1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:20,420 All right, thank you everyone for joining us this evening. I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. Please let the record show that a meeting has been posted. Sorry, that this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. And that a quorum is present. The time is currently 16. The first item on our agenda is our pledge of allegiance. If I could ask you to stand and join us, please? 2 00:00:44,860 --> 00:00:47,680 Here we go, one and end of the visible test. 3 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:48,700 All right. 4 00:00:49,620 --> 00:00:50,100 Perfect. 5 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:51,360 Thank you. 6 00:00:51,874 --> 00:01:15,894 All right. The first item on our agenda is our public comment. We have three individuals wishing to speak with us this evening. I think there's a couple new names, so I'll just give the rules of engagement, if you will. The board will not address you at the time you were speaking. They will, we are definitely listening. We have staff here in case there's anything that they might be able to help with. 7 00:01:15,894 --> 00:01:21,474 Elvia will be your timekeeper. You will have three minutes to speak. At with one minute left, 8 00:01:21,734 --> 00:01:25,474 she will go ahead and notify you. You don't have to stop speaking. Keep on speaking. She's just letting 9 00:01:25,474 --> 00:01:32,034 you know you're at your one minute mark. First up, we have Kristella Rocha. Kristella is speaking on. 10 00:01:32,234 --> 00:01:33,214 Thank you. Kristella? 11 00:01:36,634 --> 00:01:40,334 And forget my speech this time. I thought you were like playing a playlist. 12 00:01:40,434 --> 00:01:44,534 You had like an entrance song. Okay. That's right. My face with the mess going. 13 00:01:45,054 --> 00:01:49,114 And I have really bad rosacea, so no, you're not going to see my face today. 14 00:01:49,754 --> 00:01:50,354 All right, thank you. 15 00:01:50,514 --> 00:01:54,394 Good evening, my name is President, board members, Dr. Telly, and staff and community 16 00:01:54,394 --> 00:01:54,854 present. 17 00:01:55,054 --> 00:01:59,354 My name is Cristina Rachiam, and the journalism teacher, and reading interventionist at okay 18 00:01:59,354 --> 00:01:59,934 in middle school. 19 00:01:59,994 --> 00:02:05,154 But I'm also the president, deep rest, of the Dell Valley Association of Texas Professional 20 00:02:05,154 --> 00:02:08,094 Educators, or DVATPE. 21 00:02:08,634 --> 00:02:11,254 We are a nonprofit organization in Texas from Texas. 22 00:02:11,254 --> 00:02:14,754 that serves educators, and paraprofessionals, and liberty, and education. 23 00:02:15,574 --> 00:02:19,314 I've been a teacher in Del Valice's 1998, when my own kids ask me, Mom, 24 00:02:19,354 --> 00:02:22,134 when are you going to retire and I said, I know Micho, they're going to spread my ashes 25 00:02:22,134 --> 00:02:23,394 in the soccer field behind Ohio. 26 00:02:24,154 --> 00:02:26,854 And, you know, I'm going to be that person poking the kids that are falling asleep 27 00:02:26,854 --> 00:02:27,434 during the day. 28 00:02:28,094 --> 00:02:31,174 So, having said that, I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. 29 00:02:31,394 --> 00:02:32,934 I consider Del Valice my community. 30 00:02:33,274 --> 00:02:38,694 I talk about Del Valice whenever I have a chance, free publicity with me. 31 00:02:38,954 --> 00:02:40,834 And I believe that everyone should do the same. 32 00:02:40,834 --> 00:02:46,534 I understand the dire situation we are in due to long-term COVID consequences in education. 33 00:02:47,234 --> 00:02:56,734 I pray for every single person on the board, Dr. Telly, and the administration that have to create a way to give educators and paraprofessionals that pay raise that says, we value you. 34 00:02:57,814 --> 00:03:03,474 A 6% raise would be absolutely marvelous and help make ends meet in a world of inflation, however. 35 00:03:03,474 --> 00:03:08,594 I understand the Herculean task at hand to just offer a pay raise of any kind for next year. 36 00:03:09,074 --> 00:03:13,234 And the years to follow to remain competitive with Districts in the State. 37 00:03:13,854 --> 00:03:15,814 So it's not just a pay raise for tomorrow. 38 00:03:16,594 --> 00:03:20,674 I want to thank you all for doing whatever it takes for a pay raise to be possible for next year. 39 00:03:20,914 --> 00:03:24,434 I also want to say thank you for thinking not just about next year, 40 00:03:24,834 --> 00:03:31,114 but in the future of Del Valley, and looking out for the best for our students, staff, and community. 41 00:03:31,114 --> 00:03:34,254 And thank you for always keeping this safe. 42 00:03:36,704 --> 00:03:37,504 Thank you. 43 00:03:38,004 --> 00:03:39,624 Next up, and I apologize ahead of time 44 00:03:39,624 --> 00:03:41,424 if I mispronounce this, but I think it's Pilar. 45 00:03:41,524 --> 00:03:42,724 Connie's all us? 46 00:03:45,464 --> 00:03:46,444 Oh, Dylan, I'm so sorry. 47 00:03:46,504 --> 00:03:47,984 Why did I see a P in that? 48 00:03:48,184 --> 00:03:48,344 I apologize. 49 00:03:48,544 --> 00:03:49,084 Thank you, Dylan. 50 00:03:50,564 --> 00:03:51,204 Yes, ma'am. 51 00:03:51,784 --> 00:03:53,484 So, hello, board. 52 00:03:54,924 --> 00:03:56,204 My name is Dylan Connie Salas, 53 00:03:56,464 --> 00:03:58,124 and I just want to let you know that 54 00:03:58,124 --> 00:04:01,884 Chala may be do something that I did not want to do. 55 00:04:02,044 --> 00:04:03,784 Y'all forced me to wear a mask. 56 00:04:03,784 --> 00:04:09,724 so my voice could be heard, you'll pick and choose who you want to wear a mask. 57 00:04:09,804 --> 00:04:15,124 As you can see this individual right here is not wearing his mask properly and not one person 58 00:04:15,124 --> 00:04:22,924 singled him out. So with that said, who am I? Who are you? At birth we are innocent souls born into 59 00:04:22,924 --> 00:04:30,584 the world with no choice or mind of our own. As we grow in this world, our parents, books, social media, 60 00:04:30,584 --> 00:04:40,124 TV, news, politics, religion, et cetera, starts to define who we are. With that said, who am I to 61 00:04:40,124 --> 00:04:47,264 tell you what's right or what's wrong? Who am I to tell you what's right or what's wrong for my 62 00:04:47,264 --> 00:04:53,964 child? Who am I to tell you what's right or what's wrong for your child? We all have the choice 63 00:04:53,964 --> 00:05:00,284 and freedom to believe what we want. And the moment the school starts taking that away is the moment 64 00:05:00,284 --> 00:05:07,224 we are no longer free. I can stand up here and say, you're wrong for making my child wear 65 00:05:07,224 --> 00:05:12,644 a mask, pull them out of school and enroll them into another school. That doesn't require 66 00:05:12,644 --> 00:05:20,924 mask. But if I do that, you win. I can also say you're wrong about not wearing a mask, 67 00:05:21,224 --> 00:05:27,264 pull my child out of school and enroll them into a school that requires mask. But again, 68 00:05:27,264 --> 00:05:31,684 you win. With that said, I'm a father fighting for much 69 00:05:31,684 --> 00:05:37,464 out to have a choice, a choice, in what they want when it 70 00:05:37,464 --> 00:05:43,964 pertains to mass mandates. So please, love me, love me, and not 71 00:05:43,964 --> 00:05:48,364 because the color of my skin or the religion I choose to practice or 72 00:05:48,364 --> 00:05:54,044 the mask I want to wear or don't want to wear, I can only ask that you 73 00:05:54,044 --> 00:06:01,424 make mask mandates a choice instead of a requirement and when a new strand of COVID decides 74 00:06:01,424 --> 00:06:08,264 to come along or when a new virus decides to come along making mask, it's making sure 75 00:06:08,264 --> 00:06:15,864 to make mask a choice for our children instead of making a mask mandate taking where child's 76 00:06:15,864 --> 00:06:17,184 freedom and their rights. 77 00:06:17,424 --> 00:06:18,844 Thank you. 78 00:06:18,844 --> 00:06:29,124 Thank you. Next up we have Tyson Eberley speaking on mass mandate. Yes. Thank you. 79 00:06:30,284 --> 00:06:34,084 My name is Tyson Eberley. I am a seven year Delvae resident. 80 00:06:35,944 --> 00:06:43,324 My wife goes, she's a teacher at Collins and my children would normally go to school with her, 81 00:06:43,324 --> 00:06:49,224 But we've kept them out of school this year at a financial cost because of the mask mandates. 82 00:06:51,704 --> 00:06:55,064 You know, the mandates have been dropped and many places throughout the country. 83 00:06:55,244 --> 00:06:58,484 I think in Austin, San Antonio's dropped them. 84 00:06:58,844 --> 00:07:01,324 Even San Diego, California's dropped them. 85 00:07:02,484 --> 00:07:07,184 You know, I still see kids walking home from school out of the bus. 86 00:07:07,744 --> 00:07:09,024 And they're still wearing their masks. 87 00:07:09,864 --> 00:07:10,564 They're by themselves. 88 00:07:10,564 --> 00:07:15,544 There's nobody around them, and they're outside, but they're still wearing their masks. 89 00:07:17,464 --> 00:07:21,584 I think they only take their masks off whenever they get home. 90 00:07:22,484 --> 00:07:26,324 And whenever they leave their home, they're wearing a mask regardless if they're by themselves 91 00:07:26,964 --> 00:07:34,844 or whatever, and it feels like this is a type of psychological warfare that's been going on. 92 00:07:34,844 --> 00:07:39,944 and we do not want our children to become casualties of this war. 93 00:07:42,404 --> 00:07:52,644 You know, I believe that speech therapists have seen a 600% increase in and developing children's 94 00:07:52,644 --> 00:07:58,024 speech. They believe it's because of these mask wearing children are not seeing 95 00:07:58,024 --> 00:08:05,424 you know, the articulation of teachers or parents, mouths, 96 00:08:07,564 --> 00:08:09,644 you know, my neighbor was a bus driver 97 00:08:09,644 --> 00:08:16,884 for you guys, but because of the mandates, she stopped, you know, driving and that's been a financial 98 00:08:16,884 --> 00:08:21,644 cost to her. So who wins? Nobody's winning. 99 00:08:21,804 --> 00:08:31,664 My wife begrudgingly wears the mask, but she's already like not happy about it, and might not come back next year. We already have an issue with teachers. 100 00:08:32,584 --> 00:08:42,284 A minute, where do you have an issue with Texas teachers, not coming in? So let's remove the hurdles and make it optional. That's all we're asking. 101 00:08:43,444 --> 00:08:49,124 I think that recently there was a poll that said it was like 50-50 with teachers, DVI's, 102 00:08:49,804 --> 00:08:52,644 DVI's, D teachers that want to keep it or make it optional. 103 00:08:54,044 --> 00:08:57,404 And a lot of these ones that are four were just like, well, you know I've been wearing 104 00:08:57,404 --> 00:09:02,184 yet so long now for the last two years that it just feels, it just feels natural now, it feels 105 00:09:02,184 --> 00:09:02,624 normal. 106 00:09:03,284 --> 00:09:06,904 So we fully normalize it and we're not saying you can't wear your mask. 107 00:09:07,204 --> 00:09:09,904 We're just saying let's please the flick, let it be optional. 108 00:09:10,524 --> 00:09:18,304 and that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. That concludes our public comment this evening. 109 00:09:18,796 --> 00:09:33,656 The next item on our agenda is closed session. The board will adjourn into the following closed session. 551.071 consultation with an attorney regarding COVID protocols. The time is currently 625 p.m. 110 00:09:38,084 --> 00:09:47,864 The board ended its closed session at 6.57 pm. We have one final item on the agenda. Approve action items discussed in closed session. Do I have a motion? 111 00:09:48,624 --> 00:09:57,664 I move to direct the superintendent to make mask optional on DEVISD property consistent with guidance from the CDC, the AAP and the Austin Public Health. 112 00:09:57,664 --> 00:09:59,284 Okay, so Richard's hand first. 113 00:09:59,344 --> 00:09:59,644 So Richard? 114 00:10:00,184 --> 00:10:01,024 Oh, yeah. 115 00:10:01,464 --> 00:10:03,184 Effective April 4th, 2022. 116 00:10:04,044 --> 00:10:05,544 Okay, so effectively, April 4th, 2022. 117 00:10:05,844 --> 00:10:06,604 Richard is the second. 118 00:10:06,824 --> 00:10:07,884 All of those in favor. 119 00:10:09,684 --> 00:10:10,744 All of those opposed. 120 00:10:15,994 --> 00:10:18,574 Having no other items on our ultimate statement. 121 00:10:18,814 --> 00:10:19,534 Oh, quick, go ahead. 122 00:10:20,034 --> 00:10:22,274 I would strongly suggest an encourage anyone 123 00:10:22,274 --> 00:10:24,994 who hasn't gone vaccinated to get vaccinated 124 00:10:24,994 --> 00:10:27,274 because we're putting our kids at risk 125 00:10:27,274 --> 00:10:29,294 for those that are under the age of five 126 00:10:29,294 --> 00:10:30,274 that can't be vaccinated. 127 00:10:30,274 --> 00:10:35,194 and we're putting those at risk that have not got vaccinated by not wearing masks. 128 00:10:35,494 --> 00:10:39,034 So please encourage your neighbors, your friends, to get vaccinated as soon as possible. 129 00:10:44,224 --> 00:10:49,364 I just want to thank everyone that reached out that the Senate CML staff and community members 130 00:10:49,364 --> 00:10:51,004 and those that came out and spoke. 131 00:10:51,524 --> 00:10:53,644 We do appreciate the input from everyone. 132 00:10:53,904 --> 00:10:54,744 So thank you. 133 00:10:57,824 --> 00:10:58,384 Any other statements? 134 00:10:59,544 --> 00:10:59,584 No. 135 00:11:00,024 --> 00:11:00,304 Okay. 136 00:11:00,784 --> 00:11:05,544 Having no other items on the agenda, we will adjourn this evening at 7 p.m.