[00:00:09]
[1.0 Call to Order ]
I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THE CALL BOARD MEETING OF CROWLEY ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND CERTIFY THAT WE FOLLOW THE PROVISION OF SECTION 551.041, SUBCHAPTER C, GOVERNMENT CODE AS AMENDED BY THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, PURSUANT TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING AND A QUORUM IS PRESENT.I REQUEST THE OFFICIAL ROLL CALL, MR. KIRCHNER.
TRUSTEE PLACE THREE, MR. DARYL R.
TRUSTEE PLACE FOUR, MR. JUNE W.
TRUSTEE PLACE FIVE, MS. CC WATKINS.
TRUSTEE PLACE SIX, MR. GARY GRASSIA.
TRUSTEE PLACE SEVEN, MS. KELICIA STEVENSON.
I EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE PRESENT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THIS MONTHLY MEETING AND 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 OPERATIONS OF CROWLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE WILL BE CONFINED TO THE TIME DESIGNATED FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THE QUORUM AND COURTESY ARE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC MEETING.
PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE OR COMMUNICATION DEVICES BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PROCEEDING.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN CROWLEY ISD SCHOOLS.
[2.0 Celebrations / Board Points of Pride ]
WE ARE NOW AT AGENDA 2.0, CELEBRATION OF BOARD POINTS OF PRIDE.BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO START TO MY RIGHT, MS. DAVIS.
THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT STEVENSON.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COACH OF THE YEAR.
AFTER A MAGICAL STATE TITLE RUN THIS SPRING, THE ACCOLADES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN FOR THE NORTH CROWLEY PANTHERS BOYS BASKETBALL PROGRAM.
JUST THIS WEEK HEAD COACH TOMMY BRACKLE WAS NAMED THE COACH OF THE YEAR BY THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION FOR ALL DIVISIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH BRACKLE FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE HE HAS MADE AT NORTH CROWLEY.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ARMANDO SANCHEZ VELASQUEZ, A SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIFTH GRADER WHO RECENTLY ADVANCED TO THE TEXAS STATE SPANISH SPELLING BEE IN EL PASO.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A CROWLEY ISD STUDENT, A CROWLEY ISD STUDENT REACHED THE STATE LEVEL FOR THIS COMPETITION.
TO REACH THE STATE LEVEL, HE WON FIRST PLACE AT BOTH THE SYCAMORE AND CROWLEY ISD COMPETITIONS, THEN PLACED SECOND AT THE REGION 11 EVENT.
AT STATE, HE PASSED THROUGH SIX ROUNDS AND WAS ONLY THREE POSITIONS AWAY FROM NATIONALS.
LEARNING, I'M SORRY, SUMMER LEARNING IS SHINING ACROSS CROWLEY ISD.
THIS WEEK, MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL FINE ARTS CAMP AT BAYLOR ELEMENTARY, THE LARGEST ENROLLMENT IN CAMP'S HISTORY.
CAMPERS ARE EXPLORING THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH HANDS-ON SESSIONS IN ART, PERCUSSION, THEATER, CHOIR, DANCE, CHEER, AND MORE.
MAKING A FUN-FILLED WEEK OF LEARNING AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR MAKING THIS ANNUAL SUMMER EVENT A REALITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.
OUR FACES OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNITIONS CONTINUE TO POUR OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
OUR LATEST HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE JENNIFER AKERS, A COLLABORATIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FROM SUE CROUCH ELEMENTARY, AND LASHAWN BATTS, THE PRINCIPAL'S SECRETARY AT OAKMONT ELEMENTARY.
BOTH NOMINEES ARE DOING PHENOMENAL WORK FOR THE STUDENTS ON THEIR CAMPUS, AND THEIR EFFORTS ARE NOT GOING UNNOTICED.
IF YOU KNOW A STUDENT, STAFF MEMBER, OR A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER THAT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR DISTRICT, PLEASE VISIT THE CROWLEY ISD WEBSITE TO MAKE YOUR NOMINATION TODAY.
[00:05:01]
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, MS. AKERS.LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THE TARRANT COUNTY BACK TO SCHOOL ROUNDUP, AND REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.
THIS YEAR, THE EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 7TH AT TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE SOUTH CAMPUS.
QUALIFYING FAMILIES MUST PRE-REGISTER ONLINE BY JUNE 22, 2026 TO RECEIVE FOR FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACKPACKS, HAIRCUTS, HEALTH SERVICES, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, GIVEAWAYS, AND MORE.
VISIT THE EVENT'S WEBSITE TO SEE IF YOUR FAMILY QUALIFIES TO PRE-REGISTER TODAY.
FOOTBALL IS A YEAR-ROUND SPORT.
THIS PAST SATURDAY, FUTURE EAGLE AND PANTHER ATTENDED THE FREE TYLER SMITH FOOTBALL CAMP AT OUR CISC MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM.
ATHLETES AGES 18 TO 16 WERE ABLE TO RUN DRILLS AND SPEND TIME WITH THE PRO BOWL LINEMEN AND FORMER NORTH CROWLEY PANTHER.
WE WANT TO THANK TYLER FOR POURING BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, IF YOU MISSED IT, THERE'S ANOTHER EXCITING FOOTBALL CAMP COMING TO CROWLEY ISD SUPER BOWL CHAMPION CURRENT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AND FORMER CROWLEY EAGLE MILTON WILLIAMS IS ALSO HOSTING A FREE CAMP AT CISD MULTIPURPOSE STADIUM ON JUNE THE 27TH FOR KIDS AGES 8 TO 18.
VISIT THE CROWLEY ISD SUMMER WEBSITE TO REGISTER TODAY.
WOW, WE GOT SOME AMAZING THINGS GOING ON IN CROWLEY.
THANK YOU TO BOTH TYLER SMITH AND MILTON WILLIAMS.
[3.0 Superintendent Report]
DR.MCFARLAND, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A COUPLE SECONDS TO REALLY RECOGNIZE SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT.
FIRST, WE KNOW THAT I SHARE WITH YOU ALL, BUT TODAY OR RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN NEW YORK, STUDENTS THAT ARE PART OF OUR QNITE NETWORK THAT HAD OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LEADERSHIP EXPLORATION TRIP TO NEW YORK AND HAD A GREAT TIME AND A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSIONS.
AND ALSO SEEING A LOT OF GOOD SITES.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT REALLY EXPOSING OUR STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THOSE KIND OF THINGS DURING THE SUMMER.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A GROUP OF ABOUT 150 STUDENTS THAT ARE AT PREVIEW A&M UNIVERSITY WITH THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
AND THESE THINGS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SET FORTH AS HAVING THRIVING STUDENTS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR THE INVESTMENTS BOTH IN STUDENTS FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY ACTIVITIES.
AND WITH OUR CUNYTE NETWORK, WE'RE DEFINITELY PROUD OF THAT FOR SURE.
IN ADDITION, I KNOW THAT LAST WEEK WE RECOGNIZED A HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AT THE LAST MEETING, AND ACTUALLY MS. KUNCHIK WAS NOT HERE, SO I'D JUST LIKE FOR HER TO STAND UP.
MS. KUNCHIK PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR OUR SECONDARY, AND SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB THIS YEAR.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK RUNDOWN AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK, BUT WE HAD A 4% INCREASE IN ALGEBRA, 11% IN BIOLOGY, 3% IN ENGLISH, 2% IN MATH.
ENGLISH TOO AND BEING A 5% IN U.S.
AND THE REALITY IS IT TAKES ALL OF US, THE WHOLE TEAM, TO MAKE IT WORK.
BUT THERE IS ONE PERSON THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERVISING THAT CAMPUS.
SO THANK YOU, MS. KULMCHIK, FOR YOUR OVERSIGHT AND LEADERSHIP IN THAT REALM.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS ABOUT BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS WE GET LATER INTO THE MONTH.
BUT REALLY SPECIFICALLY WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR QUINNITE NETWORK.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS YOU ALL TOOK A TOOK A BOLD STEP TO ALLOW US TO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE QUINITE NETWORK, AND SO WE ALREADY SEE EARLY INDICATIONS THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PERFORMANCE, WE HAVE INCREASED AND OUTPERFORMED LAST YEAR IN EVERY AREA AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT'S WITH 3% IN THE MEETS FOR ELAR, 7% IN MATH, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE, AGAIN, STILL AWAITING SCIENCE SCHOOLS.
WE'LL GET THOSE LATER THIS WEEK, WE THINK.
WE FEEL LIKE THE INVESTMENT, YOU'LL SEE.
EVIDENCE THAT THE INVESTMENT WAS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT.
THANK YOU ALL, BOARD, FOR TRUSTING US TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THESE KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, OUR STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING ENRICHED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES, BUT ALSO OTHER EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
MCFARLAND, FOR THAT WONDERFUL.
EXCITED TO HEAR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND HOW THEY'RE PERFORMING.
AND ALSO, MS. KUNCHEK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
OR DO YOU GUYS, ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? JUST A NOTE, I THINK THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH
[00:10:01]
PAUL QUINN, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THOSE KINDS OF GAINS.SO WE CAN EXPECT GOING FORWARD TO SEE EVEN GREATER GAINS.
[4.0 Board President Review Open-Forum Regulations - Open Forum]
TO 4.0, BOARD PRESIDENT REVIEW OPEN FORUM REGULATIONS.PER BED LOCAL, THE BOARD SHALL ALLOW 30 MINUTES TO HEAR INDIVIDUALS WHO DESIRE TO MAKE COMMENTS TO THE BOARD.
IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN OPEN FORUM.
YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING THE ELECTRONIC FORM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING BEGAN AND INDICATE THE TOPIC YOU WILL ADDRESS.
THE ELECTRONIC FORM IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CROWLEYISDTEXAS.ORG/OPENFORM FOR INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO SIGN UP WITH THE ELECTRONIC FORM, A PAPER COPY OF THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE AT THE CROWLEY ISD CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND MUST BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING.
WHEN CALLED, SPEAKERS SHALL STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
COPIES OF ANY DOCUMENTS FOR THE BOARD SHALL BE EMAILED TO THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION TO SPEAK.
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 COMMISSIONER OFFICER WILL SIGNAL.
UPON EXPIRATION OF THIS 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 VIEW BEFORE THE BOARD.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING SPECIFIC NAMES WHILE MAKING COMMENTS, AND PLEASE FACE THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE DAIS WHILE MAKING COMMENTS.
FOR BD LOCAL, THE BOARD SHALL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTION.
DISRUPTION OF MEETINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
IF AFTER AT LEAST ONE WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, ANY INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTION, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
MR. KIRCHNER, WHO IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT? OUR FIRST OF TWO SPEAKERS TONIGHT IS MS. SHERRY RODRIGUEZ.
AND SO WE'LL GO TO OUR SECOND SPEAKER, AND THAT'S DR.
PIGNON? GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT STEVENSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR.
LIZ PIGNON, AND I'M A PARENT, TAXPAYER, RESIDENT, AND CROLLY ISD FOR OVER A DECADE.
I'VE REVIEWED THE FISCAL YEAR 25-26 YEAR AND ESTIMATES AND THE 26-27 PROJECTION OF THE GENERAL FUND AND I WANT TO RAISE SOME CONCERNS.
FIRST, THE FUND BALANCE WE STARTED THIS YEAR AT $36.2 MILLION IN RESERVES AND UNDER THE DISTRICT'S OWN PROJECTION THAT SHOULD FALL TO $17.3 MILLION BY THE END OF 26-27.
LESS THAN HALF WITH RESERVES DROPPING FROM 19% OF THE OPERATING EXPENSES TO AS LOW AS 9%.
THAT'S BARELY ONE MONTH OF OPERATIONS.
SECOND, THESE PROJECTIONS LEAN ON A PENDING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION WITH ROUGHLY $8.4 MILLION THAT HASN'T CLOSED.
THAT DEAL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MANAGEABLE YEAR AND A $10 MILLION DEFICIT.
I'D ASK THE BOARD TO PLAN AS IF THAT MONEY ISN'T COMING UNTIL IT ACTUALLY DOES.
AND THIRD, THIS IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM, NOT A ONE-YEAR PROBLEM.
SET ASIDE THE ONE-TIME LAND SALE AND THE WORKERS' COMP TRANSFER.
AND WE'RE RUNNING ROUGHLY A $10 MILLION ANNUAL OPERATING DEFICIT UNDER PROJECTIONS THAT ASSUME NO RAISES, NO INFLATION, NO ENROLLMENT.
FIRST, BEFORE ADOPTING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, PLEASE DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO PRESENT A MULTI-YEAR PLAN TO REACH THAT STRUCTURAL BALANCE, ONE THAT DOESN'T DEPEND ON LAND TRANSFERS FROM OTHER FUNDS.
SECOND, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SIMPLE BUDGET DASHBOARD THAT HELPS US FAMILIES UNDERSTAND AND THEN.
WHERE DISTRICT DOLLARS ARE GOING, AND HOW SPENDING DECISIONS CONNECT TO OUR STUDENT OUTCOMES.
TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST, AND WE'LL NEED THAT TRUST FOR THE HARD DECISIONS AHEAD.
I KNOW THAT THESE ARE TRYING TIMES.
BUT I HOPE THE DISTRICTS LOOK FIRST AT THE AREAS WITH LEAST IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS.
AS A PARENT, I WOULD RATHER SEE REDUCTIONS IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS THAN CUTS THAT TOUCH OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR AMAZING TEACHERS, SPECIAL AT INVITE BILINGUAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, READING SUPPORT, OR THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED.
[00:15:02]
THAT MATTERS EVEN MORE NOW.WITH SCHOOL VOUCHERS AVAILABLE TO OUR TEXAS FAMILIES STARTING NEXT YEAR, EVERY STUDENT WHO LEAVES TAKES THAT FUNDING WITH THEM.
AND THE WAY WE CAN KEEP FAMILIES IN CROWLEY ISD IS BY PROTECTING WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CLASSROOM.
SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICT TO KEEP PURSUING GRANTS, PARTNERSHIPS.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS JUST LIKE THE PAUL QUINN PROGRAM.
MY SON JUST CAME BACK FROM NEW YORK CITY AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL AT HIS EXPERIENCE.
BUT OUR STUDENTS IN CROWLEY ISD REMAIN AT THE, SHOULD REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF EVERY BUDGET DECISION.
[5.0 Executive Session]
SO WE ARE NOW AT OUR AGENDA 5.0, EXECUTIVE THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, EXCUSE ME, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071, PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD ATTORNEY, 551.074 PERSONNEL, 551.076 SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND 551.072. THE BOARD WILL RETURN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:16.WE ARE BACK IN SESSION AT 7:19 P.M.
[6.0 Study Session]
WE ARE NOW AT AGENDA ITEM 6.1, BUDGET STATUS AND PROJECTED OF 2026-27 PRELIMINARY.MR. FISHER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
DR. MCFARLAND I AM PLEASED TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR 25-26 BUDGET, OUR, ACTUALLY, OUR STATUS PROJECTIONS FOR THE END OF YEAR AND ALSO THE 26-27 PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
BOARD, NOW I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO WALK THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL BIG SIX.
THIS IS CUSTOMARY. WE DO THIS REALLY EVERY TIME WE HAVE A FINANCIAL PRESENTATION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BOARD, THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES AS THEY GUIDE US THROUGH BOTH GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES, RIGHT? AND SO I'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES, IF THAT'S OKAY, JUST TO WALK THROUGH THOSE FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES.
THE FIRST THING, BOARD, IS THAT WE HAVE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO OUR REVENUE GENERATORS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE PRESENT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS TO YOU, SPECIFICALLY THE REVENUES AND THE SOURCES OF REVENUES, WE HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE OFTENTIMES IN ADDRESSING WHAT THOSE REVENUES LOOK LIKE. OKAY.
AND SO THAT CAN MEAN SOMETIMES WE TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH. WE DON'T GO FOR THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AMOUNT.
WE TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND ESTIMATE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15% LOWER THAN WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE REALIZED. THE NEXT THING IS OUR AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO EXPENSE DRIVERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS, BOARD, THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO, THIS IS OUR PRINCIPLE, IS WE OVERESTIMATE EXPENDITURES IN OUR PRESENTATION OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WHY DO WE DO THAT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THINGS CAN CHANGE.
ONE OF OUR EXPENDITURES THIS PAST YEAR IS FUEL COSTS, RIGHT? EXPERIENTIALLY, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT FUEL PRICES HAVE CHANGED, RIGHT? SO WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVE, AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE HAD KNOWLEDGE TO BE, AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE FUEL COSTS. AND GUESS WHAT? THEY WERE EXCEEDED BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL VARIABLES. WE TALK ABOUT A STUDENT-CENTRIC BUDGET MANAGEMENT MODEL, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, BOARD, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US IS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. AND THEN OUR TERTIARY GOAL IS OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. ALL RIGHT, WHAT THAT MEANS IN ACTION IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE ATTEMPT, OR IN THE CASE OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS, WE ARE REDUCING FIRST AS FAR AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. OKAY? BOARD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE TARGET THAT WE HAD. FUNCTION 11, 12,
[00:20:03]
AND 13 ARE INSTRUCTIONAL RELATED. THOSE ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE TARGET.FUNCTION 41, 51, 52, 53 ARE THE FURTHEST FROM THE TARGET.
OKAY. ANYTIME WE WOULD ENGAGE IN A BUDGET REDUCTION OF ANY SORT, WE START FROM THE OUTSIDE MOVING IN.
OKAY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, BOARD, UH, FINANCIAL BIG SIX NUMBER 4, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE CONNECT OUR EXPENSE DRIVERS TO OUR REVENUE GENERATORS.
WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT DRIVE EXPENSES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CORRELATING REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM ALSO. WE TAKE VERY GREAT PRIDE IN DOING THAT. BOARD, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR FUND BALANCE FOR A RAINY DAY, RIGHT? THE LAST THING IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DENYING OUR CURRENT STUDENTS OUR CURRENT TAXPAYERS ANY OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR ACADEMIC LIFE EXCELLENT IN THE CURRENT YEAR. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE ALL THE WAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW, BOARD, I WILL JUMP RIGHT IN TO A BUDGET DISCUSSION, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE '25-'26 BUDGET STATUS, OUR YEAR-END STATUS. BOARD, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO WALK YOU FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, ORIENT YOU TO THE DOCUMENT SO THAT YOU CAN SEE AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
ON THE TOP BOARD, YOU'LL SEE THE REVENUE SOURCES.
ALL RIGHT. ON THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE THE EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION. THE BOARD APPROVES THE BUDGET BY FUND AND FUNCTION. THE COLUMN LABELED 24-25 IS THE AUDITED EXPENDITURES FOR 24-25. AUDITED, NOT JUST EXPENDITURES, REVENUES AS WELL. BOARD, YOU'LL SEE, UH, THE REVENUE OF $180 MILLION. YOU'LL SEE THE EXPENDITURES OF $185 MILLION.
YOU'LL SEE IF WE SCROLL DOWN, WE ACTUALLY STRATEGICALLY USE OUR FUND BALANCE AND PLACE $1.1 MILLION INTO FUND BALANCE, INCREASING FUND BALANCE BY $1.1 MILLION, BRINGING US TO A 19%, UH, OF OUR GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE TOP, OUR '25-'26 REVISED BUDGET OF $206 MILLION PROJECTED PLANNED UTILIZATION OF $6.5 MILLION.
YOU'LL SEE THE EXPENDITURES MATCH THE REVENUES BASED ON THIS REPORT OF $206 MILLION.
OUR PROJECTED YEAR-END, WE HAVE THE BEST CASE SCENARIO AND WE PRESENT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, AS WE ALWAYS DO, BOARD. AND THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THE MIDDLE SCENARIO WITH THE PENDING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION. THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS ON THE RIGHT WITHOUT THE PENDING REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION. WITH THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, YOU'LL SEE, BOARD, THAT OUR FUND BALANCE WILL ONLY BE IMPACTED BY ABOUT $874,000. IF YOU SCROLL UP AGAIN, OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD REMAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 18%.
OKAY, IN THE CASE OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE IMPACTED BY NEGATIVE $9.2 MILLION AND OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD STILL BE 13%. AND NOW, BOARD, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO THE 26-27 PROJECTION. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ACTUALLY HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCES, GRANTS, TEACHING AND LEARNING TO SCRUB OUR DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MAXIMIZED THE UTILIZATION OF ALL AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDS AND WE HAVE MAXIMIZED THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE. WE HAVE REDUCED THE EXPENDITURES DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY $200 MILLION AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THE WORST-CASE PROJECTION, WORST-CASE SCENARIO, AND THEN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO IN YELLOW FOR '26-'27. CAN EVERYBODY SEE THAT? ALL RIGHT.
WITHOUT THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, ANTHONY, WE WOULD BE
[00:25:04]
PRESENTING APPROXIMATELY A $9.6 MILLION, UH, DEFICIT, WHICH WOULD INCREASE OR REDUCE OUR FUND BALANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 9%.WITH THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, BOARD, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE WOULD BE REDUCING OUR FUND BALANCE BY APPROXIMATELY, SCROLL UP, OKAY, $1.2, $1.3 MILLION, RIGHT? AND THEN OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AT 13%. OKAY, SO, BOY, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
OR DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND, JUST ONE SECOND. DR.
ALL RIGHT, SO, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS, BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE GO INTO QUESTIONS, I WANT TO JUST ADD A FEW, FEW MORE POINTS OF CONTEXT.
AND SO I KNOW YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THIS BOARD, AND I KNOW HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY STILL RECOGNIZES AND REMEMBERS THIS, BUT AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, THE PRIOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, WITH COMPLETED, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE HAD SEVERAL PROPERTY TAX, UH, BENEFIT LEGISLATION THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GIVE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, THAT MEANS THAT RESIDENTS GET A BENEFIT OF HAVING REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES.
WELL, THIS DISTRICT, THIS BOARD, SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO PROBABLY ABOUT 12 TO 13 YEARS AGO, THIS BOARD MADE DECISIONS TO GIVE LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
MOST DISTRICTS MADE THE DECISION PROBABLY ABOUT 5 YEARS AFTER IT WAS FIRST DONE TO ACTUALLY RESCIND THE LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. THIS DISTRICT FELT LIKE, WE FELT LIKE OUR RESIDENTS BENEFITED FROM THAT AND WE WANTED TO KEEP THAT. AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY A POSITIVE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. HOWEVER, ANYTIME LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ARE GIVEN, ABOVE AND ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE STATE ACTUALLY, UH, RECOMMENDS, THEN THE STATE TREATS THE DISTRICT FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AS IF THEY RECEIVE THAT FUND. SO OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT WE GIVE, THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE, ONE OF PROBABLY 10 TO 15 IN THE STATE THAT GIVES THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, OR IN THIS AREA, UH, COST ABOUT $5 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR THE DISTRICT. AND SO THIS IS A DECISION THAT WE MADE AS A BOARD, THAT WE COLLECTIVELY MADE AS A COMMUNITY BUT THE REALITY IS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT DECISION, GOOD OR BAD IT IS. THE REALITY THAT WE ARE, $5 MILLION EVERY YEAR IS FUNDS THAT WE'RE NOT RECEIVING THAT WOULD BE IMPACTING OUR REVENUE, IMPACTING THE DIFFERENCE.
ALSO, IN ADDITION, THAT THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AT THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN BOTH HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, MEANING HOW MUCH OF A, THE VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD WOULD BE EXEMPTED. THAT IMPACTED US SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL IN A NEGATIVE WAY. IT IMPACTED EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE THE SAME. BUT IN ADDITION, THE LEGISLATION THAT MOVED VALUATION OF PROPERTY FROM 1 YEAR TO 2 YEARS AND 3 YEARS, THAT HAS HAD, IS HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THE GROWTH THAT'S OCCURRING IN OUR AREA, IT MAY, MAY BE GROWTH OCCURRING, BUT IF IT'S NOT, IF WE'RE NOT EVALUATING THE PROPERTY ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU DON'T GET, WE DON'T GET THAT BENEFIT OF THAT ADDITIONAL VALUE. AND SO WE ARE REALLY, UH, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. THIS IS THE REALITY. THIS IS THE CONTEXT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS RESIDENTS AND, AND PEOPLE HEAR AND SEE THIS, WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES, THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS, AND, AND THE TRADE-OFF, THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS THAT THERE IS A LOWER AMOUNT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE THIRD FACTOR, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO BUDGETING, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CONSIDER ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT COULD IMPACT OUR POTENTIAL REVENUE. SO WE KNOW THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS, OPTIONS, VOUCHERS, BASICALLY VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL, IS ACTUALLY, IT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT, UH, IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YET, WE DON'T KNOW EXACT, EXACT AMOUNT, BUT WE DO FEEL LIKE THAT WILL ALSO HAVE A, A DEPRESSING, UH, UH, UH, FACTOR ON OUR REVENUE. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, WE HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE AND NOT TO, NOT TO OVERSHOOT WHAT OUR REVENUE ESTIMATES WILL BE. AND SO CONSEQUENTLY IF WE DON'T OVERSHOOT WHAT OUR REVENUE WILL BE, THEN WE STAY AT A LOW RATE. HOWEVER, THE EXPENSES ARE STEADY INCREASING.
AND SO THE REALITY IS WHAT YOU SEE. THESE ARE THE REALITIES OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU VOTE OR WHEN YOU DON'T VOTE AND BASED ON WHAT YOU VOTE FOR. SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HAD CONTEXT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND.LET'S START ON THIS SIDE, TRUSTEE DAVIS.
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT. DR.
MCFARLAND, BECAUSE WE DID MANY YEARS AGO MAKE THE DECISION TO DO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND I KNOW MY MATH IS KIND OF CRAZY, BUT OVER THE 12 YEARS THAT WE HAVE NOT COLLECTED THAT $5 MILLION A YEAR, THAT'S $60 MILLION THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS NOT RECEIVED BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO FOR OUR RESIDENTS. IN TERMS OF TAX RELIEF. SO THAT'S ONE THING. UM, THE OTHER THING, AND, AND THANK YOU, MR. FISHER, FOR THIS REPORT. THIS IS THE KIND OF INFORMATION WE RECEIVE EVERY TIME YOU PRESENT, AND I THINK YOU PRESENT QUARTERLY, AND THIS IS THE KIND OF DETAILED INFORMATION WE RECEIVE. UH, IF YOU COULD PULL THAT BACK UP, THE THAT SLIDE BACK UP, PLEASE. THIS IS HANDY. OKAY, MAKE IT BIGGER. IF I LOOK AT, AND GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, MR. FISHER, WHEN I LOOK AT THE '24-'25 AND THE '25-'26 PROJECTIONS AND THE '26-'27, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE TARGET. THAT YOU USE, THAT WE USE WHEN WE'RE CREATING OUR BUDGET. AND I THINK THAT 11, THE FIRST ROW OF NUMBERS WITH INSTRUCTION, IS A, THAT IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST REVENUE EXPENDITURE THAT WE HAVE. AM I CORRECT? YOU ARE CORRECT. TRUSTEE DAVIS, THAT IS 58% OF OUR, OF OUR BUDGET.
OKAY, OKAY. SO THAT IS LIKE YOU SAID, WE LOOK AT THE TARGET AND INSTRUCTION AND NUMBER 11 FUNCTION, THAT'S FUNCTIONING, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY, SO THAT'S WHERE OUR BIGGEST EXPENDITURES ARE ALWAYS. AND LIKE YOU SAID, 58%.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR ME, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT IT, LIKE I SAID, THAT, THAT IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST EXPENDITURE WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS AGAIN LIKE THIS, AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN YOU DO THESE PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE OH, AND I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSERVATIVE APPROACH FOR OUR BUDGET. IT KEEPS US SAFE. SO THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? TRUSTEE DAVIS.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT. MR. FISHER, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UM, AND DR. MCFARLAND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU MUST HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON MY, MY MY NOTES HERE THAT I WAS TAKING BECAUSE UM, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LIFT THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE HAVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN GENERATING REVENUE.
OF COURSE, WE OPERATE BASED ON PROPERTY TAXES, AND WE ALSO OPERATE BASED ON THE STATE FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND I THINK THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO LIFT FOR CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT YES, WE GOT AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2025. BUT PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD NOT HAD A, A, AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING FROM THE STATE SINCE 2019. AND SO WE'VE SPENT THE LAST 6+ YEARS PLAYING CATCH-UP BECAUSE WHILE THE STATE WAS NOT INCREASING SCHOOL FUNDING BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS HELD HOSTAGE, FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM. AND, AND I'M OKAY SAYING THAT. I HOPE Y'ALL ARE OKAY WITH ME SAYING THAT. UM, BUT WE CANNOT ESCAPE THAT REALITY THAT WE WERE OPERATING IN 2025, 25, 26 OFF OF 2019 DOLLARS.
AND SO THERE'S, SO THERE WAS ONLY SO MUCH THAT WE COULD DO TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO DIP INTO FUND BALANCE AND HAVING TO CUT PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IN THE DISTRICT. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE STATE WAS NOT PROPERLY FUNDING EDUCATION.
AND I THINK THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UTILIZING OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE TO HOLD OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS NOT ONLY IN CROWLEY ISD BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, ARE BEING PROPERLY INVESTED IN. UM, BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST AS
[00:35:01]
FAR AS HOW OUR STATE FUNDS PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.BUT HERE IN THE DISTRICT, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH CONTROL THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE CAN ONLY RAISE FUNDS FOR US TO OPERATE TWO WAYS. STATE FUNDING AND PROPERTY TAXES.
AND SO WHEN THE STATE CHOOSES NOT TO PROPERLY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT ALSO PASS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND INCREASED EXEMPTIONS AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE EXEMPTIONS ONLY APPLY TO SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES.
HOSPITAL DISTRICT, COLLEGES CITY, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T EXPERIENCE THAT THAT INCREASE IN THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT. IT'S ONLY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SO I COMMEND YOU, MR. FISHER AND DR. MCFARLAND, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR US DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.
THIS IS NOT, A CREATION OF OUR MAKING. THIS IS LITERALLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'VE BEEN HANDED. AND SO IT DOES CREATE SOME CHALLENGES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE WHILE WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR A LONG TIME ON 2019 DOLLARS, INFLATION HAS GONE UP SINCE THEN, AN AVERAGE OF 4.6% PER YEAR. SO WE'RE HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
AND SO IT DOES MAKE IT VERY CHALLENGING AND OF COURSE, WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE BECAUSE A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND ALL OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO GIVE THAT LONG SOLILOQUY JUST TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO UTILIZE OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE TO SAY TO OUR STATE LEGISLATOR, STATE LEGISLATURE, TO PROPERLY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN TEXAS.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, BUT IT ONLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHILE WE ARE INVESTING $1 BILLION AT AS A STATE INTO A VOUCHER PROGRAM. I'M GONNA GET OFF MY SOAPBOX, BUT I JUST THINK I FELT LIKE THAT NEEDED TO BE LIFTED.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER TRUSTEES? THANK YOU, MR. FISHER. WE DO APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING BACK TO EXPLAIN MORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[7.0 Consent Agenda]
THANK YOU, BOARD.WE ARE NOW AT CONSENT AGENDA 7.1. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS, BOARD, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. I THINK I HEARD MISS TRUSTEE DAVIS ON THE OTHER END OVER HERE. SO WE HAVE A FIRST BY TRUSTEE DAVIS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE DAVIS. ANY DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, READY FOR THE VOTE. AND THE MOTION PASSES. WE ARE NOW AT 8.1,
[8.0 Consideration and Possible Action Item(s)]
EMPLOYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL. CAMPUS PRINCIPAL.SO WE HAVE 8.1. IS THERE A MOTION? I RECOMMEND, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 8.1? 8.1. OH, OKAY.
OKAY, I RECOMMEND BRITTANY ESCOBAR FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY AS RECOMMENDED.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE WATKINS. IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, ARE YOU READY FOR THE VOTE? BY SHOW OF HAND, READY FOR THE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR? OH NO, ARE WE VOTING? OKAY, SORRY, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE FROM THE SYSTEM, SO PLEASE VOTE NOW. AND THE MOTION PASSES.
CONGRATULATIONS, BRITTANY ESCOBAR, FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF DEER CREEK ELEMENTARY. ALSO, 8.1, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF J.R. HARGRAVE ELEMENTARY. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, I RECOMMEND JOHN REED FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT J.R. HARGRAVE ELEMENTARY, AS RECOMMENDED.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA. ANY
[00:40:01]
DISCUSSIONS? READY FOR A VOTE? OH, SHOW OF HANDS.BY SHOW OF HANDS, PLEASE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS JOHN REED FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF J.R. HARGRAVE. AND IN 8.1, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SUE CROUCH ELEMENTARY. IS THERE A MOTION? YES, MADAM PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT. I RECOMMEND MICHAEL HARRIS FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SUE CROUCH ELEMENTARY AS RECOMMENDED.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA. WE HAVE A FIRST BY TRUSTEE MAYFIELD AND SECOND BY TRUSTEE GRASSIA. READY FOR THE VOTE? SHOW OF HANDS.
VOTE BY SHOW OF HANDS. ALL IN FAVOR? THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS, MICHAEL HARRIS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT SUE CROUCH ELEMENTARY.
8.1, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CROWLEY NORTH 9TH GRADE. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, I RECOMMEND ALICIA COOKS FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CROWLEY 9TH GRADE AS RECOMMENDED.
TRUSTEE DAVIS, IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA. WE HAVE A FIRST BY TRUSTEE DAVIS AND A SECOND BY TRUSTEE GRASSIA. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? NO.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? SHOW OF HANDS. THE MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, ASSISTANT, CONGRATULATIONS, ALICIA COOK, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTH CROWLEY, NO, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT CROWLEY 9TH GRADE. 8.2, RECOMMENDATION FOR POSITION FOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY. IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, I RECOMMEND MARK HYATT FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AS RECOMMENDED.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE GRASSIA. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, A SHOW OF HANDS. OH, BACK TO THE SYSTEM. OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE NOW. AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
CONGRATULATIONS, MARK HYATT, FOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND THEN WE'RE AT MOTION, WE'RE AT AGENDA ITEM 8.2, EMPLOYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL.
NO, WE GOT THAT ONE. AGENDA ITEM 8.3, SELECTION OF VENDOR FOR RFP 063- 2026-2028 DISTRICTWIDE CUSTODIAL SERVICE. MR. WALKER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
UH, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT STEVENSON, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
MCFARLAND. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE RFP FOR CUSTODIAL SERVICES. THE RFP WAS ADVERTISED 4/24/26. THE 8 DAYS LATER ON THE 28TH, WE HAD A PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE. AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE INVITED THE VENDORS, POTENTIAL BIDDING VENDORS, TO COME IN AND WALK SOME OF OUR BUILDINGS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE WHOLE BIDDING PROCESS WAS AN APPLES-TO-APPLES PROCEDURE. SO ON THE 28TH, AS I SAID, THEY CAME IN, AND ON THE 5TH OF MAY, WE GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK US QUESTIONS. WE ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS BY THE END OF BUSINESS ON THE 5TH. THE RFP CLOSED ON THE 13TH OF MAY, AND WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE BOARD IN APRIL AS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM AND WE ANTICIPATE AWARDING THIS, STARTING THE CONTRACT ON JULY. SO WE HAD A COMMITTEE OF 6 ADMINISTRATORS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS. NADIA POWERS FROM FINANCE AND BUSINESS AND MYSELF, WE KIND OF ACTED AS THE FACILITATORS.
AS YOU KNOW, ONE PRIMARY PIECE OF ANY EVALUATION IS PRICE. WE TAKE THE PRICE UNDER CONSIDERATION, BUT IT'S ALSO THE GOODS OR SERVICE AND THE EXPERIENCE AND REPUTATION ALONG THE WAY AS WELL. AND THAT WAS CRITICAL, CRUCIAL WITH THE WAY THIS RFP PLAYED OUT. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN LOOKING AT THE, NOT ONLY THE
[00:45:01]
REFERENCES, BUT ALSO ARE THESE COMPANIES IN EDUCATION? ARE THESE COMPANIES IN THE BUSINESS FIELD? YES. SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD TO TAKE UNDER CONSIDERATION.WE RECEIVED 12 QUALIFIED RESPONSES, AND FROM THAT WE TOOK THE TOP 3 VENDORS ON A SHORT LIST. WE GAVE THEM ABOUT 30 OR 40 MINUTES TO MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE AND GIVE A PRESENTATION.
AFTER THE INTERVIEWS, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE MET TO CONFIRM THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION, A BEST AND FINAL OFFER WAS SOLICITED FROM THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR.
THE FINAL OFFER REFLECTED AN APPROXIMATE SAVINGS OF $51,000 FROM THEIR INITIAL PROPOSAL.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, ONE THING THAT THE COMMITTEE REALLY STOOD ON WAS MAKING SURE THE NIGHTTIME WAS ADDRESSED.
THEY FELT, THEY FELT THAT WE WERE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THOROUGH CLEANS AT NIGHT. WE HAD ONE VENDOR THAT CAME IN AND HAD A SOLID EVENING CLEAN PROPOSAL AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE. NEXT SLIDE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SERVICE MASTERS CLEAN. THE VENDOR SUBMITTED A BEST AND FINAL OFFER OF $10,124,686.98 FOR DISTRICT-WIDE CUSTODIAL SERVICES OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD STARTING JULY 1ST, ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2028. AND FROM THAT POINT, THE DISTRICT UPON COMPLETION OF THAT INITIAL TERM, THE DISTRICT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RENEW THE CONTRACT FOR UP TO 3 YEARS. NEXT SLIDE. AND SO WITH THE, WITH THE PARTNERSHIP SERVICEMASTERS HAS, THEY'VE COMMITTED TO GIVE AN ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP TO CROWLEY STUDENTS. NOW, WE CAN DO ONE LARGE SCHOLARSHIP OR WE CAN BREAK IT DOWN AND GIVE MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS. THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO DO EVERY YEAR THAT THEY'RE PARTNERS WITH THE DISTRICT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE $50,000 A YEAR FOR THE DISTRICT TO SPEND HOWEVER IT CHOOSES FIT. AND AS I SAID, $50,000 A YEAR FOR THE LIFE OF THE AGREEMENT. JUST SHOWS THEIR COMMITMENT. NEXT SLIDE.
SO A QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CURRENT ABM EMPLOYEES? THEY WILL HAVE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR POSITIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SERVICE MASTERS HAS RAISED THEIR STARTING POINT OF PAY, WHICH MEANS WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR CUSTODIANS WHO WILL AUTOMATICALLY GET A RAISE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE BUILT-IN BONUSES WHERE OUR FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES, WILL BE ABLE TO GET BONUSES AS THEY WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH BOARD APPROVAL TONIGHT, TOMORROW WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND GIVEN SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE CURRENT ABN EMPLOYEES ON HOW THEY CAN APPLY, WELL, NOT APPLY, BUT HOW THEY CAN GET ONBOARDED TO SERVICE MASTERS. AND THAT WILL START THE 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH, 18TH OF NEXT WEEK. SO THEY START MONDAY AND THEY GO THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON THEIR ONBOARD. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TEAM MEMBERS HERE. AND YOU SEE THIS, I'M GONNA ASK A COUPLE TO COME UP AS I FINISH THE PRESENTATION. AT THIS TIME I AM DONE AND I'LL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND THEN FROM THERE YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. FIRST WE HAVE, WELL BOTH OF THEM, WE HAVE CFO, CEO, CEO, JOSIAH YOUSERY.
OKAY, AND WE HAVE TROY WATSON FORMER WIDE RECEIVER FOR THE CLEVELAND BROWNS, BUT HE'S IN, HE'S IN TEXAS. SO HE'S ALL RIGHT.
UH, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. DR.
MCFARLAND, I'M EXCITED TO BECOME PART OF THE CROWLEY COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SERVE YOU GUYS AND JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE. SOME MAY BE HEARING ABOUT US FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO SERVICEMASTER, WE CARE ABOUT 3 THINGS. WE CARE ABOUT OUR PEOPLE, WE CARE ABOUT YOU, THE CUSTOMER, AND WE CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE CARE ABOUT OUR PEOPLE IN VARIOUS WAYS, BUT IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO US, IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO ME LEADING THIS ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING TO YOUR CFO, HE WAS TELLING US THAT, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS AGO HE STARTED WORKING AS A CUSTODIAN.
WELL, 15 YEARS AGO I WAS A CUSTODIAN. SO HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE? WE ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, WE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE
[00:50:01]
TO GROW, THEY'RE ABLE TO PURSUE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S WITH US FOR 5 YEARS, 3 MONTHS, 3 DAYS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHILE THEY'RE WITH US AS EMPLOYEES, THEY BECOME BETTER PEOPLE AND BETTER STEWARDS OF THE COMMUNITY. HOW DO WE SERVE YOU? WELL, HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE SCHEDULE THE THINGS, HOW WE COMMIT TO ENSURING NOT ONLY DO WE SERVE YOU WELL, CLEAN YOUR SCHOOLS WELL, BUT HOW WE MANAGE AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, WHILE ENGAGING WITH YOUR PRINCIPALS AND AND YOUR STAFF EVERY SINGLE DAY AND BEING PART OF THAT CULTURE OF EDUCATING YOUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, HOW DO WE IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY? IT'S LIKE THE SCHOLARSHIP THAT WE PROPOSED, AND WE DO THAT IN VARIOUS WAYS. I'LL TELL YOU, AND TROY CAN SPEAK TO THIS, BASED OUT OF MEMPHIS THIS PAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, SIMILAR TO YOU, THERE'S A BIG SNOWSTORM THAT CAME AND FROZE. HALF OF MEMPHIS WAS CLOSED FOR NEARLY 2 WEEKS. AND, AND THERE WAS A NEED. SO US AS AN ORGANIZATION GOT TOGETHER AND RAISED OVER $20,000 AND GAVE IT TO COATS FOR KIDS SO THAT THE DISTRICT HAD MONEY TO GO BUY COATS FOR, FOR KIDS IN THAT COMMUNITY. THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE PLANNED FOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, BUT US AS A PARTNER SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE DISTRICT. AND SO THERE'S VARIOUS WAYS, THERE'S THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WE'LL COMMIT TO, BUT ALSO AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEARS, AS NEEDS ARISE, WE WANT TO BE HERE. WE DON'T MEASURE OURSELVES AND OUR SUCCESS NOT ONLY JUST LIKE, HEY, DO WE CLEAN WELL, BUT WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS AND HOW EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR, WE HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, HOW WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE SAFE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENTS TO TEACH STUDENTS, BUT ALSO HOW OVER TIME WE'RE ABLE TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR 2030 MISSION, WHICH I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CREATING THRIVING STUDENTS, IT'S EMPOWERING YOUR STAFF, IT'S, IT'S ENGAGING WITH, WITH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND, AND I FORGET THE FOURTH.BUT, SAFE AND HEALTHY. SAFE AND HEALTHY. THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP ACHIEVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 4 GOALS. AND OVER TIME, WHAT WE'VE SHOWN IS WE'RE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS FOR 15 TO 17 YEARS. AND BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO LIVE THROUGH BUDGET LIFE CYCLES, LIVE THROUGH STORMS, AND HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR MISSION.
SO, BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST TURN IT OVER TO TROY, WHO'S OUR BOARD MEMBER, TO JUST COME AND ALSO JUST SAY SAY A FEW WORDS.
MCFARLAND, DR. STEVENS, TRUSTEES. I DON'T TALK AS MUCH AS JOSH, SO, BUT I'M A MANAGING PARTNER, LIVE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AND WE STARTED THIS BUSINESS SOME 20 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY A BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND DO THINGS WITH THESE GUYS AND OTHERS IN OUR ORGANIZATION, 2,000 OR 03,000 EMPLOYEES. SO IT'S, I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE HERE AND BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS AND TELL OUR STORY.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME DOWN AND MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE STAFF, THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST ATHLETES. YOU KNOW, WE DO A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS OTHER THAN JUST CATCH BALLS AND SHOOT BALLS AND HIT BALLS. WE TRY TO COME IN AND FIT IN WHERE WE CAN FIT IN TO GROW WITH YOU GUYS AND MAKE THE DISTRICT BETTER THAN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GOT HERE.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE OUR MARK TOO. THANK YOU. WHERE YOU WOULD BE PROUD OF US AS WE LOOK BACK OVER THIS CONTRACT THROUGH THE YEARS. UM, SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS INTENTIONAL AND IT'S FOR THE BEST. AND AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GROW TO THE MAGNITUDE THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR.
SO I GUESS ONE THING TROY DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT WE DO HAVE STATE CHAMPIONS IN THE DISTRICT. SO WE HAVE A, WE CATCH THE BALL PRETTY GOOD.
WE GOT A STATE CHAMPION FOOTBALL TEAM AND WE SHOOT THE BALL PRETTY GOOD. STATE CHAMP BASKETBALL. SO, AND A GAMING CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL, I THINK. SO SO REAL QUICK BOARD ALSO, WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THEIR, AS I SAID, THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAM IN, WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT RIGHT HERE OF THE COMPANY. HE CAME.
HE'S IN TEXAS. SO THAT'S GOOD THING. I THINK FRISCO, PROSPER, FRISCO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE BRAD. I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH BRAD OVER THE LAST WEEK AS WE PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION.
MR. SPEARS IS ALSO HERE AND AND TYLER. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT AS WELL.
WE WILL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
[00:55:01]
MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.I'M GONNA START TO MY LEFT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IN, IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE OVERVIEW. UM, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHEN YOU MENTIONED I THINK IT WAS YOU, MR. WALKER, THAT MENTIONED ABOUT THE STAFF BEING ABLE TO, TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEW COMPANY. IF, IF WE'RE CHOOSING A NEW COMPANY BECAUSE WE EXPECT DIFFERENT.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE STANDARDS AND JUST MAKING SURE, NOT FROM AN OPERATIONS STANDPOINT, BUT FROM JUST AN EXPECT HIGH-LEVEL EXPECTATION THAT, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES THAT COME OVER FROM ONE COMPANY THAT GO OVER TO THE NEW ONE HAVE THE EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE ALIGNED. SO I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
YES, MA'AM. SO THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, THE DECIDING FACTORS ARE GOING TO BE THE TRAINING THAT THEY IMPART AND ALSO THE SUPERVISION. AND THEN IT'S THE EXPECTATIONS ALSO WITH THE TRAINING WHEN MAYBE THE EXPECTATIONS AREN'T BEING MET, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. AND SO THEY HAVE A SOLID PLAN ON WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHERE WE, WHERE WE SEE A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIORS. AND THEN WE ALSO SEE THE CHANGE IN, IN THE OVERALL PRODUCT. SO THAT DISCUSSION, WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
I DID, I DID. THANK YOU. AND I THINK IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION TRUSTEE MAYFIELD, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, CUSTODIANS THAT WE HAVE? THEY WILL, YES MA'AM, THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THE DISTRICT UNDER THE NEW COMPANY.
YES, MA'AM. OKAY, AND THERE WAS, THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT KEEPING THE BUILDINGS CLEAN AT NIGHT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE THE SAME ONES WORKING DURING THE DAY FROM THIS SAME COMPANY.
OKAY, SO THE, IN THE CONVERSATION THEY TALKED ABOUT, AND MAYBE I MISSED UNDERSTOOD. KEEPING THE BUILDINGS CLEAN AT NIGHT.
OKAY. SO THE, THE CLEANING HAPPENS AT NIGHT. IT'S HARD TO DO A REAL GOOD CLEAN OF THE BUILDING WITH 600, 700, 800 KIDS ROLLING AROUND THERE. AND SO THE STRENGTH OF CLEANING IS DONE IN THE PM, IN THE EVENING SHIFT.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE FEEDBACK THAT I GOT FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS. IS THAT'S WHERE THEY FELT THAT WE WERE SOMEWHAT DROPPING THE BALL.
OKAY, BUT WE DO HAVE CUSTODIANS DURING THE DAY? YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM.
AND THEY WILL BE WITH THIS SAME COMPANY? YES, MA'AM.
THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WANT TO STAY. I IMAGINE SOME, SOME MAY WANT TO GO WITH YOU KNOW, A PREVIOUS PROVIDER OR A CURRENT PROVIDER. THEY MAY WANT TO STAY WITH THEM. THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF THAT'S ONE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN IN WORKING IN CROWLEY ISD WITH OUR NEW PROVIDER.
AND JUST, JUST TO, JUST TO ADD TO IT AND JUST TO BE, BE CLEAR, FROM, FROM A PARTNERSHIP STANDPOINT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY WOULD BE WORKING FOR SERVICEMASTER IF, IF IF WE CHOSE TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS. AND SO WE CAN'T NECESSARILY GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE HIRED BY SERVICEMASTER. WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THEY GET AN INTERVIEW AND IF THEY MEET THOSE STANDARDS, BUT WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO SAY THEY HAVE TO BE HIRED IF WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WITH THEM. I KNOW THAT WALKER'S WORKING WITH THEM, BUT JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, THEY GET OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERVIEW. AND TO YOUR POINT, DR. MAYFIELD, IF THEY CAN REACH THE STANDARD THAT WE ARE EXPECTING, THEN.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT. I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS. I'M A VERY PRACTICAL PERSON. SO IF WE WERE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A THOROUGH CLEANING OVERNIGHT, I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE APPROACH TO DOING THAT DIFFERENTLY? IS THAT INCREASING STAFFING? IS THAT A, A MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS? LIKE, I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THAT IS 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS GREAT IN THEORY. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE ACTUALITY OF IT.
AND IT'S TWO THINGS, AND I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL WOULD AGREE WITH ME.
[01:00:02]
SO AS IT RELATES TO JUST THE PRACTICALITY OF CLEANING, RIGHT? AS HE SAID, IT'S HARD TO CLEAN DURING THE DAY, RIGHT? AND SO OUR WHOLE MODEL IS BUILT UPON CLEANING IN AN EMPTY BUILDING, RIGHT? WE STILL HAVE DAY PORTERS THAT'LL COME AND ASSIST AND ENSURE TOILET PAPER AND THOSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE BATHROOM, THAT THOSE ARE TAKEN CARE OF DURING THE DAY. BUT AT NIGHT, WE DO HAVE OUR, THAT'S WHEN WE COME INTO A BUILDING, GO CLASSROOM BY CLASSROOM, TAKE CARE OF HALLWAY, WE BURNISH FLOORS AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS SO IT'S RESET FOR THE NEXT MORNING. SO THAT'S OUR OPERATING MODEL.THAT'S HOW WE DO ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, K, FROM, YOU KNOW, K-12, AND EVEN SOME OF THE UNIVERSITIES THAT WE ALSO DO.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
IT DOES. YES, IT DOES. I'M JUST, WELL, ONE FOLLOW-UP TO THAT. SO DOES THAT THEN MEAN, IS THERE INCREASED ONSITE SUPERVISION? YES. SO IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM LIKE WHEN WE SAY, HEY, WE'RE PEOPLE, VERY FOCUSED ORGANIZATION, IS TO GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION ON JUST PEOPLE, WE DON'T WANNA DISPLACE ANYBODY FROM THEIR JOB. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR MODEL IS WE TRAIN, WE BUILD CULTURE, WE GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND THEN PART OF THAT TOO IS WE HAVE DIGITAL SYSTEMS. AND I'M GOING TO GO WAY DOWN A RABBIT HOLE HERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A BEACON TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN PUT IN A ROOM. AND WHEN THE PERSON WALKS BY WITH THEIR CELL PHONE WITH OUR APP IN IT, IT TELLS US THAT THEY WERE IN THAT AREA. THEY WERE IN THERE FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME. AND IT'LL GIVE THEM A TASK LIST OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED IN THAT AREA, RIGHT? SO THAT'S JUST FROM A TECHNOLOGY SIDE, BUT ALSO FROM A PEOPLE SIDE, OUR OPERATING MODEL IS BUILT AROUND ENSURING THAT EVERY SINGLE BUILDING HAS A LEAD, AND IT, AND EVERYTHING IS BROKEN INTO A CLUSTER OF 3 OR 4 SCHOOLS, AND THERE'S A SUPERVISOR THAT'S THERE EVERY SINGLE NIGHT TO ENSURE THAT AFTER EVERY BUILDING IS CHECKED OUT, THEY WALK THROUGH THEIR PERSONAL CHECKLIST TO ENSURE THAT IT'S MET TO OUR STANDARDS BEFORE IT'S CLOSED OUT FOR THE DAY. OKAY. DAY. SO IT'S BOTH PHYSICAL PRESENCE, BUT WE'RE ALSO DEPLOYING TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE IS MET EVERY SINGLE DAY AND, AND BEFORE IT CLOSES OUT. AND IF THERE'S ISSUES THAT OCCUR AT NIGHT, THEY'RE DISPATCHED BY MORNING. THAT MORNING CREW IS AWARE OF IT. WE'RE ABLE TO, IF WE HAVE TO MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL OR TEACHER, HEY, THIS IS WHAT OCCURRED, HERE'S THE STEPS WE'RE TAKING.
AND SO WE'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN THAT WAY. OUR GOAL IS TO BE TRANSPARENT, RIGHT? EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW DIRTY LOOKS LIKE, SO IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NO FAKING IT. AND, AND OUR, OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE, WE CREATE THE SPACE, ARE TRANSPARENT, AND, AND WE, WE, WE ENGAGE WITH, WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING THAT BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE WERE GETTING FROM A FACILITY STANDPOINT WAS THAT WE'RE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT JUST TO EXPLAIN IN THIS DECISION THAT IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECOMMENDED, THAT THERE'S BEEN AN INTENTIONAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THAT.
SO YOU, YOU REALLY HELPED MAKE IT CLEAR TO ME. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND MAYBE YOU CLEARED IT UP, BUT IT'S JUST FOR ME. SO IN THE DAYTIME, ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE, OR JANITORS IN THE FACILITY? I KNOW YOU GUYS, I UNDERSTAND YOU COME AT NIGHT, BUT THINGS HAPPEN IN THE DAYTIME, SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE, OR ARE THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS RESPONSIBLE UNTIL YOU GET THERE AT NIGHTTIME? NO, SO WE, WE DO HAVE, WE CALL THEM DAY PORTERS, RIGHT? AND IT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON UNDERSTANDING THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN A BUILDING, TO DETERMINE THE STAFFING LEVEL PER DAY THAT THEY SHOULD.
BUT THEY, LET'S SAY IT'S 1 OR 2 OR 3, THEY COME AT BUILDING OPEN AND, AND WE LOOK AT ADDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY AROUND LUNCHTIME, RIGHT? LUNCH TURNOVER, CAFETERIA, THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY. SO WE KIND OF LOOK AT THAT, HOW LUNCH IS, IS, IS DONE AND SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE HOW MANY STAFF LEVELS WE NEED TO HAVE DURING THE DAY. BECAUSE THOUGH OUR PHILOSOPHY IS DURING THE DAY, IT'S JUST MAINTAIN, RIGHT? MAKE SURE THERE'S TOILET PAPER, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SPILLS ARE BEING CLEANED UP, BATHROOMS ARE BEING WIPED DOWN, NOTHING IS GETTING OVER, CAFETERIA IS BEING TURNED OVER DURING LUNCH. AND THAT WAY, WHEN THE NIGHT SHIFT COMES, THEY DO THE COMPLETE CLEANING.
SO WE MAINTAIN STAFF. IT'S HARD TO TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY IN HIGH SCHOOL, HOW MANY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THERE'S VARIABLES THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE THAT SPECIFICALLY AROUND STUDENT HEADCOUNT AND ENROLLMENT.
BUT IF YOU WANT SPECIFICS, ONCE WE REALLY GET INTO IT, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PRESENT AND SHOW YOU HOW THAT LOOKS.
JUST ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST ONE LAST ONE, AND IT'S QUICK. IT MAY BE FOR DR. MCFARLAND OR MR. WALKER.
COULD BE YOU, BUT IT'S THE, JUST LIKE WE DO WITH OUR FOOD SERVICE WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND I GUESS CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS BEING ABLE TO DO A SURVEY TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
IS THERE SOMETHING WITH THIS CONTRACT OR WITH, WITH THE SERVICE THAT WE GET
[01:05:01]
TO ASK OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR FEEDBACK, OR MAYBE STUDENT LEADERSHIP, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS, HOW HOW WILL THAT HAPPEN? SO I IMAGINE LIKE EARLY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, MAYBE THE FIRST 2 OR 3 MONTHS WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR, DOING A CHECK-IN AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE WITH THE KIDS. THAT WOULD BE EASY, EASY FOR, I KNOW, FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TO WORK WITH US ON.BECAUSE THAT'S, I KNOW WE HAD HEARD FROM OUR STUDENT TRUSTEES YOU KNOW, BEFORE DURING LAST YEAR, LAST SCHOOL YEAR. UM, SO THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO, TO GET THEIR INPUT.
AND WE DO HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF STAFF. I'LL GET THAT TO Y'ALL UNDER NEXT WEEK'S BOARD UPDATE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE BREAKDOWN IS.
LIKE PER CAMPUS? YES, SIR. OKAY.
OKAY, NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO ASK A COUPLE. SO YOU MENTIONED SCHOLARSHIPS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, AND HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE YOU GIVEN OUT IN THE PAST? AND LOOKING WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT COULD BE ONE OR IT COULD BE MULTIPLES.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING FOR AS AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP, THE AMOUNT, DOLLAR AMOUNT? SO I'LL, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A RANGE. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU EXACT AMOUNT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP. IT, IT SAYS IT'S $25,000 TO MAYBE $40,000 GIVEN THE THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICT. AND REALLY WHAT WE LOOK AT IS, IS, IS WE CAN LOOK AT IT ALMOST LIKE A TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP WHERE THERE'S 40 STUDENTS THAT GET $1,000 EACH, OR 25 STUDENTS THAT GET $1,000 EACH, OR IT'S 5 STUDENTS THAT GET $5,000.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A DECISION THAT WE WORK ON WITH THE DISTRICT TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST DO IT. YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE, AND TYLER WOULD KNOW THIS, I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE HIGH LEVEL ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND THAT WE JUST CONTRIBUTE INTO. YES. THAT THE DISTRICT HAS.
SO THANK YOU. AND I ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. UM, YOU MENTIONED SALARY INCREASES.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SALARY FOR A PERSON THAT'S WORKING NOW? LIKE, IF THEY WERE TO WORK IN THE DISTRICT, WHAT WOULD THEIR SALARY RANGE BE FROM AN HOURLY RATE PERSPECTIVE? AND IS IT THE DISTRICT, ARE WE PAYING IT OR THE COMPANY? SO CURRENTLY IT'S ABM. AND THEIR STARTING STARTING PAY IS LOWER THAN WHAT SERVICEMASTER IS STARTING THEIR NEW EMPLOYEE, NEW EMPLOYEES OFF AT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
SO THIS IS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM. I APOLOGIZE, IT IS AN ACTION ITEM. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? VICE PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, PLEASE. UM, I RECOMMEND AWARDING THE DISTRICT CUSTODIAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO SERVICEMASTER CLEAN BY CRANE AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU, DR. MAYFIELD. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DAVIS. SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND WE HAVE, IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, WE READY FOR THE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR, WE DOING MACHINE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE NOW.
OKAY, LET'S VOTE BY SHOW OF HANDS. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE. AND THE MOTION PASSES.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 8.4, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS TASB BOARD CALL FOR NOMINATION, REGION 11, POSITION C. DR. MR. KIRCHNER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR.
MCFARLAND. AS WE SHARED AT OUR LAST MEETING DURING THE FUTURE ACTION ITEM IN YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR BOARD UPDATE WE DID RECEIVE AN INVITATION FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS FOR ANY NOMINATIONS THAT OUR BOARD WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO SERVE ON THE TASB BOARD REGION 11, POSITION C. UH, THOSE NOMINATIONS ARE DUE PRETTY SOON. THE DUE DATE IS TUESDAY, JUNE 23RD, AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THEN. AND SO IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ANOTHER TRUSTEE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT POSITION, WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE ACTION
[01:10:01]
ON THAT TONIGHT. YOU'LL SEE THERE IN YOUR BOARD BOOK ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS, THE REQUIREMENTS, AND HOW THEY SERVE TASB IN THIS POSITION. ALSO TAKE NOTE THAT THE CURRENT POSITION IS HELD BY MR. JUSTIN CHAPA, A TRUSTEE FROM ARLINGTON ISD.MR. CHAPA HAS INDICATED HE INTENDS TO RUN AGAIN FOR THAT POSITION, BUT STILL TASB IS INVITING CROWLEY ISD TO NOMINATE ANY TRUSTEES THEY'D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED. SO THAT, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, IS AT THE BOARD'S DISCRETION TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. KIRCHNER. DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SERVE? OKAY, HEARING NONE, MR. AT, MR. KERSHAW.
THANK YOU. SO WE ARE NOW AT AGENDA 8.5, UTILITY CONTRACT, ELECTRICITY. MR. JACKSON WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
MADAM VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS, WE DEFINITELY ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. IT'S ACTUALLY LISTED AS A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TONIGHT. IT'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR UTILITY CONTRACT, AND SO YOU'LL HEAR IT TONIGHT.
AFTER YOU RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION, IF WE FEEL COMPELLED TO ACT TONIGHT, WE CAN DO THAT, OR IF NOT, WE CAN DELAY TO A FUTURE BOARD MEETING.
BUT I WANTED TO AT LEAST SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU TONIGHT. HAVE A CONVERSATION AND THEY WILL DETERMINE WHAT'S NEXT. UH, MS. JACKSON IS HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
JACKSON. MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MCFARLAND, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME. UH, WE ARE BRINGING BEFORE YOU THE ELECTRICITY CONTRACT THAT IS SET TO EXPIRE CURRENTLY IN JUNE OF 2028. IF YOU'LL DO THE FIRST SLIDE. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 3 DIFFERENT PROVIDERS FOR OUR ELECTRICITY. MOST OF THE ACCOUNTS ARE UNDER SHELL. WE HAVE 3 UNDER ENGIE AND 2 UNDER TXU. AND YOU SEE THAT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NEWER FACILITIES THAT WE'VE HAD. WHEN WE TRANSFER ELECTRICITY INTO OUR OWNERSHIP, WE PRICE THAT OUT AND THE LOWEST PRICE USUALLY WINS.
OBVIOUSLY, SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS. SO FIRST, A 10-YEAR HISTORICAL LOOK BACK ON WHAT OUR RATE IS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIXED RATE, OR THE FIXED HEDGE COLUMN IN GREEN, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE, THE CURRENT FIXED RATES THAT WE PAY PER KILOWATT-HOUR.
AND AS A COMPARISON, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MARKET RATES, THAT IS WHAT CURRENT RATES ARE FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE TERMS. SO AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE QUITE A BIT UNDER MARKET RATE. SO WE, WE REALLY DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN PRICING THAT OUT. AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL SET TO EXPIRE IN JUNE OF 2028. WE'VE BEEN WORKING, MR. FISHER AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR BROKER FOR THIS, TRADITION ENERGY, AND THEY HAVE, WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WITH THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEING MORE FREQUENT AS WE COME DUE TO THE END OF THE CONTRACTS.
AND WE'VE IMPRESSED UPON THEM THAT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE NEED THE, THE BEST LOWEST RATE WE CAN GET. AND SO THEY, THEY KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE MARKET, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEY STILL SORT OF SOUNDED THE ALARM OR RUNG THE BELL THAT NOW WOULD BE A VERY GOOD TIME TO ACT ON MOVING FORWARD.
SO MS. JACKSON, CAN YOU HOLD ON FOR A SECOND? CAN YOU GO BACK? CAN YOU MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT LARGER, MR. PERSHING OR MR.HANDY? AND SO BOARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE IMPORTANT PART IS THE HEDGE VERSUS THE MARKET RATE. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP THERE? JUST REAL QUICK, BECAUSE IT'S RED, DOES THAT JUST MEAN IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER? IF YOU LOOK IN THE NOTES, IF YOU'LL SCROLL OVER TO THE RIGHT THERE, THAT WAS DURING WINTER STORM URI. AND SO THAT WAS, I THINK WE ALL FELT THE EFFECTS OF THAT ON OUR ELECTRIC BILL FOR THAT MONTH. SO THAT'S WHY IT WAS PUT IN RED THAT IT WAS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. AND SO THE FIXED HEDGE, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PAYING BELOW THE MARKET. AND WE'RE PAYING THIS FIXED HEDGE AMOUNT, BOARD, BECAUSE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE MADE A DECISION TO GO INTO A CONTRACT AS SHE'S PRESENTING TONIGHT. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE'RE GETTING THERE.
YES, AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY LONG-TERM CONTRACT, WHICH HAS WORKED VERY WELL FOR US.
[01:15:01]
COMPANIES HERE. IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVE 3? I NOTICED, AND I DON'T REMEMBER ALL OF THEM, BUT I KNOW WITH OUR NEWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IT'S WITH TXU.IT'S, CAN WE ADD TO THE EXISTING? WE CAN, AND WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT AS A POSSIBILITY, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE NG AND TXU.
THOSE WERE THE BEST LOCKED FIXED RATE AT THE TIME OF EACH ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO IF WE ADD TO SHELL, WE CAN'T GET THAT GUARANTEED PRICE FOR THE OTHERS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM? WE COULDN'T AT THE TIME, BUT THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION BECAUSE PART OF WHAT I'LL PRESENT HERE IN A MINUTE IS THAT WITH A LOCKED-IN RATE THAT YOU CAN TAKE ACTION ON TONIGHT, THE FIXED RATE, WE HAVE ADDED THAT PROVISION THAT WE CAN ADD OR DELETE METERS AS WE NEED TO, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE GROWTH COMING AND WE'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON FACILITIES AND SORT OF KIND OF BEING PROACTIVE IN THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT. I'M SORRY, I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. I MUST HAVE MISSED SOMETHING. IF THE CONTRACT DOESN'T END UNTIL 2028, WHY IS THIS AN ACTION ITEM TODAY? SURE, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO IF YOU'LL MOVE FORWARD. SO THIS IS PART OF IT HERE. WE HAVE OPTIONS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. AGAIN, OUR BROKER IS SORT OF SAYING LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A DIP IN THE MARKET CURRENTLY THAT WOULD GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD RATE.
WE, WE SORT OF SUSPECT AND EXPECT THAT RATES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE, AND I'VE GOT A SLIDE ON THAT AS WELL THAT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE TRENDS. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOU TONIGHT, THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT US AN OPTION THAT WE CAN ACT ON THAT THEY FEEL IS A PRETTY GOOD CONTRACT TO CONSIDER.
SO THIS WILL BE REPLACING, NO, SIR, IT WILL BE, WELL, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2028.
SO WE'RE JUST GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE, BUT THIS IS NOT, IT'S NOT US BREAKING ANY CURRENT CONTRACTS FOR THIS. NO. OKAY. I GOT YOU NOW. I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T CATCH THAT BEFOREHAND. SO FORGIVE ME FOR THAT.
I PROBABLY COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB GIVING A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT. I APOLOGIZE.
SO, AND ALSO JUST, YOU MENTIONED THE BROKER. SO WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY WHAT THE BROKER DOES FOR US? SURE. SO WE'VE WORKED WITH TRADITION ENERGY AS A BROKER SINCE BEFORE MY TIME, AND THEY ACTUALLY HELPED US GET THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE UNDER NOW. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT, I MEAN, IT'S SORT OF PRICING OUT EVERYBODY IN THE MARKET AND BRINGING ALL THAT TO US. THEY'RE ALSO ALWAYS LOOKING AT MARKET RATES AND TRENDS AND TRYING TO GET US THE BEST DEAL, YOU KNOW, AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.
THEY'RE EXPERTS. THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION AND DATA HERE THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE, PROVIDES A LOT OF VALUE FOR US. SO A COUPLE OF OPTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE LOCKED-IN, LONG-TERM FIXED RATE IS WHAT OUR BROKERAGE IS RECOMMENDING. WE CAN ALSO HEDGE WHERE WE DO A PERCENTAGE OF A LAYERED, WE GO OUT NOW AND DO 50% LOCKED IN AT THIS RATE FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN DO MORE LATER.
AND THEN WE CAN ALSO WAIT AND SEE AND GET CLOSER TO THE END OF CONTRACT TERMS. SO THIS IS THE SLIDE I WAS REFERENCING WHERE YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A 6-YEAR LOOK BACK OF RATES FROM JUNE 30TH, 2020 THROUGH MAY OF THIS YEAR. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S JUST TRENDING UPWARD. WE HAVE THESE LITTLE VARIANCES. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO CAPTURE FOR US RIGHT NOW IS THAT, THAT DIP THAT IS OCCURRING THAT THEY DON'T SUSPECT WILL REMAIN FOR VERY LONG. NEXT SLIDE.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION THERE. SO IF WE LOCK IN RIGHT NOW AND THE RATES DROP, DO WE GET THE DROP RATE? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
WE DO. WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. SO ANYTHING THAT WE LOCK IN NOW, AND IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD, SEE IF WE CAN GET THERE. SO THIS ONE, OUR BROKERAGE WENT OUT, ASKED FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. SHELL ENERGY CAME BACK AS THE STRONGEST, CHEAPEST OPTION. THEY, OF COURSE, WANT TO CONTINUE BUSINESS WITH US.
THEY ALREADY HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE METERS. AND THEY CAME IN AT $0.5960 PER KILOWATT
[01:20:01]
HOUR. AND THAT WAS FOR 83 MONTHS. AND THE TEAM MEMBER FROM TRADITION THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH, EVERYONE AT THEIR TEAM IS SORT OF AMAZED AND ASTOUNDED ONE, THAT WE CAN GET THIS RATE, AND TWO, THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT OUT 83 MONTHS. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IMPRESSIVE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR BUSINESS.SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE IF WE DID THE LAYERED APPROACH. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON IT. YOU CAN KIND OF REVIEW IT, BUT IT IS AN OPTION. IT'S NOT WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY OUR TEAM AT TRADITION RIGHT NOW. AND SO I ASKED THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER SORT OF WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE MARKET THAT WE NEED TO BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE MASSIVE DEMAND, WHICH OUR DISTRICT UNDERSTANDS THE GROWTH WITH THAT DEMAND. ALSO, THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, AND THAT WILL CERTAINLY INCREASE OUR DELIVERY COST. THERE'S A LOT OF VOLATILITY WITH NATURAL GAS, AND YOU'D THINK THE, THE TWO AREN'T RELATED, BUT ACTUALLY, TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY, THEY USE A LOT OF NATURAL GAS. SO THOSE NATURAL GAS PRICES DO AFFECT WHAT WE GET ON OUR ELECTRICITY RATES.
THANK YOU. OF COURSE, YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT EXTREME WEATHER, AS WE ARE WELL AWARE. AND THEN THE GRID RELIANCE. THERE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DATA CENTERS COMING UP, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-35 CORRIDOR, WHICH WILL IMPACT US MOVING FORWARD.
SO HERE'S THEIR RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
THAT WAS, THIS SLIDE WAS PROVIDED BEFORE LAST NIGHT WHERE HE CALLED AND SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS, BUT SHELL HAS JUST SAID THAT THEY WOULD GO OUT 83 MONTHS. SO THAT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION OF TRADITION. AND THAT'S FOR A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE 6 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR, WHICH YOU SAW, 0.5960.
SO, BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO YOU KNOW, ONE, WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS TODAY ABOUT ASKING FOR EITHER FUTURE ACTION OR ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR US TO ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE ON THIS. AND SO THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS, WE'VE SET LIKE PARAMETERS. IF WE WERE SELLING A BOND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE SET PARAMETERS WHERE YOU, YOU SAID, HEY, WE, YOU AUTHORIZED TO STAY BELOW THIS RATE. UH, AND SO I WOULD PREFER TONIGHT THAT YOU ALL ACTED TO AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO START CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY UNDER THE, UNDER THE 6-CENT RATE. UH, BUT WHAT I BELIEVE, WHAT I NEED TO DO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, IS BECAUSE THE, THE NUMBERS ARE CHANGING QUICKLY AND WE GET, WE GOT 84 TONIGHT AND THERE'S 72 HERE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE REALLY, WE'RE REALLY CLEAR BEFORE WE SIGN ON TO AN ACTUAL TIME PERIOD. AND SO WHAT I, WHAT I'M, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS APPROVAL TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT AS LONG AS THAT CONTRACT IS BELOW 6 CENTS, 6 CENTS, AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR RATIFICATION. THE REASON WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS COST IS MOVING LIKE QUICKLY. AND SO IT WAS 57 CENTS LAST WEEK. NOW IT'S UP TO 59 CENTS, AND SO IT'S JUST GOING BACK AND BACK AND FORTH.
AND SO WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST, THE BEST HAD OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ACT ON IT BUT HAVE THE BEST RATE THAT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR US. AND SO I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TONIGHT SAYING THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT I DO, I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT CONTRACT EXECUTE THE CONTRACT, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR A RATIFICATION. PROVIDED THE CONTRACT IS LOWER THAN 6 CENTS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A PERSONAL STOCKBROKER WOULD DO FOR AN INDIVIDUAL? YES. AS A CHANGE, OKAY.
COULD YOU GO BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES, PLEASE? THE ONE THAT, YEAH, THE 50% LOTS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? I CAN. SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS APPROACH, WE COULD SAY WE'RE NOT WILLING TO, WE'RE NOT WILLING TO PUT 100% INTO A CONTRACT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, 83 MONTHS AT 6 CENTS. BUT WE WOULD WILLING, BE WILLING TO TAKE 50% OF OUR USAGE. SO I BELIEVE WE'RE AROUND 33,500,000
[01:25:01]
KILOWATT HOURS A YEAR. SO WE'LL HEDGE 15 MILLION OF THOSE AT THIS RATE, AND THEN WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE MARKET DOES AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AND THEN LOCK IN ANOTHER PERCENTAGE AT THAT RATE. IT'S, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT BECAUSE WE CAN LOCK IN NOW AT A RATE AND IN THE FUTURE IF THAT RATE DROPS WE CAN SNAG THAT AS WELL WITH NO ISSUE.AND THEN IT WOULD JUST BE, EXCUSE ME, A BLENDED AVERAGE AT THAT POINT. SO FOR 2 YEARS IN AND WE'RE 6 CENTS, AND THEN IT DROPS TO 4 CENTS, THEN WE, WE WOULD TAKE THE 6 CENTS THAT WE'RE PAYING NOW AND THE 4 CENTS THAT WE'LL PAY LATER AND BLEND THAT IN, AND NOW WE'RE PAYING 5 CENTS.
SO IT LOWERS OUR COST AND KIND OF EASES THE TRANSITION.
BUT WE'RE, IT IS AVAILABLE TO GRAB A LOWER RATE SHOULD IT BECOME AVAILABLE. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MISS JACKSON. I APOLOGIZE, I DID CALL YOU MISTER, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I MISSED THAT, MISS JACKSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION TO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
MADAM, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I RECOMMEND AUTHORIZING THE DISTRICT TO EXECUTE A UTILITY CONTRACT WITH TRADITION ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY RATES WITHIN THE PARAMETERS DISCUSSED AS PRESENTED.
MAYFIELD. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
I HAVE A SECOND BY TRUSTEE WATKINS. ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS? READY FOR THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, VOTE BY SHOW OF HANDS. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY
[9.0 Future Action Item(s)]
MUCH. WE ARE NOW AT FUTURE ACTION ITEM, AGENDA ITEM 9.1, 2026-2027 OPTIONAL FLEXIBLE SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY DR. MR. KIRCHNER.MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MCFARLAND, THERE FUTURE ACTION ITEM COMING UP LATER THIS SUMMER. THIS IS AN ANNUAL ITEM. IT'S THE OPTIONAL FLEXIBLE SCHOOL DAY PROGRAM. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THAT THERE IN THE ATTACHED PDF, BUT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT THE, THE TEA OFFERS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK.
AND WE USE THIS REGULARLY IN OUR BRIDGES PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL HELPING STUDENTS ATTAIN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND SUCCESS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AND SO MR. MOFFETT AND THE TEAM IN STUDENT SERVICES WORK HARD ON THIS APPLICATION EVERY YEAR, AND WHEN IT'S APPROVED, IT GIVES US THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR THOSE STUDENTS. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, MR. MOFFETT IS HERE TO ANSWER THOSE. BUT ALSO IN THE COMING WEEKS, YOU CAN EMAIL US AND WE'LL BE READY TO PRESENT THAT AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. ARE THERE
[10.0 Report Item(s}]
ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT? HEARING NONE, THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW AT AGENDA ITEM 10.1, DISCUSSION OF DISTRICT-WIDE INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT REPORT FINDING. MR. KIRCHNER WILL ALSO PRESENT THIS.YES, MA'AM. UH, I HAVE A, A REPORT TO READ TONIGHT IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM. THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER RECENTLY CONDUCTED AN INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT AT ONE OR MORE OF OUR CAMPUSES. THE STATE GIVES SCHOOL DISTRICTS 45 DAYS FROM THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO ENACT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, AND WE TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AS A RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS.
WHILE WE ARE NOT RELEASING ANY SENSITIVE DETAILS TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE AUDIT AND OPEN SESSION, A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN WAS PUT IN PLACE DUE TO THE FINDINGS. AND THIS AUDIT IS CONDUCTED AS PART OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S SCHOOL SAFETY DIRECTIVES AT ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THIS AUDIT PROVIDES CROWLEY ISD WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SAFER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY ACTIONS THAT WE ARE TAKING TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.
WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 8:32.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.