001Okay, good evening board members, district staff, Dr. Cruz, members of the community. Time is 6 o'clock. This is the 18th day of June, 2025. I call this regular meeting of the United Independent School District Board of Trustees to order. May the trustees please announce their presence for the record. Alisa Poris, present the third present. Danielle Martinez, present. Let the record show that a quorum of board members is present, that this meeting has been duly called, that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Agenda item number two, pledge of allegiance. Please rise to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for alliance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one indivisible.
002Agenda item number three, public comments. Uh, yes, Mr. President, we have two comments, one in person and one that was sent via um email. Individual is present, Miss Lee Suarez. She and the agenda item is on 15 acres and transparency. That's what she wrote down. Good evening. For the record, my name is Lee Huarees. Good evening, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Dr. Cruz, for clarifying that the district is thinking of relocating the current North Transportation Complex to the 15 acres. However, I do have a couple of other questions. What is the justification of the relocation? What will happen to the existing site if you do relocate? What is the projected total cost of construction and any moving costs for that relocation? Do you have any zoning restrictions for that new site? And lastly, what where
003are you getting the funds? What fund are you using to pay for the for these 15 acres? For the sake of transparency, I urge board members to request that the superintendent respond to these questions via a transport uh a presentation or a PowerPoint. I believe these questions need to be answered, especially at a time when the district is proposing to reduce schools budgets by 10%. School campuses are already operating with minimal resources. On another note, this is the third time that I have requested that you um that the community have access to the monthly dispersements. We uh the attorney general has uh ruled that that we are able to see that. Uh I don't want to be doing open records all the time. If the attorney general says that's something that we should be seeing,
004well, I am requesting that you add a link and this is the third request. So, thank you very much. Thank you everybody. Agenda item number four. We have We have one more. Apologize. Uh yes, just a quick reminder. Um a few months ago, Mrs. Patricia Mayors was banned in accordance with Texas Education Code 37.105. As a condition of the ban, she was allowed to submit public comments via email. Uh she chose to do so today and we did receive an email at 244. So I will read her public comment into the record and I will have uh three minutes. Uh good evening. My name is Patricia Mayers and before I begin, let me remind this board that I was banned from attending district property, including board meetings. Under a regulation, the superintendent implemented unilaterally, even
005though Texas Education Code section 11.201D says clearly that the superintendent's role is to administratively implement policies adopted by the board, not to create them independently. Now, tonight I want to call attention on the June 18th, 2025 agenda for a so-called quote unquote budget amendment. Was presented to the public as a blanket recommendation with zero transfer transparency. No dollar amount, no department breakdown, no justification, just a sentence telling the board to approve the amendment as presented without actually presenting anything. Let me be clear. This is how you deceive the public. You pass financial amendments disguised as harmless quote unquote internal transfers, but you refuse to disclose what's being moved, who it's for, or why. Where are the exhibits? Where is the list of account codes? Where is the explanation of whether this benefits administrators, campuses, or
006contractors. Instead, you site quote unquote board policy CE local without attaching it or even linking to it. That's not just lazy, it's obstruction. If these amendments are truly routine, then why not show them? They're insignificant and transparency cost you nothing. What if they contain controversial line items like extra duty stipens, principal, bonuses, or reallocation of funds away from students? Then yes, the public deserves to see every detail. Yes, you can't just say as approved by the 202425 budget and expect that to justify everything, amendments or changes. They are not pre-approved by default. And the Texas Open Meeting Act requires that you post sufficient details so the public understands what you're voting on, not vague placeholders. So here's my request, which I will also be filing as a formal public records request. One, I want the
007full breakdown of this June 18th budget amendment. account codes, fund sources, recipient departments and whether any of this affects fund balance. Two, I want any internal justifications submitted by fiscal operations or the superintendent. Three, and I want to know if any administrator compensation or discretionary stipen is buried in that amendment. This district cannot occupy any generic agenda language to present that pretending that's compliance. Transparency is not optional. It's a law. Thank you. Unlawful banned on me. Patricia mayors. Thank you. Agenda item number four, information guidance. Superintendent report. Yes. So, good evening members of the board and members of the audience. Um, I'm pleased and proud to present this report highlighting the successful conclusion of the 202425 academic school year and outlining key initiatives as we transition into the summer months. Our district has again demonstrated
008its unwanted commitment to academic success, um, student well-being and community partnership. The 202425 academic year has been remarkably successful. our students, faculty, staff that deserve immense credit for their dedication and hard work. We observe high levels of engagement, continued academic growth, and a vibrant learning environment throughout the district. As the regular academic year closes, our commitment to continuous learning remains strong with the launch of our summer school programs. These programs are designed to provide targeted academic support, enrichment opportunities, and skill development for students across various grade levels. We anticipate the high participation and look forward to seeing our students continue to grow and prepare for the upcoming school year. We are highly encouraged by the preliminary results and accountability projections for the recent STAR assessments. While official results are still pending and undergoing final review,
009early indicators suggest positive trends across various subject areas and grade levels. This preliminary uh preliminary data reflects the effectiveness of our instructional strategies, our teaching staff's dedication, and our students resilience. Our district departments have been working diligently and collaboratively to navigate the complex landscape of budget development and legislative interpretation. This collaborative effort ensures that our financial planning aligns directly with our our strategic educational priorities while effectively responding to new state and federal mandates. Teams are actively analyzing recent legislative changes, assessing their potential impact on funding, programs, and operational procedures. And in conclusion, I sincerely thank the board of trustees for their for delivering support and guidance throughout the year. Your leadership is instrumental in our shared success. I also thank our dedicated administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, and community members for their tireless efforts. As
010we move into the summer, we will continue to build upon our successes and prepare for an even more impactful 2025 2026 academic school year. Thank you. Thank you. For the record, meeting with us is present as well. Agenda item number five. consent agenda items A through J. Is there a motion? Motion for approval. Um I'd like to pull some items for individual uh discussion concern. Want a second and then just discuss? Second. Got a motion in the second. Uh any discussion? Um yes. I'd like to discuss uh Budget amendment um H and I. Okay. Go ahead. Yes. Okay. So for budget amendment uh regarding to the public comment for Miss Patricia Meyers um Mr. Floren Flores and I had actually had a conversation in regards to this. Uh Mr. Flores, I don't know if you
011can inform us and the public. Um how will these budget amendments benefit district operations? Yes, ma'am. Um they don't always benefit the district, but they're necessary. This one in particular does because all we're doing is recognizing the interest that we've earning that we're earning with the different financial instruments that we've adopted over the past couple of years. Um, if you recall, we brought uh to the board for their approval, the maintenance tax notes. These funds are earmarked for certain expenditures that are approved at the time the board approved the financing. If you recall, we present the list of of items that we're going to purchase like school furniture, um, computers, uh, infrastructure. Sometimes we remodel some of the classrooms with it and the these these financings allow you to last to to finance these projects
012over three years. Well, since it's over three years and you have this money gets funded up front, we put them in an account to earn interest. And so, as we're using this money, we still have a balancer that's earning interest. And right now, interest rates are pretty decent. So, um rather than come every month and recognize interest per month, we wait for it to accumulate like you're seeing on the budget amendment. Are we able to put it in the screen so they can if if um they can scroll up, you'll see it. So you could see the the fund 174 the the the fourth number year five that just it's our fiscal year, right? So fund 174 that was the 20 um 22 maintenance tax notes. It's pretty much at the end of its life,
013but because we've had some funds in there, it's earned $18,000 $18,510 from inception of this fiscal year till now. So, we've identified things that you all have already approved um that we can apply these funds to and we're going to close that one out. 175, 177, 195 is is 2023, 2024, and 2025. They're still within their u lifespan, and so projects are coming in. For example, like like the playgrounds is a good pro uh project. We listed about six playground schools that have playground issues, but now with this interest, we can allocate it there and maybe complete another school or as the bid comes in, if it's a little higher because we're having some some bids come in a little higher in the playgrounds, we're going to apply this interest to it. So, it allows
014us to expand um the projects that were already been approved at the board level when we approved the financing. So this is like uh in simple terms revenue. It's revenue. It's definitely revenue. Um maybe if we in the future we could put interest revenue earned or something like that. I think we're recognizing it's revenue that is accumulating interest over the over. Yes. Um you know we can also maybe even add a legend 5742 that you see in in about the fifth column from the left. That's a revenue line item. and and um I know that this is something great, right? Because it does speak to the work that you all are doing. Um with that said, are would you all be able to provide the board with what was purchased um so we can monitor,
015right, that um Yes, ma'am. When when we present financing to the board, there's a plan of finance and in that plan of finance, our financial advisors will get a list from us that has been vetted and approved with our bond counsel and co-bond counsel. And that's our our starting point. So, what we can do is get that list um and then go through and tell you exactly what was spent on it, like what the budget originally was and what we spent on it, which ones are closed out, and then some that are if you'll see an available balance, it's because that project is not done yet. Um most definitely, yes, we went especially the the fund 174, which is the 2022, that one is pretty much done. So, that one we could put in a
016Friday packet to you all and and show you that that crosswalk from what was originally approved. Um, you'll see an amended budget because sometimes we can move money. Remember, when you approve a financing on these projects, it's different from when you approve a the budget like in the general fund. In the general fund, we can move money uh within functions, but we can't cross functions. But when it comes to financing, even though we will bring it to the board because we're trying to be as transparent as we can, um we can move money around in there based on the project needs and how the bids come in because you're trying to finance the projects that were approved. So yes, you'll see the original request probably what we will call an amended budget, right? as as
017we had to move money around then the expenditures to date and show that avail on on the particular one I'm talking about 174 the bal the balances will be all zero because that that that financing has been is pretty much complete it's done on 175 you'll see small balances available because that's already two and a half three years old 177 that was in 2024 that one's still very active right and then 19 179 which is the one we did now that one's going to have a huge available because we were just starting those projects. Um, again, we try to finish it in three years. Um, but this definitely is a positive uh budget amendment because we're recognizing revenue and we're applying it to these to these projects so we can expand on them. Perfect. Thank
018you so much. Thank you for that. H I think uh regarding the internal changes as to the student code of conduct that was the other question. Yes, the other one. Thank you so much. Yes. Thank you Mr. for that explanation. Thank you. Hello, Miss Vis. So, I know uh in the board workshop, right? Uh we did discuss uh in regards to the meals. I don't know if that was something that we already I know admin was going to go ahead and get back with administrators. I don't know if you all have an update on with regards to outside meals being allowed to be brought into schools. I know Miss Morales and um you know Dr. Co were discussing that and they did reach a decision and that was to maintain no outside viewers being brought
019in to leave the student handbook as it is unless there's been a change um from them. That's the position and of course to remind our school administrators so that they can consistently enforce what we have in their student handbook. I think that's what it comes down to. It's enforcing across the board with all the schools different schools. That is correct. So that we don't do puzzle or district right yes. Yes it will because it's will be part of the the handbook if it is approved. So yes it will be for the record new is also present. So I know I know after after the board workshop I did receive several calls in regards to that um just because there are a lot of working parents um you know and they were requesting to see if
020maybe we can do a campus discretion because there are some kids that do take their lunchbox right and of course morning rush sometimes you know children leave their boxes at home and so the parents don't want to be faced with uh being at work and not being able to take the lunchbox to their child, right? So, I don't know if there's some that's something that we can look into. Um, I know in the past our food service department used to have what was more like an emergency meal where no child would be left without a meal if that's something that they wanted to eat. And I'm not sure if they're here. Is that still in place, Mr. Garc? That is correct. So, as far as the elementary is concerned, you know, allergic to something or,
021you know, that'll be different, right? Maybe they're allergic to something. Just maybe look into like a designated area where we can because I know one time I went and I I didn't know, you know, I can take in lunch for my daughter. So, um a designated area maybe like work it could be something where they can sign in to it. Uh sign in like if it becomes a pattern for the parent doing that, you know, it's something that you can you know, there's policy, but you know, as a parent, you don't want to go in there and and think that my my, you know, my son is not going to eat for this day because, you know, we're trying to avoid that maybe just to and I think that the finicky eater, they should be
022allowed to at least get their own lunchbox that you're not. Yes, they do. It's the outside meals and that's no change. That's actually the recommendation is that there's no change to the way it is written in our student code of conduct currently, which is to not allow outside meals. Um, however, I our principles and we're we're we just need to remind them that's our our our job to make sure that we're reminding them to number one be consistent in how we apply our our rules and our procedures and our policies, but also to be flexible because we know that those situations and our administrators are very good about that. They know that, you know, there's situations that that happen where, you know, they're rushing in the morning. We've all done it. We've all been, you
023know, parents and rushing in the morning to take our kids to school and get to work. Um but to answer your your question Mr. Agilad, yes, if it does become or your comment, if it does become a pattern, then you know that's something that we have to make sure that we are enforcing because sometimes it is because there's emergencies and situations come up, but sometimes it does become a pattern and we need to make sure that we're applying our procedures uniformly. So, just to be clear, just can you distinguish between meals that coming from the house like the lunchbox uh your versus I'm taking Chick-fil-A to my son or daughter. That's what it is. The outside Yes, correct, Mr. Mio. So, the outside meals are your Chick-fil-As, your water burgers, your meals the parents. Yes,
024their outside meals when they bring their lunch box and if they forget their lunch box at home and the parent has to pick it up and bring it to the school. Yes, absolutely. If that that happens, do we check I'm sorry. Do we check the lunch boxes? We we do security checks on the lunch boxes at time randomly. If uh I forget my lunch box and I go to McDonald's and I just pack it in the lunch box and here it goes. And I personally don't see a problem with that cuz I did that with my kids when they were young. They all got they got Chick-fil-A. I working mom with three kids didn't have time to make sandwiches at night. I would do my run through with Chick-fil-A and I'd put up Chick-fil-A sandwiches.
025There's nothing wrong with that. We we that we don't we don't really we don't really check the lunch boxes unless they're doing random security checks. So with me, you know, the first person they security, you might not even get to and you're curious, you know, how long they might just tell you you can't cut it by and and that's, you know, where a designated area might work or a signing sheet. So I think the policies is I think it's a good policy. The issue is and I think we have to remind everybody is people dropping off food uh parents dropping off food in in that hour uh the lunch hour. So that's the issue we want to avoid and that's yes and I think maybe need to be a little bit more concise. all of
026our all of our staff at those times they're they're lunch duty they're busy they don't have the you know the opportunity we don't have the staff to be manning to receiving a a a large number of parents uh to be calling students out to be bringing them to the front office so that's initially that's when that even came about correct me if I'm wrong Miss Perez back many years ago when that that was changed what about uh like if the parents really concerned they can call school and you know advice if they're going and maybe have like a list where principal saying Miss Morales is coming and she's approved, call me when she's here or somebody to to be there in the front, you know, cuz it's it doesn't happen a lot, but when it
027happens, we might get a call or two because something went wrong. We go back to discretion that it might happen one, two, three times that they forget and somebody will take the food. That's fine. But if it's a constant pattern, that's the issue. I think we're trying to avoid uh our securityities being overloaded with visitors that are not really necessarily going into the schools, but they're going to our grounds to drop off food. Yes. The other issue uh which brought up the concern is that we don't know that that that is the parent. It could be anybody else. It could be delivery service. It could be all kinds of factors which has happened which was one of the reasons Door Dash or something like that. That's right. So that's one of the issues that we
028had this as well. Let me remind the board, as you recall, we are a free and reduced district or a free district actually. So, every single child in our district eats free. So, if a child for whatever reason is unable to have their lunch uh brought home, they can go to the line and they will get a meal because every single one of our students eats for free at UIC. Well, yeah, but then you have the picky eaters like my child, you know, that doesn't eat. So that's why I was saying in the board workshop if maybe we could just put you know I understand the outside food right so just be um provide an example for example right water burger whatnot like I said at the board workshop at one of my child's school
029we take the lunchbox right he'll take water burger but it's not wrapped in the water burger paper right so I'm a working parent during the day if he forgets gets his lunchbox in the morning, my mom will be the one to take it and drops it off and that's it. Right? So that's why I was asking could we leave it up to campus discretion, right? To have that flexibility of because I understand you don't want a high flow of of people coming every day, right? Because then it also impedes with the safety of the school. But maybe if we can just have that um that campus discretion, that wording, because then you are going to have those parents that are going to say, "Well, it's here black and white. You're why are you allowing that
030parent and you're allowing, you know?" So, I think that's what I mean. We have to just be um be careful with with us our our policy. I think the only thing that we have to be really careful with when it comes to campus discretion is that we're no longer unformed. And then we have other issues that come up from campus to campus. If one campus allows it and another campus does not, then we come up we we have another another set of issues. So as far as the the the flexibility is concerned and the discretion as far as when it happens once in a while or there's an issue with it. I think our our administrators and our our assistant principles are very good about, you know, talking to the parents, communicating, which is key,
031right? This happened here. I I I'm I'm meaning to bring this lunch today to my child unless it becomes an issue or it's frequent then you know where we have to speak to the parent to say look this is a reason we don't allow it but other than that I think it's really important for us to be consistent in how we apply it and once we start doing campus discretion we've seen in other cases that then we run into other situations like the dress code situations correct one campus is enforce it some campuses don't u you have elementaryaries middle schools different and it creates it creates it creates other it does create other problems but I agree with this one thing is I think the issue here is the wording outside food that that should
032that should not be part of the wording because as a parent you should have the right to pack your child's lunchbox with whatever you want right well within reason um I think maybe to say no no no vendor is allowed to drop off food um right the wording is um with outside maybe samples we add examples to it. She's Miss Marti is right. You're going to have parents child's going to go home and say so and so was eating a Chick-fil-A for sandwich. The parents going to say it says no outside food. That's outside food. So the outside food is too vague. It's too it could be misconstrued. Your wording is is off. So let's let's move to table and page. A motion to table for the till the next meeting. I was going to
033ask the same thing. There's language there's language in that in that action item where it can be approved but it can be amended internally. So the handbook the handbook in itself we're not going to do that really quickly. We need to make a clarification. The agenda language is for the student code of conduct which is required uh to be adopted annually by the board by chapter 37. What we're talking about here is the student handbook. That's an ever evolving document that can change on administration's discretion doesn't require that doesn't require board. And we'll just bring up that that as an ag that that item on food as a agenda item for the next board meeting and you can make any modifications according to what the board look at the language such then can we have
034a motion to approve um I know there was another one where I received calls again because of my comments with the board workshop and I think that is in the student code of conduct in regards to the I'm sorry miss but go ahead I do want Let me clarify something. We do have a deadline. If we want the student code of conducts in our parents and our students hands by the first day of school, we cannot wait until the July board meeting to What is the special meeting on the handbook? What is the deadline? We have to have that in their hands by mid July and that only gives them three weeks to turn around and publish it because we have a board special meeting on Wednesday. We're supposed to have a special call meeting
035next week. So we'll bring some language for your Yes. Because I know there was there was one in regards to um the comments that I made again, right? Uh about the unreasonable searches, right? So I know I did receive some calls again because my community is very vocal, right? And they know their rights. And so one of the concerns was are is a district able to add um language in the sense of well the parent can be notified. Let's just say for example um an instance that happened with my child was the teacher said everybody put your your backpacks on the table and uh my son right because he thinks he knows it all right as a teenager knows his rights he did say you know you have to have reasonable um reason to search
036whatnot he went to the principal's office the principal did explain to him you know the principal can go ahead and and do that, right? Because she has the authority, which to me, that's completely fine. But then you also have the other parents that are going to say no, like nobody's going to search my child without me being present. So to listen to their concern, right? Because I understand again it's a touchy subject because the safety of other children are involved but are we able to add language in the sense of you know what we'll call we'll give you 1 hour notice if you're not here or 30 minute notice just some sort of window like 20 minute 15 minutes something where um if your child you know one minute is just too long in the
037case of a safety concern that we have we administratively have reasonable suspicion very different than probable cause that law enforcement has and so if we have a child and we suspect they have contraband that one minute just escorting them over to the office a lot of things can happen. So, you know, time is of the essence. You know, if a child has perhaps consumed some sort of drug, one minute of waiting for a parent without them being seen by a medical professional, you know, could could mean the difference between someone and, you know, you know, at the EUR or just, you know, with their physician. So, I would hesitate placing a timeline. I think our administrators all act as if that were our child, our own child, and we're looking out for their safety routine.
038You all know the experts, which I completely agree, right, with what you're saying. We look at reasonable suspicion. Their name came up. We have an anonymous report. They were in the vicinity of some event happening. And every search we do is for that child's safety and well-being. And if they don't cooperate, then that does rise our level of concern to another level. And that's when we want to get law enforcement involved because the contraband they may have may jeopardize everyone's well-being. And waiting one hour, we're going to have which employee there with the, you know, the administrator not being able to tend to other children, not being in the cafeteria, not monitoring hallways, not doing their regular duties. So, we need to act quickly, swiftly, and ensure everyone's safety. Yes. Yeah. From from a safety
039perspective, we're certainly not going to we're going to every minute counts. We're going to have to be able to address it as soon as possible. But if you really talk to our campus administrators, they will share with you. A lot of these investigations take hours. Um, it's not just a real quick interview. Uh, in some cases, you know, they have three or four suspects or individuals, they're interviewing them individually. It may take three or four hours. It may take all day. It may take two days. Sometime throughout the day, they will notify those parents. So, parents are being notified. They're just not being notified prior to them doing the investigation, which again, every minute counts, whether it's a child that may be under the influence or somebody that may be suspected of carrying a weapon
040that we need to address immediately. Notify the parent as soon as possible. I was going to say, your students are not, you shouldn't be treating them. You just not notify assuming they're criminals. We're already assuming they're doing I understand the safety part, but they have rights also. But notify them based on investigation ongoing. Sure. And that's still notifying because the kids going to tell the parent, right? Absolutely. Once we've determined that there's no threat, there's no imminent danger, the child is safe from a health perspective. Yes. Absolutely. They're they're notifying parents. So, and and my my thing was too, right, I'm glad we clarified that because I do I am a strong believer that every minute counts, right? um the language again going back to the language and I know that this is something that
041still has to get approved go through legal and all of that but I'm just not um comfortable with refusal to cooperate in or interference with a search i.e. random searches, backpack screenings, metal detector, vehicle, K9, and are fleeting or running away from school district officials. If a student refuses to to cooperate, it's discretionary placement in a disciplinary alternative education program. So, perfect scenario, my child, he wasn't doing it uh with bad intent, right? Where you know, I'm not I'm refusing. But let's just say we have an administrator that really takes the literal and says, "You know what? You refused. That's it. You're going a step, right?" And so hence now you're potentially like ruining right this child in the long run because of the refusal to cooperate. So again, are we able to revisit that?
042I mean, because I wouldn't want um a child who's maybe had good behavior, right, and just wants to be uh a smart kid citing their rights to then potentially go to stat. Just just for the record, I think to table and if the board is okay, I know we're working together. We do have a meeting next week. I just need to give a little more time. I know I haven't had the time to meet with you as well, so I don't know the board members, but just little details because once the school starts, policy is made and principles have to follow and and and we can't do nothing about it. I just want to make sure we we we have the right direction and I know we do. We just, you know, so going back
043to refusal to cooperate, our students at the high school level are required by state law to take a course in interacting with law enforcement because not only is this a skill that we're teaching them in our schools right now, which is to cooperate with the adults, with the professionals, with administrators, with law enforcement, but the state of Texas also sees that as a need and they have required our districts to have that course. It it's they become certified. Our CMI department has to certify that every children every child went through those specific modules before they graduate. So, this is a skill uh as far as being able to cooperate with the adults, with law enforcement, with administrators and we're moving along in that direction. If children don't acquire this skill in in high school, then
044what happens is they move on to adulthood. they're going to face other more much more serious um situations. But you know, we're not here to violate any children's rights. We're here to guarantee their safety. And when we are doing random checks in the morning, during lunch, whatever time we choose, we need our children to cooperate. We're responsible for 3,000 students. And and then in some cases, and lack of cooperation is only going to hinder that process. When we had the situation at Alexandra High School, what do we have? We have law enforcement going on there. And we had adults also. Let's check backpacks. That's part of our n our normal regular procedure. Our administrators each grab a hall and they start walking into classrooms and they start going through children's backpacks just to ensure that
045there aren't any weapons on our campus. and and that's the type of trust that we need our parents and and other individuals to have in our school administrators. It it's it's really important. But once again, we can pay politicians. We're trying to get parents to trust us, but parents need to know that we're on their children's side, that we don't think every child is a criminal just because they don't want to cooperate, right? And we do have clear backpacks. I think we do, right? So, I mean, I think some I don't know what they're looking for, but everything should be visible. Um, but in order to get that trust from our community, I think we need to show a little respect to our students. That's just my opinion. Another question like how are we informing
046the parents of all these changes through PSAs, letters, you know, how because we we can't expect them to know, right? It's our job to let them know. We usually have a flyer and we send that out to parents and it's the newest most, you know, recent changes uh similar to when we had vapes that were upgraded by the state of Texas. We went ahead and sent that flyer out as well. And so I think you do that as well. You said something very important, right, that we educate our high school students, right? It's state mandate, but what are we doing for our middle and our elementary? I think that's something that, you know, as as a board member, I'd like to see for the new coming school year to see what uh supportive measures, right?
047Because like Miss Flores said, it's a trust and, you know, we have to work together, the parents, with the district. So, I think we need to look at what are we doing with our middle and our elementary and it's also going to help us in the long run to prep them, right? And for them to know their their their rights. Yes. But also, you said it, if there is an incident like the Alexander that they need to also fully cooperate because hence we're all here to take care of each other and to save lives, right? So, I think we need to to look into that. What are we doing for our elementary and our middle? Yes, of course. Just just for context as well, every day we check hundreds of backpacks just at the beginning
048of the morning every single day. So, we are doing that already randomly. Um and and it's not targeting anybody. It's just making sure that everybody is safe. So we on a practical basis, we are doing it already daily. Um if an incident comes up, you know, we want to be able to prove the child is okay, that they didn't do anything wrong. And if they have nothing to hide, you know what I'm saying? Go ahead and check my backpack. What do I have to hide? It's usually when we don't get cooperation is usually where we end up finding something. I think the issue is is the discretionary placement. And and let me let me say something that there's checks and balances with that. So a principal decides to do that. Uh the discipline uh department
049makes sure that it's an appropriate uh placement. And so there are some checks and balances. I certainly think that you know you on campus to to search, you know, for for narcotics or weapons and people start running. I certainly think that that elevates my my suspicion and you know and you know if you start checking backpacks and they don't want to cooperate you know again it elevates suspicion have a difficult job already administrators have difficult time already. We've got all these safety factors that are being implemented that you know that we have to impose on our campuses. We've checked thousands of backpacks. We got 42,000 children that we're responsible for. I certainly think that we need to also support the the campuses in making sure that the safety factor is in place. I'm not disagreeing.
050I just think, you know, all right, this this discretionary placement that that discretionary placement, I think, just causes a lot of a lot of uh like concern with what's going to happen if my son runs or my son doesn't or doesn't want to cooperate, you know, and so we have had those situations that you just mentioned where we've had children that will run into the restroom to dispose of contraband. We have others that will run across the school to dispose of contraband others who have different if they're running far far away like you know they just run from here to the classroom or what is the distance they need to run you know can you answer that well the distance varies it depends where they are within this the language I think it's where they
051need to it could be 10 feet but they're running into the restroom to dispose of contra that depends on the facts of of what's going on of each case. Each case is different and we do and that's why administrators use their discretion to determine is this a child who we suspected had contraband and now because they ran down the hall, they ran out of the building, we we now maybe don't have access to that contraband. Where is it? Where did it get disposed? Now we have even bigger worries which is where is that contraband and can we find it or did it get you know flushed etc. It could be as simple. It could be as simple as this student may be an undocumented student and he just doesn't want to get stopped and he
052just runs because now there's a there's a fear that exists and and it and it flows down to our students as well. It could be that simple. I don't know. Every every case is different. Every case is different. And that's why the investigation part is really important. Talking to the child, why did you learn? You know, we talked about you walking with me to my office. and we're going to search you and as soon as I use the word search, you know, you took off. You know, why the restroom? Why, etc. And in that case, they ran and then you go to restroom, you find the contraband, but then that you can put two and two and that's investigation on the police. But if you don't find anything, you can't send a step. Correct. So
053that's why the language needs to be clear. If they run, you know, you're not just going to send a step. a three-day suspension. I'll be more because you first paint they know next time they can't say I didn't know. It depends on the circumstances definitely. Of course, we do also have them assessed. We also have witness statements. So, there's a lot of different um information that administrators can work together and get it done. We don't want children to be running away from administrators, running away from teachers in these situations. That's a communication part there where I know, you know, as a law enforcement agent, you're you're going to try to deescalate. You're not going to try to escalate by, you know, throwing your authority around and treating them like a criminal. You treat them like
054a human being. You talk to them. Yes. And and you relax the situation so that they're more willing to cooperate. If I could add just one more thing, I think this came about through, correct me if I'm wrong, it's better a committee that she has of administrators and you know it unfortunately we're living in a very different age right now and um we have a lot more disrespect, a lot more uh um cooperative students. uh it's not all our students, it's just you know some that this would apply to and depending on the situation and I think this this recommendation by the committee was made to assist in those particular cases where the students don't have something where they are hiding something where they are going to the bathroom and potentially flushing something down the
055toilet because they know that even facilities is here we've had situations where items like these are flushed down our toilets we're not going to find them. Um, and we start to have plumbing issues. That's another story. But again, I think the committee recommended this because of just the things that we deal with now and just to find a balance and supporting also our teachers and our administrators that are having to deal with these things every day. We up here, we're just trying to support them as you are as well because we're not the ones that are there dealing with Yes. these situations every day. So going back to the comment that Mr. Gaza made earlier as far as the discretionary placements are concerned. I still recall being an administrator and those packets when they are
056discretionary they have to get approved through the discipline management department. It's not a done deal. There has to be a lot of paperwork and documentation to support that placement. So it doesn't happen automatically just because and statement. But it happens often pretty much 99.9% of the cases do get placed. Is this committee? It's rare that you overturn it and the parent wins and they don't go. I don't think they get placed because they run. I think they get placed because they they get found with with contraband. They usually have some sort of contraband. Once again, we don't have this as discretionary. We are placing it in the student code of conduct for your consideration to get approved as a discretionary placement. It's being upgraded. We can leave it as a serious offense. It does not
057have to be upgraded. and we can bring you additional data. Uh but we don't if a child refuses to cooperate and then we are jeopardizing the safety and well-being of everyone else. And if and if you would like to for it to go back to a level two serious offense, we can certainly do that. I I would think so. And I think if there's a a student that is just really not being cooperative, then that's when you have law enforcement come in, right? You have intervention. You have Yes. And so I think um something that we need to do also for the next coming school year is you've said it right. It's a support system. We need to educate our parents more on the student code of conduct. We have to. So, I don't know
058if technology can do something where um parents can do their own research, uh where, you know, a Q&A on the student code of conduct, right? Because I know right now it's just a link. You go in there, you can search through Adobe, but let's just say it's a parent that has a question. What you know, scenarios, Q&A, what happens if my child runs whatever, whatever answer, and it'll give you an answer of what could happen, right? So it it just comes down to the education. We have to educate our kids. We have to educate our parents. And we have to make sure that our staff is trained well enough to have that um ability to empathize, right? Because like Mr. Mayor said, it could just be a child who is right now living in fear
059of getting deported. So I would agree with moving it back. I know we already tried to table it, right? No. Well, what's the current sanction right now for it? If they refuse to cooperate, what happens to them? Suspension and school out of school suspension. Okay. And if they have two or more level two serious violations, they can be placed at the alternative school. Well, let's take H out. Let's move Let's move to take H out and vote on it. Move to So moved. Second. Move H. So, we're going to move uh the discussion on on H into items for individual consideration. We'll order it there. Uh, is there a motion to approve items A through J? I just had a question on letter I. We're going to discuss it uh on the vision and Yes,
060I just had a question. I don't think we move that one out, but we can. Okay. You go ahead. Okay. So, just my question was I think our vision and our mission statement goals are beautiful. Uh, but I just want to know if we're going to have a system where we're able to monitor if we're on track um with the goals. Are you able to present maybe halfway mid school year? You know, this is how we're doing with accountability with our um parent engagement. So, that's what we're trying to do with our strategic plan. Okay. That we are going to be working uh on throughout this year. We're hoping to present it to you July or August. That's one document that we have to be monitoring. But the other one is our CI our CIPs,
061our campus improvement plans and our district improvement plans which are directly aligned with our five goals. Perfect. And this is information that the public will be able to see as well. You'll present it during the board meeting. They are posted on our on our websites as well. Perfect. So we are tracking, we are monitoring. Yes, we have to by statute we have to. Okay. All CIPs, campus approved plans, district approved lands are there. They can be found on either the campus website or the district website. And by by law, by requirement, they have to be uh they have to be evaluated quarterly formative assessment. You know, if this goal isn't working, this strategy isn't working, you know, the campus or the district needs to go back, retweak it, you make sure we strategize and make
062sure that we're meeting that goal. And at the end of the year, that's when we have a summit of evaluation as to which strategies did not work to support those goals. So, it is an annual process that happens. Okay. Perfect. And are these uh this vision and this goal this is aligned just because that we just came back from a TASBY conference so I'm filled with knowledge right um do these uh vision and goals are they aligned with superintendent goals for Yes sir. Yes. Okay. And so we will be able to see that as a board right because I was newly elected so maybe if I can get it in my packet on Friday to make sure. Perfect. We can. All right. So, is there a motion to approve items A through J with the
063exception of H? Second. I I do need to read the donations in uh for the record. Hold on. We're on the consent. No work. Almost there. So, we got a motion and a second on items A through J with the exception of H. Any further discussion? All those in favor sign. I. Motion passes. Items for individual consideration agenda item number six. A approval donations. Yeah. So, we have several donations that are up for approval. Uh, the first donation of United South High School Band booster donated $181,000 to the United South High School Band program. And for clarification or for the record, uh, please note that this donation of $180,000 was accepted in September 2024 from the same donor. So, in essence, this donation is for an additional $1,000. Uh, the second donation, a donation by
064the JR Bamas Parent Booster Club. the amount of 7,541 to45 to go towards the JR DNA band program for the purchase of a trailer to transport instruments and equipment. Um, next donation, a donation by the Texican Cattle Women Association in the amount of 7,110 to be dispersed to the three United ISD Future Farmers of America FFA programs, uh, JB Alexander High School, United High School, and Lyndon B. Johnson High School. A donation by Cougar Bus Lines Limited in the amount of 4,500 to go towards United ISD 2024 golf tournament. A donation by the United High School Baseball Booster Club in the amount of 2,250 to go towards United High School Baseball Program for senior scholarships and equipment purchases. A donation amount of $1,100 by the Borchers Elementary PTC Booster Club to go towards campus expenses
065and student incentives. We had three donations under $1,000 for the corrected grand total for June 2025 is $24,6145. Okay. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Approval of board minutes for the months of April and May 2025. Motion for approval. Second. Second. Motion in the second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Uh discussion and possible action to nominate a candidate for the region one education center board of directors for region one position B. Uh yes, Mr. Monttoayor. There are three candidates up for your all's consideration for a nomination for this position. Uh you all provided this information, but it's really quick. Uh so is Sanchez Garca. She is
066from South Texas ISD. She has been on the board there for 17 years and is currently the incumbent for the region one position you all are nominating for. Uh the other nominee is Mr. Rudy Corona from San Bonito Consolidated ISD. He has been on his board for five years. And the third candidate is Esther Gardosa Wade from Monte Alto ISD who has been on her board for three years. Uh one thing really quickly too, Sylvia Gara, the incumbent has seven endorsements so far. The other two candidates have won each. Do we nominate right now? Sure. I nominate Missia. Second motion in the second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I I motion carries. Um D request for board members in reference to the use of board of trustee discretionary funds for
067various and departments. Members of the board Dr. Cruz members of the audience my for the record associate superintendent there are no additional requests other than what's in your board packet. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. Motion to second. All those in favor sign I motion carries. Going back to item H of the let me read it again. Discussion of the 2025 2026 student code of conduct internally recommended changes uh and authorized legal council to modify as deemed as necessary or required by law. Really quick before um the board gets into discussion on this item. I would just like to note that the way this agenda item is worded is that it's allowing us to continue to modify the student code of conduct based on your all's feedback which obviously
068has been very passionate. And then number two, we've had a legislative year. So there's a lot of legal changes that have taken place that we as the attorneys need to get everything filtered and put it into the document. So it's ever evolving. You know, if you all approve it as it is, it's not going to be the copy that's there. We're going to keep changing it based on your feedback. I do believe there's a special called meeting scheduled next week that if you all want to bring this again. I would only not recommend that it be tabled because you know we are on a tight timeline. We do need to keep working on it and let's say something happens where the meeting doesn't happen next week and then we get past the timeline we can
069run into some issues. But all the feedback is being heard by by myself by administration and we will integrate all of this based on what you all want to commission. Mr. President, you know I would like to make a motion to table for the next special meeting. Uh just to have more time uh motion to table letter H. Um I know it's in the time time frame, but I think we can table H for next uh next week. Okay, I'll go ahead and second that. A motion in a second. Any discussion? Just to say um thank you for your input ma'am. Um from what I'm understanding is if we would have approved it, it's a fluid document. It can be changed at all times. Well, there the the way it's worded is you're giving us
070the flexibility to take your input, modify it, and then also from our and a lot of legal changes have occurred over the last legislative session that we need to get in there. But, you know, we went to the July regular meeting. That's pretty late, I believe, for publishing and all sorts of, I guess, logistics. And I Mr. Shman, thank you for for you know, the legal aspect. I just know that if there's any changes, I know and I what I reviewed, it's not going to be anything with the law, the state law. Something with the district. So, your mic test something with the district. It'll probably be something with the district policy. I know we're not going to try to let you guys work, you know, 24 hours or something like that, but just policy
071and just like I heard was the staff, the parents, and I think that's where we're coming from. So, we're going to put that money into it and see just um I think we just want to make sure that we're we're doing it the way it needs to be done and maybe fearful that there do we send hard copies out? I thought it was available online to parents. No, I think there there are hard copies because I know my it's up to the parent to request a hard copy. If they request it, they'll get a hard copy, but the electronic copy immediately once it's uploaded. Let's get the vote down. So, there's a motion to second the table for the special car meeting for next week. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion
072carries. It's table for next Wednesday. Um, where are we at? Hold on. So, agenda item number seven, close session. Time is currently 6:55 p.m. And in accordance with Texas government code, sections 551. Wait, didn't we did we skip some? We're good. Uh, and 551.07274, the board will discuss item 787. No action will be taken in close session. We'll be back in. Okay. [Music] Open session. The board has reconvened from close session. We are now in open session. The time is 7:48 p.m. For the record, no action was taken in close session. Agenda item 8A, possible action regarding the drainage easement and drainage facilities that run between Malda Norte and Clark Middle School as well as Clark Elementary School properties. Yes, Mr. Monttoayor. Our recommendation is to allow legal counsel to proceed as discussed in close
073session. So move. Motion. Second. Motion to second. Uh any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion. Motion carries. Agenda item 8B, possible action regarding the appointment of magnet dean health and science. Yes. For the position of magnet dean health science at Alexander High School, I recommend Priscilla Lea. Is there a motion to approve? Motion. Second. Motion in the second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Congratulations, M. Congratulations. Congratulations. Agenda 8C, possible action regarding the appointment of assistant principal at Julia B. Jones Elementary School for the position of assistant principal at Julia B. Jones Elementary School. I recommend Jessica Bravo Banos. Is there a motion for second? Motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries.
074Congratulations. Congratulations. Possible action regarding the appointment of assistant principal at Lamar Bruna Middle School. For the position of assistant principal at Lamar Bruna Middle School, I recommend Anhelica Chavan. Motion second. Motion in the second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Congratulations, Miss Chavana. Congratulations. Congratulations. Agenda item 8E, possible action regarding the appointment of assistant principal at United Middle School. for the position of assistant principal at United Middle School. I recommend Laura Royftoft. Motion second. Motion in a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion passes. Congratulations, Miss Roy. Congratulations. Congratulations. Agenda item 8F, possible action regarding the appointment of principal at Kennedy Sapata Elementary School. For the principal at Kennedy Sapata Elementary School, I recommend Erica Sana. Motion second. Motion in a
075second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Congratulations to Miss. Agenda item 8G, possible action regarding the appointment of director of elementary education. For the director of elementary education, I recommend Gabriella Pettis. Motion. There's a motion. Second. A second. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion passes. Congratulations, Miss Pettis. Congratulations. Agenda item 8H, possible action regarding the appointment of executive director of college military readiness and enrichment for the executive director of college career military readiness and enrichment. I recommend Anhelica Sanchez. Motion second for discussion. I just want to mention one thing. Um this has the director now executive director. Um can we amend that that position does not yet? Well, let me ask you, would that position get filled as a director of
076CTE or would it be canceled out? Um, the plan is to fill that position as a director of CTE. Can we amend to not because we can discuss, right? I don't know. We can amend to not shut it down. You can make your recommendation. Make the recommendation to amend to not shut to notice. Um, that's just your recommendation. Recommendation. Yeah, it's it's discussion. Okay, we got we got action regarding the let's talk about the appointment of executive director of college military readiness and enrichment. Uh there is a motion and a second uh with a recommendation not to fill that previous position until further notice. That's not part of that's not part of the motion. That's not how the agenda item is worded. But as Mr. Aid said, that's what is his recommendation is discussion. So
077we'll do the recommendations first and then we'll well we can't vote on the recommendations and that's not posted on the agenda. Whatever is here so on that on that motion and a second is there any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I motion passes. Congratulations. Then agenda 8 I. Possible action regarding the appointment of assistant superintendent of facilities and construction for the position of assistant superintendent of facilities and construction. I recommend ele second. Motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying I. Congratulations Mr. Congratulations. Congratulations everybody. All right. Motion to motion. Motion pass.