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The time is now 5 p.m., and I call the november 11th meeting of the eanes isd board of
Trustees to order.

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madam secretary, do we have a quorum? Yes, we do. Thank you. We will now move into closed session pursuant to texas government code
Sections 551.071 and 551.074.

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we will reconvene in open session at approximately 6 p.m.

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thank you for coming and see you in a bit.

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the time is now 6:02 p.m. And we will now reconvene in open session.

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good evening. I'm james spradley, president of the eanes isd board of trustees.

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on behalf of all of the trustees and the administration, welcome to tonight's meeting.

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those who are in the room and on video, either live or watching later.

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the purpose of tonight's meeting is for the board to deliberate and vote on matters
Listed on its agenda.

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the district is committed to treating everyone here with respect, and we expect the same
In return.

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please refrain from outbursts or any other form of disruptive behavior.

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applause is welcome, especially for recognizing someone during the superintendent's
Report.

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but we don't have a superintendent's report tonight. There will be an opportunity for public comment very soon, and I'll touch base on that in
Just a minute.

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you are welcome to stay for the entire session. We have finished our closed session. We are now in open and the public is welcome to be here and stay for the whole meeting.

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if you decide to leave before the end of the meeting, just please do so quietly and step
Out the back.

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take your conversations outside so that we can continue. Thank you for joining us and for your interest in our community and our schools.

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we are very sensitive to the importance of these topics we're discussing tonight, and
That is the purpose of tonight's special board meeting.

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we will now begin our agenda, and we're going to start tonight with open forum.

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we have 11 people signed up to speak, so I'm going to read a real quick blurb here as we
Get started.

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some some legal mumbo jumbo and just some process stuff. Here it is. Now time for the open forum portion of the meeting.

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we have 11 speakers signed up this evening and each speaker will be afforded three
Minutes to speak.

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I'll call you forward when it's your turn and let you know when your time is up. Once you are notified that your time is up and the timer will be on the screen and it
Will count down, please finish your sentence and then stop.

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as a general rule, texas government code section 551 prohibits disruption of board
Meetings by the public.

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this section also allows for any public complaint of specific employees to be heard by
The board and closed.

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what that means is that if you're going to name a name of a student or a teacher, please
Don't do that.

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let me know and we can go into closed to talk about specific complaints about people.

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if any speaker wishes to name a district employee, let me know and we'll hear that in
Closed, specific factual information and recitation of existing policy may be furnished in

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response to inquiries, but the board cannot deliberate regarding any subject that is not
Included on the agenda.

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that's again, kind of language that we're not going to respond to what you say there
Directly.

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we may talk about some of those things later in our meeting, but we don't have a
Conversation back and forth.

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just it's just the law. It's just the way it is. Please be aware that the audio and video of this open forum portion of the board meeting
Is recorded as part of the recording of the entire meeting, and is published on the

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district's website without alteration. Persons who choose to speak in open forum are consenting to the online publication of
Their comments.

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thank you again for taking the time and making the effort to share your comments. We are ready for the first speaker.

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let me also say that if you didn't get a chance to sign up and you want to share your
Thoughts with the board, you're also welcome to send us an email.

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we we receive email at trustee at eanes isd arnett and we will have more meetings in the
Future.

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you're always welcome to come and speak. So my first speaker and I'm not sure if she's here is ashley kirk.

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okay. My following speaker will be jenny chang and then catherine walker.

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jenny, welcome. Thank you. Members of the board.

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and thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is jenny chang, and my daughter is in the si program at vde.

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and like many parents, I've accepted that valley view will maybe close, but I urge you to
Keep the spanish immersion program open.

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my family moved to cuernavaca just four months ago, specifically for the eanes si
Program, and now, with the current instability, I admit that I've started researching

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austin isd's options.

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you know, this is disheartening for me to see that austin has all these different
Immersion programs, and westlake is thinking about closing its one and only.

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you know I think it's such a disservice to the community and our children.

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I think that not having it will not make eanes as competitive or desirable for
Significant number of families.

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families like my own. And honestly, I am embarrassed telling people that eanes one of the top districts in
Texas, the one I chose and moved my child to, is considering ending spanish immersion and

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the program I think was under-marketed. And yet I think it remains a profoundly valuable asset to attracting new families.

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I firmly believe that when we talk to people, even people who are not in the program are
Like, can I sign my kid up?

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but it is too late. I think being bilingual and biliterate is a valuable qualification that prepares students
For an interconnected global future.

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and you may know this study. In 2021, the american councils research center study found that about nearly 15% of u.s.

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schools offer dual language immersion programs. And it's on the rise in states like texas, california, new york, utah and north carolina
Lead these programs with spanish immersion, representing 80% of all those asian

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dual language offerings. And eanes should be part of that charge forward if not leading it, I believe this
District should lead it.

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so how do we support this program? Speaking with many parents as parents do.

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many of us in the spanish immersion program are willing to help promote it and also
Contribute financially to sustain it.

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and I'm asking the board to consider establishing a dedicated fund. I know you've been probably asked this many times before.

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personally, I would fully support a 7030 split with 30% of the funds raised for si going
To the general fund.

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I've contributed to valley view's booster club, and I'm prepared to donate to the eef if
My child remains in eanes spanish immersion program.

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I think many parents feel the same, and they're ready to financially support this
Valuable program.

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because we deeply value children learning two languages, it benefits their cognitive
Development, social skills, and ultimately society as a whole.

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we are all interconnected, increasingly so, and language opens doors, enhances our
Perspectives.

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and I think we're in an era now where cultural competency and language skills are
Increasingly critical.

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eanes needs to uphold a standard and set an example among the other leading districts in
The nation.

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and so, with so many families ready to support the program or urge you to preserve the
Program at eanes and set us up for future generations.

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thank you. Thank you, jenny.

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we'll now hear from catherine walker, followed by elizabeth johnston.

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members of the board. Doctor arnett. My name is catherine walker. I'm the parent of two students at bridgepoint and one at hill country.

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all three of my children receive special education support from our schools, and we are
Also a spanish immersion family.

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I'm here to address the budget deficit, and I realize this is a tough conversation, so I
Appreciate the time that the board and administration are dedicating to this issue.

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first, the good news. I'm sure you all read the governor, greg abbott, recently committed to fully funding
Texas public schools along with the proposed new voucher program.

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this commitment suggests that eanes may not face the projected deficit by next school
Year.

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however, we must plan as if we may not receive a large enough increase to cover the basic
Allotment for all maintenance and operation costs, aside from the year over year

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enrollment decline, which suggests we need fewer elementary schools, I encourage the
Board to prioritize reversible cost savings options.

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these are measures that can be rolled back if we do receive additional funding.

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it is also disheartening to see spanish immersion listed as a cost savings measure when
It's a revenue positive program.

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with nearly 700 students enrolled, transfer students covering much of the operating cost.

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spanish immersion actually benefits the district financially. Instead, I would encourage administration to boost enrollment in spanish immersion and to
Explore additional destination programs for our elementary schools.

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finally, I want to address the declining enrollment in our lower grades. Each year, we see enrollment jumps in the sixth and the ninth grades, likely due to
Competition from private schools.

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this competition will inevitably increase and intensify with new voucher program.

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yes. Our high school is a destination school, but the elementary level can be as well.

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spanish immersion is a powerful countermeasure, and similar programs like a stronger stem
Curriculum could attract and retain more elementary students.

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if we don't think beyond what we've done in the past. We risk further elementary enrollment declines that the state funding increases alone may
Not offset.

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thank you. Thank you, catherine.

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we'll hear from elizabeth johnson and then lindsey east.

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hello, members of the board. My name is elizabeth, and I'm a parent at barton creek elementary.

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I have a third grader and a first grader, and I have a kindergartner there next year. I'm also a spanish immersion parent, so I really appreciate and echo what others are
Sharing about that program.

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I want to talk a little bit about the merger, and I think the lack of information about
How it's going to work long term.

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the materials we've been provided present a short term solution, but it's not clear to me
What improvements will be made to ensure that there will be an equitable learning

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experience at barton creek when it is merged, or if it's merged with valley view.

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the school will need infrastructure improvements to house so many students safely, and to
Give them the same types of experiences students at smaller elementary schools will have

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and that we have now. One thing I noticed is that there is a proposal for portables.

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they look expensive and there's nothing in there about when they'll go away, or if
They'll just be there forever, and how it will determine which students are going to be in

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the portables, which portables are obviously less desirable, but they also feel less
Secure, as we can't have a two step entry process to get into a portable.

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I'm also a little concerned about student events. I just went to the veterans day event. It was amazing, but there's already insufficient parking space and it's pretty crowded in
The auditorium.

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so I'm curious if the kids at the new school will be able to have these types of events. If we're going to expand the auditorium, make the building bigger in order to accommodate
Everybody.

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like the parking, the traffic and pick up and drop off is already pretty bad. So I'm curious what the plan is for when there's over 200 more students attending the
School.

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I'm also worried about specials. My understanding is the kids are together with their grade during specials, and I was
Wondering how we're going to accommodate so many more students in the space where they

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have the specials and whether or not we'll be hiring more teachers, or if our kids are
Going to have specials less frequently.

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we are excited to have more students at bce. We're going to welcome them with a really nice community, but we just want to make sure
That the experience can stay as similar as it is now to how it is at bce now and how it

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will be at other schools in the district. I'm interested to know why rezoning wasn't on the table, to maybe make the elementary
Schools of similar size, and I hope that if that's not something we're considering, we're

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at least forming a long term plan to ensure bce has adequate facilities and staff for our
Kids.

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thank you, elizabeth. We'll hear from lindsay east and then jenny manuel.

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hi. I'm a valley view parent. I have a second grader and a fourth grader.

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many of my concerns were just addressed by the previous speaker, but one of the things
That I wanted to just make sure the board keeps in mind is that this has been a roller

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coaster for us. It's the second year we've been on the chopping block. And. Excuse me.

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sorry. It's just it's really hard to see your kids and not be able to tell them where
They're going to be next year, and also to see that the merger is considered a

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solution. But there doesn't seem to be any feasible plan of how that's going to
Realistically work for our kids and for the teachers at valley view.

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one thing that I was pretty apparent at the meeting at valley view with doctor arnett was
That there was a lot of talk about the cuernavaca community.

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I just want to make sure it's really clear that we're not just the cuernavaca community. We're the valley view community that includes the bluffs, bella lago, all of us.

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we're incredibly tight knit, and I would like to think that the board would strongly
Consider keeping us all together.

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thank you. Thank you, lindsey.

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we'll hear from jenny manuel and then paige greene.

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hello, everyone. Thanks for letting me speak tonight. My name is jenny manuel, and I'm a parent of a kindergartner and a first grader at barton
Creek, both in spanish immersion.

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we're also a transfer family from lake travis. So tonight, I wanted to raise two points.

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first, I wanted to press on the anticipated $600,000 savings from elimination of si.

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the savings really needs to take into account not the possible loss of transfers, but I
Think the probable loss of transfers.

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I think it is safe to say that many si transfer families have enrolled in the district for
One reason, and that is simply because the district offers psi.

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we are zoned to an excellent elementary school in lake travis and chose to go to barton
Creek solely because of the spanish immersion program.

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I don't know what we'll do next year if we are forced to leave the district. We may go to a private school.

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we may continue in lake travis, but I really don't want to have to face that decision.

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and I know a lot of my friends from barton creek do not either.

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stated another way, I also think the data would show that the district would attract far
Fewer transfer families in the future if si were to be eliminated.

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so I think surveying the current families in si could help add certainty to whether the
Si elimination could bring any savings at all.

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second, I wanted to commend you guys for helping change the program to 9010 this year.

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as I mentioned, I have both a kinder and a first grader, so I've seen the first grader go
Through the 94 through the 5050, and then the kindergartner in 9010, and the

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change has been so fantastic. You have hired a wonderful teacher at bce and the kids are thriving.

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these are five- and six-year-olds who in three months are now like going home and being
Completely fluent.

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some things I hear that we don't even see in kids coming out of elementary school in the
Past.

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the one bce class is now fully enrolled at 21 students with a smaller student population.

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so I would hope that you are considering, with the merger to make sure that we continue
To have perhaps two classes, or even more when we add students into the population,

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I think it would make sense to add a second si class as we merge for the first incoming
First graders, and then add two

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for kinder for next year. And in my little time left, I wanted to remind you all that the transfer experience has
Not been ideal for any of us.

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last year, my first grader found out a month before school started that she had been
Admitted, and I thought it couldn't get more stressful until this summer, when we found

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out two weeks before school started that we would be able to enroll.

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so as you're thinking about the many options the district, the district I think is
Definitely losing out on potential students who need to make enrollment plans sooner in

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the process. Aisd notifies kids in the march april timeframe, and so does private school.

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so thank you guys.

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thank you, jenny. We'll hear from paige greene. And then next on deck will be eric oswald.

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hi. Members of the board, dr. Arnett, thank you for having me here.

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so my name is paige greene. I'm a parent of a first grader at barton creek elementary and hopefully an incoming
Kindergartner at the same school next year.

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I'm also a westlake graduate who was raised in the eanes district.

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my eldest daughter is currently an out of district transfer student and in the spanish
Immersion program.

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I witnessed the early days of recapture when I was at westlake high school and have seen
The negative effects over the years as I've followed along with the district since our

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daughter started in eanes, we've been and continue to be active supporters of the eanes
Education foundation to help to support these challenges.

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personally, the language education I received from my kindergarten days at eanes
Elementary through my senior year at westlake high school has set me up well for a career

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in international business. I know that personally, the more I know personally the importance of early access to that
Language instruction.

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since graduating from westlake, I've had the chance to live and work abroad in multiple
Countries, becoming fluent in both german and spanish.

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when we moved back to the area in austin during the pandemic real estate rush, we were
Lucky enough to find a great home that works well for our family.

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however, it is just over the district line in lake travis. While our while we are zoned for an excellent school in lake travis and comparable to
Barton creek elementary in most ways, we chose to apply now for a transfer to eanes based

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on both my personal positive experience in the district, but mainly for the unique
Spanish immersion program.

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our time at barton creek elementary within the eanes community has been fantastic.

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the bilingual education our daughter has received is truly impressed us, and we're
Grateful for the opportunities that it has provided us.

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we're eager to continue this path for both our children. However, with the proposed changes to barton creek elementary and the potential loss of
The spanish immersion program, we may be forced to evaluate other educational

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opportunities. And I do echo a lot of the other thoughts as well from some of the other
Parents.

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I think one thing that the program could be marketed, even both transfer and spanish
Immersion, much heavier.

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it's something that when we speak to others, they're not even aware that they can
Transfer to eanes.

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so I think this is another opportunity that can be looked at as well. Thank you for taking time to consider my thoughts.

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thank you, paige. We'll now hear from eric oswald and then jennifer strachan.

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all right. Good evening y'all. Thank you to the board, dr. Arnett, for letting us come and have the opportunity to speak to you all.

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my name is eric oswald. I'm the parent of two current students at barton creek elementary in the spanish
Immersion program, with hopefully a third entering kindergarten next year.

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like the two previous speakers, we are also out of district transfers.

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living in north dripping springs. We love barton creek elementary.

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we love the teachers. We love the administrators. We love the staff. But the si program is the reason we drive our kids back and forth from dripping springs
Every single day.

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I know in the presentation we're about to see, the board has identified a possible
Savings of up to $600,000.

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if the si program is eliminated at the end of this year. But it notes that there's again, as previous speakers have mentioned, a possible loss of
Out-of-district transfer students.

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so again, to repeat what a couple of our other presenters have, our speakers have
Mentioned.

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my main point in speaking to you all tonight is to confirm that that is a very likely
Possibility.

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I mean, between my three and the previous speakers, that's 10% of the 87 expected out of
District transfers into the si program.

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so I would argue that any budget analysis that doesn't account for the loss of 4,050% of
Your out of district c transfers is overly optimistic.

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and so as the board really willing to nuke the entire si program for a realistic savings
Of 2 or $300,000.

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and again, aside from the budgetary impact of losing a bunch of your current si out of
District transfers, I'd also argue that for a district that prides itself on academic

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excellence and preparing students for lifelong success, to become one of the only public
School districts in the area without an elementary dual language program would

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be shortsighted and antithetical to your stated academic goals.

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thank you. Thank you, eric.

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we'll hear from jennifer strachan and then jordan dixon.

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welcome, jennifer. Good evening, board members. My name is jennifer strachan.

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I have a first time kindergartner at valley view.

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not to totally resay what everyone has said already, but we are also out of district
Transfers from.

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we are zoned for dripping. Would have gone there if they had a spanish program, but we found out about the spanish
Program that was at eanes.

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and of course, the reputation of eanes proceeded itself. We also felt nervous about waiting and the whole transfer process ended up getting in.

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we're so excited. We love valley view so much. Devastated to hear about the closing.

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and the potential closing. But again, you know, ready to kind of work with what we can.

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but the si program would actually be something that would be the straw that broke the
Camel's back for us as far as, you know, where we're considering.

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so we would be leaving. We're already looking at austin isd options just because we have to.

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I want, you know, spanish is very important to me for my daughter, for all the reasons
That people have mentioned before.

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and then I would just say, I echo the, you know, when you are looking for options and you
Do want to consider transfers and let's play it out and say that

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the spanish program stays. Please think about where transfers fit into the puzzle, because we do feel like a part of
The community, but it feels a little bit unknown what will happen

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to us as, as that kind of cohort at this point. So that's even kind of aside from the spanish, I think.

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jenny, we've talked to a lot of people. Jenny chang, about how, you know, if there was an option to donate or to promote it more,
That we'd be happy to do that.

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as others have mentioned, I didn't know about the transfer option until parents told me.

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I've had many people that I've talked to, that I've said that we are in there and they
Ask how you can transfer in.

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it's really simple, you know, so happy to also be that kind of voice and promote it.

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like she said, I think the parents in valley view are really reared up and ready to be
Supporters of this, if that's possible.

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so yeah, that's all I had to say tonight. So good evening and thank you.

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thank you. We'll hear from jordan dixon and our last speaker after that will be christine curry.

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hello, jordan. Hi. As you know, I have two girls at valley view, and my son is in spanish immersion at
Barton creek first grade.

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my, my first thing I'd like to say is, after reading your agenda, I want to note that I
Would never vote in favor of the copper pennies.

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and I will actively encourage every neighbor and fellow parent that I know also not to
Vote for this plan.

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I would rather give directly to the portion that the district would keep, then raise my
Taxes every year and travis county keep a good majority of it.

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oh no. It's working. There's just not enough return for you guys, and it puts a huge
Burden on us as families.

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also, you're making the district less affordable, right? Raising the tax rate. And we're already struggling to get young families in.

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your plan to cut si feels like your way to finally justify the elimination of the
Program.

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some people in this room are new, but for anyone with older children in the program, to
Us it feels like you finally found your way to kill si and have a reason to

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justify it. Which is kind of ridiculous because it's the one program at elementary level
That could actually be making you money if you marketed it and put in the

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effort that it deserves.

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let's see. You have one program at the elementary level that can actually generate revenue, if any
Real effort was put into it.

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and you're not doing it. As parents, we have done the math, and there's hardly any worthwhile savings cutting the
Program once you account for everyone leaving.

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also, sorry, I get nervous.

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okay. Next. We'll just. Okay. So parents have been speaking to you in this room for years now.

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the si program matters to us. Having a stronger si curriculum matters to us.

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having the administration and the board actually caring about the well-being of the kids
In the program matters to us.

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and it is so important that so many ci parents are in favor of donating more to ief.

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if it specifically went to fund our si teacher stipends, I'd happily donate more to keep
My kid in the second language program.

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lastly, you don't hear any traditional side parent here speaking tonight going on and on
About how great the program their kid is in.

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I've been living it for six years with my girl. It's nothing special, but spanish is something special and it deserves more than everyone
In this room has given it.

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the 9010 I have heard amazing things about 9010. It's going great.

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our kindergartner, our first graders deserved it this year. They truly did.

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and why not put the effort in and make it what it can be?

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and you're going to raise money that way instead of losing families and transfers?

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anyway, on valley view, you know, we all knew last year we were in a budget crisis.

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okay. We deserve to be communicated to. And it not feel like a last ditch effort that we're scrambling.

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thank you. Jordan.

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hi, christine. Dear board of trustees and doctor arnett.

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I'm here to address the budget crisis facing our district. The situation could have been minimized by closely monitoring enrolled enrollment trends,
Decreasing schools, and making more strategic contract

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decisions, particularly with the wacc and the aquatic center. I recognized that our primary funding challenge stems from the state withholding funds
Until their voucher bill passes.

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there is no justification for this action. However, today I want to talk to the community.

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this is one of the most well attended meetings I've seen since covid, so about five
Years, so I want to take advantage of that.

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texas funds public schools at $6,160.

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I'm from chicago in illinois, and they received $16,227 per student.

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and new york leads the nation with approximately $24,000 per student.

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texas ranks 42nd in the nation. Our district faces financial crisis with real, lasting impacts for all of our kids.

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last year, our teachers received a 2% raise. They were already only at 98% market value.

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they are the lowest paid teachers in austin and surrounding areas, and most of their
Insurance went up 13%, so they basically got a

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-11% raise this year.

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and we are losing some of our best teachers simply because we cannot afford to pay them.

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we are also attracting very green teachers. We had 87 new teachers last year.

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43% of them had zero years' experience. Now there's nothing wrong with a brand new teacher, but that costs a lot more money to
Try to support these new teachers, and it puts more stress on the more experienced

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teachers. So this costs our district more money. So what can we do?

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we could wait. Hoping governor abbott will address public school funding, or we could
Take control of the district's future ourselves.

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our community has home to many multi-millionaires and even some billionaires in our
District.

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passing a vote to receive just nine copper pennies in funding is financially impractical.

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passing a vote to receive basically homeowners would be paying $1,500.

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this would all the homeowners. This would equate to about 20 million, and our district would be keeping 4 million of
That 20 million, and the rest would be going to recapture back to the state.

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so I would prefer that my $1,300 would stay directly with the school.

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or I have three children in the district, one of whom received special education. Educating children with special needs requires specialized staff, many of whom have
Master's degrees, and this is expensive.

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so to help keep our special education program one of the best, we have created a
Restricted endowment.

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this is the eanes first restricted special education endowment.

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most people don't hear about it because it's very hard to advertise to a group of people. You don't know who they are.

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so I would just ask people to look for the special education endowment and please donate.

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thank you, christine.

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we will now move into our budget workshop agenda. Dr. Arnett, I'm going to ask members of the leadership team if they'll join us at the
Table this evening.

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we have a variety of topics that they're prepared to discuss and also answer questions.

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I do want to reiterate that tonight we're not asking the trustees to take any action.

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this is simply a discussion, a workshop. More importantly, I think we're looking for some direction from the board.

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not action, not a formal vote, but direction so that we can gather more information.

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and eventually you will be asked to take action on some of the items that are presented
To you tonight.

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we can delineate which those which of those will require board action and which will not.

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but all of these you may have additional questions and we'll try to answer some of those
This evening.

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but if there are further conversations at some point in the near future, we'll need to
Know what your direction might be in terms of additional information that you're looking

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for. We also want to discuss with you tonight the timeline for considering some of these
Items, because some are more time sensitive than others.

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and so we want to provide that context for you as well. But we have a number of cabinet members and members of the leadership team who are with us
This evening.

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I'm going to turn it over now to chris scott. Mr. Spradley. Is there anything that you wanted to add?

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yeah, I just wanted to add real quick before we get started. First of all, thank you to everyone who's here and again on the video tonight and watching
Later.

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as has been discussed by by some of our speakers tonight and doctor arnett, the state has
Put our district and many others in the state into this very difficult financial

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position. We have been closely monitoring our finances for years, and some unfortunate
Changes that the state decided to make over the summer helped dig us

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deeper into this hole. We have never faced a budget shortfall as big as the one currently in front of us.

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I spoke with a former trustee who was actually president of the board years ago today.

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and he was like, gosh, I don't envy your position. It's very unique.

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in preparing for this meeting, the board and dr. Arnett asked that the team prepare options that are $500,000 in larger.

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as doctor arnett said a couple of weeks ago in our open meeting, you know, it's not, we
Don't want a thousand band-aids.

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we really need to focus on where the big opportunities are to make these decisions.

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roy disney said decisions. Decision making is easy when your values are clear.

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and I want to say that the board will be focused on keeping eanes isd an exemplary school
District.

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we will focus on our students, our educators, and our community.

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as dr. Arnett said, board tonight's task is to decide what the board.

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if there's anything on this list that we may want to say we don't want to bring forward.

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00:32:01,930 --> 00:32:03,610
we can bring it all forward. But at a later meeting, probably in january, we will be looking at taking votes on
Whether we want to move forward with these items.

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specifically, evatre copper pennies would require a vote program changes like spanish
Immersion would require a board vote, and a school blending would

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require a board action. So some of these will need decisions by the board or support from the board, but don't
Have to be voted on in the board meeting as an official action.

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the other thing tonight, as we go through these topics, we need to let admin know if
There is additional information you will need to know before you could vote.

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so please ask those questions they may be able to answer tonight. It may take another packet of information that comes to us later that would be publicly
Available, by the way.

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or we may get it at that meeting that we hold in january. I did want to say, as we go through these, and chris is going to walk us through each of
These items.

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I wanted to ask the board, do you prefer to stop at each one and ask questions on that
Specific item, or do you want to go all the way through and then ask all of the questions

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00:33:10,550 --> 00:33:10,550
at the end? What is the preference?

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00:33:14,780 --> 00:33:15,890
is there any? Kim. My preference would be to go through everything and save our questions only because I
Think

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that some of the topics later in the evening are going to get short shrift if we do not.

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00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:35,240
I could go either way, you know. So I think it's the preference of the board. But my thought was I would like to hear the presentation if there's more outside of the,
You know, the slides and then be

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00:33:45,140 --> 00:33:47,330
able to ask all of my questions. But again, I can be convinced otherwise.

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any other any other thoughts. Okay. So we'll go through the presentation and then we'll ask questions.

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plenty of time for questions. We're not going to cut you off. I'm committed to taking a break every couple of hours all the way through 2 a.m., so
We'll.

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00:34:04,210 --> 00:34:07,810
we're not going that long. Thank you very much, dr. Arnett. All right, mr.

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00:34:10,090 --> 00:34:10,090
scott. I'm going to let you begin.

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00:34:15,970 --> 00:34:15,970
good evening, everyone, and I want to start this by just saying that we as a leadership
Team, recognize that these are difficult

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conversations. And the fact is, there's no painless way to find the kinds of money that
We're looking for.

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and as we've heard tonight, you know, there's a lot of passion involved and
Understandably so, because these are these touch upon the things that are most

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important to them as families. And we recognize that.

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I want to talk a little bit about the budget trends and why we're here.

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I won't go into much detail on this because we did that at the last meeting, and anybody
Who's really interested can go back and watch it.

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but there have been a number of things that we've been watching for a long time that have
Been long term trends that were leading us towards.

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I don't want to say crisis, but but have have been concerned for all of us for a while if
They didn't get addressed.

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some of these things actually were, were enhanced this year and were were bigger than
What we thought they were going to

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be. Among those would be the enrollment. And so our our projected enrollment from our demographer was more than 100 kids higher
Than what we've actually come in here this year.

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investments. So the projection on what was going to happen with our investment
Environment has changed since you passed the budget back in june, to the tune of a we're

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estimating about $700,000. Some of these other things have been happening for a while.

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00:35:54,090 --> 00:35:57,810
we knew about them. We prepared them, nonetheless. They've hit us and we expect these trends to continue.

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one of those trends is, of course, the lower enrollment. We expect the trend to continue for the foreseeable future anyway.

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00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:08,700
one of the things, you know, we've had to incorporate as well, which was included in the
Budget you passed in june, was the fact that since the pandemic, we've had lower

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attendance rates than what we had before, about a one percentage point, lower attendance
Rate than what we had, you know, pre 20 2020.

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and that corresponds to more than a half $1 million a year because we're not actually paid
On the number of kids or we don't, we don't earn revenue based on the number of kids,

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but on the number of kids who are in average daily attendance. And so lower attendance means less money to work with.

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and so the long and short of that was back in june, we projected that we were going to
Have a slight deficit this

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current year and then a larger deficit next year, as you see on there.

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and then we really started getting trouble in 26, 27, which is where you've got that
Highlighted.

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what we're looking at as a district is trying to keep that number above 25%.

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00:37:12,850 --> 00:37:12,850
and what it is for those listening at home is we're looking at our fund balance as a
Percent of our expected expenditures for the year.

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00:37:20,470 --> 00:37:20,470
and so 25% is not just a recommendation from the state, although it also describes the
Point where it starts

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00:37:30,430 --> 00:37:32,740
getting harder and harder to, to make things work. And so if we drop below 25%, we start running into cash crunches in the fall of that
Year.

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00:37:39,610 --> 00:37:39,610
so we really want to keep it above 25%.

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00:37:43,690 --> 00:37:43,690
and so back in june, we thought, okay, we've got enough runway that we can see what
Happens in the 25 legislature before we have to

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00:37:53,570 --> 00:37:56,120
make any big decisions. After these changes, most notably the lower attendance and also the investment issue
Coupled

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00:38:05,750 --> 00:38:09,290
with a change, well, not a change. So, as you know, and there were a bunch of special sessions recently where, where our tax
Rates were lower.

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we were given a hold. Harmless. In fact, a series of hold harmless to make sure that districts weren't losing
Money.

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but the tier did not tell us how to calculate that until after the fact.

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00:38:30,230 --> 00:38:30,230
and so the, the, the projections on how to calculate it, the standard assumptions we were
All using were

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00:38:39,950 --> 00:38:39,950
wrong. And they came out with clear guidance after you adopted the budget in june.

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00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:47,530
and that affected us to the tune of about $1 million. And so all that coupled together changes what the trajectory looks like.

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and now, absent any changes we're looking at having gone below that 25% threshold after
The 25, 26 school year.

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00:39:02,050 --> 00:39:05,890
and we're looking at a $6.3 million deficit, give or take. I mean, we're still a year and a half out about $6.3 million deficit next year, which is
Pretty significant.

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00:39:14,390 --> 00:39:14,390
and what we're really looking for here is a way to eliminate that deficit, to keep us
Above the 25% threshold.

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so based on conversations with you at our last meeting, based on conversations we've had
In leadership, these were the standards that we were looking at

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00:39:33,670 --> 00:39:37,210
and how to make these decisions. Like jeff said, we're looking at bigger things, not a bunch of band-aids, but a
Tourniquet, I guess.

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00:39:44,590 --> 00:39:44,590
we're trying to find options that impact students as little as possible.

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student and staff on all of these. And I want to be clear about this, the where most of the savings is coming from.

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and you all know this because this is where we spend our money is in staff, you know,
Lower staff, lower staff requirement.

334
00:40:08,970 --> 00:40:08,970
and so it's already out there and people have talked about the fact that we're going to,
We're going to recommend closing an elementary school and

335
00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:18,750
where the savings comes from is that is that there are things that you have when you have
An elementary school that you have, no matter how many kids are in it.

336
00:40:27,750 --> 00:40:29,760
and so it's a staff savings. However, we're not looking at firing anybody, letting anybody go.

337
00:40:34,410 --> 00:40:35,970
so we're going to get this by. We would make any savings by attrition.

338
00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:39,120
and we think that that can happen in a relatively short period of time, most of it in
Year one.

339
00:40:44,540 --> 00:40:47,720
probably 99% of it by year two. And so we're not looking to to eliminate people's jobs or eliminate their ability to have
A job with the with the district.

340
00:40:57,230 --> 00:40:57,230
and of course, there are some time constraints on some of these.

341
00:41:01,490 --> 00:41:01,490
so here are the solutions that we've identified.

342
00:41:06,170 --> 00:41:06,170
I'm going to talk about the first one, and then we're going to, we're going to move
Around, and different members of the leadership team are going to talk about different

343
00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:15,920
ones here. So the first one I want to talk about is the copper pennies.

344
00:41:20,690 --> 00:41:24,440
so for a number of years I've mentioned this. And to be on the record every time I've ever mentioned it you've all said that you've got
Absolutely zero interest in copper pennies.

345
00:41:34,610 --> 00:41:37,340
but this is one of those break the glass type scenarios. And so I want to bring it up again.

346
00:41:38,870 --> 00:41:38,870
and the important thing about the copper pennies is it is the largest single either
Savings or money generating idea that we

347
00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:49,890
have $4 million. And so that gets us two thirds of the way to where we need to be this year.

348
00:41:55,740 --> 00:41:59,580
and we'll just go ahead and we want to lay all the cards on the table. And so it is an extremely bad deal for district taxpayers.

349
00:42:05,250 --> 00:42:05,250
and so the way it would work is you would adopt a tax rate above what's known as the
Voter approval tax rate.

350
00:42:15,750 --> 00:42:19,140
and if you went for all nine pennies, of course you wouldn't have to go for all nine
Pennies. You could go for a lower number.

351
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:20,400
but if you went for all nine then that would automatically trigger your need to call a
Voter approval tax rate election.

352
00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:29,520
and so that would happen in august of 2025.

353
00:42:34,260 --> 00:42:36,630
and then you would have an election in november. At that time, the community would go and they would either vote it up or down, and if
They voted up and then, then our tax bills would go out at the new higher rate.

354
00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:45,960
and if they voted down, then they would go out at the lower rate minus the $0.09.

355
00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:52,200
so without including those, those nine, nine pennies in the first year, it would raise
Approximately $20 million in additional tax revenue to

356
00:43:02,190 --> 00:43:02,190
the district, of which we would keep about four and about 16 million of that would go to
The state and recapture.

357
00:43:14,580 --> 00:43:14,580
this just shows what our tax rate has looked at over the past couple of years.

358
00:43:20,310 --> 00:43:20,310
and you can see that over that we've been going through a lot of compression since the
20, since 2019.

359
00:43:28,530 --> 00:43:28,530
and if you added in the copper pennies, we would still be at a relatively low tax rate
Compared to historical standards.

360
00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:35,700
we would be higher than what we were in 2324, but lower than what we were in 2223.

361
00:43:43,390 --> 00:43:43,390
my estimate would be somewhere around 0.95 $0.05.

362
00:43:48,970 --> 00:43:48,970
based on on current estimates, that could be higher or lower depending on the amount of
Compression.

363
00:43:54,010 --> 00:43:54,010
and that's a function of how much our tax base grows.

364
00:44:01,540 --> 00:44:03,940
for an average homeowner. And so if you look on that second bullet, it says the average increase or the average
Increase in taxes for a homeowner would be $1,331.

365
00:44:13,390 --> 00:44:13,390
that's based on this year's average home price or average appraised value and taxable
Value.

366
00:44:20,260 --> 00:44:20,260
and so of course, we're not paying taxes on the appraised value, but on the taxable
Value.

367
00:44:24,790 --> 00:44:24,790
and it's lower. Of course, that would go up next year more than likely.

368
00:44:29,140 --> 00:44:32,740
and not everybody's house is the average. Some of them are higher. Some of them are lower. But you could use this as a guide to kind of see where any individual taxpayer might be.

369
00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:40,800
again, 16 million per year and increased recapture.

370
00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:47,100
and again, all the cards on the table, the amount of money that we would get to keep is
Going to be a function, actually, of our water, which is our weighted average daily

371
00:44:56,880 --> 00:44:56,880
attendance. And as our enrollment declines, that's going to go down a little bit.

372
00:45:02,610 --> 00:45:02,610
and so from year to year, I don't think it will go down significantly, but it would
Probably go down a little bit.

373
00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:07,920
and, and like it does with tier one and the basic allotment, that would only change when
The legislature changed the yield rate per water.

374
00:45:17,430 --> 00:45:17,430
and so we wouldn't expect that each year that $4 million would grow.

375
00:45:25,020 --> 00:45:25,020
one other thing I want to acknowledge is that we currently have the long range facilities
Planning committee working, and there's an

376
00:45:34,980 --> 00:45:34,980
expectation that they might make a recommendation for some facilities upgrades and
Changes coming up in the next year or so.

377
00:45:44,460 --> 00:45:44,460
and it's been your intention and it's been my intention that that would be done without an
Increase to the eanes tax rate.

378
00:45:50,710 --> 00:45:50,710
the eanes rate, for those of you at home, is the part of the tax rate that is only used to
Pay for our debt service.

379
00:45:58,560 --> 00:45:58,560
and so we've all along assumed that we were going to be able to do this without
Increasing the eanes tax rate.

380
00:46:06,510 --> 00:46:10,470
and I still believe that that's possible. However, I think for a lot of people and a lot of people's minds, it's going to be
Difficult to separate if you actually go out for that

381
00:46:20,250 --> 00:46:21,330
bond election. The fact that you increase my taxes six months ago, and now you want to pass a bond, and
You say, it's not raising my taxes, I think there's going to be a lot of

382
00:46:31,170 --> 00:46:33,720
confusion in the community about that. And I just want to lay that out there at the start of this discussion as well.

383
00:46:41,700 --> 00:46:44,000
okay. And that's that now. And I'll let claudia take over the next section.

384
00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:50,040
okay. So one of the identified solutions that we decided to present to you guys is
Involves naming rights.

385
00:46:59,040 --> 00:47:02,040
and this isn't anything new to you. All you've heard people bring this up over the years, but we wanted to at least include
It in here to be able to show

386
00:47:12,420 --> 00:47:16,050
that we're not just looking at things that we could cut. We're trying to bring some solutions that could possibly help with the deficit.

387
00:47:21,240 --> 00:47:21,240
so all of those points on there are pretty standard of what we've said before.

388
00:47:30,150 --> 00:47:30,150
it is an untapped potential revenue source because currently we don't do anything like
This.

389
00:47:35,510 --> 00:47:35,510
we do have certain facilities, as you know, or certain rooms sometimes that are named
After people, but those

390
00:47:45,380 --> 00:47:46,610
have been honorary. And there hasn't really been a financial attachment to those.

391
00:47:53,330 --> 00:47:56,780
so, this would be something new. And the way it is done in most districts that I've seen, maybe all that I've seen it's
Led through their foundation, their

392
00:48:06,710 --> 00:48:07,910
education foundation. So I've had several conversations with dana over several years about this.

393
00:48:15,980 --> 00:48:15,980
and eef is definitely able to help with this endeavor.

394
00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:24,800
the problem is we it does have some uncertainty in terms of what we would put out there
To be named.

395
00:48:33,800 --> 00:48:33,800
and if, you know, if there are some stipulations to that, because, you know, there are
Some school districts do put some restrictions on

396
00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:45,380
naming rights. And then the amount we don't know what we would get.

397
00:48:50,180 --> 00:48:50,180
for example, in highland park they, they put out naming rights, bids for their stadium,
And they didn't get one.

398
00:49:01,250 --> 00:49:01,250
however, they did get a $10 million donation for naming rights for a leadership center.

399
00:49:08,930 --> 00:49:08,930
so prosper, just another example.

400
00:49:13,190 --> 00:49:13,190
prosper high school named their stadium, and it was a $2.5 million.

401
00:49:21,440 --> 00:49:21,440
and it's a ten year over ten years, so they get about 250 grand a year.

402
00:49:27,930 --> 00:49:27,930
so there's all sorts of examples around the state and the nation, frankly different ways
You can do it.

403
00:49:35,310 --> 00:49:35,310
but we did want to just bring that up as a possible solution.

404
00:49:44,910 --> 00:49:44,910
this is me. We were charged with looking at what logistically could be done for blending
Two elementary campuses.

405
00:49:54,750 --> 00:49:54,750
the recommendation from the work group was to blend valleyview elementary and barton
Creek elementary for reasons that one,

406
00:50:04,710 --> 00:50:06,480
they fit under the same campus. They fit in the same space allowing for the same class sizes, the same services, the
Service level

407
00:50:16,230 --> 00:50:16,230
agreements or the service agreements with the capacity of the building the committee was
Charged with.

408
00:50:23,160 --> 00:50:25,840
are we able to transport them to school safely? Or can we able to provide breakfast and lunch for the students?

409
00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:32,710
can we educate them and can we keep them safe? So that's where this recommendation came out of.

410
00:50:38,110 --> 00:50:41,890
the analysis is a smaller campus would be more cost effective. A smaller campus is more expensive to run.

411
00:50:44,440 --> 00:50:44,440
we have to have the same amount of services, the same amount of staff, regardless of the
Number of students that are on the campuses.

412
00:50:50,860 --> 00:50:50,860
blending these two campuses shares communities that they're already sharing.

413
00:50:57,040 --> 00:50:57,040
when we looked at the enrollment numbers, we had more than 50 students from the valley
View community who were already going to barton creek, for

414
00:51:06,730 --> 00:51:06,730
whatever reason, that they had chose to do that, that they were already attending at
Barton creek.

415
00:51:13,450 --> 00:51:13,450
blending valley view and barton creek makes sense geographically.

416
00:51:17,570 --> 00:51:17,570
that close proximity lessens the bus routes, the time on the busses.

417
00:51:23,050 --> 00:51:26,790
it also honors the desire of the valley view community to stay together. That was one thing that we heard tonight, and we've heard numerous times from the valley
View community.

418
00:51:31,080 --> 00:51:34,260
move us together. Let us be together. We acknowledge that this is going to be a change.

419
00:51:37,500 --> 00:51:37,500
it's going to be difficult for some families to get used to, but we are confident that
Both of the communities can work together to

420
00:51:47,340 --> 00:51:47,340
merge, to be one community and take care of the children.

421
00:51:53,790 --> 00:51:53,790
this is going to require additional portables for temporary classrooms.

422
00:51:59,220 --> 00:51:59,220
the number of portables will be up to your decision as to far as if we do this or not,
And what the enrollment looks like moving forward.

423
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:09,930
transportation can make this happen. We've worked with the transportation department.

424
00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:14,190
they're aware of the possibility. They've looked at the enrollment.

425
00:52:16,350 --> 00:52:18,540
they have measured the bus line. They've measured busses, and they know that it will work in the existing bus line so they
Can make that work.

426
00:52:26,150 --> 00:52:29,420
we're starting a traffic study this week. They will go in and make sure that we have a better understanding of the parking of the
Traffic on patterson.

427
00:52:38,480 --> 00:52:38,480
we know that there are some new additions to the patterson road that will have to take
Into consideration.

428
00:52:45,170 --> 00:52:49,010
they'll look at the bus lanes, they'll look at drop off and pickup. They're going to look at a specific assembly time or an event where there's a lot of
Families on campus so that they can help us better

429
00:52:58,940 --> 00:52:58,940
utilize what we have to better support the traffic for that community.

430
00:53:03,620 --> 00:53:03,620
so we'll have those results within the next couple of weeks.

431
00:53:07,760 --> 00:53:09,770
we have worked with food services. The cafeteria right now holds 216 students.

432
00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:13,880
our food service director, richard mallard, said that he could support the students and
That we would add a third portable lunch line to break up the lunch

433
00:53:23,740 --> 00:53:25,060
time being served. Each line would serve 25 kids per grade.

434
00:53:29,830 --> 00:53:29,830
and he did not have any concerns whatsoever about making that happen in the existing
Amount of time provided for lunch for the students.

435
00:53:43,360 --> 00:53:47,140
additional analysis blending the campuses would make. We would have to make some decisions, or you all would need to make some decisions on how
You want to handle the enrollment.

436
00:53:52,360 --> 00:53:52,360
we have taken into consideration taking every student who wanted to go to barton creek
From valley view.

437
00:53:58,660 --> 00:53:58,660
we have taken into consideration those si numbers.

438
00:54:04,210 --> 00:54:06,970
what happens if we only take the si transfers? What does that look like as far as capacity for the building.

439
00:54:10,180 --> 00:54:14,020
and then we've looked at the numbers for no transfers to barton creek. We know that the building capacity is 819 with a 22 to 1 classroom class ratio.

440
00:54:21,000 --> 00:54:21,000
so staying with the standard that we have now, we logistically believe that we can make
This work.

441
00:54:28,440 --> 00:54:28,440
we would need a decision from you all on what you want us to do relatively soon, because
We have to start making changes to the campuses to make

442
00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:40,530
sure that it fits. Temporary classrooms will have to be ordered, installed, set up in place, security
Fences, security cameras, all of those things will need to be taken into

443
00:54:49,620 --> 00:54:49,620
consideration. And we're going to add additional staff bathrooms.

444
00:54:55,140 --> 00:54:58,590
which was already part of the bond workshop or the bond planning. But we want to make sure that we get that done.

445
00:55:01,350 --> 00:55:01,350
to support the additional staff members if this is to happen.

446
00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:08,040
we would rely on national attrition. As chris said, we're not trying to fire a bunch of staff members.

447
00:55:13,230 --> 00:55:16,450
we're hoping that as a position comes open. If they want to go to another campus, that we can accommodate those needs based on what
Their roles are, and the enrollment numbers will help us make it a more

448
00:55:25,960 --> 00:55:25,960
efficient campus as far as what it's cost, a savings and preparing for what we could do
With that space moving forward.

449
00:55:36,220 --> 00:55:39,070
the class sizes and the services will be equitable. One of the concerns that we heard from the teachers at barton creek is now I'm going to
Get more kids.

450
00:55:44,140 --> 00:55:45,580
how am I going to do this? You're still going to have the same classroom size that you had before, and you're going
To save the same number of parents that you had before.

451
00:55:52,600 --> 00:55:52,600
so we're trying to make sure that all of the things remain as equitable as what the other
Campuses with a larger enrollment would have.

452
00:56:00,730 --> 00:56:00,730
and then if this blend happens, it also gives the district flexibility to repurpose
Valley view for the

453
00:56:10,690 --> 00:56:13,030
planning for the long range facility committee. So if the long range facility committee comes in and says, we need to add onto barton
Creek, we have a space.

454
00:56:19,680 --> 00:56:19,680
if they say we need to repurpose a specific wing for something, we have a spot for
Potential for students to attend.

455
00:56:29,490 --> 00:56:29,490
while the construction or the remodel is happening on campus if need be, again, we don't
Know what long range facility planning is going to come back with, but we wanted to have

456
00:56:38,340 --> 00:56:39,570
that flexibility. We would utilize that space during all of these activities if needed.

457
00:56:54,840 --> 00:56:54,840
all right. I am now going to talk about the next proposal, which is to eliminate the
Dedicated plc period for our core teachers at the secondary classroom.

458
00:57:04,350 --> 00:57:04,350
for everyone, the plc period is a period of time during the day that is dedicated for our
English, math, science and social studies teachers to engage in collaboration,

459
00:57:14,210 --> 00:57:14,210
learning and planning during their workday.

460
00:57:19,040 --> 00:57:20,270
oh, you got the clicker. Nice. All right. By eliminating this, we're estimating that it would yield us a $2 million
Savings over time.

461
00:57:25,880 --> 00:57:28,760
it's important to note this is done through attrition. So how quickly we get to that 2 million is just going to kind of determine where we go by
The attrition rate.

462
00:57:34,310 --> 00:57:34,310
it does get us equally or more equitable in practices with our non core teachers and our
Elementary teachers, which both at this time do not have the designated plc

463
00:57:44,300 --> 00:57:44,300
planning period that the secondary core teachers do.

464
00:57:48,530 --> 00:57:48,530
one thing to really think about is our plc periods are highly recruiting and retention
Tool that we use at our secondary campuses.

465
00:57:56,540 --> 00:57:59,810
a lot of our teachers will tell you that they stay because of it. Even though I think even someone in the open forum mentioned, you know, we're one of the
Lowest paying.

466
00:58:03,890 --> 00:58:06,890
and this does help with that at those campuses. It also gives us time to plan, to learn from one another, and to work on that gvc that I
Know is important for the board.

467
00:58:14,800 --> 00:58:14,800
ensuring that all of our kids across the district have equitable access to quality
Insurance.

468
00:58:20,500 --> 00:58:20,500
our middle schools the last two years have actually worked to align their plc times, so
They collaborate across campuses now.

469
00:58:28,660 --> 00:58:28,660
we have monthly plc periods where west ridge and hill country work together.

470
00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:33,280
reduce. The thing to keep in mind is this is not a reduction in work, but more of a
Reduction in time to do work.

471
00:58:39,760 --> 00:58:42,790
and a reduction in time for the planning and learning to happen. That is normally done during the school day.

472
00:58:45,070 --> 00:58:45,070
we also want to recognize that this could be possible, a reduction in time for our
Special ed teachers to collaborate with the gen ed staff.

473
00:58:52,420 --> 00:58:52,420
our a lot of times your conference period is used to but with our special ed staff, that
Is when they do a lot of that kind of paper work, the writing of the ards and the and the

474
00:59:01,510 --> 00:59:01,510
goals. And so these plc periods allows for them to push in and do that collaboration with
The the team, the grade level team or the the core team.

475
00:59:11,670 --> 00:59:11,670
next.

476
00:59:23,010 --> 00:59:23,010
hi. I'm going to speak next about our spanish immersion program.

477
00:59:27,450 --> 00:59:27,450
so when we looked at our different options in terms of spanish immersion, there's lots of
Combinations and permutations you can do with the

478
00:59:36,690 --> 00:59:36,690
program in order to reach the threshold of the $500,000, we would have to look at
Eliminating the program.

479
00:59:44,550 --> 00:59:44,550
there are certainly other options we could consider that would maybe get less money of
The reduction and we could look at that.

480
00:59:53,040 --> 00:59:53,040
but we specifically, we didn't model all of that out because we were looking at what
Would be that $500,000 threshold, which is to eliminate the program.

481
01:00:03,090 --> 01:00:03,090
currently, the program has around 780 students.

482
01:00:08,480 --> 01:00:08,480
we did look at our estimated out-of-district transfers for 2526 to be about 87 students.

483
01:00:15,290 --> 01:00:15,290
there has been some questions that have come to us, you know, why are you looking at
Spanish immersion at the elementary and maybe not other programs at the secondary level?

484
01:00:25,250 --> 01:00:25,250
spanish immersion is the only enrichment program at the elementary level.

485
01:00:29,570 --> 01:00:29,570
if you start looking at programs at the secondary level, you're possibly looking at, you
Know, competing sports and looking at one sport versus another sport or one fine art

486
01:00:38,720 --> 01:00:39,830
versus another. You know, in terms of spanish immersion, it's our only enrichment program.

487
01:00:44,060 --> 01:00:44,060
so that was an area that we looked at in terms of in terms of the program, as we
Mentioned, it would

488
01:00:54,020 --> 01:00:54,020
yield 600,000, say, $600,000 in savings if the program concluded prior to the next school
Year.

489
01:01:02,180 --> 01:01:02,180
this would increase staffing efficiency and allow more balanced class size and equitable
Distribution of students.

490
01:01:08,160 --> 01:01:08,160
one of the things that sometimes it's hard to see is when you're looking at our section
Size in the elementary school, often we are having to hire additional teachers because

491
01:01:18,150 --> 01:01:21,150
our traditional side is becoming unbalanced. We typically in every grade level at every school, your spanish immersion classes are
Smaller.

492
01:01:26,700 --> 01:01:26,700
even if we kind of start where we do in elementary school through attrition, they become
Very small.

493
01:01:32,220 --> 01:01:34,470
and so we see a lot of imbalance. We see imbalance even during the school year.

494
01:01:37,470 --> 01:01:40,020
I've met with several principals this year. We have students moving out of the program, and right now in the middle of the year, it's
Very difficult, even if you've started the school year with 22, and then you have students

495
01:01:49,440 --> 01:01:50,940
who ask to leave the program. We never require a student to stay in spanish immersion, and so they move in the middle
Of the year, and that makes it even more difficult also.

496
01:01:59,610 --> 01:01:59,610
and so that that that equitable, inequitable, the inequitable size class does make the
Program difficult.

497
01:02:08,210 --> 01:02:08,210
we would reduce costs in terms of the spanish immersion stipends and then instructional
Materials, however, and there's a lot of parents spoke tonight

498
01:02:17,960 --> 01:02:17,960
and it is you know, it is something a flagship program right now in our district, we
Would lose that early language acquisition and the benefits of learning a second language.

499
01:02:26,690 --> 01:02:29,270
and we know a lot of families really value that. And they spoke to that this evening.

500
01:02:32,030 --> 01:02:32,030
it's possible that we would also lose some of our really great spanish immersion
Teachers, who would go to other districts where they can get that bilingual

501
01:02:41,240 --> 01:02:41,240
stipend. It is a pretty robust stipend, even in eanes, and some of our teachers would opt
To use their skills, which we of course wouldn't

502
01:02:51,170 --> 01:02:51,170
blame them, use their bilingual skills and go to another school district.

503
01:02:55,460 --> 01:02:55,460
also, you know, in terms of what the program has brought in terms of richness around
Cultural awareness in those global competency opportunities.

504
01:03:03,310 --> 01:03:03,310
those would be, you know, reduced if we ended the program.

505
01:03:07,840 --> 01:03:07,840
and then, as was spoken to this evening, there could be some out of district transfer
Students who are here only for spanish immersion who might choose to leave.

506
01:03:17,050 --> 01:03:17,050
I think some of our families who are here for spanish immersion, while some might leave,
I think some are very happy with eanes isd education in general and might stay or would

507
01:03:26,980 --> 01:03:26,980
stay even in the traditional traditional section.

508
01:03:40,840 --> 01:03:41,890
I'm not sure if this. Yeah, I was going to say I'm not sure if this flipped forward or.

509
01:03:45,760 --> 01:03:47,740
there we go. Okay. So I am here to talk about anything under human resources and number one would be
Freezing salaries.

510
01:03:58,750 --> 01:03:58,750
can you hear me? Hear? Okay, so as this is not a long term solution, as we had mentioned
Earlier, somebody had mentioned earlier, you know, we are one of the the lower paid

511
01:04:08,510 --> 01:04:09,920
districts in the area. And so obviously that is a negative impact on our staff morale and our employees personal
Finances.

512
01:04:17,180 --> 01:04:20,060
it makes it really harder to recruit our staff. I did want to speak with you about a conversation that we had had with trs active care
Earlier in october.

513
01:04:26,690 --> 01:04:26,690
trs is going to the state for an amount of $450 million to help offset the the health
Insurance that we provide to our

514
01:04:36,470 --> 01:04:36,470
employees. If that is not provided to them by the state, they do anticipate that they
Will see a 20% increase to health insurance premiums over the next

515
01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:46,400
two years. So that is another piece that, you know, lays on our staff to have to to pay
For the health insurance for their families.

516
01:04:58,690 --> 01:04:58,690
so this is really in conjunction with or can be set aside.

517
01:05:04,930 --> 01:05:04,930
you'll see probably later on some considerations of you know, combining some of these
Solutions that we're bringing forward.

518
01:05:12,700 --> 01:05:12,700
but if we are doing staff reductions in conjunction with plcs or the blend, then we would
Be asking the board also to make any

519
01:05:23,140 --> 01:05:26,740
you know, recommendations of anything that they made to see above that. So with the blend and plc, you would be looking about 30 fte for both.

520
01:05:31,480 --> 01:05:35,230
so a total of 60 fte that we do through natural attrition. Obviously that would be you know, we feel the blend may happen within the next year or
Two.

521
01:05:40,450 --> 01:05:43,180
plcs you never know. That could be longer. We I looked back for about three years.

522
01:05:45,670 --> 01:05:45,670
we do hire anywhere from maybe 1 to 3, 1 to 6 core teachers per year, depending on the
Year.

523
01:05:51,940 --> 01:05:51,940
so that kind of gives you an idea of how long it might take us to reduce that staff.

524
01:05:57,120 --> 01:05:57,120
you know, we would want to definitely keep that.

525
01:06:01,140 --> 01:06:01,140
it would typically fall on the secondary level because our elementaries are, you know,
Held to that 22 to 1 standard.

526
01:06:08,880 --> 01:06:11,250
and we are really good about doing that. So that really does put the burden on our secondary level.

527
01:06:14,040 --> 01:06:17,790
and that really would impact their classroom sizes. So it's really hard for that natural attrition when you're looking at targeted areas.

528
01:06:23,790 --> 01:06:23,790
you know, we've had conversations and I know that you've all been at meetings where we've
Talked a little bit and the staff has even asked about maybe early incentive resignations.

529
01:06:33,660 --> 01:06:33,660
obviously, that would be putting money up front to do this, but it would give us an idea
Early if we thought that we needed to make some large staff reductions to get a

530
01:06:43,560 --> 01:06:43,560
good idea of where we're going to see these resignations and where we would be doing
Staffing later on.

531
01:06:52,170 --> 01:06:52,170
thank you. I'm going to reinsert myself here just to remind us of the standards and the
Thresholds

532
01:07:03,080 --> 01:07:05,180
that began this conversation. We were looking for options that would net or yield more than $500,000, either in savings
Or additional revenue to the

533
01:07:15,110 --> 01:07:15,110
district. So we were really focused on those bigger items.

534
01:07:20,420 --> 01:07:20,420
secondly, we wanted to give priority to the proposals that would least impact student
Learning and staff retention.

535
01:07:28,910 --> 01:07:28,910
clearly, some of the things outlined this evening do have an impact on instruction, on
Student learning and on our staff, but we felt like these were the

536
01:07:38,840 --> 01:07:38,840
items that had the least amount of impact that the board might want to consider.

537
01:07:44,390 --> 01:07:44,390
as lori and others have said, we're trying to achieve savings via natural attrition.

538
01:07:50,480 --> 01:07:53,500
this is not a reduction in force. We're not purposely looking to lay off or let staff go.

539
01:07:57,760 --> 01:07:57,760
we're looking for natural opportunities when we might achieve attrition and savings.

540
01:08:03,100 --> 01:08:03,100
and then we also wanted to understand what might be feasible even as early as next year.

541
01:08:09,520 --> 01:08:09,520
realizing that there are time constraints around each of these proposals.

542
01:08:13,690 --> 01:08:16,690
and that's why we're sharing these with the board tonight. So before chris proceeds, I wanted to kind of focus in on what we would strongly
Recommend the board consider when you look at all of the

543
01:08:26,560 --> 01:08:29,200
options that have been discussed this evening. We think there are these four that sort of rise to the top.

544
01:08:33,040 --> 01:08:34,720
and I'll begin with the first one. This is not easy for us to recommend.

545
01:08:37,210 --> 01:08:37,210
there are numerous disadvantages to considering a voter approved tax ratification
Election, or the nine copper pennies that chris described to you

546
01:08:46,570 --> 01:08:46,570
earlier. We understand all of the downsides to this at the top of that list would be the
Potential impact on

547
01:08:56,090 --> 01:08:59,510
resident homeowners and taxpayers in our district. We understand that nobody wants to have to pay more in taxes.

548
01:09:05,000 --> 01:09:05,000
we also understand that this seems incongruent with conversations that we are already
Beginning to have about the possibility of a no tax rate bond

549
01:09:14,870 --> 01:09:14,870
referendum as early as 2026, so reconciling those two is not easy.

550
01:09:21,830 --> 01:09:21,830
nonetheless, as chris said of all of the things on the list that we could identify, this
Is the one that would yield the greatest amount of revenue to offset

551
01:09:31,700 --> 01:09:31,700
the potential of a $6.5 million deficit as early as next year.

552
01:09:37,220 --> 01:09:37,220
to put it more bluntly, if the board determines that you do not want to proceed with
This, and we fully understand that because we are as

553
01:09:47,150 --> 01:09:47,150
conflicted about this as you are, but if the board does not want to proceed with the
Possibility of a voter approved tax ratification election, then it

554
01:09:56,680 --> 01:09:56,680
likely means that you are going to have to more seriously consider everything else that's
On the list.

555
01:10:03,430 --> 01:10:03,430
this is the one that would take the biggest chunk out of that $6.5 million deficit.

556
01:10:08,560 --> 01:10:08,560
so that's the reason why it's at the top of the list, because it has the least amount of
Impact on our students and our staff, but it has potentially the

557
01:10:18,340 --> 01:10:21,580
greatest impact on our taxpayers and our homeowners. And we understand that.

558
01:10:22,930 --> 01:10:24,130
we appreciate it. We acknowledge it, but we felt like we also needed to be honest in looking at it.

559
01:10:30,490 --> 01:10:30,490
secondly, as you look at naming rights, so many other school districts have resorted to
That strategy and we feel like it is time for us to do that as

560
01:10:40,300 --> 01:10:40,300
well. Obviously, that would require a policy adjustment by the board, but we think that
There is opportunity and there is potential revenue to be gained from that, and that has

561
01:10:49,170 --> 01:10:51,480
no impact on students or staff. There's a lot of gain there to be realized in terms of blending the two elementary
Schools.

562
01:10:59,130 --> 01:10:59,130
I would say probably up to this point, hundreds of hours have been devoted to considering
This and looking at the feasibility.

563
01:11:06,810 --> 01:11:06,810
as dr. Saylor said, a lot has been examined and determined about what it would take to
Make one campus safe and

564
01:11:16,740 --> 01:11:20,370
conducive to learning for essentially two school communities. We would not be bringing that to you this evening if we were not convinced that it is
Feasible for as early as next year.

565
01:11:26,490 --> 01:11:28,620
I know that you're going to have more questions about that. Certainly, the community does as well.

566
01:11:30,540 --> 01:11:30,540
that's fair, and there is time for us to answer those questions and to assure you of all
The diligence that has been done on that between now and january, when we would need you

567
01:11:40,530 --> 01:11:42,210
to make that decision. And then finally, the professional learning community periods.

568
01:11:45,890 --> 01:11:45,890
again, that's not easy for us to recommend because we know that it is a benefit that is
Enjoyed by many of our secondary staff, but it is contained to

569
01:11:55,700 --> 01:11:55,700
those staff who are in grades six through 12 who are our core teachers.

570
01:12:00,890 --> 01:12:00,890
so we felt like it was important to share that with you.

571
01:12:05,030 --> 01:12:05,030
yes. It would have an impact on the professional development and the collaboration of our
Staff in those grade levels in the core subject areas, but it would not

572
01:12:14,480 --> 01:12:14,480
curtail the delivery of services or programs or courses for which those staff are
Responsible.

573
01:12:21,590 --> 01:12:21,590
but nonetheless, it would be a change in their working conditions, and we acknowledge
That.

574
01:12:26,510 --> 01:12:26,510
we should also mention that with regard to that particular point not many school
Districts in texas offer professional learning community

575
01:12:36,170 --> 01:12:36,170
periods. Those that we're aware of are all considering reducing that as well, because
There is a high dollar amount associated with the delivery of plc

576
01:12:46,080 --> 01:12:46,080
periods. And I think now other school districts are realizing that as they're in a
Similar situation, they have to identify similar aspects of their

577
01:12:55,890 --> 01:12:58,710
programing that they may have to eliminate as well. And plc periods are one of those that we're hearing from other school districts that they
Are also considering eliminating.

578
01:13:05,160 --> 01:13:05,160
so I'm going to give it back to chris now because he wants to illustrate sort of the
Flowchart of decisions that we would ask the board to consider.

579
01:13:14,370 --> 01:13:14,370
more importantly, the information that we know you will need as you make those
Determinations over the next few weeks.

580
01:13:20,820 --> 01:13:20,820
and then we want to very quickly get to your questions, because I'm sure we have raised
Several of them and you'll want to know our responses.

581
01:13:27,660 --> 01:13:30,630
so, chris, I'll give it back to you. Sure. So we're going to show you two different options, one with the vatre option and one
Without.

582
01:13:37,560 --> 01:13:37,560
and so with the first one assuming that you decide to go with the vatre and it's approved
By the community.

583
01:13:46,250 --> 01:13:46,250
that would bring us to a $2.3 million deficit for next year.

584
01:13:53,480 --> 01:13:55,850
so that doesn't get us all the way there. And so you'll need to consider other things as well.

585
01:13:58,700 --> 01:13:58,700
and like jeff mentioned our recommendations would be the blending of the two elementary
Campuses and eliminating the

586
01:14:08,690 --> 01:14:11,810
plc periods at the secondary school. If you were to do all those three things, that would, as a top line, show a $1.7 million
Budget surplus for next year.

587
01:14:21,770 --> 01:14:21,770
however, because we're talking about achieving these savings via attrition, we probably
Wouldn't get to 1.7 million surplus.

588
01:14:31,580 --> 01:14:31,580
our guess is that it might be roughly balanced, but we think that that would do the trick.

589
01:14:38,270 --> 01:14:38,270
in other words, to get you to the six and a half or the 6.3 that you're looking at for a
Balanced budget probably won't get you that much of a surplus, but it's a possibility.

590
01:14:47,740 --> 01:14:47,740
the other option is if we don't go with the vatre or the vatre fails.

591
01:14:57,370 --> 01:14:59,470
so no vatre. So you'll need to consider again both of those things, which gets us to a point where now
We're at a $2.3 million deficit.

592
01:15:08,500 --> 01:15:12,130
and again it wouldn't get there in the first year. So it would be something less than, than the full 4 million that would we would recognize
That first year.

593
01:15:17,320 --> 01:15:17,320
and so the $2.3 million deficit is something higher.

594
01:15:21,880 --> 01:15:21,880
say, if we got 75% of the way there, then you're talking about a $3.3 million deficit
That year.

595
01:15:29,410 --> 01:15:29,410
which means that you would need to consider other things as well including possibly the
Elimination of the spanish immersion program,

596
01:15:39,270 --> 01:15:39,270
freezing salaries and some other to be named later staff reductions.

597
01:15:47,070 --> 01:15:47,070
and as laurie mentioned, those would be difficult to recognize in that first year if we
Also did the other two staff reduction models,

598
01:15:56,670 --> 01:16:00,630
because again, we're looking at attrition. And again our biggest employee group is teachers.

599
01:16:05,700 --> 01:16:05,700
and so there's, there's no, there's no cutting of staff that's not going to impact
Teachers in some in some way.

600
01:16:12,870 --> 01:16:12,870
and so if we're already reducing all of our core teachers at the secondary level, that
Means that the only savings we're going to see at the secondary level would be

601
01:16:21,960 --> 01:16:21,960
teachers who are not teaching core subjects, plus any non-classroom salaries that we were
Able to eliminate.

602
01:16:32,850 --> 01:16:32,850
additionally, we've got some timeline constraints on the copper pennies.

603
01:16:37,250 --> 01:16:37,250
we've had a recommendation that if you think you might be interested in calling a vatre
Election, that you pass a non-binding resolution

604
01:16:46,790 --> 01:16:46,790
prior to the start of the legislative session, there is some thought that the legislature
Might alter the way that we that the

605
01:16:56,720 --> 01:16:58,190
process works. And by establishing your intent to call one before they go into session, you might be
Grandfathered in and be allowed to use the

606
01:17:08,150 --> 01:17:08,150
the old or current rules, rather than whatever rules might be put in place later.

607
01:17:13,400 --> 01:17:13,400
and and the big thing on that is possibly and they've done this in the past, they've,
They've added requirements that there might not be time to

608
01:17:22,760 --> 01:17:22,760
fulfill. And so the last change that they did to that was when they added the efficiency
Audit.

609
01:17:29,060 --> 01:17:29,060
if they add something like another efficiency audit or some other requirement like that.

610
01:17:34,560 --> 01:17:34,560
it's quite possible that by the time they pass it, we wouldn't have time to do that
Before you had to call the vendor, which would essentially eliminate the possibility.

611
01:17:44,400 --> 01:17:46,710
and so that's one thing. Other than that, if you make the call sometime in the spring then then we can proceed.

612
01:17:53,100 --> 01:17:53,100
obviously, we do have the requirement of having an efficiency audit, and I would want to
Probably have the auditors come in sometime in the april

613
01:18:03,060 --> 01:18:03,060
time frame. That's when school government auditors typically have time to do a project
Like that.

614
01:18:09,780 --> 01:18:09,780
and so sometime before, say, march would be ideal if you could make that call.

615
01:18:18,480 --> 01:18:18,480
the rest of them, we've, we've said end of january for a lot of those.

616
01:18:23,010 --> 01:18:23,010
and that's primarily just because the longer we wait, the harder it is to make the call.

617
01:18:29,730 --> 01:18:29,730
so we're going to start hiring people pretty soon after the new year starts, unless we
Know that we're reducing somewhere.

618
01:18:36,680 --> 01:18:36,680
and so the earlier that you can let us know about that, the easier those decisions will
Be to know whether or not we need to hire people as they leave.

619
01:18:45,590 --> 01:18:45,590
obviously on freezing, freezing salaries, that decision is made in may, and you might
Want to make that decision either in conjunction with

620
01:18:55,130 --> 01:18:55,130
calling a vatre election or even to see what might happen in the legislature.

621
01:19:00,560 --> 01:19:00,560
so if you know, make kind of make a raise contingent upon those things happening, more
Funds coming in.

622
01:19:08,630 --> 01:19:08,630
but that would be the same time frame, as always on when you make the call on changing
Salaries.

623
01:19:14,750 --> 01:19:18,350
and then the naming rights. There's really no time limit on that. Just if you feel like you want to move, we can we can start looking at those at any time.

624
01:19:25,790 --> 01:19:28,340
you probably don't have any questions, so. Yeah, we can just end here, right?

625
01:19:31,270 --> 01:19:32,410
okay. Let's see. Trustees, who wants to start?

626
01:19:37,060 --> 01:19:37,060
could we do one, one topic at a time rather than going the whole route all the way
Around?

627
01:19:43,480 --> 01:19:46,360
jeff, do you want to put up the. Who would like to start on the.

628
01:19:47,860 --> 01:19:51,310
I believe it's veda's first, right. The copper pennies. Who who would like to start with questions on the copper pennies?

629
01:19:56,860 --> 01:19:58,210
don't all jump at once. Kim. Okay I will start and.

630
01:20:04,210 --> 01:20:05,800
and I was going to. I mean, I agree that we we probably need to thoroughly go through a topic, so I'm going
To reverse myself after listening to all of this.

631
01:20:15,040 --> 01:20:15,040
I, I have some thoughts and they're more in blocks, but I'll start with vatre.

632
01:20:20,230 --> 01:20:20,230
so I mean, obviously I'll just say this in general, there's no good solution here.

633
01:20:25,960 --> 01:20:25,960
I mean, we are for for the community that's been watching now, you know, we've had
Discussions about copper pennies before, and a community member came up to me

634
01:20:35,820 --> 01:20:35,820
afterwards and said, you know, you were literally holding your nose when you talked about
Copper pennies.

635
01:20:40,890 --> 01:20:43,680
they're not a good deal, we know that. But we live in a time right now where we are, you know, it's kind of crunch time.

636
01:20:48,810 --> 01:20:48,810
and what's good for one part of the community may not be good for another part of the
Community.

637
01:20:55,080 --> 01:20:55,080
what's good for a high school family is not good for a starting family, and that's not
Good for a long term community family that has lived here for a long time,

638
01:21:05,520 --> 01:21:08,940
I don't. So when we talk about vatres, I. I don't like them, but I am willing to continue to get to move forward and ask some
Questions

639
01:21:18,930 --> 01:21:22,530
and get a little more information about the vatres. I've worked on the other penny swap and drop, I know that as we dig into this and as we
Educate the

640
01:21:31,510 --> 01:21:31,510
community that people may get behind this and, and I know that we don't have a great the
State of texas doesn't have

641
01:21:41,290 --> 01:21:43,480
has about a 50% passage rate. So this isn't a given.

642
01:21:45,460 --> 01:21:45,460
but what I would say is that this is not you know, this is not the time

643
01:21:54,460 --> 01:21:54,460
when we can throw that out because it's higher taxes.

644
01:21:59,140 --> 01:21:59,140
the higher taxes are going to apply to me as a homeowner in this district, just like they
Would apply to everyone else.

645
01:22:05,770 --> 01:22:05,770
and so in general, I would like to explore the vedas and I would like to explore

646
01:22:15,040 --> 01:22:19,030
various scenarios. A three copper penny. What would that get and what would that get over the long run versus a six versus a nine
So that we could have a discussion not only on the entirety that was

647
01:22:29,010 --> 01:22:29,010
presented. Tonight, but how that might benefit us, not in year 25, 26, but for the next
Five years.

648
01:22:39,570 --> 01:22:39,570
so I don't have detailed questions, but but my my gut is that we have to look at it, that
We cannot throw it out because it's because it's taxes and

649
01:22:49,560 --> 01:22:52,050
because it's going to hurt everyone. In this community or a lot of people in this community, because we just can't as, as
Doctor arnett said, we just can't band-aid this, and

650
01:23:02,010 --> 01:23:04,680
we band-aid too much before. And we're living in a time where there is too much uncertainty, and we we can't rely on
Basic allotment making a big jump to solve our

651
01:23:13,860 --> 01:23:16,380
problems. Thank you. Kim. Other trustees.

652
01:23:21,030 --> 01:23:21,030
diane. Okay, so I'm with you.

653
01:23:27,710 --> 01:23:27,710
kim, I agree we can't not continue to look at this, and the ability to buy an option with
A resolution, I think is something we should

654
01:23:37,430 --> 01:23:38,840
seriously consider. I do have questions, though, because there is a cost to going out for a vatre.

655
01:23:42,890 --> 01:23:42,890
so if we go out for one, I want to really believe that it will be passed.

656
01:23:47,060 --> 01:23:47,060
I want to do some research on it and understand how what other vatre's have looked like
In recent elections.

657
01:23:54,470 --> 01:23:54,470
and not just all vatre's, because maybe you can help me out here.

658
01:23:59,480 --> 01:24:01,760
chris, I know that we get a 20% return. Is that for every chapter 49 district?

659
01:24:05,180 --> 01:24:05,180
like tier one of the funding system?

660
01:24:09,350 --> 01:24:09,350
the the revenue per wata is the same for all districts.

661
01:24:14,810 --> 01:24:14,810
so there are some districts who would actually get state aid on those, on those copper
Pennies for recaptured districts.

662
01:24:24,760 --> 01:24:27,550
we're all going to end up with the same amount again. Identical student population.

663
01:24:29,590 --> 01:24:31,720
identical revenue. Okay. So I would I would want to, you know, dig in a little more and understand how those
Have succeeded in similar districts.

664
01:24:39,190 --> 01:24:39,190
we've been gathering a lot of data on that, and we can get it to you shortly.

665
01:24:43,570 --> 01:24:43,570
okay. Thank you.

666
01:24:47,680 --> 01:24:47,680
I think that is all that I have to say, I do I do see it as a challenge getting this
Passed in this community, though.

667
01:24:56,740 --> 01:24:56,740
thank you. Diane. Ellen.

668
01:25:01,390 --> 01:25:01,390
I'm not there yet because because this is such a bad deal for our particular community
And our particular

669
01:25:11,320 --> 01:25:11,320
taxpayers. I'm willing to have it on the discussion list, because I think we need to hear
If we have a groundswell of taxpayers who feel like this

670
01:25:20,950 --> 01:25:24,430
would be something they would be willing to participate in. Hd just did this last week, and I found it extraordinary the margin with which it passed.

671
01:25:34,090 --> 01:25:36,610
so yet it can be done. But personally, I feel like it plays into the irresponsibility of the state, and I
Personally am not willing to go there yet because this is such high

672
01:25:46,600 --> 01:25:46,600
stakes in the state legislature for public education, and I am not willing to play into
That dysfunction right now.

673
01:25:55,810 --> 01:25:55,810
if we do this and I realize this is probably asking the impossible, I think we would have
A much better chance of talking

674
01:26:06,220 --> 01:26:06,220
directly and transparently and getting our message across in may as opposed to november.

675
01:26:16,420 --> 01:26:16,420
is there a possibility that the mail that evatre can be done in may?

676
01:26:20,440 --> 01:26:20,440
no. The process for the vatre election is in august.

677
01:26:26,080 --> 01:26:26,080
the state gives us our max, what's known as the mcr, the maximum compressed rate.

678
01:26:31,870 --> 01:26:31,870
from that, we know what the approved or voter approved tax rate is.

679
01:26:37,930 --> 01:26:37,930
and so the process then is when you adopt the tax rate, which happens in august, you
Adopt a tax rate that is higher than the voter approved current voter approved

680
01:26:47,920 --> 01:26:47,920
tax rate. When you do that, you you automatically trigger the need to call a vat rate for
The for the community to approve it.

681
01:26:56,680 --> 01:26:56,680
and so it's not possible to do it in may because it happens after you adopt the tax rate
In august.

682
01:27:05,800 --> 01:27:07,720
so that makes it even worse. Yes. I mean, when you think about it, that people would be the average house would be
Paying $1,500 roughly,

683
01:27:17,640 --> 01:27:17,640
and 300 of it would be going into our classrooms.

684
01:27:23,370 --> 01:27:23,370
I love the idea of everybody pitching in $300 to eve and and us figuring out a way to
Communicate how to keep the value

685
01:27:33,150 --> 01:27:36,720
of the payments directly from parents into the district. I realize I realize it's wishful thinking, and I understand why you have it on the list,
But this is a very it's going to

686
01:27:46,650 --> 01:27:49,860
take a lot for me to get there. Thank you. Ellen. Any other trustees?

687
01:27:55,800 --> 01:27:59,700
I have a lot. So if anybody else wants to. Do you have a lot on vatre? Good. Kelly or laura any.

688
01:28:05,520 --> 01:28:05,520
laura will go.

689
01:28:10,950 --> 01:28:13,100
this one's hard. I'm impressed, actually, with all of y'all for giving us the good and the bad.

690
01:28:20,690 --> 01:28:20,690
y'all all gave very valid arguments for us not proceeding with any of these.

691
01:28:31,040 --> 01:28:34,070
I wish we weren't in this position. This is.

692
01:28:35,090 --> 01:28:36,860
sorry. I'm going to do a little recap. My thought on on where we are now, and then I'll give my point of view on the vatre.

693
01:28:44,750 --> 01:28:47,300
we have. We have been. This is a perfect storm that we're in right now.

694
01:28:50,270 --> 01:28:52,310
we have definitely had lower enrollments. We've had lower tax appraisal values.

695
01:28:54,590 --> 01:28:54,590
we've had all of these things before, and it was okay.

696
01:28:58,970 --> 01:28:58,970
the enrollment always gets me because when we moved to this district, we had a
Significantly lower enrollment, and we were running six elementary schools and rocking and

697
01:29:07,670 --> 01:29:10,850
rolling, and everything was great and there was no financial issue. We had no budgetary issues at that time.

698
01:29:13,540 --> 01:29:13,540
and so when we start talking about closing or blending elementary schools I'm like, well,
You know, we've done it before.

699
01:29:21,820 --> 01:29:23,320
we've run six elementary schools. With this decreased enrollment, why aren't we able to do it now?

700
01:29:27,310 --> 01:29:27,310
well, it's because it is this perfect storm that the state has not helped.

701
01:29:33,670 --> 01:29:33,670
and if we were still funded at the same rate, percentage wise, that we were 20 years ago
When we moved here, then we would be able to to run six

702
01:29:43,360 --> 01:29:44,770
elementary schools. But we're not. That's not where we are.

703
01:29:48,550 --> 01:29:50,740
none of these are easy. There's these are decisions that none of us want to make, and that they're not easy for
Any of us to make at

704
01:30:00,160 --> 01:30:03,550
all. I need the community to understand that. That if we could not do these things, that's what we would do.

705
01:30:10,730 --> 01:30:14,690
we would love to have the six elementary schools we would have. We would love to pay our teachers more. We would love to have them have their plcs.

706
01:30:16,760 --> 01:30:18,230
we would love to have spanish immersion. But that is not the reality of where we are right now.

707
01:30:21,800 --> 01:30:21,800
okay, the vatre I'm with elon on this.

708
01:30:26,600 --> 01:30:26,600
you know, our 5.1 of our board priority up there talks about efficient and optimal use of
Limited resources.

709
01:30:35,210 --> 01:30:35,210
I think this vatre is incredibly inefficient.

710
01:30:39,320 --> 01:30:39,320
it is an incredibly inefficient use of our taxpayer funds, and I understand the need to
Continue to discuss it and get a feel for what the

711
01:30:49,130 --> 01:30:52,820
community is thinking on this. But I'm not there yet on the vatre.

712
01:30:56,300 --> 01:30:56,300
thank you. Laura. Kelly I'll let heather go.

713
01:31:00,860 --> 01:31:00,860
go, heather. Okay, so my first point is that, you know, I think we all know the state has
Tried to compress our taxes.

714
01:31:09,640 --> 01:31:11,560
they have compressed our taxes. That's great for all of us taxpayers.

715
01:31:14,530 --> 01:31:14,530
they are also simultaneously trying to kill public education by doing that in some ways.

716
01:31:21,340 --> 01:31:21,340
mainly because they're just not putting the the appropriated, already appropriated funds,
Which were over $6 billion appropriated for public education back into

717
01:31:31,330 --> 01:31:34,810
our schools. So that is the first thing. I think they are making us look like the bad guys.

718
01:31:38,890 --> 01:31:38,890
and this incentivizes that, like, this gives them the money and makes us look like the
Bad guy who is raising taxes while they're trying to decrease it.

719
01:31:48,070 --> 01:31:48,070
that's my first issue with it, but that's not even the biggest issue.

720
01:31:54,430 --> 01:31:54,430
increasing the average home owners taxes by $1,900, you know, gives me a lot of concern.

721
01:32:03,040 --> 01:32:03,040
I think our families, in most cases, you know, if you can afford that size of a house,
Great.

722
01:32:08,730 --> 01:32:11,820
but we have a lot of families who bought a long time ago. And sure, I get the whole difference between appraised value and taxable value.

723
01:32:15,870 --> 01:32:15,870
it's still not something that I really want to do.

724
01:32:20,190 --> 01:32:20,190
and that's something that we didn't really discuss, other than to say that homeowners
Over the age of 65 are not impacted because their their school taxes are frozen, but that

725
01:32:29,490 --> 01:32:32,760
is a large percentage of our community. We have, I think, a large I mean, I don't have the percentage in my head, but yes, the
Majority of our community is over 65.

726
01:32:42,510 --> 01:32:46,320
so I would like to see how the math works on that. I don't know that it does.

727
01:32:49,410 --> 01:32:49,410
and so that that gives me a lot of pause also, and frankly, to ellen's point, I know when
We first moved to the district, there was messaging from eanes education

728
01:32:59,220 --> 01:32:59,220
foundation that said there's a $1,500 gap per child.

729
01:33:04,220 --> 01:33:04,220
I think that that messaging a $1,300 gap, you know, could per family, if that's the
Amount that we're, we're proposing raising taxes for, we say,

730
01:33:14,060 --> 01:33:14,060
look, there's a $1,400 gap per family that we're not or, you know, okay, not a gap, but
We're not increasing your taxes by that.

731
01:33:22,790 --> 01:33:26,180
would you kick in what you can? And I know we already asked that. And I know so many people already give to edf and I am so, so grateful for that.

732
01:33:29,750 --> 01:33:29,750
but some messaging around that, like we're not raising your taxes for the love, please
Donate so that we can, you know, do more for our schools.

733
01:33:38,660 --> 01:33:38,660
and again, I know that people already give as much as they can in most cases, and I'm so
Appreciative.

734
01:33:44,000 --> 01:33:44,000
but with the fact, you know, that this would give $16 million more in recapture payment
Back to the state, I have zero interest in giving

735
01:33:53,990 --> 01:33:55,430
the state more money. I don't think that they are good.

736
01:33:58,580 --> 01:34:02,170
with our tax dollars. So that's a big issue. And then the other piece that you guys put on the table about confusion among the
Community between know and ins.

737
01:34:08,170 --> 01:34:08,170
I sit on the long range facilities planning committee, and I have heard members of that
Of that committee have confusion about that.

738
01:34:15,040 --> 01:34:15,040
and if those people who are the ones that have a seat at the table helping us to make
These decisions, have questions about that.

739
01:34:22,480 --> 01:34:22,480
I don't know how we're going to get that education out to the broader community.

740
01:34:27,130 --> 01:34:27,130
if, you know, there's issues with communication, and I know claudia does her best and she
Does an amazing job.

741
01:34:34,000 --> 01:34:37,570
but, you know, not everybody is always checking their emails. And the over 65 crowd.

742
01:34:41,140 --> 01:34:41,140
you know, they don't understand some of that stuff that's happening in our schools, and
They're not touring the schools.

743
01:34:45,970 --> 01:34:45,970
they're not coming to the assemblies to see that we have some significant needs in our
Facilities.

744
01:34:50,260 --> 01:34:50,260
and, you know, 5.3 on our board goals is systemic and sustainable long range facility
Plans.

745
01:34:57,820 --> 01:34:57,820
so we need to make sure that we are good stewards of not just our taxpayer dollars, but
Also our facilities.

746
01:35:04,190 --> 01:35:04,190
and I think that, you know, we are just working on the long range facilities plan.

747
01:35:10,250 --> 01:35:10,250
so I'm not willing at this point unless something big comes and you guys are like, but
Wait, there's more that really can change my mind.

748
01:35:18,110 --> 01:35:21,680
I don't I honestly don't see me changing my mind on this. And I hate to say it because I realize that it is the biggest chunk and the biggest, the
Biggest, you know, saver of the budget.

749
01:35:30,440 --> 01:35:32,480
but I don't know that it is. And it does give me too many other things to pause on.

750
01:35:37,340 --> 01:35:40,730
so I think that's all of it I have on that. But it's just it's not my favorite option.

751
01:35:44,750 --> 01:35:46,580
sorry. Thank you. Heather. Kelly. So I think we're definitely going to have to discuss the option and go
Through the different the different opportunities with

752
01:35:56,540 --> 01:35:56,540
the pennies being not necessarily nine, but a different amount as well.

753
01:36:03,280 --> 01:36:03,280
I know we can say donate to eff, but that's always there and it's always been there.

754
01:36:07,540 --> 01:36:11,140
and I feel like we lean on that in the wrong way. And I mean, if you're going to do it, do it now.

755
01:36:14,890 --> 01:36:14,890
but you know, a lot of people will have already given and some of the bigger donors have
Already given.

756
01:36:24,370 --> 01:36:24,370
so I think it's hard to lean on that.

757
01:36:29,260 --> 01:36:29,260
I feel uncomfortable not knowing where the $16 million recapture goes.

758
01:36:36,280 --> 01:36:36,280
so it makes me really uncomfortable to want to support something like this.

759
01:36:40,870 --> 01:36:44,320
and I know other community members have brought that to my attention as well. So they're already out there talking about it, and I would be concerned that people might
Not vote for it, and I'd hate to depend on it and then end up in the same

760
01:36:53,800 --> 01:36:57,510
situation. So. Thank you. Kelly.

761
01:36:59,280 --> 01:37:02,250
anyone else? Yeah. Kim. Yeah. I'll just come back in, you know.

762
01:37:04,230 --> 01:37:04,230
so I started this, and I said, I'm open to it, and I'm not open to it because I think
It's a great idea.

763
01:37:11,070 --> 01:37:14,070
I'm open to it because I can add. And I know that if we take a big chunk off of the table, then we've got, you know, six
Other options that are pretty

764
01:37:23,970 --> 01:37:25,050
much go. So, you know, we have to I think the way that I look at my, my responsibility is looking
At all of

765
01:37:34,830 --> 01:37:34,830
these, getting some more information, which I know that no one is saying kill it here.

766
01:37:39,090 --> 01:37:39,090
but but we're looking deep at it and, you know, and again, I'm not advocating for a bad
Deal.

767
01:37:47,070 --> 01:37:47,070
I'm advocating for a better.

768
01:37:51,900 --> 01:37:51,900
I'm advocating for our students and having schools that run efficiently and that have all
Of the programs and taking care of our

769
01:38:01,310 --> 01:38:03,560
teachers who are our secret sauce. And I think that is I think that we still need to keep this on the table.

770
01:38:09,620 --> 01:38:09,620
you know, kelly, your idea of of looking at the various pennies and, you know, in very
Various options, I think we have to

771
01:38:19,580 --> 01:38:19,580
keep that conversation going, because if we don't, then we're left with everything else
That needs to go.

772
01:38:28,460 --> 01:38:28,460
because again, I'm not you know, we've I'm trying to be polite about this, but we can't
Wait on someone down at the

773
01:38:38,270 --> 01:38:38,270
capitol to do something on our behalf and on behalf of the rest of the public editors in
The state of texas.

774
01:38:44,600 --> 01:38:46,850
because they may, but they may not. And that's not going to be a decision that we see until may or june of this year.

775
01:38:51,530 --> 01:38:51,530
and there are lots of things that have to go and decisions that have to be made soon,
Sooner rather than later.

776
01:39:01,290 --> 01:39:03,120
thank you kim. So I will say I think it should be killed.

777
01:39:06,420 --> 01:39:07,680
I think it should be off the list. I'll go that far. I don't I'm a strong no on this.

778
01:39:12,990 --> 01:39:12,990
our community already shoulders a huge burden of our state public education funding.

779
01:39:20,610 --> 01:39:20,610
we have sent over $1 billion to help support public education in texas.

780
01:39:26,130 --> 01:39:26,130
and I don't think people are necessarily, you know, pounding down the doors to complain
About that.

781
01:39:31,410 --> 01:39:31,410
we understand the value of an educated citizens citizenry in the state of texas.

782
01:39:37,620 --> 01:39:41,550
it benefits all of us. And and I think that's okay. But to go even further, to voluntarily send another $16 million to the state is
Particularly upsetting in light

783
01:39:51,200 --> 01:39:51,200
of the $6 billion that they're holding and not giving back to public education.

784
01:39:56,540 --> 01:39:56,540
we haven't had an increase in our basic allotment since 2019.

785
01:40:01,010 --> 01:40:01,010
in that same amount of time, inflation is up 22%.

786
01:40:06,080 --> 01:40:06,080
as ellen said, we would be solving the state's problem once again.

787
01:40:11,270 --> 01:40:11,270
we have dipped into our savings every year to give our teachers a raise.

788
01:40:17,390 --> 01:40:20,180
and once again, we would be solving the state's problem. And I'm not willing to do that.

789
01:40:21,980 --> 01:40:23,510
I'm a strong no. And this idea that we would go after three pennies.

790
01:40:26,120 --> 01:40:27,530
no, we would go after nine. We may only use three, but the next year we'd raise it to six, and the following year we'd
Raise it to nine because.

791
01:40:33,650 --> 01:40:35,270
not because. Because we'd want to give it to our teachers, frankly.

792
01:40:37,940 --> 01:40:41,660
I strongly agree with that. That's what we would do. I also believe strongly that we've got a lot a large group of people on the
Administration side and on the community side who are currently working on a long range

793
01:40:50,890 --> 01:40:53,140
facility plan? As someone put it when we were sitting in the high school, is this facility we want our
Children in in 2050.

794
01:40:58,840 --> 01:41:00,430
and it probably isn't. Our facilities are older, they're old and they need refreshing.

795
01:41:09,880 --> 01:41:09,880
and we are doing a lot of homework to put your kids into newer buildings.

796
01:41:15,640 --> 01:41:15,640
and that helps with recruitment and retention, because a lot of our teachers drive by
Brand new, beautiful school buildings to come to eanes isd.

797
01:41:23,880 --> 01:41:26,950
and look, I love our buildings. I've been in every building. I've been in every building this year.

798
01:41:29,290 --> 01:41:29,290
our buildings are great, but there is an opportunity to provide newer facilities that
Will help educate our kids deep,

799
01:41:39,190 --> 01:41:39,190
deep into this century.

800
01:41:44,740 --> 01:41:46,750
I also worry in the. And related to that is the worry that if we go out for a tax increase now coming back and
Asking for a large bond the size of the bond, we would need to refresh a lot of our

801
01:41:56,430 --> 01:41:56,430
facilities. It would be very difficult to help our community understand, even if it
Didn't require a tax increase at that time, that it's a lot of money that we'd

802
01:42:06,300 --> 01:42:06,300
have to pay back. At the same time, there were also paying this increased tax, with most
Of it going to the state.

803
01:42:13,830 --> 01:42:15,540
and the idea of the bond. By the way, just to remind trustees, we are going to hopefully go out for a bond that
Helps refresh our facilities and get us get our kids into some new buildings.

804
01:42:26,250 --> 01:42:26,250
and one of those would probably be a bigger valley view elementary to take care of that
Campus and the enrollment that would be there.

805
01:42:36,240 --> 01:42:36,240
sorry, barton creek, the valley view kids who would be at barton creek.

806
01:42:40,530 --> 01:42:40,530
my bad. Their bad slip, the problem there is that that bond would also include things
Like

807
01:42:50,030 --> 01:42:50,030
refresh technology, paint floors, exciting sewer pumps that we always get to talk about.

808
01:42:57,830 --> 01:42:57,830
ellen. And if we failed that bond because of this vatre, it would put us years out to
Getting even the most basic things that we would need.

809
01:43:07,490 --> 01:43:11,180
so I'm a strong no on the vatre, and you know, I'm not. I suppose that you're right, that maybe there's going to be some conversation where I'll
Change my mind, but I've talked to 100 people in our community about this in the last few

810
01:43:19,550 --> 01:43:19,550
days, and no one has said, james, please raise my taxes.

811
01:43:23,630 --> 01:43:27,230
I really, really want to pay more taxes. Would you please do that? In fact, every single one of them has said, please don't raise my taxes.

812
01:43:32,810 --> 01:43:36,410
so that's where I stand today. Shall we move on to the next one?

813
01:43:39,440 --> 01:43:43,170
naming rights trustees. Heather. Happy to kick this one off.

814
01:43:47,700 --> 01:43:47,700
so I have said it before and I'll say it again I have huge concerns over naming rights.

815
01:43:54,480 --> 01:43:56,940
it is not something I am in favor of. However, this is one I would consider.

816
01:44:01,710 --> 01:44:01,710
I think, you know, let me just put my concerns out there.

817
01:44:06,060 --> 01:44:06,060
you know, I lived in houston before where the astros play.

818
01:44:11,520 --> 01:44:15,420
used to be enron. That was an issue. You know, I know of a school that was named after a gentleman who had served on their
Board who was then

819
01:44:25,380 --> 01:44:28,860
arrested. And they had to figure that out. So that is I don't think any of us are getting arrested.

820
01:44:32,580 --> 01:44:32,580
I'm not going to. But, you know, I really don't think that that's going to be a thing.

821
01:44:37,470 --> 01:44:39,900
but for us. But still, you get my point. I don't want to have an issue with names.

822
01:44:43,820 --> 01:44:43,820
so we would have to have a policy, a very robust policy conversation on what that looks
Like.

823
01:44:52,640 --> 01:44:52,640
and, you know, and that would have to be in line with eif.

824
01:44:57,020 --> 01:44:57,020
and honestly, it does concern me, you know, to claudia's point that we don't know what's
Going to come from this and who is going to want to do what

825
01:45:06,890 --> 01:45:08,600
and pay for what. So, you know, while it sounds great, it's still an unknown a little bit, so I need more
Information.

826
01:45:16,460 --> 01:45:19,790
and in a strong policy. Thank you. Kelly.

827
01:45:24,650 --> 01:45:24,650
I know eif is strongly committed to this, and they're looking into building a policy to
Help address what heather's brought up here.

828
01:45:34,580 --> 01:45:37,580
and other things like that. But they are definitely strongly committed to it and would really like to work with the
Community in providing that.

829
01:45:44,390 --> 01:45:46,160
additional monetary support. So thank you, diane.

830
01:45:49,580 --> 01:45:49,580
and then ellen. Robust policy is the key there.

831
01:45:56,570 --> 01:45:59,180
I think we could avoid some of your concerns with that. And I'm glad to hear that eve is thinking about that.

832
01:46:01,160 --> 01:46:05,150
and I would be interested in starting those conversations as soon as possible. I guess my biggest question is how quickly could we bring revenue in if we go down this
Route?

833
01:46:09,890 --> 01:46:09,890
because I'm in favor of it.

834
01:46:13,900 --> 01:46:13,900
ellen. Well, personally, I don't particularly like you know, going to this, this corporate
Thing or that corporate

835
01:46:23,900 --> 01:46:25,700
thing or the other corporate thing. It is something that is doable, and it is something that we will definitely get through
This.

836
01:46:32,150 --> 01:46:32,150
I mean, I can remember when the video board at the high school, you know, having
Advertising there was going to send our school district into irreparable decline.

837
01:46:40,050 --> 01:46:42,960
and then when we put advertising on school busses. Oh my gosh, we were, you know, headed down that path.

838
01:46:47,610 --> 01:46:50,370
but we, you know, we live with both of those. And so this is fine.

839
01:46:53,010 --> 01:46:55,320
we will live with this too, I believe, policies. I mean, I think with the police department, we proved that you get what you want if you
Spend the time and the energy to really craft fine policy.

840
01:47:03,480 --> 01:47:06,360
and so I think that is doable. I do feel very, very strongly, though, about what kind of policies we may have about
Changing any of the honorary

841
01:47:17,280 --> 01:47:19,710
nomenclature that we currently have. I it's probably no surprise that's really, really important to me.

842
01:47:23,400 --> 01:47:23,400
but I also think it's really, really important to many, many in this community.

843
01:47:27,870 --> 01:47:31,620
and so I would want us to seriously consider that. And by the way, I can consider the chaparral to be an honorary member of the community,
As in chaparral stadium.

844
01:47:39,400 --> 01:47:42,670
I like that. Laura. And then kim. I appreciate that y'all put this on the list.

845
01:47:47,590 --> 01:47:47,590
I have some problems with it, not with the concept, but as including it in a list of
Items that could help with our budget issue.

846
01:47:56,410 --> 01:47:58,810
it's a one time thing. You know this? Yeah. Maybe we can raise $500,000 for donor recognition in a year.

847
01:48:04,000 --> 01:48:04,000
you know, is that are the donors going to want that to go to the to the current budget,
Or are they going to want that to go into the endowment where their

848
01:48:12,580 --> 01:48:12,580
donation has a greater impact?

849
01:48:16,960 --> 01:48:20,050
so absolutely, we need to explore this. I was part of some of the discussions over the last few years.

850
01:48:22,960 --> 01:48:22,960
and how do we craft the policy and that robust policy?

851
01:48:27,340 --> 01:48:27,340
absolutely. I think it's something that we need to continue exploring and looking at it,
But I don't see it as really a viable solution to what we're looking for right

852
01:48:37,110 --> 01:48:37,110
now or viable option to what we're looking for.

853
01:48:41,520 --> 01:48:41,520
thank you. Laura. Kim, this one's easy for me.

854
01:48:46,290 --> 01:48:49,590
and yes, I would. I could get behind it or I am behind it. I think that just like everyone else has said we want to look at a reoccurring type of
Stream coming as opposed to a one

855
01:48:59,520 --> 01:48:59,520
time. So I think that is something that I would hope the decision makers are writing into
The policy that there's time limits on naming rights.

856
01:49:09,160 --> 01:49:09,160
they're not infinite and that there's some parameters around it.

857
01:49:14,430 --> 01:49:17,310
I think that we've had a lot of that discussion already. It's out there in the community.

858
01:49:18,840 --> 01:49:20,850
it's out there in the world. So that would be an easy it's an easy yes for me.

859
01:49:26,250 --> 01:49:26,250
thank you. Kim, I'll wrap up and say that I do support this one.

860
01:49:31,680 --> 01:49:33,170
I don't know that. I don't think any of us knows how much this would be immediately, but I do think that
It's something that over time

861
01:49:42,980 --> 01:49:42,980
and within our policy, that would begin to help eif in making their donation to us.

862
01:49:51,110 --> 01:49:51,110
I agree with what kim said, by the way, that I would prefer time limits on some of these.

863
01:49:56,840 --> 01:49:59,060
I just feel like that's the right thing to do. Having something named after someone, you know, 100 years ago that none of us knows
Anymore.

864
01:50:04,340 --> 01:50:04,340
it's kind of a may not be necessarily what that person had in mind, but I would leave it
To eve to kind of advise us on that.

865
01:50:11,930 --> 01:50:14,600
what they think about that as far as time limits go. But I agree that we do need to set a very good there's a very good, strong district side
Policy that would go hand in hand with the

866
01:50:24,170 --> 01:50:27,620
policy that would set on their side as well. Mr. Spradley, if I could add to that I think inevitably when we've had conversations
About our budget situation,

867
01:50:37,150 --> 01:50:40,930
people want to know, what are you doing to try to generate additional revenue. And so that's why we thought it was important to include this in the list tonight.

868
01:50:45,520 --> 01:50:45,520
we're not just looking at this from a reduction mentality.

869
01:50:49,930 --> 01:50:53,740
we did want to share one that we think is within easy reach. And when I say easy, the next step is that we do need to develop that policy.

870
01:50:58,030 --> 01:50:58,030
but we just simply needed your approval to proceed with those conversations.

871
01:51:02,530 --> 01:51:02,530
we've seen the benefits of this in other school districts, certainly at the college and
University level, and we often compare ourselves to that type of stature.

872
01:51:11,920 --> 01:51:14,140
so we're ready to proceed with this. We appreciate your your general consensus.

873
01:51:17,350 --> 01:51:17,350
so that takes care of the two things that we were looking at from a revenue generation
Standpoint.

874
01:51:23,110 --> 01:51:23,110
unfortunately, the rest of the list is now looking at this through more of a reduction
Lens.

875
01:51:27,340 --> 01:51:29,880
let's go back to heather real quick and then we'll go. I appreciate that.

876
01:51:31,650 --> 01:51:31,650
but in terms of revenue generation, I also want to just make mention of the fact that in
The long range facilities planning committee, you know, there there has been conversation

877
01:51:41,580 --> 01:51:44,490
about what can we do to increase revenue. So I don't want to forget that either.

878
01:51:46,170 --> 01:51:50,070
obviously, it's not immediate, but that's part of my heartache. With vatre and increasing taxes because, you know, if we are able to do some generator or
I can't even speak to that.

879
01:51:59,280 --> 01:51:59,280
I'm sorry. If we are able to generate revenue through facilities as well and improve
Facilities that require passing a bond.

880
01:52:07,890 --> 01:52:09,270
I don't want to hamper that. So thank you.

881
01:52:12,060 --> 01:52:15,240
heather. Shall we move forward then? Blend two elementary schools.

882
01:52:20,820 --> 01:52:24,720
where are we with the board? Like a break before we move on?

883
01:52:26,280 --> 01:52:28,500
or do you want to go on? Thank you.

884
01:52:31,000 --> 01:52:34,690
okay, we'll keep going. We'll look at 10:00. We'll reconsider the break.

885
01:52:36,160 --> 01:52:39,070
yeah. Okay. Blending of the schools trustees questions.

886
01:52:41,380 --> 01:52:43,780
do you want to start? Thoughts? Questions? Diane moving her microphone.

887
01:52:47,050 --> 01:52:48,880
that indicates you're speaking first. Go right ahead. Thank you for all of the work that you've done so far with the committee
That you've put

888
01:52:58,090 --> 01:52:58,090
together to look at this and try to think of all the important aspects of this
Transportation, feeding the students and all of

889
01:53:07,870 --> 01:53:07,870
that. I definitely trust, you know, what you've shared with us and that you believe it
Will work.

890
01:53:14,500 --> 01:53:14,500
I believe what I heard was that the assumption is if we're talking about the money
Savings, the potential money savings here, the

891
01:53:24,310 --> 01:53:24,310
assumption is that all of the students who are currently in the si program would remain
As

892
01:53:36,130 --> 01:53:36,130
they would be a part of this campus, and we wouldn't have anyone not enrolling next year.

893
01:53:42,610 --> 01:53:42,610
so is that true that you've looked at just maximum capacity with everybody who is
Currently a student at those two campuses, being on that student or being on that

894
01:53:52,540 --> 01:53:53,860
one campus next year? Yes, we have looked at the numbers, assuming everybody goes to from valley view to barton
Creek, everybody who is currently enrolled at barton creek and currently enrolled at

895
01:54:02,260 --> 01:54:04,960
valley view, there is room. And you said the number of portables would be dependent on what the decision you make.

896
01:54:11,770 --> 01:54:13,960
as far as are we blending? If we're blending, are we taking everybody.

897
01:54:16,360 --> 01:54:16,360
are we taking are we excluding transfers to make it not such a large number?

898
01:54:20,950 --> 01:54:23,540
are we taking only spanish immersion transfers? We have multiple scenarios for you to decide.

899
01:54:27,080 --> 01:54:27,080
is it possible to see a little bit more information about that or you know, what is your
Is there a recommendation there about what

900
01:54:36,950 --> 01:54:39,470
is of those options? You know, does the one that puts the most students on the campus is that really tight?

901
01:54:44,900 --> 01:54:44,900
is that are we really pushing it there, or should we consider not taking the transfers?

902
01:54:50,450 --> 01:54:50,450
I guess I'm just really trying to understand a little bit more of, are you are you
Absolutely comfortable with putting.

903
01:54:58,940 --> 01:55:02,270
I had some numbers here. I did a little bit of math. The capacity of the campus you said was 819.

904
01:55:04,910 --> 01:55:04,910
but if we put everybody on that campus, I think we're up at about seven, 747.

905
01:55:12,320 --> 01:55:14,180
that includes projected growth. Okay. And then I know we haven't heard from the long range facilities planning

906
01:55:24,040 --> 01:55:24,040
committee yet. Do we have information that can be provided?

907
01:55:28,900 --> 01:55:32,770
and maybe it's not tonight, but when would it potentially be provided? The timeline in which the portables would go away?

908
01:55:35,800 --> 01:55:35,800
or we talk about using another campus potentially for staging.

909
01:55:40,240 --> 01:55:42,460
you know what that future looks like. So that these. Has anything been shared or discussed in the blending.

910
01:55:46,390 --> 01:55:46,390
well that would be contingent on if the community were to support a proposed referenda in
The future.

911
01:55:53,080 --> 01:55:53,080
the earliest that that would probably be, would be, would be the spring of 2026.

912
01:55:58,480 --> 01:55:58,480
and then from that point you're looking at, in all likelihood another two years for any
Reconstruction on that campus.

913
01:56:06,610 --> 01:56:09,970
so to be completed, to be completed. So that puts you at 2028.

914
01:56:12,220 --> 01:56:12,220
so you know, that would mean that in all probability, we would have temporary classrooms
On that campus for at least another three

915
01:56:22,190 --> 01:56:22,190
years. And the idea is that they would serve one grade level so that for one year,
Students might be in those temporary facilities.

916
01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:32,000
and then I know that the committee has looked at a variety of scenarios.

917
01:56:36,080 --> 01:56:36,080
I don't know that that's where we want to go into tonight, but we would ultimately leave
That determination up to the campus principal to to

918
01:56:45,560 --> 01:56:45,560
decide which classrooms or which programs are located in the temporary classrooms.

919
01:56:53,630 --> 01:56:55,640
I think that's all my questions for right now. Do you have a feeling for moving forward with this one?

920
01:56:59,120 --> 01:56:59,120
we're kind of asking.

921
01:57:03,920 --> 01:57:03,920
it does, to me, seem like a logical thing to do given the circumstances that we're in.

922
01:57:10,910 --> 01:57:14,750
I as with heather, I sit on the long range facilities planning committee. I've listened to those discussions.

923
01:57:16,310 --> 01:57:19,240
we've been talking about enrollment for a while now. We know that the community that is valley view is not adjacent to that school.

924
01:57:24,340 --> 01:57:24,340
so, you know, I wish we had a nice bigger facility there ready waiting for everybody.

925
01:57:30,730 --> 01:57:30,730
I know change is not easy, but you know, we're in an unusual time, as we've said.

926
01:57:36,760 --> 01:57:36,760
so this seems like a move that makes sense.

927
01:57:43,720 --> 01:57:43,720
now, there's some details, you know, of course they have questions about.

928
01:57:49,000 --> 01:57:49,000
yeah. Trustees.

929
01:57:54,400 --> 01:57:54,400
kim. I'll start off with yes, I will.

930
01:57:59,800 --> 01:57:59,800
I would be in favor of continuing to look at blending the two schools.

931
01:58:04,660 --> 01:58:04,660
the concerns, just like what diane said, are around, you know, the capacity of the school
And the education that the children are going to get while they're going to school.

932
01:58:13,600 --> 01:58:13,600
my kids went to the largest school at that time, but it was built for a larger community.

933
01:58:18,270 --> 01:58:18,270
so when I see moving that structure from if we're looking at today's enrollment, 516 to
Almost 800,

934
01:58:27,720 --> 01:58:30,420
that's that's a different community. So that the structure gives me pause.

935
01:58:33,510 --> 01:58:37,230
and I'd like to hear more information about the various scenarios. And I'm assuming that that's coming.

936
01:58:40,950 --> 01:58:40,950
that's a big part of my concern for those children.

937
01:58:45,570 --> 01:58:47,760
for the staff that's there. The other thing that I would like to hear is I hope that we get more feedback, and I
Think we're going to from the communities.

938
01:58:55,770 --> 01:58:55,770
and I would invite the communities to, you know, I don't know if you're planning more
Meetings.

939
01:59:01,440 --> 01:59:03,840
should we move forward with those communities? But I would invite the communities, not just the, the, the community members that, that
Like to come to these things, but for everyone to come and understand what it's going to

940
01:59:13,320 --> 01:59:16,400
look like for for our children. So I, you know, I want people to be comfortable and the community, not just me to ask
Questions, but the community to ask questions and get questions

941
01:59:26,360 --> 01:59:26,360
answered. And, and then various scenarios around what it's going to look like, what it's
Going to look like in terms of

942
01:59:36,020 --> 01:59:36,020
portables, what it's going to look like in terms of the educational experience and, and
Really where our concerns are and where our where we're not feeling

943
01:59:45,890 --> 01:59:45,890
good about this option because you put 800, 750 or 800 kids in one building, you're
Talking about maybe 7 or 8

944
01:59:55,880 --> 01:59:57,380
sections of a grade. I mean, that's that's a different scenario than what we have in most of our schools.

945
02:00:02,660 --> 02:00:04,820
that's where my concern lies. Having said that, I think that that's something that we need to do.

946
02:00:10,160 --> 02:00:10,160
and I would not head down the road, I wouldn't be opposed to it.

947
02:00:14,410 --> 02:00:17,170
it's not a hard no. Okay. We'll go to heather and then kelly.

948
02:00:21,730 --> 02:00:21,730
so first I just want to say that, you know, I've had a lot of conversations with valley
View families and families from barton creek about this.

949
02:00:32,140 --> 02:00:32,140
I've had conversations about this with valley view families for years, honestly.

950
02:00:39,160 --> 02:00:39,160
and so I have heard and learned all about, you know, the, the feelings of the valley view
Community

951
02:00:48,520 --> 02:00:48,520
and how things have moved back and forth, and that they were originally at barton creek
And then valley view opened and they went there and then now we're talking about them

952
02:00:57,880 --> 02:00:57,880
going back. I've heard a lot about families wanting to go to barton creek who go who are
Zoned to valley view.

953
02:01:06,730 --> 02:01:06,730
and I think we heard earlier, we already have more than 50 students who were zoned to
Valley view at barton creek, some

954
02:01:16,670 --> 02:01:18,500
in spanish immersion, some in not. I would like to have more information on on that, but I think I know my priority is
Keeping the

955
02:01:28,340 --> 02:01:28,340
valley view community together, because that is what I have continually heard from the
Families that they don't want to be split up.

956
02:01:37,610 --> 02:01:37,610
and so while I've heard different things about redistricting from a few people, the
Majority has said, please don't divide us.

957
02:01:45,530 --> 02:01:45,530
and so I would really like to honor that as my first thing, frankly, because of being on
The long range facilities planning committee, I'm

958
02:01:55,400 --> 02:01:55,400
actually excited about a possibility of what could be at barton creek.

959
02:02:01,100 --> 02:02:01,100
and I, I think that it could be something really great.

960
02:02:05,750 --> 02:02:05,750
and the fact that the commute from, you know, the the valley view zoned area to barton
Creek is actually significantly

961
02:02:15,460 --> 02:02:19,360
shorter than it is to to valley view. Is a bonus for a lot of people that I have heard.

962
02:02:23,290 --> 02:02:25,480
and they already go there for westridge. So I think that that that actually could be a good thing for the community of valley
View.

963
02:02:32,140 --> 02:02:36,010
and I get it. Change is is not fun. And, you know, being uncomfortable for a while is not fun.

964
02:02:41,980 --> 02:02:41,980
you know, I said before, we lived in houston, before my kids were at a school that was an
Old school that was torn down and completely

965
02:02:51,790 --> 02:02:51,790
rebuilt. And I happened to be the pta president that year.

966
02:02:56,140 --> 02:02:59,560
and so there was a lot of like, oh, what's happening? My kids were in portables for 18 months on a temporary campus.

967
02:03:04,900 --> 02:03:07,230
and yeah. Was it uncomfortable? Yes. Was it doable?

968
02:03:09,840 --> 02:03:09,840
absolutely. And the outcome of what they got in the long run was amazing.

969
02:03:15,480 --> 02:03:19,320
and then we moved here. And our education is better, so it's fine. But we we really have to kind of keep the, the long range in mind, I think.

970
02:03:25,380 --> 02:03:25,380
and so I do want to make sure we're honoring the families.

971
02:03:29,820 --> 02:03:29,820
all that being said, I do need information or more information, and I understand that
We're not going to go through all of that tonight, so that's fine.

972
02:03:39,600 --> 02:03:43,230
I share your concerns about, you know, who's going to be there. Thank you for that information, that it would be a campus level because I was like, are
We putting cdc there like they are at valley view or at forest trail?

973
02:03:50,550 --> 02:03:50,550
would it be fifth grade like at cedar creek, you know, so that that was all kind of going
Through my, my mind.

974
02:03:56,070 --> 02:03:56,070
and one of the things that I have heard as a concern from the community was that we were
Just going to put the valley view kids there and like, no, no, that is not something I'm

975
02:04:05,060 --> 02:04:06,950
interested in doing. They will be a true blend.

976
02:04:10,400 --> 02:04:10,400
yeah. So I do still want additional information on the current

977
02:04:20,390 --> 02:04:20,390
and future transfer students in both gen ed and c and I, I also

978
02:04:30,380 --> 02:04:30,380
have some concerns about because I know we heard like that we're going to add bathrooms
And yes, I know if it's a three year process that we have to spend money,

979
02:04:40,340 --> 02:04:40,340
but it gives me a little bit of heartburn to spend money and then not keep those items.

980
02:04:48,560 --> 02:04:48,560
so I really want to make sure that we are being good stewards of our taxpayer dollars
Again, on, on those things.

981
02:04:56,390 --> 02:04:56,390
so I just I really need a little bit more information on the enrollment data so we can
Make sure that we're doing the right thing.

982
02:05:05,250 --> 02:05:07,050
I also have a question. So it said about gaining the staffing efficiencies and that it would be equivalent to 30
Ftes through natural attrition and resigned

983
02:05:16,770 --> 02:05:19,950
opportunities. How did we get to that? Was that a survey?

984
02:05:21,240 --> 02:05:23,760
is that just a guess? Will we be doing a survey?

985
02:05:26,280 --> 02:05:26,280
okay. Because that I just questioned where we got that number from.

986
02:05:32,160 --> 02:05:32,160
so an example of that would be currently right now with valley view and barton creek as
Operating, you have 41 elementary sections.

987
02:05:40,560 --> 02:05:40,560
by coming together, your efficiencies drop down to 35 to 36 needed sections to maintain
The same student enrollment.

988
02:05:48,540 --> 02:05:48,540
it kind of goes back to those numbers where you have some lower numbers, you can then
Redistribute gaining one of those sections back.

989
02:05:55,080 --> 02:05:55,080
so the so the initial cut off is we started by doing just merging everybody, not moving
Anybody out and then seeing like, okay, what is that section number?

990
02:06:03,720 --> 02:06:06,390
then we did our traditional sexual section modeling. From there we got us down to 36.

991
02:06:08,430 --> 02:06:08,430
so that's five fewer grade level teachers needed just for current even if we blended
Right now.

992
02:06:15,720 --> 02:06:19,380
and so from there, you kind of then go into kind of efficiencies around. So you start looking at gt models.

993
02:06:21,750 --> 02:06:24,330
how many teachers do we need for the amount of kids that are served? How many teachers, how many tas do we need?

994
02:06:26,670 --> 02:06:26,670
how many people within the pe teachers, music, all those type of things?

995
02:06:31,560 --> 02:06:35,310
over time you start adding kind of all that up to get there. But the biggest chunk really started with kind of putting your sectioning, modeling down
And then kind of figuring out, okay, we're actually 5 to 6 sections less if we went right

996
02:06:44,760 --> 02:06:46,170
now together. And that saves us. That gets us down to that first five.

997
02:06:49,200 --> 02:06:49,200
so you're at about 25 and then you want to jump in for the rest.

998
02:06:55,380 --> 02:06:59,100
sure. So we actually went went in like chad said. And we combined the two campuses and we got with the special ed departments and, okay,
Here are the special ed kids at all the different levels.

999
02:07:06,670 --> 02:07:10,450
how many teachers do we need in these different categories? And they went and numbered them. So we've got a spreadsheet showing this is how many we had here.

1000
02:07:13,750 --> 02:07:16,060
this is how many we we have at this campus. This is how many we need at the at the new combined campus.

1001
02:07:19,630 --> 02:07:19,630
and so so that we were able to find a lot of efficiencies there.

1002
02:07:25,120 --> 02:07:25,120
and, and of course, there are some positions that you only need one.

1003
02:07:29,320 --> 02:07:29,320
you only need one nurse, you only need one librarian, you only need one, you know,
However many counselors you need.

1004
02:07:36,160 --> 02:07:36,160
and so you look at all those things that are related to just having a school versus how
Many kids are associated with them.

1005
02:07:45,430 --> 02:07:48,640
and then so most of your other savings are coming there. We can certainly show you the spreadsheet, but but we've looked at it pretty closely,
And, and 30 was the number we came up with.

1006
02:07:55,210 --> 02:07:58,740
okay. That still gives me some other concerns. But in terms of special education, I know that our special education teachers and ptas
Are

1007
02:08:08,910 --> 02:08:11,070
generally some of our hardest to fill. So from that standpoint, that could be good, right?

1008
02:08:16,020 --> 02:08:18,690
that we're consolidating campuses. But some of the other stuff still gives me a little bit of pause.

1009
02:08:21,780 --> 02:08:21,780
but I still see this as a way forward.

1010
02:08:28,950 --> 02:08:32,760
so it's definitely on the table. Thank you. Heather. We'll go to kelly.

1011
02:08:35,340 --> 02:08:37,260
I'm sorry. James. Can I please clarify? The barton creek bathroom additions were a part of the 2023 bond, which was approved.

1012
02:08:42,960 --> 02:08:42,960
so the bond oversight committee felt that there was a need to do that.

1013
02:08:47,040 --> 02:08:47,040
so we're just honoring that project that we were going to do as part of the bond 2023.

1014
02:08:55,080 --> 02:08:56,360
thank you, kelly. And then laura. So from talking to valley view families, they really their biggest thing
Was they wanted to

1015
02:09:05,750 --> 02:09:05,750
be closer to their school, and they wanted to stay together.

1016
02:09:11,240 --> 02:09:14,480
and I really hear that commitment in everything you presented. So I thank you for that.

1017
02:09:16,820 --> 02:09:20,150
I would like to continue to explore this option. I can say that I know some people give pause to the learning studios known as portables,
But at cedar creek, we use those

1018
02:09:30,140 --> 02:09:32,690
really strategically and made a fifth grade area. And it's become a thing there.

1019
02:09:34,250 --> 02:09:34,250
where at cedar creek, when the kids are completed fourth grade, they get so excited to
Move out to that fifth grade area.

1020
02:09:42,800 --> 02:09:42,800
we put a whole extra space out there for them to be able to have outdoor learning and
Stuff, and it's just been really great.

1021
02:09:49,460 --> 02:09:49,460
so I think there's good ways to also utilize those additional rooms.

1022
02:09:56,310 --> 02:09:56,310
also being at cedar creek, we were really close to the middle school, and my children
Actually attended math at the middle school because it was so close.

1023
02:10:03,570 --> 02:10:03,570
but there is that great opportunity for the students to be able to mentor in things from
Middle school over to the elementary, because they're so close.

1024
02:10:11,190 --> 02:10:11,190
and that opportunity is not as great when you're at valley view because it's so much
Farther away.

1025
02:10:17,310 --> 02:10:17,310
and then I know some, some people who substitute over at the school have talked to me
About the teachers and how they're feeling right now.

1026
02:10:26,910 --> 02:10:26,910
and so I know how good you guys are at communicating with the teachers and taking care of
Them, but just making sure we stay on top of

1027
02:10:37,170 --> 02:10:37,170
talking to them and keeping them involved in the conversations because they were really
Concerned as well as the different community members.

1028
02:10:43,830 --> 02:10:43,830
I love that you talked about the traffic today and the cafeteria and things like that,
That, that are, you know, real genuine concerns that parents have.

1029
02:10:51,990 --> 02:10:54,860
so thank you so much. Thank you. Kelly. Laura I agree with everything that my fellow trustees have already
Said, so I'm not going to to

1030
02:11:04,850 --> 02:11:06,710
go over those items. I will acknowledge that this is incredibly hard.

1031
02:11:09,860 --> 02:11:09,860
it's incredibly hard for the valley view community.

1032
02:11:14,030 --> 02:11:14,030
I know that I love my elementary school.

1033
02:11:18,560 --> 02:11:18,560
it wasn't valley view, but I still love my my elementary school.

1034
02:11:23,870 --> 02:11:23,870
and so I try to put myself in y'all's place and try to imagine what y'all are going
Through.

1035
02:11:28,910 --> 02:11:31,130
and it's it's I'm sorry. I'm sorry that this is where we are.

1036
02:11:34,820 --> 02:11:34,820
I was able to attend the parent meeting at valley view, and then this past week, I
Attended the staff meeting at barton creek.

1037
02:11:45,020 --> 02:11:45,020
barton creek, there's some there's some nerves going on there.

1038
02:11:49,220 --> 02:11:50,560
you know, they're concerned. They're concerned about the capacity and the impact that this will have on their
Community.

1039
02:11:58,240 --> 02:11:58,240
and then I'll, I'll just give a shout out to their booster club presidents who spoke.

1040
02:12:02,890 --> 02:12:06,430
and it completely changed the tone of the conversation. And they shifted from being nervous and anxious and scared to what can we do to welcome
And support our

1041
02:12:16,060 --> 02:12:18,820
expanded community. And they have real concerns about the valleyview community and those kids, and wanting to
Make sure that your kids are taken care of.

1042
02:12:28,630 --> 02:12:30,580
should we move forward with this? So I want you all to know that they are thinking about that.

1043
02:12:37,630 --> 02:12:40,510
so I wish we didn't have. I really wish we were not having these conversations again.

1044
02:12:43,540 --> 02:12:46,780
I'll say this over and over again. But there's a lot of really amazing people within our community who are working very,
Very hard to make this is

1045
02:12:56,740 --> 02:12:58,780
not it's never going to be painless. We're just going to we're going to get through it together.

1046
02:13:01,000 --> 02:13:04,930
we're going to work together to get through it together. Thank you, laura ellen.

1047
02:13:08,890 --> 02:13:08,890
well, first I want to acknowledge that that I know this doesn't feel very good right now.

1048
02:13:15,820 --> 02:13:15,820
that's probably an understatement.

1049
02:13:20,020 --> 02:13:20,020
but I do think this is one that we'll live through also.

1050
02:13:25,930 --> 02:13:25,930
and in my mind, I remind myself that this solves a 25 year old displacement problem that
If

1051
02:13:35,950 --> 02:13:35,950
you go back and talk to the old timers in the neighborhood, you realize how they fought
So hard for a neighborhood school.

1052
02:13:42,280 --> 02:13:43,660
and that was barton creek. And then they were unceremoniously taken out of barton creek when bridgepoint opened and
And moved to a school

1053
02:13:53,500 --> 02:13:57,250
that. Certainly they love. But it took a lot of getting used to at that point.

1054
02:13:59,740 --> 02:13:59,740
and the fact that the distance between the community and the school is so much greater
Than any of our other schools I had, I do believe, has

1055
02:14:09,490 --> 02:14:09,490
had an impact in a number of different ways that have played out over the years.

1056
02:14:14,080 --> 02:14:14,080
so if we can move towards resolution of that geographic disparity, I think

1057
02:14:24,280 --> 02:14:24,280
that is one thing for us to keep focused on, because enrollment in texas is based on
Because funding in texas

1058
02:14:34,240 --> 02:14:36,730
is based on enrollment. For me personally, whenever our elementary schools get down to about 400 is when my
Antenna goes up and I get nervous and a red flag goes

1059
02:14:46,410 --> 02:14:46,410
off. And we've been seeing the enrollment decline on some on all of our campuses, really
All of our elementary

1060
02:14:55,950 --> 02:14:55,950
campuses. But it is to the point where it would be irresponsible of us not to act when we
Have a school that is

1061
02:15:05,490 --> 02:15:08,520
hovering at the, what, two 7280? Point for several years now.

1062
02:15:10,830 --> 02:15:10,830
and the projections don't give us any hope for the future, quite frankly.

1063
02:15:16,710 --> 02:15:16,710
this this point was made in the discussions last year that without spanish immersion,
Barton creek probably would be down in those in those numbers as well.

1064
02:15:26,340 --> 02:15:26,340
the problem has been when school, when both schools were larger, they didn't fit.

1065
02:15:34,200 --> 02:15:34,200
and what we have seen in this work that you all have done is how they could be blended
And they could all fit back into that neighborhood

1066
02:15:44,000 --> 02:15:44,000
school that those two neighborhoods.

1067
02:15:48,050 --> 02:15:50,630
barton creek west. The valley view, the expanded cuernavaca, the valley view area, and the center hills, as
Well as

1068
02:16:00,590 --> 02:16:00,590
lake lake view lakes edge.

1069
02:16:05,000 --> 02:16:08,960
so that they would all fit in. So I think now we do see a plan of how that would work for that to become the
Neighborhood school for all.

1070
02:16:17,330 --> 02:16:17,330
another thing I hold on to is the fact that if I think of many experiences with both the
Valley view community and the barton

1071
02:16:27,200 --> 02:16:27,200
creek community, I can't think of any two communities that are more welcoming and caring.

1072
02:16:34,790 --> 02:16:34,790
and so if there's anybody who I feel will be welcoming and caring and make this work.

1073
02:16:42,040 --> 02:16:42,040
I have faith in those two communities.

1074
02:16:47,950 --> 02:16:47,950
I do want a lot more information about how we get the 30 fte savings.

1075
02:16:53,230 --> 02:16:54,700
I'm still not clear. I mean, I understand how you do the math, but I'm.

1076
02:16:57,310 --> 02:17:01,030
I'd like to see the math, and I also. Lori, I thought I heard you say that between the plcs and the blended, we saved 30 ftes.

1077
02:17:09,910 --> 02:17:13,090
no. 30 each. Okay. That's a big difference. Thank you. Okay.

1078
02:17:23,320 --> 02:17:27,160
I would like to hear information about the cdc. That wasn't mentioned.

1079
02:17:28,420 --> 02:17:31,330
what we would do with the barton creek cdc. And where it fits into the plan.

1080
02:17:34,570 --> 02:17:37,600
the plan is to keep cdc at barton creek. And so we have 819 capacity even with the cdc.

1081
02:17:43,410 --> 02:17:45,780
yes, ma'am. Or does that cdc get calculated in 819?

1082
02:17:51,360 --> 02:17:54,720
I'm looking at the math, guys. Yeah, that's part of the reason why we need the portables.

1083
02:17:59,220 --> 02:17:59,220
not not saying necessarily that cdc would be in the portables, but because we count those
Kids we need we need the space with the portables.

1084
02:18:07,470 --> 02:18:07,470
okay. And I think as we see more detail about all of these plans, I mean, it's hard to
Figure out what we don't know because we haven't seen, seen the

1085
02:18:17,130 --> 02:18:20,220
details. So thank you. Having lived this experience in another school district as well, between my son's fourth
Grade and fifth grade year I know how difficult it can

1086
02:18:30,000 --> 02:18:32,790
feel, especially right now. So I encourage us to do the transition planning as quickly as possible to make the
Decisions and to to whatever the transition needs

1087
02:18:42,730 --> 02:18:42,730
to be. Do it as quickly as possible and to be sure and realize that, yes, we need to we
Need to take care of all of

1088
02:18:52,720 --> 02:18:52,720
the academic and educational and school and student centered spaces.

1089
02:18:59,230 --> 02:18:59,230
but there also is the parent community that is very, very important to to this community.

1090
02:19:05,920 --> 02:19:05,920
and so we need to make sure that the transition is going well between the parent
Communities as well.

1091
02:19:16,720 --> 02:19:16,720
thank you, ellen kim.

1092
02:19:20,950 --> 02:19:20,950
I was just following up on a question lori, for you, I think.

1093
02:19:26,620 --> 02:19:26,620
so when we talk about blending the two elementaries and part of the savings is or chad
Also the, the 30th to ease and that gets us 2

1094
02:19:36,570 --> 02:19:39,150
million. But there's got to be other savings. There's structural savings.

1095
02:19:40,740 --> 02:19:43,260
there's, you know, not running two different elementaries. So when we talk about our next topic, which is plc, we're also talking about 30 ftes.

1096
02:19:51,690 --> 02:19:51,690
and so I don't know why the blended two elementary schools I'd like to see detail because
I my guess would be the blending

1097
02:20:01,620 --> 02:20:03,840
two elementary schools. You know might be those numbers might be adjusted if plc is staff only.

1098
02:20:12,750 --> 02:20:15,600
and and that gets us to 2 million. And blending two elementaries is 30 ftes with additional savings.

1099
02:20:21,510 --> 02:20:21,510
so I'd just like to dig in to that as in our next step.

1100
02:20:28,410 --> 02:20:30,450
yeah. Good question. Any other trustee comment, so I will.

1101
02:20:36,800 --> 02:20:39,590
based on what I'm hearing from the board, it sounds like. And I don't want to jump too far ahead, but it sounds like we would like the planning to
Move forward for the blending and in fact, get deeper

1102
02:20:49,400 --> 02:20:53,330
into the planning so that we understand exactly how this is going to work. And not just the board, but the community, the families, the teachers understand how this
Is going to work as well.

1103
02:21:03,860 --> 02:21:03,860
I'm not sure what your communication plan is for and perhaps meetings to receive feedback
And such.

1104
02:21:09,140 --> 02:21:09,140
that would that would be very I think that would be good for the community as well.

1105
02:21:15,260 --> 02:21:15,260
but we do we would like to move forward with considering this one and move toward I mean,
Ultimately it would be a vote up or down on,

1106
02:21:25,250 --> 02:21:27,200
on a blended school. And and so I think that's the direction the board is giving at this point.

1107
02:21:33,100 --> 02:21:33,100
and with all of these topics, we're simply looking for a green light to proceed.

1108
02:21:37,120 --> 02:21:37,120
there's a lot more work to be done on this one, especially, in fact, given your approval,
Then as early as this week, we're going to be adding parents and staff

1109
02:21:46,990 --> 02:21:46,990
to the planning committee so that we can begin to apply their perspective and their
Input.

1110
02:21:52,390 --> 02:21:56,260
and then we'll come back to you in december. As early as november the 19th, you're going to see very extensive enrollment data based
Upon our official numbers for this year.

1111
02:22:04,000 --> 02:22:04,000
so I think that will help clarify some of the questions that you've raised this evening.

1112
02:22:09,220 --> 02:22:09,220
we unfortunately have the disadvantage of the holidays in front of us and a lot of breaks
Coming up, but we do.

1113
02:22:14,980 --> 02:22:14,980
we're already planning a town hall type meeting in january, so that the community of both
Schools can see the logistical plans and how this would

1114
02:22:24,760 --> 02:22:27,220
play out next year. Heather, similar to how we have some current valley view zone students already attending
Barton creek.

1115
02:22:36,230 --> 02:22:36,230
would there be an opportunity or a survey if a family for some reason, like the commute,
They and they would prefer to continue to go to another school

1116
02:22:46,190 --> 02:22:46,190
like forest trail? Is that going to be an option for families if they would like to take
That option?

1117
02:22:50,900 --> 02:22:50,900
so there are surveys that are being planned in the very near future for both staff and
For families, so that we can begin to get a better sense of where people want to be next

1118
02:23:00,350 --> 02:23:04,340
year given some of these changes. Okay. Thank you. And one more thing. Actually, I also want to just thank you guys, the district staff, for trying to bring up
The population at valley view over the last year.

1119
02:23:14,120 --> 02:23:14,120
I know that there was a concerted effort to get more transfers and spanish immersion and
To add spanish immersion there.

1120
02:23:21,200 --> 02:23:21,200
so unfortunately it didn't go as well as we would have hoped.

1121
02:23:25,220 --> 02:23:25,220
but I appreciate the effort and I would just echo.

1122
02:23:29,320 --> 02:23:29,320
I think a couple of trustees said that it feels like I don't want to rush this.

1123
02:23:33,490 --> 02:23:33,490
I want to give us time to to fully bake the plan and to get community feedback.

1124
02:23:39,220 --> 02:23:39,220
but at the same time, there is this probably a benefit from moving forward as soon as
Possible to getting the communities blended if we can,

1125
02:23:48,730 --> 02:23:48,730
and and getting over the decision part so that people can move on.

1126
02:23:52,960 --> 02:23:52,960
and I want to be very mindful of balancing that out as well.

1127
02:24:00,190 --> 02:24:02,500
okay. Shall we move to the next one? The plc periods trustees.

1128
02:24:04,720 --> 02:24:04,720
questions? Comments?

1129
02:24:08,800 --> 02:24:08,800
ellen I do have two questions on this.

1130
02:24:14,680 --> 02:24:17,500
could I don't know who the maybe you. Chad. Our secondary or at least in the high school.

1131
02:24:21,700 --> 02:24:24,640
our teachers have the plc planning period. The regular or the original planning period, and a lunch period, which is a fairly long
Lunch period for high schools.

1132
02:24:34,410 --> 02:24:34,410
how are the original planning and the lunch periods currently being used by staff?

1133
02:24:41,070 --> 02:24:44,850
so, lunch is no duties, no interruptions at all. Matter of fact, both are so teachers by in state are guaranteed a certain amount of time
For lunch with no kids, no students, no duties.

1134
02:24:52,920 --> 02:24:55,920
so we currently use fourth and fifth lunch. Each teacher at the high school either has fourth or fifth the full period for their
Lunch time.

1135
02:25:01,080 --> 02:25:01,080
and then with what we call a conference period, that's when they do kind of the
Individual stuff of communicating with parents, some of their individual task work.

1136
02:25:10,170 --> 02:25:10,170
that's when we use a lot of what we call like administrative tasks, make copies, do some
Of your grading, respond to emails, maybe come down and meet with your appraiser, do

1137
02:25:20,100 --> 02:25:20,100
those type of things where the designated plc period is, where it is time with your team
To work on your instruction.

1138
02:25:29,090 --> 02:25:29,090
and so the conference we technically have really never touched, it's kind of do what you
Need to do to get your administrative work done.

1139
02:25:36,290 --> 02:25:36,290
the lunch is your time to relax, to eat, hopefully to take a break having taught there.

1140
02:25:42,920 --> 02:25:42,920
I also know that when I did a lot of grading, too, because you just don't want to take a
Lot of work home, so you use that and eat at the same time.

1141
02:25:49,460 --> 02:25:49,460
but those two periods currently are what I'd consider unstructured kind of administrative
Time for those teachers.

1142
02:25:55,490 --> 02:25:55,490
and if our teachers did not or say, schools that don't have plc planning periods in
Addition to conference time, how do they do

1143
02:26:05,240 --> 02:26:08,870
those tasks that you were mentioning? How do they do their collaboration?

1144
02:26:11,060 --> 02:26:11,060
right. So what you'll find most places is then one of those conferences a week like we do
At the elementary turns into a structured plc time.

1145
02:26:19,880 --> 02:26:22,010
that's your collaboration time. The thing that is concerning.

1146
02:26:24,100 --> 02:26:24,100
and, you know, all of these have concerns, so it's not anything new.

1147
02:26:28,960 --> 02:26:31,300
is what would be different kind of twofold. One, once you do away with that period, that's more kids.

1148
02:26:34,870 --> 02:26:38,470
so every one of these teachers now gains another section of students. Another section of grading two is right now most of our teachers have a minimum of two
Preps.

1149
02:26:45,460 --> 02:26:45,460
so they're going to have to pick which plc they sit on and the other they will not be
Involved in.

1150
02:26:50,800 --> 02:26:54,790
because if we only have one structured conference period for plc time. So let's say middle school is a perfect example where I may be math seven, math seven
Eight teacher.

1151
02:27:00,310 --> 02:27:00,310
I may not be able to sit on both of those plcs weekly to engage because I have two.

1152
02:27:06,610 --> 02:27:08,290
but that is the case. And so what you have a lot of times, like at the high school, is a perfect example where
Your biology team, where you have ap biology on level biology, honors biology three

1153
02:27:18,070 --> 02:27:18,070
levels. They may say we all meet together as much as we can and then therefore break off
And do things.

1154
02:27:23,780 --> 02:27:27,650
or they may just have to make decisions around efficiency. We're only going to do bio on level.

1155
02:27:29,930 --> 02:27:29,930
and so the teachers that do that we meet discuss that honors to do that.

1156
02:27:34,460 --> 02:27:34,460
the reality of it is you're just you're you're taking that time away.

1157
02:27:39,050 --> 02:27:41,630
so they're going to have to be more efficient with their time. Are we confident that five hours of plc time a week is being used highly efficiently, by
100% of the people who have plc periods?

1158
02:27:51,470 --> 02:27:52,700
no, I would not say confident. Yeah. And do any of the districts that we compete with for staffing.

1159
02:27:59,750 --> 02:28:01,820
lori might be able to say which ones? Those primarily. I mean, probably lake travis.

1160
02:28:05,810 --> 02:28:05,810
dripping the ones that we might lose staff to.

1161
02:28:10,580 --> 02:28:13,610
I mean, if retention is is an issue with this. Are any of those schools that we might lose that staff to?

1162
02:28:17,870 --> 02:28:20,680
are they offering plc periods. Yeah. Yeah.

1163
02:28:22,600 --> 02:28:25,540
I'm not aware of any others in central texas that do this. Oh, no, I can't think of any.

1164
02:28:26,740 --> 02:28:29,500
yes. Thank you. Alan, did you want to comment on whether we should move forward with this one?

1165
02:28:32,470 --> 02:28:35,290
or. I think we should move forward with it. We've done this before. It didn't go over well, and we did reverse the decision.

1166
02:28:38,830 --> 02:28:42,070
but the economic realities were quite different at that point. Thank you. Alan. We'll go to kim and then heather.

1167
02:28:48,430 --> 02:28:48,430
so I'll start with I'm not in favor of this.

1168
02:28:52,600 --> 02:28:52,600
ellen, it would be interesting to to hear about or from from our panel.

1169
02:28:59,350 --> 02:28:59,350
you know, when we did it and why we did it and why it was reversed.

1170
02:29:03,940 --> 02:29:03,940
but I in talking to teachers in in listening to this board and this cabinet talk about
How

1171
02:29:14,440 --> 02:29:14,440
we retain our good teachers, our, our honored teachers, our institutional teachers.

1172
02:29:21,660 --> 02:29:24,480
I think that plc is important to them. Chad, you were just talking about, you know, the pluses and the minuses and the pluses
Are what grab me and and the minuses.

1173
02:29:31,290 --> 02:29:33,690
I'm maybe I can live with. I think that when we look at this district, when we go to that secondary, there's there's
Differences and there's there's great differences.

1174
02:29:43,590 --> 02:29:43,590
on both sides between elementary teachers and their planning and then the secondary
Teachers and the complications of planning.

1175
02:29:54,330 --> 02:29:54,330
I just I think that what makes our good staff here is can

1176
02:30:03,840 --> 02:30:03,840
is contributed by the plc and the time that they have to plan.

1177
02:30:08,760 --> 02:30:08,760
and in talking to teachers, I hear the good teachers if they lose something like this,
They're going to take it home.

1178
02:30:17,840 --> 02:30:21,500
and so they're 10 or 12 hour days become a 15 hour day. You know, you're shaking your head.

1179
02:30:23,000 --> 02:30:23,000
and the teachers that don't have time or can't make time or something, they're going to
Do something else.

1180
02:30:30,020 --> 02:30:30,020
and so the secret sauce of why we are, you know, the fantastic district that we are is
Because we have

1181
02:30:39,320 --> 02:30:40,940
fabulous teachers. And to take this away from them in this environment, you know, again, I'd rather look at
The awful copper pennies than take

1182
02:30:50,600 --> 02:30:50,600
even more away from our teachers when we're probably not going to be able to give them
Salaries and when we probably, I mean, and when there are going to be

1183
02:31:00,440 --> 02:31:00,440
staff reductions because we've got to get even more efficient.

1184
02:31:04,970 --> 02:31:04,970
you know, I would hope that as we move forward with this, that we, we have survey data to
Back up what

1185
02:31:14,940 --> 02:31:16,500
our teachers might want. And I know that you do that on a regular basis.

1186
02:31:19,380 --> 02:31:19,380
and I know that you know, I hope that teachers are going to be forthright in giving that,
But I just, I this is this is

1187
02:31:29,070 --> 02:31:29,070
my strongest know at this point.

1188
02:31:33,300 --> 02:31:34,470
that's my feedback. Thank you. Kim. We'll go to heather.

1189
02:31:39,210 --> 02:31:43,050
I have a little bit of a side note before I get started on the plcs. I just want to say thank you to our feather duster students who are here tonight.

1190
02:31:47,100 --> 02:31:47,100
I love that our students are here and going to report out on our meeting.

1191
02:31:51,690 --> 02:31:53,460
it's awesome having the student voice. So back to plcs.

1192
02:31:56,280 --> 02:31:56,280
I, like kim, also think that plcs are part of the secret sauce in this district.

1193
02:32:03,060 --> 02:32:06,750
we ask a lot from our teachers. A lot.

1194
02:32:09,660 --> 02:32:12,950
they teach like a million different things. I don't think our programing is the same as lake travis and dripping springs.

1195
02:32:17,960 --> 02:32:17,960
and I mean, frankly, the amount of clubs that we have at the high school and I go, you
Know, help me if I'm wrong, but I

1196
02:32:27,380 --> 02:32:27,380
believe that club sponsors give up their lunch period in, in many cases to help clubs.

1197
02:32:36,200 --> 02:32:36,200
and and for students to come into their classrooms to hold club meetings.

1198
02:32:42,320 --> 02:32:42,320
and so I know that they're, they're giving way more of their time than we are giving them
Time to plan.

1199
02:32:52,790 --> 02:32:52,790
I also know that our high school, as we've talked about with enrollment, our high school
And our middle schools are where people are still

1200
02:33:01,910 --> 02:33:01,910
coming. In larger numbers, mainly because of affordability, but also because everybody
Knows that westlake is the best

1201
02:33:11,830 --> 02:33:11,830
high school, and I worry what taking away plc's does to that.

1202
02:33:18,430 --> 02:33:18,430
if we are still asking our teachers to not only be excellent, but to be exemplary you
Know, you can only do so much in a day.

1203
02:33:27,970 --> 02:33:31,870
and if we're not giving them the time, this one's a hard one for me. And even bigger for that is the ramifications on our special education teachers and
Students,

1204
02:33:41,440 --> 02:33:41,440
because we have special education teachers who are collaborative teachers who I believe
Also are not all collaborative teachers in

1205
02:33:51,430 --> 02:33:53,050
just one area. In some cases, they're in several areas.

1206
02:33:56,200 --> 02:33:56,200
right. And so we're asking them to not only plan with those gen ed teachers, but to write
Ards to

1207
02:34:06,130 --> 02:34:06,130
make modifications to curriculum, to honor, accommodations, to prep for, benchmarks to
Prep

1208
02:34:15,930 --> 02:34:18,870
for. You name it. And I don't know how that will get done if we cut plc's, frankly.

1209
02:34:23,670 --> 02:34:26,880
so that makes me very nervous. So for all of these reasons and I understand so far haven't been a fan of any of it, but
This one I'm definitely not a fan

1210
02:34:36,630 --> 02:34:39,090
of. I think this this hurts kids. And I get that our elementary schools don't have plcs, but they also have 22 to 1
Guidelines

1211
02:34:48,930 --> 02:34:51,840
or for, you know, under fourth grade. And our our high school teachers have like a million kids already.

1212
02:34:57,450 --> 02:35:00,450
so that's a hard no for me. Thank you. Heather. We'll go to diane and then ellen.

1213
02:35:04,710 --> 02:35:04,710
I guess I'll just start by saying this might be my least favorite option.

1214
02:35:09,410 --> 02:35:09,410
I am a strong advocate for our teachers, and it breaks my heart when we can only give
Them a 2% raise.

1215
02:35:16,760 --> 02:35:16,760
so it's going to make me really sad when we can't give them any raise, and then to turn
Around and say that their jobs are going to get more difficult just makes me really

1216
02:35:24,920 --> 02:35:28,880
fearful for what the educational product will be when we do that. I am afraid of staff retention.

1217
02:35:31,790 --> 02:35:35,450
I'm afraid of our more senior staff leaving and finally going. This is enough, enough.

1218
02:35:37,580 --> 02:35:40,940
this is not why I got into this profession and I'm done. They're the key. All of our educators are, you know, fantastic.

1219
02:35:45,230 --> 02:35:48,650
but they are so important for helping train our new educators. And we have such a high proportion of new educators that for everything that others have
Said, there are secret sauce and concerned

1220
02:35:58,520 --> 02:36:02,330
about the sped impact, and I disagree. I do think this would curtail delivery of services and programs.

1221
02:36:05,310 --> 02:36:08,040
I am concerned about the long term impact. We reversed it before and and that was for a reason.

1222
02:36:12,240 --> 02:36:15,120
it's a wrong direction if we're trying to create equity. That's not the way I want to create equity by taking away plc periods.

1223
02:36:19,230 --> 02:36:19,230
so this would be very hard to convince me of voting yes for.

1224
02:36:25,830 --> 02:36:28,290
thank you. Diane. We'll go to ellen. Thank you. I realized I had a couple more questions.

1225
02:36:32,280 --> 02:36:33,780
I don't think I heard this. What percentage of the secondary teachers actually have.

1226
02:36:38,580 --> 02:36:41,370
I know there are a lot that don't have plc, period. So what percentage of the high school faculty are we talking about?

1227
02:36:44,850 --> 02:36:44,850
that's a I don't know, a percentage, but it would be all your english, math, science and
Social studies teachers.

1228
02:36:49,500 --> 02:36:49,500
so your core teachers which kind of thing.

1229
02:36:53,580 --> 02:36:54,960
I don't know if I can put a number on it. I'll talk about it. I mean, it's hard for me to find that for you.

1230
02:36:59,220 --> 02:36:59,220
yeah, it's hard for most of us to realize how many teachers we have at the high school
Because we have such a wide variety of electives and non-core things going on.

1231
02:37:06,920 --> 02:37:08,630
so we've got a huge number of teachers. And quite frankly, my guess is this affects fairly few of them.

1232
02:37:14,060 --> 02:37:14,060
so I mean, we've heard from teachers over the years, the equity or the inequities that
Are perceived between elective teachers and core

1233
02:37:24,020 --> 02:37:26,360
teachers, world languages. Is it a core? Is it not a core?

1234
02:37:28,100 --> 02:37:29,540
is it in? Is it out? I mean, you know, there have been a lot of problems with the perceived equity of this
Over time.

1235
02:37:35,630 --> 02:37:35,630
so I think we need to really think about what percentage of teachers this is affecting.

1236
02:37:41,090 --> 02:37:41,090
and my back of the envelope calculation is that with the $2 million, we could give
Roughly a three, 3.5% raise.

1237
02:37:50,330 --> 02:37:53,150
so three, 3.5% raise for all teachers. Is that is that about right, chris?

1238
02:37:58,010 --> 02:37:59,420
that's true. We need to save the money. Okay. Never mind, never mind.

1239
02:38:02,080 --> 02:38:04,510
fuzzy math. Fuzzy math. But I mean, to me, it's still a on principle.

1240
02:38:08,200 --> 02:38:08,200
are we talking about something that could benefit or impact everyone versus a fairly
Small percentage of our, in fact,

1241
02:38:17,890 --> 02:38:21,400
doo doo special ed teachers get a plc? Do they all have plcs or only if they are specifically in a collab core class?

1242
02:38:27,940 --> 02:38:27,940
actually, I think this year we've we've done some work to get like life skills and some
Of them, some of their plc periods so that they can do some of that professional

1243
02:38:35,260 --> 02:38:35,260
collaboration. So okay, I just wanted to make sure that we understood that it's not the
Whole the whole faculty.

1244
02:38:41,980 --> 02:38:45,820
and this is a sensitive issue within the faculty. And at middle school, is it the same thing that it's just the core?

1245
02:38:49,960 --> 02:38:53,890
I believe so, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. And, kim, to answer your question.

1246
02:38:58,120 --> 02:38:58,120
I want to say very originally we went to the extra planning period for english teachers
Only because we were having we had such

1247
02:39:07,860 --> 02:39:07,860
issues with writing and we really we, we really priority for the board and administration
Was to focus on writing.

1248
02:39:15,450 --> 02:39:15,450
and we wanted those teachers to be able to have plenty of time to grade writing samples
And therefore require more writing samples.

1249
02:39:23,490 --> 02:39:23,490
so that was what drove it initially was at that point, and it was just the english
Teachers, and that was perceived as unfair.

1250
02:39:30,210 --> 02:39:32,340
and so it kind of became a slippery slope. And it's been a rather noble idea, but imperfect system, in my opinion.

1251
02:39:41,430 --> 02:39:41,430
and so I and I'm not sure the last I can't talk about this year, but I'm not sure that
I've seen the results

1252
02:39:51,240 --> 02:39:51,240
from the last couple of years that I think we could have seen.

1253
02:39:56,730 --> 02:39:56,730
so I'm not as big a fan as I was.

1254
02:40:03,700 --> 02:40:07,090
we'll go to laura and then diane. Well, ellen jumped in and asked some of the I know on your second time, james called on
Me.

1255
02:40:14,710 --> 02:40:14,710
I know I don't like any of these.

1256
02:40:18,940 --> 02:40:21,760
let me just. I don't like any of these options. They're all horrible.

1257
02:40:23,740 --> 02:40:26,920
we don't want to do any of them, but we have to. And we're having to make really difficult decisions.

1258
02:40:33,730 --> 02:40:33,730
yes, I've heard the I've heard teachers talk about the inequity of the plcs, the non-core
Teachers who

1259
02:40:43,420 --> 02:40:43,420
have a huge number of students, the foreign language teachers, the the fine arts
Teachers, all of these elective teachers who are carrying these huge loads of

1260
02:40:52,690 --> 02:40:55,140
students and they don't have the plc. And so they've really struggled with that part that at staff meetings.

1261
02:41:00,060 --> 02:41:00,060
again, what ellen said is that this doesn't impact, you know, every staff member at the,
At the middle schools and high

1262
02:41:09,450 --> 02:41:09,450
schools. And I hate this.

1263
02:41:14,130 --> 02:41:14,130
chad, you said you're not confident that 100% confident that these plc's are being used
As effectively as as they could be.

1264
02:41:23,250 --> 02:41:24,360
I mean, it's a wonderful. And it is a noble idea, ellen, to use your word.

1265
02:41:29,220 --> 02:41:29,220
lori, you said that we're the only district in the area that even offers it.

1266
02:41:33,480 --> 02:41:33,480
and I understand that that is a that's a reason to come work for eanes.

1267
02:41:41,130 --> 02:41:42,600
but it's a different time. It's just it's it's not something that I feel comfortable continuing in this, this
Budgetary climate.

1268
02:41:51,690 --> 02:41:51,690
so I actually I would like to move forward with looking at removing the plcs.

1269
02:41:58,010 --> 02:42:01,940
thank you laura. We'll go to diane and then kelly. I'd love to get more education about the plcs.

1270
02:42:04,790 --> 02:42:04,790
see a little more detail about who has them, the seniority of the teachers.

1271
02:42:11,150 --> 02:42:11,150
I don't know if we can get some feedback from teachers, but I'm just I'm still
Uncomfortable with it.

1272
02:42:17,690 --> 02:42:19,700
I understand the inequity. I just hate taking something away from the teachers that I.

1273
02:42:24,920 --> 02:42:24,920
maybe it's not being used to the best of its ability in all cases, but I do think it is
Adding value somewhere.

1274
02:42:32,630 --> 02:42:34,340
so I just would like some more information. Whatever you think you can provide me to make me feel more comfortable with this.

1275
02:42:39,200 --> 02:42:39,200
if this is a direction that the board decides it wants to go and the district decides it
Wants to go.

1276
02:42:45,800 --> 02:42:49,610
thank you. Diane. We'll go to kelly. So the last bullet point reduces time for special education teachers to collaborate with
Gen ed.

1277
02:42:57,580 --> 02:42:57,580
and then you just added the additional that life skills added a plc.

1278
02:43:02,410 --> 02:43:02,410
and that was this year you said or so would, would this have to be all of these
Collaboration

1279
02:43:11,830 --> 02:43:11,830
times, or would I just get really concerned about if you just recently added it?

1280
02:43:17,560 --> 02:43:17,560
there was a reason, I'm assuming that you added the plc for life skills, and then so
Would that also be one that you would be removing as well?

1281
02:43:27,250 --> 02:43:29,320
so this would be removing all plc periods. So anybody that would have a time in their structured day that says a plc period is what
It's designated as.

1282
02:43:36,820 --> 02:43:36,820
okay. And so why did you guys add the additional plc for life skills this year?

1283
02:43:42,490 --> 02:43:42,490
I, matt zemo could probably best tell you that I'm guessing it's probably just for
Collaboration and learning from each other.

1284
02:43:48,130 --> 02:43:48,130
I think the thing it's already been said is where this year and really in the last,
Probably since covid, we've leaned on it really heavy.

1285
02:43:55,560 --> 02:43:56,700
is our own. One of our only support structures we have is plc periods.

1286
02:44:01,350 --> 02:44:01,350
so when you have a brand new team, the only way to push in like you would with students
That need a little extra love with teachers is to do it in a

1287
02:44:10,950 --> 02:44:12,480
structured plc period. So as turnover happens more, our retention rate gets higher.

1288
02:44:16,860 --> 02:44:16,860
one of the only things we have available to us on a routine, regular basis is this
Designated time.

1289
02:44:23,160 --> 02:44:23,160
because we can't touch lunches and we can only touch a conference once a week.

1290
02:44:28,050 --> 02:44:28,050
and everybody I think, you know, in education knows just like with students and adults
Learning, the more repetition, the more you're together, the more you're collaborating and

1291
02:44:36,540 --> 02:44:40,530
learning, the faster that uptick or that learning happens. And so yes, where we see a lot of the impact would be brand new student staff with a very
Experienced teacher within our life skills.

1292
02:44:49,390 --> 02:44:49,390
we've also hired an instructional coach, so I know that she has been a really big leader
In kind of getting them together, getting them on the same team.

1293
02:44:58,360 --> 02:44:58,360
there's a lot of vertical and horizontal alignment for those students program alignment.

1294
02:45:02,740 --> 02:45:06,130
that's where all this happens. We don't have summers to do this. We don't have pd time to do this.

1295
02:45:08,680 --> 02:45:08,680
so really the only time we have to get aligned is through these plc periods right now.

1296
02:45:14,860 --> 02:45:14,860
and so that's I'm going to guess why matt and them probably went about doing this.

1297
02:45:19,240 --> 02:45:21,310
you might know more than me but yeah. Yeah. I mean I think just you know we've had combinations of, of plc periods with our
Special ed staff in the past.

1298
02:45:30,250 --> 02:45:30,250
and so when it works, a lot of the times with our life skills students, it's just really
Difficult to get an entire group off at the same period every day.

1299
02:45:38,260 --> 02:45:40,780
so we work really hard to try to do that. So this year, especially at the high school, it did end up working that they could have
That period off.

1300
02:45:45,430 --> 02:45:45,430
we have had them in the past, but there's also been times when we couldn't get everyone
Off at the same time, just because the nature of the students and what their needs were.

1301
02:45:54,330 --> 02:45:54,330
so we're always trying to look at that to find that collaboration time.

1302
02:46:03,510 --> 02:46:03,510
I've go to laura and then ellen, and someday I'll get to speak.

1303
02:46:07,710 --> 02:46:07,710
but y'all go ahead.

1304
02:46:13,050 --> 02:46:13,050
I have no idea if this would even be feasible, but seeing an option.

1305
02:46:19,560 --> 02:46:19,560
or looking at an option to keep this as far away from our special ed support as possible
Would be great.

1306
02:46:27,870 --> 02:46:27,870
and I don't know. I have no idea what that would look like, but if there is a version of
This that protects that time for our

1307
02:46:37,590 --> 02:46:40,800
special ed staff and students, that would be nice. That would be good to see that if there is an option like that.

1308
02:46:43,110 --> 02:46:43,110
okay. Thank you. Ellen.

1309
02:46:48,830 --> 02:46:48,830
one thing that was not on the list that was presented tonight were the instructional
Coaches that were just mentioned.

1310
02:46:57,740 --> 02:46:57,740
and it could be because the dollar, the threshold value was different between plcs and
Instructional coaches.

1311
02:47:04,190 --> 02:47:04,190
I personally am a huge fan of instructional coaches, and I think they can do I mean, I've
Seen more, more academic growth in our district through instructional coaches

1312
02:47:13,940 --> 02:47:13,940
than virtually any other strategy we've tried over time.

1313
02:47:18,560 --> 02:47:18,560
but I would like to hear from the administration the value of instructional coaches and
What they can do to compensate if we

1314
02:47:28,310 --> 02:47:28,310
don't have plcs, how can instructional coaches, how far can instructional coaches go
Towards filling that need?

1315
02:47:36,500 --> 02:47:36,500
and is that something that we think we have the personnel and and the ability to to do.

1316
02:47:46,600 --> 02:47:46,600
is that clear that in other words, it's not I'm not sure it's something you can answer
Off the cuff, but I'd like to know what your philosophy is between

1317
02:47:56,380 --> 02:47:56,380
those two support strategies for our educators.

1318
02:48:00,760 --> 02:48:03,790
I will try. If not, I'm willing to come back to it. I, I think the concern would be our current structure with coaches is through the plc,
Because of the number at the secondary level, the

1319
02:48:13,480 --> 02:48:15,820
number of staff that we have. And so the way we've shifted instructional coaches at the secondary level in particular
Is they are more what we call collective coaches.

1320
02:48:23,530 --> 02:48:23,530
they, they coach a team of teachers to have a higher impact of their time versus one on
One.

1321
02:48:30,790 --> 02:48:30,790
if the period would go away, then it would become more of a one on one push in model.

1322
02:48:35,740 --> 02:48:39,220
and still trying to get them into the teams as much as we can. Where you will see kind of a drop.

1323
02:48:41,220 --> 02:48:41,220
a perfect example was at our middle schools we have two that float between both.

1324
02:48:46,920 --> 02:48:50,370
so we have a humanities specialist and we have a stem specialist. This year, the only way they can get to both campuses and all teams is we have the entire
Week to work through that.

1325
02:48:58,650 --> 02:48:58,650
so they'll be at one campus on monday, hitting all the as as many teams as they can go
Back to the next campus tuesday, kind of that float back and forth.

1326
02:49:07,200 --> 02:49:07,200
so if we the period time designated away where that's a designated collaboration time,
Their their impact on the greater good, I think would be cut in

1327
02:49:16,470 --> 02:49:16,470
half. Because of the structure of time that we have with them.

1328
02:49:20,700 --> 02:49:24,420
our coaches only work with the core teachers for the most part. And so this would take one of their major structures away.

1329
02:49:28,590 --> 02:49:32,460
we would still deploy them, and we do deploy them for one on one. We do deploy them for new staff that is brand new to the profession to get kind of get
Them caught up.

1330
02:49:38,040 --> 02:49:38,040
but our greatest impact right now is going to be that what we call collective coaching.

1331
02:49:42,850 --> 02:49:42,850
and so versus bringing in a brand new strategy for one teacher, we bring in a brand new
Strategy and teach five teachers that brand new strategy, and they all learn from each

1332
02:49:51,670 --> 02:49:51,670
other. That's the the the plc part of it, the learning part of it.

1333
02:49:56,770 --> 02:49:56,770
does that answer some of it?

1334
02:50:01,060 --> 02:50:01,060
I guess I guess my bottom line is we aren't recommending doing away with instructional
Coaches, but we are the plc.

1335
02:50:08,110 --> 02:50:11,020
so you know what's driving that decision? Why? Why one and not the other?

1336
02:50:17,020 --> 02:50:17,020
well, I think, you know, our instructional coaches are are k-12.

1337
02:50:21,580 --> 02:50:21,580
and so, you know, I think when you look at the plc period, it is just a six through 12,
You know, issue.

1338
02:50:28,960 --> 02:50:31,960
so we are trying to look at impact. If you do the plc period I think without some of that influence of the coach would also
Be less effective.

1339
02:50:40,830 --> 02:50:40,830
and so we don't want to if we had to look at one or the other, our choice would be that
It's the plc period versus the instructional

1340
02:50:50,490 --> 02:50:50,490
coaches, because the instructional coaches, to chad's point, can still go in and be
Effective with teams.

1341
02:50:56,850 --> 02:50:58,800
you know, it's going to look very different. You know, we spent $70,000 on the plc conference last year, very much set up for the
Structure we have now.

1342
02:51:06,630 --> 02:51:06,630
but the learning and all of that can still take place in a different format, but not if
You don't have the instructional coaches.

1343
02:51:13,140 --> 02:51:13,140
and so we would want to keep the instructional coaches over the plc period would be the
Administration's recommendation.

1344
02:51:25,920 --> 02:51:27,690
they're both really important and great. But you know it is difficult.

1345
02:51:30,540 --> 02:51:30,540
yeah. Other trustee questions.

1346
02:51:35,330 --> 02:51:39,110
I'm a trustee and I have questions. No, I just have a couple of thoughts. I really do value our teachers a lot, and I understand the value of the plc in in the
Time that it gives our teachers to prepare and what it's planned for, and also

1347
02:51:49,100 --> 02:51:49,100
from the perspective of being a benefit that differentiates our school district from
Other districts.

1348
02:51:54,890 --> 02:51:54,890
the unfortunate reality is that unless we make some sustainable reductions to our budget,
It may be a really long time before we can afford to give raises.

1349
02:52:04,130 --> 02:52:04,130
and after voting for a 0% raise, I believe it was in 2019 when I was a brand new trustee.

1350
02:52:10,340 --> 02:52:13,100
I swore I didn't want to do that again. And so if if we have to choose between giving some teachers a plc or giving all teachers
A raise, even if it's some number

1351
02:52:22,880 --> 02:52:22,880
greater than zero. But I'm going to go with helping all teachers.

1352
02:52:28,610 --> 02:52:28,610
and the sad reality is that landlords don't accept plcs to pay the rent.

1353
02:52:35,140 --> 02:52:35,140
I also feel strongly that this is one that we could pull back if the state came through
With additional funding in one form or another.

1354
02:52:42,310 --> 02:52:42,310
and like you said, ellen, you considered it one time pretty seriously and then pulled
Back on it.

1355
02:52:48,220 --> 02:52:51,160
okay. Got more money from the state? Yeah. Yeah.

1356
02:52:52,840 --> 02:52:52,840
this is one that I feel like we could we could really pull back on.

1357
02:52:57,070 --> 02:52:57,070
and I realize that you need a decision from us soon, and you're going to move forward as
If it's going to happen.

1358
02:53:01,090 --> 02:53:01,090
but if but if in may or march or whenever, we can get an indication from the state that
They're going to increase the basic allotment.

1359
02:53:07,660 --> 02:53:10,630
we would this is probably one we could pull back on. So, you know, as much as I'd love to be able to keep plcs, but I think we should move
Forward with at least considering this and keeping it on the list at this

1360
02:53:20,260 --> 02:53:23,980
point. If I could add one other perspective, too. When we meet every month with our teacher advisory group, I would say that the topic of
The plcs is probably the most often

1361
02:53:33,410 --> 02:53:33,410
discussed issue in terms of the inequity that it creates, not only between the secondary
And the elementary levels, but also between our elective and special

1362
02:53:42,920 --> 02:53:46,070
teachers and the core teachers at the secondary level. So over the years, when you hear something that continually comes up as a topic of debate,
That's usually an indication that

1363
02:53:56,030 --> 02:53:59,690
it is symptomatic of an issue that we ultimately need to address. And while, yes, our core teachers at the secondary level enjoy the plcs and they benefit
From it, we've got a majority of our teachers

1364
02:54:09,560 --> 02:54:09,560
who are on the outside looking in who don't see the same benefit.

1365
02:54:13,760 --> 02:54:13,760
and so I think that's why it's on this list tonight.

1366
02:54:18,920 --> 02:54:21,830
thank you. Doctor arnett a question for the board real quick. I know a lot of people are here for the spanish immersion discussion.

1367
02:54:24,710 --> 02:54:28,670
that's our next topic. I also know that we may need a break. Real quick.

1368
02:54:29,980 --> 02:54:31,240
what are the thoughts? Yeah, you're good because you left and I'm fine with that if trustees want to step out.

1369
02:54:36,580 --> 02:54:36,580
but I'd like to be here and I need a break, but I since I presented on spanish immersion,
I do need a break, if you wouldn't mind.

1370
02:54:44,710 --> 02:54:47,230
we're going to. We're going to go three minutes. Okay. Before we go, I don't know how we ended up on plc because I think that we were
Pretty split.

1371
02:54:55,180 --> 02:54:55,180
and I know we're not making decisions and we were kind of all over the place.

1372
02:54:59,650 --> 02:54:59,650
so I'm not sure I yeah, I think to, to, to address that, I think that we were either four
3 or 3 and a half,

1373
02:55:09,490 --> 02:55:12,040
three and a half. So I think it was very close. But you know, I'm open.

1374
02:55:14,650 --> 02:55:14,650
I think we would probably even at that, even if we were split four three, we would
Probably take it to a vote and vote.

1375
02:55:20,410 --> 02:55:21,490
okay. All right. I because I think that what for those of for everyone we need more information and we I
Hope we've given some direction on on what we'd like to

1376
02:55:31,050 --> 02:55:32,460
see going forward. And ultimately too, I don't think this is one that would need board action.

1377
02:55:36,840 --> 02:55:40,800
so. Right. Heather, did you have one more question? I was just going to say maybe I missed this, but you know, we just asked our booster
Clubs and we just put, I think you said $70,000 on a plc conference.

1378
02:55:49,710 --> 02:55:49,710
like, if this was on the table, why did we think it was so worth it to spend all that
Money on the conference?

1379
02:55:57,120 --> 02:55:59,490
so that's a rhetorical question. I'm just putting it out there.

1380
02:56:01,320 --> 02:56:03,150
if it meant that much. It means that much.

1381
02:56:05,550 --> 02:56:05,550
thank you. Okay, we're going to take a break, and we will reconvene at 908, which means
Really 910, but

1382
02:56:15,660 --> 02:56:16,740
ten minutes. Yeah. Thank you. Okay, we're going to get started again.

1383
02:56:26,180 --> 02:56:28,850
wait, wait. Okay, now it's ten after. All right. We will reconvene in open session.

1384
02:56:31,310 --> 02:56:31,310
now we are continuing on our journey through these options.

1385
02:56:36,170 --> 02:56:36,170
doctor arnett had a couple of of late breaking updates on a couple of numbers related to
Our last topic.

1386
02:56:42,320 --> 02:56:45,290
just a couple of clarifying comments to add. So, chad, I think you were able to determine that 54% of our teachers in grades six
Through 12 have a plc period.

1387
02:56:53,030 --> 02:56:55,400
okay, so we wanted to clarify that. The other clarification is what we're talking about in terms of the reduction.

1388
02:56:59,900 --> 02:56:59,900
are the plc periods not professional learning communities?

1389
02:57:04,340 --> 02:57:04,340
and heather, your comment prompted me to to add this.

1390
02:57:09,500 --> 02:57:09,500
we've invested so much in professional learning communities, grades k through 12, because
We think they are so important.

1391
02:57:17,450 --> 02:57:17,450
and even our elementary teachers, as we have said, all benefit from professional learning
Communities.

1392
02:57:23,000 --> 02:57:23,000
it's the periods that add the cost, and those are for grades six through 12.

1393
02:57:28,330 --> 02:57:31,480
so molly, anything else that you want to add to that. Okay. All right.

1394
02:57:32,680 --> 02:57:36,070
with that we can proceed. Yeah. Let's do let's see. Trustees who would like to start questioning or.

1395
02:57:41,920 --> 02:57:41,920
what do we need? I'm sorry, I said questioning who would like to start with comments or
Questions regarding spanish

1396
02:57:51,550 --> 02:57:51,550
immersion. Ellen.

1397
02:57:57,790 --> 02:57:57,790
I'll start. Given that spanish immersion is a program that does

1398
02:58:07,750 --> 02:58:07,750
draw in transfer students and has from the beginning, and that's one of its strengths.

1399
02:58:14,950 --> 02:58:14,950
I'm curious as to whether or not the financial analysis that gets to the $600,000 took
Into account the 87 transfer students at

1400
02:58:24,830 --> 02:58:24,830
$6,100 each, which would be an income stream of $531,000, which virtually pays for the
Program.

1401
02:58:39,590 --> 02:58:39,590
we did not assume that all of those students would leave.

1402
02:58:43,910 --> 02:58:43,910
and so we did not assume in our in our calculation that all of those students would
Leave.

1403
02:58:53,240 --> 02:58:53,240
I think we need to seriously consider that they all came for spanish immersion, and they
Would probably strongly consider all leaving without spanish immersion.

1404
02:59:03,830 --> 02:59:03,830
I also was curious as to in all all the years I've seen analyzes of, of never

1405
02:59:13,670 --> 02:59:13,670
seen an analysis that includes inefficiencies in the number of students in currently
Enrolled.

1406
02:59:24,910 --> 02:59:24,910
I don't know how to articulate that very well, but I'm thinking that.

1407
02:59:29,710 --> 02:59:29,710
yes, I'm thinking that in this analysis, there was an x factor taken of every seat that
Wasn't filled

1408
02:59:39,700 --> 02:59:39,700
in every c class, is that correct?

1409
02:59:47,290 --> 02:59:50,470
no, I don't believe so. What what we were looking at on the savings was we would achieve some efficiency savings
If it was eliminated.

1410
02:59:59,650 --> 03:00:01,660
again with the assumption nobody leaves. And so we would get some efficiency savings.

1411
03:00:04,900 --> 03:00:04,900
so we might have, for example two c classes at one school and, and 2 or 3 traditional
Classrooms.

1412
03:00:14,020 --> 03:00:17,680
and when you combine them, you need one fewer class than what you have otherwise. And so that happened in several places.

1413
03:00:19,500 --> 03:00:22,080
so that's part of the analysis. The biggest part of the analysis, though, is the, the stipends and the, the additional
Spanish language materials that were that

1414
03:00:31,650 --> 03:00:33,840
we purchased for that. And so there's just a little bit of savings for efficiency on the program.

1415
03:00:39,660 --> 03:00:39,660
but most of most of that efficiency is or excuse me, most of the savings are coming
Elsewhere.

1416
03:00:46,020 --> 03:00:47,400
we haven't seen any numbers. But during my back of the back of the envelope calculations, I get about $400,000 in
Stipends and a very generous allotment for curriculum materials.

1417
03:00:57,300 --> 03:00:57,300
and so that would be about $200,000 in if you will, in efficiencies being built in.

1418
03:01:04,260 --> 03:01:06,330
that's about right. Yeah. Okay. So that means that with the transfer students, even if not all of them left, it's still
More than pays for itself.

1419
03:01:14,640 --> 03:01:14,640
and again, the the inefficiencies are real and I'm not.

1420
03:01:19,250 --> 03:01:20,960
I do think we have to watch that. And I've been very concerned this year with how we had more than expected attrition out
Of particularly the upper grades, upper elementary grades.

1421
03:01:30,800 --> 03:01:30,800
personally, I feel like a lot of the reason for that was the discord around the shift to
910 and it pretty much

1422
03:01:40,520 --> 03:01:43,910
self-inflicted wounds into our attrition. So I think we can build that back.

1423
03:01:45,680 --> 03:01:45,680
I don't think that that is inherent in the notion of a spanish immersion program, and
It's not something we've seen in years, seen to this degree in years

1424
03:01:55,040 --> 03:01:55,040
prior. And I also will say that you know, there are a lot of other programs where we have
Built in class size

1425
03:02:04,970 --> 03:02:04,970
inefficiencies into the program, our our ap program at the high school, which I think we
All support tremendously.

1426
03:02:12,650 --> 03:02:16,020
as long as it has 15 in a class. It is an acceptable class size, so I am a little uncomfortable with us once again
Pointing the finger

1427
03:02:25,890 --> 03:02:25,890
at sea.

1428
03:02:31,110 --> 03:02:31,110
and I'll stop there for now.

1429
03:02:37,050 --> 03:02:39,960
thank you. Ellen. Trustees. Kim.

1430
03:02:44,370 --> 03:02:45,660
I don't have a lot of questions. I'll just give feedback that with this program being here for quite a long time.

1431
03:02:52,140 --> 03:02:52,140
it hills and valleys with this program, but I'm not in support of doing away with it.

1432
03:02:59,850 --> 03:02:59,850
I think that we're going to get some efficiency if we're if we go towards blending the
Two elementaries.

1433
03:03:05,820 --> 03:03:05,820
so now we're going down to four elementary schools.

1434
03:03:13,640 --> 03:03:13,640
so for us for for, for for sai is.

1435
03:03:18,050 --> 03:03:21,260
what did I say? Sorry. Go ahead. So. Well, we'll have five elementary schools with.

1436
03:03:24,890 --> 03:03:24,890
we'll have five elementary schools and four of them will have sai.

1437
03:03:29,660 --> 03:03:30,710
did I say something wrong? What I meant was we're we're going.

1438
03:03:34,100 --> 03:03:34,100
if we were to blend two elementary schools, we then have four sai elementary schools.

1439
03:03:42,440 --> 03:03:42,440
I think that sai for reasons, ellen, you just pointed to and what we've heard sai is
Integrated into an eanes

1440
03:03:51,980 --> 03:03:55,190
experience. We've had it. It's now in the middle schools. It may not be what was envisioned when it was first talked about nine years ago, or
However long it was, but I think that

1441
03:04:05,180 --> 03:04:08,720
it has it has the support of the community. I think that it has pluses and minuses.

1442
03:04:11,530 --> 03:04:11,530
but just like other of our programs that are unique here I would not be in support of
Doing away with it.

1443
03:04:20,530 --> 03:04:22,450
thank you. Kim. I don't have any questions. Diane. Following up on some of the back of the envelope calculations that you were doing.

1444
03:04:28,840 --> 03:04:28,840
ellen, I just would like to see a little more analysis done beyond the assumption that
Everybody stays.

1445
03:04:35,200 --> 03:04:36,910
maybe. Maybe it's not. Maybe it's one the assumption that all the transfers decide not to stay.

1446
03:04:41,710 --> 03:04:41,710
and then also perhaps looking at, you know, all the all the transfers into barton creek
From lake travis, for example, all the transfers that we brought into the program, into

1447
03:04:51,250 --> 03:04:51,250
valley view. I'd just like to see maybe even a tool that we could use to to understand
What's the sensitivity of this

1448
03:05:00,370 --> 03:05:04,150
$600,000, because I don't think everyone's going to stay. And I would like to understand a little bit more what the savings is if we were to.

1449
03:05:12,180 --> 03:05:12,180
you know, decide to get rid of a program that a lot of people do value.

1450
03:05:18,180 --> 03:05:18,180
I just want to feel a little more like, I understand this $600,000 a little bit better
And and what different levers do to that number in

1451
03:05:27,930 --> 03:05:27,930
terms of bringing in revenue and transfers and should we lose them.

1452
03:05:34,380 --> 03:05:36,300
so I'm kind of keeping score here. Ellen would remove this from the list.

1453
03:05:39,210 --> 03:05:40,890
kim would remove it from the list. You would say need more information at this point.

1454
03:05:43,590 --> 03:05:43,590
okay. Kelly.

1455
03:05:48,060 --> 03:05:48,060
so I'm just wondering, with the 90 over ten, are we already kind of helping eliminate
Some of those future inefficiencies

1456
03:05:59,520 --> 03:05:59,520
since it's just one section instead of two, as it was previously?

1457
03:06:05,640 --> 03:06:05,640
it doesn't necessarily eliminate the inefficiencies because it it depends on attrition
Down the road.

1458
03:06:13,040 --> 03:06:17,000
and so it's hard to know where we would be. We haven't lost I don't know that we've lost any or many kinders at this point.

1459
03:06:22,550 --> 03:06:22,550
but, you know, we're relatively new, you know, in just starting the, the year.

1460
03:06:28,250 --> 03:06:28,250
and have we ever considered like being able to take in students, like, could they test
Into fill our classrooms.

1461
03:06:36,980 --> 03:06:38,180
we do that every year. Yeah. We actually test in several students a year from magellan actually, who come into
Our to our program.

1462
03:06:43,550 --> 03:06:43,550
okay. And then this is just a comment.

1463
03:06:47,690 --> 03:06:47,690
I'm just concerned with the future of vouchers that we're looking at, that if we if we
Were to

1464
03:06:57,650 --> 03:06:57,650
eliminate this really great program, then we, those students would have the voucher
Option to go somewhere else.

1465
03:07:07,110 --> 03:07:07,110
so that just makes me really nervous about that additional funding for that.

1466
03:07:11,970 --> 03:07:11,970
I think it's more likely that we would lose a lot more students because of the vouchers.

1467
03:07:18,030 --> 03:07:18,030
and then as I'm looking when I went through and looked at all of these, you know, I
Really this one was the one that impacted the most

1468
03:07:27,570 --> 03:07:31,110
students to me. And the most intensely. And so for all those reasons, this one I lean the farthest away from.

1469
03:07:45,090 --> 03:07:45,090
laura. We've talked about this program for years, and I know we've got some families in
The audience

1470
03:07:54,840 --> 03:07:57,480
tonight who are new to spanish immersion. And there's a seven years of history back there that with this program I

1471
03:08:07,430 --> 03:08:08,540
struggle with this. It is the only it's the main enrichment program we have at the elementary school level.

1472
03:08:18,410 --> 03:08:20,810
I struggle with the inefficiencies. I've always struggled with the inefficiencies that this program has created and the how
It sort of handcuffs our principals and their ability to balance

1473
03:08:30,800 --> 03:08:33,440
their classrooms. We have a disproportionate number of special ed students in the traditional classes over
The spanish immersion classes, and I struggle with that.

1474
03:08:41,810 --> 03:08:44,810
I'm not that does not make me happy at all. I have I have problems with that.

1475
03:08:46,580 --> 03:08:46,580
and I'm saying these things and we've talked about all of these things a million times.

1476
03:08:52,610 --> 03:08:56,330
we've talked about them. So I'm not going to go into detail on, on any of them.

1477
03:08:59,360 --> 03:08:59,360
I'm not going to defend anything that I'm saying and I'm not going to counter anything
That my fellow trustees are going to are saying or going to say because of the

1478
03:09:07,840 --> 03:09:11,050
inefficiencies that this program provides. I'm not.

1479
03:09:12,220 --> 03:09:12,220
I would like to consider this keep this on the list of options.

1480
03:09:18,130 --> 03:09:21,910
thank you. Laura. Heather. So I also would like some more information.

1481
03:09:25,930 --> 03:09:25,930
first of all, I'm wondering why we put anything about an assumption for next year in
Terms of out of district transfers.

1482
03:09:34,300 --> 03:09:34,300
like, I'm more curious how many we have this year and or was there a reason that we used
An assumption for 2526?

1483
03:09:44,020 --> 03:09:44,020
we're just looking at what the implication would be for next year.

1484
03:09:48,220 --> 03:09:48,220
we actually right now we have 105 out of district transfers and we have 15 employee
Transfers.

1485
03:09:57,190 --> 03:09:59,940
okay. And 114 in district transfers. Thank you for that information.

1486
03:10:01,710 --> 03:10:01,710
and I also am curious because I do see spanish immersion and the barton creek valley view
Blend potentially as

1487
03:10:11,580 --> 03:10:15,300
two things that should be discussed at the same time. So I am curious about how any and I know we're going to get an enrollment update.

1488
03:10:20,520 --> 03:10:22,230
I've asked for that. But I am curious to know how many students we have in spanish immersion at barton creek.

1489
03:10:27,360 --> 03:10:27,360
I am curious to know how many of those are from valley view.

1490
03:10:33,570 --> 03:10:33,570
I, I just want to know kind of what that looks like also.

1491
03:10:41,460 --> 03:10:41,460
and I know we heard a comment or a couple of comments about, you know, bilingual
Education and other districts.

1492
03:10:48,210 --> 03:10:48,210
they get funding for that and that is amazing for them.

1493
03:10:52,650 --> 03:10:52,650
and they're able to provide even better stipends than we could ever dream of because they
Get funding from the federal government and the state, I believe.

1494
03:11:01,030 --> 03:11:04,300
and so I wish we could do that. But we don't have the population of english learners or emergent bilingual learners that
Other districts have.

1495
03:11:11,170 --> 03:11:11,170
so if we did, I don't think we'd be having this conversation.

1496
03:11:15,580 --> 03:11:18,730
actually, I know we wouldn't because it would be mandated. But you know, so I, I want to just kind of have more information on how many students we
Have in the

1497
03:11:28,000 --> 03:11:30,460
program and where they all are. And then I, I'm not really worried about vouchers in terms of spanish immersion, because
I think, frankly, like we are known in eanes for providing

1498
03:11:40,450 --> 03:11:42,070
an amazing education. And our secret sauce, frankly, isn't spanish immersion.

1499
03:11:45,970 --> 03:11:49,510
our secret sauce is everything about our district. And so if somebody is just here for immersion, they're not.

1500
03:11:54,610 --> 03:11:57,570
that's not what we do completely. Like if they just want immersion, they should maybe go to magellan or somewhere that
Provides a true dual language full immersion program because we're never

1501
03:12:07,500 --> 03:12:08,940
going to be able to offer that. And so, you know, I value language.

1502
03:12:12,360 --> 03:12:12,360
I took spanish my entire life until I went to college.

1503
03:12:17,700 --> 03:12:17,700
I, I have no problem with an immersion program, but, you know, to some other people's
Point, I, I do want more information and I do

1504
03:12:27,570 --> 03:12:29,880
struggle with some of the inefficiencies. And to laura's point, you know, the special education impact, the dwindling class sizes
At the upper grades, which ellen talked about

1505
03:12:40,560 --> 03:12:40,560
you know, and then what it does at the middle school level, we still haven't worked some
Of these issues out.

1506
03:12:45,210 --> 03:12:48,660
and so there's still work to be done. And we're only on the first year of the 9010. And I'm so glad that it's going well.

1507
03:12:50,370 --> 03:12:53,880
I've heard that it is going better than previous iterations. But you know, we're not we're not done fixing the program.

1508
03:12:56,870 --> 03:12:56,870
and so I do need more information on how this would work.

1509
03:13:06,560 --> 03:13:06,560
thank you. Heather ellen.

1510
03:13:13,550 --> 03:13:13,550
I just want to add that again, having said that, I do think that the attrition we are
Seeing in our upper elementary grades has a

1511
03:13:23,420 --> 03:13:26,480
lot to do with self-inflicted wounds. And it's the transition uncertainties moving from 50 over 50 and us suggesting that maybe
That was not ideal to 90 over ten.

1512
03:13:35,240 --> 03:13:35,240
so I do think it is is a blip in time.

1513
03:13:39,740 --> 03:13:39,740
and we should make sure that we think about those things when we look at these numbers.

1514
03:13:44,360 --> 03:13:44,360
but I also think there are other ways to solve classroom inefficiency.

1515
03:13:50,450 --> 03:13:50,450
and in the same way that we've talked about having more efficiency with the blended
School.

1516
03:13:56,770 --> 03:13:56,770
I know that it was not something that was considered or moved forward on earlier, but I
Do think there are ways to look at spanish immersion and consider

1517
03:14:06,760 --> 03:14:06,760
how we might solve our inefficiency problems in other ways.

1518
03:14:11,080 --> 03:14:11,080
I still believe that a destination school for spanish immersion might be an option, or
Have centers or something like that.

1519
03:14:20,860 --> 03:14:20,860
there are other ways. I mean, if if we feel like this is systemic and it's going to go on
Forever, which I don't think is the case, you know, I think there are other ways that and

1520
03:14:29,530 --> 03:14:29,530
other educational models that I'd love to hear from the administration whether or not we
Could consider some of those.

1521
03:14:36,880 --> 03:14:36,880
and the last thing I'll say is that for years we've had parents say they would help
Support this program

1522
03:14:46,060 --> 03:14:50,010
financially, and I just wish there was a way we could get to. Yes. I mean that we could accept.

1523
03:14:52,200 --> 03:14:54,690
yes. When? When it's said to us. So could could I get clarification as to whether or not if, if a parent gives

1524
03:15:04,200 --> 03:15:04,200
a direct financial gift to the school district and respectfully ask that it be directed
To a certain program, is that

1525
03:15:13,710 --> 03:15:13,710
legal, or do they have to go through a foundation?

1526
03:15:18,840 --> 03:15:20,220
and why? Why do we discourage parents from giving us gifts on a special program like this?

1527
03:15:29,850 --> 03:15:29,850
we we would certainly accept any donation that people want to give.

1528
03:15:34,590 --> 03:15:34,590
usually we do direct them if they just want to give a general donation to go through ief.

1529
03:15:44,340 --> 03:15:44,340
it the issue would be, you know, we're not really set up to to show the accounting being
Able to track money.

1530
03:15:51,860 --> 03:15:54,590
if they said this money is to go to this, it. It's easy to show if they're saying here's $26,000, we want you to do this $26,000
Project.

1531
03:16:02,960 --> 03:16:05,510
that's that's easy enough to show. They gave the money. We did the project.

1532
03:16:08,480 --> 03:16:10,640
it's harder to show. Here is $20,000.

1533
03:16:13,220 --> 03:16:16,790
apply it towards these particular teachers. We don't have a good way of tracking that.

1534
03:16:18,860 --> 03:16:18,860
and so that would be I'm just worried about being accountable and being able to actually
Show what it is that people are asking us to

1535
03:16:28,520 --> 03:16:28,520
show. And that's why whenever they ask about just giving for a program in general like
That, that we would typically refer them to.

1536
03:16:39,050 --> 03:16:39,050
but like I said, if they said we want to give it directly to you, we'll take it.

1537
03:16:43,880 --> 03:16:43,880
but the the being able to the show proved that my $20,000 went to this particular
Teacher.

1538
03:16:51,720 --> 03:16:52,980
that's harder to do. Yeah, I think if audrey were here, I think she would say that we're not allowed to use
That are directly to the school district, nor can we guarantee that that gift would be tax

1539
03:17:02,550 --> 03:17:02,550
deductible. And the only way to ensure either a restricted gift or a tax deduction for
The donor is if they're giving to eve, in our case.

1540
03:17:16,830 --> 03:17:20,490
I'm heather and then diane. Just two other quick things.

1541
03:17:21,870 --> 03:17:21,870
one, you know, we still have forest trail that doesn't have spanish immersion.

1542
03:17:28,380 --> 03:17:28,380
and so, you know, again, if we're talking about equity and all the things like maybe
There's an opportunity to

1543
03:17:38,310 --> 03:17:38,310
look at it in, I don't know, it just makes me think like, okay, if it's an amazing
Program, why don't we started at forest trail also, we've had that

1544
03:17:47,840 --> 03:17:51,020
conversation. I'm just thinking about it again out loud. But then I'm also curious about the retention from the teacher standpoint and how hard it
Is to attract and retain our

1545
03:18:00,890 --> 03:18:01,970
c teachers. And so I know I think I've heard in the past and I don't know what this is now, but I
Believe we only have one remaining teacher from the

1546
03:18:11,270 --> 03:18:14,090
original c cohort. Is that correct? Okay.

1547
03:18:19,400 --> 03:18:19,400
and so I'm curious to know how many we have even from year two or year three.

1548
03:18:24,710 --> 03:18:28,700
like what's our retention rate for our staff? And what.

1549
03:18:33,080 --> 03:18:33,080
I'm just curious about the staff and retention.

1550
03:18:38,780 --> 03:18:38,780
diane. Following up on your question, ellen, about donations to help support the program.

1551
03:18:47,020 --> 03:18:47,020
is it possible, like, in the way that we have an athletic fee, for example, at the high
School, there's no way you're shaking your head, james.

1552
03:18:56,680 --> 03:19:00,130
so there's no way of having a spanish immersion fee. Program fee. Okay.

1553
03:19:02,500 --> 03:19:06,370
because it's an academic. I'm sorry, but I'm curious as to why. Yeah. Go ahead. I'm just curious as to why.

1554
03:19:10,330 --> 03:19:13,600
is it because it's an academic program versus a co-curricular? Molly, do you want to expound on that?

1555
03:19:15,550 --> 03:19:17,290
I mean, that's the that's the reason. Yeah. Thank you.

1556
03:19:27,340 --> 03:19:30,490
any other trustee questions? Thoughts? I have a couple of questions.

1557
03:19:33,580 --> 03:19:33,580
so and heather kind of alluded to this, but I want to get it like officially asked the
Question with special education, the gifted and talented program and other

1558
03:19:42,950 --> 03:19:42,950
programs. We receive supplemental state and federal and or federal funding in addition to
The basic allotment.

1559
03:19:49,100 --> 03:19:49,100
is there any supplemental funding from the state that supports immersion programs?

1560
03:19:53,810 --> 03:19:57,590
no, no. Does the administration feel that the district has appropriately marketed spanish
Immersion?

1561
03:20:03,440 --> 03:20:03,440
absolutely. Does I can I just stop because I do hear people in the background snickering?

1562
03:20:10,940 --> 03:20:10,940
we have very targeted marketing that we've done, and miss mcwhorter can speak to that.

1563
03:20:16,610 --> 03:20:16,610
we have all the analytics about where we have targeted.

1564
03:20:20,630 --> 03:20:23,180
we have. And we can show you in next week. If you tune into the board meeting, you're going to see heat maps of where all our
Transfer students come from.

1565
03:20:29,300 --> 03:20:31,580
because we do have a program now that does all of that. We have been very targeted in our marketing.

1566
03:20:34,040 --> 03:20:34,040
we have gone, you know, year after year to specific areas about the spanish immersion
Program not only just transfers, but the

1567
03:20:43,840 --> 03:20:43,840
program. So I just I know that people say, you know, people don't know about this or they
Haven't heard about that.

1568
03:20:49,660 --> 03:20:49,660
there's a lot of things that come out in the world that people miss, you know?

1569
03:20:54,250 --> 03:20:58,120
but we have been very, very directed and very targeted in our marketing. And we've also heard from a lot of families who say that they don't want to make this
Drive.

1570
03:21:03,910 --> 03:21:03,910
you know, it's very it's very difficult for some families to come into the district.

1571
03:21:08,200 --> 03:21:08,200
so I, you know, in all next week when we do this presentation, I'll show all the transfer
Data.

1572
03:21:14,950 --> 03:21:17,740
it's been very stable over the years. I don't think we're going to I don't think we're missing huge groups of, of students with
Our marketing around spanish immersion.

1573
03:21:24,640 --> 03:21:28,330
so I just want to I just want to clarify that. And my next question was going to be, do you feel that a lot more marketing would
Significantly change the enrollment in spanish immersion?

1574
03:21:34,420 --> 03:21:38,370
I don't, and I'd love miss mcwhorter. Yeah, I mean, molly, my best friend. Thank you. Yeah.

1575
03:21:40,830 --> 03:21:42,090
it's this. I mean, as a communications professional, I've heard this all my life.

1576
03:21:47,790 --> 03:21:50,910
and and I always ask for. There was. There was a gentleman at cedar creek earlier this week from the circle c area
Who came up to me afterwards, and he said, we love it

1577
03:22:00,450 --> 03:22:00,450
here. We just found out about it just haphazardly.

1578
03:22:05,190 --> 03:22:09,150
how how are how are you not getting to people? And I said I would I would ask you that because circle c in fact is in dripping springs.

1579
03:22:16,890 --> 03:22:16,890
are areas that we really target in terms of social media ads, media buys.

1580
03:22:25,110 --> 03:22:29,070
and, and trying to do word of mouth as well. And that's kind of what it came down to for him in particular.

1581
03:22:33,780 --> 03:22:33,780
he said he's telling his neighbors who are saying, how do you get in there?

1582
03:22:38,390 --> 03:22:38,390
how did you do that? He's telling them that is much more powerful than claudia putting
Out a facebook ad that you're going to flip

1583
03:22:48,380 --> 03:22:50,990
by and you may not even see. So we are always open to recommendations.

1584
03:22:54,980 --> 03:22:54,980
we have tried different strategies over the years.

1585
03:23:00,380 --> 03:23:00,380
this particular campaign that we did, because we knew we wanted to get a lot more spanish
Immersion transfer children.

1586
03:23:09,350 --> 03:23:12,110
we were really aggressive. And and to molly's point, what we have heard from several people is traffic is a bear.

1587
03:23:20,780 --> 03:23:22,670
I mean, I'm driving in from dripping springs. I can tell you, it's not easy to get here.

1588
03:23:26,030 --> 03:23:26,030
and for someone to have to do that every single day to get their kid to school on time,
Also to be able to pick them up by

1589
03:23:35,200 --> 03:23:35,200
250, take them to whatever after school activities they have.

1590
03:23:39,520 --> 03:23:41,590
it's not as easy as it sounds. You have to be truly, truly committed.

1591
03:23:44,020 --> 03:23:44,020
and that is what we've heard from a lot of families.

1592
03:23:49,300 --> 03:23:52,660
thank you, claudia and molly. I think my next question is kind of rhetorical, but like travis and dripping springs are
A similar size to us.

1593
03:23:58,120 --> 03:23:58,120
why don't they have spanish immersion programs if it's if it's a great way to attract
People and turn yourself into a flagship district?

1594
03:24:04,090 --> 03:24:07,030
I'm just I'm left asking myself that. Obviously there's there's more to it than that.

1595
03:24:10,090 --> 03:24:10,090
what has been the stipend trend over time and what is the outlook?

1596
03:24:20,800 --> 03:24:23,020
for stipends almost. I mean, regularly obviously.

1597
03:24:25,960 --> 03:24:27,310
what is the outlook? We are looking at districts that are up in the $10,000 mark for, for bilingual stipends.

1598
03:24:33,770 --> 03:24:33,770
and like heather had mentioned, they are districts who may get some type of funding for
That, but that's not something that we receive.

1599
03:24:41,300 --> 03:24:44,810
yeah. So upward every year it's it's upward climbing. It is it's a conversation every year among human resources groups.

1600
03:24:48,890 --> 03:24:52,580
and typically they try to hold out and not tell you what they're doing. And then you find that they've increased their stipend.

1601
03:24:55,850 --> 03:24:58,250
you know, several thousand dollars. Yeah. So to put a bow on my thoughts we're in a tight budget time and there is no extra
Funding to support this

1602
03:25:07,880 --> 03:25:07,880
program. So this this is a an optional program, one might say luxury program in a time
When we can't afford luxuries

1603
03:25:17,780 --> 03:25:20,660
because of the way the state is cutting back our funding. But I would support the idea of finding other ways to offer spanish instruction in all of
Our elementary schools.

1604
03:25:29,180 --> 03:25:29,180
I mean, we hear about the benefits of of learning additional languages and the benefits
That that has on children and I would support.

1605
03:25:38,110 --> 03:25:39,670
I know that we used to do that. I'm not saying that it was as effective as immersion, but it would be something that we
Could offer to all of our elementary students and help reduce the

1606
03:25:49,450 --> 03:25:51,220
inefficiencies that we've discussed. So I would support keeping this one on the list for now.

1607
03:25:54,340 --> 03:25:54,340
and I believe that that's for keeps and three removes.

1608
03:25:59,170 --> 03:26:02,890
so we'll keep this on the list for now for consideration. Any other trustee?

1609
03:26:04,060 --> 03:26:05,290
heather, did you have another thought? I was just going to say that I appreciate all the work that has gone into it for the
Marketing, but also we are not a charter school and don't have that big of a marketing

1610
03:26:11,800 --> 03:26:11,800
budget. We are here to provide education, so just wanted to keep that in mind.

1611
03:26:17,530 --> 03:26:17,530
I did want to draw your attention to this slide that I shared earlier.

1612
03:26:21,640 --> 03:26:21,640
this would be our short list within the longer list of the things that we would strongly
Recommend the board consider or give us feedback on notice.

1613
03:26:31,020 --> 03:26:32,880
spanish immersion is not on this list. It's not our preference in terms of the things that we would ask the board to seriously
Consider.

1614
03:26:39,270 --> 03:26:39,270
however, if anything comes off of this list, it needs to be replaced with at least one
Other thing.

1615
03:26:46,200 --> 03:26:46,200
so you you know, you're wrestling with all of these just like we are.

1616
03:26:52,020 --> 03:26:52,020
spanish immersion is not something that we're recommending that you strongly consider
Unless you cannot consider something that is on this short list.

1617
03:27:01,470 --> 03:27:03,180
I did want to ask another question. And, chris, perhaps you can clarify.

1618
03:27:05,700 --> 03:27:05,700
there is a perception that spanish immersion generates revenue for the school district.

1619
03:27:10,260 --> 03:27:13,170
we do not charge tuition for spanish immersion. Can you make that distinction between what is revenue generating and how does it offset
Our recapture payment?

1620
03:27:19,650 --> 03:27:19,650
sure. See, students get treated like any other student.

1621
03:27:25,080 --> 03:27:28,610
so whether they're in a traditional classroom or in a classroom. They count as students and we count them for average daily attendance.

1622
03:27:32,870 --> 03:27:32,870
and so and so student is not generating any more or less than a kid in a traditional
Classroom.

1623
03:27:40,100 --> 03:27:40,100
and so for that matter, you know, if you make the assumption that, that you keep all the
C kids in a traditional classroom, then you

1624
03:27:49,970 --> 03:27:49,970
then you save money because the c program is more expensive than the traditional
Classroom.

1625
03:27:57,140 --> 03:27:57,140
and, you know, we've heard that that won't be the case, that we would certainly lose some
Students if we didn't have the c, and so we would have to factor that in.

1626
03:28:04,820 --> 03:28:04,820
but it's not a money generating program.

1627
03:28:10,910 --> 03:28:13,700
and then also wanted to mention something. As molly said earlier, spanish immersion is an enrichment program.

1628
03:28:18,380 --> 03:28:18,380
it's the only enrichment program offered at the elementary level that meets the $500,000
Threshold.

1629
03:28:24,800 --> 03:28:27,900
in terms of what we know its expenses to be. If we have to modify the program, or if we have to eliminate the program in its current
Structure, then it's been suggested that we could offer it as an enrichment

1630
03:28:37,710 --> 03:28:37,710
program, perhaps as part of our after school menu of opportunities, and then it might
Become a revenue generation program.

1631
03:28:45,960 --> 03:28:45,960
that obviously entails a lot of other dynamics, and families would have to take into
Consideration whether that's even within their realm of

1632
03:28:55,170 --> 03:28:58,800
possibility. But I think, mr. Spradley, you said that there may be some other form of the program that we could look
At, and we're certainly open to considering that.

1633
03:29:07,680 --> 03:29:07,680
yeah, it would be great to hear that in our next discussion of this.

1634
03:29:12,840 --> 03:29:16,350
so our next topic, I believe. I wonder if there's any reason to discuss freezing salaries.

1635
03:29:22,110 --> 03:29:25,280
I think none of us likes this option. I don't think we have to make a decision on this now.

1636
03:29:27,230 --> 03:29:27,230
a lot of this will be, you know, hopefully will be the state will come through and help
Us and this won't be an issue.

1637
03:29:34,700 --> 03:29:37,580
so I'm not, you know, trustees. Do you want to do you feel any reason. Yeah. Heather I'll just add I know that the governor recently did say he wants to give
Increases to pay teachers and that

1638
03:29:47,570 --> 03:29:47,570
they are looking for ways to do that outside of the basic allotment.

1639
03:29:52,280 --> 03:29:52,280
and if any of the lobbyists in the district are wanting to help us teachers is actually
Looking for a new lobbyist.

1640
03:29:58,760 --> 03:29:58,760
so you know, with the 450 million asked to the state, let's get them that.

1641
03:30:05,810 --> 03:30:05,810
so again, I think that this is one area where we may actually get some help from the
State where I cannot say that about a lot of the other things that we're looking

1642
03:30:15,530 --> 03:30:16,880
at. Thank you. Heather. And then the last topic would be staff reductions again, this is probably
Something that we would look at depending

1643
03:30:26,750 --> 03:30:29,420
on what the other menu looked like. The the other options that were decided, this would be perhaps helping to get to the
Final number.

1644
03:30:36,650 --> 03:30:38,390
we're trying to get to. Correct. I don't know. I don't think any of us is going to sit here and say, yeah, I support
Reducing staff.

1645
03:30:43,610 --> 03:30:46,970
I don't I don't think that's what we're looking to do here. And it has an impact on our children. But any other I mean, I'm not trying to cut off conversation.

1646
03:30:52,160 --> 03:30:53,330
I'm. Go ahead. Kim. Yeah, I well, then I agree with you that no one wants to freeze salaries and no one wants
To reduce staff.

1647
03:31:04,520 --> 03:31:04,520
but I'd like to understand from doctor arnett then.

1648
03:31:09,680 --> 03:31:12,320
or cabinet. What are the next steps? Because I don't see a whole lot eliminated, and we're still grappling with the number.

1649
03:31:17,960 --> 03:31:21,960
and we're going to have to make further decisions. So we have a meeting on the 19th.

1650
03:31:25,440 --> 03:31:28,260
I don't want to jump in front of the rest. Any further discussion, but I'd like to understand what what we and the community may see
In terms of we've

1651
03:31:38,220 --> 03:31:38,220
asked for additional information, but of of the six things seven, seven options here, I
Don't

1652
03:31:48,300 --> 03:31:50,880
know how many have come off. If we're recapping them how do we move this conversation along or what is what is doctor
Arnett's

1653
03:32:00,300 --> 03:32:03,510
suggestion on moving this along? We've got more information coming, but but then we, you know, the rubber's going to hit
The road, and we need to cull this list.

1654
03:32:10,590 --> 03:32:10,590
so the next meeting on november the 19th, you are going to hear a very extensive
Enrollment presentation.

1655
03:32:15,960 --> 03:32:15,960
I think that will perhaps answer some of your questions related to the blending of barton
Creek and valley view, as well as spanish immersion, and how

1656
03:32:25,850 --> 03:32:25,850
transfer students factor into those different scenarios.

1657
03:32:30,230 --> 03:32:32,300
so that may give you some more clarity. I think we have notes on some other things that you're interested in knowing related to
The programs.

1658
03:32:39,020 --> 03:32:39,020
we'll try to provide as much information as we can at the november 19th meeting.

1659
03:32:43,760 --> 03:32:43,760
we meet again on december the 10th, but by january we need to be kind of entering the
Funnel.

1660
03:32:50,060 --> 03:32:50,060
we need to be making some decisions about what, if any, of these reductions are feasible
For next year.

1661
03:32:56,960 --> 03:32:56,960
I think the one consensus we heard from this evening is, is that we should proceed with
The possibility of blending the two schools.

1662
03:33:05,810 --> 03:33:05,810
and again, a lot of work is going on behind the scenes related to that and even more to
Come over the next month.

1663
03:33:12,950 --> 03:33:12,950
so I think by december the 10th, you'll have more information either in the meetings or
Aside from the meetings and information that we'll provide to the board.

1664
03:33:22,290 --> 03:33:25,260
to give you more clarity around some of these questions. Right. If I could just follow up.

1665
03:33:27,960 --> 03:33:27,960
I mean, what what I heard the majority of people saying was that there's probably good
Support around naming rights and there's probably good support

1666
03:33:37,590 --> 03:33:37,590
around blending the two schools, but that's 2.5 and that's that's nowhere near what we
Need.

1667
03:33:47,190 --> 03:33:47,190
so. We're looking so you're asking from us by december 10th to give

1668
03:33:56,970 --> 03:33:56,970
you additional information to move forward.

1669
03:34:00,990 --> 03:34:00,990
some of these are administration decisions and some of them are.

1670
03:34:05,250 --> 03:34:07,320
and we should have feedback by then. But some of them are voting or trustee voting decisions.

1671
03:34:12,090 --> 03:34:12,090
and the action on those that would require a board decision, which would be the voter
Approved tax ratification election,

1672
03:34:21,440 --> 03:34:21,440
the the blending of the two schools, and eliminating or modifying spanish immersion
Program.

1673
03:34:28,610 --> 03:34:28,610
we would anticipate those votes to occur in january.

1674
03:34:32,660 --> 03:34:32,660
if so, the others are mostly administrative decisions.

1675
03:34:38,240 --> 03:34:38,240
and those are those are conversations that we would have in concert with the board over
The course of the next couple of months.

1676
03:34:46,400 --> 03:34:46,400
thank you. So I would envision that in january, probably at the second meeting, although
I think there's a january we wanted to vote on the vatre before the

1677
03:34:56,420 --> 03:34:58,610
session started. So we would probably have a voting meeting.

1678
03:35:02,690 --> 03:35:02,690
we would turn our first meeting in january into a voting meeting, and we we could vote on
All three of those that you

1679
03:35:11,950 --> 03:35:11,950
mentioned up or down, unless you tell us before then that you don't feel that they need
Further consideration and that you tend to come off the list.

1680
03:35:19,870 --> 03:35:23,290
what is the process for getting the additional information that has been requested? Is that going to come to us in memos, or will they be board presentations?

1681
03:35:26,680 --> 03:35:30,280
I think it'll be a combination. We have another meeting next week. There's going to be quite a bit of enrollment data that will intersect with a number of
These topics that we'll be presenting to you.

1682
03:35:38,530 --> 03:35:38,530
and then there probably will be some information provided via memos as well.

1683
03:35:43,420 --> 03:35:43,420
okay. It just isn't clear to me that we're going to have another discussion like this
Before we vote.

1684
03:35:49,210 --> 03:35:51,010
and that may be okay. We'll have a discussion when we vote as well.

1685
03:35:53,650 --> 03:35:56,380
but it's not going to be this broad. But we could schedule an additional workshop as well if the board would like that.

1686
03:36:00,070 --> 03:36:03,040
yeah. Ellen, you had a question. It's similar to this, but, I mean, we need to resolve how the the board will give input
And decisions, but I'm curious as to what our public information and

1687
03:36:12,900 --> 03:36:12,900
public engagement half of this will also be, because I'm sure there will be additional
Questions perhaps new information

1688
03:36:22,650 --> 03:36:25,890
other ideas and questions that the public will have. And so I'm curious as to whether or not we have plans in place for that public engagement
We do specific to the blending of the two schools.

1689
03:36:35,670 --> 03:36:35,670
we've already talked about that communication strategy on some of these other topics.

1690
03:36:40,020 --> 03:36:40,020
again, if the board wants us to proceed with them, then we'll talk about what public
Engagement looks like around each of these individually or as a whole.

1691
03:36:51,390 --> 03:36:51,390
we're truly looking for direction from the board as to how you want us to proceed, and we
Need that clarity from the seven trustees to know how

1692
03:37:01,350 --> 03:37:01,350
you want us to proceed with the things that have been discussed tonight.

1693
03:37:06,750 --> 03:37:09,700
so my question. My follow up question was going to be similar to ellen's in terms of public education.

1694
03:37:14,500 --> 03:37:14,500
I have not been to a community behind the scenes presentation yet.

1695
03:37:19,480 --> 03:37:19,480
how much of this data or could be incorporated into that?

1696
03:37:28,420 --> 03:37:28,420
because I would expect that as you roll this out at different schools and different
Communities, that these questions are going to come up.

1697
03:37:36,970 --> 03:37:36,970
so the presentations have evolved over the last few weeks, and we do now incorporate a
Significant amount of time to the financial

1698
03:37:46,840 --> 03:37:50,170
challenges that chris presented to you this evening. So that is a part of my presentation.

1699
03:37:52,870 --> 03:37:52,870
as we've had emerging conversations around the blending of the elementary schools, I've
Also incorporated that conversation into the presentation.

1700
03:38:02,110 --> 03:38:02,110
some of these other topics, like the plcs spanish immersion.

1701
03:38:07,740 --> 03:38:07,740
we've not spent as much time on those because we needed some direction from the board
This evening if we wanted to go there.

1702
03:38:15,720 --> 03:38:15,720
I think at the secondary level, when we talk to our staff, that probably will be great
Interest in the plc conversation.

1703
03:38:30,750 --> 03:38:30,750
any other thoughts?

1704
03:38:34,830 --> 03:38:34,830
I believe that gets us through our agenda.

1705
03:38:39,090 --> 03:38:39,090
thank you guys very much for being here tonight and for helping us talk through this.

1706
03:38:43,590 --> 03:38:44,610
this has been very helpful. Thank you to the audience who has stayed and online as well.

1707
03:38:49,530 --> 03:38:52,890
at this point, we will adjourn this meeting. At what time is it?

1708
03:38:54,480 --> 03:38:54,480
952? Our next meeting is tuesday, november 19th.

1709
03:39:00,180 --> 03:39:00,180
until then, the board stands adjourned.