would happen if the board tried to do the superintendent work. If the board tried to tailor the policy response, if the board tried to actually issue interpretations and models. So talk to your neighbor for just about 30 seconds and talk about why it's important that everyone really know what their lane is when it comes to the stages of legislations and approvals of policies whether they're legal or local. Just talk to your neighbor really really quickly right there. We'll see what happens. >> All right, next slide please. And so this is very very important. This creates a ripple effect. The board decisions about local policy create a ripple effect, not just in the boardroom, but all across the district,
057regardless of what policy that we're talking about. But it's important to understand the ripple effect because it begins with your board decision, right? After the board makes the decision to approve the the local policy, then the superintendent can spring into action making that policy, that legal and local policy a reality. After that has been established across the district, then the individual campuses can begin their implementation of whatever the policy says. And you probably can think of an example that you might have uh even maybe heard about within this last year that's now a legal policy for Texas, right? And then it trickles on down to the student experience. It must flow in this ripple effect because we all know what happens to water when we're not allowing it to ripple. when we don't allow it
058to ripple, then it can create like uh unrest, uh thunderstorms and damaging winds. But most importantly in a school district, it creates uncertainty and confusion. And so we don't want uh either one of those. So we want to make sure that from that board decision that it ripples through the superintendent with those day-to-day operations with the campuses and then down to the student experience. Can anyone think of any maybe uh local policy that you already have or maybe something that you might have known has now become a a legal policy that would uh respond to this ripple effect? >> Cell phones. >> Oh, didn't you say cell phones? Absolutely. Now, that is a conversation all across Texas, right? So, it's going to really really matter from the board decision when the superintendent starts communicating what
059the local policy will be about that. And it's got to be something that can be replicated whether it's a high school, a middle school, or an elementary school. It's got to be responsive to the grade levels that it's representing. Then each campus will make sure that they're implementing the policy the way that it's written in the way it's supposed to be uh and function. And then finally, the individual student experience should be the same for every student no matter what grade that they're in. So that was a really really great example. Can I have one more example of a a policy that might have a an opportunity for a ripple effect? I would say I I mean I would offer a boundaries that it's related to professional development that's given to our staff to implement
060the policies that the superintendent is um aware of and is a part of implementing everything that's a part of the policy. >> And that's really really good Dr. Thomas because it's important as a superintendent springs into action and begins that campus implementation that the staff totally understand and the staff understands how to get it down to that student experience because that's who the student hears from. They hear from their teachers, they hear from their principal, they hear from their assistant principal. Very few students are watching the board meeting. Very few students are going to uh maybe the the adult meetings that are across this the uh district. So it's very important that the individual teacher as well as the campus as a whole understand what uh part of the policy the local policy relates directly
061to that student experience. Thank you for that. Anyone else? Okay, let's look at a few. So next slide we're going to look at policy AE. So some of you may remember policy AE from Lonear Governance when we talked about vision and mission, right? And so think think about these three questions. Is the mission of Mayor ISD still the same? >> Yes. And that's a great thing. That's a great thing. Uh do we need to adjust things in any way for the students that we have now? Does anything need to adjust right now or are we good? What do we think? >> I think trustes you should have the AE policy in your calendar. And if you notice on the bottom left hand corner, it tells you what year it was adopted. >> Yeah, it's a
062little >> Can someone read that year for me? >> Uh, June June 21st, 2011. >> 20 >> Okay. June 21st, 2011. So when you think about 2011, so those kids are probably what probably many of them are adults now, right? Um we might consider >> starting her freshman year this year and she wasn't born. This was >> Oh, okay. Yes. >> Just just to put that in perspective. >> So yes, we need to >> Yes. So it's an opportunity it's an opportunity to look again at that local policy. AE and if the majority of the board feels like it's fine as is, then that's great. But if the majority of the board feels like we want to adjust in any way, then that would be something that would go back to the superintendent for put
063uh putting that on upcoming board meeting to adjust and approve again policy AE. Are are any is anything really different in Mayor ISD now as compared to maybe 2011? And I know some of you may not have lived in Mayor at that time, but do you think just is anything different from 2011 to 2025? >> The obvious one is the size. >> Size. That's a good one. Size is different. So, we may have to respond to size. What else might be different from 2011 to 2025? >> Different students, different teachers. Has the student population changed in any way? Yes. >> Yes. And so you want to be may want to be responsive to that. >> Anything else? >> The number of campuses, technology, demographic. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. So this might be an opportunity to communicate
064with Dr. Smani about moving forward our mission, our vision, and our philosophy. And then think about what do you really want community members to know about mayor ISD moving forward. Just think about that and does your pol does your local policy AE really reflect where the district is going or is it really still talking about uh the past and I'm not giving u an indictment of either way. I just want you guys to review and reflect and then think about that uh as we look at that local policy. Dr. Mr. Moni, do we want to say anything else about policy AE local? >> That uh we do have in the local task we update update AE policy for the moment. You can always adjust it, but all it simply does is take our mission addition
065and put it in policy, but we can certainly revisit and add more to it. You want to add education philosophy or you give me direction and I just take it and hope. >> That's right. That's right. And so when you look and review on your own, um that's a great reflection. Um but guess what? Think about this. If a district changes their mission and vision every one, two, or three years, >> does that help does is that helpful? >> No. No. Right. So you might do all of your uh analyzation and find out that you're fine or you might do the same analyzation and decide that you want to tweak it a little and both are fine. Next slide please. So I want you to take this personal reflection and it doesn't have to be
066now but I hope that you'll uh take time to do it in the next few days and think about that ripple. If a policy creates that ripple, what are you really wanting students to know and be able to do even five years from now? We know that some changes in the district and anybody's district are instantaneous. But other changes in a district take time. They take time to be created and they take time to take hold. So just think about your local policy AE and what do you see for kids right now and what do you hope and plan for students to be able to do in the future and how can you govern in a way that your governance is not just words and this is not a board that's just about words but
067you want to make that lived experience for every student and you show that when you are outlining how you are connecting with the community and how you are relentless in making sure that the information gets out to uh your constituents and so I really want to applaud you for that. Do you still have your penny? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, think of your student with that penny. When you think about the board vision and mission for the district, right? And you have your penny. That's your student. What are you thinking you want to make sure of for your student? So tell your neighbor what you want your penny to know about vision and mission. >> Next slide please. >> I want to make sure that >> they really wrote up or any community they choose
068us. >> We want them to be able to step out of our district. >> Okay. Well, thank you. And on this, these are just a few questions. You don't have to answer these questions tonight, but just when you have time to reflect and go back and think about it, uh think about these guiding questions when you're talking about policy AE. I'm sorry about the look kind of weward in on the third row or fourth row there. uh especially now when we think about so many districts including Maynor ISD having a a very diverse student population, we want to make sure that we're clear about prioritizing the fact that we want all students to learn and grow. That we want to have improved student outcomes just every single year. That alludes back to your vision and
069goals. Then remember we have constraints. We already have constraints in Mayor ISD. So, how would your vision and mission relate to those constraints and or your commitments? And then think about all families and all students and staff. Are we making sure that it's language accessible? Making sure that it's uh touch making those touchstones for symbolic or cultural. Making sure that your policy is meaningful to all of your constituents, students with ability and with students who may have a special challenge. making sure that you're addressing all facets of your school community. So, just a few questions for policy AE. When you look it over, you may say, "Hey, we're fine where we are." Or you may decide, "Hey, we we may want to uh think about some things." And we'll talk about that as moving forward.
070Any questions about policy? Ae. Okay. Next one. Then we think about DH local. Now, this is a hot potato right now. Uh, if every staff member carried their penny as a reminder of expectations, expectations. What would it look like? Think about that. Think about how we ensure that our conduct policies reflect the dignity, trust, and student centered focus that we expect from every adult in Mayor ISD. You know, expectations are a funny thing. uh you might have a a high level of expectation and someone else may think they have a high level of expectation but it's not as high as yours or maybe yours is not as high as their right so we have to decide as a team of eight what is our standard what is our standard for conduct for students for staff
071and for administration so I'm making it easy on you tonight not making you move too much but if you'll just talk to your neighbor right now think about what you what you know about DH the legal or DH local the standards of conduct. Talk to your neighbor real quick. was just making sure I'm just you know to meure providing what is laid out. We just have to make sure that it's giving them so much. >> This is what you're going to do and then we are >> okay. So, let's think about that. >> If every staff member carried a penny as a reminder of expectations, what would it symbolize? Who would like to share? What would it symbolize for Mayor ISD in regards to standards of conduct? What do we expect from our adults? What
072do we expect from our students? >> So, uh if I may, >> yes, >> I would say, you know, the saying that uh you don't set the standard by something that you write on paper, but more importantly by your actions. So uh by the actions of the adults uh we're also showing the students uh examples of how that standard conduct looks like in real life. >> Okay, very good. Thank you for sharing. Anyone else? Can we think of a document uh that comes out at the beginning of the school year normally that all students might get a copy of or all parents may have information about that really talks about standards of conduct? >> Student code of conduct. >> What did you say? >> Student conduct. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. So, does Mayor ISD have a
073student code of conduct? >> Yes. And so do you think that every uh parent and community member might have access to it? Where can we find it? >> It's accessible via the district website as well. >> Absolutely. >> School websites. >> Absolutely. So as a board member, every single board member there can say where to find the standards of conduct for Mayor ISD. Is that a true statement? >> Yes. And who wrote the standards of conduct for Mayor ISD? >> I would imagine that would be our superintendent. >> Yeah. Administration. Administration. So going back to that second slide, remember to get the day-to-day operations. That's superintendent work. Board work is not the day-to-day operations. Board work is approving the policy. So Dr. Mr. Monty, in the standard of conduct, putting the superintendent on the spot
074for a second, can you think of any category where this uh code of conduct might have a a change for this coming school year? Just any topic. >> Well, just to to reiterate, so the DH local of course is for employee standards of conduct. >> Yes. >> Um the employee handbook. Um there is actually we will review some um new legislation that hasn't changed the employee handbook and eh local will regarding what educators are allowed to say to student before they're so there is I mean regulations haven't been issued. >> Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. And see how he explained that. That's why the board has to wait before they get to approve moving forward because some information is still forthcoming, still uh getting uh kind of uh filtered out for us. And so when you think
075about that, we do have standards of conduct for employees, we have standards of conduct for students, we have standards of conduct even for the board even though it's not DH local, right? So when you think of standard of conduct for the board, what would you think we would be talking about? How do we know as a board uh what our standard of conduct would be as a board? >> I know from our board operating procedures. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Okay. Next slide. So if this policy creates a ripple, what might our district look like five years from now? and think about how this could or how it should make students and staff embrace this policy because the expectations from adults, what do we expect our adults to be in May or ISD?
076>> Do we expect them to be prepared? I was going to say one that I know this has been an expectation from this board to me to pass off that emphasizes DH local is the one that bans personal cell phone use with children from employees to children which been a point of emphasis >> is see it all summer long to make sure everybody's aware >> and that is state law too. >> Yes. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. And you know what? It's also an example because if the students can't have them, then all of a sudden they see all their teachers or administrators with them. Then that's kind of a disconnect for kids, right? So when we think about it, we have to be the example. Was someone saying something? Did
077I cut someone off? Oh, okay. All right. Next slide. Thank you. Here's just a few questions. I'm not going to read them to you. Uh but remember, uh we want our adults to have ethical conduct to be clear. Uh we want to make sure that this uh policy support staff in making decisions that are aligned with the board constraints. When you think about our board constraints and you think about employees, you think about is it just the superintendent or is it every adult that we want to make sure that they are aligning with the uh board's constraints for the superintendent, board's constraints for the board and is there language that promotes transparency and trust with families? Think about how we communicate. How do we communicate our expectations about employees in DH local? How do regular
078uh community members in Mayor ISD know what to expect from the adults that serve our students? >> The handbook is available for anyone. >> The handbook is available. That is the correct answer. the handbook is available and so and it's accessible as well and so if you have a need to make sure that someone knows about that there's a ready there's a ready answer for that. Any questions about DH local and I think that the cell phone is probably the number one thing for this school year. I do. I do. Okay, next slide. Now, CH local is purch purchasing and compliance. Uh we just before we began this session, you heard from finance talk about the bond and talk about how every dollar was really being watched and categorized. So, if your penny represented the
079smallest purchase in our district, how do you think the smallest penny or the smallest purchase should be treated? Should it be treated differently than a big purchase or should it be treated with the same seriousness and fiscal expectation? >> I think every purchase needs to be taken with intentionality. Absolutely. Absolutely. Anyone else? That's great. >> I would add with accountability and with integrity. >> Yes. That's the key word, Dr. Thomas. With integrity because guess what? That approval or that purchase matters to students and it matters to adults as well. And so it is critical not only that the board do their preview work by studying the board packet, making sure that they understand what the purchase is about, but then also to make sure that if they have questions that they go through the process
080that you already have as a board with the district and the superintendent to ask those questions so that you can get clarity uh moving forward. >> Next slide. If I could uh if I could add also I think that it's important obviously all purchases should be treated the same. I think that's that's uh really at the core of it uh but the language uh provides just that um the language provides integuring all processes are the same for everything. So I think it's important that we have the language and those boundaries and and the steps that should be taken and they should be clear clear to everybody and that's one way that you make sure that you're in line with >> and the part that everybody understands how >> yeah that's great Mr. Martinez because it's
081very very important because everyone may not be uh a mathematical whiz or really understand school finance or how budgets really work or whether it's something about the bond or just a regular purchase or or something that's been uh year after year after year uh in the district. And so just think about how are you communicating uh this to parents and community? How can you improve your personal board service in this area? So, let's think about this. Every time you get your board packet, do we all really understand everything that's in the finance part? And if we don't understand what what's the pathway uh that need to go? If you don't understand something in the board packet, what and under finance, what do you need to do? >> Ask as superintendent 101 ones. >> That's right.
082And so can you tell us a little bit more about that? >> Two weeks prior to board meetings and we have whatever amount of time it takes for us to go through all the important aspects of the upcoming meetings lasting last anywhere from a half hour to two or three hours need. >> That's right. That's right. And your superintendent is accessible to get those questions answered. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Everyone agree on that one? >> I do. We we we have established very especially this past year. We have established routine and regular uh workshops, financial workshops in understanding and that has been very very very helpful in understanding in chunks as opposed to long time and you don't know what it is you're looking at. >> Right. Right. Right. And things keep changing. Thank
083you for that Dr. Thomas. Thank you for that. Okay, next slide. Let's think about these guiding questions. Let's look at these four guiding questions and someone pick one out. Let's popcorn out and see if we want to talk about what is our governance connection to one of the guiding questions like how do we know take one of the questions. >> I like the question regarding vendor relationships and how we know they're being governed by clear ethical standards. >> Okay. Can you tell me more? Within our local policy, we have a list of purchasing procedures, how to abide by each method, if that's the method being chosen, but it also clearly includes when exceptions may be required, under what circumstances, and how we go about that in an ethical and accountable way. Absolutely. Absolutely. Thanks for
084sharing that. Another volunteer who will share. >> So, u I'll just take with the first one. Um and I think that's at the core of uh all financing for school districts is um it's given to us by uh by our taxpayers uh which is for student outcome. So, uh, all purchases and everything that's done is that's to that effect that it has to do with something that is going to support those student outcomes and vision and our vision and goals. And so, usually the superintendent will also like look at that, right? Dr. Swani does a great job of linking it to show why uh something's being asked for approval and how it will help uh students academically move forward. One more volunteer for these guiding questions. Let's pick another one. Someone who hasn't spoken yet.
085>> The third one, anything that promotes transparency and community trust. >> It's very important because >> Yes. Yes. Yes. And so, uh, what does that look like? Something that promotes transparency and trust, community trust. What could that look like? a fair bidding process. >> Fair bidding process. What could it look like from a board member? >> Uh responsibility for debts and we're taking responsibility for any decision that was under our >> that you're taking responsibility >> name of the district. So long as those debts are for purchases made in accordance with the adopted budget. So we approve the budget and as long as it fits in there, we are responsible for that. >> Okay. All right. Anyone disagree? And so this process is what we are going to do as you as we continue to
086study like the legal policies that from this last legislative session and maybe some possible local policies that you may develop. You do have the guidance that you get and of course then the superintendent and his team will sit there and and parcel out the regulations that may respond to the policy or local policy recommendations. The board will approve the board will approve the lo the local policy. You have discussion and approve the local policy and then that's what the entire district will follow. Right. Next slide please. Dr. >> Yes sir. >> Yes. looking at this uh one thing that stands out as like Mr. Patterson pointed out at the end of of that line uh it says community trust and speaking about uh ripple effect I think at the end of in this in this
087uh looking at this I would say that at the end of all that the ripple effect would be that community trust that we are uh behaviors in that matter and and stewards of their money and for their children. >> Right. Thank you. And thank you for saying that because you know here's the here's the key as board members. It's important that we uh read that we really study not just the board packet but once you are presented with policy that you know what the the the legal policy is you understand and participate in the development of the local policy in collaboration with the superintendent and that after that that you do become a steward for making sure that those who ask or those who may need the information are being informed about what the local
088policy is especially if it's something new and high profile that every single student or every single parent will need to respond to making sure that that word does get out and that makes our whole district become a pile of pennies. And that's a positive thing because a pile of pennies is priceless. When you look at your penny, I want you to look at your penny right now. You might see the year on your penny and maybe you were alive when the year on your penny is there that you see there. Maybe you're in school, but think about what you were doing in the year of your penny. So, I want you to just take a minute to reflect on what were you doing the year of your penny or what did you know happened in
089America the year of your penny? And we're just going to start uh on the left and go all the way to the right. You're going to tell us the year of your penny and then you're going to tell us something that's either special about you for that year or something that you know happened in our nation during that year. Why is this important? Because all of our students are little pennies. All of our students and they all have a year the year they started prek or the year they started kindergarten or the year they graduated from high school. And we are entrusted with their care. And so even though people may say, "Oh, a penny is just one cent." A penny is also very very priceless in the fact that it endures. And even though
090that year might have already passed, you still have a penny. still got its worth right there. So, look at your penny and let's find the year. We're going to start on the left, your left, and go all the way to the right. Just tell us the year of your penny and something either that happened to you or that you did or something that you may know. And if it's a penny that you weren't even on the earth yet, even on the earth yet, then we might have to help you out. So, we are going to start over here. That's you. Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. It's 2017. >> Okay. >> I'm trying to think what happened in 2017. Um, three-year-old then. I mean, I was busy with three kids at that point. Um, just a friend.
091I think that's it. I was in the Oh my. Maybe when you get outnumbered, this isn't a great decision. >> Yeah, I think that's it. just a mom of three trying to figure it out with a husband that was in at that point he was uh working on his dual master's degree. So I was doing all of that and working full time. So I think like our family like commute like bringing it back to the mayor community um being knowing that my penny represent is all 10,000 plus students. There's so many in our community that that those are the families that we represent and that we are entrusted with helping their kiddos grow academically, socially and to be prepared when they need. So for me um 2017 looking back but then looking forward also for
092our community and how we are supporting those kids. >> Great. Great. Thank you for that. Who's next? >> Mine is 2004. I was a junior at Mayor High School and it was my first year of being in school alone. My sister graduated in 2003, so all alone. >> But Mayor ISD helped you through. >> Yes, >> that's it. That's great. Thanks for sharing. Who's next? Uh so I have 2015 uh that's a big one for me um because uh that was when we moved forward as a family to the next phase of of a plan that we had started at the very beginning of starting our family which was um sending our kids to college and that was the first year that one of our kids was going to was attending college. So we had
093that plan and that was we we've been working up to it and that was the first year we moved on to that part of it where but it was a lifelong thing. I mean it was something that that uh we had talked about and we tried to I mean we didn't know much about it to be honest with you uh because they were first generation college students but uh we did our best to try to uh to plan for it and that was the first year that we had to send one of them here. >> Oh okay great thanks for sharing that. That's powerful. Thank you. Who's next? >> So the year I got is 2021. Okay. >> And remember that year perfectly. >> Um that was the year that I had the biggest scare.
094And I think you were here when I was having issues with my mom. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And so I remember being in the hospital full of I think it was a second wave of COVID in the summer. And my mom and I were the only ones left in the hospital that did not have CO and we never got COVID. And all I was thinking of is all the young kids that were saving all these lives, the respiratory texts and everything. And um and I realized that we have a huge I would always say responsibility, but now it's more obligation to make sure we really build a future for like our kids. Literally, we're going to be in their hands because I saw that firsthand. Anyways, I was thinking about it this whole this whole
095time. never got COVID until 2022, but that was the year that we were the only ones in that hospital without COVID. They had to we were fighting to get moved to the second floor. So, but a lot of young kids, nurses were saving lives. >> Wow. Wow. Thanks. That is really, really powerful, President. That's very powerful because our kids are going to be taking care of all of us, right? I think everyone here is over 18. So, just think about it. We want to make sure kids get a great education because they're gonna have the solutions of tomorrow. 19. Yeah, that's right. That's right. We're over 19. They're gonna have the solutions of tomorrow. Today and today. Absolutely. Perfect. >> And Dr. Sarani is cheating. >> What is he doing? Did he have did he
096have two pennies or something? I I was 2014 and I was a campus principal and going to through the doctoral program at the same time my family again busy year. >> That's it. I bet I bet that was busy times. Busy times. Great. Thanks for sharing. >> Yeah. I had 2014, too. And uh >> Oh, really? Okay. Go ahead. my youngest who he was a middle school principal. That was the year my youngest started college uh in St. Louis. So started at Washington University. She she broke her foot the last practice before the basketball season started. So she was away from home for the first time, an environment of cold weather and snow for the first time with a broken foot at the same time in a very competitive college at the same time. So
097it was I remember that year and I actually uh I I uh pledged alumni chapter of a fraternity 2014 as well. >> Okay. >> Very uh interesting year. Very interesting year. Thanks for sharing. That's good. That's good. Who's next, Fabian? >> And I guess I'll end with the year 2020, which really in education was lifechanging for >> our entire field, >> right? >> Um I I was teaching during that time. I mean, I'm imagining that you were in classroom, too, Stacy, and having to learn how to navigate the world >> and the education of our students and provide the very best to them under the most trying of circumstances. That year is always a reminder to me of the importance of taking care of our teachers so that they can take care of our students.
098>> Absolutely. Absolutely. Thanks for sharing that wonderful, wonderful. Next slide. That thank you all for sharing. And so we think about, you know, yes, we all have a penny and a penny might be worth one cent we think, but it's really worth much, much more. A penny is priceless. If you need a penny and you don't have a penny, a penny is priceless. Right? Have you ever been anywhere and needed the difference to make the purchase of a penny? Uh sometimes they'll let you through, but most times they'll say, "You need to kind of dig for that penny, right? Find that treasure. Find that penny." But as we think about our students and think about each one of them really representing something priceless, something that we have an opportunity to help build and transform and
099make uh more and more effective as as they grow into the adults that we want them to. Uh we want to make sure that we value that. I think I don't know Dr. Is Dr. Thomas trying to get through because I want to make sure I talk about her penny too. Dr. Thomas, can you hear? >> Yes, I can hear my 20. Well, uh I I don't have my penny in front of me, but 20 24 is the number that that I'm using. And that was because with the Texas Association of School Boards, I was attending a wonderful enriched training and learning and school visit in El Paso, Texas. and during uh the last night of that of that uh training and opportunity, I had uh out of the blue unfortunate time that I uh
100passed out and I actually uh was taken to the emergency room in in the hospital in El Paso and was put in intensive care for 10 straight days. Never had been in a situation like that. But my my whole life flashed before me looking at all of the the the the plans for the my my family, the kids in main earth, the kids in Austin, everybody that I came in contact with. and it appeared that that dream had been shattered and was going to be over. But that wasn't the story of my life. And so after after going through uh many changes, returned back to Austin, and it's like my doctors are saying, cats have nine lives. I'm on live number 15. And so until until it is said that it's that is no more,
101then I stand firm convicted and ready to operate and intersect with people to improve the space that we walk with one another. Absolutely. Absolutely. >> 24 no more. >> All right. All right. Well, thank you so much, Dr. Thomas. That was so powerful what you just shared with us and really kind of blends right into why we have the explanation of the penny exercise. Regardless of whether we're talking about uh creating a local policy or revising a local policy or learning more about the legal policy, we need to make sure that we're making those ethical choices as we are stewards as members of the team of eight members of the board of trustees superintendent team. We want to make sure that we're taking care of our pennies, representing our most precious resource, our students, right?
102And as we're doing this, we're going to build that trust with each other by uh maintaining and elevating our integrity. Remember what integrity is doing what you've allowed others to expect of you. Remember those people who voted for you that you are using that integrity to gradually build that trust within the organization and just really exude all across the district and the community at large. And then finally, realize that having daily integrity, really rebirthing yourself every day among all board members will improve credibility in governance throughout the whole school community. And so I'm so proud of the mayor ISD board of trustees because you have been practicing and working so hard diligently uh to improve your pennies in your district which are your precious students and to make those ex ethical choices that will help
103make sure that uh the best decisions are made in the service of students. You'll actually really making the ripple effect become reality. If we can look at that next slide really quickly. Remember that ripple effect. That's the lesson from this evening is that once we've gotten the official legal policy, and we're just talking about policies right now, and that board decision to approve the local policy that allows the superintendent and the superintendent team to jump into action. Remember, the board's not jumping into action action. It's the superintendent and the superintendent team jumping into action to help make that local policy live in your district, making sure that all campuses are ready and able to implement and that it results in an improved student experience. Any questions about that? Any questions about the ripple effect? Can
104you see the ripple effect at work in Mayor ISD? Do you see the possibilities for that ripple effect? >> Definitely. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. And so you may think no mayor I must have created this right? Yes and no. You created your own ripple effect. And the way we can see that it is working is we see beginnings of improved outcomes for students. We see improved community connections and we see improved board superintendent governance as that unified team of eight. So Dr. Smani, uh any questions about uh uh anything else that you want me to share about uh tonight or anything else that you want to share about this process? >> No. >> Uh we we're going to be talking about we're going to put it in practice here in a moment. Talk about a
105few policies that are coming up. I'm also just so you know, I've had some questions um regarding CH local and vendor interactions. We're gonna have Mark give you real quick brief um just so you understand how to handle vendors because now that you've ordered a bond, you will probably get contacted and so it'll give you some idea there. >> Okay. Thank you, President Cortez. >> Thank you as always, Dr. Lloyd. Um always great to see you and just drill down on all the on our roles, responsibilities, and the ripple effect. So, >> thank you. Can't wait to come in person next time. >> Thank you. And Dr. Lloyd, I have uh Trustee Martinez. >> I think sometimes uh things happen for a reason, I guess, because you know, one of the things we we did
106today was we had convocation and and part of that was legacy building. >> Oh wow. >> So that was the theme of of what we were going to talk about, right? And so, um, I think that the ripple effect of that is, uh, something that our teacher should, our educators should remember is that it's I totally missed that one. I saw that I think it was something. >> What? I have terrible. >> Oh, we're good. Okay, we're good. >> Yes. Okay, >> we are good. We're back. uh at a recus at >> uh 7:35 p.m. And so I've asked Mr. Glay to just stop by. Um regarding CH local, whenever you call for a bond, there are a lot of vendors who are interested in doing business with the district and trustees. Obviously, we have
107three new trustees and so trustees get approached often times, especially vendors. I don't know if you noticed, there are actually three vendors in our audience tonight because they meet with and so often times they'll hang out and try to catch you after a board meeting. They will absolutely look for you at TASBY texted con. And so I've asked Mr. Goule just to answer your questions on what your interactions are allowed to be before we're procuring a contract, when we're procuring a contract, and then after we procure the contract. I think Mr. if you just do those three things and then they can ask whatever questions they have from their experiences. >> Sure. And again, I'll be brief like I was last time. First want to tell you the things that you have to do just
108letter of the law. Um, if you have a substantial interest, meaning that you earn a large portion of your income or own part of a business that is either seeks to do business with the district or is doing business with the district, not that you know somebody or if you have contact, but you own or you receive income, that has to be disclosed on a state form and uh and given to the school. Uh, also if you receive a gift from a vendor or a potential vendor, that has to be disclosed. Although that does not include uh being a guest at an event like a sporting event or a dinner as long as the the person who is the vendor is actually present. So if they give you a gift certificate, you got to dinner
109on your own, that's a gift. If they take you to dinner, that does not have that's not part of the disclosure. Those have to be disclosed. any amount >> um >> any gift amount. >> I think there is a limit of uh like 50 bucks or something like that. So pretty much over, you know, over a certain amount. I I'll get back to you on that. It because it may have changed, but that's there's a there's two forms, a CIQ and and a CI form that that that you can use for that. The others are if you are actually doing business, you you own a company and your company can do business with the school. Uh you can sell land or buy land from the school that has to be disclosed and an affidavit and
110you have to recuse yourself from voting or liberation. Okay, so those are the musts. Then we get into that gray area of okay, a vendor is talking to you about something or another. We know that that vendor is looking to decision makers to try to explain why they believe that they would do a good job for the school in for goods and services. And um you can't blame them from for going to all the way to the top to the school board to the superintendent or to the the you know the cabinet. Um but we have to understand that uh as as trustees you know you want to first of all be conversant of your your board operating procedures if you and I don't believe there are any that are specific to to vendor relations.
111Uh but you know the the the key is you know stay in your lane and if your lane is that hey I'm a trustee I'm going to vote on this that you can say I'm not a decision maker on this topic. Um and sometimes we have no contact periods where you know we've we put that as a part of an RFP. That's very common where we say okay during this period of time we have no contact. So be aware uh if you you can ask if you don't know whether that's been implemented on a specific purchase pro uh procedure and if there is just you can't have that contact the vendor or potential vendor should have been notified of that and shouldn't have to contact. But if there's no period like that, you will be
112contacted by vendors or you may be at a convention and you may stop at a booth and and learn about some good or service that's being marketed to school districts. That's not illegal. Uh but again, you know, staying in your lane means that you can take something back and say, "Hey, Dr. Sami, I saw this new uh company that sells scoreboards for, you know, basketball gyms and I thought you'd be interested in if if you think that's something that that you want to pass on to them. But remember that that's not your main job. Your main job is not to go out and vet vendors. But there's a reason that that vendors are out there is is that they want to they want to do business with the school. So if you're disclosing gifts from
113vendors, if you're disclosing a substantial interest in in any income or ownership that you have in vendors, then you're meeting the letter of the law. Um, and then we may also reach out to vendors to uh, you know, that are current vendors to that we're doing a project and we want you to bid on it because we've had success with them in the past. Typically, that's not going to come from trustees. that would usually come from the business office of saying, you know, making sure that eligible uh contractors and vendors were informed of of certain RFPs and openings and things like that. But I think what would be helpful would would be that if if you had scenarios, questions that I could answer those that as a springboard to question. What questions do you have?
114the vendor comes to you says, "Hey, I have a team, including my CEO. We just want to take you to dinner and see what's about solving this this bond." >> They're going to be approaching a lot of us probably. >> Yeah. Well, what are your thoughts about that? >> Well, what I what I've done up to this point, even before we even prove this model, I said, "Well, need to see uh Joe." >> Yeah. >> Joe's gonna make that those decisions. I'm not going to make that decision. And I said we voted as a board that our president's our spokesperson. And so if you want to get a public comment from our board, see our president. >> That's what I've said. >> Yeah. I mean that's a great question and and it's a common business
115practice. Um, and I I know that that is something that's that people I you know, my my firm does business with school districts and so I understand that, you know, that is a you know, and I I take school board members to to lunch and dinner and things of that nature. So there's no that's not illegal. That's not against the law or anything like that. What is against the law is what we call a quid proquo. like if you do this for me, you give me something of value, then I will turn around and vote for your your initiative or I'll deliver you this contract. That's, you know, those things happen. You know, people get indicted for things like that. People get convicted for things like that. Uh, and we want to stay way on
116the right side of the line. I guess what I would say, Mr. Patterson to to your initial question is if these people call me up and say they want to take me to dinner and talk to me about their company and what they could provide and things of that nature. I would probably believe that as an individual trustee that the best way for them to present it would be to present it to the business office and then that way you don't feel like you have to go back and carry the message to the board. Hey, there these people have this wonderful stuff and they also took me to dinner. So, it's just you put yourself in a spot where yeah, you got a nice dinner out of it, but then are you do you feel
117beholden to them? Are there people in a community that are going to believe that you're beholden to them? And so sometimes it's not worth it's not illegal. It's not illegal, but it's something that you make a make a personal choice on. I'm not going to tell anyone what you can and cannot do if it's not I can tell you where the law is and I can tell you what I've seen in the past. It can put you in a in a tough spot both from an appearance standpoint and then from a a belief that you may feel in some way indebted or or beholden to them even just subtle. But um it like I said it's it's not unheard of. Um, I know that there are some some of p purchasing processes that y'all have
118where you've had a a black a communication blackout from the time that something's posted to until the decision is made that that no one is supposed to contact if they have questions about the RFP, they're supposed to a certain way that they can get their questions answered. But that way, it's a fair process. And so, you want to be aware of that. >> Yeah. and and it goes back to our policy and systems in place before Dr. Sarm or when Dr. It was I had a lot of questions because it's also protecting the board you know transparency in the systems how it's all you know finan you know stuff so I feel confident that you know they're getting into a place that there is a really good procurement process you know they're updating all that
119and I have questions because you know it's I don't want to be in that situation so I think it to me it really falls on now like for German and stuff. Yes, we're going to have a big conference. Yes, it has everybody's going to be there. So, you know, >> we'll tell you we are probably going to have an RFQ on the street for architectural services while you are at conference, >> which is good. >> Fine, but we do have a blackout where they're not supposed to be u >> trying to communicate. So my suggestion is just always do would you refer them back to me or refer back to Joe? >> So you know when people reach out to me and say hey want go this thing I turn them down if I know
120that we have business that may be pimping for for the board because I know you don't want to be put in that position so I turn them down for you and I'm also you referring back to me if I know where to blackout period I'll deal with it. They know better. They should know better. They get the same forms everybody else does. >> And I think that's a good practice because I've done that with Dr. Shan here. Can you maybe this is a good person, but I want you to know that it's up to him. >> Yeah. Always let them know whatever information is. >> Hello. Yes. >> Hey, Dr. Thomas. >> Hello. Yeah. I would just like to share a a couple of comments. Uh, having worked in state and federal accountability for like
121over 25 years and in other state national organizations. I know a whole bunch of people just like many of you know a whole bunch of pe people. But because of that, I will not make it a practice of entertaining one one vendor, allowing them to believe that whatever it is that they're trying to say or trying to sell that that that I'm going to be their huckabe. So whenever I get things uh that may or may not be a part of what we might consider, we mayor, but because I have other school districts and things, I just refer to doc uh Dr. Simony or pass it on or forward it just FYI information and then if he uh can take it to pass it to the appropriate person, that's fine. But there's not been a
122commitment from me as a person or mayor ISD for them and pretty much then they back off and won't keep going. I have a few that you know this is the fifth time I've emailed you and I'm like I've told you that um I have forwarded to the appropriate person. So that gets me out of the weeds of is it a business uh office? Is it a curriculum issue? is it uh um you know special ed whatever it is and that has worked for me over the years and most especially in working with Dr. Samani and his team he has the the the big picture and know where all of the things are and so that's what I trust him to do. >> Thank you Dr. Thomas. Yeah, I think that's the key is that
123that your best bet is to route that information. And even if you're a subject matter, I know that some of you are. I mean, I know there's some trustees that know everything there is to know about construction or special ed or or teaching or or whatever it might be or, you know, or sports and athletics and things of that nature. uh almost everybody has an opinion on the way a building should look and have be designed but like kind of like what you're doing in your your governance training remember your roles and then is it worth you know getting in too tight with a potential vendor through entertainment and gifts and things uh to you know then you feel like okay I've got to carry their their water to you know advocate for them in
124front of the board I don't think any of you want to be in that position was part of that. >> Yeah. So, I I think part of like what we're doing here today um and talking about this is great. And I think that one way that um keep from going into the weeds is by together. I think the best way to do that is is hopefully I know you can look through some of our policies and our practices and and take make sure that the language is as clear as possible on the steps and then basically you just follow your steps. Uh but if there is something in there that's vague or can be interpreted by somebody in some way that could lead to that, I think that should be taken up. I think it's
125important that we look at what we're doing now and how our policies and practices, how how they're written uh and remove those things. So I would ask if if there is something like that, maybe you could bring it to our attention that we need to change. >> Yeah, I mean I I've looked at at your board operating procedures and your your policies and they're I think they're pretty tight, pretty standard. Um, you know, and I mentioned at the very beginning, those things that are the absolutes that you have to disclose and you you can't do. Um, and the rest of it, a lot of it's just really good common sense and knowing not to get in the middle of something that's not really in, you know, I'm going to be one vote on a decision
126that may come up and so why am I meeting with these people and you know, individually, not as a thing. I just wanted that Mark to have that opportunity just reminder trustees if you have questions or concerns that come up you you can always contact council help get in contact let me know that have that conversation that's there for >> anytime you know right Martin anytime >> any question >> so what happens >> everybody I know there was like >> Well, if they saw there were more items, they didn't stick around. >> So, number two. >> Yep. If you move forward, um these next few items are some updates on some policies. I'm going to run through them. You stop me if you want to have some questions. I know you've already probably reviewed this
127since it was on big rocks and on um on the agenda itself, but uh mostly I just want to let people know that we do know that there are policies going in effect on September 1. Our policy says and of course you don't have choice that if the law says it's happening, it's happening. We don't have a policy to update. I just confirmed with TASBY they will not have this policy ready for us. So these things are in effect. our team has a legislative update that they've looked through. They know these things are there and so they uh begin immediately recommending. So that's once said Senate Bill 12 had a ton of stuff in >> Can you also I don't know if we mentioned this because it goes to policy it goes to when we're
128amending budgets and everything but also when we're going to be updating a lot of policies but at the same time during this process because TASBY and TEA and other people don't have full interpretations of the new funding mechanism we might have to come in several times to um edit the budget, amend the budget. >> And you're like three slides ahead of me. But yes, you're absolutely right. Um u after a legislative session, we will probably have to do things a second time because literally tea has to create rules and sometimes we have to jump without the rules. And uh we'll give I'll give you a good example of that in a moment where we don't have a choice but to move. The TA hasn't even put out rules. They're putting it out next week. Go
129forward. Um, so this is one that we do have to vote on and I'm bringing recommendation. Senate Bill 13 has changed the way that library materials are required. Uh, there are new standards that we will implement and that's not a problem. Uh, the one thing that I'm going to recommend to you that I'm going to bring forward for our local policy is that we are going to designate a district administrator to make those recommendations to the board. The board will have to vote on the library acquisition. you will have to vote on it, but the law requires that we have somebody make recommendations to and so the policy I will bring forward next uh the 18th will be a local administrator that uh and talking about uh school finance I just give you a quick
130update as as Miss Cortez said um there are there are parts of the school finance law that have not been defined yet and so there's actually one line of our revenue that's actually zero because nobody in state knows how it's going to work and so we're there's nothing we can do about it. That was a long way of saying we will probably amend the budget several times this year uh as new information comes in and we have to change things. So this is just the first budget amendment we're bringing forward. Uh a couple things I'd like you especially the community to know. Uh it it's really great, you know, the state gave us the money, but they don't actually give us the money until September 2026. >> Yes, sir. >> But didn't we didn't we
131create our budget based on last year's number? >> Yes, we did. >> So So why will we have to go through a series of amendments if we budgeted on a very last year's money with no additional dollars? because the state law >> I think we could have been positively. >> Yeah. So the state law um is now in effect and so we've got to adjust for what they requiring us to expend on and what they're going to give us September 2026. So even though they're giving us the money September 2026 accounting wise it's in this budget. That's the way the law is written. I know that's sometimes >> Oh September 26. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah, that's actually in next budget year is when the money actually shows up, but we have to account for
132it in this fiscal year 2526. That is a way they keep the money in their accounts. They get interest and they can spend it on other >> priorities. Other words, we have to front $3.5 million. Um, one of the things I want to bring >> continue to do that every year or next year they'll give us two years. >> Well, we'll get one year, but we'll we'll now be caught up because then the money will come every single year. >> Got it. So, but we have this one gap year where we've got to fund all the funds, which of course is one of the things that we had to address in the summer um as far as our expenditures to make sure we had the cash flow to make it through the rest of the
133year, which we do. And um uh I've asked Mr. Santiago on the 18th bring forward a nice chart on our cash flow so that trustees can see that see track through to the rest of the year. those expenditures while while we have the frontal there is a good thing about those expenditures because they are required to be spent on on staff in a number of ways and so we will be pushing out this information to our staff so they know what kind of increase in compensation that they're going to have. Um part of that money as you see is dedicated towards teachers. However, there was some money set aside in House Bill 2 dedicated to other employees and with a small addition in the tens of thousands range, we were able to give 1% to
134all employees across the district. So, it's nice we were able to offer something along with the fact that we have absorbed the cost of individual healthcare. There's those two pieces that we were able to do this year. To get there though, we did have to reduce expenditures more over the summer. talk with all of you about that. But the the quick of it is 43 vacant teacher positions, 26 other vacant positions, everything from bus drivers, custodians to administrators that we get and another 2.5 million we cut out of our operating budget in order to get the deficit back to a balanced budget. So we are balanced again. One thing though that we don't know uh we won't know till after the start next time I see you on the 18th is our student numbers. So
135our current budget is based on 10,029 students at 91.25% ADA and 420 prekers. So if any of those numbers change to the as higher um that's new funding. We'll look at our student numbers and we will allocate our resources and staff to classrooms as needed. Right now we are going off of what we have in our system. We have a very transient population. So we have students coming in and going out that first week in large numbers. So we'll see where we fall at that time. As of right now um if all the students show up, class sizes are going to be bigger than people expect the elementary level. Talking 26, 27, 28. Um once we see those numbers, if we need to adjust because we've got more students or we have less students at
136one campus, we'll begin the leveling process, which is something we do every year. Difference this year is we we're very tight on the budget to keep it balanced and so we're waiting to the last minute before we begin that. Uh speaking of um uh I'm sorry I moved on to the next item. Madam President, >> there's no other discussion on um what he was talking about uh the finances. >> Y go forward one. So speaking of um jumping before you have the rules, uh TEA has not released the rules nor have they released the model policy. So, um, we will bring forward a policy and alignment with what, uh, we understand the law to be, um, with our legal guidance. And so, this is just a really quick synopsis of that. We obviously have some
137regulations. We have the student code of conduct. We've been putting out email, social media, even old school newspaper out there. talk with administrators so that administrators can speak with their students in the first week of school to help reinforce remind them that this policy is in place. Um, we will move forward with this and if there are changes when we get the guidance, I'm not expecting any from TEA, but we'll adjust if we need to. Has there been any uh training staff developments for special ed uh staff and teachers so that we implement a parent fair plan because I I can see now a kid has a funnel and it's proved how that could create it. So they could have a phone, they could have it a certain way where it can't really be seen
138by other kids. And and I I guess the question is, has there been a plan? Has it been implemented? >> Yeah, we did meet with administrators. We asked them to go ahead and go back and pull their IEPs and 54 plans to find out which students um have a cell phone that and the most common reason is for diabetes tracking system on their phone and so they identify those students with their teachers so they know their phone know who they are. I excuse me. I would like to in reiterate because of the quick timeline of us having to have a policy and the quick timeline when schools start uh in in August. Um, one of the things that that I'm able to see with the vision is being with >> the schools that are in
139North Austin, Elgen, Mayor, and then all of the private uh not private schools, but the uh the other school, the charter schools. And in September will be the first hearing for for ju for juveniles. And we want to make sure that we've had all of our policies discussed and implemented because there will be a whole line of people who will want to challenge us if we don't have a ch if we don't have one. And the other part of that is that there are a few of our surrounding districts who have put in u a p policy by their board and have sent out to the parents and to the students what that procedure is going to be and and we really really in Mayor don't want to be one of the ones that's slow
140about doing this policy so that we going to we will it will open up bigger there opportunities for parents to to challenge and for school districts to go in line and be before the court because of the the um the policy on cell phones cuz they are rampant all over this state. So I I just like to encourage us to make this one a as a priority as Dr. testimony has put forth. And um yeah, especially it has some of the ramifications, but is not a whole lot that will say a kid cannot communicate. I mean, can't move if they don't have a cell phone in their hand. So, I just want to caution us for being proactive. and we will continue to push out information every single chance we get along those lines to
141make sure everybody's aware as aware as we possibly can. >> Thank you, Dr. Thomas. >> Oh, sorry. I thought there were the next thing was a slide. Um number four, discussion of policy updates from taskb. >> This is just an information item. There's one more. Uh just one different note. Uh there is one policy I presented that um Mark Mr. Goule actually let me know that we should not update that policy. So it will not be in the policy update uh for 18. Uh he said that um his legal advice to us is that policy is okay. >> Be local there. That is the one um regarding um board operating procedures. It said our procedures are fine, but it was already posted that way. So, I wanted to I didn't want to just delete it.
142So, I just wanted to be clear to everybody why it doesn't show up next next time. Okay. The rest of these on the updates, I don't consider them incredibly substantial. A lot of them are simple things like changing the the year of election because after a while it says 2022 and that's already passed. So south but 2030 instead. >> And then so this is um is there anything else in town? >> No, this is just a reminder. I know you all can review the updates and if you have any other questions like said I don't find these to be incredibly substantive changes. These just policy updates um past policies that have been needed to be changed. Anyways, um number five, discussion of campus merger criteria. >> One more >> resolution. >> And finally, uh we
143are not here to consider a school budget or a school merger. uh what we are doing is just setting the criteria by which if we did get in a situation where a school might be underenrolled that we already have set the criteria by which I would begin to investigate whether that school needs to be closed. The idea is to get ahead of it. Uh just in the case we are a growing district but in the future and maybe 10 years from now districts grow uneven which requires changes in how we use our facility. So rather than wait for that time, uh we set some criteria and what I did is I listed the nine criteria that I would use to determine whether a campus um should be merged or not regardless. Um I cannot close
144a campus uh without coming here and speaking to you all in open session. So >> and this is just being proactive forward thinking in case that would ever happen. >> That is correct. Is there specific reason why have that forward thought? >> Well, with the lack of funding from the state, I I think people have seen in the news all over the place, campuses have been closing, my greatest fear is if the current federal immigration environment, um, even our our citizens who might speak Spanish and look like me might decide to to move. And so I'm always looking out for possible problems on the horizon. But if your enrollment dips drastically, you have to do something to address it. I am here to say I believe our enrollment is actually going to be higher than
145what we expected >> and we're going to >> but you won't pay me to keep keep an eye on the horizon just in case and to be prepared. So this is about preparedness. as a trustee that was here as we were going through the difficult conversations with an 1882, right? We didn't even have a policy to say this is what it might look like and that we have a policy to then create a partnership. So, as a trustee that's walked through that, the foresight of having this policy in place so that um it's not an emotional community discussion to just put the policy for us to be able to move forward. Um doing it at a time when there's calm um is definitely beneficial for us in our community. I could just add too is
146uh I mean we're always looking to be more transparent with the community and I think this is just another step of of uh keeping in line with that. So we are already have something in place they can reference to uh and understand why certain decisions may or may not get that. Absolutely. >> When will when will this be fleshed out? Um if you uh um well when I say flushed out, it's really about gathering data and I have like what those data points mean in the resolution itself. So I wouldn't actually go and do this work unless I begin to see something that indicates I need to be doing this work and then of course I would schedule an agenda item for me to bring it to you to look at it. So even though
147you pass this, I am not going to go out and do this. I don't think that's worth our our team's time and effort. If I do see something on the horizon that looks bad, like a funding crisis or drop a severe drop student enrollment somewhere, then I might in the big rock say, "Hey, I'm going to go ahead and do this and bring it forward for public consideration." And even then, that doesn't even mean we're talking about bing campus. That would be a discussion. It' be And you might notice too that was it number six, it's not going to be something that's going to be done in the dark. I'm going to go talk to the community that might be impacted so people will know that's happened. This isn't something I'm putting out there and
148I will go secretly figure out which campus is closed. We will be talking long before we consider it. >> All right. I think >> that's it. We just have some confirmed dates. Uh there's your date, Madison. September 24th. I'll send you a calendar invites that's board LSG date. I'm going to put it I don't know where we're going to do it because I need to talk to the technology people because I have a particular vision of what I want to try to accomplish at that meeting. That's going to be um part of our integrity instrument as you do the self evaluation. That's going to be one of the things that is on that board LSG presentation. So, I will help you make it forward, but it's all >> it'll be fun. >> Oh, well, we
149got a thumbs up for Dr. Floyd. She's still here. >> And and don't forget our next >> confirmation of the regular board meeting is August 18th. >> Oh, and by the way, we also have a two-way community engagement meeting that we're due to do. That's another thing that's on our integrity. >> Thank you. >> Um it's going to be at Mayor High School, but we need to do it in the feeder pattern. Uh we do have a school that is uh failing a couple of them. They're within the mayor high school fear pattern. So by having it there we have Thank you to Dr. Miss Frederric Barnett who pointed that out to me that we need to have it on the campus. And now go forward. There it is. >> Okay. >> Next board meeting
150August 18, two weeks from now. Stay tuned. >> Ready to launch the year. I'll have some student number. >> Awesome. >> All right. Any other last words? >> Does anybody want to adjourn or I will call a motion. >> Does anybody want to >> No, they all want to stay here. >> Okay. >> I I move that we Madam President Madame President I move that we adjourn this meeting. >> I have a motion by Dr. Thomas to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 p.m. I have a second from Trusty Howard. All those in favor say yes. Yes. 70 adjourn at 8:11 p.m. Thank you.