001you've had a productive summer, a summer of growth personally and um so that's what most of our recognitions are from. So our first one um is Jaylen Fernandez from the high school, Robert Robtown Early College High School. So Jaylen, if you could come up. [Applause] >> I will read a little something and we'll get some photos. So Jaylen Fernandez, 2025 North American Powerlifting Federation National Champion. We proudly congratulate Jaylen Fernandez for her outstanding achievement in claiming the gold medal in the 47 kilogram weight category at the 2025 North American powerlifting federation competition representing team USA in the grand in the Grand Cayman Islands. Jaylen demonstrated exceptional strength, dedication, and sportsmanship on the international stage. Please join us in celebrating Jaylen and also her coach, Coach Claire Vanheel, will be sharing a little more in-depth information
002on just what she achieved over the summer. So, Coach Van, sorry, I apologize in advance. I'm not the one. Um, so we're very proud of Jayen. She started this journey to compete with team USA back in uh when she competed for the eighth division nationals in Reno. She won gold there as well and she got her chance to be on team USA go compete in the Cayman Islands and she brought home she of course first place gold. You can see all her her hardware on her. Um she set four North American records and Panam record. So she set a total of eight records for her weight division. >> We're very proud of Jaylin. She's an amazing person, an amazing athlete, and she just impresses us more and more every day. [Applause] All right, here we
003go. [Applause] So, real quick for the record, Mr. President. >> Okay. Next up is also a young lady from Rocktown Early College High School, Bianca Vosquez. [Applause] All right, Bianca competed at the 2025 Taff Games of Texas this summer. Bianca did exceptional at the Taff Games held in College Station. Bianca delivered a remarkable performance in the 1600 meter run, earning first place with an impressive time of 5 minutes 26 seconds, marking making her the 2025 state champion in the 1600 meter run. She also secured second place in the 3,200 meter run and additionally she earned bronze in the 800 meter run demonstrating her versatility and dedication across multiple distances. Um, please join us in celebrating Bianca. She's been working hard all summer. I'm seeing her and coach Gonzalez, you know, out there as I'm out
004there getting pictures and stuff and um we're just we're so proud of you, Bianca. I know cross country has just started. So, we're looking forward to a great season. Coach Gonzalez, I don't know if you want to say a few words and then we're going to take a photo so Mr. Vino can come up again. I just want to say uh we have two great athletes in this room. These two girls, they did exceptional this summer. And with Bianca in the summer, we we we train all year round with with with Bianca. Uh it doesn't stop. She don't have any breaks. So, uh she probably gets maybe a week, but in that week, she gets a break from me, but not from her. So, I want to just congratulate her for her accomplishment. Uh we
005look forward for cross country season and we're going to go to state [Applause] I'm way old. Take a look here. >> One, two, three. Okay, the next award goes to our Robtown Early College High varsity baseball team. They made history this season. I guess both of y'all all want to come up and then I can read the amazing thing that y'all did. Coach Miller. All right. So, for the first time in Robstown ISD history, the 2024 2025 Robstown varsity baseball team earned the prestigious American Baseball Coaches Association Team of Academic Excellence Award. This marks the first time Robtown has been recognized with this honor. So, what does this mean, right? So this means that to achieve this distinction, a team must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, which I believe it was higher
006on a 4.0 scale for the academic year and be nominated by a coach who is an ABCA member. So that in itself, great job guys. So this award celebrates not only what y'all can do on the field, but what y'all did in the classroom first. And we just we're so proud of y'all because that is it's a lot. Like we know it's a lot to attend practices and put the sport first, but just to the fact that y'all were able to keep your GPA up, that speaks volumes. So, we're so proud of you guys. [Applause] >> Miller, I don't know if you have a few words to say. >> Thank you for recognizing the young men tonight. I didn't take any classes, so it was all in. Uh they did a great job. We want
007to do this each and every year and make sure that we're getting higher and higher each time. We are 3.1 I believe. So our goal next year is to be 3.3. So [Applause] Get all three. >> Hold on. One more. Go ahead and get it started. All right, we have one more recognition this evening. One more. Yes, we have one more. So, our final recognition this evening is to Miss Laurian Garza. So, Miss Garza, can you come up here? [Applause] Oh my god. >> And let me tell everybody what it's about. So, Miss Madame President Laurian Garza has proudly served on the Robson ISD board of trustees since 2024. An incredible 11 years of dedication. She is a lifelong resident of Robstown and a proud RHS alumni. Miss Garza serves on various committees, and today
008we especially recognize her new role as chair of the Lonear Investment Pool, a program that allows Texas schools and local governments to safely invest public funds together, earning better returns while keeping those funds secure and accessible. Miss Garza, we want to thank you for being a leader and setting the example of igniting brilliance, not only with Why am I getting emotional? but not only with Robstone ISD but also in our community and through out your p your own personal growth. So, thank you for just setting an example and just continuing to to grow and be a leader. Thank you. [Applause] Very nice. Those [Applause] are all the recognitions today. >> Thank you. Thank you everybody. Very nice of you. Dr. I appreciate it. Next item on the agenda, M I'm sorry. President remark Tazby delegate
009assembly September 11th. So you know what that means? We need a delegate. Anybody want to volunteer? >> I'd like to be too. I would like to nominate um Mobles to be our delegate for this session. Awesome. Anybody opposed? >> Good luck, Miss Yellow Book. I think you're going to be >> You're going to enjoy it. You're going to be right. >> I've done it twice and you'll be right. >> It's also a lot of fun. >> Um, we do need a delegate. Um, uh, I would, if I'm able to attend this, I would like to nominate myself as an alter. I'm as an okay >> if you want to attend gentlemen >> absolutely not y'all can say okay as our delegate and Mr. Martinez is our alternate thank you both for volunteering uh next item
010just the conference will be September 9th through the I'm sorry September 11th through the 14th it is in Houston hotels have been booked so if you change your mind please let me know so she can be Do you know what the drop dead date is? Do you have to move? >> I'll email you. >> Thank you. >> So, everyone's in the same hotel, which is good. >> Um, special schedule meetings and workshop reminders. On page 13 is a list of all the board meetings that we have scheduled coming up. If those dates do not work with you, you could please let us know and we would like to accommodate what's best if these are not okay. So, we could look at these and look at your calendar. Um, we do have a very important one
011of tax rate adoption and a budget adoption. So, that's going to be on Tuesday, August 26. >> No. >> Uh, next item on the agenda. Any questions? Next item on the agenda is superintendent report. Dr. >> Thank you, Madam President, trustees. Let me run through some highlights of some ongoings and happenings. Last week, we had a lot of professional development and it was productive whether it's the tier one instruction at the elementary and at the secondary uh some of the safety updates and just really looking at all the high quality instructional materials and how they're going to be implemented as well is was incredibly productive last week and culminated into the uh picker parent on Friday. I want to thank everyone who came out to support that and uh again it was more than just
012passing out backpacks and members. It is about us collectively celebrating ice core values on responsibility. The start of school is Wednesday. This Wednesday, we are ready to go. For the folks at home watching around the world during Robstown, we start school on Wednesday the 13th and we're ready to go. And we're going to have this Alejandra. I think we're going to kick off Chris 6 in the morning. 6:00 in the morning, 5:30 in the morning. of the duel will be there and cheerleaders and then we're going to be rallying uh Wednesday morning bright and early. That'll be our sunrise, right? Secondly, the Texas Education Agency is releasing the accountability ratings for 2425 and 23 24 this Friday. And that's important because we're going to use that as part of our discussion for the accountability workshops
013just referenced in the list of upcoming board meetings. accountability workshop is a week from tomorrow. Make sure we're aware of that. That's going to be at 6 p.m. Next. Right now, the ledge is in a special session. You know, I've heard about all the redistricting that's going on. Not going to talk about that. We'll just talk about what's going on with education. And right now, the star test is being considered for elimination in the traditional sense. It would be replaced. It looks it looks like this may happen. It would be replaced with three smaller exams. Uh teachers and staff would be very very involved as the law is being written right now and the development of some of those questions and also this would involve a complete overhaul of A3 as we know today. So
014hold on we'll see what transpires in the next couple weeks a question on that. Um is there like a deadline for this to happen as far as with the education part going on right now? So if things prolong the way they are forward or can >> they potentially call another gathering but I think this is going to be resolved here in the session and if it is resolved it will begin 2728. >> Oh okay. So it's it's going to be some time for that to take. Uh speaking of policy, we want we want to talk about 20 oh goodness 2526 policy. This is in the letters the 401 bill 401. And just for clarity, that's the one that deals with homeschoolers. And there uh is now law. They have the right to participate. If they
015live within your district, then they no longer have to opt out. Like last year, they're automatically in. the district would have to make a decision to opt out before September 1st if if the board chooses to do that. Make sure that's clear. Any questions about that? >> So, you have to opt out now if you do not want to allow homeschoolers to participate in UIL academics or fine arts or sports. >> Would they be subject to the same, you know, kind of eligibility, you know, >> still have to subility I think someone asked me a question, Mr. We also $1,500 for each participant. Uh, I have a meeting with our first parent tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, Miss >> Afternoon. And they register or they just get in touch with you or >> that's it. There there's
016not any requirement for us to monitor home school at all. That is not in our certain requirements for them to meet and we'll see if we can go through those with them in detail. Okay. What about the students that go to St. >> If they reside in our district and they're interested in participating in our events, they can >> Yeah, that's a private school. So that's a separate entity. So if they want to participate, consider participating with us. We'll definitely sit down and talk to them how we can make that happen. >> So um the last one, the last two really is the TAS presentation that's coming up at Tasot. Uh Coro invited me to present with them. So we'll be doing that on September 13. They have a they have a program called curriculum.
017culture formula a proven path to building empowered teams and that's corel so I'll be with them on Saturday there and finally the fieldhouse project is in in full full so right now Mr. Davis pal is putting the things she touches on the package. So hopefully have that to receive tomorrow and review and then get together with the committee to discuss it. >> Okay. So the committee is going to see it before we >> Okay. Thank you. And that's my report. >> Thank you Dr. Quick. Next item on the agenda there is no B. So presentationformational items Robstone donation Dr. Thank you, Madam President. We have two donations we'd like to recognize. Representative Denis Lobos. She contributed $300 for the hot dogs and buns and water at the Baker Parent Palooa. So grateful to Representative Lobos
018and also Kona Ice is donating to the athletics almost $1,300 $1,292 for athletics. So grateful for this. >> Thank you. Thank you both. Next item on the agenda, technology. device protection program. This is a hot one. Dr. >> Yes, ma'am. It is. At this time, we'd like to invite our technology guru up, and that's Mr. Richard Tiger. [Music] Good evening, members of the board, Madam President. >> I know. I know. So, I'm going to give you a little bit of a technology update. Um, I know we're here for insurance. We always we all want to hear, but I'm going to give you a little bit of um update on technology. Of course, we have our vision, mission, and our values. Um we've had some pretty big um summer projects. Our fiber um that's been installed.
019I'm pretty sure they've seen that there's been humongous vehicles and boring going on. We've been putting a new um WAN network. We've upgraded with -ate um going to um foremost communications from media link um our virtual network upgrade and of course our Chromebook refresh. So first off our fiber land project. I just wanted to give you all an idea of what the fiber land look like. Um of course our core of our network is over at our high school and basically we have all of our connections with our land which is the wide area network. pretty simple. I'm going to leave it like that. So, next our virtual network project. Um, we've done a virtual project over the summer which has been pretty huge on technology piece basically and I don't want to get too
020much of this like security but all of our servers have been updated to the newest versions. We went from a server room that was pretty large to putting everything on a single chassis which houses all of our um main servers that run our day-to-day operation with all of our internet. So lastly, our Chromebook solution. So I like to call this our Chromebook dilemma before we get into anything. Um, so our total districtwide unpaid device fines for lost, broken, or devices that were never returned since 2020. So I go back to 2020 because this was the year of co um, and that kind of forced our hands into jumping into the Google Chrome world, which is great. Google classroom, Google environment has been amazing um, for Robson ISD, but we purchase devices. We get grant funded
021devices which are which have been wonderful to the district but over the years we look at how much money we've lost and the number is under 34,000 and that's just at the surface. I believe there's more, but during the 2020 2021 to 2122, there was a lot of devices that just kind of went unaccounted for, lost, broken that were not really in the system where we were actually charging or tracking them. So, just to give you an idea of devices that went missing, broken, lost, broken, or never returned. For Mortise, we had 10 devices. San Pedro we had 29 lot beach 48 dress school 11 junior high 80 in the high school 239 devices so I'm going to jump to my next part here so let's take a look >> $76,976 so I'm going to
022break it down a little bit on the largest number which is the high school so the breakdown for the high school at $76,000 so the first bullet here There's students who graduated without pain since 2021. Okay, so that's students who have graduated and left Robson ISD have left with $10,000 worth of Chromebooks. Let's say 11 10,600. So 11,000. Okay. So the next three bullets, this is where we could track this hard data, is students that withdrew during the 22 23 school year without returning a device. approximately $11,645. Students who withdrew from the 23-2 24 school year, $17,000. Students who withdrew from the 2425 school year without returning the devices, $14,000. Now, keep in mind these are only Chromebooks. This is has nothing to do with Windows devices. These are just the Chrome books that we
023put in the hands of our students. So the last bullet on the bottom, the broken there's a broken, damaged or lost devices for current students. That means they're on our campuses. I mean just our high school really not campuses, just our high school. The fines that they owe already at $23,84. And that's that can be anything from a broken a broken keyboard, a broken screen, a lost charger. Um, and these fines are actually being paid out. Um, we've had fines that were paid out during the school year. Last year, we did have money coming back, but these are all things that could have been remedied if there was some type of insurance plan in US. So, my next slide, Rosson's project continue one student device program. So, the insurance plan is going to work like
024this. Grades K through 5, the Chromebooks will remain in the classroom. Enough devices for every student during school. Doesn't apply to K through 12. 6 to 8. Each classroom will be assigned a class set of Chromebooks with a couch. Basically, computer on wheels for daily use during school hours. Meta knows this. We've already relayed the message. Devices do not leave the junior high. They stay in the classroom. They had too many broken. She didn't like that idea, so we kept them in the classroom. Wonderful. High school. Grades 9 through 12, students will be issued a Chromebook for both school and home use. These students are expected to bring their devices, charge these. Now, at the high school, they do check them out. We have we're in early college, high school students use them. We have
025low credit classes. We have just college courses. I mean, they need them. Majority of the teach all teachers should be using Google classroom. So, they're utilized daily. So, our student device protection plan, here's the idea. The cost of coverage would be $50 per student per year insurance or $15 per student per year if the family qualifies based on the student on the current year's in concern. Now, just to kind of give you a back end of e-ate were considered a 86% We pay 14 cents on the dollar. If we do a $100,000 project, we only pay $14,000, right? So 86% of our population at the high school is going to qualify for that $15 insurance. Let's put it that way. Um so the non-refundable payment is due on the day of the device checkout. Um
026what is covered in this? Accidental dam accident accidental damage, theft, fire, electrical surges, natural disers. The repair replacement terms, the first incident, if paid insurance, you'll have your devices covered. The second, you have to pay the co-pay again. The third, you have to pay the full cost. The coverage does does exclude uh negligence, intentional damage, loss of device, abuse, misuse, um damage from biohazards, damage caused by anyone other than the assigned student or lost charging cables or adapters replacement PS4. >> Dare I say any questions? >> Any questions? >> Yes, sir. >> Another question. um if they are not able to pay the the insurance coverage at the beginning, you know, when they're going to be getting the device, are they not going to be able to get the device or they can still get
027the device and then pay on a plan of some sort? Because this was kind of like thrown to them last and a lot of parents are on fixed incomes and they have to kind of adjust these things. So, will their child not be able to get that from, you know, the book or something? So, I believe everybody's entitled to their own like we take it or we don't. But I feel like sometimes that we don't we're not offered that as a as an option. Like with car insurance, we either drive uninsured, we drive insured, and I feel like the the devices we're giving them basically a $400 device. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's that I mean, I get all that and everything, but I'm just saying that if they're not able to come
028up, if they have three kids in school, you they all have to pay $50. Maybe they don't qualify for the 15. >> You know, how would they be able to do that? Are they not going to be able to do their studies on it? You know, are they going to fall behind because they can't get that at the moment? >> Very like an area in the library that they can go and use. >> Yeah. I mean, all of our classes are still outfitted with devices. Um, >> they're not Chromebooks, but we have labs. We have the library that has computers. The classrooms have computers. This is really just for the devices to be checked out, taken home, used throughout the day. Um, but there are we still do provide devices throughout the campus. >> So,
029it may not be a Chromebook [Music] the devices for them throughout the day. I mean, so what is the reason for that? >> Well, what I mean by provide is like the labs have the computers. Now, we're not going to we're not going to have a class set at the high school, >> right? >> At the high school, it's it's one to one. So, either you get one or you don't. Okay. So, it is going to be to where you don't >> it's basically required. Yeah. And I believe insurance >> I believe the message that went out on last Friday was that it is going to be a requirement of the high school to pay the fee and get a device. >> Okay. >> Kind of go back on this. I just don't I don't
030understand. Um >> now these devices u and I don't know Richard this part that question for you maybe to me but um you mentioned this uh $10,000 fee of those who have graduated. Um what is the requirement? I mean is there a requirement that they need to do that before they graduate or how does that work? >> So that $10,000 cost basically is the student took the device. So that's the number that we're bringing back. >> So they they didn't bring it back. What I'm saying is that is there not something in place where you know what if you don't bring this back you don't graduate or if you don't pay this fine you don't graduate or what what is it what is the process >> yeah we we have a finess that travels kids
031from elementary all the way up to high school you know and they owe fines you know we have students that have damaged two or more Chromebooks um it used to be where we would say you know if you don't pay you're not going to graduate you're not going to walk the stage but not until recently have been supported. You know, that has been our stance. If you owe3 $400 in fines, you need to pay them uh before you graduate or if not, you won't walk the stage. But we would allow them. But this year, we took a really hard stance and we said, "You will not walk that stage if you owe fines. You know, you need to make sure you're paying the fines." And guess what? Out of every kid that owe fines, we
032had three that did. So, you know, it's just really taking a stance on responsibility. We message out does a great job reaching out to parents starting freshman year. Hey, your child goes fine. Just know they have to pay it. You know, we message that out. We let parents know it's not surprising to them. They get a sheet even when they get their um their schedules if they owe fines. you know, um, as a parent, I wish I had that $50 deductible because I just paid almost $400 for my daughter because she lost her phone book her junior year and I had to pay almost 400 bucks for for that. Um, but you know, we are prepared going back to Miss Bao's question, we are prepared for some that might have to wait till Friday. I
033mean we we have parents that are fixed incomes. So teachers are prepared in case students don't start with the device. Tomorrow they can start picking them up. They can come between 1 and 4 and do their form and pay for their device um the insurance. Um but we are prepared, you know, to support our kids in the classroom uh until either they get paid or they're able to pay the $15 because the majority of our kids are going to have to pay $15. And you already have that list? >> Yeah, we have it. >> Mr. Gonz, prior prior to this year, um, you say all these, have we been paying insurance on all these devices? The district has been paying them on all these devices. >> We've paid insurance on the devices as a district.
034Correct. Now, has a district I mean, has the insurance run out on some of them? Yes. But even when that insurance does expire, district is liable for the repair which we've been repairing. Now I know that Miss Guad is back to the 23 24 school year had been charging students for and we would do the repair. So we would buy students would buy the part and we in tech would do the repair the LEDs on the screen replace the keyboards but when you look at the cost and you see the red on the bottom it's kind of small that was based on a $322 device. Now we're looking at close to $400 for the device. When we're replacing like a keyboard, for example, that was already $130 for just replacing this. If it was an
035LED screen, we're looking at $200. So you're already at more than two of the cost of the device. So a lot of the times if it was keyboard and a screen, I mean, there was no use. Let's just call it because that's what it came to. Um and we we were replacing devices also >> but each device had insurance on it. >> Yes. But at the time and we know that uh we had ECF connectivity fund which we were able to get grant funed devices that were insured now but off the top of your head do you know our figure how much we're paying district question >> for >> like for each device let's just say $50 each device would you know >> but for insurance. Yes. >> How much? >> 50. That's what it
036is currently. Still, >> but I'm saying the district, how much are we paying for everything like each device? Do you know a number in your head off the top of your head? >> Is it included? He's asking >> like is it $2 million? Is it $2 million that we're paying as a district on insurance for all these devices or a million? >> Oh, what would be the district's cost? >> If we didn't charge parents or if we if we've had them, how much have we been paying? >> Yeah. Well, I could just say like off the last order that we place 350 devices, it was $32,000 for insurance for 350 >> and that's every year >> because insurance has to be bought every year, right? >> So that would be >> maybe if we just
037go ahead and give the parents like maybe so much time to come up with this, not just say just pay because you know some people will say, "Oh, you can just use what you got at school, you know, whatever to say by this time to be able to get if you want your child to have computer, their phone, have have the fee paid by this time >> and give them like a deadline because then it's going to be the middle of the year before they come up with anything, you know? >> Well, that's what they're saying that they can't get it without the seat. >> Yeah. And but you know how some people are just like, well, we'll just wait and we'll just, you know, and then the kids are falling behind and then what
038do they do? They come to the school like, "Well, why is my dog?" >> Yeah. You know, and I understand where you're coming from. You as far as the messaging, you know, and >> I'm just saying because this was kind of like thrown to them like last minute. So, it just to kind of give them just >> look, we know, we understand it was like all of a sudden, you know, it was short notice. >> We'll give you till this time to go ahead and get this taken care of. >> Yeah. And we've been working we we've received phone calls and there are stimulating circumstances and we want to take into consideration, you know, the time um and we're working on those with those parents individually. We have three or four kids, you know, at
039the high school or some grandparents that are raising, you know, their grandchildren. So, it's it's case scenario, but for the most part, you know, it hasn't been anything negative. You know, it's been, you know, um and we will work with our families and continue to do that. Teachers are on notice knowing that not everybody might have one at the start, but the goal is to get everybody. >> That's great. It's this whole thing of like working with the community and you guys are doing >> Yeah. And even as administrators, we know our families, we know our students and together collectively as a unit, you know, we decided if we have to pay 15 bucks and we don't mind I mean we're going to do what we have to do for our kids and you know
040and um you know just support them. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for that. >> So we're one to one high school. Um now when it comes to testing that's assumed the child breaks it. bring a charger doesn't bring this how how what is the plan for testing I have 300 just for that >> because yeah because the amount of testing those are safe somewhere because we will not you know the day of testing I'm not going to have a child responsible for charging their own probook or bringing one and it's not charged I mean so those are not touched we we test so much at the high school with state assessment with ACT with TSI as that, you know. Um, so we we save those because that those are important when it comes to
041accountability. >> I think that that's good because I remember I had asked Miss about that where it doesn't affect testing whatsoever. If the child happens to not bring it, they still will be able to take the test. >> Yeah, we don't allow them to bring their little Chromebook that's checked out to them. They're they use ours for testing. >> So the 101 or the 121 is depending on the parent buying bringing or paying for the insurance. Okay. >> Yeah, but it'll never impact their testing. >> And one quick question again. What is >> I missed it? >> Okay. >> Our computer on wheels. >> Thank you, M. resent this come to us. >> Next item on the agenda, ML update, athletic update. >> Thank you, Madam President. Trustees, Mr. Lober is chomping athletic. Good evening,
042Madam President, Dr. Fu, board members. Uh message tonight is we are ready for school on our end, the operations side. I want to hit on some few a few things uh as I go through some of the campuses, but uh the roofing project is definitely coming to an end. We are days away from completion. Um final punch lists are being done right now. Uh Seal Ortiz and Hattie Martin, uh they should be done within the next week or two. High school, we've ran into a little bit of trouble with just how thick some of the uh the concrete is up there. So, um, that's taken a little longer than what they expected, but they're on track to finish this week there as well. So, the roofing project is, uh, coming to an end since January.
043A very smooth project, very good partner for the district. Um, definitely, uh, very thorough. Beam has been in instrumental as well. Um, every Friday they're on on meetings talking about some of the visits and some of the things they catch. So, that's been that's been a very good partnership as well. It all went pretty smoothly. um just ready to wrap up and get our insurance insurance certificates from each campus. Uh the repairs, they did come by. They were here Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and he's still here. Um we did, we do have one or two more that came up at Robert Drisco's day and talked to a principal. But the high areas, uh their office areas, I went by there and didn't see anything, but there's one in the office area that I didn't know
044about. So, he's still here. He's going to go back over there. Um, but he has done some of the repairs that they said they would do. Uh, fencing, as you can see, Robert Drisco fencing is going up. Uh, the hope is that it's up is ready by Wednesday. Uh, but we do have a plan with the police department if it isn't, but it it shouldn't take any later than Friday. Uh, and they will have fencing on both sides. >> A chain link fence here. >> It's a chain link fence. No bob wire. feet high. Okay. And that was paid by a safe grant, too. So, even better. >> Lighting uh lots lighting has been fixed. Robert Driscoll has 18 of the 24 lights operational. Uh have been in contact with the city and I will
045just say this uh before I go any further, the city this month has been phenomenal in all aspects from the water district. You know, the city has helped me with certain things at our show that I have not been able to get a lot of help with. They have definitely been very helpful um this past month for me, especially when things are, you know, we're coming to an end in our budget and things like that. I hate asking for favors, but I will tell you what, they have been phenomenal in helping us out. Um and they're going to continue to help us out with the lighting. So, once we get some of those parts in and we diagnose those other ones that are not operational, we will definitely have the city involved with that. plumbing.
046If you're not aware, the plumbing behind the the band hall that feeds the band hall and the welding shop. Uh we are rerouting it. U we tried everything to find the the line we were looking for. Um I mean I talked to past directors. I talked to Mr. Robas. I talked to Leroy. I talked to that been here for 27 years. Not a lot of help. I mean I get it. It's a lot. So we looked everywhere. So the last thing we wanted to do was to reroute because Larry >> Larry Larry himself man was digging. >> No >> Mr. Canu uh and you know Mr. Benvitz Mr. Alanise I mean they literally saved the school thousands of dollars and I'm not kidding thousands of dollars. So we appreciate that. Um so yeah no he
047was there Mr. did a cameo appearance. He gave his his insight, but we did we did our due diligence and >> it was already supervised. >> So, uh we tried everything and this is the best the best uh the best option for us. Uh and I anticipate that to be done hopefully by Friday. Um so, but the band students and the welding students do have a bathroom that they can use in the meantime. Um but it's not going to be for very long. We're shooting for Wednesday, but I honestly think it's going to be Friday. So, I just wanted to to make that clear. >> This is this is the line that you mentioned, sir was backing up towards the shop. >> Yes. Yes, sir. And yes, sir. So, that one's been done. So, again,
048Mr. Ku. Thank you, sir. Personally, you were awesome, sir. Appreciate that. >> Are we going to send anybody down there to look at that hanging pipe? >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. And and the city's coming also doing their inspections. We'll do we'll do about 60 to 80 ft. They come and they they inspect it and we cover it too. So we have somebody come to that picture. >> Our press box is complete. Mr. Martinez, Miss Garza, you you saw it firsthand. >> Beautiful. >> I did it almost fall. >> No, you didn't almost fall there. >> Beautiful. >> It's great. Um, we do we are addressing some of those rails, Mr. Martinez. We are addressing some of those rails. Had the loaded come out. I think we're just going to replace the the
049bottom >> because they're cracking. Remember, >> correct. >> So, did address that as well. Hoping it'll be done by the first game, sir. If not, it'll be shortly after. They weren't too bad, but you know, you just want to >> Right. >> Yes, sir. Um, any questions on those items that I discussed? Oh, but I think that has to do with something with the line coming in from the city. There's an issue there. >> Yeah. >> You don't know anything. >> That's the first I heard. No, there was a work >> I think >> two years ago mean >> I'll look into that first time here. >> Okay. I think that >> sir is everything working as far as plumbing and AC and all that at Hyd Martin with with the new new I know
050that The AC's was it where the library is at or >> the library? Yeah. >> Where does that cover? Is it just >> the library? Yes. >> Okay. Nobody's in there right now. >> Nobody's in there. >> And plumbing is good. >> Plumbing is good. Shoreline was here today. >> We did an unplugging of the line that we we want to do anyway and that should last us through the year, but we'll be monitoring because there'll be more usage of it, right? More students in there, more staff. Shoreline was here today. And that that leak that you said was, you know, came out of nowhere, I think last. Has that been addressed at Martin >> on the roof? >> It was a small >> It was addressed that day. >> I'm sorry. >> It was
051addressed that day. >> Oh, that day. Oh, okay. Yeah, we fixed that. >> I remember you mentioning it, but yeah. >> Yes, sir. Yeah, they did it. They came in that day. >> Um, anything else on the operation? Fire system check. >> Yes. Fire department was here. >> Well, we have some some deficiencies. Obviously, you're always going to have some deficiencies. We're knocking them out as >> No, I we have some red tags that we are addressing. Um so, but what happens is they give you the red tag and they give you deficiencies and we said cool and we do the work. So, uh, but I will tell you that the fire chief, uh, stopped me at the Palooa and was, uh, saying how happy he was on the improvement on compared to the year
052past. So, make his strides, but definitely still has some work to do. Absolutely, >> Mr. Lith. I'm going to throw a little bit of a curveball here because Mr. Williams is with you. Now, there's some >> Look, it's dress. You're too sharp. Not too much here. This is you and Mr. law been coordinating on addressing some of the M challenges the child nutrition program. Can you give us a high level please? >> Good evening to we are trying to get all our operational equipment ovens steamers um all of our compressors and walk-ins and coolers. Some of these items have been down. Some of these items have been modified to where we have to go back and try to fix it back to the original status. So, right now, we do have all the elements working
053at seal. They've been calibrated. All the elements that we ordered, they came in on last year. Uh, Hobart came in and what they did, they calibrated them and then they put them on a warranty. Same thing at Lock Beach. Same thing at Sun Pedro at the high school. We had some other over there that we got brand new. All of that's been in is placed. All of it has been calibrated and is ready to go. The students we had put in thanks to Mr. Logger and his staff that they had to rewire some of the items because some of the item that was purchased was not the right application for what we needed for. So, we had to go back and reorder these items to make sure that we had to make sure accommodate what
054we need for our district. We do have um two pieces that we left out at the high school. As we already went in, we did some wiring. We did a 208 line as well as a 115 line. Put it at the high school so we can put in two reach in warmers as well as two reach in refrigerators. And then all the other equipment that we can accommodate and we can keep, we're going to save it and try to see if we can fix it. Because I found out that this new technology they have out today, uh, they're using propane as well as ammonia in order to set up for compressors and all that stuff and reach your refrigerator and they might hold up for a little while, but they don't last as long if
055you use refrigeration or refrigerant. So, we're looking into maybe hopefully we get another employee work with us temporarily to be on on call tech so we can help them with um certain equipment that we can get everything up and running because uh when I came in there was there was a lot of stuff that need a lot of repairs. So, right now I would say we're right about 95%. >> Any questions? >> And you're saying you need another another employee? We we're working on someone because we lost Mino. So, we're looking in a candidate to replace him. I think we do have a pretty good candidate. He's he's very ambitious. Uh he's he has the right demeanor. He's very um you know, he's I just like working the guy. I think he's going to be
056a great asset just working with us temporarily, even if it's just part-time to some degree, just to help us keep up to date on things that need to be done. And we're going to be doing follow-ups. We have a check out list that I created so that we're going to be going around checking these campuses to make sure we can stay on top of items and things that might be going down from time to time. So, um hopefully this year we have a better success. >> And at Robert Driscoll, sir, I know that this was an issue last year, but um the power in the in the cafeteria in the kitchen is it already where it should be as far as you know, they they couldn't have one thing on and another thing on at
057the same time because the power would jump a break or something. Has that already been taken care of? Do you know? >> No, that was supposedly one of our big projects that we had, but I think I don't know, Mrs. N might be able to help me. Did it not get approved to >> TDA? TDA did not approve the cost of those repairs. >> So, so we didn't How much was that? How much is that going to cost? What are we going to do about that? >> I think we can still repair it. I would like to have a talk with our friends at TEA. That seems to be under the of the child nutrition program. So, I was a little taken back by that. So, let's let's revisit that and see if we can
058get that still done. If not, we'll pull it out of 199 and get it done. But, is it it's not ideal right now where we're serving kids at risk because of that switch. How much does it impact our delivery every day of our >> Well, it like it depends on what's on the menus. The menus is not that complicated uh versus what we use in the oven. You know, we have a brazer over there right now. It's is working, but it's half. The real reality is we want to put the steamer over there, but we couldn't put a steamer over there. >> Go ahead, sir. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> So, try to squeeze everything that little small area. You know, we did an assessment on it based on we found I think something if
059I'm not mistaken. They had to come in and re put another board or something behind. They had to go ahead and do some some remodifying and engineering in order to make sure this happened. So right now we cannot put everything on at one time. You know all the others work on this bra but we wanted this time get it fixed. So we have it ready to use when we do need it and I went is it a breaker problem or >> there's yeah we had to build like a substation. Yeah, because initially initially I think I mentioned it before, but when that campus was designed at the time, that campus was not supposed to hold that many students. >> Um, at the time it was supposed to help house maybe half in that and Salasad
060cafeteria was going to be the hub and they were supposed to deliver them this way throughout the years. For whatever reason, we basically have a high school here and the power can support that. Now, how long ago did they deny us? Um I want to say it was sometime last year. Um we various I think the highest was about 80,000. >> Um TDA's guidelines they consider it part of the building. So they feel like it's not under their umbrella but on ourification is that it is the cafeteria and all of those break only support. >> Correct. >> But that's where the the pickup is. making this part of the building is our responsibility. Uh Dr. have a conversation with them because it only supports the catch of >> s asking we we found out this
061well we've known about this issue for quite some time. You were denied last year in new schools coming up and Dr. mentioning maybe talking to them or putting on a 199. Why why could we do that? >> Well, I don't think we're compromising our service. >> Well, no, but back to what Mr. Williams mentioned. He said, "Depending on what we're serving, why should we have to, my opinion, why should we have to not serve this?" Because we want to make sure that our equipment works. Um, or you mentioned depending what we're serving, we decide. I just don't think that the menu should be revolved around whether the equipment can support what the kids are going to eat. >> The menu revolves around what the kids want to eat. So, we do surveys with the kids
062that determines what we want to eat. Uh, and I'm not disputing that we don't need to repair it. We are being fiscally responsible. But I want to say this again. It's so important that we ensure that whatever we're doing in our child nutrition program, it's not compromising. So while this is a workaround and it's certainly not ideal, we'll have a conversation again with TDA about, you know, the push back on the requirements. But if it were impacting our kids and the menu that we're serving, I trust me that I think Miss Giana Moral or principal would have known about it. Have you heard any complaints about the food and the menu? Again, this is not ideal, but will you come up and kind of expound on this as a CEO of the campus, Miss Morales?
063>> Um, I mean, it's it the kids will complain about any food that they put. I'm just kidding. But no, I mean it does limit. I know today when we're going to with the cafeteria manager, so you do one hot, one cold food. And a lot of it is because we do balance it, but the kids the kids have choice. >> Yeah. So, I mean, it's an opportunity for sure. >> Didn't they to When I first got here, I thought it was Hattie and they would kind of like what you were saying. >> Well, because they used to cook it. >> Yes, because when you got here, well, that campfish is already kind of they just stopped using it. >> But did they cook it had and then transfer it to >> probably recently they've
064been doing that, but I know initially when that campus was built, they were transporting across, but I think now it's more ideal, especially even during like the Thanksgiving lunches. I mean that that I'm sure was took a toll. I mean and and it's and I get it. We're we're talking about the students here, but it's also the the I would I would say pressure on what I'm using the stress that we're putting on our employees as well, especially during those holiday times when Thanksgiving comes around that kitchen cannot support all those, you know, and what what what are we doing there? And we've known about this. I that's where I'm thinking and I get where Dr. Chris coming from. We got to be fiscally responsible. But um if if 199 was even an option, we
065I don't see why we couldn't have. That's just my opinion. >> And I think on my side when they have new items one, they might say in the oven still making the same items. They're just using a different method. They're either not using the same method to cook because of the equipment, but they're still serving the same items. Um, and I think another headache that I had at the time that we were looking into this was because we had several electricians come in and all of them had their own idea of what needs to be done. One would say we had to rewire one way, the other one was packing it this way and those I don't remember the estimate for any of them like I think the highest was eight. See, some wanted to
066redesign the whole thing, right? Some wanted to just do it to where we can do something right now. But at the end of the day, we're going to be in the same boat. It's just a band, >> right? And so if we wanted to do it, right, it's it's going to be >> So what what item is it that you can't use at the same time? The other >> Well, you can't cut all the others on at the same time. You can't run all four of them. So, one of them have to be disconnected and you can run three. Three are run perfectly. So, it doesn't matter when they put the items in. Now, if we have to use a support, we can use, you know, we can use another campus to help to, you
067know, depend on the volume. >> It sounds to me that you only need a bigger service breaker. >> I was a breaker. >> I mean, that's what it sounds like. >> And that's what some of them the electricians recommended. But like I said, I think how long until how much do we need, right? So, we're not in that boat in six months. It's whatever the drawing. >> Well, well, we don't know because we don't know >> what size breaker does it have. >> I'm sorry. >> What size? >> Uh 60. >> Oh, yeah. Well, it is 60. >> But every uh everything's being used. >> So, so to rerun wire that would be just one circuit. So, I don't know how that works. [Music] >> It's a little more involved, too. I had I had
068weed come out and look at it, too. [Music] >> Well, I mean, just maybe I don't know, sir, how fast that works, but maybe just an update, you know, soon if you you talk to TB just, you know, I would hate to go a whole other school year and this issue still happen. >> It's on our radar for sure and I applaud you, Mr. W. You come in, you've been a lot >> for sure. >> And I want to applaud you one for your disposition, your positive attitude, your service, and your well organized approach. So, thank you very much. We'll certainly support this one here and get it done as we say. Oh, yeah. Thank you for all you Thank you. Wrapping up with athletics. Um, first volleyball game was tonight. Uh, freshman JV both
069won already. So, kudos to them. They're hosting Westoso. Uh, we did have our coaches meet the coaches night. We did have our coaches meeting. Dr. Fig and Miss fired up the troops, so they're ready to go. Um, uniforms are are we're waiting on our football uniforms. Um and just a real quick thing on the uniforms. Um they are on a rotating year, right? Last year they did not get new uniforms. So this year it is football, cross country, and um volleyball that got uniforms. Next year they won't. And it'll be baseball, basketball that gets uniforms. So they're on a rotating cycle of uniform ordering. So, we are only thing we're waiting on is the football uniforms and they're supposed to ship uh at the end of this week. >> Thank you for clearing that up.
070There's been some confusion on that. >> Okay. >> There's a reputation that, you know, some sports get more than other sports. So, thank you for stating that. >> Okay. Yeah, they're on a on a cycle. >> Um I have a Are you finished with their date? >> Yes, ma'am. I just have a question on the do we already replace the equipment on? >> No, we have not. >> We have not. Okay. So, when we do replace it because we are right. We need it. >> Yes. >> Are we going to put GPS on there? Is it a GPS system? >> Yeah. I was talking to uh Mr. Do we need That's a good idea. >> And I would be uh really u I think it's important to keep quiet about whatever safety measures we're using.
071defer to chief talking about some of the things that we're doing so advertise. >> Chief, do you agree? >> Well, that's but they wouldn't know. >> at some point they won't know what has it. So, just you know, just know I agree we should put them, but we're not going to say this device, this device, this device has it. No, I have [Music] connected to >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Walker. >> Uh, next item, safety update. >> Thank you, Madam President. Perfect. Here you go. Chief, >> good evening, President, Dr. Qu, board members. Um, on this update, uh, basically in the summer is when our police department has all their trainings. We did the second phase our sable training our schoolbased law enforcement. It was in any four days class educated great
072great training. Uh we also have we also attended the uh global leadership summit that they that they had uh pastor Elzundo allowed us to go for free and then they covered the charge for us to attend. Very very good training. We also uh had a DEA fentel training that our office attended uh to give us the updates on the trends that are happening in our area. Uh once our training was more or less completed, we started our staff development training. Uh we had a two-day training where we did the secondary on Monday. Uh the elementaryaries on Tuesday, all staff was training our safety protocols. Uh we also and all the officers wasn't just me this time presenting like I did last four years. Uh this is all our officers were presenting. And then of course
073today we had our freshman orientation uh training where we each one of my officers attended had a lecture the class safety procedure for the freshman coming into the high school this year. There any questions on the training um we're also looking into uhou with it for additional resources with the sheriff's office. Uh we're also looking with the emergency management coordinator for Moyes County. They're also uh wanting us to get anou with them in case we ever have to use for large scale evacuation for unification at this chill bar sorry the fairgrounds. So uh we are looking into those uh uh we already have u anou with the fairgrounds themselves but in meeting with the emergency management there said it would be better for them to have theou so they've uh started working on the paperwork.
074Again it's it's we've just received it back for review on our side. You have any questions on the MUS? >> Um, an update just on the traffic signs and the side the crosswalks. I did speak with the chief. He was going to call me back. He was getting with the city on the the funding source they were going to use for the uh update on the traffic signs as part of the times uh the crosswalks. Uh I did send them all the locations for what we were wanting to add. So, of course, the high school is the only one because it belongs to the textile, but as far as all the other campuses, we did select one that they specifically were going to review and uh to to repaint. Of course, we are getting ready
075for the first day of school. I have coordinated with the local law enforcement to have more presence. Um again with the fencing not being complete by the time school starts. Uh we do have a plan for officers additional officers to assist with the uh basically the dismissal of the uh with the the campuses because again there's a little bit of access to the back of our schools but again we'll have officers stationed there. So we'll keep people parents back. Uh so that shouldn't be an issue until the fence is up. Uh and again we've also gone we did a have a day where we did go through all the campuses and make sure our silent panic alarms and our panic buttons work uh from the classroom side and the uh uh the the areas where
076we have our back alarms inside the schools. >> Any questions? >> Um as far as the intercom with you everything's complete already sir with all the intercoms and phones and all district wide. Everything's up to date. >> Everything's up to date. >> Are we not yet doing any transportation transporting anybody to anywhere? >> Uh well, usually when there's a warrant, uh my experience with the police department here in Robtown, it was a county warrant's responsibility to come pick them up. Uh but of course when we had that issue, they said they did not have an with us to transport, so they couldn't trust what we end up having to transport. Uh so hopefully that'll eliminate that. Plus, uh, we are looking, they do have a large set of canines that we could use, use their
077resources. The PD has one. I think they were working on a second one. I know the sheriff's department has at least five. That would be another resource we could use as opposed to the outside people that we're using right now. >> I think what he was asking, sir, was um something happens first day of school, a parent or something on campus, you catch someone with a gun, are your officers or yourself able to transport or is that going to be within call PD and they assist with that. >> Um, they can we works either way depending if if I'm there take like the officer needs transport then I would stay at the campus or if I you know vice versa. >> So as long as someone yourself or whatever is on campus your office is
078able to >> just do that. >> Yes. >> As long as the campus is cover >> any officer or only you? >> Any officer. Okay. So we do have the capability of transporting. >> Yes. Do we like have we had it in where where >> Yes, the one where the subject that had broken into our high school. We got the one for and that's where we found out that the sheriff's department wouldn't transport for us. So, we ended up having to transport. >> But now we're getting, you know, it goes by. >> I'm just curious. I know I should know this, but what are the hours of your officers? >> Um, it really depends. Our our office throughout Tikico is from 7:00 to 5:00. >> Okay. >> But that's 10 hours. Our officers work 9
079hours. If uh there's no tutorials, then usually they'll come in earlier 7:30 to work at 4:30. But if there is tutorials, then we'll have officers come in at 8 to 5 depending on secondary and elementary. >> I was just asking for this like for example the first day of school parents, they're going to drop off very early. Are we going to have patrol? >> Question. >> Yeah. Yes. Again, we have in contact with the principles here that we will adjust. Our officers are going to have kind of a little bit different hours because of that request so they they can see what it's going to look like the first couple days of school. We have presence there, a lot more presence. >> Are there a lot of officers that come in at 8:30? >> Sorry.
080>> Are there a lot of your officers that come in at 8? >> For the first days of school >> or just in general like throughout the school year? >> Uh yeah, we will when we adjust to the the tutorial cycle they do want us to stay till the kids are out after till 5. So we do have to adjust the hours. So, so would that be where we would come in with like with the city for instance? Yes. >> Um drop off normally before 8. So during the drop off time obviously officers wouldn't be there till 8. >> So you is that where that agreement comes in with the city but they help >> they do work school zones. They are they're out there. I do get them in the morning and I try
081to get as early as possible too just in case we have any issues. A lot of times uh with the alarms some our people set up the alarms early in the morning. I'll get the call. So I'll have to come out. Just a check. >> Awesome. I'm excited for the first year of school. >> Appreciate you, Chief. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next item on the agenda, the debt defeasent strategy. Dr. >> Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, want us to go through uh the debt defeasants uh in a public meeting. We've had a couple of workshops and those are public as well, but just to keep it at the forefront of what it is that we are thinking about doing. So, I'm going to ask Ty Gonzalez to fire
082up the presentation here. And let's talk first of all about our tax rates. We have two tax rates. One being the maintenance and operations and one being the interest in syncing. M interest and syncing. You combine that for the overall tax rate. Now, if you look at the history of our tax rate class, is it going up or down? It's going down, right? Part of the reason >> down, Alex, >> thank you, man. Part of the reason it's going down is the tax values are going up. So, you have to levy less than you would if the values were not going up. So, this has been a good thing. But I want to make a distinction between uh the red bar and the green bar. The red bar represents the maintenance and operations tax rate.
083And if you follow the history uh here back in 2017 18 back and then up to today you see that your maintenance and operations has considerably decreased. A large part of that was in the uh 2019 legislative session when um the ledge approved some major compression with your M tax rate. So you can see very clearly that that has declined considerably. Also, if you go to 1718, you will see that back then that was the max tax rate you could have at $1.17. So on the MO side, those 17 pennies, for instance, are your enrichment rate. So those 17 pennies in the 2019 legislative session were compressed to about 14 cents for us if you had the 17 cents max. So you'll see now the state DEA has given us an MCR, a max compressed
084rate that they control now. But we also have those enrichment pennies. So those enrichment pennies plus what the state gives us the MCR the mass compressed rate is what now makes up your maintenance and operation rate. Does that make sense? So it's been compressed you see considerably. Now if you look at the INS rate it's a completely different animal and that's what you likely pay off all the bonds you know you got $40 million of debt and so forth right? So you can see that has been relatively unchanged for the most part. Right now we have some new uh law in place that will go in effect uh 20 uh January 2016 that impacts the way that you can administer your INS your interest in seeking tax rate. We won't know all the details now.
085We talked about it a little bit with Thomas when he was here that they had email. But what I want to stress here is right now we want to focus on the gray. I want to focus on the interest in seeking the other one the red the M that's really controlled by TEA now so the interest in seeking is what ties into your debt defeasence okay so that's the set okay so let's go to the next slide so remember we have really three uh fund balances that the board is responsible for one is the I fund balance which is going to be um talked about a lot and we'll try to keep that at a good level. The second one is what Mr. Williams is talking about the 240. You also approve 240 which is
086a fund balance that we use to fix electrical issues unless TDA says we can't use it to fix but you have to really push for that. The third fund balance that the board is responsible for is the 599 or your interest in syncing fund balance. Well, just like the other two fund balances, this collects. You earn, you levy, and some years you earn more. You collect more. Now, keep in mind the state also contributes. It's called EDA. Uh, and so existing debt aotment. So, for existing debt in the past, the state will give you a certain amount to help offset the debt that you, you know, the bonds that the uh the district has sold years years ago. Right now we have approximately $2 million in INS funds which is cons which is pretty good
087for us especially if you consider um what you could do with that if we did a debt defeasence the debt defeasence is is a strategy it's a fiscal strategy to pay debt off early to pay interest so that you can lower your tax rate your INS later and put yourself in position fiscally need to have some flexibility. The key thing about the debt service is that it cannot be used for operations. You can't use to pay salaries. Can only be used pay for security. Can only be used to pay debt. This debt defeat strategy we are talking about the last two times we were considering not adjusting the fund the uh tax rate down. was keeping and steady the INS tax rate so that you could pay off some of this debt. Do you recall
088that conversation? Okay. Is everybody there? >> Yeah. >> So, but it does require more resolution and per our conversation right now, uh, Robertina and Mr. Thomas are are working on that resolution for you all to look at at our next budget workshop today. So after board resolution is accepted by the board, it goes out to the community for a vote, correct? >> No, the resolution that this does not have to go out to decision. >> It will eventually get on the ballot. >> No, the only thing that would go on a ballot is now that you've got the flexibility uh to do a debt defeasence. You can consider in May if you choose to say, you know what, we've got M debt. What does the M debt look like? Roofs, turf, ACS. You can ask
089the voters to say, "Hey, we want to, you know, we want to defeat some of the M debt, but we can't do that. Let's move over to INS." So, without increasing the tax rate, you can ask the voters to say, "Hey, will you allow us to move this debt over from M to INS, and we won't increase your tax rate." That would be something you could consider in May. >> That's after the resolution if we decide to do. if you decide to do it and the beauty of that is um the debt service can also be used to pay off no debt. So at that point is there another slide Mr. No, that was the discussion. >> So I'll just save a lot of money. Yeah, we can definitely stay on that. >> And again,
090it goes back to if we decide to do that on the messaging, if we decide to clear up about it, how we messageages message to the community. >> That's a good point Mr. Martinez brings up. So, if and Mrs. Gars is right, you know, if if you were to take something like that to the voters, um it would probably open up about a you know, a million to a million two in M to pay salaries. uh to fix a number of things in the district uh operationally that we're interested in doing that the board is interested in doing. So it opens up some flexibility for sure. >> Thank you Dr. Quick. Any questions trustees? >> Next item on the agenda are list of bills and the financial state report and they're in your packet for
091your review. Again, if you have any questions, please get with Dr. Quig and he'll he'll get those answers for you. Next item on the agenda, consent agenda item. >> Trustees, do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the item 10 consent agenda items. >> Second first by Mr. Martinez, second by Miss. Any questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. All opposed? Motion passes. Next item on the agenda, action item. Discuss and consider approval of TASBY local policy manual update 125 affecting the following local policies. BD AAA, BDB, BDF, EI, FDE, FEC, and FFAC. Dr. Quick. >> Thank you, Madam President. Trustees, if you will please turn in your board packet to page 120. One of the policies in the update 125 from TASBY we want to make
092sure we do not include it's in your packet. TASBY included it as part of your update but we want to strike through that because the board here has already approved BDAA back in July. That's with respect to officers requirements. That's sort of you want to make sure that I am recommending um as presented without the DAA as it was previously approved by the board. Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to approve item A under action items excluding U BDA as mentioned by Dr. Quake. >> I have a first by Mr. Martinez. Do I have a second? Second by Miss. Any questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. Motion passes. Next item. Consideration and possible approval of EFB local library materials. Dr. CL. >> Thank you, Madam President,
093trustees. This is the library policy that was born out of Senate Bill 13. We talked about it a month ago probably and you all probably had some legislative updates since then. You have two versions of the EFB policy here. And to summarize again, EFB gives the board the final authority on library materials. Prior to this policy, the authority was with the administrators, specifically our librarians, right? And this has come into play now. Now you have two options here. One is to have the school library advisory council slack. We call them slackers. Or you can have the policy without it. If you choose the policy with, and this is the board's choice, you choose the policy with the slack, then we have to read the resolution. But know this if you and I know you all
094read this over the weekend already. So you you saw on there that it does require that the committee or the council be very very involved in the decision making and the recommendations of these policies. >> So they would recommend and then bring it to the board. >> Yes, they would they would play a role in that. They're required to have the required to make those recommendations. Yes. So um the other policy is more straightforward very straightforward there's administrative responsibility ultimately administrators have to bring it to the board in a nutshell but there's parent involvement or librarians involved and I know you read the cover right too but I've highlighted a lot of stuff through here I would like to recommend for y'all to consider the policy without the slack and the reason being that while
095council uh councils and and committees are well-intentioned because we have a lot of them here and they're good. Whether it's the Gillespie gaming committee or whether it is the facilities committee, a lot of the research um that I have read around the library council, while certainly well-intentioned, it does rob the professionals, i.e. the certified librarian out of the process. So that wasn't my question. So that you know these let's just assume and I was kind of reading um um the no as far as who who would be in this slack. So I was trying to go back to that as far as uh who's required to as far as administrators parents but I can't but that was going to be my question as far as that it would be a recommendation from them as like
096basically a governing body right so majority would committee. Um, >> we still agree with you. >> Okay. But that would it would not nimate but take away from the professionals like as you're mentioning the educators. >> I would be concerned that it sends a signal that our certified librarians are not as pertinent in this process that they should be in my opinion. >> Yeah. >> Correct. Yeah. >> I'll second >> without the committee. without this. >> Okay. I have the first by Mr. Mike, second by Mr. Martinez. Any questions or discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. Motion carries. Next item on the agenda, consideration and possible approval of FEMC local personal communication devices electronic devices. Dr. Click. >> Thank you, Madam President. trustees in in your court packet you
097saw F as a Frank and it's an NC as a academy as in FNC this is the task he's proposed version for this and I was visiting with madam president about this this is interesting the ledge when they came up with 1481 you know made it real clear in the language that the school board must be involved in the disciplinary measures of this policy so I consult the task what's that does it look like it needs to be in here or does it need to be in the student code of conduct? Well, the student code of conduct is chapter 37 which has a lot of text education code. That's where it belongs. That's where the board should approve it. We've already approved our student code of conduct, but remember we said we're going to come
098back and talk about the consequences. And so, uh, what we're recommending tonight is to approve the TASKY's recommended policy as presented with the addition of the for you all to consider the the consequences, the disciplinary measures to be included in the student code of conduct. Does that make sense? >> We're waiting to see it, sir. >> Okay. >> I was looking for you. >> And this has been created in collaboration with all of the principles. know the truth is Mr. Williams came up. So now I want to invite the principles to come up and talk a little bit about this if we could maybe the secondary principles and you know one of the elementary principles come up and just y'all have aligned y'all have aligned on these consequences. So we read the consequences Miss Alanise
099has put together here and she facilitated the the meetings with the principles. You see the first offense is the device is confiscated. There's a conference and then the student parent can pick it up. The second offense it's confiscated but there's one day of ISS and the parent conference has to occur. The parent picks up the device. Then the third offense is the device is confiscated. There's inschool suspension for three days and the student will no longer be allowed to bring the device to school and the parent escaped the device. These bright minds came up with this and it's good. It wasn't just without R. You want to talk us through a little bit of why and how you arrived at these? >> Well, first of all, because it's the law, you know, and it's our
100responsibility um as stakeholders to uphold the law, but also be fair. Um, we've been me messaging it out. We talked to, you know, our sixth graders, seventh, eth, you know, eighth graders at the high school level. We've been messaging that out. We talked to our freshman today. We launched them with that. Um, they understand, you know, we gave them scenarios uh that once you come on to campus, it should be put away. Um, we're not going to allow them to have them. And, um, it hasn't been too bad. you know I I think they understand the law part and what that you know the responsibility that that comes with. Um we have talked about the consequences and we feel very confident um that this is going to make a difference. You know no one wants
101to go to ISS and that just shows the seriousness of the infraction if that were to take place >> and that includes lunch. >> It includes lunch >> transition. It's the whole day is not how the entire day. >> I'm glad I'm not in school. >> So that was that actually that was a question I had for Dr. You know Dr. mentioned during instructional time right instructional day I'm sorry. So under my impression you know of that it would be when there's instruction so first period from 8 to 9 whatever and my question to him was specifically for the high school what about transition period are they going to be and then with the video I know y'all put a video out where they can put them in there. That was also my question for
102that because you know I'm going to walk out of class, get my phone, reply to a text during passing period, put it back and he mentioned that now it's the whole day >> the uh the impression of the of the shoe holder is you know because we were still getting you know information on whether or not it's day or time, but it is day. It's it's they cannot have them throughout the instructional day. >> The shoe holders are for those kids that don't carry backpacks. We do have kids that don't carry backpacks and there's nowhere for them to store them. Um, so the process at the high school is is if you don't have a backpack, you're going to have to turn it in. Um, if not, if you do have your backpack, as soon
103as you step on foot, you have to put it up. Turn it off and put it up. And I did want to add that I think at the core of the of the law and the messaging that we want to share to parents is that it's about going back to an experience in education that is meaningful and going back to relationships with your friends and your teachers and being engaged in that. I think if we message it that way, I think there's it's just a different tone than taking away your phone mad or you know because it's a consequence. It's also just putting the focus on that. I know at the middle school we have we had some conflicts or we had some last year with our students and so I think that is going
104to be very important that we share it in that manner to parents that it's about their child good experience >> yeah even during lunch time they have to talk to each other >> and the conversation you know among administrators is what can we offer during lunch that can offset that that time so we thought about having you know um sections where they can play board games. You know, Mrs. uh Wades has always had puzzles available and they'll sit there and they'll work on a puzzle during lunch. So, it's like what can we, you know, how can we offset this with other engaging activities, you know, looking towards student council? What can we do during lunch? You know, uh to help kids. Maybe it's just a a game of of what's the money toss back >>
105cornhole, you know, like you know, can we have a little cornhole tournament? What can what can the organizations do to make lunch more entertaining since kids are not going to be able to use the phone, you know, positive interaction? >> I would think it would talk and eat and that's a big benefit. a lot of them don't eat, you know, but um you know, just how do we how can we interact with one another, you know, without the phones and what can we do for our kids to continue to make it fun? >> And I think even the rejection of the conflicts that the phones start on the discipline side, right, we spend a lot of time placing what gets said on the phone or, you know, it starts at the home and then it
106comes into the school. Because of chapter 37, we do have to address some of those things that start in the home. So, I think that'll help you And that's another thing. Are you all going to be having people monitor them because you know these kids can get creative and sneaky and >> Yeah. You know, >> like as they're passing in the halls and stuff. >> It's no different than us monitoring, you know, the dress code, you know, we have 748 kids, you know, and it's just kind of just monitoring everything that we have to monitor. Um, and it's everybody's duty. And it's like I shared with the adults, you know, systems don't work in the building. It's not because of the kids. It's because of the adults. So, we have to do our job. We
107have to make sure that they themselves are not on their phone while monitoring. >> I myself have had, you know, people coming up to me and tell me, well, you know, the teachers are on their phones. They're not paying attention to the kids. They're not even teaching. Some of the times, you know, I've had >> to set those expectations. >> Yeah. I said, no. I said, first of all, I said my my this is me personally saying this. The teacher is a teacher. It's an educator. They're they're there to as a adult they're not on the same level as a child you know as a student you know they are the ones that are in charge of that class and if they have to get on their phone for whatever reason to instruct the class
108that's different you know them being on social media of course or whatever you know but I mean you do have some parents well they're the same as you know the kids you know I mean why why can't they you know be on the phone if the teachers are on it first of all you know you're there your child's there to learn and get educated by that teacher said they're not on the same level. >> Yeah. >> You know, but they do have to set the example. >> They do. We model We model what what we preach. And I think we did a good job of that. Um Ana and I tked some of our front office um clerks to do a a training during our secondary conference and our secretaries um two of our administrative
109assistants at the high school and one at the SEIL gave the training on what it is to model. uh if you're pulling duty, you shouldn't be on your phone. Your eyes should be on kids and the safety um you know what it is to you know monitor effectively you know when you're at a station. So they did a great job setting those expectations with their colleagues on what is expected you know as you know as support staff as well. >> Yeah. So basically it's during the school day it's the school day school day. >> I had I had asked Dr. would play if the same rules in punishment applied to fourth and fifth and third graders that have phones. And his answer was yes. >> Yes. >> And so my question was, so do you
110have an ISS class in the elementary? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. >> Yes, I do. I do. >> Okay. I mean, I think I think it's great, but in my opinion, I think that this I think I would like to see a different set of rules for the smaller ones, but that's just my opinion. >> Go ahead. During today's meet the teacher night, uh I expressed that uh to the the parents exactly what the law was and the expectation that we have of our students. Um I didn't see anybody shaking their head against it. The biggest thing was like we want them like Mr. Ed said, you know, to have that experience back where they're communicating with with each other. I mean, we're just trying to grow little folks into be good good folks,
111be good humans as they leave they they leave uh Rosson ISD. Um, so I told and we we talked about the consequences that that'll be there. I didn't really have any issues last year and I believe Miss Ba didn't have much issues with cell phones because a lot of times we did a lot of the students at the beginning of the day. Um but it was mostly third, fourth and fifth that had them. Very few other kids have them. But now that that's gone away, you know, it's just it's just going to be our new norm. Our new norm. We want them. >> Yeah. We want them to be focused back. That that was fun. >> That was fun though. The board games. I mean, look what happened in CO. Everybody was on board games.
112They were all sold out. >> I agree with Miss Global that the adults are on a different level than our students, but >> that's going to be the biggest complaint. >> You know, they can take attendance on it >> and raptor. you know, other than that, they they shouldn't have to be on the phone while they're with their student other than for those two things. >> I did also want to say um that one of the concerns we have for the emergencies, right, and reaching your student. So, at my meet the teacher, I did explain to parents when we are in a status right or secure, our focus is always going to be on the situation. You know, if it was their child, that's when we would be concentrating. if it's working with law enforcement,
113if it's working with our nurses um or ambulance because sometimes it is emergency services that come out to the campus. That's the focus and as soon as we get a chance to send out a message, we do with the information that we've been sharing. So I did share and I mean the teacher you know the secure and the hold are really it's a a status of keeping us safe. you're keeping in your classroom so that we can offer privacy or if it's a secure tucked into the campus, you know, tucked in. Um, so that no danger comes inside so they're safe. The only one they really have to worry about is a lock down. And so I think that communication is also important because we are all parents, right? That's the first thing what's going
114on with their baby, right? >> That was a big concern that I that I had heard about. But again, my my message to them was, you know, I get it. if there's something happen, you call up for an office and they can relay the message to your child >> and and also I think this will help with, you know, social media point, you know, >> if you're on a medical hold, you know, um, for whatever reason, it's on social media and parents are going to the school, they see an ambulance there, and just like I mean, I'm not a parent, but some a parent would, you know, at that point panic. They see an ambulance there, they have no idea what's going on. And I think letting the school send the message would be great
115because there's not all these different stories out there. It's this is exactly what's happening. So I think this law helps with that the messaging as far as those holes and lockdowns or whatever it may be. >> Did you have something to add? >> I was just going to say that u I when I talk to parents and you know when when there has been issues with cell phones I usually tell parents you know my recommendation you know elementary which you know really does not need a phone. If there's an emergency, you know, of course we're here, they can let the teacher know. We can call the parents, you know. So that's what I encourage. And we really haven't had uh many issues. I just one or two here and there basically, you know, more like,
116you know, the Tik Tok, you know, like those Tik Tok videos are not really appropriate, you know. Some of the some of the things are maybe like not at school but they're coming here from home you know they they text message or the video and they shared it and they were you know not very nice to each other you know but I always tell the parents because the parents were asking how can I solve this problem well you know in my opinion I don't feel like a child you know should have a cell phone at that age you know you're opening up you know they're not sure yet >> you know to be able to, you know, that Snapchat and those Tik Toks, you know, I think they need to grow and mature and that's
117what I tell the parents and and a lot of them said, you know what, ma'am, you're right. I'm going to take away the phone, you know, have the phone. So, I haven't had any issues. And just today in the parent meeting, I we went ahead I went ahead and I shared about the cell phones and none of the parents uh you know had any concerns. I the consequences coming to any board approval. Wednesday um the board would approve and of course I would share the consequences with the parents you know concerns and I think um like the backpacks and all these things these are things you know so I think that's why in my campus I haven't had any issues >> yeah we've had a lot of lot of positive feedback >> and also going
118back to the modeling that we talk about the monitoring like I know at the high school all our administrative staff bought clear backpacks, >> clear totes. You know, we're going to model that for our kids. You have to have clear backpacks. So do we. So we all went and bought clear backpacks. >> That's awesome. >> You know, you're not going to see staff walking around with, you know, AirPods or beads in their head. You know, we're going to model that for them. We're going to limit the use of the cell phone. You know, yes, we use them for Raptor. Yes, we use them to But for the most part, we are going to model that expectation of we're in it. We're focused on what we need to be. We're focused on our job just like
119you're focused on your schoolwork. So, you know, that is important that we set that standard as a campus and as a district. And I think that, you know, the buy in from the staff and and switching to clear backpacks as administrators sends a strong message. >> What time is athletics? >> Athletics is starts uh well 8:15, but our athletes get there sometimes early depending on the practice. But I know for football they're doing it in the afternoon. >> Yeah. But they take the phones out there. >> They should. >> Yeah. The expectation is they're put up. We've already uh Ron knows that. Where's Ron? >> Oh, he went outside. Yeah. The expectation is as soon as you set foot on campus, they're put away. Um even with Charlie Cabetta, yes, they use them to do
120their their band, their marching. They have the app and they use them. But he knows that as soon as they go to the band hall, what is your system when entering the ban hall, they put them away, they change, they don't take them out again. So it's really just setting the expectations and that just goes back to Mr. GU that we we we really tell them >> if it doesn't work, it's because of the adults, never the kids. So then it's having those conversations with the adults. >> So what are they using instead of the phone? The band >> the band is allowed to use it during their morning practice before the instructional day starts. Yeah. >> So, yeah. Inside the bedroom, are they going to leave? >> No. >> So, what's the instructional start
121time just to be clear? >> The instructional start time at our school is at 7:50. If they get there for breakfast, >> okay, but >> yeah, but you know, we're telling them as soon as you get onto campus, you're putting them up. >> They don't need to be up. >> I agree. I think it's just a cleaner rather than having We don't want to have an interaction with a student in the cafeteria in front of everybody. We rather them put them away. >> Yeah. So, we're telling them as soon as you get this, they're up. >> And going back to Mr. Gandu's question about athletics, um, what message have we already sent out to the ones that come with a a a bat bag or or you know, something like that where they're going to
122change the short because >> they say they stay in the locker room, >> but they take it as soon as they get there, they take it to the locker room and then it just stays there. >> They stay in the locker room. >> Their bags. >> Yes. They they go with their leg back and has their baseball bats and all that. >> They stay in the locker room. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And we will take up their bats. They're not allowed to have bats inside the building. If they bring them, I usually hold them in my office. >> Okay. >> But that's not mentioned, but they can take it to the locker room and leave it there. Yes. >> But just, you know. >> Yeah. They come with >> I know that those aren't really
123clear. >> So, can they come in the morning, take it over? >> Yeah. And it's just like our drill team and our, you know, volleyball girls and our cheer. They they understand that they cannot walk around with their cheer bags. Those are put up. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And the stamina, hugs, everything. >> Yeah. >> I really like that we went away from the whole paying for the phone. I know. I don't know how long that was in Facebook. When I was in school, we had to pay $15 to get it back. I really like that. I don't think we should be charging our parents. >> That's what I'm saying. I I'm really glad that we did away that we did away from the charging. I mean, you know, I don't think we should be
124charging our parents to get something they're already paying for. So, I'm glad that we went this route and that we're changing policy on that. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. There you go. Thank you. >> Thank you everybody. >> Good job, Mario. The parents on here. Thank you. >> Oh, my I've already ruined my son's senior year. I don't know about you, Mario, but I ruined his life. Oh, >> I'm going to show him this. I'm going if you take it to school, you're going to get assist. >> Well, I thought it was, but you have one for your son and then your life will be back to normal. >> Well, I'm going to tell you, you did an amazing job this morning talking to the freshman about the importance of attendance and following rules. >>
125Good. >> So, he was talked about, you know, what it takes to get an associates, you know, what he was striving for. So, you know, he really >> he did good. Well, when he told me everyone his senior year, I told him to talk to Lissa and she was sitting right there like ask me. >> Well, thank you everyone. Dr. Plate, your recommendation >> like to recommend FNC local policy as presented. In addition, the consequences as discussed to be included in the student code of conduct for you to approve. >> I second it. First by Mr. Martinez, second by Miss Gobles. Any questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All oppose. Motion passes. Next item on the agenda, close session. >> First by Mr. Marine, second by Mr. Martinez. All those in
126favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. The board will now convene close session in pursuant to sections 551.074 of the Texas Government Code. Thank you. [Music] The board would now reconvene from session. So I have a motion. >> I'll have the first by second by Mr. Martinez. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose. We're now back in open session. Next item on the agenda. >> Thank you, Madam President, trustees. Nothing to recommend. >> Thank you, sir. Next item on the agenda, adjournment. Martinez, second by Marin. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose. >> Meeting adjourned. Thank you everybody.