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Good evening and welcome to the business meeting of the hays cisd board of trustees.

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we appreciate all of you for being here and welcome everyone also listening online.

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today is monday, march 30th, 2026 and the time is 5:30 p.m..

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a quorum has been established and all members of the board are present at this time. Mr. Trustee will lead us off with the pledge of allegiance.

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thank you. Trustee flores, will you please read our mission statement? Hays cisd makes it 100% possible. Yes it does.

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trustee orosco. Will you please read our social contract? The board will trust positive
And noble intent.

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engage with respect, professionalism and purpose. Act with accountability and a growth mindset.

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model unity as district ambassadors. Thank you.

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at this time, we're going to move to our public portion public forum portion of the
Meeting. I have 1010 speakers tonight.

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with that we're going to do everyone's going to get three minutes.

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when I call your name, you're going to come to the podium. We'll help you. There's a
Little button on the on the mic,

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little people. Looks like a little head. You push that on. This top part here turns green.

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that means your mic is on and ready to go. And then when you're ready,
You'll have three minutes.

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and I'm also going to read some of this to you as well. During the public forum portion of
The meeting,

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we invite and welcome members of the public to share their thoughts,
Concerns or comments with the board. This is an important opportunity for the board to

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listen and understand perspectives of the community. However,
Please note that the board members are unable to respond directly to comments made during

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public forum. Any member of the public who wishes to address the board in public forum
Must have completed a green sheet located at the front at the entrance of the meeting

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room, prior to the board reconvening in open session,
Which is. We're doing that beginning to change my script there. Public participation in board
Meetings is limited to the public forum portion of the meeting, as provided in local board

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and board policy b e d local. Please be aware that the audio and video of public forum is
Recorded as part of the recording of the entire meeting,

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and is published on the district's website, without alteration. Alteration. A person who chooses to speak in public forum is consenting to the online
Publication of their comments.

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okay, again, we have ten speakers. Everyone's going to get three minutes. The first
Speaker tonight is going to be catherine haebe.

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come on up. Thank you, mr.

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dale. All right, there we go. All right. Good evening,
Doctor wright and members of the board.

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my name is catherine hebb, and I know you've probably seen me up here before,
But just in case,

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I am a parent and hays cisd a ptsa leader and an active volunteer on our campuses.

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while I have some professional knowledge in school finance,
I am here tonight strictly as a parent and an advocate for our students and teachers to

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address agenda item k nine relating to the preliminary budgeting decisions for the 2026
2027 fiscal year.

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I've spent a lot of time on our campuses long enough to watch educators in action,
Hear their concerns,

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and see that many of our students needs are already not being met. My children attend two of our largest middle school and elementary school title one
Campuses.

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I've seen students from all walks of life in our hallways. So when I look at these proposed cuts, I have some serious concerns.

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I question how much campus level input was included and how the impact on larger and title
One campuses was weighed,

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because these decisions will not be felt equally. Cutting lifelines like communities and schools support in half impact students who are
Already most at risk.

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reducing fine arts and athletic opportunities while introducing participation fees creates
Barriers to belonging and access.

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these are programs that keep students engaged and connected. And while some programs already have fees, we know that that is already a barrier that
Many students are facing.

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increasing class sizes is also concerning. Research shows that larger classes harm student
Achievement,

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especially for at risk students. As a parent of a child receiving special education
Services and another on a 504 plan,

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I worry about how these challenges will affect teachers ability to provide individualized
Instruction or small group support.

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larger class sizes, strain legally mandated accommodations,
And make behavior challenges and limited social supports even harder to manage.

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and then there are the people that are impacted by these decisions. Our librarian is not an extra. She is a cornerstone of our campus,
Supporting literacy, student leadership,

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and connection. For students like my son, from a finance perspective,
I understand the need to make difficult decisions.

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but not all cuts are equal in their impact. Budgets are moral documents.

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they reflect what we value. Hays cisd says it's 100% hays,
But when the first proposed cuts affects programs and supports that serve our most

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vulnerable students, I have to ask you, are you truly making it 100% possible for all
Students in our district?

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some of these cuts may result in greater losses over time through disengagement,
Decreased attendance,

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or families seeking opportunities elsewhere. I encourage each of you to spend time on our
Campuses beyond celebrations and photo opportunities,

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to see the day to day realities that our students and our staff experiences.

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then I urge you to reconsider how these decisions align with the values that we say that
We hold and who they will impact the most.

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thank you. All right. Next we have up able. He.

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got it. There you go. Good evening, doctor wright and members of the board. My name is abel. I'm a student at mccormick middle school. I'm proud to be a tiger and
Also a member of njhs.

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here to speak about agenda item k nine and how cuts in fine arts and athletics will affect
Students like me.

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last year I played on b team football and c team basketball. Being on those teams gave me a place to belong,
Make friends and give me a reason to show up every day.

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my coaches remind us that we are student athletes and student comes first. My coaches are also teachers. One of my favorite classes in middle school has been
Engineering with coach, who's inspired me to take engineering cte course in high school

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because of them. I ricardor in class every day and try my best on and off the field.

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I've been putting in the work to get better and move up next year,
But with these changes, I wonder what if I don't make the team at all? What if my friends

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don't? Many of us can't afford to play outside of school because of costs,
And if we do, will we be able to afford to play?

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because some of my friends already struggle to afford shoes and cleats.

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I'm also in band or school, just earned sweepstakes at uil. I want to continue in high school, even though doing band and sports won't be easy.

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but now I wonder if my family will make me choose because of the costs. Showing up to school matters not just for us,
But for funding too.

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I wonder how many students stopped showing up when they don't have something to look for.
These programs are not just extras,

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they are reasons we come to school. The reasons we show up to work hard. The reason we feel like we belong. Cutting them doesn't just save money.

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it takes away our chances to be a part of something we belong to grow and to have the same
Opportunities as everyone else.

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I hope you will consider what these cuts really mean for us when you make your decision.

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thank you. All right. Next we have up bella beard.

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I turn that little hit the button, the little people button to turn the light green on
Your mic.

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perfect. Hi, my name is bella beard. I'm a junior at hays high school,
A captain on our speech and debate team.

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and I also compete in uil academics. I thank you for this opportunity to speak,
But I share almost everyone's frustration here with the lack of programmatic funding.

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while academics is the only activity not covered by district funding,
And our speech and debate program is funded only through the generosity of our campus

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principal, tina salazar. I naively believed that this was because the district needed to
Fund the students at the bottom who were struggling just to pass their classes.

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therefore, they didn't have the funds to fund the kids at the top,
Such as speech and debate.

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but what thursday's email has opened my eyes to is the fact that our district does value
Funding the top more than anything else,

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just not the students at the top. After further research,
I learned that doctor wright makes an approximate $364,000 a year.

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that is more than 98% of district superintendents in the state of texas.

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his cabinet makes an average of $190,000 a year,
But the median median income for our district is 91,000,

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and the average income for teachers is 64,000. Our district should be valuing its teachers the most,
But we're not. To illustrate the importance of our teachers,

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I would like to ask the district administrators to consider these questions and how their
Answers might differ from those of our district's teachers. How often do you take hundreds

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of pieces of paperwork home to work on after your 12 hour day? How often do you make the decision to not eat dinner with your families because you have
To stay at work. How often?

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how often do you. Are you forced to work through your 35 minute lunch?

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how many times does a student in crisis come to you because you are the only trusted adult
In their corner?

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I can confidently venture to say that the answers are district administrators would
Provide are likely not the same as our teachers. Our teachers are the most valuable asset

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the district has. Yet we continue to decrease funding and increase workload. Now,
To curb this issue, I have a few proposals I would like this board to consider. Number

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one, each administrative member of the central office should work as a substitute teacher
Two days a month.

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this would not only save the district around $112,000 or two entire teachers,
But it would give some perspective as to what the teachers of this district experience on

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a daily basis, and what teaching in a post-covid classroom is really like. And then maybe
Everyone would understand how vital their jobs are.

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and hey, maybe we can even go crazy and make that three days a month for $164,000 of
Savings.

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second, the superintendent and his cabinet should no longer be given stipends for advanced
Degrees, because if it's too much to pay teachers, then it's too much to pay them. I

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encourage the board to not let this extremely unfair and top heavy budget pass. To quote doctor eric wright himself, it is imperative that students learn from highly
Qualified role models and that their talents are recognized and used as a foundational

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cornerstone. It's obvious to me, and I hope now it's obvious to you that we cannot let
This budget pass and expect very good and high quality teachers to teach our students.

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so we need to make the right decision and rethink the structure of the hays cisd budget.

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next up will be jesse hargrave. And then when y'all leave,
Y'all can leave the just leave the mic on.

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when you walk, we just leave it on for the next person to come up. Thank you. Yep.

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got it. Good afternoon, board members. Doctor wright.

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I'm here to speak with you. Like much other people about agenda item k nine budget
Proposal.

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people across this district will lose their positions due to this new budget.

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it is unfortunate and disruptive to many families. Further taxing tia employees. People that are bringing money into this district due to the
9010 split will be more damaging to their

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families than it will be beneficial. These teachers are extremely qualified and have
Worked extremely hard to both make money for their families and for the district which

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they will reside. Stipends. By passing this budget,
You will effectively take money away from your best,

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highest earning qualified teachers. This will affect over one half of hays cisd teachers
And these

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teachers. Many of them may choose to go work elsewhere. And I frankly do not blame them. A stipend for an advanced degree is being taken away,
A stipend that many of these teachers paid or signed up with.

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with a two year contract. Under that two year contract,
They were told that they would be receiving the stipend for two years.

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this has been taken away due to this budget cuts. Sped stipends are another major issue, and the fact that sped is one of the most difficult
Jobs to get filled.

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that's why this stipend exists. If we take away these stipends,
It will take away good qualified teachers and it will take away good,

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qualified, sped and inclusion teachers as well. This district has bonded the community to death.

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they have consistently passed bond after bond. It is no surprise that they finally had enough with the tree last election.

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they said no more. They paid for this beautiful building that we're in. They paid for many other great pavilions that can be used during part time.

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the community has had enough of this, and they want you to find a better way to balance
The budget.

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and that, in my opinion, does not include taking money away from what you all,
As a board,

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have considered your most important employees. Now, I'm not just a man with problems. I have solutions as well.

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in your own outline, you mentioned selling property that you own. How much of that property is on the market right now? My guess would be zero properties.

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that's an issue. If teachers are the foundation of this district,
As I've heard many times from here.

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you will support your teachers. You will back your teachers up.

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we're the only group that is being asked to take less money next year than we are paid
This year.

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not doctor wright, who is a top ten earner of superintendents in the state of texas.

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not his cabinet and not the people that work in this building. The teachers are being asked to take a cut and it's not fair.

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please reject this proposal.

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next up, ruth gleason. I pronounce that right.

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okay, great. You'll have to turn your mic on when you get there,
Too.

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miss gleason. Yeah. There we go. Okay. Hello.

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board and doctor wright. I'm rui gleason. I am the atp president for hays cisd this year.

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this is my first year in that role, and I'm proud to speak on behalf of our members
Tonight to all.

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I'm here to speak about budget item k nine and are my members so far that I've heard from
Since we've had the press release last week.

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they're quite distraught, as you can imagine. There's a lot of teachers thinking of retiring,
Going elsewhere, seeking other employment as a result of what's been put out.

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I think they're most concerned about the stipend,
Suspension and how that's going to affect their pay and they can foresee some problems

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with their families for meeting, making ends meet. We're also really concerned about our class sizes.

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I personally teach fifth grade at tobias. And just imagine 27,
11 year olds in one classroom,

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because that's what my reality is going to be. And a lot of us fifth grade teachers, we've got large bodied kids in elementary sized
Classrooms.

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so we're really concerned about that. I know just on my personal team,
And I know I'm not alone in that and my team is not either.

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so we're just thinking about. Also, if we don't have enough subs and if we have to split
Classes and things like that,

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and how that's going to look, because we do that sometimes when we don't,
When we have an emergency out,

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teacher out. So I just we're just thinking of all the ripple effects. And I think we're just all really concerned because we know that we want to give the best
Possible education to our students day in and day out.

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and we feel like we're going to there's going to be no way that we can maintain that high
Standard with so many students in our classrooms,

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and also being just asked to do more with less. It's just a pattern that we keep seeing, especially since the covid pandemic.

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and we're just, you know, it's a lot. So you can imagine one thing that's come up,
We just in discussing is just

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wondering about the stipends, if we could possibly look at making it more.

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could it be like less per person? I don't know if that's legal. That was something that someone brought up. But just like even it out across teachers,
Instead of everybody that has a stipend,

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especially for an advanced degree, they work so hard for losing out on that. The other thing is, I'm just encouraging you all to look at your budget process,
Make sure that we're thinking about maybe doing some baseline budgeting whenever we see

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that coming up for next school year. And hopefully once we get to the point where we might
Need to do a tax rate election again,

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we can maybe make it lower instead of shooting for the stars and going for $0.12,
Because that was probably what hurt us the most on that from what I'm hearing from

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voters and community members. So but I do appreciate my time that I've spent this school
Year with maribel and kristina

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and doctor wright and I just know, I know that they they have really taken every
Consideration they could to heart.

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and I just hearing what they've talked about. I know that they've tried really hard to make this just like doctor wright has said,
The scalpel approach.

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and I know everyone's just in shock over it. So I'm hoping that there can be some
Revisions in the plan.

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a couple more seconds come up with something. So I just encourage teachers and staff
Members to remember that things can change and probably will and hope we can find a

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solution that makes everyone happy. So thank you for listening.

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thank you. Next up we have alicia hill.

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good evening, trustees and doctor wright. My name is alicia hill and I'm here to speak on
The proposed budget budget cuts.

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I want to start by acknowledging that administrative reductions are included in the plan.

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however, they're not deep enough because the largest impact falls on the classroom.

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we are seeing increased class sizes, additional pressure being placed on already
Overworked teachers.

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that raises serious concerns about priorities. When difficult financial decisions have to be made,
The starting point should be protecting what matters most students and the people directly

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responsible for educating them. Instead, we are seeing a plan where classrooms absorb the
Greatest impact.

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I want to bring in the data that reflects a broader trend in what we're seeing right now
In hays cisd.

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according to the federal education data from the u.s. Department of education national center for education statistics,
Student enrollment has grown by roughly 400%,

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teacher staffing about 500%. But non-teaching staff,
Like the district offices, is over 1,600%.

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that is not a small difference. That is a structural shift. And it raises an important question are we prioritizing classrooms or expanding systems
Around them.

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because when the largest cuts fall on classrooms through increased class sizes,
Added adds strain onto teachers.

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it suggests misalignment with how resources are being allocated at the same time.

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families in the community are already doing more than their fair share,
With ever increasing property taxes,

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parents supplying the classrooms with basic materials to support their children's
Education.

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so when we are told more sacrifice is needed,
The expectation is that those decisions reflect responsible priorities and those

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priorities are set at the district level. If cuts must be made,
The scale should be flipped.

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administrative structure spending and compensation should absorb the greater share.

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before classrooms are ever impacted, because increasing already crowded classrooms and
Asking more of already worked teachers is not a long term

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solution. And it's not sustainable. And to many in the community,
It feels punitive.

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if we truly value education, then our budget should reflect that.

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that means protecting classrooms first. That means supporting teachers and not adding to
Their burden.

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and that means ensuring transparency and accountability on how funds are allocated.

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cuts should be made from the top down, not the bottom up. Our students deserve that. Our teachers deserve that.

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our community expects it. Thank you. Our next speaker,

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miss carla perez. Good

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evening. Doctor wright members of the board. I'm here to talk to you a little bit about
Budget,

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but I think you've heard pretty much how the community feels about the budget proposal
This evening.

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and so I'm going to actually talk a little bit about actually what you guys do.

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some of you are actually going off this board. It is your last year in service. And so we are looking for new school board members as an
Organization here in hays cisd.

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I represent the hays educators association, sda,
And we are very, very much about getting involved and also making

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sure that we vote. I think that the predicament that we are in and facing in public
Schools is because we have a government that is not friendly

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towards public schools. And the truth of the matter is that we need to,
As a community and as a state,

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get back to basics and support public editor for the last 20 years,
We have been under attack.

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we have not been funded and we've been underfunded. And we, we are not doing our due diligence when it comes to providing for the future of
Texas.

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and I'm not talking about just public school. I'm public school teachers. I'm talking about our state legislatures.

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and you are very important community members who have answered the call have come up and
Stepped up to be school board trustees.

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and on april 7th, from 6 to 730 at buda public library.

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this next tuesday, wednesday. Is this next wednesday?

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yes. And yes, tuesday. Sorry. We will be having and hosting a candidate forum for all of
The candidates who have chosen

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to answer the call and be part of the community and want to look for solutions to this
Major issue that

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impacts everyone in this community, because everyone probably has a student,
A son or daughter a mom,

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a brother, someone in the community that works for hays cisd who is going to be directly
Impacted by this,

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these budget cuts. And we know that they have been coming because we didn't pass the tree.

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and so this is the plan. This is a proposal. And maybe we need to look at it a little bit
Further,

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but I want to make sure that people have a chance to voice their opinion.

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and I applaud everyone who has come up here and talked to you tonight.

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and we look forward to continuing to have the dialog with you.

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for future conversations about budget. So thank you so much for everything that you do and
We look forward to talking with you.

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all right. Next up fabiola sanchez.

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hello. Good evening. My name is fabiola sanchez. I serve as the ptsa president of the mccormick middle school.

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I've also been named volunteer of the year for our campuses here. I am here tonight because what's being proposed is not only disappointing,
It's truly unacceptable.

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let's be clear about the facts. Hays cisd has consistently grown exponentially each and
Every single year.

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at the same time, funding pressures from expiring federal dollars,
Shifts in revenue and other factors were not sudden,

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nor were they unpredictable. These were known realities. Yet the plan before us is asking students and campuses to absorb the consequences of that
Lack of planning.

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you're proposing to eliminate 125 positions. I keep hearing that a lot of those,
I believe 90 is going to be done through attrition.

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however, whether that's accurate or not, it doesn't matter to our students what they are
Going to experience.

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are fewer adults on campus, fewer supports and fewer opportunities in schools are already
Overcrowded,

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like mccormick, which is exceeding 1200 students,
Hitting 13 now.

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we, as I mentioned, are busting at the seams. We are beyond capacity, and there's really no margin to do any cuts,
Though we understand some may be needed.

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one of the cuts that you are proposing is to eliminate our librarian,
A role that is anything but optional.

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this is a person who runs our njhs. Our makerspace leads battle of the books,
Manages chromebook inventory repairs,

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and coordinates the end of year collection across the entire campus,
Which is a task that already requires five volunteers per day for a full week in order to

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accomplish that task. Sorry. One second. Now she also leads a

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lunch bunch where students develop a love for reading. They also find community and grow in confidence,
So much so that a few students have already begun writing their own books,

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bringing the drafts to their peers to further improve as storytellers. When students has already had their book published this year over the christmas break,
Our library is more than just books on shelves in.

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our librarian is at the heart of it. This is also someone that you yourselves recently
Recognized as the district's librarian of the year.

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just a year ago. That recognition now rings hollow.

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you're also cutting the communities and schools for this program in half across the
District,

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removing critical direct support for students who rely on it the most.

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while it's not intentional to damage and slap in the face to our schools doesn't hurt any
Less.

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then there's the cuts to fine arts and athletics,
Including c and b teams. These are not just extras. These are the very programs that keep students engaged,
Connected,

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and showing up. If you remove these opportunities,
You will see it in attendance behavior and in academic performance.

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families are already talking about leaving the district,
Not hypothetically, but actively.

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they are looking for places where their children will still have access to these
Opportunities without being priced out through new fees.

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there's also a direct financial impact that you're ignoring. A mccormick ptsa funding is heavily supported by athletic concessions.

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that money goes straight back into classrooms,
Whether it's through supplies, ui materials,

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student incentives, and staff support. And when you cut participation,
You cut those resources about 15 more seconds.

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while it's convenient and largely accurate to point at the state,
That's not the full story.

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these budget pressures did not appear overnight. Planning for them should have not started after the fact from a community perspective.

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the message is clear the district asked voters to support bonds for new facilities and
Quickly turned around to ask a tax increase to cover operational needs.

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you can explain the technicalities all day long,
But what families see as a district that's planned for expansion and lightly banked on a

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successful tree vote, while failing to protect the core of the classroom. This plan is shifting burden onto students, staff,
And families instead of addressing the decisions that led us here.

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mccormick cannot absorb these cuts. Our students should not have to.

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the community deserves better than reactive decisions,
Reduced opportunities and explanations that come too late.

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we expect, need, and hope that you do better. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have

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anisha ortiz. Wong. I say that right? Anisa. Alright.

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thank you. Come on up. Hello. Good

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evening. Yes, my name is anisa ortiz wong, and I am a kindergarten teacher in this
District,

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and I proudly served our students in hays for the past six years.

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I'm just here to express some concern about the increasing class sizes and how they're
Impacting both student safety and their achievement,

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especially at the primary level where students are,
You know, they require more closer supervision and individualized support.

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in my classroom, I do have students with specialized plans that require specific
Accommodations.

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and as these class sizes grow, it actually becomes increasingly more difficult for me as
Their teacher to meet those needs fully.

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additionally larger class sizes make it more challenging to ensure consistent supervision,

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meeting each learner's needs and building relationships that are so necessary to help our
Students trust us or trust

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them. Trust us to teach them and protect them.

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even small group instruction is unfortunately no longer so small.

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in addition, many teachers, including myself,
Use personal or stipend funds to create engaging learning experiences for our students.

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these funds often go directly back into our classrooms to support creativity,
Exploration,

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and meaningful learning experiences with reductions to these resources.

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those experiences become harder to provide with with we.

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we do what we can as teachers and we make do with that.

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but we shouldn't have to just make do. Given the current trajectory of staff reductions,
Increased class sizes

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and those reduced resources. I would just like to ask,
What is the long term plan for maintaining student achievement

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and teacher retention among these cuts? Because our personal admin on our campus already
Does so much,

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and they need the support as well to help support us.

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thank you. And our last speaker will be mia arredondo.

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hello, doctor wright and board members. My name is mira andando. And as a cheerleader and athlete it is very disappointing to see this happening.

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teachers have been here for 5 to 10 plus years to build bonds and communities with
Students,

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but that doesn't matter. The new track that was put into their school,
That takes money that we could be using for paychecks for these teachers.

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don't prioritize the money. Prioritize the students. Imagine how challenging it is with a bigger class of 30 or more and only one teacher for
Students that are already struggling.

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I don't think you should be seeing much improvement in their grades. It is very hard to
Say goodbye to teachers and as a student returning to the

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school, how am I supposed to feel that way without returning teachers?

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that's all. Thank you.

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all right. Thank you all. All right, this portion of our meeting,
We're moving to item f, which is our closed session item at this time.

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the board will adjourn to a closed session in accordance with texas open meetings act,
Texas government code,

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section 551.074 and section 551.076 subchapters d and e or texas government code section
418.

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183f. The time is 6:04 p.m.. Hey, team. Good evening.

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we're back in open session. The time is 6:51 p.m..

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a quorum has already been established and all members of the board are present.

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doctor wright, turn over to you for our superintendent report. Thank you. President. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to our meeting.

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we're going to start with superintendent report. And so miss gloria, if you could pull up the slides,
Please, while she's doing that.

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just want to give everybody an update. Our enrollment as of today was 24,995 students.

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we've had many of our secondary students already graduate from live oak or from some of
Our other schools.

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and so we've decreased under the 25,000 threshold just a little bit.

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but most of that's all been at the high school level and can be attributed to graduation.

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our attendance rate is tracking right at about 93.6%.

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and so we're moving forward with that. All right,
So let's celebrate our kids.

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so last week we had the hays cisd battle of the books.

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our elementary kids from across the district met over at the performing arts center,
And they had different,

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different questions and they went over different passages and,
And so it's kind of like, like super quiz in a way.

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and negley elementary school was our championship team for this year.

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so congratulations. Negley. Next we have the best communications

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department and I don't know where mr. Savoy is. I'm going to brag on him even though he's not in here right now. We earned 13 texas school
Public relations

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association star awards and we won best in state for tim savoy one in writing and then tim
Savoy

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harvest goodrich and linda rosebrook rosebrook one in the posters,
And then tim savoy harvest goodrich and linda rosebrook one in logo,

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trademark and symbol for best in state. And so it's a tremendously high honor and so,
So very proud of them.

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and then you can see the gold awards and silver awards.

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we have some of the best photographers and photojournalists in the in the state as well as
In the nation.

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and I love when we post things on our social media accounts because moses,
Leo's can, can capture in the moment some of the best shots and,

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and so, so very proud of our communications department. Tim. I didn't know if you were going to make it back in here or not,
But congratulations to you and your team for all of your tips for star awards for

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2026. If I knew you were going to do that, I would have stayed out.

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I know if you'd have waited like three more minutes,
We'd have been there. All right. Next.

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wanted to brag on our skills usa team from johnson high school.

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they advanced to state in architecture and interior design,
And they came back with a blue ribbon in every single category.

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and so we've had a very strong program over there for years. And so congratulations to the teachers and the kids in that program.

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also at skills usa, the cosmetology team from lehman high school advanced to state and
They were very competitive.

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and as you can see, they look very sharp in their blazers. And they did a wonderful job at the contest. So congratulations lehman.

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so is johnson. All right, so congratulations to johnson then.

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I thought the caption I had said lehman. So sorry about that.

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all right. Next we had I know this one is from johnson.

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congratulations to the v a s state qualifiers.

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it's the visual art scholastic event. And these seven pieces that you see on the screen
Were

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part of the 78 out of 1093 pieces that were selected to advance to state.

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so it's, it's a very competitive process. And and so the art program there at johnson had
Seven of the

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78. So congratulations to, to the art team. Next we had we hosted our spanish spelling bee
Over

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at the old buda campus, and the champion this year was stephanie gonzalez from chapa
Middle school.

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so congratulations, stephanie. Next we had u-I-l middle school concert and sight reading.

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every single middle school band that competed received hardware.

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and I think five of the six received superior.

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so congratulations to each of our middle school bands. Great job. Ewil one act play. We had hays high school.

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their show this year was murder by poe lehman high school was defying gravity and johnson
High school's was booby trapped.

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the hays squad at zone this past week advanced.

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so they'll be going to the next level. Lehman did not advance,
But they had several that were recognized in the cast for doing outstanding work.

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and then I haven't gotten a report on how johnson did because their performance was a
Little bit delayed.

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so I'll keep you posted on that one, but congratulations and best of luck with hays moving
Forward.

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next, we also had students from hays high school that competed at the distributive
Education clubs of america state competition

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and and performed very, very well and represented hays high school and hays cisd in an
Outstanding way.

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so congratulations to them. And then next, we did have a state champion at

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bpa for digital media production. Olivier was a state champion and he's from johnson high
School.

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so congratulations, olivier. Our high steppers from hays high school won the national
Championship at the crowd

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pleasers dance competition. And so they're doing outstanding,
Outstanding work over there as well.

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and I know we had some of the other dance teams compete,
But I haven't gotten an update from them as well.

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so congratulations. Hays high. Okay. We had boys and girls

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participate at the state powerlifting contest and I just wanted to highlight the one with
The star.

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eve jakubauskas is the state champion in her weight class from johnson high school.

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so congratulations. I got the boys powerlifting results from

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lehman high school. Isaac martinez finished third in state.

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you hear alexander, fourth in state. James albritton,
Fifth in state.

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and then from johnson high school. This is on the boys side. Once again, christian landeros, second in state and styles ogden second.

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and johnson's team finished fifth overall in state power lifting.

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soccer playoffs. The johnson boys soccer team won the first round of the playoffs,
Which was bi district.

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and then unfortunately they lost by a penalty kick in the area round. So they didn't move forward. But they had an outstanding year.

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so congratulations boys soccer. The girls soccer team at johnson made it all the way to
The

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sweet 16 to the regional playoffs. They won the first two rounds and then unfortunately
They lost to lake travis this past friday.

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and so they didn't advance, but they had an outstanding year. So congratulations to them.

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and then last but not least, we we lost mr. Kimbrough,
For whom the kimbrough building over at kyle elementary is named.

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if you've ever been in the old gym over there. It was named in mr. Kimbrough's honor. He passed away last week.

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for those of you that may not know him, he was a former teacher and a coach and then an
Elementary principal over at kyle for many,

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many years. And he's a well respected individual in hays cisd.

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and while we're talking about tragic losses,
I want to recognize dahlstrom middle school.

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they have undergone two tragedies in the last couple of weeks.

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and so our thoughts and prayers go out to them. As we move forward, it's, it's, it's unbelievably tragic and hard to lose a child.

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and so for those parents and family members that are hurting,
We want to we want to hold them in our thoughts and prayers.

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and then also one of our neighboring districts,
Isd today lost a child and a teacher was wounded in a,

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in a school shooting at the, at the hill country college prep academy there.

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and so we also want to lift them up as they go through the time in this time of need.

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and, and I reached out to the superintendent and told him that if we could help out in any
Way,

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we would be more than willing to do so. For counseling,
Support or emotional support animals or whatever we can do to help out.

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so please, please hold all of those individuals in your in your thoughts and prayers.

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and that concludes my superintendent's report. Thank you. Doctor wright team. Look to my left.

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any questions for doctor wright comments, am I right? Any questions? Comments? All right. Thank you doctor. Right. You know,
Having these meetings a month kind of,

347
00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:39,000
you know, there's lots going on in our district. So it's a lot. A lot to cover all the
Success that we're having a lot, a lot.

348
00:44:44,590 --> 00:44:47,310
so anyway, I appreciate that detailed report. Okay team, we're going to move on to item I on page eight.

349
00:44:51,470 --> 00:44:51,470
this is our student achievement report on advanced academics and our gt program
Highlights.

350
00:44:57,150 --> 00:45:00,950
I believe emily herring come to the mic to present this for us. And your folder is this presentation. Should you need it.

351
00:45:05,470 --> 00:45:05,470
miss heron, welcome. Take it away. Good evening,
President severance.

352
00:45:12,590 --> 00:45:15,110
members of the board of trustees and doctor wright. My name is emily heron, and I serve as the director of curriculum and instruction for the
District.

353
00:45:19,950 --> 00:45:19,950
I'm happy to be here with you guys tonight. Like,
Which way do I point?

354
00:45:24,950 --> 00:45:24,950
here we go. So when we refer to advanced academics,
I just want to clarify that we're discussing both advanced academic courses in grades six

355
00:45:34,190 --> 00:45:34,190
through 12 and gifted and talented services for students identified as gifted and talented
Through k through 12.

356
00:45:42,180 --> 00:45:42,180
so I'd like to take a few minutes of your time this evening to acquaint you with the work
Of our department and our goals moving forward with both of these programs.

357
00:45:54,260 --> 00:45:56,700
so this slide has a lot of information on it. Let's talk a little bit about the pie charts on the left.

358
00:45:59,660 --> 00:45:59,660
top left. This refers to students in advanced and college aligned coursework.

359
00:46:04,820 --> 00:46:04,820
so I put the graph here from 2122 that was coming out of the pandemic.

360
00:46:12,060 --> 00:46:12,060
we had 37% of our students in grades six through 12 participating in at least one advanced
Course.

361
00:46:19,300 --> 00:46:23,220
moving forward to where we are now, we've improved that a lot. We're at 57% of our students participating in at least one advanced course.

362
00:46:28,060 --> 00:46:28,060
so I would say a dramatic improvement. We had been making gains before the pandemic kind
Of stifled a little bit during the pandemic,

363
00:46:36,450 --> 00:46:36,450
and then we've worked to continue improving. We have our demographic data there.

364
00:46:42,930 --> 00:46:42,930
and then this table below. Again, just some historical data for you.

365
00:46:47,250 --> 00:46:47,250
I did want to point out that this is just grades nine through 12.

366
00:46:51,650 --> 00:46:51,650
and these are only the classes where students can potentially gain college credit.

367
00:46:56,610 --> 00:46:56,610
so these are not the advanced english one, advanced english,
Two advanced classes.

368
00:47:00,850 --> 00:47:00,850
this is anything ap dual credit on ramps. That's why you would see 34% participation
Versus the 57% in the pie chart.

369
00:47:15,010 --> 00:47:15,010
so moving into our services for students identified as gifted and talented.

370
00:47:21,050 --> 00:47:21,050
so again, a little bit of historical data. We are just finishing up our identification
Process for this year.

371
00:47:28,130 --> 00:47:28,130
so that's why you have this last year's information we were discussing about why were
There so many referrals in 2223?

372
00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:37,480
we've kind of normal doubt after that, if you will say,
If you remember 2122 was that we started the year kind of funky that

373
00:47:47,240 --> 00:47:47,240
year from our covid year. The year before 2223 was really our first year back in person.

374
00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:57,320
and we also started with summer testing that summer. So I think we saw an influx of nominations that year.

375
00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:03,640
and yes. Okay, so that's really the brief overview at this time.

376
00:48:09,800 --> 00:48:09,800
I can take any questions you might have. Thank you very much.

377
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,720
it's been nice getting to have you come to the podium with us more frequently lately. So thank you. All right team, look to my right.

378
00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:20,480
miss petrie, any questions for miss harriet? Hello.

379
00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:25,680
miss heron, thank you so much for this very brief report,
But talk full of good information.

380
00:48:34,060 --> 00:48:37,780
as you know, I'm a strong advocate for advanced academics. I had two children go through our schools, one gt back in the day and then both in
Advanced academics and I am so grateful

381
00:48:47,740 --> 00:48:47,740
to all the work that has been done to increase these numbers.

382
00:48:52,140 --> 00:48:52,140
what I would like to see, which I don't see is a breakdown by campus at the high school
Level.

383
00:48:59,660 --> 00:48:59,660
I'd like to see kind of where we are and, and,
And you can group them together.

384
00:49:05,260 --> 00:49:05,260
ap on ramps. Okay. And what's the ut ut on ramps?

385
00:49:14,340 --> 00:49:14,340
dual credit for acc. And then I don't want to,
I don't want to put this on blast too much,

386
00:49:21,780 --> 00:49:21,780
but I do have some big feelings about ut on ramps.

387
00:49:25,940 --> 00:49:25,940
has, has anybody dug deeper into the peer to peer model.

388
00:49:32,370 --> 00:49:32,370
and whether that's working well. Are you. Might be just something to,
To look at and think about,

389
00:49:38,890 --> 00:49:38,890
especially when you're talking about college algebra,
Physics and the children are learning from each other.

390
00:49:48,690 --> 00:49:48,690
I just hear a lot that that's maybe not the best mode of education for children to be just
Teaching children and guessing around.

391
00:49:55,930 --> 00:49:58,570
and that's literally what ut on ramps expects. It's not, it's not that the teacher isn't teaching,
It's that the, the model, you know what I'm talking about.

392
00:50:04,450 --> 00:50:04,450
okay. I don't know if parents know this. I certainly didn't know this when I enrolled my
Children in this class and then found out that they are just supposed to guess and learn

393
00:50:13,690 --> 00:50:13,690
from each other. And I had pretty smart kids and they struggled with that.

394
00:50:20,570 --> 00:50:20,570
there's also some knowledge sharing that could happen across those teachers that are doing
That,

395
00:50:26,090 --> 00:50:26,090
that have figured out ways to. You support the kids in their peer to peer learning better
Than others,

396
00:50:33,880 --> 00:50:33,880
and we've seen examples of that. Mr. Seibel and I have gone and seen that in action.

397
00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:40,040
it's pretty great. So maybe asking I'm not telling you to ditch your on ramps.

398
00:50:46,160 --> 00:50:46,160
I am a proud ut alum. As some of you know. But it's a weird setup with some of that the
Learning

399
00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:55,320
model for they're not all like that. There's like four different ways that the teachers
Can teach.

400
00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:02,960
and so I just want our advanced academic team to really ask the teachers,
Is it working?

401
00:51:13,480 --> 00:51:13,480
or what we could do different or do some knowledge sharing around about how it can be
Better?

402
00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:20,840
over, I mean, that's not something, I mean, that's,
That's, that's a ut on ramps thing that is not a district thing,

403
00:51:25,840 --> 00:51:25,840
but I know that we have wanted to continue to bring those programs into our school to
Increase the college readiness,

404
00:51:32,510 --> 00:51:34,470
and I do think it helps with college readiness. But having a kid at texas tech, she gets taught by teachers,
She doesn't learn from her friends.

405
00:51:41,030 --> 00:51:41,030
and so it's just a weird thing. So, I mean, if it were me,
I would limit the amount of peer to peer educational opportunities we're offering our kids

406
00:51:48,950 --> 00:51:48,950
because I just think it's hard. So yes, please,
With the breakdown by high school for us,

407
00:51:58,470 --> 00:51:58,470
how we're doing, but I love, love, love this 57% because it is a it was a struggle through
Covid and after covid and we

408
00:52:08,390 --> 00:52:08,390
have made great strides. I hope mr. Seibel has harder questions than I've asked you,
But that's because he has a kid in high school now.

409
00:52:17,350 --> 00:52:19,750
my spies are graduated, but that's all I have. Thank you so much. Trustee vela. Miss herron,
Thank you for the brief, but a lot of information packed in there,

410
00:52:28,650 --> 00:52:28,650
and so definitely want to echo a lot of what miss petrie mentioned already.

411
00:52:33,250 --> 00:52:36,210
thank you for providing the breakdown on the advanced academics. The number of students as well as the percentages.

412
00:52:39,930 --> 00:52:42,290
so my question is on the gifted and talented. It says we have 1938 students classified as gifted and talented or 8%.

413
00:52:48,170 --> 00:52:48,170
how do we look year over year on that? Maybe for that same time frame of what we're
Looking at on the advanced academics I'd like to see.

414
00:52:55,730 --> 00:52:55,730
I'd like to see that. I will say briefly, we mirror the same,
But I can get you the more we trained at about that 8%.

415
00:53:02,890 --> 00:53:02,890
I think that sounds pretty okay. Yes. So even even with our student population growth,
I mean almost 25,000 students now where we've shrunk a little bit to 2024.

416
00:53:12,690 --> 00:53:12,690
995. But yeah, so I mean, you know, and that's just,
It'd be good to see that data as well.

417
00:53:19,490 --> 00:53:19,490
certainly. All right. Thank you. Trustee. Runkle.

418
00:53:24,240 --> 00:53:24,240
yes. Hello. Miss herring. Good evening. Yeah,
I would love to see that information by campus also.

419
00:53:29,480 --> 00:53:29,480
so if you wouldn't mind just including that on any data that you give us moving forward on
These reports.

420
00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:36,000
that's just great information to have. They've asked lots of great questions and I know
Mr.

421
00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:40,760
seibel asked them on board blog. Will you what I want you to do is will you talk about the
Identified and the referred.

422
00:53:48,280 --> 00:53:48,280
so when people see that on that graph, can you explain the difference between the two?

423
00:53:53,240 --> 00:53:53,240
certainly. So we can. Historically, the past couple years,
We have done a second grade screener to try to identify more

424
00:54:02,520 --> 00:54:02,520
students and parents can identify students can nominate students,
Teachers can nominate students.

425
00:54:08,680 --> 00:54:08,680
and then if a teacher nominates a student, the parent has to give permission for testing.

426
00:54:13,360 --> 00:54:16,400
and sometimes parents don't give permission in that situation. But for the most for the most part, they do. So when we look at.

427
00:54:23,070 --> 00:54:23,070
that graph when we're talking about blue, that's any any referral that we've had.

428
00:54:27,950 --> 00:54:27,950
and then the red would be anybody who's been identified in k in first grade.

429
00:54:33,590 --> 00:54:36,670
and first we do general intellectual ability. And then starting at the end of second grade,
We identify by subject areas.

430
00:54:41,550 --> 00:54:41,550
so in our district we couple math and science together and language arts and social
Studies.

431
00:54:47,510 --> 00:54:47,510
and I truly believe that is a benefit to our students.

432
00:54:52,110 --> 00:54:55,870
and we can actually identify more students in that regard. I know with my own children, if they don't like one,
Would not qualify if it was all subjects all the time in language arts,

433
00:55:04,710 --> 00:55:04,710
because he's an okay reader, but in math, he's just got a different understanding and
Level.

434
00:55:10,270 --> 00:55:13,350
so I truly believe that's the best service model that we can. Every district does it a little bit different. Well,
I'm glad I wanted you to explain that because I think it's incredibly important to hear.

435
00:55:19,590 --> 00:55:19,590
and for parents that are, you know, venturing into gifted and talented and having all of
These conversations.

436
00:55:26,020 --> 00:55:29,100
that's helpful information to know. So thank you for sharing that. And I too, I share in the, in the sentiment that I'm,
I'm, I'm, it's great to see these percentages increase and we want to continue to see them

437
00:55:36,700 --> 00:55:36,700
increase. So I look forward to seeing the campus data and ways that we can help them
Continue to increase students taking more college aligned

438
00:55:45,940 --> 00:55:48,260
courses. So thank you for your presenting tonight. I appreciate it. Trustee flores yeah, thank you for this presentation.

439
00:55:54,060 --> 00:55:54,060
I actually also had just a couple questions regarding the ut on ramps and I know it's a
Flipped learning model.

440
00:56:00,420 --> 00:56:03,980
I know it's team oriented, which means students teach each other. And I was just curious. I know that ut on ramps provides because I did teach on ramps for
History for,

441
00:56:09,100 --> 00:56:12,100
for once, and that was my first year teaching and it was not fun. So I will ask it's a lot for, you know, a new teacher.

442
00:56:16,540 --> 00:56:16,540
what's the criteria we look for when we look for on ramps teachers that are.

443
00:56:20,680 --> 00:56:20,680
I mean, I'm sure there's an experience level that is needed to to teach an on ramps
Course.

444
00:56:25,120 --> 00:56:28,000
correct? Ideally, it would not be a first year teacher. Of course not. That that sounds like a lot a lot.

445
00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:31,680
so definitely we're looking for teachers who are have great classroom management,
Number one,

446
00:56:37,720 --> 00:56:37,720
who can connect and question students and understand how to you know,
I think a lot about the socratic seminar and how to be able to

447
00:56:47,840 --> 00:56:47,840
navigate conversations with students. And really,
You're not the sage on the stage.

448
00:56:53,720 --> 00:56:53,720
you're the guide on the side and help students through that learning journey.

449
00:56:59,320 --> 00:56:59,320
and through the productive struggle, those would be some of the criteria that we would
Look for in teaching staff.

450
00:57:07,200 --> 00:57:07,200
yes. Teachers who have been successful with students on level or maybe have tried a dual
Credit class or an advanced placement

451
00:57:17,110 --> 00:57:17,110
class would also be a good opportunity. Ut does provide the training as you're familiar
With.

452
00:57:22,750 --> 00:57:22,750
they have the professional learning institute in the summer,
And then they have a fall opportunity and a spring opportunity that are required for

453
00:57:31,510 --> 00:57:31,510
continued professional development. I know that's really important. How often just.

454
00:57:35,590 --> 00:57:35,590
I'm just curious. You don't have to answer this now. Do mentors that are ut they have
Mentors because you never really communicate as a teacher with the college professor

455
00:57:42,310 --> 00:57:45,470
that's teaching the college side in dual enrollment. How often do mentors meet with the teachers? I'm just curious about,
I know it was it once a week or once a month or so.

456
00:57:52,950 --> 00:57:52,950
I have a biweekly meeting with ut on ramps with the,
With the cohort of texas schools.

457
00:57:59,630 --> 00:57:59,630
and then we break into regions. And so I have a mentor that I talk with,
And then she reaches out to me and says,

458
00:58:07,670 --> 00:58:07,670
hey, I noticed, you know, this class insert name needs a couple students to pass the
Class.

459
00:58:15,420 --> 00:58:15,420
can you reach out to that teacher? And so there's mentors for me in that in the
Implementation of the program.

460
00:58:21,980 --> 00:58:21,980
and there's also she would connect them with the professor or with whomever needs to be
Having conversations.

461
00:58:31,220 --> 00:58:31,220
absolutely. Again, it's a great opportunity because you also,
As a student, you get these resources,

462
00:58:35,740 --> 00:58:38,820
including access to their library, which I think is great. But I do agree with trustee petrea in that when you get to college,
As many of us know, it's lecture based.

463
00:58:44,700 --> 00:58:44,700
you're going in I taught briefly. You have your coffee as a professor,
You give your lecture and then you leave,

464
00:58:50,340 --> 00:58:53,740
which is fantastic. But the team based model,
I know it's great. I love ut on ramps. I know based on this, most kids have accepted their credit except for
Pre-calculus,

465
00:59:00,660 --> 00:59:00,660
which I'm sure that sounds very challenging. I need to do a little more digging into that.

466
00:59:05,500 --> 00:59:08,060
yes, please. But all in all, I appreciate this. And I hope we continue to improve this model for teachers and make sure we have teachers
That are,

467
00:59:12,460 --> 00:59:15,970
that are well qualified to to handle this. Thank you so much. Yes. Trustee. Orosco. Yes. I wanted to add a little bit to the request made by miss petri
And miss runkle,

468
00:59:25,970 --> 00:59:25,970
so mr. Sibel can can write it down. I do want to broken down by campus and program as
Well.

469
00:59:33,050 --> 00:59:33,050
and I would like the previous years since you listed from 2018 to present,
I would like the same thing for those numbers.

470
00:59:42,970 --> 00:59:42,970
I know we have been very strategic in targeting our other campuses that were not
Performing as high.

471
00:59:50,210 --> 00:59:50,210
so I would like to see what that trend looks like and definitely how we are improving
Because I know we are improving.

472
00:59:57,890 --> 01:00:00,490
so it would be great to really highlight that. Also for the gifted and talented can you provide the numbers for,
And mr.

473
01:00:06,370 --> 01:00:06,370
sibo can capture this as well for how we compare to the state,
How we compare to the region and comparable districts.

474
01:00:16,400 --> 01:00:16,400
right? Because I think that's very telling of where we're at in regards to are we trending
In the right way?

475
01:00:22,920 --> 01:00:22,920
are we're outperforming or so on? So that would be really good to know.

476
01:00:28,360 --> 01:00:28,360
also I would like to see campus gt population and I would like to see that trend since you
Started from 2122.

477
01:00:37,000 --> 01:00:40,760
I would like to see what the campus gt population is beginning with. 2122 for each of our campuses. I know that when we have discussed this in our showcases,
This always comes up.

478
01:00:50,720 --> 01:00:50,720
you know, what are those gt numbers? What are they doing to increase those numbers?

479
01:00:55,400 --> 01:00:55,400
because you know, referring them is one thing,
But actually being identified as gt is another.

480
01:01:00,320 --> 01:01:00,320
and if you can, please provide an update to the gt pilot that we were doing at some of our
Low socioeconomic schools where we're at.

481
01:01:10,340 --> 01:01:10,340
did we discontinue that or are we continuing it and did it help?

482
01:01:15,220 --> 01:01:15,220
and what were those trends like? Okay, so those are some things that I would like to,
To see from this.

483
01:01:21,660 --> 01:01:21,660
thank you. Sure. Trustee. Sablan. Yes. Thank you,
Miss heron, for presenting tonight.

484
01:01:30,820 --> 01:01:30,820
yeah, I'll start with gt. Questions first. I'm just again for education in the community,
I guess.

485
01:01:38,220 --> 01:01:38,220
what is the characteristics of a gt student versus a non gt student?

486
01:01:43,780 --> 01:01:43,780
that's a great question. So when we think about I'm going to use my two sons as an
Example.

487
01:01:49,820 --> 01:01:49,820
I have a son who when he's working in math explain concept one time.

488
01:01:57,220 --> 01:01:57,220
and then he can do that and he can apply it to other concepts without the explanation of
How to apply it to other concepts.

489
01:02:05,540 --> 01:02:05,540
my other son, you explain it maybe once, twice,
Three times, depending on.

490
01:02:10,650 --> 01:02:10,650
and then he might need an explanation of the application for the on level concepts.

491
01:02:16,890 --> 01:02:16,890
so when we're looking at students who are gifted we test in the ability,
We have an ability

492
01:02:26,170 --> 01:02:29,130
testing and then we have achievement testing. You can see that some of our gifted students in like a nonverbal test will score very high
In a nonverbal test.

493
01:02:36,970 --> 01:02:36,970
they might not be achieving very highly. There could be other things going on that would
Prevent them from high achievement.

494
01:02:45,330 --> 01:02:45,330
but that ability pops up. Now, you might have a high achieving student where their
Ability,

495
01:02:51,690 --> 01:02:51,690
according to the test, is average ability, or maybe a little above average ability,
That student would be a high achiever.

496
01:02:59,610 --> 01:02:59,610
and I think that's one of the biggest biggest challenges when we're trying to really
Disaggregate using test scores.

497
01:03:08,160 --> 01:03:08,160
another characteristic of gifted students. We do not service creativity,
But that one is one that comes with all of this.

498
01:03:18,280 --> 01:03:18,280
you know, I had a student once who described his we were watching something about the
Constitution,

499
01:03:23,840 --> 01:03:23,840
the signing of the declaration of independence. And he goes,
Is that a number two feather?

500
01:03:28,960 --> 01:03:28,960
I started laughing because number two, pencils at the time were very important in our
World of state testing.

501
01:03:34,560 --> 01:03:38,120
and all the rest of the kids are going, what is what is that? So those kinds of things where they can think outside the box,
There's they can take what you're saying and apply it to unfamiliar situations without any

502
01:03:48,000 --> 01:03:51,880
kind of prompting. That's when we really start talking about giftedness. There are kids who are gifted in athletic abilities as well.

503
01:03:54,760 --> 01:03:54,760
those obviously we don't have that in the classroom.

504
01:03:59,280 --> 01:03:59,280
we don't service that either in the classroom. But there's many ways that giftedness can
Show up.

505
01:04:04,590 --> 01:04:04,590
yeah, I appreciate it. I was cued in on the word creativity there because I think as
Parents,

506
01:04:11,630 --> 01:04:15,550
you know, I have a high achieving student that doesn't mean necessarily gifted. And it's a way of thinking and processing information versus just being able to perform
Well in the classroom.

507
01:04:22,790 --> 01:04:22,790
and as parents, it's you. We just think that,
Oh, they're high achievers, so they're therefore gifted.

508
01:04:28,430 --> 01:04:28,430
and that's not necessarily the same thing. Conversely,
When we look at the data, you know,

509
01:04:33,390 --> 01:04:33,390
by looking at some of our subpopulations here,
We have some misrepresentation between overall district versus gt,

510
01:04:39,910 --> 01:04:39,910
which could indicate that we have, you know,
Some room for growth in the category.

511
01:04:46,150 --> 01:04:46,150
obviously, some awareness for parents to signs for them to look for in their own students.

512
01:04:51,030 --> 01:04:51,030
obviously, it's much harder, as you pointed out,
When we have language barriers to identify students.

513
01:04:55,990 --> 01:04:55,990
but you know, we have ways to do this. And so making sure that these students that may be
Coming in from different backgrounds and opportunities,

514
01:05:05,250 --> 01:05:05,250
that we recognize them and make sure that we provide them the rigor that their minds are
Capable of handling through this.

515
01:05:12,410 --> 01:05:12,410
so appreciate that. Okay. On ramps questions,
I know.

516
01:05:17,170 --> 01:05:20,210
I appreciate you answering a few questions on your blog. I appreciate you tackling all those. Curious to see all the scores and everything.

517
01:05:25,170 --> 01:05:25,170
I'm getting the chance to really dive into all those. You know,
I've having a student go through this process for the first time this year is very eye

518
01:05:32,330 --> 01:05:32,330
opening. It was, I'll be honest, not quite the experience I was expecting or didn't really
Know what I was really to expect.

519
01:05:40,090 --> 01:05:40,090
but it's been different. Feedback from students and student advisory,
You know, it's a much different format,

520
01:05:46,130 --> 01:05:46,130
a little bit disconnected. They feel it's a little bit impersonal.

521
01:05:50,330 --> 01:05:50,330
and so my basic question is, you know, it's obviously a much higher college rigor that
We're providing these students.

522
01:05:58,330 --> 01:05:58,330
it's ut I mean, this isn't baby uti. This is.

523
01:06:02,360 --> 01:06:02,360
these are uti courses that they are taking. This is the real deal,
As if they are uti students,

524
01:06:07,600 --> 01:06:07,600
which is obviously, you know, one of the top universities in the entire country.

525
01:06:12,680 --> 01:06:16,280
personal feelings aside about uti, but that's fine. You know, so how do we provide these students with that college rigor and still have high
School level support for students as they're going

526
01:06:26,200 --> 01:06:26,200
through this? So I don't know if you can talk about that at all now or later,
But so one of the first things I would say is,

527
01:06:33,480 --> 01:06:33,480
yes, I'm a longhorn as well. That's not the first thing I'm going to say,
But the, it is a semester course,

528
01:06:42,320 --> 01:06:42,320
so it's a three hour ut course spread out over the entire year.

529
01:06:46,440 --> 01:06:46,440
so theoretically, we've got some points in there where we should be able to get more
Grades for our high school students instead of the four that they're going to get in

530
01:06:55,960 --> 01:06:55,960
college, maybe 1 or 2 more if the professor allows.

531
01:07:00,870 --> 01:07:00,870
and so theoretically the time should assist with that.

532
01:07:05,190 --> 01:07:05,190
and the teacher should be able to use some of our high school pedagogy that we can use in
The classroom instruction for reteaching.

533
01:07:14,550 --> 01:07:14,550
for connecting back on. Hey, I saw that assignment didn't really go so well for you.

534
01:07:19,150 --> 01:07:19,150
let's talk about it. There's definitely opportunities for improvement.

535
01:07:23,630 --> 01:07:23,630
I think I'll leave that there. But it is a college level course and,
You know, there's a resource research that

536
01:07:33,910 --> 01:07:33,910
miss philpott had provided me with. Taking a dual credit class,
An on ramps class and an ap class,

537
01:07:41,430 --> 01:07:41,430
and how students benefit from all three, that it's not necessarily just one pathway to go
Down,

538
01:07:46,470 --> 01:07:46,470
that there's benefits from all three. And one of them being this is,
This is your college level course.

539
01:07:53,110 --> 01:07:53,110
this is the level of rigor at which you'll see our students are pretty successful in the
Course once all is said and done.

540
01:08:01,300 --> 01:08:01,300
on the credit. And I do want to look at the pre-calculus credit.

541
01:08:06,140 --> 01:08:09,820
students have to choose whether or not they're going to take their credit. In february. So they haven't finished the course yet,
But they have to let you.

542
01:08:14,340 --> 01:08:14,340
know whether or not they are going to actually get a transcript from you t well.

543
01:08:18,540 --> 01:08:18,540
before they've completed the course. So if students were not maybe on the borderline of
Not passing,

544
01:08:27,500 --> 01:08:27,500
I could see where they'd say, I'm not going to get a college transcript with this grade on
It.

545
01:08:34,860 --> 01:08:34,860
I'm looking at the pre-calculus and all the other course offerings that we offer.

546
01:08:40,500 --> 01:08:40,500
I know we have ap, you know, sister courses with a lot of these.

547
01:08:45,740 --> 01:08:45,740
but pre-cal is definitely one where I wonder if it's a matter of filtering students that
Some have chosen to go to ap pre-cal route

548
01:08:55,160 --> 01:08:58,400
versus on ramps. And so just similar to how we see. Seventh grade math scores kind of struggle in the same kind of fashion.

549
01:09:03,480 --> 01:09:07,160
with that, I know we have fantastic teachers that are teaching on courses. I've been in petrea and I visited a number of those classrooms and. You know,
It's, it's a pretty unique setup.

550
01:09:13,480 --> 01:09:16,720
we hear the word productive struggle a lot. And it's mr. Mcdaniel's favorite words back there. And you know,
I see it in my own student getting through the year and it's like,

551
01:09:22,760 --> 01:09:22,760
okay, you start to see corners turned and trying to figure out like,
Yeah, you, you may have always done well on your own,

552
01:09:27,960 --> 01:09:27,960
but you may have to go to tutoring. So that's not a bad thing to instill in these students
That even smart students need help.

553
01:09:36,880 --> 01:09:36,880
you know, but balancing the productive struggle with throwing the baby in the deep end of
The pool type scenario and expecting them to swim.

554
01:09:45,520 --> 01:09:45,520
so just ensuring that we have those high school guardrails in for a college level rigor
Course and learning as we go through it.

555
01:09:52,160 --> 01:09:52,160
I do agree there are benefits to each of the three designs dual credit on ramps,
Ap courses,

556
01:09:58,230 --> 01:09:58,230
you know, test takers. You know, if you're a really good test taker,
You know ap courses great.

557
01:10:04,390 --> 01:10:08,390
getting through that exam is a is a bear no matter which one you're taking. You know, on ramps, you have a much more, you know,
Longevity of kind of ability to kind of prove your worth and,

558
01:10:14,750 --> 01:10:14,750
and abilities throughout the course of the year. Dual credit is just a little bit
Different level of rigor.

559
01:10:20,550 --> 01:10:20,550
you know, so it's just trying to balance out and making sure that we're still offering and
Making sure our students are actually learning the material. I think there are some

560
01:10:27,550 --> 01:10:27,550
opportunities to have some prerequisites for some of these as they kind of go into them.

561
01:10:33,470 --> 01:10:33,470
and so maybe, maybe something to evaluate as kids go into it,
But overall, I appreciate the information.

562
01:10:39,510 --> 01:10:39,510
so thank you. Thanks. Trustee. Petrea. I just had one thought as trustee was talking,
This was something as a parent that I wasn't educated

563
01:10:48,910 --> 01:10:48,910
about. So for anybody listening, this might be helpful.

564
01:10:53,460 --> 01:10:53,460
and it may not be at every college, but but when when my daughter was not doing well in
Her ute on ramps,

565
01:11:00,540 --> 01:11:00,540
I was worried about taking that college credit toward her gpa at tech.

566
01:11:07,140 --> 01:11:07,140
turns out tech only cares about your institutional gpa,
So the fact that she got, I don't know,

567
01:11:13,940 --> 01:11:13,940
a c or whatever it was in college algebra at ut on ramps did not affect her college gpa.

568
01:11:21,620 --> 01:11:21,620
I didn't know that. I found that out and so we figured it out.

569
01:11:25,860 --> 01:11:28,460
but that's another like educational piece for this. I mean, not that we want kids to, like strive for c's,
But it's stressful when you're a senior or junior and you're like,

570
01:11:35,380 --> 01:11:35,380
oh, I don't know if I want this to be on my college transcript. So,
And like I said, I don't know how widespread that is.

571
01:11:41,420 --> 01:11:41,420
my assumption is that it's pretty normal for the for the college to take just the,
The institutional gpa.

572
01:11:49,300 --> 01:11:49,300
but that was just a learning another learning curve for parents.

573
01:11:53,570 --> 01:11:53,570
doing this advanced academic business there. I would say that is a great consideration for
Any one of these advanced pathways

574
01:12:03,370 --> 01:12:03,370
to look at a couple of the places you might want to go and see,
Are they going to take the ap exam?

575
01:12:08,890 --> 01:12:08,890
if I get a three, 4 or 5, are they going to take this acc transcript.

576
01:12:13,730 --> 01:12:16,410
and what does that look like? How does that transfer in? Yeah. I mean I will like the ap at tech. I think she got she did so good on the ap bio was
Eight hours of credit.

577
01:12:24,610 --> 01:12:24,610
so yeah, I mean that's a really good point. And the colleges are usually pretty good at
Telling you this equals this equals this. This doesn't get you know,

578
01:12:31,490 --> 01:12:34,850
you have to make a five on your stats. No. Not happening. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks for putting this together.

579
01:12:39,090 --> 01:12:39,090
I know our team's asked for some historical information and some other data.

580
01:12:43,450 --> 01:12:43,450
campus data and team I for this presentation for tonight,
I ask them to shorten this presentation a little bit just because of what we had on the.

581
01:12:50,030 --> 01:12:50,030
budget for tonight or on the agenda for tonight. So just keep in mind the state is readily
Available and they'll be willing to share this with us on our blog down the road. So thank

582
01:12:57,190 --> 01:12:57,190
you for preventing this tonight. And my only question for you is there such thing as a
Texas state on ramps program or a texas a&m university on ramps program?

583
01:13:05,870 --> 01:13:08,790
and I just asked that because I just don't know. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for your help. I appreciate that I was a bobcat too.

584
01:13:13,150 --> 01:13:13,150
okay. All right. Well, great. Thank you so much for presenting. Appreciate it. Thank you.
Okay,

585
01:13:19,470 --> 01:13:19,470
team, we are moving right along. We're going to get into the last thing we're going to do
Here real quick is we're going to do consent agenda.

586
01:13:26,790 --> 01:13:26,790
there is only that's going to be on page 15. There's only one item tonight,
Which is has to do with our minutes.

587
01:13:33,830 --> 01:13:33,830
anybody have any, any pull this item to speak before we vote on the consent agenda
Minutes.

588
01:13:39,990 --> 01:13:39,990
no. Okay. All right team, I move that the hays cisd board of trustees approve the consent
Agenda as presented by trustee flores.

589
01:13:47,860 --> 01:13:47,860
any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye.

590
01:13:52,380 --> 01:13:52,380
any opposed? Motion carries seven zero. All right,
Team, everybody listening online.

591
01:13:57,940 --> 01:13:57,940
we'll let you know that the our k-9 item tonight is review on page on our dice folder team
On page 84.

592
01:14:05,940 --> 01:14:05,940
we're going to be moving that up to the first thing we're going to talk about tonight.

593
01:14:11,380 --> 01:14:11,380
so team in your folder that's going to be page 84.

594
01:14:15,820 --> 01:14:15,820
doctor wright. I know you're going to lead this one off for us for I would love for you to
Go ahead and take it away.

595
01:14:22,740 --> 01:14:22,740
thank you so much. I do want the clicker unless you want me to do like I did when I

596
01:14:32,540 --> 01:14:35,980
was teaching and say next slide. Next slide. Yeah. Thank you. All right. So we heard many speakers

597
01:14:45,730 --> 01:14:45,730
tonight speaking in public comment and thankful for everybody to come out and share their
Thoughts with us.

598
01:14:52,610 --> 01:14:52,610
this process actually began in earnest after the failed tax ratification election.

599
01:14:58,330 --> 01:14:58,330
and for for many of you you got to hear me come to your department or to your campus.

600
01:15:03,810 --> 01:15:03,810
and we spoke at length in the community about the why behind the need for a tax
Ratification election.

601
01:15:11,210 --> 01:15:11,210
and at the time many people asked, you know,
What, what happens if the tax ratification election doesn't pass?

602
01:15:18,690 --> 01:15:18,690
and at that time, we were projecting we needed to cut $20 million per year over the course
Of three years or 200 positions per year in order to

603
01:15:28,450 --> 01:15:32,090
make it work and to make our budget sustainable moving forward. And and so let's, let's talk about that and,
And and so after the, the tax ratification election failed,

604
01:15:40,530 --> 01:15:40,530
and I want to thank everybody that voted in this particular election because we had more
Votes than we've ever had in any particular bond election.

605
01:15:49,440 --> 01:15:49,440
and I know with what was happening in november with all of the constitutional amendments
And,

606
01:15:55,640 --> 01:15:55,640
and the actual buying down of the tax rate, it was,
It was a, it was a little odd to have tax ratification election in conjunction with that.

607
01:16:03,920 --> 01:16:03,920
but in the state of texas, you can't have tax ratification elections in any any month
Other than november.

608
01:16:11,440 --> 01:16:11,440
and so we put it in november. And and we actually received more than 6000 votes.

609
01:16:17,280 --> 01:16:17,280
affirmative for that ratification. However, there are a lot of people in our community
That we suspect aren't affiliated with the schools in any way.

610
01:16:25,920 --> 01:16:25,920
and they didn't have a chance to come and, and listen to the educational opportunities to
Learn about the tax ratification election.

611
01:16:32,200 --> 01:16:35,560
so we had more that voted against it and rightfully so. And and we do respect the democratic process.

612
01:16:38,440 --> 01:16:38,440
but now what are what do we need to do to move forward,
To make sure that hays cisd is going to remain sustainable?

613
01:16:45,790 --> 01:16:45,790
and why are we in this position? So on this first slide,
You'll see and I shared this one at the at the tree talks.

614
01:16:54,270 --> 01:16:54,270
the basic student allotment has not kept pace with post pandemic inflation.

615
01:16:59,590 --> 01:16:59,590
and in the state of texas, I think many of you that spoke in public comment get confused
About the two buckets of money that we have.

616
01:17:08,950 --> 01:17:08,950
we have two buckets of money. One is the maintenance and operation bucket of money,
And that's the one that pays salary in our district,

617
01:17:16,190 --> 01:17:16,190
pays for the light bill. It pays for fuel for our busses,
Pays for all those things, all the operational resources.

618
01:17:23,230 --> 01:17:23,230
that's one bucket. And it is totally funded by the state.

619
01:17:28,270 --> 01:17:28,270
so in a fast growth area such as ours, these people sitting up here on this dais don't
Have a choice in the tax rate.

620
01:17:37,750 --> 01:17:37,750
the state tells us through tea what we are mandated to charge and whatever excess money
That we bring in,

621
01:17:45,890 --> 01:17:49,450
because we are growing both commercially and residentially. We send it back to the state. So as you can see from 2020 all the way through 2025,
We've received the same amount of money in the form

622
01:17:59,450 --> 01:17:59,450
of the basic student allotment. And that particular allotment is the only discretionary
Money that we have.

623
01:18:05,930 --> 01:18:05,930
the rest is all earmarked, and we are mandated by the state to spend it in certain
Categories,

624
01:18:11,290 --> 01:18:11,290
whether we need to or whether we don't. And we get audited every year based on how we
Spend that particular pot of money.

625
01:18:20,010 --> 01:18:20,010
and so you can see in that bottom slide at the bottom part of the slide that the buying
Power in 2020 of a dollar was a dollar.

626
01:18:29,690 --> 01:18:29,690
and now over the course of the next six years,
It's decreased to about $0.80.

627
01:18:36,130 --> 01:18:36,130
and so just like your household budgets, our budget is very similar at the school district
Level and fuel is going up.

628
01:18:43,520 --> 01:18:43,520
electricity is going up. Benefits in health care have gone up drastically.

629
01:18:49,440 --> 01:18:49,440
and and so we haven't had any discretionary money to deal with that.

630
01:18:53,920 --> 01:18:53,920
so I want you to understand how that works. And then I talked about the other bucket.

631
01:18:59,280 --> 01:18:59,280
someone mentioned that we got a new track at mccormick and a new field.

632
01:19:04,280 --> 01:19:04,280
well, that particular project was paid for out of the interest and sinking budget.

633
01:19:08,880 --> 01:19:08,880
and that is one that is funded locally and locally alone.

634
01:19:14,320 --> 01:19:14,320
sometimes we get a little bit of money for a new instructional allotment,
New and also existing debt allotment.

635
01:19:21,400 --> 01:19:21,400
but it's very, very minute. Most of that we do get to keep all of that money and it is
Based on growth.

636
01:19:28,440 --> 01:19:28,440
and that's why we typically don't ask to raise the tax rate when we have a particular bond
Election.

637
01:19:34,680 --> 01:19:34,680
and so I would love to be able to take the money that we spent on the track and the turf
And pay salaries with it,

638
01:19:42,070 --> 01:19:42,070
but by law, I can't do that. Okay. So those are the two different pots of money.

639
01:19:46,590 --> 01:19:46,590
and so today we're not talking about the interest in sinking pot of money or any of the
Bond elections or the money that built this building or any of that.

640
01:19:55,830 --> 01:19:55,830
we're talking about money for operations and salaries.

641
01:20:00,510 --> 01:20:00,510
all right. So let's look at the state of texas and how it fares compared to the other 50
States in the nation.

642
01:20:07,790 --> 01:20:07,790
if you look over in the blue column, the the state average for all 50 states nationally is
$17,870

643
01:20:17,670 --> 01:20:17,670
per kid in the in the state of texas. When you consider all the money that we get that's
Earmarked,

644
01:20:24,790 --> 01:20:24,790
we receive $14,104 per kid, and we're ranked 38 out of all 50 states.

645
01:20:32,750 --> 01:20:32,750
when you look at the local funding per student,
And that's what we generate locally before we have to send it back to austin to be

646
01:20:41,500 --> 01:20:41,500
distributed amongst other school districts, and to put into the rainy day fund.

647
01:20:46,260 --> 01:20:46,260
we do pretty well. We generate $8,200 compared to the nation's average of $8,000,
And we ranked 22nd

648
01:20:56,460 --> 01:20:56,460
amongst all 50 states. But then when you go to that pharr column and you look at what
Other states are spending from the state level,

649
01:21:04,940 --> 01:21:04,940
the average is 9861 and the state of texas spends 5835 per kid.

650
01:21:12,980 --> 01:21:12,980
and so we ranked 47th out of all 50 states. All right.

651
01:21:20,580 --> 01:21:20,580
so since 2019, texas has increased the maintenance and operation bucket of money by $12
Billion.

652
01:21:29,780 --> 01:21:29,780
and that includes student growth. Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the
Nation.

653
01:21:36,440 --> 01:21:36,440
and and so typically we add across the across the state,
You know, anywhere from, oh,

654
01:21:45,840 --> 01:21:45,840
200,000 kids to. And it can go up even higher than that in hays cisd.

655
01:21:50,680 --> 01:21:50,680
we're a fast growing school. So we typically add anywhere between 600 and 1000 kids per
Year of that amount.

656
01:21:58,280 --> 01:21:58,280
most of it is absorbed by retention allotments,
Student growth, state mandates, hold harmless funding and programs for certain districts,

657
01:22:08,160 --> 01:22:12,120
teachers and students. And so the hold harmless funding. As taxpayers, we can all be really proud of it.

658
01:22:14,760 --> 01:22:14,760
we got to buy down our property taxes because property taxes are extremely high and school
Districts are number one for that.

659
01:22:23,200 --> 01:22:23,200
but our founding fathers created it that way because in the 1800s,
Of people all had had cattle.

660
01:22:32,190 --> 01:22:32,190
they all had ranch land and they could make money off their property.

661
01:22:36,230 --> 01:22:38,590
we can no longer do that unless we sell our house. We can't make money off our houses. And so we have an antiquated formula that nobody at
The state level wants to touch.

662
01:22:46,390 --> 01:22:46,390
and we're all struggling in the state of texas for finances because they won't fix the
Problem.

663
01:22:52,590 --> 01:22:52,590
they want to put band aids on problems. And that's why we're in the bind that we're in.

664
01:22:57,910 --> 01:22:57,910
and so the amount of money after giving teacher pay raises this year,
Which is a wash, it comes in and out.

665
01:23:07,270 --> 01:23:07,270
it's not new revenue. And I'm, I'm certainly proud that the state decided to do it because
Our teachers definitely needed a pay increase,

666
01:23:15,910 --> 01:23:15,910
but the amount of money that we got for discretionary spending in 2026 was 380 million
Across the state of texas,

667
01:23:24,390 --> 01:23:24,390
which equates to $69 per student. If you want to keep up with inflation?

668
01:23:30,260 --> 01:23:30,260
the cost would be about $1,000 over that course of time,
And we got $69 when we needed 1000 to keep pace with inflation.

669
01:23:43,060 --> 01:23:43,060
all right. So when you look at 2526 staffing across the state of texas and staffing versus
Hays

670
01:23:52,540 --> 01:23:52,540
cisd, you'll see that the largest piece of the pie is in teaching staff.

671
01:23:58,820 --> 01:23:58,820
the state of texas, the average is 48%. In hays,
We have 48.4%.

672
01:24:05,380 --> 01:24:08,860
and that doesn't mean that we have more teachers than the average. It means we pay more. And we made a conscious effort when I first got here,
Because we had a high turnover rate and we had a shortage.

673
01:24:16,940 --> 01:24:16,940
and so we intentionally wanted to be number one in the central texas area in certain areas
So that we could attract and,

674
01:24:26,260 --> 01:24:26,260
in and keep teachers. Okay. If you look at administrative staff,
Because I hear all the time,

675
01:24:32,810 --> 01:24:32,810
we're top heavy. We're top heavy. We have too many administrators.

676
01:24:36,970 --> 01:24:36,970
the state of texas averages 4.7% and hays cisd,
We've cut that down to 3.4%.

677
01:24:44,330 --> 01:24:44,330
auxiliary staff. The state of texas is 25.1. Our auxiliary staff is 30.9%.

678
01:24:51,410 --> 01:24:51,410
and the reason that we're a little higher than the state was,
I don't know if you recall,

679
01:24:55,610 --> 01:24:55,610
but several years ago we had a massive bus driver shortage.

680
01:25:00,730 --> 01:25:00,730
and so at that time, we weren't offering bus drivers eight hours a day.

681
01:25:05,050 --> 01:25:05,050
and so we were having a hard time getting bus drivers.

682
01:25:09,250 --> 01:25:09,250
so the transportation team came and, and we had a transportation leadership council
Meeting and we decided,

683
01:25:15,850 --> 01:25:15,850
you know what? We're going to make sure that we give all of our bus drivers and our
Monitors at least eight hours a day so that we can recruit and retain bus drivers.

684
01:25:25,110 --> 01:25:27,390
so we're a little bit higher. Across the state. But it's it's fared well for us because we've been able to retain our bus drivers.

685
01:25:33,670 --> 01:25:33,670
support staff for state of texas is 11%. Hays cisd is 10.4 paraprofessionals across the
State 11.2.

686
01:25:42,030 --> 01:25:42,030
and we're at 6.9%. So I wanted to give you those comparisons.

687
01:25:47,670 --> 01:25:47,670
all right. So right after the pandemic, the board that we had at the time,
And I think there are only two of you that are left.

688
01:25:57,390 --> 01:25:57,390
where are you? Here too. All right. So after we got our fund balance up to 71,000,000 in
2021,

689
01:26:05,950 --> 01:26:05,950
our board said, look, our teachers, our custodians,
Our child nutrition staff, they're all dealing with this massive amount of inflation.

690
01:26:15,150 --> 01:26:15,150
and we don't feel comfortable sitting on this type of money in our account when we could
Pass it on to our employees.

691
01:26:24,540 --> 01:26:24,540
and so you'll see that we went a lot higher than the normal rate of inflation,
Which is around 1.98%.

692
01:26:33,620 --> 01:26:33,620
and we actually have averaged 5% over the course of time on pay raise across the district
For all employees.

693
01:26:42,700 --> 01:26:42,700
and we did that because the theory at the time was,
Let's go ahead and advance the money now so that they'll be in a position to combat

694
01:26:52,620 --> 01:26:52,620
inflation the best possible. And I remember having the spirited debate at the time,
Well,

695
01:26:58,740 --> 01:26:58,740
what happens if in 23, the state legislature doesn't give us any new money?

696
01:27:04,380 --> 01:27:04,380
or what happens if in 25 they don't give us any new money?

697
01:27:08,780 --> 01:27:12,180
they said, well, let's let our employees enjoy the money now. And at whatever time that occurs, we'll draw a line in the sand and we'll have to we'll
Have to address it.

698
01:27:19,660 --> 01:27:19,660
well, the state legislature met. They didn't give us any new money in the basic allotment.

699
01:27:25,850 --> 01:27:25,850
and so we are at that place where the line has been drawn.

700
01:27:32,570 --> 01:27:32,570
all right. You can see, though, over the course of time that we have decreased our tax
Rate over 21%.

701
01:27:40,570 --> 01:27:40,570
it's it's decreased from $1.40 6.77 to $1 1546 for the m and o.

702
01:27:47,890 --> 01:27:47,890
so we've compressed it by $0.31 over time. And so that's why we thought that we might have
An outside chance of getting our

703
01:27:57,410 --> 01:27:57,410
taxpayers to vote for the tree, because the tax rate has been decreased every single year.

704
01:28:06,050 --> 01:28:06,050
but it's just bad timing. And the voters spoke and so just wanted people to understand
That we have been consciously trying to decrease it over the course of the

705
01:28:15,890 --> 01:28:15,890
year. So the general operating and capital expenditures you can see on there.

706
01:28:22,840 --> 01:28:22,840
and just wanted to, to make that note, we the capital expenditures is the I and s bucket.

707
01:28:31,640 --> 01:28:34,760
that's the bond funds that we spoke of building new buildings. And the general operating budget is the one for maintenance and operation,
Of which about 89% is in salaries.

708
01:28:45,160 --> 01:28:45,160
okay. So our plan for moving forward during the tree talks,
I did mention that we were looking at a three year turnaround of

709
01:28:55,400 --> 01:28:55,400
20 million a year to try to bolster 60 million for our fund balance.

710
01:28:59,720 --> 01:29:02,800
we need to get back to around 70 million or so. We can live with 65. Our, our cost per month for payroll and accounts payable is around 22
Million a month.

711
01:29:11,240 --> 01:29:11,240
and right now we're sitting at 25 million, as you can see.

712
01:29:15,960 --> 01:29:15,960
that was our latest audit numbers. And so instead of a three year plan decided to roll
This out to a five year

713
01:29:25,910 --> 01:29:29,830
plan so that the, the pain wouldn't be felt all at one time. And as our team looked at potential cuts, instead of taking an ax to programs,
We, like I mentioned in the letter,

714
01:29:37,870 --> 01:29:37,870
we took a scalpel to it. And there were some things that we just they were off the table.

715
01:29:43,710 --> 01:29:43,710
we just couldn't live with it. And so none of the cuts that we're going to recommend are
Good.

716
01:29:51,350 --> 01:29:51,350
they all are harmful. But it's at a point where we have to be sustainable and we have to
Get this account built back up so that

717
01:30:01,390 --> 01:30:04,750
we can continue to make payroll and continue to pay the bills. So this first year the fiscal year of 27, which will be next school year,
The 2627 budget we're

718
01:30:14,470 --> 01:30:14,470
looking at if the board adopts this, we're looking at about 12 million in savings and we
Do have a

719
01:30:24,490 --> 01:30:24,490
land sale deal for our affordable housing development for hays cisd and looks like we'll
Probably receive around $5 million for that land

720
01:30:34,490 --> 01:30:34,490
sale. And so we can put that back in and we do have a couple of other properties for sale
Right now.

721
01:30:40,450 --> 01:30:40,450
and and so right now the market's not real hot on,
On land sales because of the interest rates.

722
01:30:46,690 --> 01:30:46,690
and that's why a lot of our established neighborhoods aren't turning over. That's a,
That's another story.

723
01:30:51,770 --> 01:30:51,770
so if we make the cuts this year and then we just earmark it in the budgets for each of
The next four years,

724
01:31:00,290 --> 01:31:00,290
then we will be able to put back into the fund balance $90 million.

725
01:31:05,370 --> 01:31:05,370
and why is that important? Because with the bonds that we've already passed,
The bonds are built out of the interest and sinking

726
01:31:15,040 --> 01:31:15,040
fund, but they're maintained. And you have what I call an opening the box cost that comes
Out of the fund.

727
01:31:24,000 --> 01:31:24,000
so from that 90 million, we need 25 million in cash to open up the new schools.

728
01:31:30,120 --> 01:31:30,120
and it looks like we will open up elementary number 18 in the fall of 28.

729
01:31:35,840 --> 01:31:35,840
it costs $5 million to open up a new school for hiring a new principal,
A new ap, a new child nutrition department,

730
01:31:42,720 --> 01:31:42,720
all the things that require staffing for the opening of that school.

731
01:31:47,840 --> 01:31:47,840
and then it looks like in the fall of 2030, we will be able to open middle school seven
Should it pass and in a future bond,

732
01:31:57,360 --> 01:31:57,360
and then the next comprehensive high school. So we would need 20 million to open up both
Of those campuses.

733
01:32:03,600 --> 01:32:03,600
and with that 25 million that would would leave us 65 million in order to make payroll and
To cover when we receive our money.

734
01:32:13,550 --> 01:32:13,550
so a lot of people say, well, you have 25 million in the bank.

735
01:32:18,070 --> 01:32:18,070
why, why do you need more? Well, we get paid from the state at odd times,
And then we get our,

736
01:32:25,430 --> 01:32:25,430
our tax payments from our taxpayers around december and january and february.

737
01:32:31,270 --> 01:32:31,270
and the bulk of that money will allow us to survive throughout the year.

738
01:32:35,790 --> 01:32:35,790
but there are months where we don't get any revenue from the state or any revenue from tax
Payments.

739
01:32:41,510 --> 01:32:41,510
and so you have to have a fund balance in order to fill that void or that gap.

740
01:32:49,230 --> 01:32:49,230
all right. So like I mentioned before, to recap this past legislative session,
They did give us a little bit of money,

741
01:32:57,710 --> 01:32:57,710
talked about the $69. So they gave us $55 in basic allotment plus $14 in everything

742
01:33:07,590 --> 01:33:09,910
else that we could use for discretionary money. That got it up to 62. 15 per student. And we needed 1000.

743
01:33:14,460 --> 01:33:17,460
and so we're we're well short of where we need to be. And so we over the course of time have made conscious decisions not to add to departments,

744
01:33:25,660 --> 01:33:25,660
not to add to administration. Matter of fact,
If you walk around this building or you go upstairs,

745
01:33:31,260 --> 01:33:31,260
it looks like a ghost town because for the last three years,
We have been reassigning people from curriculum instruction,

746
01:33:38,220 --> 01:33:38,220
which is our largest department back to the campus level.

747
01:33:42,420 --> 01:33:42,420
and I'll be happy to take people on a tour anytime they would like to see all the empty
Spaces upstairs,

748
01:33:49,100 --> 01:33:49,100
but we've consciously not added at any of those levels because we knew that this funding
Crisis was,

749
01:33:56,660 --> 01:33:56,660
was a possibility. All right. So in the actual cuts that we're recommending I sent all
This out and I sent my letter

750
01:34:06,340 --> 01:34:06,340
out. So I'm not going to go over everything,
One line item by line item, because I know you guys will have questions,

751
01:34:12,760 --> 01:34:16,080
but central office and district staff personnel cuts. Just to give you the logic behind it. So we tried to make our cuts as equal as possible
Throughout the district so

752
01:34:26,000 --> 01:34:26,000
that we could still have a, have a functional and high performing school district.

753
01:34:32,040 --> 01:34:32,040
and that's what, that's what we've done. So central office and district staff personnel
Cuts,

754
01:34:38,120 --> 01:34:38,120
we're proposing 2.6 million in cuts. And in that we are looking at reducing from two
Deputy superintendents to one.

755
01:34:47,640 --> 01:34:47,640
and we used to have four deputy academic officers and other districts.

756
01:34:53,200 --> 01:34:53,200
they call those assistant superintendents. We're going to reclassify and move down a pay
Grade and reduce that to three and then

757
01:35:04,440 --> 01:35:04,440
reducing the total number of central office positions by 5%.

758
01:35:09,030 --> 01:35:09,030
and, and I'll give you the comparison of, of what the other projected cuts would,
Would be in a percentage as well.

759
01:35:19,990 --> 01:35:19,990
so increased class sizes. We're looking at the teacher to student ratio for up to 24 to 1
In

760
01:35:29,630 --> 01:35:29,630
pre-k through four, up to 27 in fifth grade,
Up to 30 to 1 in six through 12.

761
01:35:37,710 --> 01:35:37,710
and the reason that we chose those numbers is because when we add our virtual

762
01:35:47,910 --> 01:35:47,910
program, which we're going to stand up for the beginning of next year,
Where we won't have as many students in class.

763
01:35:55,550 --> 01:35:59,150
you know, we heard tonight about the supervision issue and that's real. So we were wanting to make sure that we still have as,
As, as few, a number of kids in each classroom.

764
01:36:05,420 --> 01:36:05,420
so if we once we stand our, our virtual program up,
We think that we'll be able to have a

765
01:36:15,300 --> 01:36:15,300
reduction by 4 or 5 kids in each one of those areas,
Six through 12.

766
01:36:20,740 --> 01:36:20,740
in the content core content areas because of virtual and we'll have a lot of people,
I think that will take advantage of that program.

767
01:36:28,860 --> 01:36:28,860
we'll see. We're going to be sending out surveys this spring to see how many people
Actually want to stay home and learn.

768
01:36:37,100 --> 01:36:37,100
and we're going to have a potential hybrid model too,
Where if a kid wants to be in, in athletics and fine arts and cte,

769
01:36:45,580 --> 01:36:45,580
they can come for those classes and then they can go back home for the rest of their
Virtual.

770
01:36:49,860 --> 01:36:49,860
and so that way they kind of get the best of both worlds,
But that should reduce those numbers as well.

771
01:36:55,100 --> 01:36:55,100
and the total percentage across the board to do that was 4.8%.

772
01:37:01,420 --> 01:37:01,420
so central office is 5% 4.8% for those cuts. Then we moved on to fine arts and athletic
Reductions.

773
01:37:12,090 --> 01:37:12,090
we wanted to make sure that we still were able to offer everything that we've added
Because of 100% hays because we know and we believe

774
01:37:22,010 --> 01:37:25,290
that it's, it's crucial that we have those programs. That's what brings kids to school. That's the hook.

775
01:37:28,210 --> 01:37:28,210
that's what that's what they, they really enjoy and they'll,
They'll, they'll make it through all their other required classes just because they know

776
01:37:37,970 --> 01:37:41,170
they're going to be able to participate in certain areas. So we didn't want to want to remove any of our programs.

777
01:37:45,530 --> 01:37:45,530
so we didn't, but we're going to have to think differently.

778
01:37:49,970 --> 01:37:49,970
and so the ones that we are proposing doing away with we have a support plan to make up
The difference.

779
01:37:59,170 --> 01:37:59,170
so when we talk about taking away c teams from middle schools,
For example.

780
01:38:04,030 --> 01:38:04,030
what we would be looking at is adding numbers to our a and b teams.

781
01:38:08,430 --> 01:38:08,430
and then coach moffat had a great idea of having a fifth quarter so that the kids that
Maybe didn't get to play in the first four quarters

782
01:38:18,350 --> 01:38:18,350
would get to play in the fifth quarter. So we're looking at potentially doing that.

783
01:38:24,070 --> 01:38:24,070
and we just have to work with the other teams in our middle school districts in order to
Make that happen.

784
01:38:29,870 --> 01:38:29,870
and then we talked about removing the extra teams at the high school level too.

785
01:38:36,430 --> 01:38:36,430
so in every, every sport, we would still have a varsity,
A jv and a freshman team, but our numbers may increase.

786
01:38:43,350 --> 01:38:43,350
and that would be our answer is we would allow as many kids on the teams,
But we would play a fifth quarter to make sure that they actually got to

787
01:38:52,990 --> 01:38:55,710
compete and weren't just standing over there. And then for as far as the fees are concerned,
We haven't come up with what that fee ratio might be yet,

788
01:39:05,100 --> 01:39:05,100
but we're talking about cutting the athletic budget by 8.5%.

789
01:39:11,660 --> 01:39:11,660
parts of athletics are money making at the gate and parts of them are not.

790
01:39:16,220 --> 01:39:16,220
and so we're going to be analyzing the revenue from the money making piece of it and
Seeing how much that can offset so that it can be as self-sustainable as

791
01:39:26,220 --> 01:39:26,220
possible. And so just know when we start looking at the fees we want to make sure that
Those aren't exorbitant so that it would not

792
01:39:35,980 --> 01:39:35,980
cause people not to be able to play. And so we are also looking at a sliding scale
Methodology,

793
01:39:42,780 --> 01:39:42,780
whereas if you're a free lunch student, you would pay the lowest fee,
A reduced lunch student would pay somewhere in the middle.

794
01:39:50,980 --> 01:39:50,980
and then if you're not on free and reduced lunch,
Then you would pay whatever the price would be for that particular fee.

795
01:39:58,770 --> 01:39:58,770
and we think that that would help people fill out those free and reduced lunch forms,
Because then if they qualify,

796
01:40:05,530 --> 01:40:05,530
they don't have to spend as much, which then brings us in more federal money,
Which could help offset some cuts that we would be be looking at making.

797
01:40:13,570 --> 01:40:13,570
and so that's fine. Arts and athletics, suspension of certain staff stipends,
Incentives and surcharge

798
01:40:23,490 --> 01:40:23,490
payment coverage for $2.2 million. This one was,
Was was kind of difficult.

799
01:40:30,770 --> 01:40:30,770
we we put early on a recruiting stipend in for sped and bilingual because we had such a
Shortage and it worked very

800
01:40:40,770 --> 01:40:40,770
well. It was originally intended just to be a11 year fee,
But we went ahead and made it perpetual.

801
01:40:48,090 --> 01:40:48,090
but our, our actual stipend for bilingual and for sped is like one of the tops in the
Area.

802
01:40:57,160 --> 01:40:57,160
and so the, the amount that we would be looking at reducing is not their core stipend.

803
01:41:02,480 --> 01:41:02,480
it would be just that recruitment stipend that is on top of their,
Their core stipend.

804
01:41:09,120 --> 01:41:09,120
now, the, the one that was, was a little more difficult was the master and doctoral degree
Stipends.

805
01:41:16,600 --> 01:41:16,600
you know, we encourage people to be lifelong learners,
But in certain job descriptions, masters and doctoral degrees aren't required.

806
01:41:24,920 --> 01:41:24,920
and for those that are like for, for our teachers at the high school level that have 18
Hours in a master's degree field.

807
01:41:33,720 --> 01:41:33,720
we're still going to pay them their stipend because it is a part of their job requirement.

808
01:41:38,280 --> 01:41:38,280
and so if they teach for uti, onramps, which you guys have been talking about,
Or for austin community college,

809
01:41:45,320 --> 01:41:45,320
they're still going to receive their, their fee because it is a part of their assignment.

810
01:41:51,160 --> 01:41:53,800
and so we're looking at all those different things. And so we're just looking at at suspending that.

811
01:41:56,620 --> 01:41:56,620
and after talking to our presidents of our teacher organizations,
They said that if you find a windfall of money,

812
01:42:04,100 --> 01:42:06,940
could that please be the first thing that you restore? And we said, absolutely, it can. And then the second thing that they talked about was
Class sizes.

813
01:42:11,420 --> 01:42:13,460
could you could you cut that down a little bit? And so we've already been talking about if we receive more kids through virtual or our
Growth is higher than what we thought.

814
01:42:20,900 --> 01:42:20,900
that's certainly something that we could look at. So that's why we use the term suspend
The stipends.

815
01:42:26,500 --> 01:42:26,500
so we'll continue to do that because if we did receive a great windfall,
That's something that you can pay at any time in the in in the school year.

816
01:42:37,380 --> 01:42:37,380
and the last one we talked about in that particular one is teacher incentive allotment.

817
01:42:44,140 --> 01:42:44,140
we we discovered that, you know, this is a very new program and we had a transition of,
Of chief financial officer

818
01:42:53,810 --> 01:42:53,810
and we actually didn't require our employees to pay the deductions that they should have
Paid for any of us.

819
01:43:02,330 --> 01:43:05,210
uncle sam's always going to get their money,
Right. And so whatever you earn, there's a deduction that's commensurate with that.

820
01:43:10,810 --> 01:43:14,730
and we found that the school district was paying that when we should have been paying it. And we aren't going to ask anybody to pay that back.

821
01:43:18,010 --> 01:43:18,010
but moving forward, we're going to ask that we we we handle our finances,
Right.

822
01:43:22,650 --> 01:43:22,650
and we we deduct appropriately. And so that's one that we,
We discovered with our new cfo that we had been paying and we shouldn't have been paying

823
01:43:31,650 --> 01:43:31,650
that. All right. The next thing restructuring of attendance teams reporting,
We are looking

824
01:43:41,490 --> 01:43:41,490
at cutting back the number of days for attendance clerks on our campuses to just a little
Bit over the number of days

825
01:43:51,600 --> 01:43:55,440
that our students will be in school, and that will save a little bit of money. And then we're going to consolidate. If this passes,
Our teams will leave all of our teams clerks at the high school because they have to.

826
01:44:04,160 --> 01:44:07,320
transcript. They do so many different things at that level. But then the rest will be consolidated so that we could handle the crucial information
That we have to submit to the state of

827
01:44:16,720 --> 01:44:16,720
texas. Next is library and social services reduction.

828
01:44:22,600 --> 01:44:22,600
we are not cutting any library services at the elementary campuses.

829
01:44:28,800 --> 01:44:28,800
the circulation numbers at the elementary campuses is off the charts.

830
01:44:33,440 --> 01:44:33,440
that's where kids are learning how to read. They actually will go and check out books.

831
01:44:37,800 --> 01:44:37,800
and so this was done with data. And when we started looking at our actual circulation
Numbers at the middle school and high school level especially

832
01:44:49,360 --> 01:44:49,360
at the at the high school level, we just weren't seeing kids go to the library and check
Out books anymore.

833
01:44:55,790 --> 01:44:55,790
and it's being used more as just a testing facility or a place where they go and do do
Some research,

834
01:45:02,630 --> 01:45:02,630
but they actually are getting their printed materials through their ap classes or through
Their regular english classes.

835
01:45:09,630 --> 01:45:09,630
and, and so we saw that as an opportunity. And so we would restructure by having a lead
Librarian for the high school level,

836
01:45:18,750 --> 01:45:20,950
a lead librarian for the middle school level. And then we would keep all of our library texts and each one of our libraries across the
District.

837
01:45:26,790 --> 01:45:26,790
and then social services reduction, we talked about the cuts in communities and schools or
People in public comment did,

838
01:45:35,710 --> 01:45:35,710
and we're looking at cutting those programs in half.

839
01:45:39,750 --> 01:45:39,750
but the way we're going to support this, we've had for attendance specialists in the
Districts that are all social workers.

840
01:45:47,510 --> 01:45:47,510
and so we're going to reassign them from being attendance specialist to the campuses that
We remove this from,

841
01:45:56,780 --> 01:45:56,780
so that we will be able to stand up support just like we've had with this.

842
01:46:01,020 --> 01:46:01,020
and so we can pay for that out of our federal budget instead of our local budget.

843
01:46:05,860 --> 01:46:05,860
and that way we still get the same support level that we we would have had with c,
I s but coming out of a different pot of money.

844
01:46:15,740 --> 01:46:15,740
all right. So those are the cuts as a whole. These are the things that could make a
Tremendous difference moving forward.

845
01:46:23,220 --> 01:46:23,220
so we do have additional revenue possibilities.

846
01:46:28,180 --> 01:46:30,980
we have a legislative session coming up in 27. We have one coming up in 29, and we have one coming up in 31.

847
01:46:36,060 --> 01:46:36,060
and so I love how people come locally and talk to their locally elected school board
Because they're accessible.

848
01:46:45,300 --> 01:46:45,300
but the people that you need to be talking to are your state senator and your elected
Government officials,

849
01:46:53,080 --> 01:46:53,080
because they're the ones that are making these decisions,
Not these people up here.

850
01:46:57,680 --> 01:47:00,880
and and so I love how people always come to us. Like we're the ones that created the system that the state has handed down in the form of
Mandates.

851
01:47:06,640 --> 01:47:06,640
and so if you, if you can talk to them and tell them we had a $32 billion surplus this
Year at the state level,

852
01:47:16,040 --> 01:47:16,040
that's your money and my money, that's, that's taxpayer dollars that they could have given
Every,

853
01:47:22,360 --> 01:47:22,360
every kid $1,000 and they chose not to. And so you need to,
You need to be visiting with them about that.

854
01:47:29,840 --> 01:47:29,840
and instead of just funding traditional public editor,
They're trying to fund three different tiers.

855
01:47:34,560 --> 01:47:34,560
now they have public schools, they have charters,
And now they're going to have vouchers.

856
01:47:41,000 --> 01:47:41,000
and there's just not enough money to go around to fund all three and to do quality.

857
01:47:45,790 --> 01:47:45,790
and you'll see that. So the next thing is we could potentially have another tax
Ratification election down the road if we feel that that's in the best interest of

858
01:47:55,710 --> 01:47:55,710
the district. $0.03 additions would add $12 million a year.

859
01:48:00,750 --> 01:48:00,750
and whoever spoke earlier may be right. We we may have asked for too much.

860
01:48:06,230 --> 01:48:10,150
we may should have just asked for $0.03, but we didn't. And and so we could take a look at that down the road.

861
01:48:13,990 --> 01:48:13,990
I spoke to land sales a while ago. I spoke to virtual students and we could have general
Student growth.

862
01:48:20,790 --> 01:48:20,790
we're going to continue to look at it for the first time since I've been here.

863
01:48:25,270 --> 01:48:25,270
our our demographer missed the mark on student growth.

864
01:48:29,430 --> 01:48:29,430
we were supposed to be at about 25,700. And because of all the variables that are going on
Now.

865
01:48:38,670 --> 01:48:38,670
we, you know, at the high point, we got to like 25,
200 this year and we budgeted for 2400.

866
01:48:45,620 --> 01:48:49,460
so we'll see a little bit of a hit revenue there. And so we're, we think that we're, we're, we're good as far as our staff is concerned
Because if we make the cuts of 125 position

867
01:48:59,260 --> 01:48:59,260
this year, we staffed for 25,400 kids. And next year if we maintain what we have based on
The low growth

868
01:49:08,980 --> 01:49:08,980
will only be at 25, 400. So we should be in a,
In a good situation to support.

869
01:49:14,700 --> 01:49:18,180
and then the last thing is improved attendance. Attendance is important for many reasons. It's for engagement of kids and,
And to teach them employability skills for the future.

870
01:49:26,420 --> 01:49:26,420
because when I talk to ceos of different companies,
They want people that are reliable, that are going to show up to work.

871
01:49:31,860 --> 01:49:31,860
and that's one facet and you can't learn if you're not here.

872
01:49:36,580 --> 01:49:36,580
but the other side of it is for every percentage point that we gain or improve in
Attendance.

873
01:49:45,410 --> 01:49:45,410
it's $1.5 million for the school district. And so that's something that,
You know, we've we've looked at for for a long time now.

874
01:49:53,130 --> 01:49:53,130
and our education foundation has given each school an incentive amount to try to,
To get more kids to come to school on a regular basis because it does speak

875
01:50:03,090 --> 01:50:05,570
to the sustainability of the, of the district. So that is the slideshow. Mr.. President. And I'll,
I'll entertain any questions or let you guys discuss.

876
01:50:13,810 --> 01:50:13,810
and anybody on cabinet is ready to answer questions as well.

877
01:50:18,890 --> 01:50:18,890
thank you. Doctor wright. I want to say I do appreciate it's it's nice to hear some of the
Rationale on how we got to some of these decisions.

878
01:50:26,810 --> 01:50:26,810
I know these things weren't made, these decisions weren't done in a vacuum.

879
01:50:32,170 --> 01:50:32,170
I appreciate the collaboration and I know this team is going to have some questions and
Some comments as well.

880
01:50:37,770 --> 01:50:37,770
so team, I'm going to look to my right. Mr.. Vela.

881
01:50:46,790 --> 01:50:46,790
yeah. All right. Doctor wright. Thank you for that thorough overview.

882
01:50:52,230 --> 01:50:52,230
I took a lot of notes. Of course, we've talked about this.

883
01:50:56,870 --> 01:50:56,870
I'm sure we all have a lot to say. So I have a list of questions to get through,
But doctor wright,

884
01:51:01,670 --> 01:51:01,670
let's take your your saying, you know, throw the skunk on the table.

885
01:51:07,110 --> 01:51:07,110
in general terms, we're looking at the data,
We're looking at how we're going to get to where we need to get.

886
01:51:12,030 --> 01:51:12,030
thank you for that roadmap. But in this families are affected,
Staff members are affected,

887
01:51:19,390 --> 01:51:19,390
our communities affected. Just kind of walk me through the general conversations that
We've had with our staff,

888
01:51:25,750 --> 01:51:25,750
if you can. Again, no specifics, but but just walk me through the human human side of
Things,

889
01:51:31,350 --> 01:51:31,350
please. Absolutely. So any, anybody that was impacted,
We wanted them to have a face to face conversation.

890
01:51:39,740 --> 01:51:39,740
if they were going to be losing days or if they were going to be reassigned or if they
Were no longer going to have a job,

891
01:51:46,900 --> 01:51:46,900
we wanted that to happen face to face. So our our hr department met with all the hiring
Managers and anybody that was infected and then gave them

892
01:51:56,220 --> 01:51:56,220
information to speak to the individual employees that would be impacted.

893
01:52:00,900 --> 01:52:00,900
and we wanted to, to get this out soon enough because this is for,
For next year.

894
01:52:05,180 --> 01:52:05,180
so we'll start in august. And so we thought if we if we handed out the information in
March,

895
01:52:11,220 --> 01:52:14,940
it's the right thing to do because this is impacting people's livelihood. We know it's any dollar that you take away is a is a dollar that was crucial to that
Family.

896
01:52:20,380 --> 01:52:20,380
and we want to be respectful of that. And, and we know that that some people will be
Looking and they'll have to make a choice which which is best for,

897
01:52:30,020 --> 01:52:30,020
for their families. And so we wanted to give them april,
May, june, july before next year to to find out.

898
01:52:36,970 --> 01:52:36,970
you know, if they want to come back or if they need to search for something else.

899
01:52:41,330 --> 01:52:41,330
it's my hope that you know, they'll, they'll come back and we'll be able to ramp up and
Find a windfall and make things right again.

900
01:52:49,930 --> 01:52:49,930
but until then, I mean, you know, we wanted them to have the information so they can make
An informed decision.

901
01:52:55,450 --> 01:52:55,450
yeah. Thank you. Doctor wright. And I know that those conversations are never easy. You
Know,

902
01:52:59,850 --> 01:52:59,850
I sit at a table sometimes and have to have conversations with employees who are losing.

903
01:53:06,170 --> 01:53:06,170
and it's you want to be as forthright as, you know,
Have the dignity and respect for them.

904
01:53:11,690 --> 01:53:11,690
so not easy. It's not easy for them to hear. And it's not easy for us to,
For you to have to be the messenger or,

905
01:53:16,930 --> 01:53:16,930
you know, or the, your staff. Gosh, I look at all these,
You know, these great years here.

906
01:53:23,890 --> 01:53:23,890
and actually just another month, I will be the second most tenured board member on this
Team.

907
01:53:29,410 --> 01:53:33,290
and I look at these raises that we gave year over year. Look at. I look at the the number of tax rates.

908
01:53:35,560 --> 01:53:35,560
I mean, I'm proud to be a part of this team. I'm proud to be a part of this district.

909
01:53:39,800 --> 01:53:39,800
and the things that we have achieved through your leadership and through even different
Iterations of the board.

910
01:53:45,440 --> 01:53:45,440
before that where were we in terms of salary before we started taking this initiative back
In 2020,

911
01:53:53,560 --> 01:53:53,560
2021? Where were we ranked as far as pay? We were ranked toward the bottom in central
Texas in 19 out of 20,

912
01:54:01,280 --> 01:54:04,200
am I does that sound about right? You're correct. We were. We were really far behind. And that was a conscious decision.

913
01:54:08,480 --> 01:54:08,480
we kind of changed our philosophy when we wanted to make sure that we got experienced
Teachers.

914
01:54:14,120 --> 01:54:14,120
so we we started focusing our efforts on, on five,
Ten, 15 years, 20 years of experience.

915
01:54:21,920 --> 01:54:21,920
and now we are ahead of the curve by a pretty good,
Pretty good margin.

916
01:54:28,640 --> 01:54:28,640
yes, sir. So I, you know, I say that, of course,
It's, you know, not tongue in cheek, but it's to show that,

917
01:54:35,380 --> 01:54:35,380
I mean, we, we value staff. And so that's why I asked you about the human side of things
About those conversations,

918
01:54:41,060 --> 01:54:41,060
because even, even in having to deliver some tough news,
I mean, you're still valuing people to say,

919
01:54:46,220 --> 01:54:46,220
look, we're giving you an opportunity to find something else within our district.

920
01:54:50,300 --> 01:54:50,300
if the skill set is there and the opportunity is there,
Or, you know, unfortunately, in some cases moving on to other other districts and other

921
01:54:57,740 --> 01:54:57,740
professions, that's a great point you just made. So for any position that is going away,
We are holding jobs internally first so that anybody was thank you.

922
01:55:07,220 --> 01:55:07,220
that was impacted. Will get a chance to find a position in the district that is vacant.

923
01:55:12,460 --> 01:55:12,460
yes, sir. Well thank you. Thank you for that clarification. You know,
Does it does it make it easier?

924
01:55:17,740 --> 01:55:17,740
but it certainly you know, I mean, we do want to be a staff friendly organization,
As we have demonstrated for six plus years even before that.

925
01:55:27,060 --> 01:55:27,060
so I can only speak to to my time on this board.

926
01:55:32,210 --> 01:55:32,210
increased class sizes. Doctor wright. You know,
Thank you for for addressing that as well about just the concerns of whether it's

927
01:55:39,610 --> 01:55:39,610
security, whether it's just feeling, you know,
Having a healthy learning environment.

928
01:55:44,730 --> 01:55:44,730
our average daily attendance right now, you said is 93.6%.

929
01:55:49,490 --> 01:55:49,490
so did we factor when we look at if a class is going to 27 bodies,
We're factoring in at 93% that are there on any given day.

930
01:55:58,890 --> 01:55:58,890
I know it doesn't always work out exactly that way,
But is that also part of the reasoning that we're looking at increased class sizes?

931
01:56:05,810 --> 01:56:05,810
yes. Because on any given day, we do have about 93% of the class in and I know when mr.

932
01:56:13,770 --> 01:56:13,770
and I've been doing our walkthroughs, we look in,
In the classrooms and on most classes we like at the elementary level,

933
01:56:21,610 --> 01:56:21,610
we don't have 22 kids in a classroom. Even though we staffed at 22,
We typically have 17 to 18 because we have such high absentee rates

934
01:56:31,320 --> 01:56:31,320
and. Yeah. Doctor wright thank you for that. I,
I mean, I'm a parent first before I'm a board member,

935
01:56:35,680 --> 01:56:35,680
before I'm anything else. I mean, you know, my son,
I know that he sits in a class that is very full already.

936
01:56:40,880 --> 01:56:40,880
I mean, I'm glad that that class is full. It's a very,
A very gifted class, a lot of bright minds,

937
01:56:46,040 --> 01:56:46,040
probably a lot of challenging ones as well, my son included.

938
01:56:50,520 --> 01:56:50,520
doing a great job. I'm proud of you, son. But for his grades,
So sorry, but yeah, I

939
01:57:00,240 --> 01:57:03,960
mean it we're looking at so average daily attendance. We're at 93.6. We budgeted at wright at 93 for this year.

940
01:57:09,320 --> 01:57:09,320
so we're slightly ahead, maybe to the tune of 750,750,000.

941
01:57:13,800 --> 01:57:13,800
excuse me, 750 million would be great. Okay. And then what do we have projections as far
As what we're going to do for next year on our average daily attendance,

942
01:57:21,480 --> 01:57:21,480
what we're going to base our budget on, it looks like we'll do 93 again because by the
Time we get through the spring semester,

943
01:57:28,390 --> 01:57:28,390
it will probably flatten out to about 93 if the last several years trends hold true.

944
01:57:33,390 --> 01:57:33,390
yes, sir. So yeah, you know, parents vela household included doesn't mean that we're
Trying to only hit 93%.

945
01:57:42,030 --> 01:57:45,510
I mean, we know that students aren't learning when they're not in the classroom. And so we really, let's, let's blow through that number and,
And then we can really complain about class sizes and of course,

946
01:57:51,510 --> 01:57:54,910
do something positive on the other end, right? Is that the idea? So. All right. Doctor wright what was the average daily attendance kind of.

947
01:58:00,190 --> 01:58:03,550
do you top of mind? What was it before covid? It was right at 96%. Yes, sir. And we have yet to hit even.

948
01:58:10,270 --> 01:58:12,550
we're not even close. We haven't been close to 94%. I think we've been some close some at some points this year,
But we have not been quite to that number.

949
01:58:16,950 --> 01:58:16,950
yeah. Earlier in the year we were we were right above 94.

950
01:58:20,990 --> 01:58:20,990
but it shifted back down. Yeah. Okay. Just because I caught this and I know I've heard a
Little bit more.

951
01:58:29,060 --> 01:58:29,060
I want to make sure that our, that our public hears this,
But talk to me again about some of the virtual options that we're looking at that's going

952
01:58:34,340 --> 01:58:34,340
to alleviate maybe some of the class sizes as well as improve attendance.

953
01:58:39,740 --> 01:58:42,420
so can you can you give me a little bit more on that? Yeah. So we're just now building that plane. And so you know,
We had the experience during the pandemic and,

954
01:58:48,580 --> 01:58:51,620
and it wasn't optimal. So it's going to be different from that. But we are looking at a, at an asynchronous model with,
With check ins and then testing would be in person.

955
01:58:58,300 --> 01:58:58,300
but miss cdo and her team miss her. Is she still here?

956
01:59:02,620 --> 01:59:02,620
yeah, they're, they're looking at the options. We've been looking at what some of the
Other school districts are doing that started offering it this year.

957
01:59:09,780 --> 01:59:09,780
this was the during this legislative session,
They allowed virtual attendance to, to occur.

958
01:59:17,220 --> 01:59:17,220
and you know, we coming out of the pandemic,
We kind of had a bad taste in our mouth because we didn't feel like it was best for kids,

959
01:59:23,800 --> 01:59:23,800
and I still don't know that it's best for kids. But if if if,
If parents are inclined to support their kids virtually,

960
01:59:33,360 --> 01:59:33,360
then I think we need to need to offer it. And,
And and so we're going to create a much better version.

961
01:59:40,200 --> 01:59:40,200
we don't have it all ironed out yet, but we'll be putting in guardrails for kids to make
Sure they're getting what they need and have check ins.

962
01:59:47,240 --> 01:59:47,240
and, and so we'll, we'll, we'll have some criteria for those that will be able to you
Know,

963
01:59:55,120 --> 01:59:55,120
sign up for it. People that are already struggling probably wouldn't do well to move over
Into that option,

964
02:00:01,840 --> 02:00:01,840
but we hope to pick up some kids. We know that we had many kids that were adversely
Affected by ice

965
02:00:11,800 --> 02:00:11,800
and that because they were worried about their immigration status,
We see them in the area,

966
02:00:17,480 --> 02:00:17,480
but they're not enrolled anywhere. And I think because they're fearful.

967
02:00:21,830 --> 02:00:21,830
and so it's possible that we could see students in that predicament that may sign up.

968
02:00:28,950 --> 02:00:28,950
and so we'll see how it goes and I'll keep you guys apprized as we,
As we build the program,

969
02:00:35,070 --> 02:00:37,990
we're going to start doing surveys this spring. Okay. Thank you. I need there be more to follow. I just wanted to. Yeah,
Trying to get ahead of the curve there. So again,

970
02:00:42,750 --> 02:00:42,750
families that are listening, let's stay tuned.

971
02:00:47,350 --> 02:00:47,350
let's talk about our demographer for a little bit doctor wright because I know we've,
We've really relied on demographers forecast and how many students we're expecting and how

972
02:00:56,030 --> 02:00:56,030
many we're expecting at each campus. What has been their trend prior to this year?

973
02:01:01,110 --> 02:01:01,110
so prior to this year, we were 99%. And that's been the case for each of the last five
Years.

974
02:01:09,030 --> 02:01:09,030
this year, they, they missed it statewide though,
Because everybody really thought that interest rates would begin to decline.

975
02:01:16,430 --> 02:01:16,430
and so it's impacting our, established neighborhoods.

976
02:01:20,940 --> 02:01:20,940
and so you're not seeing turnover and you're seeing families age out in in one particular
Neighborhood,

977
02:01:26,620 --> 02:01:26,620
whereas we used to have starter homes and then people would move around according to bumps
In their salaries and that type of thing.

978
02:01:33,180 --> 02:01:33,180
and now we're seeing pretty much just new development growth because the,
The developers can actually finance

979
02:01:42,820 --> 02:01:42,820
themselves and offer a lower interest rate as an incentive to buy a brand new home.

980
02:01:48,620 --> 02:01:48,620
so we're seeing the growth, but it's all pretty much in new developments as opposed to
People moving from neighborhood to neighborhood as they did in the past.

981
02:01:57,300 --> 02:01:57,300
and that's occurring throughout the state because of the six and three quarter interest
Rates or 7% interest rates.

982
02:02:03,340 --> 02:02:03,340
so not pointing a finger at a demographer, just we we had what we thought was great intel,

983
02:02:07,460 --> 02:02:07,460
great, great data, very consistent data. And we go with we usually get a high projection,
A low projection.

984
02:02:14,020 --> 02:02:16,260
and what do we do as a district on those projections? We go with which one. We typically go to with the middle projection.

985
02:02:19,690 --> 02:02:19,690
and we were kind of, we were kind of worried about it this year.

986
02:02:24,650 --> 02:02:28,490
and so I didn't even use their low projection this year. We went about 200 students lower than their lowest projection.

987
02:02:31,690 --> 02:02:31,690
I'm glad we did. And so for this year, if we were expecting 25,800 students,
Is that what I heard earlier?

988
02:02:40,490 --> 02:02:43,370
no. They they've since revised their projection. And so we're looking at 25,382 students next year.

989
02:02:47,490 --> 02:02:50,770
what was the original projection that we that we budgeted on this year. Yes sir. 25,400. Okay. So like you said, there's going to be a hit with that.

990
02:02:56,330 --> 02:03:00,170
okay. Doctor wright I got lots of questions. I don't want to hog the mic all night. I'll just 1 or 2 more that I'll graze on here.

991
02:03:04,210 --> 02:03:08,090
teacher incentive allotment. I think it's worth repeating. What, so what, what is going on with that? Because I,
I feel like you're taking money from me. Doctor wright. I've worked hard and I'm a,

992
02:03:14,050 --> 02:03:16,750
you know, I'm being, you know, rewarded. Can. Can you give me just a little bit more? I'm gonna let christina answer this one because
She's the one that's been getting to deal with it. So, christina, if you'll weigh in.

993
02:03:24,390 --> 02:03:24,390
sure, I'll explain, but I'll let miss ok fill in whatever I fail to touch on,
Because it's actually you know,

994
02:03:31,350 --> 02:03:31,350
having to do with payroll and deduction and the practices that occur in a business office
All the time.

995
02:03:37,910 --> 02:03:37,910
anytime that we are paid money from an entity,
We have to pay deductions and taxes for that money.

996
02:03:47,070 --> 02:03:47,070
the teachers have been paying for taxes and deductions from that money.

997
02:03:51,430 --> 02:03:51,430
but apparently there is an item called employer required benefits.

998
02:03:58,230 --> 02:03:58,230
which includes things like unemployment compensation or worker's compensation and other
Things that

999
02:04:08,710 --> 02:04:08,710
are called employer required benefits. And those pieces were previously inadvertently paid
For

1000
02:04:18,380 --> 02:04:18,380
by local money rather than coming from the actual payment itself.

1001
02:04:26,260 --> 02:04:26,260
so you give us a payment, we get deductions,
But the district doesn't pay for some part of the deductions.

1002
02:04:33,180 --> 02:04:33,180
all of those deductions come from the money that I've earned and worked really hard for.

1003
02:04:39,500 --> 02:04:39,500
and so in this case, I've learned that for the past couple of years,
The district has inadvertently paid for deductions that should have been coming

1004
02:04:49,340 --> 02:04:49,340
from the allotment itself, as would be the practice for any other payment made to any
Other employee in any other

1005
02:04:58,100 --> 02:04:58,100
organization. And so rather than saying, oh my gosh,
We need to recover this, we used local funds for it.

1006
02:05:06,300 --> 02:05:06,300
it's like, nope, we made that mistake and we're not going to ask for that back.

1007
02:05:10,380 --> 02:05:13,450
we're going to eat that because that was our mistake. But moving forward, we need to do it correctly.

1008
02:05:17,170 --> 02:05:17,170
miss, have I left anything out of my explanation?

1009
02:05:22,210 --> 02:05:22,210
no. Not really. Just to simplify it, though,
The teacher incentive allotment is a pot of money.

1010
02:05:32,290 --> 02:05:32,290
all costs have to come out of that money. And all costs were not coming out of that money.

1011
02:05:41,690 --> 02:05:41,690
and so that's what we are trying to rectify. And so the question is,
Well how did that happen?

1012
02:05:50,330 --> 02:05:50,330
and the main reason is because t e a emails teachers and tells them

1013
02:06:00,130 --> 02:06:00,130
the amount of funding that their work has generated.

1014
02:06:08,690 --> 02:06:08,690
and that's at the 100% level, but normally that isn't how it works.

1015
02:06:14,800 --> 02:06:14,800
we get a pot of money and we determine all costs involved how much the teacher will
Receive,

1016
02:06:24,160 --> 02:06:24,160
which is a much lower amount because we have to cover all the costs out of that allotment.

1017
02:06:32,040 --> 02:06:34,480
thank you, miss carson and miss for that clarification. So again, because I want to make sure we had some folks speak about it and even in the
Community it feels like teachers are being penalized.

1018
02:06:43,400 --> 02:06:43,400
there's no penalty in this. It's just we are,
We are accounting for the taxes or whatever,

1019
02:06:48,560 --> 02:06:48,560
whatever monies are due back to the government is what we're recouping.

1020
02:06:53,680 --> 02:06:53,680
the largest part of that is teacher retirement system.

1021
02:06:58,600 --> 02:06:58,600
so it is their retirement account. Thank you again for that clarification,
Doctor.

1022
02:07:06,800 --> 02:07:06,800
I'll just ask one more question because I know other board members are itching to ask
Theirs.

1023
02:07:11,900 --> 02:07:14,860
you mentioned kind of the hold harmless funding earlier. Can you just give us a couple of examples? Because hold harmless.

1024
02:07:18,700 --> 02:07:18,700
in my mind, back in 2020, 2021, we weren't held to an attendance standard.

1025
02:07:23,860 --> 02:07:23,860
and so we didn't miss out on our average daily attendance money at the end of the year
Until we found out middle of the 2022,

1026
02:07:32,460 --> 02:07:32,460
2021, 2022 school year that we were going to be penalized and that we missed out on the
Tune of what,

1027
02:07:37,620 --> 02:07:41,340
like $2 million that we got penalized that we weren't accounting for. Even going back that far. So what are some other,
What are some other hold harmless examples that you can give us?

1028
02:07:46,180 --> 02:07:46,180
the hold harmless that I'm referring to is the buy down of property taxes.

1029
02:07:50,260 --> 02:07:50,260
so when the homestead exemption went up to 140,000 then the amount of money that we were
Unable to collect locally,

1030
02:07:59,540 --> 02:07:59,540
the state replaced that money so that we were able to maintain that same level.

1031
02:08:05,020 --> 02:08:05,020
we didn't get any new money, but it was we were held harmless at that 60 215 amount.

1032
02:08:11,330 --> 02:08:13,770
okay. Because it's not just for the the homestead. It's also, I mean shout out to our veterans. Hey,
Hey you know, anybody that is, is due based on disability ratings and things of that sort.

1033
02:08:21,650 --> 02:08:21,650
I mean, you know, there's in some cases no no home tax or property taxes.

1034
02:08:26,970 --> 02:08:26,970
and so we're held harmless for that as well. So the full value of what the district has
Evaluated,

1035
02:08:32,050 --> 02:08:32,050
we're getting that money, whatever exemptions passed in the constitutional amendments.

1036
02:08:37,130 --> 02:08:40,690
then we were held harmless for those particular new additions. Yes, sir. Okay. I have other questions, but I'll definitely I'll pause and turn it back
Over to president for who's next.

1037
02:08:49,730 --> 02:08:49,730
trustee. Petrea. Thank you. Let me get organized here.

1038
02:08:56,850 --> 02:08:56,850
I've got some notes. This is so hard. I've been on the board since 17 and

1039
02:09:06,600 --> 02:09:06,600
after next to covid, this is the hardest thing.

1040
02:09:12,080 --> 02:09:12,080
I've, I've had to deal with. Look at this, this board.

1041
02:09:18,040 --> 02:09:21,440
I don't want to speak for my board members, but this,
This is the hardest thing. Personally, I've, I've had to, to go through but I feel like some people,
You know, may be new here.

1042
02:09:29,920 --> 02:09:29,920
so I wanted to kind of go through some stuff again as,
As evidenced by the slides, this has been coming and it's terrible.

1043
02:09:39,120 --> 02:09:39,120
we made some cuts last year. We had speakers come and we're real mad about it.

1044
02:09:43,720 --> 02:09:47,040
it was very small. It was like you said, kind of a scalpel. But we, we've been we've been making people mad for a few years now.

1045
02:09:50,880 --> 02:09:50,880
and to his point, it's empty upstairs. We could all probably move downstairs.

1046
02:09:55,280 --> 02:09:55,280
we we built this thinking that, you know, the 60 one 60 would be 71 60 by this point.

1047
02:10:02,880 --> 02:10:02,880
I personally could not do business. I work at a law firm.

1048
02:10:07,950 --> 02:10:07,950
we get raises every year. In the real world,
You get raises every year for your in your revenue goes

1049
02:10:17,750 --> 02:10:21,310
up every year. Kind of commiserate with your raises. Certainly law firms are in the business of making money.

1050
02:10:24,510 --> 02:10:24,510
so, you know, their revenue goes up. The the challenge for us is we're we're held hostage.

1051
02:10:32,750 --> 02:10:32,750
we're at the mercy of the state's funding. And they they're in a big fight over there.

1052
02:10:37,150 --> 02:10:37,150
I don't know if you've ever spent any time at the capitol,
But it is petty and childish and I don't know what I do.

1053
02:10:44,710 --> 02:10:44,710
I would never move beyond this level in elected government.

1054
02:10:48,790 --> 02:10:48,790
it is this is, you know, advocating for students is,
Is, is something I care about.

1055
02:10:55,390 --> 02:10:58,830
being an elected official is not something I care about. And I don't even know how those people sleep at night because I don't feel like they do a
Lot of good in the world.

1056
02:11:05,930 --> 02:11:05,930
so I have some questions that are somewhat rhetorical,
But I want to, I want to just kind of paint a picture for,

1057
02:11:12,330 --> 02:11:12,330
for what's been happening. So doctor wright,
I think you can answer this question, but do cities or counties have to go out to the

1058
02:11:19,530 --> 02:11:19,530
voters to ask for a tax increase? Who can answer that?

1059
02:11:25,570 --> 02:11:25,570
does anybody know the answer? Yes. They have limitations as well.

1060
02:11:31,970 --> 02:11:31,970
okay. But it's a much higher limitation because I feel like my city and my county went up
On my taxes this year,

1061
02:11:38,890 --> 02:11:41,130
and I didn't remember seeing that on the ballot. They have a larger leeway amount than we do. We have something like built in it

1062
02:11:51,050 --> 02:11:51,050
when all the calculations are done. There's a couple percentage leeway in dollars not,
Not rate in

1063
02:12:01,000 --> 02:12:01,000
dollars. And they have something along the lines of 8%.

1064
02:12:06,280 --> 02:12:10,280
don't quote me. Okay. But so they have more leeway than we do. Yes. Thank you. And doctor wright, can you just say it again for the people in the back?

1065
02:12:16,680 --> 02:12:16,680
can we use bond funds or interest in sinking bucket to pay teacher salaries or principal
Salaries or your salary?

1066
02:12:25,960 --> 02:12:29,600
not legally. I wish we could, but we can't. Okay. Thank you. So I want to. This is a couple one.

1067
02:12:35,120 --> 02:12:35,120
I got some unpopular opinions I'm going to roll out here. One is as a fine arts parent,
I've had to pay a lot of money.

1068
02:12:41,360 --> 02:12:44,760
I didn't realize athletic parents weren't paying any money. I didn't get that memo. So I kind of feel like fine arts parents.

1069
02:12:50,160 --> 02:12:50,160
it's it was $800 a year for my kid to be in band.

1070
02:12:54,600 --> 02:12:58,000
so maybe I pushed her in the wrong direction in sixth grade. So I do think that there's some equity that can be had with our athletic parents.

1071
02:13:02,230 --> 02:13:02,230
and I hope that parents will understand that that fine arts parents have been paying a lot
Of money for a while,

1072
02:13:07,910 --> 02:13:07,910
maybe not all of them, but, but certainly dance and cheer,
Which is sort of athletic, sort of fine arts band for sure.

1073
02:13:17,910 --> 02:13:17,910
and then do I theater choir, I'm sure has paid paying some money.

1074
02:13:24,230 --> 02:13:24,230
so, so I think that's a, that's a good thing that we're trying to do there.

1075
02:13:28,710 --> 02:13:28,710
and I agree with you. Doctor wright. I hope that people sign up for the free and reduced
Lunch and get a sliding scale. Because I know,

1076
02:13:34,790 --> 02:13:38,150
I know that other programs have been doing that. Y'all, I want to address kind of the elephant in the room and that's doctor wright salary
Because that's come up a lot.

1077
02:13:45,630 --> 02:13:45,630
and I want to, I want to tell you why that is and I'll be brief,
But I sat on the two days of interviews when we hired him in 2016 and y'all,

1078
02:13:55,310 --> 02:13:55,310
there wasn't a close second that came before us.

1079
02:14:00,460 --> 02:14:00,460
this could be a lot worse if we didn't have the people in the leadership roles that we do.

1080
02:14:06,460 --> 02:14:06,460
and he's paid well because otherwise other districts would steal him.

1081
02:14:11,820 --> 02:14:14,740
for example, in leander, they pay their first. I have a question. Doctor wright how long have you served as a superintendent in the state
Of texas?

1082
02:14:19,860 --> 02:14:19,860
how many years have you served as a superintendent?

1083
02:14:24,580 --> 02:14:24,580
23. What year did you start as a superintendent?

1084
02:14:29,140 --> 02:14:29,140
2004 2004. Okay, so the leander isd superintendent makes $343,000.

1085
02:14:36,620 --> 02:14:36,620
he started in 2009 as a superintendent. The austin isd superintendent makes 362 k he
Started in 2024.

1086
02:14:46,060 --> 02:14:48,980
so those are the districts that could easily hire him. And we don't want that. We don't want to hire them away.

1087
02:14:54,290 --> 02:14:54,290
he's a creative problem solver. He listens, he's approachable,
He does really care about kids,

1088
02:15:00,410 --> 02:15:03,850
and no one wants to be in public education right now. This is a hard job. Nobody wants to do this job. I wouldn't want to do this job.

1089
02:15:08,850 --> 02:15:11,090
and so I know that this is an unpopular opinion. I'm rolling off the board in may so y'all can come after me then.

1090
02:15:13,970 --> 02:15:13,970
but I want people to know that he's one of the best in the state.

1091
02:15:18,850 --> 02:15:18,850
and I personally appreciate the leadership that he has shown over the past many years.

1092
02:15:28,850 --> 02:15:31,930
and this is not an easy thing for him to walk through. And he's done it with grace and compassion. Other districts will probably wait till the
Last second to make some of these announcements,

1093
02:15:38,570 --> 02:15:38,570
and we're trying to be compassionate and let people know that their livelihoods are going
To be impacted and they can make decisions accordingly.

1094
02:15:46,530 --> 02:15:46,530
I would want that if I was going to be facing something like this.

1095
02:15:50,730 --> 02:15:50,730
but social media has a way of making him sound like a really not good person because he
Makes good money,

1096
02:15:59,230 --> 02:16:02,430
but that's because otherwise he would be gone. He would be at a different district that will pay him more because he has more years as a
Superintendent than probably any superintendent you can

1097
02:16:12,190 --> 02:16:12,190
find online. I challenge you to find another superintendent in this state that's as good
As him.

1098
02:16:18,510 --> 02:16:22,150
that has the record he does, because some of y'all weren't here in 2015. In 2014, I'm looking in the back when when, when we were circling the drain and and
Campuses were making f's year after year and teacher

1099
02:16:31,670 --> 02:16:31,670
morale was terrible and teacher turnover was high and nobody wanted to be here.

1100
02:16:37,310 --> 02:16:37,310
everyone was going to death valley and lockhart.

1101
02:16:42,750 --> 02:16:46,470
and then we got doctor wright and things started to change. So I implore you to go look at the news articles from back then and some of us that were
Around on the board that that helped to bring doctor wright in to make changes that were

1102
02:16:56,180 --> 02:16:56,180
positive. Please trust us that that he is a very good leader and I can I don't want to go
Around the room,

1103
02:17:03,220 --> 02:17:03,220
but I can probably. I'm going to ask miss altman,
How many times have you left at 5:00 since you got here in july?

1104
02:17:10,420 --> 02:17:10,420
oh, how many times? Well, none. Okay. And I could probably ask all of the cabinet that
This is a this

1105
02:17:20,380 --> 02:17:24,020
is a thankless job. And they work 24 seven. It's they're here. Like this is normal. We're just we're going to be here. We'll keep them here probably till
Ten,

1106
02:17:29,100 --> 02:17:29,100
I could guess. And that's normal. I could go on and on.

1107
02:17:33,660 --> 02:17:33,660
everybody else is going to talk a lot about budget and this is hard.

1108
02:17:37,740 --> 02:17:37,740
what I what I wanted to say was it could be worse if we didn't have the leaders that we
Had.

1109
02:17:44,740 --> 02:17:44,740
it's what I truly believe. I think that's all for now.

1110
02:17:56,370 --> 02:17:56,370
trustee. Runkle. Thank you, miss petri, for speaking about doctor wright such great kind
Words.

1111
02:18:04,370 --> 02:18:07,770
and I will say that I agree with everything that you said. I was a parent in 2015. I know what this district was like at that time,
And it was a nightmare to be a parent in this district.

1112
02:18:17,290 --> 02:18:20,850
my son went to fuentes elementary at that time. A couple of things. I, I have a lot of notes.

1113
02:18:23,290 --> 02:18:23,290
this is hard. I think everyone in this room is feeling exactly the same,
If not some more than others.

1114
02:18:31,450 --> 02:18:33,530
doctor wright talked about the state of texas. We've talked that inflation has not kept up. Our teachers are asked to do more and more.

1115
02:18:39,290 --> 02:18:39,290
our staff is asked to do more and more. And our district is not unique to other districts,

1116
02:18:44,650 --> 02:18:44,650
especially here in the state of texas. You know,
We've heard a lot of people say accountability.

1117
02:18:52,720 --> 02:18:52,720
and I hear you yes, the state of texas is the largest issue that we have in funding,
But I'm not going to sit up here and I'm not going to tell you

1118
02:19:02,720 --> 02:19:02,720
that we don't bear responsibility as well because we do.

1119
02:19:07,160 --> 02:19:07,160
we vote. We vote on budgets. We vote on salary increases.

1120
02:19:11,600 --> 02:19:11,600
we do all of those things. Over the last several years,
Our district has made strides in our in our people and,

1121
02:19:19,960 --> 02:19:19,960
and protecting our people. By giving raises,
Putting money into the classrooms and really investing.

1122
02:19:28,920 --> 02:19:28,920
and those were all the right priorities. I don't regret any of those decisions that we've
Made over the years,

1123
02:19:36,960 --> 02:19:36,960
the last several years. And to doctor wright point,
We did hope that the state was going to come through.

1124
02:19:43,600 --> 02:19:43,600
we shouldn't have hoped. And that's where I will hold the accountability.

1125
02:19:50,420 --> 02:19:50,420
I, I, and we can't, we can't hold out on the state of texas to come through for us and
Future legislations.

1126
02:19:59,020 --> 02:19:59,020
that is not something that we can bank on. So that is not something that I'm willing to
Bank on as we talk about future budgets.

1127
02:20:08,540 --> 02:20:08,540
we looked at some other areas of some funding revenues,
Those are promising.

1128
02:20:15,620 --> 02:20:18,900
but here we are having to make big decisions. Yes, we tell you to go advocate at the state level.

1129
02:20:21,780 --> 02:20:21,780
absolutely advocate at the state level, but advocacy alone isn't going to balance our
Budget.

1130
02:20:28,220 --> 02:20:28,220
so we have to do both. And here we are having to do both.

1131
02:20:34,180 --> 02:20:34,180
this administration has tried really hard to protect the environment of the classroom.

1132
02:20:39,900 --> 02:20:39,900
I've heard comments that they don't spend enough time in the classroom.

1133
02:20:45,330 --> 02:20:45,330
they spend a lot of time in the classroom. They are in the classroom every day.

1134
02:20:50,730 --> 02:20:50,730
if anyone thinks that they sit in an office in this building all day long.

1135
02:20:55,250 --> 02:20:55,250
that is not accurate. I know that because I'm here.

1136
02:21:00,170 --> 02:21:00,170
we are in the classrooms. We've heard comments about picture taking and things like that.

1137
02:21:07,290 --> 02:21:07,290
we all have full time jobs. Thankfully, our employers are very gracious and know that we
Also have another full time job because

1138
02:21:17,130 --> 02:21:17,130
hays cisd board trustee is a full time job. With this many students and this many
Campuses,

1139
02:21:24,250 --> 02:21:24,250
we take our time away from our jobs. We take our time away from our families and we are on
Campuses every day.

1140
02:21:33,050 --> 02:21:33,050
every week, one of us, if not all of us, are at events or on campuses showing our teachers
And our families and our

1141
02:21:42,680 --> 02:21:42,680
students that we are present and that they can always come to us.

1142
02:21:47,520 --> 02:21:47,520
we have been we have always been that we will always continue to be,
That our focus has always been on students and our staff,

1143
02:21:55,680 --> 02:21:55,680
and our focus will remain on students and staff.

1144
02:21:59,960 --> 02:21:59,960
but as I said, these are not easy choices. They're very difficult.

1145
02:22:04,720 --> 02:22:04,720
mr. Vela said it first. We're all parents. We're parents first before we are trustees.

1146
02:22:10,360 --> 02:22:14,360
our kids get on busses, our kids go to the school each and every day. So all of the teachers, all of the principals,
The custodians, the librarians, every single person.

1147
02:22:22,000 --> 02:22:22,000
they are people that have touched the lives of not only our children,
But your children, and they have become our friends and our family.

1148
02:22:31,320 --> 02:22:31,320
so everything that is happening today is not just affecting them.

1149
02:22:36,280 --> 02:22:36,280
it affects all of us. We all feel it. So I just want to say that because there's been a
Lot of things that have been said tonight.

1150
02:22:43,870 --> 02:22:43,870
there's been a lot of things that have been put out on social media about this
Administration and this board.

1151
02:22:49,350 --> 02:22:49,350
we are not paid. I think I've seen that online too,
That board members are paid.

1152
02:22:53,390 --> 02:22:53,390
we are not paid. We get paid in our children and these students,
Every time we go on to a campus or every time a teacher asks us to come read,

1153
02:23:03,270 --> 02:23:03,270
that's that's our payment. And we happily accept it because we love it.

1154
02:23:09,390 --> 02:23:09,390
so all of the comments and all of those things,
I want you all to know and everybody hearing that they are hurtful and they're painful to

1155
02:23:17,230 --> 02:23:17,230
everybody. I do have a couple of questions. I've heard a lot from coaches and fine arts
Teachers

1156
02:23:28,550 --> 02:23:28,550
with a lot of confusion about not really understanding the whole b team,
C team and the levels of

1157
02:23:38,730 --> 02:23:38,730
teams, so varsity, jv and freshman. So I would just ask that as our fine arts and
Athletics.

1158
02:23:46,970 --> 02:23:46,970
they continue to have conversations about these particular things that you guys are having
Deeper conversations and being real clear about the

1159
02:23:56,130 --> 02:23:56,130
communication because it's very unclear right now.

1160
02:24:01,410 --> 02:24:01,410
you know we, they fundraise, we have a lot of boosters that fundraise.

1161
02:24:07,090 --> 02:24:07,090
we have a lot of ptas that fundraise. Those types of things need to be factored in.

1162
02:24:15,130 --> 02:24:15,130
when we're having conversations about charging students participation,
Participation fees,

1163
02:24:21,410 --> 02:24:21,410
a lot of our ptas, a lot of our boosters sometimes support a lot of those fees.

1164
02:24:26,610 --> 02:24:26,610
so, you know, we need to be having conversations with our ptas and our boosters as we have
These conversations.

1165
02:24:34,690 --> 02:24:34,690
but I. Actually mr. Moffatt, can you speak to that?

1166
02:24:42,960 --> 02:24:42,960
actually, at the high school level so that we can get some clarification now and I think
Doctor wright touched on it.

1167
02:24:49,120 --> 02:24:49,120
and I heard a little bit about fifth quarter and I think that probably some people really
Want to hear some more about that.

1168
02:24:55,720 --> 02:24:55,720
I did hear a comment tonight. Are we really 100% hays cisd?

1169
02:25:00,400 --> 02:25:00,400
I'm not going to lie, that's something I'm struggling with the last week.

1170
02:25:05,480 --> 02:25:05,480
and so I really want to make sure that when kids want to participate in athletics or they
Want to participate in fine arts,

1171
02:25:13,320 --> 02:25:13,320
that we're not turning kids away. And we're finding ways to make them involved.

1172
02:25:18,000 --> 02:25:18,000
so will you talk to me a little bit about what this fifth quarter is and how you're going
To handle the changing of key teams and at the high school level?

1173
02:25:28,040 --> 02:25:28,040
we're, we're in conversations with that. We this was kind of rolled out to us last monday.

1174
02:25:33,680 --> 02:25:33,680
so we met with our coordinators last wednesday about a three hour meeting about line items
And how this was going to look in terms of what we went through.

1175
02:25:42,230 --> 02:25:44,750
so we're still working our way through it. Those were ideas. Doctor wright mentioned it that he and I talked about the specifics of the fifth quarter
And what that looks like.

1176
02:25:50,270 --> 02:25:50,270
we certainly are going to limit participation in any manner that we haven't already done
That some of our sports already do cuts in the high school level.

1177
02:26:00,470 --> 02:26:00,470
the whole c team issue was always to continue to develop kids.

1178
02:26:05,590 --> 02:26:05,590
that's always what we've wanted to do in athletics and we'll always continue to do that.

1179
02:26:10,510 --> 02:26:14,070
the 100% hays issue is we want as many kids in athletics as possible. Our number one pillar, the athletic department is to continue to increase participation.

1180
02:26:20,150 --> 02:26:20,150
I don't want to speak publicly about what exactly that's going to look like because we're
Working on that right now.

1181
02:26:26,070 --> 02:26:28,510
the fifth quarter is an idea that I came up with. It's an idea we've, we've done in other schools that we've been at before.

1182
02:26:33,820 --> 02:26:33,820
and we have a great staff of leadership people working through this.

1183
02:26:38,300 --> 02:26:38,300
and so we're going to come back with specific presentation of what that's going to look
Like before.

1184
02:26:44,660 --> 02:26:44,660
to your point, before booster clubs start to plan their fall activities.

1185
02:26:50,180 --> 02:26:50,180
I mean, that's coming. So this communication is,
Is going to need to be you know, firmed up what you guys are doing

1186
02:26:59,820 --> 02:26:59,820
fairly soon. When you guys start talking about participation fees at the like at the
Athletic level,

1187
02:27:05,980 --> 02:27:09,380
I also want to be clear, it is a little bit different than fine arts. Football teams aren't going and doing dance competitions.

1188
02:27:12,180 --> 02:27:12,180
they're not traveling to florida or various places.

1189
02:27:16,340 --> 02:27:16,340
so there is a difference of, of funding and participation fees that needs to be factored
In here,

1190
02:27:22,020 --> 02:27:22,020
because fine arts is different than athletics in terms of what exactly they do and where
They go.

1191
02:27:29,100 --> 02:27:29,100
so if you guys but what I want to make clear,
Though, is that the communication needs to be clear and it needs to be early.

1192
02:27:36,210 --> 02:27:36,210
I parents are involved. Students are involved in a number of athletics.

1193
02:27:40,690 --> 02:27:40,690
we've always said that we want kids to participate in anything and everything that they
Want to participate.

1194
02:27:45,570 --> 02:27:45,570
well, now anything and everything is going to cost that parent anything and everything
Money.

1195
02:27:50,410 --> 02:27:50,410
and so they need to know what that plan looks like,
What is going to be expected of them so that they can start to plan for that well in

1196
02:27:58,690 --> 02:27:58,690
advance, not the summer. The summer is too late to know these types of things.

1197
02:28:03,530 --> 02:28:06,490
boosters and pta start planning for next year. Already. They're having those conversations in april.

1198
02:28:10,410 --> 02:28:10,410
so I would just say that as the conversations continue to happen where it's going to cost
Families money,

1199
02:28:17,650 --> 02:28:17,650
we need to make sure that that is real clear and that conversation and that communication
Is happening very early.

1200
02:28:24,090 --> 02:28:24,090
yes, ma'am. And I will just say that's all I have on athletics.

1201
02:28:30,270 --> 02:28:30,270
I will say the hardest thing for me on this list is the increased class sizes.

1202
02:28:34,310 --> 02:28:37,590
I don't like it, I hate it, I share that with administration. There's nothing about it. I like. My kid sits in those classes too,
And I've been in them and they are full.

1203
02:28:44,110 --> 02:28:44,110
but what I do know is that I know that we have amazing teachers,
And I know that our teachers always figure it out,

1204
02:28:51,350 --> 02:28:51,350
unfortunately, because that's what they've had to do and we're going to figure it out
Again,

1205
02:28:56,390 --> 02:28:56,390
and they're going to give the best quality education to our students because they are the
Best teachers and because that's just who they are and that's what they do.

1206
02:29:04,550 --> 02:29:04,550
so I'm going to trust in our teachers, and I'm going to trust in our administration that
We're going to stick to this and and stick through this together,

1207
02:29:12,470 --> 02:29:12,470
and we're going to weather the storm. Because it certainly is one,
But I do, I just want to leave that that none of this is easy.

1208
02:29:21,430 --> 02:29:21,430
in fact, if you've had a conversation with us in person you've probably gotten some tears
From some of us and some pretty hard

1209
02:29:30,980 --> 02:29:30,980
conversations because it is very hard. And I'll just leave it at that.

1210
02:29:35,580 --> 02:29:35,580
thank you. Trustee flores. Thank you. Doctor wright for for laying out,
You know

1211
02:29:45,340 --> 02:29:45,340
everything that we're facing here today. I do want to thank those who showed up to speak.

1212
02:29:50,500 --> 02:29:50,500
I want to thank those that showed up to take their time away because they care about kids
The same way we all up here care about kids in our district.

1213
02:29:58,620 --> 02:29:58,620
we're all parents. We either have kids in the district right now or we've had kids that
Have graduated from hays cisd.

1214
02:30:05,060 --> 02:30:05,060
so, you know, we all feel this. But but I want to be clear you know,
Everybody's feeling pain,

1215
02:30:12,860 --> 02:30:12,860
everybody's feeling uncertainty. And that's,
That's the position that we've put in.

1216
02:30:17,220 --> 02:30:17,220
but I want to be a little bit more clear about what god is here.

1217
02:30:23,820 --> 02:30:23,820
as was mentioned earlier, texas is at the bottom and in public education school funding.

1218
02:30:28,410 --> 02:30:28,410
but I unfortunately, I'm going to state clearly that this is by design.

1219
02:30:34,330 --> 02:30:34,330
by those in power at the state level, by a handful of billionaires who have chosen to
Create a cycle,

1220
02:30:42,010 --> 02:30:42,010
which is to defund public education. They then will provide unfunded mandates to school
Districts from anything from special education to safety and

1221
02:30:51,610 --> 02:30:51,610
security. They then blame teachers and staff for any gaps or learning gaps or student
Outcomes that are not meeting

1222
02:31:00,930 --> 02:31:00,930
requirements. They then will sometimes pit administrative,
Administration and teachers against each other.

1223
02:31:09,090 --> 02:31:09,090
they will then create divisions within the community,
Creating divisions between community members and their local school districts.

1224
02:31:16,530 --> 02:31:16,530
this is all by design. And then they will then offer alternatives such as vouchers and the
Privatization of public education.

1225
02:31:24,760 --> 02:31:24,760
this is the cycle. Rinse and repeat. So let's be clear of the headwinds that we are all
Facing,

1226
02:31:30,200 --> 02:31:30,200
not only us on this board, but every local school district in this state,
Many of which have closed campuses,

1227
02:31:37,280 --> 02:31:37,280
such as my hometown in corpus christi. They have closed multiple campuses,
Cut many positions,

1228
02:31:43,400 --> 02:31:43,400
and are in a very tough position, much tougher even than we are facing right here.

1229
02:31:48,400 --> 02:31:48,400
so that is the position we are in. At the same time,
The cost of living living is going up.

1230
02:31:55,520 --> 02:31:55,520
it is continuing to rise. Yet we are still not getting the funding that we deserve.

1231
02:32:02,080 --> 02:32:06,000
thousands of dollars below where we should be in public education school funding. Let's be clear about that. So this is all by design,
But we in hays cisd still maintain a solid accountability

1232
02:32:15,680 --> 02:32:15,680
rating. We are still one of the best districts in the state,
And we will still get through this by leaning on each other,

1233
02:32:22,320 --> 02:32:22,320
by leaning on our community like we always have.

1234
02:32:26,340 --> 02:32:26,340
but we are where we are. And I do want to ask a few questions about,
You know, you know, some of these decisions that we are

1235
02:32:36,460 --> 02:32:36,460
facing and the results that may come. I do have a question in regards to the supports that
Are going to be provided for teachers who are going to see

1236
02:32:46,100 --> 02:32:46,100
those increased class sizes. I know that some of the individualized instruction is lost.

1237
02:32:51,260 --> 02:32:51,260
I'm a teacher that has a classroom full of 30 kids at a title one campus,
So I understand it is hard to pull small groups for those kids who have learning gaps,

1238
02:33:01,220 --> 02:33:01,220
such as dyslexia. What supports can we provide if you can speak to this going forward?

1239
02:33:08,580 --> 02:33:08,580
I know that this is going to take a while. A lot of trial and error. What supports can we
Provide for teachers that are actually in the classroom facing these challenges?

1240
02:33:17,220 --> 02:33:17,220
that's a really great question. Trustee flores what I can tell you is that I'm going to
Have to we're going to have to visit with our administrators

1241
02:33:27,210 --> 02:33:27,210
and lean on some plan for supporting some of our new teachers.

1242
02:33:33,370 --> 02:33:33,370
I can tell you that the district level, we're going to,
We're going to do everything we can to continue supporting our novice teachers through our

1243
02:33:41,010 --> 02:33:41,010
inspire program, still providing mentors. But when it comes to a teacher that is having to
Serve 24,

1244
02:33:49,090 --> 02:33:49,090
25, 27 students, I'm going to lean on our administrators to determine what their needs
Are,

1245
02:33:56,650 --> 02:33:56,650
and then we could possibly design some professional support that will come from central
Office.

1246
02:34:04,290 --> 02:34:04,290
now, I want to be really clear is that we won't have very many central office
Administrators to go out and support teachers like we've had in the past.

1247
02:34:13,330 --> 02:34:13,330
but what I can tell you that is that we will work collaboratively with our administrators
That will see the struggle on a daily basis and design something that

1248
02:34:23,320 --> 02:34:26,640
will address the needs of individual teachers. Thank you. And you know, my next question kind of ties in is,
You know, being a teacher, I can tell you,

1249
02:34:33,400 --> 02:34:33,400
especially right now as we prepare for star,
Students are preparing for star across the, across the state or back in what we call

1250
02:34:41,800 --> 02:34:45,280
shocktober teachers feel it. There's burnout. It is real and it affects our kids ultimately.

1251
02:34:47,760 --> 02:34:47,760
so, you know, same question somewhat like what can we do to provide,
You know, just support extra support for teachers

1252
02:34:57,080 --> 02:34:57,080
mentorships, etc.. If you could speak shortly to that,
I can we've actually seen shocktober in september.

1253
02:35:05,040 --> 02:35:05,040
because we really start earlier in august. And so I can tell you that many of our
Administrators have been super kind and have

1254
02:35:15,000 --> 02:35:15,000
really offered a ton of grace to give teachers time back.

1255
02:35:19,510 --> 02:35:19,510
maybe not pulling them and asking them to stay for faculty meetings and just really giving
Them time back to plan.

1256
02:35:25,910 --> 02:35:25,910
and so they're always negotiating and really trying to give teachers time back by not
Holding them,

1257
02:35:32,470 --> 02:35:32,470
you know, to a meeting and, and just disseminating information differently.

1258
02:35:38,270 --> 02:35:38,270
many of our administrators have worked with teachers that just need the extra time to
Plan.

1259
02:35:44,950 --> 02:35:44,950
we have literally paid for teachers to also have,
You know, planning during the day.

1260
02:35:50,510 --> 02:35:50,510
we've used some of our federal funds so that we can provide some of that planning,
Because that's really where, you know, teachers struggle when we ask that they have their

1261
02:35:57,870 --> 02:36:01,790
lesson plans ready and that they're ready to teach. And many times they're stretched. And they just don't really have the time.

1262
02:36:06,870 --> 02:36:06,870
so that is one way that our administrators have worked with our teachers to provide that
Support.

1263
02:36:12,590 --> 02:36:12,590
also through our plcs we do that by collaborating and working together,
We're stronger together in the same way that we're having to deal with budget cuts.

1264
02:36:22,050 --> 02:36:22,050
now we excuse me, we ask that administrators work with our teachers to give them that
Time.

1265
02:36:30,450 --> 02:36:30,450
mentorship central office support. We're going to do all the things that we can.

1266
02:36:38,810 --> 02:36:38,810
we will be stretched, like I said, but we will continue to do what we can to support
Individual teachers.

1267
02:36:45,210 --> 02:36:45,210
thank you miss. And I have another question that's more on the financial side.

1268
02:36:52,130 --> 02:36:52,130
when, when can the board receive updates on actual savings as compared to projected
Savings?

1269
02:36:59,290 --> 02:36:59,290
just how often would we get that number? I'm just curious about that.

1270
02:37:04,530 --> 02:37:04,530
miss, miss, miss. I'm sorry. Yes. The financial statements are presented every month,
But

1271
02:37:14,840 --> 02:37:14,840
expenditures are not ratable. So every month it's not the same amount of expenditures.

1272
02:37:20,760 --> 02:37:20,760
and so it's hard to see where you're at through at any point of the year.

1273
02:37:28,960 --> 02:37:28,960
if you're saving compared to the budget because it,
It's constantly changing the

1274
02:37:38,720 --> 02:37:38,720
number enrolled, the attendance rate are huge parts of that change.

1275
02:37:47,280 --> 02:37:47,280
and certain expenditures come at certain times of the year.

1276
02:37:51,840 --> 02:37:51,840
and we don't have that budget laid out by an every day calendar.

1277
02:38:00,040 --> 02:38:00,040
so it's hard to see that, but you will have the financial statements every month to,
To help with that,

1278
02:38:08,600 --> 02:38:08,600
we can give updates as we feel. I will have a better feel for it next year once I've been
Through the entire

1279
02:38:18,190 --> 02:38:18,190
year here at the school district to know how the expenditures and revenues flow.

1280
02:38:24,470 --> 02:38:24,470
thank you. And my last question is regarding pertains to mccormick middle school and
Johnson high school.

1281
02:38:33,790 --> 02:38:33,790
we know that we are as, as listed here, pushing the opening date for our comprehensive
High school number four,

1282
02:38:41,590 --> 02:38:41,590
as well as our new middle school, which are going to ease the burden at mccormick middle
School with those high numbers as well as johnson high school,

1283
02:38:50,870 --> 02:38:50,870
which in the case, especially with mccormick,
Are experiencing just you know, a large number of students,

1284
02:38:56,990 --> 02:39:00,750
which as, as I mentioned, you know, will put extra burdens on educators. But how do those, how was, how will this address you know,
As we push it back, how can we update those plans in

1285
02:39:10,620 --> 02:39:13,860
trying to mitigate the that growth at those schools. Yeah. So you're aware we added on to the building and then we added all the portable
Classrooms.

1286
02:39:20,100 --> 02:39:23,660
would we add max total of, of eight total classrooms. And and so the like the demographers missed and we were supposed to be over 1300 this year
At mccormick and we're still almost the

1287
02:39:33,540 --> 02:39:33,540
same amount that they had last year. And so we're still still below that,
That number.

1288
02:39:38,180 --> 02:39:38,180
so I think we can go up around another 150 kids,
But to keep it around a functional mark will

1289
02:39:47,980 --> 02:39:51,100
institute the cap and overflow model at some point. So once we get to that maximum number, then we will start routing kids to other middle
School campuses that have open seats.

1290
02:39:59,020 --> 02:39:59,020
so like right now, dahlstrom, because of the aging neighborhoods,
They are they have a lot of space.

1291
02:40:06,820 --> 02:40:06,820
barton's full wallace has some availability. Chopper has availability.

1292
02:40:12,080 --> 02:40:12,080
and simon's being added on to now. And they're they're going to be full once waterstone is
Built out.

1293
02:40:18,880 --> 02:40:18,880
so we have the ability to flex and to cap an overflow to take care of that need until such
Time as we can open up that next middle school.

1294
02:40:26,680 --> 02:40:26,680
yes, sir. So we could we could update those numbers. And obviously this obviously the I
Know mr.

1295
02:40:31,840 --> 02:40:31,840
savoy is not here, but this will push back the rezoning that we were planning to do in the
Next couple of years.

1296
02:40:38,280 --> 02:40:38,280
correct. Okay. Thank you. Again I just hope everybody understands that,
You know, these were not easy decisions.

1297
02:40:48,240 --> 02:40:51,720
doctor wright. I thank you, you and your team for for going through this. And there was no easy way to do this. And my last question is,
Let's just say that we continue our current spending levels and staffing levels into next

1298
02:41:01,280 --> 02:41:01,280
year. We don't change a thing. Where would we be in regards to our fund balance?

1299
02:41:06,640 --> 02:41:06,640
and for those listening, can can you mention what a fund balance actually is just for for
Those listening and just in simple terms,

1300
02:41:15,150 --> 02:41:17,990
yeah, it's, it's our cash account to pay the bills. And if we were to do nothing, then we would be,
We would be spending more than we're bringing in.

1301
02:41:26,710 --> 02:41:26,710
and so that would accelerate that time where we wouldn't have,
You know, it would reduce the fund balance even greater than it's been reduced up to this

1302
02:41:33,990 --> 02:41:33,990
point. Yes, sir. I think I just want to, you know,
Mention that, you know, there are what the alternative is.

1303
02:41:39,150 --> 02:41:39,150
and that's really the important thing to understand. What is the alternative to,
You know,

1304
02:41:43,230 --> 02:41:46,630
having to make tough financial decisions, which is not easy. And I just want to, you know, bring that up because as if we deplete our fund balance too
Low,

1305
02:41:52,830 --> 02:41:56,310
obviously the district will be in a very, very hard financial spot. Correct? Yes, sir. But again, thank you so much,
Doctor wright.

1306
02:42:02,750 --> 02:42:02,750
that's all I have for now, but let me just and reemphasize when we say 100% hays cisd.

1307
02:42:07,260 --> 02:42:10,060
that's exactly what we mean. And we are going to get through this. I know trustee orosco went through as union president years ago went through this.

1308
02:42:15,260 --> 02:42:15,260
and here we are. And we are a, you know, a growing district.

1309
02:42:19,820 --> 02:42:19,820
we are fantastic. We have made strides and we will do that and we will end up better on
The other end.

1310
02:42:25,340 --> 02:42:25,340
that is my that is my faith. But I have it. Thank you.

1311
02:42:31,460 --> 02:42:31,460
trustee. Sablan. Surprise. Okay there's no way to put this

1312
02:42:41,500 --> 02:42:41,500
other than this is awful. And june 2024 is my second board meeting.

1313
02:42:51,060 --> 02:42:51,060
and that was the first time going through budget cycle. And we were talking about just
Shifting teachers from campuses. And I got emotional at that meeting. And so this is hard

1314
02:42:59,260 --> 02:42:59,260
because we, we treat everybody here as family and,
And it sucks that these teachers are putting their heart and souls into the classroom

1315
02:43:08,810 --> 02:43:08,810
every single day and what they deal with on a daily level and asking them to do more with
Less and across the board.

1316
02:43:15,850 --> 02:43:15,850
this isn't singling anybody out. It's, you know,
We're trying to do this, like you said, with a scalpel and,

1317
02:43:23,810 --> 02:43:27,090
and making sure we're doing it the right way. We've been, we operated with a $17 million budget deficit in the 20 2223 school year.

1318
02:43:34,610 --> 02:43:34,610
and we've been slowly reducing that budget deficit each year,
Trying, hoping that we would receive additional funding.

1319
02:43:44,810 --> 02:43:44,810
you know, we don't have a choice like a business or other governmental entities even to
Increase revenue.

1320
02:43:52,490 --> 02:43:52,490
there's nothing we can't increase rates for water or you know,
Any other aspects that people charge for services other than just minor

1321
02:44:02,400 --> 02:44:02,400
little things of, you know. Cost of renting facilities or,
You know, minor things.

1322
02:44:08,440 --> 02:44:08,440
so our only choice at this point is to continue to cut where we can.

1323
02:44:13,760 --> 02:44:16,880
unfortunately, the biggest portion of our budget is salary. And so that's unfortunately where we're going to,
To see cuts the most at this point.

1324
02:44:24,840 --> 02:44:24,840
so you know, I guess I'll just ask a simple question and start you know,
If our budget is 89% salary

1325
02:44:35,200 --> 02:44:35,200
and we needed to cut that down, ideally we operate that at 85% roughly or even lower than
That at some point.

1326
02:44:42,400 --> 02:44:42,400
but you know, why can't we just cut 4% salary across the board?

1327
02:44:47,800 --> 02:44:47,800
what prevents us from doing that? So you have to have,
Especially at the secondary level specialized certifications,

1328
02:44:57,200 --> 02:44:57,200
and then you have the mandates for are your emergent bilingual population,
Your special ed population.

1329
02:45:02,860 --> 02:45:06,860
and so you have to tailor the teachers that you keep. And so you can't just have a unilateral cut because it just,
We wouldn't be able to function that way.

1330
02:45:13,420 --> 02:45:16,700
yeah. And there are contractual obligations as well,
Right. With salaries and reducing cuts in salary is different than stipends because stipends are
Annually renewable.

1331
02:45:26,020 --> 02:45:26,020
cost versus. That's right. We chose not to declare a financial exigency.

1332
02:45:32,060 --> 02:45:32,060
and so with that in mind, we, we have to target those areas that we have some flexibility.

1333
02:45:40,100 --> 02:45:40,100
and so that's why the decisions were made the way that they were.

1334
02:45:45,140 --> 02:45:45,140
and I know others have asked on this too, you know,
And you laid it out pretty well at the end of your presentation as to why we need,

1335
02:45:52,620 --> 02:45:52,620
you know, our operating or our fund balance to be at 25%.

1336
02:45:57,340 --> 02:45:57,340
the other part we haven't talked about is we we had to go out for a tan earlier this year
Which is basically we needed a payday loan is what we

1337
02:46:07,170 --> 02:46:07,170
said at the time. Is that no other words to,
To put it in layman's terms in order to make sure that we made payroll then,

1338
02:46:14,490 --> 02:46:14,490
and, you know, I want to talk about what's potentially for the rest of this school year,
But,

1339
02:46:20,570 --> 02:46:20,570
you know, we get paid once a year, basically in a lump sum,
And then we get some payments throughout the year from the state. And so we're asked to

1340
02:46:26,610 --> 02:46:26,610
operate a $300 million budget on a very sporadic payment schedule.

1341
02:46:32,050 --> 02:46:32,050
and so operating a healthy with a healthy fund balance is critical for us to make sure
That we meet the cash flow requirements throughout the year.

1342
02:46:39,850 --> 02:46:39,850
it's not like we can take that money. Ideally,
Like a business would run is you would have a healthy fund balance,

1343
02:46:45,330 --> 02:46:45,330
you would have it invested into various funds,
And you would be earning interest off those funds and be able to use that as another

1344
02:46:52,170 --> 02:46:52,170
source of revenue. We don't have that luxury because,
You know, if we had $70 million in the bank.

1345
02:46:56,600 --> 02:46:56,600
we still need that as a cash flow balance item that you could not put in illiquid assets
That you can't just grab.

1346
02:47:04,120 --> 02:47:04,120
correct. Okay. All right. All right. I'll just touch on.

1347
02:47:09,840 --> 02:47:12,880
I know miss runkle and others have touched on the key teams. Thank you, mr. Moffatt, for coming up and talking about that as well.

1348
02:47:16,800 --> 02:47:16,800
I think other options, you know, intramurals,
You know, I talked about that before.

1349
02:47:21,960 --> 02:47:21,960
anything optional, you know, to get kids involved.

1350
02:47:26,160 --> 02:47:26,160
the end of the day, none of us want your 100% hays is there for a reason.

1351
02:47:30,880 --> 02:47:30,880
none of us want to lose sight of that. And what we're trying to do,
Because having kids involved in extracurricular activities, no matter what it is, is

1352
02:47:37,320 --> 02:47:37,320
critical for them being you know, their attendance and all those other factors rotating
Game day squads things that

1353
02:47:47,120 --> 02:47:47,120
are, you know, might not be off the table. You know,
Your team may be stable, but your b team gets rotated as to what that looks like on game

1354
02:47:55,070 --> 02:47:58,910
day. Things. And we do that with, with dance teams. As far as you know, you may make the dance team,
But you're not going to make all the actual squads for your actual routines.

1355
02:48:04,550 --> 02:48:04,550
and so different ways to look at that were some fine arts have kind of set some precedent
For some of that ahead of time.

1356
02:48:11,790 --> 02:48:11,790
and again, you, you mentioned this earlier. Just want to be clear for everybody here too
Master stipends for those that's part of their actual job

1357
02:48:21,350 --> 02:48:21,350
requirement. Can you give an example of, of what that might look like?

1358
02:48:26,110 --> 02:48:26,110
yeah. So if you're required to, to have a master's degree or 18 hours with 18 hours in
Your content specialty with a

1359
02:48:35,910 --> 02:48:35,910
master's degree, and then you're, you're working for uti or for austin community college
As well.

1360
02:48:43,870 --> 02:48:43,870
it helps us all. The research shows that our kids do better with a local instructor than
They do from an adjunct that's coming in from outside that doesnt have that

1361
02:48:53,410 --> 02:48:53,410
relationship built. So yeah, we're going to,
We're going to look at the continuity of those because it is specific to that content

1362
02:49:03,170 --> 02:49:06,330
area and it helps us with the dual credit. Yeah. Okay. So I just want to make sure everybody listening at home that,
You know, if you have a master's degree,

1363
02:49:12,250 --> 02:49:12,250
you know, they've already been notified as to which stipends will be going away. But
Something to keep in mind.

1364
02:49:18,930 --> 02:49:18,930
can you give some examples? Because we hear this about unfunded state mandates,
Some examples of unfunded state mandates that we've received over the last few years that

1365
02:49:27,570 --> 02:49:27,570
have hurt us. Yeah. Like the, the mandate to have a certified police officer on every
Single campus.

1366
02:49:37,370 --> 02:49:37,370
now they've increased funding for that, but there are about $1 million per year short.

1367
02:49:42,410 --> 02:49:42,410
in order for us to have a police officer at every single campus.

1368
02:49:46,530 --> 02:49:46,530
so that's that's one off the top of my head. And then second to last what are other
Districts doing to make their budgets

1369
02:49:56,360 --> 02:49:58,800
work? Because everybody, we're not alone in this. Thankfully every other district around us is going through similar deficits and having to
Make very difficult decisions like we are tonight.

1370
02:50:08,160 --> 02:50:08,160
so what are other districts doing? So the majority of the other districts in central
Texas,

1371
02:50:12,600 --> 02:50:12,600
like leander has already passed a tree. Austin passed a tree.

1372
02:50:18,320 --> 02:50:18,320
pflugerville passed a tree. Most of them got ahead of the curve on the trees and passed
That to,

1373
02:50:23,880 --> 02:50:23,880
to generate more money locally. But the vast majority of schools around us now are
Consolidating campuses and closing schools.

1374
02:50:32,760 --> 02:50:36,520
because the flip side, I gave you the opening of the box cost. That same can be attributed if you close the box.

1375
02:50:39,720 --> 02:50:39,720
so if, you know, we're a fast growing school,
Whereas a lot of them are not they've grown out and so they are reducing by closing

1376
02:50:47,560 --> 02:50:47,560
schools. You know you know, in the end, you know,
Again, this is terrible in every which way and every single one of

1377
02:50:57,230 --> 02:50:57,230
these cuts are, are not going to be great. There's nothing that any of these that we want
To do by choice.

1378
02:51:08,310 --> 02:51:08,310
big picture wise, I'm very thankful that we're doing this now in,
In march, but it's, you know,

1379
02:51:16,030 --> 02:51:16,030
processes in june normally. And so thankfully,
We're doing this in march and hopefully give people the opportunity to make the decision

1380
02:51:24,910 --> 02:51:24,910
that's best for their family. Like you said,
I hope they continue to decide that hays cisd is still their best family.

1381
02:51:31,710 --> 02:51:31,710
but you know, for others, it may not be. And I'm glad they have that opportunity to make
That decision what's best for them as they go forward.

1382
02:51:41,270 --> 02:51:45,270
but again, this is, this is not anything that we love doing. Not a single one of us is happy about this. You know,
Trustee runkle touched on this, too.

1383
02:51:51,300 --> 02:51:51,300
you know, as to why we got here. You know, obviously there's a reasoning from the state
Level we made.

1384
02:51:58,340 --> 02:51:58,340
I'll put it calculated risks decisions that that we were going to receive increase in
Funding.

1385
02:52:05,900 --> 02:52:09,580
we invested in our staff. Those didn't come to fruition. And again, we've made $17 million of cuts to date to get back to a balanced budget this
Year.

1386
02:52:15,380 --> 02:52:18,860
and now we're making additional 12 million to rebuild our fund balance. And that prior 17 million, you know, we heard some discussion of people coming in to talk
Not nearly at the level we heard tonight,

1387
02:52:25,380 --> 02:52:25,380
frankly, because we've tried to keep those cuts outside of the classroom and away from
Impacting students.

1388
02:52:31,780 --> 02:52:34,100
and unfortunately, we're no longer at that point. And every cut that we have to make today is going to impact students and teachers.

1389
02:52:39,140 --> 02:52:39,140
and that's the most awful part about it. But that's the reality of where we are.

1390
02:52:43,300 --> 02:52:43,300
so thank you to you and everybody on cabinet and staff and campus administrators and staff
At our campuses as well,

1391
02:52:52,760 --> 02:52:52,760
for generally understanding the position that we're in and the work that they've done to
Us,

1392
02:52:59,160 --> 02:52:59,160
understand that we're we're all rowing in this boat together.

1393
02:53:03,400 --> 02:53:05,800
and the best way we can for all of our students. So thank you. Trustee. Orosco. So this does take me back to

1394
02:53:15,440 --> 02:53:15,440
2011 and the cuts that were happening across the state.

1395
02:53:20,080 --> 02:53:20,080
and it was so difficult. I was union president,
Was a teacher in the district.

1396
02:53:25,760 --> 02:53:25,760
we went to our meeting to find out there and then no advance notice that 200 teacher
Positions alone were going to

1397
02:53:35,680 --> 02:53:35,680
be cut 200 alone. Today we talk about 125 positions that are going to be cut across the
District,

1398
02:53:46,350 --> 02:53:46,350
whether it's teachers or paraprofessionals and through attrition.

1399
02:53:52,910 --> 02:53:52,910
but in 2011, it was 200 alone. And that's not everything that was cut.

1400
02:53:58,470 --> 02:53:58,470
we didn't have access to information. There was not that human component.

1401
02:54:03,230 --> 02:54:03,230
and it hurt. And as union president, I had to make sure to help all those employees try to
Figure out how to get them back

1402
02:54:13,230 --> 02:54:13,230
on their feet, how to apply internally for the little positions that were left.

1403
02:54:20,350 --> 02:54:20,350
so it is a whole different way of thinking, the way the approach has been done this time.

1404
02:54:29,230 --> 02:54:29,230
doctor wright under your leadership and with your executive leadership,
Not only have you met made it somewhat less painful.

1405
02:54:38,670 --> 02:54:38,670
yes, it is painful. Absolutely, I know how many tears there were back in 2011,
And I know there's tears now and hurt,

1406
02:54:47,940 --> 02:54:47,940
but changing it from a three to a five year plan helps the district and helps our
Employees and our students tremendously,

1407
02:54:57,340 --> 02:54:57,340
because we were going to look at $20 million worth of cuts this year alone.

1408
02:55:05,020 --> 02:55:05,020
we were going to cut 200 positions alone. Now,
A lot of those positions, again are through attrition.

1409
02:55:14,900 --> 02:55:14,900
now we have it built out for five years. So we can look at cutting 12 million a year
Instead of 20.

1410
02:55:23,740 --> 02:55:23,740
20 million is impossible not to touch every student and teachers out there.

1411
02:55:32,900 --> 02:55:32,900
so yes, there was some methodical strategic ways of trying to handle it the best way
Possible.

1412
02:55:41,850 --> 02:55:41,850
is there a great way? Absolutely not. Do we want to lose any of these people when people
Are at public comment?

1413
02:55:48,570 --> 02:55:48,570
talking about individuals, we're not. We're talking about positions.

1414
02:55:54,210 --> 02:55:54,210
and unfortunately, there's a human behind that position.

1415
02:55:58,410 --> 02:55:58,410
and I like that miss petri kind of brought this to light,
But it's so important to understand that our superintendent and our

1416
02:56:08,450 --> 02:56:08,450
executive leadership, our cabinet, they are humans.

1417
02:56:12,810 --> 02:56:12,810
and when they were trying to come up with these recommendations,
There was many sleepless nights from all of them and from the budget committee,

1418
02:56:22,930 --> 02:56:26,770
and there was lots of tears. And how can we do this differently? What can we do? There was so much angst around it because they are human and so it's very
Upsetting.

1419
02:56:35,210 --> 02:56:35,210
like miss runkle said, and other board members have said it is very upsetting when you
Hear misconceptions being perpetuated on social

1420
02:56:44,920 --> 02:56:44,920
media over and over. Acting like our superintendent and executive leadership are not
Human.

1421
02:56:51,880 --> 02:56:51,880
we get no joy from making these hard cuts. No joy at all.

1422
02:56:58,720 --> 02:56:58,720
and like miss petri talked about, we are so fortunate to have doctor wright.

1423
02:57:04,480 --> 02:57:04,480
I travel the state of texas, meeting with superintendents and boards throughout over 1000
Districts that are out there,

1424
02:57:13,680 --> 02:57:13,680
and doctor wright is thought of as one of the most premier superintendents in the state of
Texas,

1425
02:57:23,800 --> 02:57:27,440
and we are so fortunate to have his leadership. I have worked with five superintendents in this district as an employee,
As a union president and as a trustee

1426
02:57:37,340 --> 02:57:37,340
and believe you me when I say that we have the best.

1427
02:57:42,740 --> 02:57:42,740
and like miss petrie said, he's been. People have been trying to poach him for years and
Years since he started with us,

1428
02:57:51,060 --> 02:57:51,060
and he committed to hays cisd and he led us. And believe me,
I know because I was there in the depths of hell of our

1429
02:58:01,060 --> 02:58:01,060
district. When people don't remember, not many people remember back then,
Miss petrie, the depths of hell that we were in with so many

1430
02:58:10,700 --> 02:58:10,700
campuses that needed improvement, one that was almost taken over and doctor wright turned
That around.

1431
02:58:18,700 --> 02:58:18,700
he built his team, turned it around, and we were not the laughing stock of districts in
The central region anymore.

1432
02:58:26,020 --> 02:58:26,020
instead, we were sought after. People respect our district again because of the leadership
Of doctor wright and his executive leadership.

1433
02:58:36,850 --> 02:58:36,850
so I will say that right now, right here. So you can put these misconceptions out there.

1434
02:58:43,690 --> 02:58:43,690
talk about salary all you want. But at the end of the day,
If you didn't live it, you didn't know it.

1435
02:58:49,330 --> 02:58:49,330
you didn't feel the depths we were in with morale showing up in our turnover rate of 18%.

1436
02:59:00,210 --> 02:59:04,210
we need to look at history so we don't repeat ourselves. And it is so important to know where we have been so we never get there again.

1437
02:59:09,850 --> 02:59:09,850
people make it seem like it's so simple. It's so we just cut these cabinet people's
Salary.

1438
02:59:16,010 --> 02:59:16,010
we just cut the superintendent salary. Our superintendent leads a district of over 3000
Employees with

1439
02:59:25,530 --> 02:59:25,530
25,000 students. Yes. He's not going to get paid $60,000 for making decisions that impact
So

1440
02:59:35,600 --> 02:59:35,600
many students and families. So I stand firmly by our decision of that.

1441
02:59:42,040 --> 02:59:42,040
we have an amazing leadership team and superintendent,
And I am so proud of the work that we have done and been strategic to increase salaries

1442
02:59:51,160 --> 02:59:51,160
for our employees. We are the most employee friendly organization in the state of texas.

1443
03:00:00,840 --> 03:00:00,840
and yes, these cuts hurt. And I will say blame us.

1444
03:00:05,320 --> 03:00:05,320
we'll take all the blame. If we were the only district in the state of texas going through
These difficult times.

1445
03:00:12,480 --> 03:00:12,480
but we are not. There are districts all over the state of texas that like has been
Mentioned,

1446
03:00:20,160 --> 03:00:20,160
are consolidating. Campuses are laying off, hundreds are shutting down.

1447
03:00:28,080 --> 03:00:28,080
all the libraries are cutting. Fine arts programs are shutting down football programs.

1448
03:00:33,110 --> 03:00:33,110
we are not. And our team has been very strategic and methodical in trying to do the least
Amount of harm.

1449
03:00:43,070 --> 03:00:43,070
is it still harming some folks? Absolutely. Are we 100% perfect?

1450
03:00:48,310 --> 03:00:48,310
no, we are not. But it is important to see what we can control and what is out of our
Control.

1451
03:00:56,190 --> 03:00:56,190
we have no control over what the state funds.

1452
03:01:02,430 --> 03:01:02,430
but how can we help? Because we're not just about blaming people and oh,
Woe is me.

1453
03:01:09,870 --> 03:01:09,870
no, we need to take action. I always say actions speak louder than words.

1454
03:01:14,870 --> 03:01:14,870
and yes, it does talk. It does start with advocacy at the state level.

1455
03:01:20,430 --> 03:01:20,430
knowing who to talk to, knowing how to organize and advocate for public education.

1456
03:01:29,030 --> 03:01:29,030
yes, that is one way. But what other ways can our families help?

1457
03:01:34,770 --> 03:01:34,770
making sure that our attendance increases. Making sure that students attend school.

1458
03:01:41,810 --> 03:01:41,810
so we are not at 93% because every percentage is tied to money.

1459
03:01:49,410 --> 03:01:52,850
and yes, we don't want our kids to go to school sick. Yes, it is more than money. It's about learning as well because our students are not
Learning when they are not at school.

1460
03:02:02,490 --> 03:02:02,490
another simple way to help is filling out those lunch form forms.

1461
03:02:07,970 --> 03:02:07,970
that also helps with funding those campuses and being eligible for title money.

1462
03:02:14,770 --> 03:02:14,770
so those are simple things that can be done. And then the fourth thing that can be done is
Votes.

1463
03:02:23,010 --> 03:02:23,010
because even though we had over 6000 people that voted on this vader doctor wright.

1464
03:02:28,880 --> 03:02:28,880
if we look at all the list of people that voted.

1465
03:02:36,720 --> 03:02:36,720
it would be interesting to see. Because you know what?

1466
03:02:43,360 --> 03:02:43,360
your vote is on record, not how you voted, but if you voted so,
Yes, please come tell us your concerns.

1467
03:02:53,240 --> 03:02:53,240
tell us your thoughts, but please make sure that you voted.

1468
03:02:59,000 --> 03:02:59,000
your vote matters. And those are four simple ways that you can help.

1469
03:03:05,920 --> 03:03:08,480
and I'm going to I'm going to disagree with you,
Miss petri. You said it's an unpopular vote about doctor wright.

1470
03:03:12,280 --> 03:03:12,280
yes. Unpopular opinion. But you know what? That's a handful of naysayers that don't know
Our school district,

1471
03:03:21,000 --> 03:03:21,000
that don't know public education and will never support public education and that have not
Shown it.

1472
03:03:27,190 --> 03:03:27,190
so the people that are critics, what have you done?

1473
03:03:32,510 --> 03:03:32,510
how have you contribute to a better society? So thank you,
Doctor wright and your leadership.

1474
03:03:41,270 --> 03:03:41,270
I can say more and more and address all of these misconceptions that were shared.

1475
03:03:47,430 --> 03:03:47,430
but I will tell you doctor wright, one thing I want to highlight is that seeing this
Presentation in isolation can be confusing for people.

1476
03:03:57,310 --> 03:03:57,310
and that's why we have people coming to public comment because they see cuts to library
Cuts to that.

1477
03:04:03,110 --> 03:04:03,110
so I am so glad that you took the time to go over the rationale behind it and what we are
Doing

1478
03:04:13,070 --> 03:04:13,070
to combat some of the negative impact from those cuts.

1479
03:04:17,670 --> 03:04:17,670
that's important, and I hope that if you still have questions that you go back and listen
To that part of the video where doctor wright addresses

1480
03:04:27,580 --> 03:04:27,580
some of those things. How did we get there? What's the rationale behind it?

1481
03:04:31,660 --> 03:04:31,660
how are we going to alleviate some of those stressors there?

1482
03:04:37,140 --> 03:04:37,140
like having, you know, for example, the service cuts,
We love sis, but we needed to cut some things,

1483
03:04:43,780 --> 03:04:47,180
but we have social workers ready to go in place. So no, we have been thoughtful, methodical, and we have asked all the questions,
All the questions probably

1484
03:04:57,020 --> 03:04:57,020
doctor wright can tell you. We have asked a million questions because we want what is best
For our district as well.

1485
03:05:05,580 --> 03:05:05,580
these are our kids. All 25,000 of them are our kids as well.

1486
03:05:11,780 --> 03:05:11,780
so again, thank you for the folks that came out to share with us,
Because that gave us the opportunity to make sure to address it during doctor wright's

1487
03:05:20,540 --> 03:05:20,540
presentation. Thank you, doctor wright. I am so proud that you are a superintendent with a
Five superintendents that I have worked with,

1488
03:05:29,360 --> 03:05:32,600
and all the superintendents I meet across the state. You are the most humble, generous, thoughtful superintendent with an amazing leadership
Team that follows suit.

1489
03:05:41,200 --> 03:05:41,200
and I can't say that about all other superintendents that I've worked with in this
District.

1490
03:05:46,120 --> 03:05:46,120
so we are better today. We can be stronger together if we unify and work on addressing
Some of these

1491
03:05:55,680 --> 03:05:55,680
issues at hand. Thank you. Yeah, y'all, this is this is heavy.

1492
03:06:06,520 --> 03:06:06,520
you know, doctor wright, after hearing you going through the detail of all of this,
I.

1493
03:06:12,360 --> 03:06:12,360
I just want to say it out loud. You know, this stuff is cuts for now,
But might not cuts forever,

1494
03:06:17,480 --> 03:06:17,480
right? So, you know, we're going to have to look at these things as we go along for the
Next few years to monitor what's working, what's not. We have to come back and make some

1495
03:06:23,510 --> 03:06:23,510
adjustments. But right now, you know, this is what you've laid out for us and it's been
Thoughtful.

1496
03:06:27,910 --> 03:06:27,910
I appreciate the sports context, the history,
Historical context for some of us haven't been here as long as you had,

1497
03:06:34,310 --> 03:06:34,310
especially mr. Orosco. When you hear back when we went through this back in 2015 2011,
Sorry you know,

1498
03:06:42,430 --> 03:06:45,910
I have some thoughts, you know, this board is really smart. I have to write everything down or I tend to go off on a fishing trip or something at the
End.

1499
03:06:50,510 --> 03:06:50,510
so I'm just going to read a little bit. So just bear with me. I just wanted to say a few
Things.

1500
03:06:55,510 --> 03:06:55,510
you know, I do believe that, that, that we are committed to managing this district's
Financial responsibility through transparency and most importantly,

1501
03:07:02,230 --> 03:07:02,230
by protecting the high quality education we provide to every student,
Our fast growth district.

1502
03:07:08,630 --> 03:07:08,630
these targeted budget reductions are difficult,
But I think are necessary steps required to halt the ongoing depletion depletion of our

1503
03:07:16,710 --> 03:07:16,710
fund balance and begin rebuilding the financial reserves to a healthy,
Sustainable level.

1504
03:07:23,060 --> 03:07:23,060
hays cisd is not alone in making these these decisions and these challenges across school
Districts,

1505
03:07:29,980 --> 03:07:29,980
across the state. We've mentioned this tonight. We are facing the same challenges we are.

1506
03:07:34,260 --> 03:07:37,940
I'm not saying that that's okay. I'm just just I'm just saying it. We're not alone. You know, our fund balance,
We've talked about that a lot tonight is that's what serves our districts like savings

1507
03:07:44,460 --> 03:07:44,460
accounts, so to speak, to enable us to manage cash flow for our payroll operations and
Unexpected needs in the times in which we're not getting that money from the state.

1508
03:07:54,020 --> 03:07:54,020
throughout the summer months in the fall. So it's important that we,
That we, that we build that fund balance back up.

1509
03:08:00,900 --> 03:08:00,900
I mean, I just want to say that I press, I want to express our deepest gratitude to our,
To our dedicated teachers,

1510
03:08:08,140 --> 03:08:08,140
staff and organizational representatives. I mean,
Your unwavering commitment to our students in the face of what we're presenting is,

1511
03:08:16,260 --> 03:08:16,260
is pretty amazing. You've come here to speak to us. I just want to say thank you for that.
It's not easy to do.

1512
03:08:21,450 --> 03:08:24,010
I know it's hard. I know what you're hearing is not easy. And I want you to know this board feels that this is very heavy that we're going through
This,

1513
03:08:29,410 --> 03:08:29,410
but, you know, together, we're going to have to figure out a way to get through this path.
And we're going to lean on each other,

1514
03:08:34,850 --> 03:08:34,850
lean on each other to do that. Again, thank you,
Doctor wright, for your leadership.

1515
03:08:39,890 --> 03:08:43,810
I know you and your administration, you know,
Didn't take any of these things lightly. I know you definitely invested countless hours.

1516
03:08:47,490 --> 03:08:47,490
I mean, miss summers, you know, I'm pretty sure you haven't been here. You know,
You've left ngowork before 10:00 pretty much every day since you've gotten here.

1517
03:08:55,290 --> 03:08:55,290
I know the rest of your team has done the same thing,
And I know it takes a lot to get to where we're at today. I'm thankful that these cuts are

1518
03:09:00,850 --> 03:09:00,850
not as big as what we thought we were going to have to do. And so the thoughtful
Leadership and spreading those out over a few years,

1519
03:09:06,810 --> 03:09:06,810
I think is going to help us out. I would like to thank our philip,
My fellow trustees.

1520
03:09:11,810 --> 03:09:11,810
I mean this group, the collaborative side of this group,
You know, behind the scenes.

1521
03:09:17,550 --> 03:09:21,390
and we do a lot of good work together and on this dais. And I don't think that without them our focus would be,
You know, anything, what it is except for,

1522
03:09:28,310 --> 03:09:28,310
you know, what's good for this community, what's good for the education of kids. So we
Have a really smart team here.

1523
03:09:33,150 --> 03:09:33,150
and I just want to thank you guys. I just want to go back and just kind of again,
Just to just kind of recap some stuff,

1524
03:09:38,630 --> 03:09:38,630
you know, the moment that this board realized that we're not getting relief from the
State,

1525
03:09:43,190 --> 03:09:43,190
you know, we adopted a balanced budget. We have not adopted a balanced budget in this
District.

1526
03:09:47,590 --> 03:09:47,590
and I think quite some. I mean, ever. I don't know,
But once we realized that like, we, we were like,

1527
03:09:53,470 --> 03:09:53,470
okay, we're this is what we're doing and we're going to have to make,
We're going to have to make these decisions. I do believe that we remain watchful of your

1528
03:10:01,630 --> 03:10:01,630
public dollars while managing explosive enrollment growth,
Inflation and rising costs.

1529
03:10:06,790 --> 03:10:06,790
and just to recap, you know, 22% inflation over the past five years.

1530
03:10:11,670 --> 03:10:11,670
I know this board is also through compression is also lowered our tax rate by $0.31 over
The past five years.

1531
03:10:18,660 --> 03:10:18,660
our dedicated our continued dedication to our teachers and staff over the past five years
Where knowing we,

1532
03:10:24,940 --> 03:10:24,940
we own that we were, you know, providing an average of 5% pay increases on average from
The midpoint for the past five years,

1533
03:10:34,340 --> 03:10:34,340
thinking that the state was going to come through with the funding. So yes,
To trustee runkle point,

1534
03:10:39,140 --> 03:10:42,100
like we we do own that, but I'm not I'm okay with that. I would probably do that again. I think that was important for morale and taking care of
Our teachers and staff because,

1535
03:10:47,940 --> 03:10:47,940
you know, before you got here, I mean, I don't have any context of that,
But but you know,

1536
03:10:52,180 --> 03:10:52,180
but I believe that, you know, you've righted the ship,
So to speak.

1537
03:10:57,620 --> 03:10:57,620
you know, the primary drivers for this long,
Long standing structural issues at the state level is just our basic general basic

1538
03:11:04,260 --> 03:11:04,260
allotment. You know, we haven't received that increase unfunded mandates.

1539
03:11:08,500 --> 03:11:08,500
we touched on that earlier. You know, but I do want to say that I'm very appreciative to
Our community for your past support through our bond elections,

1540
03:11:18,170 --> 03:11:21,330
which have helped us address this fast growth. What we've this fast growth decision, we've opened four,
Five schools under your leadership.

1541
03:11:26,170 --> 03:11:26,170
we've taken our instructional model from elementary schools to 900 kids per elementary
School.

1542
03:11:30,650 --> 03:11:30,650
we've taken our middle school instructional. Our student to 1200 and our,
Our, our high schools to 2800.

1543
03:11:39,250 --> 03:11:39,250
those were at seven 2922 50, I believe, before you got here.

1544
03:11:45,210 --> 03:11:48,850
so a lot of that and a lot of that takes a lot of planning and time. Like to thank our facilities bond oversight committee. Putting those bonds together is not
An easy thing to do.

1545
03:11:54,050 --> 03:11:54,050
but we set ourselves up now where every every one of our elementary schools is being is
Our to our educational model.

1546
03:12:01,530 --> 03:12:01,530
our same with our middle schools and now our high schools.

1547
03:12:05,890 --> 03:12:05,890
and I'm thankful for our community to support for that because we,
We, we are, we do go out and ask our community,

1548
03:12:11,440 --> 03:12:11,440
hey, we need to do this. Do you support it? And they have been very supportive of that.

1549
03:12:15,640 --> 03:12:18,200
and I want to say thank you to the thank you to them. But however, like to our point, your bonds cannot fully fund our daily operations.

1550
03:12:22,840 --> 03:12:26,760
you know, by not passing the tree, it would result in some reductions. After the vote, our administration worked through the budget carefully and came up with
What was presented to you before.

1551
03:12:32,560 --> 03:12:35,040
this was not done in a vacuum. It took a lot of time. It took a lot of energy, a lot of, again, countless nights and energy to make sure that
What we were doing is,

1552
03:12:41,440 --> 03:12:41,440
is painful. It's heavy, but it's, it's I, it's strategic.

1553
03:12:46,040 --> 03:12:46,040
and what we're doing for right now. You know,
I do believe that every decision has been made with student impact on the forefront.

1554
03:12:53,080 --> 03:12:53,080
we are prioritizing attrition, reassignments and reductions in specific areas to protect
Classroom instruction as much as possible.

1555
03:13:00,680 --> 03:13:00,680
while these choices are painful, we remain resolute in our advocacy at the state level for
A meaningful increase in the basic allotment,

1556
03:13:07,800 --> 03:13:07,800
full funding of mandates and equitable support for fast growing districts.

1557
03:13:12,150 --> 03:13:12,150
as a board, our singular focus is delivering the best possible education for every child
In hays cisd.

1558
03:13:18,510 --> 03:13:18,510
we will continue working diligently through the budget cycle to support our exceptional
Staff,

1559
03:13:23,350 --> 03:13:23,350
maintain strong instructional programs, and position the district for long term stability
And success and success.

1560
03:13:29,310 --> 03:13:29,310
we invite our community to remain engaged as we finalize the 2026 2027 budget.

1561
03:13:35,630 --> 03:13:35,630
mike, we got I moved to this. I moved to hays county in 2006.

1562
03:13:41,030 --> 03:13:41,030
I've put two kids through this, the school district from kinder to graduation.

1563
03:13:45,430 --> 03:13:48,790
I was an oil brat, so I was all over the country in world growing up. So I didn't, I don't, I didn't get to stay in one district forever.

1564
03:13:51,950 --> 03:13:55,390
and this is the only school district that I've ever loved. And I know a lot of our trustees here also feel the same way.

1565
03:14:00,550 --> 03:14:00,550
I also want to just reiterate that these decisions are not done like taken lightly.

1566
03:14:06,730 --> 03:14:06,730
they're not done in a vacuum. It's a lot of collaboration and I appreciate the
Thoughtfulness that we put this together.

1567
03:14:13,090 --> 03:14:13,090
so. Okay. With that being said I'm going to the suggested motion is I'm going to move that
The hays cisd board of

1568
03:14:23,050 --> 03:14:23,050
trustees accept the preliminary budget decisions for the 2026 2027 fiscal year as
Presented and discussed,

1569
03:14:32,490 --> 03:14:32,490
second by trustee petrie. Any further discussions,
Mr.

1570
03:14:37,330 --> 03:14:37,330
vela? Yeah. First of all, I feel like we've gone through every emotion that you can
Possibly go through in these last,

1571
03:14:42,770 --> 03:14:42,770
I don't know, a couple of hours, but so thank you for all the insight and all the input.

1572
03:14:48,810 --> 03:14:48,810
I do want to go back to the question that trustee flores asked about how do we get the
Report?

1573
03:14:54,170 --> 03:14:54,170
I know you said we get the monthly the monthly statements.

1574
03:14:59,970 --> 03:15:03,730
how can how can we boil those down to just some basics? Because I don't, I don't want to wake up and say,
Oh, it's, you know, june 1st and we're going to get this lump sum of money. Like we

1575
03:15:09,040 --> 03:15:09,040
there's got to be some accruals or things. How can we come up with a tool,
Some kind of dashboard that,

1576
03:15:15,000 --> 03:15:15,000
that gives that accountability and transparency to ourselves and to our community?

1577
03:15:19,400 --> 03:15:22,760
there's, we're in the solutions business. So how can we do something like that? And we may not have the answer right now. Doctor wright. But yeah,
School finance is very complicated.

1578
03:15:28,200 --> 03:15:28,200
yes, ma'am. You're not going to be able to see at any point in time that you feel
Confident.

1579
03:15:39,360 --> 03:15:39,360
we we can measure it as much as we can try. But you're not you're not going to be able to
See

1580
03:15:49,600 --> 03:15:49,600
it because it's just it's not readable, not the revenues,
Not the expenditures.

1581
03:15:55,840 --> 03:15:55,840
so we can estimate, we can estimate. And but that's what a budget is.

1582
03:16:03,350 --> 03:16:03,350
that's what a budget is. And so we're trying to plan for how that's going to turn out at
The end of the year.

1583
03:16:10,190 --> 03:16:10,190
but as every day goes on, this is this is a,
A large district with millions and millions and millions and

1584
03:16:20,190 --> 03:16:20,190
millions of dollars floating in and out all the time.

1585
03:16:24,230 --> 03:16:27,870
and so you're never going to be able to just pinpoint it. But that's what a budget is. It is trying to help us see what that's going to be.

1586
03:16:34,910 --> 03:16:34,910
and so we're planning on saving $12.2 million on the budget.

1587
03:16:43,270 --> 03:16:43,270
and we'll we'll continue to bring those financials.

1588
03:16:47,510 --> 03:16:47,510
so we'll start off with 12.2 should this pass 12.2 in savings.

1589
03:16:53,710 --> 03:16:53,710
so that will be earmarked. And our assumptions will be we're going to go with the the new
Demographer's report.

1590
03:17:02,660 --> 03:17:02,660
and so the assumption will be be that. So if that tracks.

1591
03:17:07,460 --> 03:17:10,460
and we'll assume that the attendance rate will be 93%. If that tracks, then you should realize that at the end of the year,
But there have to be adjustments made based on that throughout the year because those

1592
03:17:18,060 --> 03:17:18,060
variables change. Yeah. Thank you again. And I'm not trying to be difficult.

1593
03:17:22,260 --> 03:17:26,220
I just there's got to be something that we can put eyes on. I get it. Millions of dollars. I mean, I've worked for billion dollar corporations. I'm
Not scared of million dollars of of a district.

1594
03:17:34,700 --> 03:17:37,940
there's got to be something that we can do. And it could be projections. It could be something we're calling some options,
But there has to be some kind of dashboard that can be dumbed down for lack of better

1595
03:17:47,460 --> 03:17:47,460
words. I'm not a, I'm not in public finance. I'm not in,
You know, education, budgeting, other than what we do on our,

1596
03:17:55,060 --> 03:17:55,060
on our annual budget as a, as a trustee, but as a member of this community,
There's got to be something that I can look at and say,

1597
03:18:00,640 --> 03:18:03,280
you know what? The district is tracking in the right way. So if it is daily average daily attendance and how we're doing with our demographer,
Then I'm just going to make a suggestion that we have some kind of dashboard on that.

1598
03:18:12,560 --> 03:18:12,560
maybe it's the superintendent's report. I'm probably getting a little long winded,
But we've got to have something that I can put eyes on that john q taxpayer can put eyes

1599
03:18:22,280 --> 03:18:22,280
on and say, you know what? The district is trending in the right way when it comes to the
Financial $12.2 million.

1600
03:18:28,240 --> 03:18:31,160
mr. Carson, do you have some comments to that? Thank you. Yes, I do. As has been shared, 88% of our expenditures are in salary.

1601
03:18:41,560 --> 03:18:41,560
and in identifying the savings here, the majority of this is in positions and every
Position has a position

1602
03:18:51,480 --> 03:18:51,480
control number. And we are going to be tracking every position control number that is
Deleted

1603
03:19:01,870 --> 03:19:01,870
from our system because it doesn't exist in the next school year.

1604
03:19:08,910 --> 03:19:08,910
so I'm going to be tracking every single pcn position control number for positions that
Are eliminated.

1605
03:19:19,550 --> 03:19:19,550
and we have a report of every single individual that had been receiving these incentives
Or stipends.

1606
03:19:29,870 --> 03:19:33,830
I can show you exactly who that impacted and how that is going away. Those are the things that I can show you on the hr side in terms of personnel.

1607
03:19:39,390 --> 03:19:39,390
are those pcn numbers and, and the and not having those stipends on,
On record.

1608
03:19:48,350 --> 03:19:48,350
thank you, miss corson. And again, not to belabor this,
But great.

1609
03:19:54,230 --> 03:19:54,230
so we can track the pcns. I don't think we need everybody's individual story,
But I mean,

1610
03:19:58,340 --> 03:19:58,340
can we tabulate that? I and maybe I'll ask for a second later on,
But there's got to be some kind of dashboard that we can create that,

1611
03:20:06,500 --> 03:20:09,740
that shows us that our budget to actuals already paint that picture. And the only difference is, is we don't have the assumptions on there.

1612
03:20:13,020 --> 03:20:13,020
yes, sir. So like if we just have the demographers projections and the attendance
Projections,

1613
03:20:18,980 --> 03:20:18,980
then the, the budget to actuals that you get monthly,
They should, they should paint a really good picture for us.

1614
03:20:25,540 --> 03:20:25,540
so we can look at that. Okay, great. Yes. I know again we're in the solutions business.

1615
03:20:29,780 --> 03:20:32,860
and so thank you for putting all of these bright minds together. I just want something simple that we can look at and hold ourselves accountable. As well
As again,

1616
03:20:37,980 --> 03:20:37,980
anybody coming to a meeting or having a question,
They can see that trajectory. So thank you.

1617
03:20:42,740 --> 03:20:42,740
president. Okay, we have a motion and a second.

1618
03:20:47,300 --> 03:20:47,300
all those any further discussion? All those in favor?

1619
03:20:51,380 --> 03:20:51,380
aye. Any opposed? Motion carries seven zero. Team.

1620
03:20:56,610 --> 03:20:56,610
it is 938. Do you want to take a five minute break and then come back to the dais?

1621
03:21:00,650 --> 03:21:00,650
great. We'll take a five minute break. We'll be we'll be right back.

1622
03:21:04,810 --> 03:21:04,810
time seven, five, seven minutes. Sure. It's 938.

1623
03:21:12,890 --> 03:21:12,890
thank you. Okay, team, we are. We are back and ready to go.

1624
03:21:22,650 --> 03:21:22,650
we're going to kick it off on k one on page 25.

1625
03:21:27,810 --> 03:21:27,810
this is the consideration of possible approval to seek waivers from the texas education
Agency to provide remote general education,

1626
03:21:34,170 --> 03:21:37,410
homebound instruction. Mr.. Take it away. All right. Good evening. Board members, board president and doctor wright.

1627
03:21:41,690 --> 03:21:41,690
so we are asking the board to approve a remote homebound instruction waiver from the,
From the texas

1628
03:21:51,570 --> 03:21:51,570
education agency for two of our students who are immuno compromised.

1629
03:21:56,630 --> 03:22:00,310
and so again, the the differential here, and I think we've done this in the past. It's really for two of our gen ed students. This will allow our students to be counted
Present in accordance with the 2526 student attendance accounting handbook.

1630
03:22:11,750 --> 03:22:11,750
thank you. Tim, look to my left. Any questions from studio,
Am I right?

1631
03:22:15,950 --> 03:22:15,950
no. Okay, tim, I move that the hays cisd board of trustees approved the request to seek
Waivers from the texas education agency to provide remote general education homebound

1632
03:22:25,390 --> 03:22:25,390
instruction as presented and discussed. Second by trustee orosco.

1633
03:22:30,630 --> 03:22:34,590
any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries seven zero. Moving on to k-2 on page 27.

1634
03:22:41,310 --> 03:22:41,310
this is the consideration of possible approval of the purchase of instructional resources
For secondary math.

1635
03:22:47,350 --> 03:22:50,660
mcgraw hill. Mr. Daniels, thank you for coming to the mic. Take it away. Thank you. President. This is for our secondary math adoption.

1636
03:22:55,100 --> 03:22:55,100
mcgraw-hill is the recommendation for six through algebra two.

1637
03:22:59,780 --> 03:22:59,780
this is a separate funding source through the instructional materials review and
Allotment,

1638
03:23:03,940 --> 03:23:03,940
the new funding source that started two three years ago with the legislative session.

1639
03:23:09,300 --> 03:23:09,300
just to give you a quick reminder, that's $40 per kid per year,
Which equates to about $1 million.

1640
03:23:14,900 --> 03:23:14,900
it does roll over and build. We currently have about 2.6 million in that account.

1641
03:23:20,780 --> 03:23:20,780
we are saving because next year is our big elementary literacy adoption,
Which is by far our biggest instructional materials adoption.

1642
03:23:29,020 --> 03:23:29,020
and so this is for secondary math. Mcgraw-hill was recommended by our teacher committee.

1643
03:23:33,580 --> 03:23:33,580
we had about 25 to 30 teachers, administrators,
Instructional coaches, instructional facilitators.

1644
03:23:40,060 --> 03:23:40,060
and it was the recommendation 9 to 0. Everybody recommended mcgraw-hill.

1645
03:23:46,860 --> 03:23:46,860
thank you. Team, look to my right. Any questions for daniels can look to my left.

1646
03:23:52,530 --> 03:23:52,530
just. Thank you so much. Thank you everybody,
I appreciate it.

1647
03:23:58,130 --> 03:23:58,130
I move that the hays cisd board of trustees approved the purchase of instructional
Resources for secondary math from mcgraw hill for an amount not to exceed 680

1648
03:24:06,690 --> 03:24:06,690
$656,886 as presented. Second by trustee vela.

1649
03:24:13,730 --> 03:24:13,730
any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye.

1650
03:24:19,130 --> 03:24:19,130
motion. What? Thank you. Motion carries seven zero.

1651
03:24:24,650 --> 03:24:27,650
we can get through this a lot quicker. Let's go. Alright. We're going to move on to k3 on page 32.

1652
03:24:33,450 --> 03:24:33,450
this is the consideration of possible approval of the guaranteed maximum price for 2025
Bond renovations and additions at fuentes elementary school team.

1653
03:24:41,130 --> 03:24:41,130
I want to remind you that we've already approved schematic designs for this.

1654
03:24:45,770 --> 03:24:45,770
we've already approved the sds for this. We've already approved the design development.

1655
03:24:50,080 --> 03:24:50,080
we've already approved the design to date. This is just now the approval of the price.

1656
03:24:56,800 --> 03:25:00,200
the maximum price. I believe. Max, you have some good news for us. Yes,
Sir. The gmp. Yes, on page 34. That's the that's the the cost journey.

1657
03:25:07,200 --> 03:25:07,200
the one thing I want to say here is we are a little bit over budget on this one.

1658
03:25:11,600 --> 03:25:11,600
we are doing an additional parent drop off loop.

1659
03:25:15,640 --> 03:25:15,640
that was sort of guided by the city. It's going to make it a whole lot better for traffic
Around there.

1660
03:25:21,280 --> 03:25:21,280
and then there were some off site drainage that we during schematic did not account for.

1661
03:25:27,720 --> 03:25:27,720
and then as you can see on page 34 it, if you look very closely,
The budget for from 100% cd to gmp went up about

1662
03:25:37,000 --> 03:25:40,720
200,000 and that was from the 2023 carry forward. For the freezer cooler and the parking lot repair because we didn't want to do that work
And then mess it up during construction.

1663
03:25:47,350 --> 03:25:47,350
so the total the total cost for the project is the seven or excuse me,
The construction cost 17,000,002 56,

1664
03:25:55,790 --> 03:25:55,790
971. But the total budget is going to be coming in less than what we conceptually
Estimated at the beginning of the project.

1665
03:26:02,390 --> 03:26:05,870
we're just over the total budget is a little higher. It went from 18 751. We added the 2023 bond back to it.

1666
03:26:10,790 --> 03:26:10,790
we we had purposefully pulled out some 2023 bond elements and added them to the current
Project.

1667
03:26:17,550 --> 03:26:17,550
and so that's why I was explaining. That's why the the budget went up from 100% cd.

1668
03:26:23,150 --> 03:26:23,150
yeah. No, I'm talking about the when the origination,
When we put this budget together is less than what we originally thought.

1669
03:26:29,150 --> 03:26:29,150
this entire project of 26 million. Yes. $28 is going to turn out to be.

1670
03:26:34,190 --> 03:26:37,070
yes, sir. For the conceptual estimate to gmp is a lot less. Right. So this is good news. It's just different. A little bit up from the cd.

1671
03:26:41,030 --> 03:26:41,030
okay. Yes, sure. Okay, team. I moved that the hays cisd board of trustees approved the gmp
Provided by bartlett construction for the 2025 bond renovations and additions at

1672
03:26:50,650 --> 03:26:50,650
fuentes elementary school, as designed both by o'connell robertson architects.

1673
03:26:55,170 --> 03:26:55,170
in the amount not to exceed $17,256,971 as presented second by trustee runkle.

1674
03:27:04,650 --> 03:27:04,650
any further discussion? Mr. Runkle? Yeah, I just want to clarify that because you started
Off by saying we were over budget and we are not.

1675
03:27:13,210 --> 03:27:13,210
so I just want to make sure that the public hears that and didn't hear the first part of
That and only that.

1676
03:27:20,370 --> 03:27:20,370
okay. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. We were $200 over budget from the from the cd that we
Did,

1677
03:27:27,650 --> 03:27:31,090
but we already talked about this good news in our previous item. So okay, we have any more discussion? All right,
Team, all those in favor?

1678
03:27:38,330 --> 03:27:41,920
any opposed? Motion carries seven zero. All right. Moving on to item number k four on page 37. This is the consideration of possible approval
Of the guaranteed maximum price for the 2025 bond additions and renovations at wallace

1679
03:27:51,880 --> 03:27:51,880
middle school. Again, I'd like to remind the team that the board reviewed the design and.

1680
03:27:57,240 --> 03:27:57,240
and back in 2024, we approved the sd for this project in october 28th of 24,
And the board approved the design to date for the project and on december 8th of 2025.

1681
03:28:08,440 --> 03:28:08,440
max. Anything else to add? Just on page 38 is the cost journey and this one is also in
Budget.

1682
03:28:15,320 --> 03:28:15,320
all right team, I move that the hays cisd board of trustees approve the gmp from bartlett
Construction for the 2025 bond additions and renovations at wallace middle school,

1683
03:28:24,800 --> 03:28:24,800
as designed by o'connell robertson architects,
For an amount not to exceed 19,351,000 $301,392 as presented.

1684
03:28:35,200 --> 03:28:39,120
second by trustee vela. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries seven zero.

1685
03:28:45,350 --> 03:28:45,350
all right, team, we're on to k5 on page number 41.

1686
03:28:50,710 --> 03:28:50,710
this is a consideration of possible approval of the right of way and easements to the city
Of buda for a connector road at johnson high school.

1687
03:28:58,470 --> 03:29:00,950
max, can you want to give us a little recap on this project? Yes, sir. We have jason andrews from huckabee and lexi englund,
Our civil engineer here.

1688
03:29:05,790 --> 03:29:05,790
these next three items are theirs. But on page 30,
Excuse me, 42 is the the drawing that sort of highlights everything.

1689
03:29:14,230 --> 03:29:14,230
the items in yellow are the items being requested in this particular item for the city of
Buda.

1690
03:29:21,230 --> 03:29:21,230
it's the actual road that will connect from our property up through the newly acquired
Property to the cul de sac connecting into the new subdivision.

1691
03:29:29,910 --> 03:29:29,910
so there's a road, a right of way easement, and then also a pedestrian easement that they
Are requesting.

1692
03:29:36,350 --> 03:29:39,780
thank you. Max, look to my right. The christian mr. Runkle. This is pretty standard, right? Yes, ma'am. Okay.

1693
03:29:43,140 --> 03:29:43,140
is this how are we on our permit? We have gotten past the tce permit,
I believe, or really close.

1694
03:29:52,740 --> 03:29:52,740
what we are now faced with on page, you can see on page 42,
There's this little line in purple that is a drainage easement that is

1695
03:30:02,700 --> 03:30:02,700
going to be required by permit for the from the city of buda across the neighbor's
Property that we are working on next.

1696
03:30:10,340 --> 03:30:13,460
okay. All right. So we're moving along. We are moving along. Wonderful. Thank you. Anything else? Team? Okay.

1697
03:30:17,780 --> 03:30:17,780
so, max, this is do you have an estimated estimated completion date for this project?

1698
03:30:24,780 --> 03:30:28,700
I don't want to misspeak, so I would if I can have a little time. I can get you a real date. Yeah, I like to. I like to see that if I like,
I like to, I like to see that I do,

1699
03:30:35,140 --> 03:30:35,140
I do believe this is a project that we're going to need to kind of help some of that
Congestion. Johnson. So we look forward to hearing that. All right team. I move that the

1700
03:30:41,360 --> 03:30:41,360
hays cisd board of trustees grant access easements and right of way to the city of buda
For a connector road at johnson high school and authorize the superintendent and board

1701
03:30:50,160 --> 03:30:50,160
president to negotiate and execute documents necessary and convenient to complete the
Transaction as presented.

1702
03:30:56,680 --> 03:31:00,600
second by trustee petrea. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed. Motion carries seven zero on page 43 is going to be k
Six.

1703
03:31:08,240 --> 03:31:08,240
this is the consideration of possible approval of grant utility easements to the city of
Austin for water service at our hays cisd comprehensive high school.

1704
03:31:16,640 --> 03:31:19,720
number four. This is a long runway that we're getting ahead of. These are just steps we have to get through. So.

1705
03:31:21,840 --> 03:31:21,840
yes, sir. Max, I just want to remind the board that we did approve the schematic design
For this.

1706
03:31:26,040 --> 03:31:26,040
in october of 24, board approved this design development april 25th,
And the board approved the joint development and cost allocation agreement with sunville

1707
03:31:35,110 --> 03:31:35,110
development and austin water to provide infrastructure back in december of 25.

1708
03:31:39,230 --> 03:31:42,550
max was going to give us a little more background if we need it. Yes, sir. I think the main things to look at are the.

1709
03:31:45,110 --> 03:31:45,110
on page 48. It's the actual survey sketch of the vault that the austin water will be
Putting in.

1710
03:31:50,470 --> 03:31:50,470
again, on page 48. And then on page let's see here.

1711
03:31:57,510 --> 03:31:57,510
and then on page 59 is the actual survey sketch of the water line.

1712
03:32:02,590 --> 03:32:02,590
both of them. Austin is a little bit formal,
Not not more formal than travis county, but there are some affidavit of liens and things

1713
03:32:11,310 --> 03:32:11,310
in this agenda that you will actually be part of the process is to get those signed.

1714
03:32:16,390 --> 03:32:16,390
and that's, again, this is also a pretty mundane routine thing that we've done before for
Water lines,

1715
03:32:22,910 --> 03:32:25,950
but just a little more formal with the affidavits. Just a starting point to get this process moving in the long lead time needed to do that.

1716
03:32:30,390 --> 03:32:30,390
okay, team I move that the hays cisd board of trustees grant utility easements to the city
Of austin and authorize the superintendent and or board president to negotiate and execute

1717
03:32:39,660 --> 03:32:39,660
documents necessary and convenient to complete the transaction as presented.

1718
03:32:44,580 --> 03:32:44,580
second by trustee runkle. Any further discussion?

1719
03:32:48,700 --> 03:32:48,700
all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries seven zero.

1720
03:32:55,460 --> 03:32:55,460
all right. We'll move on to k seven on page 63.

1721
03:32:59,700 --> 03:32:59,700
this is the consideration and possible approval to grant right of way to travis county for
Improvements at turnersville road for 2025 bond comprehensive high school number four

1722
03:33:09,740 --> 03:33:12,820
team. This is a. We've already approved this schematic design. On october 24th, the board approved the designs development in april of 2025,
And we also approved the joint development and cost allocation agreement with sunville

1723
03:33:21,100 --> 03:33:24,140
development austin water in december of 2025. And then in january of 26, we approved the guaranteed maximum price for this project.

1724
03:33:28,140 --> 03:33:28,140
max, take it away. Yes, sir. So on page 69. That kind of shows the actual limits,
The survey limits.

1725
03:33:35,050 --> 03:33:35,050
and so this is for the improvements on turnersville road associated with high school four.

1726
03:33:41,330 --> 03:33:41,330
and then also the deceleration lane and center turn lane on main street when it gets
Constructed.

1727
03:33:49,290 --> 03:33:49,290
and so that's really, that's really all of that.

1728
03:33:53,810 --> 03:33:53,810
it's again, pretty standard stuff with the exception of the,
You know, the formalities.

1729
03:33:58,970 --> 03:33:58,970
and in this case, the formality was we actually had to prove that we,
That we, that we owned it.

1730
03:34:04,490 --> 03:34:04,490
and so it was just really formal. And this is just setting ourselves up for down the road.

1731
03:34:08,610 --> 03:34:08,610
we have to build this project that we've got enough space to,
To put this road in.

1732
03:34:13,050 --> 03:34:13,050
that would be wright, that deceleration lanes,
The acceleration lanes on those, those streets.

1733
03:34:18,930 --> 03:34:18,930
okay. Thank you. I move that the hays cisd board of trustees grant right of way to travis
County for improvements to turnersville road and authorize the superintendent and or board

1734
03:34:28,330 --> 03:34:28,330
president to negotiate and execute documents necessary or convenient to complete the
Transaction as presented.

1735
03:34:35,870 --> 03:34:39,390
second trustee sibel, any further discussion? Mr. Flores, just a quick question. Question mark.

1736
03:34:42,390 --> 03:34:42,390
so just so the public understands the pro rata cost,
It's based on usage, correct?

1737
03:34:47,990 --> 03:34:47,990
in regards to the future traffic light. That's correct.

1738
03:34:52,070 --> 03:34:52,070
and can we just get updates on any on the timeline for completion based on what was voted
On earlier?

1739
03:34:58,350 --> 03:34:58,350
yes, sir. The new opening of the high school just to the completion of this project,
Just going forward.

1740
03:35:03,190 --> 03:35:03,190
yes, sir. That's it. Thank you. All right. We have a motion and a second team.

1741
03:35:12,150 --> 03:35:12,150
any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye.

1742
03:35:16,230 --> 03:35:16,230
any opposed? Motion carries seven zero. Thank you.

1743
03:35:20,830 --> 03:35:20,830
thank you, mr. Cleaver. All right, team, we're on k eight.

1744
03:35:25,790 --> 03:35:25,790
this is a board matter to conduct an election for place five on the education service
Center region.

1745
03:35:32,660 --> 03:35:32,660
13 board of directors. I know we had some. We don't have to do anything replace to.

1746
03:35:37,540 --> 03:35:37,540
but we do have two candidates for place five.

1747
03:35:41,780 --> 03:35:41,780
does anybody have any recommendations or like to suggest a motion for this one?

1748
03:35:46,460 --> 03:35:46,460
mr.. Runkle. No, I'm just going to say that I'm personally not comfortable on voting on
Either of these individuals.

1749
03:35:53,140 --> 03:35:53,140
I don't know them. All I have are resumes, but nothing behind that.

1750
03:35:59,620 --> 03:35:59,620
and I, that's not how I vote on things. So I'm not comfortable voting for people that I
Don't know.

1751
03:36:05,780 --> 03:36:05,780
so that's, that's my, my take. Yep. And team,
This is like, we don't, we don't have to take action on this.

1752
03:36:11,500 --> 03:36:11,500
we can, we don't have to, we don't have to. We don't have to know if you were so inclined
To vote.

1753
03:36:18,060 --> 03:36:18,060
the incumbent, don rogers, is the former superintendent for ins isd and is the has been
The president for the texas rural education association.

1754
03:36:28,170 --> 03:36:28,170
he's a he's a really good guy. He's been the chair of that board and has done an
Outstanding job.

1755
03:36:32,890 --> 03:36:32,890
you don't have to take any action. But if you were to vote on one,
That's who I would recommend.

1756
03:36:41,010 --> 03:36:41,010
we would like to make a motion. All right. Team would like to make a motion. I'd like to.

1757
03:36:45,770 --> 03:36:45,770
the suggested motion is that this board nominate and nominate don rogers for place number
Five to serve as a region 13 board of directors.

1758
03:36:56,450 --> 03:36:56,450
moved by mrs. Second petrea. Second by trustee.

1759
03:37:01,330 --> 03:37:01,330
vela. Any further discussion? All those in favor?

1760
03:37:05,610 --> 03:37:05,610
aye. Any opposed? One motion carries six one.

1761
03:37:11,610 --> 03:37:11,610
congratulations. Mr. Rogers, you are. You are now elected from hays cisd for place five
For region 13.

1762
03:37:19,490 --> 03:37:19,490
okay, we've already done canine, y'all. Moving on to our earl.

1763
03:37:23,720 --> 03:37:23,720
informational items. Miss skrocki, do you have any you have any updates for us on on one.

1764
03:37:29,680 --> 03:37:29,680
thank you. All right. On l2. Max, do you have anything on your district bond construction
Updates?

1765
03:37:39,840 --> 03:37:39,840
I know that nate submitted us online or on board blog that the updates for this for this,
For this meeting,

1766
03:37:45,240 --> 03:37:47,960
so I appreciate that. Anything else to add to that? No, sir. Not nothing prepared. Just that written document.

1767
03:37:50,560 --> 03:37:50,560
okay. Thank you. Tim on l3 on page 87 reviewing discussion with 20 2626 budget calendar.

1768
03:37:59,400 --> 03:38:02,760
does anybody have any questions on the budget calendar? Miss runkle? Yes, miss summers and you don't have to answer this right now.

1769
03:38:08,520 --> 03:38:08,520
you may need to come back. But on under march of 2026,
There are some items here that have not been quite completed yet.

1770
03:38:17,520 --> 03:38:17,520
so I don't know if this calendar needs to be adjusted a little bit.

1771
03:38:24,420 --> 03:38:28,060
but there's some things that have not come to us. That's on the budget calendar. It is a draft of the budget calendar.

1772
03:38:32,860 --> 03:38:32,860
it's flexible. It'll change. And, and the we kind of had to get tonight out of the way
Before we really

1773
03:38:42,300 --> 03:38:45,500
started implementing the the effect on the dollar. Okay. So a couple of the items that are in march,
You're just pushing those to april.

1774
03:38:51,260 --> 03:38:54,060
which items are you specifically referring to? Contracts. April. Okay, perfect. Thank you, thank you.

1775
03:39:00,380 --> 03:39:03,140
that's all I have. Yeah. Thank you. Mr.. Runkle. This is I should preface this. This is a draft calendar.

1776
03:39:05,860 --> 03:39:05,860
this is the first look that we're going to have with this for so far this year. So some of
The stuff is going to be fluid moving around depending on what we've done tonight with the

1777
03:39:12,740 --> 03:39:12,740
budget. So just be patient and we can definitely make sure that we get this stuff moved to
The right bucket when we need to. Okay.

1778
03:39:19,740 --> 03:39:19,740
l4 on page 90. Financial statements. Anybody have any questions for miss amazon on this on
Financial statements this evening?

1779
03:39:28,770 --> 03:39:28,770
no. Okay. Item m request for information from the board of trustees team.

1780
03:39:33,610 --> 03:39:37,370
and we have any questions that haven't been asked that we want to add to mr. For tonight. Mr.. Mr.. Miss. Runkle. Trustee.

1781
03:39:40,210 --> 03:39:40,210
runkle. Oh, raul, will you let trustee. Runkle borrow your mic?

1782
03:39:44,930 --> 03:39:44,930
okay. Pick it up that way. Can you please. Oh,
No, it doesn't work.

1783
03:39:50,890 --> 03:39:50,890
don't pick it up. Okay. Miss tech? Yes. Can you please provide an update on upward
Communities?

1784
03:40:01,410 --> 03:40:01,410
thank you. Okay, team our upcoming board meeting is going to be next april 20th at 5:30
P.m..

1785
03:40:11,930 --> 03:40:11,930
if there's no further objections, we're going to be adjourned tonight at 10:10 p.m..

1786
03:40:15,970 --> 03:40:18,610
good job. Thank you for letting me get through this. Thank you.