001Testing. Testing. Hello. Are you able to hear us? Yeah. Can y'all hear me? Yes, sir. I just heard you right now. Loud and clear. Are you able to hear us loud and louder? Yes. Thank you. Okay, perfect. And so the actual meeting will start at 5:30, but we just start the stream 30 minutes early just to let it run. So if you want to, you can go ahead and go on mute and we'll go on mute as well. Okay, perfect. I may actually leave and come back if that's all right. Sorry. I'm sorry. So I may leave and come back if that's all right. Oh yeah. Yes, sir. That's fine. Okay. Thanks. Perfect. Thank you. Just wanted to test it out. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Uh-huh. >> Bye. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good afternoon everyone.
002Yummy. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon everyone. Can y'all hear me? >> Yes, Ross. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Thank you. The time is 5:30 on October 6, 2025. The meeting of the Midland Independent School District Board of Trustees is now duly open for any business or any matters which may be properly present presented. Call the RO to order. There is a quorum. There's four board members present. Angel Hernandez is missing. Sarah Burlson's missing and Tommy Bishop's missing. Uh agenda item number three, public forum. We have two speakers and the vice president will >> Vanessa Valleos. Did I say that right? >> Close. >> Sorry. >> Apologize. Then Miss Coleman, you'll be next. >> What's that? >> I can just come. >> Okay, cool. Good evening. First, my heart goes out to the South
003Elementary families. What happened there is a tragedy and I do stand with those all of those demanding justice. Tonight, you are considering termination of a principal which acknowledges that campus leadership does in fact bear responsibility. But how does the district decide who is held accountable when students are harmed? At South accountability has managed to reach the principal's office, but at the very same time, the assistant principal was simply allowed to quietly retire. Parents and community members are right to be asking why. At Abel Junior High, when my son was home during an incident, serious enough that law enforcement, including MISD police, became involved, the district's response was very different. Instead of holding the sitting and current principal accountable for her failure of leadership in mishandling the situation, the district shifted blame to an assistant principal
004who is already not going to return. That is not accountability. That's rewriting the story depending on who the leader is. This raises a larger question. Who in the superintendent's office decides best you which principles or assistant principles are held responsible, which are shielded, and which are simply allowed to walk away. Accountability does not stop at the campus doors. It extends to these offices. And when it's applied inconsistently, how can any parent trust that student safety really is the priority? The truth is when less tragic cases are handled with the seriousness they deserve, bigger tragedies like what happened at South can be prevented. Parents around the community know what I mean. Many have raised concerns when their children were harmed, bullied, or mistreated only to see their complaints brushed aside, minimized, or ignored. And some parents
005don't even know what they don't know because as experience has shown and as the South Elementary tragedy has put on glaring display, transparency and communication are not MISD's strong point. We have watched principles and district leaders protect themselves instead of protecting our children. So we must wonder, will Id hold all leadership accountable consistently or will it keep you writing the story to protect those in power? >> You're done. because you cannot rewrite the story and call it justice. >> Thank you. >> Next, >> Miss Coleman. >> I don't hear. Will it move >> this keyboard? just going to turn you off. >> All right. Well, good evening MISD board. Um, Dr. Howard, I'm Brandon Hodgees. Um, I am Evony Coleman, founder of Jumpstar Mittland. We are deeply saddened by the circumstance and situation that brings
006us here tonight. Initially, there was a statement made from MISD. We were confused at first. The district said it reported the incident immediately. Later it said it was un um unsure unaware until news broken. Both cannot be true. How do we prevent this from happening again? What clear transparent process can we put in place to ensure this doesn't happen again? First, I would like to thank Dr. Howard and her team for clearing the air this morning during our quarterly meeting about the facts and the details around how this was reported and whether there were certified teachers in the class. It's a relief to know that it was reported accordingly and there were certified teachers in those classroom. There are still questions as how we handle situations like this. Although we are here to discuss the
007termination of a principal, accountability is a must. It need to be discussed at district level. This isn't about one classroom. It is about a systemic failures and oversight and accountability and our special friends and all students cannot be shortch changed. Jumpstart is here to ensure parents have a voice in every conversation. jumpst start calls on the board to trigger immediate certification audits and establish transparent reporting and parent oversight so that this never happens again. Thank you. >> I like your shoes. >> Thank you. Moving on to agenda item four, action items eight, consideration and possible action to approve the recommendation of the superintendent as presented to send us a proposed termination of term contract for good cause to Cynthia Rodriguez. Miss Garcia, how are you doing? >> Good, sir. How are you? Good afternoon, President
008Hodes and members of the board. In your board packet, you have documentation that supports the district's cause for proposed termination. At this time, the superintendent recommends that the board of trustees approve for the president of the board to send Cynthia Rodriguez notice of the proposed termination of her term contract pursuant to section 21.211 of the Texas Education Code and Board Policy DFBA legal. >> Anybody have any questions? A motion to approve as presented. Second. It has been motioned and seconded to approve action or agenda item four action item eight consideration of possible action to approve the recommendation of the superintendent as presented to send notice of proposed termination of term contract for good cause to Cynthia Rodriguez. All those in favor raise your right hand. So that closes business. We have a motion to adjurnn.
009>> I move to adjurnn. Second. There's been motion and seconded that this meeting of the Midland Independent Board of Trustees meeting on October 6 be adjourned. The time is 5:38. All those in favor, raise your right hand. So move. Meeting adjourned 5:38.