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Good evening.

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This meeting is now called to order at 5 o'clock.

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I would like to ask everyone to please silence

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all cell phones. A quorum of the board members is present in the auditorium. I am board member

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at your cologne and I will preside over tonight's meeting. I am joined by board members, Karen

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and Duffy, and Marty Gousen.

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Our first order of business is to hear from speakers

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to agenda items.

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Public comment during school board meetings

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will only be available

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to those persons who have signed up to speak prior

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to the meeting time for current protocol.

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Verbal and other disruptions by persons

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during the school board meetings are not acceptable

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as they inhibit the board's ability to conduct business

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and the public's ability to observe those processes.

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Person who participate in such behavior

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will be given one warning,

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and if the behavior is repeated,

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they will be asked to leave the meeting.

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We have four registered speakers

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who will be limited to two minutes each per board policy.

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We ask that you stay on topic and reframe

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from naming individuals, especially students.

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As their identity is protected on their law.

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But you may name your own child.

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I ask that you please respect our procedures,

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and the other speakers and your comments promptly

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when your time has expired and the timer rings.

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Speakers please come to the podium in your number order

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and stay your name and topic.

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Do we have any speakers?

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I don't believe any speakers have signed in.

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Are there any speakers who've signed up for public comment here?

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speakers going once speakers going twice which I'll proceed

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that concludes our public comment

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period we will now conduct the hearings schedule for this meeting

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the purpose of this meeting

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is to consider the recommendation of the independent hearing examiner in the matter of the

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Keisha Manifee teacher at Fondrand Middle School hearings involving complaints against district

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employees are to be held in closed session, only the employee who is the subject of the hearing

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requests and open hearing. A both parties request an open session during the hearing, the board

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may go into closed session to consult with its attorney under the terms of Texas Government code

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section 551.081. If any board member wishes to seek the advice of council, please let me know.

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For the record, James Fallon, of the law office, of James Fallon, is representing

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Laquiche of NFI, who is also present.

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Laquiche is also present.

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Ashley Yee, H.I.A. Z. Assistant General Counsel representing the administration, is present,

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and Katoshia Woods, H.I.A. Z. General Counsel, is also present.

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Ms. Manifid, do you wish to continue in open or close session?

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The

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issues before the school board are whether to accept reject or change the independent hearing

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examiners' findings of fact, conclusion of law, and proposal based on a review of the record.

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We may reject or change a finding of fact after a review on the record of the proceedings

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before the hearing examiner, we find it is not supported by substantial evidence. If we reject

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the independent hearing examiner's recommendation or make any changes, we must state the

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reason and legal basis in writing. Miss Yi, you will proceed first, you would be allowed to

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make 10 minutes presentation to the board, followed by a 10 minute presentation by Mr. Fallen.

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Ms. He, you may reserve part of your 10 minutes for rebuttal to matters presented by Mr.

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Fallen. Both sides shall be available for questions from the board after their respective presentations.

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Ms. He, how would you like to divide your time in making your presentation to the board?

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Eight minutes for the presentation to a minutes for rebuttal.

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Thank you so much.

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All right,

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good evening, board members. Joining me today, I have the key at Jackson and Ms. Jackson is the principal at fondron middle school.

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And we are here tonight asking the board to uphold the independent hearing examers recommendation to dismiss mismetives request for a chapter 21 appeal hearing for lack of jurisdiction.

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The facts here are straightforward, mismanipy had received a written notice by this board proposing the termination of her probationary contract and the letter dated January 16 of 2026.

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Now, under the Texas Education Code Section 21.2538, a teacher must file a written request for a hearing under Chapter 21, sub Chapter F,

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With the commissioner no later than the 15th day after the teacher receives written notice

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of the proposed action. Ms. Manipy claimed that she received her letter on February 12th

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of 2026 when she picked it up at the post office. So 15 days from this date would have given her

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a deadline of February 27th, 2026. But she did not request for a chapter 21 hearing by the deadline.

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It was not until April 17, 2026, approximately seven weeks after the statutory deadline has passed,

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that Ms. Menophee requested for Chapter 21 hearing.

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Now, Ms. Menophee attempts to avoid this deadline by pointing to a different filing that she had made earlier on February 19,

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which was a petition for review that she had directly filed with a commissioner

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under Texas Education Code Section 7.057, which concerned her grievance.

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But this filing did not preserve nor did it invoke her chapter 21 jurisdiction.

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It did not request the appointment of an independent hearing examiner,

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and it did not comply with the statutory procedures that govern a proposed termination under chapter 21.

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More importantly, Section 7.057, expressly, does not apply to cases governed by Chapter 21,

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Subjector G.

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And the commissioner has recognized the distinction in the filings in Hendrix E. Dallas, ISD,

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and also in Nazar B. First U.S. Bedford, ISD.

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Explained that the termination of an educator during the contract term must proceed

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through the procedures established under Chapter 21.

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Now following a telephone conference with the administrative law judge,

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concerning her section 7.057 petition,

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this meant that you had acknowledged that there is a distinction between these two

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by-lings.

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Judge butcher specifically stated that a sub-Chapter F, hearing,

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is not initiated through an amended,

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did, pleading in Section 7.057 appeal, but through a separate request for a hearing filed

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with a commissioner, and you can find the ALJ's order and exhibit G.

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Now this separate chapter 21 request, again, was not made until April 17, well after the

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February 27th, statutory deadline, and so mismancipated therefore to not use her timely

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section 7.0 by 7 filing to cure her timely, untimely, chapter 21, or plus, through an amendment.

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And even assuming that this amendment was otherwise permissible, the commissioner decisions have

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recognized that a party cannot use an amendment filed after the statutory deadline to circumvent

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the Legislature's mandatory procedural requirements.

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The Legislature has specifically created procedures and deadlines for chapter 21 hearings.

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So a timely filing under a different statutory procedure,

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then cannot substitute a timely chapter 21 hearing loss

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but the Legislature expressly requires allowing this amendment then

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would effectively erase that statutory deadline and create jurisdiction

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for none exists. For these reasons, the administration respectfully request that this board

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upholds it into penny hearing zamers recommendation and dismiss this amount of each chapter 21

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request for a hearing for lack of jurisdiction. Thank you and I'll reserve the rest of my time.

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Thank you. Mr. Fallon, you may thank your presentation to the board. Please remember that you have

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10 minutes. Thank you so much.

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I would like to introduce myself, my name is Dr. Location Minifee. Mr. Fallen will be representing me. I would also like to just say that I am a veteran educator. I've been an educator for 20 plus years. I've been a teacher. I've been a principal. I've worked alongside Mr. Colone as a Chief Academic Officer at the Hornet Public Schools. Prior to even working as a teacher at Fundra Middle School, I also had a grant from the Texas Education Act

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agency where I provided a after-school program at Fundrum Middle School and the students at

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Fundrum Middle School won a drawing competition, they won a second place in a drawing

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competition. I have a proven track record of success. I've also, I know that the board

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took over HISD because of certain successes at Wheatley High School and I was a dean of instruction

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in a weekly high school and we were able to achieve mathematics success at

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weekly high school. I want to say I was the first dean at

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weekly high school to allow them to win, I mean, earn, instead of money for

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their math scores. I've also served as a science coach and I've written

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curriculum for HISD, the schools that I've worked with in HISD, they've

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all received at least 20% science increase in their scores for their

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and schoolers over the time that I've worked with them.

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I have a proven shraker record of success.

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In addition to that, the rationale for the termination,

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I submitted documentation to say that those things needed

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to be evaluated.

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And in addition to the things that you have stated,

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there are certain things that were stated

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in terms of what the hearing officer stated.

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and the rationale for things that will be denied.

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I want to say that those things need to be reevaluated

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for the record.

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I want agree with everything that she stated

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that this is what the hearing officer stated.

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And I would challenge and encourage the board to go back

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and request that they examine the recordings of those meetings.

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because I cannot confirm everything that Ms. Yee just stood here and said, or the record.

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And with all of that being said, I will yield the rest of my time to Mr. Fallon.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Dr. Manifee. Ms. Yee, Ms. Woods, members of the board.

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Thank you for your time.

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I'm James Fallon. It's good to see you this evening.

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This chapter 21 appeal is unlike other chapter 21 appeals that you will see.

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This is really an appeal based on a ruling made by the hearing examiner in the case.

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And so he issued a ruling in response to HSD's plea to the jurisdiction,

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otherwise known as a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

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And so, you know, but before I begin that,

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you got a brief introduction to Dr. Manify based on the items in the record.

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I can tell you a couple things about her other than what you've heard.

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She's a 24-year educator.

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She's had 15 years of education in the life science classroom and she's spent nine years

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in administrative leadership.

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She's been an HSD prior to this most recent round.

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She was in from 2003 to 2012, but here recently she came back in the district under a probationary

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contract for the 2526 school year.

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So that's how we got here.

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And so she received a notice of nominal according to the record on February 12th.

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The normal procedure would be to file in a portal on the Texas Education Agency

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and make a request for a hearing examiner where the requirements are to make that request

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and to provide a copy of your notice letter.

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Dr. Manify, at the time, was not represented by a lawyer, so she filed her own appeal.

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And so, when she filed it, she filed using the portal, she attached to copy of her notice

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of nominal.

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By the way, she received on February 12th, her filing was on February 19th.

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So, filed within a time period that would have been within the 15 days.

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It was within the 15 days.

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And it was a document called an appeal for review.

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So, but Dr. Manify being a smart woman but not being a lawyer did not ask in a direct way for a chapter 21 hearing examiner.

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And so, and so our journey begins. Whenever she filed, she filed referencing 7.057 of the education code.

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And when it got to TA, it got diverted over instead of to a hearing exam.

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We call an administrative law judge, an ALJ. So even at the TAA level, you don't get away from a bunch of letters to describe everything you're doing. But we leave the IHE, they put her away from the IHE into the ALJ. And the administrative law judge had the case pending until April 17th, and they had a pretrial conference in the matter.

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And at the time that the pre-shaw accommodate occurred, it was brought to Dr.

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Menofee's attention that that that filing was not sufficient to get her a hearing

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examiner.

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So she turned around that day immediately and filed within the same portal, something

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that directly asked for an independent hearing examiner.

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So once that was filed, the T.A. granted the request for a hearing examiner and then we

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have the proceedings.

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And that's what we're here in review.

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So all that's just procedurally how we got here.

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So we've got a form in this left.

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Let me, let me, let me try to get through this quickly,

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but also efficiently.

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HST's lawyer's file, the plea to the jurisdiction,

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saying, hey, April 17th is an untimely filing.

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Our response in some is this.

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Dr. Manifu, he was pro-say.

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She didn't have the benefit of lawyer.

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She met with substantial compliance with the statute.

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She filed what she filed.

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her appeal for review within a 15 days, she attached to copy the notice letter, what should

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have happened is the T.E.A. should have sent it to a hearing examiner because it was from

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all those things together, the timing of it coupled with the attachment of the notice letter,

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should have been at least enough of an indication to them to provide it to refer to a hearing

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But they didn't do that, for whatever reason they chose to deal with it with the ALJ, and that decision delayed

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Dr. Manify from understanding that they wanted to file a different way.

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So there are, I'm here arguing that there are strong equity considerations in this case.

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That should be considered. The judge rejected those arguments.

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We wrote a brief, we had some argument, the judge rejected those arguments, and so that is what I would like for you to consider.

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Dr. Menofee just once her day in court, and she wants to have somebody look at the facts of the allegations in the case,

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and she was never able to get that because of a filing that was made by her before she was represented by an attorney.

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And so, there's many instances in the law where a pro-Said defendant is given the benefit

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of the doubt in cases.

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And so that is essentially our equity argument.

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We would like for you board members to consider those filings as my position that her original

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filing was sufficient under the law to be the kind of request that should have given her a chapter

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But that decision wasn't made until after she filed a second time in April and that's what I would like for you to consider.

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I appreciate your time.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Missy, do you wish to make a rebuttal statement?

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You have to move.

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What to clarify just two points here?

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First, we are not here at this hearing to contest the material fact of her underlying reasons for termination that being in subordination and excessive absences.

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That is not why we are here today.

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That would have again gone through the chapter 21 hearing process.

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And in disagreement with Mr. Fallon, I don't believe this is a different chapter 21 request from any other request that any other teacher has filed with the TA.

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Every other teacher has filed and a request through the proper procedures within the statutory deadlines that are given to them through our notice hearings.

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And so just briefly, I like to just read the first part that we include in our board

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notices when it comes to terminations to all of our teachers.

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And at the very second page, where is this appeal procedure, we do state that in accordance

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with Section 21.251 at seek at the Texas Education Code in H.I.S.D. policies, D.F.C.A.

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legal, D.F.D. legal, and D.F.D. local, you are hereby advised that you have the right

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to protest the proposed termination by submitting a written request

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for a hearing to the commissioner of education.

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The notice is clear, the statute is clear.

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Ms. Manavita, did not file a timely chapter

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2021 request.

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Thank you.

230
00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:59,960
Thank you, no, no, no, I'm sorry, EEE.

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00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,580
Is your time? Sorry.

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00:20:05,610 --> 00:20:09,150
The parties have completed their presentations, and it is now time for board members

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to make our decisions on the issues before us. Is there any discussion? Any questions?

234
00:20:18,950 --> 00:20:25,130
I have a quick question. What prompted the April 17th file?

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When we had the pre-here in conference with the ALJ, the question was brought up about the

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timely filing and in that conference attorney, he did make the statement, yes, Dr.

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Minifey did submit her information on time.

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Therefore, the A.L.J. gave me the opportunity to resubmit the documents.

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00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:11,920
So attorney Yee admitted in that conference that I submitted it on time.

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So therefore, I was extremely confused how all of a sudden it wasn't submitted on time after the fact.

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00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:27,080
That's why I initially when I stood up, I said, I encourage the board to go back and get the

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recording of that February meeting because attorney Yee did say that I submitted the information

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on time in February.

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00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:41,620
So that's what prompted me to submit the April 17th finally.

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That's what prompted me to submit the April 5th because she did agree that I submitted it

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Thank you.

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00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:53,500
Any other questions?

248
00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:54,920
Any other questions?

249
00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:55,920
Thank you.

250
00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:02,900
Well, the board will now resist to close session on the chapter 551 of the Texas Government

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Code, Open Meetings Act.

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00:22:04,860 --> 00:22:10,900
Subsections 551.004 through 551.089.

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00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:17,640
Should board final action vote or decision on any matter considered in the close?

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00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:32,660
session be required such final action vote or decision shall be taken at the open meeting covered by this notice upon the reconvening of this public meeting or at a subsequent public meeting of the board upon notice thereof.

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00:22:32,660 --> 00:22:37,460
The board has reset to close session at 5.22.

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PM on August 27, 2020.

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00:22:43,540 --> 00:22:48,520
Thank you, the special meeting of the school board of the Houston Independent School District

258
00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:58,410
is now reconvened in open section. The time now is 534 p.m. Do I have a motion?

259
00:22:59,250 --> 00:23:04,230
Yes, I move that we adopt the decision and recommendation of the independent hearing examiner,

260
00:23:04,530 --> 00:23:08,750
adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law recommended by the independent hearing

261
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phenomena and dismiss this matter for lack of jurisdiction.

262
00:23:12,550 --> 00:23:14,050
We will have a second.

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00:23:20,570 --> 00:23:24,730
We have a motion by board member Duffy and a second by board member Gousen.

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00:23:25,610 --> 00:23:26,830
Is there any further discussion?

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00:23:27,830 --> 00:23:28,470
Hearing none.

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00:23:29,130 --> 00:23:29,710
Please vote.

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00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:45,860
Voting has closed.

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00:23:46,340 --> 00:23:47,460
The motion passes.

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00:23:49,830 --> 00:23:51,390
The board has voted.

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00:23:52,550 --> 00:23:53,310
Two four.

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00:23:53,610 --> 00:23:55,310
Seer against one abstention.

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00:23:58,310 --> 00:24:01,670
A letter notifying both parties of the action of the board shall be prepared.

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00:24:01,670 --> 00:24:06,430
and signed by the Executive Director of Board Relations as soon as possible.

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00:24:06,930 --> 00:24:11,050
This hearing is concluded at 536 p.m.

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Thank you.

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00:24:45,310 --> 00:24:47,590
We're moving now on to the next hearing.

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00:24:49,210 --> 00:24:54,370
The purpose of this hearing meeting is to consider the recommendation of the independent hearing examiner

278
00:24:54,370 --> 00:24:58,890
in the matter of Maria del Rosario Rodriguez, teacher, gross elementary.

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00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:09,140
Hearings involving complaints against district employees are to be held in closed session, unless the employee who is a subject of the hearing requests and open hearing.

280
00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:23,060
If both parties request an open session during the hearing, the board may go into closed session to consult with it. It's a turning on the deterrence of the Texas government co section 551.071.

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00:25:23,060 --> 00:25:28,700
If any board member wishes to seek the advice of Council, please let me know.

282
00:25:29,460 --> 00:25:33,300
For the record, Maria de Rosario Rodriguez is present.

283
00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:40,260
Amir Roji, HIs the Assistant General Council representing the Administration is present

284
00:25:40,260 --> 00:25:46,000
and Catosia Woods, HIs the General Council is also present.

285
00:25:46,740 --> 00:25:49,800
Mr. Rodriguez, do you wish to continue in open or close session?

286
00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,140
Open session, thank you so much.

287
00:25:52,140 --> 00:25:52,920
The

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00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:05,420
issues before the school board are whether to accept reject or change the independent

289
00:26:05,420 --> 00:26:12,020
hearing examiners findings of fact, conclusions of law and proposal based on a review of

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00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:18,560
the record. We may reject or change a finding of fact, if, after review, the record of

291
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:24,080
the proceedings before the hearing examiner, we find it is not supported by substantial evidence.

292
00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:30,760
If we reject the independent hearing examiner's recommendation or make any changes, we must

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00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:38,140
state the reason and the legal basis in writing. Mr. Ruhi, you will proceed first.

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00:26:38,460 --> 00:26:44,360
You will be allowed to make a 10-minute presentation to the board, followed by a 10-minute

295
00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:51,240
presentation by Mr. Ruhi. Mr. Ruhi, you may research part of your 10 minutes for

296
00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,760
we bottle to matters presented by Mr. Dregas.

297
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Both sides shall be available for questions from the board

298
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after the respective presentations.

299
00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:03,840
Mr. Ruhid, do you?

300
00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:05,800
How would you like to divide your time

301
00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:10,320
in making your presentation to the board, okay?

302
00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,540
Eight minutes for presentation to a minute for a free bottle.

303
00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:15,180
You may begin.

304
00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:20,900
Good afternoon.

305
00:27:21,580 --> 00:27:24,500
Today, I'm joined by Tracy Hart Jackson,

306
00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,420
who is currently the Executive Director

307
00:27:26,420 --> 00:27:32,680
of instruction, but who at the time of this occurrence was the principal at Goose Elementary School.

308
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,260
The administration is here to ask you to uphold the T.A. Independent Hearing Officers'

309
00:27:38,860 --> 00:27:43,100
recommendation to run on-renew Mr. Rodriguez's 25-26 term contract.

310
00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:48,700
Mr. Rodriguez was non-renewed for good cause solely on the basis of her excessive absences

311
00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:52,380
and her failure to follow the district's attendance policies and procedures.

312
00:27:52,380 --> 00:28:03,360
This violates multiple HIsD attendance policy, I'm sorry, by this multiple including board policy DH local exhibit 18 in your packet.

313
00:28:03,940 --> 00:28:10,360
That states that you must follow HIsD attendance policies standard 1.7 exhibit 19 in your packet.

314
00:28:10,860 --> 00:28:18,940
That states an employ must comply with written local board policies and DEC8 regulation, which is exhibit 21 in your packet.

315
00:28:18,940 --> 00:28:23,300
for applying for, to qualify for a family medical leave,

316
00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,540
a sought leave, temporary disability leave,

317
00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:27,380
or the supplemental sick leave bank.

318
00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:31,540
As HISD's assault and analyst Kelsey Gage explains

319
00:28:31,540 --> 00:28:34,360
on page 20 of the transcript you have before you,

320
00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:35,860
starting on 916.

321
00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,660
Ms. Rodriguez's doctor stated that she was approved

322
00:28:38,660 --> 00:28:42,840
to go back to work on December 22nd of 2025.

323
00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:46,380
Ms. Rodriguez then provided another doctor's note

324
00:28:46,380 --> 00:28:50,260
that allowed her to return to work on January 8th, 2026.

325
00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,740
Mr. Rodriguez did not return to work after either date.

326
00:28:55,500 --> 00:28:59,980
She continued to accumulate unpaid days as you can see from her absence history report

327
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in your packet under exhibit three. She accumulated 34 days, 24 unpaid days after she was given

328
00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:13,380
the all-clear from her doctor. Mr. Rodriguez further claim that she was injured at work

329
00:29:13,380 --> 00:29:15,480
and that it was why she did not come back to work.

330
00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:18,980
As you can see on page 25 of your transcript,

331
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Mr. Riddier's was denied assault leave,

332
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,020
because HRSD did not receive the proper documentation

333
00:29:24,020 --> 00:29:25,580
from Mr. Riddier's.

334
00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:27,200
As you can tell from the transcript,

335
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HRSD tried numerous times and numerous methods

336
00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,540
to obtain the necessary paperwork

337
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to try and see if she qualified for assault leave,

338
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all to no avail.

339
00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,100
Under board policy, the EEC local and the ECH

340
00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:49,460
Teachers are a lot at five state, personally days, and five local personal days at the beginning of every school year.

341
00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:55,280
Importantly, according to the ECA Regulation, regardless of the amount of leave in an employee's lead bank,

342
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no employee may be absent from more than 15 days.

343
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Perth fiscal year. Employees may not use unpaid, may not use unpaid days, and shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to an including termination, once they exhaust all paid, leave days.

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Ms. Rodriguez accumulated 46 total absences, 36.5 of which were unpaid, and, as I mentioned

345
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earlier, these unpaid days were not protected by a FMLA or any other kind of protected

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leaf.

347
00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:30,720
This is the direct violation of the ECE8 regulation.

348
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,660
Ms. Rodriguez has given multiple opportunities to apply for the various leaves and protections

349
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that HIsD offers.

350
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When she didn't provide the correct paperwork,

351
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HRSD reached out to get the paperwork.

352
00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:43,860
HRSD didn't receive anything,

353
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no matter how many times we asked for it,

354
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in any way that we asked for it.

355
00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,400
It should be noted that the independent hearing officer

356
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found in her conclusions of law that HRSD correctly identified

357
00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,320
that Ms. Rodriguez was ineligible for FMLA,

358
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assault leave, or temporary disability.

359
00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:02,040
I should also point out that Ms. Rodriguez

360
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knows the process to apply for and get FMLA

361
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because she had been approved for said leave the previous year.

362
00:31:10,060 --> 00:31:12,080
The independent hearing officer found that the district

363
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men had spurned a non-renewed Mr. Rodriguez's contract

364
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and found that the district proved by the hundreds of the evidence

365
00:31:18,180 --> 00:31:20,960
that Mr. Rodriguez violated HIs' deep policies

366
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and had good cause to terminate.

367
00:31:23,420 --> 00:31:26,360
Mr. Rodriguez's term contract pursuant to section 13

368
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of a term contract in the Texas Education Code section 21.211.

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Therefore, the administration would ask this board to uphold the hearing examiner's findings of that

370
00:31:37,940 --> 00:31:40,140
conclusions of law. Thank you.

371
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Thank you. Mr. Rodriguez, you may make your presentation to the board.

372
00:31:49,050 --> 00:31:50,450
Please remember, you have 10 minutes.

373
00:32:01,580 --> 00:32:05,480
Good evening. More members of you doing well today, Mr. Ronny.

374
00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:10,560
Happy to see you again. And to tell you a little bit about myself,

375
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I've been with HIV for close to 25 years.

376
00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,280
I started when I was very as a teacher assistant,

377
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:23,840
and became a special education teacher.

378
00:32:25,020 --> 00:32:28,860
Okay. Throughout my years in history with HIV,

379
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:31,100
I have numerous accomplishments.

380
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:40,520
at when I was at when I obtained my first teaching position was at Wayne Roy

381
00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:44,620
Nell Elementary as a special education teacher. At that time I had

382
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Grace of Sex with students and teachers and with parents. I then moved

383
00:32:49,700 --> 00:32:54,420
on to Native Middle School. With it, when I started a West

384
00:32:54,420 --> 00:32:57,220
experience at the University of Houston's special education, I

385
00:32:57,220 --> 00:33:01,980
So kids come in in lacking something, lacking the understanding

386
00:33:01,980 --> 00:33:08,720
of how to obtain the tools needed to be a fantastic citizen

387
00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:09,840
for this country.

388
00:33:10,420 --> 00:33:11,520
So I said, let me look.

389
00:33:11,780 --> 00:33:14,740
So I started looking, my first position was elementary.

390
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And I said, no, these teachers are very concerned with them.

391
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:19,680
Let me move.

392
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:24,220
I went to the middle school as a co-teacher and research teacher.

393
00:33:24,220 --> 00:33:36,280
Well, I was there, my students, not only pass the start test in math English, some of them even pass the start test on math English science and social studies.

394
00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,660
They did 100% 360 turnaround.

395
00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:46,380
Also, during attending, a couple of my students exit the special education program.

396
00:33:47,460 --> 00:33:49,720
Everyone wondered how this happened.

397
00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:55,740
It wasn't in the myself, of course, it was a whole team working together to get the students

398
00:33:55,740 --> 00:33:58,180
to go and do what they needed to do.

399
00:34:01,380 --> 00:34:03,320
COVID came, and guess what?

400
00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:05,120
We came back,

401
00:34:07,150 --> 00:34:11,750
tell me, wish to them pass the start test with flying colors.

402
00:34:12,590 --> 00:34:17,010
My students, master in math.

403
00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:20,860
Do you think that did you like me?

404
00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:22,820
Would do something like that?

405
00:34:22,820 --> 00:34:39,140
Not only that, fine, I went to, right now on just, I went to the other school after that.

406
00:34:39,620 --> 00:34:41,680
After DD, I went to Patrick Hendry.

407
00:34:42,660 --> 00:34:48,380
Patrick Hendry, I didn't stay the whole year because I was already retiring.

408
00:34:49,240 --> 00:34:52,400
So at that time, I did retire in January first.

409
00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:58,580
And during my return, during the factory Henry.

410
00:35:03,180 --> 00:35:15,920
This is the last stroke. We are going into attorneys. We need to see what we can do with this student. Two months, this case

411
00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:18,180
have been dragging for three years.

412
00:35:23,490 --> 00:35:28,770
A set of the table with Mr. Basel and her team and their attorneys.

413
00:35:28,770 --> 00:35:33,950
attorneys at the desk, guess what happened during that time?

414
00:35:35,470 --> 00:35:39,690
I say, HIV from having a lawsuit.

415
00:35:40,870 --> 00:35:45,050
I say them two months, and I proved that this shall

416
00:35:45,050 --> 00:35:48,210
could do what nobody thought that he could do.

417
00:35:50,180 --> 00:35:51,600
That's what I did.

418
00:35:53,340 --> 00:35:54,620
From there,

419
00:35:57,540 --> 00:35:58,340
that's when I retire.

420
00:35:58,340 --> 00:36:08,780
then the state of Texas says, we need teachers, they contact me. I can. And I thought by

421
00:36:08,780 --> 00:36:18,380
them back I started October 17 of 2021. And I thought, okay, I retired and state of Texas

422
00:36:18,380 --> 00:36:24,960
is coming back. I said yes. They weren't going to pay me both. My retirement and my salary.

423
00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:33,580
you quoted it wrong. I didn't get no money. I got my salary, but I didn't get my retirement,

424
00:36:34,260 --> 00:36:40,120
but did I say anything? No, I continue working because I knew the state needed it.

425
00:36:42,240 --> 00:36:43,180
Not only that,

426
00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:50,040
I went and got hired. I went right elementary. I say teacher of record.

427
00:36:52,420 --> 00:36:53,820
Start test.

428
00:36:53,820 --> 00:37:02,220
To point out with a written component first year after COVID, guess how my students did.

429
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:05,920
And I got sick at the end.

430
00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:09,020
As a matter of fact, I had surgery in June of that year.

431
00:37:14,370 --> 00:37:17,290
District level 7.5.

432
00:37:18,430 --> 00:37:21,230
Do you think I wanted to be absent?

433
00:37:24,790 --> 00:37:28,190
I just wanted the time to be able to recoup.

434
00:37:28,190 --> 00:37:34,730
and be able to do what I've done every single year for H.I.s.ing.

435
00:37:35,650 --> 00:37:45,150
It was in a game from you guys. Nothing, nothing for that was

436
00:37:47,260 --> 00:37:47,820
across.

437
00:37:49,020 --> 00:37:51,660
I was tired, I say, life skills teacher.

438
00:37:53,240 --> 00:38:03,220
You would think that the classroom will have computers, will have laptops, will have the tools that are needed.

439
00:38:03,220 --> 00:38:07,000
It was, no, nothing for we to teach the students' skills.

440
00:38:08,460 --> 00:38:13,780
There was no blender, no microwave, no dishes, no manipulative.

441
00:38:15,580 --> 00:38:15,960
Nothing.

442
00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:23,060
And then you have a classroom of those three buildings, one window, two bathrooms,

443
00:38:23,820 --> 00:38:25,220
no exhaust system.

444
00:38:25,220 --> 00:38:32,300
The conditions were improbable for Alaska's classroom.

445
00:38:33,580 --> 00:38:35,500
I have no equipment

446
00:38:37,580 --> 00:38:43,460
to take home and work because the only computer that was there was

447
00:38:43,460 --> 00:38:49,300
for me for the system that was on count right there.

448
00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:58,800
I had non-verbal students, kindergarten, I did not have a curriculum given to me in order

449
00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:00,140
to do my work,

450
00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:08,480
I had nothing, but what do you guys want to do, non-verbal students,

451
00:39:09,420 --> 00:39:12,380
when I were because of my disability unfortunately,

452
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:18,100
what happened, they were able to write

453
00:39:18,100 --> 00:39:22,200
their names, they were able to act, one digit,

454
00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:26,460
they were able to advocate, even if they

455
00:39:26,460 --> 00:39:27,600
were not able to talk,

456
00:39:29,870 --> 00:39:36,140
they wanted to learn. And when I was saying, well, I was

457
00:39:36,140 --> 00:39:43,980
sending information in. And here I am, I have no curriculum, one more later, a month

458
00:39:43,980 --> 00:39:45,420
later, I got unique.

459
00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:55,230
Take it, I have not done unique since, what, 28, 28. So I have no idea

460
00:39:55,230 --> 00:39:59,050
I had my new field in it, my work with the system.

461
00:40:00,460 --> 00:40:08,560
Not only is it a game, it's a wrong system, because it was supposed to be initial and not intermediate.

462
00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:11,180
You have to be in a slot.

463
00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:14,420
That's what happened.

464
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:20,580
I got injured. I had no assistant in the classroom.

465
00:40:23,030 --> 00:40:25,450
The only one that was so what happened was kids.

466
00:40:26,930 --> 00:40:34,130
I think my best, and unfortunately, when I was a Tanglewood, what happened? I got injured.

467
00:40:35,030 --> 00:40:37,490
I was attacked from behind.

468
00:40:39,310 --> 00:40:44,050
In the doctor's data, I needed to be out of the system, or I needed to be someone there at all times.

469
00:40:44,510 --> 00:40:45,730
What do I have? Nothing.

470
00:40:47,630 --> 00:40:50,530
Did I want it to be out? No, I did.

471
00:40:51,110 --> 00:40:53,470
I was diagnosed unfortunately with PTSD.

472
00:40:55,740 --> 00:40:58,520
It's an injury that is not under the work of Stanford,

473
00:40:58,580 --> 00:41:01,920
especially for HSV, which I understand.

474
00:41:03,020 --> 00:41:06,340
But even today, because of the injury that I suffered,

475
00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:10,240
I'm HSV, three-meter mirror.

476
00:41:10,380 --> 00:41:13,320
I was the pack once.

477
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:16,640
I was hurt again, and then I was attacked again.

478
00:41:17,220 --> 00:41:19,160
I only needed time to group.

479
00:41:19,740 --> 00:41:21,000
And do what I do best.

480
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:22,160
My job.

481
00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:31,080
I hope you take that into consideration and let me know, because to be honest with you, I

482
00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:32,020
do not know.

483
00:41:32,300 --> 00:41:32,740
I'm humble.

484
00:41:33,460 --> 00:41:39,920
Thank you for listening to me, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here with

485
00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:40,260
HIV.

486
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:47,540
And I hope you are not, but I've done for this school and not kids.

487
00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:49,000
Thank you.

488
00:41:49,580 --> 00:41:50,240
Thank you.

489
00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:53,780
Mr. Rui, do you wish to be in a brutal statement?

490
00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:55,680
You have to move it.

491
00:41:59,820 --> 00:42:00,140
Thank you.

492
00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:04,800
So we're not here because of the various things that Mr. Rui has talked about, we're

493
00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:09,580
here because of absences and at the end of the day, HRSD gave her ample opportunities

494
00:42:09,580 --> 00:42:14,120
to apply for the various leaves and protections that HRSD provides all of our employees.

495
00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:17,420
She did not take advantage of those opportunities.

496
00:42:17,420 --> 00:42:27,580
I should also point out the reason she didn't, she didn't, she didn't get FML this year was

497
00:42:27,580 --> 00:42:32,060
because she had gotten FML last year because we do give it when it is actually appropriate.

498
00:42:32,940 --> 00:42:36,600
And again, and I want to make it clear that Ms. Hart Jackson made the termination recommendation

499
00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:43,140
because of attendance because of her performance but because of attendance which we made clear already

500
00:42:43,140 --> 00:42:49,100
We obviously gave our numerous opportunities to take advantage of the various leaves and protections

501
00:42:49,100 --> 00:42:53,260
that HRST has at their disposal of the employees.

502
00:42:54,180 --> 00:42:57,120
I should also point out just really quickly in terms of if we're not having an assistant,

503
00:42:57,300 --> 00:43:02,120
she did have an assistant, they have a 30 minute lunch, which is the only time that she wouldn't be without an assistant,

504
00:43:02,340 --> 00:43:08,840
and even then our principal sent in someone there about 10 minutes into the assistant's lunch.

505
00:43:08,840 --> 00:43:11,740
If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them.

506
00:43:11,980 --> 00:43:22,660
But at the end of the day, Mr. Theta has just terminated because of her absences, no matter how much we try to give her the opportunity to take advantage of the protections that HISD provides.

507
00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:24,240
Thank you.

508
00:43:24,380 --> 00:43:25,100
Thank you.

509
00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,560
No, you used all of your 10 minutes.

510
00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:32,600
No, you used all of your time.

511
00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:34,520
You used all of your time of life.

512
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:37,140
Sorry, thank you.

513
00:43:37,140 --> 00:43:44,340
The parties have completed their presentations, and it is now time for board members to make our decision on the issues before us.

514
00:43:44,620 --> 00:43:47,260
Is there any discussion, any further questions?

515
00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:49,300
No?

516
00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:50,180
Okay.

517
00:43:51,540 --> 00:43:54,340
There is no need to go into closed session.

518
00:43:54,780 --> 00:43:55,700
So do I have a motion?

519
00:44:00,450 --> 00:44:01,030
I have a motion.

520
00:44:02,170 --> 00:44:06,170
I move that we adopt the decision of recommendation of the independent hearing examiner.

521
00:44:06,170 --> 00:44:10,850
adopt the findings of the fact and conclusions of law by the independent hearing examiner

522
00:44:10,850 --> 00:44:15,690
and improve the administration's proposal to terminate Maria Del Rosario by the Registres

523
00:44:15,690 --> 00:44:16,990
determined appointment.

524
00:44:18,150 --> 00:44:18,410
Thank you.

525
00:44:18,630 --> 00:44:19,150
Is there a second?

526
00:44:22,890 --> 00:44:23,790
Thank you.

527
00:44:26,620 --> 00:44:32,960
We have a motion by Board Member Gousin and a second by Board Member Duffy.

528
00:44:33,660 --> 00:44:34,800
Is there any further discussion?

529
00:44:36,100 --> 00:44:37,560
Hearing none, please vote.

530
00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:51,000
Boding has now closed the motion passes.

531
00:44:51,260 --> 00:44:55,580
The board has voted three, four, and zero against the motion.

532
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:08,760
We find both parties of the action of the board shall be prepared and signed by the executive director of board relations as soon as possible.

533
00:45:09,380 --> 00:45:13,480
This hearing has concluded at 5.57 p.m.

534
00:45:29,470 --> 00:45:30,270
Thank you.

535
00:45:43,570 --> 00:45:46,270
We will now proceed with our next hearing.

536
00:46:07,740 --> 00:46:15,940
The purpose of this meeting is to consider the dispute filed by Karaya, Washington, former curriculum designer, office of academics.

537
00:46:16,940 --> 00:46:21,640
Hereings involving complaints against district employees are to be held in closed session

538
00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:26,360
on the employee who is a subject of the hearing, requests and open hearing.

539
00:46:27,140 --> 00:46:32,860
If both parties request an open session during the course of the hearing, the board may go

540
00:46:32,860 --> 00:46:37,520
into closed session to consult with its attorney on the terms of the Texas Government Code

541
00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:46,260
section 551.071. If any board member wishes to seek the advice of council, please let me know.

542
00:46:47,580 --> 00:46:53,580
For the record, Kimbal or Rutia, Houston Federation of Features, is representing

543
00:46:53,580 --> 00:46:57,760
Cairo Washington. That correct? Thank you.

544
00:46:58,500 --> 00:47:02,560
And, May is Washington is also present. Thank you.

545
00:47:02,560 --> 00:47:09,160
Daniel Ramirez with Monty and Ramirez L.P. representing the administration is present and so is

546
00:47:09,160 --> 00:47:12,060
Katasha Woods, H.I.A. Z. General Counsel.

547
00:47:15,020 --> 00:47:18,120
Mr. Urrudya, do you wish to continue in open or close

548
00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:18,660
session?

549
00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:22,660
Close session.

550
00:47:26,190 --> 00:47:31,570
As you may remember at the beginning of the meeting, I call for public speakers.

551
00:47:31,570 --> 00:47:39,890
It is my understanding that those speakers are here now, so we are going to allow them to speak.

552
00:47:40,830 --> 00:47:50,810
Public comment during school board meetings, we only be available to those persons who have signed up to speak prior to the meeting time for current puricle.

553
00:47:51,790 --> 00:47:56,270
Verbal and other disruptions by persons during the school board meetings are not acceptable,

554
00:47:56,270 --> 00:48:02,490
as they inhibit the board's ability to conduct business and the public's ability to observe those processes.

555
00:48:03,530 --> 00:48:11,310
The person who participate in such behavior will be given one warning and if the behavior is repeated, they will be asked to leave the meeting.

556
00:48:12,070 --> 00:48:19,470
My understanding is that we have two registered speakers who will be limited to two minutes each per board policy.

557
00:48:19,470 --> 00:48:30,590
We ask that you stay on topic and refrain from naming individuals, especially students, as their identity is protected on the law, where you may name your own child.

558
00:48:31,390 --> 00:48:33,330
I ask that you please respect our procedures,

559
00:48:35,450 --> 00:48:41,650
and the other speakers, and end your comments promptly when your time has expired and the time remains.

560
00:48:42,670 --> 00:48:48,050
speaker's please come to the podium in the number order and say your name and topic.

561
00:48:48,690 --> 00:48:50,730
Please, may I say if you can call our first speaker?

562
00:48:52,470 --> 00:48:55,550
Cassidy, OCOB, followed by Alan Tizer, and

563
00:49:07,420 --> 00:49:07,760
afternoon.

564
00:49:08,240 --> 00:49:10,920
So I'm here to discuss the case for Mr. Donald Taylor.

565
00:49:12,920 --> 00:49:17,160
I want it to start off to say that HSD has now cleared.

566
00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:21,940
Mr. Taylor has now made clear that Mr. Taylor's termination is not based on any wrong

567
00:49:21,940 --> 00:49:26,300
doing the following student incident that originally caused him to be removed from duty.

568
00:49:27,340 --> 00:49:31,800
The district investigated that incident, and at the last hearing HIZ stated that the basis

569
00:49:31,800 --> 00:49:36,620
for termination was solely, Mr. Taylor's alleged failure to participate in an investigation.

570
00:49:37,780 --> 00:49:42,840
Think about what that means. HIZ essentially saying that Mr. Taylor did nothing wrong in

571
00:49:42,840 --> 00:49:47,640
the underlining incident, yet he should still lose his job because of what was and most

572
00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:58,400
breakdown and communication. That raises a very important question. Why would an employee who knew he had done nothing wrong intentionally refused to participate in an investigation that could clear his name?

573
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:11,780
Mr. Taylor did attempt to participate. He attempted to contact Mr. Bonda, his supervisor, and that there is a significant difference between refusing to cooperate in failure and communication.

574
00:50:12,980 --> 00:50:23,240
Mr. Taylor should not lose his livelihood over miscommunication, especially when HIV is no longer alleging that he committed any wrongdoing in the very incident that triggered the investigation.

575
00:50:25,300 --> 00:50:26,260
Thank you.

576
00:50:27,360 --> 00:50:28,640
Thank you.

577
00:50:43,300 --> 00:50:52,580
Good evening members of the HISD School Board. My name is Alan Tizer and I'm here this evening representing transportation employees of HISD.

578
00:50:53,060 --> 00:50:59,640
I've been driving a school bus from HISD out of the Butler terminal for the past 24 years.

579
00:50:59,980 --> 00:51:07,580
Previously we chose our bus route each year from a seniority list based on our years of service.

580
00:51:07,580 --> 00:51:12,520
This year, however, the district has gone to what they call a metric system, which puts

581
00:51:12,520 --> 00:51:15,200
the majority as the last consideration.

582
00:51:16,160 --> 00:51:19,380
We are given 30 hours of school year paid time off.

583
00:51:19,620 --> 00:51:24,140
This is primarily time to use for illness or personal business during school time.

584
00:51:24,680 --> 00:51:31,480
The current metric system counts 40% for attendance, 30% for preventable accidents or disciplinary

585
00:51:31,480 --> 00:51:41,220
actions 10% for mid-year evaluation and 10% education and lastly 10% based on seniority.

586
00:51:41,780 --> 00:51:46,600
The metric system penalizes an employee who uses their pay-time off, which is provided,

587
00:51:47,060 --> 00:51:51,360
to compensate them when ill or when they need to be off for personal reasons.

588
00:51:51,960 --> 00:51:58,280
Because the district counts 40% for attendance, they are indirectly encouraging their drivers

589
00:51:58,280 --> 00:52:00,720
and attendance to come to work when ill.

590
00:52:01,380 --> 00:52:04,560
If safety is the district's primary concern,

591
00:52:05,300 --> 00:52:09,020
then in my opinion, attendance should not represent 40%.

592
00:52:09,020 --> 00:52:11,940
This leaves employees with the unfavorable option

593
00:52:11,940 --> 00:52:15,900
to come to work ill, which is contradictory to that concern.

594
00:52:16,580 --> 00:52:19,400
As a devoted 24-year HISD employee,

595
00:52:19,480 --> 00:52:23,500
I'm asking the school board to give my devoted coworkers in B.

596
00:52:23,780 --> 00:52:27,540
Our seniority back is it has been in the previous years.

597
00:52:27,540 --> 00:52:30,560
Thank you for taking time to hear our concerns.

598
00:52:31,920 --> 00:52:32,480
Thank you.

599
00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:39,520
We're now going to proceed with our next hearing.

600
00:52:39,680 --> 00:52:43,660
The purpose of this meeting is to consider the dispute file by Donald Taylor,

601
00:52:44,060 --> 00:52:46,420
both attend and transportation department.

602
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:52,220
Hearings involving complaints against district employees are to be held in closed session

603
00:52:52,220 --> 00:52:57,300
on as the employee who is the subject of the hearing requests and open hearing.

604
00:52:57,300 --> 00:53:10,300
If both parties request an open session during the course of the hearing, the board may go into closed session to consult with its attorney on the terms of Texas Government Code Section 551.071.

605
00:53:11,120 --> 00:53:15,440
If any board member wishes to seek the advice of Council, please let me know.

606
00:53:16,900 --> 00:53:24,980
For the record, Cecilia Edwards with People's Choice Association Union representing Dollar Taylor, Donald Taylor is present.

607
00:53:26,120 --> 00:53:28,380
Donald Taylor is also present.

608
00:53:29,220 --> 00:53:34,340
Daniel Ramirez with Monti and Ramirez L.P. representing the administration is present.

609
00:53:35,220 --> 00:53:38,520
Katosia Woods, H.I.S. E. General Counsel is also present.

610
00:53:39,740 --> 00:53:43,140
Ms. Edwards, do you wish to continue in open or close session?

611
00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:46,040
Open, thank you.

612
00:53:48,510 --> 00:53:53,510
The issues before the school board are whether board policies and administrative procedures

613
00:53:53,510 --> 00:54:00,030
where correctly applied to the grievance and whether the administration has violated those policies and procedures.

614
00:54:01,610 --> 00:54:08,150
Mr. Taylor, you would proceed first. Your representative would be allowed to make a ten-minute presentation to the board,

615
00:54:08,470 --> 00:54:11,490
followed by a ten-minute presentation by Mr. Ramirez.

616
00:54:12,590 --> 00:54:19,510
Ms. Edwards, you may reserve part of your ten minutes for rebuttal to matters presented by Mr. Ramirez.

617
00:54:19,510 --> 00:54:25,210
Both sides shall be available for questions from the board after the respective presentations.

618
00:54:25,990 --> 00:54:31,150
Miss Edwards, how would you like to divide your time in making your presentation to the board?

619
00:54:32,750 --> 00:54:32,930
10?

620
00:54:34,170 --> 00:54:34,790
Total of 10.

621
00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:46,010
4 and 6.

622
00:54:49,130 --> 00:54:50,110
Miss Edwards, you may begin.

623
00:54:53,520 --> 00:54:54,060
You may begin.

624
00:54:55,320 --> 00:54:55,740
I'm sorry.

625
00:54:58,000 --> 00:54:58,260
Okay.

626
00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:14,960
Okay, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide this statement regarding the termination of Mr. Donald Taylor.

627
00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:25,380
After a previous decision and the evidence presented, we respectfully disagree with the conclusion that Mr. Taylor failed to cooperate with the investigation, and that his termination was justified.

628
00:55:26,340 --> 00:55:32,960
First and foremost, Mr. Taylor did not refuse to cooperate with HIC. He was willing to participate in the investigation.

629
00:55:32,960 --> 00:55:38,480
He requested union representation before participating in an investigative meeting because he

630
00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:43,160
believed he had the right to have a representative present, a representative present.

631
00:55:43,560 --> 00:55:48,200
Mr. Taylor also attempts to contact Mr. Rowle Bonda, the executive director of transportation

632
00:55:48,200 --> 00:55:52,940
who was handling the investigation, Mr. Taylor made a call, but Mr. Bonda did not return

633
00:55:52,940 --> 00:55:53,660
his call.

634
00:55:53,980 --> 00:55:58,620
Therefore, it is not accurate to characterize Mr. Taylor as simply refusing to cooperate

635
00:55:58,620 --> 00:55:59,660
with an investigation.

636
00:56:00,280 --> 00:56:07,320
The evidence show shows that Mr. Taylor tempted to communicate and was willing to address the matter or also requesting representation.

637
00:56:08,200 --> 00:56:14,080
Mr. Taylor did not receive a text. He did not receive a miss call and he tried continually to contact Mr. Bonda.

638
00:56:14,580 --> 00:56:21,800
It is also important to note that in the level two hearing, if stated that Mr. Bonda attempted two texts, Mr. Taylor,

639
00:56:21,800 --> 00:56:31,320
and in the level to hearing, we present a documentation showing that he never received any text message throughout the entire summer for Mr. Bondo.

640
00:56:32,280 --> 00:56:36,040
We also dispute the way the underlying incident involving the student has been characterized.

641
00:56:36,760 --> 00:56:49,260
Mr. Taylor's position is that the only thing he said to the child concerning the issue was, if you want to write the bus, you must keep your clothes on. Stop taking your clothes off or you will not be allowed to write this bus.

642
00:56:50,140 --> 00:56:54,840
That statement was made in the context of an inappropriate behavior on a school bus.

643
00:56:55,200 --> 00:57:01,160
Mr. Taylor was addressing the child's behavior and explained that the child needed to remain properly clothed in order to wrap the bus.

644
00:57:01,720 --> 00:57:06,060
Mr. Taylor did not make a sexual statement to the child, nor did he intend anything inappropriate.

645
00:57:06,540 --> 00:57:15,200
The fact that the child's parents became upset about the statement does not by itself establish that Mr. Taylor's, that Mr. Taylor engaged in any misconduct.

646
00:57:16,140 --> 00:57:18,660
The complete circumstances need to be considered.

647
00:57:19,440 --> 00:57:23,100
We have also submitted documentation that caused into question the factual basis of the

648
00:57:23,100 --> 00:57:27,460
allegation, including documentation concerning whether the student was actually on Mr. Taylor's

649
00:57:27,460 --> 00:57:31,140
bus, which was route 1628 during the relevant circumstances.

650
00:57:32,300 --> 00:57:34,400
That evidence cannot simply be disregarded.

651
00:57:35,040 --> 00:57:39,380
If evidence submitted by the employee contradicts the administration's characterization of the incident,

652
00:57:39,740 --> 00:57:44,220
the evidence must be carefully examined before a person's employment and reputation are taken away.

653
00:57:44,840 --> 00:57:49,960
There's also serious concern regarding some of the photographic evidence presented by administration.

654
00:57:50,920 --> 00:58:00,380
We dispute the authenticity, sorry, and an accuracy of the photograph that appeared to contain words, statements, or annotations that were added to the images.

655
00:58:01,140 --> 00:58:05,460
Those words, not necessarily what appears in the original surveillance reporting.

656
00:58:06,140 --> 00:58:10,500
A selected or altered photograph should not be used as a substitute for the original video.

657
00:58:10,500 --> 00:58:16,300
We therefore request the HIsD produce and review the complete original unedited surveillance video,

658
00:58:16,400 --> 00:58:19,340
including the portion before during and after the alleged incident.

659
00:58:20,080 --> 00:58:24,540
If the district maintains that its photographs accurately represent what occurred,

660
00:58:25,140 --> 00:58:28,800
then the district should be able to identify the original source of each photograph,

661
00:58:29,340 --> 00:58:35,140
explain who created or annotated it, and show where the corresponding statement or conduct appears in the original recording.

662
00:58:35,900 --> 00:58:37,680
The original video should speak for itself.

663
00:58:37,680 --> 00:58:41,980
Another important issue is the district's confusion that Mr. Taylor failed to cooperate.

664
00:58:42,740 --> 00:58:47,300
There is this significant difference between an employee refusing to cooperate and an employee who is willing to participate,

665
00:58:48,040 --> 00:58:51,720
but only request representation in attempts to communicate with the investigator.

666
00:58:52,340 --> 00:58:59,100
Mr. Taylor did not say that he would never participate. He wanted his representative person and he attempted to contact Mr. Bondo.

667
00:58:59,820 --> 00:59:05,640
The district also needs to distinguish between an allegation and investigation and actual proof of misconduct.

668
00:59:08,780 --> 00:59:09,820
Thank you.

669
00:59:09,980 --> 00:59:10,760
Thank you.

670
00:59:14,190 --> 00:59:16,710
Mr. Ramirez, do you make your presentation to the board?

671
00:59:17,270 --> 00:59:18,510
Please remember, you have ten minutes.

672
00:59:19,530 --> 00:59:19,870
Thank you.

673
00:59:19,870 --> 00:59:21,610
I have a presentation for the board.

674
00:59:28,340 --> 00:59:29,600
Good evening members of the board.

675
00:59:30,280 --> 00:59:38,400
I'm here on behalf of the HSD to demonstrate that there is evidence that Mr. Taylor was properly terminated.

676
00:59:39,300 --> 00:59:42,540
Based on an investigation that was attempted by the district,

677
00:59:42,540 --> 00:59:47,660
but Mr. Taylor simply did not cooperate or interact with the district.

678
00:59:53,160 --> 00:59:56,500
When the presentation goes up, I'm going to show you snapshots of the bus interaction.

679
00:59:56,820 --> 00:59:59,760
And they're telling us that it's not relevant for the purpose of the termination.

680
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:28,920
But they talk about it and it is relevant to some extent. But here, the interaction between the student and Mr. Taylor was the triggering event. They are right. That's not the basis for the underlying termination. But when HSD attempted to investigate that complaint and that student interaction, Mr. Taylor simply just did not respond and cooperate, just like any other employees should have in that situation. So that is the crux and basis of the termination. Here's a photo and that's Mr. Taylor in the back.

681
01:00:29,480 --> 01:00:35,960
There's some discussion with some kids. He's leaning over, talking to some kids. He

682
01:00:35,960 --> 01:00:41,560
lets some kids pass and you'll notice if you look at this, there's three boys in

683
01:00:41,560 --> 01:00:47,300
the back. He lets two boys pass. Then he's hovering over one kid over a sea.

684
01:00:49,800 --> 01:00:49,880
And

685
01:00:49,880 --> 01:00:54,540
he's hovering over the kid where the kid is leaning back. And eventually he lets

686
01:00:54,540 --> 01:00:59,320
the kid go. This is what triggered the situation. We know that they disagree

687
01:00:59,320 --> 01:01:03,740
allegedly that there's another video or this is not the kid, it's somewhat of a red

688
01:01:03,740 --> 01:01:08,860
hearing. This triggered the investigation that led to his termination. There's

689
01:01:08,860 --> 01:01:13,980
also allegations that we might hear in response that Mr. Taylor was unaware of

690
01:01:13,980 --> 01:01:18,400
this investigation and that's simply inaccurate. The record shows that the day

691
01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:24,140
after the incident, Mr. Taylor's supervisor spoke with him. The day after

692
01:01:24,140 --> 01:01:28,200
the incident, he was put on clear notice about this incident and he submitted

693
01:01:28,200 --> 01:01:29,920
the statement to it.

694
01:01:31,160 --> 01:01:35,180
Thereafter, the district appointed Mr. Bonda, who's sitting here today, to investigate

695
01:01:35,180 --> 01:01:42,440
the matter, and he did try to investigate, and let's look at what he did.

696
01:01:42,820 --> 01:01:47,860
He also looked at the video, he determined there could be some make-miss conduct, but that's

697
01:01:47,860 --> 01:01:52,020
why he wanted to give Mr. Taylor a chance to respond, he wanted to interview Mr. Taylor

698
01:01:52,020 --> 01:01:56,700
to identify what if any conduct occurred and give Mr. Taylor a chance.

699
01:01:56,700 --> 01:01:59,840
that was his opportunity that he felt to cooperate with.

700
01:02:02,270 --> 01:02:04,350
There's testimony or evidence in the record

701
01:02:04,350 --> 01:02:07,470
where Mr. Bonda at the level two stated he observed.

702
01:02:08,530 --> 01:02:11,470
The video prompted him to call Mr. Taylor

703
01:02:11,470 --> 01:02:13,550
and question him about the incident.

704
01:02:16,310 --> 01:02:18,210
Whether there's any allegation, whether the school

705
01:02:18,210 --> 01:02:21,510
contacted him or not, the evidence is just outright clear.

706
01:02:21,710 --> 01:02:24,810
Mr. Taylor provided his own cell records for call records

707
01:02:25,410 --> 01:02:29,390
and on July 16th is the day that Mr. Bonda called Mr. Taylor

708
01:02:29,390 --> 01:02:34,190
shown in a cell record, and he talked to him that day, and he had prized him about the

709
01:02:34,190 --> 01:02:42,040
investigation and the need to interview him. Mr. Taylor, Mr. Taylor himself in the level

710
01:02:42,040 --> 01:02:49,240
two hearing said, yes, Mr. Bond called me on July 16th. And when he called me, he said,

711
01:02:49,540 --> 01:02:54,440
I need you to come in to give a statement about what happened. Clear notice once again, not

712
01:02:54,440 --> 01:03:01,480
simply the day after, but during the investigation being told to come in. Mr. Bond has testimony

713
01:03:01,480 --> 01:03:08,860
corroborates that. He says I told him that for him to call me back and so we could set up an appointment

714
01:03:08,860 --> 01:03:14,440
for him to come in in person so we can go ahead and proceed with investigation. So I make these

715
01:03:14,440 --> 01:03:21,040
points because at the end of the day it's very clear that Mr. Taylor had noticed of some issue

716
01:03:21,040 --> 01:03:26,440
that occurred on the bus, the Triggered Investigation, where his supervisor talked to him the next day,

717
01:03:26,780 --> 01:03:31,460
and Mr. Bondo was assigned an investigator and spoke to him by phone, asked the Mr. Taylor to come in

718
01:03:31,460 --> 01:03:34,380
person to conduct an interview to find out what happened.

719
01:03:36,300 --> 01:03:39,380
After that call, Mr. Bonda did text them.

720
01:03:40,000 --> 01:03:43,260
They stated that there's no record or they submitted record to show no texting.

721
01:03:43,540 --> 01:03:44,060
We disagree.

722
01:03:44,500 --> 01:03:48,200
What they provided in the level two was a call log of calls.

723
01:03:48,800 --> 01:03:51,360
And I showed you a record when Mr. Bonda called him.

724
01:03:51,360 --> 01:03:56,020
What they didn't provide is a log showing texts which is different.

725
01:03:56,960 --> 01:04:00,160
Regardless, if they agree to disagree, that's a separate issue.

726
01:04:00,160 --> 01:04:02,000
but regardless after that college,

727
01:04:02,220 --> 01:04:04,360
July 16th, on July 18th, 2025,

728
01:04:04,640 --> 01:04:07,260
Mr. Bonda sent this letter to Certified Mail

729
01:04:07,260 --> 01:04:10,280
and by email to Mr. Taylor's address.

730
01:04:10,900 --> 01:04:12,680
What we've not heard yet what we're gonna hear in her

731
01:04:12,680 --> 01:04:15,900
buttle is that, oh, the district sent it to the wrong address.

732
01:04:16,280 --> 01:04:18,160
That's my old address, I had moved.

733
01:04:18,520 --> 01:04:20,280
That's what we're gonna hear in her buttle,

734
01:04:20,860 --> 01:04:22,120
but that's beside the point

735
01:04:22,120 --> 01:04:24,100
and that's Mr. Taylor's responsibility.

736
01:04:24,920 --> 01:04:26,640
Persuant to the district's policy,

737
01:04:27,300 --> 01:04:30,120
We know that we have over 20,000 employees.

738
01:04:30,460 --> 01:04:33,200
We can't chase every employee to ask them to update their addresses.

739
01:04:33,420 --> 01:04:36,920
This is the employees obligation pursuant to the policy is shown here.

740
01:04:37,220 --> 01:04:42,120
If an employee has a different address, it is their sole obligation to update the district.

741
01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:43,560
Not vice versa.

742
01:04:43,720 --> 01:04:46,900
So if you hear any argument that we sent it to the wrong address, it's simply because

743
01:04:46,900 --> 01:04:49,560
a Mr. Taylor's failure to update his records.

744
01:04:50,920 --> 01:04:54,200
So let's look at a snapshot in relation to the investigation.

745
01:04:55,720 --> 01:04:58,500
Mr. Taylor failed to reply to Mr. Bonda.

746
01:04:58,720 --> 01:04:59,960
And let me go back to the letter...

747
01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:14,700
One thing I did not focus on, if you look at the last sentence, it's a tie-light. It says, please contact my office at this number by a deadline, August 4th, 2025 to schedule a meeting so we can proceed to close the case.

748
01:05:15,200 --> 01:05:21,480
That day passed and he never contacted him. That was the deadline that was given to Mr. Taylor and he never responded.

749
01:05:22,140 --> 01:05:27,540
because of his failure, Mr. Bond had decided to issue a conference summary in relation to what

750
01:05:27,540 --> 01:05:33,380
transpired and notified him that you did not participate in investigation. You're going to hear

751
01:05:33,380 --> 01:05:38,380
test our argument that we never got the letter. We had a wrong address. We've already talked about that.

752
01:05:38,420 --> 01:05:45,860
But what I find very curious is Mr. Taylor received a letter on September 19th and the termination

753
01:05:45,860 --> 01:05:50,940
notice on September 20th, but for some reason he's saying he never received the prior letter

754
01:05:50,940 --> 01:05:52,800
asking him to show up in person.

755
01:05:56,040 --> 01:05:59,240
We heard some argument in relation to obligations that this

756
01:05:59,240 --> 01:06:05,000
was not intentional that he wanted to cooperate or whatever that argument is. The policy of the

757
01:06:05,000 --> 01:06:10,540
district doesn't require for Mr. Taylor to intentionally avoid investigation. If you read the

758
01:06:10,540 --> 01:06:16,140
policy, it says any employee who fails to cooperate with such an investigation or provide complete

759
01:06:16,140 --> 01:06:20,560
information may be subject to termination. That's what happened here. There was an investigation.

760
01:06:21,300 --> 01:06:27,520
He felt to cooperate and he did not provide the information that we're seeking. It's as simple

761
01:06:27,520 --> 01:06:31,860
as that. And there is an obligation when the district conducts an investigation for an employed

762
01:06:31,860 --> 01:06:37,240
to cooperate and order for the district to give Mr. Taylor a fair chance and find out what if

763
01:06:37,240 --> 01:06:42,880
anything happened and he did not cooperate. So he forced the district's hand to lead that to termination.

764
01:06:44,300 --> 01:06:49,900
And in relation to Mr. Taylor's knowledge of the policy, he testified that he knew about

765
01:06:49,900 --> 01:06:54,760
this policy, he signed the handbook, so there's clear knowledge that he had to comply with

766
01:06:54,760 --> 01:06:55,660
it.

767
01:06:56,080 --> 01:07:03,760
So in conclusion, 24 hours after this incident, Mr. Taylor knew about the bus incident with

768
01:07:03,760 --> 01:07:10,340
the student, and we could argue all day about what transpired or not, he submitted a statement

769
01:07:10,340 --> 01:07:15,280
the supervisor told him that triggered Mr. Bondek to conduct an investigation. He talked to him

770
01:07:15,280 --> 01:07:20,120
by a phone, he texted him, he sent him a certified letter asking him to show up for an interview

771
01:07:20,120 --> 01:07:24,600
and Mr. Taylor for whatever reason just didn't do it. But at the end of the day, the district

772
01:07:24,600 --> 01:07:30,040
has a responsibility to conduct investigations and require employees to cooperate and comply

773
01:07:30,040 --> 01:07:34,380
with that policy. And that didn't happen here and that led to the termination.

774
01:07:36,460 --> 01:07:38,200
I'll mention this briefly.

775
01:07:38,600 --> 01:07:39,880
I don't want to focus on it wholly,

776
01:07:40,460 --> 01:07:42,160
but the whole address situation

777
01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:45,060
was Mr. Taylor's responsibility to update his address.

778
01:07:45,700 --> 01:07:47,080
We complied with our requirements.

779
01:07:47,520 --> 01:07:48,120
At the end of the day,

780
01:07:48,280 --> 01:07:50,180
he did receive two out of the three letters,

781
01:07:50,700 --> 01:07:52,440
even if went to the wrong address.

782
01:07:53,820 --> 01:07:55,740
So HSD is requesting this board

783
01:07:55,740 --> 01:07:58,320
to deny all requests of relief of Mr. Taylor

784
01:07:58,320 --> 01:08:00,240
and uphold a level two decision.

785
01:08:02,800 --> 01:08:03,760
Thank you.

786
01:08:03,760 --> 01:08:11,300
It means, Edwards, the U.S. to make a rebuttal statement, you have, I believe, six minutes.

787
01:08:14,030 --> 01:08:19,410
In fact, that a complaint was made does not automatically establish the complaint was true.

788
01:08:20,130 --> 01:08:29,450
An investigation being opened does not establish misconduct, and an employee request for representation should not automatically be treated as refusal to cooperate.

789
01:08:29,450 --> 01:08:32,830
The evidence must establish what actually happened.

790
01:08:33,650 --> 01:08:37,930
We also asked that the district position concerning Mr. Taylor's unemployment claim be considered

791
01:08:37,930 --> 01:08:41,250
in a constant connection with the overall record.

792
01:08:42,070 --> 01:08:47,790
If the district representative that Mr. Taylor committed misconduct, that those representations

793
01:08:47,790 --> 01:08:53,770
should be consistent with the evidence presented in this grievance, we are not asking that

794
01:08:53,770 --> 01:08:58,910
Mr. Taylor be treated differently simply because he is a veteran or because he has good

795
01:08:58,910 --> 01:09:03,490
reputation and great reputation. We're asking that the district considered the whole person,

796
01:09:03,550 --> 01:09:09,290
misceersious, of the termination of his employment basis on upon dispute allegations.

797
01:09:10,130 --> 01:09:15,090
Mr. Taylor is a military veteran who retired with honors. He is a respected number of the

798
01:09:15,090 --> 01:09:20,730
his community and our stand-in gentleman who has spent his life serving others. His honorable

799
01:09:20,730 --> 01:09:26,270
service is not place him above the rules, but his record of character and history are relevant

800
01:09:26,270 --> 01:09:31,170
when considering whether the extreme PILITY of a termination is appropriate, especially when

801
01:09:31,170 --> 01:09:37,090
the factual evidence support and the termination remains distributed. It is deeply concerning

802
01:09:37,090 --> 01:09:42,330
that an aggregation of the nature could cause a result of destruction of a person employment

803
01:09:42,330 --> 01:09:49,090
reputation, livelihood, when there is questions concerning the underlying facts that completeness

804
01:09:49,090 --> 01:09:54,970
of the investigation, the photographic evidence, and the request for the union representation

805
01:09:54,970 --> 01:09:57,710
and the employees' attempts to communicate with the investigator.

806
01:09:58,770 --> 01:09:59,950
We respectfully ask the district...

807
01:10:00,180 --> 01:10:06,560
Not to allow an allegation to become a finding of simple because it was repeated during an investigation.

808
01:10:07,320 --> 01:10:13,080
We asked that the original evidence be reviewed, the complete video be examined, the distributed

809
01:10:13,080 --> 01:10:19,660
photographs are authenticated and documentation concerning the student presence on 1628.

810
01:10:20,480 --> 01:10:26,520
Be considerate and Mr. Taylor attempts to cooperate and obtain representation, be fully evaluated.

811
01:10:26,520 --> 01:10:30,560
Most importantly, we asked that the district look at the evidence fairly and objectively.

812
01:10:31,320 --> 01:10:36,600
Mr. Taylor deserves an opportunity to have the facts heard, not merely the allegation of against him.

813
01:10:37,020 --> 01:10:40,920
For those reasons, we respectfully ask that H.H. has a reverse determination.

814
01:10:41,480 --> 01:10:45,400
We invite Mr. Donald Taylor to his position as a bus attendant and equipment position.

815
01:10:45,620 --> 01:10:53,760
We store his back pay, benefits, and correct or remove this mayor's records that are based upon any accurate and unsupported funding, basically.

816
01:10:53,760 --> 01:10:58,940
We are further requests to complete review of all conduct investigation, including the

817
01:10:58,940 --> 01:11:01,320
Helen of Mr. Tate's request for you, your representation.

818
01:11:02,180 --> 01:11:07,560
His attempt to contact Mr. Band and concerns regarding authentic authenticity and

819
01:11:07,560 --> 01:11:10,300
completeness of the evidence relieved upon their administration.

820
01:11:11,020 --> 01:11:13,580
This is not simply about employee losing the job.

821
01:11:14,160 --> 01:11:18,260
It's about whether in person, career, reputation, and livelihoods should be taken away

822
01:11:18,260 --> 01:11:21,660
without reliable evidence and fair opportunity to defend himself.

823
01:11:21,660 --> 01:11:26,500
Mr. Taylor was served his country earnably, he has served his community, he has been

824
01:11:26,500 --> 01:11:31,160
outstanding gentlemen, and he deserves nothing less than a fair and complete review of the

825
01:11:31,160 --> 01:11:34,100
facts before such a serious decision is allowed to stay in.

826
01:11:34,900 --> 01:11:40,200
Well, he did try to contact Mr. Bounder. Mr. Bounder is not the fourth coming, he's not truthful.

827
01:11:41,360 --> 01:11:45,760
We gave him the phone record, to prove that he'd never called him back, he refused to return to

828
01:11:45,760 --> 01:11:49,740
call. He actually sent that document to the wrong dress on purpose, like he said. He had to

829
01:11:50,340 --> 01:11:55,120
If you go back and look in their evidence, they never submitted his statement because that's untrue.

830
01:11:55,720 --> 01:11:59,820
You know, they didn't do their job digitally to investigate.

831
01:12:00,640 --> 01:12:03,420
They solely said in the unaparmate hearing that he,

832
01:12:03,660 --> 01:12:06,920
Mollary, they determined him because he didn't participate in the hearing, which is untrue.

833
01:12:07,880 --> 01:12:09,420
The child, nothing happened to the child.

834
01:12:09,640 --> 01:12:11,960
The child was told to keep his clothes on.

835
01:12:12,300 --> 01:12:13,840
That's merely why we hear today.

836
01:12:14,260 --> 01:12:17,020
Even in the hearing, they said they didn't even know why he was sent home.

837
01:12:17,020 --> 01:12:22,800
But they said he refused investigation. Mr. Bander was, I don't know if you know that he was

838
01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:28,740
demoted and it was some, I'm sure some part of what's going on now. So he, so administration

839
01:12:28,740 --> 01:12:35,460
did take corrective action. We're asking you to reconsider Mr. Taylor's position and give him

840
01:12:35,460 --> 01:12:41,720
a opportunity and even if you say we're going to wait and we're going to look and listen,

841
01:12:41,980 --> 01:12:46,240
you could do that without even making a decision today until you really ask them for the

842
01:12:46,240 --> 01:12:50,180
to prove, because right now they wrote their own words on it.

843
01:12:50,340 --> 01:12:52,460
It's not even what was said in the surveillance cameras.

844
01:12:53,480 --> 01:12:55,500
They just wrote a statement on it.

845
01:12:55,800 --> 01:12:57,120
But they have actual video.

846
01:12:57,440 --> 01:12:59,320
You can go back and look at the view.

847
01:12:59,800 --> 01:13:01,900
Mr. Banda, if you ask him, he interviewed the driver.

848
01:13:02,260 --> 01:13:04,300
The driver said he saw nothing.

849
01:13:04,300 --> 01:13:05,020
Nothing that was inappropriate.

850
01:13:06,460 --> 01:13:08,420
That's why he didn't ask the driver to write a statement.

851
01:13:08,700 --> 01:13:11,480
Because he knew we asked that in that meeting with the driver.

852
01:13:12,200 --> 01:13:13,960
And so he didn't even use the driver statement.

853
01:13:13,960 --> 01:13:20,220
because he's on this return about recommending termination from Mr. Taylor is unlawful and wrongfully.

854
01:13:20,960 --> 01:13:22,580
Thank you for your consideration.

855
01:13:23,280 --> 01:13:23,960
Thank you.

856
01:13:37,920 --> 01:13:39,620
I believe your time is up.

857
01:13:39,900 --> 01:13:42,680
We have like 30 seconds.

858
01:13:44,880 --> 01:13:45,480
Okay,

859
01:13:48,580 --> 01:13:49,780
go ahead two minutes.

860
01:13:50,420 --> 01:13:51,140
Thank you.

861
01:13:51,700 --> 01:13:53,640
I just wanted to make a few points.

862
01:13:54,040 --> 01:13:55,860
I know the representative for the district.

863
01:13:56,640 --> 01:14:10,280
made a few arguments, one saying that he wasn't cooperative with investigation, but that he also showed a display or a slideshow of photos that don't really tell the story of what transpired that day.

864
01:14:10,520 --> 01:14:19,480
To show photos and just create a scenario with no evidence is improper and it's not just, it's not justified and it doesn't allow justice for Mr. Donald Taylor.

865
01:14:20,660 --> 01:14:25,740
Mr. Second of all, Mr. Taylor never stated he was not aware. That's completely false.

866
01:14:26,100 --> 01:14:33,980
He was aware of this investigation. He wasn't contact with Mr. Bonda. He never said that he wouldn't be a part of it, and that's just plain and simple.

867
01:14:34,540 --> 01:14:41,520
To argue miscommunication whether someone got a call, he's here today, months three, four, five, however many months has been later.

868
01:14:41,940 --> 01:14:44,460
Clearly, he wants his job and willing to participate.

869
01:14:45,080 --> 01:14:49,780
This person that you explained, that you describe who would not participate in investigation

870
01:14:49,780 --> 01:14:53,980
would not be seen before asking for his job back.

871
01:14:54,300 --> 01:14:55,160
That's two.

872
01:14:56,420 --> 01:14:59,800
My third point is that the Rebson of the District State is that we did not submit.

873
01:15:00,050 --> 01:15:25,150
A text message. Logs that show the text messages. In exhibit F of the exhibit F we submitted phone call records and we also submitted text message records. For the month of June July, almost, yeah, the month of June July and a little bit of May. But you can see that there was never an incoming text message for any number associated with Mr. Bondo or with HISD.

874
01:15:25,850 --> 01:15:32,770
There were many fabrications in this entire representation to

875
01:15:34,980 --> 01:15:36,980
state that he was not cooperative

876
01:15:36,980 --> 01:15:41,240
to also state that Mr. Bonda called him and texted him with no proof and we've given

877
01:15:41,240 --> 01:15:42,080
proof that he hasn't.

878
01:15:42,240 --> 01:15:49,660
It says a lot and he shouldn't have been terminated and thank you for listening to me.

879
01:15:49,840 --> 01:15:50,300
Thank you.

880
01:15:50,580 --> 01:15:51,480
Thank you.

881
01:15:52,780 --> 01:15:54,780
Are there any questions from my colleagues?

882
01:15:59,300 --> 01:16:06,620
The parties have completed their presentations and it is now time for board members to make our decisions on the issues before us.

883
01:16:07,060 --> 01:16:09,320
Is there any further discussion?

884
01:16:10,260 --> 01:16:11,300
Is there any development on?

885
01:16:12,060 --> 01:16:12,220
No.

886
01:16:12,720 --> 01:16:13,220
Can we proceed?

887
01:16:14,380 --> 01:16:14,460
Okay.

888
01:16:17,550 --> 01:16:17,770
Okay.

889
01:16:18,490 --> 01:16:19,770
So do I have a motion?

890
01:16:26,460 --> 01:16:31,860
I move that we tonight are requested relief not previously granted by the level two hearing officer and

891
01:16:31,860 --> 01:16:34,520
the discretion at the level two hearing officer.

892
01:16:35,180 --> 01:16:35,460
Thank you.

893
01:16:35,580 --> 01:16:36,700
We have a second.

894
01:16:47,120 --> 01:16:49,840
We have a motion by Board Member Duffy.

895
01:16:50,680 --> 01:16:53,600
And a second by Board Member Gusen.

896
01:16:54,380 --> 01:16:55,960
Is there any further discussion?

897
01:16:56,900 --> 01:16:58,340
Hearing none, please vote.

898
01:17:11,250 --> 01:17:12,530
Boating has now closed.

899
01:17:12,890 --> 01:17:13,990
Demotion passes.

900
01:17:15,430 --> 01:17:18,790
The board has voted three, four, and zero against

901
01:17:18,790 --> 01:17:19,890
Demotion.

902
01:17:21,620 --> 01:17:28,360
A letter notifying both parties of the action of the Board shall be prepared and signed by the

903
01:17:28,360 --> 01:17:31,960
Executive Director of Board Relations as soon as possible.

904
01:17:32,580 --> 01:17:37,020
This hearing is concluded at 7.9 p.m.

905
01:17:43,520 --> 01:17:47,680
We'd now further business to discuss this meeting of the Board is adjourned.

906
01:17:47,720 --> 01:17:54,400
The time is 7.20 p.m. on August 27, 2026.

907
01:17:54,400 --> 01:17:55,840
Thank you everybody for coming.