NISD Board Meeting 1-20-2026

001Please stand as I will lead us in the invocation and pledges of allegiance. Almighty and merciful God, we ask your guidance and blessings upon this board, students, parents, patrons, teachers, and administrators as we are assembled here this evening or yes, in the common pursuit of this great nation's wealth, our children. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. >> Thank you. The time is 60:01 and the meeting will now be officially called to order. Good evening and welcome to this first meeting of 2026 at the North Side Board of Trustees. Before

002we call our first agenda item, the board would like to take just a moment to briefly review some of our rules for conducting our meeting. The order of business for this meeting is set out in the agenda. One item that you're going to notice is the consent agenda that includes items considered routine of recurring nature. All of the items listed under the consent agenda will be acted upon in one motion. If there's a consent agenda item that anyone here would like to address, please sign up to speak to that item and then we will pull it from the consent motion and discuss it separately. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct board business and for that reason it is held in public. It's not a public forum but we do provide the opportunity for

003audience participation. If there is anyone in um wishing to address the board regarding citizens to be heard agenda items, you have to sign up prior to the start of the meeting. And if there's anyone who'd like to address the board during an agenda item, we ask that you please complete that signup sheet and indicate the agenda item you would like to address. The signup sheets are located at the entrance of this room. And so we don't overlook anyone who would like to speak to the board. We'll review the rules for addressing the board later in that meeting. And if there's anyone here that would like to sign up for an agenda item or citizens to be heard and has not already done so, please let us know. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move to

004our first agenda item, which is recognitions, which is a wonderful way to start this new year. >> Yes, Madam President, uh members of the board, uh we have a some very, very special recognitions this evening. Uh so we're going to go ahead and kick things off with the North Side Citizenship Award. Um, we're here tonight, like I say, uh, to recognize one of our very own parents and community members, uh, here in the district that has really gone above and beyond, particularly, uh, what we consider normal day scope of volunteer activities. And so, uh, to kind of give you an idea of the the North Side Citizenship Award, we've had previous recipients, uh, honored, uh, that have performed CPR on, uh, an individual during our NE 5K run, a group of high school students that

005actually came to the aid of a real estate agent that was in uh, significant distress, uh, a hobby student who came to the rescue of a four-year-old who fell uh, in the river at Pernali's Falls Park. uh a bus driver who went on a route, saw a car below a bridge, and was able to aid a woman trapped in a car that uh had gone off the off the roadway. So, that kind of gives you an idea of the meaning um of this particular award. So, tonight will be the 25th time that we have given uh this award. Uh and we consider it again in high regards, in fact, the highest of regards uh in North Side as as far as the prestige of the award. John Gomez is an exceptionally dedicated parent volunteer at

006Aught Elementary School. Uh serving actively on the PTA and leading the campus watchd dogs program. Uh he is on the campus each and every day and I can tell you I've seen it firsthand myself. Um he supports our students, our teachers, our staff in countless ways. uh his commitment to the school community was very evident on December 12th uh when he made a truly uh lifechanging difference in a child's life while assisting in the cafeteria uh during the student lunches. And if you kind of have any idea uh there's a lot of uh mustard and and uh ketchup packets to be cut um especially with the the little ones. Um, but he noticed that several students were urgently calling uh for for assistance. Uh, a fourth grade student was choking and unable to speak or

007breathe. And so the students sitting nearby noticed and began yelling to Mr. Gomez uh to grab his attention. Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Gomez rushed into uh and assist the student immediately by performing the Heimlick maneuver. uh his swift and confident and decisive action successfully dislodged the obstruction and allowed the student to breathe again. Uh there is absolutely no question uh that not only a heroic act but absolutely saving uh this child's life. Um as the student began breathe normal normally uh and the danger had passed the entire cafeteria erupted in applause. Students cheering with relief and gratitude for that their friend was safe. Um, so without further ado, our 2026 North Side ISD Citizenship Award uh is to be awarded to Mr. John Gomez and thank you so much for your service and [applause]

008volunteers. The trustees will join me uh in front of the dascis [applause] Thank you so much. You >> want your family? there. Yes. Yes. Yes. >> She's traditional. >> She's said she's from baby. [applause] I'm honored to receive this award, but I think you mentioned her. >> I was I think God put me there, right? I was in the right place at the right time. Not necessarily a great situation, but um it's because of and support. So they're super supportive of the watch program and the PTA and I just want to say thank you for fostering an environment of development and really appreciate it. And I really I really hope that if anybody and you haven't done so, please. [applause] >> What a great >> That's awesome. >> That's the marketer. >> Yeah. So, it's

009it's very exciting. come up with the names. >> Dr. He's on the phone. >> Yeah, he's here. >> No, he went to go. >> I do want to thank our partnerships office for these goodie bags that were given to us. Um, thank you for this. This is amazing for our board appreciation month. We really appreciate the goodie bags. So, I just want to thank y'all. >> Yeah. And our our partnership uh office also uh provided presented Mr. Gomez, a small token of appreciation. Um, uh, Mr. Gomez obviously just a a tremendous tremendous individual. Um, but he mentioned we also want to recognize the principal of a Maline Bueno and associate principal Alysa Deagarsa. Uh, so thank you guys. So they just they just they're sneaking out. I completely understand. So [applause] >> but thank you

010guys for being with us as well. So, as you probably uh have been notified, uh January is uh designated as board appreciation month. And so, we felt like this would be the ideal time uh to really uh focus our um accolades to our very own trustees that play such an important role in supporting everything we do across the the district. Um, I know that we uh try to make an effort to show our demonstrate our appreciation every month, but January, like I say, is that designated uh month. This year's Texas Association of School Board's theme is our future is public. Um, and US board members, you provide that absolute leadership and role in your role of uh articulating just that. So, tonight [snorts] there are several uh individuals and organizations that would like to recognize

011you and really thank you for helping our students and staff be successful. And so, I'd like to start uh by asking our very own PTA Council President Candy Balman uh to please come forward. Uh I know that you've got your council uh with you, the largest in the state of Texas. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So, thanks for being with us. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Craft and the Board of Trustees. On behalf of the North Side Council PTAs, we extend our sincere appreciation to the North Side Board of Trustees for your dedicated service and leadership. Your commitment to student success, family engagement, and educational excellence strengthens our schools and our entire community. We are grateful for the time, the care, and the thoughtful decision making you provide on behalf of

012the North Side students. The partnership between PTA and the board is vital to building strong, trusting relationships between schools, families, and the community we serve. PTA plays a critical role in connecting families, educators, and leaders to advocate for the well-being and success of every child. PTA values the collaboration we share as we work together to support every child's potential. Thank you for your continued service and for championing the mission of public education in North Side ISD. Now, this is from all the board. One last note, I want to tell you about the book that you received. That's our gift. It's a children's book with your favorite color as your bookmark. If you look inside, as long as I could get it, a couple of you maybe didn't have that, but it's a reminder. It's a

013reminder that PTA makes every child's potential a reality. And every time you read a book, please use that and remember PTA. Uh we chose this book because the unconditional PTA love and support like the like the trees per pure devotion and willingness to give everything to the boy's happiness in the book. If you haven't read it, it's a good read. So that's what PTA does too in and so enjoy the book and may you always remember PTA. >> Thank you. [applause] Well, again, thank you, Miss Bowman. Thank you to the entire council. Um, it amazingly enough, and I know they'll provide a report, but uh they're just or were just, uh, 200 members shy of 26,000 members. It's already done. All right. Congratulations. >> So, we appreciate your your continued support. >> Uh, next, we'd

014like to recognize uh Lindy and Lily. I believe uh they're going to present on behalf of the education foundation. Uh so we'd like to invite them uh forward to the to the podium. Um come on come on forward. And Jerry, sorry Jerry Hamner. [laughter] >> Thank you. Thanks Jerry. >> Yes. Our president Lilia had to drive in from Houston and the traffic was really bad. So I will be speaking on behalf of all of the um foundation and just a word of thanks to our um wonderful board of trustees as uh Jerry Lamers will present later. There's a lot of amazing things happening that we could not do absolutely could not do without your support and the support of North Side ISD. um the what you allow us to do as as he'll uh show

015you has put us in a place that we'll be able to support um ongoing for years. So, thank you very very much. So, today's gift as if y'all know in the foundation we like to keep things a little bit, you know, kitschy and fun and I like a good play on words. So, you will get some Nef swag today, but as well because the theme is unstoppable, you will get a door stop that has unstoppable on there as a reminder as a thank you um for holding the doors open for our kids and helping them be unstoppable. >> Thank you. Very nice. >> Thank you. Jerry, thank you. Uh you're you're you're a great fill in. We won't tell Lilia. >> Thank Thanks so much, Terry. And like I say, we appreciate y'all's continued support

016as well. So, we say this all the time. Uh and again, we definitely don't take it for granted. Uh North Side is so very, very fortunate to have board members that are so supportive. Um I'm sorry, >> museum. >> Oh, I apologize. Did I skip ahead? I apologize. The museum association is also here to present uh you with a token of appreciation. I completely apologize. That was my mistake. So please uh let me uh please join me in in uh welcoming Linda um to the podium like uh with the museum association. I apologize Linda. >> And thank you Maxine's also in the audience. Appreciate you and all you do. I'm Linda Leak and I'm president of the North Side School Museum Association. On behalf of the organization, we want to thank you for your support

017um of the North Side Museum Association. You allow us to maintain the history and culture of the North Side Independent School District for future generations. We do various functions during the year including uh making historical presentations at campuses, books for babies for our school age parenting program. We award uh teacher grants. We did three last year. We just uh finished giving five awards. So we do we continue to be involved as part of the the support. We have some very good educators on with our group. So, um, on behalf, we wish to present these gifts in appreciation for your dedication and commitment to the students, faculty, and staff of the North Side Independent School District. Thank you. >> Thanks, Linda. [snorts] [laughter] >> I apologize. >> Very nice. Cute little pets. Thank you. [laughter] >>

018Well, again, thank you to the museum association, uh Maxine, Linda, Dr. Warley, uh you guys are also just so so supportive. Um so again for the past 76 years we have uh truly benefited from having just tremendously supportive uh board members and um this board is is absolutely no exception. Uh your selflessness and the number of hours you spend in meetings and attending events um really is uh second to none. There's really not another including councils and all kinds of other volunteer opportunities. There's really not anything that compares in regards to the amount of time you spend. Um, you know, being active in your community, attending the numerous events across our campuses, and advocating uh for North Side students is truly what our board of trustees takes great pride in. Uh, our board provides the

019vision and leadership uh to our district as their uh in their roles as advocates. uh and they continue to stand up for public education and guard against anything that may uh infringe upon uh our ability to be able to provide these opportunities to students. Uh you are truly our biggest advocates, our biggest cheerleaders. Um and so uh the message of conveying we are all in on public education is just that and you do that and say that and articulate it everywhere you go. So uh we wanted to also uh provide uh a gift and we didn't want to pass up on this opportunity as a again small uh token of our appreciation uh and as we move forward and support the next generation of students to come. So before you I think you probably uh

020have seen if you remember last year we provided a book that was ready set lead. Uh this year we're adding to the children's book library with a book that goes uh with our unstoppable theme. The book is Unstoppable Me: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> And then you may have noticed uh the potted plants in front of you. >> [snorts] >> Um these are um also uh symbols of the seeds that you help plant uh that lead to our students success. Uh now interesting enough the pots were painted by our very own students from our reic center uh and the plant uh is from the students of our ASTA program uh which we were just discussing earlier today. asked actually just opened uh their uh store uh associated with the

021Yeah. So um so our floral design uh design like say the plants uh let me tell you a little bit about the the uh potted uh or the pot that was painted. Uh these were some very very uh special students. Um it's a it's actually a tactile activity that was created collaboratively with our medically fragile uh little bucks. Um, and so these are our age uh three uh through 8th grade students, like I say, that are uh some of our most medically fragile. Um, and um, like I say, each student was able to help place a tactile letter um, hand underhand onto the pot, creating something really, really special for you both. Ironically enough, the pot that you just held up, um that is the same student that provided me a character character uh last

022year um by one of the Reic students and just does an absolute awesome awesome job. >> Thank you very much. >> Again, um uh this is again a small token of appreciation but very also symbolic symbolic uh token of appreciation. And so, um, thank you, uh, to your tremendous service, uh, to, uh, all that you do to support students like our students at Reddics and so many other, uh, um, uh, campuses across the school district. Uh, your hard work and dedication and really volunteerism does not go unnoticed. So again, happy board appreciation month and thank you for all you do. >> Thank you very much. [snorts] These are amazing gifts. >> Mrs. Freeman. >> I just just um I know that kind of humbled, but uh we have PTA, our museum association, and um the

023foundation presenting us gifts, and I got to tell you, [snorts] we couldn't do what we do in North Side without you all. Um you all provide so much in the way of um services for for the district and um for the benefit of the students. So, we thank you, too. >> Thank you. Um, yes. >> We want to thank you guys also for all the hours that you you all put in to make North Side shine now more than ever. It's been a very challenging year in education and for a district that's been around for so long. We need that quality of folks like you, like every one of you that shows up to every board meeting to our cabinet. I mean, this is a really a team effort. There's no eye here. Um, from

024the newest board members that are really trying to get acquainted with our district and try to really be that voice to represent all of our constituents, we really want to just thank you because without you, we wouldn't be here, but also this district wouldn't be where it's at. From all of those folks that are now retiring, thank you all for the those that are retiring. We wish he weren't, but those new folks coming on board, paving that way and setting up um their own legacy of um professional dedication to our district. Um we want to be around for another hundred years. That's our goal in public education. So, thank you all for all that you all do to make us look good. Thank you. >> That is all right. So now we have our second

025item on the agenda which are reports by the North Side Education Foundation annual report. >> So I think Jerry and Terry are going to uh [laughter] present a little bit different report uh this this round. >> So uh good evening um Madame President members of the board. Dr. Craft. So I'm here today as board secretary for the North Side Education Foundation to give you your our annual report. Um the slide uh next slide please Monica. So this is our uh report of our finances. You'll see that we're comparing year 2324 to 2425. 2425 is our current year. We've improved our fundraising for from 477,348 to 535,426. So that's quite of an improvement. Almost every category we've improved uh with the exception of the clay shootute and uh uh the three at the bottom are the

026incidental earnings that that actually we're no longer going to be doing because the bricks on the plaza have gotten more expensive than the district is selling them for. Giving Tuesday we're simply not raising enough money at that event to make it worthwhile. I think that $500 came from a single donor actually. Um and then the theme park tickets we are discontinuing because it takes more staff time to manage the tickets than we actually get an income from them. Um but it still shows you that we've exceeded uh the previous year's numbers. Other uh donations are have gone up. Our endowment has increased from 6.8 to 7.3. Now part of that is due to the investment. you know every it's invested in stocks and bonds and uh money markets. So in the as it has gone

027up in the last uh six months our endowment has gone up and we are having a strategy in place which I'll talk about in a minute to start uh distributing that endowment back to um the foundation so we can distribute it in grants. Um uh our grants are essentially the same every year. We are going to look at that um uh as I will talk about in the next slide. So our high points for this year as I mentioned our pillar recognation um profit has increased by $50,000. Our annual giving which is essentially um the staff giving to the foundation has been increased by $20,000 this past year. our community uh uh support has increased and that's really due to Terry's initiative with the Neth Knights at the football games which is was very successful.

028Um and then as I mentioned uh we're going through a process in fact we met earlier today uh to start to think about uh both how much money we're giving away through grants and to try to keep up with inflation because that has been flat over the c I mean our the amount we give away has been flat over the couple years last couple of years. So now we need to increase it because obviously if we're given a teacher grant what it was worth 3 years ago, uh what it cost her to him him or her to stack uh to um uh to uh take care of their classroom has gone up in the last 3 to 5 years. So we're going to take a look at that and also our resource and innovation grants.

029Um, as I mentioned earlier, we are going our finance committee is going through a process now to see how um the original goal of the endowment was to to allow us to um endure down years, but the past five years have been incredibly successful thanks to our generous donors. So now we're going to look for a process that that money can be the endowment can be paid back to the foundation itself. Um that's it for the highlights. Then the last slide is the board members. You can see who's on the on the board this year. We're very pleased to have added Dr. Woods to our directorship this past year. So um we look forward to his involvement. So that's my report for the North Side Education Foundation. And if you all have any question, I'd

030be glad to. >> I just want to comment uh again credit to the foundation because you meet year round. You meet and you have a retreat. you lead all of the big events that we have that are fundraising that take a lot of work. I mean, working every game is a lot of work, but also your board members were a few um were able to show support and um Terry, I just I'm really impressed by everything that you're doing. Um and the um positivism, I think that makes a difference when you have folks that love >> giving back and even at the nef or run or crawl. [laughter] >> Yeah. And that's >> that was a lot of fun. So, I know that we're trying to find innovative ways to ask for folks to support,

031but I think what says the most and tells the best story is that your own employees are are giving back out of their own money because they see that the work that you're doing is is valid and that it's real, it's authentic, and it goes right back to the schools. So, uh continue to donate, continue if you see an opportunity, share with our partnership, share with um Terry if you know anyone that says, "Hey, I'd love to give to you." say yes and then let us know how we can support you in building that connection and that partnership with our school district cuz there's a lot of amazing businesses in our district and I wish we could like tap into all of those. So, thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah, >>

032Miss Dr. Hassel, >> hi. Um, y'all are doing an amazing job like without a doubt like the numbers up there are very much reflective of the hard work that you all put into it. So, I just want to start off with that. Um, I'm a big Giving Tuesday fan just because I'm a competitive person. Um, so I just didn't [laughter] know if you all have thought of partnering either like with our board or with like your own board. Um, because I feel like Giving Tuesday really helps or individuals that don't know so much about North Side really get an opportunity through their friends and family. Um, but also just didn't know and I don't know the kind of setup of it of like partnering with the high schools or with the schools to have their

033own like Giving Tuesday team to be able to fundra for their schools and then that money can go back to the schools. Don't know the setup of that. Just like I'm a naturally competitive person when it comes to things and so it's just I'm a I understand Giving Tuesday isn't giving back the return. I completely get that. So just some ideas of if that's anything that you know cuz in previous boards that I've been on big Giving Tuesday is big because it really connects each board member's community to the organizations they love so much and so it's a great opportunity for individuals to give their story as to why they give to North Side and then it helps the their connection know that they feel that these this is where their money goes and this

034is also a great organization for other individuals and really keeps them connected. And then the great thing about it is then every year you send them something like, "Hey, don't forget Giving Tuesday's coming." So, it's just another avenue. Not saying that what's going on isn't already amazing, just ideas as to if that's something that schools would be interested in or your board or inviting our board to also participate on Giving Tuesday. So, that's it. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Thank you, Jerry. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, >> Carla, one more. >> Oh, yeah. That's it. No, >> Mr. Blunt. Sorry. It was uh you talked about endowment and you sort of uh reminded me. It's just uh it's interesting you bring that up especially [clears throat] in the year that we the year years that we

035celebrate the 25th anniversary for Robba. Uh for those that may recall uh early on it was really Bunny Jean Robba that really made that we didn't believe it at the time to be honest that we'd really make it especially where we are now. You know our initial goal man we can just make a million dollars we'd be done and look where we are today. So >> it is truly amazing. It really is among some other things we did back then that well anyway the foundation did good. [laughter] The other other thing um I was going to bring up is um you know I've been fortunate I've been reading the grants for I don't know about 20 years now right >> and um we have to always remember how thankful the teachers and staff others are

036too with the the giving part of it. I mean when you read all those grants you see the needs and what they've accomplished they also put in there etc. That's truly a fascinating part of it also. Uh the one question I did have for you, I may have missed it on the slide though. Sure. How many um is it designated funds? What do we officially call them? >> Desated funds. >> Desated about how many of those areas was that that was on there because that's uh don't don't worry about the number if you don't have it exactly, but that's extremely powerful. Also, >> it's 28. >> 28. Okay. Those designated funds for certain causes, certain focus, and some some scholarships and of course solar cars and own teachers grant and some other things. Those are

037extremely powerful, too. So, so thanks to the foundation and once again everybody else here, too. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So, our next item um on our agenda is our superintendence report. Wow. >> Yes, ma'am. Madam President, again, members of the board, welcome to the first uh regular called board meeting of 2026. Um hope you all had a nice uh Christmas uh vacation break. Uh, and like I say, welcome to 2026. Uh, right before the break, we had a an opportunity uh or excuse me, as we came back from the break, we had an opportunity uh to host our former trustees and former superintendents in a lunch and and like I say, it's part of board appreciation month. It was great, I think, uh, to have some familiar faces come back and

038break bread and just uh have some good laughs and and cherish, like I say, some some memories. So, it was great to celebrate, like I say, with our our former trustees and uh superintendent. Um, as Bobby just articulated, we did celebrate right before the break uh Robba Elementary School's 25th anniversary. Um, it's hard to believe, but um, it was great to see the Robba family there. Congratulations again to Cole Bader and the entire staff at Robba. It was a just a really special celebration. Um, like I say, it was it was really unique to especially see those that uh had been so involved with the very initial uh onset of the campus opening and uh and here we are fast forward 25 years later. Pretty amazing. Um had the opportunity if if you um were

039in the glass elementary area. Uh we had a mobile STEM bus and this was a a tea initiative. It was actually really pretty cool. the the students uh were engaged in hands-on activities. In fact, um the prek class that I had the opportunity to um try to just stay out of the way um were building beantoalks um to support uh Jack. And so it was really pretty interesting to watch uh particularly like I say with this activity, the students work through the experimental scientific design. So, um, again, uh, great job to Jennifer Boach. They're they're doing, uh, some pretty tremendous work, uh, at Glass, and it was great that they were able to, like I say, host the STEM, uh, bus. Uh right before the break, you may have uh been tuned in. The city

040of San Antonio uh had the opportunity to move their election uh their general election to basically a a odd November election cycle. Uh so myself, Dr. drawn. I know uh Karen, you had been involved with uh one of the town halls I believe were pretty involved, pretty engaged uh in uh the city and that consideration in doing so. Our our biggest concern as articulated was really just the associated cost uh that we're able to share uh or have been able to historically share uh by in essence maintaining a a May odd election cycle. So, as a result of the resolution passing, they're going to be moving to, like I say, a November odd election cycle. Uh, that's going to provide a kind of a unique opportunity that's not a here and now decision. Uh but

041definitely one that the board will need to take into consideration uh in regards to do we does the board look to move their May election uh to a November odd election or a November even year uh election. Uh so we'll have the opportunity to work like say through the secretary of state uh answer any questions. I know that there'll be questions if uh that move transition were to be made uh regarding holdover doctrine, of course, policy changes and updates. Um like I say, there'll be some logistics that we'll have to work through, but I do anticipate uh we anticipate that while it's almost impossible to predict exactly what the increase in election cost will be, it it will likely be about a 30% increase is our best estimate at this point. Um so um again

042uh not having an election this May uh provides a little bit more runway. Now again we are looking at November uh in essence because if you recall with a voter approved tax ratification election it has to be held in November along with the the next uh bond. Um but then like I say for May of uh 2027 um we would have to have to just uh be prepared for like I say incurring additional cost or um uh looking at alternatives to move uh election dates. So u some more to come and then just a real quick announcement. Uh we are looking forward to our uh second annual school connect symposium uh February 3rd. We're inviting you all to join us uh at the sports gym. Uh this is at 8:30. We have about usually about

04315 to 20 campuses that bring in community partners uh and engage in this symposium. And I think that it, like I say, is an opportunity to not only collaborate with uh partners and for campuses particularly to be leadership to be able to collaborate with partners um but then also to to kind of exchange and trade uh best ideas, best practices in regards to how to garner even more community support. So again, uh February 3rd, the school connect symposium. This will be the second annual. We had about 400 in attendance last year and ended up being a pretty pretty awesome event. um free of charge and like I say uh we'd love for you to join us at 8:30 on the 3. So with that being said um uh pending any questions we do have a

044video moment. Uh some of you are familiar with uh what it entails uh receiving attaining a commercial driver's license which is a requirement for our bus drivers uh to hold to be able to drive uh our students to and from school each and every day. And again, in many cases, our drivers are so dedicated, they're the first person and in many cases the last person that our students will come into contact with uh on a daily basis. Um and so, um we put together a video that really is just an overview of truly what it takes to attain a CDL. And of course, we provide a lot of this training uh within our own transportation department. Um, but we are so thankful and appreciative also of our our bus drivers. And so we wanted to

045highlight uh their great work and accomplishments with uh this month's video moment. >> You see them every day. >> Hi. >> Getting our kids to school every morning and safely back home every day. >> But have you ever wondered what it's like to be behind the wheel of an NISD school bus? You're about to find out. Meet Rudy and Esmeralda. a small step to my right. >> Two retirees who just weren't ready to call it quits. >> Nope. Not ready. >> I guess I'm a workaholic >> and I said, I got to do something that's rewarding. >> They wanted to give it a shot and came here to the NISD transportation station and quickly found it was a lot more than just learning how to drive. >> It's a little bit more entailed than that.

046>> Training coordinator Ernie Perez says they spend the first few weeks of their training in class learning everything they need to know about commercial driving. And there are tests. >> There's five written exams that they have to pass with DPS. >> Then it's on to the big yellow bus. First, they learn about how these buses operate and how to maintain it all. Everything from checking the oil. >> So, every morning we check the engine oil, right? Make sure that it has enough oil, which has to be between the little lines >> to what the bus can see. >> Cameras are going to be located on opposite side of the bus. >> By the time they're done, they'll know this bus better than their own vehicles. >> So, the shock absorbers are right here, right >>

047from top to bottom. So, the tread wear of the tire should be no less than 43 seconds. >> All done outside. [snorts] >> It's time to finally get behind the wheel. >> According to some studies uh that we've seen, school bus drivers go through more training than any other commercial uh drivers. [snorts] >> Drivers spend hours a day for weeks learning how to drive safely. >> I didn't expect this. More intense. >> Every turn, every stop is scrutinized. >> If you're at the wheel stop, we're going to ask you to restart the test all over again. All right. practice some more. >> But don't let that scare you. Driving one of these things isn't as hard as you might think. I'm ready. >> All right, >> let's do this. >> To prove it, they even

048let me take one for a spin around the training course, if you can believe that. Now, as big as they are, they're surprisingly easy to maneuver. >> Hey guys, trust me. If I can do this, you can do this. >> When the training is done, Esmeralda and Rudy won't just be able to drive school buses. They'll have class B commercial licenses, which means they can do so much more. via transportation, charter buses, cement trucks, waste management trucks, anything class B right here. >> But the rewards go far beyond job opportunities. Just ask school bus driver Johnny Rivera. >> I didn't have to be a bus driver, but I did it because it makes me feel better. My body does to wake up early, keep moving, and it feels good. >> It's a job they can

049be proud of, and their friends and family, too. >> My kids and my grandkids are very proud of me. and >> uh thumbs up for me. [laughter] >> So again, we have like I say amazing team members uh to include our phenomenal transportation team and particularly our bus drivers. It's not easy. I I'll I'll never forget I'll I'll I'll go ahead and tattle on myself. I remember 28 years ago uh testing at the DPS office and having to come back because I failed the air bra test. So, Mr. Salceto, you probably know the air bra test, but it's kind of an important one as I learned [laughter] uh like I say that that that day. But no, we appreciate our drivers and >> the mini. >> Yeah. Yeah, it it was shortlived, but um it

050is tough. It is tough work and we so are appreciative like I say of our drivers um and the entire transportation team. So again that concludes my report pinning any questions Madam President. >> Um thank you. I think we're good. All right. So our next item on the agenda is our board members report. Do we have any any biders? Dr. Hustle. >> Hi. I just have two highlights. Um I had the privilege of going to John J um last year [snorts] and really had the opportunity to be there when Councilman Galban and Councilman Mongia um they're really looking into a pilot program there in that area which is looking at u flashing school zones during lunchtime [snorts] and so that is set to start either this month or February. So, I'm in communication with their

051offices to find out when that is the official start date for that program. Um, public works is also working with the John J staff on their entrance. Um, because if you've ever gone either in the morning or after school, um, the entrance and exit are also connected right where the crosswalk is. And so, that's a huge concern. And so, they're looking into that um to add um some additional light, some additional to that area. That of course will take more time, but that's something they're actively looking at. And then we're still awaiting a larger traffic study result and other infrastructure improvement recommendations. So that's happening at the city. Um, thanks of course to Councilman Galvan and Councilman Guria cuz I don't know if you know, but where John J is, this side is Councilman Galvan

052and this side is Councilman Gria. I look at that as a blessing because that means that they're able to use both their resources to be able to help uh come up with a solution. So super thankful for Councilman Govan and Councilman Muria who were there and then also extremely extremely thankful. Um the parents of Jose Flores III um were there with us that day um to really look at the area um to really give input and to really be part of the conversation. So I'm very thankful that they were there with us that day. [snorts] Um the second um is Salt Ross Middle School. So last year also um I was invited to a meeting with them with Alamo Colleg's trustee Gerald Lopez to really look at the school um see what resources were needed

053things like that. So, we were able to um in discussion really look at their AVID program and um because of budget cuts um they were moved to an online tutoring software and the tutors and AVID really felt that it would be more essential for them to get face-toface um contact and so through Alamo Colleg's um trustee Gerald Lopez he was able to connect them with Alamo Colleges their district office and was able to actually provide them. So, actually today was the first day that they started face-toface um tutoring there at that location. They are also piloting that. And so, they're going to see how that works out, what that looks like. That's additional funding, obviously, not additional funding on the north side, but additional funding on the Alamo Colleges side. And so, they're able to

054provide tutoring face to face Tuesdays and Thursdays to our students. And it's amazing because it's not just our students that are getting so much out of this. It's also the college students that were at one point north side students, many of them, and so they're able to give back to students that are just like them and be able to tutor them and able to really provide that. So, super thankful to um Trustee Gerald Lopez who was able to connect the school with those additional resources and pilot it out and then see what that looks like through data and see if that's something that can be expanded to other North Side schools. So, those are my two um talking points. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Blunt. >> First one is uh I think this happened since

055our last meeting, but we had a chance with our north side PTA council uh between with our north side NISD board and as that was really a great dialogue and it it's so great to see that. Um, and hopefully that will be a tradition because we both not only learn from each other what's going on per se, but really can impact students a little bit further through that through that collaboration. So, thank you all for for meeting with us again. Uh, the other one is I'm going to put a little pressure on you all, but thanks for all these books. Oh, and y'all know why I'm saying that because you know we have this competition called the great San Antonio reading challenge [laughter] and we're trying to get mentors out to every single school not

056only in uh we're concerned about North Side but uh all our surrounding area etc. And these would be some great books to uh take out and contact the librarian or the teacher at those schools and go read to those students. They're they're really I did one today matter of fact they're really waiting on that. Uh the other interesting thing that I had opportunity to do, you know, last time I know I talked a little bit about the learning tree and you know the distance and that well I had to go out and deliver the rewards and gifts to all the different districts that are part of the competition. And when you talk about greater San Antonio area, you don't know how big or how long it takes to get somewhere when you go from Lido

057to Pleasanton to shirts to um and I got to go to Gonzalez tomorrow any even I sort outside. But uh the interesting thing is one their excitement of seeing uh the initial awards we have for the the top 100. But man, I learned a lot about how their staff welcome you when you come into their district. uh you talking about uh crossing areas and safety and security. It's uh I got a little trouble today, but that's a different story, but nevertheless, we learn [laughter] I did we learned a lot. Okay. Uh so again, that great essay reading challenge, it goes to April. So So please uh everybody here find find a school and a teacher and a librarian, help out. Other program I was going to bring up um we did another juvenile justice Jeopardy

058uh with the second chance academy and we actually had uh San Antonio police department, the Delta fraternity and an attorney a private attorney uh that participated uh with the students in that and again it's a they played jeopardy game and they learned about the consequence of action. Uh again it's great to be involved with the second chance academy. Dr. Fay got a chance out to come out and see it. Our new police chief got a chance to come out and see it also. And I really want to thank Kathy Lissy. Um, again, she was the leader and the founder of that program. And then Jack Esamia and William Hamlet, man, that's a it's a challenge, but they do great as teachers uh out there. So, another great innovative program that that North side uh had

059created. Uh, two updates are n our science boat competition department national science boat competition will be February 7th. And again, that's one of the few competitions where you actually see public, private, and charter schools going up against each other uh on their science and other knowledge. So again, February 7th, we'll be having that particular competition. And then um this weekend, the Texas Education Policy Institute um hopefully the board members have heard about that. Um they'll have their conference here actually in San Antonio. It's usually in Austin area, but we've got board members and superintendents and some well-known legislators in this area and some others and and and Dr. Woods is actually heading up a couple of panels with the board members and superintendent. So So it should be a good one. Okay. And I think

060that's everything I have. >> Thank you, sir. Mrs. Zapata. >> Hi. I just wanted to um just uh give out uh a few shout outs and I know we had we were doing a lot especially during the uh Christmas holiday. There were so many concerts and and uh events that were going on. There were so many um but one in particular is the homes high school breakfast uh that we were invited to with uh from coach Badia and principal Miss Bada. It's something that they've been doing for many, many years. And I think the what was very special about it is that it's going to be the last one in that gym. And >> if anybody here knows, there's a lot of tradition in that gym. A lot of great coaches, players, games, um just

061a lot of tradition. So, I know it was uh you know, it's they were sad. They're sad to say that it was the last time they were going to have that breakfast in that gym, but they're also excited um for the new gym that's coming, right, and the new things that are um taking place. So, it that was really special just to be a part of that. Um Jefferson Middle School um advanced band winter concert was just awesome just to see those kids and how many kids were out there and all the parents that were out there to support it. It was just a beautiful thing. Um, Stevenson Middle School had a choir event just recently and their choir director, Mr. Brown, is phenomenal. Um, so I I got to see that in action. Um,

062but one of the things that I thought was pretty cool was that um they didn't have the concert in the school. They had it across the street um at Crossroads Baptist Church. And apparently the story behind that um they've been doing it for years and it's a great partnership because they have a beautiful stage and their acoustics are just great and um Mr. Brown has a great relationship with them and they welcome um the community. Come on in, use our facility, invite your parents because it it's just a the layout is beautiful, the stage is beautiful. um the kids sound great and so it's just a great opportunity. So it was really um it's awesome to see that we have those partnerships, those those true community um partnerships in our schools and our neighborhoods. So

063um just a big shout out to Pastor Dale from Crossroads Baptist Church for for doing that every year. >> Thank you, Mrs. Freeman. Thank you, Dr. Duron. Um, a couple things. One was already mentioned regarding our board appreciation um, dinner that we have for our past superintendent and past board members. Miss Gera, thank you so much for um, your work in putting that together and contacting all those people. We are truly a successful school district because of those who have gone before us and they have laid the foundation. Certainly what what happened years ago doesn't we don't look like we did at that time because we do things different. Education's always in a state of flux and in a state of change. But they have truly helped us lay the foundation. So we have that

064every year and it's great to have the opportunity to get in touch with um people that we haven't seen before and and Dr. Craft um catches them up on various things that um are going on um in in this school district. and we look to them for for their support. So, I appreciate appreciate that. Um the Robba Elementary School anniversary was was extremely wonderful. I I had an opportunity to talk to um the family members as Mr. Blunt said um he mentioned Bunny Rabba who was instrumental with the beginning of the foundation. Um many of you may know to that the school is named after Bunny and Carl Robba. um Bunny passed away a few um quite quite a few years ago and um Mr. Robba was unable to be at the dedication but his

065many much of many of his family were there and he was a school board trustee um here in North Side for I believe it's eight it was eight years and um that the the Robba family is responsible for a lot of things that have happened within the school district um helped us with um passing bonds getting bonds passed and getting the word out in the community. So many things. So, we really appreciate all that they did and it was a it was a great event. Um I had the opportunity to go to the um ASA grand opening of their store today and that's our um a magnet at OK Conor High School. They just opened up a store. these kids um that we actually have a help me the the terminology is a is actually

066a meat packing what's meat processing um building and so this is something that we're doing new this year and and the kids are selling the meat that they've um processed they actually have eggs they have I was there they have um uh chicken eggs and quail eggs and there's They're selling some uh they have not only beef, but they have pork, pork chops, pork sausage, various other types of sausage. It's I understand that this week and Miss Falenberry, I I understand you have the schedule. if you would pass that to us and tell me if I'm wrong on this, but I think all this week they're open from 4:30 to 6 and on Saturday from 8 to 12 and then from here on out, I believe it's just Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6

067and then on Saturday. Um, Miss Falenberry, I know you'll help us with that and pass that information. >> Okay, thank you. Um [snorts] there was such a long line I I needed to come here and I didn't want to Somebody said, "Oh, Karen, you can cut in line." But I I was going to bring us a sample of what they had, but um I [laughter] didn't want to cut in line. >> Was it cooked? >> No, no, it wasn't cooked. >> But I will tell you, their steaks look wonderful. So, um you might want to stop by if you have an opportunity. And that's all I have. Dr. D. >> Thank you, Dr. >> Oh, wait. One more thing. I'm sorry. Yeah. Um, Miss Chumley was going to be here too and remind us of

068Gerlock and I know we'll be getting some that information as well. Amech begins this Saturday and the Gerlock show is a week from this Saturday. So, um, please put that on your calendar. And I know if Carol were here, she would talk to us about the grass the Tasby Grassroots meeting. It is February the 12th. So, if you um my fellow board members, if you haven't signed up for that, um please um consider doing so. It is a it's a free event, but you do need to register and Monica um can help you with that. It's an opportunity for us as schoolboard members to participate in grassroots advocacy with our state association, the Texas Association of School Boards. And that's relatively unique with state associations in Texas that um the association actually meets with trustees

069and to help develop develop the advocacy agenda and then it it goes up the line and and people from after the the 20 regions meet then select people from those meetings are selected from the people that attend and then they all meet and then um uh help create the the advocacy agenda for for the state. So, please consider going to that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Santido. >> Yeah, just real quick, I wanted to touch base with the the traffic study that was done at John J. High School. I also attended it with Dr. Hassel and I'm pretty impressed with these two councilmen that just took off running. The the lights are already flashing. As a matter of fact, I mean, I live in that area and you can see the traffic already slowing

070down and they're basically on from 8 till 5 and they just stay on the whole time. So, you just see cars are starting to get used to. They just hitting the brakes and once once they get used to you can just see a lot more uh quieter street I mean they just [snorts] we got a lot of construction traffic is being remodeled right now. So, we got a lot of 18 m a lot of dump trucks going through there and they're also slowing down. So, that's that's a good uh positive thing. And also I want to thank everybody for all these gifts. I don't know. I'm going have to make several trips to my car today. So it's kind of like but thank you for everything. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I want to

071start by thanking um really the break and holidays can be really tough and challenging. We've had some losses from our alum and I want to thank all our mental health counselors and everyone that was out there helping um during those very difficult times. um you know and um we just know that the work is really challenging. So we're glad to be able to start and kick off this 2026 with hope, right? And [clears throat] um I want to thank Conrad and Megan for giving me some tickets to share with our community for the Alamo Bowl. You went above and beyond to connect at the last minute with me. I want to thank um principal Cynthia Vera from Holmes High School to she invited me to the scholarship night where McDonald's the scholarship is available for

072our seniors to apply and it's an amazing amount of money and support that they get. We had a great um guest speaker that talked about being a firstgen and uh student and um some of their challenges and how to build really um better communication. And so there was like a couple of like exercises where um it was a very Ernesto asked us a very simple question like have you ever told your child that you're thankful for them? What are you proud of? Tell them right now. And have you thanked your parent for you know driving you to school? I mean those are like very simple asks that we forget because we're so busy like trekking through life that we just need to stop and pause and be grateful for those little things that make a

073difference, right? Um, I want to also thank um all of the um performances at the airport. I don't know if you're aware, our fine arts department is out there during the holidays singing and making everyone feel like welcome to Texas and the smiles of [snorts] these folks that maybe have never been to San Antonio is really cool. They even had like I think snow at the airport. I don't know. But it is just I mean the airport is the place to be if you have nothing else to do. [laughter] So thank you to John Marshall and Evers Elementary. I know you were specifically there and anyone else I missed. I'm so sorry about that. Um I want to thank um Councilman Galvan. He gave us a $1,000 check to give specifically to Myers Cable Passmore

074Meadow Village and Hadget Elementary. Um we want to thank you for that. Those are the little things like that add up that can help us provide the things on our campuses that we would not otherwise be able to afford as administrators. So thank you for doing that. Um, I want to thank the city council and mayor uh, Gina Ortiz for calling us all to ask what our voice was when it comes to changing these municipal elections. They wanted to know like what are you worried about? What is the concern? And I mean that takes some time out of their day and um, these are a lot of um, conversations and thank you to Dr. Craft for joining me at city council and we did voice our concern that we didn't want to add any increased

075costs to the already deficit budget that we're already working with at our district or at any district for that matter. I think we can all agree. But um it is what it is now. So we're going to move forward with that change and adopted. So more to come on that. I want to also thank um and welcome our new chief of police, Chief Palmo. Had a meeting with him and we're able to talk about some of the visions that he has. So, there's a lot of good things coming to our district. Um, be on the lookout for that. And thank Bip Padilla, uh, athletic director at at Holmes High School for inviting us to the Husky breakfast. I was able to have a break bread with Conrad and a few of our folks. And it

076was just a really nice time for to see the the Mariati, but also the athletes come together right before holiday break. Holidays are not fun for everyone because school is their safe place where they get that meal every day and they have a roof over their head. They have internet, they have free Wi-Fi, it's warm and so um it's tough for some of our kids to go home and they don't want they want to keep coming to school. I think they would if we were year round, but anyways, we're not doing that right [laughter] now. Um and congratulations to Rada for their 25th anniversary. I want to thank everyone that um beat the cold and was out there marching yesterday at the our Martin Luther King um um march. It's the largest march in our

077nation. So So we say we say that about all of the marches, but I think we're we really um beating that that cold winter weather and getting out there. Um thank you for everyone that took the time to do that. And if Dr. Hall was here, she would invite you to John Marshall's 75th anniversary on January 22nd from 6:00 to 7:30. So, if you're an alum of Marshall High School, it's your 75th anniversary. And she will be there to provide some speaking notes. So, thank you all. Welcome to 2026. >> I'm back again. Okay. So our next agenda item is now our citizens to be heard. And remember that we do have rules for citizens to be heard. We believe that your voice is important and it is meaningful and we will listen to what

078you have to say. We value your opinion and we are restrained by law from taking any action. Please address your remarks to the board. Confine your remarks to a north side policy or practice and limit those remarks to three minutes and then we'll ask you to wrap up your remarks. Please, no personal attacks on anyone or any individual or any audience member. Thank you so much. >> I believe we have six individuals signed up this evening. Uh Dr. Don and um just to confirm, I believe they're all signed up for 5A or citizens to be heard. Um if not, just let us know and we'll come back to it with the agenda item. So, uh first uh signed up is Chris Rios. Thank you all. My name is Chris Rios and I'm the son of

079Evangeline Rio House. Evangeline Rio House was an educator who worked for North Side for almost 55 years. I am asking that you and the rest of the board members consider naming an elementary school or any other North Side North Side Independent School District facility in her honor. Tragically, my mom passed away on March 6th, 2025. On August 27th, while assisting with a routine fire drill, she tripped and broke her femur, requiring surgery. After her surgery, After surgery, she got an infection that eventually led went septic leading to having her leg amputated and eventually her death. She spent eight months in the hospital from the day of the accident and she never even made it back home from the hospital. My mother loved loved loved what she did as a teacher, librarian, and counselor. She excelled

080in every role she took on during her lifetime career at Northside. In her last role as a school counselor, she not only counseledled the students, but also the parents of those students in the community. She believed that educating the community would strengthen society and help develop responsible, productive citizens. North Side pillars of of character describe exactly how my mom led her life. She not only embodied these values, she also showed her family, colleagues, her students, and their parents how to live these uh values as well. The North Side community was her family as much as her granddaughter and I am. Even though I knew how hard she worked for North Side Community, I didn't realize how many things she had given to them until her colleagues, parents, and former students began reaching out to me

081and telling me about the different projects she had helped them to support the families. Here are just a few of the things. She counseledled students with various issues to help them empower them to become better to have better life choices. She hosted cafesitos, which are the little coffee talks before school, to help the parents gather information, ask questions, and create a supportive bond between her and the parents. She was asked numerous times to lead presentations on various counseling topics and at both the district and state level. She served many years as a supervisor for counselors spread over six campuses, as well as a mentor for hundreds of firstear counselors. The list goes on. My mom had a way of making a lasting impression on everyone she met. Counseling students was not just a job for

082my mom. It was her calling. Every summer I would say, "Mom, why don't you retire?" And her response would be, "Until until until I stopped loving what I'm doing, I have no reason to retire." Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to retire. She passed away as an active member of the North Side Independent School family. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. The books that I think were just handed out are letters from various uh friends, co-workers. Uh there's a couple of from parents who didn't weren't going to be able to be here, but wrote how they felt about my mother, and I wanted each of y'all to have an opportunity to look through them. Thank you. >> Uh and I apologize in advance. Susan Suzanne Da [snorts] >> do I'm sorry I

083apologize do >> I couldn't help you that one's French >> before should we get started um for you visual learners um like all of us are um we we have a some photos of u Evangelas or Van as we love uh working with students, parents and staff. >> Thank you. >> Good evening members of the board. My name is Suzanne Du and I was a substance abuse counselor and an elementary counselor here in North Side for over most of 30 years. I was a personal friend and a colleague of Evangelan Rios. She was a lifetime. She had a lifetime commitment to her profession, her counseling community, the Passmore community, and the north side district. But above all, she had commitment to her children. Uh Dr. Duran, you mentioned about the importance of how students valued

084being in the school because it was not as easy to go home. Well, Van Rio uh was a strong believer of the Maslo theory. She always said if a child is fed, feels loved, and has a place to make himself feel safe, then he will feel good about himself and he would be ready to learn. She helped thousands of students with self-esteem issues and making appropriate choices and helping empower them to see the path forward and guiding them to make those choices. They came back after graduating from high school and college just to thank her for getting them on the right track. She also was very instrumental in making campus programs that helped children self-esteem and improve their academic performance. For instance, the bikes and bears for better grades and the John J shoe drive

085that helped provide shoes for hundreds of children. She also was instrumental in helping the families with the blue Santa and the socks for tots. Her commitment to parents was also just as extremely successful. She had private counseling for parents that had family issues. She provided the cofficitos that Chris was mentioning and she also had newsletters that had parenting tips. During the summer, she facilitated the reading program for the migrant children and she motivated the parents to make sure that the children stayed in school. One of her things was that she was very optimistic. She always saw the glass um completely full, not half full or half empty. And she helped make it possible for others to see that same possibility. She was quick in solving problems with clarity. And when it came to helping parents

086with problems that were outside her counseling skills, she was very resourceful in h helping them find resources outside. Her commitment to the north side and beyond was immeasurable. She had she held key positions in the district, in the region, and state counseling organization. She was trained in the critical incidences so that when there was a death of a staff member or student, she was there to h help them through their uh their grieving. She evaluated and redefined the n the NISD comprehensive guidance framework. She was a district leader in supervising counselors at several different elementary count campuses, providing support and guidance and helping them to respond to community issues and district concerns. She had an expertise that was wide that was wide that she even presented at district and state conferences. Ultimately, Mrs. Rios was

087personified humility, love, wisdom, and selflessness. God always came first in her life, but she also loved others. She always guide and served others. She was kind of like the guiding people's guiding light. In fact, that was what she was doing on the very last day on when she was on campus. She was assisting a young student who needed help during a fire drill. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you, >> Sylvia Suarez. I'll try to be fast. Good evening. Um, my name is Sylvia Suarez. I am a retired reading specialist from North Side Independent School District. I had a 38 uh 35 year career with this district and I understand the characteristics of a top quality education that North Side provides for our students and our community. As a parent of four daughters, all graduates

088of North Side Schools, I personally have observed what makes North Side a top school district in San Antonio. It has excellent curriculum and outstanding educators. All of my daughters have successful careers thanks to the quality education they received from this great district. My twin daughters became pillars of North Side in 2011, an example of the outcomes that our hard-working educators and district leaders have provided for our North Side students. As an employee and as a parent of this community, what makes North Side an exceptional school district are people like Ian Evan Helina Rio which we called Van Van ex Van exemplaries northid's foundation foundational believes that a quality education includes listening to students voices focuses on the whole child teacher impacts and strong community engagement. Van devoted 50 years of her career to the well-being

089of her students and friends and was one of the best counselors that I knew. As a school counselor, she provided a nurturing environment not only for her students but to her co-workers and parents as well. She had an open door policy. She was loved by and respected by her students, her uh staff and her community. Van prov provided a shared vision along with her co-workers for her school's community in which all children are safe and deserve the very best educational possible no matter the background. She always found a way to provide what is needed. Whether it was getting school supplies or shoes for students in need or providing quality uh providing guidance for parents as they worked obstacles together. She helped them figure out how to remove any obstacles to achieve learning and academic success

090for their children. >> [snorts] >> It was her priority to provide student support and success in her counseling lessons. Van was off often seen talking to teachers in casual conversations, walking down the hall where she was always encouraging and using her counseling skills. Van was focused on providing a safe and supportive environment even on the final day at school when she had her accidental fall. She demonstrated concerns for others by providing comfort and assurance to a distressed kindergarten child who was agitated that day because he could not find his classroom during the fire drill. Van's commitment to her students well-being during this high anxiety moment was something Van was known for. She was there to help and comfort no matter what. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Evangelina has a loving, caring, and extraordinary individual that

091has touched so many lives at North Side and beyond deserves her uh name on an elementary school. I thank you >> Megan Rios uh Garza. >> Hi, my name is Megan Rio Garza. I'm a special education AL teacher at Carlos Elementary, but I'm also Evangeline's granddaughter. I have the privilege of growing up around a north side school system. As a child, I attended all of Passport's PTA meetings, family nights, and even some faculty meetings. And I didn't even go to Passmore. The Passport school staff still likes to joke that I was my nona's shadow wherever she went. I was right behind her. Because of this, I had a firstirhand look at everything she truly did. Not only for Pasar Elementary, but for the entire North Side community. Through my nana, I learned how much dedication

092and heart goes into being a teacher. I spent summers delivering pizza to migrant families she worked with, preparing book bags so students would have something to read over the summer, and scoring sorting school supplies to donate to children whose families simply could not afford their own. Her love for helping others kept us both very busy. But it also filled our life with purpose. Even though she served on countless committees and was always involved in her community, she never failed to make time to be Megan's nana and Chris's mom. When she wasn't helping others, you can find Evangeline at SeaWorld or Six Flags with me at Martha's Mexican restaurant supporting her son or at the movies enjoying her favorite snack, her popcorn and root beer. My honor showed me what it was like to love your

093job. And I don't mean just to go daily. To truly love it. to serve others selflessly and to lead with compassion. She shaped not only the educator I am today, but the person I strive to be daily. Naming a school after Evangeline would be a powerful way to honor a woman who dedicated her entire life to education, service, and the children of NISD. Her name represents commitment, humility, and an unwavering belief that every child deserves love, opportunity, and support. Manonna dedicated decades of her life as a teacher, a librarian, and a counselor and advocate within North Side. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes, often without recognition, simply because she believed in the power of education and the responsibility to care for every child. Naming an elementary school after her would not only honor her work,

094but the countless hours, sacrifices, and love she put into the district. It will stand as a daily reminder that one person's dedication can change lives, shake a community, and leave a legacy that lasts a lifetime. Thank you, [clears throat] >> NDA Alvareo. First of all, I want to thank all of you for all you do for North Side. School Board Trustees and Superintendent. My name is NDA Alvarado and I had the privilege and was blessed to work with Evangeland Rios for 30 years. I witnessed firsthand as she lovingly inspired and guided each student, parent and staff to reach his or her potential. She truly believed that her her door was always open to assist anyone and the parents knew that the the children knew that and the staff knew that. So, I am here today

095to please consider renaming a school after her so her legacy can continue because she truly loved North Side. And please consider renaming Colon North Elementary to Evangeland Triohas Elementary. Evangeline dedicated over 50 years of service to enrich and guide her students, parents, and staff. And there is a bridge between Colonies North, JB Passmore, and Evangeline. Mr. JB Passmore was the first principal at Colonies North. and Evangeland Rio devoted three decades to his namesake JB Passmore. Let's honor her for over for serving us for over 50 years by renaming Colonies North or any other elementary Evangelum Rio Elementary. I thank you for your attention. >> I believe the last uh individual signed up is Terry Zablaki. Yesterday we honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Tonight we honored the current school board members and on

096Thursday as mentioned the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Marshall High School. For me, it's a reminder of the continuity and of the responsibility this district carries to serve all students year after year. When you step back, North Side story really is about foundations. From the early days when Marshall was the original North Side High School, this community has focused on building what lasts. Since 1995, voters have approved nearly5 billion dollar in school bonds and the North Side Education Foundation was established as a community-based way to partner in support of our students in education. That long view continues today. At the December board meeting, the district received from CPS an energy efficiency rebate check of more than $688,000. a reminder that stewardship isn't just about building, but about maintaining, renewing, and updating systems responsibly. Northside's

097long tradition of student voice is now made visible through the student ambassador program, a structured, nonpartisan way for students to engage directly with the leadership here, within the district, and beyond. Some of this can be quantified, much of it cannot. You can't measure the countless moments when a staff member, a student, or a community member notices something isn't right and speaks up. You can't put a dollar figure on a culture that values facetoface observation, care, and action, often without recognition. That culture doesn't happen by accident. It exists because the people of North Side have built ways for people to be heard, students, staff, and community members through real face-to-face interaction, not just in this boardroom. That kind of listening isn't always comfortable. It isn't scheduled and it isn't scripted. It happens wherever people are willing

098to look one another in the eye and respond thoughtfully. I want to name the one standard out loud, especially for people who are newer to North Side. I was present at a committee discussion one evening where someone new to North Side asked, "Well, what are other districts do?" The response was simple and very North Side. We don't define oursel. We look at what we're doing, what's working, and what needs to be better. Holding that standard isn't automatic. It takes every part of this community, students, staff, leadership, and partners staying focused on North Side's mission to transform the learning experience for students. Thank you. >> All right, >> I believe that completes uh citizens to be heard. >> Thank you. Um and now our next item is the consent agenda. Yes, Madam President, uh members of

099the board, uh we uh prepared this agenda uh well in advance to actually us posting and hosting um doesn't mean to rhyme, but it did. Um [laughter] uh our our uh most recent finance uh committee meeting. So, I'll draw your attention to uh CDA local as well as CCA local. Uh seeing that there is a slight modification to one of these policies and I'll let Miss Bradley explain if we need to bring this item back for a second reading uh per policy we can. Uh the other policy there is no change. Uh so like I say we just wanted to draw that to your attention uh in the sense of the timing of the finance committee didn't quite allow us to um uh line it up with the consent agenda for this evening's meeting. Yes

100sir. And um board on the CDA local policy, we are required annually to bring it back to the board for a review and to offer recommendations for changes if we believe there are any. We are not recommending any changes on that item this year. And so I don't believe that one needs a first and second reading, but we could have one. And then on CCA local, we found some small changes that [clears throat] is known as our debt management program. And we found some references to our tax rate that were need needed some adjustments. They were old and so we needed to update those and there was one more little slight wording change that we changed to make sure that they are current information and so there were minor changes. We did bring it to

101CDA I mean sorry to the finance committee. So the question is does that count as the first reading or does this need to be the first reading and then we pull it off of this consent agenda and bring it back to the next meeting. We are in no rush for either one of these. So it is not a problem at all if we want to. >> Dr. Hassel, I think the committee had decided to do CDA and consent but CCA local to do this be the first read and then just out of courtesy for the rest of the committee so they can the rest of the board to review it if they were because there were some minor changes nothing but just to give you all enough time to do a second read because there

102was no urgency in it. >> That is what we had discussed in finance committee. Yes. But as Dr. craft said it was too late to pull it off the agenda. We had already posted it at that point. >> Did that work for everyone? Any other opinion? >> Okay, that sounds great. So, do we have a second motion? Do we need to do that? >> No, I had a >> No, Dr. Mr. Salce. >> Yeah, I had a question about 6L, the additional off-campus education. Um, >> yes. So each year we bring to you guys a list of agencies that meet certain uh requirements where students can take what's called off-campus PE and they can receive PE credit. So we bring it to you each June and so then you guys look at the list and

103approve the list and we send that back to campuses. So God bless you. Okay. So, one of the agencies that you guys approved back in June um is an approved agency. They're called the Premier Ballet Academy. Well, they have recently split. So, you've got the Premier Ballet Academy and then they've spun off and now there's a Thrive Ballet Academy. So, it involves just two or three students. And so we've we've looked into Thrive. It meets all the requirements. So typically because we'll bring you a new list in June, what we want to make sure is we have three students who have moved to Thrive out of Premier and we want them to be able to get their PE credit. So really the only thing you're approving tonight because you've already approved this whole this whole

104list is you're just approving um Thrive Academy. >> Yeah. I have a concern with the I read here the since they the instructor moved the students are moving with the instructor. That's kind of my concern that if they all start moving with their favorite instructor we're going to double. Oh, this instructor happens to be the parent of the students who are moving to that studio. And and you know, your concern is certainly a valid one because we would once you guys approve those agencies, we don't typically agencies can't just say, "Hey, you know, bring us your kids here or there." But we did look into it very closely and and we feel that Thrive does meet the criteria. And so um so we don't want those children that move from premier to Thrive to miss

105out. >> Is that additional cost? >> No. [clears throat] >> Dr. Hassel, >> um now that you mentioned, is there any conflict with the parent being the teacher of the student? Well, the parent runs the company and so, uh, frankly, that's not unusual at all for a parent like our our highest number. So, we have about 65 students, >> okay, >> um, in North Side who are currently participating in off-campus PE, um, powerhouse gymnastics, collective dance artistry. those have the most number of students and then some of the others may have one student, two students. So it's not unusual for um a parent or even a relative to be the head of that particular agency. Um that's why we have the same um application process. They have to apply every year. >> Okay. >> So

106agencies uh then they have to they have an inspection. and they have to meet various criteria um to be approved. >> Are there like specific hours they have to meet to meet the PE requirements that are monitored in some way? >> Yes, they're monitored. Um they take attendance. There's a there's a whole host of things and it used to be those of you who've been on the board a while um this is a waiver basically that we bring to you and it's really only required to be brought every three years. Um, we began a few years back bringing it annually because new companies come about, they close out. We wanted to give everyone an opportunity and we didn't want to approve one and let it go for three years without having to go back through

107that process. So, we have a pretty high threshold by doing it annually. >> I just that came to mind. So, is this like an active like RFP that we do to get new vendors or it's just like >> No, it's actually a waiver process through TEA. >> Okay. >> And so, um so when you'll see it again in June that we actually complete it and we have to verify that it's a Olympic type level um participation and our application process, but then we actually submit it to TEA once you approve it. Thank you. So, this is basically just asking that we add one agency to the list of agencies um that you guys approved in June so those students don't have to have a blip. >> Okay. Do we have any motions? >> Mrs. Freeman

108>> and Dr. drawn. I would motion that we approve the um consent agenda except for item number E, which is CCA local that we discussed that we would um this would be first reading and we would bring it back later for second reading. >> Okay. Any seconds? >> Dr. Hassel, I second. >> Okay. Uh, all in favor of approving the consent agenda with the exception of item E say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes. Any other further discussion? Okay. Thank you. Okay. Now on to item number seven on curriculum and instruction and virtual school program design. >> Yeah. So this is a continuation of our journey towards um the unknown. I know um we we are as you recall um aggressively exploring uh the notion of o opening and offering a virtual

109school particularly to our 9th, 10th, 11th grade students beginning next school year. And so we wanted to provide a quick update in regards to uh the progress because there has been pretty tremendous progress. the committee uh design committee is meeting on a weekly basis and uh doing pretty phenomenal work. We still have numerous questions uh to be answered but uh this evening Carrie Squires uh she uh articulated this morning with our cabinet our entire cabinet did a really really fine job is going to provide like I say just an overview update as to the progress being made and where we are uh in the design process currently and then uh kind of what to expect going forward. So without further ado, Carrie, >> do you want to say you go ahead? >> All right. Well,

110good evening, y'all. Okay. [laughter] So, um, we're going to talk about the North Side ISD virtual academy with our logo and everything very proudly. There we go. [laughter] All right. So, next slide. So, before we kind of get into where we are in our planning stages and what we're thinking, we're just going to set the stage a little bit about what makes Senate Bill 569 different from other legislation that we've had in the past. So, what this new bill does is it establishes another subchapter that really puts virtual learning and in-person learning on the same footing. Um, and that's important because it means that it's going to be treated just like any other in-person school. It also separates some of the previous legislation and some of the other programs that other districts have set up

111in the past who are operating under 30A. Um so you think about some school districts that have been operating um a virtual program that is uh meant for a particular group of students or for a particular purpose. Um 30B really differentiates itself from that because this is now an opportunity that all students will be able to engage in and it opens the door for a lot of more flexible options for school districts. those districts that are um kind of under a waiver or who have been working under the old legislation still have a year to kind of like uh kind of phase kind of their program out and then after 26 27 they're going to be expected to comply as well and it also establishes a couple of new definitions. So, one of the first

112things that I told the steering group that I um have been working with is take what you think you know about what we did, you know, during the pandemic and during that COVID model and really kind of like put it out of your mind for right now because there's a couple of really big important definitions that they that this uh this bill really lines out. And the first one is that it establishes virtual and hybrid as really an amount or a number of students that would be enrolled in a f in a full-time campus. So you're looking at anything over 50% but it also really differentiates the amount of time that a student is going to spend learning virtually versus in person. So a virtual course is really basically online very very little in-person time

113on a campus or engaging in kind of any in-person activities. The hybrid is where you get a little more flexibility with that. So when we talk a little bit a couple slides down, we talk about which model we're really seeking authorization for. That's going to be important to remember that hybrid is not really a model where we're doing concurrent teaching, but one where we're looking at students are spending 90% of their time learning online, but there is flexibility for them to come onto campus to learn um and to participate in some activities. Next slide. This is a visual just real quick uh that just kind of a side by side that lets you see some of the things that are allowed and not allowed. So really kind of like turning your attention to what's not

114allowed. Think about when I said remember separate what we were doing during the pandemic for a little while. Think about that concurrent teaching that was happening. We sometimes call that hybrid. That's not hybrid model. Okay? And that is something that the Senate bill really clearly defines as not allowed. So, we're not going to be expecting teachers to teach a room full of students and also online at the same time. It also doesn't mandate student enrollment. So, this is not an opportunity for us or uh to to take a course that maybe we have low enrollment or maybe for other reasons we're going to say, you know what, we're not going to offer that in person anymore. That's only going to be offered online. That's not something that we're going to be able to do either.

115Um it really needs to be a choice for families. Um the other thing is that uh we're not going to be denying parent requests, you know, for that transfer or for that opportunity for their students to learn if as long as it aligns with their graduation plan. Um and then also when you kind of look at the other side, you're going to see now whereas we may have been limited in the past because we were not under a waiver or some of the waiverss were written a certain way that we were really focused on credit recovery. Um now we've got the full gamut. you know, we're looking at CTE courses. We're looking at advanced coursework for students a chance to take AP courses and such. Um, and then we're also going to be able to

116track that attendance u multiple ways. And we're going to be deciding as a district which way we want to do that. All right. So, if you want to know why kind of summed up in one single image, this is it. And so what this graphic represents is the number of students that could be North Side students, should be North Side students that have withdrawn to enroll in a virtual program, whether that's offered through another ISD, a charter school, or a university such as Texas Tech since 2013. So when you look at kind of the trends as it's going, you'll see a a huge spike and that trajectory really shoot up. Um so in 2013 you know we had very few had around 150 students that were you know withdrawn and enrolled in a virtual program.

117At the end of last year we had just under you know 1500 right 1400 somewhere in that area and that's important because that mirrors our trajectory mirrors what the state's numbers look like. So in the same years in 2013 the state had around 500 you know or you know students enrolled in that they had 62,000 last year right so 62,000 and there's no reason with um the number of students that are uh or number of districts that are beginning to offer this program that that number's not going to like just climb even higher. Any questions about that or clarification? Okay. All right. So, this is where I said it would be important to remember those couple of definitions. So, we are opening or we are looking to open the North Side Virtual Academy, but what

118we're really seeking is authorization for a hybrid campus. Why hybrid? Because this gives us the greatest amount of flexibility for our students and the greatest opportunity for student retention for students that we already have. So, if we think about why students might have like left our um district to go to other virtual programs, this is what allows us to bring a lot of those students back and maybe offer some more opportunities that we haven't been able to do in the past with the previous legislation. So, what it looks like is that for 90% of their instructional time, they are learning online in an asynchronous environment with synchronous support as needed. But it also allows them to come onto campus. So, we look at those students that maybe need or really have a strong desire for,

119you know, a more flexible schedule, but they don't want to lose that high school experience or they're really committed to athletics or fine arts or other programs that they want to come onto campus for. So, that's why we're going to be seeking authorization for that. And really why um why we're looking to do this instead of just offering, you know, more courses because that's certainly an option, too. We already do offer a few virtual courses. we could just expand that opportunity really just you know do individual courses but by seeking authorization for a full-time campus it really allows us to be very comprehensive take that comprehensive approach it allows us for it allows for expansion over time um it allows us to offer a flexible innovative environment that we haven't been able to offer in

120the past um and that's very desirable to a lot of families especially especially these days and then you know uh as equally as important um it provides us some funding predictability. So, what SB, you know, um, 30B allows us to do and 569 allows us to do is get the same amount of funding for a full-time enrollment for a virtual student as an in-person student. That hadn't been something that had been allowed for districts in the past. So, we've been working fast and furiously, you know, as a group, as a steering group that we've involved departments from all over the district in this. [clears throat] Um, I know when you briefly discussed this back, you know, before the break, um, we were interviewing and we were kind of like talking to vendors already. Um, and

121we were hoping that we would be coming to you today with with a vendor that we had selected, but you know, we're just we're not at that point. Um, it was decided that we went ahead and issued an RFP. And the reason for that is we want to make the very best decision. And the more we talked to different vendors and the more we really started kind of thinking through what we wanted and what we needed here at North Side, the more we realized that rushing to a decision wasn't going to be our best decision. Um, there are some strict rules. There are things that, you know, we can't just hire any vendor. Um, they have to comply with very, you know, specific things that are outlined there on that slide. But in addition, um,

122it kind of what I use to describe it in a lot of different groups is like when you're house shopping, you go and you look at that first house and you're like, I love that house. But then you go look at the second house and you're like, now I don't like that house as much. I like this house, but I want to trade the closets or I want to trade the kitchen. And so the more we talked to different groups, the more we realized we really wanted to put out an RFP um so that we could see who all was available um and really be able to be very selective in our process. And so that process is going on now. That RFP is published and in live and it will be uh coming for

123approval um at the end of March. And then for as far as marketing and communications, so since we are waiting to hire a vendor, there is more work on our side that we're doing up front to kind of get ready. So things that we might have thought we were going to be hiring a vendor to help us with, we've got a steering committee and a a large group of North Side staff that are pulling together to do this work. And so we're looking by the end of the month to launch a public facing website with more information. Um, we talked this morning about doing some pre-registration, um, some readiness screeners that students can take to kind of see, you know, is this the right fit for me? Is this something that I should be looking

124at? Um, our long-term goal in North Side is to establish a K12 virtual campus. We're going to focus next year on grades 9 through 11 only. And we're, uh, strongly considering offering this opportunity to in district students first um, to see kind of like where we are there. And then kind of the last slide um is we're still waiting. So as as Dr. Craft said, there's a lot we don't know. Um the legislation passed, but now TEA has to write the rules that we'll operate under. And so the legislation really outlines what those rules need to be, but we're waiting on that interpretation. And part of that interpretation is the authorization process. So, all they can tell us is sometime in the spring we'll have um the ability to actually seek the authorization and get

125this open, but we're kind of checking every week. We don't really know yet when that's going to happen. Um until then, we're we're continuing to design the program with everyone's input. We're going to be uh some critical things that we're going to be putting together very quickly involve how we're going to adopt those daily measurement options. What exactly we're going to be looking for to make sure that those students are engaging. Um we're not looking for just um a course completion. We're looking for daily engagement. That's something that's required by the law, but also something that we believe strongly in. And then finalizing that course catalog, one of those uh courses that we're going to be offering So, a tremendous amount of work, like I say, has already been put in uh by the the

126uh design committee. Um and again, Carrie, thank you so much for uh your leadership in this in this charge. One of the questions that we've um been asked is will students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular i.e. UIL, fine arts, uh athletic activities. Um right now we are planning on uh being able to provide that opportunity uh again to uh this select group of 9th uh through 11th grade students. There are some caveats that I know that Conrad is still working with uh UIL as as is Elizabeth um in regards to eligibility. uh students that are zoned in essence say to John J or a Holmes high school they elect to um spend part of their day or 90% of their day on a virtual on the virtual platform they would be eligible to

127their home zone school district or our or campus um where it gets kind of interesting is is seeing that we are open enrollment um there's a we it's referred to a 365 rule that in essence an out out of district transfer that was a virtual student wouldn't just be able to enroll and play at any given high school of their choice. They would have to in essence um play subvarsity compete at the sub varsity level for a full calendar year before they would be eligible uh the following year. So there's there's a lot of like I say little nuances that we're continuing to to work through. Um kind of looking at that graphic that uh Carrie uh articulated very well. We know there's a niche. We know that like I say there is uh this

128desire by not all and not I wouldn't say the majority but a select group of families that we feel like just based on some very very uh anecdotal feedback thus far we're going to be able to fill that niche and provide that that resource. Um, and hopefully, um, we'll be able to keep students right here in North Side ISTD versus exploring all of the other virtual programs that are in the process of being stood up or already uh, stood up uh, going forward. I [snorts] I like the idea of recapturing the students and bringing them back home to our school district and also meeting the marketing needs or the needs of the community and meeting students and families where they're at and meet those particular needs, but it isn't for everyone. So, I like the

129fact that >> there's a opportunity for students to be able to come back and get that help if they needed to at the 10% or however much need they might need because there are some challenging courses that are out there that are science and math that need the labs that need >> that coaching and that they're able to kind of be able to do that as well. That's kind of also like what's going to differentiate us and I really like all the work that you're doing. So, I really thank you for that. I know it's a lot. It's a big feat and so I'm excited about this this venture. Mr. Blunt, that's great. >> On the 365, is is that for the virtual part? Reason why I asked that is um I always thought if

130long as you show you weren't moving for athletic reasons. >> Yeah, but is the virtual they just made it totally >> Well, so it depends. As long as they reside in their that attendance zone, they would be eligible. Um so in other words, the to answer your question, the process is called a previous athletic participation form, BAPF process. So, as long as say an a, let's just say an incoming ninth grader, eighth grader becoming a ninth grader uh is um a zoned to attend Holmes High School. if they were to engage in the virtual academy and then try to participate play at homes and a freshman's probably not a great example, but maybe a sophomore or junior, they would be deemed eligible for varsity play because that's their home zone uh uh campus. Whereas, if

131it were, for whatever reason, an outofd district uh student that was wanting to transfer two homes, they would have to sit out for the 365. Now, I say sit out, they would still be eligible to play sub varsity. They wouldn't be eligible to to immediately participate or compete in varsity athletics until that that year >> district change. Okay. >> Yeah. Now, UIL, again, all this being said, similar to TEA, they're also unraveling a lot of these, like I say, nuances and intricacies, uh, because it's relatively new. Um, and you kind of think about to your point, uh, Bobby, w with transferability, this is an area that could get kind of, uh, it could be taken advantage of. Let's, let's put it that way. pretty click pretty pretty quickly. And so um we're going to like

132I say make sure that while providing the students the opportunities definitely staying within UIL expectations or rules regulations that are being uh created right now and and I understand I mean what we don't want to do is create a magnet program that is really catering to a specific sport i.e. a basketball program that really provides an opportunity for advantage over particularly some of our other north side teams. So >> the other other question have have you let me see if I can stay without getting in political trouble. Uh have you had the conversation also of um for the virtual those students who for whatever reasons can't get to a school um because it could be job opportunity something at their house etc. as well as what's going on, you know, across San Antonio and other

133cities on on the federal government side of the house and how that's increasing in terms of uh causing, you know, whatever go whatever direction wise, but have we considered that that may be a group also that we focus in on? >> Absolutely. I you know um so I've actually taken um a few parent phone calls um just since we just brought this out you know the last time just talked about this and I've talked to a couple parents and one um was was ready to kind of withdraw and homeschool um because both of her her children are very involved in like club sports and the traveling teams and she's like you know I love the schools we're at but we just can't manage the schedule and now that I I just have a few questions

134because would this be a program that we could we could look at and so she's like I'm going to hang on. I'm going to hang on until we do that. But there's also students that have to work, right? And students that also um I know when I was at Hoffen, we had a large um military um you know, population and we would have families that would, you know, get stationed elsewhere and they would they would hate to leave, right? And so um because they don't know what they're going to yet. They're like, you know, can we can we just stay enrolled here? that would have been an option for them to stay enrolled while they're in that process of moving um and figuring out kind of getting the lay of the land of where they're

135going, you know, so that they know what what what the best choice for their family is. So, um this has the potential to target a lot of different families and be very flexible over time. >> And that also like that's why military do a lot of online universities and colleges and I for 18 years I taught those families that would get PCAS everywhere but they could stay in class and graduate. They may not be able to walk if they're in Korea for 5 years, but when they came back to the States, they were able to get that diploma. So, that makes a lot of sense. Mrs. Freeman. >> Yes. Um, I have a few questions. Um, we said we we would not deny any request and that's just the the design of the program and

136I I understand that. Um, sometimes though we have kids that would be challenged with the the design of the program and I know that we would help them in any which way that we can but if we see that they're being unsuccessful >> um what are we're going to be able to suggest that suggest that they >> it's going to be a little bit stronger than a suggestion. It's going to be a revocation of it's basically a revocation of transfer >> and we're going to bring them back. >> I mean and and >> and to your point also we were discussing it today. I know that they're uh in the process of designing I'll call it a pre-screener. I think we're referring it to >> a screener, right? Yes. >> Instrument that to make sure

137that the students understand through a series of questions that this is a this is the right environment learning environment for you to be successful. that uh we'll have the ability like I say to bring the students back uh if they're deemed not to be successful. So >> we we also said in your um definition of the hybrid model I believe it was less than 90% >> in person. So, I'm thinking if they choose >> 5% instruction online and then less than 10% Yeah. 10% inperson instruction. >> Okay. 10% in no more than 10% >> in person. Correct. >> So, as we look at how many classes we have, that's one in 10 classes. Um, we don't normally have that many classes in a day. So, if a child wanted if one of our students wanted

138to participate in extracurricular, so how does that work in the percentage? Well, that would be the 10% in essence. >> So, it's it mandates 240 minutes per day. >> So, we would look at >> and so the 76,000 figure, you know, 500 per year like like in person. And so, if they were to come on to, you know, for an athletics class or fine arts class, that satisfies that >> and and the teachers um the staff are employed by the vendor, >> right? >> At this point, >> that's what we're that's what we're still [laughter] >> exploring. Um, and Carrie put it very eloquently. If we could take all of the respondents to the proposed the the RFP and pick out the qualities traits that we liked for each one, it would be like a

139perfect world. >> So, that's just not feasible. So, we're we're right now in the process of they're navigating, evaluating. There's there's a mix. There are districts that are doing it through a third party solely and then there are districts that have brought it inhouse. And there are advantages and disadvantages I think to both. For example, an advantage of using a third party, particularly if they're familiar uh and have other district clients here in the state of Texas is scalability. We were kind of talking about today. If we have only three or four students that need a Latin foreign language credit, well, there might be four or five, 10 students somewhere else at a virtual academy throughout the state. So, those are the those are, like I say, the really finer details that are all working

140uh feverishly to >> yeah to to work out. Um, so right now we're leaning towards a third party being the provider, >> but >> they provide >> but, um, stay tuned. >> Yeah. >> And working with vendors and I, as you said, they're all different. Um, I assume that there would be a contract, a number of years that we would need to contract with them. Absolutely. Before we looked for something else or went on our own. >> Yeah. Yeah. And a minimum would be >> well, we wrote the RFP for a for a two-year contract because really, you know, and then with the option to renew for three more years, but we also wrote into that RFP that it is our desire to transition from a third party vendor to more North Side teachers and

141instruction and control for lack of a better word. So that'll be right up front. So anyone that we actually do sign that contract with is going to have that understanding and be willing to work with us. And the way I understand other districts have done that. That's pretty much the norm that they've worked out of. >> Yeah. And and we want it to be high quality right from the very get-go. That that's not to say that we could not put it together, but I think there are some lessons that we can learn not only from years past, but also from those that this is their this is their business. this is what um they've they've worked to um master um over the last several years. >> And if I'm not mistaken, like Mrs. Freeman, we

142already do that with our current transfers. If they're not meeting the attendance requirements, if they're having behavioral issues or not being academically successful, they get to go back to their home campus because we want them to graduate, which is the ultimate goal, right? >> Of course. >> Yeah. And it's also that's a good good point. Um you'll notice again we've elected not to include seniors >> just because of we don't want their senior year uh to be somehow disrupted as a result of modality in in in the change in uh educational services. And so not to say that the junior year is not also vitally important but >> we'll be able to make sure that there are parameters and safeguards put in place that there's not a chance that a student wouldn't graduate as a

143result of slipping up. Thank you, >> Mrs. Zapata. Thank you, Mr. >> Um, a couple of questions as well. Are there any other schools uh that are that are running something similar uh in Texas or around the United States? >> Yeah, there are. And that number is growing as we speak. uh Grapvine, Collieville, uh Katy, Dallas, Houston. >> Um they all have existing programs already uh up and running um and have been for several years. I know Gravine Collville's I think it's been five years already. Um >> Katie's been doing it for 10 >> um with a few courses. Um and and several of those are operating under the old rules. So when you go like if you were to go Google Grapevine Collville, you're going to see that they have an application process. Um

144and you know they're looking for certain things that you know have to qualify. And so since we're operating under the new rules, that's why you know we're not denying entry into this program just like you wouldn't turn a student away at the door, right? Um but we do we are out allowed to put those policies in place to revoke that transfer if they're not being successful. But there's other districts such as Scyfare um Frisco. Katie's oper is going to open their own full-time um virtual and hybrid campus next year as well where they haven't had that in the past. They've had the courses and the kind of the flex what they call a flex schedule where students are kind of on and off the campus but not necessarily with that 90% of the time or

14510% of the time. Um, and so we've we've actually taken a look at what others districts are doing and try to mirror a lot, but several of them have kind of been in that planning process for a while and are operating with their own staff. Um, and so in the San Antonio area, I presented this presentation, very similar one to region 20, a group of curriculum leaders last week. Um, and kind of an informal is anyone else doing this? The room was silent. So, um, >> so we are we are we're kind of first coming out of the gate. Nice. >> We won't be the last, though. They'll come right after us. >> Um, another question I have is, um, and so, uh, if students are in district, I hear they they can go back

146to their campuses for services um, or to participate in UIL. How about students that are not uh, in our area? where would if >> that's that's a great question and that's one that we were we've uh been discussing. Yeah. And and are continuing to hash out. It's one thing if a student is a resident and zoned to say Holmes High School. Okay. It you just you haven't proven that you can be successful. So you're coming back to Holmes High School. That's what we're having to work through right now is with say that a student lives out of state. We don't really have the ability to force them into a homes high school more traditional model uh of uh educational services. So that's the piece that we're trying to figure out right now as to because

147they literally the the students they could be if we maintain open enrollment they could in essence um you know kind of be anywhere um um outside the 10% uh requirement. So, so right now one of the questions that we're pondering is is really do we limit especially this initial year first year only to North Side ISD resident students not to say that we so that we have more control but we just have more we have more options to be able to support them in the event that they're not successful. I think that's also would be a great way to entice other people wanting to be a part of this program coming to our district. >> Yeah. So, that's a good question. I that's that's a big one actually that we're still working through. >> Move

148to north side. >> Thank you. I don't think we have any further questions. Appreciate it. >> Some more to come. We'll we'll be providing like I say another update, future update uh likely in the next academic meeting. Um, so again, Carrie, uh, Donnie Elely, the entire team, uh, they're working pretty they're working pretty hard on this right now, knowing that we've got a short short timeline. Um, but it's exciting. Uh, we're learning a lot already. So, so more to come. [snorts] >> Yeah. So, our next uh agenda item, we wanted to provide, like I say, we didn't have the opportunity to bring this before the academic meeting uh committee meeting, but we wanted to provide a mid-year progress update, particularly in regards to our turnaround campuses. So, Susan Cleveland uh is going to do uh

149just that, and I think we've got some very positive, exciting news to share, particularly with some of our turnaround campus improvement uh uh uh progress. >> Good evening. Um we you guys have looked at the beginning of the year map data um earlier and and as Dr. Craft mentioned we um presented the turnaround plans um in November. So we wanted to take a look at some attendance data and then our be middle of map data to see what kind of progress had taken place at those campuses. So what we looked at first is we look we always look at district average first and this is elementary school only on this first slide and then we look at title one campuses and then we look specifically at our three turnaround campuses glass me and Martin. So

150as you can see student attendance has held very strong. It's consistent and it falls pretty closely in line with district and title one average. Our teacher attendance is is in looks very similar to our student attendance the first nine weeks. Um and our teacher attendance has also hung hung strong and consistent. We do had a we had a little bit of a dip for our meet attendance for that first nine weeks. Um that was in large part because we were pulling teachers for some um emergent bilingual training. When we look at staff attendance, it's all attendance. It's school business, it's sickness, it's um discretionary. Um so that shows all of the the absences that they have. Um, and then we wanted to look at middle school data as well because we do have one we

151do have one middle school that has a turnaround plan as well. We compared it to district and title um averages as well for middle school. And again, all of our attendance falls in line um with both district and title one averages. We put on um they're the district high school and title one high school average. Um just for a point of comparison, we don't have any turnaround campuses at the high school level. Again, attendance looks strong for the first and second nine weeks. So, just as a review and a reminder, um our uh MAP data, it it is a nationally normed adaptive assessment. It's really searching for the zone of proximal development. Um it's given three times a year. So, what we're going to be looking at today is middle-ofear data. Uh prior we looked

152at beginning of year data, which showed us kind of the prior year's growth by looking at beginning of year. This is showing um this year's growth and and achievement. We have um like I said it looks at growth and achievement map is one data point. There are other data points that we use um to determine whether or not students are being successful and and um teacher progress. So we've looked at this before also this is sort of the implementation and learning support with MAP. Um we begin in in August, September doing beginning of year and then uh December, January is when we do middle of year. Currently we have middle school is taking reading middle of year test. We have MAP data. So we'll um they took that a couple weeks ago. So we'll have

153middle school data soon. We had this again is all elementary data. And then at the end of the year um we'll do the end of year data um the end of year assessment to kind of round out the year. So there are two different looks of the data again I've mentioned that's achievement and growth. Um achievement evaluates student achievement compared to nationwide norms which is kind of what gives it some of its magic. Um growth it determines whether students are growing enough based on their personal starting achievement. Their RIT score is what we call it. Um, but the most important thing about MAP is that it allows teachers to see longitudinal data about students to see uh whether or not they're progressing and then it gives them information on what areas they're doing well in

154and what areas they need support in. This is where the excitement starts. So this is what we call a quadrant and this shows the green quadrant is high growth and high achievement. The red quadrant is low achieve and low low achievement and low growth just to kind of acclimate you. So on the left is 2025. So last year's math data. We compare the exact same cut of data on the right side using the same norms to show applesto apples comparison of growth and achievement. So, just to quickly point out, we did differentiate it by turnaround campus, targeted improvement plan campus, title one, and non-title. So, you can see um kind of where those campuses um fall out. First of all, you notice how the groupings of campuses are between the 40th percentile and below the

15560th percentile. On the left, you then see on the right current middleofyear data that all of the campuses substantially shift up to that green quadrant. It's very positive data for both growth and achievement for math for elementary. Any questions about that? >> No, it really is. >> Everything moved. >> And me, >> we're almost all out. >> Yeah, me specifically and glass. Uh me's growth. We're going to get to a slide that shows their growth and achievement and it's really exciting. Um, and Glass as well, but but it's as an overview watching that entire group of campuses shift up is super exciting. Looking at what me Glass and and Martin's improvement really all a lot of the campuses all shifting up for growth and achievement both. >> These are the campuses that are in our

156turnaround. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. the the the red the red dots are um that on the left the red dots are where they were last year and then on the right is where they are now. >> So all of them move to positively good things. >> Okay. >> Very good things. Yes. >> This this may take another data source but I just got to ask this. So where >> [laughter] >> uh if you were to draw a line that says this is a bad question ask it anyway. This is where you need to be to pass a star. These are the ones we know that have met that. where would that line be? >> So, that's a great question. Um, and actually they do have a predictive um metric in MAP. It's about 70%

157accurate. So, and it really varies by grade level on campus. So, we really tell campuses look at both growth and achievement and if third, fourth, and fifth grade they both increase, your star scores will be higher. Your your A throughF will be higher. >> Not Not just higher though. Okay. I mean, it's going to get us out of the situation with me. I mean, seriously, I mean, we've got >> So, yeah, it's a great question. Um, we actually it's pretty hard to we we've looked at the map data. Um, it's pretty hard to without question predict that. We've done some modeling that shows what it would take and and the campuses involved know exactly what it would take. Um, but this is really really positive. Yeah. >> Yes. >> We'll have a better response to

158that. >> Yeah. We're we're actually um three of the the three tap campuses are doing a release star test and we've already started working on some modeling comparing actual star to the released one so we can see growth and that kind of stuff with the transition table. Yeah. >> So then we move into reading now before we're not quite practiced yet right um >> there's a question did you have a question on this slide before we move on? >> No. >> Okay Mr. Blunt I'm good. >> Okay thank you. So before we move to the reading slide, I want to set some context. So we had a lot more area that we needed growth in math. And so the shift looks different in reading, but in part it looks different in reading because we were

159already around the 50th percentile. And that nationally normed is where you you're supposed to live. So if we go to reading now, it's a very positive slide. Look at I'm going to point again. Look at me, Glass, and Martin. All have high growth. Um, but we're at the 50th to the 60th. Um, there's not been a whole ton of shifting, but it's because it's already positive. And like I said, you want to live around the 50th percentile. But again, we've we've delineated, you know, we've got our turnaround campuses in red and then the square the orange squares are our u target improvement. You still see some really, really good shifting. [snorts] So then we do a breakdown by campus by slide. Now this isn't real oo and oo and r. This one's an exciting one.

160So on the left side we have achievement and those are comparable pieces of data of the same time of year adjusted for norm changes. And then on the right side we have growth and again it's growth beginning of year, middle of year last year to this year. So mean 81st percentile median growth is pretty spectacular for fifth grade and 77th 75th 63rd I mean that really if you compare that to last year it's I'm super excited about educ [laughter] it's great data um great data so this is the math data and then the next slide is reading data reading data also positive when you look at the the change in achievement from year to year from second third fourth and fifth grade. Um, second grade a little bit lower, but everything else substantially higher, especially

161when you're talking about RIT scores and MAP data for achievement and um, growth data as well, very positive. As an overview for the next slide, um, mean is higher in achievement and accelerated growth in math and reading at all grade levels prior to the the last school year except in second grade reading. So, we have glass data. We start always start with math and they have um increased achievement in most grade levels and their growth outside of fourth grade for achievement and growth. Um they knew what the the knew what the issue was though and they they corrected and worked on on getting that that achievement and growth higher. They they knew the problem and so addressed it. Um reading is also a good good slide. Um so second grade again is is lower but

162outside of that really stayed po stayed even or increased in achievement. Growth is above in all areas. Again, Glass is higher in achievement, accelerated growth in all grades than prior year um except for fourth grade math and reading. Glass had higher achievement in third and fifth and matched in fourth and exceeded growth in all grade levels compared to the prior year. So Martin Martin is um again comparing year-over-year S cuts of data um had higher growth in all areas. Achievement is more similar to last year for Martin. Um but the next slide it it and then reading is again reading has in second, third and fourth achievement is higher. their their growth in all areas outside of fifth grade was higher. And when you see growth they like in the 66th percentile like that, anything

163we've told campuses if you want um really see accelerate if you want your achievement to increase 60 75th percentile is where you need to go to get that accelerated growth. So overall Martin um had higher growth in math for all grades compared to the prior year. In reading, Martin had higher achievement in growth in second, third, and fourth. >> But our achievement our achievement >> dipped >> in some in some >> it can we go back. It looked like it was all but I help me read. Okay. What am I looking? Um >> fifth grade. It dipped >> Martin winter achievement. >> Go back. >> Maybe math. Maybe go back. >> I'm sorry to math. There you go. >> So, it's really a little bit under, but it's pretty comparable. >> 4950. >> There's less

164growth in me and Martin than the prior school, right? It's a little bit more. >> Martin has less growth. Yes. Than than glass and me. >> And what what could we do to help like them kind of create bigger growth? So, they just recently took the star to kind of get the the release star to kind of get a better sense for what the kids had mastery of and didn't have mastery of um for the tees. And I don't know Jessica if you want to talk to some of the work being done at Martin with Cindy. >> I'll share the podium. Just >> there you go. All right. Good evening. Um so at Martin Elementary in particular, we had to do some additional teacher training and then we also went ahead and started at the

165start right after um the new year. They're doing a collaborative teach model like me elementary. And so we also have a meeting there with our region 20 representatives to do classroom walkthroughs because we had to allow them like a three-week overlay just to kind of take in the training and do implementation and walkthroughs. Um, we're pretty confident in some of the interim CCAs that they've given that we will continue to close the gap. They just need a little bit more time and as we had indicated, we had more novice teachers in those grades, third through fifth grade. So, it's a little bit of a heavier lift there and a different kind of manner, but we do have a plan put in place for all three um tap campuses based on the map data, >> but

166overall very good growth so far. Thank you. after you go, >> Mr. Pa. >> No, I just want to say, I mean, this is, you know, incredible and and I applaud everything that's going on on those campuses because they they know what's at stake and and I think we all do and I it's uh we still have time. So, I know this is a um you know, we still have a little time and so we uh I just uh applaud everything that you guys are doing. Keep it up. whatever is needed, you know, >> we'll be there to support it, whatever we need. >> The leaders are working hard, the teachers are working hard. Um, they're open to constructive feedback. Um, >> you've taken all of that feedback and you've done something with it. So,

167we really appreciate that. We go read over there. That's what we didn't >> No, it is. No, >> Mr. Blunt. >> No, that that's exactly what you're going to pitch. And the reason why No, the reason why I was going to say that Thank you for leading that. The reason why I was going to say that is um how much did we learn from Burke that's applicable in terms of because of the amount of reading and other things they did there with helping stamina helping other aspects etc. I mean are there lessons that have learned that >> would apply >> and working with curriculum and instruction and part of our curriculum compacting um when we look in particular to reading looking at what the kids are doing and intervention sustained or silent reading and other

168things that you've talked about. We made sure there was implementation of that as well. So >> okay because the reason why I'm saying that sorry delay is because you know you're talking I was thinking boy we could send a lot of folks over there to help out >> and focus on those areas. No, seriously. I guess APD is talking about it. So, >> I'm trying to get foundation or PT council to really help out that community to answer your question that I think would have an impact if you did. >> And not at just these tap campuses, but all elementary schools. What we have encouraged over Thanksgiving holiday, the Christmas holidays, they've had reading challenges as well as far as minutes to be read. And so in particular to me, we went out to the

169apartment complexes and the teachers from the campuses went out um to do those particular lessons as well and we did a concentration on reading. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Mrs. Freeman. >> Yes. Thanks. um question on the so I I appreciate the the the work that's been done and this presentation is good for us to hear and as I heard Miss Sapata say what or someone you said well what can we do I did hear you say that we have more um newer teachers more um not as experienced novice teachers thank you >> at at Martin. Is that something we need to look at as to how to um [snorts] keep more experienced teachers at some of these schools and then what can we do to help support that? >>

170Yeah, I think I it's a great point. I this is by design to some degree the teacher incentive aotment. I mean it really is which will be we've got approximately 1,200 over 1,300 teachers that [gasps and sighs] hopefully all things go as planned. Uh we'll start receiving payouts beginning next uh next school year. But the idea is that experience but also working with students uh of poverty. [snorts] um they're going to have the opportunity at a me uh a glass um even a Martin to really capitalize on that TIA incentive um through achievement and student uh growth um which are going to be catering really and really incentivizing your more experienced teachers to take on those [snorts] more complex challenging classrooms. I think there if there is any way that you all can think of

171how we can help with that um we certainly want to know about it. >> Well, right now we're applying a lot of district resources really with the deployment of specialist um to these campuses particularly me [clears throat] there'll be the opportunity for financial support in the future. I have a feeling >> the challenge I see is that we've got these four campuses right now. We've got a few behind them that we've got to pay attention to so that we don't they don't continue. So, it's going to be challenging as we continue to go forward and and maintain. >> We're going to be doing a lot of chasing with this accountability system for some time. >> And Jessica mentioned in our workshop that we're learning, right? It's best practices that now we're looking at the ones

172right at the cup and we're cusp and we're moving all of these initiatives to be modeled so that we not caught surprised like we were kind of a little bit with these. So thank you ladies. I think I think that's it. >> All right. And item number eight our business and finance annual comprehensive financial report. So we had the opportunity to review our act for annual uh your annual financial audit uh at the finance committee last finance committee and so we wanted to bring this item uh again for review uh answer any questions and uh this will be due to TEA by the end of the month. Yes. >> So um so this is your annual financial >> report >> review. >> Yes sir. So we have loaded into the diligence system our PowerPoint that

173our auditor actually provided to the finance committee last week along with the final act for report annual financial report uh for your review. Want to point out first uh oh thank you Monica for showing the actual presentation. I don't want to go through the entire presentation today because we did cover that in finance committee and that is the purpose of the finance committee. But I would like to point out slide nine if we can go there. There should be a few more down >> this one. Okay. So, our auditors are required to do a what's called a single audit if we have more than a million dollars in revenue in any federal program, which of course we do. And so, I want to point out on that federal portion of the audit that they provided

174that down at the bottom, the last two lines, we had an unmodified opinion over each major federal program that they tested. Unmodified is what you want. Unmodified means it's clean. it has not been modified. So that means that those the data that are in our federal programs, you can rely on that data is what that means. And then the very bottom line, there were no internal internal control findings related to the major programs that they tested. And then on the next page for what they call the um yellow book audit which is our regular financial statements that are in that uh meat of that act for report that you have. Similar to the federal programs that second line there is also an unmodified opinion over the financial statements meaning that materially you can rely on

175those financial statements as report them. Also, there were no internal control findings related to financial reporting and there were no findings related to compliance. So, it is an absolutely clean audit. Uh, so I want to give kudos to Denise Kipa. She was the uh she's our director for accounting that was over this program. She just started this time last year. So, been in the job right at a year. She did excellent job. Tiffany's here, of course. Tiffany manages. She's the supervisor of Denise. coming in and the whole team did a great job this year, but it was a clean audit and we're asking the board to approve the audit report. There is a certificate of board that has to be completed to be submitted to TEA with this report. And I said the January 28th

176deadline, they've actually given us a little more time this year, but we still intend to have it in on the 28th. They are implementing a new system and they're giving us a little leeway to get it into the system, but we still intend to have it in on the 28th. >> Well, congratulations, M. >> Thank you. Congratulations to the team >> and thank you all for for >> stepping into the role because we had a change in leadership and getting this done >> efficiently and effectively >> and thank you. And we actually had the report in draft form before the Thanksgiving holidays which was great. We we read that over Thanksgiving holidays um farmed it out to some of our leaders in other departments. Thomas Wor actually read a portion of this to proofread for

177us. So, we're getting people outside of our area to look at it and help us proofread and make sure that it's done well. I should point out also this act for report a lot of people don't realize that our team writes that it's 200 and something pages long. The auditors don't write that. The auditors give an opinion on it. We actually write it. So, it's a substantial amount of work. >> 214 to be exact. Y >> 214 pages. Yes. I know. I thought it was 217, but yes, a very large document that our team actually writes. Do we have a motion then from the floor, >> Mrs. Freeman? >> Yeah. Um before I before I make a motion, I just want to call attention to to a couple of things. There's um general fund expenditures

178and general fund revenue. Those pie charts, those are very interesting, especially good for us to refer to and certainly more detailed in the um actual caffer itself. But one thing that all that tends to come up all the time is how much we spend on administration. >> Um you'll see that expenditures are are at 2%. >> Um there's just a lot of good information in here >> that um and I I think we some point in time need to highlight. I mean we went through this in two minutes. There's a lot of things that we do here in North Side that um >> save our taxpayers money and we're um fiscally responsible um and the decisions that we make in this district and I think we need to highlight those when when we can. This

179not necessarily the the place to do that. I just point that one out. But there's several other >> Let's put it online, Barry. Let's put it online. >> And it [laughter] website, we actually do upload this to our website under our financial >> it is. But as we talk about as we get further on um when we start talking about there's no secret that we're considering a bond innovator um in November. As we get further into this, we need to pick some pieces out of here and and highlight them for for our community because we do we do do good things and we get accused of not being fiscally responsible. This is this is all here. Um, >> not only that, I've never, well, in my short term, our CFO doesn't go to as many

180events as Megan, so I'm trying to figure out like how do you do it all because she goes to a lot of >> I'm a firm believer that if I don't go see it, I can't see where we can actually reduce. >> There we go. I love that. So, thank you for also engaging so much in everything that we do as a whole for our district. That's that's pretty awesome. >> Thank you. >> So, did you >> with that I'm I move approval. >> Okay. And we Dr. Hazo, did you have a question or did you want She wants to second that. So, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any further discussion? Okay, motion passes. Audit results have been approved. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And item

181number nine on our agenda is human resources. >> So, I'll let Ben Mure uh introduce uh this item or Letter Ramirez. Uh um lady, welcome. Um she's been sitting very patiently, but um we recently we recently went out for an RFQ for our wellness benefit consulting services and so uh Lety our team have been working uh through that and so I believe we've got a recommendation to make this evening. >> Yes. So good evening board members, Dr. Craft. I'm Leticia Ramirez. I'm the benefits director. So members of the board, this item is presented for board consideration and approval and reflects the recommendation resulting from the RFQ 2025-152 for benefits consulting services. The evaluation committee met on December the 5th, 2025 to review submissions and establish the interview process. Interview interviews with the five responding firms

182were conducted on December the 15, 2025. Following the interviews, the committee reconvened and a formal vote was conducted on December the 16th, 2025. The evaluation committee was con uh composed of Ben Mir, the assistant soup for human resources, myself and Ruth Rodriguez, who is the assistant director for benefits. uh Yuhena Hawa from the business office participate participated as an observer but did not have any voting authorization based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the RFQ the interview process and the committee vote HR and benefits recommend Alliant Insurance Services to serve as a benefits consultant for North Side Independent School District. At this time we are requesting board approval for this recommendation. [snorts] >> Any questions? >> Mrs. Apata. >> Um, so this is this would be a new company. >> Yes, ma'am. >> What are

183they going to provide exactly? >> Yeah, that's a great question. What are they going to provide? They're going to provide first and foremost the expertise in navigating uh this um talk about ever evolving uh world of health insurance procurement going forward. Uh if you recall, I guess it's been two years now already um that we transitioned to a self-funded health insurance uh program. It's about a hund00 million contract. Um so it's um it's a it's a rather large uh procurement process as we secure health insurance and benefits uh for our employees and of course dependent uh and going forward. So providing that level of expertise and working with um not only the contracting but also what I will call the best deal that we can possibly procure for our membership is going to hopefully drive

184down employee and family uh member cost. Um uh thus overall um trying to increase take-home pay at the end of each month that's not having to go towards health insurance premiums. So, and I'm using health insurance, but that's that's the driver and will be uh going forward. Uh so, it's consulting services. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? [snorts] >> Any motions? >> This the ranking I'm sorry. The ranking is the those are the companies that you guys >> Yes. That >> Okay. Those are all the the companies that >> that responded to the RFQ. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. And any of the other ones below were anybody who is our previous consultant? >> Well, our current >> our current one is McGriff. >> Okay. [snorts] They rank down to three this time. Dr. Hassel, um,

185this is the first time looking at this process. So, do we normally just get like a one sheet of like this is who we ranked or is there like a based on like what you all graded them on >> like the building committee? >> Yeah. Like what did you like what were the rankings or like we looked at these specific things and this is why rank one is the one that got the most. Well, anytime. Well, this is the second time I've bring a I've brought a consultant to the board and this has been the format that we've used. I don't know if that's a conversation we can have now or is it off to the side as far as why? So, the question is why they ranked first. >> Yeah. Like what were or

186what was the criteria that was looked at for these um two >> six vendors? Yeah. Like what? >> Yeah. So I was a roof like for example like in our building committee like when we pick we get bids or we get um cost >> benefit analysis we get years that they've been in in the industry what's their repetation like you know we look at all >> Yeah because that's all part of so once the the bids come in that's the the piece that we take apart and we make sure that they have a certain rating you know the years we have to look at references that once they you know submit a bid. I mean, I can tell you that there were three actually two big things that stood out for Reliant for us was

187one of the issues with benefits in the HR side, I should say on the H or with HR on the benefit side is that when we hire teachers, we hire them in August. So, open enrollment starts in October, right? So, we get a lot of employees who say, "I didn't sign up for insurance because I just did it in August." So, then they missed the window of open enrollment in October. So, one of the one of the things that Alliant had in their bid or in their proposal was that they were going to provide their own staff to have weekly meetings with new employees to be able to explain that to them, explain all of the benefits that we provide, but then also to talk to them about in October, you got to make sure

188you you do this again so that way you have insurance for the following year. So when they register for insurance, it's just for this current year, right? And then so when you do it in October, it's for the following year. So also, right now, the district pays about $800,000 for our uh our Bswift system, which is our benefits platform. And so with Alliant, we are going to get a free benefits platform. Well, when I say free, but it's going to come with Alliant, so it won't be a charge to the district. >> So, those are the two of the big things. >> The cost >> for B Swift >> just for Alliant for to hire them to >> So, well, that's what So, after today, then tomorrow we'll go and we will have a conversation

189as far as fees and what they are charging or not charging. >> So, we don't even know how much >> they're going to charge us. Keep in mind this is this is a consulting uh process. So when you start talking about price, it's similar to architectural services. There has to be a recommendation that's going to provide the best uh uh quality of services uh the consultant that will provide and then you start the negotiation of the contract thereafter. M >> in the event that we're not able to meet uh terms or an agreement with the terms of the contract uh i.e. fees associated then we'll have to come back to another recommendation in regards to another consultant. >> You can't legally get there based on price and price alone. >> It's [snorts] always discussed the

190next day. It just the recommendation is today that if we can go back to a line and then we can start the negotiation with pricing again like Dr. Craft just said if it we can't come to an agreement then we'll go down to the next person to the next company I should say. >> What was all offering again? You said they offered a >> they offered their staff members to come and sit with our employees to educate them on our the insurance products. Obviously, you know, the medical piece too, that's the big piece of it. >> And then the benefits platform system. So, where employees uh do their their benefit elections, that's also going to be part of the package that comes with them. And McGriff didn't offer that or hasn't? >> No, it didn't.

191Not when we did the RF RFQ. It wasn't in their the proposal. [snorts] >> Dr. Hassel, I already >> Oh, okay. We have any motions whether we want to postpone it, hold it, approve, what do we want to do? >> What is the is there like a deadline that we need to >> Well, so if you start, you know, looking at um plan, design, and there's there's going to be a tremendous amount of work uh particularly as we get ready to look at plan your gosh, lady, I said 27 already. Mhm. >> Um, so working backwards from an open enrollment process in October, uh, we need to have a consultant here within the next couple of months. >> Well, actually, so our contract with McGriff ends at the end of February. >> Yeah. So it

192it Yeah, couple months. By the time we get into the spring, we need to have a consultant start preparing for the upcoming plan year. It takes a lot of It takes a lot to be prepared for open enrollment. >> It does. >> So, I just want to make sure I'm I'm re I'm understanding this correctly. So, currently we're paying $800,000 to McGriff. Um, but we don't know how much we'll end up paying to Alliant. >> So the the $800,000 is for the BW Swift [clears throat] platform. >> So that's that's where the employees enroll in their benefits. So that's not part of McGriff. >> Bwift is a application module. >> Um, and it's it's a little bit of a cumbersome one at that, but that's that's the 800,000 is just to be able to access

193that platform. The overall fee associated with our current consultant is is more than $800,000. That's just the that's just the BW Swift application, >> right? And you're saying Alliant comes with the Bwift platform. So, it's combined. >> They come with another platform. It's a It's called um >> Cellerics. There you go. So we wouldn't have the $800,000 but it would go towards the fee for alliance per se [snorts] >> because they have a different platform. We wouldn't use the the P >> right it comes with the company >> right at at a unknown disclosed cost right now. >> Well that's what will start the negotiations tomorrow morning. We just need the approval of the board to start negotiations >> with any of these. No. Well, well, our first pick is Alliant >> and then if

194we can't get to terms, if we can't agree to terms, then we'll come back um >> with another recommendation. >> Think of it as a two-step process. >> Right. >> I motion to move forward. So, um >> start. >> We can start. >> Okay. Doc Mr. Sito seconds that. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any further discussion? The motion passes. Thanks for answering all of our questions. We're not trying to be difficult. We're just trying to understand. [laughter and gasps] >> Thank you. >> All right. And this next item on our agenda is number 10 for administration. >> So I'm at Can you hear me? >> Yes. A little bit. >> Okay. You want me to put on my coaching? You want me to come up there? >> Yeah. I don't

195know why we can't. Well, you have a great coaching voice. >> I can do it. I can do it. Do [laughter] you prefer that I take >> Does Monica's mic work? Maybe. >> I think they said it's working, right? >> Is it? >> Okay, good deal. So, uh, first of all, thank you for the great questions tonight uh, on all of the presentations that we have. And so, I feel like I have an easy one uh, to some degree because we're not having to make a decision tonight. Uh but I do want to offer an apology somewhat because we were supposed to provide this uh information to our board of trustees last Tuesday. Uh prior to ever having a conversation with our district staff regarding it and unfortunately because of the cancellation, we had to

196flip that model and we had anticipated having uh really the experts kind of walk the board through this process. And so unfortunately you get the second string which is Dr. Fay. And so I'll do my best on trying to present the process that we're going to use as a district um to look at really optimizing resources in our system. And so first and foremost um the the optimization process is is not about school closures. It's really about how do we better utilize all of our resources to improve outcomes for students, for teachers, for families, and for our entire community. Uh, I like to think of it as making sure that every single one of our kids sits in the highest quality seat in the district with the best teacher and the best principal. And I

197think those two two elements are really, really important. And so, um, did I already cover this? Oh, okay. That I actually just did that. Sorry. [laughter] So, we can go on the next one. So, uh, just looking at what's going on across the the nation, what's going on across, um, our state. Matter of fact, we could add three more districts to this as of last week. Uh, last week, Corpus ISD, Corpus Christi ISD announced seven school closures without any consideration of looking at different models of schools. So, a couple things uh that are trends that are happening is that we're we are seeing a shift in the school age population. uh meaning that our families are not having as many uh children and you can't educate an unborn child. Um we are seeing an increase

198uh in options for our families. So we too are in in looking into offering different options to kids with our virtual program. We have non-public schools, we have homeschools. Uh the number of homeschool kids in our state has I mean it is gone off the charts. I believe we're adding about 50,000 kids a year across the state of Texas to the homeschool environment. And then of course choice options. One of those that's not on here uh that we're hearing a lot more about most recently is something called microchooling. And so with the onset of vouchers uh getting ready to hit um we think that we're in we're we can look to anticipate uh even even less students entering the public school setting. Of course we know inflation the cost of living has increased tremendously over

199time. We have fewer home starts in annual closings. Uh and then of course the uncertain time uh uncertainty of state and federal funding uh which is something that's really scary especially to districts that receive a um a large uh sum of money from federal program money. And so districts that have seen that across Texas um we can go back a slide. Thank you. Um in our own backyard, SASD Northeast, we've seen other districts not listed here in San Antonio that have already done some school closures. um and some of the districts that are not only doing school closures, but they're looking at really reimagining how they deliver school in the public education setting. And so, uh we can go ahead and move forward. Thank you so much. So, >> real so real quick on the

200the foundation of that, um if but if you narrow it down to Bear County. All right. Yes. Um, we still have now we have growth that's occurring in Bear County, >> uh, populationwise increase >> and I wasn't sure if we actually had annual closings. I know there may be fewer home starts relatively speaking. How does that play into >> So Debbie McNier could are she's a resident expert on that. Um, but we do have fewer fewer homes that are starting to be built. We have fewer closings than we've had traditionally in our in our history at Northside ISD. >> Understand? >> Yeah. >> Let me tell I asked that because um and I may be wrong to me part of what we may if if depending which how that question is fully answered our optimization

201may be that we also really push on how we're going to increase enrollment per se unlike other northeast don't have a choice. San Antonio ISD. I'm sorry. Be careful because of the growth and other factors that we may have. You know, we have may have different options per se that may actually broaden out what we want to do with our >> potentially. Absolutely, sir. Great feedback. I appreciate that. [snorts] >> I just want to add one more piece that what I've seen other districts do is they have done what's called an equity survey >> to see if that conversation of a school closure, which has happened for some of them, what is the community's effect on, >> how does it impact? Yes. And there's several organizations that do that. >> I think that we need

202that's something we should also consider in doing and kind of looking at the whole picture and the impact because then we can go to our partners, the county, the city, and let them know like this is we all should be collaborating on this effort and how can you help us? >> Yeah. And I I did have a conversation with Dr. Craft and I certainly open to that conversation as well. So, thank you for that feedback as well. And so uh this is kind of the an interesting slide I think for us. Um this is the enrollment landscape for the district. But what this shows is not only population but it actually shows the number of campuses u that have increased with enrollment sizes that are less than. So if you look at the very I'm

203not going to look at the the dark dark blue line which is the represents the fewer than 300 students. If you look at that graph, it's kind of it's remained relatively stable. Meaning that the number of schools that we have with less than 300 students in it is is has not changed dramatically. But when you look at the campuses that that serve fewer than 350 uh campuses, uh that has gone um up to from I can't I don't know what the number is over back in the >> 2018. Um, but if you look, that's gone to 10 schools in our district over time. Is it two? And then if you look at the one that serves fewer than 400, that actually has gone from, I'll just pick three to over 17. And then 2020 was

204obviously a a year of concern. We know we all had COVID, right? Uh we were coming back from that. Uh but if you look at the number of campuses that serve fewer than 500 kids, that number went from I'll just say 12 and then it went to 28 in 2020 and then it went to 43. And just the sheer number of kids in a building um based on ADA and enrollment uh has an impact on overhead of campus because of all of the like you have to have an admin, nurse, teachers, like things like that. It cost uh dollars to run a building basically. And so um the other thing the interesting right is we mentioned earlier in our presentation that homeschool has gone from under 200 not homeschool the virtual environment at Northside ISD.

205We have had less than 200 kids back in 2013 and now we have only 1,500 kids. But yet this this picture is significantly more impacted than just by the virtual school program. And we'll show another graph in just a second on the charter charter picture. [snorts] And so ultimately though um we have um many more schools serving a lot less kids than we had back in 2020. And that's significantly hurting us uh in the pock for lack of better words with our finances right now. That's pretty common in [clears throat] the world like as population moves outward. >> Yeah. >> The in the hubs of all cities. LA has had this problem in Chicago, New York. >> Yep. >> It creates this domino effect. >> Yeah. And so if we move on to the next

206slide, this actually demonstrates uh the picture of the charter enrollment. And so in 2019, we had our peak enrollment uh 107,817. And during that time, you can see we uh out students that were supposed to go to Northside that went to outside charters, meaning they were not in district charters or inside the north north uh north side ISTD boundaries. Um that number has kind of remained stagnant. But when you look at the number of charters, the number of students going to charters that are within our boundaries, that number continues to creep. So even at our peak enrollment 107,817 uh we saw a significant increase from prior years in students that are going to charters and then we start seeing a decline. The first big decline came in 2020. Um we did not necessarily see a

207decline in charter enrollment. We didn't see an increase per se. But if you look to 2022 um we on the look of almost we're starting to rebound a little bit with our enrollment. you're starting to see again that yellow bar where students are choosing to go to charter systems uh increase in our system again. And so 2024 we're already down uh almost 8,000 kids from our peak enrollment in 2019. Uh and then of course we see another decline this year and we don't have the charter data uh for for this past for the enrollment from last year. We'll get that uh once TEA publishes that. But but we are down about 8,700 kids from peak enrollment in 2017. And what we know from the state demographer um he has actually said that peak enrollment for

208the state of Texas based on birth rates was in 2019 or actually was it last year? I think it was last year last year. >> Last year peak enrollment. And so these are just this is ju these are just facts, right? I'm not here to argue um our programming is not as good as charters or anything like that. This is just raw data indicating what's happening to the demographic shifts at Northside ISD. >> Questions? >> Do they have data on private school data yet? >> Yes. >> Uh we that we definitely do have that. Um if we have students that left our system saying they were going to private systems. I'm not sure there's any data set at the state level where we could pull that down off of servers, but we do we would

209be able to tell you how many kids left North Side ISD that said they were going to go to a private school. >> Yeah, some of that. >> Yeah, >> some some of that data I think they still have it because I used to collect some of that or get some of that. I think region 20 used to be able to provide some of that at least to add some to it. I keep whatever I'm not going to say any names. So that may be you might already have that as a resource. I was going to tell the board interesting thing also with this chart and I bring it up before is by what year are we on 23 24 if I remember I found an old chart I had from about 10 years ago

210when we were projected to be about 116,000 now we're going to be at 150,000 at our peak in about another six or seven years >> in that gap you know you can sort of see where it happened etc and that all and that's why I'm really curious on what the latest data shows from a bear county sense on the growth and otherwise >> um because it leads to that again when I talking about topization but you know like I said north side was expected to be 150,000 about another I remember our debut could tell you about another six or seven years >> so some big changes because we had that potential if you look at our land and the way growth was going >> yeah and I know that there there is potential for some

211more growth uh that's happened and just I haven't had this conversation with Debbie and I thank you for queuing that I probably should have is what I've seen in other districts across Texas is the the lower birth rates the yields per households being built is significantly less than what it has been in the past. So the demograph even our demographer at the state level is unwilling to predict what is happening in the next school year with the the implementation of vouchers and things like that. It's a really for us it's really scary because we're so we're entering into a zone that we're very unfamiliar with because we're demographers at the state level have been pretty accurate over time >> and so uh and definitely Debbie McNary and her team have been very accurate over time.

212So um so >> the birth rates all over the world are going down. >> Yep. >> And period. Yes. >> It's too expensive to have babies >> demographics. Absolutely. There's a lot of reasons for that. We won't get into that today. >> Yes, I definitely don't want to do that. >> Mrs. Freeman has a question. >> Actually, just an advertisement for the caffer. Look into the demographic areas of the caffer and it has um birth rate over time. >> Um there's some in in demographics over time. So, it's kind of interesting to look at. >> Yeah. And we are um we have been collecting data for this process for about two and a half months now. And so later on in the work that that will be coming to the board, there will be some

213information coming specifically on birth rates as it impacts North Side at specific campuses. >> Mrs. had a question. I'm sorry. Before >> I mean I know we I mean I don't know if there's much we can do about the birth rate. I mean, um, but I mean, I I know I the other day I saw an advertisement. I think private schools are starting to advertise. >> Oh, yeah. >> And so I think >> I [snorts] think we need to also, you know, look into something like that and just to remind our community, you know, again, what public schools have to offer because it's it's coming fast and furious like it if we like it or not. But, uh, yeah, I saw an advert. I It was on TV. It was a commercial. Yeah, I know

214I I'm well that's not part of this conversation, but certainly we can move on uh in later uh board presentations on some of the efforts that will be going on here. And so um a couple things and we did we did cover this with our our all level meeting which is all principles and all district leaders last week on Wednesday. Um when we're thinking about the elements of optimization, like obviously the one thing uh that people think of automatically is, oh, we're going to have to close schools and we're going to have to consolidate and those things potentially are options. Um but what I like about the process and the the trajectory of our process is is time to really study what's going on in our system. So, we're taking our time to really study

215the work is that we could be look at looking at potentially expanding popular programs like STEM opportunities, fine arts opportunities, uh full immersion programs, uh dual language 2-way type programming, uh things like that. Uh we could be looking at school consolidation depending on what this board um um finds as determines as priorities for the system. Uh we could be looking at campus redesign, looking at possibly repurposing a middle school maybe to a a K through8 uh type setting or a 6 through 12 setting. Uh we could be looking at implementing new type of program like for example we did the ads model at um Westwood Terrace and at uh Cable Elementary. We could be looking at expanding that to other campuses, which we know would be of great benefit to to our areas that serve

216really uh students in poverty. Uh we could be looking at reszoning again. That is part of the the conversation. We've done that for growth in the past. Uh it potentially we could be looking at doing that for different reasons to ensure I go back to making sure that students have a high quality seat, high quality teacher, high high quality principal or or we could be looking at doing completely different alternative models. And those are things um like a 612 model, a STEM campus. We could be looking at different types of PEX or early college high school models. Uh we could be looking at IB type programs. And so there's definitely um work to be done. Um and it's interesting because like North Side, like other systems um we've kept things very traditional. Um and unfortunately

217families want flexibility and they want different options, right? And so as as families leave us, we must be mindful uh that some of our families leave because they don't have options and we need to be become much more creative to uh not win them back but to offer and be the better choice for students in our in our school district. And so uh does anybody have questions regarding this slide? >> Now my marketing ad is just stinking. >> Good deal. >> Ideations. >> Good deal. Go ahead. And so a couple things, um, we've all seen systems that make decisions just based on data, um, based on we have less than 200 kids in a building. Uh, it's designed for 600 kids. Uh, we're going to have to close that building, right? We've seen systems that

218have done that. Um, our process will look a little bit differently. And so we'll look at data, but we'll also look at context of the community, uh, where that particular campus sits. uh look at our own values and our our experiences that we want uh our students to have. And so essentially taking all that information and compiling it and then coming back to the board through different iterations to make recommendations to our board. Uh, and that could be, you know, like I said, we could be opening a 6 through 12 uh, early college high school. Like there there are ways to increase the flex the what options for families without having to just close schools. Okay. So, questions. Is this uh like equivalent to like um like an equity audit kind of in like >>

219you know I actually read uh met with someone about a week ago around equity audits and so I've read the research on what is entailed and what is the methodology for equity audits. Um and so it certainly does resemble something like what an equity audit uh would provide. Uh and that'll have to be something that we work through with Dr. Craft to to is do we want to use process here? Do we want to get an external one as well to see if they mirror image each other? Um but one of the things and I'll get into more about how we do this work in just a second. Uh but I just this slide is really important because it's not just looking at the number of schools in a building and the capacity of a

220building. there's so much more involved when we're making decisions on what we're going to do with our schools and how we're going to offer flexibility to our families and offer choice. >> Okay. [snorts] >> I think it's important that you're looking at the whole picture and that the effects of this in our community so that the folks know we're having these conversations otherwise we wouldn't know that they're happening. So, thank you for sharing that today. Mrs. Freeman, you have a comment? >> Yeah, I appreciate the information. Um, will you be attaching this into our >> Yes. I thought it was already because I've I've had it for like four weeks. It's not a secret, but yes, >> I think I think Alma put it in the executive attachments, so you might check there, but if

221not, you do have access to it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sorry about that. >> And so, we can go ahead and go on. So, a couple things that we are looking at right now or looking to do eventually is based on the work that we do inside the district and alongside our board and determining those priorities. Uh and thank you all for uh agreeing to meet uh with the consultants uh individually. I I really think that's a good process. Uh and it won't be the first time that you're asked to do that. We will come back two or three times um to make sure that before we bring any recommendation forward to our community that uh we've had uh constant iterations between the district and our board of trustees. obviously um you know

222this this is you're you're elected to to help us run this district and so uh but we'll be developing school profiles uh these look different based on different priorities that different boards across the state of Texas or our country want right so northides will look different u but every campus will get a district prof a campus profile it could be uh based on uh demographic obviously demographic data will be included but it could be based on things that we think are important like academic achievement or uh you know u culture surveys or um student attendance surveys or staff attendance like things like that. So there's lots of different ways uh to do this but it will be based on what our board of trustees determines as priorities for our system and then taking all those

223data metrics and including them to build out a campus level profile. And other districts also do um clusters based on region. So it's like our own little city, right? And we divide them like city council one, two, district one, two, three within the schools because >> because of our size and that demographics are so diverse, but then that helps the cluster and they work as a team kind of >> a little competitiveness too. But it's interesting to see like the data. They're like, "You have the same students, but here here you are in your own little dashboard. Compete with yourself and increase attendance and it works." And doc, miss about you, you have question. >> Um, is this going to be like what uh we're moving towards the like the camp the campus or district

224um dashboard? Is this the information? >> This is more probably the I would describe it as more of an anticedent to really strategic planning. Um I don't I don't I mean we could we could I think probably take some of the information data and create dash a dashboard but it's not really the the idea is not to necessarily create like a a dashboard product for uh consumption as much as it is to offer recommendations as to how to become more efficient >> and look at optimization of programming. >> Yeah. So, I mean, the school closure consolidation piece of the conversation is real. It it's a part of this conversation, >> but it's not the only part of the conversation, which I think sometimes when districts and communities get really wrapped up in the the heat

225of it. Um, that's all the conversation becomes. and and and so then here comes the subjectivity and not looking at truly what is the what what are the best options to serve not only that particular community but the the district as a whole. it just gets lost in translation because it it's hard to it's hard to navigate um rough seas when [snorts] how do I say this? Um you're you're you're talking about closing the pride and [snorts] joy of a community. I mean it just just by nature becomes very very a very difficult personal conversation. Thank you. >> Oh yeah. >> So >> thank you so much. >> Thank you. Well, we have just a couple more slides, right? Oh, >> so [laughter] one of the other things I love about it and and I'm

226I'm I'm at the forefront of the work um because I love this work. Not I don't love the idea of closing schools, but I do love the engagement process of trying to really define uh the future of of our organization and how we're going to serve our families and serve our kids. And so, um how do we how are we going to do this? It it the district is not doing this alone. Uh there's different advisory groups that we already have set in place. We have uh our all level group. We have NEIC, we have NLA, we have leadership north side, we have we have the CBACK, we have like so we have already plugged into when those um particular committees meet so that we are engaging those groups in the process as well. Uh

227we will host public workshops. Uh we will send out surveys. We will have a district uh optimization website uh so that the public can access that. We will host town halls. We will have a public email address where parents, our community, business owners all can send us the feedback that we're going to need to really shape the recommendations that we intend to bring forward to our board of trustees to make decisions. And so, and the last slide that I have is kind of like a timeline. So, one [clears throat] of the things that I've seen districts do is really rush into the process. And I know Miss Freeman, you had a question about um this process a couple board meetings ago. And if you look uh we're kind of in that January phase where we're

228introducing the process looking at we are there's been so much data pulled and dumped uh right now. Um and I think we're about done with the data stuff for right now. Um but then looking at really trying to start developing and working towards priorities for the system and then applying those priorities to the district uh data and the profiles. So, um, obviously we're not there yet, but we began that work last Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday or Thursday, um, in the all level meeting with about 300 and it was a a two-hour session that I I feel like was probably one of the best sessions I've been part of in my education career. Every individual was very engaged in the process and helping us start moving in into a direction of what is really going to

229be important to serving kids and serving them well in our community. And so, uh, that puts us through, um, January through next November. Uh, and then beginning in December, February, we'll be wanting to update the board and bring recommendations. Now, will it mean that y'all don't see anything until next December? Absolutely not. We will keep our board updated along the way uh to include um the engagement sessions that you'll have with um with Olan and and Justin Tyak. Um but then along the way we will do periodic presentations to the board about where we are. >> We also like to participate in the town hallsially that way we like community outreach that needs to be happening. I mean I would I'm speaking for myself and anyone else would like to >> the that will be

230highly encouraged. Um, we'll want to make sure that we don't get y'all into a quorum situation, but uh, highly encouraged to have at least three board members at those town halls or the public meetings uh, where we're going to hear from our community about what's important. >> Mrs. Yeah, >> I'm sorry. >> Um, [snorts] so I don't this would be this is a this is a great timeline. My concern is we're we're talking about going to the public in November for a bond and we're looking at efficiencies in this optimization. >> I I can see a challenge with that. Um identifying the needs in the bond when we're not sure that we might have some idea. >> Yeah. But we we've got to be very careful >> about the decisions. >> I think I think

231a lot of it's going to be contingent upon >> what all is going to be included in the bond. And and again, I would be a little bit more apprehensive if it looked like there were going to be a lot of of um smaller, older facility renovation, major renovation work. I just don't know that we're going to have the broadband to be able capacity to be able to get there. >> Understand that. >> Um so with HVAC with kind of just more the life cycle replacement security vestibules um a lot of the really just we've got to have these these are definite needs. I I I don't know. I I don't know that that's going to be as much of a concern in regards to um a pitch or a sale to the community. >>

232I just want to be sure because when we've gone to the to our voters with a a bond, we've been very specific about what facilities are going to benefit. And so be sure that we want to be sure >> we'll definitely want to be cautious of um investing or or articulating that we're going to be investing in a campus that we may be in fact >> consolidating, closing, um repurposing uh what have you. Um, in fact, we were just discussing it last week, ironically enough, as we were visiting with principles in the leadership, uh, Austin ISD, I guess, had just reported, uh, the expenditure of about $100 million in bond proceeds on campuses that they're in essence proposing to close. >> So, that's what we've got to be really careful, uh, which I think we

233have. Um but yes, to your point, >> this is a totally This is not not something we've ever done before. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> I I think it needs to be done. >> Yes. >> Um >> No, it has to be done to make decisions. It's not how are we going to make these decisions without the data. We have to make informed decisions based on what's happening because so much has changed legislatively. Yeah, I I think that making objective decisions is is probably the critical piece and subjectivity will be interjected there. It just again it's personal when you start talking about reprogramming in in campuses and particularly community schools. It just it becomes inevitably personal. I totally understand that and appreciate that. but is also needs to remain as objective as we possibly can be

234in order to optimally go about this process to be fair, to be equitable, um, and benefit all students. >> Mr. Black, >> I was going to say it's not the same, but we have sort of had these type of conversations before in a different light. What I mean by that when we're going through the extreme growth we're open five whatever schools we had to look very closely what was going inside primarily inside of 410 the numbers were not the same then either so we had to sort of have some of these conversations is hey if I build a new fine arts building here what do I do at this particular school for example >> or if the numbers are going down here and I've got an increase here we had to look at hey I've

235got to shift some boundaries around to optimize the resources etc. So why it's a different way of looking at it per se? We have sort of >> had these conversations before. >> Oh yeah. >> And and I'll work with uh Dr. Craft based on what y'all decide around timelines and so obviously this is just a presentation and so if things need to change and we we can speed up our process a little bit and make sure that we meet um the needs of the board. >> Thank you. Now now. Okay, thank you so much Dr. Fay. Appreciate it. And the next item on our agenda is superintendent board operating procedure discussion and possible action. >> Yeah. So, wanted to bring this item back. Uh once again, I think you'll uh find in your uh board

236documents. I'm sorry, mine went to sleep. uh the most recent uh draft update, but then also uh we went ahead and included Dr. Hoso. Uh thank you Dr. Hoso responded uh with suggested edits. Um and so [snorts] uh you'll find those I believe also um uh as as a as an attachment. So again this is like I say further opportunity to uh discuss board operating procedures and working towards trying to finalize. >> Okay. >> Do you want to Mrs. Freeman? >> I I hate to suggest this but we have one board member that's not here and board operating procedures affect the entire board. >> Yeah. >> And this is not just a majority vote. It's a super majority. And my suggestion is there's not many times where we >> if somebody's not here, we postpone

237a vote, but I'd like us to consider postponing this until we're all here. >> I think it's a valid point. >> Does anyone else agree? >> I agree. >> Okay. >> In the meantime, if you will please, like I say, consider edits. uh continue to send those edits to us uh Monica and myself and like I say we'll we'll work to cobble together board operating procedures that we can >> we'll get them >> all get behind at least five uh we'll get behind so >> okay so we need a motion to postpone this >> to we don't >> okay perfect that's all we have for a B >> yeah so the B is really I know that we attempted the workshop format. Um it provides for some really long evenings. I again completely understand that.

238So if we want to transition back to committees, this is an opportunity uh to have that conversation but then also look at uh our board uh committee uh composition. >> Mrs. Freeman. >> Yeah. Just one one thing. If am I mistaken? Did we just have one meeting? We had one called forward meeting >> and when we talk about long meetings that also had a we had a grievance attached to that if I'm not mistaken. Um was it was it am I remembering that? >> I don't remember. Was that I don't know if that was the >> grievance. Monica, do you remember? >> Did we have the grievance? >> Regular board meeting. It was just a regular board meeting. >> The grievance was at a regular >> Okay. >> Workshop was >> okay. >> Longer. >>

239Um well, I'm curious as to what the rest of the board has to say. I um we talked about at finance meeting the other day, some things that would could be put on the next finance meeting, but important because of the the possible bond coming up and then um our we're getting ready to go into budget. there's a lot of um complexity regarding the budget that it's important for the entire board to hear. So we were talking about scheduling a called meeting in academics. We have some turnaround campuses that I think it might be beneficial for the entire board to hear. So, I just I I just wonder about the committee process and if if we just try it for a little more than that one that one meeting that we had um the the

240what I heard about going back and I don't know if we all had this discussion but what I heard about the comment about going back to committees is for more in-depth discussion but that allows that in-depth discussion for because of the model that we've used for three people. Um, so I guess that's a question too obviously that we can we can talk about here, but if we're talking about in-depth discussion, it might be beneficial to have the entire the entire board here because we do have some complexities coming up. >> I think from just from the feedback I got, Mrs. Freeman. Um, to be very transparent, the folks that reached out from the board to me shared that it was a very long meeting and that we weren't able to capture all the information in

241its essence like we would be in separate committee meetings. And then to your point, there are going to be those that we all need to be at that we could be a called meeting. But what happens with all these meetings is if we go over the um quorum, then it requires more manpower and more asks of our cabinet and folks. So that we were trying to not have to do that. So we asked for the three of the committees you were already on to make it three and not have the full board because a lot of us were signed up for multiple committees and we're not really attending those meetings anyhoo. So that's that that's the logic I used to con to kind of condense those so that we don't have a quorum. But I

242agree that in these very important discussions, we should have those called meetings kind of like we did with the budget this past year. Um, but it just requires that all these folks have to come be present and I was trying to hope hopefully let them focus on our student success and achievement and closing those gaps rather than be sitting in a meeting where we if we had >> the mandate which is changed is what's requiring us to keep it at the three. Right. That's the reason for the public to understand. As far as the we we can always call a meeting >> um or we can turn say a finance committee meeting into a called meeting. The big piece is we just have the runway leadway to meet the posting requirements. Um and then also

243to be able to provide the uh audiovisisual uh support that's now required uh through like I say new legislation. Other than that, like I said, we can make the accommodation in will. We just need to we just need to have advanced notification and that we are likely going to have a quorum i.e. four trustees or more uh present. Um and then we'll make like say we'll make those accommodations. >> Mr. Bond. Yeah, because that one's and I'm guessing probably find the way the board want to go in terms of whether committee or keep as is, but I still am concerned over having just three. Uh, for example, I signed up for the ones I signed up for. I I was going to be there and attend to, etc. I really haven't just academic one. I

244wasn't included on that one. But the reason why I'm concerned about just saying three per se is to me it's a little bit weird in my mind because u we have a committee meeting everybody else can attend from the public and otherwise but an extra trustee know you're not allowed in per se unless we do it as a called meeting. So you can have anybody else from the public but the ones who serve on that particular board. I also hate the look of how it looks to say, "Hey, we're going to be limited." Uh when certain areas, certain years that more people may want to serve it, maybe five, etc. So, I understand why we would limit it up front. I think from a public standpoint, to me, that doesn't look good to say, "Hey,

245we're fixing the three just because of uh what you're just stating in terms of a posting and other requirements." So, I'm fine with committees, but I'm really the the three I really don't like limiting it to that. I think there's a couple of districts that follow that model for that same reason. And I I remember hearing the best practice that others districts there they do that. They also limit board members talk like how long they can talk like there's all these things we can do to make them however we want. But if the folks that had the opinion want to share like their reason for going back to committee that would be helpful. Dr. Hustle. >> Hi. Um so yeah I had reached out because I did prefer committee. I feel like during committee there

246is an extended amount of time to ask about the specific topics instead of like a call meeting where we're talking about every single topic and trying to just get through the agenda items. It felt very rushed. Um I do I mean I don't know if it helps to have like cuz I know what when there's like a finance meeting we call the three people on the committee and ask them hey are you going to be able to attend? you know if we don't have three then you know does it make sense to add like a backup that hey if that other person because I mean I love academics too I mean that is my background but I'm perfectly fine with hey academics is extremely detailed when it comes to their agenda items that she does

247what is it like a 100 pages sometimes on her powerpoints where I can go and look at it and be like hey and if I have a specific question I can reach out to either you know Dr. Carl Carl um to get more information if there is something I'm perfectly fine with that just because you know hey it is a whole lot of meetings and it does just for me personally it made more sense because I am able to ask more questions and I'm able to focus on the actual topics when it comes to finance in comparison to when I'm in another meeting that it's every single topic and going through and rushing through and being like hey the next thing keep going keep going. I just did prefer the committee setup more than I

248did the called meeting. >> Mr. Salceo, thank you. Miss Hasso, I'm sorry. Did I cut you? >> Yeah, I also agree with Dr. Hassel. U example of building committee meetings run three and a half hours sometimes. You know, presentations a lot of uh you know to put them all in one meeting. It's just we don't get as much information as as we should be getting. You know, according to the DB BB right here, it says we the committee just the factf finding and present it to the board as they're not making a decision. So, I don't see how we would need the whole board there because that's not what the committee is about is to grab what's presented to us and bring it back to the board as as a recommendation. So um that's why

249uh I would prefer the committees and have more time to actually ask the right questions as far as not limited to you know every subject in one in one uh in one meeting. So the suggestion for the access to the information was the that like an examples building committee they do a great job of creating a folder that includes the minutes the presentations and any one of us I've already asked be put on that access to that folder online so that we can get that data for us that can't be in those meetings that happen to be during the day. So we have access to that and I suggested that model for all committees and also a synopsis of the summary of the minutes so that any one of us that cannot be there present

250still have the option to go in and see what happened and still form an opinion to make a decision um on the dis because that's where the decisions are being made not in committee but I get where you're saying that you'd like to have that information ahead of time but it's also something we could search on our own should we need to Mrs. Zapata. >> Um, I agree and I like that uh we have that model because I I wasn't getting any of the building information. So, and and so that's going to help me be able to go into that folder and kind of look what was discussed because I always have a lot of questions. Um, and I know I'm looking at some of these presentations that you guys put together and it I

251can it's time and I know the time that you guys, Miss Jordan, when I look I when I look at your information like all the time that you guys and so I want to be able to ask those questions and I agree it's it's it's hard when we don't get me wrong, I like the idea. let's let's knock it all out in one day. But it I didn't feel like it gave me enough time to ask the questions that I wanted to. And I felt like some of y'all's presentations got shut or cut because because of time. So, you had to move on. And I I don't think that's fair. I think, you know, the time and the effort that's put into those presentations, I feel like uh we're able to have we're able to

252really discuss about it. And I I like the idea about the folder and and maybe doing um you know um running notes or something that you know was discussed minutes. >> Um >> we we can do both. Like I say, we're accustomed to uh building committee a prime example. A Google Drive that that repository for documents. That's that's an easy one. Um I think we can probably um work through diligent even create that kind of um Google drive the minutes um just a point of clarification uh we're pretty accustomed to uh providing and I say minutes committee meeting minutes that are reviewed at the next uh committee but then also uh provided to trustees. When we say minutes, technically not having a quorum, I don't know that the board would want to in essence take

253action on approving minutes at a committee meeting because you really can't take action to approve. But but it's more yeah just minutes for edification as to what transpired, what was discussed, and you know, if we had to make some corrections, we can. So we can do that. Like I say, we're we're very accustomed we're very accustomed to doing so as we uh have been operating with committee meetings. >> And don't forget that the notes that he's referring to are also going to start or have in the past, but will be on consistent basis in your Friday. [snorts] >> I'm lost on the I'm sorry. lost on the we in when we had committees before we did minutes and we would approve them as a first action item. >> Yeah. I again that's up to the

254board but I I don't know how you take action to approve meeting minutes when you don't have a quorum of the board to take action. >> Yeah. I'm just saying how we Yeah. No. I mean, and and like I say, if if there are if there are corrections that need to be made to meeting summary notes, whatever we want to refer to, minutes, that's fine. I just I don't know that technically the board can approve meeting minutes with less than a quorum. >> Yeah, >> Mrs. Freeman. Um, yeah, this board can this whatever the board wants to do. I will review though that this board has had committees for for years and our experience is that we've been able to attend any committee meeting that we were able to go to. and someone who has

255been on the board for a long time, I find it very helpful to attend as many committee meetings as I possibly could to get the information because I feel more prepared than when I go to the board meeting. I think the concern the concern that that I have is not about necessarily committees in general because I do like the process. What what I am concerned about is limiting when we start talking about limiting the number of people and I understand what the law reads um we also have the opportunity to though to if we had more than a quorum to um to record it. So that's I think committees benefit all of us and if um anyway >> well and I think that transitioning back to committees again having more of a standard or standing

256date calendar will be very helpful because like I say we can we can make the accommodation of AV support and posting of agendas and we just we just need to know in advance. So that's the >> that's the caveat is just knowing >> so that we don't misstep um and then have to not >> or delay a committee meeting and and then it starts to snowball from there. So, we've got a calendar. We can load it in Friday letter. Megan put it together with, like I say, standing committees and just if we need the committee meeting that that month, great. If not, we just cancel it and and move on because like I say, once we get through update 126, for example, with policies, I don't know that we would need a policy committee meeting

257every month, >> right? >> Just an example. Building. Yes. finance probably academics as we get into the spring. Yes. Um but >> and the other ones are yeah more. >> So I think that the the suggested proposed committee changes were fair and that we put diverse group everywhere. So there isn't there's as many as possible spread out. And I mean that can always change too if you if you want a different one to be on. But at the at the end of the day, I think for us working folks, we can't be in every meeting. I mean, so we had to pick and choose. I think to be fair, Mrs. Freeman, you're the only one that wanted to be on all of [laughter] them. >> And I think that's dedication and we admire you for

258that. But this is just like the proposal at the end of the day. There's no action. There's a little star here. >> Yeah. I mean, if you feel like you need to take action to >> you have the ability to do so, but >> are we okay to keep the wave proposal of the three? >> I don't wasted the other sake. Like I said, if I was add to academics, I'd be fine with it. But I want to be I like I'd like to say the same as what we proposed at the beginning of the year, how that committee structure was set up, but we'll see what the others say. >> People want to drop their names for some, that's fine. But I definitely want to be on the ones that we agreed to um

259at the beginning of the year. >> Well, and and then to that point, Bobby's on act Bobby's on technology. I chair technology um in the past. Maybe we were gonna have more than two technology meetings this year, but that's [laughter] >> Chris. >> Oh, hello. Sorry. But in the past, >> in the past, we've had two a year. >> We haven't had any yet, and it we've half the year's gone. >> So, um I mean, that's something else that we need to look at here, too. I >> I I don't need to be chair of the committee, but um but to Bobby's point, then that's um not not all committees meet at this the same frequency. I have a question. So I just I want to ask I I guess um Bobby you had mentioned

260that in the past in the committee meetings um it was practiced to um >> vote on approve motion like approve >> no not no motion was minutes. >> Oh just the minutes nothing else. >> Yes. [snorts] I guess at the end of the day should you want to go to the academics meeting then it will be recorded and then it will be televised and it would be the whole shebang. >> Yeah. Yeah. Possibly. But if like say if we if we have an accurate tally um uh RSVP if you will prior to so for example Bobby wants to attend academics but Laura's not able to then we're okay. But we just need to know the challenge is is that we need to know if it's say a Tuesday meeting, we really need to know the

261Tuesday prior to so that we can meet the posting requirements. Um the AV support we can scramble and we can get that done. It's it's really the posting requirements. >> Dr. Hassle. >> So is it that at we're moving to committees, >> but those that want to be added to the proposed committee will reach out to Dr. Don to add if need be. >> Like if you want to go, Bobby, I'll trade >> like >> it's up to you. But yeah, I just saying I want I just want >> I'm still going to vote here and I'm still going to have access to all the information and I will still call any of you like I always do when I don't get something here because I need it to be understood for myself and I'm

262one of those learners like I was that kid that had their hand up. Can you teach it to me by myself because I need to capture it the way I understand it? And I do that all the time. I call Dr. Crab. I call anybody that I don't get something about and I ask them for clarification. So that can still happen and I'm happy to trade with you academics if that's the one you really want to go to. I mean we have to like kind of just kind of find a solution I think and then that works then we have to do the calls meeting then we do that but we just have to plan right. >> Yeah. We just need to know like I say with a little bit of a little bit of

263leadway. Um this this morning uh we were discussing the need to look at uh kind of a demographic overview but then also bond capacity which is more or less a financial report but then also kind of this aggregate list of projects that we're going to be looking at uh for November 2026. To me, that would be more of a special called meeting rather than trying to divvy it and splice it up to have, you know, take care of bond capacity and finance, building committee taking care of the aggregate needs list. I mean, to me, it's all interrelated and we can knock it out at one called meeting. I don't know that was a very good example. So, everyone's spoken but Carol Then Carol shared with me that she likes that she felt rushed um to

264go through that. It was just a lot but because she's like me she likes to ask a lot of questions and and so that felt a little rushed. That was the her feedback. I motion we go back to the committees. [clears throat] Do we have a second? >> David, Mr. Sido seconds that uh [sighs] any all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. >> Discussion. >> Yeah. Well, no. Just one thing we didn't decide though was are we going back to committees where we have three people or are we going back to a possibility of having a quorum? >> Well, I think if we have a possibility of a quorum then we need to go ahead and air in on the side of safety and post the agenda uh in >>

265I'm just asking for clarification. >> Our vote today is just to go back to the committees at the three >> at the three. >> Mhm. >> Oh, no. That wasn't part of the >> No, that was the vote was just committed. >> What we said was just committed. >> The vote was committed. We can do a vote on the three, >> right? >> So, if you we wanted another motion. >> I I motion to go back to the committees with the three trustees and not to uh not to invoke a quorum. >> Have a second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> No. We have one that's not present. So what does that mean? >> Yeah. Okay. Motion passes. >> So I think again that's just for clarification

266if another so for example Bobby you like you decided you wanted to attend academics. >> My understanding is inter interpretation. Okay that's great. We just need to know, like I say, in advance to be able to post the agenda. >> Agenda. >> Yeah. I tell you what, uh, it's sort of self- serving what what I would do. I think I'll take it for the team. Let's drop me off the ones I'm listed for, except for I got to stay as a PTA representative. >> That way, somebody else can go into those and you're going to have the three. >> This me as a big surprise. I hadn't seen this until, you know, any discussion on it. So, for now, just remove me from the committees listed in that way. somebody else can come in and

267then I'll adjust to whatever ones I can attend later. >> Um, so you're not you're you want to be removed from technology >> and finance. Yeah. For now. >> And finance. >> Okay. >> But stay on PTA. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay, >> we'll make those and we'll find someone else to do finance. >> Any other requests? >> No, I to so to be clear, even if we wanted to have four, we c we're not doing that. >> We can, but we have to just put it have a call meeting and have the agenda. Okay. Then >> yeah, >> then that just changes the whole thing. I mean, if we do that, okay, fine. That's that makes it we could have a quorum. >> Okay, >> we didn't have to have a split vote. I'm

268just saying that that's what we were talking about is to the option to have a quorum if somebody else wanted to be there. >> Of course, anytime because there's going to be we have to follow all these other protocols. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Well, then then >> yeah, we have a set of three, but when called for the meeting and you see the meeting where you want to go, then yes, you are more than welcome to. So it could be >> you just have to with enough time so that way they can do >> we want to have I need five business days advanced notice >> we want to include everybody when we making these when we're learning about like finance like budget like we did last but because the the law changed now

269we can't we can't have corn every time or everybody's going to have to be here every time. >> I understand but Bobby does that change your >> doesn't change [clears throat] what you want to do. Okay. Okay. So, if I may for clarification, Karen, you're now okay with this is how my notes are going to read. [laughter] Okay. So, it's going to be that the vote is for for the three committees as proposed with the allowance of any board member wanting to attend that that calls for a quorum that you give your RSVP 5 days prior to the meeting. And Bobby, you're still gonna be on the no and you're still gonna be removed from year two. Correct. >> Okay. >> Karen, is your >> right? I have them on PTA. >> You can just

270leave it the way it is. We don't have to go back with the the the vote really doesn't >> matter. Okay. >> But I I didn't have that understanding when we talked about it. But it's fine. >> I can make the note that you're No, it's fine. Okay. Mrs. >> You can put me on finance if there's a spot. >> Find it. So, it's all full now. We need one more for technology. >> I used to be on that one. I can go back to my old stomping grounds. >> Put me on technology. Bobby >> if he wants to ever we can trade at anytime you'd like to come. >> Four. >> If we have a four then we do. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Future agenda items. >> And so now we can move

271on to our next um item which is C future agenda items information. >> Yeah. So we'll uh probably work not probably we'll work to modify uh future agenda um uh for the 24th um uh especially with committee meetings falling in in in between. Um but we do need to bring forward the taper uh the 2025 taper along with House Bill 3 annual report and goals. Um, uh, we'll likely need to bring up, I believe, a library book list again, uh, for your consideration. Uh, update 126, we'll carry that forward from the policy meeting, but this is the massive TASBY update. We're we're we're prepared and ready along with we need to review CH local. It's our purchasing policy. Um, and then if we need to, I've got as a just a placeholder future election planning

272and and dates, but we've got, like I say, a little bit more. We've got some runway in that regard. I'll follow up with the Secretary of State's uh office and make sure that we have a full understanding of what options are available, but then also if there's going to be a transition uh with the city of San Antonio to a November odd election year, what that all will entail. So, like I say, more information uh to come and then like I say, we'll have uh the opportunity to uh dive a little bit deeper into some of the other agenda items through committee meetings uh upcoming. >> Okay. Thank you. So now the board will convene into close session in accordance with the Texas government code sections through 551084. No actions can be taken in that

273close session, but any decisions will be made when the board can reconvened into the open session. The time is now 9. Let's meet at 55. It is now 10:41 and we reconclude our board meeting. Actually, I need the the verbiage because I don't city have a motion to approve what was discussed in executive um executive board. Excuse me. Thank you. We're now back in open session. No action was taken in close session regarding our agenda items discussed in close session. Is there a motion to come before the board? >> Dr. Hassel, >> I move to approve what was discussed in administrative appointments. Oh yeah, that's all that was as presented during the close session. I second. >> Okay, Mrs. Sapata seconds that. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Any other discussion?

274Okay, the motion carries and now unless there are any objections, it's 10:42 and there aren't any. So, our meeting is adjourned. Thank you so much.