001Time is 6:30 p.m. on January 15, 2026. I call this regular meeting of the Rockport Fulton Independent School District to order. Let the record show to a quorum of board members present that this meeting has been duly called and notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. begin the meeting with our prayer led by Vice President Alustin. >> So, first let's thanks for all of our blessings up here. This is amazing. Okay. Dear God, we thank you for the opportunity to gather today in service of our students, families, and community. Please grant us the wisdom, patience, and unity as we make decisions. May our words be guided by respect, our actions by compassion, and our choices by what is best for every child.
002In Jesus's name we pray. Amen. >> Please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance and the Texas pledge. Thank you very much, cadets. This evening we have cadet Annalie Cantu. Cadet Cantu is a secondyear student of the NJROTC. She is part of the unarmed drill team, color guard, and physical fitness teams. Cadet Cantu plans on attending Texas A&M Kingsville. Her plan is to become a registered nurse, then applying for a nursing commission in the in the US Army. We also have with us Cadet Isaiah Kenny. Cadet Cadet Kenny is a secondyear student of the NJOTC. He participates in the unarmed regulation team, armed exhibition drill team, and color guard team. Cadet Kenny plans on enlisting in the Navy as a logistics specialist. After his tour, he'd like to attend a 4-year university and get his
003bachelor's degree and become an instructor. Thank you very much. All right, we'll move to agenda item four, which is our district celebrations. Dr. Austin. All right, so as you guys can see by all the wonderful things in front of you, it is school board recognition month. So, as we celebrate our school board recognition month this January, I want to take a moment to personally express my gratitude for all that you do. Um, our deepest gratitude to you trustees for all that unwavering dedication, service, hard work, commitment. Truly, it makes a difference in our students lives. This year we're aligning with the TASBY the Texas Schoolboard Association's theme is our future is public. So I want to take a moment to celebrate public education. And today we especially recognize how you, our trustees, are a vital
004part of public education and you make our schools a place where children can thrive. Let's not forget that our trustees are elected by our community and you have entrusted them to represent your voice and your hopes for our future for our district and they do that and serve with that in heart. So, thank you trustees for everything that you do. I know that there's probably a story with each of you. Um I know Jod said in construction she wanted you to have this. What did you say, Dr. Carter? Go ahead and tell them. Yep. that she wants you to get to work over at the high school. Um, so we really appreciate you. Any other special things they need to know, ladies and gentlemen, about what they have up here? All's good. All right. So,
005our second celebration, I'm actually going to pause and move this to another board meeting. Unfortunately, this person we'd like to celebrate came down with the flu and we really want her to be here. So, we're going to move her, but you do see her picture. She will be back. All right. All right. That brings us to agenda item five, which is public comment. We do have someone signed up. So, let me read this before you come up. The board welcomes comments about the district from members of the public. Anyone who has signed up to speak in advance of the meeting in accordance with the board procedures may do so at this time. The board asks that each participant's comments pertain to district business and be no longer than three minutes. Please be advised that the
006information shared in the public comment is not an endorsement or of the information shared by the presenter and solely provides the opinion of the individual speaker and not the district. In addition, the dis the board has adopted policies to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and concerns for employees, students or the parents as well as the general public. Copies of our district policy and procedures on public comment and filing complaints are available at the superintendent's office or on the RFISD school board's web page at rfisd. us. Tonight we have Gary Jackson. Good evening uh school board. I was here in November and gave a speech and then sent you an email in December. Did anybody get a chance to see that email in December? You did. I I I said, "Congratulation on the Whoopsie
007award. I got a song for you that was written by AI." I didn't include to go on to develop the music into it, but the AI makes some really good songs. And uh I'm sure you've got the correction or something on the minutes. It was just a oopsie. I'm sure other school boards though I I have um been banned from public speaking violation of House Bill 2840 in my hometown. I gave two speeches and they said we don't want to hear it anymore. And uh Victoria is joining right in with them there. It seems to be the presidents, but the uh superintendent, they pay a lot of money to those people, but it's the president I usually hear from that doesn't like me. Uh I gave you a handout there. The first is a picture
008of an airplane hitting a concrete wall like they tested it for the nuclear facilities. And when you make contact, Newton's third law says it is an equal and opposite reaction. The force generated on your plane is equal to what you generate on that wall. You're going poof when you hit the wall. The closer the more plane arriving at the wall, the cloud grows bigger. You go to page two, you watch it go to the World Trade Center and whoosh, right through like a bullet through cardboard. Doesn't even scrape the paint. Doesn't even knock the reflector lights off the wings. Right on through the wall. Time goes by. and you watch it in slow motion and finally it erupts in a fireball in the middle of the building. What's wrong with this picture? And then you
009go on to the third page about the uh 100,000 ton section of the 20 floors like section 90 through 110 stories. That section is sitting off there all on its own. No building under it. And then there's another one, building two. It has a damaged section. You see about 10 floors between the 80 of solid floors and then about 10 floors that got a hole blown in it. And then the 20 floors above that nice just like the section A. Which one's going to get to the ground first? A or B? Well, that's the problem. B got there a little too quick. That building turned to dust and was not present to support the structure in its collapse. The whole building was gone by directed energy weapons. Dr. Judy Wood with a PhD has many
010many measurements and facts that are in that book and it's proposed to be on your training. I want all the teachers to know it and all the students and you have to have the PTA review it or something. This book has to get examined and that's what I appreciate your feedback. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. All right, that brings us to agenda item six, board of trustees report. Are there any committee reports? All right, if not, we'll go to 7A bond 2022 project update. We have teal construction and Claycom Architects. Howdy. You have students in your new classrooms at the high school and I've walked around it a couple times. I've been I I've seen a lot of smiles. Um that is just what makes it worth it. I mean it is amazing
011to see. Um and we're real proud of it. We still have some work to go for the remaining parts, but um it's it's really good to see your students in in those classrooms and in the corridor. Um so we'll we'll go ahead and get going. Um, so as of right now, billing wise, project's 90% complete. Um, substantial completion is still scheduled for March of 2026. Um, Damon, you want to tell us about some of the work that's been done and what's coming up. Last month, we got temporary occupancy for the classroom. Um, and huge milestone for us. Really excited. a lot to get there. Um, we are continue to work in the athletic wing. Uh, lots of pulling going on, lots of finishes going on the wall. Still putting up duck work uh in area
012and locker rooms. Um, getting a lot of finishes on the walls and floors. Uh softball concession. Uh got all flat work poured uh around concession building. Got power on over there. So finishing all the last little bit of stuff that's over there. Um putting out the wall like that been happening last month. Um this month moving forward um we are going to be completing floors and cleaning finishes in the athletic wing. Um got u cover up inspections coming up next week. Uh you see some landscaping some irrigation going on in front of the school. Continue around throughout the rest rest of the site. Uh continuing our site concrete site sidewalks finishing that work up. getting ready to uh get the athletic turned over. We'll be finishing the softball concession here shortly in anticipation looking at
013for softball season and working on punch list uh uh issuing punch list on the classrooms and we've been working through that as we're going to address those items forward. any any questions before we move on to the pictures. All right, we'll look at some pictures. So, I just one of the big things that that's happened recently is uh school graphics have gone on the wall. Um some some feature spaces and also just throughout the corridor and it really makes it kind of feel like a school instead of just a building. Uh continued installation of finishes in the athletic wing. Right now you see a picture of guy painting and some other people preparing for paint. But I mean as I was walking around today they're still in their land floor. They're putting epoxy floors down.
014They're painting doing touch-ups. Um making a push on that. Um this is a picture immediately after they poured concrete. All that white dust is appearing compound. It's not stained. Um but that connects your so the concession restroom building to your softball fields or to your softball bleachers. And then um locker rooms, they're getting plumbing fixtures going in. Ceilings are going. You can see some light fixtures are going in there. They're coming together pretty fast. Um offensive for in that final stretch. Thank >> I just have one question and it's going to sound silly, but Folton just dropped off of the update. Is it 100% and we just didn't get that? I mean, it's substantially complete. There are still items that they're they're niche items that need to be worked on. Um, some of it is
015punch list items. Some of it is things that you have to do after the building is occupied. Um, it has to wait until after um that to finish up. So, it is not 100% build, but it's substantially complete and y'all are occupying it. I don't have any new photos to show you. Well, it is it is substantially complete. It really I I don't know that we have a specific date that it'll be like 100% finally complete all the paperwork filled out and and processed, but we're we're getting close. We're Jamon and I are coordinating on those last items. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, we'll move to 7B featured campus report. We have Live Oak Learning Center. This is Poland. Well, before we jump into our report, I should have just let them do the
016whole report. That would have been the best. But we did want to say thank you. And so our kindness squad, this is one of our clubs, our groups that we have going at Live Oak this year. They're here to say thank you to y'all. So guys, you want to turn on Facebook? Okay, there we go. They're like, "Oh, no." >> I'm Cat from Live Oaks Kindness Squad. We want to say thank you to our school board members. My name is Skye. Thank you for helping make our school a place where we can learn, grow, and feel safe. Because of you, we have teacher. We have teachers who care, quads where you can learn new things, and a school that helps us do our best. >> We know you work hard to make good cho choices
017for our school, even when it's not easy. >> Good job, guys. All right, I'm going to hand them the bag and thank you. Great job, kids. Thank you, parents, for letting them be here tonight. See, that's all we needed to do, right? [laughter] So, we thought we'd take a moment to be able to celebrate them. Okay, so live oak, here we are. We're in our second report now for the year. I kept the same structure just to work through the lens of our four priorities that we've been so focused on. um that's critical to our work. And so number one, our student success. And I felt like the more that I listed, the more I like thought, oh my gosh, there's so many other things I could have listed, too. But just thinking about that
018achievement and growth with students. Obviously, we've been working through the lens of our MAP growth and our formative assessment data analysis that we've been doing. Teachers have been working hard with that. We're making those wind time adjustments, supporting students still in our online tutoring with On Your Mark. Um, we've purchased some Lead Forward math foundations and numeracy activities that will be enhancing our math work uh this next semester. We're also still using our Fly Leaf and the University of Florida um literacy pieces to also support our reading blocks. And then um students are still empowered to set their goals. And I wanted to name that after we looked at all of our math and all of our reading together, 72% of our students earned recognition with their bragg tag for meeting at least one or
019both of those uh their growth goals in those contents in their middle of the year assessment. So that was a huge celebration for our kids. And it's exciting to walk the hallways and they tell you like I'm like, "Yeah, team met your goal." And they're like, "I actually beat my goal." So it's it's fun. They're excited about it, right? Um student engagement. So, we have almost 15% of our students that have engaged in some extra activity this year. And so, you got to see some of our students that are representing our kindness squad with our counselor. You see all of our other pieces. You'll have a calendar in your bag that our pirate Picasso art students helped create. And so, there's an image in there that they illustrated collectively together for you. Um, but just
020working really hard to try to give kids um other experiences. We still have our community and schools. We have students going to Gulf Point Village to work with the residents there. Um we've also joined uh with the city and parks and wreck um to uh do a beautifification project around town and so they've been doing some different things around the community um with that group and Miss Brown's been an intricral part in helping us get that going. Um acknowledging just those skills and CCMR, we're trying to continue to grow those experiences. We've had presentations for our students to just build some of those character traits, those character skills, and give them that opportunity. And then we ended the semester with our career fair right before Christmas. And so had several different community members come share
021about that. Looking at priority two, staff engagement, development, and well-being. Recruiting and retaining our teachers. We are working to elevate and celebrate um with those staff shoutouts and staff and parents can engage in this and in the first semester we had 71 uh staff shoutouts for uh recognition of just the hard work of our staff on campus. We had three staff graduates that we celebrated. So our counselor finished with her LPCA until she gets all of her hours in. We also had Miss Breedlove um finish her credit for um education and then Miss Grund who we'll see later but our student teacher from&M graduated in December and so um super excited to be able to celebrate them and then we've we've given out 30 anchored and excellence awards and that's where staff recognizes each other.
022So we do 15 of those each um quarter. Professional growth and performance. We've learned a lot this year already and keeps learning. But we've worked really hard on lesson internalization, continued with our anchor practice walks and our coaching and getting some uh feedback with teachers in that and just really refining that to meet teachers where they're at and what they need. Um our professional development, we worked with Exel, we've worked with MAP, we've had mental health and first aid training. We've uh had a huge autism training here at the beginning of the semester. Lead Forward. Miss Cox and I were able to attend a Lead Forward Think Big conference and actually leverage some of that work coming back into the semester, too. So, that was fantastic to be able to do that together. Our guiding
023coalition team this week, we've started a book study called Ruthless Equity with Ken Williams. And so, we're excited to dive into that work just ensuring that we're going to show up for every knowing that every child can learn. And then of course our continued work with the service center um with our parents with our uh effective schools framework and then our literacy work with sustain ed. Our employee well-being um we like to have fun at Live Oak. Um we have a staff bingo each quarter. We've had holiday painting parties. We painted rugs. Um our rolling carts around campus. Um and then our cooking well with friends that we partnered with a life to do. Um but you see our dress up days. There's a number of adult moments. Um they go big. Priority three, our
024parent and community engagement piece. So with our parent involvement, we've hosted two family nights. So well, we had our fall family night for everyone. Then we had our second grade math and literacy night and our kindergarten math and literacy night with Santa reading. Uh we had our targeted improvement plan for meeting and I will tell you it was important to me that parents showed up for that. And we know sometimes when we put it out there, they don't just come. So I challenged my teachers to call at least one parent and personally invite them. And we had 19 parents that came that night. And so that was wonderful and I appreciate their work in doing that. Um we had our Veterans Day lunch for families. Um our PTO uh team is amazing um and continue
025to support us big. And then of course our site based uh sitebased decision team. Effective communication. We've sent out 18 weekly staff and family newsletters both. Um so that's our anchored in excellence and our pirate press. Um our outreach letters I've provided in the fall I did an outreach with just addressing behavior asking for the parent support and just kind of talking through a lens of the importance of that and how that helps us establish that setting for our school. And then here at the beginning of the semester, we sent home an attendance letter highlighting the importance of attendance and also an individual attendance report for every child. Um just challenging setting a challenge for this is where we're at. How can we be better? And so those just went out. Um we also our
026teachers, they made 445 face-to-face contacts um with parent conferences in the fall. And so we'll have those coming up again um here in February. Community engagement. Um, we our kindness squad, we took them out and about for first responder day so they could go to all of our first responder organizations in the community and left them a small token of our appreciation. Our partnership with Agg Life is always strong. We've kicked off Walk Across Texas. We have a learn, grow, and eat garden that is going on with preK and our counselor will also be supporting one for K2 this next semester. um our community and schools partnership again the recreation and our Gulf Point plaza. I've also just right before break uh Carrie Schwart out helped me connect with access and we are going to
027host three events this spring um two to just invite families from the community in with uh birth to three to try to build an early partnership with families before kids even enter school um with numbers, letters and giggles I think. And then uh a literacy night too for social emotional with our family. And then our last one, anchor for the fun one, finance, operations, all that fun stuff. Um just a high standard ofa safety. We continue to drive home our champs expectations for our students. So you see an example of our assembly expectations in that one corner. Uh we've had three uh threat assessment team meetings just to try to be proactive and prepared. We did have a tabletop for reunification this afternoon. That's our second reunification tabletop we've had. Um we've had six behavior
028team meetings and y'all um we don't do this alone, right? So my APs are leading those meetings. We have a teacher representative from every grade level um electives intervention, everybody's on that uh collectively. Um our door checks, which we did pass this week. Yay. Um so that was great. Um and then law enforcement, agency walks, all the things. uh financial stewardship, always just being mindful of program evaluations and budgeting. Um having those attendance committee meetings and working really hard to try to be better with that. Um and then setting those in attendance incentives well as well. Facilities and maintenance. Um we're getting door security updates at prek. So Mike's team's been working hard to get those doors installed and they love them and it's just changed the whole look of the hallway. Um, we, you
029know, we had the flu in December and the guys came in and they sprayed the building again and all of that. So, sometimes I think there's those quick adjustments and then we continue to grow those outdoor learning spaces. So, we kicked off the second semester. Um, and this was in line with the conference that we went to with Lead Forward. Uh, but this was a quote that really stood out to me. If you think small, your world will be small. If you think big, your world will be big. And so I've just challenged the teachers to think big this semester and to think about the goals and the dreams and the aspirations that our kids have. Um and it's our place to let them have those big dreams, right? And be able to foster that
030with them. And so that's really our charge um as we continue to make that impact this semester. Do you have any questions? >> Denise, can you tell us a little bit about Champs? For some reason, I don't feel like I've heard about it, but Okay. Hi. Yeah, could have just missed it. >> How much time you have, Logan? So, Champs, we actually jumped into that work go three, four years ago now. I guess three years ago. Um, so Dr. Carter actually got to go and Amanda went with us when we went to Oregon um with uh safe and civil schools. And so really it's just a framework. So it's not so much just behavior, but it's a framework for like how you would approach situations and approach solutions. So um like just identifying like those
031routines, those procedures, those structures. So you're thinking about like what is your voice level, what are your actions, um what is the grouping structure in that part uh part um and what is your participation level? And when you're you've set those expectations clearly, then at the end you're successful. That's your S, right? That's how we're successful. So like um for our um assembly I'm like can I go back and then I can like do it in order for you. Um my teachers are like really Denise. So we would start and we would say like our conversational voice right now is a level zero. Um if you need help, you're raising your hand. Our arrangement is that we're a seated audience. We're sitting with a calm body. That's what our movement should look like, a calm
032body. Um we participate with our eyes on the speaker. our ears are listening and if we're doing that then we're p pirate champs are successful. We're being pirate leaders and so that's the language that we're trying to consistently use with students and so this is an expectation for our like an audience behavior. We have champs in our cafeteria and our hallway and then the teachers emulate that in the classrooms too that I'm waiting for permission. Mr. Okay. So, you know, Dr. Austin said, you know, always challenges us and ask us to um highlight um somebody that we want to celebrate. And I called her and I said, I can't just celebrate one person right now. I have a team I want to celebrate. And so, tonight, my kindergarten team is with me. And yes, I'm
033going to call you up. Um but first, I just I want to talk about them a little bit. Um I'm super excited to recognize them um just for their dedication, their heart, and their hard work. um they've shared they have a shared belief in every student and one another and that's really what collective efficacy is. Um and they're doing that work together. Um they plan, they teach and they support every learner as one team. They challenge ideas, ask the hard questions, and consistently seek to improve their craft. Um embracing each protocol for lesson internalization, formative assessments, and all the other things that we ask. Their collaboration is changing the trajectory of our youngest pirates. Ladies, you are valued and we are incredibly grateful to have each of you on our team. If you'll please come
034forward. Oh, I'm gonna say their name. So, this is Miss Krenon. She's here for Miss Mikish who's on maternity leave right now. So, our awesome student teacher. I just kept her on board. It worked out perfectly. And then we have Miss Edward Stafford, Miss West. I love y'all. Miss Martinez, Miss Pettis, Miss McKenzie, Miss Lauren, >> Miss Miss Poland was um also not noting that that kindergarten team had the highest growth in the entire district in December map data. So that part um yeah, we're proud of them. >> Good job. >> All right, that brings us to agenda item 7C, 2026 27 budget calendar discussion review, Miss Henderson. >> So you've got in here the 2627 uh budget calendar that were set up. I'll kind of go over a few highlights. Um, one in December,
035like I said, we already start working in the fall looking at the next year. Um, Dr. Austin and Molly and met with the principles and department heads, they've already started reviewing staffing. Dr. Austin told us in November, no, December, that we needed to, everybody, every department, every campus needed to make a 15% reduction for this year, which would carry over to next year. So, we've already done that. Every one has sent those to me. So, we've made those reductions in this year and we'll carry it over be their budget for next year. Um, I'm working on actually finished student projections today. I'm going review them tomorrow with Dr. Austin. And so, we look at those together to see if we both feel comfortable with what we're projecting. Um, I will say we are looking at
036reducing it because, you know, as we know, our enrollment has been going down. So, we will look at that, but Dr. Austin and I will review those tomorrow. Um, at the end of April, I will get the preliminary property values and at that point start working on revenue. um being a non-legislative year is makes it much easier so I can get the property values not have to worry about too many changes um and start working on true revenues and recapturing and everything where we are so that we can get a good projection on for revenue. Um we are scheduled we have a June 16th scheduled budget workshop with the board already on the calendar. Um we'll also have one in July probably mid July and then um July 25th I will get the certified values
037and at that point and I haven't quite set this up with Dr. Austin, but I'm looking at probably that last week of July. Uh we'll have the final um budget workshop with y'all so that then uh we can do our post required postings in the paper and everything um because I'm setting to uh adopt the um budget on August the 24th. So, I'll have to get that to the paper by August 5th, but there will be enough time in there to have the certified value so we can have true numbers of what it is and then have one more workshop with y'all that's here. Unless anybody has any questions, comments. >> Kathy, I tried to compare it to last year's calendar and I couldn't find any significant changes at all. Was there any? >> There
038really is not. Okay. It's pretty pretty much the same. the um we did push back adopting the budget one week because we had to do it so early last year because of Vader, but that's very hurt very hard and very hard getting a certified value. So, um but in prior years we've always done it the fourth Thursday, which this year is like the 27th 28th. So, I really liked didn't quite like doing it as early as we did last year, but one more week um I think will help us and then that gives us time to finish up our year end. So, we moved it to the 24th, which is the Mon I think the the Monday before, which would be the fourth Thursday. So, just a few days earlier um on that. >> And
039I didn't notice the finance committee mentioned in here. Obviously, it wasn't last year either, but will they be included anywhere in any of this? >> Yes, they'll we'll have the finance committee meetings like we always do. We'll be scheduling one um probably with February or March. I know uh Dr. Al mentioned today that we may do we will probably do some budget an update of the budget of where we're at through the end of the first semester. I'll kind of redo everything with the the actual ADAs and and get all that in. Um so part of the already the February 17th meeting, we will do a budget workshop um looking a little bit at where we're standing this year so far and looking ahead of where we're looking at as far as the 15% reduction
040we've done and other reductions that we are looking at. >> So we already have planned a February 17th strategic roundt. So one thing we did from our last round table, we are adjusting we're going to pick only one or two priorities to review during that round table. So we're ch we're choosing priority four to focus on for this one. And so we're going to go really look at where we stand. You guys had asked for a few things in the last board meeting that we could start looking at and so we'll bring those to you guys on our already scheduled strategic roundt for February 17th. So, we were going to do a finance committee meeting during February, but I think using the round table for that and then we'll set up a cadence for the
041committee following that. >> Any other questions? >> No, I just know that last year we kind of had the same concern, especially with knowing that we were going to have deficit budgets uh or possibly a deficit budget. Um July always seems so last minute and I know that we have to do that for a lot of reasons. Recapture things like that, our final numbers coming in. >> All I can encourage is that as much communication between now and then so that we can effectively >> obviously make decisions or help make decisions since that is the number one thing of a school board member. >> Um but also summer vacations too. The sooner that we get dates because I know a lot >> Sure. tried to get out in July or whatever. So, if we can
042move any of those to where it's not >> okay >> all of July that we're here >> I'll work with Dr. Austin >> I mean obviously this is priority however >> yeah no understand we'll work with Dr. Charleston on on set dates and getting that out as getting those set as soon as we can with y'all and and what works. >> Okay. Thank you. Anything else? >> Thank you. Those aren't like the clappers. There we go. >> Wow. Microphones on. >> All right. That brings us to uh agenda item 8A, which is to consider take possible action to approve the 202425 financial audit. >> Thank you. Hello everyone. It's been a year since I was last here. Uh, everyone should have an audit report in front of them. I'd like to begin on page 18
043and 19. And as you turn to page 18 and 19, the we issued uh an unmodified clean opinion on the district's financial statements. Uh this means that financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position and results operations of the district. Uh I'm going to cover the general fund in particular and just address the capital projects. The first column is your general fund uh account 5020 for your total revenues and these were 39 million547,354 while expenditures on account line 6030 worth 4387,988. So expenditures exceeded revenues by 3,840,634 and this is account $1,200. Now this results in a plan use of fund balance during the year. This was all planned out during the year. As a matter of fact, when I cover your budget, you'll see that you really did better than you had
044anticipated. Your beginning fund balance on account was 19 million24,27 and after the current year operating results fund balance ends at 15283,493. Any questions? Uh your monthly expenditures average about $2.8 million. So this gives you about five and a half months of operating uh without any revenues and certainly it's it's always assumed but you always want to measure that how much fund balance is available. So you almost have six months any questions? If not real quickly let's go to page uh and 61 is your budget and uh versus actual of your general fund only. Now the revenues and expenditures here were generally consistent with the adopted budget and variances were favorable and reasonable as expected. All budget variances in the far right hand column are positive. Again, this indicates good management. Uh, as you're looking at
045this page in the third column, I'm sorry, the second column down and account 1,200, you'll note you anticipated the decrease to have been $5.7 million. So, even then, that is favorable. So, you came under $1.9 million. Uh, in particular, account 630, this is what the TEA looks at looks at. And and certainly this is in accordance with state law. You came in under budget by 1,269,000. Certainly had it been the opposite, you would get a comment in the TA letter that comes every year uh commenting had it been negative. But again, you came under budget. Any questions? If not, real quickly, I want to take you to page at the front uh page 13. So you prepare your financial statements under modified acral basis. Uh page 13 is your statement of net position and this
046is under full acral accounting. The very bottom you'll note $47 million. So this represents the net result or the net equity if you will of the school district. $47 million consisting of assets, fixed assets, uh, long-term liabilities, including bonds payable. The bottom net result is a positive $47 million. Any questions on this? Uh, the remaining exhibits uh, and the notes to the financial statements are consistent as they have been in the prior years. Uh while I'm not covering these in detail, uh they reflect a a stable financial position and do not indicate any unusual trends or concerns. Lastly, this is for your finance department, Kathy, and her staff. The district consistently follows accounting standards, prepares accurate financial statements, and complies with all applicable federal and state requirements. As a result, there are no audit findings.
047Overall, Rockwork Fton ISD continues to demonstrate sound financial management, strong budgetary control, and reliable financial reporting, and we appreciate the cooperation. Thank you so much. Any questions? >> My question, >> sure, >> excuse me, is really more internal. I I didn't expect to get this until next month. One of the last updates we said there emails we received about it was we might not receive it till February because there were some updates with the OM are those >> the OM compliance was related to the auditors that came in in December. Right now the TEA's uh sent out an email that we cannot or you cannot upload the report until perhaps the 29th of this month. That's still iffy. So uh it was just timing. We have 19 schools we audit. So we have to squeeze
048you in during this time. So uh certainly Kathy was a little anxious to get this done. >> Was not going to be available until February, but when he got the information December, we decided we need to go ahead and bring it to the board in January so we could start doing the reporting that we are required. There's still some reporting due in January. So we want to get this approved in now. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> All right. This is a action item. So, I will look for a motion. >> I'll make a motion that we approve the annual financial audit report for the fiscal year ended August 31st, 2025 prepared by independent auditor Raul Hernandez and company. Second. >> All right, we have a motion made by Mr. Burton, seconded by Mr.
049Romos. Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 70. Brings us to 8B. Consider take possible action to approve the resolution with Southwest Texas Purchasing Group. Oh, co-op. Sorry, Miss Henderson. So, we um have have a vendor that we might possibly start using um in for some of the the construction. Um they are a member of the Southeast Texas Purchasing Co-op. So, we are looking at joining this. There's no fee for this. Um this will open us up to other vendors that maybe just use that um purchasing co-op. So when we use purchasing co-ops, we do not have to individually go out for RFPs. We go, they do the bidding. So then we go to them. We will of course call and get quotes because they have more than one
050um vendor that maybe whatever we're looking for, but we'll get quotes from their approved vendors, but they do the bidding process for us, which saves the district time and money. >> How is this different from by board? >> It's not. It's it's just another avenue. Some some um vendors maybe more local vendors don't won't go on the buy board, but they'll go as part of a purchasing co-op like we're also a member of the ESC2 purchasing co-op. So some local vendors go with the ESC purchasing co-ops rather than go through by board. So it just kind of gives us another avenue of of places to purchase or vendors to use. >> Is it for uh both services and products or is it only like products? >> I think it's service the original construction company there.
051So that would be a service. >> Yeah. Okay. And and was there something particular that we were trying to to me it's just kind of weird that we're adding this this guy from ESC5. >> Yeah. >> Uh to to our list of options, but I was just wondering is there something in specifically that we were looking for that we know? >> There is. I will say um FPS who is part of the the construction um that we've been using are a member of this co-op. So that may help us in some other um of our construction problems. We're we're having >> they do multiple projects for us whenever we have any kind of weather damage. >> Any other questions? If not, I'll look for a motion. I'll make the motion uh to approve the Rockport
052Fulton ISD to join and participate in the Southeast Texas purchasing co-op. agenda says southwest, but it is southeast. I'm sorry. I meant to I know if Donna got that changed before we change it, but it's a southeast purchasing co-op. >> I second. >> All right, we have a motion made by Mr. Burton, second by Miss Alustin. Any further discussion or vote? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 70. That brings us to 8C. Consider take possible action to approve professional services agreement with the engineering for the engineering of the Fulton Elementary and High School HVAC replacement project and job order contract with E3 Integral Solutions Incorporated. >> Mr. Milton. So, Mr. Noatne is going to go kind of walk you through this. I just as he starts, this is part of the bond project.
053This is the HVAC upgrades we are starting. It is long part of his long-term facility plan. These are the major units that we needed to start with. And so, he's going to explain all that we've been learning about these new HVAC units. >> So, these are the ones that I've been talking about for the past couple of years now. Uh it's probably tired of hearing me talk about them, but these are the multiszone units. We have four of them at Fulton, two of them at the high school. So, this is a proposal to replace all four at Fulton, and the two at high school. And E3 would be the engineer that would help facilitate work with the contractors and get all this replaced. And I actually here with us tonight from E3 is Bill Salverino,
054business development manager, and Donald Todd, director of operations. So, if there's any questions about scheduling, contractors that use, anything like that, they are here to answer any questions if y'all have any. Is it a um is it a lump sum fee or is it TNM? >> That that is the the fee there. That is a lump sum for the work and for the engineering services. >> Can you just briefly go over what are the ages of these uh HVAC units currently? >> So they were put in during the bond that was passed back in I believe it was 2012. So they were part of that bomb project. We had the Fulton edition at that time. So they're almost 14 years old and they also went through Hurricane Harvey, both of these. And Fulton's being constantly
055blasted by the salt air. So they're for one, they're near their end of life. And for two, they've gone through a beating. Uh and our guys are probably on the fixing specifically Fulton units almost twice a week. there's something that fails. And when I was talking with E3, we were looking at a different different units because right now there are certain unit that there's no support in this area for. So our guys have kind of become the only support. They had to learn how to work on this themselves and the parts to replace are not easy to get and they're not cheap either. So not only would this replace units that are getting near their end of life, it's also going with units that are more accessible for us to get parts and to get
056support on. So when you say support, you're saying they will come out, they will service, they will help with all of that or no? >> Well, during the warranty period that is true, but also we have no support. So our guys go out there and if there's a something they don't know how to replace or something that there's no one to call, there's no one to actually come out and work on it. So our guys just have to figure it out. Our guys can still service these units and they'll have if they ever have a question, if we needed someone to come down, they'll be available to come down. >> So what's the warranty on these? But actually that'd be a question for >> Well, you came here. We have to ask questions now. [laughter]
057>> Make your drive worthwhile. >> Thank you'all very much. Uh I'm Bill Savino, business development manager in South Texas and Donald Todd is our director of operations in South Texas as well. Um, so the manufacturer warranty is five years on uh on the on the on the compressors just like everything else and then one year bumper-to-bumper on everything but the compressors. So your typical manufacturer warranties >> also local support on these units. So they don't have that. >> Yeah, these units will have local support where you don't have that currently with the invent systems. >> Has the lifespan on these units, have you seen them in other environments like ours, especially with Fulton being so exposed and Yes, ma'am. Apparently, there's a good They've had real good experience in Cinton with these exact same units.
058>> Sentin's not here. [laughter] >> Oh, well. Okay. >> They're talking about the weather element. I'm saying >> as far as like our elements, obviously our salt, air, everything ages quickly. Yes. So, I just want to make sure that >> So, this these are customuilt units and they will come with the environmental coatings. So, they will be prepared to survive in this environment. And we do just just so you know E3 um god we've done close 350 projects with school districts in the state. Uh TASBY put out an RFQ selected our company to be their exclusive partner which is the reason why we do all this work with K through2 in Texas. We do a lot of work. I'm from South Texas from the valley. We do a lot of work in South Texas along
059the coast. So we understand that coastal environment and we've never been involved in a lawsuit. Just so you know, >> Mike, was this something about where our controls are going? Didn't we talk about >> better protected because our current controls are pretty much out in the element right now >> on the controls? Yes. >> So, right now the control unit is exposed. These would be put in a place. We're still putting them on the roof. We're still putting them all on the roof. and and if approved tonight, what's the timeline to get that installed? >> Yeah, that was a that's a big deal because with the the the lead time on the equipment, uh we're looking at 19 to 23 weeks. So, we're we're going to get it done this summer. We're we're hope you
060know the the goal is to get it done by the 1 of o uh 1 of August. So, if the lead times can cooperate. >> Okay. And then if I'm reading this correctly, so y'all are both the engineer and the contractor in this case. >> Yes, sir. So that that's why we have the professional services agreement which is for the engineering because you can't purchase a um engineering professional services through a purchasing cooperative. So you do that through a professional services agreement and then use the job order contracting for the construction. So it's two separate contracts. So the uh the 3399126 that that's actually y'all's bid price or is that an estimate? >> No, this is this is this is the price and we will not provide you we will not present a change order
061ever. We don't if if we miss something it's on us but we're you know the engineering was uh and the construction was 3.399126. So the total uh the total E3 for the total project engineering and construction is the 362069. >> And we did send these contracts to our legal council to review as well. >> Any other questions? If not, I'll look for a motion. I make a motion to approve job contract with E3 Integral Solutions, Inc. using TIPS contract number 21205 not to exceed $3,620,69 to be paid out of bond funds. >> All right, we have a motion made by Miss Austin, second by Mr. Romos. Any further discussion? If not, we'll take a vote. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 70. >> Thank you all for coming. >> Brings us to 8
062D. Consider take possible action to approve library materials recommended by school library advisory council. Yes, Dr. Robbins. >> So, the council met last week uh two a couple of weeks ago and finalized a list. You'll notice um there are quite a few titles for Live Oak and Fulton. They actually didn't put many titles on the first round. Um Fulton had some, but it was part of an education foundation grant. So tonight's list is primarily elementary and this is the list that the community has or the committee has decided on to put forth for purchase. Any questions? Well, obviously it's pretty impossible for us to read each one of these books. So, I just asked a question like this. Was there anything that the committee found controversial? >> It's a great question. So, I don't know
063exact titles, but I can tell you that um we've now gone a couple of rounds and the committee has determined to pull a handful I would say five to 10 titles off each round. They I've the librarians have told me they have great discussion. They just talk about our community values, whether they believe the title is a good fit. The librarian gives them a few different resources about ways they can either read some of the books or even just research them and see what publishers are saying about them and other critics and then that's how they make their final decision. So, they have chosen to strike a few books from the list, but I've heard nothing negative about that. It's just part of the process now. And these the the list that we were uh
064that we received those are books that we are purchasing. Yes. >> Or that we already have just all new. >> We these are the books they are recommending for purchase. And so if the board approves this list then we will start the PO process the purchasing process. So, if one of these, if it's approved tonight and these books go on the shelf, how does that affect if other parents start reading them and they say, "Look, we find this very controversial." >> I mean, we're trusting the committee. >> Right. So, how does >> the parent has the right to and that that's part of the new pro the legislation as well is making sure parents have a very clean simple way of going online and seeing the collection and a parent can go and say I
065don't want my child to be able to check out this set of books. Um now if someone is wanting a book pulled from a collection then they have to go through a formal challenge process of that particular book and that's where we go back to board policy and we have procedures for that. So and so then it would come to us and then at which we read the book we go to the committee and say what were your thoughts what was your reasoning what was your support is that >> there it well >> I mean >> so there are books in the collection obviously that the committee hasn't approved because they're already part of the collection >> the librarian has a responsibility a professional responsibility to consistently callull their collection so they are always looking
066at books and you know some of them didn't weren't necessarily the purchaser themselves. So, they might run into a book that they just want to pull because they don't believe it um supports the curriculum. They might think it's not age appropriate and that's just part of their professional responsibility. >> The committee is an added layer of optional support that the board was able to decide whether or not to put in place to engage more voices in that process. So, yes, there's a degree of trust then in that. Now if someone wants to challenge a book, we have a procedure where um they would challenge the book and this committee does become part of that challenge process and then eventually it does come to the school board for a final decision if we would want to
067pull a title from the collection. So it's not so much about the board convincing the committee. It's more about the committee doing the review, determining whether they think it fits. Then they bring that decision to the board and the board makes that final call. >> And I get it and I appreciate it. It's just a >> Yeah. >> trust. >> Yes. >> Deal. And again, if it comes to us for whatever issue, then >> and that has nothing to do with you. It's >> right. Yeah. It's definitely a new flow of decision making around something like books. Yeah. Each librarian creates a list um that they're recommending to the committee and it involves it could be teacher recommendations, parents recommend books, sometimes students are great sources for books. That's how a lot of books end
068up on the list because a student comes in and says, "I really want to read this book. Can you order it?" And so it's a collection. That's where you depend on your community of educators, student stakeholders to help create the list. And then of course librarians focus and the reason they go to conferences like TLA for example is they're const I mean books are constantly hitting the shelves and so they go and meet these authors and find out what you know what things kids are reading right now and it's their job to keep their finger on the pulse of that conversation. kind of logistically um speaking, are we just creating a library, if you will, of titles that we could purchase or are we purchasing everything on this list? >> Um everything on this list
069will go for purchase. So, I want to kind of address something along the lines of having the budget conversation. Um we had very specific discussions around how do we make sure that um we're conscientious about our collection development and do we already have some pretty healthy libraries? Is this a time when we need to tighten up a little bit? And so you probably won't see very full lists beyond this submission because we knew we wanted to get one full list in to get to order. So to directly answer your question, this full list would go on to is probably going to show up on a purchase order. Um it's not just a bank of books that we could choose from, but this is by far um well under budget of what their original book budget
070is because this is one of the areas we're choosing to be more frugal and try to trim down a little bit. So our committee already knows our next couple of meetings. It'll probably be really tiny lists. It might be because, you know, we just need to replace a book that's really important in the collection or we need to, you know, add something really minimal. >> Is this also where we received some grants and were able to purchase >> the sometimes these books are grants. So, there are a couple of not on this list but on the last one. It was very grantheavy. the education foundation had approved a large set of um audio books. >> I have a question about what going back just previously when you said if a book is worn out or
071and we go to replace it, does that have to go to the committee or is that because it was already there? >> No, technically we would put it before the committee. At this point, anything that we're purchasing goes before the committee. Any other questions? If not, I'll entertain a motion. >> I move that we approve the library materials recommended by the school library advisory council. >> All right. A motion made by Miss Austin, seconded by Mrs. Randall. Any further discussion? If not, we'll take a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 70. That brings us to agenda item nine, our superintendence report. Dr. Austin. >> All right, Jessica, might as well keep the mic. Uh, Dr. Robins will do our teaching and learning report first. >> So, this month I gave you just a
072list. I wanted you to see when principles are when we say this professional development day principles belongs to you. Um, they of course have those conversations with us and we talk through that. Um, I don't really expect you to to know have all those acronyms memorized or know what all of those pieces mean, but I do want you to know that they are strongly tied to the key factors um, instructional goals that we've had this year. So when you think about we've talked quite a bit this year about creating a culture of data making sure we have strong observation feedback and coaching and in the internalization process that happens in those professional learning communities these lists of professional development topics are strongly aligned to those topics. So principles really this is a good time for
073them if they found gaps in a process this is when they tend to be revisiting that. if they're seeing consistent things in their walkthroughs that require more of a campuswide approach, that's where they're plugging this in. And then hopefully they get to give their teachers a little bit of time to do some structured planning because they have more than a 50inute, you know, period in the day. So, um, that's what I was giving you this month was just a little bit of a look into what a PD day would look like for us in January. Any questions? All right, we'll move on to Kathy Henderson with her business report. >> So, you have the business office report in front of you as of the end of December. Um, one thing I want to point out
074is the tax report, which is page six of the the business office report. And at the end of December, we were 9.5% ahead of collections over the same time last year. Remember November was slow which we knew it would be because tax the tax notices went out later but it caught up got equal and that's a little bit higher um in December taxes of course aren't due till the end of January. So that's the true date that we really look at is okay what's the the current collection at the end of January versus the prior year to kind of navigate where where we feel we'll stand on tax collections for the full year. Any questions? All right, we don't have any questions. We're going to move back over to Miss Molly Adams, human resources. Uh
075so just to uh reiterate what Miss Henderson was saying, we are you know deep diving into budget um the 15% that she was talking about that also includes staffing. Uh so we are having um lots of discussion um and thinking outside the box of how we get to the final goal that we need to get to. Um as I mentioned last month January we are focusing on this as a wellness month. Uh that is physical, mental health um and financial wellness. Uh so we actually have a clinic um it's like a phabboamus coming in and we actually had more people uh sign up than I anticipated. So, we'll have two sites um uh that staff members are able to go get blood drawn uh for their yearly checkup and uh test for multiple of things.
076Um and so we have that going on. We um I just looked and Jessica signed up for my step challenge. She's in third place today. Um uh so just lots of getting people to uh getting movement. Um this afternoon I sent out local gym discounts that they are offering to our educators as well. Um the financial wellness we are doing two sessions of supplemental retirement. It is with our insurance broker. Um they are doing some virtual sessions uh that any savings will help us in the long run. Um, and so this is an opportunity for staff members to meet um in a meeting, but then set up those uh one-on-one sessions about supplemental retirement planning and investments. Um, in addition, TRS, there are three virtual sessions that are being offered to staff. One is brand
077spanking new. You are a new member to TRS. anything that you might have questions on. You are mid year, mid mid-career like myself. Um and then you are on the brink, you are ready to retire. Um some sessions that they can get with TRS about. And then the last um part uh when was when was pickle ball? November. November. So to piggy back off of the fun that we had with pickle ball, um next month, February 15th, is our bowling tournament. Um and so we have sent out a sign up for bowling. There are 16 lanes. When they're filled, they're filled. Um and so we will have lots of fun team building, uh building that culture, and just having fun. The job is hard. Let's have some fun as well. >> And just so y'all
078know, Mike is a ringer, but I also can tell he's mad that he's missed the sign up. Mike is a bowler if y'all did not know. >> Four RFISD employees on a team. >> Mike's on my team. >> I don't know. Maybe that might be a good idea. Coach Sa actually said left-handed or right-handed. And I was like, "Oh my gosh." >> Molly, I have a question. Yes, ma'am. Um, >> music teacher position, who's covering that class right now? >> Linda has a long-term sub. >> All right. Thank you. [laughter] >> Any questions for Miss Adams? All right, I'm gonna go I'll go ahead and talk because I'm very very excited about this next one. As you can see out there, we're missing somebody. Um, I did get a call this afternoon from Coach Sosa
079and he's like, Dr. Austin, I have a question. It's very serious. I said, okay. He said, you know, I always represent the board and you and I, yes, you're worrying me. What's up? He's like, there's a meeting I'd like to go to tonight. I'm really glad that he went because he was named the Caller Times football coach of the year tonight. He just sent me his picture. Um, so he was able to attend that tonight. I'm very excited for him. He does have his report here. So, I don't know if he actually handed the baton to anybody. Did he? He did not. So, I'm gonna be like, "Coach Sosa, I'm taking one for the team right now." Um, so go ahead and y'all have the clicker down there. His athletic board report, he first has
080participation numbers. Um, I'm very excited. Yesterday, uh, Coach Sosa, Coach Reyes asked me to come speak to our female athletes at high school. So, I was able to speak to those girls yesterday and talk to them about their representation as female leadership and athletes for RFISD. It was a great time. At least I thought so. I'm not sure how they all felt, but I loved it. Um, told them that I expected them to do more, be more, expect more, not because they want to prove something because they have things to offer for themselves, for their teammates, and for our school. It was very exciting. So, then we get into participation numbers by our sports, and we are in the thick of basketball, soccer, wrestling. When does powerlifting start? We hosted this. Oh, he said he
081needs volunteers. I put that in y'all's update. Did you see that? >> It was I learned how to score last year. Yes, I did put that in y'all's board update. I hope that you read it. He was asking for volunteers. Um, so everybody is having great a great start. No, we're vol we take take score. >> So celebrations, we have our football all district awards there. Um our first team, our second team, our lineman of the year, linebacker of the year, all those awards and you guys could see them. We had our sports banquet on Monday night. It was so uh great to see those athletes honored, their coaches speaking about them all the way into ending the night with our cheerleaders because they show up to every game, all games that we have. So,
082it was a great night there. Um, Coach Sosa was also named coach of our district. So, he didn't want to say that at the sports banquet, but I'll say it here tonight. Um, we had a lot of academic all-state, those are our seniors that qualify based on their GPA, their ACT, SAT scores, and it's so great to see our athletes be recognized for their academics as well. And then he ends with his 212. Y'all let him know I did a good job. And where's my shake? All right. Any questions for coach Sosa that I can do my best to answer. [laughter] All right, Mike. Mr. Noatne is up with our operations report. >> Okay, so pictured first, that picture is our guys removing the old units from the demo area. Uh so we pretty much
083salvage everything we possibly can. So if the unit's not usable anymore, they they gut it and use any parts that we can. And not only did we rip uh rip off all the units, we also inside the classrooms, we got rid of all the IT equipment, salvaged everything. Uh removed all the old furniture. All that was done over the break. The guys worked really hard. They got it all done. By the time we were back, everything was empty. Looked like no one was ever even there. So, they did a great job. Uh a lot of hard work. So, I want to give a shout out to our maintenance and tech team. They did a great job uh emptying out that that old wing. Pictured on the right. I believe it was last month I showed
084the forming for this sidewalk. This is in between the gold, excuse me, the competition and green gym and it's now complete. So there, that's a picture of the sidewalk there. And then moving on to the next slide, we have uh the budget. Starting budget was 788,500. So far, we've encumbered 355,432. Expenditures since the last operations report, 27,287, leaving us with $433,68 to finish the year. That concludes my report. Any questions? >> All right, if there's no questions, that concludes the superintendent report. >> Thank you. That brings us to item number 10, consent agenda. Superintendent may consolidate items on the agenda summary for possible group action or the trustee may suggest group action on items to expedite the meeting board. Are there any questions or items you would like to pull from consent? If not, then
085I'll look for a motion. >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> All right. Have a motion made by Mr. Yarnell, seconded by Mr. Romos. Any further discussion? We'll take a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 70. That brings us to item number 11. So at this time, the board will recess into executive session pursuant of the Texas Government Code section 551071, 551072, 551074, and 551076. And the time is 7:50.