July 21, 2025 Venus ISD School Board Meeting

0012025 at 6:00 p.m. And we do have a quorum. If everyone would please stand for the invitation and pledge. We'd like to welcome everybody here tonight. Rosie, do we have anybody sign up? No. Okay, we'll go to item number five, presentation of campus reports and recognitions. Hi, good evening. Uh, not much has happened this summer, uh, with, uh, well, we have no students there. Um, but we did finish June with a fantastic summer school. We had about 25 students who consistently came. It was a great time. Um, and then about five staff members that spent every day with them. So, um, we're fortunate for all their hard work. Staffing, we are completely um, hired up in a sense and we've, uh, offered one last position. So, we're excited um for the school year and the

002staff that we've hired. Um and then meet the teacher is coming up on Monday, August 4th. And then for enrollment, it looks like our numbers are increasing. Right now, we're about 354. Um 68 students that are expected to return have not completed registration. So, we are actively calling one by one. We have 21 students in the Skyward queue waiting to be approved for enrollment. So, at this rate, we will have more students than we did last year. So, that's exciting news for Venus Primary. Um, other than that, we're just prepping for school and we're excited. Thank you. >> There we go. Hi. This is my first time, so I'm new. That's what's going on on my campus. Everyone is new. I'm new. APS are new. My PEMS lady's new. Counselor is new. So, we're just

003new over there. Um, we are up trying to get our enrollment up. It's not quite where we were expecting it to be where we were this time last year, but we sent out some Skyward emails this afternoon, so hopefully that will bump up a little bit. Um, I am fully staffed except for a bilingual teacher in fourth grade for Elar. We still are struggling to try to fill that position. So, if you know anybody, send them my way. Um, we are going to I do have all my paras now. Every everything is full except for that one position. We're gearing up for meet the teacher on Monday night the 4th from 6 to 8. I have teachers on my campus every day already. Their rooms ready to go and we're going to start this year

004off new and new and new. So, it ought to be a fun year. We're excited. My campus is excited. So, we're getting ready to go. Okay. So, few things happening at the middle school. Um, one thing, we are hired up with teachers, so that that is good news. Um, we were able to fill all of our positions, including all of our coaching positions. So, we were super excited about that. Um, big things over the summer, our Tappy kids, our two young ladies went and competed in Orlando, Florida, and happy to say they were first in the nation. So, we were super proud of them. Um, their category was children's literature book. um K3 Spanish. So, they did an outstanding job. And then our TSA kids went to Nashville to compete um for nationals. And so,

005the top 10 in the nation get on the stage at awards. And we had seven different groups on the stage. So, seven different competitions we we placed in the top 10 in the nation. And then we had three more groups that were top 16. And so, we were super proud of those kiddos. there. All that information is listed there with some pictures. Um, and I guess the big thing we have coming up is we have sixth grade schedule pickup and touring the building on the 31st. So, they will be excited to and nervous and all the things. So, thank you. >> Good evening, VHS. Um, we have two vacancies. one is English and um we'll have that one filled by the end of this week. Uh the source spot is the biology. Uh we've had

006some interviews lined up, but they um they've decided to go to other district. So, that one may be hard to fill, but we'll keep we'll keep at it. So, if you know anybody science biology, please send them this way. uh our summer events, we had football camp and um Dixon has continued his upward positive, I guess, attitude out there. The kids look different on the field. They're enjoying it. He had 60 show up on a continuum for the football camp. And um I had two or three of them pull me over and told me that they will win this year. So, I'm going to hold them do it. And then we had cheerleading camp. They went to uh Arlington for their camp, the varsity did. And then on the dance camp, we had 12 girls.

007I remember when that thing was at 4. Uh she took them to uh Midlo Heritage. Yeah. And they've finished with that camp and they're back and they're have their routines and they're excited as well. And then we are excited about fish camp. Been pushing that thing out on the 29th. We have schedules ready to go. This master schedule is ready. We have about 80 students that we're having to hand I guess schedule because of conflicts, but we're ahead of where we were last year. And our academic focus again this year will be our EB and sped kids. Both of them made large gains. U I see M. Peter say shaking her head, but the sped group came on pretty strong. So will be in English and math and um just going to need to take

008care of each other in you that positive culture that we have. Thank you for everybody. Can Miss Buck, Miss Witworth, and Mr. Kono, what are your enrollment numbers? >> Yeah, it's rule. 517 is where we're at right now. That about maybe 45 kids from where we ended last year. We only have 296. So that's why I said we sent out a skyward. We're making phone calls now. I think a lot of it Are we have any plans for admin to help out at the elementary maybe on that back to school night to help with a there possibly could be a mass migration of people coming in? >> Absolutely sir. We will uh assist campuses all the time. The same thing uh as the first day of school, we'll dis disperse out to different campuses and

009be there available all week to assist those campuses welcoming students back on campus. That's our main focus. >> So the numbers y'all said, I just want to make sure I understand that's total number of students. >> Okay. >> I was like what? Okay. Okay. I was I was very confused. Wow. No, no, that's good. Number six, Asthma 411 and district physician partner. Hi. Uh my name is Melissa Summers. I'm the district nurse here for Venus ISD. Um I'm here to talk about two different things. Um the first one is the establishment of a district physician partner, that being Dr. Michelle Bon. Um she also works with Alvarado ISD and a few other around the district. The second is the participation in the asthma 411 program. Um to begin I'm requesting that Venus ISD partner with

010Dr. Michelle Bon to serve as our district physician partner. This partnership would allow her to issue standing orders for our school nurses and to safely and legally administer over-the-counter medications in compliance with the Texas Board of Nursing and Nursing Regulations along with our nursing practice act. Um, without standing orders, our nurses are limited in their ability to treat common student complaints such as headaches, minor pains, allergic reactions, or stomach discomfort. These are often issues that do not uh require a trip home, but without orders, we must request the help of parents either to bring medication to school or to pick their student up. This not only affects our students day, but our parents day and often leads to unnecessary absences, loss of instructional time, and frustrated families. Dr. Dr. Bon would also write standing orders

011for emergency epinephrine, which is critical in responding to anaphylactic reactions, which are severe life-threatening allergic emergencies that can occur without a known allergy history. Having this order in place ensures we are prepared to act quickly and appropriately. In addition, Dr. Bon can consult on district health issues, participate in our SHA committee, interpret public health laws, and assist in emergency care planning along with several other things. The second part of this proposal is to formalize our district partnership with asthma 411. This is a public health initiative and it's offered at no cost to school districts. It provides an essential safety net for students with asthma and those who have undiagnosed asthma, which is one of the leading causes of chronic school absenteeism in Texas. Through this program, Venus ISD would receive rescue autural inhalers and spacers

012for emergency use on campus, training and support for school nurses and staff in asthma management, assistance connecting families of newly diagnosed students with long-term medical care, and resources and tools to reduce asthma related absences and hospital visits. Asthma 411 empowers school nurses to act quickly in the event of an asthma attack, especially when a student's nurse students personal inhaler is missing, empty, or expired, which happens a lot here in our district. It keeps kids in class, supports academic performance, and ensures we're taking protective steps to safeguard our student health. In closing, these initiatives, partnering with Dr. Bon and joining Asthma 411, are not just about compliance. They are about care. They give our nurses the tools to treat and protect our students effectively. They keep our kids in class instead of sending them home or

013to the ER. And they strengthen our district's commitment to student safety and wellness. Thank you for your time. >> Did anybody have any questions? >> Oh, yeah. >> I said, so is I know this is going to sound like a very dumb down question, but is that she would serve kind of like a tea do? >> Uh, no. She would well kind of like for question >> you have a kid comes in with something you that would give you an opportunity to reach a a physician that >> not her not her we have cook children's tellah health for that where we could reach out Dr. Von would just kind of be like a person we would talk to get advice from she would work with us like lawwise or if we had like measles outbreak

014then we could consult with her whether we need to send information out to the district or to certain classrooms stuff like that and then completely forward the idea just there. Yeah, but give me an example of standing order. >> Standing order would be like I don't know if you guys got a call or not. >> These are kind of our standing orders. Just like if a student comes in with a fever and we have to send them home, but like a lot of time at the primary there they have a fever and it's 103. So we're packing them down with ice. In this instance, we can give Tylenol. If the parent signs saying yes, we're going to use our standing orders. then our nurse can give that Tylenol while we wait for to get there

015because sometimes it's taking them an hour or more to come pick up their kiddos. We also have orders on here for like benadryil, TOMS, uh triple antibiotic stuff that we use in our offices regularly. Um but with our standing orders, it just protects our nursing licenses >> and it just helps. It just helps like we're able to give out cough drops and uh ibuprofen, just stuff that we have to call parents in like away from work and they usually they'll come in and they'll just take the student home instead of bringing the medication because then they have to fill out paperwork and they have to make sure it's an unopened bottle. They're having to stop at the store on the way. It's just it would cut all that out. We can just make a phone

016call. Are you okay with us giving this Tylenol to your kiddo? Yes or no? Make sure they have their form signed. Give them the medication. Send them back to class. us. >> Yes, she will write us a prescription for the EpiPens and then we'll use the EpiPen for school and they'll ship us Epipens. >> Yep. >> Uh I believe you do have to vote on it. >> Yeah. >> Uh for Dr. Bon, it's $1,000 a school year. For asthma 411, it's free. Any other questions? I don't know if the campuses um included that, but I'm I'm sure I can find $1,000 to not have any budget implications for it. >> Just for the whole district. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. So this is voted on the next meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. We'll

017go to item number seven. Informational update regarding special education law changes. All right. Good thing it's nice and big. I like that. It's been a while since I submitted this. So if you'll move forward, Rosie for me. Um with House Bill Two. Um I had two items for discussion, House Bill Two and then the staff and then the campuses have already covered that we have done well to hire our staff. So, our staffing needs I'm very excited about starting the year with some good staff. We hired some quality people and we're looking forward to that. So, very little to talk about on the second item. But on House Bill Two, if you'll move forward, here are some of the um provisions um from House Bill Two. It allocates a substantial amount of funding to revamp

018the special education funding system shifting from classroombased to needs-based funding for students with disabilities. So, our funding has been in the past based on PES coding, instructional codes. Uh, this is going to be more about student needs and the more significant needs a student has, the the uh more weight that funding has. Um and so we also um buil provide funding for special education assessments and for teacher training and special education. So if we'll move forward. So again shifting from uh the classroom setting to being based on the individual needs of each student. This means schools they'll receive funding based on specific services. So if they have more related services or some critical need areas, vision, um auditory impairments, those things are that that require u qualified individuals uh to provide those ser services, those

019will be funded more heavily. And moving on. So, um the commissioner is the one responsible for defining um tiers that we're going to be placing um these weights on for our our budget. Um there's supposed to be eight tiers. Um but we again more to come on that. Um and there will be four service groups. And while the tiers aren't finalized, Texas is moving uh towards a system where the level of special education funding a district receives will be tied to the intensity of services like I talked about. All right, moving on. Um so they say uh for the state that increase uh could be around 2.2 billion to or 1.3 billion. you may have more information of how many billions. I'm not sure, but we're glad to receive any um extra funding we can

020receive. Of course, um Venus ISD is not getting the billion, as you all know. Um we do have uh new funding for $1,000 per evaluation for special education. Some of our evaluations can get pretty pricey based on how many people are involved in the related services. So this will offset some of our contracted services costs. So that will help. Uh for example, we evaluated initially over 60 around 64 65 students last year. So that in and of itself will be around 65,000 if you do the math there. So, um, a psychological, uh, portion, if we had just a school psychologist doing an evaluation and they're just one member of the team, that's going to cost between $960 to $1,200 per student. So, that will help us for our contracted services. Um, so it also, um,

021from what I'm reading is it will help us. We do evaluate students who are not enrolled in school but they live in the Venus ISD district in our boundaries. We are required to evaluate them whether they are enrolled in school or not. So we are hoping to get some additional funding for that. And then I think we're getting close here. Well, let's see. Um so here's one more thing um that's really important. If we have any teachers we want to get certified in special education, they're going to be waving the first administration fees that are attached to that. So, if a principal wanted to encourage a teacher to get their certification the first uh the first time uh the first take is free. So, those fees would be waved. So, that that could save someone

022close to around $200 for taking the special education test. And then you may know more about this uh about the the transportation, but there is an increase in mileage reimbursement from A18 to $1.13 per mile. And this is tied to CCMR points that we get for students who are in special education that show readiness for when they um are graduating. And so if they get those certifications or they get um enrolled in military um there are certain criteria we meet for those CCMR points. Uh it's been increased from 2,000 per student to 4,000. So that's some additional funding that the district can receive based on CCMR. So, we want all of our special education students to really participate in all opportunities that our all students uh have the right to participate in and that will

023help us. Moving on. All right. Timelines um effective September 1st, 2025. Um the new funding system based on the tiers that's going to roll out next year, but everything else I believe is rolling out this year. Um that's the way I understood that. And moving on, uh this is a new requirement that um we must present an overall comprehensive report regarding special education, student performance or services. This will have to be done annually um for the board and we'll be preparing um a presentation in the near future. So if you have more things that you want to know about uh special education uh we will be preparing that and staffing. Uh we do have two contracted positions. One is a speech language pathologist assistant and a school psychologist. So, uh, we do have a couple

024of other contracted people that do, um, uh, like occupational therapy, physical therapy, but the the ones that are contracted on the most regular basis are the speech language pathologist and school psychologist. And that's all I have. Does anyone have any questions? >> Do we have a do we have a list of the number of high school students with special needs that got received their CCMR credits? We can get that information for you. That's something I would have to work individually about breaking out the data. >> Last year we were at 92% overall. So any other questions? >> Thank you. Go to item eight, legal policy updates as listed in policy update 125, which includes a lot. Um, these were sent to us. Did anybody have any questions on anything or is there anything Mr. Gatewood

025that you want to speak to or I know ma'am it's just basically a uh you have some that deals with accountability such as AIC legal, AIE legal, those deal with accountability. Then you have some that deals with board governance and committees uh which is with uh your FL legal FM legal and also some deals with uh student disciplines such as FOAL uh which uh FO legal is going to be a big change for our elementary students because elementary students are now allowed to be suspended out of school. So that is a legal change that the state has made. So I did have the principles here in the meeting today and that's something we need to communicate to the parents. So that is the biggest one that I wanted to speak on that our parents may

026not be aware that elementary kids can now be suspended out of school >> is the requirement is the uh cell phone ban in this update. >> Uh no sir that was a separate bill uh but the cell phone uh we didn't talk about the cell phone today. The campus principles have come up with a uh uniform uh policy on consequences which I'll present to the board and that's something we want to communicate to the parents. We've already communicated one time, but we haven't communicated the consequences for it. >> I I just know in the bill it said something about providing a >> Yes, sir. >> Uh yes, sir. >> Well, we've addressed that, sir. Uh most districts, I did check with other districts, they're viewing the students backpack as a secure place to put their

027phones. They're not purchasing yonder pouches because yonder pouches would be like over $100,000 on the district's uh back support. Um, I don't know if we want to go. The bill states we could either have the students put them away in a secure place or we can outlaw them altogether, but that impacts our secondary students. A lot of our secondary students rely upon their cell phones to arrange for transportation after school activities. >> Any other questions? We'll go to item number nine, executive session at 626 for 551.071. 551.072 551.074 551.076 551.082 and 551.082100 0821. consent agenda. Did anybody uh want to pull anything out or have any questions about anything on the consent agenda? No. Do we have a motion as um listed? Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All

028in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 12. Consider approval of spring 2026 VH VHS band. I'm just here to if y'all have any questions or concerns to answer. The band trip is we're going to Branson, Missouri hopefully spring of 2026, leaving on Thursday before spring break, coming back on uh late Sunday night. And uh the cost per trip is $1,000 just over just like $1,00049 I think or what did I put 29 1029 per student and that's at quad occupancy on a charter bus with insurance and all that stuff and also in the cost of the meals or in the cost of that thousand dollars is every child's meal. So a student doesn't have to bring any extra money to pay for any meals. Lots of parents concerns from years past was you know

029we don't we had to pay for kids meals. They ran out of money. It's all built in there. So every child will have a meal at have money for a meal and uh I don't you know where we will have a we will have a workshop and a public performance as well as having a little bit of fun time. Any questions? >> Yeah, I have a question. So I know it says um the students are responsible for the cost of the trip and help from the band boosters or any fundraiser effort fundraising. Are we 150% sure that every student that wants to go is going to be able to go no matter what if they have the money or not? >> I yes I I believe so with fundraisers and stuff like that. We we'll

030work between me and the boosters we'll work real hard. We're trying to set up a program where uh the more the parent helps they can earn money for their child's trip without it coming out of their pocket. So we're working on that. We'll we'll see exactly how many are going to go on the trip when the first when we do our deposit, which is probably the end of September, >> not right away. >> I I would just never want it to be that any child that wanted to go could not go because of money. >> Absolutely. Yeah. I'm 100% agreeance with you. We just like with band fees, if a child can't afford the band fees or something like that, we always work out >> work it out where we can figure it out for

031the child because they're number one. >> Yeah. Okay. Anybody else have any questions? >> Is this a a competition or just a like a learning thing or >> Yes, it has an educational component. U we will work with uh one of the stage shows that they have there. They'll kind of give us like a clinic and then we'll do a public performance. They have like a if you've ever been I don't know if you've ever been to Branson, but they have this big boardwalk like outdoor mall on the river. We'll perform out there. Okay. >> So, there will be performance opportunities and uh that workshop as well. My understanding is we were we were approving the funding for an administrator and a band director. >> I thought that's what we were approving, not the cost

032of the entire trip. >> No, no, the the the there >> Yeah, it's just to go out of state. There is no the cost the band directors are that you don't have to pay for a band director and we'll we'll the cost of an administrator is incred. So we won't won't be any pot any money out of pocket. >> Yeah, that's it. >> Any other questions? >> No. Okay. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the out of state um to for 2026 ban to Branson. Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Um number item number 13 consider approval of Transfinder Plus. >> Good evening. All right. So, I've been working with uh Miss Paige for

033Transfinder. She has set up a a sum of money aside to rebuild the bus. However, we have been I previously brought up uh transfinder um as a uh for software much better and uh we looked over some of the costs. It's more it's user friendly and more cost effective in the overall long run and it's pupil forward uh which means it was built for students um and and for the ease of uh routing. So um in lie of a new bus I'm requesting that we go to transfinder. So our first year for the software is 47,170 and that includes uh the startup fees, the training and any setup assistance costs. Um it does not include the hardware, but that's going to be the next uh item on the agenda is the hardware, but this includes

034everything we need to and it includes tracking. How much is the hardware? The hardware is through CDW is 30,300 and $95. >> Have we now It's been a while since we've talked I think about this software, but um you've used this in the past. >> Correct. Correct. Um I've used this in the past. I'm very familiar with it. Uh there's a lot of actually since we last discussed there's been some additional features to it that will ease uh parent communication and so there's not a lot of the background that we have to do. It's already set up. >> So if we did not go to this what would be the cost to renew with what we already have >> it. Well last year it was 32,600 and it significantly goes up every year. >> But

035we don't have that number. We don't know what that amount would be. >> No. >> Our second year for Transfinder would be 24,950 which would be 11,000 or which would be a significant drop and it would keep us with the tracking parent communication. You would get the uh bus um the bus tracking on there. the parents would be notified automatically if their child scanned onto the bus, scanned off the bus. >> So, what I remember um and I don't have a child that's getting on and off a bus. >> Correct. >> So, but I think we were having problems with if the if the students aren't scanning, it's not going to fix it anyway. Are they scanning? I mean, like what's our percentage of scans now? >> That I am unsure of. But now with

036the the update, so what we're having problems with is that the tablets are outdated. This would significantly update our tablets and with the children that are assigned to the stop, their picture would show up on the tablet and the driver could touch the picture and it would automatically put the student on the bus and it would notify the parent. So the new parent app, the new update that had happened since we last talked is that the parents will get an ETA of when the bus will arrive. They'll get notified when their child scans. They'll get notified when their child scans off. If a bus is needing, if we're needing a subbus, a subbus goes down. Currently, I have to go into NFT, take about two, three minutes to notify the parents on push notifications. The

037ease of this is they take the tablet that the driver is registered into, put it in the new subbus, and the parents automatically notified that a subbus is on their way. So is it the same tablets that we have now? >> No, it is a newer tablet. Right now we have Android 9s. We will have Android 12s. >> So with this we get all the tablets and the software. No >> this is the software. >> Correct. Correct. >> Okay. I see. So when I came when we discussed this I believe it was last August through transfinder at that time including software was 126,000. I worked with Warren and we went to CDW which is our next uh item. We got it significantly down. >> Have we looked at other software or other >> We have.

038We have and it's more. It's significantly more. I've looked at easy routing. I have looked at busology. Um, there's just a few different things. You have to continue to go to different pages and everything's not all on one page. >> My concern is I'm sorry. I've had my light on the whole time. >> You got the floor. >> My concern is we keep changing softwares because I think How long have we had the one we have now? >> We've had it three years. And >> he's about to graduate. >> I don't even >> And then what did we have before that? >> We had something else before that, right? >> Yeah, it was uh it started with an S. It was it was very difficult. It was a it was a softwarebased and so you

039had to have somebody come in and update your software. Before that, it was Transfinder Pro which was a software base as well and so it would it didn't have any ease with this. Um, with Transfinder, it's very easy to do route scenarios. We have the new uh school that the campuses that's going to be coming in. I could actually make another cube, take our routes where they're at, design them without affecting the current routes that we have. With the software that we have right now, I cannot manipulate routes without affecting the current routes we have. >> Got. >> So, there's I'm unable to do route scenarios. >> Okay. >> On average, how much does a bus cost? a new one about 163. >> So the 77470 right is what it would cost total. What happens

040in the event that we need a new bus this year? >> I have actually combined a route. I have several buses and we do have multiple bus route or multiple buses for backup buses. >> So if we combine routes, what is the crowding? I I would just hate for us to combine routes and overcrowd buses just to get new software. talk about crowding and mixing of students and how that looks and because I know we went to fewer stops, >> correct? >> Compared to what we had before. So, >> none of our bus routes go over 60. I don't think any of our bus routes have any 60 kids and most of our buses are 77 passengers. >> Three to a seat. >> If you have three seat, >> correct? >> Okay. I have one

041question. I believe in looking through all the information that the uh card readers uh is installation is not included in this price that Darren or someone that we would contract with would have to install all the card readers in the existing buses. Is that correct? >> Correct. So that's not included in this price. >> No, because we currently have card readers and so we have already the wires and the lines that it's just a matter of taking them out and putting the current uh correct card reader in with it. Um because we do have to order the card readers through Transfinder, they're set up to be with the Transfinder software and so Darren can change those out. And then there was some some indication that there was some uh individual students uh that would have

042to be hand entered into the system. >> That's if they do not have their card. So, if they don't have their card, um the the what I love about this and they did a I went to a convention this summer and when they did a uh we we drove on a bus around downtown Fort Worth. And so when we got to a stop, it popped up the students name with picture very visible that you can see it. And all the driver has to do is hit the but students face name and then click that they are uh driving riding the bus. >> So uh to pay for this change over we are sacrificing a new bus which we have already approved to buy. Is that correct? A new bus itself will cost 163,000. Uh but

043we are we are sacrificing a new bus to get a program that is safer for student travel, that is more communicative to parents. That will ease the driver's anxiety over a tablet that is possibly not working. and give that time to the driver to have those morning conversations with the student and and focus on the safety of their route. >> At the I know starting off with this uh software that we're currently using, we had all kind of problems ending up last year. Was what we're currently using usable and satisfactory or are we still having tons of problems with it? We are having a lot of problems with it. It is unsatisfactory. I will go into a little bit of my background. I'm a router and if I was to pick this program as a

044router, it's not user friendly. It is very difficult to route and make a route. You can't make mock scenarios. um you cannot disturb a route without without changing an existing route that's already done. So it significantly changes and it's not user friendly. >> Aside from not being user friendly, is it doing the job? Are the parents basically happy with it? From what I understand, a lot of parents aren't getting the the push notifications. I don't think that there's I don't think it has the necessary capabilities to communicate with the parents as needed or as they need. I don't think it tells you when the uh student gets on the bus or when they get off the bus. >> So, I I'm sorry. I'm gonna I'm gonna come back to you. So when you say because

045I'd asked a question around um sorry my notes about kids on the bus you said I don't think there's more than 60 kids and then you said I don't think this I I would just like definitive answers say that affirm there are no more than 60 kids on a route or there are no more than because when I hear you say I think or it sounds like we don't know and we're talking about putting kids on buses like if we say well I think but I mean that to me that's an answer if I'm asking about overcrowding I would like for you to say 100% we don't have any more than 60 kids on a bus. >> Okay. Well, right now >> and tied with not getting a new bus. >> Exactly. >> Well, right

046now we did not last year we did not have any crowding on the bus till the end when a driver had left at that point. I had to modify a route and so we had two. There wasn't there wasn't significant overcrowding. It was a little cozy but did we have enough seats? Yes, we did. So there's no overcrowding. There's no >> not at the 72 or 70 kids or whatever the max is on the bus. We're not maxing out the buses is what we're saying, but it still can be crowded with three. >> It was only the last few weeks of school that we were a little cozy after that. We I have adjusted routes this year. And the reason I'm saying I think is because right now I'm in the middle of routes and

047we just had the rollover. So, I haven't been able to definitively put kids on the route, but I have um that one route that we combined, I've separated and adjusted to those routes so that they'll there won't be that overcrowding on that one specific route. >> And so, is this another app that parents are going to have to download and get familiar with? >> This will be No, this will be a better app that the parents will have to download. And >> yes, we will have they will have to download another app and get familiar with the app. And so, will this be ready to go on the first day of school? It will not. They have to set the foundation. They have to get the maps. Um I will have transfinder or NFT for

048the first couple of months as we're doing the transitions over. Um with our next uh item agenda with the CDW, the tablets. During that time, Darren can change over the hardware that's currently in the bus while Transfinder is doing the foundation work, the ground work to get this rolling. So, first question for Miss Paige. So, legally, since this isn't a sole source, shouldn't we shouldn't we have to get three quotes? >> We we do have what we've currently using. So, we do know that this is cheaper than what we are currently using. So, three quotes aren't required. Um, preferred, but not required. >> So, the next group that comes in with a purchase of this size that doesn't quotes or we going to let them present it as well? >> We certainly can go back

049and and get the third one that she had talked about that I don't think she's got an official quote from as well. >> I'm just a consistency guy. So, if our if our policy or our procedure states this is what we need to be doing, then >> it has nothing to do with whether it's transfer or not. Just has to do with being consistent to every group on on procedures. Uh number two, are the card readers that Mr. Russell was talking about are they included in this price? >> They are included in the transfinder price. Yes. >> Installations. >> Yeah. Is it my my third question is is that what level of overtime is Darren going to have to pull to not only do his regular job? We all know we have one person but

050also find time to install. actually talking to him and he said that he can get it done knocked out pretty quick because we already have the current um hardware on the bus from the from NFT. It's just a matter of taking it out and putting the other one in. He said he can knock it out fairly quick. >> So the wire the you're saying the wiring everything is the same. It's >> plug and play >> as far as installation goes >> pretty much. Yep. So, but it's addition a lot of additional work on somebody who's already at a level that So, uh, and finally, I know Mr. Russell touched on this. So, being the district as long as I've had multiple of these programs, every one of them has been sold as the next greatest

051thing and none of them have. They all work out the exact same thing. In four years from now, we're going to be sitting talking about XYZ that is so much better. I I just don't It's almost like curriculum. We change it every every year. It's like we find it the next new next best thing. Only reason I say that is we have an we budgeted for a new bus. Correct. >> That's so we're using the money that the board agreed to budget for a new bus. Now we're now we're taking the fiscal responsibility. >> Take a part of that money that we allotted for a new bus and we're So somebody came and said we need money for a new bus. the board approved money for a new bus. Now all of a sudden we've

052we've reallocated that money to do something else with it. So that that's those are comments more than questions. I guess I just I just if it's a need and we needed a bus, I don't understand why we needed a bus preparing for the budget year, but now we don't need a bus anymore. So that that's those are just questions. >> Yeah. Is the is the need for that bus no longer there? like we were told that that we need a new bus, you know, here's why. I can't remember exactly what was said, but has that need changed to where that bus was just going to be kind of an extra a backup? I mean, has has that >> there's been a process to for bus replacements. Uh that was discussed. Um currently, I have seven

053buses that could be backup buses if a route bus goes down. I have three backup sped buses if a sped bus goes down. Um, currently right now the need is to get a program that where I can find a student in the in the software. >> Oh, I mean I I agree that the existing program has a lot of faults. I don't know anything about this one, but >> do do y'all remember what the what what the presentation was of why we needed to buy a new bus? Was it just because it's been time and we need to like what was the need? Do you remember? I can't remember >> if you uh >> Yeah, we we did. >> The need was scheduled to get a new bus because if you don't buy it now,

054>> you're going to spend all the money on something else and then we're going to need a new bus and then it was to get into a regular >> regular rotation of buying things so we can we can budget for large purchases like that. >> Okay. So, it wasn't a we need a backup. We don't have any type of deal that correct. >> Right. It was just >> So, what I'm requesting is to use Yes. use part of the bus budget or the the money that was budgeted for a bus to get us a startup of the program. The next couple of years, the 24950 will actually come out of my budget to my my transportation budget to pay for the upkeep. So, it's the initial cost of the program. Um, the hardware itself is

055a one-time fee, so that will not have to be deducted every year. There's no upkeep or any of that. Uh this program itself is cloud-based and so it automatically updates via satellite. >> What is the with with theirs? Do you know what the >> um I forget the big fancy word. Um but what the expected life of this equipment? Is it three years, five years? Because I mean it's technology. It changes every 20 minutes, >> you know. So, how how long out do you know how long this equipment will >> So, with the tablets itself, they've done some research on it and it actually holds up to this Texas heat. Uh, we won't have to replace it for quite a few years. >> Well, no, I just mean like the the the updating of the

056technology, you know, is it is this the the cutting edge type technology to where it's going to withstand updates and stuff like that over the next five years? >> Absolutely. In three years, they can come back and go, "Well, it's outdated now. We need to replace it." No, it no, it'll it'll handle updates because right now this the tablet that we that Warren and I he actually spoke with their tech person to get the correct tablet that they are selling is the latest one that is out. It is the one that will run their program and it could have multiple updates on it >> because that that's really my concern with technologies. It seems like as soon as you get up the the latest greatest stuff, five months later, >> I understand that was a

057question that we asked and no, it does not need to be replaced. uh it doesn't need to be replaced every year, every couple of years. It can withstand a few years of um of updates and especially if we're growing but we're slowly growing, it can h it can still handle the the processes of what we have right now. >> So, this may sound a little critical and I apologize for it, but you you brought this idea to us over a year ago because I was I was just coming on the board. I'm just curious as to why why the end of July because it's going to be Christmas before this is up and running. So, we're really we're going to buy this. It'll be Christmas before it's up and running. So, all the parents are

058going to have to get used to X. They're going to use X until Y becomes available and then we're we're going to work through all the kinks of Y all the way through the the Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday seasons and and then maybe Christmas get it running. I'm just curious as to why knowing that we wanted this a year over a year ago, why didn't we present this in April knowing that the budget year is coming up and then and then have it ready to where we could have it ready for the for the start of the school year? >> Um because with the fiscal year change of budget, we were actually kind of uh having to work through that and get things ready and prepared and and stuff for Darren for the summer

059for uh to start repairing buses. So, it did get pushed back to the back burner. Uh, we were still getting uh numbers together at this point uh to get to you guys. >> Okay. I don't know who do I need to address this to, but at one time the board had sort of adopted a unofficial uh bus replacement schedule uh saying that we've got 37 buses, 36 37 and and uh ordered to keep your bus fleet uh 12 years or younger. you're going to have to replace approximately three buses a year. If you don't do that and put that into your budget, you're going to wind up in a period of five or six years, you're going to have a bus fleet that's 12, 15 years old. Uh, so I'm a little bit reluctant to

060give up a bus and keeping our bus fleet fairly young. And I'm not saying a 12y old bus is fairly young, but uh, that's just just my feeling at the moment. >> No, I understand. Every bus on our lot runs. We have one that we're working on currently to get it back up and running, but every bus on our lot runs. Um, the oldest one, I believe, actually, uh, Mr. Jim Webb drives it. It's the, uh, welding bus, but that's the oldest bus in our fleet, and it's still a great bus. It's just, it's a two 2000. It's a 2000 if not slight if not a slightly older. But it's all on how you keep you can actually keep the buses. They can run up to 18 years and it's how you take care of

061them. Absolutely not. >> So, we don't know what the cost for our current software is. We just know what it was last year. >> No, she said it was 326. >> No, it's like 326. And it's only getting more. But you didn't find out a cost for it for this year with the update >> because they can change it at their whim >> with there's there in their contract it says that they can change it at any time. I just know what I pay for and I know that there are features on it that this district needs as far as route scenarios and student safety that is unable to to be done in this current routing software. Last question for me. How many parents do we currently have? Two questions. How many kids do we

062have riding the bus versus how many parents do we have? And I I do understand we'll have multiples to parents. So that number is not going to be exact, but how many parents as of last count did we have actually registered and using the app? Because I know that was like a year over year that last count it was like roughly two to 300 maybe. So, where are we at now with getting them using that app? >> So, last year I had 1,700 kids routed or uh on the bus, scheduled to bus. We had just over 200 parents using the map. >> And that took us a while to get to the 200. >> I believe if we send out a um notification to parents schoolwide, we can have a training on this one. >>

063So, My next question be what what would we do differently this time? Because I know we did a lot of that. Miss Price put a bunch of trainings up on the district. We had sent out notifications. But in order for us to get our new parents switched over, it took us almost three years to get 200 parents. We have 1,700 kids writing. In order for it to be beneficial to parents, right? Because right now it sounds like it's very much for for you. And I totally get that. for you to be able to route, for you to be able to track the buses, but also for our parents to be able to see the kids, but if they're not using it, that doesn't sound beneficial. So, what would what are we going to be doing

064differently to make sure that those parents are using that app to make sure that that is a feature that we can definitively say that yes, it benefits not just not just the routing part, but that parents can actively see where their kids are and getting them registered. We'll have to send get with the schools, send out some parent squares, hold some trainings, um focus forward on any of their back to school nights and things like that. just getting it out there, getting it on the page, having training videos, maybe a a snippet, uh work with Laura and get a u like a small video up on Instagram or Facebook, stating the uh wayfinder, which is the tracking system for the student, the stopfinder, which is the parent communication, and what all this parent communication offers.

065I don't have like I I I don't have kids that ride the bus, but from what I've heard about the existing system that that that user interface is is not the easiest thing to figure out. Like it's not hard to use, but it's not easy to figure out initially. Um is there a big difference in the interface that the parents will have to use with the transfinder as compared to what we currently use? Is it is it a big Is it simpler to use? Is it more easy to understand? But >> it is simpler to use. A lot of the communication with this new interface or with this new application, it won't have to be translated on our part. It will automatically come to them in whatever language that they choose. So, there's a lot

066of ease to it and a lot of clarity to it. It's not overly complicated. It's very simple to the point. Your student, you'll get a push notification. Your student has boarded the bus. your student has gotten off the bus. Um, subbus 119 is coming in. >> Is that the only parent involvement on it? >> No, there's there's communication. They can actually directly communicate with me as well. >> Or they can can they go on there like I think the old system or the current system you could just pull up that I guess the app and see where the bus is. Is that correct or is that my misunderstanding of how the current system works? No, it'll it'll wi with the new system with the new system it'll actually give you an ETA of when the

067bus will be there. This current system does not. >> But does it like is there live tracking? >> There is not live tracking. There is on our part. There's not live tracking >> on the district part but not on the parents. >> Correct. >> Is there current system? >> There is. Um but it's it there's a lag and it doesn't always work. Um but um it'll this one will notify the parent a few minutes before that the bus is on their way and so they'll be able to get their kiddo out to the stop. Anybody have any other questions? No. Do we have a motion to either approve, disapprove, or table this? I'll make a motion we table this while you get the additional information that we ask about >> which was >> additional quotes

068>> three quotes I think miss some questions about wrership >> people signed up I just want to make sure what what we're wanting from that >> there was a bunch of questions so there were >> yeah okay do we have a second >> I'll second >> second by Kirby All in favor to table six. Okay, it's tabled. Go to item number 14. Consider approval of CDW purchase. >> Do we But don't we have to table it also? Make that motion to table. >> I make >> Do we have a motion to table? I'll make a motion to be table item 14. >> Motion by Randall. We have a second. I'll second. Second by Kirby. All in favor to table. >> Motion carries to table. Good. Item number 15, consider approval of Buck's wheel. >> Uh

069that was the one, ma'am, that we're going to uh go ahead and uh skip past. >> Skip past that one. Okay. Got to item number 16. Consider approval of local policy changes as listed in policy update 125 including and that was the big list. >> Uh yes ma'am. These are local policies here. Uh the one here uh B DB local deals with a board organization. Uh basically it states uh this policy is revised to clarify distinctions between board committees and advisory committees. Uh then you have BDF local which talks about board internal organization and advisory committees. Again they want to change the subtopic change from citizen advisory committees to advisory committees. Just some language changes. Uh EI local deals with academic achievement. Uh it's revisions to the partial credit combined for grade with the average

070of for clarity and awarding credit when a student only passes half of a course. like sometime you have a kid that uh fails one semester and he passed the other semester and you average him out from the past. Just clarifying that information the language a little bit. Then you have FD local which deals with school safety transfers. They want to uh they recommend that bullion is uh included as a offense for the district and we've had to collect that data in the safe schools data act. And uh last one you have FC FC local which deals with attendance for credit. Uh attendance for credit here revisions aims for clarity incorporating information on absence into absence to considered for readability. Uh the policy now authorizes the administrations to establish attendance committees rather than the board to

071do so. >> I have a question about FD local. So is that school safety transfer is that does that also regulate whether or not we accept transfers from from like so we don't accept transfers but if Midlotheian had a kid who was being severely bullied they have the right to transfer out of Midlotheian to a surrounding district does that address whether we accept those transfers or does that >> uh no it doesn't sir right now we don't accept any outside transfers from uh other districts >> okay thank you any other questions do we have a motion I'll make a motion to approve um the local policy changes. Okay. Do we have a second? I'll second. Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. We got item number 17, consider approval of employee handbook for the

0722526 school year. Mr. Martinez. Good evening. All right, we're going to start with the board of trustees. Uh they changed the deadline for required notice of board meetings from 72 hours to three business days. So they want to make sure that you guys get three business days, not 72 hours. That could be on Friday to Monday instead business days. Does Friday count as one of our business days or is it because we're only four days has that changed for us? >> It depends if we work that Friday or not. >> Okay. Fair. >> Uh ADA uh accommodations. Uh they add a new topic describing the process for initiation and request for reasonable accommodations because of the disability. And then they added the ADA coordinator which would be myself. uh breaks for expression of breast milk.

073Uh they removed the implementation date in local consideration as well as pregnant workers fairness act. Uh the date was removed as well. Next one outside employment and tutoring. Uh they added information related to the restrictions on school administrators performance uh of outside employment. What they added, it says that administrators may not receive financial benefits for performing personal services for any business entity that conducts or solicits business with the district. So, they're trying to cut down on people making extra money. Staff development, they added requirements to annually review the TEA clearing house, which uh region 11 does anyways. That's that's who we get our trainings from. Uh they also added the mental health training uh which is also included in our mandatory training from region 11 that everyone has to complete and paychecks. They added a

074placeholder for contact for questions. You know they didn't need to because who do you call contact payer uh local procedures for implementing family and medical leave? Um it was before where if you went on uh on uh FMLA you have to use your days whatever days you have in the state you know local days. Now they said you have a choice to say no I don't want to use my days. I just take a pay doc and then I'll use my days later. >> Quick question. >> Yes ma'am. >> And this is I have an HR brain so back me up. So just making sure that this translates over. So, if they take FMLA, right, that they're on a protected leave, typically we would make them use their local days to pay themselves because they

075didn't get what? Short-term disability for the pay. They just got the approval for the leave and now they can just take it unpaid as long as it is medically approved. >> Yes. >> Okay. uh temporary disability leave in local considerations they added directions for district of innovation districts to address whether temporary disability leave is extended for non-sertified teachers that I found out that we don't do that for uncertified teachers so our DOI teachers do not get ex temporary disability leave and what reads is any full-time employee whose position requires certification from the state board for educator certification is eligible for temporary disability leave. The purpose of temporary disability leave is to provide job protection to full-time educators who cannot work for an extended period of time because of mental or physical disability of a temporary

076nature. Next one is standard of conduct. They remove the crown act implementation date in the third paragraph in local consideration. Um, I was trying to find out what the Crown Act, what is the Crown Act? You know, it's hair. Yeah. It's creating a respectful and open world of natural hair. That's what it is. It's a bill prohibiting race-based hair discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools, and housing. Harassment of students. They edited the fourth paragraph and directions for inserting local procedures for reporting harassment. Uh we already have a good policy and it it states that any person who may report sex discrimination including sexual harassment whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment in person by mail by telephone or by

077electronic mail using the contract information for title 9 coordinator as well. Uh, next reporting suspected child abuse. >> That in that previous one. >> Yes, sir. >> We have a We have a program we use for reporting, don't we? >> Yeah. I mean, reporting harassment. >> Is it should we put that in the handbook of Is that in the in the employee handbook of what the what the program is? I hope all our teachers would know it, but see how I don't know it. >> I just didn't know if that's I mean, now if you change it next year, you got handbook every year. So, I don't know if there's a It says by electronic, you know, means, but uh I just didn't know if that's a that's something we want to put in there

078to remind them what just an idea. Y'all may decide again. >> Uh reporting suspected child abuse. Uh changes were made in the first five paragraphs to meet the new reporting deadline and procedures required by Senate Bill 571. Uh it used to be where you had uh 48 hours to report. They cut it down in half to 24 hours. And then it also states that you have to report it to either DFPS or law enforcement. And what we found out that uh our police department is not considered law enforcement. So it has to be from uh DPS, city police department, county sheriff's or county constable offices. So it says four. >> Yes. >> Child services. You also may report it just to the city police. Aren't they by CPS? Well, we do CPS first. >> Yeah.

079If they do that, then they'll report it to CPS and they'll work together to >> not. >> No, but that's okay. >> CPS CPS and SB571 reporting for principles. Uh principles must report the following type of misconduct involving a student reminder to their superintendent within 48 hours. Uh physical abuse, threats of violence, uh romantic or sexual relationships, and inappropriate communication or boundary violations. And then the superintendent has 48 hours to report it to uh TEA and it used to be 10 days but I'll take care of that boss. I'll report it for you. >> Yeah. >> Next one. Sexual abuse and malt treatment of children. Changes were made uh to reflect amendments to the definition of abuse. And they added they added including conduct that constitute the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a young

080child or disable individual indecency with a child, improper relationships between an educator and a student, sexual assault or encouraging a child to engage in sexual conduct as well as failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual contact with a child. Treatment is defined as abuse or neglect. So they just they went very specific. Next one uh report to Texas to TA uh topic move from the they just moved the topic from the termination section um which uh for as a result of SB571 uh to the employee conduct and welfare. Next one, technology resource. They added an optional bullet addressing appropriate use of artificial intelligence. So they added that artificial intelligence should only be used as a support tool to improve student outcomes, not to replace the decision made by teachers or students. Personal use

081of electronic communications. Uh they added a reference to the policy CY. They also uh reference to Twitter uh Twitter to X in the first paragraph. and they edited third and third paragraph to reflect policy uh CY which is intellectual property copyright and it now includes trademarking as well. Next one, criminal history background checks. Um they edited to reflect requirements to conduct uh criminal history checks on all employees. Now it reads, "All employees are subject to re to a review of their criminal history record information at any time during employment." Usually it was when you first get hired, get a background check. Now, if uh we get an email stating that you did something, then I get to pull it again to see what you did. Employee arrest and convictions. They edited the third and fourth

082paragraphs to reflect reporting in SB571. They added if an employee is arrested or criminally charged, the superintendent is also required to report the educator educator's criminal history to the division of investigation at TEA. The superintendent is required to report the misconduct or criminal history of an employee to TEA. Information about the misconduct or allegations of misconduct of an employee obtained by a mean other than the criminal history clearing house will be reported to TEA. So it's the you know it's a a Microsoft Word document where you just uh add the information of the individual what they did and then you load it into TA and then they take over and see if it requires more uh a more deep investigation or as long as they know and we don't hear about it then I guess

083we're good. uh tobacco and nicotine products and ecigarette use. >> It didn't say >> yes. What emperility? teacher I didn't know what it used to be we decided whether we didn't think bad >> and that's what when we decide and we also would look at you know the the the crime that they >> teach calls and tells us >> I believe so >> unless it is you know for sexual conduct or anything >> yeah automatic Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> You were arrested. So now you got and TA decides whether >> they pick up. >> Yes, they they're getting very strict on the the complaint was that they never did anything to people that this stuff that was very serious. I just question the position put you in. Do we put that person on leave

084until six weeks later? >> Okay. >> All right. Next. Tobacco and nicotine products and ecigarettes. They just remove the and nicotine products off the uh definition. It says the state law prohibits smoking using tobacco or ecigarettes, but they just it's used to say using tobacco and nicotine products. So, they took that off. Next, uh copyrighted materials uh editorial change to the first sentence. They just added the co federal copyright law and policy to there and emergency school closing. They just uh added the policy reference uh resignations. Uh they updated the fourth and sixth paragraph uh to reflect revised reporting requirements in SB571. The update states, "The principal is required to notify the superintendent of an educator's resignation within seven business days, and the superintendent must report it to SBEC." >> Yes. And based on the

085next page, If any other reasons on the next page, the principal is required to notify a superintendent of an educator's resignation within seven business days of the following. Certain misconduct, abuse, unlawful act. Involvement of solicitation of a romantic relationship with a minor. Soliciting or engaging in sexual contact with a student or minor. In appropriate communication with a student or minor, failure to maintain appropriate boundaries with a student or minor. Possession, transfer, sale, or distribution of control substance. Illegal transfer appropriation or expendenture of district or school property or funds. and exempt by fraudulent or authorized means to obtain or alter any certificate or permit to the purpose of promotion or additional compensation and committing a criminal offense or any part of a criminal offense on district property or at a school sponsored event. >> Yes, but

086if they some you always want to go to get the resignation so that cheaper for the district and based on what they resigned is if we decide if we report or not. >> The way I'm reading that one over there, can you go back? Did you put this slide together or was this a slide that you took from there? >> I that I took from theirs. >> So, the principal is required to notify the superintendent of an educator's resignation within seven business days and the superintendent must report to ESPC. >> Yes. >> What's 571? Will that give us further clarification? Because the way I read that is if somebody just resigns in the middle of the year, which they in the past and >> you could, but a lot of times it was like, well,

087it's just such a pain to even report it to ESPC and you had that option not to. The way this reads to me now is you have to report it if they is how I'm reading that. >> Yes. When I looked up SB571, it deals with required misconduct reporting notices. >> Yeah. >> If they resign in the you had to report it. >> So if somebody just resigns in the middle of the year, you don't have to report ma'am. >> If they just resign because they want to leave. >> No ma'am. And this here uh what you what happens a lot of times and uh I know Mr. Buck's familiar with this here and some of you may be to where some school districts would a person would have some misconduct. If you just get

088out of town, we'll look the other way. Yes, that was going on quite a bit in the state of Texas. No more >> the next one, dismissal of non-contract employees. uh they updated the policy reference and they updated the second paragraph to reflect reporting requirements in SB571 and it's the same report requires man as as the prior slide where if he did something that required us for it crime And they were even finding superintendent. I believe it's a $10,000 fine. If they found it, it would not report it. Yeah. Uh next, discharge of uh convicted employees updated the offices requiring employee discharge. uh which an offense requiring the registration as a sex offender, improper relationship between an educator and a student, sale, distribution or display of harmful materials to a minor, public indecency, or a

089felony offense involving school property. So there's the school property one. Next, uh, reports to Texas Education Agency. Uh, the topic was edited to move to the employee contact and welfare as a result of SB571, which amend the reporting requirements for all employing and is no longer limited to resignations and terminations. Any questions? There were a lot of changes. It was pretty much uh putting it more on campuses, especially when it comes to hurting kids. >> Did anybody have any other questions? Nope. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the employee um handbook for the 2526 school year. Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion passes. Thank you. Item 18, consider approval for the 2526 test appraisers list. Dr. Morgan, >> never

090mind. Disregard. >> I'm required as a superintendent to submit the list of uh certified appraisers to the school board uh yearly. Uh this is a list of uh everybody in the district that will be conducting uh that are authorized to conduct appraisers appraisals and walkthroughs and documentation on staff members. Uh as you can see this year I added an alternate. Uh Kelly Peterson came to me and volunteered to be an alternate. I think an alternate is very important. If say for instance you have a teacher that received an evaluation, they disputed that evaluation. Uh she's not on the campus. uh she's a just a party that's outside uh separate office. She can give an honest opinion on that teacher. So, this is the current list of administrators that are authorized for the following school year

091to conduct test uh uh test walkthroughs and tex observations on teachers. Are there any questions on this list? >> Um I'm just looking at Miss Ortiz is the only one over at the primary. Does she need anyone else to help or think think I I think we solved that today. I think she interviewed a person. She interviewed several people. The committee didn't like them people. She interviewed a final person today and she found a candidate and that candidate did accept. Uh so she will not be the only one over there, ma'am. >> And the two that were hired over at the elementary, they'll be able to help. Uh >> yes, ma'am. They have to go through their test certification first. If you're not on this list, you're not test certified. Okay. Any other questions? Do

092we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the 2526T test appraisal list. Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor. Motion carries. Got go to item number 19. Consider Yes sir. Uh that is correct. If you uh are not certified, I will guarantee that you will be certified uh or you will not conduct the t test observation on staff members uh because it's kind of hard to hold teacher accountable when that observation is not a legit observation. >> Go to item number 19. consider approval of instructional materials purchases for middle school social studies. Dr. Mark. >> Yes. Sorry. Um, thank you for allowing me to talk about this tonight. Um, this is not entirely brand new to the middle school. So, it's the same um social

093studies school service provider that we used last year. U, this these materials though are brand new and written specifically for Texas Middle School. Um, and the materials that they're going to provide are more akin to a true HQIM, which means they come with um, lessons like established units, lessons, um, supports for teachers, um, videos, assessments, all of those things that you would expect in a in instructional materials. uh what they had last year was more of a um comp compilation a curation of resources that the the teachers struggled with last year of how to put them together, how to organize them and then how to plan lessons with them. So these um specific middle school resources are going to be much more user friendly for our teachers and so that students are going to get

094a a much more coherent um and teaches aligned um instruction for all three grade levels. um particularly where we saw gaps last year was in grade six um that that it didn't quite have um what we needed for sixth grade teaks and then also a little bit more for Texas history which is usually lacking in social studies materials because if you you may not believe this but Texas is in fact the only state that requires Texas history. I know it's crazy. So, um, we sometimes we we see that there's that gap there for Texas history. Um, but the the middle school, um, social studies team, um, and along with Miss Buck have looked at the the previews that we've received, um, and do do want to have these materials instead. >> Okay. I'm going to

095ask the question that we ask every time. Are we sure we need all of the the books that we are purchasing because we do not use them in other grade? So, unfortunately, these materials are only being sold with the digital plus print um combination. So, they are not selling the digital license only. So, we if we're going to use them, we we have to get the print workbooks. Um I mean, I suppose we could just refuse the the shipping, but we're still paying for it. So, um, we're going to we're going to work with the teachers and their PLC time to help them understand how to use the print workbooks intentionally and so that it won't just be a waste. So, hopefully we're we will not see them just sitting in the corner um creating

096a new bookshelf. And then as far as um we've budgeted for this amount. >> So this is going to come out of our instructional materials aotment and yes there is enough there for this purchase. And then um hopefully next year they will get some feedback that maybe the print workbooks are not as necessary hoping but if not this would be an annual renewal cost. >> Okay. Did anybody have any other questions? Do we have a motion? I make a motion to approve the instructional material purchases for the middle school. Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Go to item number 20. Consider approval for public funds investment act training providers for fiscal year 2526. Good evening. All right. So um each

097year the board is required to approve the PO public investment funds act training providers. So um these are the train these are the providers that we are requesting to be used. Um uh Texas class is a new one um but it's free. So um if we can use that we will use that. Um so that's why we've put that one added on there. Um, Tasbo, you'll know, TEA, North Central, Texas Council of Governments. Um, that's been used a lot. Texas State, Texas Municipal League, and Texas Comproller of Public Accounts. So, right now, our policy is both Lanny and I um are the public investment officers. And we both got to do 10 10 hours of training this year. Um, it's a flaw to me and the legislature because I was an investment officer at my

098prior district, but because I switched districts, they think I've lost that knowledge from A to B. So, you have to start all over when you move to a new district, which is kind of silly. So, but now we're on the only eight hours every other year. >> Hey, I was very thankful that Venus let me use my compliance training for my former district and I did not have to do all that over again because that's miserable, too. Does anybody have any other questions? No. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the public funds investment act training. >> Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Donald. >> All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 21. consider approval of Cander Consulting contract for fiscal year 2526. >>

099So Cander is who um we're recommending using the contract for the school psychologist and and the um speech language. Yes, both of them. Um we really negotiated with them. Um we've used we use them currently in the 2425 school year. their price was not um competitive on one of the um services. So, we told them we were going to use them for one and not the other. And I don't know, all of a sudden the price came down and we got to use them for both. Anybody have any questions? No. Do we have a motion? I'll make the motion that you are that you approve the Cander Consulting contract. A motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> A second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. Item 22, consider approval of Superior Pediatrics

100contract for fiscal year 2526. >> So, we've used Superior in the past. Um, we use them for occupational therapy, physical therapy. Um, so >> do anybody have any questions? Do we have a motion, Randall? Oh, okay. I'll make a motion to approve the Superior Pediatric Contract. Got a motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. Item number 23, consider approval to join Allied States Purchasing Co-op. >> So, this is a region 19 co-op. And this is just um you'll see I think the next four agenda items are all co-ops that we are requesting to belong to. This just helps us with purchasing. It gives some more tools in the tool boxes that the items are already procured and we would not have to do an RFP

101if they're in these co-ops. >> Okay. Do we have a any questions? Is there a is there a financial gain to to being in these co-ops? Like get things cheaper, easier? >> You do you do get them cheaper because they've been procured already. And to do an RFP to put an RFP out on the street from the time that I would put it out and the board would approve it is probably a good two months. So if a campus is needing something, two months is a long time to wait. So using the co-ops because it's already been procured, then they don't have to wait. But they do because they probably have in a larger buying power. Yes. Cheaper through them also. >> Yeah. And and they the co-ops, the vendors know that with the co-ops,

102especially small school districts, you know, Fort Worth and Dallas is probably putting RFPs out, but smaller districts aren't going to be able to do that as easily. So, they know they're going to get bigger buying power using, you know, by bidding on the co-ops. with being in these co-ops. Is that does that force you to get from these co-ops or can you still go outside of quality? >> You can go outside of them. Um I would think that almost anything that you can want by adding these co-ops and what we already have, you're going to be able to find it on a co-op. >> There are some providers >> there. There are some >> there's like there's like seven or eight co-ops or a member of >> Yeah. I've been in those situations where you

103you've got strategic vendors and stuff like that and you're stuck with them and you know I can get it cheaper and better quality over here but I can't. So I wasn't sure if that was the same. >> Um we work really I think we work well with the um campuses and that's how some of these co-ops have come is a campus or a department has said we need XYZ and the vendor says they're on this co-op so I'll I'll bring it to the board and say you know can we join this co co-op. >> Why is Miss Gore's name so much body else. >> Um >> she's better. >> My accountant says it's the default setting. >> Okay. I do. That's not true. We know why. >> I do have a question. Yes. >> Can

104we make one motion for all of these? >> Uh no. >> No. I'm sorry. We we we contemplated trying to put them on one agenda item, but we just each one needs their own. Um, so >> in case we didn't want one or something. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> I just tried to generically tell you about all of them. We can want to go through each one, we can. >> Any other questions? >> No. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the join Ally State purchasing co-op. >> Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second. Second. >> All in favor? >> Motion carries. >> Go to item number 24. Consider approval to join CTPA purchasing co-op. Did anybody have any questions? Do we have a motion? >>

105There you go, Joe. >> Got a motion by Joe. Do we got a second? >> Second by Amber. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 25. Consider approval to join Epic 6 purchasing co-op region six. Did anybody have any questions? >> Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve to join the Epic purchasing a motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 26. Please consider approval to join SCTX purchasing co-op region 5. Do we have any questions? Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the joince purchasing co-op. >> Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 27. consider

106approval of prevailing wage rates, including rates for holidays and overtime work for the district's construction projects. >> So, we are required um by law to u approve the board to approve a prevailing wage rate. Um this is the Johnson County prevailing wage rate. Um it will be up to the contractor to uphold this, but it's um our job as the district to approve it. Anybody have any questions? No. Do we have a motion? >> Motion by Joe. Do we have a second? >> Second by Amber. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 28. Consider approval of the teacher salary schedule. Okay. So, um, we all know House Bill Two passed, um, at the end of the legislative session, which gave a $4,000 raise to steps three and four. So, on this uh, salary

107schedule, you'll see that we've added two extra columns. One says teacher retention aotment for steps three and four at 4,000 and steps five and up at 8,000. Then you'll see the next column for local funds for steps zero through two. So what we're pres we're um proposing is to also the state's going to pay for the teacher retention aotment on that column. What we're proposing is that Venus ISD out of our local funds with the additional funding of house bill 2 to add $4,000 to each of the steps of zero one and two. And that's because the state did not do anything for those. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> Anybody have any questions on that? >> No. Do we have a motion? Oh, >> Miss Gore, can you hold on a second? >>

108Um, okay. On the next one, so when the state did this right now, the teachers, librarians, and nurses are all in the teacher pay scale. However, the state did nothing for the librarians and the nurses, only the teachers. So, what we're pres proposing is to pull out the librarians and nurses and put them on a separate scale and add a $4,000 stipen, a $4,000 local funds out of our budget, out of our additional HB2 money for a 0 to five and then or 0 to four and then five and up would be 8,000. This is two employees. >> Yes. So once again, the state did nothing for them even though they're getting paid in the same scale that the teachers are. >> Yes. With the additional money that we got from HB2 and some other

109little pockets of money, we can we can afford this. And was this in this is just the state side like not not what we've already decided on, >> right? This will be an additional amount for all of those employees affected. >> Making sure that was still there. >> Now there is we have five employees that are on a five teachers that are on a contract above 166 days. Those five teachers will get whatever the tens teacher retention allotment is. That amount will not be prrated. So usually their base pay, so say they're a zero-year teacher, you take their 46725, divide it by 166, and then multiply it out by the number of days they work. That is still going to be there for that base pay, but the teacher retention aotment will be exactly what

110the state is giving us. I just wanted to make sure that was clear. Any questions? >> Do we have a motion? >> Motion by Motion by Donald. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Amber. All in favor? Motion carries. Item 29, consider approval of a onetime ret retention stipen. >> So, this is the same document that we saw in the budget workshop. So, we're proposing the $1,000 stipen for all full-time employees and any part-time employees would get $500. Um, this will be a onetime stipen that they will receive on August 1st pending board approval. >> Any questions? Correct. And this is stemming from changing from the Jul changing from the September 1st to the July 1st and that extra money that we're going to put back in fund balance to try

111to reward the teachers that stayed. So if they are brand new to Venus this year, they will not get it. You had to be in Venus last school year in order to receive this money on August 1st. >> And this is all employees. >> This is all employees. Okay, >> any questions? >> So, say there's an employee that for some reason was offered a contract >> who was already stated they're resigning 21 days after school. >> So, they retention. So, um it what was stated um when this was said back in May was it will be prrated. So, say Lanny, don't take offense to this. So, we give Lanny $1,000 on August 1st and Lanny comes to me on April 1st and said, "I'm I'm going to go work at Dallas ISD." When that when

112we do his payoff, it is going to be calculated how much of that $1,000 he earned and the part that he did not earn by not staying for the full year will be deducted from their final check. >> And with that, are we having are we getting approval or getting them to sign? Because you have to have somebody sign if you're going to take something out of their paycheck. Are you doing that when they hand it out? Are they signing something saying, "I know if I do not work this certain amount of time that it's going to be taken out of my final paycheck, or are we going to try and after they've resigned and we've already paid it, are we going to try and get them to sign something after the fact and then

113they say, "I'm not signing that and we don't get our money back." >> So, I've done this in a prior district and we never really had trouble. We sent out an email when they got it that said that's what we were doing. Um, and we didn't have trouble. I know that we have Docu Sign. Um, so I can work with Mr. Martinez and maybe we can send something through Docu Sign that everybody signs. >> I mean, probably the likelihood of a bunch of people resigning >> and then we don't get our money back, but I I just know that in order to deduct it from somebody's paycheck, you do have to have >> approved Christmas. So, Oh, sure. >> Yeah. I mean, >> and and most of the time they have enough in their final

114check that, you know, we can just we can take it. Um, >> if we have their signed approval to deduct it from their pay, though. >> So, let me work with Mr. Martinez and see if we can get a docu sign out to everybody on the first when that check goes out. >> Okay. >> Not a silly question, but when do we anticipate them receiving this money? >> August 1st. Convocation >> were previous that they would get a check by previous administrator. >> Yes. >> And and and I'm going to preface that we say check loosely. It will be a direct deposit. >> Yeah. >> Yes. I I just don't want you to think that we're going to hand out physical checks because >> we're not buzzing. >> It's the first day of school. Let's

115let's let's be on a positive note. >> Yes. >> No. >> Yeah. >> We just needed to wait till the July board meeting to get the board to approve this. >> But fin payroll's already been working on it. >> Yeah. Just waiting for it. >> Just waiting for it. Yes. >> Any other questions? No. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the one time retention stipen. >> Motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? All in favor? Motion carries. I didn't see it. >> So, it wasn't up if I didn't see. Go to item number 30. Consider approval of budget amendment number one. So, this budget amendment pays for the retention stipen that we just um approved. So, this is taking it out

116of fund balance, but remember, we're going to put it back in and we're just taking it back out. >> Any questions? Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the um budget amendment. A motion by Amber. Do we have a second? >> Second by Kirby. All in favor? Motion carries. Go to item number 31 reports. >> Uh yes, ma'am. I'm go ahead and start out by saying uh it's been a fast start to the uh new school year. Uh we have a lot of great things going on. Uh right now all the purchasing orders for the start of the school year has been uh made and all the food is ordered. So we're ready to start at the cafeteria. I'm really proud of our coach Gober. Uh we have a record number

117of 15 coaches that's attending coaching clinic. Uh which is big for us. Normally we only have four or five people that are attending. So we do have 15 down there going through the training. Uh all the campuses uh technology reports that they all have student Chromebooks are ready to be issued to students. uh at the beginning of the school year. Uh major maintenance issues have been addressed and uh principles reported they all the campus are ready to welcome students. There's nothing major. Uh we just have uh some basketball courts that are going up this week. Uh that's the one major thing we have and we have some uh some AC things we have to address like six ACs but that will be fixed prior to the start of school. Uh other than that we're conducting

118I'm proud of Chief. He's leaning forward. We're conducting the reunification training uh for all the schools. Uh so we're going to go ahead and knock that out, get that done because the campuses have never been over to the uh cowboy church. Uh so we're going to go ahead down there and show them uh what happens when we have to do an evacuation. I think that's critical. But it's been a uh fast start to the uh school year, ma'am. >> And um any questions anybody have on any of the reports? No. Okay. Item number 32, board requests for additional items. >> I had asked a few months ago about an investigation into possible use of the TIES resource system and we haven't I haven't heard anything back from that was previous to our administrative change but

119it's a old CC scope. Y'all know teach resource is a curriculum that provides a ton of support for our teachers. It's interesting that you mentioned that. That was something I met with curriculum uh when assuming it's here job and I've met with the principles. The principles did want to roll that out. Uh but I told Dr. Morgan that's discussing to start having in January uh because of the implementation phase and a training phase which I think right now uh is not something that we can roll out at this current time because there's been no training that's been conducted. Uh so what she's done in the meantime, she's got what curriculum uh got with our uh testing coordinator. She's uh tightened up the uh bulldog backpack is what she calls it. Uh she's identified, she's looked

120at the scope and sequence. She's identified what standards are critical that teachers teach and what are important standards to have more focus on that. Uh we've beefed up the I'm requiring after the CBAs to conduct data meetings. I did let the c what was tight we're conducting data meetings at the uh common base assessments our CBAs uh but what is loose the campus principles got together and collaborated on what that meeting looks like I just the guidance I gave them I gave them the script I used as a principal they didn't have to use that but they're coming up with their own uh I just wanted it scripted in 30 minutes that way we stay on task uh but I think that is a valuable resource but right now is not the time to roll

121that We'll have that discussion in January and come up with a silent plan. Sir, >> any other requests for additional information? No. And just to be clear, we're all going to Houston. >> Okay. So, our next meeting is August 18th. Our regular meeting August 18th. And >> Mr. Gatewood, can I interject? >> We have a special board meeting on August 4th to approve the bonds sale. >> August 4th, special meeting. What day is that on? >> It's a Monday. It's a Monday. >> Okay. 6:00 p.m. 6 p.m. >> 6. >> August 4th. Yes. >> Is there we um is is there a better time that we can do it because everything is in motion to sell the bonds that day and the board's got to approve the bond sale >> that day? >> Yes. >>

122Okay. >> How long will it take? Um I I would say I mean bond council will be here but 15 minutes at the most. >> I mean we only need four. >> We just need a quorum. >> I just recommend to do it in the morning and not the afternoon because it'll be crazy the teacher all across the campus. >> It won't be in the morning because we got to sell the bonds in the morning. >> Well, so sorry >> and it's on a Monday. Okay. Okay. Okay. >> Okay. So, our next >> Sorry, >> our next meeting August 4th at 6 PM and then our next scheduled uh regular scheduled meeting will be August 18th. >> Um six o'clock works if that works for you guys. >> Yeah. >> You you tell me. I

123mean, we can make it. I can't be here at 5, but I can be here at six. So, I'd like to be here. >> Okay. >> Six. Six is fine. >> My name is a big boy. >> And we'll move to item number 33. We're going to adjourn at 9:03 p.m.