[0:07] Good afternoon.

[0:08] This is the budget committee meeting of the Board of

[0:11] Trustees of the forest San Juan Alamo Independent School District. Today

[0:14] is Wednesday, July 27th to 2022.

[0:17] It's approximately 1204.

[0:20] We're here at the PSTA administration building room three three

[0:23] four located on 601 East

[0:26] Kelly Street.

[0:28] here in Pharr, Texas

[0:30] Committee members present myself, Mr. Carlos

[0:34] Villegas

[0:36] Cynthia Gutierrez

[0:38] Rebecca

[0:40] Miss Jill Wright, Adriana Cortez Garcia

[0:43] margaritaire Olivia Martinez

[0:46] Dr. Arredondo. We

[0:49] have legal counsel here Becky Gonzalez

[0:52] CR CFO, Dr. Rudy

[0:55] Trevino our chief of academics.

[0:58] We do have guests here in

[1:01] the audience.

[1:04] and will not get into introductions of everybody but

[1:08] We'll be part of the meeting. Did I

[1:11] leave anybody out?

[1:13] Okay. Thank you very much.

[1:15] Royal Faust thank you, sir. Let me know appreciate it,

[1:18] Mr. Fast. Thank you president.

[1:22] And for the record also later with

[1:25] the minutes are printed. I wanted to reflect that. There are

[1:28] people in the gallery or people in the audience. Okay, we'll get

[1:31] the names in a minute.

[1:33] I did ask a favor that you read the minutes as you

[1:36] kind of were visiting with your neighbor.

[1:39] So at this time, I'm going to ask for a motion that we approve

[1:42] the minutes.

[1:48] There's there's a motion and a second

[1:51] all those in favor. Say I please.

[1:53] I thank you. Nice none. The

[1:56] minutes are approved. They're official. So I've already

[1:59] signed them. Thank you very much.

[2:02] We have a public comments today.

[2:06] I believe.

[2:09] If you would work your way to the podium.

[2:13] Mr. Is in which you

[2:16] please go over the

[2:18] The procedures the protocol for public comment, please

[2:21] as soon as the gentleman Mr. Chavez,

[2:24] thank you, sir. Legal is

[2:27] going to read the protocol, sir. Thank you, Mr. Travis.

[2:30] Thank you so much for being here. Today. You're gonna speak on the budget committee

[2:33] item number five the budget present for

[2:36] Budget presentation just be where you have three minutes to present per

[2:39] board policy. The topics must

[2:42] remain on the items on the agenda. We asked about public speed all comments

[2:45] be professional be courteous and the board may

[2:48] not respond to any of the comments that are going

[2:51] to be addressed.

[2:52] Impossible to entertain a motion to grab me up to five minutes give in

[2:55] I was interrupted at the last meeting. I

[2:59] so the public comic portion would not be one that

[3:02] we can take action on it would be discretion of the chair to Grant

[3:05] the extra time.

[3:08] Also, you're not gonna grab me five minutes.

[3:10] It's your decisions are.

[3:13] Yes, right. Sure. It's your decision. You're gonna give me three minutes.

[3:17] Right, but you can through your own, you know,

[3:20] actually what I'll do sir. We'll give

[3:23] you four minutes.

[3:25] Well, it's all right, you know, that's your character. Thank

[3:28] you very much public. My name is Lupe Chavez. I

[3:31] think I'm gonna give you four minutes of a better

[3:34] budget presentation. We're officially 25

[3:37] million in the whole because of Esther funds. Okay, and

[3:40] people in the community are worried about that either we

[3:43] can do 25 million Cuts or we

[3:46] can do some big ones. I've recommended that we sell

[3:49] naming right? So the public pool back to the city of

[3:52] Pharr back to utrgv. They that's an

[3:55] unnecessary burden for us to for water that

[3:58] you know, we don't need to we don't need swimming pools.

[4:01] The one in the city of Fargo closed Super Splash

[4:04] got closed and when you think about the

[4:07] economic factors that are going to factor into your budget decisions,

[4:10] You have to think about this water is a

[4:13] valuable resource that is quickly draining in the west

[4:16] the Rio Grande Rio Grande River or Rio Grande.

[4:19] Pardon me also is draining Mexico Monterrey Nuevo

[4:22] Leon and Albuquerque, New Mexico are running

[4:25] out of water climate change is real. Okay, if

[4:28] you watch the news St. Louis Saint Louis got six to

[4:31] 10 inches of rain. We live on the coast.

[4:35] Storms are more intense. There's going to be more hurricanes more

[4:38] tropical depressions and science tells

[4:41] us the sea levels are going to rise in

[4:44] the next 24 years. Now the insurance insurance

[4:47] companies. They're not going to be able to cover the

[4:50] devastation that's coming to us. And if you're

[4:53] gonna be planning this budget and I reviewed everybody's

[4:56] You know, I'd see who's who who's a teacher? What are your

[4:59] study? Who are these members? You know, I know, you know, everybody's here

[5:02] from the summer, you know catching up but these are dire issues

[5:05] in our public that need to be addressed and

[5:08] thank you chair for kindly giving me four minutes, you know,

[5:11] I'm a graduate from this community. You know,

[5:14] I'm a humble person but you know, I am considered one

[5:17] of the smartest kids in my class now the best and brightest

[5:20] they don't teach in psj. The people that I

[5:23] graduated the best and brightest their doctors lawyers, they're not teachers

[5:26] and the few that are bless them because that's you

[5:29] know, they are excellent teachers. I know them so,

[5:33] What you need to know here is that things are changing.

[5:36] You need a really hunker down on this and make

[5:39] important decisions because going going forward from

[5:42] here. It's not the same environment that you think financially.

[5:45] Okay, and I studied economics at the University of Southern

[5:48] California. I was at top of my class when I came to utrgv. I

[5:51] got so bored because it was so remedial the

[5:54] Teaching Standards. The the professors at utrgv are

[5:57] substandard. I got arrested at real Bank visiting

[6:00] utrgv, you know, and I'm gonna alumnus of

[6:03] utrgv. Now you want to know why people are leaving PSJA. It's

[6:06] because a little decisions like that that little decision there to

[6:09] give me four minutes four minutes of your time, you know,

[6:12] well my God, my dad's World War Two veteran, I am

[6:15] part of the great just generation for some people that's their grandfather. But

[6:18] for me and my father served in World War Two and he's he volunteered

[6:21] for the paratroopers and that way if you gotta understand

[6:24] that history now lastly, I want you to know that since I

[6:27] started coming to meetings in 1995 the SAT

[6:30] scores 944. That's the same.

[6:33] 1995 that's the writing math for

[6:36] 64 act. It's still below 20.

[6:40] 20 some years after we graduated the average is

[6:43] still the same on the standardized test. Okay, and social

[6:46] economic factors like the

[6:49] Roe versus Wade decision that got reversed that's going

[6:52] to make more more problems for us. Economically. We

[6:55] have fifth almost 16,000

[6:58] girls in our in our school district. I'm

[7:01] a father of a daughter who just celebrated her quinceanera.

[7:04] We have almost double

[7:07] we have 1500 female employees,

[7:10] and we have 662 men.

[7:13] So these are the things that you got to think about because it's

[7:16] going to be serious. It's an election year. Thank you.

[7:21] Thank you very much.

[7:23] Item three. We already

[7:26] approved.

[7:29] Let's go to item for and

[7:36] will allow a Becky or Chief Financial Officer to

[7:39] help lead that presentation.

[7:44] We'll be allowed to go ahead and ask questions

[7:47] and Becky is presenting her

[7:50] her. We have

[7:53] questions rather than wait until the end.

[7:56] Me I have a tendency if I wait till the end I'll

[7:59] forget.

[8:00] So we can interrupt you in case

[8:03] we have a question.

[8:04] That allow I agree.

[8:09] Yeah, sure. Okay, we started before I'm

[8:12] guilty of it. I've done it I'm guilty of it and it's

[8:15] always good. All right. Thank you. The answer

[8:18] is yes.

[8:27] Next slide so our preliminary budget that we presented on

[8:30] the June 27th meeting. We had a 25 million dollar deficit.

[8:34] Today our projected budget has an 8.1 million

[8:37] dollar deficit.

[8:40] next slide

[8:43] How did we go from 25 million down to eight million the

[8:46] main factor that drove this was

[8:49] our summer submission of our student counts. They've now become

[8:52] final and we did see that we recovered attendance

[8:56] during the summer.

[8:58] the summer submission

[9:00] and and I have a picture here.

[9:04] of the differences

[9:06] attendance attendance

[9:10] like how so

[9:14] 27,500 students or less

[9:17] or more?

[9:19] Up to what you should be at 32.

[9:22] Peak and then we lost apart from 3,000 kids.

[9:26] Right going into where are

[9:29] we now right going into the 21 22 school year.

[9:32] We were a little below we were right at 31

[9:35] 32 was two or

[9:38] three school years before that. And so then

[9:41] we we took a conservative approach and we budgeted at

[9:44] 30,800 when the school

[9:47] year started. We were at 26.

[9:50] So we've recovered a concernable amount of

[9:53] students and enrollment. We haven't recovered all of

[9:56] them back to 30,800 which is what we had projected. But

[9:59] we we are at 29 to 50 as

[10:02] of last October now because we don't know what's

[10:05] going to happen with these variants. We budgeted flat

[10:08] we take we stayed at 29 to 50.

[10:12] However, we ended the year 29 almost

[10:15] six. It was 29 580 something

[10:18] like that. So we feel 29 to 50

[10:21] is conservative and we don't want to recruitment effort

[10:24] right now on going or whatever. Do you have any

[10:27] sense to how many we might wind up when the

[10:30] actual school year starts?

[10:32] I think 29-250 is a good estimate. I can't

[10:36] guarantee it. We thought 30,800 was

[10:39] a conservative estimate last year and the Very

[10:42] ends. Just

[10:44] you know, they just busted our budget for lack of

[10:47] a better word. We we didn't see that 30,800 in

[10:50] September.

[10:53] So I think 29 to 50 is a good estimate.

[10:56] It's less than what our actual enrollment ended

[10:59] in May.

[11:05] Rolled over 20 28,550 students

[11:08] from last year to this

[11:11] year. So the 29,000 should be a reasonable number.

[11:15] 39,000. Yeah, so we we rolled over

[11:18] 28,550 students, correct?

[11:27] The snapshot and tells us you're at this point. So

[11:30] there's gonna be Cuts or you're okay. So the

[11:33] only thing Becky that I want to recommend is

[11:36] at that point if that happens and we

[11:39] do not have the projected numbers because

[11:42] of what you just mentioned, you know, the variance

[11:45] we've seen that the

[11:48] past month the cases have gone up tremendously. We

[11:51] don't know what's going to happen in you know the next few weeks.

[11:55] so with that said

[11:58] where I want to recommend that we don't

[12:01] cut.

[12:02] From education funds from

[12:05] the maintenance and and all those

[12:08] departments that are crucial to to you

[12:12] know, the functioning of our district. I checked

[12:15] the budget for the past three years and we

[12:18] started at I don't

[12:21] want to

[12:23] 489 in 2020

[12:26] 29 2019-2020. We went

[12:29] down to 430 414

[12:33] 389 this

[12:37] last time when the adjustment was done throughout the

[12:40] pandemic or the year of the pandemic.

[12:43] But then I saw the the line list not alignment,

[12:47] but the lines on each item and the

[12:50] one that seems to suffer the most every year.

[12:53] Throughout the budgets is the the Teachers

[12:56] Fund the education for the resources and I

[12:59] just feel that we're taking from the people that are

[13:02] out there on the trenches and with all the respect

[13:05] the one that never gets any any adjustments

[13:08] is Administration.

[13:12] You know, so I want to make sure that we moving forward

[13:15] we balance it in a way

[13:18] because if there are discrepancies, I want it balance

[13:21] in a way that we're not affecting the

[13:24] teachers.

[13:25] You know and and all of those departments and we're Fair

[13:28] across the board because the one that seems to

[13:31] stay stable and the same is Administration.

[13:36] And I want to add to that just a little bit. I

[13:39] think my concern is that I know that you we've got to pass the

[13:42] budget by a certain date. We all know that so it's

[13:46] That's a no-brainer, but I

[13:49] would like to see make sure we take into account the fact that we

[13:52] still have some nebulous areas that we're not very sure exactly

[13:55] as to what's going to happen.

[13:58] while we passed the budget, we've got to have some cap in there

[14:01] to make sure that

[14:03] We have enough money to go ahead and take care of the essential flight

[14:06] doctor with Kevin talking about.

[14:09] Yeah for making sure that the captains are are well

[14:12] resource in terms of personnel, whether

[14:15] it's a teacher or a parent professional anything that's going to

[14:18] go ahead and provide a quality for kids.

[14:22] I'm going to take a hard line of approach to this. I

[14:25] would rather wait until October and see exactly where we're

[14:28] at.

[14:30] Before we start spending on items that may be

[14:33] sometimes luxury items and not kind

[14:36] of stuff for example buying buying more land. I know

[14:39] that we're entertaining some

[14:41] some projects which

[14:44] it could be the case and you know if

[14:47] it's extremely lucrative Maybe.

[14:50] But if we don't have to and we might use that money for

[14:53] for classroom instruction, I'd rather do that.

[14:57] Unnecessary construction projects. I don't

[15:00] think that we need to go with that right now. Maybe maybe

[15:03] by the middle of the education cycle. We're

[15:06] okay.

[15:07] Veronita, I think what we need to do is make sure that we

[15:10] are staffed correctly for our kids.

[15:13] Going back to the construction projects. I

[15:16] want to know our enrollment

[15:19] is actually going to be in a certain time. Are we

[15:22] going to have to consolidate schools and if we

[15:25] consolidate schools because it's necessary to

[15:28] do that.

[15:29] And double up on students at a certain campus that's

[15:32] going to leave a campus they can.

[15:34] I don't think we need to be going to do additional construction.

[15:37] And I'm glad you mentioned that

[15:40] trustee VA. That's because one of the major cuts to

[15:43] get that 25 million down to eight million was a

[15:46] six and a half million dollar cut to construction. We did

[15:49] do that. Okay, so I appreciate that about

[15:52] that because I'm always going to take a hard line, whatever bearable

[15:57] budget we have and we have a little bit of a surplus. I

[16:00] want to make sure the captives get it.

[16:02] And that's going to be priority for me and those

[16:05] positions that are not essential.

[16:09] And sometimes and I'm not going to mention the position but we'll

[16:12] see a position that comes out all of a sudden. I'm worried

[16:15] about a teacher in the classroom. I'm not worried about training an

[16:20] instructional coach weight training

[16:23] coach or whatever. I don't think that that's a

[16:26] necessary to me. That's a

[16:29] luxury to have but it's not an essential to have

[16:32] So those are the kind of things I'm going to take a hard line again. So I

[16:35] want to make sure we all understand that let's go ahead let Mickey

[16:38] continue with the presentation, right and

[16:41] hash will flesh this out as we

[16:44] go forward. Obviously, this is obviously very

[16:47] preliminary. We may find

[16:50] that we have more funds but I'll ask some questions on

[16:53] how we got to where we are today. Okay. The other

[16:56] decisions can come.

[16:58] At a facilities meeting to prioritize. I

[17:01] mean the priorities are going to be fleshed out by the

[17:04] board if you will so good. Continue, please Becky right

[17:07] and the reason I put this

[17:08] like first is because this

[17:10] Is driver of the budget it's the attendance and

[17:13] the enrollment and that's where we made up the majority of

[17:16] the deficit when these numbers were submitted to te a and

[17:19] became final so these numbers are now final and we

[17:22] we used the same numbers for 21:22 to

[17:25] 22 23. We did not project any growth or

[17:28] any additional recovery in Ada. And so

[17:31] just by doing the numbers now that

[17:34] their final for the summer submission we were able to

[17:37] get 10 point. I think it's a next slide Hector 10 point.

[17:43] 10.2

[17:44] and that was across all the categories. And when

[17:47] in the 25 million CTE was seen in deficit

[17:50] special ed was seen in deficit when their numbers became final

[17:53] we were able to balance their budgets and

[17:56] and CT actually saw a little bit of a surplus of

[17:59] 100,000. I texted her last night. I said, this is

[18:02] the account I put it into special ed was able to stay where they're at.

[18:05] And so these the main

[18:08] driver is always going to be enrollment and

[18:11] attendance.

[18:12] And so the the other thing we did was we vacancies

[18:15] that were already vacant as

[18:18] at the end of May. We went ahead and closed 6.5 million

[18:21] of those vacancies and those were district-wide, you

[18:24] know, if they resigned or retired we

[18:27] checked to see if the campus had the enrollment if

[18:30] if the campus needed that that custodian

[18:33] and so it all went it was

[18:36] district-wide those six and a half million dollars.

[18:40] Title One title one will be picking up some of the teachers

[18:43] at the high schools because they do

[18:46] have a healthy Title One allocation for next

[18:49] year. We decreased a construction transfer by

[18:52] six and a half million and we have a

[18:55] healthy fund balance in our workers' compensation fund that we

[18:58] feel we do not need to contribute this year since it's

[19:01] going to be a tough year.

[19:03] next slide

[19:05] so that's how we got to the remaining balance of 8.1 million.

[19:09] Bilingual is still seen a bit of a deficit

[19:12] that's to be expected because a lot of her

[19:15] counts are our three and four year

[19:18] olds. And those are the grades that are hurting us the most they just

[19:22] aren't coming back as quickly as we thought they would

[19:25] so we feel that 7.6 million

[19:28] maybe what we're take to Esther. However

[19:31] what I don't have built in here because

[19:34] this is the first year we do it is the additional day school year

[19:37] and that should generate additional Revenue. So we're

[19:40] feeling 7.6 would be the maximum. We're

[19:43] hoping that's closer to maybe three or four.

[19:47] so that that that's one of the main things that that

[19:50] we want to point out is

[19:52] that is not considering additional Revenue

[19:55] that we should still be getting by doing the additional day school

[19:58] year.

[19:59] Yes, well not know. We will

[20:03] not know until the end of the summer the we have what was

[20:06] used to be called extended year.

[20:09] It's still called extended year right still called extended gear.

[20:12] Right and we do gain quite a bit of money.

[20:15] This is the first year we do additional day school year,

[20:18] so I didn't want to estimate it

[20:22] and be incorrect. So we wanted

[20:25] to show the maximum that we feel we would have

[20:28] to float a 7.6. We're confident. It's going

[20:31] to be less than that. I just don't have the tools to

[20:34] estimate or give a good estimate of what that additional revenue

[20:37] is gonna be those counts are due to DEA

[20:40] in September which means that this budget will have

[20:43] to be passed before we get the actual numbers and

[20:46] I know how it works. I mean you still have to amend it. Anyway,

[20:49] yes, because ta will not let you know until October

[20:52] if you will right we submit in September and it

[20:55] usually takes them a good 16 and 90

[20:58] days. We may not see

[20:59] the revenue till November December, so hopefully let's let's hypothetically

[21:02] say you're going to get

[21:04] three million dollars

[21:06] so the Esser

[21:08] Contribution will be reduced to about four million 4.6

[21:11] million dollars, which is better because

[21:14] we want to carry over Sr

[21:17] funds for the year 2024, correct?

[21:20] Is that correct? Correct, and we don't want to hit that financial

[21:23] cliff exactly. So we

[21:26] want to build as much as we can into the local budget and

[21:29] carry the positions the expenditures in

[21:32] the local budget so that when we're seeing the

[21:35] end of Esther, we don't have a bunch of positions

[21:38] in there or a bunch of expenditures that we still need to move in. So

[21:41] we're we're really trying to get everybody in

[21:44] to where they belong have. We

[21:47] heard anything from TA in the

[21:50] powers that be regarding Ada versus

[21:53] enrollment.

[21:55] Funding no, no well, have

[21:59] we heard anything?

[22:00] from anybody at TA

[22:02] about them funding us for enrollment as

[22:05] opposed to Ada. No.

[22:09] Okay. Yeah, I know there is the talk about that. That's

[22:12] the way schools should be funded. But it I haven't

[22:15] seen them make any.

[22:18] Advances on that or it's not okay and

[22:21] we're working on that as a coalition from time and

[22:24] other people we're working on that that's a priority

[22:27] because it's affecting not just us. It's

[22:30] a Statewide issue and I'm concerned about

[22:33] region one primarily this District.

[22:37] Because we could stand a game between eight and nine

[22:40] million dollars. Trust me.

[22:42] That could make up the difference and a surplus

[22:45] because I had 7.6 exactly. Yeah, so

[22:48] we're gonna keep working you I say we because I

[22:51] belong to the legislative advisory Council of tasby region

[22:54] one and that's one of our top priorities hitting into

[22:57] the legislative session. Even if it's delayed. That's

[23:00] okay.

[23:01] If they do it in the midterm, but anyway, this is

[23:04] this is a concern I have and a question.

[23:10] Did we get more money for State comp? Yes,

[23:13] no not stay comp. I'm sorry. No State Compass

[23:16] flat or if they declined stay

[23:19] comp is the only one that's funded in

[23:22] October. So in October, we were at 29 to

[23:25] 50 where where we used to be at a little

[23:28] over 30,000. So unfortunately that the

[23:31] fact that we ended at 296 we

[23:34] did not see any additional State company. We won't

[23:37] see it until the last Friday in October of 22 the

[23:40] latest legislative session. And

[23:43] what was done in Washington. This is already taking

[23:46] into consideration the additional funding there was approved recently

[23:49] by the by Congress. No, we have

[23:52] not received allocations for that. Okay, but they've already

[23:55] approved. Yes increases is that correct? Which means

[23:58] that money is gonna slow down

[24:01] this way and we can at least get a message to draw

[24:04] down.

[24:05] What is due to the district? Is that correct? That's correct.

[24:08] Is that the way you understand it deal?

[24:11] Okay, because they haven't float the money yet.

[24:14] They did approve additional funding.

[24:17] Okay.

[24:18] And special ed is still locked in at whatever 18 20%

[24:23] They have an increased it up to 40% 38%

[24:27] No, the answer is not everything.

[24:30] Okay, and again all these

[24:33] are funding sources. We have a lot of children that need the funds

[24:36] special needs Title One.

[24:39] CTE

[24:41] And others obviously the the disadvantaged

[24:44] students so, okay. We'll be optimistic.

[24:48] Okay, so are not enrollment numbers

[24:51] may increase for 22 23 that's not built

[24:54] into here either. So that may chop away

[24:57] down to what we have to float in Esser. We're

[25:00] budgeting 29 to 50 like

[25:03] we talked about in June which is flat and an attendance rate

[25:06] of 97%

[25:08] And so we will have a balanced budget for

[25:11] 2223 and this is our plan to to

[25:14] balance that.

[25:16] So what is in the 2223 budget?

[25:19] It's a 2% increase for employees.

[25:22] 1150 which means 11:50 for teachers

[25:25] five additional police officers seven

[25:28] additional bus drivers and a three

[25:31] and a half increase cost to health insurance.

[25:35] On the health insurance the district will absorb

[25:38] the employee only cost. So the

[25:41] employees will not be contributing from their pocket

[25:44] for the base plan employee. Only the

[25:47] way we have it right now. Yes.

[25:52] Just so this is what when are

[25:57] you going to present us with with the information on this

[26:00] increases and options to approve for for the

[26:03] board to approve they

[26:06] will be on the August 1st meeting Dr. Adele? No, I

[26:09] believe so. We're preparing the packet for that meeting August 1st,

[26:12] Monday Monday. Yes. Well since we're

[26:15] there, I'm just doctor. I don't

[26:18] know since I know I can't make recommendations for for Becky

[26:22] but I like to listening to

[26:26] the unions.

[26:28] Carlos Mr. Villegas, and I have talked to

[26:31] them have heard them and we just won to

[26:34] bring out some of the stuff that they that we've discussed

[26:37] with them that they would like us to bring to the rest

[26:40] of the board to you know, the committee and and

[26:43] the community for consideration. And again, we're not

[26:46] gonna read together, but it's on behalf of Mr. Villegas and

[26:49] I and the unions a 4,000 pain

[26:52] crease for teachers nurses counselors three percent

[26:55] increase for non-teaching professionals, and

[26:58] I can send you this to our pay increase for paraprofessionals

[27:01] in classified personnel.

[27:04] If the starting pay for paraprofessionals in classified is below

[27:07] 15 an hour 15, we could

[27:11] propose 18 20 hours starting pay

[27:14] for bus drivers because we're losing bus drivers to other

[27:17] districts that that are paying that salary

[27:20] 20 hour new hire suggesting the

[27:23] pay range because every time we say, oh, yeah and you teachers

[27:26] are gonna make 50 whatever this year 60 50

[27:29] day what happens to the teachers that

[27:32] have had, you know, more experience and end

[27:35] up, you know the cold without without increase. It does

[27:38] not affect them 83,000 retention

[27:41] stipend for all employees in December not

[27:44] at the beginning of the year and not at

[27:47] the end because most people needed, you know

[27:50] in the middle, but that's I mean

[27:54] Negotiable. I just all pay grades to 90% or higher

[27:57] of market value.

[27:59] And if we have a percentage of pay raise as

[28:02] you're presenting and share that everyone gets it from the

[28:05] midpoint regardless if they exceeded the midpoint, yes,

[28:08] and so it's just a recommendation. I'll send it to Dr.

[28:11] Aradondo so he can if he can relate the

[28:14] message. I know that it's that I'm just talking percentages

[28:17] and numbers and you're the one the expert that can tell

[28:20] us what the impact would be you in terms

[28:23] of money, but like Mr. Villegas mentioned earlier,

[28:26] we would rather see we would

[28:29] rather not buy new land not build any

[28:32] more schools and make sure that the students that

[28:35] we have fill the schools that we have looking at

[28:38] the number of students that we have. If we were to feel

[28:41] completely the schools we would end up with five empty schools.

[28:44] with the ones that have low attendance, so I would rather spend

[28:47] the money where it matters with our

[28:50] people and then I agree with that with the

[28:54] with the unions and I understand also the budgetary

[28:57] impact that it can have and so I bring it up

[29:00] so that the other board members support such such

[29:03] an initiative

[29:06] and and we help out, you know

[29:09] our staff and you know everyone at the district

[29:12] and so if you could please look into those things, I know that it may not

[29:15] all be positive possible, but I

[29:18] know you're very smart and you're good and if you can look into

[29:21] the budget

[29:23] To see where that does not

[29:26] affect instruction where we can help

[29:29] out, you know that's in every totally with

[29:32] that. So, I mean I think which is going to do is send you the proposal that we

[29:36] consider not everything is going to be able to

[29:40] we're able to acquire or pass but certainly put

[29:43] numbers to the to those percentages of those

[29:46] proposals as well. Go ahead and discuss them and support later and

[29:49] we can see exactly what the impact is in terms of dollars.

[29:52] I saw here that you put one for

[29:55] 1.5% correct? There's it.

[30:04] You have one line

[30:07] where it says for? I don't know if it was this one.

[30:11] Where for 1.5% it's equal to 3 million a

[30:14] race something like that. Correct, correct. And

[30:17] in the 25 million

[30:20] dollar one and we had included a 3%

[30:23] and 1750 which

[30:26] was 7.1 million. And so we

[30:29] came down a little bit on that. So help this which

[30:32] is too 2% and 1150 and also to

[30:35] be fair we need to when we make the presentation remind our

[30:38] staff that we are still paying for insurance, which other

[30:41] districts are correct do not provide that you

[30:44] know to be fair, but I would like to see everyone you

[30:47] know inflation, you know, everywhere gas prices

[30:50] are going up yet. Whenever you get

[30:53] your 1.5% you know, people say I got twelve dollars

[30:56] per month, you know, so let's try to

[30:59] help a little everything is going up the prices

[31:02] of food every time there's an outbreak

[31:05] of something and they take something out of the circulations any

[31:09] item, you know prices go up and

[31:11] So I trust that you

[31:14] that you will listen and and try to help us out with you know

[31:17] with all that right. So the one

[31:20] that I can answer right now and I can I can tell you I guarantee

[31:23] is in there. We've always paid everybody

[31:26] on the percentage of the midpoint, even

[31:29] if they maxed out of their pay range so that

[31:32] that has always been done. So it is it just

[31:35] wanted to bring you what the

[31:38] unions are hearing from their members and

[31:41] and concerns they have as far as like I said,

[31:44] you know first year teachers salaries compared

[31:47] to the ones having teaching two three years or five years that

[31:50] started at 40 something, you know, and so

[31:53] we just brought you our discussion and

[31:56] you know, it's but I'm glad

[31:59] that some of the items are already there. But as far as the bus drivers

[32:02] we do have you know shortage and

[32:05] and it's very competitive nowadays. So we need to make sure that

[32:08] we can compete with the other districts so they can

[32:11] We can bring back some of

[32:14] the drivers and and then a big

[32:17] shout out to them because they were among the

[32:20] 100 best in the nation they were so so we

[32:23] need to make sure that you know, their salary is competitive as

[32:26] well.

[32:27] Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Ronaldo.

[32:32] Were you previous to some of this information is anybody communicating

[32:35] with you from the educator associations?

[32:38] They've now reached out

[32:41] to me definitely can reach out to them and and well

[32:44] in establish your communication

[32:47] there that information that being discussed

[32:50] so that she can crunch numbers. Otherwise

[32:53] she needs to see exactly what

[32:56] I heard.

[32:58] What's you know what they're requesting if you will, yeah.

[33:02] And I don't know whether they're there's one organization or

[33:05] three or four or five right? I think it's important. I

[33:08] think it's

[33:10] I think I think it's important that they communicate with

[33:13] me and I I welcome that communication and I

[33:16] also welcome them to to go alongside with

[33:19] me and the board to Austin this legislative

[33:22] session. We know that you know,

[33:25] like you just mentioned if we were to be paid based

[33:28] on enrollment in that ADA. That's another

[33:31] seven eight, you know million dollars right there

[33:34] that the state already budges it for but yet they

[33:37] hold on to those funds and they don't give those

[33:40] to the districts particularly districts like PSJA, you

[33:43] know that we're

[33:46] We were hit very hard during the pandemic and

[33:49] and we still have seen the

[33:52] effects of it and we know we as a district have done a tremendous

[33:55] effort and and the board has

[33:58] supported student learning is going to be the priority here at

[34:01] PSJA and that's why you see, you know, all the

[34:05] efforts that our teachers have made to bring our students back.

[34:08] We we pretty much if you look at our number

[34:11] of teachers that we have we have this we're still

[34:14] have the same amount of teachers. We've asked our teachers to

[34:17] provide interventions.

[34:19] To help our students after school. We've been

[34:22] able to capitalize on some of the resources that the state has

[34:25] provided like additional days.

[34:27] Funding a lot of other districts didn't want

[34:30] to do that. But we here at PSJA. We we supported

[34:33] that effort and what that did in turn it

[34:36] not only provided student learning as a priority

[34:39] to give more students time to learn and additional learning

[34:42] then it also provided us with more funding and

[34:45] we've been able to pass that funding, you know

[34:48] for our enrichment days. Our teachers

[34:51] get paid very well second to

[34:54] none. There's nobody else in the area that pays

[34:57] their teachers the way we pay our teachers here at PSJA

[35:00] and including all our employees. We've also taken advantage

[35:03] of the tea class Grant and so but

[35:06] I think that you know, this is a real important for us

[35:09] to understand that

[35:11] We're doing everything we can with the budget that we have. What

[35:14] we have to do is get a coalition together go to

[35:17] Austin and and try to get increases that

[35:20] way because there's only so much

[35:23] you can get from the same pot. Just a

[35:26] request doctor Orlando. If you

[35:29] can get that information from the organizations that

[35:32] are involved the organizations that

[35:35] are making some of these recommendations.

[35:39] So I would like to see them I would like to see them myself to review

[35:42] them as well like anybody else and just to

[35:46] study them and then do whatever we need to do is

[35:49] to take do do our due diligence and

[35:52] move forward and see do what's best for all our all our

[35:55] staff.

[35:56] And we had this conversation before so we're on

[35:59] the same track.

[36:02] I started off the way I started off. Well, I was a

[36:05] private that it to that information. I think it's good if the

[36:08] superintendent is absolutely gets it

[36:11] I think so he could share it with our education.

[36:14] Yeah board members are

[36:17] elected by the community and one

[36:20] of the oh, you're

[36:23] gonna stations that provides the most jobs in

[36:26] our area or the organizations are

[36:29] the cities and the school districts everywhere. And so

[36:32] they feel comfortable coming to us and discussing it.

[36:35] It's we do not make decisions. We bring it

[36:38] to the board and that's why I said we're gonna provide it to doctor

[36:41] don't know through the the unions but we

[36:44] have committed to communicate with them and we answer the phones and

[36:47] we are present at their their events where

[36:50] they promote public education and and

[36:53] so that's why they feel comfortable coming to

[36:56] us and say presented to the rest of the board which we just did

[36:59] to the comedian Dr. Alondo and so

[37:02] Will have them email the information to Dr. Redondo so

[37:05] that the other board members can can look at it and the sooner

[37:08] the better because Monday was already

[37:11] designated as to approve.

[37:14] Depending on what we get. We need to review it and see if we

[37:17] don't have to take action on that professional reason

[37:20] for the community meeting is frustrated news information being

[37:23] brought to us and that's what we're doing. I think

[37:26] we're just communicating at the Becky front some of the numbers

[37:29] bring it back from promises and see what it means.

[37:32] But that's why I started the meeting my program it's worth.

[37:36] Take it into consideration for Dr. Would get

[37:39] us already introduced. Look at those numbers and see

[37:42] where else we can cut in the way of construction and all

[37:45] those other things. I know you've already laid out a plan.

[37:48] But that's like I said, I'm going to take a hard line approach because if

[37:51] I if I've got money to spend although on a

[37:54] bare-bone budget. I'm going to spend it on employees.

[37:57] Especially right now when we don't want the stability

[38:00] of enrollment and we don't know, you know,

[38:03] there's a need to build new things. So

[38:06] but it's information that these

[38:09] unions provide to us because they

[38:12] call us and can you go ahead and bring this to your committee? Can

[38:15] you bring it to your superintendent?

[38:17] And we said I agree with you Dr. Arolando every

[38:20] effort that needs to be made to go to Austin and

[38:23] talk to them and see if you can get money. It's a superintendent. I think

[38:26] that's that's your responsibility, but I

[38:29] think

[38:31] It doesn't look good that we're going to get any money from Austin

[38:34] right now. The way things are politically so that's

[38:37] just I don't count on

[38:40] it.

[38:41] I don't count on Ada versus enrollment that changing. This

[38:44] is what we have. So I'm saying look at

[38:47] the budget look at what we have. Let's not spend needlessly if

[38:50] we need to have a hiring freeze on a specialty

[38:53] positions. Let's do it.

[38:56] Let's make sure we have all the teachers we need and everything that goes

[38:59] into our campus, right and and doctored on

[39:02] the has instructed us that we will be visiting

[39:05] the enrollment numbers the third week

[39:08] of school and we'll see where we stand there so

[39:11] that we can address anything. We need to address sooner than later. One

[39:14] of the things that affected the 2122 budget

[39:17] was that we we needed to wait for tea

[39:20] and where they going to pay us how they pay us a year before and that

[39:23] didn't become final until March so information

[39:26] for Monday, so it

[39:29] has to be done today, right? Yes, sir.

[39:33] I also wanted to say 9,000 students

[39:36] in our June ideas. Why and we

[39:39] were expected about 5,000 students for our August. So

[39:42] at some point that should have a significant impact

[39:45] on our budget. We're not going

[39:48] to be overly optimistic, but we had a much larger number of

[39:51] students participating in our extended day opportunity your opportunities

[39:54] then we've had in your

[39:56] There so that should be able to help in somewhere another sure.

[40:00] Becky you still have a few items or

[40:03] are you done? No that that's that's the end.

[40:06] Is that it? Yes. Yes.

[40:09] And like Dr. Trevino just said we do feel 7.6 is

[40:12] the maximum.

[40:13] We will be getting funding for the additional day school

[40:16] year.

[40:17] We Becky we drawn down all the

[40:21] SR funds and are they in is the Money in

[40:24] the Bank?

[40:25] No, they're on they're on a reimbursement basis. So

[40:28] as we make expenditures, we then draw it

[40:31] down.

[40:32] How how much money is still out there that of the

[40:35] 120 million dollars that the district

[40:38] was approved for how much money is still out

[40:41] there?

[40:42] The district 68 million was a lot of

[40:45] 60. That's the last report. I ran right on a reimbursement basis.

[40:50] Right. Okay six to eight million dollars is still out

[40:53] there that is owed to the district. It's a little more than that, but we're projected

[40:56] because they didn't pay us for for the

[40:59] fifth and six six weeks of 2122. We're

[41:02] projecting to to cover

[41:05] that budget with part of the Esser and so it's

[41:08] around 68 million. Yeah.

[41:11] It was a decision that tea made they only they only gave

[41:14] us the attendance rate based on our new enrollment

[41:17] for the first four six weeks.

[41:22] Why they're not they said

[41:25] we don't have the students and we're not going to pay you for

[41:28] students. You don't have and then on the fifth six

[41:31] weeks and six six weeks. They made us earn it the

[41:34] old way which was pre-covid, which was just based on

[41:37] attendance.

[41:39] Has a history of not putting anything in writing.

[41:43] They just tell you verbally and that's the way it is that that's unfortunate. But

[41:46] anyway, we have to live with something like

[41:49] that.

[41:52] any any

[41:54] any other item on the agenda other than your update Becky?

[41:58] No any questions any questions

[42:01] from anybody in the committee? Yes.

[42:09] To instruct in the last

[42:12] meeting, you know outside of protocol, but the parents

[42:15] for football glorico showed up Fine Arts,

[42:18] you know the band we requested

[42:21] for a while that the marching bands

[42:24] have even as small canopy to

[42:29] to sit down somebody that

[42:32] it leads to them sitting

[42:35] and not wanting to go back but I

[42:38] know that we have you know students that are very committed and they

[42:41] will use that, you know for to refresh themselves

[42:44] drink a little bit of water and go back so that

[42:47] working on there right but I

[42:50] just yeah, we've had students die

[42:53] another school districts correct from heat extension. We

[42:56] really have no x-ray vision.

[42:59] We don't know who's health is how so we just want to

[43:02] make sure that that if we have a

[43:05] an air condition baseball

[43:09] About engage that we can provide covering for

[43:12] those that need it. That's the Humane part

[43:15] that the humane way to

[43:18] behave with for towards those students. We had

[43:21] Folklorico students in for a year in a

[43:24] room without air conditioning. And so I

[43:27] want to make sure that you know, all those things are corrected and all of

[43:30] our students are treated equally regardless of their gender

[43:33] regardless of you know, ethnicity race

[43:37] Etc that PSJA we

[43:40] send a message that all of our students are the same that everyone

[43:43] is treated equally and whatever we do

[43:46] for some students if we take out some of the groups to Whataburger,

[43:49] you know, after practice, I

[43:52] think it should be the practice for all of our competitions or

[43:56] all of our competitors, especially because

[43:59] for example Folklorico has

[44:02] earned National accolades and

[44:05] the parents have to leave. I mean we've discussed it

[44:08] the

[44:09] Last time the rest of the board agreed that we have to

[44:12] move forward and help them out. So please look

[44:15] into I know that you give a fine arts

[44:18] budget last year was the same argument but at

[44:21] the end of the day, you know how they disburse it.

[44:24] It does not reflect a fair inequitive. Yeah,

[44:27] he equitative, you

[44:30] know budget for everyone. So

[44:33] thank you just to make sure that everyone is

[44:36] treated the same. Thank you very, well

[44:39] you let me come in before before you

[44:42] ask the questions.

[44:48] I am very sensitive.

[44:51] Obviously the students across the board.

[44:55] and what I would like to propose later in

[45:00] so we can include in the budget. I know how it works.

[45:04] The Fine Arts. The fine arts department gets a a

[45:07] certain amount of money.

[45:09] I know Mr. Taylor.

[45:13] Makes a decision on who gets what Etc.

[45:18] Also, we make a decision here in

[45:21] terms of how much each campus gets to run their

[45:24] campus which includes instructional.

[45:28] Fine Arts leadership counseling and guidance and all the

[45:31] components that are on the campus.

[45:33] So from there, I know principles make decisions, too.

[45:36] Okay.

[45:38] We just need to consider for example.

[45:42] Spending a little bit more money in the area of

[45:45] Fine Arts.

[45:47] with an allocation specifically to Fine Arts

[45:50] As used at the discretion of the

[45:53] people that lead the different departments.

[45:57] Theater is one drama is obviously together

[46:00] we have orchestra. We have

[46:03] banned we have Folklorico we

[46:06] have conjunto.

[46:09] We have a lot of stuff going on.

[46:11] My take on this is that and I

[46:14] know because I help them raise some money. They're having

[46:18] to raise money.

[46:20] You know by raffling things or donations, you

[46:23] know the band if you will they want

[46:26] to buy their they want to buy their truck their trailer. They're 18 wheeler,

[46:29] right?

[46:31] Yeah, they don't have one.

[46:33] Talking about the school this way.

[46:35] We probably have three we provide schools

[46:38] with their trailer and we have a you know, the band doesn't

[46:41] have their trailer over there. We provided. Yeah,

[46:44] I forgot about it. And we all

[46:47] all of the kids, you know, and let's let's

[46:50] work on that. I mean, I'm fully supportive of

[46:53] these these kids they need to

[46:56] Because when they establish an inventory an inventory

[46:59] of what they need, then it goes

[47:02] on year and year and they can add to the inventory.

[47:05] And but I know Mr. Taylor is as part of

[47:08] this and

[47:09] Budget and there's a process the principle

[47:12] needs to be involved. And so but

[47:15] I think that's yeah. I understand what

[47:18] you're saying. Thank you, but we've got to commit to this. I

[47:21] mean, it's good that we talk about it all the

[47:24] time, but we go back to the campuses and never happened about the

[47:28] canopies. You know how expensive

[47:31] would Academy to shelter students instead of

[47:34] them having to be hundred and two degree weather.

[47:37] It's dangerous. That's something that's within our

[47:40] means to take care of and take care of tomorrow.

[47:43] Okay Folklorico.

[47:47] I don't know what the budget is, but I think it's pennies.

[47:50] but it's it's shameful that our

[47:55] competitors are for glorical people

[47:58] have to go borrow dresses from other districts.

[48:02] Why is that happening?

[48:04] Why haven't we taking care of it already?

[48:06] That's what we have to do.

[48:08] You know, we spent thousands of dollars on other stuff.

[48:12] This is these are kids.

[48:15] Also we have to do and it's an immediate priority.

[48:19] We say we're going to do it. Well, let's do it. Like let's do it tomorrow.

[48:23] And I guess what we're trying to say is we put

[48:27] and and it's not Mr. Tyler because he

[48:31] gets the budget but it's still not as competitive as

[48:34] other areas and I understand that football baseball

[48:37] scores, you know recruit a

[48:40] lot of students, but if you look at the numbers drama for

[48:43] glorico, they recruit so

[48:46] many students and if we are number one, I

[48:49] have had students who come and say, you know, what is

[48:52] I want to go to this high school because I want to join and and

[48:56] they're they're trying to find those programs to

[48:59] join because we're known for being number one

[49:02] Mariachi, you know, all those all those

[49:05] if you will forgotten

[49:09] You know kids and also parents who

[49:12] feel that. Well, you know, I'm

[49:15] just gonna take out my kid and just put it in sports because they'll be

[49:18] able to get more resources. So if we can compare the

[49:21] sports budget to Fine

[49:24] Arts, very important as important and Fine Arts

[49:27] has the added benefit of math,

[49:30] you know, it trains students

[49:33] for you know, all of this

[49:36] skills that help with math Rhythm,

[49:39] you know County all of those that if

[49:42] we were to implement it since elementary

[49:45] it would be a great way to help kids

[49:48] with all of those skills that you know, that reinforce

[49:51] what they're learning in the classroom, right? What's

[49:55] going to ask you at some point in time or how soon

[49:58] will be able to discuss have authority discussion

[50:01] on our migrant program and where we headed

[50:04] with that?

[50:08] I don't know. Is it a perfect guy? I saw Christopher right now?

[50:11] I already did right go ahead

[50:15] just to you guys can answer we have we

[50:18] have seen a significant decrease in funding from

[50:21] the state for our migrant programs. We've explored

[50:24] several options. We're looking

[50:27] at figuring out a way to sustain the current

[50:30] resources that we have.

[50:32] I don't want to speak out of turn because I don't have the numbers top

[50:35] of my head. I know Dr. Contoo and I have been working diligently on

[50:38] on the numbers. However over the

[50:41] past five years. We have seen

[50:44] over 40% of the funding sources that

[50:47] were associated for migrant programs be removed

[50:50] by the state was

[50:53] Of different coding mechanisms that they've required

[50:56] now different ways of exiting students out of

[50:59] the migrant program as a matter of fact if I don't

[51:02] want to speak for superintendent, but we've discussed sending a

[51:05] meeting with the commissioner himself because we have the

[51:08] largest number of Migrant students in the state. We also run

[51:11] the Texas migrant Interstate program. So a lot of funding has

[51:14] been removed over the past five years. We've been

[51:17] able to figure out a way to budget for it in the

[51:20] last couple of years the post pandemic years. I

[51:23] guess what I'm asking you're telling me that we're going

[51:26] to you're looking at wait a sustain it and that's great. But

[51:30] Are we going to get some information before the school year starts these

[51:33] people need to know exactly what's going to happen to them at this

[51:36] point. Well our intends to keep everything as is and through

[51:39] attrition if positions leave people retire

[51:42] thinks that nature so it's not a scale down cut per se

[51:45] just if it happens through attrition, correct? That's what

[51:48] but they know that already that department knows that already. Yes.

[51:51] They're well aware of that if they're not we can definitely turn around and

[51:54] sustained for for this

[51:57] for this period And so they're

[52:00] not open the needles and we're looking at a way

[52:03] to go ahead and revivalize. Let me asking question before, you know, actually

[52:06] I can answer the questions because I used to I used

[52:09] to run my own programs here in the state of Texas.

[52:14] This goes back five six seven years the demographics

[52:17] have changed.

[52:19] We used to be the HUD bit of Migrant education

[52:22] here. In fact, we were Model A model

[52:25] program PSJA La Jolla X or anyway, we used

[52:29] to have five 6,000 micro students here, but that's been a few

[52:32] years ago.

[52:33] We have the Texas magnet Interstate program here,

[52:36] which is

[52:37] to me. It's a plus.

[52:39] because it brings us great Prestige here at

[52:42] the district and

[52:43] Was founded in 1980 and I was the first

[52:46] director of that program.

[52:48] A lot of things have changed migrants have become

[52:51] immigrants.

[52:52] Have become refugees, so they're not migrant. They

[52:55] don't meet criteria. They don't they don't meet eligibility criteria. So

[52:58] you're not a migrant anymore.

[53:00] The other is you didn't see families migrating anymore. You saw

[53:03] adult males migrating, but we don't

[53:06] educate adult males. We educate children. So you

[53:09] have to travel with your father your mother, whatever

[53:12] the family to be eligible. So the funding

[53:16] Has gone what's the fun? What is their budget right now?

[53:20] half a million

[53:21] half a million

[53:23] half a million

[53:27] Well, I'm familiar with

[53:30] it. And I know where we are. My point is

[53:33] that and I know I know the anxiety of staff.

[53:37] It's they have a bare-bone staff.

[53:40] But we still have about 800 micro kids.

[53:44] 800 850 we need to get that

[53:47] data. We need to get those numbers.

[53:49] But I I appreciate the fact that we are.

[53:53] You know in a sustainable mood. I appreciate the

[53:56] fact that you're wanting to meet with a commissioner and have a

[53:59] hard discussion. The commission doesn't know migrant. He doesn't does

[54:02] not understand migrant. He does not understand a lot

[54:05] of other things.

[54:08] We we need to work on that.

[54:11] Yes, we have this other issue again. It's

[54:14] like I said, we've gone from migrants to immigrants to

[54:17] refugees and on and on and

[54:20] on and it's become a huge political problem

[54:23] all over the all over the country and and you

[54:26] see it every day in the news, but unfortunately, we still

[54:29] have migrant children that have needs.

[54:31] Just like special ed children and other children. We

[54:34] still have those that qualify.

[54:38] But let us know sir. We need to know what's going on and

[54:42] I cannot get involved because of my position. I don't

[54:45] work for the state. I don't work for the district.

[54:48] I advocate for children.

[54:51] Any all children doesn't matter who they are. That's what

[54:54] I do. Just please what

[54:58] I'm one last question really real simple.

[55:01] Have we are we taking into consideration

[55:04] that just for right now all these people doing reading Academy?

[55:09] The individuals that are doing reading categies. We

[55:12] do have a we'll be bringing a compensation.

[55:15] Menu, yeah, that'll

[55:18] be part of the compensation manual that that will prove

[55:21] on the on the 15th. Okay, but this is

[55:24] the first part that we need to take care of this as you

[55:27] all know.

[55:28] The salary schedule we brought this up Mr. Villegas.

[55:31] We said that we

[55:34] in the super is you know gonna present us

[55:37] with a

[55:38] Plan to compensate. Okay at a

[55:41] certain level. All right. I just wanted to clarify that the tractor

[55:44] trailer. I believe we purchased it. I know there was

[55:47] an issue with transferring the title, but I think we clarified that

[55:50] right before we went on break. So I will

[55:53] follow up on that tractor trailer because that s*** already be at the campus

[55:56] trustee Villa the band parents are you

[55:59] know, they're calling me what we'll follow up on

[56:02] that it might be getting what we call wrapped to

[56:05] represent the school. But the tractor trailer

[56:08] should be done deal. I was surprised

[56:11] to hear that. It's still an issue. We'll follow up

[56:14] with that and make sure it's done on the canopies. I

[56:17] know I saw a request for supplies for that. I don't know how

[56:20] many or anything but that's being worked on

[56:23] as well.

[56:24] But the questions here with canopies. I

[56:27] know that last year when we brought this concern.

[56:31] The city of San Juan ended up lending a PSJA

[56:34] Early College High School one for

[56:37] events. I think we need to look at a

[56:40] more permanent option. I had

[56:43] brought up maybe having our

[56:46] own workers soldiers

[56:49] some of the structure, you know,

[56:52] we'll

[56:54] Fundraise, you know the school's confirmed will find

[56:57] Monies to do a permanent type

[57:00] of canopy that can you know,

[57:03] because every year we're gonna buy those that get blown by

[57:06] the wind and it's not going to be a permanent solution. So

[57:09] I think we all agree that it's a

[57:12] marching band is not going anywhere and

[57:15] it hasn't and right it has that

[57:18] the district has you know, so we're going to

[57:21] find out we have a situation.

[57:25] trustee Gutierrez web situation where unfortunately some

[57:29] Example Memorial High School band practices on

[57:32] the parking lot, right?

[57:35] It's tough. So so in the

[57:38] case of Memorial I'm sleeping for elbow.

[57:42] It'd be tough to put a permanent canopy in

[57:45] their parking lot, which is a student parking lot and we're

[57:48] gonna put soccer field baseball fields Etc. Something could

[57:51] be done.

[57:53] But that's something that we need to consider. We are

[57:57] we are investing on the we are visiting on

[58:00] the on the athletic football fields,

[58:03] that could be used. Okay for the

[58:06] band to practice when they're not when the football

[58:09] players are not there so which is usually in the evening. Okay, they can

[58:12] turn on the lights and they can practice like our dual level saying

[58:16] And it is well. Okay.

[58:21] Listen, it's a

[58:24] yes, sir.

[58:28] I believe the situation you bring you brought up. It's been addressed

[58:31] and even poor in concrete slab this weekend. Okay,

[58:34] so there's a signs

[58:37] there and and that's on underway.

[58:40] I try to be fair. Obviously,

[58:43] I am not fair all the time. But I just want to say that I

[58:46] was not aboard when Mr.

[58:49] Fox was hired. I did not

[58:52] vote for him. It's I mean it's record, but

[58:55] I want to say that I am very impressed.

[58:59] Where the professionalism and the care

[59:02] he has taken to make sure that across

[59:05] the board. Everyone is treated the same.

[59:08] I want to congratulate you. I am very impressed.

[59:11] I am very happy I tell you all the time whenever I see you, we

[59:14] had a conversation you said and for I

[59:17] want the public to know you told me give me an opportunity. I know

[59:20] I was not your pig give us an opportunity

[59:23] to work with a district and you have

[59:26] and you address any issue that you

[59:29] know that we bring up, you know, you come back and give

[59:32] us feedback send us pictures the staff are

[59:35] you know, just everyone to know

[59:38] discover, you know thumbs up showing the work that

[59:41] they have done the repair so I'm very impressed.

[59:44] And I bring it up because I want to recognize you in

[59:47] public for for all of everyone but I know

[59:50] that you have done a lot of great work out

[59:53] there. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you noted all

[59:56] excited Echo. That's good. Hey,

[59:59] oh any more any more accolades accommendations

[1:00:02] to

[1:00:05] always

[1:00:09] making sure that we keep students at the

[1:00:12] Forefront of everything we're doing they were keeping our employees safe.

[1:00:15] I commend the dialogue and everything

[1:00:18] that we're doing to ensure that we're number one encompensation

[1:00:21] as a district and we're ensuring that

[1:00:24] we have the resources where they need to be which is

[1:00:27] in the classroom that ensure that we're making

[1:00:30] sure that our students achieve at the highest level. We have

[1:00:33] some positive news that's going to be coming out real soon. We don't

[1:00:36] want to get too far ahead. But I'm really proud of

[1:00:39] everybody that represents

[1:00:42] PSJA.

[1:00:44] Starting from the school board all the way to all

[1:00:47] our employees at all levels.

[1:00:50] Sir, and on my behalf, first of all, thank you.

[1:00:54] and thank you for your involvement your participation and

[1:00:58] Things are looking I'm very I'm very

[1:01:01] optimistic not cautiously, but very optimistic

[1:01:04] in the upcoming school year for

[1:01:07] a lot of reasons.

[1:01:09] We are going to make a really strong effort to recruit the

[1:01:12] three four five year olds which constitute

[1:01:15] half of the students. We are missing.

[1:01:20] It's half of them the three four and

[1:01:23] five year olds. They need to be vaccinated.

[1:01:26] We're making a big push for that parents need to know and

[1:01:29] understand that we want them back, but they want they need to send them to

[1:01:32] school, but we want to vaccinated so that everybody will be

[1:01:35] safe in a good safe learning environment

[1:01:38] in school in a learning environment. So

[1:01:41] it's about eight to nine hundred students. Trust

[1:01:44] me between three and four or five year olds.

[1:01:47] that we miss and if we can do that then go

[1:01:50] a long way to getting the budget where we think

[1:01:53] it should come so but more importantly we need to

[1:01:56] Educate them in a classroom setting more than

[1:01:59] anything else.

[1:02:00] So with that I'm going to ask for a motion to a journalist as the

[1:02:03] last minute question. I'm a journey of motion motion to

[1:02:06] adjourner Second all those in favor say I I was

[1:02:09] supposed same sign meetings adjourned. I

[1:02:12] think there's there's lunch.

PSJA ISD School Board Budget Committee Meeting: July 27, 2022

Transcript