001I called this meeting of the, the Mesquite Independent School District Board of Trustees to order. Let the record show that a quorum of board members is present. This meeting has been duly called. And that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance to Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551. Good morning everyone. Early in the morning. Love it. With that, let me start. We have just a couple of items today. We're going to go over. The first one will be an action item to approve administrative contracts coordinator, the special education coordinator. So before we talk about people or anything, I will take, a vote. On. Okay. There's a motion by Mr. Seward. Second by Miss Collier. To approve the administrative contract for the special ed coordinator with that Doctor Fields. All those in
002favor, please indicate by saying aye. Opposed? Same sign. Ayes have it. Motion carries. And it is 730 in the morning. Yes it is. Thank you so much, President Cavo. Doctor Morse, will you please approach the podium and let us know who just joined our team? Yes. Doctor Sherry Price is actually stuck in traffic, so she's running a few minutes late. So, I did want to let you all know that, but Doctor Sherry Price joins Mesquite I-s-d as special education coordinator, bringing 25 years of experience in public education. Most recently, Doctor Price has been leading special populations work at KIPP Texas, coaching special education managers and facilities facilitating statewide professional learning communities focus on inclusion. She previously served in multiple roles for Dallas I-s-d, including reading intervention teacher, campus instructional coach, instructional specialist, and assistant principal.
003For two years, she served as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for a local charter school. She also spent time in teaching and instructional roles at De Soto ISD in Fort Worth ISD. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Computer Information Systems from Grambling State University, a master of Education in Educational Administration, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. All right. Thank you. Very good. Most hopefully she'll come in, maybe before we finish. So we'll be able to congratulate her again. Next item on the agenda is an administrator item administration item. To adopt all orders related to the May 2nd, 2026 special trustee election. You have, the documentation this again, we will be contracting with the Dallas County Elections Department to conduct our election as part
004of the country countywide, joint election. All the voting centers and all that information will be published, as part of the calendar. And then, and we recommend approval of all all the orders relating to the special election, special school board, trustee election. Then anybody have any questions? Any comments? What are we. My understanding is if we're adding a fourth election to the fourth position to the election. That's correct. Are there any other options? Yeah. Than putting it on the ballot? No. At this point I within that, we have a, a board member that has decided to to resign. And, we have we have options. We always have. Absolutely. And our options, one is to appoint and one is to. One is to, put that position up for, for election. I remember when I came to my
005second time around, there was an open position instead of, appointing. The board decided to open the position, and I ran for election. That's my last open position we had. We appointed, the last open position we had, we appointed. Yes we did. That's how we got the board. Yep. And that was, after. Is it not open for discussion this time? Well, we can discuss it. I have no problems with that. Of course. I mean, the last conversation I had with with Miss Hornsby was that she was going to retire or step down after graduation. Okay. Apparently, she did so a week ago. I didn't receive any notification of that. That's still her desire to get out of my job. And I'm not gonna take away from your moment what she have planned. I. I feel like
006there's been some decisions made that are board decisions that have already been made without the entire board's input. Well, my thoughts on the election are is my thoughts are that I just I do not feel comfortable with the budget cycle that we're in in the middle of a bond program, putting this district at risk of turning over an entire majority of the board in one day. We have a lot going on in there. We've got our election cycle set up to prevent that, and I think that's a risk. That's not needed at this time. Mr. Chairman, I respect Eddie's, comments. I think it's more appropriate for this open position to be placed on the ballot. Mr. president, I also respect Mr. Rose's comments, but, we've been through this several times different ways. And at this
007time, I think it's more appropriate for this community for us to put this on the ballot and allow our citizens to make that decision. And I understand that there will be four of us up for that position or four positions, but that's always a risk within the school district anyway. And I think it's fair to the community that we put this on the ballot. I don't think that's what he's saying about I don't think he's saying it's about the community not having a say in it. And I think he's saying that there were decisions made without acknowledgment. That's what he's saying. That's what he said. He doesn't. Community has three opportunities to put names on the ballot. I don't know that it's necessary to add a fourth at this time, considering the amount that's on
008our plate. I think that we could either vacate the position or at least appoint somebody that's been involved with the budget Committee or the bond committee. We can find somebody that be willing to fill the spot for a year. Whoever runs in this spot in four spots can turn around and run an election again a year. That's a lot to ask of anybody in the community, because, you know, it's expensive and it's emotional and it's draining. We've all been through it. I just, I that's my opinion on it. Well anything else. If the discussion is over, I move to adopt our orders relating to the May 2nd, 2026 special Trustee election. Is there a second, second? Okay. I will make a comment to answer some of your questions. First of all, we had three positions
009up this year. Regardless. Second. This fourth position that has come open. It was a decision of a board member to step down. We are elected officials. We serve at the pleasure of the citizens that are like this. But if for any reason we feel we have to step down, there is no rule that says that we can't step down. This is a personal decision, and I have to respect that and abide by it. And as president of this board, I have to respect that decision from the board member who decided to step down. Yes. Now we have four positions open. I understand that, or for positions that we're going to vote on. But I love the Mesquite community. I've always trusted the Mesquite community. I know that we're going to have board members that are
010going to care for the Mesquite I-s-d, and with that, I have to trust that the citizens will do the right thing. So that's that's what I'm leaning towards. I think, it's a good sign of trust when we put the position out there for vote and that we're sending the correct message. Instead of appointing somebody this time. Mr. president, we are. Are we in discussion stage? Yeah. I just wanted to add a comment. I will tell you that I'm the one that pushed that we have something on the agenda so we can discuss this. This opened up the opportunity for discussion. There hadn't been any decision until this board votes tonight or this morning this morning. So this was put on here specifically to not keep it from hanging on for the next month or two,
011to go ahead and have a discussion, have it that you have put something on the agenda. And so by putting this on here, this allowed this discussion this morning and let the decision fall where it falls. At that point, this board could decide we're going to have to fill it with a special order, or we're going to decline it and then have discussions about appointment or leave it vacant. I don't think by law we can leave it banking vacant. If it's over a year, but I'd have to clear clear that with the attorney. But that's why I asked for this, to make sure that we had it on the agenda. If we were going to have this meeting for the contract for the new, the coordinator. And that's why we put that on here. Thank
012you. And I do want to make a point clear. Before our last meeting, I spoke to all the board members, and after the decision was made, a reservation received. I call the board members, those that I couldn't contact. I left a message, and I didn't get a calls back. So I'm going to be clear, and I'm doing my due diligence. Because that's my role. That's my responsibility to you guys. With that said, there's a motion by Mr. River, a second by Mr. Seward. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I. I'm not one opposing motion. Okay, I just have it. Motion carries. Thank you very much, board members. I appreciate it. With that, that's for the public. Oh. All right. I believe is my sherry price is in. Would you introduce her to. Price.
013If you guys like you better. Yes. Thank you. Doctor price, we're very. We're very excited to meet you. And happy to welcome you to Mesquite ISD. Sorry you missed the introduction, but we're so glad we're able to see you this morning. So, should we take a reconsider it since she was late? No pressure. Yes. Well, thank you for being here to do that. It is with that, accepting a motion to adjourn. So moved. Thank you very much for being here this morning.