[00:00:10]
551.041. SUBCHAPTER C GOVERNMENT CODE IS AMENDED BY THE 73RD LEGISLATURE.PURSUANT TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.
A REQUEST FOR OFFICIAL ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MR. TRUSTEE PLACE ONE NEDRA ROBINSON.
PRESENT. TRUSTEE PLACE TWO DR.
PRESENT. TRUSTEE PLACE THREE DR.
GO EAGLE. TRUSTEE PLACE FOUR JW DAVIS.
PRESENT. TRUSTEE PLACE FIVE DARYL R.
TRUSTEE PLACE SIX GARY GRASSIA.
TRUSTEE PLACE SEVEN KELICIA STEVENSON AND SUPERINTENDENT DR.
PRESENT. THANK YOU, MR. KIRCHNER. I EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE PRESENT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE BOARD ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE'RE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US AS WE CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENT, REVIEW INFORMATION AND MAKE POLICY DECISIONS RELATED TO THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF CROWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE DECORUM AND COURTESY ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS AT EFFECTIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES OR COMMUNICATION DEVICES BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PROCEEDINGS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN CROWLEY ISD SCHOOLS.
AT THIS TIME, AGENDA 2.0 IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[3.0 Superintendent Report]
DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS.DEFINITELY GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF UPDATES WITH YOU.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK REPORT.
AND SO WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. MUHAMMAD AND THE WORK THAT THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT TEAM HAS BEEN DOING.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY, I THINK A POSITIVE FOR US TO BE MAKING SURE WE'RE CREATING VOTERS FOR LIFE.
ALSO DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK MS. LANE AND THE STUDENT SERVICES TEAM.
WE HELD OUR FAITH BASED ALLIANCE MEETING YESTERDAY AND WE HAD ABOUT 31 REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT MINISTRIES HERE IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS DISTRICT OFFICIALS, OUR DISTRICT PERSONNEL, SEVERAL NEW PRINCIPALS GOT A CHANCE TO MEET MINISTERS AND OTHERS IN THE AREA.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
WE ALSO REALLY CONTINUE ALONG THE LINES OF ADVOCACY AND INFLUENCE.
I THINK IT'S SEPTEMBER 7TH OR SEPTEMBER 6TH, SEPTEMBER 6TH, NEXT WEEK TEA TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY WILL BE HOSTING A SITE VISIT TO CROWLEY ISD.
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED US AS ONE OF THE SHOWCASE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE NAMES OF THE DISTRICTS THAT WILL BE HERE.
AND JUST TO SAY THAT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, WE'RE GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY INFLUENCE WHAT HAPPENS IN CROWLEY ISD AND IN TARRANT COUNTY, BUT REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE. COPPERAS COVE ISD, CLINT ISD, SHERMAN ISD, WORTHAM ISD AND NORMANGEE ISD, CROCKETT ISD, VAN VLECK ISD, REFUGIO ISD, MEXIA ISD, AZLE ISD, KENNEDALE ISD, SHERMAN ISD.
THEY WILL HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM WILL BE HERE.
AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES COMING FROM EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER, EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER, NUMBER THREE, NUMBER 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 9, 12, 19, AND NUMBER 20.
AND SO I SHARE THAT WITH YOU BOARD JUST TO REALLY KIND OF AFFIRM THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND THE STATE IS RECOGNIZING PEOPLE, ARE RECOGNIZING, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO WE ALSO INVITE YOU ALL OUT.
WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION EARLIER THAT MORNING, ABOUT 830 OR SO.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE LUNCH TIME WHERE WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM.
SO DEFINITELY AVAILABLE AND WE'LL BE ON YOUR CALENDARS.
BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU BOARD IS JUST REALLY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
[00:05:03]
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY CHALLENGING THE ACTIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS IT RELATES TO THE 2023 ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.WE'RE DEFINITELY HAD SPENT ALL DAY TODAY LOOKING AT OUR RESULTS.
AND WHAT WE SAW IS THAT IN THE AREA OF READING, WE HAVE RECOVERED SIGNIFICANTLY TO WHERE WE ARE.
WE ARE AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
MATH IS STILL A CHALLENGE FOR US AND WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH MATH.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR THE 22 TO 23 SCHOOL YEAR IS JUST SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE A I BELIEVE, A MORAL, ETHICAL AND A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE A STAND TO CHALLENGE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK.
AND SO PARTICULARLY THE LEGISLATION SAYS THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT.
IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT IN THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE SYSTEM.
BUT NOT ONLY PARENTS, THE TEACHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY UNDERSTAND IT AND THAT ADMINISTRATORS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AT THIS LEVEL, AT THE BOARD LEVEL, THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY UNDERSTAND THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND REALLY THAT IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW THINGS ARE CALCULATED, HOW THINGS ARE AWARDED, AND WE JUST SIMPLY TAKE A POSITION THAT IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE IT IS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED AND IT'S THE DECISIONS ARE STILL NOT FINAL YET. SO WE'RE CHALLENGING ON THAT PART.
WE'RE ASKING THE JUDGE TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT TRANSPARENT.
AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY BECAUSE NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET, BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IN ITS CURRENT STATE IS GOING TO PROVIDE VALID INFORMATION OR RELIABLE INFORMATION. VALID MEANING THAT IT'S NOT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT TO MEASURE WHAT IT SAYS, WHAT IT'S INTENDED TO MEASURE BASED ON THE WAY THEY'RE CURRENTLY STRUCTURING IT.
AND RELIABILITY IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO USE THIS ASSESSMENT, THE ASSESSMENT RESULTS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS IN OUR SYSTEM, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS ARE, WHAT THEY MEAN BEFORE WE BEGIN TO COMMIT RESOURCES, BEFORE WE HIRE PEOPLE, BEFORE WE ASSIGN STAFF, BEFORE WE ASSIGN PROGRAMING. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT WE ARE THREE WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, PROBABLY GETTING READY TO START THE FOURTH WEEK.
WE ARE WELL BEYOND THE HIRING PROCESS.
AND NEITHER CAN WE MAKE ANY KIND OF MODIFICATIONS ON OUR STRATEGIES GOING FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE STILL UNSURE ABOUT HOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE APPLIED TO THE PRIOR YEAR'S RESULTS. AND SO IT'S JUST IT JUST CREATES A, YOU KNOW, A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US AS IT RELATES TO THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY.
AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT'S REQUIRED AS IT RELATES TO THE LEGISLATION IS TIMELINESS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE KNOW ABOUT BY AUGUST 16TH.
THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR, AND IT SAYS BY AUGUST 16TH THAT WE SHOULD KNOW AND BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE MEASURED, HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ASSESSED, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MEASURED ON, HOW THE WEIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE APPLIED, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE TEA, WE KNOW THEY'RE WORKING HARD, BUT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
BUT THE REALITY IS THE DECISIONS ARE NOT TIMELY.
WE DON'T KNOW. AND SO WE'RE FOCUSED ON JUST REALLY DOING THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IT WORKS.
AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT AN ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT'S NOT CLEAR, THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENT, THAT'S NOT VALID, NOT RELIABLE AND NOT TIMELY WILL SEND MESSAGES TO OUR PARENTS AND TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE COUNTER TO THE FACT THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE WORKING REALLY HARD.
OUR STUDENTS ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
AND WE BELIEVE A SYSTEM SHOULD REPORT THAT.
SO BOARD THOSE ARE OUR POSITIONS.
AS IT RELATES TO THE LAWSUIT, AGAIN, WE WERE ONE OF THE SEVEN THAT STARTED THE LAWSUIT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT ARE JOINING.
AND I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE GO.
AGAIN, THANK YOU BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT UP TO THIS POINT.
THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS BASED ON STAAR RESULTS AND GRADUATION RATE PRETTY MUCH.
WELL, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IN OUR DISTRICT, IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE OTHER METRICS THAT MATTER.
[00:10:08]
WE REALLY ARE LOOKING AT CREATING A SCHOOL QUALITY REPORT.AND THERE ARE SOME METRICS THAT WE BELIEVE MATTERS THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US THAT MATTER.
AND WHAT I WANT TO DEFINITELY OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW AND SHARE EVEN MORE AS WE FINALIZE.
WE'LL HAVE AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU LATER, BUT I WANT TO JUST SHARE WITH YOU THE METRICS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION THAT MATTERS TO US AND THAT WE'RE CREATING A SCHOOL QUALITY REPORT CARD THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE ABLE TO RELEASE WITHIN THREE WEEKS.
THAT WILL GIVE YOU WHERE WE BELIEVE WE ARE BASED ON THE DATA.
AND SO THOSE METRICS ARE REALLY LISTED ON HERE.
OUR ACADEMICS, OF COURSE, WE'LL CONSIDER THE STAAR RESULTS.
WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY.
ENROLLMENT, TEACHER INFORMATION.
AND SO THAT'S A PART OF THAT AS WELL.
ATTENDANCE, THE ATTENDANCE RATE IS CRITICAL AND THEN ALSO PARENT AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW, REPORTS WILL BE PROVIDED.
ON THIS DOCUMENT EACH SCHOOL WILL HAVE A SCHOOL QUALITY REPORT CARD.
IF YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, WE'LL HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR POSITION IS NOT THAT WE'RE AGAINST ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND THE DECISIONS IN HOW WE'RE ASSESSING AND BEING ASSESSED SHOULD BE TIMELY.
THANK YOU BOARD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
THANK YOU. DR. MCFARLAND THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW AND WE'RE CERTAINLY ALIGNED AS A BOARD AND THIS DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THE DECISIONS THAT YOU PRESENTED TO US FOR ALL OF THOSE VALID REASONS.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE RESEARCH.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO PARTICIPATE BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE AGAIN, THANK YOU, DR.
MCFARLAND. WE'LL MOVE ON AND WE WILL GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[4.0 Consent Agenda]
THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS. SO AGENDA ITEM 4.1 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.4.3 THE 2023 2024 TEACHER APPRAISERS.
THE AGENDA ITEM 4.4 PARAEDUCATOR TO TEACHER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
4.5 2023 2024 STUDENT FEES, FINES AND CHARGES.
4.6 PURCHASE OF SAFETY ITEMS FOR ALL CAMPUSES.
4.7 TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT DESIGNATING NON-BUSINESS DAYS FOR 2023 AND 2024 CALENDAR YEARS AND 4.8 THE BOARD POLICY UPDATE 121.
AT THIS TIME BOARD ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
WAS THAT A FUTURE ACTION ITEM? YES, A FUTURE ACTION ITEM LAST WEEK.
SO MY QUESTION LAST WEEK WAS REGARDING CHEER DRILL TEAM AND DANCE, AND LOOKING AT SEEING HOW WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF THOSE FEES FOR PARENTS.
I KNOW THAT OTHER SPORTS, THEY'RE COVERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL, THE UNIFORMS AND ATHLETIC BAGS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE OTHER PERFORMANCES FOR THE YOUNG LADIES, THEY'RE NOT.
ALSO, I THINK ON THE FLIER WAS ON HERE, BUT THE RENTAL IS $9, SO I JUST WANTED US TO REEVALUATE SOME OF THOSE FEES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. WHAT? ALL RIGHT. SO, YEAH, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THOSE FORWARD.
AND THERE'S ACTUALLY SEVERAL THERE'S SEVERAL ON THERE THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT AND EVALUATING.
[00:15:02]
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS WITH WHERE WE ARE IN THE YEAR AS WE EVALUATE THEM, WE CAN BRING THOSE BACK THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED.BUT WE HAVE LOOKED OVER ALL OF THEM AT THIS POINT, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE THAT ARE INCREASING FROM LAST YEAR, THOSE THAT ARE DECREASING, BUT ALSO KNOW THERE'S STILL A CONCERN ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT THE CONCERN I'VE HAD IS THAT IN SOME CASES WE HAVE ATHLETICS AND OTHER OTHER ACTIVITIES WHERE WE WHERE WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS AND OTHER THINGS FOR KIDS AND THEN OTHERS WE DON'T.
THE ONE YOU KNOW, DIFFERENTIATION IS THAT IN THOSE CASES WHERE WE PROVIDE UNIFORMS, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY PROPERTY OF THE DISTRICT AND WHERE THEY'RE PAYING ADDITIONAL FEES IN MOST CASES, NOT ALL, BUT IN MOST CASES, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. BUT WHAT WE'LL REVIEW THE ONES THAT YOU LISTED HONOR CHOIR, CHEER DRILL TEAM AND DANCE.
YES. HONOR CHOIR UNIFORMS REPLACEMENT ARE OVER 15 OR 20 YEARS OLD.
OKAY. YES, MA'AM. WE'LL DEFINITELY PUT THAT ON OUR AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DO HAVE A COMMENT AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
MCFARLAND, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE FOOTBALL UNIFORMS AND BASKETBALL UNIFORMS ARE PROPERTY OF THE DISTRICT, SO THEY ARE USED MULTIPLE YEARS AND.
SOME OF THE ITEMS, MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE PROPERTY OF THE DISTRICT.
AND THEY USE MULTIPLE YEARS UNLESS THEY'RE AT THE END OF A CYCLE.
OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING, AND AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO REDUCE.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT SPORTS AS COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES, THEY ARE REVENUE GENERATING, IS THAT RIGHT? AND SO.
THAT IS A CONSIDERATION FOR SURE.
AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE DON'T ACTUALLY CHARGE FEES FOR THEM.
RIGHT. AND I KNOW SPEAKING WITH MISS LAWTON, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
LAWTON CAN YOU COME UP AND JUST ADDRESS IT? GOOD EVENING. WHICH ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST? HONOR CHOIR.
SO JUST AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, THERE WERE SOME DEPARTMENTS WHO NOW EVERYBODY HAS BUDGET MONEY.
SO SOME OF THESE FEES ARE GOING TO BE OFFSET.
FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE GIVEN THE CHEERLEADERS NEEDED A CHOREOGRAPHER FOR THEIR UIL ROUTINE AND SO NOW THEY HAVE THAT $3,000 FEE THAT CAME FROM THE FINE ARTS BUDGET.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CHEERLEADING FEE ARE GOING TO BE THOSE WEARABLE ITEMS WHERE THEY'RE LIKE BLOOMERS AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PERSONAL AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT HOME.
AND SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT TYPICALLY PARENTS ARE OKAY WITH RECYCLING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE CAMP FEES.
THAT INCLUDES TRAVEL AND FOOD.
AND SO, YES, THEIR FEES SEEM PRETTY HIGH, BUT THEY IT COVERS THEM FOR A YEAR ROUND.
AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS.
IT'S NOT JUST LIKE JUST THE JUST THE WEARABLE THING THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THEIR BODIES.
FOR HONOR CHOIR, WE HAVE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL, REQUESTED A PROPOSAL FROM THE HONOR CHOIR DIRECTOR, AND SHE GAVE US A COUPLE QUOTES AND WE LOOKED AT A FEW VENDORS.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS UPDATING THAT UNIFORM.
THAT WAS LIKE THE FIRST FEEDBACK THAT I GOT WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE DISTRICT.
SO OVERALL, THEY DO HAVE THEIR THEIR TUXEDOS AND THEIR DRESSES, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A SHOW CHOIR OUTFIT AND THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY OPTIONS. SO WE ARE IN A PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WE THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR THEM.
THANK YOU. ONE THING THAT I THINK I MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING AS WELL IS INSTRUMENTS FOR THE LOWER GRADES IN BAND AND MUSIC AND THE THINGS THEY NEED IS THAT IN THE RECYCLE OR MIC]. REPLACEMENT CYCLE.
YES. SO IS THAT INCLUDED? IT IS. SO FOR ELEMENTARY THEY HAVE ORFF INSTRUMENTS.
[00:20:03]
SO I SENT OUT A REQUEST FOR IT WAS LIKE A BUDGET SURVEY FROM EVERY TEACHER.I ONLY HAD ONE CAMPUS WHO SAID THEY NEEDED SOME UPDATED ORFF INSTRUMENTS.
THOSE ARE XYLOPHONES AND SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE ROOM.
SO I NEED TO GET A QUOTE FOR THOSE TO SEE WHAT THAT WILL COST.
THANK YOU TRUSTEE DAVIS AND TRUSTEE ROBINSON.
WELL, AGAIN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT HEARING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE A QUESTION REAL QUICK.
SO DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION OR TO COME BACK ON THE UPDATES OF UNIFORMS AND EVERYTHING? OR DO WE JUST NEED TO APPROVE IT AS IT IS? I BELIEVE WE NEED TO APPROVE IT AS IS BECAUSE IT'S A FUTURE ACTION ITEM.
POLICY. WE'RE VOTING ON IT TONIGHT.
SO I GUESS I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE COMMENT AND I MAY HAVE GOTTEN OFF OF.
ARE YOU INQUIRING ABOUT THE COST, THE AMOUNT OF THE [INAUDIBLE] COST PROHIBITIVE FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION WITH REGARDS TO THIS YEAR? I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CHEER AND [INAUDIBLE] WERE THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.
YES, IT MAY BE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR SOME FAMILIES, BUT ALSO IT SEEMS LIKE A DISPARITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT DRILL, CHEER AND DANCE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE COMPARED TO ATHLETICS.
PARENTS ARE PAYING SO MUCH MORE AND THEY START PAYING THOSE FEES IN THE SUMMER AND THEN SOMETIMES SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN TO A GIRL WHERE SHE MAY HAVE TO DROP OUT OR SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T RECEIVE A REFUND OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE FEES.
AND SO I WAS WONDERING, BECAUSE THEY DO PARTICIPATE IN UIL.
ALSO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT COSTS THAT PARENTS DO HAVE TO ALLOCATE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THOSE ACTIVITIES? BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO PARTICIPATE, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD $1,500 OR $2,000 AND YOU'RE DOING FUNDRAISERS OR WHATEVER.
WHAT CAN WE DO ON OUR END? SO I DO I KNOW THAT YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT DOCUMENT AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I DO CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE ROBINSON WITH I DON'T EVER WANT IT TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN EXPENSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE INCURRED.
AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT A DOLLAR SIGN AND IT JUST SAYS, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH CHEER OR DRILL TEAM OR SOMETHING ADVANCED OF THAT NATURE TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN CREATIVE AND SOLUTION ORIENTED AND FINDING A WAY.
OKAY. JUST I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT IS OUT THERE.
AND SO WHAT I AM SUGGESTING THAT WE DO IS THAT WE GO FORWARD AND APPROVE THE FEES AS THEY ARE.
BUT THEN THAT I BRING YOU BACK A WAY TO ADDRESS THE COST.
AND IT MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN CREATE WE COULD CREATE A SITUATION TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF THERE IS ASSISTANCE NEEDED GOING FORWARD THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE BRING THE BUDGET BACK FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE ADDRESS IT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE BUDGET TIME.
BUT IF THERE ARE PARENTS THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH IT, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM.
I CAN BRING YOU BACK KIND OF A RECOMMENDATION TO DEAL WITH THOSE.
HALL. AND I'LL ALSO ASK AND TRUSTEE STEVENSON, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS RELATED TO ANY OF THE ITEMS? NO. ALL RIGHT.
THIS REQUIRES A RECOMMENDATION.
SO I THINK SOMEONE HAD VOLUNTEERED TO RECOMMEND OR PLACE A MOTION.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM PRESIDENT, I RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
[00:25:03]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU TRUSTEE DAVIS.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
MCFARLAND, THANK YOU FOR OFFERING TO BRING THE EXTRA RESEARCH BACK FOR THE NEXT MEETING
[5.0 Consideration and Possible Action Item (s)]
. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE AT OUR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM 5.1, WHICH IS THE ADOPTION OF THE 2023 2024 TAX RATE.MCFARLAND MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS.
MR. FISHER, WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS ITEM.
MCFARLAND. GOOD EVENING, MADAM BOARD PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR MAXIMUM COMPRESSED TAX RATE FROM TEA.
WE'VE ADDED OUR APPROXIMATELY 14 PENNIES THAT WERE APPROVED BACK IN 2012 FROM THE TRE, AND WE ARE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD TONIGHT A TAX RATE OF $1 WELL 1.2575, IF YOU WILL, APPROXIMATELY $1.26 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUATION.
YOU'LL SEE THAT AS A REDUCTION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND, WHICH IS USED TO PAY BACK ALL OF OUR DEBT.
AS YOU REMEMBER, BOARD, WE SPOKE TO THIS DURING THE BOND PROGRAM.
WE AGAIN ARE PRESENTING THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND AT 0.5 OR $0.50.
THE TOTAL TAX RATE, AGAIN, WILL BE 1.2575 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUATION.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS QUESTIONS, I'LL ENTERTAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY SHOW THE TREND OF OUR TAX RATE.
AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS THE 6 OR 7 YEAR TREND OF A DECREASING AGGREGATE TAX RATE.
YOU HEARD ME SAY WE KEPT THE I&S TAX RATE STABLE AT $0.50.
THAT HAS POSITIONED US TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AS FAR AS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BUT WE LOWERED THE M&O TAX RATE CONSISTENTLY OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. FISHER. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION THAT ON THIS DATE, AUGUST 31ST, 2023, WE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CROWLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, HEREBY LEVY OR SET THE TAX RATE FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE TAX YEAR 2023 AT A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 1.2575 TO BE ASSESSED AND COLLECTED BY THE DULY SPECIFIED ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR AS FOLLOWS 0.7575 FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND 0.500 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON DEBT.
SUCH TAXES ARE TO BE ASSESSED AND COLLECTED BY THE TAX OFFICIALS DESIGNATED BY THE DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA.
ALL RIGHT. MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. OUR SECOND ITEM, 5.2.
THE RESOLUTION CLAIMING A GOOD CAUSE EXCEPTION UNDER HOUSE BILL THREE FROM THE 88TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND ESTABLISHING AN ALTERNATIVE STANDARD FOR CAMPUS SAFETY.
PRESIDENT, AND BOARD MEMBERS, MR. KIRCHNER PREPARED TO ADDRESS THIS DISCUSSION.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR.MCFARLAND. THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT ALIGNS WITH ALL THREE DISTRICT GOALS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD CAUSE SECTION AND THEN THE ALTERNATIVE STANDARD.
OUR EXCEPTION IS TWOFOLD THE LACK OF FUNDING, THIS BEING AN UNDERFUNDED MANDATE AFTER OUR BUDGET WAS PASSED, AND THEN ALSO LACK OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF HAVING AN ARMED SECURITY PERSON IN EVERY CAMPUS.
SO OUR ALTERNATIVE STANDARD THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS TO PROPOSE IS TO CONTINUE UTILIZING OUR 14 OFFICERS FROM THE CROWLEY ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT, MONITOR AND PATROL ALL CAMPUSES DAILY.
IN ADDITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR UP TO 15 CAMPUS MONITORS TO BECOME COMMISSIONED SECURITY OFFICERS UPON THEIR COMPLETION OF DPS LEVEL THREE TRAINING COURSES.
SO THERE IS THE ALTERNATIVE STANDARD AND THE GOOD CAUSE EXCEPTION THAT WE PRESENTED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. YES.
SO IN THIS LEVEL THREE, ARE THEY ABLE TO CARRY WEAPONS OR IS THAT PART OF THE TRAINING? YES, MA'AM, THAT IS CORRECT.
THE LEVEL THREE DPS TRAINING IS WHAT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE THAT WEAPON.
AND HOW LONG IS THAT TRAINING? CHIEF MASTON? A WEEK LONG.
I DO. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE FOR THE SECOND ONE? OH, NO, I'M SORRY. NOT THE SECOND ONE WHERE YOU WERE.
SO IF THE TRAINING IS ONE WEEK, IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL TRAINING? I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TRAINING THE CAMPUS MONITORS ALREADY RECEIVE.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT TRAINING.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, BACKGROUND CHECKS, THINGS? I MEAN, IS THERE ADDITIONAL LEVEL ONCE THEY MOVE INTO A DIFFERENT CATEGORY? [INAUDIBLE] MADAM BOARD PRESIDENT, SO TO BE A LEVEL THREE SECURITY GUARD, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DPS TRAINING, WHICH IS ABOUT A WEEK LONG FIREARMS COURSE AND ALL THAT.
AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM.
I WOULD NOT PUT ANYBODY ON THAT CAMPUS TO DO ANY LESS THAN WHAT WE DO WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM, DRUG TESTS AND ALL THAT.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, COMPETENT ENOUGH TO HOLD A WEAPON [INAUDIBLE].
SO WITH THIS COURSE OR ACTUALLY WITH THESE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CAMPUS, IS THERE WHAT IS ARE WE PAYING THE FEE OR IS THE STATE PAYING THE FEE? AND IF SO, WHAT IS THE IF WE'RE PAYING, HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING? IT'S ABOUT $250 PER PERSON AND IT'S US BECAUSE WE WANT TO HOLD THAT LICENSE.
WE WANT TO HOLD, HAVE THEM BONDED UNDER US.
250 FOR THE LICENSE AND THE TRAINING.
YES. AND ABOUT $100 FOR THE PSYCH AND CARE NOW IS ABOUT $25 FOR THE DRUG SCREEN.
SO A TOTAL OF $375 PER PERSON.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].
AND THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, ARE THEY HIRED BY THE DISTRICT OR ARE THEY HIRED? BY THE DISTRICT? OKAY. THANK YOU.
TRUSTEE ROBINSON. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ADDRESSED WAS THE UNDERFUNDING BY THE STATE.
DO YOU MIND ADDRESSING THAT? HOW MUCH THE STATE ALLOCATED TOWARDS HOUSE BILL 3 OVERALL AND THEN PER CAMPUS.
[00:35:02]
UNDERFUNDS OUR CAMPAIGN TO HAVE A ARMED PERSON ON EACH CAMPUS.YES. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
SO THIS 40 HOUR WEEK TRAINING, THIS IS TO RECEIVE THE LEVEL THREE.
CERTIFICATION THANK YOU. DO THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS ALREADY LICENSED TO CARRY? BECAUSE AND THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY LICENSED TO CARRY, ISN'T THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RECEIVE BEFORE THEY GO GET THE. NO.
SO THE LICENSE TO CARRY IS A PART OF THE LEVEL OF TRAINING.
OKAY. I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.
DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO CARRY ANYMORE? THEY DO. THEY DO, YES.
OKAY. SO BUT ANY JOE Q CITIZEN DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE.
BUT THEY CAN'T COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
OKAY. THERE'S A LAW POSTED ON EVERYDAY.
RIGHT. BUT I'M JUST THE RIGHT TO CARRY IS THE QUESTION I HAD BECAUSE JOE Q CITIZEN DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO CARRY, RIGHT? NO MA'AM.
YOU GOOD. I DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
I DID WANT EVERYBODY TO ASK A QUESTION.
DO YOU KNOW JUST WHAT OTHER WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT SURROUNDING DISTRICTS OR DISTRICTS OF LIKE SIZE MIGHT BE DOING? OR IS THIS JUST LIKE A SIMILAR PRACTICE? I KNOW IN SOME DISTRICTS THEY'RE JUST THEY'RE ALLOWING TEACHERS TO CARRY.
THERE ARE LESS THAN 500 SCHOOL MARSHALS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND SO MOST MOST PEOPLE AREN'T DOING IT.
NOW, MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING, YOU KNOW, ARMED SECURITY AND PHASING IT IN.
A FEW HAVE BEEN STRICTLY POLICE OFFICERS FOR.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WILL BE WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING AN ARMEDCAMPUS MONITOR AS OPPOSED TO ARMED SECURITY? WELL, IF I COULD ASK THAT QUESTION.
YEAH. SO WHAT WE DID WAS KIND OF LOOKED AT MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
AND SO FOR US, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE HALL MONITOR PER EVERY CAMPUS ALREADY.
SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO IS CHANGE THAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THAT POSITION AND WORK WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE HALL MONITORS ALREADY TO BECOME LICENSED TO CARRY IN A SCHOOL. TWO REASONS.
RIGHT. AND SO WE CAN'T JUST GO AND GRAB A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER THAT HASN'T BEEN AROUND KIDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO DO LUNCH DUTY AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT A HALL MONITOR DOES.
I THINK THE CHIEF IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE 4 THAT ALREADY LICENSED TO CARRY.
AND SO OUR GOAL WAS TO EXPLAIN TO THE ONES THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT LICENSED TO CARRY THAT IF THEY DECIDED NOT TO GET LICENSED, THEN THEY CAN MOVE UP TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCELLENT ARMED OFFICERS AND ARMED SECURITY AT THAT LEVEL.
AND SO WE JUST NEED TIME TO GET TO 15.
WE'LL HAVE FOUR IN A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THEN THE GOAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO 15.
AND RELATIONSHIPS. AND RELATIONSHIPS.
ABSOLUTELY. MY QUESTION IS AND I WAS THINKING OF HOW TO ASK THIS SO IT MAY NOT HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT IS THERE AN IMPACT ON INSURANCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? DOES IT COST US MORE TO INSURE? TEA ALLOWS US TO BOND? OKAY. THANK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM.
[00:40:01]
MADAM PRESIDENT I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BOARD THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT.
[6.0 Executive Session]
MY APOLOGIES TO AGENDA ITEM 6.4, WHICH IS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.074 PROPERTY.I WANT TO JUST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE CONSTRUCTED WHEN THE DISTRICT CONSTRUCTED THIS BESS RACE ELEMENTARY, THERE WAS A JOINT THERE WAS A JOINT PARTNERSHIP CREATED BETWEEN THE CITY, THE DEVELOPER AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THERE WAS A COST SHARING AGREEMENT FOR THE UTILITIES THERE IN THE AREA.
AND WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT WE'RE A PARTY TO THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND THE DEVELOPER IS NOW APPROACHING US ABOUT MAKING A MODIFICATION TO THE COVENANT TO INCLUDE OR TO ALLOW FOR FOR MULTI FAMILY HOMES.
CURRENTLY IT IS COMMERCIAL AND SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR OUR PERMISSION IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT WE ARE PART OF AGREEMENT BASED ON THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE.
AND SO THIS ITEM HERE IS REALLY A RESOLUTION THAT WILL GIVE A PARTIAL RELEASE OF THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT SO THAT THE MULTI FAMILY FACILITY COULD BE PLACED ON THAT SPOT IN LIEU OF OR IN ADDITION TO THE COMMERCIAL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND.
MR. FISHER, DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? AS USUAL, MY SUPERINTENDENT DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
ALL RIGHT. BOARD ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS RESOLUTION? MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE A QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE CALIBER OF MULTI FAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE DEVELOPER? YES, SIR, WE DO.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 305 TOWNHOMES.
THE CITY REQUIRES A MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 1200 SQUARE FEET.
SOME OF THE TWO STORY TOWNHOMES WILL BE 2400FT².
MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE TWO CAR GARAGES.
AND I THINK I SAID THAT WOULD BE 305, 305 THAT ARE PLANNED.
AND HERE IS SOME OF THE RENDERINGS OF THE ELEVATIONS.
AND DO WE KNOW IF THESE ARE TO RENT OR TO PURCHASE? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.
ONE OTHER INFORMATION I SEE IS THERE, IS THERE, THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT ON THE IS THAT A MASONRY WALL? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE? IT IS.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. TICKING ALL THE BOXES.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD AND JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION, THE CLEAR DIRECTION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AS IT RELATES TO BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPEN IN OUR AREA.
BECAUSE YOU ALL RAISED THE QUESTION.
IT CAUSED US TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT.
SO IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO PARTIALLY RELEASE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT FOR ZONING ORDINANCE NUMBER
[00:45:07]
01-2022-450 FROM NEW WAY DEVELOPMENT AS PRESENTED.IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND. THANK YOU.
TRUSTEE ROBINSON MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, BOARD. AND THANK YOU, MR. FISHER AND THE PRESIDENT.
I DO WANT TO JUST TO REPLY TO YOU, DR.
MCFARLAND, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CONCERNS.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072, AND THE BOARD WILL RETURN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND WE'RE ADJOURNING AT 6:48 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.