[00:00:01]
CALL TO ORDER THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 MEETING [INAUDIBLE] OF THE CROWLEY ISD BOARD OF
[1.0 Call to Order]
TRUSTEES AND CERTIFY THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 551.041 AND 551.045 PURSUANT TO [INAUDIBLE] DUE TO THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC AND CLOSURES . [INAUDIBLE] THE OFFICIAL ROLL CALL, PLEASE [INAUDIBLE] YES. GOOD EVENING.TRUSTEE PLACE ONE NEDRA ROBINSON.
PRESENT. THANK YOU, MS. ROBINSON.
TRUSTEE PLACE 2 DR. LA TONYA WOODSON-MAYFIELD, PRESENT.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE PLACE THREE MIA HALL.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE PLACE FIVE.
MR. RYAN RAY. PRESENT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE PLACE SIX MR. GARY GRASSIA.
TRUSTEE PLACE SEVEN MS. LYNDSAE BENTON.
PRESENT. THANK YOU. AND SUPERINTENDENT DR.
MICHAEL MCFARLAND. PRESENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING OUR MEETING THIS EVENING, WHICH IS ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS OUR VIDEO CONFERENCE.
WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO THIS EVENING.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU BE PATIENT [INAUDIBLE].
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR DEVICES ARE MUTED.
IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY, PLEASE SEND A TEXT MESSAGE OR EMAIL TO MR. KIRCHNER. OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OPEN FORUM SO WE WILL MOVE THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION AND OUR POSSIBLE
[4.0 Discussion and / or Possible Action Item(s)]
ACTION ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM 4.1 2020-2021 REMOTE LEARNING PLAN.DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS WE DEFINITELY DECIDED TO BRING FORWARD HIS NEXT ITEM. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE ON DAY TWO [INAUDIBLE] OF THE REMOTE LEARNING OPTION. AND SO WE HAVE TO GET THIS PLAN APPROVED BY TEA.
WE PREPARED TO SUBMIT THIS PLAN ON YOUR APPROVAL.
MCFARLAND. GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT HALL AND BOARD MEMBERS.
SO TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION OF OUR ASYNCHRONOUS REMOTE PLAN ALIGNS WITH DISTRICT GOAL ONE, WHICH IS THRIVING STUDENTS.
SO WE WANT TO START TONIGHT JUST BY DEFINING WHAT THE ASYNCHRONOUS PLAN IS AND PER THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND ASYNCHRONOUS PLAN FOR REMOTE LEARNING MUST BE SUBMITTED, REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY TEA.
AND SO APPROVAL OF THIS PLAN ALLOWS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FUNDING FOR REMOTE LEARNERS.
AND SO THIS PLAN HAS FOUR REQUIRED COMPONENTS, AND IT'S A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER THAT WANTS TO ENGAGE IN ASYNCHRONOUS REMOTE LEARNING.
THE FIRST IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE.
THE SECOND SECTION IS MATERIALS DESIGN.
THE THIRD SECTION IS STUDENT PROGRESS, AND THE FOURTH SECTION FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST ADD A VERY HIGH LEVEL, TAKE YOU THROUGH THE FOUR SECTIONS OF THIS PLAN AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH OF THESE THAT WILL BE SUBMITTING TO THE STATE.
WE'VE WALKED THROUGH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION BEFORE WHEN WE GAVE OUR OVERVIEW OF VIRTUAL LEARNING. NOW WE'RE JUST BRINGING IT TOGETHER IN THE FORMAT THAT TEA WOULD LIKE IT SUBMITTED IN. SO STARTING WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE SECTION, SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SECTION INCLUDE THE SAMPLE STUDENTS SCHEDULES.
SO THAT INCLUDES OUR ELEMENTARY VIRTUAL LEARNING MASTER SCHEDULES FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS AND THEN SAMPLE SCHEDULES FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS AN OUTLINE OF OUR DISTRICT LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. SO THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED SEE-SAW IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH FIVE GOOGLE CLASSROOM IN GRADES SIX THROUGH 12 AND CANVAS FOR USE BY OUR CTE STUDENTS.
ALSO IN THIS SECTION, WE LOOK AT THE MINUTES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR A STUDENT WHO'S ENGAGED FOR REMOTE LEARNING, AND WE OUTLINE HOW A REMOTE LEARNER IS ENGAGED IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF ACADEMIC CONTENT AS A STUDENT WHO'S BEING SERVED IN A FACE TO FACE SETTING WILL BE.
NEXT WE TALK ABOUT TEACHER INTERACTION AND THIS JUST OUTLINES HOW AND WHEN TEACHERS WILL INTERACT WITH STUDENTS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WITHIN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE, WE OUTLINE OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ENGLISH LEARNER SUPPORT.
AND SO THAT'S AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S CONTAINED IN THAT INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE SECTION.
AFTER THE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE, WE MOVE INTO MATERIALS DESIGN AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE USING TO TEACH REMOTE ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION.
SO IN THIS SECTION, WE LIST ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE USE AS A DISTRICT
[00:05:03]
FOR OUR CORE CONTENT AREAS.WE ALSO LIST ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT WE USE FOR PROGRESS MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT FOR OUR REMOTE LEARNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING THEIR PROGRESS.
WE LIST OUR RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ALSO OUR RESOURCES THAT WE'LL BE USING TO ACCOMMODATE OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS.
SO THIS SECTION REALLY JUST LOOKS AT HOW OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ARE READY TO USE IN AN ASYNCHRONOUS SETTING.
THE NEXT SECTION FOCUSES ON STUDENT PROGRESS, AND SO IN THIS SECTION, WE SUBMIT OUR ENGAGEMENT AND ATTENDANCE MEASUREMENTS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE.
WE ALSO SUBMIT OUR ASSESSMENT AND STUDENT PROGRESS TRACKING PLAN, AND THIS INCLUDES ARE NWT, A MAP GROWTH UNIVERSAL SCREENER, WHICH BOARD YOU APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF AT OUR LAST MEETING. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR DISTRICT LOCAL ASSESSMENT CALENDAR, WHICH OUTLINES THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WE GIVE TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY, ON A SMALLER SCALE, IT GIVES THE CYCLE OF AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY FEEDBACK TO STUDENTS ON COURSE PROGRESS.
THEN THE FINAL SECTION FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO THIS IN THIS SECTION WE HAVE OUR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE, WHICH INCLUDES THE 10 DAYS THAT WE TOOK BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR TO GET TEACHERS READY TO TEACH IN A REMOTE, SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS SETTING, ALONG WITH HOW WE'LL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE ALSO LOOK AT HOW WE'LL BE USING DATA TO INFORM INSTRUCTION.
SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO USE OUR PLCS AND OUR TEACHER GROUPS TO LOOK AT DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR REMOTE LEARNERS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR FAMILY COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT PLAN.
SO THIS INCLUDES OUR PARENT PRIDE UNIFIED PARENT UNIVERSITIES AND THINGS LIKE OUR DIGITAL TECH SUPPORT SESSIONS, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER NINE OF FOR PARENTS IN THE TWO WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, THAT IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE REMOTE ASYNCHRONOUS PLAN THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING TO THE STATE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION MS. HALL JUST A COMMENT. I'VE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PARENTS AND THEY ARE VERY PLEASED [INAUDIBLE].
MR. KEITH I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE] BUT I DO WANT TO ECHO TRUSTEE DAVIS' SENTIMENTS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU IMPLEMENTED LAST WEEK AND SO IT WAS A GREAT START TO THE YEAR [INAUDIBLE] EVERYONE WAS SO [INAUDIBLE].
SO AGAIN KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
[INAUDIBLE] SO HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION OF KIND OF ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HURDLES AND ONE THAT NOT ONLY STUDENTS AND PARENTS, BUT ALSO TEACHERS THAT YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND [INAUDIBLE]. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES THAT WERE IN THE PRESENTATION, IT'S HONESTLY DIFFICULT NOT TO GET A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL SEEING KIDS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL.
I THINK I VISITED ABOUT EIGHT CAMPUSES ON THE FIRST DAY.
AND THE FEEDBACK THAT I OVERWHELMINGLY HEARD FROM TEACHERS WAS THIS IS DOABLE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF KIDS AND THE KIDS ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, EVEN IF IT'S VIRTUAL.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD, I THINK THINGS PROCESSES THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE, LIKE HAVING STUDENTS WHO MAY BE SERVED BY A TEACHER FROM MORE THAN ONE CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY'RE VIRTUAL.
BUT THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE THAT GOT CLEANED UP QUICKLY AND HAVEN'T REALLY THERE HASN'T BEEN AN INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE.
IT'S JUST WE'VE HAD TO REFINE OUR PROCESSES ON THE FRONT OF THE THINGS.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE PHOTOS IN YOUR PRESENTATION I KNOW THEY WEREN'T STOCK PHOTOS
[00:10:03]
I SAW THEM ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO IT WAS REALLY POSITIVE AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE SMILING FACES AND ALL THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM [INAUDIBLE]. AND THIS IS A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM.IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE REMOTE LEARNING PLAN AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. RAY IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND.
CAN WE HAVE A VOTE PLEASE. YES, MS. ROBINSON. YES.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
DR. MCFARLAND YOU HAD SOME COMMENTS.
OH, YES,MADAM PRESIDENT THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THE TEAM, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK OF THE TEAM. AND THE REALITY IS I WANT TO I WANT TO JUST BE TRANSPARENT AND LET YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] SIMPLY BEEN ABLE TO ADJUST AND BE FLEXIBLE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY PUBLICLY TO OUR COUNSELORS AND OUR CTE PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] WORK A [INAUDIBLE] AND REALLY GO IN AND MAKE CHANGES. AND [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE CONTINUING TO MAKE SCHEDULE CHANGES OVER THE NEXT PART OF THE NEXT WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE KIDS IN THE RIGHT COURSES AND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. THIS IS NEW FOR ALL OF US.
AND SO THERE WILL BE SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT I'LL TELL YOU, OUR COUNSELORS, [INAUDIBLE] AND TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE, THEY HAVE BEEN JUST AWESOME.
I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED THAT WE ARE WORKING PRETTY HARD, WORKING DILIGENTLY [INAUDIBLE].
MCFARLAND. AND THIS WILL MOVE US TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, ITEM 4.2 PURCHASE 1500 HUNDRED ADDITIONAL INTERNET HOTSPOT DEVICES FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING.
DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBERS, AS YOU ALL HAVE REALIZED BY NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINE TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE CONNECTIVITY THAT THEY NEED. AND SO WE WANT TO THANK MR. FISHER AND ALSO, MR. CAMPBELL FROM THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE PURCHASED FIFTEEN HUNDRED ADDITIONAL INTERNET HOTSPOT DEVICES FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING. THIS PILOT IS BRINGING FORWARD TONIGHT TO YOU [INAUDIBLE]FOR RATIFICATION.
WE HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THE ITEMS BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUEST FOR RATIFICATION OF [INAUDIBLE]. YES, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MCFARLAND ALLUDED TO, WE CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS DURING THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE INTERNET ACCESS AS REALLY A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF OUR REMOTE LEARNING PLAN AND AS SUCH BASED UPON THE DEMAND AS COMMUNICATED TO US BY OUR PARENTS, WE HAVE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED UNLIMITED HIGH SPEED WI-FI HOTSPOTS. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE INTERNET ACCESS WITH OUR DURING OUR REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
SO AS DR. MCFARLAND SPOKE TO, WE PRESENT THIS ITEM TO THE BOARD FOR RATIFICATION.
WE'VE ALREADY PURCHASED THESE WI-FI HOTSPOTS.
WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN POSSESSION OF THESE WI-FI HOTSPOTS AND BEGAN TO DISTRIBUTE THEM TO OUR CAMPUSES AND TO STUDENTS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I DID HAVE A QUESTION PERSONALLY [INAUDIBLE] WITH REGARDS TO THE HOTSPOT.
[INAUDIBLE] I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] CHALLENGES, EVEN WITH THE HIGH COST OF [INAUDIBLE].
HAVE WE HAD ANY FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARENTS INDICATING STILL AN ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE HOTSPOT EFFECTIVELY [INAUDIBLE] VARIOUS REGIONS OF OUR DISTRICT.
PRESIDENT HALL CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN NOW. OK, YES, WE HAVE HAD SOME FEEDBACK.
THERE HAVE BEEN HOUSEHOLD THE INITIAL ONE THOUSAND WI-FI HOTSPOTS THAT WE PURCHASED WERE ACTUALLY TWO GIGABYTES OF HIGH SPEED ACCESS.
[00:15:03]
AND SO WE'VE LEARNED LESSONS FROM THAT INITIAL PURCHASE.AND THAT IS WHY WE PURCHASED UNLIMITED HIGH SPEED WI-FI ACCESS WITH THIS PURCHASE OF FIFTEEN HUNDRED WI-FI HOTSPOTS.
WHAT WE NOTICED OR WHAT SOME OF THE PARENTS INDICATED WAS THAT IF THEY HAD MULTIPLE STUDENTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD AFTER SEVERAL ZOOM MEETINGS, THE WI FI BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN.
AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THIS PURCHASE, WE RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY NOT NECESSARILY [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION, HOW ARE, HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THOSE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND? IS IT TOO WAY TO MAKE THAT TWO GIG NOW UNLIMITED LIKE THE OTHERS? IT IS IT'S ACTUALLY A PRICE UPGRADE, BUT WHAT WE'RE WORKING TO IS TO STRATEGICALLY MANEUVER THOSE 2G HOTSPOTS TO FAMILIES THAT ONLY HAVE ONE STUDENT, PERHAPS.
AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY IN THE UPCOMING DAYS TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES WHERE THEY'VE BEEN REPORTED BY THOSE FAMILIES THAT RECEIVED THE FIRST 1000 WI-FI HOTSPOTS. AND THAT IS A GREAT ANSWER [INAUDIBLE].
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD ON THIS ACTION ITEM POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM. ALL RIGHT IF THERE NO MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO RATIFY THE PURCHASE FOR JUST FIFTEEN HUNDRED ADDITIONAL INTERNET HOTSPOTS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING PER THE RESOLUTION REGARDING CROWLEY ISD'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON MARCH 19, 2020 USING CARES ACT FUNDING TO IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS THANK YOU TRUSTEE BENTON.
THANK YOU. THIS NOW BRINGS US TO OUR FUTURE ACTION ITEM SECTION AGENDA ITEM 5.1,
[5.0 Future Action Item(s)]
[INAUDIBLE] WAIVER.DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.
[INAUDIBLE] IS PREPARED TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
YES, THANK YOU, DR. MCFARLAND.
MS. HALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BOARD POLICY EEB LEGAL REQUIRES DISTRICTS TO MAINTAIN A CLASS SIZE OF TWENTY TWO STUDENTS PER CLASS IN GRADES K THROUGH FOUR.
THIS POLICY ALSO ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO SUBMIT AN EXCEPTION WAIVER TO TEA IF IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT CLASS SIZES MAY EXCEED THIS LIMIT.
THIS YEAR IN OUR EFFORTS TO ALLOW PARENTS TO CHOOSE BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AT MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE WILL ASK THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL TO SUBMIT THE CLASS SIZE EXCEPTION WAIVER FOR THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR AND THE WAIVER MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1ST.
AND I'M OF COURSE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU DR. KOHLER ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD? [INAUDIBLE] DR. KOHLER DOES THE CLASS SIZE WAIVER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN PERSON VS.
VIRTUAL OR IS IT NO MORE THEN 22 TO 1, EVEN IF WE'RE ALL VIRTUAL.
YES, IT IS TWENTY TWO TO ONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SO DR. KOHLER, WOULD YOU SAY WELL I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW? AND I GUESS E'RE COMPLETELY VIRTUAL RIGHT NOW.
DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CLASSES THAT ARE EXCEEDING THE 22 TO ONE.
I GUESS I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU MAY BE ANTICIPATE IT BUT AS WE GO TO IN PERSON DO WE FEEL LIKE THAT WILL BE LESS OF AN OCCURRENCE? SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE MONITORING THOSE CLASS SIZES EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE REPORTING EITHER AM OR PM.
THERE ARE CLASSES THAT HAVE MORE THAN TWENTY TWO STUDENTS, IN PARTICULAR IN THE VIRTUAL SETTING. OUR GOAL HAS BEEN OUR STRATEGY RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THERE
[00:20:01]
ARE ROOM IN THE FACE TO FACE CLASSES, BECAUSE WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT QUITE A FEW PARENTS WILL USE THAT WITH THE NEXT TIME THAT THEY CAN MAKE A COMMITMENT AND THAT OPENS SEPTEMBER 18TH. AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT MANY OF OUR PARENTS ARE GOING TO CHOOSE TO GO FROM VIRTUAL BACK TO IN-PERSON.AND SO WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ROOM IN THOSE CLASSROOMS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO OVERFLOW THEM TO ANOTHER CAMPUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YES, IN MANY OF OUR VIRTUAL CLASSES ARE EXCEEDING THAT LIMIT RIGHT NOW.
WE ANTICIPATE ON THE NEXT COMMITMENT THAT THOSE VIRTUAL NUMBERS WILL DROP.
[INAUDIBLE] QUESTION NOT TO THROW ON ANYTHING AT YOU FEEL FREE TO SAY, I CAN ANSWER THAT FOR YOU LATER. ARE ANY OF THE RATIOS IMPACTED BY STAFFING AT ALL, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL TO HELP LEVEL THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WE START MOVING FORWARD? WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE INTENTIONALLY WE DO HAVE SOME CLASSES OVER TWENTY TWO TO ONE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL STAFF POSITIONS ON HOLD AS WE'RE WATCHING THESE NUMBERS LEVEL OUT BASED ON OUR ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.
AND WE EVEN HAVE A FEW TEACHERS THAT ARE KIND OF IN A SURPLUS POOL RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE HELPING US WITH SOME COVERAGES FOR MATERNITY LEAVE.
SO WE FEEL LIKE AS THESE NUMBERS SETTLE IN OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, WE CAN STAFF THAT APPROPRIATELY. AND LAST WEEK, WE MADE SOME STAFF MOVES TO ALREADY START TO LEVEL THOSE NUMBERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? [INAUDIBLE] IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FOR DR.
KOHLER. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE IS AN UPDATE ON NUMBERS THIS YEAR [INAUDIBLE].
OH, SURE. YES, WE AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A PROJECT 16 K AS AN ONGOING INITIATIVE.
AND THE REASON WHY WE HAVE PROJECT 16K IS THAT IN MARCH WE HAD SIXTEEN THOUSAND FIFTY SIX STUDENTS AT THAT TIME. AND SO OUR GOAL WAS TO BE ABLE TO, OVER THE SCHOOL THIS YEAR WITH 16,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT ABOUT FIFTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED OR SO STUDENTS ENROLLED WITH ABOUT 94 PERCENT OF STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE THROUGH VIRTUAL LEARNING.
WE ARE DEFINITELY PROUD OF THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL LAST YEAR, WE WERE ACTUALLY ABOUT 72, 71 STUDENTS AHEAD.
THIS YEAR ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, WE'RE DEFINITELY PROUD OF THAT. AND IT'S REALLY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PRINCIPALS AND FRONT OFFICE STAFF CALLING PARENTS GOING OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE REGISTERED STUDENTS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER..AT OUR BOARD MEETING IN SEPTEMBER WE'LL GIVE YOU KIND OF AN OFFICAL NUMBER.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT FIFTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED THAT ARE ACTUALLY ENROLLED, WITH 94 PERCENT OF THOSE STUDENTS [INAUDIBLE].
MCFARLAND. THIS IS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM.
SO WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM 5.2.
GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE CROWLEY ISD SPORTS COMPLEX [INAUDIBLE] PACKAGE.
DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, MR. FISHER IS HERE TO PRESENT THE GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE CROWLEY ISD SPORTS COMPLEX [INAUDIBLE] YES.
MCFARLAND. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MADAM BOARD PRESIDENT.
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED, AS DR.
MCFARLAND SPOKE TO JUST A MOMENT AGO, ABOUT THE EARTHWORK PACKAGE FOR OUR NEW CROWLEY ISD SPORTS COMPLEX.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS NOTHING GETS THE COMMUNITY PUMPED UP LIKE A START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. AND WHEN PEOPLE START TO SEE EARTH MOVING FOR VARIOUS BOND PROJECTS.
AND SO THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE EARTHWORK AND SOIL STABILIZATION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE START OF THE MASS GRADING AT OUR NEW CENTRAL SPORTS COMPLEX, OUR NEW CENTRAL STADIUM.
THIS WORK, WE ANTICIPATE, WILL LAST FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO REALLY GRADE AND STABILIZE THAT SOIL IN PREPARATION FOR THE BUILDING PACKAGE, THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE THOSE NUMBERS ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 15.
WE WILL BRING THOSE NUMBERS BACK TO THE BOARD AT THE SEPTEMBER 24TH MEETING.
[00:25:06]
WE WILL ALSO COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARD IN OUR WEEKLY UPDATE AS SOON AS THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US.THIS BUILDING PACKAGE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE STADIUM, ACTUALLY IS SCHEDULED FOR THE DECEMBER BOARD MEETING.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO STAY ON SCHEDULE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD.
THIS WILL HELP US TO REALLY GET ABOUT A TWO, TWO AND A HALF MONTH HEAD START ON THIS PROJECT. SO THIS IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE USED.
WE USE THE STRATEGY AT THE CTE BUILDING AS WELL.
SO WE BRING THIS TO YOU AS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM AGAIN, AND WE WILL BRING IT TO YOU FOR APPROVAL OR ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 24.
THANK YOU, MR. FISHER. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? DR. MCFARLAND.
SO MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMEBERS I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. [INAUDIBLE], HE HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB REALLY HELPING TO MANAGE THIS PROJECT AND REALLY ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, LET'S REALLY BRING THIS PROJECT WAS AT A RATE THAT WOULD BE BELOW OUR BUDGETS.
[INAUDIBLE] AND HIS TEAM OF THE HARD WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
WHEN YOU [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED DIRT WORK I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE APPRECIATE THE EARTH WORK THAT YOU SEE EARTH WORK THAT YOU SEE GOING AT THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, THAT'S PART OF A PRIOR DECISION THAT YOU MADE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR THE NEW ATHLETIC COMPLEX, NOT ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
I DID HAVE A COMMENT, I KNOW THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER AND.
[INAUDIBLE] TIME REGARDING THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN AREAS WITH [INAUDIBLE] PLACEMENT AND FINAL DECISIONS ON THE BOND [INAUDIBLE].
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING [INAUDIBLE].
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OK, THANK YOU, MR. FISHER. THIS IS ALSO A FUTURE ACTION ITEM.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 5.3.
POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR TO MAKE NOVEMBER 3RD AND 4TH VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS DUE TO THE USE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY ELECTIONS. DR. MCFARLAND. MADAM PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS WE KNOW THAT ELECTION SEASON IS UPON US, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ARE DOING OUR PART, WE BEING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, DOING OUR PART TO ENSURING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OCCURRING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'LL HAVE MR. KIRCHNER TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING WITH NOVEMBER 3RD AND 4TH.
[INAUDIBLE] TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING WITHIN THE DISTRICT RELATIVE TO VOTING AND VOTING AWARENESS, VOTER REGISTRATION.
MCFARLANE. MS. HALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR EXHIBIT A COPY OF OUR CURRENT MODIFIED SCHOOL CALENDAR THAT HAD A STARTING SCHOOL VIRTUALLY THIS WEEK AND THEN STARTING IN PERSON OCTOBER 5TH.
THIS FUTURE ACTION ITEM IS DUE TO TARRANT COUNTY ELECTIONS, UTILIZING OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS ON NOVEMBER 3RD, THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ELECTION DAY, TARRANT COUNTY HAS REACHED OUT TO OUR DISTRICT AND OTHER DISTRICTS ADVISING THAT THEY WILL LIKELY NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE THIS YEAR DUE TO WHAT THEY'RE ANTICIPATING IS AN INCREASE IN VOTER TURNOUT AND ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE ALLOW EXTRA SPACE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR VOTERS AND POLL WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
SO WE'RE CONSIDERING AND WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO THE BOARD AS A FUTURE ACTION ITEM IS MAKING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD AND WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS FOR ALL STUDENTS. IF THIS IS APPROVED.
IT OBVIOUSLY ALLOWED THAT EXTRA SPACE ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, BUT THEN ON NOVEMBER 4TH, TIME TO SANITIZE GET THINGS CLEANED AND BACK IN ORDER FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH.
AND SO TARRANT COUNTY ELECTIONS IS REQUESTING THAT ADDITIONAL SPACE.
THEY WILL LIKELY BE EVEN REQUESTING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT THEY'VE NEVER USED BEFORE BECAUSE SOME OF THE CHURCHES AND OTHER POLLING SITES THAT THEY TRADITIONALLY USE ARE NOT OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BE AHEAD OF THAT AND BE READY FOR THAT.
SO THIS WILL BE A FUTURE ACTION ITEM AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. KIRCHNER.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? MS. HALL I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT MR. KIRCHNER SAID ABOUT THE CHURCHES.
YES, MISS DAVIS, THE TARRANT COUNTY ELECTIONS IS SAYING SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL PLACES THAT THEY USE EVERY YEAR FOR ELECTIONS THEY'RE ANTICIPATING MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM
[00:30:03]
TO USE. AND SO THEY MAY NEED TO USE MORE OF OUR SCHOOLS THAN THEY NORMALLY DO FOR POLLING LOCATIONS. OK, THANK YOU.I JUST DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. DR.
MCFARLAND. ALSO MADAM PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE FOR DR.
[INAUDIBLE] TO THE KIND OF SHARE JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CURRENT OCCURRING ON OUR CAMPUSES RELATIVE TO VOTER AWARNESS AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT DURING THE NEXT 60 DAYS. SO PLEASE JUST SHARE A HIGH LEVEL WHAT YOU'RE DOING AT A SECONDARY LEVEL AND AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL TO ENSURE VOTER AWARENESS, CIVIC AWARENESS AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT AT THE POOLS. SO, I MAY NEED TO MAKE DR. BARRY A PANELIST.
DR. BARRY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU NOW.
DR. BARRY CAN YOU HEAR US? ALL RIGHT.
[INAUDIBLE] I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING, IF THAT'S OK.
YES, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD THE DISTRICT FOR TAKING ON THIS ENDEAVOR, THE CIVIC ENDEAVOR, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PROACTIVE IN THIS APPROACH.
MCFARLAND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT IT IS A TEXAS LAW THAT SCHOOLS OFFER VOTER REGISTRATION ON THEIR CAMPUSES IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN 20 STUDENTS AT THEIR SCHOOL.
SO WE DEFINITELY FIT THAT CRITERIA.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS IN THIS CIVIC DUTY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING THOSE GROUPS TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE.
[INAUDIBLE] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS [INAUDIBLE]
[00:35:03]
OK, THAT IS THE FUTURE ACTION ITEMS THAT WILL NOW BRING US TO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT[6.0 Executive Session]
THIS TIME. THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.[INAUDIBLE] OADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AND 551.076 SAFETY AND SECURITY.
[INAUDIBLE] REMAIN ON THIS LINE THE BOARD WILL RESPOND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ARE ADJOURNING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:37PM .
WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 7:38 P.M.
AND WITH THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 7:38PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.