NISD Called Board Meeting 5-13-2025

001We'll go ahead and we'll open up by starting with our invocation and pledge of allegiance. Levite trusty Gavvada. 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 in the common pursuit of this great nation's wealth, our children. Amen. Amen. Okay. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge algiance to thee Texas. One state under God. One and indivisible. All right. Thank you, Trusty Gavvada. And it's good to see everybody quickly recognize flags. That was really good. So, we'll go ahead and u once again say good evening to everybody and welcome you to the

002North Side Board of Trustees meeting. Uh before we officially call the meeting order, we would like to take a briefly a few rules um to remind you how we conduct our meeting and this one is a uh is is a called meeting. Now the order for the meeting is set on the agenda and the purpose of meeting is to conduct board business and for that reason uh it is held in public. It is not how a public forum how we do provide the opportunity for audience participation. If there's anyone here that'd like to speak to board during uh one of our called agenda items, uh we ask that you complete the sheet that's at the front of the room. Uh this is so we don't overlook anybody that may want to make a a comments

003to board related to our agenda item. Is there anybody here that want that opportunity? Okay. Oh, did did you sign up already? Okay. And Miss Guerrilla, would you like to wait until we bring forward the budget item? Okay. Is that the only one we have? It is. Okay. Good. Good. Okay. All right. And what what we'll do is when we get to that uh before we get to that item and have you come up and speak, we'll review the rules for addressing the board on that particular uh just in general. Okay. So, we'll go ahead and we'll officially uh call the meeting to order and um we'll have our good superintendent, Dr. Crab. Yes, sir. If it's okay, we'll go ahead and jump into first agenda item, which is amendment one to the guaranteed maximum

004price with John Marshall High School. Oh. Oh, wrong one. I hit you. Guaranteed maximum price. Okay. John Marshall High School. I apologize. Amendment number one. Good evening, Mr. President. Board of Trustees. U we're here to present the GMP amendment number one for uh John J. High School. I'm sorry, John Marshall High School. I'm sorry. My apologies. We're back in the boardroom for the first time in it seems like a year or so. Yeah. So, the uh administration and classroom replacement at John Marshall High School. Uh so, this is the first of possibly three amendments. Uh we're planning on breaking this project up into a few phases and that's simply because we got to get prepped for the demolition of that building and there's some things site utilities that need to be relocated. um some temporary

005admin spaces that need to be done during the course of the summer in order to prep for that building to go down so the rest of the campus is functional. And so uh as you may recall, this project is a construction manager at risk contract. George was awarded the contract in this particular case. Um and so we've been working handinhand with them as they secure bids on this first amendment. Um as I mentioned, some of the key things that we're doing there as a temporary admin, but also relocating the MDF, which is the technology brain of the campus. So that's a very critical component. So this first amendment uh is a not to exceed sum of 6 point just over 6.7 million at 6.713967 and um and so at this point in time we do

006have Joris here general contractor season uh is representing Joris and we also have uh Raul with Fluger who is our architect of record on this particular project. So, at this point in time, this is a item that's recommended for approval. And so, I will be happy to answer any questions that the trustees may have. Now, you did not see this. This was not previewed in building committee because building committee is tomorrow. However, I did issue an item in Friday letter that kind of outlay uh outlined why we were bringing this item so early. It's and it's to get us prepped for that first day of summer so we can actually hit the ground running and these folks have enough time to get their contracts executed with their subs. All right. Um, I don't any comments

007or questions from the board. And remember, we have our system that we utilize here. If anybody has any, I don't see anybody that has push the button. So, is there a motion to come before the board? I had a comment. I guess it's not working because I pushed. Oh, hit hit again. Yeah, you're good. Working. No, don't. Hey, Quit. All right. Trusty Salceto. Okay. You mentioned it was temporary. I'm sorry. On this is temporary the $6 million. So, so this is yeah to move some existing utilities out of the way. So when we demo that building, so right now just to give you a picture of the campus, we have all the hydronic lines which is what provides the HVAC throughout the campus that runs through building A. So we got to reroute some of

008those lines in order to be able to provide cooling at those the library, the auditorium and some of these auxiliary buildings that are no longer going to be connected to that. So yes, some of it is temporary. the the MDF will be a permanent move to the new LMS building so that that way we know it's not going to have to move after that. Okay. Any any other comments, questions? All right. Uh Trusty Freeman, I move approval. Is there a second? All right. We have a motion, a second. Is there any further discussion? All right. If not, it's been moved and second. We approve as discussed. All in favor signify by stating I. I. Any oppose? Name. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. And I guess we're ready for our next item. So, as

009we continue the conversation uh in around uh fiscal year 26 uh school year 2526 uh budget conversation, uh we wanted to provide a quick update in regards to all the work uh that is still underway uh as we're uh working to like I say move towards a more balanced budget approach. So, uh, this evening's presentation, uh, is really, um, it pertains to, uh, where we are with our general fund balance, but also our designated fund balance, uh, to be, uh, inclusive of, uh, instructional continuity. Um, and then also from a a staffing outlook, uh, really the glide path, uh, that we've assumed. And so, uh, Mr. President, I don't know if we want to go ahead and allow, um, Angelica to speak at this time. Did you uh did you want to hear the presentation

010first or did you want to go? Yes. Okay. So, we'll do that then we'll have you speak and then we'll get board's questions and comments after that. Okay. Yeah. And this is an information item this evening. Like I say, it's a like I say, it's really just a continuation of a of the conversation as we um work towards a August 31 uh deadline for the approval of not only the uh fiscical year 26 budget, but also the tax rates of course. Uh just a real quick update before I allow Megan Bradley to and Tiffany uh to jump in. Um we're still awaiting uh what happens with this legislative session in and around House Bill 2. Uh you probably have seen uh the um I call it the companion even though it's not a companion bill,

011but it's part of the Texas two-step as uh Speaker Burroughs has alluded to. Uh Senate Bill 2 in regards to the education savings account is now engrossed. Uh so it will be implemented for the 2026 2027 school year. Uh again uh a lots uh right at a billion dollars annually uh really to the um universal voucher program. So house bill two uh did pass the full house as a reminder. Um it is pending um a uh calendar um for the Senate Education Committee. Um I think that house bill two again will be the school finance vehicle. Um as we are looking really at three weeks remaining before siny die. I know that there's a lot of angst um and rightfully so in regards to what happens does it stay intact? Um and so we're basing

012like I say a lot of our budget planning in and around the passage of house bill 2 uh through the full senate. Um the Senate has a little bit more flexibility uh in being able to relax some rules um versus the House. That really today would have been the last day uh for a bill to make it out of a committee and make it to a calendar committee and then been actually be heard um uh by the full house uh chamber. So um it's closing in. Now uh that doesn't mean that there can't be again a special session. hopefully not four. Um but there's not chatter right now of any any uh appetite for a special session going forward. I think that um based on some of the commentary in and around uh uh the

013uh Senate Education Committee, particularly the chair um Brandon Kraton, I mean, they're going to they're going to work, I think, to try to provide a school funding bill. That's not to say that it won't be tweaked. there may not there may be some additional amendments or attachments uh that try to be hung on it but um I think that I still am optimistic that there will be a school finance uh uh bill again house bill 2 uh in the aggregate is $ 8.1 million we're still running uh the pay scenarios which it's 40% required of new revenue uh really um being provided to teachers counselors uh nurses and librarians. Um, it's differentiated. So, there's a a 10-year uh demarcation uh that requires those of 10 years of experience or more uh at a minimum receive

014$1,000 more than those with less than 10 years of experience. So, like I say, I know that our business finance department, they're working those scenarios, and we'll have those uh prepared and really to present uh at the next uh finance meeting, which is on the 20th. um prior to the meeting on the 27th uh which is when we'll uh we're planning to really discuss uh compensation. So tonight, like I say, we wanted to provide uh not only where we are currently with our fund balances, but where we're projected to be um and then particularly as a result of uh the course that we have assumed. Uh it's looking it's looking better. I I will say this. We've discussed um both yesterday and today kind of where we are and where we are projected to land

015uh pending House Bill 2 uh passage, uh we're going to be much much closer to proposing a a more balanced budget um uh this summer. Um so that being said, um uh we'll dive right into like I say fund balances and then um staffing. uh that is going to be uh really more a reflection of uh where we anticipate and project student enrollment going into next year. And we had a question from Trusty Freeman first. Yeah, Dr. Excuse me, Dr. Craft. Um, maybe we'll get into this later on, but I I'm thinking two years ago we were really optimistic or even last year when we proposed we were really optimistic that we were going to get some additional money and that didn't happen and we had the deficit that that we did. I'm concerned about

016this year. So, um, there was a thought that we would have approval of compensation at the end of this month. What if we truly do not have we don't have House Bill Two. It won't be signed by then. Um, how how do we improve approve compensation based on the the basic aotment then the amount of the basic aotment or 40% of that? Yeah. So if if we don't have clarity in and around House Bill 2, I won't be providing a recommendation regarding compensation. Um we just you'll see here momentarily a lot of the work that we have already put in place with we can call it right sizing um um becoming more efficient would be really undone at that point. So, it will be very much contingent upon any general pay increase, but also what

017is required in the legislation as far as uh the um teacher compensation aspect. It'll be contingent upon House Bill 2 surviving the Senate um and ultimately being signed by the governor. I I think that the difference um not not to get too too deep into the weeds, but I think the difference this session is with the passage and engrossment of Senate Bill 2, ESAs, I don't think that school finance can just be left behind. I think that that's going to be really difficult for members to return to their districts. Now, you're exactly right. We we it's almost bite me once. Um, here we are once again, but the conversations that are occurring are indicative that they're going to work to pass a school finance bill. Um, now, will it be House Bill Two as it

018was passed uh off the floor and to the Senate? That's really the big question, I think, at this point. But we'll have to hold on compensation until we have that clarity. So the 27th, the meeting on the 27th um will be three days, four days before sin die. So we should have a pretty good idea of the fate of House Bill 2 and maybe some other bills. Um again, that's not to say uh that with it not making a calendar committee by today that there can't be those attachments onto other bills that um it's not completely abnormal. But that is actually somewhat common practice. So there's still opportunities for legislation, like I say, to be attached to bills that have already uh worked through the process. But um but like I say today for other

019bills, the one thing that and I mentioned it this morning in our cabinet meeting that is a little bit concerning just from a personal aspect looking kind of from an outside in uh were um a lot of the promises made in and around tax relief. Um and that has not made it. Um, so that there were, like I say, a lot of promises in regards to additional exemptions and and housing affordability and all very important matters uh in the public policy uh world, but but that is the one thing that is a little bit concerning in the sense that that really hasn't been addressed um and going forward. Um, and not to say that that directly pertains uh to uh public education finance, but those are those are big appropriations obviously um that we just

020need to keep an eye on. Um and not not to say that it would hang up House Bill 2 or a school finance bill, but again that was a big promise made by many. Okay. Trust is STAR really gone or is that part of House Bill Two? So STAR, there's House Bill 4 passed the uh House uh came off the House floor yesterday. Um it's not gone. Uh it is um a three-year assessment program, but it it's got a long way to go in the in the sense that there will be resistance in the Senate. Um, so House Bill 4 and the revamp if if you will of the not only assessment system, elimination of STAR, moving toward towards a nationally normed assessment like a math assessment, which you're familiar with, it's got to it's

021got to survive the Senate. And I don't know that there's a lot of appetite right now for it to be touched. So, Trusty Harl, that just made me think even though private um schools can use norm referenced and that doesn't have a way to go at all. Right. So, it's only going to be looking at us. So, that was just a comment. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Um no, I had a question about um staffing. So, um I I I assume from our last meeting or maybe it was from um academics that right now there's um discussions um going on about um like splitting campuses or whatever. When would those be finalized or are those part of are those being finalized right now because we're getting ready to Yeah. say goodbye to everybody. Yeah. So, we're we're

022working, like I say, vigorously to notify individuals, not only part-time or halftime split uh FTEEs, um uh but also any displacements by the end of the school year. That's our that's our targeted goal. The other piece that I think is a point of clarification is we're we're hiring. Um we have vacancies even regarding what you're about to see. We're we're still hiring. that is that has come up like they I think at one time we were considering a hiring freeze but we're not a discussion point. It wasn't something that we kind of put our foot down. Um but I I'm also hearing from um teachers who weren't part of the displacement dialogue at all but perhaps going to to be GT at one school and now they'll be split between based on enrollment numbers. And

023so that has kind of been finalized. They know they'll be at like Leon Springs and me for instance. Yeah, we're we're still working through all the communication, but I know a lot of that occurred last week. And um I mean again it it it's fluid still. Um and a lot of it is it pertains to retirements, resignations, and so you got to kind of think through all the moving parts and and and so we don't have a hiring freeze. There was never a hiring freeze put in place. There was a hiring review put in place, but that really pertained to administrative positions. Um, uh, uh, administrative support type positions, the vacancies, and I'll just use an example. We've been hovering in around 100 special education vacancies, and we've made it very, very clear. If we

024have applicants that are certified, hire them. There is no review. there is there is absolutely no freeze in place. Um so so that was part two of the question. So um if we because we need special ed teachers so badly, there's so many that lack they just need their certification, they need to pass the test because we are we want the best, right? Do are we still able to hire with the intention of you can start but then at a certain point in time you'll have to have this kind of certification or this kind of test or whatever with the exception of bilingual and special education because those are federally mandated certified. Okay. That's a good point of clarification too. So okay. Yeah. So there is a one-year probation uh period which we have. Now

025I will say this that embedded within House Bill 2 uh is a piece uh that provides avenues i.e. funding uh for the attainment of certifications and and actually even degree teaching uh credential attainment. So again it's a pretty comprehensive bill that well we again we really need to pass. We need the Senate take it up and okay make a law. And this is the last point I promise. Um so some verbiage around um just kind of when people call and they're concerned about a program or um a placement that ultimately the decision making right now is at the campus level with the principal based on data numbers an array of of data points right it's really it's really based on their allocations of FTEES personnel units and that's obviously very much based on uh the

026enrollment projections that they've been provided. Right. And and I I'm saying that because I think some of the misunderstandings have been well the board can stop that or the board can um and so talking through that with the right language I think is is important and there's opportunity to learn and be more informed about everything from that at at the same juncture. Yeah, absolutely. And and just another example, um I think that there been some some conversation in and around the the consolidation or closure of campuses. True. We have not proposed and are not proposing a closure or a consolidation of any campus going into next school year. So I now do those conversations, you know, start this fall, particularly as we're looking at actual enrollment numbers, which we're projecting to have four campuses that

027will be less than 300 students. uh we'll have 10 uh that will be less than 400 students. I think it's probably only going to be prudent uh that we start that analysis. Um but there will have to be real cost savings uh in doing so because there are a lot of challenges just i.e. what do we do with the vacated building? Uh what are the transportation costs associated? How much money are we really saving uh in that consolidation effort? So it's those are really very very complex not only analysis but also decisions that the board ultimately will would have to consider and and they've heard of I mean we're a small town even though we're 10th largest or ninth largest whatever we are but it's going on all around us in other districts. No question.

028You know we we all kind of hear the same thing. Oh you're cutting libraries you're closing schools. All of that. Um so okay not cutting libraries librarians. We're we're trying to take the approach of I've used this analogy. We're trying to take the approach of really using a scalpel and how do we like I say continue to provide optimal education academia services as well as provide the choice that we've very been very fortunate to be able to provide families and and we're going to continue we're going to continue that effort while again protecting jobs. Um we're working hard to ensure that the district is not going to be put into position that uh there has to be a declaring of financial agency andor uh implementing a reduction in force policy. Gotcha. Sounds good. Thank you.

029Thank you. And ju and just clarify again remember no discussions whatsoever for the board's sake on um any type of school closures. There's been no discussion on hiring fees and no discussion of eliminating whole programs. So just want to reiterate that again. And I guess that allows us to now can we ready to transition now? I think so. Want to leading the conversation, lively conversation. Um, so first we're going to look at our fund balance. I know there's been discussion and we brought some things to you looking at our fund balance. This board has been very conscientious in creating the instructional continuity portion of fund balance which has allowed us to slowly work through the ESSER changes bringing those into the general fund. So, we're going to show you what that looks like and where

030it is so that everybody knows that. And I'm saying this before I change the slide because I know once I say it, you're going to be focused up there. And then also looking at the unassigned fund balance, which is the three months of operating expenditures that you want to keep in your fund balance so that you can maintain cash flow while you're waiting for funds to come in. So, we're going to focus on those areas. And here it is on the slide. So the green area is the instructional continuity and the orange area is the unassigned fund balance. So the unassigned fund balance, you do not want to touch that. That's your that's your safety net. That is your three months of operating expenditures. The green again is the instructional continuity that the board set

031aside to give us this glide path to be able to work through reducing our expenditures in hopes of getting additional revenue to help with that also. So the first two columns the 2223 and 23 24 uh are real data. Those have happened. They are audited. Those are final numbers. And of course we're sitting right now in the 2425 school year. So you can see how the instructional continuity amount has reduced and you've seen that. We've talked about it and you can also see that next year we will use all of that. So I I do not see a a way through this budget process that we will not use that additional instructional continuity for next school year. Uh so as you see that the blue line that's going down and trying to give us a

032soft landing of getting our budgeted line to be able to maintain that three months of operating expenditures where we wanted to be. But where we need you to look at is under current law and this is under current law not showing any changes for House Bill Two because it hasn't happened yet. right now it's a hope but it's not there yet is the red line that red dotted line is what happens if we do not make changes so I want the board to be able to see that and focus in on that that um next year would be severe but the 26 27 which is part of the bianium of the legislative session if we do not make budgetary changes and we do not have any additional revenue we would end up with very little

033unassigned fund balance and that is not any pay increase that is just maintaining what we have. So I want the board to be able to recognize that. Have any questions about that slide? We always want to stay in what range for that? You always want the orange to be three months of operating expenditures. That's best practice. And that's the and that's the line where the blue is blue is the three months. That's where you that's where you want to be. Yes, ma'am. Great question. So 270 million. Uh a lot of that, like I say, is really contingent upon student enrollment. um number of FTEEs but um but that's that's where we want to maintain there are a lot of implications when we start dipping below 3 months particularly two months which in 2627 that 89

034uh million is representative of obviously one month and and that it becomes dangerous uh from a cash flow uh standpoint but also So, uh, when we, uh, go out to sell bonds, um, financial institutions start to get really nervous, uh, if there's not sustainable fund balance in the bank. I mean, that is one of the very first questions that underwriters, uh, through the interview process prior to the sale will ask. Can we uh can can we equate that to a $64 million deficit or is there something I may have missed because that's the gap between your 206 and your 270. Are we assuming a $64 million deficit in that case? Yes. So as we narrow that then right that's where the gap is. Okay. And then we'd still have some more to go the next

035year of what we use out of instructional continuity next year which we're estimating that right now around 50 40 um that we would need to use that we'd still have to reduce next year. We're not we're not finished when we adopt a budget this year, we're still going to need to reduce more to not cause the next wave to come for the next year. So until we stop using the instructional continuity, that's when we can start looking at a a level playing field. Okay. So next we're going to um go back and look at some of the staffing models and show you the work that we've been doing on reducing the staffing going forward for the next year. So if you remember in March we brought forward the graphs that were based on the taper

036data. So historical data and we were showing you how we were in many situations in an inverse relationship to where our declining enrollment we were still adding positions. And the taper data is based on all funds so including federal funds. So we wanted to dive into general fund only. So that's what we're going to show you tonight. General fund and only filled positions. So I want you to remember that as you go through this. So the first piece that we're going to look at is general fund all staffing levels. So the orange line is our student membership numbers and you can see the 2324 that is last year's um p snapshot information end of October beginning of November numbers. The 2425 is also the November of this school year's numbers. So that's a real student

037number and then where we're projecting for next year. The orange line will stay the same on every graph because it is the same for where we are. So what we're trying to do is show you what actually happened last year, what has actually happened this year for PE's purposes and where we believe we will be next year based on the decisions that have been made so far knowing that we still need to go further as we've talked about. So all staff um you can see that it has started trending in the right direction. So from 23 24 to 2425 some things happened that caused us to increase staffing and we want to acknowledge that we opened an elementary school Chumley Elementary School. You have to remember that. So every one of these graphs when you

038look at that remember that Chumley opened in that time frame and you do have administrators, you do have a librarian and you do have a nurse and that you have instructional aids in that opening of a school that are additions. We also moved the ESSER positions that we've been talking about for a while from ESSER into general fund. So that's part of that increase from last year to this year. We also had a prek expansion which added teachers and aids in the classroom. We also had a STEM um expansion. In addition to this, we've had some areas that are fortunate to have had higher fill rates because then we're talking about filled positions. So if they're vacant, they're not showing on this graph. But custodial has been doing very well in filling their positions. School

039nutrition has been doing very well in filling their positions. So you'll see that as we go further through this presentation. But even even transportation is a much higher fill rate, lower vacancy rate than we've had in years past. Um so we're not obviously 100% staffed, but we're in much much better shape uh than than we've been. I have a question. Chelsea Freeman, excuse me. I have a question regarding that too because we were um because we had so many vacancies in in bus drivers and custodial staff and child nutrition. What do we attribute um the the fill rate the I hate to say that but No. No. Yeah. Additional employees. That's a valid Yeah, it's a valid question. I think that it can be attributed to several factors, but one big one uh was the

040comp mid-year compensation increase that the board approved in 2223. Um I think I think that obviously anytime uh you take action there's it takes a little bit of time for it right to to see the the reaction. Um but I think that that's a a great example of that that effort. Okay, thank you. And I before I go on to the next slide, I also want to let you know that these scenarios of the changes that we're making from the current year to what we will have in place for next year are being built into our general fund budget and we'll start talking about what that looks like in dollars at the finance committee. So for you to know that's coming. Our next graph is the teacher staffing. So again we have adjusted our um

041teacher to student ratios and you can see the results of that change and that the glide path again it is is trending in the direction that we are needing it to trend. So that work has been very good. Our next slide is librarians as we talked about and we um did open chumley and we did not increase so we there was a vacancy at the time this was ran obviously but you can see it's staying cons completely um the same. So that is one that we have not adjusted a staffing ratio. So if someone asked you can come back to this slide and see that we have not adjusted staffing ratios on librarians and unless there's programmatic changes. I mean not to be draconian but this is where the conversations in and around consolidation efforts

042that you would start to reap efficiencies. Um so or like I say a complete reprogramming i.e. how we staff particularly some of our smaller libraries. So I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yeah, I was gonna go ahead. Okay, go ahead. Oh, okay. No, you you started. You go ahead. Thank you. I'm sorry. Um, so am I to understand that this year um we are not we won't have half time equivalents in in libraries. Will li will librarians be at their school or will they be split? Possibly. We got we don't have any any split FTEEs in our libraries. Okay. At this at this juncture. I thought that was what you said, but I just wanted clarification. Thank you. Trusty Harl, I was just because questions keep coming up. I'm wondering um is there a way to um

043make I don't know if it's this slideshow but something along these lines public like at our website so we can say oh refer to or go ahead and look at library staffing levels on slide 42 something like that is that is that a possibility we can absolutely publish it to the web page I think that would help us in um explaining things um um and and even starting with the slide earlier at the beginning with the the difference between our staffing and our student enrollment. That's been so valuable in explaining things um and really increasing understanding because with more knowledge you make, you know, better informed not just decisions, but you can communicate better about what's going on, right? Yeah. And I think that that's also been one of our primary objectives is as we're

044working through uh the budgeting process, we want to maintain transparency. Yeah. Um and and what we can do, not just for this presentation, but as we're working through finance committees meetings, we're working through um uh board meetings, we can we can provide uh a kind of a budget update or budget 101 tab and just we can load the presentations. I think that you know the only caveat is the context of the conversation is probably equally important that just flowing through the slides. I think the conversation piece is also really pertinent to have an having a full understanding of what is it. I think it would help our conversations, but it might even help department directors and other folks make that story or principles even explaining it to staff. Um, it could only help I think.

045Yeah, we we like I said we can provide that information. Thanks. The only thing and I hate to do this but the only thing I think about when you do that is I know this covers librarian but you know the three the other three I just give an example nurses. Yeah. Yeah. nurse um were the four nurses teacher teachers librarian nurses and counselors I'm going to have a few I'm going a different direction I'm going to say like stem music and art keeps coming up also so we start showing are we also going to be able to to share that information where we have gone to have for example and uh and show that and then I'm not sure about custodial and other staff we mentioned that that's the only thing I'm wondering about is

046if we do how how far can we go in terms at least showing the major job categories well I think we can go as far as as we want to additional slides to help. Yeah. Explain that because that's going to come up. Yeah. And and I think that, you know, again, we we haven't we haven't changed modified uh our staffing as it pertains to I'll just use custodial services as an example. It's based on a square footage formula. And so that we haven't we haven't increased the square footage. Uh from a a staffing perspective, transportation is another great example. We know uh when we go through the routing process, these are the number of FTDEs that we have to have to run the three tiers of transportation uh for those students that qualify. One of

047the things as it pertains to transportation is is we are looking to propose an optin. So we think that that will help us with efficiencies and and let me explain what that means. students that are eligible for transportation. We're going to ask parents just let us know that yes, your child is going to be riding the bus or not so that by semester we can start trying to become much more efficient with okay, we don't need to go down this street. Um um and I think like I say that it will help I I don't necessarily know in regards to um saving FTEES but it will definitely I think help with hopefully arrival uh um drop off times um and just becoming like say more efficient. So, I will say um based on the request,

048uh we'll need to work through to find out the budget team here um what level we can get to on the specifics of like art and music and um we have to make sure we code them that way. So, if we do, we can get to it. So, we'll work on showing more and see how far we can go. Thank you. That's great. Thank you. So, there's librarian. Our next one is counselors. Uh so you can see we have adjusted and the some of the counselors and it is now trending in the same direction as this um students are trending. Also the next slide is nursing. It looks very much like librarians. U it does have the one addition for Chumley but other than that very flat um no adjustments to the nursing program. Our

049next slide is instructional assistance. So the IAS is what we call them. Um we did add quite a few of those as you can see from the 23 24 year to the 2425 year. Again remember this is filled um positions that are on the slide but we did add FTEEs that may or may not be filled for the 2425 as part of our growth and and improvement package of 106 sped instructional aids 72 prek and six forum highly elementary school. So that was the increase that went up. Um and you can see we've had a little more increase looking at next year also. So AIDS is probably an area we need to look further into. The challenge with instructional aids uh is again uh as we're approaching now 18% of our student population qualifying uh

050under an IEP or the ARD process. in many cases uh the instructional assistance are required through the IEP. So again uh not to harp on it but House Bill 2 recognizes this trend as well and uh has like I say an increase to the special program aotment pertaining to special education services and this is a again a prime example. Um yeah, I'm glad you brought the one quick question related to that. Um just so I understand. So So the students that um have some behavior challenges in a classroom, is that is this the category? Is it instructional assistance? Are the individuals that are one-on-one with those students? They would be inclusive. Depends on the Right. It could be a teacher. It depends on what the AR says, what the IP says. Okay. Right. Okay. But

051most of the time, yes, it would be an instructional. Yeah. That's okay. Behavioral specialist, things like that. that might also be consistent but probably not oneonone. Yeah, that's interesting because like you said with the increase it's sort of that's one you have to look at very carefully I would imagine because it's a I just know that because all the schools I've been reading at you can Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. Okay. So the next slide is the auxiliary and pair professional staffing levels. So this is all of the remaining non-exempt other than instructional aids. So that would include the secretaries in the departments, the secretaries at the campuses. Um the this includes um maintenance and custodial that all of the non-exempt other than instructional aids. And so you can see that we increased a little bit

052for this school year. Um five of that was for Chumley. Um but really the we believe the majority of this increase is based on the fill rate that maintenance and custodial were able to increase their fill rate and hire more vacant previously vacant positions. Trusty Freeman. This goes back to the previous um comment about special ed students. So, what I read is a a bill that would require ISDS to evaluate speced for voucher students, but we we already do that for for charters. Is that corre? Tell me, don't don't we provide some evaluation for some students that are that are in currently enrolled in a charter program or private schools or private schools. Do we do that childf find? But I don't know of any other situation case that we're Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. If a

053student is is through a T-Rex uh request process, yeah, we we'll we'll provide the information. If there's been a recent um uh evaluation, we we'll provide that information, but we don't provide the actual uh testing services uh per se to to a private or unless it's a child fine situation. So, as as you understand the bill, the way it's written, that's it's not been signed yet. Is that correct? It's not been House Bill Two. It hasn't even passed it. No, I'm sorry. Was that in House Bill Two? This particular uh the provision of uh diagnostic services, correct? For students that are um utilizing a I need to I need to verify that. I don't recall that being in legislation. remember reading that that public school uh does the evaluation for those going to a private

054school. Is that what you read? Yeah. Hospital 2 does have money in the bill for evaluations that are done where we would receive funding for evaluations. I'm not sure if that includes evaluations for students enrolled in other I I was just curious. Yeah, let us verify. I mean I I I I don't wouldn't be surprised. Yeah, I I don't I don't recall it specifically outlining that we will provide all the evaluation services for students attending using an ESA and attending um say a private institution. Let me let's verify. But but if they were ours to begin with, we already have that data. Correct. And and we would necessarily be new. Yes. And we would provide that to a charter school, to a private school. Um, and that's just part of a transfer, right? Okay. Thank

055you. Yeah. Of enrollment. Private and charters have their own admissions and entry requirements and testing that they do already. So, we do have to share whatever information we have with the student. If they haven't been diagnosed, doesn't to me make sense why they would ask us to then come back and do it. We'll verify and there may be a reimbursement process. May let's let us verify. Yeah, I'd appreciate that because there was some um comments either from raise your hand or some place that were asking people to call their legislators about this particular situation. So thank you. Okay. So that is our auxiliary pair professional staff. The next slide is our campus administration. So this is our principles, assistant principles and that um those groups and others the campus administrators. You can see that we

056did increase last year that was um mostly due to the ESER positions that came over the 21 SSFs that came over from Esser to general fund. And then you can see that we are um adjusting that that ratio to bring it back down to basically where it was the year before last. And so trending that one in the right direction also. And then this one, oh sorry, is our professional support staffing. So that is your central office um and the support staff that we have to our campuses. So you can see that we did increase that also last year. Um most of that increase was for LSSPs, SLPs. Um and then but you can see that we're trending it back down, bringing it to where it was the previous year along along the lines of

057the other um graph. and it is trending in the right direction also. So, we're making a lot of progress in our staffing ratios uh knowing that some are much more difficult um to achieve than others and trying to be conscientious of of what the student needs are especially when you're thinking of things like special ed when you have an IP in place that we were making sure that we're following those IEPs. So, we still have a lot of work to do. We're not there yet, but we are making strides um in our budgeting process and we'll include like I say uh central administration as well. But I I can I can say this that we are definitely downsizing um as positions particularly are vacated i.e. retirements we're working to consolidate across across the board. One

058of the other things that I think it's importance to note is we are uh working through Megan and her team are working through what's called a zerobased budgeting process uh with departments. Um we want to try to again uh protect campuses. We're we're not looking to reduce per student funding and campus support, but we are looking at zerobased budgeting because we're we're working to try to attain a $10 million reduction in in central office departmental support. So, that's our goal. Okay. And uh next, why don't we Yeah. What we'll do next is we'll give our citizen an opportunity to to speak and just a couple of couple items. Again, this is called agenda item. You signed accordingly for it. We're going to limit your remarks to uh to the threeminut uh time period. Uh again,

059we ask you keep your remarks focused to this particular agenda item. Our board secretary, the comm also have a visual queue on the side. Uh we'll let you know when uh you've got a minute left and then when the times actually run out we'll hold up and ask her when you ask that you uh wrap up your your remarks. Okay. And thank you. Uh my name is Nalika de Calvio. I'm at Ruter Middle School. This is my 15th year and uh I'm actually a proud product of North Side myself and I'm a product of North Side and an employee of North Side because I teach orchestra and my family like many of the families I teach uh could not have access to music education any other way. In fact, we borrowed from SASD. It's okay

060to say that now 20 years later after I kept it secret for all that time. Um so my school is quite unique. we have 38% leap and we have 74% uh usually around 80 for a title one. So looking into the funding and I know you guys have been dealing with this for a while. The every student succeeds act also allows title one funds to be used for real-rounded education which does include music in the arts which I know you've heard lots about lately. Um although the decision-m should be uh on the campus level entirely it is not. Um, this last week of Veil Middle School, the orchestra director found out that with 94 students in his program, uh, up from 43 in 2020, he was cut to halftime. His principles did not know, his

061admin did not know. They use the word blindsided, and I did ask his permission to speak to that. Um the other enrollment numbers I know are generally being followed but again we know at Zachary Middle School their dance teacher at over 120 enrolled for next year was also split to halftime. So, I'm going to advocate for a halftime minimum position for those electives at a district our size, the ninth or tenth largest um out there that we should be able to use some creative funding and also that promise that we make the North Side Way to give that well-rounded education that I receive that many of my students receive. Um but beyond that, if at minimum we could at least start to give some clear verbiage to principles, especially if they're new, especially if the

062admin is new, um we were told for a long time, uh since I was actually a student at North Side that it does depend on your numbers. So anybody who goes into this game, we understand that. We definitely know that we know how to recruit uh primarily for that to keep our campus programs alive. But um I did talk to my admin and I asked, "What are you told?" and they were told uh well you guys have stated uh very clearly you know hey we have campus aotments and we have to do the best we can with those aotments so we just want some more transparency from the uh fine arts department we would like our principles and admin to have help some guidance I understand every campus is very unique like my own um

063and of course I want to continue to build up the programs that proudly show uh including this weekend on the 17th and 18th at the North Side Sports Gym for our EYS program. We'll have almost a thousand students from grades 5 through 12 and I'll see you there. Good. Good. Good. Thank you. I I just have a clarify. Um when you said cut to halftime, did you mean um split between campuses? Okay. Yes. Uh but that would also maybe put their program halftime. things like athletics that have to be first period, meaning that seventh and eighth grade beginners have to be turned away if they're also in sports, that sort of thing. I gotcha. All right. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Any other board comments, questions? No, just again for uh general timeline

064uh standpoint, uh we'll have again the finance committee on the 20th. uh we'll take a deeper dive hopefully at that point as to how we're tracking with House Bill Two and then really start diving into uh compensation. You'll see also numbers associated with uh projection in regards to uh the efficiencies that we just discussed in these graphs uh this evening and then again meeting on the 27th. I mean, there will be probably a pretty heavy budget update at that point. Uh, working into June, we really need to be hopefully in a position pending a special legislative session of putting some real final touches and recommendations, putting some some recommendations uh before you as the board in July really needs to be cleaning up final touches. Of course, we'll have our projection uh uh taxable value

065projections uh or actually certified uh in July um with a like I say a time frame of the end of August for adoption of budget and tax rates of course. Okay. And this was just scheduled for discussion again and as said this will continue. So, uh thank you. All right. So, we'll go ahead now. We'll move over to the administration area. and review of legal policies. Yes, sir. It next four items and I'll uh use three pieces of information really to get to the last one which is probably the one of most interest which is open enrollment. So, um all of them also up for discussion. So, no action that needs to be taken on any of these. And so, um, I'll begin with, uh, the traditional PowerPoint that you're used to seeing to cover

066both the legal and local policies of update 124. And so, uh, I will say that this was probably, uh, in all my years, one of the shortest and most cut and dry simple updates. Um, and so with that, next slide. Um, I'll I'll do as we typically do and remind you that legal policies of course are not adopted. They're only reviewed. The local ones of course are the ones that are in practice that you can adopt, revise or repeal. And so just as a reminder, next slide. So this uh update actually only had eight local policies. You're probably used to seeing 125 18 sometimes uh but this one only had um eight uh two of them in the business and finance area, a couple in the CNI, and you can see the rest of the

067topics that were covered. Um and so with that, next slide, I'll go into the uh legal policies. Now, if you're following along, I recommend you stick to the PowerPoint, not the uh legals that you have because there are actually 52 legals uh with a total of 525 pages. Um I'm not going to go over all 525 pages. I'll hit as we typically do just a few of these uh for interest purposes in terms of how they relate to our locals. So the first one uh dealing with security officers specifically CKEA is the first legal policy to bring up to you uh to you for review. Uh this now has a section on medical and psychological exams um that have been added in the legal policy. Uh TCL actually u modeled this and and had the

068example. I bring this to you only to tell you of course TCL is a Texas commission of law enforcement. We've been doing this in North Side for years and talking and working with the chief of having a medical and psychological exam as part of the vetting process that we have for our commissioned officers. So, nothing new and certainly something we agree with in terms of what now is in in statute. Um, the next one deals with free and reduced uh meals, specifically COB legal. This one too also revisions just change terminology from meal supplements to afterchool snacks uh and really just uh offers more flexibility for us and also one that we agree with especially where after school programs that we have when we want to provide u you know snacks for our students and

069so this of course is something also that we've had in practice for quite some time that that now is in the legal policy. And then the uh third one to bring to your review um deals with gifted and talented students is specifically EHB. I bring this one because there's a a not a companion I guess as we say with legislation, maybe a sister policy, a local policy that goes with it and really just brings updates in terms of uh some of the language. Um so changes here throughout this uh reference uh policy. It now aligns with the new rules and and really try to clarify um what is in uh both again the legal and local as far as uh different types of uh procedures that they have and the language that goes with them.

070And so those are three quick ones. And again, um, you've been provided and we'll have those, uh, again, um, that one is actually on page 358 if you're interested of the actual, uh, whole packet of of legal policies. So, with that, again, those just for review, these are, of course, your local policies, which you do, of course, have this is first reading. Any questions you may have, of course, we'll uh, certainly try to answer and any edits that you may have as well. if not today certainly before the uh next board meeting as as you have that as a prerogative to change. So uh first one deals with financial ethics specifically CIA deals with fiscal management. Um the uh revisions here align to changes in the code of federal regulations regarding federal grants. This is

071grant related and so TASBY recommends removing the option for the superintendent to designate his responsibility. So, what this means, and if you're following along now, and I do recommend if you do have your locals now that you can, those are colorcoded for those of you that are used to seeing. Uh, and the change here comes as you see the word designate uh omitted in red. And really the aim here to this update is to have the superintendent involved when any uh there's any concerns or issues related to potential fraud. The main piece of this, if you're following along, is on page 304 at the bottom. And of course just good practice that we already have and of course district this size uh Dr. Craft would work with with our CFO um Miss Bradley along with

072her team and anything and everything related to these. Um both of these policies the next one if you will uh relate to and of course as we always do we present to the department and uh budget and finance has gone over them. This one deals with other revenue as you can see and specifically investments. Um specifies now that all investments representatives that do business with North Side must be in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority as well as the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. And so that's on page six of seven. And really to sum this up, and I don't think anyone would disagree, it's just anyone we deal business with, we want to be in good standing with these two agencies. So it makes all the sense in the world. And again, something

073that we've already had in practice here in North Side as I look to Megan and of course had discussion with her regarding this one. So, moving right along to different topic, the next one deals with intellectual property, specifically the district's property. CY local is a policy. Um, and you can see on this one, if you're following along on page one, right off uh at the beginning, that something I think we have most of our employees understand that any work that's done on district time using the district machine, district technology for district purposes belongs to the district. And so, uh, we always work through our employees or with our teachers, I whomever it is. Uh, and really have no issues that I can recall in terms of, uh, regarding this as far as district property. Um,

074interesting though also in this one, we do have some clarification. It's on page two of three now for the employee in terms of copyright material. So now, uh, the teacher using a movie perhaps as part of their lesson or an art teacher using some artwork, visual works, music teacher using some sort of musical performance. Uh, there's some clarification there as to the use of them in their lessons and the copyright concerns that that come with that. Um and always as you know as we have done for years working through with different departments and administrators have been able to get through this in terms of um what's considered uh copyrighted. So next one uh deals with employee conduct and the specific policy is DH local one that some of you may be familiar with as this

075one comes up from time to time dealing with standards of conduct. recommendation here is to change and address tobacco and ecigarettes and now include nicotine products regardless of whether the product contains tobacco. So, uh part of what brought this uh policy change is and you've heard it with students, but it's vape related, anything that's vape. So, now for our own employees, of course, that's not something we we will allow and it's prohibited. So there's language there uh and specifically it's on page 30 of five where that's uh addressed and this will also be uh a trigger for our handbook where similar language will need to be included there in regard to the use of u any vape device and tobacco nicotine type substance. Continuing on, the next couple of policies deal with CNI. Uh, specifically

076this one, curriculum design and it's EHB local dealing with dyslexia. Uh, real simple one pager, a couple of paragraphs actually. I think this may be the shortest one we have. Revisions here uh reflect updated rules addressing dyslexia and related disorders as per the dyslexia handbook and ARD committee decision. So basically this keeps us in compliance with the law and it's a very just one simple uh onepage uh policy that we need to have updated. The next one also in the CNI area deals with special programs specifically as I spoke to the legal one uh EHB dealing with GT students. here. Revisions uh to this one update the terminology as they reflect the changes made to the te by the Texas state plan for the education of GT students approved by the state board of education.

077This happened in September of last year of 24 page three of three actually has the specifics to this and again just language that is uh updated um to match what now is in statute. Moving right along, the next one deals with student welfare, FFG, specifically child abuse and neglect. Revisions here clarify, and this is important, that individuals who make a report must provide their name and contact information when making a report regarding abuse or neglect. However, Dr. Har, are you looking at me? If they do that, we have to guarantee their anonymity and we will say we will not release their uh information unless it has to by you know law whatever the issue may be. So we want to protect the reporter as much as possible. These changes are on page three of four.

078Uh and again something that we've already kind of through our own practice as much as possible in order to take action will always ask and you know who it is and if they don't mind sharing that information which is now required. And then finally um community relations is the last policy. GKA local deals with conduct on school premises. And again here we go with uh electronic vaping devices that now not just our employee students but anyone on our bu in our buildings uh clarifies that it is prohibited. So any type of vaping device or substance that can be used in it um is prohibited in our schools. And so that really in a nutshell is the uh update. Again a very short one with these eight local policies. Um and certainly again if if you

079don't have questions now we certainly can um at the next uh meeting answer them for you but I will ask if you have any. Yeah we do trusty dur. All right so I was just wondering with the superintendent and we removing the our designate component what does happen if god forbid Dr. Craft cannot be present what is our contingency plan now? Well, district decides we always although this is written in language, Dr. Duran, there's uh Miss Bradley as his designate. Now, with for whatever reason, he is not able to uh if like you said, he's not here that we have another policy that in in that type of situation, not just for this instance, Dr. Dan, but any operational stuff, I'm the designate. Okay. And so there is a and I forget exactly plan. Yeah.

080which policy it is which we've had also in years uh in case of that for someone to act in his um in his absence. Okay. And then another follow-up question I have is the last one in regards to um what if a parent I had this happen drops their child off and they are the one smoking in the car. Vehicles also that is included. um now cuz I would never know what to do with that, right? By law and policy, they shouldn't be doing that as they're doing now. Does it happen? And unless there's a police officer, if there's a police officer there, they are certainly in the right of addressing it with them. However, um you know, old school even cigarettes, you know, that there's that's a habit that uh so to answer your

081question, by law and policy, they shouldn't be doing that and we can give them a citation. Okay, thank you. Any other comments or questions from the board? Just um it's not a policy question. Just curious on the on the trademark portion. Copyrights. No, not copyrights. Oh, trademarks. Yeah, I'm sorry. Just trademark. Do we Where do we have this trademark? Reason why I asked I don't know anything that has a TM on it as a school district. Yes. Yeah. And I looked to Mr. Pettis. Do you have anything that who's our expert in that? The logo right behind you for example, the N is is service marked. service mark not trade. Okay. Oh, we do have it on there. We do renew that periodically that along with other variations. Okay. Good. Thank you. We use SM.

082Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments, question? All right. Good. Thank you, sir. Again, this one was scheduled for uh discussion discussion and if you have any questions on the local policy, remember we still have time to make that change and uh legal keep moving forward. So, the next policy, not part of the update we bring to you, it's kind of a segue to the next um topic, which is open enrollment, and Monica is looking for it, I'm sure, and you should have a copy of it electronically as well. It's FDA. And so FDA deals with uh interd district transfers. Do we have a copy of it? Yes, it's under you should you have it on there. um this policy and notice I said interd district not intra district which is FDB some

083of you may be familiar with that policy um this is a policy that when we were growing 12-500 uh students per year we really had to keep track of and actually you'll see a lot of language stricken because in some cases actually would charge tuition if necessary for students that didn't live in our area but for whatever reason you'll see in just a second how they ended up in North Side uh but times times have changed and so we we bring this to you um you know not only for that uh reason and that times have changed and certainly that's not a practice that we have. Yeah. If you can make it a little bigger it' be great. Um a little bit but but uh okay but but it it serves uh a good timing

084as as Dr. Craft asked that we start with this found as a foundation to open enrollment and review our policy. And so right away figured probably tuition needs to be taken out of there. And so um what do you mean by open enrollment? If you're following along on your computers there, it's just that it's out of district students that have ended up in our in our uh district. So currently uh probably the most common one that we have is um oh I'll back up a little bit. Magnets for example for many years some of you that have been around those we've had a number and we would encourage students from out of district to come to our district. So that in itself was the I guess the start of out of district students that were

085in North Side. But we've also through the years uh have expanded that. Um we have parents now employees that if they live out of district but want to have their children here that for the last few years we've we've opened up. Um, and so we we also have uh service members and and uh peace officers that there's been changes in law that if we uh or they want to be in our district, we've made accommodations for them. Uh we do on occasion get kinder students that were in an accredited uh program outside of Texas that come to to us and and that we would allow them, you know, if if they were um out of district even. And so um but I draw your attention to number seven. Not on that one because I can't

086read it, but on your computers because number seven now deals with what we're about to present in terms of an initiative, a campaign that we think will will attract and bring more students to North Side and that's uh now allowing students to come in um if there's instructional capacity at our at our campuses. Uh and and basically what that means, if we have space for our own students, um and and we uh certainly want to fill some seats, uh we welcome them. And so policy-wise, also included in in another change is that well, who exactly can qualify? Well, we certainly want to be um you know, have some guidelines and and and uh know who and how many and not only the numbers and capacity, but also students that we're bringing in. So there's some

087guidelines attendance and discipline um clearly are are some that we're going to uh you know have a discussion as to what the criteria is to to come to north side as well as no no transportation that can be found on page two of three if you are following along there. So we we set the kind of the guidelines as to um you know what what the criteria is. So, so who are we trying to capture here? You might ask. And so I gave you a couple of examples of of now because of the capa the capacity we have as schools that we we would invite to North Side could be a a a parent that works at USAA. Uh this example I used last time who drives here, lives out of district but drives by

088one of our schools, McDermott perhaps. It would be very convenient for them to have them there and we have space there perhaps. So that's one example. The other one is the medical center as we have as you know and as it grows you know people from all over the county that that work there there again uh we may have someone that for convenience purposes some of our schools um they may want to have their children with us and and we now again because of capacity invite them perhaps even in the u the homes area I would say we we might have some students from the Edgewood area that on on occasion I know I've dealt with made it to my office in years past where we didn't have capacity but now we do and perhaps

089if if again they meet the criteria we would welcome them to north side who do we not want to attract and I I I use that word carefully is well currently we know that Medina Valley is growing by leaps and bounds we we want those kids if we can the problem is the request and the the teams that uh the team that's here have been dealing with this is they want to go typically to the schools they're closest to which are Harland so the mayo calison we need that space for our own kids as development is still occurring. So, while we welcome them and invite them, it's not going to be to those schools. And so, how would a parent then or or just anyone in Beay County know about this and and go about

090perhaps getting the information and applying to North Side? Well, this is where uh Christina comes in. what we're working on and we have a number of people here from Sassy to SIS administration Debbie of course working behind the scenes but we'd like these parents after we do a a marketing campaign to find out about it to go to our website and then for it to be seamless just like our own parents in Northight to go in click away um and and go through and and find out what schools are available and where all that work is being done as we speak and then of course uh go ahead through the process register ister as our own families and we get them into a north side school. So with that, Christina will kind of give you

091more of the specifics as to how that will look for parents. Yeah. And it's Christina's uh queue in the um really the campaign effort, uh communication effort, um marketing effort. Uh this conversation really began earlier in this year and actually it's a carryover from last year uh and I'm sure years before that. Now that we have u charter schools that are 135 strong just within the north side ISD boundaries. Um a year from now we'll have the implementation of ESAs. I I think the my recommendation is is we put ourselves in a position of being equally competitive without these restrictions in and around district boundaries. Um because it it is changing. Uh charter schools uh the initiative began uh as an initiative statewide initiative only for programs of innovation. Well, that's not the case. Um,

092in many in many many charter programs, it's not about innovation. It's just about expansion. Um, and so, like I say, looking into the future, I I just I believe we need to place ourselves because we have a phenomenal product. We need to position ourselves um to be equally competitive in this new free market, if you will, um that now is going to entail and include the privatization of education. And with that, we'll talk about this marketing plan. Um this plan was designed to help attract and retain students by showcasing what Dr. Craft referred to as this amazing product. um we want to share with them the exceptional opportunities that they can find uh within North Side campuses. So tonight we're going to give you kind of a high-level overview of some of the strategies, the

093timeline, the messaging, and the tools that we will use to reach parents in the greater San Antonio area. So this is a three-phase campaign with the first phase kicking off um very soon and that really focuses on the foundation and the awareness. Uh our goal in this first phase is to build the initial awareness to let families know what open enrollment is um and to share with them that they could actually regardless of where they live uh attend a north side school. This would have a really broad reach. We would try and reach as many families in the greater San Antonio area as we could and we would focus on the messaging about open enrollment and then share the brand of North Side. This in this initial phase, we would launch some of our media

094and digital assets and we would start to unveil some of those outreach materials that folks will see and that we'll give you a preview of in just a little bit. We would also equip our campuses with some communication toolkits and some talking points so that we're all on the same page. The second phase is that recruitment and engagement where we actively drive interest and we're actively trying to recruit families. Uh and we're going to showcase what makes North Side exceptional. We talk about strong academics and exceptional teachers, safe schools, our amazing programs, and those are all the things that we want to shine the spotlight on. We would start to narrow our reach in this phase of the campaign. You would see some targeted digital and email campaigns and marketing um to specific families uh

095who have shown interest from that first phase. We would strengthen our employee um bonds and outreach with some of those like USAA, uh some medical centers, um some hospitals, uh Valero, some of those companies where we know people come in from different areas around San Antonio and we would like for them to help us share that their families could attend North Side Schools and we would continue to highlight those amazing student stories. And then the third phase is really that final conversion point where we take those interested families and then we make sure that they are converted into enrolled and registered students. This would really transition into a yearround effort as Dr. Craft was saying where this is what we do moving forward. We reach out not only to the families within north side boundaries

096but to those who live in the greater San Antonio area. Just just one one quick question on a context in general. Um well another and I know I've talked about this in the past but well again major target will be our own employees also and that's going to be a different approach than absolutely talk some external yes um and so we'll have messaging for our own employees as well to let them know um which they can already bring their students here but to reinforce that idea that we are we should be your first choice your first option um for high quality education would that also include I'm Sorry, I'm taking away from No, no, that's okay. A little bit. Would that also include approach of finding out why they currently are not having their children

097attend north side schools, for example, before we get to that next step? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Trusty Don, I do have a question and you may answer this soon, but do the in district students get the first chance to move before we open it up to the world? Yeah. What do you mean to move? I'm sorry. Like if we have a student that is going to Clark or wants to go to Sto mayor, do they get to move request to move first before we open it up to the rest of Yes, we we certainly want to take care of our kids first. Yeah. And that's why not all schools are going to be open. Uh Debbie's done and the goal is to have a map for families to see, but yeah, we

098certainly don't want to inconvenience our own families as we're bringing in other our families top priority. Can we clarify that though for trust uh to make sure we're in the same skill because in theory I think I'm right on this introductory transfer that list exists now now I guess her question is are we going to market that to say even more to say hey if you really want to go to another school you can I think that's also what you're getting there's a form they have to fill out and so then that brings me to the other question with the magnet schools there some of them have an application and an admittance requirements and that process will remain the same Yes, the M. Yeah, it'll have to uh just just for equity purposes. I think

099that the for this year um I'm not as concerned about um the uh intra district transfers not having priority simply because all of that work is is really been done or is really close to being completed. it will be the next year that we'll just need to be cognizant of the choices prioritization particularly with some of our magnet programs that we don't have if we have vacant seats they're not there's not a lot of uh vacant seats and and prioritizing so i.e an earlier application, an earlier request uh for that transfer and then start accepting like I say the interd district or out of district transfers at that point. So that's a good that's a great point. Trusty Freeman, you we'll be here for it's okay. Thank you. I Yeah, we we sort of just

100skimmed over what Mr. Blunt just said, but I think many of our families do not know that they have the option of moving from one school to another school that has a vacancy. So for instance, we all know that there are some personality clashes sometimes in some schools through no fault of of anyone's before that family and I know we do all we can to talk to them and what I don't want them to do is to okay I'm going to take my child to a charter school before they even consider the fact or they know they need to know the fact that they could actually have the opportunity to go to another one of our schools. I don't think many of our um families know that. Okay. We Yeah, we we can make a

101concerted effort to ensure that they're absolutely aware. The other piece to that communication aspect is particularly if they're living outside of the district, they could actually be some of our best spokespersons within their neighborhoods, within their churches and notifying other families. We we allow we're allowing Yeah. it transfers. Yeah. And if I could speak to your concern, uh, Miss Freeman, because it is one that we deal with often. I look to I know Steve's back there, Jessica. We we we discuss amongst ourselves um who gets the trophy as to how many transfers we've we've given because they do just that. We we don't want them to go to a private a chart or whatever. So many times these folks in the back here work with those families and they basically do get to choose where

102where what works best for you. So that process although we haven't openly advertised it to everyone, these folks make sure that that we don't lose a family to that. And and that's and there's many of those cases. Uh Debbie could probably get us a number of how many admin transfers we do. So or or yes and Kathy Lissy as well. Their offices again we even changed the name of school advocacy and school choice. So between Kathy Admin and Debbie we as much as possible do what you just described. Thank you for that Chessie Harl. No I was just going to build on that. I don't think our families know and I know you you probably have a timeline but like I didn't know for my own family and called Kathy and I forgot the new

103name. So, I'm trying to find it on the website like in district transfers or whatever and I thought what the heck I'm just going to call. But it comes up quite a bit and that could be touted as something that we can do right away. So, we prevent um them leaving the district for something else where they have choice. My other thought is you haven't done the timeline yet but if we are talking about are we talking about 2526 or 26 27. So we would start this with the and again we we presented this at the last policy committee. We would start this as soon as the policy is we would be ready to launch. So, so I say that because we want cho I want choir. I just admit it at homes and yet

104we're saying we're going to have to, you know, because we've kind of shot ourselves in the foot by offering so much choice that now, you know, kids are choosing this over choir, but really maybe would have done choir if you know it was still there. So, and you you brought up the point that we do but up against Sedgewood and you know not every kiddo can go to their fine arts academy. Maybe we could attract more kids to choir at homes and then build from there for our feeder middle schools. But if it started right away, could we then um remploy a teacher for choir at homes or some of the feeders that are looking at low numbers because kids are making other choices which I to be fair to campus and campus planning master

105schedule building I think it would be really difficult to make that change going into next school year or even even as we started that school school year. It just the master schedule it it becomes very very difficult to make those sudden adjustments. But going forward as course request I mean it absolutely will drive like I say FTE allocations and and I think planning um uh for programmatic offerings specifically at each campus. So, I don't want to I don't want to make a false promise because I think it would be really difficult as we prepare to launch this really right here at the end of the school year not fully knowing how many but much less what are the students specific interest before we get them through the enrollment process. Well, and and I I think

106I the kind of plea that I'm trying to make is that if they knew that choir I mean I because it's going to take a while to bring it back even if we do this year two or whatever if we knew but if it's totally taken off the choice card how would we even know there was an interest so if it could still remain the same and we could then weigh and measure and see it is I I've done master schedule before I know I know the challenges But at the same time, so is the challenge of rebuilding a new program or a program. So yeah, again, I I don't I don't want to say it's it just to make the change midstream is it would be that's a pretty difficult ask of the campus

107and particularly the schedule builders. No, it is it is one final number. uh 2,366 kids uh we've transferred this year alone to include you know school choice grandparents and all of the above. So I just want to kind of go over a little the process I think the transferability comes up a lot as students are transitioning to your point Dr. Carl from especially middle school to high school. So they're able to see the options. So that's already like kind of like a promotional opportunity, but it's not happening from elementary to middle school as much. So maybe that's an area of opportunity because they don't have to select like what their their next four years is going to look like and in elementary school. So I think that's an area of opportunity. we can kind of

108target that elementary school age group because it like to their point it's happening already in the high schools especially. So there's just that those small transition points that I think this would be excellent without boundaries. Yeah, I think that's a I think that's a great point. In fact, I would venture to say with the launch, your consideration of the policy, but then the launch of the communication aspect, marketing, I I do think that there probably be will be more interest at the elementary level just as individuals are commuting to place of work. Um, students obviously won't be driving. I think that that will be absolutely the targeted audience. Not to say there won't be some high school interest. Um, I think that's like I say, you're spot on. No, no, that's perfect. Yeah, Trusty Soda.

109No, that's all right. Okay. I'll tell Carol later. Oh, okay. It was just a comment about the choir. Okay. All right. Slide number three. Yes. Okay. So, you can see our slogan and our tagline here. Excellence without boundaries. Now open to families across greater San Antonio. experience the best of North Side ISD. So, this campaign is really built on the foundation of Northside's legacy of excellence in education, and it reflects our commitment to highquality education, and that we want this to be a choice uh for even more families. Every marketing message that you see will um uh circle around the themes of exceptional teachers and award-winning programs, outstanding academics and student success, which are all themes that we derived from those culture and climate surveys that we've done for the past two years. And they're

110things that already resonate with our current families um and staff. and we believe that they will also uh do well to attract new families. So, this is the look of the marketing campaign. You can see it has the north side blue um and the logo will be prominent on all of the materials. The excellence without boundaries will also be out there. We're really focused on some of these highquality images. Uh we have some really talented photographers within the communications team. Um and we like to show uh smiling, engaged, happy students and successful teachers. Our web team has also created a landing page uh where families can go uh when they start to explore and learn more about this. It will be choosenside.net, which we're pulling up for you right now. And this will be the

111look of uh that web page. So you can see right at the very top um it just talks about now we're open for enrollment. They have an opportunity to apply now there which does go to the same registration page as current Northside families um go to if they need to explore a little more. They see some things about what sets North Side apart. We talk about academic excellence, innovative learning, safe schools. We talk about sports, extracurriculars, fine arts, that we have strong family and community engagement, and that it's a it's strong partnership with families. We give them the enrollment considerations and what the applications will be reviewed based on, the attendance, the campus and instructional capacity, the discipline history. Um, and if we scroll down just a little more, they have another opportunity to apply

112now. And then we started adding some frequently asked questions. We can add to those as we kind of delve into this process and we learn more about questions that families might have. And now the last thing that I want to share with you tonight is um it's my favorite part. Uh it's what we call the kind of emotional centerpiece of this whole campaign and it really is designed to reinforce uh that sense of family that we have here at Northside. Um the purpose, the shared success. We're going to show you the first in a series of videos that our team has created that really highlights the heart of the district. We talk a lot about the academics and the extracurriculars, athletics and fine arts, but we know really the heart of the district is the

113people who have this shared vision um of helping students succeed. And that's our educators and our coaches, our administrators, everybody who's on the support staff, our custodians and bus drivers uh and child nutrition workers. Um, and what you're going to see now is the long form video that we have that will live on our website and on our YouTube channel. But before you watch this, I want you to know that there are going to be many variations and versions of this. There are going to be some shorter versions that will just be for social media or for YouTube ads. Um, we're going to have targeted versions that will be tailored for prospective family. um that will go out in emails or in newsletters and we're going to have audience specific cuts and variations. Um some

114will be focused specifically on academics. Some could be for our families of early learners or for high school transfers or we uh plan to have one that's really kind of a welcome back to North Side, a welcome home version that would be for families who may have made another choice and are coming back to Northside. All of these though are going to reinforce that message that North Side is more than just a school district. Uh that we're really a team and we are committed to helping students succeed. At North Side, we are more than just a community. We are a family. For 75 years, we have been shaping futures, empowering students, and building a legacy of excellence. Each of us plays a role in our student success. Whether in the classroom, on the football field,

115or in the lunch line, we are united by a shared mission to serve, support, and inspire. We prepare our students for every path ahead to learn, to grow, and to achieve their dreams. We provide opportunities for all because their success is our commitment. and our drive. With 100,000 students, more than 13,000 employees, and over 130 campuses, we work together to help every student reach their full [Music] potential. Remember We are family. We are north side strong. We are united by one purpose and we are unstoppable. We are N I S D. That's right. We'll have it professionally narrated before we launch it. That's good. Let's see. So, if you have any questions about the marketing part, I'm more than happy to answer those. Okay. Bilingual. Yes, we would. We can create that bilingual. Yes. Or

116multiple multilingual. Trust your harl next. Yeah. I I was listening through the lens of going back to Karen's comment about our families right now like ones who will call and say you know we don't have dual language at our my elementary school and so just some sort of marketing around well you can go to any school that has it you're just going to have to provide your own transportation so I've done that a number of times so there is I know we made a 2000 something but that there could be more if that was a target audience or in district. And then the other question I had is um so I'm coming in from um downtown. I live downtown or something and I want my kiddo to go to um Soayor. Can they be dropped

117off at a pickup place for Stoayayor instead of me having to drive all the way to Soayor? Could is that something to think about? Maybe we we can we can explore it here. Here is what happens though and transportation is a big issue. It is and and as we just just discussed this, we're actually going moving in the direction of again an optin provision for those that qualify for transportation to gain efficiencies. If we don't have an idea of the number of students that will be on buses each day, it it again I don't want to say that it's not possible, but the logistics involved in that lend itself to being less efficient. I mean, it just it just does to wait and see, too. You know, we don't know how this will play out.

118Well, and that's a great point. I mean, I I think that again with your consideration of FDA local policy, that's really the initial step. We're prepared uh we'll continue to prepare to immediately launch like I say the marketing advertising campaign. Um the way I am kind of assessing this at at this point, let's place ourselves in the very best position. And I say compete, but let's make ourselves just as marketable and just as much of a choice as parents and families or being given in in any type of education environment. Um and and it's it's a win-win. um because because we'll capture the ADA and again as long as we're prioritizing and protecting um from a capacity standpoint, we don't want to overcrowd particularly already crowded campuses, but let's make this one more the option

119for parents to consider. Trusty Salceto. Yeah, I know. I know. We discussed in the policy about uh the UIL um eligibility. Would that be part of that marketing making sure that they don't want to just go over there to Brandon for basketball and they have to spit out or whatever the Yeah, that's so so the UIL eligibility. That's a great question and a great point. We we're going to need to make it really clear that all UIL eligibility uh procedures, policies are going to remain in in place. Um there's several things to take into consideration uh with UIL. Prior to students entering the ninth grade, it's not as challenging. It's really almost moot. um if students transfer going into their freshman year uh or what's considered first opportunity uh so a new program is established

120it opens if they transfer immediately uh that that like I say would be the first opportunity otherwise they'll have to go through what's called a previous athletic participation process uh that entails both the sending school as well as the receiving school uh to sign off that in essence they're not moving for uh extracurricular purposes i.e. athletics or even fine arts. Um and like I say it'll have to go through the same regiment the same protocol uh for students to become eligible. Uh if for whatever reason uh they're not deemed eligible uh they will be uh subject to playing or participating competing at the JV level for a full calendar year before they're eligible for varsity athletics. Uh but that's a great point. Yeah. So it like I say it it's a little bit more we

121we'll follow and we'll communicate that we'll be following all UIL procedures and like I say policies that are really um uh pertinent to it where it really becomes a sticky issue is a varsity player to another high school with the intent to play varsity. That's that's where it gets really sticky. And like I say, there are very clear processes, procedures through the district executive committee um uh that like I say, we'll we'll follow and continue to to implement. Uh Trusty Freeman, thank you. We talked about or you you spoke about your targeting. What is your what are the students that we're targeting? We've got um approximately is it nearly 20% of our students in charter schools? Uh I believe the count is right around 16,000. That's 16,500 plus a few. So that are North Side

122ISD. Okay. So are we going to target that particular group as well with with all of this? Mhm. Uh we will do some geo fencing uh around those uh locations where we're trying to um capture those audiences uh which essentially means that when families drive in there, they'll be served ads about North Side. Um and then through some sort of technology, it attaches cookies and things and so then even once they leave that location, they'll still receive ads about North Side. So, yeah. Good. Any other comments, questions? I just I like that one. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Yeah. I'll just add one more. Um I think it was like everybody else has said, I think it was really good. Um and it's so good. I I will say this just from prior experience.

123I would tell you when we started the go public campaign very make sure um IP is really pushed uh and protection and be able and monitor what we had started seeing happening when we really were pushing to go public was the charters and others started taking our slogans and other things and adopting them per se um we didn't push it as much per se and maybe we should have but just monitor and watch because this is really good and I think you're going to see that sort of happening. Thank you. Hey, Christina. Good. Yeah, Christina and Barry, the entire communications team, like I say, they've you can obviously hopefully tell they they put a lot of work uh in advance uh in preparation for, like I say, a pretty pretty big launch. So, so we'll

124be bringing FDA uh back on the 27th for your consideration and then we'll be prepared to launch. Ready? Thank you, Dr. Craig. This is one we heard about and it it's I was waiting for it and it it it definitely uh met up to everything and exceeded. So, this is really good. So, thank you all again. I just want to know where we got that astronaut. We got one. It's like good job. You keep using launch and then there's this astronaut up there. It's like okay. All right. Tesla, of course. No one. Don't say that one. Oh. Oh, okay. Look at the time. All right. Well, thank y'all again and we're ready to go into our superintendent area. Yes, sir. So, the one item is the canvasing of the election results uh from the May

1253rd election. uh in your board uh documents uh you have uh the uh verified election results uh from Bear County as well as uh the resolution uh to accompany um like I say the canvasing uh of those of those elections, those four seats. Um uh we have communicated with uh the two trustees um uh regarding the 27th uh which we're what we're planning for the oath to be administered um and uh the seating on the dis but uh first order of business obviously is for your consideration of the resolution and um and canvasing uh as a governing body uh required through election code uh the election results. Okay. Are there any comments or questions on the uh the canvasing? All right. If not, there's a motion to come before the board. Uh Trusty Harl, I

126move that we approve the canvasing of the election results. A second. David, uh motion and second. All right. Is there any further discussion? Okay. If not, it's been moved and second that we approve the uh canvasing results. All those in favor signify by stating I. I. I. Any oppose say nay. Good. Motion carries. And did you have something else, Trusty Hall? No. Okay, good. So, we will welcome um actually four members that two that were reelected and there two new ones that are coming on during May 27th. I do want to say also um for Homer and also for Karen. Um I know we'll also have a celebration for them and we'll have the date for that announced soon. But um I do want to say now that the canvasing is in etc. has been

127y'all really done a great job to to put it lightly and I know we're going to celebrate and have the opportunity to speak a little bit further about you but I at least want to do it here because sometimes you never know in the last meeting per se but you all have been model um trustees to put it lightly you know I've had that sort of historical perspective and others telling me what a north side trustee should be and how we should continue to maintain that and I will say from a continuity sense and from a culture sense you you have truly been outstanding so it's been a real honor and we'll have that further opportunity to celebrate you, but I did want to say thank you for the record. Thank you. Thank you. Thank

128you both for your service. All right. So, that completes this portion and now we will go into our executive session. So, the board of trustees um how much time I need about I say 55. Okay. So at 8:55 or so, we'll convene and close meeting. 7:55. Yeah. Thanks. Good point. Don't wait an hour. 7:55. We'll convene an open and close meeting in accordance with the Texas government codes. Discussion to take place on the items that are listed on the agenda. So the board of trustees beginning at 8:55 can be back an open meeting action take place on the the items listed. Is there a motion to come before uh the board? The the appointment first. Okay. I'd like to make a motion to approve the items discussed in executive counsel to uh include appointed positions.

129All right. Is there a second on the appointment? Second. Okay. Motion second. Any further discussion? Now, it's been moved and second that we approve the appointment as discussed in the uh closed session. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? State nay. A motion carries. Is there another motion to come before the board regarding the min as worded, right? Yeah. You say you got administrative staff contracts as well as professional contracts. Yes, that's what that Okay. Is there a motion along those lines? Yes. I make a motion to approve the items discussed in executive session to include administrative appointments and professional and professional appointments. Contracts. Contracts. Okay. Contracts. Second. My second. All right. So, uh, it's been moved a second that we approve of the recommendations regard administrative and professional staff contracts.

130All those in favor signify by stating I. I. Any opposed? State say nay. Good. Motion carries. The board of this meeting at 8:58. Thank you all.