SFISD Board Meeting 12/15/2025

001School District order. The record show board members present. This meeting has been duly called. It's notice been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551. And our first order of business today is our public hearing on the uh school financial integrity rating system or Texas First as it's called. And Mr. Sanchez, I'm going to turn this public hearing over to you. >> Yes, sir. Good evening. So today we're discussing the 2025 school first rating uh which is based on data from back in 2023 and 2024. Okay. Essentially this means that you're looking at a data a year uh uh back. Um the school first system was established back in 1999 to promote the financial accountability and transparency in how school districts manage their funds. For 2025, there are 21

002indicators that determine the district's rating, which each indicator being scored and contributing to an overall grade of A through F. It's worth noting that one indicator is not tested this year, but the district still awarded the maximum points for them. Okay. Um there are also five critical indicators. These are non-negotiable elements. Basically, if you fail any of these indicators, you fail your first rating. Okay. Um, and these are submitting the audit on time, receiving an unmodified audit opinion, making timely debt service payments, timely contributions to the TRS system, and maintaining a strong net position for liabilities. Santa Fe ISD passed all these critical indicators and we actually scored a 92 out of 100 points, which earned us a rating of A or superior achievement. This is an increase from last year that we received a

00379 and it cost the district a C um rate. Some of the key successes include the maximum points on indicators 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15. However, most of our point deductions actually came from solveny indicators. These indicators look at the fund balance, operating cash reserves, and assets versus liabilities. These areas were higher than in previous years and there are a few reasons for that. We increased our fund balance with um the use of maintenance tax notes to cover some of those maintenance um related uh repairs and that freed some of the um general fund budget that was allocated to do those costs and was put into the fund balance. Okay. It's important to note that the state has not adjusted the basic aotment to help districts keep up with the rising cost of

004inflation. Though we are hopeful that the upcoming legislative session may address this. Again, hopeful it's wishful thinking. But um as my you know one of my uh mentors before told me, hope is not a good business strategy. So we're planning accordingly and hoping for the best. However, uh we are planning for any case scenario. Um as part of the report presented to the board, we're also required required to present certain disclosures and these include details like superintendent's contract, any reimbursements received by the superintendent and any board members, any outside compensation for the superintendent and uh um or um chief staff, gifts received, and business transactions between board and the district. Now, be happy to answer any questions that uh the board may have. >> Anyone have any questions for Mr. Sanchez? >> Yes, sir. >>

005I think it's a a great job that everybody's done with the uh financing and to get it 92 is impressive. Um, do you know how we stack up around the county in terms >> So, I have checked several other districts. I know that there are there's some districts that have not depends on who you're talking about where very well. Um, I don't I don't want to name them directly because I know that uh, you know, it's uh, um, failing a first rating is not necessarily their proudest moment, but I know of at least one our districts around us that has failed their first rating. >> Yeah. Um I do know that uh we have a couple of other districts around us who have reached the B rating. So we are fairing pretty well in in

006in in our area. Um we have Clear Creek who um they have an A rating as well. Um but um I believe Dickinson actually rated a B. So they are a little lower than we are. Um again they are working a little bit through their finances because of the bonds that they have received. >> Sure. Um, so they're kind of, you know, managing that, but um, aside from that, I believe we're we're fairing pretty pretty well in comparison to some of the other districts around us. >> I think that's awesome. Thank you, Alex. >> Yes, sir. >> If I may add to that, and and I'm not going to say that we're not proud of you and proud of the A rating. We are, but TEA does sometimes tend to fluctuate in their criteria. Sometimes

007they'll throw things in there that districts can't see coming. And so if you don't entirely or perfectly project what your revenue is going to be or you end up having to utilize more of your fund balance than was necessary. Some of those are things you just can't project. And so an A or B or a C sometimes doesn't necessarily in any way mean that you didn't >> manage your funds prudently. Just means that there may have been an indicator in there that for whatever reason you just didn't meet >> according to state standards. And some of these indicators just so the board understands some of these indicators are arbitrary uh um calculations. So um for example uh indicator number 10 okay um was not counted this year but I believe from uh some of the

008the information that has been released by the controllers office and tea um will be issued next year. It is um basically rating the district for estimating the amount of revenue that we will receive from the state and we cannot deviate from that uh um total that the state gives us more than 10%. So our actual budget for that has to be within that 10% range in order for us to be able to uh qualify that um that indicator. Some of the other indicators uh are how much money do you have in our fund balance? Um and does it cover a minimum of 90 days. Um one of the tricky parts about that is that under accounting standards we have four different types of fund balance. We have restricted fund balance. We have assigned fund balance.

009We have unassigned fund balance. And um um I have another one, but I can't remember at the top of my head. The last type of fund balance. Anyway, with that fund balance, if you have it on the most restrictive option, which we did a few years back, um TA doesn't even count it against it. So basically, our fund balance fell below the minimum and we got dinged on our first rate a couple years back because our fund balance has or was protected to put into that 90 fund uh 90-day fund bucket and because it wasn't on what TEA wanted us to have it, they uh dinged us. We appealed the score and even with the appeal and providing the proper documentation from um what is it called? from proper accounting rules and from the uh

010the GAP or the governmental uh accounting uh procedures, they still managed to decline it, stating that it wasn't what they wanted, so we had to be ded. So, some of these uh indicators are pretty much arbitrary as in well, this is what we want to see coming from the districts this year, so that's what we're going to do. And now, uh I mentioned the comprollers office. the comprollers's office is the one who actually activates the indicators based on their general accounting. So, um they kind of move the rules when >> and I guess that's what I wanted to communicate whether we're A or B or C. Obviously, failing is a whole another realm, but correct >> the important thing and Mr. Sanchez and I have talked about this is that our audits are clean and

011we're bringing clean audits. That that's the what's important because that those indicators do change from year to year. We're proud of the A just as much proud of a B or C because our audits have been clean. >> That is correct. >> And that's an audit today. uh to the board for review. Um we will have Mr. Albert Garcia with our Mason Associates, which is our external audit firm, and they will come in here and kind of explain to you if you have any questions regarding the audit. He can answer those. >> Does he also do any of the surrounding districts? >> Um yes, sir. He does the majority of Galveston County >> except for the one that's to our immediate. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I believe they are using uh Whitley

012Moore. Okay. >> And that was statemandated. So >> yes sir. >> And I think it's important for the public to know that that that equivalent is very similar academically, they will sometimes change the criteria for academic accountability. So while we may be proud of an A or a B, we want to make sure our kids show growth and progress. There's just certain things we want to make sure we do, but we can't control what sometimes the criteria is from the state or whatever they decide they want it to be that year. >> Correct. and they move the, you know, I know that, um, Rachel brings this a lot to you guys, you know, her her football analogy, they move the goalpost halfway down the game. Um, and so at times it's already too late for

013us to make any change um, in order for us to qualify for those points. Uh, but just know that we try our best to kind of figure out what's going to be the next uh, u pointage system so that we can play the game the way that they're supposed to be played. So, um, any other questions? >> No. >> Any other questions? >> Yes. >> Then I would have to open this at this point. I'd have to open the public uh for comment. Is anyone in the public who would like to speak regarding the first rider? >> I think you got three three minutes. >> Chief, nothing. Oh, would you two cook up after the meeting and >> All right. If you don't have anything else, then thank you. >> Thank you very much. >>

014Yes, sir. >> All right. Board members will now adjourn to executive session as authorized by the Texas Open Media Act, Texas Government Code section 551.001 concerning any and all purposes permitted by that act. Should any final action, final decision, and final vote be required? That same final action, final decision, and final vote shall take place in open session. And we are in executive session at 5:01 each of 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 all us to follow during the course of the evening. First and foremost, recognize this is a board meeting and by law, most of the discussion and all of the voting

015must take place 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 some type of clarification from an administrator in attendance uh or even from someone in the audience. And just recognize it's the board's prerogative to seek that information from non-board members as it chooses. However, unsolicited participation from the audience would be inappropriate. Secondly, just recognize at times it seems like we're voting on issues of importance with little or even no discussion. Just be advised that all board members get a packet of background information about the subject on tonight's agenda several days in advance of actually coming here to participate. And after receiving those packets, all board members have the opportunity and often exercise that opportunity

016to contact various school administrators to ask specific questions in an effort to better understand the issues that we're expected to vote on. Appreciate you uh showing an interest in your school district as witnessed by your presence here tonight and we encourage your active participation in the educational process of your children and would appreciate your cooperation helping us conduct the business of the Santa Fe ISD in an organized manner. into that. I hope you enjoy the evening. Uh, Mr. Davenport, do the invocation and pledges, please. >> Mom, please bow your heads. Heavenly Father, we come to you tonight just to say thank you for everything you have done for this district. Heavenly Father, as we move into the holiday season, we want to remember what is most important, that is you and everything that you have

017blessed this district, our students, and our staff with this year. Heavenly Father, I just ask that you let all the students finish strong in their academics. You watch over each and every one of us as we move forward into the night and also into the season. For it is your name we pray. Amen. >> And we have some special guests tonight that are going to help us with the pledge of allegiance and also a pledge to the Texas flag. So if they would come up first 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 aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. Okay. Get a few things together

018here. All right. Do we have any action from our close session tonight? >> Mr. President, we do. We uh we have one action item and that is that I move that we employ Mari Smith for 109 days of the remaining of the 200 two 2025 2026 school year. >> Second. Okay. Okay. It's been moved and seconded that we approve this hiring. Uh any other questions or comments? >> No, sir. >> Not. Would you cast your votes, please? >> And it has been approved unanimously. Do we have any other action from our close session? >> Mr. President, we do not. >> Okay. Next, we will move into our recognitions. Where is Miss Stephanie? Listia. >> We do have some recognitions tonight. Um, I'm gonna go hop across the hall and grab Mr. Reigns and his crew.

019>> I think Chief has >> this is right now. Thank you. Grab the kids. Recognize the kids and take the picture. Right. We can do this. Um, we would like to start our evening by recognizing Mr. Reigns in the Santa Fe High School band. If I could have Mr. Reigns come join me. >> All right. Oh, >> I told him to do something different. It's all good. >> Thank you so much for having us tonight >> and we appreciate your time. >> Yes. Come surround me. Yes. >> Hello. >> Hi. This >> this fall the band competed in six contests. Two pre UIL, two pre two pre- area and then our UIL region and area contest events. At our first contest in Alvin at the end of September, we ranked 18th out of 26 bands.

020And at Galina Park, we ranked fourth in class 5A. This was much improved from last year where we constantly saw um close to the last two or three at every uh event that we attended at UIL region. This year we earned uh superior ratings ones from all three of our judges uh for the first time since 2017. This year, with the help of the administration, the education foundation, our school district, we added our color guard back to our program with 18 students. Our judges praised our color guard for its art artistry, writing beautiful color moments as the guard added the storyline, the color of the show, and reflected the music on the field. From there, our band advanced to area on October 9th and continued to enhance our visual program. UIL's new advancement uh rules

021now allow for greater growth and rigor each year as bands set higher goals and can advance each year to area and state contest. Notably, at our Katy contest, we proudly earn second place in 5A. And at the Gulf Coast contest later, we introduced new material to continue to refine and evolve our show for area. At the area E contest, we finished 22nd out of 27 bands, improving from last year's 25. I wanted to make another note that there are 45 5A area bands uh in our area. And so as I see it, our band is top 22 out of 45 because there are several that didn't make it. We have real measurable growth that we are incredibly proud of. We're already planning next year's show and anticipate 112 members in our marching band. None of

022this progress, none of this renewed pride would have been possible without the education foundation support, without the support of our Santa Fe ISD administration in our school district because it truly takes a pride a tribe. Congratulations to the pride of the tribe and the legacy guard for their growth and the legacy that we're continuing to build together as a representative of the school district. Thank you so much and congratulations to these students that are representing our band tonight. Just like we practiced. >> Congratulations. How y'all doing? Congratulations, guys. >> Oh, you're fine. Yeah. Yeah, you're good. You're good. Okay. Hey, can y'all squish in just a bit? There you go. >> Oh, sorry. Okay, you ready? >> All right. One, two, three. Just keep smiling because your parents are gonna want pictures, too. >> And

023wait for me, please. Yep. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Ready? One, two, three. One more time. One, two, three. >> I'm the official photographer of band. >> Yes, she is. >> Yes. Feel free to scooch up so you don't have to get the podium in. You're good. All right. >> Yeah, there's plenty of room. >> Way to go, guys. Proud of you. >> Good job. >> Great job, guys. >> Well done. >> Good job. >> Well done. Thank you so much. >> It's our ray of sunshine. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Reigns. >> Sean is here. All right, we will continue on with our recognition. At this time, I would like to invite Miss Harris up to recognize um our coordinator of CTE programs and our CTE department. Okay. So, um, t the

024season for lots of love and emotion, right? No, I mean, yes, I'm going to get a little bit cheesy. Those of us those of you who work with me on a on a normal everyday basis know that I can get this way uh a little bit, but if you'll forgive me for just a moment, um, we had, uh, after Miss Dylan, who was ex did a great job for our program and came with lots of experience. Um but yet a reduction in staff and not having that many people that we could go to. Miss Click stepped in in that role as coordinator. She's taken on a lot um even more so than than Miss Dylan had had done in some of those situations. But I have to say she has really taken on a just

025a fantastic she's done a fantastic job. But it has a lot to do with her care for the people that she's about to introduce. And so for her to be a part of of this and I'm going to talk about her a little bit because she's going to turn it all on the teachers too. So um I just cannot thank you enough for everything that you've done for this program and for our team. So Miss Click is now going to talk about this distinction um district of distinction. Excuse me. CTE teachers, do y'all want to come stand right up here? So, as Miss Harris mentioned, our um CTE um department just recently was recognized as being a CTE district of distinction by the Career and Technical Association of Texas. And some of the different data

026points that they look at when they are determining this distinction, they look at CTE enrollment in our district. right? >> They look at the different types of CTE programs of study that we offer and we offer 14 currently. We just added the new dental assisting program this school year and it's doing really well with Miss Ryder. Um they look at industry partnerships and right now we have some really strong industry partnerships. Um the programs that we have going on and that the things that we're able to offer our students would not be possible without those industry partnerships. Um, Valero has recently um, donated quite a bit of money to us to purchase a dental chair. Um, they also helped to fund a new, um, plasma machine, plasma table for our welding and a mechanics programs.

027And, um, the education foundation has also been very important in helping us to fund some of the different machines and supplies and things that we need for our programs. and our teachers do a great job of coming to me with their needs and then my job is to help advocate for them and to help seek out uh resources so that they can do what they need to do. Um we also offer quite a few industry based certifications. I think right now we're up to 23 different um options for our students. We offer an aligned certification for every single program of study that we have in Santa Fe. Um, and we certified 333 different student certifications just last school year alone. Um, at our high school, uh, we have 23 CTE teachers and they support 60

028different CTE courses. Nearly every elective that we offer other than fine arts is related to CTE. At our junior high, we have eight different courses. Two of those are new. We have a broadcasting course and we also offer floral design at the junior high now. So those all feed into the high school programs that we have. And so it's our teachers. They are the bread and butter of what we are offering our students. They are the ones recruiting our students. They're the ones that are offering amazing opportunities and activities and projects for them to keep them engaged. Our goal is for our students to graduate as CTE completers, meaning that they've earned four credits by the time they graduate in the same program of study. And so it's these teachers, they're the ones doing an

029amazing job of keeping our kids interested in the programs and wanting to, you know, be completers and earn a certification in that program of study. So, um, I thank you guys. I appreciate you. Um, I know you go over and beyond. and y'all put in countless hours at the a barn and working on projects and school dances and all the things that you guys do. So, um I appreciate us having the opportunity to recognize our CTE teachers today and we're really looking forward to all the different awesome things that CTE is going to bring in the future. So, Thank you all. >> This is a rocking like every every kid in the district would love to see the group together. >> Every everybody take like a big scooch that way or Miss Bill maybe come

030on that side. >> Okay. Make sure I can see the board. There we go. All right. You ready? One, two, three. Hello. Look over here. One, two, three. All right. Got it. Got it. Good job, everybody. >> Great job, folks. Thank you so much for everything. >> Thanks for everything. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. Congratulations. >> All right. For January, we've got a couple of u um proclamations and appreciation days that we'll be celebrating. Um it is school board month, so we get to celebrate you guys all month in January. Thank you. And then it's also law enforcement appreciation day in January. So those are our awareness days. All right. At this time, we would recognize the employees of the month. So when I call your name, if you guys would come

031stand up next to me, and then just like before, we'll get a picture. Um please um for Barnett instructional support team we've got Miss Kelly Grineer, Brooke Polarmo, Miss Aeda, Miss Aila, and Miss Haley Ducet. All right, three of you guys are here. Good job. Thank you. Um from Kubichek, we have Miss Katie Watley. From R.J. Woolllam, we have Shannon Shifflet. From the junior high, we have Kristen FAF. I think she's coaching tonight, probably. Um, from the high school we have Miss Beal. There she is. Sounds like I'm glad you didn't go. From ISA, we have Miss Petri. From the transportation department, we have Miss Ava Castillo. Not sure if I've seen her come in. Um, from maintenance and operations, we have Mr. Walter Nikki. From our custodial department, we have Miss Shayla Dilla. From

032our yum nutrition department, we have Miss Penny Garza. From our police department, we have Miss Martha Leesma. Thank you so much and congratulations for being the January employee of the month. Give him a round of applause. >> Oh my goodness. And uh we have one from at the administration building, you guys. Miss Lois Jones. You look like this is my first time. Okay. All right, guys. If you guys will join me up here, I'll get your picture with >> I saw you still sitting there. I was like, we got >> I was like, we're missing someone. >> Great job, guys. >> Congratulations. Thank you'all so much. >> First day jitters. That's what this is. All right. Perfect. All right, Mr. Grassmack. I got you. All right. One, two, three. All right. Proud parents and husbands

033and wives. >> Awesome. >> Congratulations. Thank you for everything. >> Thank you all so much. >> Appreciate you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Appreciate you. >> To the call center. Appcate. >> Thank you. Hey John, how you doing? >> What do you mean? >> So every time teams and new outlook and all that's going off. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you'all very much. So the next item on our agenda is our public comment. The board of trustees will hear public comment on agenda items at all open meetings in accordance with the 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. remind you that uh each person speaking will be allowed a maximum of three

034minutes uh to speak and the public comments must not mention any employee by name or any student by name or position, anything that would personally identify them. And just uh be reminded during your three minutes, you'll be given a time notice when you have 30 seconds remaining. And when that time is up, you'll be asked to stop and just understand that no action may be taken on anything presented to the board at this time. Ever the board members do have the option to request that that matter be discussed uh and placed on an agenda for a future board meeting. And tonight, uh we have Mr. Tim Verden has signed up to speak on renaming Santa Fe High School. Mr. Verden. >> Yes, sir. Thank you so much for the moment to uh to express uh

035this possibility here. Let me bring up my notes here. Um I know we've seen a lot we've congratulated a lot of teachers today and uh but I want to bring uh a an educator a former principal back his name back up uh for your consideration that I know when we think of superheroes they they wear capes. This one does not. But uh Gary Cosy is one of those kinds of superheroes that doesn't did not wear a cape, but made great strides for Santa Fe High School and Santa Fe ISD in that he encouraged and he motivated students and the faculty to achieve the the highest scores to make uh for Santa Fe ISD in the state. Um, no other principal has been able to do that since since that time when he was in there.

036Um, he made countless uh he touched the lives of countless students uh now who operate and successful businesses within our community. If you've uh you've heard of uh Scott's funeral services or BC Automotive, uh those are students that uh Mr. Cosy has had. But Gary believed in uh education at home and in the community. He lives in even still today. Uh Brenda Cosy his was an educator his wife and was a posit made a positive difference. Uh Gary's girls they carved positive pathway in countless students here in this district and still continue to do that. Dr. Ashley Causy, his youngest, worked as a principal on the north side of Houston and is now working with an a an AI program that goes around the world for curriculum. Um, and that we his other daughter, his

037oldest Andy is working with Santa Fe and does a fantastic job uh in special education. Um that legacy uh is lived through what Gary has given to them. Gary taught his family and the community about the importance of education that everyone is included. Um that Gary uh was the first uh principal that had hired an African-American uh teacher on the staff there at Santa Fe High School. He also uh a little bit about Gary is that his father was a Marine. And >> Mr. Vern, you have 30 seconds left. >> Okay. His father was a Marine. But yet, let me go and show you this. And that is that what we're asking for today is that Santa Fe High School be renamed the GC Quy Santa Fe High School because of the 22 plus years

038that Gary has given and the great things that he has done for this district. He's positively done that even all the way up to Supreme Court and he represented the best uh to prepare, achieve and succeed in this district even on that that level. So >> thank you sir. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, we had no one else sign up for public comment tonight. So we will now move on to our information items. Dr. Bob, I know you've got a couple of reports for us. >> I'm going to ask Mr. Wheeler to come up and give us a brief update on facilities. Mr. Wheeler, >> good evening everyone. Uh quick update on a couple projects that we've had. Uh our roofing project is now complete on the uh WA Nelson maintenance warehouse and

039along with uh it's been complete some time for the uh Kubichek annex shingle roof. Uh we've completed our punchwalk. Uh we have two RFIs out to the manufacturer uh of the material that we have some concerns with that we uh during our punchwalk that we're going to uh try to get some answers for and we might have a little bit more work uh in the future. Uh audio enhancements has completed about 75% of their work at the alternative learning center. All the buttons are in every single classroom. The cables are run. Uh we are waiting on a console and a phone. Uh once that arrives uh the system will be up and running and then we will conduct training with the staff so they are uh they know exactly how to use that system and

040then we are 100% on that. Um next week we are scheduled to move the antenna that holds the repeater for our entire radio communication system that is on the water tower uh on 14th Street or 15th Street at WCID number eight. Um, if you remember a couple weeks, several weeks ago, I mentioned that uh they had built a permanent facility that's now ran on generator power because every time the city lost power, we would lose our radios. Uh, but now they've have a permanent solution for that. That antenna will be relocated next week uh in underground conduit and placed into a new uh structure. Uh if you were also aware that maintenance and operations uh maintenance uh repaired an underground water leak that we had at the alternative learning center as well kind of between

041the alternative learning center, the old FBI band hall and the junior high annex gym. We had to saw cut um several yards of concrete out, dig up the old water line, uh make a small repair, and then it's been recovered and we'll pour concrete next week. That is my update if anybody has any questions. Any questions for Mr. Wheeler? >> Thank you, sir. >> Sir, >> uh, next, Mr. Sanchez is going to give us a brief update on um some of the new safety belt legislation. >> Good evening again. Um I will be talking to you a lot a little bit about the Tennessee Texas Senate Bill 546. Um this came out of the last legislative session and what this is basically telling the school districts is that now um it is required by law

042that all school buses uh contain a threepoint seat belt harness for our students. Um this law itself is going to require all districts to have the buses fully either retrofitted or with new transportation. Um to be fully three-point seat converted in the year of 2029. Okay. Um there is an exception and that's if you have two point seats um and you have to submit a waiver to Texas Education Agency in order for you to be able to be compliant with that. Okay. Um, the seat belt standard that all school buses must have the three-point seat belt for every passenger is overriding the two seat belt or the twopoint seat belt process. Um, it used to be that if you purchased a bus after the year 2017, um, those buses were required to have that uh,

043threepoint, but anything before that, it was uh, basically grandfathered in. However, after there was a 2024 uh bus accident where there was actually unfortunately two fatalities, the state senate decided that um it was better to have those uh um security measures for their for the kids um to to be able to protect them and it's understandable. However, it is uh something that's going to be uh economically uh uh uh hindrance upon the district. Okay. Now, with this new rule the state put on on school districts, they did not put a dollar amount next to it. So, um in their actual legislative work, it states that the school districts can uh look for financial means to pay for this, meaning grants, donations, or any other type of financial uh endeavor that does not involve u state

044funds. Um so, they're basically not paying for any of this. Um, if we cannot purchase Ubuses or retrofit the ones that we have, um, we have to submit a waiver uh, uh, by the end of the school year with TEA for them to allow us to have this additional time. The thing with this is I have to bring to the board an agenda item where you guys will vote on this and determine whether or not we have the funds necessary to do this. Um, I will give you a little bit of an update on that, but the pricing is uh um we have roughly about 20 25 buses that do not comply with this current law. Um, that means that it would take the district roughly between 35 to about $100,000 per bus to be

045retrofitted. Okay. Some of these buses are on the older side, which means that they actually have to restructure the entire bus. they have to take everything out and then retrofit them because the buses themselves, the seats which are used to protect our uh um the structure of the the way that the seats are set up um they have to be removed and then add the belts in there in order for them to be made safe again. Now, what that also causes is that um the buses lose their warranty on that. And so if we go back to retrofit with the companies, the companies don't necessarily extend that warranty or tell us with 100% certainty that the new installation of the seat belts are going to be fully and actually 100% functional. So that puts us

046in a very big situation dilemma if you may. We will have to go and pay this amount of money yet come back and not be 100% guaranteed that they will be working as intended. Um, with that said, you know, our best option would be to purchase new buses, new vehicles in order to do that and to comply with this law. However, as you know, the cost of things have gone up significantly and currently we're looking at buses and the purchase of any new bus like that would be roughly about $120,000. So, as you can see, this is going to cost quite a substantial amount of money if we're looking at about 20 buses in there. So, it's roughly looking at about $2 million, give or take, depending on the amenities that are required or that

047are needed to comply with this and any additional uh um fire extinguishing services or anything like that included within the bus. Um so, with that, I just kind of wanted to brief the board on that, give you an kind of an update. I will be bringing that agenda item for the board to vote on once they get a little bit more information and actual quotes from our different vendors to provide us with um that type of of of information. I know other districts have gone to the board already to present this because it is cost prohibited for them as well. I believe Periland is one of those um where they took it to the board and uh on their end they were also uh not able to comply with the with the law because of

048the fact that the cost was so large in their district that they just couldn't uh take it out of their fund balance or their budget in general to be able to to comply. Is there any questions on this? >> Any questions for Mr. Sanchez on this. >> Of the 35 buses that you talked about that aren't in compliance, how many of those have the twopoint safety belt? >> See, at the top of my head, I don't know. I do have a chart that has them all, and I can bring you that uh uh next time, but it is my understanding that um we have roughly about 15 of those that have uh no seat belts whatsoever. But I don't I couldn't tell you whether or not they are two points or if they're uh three

049points and they're just not in compliance. >> And you made the comment that um the two point if you had the twopoint belt that could be if you got a waiver that could be extended in 2029. >> Yes sir. It would be a waiver that we would have to reach out to TEA. I don't know how readily they will be issuing those out based on the the the language of the law which is very I guess strict in the sense that it said that two point basically it stated two point seat belts were no longer >> um didn't qualify. >> Yeah. >> And so um I'm not sure if TEA is going to be accepting many of those or if they're going to be as strict as saying hey no the law states it and

050we're kind of gone with that. Okay. >> So, um that uh like I said, I I don't know if um if it would be u acceptable to them to to do that or how many waiverss they're willing to issue on that. >> Okay. What's enforcement look like? >> Sir, >> what's enforcement look like? Are they going to >> So, that's a that's a great question. Um >> if I was to say something, TEA says that they don't have the manpower yet. They took over four school districts this last week. So, I'm going to say that as of right now, it seems like they're willing to go and get anything that they can their hands on. So, um I would say that they're probably trying to get school districts in any fashion, shape, or form. In

051the past, I've probably talked to probably about a dozen just eight or nine this past week, but over this particular issue, it's not uncommon over time for school districts to try to replace your school buses, especially aging B aging buses, either through bonds or internal measures and and you know, payment plans and things like that. This is just the first time the legislature has said, you've got to go put a seat belt in all these buses right now. And if you can't afford it, we're basically putting it back on you, the school district, and your school board to say you have to at least publicly say you can't afford it. And that's kind of the direction we're going is the last stats we were looking at almost 90% of the state is having to declare

052that they cannot afford this right now because it's not necessarily a realistic venture for us to just come up with two or three million dollars. >> It's 5% of your annual budget. I mean, where do they think you're just going to I mean, we're making cuts left and right and they think we can just come up with another 5% out of our entire annual budget. Well, and and and >> to meet their unfunded mandate again, >> and to add to that are the way that school buses are designed, they have the highest safety measures. Yes, there's obviously weaknesses like any other type of machine that has been built, but they are created to generate the maximum amount of safety with how the vehicle is designed. Okay. Now, is there potential for injury? Absolutely. Just like

053anything else. You know, you go to a roller coaster in one of the theme parks and they have fivepoint seat belts and yet there's still injuries. So, nothing is 100% safe. But with that said, adding the additional threepoint seat belts is just at this point, at least for our district, highly cost prohibitive. Like you said, we would have to cut an additional 2 million, $2.5 million to be able to provide these these buses. >> And out of curiosity, if any of the bonds had passed, how many of these buses would have already been on the list to be replaced anyway? So actually um we did have that included in our bond um as part of the bus security and we were actually looking to replace all of them to be able to be in compliance.

054So when the rule came out we had been looking at that and that was actually one of the parts that we passed out as as our bond uh for transportation um so that we could start replacing some of our older buses and to uh be able to to comply with the with the new rules within a couple of years. So financially it would have been zero hesitation had the bonds passed but because the bonds didn't pass now I got you >> that that would have allotted our budget to remain how it was without making any additional cuts and that would have helped with u increased security and increased safety within those buses. That's the reason why I ask about enforcement because I mean if we're looking at cuts and you know things that we need

055in the district, you know, with AC's and roofs, I mean, we got to be able to determine, all right, we forget all that stuff. We got to put seat belts in buses because we're going to get fined or, you know, the the TEA come to take us over something. But, I mean, obviously the other bigger districts have more money, but they also have more buses that that probably need to come into compliance. So, realistically, nothing's going to happen. So to be honest with you, like I said, I can't say yes or no at this point as to what could happen because again >> it could be that TEA decides that this is a very important issue which again let me clarify >> our student safety is our priority. Sure. >> So aides from budget aides

056from anything else it is our number one priority but there's options in safety and security which we have to look at. You know we do have the buses and they are functioning as they should within those safety measures. Adding this additional is it going to increase the safety substantially or is it at this point already reached that maximum point and we are just adding a minimal addition for the students to feel safer. So that's something that we have not yet been answered. So again, it could potentially be that it does make them substantially safer, but again, it could be that it doesn't make that much of a difference because of the way that the bus is designed. And that's not something that I can answer, but again, that's still we're wait still waiting for that

057answer. But again, is TA going to come and look at us? >> They could, but again, they possibly won't. >> That's a question that's going to be impossible to answer right now. >> Correct. But if I heard you correctly, you're going to continue to pull together the data of what that law actually means. And chances are our next action from the board perspective will be to declare that this is cost prohibitive and we need to request that waiver. >> That is correct. And again, that's as of today. It could potentially change based on any type of, you know, a ruling or any type of >> and that's the one that we have control over trying to do what the law is telling us to do and that's correct. So, >> okay. Any other questions for

058Mr. Sanchez on that? >> Thank you very much, sir. >> Thank you, sir. Uh, next up, Miss Harris and I I believe with the support of Miss Healey are going to give us a little bit of um maybe a direction on on on what we're looking to do with our our our bilingual students. >> Look at that. >> Sorry there. >> Wow. Look at those two back there. Thank y'all. Okay. >> Okay. Um, so I get to introduce another member of and also another awesome member of my staff. Um I know she's come to present to you before um on things like library uh but today she's going to talk about the dual language program. This is something that um as educators in this in this community we've wondered when, how, why can't we start

059this? And um so we're very excited to get to get this started. And so she's gonna talk about how we're starting to launch this. >> All right. So Lissy says I clicked. Uh oh. Okay. So currently in the state of Texas, this describes what three models you can have in the state of Texas for a emergent bilingual. You'll often hear it referred to as EB. Um ESL is one model. That's what we currently have in the district. Um that is a model where um you have certain support in and our outside of the classroom. Uh transitional bilingual. This is something that you really don't see a lot of districts doing anymore. And what we're going to focus on today is dual language. Dual language can go um one of two ways. You can have a

060one-way model where it is spoken in Spanish and then there's certain percentages of how much Spanish is spoken. And this is um full the class the makeup is of uh emergent bilingual students that qualify that speak English in another language. That's one way. Two-way is where you would have a makeup of 5050% of 50% of your kiddos are EB students and the others are English- speakaking students. And with that, you teach a culmination of both English and Spanish in the class. And the goal of that class is for both languages to be able to be bilingual. Um, so what we are currently looking at right now, we'll have some slides here, is dual language. The way that works is you can have dual language and you can also have ESL if a parent does not

061want to be placed into this program. They have the option to go into our ESL program. Um with this committee uh we had many many members that served on this committee to lead us on the path that we're on. We had two consultants. Uh Yed Marquez, she's from region 4. We are currently consulting with her. Dr. Lori Weaver. She works at University of Houston Clear Lake. She started up a lot of bilingual programs. She started the Clear Lake program about 15 18 years ago. Um we had all three elementary principles on this committee. Um our current preK teacher who is bilingually certified was on this committee and Alexis Art Alexis Otero, she is our bilingual uh LO teacher at the high school. uh Ariselli Padrazza, she is also our parent representative. And then of uh

062we had Rachel Harris who served on our committee and Alex Sanchez who served on our committee as well. Uh and myself who Alex is very passionate if you want to. It's okay about this. Okay, >> jump in anytime. >> Anytime, Alex. Just joking. Um okay, so here are our long-term goals for dual language with our district. One is through the committee's voting and suggestion is that we begin this program a one-way dual language program starting in prek next year is where we will begin the program. Miss Cindy Cortez will be the teacher of this class next year and that's where we will begin is in prek. Uh why are we doing this? um to begin our pathway to add on an additional class every year, whether that be one way or two-way. It's going to

063strengthen our math and literacy outcomes, and it's also we're going to develop that pipeline pipeline of our teachers that will be bilingual. We also sent out a parent survey to the community about a month ago. And what we received from those results is um we asked the community if they would support exploring a dual language program in our district and overwhelmingly you can see the pie charts was a yes from our community that they would like to explore this. Um, we also asked if we were going to give aformational parent meeting, how willingly would you want to attend this? And you can see the information there pretty over, you know, overwhelmingly yes, they would like to hear more about our programs. So, with that being said, this is our implementation. Uh, we had our committee

064research. We actually went to Galveastston on several school visits to visit some campuses that have these programs. Um, starting before spring break, we are going to have a parent informational night where parents for dual language one way or two-way if they're interested in the possibility of their students joining a cohort for a bilingual program are English speakers. We're going to speak about that. our teachers, teacher, Miss Cortez, we will make sure she's properly trained through the region center and has all the curricular materials she needs to implement this program. And starting next year in the fall of 2026 um at Wulm Elementary, we will begin our preK bilingual one-way dual language program. And with that, um why is this important for our district? It's to support our our parent support and readiness. Our community obviously

065has voiced that they are interested in it and it just gives more opportunities for our kids to succeed. And with that, that's all we have. Unless there's anything else you want to add. >> Oh, you know, I always have a two cents. Um, >> Alex, is there anything you want to say? I just I know you're probably chomping at the bit. You're very excited about this, but there's lots of reasons why. Why don't you tell them? So, >> I love to hear him talk about it. >> Okay. So, as you guys know, I I'm dual language. Um, so I actually started under an ESL program. Okay. And um and and I've told them this, the ESL program is probably the worst type of program there is out there in helping somebody learn or transition into

066the English language. Um, having a bilingual program will not only help our students that we currently have or that are going to be in that cohort, but it's going to help be able to transition them and increase their grades. So we know that at the sixth grade um we we begin to see during our star testing great drop in bilingual students because they are taught through the ESL language model which at that point does not allow them to think in the way that it should be thought you know um and um in speaking to some of our consultants and looking at some of the programs that we've seen apparently with the bilingual program you're helping them develop and think in their natural language. language, which allows them to be able to reason and be able

067to to work these word problems out once they get to the sixth grade and be able to do a lot better in these exams. So, not only are we looking to create a better system, but we're looking their longterm growth. You know, we're not really just doing it, hey, because they're going or they're learning Spanish right now. Let's just say for the bilingual program, they're, you know, they're practicing their Spanish and then at home they're able to enforce this natural language that grows with them, but you're also in the long run assisting their growth so that it helps them and our accountability and it also helps our money side. So that's also a plus. >> So since he took the curriculum side, yeah, I'll take the money sign. And um essentially the cost of a

068program like this is is really essentially funded from from the state. So just like with our special education students, if when they're in a a classroom, we get more funding for each one of those students. When we do a program like this, we are also then funded more. So it does take it it does take a lot of support. So that's why we've done a lot of committees. Um we do believe that it is the best thing to do educationally so that kids understand better and longer and there you know we it will take years to see that growth but that's why most of the districts around us have moved to this type of model a long time ago um is because it is a better instructional method but it's also a financial one and

069next next board meeting in January I'll be presenting the um district. I don't know something some kind of report for him since he did such a great job explaining curricular. >> You can do the quarterly reports. >> Quarterly. Oh my gosh. No, I just said a report, not like all of that. >> I have a couple of questions for you, guys. >> Um, so the first question that I have is um especially with it being state funded, I love that you said that. I'm actually excited about the whole program. I mean, the benefits are countless. um not only at um you know what happens with academics but then also what happens in the workforce later on whenever they go into their professional lives. So the first question that I had was especially because it's state

070funded is why are we not providing this to older grades? >> Do you want to start up? Go ahead. >> Sure. So with the dual language program it in in order to start the program it it starts in kindergarten. So it would grow every year. So because we have not had the program before, we have to begin in kindergarten and then that is our goal is to continue to build that up the line the pipeline of teachers and support for dual language. But it it starts in kindergarten and the size of the >> past the fifth grade. >> You can if you want. >> Yes, it is a district decision. Most districts stop at fifth, but there are also a lot of districts out there that we've talked to that go beyond fifth grade. >>

071Okay. And so that kind of ties into my other question. Um because a lot of um what we um what I've learned based on this, especially after my older daughter doing four years in Spanish and learning a ton, going off to college and initially minoring in it and then changing and whatnot. Um especially for an English student, if you don't use it, you lose it. And so what are we going to be doing to support these students after they learn it through fifth grade to make sure that they retain it all the way through graduation? So, the secondary then a lot of times these students go ahead and get their LOA requirements completed within the um the two-year requirement in junior high. So, we would need to bring that LO opportunity back to junior high,

072but then that allows them to continue on into like AP level um dual language. So, but it's also has a lot to do as far as the you know, when you're talking about if you don't use it, you lose it, >> right? >> It also has to do as to when you learn that language. a you know so like when you're when you're younger and your brain hardwires into that some of us can hardwire it later on in life but um it it is more likely to become where they think in Spanish and they think in English and they like when you ask when you ask this guy over here he actually will think and dream in both languages and so that's really what you're doing for both a the a student and a Spanish

073student, you're going to give them both that opportunity. So, that's what we're hoping. And when you do that, it's less likely to fade. >> Do we have any existing clubs or other programs that uh where they can still participate in this maybe after school for extracurriculars or what does that look like? >> Um, Spanish. >> I think they do have a Spanish club. I'm not sure how heavily it it participate, you know, how how what the participation rate is, but this would definitely feed this, >> okay, >> feed those ideas. So yes, this would be something that we start here and we grow so that we're not technically you could start it and you could add all of it, you know, K through five, but then you're basically dropping someone who's never spoken that language

074on a a significant level into a into a system and and that's very hard to learn all of the vocabulary for both sides because it is, you know, dual language is, you know, with Spanish, they're going to teach everything in Spanish. So that's why we'd like to start off with the foundational learning of the language and then get it moving. So as we progress each year, we're going to have to keep looking forward. >> I know that's a lot to your one question, but I'm hoping it it makes sense that we have to build the whole program. >> No, thank you guys so much for doing this. This is really exciting for our district. >> Yeah, I'm super excited. The only thing I'm upset about is that we didn't start it last year where Isaac

075could go. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you very much, ladies. >> All right. >> And Mr. Sanchez. >> Is that it? Okay. Next, we will move into our consent agenda. >> We just have minutes and accounts payable. We have a brief budget amendment and our proclamations. >> Mr. President move that we approve the consent agenda items as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. It's been moved and second that we approve the consent agenda was presented. Any other questions? If not, cast your votes, please. And that has passed unanimously. All right. Next, we'll move into our regular agenda. We have four items. Mr. Sanchez, I have a question for you. I was made aware that Albert cannot make it with the audit report. Are you comfortable presenting that without him being here? Yes, sir. >> Very

076good. Then we will go ahead and do the uh financial audit report. >> I I I already told him he he owes me dinner after this. Um >> can I get on that? >> Yeah. So, um just to give you an update, um Albert actually had a mixup in dates in his calendar. He had it scheduled for the 17th. Um I'm not 100% sure as to why, but um that's that's where he was um thinking about it. Um so he is actually finalizing the audit as we speak and that's just meaning that he's making it into a little booklet so that I can give it to you um as soon as I receive it. Okay. Uh but I did kind of want to give you general understanding onto the audit itself. Okay. Uh for the

0772425 school year, as required by law, we get an external auditor to come in and look at our books. Okay. Um we create financial statements that are then are presented to the board and to the public and then they will assess the fairness that it comes with that. Okay. Um the auditors have provided us with a non-modified opinion. What that means is that they have found nothing to be fairly misstating the financial statements. meaning that everything that we have presented to them is within the material world and everything is fine as it should. Okay. Um we have um in the booklet that he uh um that is sent in with the audit you will see our governmentwide financial statements which is a representation of the financial statements as they would be in uh comparison to

078any other type of financial statements in corporate America. Okay. They consolidate balance sheets and then um the the income statement is done as a broad statement including every single one of the funds that we carry. Okay. Then we have our governmentisssued financial statements which include the general fund, our um interest in syncing or an INS fund, our um nutrition services fund and then any other type of fund that we currently have. And these would be our grants, our federal grants that we receive from from um federal government through the state, which include our IDEIDA grants, our Perkins grants um and several other ones. Okay. Um in our general fund, which is the one that uh um we use for our day-to-day operations and kind of over, you know, it's encompasses the majority of our spending.

079Um, last year we were able to reduce our costs that that we had within there and maintain our revenues within a reasonable amount to the tune of about 75 to $80,000. And I don't remember the exact number. Again, you know, usually comes in in the book and I can give you the exact number, but um it's roughly about that. So um if you were looking at the financial statements, we are basically in a balanced budget. Okay. Um, that gives us an additional $80,000 to add to the fund balance in there. We also have $2.2 million line of credit for Texas Horseback. this line of credit we use because of the changes in um uh um homestead exemption which reduced our cash inflow because at that point our cash or taxes collections would be reduced and

080we use that u cash flow in order for us to be able to float until we started getting the the large chunk of our uh collections. Okay. Um that additional $2.2 million came in. So that added an additional $2.2 $2 million into our fund balance. Again, this is not anything that belongs to the district. This is just a line of credit that we use uh in order for us to float around. However, under financial statements, we have to add it into additional revenues. Okay, that brings us to an increase of roughly $2,80,000 into our fund balance. We have started the fund balance with roughly two point or sorry $ 122.9 million. Adding the two additional million dollars that we received from the line of credit, it's going to bring our fund balance to roughly about

08115.9. Okay. Roughly, give or take a little bit on that. Okay. Um, with that said, that $15.9 million tunes to about 3.7 months of operating. Okay. And again, giving you very big estimates because I don't remember all the exact numbers, but it's roughly about there. Okay. Um, but again, I do want to remind everyone that this includes our maintenance tax notes that we were able to to utilize in previous years that we still have there in order to be able to take some of the uh maintenance uh situations that arise um during that time. Okay. Um, we would also have to pay that $2.2 $.2 million out this year. So, it will reduce our fund balance by that $2.2 million by the end of this year so that we can uh close out our line

082of credit. >> How much interest did you have to pay on that? >> The interest on that note is at about 5%. Um, what we have been doing is because again it is just kind of for us to be able to cash flow better, we have put it into an interest bearing account that is offsetting roughly about 4%. So, we're paying minimal on that. We're generating the interest and then paying off the difference, which turns out around $3,000 net about a every month. So, um, and again, we move it around between our accounts to generate interest. Some of them it's at the, um, Texas First Bank. Sometimes we'll put it back into our pool account, which generates a higher interest rate, and we'll just move it around so that we do not generate arbitrage and

083have to pay it back to our um to the IRS. Um, so we're kind of moving our financials around in order for us to be able to minimize the amount of interest that we pay on those notes. And we do that again also with whatever we have remaining from our maintenance tax note and from our line of credit. Now, the line of credit, like I mentioned, we should be paying it off probably sometime in February just so that we can close it out and not generate any further interest, but it will be available to us until the end of the year in case there is a need for that. This is the first time we've had to use a line of credit >> um in the district. Yes. Um and again, it's mostly only because

084of the unknown based on how TEA was going to readjust their uh um structure to be able to fund our district when um with the new homestead exemption and the new requirements for teacher pay, which is a substantial amount of money that was needed to to cover those those sales. >> No, no, I get it. I've got everybody in a pickle. >> Yes, sir. add to that though. If I could add to that real quick though, >> it's it's sometimes foreign for for for the public to understand us taking out a temporary loan to have cash flow so that we can function and make payroll because tea doesn't send us payments on time. Obviously, the state doesn't send us payments on time to the extent that there is an entire department at TASA, like an

085entire floor of a building dedicated just to providing these loans to school districts because this is how common this is. >> We just don't get that revenue from the state in a timely fashion, but we can't not pay teachers. >> So, we have to find a way to come up with the cash flow sometimes on our own. >> That is correct. And and then again also that uh um those payments from TA fluctuate on a month-to-month basis and there's several months throughout the year that they do not send any payments out because in their mind our tax collection should cover that difference. Uh but again it really just >> even though our tax collections are less. That's correct. >> Every time we because of the homesteads because the tax rate compression. >> That is correct.

086Okay. Um now again the audit itself is going to present that and also our u TRS retirement portion and then all the uh retirement requirements within there. Again after analysis and after uh our auditors looked at everything they have found that we have not uh um there is no material misstatement of the financial statements. Okay. Also, um, as you know, last year we did have a technical finding on our audit. This year, because we kept a close monitor of the budget and made adjustments as time came along, we were able to avoid any type of technical findings. So, this year, I'm glad to announce that we had no findings whatsoever on the financial statements, which is honestly a great feat of achievement and uh, personal pride. So, y'all have any questions regarding the audit? That

087was a great job, Mr. President. I move that we approve approve the 2425 fiscal year audit. >> Second. And I also agree with you. It was a great feat. So, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Okay. It's been moved and second that we approve the 2425 fiscal year audit. Any other questions? Not cast your votes, please. And it is passed unanimously. Thank you very much, sir. And thank you for explaining all that with Albert being here. Okay. You've got the next one also. Um our excess property resolution. >> Yes, sir. Um in speaking with uh Coach Ryder, he came up with a very uh good idea. He um in wanting to honor some of our seniors who are leaving the district this year because they're graduating. um in his football team. He wanted to improve the

088culture and uh allow them to potentially purchase their helmets um if they are uh willing to to do so. Uh in order for us to be able to do that, the board has to allow that sale since they are um bought with uh um um taxpayer money. And so we have to deem them as excess and then be able to allow um our our um athletics department to be able to sell them. Now, I do want to clarify the sale is at fair market value. Um they will be selling, I believe this year is at $250 per helmet. Now, if they choose to buy it, they can go ahead and purchase it. That's if the board approves it. If not, they would just remain with the district. Okay. Okay. What this resolution will do is

089will allow the athletics department to be able to look and and uh uh review every year uh the ability to see those seniors there and uh um review basically who's willing to to purchase those helmets and then retire those helmets from the listing, deem them as excess property and then be able to sell it out to the students so that they can carry that with them to the duration of their life. As you guys know, if you were able to be part of a a team, whether it be football, soccer, or any type of athletic, you know that there's a great source of pride in that high school uh uh team, especially this year, we had a great run by our team. And so, some of the seniors will be able to take this for

090the rest of their lives and say, "Hey, this is my helmet when I was there." Um, so, um, we want to ask the board to approve and pass this resolution, um, to allow the the athletics department to look at these helmets every year, deem them as property, and then be able to sell it to our students for their future. >> Are they selling them the actual helmet they wore or just an old one that's there that they're >> No, sir. It's the helmet that they wore. >> So, they are going to sell it at the cost of replacing a brand new one to put back in there? >> Yes, sir. So that that's my question. Essentially, it's $250 to replace. >> Yes, sir. As of right now, >> for new new and upgraded ones, I

091guess. >> Yes. And uh if they are to change, we will adjust the pricing. Again, the pricing is not set into the resolution because of that because it will have to be adjusted every time that we sell those helmets based on the current market value. And >> this would begin this year and would give us enough time to order new equipment for the start of the August two days or whatever. >> Yes, sir. Um, and actually, um, I believe that they could start selling them in January or they can order them in January so that we can get them by the season. And this happens against every year because we still look at the helmets regardless and see whether or not if anything is broken or anything like that, we may need to either send

092them in to get refurbished or take them out and then purchase new ones. So, we have done that. and and I believe this year we did have to wait a little bit longer and we got the helmets for the junior high a little bit behind schedule but that was because uh the way that the playoffs have landed or something like that. So um um and I look at Chris because he was working with us on that as well. So um >> so in other words there is zero cost to the district for this particular >> yes >> resolution. >> Yes sir. So to >> so it should be zero cost based on the helmet itself, right? Obviously time and all that fun stuff >> to close the loop on that process. Would we need to

093include that last piece in the resolution? Because currently it doesn't state where the money is going to go. >> Um >> the way it's written, >> it's uh as in the money I'm sorry, I'm I'm >> the payment uh that the student makes uh towards the helmet. Mhm. >> Uh so after that any steps after that are not included in the resolution. Would we need to include that part of the process for the resolution to be complete? >> No, it's not necessarily what the resolution is aiming to have is just deeming them. And sir, >> no. Go. I make sure you're saying what I'm thinking. >> Yes. It's just deeming them as excess property and giving the district the opportunity to sell them. >> That's our responsibility to deem it excess property. >> You still

094got to write the check to Santa Fe ISD. >> Correct. the the the logistics of it um would be handled through the the the regular uh uh finance process. >> Is that something that we just incorporate in a policy somewhere or something? >> You don't have to. It's already understood you have to >> No, law requires us to deem this stuff excess property before we can sell it or do >> right. But I'm talking about afterward um when the check gets cut back to us. >> So it is go and so just like normally everything else, it goes directly into our fund balance. Um and then we just basically pay out um for for helmets. So we have an aotted budget every year for uh the refurbishing and the purchasing of helmets um in order

095for us to be able to provide the security for our kids. Um, so that's actually a separate individual budget line item which based on uh the amount of of helmets that we sell this year uh we would adjust to increase that total just as a starting base so that in the future year when we recoup those funds it will basically offset the expenditure. >> Does that make sense? >> Are any other districts doing that or is this something that >> So that is a great question. I am not sure if any other districts are doing that. I do know that writer was very uh there's other >> I know of two that do that. It's not it's not common but it's not uncommon either. Just if if your community decides something you'd like to do

096>> just for the minutes um you keep on looking over at Wheeler does maintenance actually own this process in terms of >> so maintenance is usually the one in charge of running the sale of items. So, whenever we bring to the board any excess property, we usually go through uh uh maintenance and they set up the bidding uh schedule or work with our our our auctioneers to be able to sell it out. Normally, we go through an auction because some of the items are older uh items and we have to provide basically go for the highest cost available. Um, but because we're are generating that income at the cost, we're going for the fair fair market value that will cover any type of of funds for the district. >> So, it's a collaboration between athletics

097and maintenance. >> Yes, sir. >> The other stuff you're auctioning off, it's not going to bring the same value as you're new, >> right? This one you're doing. >> Hitting the wrong buttons here. I'm already Whatever. Um, you keep saying fair market value. Fair market value for a used helmet versus the price of a new helmet is about the same thing. So what >> fair? I'm sorry. >> I said you you you're saying fair market value is the the price we're going to ask for them when we sell them. >> Mhm. >> But fair market value for a used helmet is not the same as the price of a new helmet. >> Correct. But it is under so under fair market value the cost of the helmet is what we're replacing. >> We still have

098to turn around and buy a new one. >> Correct. And so >> are we losing money buying a new helmet? >> No. You just establish your market value by what the new helmet's costing you. >> Right. >> So we would adjust it based on the cost of the new helmet. There's no depreciation on the helmet that they're selling. Put it that way. >> Yeah, that's what I was going to kind of ask. Like, you know, I'm just to clarify, I don't have a kid in football, so I don't worry about it. But >> I mean, how much does it cost to refurbish them? >> And what's the probability they're going to have to be refurbished? >> So, that really depends. It's based on the uh damage, the extent of the damage. >> I mean, is

099it is it normally 50% of the helmets from seniors? Is it >> it? Like I said, it really depends, but it could go from the fact that, you know, let's say one just has scuff scuff marks and there's actually no internal structural damage. It could cost us as as little as >> $100. So, you don't know the percentage of them that we >> norally like again it will vary based on the the damage of them. And then and then there's at times when you know the helmet itself is no longer feasible to be refurbished. So, that one will be basically just for lack of a better word thrown away because there's no way for them to refurbish it. And there's no available use for that helmet anymore as it wouldn't provide any type of safety.

100>> Mr. President, I move to approve the resolution to deem athletic helmets as excess property and allow the sale of set items. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded that we approve the uh excess property resolution. Any other questions? Uh cash votes, please. Just to reiterate, it's not going to cost us anything extra. >> And it has passed unanimously. >> Thank you very much, sir. >> Thank you. >> I mean, that being the case, if if if it's actually the cost of a brand new helmet, it's actually saving us money for everyone they buy. >> It's a way >> because you're going to have to have those helmets tested and refurbed anyway. >> And you're and we're saving on the life cycle. So, yeah. >> Yeah. The life cycle. Every one

101of them has life cycle. So they're replacing with a new one. So we continue the model, I think. But >> yeah, >> you have the next item for us. >> Hello again. >> So how did you drag your husband in? Here's what I want to know. >> Well, he was lucky his daughter was getting recognized tonight and he just loves hanging out with me so much that he sat on the other side of the room over there. >> Okay. Um, as you all know, um, House Bill 3033 changed the definition of a business day under the new Texas Public Information Act law. Um, a business day is any day that's not a weekend, a national holiday, a state holiday. Um, if a holiday falls on the weekend, we observe it on Friday or Monday. Those

102also don't count as not as business days. Why does this matter to us? Because those of us that fulfill these open records requests when they come in, the days matter. Um, so when we have these big breaks, long breaks, this is when these extra 10 days that House Bill 3030 allows us, comes in handy. So we are designating these uh days as non-B businessiness days for the 2026 year. March 9th, March 10th, and March 11th, that's around spring break, March 23rd, and 24th for Thanksgiving break, and December 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, and the 29th for winter break. This will help us manage workloads during the break and stay compliant with the law. Any questions on House Bill 3033? >> Mr. President, I move that the board approves the resolution for the Texas Public Information Act

103defined business days as presented. >> Second. >> Okay, it's been moved and seconded that we approve this resolution for the Texas Public Information Act. Any other questions or comments? I cast your votes, please. And that is passed unanimously. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Harris, you've got the last one for our library materials. >> So, you may feel like we've already been here talking about library materials a couple of months back, but the state now has us take it in a two-part process. First, we come to you and we say this is um the list that we want to post. uh we then post the list for 30 days uh at a minimum of 30 days and then we bring it back to you and say whether there's been any public

104comment on the books or whether we've taken any of the books out. Um so let me just make sure that everybody does know that we didn't put any um books that would be controversial or um not in line with our u values that are generally viewed in our as a conservative values. uh system in our list at all. Uh we've posted them for over 30 days because uh we didn't bring it to you in November and there's been no um no no parents no no one from the community that has challenged any of the books. We also did send a letter home to let parents know, hey, there's this list on the website if you're interested to go look. So we didn't just stick it on the website and hope everybody sees it and then

105say blame them if they didn't they didn't know it was there. So we were ve very transparent, very open about it. Not a single soul has had any problems with the list. So um so we're here to um ask you to consider and approve uh this 25 26 uh library materials and we're asking that you approve it. So, I got a question on the um >> how do y'all know that there's no controversial things? Does somebody read them? >> No, we did not have them read >> AI program to run through. >> Yeah. So, they what they'll do now is due to the new state laws that have been building over the last couple years is the that they are ranked by somebody who has read them as like young adult, you know, adult, which

106we don't have any. And then it goes down from there. And so, um, it'll also add, uh, school clarifier descriptions. So, anything that has anything that would be deemed, um, I think the the word now is, um, inclusionary >> word now, >> but I think you all understand what I'm meaning. We would um not place into our circulation. Uh so so yes, we have unfortunately cannot read four pages of titles. However, we do have a process that if a if a parent or someone does, even though it's been posted, if someone challenges it, >> we're honestly not going to unless it's something that is vital to the curriculum going to argue that much about it. We'll just use that as something that a parent needs to have permission for. We'll make that. We'll deem it,

107which is what we call young adult. Young adult all has to have a parent permission >> to get it. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> Yeah, Miss Harris, thank you for communicating all this. It I understand it can be uh it can be controversial. Doesn't look like this is controversial at all. I appreciate the followup. Thank you. >> No problem. >> So, what's your pleasure? >> Where does the wish list come from? Who created it? um are librarians and they search through the stacks of of op, you know, options from like vendors. Um and they know they tend to know what our well the two librarians that we have. Um and they also hear from teachers and um a lot of the books that are listed here are um books to support our new

108uh blue bonnet curriculum. So they tend to they they look at what's in the curriculum and if there's a lot of um things on stars or volcanoes and they know they don't have any books on that they tend to try to >> Gotcha. >> And then just things that the kids like to read. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> Mr. President, I move we approve the library book list for the 2526 school year. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. It's been moved and seconded that we approve this library list. Any other questions or comments? I cast your votes, please. >> And it is passed unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you all very much. >> Okay, that is it for our regular agenda items. So, we'll move into a little final communication. Uh Mr. Couch,

109you have anything you want to add tonight? Um, just want to say since this is the end of the end of the year, um, I thought our district did really well this year. We had a we had a good year. Um, since it's Christmas time, I'd like to add that u um, we leave here and we we uh, think about what Christmas is all about. Um, uh, having a savior that was born and brought to the world. Um, I can't think of a better idea of celebration. And I' I'd like to wish uh everyone in the district, the board, the administration, the teachers, all the support staff um um peace throughout the uh this Christmas. Uh any healing that needs to go on, uh we we pray for that. And just want to wish everybody

110merry Christmas. >> Thank you, sir. Mr. I'd like to do the same. Just, you know, have hope everybody has a good Christmas break. Everybody's earned it. So, and have a great Christmas. Be safe. >> Mr. Davenport, you have anything to add? >> Yeah, a couple things. Um, I wish the high school was still here representing, but I got some wonderful feedback from a special needs uh mother and community member about um some of the special needs folks and staff over at the high school. So if y'all see them, please u share our thoughts and and say appreciation. Um the second thing is to our community members who uh actually got to stay and see us through the whole entire meeting and not leaving. So thank y'all both of you. I don't know if you had

111a choice, but I know Megan, thank you for for being here. So um and to echo the rest of y'all, I hope uh for each and every one of y'all that you have a blessed holiday season. >> Mr. Turt. >> All right. Hope you all have a merry Christmas and happy new year. Be safe. Thank you for everything. >> Mr. Grassmug, uh, same thing. I mean, merry Christmas. Happy New Year, everybody. Be safe. And, um, I get to have fun for the next 10 more days, I guess, cuz I didn't think they were going to show up, but those little elf things showed up today. We got 10 more days of elves, I guess. I thought they were going to stay home. >> They're there. Confused. >> Thank you, sir. Miss L, do you have

112anything? >> Uh, great job to Miss Lissy tonight for all your speaking. I know you don't usually do that. You did a good job. Um, and then thank you to everybody in what you're doing. I mean, the results, Alex, that you shared earlier, excellent. the new programs that we're talking about doing for the district, like I said earlier, is super exciting. Um, and I hope that everybody has a blessed Christmas and a safe one, too, as well as New Year's. >> Okay. >> Dr. Pot, do you have anything you want to add? >> Just real quick, full confession. The the principles have been dealing with a lot pretty much every night. They've been at event, so we we went ahead and gave them the night off. So, we want to wish them merry Christmas. Thank

113them for everything they do and our directors for everything they do. I don't know. I'm going to do this, but I'm going to give a special shout out. Uh we we've seen increasingly uh larger not just numbers but needs in our our special education population. If you think it's easy running a special services department, it is not. And uh we're very much envy of Gston County when it comes to special services. Jennifer Holse, you and your team doing an amazing and phenomenal job. Our staff feels valued. Our parents feel valued. Our kids feel valued. And that stems from the great work that you're doing. And I want to just say thank you on behalf of everybody in this room and the parents and principles. We appreciate all you're doing. And uh thank you very much

114and thank you again to everybody else. Chief Chris, merry Christmas, happy new year. Feliz Navad Meliki Maka. Sorry, that's the Hawaiian theme. All right, I'm done. >> I want to echo just everything's been said. Everybody has earned a break. It's it's that time of year. And I hope everyone has a very safe and and happy Christmas and New Year's. Enjoy that time. enjoy that time off and and good luck with the next couple of days with with kids getting to this Friday. Um, I know it's it's going to be somewhat of a challenge and Garrett, I don't know how you kept a straight face. I saw you about to choke over there when someone said that Stephanie, you know, she wasn't used to speaking and Paul had. So, >> yeah, I I know you wanted

115to say something. I could see you swallowing your tongue over there. Uh just just for clarity, Mr. Norman, that was in the meeting. Yes, we we know that Miss Lissy's good at that. >> Now, I appreciate everything that everyone has done and again, just echo again, have a great holiday season and looking forward to seeing everyone back in January. So, with that, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. been moved and seconded. We adjourn.