SFISD Board Meeting 01/20/2026

001One board members now adjourn to executive session as authorized by the Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code section 551.001 concerning any and all purposes permitted by the act. Should any final action, final decision or final vote be required that final action, final decision, and final vote shall take place in open session. And we are in executive session at 5:01 p.m. Okay. [clears throat] Good evening. I'd like to welcome you to this meeting of the Santa Fe ISD Board of Trustees. Believe it's important this meeting be conducted in an organized and efficient manner. And to that end, would like to outline a few ground rules for us to follow during the meeting. First and foremost, recognize this is a board meeting and by law, most of the discussion and all of the voting must be

002done in open session, but public participation by necessity must be limited to that part of the agenda that's reserved for public input. Occasionally, the board may seek comment or clarification from an administrator in attendance or even from someone in the audience and it's the board's prerogative to seek that information uh as it chooses or unsolicited participation from the audience will be inappropriate. [snorts] Second, just recognize at times we're voting of issu on issues of importance with little or even no discussion. Just be advised board members get a packet of background information about the subject on tonight's agenda several days in advance. Actually, uh we get them typically a week in advance, but after receiving our packs, all board members have and often exercise the opportunity to contact various school administrators to ask specific questions uh

003in an effort to better understand the things that we're expected to vote on. uh thank you for being interested in your school district and we encourage your active participation in the educational process of your children and just appreciate your cooperation and helping us conduct the business of Santa Fe ISD and organized and civilized manner and hope you enjoy the evening. Okay, >> Pastor Campbell, would you lead us in our invocation and we'll have our pledges, please. >> Let's pray. Lord, it's a blessing to be able to be here tonight and just ask your continued blessing over the school district. I thank you for the leadership that you've given us. I thank you for um all of the teachers, the faculty, staff, the students, the families that are connected. Uh Lord, we ask that you would

004continue to give your wisdom and guidance to those who uh chart the path forward. And I thank you so much for all that you let us be a part of. And uh more than anything else, thank you for the sacrifice of your son who's made it possible for us to have a relationship with you through faith. We love you. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. >> Texas. >> Uh just real quick, I do want to thank uh Pastor Campbell. Lucas Campbell's been the been the

005pastor here at uh New Life Church for I want to say almost 10 years, but uh just took another job in South Carolina. So, just want to thank you for being a good friend and colleague, support of the district for so many years. We'll miss you. Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Do we have any action from our close session tonight? >> Mr. President, we have two action items tonight. Um the first one is that we move that we employ Kylie Elgen for 94 days and Rachel Harris Napolei for 74 days for the remainder of the 2526 school year. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay, it's been moved and second that we approve these appointments and presented. Any other questions or comments? >> No, sir. >> I cast your votes, please. >> Pass unanimously. Do we have

006any other action from our closed session? >> Mr. President, our second action item is that we move to extend the superintendent's contract by one year and approve the amendments to the superintendent's contract as presented in executive session. >> Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded that we approve the extension of the superintendent's contract. Any other questions or comments about that? >> No, sir. >> All right. Would you cast your votes, please? And it has passed unanimously. Congratulations, >> Mr. President, that we're done from executive session. >> All righty. Uh, [sighs and gasps] Miss Jenny, you have some recognitions for us tonight. >> Yes. >> Good evening. Um, the first thing we're going to do tonight is uh let you guys know what proclamations we'll be celebrating in the month of February. We have Black History

007Month, CTE Month, Love the Bus Month, National School Counseling Week, and FFA week. And then at this time, we would like to recognize our employees of the month. If you are in attendance this evening, please join me at the podium as I call your name. From Barnett, we have Katrina Silvis and Nicole Cino. from Kubichek. Heather O'Brien from Wulm. Julia Sevel from junior high. Katherine Hama from high school. Savannah Tut from ISA. Amanda C's from transportation. Amanda Thumman from maintenance and operations. James Jones from our custodial department. Lette Allejo from nutrition services. Vicky Clark [snorts] from administration. We have Taylor Lunsford and Jennifer Smith. And from our police department, Britney Zapeda. Congratulations and thank you for your service to our students in the district. [applause] and face this direction for your picture. >> Congratulations. Great

008job. Congratulations. >> Squeezing in squeezing in that award before the baby comes. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Uh, Mr. Herenburgger, can you scoot? Yep. Perfect. Thank you. Find your window. All right. One, two, three. Keep smiling. All right, families, if you'd like. Do >> we have families that want to get a picture? >> Did you get it? >> Are you sure? >> Okay. All right. [laughter] >> You guys will head that way. Congratulations. Your supervisors have certificate for you. Thank you guys for all you do. >> Great job, guys. >> And at this time, Dr. Bot, would you like to say a little something? >> Sure. I might wait till everybody >> Yeah. >> gets their award. >> They're celebrating. I don't want to take away from that. >> I don't blame you. They deserve

009it. >> Um it it it is January is schoolboard recognition month. And so for those of you that don't know in the room, the public, uh the board will typically tell me to not say anything because they don't want attention drawn to them. But we do just want to take a moment to recognize the hundreds, and I mean hundreds of hours and service that they put in for our students and our staff and our school district and for our community. They are not paid, contrary to what you read on social media. They do not receive a salary. They are here as elected officials and they volunteer their time because they care about Santa Fe ISD. And so we're very fortunate and very blessed. In my career, I have seen uh dozens of of school boards

010spend hours talking about mundane things that that don't matter or or or taking excessive amount of time to to talk about paint color and things. That is not what this board's doing. This board takes time to do what's best for kids and talk about things that matter. They're committed to to serving the community. And if you get a chance sometime today or anytime, please thank every single board member that you see up here for their service because they are serving and they do care about us and they care about you and they want to do us right. So, if you would join me in just giving them a round of applause. >> Thank you very [applause] much. And now I'm done. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Okay, we've come to part

011of our agenda for public comment. The board of trustees will hear public comment on agenda items at all open meetings in accordance with Texas Government Code section 551.007. Public comment on non-aggenda items will be heard at the regularly scheduled board meetings in April, August, and December per our policy. And tonight we have no one that has signed up for public comment. So I'll pass that down to Julie and we will move on to our information items. Dr. Bot, you've got a list of items here that you want to bring before us and the public. Yes, sir. It's unusual for me to stand at the podium and present items, but by nature of the list that you have in front of you, it seemed appropriate for me to be the one to present them. uh for

012the public and for those in the room that are not aware, this the board with along with some cabin members had a workshop back in December to let's call it a post workshop after the the failed bonds to kind of discuss some creative ways for us to cut and reduce and uh absorb expenses to the greatest extent possible without directly impacting students or classroom teachers or ways that would negatively impact students. and classroom teachers and um that that's obviously a very difficult discussion and so I want to make it clear for for the public at the request of this board we're we're we're talking about this list of items to be transparent to be public so that people understand we are having to have very difficult conversations and uh we want you to know what

013we're talking about. This board wants the public to know what we talked about in uh in that workshop. And so for us to find ways to trim the budget in ways that don't directly impact students or staff is not easy. And and it it's it's forced us to have some some some very difficult conversations and get extremely creative. And um so I do want to thank the board. I want to thank the the cabinet for their time and trying to to talk about these things. Also, to be clear, everything that we're talking about tonight as discussion items are for next school year. Nothing of what we're talking about or even proposing would be for this current school year. This would all be for next school year. And even though we are asking the board to

014vote on a handful of agenda items later tonight, the list of things that I'm fixing to discuss for the next few moments, this list is a discussion list. And I want to make that clear for the public as well. We are simply talking about these things to be transparent. We want the public to know what we discussed in that workshop. What we're going to talk about in this list that's coming here in just a moment is nothing that we're asking the board to vote on tonight. Simply just to be transparent. So questions or or comments from the board about any of that or >> I just want to double down on something that you just said. We did discuss it uh in public in the workshop, but understanding that we didn't have anyone attend it,

015we decided to also bring it here just so that everybody understands. >> Agreed. >> Thank you. Anything else? >> Yes. Okay. I'm going to go through the list. Again, it's intended for discussion. I may defer to a cabinet member or someone in a particular department to kind of elaborate a little bit because we want to get the as much of firstirhand knowledge we can out to the public. So, please don't be afraid uh board members to ask questions at any point. But I'm I'm just going to kind of go through this list and and review a little bit of what was discussed that night. The first one again discussing possible reduction of bus routes and and and and daycare routes. So, uh, by nature of Santa Fe not having sidewalks, the public may not be

016aware, but we transport every student to and from home that needs transportation, even if they're within a two-mile radius. The state does not provide funding for us to bus kids within the two-m radius. But we do it anyway in every attempt to keep our kids safe as much as humanly possible. But having said that, it's still in many ways a luxury that most communities do not have. you do not see kids typically transported by bus within two miles. So, we did have a discussion about if there were any routes that we could potentially reduce or eliminate or consolidate that would in no way jeopardize safety um but would ultimately be more cost-effective. And so, we wanted to just make sure we we publicly explained that. Again, to Miss Lamar's point, it was a public workshop,

017but since no one attended, we wanted to make sure that was public here here tonight. We did discuss that as a possible uh reduction option. We also discussed the possibility of reducing the daycare bus uh routes that are provided. And so uh I know that's something that our our families and students need and appreciate. Again, it is also a luxury. You will not see the the daycare bus transportation concept utilized in any other surrounding districts the way Santa Fe does. >> And just for clarity, that is outside of the two mile radius. >> It is. Yes, >> sir. >> So again, not asking for any action. Just wanted to make sure that that that the public is aware that that's one of the options we did discuss. Did y'all want to comment or add to

018any of those things? Yes, >> I think it's fair to not just for this one, but for the rest of them that you're going that there will be further discussion and your team will continue to work on them and that they're not cast in stone necessarily, but we definitely want people to know that this is out there because we are going to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer money and we are not going to put ourselves in a bind um and spend things that we don't have. So, we're just at that point. So, I think people need to understand that we're not deciding tonight, but we will be voting on some of this potentially in the future and discussing it further and whittling down or potentially adding to your list. So, >> yes, sir. And

019to elaborate on that, and I think I can speak for all the cabinet members in the board when I say that nobody in this room wants to bring anything on this list to the board. None of us want to vote on any of these things. We don't want to reduce anything, but we are also forced to find some way to creatively balance the budget when we're not seeing the significant enough revenue from the state to offset the inflationary costs. And so again, just because we are proposing it or even discussing it does not mean that we actually enjoy it because we don't. So want to clarify that as well. These only get some cases more more difficult or u more complex and so please do not hesitate to ask questions. The next information item was

020uh >> pardon >> sir >> I got a comment. Um could we possibly suggest that we have a workshop on these items to be talked about possibly next month >> if we probably have multiple workshops before we get through with some of these with the budget process and everything. >> Yes sir. I just I just want to make sure I know there's a few of these that that's going to entail some detailed discussion and I just want to make uh make sure that the public would have an opportunity to come in and hear what would be discussed. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Oh, one one other thing on on the on the bus route and the daycare routes and uh just like you said, Dr. But um I think everybody here on the board

021realizes that nobody wants to make any of these cuts. This is based on uh things that we have to do in order to meet budget. The bond didn't pass even though the the uh tax rate would not have gone up and we we would have been able to fund all of this. That that's what's really disappointing. But on on this particular item, ballpark me in terms of cost savings with this particular item. [sighs and gasps] I think the daycare bus was I want to say it was around 30 30,000ish >> $30,000 >> approximately 30,000 >> yes and now give or take you know that that could really depend on on on the ability of the transportation department to actually um streamline the routes and make them more more accessible. So um at the low end

022we're looking at $30,000 but it could be higher than that based on other factors. You would say conservative conservatively it's >> yes >> 30,000 possibly more >> for the daycare buses for the routes themselves >> and and I know you guys in our workshop put some dollar amounts there but I wanted the public to kind of understand what dollars that we're talking about here. So >> sure >> appreciate that. Thank you Alex. >> Yes sir. >> Thank you. Good feedback. Anything else on the buses? The next item obviously very difficult and just to speak factually when it comes to our expenses. We have only continued to add to the costs of safety and security over the years. And um while while all of those of course are very necessary, we are one of the few

023districts that still does maintain uh its own police force that maintains the camera systems we have in place, the armed security we have in place, the guardian program, the campus security assistance. There are a lot of uh uh different safety and security measures we have. So, uh, we we want to continue to maintain our our safe schools. And yet, if there's a way that we can prioritize spending on spending on or funding for safety that could potentially either, uh, uh, be a a reasonable cost saving or find us a way to still maintain our safety, but not be spending as much. We we wanted to explore that as well. And so, we had some discussions about, um, loud noises that sometimes go off. Um, didn't know what that was. Fair enough. Apparently, everything's fine. um

024we we settled back down on our our elementary campus security assistance. And so to be clear, we're not looking to to do anything that would jeopardize the safety of our schools. We would still recommend having armed guards. We still recommend the the real time surveillance. We have our own police force. Myriad of security measures I'm sure chief could get into throughout the night um to do everything we can to to keep our kids safe. But the elementary campus security assistants were the only things that we could talk about potentially reorganizing and and finding a way to to still be cost-effective. And so we wanted to present that to the public that the elementary campus security assistants who who are there at the front door when you walk in were positions that we discussed potentially um

025uh reducing as as as as part of the list. And so um really just wanted to give [clears throat] you board a chance to comment on that. Again, I I I trust Chief. I trust our officers and the security systems we have in place. We're not looking to do anything that would even remotely jeopardize our our safety and security protocols. But if there's a way we can reorganize and and be be cost-ffective and still maintain our our safety infrastructure, we [clears throat] we we felt compelled to at least explore it. >> Yeah, I've I've got some heartburn with this one myself. Um, and initially I I I thought it was uh something that was reasonable for us to discuss, but I think this is going to take away another layer of security um at our

026uh at our elementaryaries and that's just something I'm not going to be willing to do. Um, I I hear the argument that uh possibly we don't have well-trained people that are up there doing the uh the job at uh at at sec at at the uh uh metal detector. Uh if that's the situation, then let's let's get somebody that's trained up. Um uh that's it. Like I said, it's just not a a a layer of protection. I'm I'm willing to uh to do away with. I I think it's worked. Um I would agree the vast majority if not all the people that I've seen so far that's gone through the metal detectors at the at the elementaryaries uh has not been a problem. But I I do think that that's a uh that's just a

027layer of protection I'm not willing to to go along with to take away. Um am I biased? Yeah, [clears throat] I I I am biased. I've got four four grandchildren in those and and several more on the way. Um, at this point, I'm willing to take a look at at other things that we can do, but [snorts] taking that away. Uh, I I just can't support that to your point that these are things that we discussed. Not not saying that we even want to do or or like to to recommenders. We're ultimately just bringing it for discussion to consider every every budgetary option. And we do spend a a significantly double digit larger percentage of funding on safety than any other school district our size in the state for obvious reasons. But we wouldn't be

028doing our due diligence if we didn't at least bring it for discussion. >> I understand that and that this is this is a burden that uh um we've had to come up with and I completely understand. >> Um >> I think the workshop discussion is inevitable. >> Absolutely. And I I I appreciate the uh board's patience on on uh another workshop to possibly discuss this and and possibly other items. So, thank you. >> We can clarify. You said a minute ago armed guards. >> We don't currently have armed guards. >> I'm sorry. I meant Sorry. >> I know. I just wanted to clarify. We don't have armed guards. >> Armed police personnel. >> Unarmed that are watching the metal detectors. >> We have armed police personnel. And that's not going to change. >> That will

029not change. It's actually law now. We have to have an officer per cap. >> That is correct. >> So that's not going to change. So there are actually unarmed people that are manning the metal detector. So it's not really necessarily a >> well foolproof. >> I'll defer to chief, but I I've been up there several times. I go into the schools, eat lunch with my grandson, and sometimes we do have officers, security officers there. From what I from what I remember and what I've seen, >> you always have a a police officer at the schools, >> but sometimes you'll have them there right at the metal >> at the metal detector. >> Gentlemen, let me remind both of y'all of something. I'm understand your points completely and you've made them, but I don't want to

030get too deep into any discussion that leads someone down a road of thinking we're doing something with safety and security. We're telling the public that we're talking about some things that could impact safety and security. We are not going to discuss the actual plan at this point in time. That's going to be further discussions with chief with the principles and the impacted parties and some things like that and that will be in a safety and security discussion. So I appreciate everything. I just want to make sure that everybody understands we're not going to discuss the plan. >> I just wanted to clarify. >> No, I got you. >> I don't want to get too deep into it. >> I'm as next man. >> That's my wife. >> Thank you Russ. But to to extend on

031your point, uh we would not do anything that would jeopardize it. We it would be a reorganization of our resources in a way to still maintain the same safe and secure infrastructure we have and yet find a way to do it in a way that could potentially be more financially sound. So, but again, better better discussed at a workshop. Um just want to make sure the public's aware. The next two items kind of go together when we're talking about staff overtime pay and extra duty. you're seeing overnight events, be that athletics or CTE, we uh, you know, in looking at the budget that we have, if we wanted to have kids going out of town significantly far distances, you know, 3, four hours, if they wanted to do these things far away, that could be

032something we consider as a as a as a reduction in cost. Not to say that that students couldn't still do it if parents or students or boosters wanted to to support that, but that was a discussion we had. If we were to be considering things overnight, especially for several days, that does incur significant cost. So, if you're going to an out of town event, like I said, be that athletic or or or CTE or anything that's going to be uh student or academic or athletic related and and and having several nights where you have students away, you have to factor in the travel. You have to factor in uh you know, cost, food, substitutes, overtime, there's a lot of things that go into those overnight trips and with the variety of different programming that we

033have, it can add up. And so again, just to be transparent with the public, that was another thing we did discuss as potentially reducing, again, not eliminating, but just reducing um strategically in a way to try to to uh maximize revenue. Questions or thoughts about that. The next two are are are a little more uh sorry, little less controversial. Discuss avenues for potential district-wide energy savings. It's not uncommon for school districts to explore these types of of a avenues. Anyway, we're actually in the process of of of trying to work with one company to find ways to reduce how much we're spending on either on electricity and and how how can we better function with our building automation so that we're not having to expense so much. But that's something that often does require experts

034to come in and take a look at. And so we just wanted people to know if there's a way we can find cost or energy savings, be that uh uh electricity, like I said, or anything involving building building automation, HVAC, you name it, we're going to try to explore it and and get creative however we can to to reduce expenses. So questions about that. >> The I think several years ago [clears throat] we had went to LED lighting. Do we know how much that saved us? I'm g probably defer to Alex on >> we did not move to LED lighting across the district. That was actually we looked into it but during that time it was not a measure that would substantially benefit the district at that point. The rate that we had was not

035um was not high as it is now. So it didn't provide any any savings. I know that Chris has been actually looking at grants for us to do that. Um, which would potentially bring several u, thousand dollars in savings. Um, so I know that he is looking for a grant through um I forgot the name of the the the place, but um we're looking to do that in addition to what Dr. Bot was mentioning here working with an external company to come in and look at our uh systems and and work with us to try and get the the energy savings lowered to provide us uh those savings and basically keep that within the district. >> Cool. >> Yeah, this this was an item I was impressed with when I started reading some of the

036information that you gave us, Alex. Um do we anticipate with energy costs um price of gasoline, diesel going down that we'll we'll get some other potential savings there. >> So, um yes, we we we are looking and um when we make the estimate, we're looking at about 130,000 being our lowest savings, but that could be higher based on um when they come in and look at other areas where we could potentially um cut or or adjust or to be more efficient. um fuel um that's an area that we're looking into. Um obviously our fleet, our bus fleet is aging and so that you know puts us in in in in some older buses that that you know need repairs and and have been using different types of fuels and so we would definitely look to

037some newer options to allow you know provide higher fuel efficiency or whatnot. Uh but aside from that we're looking at uh at negotiating contracts with other vendors. um sometimes and I know we hadn't done this this year but Mark was able to um negotiate or or look into I believe it was a Tasbo cooperative where uh the the we we would buy a certain amount of of of fuel in a year contract. Yeah. >> And uh we would have to pay upfront but they would basically hold it for us because they're able to negotiate a much larger amount because there was a cooperative amongst many different districts. So, um, that's another avenue that we're looking into. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. >> I've also started microwaving my Jimmy Dean egg biscuit in

038the morning at home and then I bring it with me. I don't use the microwave here anymore. [laughter] >> Trying to save some money. >> The last item we have on the list is is really again more cut and dry talking about just our our teacher interns. And so I'm actually going to defer to Jenny Davenport to talk about this a little more, but the goal was for us to just try to maintain uh at least a steady stream of interns that are helping our our our our teachers so that we could at least see somewhat of a cost savings. Not to mention the long-term impact it has of us teacher training our teachers here in house and and building uh more and more of our our our student teachers here that can continue to

039stay here over time, be employed here. But do you want to elaborate on that a little bit? Yeah, we're just looking at um we're working with UFH Clear Lake right now looking at a residency program so that possibly through attrition. Um we may look at um replacing a teacher's position with a resident intern. Not all teacher openings would be replaced that way. Um but just a few. We currently have interns. We currently have a paid internship program. So this would just be a little bit of a different model of looking at it. Um, and so we're we're in talks right now. Rachel and Alex and Chrissy Healey and I had a meeting what last week I think with UFH Clear Lake and we have another one I think next week. Um, so we're in the

040process of working with them to kind of develop what this residency model could possibly look like. So we could um maybe put some interns in classrooms and a grow your own kind of model. Um, we'd have our our veteran teachers um overseeing them, mentoring them. Um, so we're working on that right now to see if that's a possibility. >> And these type programs don't run into any kind of issues with TEA and the number of certified teachers and all that. >> No, sir. They've got um we there's a bunch of different there's like six or seven different models that we can look at and the state approves them and there's a lot of requirements around them and how many hours they're required to spend with the veteran teacher and things like that. So, so there's

041lots of parameters that we're required to follow so that we meet all the requirements >> questions about that. >> I I think it's a this is another really good idea with one caveat. Um, and I got to give Mr. Mr. Henberger some credit here because I think he thought of it before I did. But how do you guard against overwhelming the the experienced teacher that's going to be mentoring the the the internal concern? >> Well, that's something that we're working through and that's a that's um what we're doing and looking at which model would be the best model to go with and that's why we've got the UFH Clear Lake professor and then they partner with um I think it's US prep. Does that sound right? And there's a girl that we've been meeting with

042there that's very very familiar with different models and she's sending us examples of models that work and um they've seen success with. And so we're we're looking at that so that we balance that out. Um and and looking at, you know, do we have a veteran teacher that has their own class and then oversees one intern? Do we have a veteran teacher that maybe oversees two interns and maybe doesn't have their own group of We're looking at a bunch of different models and what might be the best. Um, and Rachel's looking at it through the lens of instruction so that we make sure that instruction doesn't fall as well. And then I've got kind of the employee hat on and Alex has the financial hat on. So, we've got all three of us in it

043to kind of view it through each lens to make sure that we we pick that best model from all angles. I think the main point is is you're working with experienced people that have dealt with this for a while. >> Yes, they're already doing this in uh UFH has already piloted this in um Goose Creek and Galveastston. So that this has been going on in a couple other districts just and that's just UFH Clear Lake. I know um last year at TASA I sat through a session that Hampshire Finette was already doing it themselves with another uh college maybe Lamar, can't remember exactly which college. So, this is not new. It would just be new for us. >> I know there's a lot of good benefits from it. Uh, probably most of us either interned

044or co-oped. I was a co-op engineer at one time, so I understand the the value and the benefit. I thought this was a really good idea. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Any other questions? Again, just to be clear, these are items that were discussed, wanting to be transparent very much at the board's request and leadership's request to to be transparent about what we're talking about. But no, we certainly aren't enjoying uh having to discuss several of these. We just want to do our due diligence and making sure we're talking about everything. So, that's all >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next on our agenda is our consent agenda. We've got several items on there tonight. Uh Dr. Bot, do you have anything you want to add on any of

045them? >> Minutes, counts payable, pledge amendment, proclamations, >> and our proclamations. >> Mr. President, I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded that we approve our consent agenda. Uh, any questions or comments? Not cast your votes, please. Candidates passed unanimously. All righty. That takes us into our regular agenda items. And the first one we have is some student fees. uh for the 2627 school year. Mr. Sanchez, you can handle that. >> Well, good evening. Um in continuing with Dr. Bots's uh kind of point, u we are looking at ways to find creative opportunities for the district to either increase the revenue or reduce uh cost associated um with the district. So um here we are bringing forth uh a potential increase in um student fees

046for the upcoming school year. In here I am presenting an increase from 10 to 20% for the upcoming year for all the fees associated with our students in the coming year for either CTE courses, sports and athletics or any other type of fees that are um within that the the cost of of the district. Um we have seen increase for CTE in all types of activities lately. So cost of lumber, the cost of welding material has all but you know doubled in price if you may because of the inflationary costs that we've received from the past five years. Um our district is still trying to continue with these programs as best as we can with the fees that we've currently provided our students. However, the cost reach less and less. So, every year we we

047just are unable to purchase as many more stuff that that's needed or we're unable to do many of the activities that are needed because the costs are increasing. Unfortunately, during those times, um the district actually would take the hit for it and you know, use some of our general fund money or our budget money to be able to subsidize those costs. it has gotten to the point where the district is having a difficult time trying to subsidize those costs and so we are asking the board to consider an increase in that area. Um, again, we are presenting a 10 to 20% increase and allowing the board to decide what would they consider to be the best option to increase because I do know that obviously, you know, it's an area that is difficult. Increasing cost

048to our children is not something that we definitely want to do, but again, it's a necessity at this point in time. >> So, does the board have any questions on that? Well, >> I guess I understand wanting to increase the fees. Are you saying that you're going to increase them all somewhere between 10 and 20% or you want a cap of 20% or what exactly are we asking for? >> So, um I'm asking the board to decide for a particular increase for the upcoming fees for next year between 10 and 20%. So, if you look at the actual agenda item in there, I have provided what a 10% increase would generate an additional revenue for the district. And I'm allowing the board to make a decision as to what percentage they would like to increase

049the fees across the >> I think that's a problem. We don't have that attachment. >> That's fallen off the board book. >> Yeah, we don't >> in the attachment. >> Yeah, the attachment confused. We don't have the attachment. >> Okay. Well, [clears throat] I do apologize. It should have been in there, >> but I mean it to me it comes down to any I mean correct. It's not, it doesn't matter to me what I what I'm comfortable with. It's what what what do you need? I don't want to charge somebody more than we have to, but at the same time, what do you think we need to do? I mean, and that's what we have to do. I mean, it I don't want to do any more than we have to do, but what do

050we have to do? >> Well, >> what's that number? >> Is it 10 or is it 20? >> We don't know yet because all it is is >> we've been everything's gone up except for our revenue stream, which has gone down. That's correct. Cut our workforce to the bare minimum we can and we're at a we're at have to point. So it's not if it's >> that's correct. It's not it's not a oh this is going to solve the problem. >> At the end of the day this is just going to minimize the bleeding for a lack of a better word. >> Going to minimize the bleeding. >> Um we we are looking at uh uh a 10% increase would generate about $30,000 in additional revenue whereas 20,000 would generate almost $50,000. >> 20% sorry

051would generate roughly about uh uh $50,000. So, you know, anything in between there is going to generate the different amounts, but ultimately that additional $30,000 again to the point is we don't know exactly what's going to happen because costs continue to increase. And by the time that we get to um October or you know of of of this year, we could potentially see the cost of everything go up just because of the nature of our political landscape or because all of a sudden we have a strike somewhere and or we have mills that have closed. I mean there's a lot of unknowns at this point. We're just trying to >> so that >> provide an increase. And I'm asking the board because I could go in there and I can say, "Hey, let's go 50%.

052Let's go 100%. Let's double the fees." But um you you understand the community, you you're in contact with the community. I can give you a number and say this would be a reasonable and it would help us. But at the end of the day, what do you think our community would be okay with with handling? >> So basically, if if goes back to what can we handle, >> you know, >> it's what can we handle and does it have to be done across the board because how are the fees currently defined? Because didn't we talk about previously um in our workshop that um you know there might be incredibly high fees in this one extracurricular activity or this one organization, but not necessarily over here. So, does it really make sense to do a 10

053to 20% increase across the board or should we be increasing those currently lesser impacted groups? >> We're talking more for the standard student fees. So, >> Alex, what variable did you use per student to come up with those numbers, the figures of 30 or 50? When you use that percentage, it was multiplied by how many students as a whole enrollment or just the students that enrolled? >> We're actually uh multiplying but the but the by the actual participation of this year. So the 20% what was the part? What that 20% what does it do per individual? >> That's what I'm saying. Like the standard athletic fee is usually around $50. Yes. So 10% would be $50. So we're looking at about >> 20% would be 60. >> Yes. So >> we're not talking about massive

054amounts per individual but $50,000 if it was 20% if you just evenly across the board of 4,300 kids. And I know that's not roughly that's roughly $12 $12 a kid, >> right? When the last time you had >> When's the last time you've ever increased these fees? We've looked into that. Honestly, it's been quite a while, but >> been it's been some some some time >> compared to surrounding districts. We haven't talked about that yet. Compared to surrounding increase of some sort to so you know, >> so we are pretty we have not actually done an analysis on the fees because we have basically been trying to grow the CTE program. If you guys remember a few years back, our CTE program was not very strong. we had a very limited enrollment in certain very

055specific areas and at that point it it really there was not enough for us to say okay let's increase the fees here because the cost could have been subsidized at that point. So we never really thought about the actual process of increasing them annually which to your point should be something to to do or consider because just like nutrition services the cost of everything goes up. we should get to a point where she is that a no-win situation and it's gonna have a large increase and they're like what the heck why is it so much? >> Correct. And now >> because we've been absorbing that cost for you annually as a courtesy now we can't afford it. >> Correct. And so we want to limit it to 10 and 20% to so that we do

056not obviously go full because at this point if we were going to match based on the number of expenditures that each individual fee has >> we would have to your point go individually and figure out what each club or each activity would cost us and then see if the fees are getting to the level that they cover that. Um now it's an analysis that we can do and we can get there uh uh pretty well. However, I will say this that there's going to be areas at that point that are going to be inequitable in the sense that the cost is going to increase so much because the cost associated with that is so high. Does that make sense? >> It does. It just seems like to be able to answer this question and vote

057on this tonight, we need more information because does it make sense to increase it across the board or should we go and visit how much each organization is paying right now and make sure that that's fair? And we can definitely do that and I can get that analysis for you if that's what uh the board >> and I won't disagree with you but either way we're still looking at at least a minimum of 10% across the board. We're going to have we could always bring 20 but to your point the analysis that was done was done on the full average. So it was increasing some fees bigger than others. Now I I know that you'll be talking some about like our cheerleaders, some of our like bells where or band where the fees are substantially

058larger because they have to use certain instruments, get some type of of uh uniform that is far more expensive than let's say if you're playing uh um doing a like um floral design or whatnot, you know, it'll be different at that point and I understand that. Um, however, if we do create that average across the board, we can see the increase just in general because again, it may be that that first year they go from one to the other and so the fees are going to be traveling within the the club. Does that make sense? So, it's not going to make a difference in the sense that yes, you'll have maybe two or three different clubs or activities that are far more expensive. this percentage-wise is going to equate it across the board. I think

059>> I understand. I personally just don't feel comfortable voting on it, not knowing how it's going to impact each group. >> Absolutely. And we can get that analysis to you. It just take us a little bit of time to be able to produce that, but we can definitely do that. Well, at some point in time we have to be careful that >> it doesn't because uh I like the FFA program so I want to reduce those and somebody else likes soccer so they don't want to you know I mean we have to be careful with that. My take from what you're saying right now that you haven't used the words is that you're trying to minimize the amount of red you're going into. >> That's correct. >> So it's not trying to make money, it's

060trying to not lose so much money. So just in my quick calculations on a $50 million budget that is just rounding numbers it's 0.001% even if we did 20 20% increase. >> That's correct >> which I think you know and that's not generating hardly anything toward our budget. >> So to Mr. Herburgger was just saying it up here 20%'s not really going to make a dent. >> It's not going to make a dent in our budget. >> Correct. But it will reduce the amount of loss that we have within those activities and clubs. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um again, those activities and [clears throat] clubs do are and are going into the red because of certain expenditures, but again, if you look at the percentage of what those clubs and entities go into the red

061in relation to the budget, we're also talking about a smaller percentage. So, we're just trying to go with the same area to reduce that area. We're not trying to minimize the entire budget. >> We're saying 20% is not going to be enough. >> I don't think it's going to be enough. >> Have those clubs seen annual increases or at all or >> uh increases in all? >> I mean, if you had to pay whatever $100 to be >> even compared to other school districts, our are our our our fees are very reasonable. >> Athletics is still 50. >> Yes. >> I mean, athletics was 50 when my son was there. >> Yes. We have not increased the fees. >> It hasn't changed. >> But you just made the point right there. It's different from organization

062to organization. Why don't we level up something that increase across? You got one that's 50 and you got a cheerleader that has to pay. I'm just glad I don't have a cheerleader. Um >> yeah, but they pay more for a reason. I'm your outfits are more and everything. >> I agree. It's a different activity going up substantially because of the outfit >> and I also understand that it's a different activity that you choose to be a part of too. So >> some of that stuff they pay for all that separately. >> It's not funed by the school. And again, keep in mind stuff. >> I would caution the board not to get caught up too much in the weeds. We're still trying to get to an overall number that we're going to have to find

063a way to reduce overall expenses. That's why this is a a long list of >> 12 13 different things if we >> Well, my point was with the athletics. I mean, like I said, it's $50 now. It's been $50 for, like I said, eight or nine years. When my kid was there, it hasn't increased at all. We've seen way more than 10% inflation in the last 8 years. >> Correct. >> So raising it by, >> you know, 10 20% like you're asking is I don't think is unreasonable at all. Anyway, >> to be fair, uh I I do want to clarify this. >> This is right now based on fees that we have right now. >> It could be more. It could be that I come back in two months towards the end of the

064year when we finalize our data and we can see okay next year we're going to see an increase in number of uh 50%. Then I have to then go and say okay our construction class may need to increase the fees more because that particular class is going to get impacted by these future events and that's where I'm going to have to target if you may each individual program because now I'm going to have to look at what is going to happen next year. Right now this is a hey we've been way back on the eightball back there. I think we need to kind of catch up a little bit, but I'm gonna have to bring more. I hate to say it that way. >> Could Could I make a recommendation um that we go through

065with an emotion not to exceed like say 20%. But gives but it gives yall a chance to look at it and bring it back to your points that you just made. If you start getting into this, we look at our enrollment. We look at all the registration that's coming forward, seeing where our where it all lands. And then we we but we need to let you start doing your numbers and start moving forward with it. >> But he's already telling you that that he's probably going to come back and ask for more later, so you might as well. >> Mr. President, I move that we uh increase the student fee to 20% for the 2627 school year. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded that we approve the student fees by 20% for

066the 2627 school year. Any other questions or comments? >> Yeah, I I got a couple of questions here. Uh when did we start with the fees? Because I know my kids were in high school from 2001 to 2010. There there were no fees. There were no fees when I went to school. When when did all this come about? >> So um >> I'm really I'm really talking about the sports in terms of football, basketball, volleyball, that that sort of thing. >> I know for at least we've had them here for about at least seven years at a minimum. Um, I couldn't talk to you right now about previous than that or longer than that because I don't know the top of my head, but I know that the moment that I that I I joined

067the the the district, we already had the fees in place. >> Okay. Um, and I really would think it would be good to have a comparison to surrounding districts, you know, what the fees are. Maybe you know that off the top of your head, Dr. >> They are. I can tell you right now that um ours are significantly lower. >> Um athletics is I think 50 technology is what 25 um or 30. >> It's our technology actually I believe it's >> 20 um these are it's relatively standard to charge athletic and technology fees in any school district now >> but ours are still again in every attempt to try to keep cost down for our parents and our community. we've we've never really looked at that. Uh the same the same with everything on this

068list. We've just uh we've gotten to that place where we're having to discuss literally luxuries we can no longer afford. So, I mean, yes, we can get I can get you a a comprehensive list of those if you want time, but I can assure you that uh our recommendation will will very very likely not change. >> Understand? And that's okay. I was wondering some kind >> Great question, but I can tell you just of the handful we've looked at, um, I think you'll see athletic fees of upwards of 100 or $200 in surrounding districts, then I'm getting a lot of nodding heads. That's not uncommon. And we're asking for a moderate, uh, 10 or 20%, whichever the board so decides. And again, to Miss [snorts] Lambert's point, that was a starting point for y'all. We

069just wanted to give y'all a chance to talk about it. We weren't weren't u saying that there was a a better or worse. We just wanted to give y'all the option to decide which one y'all wanted. Yeah, I know that we already have a motion out there, but is there any way that we can table this until we have more information to where we can make an informed vote? >> It's going to be the same discussion. >> It may be the same discussion, but >> we already have a motion in a second. >> We're not going to vote on it and if it gets voted down, then we can do something else. >> Trying to figure out if we really should increase it across the board or if really we need because there hasn't been

070any kind of governance in how everybody's been increasing so far. >> That's where I'm going with. So, can we not >> you're looking for is kind of a different item, >> a comparison? That's what we were talking about earlier to try to decide should we be increasing it across the board or should we not? >> That's all I'm trying to figure out. >> Is there is there any need that we have to vote on it right now? >> Yes, >> y'all can vote it down. >> Yeah, you can vote it down if you want, but it's already been motion and second, so we have to vote on it. Nevertheless, you're coming back to with us for later for >> correct to clarify things and to to pin it down when you get >> right now.

071U just to clarify the board, our budgeting process starts next month and so I will be basically starting to meet with principles and departments to kind of start looking at what the needs are for the upcoming year and then developing the budget. So part of it is also why I was bringing this to you guys this early so that I can get a generalized idea of where my starting point would be. But again, I I will continue to bring more information on this regardless of the of the outcome of tonight's vote. >> And I have one other question. >> Yes, sir. >> Approximately how much are we uh getting through the fees? How much as a district? >> Yeah. Um, obviously each club is different depending on the >> I'm I'm talking about all of

072it combined ballpark. >> Um, we're looking at >> and I would be lying to you if I told you that I remember the number at the top of my head. I do have it. Uh, but it is upwards in the $120,000. >> Okay. Okay. >> That helps. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Hey, Alex, I got a question. What if we gave a window from 10 to 50% and then we get together on a workshop based off what activity actually needs a 10% what needs a 50% and then we clarify that and go through work through a a workshop and it says okay use football he's got $50 for those kids he's got all stuff he needs $100 >> to cover his cost >> but do we really want it to be a board action

073item for every every group's fee? >> I'm asking the question. >> No, I don't know. I don't >> I don't know exact a good way to do this as far as me looking at it from a budgeting point of view and the way I if you're going to manage a company of support the way you got to do those things >> and your company across the board your materials your labor your everything else has gone up as well same thing for the district here everything across the board's going up so >> at a minimum I guess it's all going to go up 20% and some could be worse >> some could be worse correct >> I got you >> I think it'd be fair to vote >> go down and then work workshop on it

074>> to decide those those areas >> I agree yeah >> agree But I I still asked the question, is is it the intention of the board members >> that we think we're going to be approving every group's >> fees? No, sir. >> Because I don't think that's our responsib the staff comes and make makes recommendation to Dr. Bot and then we end up approving the overall >> overall budget. >> Right. So in this situation, instead of doing those individual decisions and making those individual recommendations, we're looking at a blanket increase. >> Exactly. >> And what I'm saying is why aren't we handling it in the same manner that we do the budget to where they they go and look at it individually to figure it out because if we use I'm not picking on football.

075If we're using football as an example and it's $50 a year when the replacement cost of very specific pieces of equipment exceed $200 or 150, how do we justify that when cheerleaders are paying over 300? >> That's what we're saying. We can get more information and come back and bring you those costs, but as a whole, we're still going to need at least at least the 10% uh across the board. And and just one and with all due respect to that those comments because they're all valid. It's one of those things like the utility bill. The way I look at it, >> they increase all the time and they just pass it through because that's what they're having to do to make operations work. And unfortunate that we're in the education industry, but yet and

076we're having to pass that through to our our our students and and parents. And I hate it. But I think we have to maintain something to help us stay more in the black versus diving deeper and deeper into the red. >> I totally agree with you guys. I don't disagree with you at all on that. I just feel like we're very unbalanced right now and we need to visit the unbalanced piece. >> I would go back to your example. We approve a budget. He tells us what he thinks he's going to spend that on and then he comes back with amendments every time he has to change it or not meet it or whatever. We don't go through and say, "Okay, you can only spend $30 million on salaries if he actually spends 32." >>

077Agreed. But he does come through. >> So why would we do these activity fees any differently? >> Sure. >> But doesn't he come through and tell us that he's increasing by a certain percentage within each department or decreasing by a certain >> He just told you he wants to increase the fees for all these extra activities by 20%. >> To me, it's the same thing that we do with the budget. Yeah. All right, we've had a motion and a second. It's time to vote. The motion was to approve the fees 20% for the 26 27 school year. Correct. >> Would you please cast your votes? It has passed 6 to one. Thank >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Just one one additional question. Uh will this still be privy to be talked about in

078the uh workshop? >> Absolutely. Okay. >> We're going to have multiple budget workshops between now and the time we approve a budget on >> and the only reason I asked that is because we voted on on a particular percentage there. So, >> and the reason I think that was important to do that is because he's got to start putting some numbers together and have some idea. he can come back and say, "Okay, after looking at your concerns, this one is way skewed. I'd like to see a 50% increase here, and you only gave me authority for 20, and I probably don't need to move this one at all." >> Yeah. >> And all that. No, it it's I just We had to give them something to start with for the >> I can see both

079sides. I can see your side. I can see Angie's side. I I do think it warrants some further discussion in the future. >> It's It's a given. It's Yeah, this is a good starting reference point to go for. >> Okay, Miss Harris, you have a couple of items for us here. The first one was uh Collegiate High School. >> Uh yes, I have more fund for the party. Um, I do want to mention very quickly though that I have talked with the principles and on the fee we will place that the fees are not on the like the educational planning guide things like that to parents that they are not um set in stone right now. We'll give a disclaimer so people understand that this is in fluctuation right now and that they um they

080may go up or they may only go up a little bit. So, um, >> more to come on that one. I just >> 10 to 20%. [laughter] >> Not going to not going to open it up again. I'm just saying just so everybody knows, we're not going to sit there and claim that these are the fe the fees when we when we produce those documents. Okay. So um the the first um agenda item I have is um to discuss um another topic deferment of enrollment fees for uh to parents for collegiate high school. Uh currently um the district to participate in a in collegiate high school um for each student that is enrolled there we pay $2,700 um a year for them. Uh it's a a a administrative fee. Um it doesn't go to their

081um necessarily to their dual [clears throat] credit or um things like that. It goes to classes that they might would take there um to become college, you know, college prep classes or it goes to things like a physics class that we offer in our school, but it's taken there. Um, and like I said, just general administrative fees that are not necessarily outlined. Our collegiate high school uh memorandum, theou ends with this year. Um, this cost can exceed anywhere from a hundred to $160,000 depending on the amount of students that attend Collegiate High School. So, when we're looking at things to cut and um as Alex basically said, stop the bleed on these things, um we can offer um an associates degree. We can offer um additional dual credit much like Collegiate High School uh but

082we but without going to that actual school and it being that a school at College of the Mainland. Um, so we can still offer our students the ability to take more dual credit and to gain an associates degree without attending collegiate high school. So with that being said, um it's not something we would love to to uh recommend, but at the same time when we don't have the money, we're having to make choices of cut something that is necessary within the school district or cut this. So, um, so it's it's our recommendation that we defer that $2,700 cost to the parents to the students who want to attend collegiate high school. That would be beginning with the enrollment for the next year, the 27 26 27 school year. That means students that we have allowed

083in collegiate high school that are current currently juniors that we have signed off on, not those that just up and wanted to go on their own, but those that we have approved and we signed essentially a contract with, we would continue to pay for one more year as they were seniors. >> So, >> and right now they don't currently pay anything. >> They don't pay they they don't pay anything. I think they do pay some for their um dual credit. Um and I do believe last year we put um a small fee in there for us, but it was um well, we didn't I don't think we collected on any of it. Um I think most of them assumed it was free. >> The students that are going to take the collegiate class, >> the

084students pay students absolutely pay. My daughter went cost me $1,200 a semester. But within that now it would be $1,200 a semester for her dual credit plus >> the $2,700 per year. >> College of Maine was basically the district Santa Fe ISD was basically paying half and I was paying half is the way it worked. >> Why were we paying half for someone who chose not to go to regular school and want to do something to better themselves like playing uh select baseball? You want to play select baseball, you pay. You don't go to the school and say I'm not going to play for you. I'm going to play with the select program, but I also want you to pay for it for me. >> When times are good, you know, we don't mind paying

085it. >> When times are >> I understand why we were ever paying for it. >> Yeah. So, >> truth be known, if I could go back in time, my daughter would have never went. >> Yeah. >> If you want to know the truth. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> What's the >> So, >> approximately how much we think we'll generate from doing this? We will not pay out over a hundred plus thousand dollars. >> Wow. >> You said a while ago I thinkund 120 to depends on how many kids. Um but it would it has been the bill Alex can say our last our last bill was over $160,000. >> Mr. President, I move to approve the deferment of enrollment fees to the parents of collegiate high school students beginning with the students enrolling in the 2026

0862027 school year. >> Second. >> Okay. It has been moved and second that we uh defer the enrollment fees to the parents for collegiate high school. Any other questions or comments? >> Yeah, one one quick question, Miss Harris. Did I understand that some of this uh or or the the same uh program here could be done at Santa Fe? >> Yes. in and in and >> it's not as flashy and it's not as >> but yes they can >> that same hours credit. >> Yes. Everything >> dual credit versus collegiate high school students who have graduated from Santa Fe High School with an associates degree. We've had even more who are core complete who who were not members of collegiate high school. >> I see. Collegiate High School is essentially dual credit. You're just going

087there. Yeah. >> And you're getting the associates degree. >> That's awesome. Thank you. >> We can offer that here. >> Yeah. Any other questions? If not, would you cast your votes, please? >> And it has been approved unanimously. All right. You got some changes to the soar program. >> Yes, sir. Um again in looking at ways in which we can um find cost savings our soar program um to take a step back for those that might not be aware of what the program was has been around for quite some time probably anywhere from 18 to 20 years maybeish. Um and what the program initially was started with was because we go out we find students who are child there what's called childf find. We bring in students who are three and four years old and

088um they are special education. Then we didn't want it to just be a a room of just a small numbers plus um just special education. So we would bring in our employee stu um kids who were three and four years old at a reduced uh cost to them. Um so the district would take on the majority of the cost of that room um the servicing of those students and just charge um it's it was less than daycare. Um so it was a it was a privilege for our um employees. um since the since the um last legislative session um when preK uh 4 became free and funded by the state for all teachers but not all employees that creates an equity issue. Um we already faced that issue with the board. The board did choose,

089and I agree, to um keep our district um all staff can bring their their four-year-olds um to prek for free. Um, so when we took on that cost, uh, it basically starts to put too many um, kids into those classrooms and so they began to kind of overflow, kind of shrinking this three-year-old population down to a small number. And so it becomes overwhelming in the other the other classrooms. I could go into a whole bunch of other curricular issues, but the bottom line is these three-year-olds are now, if we continue with that program, going to cost the district an additional teacher and classroom. The fees from what we would get from the staff would not cover that. So, because of that, that would be more money out when we don't have enough coming in. Overall,

090we are recommending that we um make changes to the sore program to only essentially be a prek 4-year-old program. Um so staff members unfortunately wouldn't get that um lower cost daycare, but they will now for sure get prek free. So that's our recommendation. >> Getting deferred. How much savings are we talking about here? >> A teacher classroom and all of the things that come with it. >> So >> I understand the dollar the dollar amount >> 50,000 plus >> it would be more like 80 to 100. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Minimum teacher salary plus benefits and all the stuffurricul,000 >> minimum $60,000$100,000 because I don't remember seeing that. It's It's roughly about So the direct cost would be about $50,000. That would be including because we're not necessarily >> letting the teacher go.

091We're not reducing the teacher. We're keeping the staff here to be within the program. Right. >> So our basic savings would be about $50,000 just from uh um basically the the the the three-year-old part. However, there's still cost not cost associated but revenue associated with that because that teacher is going to be included into that preK4 program and the way that we are working with our our curriculum and our sped we are going to make this teacher basically a full class which is going to generate additional revenue for the district whereas the prek three or the sore program would not generate enough. this would be generated by the numbers associated with the state revenue formula and so our funding would increase. Now I can't tell you exactly what that increase would be because I I

092would need to calculate the the amount of students that we get into the pooling. So, we are generating at least $50,000 both >> revenue reduction. I mean, uh cost reduction plus additional revenue increases that would be associated with that. >> And we're Alex, what's the fully burden number on the salary because 50,000 is just the base. Correct. >> 50,000 is a net. >> Okay. Um because the the the basic salary for a full teacher is about average right now with the increase that that that happened is about 70 $72,000. Okay. So u with costs that you know because we are not losing the teacher or the FTE that cost will still be here but just that direct increase in prek4 students into that classroom would offset that cost just out of it out of the

093gate. If we could, I would like to hear from Miss Hol just I know she's going to insert a few more programmatic information bit of programmatic information I think will help and be a little more relevant if you >> Alex can kind of help with this also. So we have what we call resultsdriven accountability and one of the things that we look at is our disproportionality of our least restrictive environment of our three and four year olds. And so these classes have what we call flipped and become more restrictive. And if we have too many restrictive classrooms in our district for our three and four year olds, then my federal budget, I have to designate 15% of that to fix the problem, >> which is ext extremely large. We're looking at about $800,000 and I

094have to take 15% of that just to fix the problem. So, this is being proactive and almost preventive to not be disproportionate because I've had to close the sore classrooms for the special education side so we're not disproportionate. >> Gotcha. about about how many uh students do we have that are non special ed? >> Right now we have seven in one class and eight in another. >> Okay. >> And this bedside we're right there 50/50. I see. >> So if I have one more then I flip and I end up having a more restrictive setting for those students. And if I could piggy back on that, my when I first moved here, my son was three and he went through the soil program and you were looking at probably more, you know, 70 80% general

095ed and then your 20% sp that just in the period of three years has now gone from 50 70 to 50/50 and it's only increasing. Yes. And if that continues to increase and becomes what is called a restrictive environment, >> then we have to spend that significant cost to address it. So this is also not just a cost savings in program in programs but also an attempt for us to be proactive in not having to spend what would we would consider unnecessary money to address what is not an issue but sometimes we are told things could be potentially issues from the state because they see it as an issue. >> So there's a lot of moving parts to this. It's not just the dissolution of three-year-olds. I I want to make her speak to that

096>> and I understand. Um >> but uh >> there's there I guess it's about $4,000 a year to the to the non sped kids that that I think that's about what it works out to be. So >> yeah, it's it's around that. >> Yeah. >> I understand. I really appreciate it. Thank you, >> Mr. President. I >> It's not something we want to do. >> I understand. Yes. But we're kind of in a position to where we're our growth is making us have to make this preventive decision. So, >> Miss Lambert, you had something? >> Yeah, totally makes sense to me. Uh, Mr. President, I move to approve the programmatic change to sore. >> Second. Okay. It's been moved and seconded that we approve this pragmatic change to soar. Any other questions or comments? I

097cast your votes, please. This passed unanimously. Thank you very much. Okay, you have one more and that is the academic calendar for next year. >> Okay, I'm not going to ask you to cut anything else. >> All right, we're back to regular things. >> Holiday pay. [laughter] >> So, it is that time of year to um for us to approve or well, not for us, for you to approve um the academic calendar for the 26 27 school year. So many of you have been through this with me before, [clears throat] but just as a reminder for um the board and the public, um we always take uh survey data. And um we had a great number of participation uh great number of participants, excuse me. Um this year we actually had an increase in parents

098and employee participation. The survey we ask lots of different questions like basically likes, dislikes, preferences, things like that. which like would you like this over this? You know, those kinds of things so that we can build calendars in which um we meet all the educational needs as well as um kind of the likes and desires of our of our um employees as well as our um our our community. So, um we did that this year. Um we um did look at um some different issues uh that we didn't, you know, we weren't quite sure of. Uh but we did basically surveyed everyone and created five calendars and DEIC um which is our uh district educational improvement committee that has parents and uh teachers and pair professionals on it and um district staff kind of a

099mixture of everyone. Um basically took those five calendars made some adjustments here and there whittleled them down to two calendars. Option one and two went out to um the public uh employees and the um community for a vote. And drum roll, just kidding. Um so option one was the winner with parents with a 58% vote and option two, I mean option one was also the winner with employees with a 76%. >> Thank goodness they agreed. [laughter] >> Makes our job easier. So it it's pretty it was pretty much clear. So um then my recommendation uh to the board is that um we adopt um option one for the um academic school calendar for the 2627 school year. >> Mr. President, I move that we approve the academic calendar for 2627 school year >> as what

100option? >> Option one. One >> the one that was recommended. Option one was recommended. >> Okay. Second. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded. I don't know if you've heard of Eric. Second of that, J to approve the academic calendar that was presented as option one for the 2627 school year. Any other questions or comments? >> Okay, sure. >> Not. Would you cast your votes, please? Has passed unanimously. Thank you very much, ma'am. >> All right. Thank you. >> And that concludes our regular agenda items. So, we will move into any last comments that people may want to make. Uh, Mr. Couch, you have anything you want to add for this evening? >> Um, really appreciate the staff administration's patience while we're working through this uh all the questions that we ask and not trying

101to put you on the spot, trying to get information so we can make an informed decision and also uh let the public know what's going on. Very tough decisions. Want to thank Dr. bot for uh really working with us through that and want to thank the board for their uh for their patience uh especially as we go forward here in in the uh the next workshops. Um this is a new year. I I think we had a great year last year. Uh um just really proud of all the staff and teachers and the things that we've got accomplished. So, >> thanks sir. >> Blessed. Thank you. >> Mr. Kelly, you have anything to add? >> Sir, >> Mr. Davenport, you have anything to add? >> I'll just echo that we're blessed and hope everybody has

102a wonderful rest of their month. >> Mr. Turtton, yes. Just a reminder, the reason we're having to do all these cuts is because our community won't pass our bonds, things that we need. So whether you want to pass the bond or not, sooner or later it's going to affect you because it's going to increase the cost of your child going to public school. So it's not an if. We've already done everything we can to put the burden on the teachers and principles and they're at a breaking point where they're going to need to start pushing back something or whatever to they can do their jobs and not hate getting up in the morning and fighting a losing battle. But thank y'all. >> Very well said. Mr. Grassmuck, you have anything to add? Well, I mean,

103I want to thank you and and and Dr. Bot for setting up such a wonderful and fun agenda for school board appreciation month. [laughter] I mean, out of all the meetings I've been to in the last seven years, I mean, this was probably one of the most miserable I've been to. So, thank you. >> And you know, I actually thought about that two set agenda. >> If I could just reiterate this was request to have this know I appreciate you for me. We [laughter] we pushed pretty hard for that. >> Just making sure the public knows this is at your request to make this miserable. >> I'm just giving you a hard time. But no, I mean it it's it's not fun and it's not fun at all. It's not even really shouldn't even be

104laughing about it because it's not funny. It's terrible and it's >> we don't we don't we don't have a choice. I mean, we we're backed into a corner here. I mean, we can't start affecting students in classrooms, but we're running out of options, and it's it's not fun. >> Well, we saved a quarter of a million dollars tonight. >> Miss Lambert, do you have anything you'd like to add? >> I echo everybody else's statements. And then the thing that will add on to it is that I anticipate comments of screenshots being or screenshots of comments being sent to me where um people are claiming that we're punishing the community or something because the bond wasn't passed. So I just kind of want to get ahead of that a little bit. The bond was plan A.

105This is like plan D. We've adjusted budgets over years over years over years. Similar to what my peers said a minute ago. You know, everybody has continuously tried to make adjustments. We've chased different versions of bonds. It's not working. We're now at plan D. So, it's not a punishment. We have to do it. We don't have a choice. Um, the other thing I'll add, too, is that going to baseball triyouts last night and freezing my butt off was a good reminder that spring is ramping up and we're on the second half of the school year. So, um, anyway, it's just it's an exciting time to be an Indian and, um, I'm looking forward to seeing where everything goes this semester. Ma'am, Dr. Bot, you have anything you'd like to add? >> You know, real quick

106to piggyback off Mr. Grassmug, I was going to bring up the Texans performance and attempt to deflect from all this. That was my goal. >> Just cut his mic. Just cut [laughter] >> Cy. >> Clearly, I'm not going to do that. Uh I I I mean this genuinely to the public, parents, and community, everyone who has a vested interest in Santa Fe. I have never been prouder to work with a more hardworking and gifted and committed group of professionals. Everyone here is trying to help our kids and our school district be successful. Not just the people in this room and the and principal director, but every classroom teacher. And they're working harder than they ever have. The job of the classroom teacher is harder than it's ever been. And so, we're making uh recommendations and

107decisions and having discussions that are not fun, but yet are necessary. And I've invited anyone anyone in the community who wants to come and volunteer or even go through our our substitute entry process and sub for a few days or a few weeks and help provide support. We invite you to to to join us in trying to help make sure our schools are are successful and our community successful. But um very proud to work with this school board and uh thankful for all that they do. Proud to work with this staff. And again just to echo what uh Mr. Couch and Mr. Mr. Davenport said, we are very very blessed in so many ways. and uh we have much to give thankful for. Much to be thankful for. So, happy 2026. Thank you guys for

108everything. >> Y I'd like to [sighs] to remind some folks of some things. Um several years ago, we passed a bond that we got to build some things and we got to add some technology. And there was the reality at the end of it all when we were all high-fiving and everything with all the good it was going to do for our students that all of those things down the road cost money to maintain and continue to have. And those days are here. And then without going into much detail, we had the tragedy in 2018 and we spent a ton of money on things that no one around us was having to spend. But we did it and we knew then and between myself and a few others made pleas at the state and federal

109level about those type of things and how we were going to struggle down the road to sustain some of them without additional help. And we got some help initially in the form of some grants and things like that. But the reality is it's now set in to where we're having to make some very tough decisions on things that we're going to have to prioritize what we're going to fund and not fund. But we cannot forget the bottom line is we are responsible for educating the children that go to public school in Santa Fe ISD. And this board has made it a priority in numerous discussions that we're not going to spend money that we don't have and we're going to stay in compliance as close as we can stay to the money that the state

110says we have to keep on hand in a fund balance and those type of things. And you know, I will remind folks that back in 2018, we actually passed a few things that said that we weren't going to spend money that took us below a certain threshold in our fund balance without board approval. And we've stuck to that through the years. And [clears throat] we're trying to do everything we can do to be as transparent as possible. And I hope that whoever's watching online right now, whoever watches this in the next day, two days, whatever discussions you have with your staff, these are not easy discussions, but these are not anything that are really a surprise. We knew years ago these days were coming and they're here and I can't explain it. I was with

111a group of community leaders this morning and had some of this very conversation and even told them about a few things that were on tonight's agenda and had a lot of discussion with folks and they ask questions about why this happens and why that happens and all that. But I can look everyone straight in the face and tell them that this board has taken it very seriously in the past and continues to take it very seriously and what we spend money on and what we do not. And it does not mean that we think any less of a particular position or what they offer to the students or in any way, shape, form or fashion want to take away from the students and their successful and safe educational experience. But reality has has set in.

112The voters have spoken a couple of times and said they didn't want certain things even though we want them. The voters said no. Not going to get into a lot of specifics because we'd be here all night long talking about it. But the bottom line is we're there and we're going to take it seriously. We're going to continue to work on it. And to Mr. Couch's point earlier, going to continue to have discussions around these things. And you know, we want every staff member to know that they are respected. They're appreciated. We know what they do. And I have told groups that I speak to publicly countless times that while we have all the external turmoil going on and special sessions and everything of the legislature two years ago that we sat through and all

113these things, you would never know that by walking down a hallway of one of our campuses. You'd never know that when you see the kids and you see the activities and the way the staff and the kids communicate and work together. You would never know that all these external things are going on. And I can't tell you how much we appreciate that. And you keep that up. And we're going to continue to do what we can do to make this as successful as possible. We're not going to always agree. You can see that tonight, but these type of discussions are necessary every now and then. and I can promise you we're going to continue to have them. So with that, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> It's

114been moved and second that we adjourn. All in favor raise your hand. And we are adjourned. Thank you.