001Okay. Okay. We're going to back up one second and talk about uh Angie. Come on up. Come on. Miss Gutirez, come on up. [laughter] >> It took a long time for that spot. >> That's okay. Mrs. Guturz has been a wonderful addition to our campus. She provides exceptional support to the ECSE classroom and a special education students across the school. Her kindness, compassion, and teamwork shine through every shines through everything she does. [applause] Okay. Uh, Venus Middle School, Brendan Glenn. [applause] Coach Glenn truly represents the Venus ISD vision of excellence with his positive attitude and ability to build relationships with all students. You will always hear students speak positively about him and they are excited to see him on our campus. Uh, Venus High School, Melissa Pard. [applause] Mrs. Pard is recognized for her dedication
002to professional growth and exceptional commitment to her students. She recently achieved a significant milestone by passing the rigorous ESL number 154 certification exam, ensuring she provides the best possible instruction for our multicultural classes. Furthermore, her willingness to stay current through training, including attending the TABE conference, makes her a prime example of a lifelong learner. She is consistently patient, respectful, and understanding with her students. We celebrate her genuine care for each individual. >> Mrs. But is is Miss Nickel present? >> Okay. If y'all if if y'all don't want to stay, you don't have to. It's usually a fun time had by all, but you're more than welcome to leave. And congratulations to everybody. [applause] Do what? >> Not you. Sit back down. Sit back down. [laughter] >> Yeah. [laughter] >> We'll go to item six, presentation
003of campus reports. Oh, >> do we want to move the >> Well, I mean, if it's some somebody can pick it up for you. Is it heavy? Okay. >> Okay. All right. Good evening. For the primary school, it's been a busy month of November, and we're excited that we're so close to Thanksgiving. Um our enrollment at this point we are at 385. So we are consistently staying at that number. Um for our uh ADA attendance, we wish it was a little high higher. I think we're the lowest in the district this year. Um we have been plagued by illnesses. I think every other week it's something new. Um so we are about to begin some new attendance initiatives and hopefully we can get our kiddos to school. Um other than that, we're we're staying busy.
004We have a big Huna field trip coming up. We have Thanksgiving lunch this week. Last week we hosted our first ever uh Veterans Day parade and that was a wonderful uh ceremony and a way to celebrate uh those families. Um and then uh last month you can see here we did our first ever um Hispanic Heritage Month parade also. So all our bilingual classes um they walked the halls and celebrated their heritage. So um we are just excited for all the things coming up. uh book fairs going on this week. So, we are staying busy. Thank you. >> Hi. I feel like that this has happened like days and weeks and months ago, but it hadn't been that long ago. Um our enrollment is at 6:36 and we kind of go back and forth. Couple
005of kids here and there back and forth. So, um, our fourth grade bilingual teacher has finally become certified. And if we get our behavior teacher tonight, we are finally fully staffed. Yes. Thank you, Warren. I I needed that. He knows how how hard it's been over there. So, um, working on our PLC process to try to move ourselves along and that's going well. We had a great time at our trunk or treat. There was a few pictures there of our kiddos. That same week we celebrated our Red Ribbon Week, the week of October 27th, and they had lessons. But I wanted to take just a real quick minute to brag on this is third grade bilingual. At the time that I got this together, this was these were the only bilingual grades that I had
006in. But I just wanted to point out at the growth that we're seeing in these kiddos. So I was very very proud that they're grow they're growing and the teacher was proud and excited and already has a plan to move them on up further. Alrighty. Our parent conferences. I think my teachers enjoyed that more than they expected. You know at first they're kind of like but I think they really enjoyed it. We had a huge turnout. Almost every slot was was filled and sometimes if the slots weren't filled, they would make a phone call and either the parent would talk on the phone or they would come up. So, we were excited about that. We're working on our attendance. We are after the middle school. Yes, we are going to get them. But we are
007um get high attendance with popcorn parties and announcing the grades that have the you know the best attendance. And then here's a few more pictures of our trunk and trunk or treat and our orange and black day. Just wanted to share a little bit about the fun that we're having. And we are ready for tomorrow. Anybody wants to drop by, have a seat for you to help. So come on by for our parent Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. Thank you. All right, just to go on record, she's not going to catch the middle school in attendance. Our attendance last month was 96.4%. Um, our current enrollment right now is 5:15. It fluctuates almost dayto day. Um, anywhere between 511 and 518. We stay right in those numbers um for sure. But she's not gonna catch me. >>
008[laughter] >> So, seventh grade won the attendance challenge last month and it was snow cones all around. So, everybody had a good time um with with snow cones. It's a we we announce attendance at lunches and so when they don't win, they're not very happy. Um and so the group that's at the the lowest this week will be the highest next week because they start talking to each other. So, it's funny. Um, [clears throat] so things we did this month, we did um just for some teacher morale. We do this every year. We let the teachers trickor treat. Kids get to do that in the evenings. So the teachers do it during the day. They trick-or- treat all of the offices and they get to get candy and treats and it's it's a fun time
009by all. We buy them the little Halloween buckets and everything. So they have fun. We did that. Um, so we have started with our we call it genius mindset. That's our intervention time. Um we did some pre-assessment with kids. They've been doing um lessons. Different different groups are doing different things. Uh but then we are post assessing last week. So we'll see how that is going with growth with the kiddos. Um if you're on my campus, you you'll hear kids say, "Oh, I zed it." Um Zern is one of the programs we use and when they complete lessons and they zed it and it's a big deal. Um we do top 10 on the wall and announce every week. So, um just trying to get kids excited about that. We had our for my campus,
010it was our first math framework um instructional walks and and it went really well. They were very complimentary of what they saw with the teachers. Um since last time we visited, I had um we had our schools to watch like a site visit where they came. Um we had a parent panel. I had 12 parents out of 15 show up. So, that was fabulous. We had a student panel. We had a teacher panel and then they had free reign to just go visit whatever classrooms they wanted to see. So he told me maybe by the end of November we'll have word on that. Um definitely by mid December. Uh but it it went really well. The parents are excited. They still call me have you heard yet? Do we know anything yet? So it was
011it was a good time. We had a a lot of things going on. We got um winter band concerts coming up and then um we have all pro dads meetings every month. get the dads up there with their kiddos. Um, so we would love to see you there. >> She was named assistant principal of the year for >> She was She was And this is my fault because he was ready to present that tonight, but we didn't do it. Um, yes, she was named the TASSP region 11 assistant principal of the year. Um she then moved on to the next round um and had interview last Saturday in Austin and was one of the last three. So we'll we will announce more when we know more um on whether she receives that honor, but she
012was in the top three for the state of Texas. >> So >> it is and I was just trying not to steal his thunder because he was planning to do it tonight. [laughter] All right, but more to come on that. So we she's number one with us regardless, but we have faith she'll be there. So well, I'm going to open up by saying, Miss Buck, we're not going to catch you in attendance either. [laughter] Uh I say that because we had our tip community meeting and Miss Sansson participated in that and that was one of our focuses to see how we going to get more high school kids. uh to show up on a daily basis. Not that they're missing a whole day, but they miss in the morning, they miss in the afternoon sometimes.
013So, okay, our enrollment is about 660. And the first thing we have here, uh I'm kind of like Lana. It seems like a long time ago, but it wasn't that long ago. We had our pink out cancer awareness Friday night. Um this warms my heart because you get to see the cheerleader, the littles, and the parents. And um I was in the end zone and I saw about four or five littles run up to Miss Ortiz and just hug her and say, "Oh, thank you for coming just to see us." Right, which she agreed to. So that's always good to see that they can from the little on up see what high school's all about. Uh the next thing we have is our uh band and they once again received straight uh ones in their
014division and that got them to go to the area contest. Their season ended not like they wanted but we're extremely proud of them and you are going to hear more about one young man Julio Guerrero uh in a later board report. He's achieved I think a first. So Mr. board is moving them along. Keycl Club sponsored our community hayride. Um, I saw Mr. Russell get on and go down and I had never been on the hay ride. I've just always been at the staging, so I thought, well, I'm going to do it, too. And I was surprised of how far it went down there. And I was also surprised of how well they planned and had things going along the way between uh witches and uh zombies and all the costumes they had. They did
015scare one or two younger kids, but I think that's what it was about. But I'm real pleased with that. We had three trailers. We didn't have a backup. We had a ticket system, so it kind of worked itself out uh with efficiency from the previous year. welding. Our welding students toured is that Baston steel and they experienced some real life work situations and projects. They came back with uh supplies and um got some hands-on activities. We have invited Basden to join us for our PEK partnership meeting. Uh, Wednesday, the welding classes will be uh traveling to Rockdale for their first welding competition for the year. Trunk or treat, I was taken back. Uh, trunk or treat was usually at y'all's building. So when we put it in front of the high school, um I noticed
016the amount of people and then the more people and then more people and it was a lot of fun for not only the kiddos but for the adults. Um I ran out of candy but the primary helped me so I got to stay in there for the long term. So, uh, football has come to an end and, uh, on senior night, our senior band cheer, star eds, football, student trainers, and photographers walk the field for the last time. And as usual, we had some tears from just about everybody. But if you look at that group there, um, that's going to be a very sorely missed group. a lot of leadership and a lot of personality. I'll put it that way. But, um, all in all, it was a nice event. Our AP Spanish classes, they
017took a field trip to the Latino Cultura Center. They observed the setting up of the altars for di Muertos. And the tour was uh completely in Spanish and they had to compare how their community celebrates holidays from different cultures. Um I think the challenging part there is they do compare it, but they have to come back and they write it in their own language. And that's uh that's hard for some of our our kids. They they're raised hearing it and speaking it, but they have the same problem sometimes in their writing. So, um I do not have it on there, but you're going to hear also more about our Taffy groups [snorts] that went uh middle and high school. That will be coming up in uh the next board report. So, uh for upcoming events,
018I have Upwardbound. They are still at UT Tyler and uh LSU. So, they're all doing fine. And I got an email today, so they should be on their the way back. I want to be a I want to be a mentor because I want to go through LSU one more time. I love that place. Okay, Thanksgiving break's coming. Our retakes are uh coming up and we're starting to get our semester exam uh ready to go. Thank you. Go to item number seven. Presentation of construction manager at risk. There we go. Uh Mr. Gaywood, members of the board, uh thank you for having us. My name is Gary Annenson. For those who haven't met, I am the executive vice president with Core Construction. Joe, it's good to see you again. Uh we're very thankful and excited
019about the opportunity to serve here in Venus ISD. Uh we put together our qualifications package, spent a lot of time and effort on that. Prepared a presentation very specific to the needs here in Venus ISD. We know how exciting of a time it is. It's not every day you get a chance to pass a bond and build a new high school campus, especially phase one of an exciting larger campus to come in years uh in the in the near future. And so we're just really excited about the opportunity uh to serve in this community. Um, I am uh our executive vice president and I I serve our North Texas market here and I'll make myself available for any questions that the the board may have of me. Did anybody have any questions for them while
020they're here? No questions. >> No questions. We wasted your time driving all the way over here. I >> did not waste my time. I promise you that. >> Thank you. We'll go to item number eight, presentation of security camera update. Mr. Hudson, >> good evening. I'm gonna provide a general update on the the status of the system and then uh for the questions I can't I can't take care of, we got Chief Wood who uh comes in with his his expertise from from the uh physical security standpoint. Next slide, please. Um, so we'll we'll start just with a general overview of this is this is what our campuses have. This is this is where things where things are at at the moment. Um, and so primary school has 43 total cameras. Um, all four of
021our campuses um just to prevent repeating myself on on following slides are on the a vigilon system. And so the way that system works, um, the district has purchased a license for each camera that is that is physically installed on that on that campus. Um, and then that camera is able to connect to the servers that run the the software that that make it all work. Um, and so at the at the moment, the primary school has the um I guess newest camera server. That's also our largest capacity. Um, and I'll speak to that. a little bit at the on a later slide, but uh at the moment um it has an actual retention. So this is this is whenever I go back and look at the the oldest footage that we have, it's from
022161 days ago. And so that's the that's the day when that system was installed. Um when you when you look at the what the server says, the server says if if we were to record every camera constantly um 247 um that we would have 62 days of continuous recording. um the way that the cameras are configured, they're just to to to be wise with how we use our our camera or our camera server storage. Um they they uh the goal is that they pick up on motion. So when they see something happening, it it records that snapshot as well as the some some time period before and after so that whenever there's motion, you get to see what caused the motion. You see the thing leave the screen and then and then it goes dark.
023Next slide. um for elementary um 52 total cameras um 26 days of constant recording and and it's the same situation with that server. Um it goes all the way back to whenever we first first connected it. So don't seem to have retention issues there. And next slide. Middle school has 82 total cameras because the middle school campus is is what it is. um it it has some additional cameras and then also you have boys and girls field houses um as well as some athletic facilities um all tied into to that particular server. And so it uh it's it's putting in some work. And so the largest number of cameras that we have anywhere actual recording retention goes back to 42 days. It it probably goes back longer or it it would go back longer. Uh
02442 days ago we made some changes on the server that that reset things and so that that's why that's as far back as it will go. >> Yep. Um so >> yC >> so the in the in the first Trump administration the FCC began taking a look at different OEM means original equipment manufacturer. Um and so that they they I think the what you may have heard in the news back then was a company called Huawei making telecommunications equipment that was installed throughout the United States. And so there were that there were some issues, security issues the FCC identified with Huawei and other companies like that that are that are based in China. And so at around that time that the FCC began identifying manufacturers to say that we're we're not going to allow this
025to be sold in the in in the United States. And then we're we also won't allow um government entities um which which through a through a a confusing chain. we do we do fall under and so if the if if the FCC bans it then it's banned for us as well. So, at the time we purchased those cameras, they were not they were not banned. Um, after they were purchased and installed, the FCC identified that manufacturer. >> No. >> Well, the because of their age, if one breaks, um, we're it I'm not able to source parts. I would I would pay more than what it's worth to go on eBay to find a camera that someone uh has retired. Um, in a in a few slides I'll I'll I'll show what uh what our current
026reserve of those cameras is. We have a decent a decent little reserve to be able to to take care of parts. Um the the biggest issue with with that is that um the the cameras won't be receiving any more firmware updates, software updates, security updates, and that's been the case for a while. Um we and to to be honest, we we didn't learn that they were on that band list until we went to uh you know, it's it's not like anyone calls you and says, "Hey, did you know your camera's on the band list?" Um you would think that there would be some kind of notification for that. Um and so whenever we were trying or whenever Arowave, the company that uh worked with the high school or worked with with Chief Wood to get
027the new cameras at the high school, um was trying to get those cameras installed on their system. um ran into some issues there and uh discovered that all of the documentation um from the camera manufacturer, the system manufacturer, all of it said that it was good. And then when you go and peel the onion and layer by layer by layer, you realize, oh, somewhere in there, someone realized it was on the band list and uh made it no longer compatible. None of the documentation was done. So whenever we agreed to with ArowWowave to bring those cameras on that system, they they in good faith thought that those cameras were compatible. Um, if there's a silver lining to that that they were able to get the cameras functional on the system. It takes a little bit
028more effort for us to go and change settings on the cameras, but it's still less. >> No, where we're Yeah. Where where we're at where we're at and it's everything is pretty much a pause on that. if if the you know the cyber security world is a is a strange place if if a vulnerability is is revealed um we could be open um but the the good news is none of those cameras have a direct access to the internet so it's all it's they live on our network so I would have to breach our network to get to those cameras um our our network itself is secure even if those cameras aren't would I want those cameras at at my house you know open to the internet I wouldn't Um, but under under a secured
029network, they are safe. Go to the high school slide. There we go. Um, and uh, high school was the uh, campus that got taken care of with with all new cameras. And so, you'll notice a good bit fewer cameras at the high school because the uh, when you think of when this system has a a camera, that one particular camera may have four three or four lenses on it. And so a lot of the the cameras at the high school um are shooting in multiple directions providing multiple views. Um a good handful are 360 degree cameras that uh that let you observe everything that's going on around it. So really good quality equipment. Um and then at the moment the the server that they're connected with has actual retention of 30 days. And so when
030I go back the the the oldest footage that I can find on there is 30 days old. Um because those cameras are fully compatible with the system, it uh it it does some some fun things to help uh save some of the the storage capacity on that. So it's >> Yep. is the brand new ones at the high school. It's going to it's for the a day and a half. It's going to keep the the quality really high quality. So if something happens, they can go in and zoom and zoom and zoom. After that, it begins to step down the quality. Um and so for the next 14 days, the quality is lower. Um, and that's what we end up having for the duration until it's deleted by new footage. Next slide. And then we
031uh we have 42 cameras that are still still running on video insight system. And so that that's our our legacy camera system. um really any other facility that isn't a campus that that's where those cameras are going to be. Um looking at the my notes might have got cut up on that one but uh the the retention on those is 11 days. um th those particular cameras, each one is different depending on the need. So some of them may be recording all the time, some of them may be picking up on u on motion to record, but really it's based on what what chief would and the director of that facility see necessary for what's recorded. Next slide. And then we also have uh our a barn and then transportation facility and then all the
032restrooms at our high school middle school campus have a vape sensor and that vape sensor is also tied to a camera that is outside of it. And so the Vicata system takes care of those facilities as well as the vape sensors. Um that system has licenses that are done differently than anything else that we have. Um Vicata is a great system. It's top of the line. It is crystal clear video. Um it is also more of a Cadillac price compared. >> Yeah. >> To my to my to my knowledge. But the if you're referring to cameras that initially weren't working at the high school, everything that we paid for at the high school is that I'm running at the moment. >> And so the uh the ricotta license runs out December 31st, 2028. And so
033between now and then um we will we will have to to to get a plan together to get a different solution. And so all of those locations are going to require different hardware and and our goal is to put everything on the Aigilon system. So it's it's all as universal as we can get it over the long term. But 2028, thank goodness, isn't tomorrow. And so we've got time to do some planning and I've been been already talking with Miss Paige about what that that dollar amount might need to be. And then next slide. Um Chief Wood has uh has purchased uh three brand new fisheye cameras. He's been working with Miss Buck to find the the best bang for the buck location for the middle school to put those. And so those cameras are
034going to allow campus administration to have multiple views from each camera. And so that will be a a great value in addition to the security of the campus >> with those three additional cameras. that that is one good thing that that the district did is because we we were were able to whenever we buy new cameras. The new cameras are expensive, but you can normally replace one or or two two or three more cameras by by getting one camera of good quality. And so over time, we won't really need to buy very many more licenses. Um it's just getting the right camera in the right location to free up licenses to give you additional capacity elsewhere. And then at the at chafra's request, um technology department replaced the exterior domes on a lot of the
035the cameras at the middle, elementary, and primary schools. um because they've been there for eight to 10 years, you get UV damage. And so what what what we initially thought were just dirty camera lenses that needed a lot of Windex. Uh it turns out that that Windex wasn't going to touch that. And so we uh we took the the retired cameras that came out of the high school, took the domes off, and then were able to to replace the domes. You go to the next slide, looks like we did 42 total exterior cameras. And so if you go to the following slide, they'll show you just a before and after picture. I would say that what was what was left was probably an average view for a camera that you would say, "Well, that's a
036that's a rough looking view." There were some that looked worse than that, some looked better than that. But the view on the right, the only difference is just clear glass. Good weather helps. Um and so but because we we cannibalized old parts to to be able to get a better product for for the campuses. Um our our current inventory status for for the old style cameras that we have. So, it it's the it's really one a single model of camera that's nearly everywhere in the district except for the high school. Um, so we have have six of those cameras that are in 100% good shape. Um, and then we have six six cameras beyond that that don't have the dome anymore. So, that gives us some additional capacity so when when something gets damaged, we
037don't have to go out and try and find something or or have to to go find money to to replace it. And then as as campuses or as the district finds money to replace C cameras at campuses, that frees up additional old hardware that we can use to to perpetuate that old system. And then if you will head to the next slide, um just some some parting thoughts. So we we have a good number of the cameras in the district are 8 to 10 years old. Um that there will come a time when when those will need to get get replaced. At the moment things are functional um and uh it seems to meet our needs. We are looking at the expiration of our ricotta licenses coming up and so we'll be we'll be exploring
038more cost-effective options that will give us full ownership of the license and the camera as opposed to having to lease perpet continually lease the licenses which gets expensive. And then the uh next big big improvement project that we're planning um will be uh taking the the current primary school camera server which has the the most capacity and migrating that over to the high school so that the the high school cameras get the the benefit of having additional storage capacity and more retention from that. Any any other questions? airwave. >> Yeah. It's a it it took a while, but that they they have fulfilled every bit of the contract that that we held them to. We got we got got the training that we asked for. Um that that was got positive feedback from campus leaders
039on that. So for for that camera project that started I guess nearly this time last year, it is it is fully wrapped up and and we we received everything to paid for >> it. Well, the the the system and the vendor are two two different entities. And so there there there are there are many vendors that sell things or or that support an event on camera system. Um so and we're we're in communication with other vendors just to see what what kind of process they have. So as you know of course anytime we're going to make a purchase we're going to get three quotes. We're going to do our due diligence to find the best best value. >> So what was the visual purchase? um a little bit was the vendor and then the uh
040the other part that they couldn't foresee and we and we certainly didn't foresee was that our cameras weren't officially supported even though all the documentation said that our cameras were supported. Um and then once you make enough phone calls suddenly all the all the the websites updated one day to show that they're no longer supported. Um so it was a an unfortunate situation. Uh I I I don't believe that the vendor had the ability to to see that any more than we did when we looked at the same documentation that they did to to see that yes this hardware looks like it's supported and then we do do you try to make it happen the company goes back and changes and says by the way that's not supported We're looking at their >> Any other
041questions? No. Thank you, Lauren. Go to item nine, presentation of cooperative purchasing report. and I didn't have my mic on. Sorry. Did anybody have any questions on that? >> No. Thank you. >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Thank you. Go to item 10, presentation of campus targeted improvement plan. Dr. Morgan. Hello everyone. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you tonight. Um, Rosie, does this clicker work or are you doing it? You do it. Okay. Um, so who submits a targeted improvement plan? So you you have all um already seen all of the data on our 2425 accountability. Um, and so this is just a a review of that information. Nothing has changed since u Mrs. Kamacho presented that earlier this school year. Um, but because of the ratings, we do have a couple
042of campuses that are identified for uh submitting to the state a targeted improvement plan. Rosie, if you don't mind clicking. So, you can see the two campuses identified as needing targeted support and improvement are Venus Elementary and Venus Middle School. And then if you'll click one more time, um Venus High School was um although not identified for improvement, um we did receive the ESF focus support grant for 24 through 26 a couple of years ago um when they were in comprehensive support and improvement if you remember that. And so we are finishing out the grant this year. Um and because of that, Venus High School is also going to submit a targeted improvement plan. So, um primary school does not get rated on its own. Um but they get the pleasure of sharing the rating
043with the elementary school and so they are along for the ride. Um and they so the primary and elementary school have a joint targeted improvement plan. Okay, please click to the next slide. Thank you. So, what has to go in a targeted improvement plan? These components come um from TEA. we will submit a form addressing all of these areas and answering the questions that they've given us. So, we're just going to go through each one so you can see what we have included for um the different campuses. Go ahead. Um so, first thing is our student outcome goals. Um we have the performance goals, so we have to include that. We are actually only going to submit our reading and math performance goals, but we definitely wanted to address science and social studies um because
044we all of those do get reported and count in our accountability. Um TEA is very heavily focused on reading and math across the board. And so you can see the different percentages based on last year's performance. For primary and elementary, we just looked at all tests, all um all grade levels, all tests for reading and then for math. Um and then of course science is only fifth grade and at middle school only eighth grade takes science and social studies. High school we went ahead and just broke out all five EOCC's since there are only five of them. Um and these this is what we'll report and these goals are also what for example Venus Middle School is still in um a school improvement grant called school action and we report performance goals through that um
045platform as well. And so they're the same goals where we don't have these goals over here and the school action goals over there and our district improvement plan plan goals over there. Um we're focused on on these measures. And then we also need to set goals for our domain three component of our accountability which is closing the gaps. And so you can see on the top row how many total points are um possible in each of these areas of domain 3. So these all relate to um closing the gaps between our student groups um how they do the the different targeted groups at academic achievement are our students growing ELP of course is English language proficiency so our EB students and then overall student success. So we are trying to move the needle on all
046of these. Um you can see for example VHS had four out of four last year for ELP status. So that's great. We're going to do that again. Um all the other ones though we're definitely going to try to increase the point points there and all of that comes from how they do on starv. >> So the growth points um and Mrs. Kamacho please correct me if I'm wrong. The growth points don't change based on what test they take. It's whatever test they took the year before if they make the same performance rating or um they get half point >> and then if they if they go to the higher performance. So if they went meets this year on seventh grade star but then next year they take algebra 1 and they go to masters they
047get the full point. So the the what test they take doesn't affect the growth. >> I do not think there is a possibility of three points. >> They also break the performance down. So student approaches they get credit for that. So it's moving for do not meet within the performance level and meet >> I was talking about specifically the test above above their >> Yes. Unfortunately that does not factor into what they get for the growth. >> So the training we went to the other day that is coming. They said you'll get you can earn an extra point and a half but that's not until 2028. coming across. I didn't know when that started, >> right? They have to take the grade level above test and pass it to >> growth is where we kind
048of make sure Yes. No. Sorry about that for not understanding the question. Um, are there any questions about these pieces here? >> Okay, Rosie, if you come before. Thank you. So, we had to select a school improvement strategy. Um, these were the options provided to us. Um, and really most of them don't apply. Um, we don't really qualify to be an ACE campus. Um, we're definitely not in a spot where we need to close or reassign um, campus or campus leader. um improving improving the graduation rate does not apply to elementary and middle school. Um school model change is actually what we did through the school action grant and so we're not going to change that model. We're still a P20 model. So we we don't want to go there. And then um right now
049we definitely do not want a turnaround partnership. That definitely is um taking away our district autonomy and having someone else come alongside to make decisions. So we we want to focus on what we can control and improve, which is curriculum and instruction improvements. So if you can move forward. Um so we are also going to report um what improvement grants and what capacity building um partners we have um from right now in the past right now and then moving forward. So our current or past grants hopefully some of those words up there look familiar. Uh we've been talking about them for a few years now. So we're in our last year of school action and that's at the middle school. Um we've been doing school action for a total of four years now and that
050is the um turning around or redesigning the campus as a P20 model campus. Um we are currently in strong foundations planning for math. So we have just finished one of the biggest milestones which is writing um a math instructional framework and then we will start working on implementing that framework through um through a couple different pieces. is our leadership team is actually meeting next week or I'm sorry the week after Thanksgiving to finalize how we're going to do that and then as I already mentioned our high school is in the last year of the ESF focus support grant um through lasso cycle 4 which will go into effect in the spring and then for next year we have applied for um PLC support and then also a school improvement curriculum and instruction support in case
051we don't qualify for theft grant and Lyft is the new name for what we've been doing with um strong foundation ations and so the state is trying to consolidate some of the grants that they have going on. Um and if if we are able to get that grant, it will give us access again to a technical assistance provider like we've had with CEN and sustained leaders and you can see their names up there um to come alongside us with coaching and support and training to implement some of the curriculum and instruction um improvements that we're trying to make. And then our external in internal partners, collegiate education is is has been a strong um and consistent support for us and they're not going to go away even though we're not going to be involved in
052school action next year. Um sustained ed leaders is our strong foundations planning support. Um ESC region 11 is currently providing some coaching for our campus principles. Uh they are also m managing the ESF focus support grant support for us. Um so they're always a huge help. And then also this year Mr. Gatewood had the very very very brilliant idea to hire Dr. Rebecca Vega as our assistant superintendent. Um and so we are able to identify her as an internal support because of her experience um not just as a campus principal but through um the Texas instructional leadership and campus um administrator coaching all of the things that she's done for the past few years bringing that knowledge and experience to us to help build capacity um in all of our leadership. So that is a
053a really good thing to be able to put on there. Okay, if you can move on. So curriculum instruction, what what we have to address. Um and really there's really nothing on here that's new, but we are going to focus on um some more let's say strategic measures um and some intentional planning that um Dr. Vega is going to help bring that consistency to that um the overarching umbrella to that I I think we have been missing in the past. So we are going to address curriculum. We we need to answer the questions what will we what will we use? How will we ensure how will we ensure that fidelity of implementation? We need to address assessment. Um when are we going to assess student learning? How will we ensure alignment to the grade levels?
054And then we of course have to address instruction. So what will be the expectations that will lead to increased student performance and we do that through the professional learning community. That's actually one of the questions that we have to answer is how will we do PLC? And so we need to take a very careful look at how will we structure and utilize the PLC model to ensure educators are teaching and assessing the TEICSS at appropriate levels of rigor. Um and so Rosie if you can click just once. So curriculum we are going to continue with amplify and HMH for our reading language arts curriculum. Um K5 is amplify 612 is HMH. We've had good success success with both of those and so um we are um pretty confident moving into next year that we'll we'll
055keep that. Um we are cons we are we are not considering we are definitely going to move to a new HQIM for math. Um we have had some um a lot of a lot of feedback from teachers across um all of our K through8 classrooms um about struggles and concerns that they've had with the STEM scopes curriculum. One of the um supports sustained ed leaders did for us was to hold focus groups on our last prof professional development day um to talk about some of the teachers concerns between um what they have to teach and how they are supposed to teach the researchbased instructional strategies and the curricular materials definitely came out as a big concern for many people. So we are we're definitely going to go through those steps. We are um strongly considering
056blue bonnet learning. um it is what the state provides and recommends and so that's definitely at the top of the list um and we will make sure we bring that to you um when we have a final decision. Another thing we have to do is ensure that we have the instructional minutes to teach the curriculum that we choose um provide the training that's necessary not just for you know one day or a half a day at the beginning of the year but ongoing training and then the last piece is to utilize the TE's resource system um which Mr. Gatewood um brought back to our attention when he came on board as superintendent and we're going to um be moving forward with that so that we have so teachers have a consistent and consolidated resource for
057understanding the TEICSS and the things that go along with that. Um if you can click again for next one assessment we have to report our assessment plan. We are going to continue moving forward with district created CBA. So our curriculum coordinators create those. Uh we will use our HQIM provided unit assessments which is what we do but we're going to make sure that we're using them at the right time that that teachers are previewing them um those sort of things. Teacher created CFAs which is just a common formative assessment um which several of our PLC teams have put into place this year through different initiatives. the things that the high school is doing through their training with the service center is really focused on that process. And then all of this with ongoing training in
058the PLC and then the piece about instruction, we want to make sure that our walkthrough look fors are aligned to the RBs, which is the researchbased instructional strategies. Um, we're going to make sure our leaders have calibration and trainings, especially on tests and those look fors and how all of those things work together. Um, and then making sure that everybody has strong training in unit and lesson internalization, which is basically taking the chunks from the curriculum and assessment pieces and making sure we understand how is that playing out in instruction. And then if you'll click one more time for this slide, um the what we need to do for our professional learning community um is to really adhere to protocols for all of those pieces. the internalization, developing the common formative assessments, analyzing data, and
059then planning U teacher teams. How are we going to address the area areas of concern um and as I've already mentioned a big change to the PLC process is the leadership coaching that our campus principles will have this year. Okay, so the next section of the improvement plan is capacity building, which is basically answering the questions, who needs what training and coaching, how will we monitor progress? Um so our principal manager it will will be Dr. Vega um from this point forward, which I'm very happy about. Um and so she's actually going to take over the um DDI training and coaching that the high school is going through. And so even though she's coming out of the role of that coach from the service center, um she's going to continue learning as the principal manager.
060So shifting that that hat or putting on a new hat and getting coaching from the service center um on implementing um the DDI processes from that lens. So, um, that's going to be for the rest of the school year. And then our principles already have started their FIPS coaching. And please forgive me, I can't remember what the flip stands for, but I'm pretty sure the L is leadership. Um, and that is coming from our service center. And so, they each have opportunity to meet with um, an administrator coach several times throughout the year um, and get one-on-one um, coaching. Uh, we're going to have make sure we have training in those PLC protocols and the RBs. as I already mentioned, our instructional leaders, and that is going to include all of our campus leaders, our
061assistant principles, instructional coaches, the CNI team, everyone who supports instruction in those ways. We want to make sure we all have strong training in those areas. And then, of course, our teachers will definitely need training in all of the things that we've listed. The other thing we are uh we'll we'll describe is how we're going to differentiate support, especially for our new teachers and um perhaps our um teachers who need additional support. And so we're going to work with our instructional coaches to make sure those teachers get um targeted support. Okay. And then we report our milestones. So we're going to flesh these out with um some more um progress checkpoints. Um but you can see the in general this is the the milestones. So the flips coaching which has already started and that will
062go through the end of this year. Test calibration and coaching. um we hope to start that in when we come back in January um strong and that'll continue throughout next school year. So this plan does take us through the end of next year, May of 2027. Um we're not going to train on tests calibration one time and then be done with it. It's an ongoing process. Um and it's really that's really the same thing for all of those things. So HQIM training I went ahead and put November um because our middle school teacher math teachers asked for training in the STEM scopes. Um knowing that it may or may not be the last year for it. we still have to do the rest of this year using that curriculum. And so we're going to use
063some of our school action funds to pay for training for them. Um PLC protocols, we're going to regroup and re um recalibrate what protocols we're using and then hit the ground running in January with those takes resource system training. Uh this spring we'll really focus on the CNI team in training and understanding that system um and so that they can be prepared to write the curriculum documents for next year. And then later in the spring and over the summer, we will we will train teachers on using that system. And then our um 2627 curriculum and assessment plan actually starts in January as we start planning for it. All right, next slide. And then our performance management. Um Mr. Gatewood's been very clear about how he wants to make sure that um he and Dr. Vega
064and the rest of the administrative team are working together to support principles, support our leadership, and making sure we're having check-ins through the right lenses. So, the um using the CBA and walkthrough data to determine are we doing what we said we're going to do? Is it being effective? The ESF priorities that that would be the effective schools framework. So, making sure we're we're using that success criteria that has already been put out there for what works. um providing you all quarterly progress reports to that of what we what of this plan of what we said we're going to do and then midyear and endear end of year data reviews. Okay, last one and then resources they are going to ask us to um list out the things that cost money so that we are
065making sure that we um are prepared for it and so um the HQM is still to be determined. For example, if we do decide um to go with Blue Bonnet Learning for math, that is the free open education resource and all we would need to be paying for is the print resources which we get um extra money for that from the instructional materials aotment. Um flips coaching like I already mentioned um we've used a school action grant for that this year. TE's resource system, we're working on that right now. Um that that should become a foundational piece to our curriculum approach. So, we'll uh Miss Paige and I will work on um how we can make sure that's part of the local budget so that it it doesn't go away again. And then um PLC
066training will depend a little bit on what if what lasso grants we get or don't get. Um and if not, uh we'll we'll definitely tap into title two um if we need to contract with for example the service center on PLC training. And I think the last slide is just questions. >> Anybody have any questions? I have several questions. Um, one is, and I've had this conversation a little bit with um, our superintendent that I wasn't aware that we had gotten ourselves into this much trouble. I have been vocal that I haven't been satisfied with how we've been scoring and always have an excuse. So, and here's the questions I have because I want detailed answers. One is we we're using a lot of these programs that we're like in the second third fourth year
067of you know the uh what we call when you that you get grant grants and so forth obviously they haven't been working or they going to work the last year just keep these in mind so I two is all these changes we're doing, do we have enough time to get them implemented and have a positive result in time? And three is on a lot of these programs that we're implementing to save ourselves basically. Were we not doing similar things already or are we just now doing it now? And if we haven't been doing it, why not? And then the last thing is if we fail to meet those standards this time, what happens to each campus? What happens to the district? Point blank. I've read a lot of stuff. I hear a lot of stuff
068but I just wanted an exact answer on that. So there's quite a bit information there I need. A lot of it overlaps but I want to I want to hear it and I want to understand it because obviously somewhere in the last couple years I've missed it. >> Please please >> I'll go ahead and start with the consequences because the uh the consequences are pretty dire if uh we don't meet them. But I anticipate us do uh meeting them. Uh number one, we'd have to move to something called a tap. Tap is a turnaround plan. Uh like say for instance, this middle school doesn't improve. We'd move a tap because right now we're on a tip. That's a turnaround uh campus plan. What happens that turnaround campus plan would submit that to the state. Uh
069and the state does not number one, they don't approve a four-day school week for that plan. So we have to switch to a fiveday school week. Uh one of the most severe consequences they could uh tell direct me to do TA is to replace leadership at the campus level that they could say that say this here is a situation uh this is a turnaround and I will be required to replace uh campus leaderships and different principles. That's the most extreme uh case scenario if we don't get off this situation. uh the other ones here uh using a lot of these here programs. I'm going to defer those to uh question number one to Dr. Morgan. Uh reason being uh as assistant superintendent wasn't involved in curriculum uh a lot at all. So I really can't
070answer that but I can tell you one thing I do see I think we had a lot of different programs going and when you when I do walkthroughs I see greatness in pockets. Uh what that hints to me, we have good systems, but they're not applied with fidelity. Uh the systems are there. The backbones are there. We just need to go ahead and make sure that if Howard Gatewood is in no matter what class I'm in for algebra, for seventh grade math, or fourth grade math, that I'm going to receive the same level of instruction per teacher. And we've got those systems. We just have to ensure those are enforced with fidelity. This is how we do business. This is how we do lessons internalization. Uh these are some activities we've collaborated on. Uh because
071I've toured some PLC's and I don't see the same thing in all PLC's. Uh sometime they're good, sometimes they're not so good. Uh same thing with instruction. I see great instruction then I will see some not so great instruction. But I do don't think that the things we have had in place they were enforced with fidelity. I can't really answer why they weren't enforced with fidelity sir. Maybe uh Dr. Morgan can shed some light on that. >> Right. So I can tell you what um what I know what I where what we have tried for sure. So, for example, the um the school action grant at the middle school, we gave us support um with CEN. And before that, if you remember a few years ago, we we were talking about the raising blended learners,
072the blended learning grant. Um and we've seen those things really take um take root and and have a positive effect in the reading language arts side of it. And so we went back to look at our scores. You could see our our middle school reading scores last year were really good and we we've seen that steady improvement. Um and so and that's what we want to see across the board. What I would say the what we've had in reading versus math is more consistent teachers um and maybe more content expertise in in teachers. And so the other on the flip side with math, what what we've had is since COVID and even a little bit before COVID, um we started to see a decline in math performance. And then with COVID and all of the
073craziness and absence of this year, um there were definitely gaps created. But the perfect storm really hit because that was at the same time that the state replaced um the math the star test was the new star redesign. if you remember that language from a few years ago with um the new math teaches started to get tested at the same time. And so it it was really a series of fundamental like really foundational changes that all happened at the same time as COVID was happening. Um and and honestly we've we have not caught up from that. And so that's that is why we put into place things like using the stem scopes curriculum because it was at the high level of rigor that the TE's needed to be at. it it teaches the standards the
074way the new they're not new anymore but the current math tiques try to build conceptual understanding um however uh this is the fourth year of stem scopes um we we have struggled with it as as a whole teachers have struggled with it there are a lot of >> have we have we struggled with it or we have have we struggled holding fidelity >> I would say um >> so if a teacher decides they don't like stem coers not going to do it >> yeah that has I just want to be careful before we say because >> you have a you have a program and that was my question about curriculum. >> I think we've changed curriculum three times since I've been on the board. This is my year and a half. >> So is it
075is it STEMS codes or whatever whatever one you talking about is the one you said or is it the fact that we're not holding our teachers accountable or we're not teaching to fidelity? I I don't that's that's my that's my big question of now. So now we're gonna one of your slides said, you know, one of the things is our assistant superintendent superintendent going to hold all these uh all these people accountable and hold them to fidelity. Well, for the rest of this year, we're going to hold them accountable for stems goats. Then we're going to flip it in June and we're going to tell all the teachers, oh, hey, all that fidelity we did on STEM goats, scratch that. We're going to Blue Bonnet and then we're going to spend a year on Blue
076Bonnet. And that's that's just been my experience so far. So I I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just want to make sure that you know first of all I want I want to reply to Greg. I remember this is on a moving scale. TEA keeps moving everything. So we have great teachers and we have great administrators and one thing it doesn't show is this doesn't show growth. So when when you inherit a kid in the in the third grade who's who can't read at all but they but they have that kid reading two grade levels by the end of the year they improve two grade levels. for correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Kamacho. If they don't pass star, we get zero growth points. So even though we improve them two grades in one
077year, we get zero growth points. And then the next year's teacher improves them for two years, we get zero growth points if they don't pass. So, I want to you're you're exact you're you're right being concerned, but also want to anybody listening, anybody watching, we have great employees and they are working hard to do it, but it's also on a moving the state's also on a moving scale. >> But question on the moving scale, we're not the only district in that unique situation. So, everything that you just said, and I'm glad you kind of interrupted that right there because we've heard COVID, we've heard the perfect storm, we've heard TA has changed, we've heard the star revamp, we've heard all that, but that is not unique to our district. that is across the state of
078Texas. What we're concerned about is everything that you just mentioned, every district in the state of Texas has likely gone through that, but some some a majority of whatever that is have found their way through it. We have consistently not. We have consistently performed even with everybody else going through the same changes, we are not making any growth. So the perfect storm that is all in the past I think is kind of what we're frustrated here with is that we ask for the wise and we always go right back to co right we have got to figure out how to get over that and through that and we've got to start being proactive instead of reactive we are still reactive to a 2020 situation and I think that's what I get so frustrated about is
079yes everything that's changing every district in the state of Texas is going through it we are not unique to that situation what we are unique to is our performance and whether it's teaching >> consistency >> whatever it is right we have got to figure out a way to get through that whether it starts within the classroom right if we're not teaching to fidelity if we're four years on stem scopes and we're struggling that's an administration issue we are not we're not holding our people accountable why are we allowing people to be in their fourth year of stem scopes and we are still struggling that's the answer I want to know it's not a or why are we consistently switching curriculum Um, >> well, I don't know the answers nor I don't either, right? That's that's
080us getting in the weeds as a board, but we we we approved curriculum. >> It's not the weeds. We're approving the curriculum and I want to know why we're for >> That's what I'm saying. So, and my answer is is it is it our administration not not holding accountability? Is it teachers refusal to >> do we put on a dog and pony show when somebody comes by and then but but then we don't use stem coast the rest of the time? That's a question of, you know, I'd love to sit out here and say we had an answer. But, you know, part of it is we keep changing curriculums. It's like we don't get the result we want. So, the teachers go, "Hey, it's it's Sims Go's problem. Let's change this. Let's switch to another
081curriculum." And then a year and a half later, we don't get the scores we want and we it's so and so's fault. So, let's change again. >> Well, and >> that was a long I know it's a long dial. >> And I just want to put in there, too, also, if you go back and talk to some of our people that work here, they say they do not get training on it. So, I mean, we've we've addressed that at the beginning of the school year, too. So, the training was not there for a lot of our a lot of our employees and they're having to ask and get the training now. So, I mean, I'm not saying it I'm I'm agreeing. I 100% agree because it's not just us, but for some reason, like Greg
082said, the first time I was on the board, he brought it up at that point in time. We do not progress yearly. We don't progress two years. We don't progress in three years. And I think it's inherently unfair for us to put it all on the middle school. It's the middle it middle school is our sinker swim. That is absolutely unfair to that campus to say, you know what, Miss Buck, it's all on you. That's unfair, right? Do we have some opportunities there? Absolutely. But we keep talking about middle school is the sinker swim and that's just unfair. Like we have got to do this all across the board. Yeah. All three principles in the back, please stand up. Like please, please help us understand. for shows that they are recogniz When I say I
083wanted to share with y'all, >> is it just is it just STEM scopes that's like that or is that Every curriculum is like that. background >> and how many years have you had stem scopes? >> So, at what point do we and not just you, but at what point do we come in as an administrator and say, "Hey, hey, I this isn't working for us. We've already started making >> uh Yes, ma'am. And I and I can answer that question there. Uh STEM scopes and you can ask the elementary team. I actually just took a drive over there, opened the books, took a look at them, uh went through them. There's quite a few gaps when you're talking about sim scopes in that curriculum. That is why the change uh needed in that curriculum. There's
084a lot of different gaps. And I just went over to uh Mr. writer room and I just sat in the room, looked through the workbooks, looked through the teacher edition, did the same thing in Miss Steel room just to get a background knowledge of, hey, what is the difference in this here STEM scope stand and a blue bonnet curriculum. Uh here's the thing here. Uh I'm going to take total ownership of this here. That's just who I am. And we will get off this here. You're right. not uh one school situation like uh it's not if kids are showing up to the middle school or to the primary or to the elementary with those gaps or to the high school with those gaps. We have to correct those gaps now. And I tell you what
085the principles notice about me. Uh I pay attention to the data the minute that CBA's taken. I'm on there looking at that data, looking through it, uh comparing that data as students are growing. So you is right. But you are right. But I take complete ownership of this here. Uh because whether I I was in this seat of this here that in the past doesn't matter. I'm here right now and that won't occur. We will get off this here situation. Not off this off this situation. I made a pledge when I took this here job that we will be the best school district in Johnson County. It's not going to happen overnight, but it will happen and it's going to happen slowly. >> Well, and I appreciate that. I just I want to be clear
086on my point. My point I only use stem scopes because that was the last thing she said. My my point wasn't about Sims coach. Four years ago, a whole bunch of people got into a room. We I'm sure we held all committees and everybody looked at that and they went, "This is the answer. This is what we want." And then less than two years later, I don't I don't understand what changed. And so if if if stemmos had a bunch of gaps, then you know, maybe it's maybe it's investigated, maybe we didn't look into it enough, maybe we just listen to three pitchers by the best. And I don't know. I was a principal for a long time. we didn't change curriculums this often, but I I don't know. But I was also never in
087elementary or or so. I I don't understand that. So, I don't understand that, but I just it at some point we need to commit to something somewhere and and then and make it work. So, I just want to be clear that Stem Scot wasn't my target. I I don't Whatever y'all choose is what y'all choose. But, as a board, it seems like we're changing it. We we already had a change request earlier like like two meetings ago for another for one software for another curriculum and now it sounds like we're going to do the exact same thing with math again. >> HQ >> Oh, sorry. Okay. Quick thing about HQIM. So, prior to the HQIM list, right, you had all these resources available from the state of Texas and I think they had to be
088like 40% aligned to the standard. So, you had this resource that was only 40% aligned and that was what TEA said was okay. Then they moved in with HQIM and then it has to be 100% aligned to the standards etc with some more rigorous uh qualifications. So stem scopes is on the HQIM list. So I'm sure at that time I was not here at that time we decided to go with Stem Scopes. It's an HQIM. Um there's going to be gaps with any product, right? Even Blue Bonnet there will be things that were like we need to make this a little better. We need to tweak it. I think um just from my short time here, two weeks, right? Uh what I see is not so much about the resources, but it's about a gap
089or a lack of systems and structures that are districtwide. So we have the things we have some like pockets of things but we don't really have systems and structures that ensure accountability ensure that we're holding teachers administrators and our whole you know district personnel accountable to you know all these key practices such as PLC structures um assessment data protocols um and that kind of thing. So I really um think I really believe that Venus has all the components. We just need to get some systems and structures in place and hold people accountable honestly. I mean you are right if we ask you or tell you to use this curriculum that's what we expect you to be using um etc. So I think we can get there. All these questions are awesome. Um but I I
090think with Mr. Gatewood and myself working together with CNI team um we can put some systems and structures in place. >> If we just had a prek an instructional prek you know that concentrated on reading proficiency that'd be outstanding. Greg has another question. >> Yeah, that's I want to do it like Randall did and make myself clear. I I'm not accusing employees of failing. I I'm accusing this district of failing. We're real good about building fields and schools. We're fix to build a high school. We're real good about that. But this conversation we're having right now is the first real curriculum. not, oh, they're trying to sell us another curriculum, but a real pointed discussion that education is what we're about. And we need to make sure and I know Randall, the the scale has
091been sliding since I've been on school board. It's 30 years. I mean, it always slides. It slides for everybody. There's still people making A's. a lot of people making bees and the D end of it there's a lot of them too but but that's not what the end we want to be on so for whatever reason we we are failing at the moment and we need to assertively put it together I think the board is doing what it needs to giving everybody what they're asking for now we've hired new people that hopefully will direct us in the right direction. So, we're working on that, but I really wanted to start this conversation and the only way I know how to do things sometimes is ask the hardest question. And I definitely agree. We we definitely
092aren't happy with status quo. I'm I'm not a fan of TEA. I just want to be perfectly honest. You go look, you look at all those A campuses and you tell me the one thing they have in common. And then you go look at those AB campuses and you tell me the one thing they have in common, especially at the elementary and middle school level. I'm not going to say it right here. You go look at you go look at their demographics and you look at you look at their their social economic status and you and you look at the two things they have most in common and then you go look at all the schools that TEA is threatening to go into and shut down and take over and you tell me the two
093things they have in common and then we're somewhere in the middle. I just I just don't want I don't want all of our people to get lost in it's a blame game. I want to recognize that our our people are doing a great job and I think it will show up on on when when the task comes to the end. But I just want to be careful that we don't send the impression that that we have a blame game going on that and that we're we're failing. I I don't think we're failing. I think we have a little bit of ground to make up, but some of that is the you know the ground they bring in. So, I just I want to be clear on that and that's a I'm I'm proud of our
094people and I'm here to we're here to also expect excellence, but at the same time, >> you can get too critical >> and I appreciate the ownership. What you said is what I would expect everybody else to say, right? Like everybody has said, "Hey, I wasn't here. Hey, I wasn't here." That's what we need from everybody else is we weren't here or whatever, but we we need everybody to when that question is asked is we're all together to make it right. I mean to work towards and to start being proactive instead of us always being reactive. So your statement sir was very much appreciated of we understand you you landed in that seat with what you took on and so thank you for the ownership and the responsibility and I would expect everybody that reports
095up to you to have the same mentality because I think that's the only way that we do make any type of forward movement with this instead of just keep looking in the past. That's what I get frustrated with is always looking in the past. We can't change that. >> Well, and I definitely agree. And as a principal, as many years as I was, I was we've had the superintendent who called you in, slam their hands on a desk, and it demanded to know what you're going to do about your scores. If I knew, I'd have fixed it. I' If I had the answer, I'd have put it in a long time ago. That's where the team effort and I' I've talked about collaboration since that's where the that's where the collaboration. So, I I agree
096also agree. I definitely appreciate that ownership, but that with that teamwork comes, you know, everybody's got to do their part. So, we got to properly look at curriculum and decide as a group on what curriculum is best. And then, so I I apologize for the D tribe. I just I know, sorry. First, and principles know me. The first thing I did was uh they'll never shoot out of me, slam, bring them in and yell at them and slam my fish off the desk and say it's their fault. The first thing I did was look at have I put them in a position to be successful? Have I given them the necessary resources uh to be successful? Have I built up their leadership capacity to be successful? And I sincerely was able to answer that no,
097which you have the flips coaching that we have right now that's going on. Uh just getting teach principles coaching because I can't hold you accountable if I have not given you the correct resources and the training. Uh but you have my word. I take full responsibility. Uh we will not be in this situation. uh when these scores come out, that will not happen under my watch. Uh just just won't happen. I I just won't allow that to happen. looking into Head Start and you know would possibly help her greatly to bring kids in on a halfway level for a starting point. I I'm not saying Head Start is the ultimate uh ultimate solution, but maybe it's one thing and I appreciate you looking into that. >> Yes, sir. We did have that meeting with Head
098Start uh last week. I was hoping to pull off in January, but looks like we're not going to be pulled off in next year. uh if we want to do it correctly, I want to make sure uh she gave us an example of where one superintendent overestimated uh the number of students would attend that Head Start program and it uh was not very successful. So, we want to take our time and be methodical because when I'm rolling something out, I'm putting the school district's reputation on the line. So, I want that to be successful when we do roll it out next year. >> Greg, did you get all your answers, all your questions answered? Okay, you're good >> to get the discussion going. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? No. Okay. Thank you. Did you
099have something, Kim? 551.072 551.074 551.076 551.082 and 551.0821 I am for We're going to reconvene from executive session at 8:31 p.m. We'll go to item number 12. I'm sorry, item number 13, consent agenda. Did anybody have any questions on anything on the consent agenda? No. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. We have a motion by Amber. >> Second by Greg. All in favor. Motion carries. Go to item number 14. Consider approval of library book purchase. >> No. No. Okay. That was done last month. >> Okay. We'll go to item 15. Consider and take possible action to approve the selection of a They're new. 14 is new. >> She's not here. >> You want to pull it up? Put it up on the screen. >> Okay. We're on 14. Consider approval of library
100book purchase. We'll do I mean I'm going to do the same thing. I'll make a motion to approve at the books. I mean because it was I thought they were the books that we looked at last time. >> Every time there's a change has a comment for >> Yeah. I thought I thought it was the same one. So that's why I said I'll make the motion. >> Okay. So >> motion by Amber, second by Greg. All in favor? Motion carries. Item 15. consider and take possible action to approve the selection of a construction manager at risk for the Venus High School phase 1 project pursuant to Texas government code chapter 2269 subchapter F. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve um the construction manager at risk. >> Motion by Amber. Do
101we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Kirby. >> Do we need to name it? >> Absolutely. Maybe we can >> tell you guys. >> Yes, sir. Yes sir. >> I understand. >> Any other questions? Absolutely. Ready to get engaged in pre-construction. >> Okay. >> Thursdays. >> Okay. >> What is your experience working with Huckabe? I have a ton of experience working with Huckabe, working in the neighboring district to the north, doing three different projects with Huckabe there. And I've completed, I don't know, two dozen projects in North Texas with Huckabe the last five years. >> I don't know, Madam President. Anybody have to reel me back in a little bit. I don't know what what exactly appropriate question is but so uh timeline is there any uh so y'all guarantee x number
102of days or x number of months for the completion is that correct? >> Yes sir. >> Anybody have any other questions? Sorry about that Joe. I didn't mean to cut you off. That was kind of I guess what I thought before when they presented was for us to ask questions at that time. So I got a little confused. [laughter] But anyway, um >> the motion and I think you need to name it. >> What? >> Name the company. >> Okay. I I would like to make a motion to approve core as the CMR CM AR for Venus school phase one. Okay. So motion by Amber. >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Welcome Josh. >> Go to item 16. Consider approval of the 2627 multi-reion co-op agreement. Tina. >>
103Uh, can someone else >> do we table this? >> Yeah, we'll table it. >> I'll make a motion to table it until later date. >> Second motion by Kirby to table. Second by Amber. All in favor? Motion carries. Good. Item 17, consider approval of purchase of staff Chromebooks. Warren is here. [laughter] >> No, sir. >> Um, making a recommendation to or asking you to approve the purchase of 57 staff Chromebooks at a cost not to exceed $36,500. Um, with this purchase, um, this would allow 40% of our staff members to have a a device that is one year old or less. Um, most staff devices right now are five years old or more. Um, and so the most common complaint we have is is bad battery life. And so these additional devices would let us
104get better better tools in teachers toolboxes to to do their jobs. Um, all we it was competitively bid. All bids were a part of purchasing co-ops and uh the the funds were budgeted out of this out of this year's budget. Just need to spend them and get them in teachers hands. >> I don't know if you know off top of your head the percentage what percentage of our faculty have a four or five year old computer. >> So my I guess my ultimate my question is why >> I have that >> why 57 >> or 70 what is it? What's the number? the the region 57 is the I have $36,594. That's how much is left in that account to spend. And so I I sent that number out to our vendors and said maximize
105it. >> I mean the world of computers, a 5-y old computer is >> could be like worthless all the way up to still usable. So it's a >> I didn't know why we were limiting oursel to 40%. >> No. Um this >> it's a budgetary restraint. >> Yeah. the this year uh Miss Pa Miss Paige allocated us $60,000 to spend on staff devices. We already spent 20,000 and change on step devices to get ready for the school year. And so this takes care of the rest of that. And you and you asked how many how many staff members were using an older device. I do. I got I got a math. >> You got I'm a math guy. I got to math it. Um >> right now it's 22%. So over 75% of our of
106our staff members have a device that's five years or older. Yes, we have a motion by Randall. >> My gosh, I didn't get one to approve. A second by Greg. All in favor? Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Go to item 18. Consider approval of matters related to personnel resignations, employment, position or contract amendments. >> I'll make a motion to approve all matters related to personnel resignation, employment and positions are contracted amendments. Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Donald, how do you spell that states? [gasps] >> Motion by Amber, second by Donald. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 19, reports, Mr. Gatewood. >> Uh yes, ma'am. It's been a uh very busy month. Uh again, uh just talking about what the principles talked about. Uh some of the highlights
107uh the trunk or treat was a huge success. I want to send a big shout out to uh a lot of people don't realize it, but the muscle behind that was uh Mrs. Laura Price. She spent countless hours out there uh just getting people in line. uh great job of her just just spearheading that event. It's normally just a campus event, but she's kind of morphed it into a district-wide event and you saw the fruit of that labor. Uh Veterans Day celebrations were powerful around the district. Uh the middle school and the high school did a full ceremony. Uh great ceremonies. I attended both. I also attended the primary uh they had a parade of veterans that day. And I also went down and toured the elementary veterans photo wall tribute. Uh we also hosted
108the monthly food bank at Bulldog Stadium. Uh lots of staff and students participated. Um they also hosted the all-in angel chili cookoff casino night uh this past weekend. Uh also want to talk about what's coming up this year. We are battling the uh city of Venus in a volleyball game to serve as a toy drive for the needy. Uh, Chief Groom has already uh claimed that he's going to take the trophy home, but we're going to try to recapture that trophy this year. >> Uh, yes, sir. With a uh fundraiser >> Saturday night. >> Yes, sir. Uh, some other staff recognition. I want to recognize uh unsung hero uh child nutrition director Tina McCormack. Um, as you're aware, the government shutdown uh was in full effect. And one thing about Tina, she very frugal when
109it comes to money. She actually sacked away some money. We're able to continue to feed our kids uh our breakfast and lunch even during that shutdown. So, great job by her for saving for that rainy day. That rainy day did arrive here in Venus and across the nation. I also want to send a uh special thanks to Coach Brian Williams. probably don't know, but Coach Williams has started a seventh and eighth grade softball team. Uh, so he's got those young ladies participating in softball at the middle school. Just little things that's going on that don't receive wide recognition that people just don't know about the behind the scenes. Also, I want to talk about uh finance and operations. Uh, one thing that Deian, Mrs. Deian Page keeps us uh in balance with, she makes sure
110that we stay financially sound. Uh so she keeps us in line a little bit. Sometimes she has to tell me no because I want to spend all the money on different things uh with that but she doesn't allow me to do so. Uh HB3 we're now HB3 compliant mean we have armed security maintained at all campuses. We do have a new officer. I'll bring him to the next board meeting so everybody can meet him. Uh we do have some upcoming events. We have Thanksgiving break. We have uh semester exams and uh the end of semester and winter break. Uh, one thing I just want to end with guys, uh, as we move into the holiday season, I want everybody to remain grounded on our true north, which is students. And I do believe in extreme
111ownership. As you can, as I said earlier, uh, as we, one thing you're starting to see as we have grown in size in the district. Uh, we do have to have solid systems in place, and it is a learning curve for some people getting used to those systems that are put in place to make sure that we're doing the right thing. We can no longer uh, treat this district like we're are a two-way school district. We're now considered a midsize district. We're not a small district. A lot of people I was having this discussion with Dr. Vega. She asked me what what is this classified when she first came here. I said this is a midsize because we're between 1500 and 5,000 students. Uh with that, we have to have systems in place and we're
112putting those systems in place uh to ensure that everything occurs that we stay focused no matter what we uh spend on money uh whether we invest in curriculum, what we're teaching down to driving a bus to cutting the grass. were focused on the students and keeping everybody guided towards that direction. That's all I have, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Bega, did you have anything? >> Yes. [laughter] Okay. New girl. Okay. Uh yeah. So, yeah, glad to kind of report on what I've done for the last two weeks um while I've been here. So, just an instructional focus update. Campuses have all completed their uh CBA 2, which some of the principles kind of talked about some kind of areas of growth that I noted. Third grade math grew um over 10 points in approaches
113meets and masters. Sixth grade reading reading language arts grew over 10 points also in approaches meets and masters from CVA1 to CVA 2. Eighth grade math grew 20 points in approaches, 19 in meets which I was in eighth grade classroom today and definitely felt like that instruction was going really good. Uh and then English one grew 38 points in approaches, 50 points in meets and 24 points in masters. So that's huge growth across kind of all three areas. Um for C from CBA one to CBA 2. I've conducted classroom walks at all the campuses. I was of course got to be at Venus High School a lot um over the year but also have gotten to go out to the other three. Um and our focus there has really been on doing walkthroughs coming out
114and then talking about action steps like what can we give a teacher as an actionable step whether they're struggling or they're doing a good job. So, just trying to foster that culture of growth um for everyone and not just struggling teachers. Um our assessment calendar, we're going to have CVA 3 scheduled in February. Currently, our assessment calendar only has three CVAs. So, we're looking at adding more data points, just kind of talking about that focus on student achievement. We're only doing data points three times a year. We're kind of missing an opport some opportunities there to track how students are doing. So, be looking at that. Um the flips for as far as like school improvement flips coaching has started. Um they talked about earlier with Jimmy Hefernon from the um region service center. Um
115and so he's already come and done like a meet and greet with the principles and he'll be working just on capacity building with them and it's kind of which direction they would like to go. So it's kind of customizable um for them um versus the kind of coaching that Santiago receives through Texas instructional leadership is focused on data driven instruction. So that is just a little bit different um but still really valuable coaching. I was Santiago's coach, not any longer. So now Rachel Bradley will be coaching me as the principal manager and we'll coach Santiago together. Um so he'll continue that. We had several principles attend the next level leadership summit at the service center. So just furthering their learning. Um Miss Buck has stem scopes coming out tomorrow um for the uh training for
116the middle school. So really excited for that. So I'll be popping in and out um over there for that as well. Um, and then just as far as my upcoming priorities, um, as I kind of come into this role, um, we'll be doing CBA2 data analysis with the principles, um, and then having a plan for them to turn that into an actionable plan. How do we remediate for students that didn't meet the mark on CBA 2 and CBA 1, um, while we still move on with strong tier one instruction? Um, so resulting in action plans. And then as far as systems and structures, what's on my radar is development of district-wide PLC structures and expectations. So, um, just pockets of greatness like Mr. Gatewood said, but we want that greatness spread across all of our
117campuses and all of our grade levels. Um development of district districtwide walkthrough expectations. Um so not just focusing on tests, that one kind of um walkthrough form that's linked to their evaluation, but how are we conducting informal walkthroughs so that we're collecting data and we can act on trends that we see and give action steps. And then development of district-wide internalization, data review protocol, and student growth tracking. So, those are the things that are on my big list on my whiteboard. [laughter] Thank you. Miss Paige, do you have anything? >> I do. A question was asked about um the new um additional homestead exemption and what that was going to do to us. Um when we did the budget and when the Johnson County gave us property values this year, it was assumed that that
118was going to pass. So it's not an affected us at all because we already took it into account when we did the budget. >> So it's uh state whole harmless what money that we don't collect the state will throw in. >> That's correct. And if you remember when we passed the bond, then we hurried up and sold the bonds um before August 31st. And that was to ensure that we got the hold harmless on the INS side as well as the M side. >> More importantly, when will when will we see that reduction on our personal tax bill? >> Well, you should see it when you get your tax bill. >> I got it. It wasn't on it. >> That means your value went up. Mr. Buck, you did it have both on it. >>
119Thank you. >> Right. Okay, we'll go to item 20. Um, does the board request any Huh? Does the board request any additional items? No. Our next scheduled meeting is December 15th. Our next scheduled regular meeting and we will adjourn at 8:50 p.m. >> I have a question for you. >> No, for him. What is it?