001Now it is attention Kmart shoppers. Hey weekend mics. So, just a heads up, once we turn them on, they'll be on. Okay. What you doing? My phone. Lord have mercy. I felt it and I was like, that's not my phone. See this, man? They're stealing my phone. of all people. You're going to have to tell uh Jason about how are you doing? Good. Um just doing pretty good just to give you these good man. How you doing? What's going Tucker, what did you do yesterday? Anything good? Didn't cook out. I did. Hello. Attention Kmart shoppers. Pretty good. How you doing? How you doing? Pretty good. Yourself? Good. Two minutes. Did you hear what I didn't hear? It's not a bad idea. [Music] that it's all rich people. [Music] The time is now noon on May
00227th, 2025. The meeting of the middle and independent board of trustees is now open for business or any transactions which may be properly presented. Uh we are a quorum. Uh verification of compliance with open meeting law. This is certified that the pro provisions of section 551.01 of the Texas government code have been met in connection with public notice of this meeting. Our first item of business today is public comment. We have two speakers to serve. Mr. My first uh speaker will be Lauren Ramos speaking on Young Women's Leadership Academy. Miss Ramos. Good afternoon, members of the board and President Hodes. My name is Lauren Ramos and I'm a rising senior at the Young Women's Leadership Academy. I noticed that out of district travel is on the board agenda today and I am one of the
003students that this agenda will be impacting. I will be going to Iowa to compete in the national speech and debate competition in Lincoln Douglas debate and I'm here today to let you know what that competition means to me. Speech and debate is an extremely powerful educational tool where students research complex topics like international and domestic policy or constitutional rights. They craft persuasive cases and defend them under pressure. It teaches logic, strategy, public involvement, and communication. For me, debate is more than just an extracurricular activity. It is my passion. I've spent my freshman, sophomore, junior, and now senior year pouring my time, effort, and energy into becoming a better speaker so I can become more competitive at tournaments. Each competition is the result of months of preparation, hundreds of pages of research, hours of case writing
004and practice rounds, and deep dives into both sides of every topic so that I'm ready for anything that my opponents throw at me. That work has paid off. I've placed second and third at UIL State, first place at several regional competitions, and took first place at our national qualifier, earning one of only three spots to represent our district on a national stage. But beyond trophies and rankings, debate has given me something far more important. Skills that shape who I am. I've learned how to communicate clearly, listen carefully, and advocate for the things that I believe in with logic and confidence. I've developed a deep respect for civic discourse and decorum. How to tr how to disagree without disrespect, how to engage with complexity, and how to stay grounded under pressure. Those are lessons that I
005carry with me every single day. Not just in around, but in the classroom, in conversations, and eventually into my future college and career. Competing at nationals would help me to grow even more and be surrounded by some of the greatest minds in the country and the globe. I've gone to nationals twice before in public forum, but this will be my first time competing in Lincoln Douglas. This year, I hope to not just compete, but to break into out rounds and climb the bracket. This year is going to be an incredibly valuable experience. Only the top three in our district get the chance to go per division. But this year, three YBA students have earned this honor. Me and a public forum team consisting of Sunjana and Anji Vadla. This trip would open doors to new
006perspectives, elite competition, and a significantly stronger college application. More importantly, it allows us to proudly represent MISD on a national platform. Overall, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to consider my request. This trip means a lot to me, not just because of the chance to compete, but because it is a chance to keep on doing the thing that I love at the highest level that I can do it at. I put in the work, and I'm excited to see where it takes me. Thank you again for your consideration. Thank you. Congratulations. Well done. Next speaker. Our next speaker is Reagan no speaking on public comment. I've been asked to uh speak on behalf of uh some parents from Coleman High School whose students did not get to walk the stage. Um on May 13th,
007the board received an email from a parent asking the board to allow their daughter to walk the stage. or the TEA's decision to hold on to test scores was a decision that this board and this president could have given relief to their constituents, these parents, and more importantly, the children you serve. You announced this meeting because you pulled the traveling from the board policy at last Tuesday night's meeting. Although, Mr. Hajes, you refused to postpone that vote on each item on that new board policy individually. This not only shows that you can announce a meeting when notified of potential adverse consequences for our own students through no fault of their own, but also illustrates the irony of the leadership of this board. Uh you have voted on each item. You could have voted on each
008item on that board policy individually. You could have held a board meeting after being notified that the release of star scores was going to keep some of our students from walking the stage. Many of you campaigned and many of your mailers said to voters, "Keep Austin out of our schools." You let down the graduates from Coleman High School and allowed Austin to ruin the opportunity to walk on the stage with their friends. No one is advocating that they get a diploma without meeting their grad requirements, including testing. The state does allow course completers to walk the stage. Board policy determines whether to accept that allowance. Many districts have allowed that for many years, even when test scores were released on time. I'm asking the board to amend their policy to state that course completers be
009able to walk the stage if the state releases test scores after the date of graduation. Do the right thing this time. Thank you. Moving on to next agenda item, the action item A, discussion of and request for approval of out of state student travel. Miss Piles, how are you? Good. Thank you, President Hodes. Members of the board, I'm here today to be in compliance with new policy FMG local. We have six organizations traveling over the next few weeks that we are asking for approval for those trips to be approved. We have LHS Rebel Speech and Debate traveling to De Moine, Iowa. We have Taffy traveling to Orlando, Florida. Legacy High School FFA Barbecue Team will be headed to Kansas City. AEL Robotics team will be traveling to Long Beach, California. Midland High Orchestra traveling to
010New York and Young Women's, as you heard, also traveling to De Mo, Iowa. So, I would we are asking for approval for those trips. Have a motion. I'm up to approve. Second. It's been motioned and second this board vote and approve action item or agenda item four action item A discussion of and request for approval of out of state student travel. All those in favor raise your right hand. It's unanimous. Motion passes. Thank you. Congratulations to all the students that will be traveling. Well done. Well earned. We have some motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. It's been motioned and second and we this meeting the middle independent board of trustees meeting 102. All the favor raise hand. this meeting. Thank you. You guys going out to eat or