001president and that this meeting has been duly called and its notice has been posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, chapter 551. Board members will now adjourn to executive session as authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, section 551.001 concerning any and all purposes permitted by the act. Should any final action, final decision, final vote be required, then the final action, final decision, or final vote shall take place in open session. And at 502, we are now in executive session. >> Uh, if you all want to hang back and get let Julie help kind of get you set up in board book, >> we now have adjusted to the cheaper version. >> Huh. during the course of the evening. First and foremost, you should recognize that this is
002the board's meeting. By law, most of the discussion and all of the voting must be done in open session, but public participation by necessity must be limited to the part of the agenda that is reserved for public input. Occasionally, the board may seek comment or clarification from administration in attendance or even from someone in the audience. It is the board's prerogative to seek information from non-board members as it chooses. However, unsolicited participation from the audience is inappropriate. Secondly, at times it may seem that we are voting on issues of importance with little or no discussion. Please be advised that all board members receive a packet of background information about the various subjects in tonight's agenda several days in advance and actually coming before actually coming here to participate in the meeting. After receiving our packets,
003all board members have and often exercise the opportunity to contact various administrators to ask specific questions in an effort to better understand the issues at which we are expected to vote. We thank you for being interested in your school district as witnessed by your presence here tonight. We encourage your active participation in the educational process of your children. We appreciate your cooperation helping us conduct the business of Santa Fe ISD in an organized and civil manner. And we hope you enjoy the evening. And with that said, would you please uh Mr. Brad, will you help lead us in invocation, please? >> Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this gorgeous day that you gave us today. Lord, we thank you for uh allowing us to be a part of a of a phenomenal school district.
004Lord, we thank you for uh the the leadership of this district. And uh Lord, from from from the board to the administrators, Lord, we ask your blessing and your wisdom. Uh Lord, in all the decisions that that need to be made on a regular basis. Uh Lord, we pray for your blessing over our students. Uh Lord, that you will just keep your hand of protection on them, that you will continue to uh guide them and and help them in every way, God. Uh Father, your word promises us that when we lack wisdom that we can just ask you and you will give us that wisdom without finding fault. And so, Father, we ask you and for this meeting tonight and all decisions that need to be made, we ask for your wisdom and your blessing
005to rest on our district. We thank you for it in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Brett. Would you all please stand for the pledges 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 flaggible. >> Thank you. Y'all may be seated. Do we have any business from executive session? >> Uh yes, sir. One item. Um I move that we employ Melissa Higgins for 134 days for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year. >> Second. It has been motioned and seconded that we approve this uh hire. Does anybody have any further questions? And if not, please cast your votes. Corey, can we see that up there? Oh, Julie and it has passed unanimously.
006Thank you so much. Do we have any other business from executive? >> No, sir. >> All right. Thank you so much. Next, we'll move into recognitions. And I believe uh Rachel, you're going to help us that tonight. >> And I hope to do a better than I did the last time. >> Of course, it is shorter today. So, u first we're going to uh call up uh coach Tucker who is our uh coach for cross country and he's going to talk about his team for a bit. >> Thank you. Um when I call your name, go ahead and come up here. Uh, Violet Barnett, Cole Buck, Jiren Butler, McKenna Castro, Marley Cooper, Leo Douglas, Morgan Gibbs, Eva Herrera, James Koser, GJ Ramos, Mallerie Richardson, Chris Munoz, uh, Keegan V, Landon Welsh, and Lane Welsh. And
007we're missing a few. Some of them had jobs, uh, funeral, and some other things. Um, but we have 24 when we're actually all here. Uh when I took over the job, I really wasn't sure what to do. I wasn't I thought I was coming just to be the basketball coach and then they kind of asked, "Hey, could you also do this after I had taken the job. So I was like, "Let me think about it. I've got a wife who's a head cross country coach." And so I talked to her and I talked to some other buddies and and I was like, "Okay, I'll give it a whirl. Let's give it a go. Let's see what we can do." Um I knew it wasn't going to be easy. The numbers weren't very good. Uh they
008only had nine runners last year and that was typically what they'd kind of had but like I said we've grown it up to 24 people and I'm very very proud of them. Uh we recruited they did a lot of the recruiting for me because I didn't know a lot of the people here. So uh they owe they they deserve a lot of credit for that. Um when I first came in I kind of do some things I always do. I always have two posters that I hang up. First one it says a stone cutter hammers away at his rock perhaps 100 times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow, it will split in two. It's not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before. I
009always have that hanging above my desk along with the other one that says, "Lower your standards and you'll lose your winners. Raise your standards and you'll lose your losers." And so I just kind of followed that in keeping folks around some of their accomplishments this year. So the big one was they grew from 9 to 24 kids. Um when we got to that first race, the goal was, hey, let's just finish this one without walking. Okay, let's try and get through there. And then every race after that, it was just like, hey, run faster than you did last race. I don't know what's going to happen, but try and run faster than you did last race. Um, that's kind of the thing that I like about athletics. It doesn't guarantee you an outcome unless you
010work. It does give you an opportunity and they took that. So, going into our district meet, um, of the 20 kids that ran, we had a couple that were injured. Um, 13 of them PR, which means they had a personal record. Um, and they left it all on the course, just what you want them to do. And, um, they were very excited about a lot of things. There were a lot of firsts from this year. They were in the yearbook. Apparently, that hadn't ever happened before. So, they were very pumped up about that. And most importantly, they were excited to come to practice because I quote, and I I'm not going to tell you which one of these girls it was, but I will try and mimic what she said. She's like, I like actually
011like coming to practice now because I felt like I'm actually benefit instead of, oh, go warm up and go run five miles now. So, you know, I think we we accomplished a lot there and uh we're only losing two seniors, so we're hoping to keep growing the thing. Uh we've got the junior high thing and we we're expecting some good runners from there and we've already had other kids asking to come out next year that I had kind of had to turn down because we'd already halfway through the season kind of thing. So, we're excited and we're going to see what we can do with this. Um give them all a round of applause because like I said, they did it all. Thank you. >> Stand right here. >> This undercover ninja thing. >> What's
012that? >> The attire is >> the girls pick it. We always [Music] >> good man. >> Yeah. Yes. Yes. It's actually that's exactly what we do. basketball. >> I'm sorry. >> Gotcha. >> All right. And then any parents want to >> I'll get my head out of the way. >> Congratulations. >> Great job, guys. That's smart. Yeah. No. Getting them to run cross country. >> Yes. I'm so sorry. >> Hey, if it makes you feeling better, coach. >> Thank you. >> They said just don't come in last. >> Thank you, kids. And um thank you, Coach Tucker. Thank you for being willing to support these kids. And I don't know about anybody else, but I think he could possibly motivate me to run. Um, okay. So, let's go ahead and start with uh the district
013would like to announce the proclamations that we will be celebrating during the month of November. First, we have National School Psychology Week. We have the Texas character education week, education support professionals day and per uh parental involvement day and STEM day. And at this time, we'd also like to not uh recognize our employees of the month. If you're in attendance uh this evening, please join me at the podium. I know we've got a couple over here. first. Uh Dee Johnson from Barnett, Madison Brown Kubachek, Taylor Denissi from Wulm. >> Um and Lauren Couch >> from junior high and Bob Curus from high school. >> Hannah Nally from ALC which I know her daughter is sick today. Transportation Department, Devin Mcclevin. Maintenance and Operation, Alvin Martin. Custodial Department. Chad Mulland, Nutrition Services. Sherry Fischer. Police. Greg
014Pollson. All right. Um, can we give them a round of applause? And then we're going to get you to do just what the kids did. And then at the end you'll get your certificates at the end. >> There they are. >> If y'all want to come up and take pictures. Any family members want to take any pictures? >> So there you go. >> Love it. Love it. Love it. All right. Thank y'all. Congratulations. And then you'll go over here to your principal. >> Don't forget your certificate. Oh, wait. >> Go, son. >> Go. >> Oh, >> sorry, Mike. Uh, our next agenda item is going to be public comment, and we currently have nobody signed up for tonight. So, I'll hand up to Miss Julie. Thank you. >> Uh Dr. Bond, we have some information
015items. >> Yes, sir. The first one is actually yours. >> Okay. >> Under state board of education rules, completing the required continuing education each year of services, a basic obligation and expectation of any sitting board member. As presiding officer, I'm required to announce the names of each member who has completed the requirements continuing education, has exceeded the required continuing education, and is who is deficient in meeting the requirements continuing education. At this time, board members who have completed the required continuing education are Rusty Norman, Patrick Kelly, James Grassmuk, and Eric Davenport. Those who have exceeded the required continuing education are John Couch and Angie Lambert. And still working on it is Klay Herenburgger at this time. >> Number one. >> So way to own it, buddy. >> That's key. >> Dr. Bod, that completes my
016requirement to uh to provide that update. >> Thank you, sir. Uh our next information item is actually going to come uh from Mr. Bailey. He's going to give us an update on our delinquent tax collections. >> Appreciate you being here tonight. Thank y'all. Thanks for having us. Okay. >> Did you have a power? >> Yes, ma'am. >> I'll stall for time. >> It's not this one. >> This one. It's on It's on the I think I have past reports. We can go back to 2002. I think that on here. So, but really while he's doing that, thank you'all for allowing us to come up here and give you all a real quick presentation just where you're at on your collections and your delinquent tax collections. I want to introduce Damian Miller. He's a attorney that
017I work with. He does a lot helping us out in Galveston County. Tends a lot of the court down there for for the districts. And so, we wanted to come here and let y'all meet him. Um, It's >> um so Damian's been with our office for several years now, so we thought we'd bring him along and he does a lot for us, like I said, in Galveston County. But once again, Jason Bailey with Purdue Brandon. Uh we're fortunate to be your delinquent tax attorneys. I just want to go through real quick just to let you know what we've been able to do the last year since I've reported in the collections for you. Uh as usual, we're going to start talking about the 2024 year. That was the last most recent year that was turned
018over to our office and collect for collections. Back in October 2024, y'all mailed your original tax bills out. You had $24.3 million in tax levy. All the figures I'm going to talk about tonight is just going to be base tax only, but that was the amount of base taxes that y'all assessed in October 2024. The taxes are due, as you know, immediately upon when you receive the bill. They're delinquent if not paid by February 1st of 2025, and that's when the penalty and interest that goes to the district begins to acrue. Penalty starts at 6%, goes up to 12% on July. Interest continues to go at 1% per month uh until it's paid. So they would have sent out the tax notices at tax office to let people know that the taxes were delinquent. Then
019in May of 2025, they sent out a notice that say, "All right, y'all been delinquent. If you don't pay by July 1st, we're going to turn it over to our collection attorneys and an additional 20% penalty will attach on top of the penalty that the district uh imposes uh as the legislature tells them, mandates that y'all must impose." And then on July 1st, 2025, anything that was not paid was turned over to us and that additional collection penalty attached. As I said, the numbers we're going to talk about tonight are base tax only. If we collect it, we collect all the penalty and interest that is due the district. Y'all keep that. We collect the collection penalty and that gets paid to our firm uh for our services. So, tax office as usual and thank
020y'all. Y'all have a great tax office. Alex and Sarah and everybody down there does a great job. A lot of the success I'm going to talk about tonight has been helped and assisted by them. um they'd already collected almost 96% of all the taxes imposed, leaving a little over $978,000 for us to collect. And like I said, we hit the ground, run it on July 1st. Uh we get an automatic update. Actually, Sarah has to download it uh into our system. So, we keep a live version of your delinquent tax role in our system. So, we can call, we can email, we can text, we can do title work, we can do everything we can to reach out to your constituents and try to find out what the problem is and get and assist them
021in getting those taxes paid. Uh so, we immediately hit the ground running. And this next chart will show you what we've been able to do uh in the first three months of collection. As you can see in the gold, we have 40% of all the base tax that's been turned over to us was collected in those first three months. It's very important to hit the ground running on delinquent taxes before it gets out of control. Find out what the problem is and work with the people to get them paid. If you start in the top, you have just a small percent 1% in bankruptcy. If somebody files bankruptcy, they get the protection of the federal courts. We represent the district, file claims, make sure that you get paid in the bankruptcy court. If not, we
022get it thrown out of the bankruptcy court so Damian and I can begin to continue to try to collect it in the state court or through phone calls. You have only 5% 51,000 base taxes or deferred. These are people's homesteads. They're either over 65 or disabled. They have the right to not pay their taxes. The taxes continue to acrue uh and will continue to acrew until they no longer occupy it as a homestead. We're not allowed to try to collect it through a lawsuit or any other re uh state causes of action, but we continue to monitor and work those with your tax office. You have 184,000 of base taxes that's in litigation. If we put it into litigation, you can be rest assured we contacted the individuals or attempted contact any lean holders to
023try to get the taxes paid before we go to the measure of actually suing them. you have a little over 59,000 or 6% of your role that's in an official payment plan with your tax office and they're working with them and making those monthly payments and we along with your tax office monitor and help keep those people on track. So that leaves almost 286,000 that I haven't collected isn't in suit bankruptcy deferred or payment plan that we'll continue to work and we'll continue to work on those taxes to get more of them collected for you. This chart represents everything that the tax office and our office has accomplished uh since October 2024. As I said, there's a little over 24 million in base taxes were assessed and you're at 97.5% of all of the taxes
024that were imposed have been collected. This chart just goes to show that I know you might find this hard to believe it. Not everybody likes to pay taxes, but the good thing is if you're paying your taxes in Santa Fe, your neighbors are paying their taxes in Santa Fe. make sure that everybody carries this burden equally and the district does a good job and we do our assistance to get that accomplished. Real quick, um I can talk to linger taxes all night if you want, but I can just run through these last few charts and show you some historical analysis. The 2023 tax year was turned over on July 1st of 2024. That first bar chart represents our first year of collections. We got you to 70.9% of all the delinquent taxes turned over to
025our firm were collected. A year and three months later, we're at 71.6%. 6% leaving us 248,000 that we'll continue to to work through. 2022 tax year almost 900,000 in base taxes were turned over to our firm. Uh that first year we were at 69.6. Our goal is to try to get it in the high 60s, low7s in that first year. And you see by two years and three months we're at 79.3%. And for the 2021 year, little over $96,000 turned over to us. 74.6 collected that first year. And by three years and three months, we're at 84% of everything that was turned over as was collected. Uh just goes to show you do not have a delinquent tax problem here in Santa Fe. As a district continues to grow, we continue to grow with you
026and make sure that we can do everything within our power to make sure that the taxes stay under control. That's your annual tax report. I'll be happy to answer any questions y'all have concerning taxes or delinquent taxes or anything else. >> Yes, sir. >> Um speaking Uh, how does how does Santa Fe fare the rest of the county in terms of collecting delinquent taxes? >> It depends on where you compare yourselves. If I compare you to Friendswood, I represent Friendswood ISD. A lot easier to collect taxes in that area. People have a lot more money and they have very, very high collections. You get into some other lower socioeconomics. You're kind of in the middle. We represent Dickinson, Clear Creek, Friendswood, and Santa Fe. and we can all get them close to that 70% range
027in the first year. So, y'all have good collections. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Is 19% in litigation. Is that been kind of this standard area for the last several years or has that gone up? >> It it's probably pretty standard. I've seen it as high as 25% if I'm just thinking of some of the old charts. It just depends on what's in there. If there's any really large accounts, sometimes there's an abnormally large account. Uh most of the stuff we're able to resolve without going to litigation. A lot of the stuff in that 2024 we probably sued him last year because of 2023 and we're still working through the court process. Um which I don't have a ton of litigation filed. The tax office works with your folks on payment plans and we work
028with them and we try to keep that at a minimum. If I file a suit on a husband and wife or the mortgage, it's going to be anywhere from $800 to $1,200 in court cost. And we'd rather work with them and get them to pay that money to the districts. Uh, so we try to avoid litigation. We actually consider it a failure if we've got to file suit because we're going to try to do everything we can beforehand to get them collected. Um, but it's going to always there's always going to be people aren't going to pay and we have to put them through there. But that's probably about average. >> Any other questions, M? >> Thank you so much. Really do appreciate. >> Thank you for your time. >> Uh, our last information item
029is actually going to be on our library book approval process. I'm going to ask Miss Harris and uh Miss Healey to go ahead and come up to the front. >> I'm gonna do a ton of this presentation. And actually, I'm being sarcastic. I'm actually just going to have Miss Healey. Miss Healey is uh works with our curriculum instruction. she's really the closest um to our libraries as possible. So, when we're talking about this policy, I can't do it without her. So, I'm gonna get out of the way and let her explain. >> All right. Um so, what we're going to be talking about is uh uh Senate Bill 13 and the impact that it has currently on our libraries. So, in order to do that, I just wanted to go over some things that we
030currently have in place already in the district. Um, currently for our libraries, um, the two librarians, Lauren White and Dee Mclofflin, do an excellent job of using our policies and procedures to reflect books that support our community and their values. Um, as as always, the district remains committed to our students, families, and responsible library leadership. And the current vetting process uh for purchasing books by our librarians is very thorough and also very in a conservative nature. All right. Um, this is a snapshot of something that our librarians use to vet the books. And what you'll see there is a lot of the companies that they vet their books from. Destiny Software is a company that we currently use. They come along with tags, the things you see that are blue, and those things are tagged
031to let them know um what these books predominantly focus on, the objective they're teaching through the book. So when our librarians vet these books that they see what the intent of the book is that the students will be exposed to and be reading. Something else that we have in place, of course, as you know in the high school especially, we do have advanced themed books due to the nature of the adult literature that can be used. Those books are actually placed in a different location. Then the rest of the books in the library so that if those books are asked to be read, the librarians actually have to receive a written request by that parent for their child to be able to check out that book. So that's currently in place. So with Senate Bill
03213, these are some things that um we are having to add in. Um the point and purpose of Senate Bill 13 in regards to libraries is for our libraries um to show transparency. Um something new I'm going to go over is that the board will actually need to approve the books that we add to our library collection. with that we have to public publicly post the titles of these books for 30 days prior before bringing to the board and I'll talk about that. Um it aligns our libraries with accountability expectations and it just is a good way to strengthen our partnership with the community. So some things that Santa Fe will now begin that we haven't already been doing actually it is happening right now. We have and I'll show you a snip. We have
033a library website on our school web page that I will show you. What that is is a parent is able to go to this web page and I'll show you a snip of all the different things they'll be able to click on. A letter was sent out to parents explaining the process of this um web page and how they can utilize it for their students. And something that we will begin next month, we have already listed the books for approval um to bring to the board. So, in November, you will get a list of books that are they are asking to be approved to be put in our libraries. Last thing I wanted to show you is just a snip here of what this actually looks like. If I'm a parent, I can go to
034this page. I can get to it under the parent link or the curriculum link. They are able where it says SFISD catalog. They are able to click on that and search for any book in our in our SFISD library. They are also able to click on what their students have currently checked out. Um the proposed library materials that is actually if you click on that that will take them to the list of books that we are proposing to approve that will then be brought to the board the next month. and the challenge of library material. If and when the parent looks at the library books and they'd like to challenge a book that is on that list, they are able to click on that link, fill out the form, and we will receive that form
035and go from there. I think that is it. Does anybody have any questions? >> Yeah, I've got several questions. When you said you fill out, they would fill out the form and it would go on from there. Does that go to some committee? Does it go to a principal? Does it go to >> So, they have a couple options. When they click on that, it can come to the curriculum and instruction department and then as a CNI team, then we then look at that book or it can go to the principal and the campus principal that would then contact us and let us know that they've received a letter from a parent. >> I see. And if the parents uh still aren't happy, do they does it eventually get pushed to the board, I guess,
036is my question. >> Um, yes, sir. I would believe so. If we have a parent that's challenging a book, I would think we would bring that to the board. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. I I just want to say I I think our local policy is very good here. Um, it's it's kind of an opt-in. I know I've talked to Dr. Bot about it. I think it's very good. And I I think we've been reinforced not only by Senate Bill 13, but uh there was a Supreme Court decision this past summer that gave the schools uh wide latitude in uh uh choosing books and and keeping some of the the the bad things away from from children. So, I just want to compliment you on a very thorough job of explaining what's going on and appreciate
037your presentation. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Good comments. >> Anybody else? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. >> Somebody might like to make a motion. >> There's no motion required. Oh, >> it's anformational items. Gotcha. >> Thank you so much then. With that, we will move into our consent agenda. >> Yes, sir. We just have minutes and accounts payable. We have our budget amendment. We have uh the BFF local policy update, which was the language change from ethics from our our team of bait discussion and then our our proclamations. >> I move that we approve all items of the consent agenda items 10.B through 10.H. >> Second. It has been moved and seconded that we approve all the consent agenda items. Are there any other questions before we vote? And if not, I'll
038ask you to cast your vote, please. And consent agenda has passed unanimously. Thank you all so much. With that, we will move into the regular agenda. And I think um Miss Blendell, you have the first one. >> Miss Blendell, I >> I took it once, but maybe not twice. I just messed with >> I my contacts has been built. >> Oh, well, yeah. >> Need to update that, I guess. >> No, it Let me get Jenny to fix your phone. All right. >> Hers is her main name, too. So, >> you really need to get that one. >> Thank you. Okay. Well, I'm here to talk about um our improvement plans. And these plans are um they are in your board book. They are very lengthy. There should be six of them in there, one
039for each school. It's a campus improvement plan. And then we have an overall district improvement plan. So, I'm going to try to sum up some of the process and um kind of highlight a few of the um biggest most pressing goals that we'll be doing um and focusing on this year. First, um the whole process uh for creating a campus plan and for creating a district plan really takes um a full year. um you're looking at data um and it's an exhaustive amount of data. It also involves community and parents um and make sure that we collaborate about what's the most important thing and to make sure that we're not leaving any particular areas out. And I hate that Stephanie's not here because her beautiful daughter is in the little picture. So thought that was
040a cute picture. Here are the areas of data that we do address. Uh so as the principles can tell you, we have a a data slide that we collect through the years and all all of these areas, not just achievement data because if you just look at achievement data, then you're not looking at some of the other um some data that might be qualitative or um you know have to do with parent and community involvement and things like that. So, these are all areas that we we collect throughout the year and we create a a slideshow that it's easy for them to to gain access to and to look at. And it's, you know, about 150 slides. No one can look at that much data. And that's why I'm not showing you any data here.
041I can just assure you that they look at the data throughout the year and their committees do as well. Um after that data is collected in those areas they basically go through a root cause analysis. Um actually uh Mr. Couch was in one of our DEIC meetings one time when we were actually doing this kind of thing. Um basically it takes the problem and brings it down to what the cause or causal factors are so that when we build the plan that we're not building it um just to be in a you know to not have any effect again. So it will actually make sure that we get around those causal factors and improve the system. Now you can't do that with a hundred and something goals. So, um, what I'd like to make sure
042of is that the plans in front of you are for one year, but when you just read the plan, you're going to be like, there's no way you could go through a the, you know, the root cause analysis and focus on about a hundred goals. You're correct. Some of those goals in there are compliance driven. So, if we have to if we're doing something new, there may be and I'm going to try to highlight those for you today. Um, there we're we're going to spend an an enormous amount of effort, but there's a lot of things that we do uh on the day-to-day that are listed in our improvement plans, both district and campus. That is because we're going to uh spend title funds on them. So, if you're wondering sometimes why do they write
043the same thing every single year, it's because every single year I need to use title funds for it. So, um that's part partly why. So, today um what before I go onto the the highlights um we do want to say that these plans should change. Uh you'll you've heard the word dynamic. The plan should be dynamic. Uh that doesn't mean like the exciting dynamic. it means like it should be everchanging. Uh if honestly if we're following the same exact improvement plan with no changes um at the end of the year then it's probably a dead plan. So things are going to happen throughout the year. Uh areas will come to light and we'll need to make adjustments. And so you'll actually see that as I start posting it on the online after you it's approved
044you'll see revised revised date revised date revised date and you can always see where where we're making those changes. Okay. So the highlights from the elementary campuses um I chose three goals that they all actually have. have. So, these are three major goals that we have in all of them. Uh, but but I just put it under each one. First, we're going to be, uh, focusing at the elementary schools on tier one classroom instruction. Um, and that's the implementation of Blue Bonnet. Oh, my end fell off. Um, so, uh, Barnett, but again, they're all working on it, is we're going to be working to improve, uh, some of the learning for our emergent bilingual students, including, um, looking into a, uh, dual language program. We don't have a dual language program right now, but we
045have a committee and we've actually even started to see schools um, to to find out what the best program is. Um, under Kubach, I put our MTSS system, which I know I spoke to you guys over the summer about this multi-tered system that we would help with academics, behavior, and mental health allinone. So, those are big goals. Those are the highlights of goals. So, when you read all of their plans, they may have a lot in there, but those are a lot of what we'll be focusing on this year. junior high. Um we're going to be focusing again PLC's probably goes across the board as um with all campuses, but we I chose to kind of highlight their PLC's because they have some different ways in which they're going to be addressing learning. Um so
046that's just one highlight from there. Uh and then the high school is going to be uh again, they began this last year, but really focusing on TSI scores. Um and we're now testing all of our juniors. We did the first run uh last year and they're continuing on to implement that process because the more students that pass TSI, not only are they college ready, but it also affects our outcome bonus. Highlights from departments. Um athletics, I chose just how you help with grade checks and making sure that he's supporting academics. maintenance. We're looking at cost-effective um maintenance strategies. Um technology two that are really important um our dig digital citizenship. Uh and then of course due to what's happened last year was the increase in cyber security uh finance there. I don't know how to
047say it any better than you're going to maximize the use of financial resources. So, and he does watch us and he does make sure that we do that nutrition. She has a a great um mission in in her department and basically she wants to make sure that kids are eating and they're uh wellfed so that they can learn. And so she's going to try to increase uh participation in breakfast and lunch. Um curriculum, our job is to support the five goals that I just presented with the campuses. So, I tried to squeeze it in that little box, but essentially our entire department is focused on those five campus goals uh along with special education, but I did pull out uh supporting MTSS. Um if a student is doing well in the MTSS system, sometimes they
048don't have to go into a special education setting. Um and then scheduling for special education teachers is a is a huge need. um police, they want to improve the um communication and positive relationships on campuses. Uh and then transportation is using proactive measures which also fits a in alignment with um our MTSS goals. So a lot of our MTSS stuff that we would do in the classrooms also transfer into being proactive on the bus. So those are highlights from from our departments. Um and I just thought that was a really cool picture. Uh, do you have any questions before I ask that you approve these? >> Any other questions? >> I don't have any questions, but I do want to applaud you. Um, if you guys were to look at these packets that she just
049summarized in that short amount of time, >> they're huge. So, thank you so much for making it super informative, even though there's um a litany of documents here to look through. >> Yes, hundreds of pages. Sorry. Um but yeah and that and that is not my work. This that's the people in this I can't take credit for all that's in in there. It it takes a it takes all of us but um it is they are a lot of there's a lot of goals in there. So any other questions? >> Couple of questions and maybe some comments. Um I'm I'm assuming you use the wide tree analysis to to >> uh we use several different types but yes we use the one that's the one that >> I used in DEIC but sometimes people use
050like what's called a fishbone uh analysis sometimes they'll use the five W's sometimes they'll use other types of causal factors and sometimes our principles will choose a different uh root cause analysis depending on the type of data that they have. So, but it does take over over time is where they do these types of things. >> Yeah. And I'm curious too, one of the goals is we want to change our culture. Can you talk a little bit about that? >> Oh, which one? On which district? >> Yes. >> Culture. Oh, you're talking about the board goal. >> Yes. >> The board goal. Okay. So, what we do is we follow underneath your board goal. So when you're talking about improving the the campus culture or the the the with community or whatever we we any
051kind of >> goals that we would have we would put underneath that. >> Um the >> but what we are always paying attention to culture absolutely always. Um we do surveys for culture. So your campuses do um campus like they'll survey their teachers and their students and the community to find out what is the perception data that we have of you know do they feel like this is a good place for their kids. >> Um and we do the same. >> No, I think I think >> hope I'm answering your question. >> I think your communication is very good. I was okay >> more interested in some of the details around changing culture, how we were going to do that that sort of thing. >> Yeah. I I am I am somewhat appalled these days
052um at some of the some of the history knowledge around students and even young adults just the lack of awareness around uh American history as as well as uh some of the uh some of the details about government and how laws are made and the the political side of I would hope that uh somewhere down the road we would we would be able to meet some of those challenges. So, >> well, I know those things are taught uh specifically they're taught throughout all of the years as far as government, but the biggest times where you'll see that is in eighth grade and in um 11th grade. Yeah. And currently our 11th grade stores scores are are outstanding and our um eighth grade scores are we want them to be better because we're prouder but they
053are very close to the state. >> Yeah. And I'm not so much talking about talking about Santa Fe. Uh >> you're just talking about in general this world. >> Just in general. Yeah. >> This world. >> So well >> yeah certainly I would like to see >> Well, at least we can take care of our group. Yeah. So >> sure. >> Yeah. I guess I mean that's the best we can do. Right. >> So, if I were to make a walk through the high school and asked some questions, what kind of what kind of answers do you think I would get? >> Well, we were talking about high school kids, but if you actually sat down in a classroom, I I would, you know, and asked them, you you know, depending on when in the
054year you're asking, they they would probably be able to answer pretty well. >> Understand? I I understand. That's that's a >> sometimes they like to be funny. If you ask in the hallway, they're probably going to say something funny as a joke, you know, or whatever. But if you sat down in a serious fashion, they could probably have a a good conversation uh with you. I am always thoroughly impressed with our two US history teachers. Um, of course that's the second part of US history at the high school and u, but that's uh, Taylor Wolf and uh, Miss Sinceri and you can often hear some really good conversations in there and um, from what I've seen in the junior high, I think that that is they also we also have some fantastic teachers there. Um,
055the problem is that that that sometimes eth graders are going to have a harder time speaking um, up to somebody that they don't always know. Um, and the concepts are harder and because that's the first part of American history. So, uh, and that has a lot more of the government pieces, but um, but that's where they that's where they begin learning is eighth grade. >> I will say this, I did visit the junior high in the seventh grade Texas history class, and I was I was favorably impressed with the teachers as well as the students. So, >> um, but but I am I am a little concerned about, you know, what we're teaching, what we're learning, that sort of thing. So, I look forward to going to the high school and maybe talking to some
056of the history teachers as well as some of the students. Really appreciate all the uh the work and effort that went behind this. It's it's a tremendous amount of work to do to uh to gain collaboration and put this together and then try to implement it. Um uh your efforts aren't go going unnoticed and just wanted to say thank you for all the hard work. No problem. That's We appreciate it. Any other questions? >> Oh, no. Thank you for everything. >> No problem. I guess at this point I will um ask uh if y'all will consider and approve the um campus and district improvement plans for the 2526 school year. >> I'll move to approve the 2025 2026 campus and district improvement plans as presented. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to
057approve the 2526 campus and district improvement plans. No other questions. Will you please cast your votes? >> And it has passed unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Miss Harris. Comes to our last regular agenda item, Mr. Sanchez. Well, good evening. My presentation today is not as riveting as Rachel's. So, um I'll start just to telling you that uh in light of the recent salary uh increases provided to the staff by the state um our district has been exploring ways to be able to further support and appreciate the hard work that all our staff does. As you know, the state legislature decided to provide uh financial incentive to all of our teachers. However, they did not provide much support for the rest of our staff. And we know that in recent years we have actually
058put tremendous amount of strain on the resources that we have. Um you know we have our transportation department having to work on you know skeletons crew. Same with our maintenance department but also on our campus level the administration there. We have our APS, we have our um OT's, we have our SLPs, all these other um staff that has a tremendous part of this district on their hands and uh they have not been recognized as well. So with that in mind um we have u discussed and and and bringing for the board's consideration that um we can provide an incentive for all teachers who receive the state provided TRA salary increases onetime incentive of $500 for all of their staff. All non-eing staff, including teachers who did not receive the TRA, will receive an incentive equal
059to 1% of their annual salary with a guaranteed minimum of $500. We would like for the board to consider and approve a mid-year incentive for the staff. I will now entertain any questions that y'all have. >> Yeah, I've got several questions. >> Yes, sir. One one of the things that I I was a little concerned about was this was this was put together uh by a committee and the board has not been given a chance to vet uh this recommendation. Um I I am all for giving uh our employees uh an incentive if if not a raise. And I've had some discussions with Dr. thought about that and uh I've had some discussions with with you as well. Um um but I I am concerned that we we are leaving our staff behind in pay
060and uh um our teachers got an 18 to 14% raise. They also have the incentives for more money um that's coming from the state as well. We gave a 2% raise to uh uh our non-teers and my my concern is um we should be giving a little bit more money uh to them than than we are the teachers. Now, in this in this particular scenario, I think we're, you know, it's it's it's 1% versus $500 minimum, but uh I really believe that we can do better than that. Um, and I will tell you, Alex, I am very impressed with your your work and your capabilities. Um, at the same time, I I know how conservative we can be and the board, this this board has done a tremendous job along with Dr. Bot of holding
061the line and balancing budgets, but s Santa Fe's budget this year is roughly $53 million. uh we're talking about an increase of uh this 1% with $500 being the minimum of about 406,000. what what I would rather see us do um um and we could table this and bring this up next month um if the board decides to do that but I would like to see us consider giving 2% as an incentive to our non-teers and this would include our bus drivers who in my opinion they do a tremendous job um and uh in In fact, the last accident that we had, uh, I want to note that all of those kids had their seat belts on, and if they hadn't, uh, the bus drivers, you know, weren't doing their job, we would have had
062some accidents there. Our cafeteria workers, um, they work hard. Our custodians, um, a lot of times they go, they go unnoticed. Uh, special ed group to support there. They do a tremendous job. Uh chief is out here security and and our principles and and uh assistant principles and uh I I just think we're leaving them behind. And I've uh I I know we're getting ready to pass a bond here and uh there may be some monies involved there that could help in this situation, but I really think that we have enough money. If we were to increase to uh 2% to the uh uh to the staff, that would get us up to instead of spending $46,53424, we would spend roughly $692, I'm sorry, $692,35 with a difference of of 285,000. And that's with a
063budget of 53 million. well, what with what I would consider in the contingency and uh really leave a a really leave an impact to our staff that that we we're we apprec not not only we telling you, but we're we're willing to do something about that. So, um, you know, I I'll entertain any any debate on this with the rest of the board if they feel like they want to do that. But, uh, at this time, I I I really don't want to support this 1% $500 minimum. I I don't think it's enough. I I think we've got enough money in the budget to cover this. Um, and and like I said, it's it's only roughly 285,000 more. I think that's uh uh those are in my opinion, I I know this may sound a
064little trit, but um uh that that's small potatoes when we're talking about what we could be doing for our our school employees. >> Yeah, I was about to say I got some comments as well. Go ahead. you know, everybody knows that every board member up here speaking for themselves, but uh I think we show all the staff that we appreciate them in multiple different ways, not just telling them. And the teachers got a huge pay raise from the state, not us. That money, we couldn't have budgeted that if we wanted to. So, I mean, it's it's not we're not showing anybody favoritism here. This is coming from the state. So, and I think the administration along with I believe we have a finance committee with three board members on it. they all come up with
065this together. It wasn't just, you know, Alex and a couple people. I mean, it it's representative of the board as well. And then I believe we all got a phone call, you know, discussing it all. So, I'm sorry, but to categorize it like we don't care about the other staff or we're not showing appreciation to me is just not a full representation of what we're doing. So, >> I'll agree because we're we're spending money that we might not have. Correct. And where hands are tied with the state them withholding. We're not the only district seeing this, but we've been fortunate enough and teachers and staff, y'all have been feeling the effects because we've been having to y'all been doing wearing more hats than you originally intended to do and still doing a great job with
066it. But >> we're in a situation where >> I I'll I will say this, you your your words are valid completely and I think that our teachers and everybody else truly deserve more without a shadow of a doubt. um when the committee the finance committee meeting met last week, your comments, other comments that we haven't discussed now about going what other things, options could we do, what did we not do? Um we looked at all of those different things. Um you made some great comments about the bond as well. We did some whatif scenarios. What if the bond does not pass? You know, different things. We're one potential event away from having a chiller go down and we know that's close to couple hundred thousand to a million dollars potentially. Um a couple of years
067uh years ago when we did some self-funding on some insurance stuff, we we we rolled the dice. It worked out for us um in terms of putting some savings away. Um my my thoughts were, you know, this this is something it's a starting point and should we get some funds from TEA? Does it preclude us from doing anything midFebruary, mid-Marchch or anything else and coming back which is where my mindset is going just from a from a how does this work and to your points about we may not ha we may have the money and it looks like it's in there today should we get into a situation where chiller goes down. Uh, I don't want an elementary school with Miss Martin, you know, not having to be able to have class for some reason
068because we it's too hot in the middle of April and May or something of that nature. So, I 100% support your words and and your your desire and I do too. I really like to give all of the the team a little bit more. I'm just I am being conservative truthfully and being when I say 1% that when the committee came to together to make this presentation to the board um it's no other no different than any other committee that makes presentations to the board on whatever the committee comes to uh comes to a agreement on to present and the way I see it is we we have an opportunity to if we want to uh make a motion that goes against what is being recommended by by Mr. Alex. Um, so I'm I'm willing
069to entertain any other thoughts, but I I do want to validate your words and your and your thoughts. So, they are very valid. So, that that's where my comments to you are. So, >> couple things. I mean, we have a $53 million budget. That's true. Um, but just because we have a $53 million budget doesn't mean that we can take any amount out of that and use it for whatever we want. Alex always brings options to us that um he's comfortable with. >> Um 2% was not even one of the options. So, I'm not going to put him in a position to make him answer the question, but I'm going to assume he probably wasn't comfortable with that amount. Um, we have a $53 million budget and we finally got it balanced and we're trying
070to do everything we can with this, but an an additional 283,000 or whatever you said is is not small potatoes. It's $283,000 that these days we need bad. Um I want to do as much as we can but at the same time we've got other obligations we have to take care of also. So that's why we landed on what we landed on. >> Any other comments? >> Dad. >> Yeah, I'll also add to that as well. It it's not that the finance conversation started with the committee meeting either. We've had multiple conversations over the years of the state of our finances and where we're at. And the gentleman standing at the podium has basically had to rob Peter to pay Paul to make ends meet. So I know I'm not only speaking for myself. There's
071multiple if not all of us members of the board who would love to be able to give more money. We we have provided incentives in past years where other districts didn't around us and I agree with these other statements. We're doing the most that we can without putting ourselves into a bind. >> Can I Yeah, absolutely. >> Can respond? >> Sure. >> Okay. We've got a $53 million budget. Alex, what is what is our fund balance >> as of right now? We have roughly about $12 million, but out of those $12 million, roughly about eight of those are from our maintenance tax note. So free and clear, we're talking about four $4.5 million. >> How many days of operation operation do we have? >> As of right now, we have 89. >> What's the state
072law say? >> 90 days. Exactly. >> That's a recommendation >> actually. Um on that note, we we actually get unfortunately we do get graded on that. Um we have the first rating which um as of right now we got a preliminated rating on that but they do use it as a fund balance measure based on the number of days that we have in the number of months. Um again it is some of those measures change on year to uh year but um it is a measurable um account unfortunately. >> And how much money do you think you project of putting in fund balance this year? Well, um, and and we spoke to this earlier. Um, I mentioned we could potentially see about one and a half to$2 million, and that's assuming that, um, the 2023
073value that was reported to the state as a correction actually comes to us during this year. >> Um, and again, that's all dependent on TEA um, and how they do their their uh, payment. But then again, we've been waiting for this for almost a year and a half, almost two years already. So, there is a potential that we could get it this year and we will have those additional one and a half to $2 million in the fund balance or u we could see maybe a potential having about $500,000 or or less. And again, this is all speculation right now just in data that we have. We are um even tea waits until like the end of October to to use uh what we call the PE snapshot where it gives them all of our
074data and information on that. Yeah. >> Um so that we can get a more accurate uh um account, you know. Um, we did run into an issue. Um, it was I'm I can't remember if it was last year or the year before where we had a very large amount of students graduate early from our um ISA and that took a toll on us because it impacted our ADA for the remainder of the year. And so that really impact us and losing about 18 20 kids can equate almost to uh $800,000 in in in actual revenue that comes to the district just from their attendance, just from their enrollment and any additional programs that they may belong to. So, you know, um like you mentioned, we we we are being conservative. In the best case scenario,
075we could end up doing great things this year and be able to to take into our our fund balance a a really good healthy fund balance. But that's a big if, you know. Um I know that last year we lost the chillers at Kubach that ended up costing us almost a million dollars. We lost a bus. Um that's almost $200,000 that we have to replenish. Now the insurance covered part of it but they basically covered about half if that. Um we have other uh uh areas that that need to be improved. Um so when when the recommendation was done, the choices that were brought up were wereas where as a financial adviser to the board, it is my job to make sure that we make decisions or that I provide enough information to make decisions
076that are based on a conservative approach to make sure that the district can continue to function on a day-to-day for the foreseeable future. Um, we have seen districts that have failed unfortunately on their financials because they mismanaged. They they they they moved too fast or or um they weren't able to, I guess, see the ship sinking early on. Um, we have been fortunate enough to see the signs to say, "Hey, maybe we need to turn the tide." Um last year we brought over to the board a reduction in force which um if if you were to give me the option to say hey we're going to keep our staff versus give them an increase I would say keep our staff um but I think the recommendation that I'm bringing and again this is just me
077being conservative. It could be that, you know, um, like I mentioned, getting a better data in February or March, I could potentially say, okay, this looks a lot better than it can, but again, it could also be it looks a lot worse than we thought. >> And you hit you hit on what what I was sitting here thinking anyway. You know, when 86% roughly of your budget is payroll is pushing the limit, giving 1% above the 1% that we're proposing. Is that worse the possible risk of coming back later? And we all know when the budget's out of whack, the quickest way to get it balanced because the largest expense is personnel. Unfortunately, then you end up in a situation where you're you gave you gave them an extra 1% but sorry, now we have
078to let you go. I mean, we don't want to put ourselves in that situation. If we can come back later and things work out great and we can provide something additional later on down the road, then fine, let's look at it. >> Hopefully, let's do it. >> Then what's your hurry in doing this within a few weeks period of time without really thinking about all >> if I could speak to that? Um, last year we had proposed the 2% midyear incentive for all staff. >> Let's call it what it is. Christmas bonus. Um, that was a tremendous blessing to the staff and that cost about $800,000. And we ended the year with a balanced budget. This year, based on our projections, we wanted to look at whatever ways we could to try to provide some
079type of midyear incentive to proide provide some kind of a blessing to our staff, some type of financial blessing. We also wanted to do it in a way we felt was conservative. So, I'm looking at the CFO and saying, "Okay, what number are you comfortable with?" Alex being Alex says zero because he doesn't never want to spend anything he doesn't have to and that's a good CFO that's what he should say but at the end of the day this is a number that I think we settled on that we could manage and yet still maintain what we would project as a balanced budget and and prudent expenditures while still allowing for the random potential expenditures uh just based on the pattern of what we've seen thus far and so I guess that's kind of one
080of the things we were wanting to make sure we did was provide some type of that midyear incentive to be able to bless the staff at least in that November, December time range. >> And speaking um as a parent who did the majority of all the Christmas shopping for my kids all these years, um a lot of Christmas shopping is about to take place over the next couple three weeks. Um so it's like you mentioned, it's a timing thing. So it's not just the committee meeting that happened and their um you know there's recommendation on how we should move forward. It's the I don't know what 10 finance meetings leading up to that point where we as a board heard the situation that we were in. We got to hear all of the details from
081the subject matter experts in the room that led to part of that recommendation that they made. So, we were informed ahead of time. >> I'm sorry, but I I totally disagree with you. I there was nothing about any kind of midyear incentive about how much it was going to be up until about a week or two ago until we got the details. So >> I'm talking about the details of our finances as >> we've been talking finances all year long, but this 1% $500 minimum. >> Don't tell me we've been talking 89 days of operating. >> What's that? >> We have 89 days of operating in our general fund. >> That was the $49. That's not the $12. You're supposed to have 90 >> as well as we will go to a balanced budget. Let
082me finish speaking >> guys professional in here please. >> We will go to a balanced budget with a million a million and a half to $2 million. Okay. >> And you're telling me $285,000 is going to affect that? >> No. No. In the scheme of big things, you can't even get that close to to a balanced budget by the end of the year. And the reason I know that because I sat on a board for nine years before I got onto this one. >> Okay. And >> but you just made a comment that we've done a great job balancing the budget. This board's been doing a great job and Alex been a great job. Now you're being contradicting yourself. >> No, I'm I'm saying you've done a great job of balancing the budget. That is
083correct. But I'm telling you $285,000 is not going to make any difference. >> It's going to be very important if these bonds don't pass and we got roofs to replace and we don't have any do it. That's >> and that's a good possibility >> and we don't know what's going to happen. >> We're not again we're not opposed to revisiting this in the spring if we can. We can only >> and we're not offering nothing. We're offering I don't even understand why it's argumentative. >> I just don't understand why this happened all of a sudden. We have to do it in October >> for the benefit where it goes >> the same time we did it. >> Nothing's better than nothing. We're trying to do what we can to help the staff. >> Bottom line.
084>> No, you're telling me the same thing wouldn't happen if we did it in November. What different? Okay, so explain to me November. What's Why's November better than October? >> Because there wasn't enough there really wasn't enough time in in my mind to really get my arms around all this and and and to really buy into this because I felt like we the staff out here deserve more money than what we're going to give them. And I think we have the money to do it. That's the bottom line. >> That's the thing that we all feel like they deserve more. >> He's the CFO. He controls the money. And you realize that that percent affects him personally and he's saying zero to begin with. >> I know I had that discussion with him today >>
085because he's being smart with the money. He's assuming he's spending the money like it's his own just like like you would do in your whole household. You don't assume and take a guess. Hey, we're going to I might get an extra bonus here. Let's go buy a pool. You didn't do that with your life. >> You have to treat this. >> You have to be able to project that. But so but tell me >> we don't have our revenue comes from the state from decorum. So >> if there's going to be a motion maybe a motion >> that's that's what I was about to say be argumentative for reason it's just one-sided against >> so Mr. Couch one question I like because obviously you feel like there need more time for this and I and
086I recognize that today you had a chance to visit with Alex you visited with Dr. bought. What items have you not received that you've had to what I'm going to say put through your mind? What are some outstanding things that you have not grasped yet that we have not discussed? Because this is what open forum is for is to discuss these. So, what things do you still have on your mind? I still haven't I still haven't grasped why the committee went from one week to the next week is put on the board and we're going to pass it without me even know me even knowing about this until last week. >> So, so it's and I mean this respectfully when I ask the question, is it about the timing that the committee met and didn't
087let Mr. Couch know or is it more about the actual issues of the mechanics that Mr. Alex is presenting to us from a budgetary perspective to consider as a board. >> I think that's an easy answer. I think it's it's hand in hand. It's both. >> Okay. I'm going to ask then you're more than welcome to make a recommendation, a motion to the board to table it to do a different amount. Should you get a second, we can then make a take a public vote and and if we do not get a second, then we can move forward with the motion. And if we get a second on that, then we can move forward. So, it is I I'm just saying we can start that process and if we still need to come back and
088still have further discussion, I would be more than happy to entertain further discussion to help move this this along. So, to be fair with everybody and >> well, my my comment is once again, you've got a million and a half to$2 million that you're going to that you're going to add to fund balance. >> You've currently got >> We believe Mr. Mr. Alex has said we believe we're going to do that. It's not guaranteed. Yes. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Uh, you currently got $12 million in there. You're going to spend some of that. You're down to four or five four or five million. Your 28085,000 of the increase isn't going to make that much difference. That's my point. And I'm not trying to belittle anybody here with saying that in terms of appreciation of
089what staff does. I believe everybody appreciates what they're doing. However, um I think that the staff would certainly appreciate it if they got more money. That's my point. So, >> yeah. Um I if it doesn't look like you're willing to table this and and cons reconsider and if the board is if they're adamant about doing it this month and doing the 1% the 500 you know that's that is the board's prerogative. I completely understand. >> Any further comments? >> I'll move to approve the midyear incentive resolution for staff as presented. >> Second. We do have a motion and we also have a second. Any questions for this first vote? Please cast your votes, please. And it is a passed with a 5 to one. Miss Julie also Mr. Norman is not present for his vote.
090Motion is carried. >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you. Okay, with that we will keep moving to the last um section of our board meeting which is board communications and I'll start down here. Mr. Couch. >> Okay. Yes, sir. I just wanted to uh make a comment about uh remembering Josh Butler. I was when I went to the funeral, I I was struck in amazement. Um Dean Butler's as well as Josh's portrayal of strength and faith was was moving and inspiring. Um Josh's life was an example of Christianity before and after his ALS diagnosis. Um I was recently touched by our football players when I went out and uh went to some of the campuses and saw them out there. I thought that was fantastic. That was in the K through five uh campuses. Uh they
091greeting the students and talking with them. I thought that was great. Um, and it reminded me, um, I was on the board before in the 90s and, uh, the 1996 state championship team and, uh, those guys out there would go and visit the campus as well. I think Mr. Davenport was probably on that team and was a part of this. And, um, I I admired you guys back then. Um they would uh humbly uh meet with the students when they went to the campus in 96 and uh they shared the story of that uh they prayed before the games. Um and I think that had a tremendous impact. Um, one of the reasons why I know it made an impact is because my 37 year old son, which was eight years old at the time,
092um, came home and told me about it. And, uh, I just thought, how how impressive. Um, it just made a uh, tremendous impact and I see it today. Um, all I can say is uh well done Josh Butler and well done to uh Dean and his family and God bless them. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Mr. Couch. Uh Mr. Kelly, >> I just tell you how much I appreciate y'all. Alex, thank you for coming up with the budget that you did. I mean, I know it's it's not easy to do those types of things, but I appreciate it. Um, just wanted to give a shout out to Chief Sit at the game with him. Um, kind of notice, you know, being right there with him for a little bit. You notice how
093the police officers are very observant to what's going on around him and it's uh, makes makes me feel good inside that you guys are there and doing what you do and I appreciate y'all. Thank you'all. >> Thank you, sir. Miss Angie, >> uh I echo all the sentiments about the Butler family. Um that entire family is such a huge inspiration to our whole community and have been for some time now. Uh I also want to uh mention that the other families in our community who have faced uh both loss and tragedy over this last week definitely in our family's thoughts and prayers. Um, and also to tell all of you guys to be safe and have fun for Halloween. >> Thank you, M. Liber. Mr. Craftman, >> Angie took what I was going to say.
094I mean, it's been a rough rough month between Josh and Sartons and the other ones that we've lost and it's >> Gardeners and it's been a rough uh rough month for Santa Fe. So say some extra prayers for all of those families. >> Thanks sir. Mr. Hartenberger have much to say after that. Echo everything else as well. >> Yes sir. >> Thank you all for everything you do. >> Appreciate it. >> Dr. But just love coming to work. Appreciate y'all for every everything y'all do. Our directors, everybody in this room. I know I say it a lot. I'll continue to say it every time. It does not work without everything you do. you you just create such a positive culture for our kids and for our families and our community and uh even for this
095board to be able to have the open conversations that they have and still come to successful conclusions and and be able to partner together and move forward says a lot about this board and and this community. U you know, we're always asking what's best for the kids, what's best for the kids, what's best for the kids. Whenever we get in arguments, it's what's best for the kids. And I'm proud to work in a school district that does what's best for the kids. So, thank you all for always always doing that every single day. >> Thank you, sir. Um, one comment on you, Mr. Couch. Um, you talked about the basketball team going in being with other students and stuff. We have an organization, if you don't know, called PALS. PALS goes and works with some
096of the >> Yeah. >> Great organization. Also, Coach Ryder does some stuff with his football players in the mornings at the elementary schools when they car riders come up. So, still doing that. I think it's catching on. So, great comments for that. >> I saw I saw that. Uh, fantastic. Coach Ryder. um have quite a bit of uh athletic stuff coming up. Um so heartbreak loss, but we still have faith and we got the volleyball that's going to be going to playoffs. Um it's my understanding that basketball will be starting next week. Um we got Candyfest, we got the carnival. Um, I also want to say to the maintenance of transportation with everything with the bus incident. I mean, it sure was not easy, but thank you'all for everything you've done from start to finish
097there. Um, to the IT folks, great calendar. I saw your calendar this past week as a gift for boss's day. And to all of y'all, thank y'all so much. I really do appreciate each and every one of you um for what you do and for all the comments up here. Um, and for the record, uh, as I look out there and see Miss Martin, her still name in my phone is Miss Grace. So, that's still, you know, everybody that comes in the phone never gets changed on the contact, >> including my wife, Jenny Jordan. So, >> but anyway, thank you'all so much. I wish y'all the best uh Halloween and into the uh Thanksgiving season. So, we're at uh 7:19. If everybody is okay to uh >> make a motion journ. >> Second. We can
098adjourn at 7:19. Thank you so much. Have a good evening.