[1.0 Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CROWLEY ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND CERTIFY THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 551.041 SUB-CHAPTER C GOVERNMENT CODE AS AMENDED BY THE 73RD LEGISLATURE PURSUANT TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING, AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.
I REQUEST THE OFFICIAL ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MR. KIRCHNER.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. TRUSTEE PLACE 1, DR. NEDRA ROBINSON.
TRUSTEE PLACE 2, DR. LA TONYA WOODSON-MAYFIELD.
TRUSTEE PLACE 3, DR. MIA HALL.
>> TRUSTEE PLACE 4, JUNE W. DAVIS.
>> TRUSTEE PLACE 5, MR. DARYL R. DAVIS, II.
>> TRUSTEE PLACE 6, MR. GARY GRASSIA.
>> TRUSTEE PLACE 7, MS. KELICIA STEVENSON.
>> SUPERINTENDENT, DR. MICHAEL MCFARLAND.
>> STUDENT TRUSTEE FROM CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL, ROSE JONES.
>> STUDENT TRUSTEE FROM NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL, DYLAN DILL.
I SEND A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE PRESENT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE BOARD ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE ARE 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.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE WILL BE CONFINED TO THE TIME DESIGNATED FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
DECORUM AND COURTESY ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN 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 SCHOOL.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK THAT EVERYONE WILL PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[3.0 Recognition Item(s)]
NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 3.1, RECOGNITION, HISPANIC HERITAGE QUIZ BOWL AND ART SHOW WINNERS. DR. MCFARLAND.>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED TO BRING FORWARD THIS NEXT ITEM.
THESE NEXT COUPLE OF ITEMS REALLY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAD OCCURRING IN OUR DISTRICT DURING OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION.
WE HAVE MS. ANGUIANO AND HER TEAM WITH HER TO PRESENT THESE ITEMS. MS. ANGUIANO.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT DAVIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MCFARLAND.
THE HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION ADDRESSES THRIVING STUDENTS, ENGAGED COMMUNITY, EMPOWERED STAFF.
THIS YEAR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION IN QUIZ BOWL IS HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH AT NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WAS THE DAY OF COMPETITION AND CELEBRATION.
THE 2024 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THEME WAS PIONEERS OF CHANGE, SHAPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER.
MANY PIONEERS WERE RECOGNIZED SUCH AS ELENA OCHOA, CESAR CAVES, ROBERTO CLEMENTE, AND CARLO SANTANA.
AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE, THE RIVERA FAMILY PERFORMED FLOREAR DE REATA, MEANING MAKING FLOWERS WITH THE ROPE, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY PIONEER ERA.
BALLET FOLKLORICO AZTECA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PIONEERS TO BRINGING BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCE TO FORT WORTH, ESTABLISHED IN 1975, THEY PROMOTE MEXICAN HERITAGE THROUGH DANCE AND MUSIC.
AS PART OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION, CROWLEY ISD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE AMAZING WORKS OF ART FROM STUDENTS, AS YOUNG AS KINDERGARTEN TO SENIORS, THAT WERE FLOWING THROUGH THE NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAYS.
MANY FORMS OF ART WERE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THAT BUILDING.
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS YEAR MARKS THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE QUIZ BOWL.
TEAMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT COMPETED FROM GRADES 3RD THROUGH 12TH WITH COMPETITIONS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
LET'S CONGRATULATE THE 2024 QUIZ BOWL FIRST PLACE WINNERS.
STARTING OFF WITH THE ELEMENTARY ENGLISH DIVISION FROM CROWLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY, WE HAVE TEAM LOS SONADORES, AND THE FOLLOWING TEAM MEMBERS ARE DANIEL SANDOVAL,
[00:05:01]
JESUS PACIOTTI BRITO, ELMA RUVALCABA, AND VIOLET CERVANTES. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS.CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO TEAM LOS SONADORES.
[APPLAUSE] UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE ELEMENTARY SPANISH DIVISION.
WE HAVE TEAM TACOS GUERREROS FROM SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY.
[APPLAUSE] THOSE TEAM MEMBERS ARE MELANY FLORES, DYLAN GARCIA, ARELI RAMOS, AND FERNANDO AVILA. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO TACOS GUERREROS FROM SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY.
[APPLAUSE] LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FROM THE SECONDARY DIVISION, WE HAVE TEAM HUSKIES FROM CROWLEY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY.
WE HAVE THREE OF THE FIVE PARTICIPANTS WITH US HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE OLIVIA OLALDE WHO'S NOT PRESENT, BRYAN OLALDE WHO'S NOT PRESENT.
BUT WE DO HAVE HENIN PRETTY, MERHAWI, I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCE IT, KINFE, AND DAVID GONZALEZ.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO TEAM HUSKIES FROM CROWLEY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY AND ALL OF OUR OTHER WINNERS IN THE OTHER DIVISIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
WE WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOLS IN WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AS THEY LEARNED ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE IN PREPARATION OF THE QUIZ BOWL.
WE ALSO WANT TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL LATIN STUDENT UNION, NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL ROTC, OUR CROWLEY ISD MARIACHI, LAS PALOMAS DEL NORTE, BALLET FOLKLORICO FROM MEADOW CREEK ELEMENTARY.
THEY ALL GAVE OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR PERFORMANCE OF THEIR TALENTS ON THE DAY OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION IN QUIZ BOWL.
BUT WHAT OUR TEAM, AS OUR LANGUAGE SUPPORT PROGRAM, WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THAT COLLABORATED WITH US AND WORKED WITH US, WE WANT TO SAY MUCHAS GRACIAS.
THIS IS TO THE OVER 60 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FROM TECHNOLOGY TO FINANCE, SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, AND ON AND ON, AND ALL THIS TO MAKE THIS EVENT A GREAT SUCCESS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU, SCHOOL BOARD.
[APPLAUSE] DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?
>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION.
[NOISE] I WILL YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES TO MY LEFT FOR ANY COMMENTS.
>> HI. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS.
IT'S SUCH A JOY TO WATCH THEM PERFORM AND ALSO TO COMPETE, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.
[00:10:01]
I REALLY ENJOY THE TIME THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR.>> GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.
SECOND OF ALL, I WANTED TO SEE THE NAMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY SPANISH I KNOW IS IN THE RESTAURANT KITCHEN, AND THAT'S PROBABLY NOT WHAT THE NAMES ARE NAMED AFTER.
ARE THEY COOL NAMES OR WHAT IS THE [OVERLAPPING] TACO SOMETHING? I KNOW TACO, THAT'S WHAT I KNOW.
>> THE TACOS GUERREROS ARE THE TACOS WARRIORS.
>> LOS SONADORES ARE THE DREAMERS, AND HUSKIES.
>> HUSKIES, I GOT THAT ONE AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION IN HISPANIC HERITAGE THIS YEAR. GOOD JOB.
>> YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES TO MY RIGHT.
>> I CAN JUST SAY DITTO TO WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID BECAUSE I ATTENDED TOO AND REALLY ENJOYED IT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS.
LIKE YOU SAID, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE THAT HELPED PULL THAT OFF.
THAT WAS NO SMALL FEAT WITH WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED, SO THANK YOU TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HELPED AS WELL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE SAME.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS.
I REALLY ENJOY THE OPENING PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY THE ROPES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE LASSO OR NOT, BUT WHEN THEY WERE GOING IN AND OUT OF IT AND THE LITTLE DANCERS, THE MINI BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCERS.
BEAUTIFUL, AND THEY WERE SUCH [INAUDIBLE].
THEN EVERY YEAR, I JUST ENJOY IT AND LOOKING AT THE ARTWORK.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YEAR 7.
>> THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR AN AMAZING EVENT.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THOUGH BECAUSE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT WAS DR. MCFARLAND WAS GIVING OUT MONEY THAT DAY, AND NOBODY MENTIONED THAT.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT OTHER SUPERINTENDENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DO YOU KNOW THAT RUNS THROUGH THE AUDIENCE, GIVING AWAY MONEY FOR CORRECT ANSWERS.
OF COURSE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO BIG HERE IN CROWLEY.
>> ONCE IT'S DONE TWICE, IT'S A TRADITION.
>> I AGREE. [LAUGHTER] I WANT TO YIELD TO OUR STUDENT TRUSTEES AT THIS TIME TO SEE IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL, AND I'LL COMMEND YOU ON OUR DEDICATION.
I KNOW AS A STUDENT, IT'S A LOT GOING ON, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS IN ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THE SAME THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY EVERY YEAR, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING PICTURES AND VIDEOS BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, I CAN NEVER GO.
SO IT'S NICE TO LIVE IT THROUGH PICTURES AND VIDEOS, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> THANK YOU BOTH. DEFINITELY AN AMAZING TIME, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A TENET OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO HERE IN CROWLEY ISD.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 3.2.
THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND, VICE PRESIDENT HALL.
PARENTS THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND.
PARENTS OF THESE AMAZING AWARD WINNERS, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING AND FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING YOUR SCHOLARS TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION WITH US.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET ALL OF OUR AWARD WINNERS HERE FOR A QUICK PICTURE BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
ALL OF OUR AWARD WINNERS, CAN YOU ALL JOIN US RIGHT HERE DOWN FRONT? [BACKGROUND]
>> PARENTS, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.
>> YES, COACH. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
[00:15:57]
>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 3.2, HISPANIC HERITAGE SPOTLIGHT, CARLOS AND EILEEN ORTEGA. DR. MCFARLAND.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THIS NEXT COUPLE, ACTUALLY, FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE RECOGNITION.
WE HAVE MR. KIRCHNER HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. MR. KIRCHNER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. MCFARLAND, MR. PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
ALL THROUGHOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND BEYOND, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR FAMILY MEMBERS FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO ALIGN WITH GOAL 3, EMPOWERED STAFF.
ONE OF THE MANY STORIES WE SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WAS OF CARLOS AND EILEEN ORTEGA.
WE WERE VERY EXCITED AND THANKFUL TO FEATURE THEM.
TONIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SMALL TIDBIT OF THAT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO GO AND WATCH THE REST OF THE STORY AND SHARE IT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
BUT BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP, I'M GOING TO LET YOU ALL WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EILEEN ORTEGA.
>> WE'RE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CROWLEY ISD FAMILY.
WE'RE STARTING OUR 13TH YEAR AS BILINGUAL EDUCATORS IN CROWLEY ISD, AND WE LOVE SERVING THE STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES HERE AT CROWLEY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD OF OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE.
WE MET AND FELL IN LOVE OUR STUDENT YEARS IN PUERTO RICO WHERE OUR FAMILIES WERE BORN AT.
>> WE OVERCOME LANGUAGE CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS, BUT MOST RECENTLY WITH THE HELP OF GOD, WE OVERCAME A MAJOR BATTLE AGAINST COVID THAT NEARLY TOOK MY LIFE.
>> WE ARE BOTH VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE OUR STORY WITH YOU.
WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT BEING A BILINGUAL TEACHER THE MOST IS BEING ABLE TO HELP THE KIDS BE BILITERATE, TO GROW, LEARN, AND BE ACADEMICALLY DEVELOPED IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
FOR ME, IT'S LIKE A SUCCESS STORY. I WISH I HAD THAT.
I'M GLAD TO AT LEAST I'M ABLE TO HELP ALL THE KIDS. 9*10 IS WHAT?
>> NINETY. HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO BE 9*9?
>> CARLOS AND EILEEN HAVE HAD AN AMAZING IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY SEE AND JUST ADMIRE ABOUT BOTH OF THEM IS THAT THEY TRULY BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF EDUCATION AS A BENEFIT TO THE STUDENTS.
>> [FOREIGN] THEY LEARN IN ENGLISH, THEY LEARN IN SPANISH.
BEING COMPLETELY BILINGUAL IS UNDERSTANDING, READING, WRITING, SPEAKING BOTH LANGUAGES.
THEN THAT'S WHY WE TELL THEM, YOU HAVE TO BE PROUD OF WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, YOUR CULTURE, YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR FAMILY.
>> WHEN I THINK OF THEM, I THINK OF TWO BEAUTIFUL, COMMITTED PEOPLE.
>> I SAW HOW SHE WAS GETTING WORSE, AND THEN I SAW HOW EMOTIONAL.
SHE WAS BEING AFFECTED BY THE FACT THAT SHE WAS NOT GETTING BETTER.
I EVEN TOLD MY PASTOR, I THINK WHEN I LEAVE, SHE'S GOING TO GET WORSE.
THE PASTOR PRAYED AND SAID SOMETHING. HE SAID, HOW ARE YOU FEELING? SHE WAS LIKE, EN VICTORIA, WHICH MEANS IN VICTORY.
THAT WAS THE LAST WORDS I HEARD FOR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES.
THOSE WORDS CAN BE [INAUDIBLE] I WAS LIKE, LORD, SHE SAID SHE WAS IN VICTORY.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME THROUGH.
[00:20:01]
>> THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE ORTEGA STORY AND WE INVITE YOU ALL TO GO ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WATCH IT AND SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND THANKFUL TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE CARLOS AND EILEEN ORTEGA FAMILY.
PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT. [APPLAUSE]
>> I STILL SHED SOME TEARS WHEN I STILL SEE THIS.
BUT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, I THINK WHEN THE THINGS WERE THE WORSE, I GOT A CALL FROM DR. MCFARLAND.
I'M NOT GOING TO FORGET THAT EVER.
IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE HIS SUPPORT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE DISTRICT SUPPORT, AND WE FELT THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE DISTRICT, TO OUR CO-WORKERS AT PARKWAY AND SYCAMORE.
WE FELT THAT. I USUALLY FORGET THINGS, BUT I REMEMBER THAT THEY HAD TELL HIM THAT EILEEN, SHE [INAUDIBLE] PARKWAY, AND IT'S TRUE.
SHE HAS BEEN ALWAYS WORKING IN PARKWAY, AND SHE LOVED US, DON'T YOU?
>> WE WERE VERY THANKFUL, DR. MCFARLAND.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
I HAD ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT IN PRIVATE, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR US, AND I NEEDED THAT CALL THAT DAY.
GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW HE USES PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE POLICIES THAT WERE IN PLACE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SICK DAY BANK, ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT USUALLY ABSENT.
WE HAD A LOT OF DAYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE.
EILEEN HAD 75 DAYS, IF I'M WRONG, ACCUMULATED THAT CAME VERY HANDY AT THAT MOMENT.
BUT EVEN BESIDE THAT, WE NEEDED EXTRA HELP IN THOSE DAYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK, AND I HAD TO FILL THOSE PAPERS ON HER BEHALF.
I THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE POLICIES THAT ALSO HELPED US GO THROUGH THE MOMENT, AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE PRINCIPALS AND EVERYBODY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AND WE ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR TESTIMONY.
WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON OUR OWN AND GOD PROVIDED THE METHODS AND THE WAYS, SO THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE ARE VERY THANKFUL, AND WE DO WORK WITH A FAMILY. WE FELT IT.
I LOVE IT HERE AT CROWLEY, AND I THANK THE BOARD.
THANK YOU TO OUR PRINCIPALS, DR. BELL, MS. HUNT, THE WHOLE BILINGUAL DEPARTMENT, THE CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES.
WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND BE BILINGUAL TEACHERS.
WE ARE VERY PROUD. WE LOVE THE PROGRAM.
WE BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAM, AND THE PROGRAM WORKS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> MR. AND MRS. ORTEGA, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US, YOUR STORY OF VICTORY AND JUST YOUR LOVE FOR THIS DISTRICT.
[00:25:03]
PLEASE KNOW THAT IT IS MUTUAL AND THE LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOR THE DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT HAS FOR YOU. THANK YOU ALL.I WILL YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY COMMENTS.
I'LL START TO MY RIGHT IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
I'M TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK SO I CAN GET MYSELF TOGETHER.
>> I WILL SAY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE SPOKEN, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MRS. ORTEGA ONE YEAR AT PARKWAY ELEMENTARY.
SHE IS A WOMAN OF GRACE, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU CAME OUT VICTORIOUS.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY WITH US.
>> IF I SAY SOMETHING, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE MY EYES.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> THANK YOU BOTH. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE LOVE YOU.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ONE MORE HAND.
[APPLAUSE] WE'LL MOVE NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 3.3, WHEN TO WIN A BOOK DONATION. DR. MCFARLAND.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THIS NEXT DONATION.
MS. DIGGLES WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM. MS. DIGGLES.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT DAVIS, DR. MCFARLAND, HONORED TRUSTEES.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT WITH GRATITUDE TO RECOGNIZE AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS ALSO A BUSINESS PARTNER AND A FAITH-BASED PARTNER.
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT LITERACY IS THE FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION, WHEN WE RECEIVED THE CALL FROM PASTOR SULTAN COLE FOR A BOOK DONATION, WE WERE EXCITED.
WE ASKED HIM TO SEND US A LIST OF THE TITLES SO WE COULD ARRANGE TO RECEIVE THE DONATION, AND THAT'S WHEN THE EXCITEMENT TURNED TO TREPIDATION.
THIS DONATION WAS NOT GOING TO FIT IN MY OFFICE OR IN MS. COCANOUGHER'S OFFICE.
WE WOULD NEED SPACE TO RECEIVE THE 18-WHEELER THAT WOULD BE COMING TO OUR WAREHOUSE TO DELIVER 753 BOXES CONTAINING ALMOST 30,000 BOOKS.
THE BOOKS ARE BRAND NEW, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE AGE-APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG BABIES ZERO TO YOUNG ADULTS.
ALL GENRES, THERE'S COOKBOOKS, THERE'S COLORING BOOKS, THERE'S FICTION, NON-FICTION, AND THERE ARE SPANISH TITLES INCLUDED.
THE BEST PART IS THAT AS THE HOLIDAYS ARE APPROACHING NOW, MS. COCANOUGHER, WHO IS OUR LIBRARY COORDINATOR, SHE'S HERE WITH US AS WELL.
SHE IS PLANNING TO ROLL OUT WHAT SHE'S CALLING, SEASONS READINGS.
IT'S AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL GIFT THESE BOOKS FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERY STUDENT AND STAFF MEMBER BY REQUEST HERE IN THE DISTRICT WITH BOOKS TO SPARE.
REMEMBER I SAID THERE WERE 30,000 BOOKS, AND SHE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO PUT BOOKS IN OUR CAMPUS LIBRARIES.
PASTOR COLE IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
I'D LOVE FOR HIM TO STAND SO WE CAN THANK HIM.
[APPLAUSE] I DEFINITELY LIKE TO SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF CROWLEY ISD, THANK YOU.
THIS WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE DONATION.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL MAKE ON STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MS. DIGGLES. PASTOR COLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU ARE MAKING INTO THE LIVES OF THE MORE THAN 17,000 STUDENTS HERE IN CROWLEY ISD.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY.
WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU ARE MAKING, NOT JUST IN OUR LEADERS OF THE FUTURE, BUT OUR LEADERS OF TODAY.
THANK YOU. WOW. THIS IS AMAZING, ALMOST 30,000 BRAND NEW BOOKS FOR THE STUDENTS IN CROWLEY ISD.
YOU COULD HAVE DONATED THOSE BOOKS TO ANYONE, BUT YOU SELECTED US, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I'LL YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. VICE PRESIDENT HALL.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO PRESIDENT DAVIS' SENTIMENTS.
PASTOR COLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIRELESS DEDICATION.
I'VE HAD THE FORTUNE OF WORKING WITH YOU IN MORE THAN ONE DISTRICT AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LITERACY ALL THESE YEARS.
[00:30:03]
I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD THE CISD STAFF.IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO RECEIVE DONATIONS, AND THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE BATTLE AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR MOBILIZING AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO RECEIVE SUCH A GRACIOUS AND GENEROUS DONATION, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND THAT IT REACHES THE FAMILIES.
THANK YOU TO PASTOR COLE AND THANK YOU ALSO, CROWLEY ISD.
>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT HALL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF WE CAN, PASTOR COLE, WE'D LOVE TO GET A PICTURE WITH YOU IF YOU WILL GRACE US WITH THE HONOR.
WE'LL TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH PASTOR COLE FOR THE DONATION.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, I DO WANT TO JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US HERE IN CROWLEY ISD.
WE WERE ABLE TO BE THE BENEFICIARY OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BIG GOOD FOUNDATION HERE IN FORT WORTH, AS WELL AS TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A GRAND OPENING FOR THE READY TO LEARN MARKET, WHICH IS INSIDE CROWLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SO THIS IS AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK AS WELL AS THE BIG GOOD AND CROWLEY ISD TO ENSURE THAT NO STUDENT IN CROWLEY ISD, PARTICULARLY THOSE STUDENTS AT CROWLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL GO HUNGRY.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THIS EVENT AND JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU TO GARY AND KELSEY PATTERSON, AS WELL AS NATIONAL GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTIST LEON BRIDGES FOR THE BIG GOOD FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE STAFF AT TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK FOR MAKING THIS READY TO LEARN MARKET A REALITY FOR THE STUDENTS.
IF YOU'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY GO AND SEE IT, IT IS AMAZING.
THERE ARE FRESH FRUITS, FRESH VEGETABLES, AS WELL AS OTHER NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS THAT ARE LOCATED RIGHT THERE, TWO HUGE REFRIGERATORS WITH EVERYTHING THAT STUDENTS NEED IN ORDER TO HAVE HEALTHY MEALS.
THIS WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VIDEO TO THAT EFFECT THAT WE'LL SHOW RIGHT NOW.
>> WE'VE GOT THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER, TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, THE BIG GOOD, AND CROWLEY ISD [INAUDIBLE] IT REALLY DOES SAVE ALL OF US.
>> KIDS CAN'T LEARN IF THEY'RE HUNGRY.
THIS FOOD PANTRY IS READY TO GO MARKET.
I HOPE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS HERE IN CROWLEY TO GET A GREAT START ON OUR DAY AND ACCESS OF WONDERFUL TEACHERS, WONDERFUL FACILITIES, GET A GREAT EDUCATION HERE IN FORT WORTH, A GREAT PUBLIC EDUCATION LIKE I DID, AND GO ON AND DO GREAT THINGS.
>> REALITY IS WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO UNLESS THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF US DO IT TOGETHER.
>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD AND SECURITY, I'M TALKING ABOUT PULLING THAT POTENTIAL.
I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THIS IS UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME DAY YOU SAY THAT ONE DROP IN A LAKE OR AN OCEAN HAVE RIPPLE EFFECT.
THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT TARRANT COUNTY FOOD BANK, CROWLEY AND HOPEFULLY MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD SWIFTLY.
>> THIS IS AMAZING FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES, LEAFY GREEN.
THIS IS CERTAINLY GOING TO TRANSFORM LIVES HERE IN CROWLEY ISD.
I'M OVERWHELMED JUST WITH THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
[00:35:01]
AGAIN, THANK TO THE TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, AS WELL AS THE BIG GOOD AND ALL THE CROWLEY ISD STAFF WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.>> KNOWING THAT 78% OF THE STUDENTS IN CROWLEY ISD ARE SCHOOL DEPENDENT.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS.
I WANT TO COMMEND MR. MUHAMMED WHO WORKED HAND IN HAND IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE BIG GOOD FOUNDATION AS WELL AS TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, AS WELL AS PRINCIPAL KNOX AT CROWLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ALL OF THE CISD STAKEHOLDERS THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN.
THIS IS REALLY THE MANIFESTATION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CROWLEY PRIDE UNIFIED.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. TRUSTEE DAVIS.
>> I DO HAVE JUST A QUICK QUESTION AND THEY MAY HAVE SAID AND I MISSED IT.
HOW IS THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED? DO THE KIDS TAKE STUFF HOME OVER THE WEEKEND TO FILL IN THE GAP OR WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL OR HOW IS THE FOOD DISTRIBUTED?
>> YES MA'AM. MS. DAVIS, THE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FOOD FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT ALSO EACH EVENING, THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNSELORS TO SET UP TIMES FOR STUDENTS TO VISIT THE MARKET EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DAY AND IT'S STOCKED BY THE TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK.
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
>> ONE FUN FACT, THE STUDENTS AT CROWLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTUALLY WORK IN THE MARKET AND SO THEY ARE LEARNING SKILLS AS FAR AS HOW TO WORK IN A MARKET AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AS WELL.
IT IS SUSTAINED, OF COURSE, THROUGH THE TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK, THE BIG GOOD MADE THE FINANCIAL DONATION, BUT THE STUDENTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALSO VERY ENGAGED IN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE MARKET, WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TRUSTEES? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 4.1
[4.0 Student School Board Trustee Program]
STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE PROGRAM INTRODUCTIONS AND UPDATES FROM THE STUDENT TRUSTEES. DR. MCFARLANE.>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS.
MR. KIRSCHEN WILL BE HANDLING THIS NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M DR. MCFARLANE, OUR STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALIGNS WITH GOAL 1 OF OUR VISION 2025 PLAN, THRIVING STUDENTS.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE INTRODUCED OUR '24/'25 STUDENT TRUSTEES FROM EACH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, CROWLEY, NORTH CROWLEY, AND CROWLEY COLEGIATE ACADEMY.
I WOULD CALL THIS ONE A MILESTONE MEETING FOR OUR TWO TRUSTEES.
WE HAVE A NEW STUDENT TRUSTEE WHO'S HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HE'S NO STRANGER TO CROWLEY ISD, MR. DILLION DILL FROM NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S HIS FIRST TIME. I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF.
BUT IT'S ALSO THE LAST TIME FOR MS. ROSE JONES.
MS. ROSE IS A SENIOR AT CROWLEY HIGH.
SOME OTHER STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ROTATING IN AND NOT ONLY HAVE WE SEEN HER IN THAT SEAT, WE'VE SEEN HER IN THE SEAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FACILITY PLANNING, OUR BOND LONG TIME AGO WHEN DR. MCFARLANE LAUNCHED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ROUND TABLE, MS. ROSE JONES WAS A PART OF THAT SO SHE'S BEEN A KEY PLAYER, AND WE'VE REALLY APPRECIATED HER INPUT.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM HER AGAIN TONIGHT, AND I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK MR. DILL TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF.
HE IS VERY INVOLVED AT NORTH CROWLEY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. KIRSCHEN. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING ON MY BUCKET LIST.
I REMEMBER FRESHMAN YEAR, I GOT TO SPEAK AT THE BOARD MEETING, AND I REMEMBER SEEING THE TWO STUDENTS SITTING HERE AND I REMEMBER SAYING LIKE, THAT NEEDS TO BE ME.
I HAD A BOOKLET LIST, I WANT TO BE SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT, WHICH I AM.
I WANT TO BE THE SWIM CAPTAIN, WHICH I AM, AND I KNOW I WANTED TO BE A STUDENT TRUSTEE, WHICH I NOW AM AS WELL AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M SORRY, YOUR FIRST JOINT CELEBRATION TONIGHT?
>> YES, I THINK ME AND ROSE BOTH ARE JUST HAPPY TO SAY THAT OUR DISTRICT IS ABLE TO HOST TWO PLAYOFF GAMES RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW A LOT OF DISTRICTS AREN'T ABLE TO SAY THAT AND TO HAVE THE FIELD THAT WE HAVE, THAT'S SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO JUST HOST THESE GAMES IS WONDERFUL.
>> Y'ALL KNOW ME ALREADY, BUT MY CELEBRATION WAS THIS PAST TUESDAY.
WE TOOK OUR RISE AND LIFE SKILLS STUDENTS TO THE BURLESON FRIENDS FESTIVAL, WHICH IS LIKE OUR PANTHER OLYMPICS INABILITY GAMES WHERE THEY WENT AROUND, PLAYED GAMES.
WE HAD A REALLY FUN DAY AND THERE'S SOME OF THOSE PICTURES.
THEN SOME CAMPUS EVENTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK. YES. NEXT WEEK IS COLLEGE WEEK AND EVERY DAY NEXT WEEK IS A DIFFERENT DRESS DAY.
[00:40:03]
I BELIEVE MONDAY IS MILITARY DAY.ANOTHER DAY IS DRESS UP AS YOUR FUTURE CAREER, YOUR FUTURE COLLEGE, WHICHEVER.
THEN I ALSO WANTED TO ADD A CELEBRATION.
WITH OUR NEW CAMPUS BEING BUILT, AND AS WE SPEAK, WE HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM WHERE CURRENT STUDENTS CAN LEAVE THEIR MARK ON THE OLD CAMPUS BEFORE IT GOES AWAY.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THAT YET, BUT I DO KNOW THEY ARE SETTING UP PROJECTS TO WHERE WE CAN ALL HAVE A PIECE OF IT BEFORE IT GOES AWAY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FOR THE CELEBRATION, WE HAD OUR HOMECOMING GAME, WHICH WAS NOVEMBER 1ST.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I ALSO WON HOMECOMING KING.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH TRUSTEE STEVENSON, WHICH WAS AMAZING.
WE ALSO HAD OUR DANCE, NOVEMBER 2ND, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS COME IN AND BE A PART OF OUR DANCE, WHICH WAS FUN AND EXCITING.
OUR CAMPUS EVENTS RIGHT NOW, OUR BASKETBALL SEASON IS UNDERWAY FOR BOTH TEAMS. I'M THE SWIM CAPTAIN, SO I HAVE TO PUT THE SWIM TEAM ON THERE.
OUR MEET IS IN MANSFIELD THIS SATURDAY AS WELL.
FOR MY CONSIDERATION, IT WAS VERY HARD TO EVEN REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE NEW DETECTION SYSTEMS, WHICH ARE GREAT.
AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE THEM ON THE GYM SIDE, WHICH IS FOR OUR BUS STUDENTS AND OUR STUDENT DRIVERS.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE THEM ON THE AUDITORIUM SIDE, WHICH IS FOR OUR DROP OFF STUDENTS AND THE STUDENTS THAT WALK.
I THINK THAT IF WE COULD JUST GET ANOTHER ONE FOR THAT SIDE, THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.
>> ARE THERE ANY CONSIDERATIONS, TRUSTEE JONES? NO. TRUSTEES, I WILL YIELD, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, VICE PRESIDENT HALL.
>> I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU, MR. DILL ON SETTING YOUR GOALS AND SMASHING THEM.
>> ROSE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU HAVE REALLY BEEN A TRUSTEE AND SERVED ALONGSIDE AS I KNOW FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAVE SEEN YOU CONTRIBUTING YOUR INPUT AND BRINGING FORTH PERSPECTIVE FROM STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE WILL CELEBRATE YOU THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, CERTAINLY HOPE TO SHAKE YOUR HAND AT GRADUATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FORCE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT HALL, TRUSTEE DAVIS.
I MET DILLION AT THE CHANNEL 8.
WAS IT CHANNEL 8, THE PEP RALLY.
>> THE OTHER WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
NOT KNOWING I KNEW HIM WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY.
BECAUSE I WORKED WITH HIS MOTHER.
DILLION, YOU HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO YOUR MOTHER BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER REALLY POURED INTO YOU, AND HER HARD WORK HAS TRULY PAID OFF.
>> ROSE, YOU JUST THINK YOU'RE GOING AWAY.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I'M SURE WE CAN FIND SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO.
YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT INSPIRATION TO ME AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU CAME ON BOARD WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND YOU HELPED US DO THAT, SO THANK YOU SO.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS. TRUSTEE STEVENSON.
>> SPEAKING OF THE PEP RALLY, MY DAUGHTER, USED TO TEACH DILLION IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND SHE SAW HIM ON THE NEWS AND SAW ME STANDING BESIDE HIM, SHE SAYS, "OH, I KNOW THAT LITTLE BOY." BUT SHE HAD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU DILLION, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD A ROLE IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. ROSE, YOU KNOW I ADORE YOU.
THE LETTERS ARE STILL COMING, SO LET ME KNOW.
SHE HAS A LOT GOING FOR HER, AND SHE HAS APPLIED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT COLLEGES SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT YOU AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO WRITE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE STEVENSON.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TRUSTEES.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THOSE AMAZING REPORTS.
TRUST ME, THE INFORMATION DOES NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS.
>> IF I COULD ADD ONE THING, ROSE HAS PLAYED SUCH A VITAL PART IN MY FIRST DAY.
[00:45:03]
I REMEMBER MR. MUHAMMED SENDING OUT A TEXT AND MADE A GROUP CHAT WITH THIS AND SINCE THEN, SHE HAS BEEN TEXTING ME NONSTOP, MAKING SURE I WAS OKAY.[LAUGHTER] MAKING SURE I WAS READY FOR THIS, AND TODAY, SEEING HER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, SEEING HOW AMAZING SHE IS WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE.
CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SAD THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE DID SO MUCH, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. [APPLAUSE] WELL, WE DO HAVE THIS LITTLE MANTRA HERE IN CROWLEY ISD, WHERE WE SAY ACT LIKE A FAMILY.
>> THERE WE GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROSE FOR THE AMAZING LEADERSHIP, AND TRUSTEE DILL, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AS ONE OF OUR STUDENT TRUSTEES.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR REPORT ITEMS,
[5.0 Report Item(s)]
AGENDA ITEM 5.1, LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY SURVEY, DR. MCFARLANE.>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING AND WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A SURVEY THAT WE'LL BE SHARING.
MS. BATES IS LEADING THE EFFORT. MS. BATES.
>> GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT DAVIS, DR. MCFARLANE, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND STUDENT TRUSTEES.
I AM EXCITED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND SHARE SOME GREAT NEWS WITH YOU REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT HITS ALL THREE OF OUR BOARD GOAL AREAS.
HOW ARE WE PROGRESSING ALONG? BASICALLY EXCITING TIMES.
WE JUST PASSED A MAJOR ELECTION MILESTONE THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHANGES, AND EVEN FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, IT'S GREAT FOR YOU ALL TO GET INVOLVED AND KNOW WHAT ADVOCACY IS AND WHERE IT STARTS.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL CONTINUE EXPLORING NEW PRIORITIES AND RANKING OUR PREVIOUS PRIORITIES.
THE TRUSTEES WILL CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE INTERIM CHARGES.
THEY'LL REVIEW LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS OF VARIOUS STATE BOARDS AND OTHER STATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.
THEN ALSO IN THE NEAR FUTURE, VOTE ON OUR CISD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TONIGHT? JUST AS DR. MCFARLANE SHARED WITH YOU ALL, THE BOARD POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MET DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO SPECIFY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE CISD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
THEN THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED PRIORITIES FROM VARIOUS STATE ADVOCACY GROUPS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND CONSULTED WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THEN THERE IS A LINK BELOW THAT CONTAINS 37 PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMITTEE NARROWED DOWN, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE ARE TONS AND TONS OF THEM.
WE WILL PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF OUR TRUSTEES TO LOOK AT THE SELECTION OF THE NEXT ROUND OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE LINK, BASICALLY, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS AND I'LL CLICK ON THE LINK OR MR. HANDY. WHAT YOU'LL SEE THERE, YOU'LL HAVE TO ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PUT IN YOUR NAME, AND THEN GIVES YOU A LITTLE FRAMEWORK, STARTING WITH TASB, YOU'LL PRESS NEXT, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ADVANCE ON.
MR. HANDY WILL FILL IN HIS EMAIL ADDRESS, SO YOU CAN SEE THE REQUIRED FILLS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO REQUIRED FILLS IN THE WHOLE SURVEY, YOUR EMAIL, YOUR NAME, AND THEN YOU'LL PRESS NEXT, AND JUST CONTINUE TO SCROLL DOWN.
WHAT YOU'LL DO IS IF YOU THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT PRIORITY, YOU CAN CLICK "YES", BUT LET'S SAY THAT'S OF NO INTEREST TO YOU.
>> IF YOU KEEP GOING DOWN, MR. HANDY SCROLL THROUGH AND THEN CLICK NEXT AGAIN AND HE'S NOT GOING TO IF YOU WANT TO SELECT SOMETHING, YOU CAN, MR. HANDY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
FUNDING, EVERYBODY WANTS FUNDING, MORE FUNDING.
YOU GET THE IDEA WITH THAT AND IF YOU WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND THEN CLICK NEXT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS THEIR PRIORITIES, AND THEN SUBMIT AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SEND YOURSELF A COPY, AND THAT'S IT.
DR. MCFARLAND, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPOUND UPON?
>> YES. BOARD, WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING, ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS, IT'S REALLY RESERVED FOR THE BOARD RIGHT NOW.
ONCE YOU ALL MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS, THEN WHAT WE WILL DO, WE'LL SYNTHESIZE AND PRIORITIZE BASED ON YOUR SELECTION.
WE THEN WILL SEND IT OUT TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEY WILL ALSO DO THE SAME.
WE WILL BRING BACK TO YOU IN JANUARY A COMPILATION OF THE PARTIES OF THE TWO TO THREE PARTIES THAT BOTH GROUPS AGREE ON,
[00:50:02]
AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.BUT WE WILL BRING SOMETHING BACK TO BOTH THE POLICY COMMITTEE FIRST AND THEN THE ACTUAL BOARD OR ADOPTION IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
>> IT DAVIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PART?
>> I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET TO A CONCISE LIST OF PRIORITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR FOR THE 5.5 MILLION PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TEXAS, PARTICULARLY THE 17,000 HERE IN CROWLEY ISD, BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LASER FOCUS GOING INTO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAPPEN NOW.
THIS PROCESS IS COLLABORATIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO DESIGNED TO HELP GET US DOWN TO IDENTIFYING WHAT THOSE FEW PRIORITIES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES, I'LL SAY IT THAT WAY, THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT WHEN WE BEGIN OUR ADVOCACY WORK DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OUR DATES OF INTEREST, BASICALLY, AS WE ALL DO NOT KNOW THIS.
BUT JANUARY 14, 2025 IS THE FIRST DAY THAT THE 89TH LEGISLATOR THEY BASICALLY CONVENE IN AUSTIN AT NOON.
THOSE OFFICIALS WILL BE READY TO WORK, THEY'RE ALREADY PUTTING IN DIFFERENT DOCKET TO THINGS THAT THEY ARE TAKING A STANCE ON.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025 IS A 60 DAY DEADLINE FOR BILL FILING.
THEN THE REGULAR SESSION ENDS ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2025 AND THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT, THE PRESIDENT DAVIS.
>> THANK YOU, MISS BETTY. TRUSTEE DAVIS.
>> I DO HAVE JUST A QUICK QUESTION AT THE END OF THAT SURVEY WHEN IT WAS SUBMITTED, DID IT SAY VIEW SCORE?
YOU DON'T NECESSARILY THAT'S JUST THE FORMAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COMPILE EVERYBODY'S DATA AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHICH ONE GOT THE MOST POINTS.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MEANT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? TRUSTEES? TRUSTEE STEVENSON?
>> IS THERE A TOP 5 THAT THE BOARD OR IS THERE A NUMBER?
>> WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3-5, REALLY NO MORE THAN FIVE.
I THINK LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE PROBABLY HAD CLOSE TO.
>> EIGHT AND A LOT OF LITTLE AREAS UNDERNEATH THAT.
>> WE'RE JUST WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO 3-5, BUT OF COURSE, THAT WE'LL KNOW MORE JUST AS THOSE PRIORITIES ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD AND THEN THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE DISTRICT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? MISS BATTY WHEN DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS DONE?
>> IT'S UP TO DR. MCFARLAND TO TEST.
>> IF WE CAN HAVE IT DONE BY THE END OF TODAY, FRIDAY, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
TOMORROW. IT WILL HELP US TO BE ABLE TO GET IT TO THE.
>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THAT.
CAN WE HAVE WEEKEND, PLEASE? BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME PRIORITIES THAT ARE TAKEN UP MY ENTIRE DAY TOMORROW AND I WORK ON SATURDAY TOO, BUT I PROMISE I HAVE MY HOMEWORK DONE.
>> WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT TO MONDAY MORNING AT 8:00 FOR YOU.
>> IT' DUE ON FRIDAY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU HAVE THE WEEKEND.
>> WE APPRECIATE IT. [LAUGHTER] IF YOU ALL WANT TO LAUGH EVEN HARDER, TRUSTEE DAVIS WILL SEND YOU A TEXT MESSAGE AND LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TIME IS ALMOST UP.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S REAL SERIOUS ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAY ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS.
>> WE BELIEVE IN MEETING DEADLINES.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, MISS BATES.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 6.0 OPEN FORUM.
[6.0 Board President Reviews Open-Forum Regulations / Open Forum]
PER BED LOCAL, THE BOARD SHALL ALLOT 30 MINUTES TO HEAR PERSONS WHO DESIRE TO MAKE COMMENTS TO THE BOARD.IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN OPEN FORM, YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING THE ELECTRONIC FORM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS AND INDICATE THE TOPIC YOU WILL ADDRESS.
ELECTRONIC FORM IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CROWLEYISDTX.ORG/OPENFORUM.
FOR INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO SIGN UP WITH THE ELECTRONIC FORM, A PAPER COPY OF THIS FORM IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE CROWLEY ISD CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND MUST BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING.
WHEN CALL SPEAKERS SHALL STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS,
[00:55:01]
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY REGISTER TO SPEAK.COPIES OF ANY DOCUMENTS FOR THE BOARD SHALL BE E MAILED TO THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION TO SPEAK AND ONLY ONE PERSON MAY SPEAK AT A TIME.
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ARE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WILL SIGNAL YOUR REMAINING TIME, AND UPON EXPIRATION OF THE TIME LIMIT, YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO STOP SPEAKING AND CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS.
GROUPS CONSISTING OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE SHALL APPOINT ONE PERSON TO PRESENT THEIR VIEWS BEFORE THE BOARD.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING SPECIFIC NAMES WHILE MAKING COMMENTS AND PLEASE FACE THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE DAY IS WHILE MAKING COMMENTS.
PER BED LOCAL, THE BOARD SHALL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
IF AFTER AT LEAST ONE WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, ANY INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTIONS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
THANK YOU. MR. KIRSHNER, WHO IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT?
>> YES. OUR FIRST AND ONLY SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS MISS BRITTANY SINES. MISS SINES.
I'M HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, LEO SINES.
WE HAVE FIVE KIDDOS IN CROWLEY ISD.
A SECOND GRADER AND A FOURTH GRADER AT SH CROWLEY, A SIXTH GRADER AT RICHARD J ALLEY, A NINTH GRADER AT THE CROWLEY NINTH GRADE CAMPUS, AND ONE TENTH GRADER AT CROWLEY HIGH AND WE HAVE ONE ON THE WAY.
Y'ALL GOT TO EXCUSE MY OUT OF BREATHNESS.
WHEN I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS EVENING, I WAS TRULY IMPRESSED BY THE STRONG COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSIVENESS FROM CROWLEY ISD LEADERSHIP THAT PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO MY HUSBAND AND I TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION FOR CROWLEY ISD, ONGOING EFFORTS AND COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS.
YOUR DEDICATION TO CURRENT INITIATIVES AND FUTURE PLANS TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IS TRULY VALUED, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A FEW CONCERNS WITH FIVE BEING IN CROWLEY ISD.
I'LL JUST GO DOWN THE LIST BECAUSE I WANT TO BE SOMEWHAT BRIEF.
DRESS CODE I WOULD SAY, IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
ESPECIALLY BEING JUST IN AND OUT OF OUR CAMPUSES, WE'VE NOTICED THAT IT'S NOT QUITE BEING ENFORCED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
MIDRIF PAJAMAS AND EVEN FROM THE TEACHERS.
MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY SHADOWED OUR TENTH GRADER THE OTHER DAY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NOTICE THAT EVEN TEACHERS AREN'T BEING HELD TO MAYBE A HIGH ENOUGH STANDARD TO BE THAT EXAMPLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THE PHONE POLICY IN CLASS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE LIKE IT'S CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED.
KIDS ARE ON THEIR PHONES, SNAPCHAT, SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
WHILE YOU GUYS ARE NOT PARENTS, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T EXPECT YOU GUYS TO BE PARENTS AND ENFORCE WHAT SHOULD BE ENFORCED AT HOME.
BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE A BIT OF A DISTRACTION AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE PHONES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN UP AND THEN GIVEN BACK AT THE END OF CLASS.
WE'RE NOT REALLY SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF CONSISTENCY FROM CLASSROOM TO CLASSROOM TEACHER TO TEACHER.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT STRICTLY ENFORCE POLICY, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE PRETTY LAX WITH THAT.
COMMUNICATION OVERALL FROM TEACHERS AND STAFF SEEMS TO BE LITTLE BIT LACKING.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE SENT A LINK THE EMAIL TO OUR NINTH GRADERS, TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.
12 PEOPLE INCLUDED ON THE SEVENTH.
TODAY IS THE 14TH AND WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
SUBSTITUTES ALSO DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE BEING HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD AS TEACHERS, OR TEACHERS AREN'T GIVING THE SUBSTITUTES INSTRUCTIONS WHEN THEY'RE GONE.
STUDENTS, I THINK ARE FINDING THIS TO BE AN EXCUSE TO BE LAZY, TO SLEEP IN CLASS, TO BE ON THEIR PHONE, EAT IN CLASS, PHONES. THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WILL, JUST I BELIEVE WE HAVE THOSE CONCERNS LISTED.
[01:00:01]
WE WILL CERTAINLY TAKE THEM UNDER ADVISEMENT.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE WILL MOVE NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 7.1, THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[7.0 Consent Agenda]
TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA INFORMATION IN YOUR BOARD BOOKS.IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, WE CAN PULL THOSE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> I LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE STEVENSON.
IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY ROBINSON.
IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY UNREADINESS? HEARING NONE, MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE NOW TO CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS,
[8.0 Consideration and Possible Action Item (s)]
AGENDA ITEM 8.1, GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUNDS AT ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, DR. MCFARLAND.>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS.
MR. REEVES WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS ITEM, MR. REEVES.
>> THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND, BOARD PRESIDENT DAVIS, [OVERLAPPING] BOARD SUIT THE TRUSTEES.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW ALL THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES TO RECEIVE A FULLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND SYSTEM.
THIS SYSTEM HAS MANY LOWER LEVEL UNITS.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS RENDERING, WE ADDED THE ADA SWINGS TO THIS LAYOUT.
THIS IS A LAYOUT THAT IS EXACTLY LIKE THE MONTRESORI LAYOUT.
ONCE WE ARE FINISHED WITH THE ELEMENTARY, ALL THE ELEMENTARIES AND PLAYGROUND SYSTEMS WILL COME BACK TO THE MONTRESORI CAMPUS AND ADD THESE ADA SWINGS TO THAT SYSTEM.
THE SCOPE OF WORK, IT REALLY INCLUDES OF COURSE, THE INSTALLATION OF THE SYSTEM, THE TURF THAT YOU SEE IN ALL THE FALL SURFACE AREA.
IT INCLUDES CANOPY SYSTEMS THAT ARE INTEGRATED AND THEN A CANOPY SYSTEM THAT IS SEPARATE, COVERS IN THE CORNER WHERE THE MERRY GO ROUND AND SOME OF THE OTHER LOWER LEVEL UNITS ARE ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS TO THE SYSTEM, COURSE THEN SILL WORK, LANDSCAPE, ANYTHING THAT THE CITY IS REQUIRING TO THAT END.
WITH THAT, WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OF 08,988,627 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE FULL ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND SYSTEM AT ALL THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. RES. I'LL PAUSE, TRUSTEES, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. TRUSTEE DAVIS?
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CONCERN SOMETIME BACK ABOUT THE INACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PLAYGROUND.
NOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN RE ROUTED OR RE PLANNED OR SO THAT THEY'RE ALL ACCESSIBLE?
>> YES, MA'AM. IT'LL BE THAT EXACT SYSTEM WITH AN ACCESSIBLE PATHWAY TO THAT PLAYGROUND.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS. VICE PRESIDENT HALL.
>> MR. REEVES, I'VE JUST HAD A QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THE TIMELINE.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ECHO TRUSTEE DAVIS' SENTIMENTS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A DESIRE FOR OUR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON GETTING A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE ON THIS MANY CAMPUSES EXECUTED AND COMPLETED?
>> YES, MA'AM. SO THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THEM ALL INSTALLED AND READY TO GO FOR THE START OF SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, SO THE FALL OF '25.
>> HOW LONG ARE CAMPUSES WITHOUT THEIR CURRENT PLAYGROUNDS? IS THERE LIKE A DEMOLITION OF A CURRENT PLAYGROUND OR IS THIS JUST AN EXPANSION OF PLAYGROUNDS WE CURRENTLY HAVE?
>> WELL, THERE IS. IT'S TWO FOLD.
WE'LL HAVE TWO SUBCONTRACTORS, TWO GROUPS INSTALLING THESE.
WE'LL DO EIGHT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT DO NOT REQUIRE US TO DEMO THEIR MAIN SYSTEM
[01:05:01]
BECAUSE IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLAYGROUND AREA, SO WE CAN GET THAT INSTALLED AND LEAVE THAT ACTIVE.THE FOUR THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT WITH WE'LL DO IN THE SUMMER, SO THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION.
>> TRUSTEE STEVENS? DOES THIS INCLUDE THE NEW CAMPUS AS WELL, ELEMENTARY 17?
>> YES, MA'AM. IT'S A STANDARD SINCE THE CMA OF THE ELEMENTARY 16, SO IT'LL BE A STANDARD MOVING FORWARD.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TRUSTEES? THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM, SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OF $8,988,627 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE FULLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUNDS AT ALL ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES.
>> THANK YOU, DR. ROBINSON, FOR THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS FOR THE SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED, IS THERE ANY UN-READINESS? HEARING NONE, MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE.
AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 8.2 2023 2024 ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT. DR. MCFARLANE.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. FISHER WILL BE ADDRESSING.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MCFARLANE.
TONIGHT, BOARD, I'M EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL, THE 2023, '24 EXTERNAL AUDIT AS IT CULMINATES IN THE PRESENTATION OF OUR 2023 '24 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
I'M EXCITED BOARD BECAUSE THIS REALLY MARKS THE END OF A LONG FISCAL YEAR THAT PRESENTED MANY FISCAL CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT OUR ORGANIZATION, ACTING LIKE A FAMILY, AND WORKING LIKE A TEAM, MET THOSE CHALLENGES WITH A COLLECTIVE RESOLVE TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON EDUCATING STUDENTS, THE CROWLEY ISD MAIN THING.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR RESOLVE BOARD TO LEAN IN ON OUR FINANCIAL BIG 6 GUIDING PRINCIPLES, OUR CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO REVENUE GENERATORS, OUR AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO EXPENSE DRIVERS, OUR STUDENT CLASSROOM CENTRIC BUDGET MODEL, CONNECTING OUR EXPENSE DRIVERS TO REVENUE GENERATORS, AND PROTECTING THE FUND BALANCE FOR A RAINY DAY.
THE LAST OF THAT BIG 6 FINANCIAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS RECEIVE THE BENEFITS AND THE INVESTMENTS IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
I BELIEVE WE DID THAT. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE ENTIRE CROWLEY ISD TEAM DID COLLECTIVELY TO SURMOUNT THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US IN '23 '24.
TONIGHT, I HAVE OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE AUDITED RESULTS OF OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.
I HAVE WITH ME TONIGHT, MRS. JACKIE GONZALEZ, THE ENGAGEMENT PARTNER WITH OUR WEAVER ADVISORY AUDIT TEAM, AND I ALSO HAVE MISS JUSTINE SINGLETARY, WHO IS THE SENIOR MANAGER FOR WEAVER ADVISORY SERVICES.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL ALLOW MISS GONZALEZ TO COME FORWARD AND PRESENT THE RESULTS OF OUR '23 '24 EXTERNAL AUDIT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING, AND I'M GLAD HE'S EXCITED ABOUT THE AUDIT BECAUSE WE ARE EXCITED TO PERFORM THE AUDIT AND CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT.
I HAVE A PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT OR AT THE END, HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE.
WE'VE DONE YOUR AUDIT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT WE AS A FIRM CONTINUE TO GROW.
WE ARE A NATIONAL ACCOUNTING FIRM WITH ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES BEING IN OUR PUBLIC SECTOR OR OUR GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
YOU CAN SEE HERE WE SERVE OVER 300 GOVERNMENTAL CLIENTS, OVER 50 OF THOSE BEING SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN TEXAS.
LIKE I SAID, IT IS A STRATEGIC PRIORITY OF OURS AND ONE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON.
I DO SERVE AS YOUR ENGAGEMENT PARTNER.
I HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING SERVING GOVERNMENTS AND WITH WEAVER FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AS MR. FISHER MENTIONED, I HAVE WITH ME TONIGHT,
[01:10:03]
JUSTINE SINGLETARY, WHO IS A SENIOR MANAGER IN OUR GOVERNMENT PRACTICE.THEN IN ADDITION TO US, WE ALSO HAD OTHER SENIORS AND ASSOCIATES WORKING ON THE ENGAGEMENT TO GET US ACROSS OUR FINISH LINE THIS YEAR.
THEN YOU'LL SEE ON THE OUTSIDE OF ME, I HAD ADAM MCCANE SERVING AS MY QUALITY CONTROL REVIEW PARTNER, WHO TAKES A LOOK IN AN INDEPENDENT SET OF EYES ON THE AUDIT AND REVIEWS THOSE ON TOP OF OUR ENGAGEMENT TEAM.
OUT TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'LL SEE ELISA GILBERTSON, WHO WORKS IN OUR DATA ANALYTICS GROUP, AND WHO HELPS US TAKE THAT BIG DATA, BREAK IT DOWN SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE IT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT.
WE DO PERFORM OUR AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS AS WELL AS GENERALLY ACCEPTED GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, WE ALSO PERFORM A SINGLE AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVES.
WE ALSO PERFORM TEST OF COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT AND THOSE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT RESULTS.
YOU'LL SEE THERE WE HAVE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION OR A CLEAN OPINION, IF YOU WILL.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE AS YOUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS CAN PROVIDE.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR AUDIT, WE TEST INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, AND NO MATTERS OF NON COMPLIANCE RELATED TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE ALSO PERFORM THAT SINGLE AUDIT, AS I MENTIONED.
THIS YEAR, YOU CAN SEE IN THAT BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER, WE PERFORMED SINGLE AUDIT OVER THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS, THE CHILD NUTRITION CLUSTER, TITLE 1 PART A CLUSTER, AS WELL AS TITLE 4 PART B IN THE 21ST CENTURY LEARNING CENTERS.
WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION OVER COMPLIANCE FOR EACH OF THOSE MAJOR PROGRAMS. YOU DO QUALIFY AS A LOW RISK AUDITEE, AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU COULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED ANY FINDINGS IN AT LEAST THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, SO THAT ALLOWS US TO BY PERCENTAGE AUDIT LESS OF YOUR TOTAL FEDERAL AWARD THAN WE WOULD HAVE TO OTHERWISE.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, AND WE HAVE ALSO NOT REPORTED ANY COMPLIANCE FINDINGS RELATED TO ANY OF THESE MAJOR PROGRAMS. WE GO BACK TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
THIS IS OVER THE GENERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED REVENUE TOTAL JUST OVER 183 MILLION, 43.7% OF THAT REVENUE WAS IN LOCAL AND INTERMEDIATE SOURCES OR PROPERTY TAXES, 55.8% IN STATE PROGRAM REVENUES, LARGELY COMING FROM THE FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND THEN THE REMAINING FROM FEDERAL PROGRAM REVENUES.
EXPENDITURES TOTALED JUST OVER 185 MILLION WITH 59.2% OF THAT BEING SPENT IN INSTRUCTION, 10.2 IN PLANT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION, AND THE REMAINING 30.6% IN THE REMAINING FUNCTIONS.
YOUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND WAS 35.125 MILLION, OF THAT 33 MILLION WAS UNASSIGNED.
THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE HAS REMAINED WITHIN THE PARAMETERS SET BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 18-24%.
HERE WE'VE OUTLINED THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACTUAL.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT THE REVENUE CAME WITHIN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT BY 0.49%, AND YOUR EXPENDITURES WERE WITHIN 2.87% OF THE AMENDED BUDGET TO THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES THAT WERE INCURRED FOR THE YEAR.
HERE, YOU'LL SEE A TREND ANALYSIS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR THAT FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AS I MENTIONED, YOU STAYED WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THAT 18 AND 24% COMING IN AT 19% OR 2.3 MONTHS OF CURRENT EXPENDITURES.
LASTLY, HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS.
YOU ENDED THE YEAR WITH CASH OF JUST OVER 420.58 MILLION, CONSISTING MOSTLY OF THOSE UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS.
MOST OF THAT ENDING IN THE FUND BALANCE, WHICH ENDED THE YEAR AT 410.77 MILLION, ALL OF WHICH, OF COURSE, IS RESTRICTED FOR THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL BE UPCOMING.
IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS INCLUDED THE CROWLEY MONTESSORI ACADEMY, CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 17.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL AUDIT.
THAT'S ABOUT THE CLEANEST AUDIT THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE WITH NO FINDINGS AND UNMODIFIED OPINIONS THROUGHOUT.
YOU'LL NOTICE IN THAT SINGLE AUDIT, WE TOUCH SOME OF THE LARGEST PROGRAMS THAT YOU OPERATE HERE AT THE DISTRICT.
ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SERVE AS YOUR AUDITORS.
[APPLAUSE] IF YOU WERE HERE SOMEWHERE AROUND JUNE, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE APPLAUDING RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU HEARD ALL OF OUR PHONE CONVERSATIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> I WILL YIELD TO MY TRUSTEES FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. TRUSTEE DAVIS.
>> THAT WOULD BE EQUAL TO AN A+
[01:15:01]
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DELIVERING THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH OUR DISTRICT.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A HAT OFF AND GIVE AN APPLAUSE TO OUR FRIEND OVER THERE, MR. FISHER FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
[APPLAUSE] I KNOW THAT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR WITH REGARDS TO FINANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I KNOW THAT WE WERE TRYING TO FIND SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOME REALLY TOUGH PROBLEMS AND IT'S WITH GREAT PRIDE, WHICH I WOULD NOT EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT, BUT THAT IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY, APPROPRIATELY, AND EARNING US AN A+, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN STEWARDING OUR FINANCIALS.
>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT HALL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TRUSTEES?
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE STEVENSON.
WELL, THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM, SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDS THAT WE ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE CROWLEY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AS PRESENTED FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.
>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT HALL FOR THE MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS FOR THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY UN-READINESS? HEARING NONE, MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE.
AND THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. DR. MCFARLANE.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST WANT TO JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND JUST TELL YOU, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE JUST APPROVED TONIGHT, IF YOU WERE TO ASK US IN FEBRUARY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT KNOWING THE SITUATION WE WERE FACING IN FEBRUARY, THAT WE'D BE HERE TONIGHT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS FIRST OF ALL, FISHER HAS PROVIDED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, BUT EVERY DISTRICT LEADER, EVERY LEADER AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE LEVEL, AND EVERY DEPARTMENT, REALLY WORK COLLECTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY, EXTENDED HOURS OVER THE WEEKENDS AND SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REDUCE THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE YEAR AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, BUT ALSO PROTECT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO US.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FUND BALANCE CHART AND YOU GO BACK, YOU'LL SEE 2020, 2021, 2022, YOU'LL SEE HOW EVERY YEAR WE'VE HAD TO USE THE FUND BALANCE AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF ACTION BY THE STATE SINCE 2019.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, THIS AUDIT IS IN A PRETTY PACKAGE TONIGHT, BUT THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT REPERCUSSIONS IF FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET SOME SUPPORT FROM AUSTIN THIS SPRING.
WE CELEBRATE TONIGHT, AND I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, JUST SAY THANK YOU TO EACH ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS.
FINANCE WAS KEY, THEY WERE THE QUARTERBACKS, BUT EVERY TEAM HAD TO CUT SIGNIFICANT AND THERE WERE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM.
WE CUT $15 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IMPACTED.
WE CAN'T DO MORE WITH LESS, WE DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEFT.
BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AT ITS BEST, THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE THAT I'VE SEEN AND FACED IN THIS ROLE, AND SO I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU, FISHER, BATES, HOCH, BARRY, FOR ALL OF YOU, SCOTT, AND RANDY, EVERYBODY HAD TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET AND FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, AND SO WE DID THAT.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR GIVING US THAT ABILITY.
>> THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT A SMALL FEAT TO TRY TO, I WON'T EVEN SAY RIGHT SIZE THE BUDGET, BUT TO LEVEL IT AS BEST AS WE COULD.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE ADOPTING A DEFICIT BUDGET.
BUT THANKFULLY, IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE WE DID CONSIDER WORST CASE SCENARIOS.
BUT EVEN IN NOT EXPERIENCING THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND I DON'T WANT US TO YOUR POINT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPACTED BY WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE LEVEL SO THANK YOU.
WELL SAID, DR. MCFARLAND, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE WILL I EMBARK UPON THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
[01:20:06]
AND I'LL LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 9.1,
[9.0 Future Action Item(s)]
GRANTS AWARDED, DR. MCFARLAND.>> MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE NOT ONLY MANAGING THE BUDGET, BUT WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE.
WE'VE CREATED REVENUE GENERATION TEAM AND EXCITED TO BRING IT FORWARD A COUPLE OF ITEMS TONIGHT THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP US AS WE GO FORWARD.
MR. KERSON, WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. MCFARLAND, WILL GO HIGH LEVEL OVER THE FUTURE ITEMS YOU HAVE THERE IN YOUR BOARD, WILL YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AS DR. MCFARLAND SAID FOR REVENUE GENERATION, AND THE GRANTS AWARDED ITEM 9.1, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE MORE THAN 4.1 MILLION DOLLAR IN GRANTS SOME FROM THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND THE OTHER FROM THE INNOVATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAM GRANT.
MISS POCUS HERE AND PROVIDED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THOSE GRANTS THERE IN YOUR BOARD BOOKS.
MOVING AHEAD TO ITEM 9.2, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ADDITIONAL CHROMEBOOKS AND CHROMEBOOK CARTS.. TO HELP OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS, THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THRIVE AND BE FUTURE READY, PURCHASE OF MORE THAN 5,600 AND 152 CARTS, AND THE RP INFORMATION THERE IS IN YOUR BOARD BOOK.
ITEM 9.3, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE GENERATION.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES, THE MULTIPURPOSE STADIUM BEING ONE OF THEM AND THE RECENT RFP FOR NAMING RIGHTS.
YOU'LL SEE INFORMATION OUT THERE WE HAD TWO ENTITIES SUBMIT TO THAT RFP.
THE DISTRICTS NOW REVIEWING THOSE AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK.
AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BEING FUTURE READY, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO BRING TO YOU FOR FINAL APPROVAL VISION 2030, THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
WE ARE WRAPPING UP VISION 2025 AND ITS SERVICE SO WELL AS A ROADMAP TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP VISION 2030.
YOU'LL SEE THE MOST RECENT UPDATE THERE IN YOUR BOARD BOOK ABOUT THOSE GOALS AND STRATEGIES TO MEET THOSE GOALS, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT OR ANY OTHER ITEM TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. KIRSCHNER, FOR THOSE FUTURE ACTION ITEM UPDATES.
TRUSTEES, I'LL PAUSE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THESE ITEMS, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, OR 9.4.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SECRETARY ROBINSON.
>> I HAD A QUESTION FOR OUR STUDENT TRUSTEES.
I KNOW YOU'RE OUTGOING SENIORS, BUT THE CRON BOOK CARTS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TECHNOLOGY? I KNOW WE MOVED TO ONE TO ONE.
A DURING COVID, AND NOW YOU HAVE CHROMEBOOK CARTS, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE COLLEGE CLASSES, BUT IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND, EXPOUND ON THAT.
I DO HAVE A CHROMEBOOK OF MY OWN BECAUSE I DO TAKE DUAL CREDIT.
BUT IN MY CLASSES THAT ARE JUST ON LEVEL, WE DO HAVE CHROMEBOOK CARTS IN OUR ROOMS THAT WE USE EVERY DAY THAT WE'RE IN THERE AND THEY STAY IN THERE, WHICH I FEEL IS BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE HAVING THEIR OWN CHROMEBOOK BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND THE TEACHERS ASSIGN THEM BY STUDENTS.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S A BETTER SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW WHERE THEY ARE WITHOUT GETTING THEM BROKEN OR LOST.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ADD A COMMENT AS WELL.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY, WAS IN SEPTEMBER, MY CHROMEBOOK BROKE AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A NEW ONE YET.
I WENT TO THE TECHNOLOGY PERSON AT MY SCHOOL AND SHE JUST KEEPS SAYING THAT I GET THEM WHENEVER I GET THEM.
I DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF WHENEVER SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO A CHROMEBOOK, ESPECIALLY AS A DUAL CREDIT STUDENT.
I DO HAVE MY OWN AT HOME, WHICH I NOW USE BUT I KNOW THERE'S STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS AT HOME.
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TRUSTEES?
>> THE CHROMEBOOKS PARTS, THESE ARE GOING TO STAY IN THE CLASSROOM AND NOT GO HOME WITH THE STUDENTS, OR IS IT GOING TO BE CHECKED OUT WEEKLY OR HOW IS THAT?
>> STUDENTS DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK A CHROMEBOOK GUIDE IF THEY CHOOSE TO CHECK ONE OUT.
WE DO HAVE THEM IN THE CLASSROOM ALSO, JUST BECAUSE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WAS THAT STUDENTS WERE NOT BRINGING THEM TO SCHOOL, AND SO IF TEACHERS HAVE PREPARED LESSONS USING THE CHROMEBOOKS AND STUDENTS DON'T HAVE THE CHROMEBOOK, THEN THEY'RE IN CLASS WITHOUT.
WHAT WE DID WAS THE REQUESTS THAT
[01:25:03]
WE HAVE COMING WILL ALLOW US TO PURCHASE EVEN MORE CARTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IN EVERY CLASSROOM, WE HAVE CARTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ENOUGH CARTS FOR A STUDENT TO GO TO THE LIBRARY, CHECK OUT A CART LIKE THEY WOULD ANYTHING ELSE FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IF THEY NEED IT AT HOME.>> TO TRUSTEE STEVENS, I GET THIS EXTENSION OF HER QUESTION.
IN THE CASE OF A STUDENT WHO MAY NEED A REPAIR, DO WE HAVE AN ETA OR IS THERE I DON'T KNOW, A LONER PROGRAM PERHAPS FOR STUDENTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER TECHNOLOGY WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR THEIRS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED?
>> THE NOBLE TURNAROUND IS ABOUT 48 HOURS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS UP WITH YOURS.
I'LL FIGURE THAT OUT TOMORROW AND GET BACK TO YOU, BUT THE NOBLE TURNAROUND, THEY PUT A TICKET IN AT THE SCHOOL.
A TECH GOES BY, PICKS IT UP, BRINGS IT BACK TO OUR PLACE.
WE GIVE THEM A NEW ONE, THEY TICKET BACK OUT THERE.
IT'S USUALLY ABOUT 48 HOURS WHEN WE CAN GET A TURNAROUND OF A BROKEN DEVICE FOR A STUDENT WHO ACTUALLY HAS A TAKE HOME ONE.
>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT. STACY DAVIS.
>> YES. I THINK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROGRAM, THERE WERE A LOT OF ME BOOKS OR LAPTOPS NOT BEING RETURNED.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE NOW? I KNOW IT'S LIMITED TAKE HOME, BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE WE GETTING THEM RETURNED, OR ARE WE STILL LOSING A LOT OF THEM?
>> WE'RE NOT LOSING AS MANY BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE THEM HOME BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CARTS, THEY DON'T LEAVE THE CARTS UNLESS OCCASIONALLY YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE STOLEN, BUT THAT'S NOT A NORMAL AT ALL.
OUR BREAKAGE AND LOSS RATE HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED SINCE WE WENT TO CARTS.
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING ABOUT TAKING HOME.
NONE OF THE CHROMEBOOKS GO HOME.
>> WE HAVE DUAL CREDIT AND A COUPLE LIKE CREDIT RECOVERY CLASSES THAT ALSO HAVE STUDENTS WHO TAKE THEM HOME.
WE HAVE CARDS IN THE LIBRARY, KIDS NEED TO CHECK THEM OUT FOR SOMETHING THEY CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY, CHECK ONE OUT LIKE THEY WOULD READ A REGULAR BOOK.
>> BUT THAT NON RETURN RATE IS GREATLY REDUCED?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, DR. MCCRO.
>> JUST TO ADD THAT WHEN WE BRING THIS ITEM BACK FOR ACTION, WE'LL BRING THOSE, THE RATES OVER THE LAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE ACTUALLY MADE THE DECISION TO GO TO THE TO THE COURTS IN THE CLASSROOM IS BECAUSE OF THEIR TURN RATES, BREAKAGE AND ALL THAT.
WE WILL DEFINITELY WILL BRING RESPONSE TIME, AND THEN ALSO WE'LL BRING BACK WHAT LED US TO THAT.
>> BECAUSE THERE IS A FEE OR THERE WAS A FEE IF YOU LOST IT BROKE IT DAMAGE THEN RETURN IT.
WERE WE ABLE TO RECOUP THOSE FUNDS, SO HOW MUCH COULD YOU BRING THAT BACK TO US AS WELL? YES.
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY ROBINSON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THESE ARE FUTURE ACTION ITEMS, SO MORE INFORMATION WILL BE TO COME.
I DO WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING ON AGENDA ITEM 9.4, THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
I KNOW THAT OF COURSE, THE RECOMMENDATION, I BELIEVE, FROM SOME PERSPECTIVE INFORMATION THAT I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH EMPOWERED STAFF, ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND DRIVING STUDENTS, THANK YOU.
I COULDN'T FIND IT. DRIVING STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO LIFT JUST AS A RESULT AND COMING OUT BOARD FOR MAYBE OUR CONSIDERATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMED TO BE OVERWHELMING COMING OUT OF OUR TEAM OF EIGHT TRAINING, WHICH TOOK PLACE THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS A FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW EVEN FROM THE SURVEY, AND WE FELT COMPELLED TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE CAN'T EXPECT FOR STUDENTS TO THRIVE IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
I KNOW THAT THAT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS BASED ON DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUT JUST AS WE ARE GOING INTO THIS NEXT FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF A STRATEGIC VISION, I JUST WANT TO LIFT FOR CONSIDERATION THAT WE ALSO CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO BE SAFE AND HEALTHY.
JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
[01:30:03]
I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE THE PLAN COMES BACK FOR US TO VOTE ON AND RATIFY.I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THROUGH THE COMMITTEE'S WORK AND WHATNOT, HOW WE CAN ALSO INCORPORATE SAFE SCHOOLS IN OUR STRATEGIC VISION. DAVIS.
>> TO ADD TO THAT, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE STUDENTS TO FEEL SAFE, BUT ALSO FOR THE STAFF.
>> FEEL SAFE, THE TOTAL PICTURE.
>> JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WE IDENTIFY THOSE THREE AREAS, AND SO WHAT I'M HEARING US SAY AND I HEARD ON SATURDAY TO IS THAT WE WANT TO LIVE SAFETY, SECURITY, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT UP AS AS AS A GOAL.
AS AN EXPLICIT GOAL AS ONE OF THE SO WE GO FROM THREE GOALS TO FOUR GOALS AND THEN WE BUILD STRATEGIES AROUND THAT.
WE DEFINITELY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
>> THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE IN EACH OF THE CURRENT THREE GOALS UNDER THEM, THEY ADDRESS SAFETY, SECURITY AND HEALTH IN EACH AREA, BUT NOW IF WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT, IT DRAWS MORE ATTENTION TO THEM SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS OR STUDENT TRUSTEES, ANY THOUGHTS?
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I DEFINITELY AGREE.
AS A STUDENT, SAFETY IS A BIG PART FOR ME, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH I DON'T FEEL LIKE I COULD LEARN IF I DON'T FEEL SAFE, WHICH MAKES 100%.
SINCE I DEFINITELY THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY LIKE I TALKED ABOUT WITH THE METAL DETECTORS.
I WAS A PART OF THE 2030 TALK WITH TEACHERS, AND I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE BEING ABLE TO TELL TEACHERS HOW WE FEEL FROM A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE AND HEARING THEIR VOICES.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT SO WE CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER, RUN IT BY THE COMMITTEE AND BRING THAT BACK.
>> GREAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ACTION THAT WE'LL TAKE ON ALL FOUR OF THESE ITEMS. I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT MISS POKE HAS TO SAY [LAUGHTER].
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO
[10.0 Executive Session]
EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 FOR PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY, AND 551.074 TO DISCUSS THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION INSTRUMENT AND PERSONNEL.THE BOARD WILL RETURN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND WE ARE ADJOURNING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:33 PM.
WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 9:53 PM.
WE WILL MOVE NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 11.1,
[11.0 Consideration and Possible Action Item (s)]
EMPLOYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.>> YES, I LIKE TO RECOMMEND COURTNEY DE GRAY FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTH CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL AS RECOMMENDED.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE STVENSON FOR THE MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY DR. ROBINSON.
IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY READINESS? HEARING NONE, MOVE TO VOTE, PLEASE? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS, MISS DE GRAY [APPLAUSE] WE'LL MOVE NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 11.2, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND CONTRACT.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT WE APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT WITH THE AMENDMENTS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> THANK YOU, DR. HALL FOR THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
FOR THE SECOND, IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY READINESS? HEARING NONE, MOVED TO VOTE, PLEASE? THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD, WE ARE ADJOURNING AT 9:54 P.M. GOODNIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.