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[I. Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum]
GOOD EVENING, THIS IS THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REGULAR MEETING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 24TH.AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE, AND INDIVISIBLE.
AGAIN, WELCOME TO THE MEETING TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO STRAIGHT INTO OUR ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS OUR
[III. Public Forum]
PUBLIC FORUM.AND I'M GOING TO READ A QUICK STATEMENT AT THIS POINT.
WE WILL NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MECHELLE HOGAN WILL ADVISE IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
MECHELLE, DO WE HAVE CARDS TODAY? YES, I HAVE MIKE.
MIKE, I HAVE 16 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND I'M COUNTING, BUT AT NOW I HAVE 63 TO READ.
THE 63 ARE EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT IN.
SO AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION AT A BOARD MEETING IS LIMITED TO THE PORTION OF THE MEETING DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY.
AT ALL OTHER TIMES DURING A BOARD MEETING, THE AUDIENCE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO DISCUSSION OR DEBATE ON MATTERS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD UNLESS REQUESTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICERS.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE BY SUBMITTING A COMMENT CARD IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
COMMENT CARDS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER SPEAKER AND INCOMPLETE OR UNTIMELY SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS WILL ONLY BE HEARD IF TIME ALLOWS.
SIGN UP OPENED ONE HOUR BEFORE THE POSTED MEETING, BEFORE THE POSTED MEETING, START TIME ON THE AGENDA AND CLOSED AT THE POSTED MEETING START TIME.
IF A SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT WHEN HIS OR HER NAME IS CALLED, THE SPEAKER FORFEITS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THAT MEETING.
THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS AND NON AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
AN INDIVIDUAL MUST INDICATE THE AGENDA ITEM IN THEIR COMMENTS THAT THEIR COMMENTS WILL ADDRESS.
FAILURE TO LIST THE AGENDA ITEM WILL RESULT IN THE PRESUMPTION THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ON A NON AGENDA ITEM COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE SUBMITTED .
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.
THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST WHEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL OCCUR DURING THE MEETING, OR REORDER THE AGENDA ITEMS OR CONTINUE AGENDA ITEMS TO A LATER MEETINGS, PROVIDE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, OR ESTABLISH AN OVERALL TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND ADJUST THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER AND MAKE OTHER REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TIMING OF PUBLIC COMMENT IN ACCORDANCE OF LAW.
DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF SPEAKERS, TIME WILL BE LIMITED TONIGHT TO ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER.
IN NO EVENT WILL THE SPEAKER BE GIVEN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
A TIMER IS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREENS, AND IF YOU'RE NOT FINISHED SPEAKING AT THE END OF YOUR TIME, YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO STOP OR I WILL NEED TO INTERRUPT AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
ALL LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN BOARD POLICY BED LOCAL WILL APPLY, AND THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THE POLICY FOR DETAIL INSTRUCTIONS.
COPIES OF COMMENTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED IN WRITING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THESE ARE THE EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVE AROUND 60 SO FAR.
THE COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETED ARE NOT READ IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE OF THE ONE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
COPIES OF THESE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD SO THAT THE BOARD MAY READ AT A LATER TIME.
THE INFORMATION SHARED IN PUBLIC COMMENT SOLELY PROVIDES THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER, NOT THE DISTRICT.
SPECIFIC FACTUAL INFORMATION OR RECITATION OF EXISTING BOARD POLICY MAY BE FURNISHED IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES, BUT THE BOARD SHALL NOT DELIBERATE OR DECIDE ANY SUBJECT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA WITH THE NOTICE OF THE MEETING.
THE BOARD MAY ALSO REFER TO A SPEAKER OR REFER A SPEAKER TO A STAFF MEMBER IN
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AUTHORITY OVER THE ISSUE.THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR DESIGNEE SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IS ADDRESSING THE BOARD, HAS ATTEMPTED TO SOLVE A MATTER ADMINISTRATIVELY THROUGH THE RESOLUTION CHANNELS ESTABLISHED BY THE POLICY.
IF NOT, THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE POLICY TO SEEK RESOLUTION.
IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR A PERSON WITH THE INTENT TO PREVENT OR DISRUPT A LAWFUL MEETING TO SUBSTANTIALLY OBSTRUCT OR INTERFERE WITH THE ORDINARY CONDUCT OF A MEETING BY PHYSICAL ACTION OR VERBAL UTTERANCE, AND THEREBY CURTAIL THE EXERCISE OF OTHERS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THE BOARD WON'T TOLERATE THE DISRUPTION OF THIS MEETING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, IF AFTER AT LEAST ONE WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER ANY INDIVIDUAL CONTINUE TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTIONS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUALS REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
SO THAT ALL BEING SAID, EVERYBODY KNOWS THE GROUND RULES.
AND WE HOPE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD AND ORDERLY MEETING TONIGHT.
MECHELLE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER TO THE PODIUM AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, HAVE TWO LINED UP AND READY TO GO SO WE CAN MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY? YES, SIR.
TONIGHT, IT'S BETHANIE HEELEY.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULD, BEFORE WE START.
YOU WILL HAVE YOU WERE GIVEN ONE MINUTE I BELIEVE LISA RAY, MS. RAY WILL BE TIMING.
SCOTT IS GOING TO BE TIMING YOU ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE RED LIGHT, COME ON, YOUR TIME IS OVER AND IT'LL BE TIME TO STOP.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, PROCEED BY GIVING US YOUR NAME ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE A CHILD IN THE DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS BETHANY HEELEY, 2106 RICHWOOD DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN GISD, ONE IN ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE AT ABBETT ELEMENTARY.
I DO WISH TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MASKS.
MASKS ARE COLLECTORS AND RETAINERS FOR PATHOGENS AND BECOME LOADED WITH THESE PATHOGENS AND BACTERIA BECOMING VECTORS FOR ENHANCED TRANSMISSION.
TESTS HAVE SHOWN UP TO 96 UNIQUE PATHOGENS ON CHILDREN'S MASKS AFTER ONE DAY.
DUE TO THE MOISTURE IN YOUR BREATH, MASKS BECOME USELESS INSIDE OF 20 MINUTES.
MOISTURE RETENTION RE-USE OF CLOTH MASKS AND POOR FILTRATION CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF INFECTION.
IN A STUDY PUBLISHED BY THE CDC IN MAY OF 2020, THEY CONCLUDED THAT FACE MASKS PREVENT OR DO NOT.
I'M SORRY, THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN TRANSMISSION WITH REGARDS TO THE PREVENTION OR SLOW OF VIRUS SPREAD.
ADDITIONAL STUDIES SHOW THAT WEARING A MASK FOR ONE HOUR DECREASES OXYGEN AND INCREASES CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE BLOODSTREAM.
THESE CHANGES IN YOUR BLOOD GASES RESULT IN INCREASES IN BOTH FREQUENCY AND DEPTH OF BREATH.
THEREFORE, EVEN INCREASING YOUR RISK EVEN FURTHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD THROUGH EMAIL.
IF YOU WOULD START OFF BY GIVING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
DAMIAN VILORIO ADDRESS IS 1422 CROCKETT STREET IN GARLAND, TEXAS.
MY CHILDREN ARE BOTH IN THE 5TH AND THE SECOND GRADE AT ARMSTRONG ELEMENTARY.
SO MY MAIN POINT OF BEING HERE TODAY IS THE MASK MANDATE.
WE KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT ABBOTT SET FORTH, NO MASK MANDATES AND OF COURSE, PENDING LAWSUIT VS.
FROM DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS.
VOICES FROM BOTH THE LEFT SIDE, THE RIGHT HAVE VOICED THEIR OPINIONS.
POLITICIANS THAT HAVE PUSHED THIS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT WEARING NO MASKS.
OR DO YOU SEE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WEARING MASKS? AND THOUGH I RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER AND RESPECT THOSE THAT WEAR MASKS OR DON'T WEAR MASKS.
THE ISSUE REALLY IS, IS OUR PERSONAL FREEDOMS. AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR CHILDREN AND WHAT THEY'RE FACING THESE DAYS, IT'S NOTHING LIKE WE EVER FACED IN OUR TIMES.
AND THE THING IS, IS THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR GOD GIVEN ABILITY TO HAVE BREATHING, TO HAVE
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AIR IN OUR LUNGS.I DON'T WANT ANY GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, TOTALITARIANISM.
AND I JUST WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE FREE.
SIR, COULD YOU EXIT THIS WAY YEAH.
THANK YOU, DR. MORGAN, IF YOU WOULD, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
DR. SHARON MORGAN, 509 PRESTWICK CIRCLE, GARLAND, TEXAS, 75044.
AND I HAVE ONE DAUGHTER AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT LOOKING AT YOU.
BUT I'M GOING TO READ THIS FAST.
FROM ECOLOGY AT UTAH STATE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER DEGREES.
I GRADUATED FOURTH OUT OF 500 FROM IN 1986 FROM HANKS IN EL PASO.
SO I'M TELLING YOU THIS TO TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF AS A SCIENTIST, AS TO WHERE WE ARE NOW WE'RE HEADED.
DISPOSABLE CLOTH MASKS HAVE A PORE SIZE OF 80 TO 500 MICRONS.
THIS VACCINE SHOULD NOT BE MANDATED.
THE DISTRICT'S PROVIDED OPTIONS.
GISD TAGLINE IS FREEDOM OF CHOICE, RIGHT? SO WE SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
I'M GOING TO END WITH A QUOTE FROM C.S.
OF ALL THE TYRANNIES, A TYRANNY SINCERELY EXERCISED FOR THE GOOD OF ITS VICTIMS MAYBE THE MOST OPPRESSIVE.
IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LIVE UNDER ROBBER BARONS THAN UNDER OMNIPOTENT MORAL BUSYBODIES.
THE ROBBER BARON'S CRUELTY MAY SOMETIMES SLEEP.
HIS CUPIDITY MAY AT SOME POINT BE SATIATED.
BUT THOSE WHO TORMENT US FOR OUR OWN GOOD WILL TORMENT US WITHOUT END, FOR THEY DO SO WITH THEIR APPROVAL OF THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE.
I'M GOING TO TRUNCATE THIS A LITTLE MORE TO BE QUOTE UNQUOTE, CURED AGAINST ONE'S OWN WILL IS TO BE PUT ON A LEVEL WITH THOSE WHO'VE NOT YET REACHED THE AGE OF REASON OR THOSE WHO NEVER WILL.
IF YOU WOULD THINK SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT FOR THE RECORD.
6910 BRANFORD ROAD, ROWLETT, TEXAS.
AND I HAVE FIVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT RANGING FROM FIRST GRADE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LENDING YOUR EAR.
WHEN I TOLD MY FIVE KIDS WHO WERE VIRTUAL ALL LAST YEAR.
THEY COULD GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE LAST WEEK SINCE NUMBERS WERE LOW.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I FULLY UNDERSTOOD HOW DEEPLY IT AFFECTED THEM EMOTIONALLY.
THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
TWO DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED, I DISCOVERED ALL THE PROTOCOLS WERE REMOVED, AND I HAD TO TELL THEM THEY MAY NOT GET TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND THEY WERE VISIBLY IT AFFECTED THEM.
TWO OF THEM BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.
JUST LOOK AT THE FLU VIRUS VIRTUALLY GONE SINCE PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.
IT SPREADS JUST LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS THROUGH WATER DROPLETS.
AND WE'RE NOW SINCE MASKS ARE GONE IT IS COMING BACK INTO PLAY.
BUT THEY WERE GONE SINCE THE START OF THIS.
SINCE PROTOCOLS WERE PUT IN PLACE.
MASKS MANDATES ARE NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
ALL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES ARE NOT ABSOLUTE AND ARE SUBJECT TO POLICE POWER.
THAT MEANS IF IT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY, I'M SORRY.
COMMUNITY AND HEALTH RISK AND MAKE A FINAL STATEMENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS SHOULDN'T DIVIDE US.
THIS SHOULD BE WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY WOODS, AND MY AFFILIATION WITH GARLAND ISD IS HAVING FOUR KIDS WHOSE ATTENDANCE RANGED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, ALL OF WHOM ARE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, ATHLETES AND GOOD CITIZENS.
THE PRIMARY REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS TO REMIND GARLAND ISD AND ITS BOARD MEMBERS THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE STUDENTS.
MY SON SAID HIS CLASSMATES WERE STRUGGLING TO BREATHE WHILE WEARING THE MASK AND STARTED TO COMPLAIN.
THE TEACHER OUT OF COMPASSION, SUGGESTED TO THE CHILDREN THEY CAN PULL THEIR MASK DOWN FOR THREE MINUTES TO BREATHE.
LET'S NEVER FORGET THAT THE SCIENCE SUGGESTS THAT BOTH MEDICAL AND NONMEDICAL MASK ARE INEFFECTIVE TO BLOCKING HUMAN TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION OF VIRAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
A RECENT ARTICLE FROM EPOCH TIMES SAID THE NUMBER OF TEXAS FAMILIES PULLING THEIR
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CHILDREN OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PURSUING HOMESCHOOLING IS FIVE TIMES GREATER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.THIS IS A FACT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS ONE OF THEM.
YOU GUYS HAVE TO CONTINUE REMINDING YOURSELF THAT YOUR PRIMARY REASON HERE IS FOR THE STUDENTS, AND YOU PURSUE TRUTH AND LOGIC BASED ON THAT, AND YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU PROBABLY HOLD PHDS, MASTERS AND BACHELORS, AND YOU KNOW HOW TO APPLY LOGIC AND REASON.
KATHY RISHARD STURGEON, THANK YOU, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT AND WHEN YOU'RE THROUGH, WOULD YOU PLEASE TO YOUR LEFT? SURE.
MY NAME IS KATHY RISHARD STURGEON.
ONE OF THEM IS AT LUNA ELEMENTARY.
MY ADDRESS IS 3146 PAMELA PLACE IN GARLAND, TEXAS.
AND LIKE I SAID, AT LUNA ELEMENTARY.
OK, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT I'M FOR MASKS OBVIOUSLY.
BUT LOOKING AT ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ALREADY HAVE MASKS IN PLACE, DALLAS ISD IS WAY BIGGER THAN GARLAND ISD.
NO, IT HAS 588 POSITIVE CASES.
GARLAND ISD HAS SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE POSITIVE CASES.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT GARLAND ISD? WE ARE ONLY ONE THIRD THEIR SIZE.
IF YOU REALIZED YOU GUYS ONLY HAVE ONE POSITIVE CASE OF COVID IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ONE THE REST IS IN GARLAND ISD BUILDINGS.
FOR THE RECORD, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
DAVID SUTTON, 806 HOLDEN COURT GARLAND, TEXAS, HAVE TWO KIDS IN ARMSTRONG ELEMENTARY.
ONE JUST STARTED ONE THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR THREE YEARS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY SAID.
BUT I DID SEND THE BOARD AN EMAIL.
I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO REVIEW THAT EMAIL I SENT IT TO TWO WEEKS AGO, IT HAS VIDEOS FROM A DOCTOR AND 22 CASE STUDIES THAT SHOW MASKS DO NOT HELP.
AND THAT ONE I JUST PASSED OUT TO YOU IS ONE OF THOSE 22 CASE STUDIES.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ON PAGE FOUR, IT CLEARLY STATES THAT MASKS DO NOT STOP CORONAVIRUS.
BUT THEY DO PROHIBIT LEARNING.
SO YOUR MAIN GOAL AS A COUNCIL, AS THE LAST LADY SAID, IS TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS LEARN.
IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT STOPS, THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE VOTING FOR IT.
[APPLAUSE] EXIT LEFT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR.
GOOD, EVENING IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS BRANDON DAVID I LIVE AT 8028, CORNELL DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN ONE OF WHICH IS IN KINDERGARTEN.
AND SEWELL ELEMENTARY CURRENTLY IN TVL.
BASICALLY, SO BASICALLY COVID CASES ARE CURRENTLY ON THE RISE AND THE NEW DELTA VARIANT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN EVER.
JUST YESTERDAY, THERE WERE OVER 11000 CASES IN TEXAS AND MY SON'S SCHOOL, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 22 CASES, ACCORDING TO THE GISD WEBSITE.
OUR CHILDREN UNDER 12, WHICH BOTH OF MINE ARE.
I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD AND A SIX YEAR OLD ARE UNABLE TO BE VACCINATED.
SO THE VERY LEAST YOU COULD DO IS ADD A MASK TO THE MANDATE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS.
THIS HAS BECOME ENTIRELY POLITICIZED AND COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE ARE ARGUING OVER A SIMPLE FABRIC OVER THE MOUTH.
AND THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN SAID MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN.
MY CHILD WENT FOR A YEAR AT HIS PRESCHOOL WEARING A MASK, DID FINE.
HE'S AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL IN KINDERGARTEN.
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SO, I MEAN, COME ON, IT'S NOT ABOUT RIGHTS.IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
THANK YOU, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS DAVID IGLESIAS, 2112 CHESTNUT HILL LANE RICHARDSON, TEXAS.
OUR GRANDDAUGHTER IS SIXTH GRADE AT HUDSON ELEMENTARY.
I LOOKED UP THE WEBSITE AND LOOKED AT THE UT SOUTHWESTERN WEBSITE AND SENT THE INFORMATION TO DR.
AND I THINK TO MR. JAMIE MILLER.
AND CONCERNING THE INCREASE THE RAPID INCREASE OF COVID.
AND IN THE COUNTY IS WITH THE PROJECTED RATES.
IT'S COMES ROUGHLY ABOUT 1600 CASES A DAY WITH A RATIO OF OVER ONE, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY UNLESS WE HAVE MITIGATING FACTORS AND MASKS DO HELP, THEY LOWER THE RISK OF INFECTION BY 65 PERCENT.
DURING THE FLU PANDEMIC IN 1918, WE HAD CLOSE TO 60 MILLION PEOPLE DIE.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MILLION, BUT NOW WE HAVE VACCINES.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ARE WE FIGHTING ABOUT MASK? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHERE SHOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE? THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT GO TO WATSON TECHNOLOGY CENTER, ONE AT AUSTIN ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE.
MY ADDRESS IS 5309 SADDLEBACK ROAD IN GARLAND.
I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT MASK SCIENCE, REAL MASK SCIENCE IS VERY EASY TO FIND AND NOT ON FACEBOOK VIDEOS.
AND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE GENERATIONAL FINANCIAL TRAUMA THAT IS HAPPENING TO CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT.
DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTRY'S INSURANCE SYSTEM IN RECENT YEARS, THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
THIS CAN CAUSE SIX FIGURE HOSPITAL BILLS.
EVEN WITH INSURANCE, IT CAN COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
GOD FORBID IF YOU GET SENT TO A HOSPITAL THAT'S OUT OF NETWORK.
THIS CAN FINANCIALLY DEVASTATE A FAMILY ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
HOW MANY FAMILIES WILL HAVE TO USE THAT MONEY MEANT FOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION AS MEDICAL EXPENSES INSTEAD? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE CHILD'S FUTURE AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN? WE CAN HELP BY [INAUDIBLE] MAKING THEM WEAR MASKS.
IT IS UNFAIR THAT WE'RE SITTING HERE.
[APPLAUSE] AMANDA MADDOX, AMANDA MADDOX.
GOOD, EVENING IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
AMANDA MADDOX, THREE FIVE ZERO SIX CLOVER MEADOW DRIVE GARLAND, SEVEN FIVE ZERO FOUR THREE.
ONE OF MY KIDS IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING LAKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.
MY SON JUST GRADUATED FROM THERE IN THE SPRING, AND MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM LAKEVIEW ALSO.
BY MANDATING MASKS, YOU'RE PUTTING SOME FAMILIES IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.
PUT YOURSELF IN THE FAMILY'S POSITION WHOSE CHILD CAN'T WEAR A MASK.
THE REASON COULD BE THAT THE CHILD HAS AN EMOTIONAL OR SENSORY PROBLEM.
THE CHILD COULD HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, OR NEEDS TO READ LIPS.
IF YOU MANDATE MASKS YOU'RE MAKING THE FAMILY CHOOSE BETWEEN SENDING THE CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH A MASK, WHICH THEY CAN'T WEAR OR DO PARENT LED SCHOOL AT HOME.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TRIED TO TEACH YOUR CHILD ALGEBRA, CHEMISTRY, ART, ENGLISH, WORLD HISTORY, GRAPHIC DESIGN AT YOUR HOME? YOU'RE CURRENTLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGING A MASK.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE CHILDREN THAT CAN'T WEAR A MASK.
STAND UP FOR THESE CHILDREN AND SAY NO TO MANDATING A MASK.
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GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.TWENTY FIVE EIGHTEEN LAKE VALLEY DRIVE.
I HAVE THREE KIDS CURRENTLY IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M SPEAKING REGARDING THE POLICY, WHICH REQUIRES UNVACCINATED TO QUARANTINE UPON EXPOSURE WHILE ALLOWING THE FULLY VACCINATED TO NOT QUARANTINE.
THIS IS A DISCRIMINATORY POLICY.
FROM THE BEGINNING THE CLAIMS MADE BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES REGARDING VACCINES WERE THAT THEY WOULD REDUCE SYMPTOMS. EARLY CLINICAL TRIALS DID NOT EVEN TEST FOR PREVENTION OF INFECTION OR PREVENTION OF TRANSMISSION.
THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES TO DENY VALUABLE CLASSROOM TIME TO ONE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHILE AFFORDING THE PRIVILEGE OF FACE TO FACE CLASSROOM TIME TO ANOTHER SET OF STUDENTS BASED ON VACCINATION STATUS IS DISCRIMINATORY.
THERE IS NO BASIS IN SCIENCE OR IN REALITY FOR THIS POLICY.
IF THE PURPOSE IS TO REDUCE SPREAD, IT IS NONSENSICAL.
IT FEELS LIKE YET ANOTHER MECHANISM OF COERCION FOR RECEIVING THE SHOT, THE SHOT FOR WHICH MANY CITIZENS HAVE VALID SAFETY CONCERNS.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY CAME FROM CDC GUIDELINES, PERHAPS STATE FEDERAL LAW OR TEA GUIDANCE, NONETHELESS, IT IS STILL DISCRIMINATORY AND WRONG.
AND AS A TAXPAYER, I OBJECT TO IT.
AND I ALSO OBJECT TO THE MANDATING OF MASKS.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
I LIVE AT 121 [INAUDIBLE] DRIVE IN GARLAND, TEXAS.
I CURRENTLY HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
I COME TO YOU TODAY, EXPRESS MY CONCERN REGARDING THE DISTRICT'S APPROACH TO COVID 19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT.
THE DELTA VARIANT IS TWO TIMES MORE CONTAGIOUS.
AND EVEN VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS CAN SPREAD THE DISEASE THROUGH BREAKTHRU INFECTIONS.
STUDENTS UNDER 12 WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET A VACCINE AT THIS TIME ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CATCHING THIS DELTA VARIANT.
IN OUR OWN DISTRICT, WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN POSITIVE CASES.
AS OF TODAY ON GARLAND ISDS WEBSITE.
SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE STUDENTS ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID 19.
THE TIMELINE FOR VACCINE APPROVAL FOR OUR STUDENTS UNDER 12 IS UNCERTAIN.
MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR MASKS.
AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY DO ENTHUSIASTICALLY, BUT RATHER AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
WE WEAR MASKS TO SAY WE CARE NOT TO ONLY PROTECT OURSELVES, BUT ALSO THOSE AROUND US.
LOPEZ, YOU'VE BEEN TASKED WITH MAKING MANY DIFFICULT DECISIONS DUE TO COVID 19.
AND I DO NOT ENVY YOU, BUT I DO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A MASK MANDATE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULD, JUST STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DAPHNE DEAN.
HELLO, DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
I COME AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS IN THE DISTRICT.
AND I ALSO HAVING THESE AND OTHER RELATIVES.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE THAT WE HAVE DALLAS ISD, RICHARDSON ISD, DESOTO ISD, MESQUITE ISD, CARROLTON FARMERS BRANCH ISD AND PLANO ISD.
ALL ARE MANDATING THAT WE HAVE A MASK.
WE'RE PROTECTING OUR MOST PRECIOUS JEWELS, OUR BABIES, OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
I WORE JEWELS TODAY AND PEARLS IN HONOR OF EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE PRECIOUS BABIES.
I HAVE A RELATIVE FIVE YEARS OLD, THIS CLOSE TO DYING BECAUSE THEY HAD COVID CLOSE TO DYING.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ANY OF OUR CHILDREN.
A PLUS A PLUS C ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS TWO.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M AT 6709 SPRING MEADOW LANE IN ROWLETT, AND I AM THE PROUD PARENT OF A SECOND GRADER AT HERFURTH ELEMENTARY WHO BURST OUT IN TEARS WHEN HE FOUND OUT FRIDAY THAT HIS FRIEND AND CLASSMATE AND DILIGENT MASK WEARER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.
GARLAND ISD HAS GONE FROM 300 TO 500 TO NOW MORE THAN 700 POSITIVE CASES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
MORE THAN HALF OF ALL STAFF CASES ARE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
ALONG WITH MORE THAN ONE IN THREE STUDENT CASES, CHILDREN WHO CAN'T HAVE THE PROTECTION OF THE VACCINE.
OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS MANY ONGOING ABSENCES, WITH
[00:30:03]
STAFF SCRAMBLING FOR SUBS AND CONSTANT DISRUPTIONS.WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS CLEARLY NOT WORKING, ESPECIALLY IN A MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT LIKE OURS, WHERE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE DESKS TO PLEXIGLAS AND ARE CONSTANTLY SHARING CLASSROOM MATERIALS.
EVEN THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO MASK ARE STILL EXPOSED EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN STUDENTS TAKE THEIR 20 MINUTES IN CLASS SNACK TIME.
WE NEED BETTER PRACTICES TO ENSURE HANDWASHING AND NOTIFYING PARENTS OF POSITIVE CASES IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
PLEASE TAKE BOLD ACTION AND JOIN THE GROWING CHORUS OF DISTRICTS THAT RECOGNIZE THIS IS OUR ONLY OPTION TO PRIORITIZE SAFETY.
[APPLAUSE] MS. HOGAN, IS THAT ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
THE REMAINING, I BELIEVE SIXTY FIVE ARE ALL FOR ME TO READ.
AGAIN, MS. HOGAN WILL READ THE EMAILS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ACCORDING TO THE NOTICE, AND ANY EMAILS THAT ARE NOT FINISHED IN THEIR ENTIRETY CAN BE CIRCULATED TO THE BOARD AFTER THE MEETING.
FORTY FOUR THIRTY POINT BOULEVARD 201 GARLAND TEXAS.
I'D LIKE YOU TO READ MY COMMENTS ALOUD THIS EVENING.
THIS LETTER TO THE GARLAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING TONIGHT'S MEETING AGENDA ITEM COVID 19 MITIGATION PROTOCOLS.
AS A CONCERNED PARENT OR RESIDENT OF GARLAND I ASKED THE BOARD TO PLEASE REVISE THE EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT HANDBOOKS AND THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT TO INCLUDE MASKS MANDATES.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO GET RID OF COVID IS BY PRACTICING SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND WEARING MASKS FOR A LONG TIME.
IF WE STOP WEARING MASKS, IT'S JUST GOING TO START AGAIN.
WE NEED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN.
JONATHAN BENTLEY, 5213, ASLYN BAY ROWLETT, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO EIGHT NINE.
MY DAUGHTER BRIANNA GOES TO SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE THINKS ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IF THEY WANT TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAYS ALL SCHOOLS IN TEXAS SHOULD LET THE CHOICE BE UP TO THE KIDS, NOT THE SCHOOL.
SHE SEES NO POINT IN GOING AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION.
ROBIN CARROLL, 6311, CORAL LANE GISD, BOARD MEMBERS.
I WISH FOR YOU TO RECONSIDER MASK AND MASKING PROTOCOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AGAIN.
I FEEL PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SHOULD BE GISDS MAIN CONCERN DURING THIS TIME.
YES, VACCINES ARE PROVIDED, BUT IT'S NOT STOPPING THE THREAT.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND DON'T WANT TO.
AND NOW DELTA IS BECOMING SPREAD.
IT'S BEING SPREAD EVEN AT HIGHER RATES.
IN THE BEGINNING, WE MADE THE NEWS BEING THE DISTRICT STOOD UP AGAINST COVID, AND I FEEL IT'S TIME TO DO THAT AGAIN.
LET'S TAKE A STAND AGAINST DELTA.
WE GISD AND PARENTS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PREVENT A HEAVY OUTBREAK IN OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR SON WEARS A MASK EVERY DAY AND SAYS HE'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW WHO WEAR A MASK.
ABOUT ONE OUT OF 100 WEAR MASK.
WITH NUMBERS INCREASING, I HOPE YOU DO RECONSIDER MAKING MASK MANDATORY IN ALL SCHOOLS AND IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
IF NUMBERS WERE NOT INCREASING, I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH NO MASK POLICY.
PLEASE ALLOW GISD TO BE A LEADER FOR ALL OTHER DISTRICTS TO SEE LIKE WE ARE [INAUDIBLE] BE THAT WHEN WE FIRST CAME OUT WITH COVID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ELIZABETH MURDOCH, BLUE HAVEN WAY WYLIE TEXAS.
MY HOPE IS THAT SHE WILL LET PARENTS CONTINUE TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IF OUR CHILDREN SHOULD WEAR A MASK OR NOT.
MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL LET PARENTS BE PARENTS AND LET THEM MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES INSIDE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS INSTEAD OF FORCING EVERYONE TO DO THE SAME THING.
JEFF NEBS, RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS, REQUESTED HIS ADDRESS TO BE WITHHELD.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I WRITE TO YOU WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL HEAR THESE PLEAS OF PARENTS WITH A HIGH CONCERN FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
I SIGNED MY CHILD UP FOR THE TVL.
BUT AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF NO DIRECTION, I LOST FAITH IN THE PROGRAM AND SENT HIM BACK TO SCHOOL.
HIS SCHOOL STILL DOES NOT HAVE PLEXIGLAS IN ALL THE CLASSROOMS, AS WE WERE TOLD WOULD HAPPEN OVER A WEEK AGO.
AT EIGHT MONTHS OLD, I WATCH MY NOW SIX YEAR OLD SON A STUDENT IN YOUR DISTRICT ALMOST DIED DUE TO A LACK OF OXYGEN FROM AN INFECTION CAUSED BY CONTRACTING PARA FLU.
RHINOVIRUS AND ADENOVIRUSES, ALL COMMON VIRUSES.
NOTHING LIKE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM NOW WITH COVID.
HE WAS PLACED ON A VENTILATOR AND SEDATED FOR A WEEK IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT CHILDREN'S DALLAS FOR HIS FIRST CHRISTMAS.
INSTEAD OF UNWRAPPING HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS WITH HIM I WAS WORKING WITH HOSPITAL ADMIN STAFF TO PREPARE HIM FOR POSSIBLY NOT TO RECOVER.
I'M BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE PUT FORTH AS MANY PROTOCOLS AS POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNGEST AND VENERABLE STUDENTS.
NO PARENTS AND I HAVE TO SEE THEIR CHILD UNDER THESE
[00:35:02]
CIRCUMSTANCES TO PLAN THEIR FUNERAL.YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ENACT CHANGE, TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF BY FOLLOWING THE PAST PROTOCOLS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR TO KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
MICHELLE UNDERWOOD, COLONY DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE UNDERWOOD.
MY SON IS A NINTH GRADER THIS YEAR.
HE LOVES BEING ON A SCHOOL TEAM.
THE FIRST TIME HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A MASK MANDATE, HE DESPISED THE IDEA OF RETURNING TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY.
HE DREADED EVEN THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL.
IT IS HIS BODY AND HIS CHOICE TO WEAR A MASK.
THERE'S NO PROOF ANY COVID TESTING CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COVID AND THE NORMAL FLU.
COVID IS NEVER GOING AWAY, JUST LIKE THE FLU.
WE NEVER IN HISTORY HAVE MASKED ANYONE FOR THE FLU WHICH AFFECTED AND KILLED THOUSANDS EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S NO REAL PROOF THAT MASKS CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD.
THE SO-CALLED VACCINE CAN NOT EVEN STOP THE SPREAD.
THESE CHILDREN, MY CHILD, SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BREATHE FREELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
ON DAYS, HE WEARS A MASK, HE BECOMES FATIGUED AND WITH ISSUES WITH HIS ALLERGIES.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THEM.
IF THE MASKS WORK, LET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID, TO WEAR THEM.
IF HE SAID, MOM, I WANT TO WEAR A MASK, I WOULD LET HIM.
INSTEAD, HE DOESN'T WANT THE FEAR OF WEARING A MASK AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE THIS RIGHT TO DO SO AS WELL.
WE BOTH WE'RE STRUCK BY COVID IN DECEMBER.
I WILL SEND YOU GUYS THE REST OF THAT EMAIL.
CHRIS MOYER, VISTA CREEK, ROWLETT, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO EIGHT EIGHT.
I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
THERE IS ZERO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT CLOTH MANDATES PREVENT OR EVEN SLOW THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE THAT MASKS MANDATES FOR CHILDREN ARE PHYSICALLY HARMFUL, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.
IF PARENTS CHOOSE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS, FANTASTIC.
IF NOT FANTASTIC, PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
JANE BRITTON, SHANNON, LAYNE GARLAND, TEXAS, TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE BEEN PAYING TAXES IN GARLAND ISD FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS AND HAVE TWO SONS WHO GRADUATED FROM GARLAND ISD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO MAINTAIN THE MASKS FREEDOM OF CHOICE POLICY YOU HAVE IN PLACE NOW.
AND FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, SCIENCE AND EXPERIENCE HAVE BOTH SHOWN THAT CHILDREN WEAR MASKS FOR SEVERAL HOURS A DAY IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, IS BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HARMFUL.
ALSO, ALTHOUGH EVERY CHILD A FATALITY IS TRAGIC, THE INCIDENT OF A CHILD DEATH FROM COVID HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE NOVEMBER 2020, DESPITE THE RECENT RISE IN CASES AND REMAINS EXTREMELY LOW.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE DEATHS IN THE PAST YEAR FROM CHILD PNEUMONIA THAN FROM COVID.
IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO LEGAL EXPERTS REGARDING THE ONGOING LITIGATION, THE PROBABILITY OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT, AND EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 38, EVENTUALLY PREVAILING IN THE COURTS, IS VERY HIGH.
IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO CHANGE SCHOOL POLICY NOW SUBJECTING OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO FURTHER DISRUPTION OF THEIR LIVES ON THE HEELS OF A VERY DIFFICULT 2020 AS CASES MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, PLEASE CONSIDER THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND VOTE TO MAINTAIN MASK.
JENNIFER ROGERS PARK, MOUNT DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS.
I'M THE PARENT OF THREE GISD STUDENTS AND A RECENT GRADUATE.
I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR MASK REQUIREMENTS.
WE SEND OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL, TO WHATEVER EXTENT POSSIBLE, BE KEPT SAFE FROM HARM AND RETURN TO US WHOLE AND HEALTHY EVERY AFTERNOON.
RULES DESIGNED TO KEEP KIDS SAFE IN SCHOOL ARE NOTHING NEW.
SOME OF THOSE RULES ARE SOMETIMES INCONVENIENT OR DIFFICULT FOR PARENTS TO FOLLOW.
BUT WE DO IT ANYWAY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE KIDS.
MASKING DURING A PANDEMIC IS NO DIFFERENT.
THESE DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE MADE BASED ON POLITICS OR OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES.
THEY SHOULD BE BASED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY.
SINCE VERY FEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS, PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A FACTOR.
I URGE THE BOARD TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CDC AND DALLAS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND REQUIRE THAT MASKS BE WORN IN SCHOOL FACILITIES.
MARVIN BLANKENSHIP, BAYON DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
MY JOB REGULARLY REQUIRES OVERNIGHT TRAVEL, SO I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING THIS NIGHT IN PERSON.
I'M SENDING THIS EMAIL TO MAKE A STANCE KNOWN AND TO HAVE A RECORD OF OUR INTERACTIONS WITH BOARD VOTING MEMBERS.
I'LL RESTATE MY POSITION AS I HAVE IN PREVIOUS EMAILS.
NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE A SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT A POLITICAL BODY, NOT MEDICAL ADVISERS, YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND LEAVE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS TO THE PARENTS.
NUMBER TWO, THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY CHILDREN IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
YOU FORCE HEALTH CARE ON MY CHILD, AND I WOULD DEFEND IT AT ALL COSTS.
NUMBER THREE, AS A PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO DO FULL, IMPARTIAL STUDIES REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND RESPONSE, AS WELL AS ANY LEGAL DISPOSITIONS YOU ASSUME FOR DECISIONS.
WE CAN SPEND A LOT OF TIME DEBATING ISSUES OF MASKING.
[00:40:01]
BUT TO BE FRANK, I WOULD ALREADY HAVE EXPECTED YOU TO HAVE DONE THE FULL RESEARCH ON THIS.SO FAR, I'VE HEARD EMOTIONAL ARGUMENTS WITH LITTLE TO NO FACTS TO SUPPORT THE STANCE OF MASKING CHILDREN.
THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE CONVERSATION AROUND NATURAL IMMUNITY.
PARKER SACHSE RESIDENT DEAR DR.
LOPEZ AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS A PARENT OF A GISD STUDENT, I'M ASKING YOU TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TO OPERATE GARLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL SAFELY.
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT COVID 19 CASES ARE INCREASINGLY NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.
COVID 19 REMAINS A THREAT TO OUR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY.
NO VACCINE IS 100 PERCENT EFFECTIVE.
THAT IS WHY MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PROTECTION ARE NEEDED.
WHEN COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL STRAIN THE DELTA VARIANT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS, PRODUCES MARKEDLY INCREASED VIRAL LOADS, AND IT'S CAUSING HIGHER RATES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIONS.
ADD TO THIS A LARGE PORTION OF THE GISD STUDENT BODY IS NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION, ONLY WORSENS THE SITUATION.
WE ASK YOU TO FOLLOW CDC AND PREVENTION'S GUIDELINES AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE AMERICAN PEDIATRICS ASSOCIATION.
BOTH THE CDC AND AAP STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF WEAR A MASK AT SCHOOLS WHILE INDOORS OR IN CLOSE CONTACT.
REREQUEST THAT GISD ESTABLISH THE EXPECTATION THAT ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF WEAR A MASK AS RECOMMENDED.
PHOEBE ZANG FOREST BOOK DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
WATSON PARENTS, DEAR SCHOOL BOARD FIRST, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU'VE DONE RECENTLY.
I KNOW IT TOOK A HUGE EFFORT TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR DEVOTING TIME TO SERVE THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE FACING A HISTORICAL MOMENT WHEN A PUBLIC HEALTH TOPIC BECAME SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL ISSUE.
PLEASE USE YOUR WISDOM AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE MOST LEGAL WAY POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I ASKED FOR A MASK MANDATE WITH ONLY A MEDICAL OPT OUT.
THE DATA FROM THE SCIENTISTS IS CLEAR.
THE CDC'S GUIDE AND THE PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDATION IS CLEAR.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE MANY CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT AND TEA YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF LOCAL PARENTS.
ANTI-MASKERS TALK ABOUT FREEDOM.
FREEDOM IS A MISUSED WORD AT THIS MOMENT.
DO WE HAVE FREEDOM TO DRIVE OVER SPEED LIMIT? DO WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SMOKE IN A NO SMOKING BUILDING? DO WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO IGNORE THE DRESS CODE IN SCHOOL? NO.
AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HARM PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND OUR KIDS SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO STUDY AT SCHOOL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALWAYS TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE WORLD.
KAREN MEREDITH BRANCH OAKS DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A VOICE DURING THE MEETING.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE DISTRICT.
THREE OF MY SIX CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN THREE GISD SCHOOLS.
EVERY MORNING BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE, I SAY MAKE SURE YOUR MASKS STAYS ON YOUR NOSE AND WASH YOUR HANDS 20 SECONDS, STAY DISTANCED DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE.
USE HAND SANITIZERS AND BE KIND.
WITH A THREE YEAR OLD HOME WHO WAS AT A HIGH RISK OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES LIKE RSV AND COVID AND ENDED UP ON MACHINES AGAIN.
WE CANNOT BE TOO SAFE WHEN THE KIDS GET HOME FROM SCHOOL.
I ASKED, DID YOU KEEP YOUR MASK ON? DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS WERE YOU KIND.
BEFORE THEY GO TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT? WAS EVERYONE NOT AT SCHOOL TODAY? THEN WE PRAYED FOR OUR CHILD, FOR THEIR TEACHERS, CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AND SCHOOL AND FAMILY.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL KNOW KINDNESS, NO MATTER HOW WE FEEL ABOUT MASK.
IF DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO, DESPITE OUR FEELINGS, WE SHOULD DO IT.
THAT IS TEACHING OUR CHILDREN KINDNESS AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS.
NOT EVERY OTHER MAN LOOKS OUT FOR HIMSELF.
GARLAND TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER.
IF A PIECE OF CLOTH IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO A CHILD CAN GO GET A FAIR EDUCATION, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.
BRANDY SCOTT, LAMAR STREET ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO REINSTATE A MASK MANDATE FOR GISD.
IN THE SEARCH TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER MASKS REDUCE COVID TRANSMISSION IN CHILDREN.
THERE IS ONLY A SINGLE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THIS QUESTION, AND ITS RESULTS WERE UNCONCLUSIVE.
WITH NEW EVIDENCE AND DATA COMING TO LIGHT REGARDING THE SCIENCE AND SEVERITY OF A SPECIFIC VIRUS, IT'S BECOME EVER MORE PREVALENT THAT THE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A FACIAL COVERING IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID 19 OR ANY VARIANT.
AS SUCH, THE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A FACE MASK IS OVERBROAD AND VIOLATES FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
IN FACT, YOUNG CHILDREN NOT ONLY ARE AT A LOW RISK FOR DEVELOPING COVID 19, BUT ALSO DON'T PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE SPREAD OF SARS-COV-2 TO THIS WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL FINDS A RECENT STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
SECONDARILY, WEARING A FACE MASK MAKES EXHALED AIR GO INTO THE EYES.
THIS GENERATES AN UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING AND AN IMPULSE TO TOUCH YOUR EYES.
IF YOUR HANDS ARE CONTAMINATE, YOU'RE INFECTING YOURSELF.
GOOD EVENING, GISD SCHOOL BOARD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING PLACING ANOTHER MASK MANDATE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS SIDE THAT PREFERS NOT TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ATTEND GISD SCHOOLS, BOTH OF WHOM CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK
[00:45:04]
DAILY.HOWEVER, THEY NEED THE OPTION TO REMOVE IT AS IT CAUSES HEADACHES OFTEN.
ALSO, IF THEY NEED TO BE HEARD, CLEARLY THE OPTION TO REMOVE THE MASK IS NEEDED.
LAST YEAR, MY SON WAS IN SPANISH CLASS, AND DUE TO THE MASK THAT HIS TEACHER WORE, HE COULD NOT HEAR THE TEACHER PLAINLY.
HE LEARNED VERY LITTLE OF SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE HE COULDN'T HEAR WELL, THE TEACHER'S VOICE MUST BE HEARD CLEARLY IN ORDER FOR STUDENTS TO COMPLETELY COMPREHEND.
IF A TEACHER CHOOSES TO TAKE HER MASK OFF TO TEACH AND BE HEARD CLEARLY, THAT SHOULD BE FOR THAT TEACHERS TO CHOOSE.
NOT HAVING A MASK MANDATE DOES NOT MEAN THAT FAMILIES CANNOT SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL WITH A MASK.
IT MEANS THAT PARENTS CAN CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY.
IT MEANS THAT A TEACHER HAS THE CHOICE TO REMOVE A MASK, TO TEACH AND BE HEARD.
IT GIVES THE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND TO HEAR CLEARLY AND LISTEN WITHOUT THE MUFFLED VOICES.
FAMILY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE CHOICE TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
JAMIE [INAUDIBLE] LANDSDOWN LANE ROWLETT, TEXAS, REGARDING MANDATING MASKS FOR GISD STUDENTS AND TEACHER.
I FULLY TRUST THE RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS AT THE CDC WHO CLEARLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR VACCINATION STATUS, SHOULD WEAR MASK INDOORS AND MAINTAIN AT LEAST THREE FEET OF PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN STUDENTS.
WHEN THREE FEET IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL TO WEAR A MASK AND IMPLEMENT OTHER PREVENTION STRATEGIES AS POSSIBLE.
ALL DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED OFF THE BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
THE DECISION IS REALLY AN EASY, COMMONSENSE, ONE MASKS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN EVERYONE IS WEARING ONE.
IF FREEDOM INVOLVES ENDANGERING OTHERS, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I HAVE TWO BOYS WHO ARE SIX AND THREE WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING THIS CONCEPT, NOR DO THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WEARING MASK.
PLEASE PROTECT MY CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES BY TAKING ALL MEASURES REASONABLE TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND ONE OF THE BASICS OF DOING THIS IS REQUIRING MASKS.
PEDIATRICIAN OFFICES AND CHILDREN'S E.R.
CONCERNED PARENT AND SCIENTIST.
SHEILA JONES, ROSEWOOD LANE, SACHSE TEXAS.
PLEASE VOTE TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND GET EVERYONE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE PVO OPTION IS ONLY GOING TO WORK AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE KIDS FALL BEHIND IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. IT IS OUR DUTY AS PARENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
MASKS ARE NOT INVASIVE AND HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND SAVE LIVES.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND STOP ENDANGERING OUR CHILDREN.
VOTE YES FOR A MASK MANDATE UNTIL WE ARE OVER THIS SURGE.
WE DID IT LAST YEAR AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
JESSICA GUEVARA GARLAND RESIDENT, HELLO.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MEETING WILL BE A DISCUSSION, AN INSTITUTION OF A MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS.
AS A PARENT OF A GISD CHILD, I STRONGLY SUPPORT A MASK MANDATE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT DOING THE POPULAR THING, BUT WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL MASKING WORKS MOST EFFECTIVELY WHEN EVERYONE IS MASKED, NOT JUST THOSE WHO WANT TO.
MASKS PROTECTS OTHERS WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T YET KNOW THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS WEARS A MASK.
MY DAUGHTER RETURNED TO IN PERSON LEARNING THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE STAYED HOME PRIMARILY BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS AT A HIGH RISK FOR COVID COMPLICATIONS? THIS YEAR SHE WAS SO EXCITED TO GO BACK, BUT KIDS AT SCHOOL DARE EACH OTHER TO TAKE MASKS OFF.
AND MY DAUGHTER FELT VERY LONELY.
MASK MANDATES ALLOW EVERYONE TO BE TREATED THE SAME AND HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS.
DELTA IS A VERY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT.
MY DAUGHTER IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE VACCINATED, AND EVEN THOSE THAT ARE VACCINATED CAN CATCH DELTA AND PASS IT TO OTHERS.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MANDATE MASKS AT THIS CRITICAL TIME WHEN HOSPITALS ARE OVERFLOWING AND OUR SCHOOL NUMBERS ARE SKYROCKETING.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
I KNOW IT TOOK A HUGE EFFORT AND DECISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR DEVOTING TIME TO SERVE THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE FACING A HISTORICAL MOMENT WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH TOPICS BECOME SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL ISSUE.
PLEASE USE YOUR WISDOM AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE MOST LEGAL WAY POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I ASKED FOR A MASK MANDATE WITH ONLY A MEDICAL OPT OUT.
THE DATA FROM THE SCIENTIST IS CLEAR.
THE CDC IS [INAUDIBLE] PEDIATRICIANS WORK IS CLEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE MANY CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, AND TEA YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF LOCAL PARENTS.
ANTI-MASKERS TALK ABOUT FREEDOM.
FREEDOM IS A MISUSED WORD FOR THIS MOMENT.
DO WE HAVE FREEDOM TO DRIVE OVER SPEED LIMITS? DO WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SMOKE IN A NO SMOKING BUILDING? DO WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO IGNORE THE DRESS CODE IN SCHOOL? NO.
AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HARM PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND OUR KIDS SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO STUDY AT SCHOOL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALWAYS TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AN THE WORD.
LINA ROTAN, GARLAND RESIDENT, I'M WRITING YOU REGARDING THE MASK MANDATES
[00:50:04]
FOR GARLAND ISD.I, FOR ONE, AM NOT IN FAVOR FOR MANDATED MASKS FOR STUDENTS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE FREEDOMS AND THEY SHALL NOT BE STRIPPED AWAY.
AS PARENTS, WE SHOULD BE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I'M NOT SURE WHY IT'S SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN WEAR A MASK IF YOU WANT.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT DIDN'T TAKE AWAY MASKS AND MAKE IT ILLEGAL.
MY BOYS HAVE A HARD TIME BREATHING IN THE MASKS DUE TO THEIR ASTHMA, ESPECIALLY FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE VERY CLAUSTROPHOBIC? IMAGINE WHAT IT DOES TO THAT PERSON.
WE MAKE SURE TO REMIND THEM TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER SPACE AND AREA, TO WASH AND SANITIZE THEIR HANDS WHEN POSSIBLE.
NOT TO MENTION THE MENTAL EFFECTS AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, THAT MASK UP ON OUR CHILDREN .
WEARING THE MASK CAUSES MORE ANXIETY AND ANXIOUSNESS.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMEONE'S MOUTH WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING THE MASKS MUFFLES YOUR VOICE AND MAKES IT SO HARD TO HEAR.
WHEN YOU CAN'T HEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR HEARING IMPAIRED AND THE OTHERS WITH DISABILITIES YOU AREN'T ABLE TO LEARN OR UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SPOKEN.
APRIL TARINI PECAN RIDGE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND REINSTATE THE MASK MANDATE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF IN GISD.
THANK YOU, ALICIA COTTINGTON SCOTTSDALE DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
AS THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN IN GARLAND ISD, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO REINSTATE THE MASK MANDATE FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS NEW DELTA VARIANT IS MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS AND IT'S AFFECTING MORE CHILDREN THAN LAST YEAR, REQUIRING ALL STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO BE MASKED IS THE ONLY THING, IN ADDITION TO THE VACCINE THAT WILL HUGELY BRING DOWN THE NUMBERS OF INFECTIONS IN BOTH VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.
MASKS HAVE BEEN PROVED EFFECTIVE AND ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY THE CDC AND AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS.
TWO WEEKS AFTER SCHOOL STARTED ON AUGUST 12TH, THE DFW HOSPITAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE PEDIATRIC ICU BEDS IN NORTH TEXAS.
WE MUST DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH.
LAST YEAR'S CASES SPIKED DURING THE FALL AND WINTER AND THAT WAS WITH A LESS CONTAGIOUS VARIANT.
I'M BEGGING THE BOARD TO REQUIRE MASKS NOW, BEFORE WE HEAD INTO THAT SEASON AND SEE CASES RISE AN HOSPITALS MORE OVERWHELMED.
MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND EDUCATION DEPEND ON IT.
JEFF DOTTLE, CREST MOORE LANE, SACHSE TEXAS.
I HAVE TWO KIDS AT HUDSON, AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE SCIENCE BEHIND NEEDING MASK.
KIDS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE VIRUS LIKE THE REST OF US IN THE MASK MANDATES.
AND KEEPING THEM IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN LEARN IS DOING AND WILL DO FAR MORE DAMAGE THAN A VIRUS THAT HAS VERY LOW SEVERITY RATE FOR MOST KIDS.
I KNOW THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS SCIENCE.
AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK, THEY SHOULD STAY HOME AND BE GIVEN OTHER OPTIONS, SUCH AS VIRTUAL.
MASK MANDATES ON THE MASS POPULATION IS NOT THE ANSWER.
OUR BEST DEFENSE IS A VACCINATION, NOT A PIECE OF CLOTH.
I ASK YOU AS THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE SCIENCE AND THE ACTUAL INFECTION RATE THAT IS VERY LOW, AS IS THE ACTUAL HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF KIDS.
THIS IS WHAT YOUR DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ON, NOT THE POLITICAL WAR THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A DECISION ON THE LOUD MINORITY OF VOICES.
MAKE IT ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE KIDS YOU SERVE.
AND IN MY OPINION, THAT IS NOT A MASK MANDATE FOR ALL.
JESSICA MCCULLOUGH, BAYWATCH DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I COME TO YOU TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS A MOTHER OF AN ELEMENTARY AGE, CHILDREN AND TEACHERS WHO FEEL THAT THEY CANNOT VOICE THEIR FEELINGS ON THE MATTER AT HAND REGARDING CONCERNS OF IMPLEMENTING A MASK MANDATE.
TO BE CLEAR, FOR THOSE WHO STILL MAY NOT BE UNDERSTOOD OR STILL MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE A BAN ON MASK.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BAN ON MANDATED MASK.
THIS MEANS THAT ANYONE THAT WILL LIKE TO WEAR A MASK HAS THE ABILITY TO DO SO.
BUT ENFORCING A MASK MANDATE MEANS IT IS NO LONGER A CHOICE.
AS SOMEONE ON THE FRONTLINES IN A GARLAND ISD SCHOOL, THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IS FAR MORE HEALTHY WITH THE OPTION TO WEAR THEM WITH THE NEW TVL PROGRAM THAT WAS ROLLED OUT.
THOSE WHO ARE FEARFUL, AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR A MASK CAN NOW STAY AT HOME.
IMPOSING THE EXPECTATION THAT EVERYONE MUST WEAR A MASK IS A DETERRENT TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
MANY EMPLOYEES DO NOT FEEL THEY HAVE A VOICE FOR CHOICE BECAUSE OF FEAR OF PARENTAL BACKLASH, LOSS OF THEIR JOB OR A DEROGATORY MARK ON THEIR RECORD.
NO ONE SHOULD LIVE IN FEAR FOR STANDING UP FOR THEIR BELIEFS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DISAGREE.
CHRISTINA MARTINEZ GARLAND RESIDENT.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN ATTENDING GISD SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, AND I FELT THE NEED TO PULL BOTH OF THEM FOR A PARENT LED LEARNING BECAUSE OF THE LAX SUGGESTION FROM MASK IN SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.
MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN KINDERGARTEN AT BEAVER TECH, CAME IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAD COVID, AND IT MADE ME RETHINK THE SAFETY OF GISD SCHOOLS AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT.
THIS CAUSED ME TO ALSO PULL MY SON, WHO WAS A STUDENT AT JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
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IT HURTS MY HEART BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH DOING SO WELL.I'M TIRED OF THE LOUD AND WILLFULLY IGNORANT BEING ABLE TO SWAY DECISIONS FOR AN ENTIRE DISTRICT.
WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE WELL VERSED IN SCIENCE, NOT THOSE WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
MASKS WORK TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND BACTERIA.
PLEASE MAKE MASK MANDATORY, EVEN IF YOU HAD TO PUT IT INTO THE DRESS CODE.
THANK YOU, CHRISTINA MARTINEZ.
DAVID HENSLEY, UNIVERSITY DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
WHY DO WE PROHIBIT, BY LAW, SMOKING INDOORS? IT'S NOT SOLELY BECAUSE OF A CONCERN FOR THE SMOKER.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE RISK SECONDHAND SMOKE POSES TO THOSE NEAR THE SMOKER.
THE EXACT SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES TO MASKING.
INDOORS EVERY UNMASKED PERSON IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A SMOKER SPREADING SECONDHAND SMOKE, EXCEPT WHAT'S BEING SPREAD IS POTENTIALLY COVID 19.
ANYBODY WHO WENT THROUGH THE GISD SCHOOL YEAR LAST YEAR KNOWS THAT KIDS ADAPTED JUST FINE TO WEARING MASKS WHILE INDOORS AT SCHOOL.
I HAVE THREE ELEMENTARY AGE GRANDCHILDREN AND THEY WORE THEIR MASKS HAPPILY AND WITHOUT PROTEST, JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS.
IN CONCLUSION, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF NUMEROUS ISDS IN TEXAS AND REQUIRE THE WEARING OF FACE MASKS BY ALL GISD STUDENTS AND STAFF, AS RECOMMENDED BY BOTH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRICS AND THE CDC.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER IS OBSOLETE ISSUED MONTHS AGO WHEN COVID SITUATION APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL.
YOUR HANDS ARE NOT TIED TO ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
YOU COULD FOLLOW THE PARIS ISD'S APPROACH AND MAKE MASKS PART OF THE GISD DRESS CODE.
PLEASE REQUIRE MASKS AT SCHOOL.
I TRULY WANT MY KIDS TO ENJOY A CLASSROOM SETTING, BUT I FEEL LIKE A NEGLIGENT PARENT SENDING MY HIGH RISK DAUGHTER TO AN INDOOR SETTING OF OVER 20 PEOPLE WITH INCONSISTENT MASKING FOR THIRTY FIVE HOURS A WEEK, CONSISTING MASKING THE LEAST WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID, AS WELL AS RSV VIRUSES AND ETC.
IN OUR CLASSROOMS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN OUR KIDS ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
SINCE SCHOOL STARTED, MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CLARA HAS HAD PNEUMONIA TWO WEEKS AGO AND NOW SHE HAS BRONCHITIS.
MY DAUGHTER, MY OLDER DAUGHTER ALSO HAD TO MISS TWO DAYS DUE TO FEVER.
WE WERE IN THE ER WITH CLARA LAST WEEK BECAUSE SHE HAD RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND IT WAS JUST FROM THE COMMON COLD VIRUS.
I BELIEVE OPENING UP AFTER A YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS HAVE LEFT OUR KIDS IMMUNE SYSTEM STRAINED.
MY KIDS WERE SICK HALF THE SUMMER FROM HFMD STREP AND MYSTERIOUS VIRUSES.
SO OBVIOUSLY I'M NERVOUS ABOUT MY HIGH RISK CHILD ATTENDING THE SCHOOL.
NOW, AMONGST THE GROWING COVID SURGE WHILE MASK AREN'T EVEN REQUIRED.
KAREN LEE ROWLETT RESIDENT, DEAR DOCTOR LOPEZ AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME.
IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO ME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE POSITION YOU HAVE BEEN BY OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS, WHICH IN TURN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GARLAND ISD STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, IN SHORT, IS UNFAIR AND WRONG.
THAT BEING SAID, I IMPLORE YOU TO ISSUE A MASK MANDATE TO BE EFFECTIVE THROUGH AT LEAST THANKSGIVING BREAK, AT WHICH THE TIME THE MANDATE SHOULD BE RE EVALUATED BASED ON THE STATE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
AT A MINIMUM, I WOULD REQUEST THAT A MASK MANDATE FOR OUR PRE-K THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE AT THIS TIME.
OUR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE BEEN PUT IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION TO KEEP THOSE YOUNG STUDENTS IN MASKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THEIR PARENTS WISHES WHEN THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO KEEP THEM ON.
MY CHILDREN, WHO ARE IN FIRST AND THIRD GRADES, NEVER ONCE COMPLAINED LAST YEAR ABOUT HAVING TO WEAR THEIR MASK.
THIS YEAR, THEY, WHEN THEY SEE OTHERS NOT WEARING THEM, ARE HAVING MORE DIFFICULTY COMPLYING TO THEIR PARENT'S RULES.
CHRISTY SPROUSE, GARLAND RESIDENT.
TO THE HONORABLE JAMIE MILLER AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I'M WRITING IN REFERENCE TO THE MASK MANDATE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE THE SCHOOL TO BE 100 PERCENT MASKED.
AND IT IS IN MY CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS TO LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY OF PERSONAL CHOICE.
IF THIS BY CHANCE GOES THROUGH AT ALL, I'LL BE SUBMITTING A WAIVER FOR BOTH OF THEM.
LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THEY WORE THEM EVERY DAY.
I STILL RECEIVE LETTERS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK TELLING ME SOMEBODY IN THE BUILDING HAD TESTED POSITIVE.
NOT TO MENTION HOW NASTY MOST KIDS MASK WERE IT'S UNSANITARY.
I WOULD RATHER MY CHILDREN BUILD AN IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO FIGHT ANY VIRUS FLU COVID, STOMACH BUG ET CETERA.
IF THEY'RE ARE PARENTS THAT WISH FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE A MASK ON.
SAME FOR THE ONES WHO CHOOSE NOT TO.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE THAN OTHERS BETWEEN EXERCISING FOODS
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THEY CONSUME AND BETTER HYGIENE.THIS IS MY PLEA TO NOT PASS MASK MANDATES.
PLEASE HAVE A WAIVER EXEMPTION FORM ONLINE FOR THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO.
ELLEN TULOCK MORNINGSTAR TRAIL.
THE CHILDREN I LOVE NEED TO BE KEPT SAFE, AND A MASK MANDATE ON YOUR END WILL HELP KEEP MY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED FATHER IN LAW SAFE, EVEN WHEN AROUND THE KIDS.
I SEE THAT YOU DO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT A DRESS CODE AND ASK THAT PUBLIC HEALTH BE GIVEN THE SAME CARE AS YOUR STANDARDS FOR WHAT KIDS SHOULD DRESS LIKE.
AND MY COMPASSION AND CARE FOR THE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS ON THIS.
WHITNEY ASWAD, LIBERTY GROVE, ROWLETT, TEXAS ABBETT ELEMENTARY.
MY DAUGHTER, ATTENDS FIRST GRADE AT ABBETT ELEMENTARY.
I COULD SPOUT OFF DATA AND ASK YOU ALL TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.
BUT I REALIZE NO STUDY OR STATISTIC I SAY HERE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT MASKS.
SO FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU DO TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, PLEASE ABIDE BY NOT ONLY THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, BUT ALSO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT'S TEMPORARY RULING, JUST AS OUR CHILDREN FOLLOW THE RULES SET FORTH BY THEIR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AT SCHOOL.
AND WE LIVE ACCORDINGLY TO OUR LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LAWS.
GARLAND ISD SHOULD CONTINUE TO ABIDE BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE COURTS LEGALLY BINDING ORDERS.
WE DO NOT GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH LAWS AND REGULATIONS WE FOLLOW.
WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT.
BUT BY NOT FOLLOWING LAWFUL ORDERS AND RULINGS, WE'RE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT FOR THE DISTRICT AND A BAD EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
NUMBER 2 GIVE PARENTS THE CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN WEAR A MASK.
MY HUSBAND AND I PULLED OUR DAUGHTER OUT OF GISD LAST YEAR AND DID TRADITIONAL HOME SCHOOL, NOT VIRTUAL LESSONS BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT OUR DAUGHTER WEARING A MASK BEFORE WE PULLED HER OUT.
WE ASKED OTHERS TO COMPROMISE OR EVEN BEND.
DR. WENDY LAY, BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING BECAUSE I'LL BE IN THE CLINIC, BUT I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF SOMEONE WOULD READ MY COMMENTS OUT LOUD OR IN A MEETING.
I'M A PEDIATRICIAN IN MESQUITE AND A LOT OF MY PATIENTS ARE GISD STUDENTS.
AS A PEDIATRICIAN, I'M OVERBOOKED.
TIRED AND EXHAUSTED FROM THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF SICK VISITS THAT HAVE SPIKED SINCE SCHOOL STARTED.
I CAN'T EVEN SEE ALL MY PATIENTS WHO NEED AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.
KEEP IN MIND, THERE'S NOT ONLY A COVID SPURGE, BUT ALSO A SURGE IN RSV, INFLUENZA, STREP AND VIRAL COLDS IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.
I DIAGNOSE TWO CASES OF INFLUENZA THIS MORNING.
I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSING STREP INFECTIONS AND VIRAL COLDS DAILY FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
ALL IN ADDITION TO THE MULTIPLE POSITIVE COVID CASES EVERY TEST EVERY DAY.
AT THIS POINT, I'M PLEADING THAT KIDS WEAR THERE MASK, NOT JUST TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID, BUT ALSO DECREASE THE SPREAD OF OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
THE PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW, AND WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE TIME TO SEE NEWBORNS, PREVENTATIVE CARE VISITS, SPORTS PHYSICALS AND MANAGE CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN OUR OTHER KIDS.
IF YOUR CHILD DEVELOPS A RASH.
CHRISTINE AND BO HEX FIELDCREST LANE, SACHSE TEXAS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GISD SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION, WE JOIN OTHER CONCERNED PARENTS IN AVID SUPPORT OF A MASK REQUIREMENT WITHIN GISD.
WE ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE, BUT HAVE THE RIGHT TO A SAFE, QUALITY EDUCATION.
THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS OTHER GISD PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, ARE GROUNDED AND UPHELD BY AEP.
IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THE HOSPITALS ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW IN BOTH CAPACITY AND STAFFING DUE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR COVID OR OTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MASK ALONGSIDE OTHER MITIGATION TOOLS PROVIDES THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT WILL HELP KEEP OUR KIDS AND TEACHERS SAFELY IN SCHOOL.
WE ARE A FAMILY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND WHILE WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE AT GISD, WE'RE EVEN MORE INVESTED IN OUR SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND COMMUNITY.
WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE REINSTATE MASK WITHIN GISD.
I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR A MASK MANDATE ON GISD CAMPUSES WITH PEDIATRIC ICUS FILLING AT ALARMING RATES.
SO WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
AND BY LOOKING AT THE RISE IN THE CASES, ONCE THE MASK MANDATES ARE LIFTED AROUND THE WORLD AND THE MULTITUDE OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, THAT DATA SHOWS MASKS DO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
I KNOW SOME ARGUE IN FAVOR OF FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL ALREADY LIMITS FREEDOMS OF CHOICE VIA DRESS CODE AND OTHER RULES PUT IN PLACE TO FOSTER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.
IF THE SCHOOL CAN SAY WHAT COLOR MY CHILD'S HAIR CAN BE FOR THE NEBULOUS REASONS TO AVOID A DISTRACTION, THEN I FEEL THE SCHOOL CAN AND SHOULD MANDATE MASKS FOR SCIENTIFIC
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REASONS FOR KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND HEALTHY.WE HAVE SEATBELT LAWS, CAR SEAT LAWS, JAY-WALKING LAWS AND OTHER SUCH PUBLIC SAFETY LAWS IN THE STATE.
THE ARGUMENT THAT ASKING PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASK DURING A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS PANDEMIC IS UN-AMERICAN OR AN INFRINGEMENT ON FREEDOM RUNS COUNTER TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY LAWS AND FRANKLY, BASIC CIVIC LESSONS.
NICK NEWBERRY, ROWLETT RESIDENT, GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO OFFER A SUGGESTION.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THOSE THAT SCREAM THE LOUDEST AND LONGEST GET THE MOST ATTENTION.
BUT MANY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO KEEP THEIR OPINIONS TO THEMSELVES FOR FEAR OF BEING TALKED DOWN TO BY SOMEONE WITH A DIFFERING OPINION.
SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO APPEAR AT BOARD MEETINGS IN ORDER TO BETTER GAUGE THE OPINIONS OF PARENTS REGARDING MASK MANDATES.
I THINK AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY WOULD BE HELPFUL.
TODAY WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PARENTS THAT WANT TO MASK AND NOT WANT MASK MANDATED.
IF YOU MANDATE MASKS, YOU WILL HAVE A LETTER.
A LOT OF LETTERS FROM PARENTS THAT DON'T SEE THE NEED IN MASK.
A SURVEY WOULD ALLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO SEE THE OPTIONS OF THOSE PARENTS AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST FROM PARENTS THAT ARE THE MOST ANGRY AT THE TIME.
MY NAME IS DR. DENNIS WILLIAMSON D.C.
I'M IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND I WANT MY VOICE TO BE HEARD AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A VERY SMALL PROBLEM IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A TOTAL AS OF 8-23-21, WITH 70 LAB CONFIRMED TESTS OF A TOTAL OF POINT NINE, FIVE, NINE PERCENT OF THE STAFF POPULATION AND THE STUDENT POPULATION AT 663 ACTIVE CASES FOR A TOTAL OF ONE POINT TWO, THREE, FOUR PERCENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION.
AS OF 8-19-21 PER THE ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, CHILDREN REPRESENT FOURTEEN POINT SIX PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COVID CASES.
AND THIS EQUATES TO SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND THREE PER 100,000 PER CHILDREN IN THE POPULATION.
THE HOSPITALIZATION RATES NORMALLY RANGE FROM ONE POINT SIX TO THREE POINT SIX FOR CHILDREN, FOR A TOTAL ACCUMULATED HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND OF THAT NUMBER POINT TWO PERCENT TO ONE POINT NINE PERCENT IS COVID RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS.
AMONG STATES REPORTING CHILDREN, COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS WERE A POINT TWO TWO IN TEXAS, AND ALL COVID DEATHS ARE MORE EXPANDED TO THE DEATH RATE.
2405 MULBERRY LANE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN GARLAND ISD, ONE VACCINATED AND ONE UNDER 12.
AND WE'RE WRITING TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR MASK MANDATE MASKS ARE DRAMATICALLY MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN EVERYONE WEARS THEM.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A VOCAL MINORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY OPPOSING MASK MANDATE SHOULD STEER OUR SCHOOL SAFETY AWAY FROM CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM A SERIOUS ILLNESS.
THE STATISTICS THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY OR WILL QUOTE ON ACTIVE CASES, AVAILABLE ICU BEDS, WHETHER IT'S REALLY RSV OR COVID, FILLING THOSE BEDS WITH A COVID STRAIN IT IS.
THE POLITICS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES THEY ARE ALL NOISE.
THIS IS WHAT CUTS THROUGH THE NOISE.
COVID IS SPREADING AT A HIGHER RATE NOW AND ACCELERATING.
CDC GUIDELINES SAY MASKS WHILE INDOORS.
AND CAN NOT SOCIAL DISTANCE MASKS AND SANITIZATIONS ARE ALL THAT REMAINS FOR PROTECTING THE UNVACCINATED.
PERSONAL FREEDOMS DO NOT SUPERSEDE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
YOU CANNOT DRIVE WHILE INTOXICATED.
YOU CANNOT YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED MOVIE THEATER.
GREGORY WILSON, ARMSTRONG ELEMENTARY AT HERITAGE CIRCLE, SACHSE TEXAS ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE GISD SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I WISH TO HIGHLIGHT AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED ASPECT OF A MASK MANDATE THAT IS CLASSROOM AUTHORITY FOR OUR TEACHERS WITHOUT A MANDATE AND SPECIFICALLY WITH AN ORDER OF A NON ENFORCEMENT.
TEACHERS HAVE ZERO AUTHORITY OVER MASK.
SHOULD A PARENT TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SEND THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH A MASKS.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING KEEPING THAT CHILD FROM REMOVING THEIR MASK THE MOMENT THEY WALK IN THE DOOR.
TEACHERS CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND PARENTS WILL NEVER KNOW IF THEIR CHILD IS SAFE IN CLASS OR NOT.
A MASK MANDATE MAKES SENSE BECAUSE IT PUTS CONTROLS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY BACK INTO THE HANDS OF ADULTS, NOT THE WHIMS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
WITHOUT A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE OUR KIDS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THE MASKS DECISIONS.
TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE FORBIDDEN TO INTERVENE.
DO WE REALLY WANT SECOND GRADERS DRIVING THE COVID BUS? I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER PUTTING IN PLACE A TEMPORARY MASK MANDATE IN OUR SCHOOLS, PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY BACK IN THE HANDS OF ADULTS AND KEEP OUR KIDS AND COMMUNITIES SAFE.
CRYSTAL CADDELL FORNEY TX 75126.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF BEING CONSIDERATE TO ALL PARTIES AND INCLUDING EVERYONE.
WITH THE MASK MANDATE UPON US I WISH TO SEND MY INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AS A PARENT OF A SECOND GRADER TO SECOND GRADE GISD STUDENT.
I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN MANDATING A MASK IN SCHOOL.
I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAILS BECAUSE IT'S NOT RELEVANT.
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I WILL LIKE FOR GISD TO TAKE ALL PARTIES IN CONSIDERATION.THOSE WHO PREFER THE MANDATE AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.
IT SEEMS THAT ONLY THE VOICES OF THIS PRO MANDATE ARE BEING CONSIDERED AND HEARD.
CAN WE NOT FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF OUR GOVERNOR AND LEAVE IT UP TO THE PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE FINDING A WAY OUT OF IT? I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAW TO THE LETTER.
AS A PARENT, I'M CONCERNED, BUT AS A CITIZEN, I WILL COMPLY WITH WHATEVER THIS BOARD DECIDES.
I TRULY HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED ONCE AND FOR ALL SO THAT OUR CHILDREN, THE FUTURE, LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY, CAN HAVE SOME STABILITY AND FOCUS MORE ON MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS SUCH AS LEARNING.
DAVID WHITLOW, WHITNEY DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO FOUR ZERO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT GISD TO RE ENACT THE MASK MANDATE AND SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS CURRENT SURGE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DIVISIVE ISSUE, BUT WE NEED TO START HEEDING THE ADVICE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND STOP LISTENING TO POLITICIANS.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND STAFF.
LESLIE BLAYLOCK, RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO EIGHT NINE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING ANOTHER MASKS POLICY, SO I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG STANCE AGAINST THIS.
THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS ARE NO MASK MANDATES, AND YOU NEED TO ABIDE BY THIS AND STOP GIVING IN TO THE FEAR OF THE FEW.
IF YOU TOOK A FEW MINUTES AND WALK THE HALLS OF THE SCHOOLS, YOU WILL SEE THAT A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE NOT WEARING MASKS.
BUT YOU SEEM TO LISTEN TO THE FEW WHO CRY THAT THEY WANT THEM.
THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE.
BUT YOU HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT BACK THE PLEXIGLASS CAGES ON THE KID'S DESK AND ADDED IT BACK TO THE TABLES IN THE CAFETERIA.
I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN FORCED TO WEAR A MASK ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN WEARING A MASK AT ALL.
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, BECAUSE I CAN PROVIDE JUST AS MUCH SCIENCE PROVING THAT THEY DON'T WORK.
PROVING THEY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
LET THOSE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE WEAR THEM AND THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO DON'T HAVE TO.
THAT ASIDE, WE ARE TEACHING OUR KIDS WHEN WE SAY YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY.
BUT YOU AS A DISTRICT ARE CONSIDERING VIOLATING THE LAW SET BY OUR GOVERNOR.
GARLAND, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO FOUR FOUR.
I'M WRITING TODAY TO REQUEST THAT A REVIEW REGARDING MASK MANDATES AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE REEVALUATED AT GARLAND ISD DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND DELTA VARIANT SURGE.
AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, THE CDC RECOMMENDS THAT DURING THIS SURGE, WE WEAR A MASK INDOORS IF VACCINATED OR NOT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE KNOW THAT THE DELTA VARIANT IS A THOUSAND PERCENT TRANSMITTABLE.
THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU READ THROUGH THIS FULLY WITH OPEN HEARTS AND NO JUDGMENT.
I HAVE A CHILD, AGE FIVE IN GISD, WHO GOT VERY SICK ON US WITH AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION SEVEN DAYS INTO STARTING SCHOOL.
WITNESSING HOW HARD THIS UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION HIT HER MADE ME NOT WANT TO WONDER HOW COVID 19 WOULD AFFECT HER.
IT WAS A VERY TIRING AND SCARY TIME WATCHING HER STRUGGLE TO BREATHE AND BEING INTERRUPTED BY A PERSISTENT COUGH.
A COUGH THAT KEPT HER UP AT NIGHT, FOLLOWED WITH VOMITING FIRST THING IN THE MORNING FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS, DUE TO THE CONGESTION SHE WAS HAVING FROM MUCUS BUILDUPS.
MIND YOU, SHE WAS A HEALTHY FIVE YEAR OLD WITH NO UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.
LATOYIA MINOR WALNUT HILL DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M WRITING IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS ATTENDING GISD.
MY FAMILY HAS GROWN UP IN THIS AREA FOR OVER 30 YEARS I'M ASKING THAT YOU ISSUE A MASK POLICY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
EVERY DAY THE COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE, AND I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT MY CHILD, A FAMILY MEMBER, DOES NOT BECOME ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS ON YOUR WEBSITE.
THE VIRTUAL PARENT LED HOMESCHOOLING HAS BEEN MADE AN OPTION.
HOWEVER, THIS ONCE AGAIN MAKES A LOT OF PARENTS HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILY AND SENDING THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL.
OUR KIDS WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL.
AND [INAUBILE] PARENTS LIKE MYSELF BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN STAY IN SCHOOL AS LONG AS MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS A REQUIREMENT.
CURRENTLY, GISD IS BEING VIEWED BY MANY WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS IN THE STATE LIKE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR HEALTH.
PLEASE STAND UP FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ISSUE THIS AS A REQUIREMENT.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT IN THIS MANNER, IN THIS CASE, IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
BRITNEY QUICK, RESIDENT OF GARLAND, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO FOUR FOUR.
GISD TRUSTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT LOPEZ.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE TEMPORARY VIRTUAL LEARNING TO OUR PRE-K TO SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS.
WE KNOW THIS WAS NO EASY FEAT AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
THERE ARE MANY PARENTS BREATHING EASIER FOR THEIR FAMILIES THIS WEEK DUE TO YOUR EFFORTS AND EFFORTS OF GISD STAFF CREATING CONTENT AND MANAGING THIS.
LAST LETTER, I ASKED FOR BETTER MITIGATION EFFORTS.
YOU HAVE STARTED RETURNING PLEXIGLASS TO THE CAMPUSES AND IMPLEMENT VIRTUAL LEARNING.
TODAY, I ASKED YOU TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A MASK MANDATE SIMILAR TO WHAT PLANO ISD
[01:15:01]
IMPLEMENTED THIS WEEK OR PARIS ISD EARLIER THIS MONTH.I ALSO ASKED FOR FURTHER MITIGATION EFFORTS.
WE STILL NEED COVID SCREENING AT THE DOORS OF CAMPUSES.
THE TEMPERATURE CHECK POINTS, BOTH HANDHELD AND WALK THROUGH USED LAST YEAR, SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AGAIN THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH THE MASKING MANDATE.
GISD NEEDS A MASK MANDATE NO MATTER OF VACCINE STATUS.
WHILE SOME STUDENTS MAY NEED A MEDICAL EXEMPTION TO NOT WEAR MASK, OUR CAMPUS NEEDS TO BE SAFEST WE CAN MAKE IT FOR THEM.
MANY STUDENTS ALSO HAVE HIGH RISK SIBLINGS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
MORGAN CLASINS, ANDREA LANE GARLAND, TEXAS WALNUT GLEN ACADEMY PARENT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN THE VIRTUAL OPTION GISD IMPLEMENTED IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
MY DAUGHTER HAS ADHD AND DYSLEXIA.
WE TRIED VIRTUAL LEARNING EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.
HER CONFIDENCE WAS SHATTERED AND SHE FELL BEHIND HER PEERS.
ACCORDING TO DALLAS ISD, NINETY FIVE PERCENT OF STUDENTS DID WORSE IN VIRTUAL SCHOOL THAN FACE TO FACE.
GISD NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT A MASK MANDATE IT'S NOT A HARD CHOICE TO ENFORCE.
WE ALL DESERVE TO SEND OUR CHILDREN TO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
GISD IS NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW, AND THE ONLY OPTION WE'VE BEEN GIVEN IS FOR A PARENT LED VIRTUAL LEARNING.
YOU'RE GIVING OUR KIDS A SECOND OPTION OF A LOW QUALITY EDUCATION.
PLEASE CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING A MASK MANDATE.
AND THINK OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE SPECIAL NEEDS OR SPECIAL SERVICES THAT ARE BEST PROVIDED FACE TO FACE.
JENNICA AND CEDRIC OLIVER KNIGHTSBRIDGE LANE.
I JUST LEARNED AT THE MEETING THIS EVENING I WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR DESIRES OF OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING COMMUNICATED.
WE HAVE TWO SONS CURRENTLY ATTENDING GISD SCHOOLS, THIRD GRADE AT WATSON AND EIGHTH GRADE AT LYLES.
THIS MORNING, I FUSSED AT MY SON FOR NOT WEARING HIS MASK PROPERLY AND REMINDED HIM TO ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH THEM AND HAVE EXTRAS.
I SHUDDER, BUT EACH TIME I SEE THE ACTIVE CASE COUNT UPDATES AND LAST WEEK LYLES REPORTED EIGHT NEW STUDENT CASES.
TALK ABOUT A MOM FEEL IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY.
OUR THIRD GRADERS CLASSMATE AND BEST FRIEND HAS BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE PAST WEEK BECAUSE HE AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY CONTRACTED COVID AND HAVE TO QUARANTINE.
LUCKILY, WE ARE ALL FINE, BUT WE LIVE WITHIN THE CONCERN THAT US WEARING OUR MASK, WHILE OTHERS EXERCISE THE FREEDOM AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT NOT TO WEAR MASKS OR GET VACCINATED IS NOT ENOUGH.
OUR THIRD GRADER DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE, WHICH YOU KNOW, SO OUR HANDS ARE TIED WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTIVE MEASURES.
THE REST OF OUR FAMILY, INCLUDING OUR EIGHTH GRADERS, FULLY VACCINATED.
THE TEMPORARY VIRTUAL LEARNING OPTION ISN'T IDEAL.
AND HONESTLY, AFTER ATTENDING SCHOOL VIRTUALLY LAST YEAR.
MIRANDA CONGEE, RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M WRITING IN SUPPORT OF THE DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO MANDATING MASKS IN GARLAND ISD.
I WROTE LAST MAY, AND DESPERATELY WANT TO BE AT THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE IN OUR THIRD COVID WATCH SINCE SCHOOL STARTED ON AUGUST 2ND AFTER BEING NOTIFIED THAT OF ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WAS EXPOSED.
AT THIS TIME OF THE LETTER THERE ARE 58 ACTIVE CASES AND 47 RECOVERING CASES AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.
AS I WRITE THIS, I'M LISTENING TO MY THREE AND A HALF YEAR OLD PRE-K STUDENT COUGHING WITH THE LOUDEST BARKING COUGH I'VE EVER HEARD.
STRUGGLING TO SLEEP WITH HIS STRIDE GETTING WORSE AS THE NIGHT GOES ON, WHILE WE WAIT FOR HIS COVID TEST TO COME BACK, I QUESTION IF I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO PROTECT HIM.
HIS TEACHER SAID THEY WASHED THEIR HANDS.
WE HAVE HIM CHANGE CLOTHES WHEN HE COMES HOME.
WE GIVE HIM THE RECOMMENDED IMMUNE BOOSTING VITAMINS.
BUT HERE WE ARE, SCARED, ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED.
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH STUDENTS WEARING MASKS.
PLEASE NOTE THE EMPHASIS ON COULD.
ACCORDING TO THE GISD WEBSITE, YOU SAY WE ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, VISITORS AND PROPERTY.
TAMMY MCGREGOR, LAGOONA DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
I AM 100 PERCENT AGAINST MASK MANDATES.
I PERSONALLY THINK MASKS ARE A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR CHILDREN.
HAVE YOU EVER SAT AND WATCHED A CLASS OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH MASKS ON? THEY TOUCH THEM, PLAY WITH THEM, CHEW ON THEM, TRADE THEM, ET CETERA.
I THINK THEY ARE A HUGE HEALTH HAZARD.
NOT TO MENTION A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM.
CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST LEARNING TO READ AND WRITE SHOULD NOT BE MUZZLED.
THEY LEARN FROM WATCHING THEIR TEACHERS FACES AND EXPRESSIONS.
I AM TEMPORARILY REMOVING MY GRANDDAUGHTER FROM HER SCHOOL BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WAS COMING.
WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TVL LEARNING FOR NOW.
IF GISD IMPLEMENTS A MASK MANDATE, WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING UNLESS IT IS LIFTED.
MY CHILD WILL NEVER BE SUBJECTED TO THIS FORM OF CHILD ABUSE.
BRIONNA ATTNEY, JA FOSTER DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO STAND STRONG AGAINST THE MANDATE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
MY NEPHEW, JASON KENDRICK, IS A THIRD GRADER AT GISD JASON, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHER CHILDREN THRIVE OFF OF PERSONAL CONNECTION, SMILES AND EXPRESSIONS LIGHT HIS FIRE.
HE NEEDS TO SEE FACES OF HIS FRIENDS, OF HIS TEACHERS.
JASON STRUGGLES WITH DYSLEXIA, AND SOMETIMES SCHOOL CAN BE CHALLENGING
[01:20:03]
FOR HIM.MASK COVERING THE FACE OF HIS TEACHERS, DOING THEIR BEST TO EDUCATE HIM WILL NOT ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE, NOT JUST FOR JASON, BUT FOR ALL CHILDREN.
EVEN WITHOUT EDUCATIONAL STRUGGLES AS HUMANS, WE NEED THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION.
MASKS COVER MOST OF OUR FACES IN TURN COVERING OUR EXPRESSIONS AND TAKING AWAY A BIT OF OUR PERSONAL CONNECTION THAT BINDS US TOGETHER.
CHILDREN CAN NOT LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS.
OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE, AND WE ARE ROBBING THEM OF WHAT THEY NEED MOST BY CONTINUING TO MASK THEM AND THEIR EDUCATORS UP.
FURTHER PUTTING THEIR EDUCATIONS BEHIND.
AFTER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, OUR KIDS NEED SOME NORMALCY.
LET THEM GO TO SCHOOL AND LET THEM LEARN.
MASKS ARE A DISTRACTION AND NOTHING MORE.
BRIAN ACTON, CASCADE COURT, ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I URGE THE GISD BOARD TO KEEP MASK WEARING VOLUNTARY.
LET THE PARENTS DECIDE AS THE STATE MANDATES.
THE LAST THING GISD NEEDS IS TO NEEDLESSLY SPEND TIME AND MONEY DEFENDING AGAINST LAWSUITS, WHICH WILL COME FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IF WE ILLEGALLY ADOPT A MASK MANDATE.
WE DO NOT WANT TO END UP ON THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LIST OF SHAME.
THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING PARENTS FROM IMPLEMENTING A MASK MANDATE ON THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
IF THEY'RE WORRIED THAT ONE MASKS THEIR CHILD IS WEARING IS NOT ENOUGH.
THEY CAN PUT TWO MASK ON THEIR CHILDREN.
BUT LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT OF IT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
JOSHUA BUSBY, RESIDENT OF GARLAND, TEXAS.
TO THE BOARD MEMBERS OF GARLAND ISD.
MY NAME IS JOSHUA BUSBY AND MY SON IS A STUDENT AT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR SACRIFICING SO MUCH TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EVERY STUDENT CAN FLOURISH.
LET'S ALL STOP FOR A MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE THE SHARED HUMANITY OF EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE.
WE ALL DESIRE TO BE LOVED, RESPECTED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO BE HEARD.
I PRAY THAT WE CAN ALL LOVE, RESPECT AND HEAR ONE ANOTHER TONIGHT.
WE SIMPLY HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AS TO THE BEST WAY TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT.
YES, I'M IN FAVOR OF REQUIRING MASKS IN EVERY SCHOOL.
NOW, BEFORE YOU TUNE ME OUT FOR HOLDING THIS VIEW, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHY I HAVE DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY WITH RESPIRATORY FAILURE AND CARDIOMYOPATHY, WHICH PLACES ME IN THE HIGHEST RISK CATEGORY POSSIBLE.
THIS IS WHY WE MUST MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP OUR SON HOME FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
MICHAEL EADS STINGING HILLS DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS.
I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO SAY I'M PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF A MASK MANDATE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE AS BEST WE CAN.
I DO NOT WISH TO SEE SCHOOLS CLOSE AGAIN BECAUSE WE DO NOT TAKE SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS.
IF A MASK MANDATE IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
HOW ABOUT A STRONG RECOMMENDATION INSTEAD? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS SCHOOLS FROM CONSISTENTLY PUSHING MASK WEARING, EVEN IF NOT REQUIRED? THANK YOU.
PIER LIVE OAK DRIVE ROWLETT, TEXAS, TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
WHILE I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PARENTS WORRY ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN AND THE SPREAD OF COVID REQUIRING EVERY CHILD TO PUT A PIECE OF CLOTH OVER THEIR FACE FOR SEVEN STRAIGHT HOURS WHILE AT SCHOOL IS NOT THE ANSWER.
PARENTS WHO ARE WORRIED YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR WORRIES AND PLEASE, PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD IN A MASK TO COVER THEIR SWEET LITTLE FACE IF THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
HOWEVER, REQUIRING THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
DO I WANT MY KID TO GET COVID? NO.
BUT DO I WANT THEM TO LIVE BEHIND A MASK FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WITH SOME FALSE PROTECTION? NO.
KIDS THAT ARE NOT SICK DO NOT NEED TO COVER THEIR FACE.
MY DAUGHTER GETS THE FLU EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR.
SHE ACTUALLY GOT IT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE FLU WAS CRAZY IN SCHOOLS AND AN ENTIRE CLASS WAS BEING TAKEN DOWN.
DID WE FREAK OUT AND COVER OUR FACES THEN.
NO, BECAUSE ILLNESSES, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A PART OF THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.
AND WE AS A COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.
WEARING A MASK ON OUR FACE IS LIKE PUTTING A BAND AID ON IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL.
JOSHUA ASHBURN, KILARANI LANE, ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M WRITING YOU TODAY WITH A HEAVY AND ANXIOUS HEART.
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING RULES AND GUIDELINES THAT, IN MY OPINION, ARE VERY CONFUSING AND SEEM TO CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I'VE READ YOUR PROPOSED MITIGATION PLAN FOR COVID 19, AND I'M THOROUGHLY CONFUSED.
COVID 19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT, ARE WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST.
BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GOING AFTER THE FLU AND THE COMMON COLD AS WELL.
IT'S FUNNY HOW THE DANGER SEEMED TO GROW EVERY TIME YOU FEEL LIKE MAKING A CHANGE TO ANY KIND OF POLICY OR PROCEDURE AND BACK IT UP WITH IT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE CLEVERLY TRYING TO MAKE THIS A NEW POLICY IN ORDER TO
[01:25:01]
SKIRT THE LEGALITIES OF IT.LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR CHILDREN.
BESIDES THE PHYSICAL NEEDS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ONE THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO BRING UP.
THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR KIDS.
WEARING MASK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SMILE AT SOMEONE OR NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY THEIR TEACHERS DURING THE MOST FORMATIVE YEARS, HAS SERIOUS EFFECTS ON OUR KIDS.
IT'S NOT JUST BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
YOU ARE TEACHING OUR KIDS THAT WE ARE NOT SAFE NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.
KAREN WAGNER, ROSEHILL ROAD GARLAND TEXAS.
I'M UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING THIS EVENING, BUT WANTED TO SEND MY SUPPORT AS A LONG TERM GISD RESIDENT PARENT AND AS A MASK MANDATE TO GISD.
THIS WILL NOT ONLY HELP MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID, BUT ALSO THE FLU, STREP AND RSV AMONG OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
MY STUDENT, CURRENTLY IS A FOURTH GRADER AT TOLER ELEMENTARY.
NEWCASTLE DRIVE GARLAND, TEXAS.
HELLO, DR. LOPEZ AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME AT LAST BOARD MEETING TO HEAR PARENTS CONCERN.
FOR A FEW DAYS, IT SEEMED LIKE THE DISTRICT WAS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT THE DISTRICT IS LETTING POLITICS RULE OVER OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
DR. LOPEZ MENTIONED IN THE LAST PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THAT THE COVID CASES OF THE GISD WEBSITE WERE NOT INDICATIVE OF SCHOOL TRANSMISSION.
AS MANY OF THOSE CASES WERE REPORTED PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL, I ASK, WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS THE EXCUSE NOW? CASE NUMBERS HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE DAILY AND BECOMING EXPONENTIAL IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE'RE CLOSE TO ONE PERCENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION HAVING BEEN INFECTED AND ONLY TWO WEEKS.
WITH THIS RATE BY WINTER BREAK HALF OF THE STUDENT POPULATION WILL HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, NOT TO MENTION THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN WHO COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN LONG LASTING WITH LONG LASTING SIDE EFFECTS OR EVEN DIE.
ALL OF THIS IS PREVENTABLE IF THE DISTRICT WOULD JUST STEP UP TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
I'M ASHAMED TO LIVE IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAVE MY CHILDREN BEING USED AS POLITICAL PAWNS TO PLACATE THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE.
AS PARENTS, WE ARE ALL ASKED FOR THE SAME PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT WERE TAKEN.
ANGELA GRAGG, RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS DEAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MY FAMILY HAS COVID.
WE SPENT OVER 18 MONTHS TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE.
MY HIGH SCHOOL AGED DAUGHTER AND THEN ELEMENTARY SON DID VIRTUAL SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HELP MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE CHOICE TO HAVE MORE SPACE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.
I DIDN'T EVEN HUG MY MOM FOR OVER A YEAR TO PROTECT HER.
MY FAMILY GOT VACCINATED AS SOON AS WE COULD.
MY DAUGHTER SPENT HER 16TH BIRTHDAY GETTING HER DRIVER'S LICENSE AND HER VACCINE.
WE HAD MY UNVACCINATED SON SET TO DO ONLINE SCHOOL AGAIN THROUGH GISDS ICON SCHOOL.
BUT THAT OPTION WAS TAKEN AWAY.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OK BECAUSE AT LEAST WE WOULD HAVE A MASK MANDATE.
BUT THAT PRECAUTION WAS TAKEN AWAY, TOO.
MY SON, WHO WAS A MICRO PREEMIE WITH UNDERDEVELOPED LUNGS AND BORN THREE MONTHS EARLY, BROUGHT COVID HOME FROM COYLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TESTED POSITIVE 8-17.
THAT WAS THE START OF THE THIRD WEEK OF SCHOOL, THREE WEEKS.
IT ONLY TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR HIM TO BE EXPOSED.
ROSA HOYN, BELVERE [INAUDIBLE] GARLAND, TEXAS, SEVEN FIVE ZERO FOUR FOUR.
LOPEZ, AND GISD BOARD MEMBERS.
I HOPE YOU'RE WELL BECAUSE MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON ISN'T.
HE'S IN KINDERGARTEN AT LUNA AND HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID 19 THIS PAST WEEKEND.
HIS OLDER BROTHER, WHO'S IN SECOND GRADE, HAS TO QUARANTINE AS WELL.
HE WORE HIS MASK TO SCHOOL, BUT IF OTHERS DON'T WEAR A MASK, IT DOES NOT WORK, AS YOU CAN SEE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH OUR SITUATION, WE'RE UNABLE TO DO PARENT LED VIRTUAL LEARNING.
I STILL HAVE TO SEND MY BOYS KINDERGARTEN AND SECOND GRADE TO SCHOOL IN PERSON.
I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN REISSUE THE MASK MANDATE ESPECIALLY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED KIDS, ONES THAT CAN'T EVEN BE VACCINATED YET.
ALL THE DISTRICTS AROUND HAVE A MASK MANDATE ALREADY.
I THINK THIS IS A SMART DECISION SINCE GISD HAS A HIGHER NUMBER OF CASES AMONG OTHER DISTRICTS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO KEEP ALL GISD STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SAFE.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THE MASK MANDATE TO HELP DECREASE THE SPREAD OF THIS NASTY VIRUS.
I'M WRITING YOU AGAIN TO VOICE MY SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF A MASK MANDATE FOR GARLAND ISD, ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE TOO YOUNG TO BE VACCINATED.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN IN VARIOUS GISD ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES AND MASKS ARE QUITE LITERALLY, THEIR ONLY DEFENSE AGAINST COVID AND ITS ASSOCIATED VARIANTS.
AS A FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKER I'VE SEEN THE DAMAGE IT CAN DO TO A PERSON, AND WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE SAFE.
IT'S A BALANCING ACT TO HAVE TO KEEP THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE FOREFRONT.
MINE SPECIFICALLY NEED TO BE IN CLASS FOR THEIR MENTAL, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
[01:30:01]
BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM GETTING COVID.AT THE BAREST OF MINIMUMS ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, DESERVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND BE EDUCATED WITHOUT FEAR OR WORRY OF GETTING AND BRINGING HOME COVID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND ENSURING OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.
BRITNEY WOOTEN, PECAN LANE ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M EMAILING, BEGGING THE BOARD TO COME DOWN AGAINST MANDATORY MASK FOR STUDENTS.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT CAN PREVENT PARENTS FROM MASKING THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.
HOWEVER, FOR CHILDREN LIKE MINE WHO HAVE A DIFFICULTY WEARING A MASK, LAST YEAR'S MANDATE RESULTED IN ENDLESS CYCLES OF PUNISHMENTS, ACTING OUT, CRYING AND MORE PUNISHMENT, AND A GENERAL HATRED OF SCHOOL AND LACK OF PRODUCTIVE LEARNING.
WE'RE TRYING OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TO DO RIGHT BY EVERYONE.
BUT MANDATES COME WITH DISCIPLINE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING OF THE CHILDREN.
BY ALL MEANS, ENCOURAGE HYGIENE AND MASKING, BUT DO NOT MANDATED AS ALL MANDATES COME WITH PUNISHMENT.
AND I CAN'T SEE MY CHILD GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, WHERE SCHOOL BECOMES NOTHING MORE THAN A TORTURE FOR THEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BRITNEY WOOTEN.
CHELSEA BIRD PECAN LANE, ROWLETT.
I BELIEVE THAT AMERICA STILL HAS A CONSTITUTION AND WE ARE FREE.
MAKING MASK MANDATES IS NOT BEING FREE.
MAKING PEOPLE GET THE COVID-19 SHOT IS NOT BEING FREE.
IF PARENTS, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND ANYONE ELSE THAT CHOOSES OR NOT CHOOSES TO WEAR A MASK, THEN SO BE IT.
EVERYONE CAN MAKE CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.
I HAVE CHILDREN THAT GO TO GISD SCHOOLS AND I ASK BOTH OF THEM HOW MANY KIDS IN THEIR CLASSES CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK.
ONE OF MY KIDS SAID SIX, AND THE OTHER KID SAID ZERO.
THESE KIDS DO NOT WANT TO WEAR THESE MASK.
THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY WILL GET IN TROUBLE IF THEY DO NOT KEEP THEM ON.
PLEASE DO NOT VOTE TO PUNISH OUR CHILDREN FOR WANTING TO BE KIDS.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I'M A GISD PARENT OF TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOOL KIDS AT TWO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY GISD SCHOOLS.
I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU ALL PLEASE CONSIDER INSTATING A MASK MANDATE AND OTHER SAFETY PROTOCOLS SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT INSTATED THE PREVIOUS ACADEMIC YEAR.
AT THE VERY LEAST, PLEASE ENFORCE THE MEASURES TILL THE YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR VACCINE DOSES.
THE DELTA VARIANT IS IMPACTING CHILDREN WITH VERY MUCH MORE FEROCITY THAN THE STRAIN PREVALENT LAST YEAR.
DALLAS COUNTY IS FACING ICU BEDS AND STAFF HOSPITAL STAFF SHORTAGES ALONG WITH ELSEWHERE IN TEXAS.
GISD ENFORCES SECURITY MEASURES AGAINST INTRUDERS IN ALL IT'S CAMPUSES, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN NOT PREDICT IF THERE WILL BE AN INTRUDER OR NOT.
WITH COVID-19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT, WE DO NOT HAVE TO PREDICT FOR RATHER WE ALREADY KNOW IT'S PRESENT ON CAMPUSES ACROSS THE DISTRICTS.
WHY ARE WE NOT THEN TAKING MEASURES AGAINST IT? GISD IS A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE IT ENCOURAGES STEM PROGRAMS AND HAS MAGNET SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO IT.
[INAUDIBLE] BLAKELY HOMESTEAD PLACE, GARLAND, TEXAS.
GREETING SUPERINTENDENT LOPEZ AND GARLAND ISD BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M WRITING TO IMPLORE YOU TO SET IN PLACE A MASK MANDATE FOR OUR KIDS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BE VACCINATED, NOT OR ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE VACCINATED.
I HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS, ONE WHO ATTENDS BEAVER TECH AND THE OTHER ONE IS NOT YET OLD ENOUGH FOR SCHOOL.
MY KID WEARS A MASK, HAS BACKUP MASK, SANITIZER AND SANITIZING SPRAY IN THEIR BACKPACK.
HOWEVER, I'M STILL WORRIED AND SCARED THAT THEY WILL GET SICK.
THERE ARE MANY KIDS AT HIS SCHOOL WHO DO NOT WEAR A MASK AND DO NOT TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
BUT ALL THE RECENT REPORTS SAID THE WAY THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS AND HOW CONTAGIOUS IT IS.
THE LACK OF MEDICAL ICU BEDS AND HOW SICK THESE KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE GETTING, IT IS EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE.
MORE AND MORE ISDS ARE STEPPING UP AND BUCKING UP TO GOV.
ABBOTT AND DOING WHAT THEY KNOW IS RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS.
I HOPE GARLAND ISD DOES THE SAME.
STEPHANIE ATKINS, HARMONY LANE, ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M SENDING THIS COMMENT TO SPEAK UP FOR OUR TEACHERS AS I HAVE LOVED ONES IN GISD, I'M ANGRY FROM MY EDUCATOR FRIENDS.
WHO'VE BEEN PUT INTO IMPOSSIBLE POSITIONS.
HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF LEADERS? YOU SAY DO NOT TOLERATE BULLYING IN SCHOOLS, YET YOU HAVE ALLOWED ABBOTT TO BULLY YOU INTO ENDANGERING TEACHERS AND CHILDREN.
GISD'S ANTI-BULLYING POLICY AS LISTED IN A STUDENT HANDBOOK AND CODE OF CONDUCT.
PAGE THIRTY FIVE DEFINES BULLYING IN PART AS HAVING THE EFFECT OR WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF PHYSICALLY HARMING A STUDENT OR PLACING A STUDENT IN A REASONABLE FEAR OF HARM TO THE STUDENTS PERSON.
GISD'S TEACHERS DESERVE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND MASKS ARE CLEARLY NEEDED.
STUDENTS DESERVE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES PROTECTING THE TEACHERS, EVEN WHEN NOT ENFORCED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU SHOULD SET THE EXAMPLE SUCH AS THE WHEN, SUCH AS WHEN JUDGE CLAY JENKINS AND DR.
HINOJOSA STEPPED UP AGAINST THE STATE LEVEL BULLIES TO PROTECT OUR TEACHERS AND KIDS.
GISD TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER, BETTER PAY, BETTER SUPPLIES, BUT MOST
[01:35:01]
IMPORTANTLY, AN ADMIN AND A BOARD THAT PROTECTS THEM INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM POLITICAL PAWNS.IT IS TIME TO GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE.
KAYLA NEWBURN, ROWLETT, RESIDENT OF ROWLETT, TEXAS.
I'M A MOTHER OF TWO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN GARLAND ISD.
WE ARE A MILITARY FAMILY NEW TO THE DISTRICT.
LAST YEAR, AFTER FIVE YEARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE MADE THE DECISION TO HOME SCHOOL MASK.
WE'RE MANDATED IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL ALL LAST YEAR, LIKE THEY'RE MANDATED AT GARLAND ISD.
I LOVED OUR LAST SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND CURRENTLY MY CHILDREN ARE THRIVING AT GARLAND ISD.
AS A PARENT, I APPRECIATE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO MASKS BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED.
EACH DAY I HAVE THE OPTION TO REQUIRE MY OWN KIDS TO WEAR A MASK.
IF I FEEL LIKE A MASK IS NEEDED AND THEY HAVE A BAG FILLED WITH MASK IN THEIR BACKPACK IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED THEM.
YOU SEE, I DIDN'T REMOVE MY KIDS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL LAST YEAR BECAUSE I HATE MASK.
MASK AFTER ALL, A PIECE OF FABRIC.
I REMOVE MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE DISRUPTION THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN MASK ARE MANDATED.
MANDATING MASK CHANGES THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER FROM EDUCATOR TO A DAYCARE WORKER.
I DON'T SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL EACH DAY BECAUSE I NEED SOMEONE TO BABYSIT THEM FOR ME.
I NEED THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE EDUCATED.
MANDATING MASK SHIFTS THE FOCUS FROM ENRICHING STUDENTS WITH GREAT EDUCATION TO CORRECTING STUDENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WEARING THEIR MASK OR NOT WEARING THEM PROPERLY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC FORUM.
I WILL PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH EMAILS FROM THIS EVENING'S FORUM.
THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, BOARD.
I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THOSE COPIES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD TONIGHT BEFORE WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO YOU CAN SEE IN ENTIRETY ANY OF THE WRITTEN EMAILS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE COMPLETED.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT THIS YEAR, ON JUNE 30TH, 2021, GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S OFFICE APPROVED A REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LIFT SUSPENSIONS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT THAT WERE THAT IS EFFECTIVE ON AT 12:01 A.M.
THE BOARD MUST COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING REMOTE PARTICIPATION.
THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021, THE BOARD WILL CONDUCT PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON WITH NO VIRTUAL OPTION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I JUST MENTIONED THIS TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT THAT THAT RULING THAT ALLOWED US TO HAVE EMAIL PARTICIPATION WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER THE 1ST.
OK, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, AGAIN.
YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB, AS ALWAYS.
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 4 INFORMATION ITEMS. WE HAVE ITEM 4A IS EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED AUSTIN ACADEMY PENTATHLON
[IV.A. Evidence of Excellence ]
TEAM.MR. MILLER, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE INFORMATION ITEMS, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A REMINDER THAT WE'RE GOING TO PULL THE MYON UPDATE THIS EVENING.
THEY WILL BE COMING BEFORE US NEXT MONTH.
WE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE HELD HOSTAGE BY TONIGHT'S EVENTS, SO WE'LL BRING THEM BACK NEXT MONTH.
YEAH, JUST TO CONSIDERATION OF THEIR TIME TO GET THEM IN AND OUT OF HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS NEXT WEEK.
SO, BOARD PLEASE STRETCH OUT 4A2.
PRESIDENT MILLER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.
LOPEZ, I'M PROUD TO BE UP HERE TONIGHT.
OUR SPEAKERS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MINUTE.
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER FOR THEM.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO PRESENT TONIGHT'S EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE TO AUSTIN ACADEMY.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR PENTATHLON TEAM FOR NOT ONLY WINNING FIRST PLACE IN STATE IN THE NATIONAL COMPETITION, BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE STATS.
THEY HAD A FIRST PLACE WINNING TEAM AT THE REGION, THREE PENTATHLON COMPETITION.
THE TEAM EARNED THE HIGHEST SCORE, EARNING FORTY FOUR INDIVIDUAL MEDALS.
COMPLETELY SWEEPING, FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE AT THE COMPETITION.
THE TEAM FROM AUSTIN ACADEMY ALSO PLACED FIRST, LIKE I SAID, IN THE STATE AND NATIONAL COMPETITION.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ACADEMIC PENTATHLON, IT'S AN EXCITING PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES STUDENTS OF ALL ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS IN A VARIETY OF CHALLENGING ACADEMIC CONTEST THAT COVER THE SUBJECT AREAS OF FINE ARTS, LITERATURE, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES.
AND AUSTIN ACADEMY HAS BEEN IS ASTOUNDING IN THESE CATEGORIES FOR MANY,
[01:40:04]
MANY YEARS.WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM, THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR COACHES.
AND I WANT TO PUT UP A PICTURE.
WE KNEW IT WAS A SCHOOL NIGHT, SO WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE WE KNEW IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TONIGHT.
SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENTS.
THEY HAD A CELEBRATION TODAY TO HONOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AT THEIR SCHOOL.
AND I WANT TO READ THEIR NAMES SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE.
BUT THEY ARE WATCHING ON THE STREAM AND THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH THIS LATER ON IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM.
SO WANT TO RECOGNIZE EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.
[INAUDIBLE], ARIANA BUTLER, ALEX HILL, ISABELLA MCWILLIAMS, DAISY MORENO [INAUDIBLE], ABBY NGUYEN, THOMAS ROGERS, SAMUEL RUSTON AND LILLY STANSBURY.
WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR FANTASTIC COACHES, AMY PATTERSON AND LAUREN HOUSTON.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND THEIR COACHES, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE THEM DO THIS YEAR AT THE COMPETITION.
AND WE'LL BE GIVING THEM THEIR CERTIFICATES AS WE HONOR THEM FOR THE EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD.
[APPLAUSE] OK, BOARD, AS WE MENTIONED, WE'RE PULLING ITEM A2, SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM 4A OR 4B NUMBER ONE, RECOGNIZING THE GOING RECOGNIZE GOING THE EXTRA MILE.
[IV.B. Going the Extra Mile (GEMs)]
OUR GEM RECIPIENT, LAVERNE SNOWDEN, AND I BELIEVE SHERESE LIGHTFOOT WILL COME FORWARD TO PRESENT.MS. SNOWDEN, IF YOU PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.
[INAUDIBLE] GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR.
LOPEZ, OUR HONOREE TONIGHT IS MS. LAVERNE SNOWDEN, TEACHER AT HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY.
MS. SNOWDEN ACTUALLY, YOU GUYS RETIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT CONTINUE TO LONG TERM SUB AT HILLSIDE, EVEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
HER LOVE FOR HER STUDENTS AND GISD COMPELLED HER TO COME ON BACK HOME, AND SHE NOW SERVES AS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER THERE AT HILLSIDE.
A PARENT, JENNY GRAVES, SAID ABOUT MS. SNOWDEN, SHE EXEMPLIFIES EVERYTHING A PARENT, A PRINCIPAL AND SCHOOL DIS, SCHOOL DISTRICT WANT A TEACHER TO BE.
SHE RUNS HER CLASSROOM BASED ON RESPECT, EQUALITY AND KNOWLEDGE.
SHE EXPECTS A LOT FROM HER STUDENTS AND THEY RISE TO THE OCCASION.
MS. SNOWDEN KNOWS HER STUDENTS STRENGTHS AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO GROW IN THOSE AREAS WHILE STILL DEVELOPING THEIR WEAKNESSES WITHOUT AFFECTING THEIR CONFIDENCE.
MS. SNOWDEN IS WARM AND KIND, AND SHE ALWAYS STOPS TO SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT HER STUDENTS AND THOSE AROUND HER.
SHE GOES ABOUT HER DAY WITH GRACE AND HUMOR.
SHE IS THE PERFECT AMBASSADOR OF THE GISD EFFECT.
HER PRINCIPAL, MS. SONYA PALMER, SAYS MS. SNOWDEN GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SHE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO COME IN EARLY AND TO STAY LATE TO ENSURE THAT SHE IS PREPARED AND THAT HER STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
SHE'S NOT ONLY AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER, BUT SHE'S ALSO A PHENOMENAL MOTIVATOR.
WHY? BECAUSE SHE LOVES THEM AND THEY LOVE HER.
MS. SNOWDEN IS ALWAYS WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS AND FOR GARLAND ISD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. SNOWDEN.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING IN THIS MONTH'S GEM.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO INFORMATION ITEM 4C INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, DR.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU AND TO OUR COMMUNITY OUR NEW PRINCIPAL AT TOLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SALVADOR, SAL REYES.
SALVADOR SAL REYES IS A PROUD AND TRUE PRODUCT OF GARLAND ISD SCHOOLS.
HE STARTED KINDERGARTEN AS A BILINGUAL STUDENT AT GOLDEN MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEN ATTENDED BUSSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
HE BEGAN HIS EDUCATIONAL CAREER WITH THE DISTRICT IN AUGUST 2006 AS AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER'S AIDE AT PEARSON ELEMENTARY.
WHILE HE WAS ATTENDING COLLEGE FULL TIME, FOLLOWING HIS GRADUATION FROM TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY IN 2008, HE TAUGHT 5TH GRADE BILINGUAL FOR EIGHT YEARS AT PEARSON ELEMENTARY.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SAL HAS SERVED IN THE ROLE OF AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT PEARSON
[01:45:01]
ELEMENTARY, CLUB HILL ELEMENTARY AND HANDLEY ELEMENTARY.SAL STATES THAT HE FEELS HONORED TO SERVE THE GARLAND ISD STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AS THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF TOLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I PRESENT TO YOU REINTRODUCED TO OTHERS SAL REYES.
[APPLAUSE] HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS TOLER PRINCIPAL.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE IN THE DISTRICT CITY THAT I GREW UP WITH AND CONTINUE TO CALL HOME.
[APPLAUSE] OK, BOARD, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM D, RECEIVE THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE AND RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF ESSER TWO GRANT FUND PROGRAM INFORMATION.
[IV.C. Introduction of District Administrators - Dr. Gradyne E. Brown]
IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE BY DR.PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO WHAT YOU SAW TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
OUR ESSER TWO GRANT AWARD AMOUNTS, WHICH WE WILL APPLY FOR AFTER THIS PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IS FORTY NINE MILLION THREE HUNDRED TWENTY SIX THOUSAND NINE ZERO THREE.
AND JUST A BACKGROUND WITH OUR ESSER FUNDING, ESSER ONE WAS OUR CARES ACT OF 12, ALMOST 12 POINT 5 MILLION.
AS A REMINDER WITH THAT, IT DID NOT PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE STATE CUT THEIR SIDE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING BY THE SAME AMOUNT RECEIVED IN THAT FISCAL YEAR THAT OCCURRED.
ESSER TWO, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE IN NOW.
AND SO IT KIND OF GOES OUT OF ORDER.
ESSER THREE WE HAD PRESENTED BACK IN JULY AND HAVE ALREADY APPLIED FOR THAT GRANT AS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY WAS IN JULY.
WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND IN THAT PLAN WILL BE EVALUATED WITHIN EVERY SIX MONTHS ON ESSER THREE.
AND SO IN REGARDS TO ESSER TWO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TONIGHT, AND
[IV.D. Receive Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II Grant Program Information - Dr. Brent Ringo, Ms. Allison Davenport, Ms. Lauren A. McKinney ]
THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR STATE OFFSET OR SUPPLANTING AND GUIDANCE IS STILL BEING GIVEN THROUGH ESSER TWO.THEY HAD JUST EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FROM SEPTEMBER 3RD TO OCTOBER OF 2021 BECAUSE GUIDANCE IS STILL BEING GIVEN WITH ESSER TWO.
A DEADLINE TO EXPENSE FUNDS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
WHAT IS NOT REQUIRED WITH ESSER TWO IS THE DISTRICT USE OF FUNDS PLAN.
[01:50:02]
HOWEVER, FOR TRANSPARENT PURPOSES, OUR DISTRICT IS FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES THAT WAS STIPULATED UNDER ESSER THREE OF SHARING OUR ESSER FUNDS PLAN, WE HAVE A WEBPAGE THAT OUTLINES FOR EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING FOR ESSER THREE.AND NOW FOR ESSER TWO IN THAT FUNDING PLAN, THESE PLANS WILL BE EVALUATED EVERY SIX MONTHS SO DOLLARS CAN BE REALLOCATED IF THEY ARE NOT EXPENSED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WE PROJECTED SOME SURPLUS FUNDING WITH OUR ONE TIME RETENTION RETENTION PAYMENTS UNDER ESSER THREE.
AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAVE THAT EVALUATION GOING ON.
NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR RETURNING EMPLOYEES IN PLACE, THOSE EXCESS DOLLARS THAT ARE PAID OUT WILL BE REALLOCATED OUT TO THOSE FUNDING NEEDS TO MEET OUR STUDENTS NEEDS FOR LEARNING LOSS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC ALLOWABLE COSTS, BECAUSE THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
AND SO THEY MUST BE [INAUDIBLE] COMPLIANT IN OUR PROCUREMENTS, IN OUR CONTRACTS THAT ARE IN PLACE, MUST BE FEDERALLY COMPLIANT WHEN WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS, AS THESE ARE MORE REGULATED AND MORE TRACKED THAN OUR TYPICAL MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS DOLLARS THAT WE OPERATE WITH EACH YEAR.
AND SO THE BREAKDOWN AS OF RIGHT NOW IS THAT FUNDING PLANS STILL ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS TO SPEND IT.
THESE PLANS DO GET MORE RESTRICTIVE TOWARDS THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE.
AND SO WITH THE CURRENT FUNDING PLAN WOULD SHOW THAT WE'D SPEND THE FORTY FOUR POINT THREE MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 21, 22 AND THE REMAINDER IN 22, 23.
AGAIN, THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO TIMELINES AND THE PLANS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
AND THIS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK WHEN THAT DOES CHANGE.
AND SO THE CHANGE THAT THIS IS COMING BACK TONIGHT AS AN INFORMATION ITEM, THE CHANGE FROM TWO WEEKS AGO AND GUIDANCE CAME OUT ON AUGUST 6TH FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, WAS THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THESE DOLLARS FOR A COVID VACCINE AND BOOSTER STIPEND.
AND WITHIN THAT AND THAT EVALUATION, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW AS A DISTRICT, WE DO NOT MANDATE OR REQUIRE OUR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE.
AND WHY IS THIS BEING DONE? IT'S REALLY DUE TO CONTACT TRACING.
WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE ON SITE.
IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE GROUNDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENT LEARNING.
AND SO THERE'S A THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE OR DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE, THE QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE.
AND SO STAFF WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, WHICH IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY AND BASED ON THE EMPLOYEE'S OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES, WILL RECEIVE A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR ONE TIME STIPEND FOR THE VACCINE.
THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS DECEMBER 15TH.
THIS INFORMATION, WE HAVE A WEBPAGE ALREADY CREATED THAT IS NOT LIVE YET, A LETTER FROM DR. LOPEZ THAT WILL GO OUT TO ALL FULL TIME AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES WITH THE DETAILS OF THIS, IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD TONIGHT UNDER THE COMPENSATION PLAN THAT IS BEING PRESENTED BY DR.
AND THEN WITHIN THAT, A ONE TIME 250 DOLLARS STIPEND FOR THE BOOSTER.
AND THAT DEADLINE IS TO BE DETERMINED WITH FUTURE CDC GUIDANCE, BECAUSE WE JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE'S AN EIGHT MONTH LAG BETWEEN THE BOOSTER AND THE VACCINE.
AND HOW DID WE GET TO THAT NUMBER IN THIS CHANGE? CURRENTLY, WE REDUCE THE CELL TOWER PROJECT FROM TWENTY MILLION TO FIFTEEN POINT SIX MILLION.
AND AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE ARE CONFIDENT THROUGH OUR ONE TIME RETENTION PAYMENTS AND EVEN THROUGH THE BUDGET OF THIS VACCINE STIPEND AND BOOSTER STIPEND, THAT WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH DOLLARS THAT GET REALLOCATED BACK TO THE CELL TOWER PROJECT TO GET US BACK TO TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS.
ALSO WITHIN THAT ESSER TWO INPUT.
WE HAD ONE DEPARTMENT REMOVE A FUNDING REQUEST AND THEN TWO ITEMS THROUGH REVIEW, WE WERE DETERMINED TO NOT BE EDGAR COMPLIANT.
AND SO WITH THAT, THAT GOT US TO THE NUMBER WE NEEDED TO BUDGET FOR THE ONE TIME COVID STIPEND AND THE BOOSTER STIPEND.
AND SO THAT WAS ROUGHLY WE BUDGETED FOR SEVEN THOUSAND EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE STIPEND AND SEVEN THOUSAND EMPLOYEES GET THE BOOSTER STIPEND.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT DOES ALLOW FOR A VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION TO GET THAT AND ALSO RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR GETTING THAT.
SO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING IF THEY ARE EVER DIAGNOSED WITH COVID.
AND THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT FUNDING PLAN, YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR HVAC REPLACEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WAS REDUCED TO THE SIXTEEN POINT FOUR MILLION, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 33 PERCENT OF OUR ESSER FUNDS.
MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID RELIEF, ALMOST THREE MILLION DOLLARS, ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
SPECIAL EDUCATION, DYSLEXIA AND 504 ALMOST THREE MILLION DOLLARS.
CURRICULUM SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY.
[01:55:03]
ALMOST NINE POINT NINE MILLION, THE COVID VACCINE AND BOOSTER STIPENDS, WHICH IS NEW FROM TWO WEEKS AGO, FIVE POINT FIVE MILLION ALLOCATED.AND AGAIN, AS WE GET TO THE DECEMBER 15TH DEADLINE, WE WILL KNOW WHAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REALLOCATE BACK OUT TO THESE OTHER NEEDS.
WE ALSO HAVE INCLUDED A SUBSTITUTE RETENTION STIPEND OF 380,000 DOLLARS.
AND AS WE EXPENSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THERE ARE INDIRECT COSTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT FOUR POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
AND SO OUR STEPS THAT WE WILL TAKE NEXT IS ONCE DR.
BROWN SUBMITS THE EXHIBITS TONIGHT FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR SALARY SCHEDULE.
WE WILL PROCEED IN SUBMITTING OUR GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY SO WE CAN START UTILIZING THESE DOLLARS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
WE DO HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER, MS. STANLEY IS WITH US VIRTUALLY.
MS. STANLEY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO NOT.
OK, HOW ABOUT BOARD? I DON'T SEE ANY.
YOU MENTIONED THAT AND YOU'VE SAID THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I'VE NEVER ASKED THE QUESTION THAT THE USE OF THE ESSER FUNDING BECOMES MORE RESTRICTIVE AS TIME GOES ON.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WHAT THAT MEANS OR WHAT THAT IS? GREAT, GREAT COMMENT AND GREAT QUESTION.
TYPICALLY WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, THEY ARE FAR MORE RESTRICTIVE IN HOW WE EXPENSE THOSE DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO RFPS OR EVEN RFQS, THERE'S QUITE A FEW MORE STIPULATIONS THOSE VENDORS MUST MEET TO BE FEDERALLY COMPLIANT.
AND SO HAS THOSE PROGRAMS COME TO AN END, BECAUSE THESE ARE ONE TIME FUNDS.
WE WILL NOT SEE THESE FUNDS AGAIN AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THESE PROGRAMS OR THE END OF NOT JUST ESSER FUNDING, BUT ANY OTHER ONE TIME FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT COME THROUGH.
THEY TYPICALLY GET MORE RESTRICTIVE AS WE APPROACH THE END, JUST TO MAKE SURE DISTRICTS PLAN AHEAD AND USE AND UTILIZE THAT MONEY BEFORE THE END OF THAT LIFE OF THAT GRANT PROGRAM.
AND SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT BEFORE.
WE SAW THAT WITH OUR CARES FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FIRST.
WE HAD BOXED SOME ITEMS UP FRONT WITHIN CARES FUNDING WITHIN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.
AND AS AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THAT 12 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF THE 12 MILLION DOLLARS WE RECEIVED IN THE FIRST ROUND, TOWARDS THE END, THERE ARE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE.
AND, FOR EXAMPLE, PLEXIGLASS BEING ONE OF THOSE ITEMS WE COULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IF WE HAD NOT TAKEN ACTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT GRANT PROGRAM.
MR. RINGO, UNDER WHICH ITEM TONIGHT, THEN, WILL THIS, YOU MENTIONED MR. BROWN WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION.
WILL WE AS A BOARD SEE THAT PRESENTATION OR WHATEVER? OR WILL THAT BE WHEN WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION CONCERNING SOME OF THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN THIS PACKET THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT? GREAT QUESTION.
THAT IS UNDER ACTION ITEM CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATION FOR SALARY SCHEDULE ADDENDUM NOTED TO BE PRESENTED BY DR.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE TIME THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS THE THINGS IN IT THAT WE MAY NOT BE INTERESTED OR LOOKING AT OR WHATEVER AT THAT POINT IS THAT CORRECT? .
UNDER THAT I BELIEVE SHE HAS FOUR ADDENDUMS FOR APPROVAL COMING TO THE BOARD.
ONE OF THOSE, THE VACCINE AND BOOSTER STIPEND, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITERIA.
ANOTHER ONE IS THE NON CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR SALARY UNDER EXHIBIT TWO, UNDER THAT.
ANOTHER ONE IS EXHIBIT THREE, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEAM LEAD STIPENDS AND A FOURTH ONE BEING A SUBSTITUTE RETENTION STIPEND.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANYTHING ELSE FOR DR.
NOW WE GO INTO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[V. Executive Session]
THIS IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSES PERMITTED BY TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.001, SECTION A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY IN PERSON OR BY PHONE WHEN THE BOARD SEEKS THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY ABOUT NUMBER ONE PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION.
NUMBER TWO A SETTLEMENT OFFER, OR NUMBER THREE, A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER.
NUMBER ONE, DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION CONCERNING PENDING LITIGATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE ORDER GA-38, NUMBER TWO DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION REGARDING PROVISIONS OF THE
[02:00:02]
EXECUTIVE ORDER GA-38, RELATED TO MASK MANDATES AND TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.ITEM B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074 DELIBERATION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE.
AT THIS TIME IT IS 7:01, AND WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS NOW 10:14, AND WE ARE RECONVENING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ACTIONS RELATED TO ITEMS CONSIDERED DURING
[VI. Reconvene from Executive Session for action relative to items considered during Executive Session]
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.ON OUR ON OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM AS ITEM A.
EXECUTIVE SESSION CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROVISIONS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER GA-38, RELATED TO MASK MANDATE IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK ONE THING WE SHOULD REITERATE THAT THE BOARD HAS FELT VERY STRONGLY ALL ALONG IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW LAW, SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT ALSO THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO TO STRIVE TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE BEST FOR OUR KIDS AND THIS RESPECT FOR EDUCATION.
AND THAT MEANS KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL.
SO THE BOARD HAS HAD A LONG EVENING OF DISCUSSING MANY, MANY OPTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY ATTORNEYS THAT WE VALUE THEIR OPINION AND WE'VE RECEIVED GOOD GUIDANCE.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL STOP AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR ACTIONS BY THE BOARD.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE A MOTION, IF YOU'RE READY.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE A TEMPORARY MASK REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND VISITORS INDOORS AND DISTRICT FACILITIES AND ON DISTRICT PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION.
SUBJECT TO ONE MEDICAL, RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL EXCEPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AS ANALOGOUS TO BOARD POLICY FNCA LOCAL.
FNCA LEGAL AND TWO MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS FOR STAFF AND VISITORS.
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER ONE THROUGH AND INCLUDING OCTOBER 26TH, OR UNTIL THERE IS FURTHER GUIDANCE ON GA-38 AS RESULT OF ONGOING STATE AND FEDERAL LITIGATION OR LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
OK, BOARD, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. GLICK.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND BY DAPHNE STANLEY.
SHE IS REMOTE, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AT THIS POINT, CALL THE QUESTION.
BOARD ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ACTION.
PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
OK, BOARD, WE HAVE A VOTE OF SIX TO ONE.
THANK YOU BOARD, FOR YOUR DILIGENT WORK AND RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, DISCUSS ITEMS REGARDING THE COVID-19
[VII.A. Discussion Regarding COVID-19 Update - Renee Kotsopoulos]
UPDATE.GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DR.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE OF THE STATE OF OUR DISTRICT AS FAR AS COVID-19 GOES AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME VISITORS THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR TRI CITY AREA.
ONE THING YOU'LL NOTE, ON OUR DASHBOARD IS THAT CASES ARE I CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT THEY'RE COMING DOWN, BUT THEY ARE STABILIZING AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT SHARP INCREASE.
AND THAT REALLY IS THANKS TO ALL THE WORK OF OUR STAFF, STUDENTS, PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN REPORTING THEIR CASES TO US AND STAYING HOME WHEN THEIR CHILD'S SICK.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY THAT'S GOING RIGHT NOW.
AS FAR AS OUR VACCINATION CLINICS, WE HAD OUR FIRST CLINIC AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAD 40 VACCINES THAT WERE GIVEN.
THAT IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SHOWED UP AT ONE OF THE POP UP
[02:05:01]
CLINICS THAT WE'VE HELD.SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
WE HAD SIX ADULTS AND 34 STUDENTS.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE NEXT EVENT WILL, WHICH IS TOMORROW.
WE'LL SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ABLE AS WE GET THAT PROMOTION OUT THERE, ABLE TO COME AND GET THE VACCINES THAT THEY WANT.
WE'LL BE AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEEK AND THE NEXT WE'LL FINISH UP NEXT WEEK AT ALL OF THOSE EVENTS.
AS FAR AS OUR CASE NUMBERS, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT NINETY FOUR PERCENT OF ALL OUR CASES ARE UNVACCINATED.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT HAVE COVID RIGHT NOW OUR YOUNGER KIDS, AND ABOUT 64 PERCENT OF OUR ADULTS ARE UNVACCINATED THAT HAVE COVID.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS CHANGING THEIR COVID RAPID TESTING OPTIONS.
THEY HAVEN'T COME OUT WITH A NEW PROGRAM YET.
I HAVE ORDERED ENOUGH RAPID TESTS TO GET US THROUGH UNTIL THEY PROVIDE US WITH SOME NEW TESTING MATERIALS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF TESTING, POOL TESTING.
ONCE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES GIVES THE OK AND GIVES US GUIDANCE OF WHAT KIND OF SERVICES ARE GOING TO OFFER TO US.
THEN WE CAN MAKE SOME BETTER DECISIONS IN HOW WE PROCEED.
AS FAR AS TEA, SOME NEW GUIDANCE CAME OUT NOTIFICATIONS.
WE WERE DOING NOTIFICATIONS ONCE A WEEK.
WELL, THE FIRST TEA CURRENT GUIDANCE IS NO NOTIFICATIONS NEED TO BE DONE, BUT WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE STILL GOING TO DO THEM.
SO WE DID THEM AT ONCE A WEEK AND LET THE PARENTS KNOW HOW MANY CASES WERE ON A CAMPUS PER WEEK.
AND NOW WE WILL BE DOING A DAILY NOTIFICATION OF ANY POSITIVES THAT ARE IN CLASSROOMS OR ON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
SO WE'LL START DOING THAT PROBABLY TOMORROW AS SOON AS I HAVE THE LETTER TRANSLATED.
ANOTHER THING THAT TEA IS ALLOWING US TO DO.
WE'VE BEEN DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH OUR RAPID TESTING PROGRAM.
STAFF WHETHER THEY'RE VACCINATED OR UNVACCINATED, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WORKING, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO BE RAPID TESTED EVERY TWO DAYS.
SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND GET OUR STAFF TO WORK ON TIME, WE WILL EXTEND THE HOURS AT THE PDC STARTING AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING.
AND THAT INFORMATION WILL GO TO STAFF TOMORROW SO THEY CAN START MAKING APPOINTMENTS EARLY ENOUGH TO GET TO WORK.
ONE OF THE CHANGES IS, IS YOU HAVE TO TEST PRIOR TO THE START OF THE DAY.
SO WE CAN'T WAIT AND GO TO CLASS AND THEN TEST THEM.
SO THOSE NEW HOURS WILL BE COMING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD BEEN DOING WAS RAPID TESTING OUR CLOSE CONTACTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
OF COURSE, THE DALLAS COUNTY ORDER, YOU KNOW, STOP THAT.
WE DID NOTICE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT ANYWAY, BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD ZERO PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS THAT TURNED POSITIVE AFTER CLOSE CONTACT IN A CLASSROOM.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE ABOUT A THREE PERCENT RATE.
SO EVENTUALLY, WHEN THOSE CASE NUMBERS COME DOWN, MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE RAPID TESTING THOSE STUDENTS INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM ON QUARANTINE.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE JASON CHESSHER.
HE'S THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, AND DIANE BEELER, SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WAITING FOR US.
IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU GUYS STUCK AROUND.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AWESOME PARTNERS, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WELL, GONNA TAKE THEM OUT TO DINNER.
IT MIGHT BE IHOP AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING IF YOU WANT TO WAIT.
YOU KNOW, WE WORK CHEAP, TRUST ME.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A BRIEF UPDATE, IF YOU'VE WATCHED ANY OF THE RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, THIS IS GOING TO LOOK VERY FAMILIAR.
IT'S THE SAME REPORT THAT WE TYPICALLY PROVIDE OUR GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.
AS NURSE K INDICATED THE CASELOAD THAT WE'RE SEEING HAS LEVELED OFF OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
NOW, ONLY TIME WILL TELL WHETHER THAT MEANS THAT THE DELTA WAVE HAS CRESTED OR PERHAPS IT'S JUST A LULL BEFORE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CASES.
IT'S JUST TOO EARLY TO SAY, BUT CERTAINLY A BETTER TREND THAN WHAT WE WERE SEEING.
MOST OF THE MONTH OF JULY AND CERTAINLY THUS FAR IN AUGUST, WHERE WHERE WE HAD A RAPID INCREASE IN CASES AT LEAST THAT HAS SLOWED.
FROM A STANDPOINT OF TOTAL CASES.
I BROUGHT THE NUMBERS FROM GARLAND TONIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC TO DATE, AND THIS WAS AS OF MONDAY, WE HAD THIRTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO CONFIRMED CASES.
SO THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 13 AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE GARLAND POPULATION.
[02:10:02]
NOW, KEEP IN MIND, THOSE ARE CONFIRMED CASES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.NO DOUBT THEY'RE UNDER A LOT OF CASES THAT THAT WERE OUT THERE THAT WERE NOT CONFIRMED.
SO TYPICALLY THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE CASES, UNKNOWN CASES FOR EVERY CONFIRMED CASE.
THE REAL IMPORTANT NUMBER THAT THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE OVERALL CASELOAD CURRENTLY OR THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES.
AND FOR THE CITY OF GARLAND, WE'VE GOT ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE ACTIVE CASES.
NOW, OF COURSE, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT THAT TESTED POSITIVE AND THEY'VE NOT YET MET THAT TIME PERIOD TO MEET THE END OF MONITORING REQUIREMENTS.
THAT NUMBER FELL FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST WEEK.
SO, AGAIN, PERHAPS THE BEGINNING OF A GOOD TREND, A GOOD SIGN NONETHELESS.
BUT PERHAPS THE BEGINNING OF A GOOD TREND.
IN TERMS OF VACCINES, OF COURSE, VACCINES ARE THE WAY THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BEAT THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, NOT TO DIMINISH THE USEFULNESS OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THAT WE'VE PREACHED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT THE VACCINES ARE REALLY THE WAY THAT WE'LL BEAT THIS PANDEMIC.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE'VE ISSUED, WE'VE ADMINISTERED JUST OVER THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND VACCINES SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VACCINES.
[INAUDIBLE] IT TOOK THE DELTA WAVE TO GET US THERE, BUT WE'RE SEEING VACCINE UPTAKE INCREASE.
NURSE K TALKED ABOUT VACCINE CLINICS THAT WE HAD OUR FIRST CLINIC AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY, AND WE'VE GOT CLINICS SET FOR THE OTHER SIX HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE UPCOMING DAYS, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS REALLY TRYING TO BE AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE WHAT WE CALL OFFSITE EVENTS OR POP UP EVENTS IN ALL THREE COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL STAFF ON BOARD AND HAVE THE THE WORK FORCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN FOR FOLKS THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN THOSE EVENTS, OF COURSE, THE IDEA IS TO MAKE VACCINES AS READILY AVAILABLE AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING ONE AT THE DOWNTOWN DART STATION TOMORROW TO TRY TO CATCH FOLKS AS THEY'RE COMING HOME FROM WORK, BUT ALL OF THOSE EVENTS ARE LISTED ON THE CITY OF GARLAND WEBPAGE.
SO IF IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IF ANY OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC, ANY OF THE FOLKS HERE TONIGHT ARE INTERESTED IN THOSE THOSE EVENTS, FEEL FREE TO GO TO OUR WEBPAGE AND YOU CAN PULL THOSE UP.
WE ALSO OFFER THOSE EVENTS NOT ONLY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
WE'VE WE'VE BEEN TO A HANDFUL OF LOCAL BUSINESSES NOW LOOKING FORWARD.
OF COURSE, THE MOST RECENT NEWS IN TERMS OF VACCINES ARE THE BOOSTER DOSES.
SO THOSE STARTED, I BELIEVE IT WAS A WEEK AGO LAST MONDAY, I BELIEVE, AND WE STARTED OFFERING THOSE BOOST BOOSTER DOSES THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THOSE ARE FOCUSED ON FOLKS THAT ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECENTLY OR PERHAPS AN ADVANCED CASE OF HIV.
AND AS YOU'VE HEARD SINCE BEGINNING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, THOSE BOOSTER DOSES, THE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR BOOSTER DOSES WILL BE EXPANDED TO.
BASICALLY, EVERYONE THAT'S THAT'S COMPLETED THE TWO SHOT SERIES OF PFIZER AND MODERNA.
SO THE WEEK IS SEPTEMBER 20TH REPRESENTS THE FIRST AVAILABLE DAY OR THE FIRST TIME THAT EIGHT MONTHS COULD HAVE ELAPSED SINCE A PERSON GOT THEIR SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO DEVELOP A DRIVE THROUGH VACCINE CLINIC.
NOTHING ON THE SCALE, AT LEAST INITIALLY, NOTHING ON THE SCALE OF WHAT YOU ALL SAW AT HBJ STADIUM.
BUT BUT WE WANT TO HAVE A CONSISTENT PRESENCE SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK AND PERHAPS SATURDAYS TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS TO GET BOOSTERS.
THEN THE NEXT WAVE OF VACCINATIONS IS GOING TO BE WHEN KIDDOS UNDER 12 BECOME ELIGIBLE.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT WILL BE, BUT THE BEST GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE HEARD IS PERHAPS EARLY TO MIDDLE PART OF FALL.
SO PERHAPS AS EARLY AS THE END OF SEPTEMBER, MORE LIKELY INTO OCTOBER.
BUT THE THING THAT I CAN ASSURE YOU ALL IS THAT WHENEVER KIDDOS UNDER 12 BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES, WE INTEND TO BE PREPARED TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
OF COURSE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND THE SPRING IS WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROVIDERS OUT THERE, BUT WE CERTAINLY INTEND TO MEET THE DEMAND THAT'S PLACED UPON US.
LET ME CHECK MY NOTES, I THINK.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAD IN MY NOTES TO GO OVER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN SOMEBODY GETS A BOOSTER DOES IT HAVE TO BE THE SAME SHOT
[02:15:01]
THAT THEY GOT BEFORE? SO IF THEY GOT TWO MODERNA, THEY'VE GOT TO GET A MODERNA.IF THEY GOT PFIZER, THEY HAVE TO GET A PFIZER.
OR DOES THAT REALLY NOT MATTER? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO THE GUIDANCE IS THE PREFERENCE IN THE GUIDANCE IS THAT IF YOU'VE GOT MODERNA, YOUR BOOSTER SHOULD BE MODERNA.
NOW, THERE IS A CAVEAT IN THE GUIDANCE THAT IF IF MODERNA IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEN YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE PFIZER.
I GUESS I SHOULD SHOULD FURTHER EXPLAIN THAT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CHOSE THE SINGLE DOSE, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.
WE'VE NOT RECEIVED GUIDANCE ON BOOSTER DOSES FOR THAT VACCINE.
I DO ANTICIPATE THAT GUIDANCE COMING OUT SOON.
RIGHT NOW, WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT.
BUT AGAIN, GOING BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, IF YOU GOT MODERNA, THE IDEAL CASE OR SCENARIO IS TO GET THAT THIRD BOOSTER DOSE OF MODERNA.
AND IN THE EVENT THAT IT'S NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN SWITCH.
ARE YOU OFFERING BOOSTERS OR NO? YES, WE ARE.
WE BEGAN OFFERING BOOSTERS AT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC, OUR I'M SORRY.
NOW, CURRENTLY, THAT ELIGIBILITY IS PRETTY TIGHT.
SO IF FOLKS ATTEST BY SIGNING A FORM THAT THEY MEET THE ELIGIBILITY, WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS.
I WAS JUST WONDERING FOR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.
IF ANY ANY LOCATION WHERE YOU CAN GET A SHOT FROM US, THAT WILL INCLUDE.
AND YOU'LL CARRY BOTH BOTH MODERNA AND PFIZER.
SO TOMORROW, WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE SACHSE? SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU WOULD HAVE BOTH MODERNA AND PFIZER AVAILABLE.
AND SO WHAT, TODAY'S EIGHTH MONTH.
SO IF THEY GOT VACCINATED, I GUESS, IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY.
THE VACCINES WEREN'T ELIGIBLE.
WE'VE NOT MET THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE COULD BE EIGHT MONTHS ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER.
IT'S RIGHT NOW IT'S STRICTLY FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
ANY QUESTIONS? MS. STANLEY I COULD SEE I DON'T SEE YOUR HAND UP, SO I'M ASSUMING NO.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT AND THANK YOU.
I MEAN LET THE CITY OF GARLAND KNOW THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM YOU WITH ALL THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT WE WE HAVE TO FACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH NURSE K, THANK YOU.
ARE YOU DONE? NO QUESTIONS FOR NURSE K.
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
THIS WOULD BE ITEM NINE B, CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION FOR LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEE QUARANTINE FOR THE 2021 2022 FISCAL YEAR.
I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE SO I CAN BACK UP.
THIS WILL GO TO THE SECTION SEVEN B.
I WENT DOWN TO NINE, SEVEN B, WE'RE GOING TO THE TRUSTEES REPORT.
[VII.B. Trustees' Report]
TRUSTEES ATTENDANCE AT RECENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS, RECOGNITION, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE STUDENTS AND RECOGNITION OF NEW PROGRAMS, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.WE'LL START TO MY LEFT FOOT DOCTOR WITH ROBERT SELDERS.
I AM GOING TO PASS TO ALLOW MY FELLOW TRUSTEES TO SHARE.
I SUPPORT THE DECISION OF TRUSTEE SELDERS AND FOLLOW AS SUIT.
WE DID HAVE A, I'M SERVING ON THE GARLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD THIS YEAR, AND WE DID HAVE A GREAT START.
WE HAD A GREAT MEETING AND GARLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS IN GREAT HANDS.
AND WE ARE THE TRIVIA AND TINSEL IS PLANNED FOR DECEMBER.
AND ALSO THE GOLF TOURNAMENT FOR THE SPRING.
SO JUST PLAN ACCORDINGLY TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES AND THAT REAL SOON THE FOUNDATION WILL BE SENDING OUT FOR YOU TO MAKE A DONATION TO DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW TO GET STARTED THERE, TO GET THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR EVERYBODY THAT WE NEED TO GOT A GREAT START.
YES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEND OUT A THANK YOU TO ALL STAFF FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND LOYALTY TO GARLAND ISD.
AND I JUST ASK YOU TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE.
I WANT TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO DR.
BABETTA HEMPHILL AND HER STAFF FOR THE LIVE FACEBOOK INFORMATION SETTING THEY DID ON THE VIRTUAL OPTION.
THERE WERE THIRTEEN HUNDRED ATTENDEES AT THAT VIRTUAL CONFERENCE WHEN WE WERE
[02:20:05]
ROLLING OUT WHAT OUR VIRTUAL OPTION WANTED TO LOOK LIKE.SO THAT STAFF THAT WAS AVAILABLE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TECHNOLOGY AND THERE ALSO WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOOD SERVICE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL OF THE ALERTS THAT YOU SEND OUT TO US ON VARIOUS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INCIDENCES, THE ACCURACY AND THE TIMELINESS OF THE INFORMATION.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING FOR THE TOOL KIT THAT WAS AT OUR STATIONS TODAY THAT INCLUDED SEL CARDS, INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS AND BASIC INFORMATION ITEMS THAT WE CAN USE IN THE FUTURE.
LOPEZ AS HE NAVIGATES THROUGH THESE WATERS.
SO AFTER I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ALL SEATED.
SO AFTER MANY YEARS OF GENTLE ELBOWS TO THE RIBS FOR MANY OFFERS TO PUT UP A GO FUND ME PAGE FOR THE DISTRICT TO HELP PAY FOR MY NEW CELL PHONE, BECAUSE I DID LIVE WITH THIS.
WELL, AT&T STARTED SENDING ME LETTERS THAT IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR THIS WAS GOING TO END.
WELL, THAT WAS MANY, MANY MONTHS.
FINALLY, THEY SET IT MORE FREQUENTLY, AND FINALLY THEY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU A NEW PHONE.
SO I AM PROUDLY DISPLAYING AN APPLE.
CUZ HE STILL WON'T ANSWER YOUR TEXT.
IF YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT, PLEASE DO.
I, NO I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO ADD TO IT.
I DID GET TO SIT IN ON THE MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH MS. GRIFFIN WITH THE MEC COMMITTEE, AND I GOT TO HEAR THE HISTORY ABOUT THE DESEGREGATION ORDER THROUGH MR. WASHINGTON.
AND I JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE PUT HIM ON TO A GOING AROUND THE STATE TOUR AND TELLING HIS STORY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS HUGELY.
IT'S IT'S JUST REALLY A GOOD STORY THAT HE TELLS.
I JUST WANT MY REPORT IS BASICALLY I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE ROWLETT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
LOTS OF GREAT STUFF GOING ON IN ROWLETT AND TO ANY OF THE ROWLETT PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AND LISTENING.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF ROWLETT WITH RESPECT TO THE CHAMBER.
I ALSO WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING THAT MS. GRIFFIN SAID.
THE EMAILS, THE THE PEOPLE SHOW UP IN PERSON, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN HERE AND ARE INTERESTED IN THE DISTRICT AND THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR KIDS.
I THINK IT IS IT IS GREAT THAT YOU'RE HERE.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU AND JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SO RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MAYBE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE HAD TO HAD TO FACE.
GARLAND ISD, I THINK, IS SETTING A LOT OF GOOD EXAMPLES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BEHAVE.
AND THE BEHAVIOR THAT HAS SURROUNDED SOME RECENT CONTROVERSIAL EVENTS HAS BEEN GREAT.
MS. GRIFFIN PATTED THE TEACHER'S ON THE BACK.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE CANNOT POSSIBLY PAT OUR TEACHERS ON THE BACK ENOUGH, THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO FOR 18 MONTHS.
I MEAN, WE ALL FEEL LIKE I'M I'M A BANKER.
WE DIDN'T VOLUNTEER FOR THE THREE MONTHS OF THE PPE PROGRAM AND WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY JUST TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM LOSING THEIR ENTIRE BUSINESS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO ATTACK IT WITH ENERGY AND AND GOOD ATTITUDE, I THINK THAT'S A KEY.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AND STAFF.
[02:25:01]
DR. LOPEZ, I THINK THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM HAS BEEN GREAT.IT'S HARD TO BE IT'S HARD TO BE REAL ENERGETIC AT 10:30 AT NIGHT AFTER A FIVE AND A HALF HOUR SESSION SO FAR.
BUT I REALLY JUST REALLY WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ON TO EDUCATION THINGS REAL SOON.
AND I CAN'T WAIT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND AND GET THAT ACADEMIC RECOVERY PLAN GOING.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR LEADER, DR.
[VII.C. Superintendent's Report]
LOPEZ.YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
WHAT I WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU REAL QUICKLY IS JUST WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES.
A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT IS BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND SO WE FILL IN THE BLANKS OR WE ASSUME.
YOU WOULD MARVEL ON HOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE TRUSTEES IS SO DEDICATED TO THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, THE COMMUNITY, THIS GREAT DISTRICT, BESIDES THE ENDLESS HOURS THAT YOU SEE ON CAMERA, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU DON'T SEE.
SOMETIMES WE ASSUME BECAUSE WE DON'T GET A REPLY BACK ON EMAIL, THAT IT GOES IGNORED, IT GETS LOST.
ALL SEVEN OF THESE PEOPLE NOT ONLY READ THE EMAIL, THEY READ IT WITHOUT JUDGMENT.
THEY READ IT THROUGH YOUR LENS.
THEY THEY INTERNALIZE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
SO THAT WAY, THEY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
SOMETIMES IN OUR WORLDS, WE FEEL LIKE I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT SENT THAT EMAIL.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FEW WEEKS, IT'S BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, SOMETIMES ALL IN THE SAME DAY.
THEY THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR GARLAND ISD.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S DAYS WHENEVER YOU'RE STANDING ON INTEGRITY AND YOU HAVE A STRONG MORAL COMPASS AND YOU LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF YOUR TRUSTEES, AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME VANTAGE POINTS ON EVERY ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVE THE THEY'RE ALL STILL GROUNDED IN THE SAME VALUES.
SO IT'S OUR BOARD APART FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FIRST, WE'RE NOT ABOUT BEING FIRST.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
NOW, SECONDLY, WHAT MAKES OUR JOB EASIER IS YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM OF SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE, PHENOMENAL BUS DRIVERS.
OUR TEACHERS ARE SECOND TO NONE.
OUR PRINCIPALS, MAN ARE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT.
WE GOT A REALLY GREAT TEAM OF OF OF LEADERS WITHIN OUR CAMPUSES.
AND, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW WHEN YOU SEE THEM, COMPLIMENT THEM, DO A SHOUT OUT.
YOU WON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT GOES AND HOW MUCH PEOPLE NEED IT NOW, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY IN THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING SELFLESS ACTS OF KINDNESS TO GET THESE KIDS READY BECAUSE THE LEARNING LOSS IS REAL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT.
BOARD WE NOW GO TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN D FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL GO TO ITEM EIGHT, HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT.
[VIII. Consent Agenda]
MR. PRESIDENT.I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT AS DISTRIBUTED AT US TO AT OUR STATION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, THE NEXT SLIDE AND WE'LL BE ITEM NINE B, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF
[IX.B. Consider Approval of Resolution for Leave for Employee Quarantine for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year - Dr. Gradyne E. Brown]
RESOLUTION FOR LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEE QUARANTINE FOR THE 2020, 2021, 2022 FISCAL YEAR.I TRIED TALKING THROUGH MASK THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT LOPEZ.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING REQUESTING THAT YOU CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE PERSONAL COVID LEAVE FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
AND I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION FOR YOU.
WHEREAS ON MARCH 13, 2020, THE GOVERNOR OF STATE OF TEXAS DECLARED A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AND LATER THAT SAME DAY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECLARED A NATIONAL
[02:30:06]
EMERGENCY.WHEREAS THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INTEREST IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY, AND THEREFORE DESIRES TO ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY ARE PREPARED TO FULFILL ARE PREPARED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS THE BOARD IS AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTION 45.105 TO EXPEND FUNDS OF GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR PURPOSES NECESSARY AND TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.
WHEREAS THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THAT DURING AN EPIDEMIC, DISTRICT EMPLOYEES MAY BE INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT FOR WORK AFTER ON SITE EXPOSURE OR REPORT TO WORK IN ORDER TO QUARANTINE AFTER EXPOSURE.
WHEREAS THE BOARD FINDS THAT A NEED EXISTS TO ADDRESS ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT FOR WORK FOR QUARANTINE PURPOSES.
WHEREAS THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT TO WORK MAY SUFFER A LOSS OF PAY OR MAY NOT HAVE AVAILABLE STATE OR LOCAL DAYS IF THEY DO NOT REPORT FOR WORK.
AND WHEREAS THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PAID LEAVE TO ALL REGULAR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTUAL AND NON CONTRACTUAL, SALARIED AND NON-SALARIED, WHO ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT TO WORK DUE TO AN EPIDEMIC OR DECIDE VOLUNTARILY NOT TO REPORT TO WORK IN ORDER TO QUARANTINE AFTER EXPOSURE, SERVES THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF PROTECTING STUDENTS AND STAFF, MAINTAINING MORALE AND REDUCING TURNOVER.
WHEREAS THE FAMILY'S FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT, FFCRA, EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2020.
AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE LEAVE PROVIDED IN THIS RESOLUTION EXTENDS PORTIONS OF THE LEAVE PROVIDED BY FFCRA.
THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE RESOLUTION IN JANUARY 2021 TO GRANT 10 DAYS LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES TO QUARANTINE THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZES PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PAID LEAVE FOR ALL REGULAR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTUAL AND NON CONTRACTUAL, SALARIED AND NON-SALARIED, WHO ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT TO WORK DURING AN EPIDEMIC IN ORDER TO QUARANTINE AFTER EXPOSURE.
THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THIS RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAID LEAVE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT FOR WORK TO QUARANTINE AFTER EXPOSURE, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOR MAXIMUM DURATION EIGHTY HOURS OR 10 WORK DAYS UNLESS THE BOARD TAKES ACTION TO AUTHORIZE LEAVE FOR A LONGER DURATION.
ANY LEAVE PROVIDED BY THIS RESOLUTION, IS RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1ST, 2021.
THIS EXTENDED LEAVE EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE 2021 2022 FISCAL YEAR, JUNE 30TH, 2022, AND IS CONDITIONED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL LEAVE.
THIS RESOLUTION AND THE LEAVE BENEFITS CONVEYED IN IT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY VOID IF THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR BENEFIT.
APPROVED THIS 24TH DAY OF AUGUST 2021 BY THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
JAMIE MILLER, PRESIDENT, LINDA GRIFFIN SECRETARY.
BOARD, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RESOLUTION? MR. PRESIDENT? YES, I MOVE WE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, AS READ BY DR.
BROWN AND PRINTED IN OUR BOARD BOOK.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, BOARD.
ALL THOSE APPROVE, INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATION FOR SALARY SCHEDULE ADDENDUM.
[IX.C. Consider Approval of Recommendation for Salary Schedule Addendum - Dr. Gradyne E. Brown]
DR. BROWN.I BRING TO YOU SOME SALARY SCHEDULE ADDENDUMS THAT ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, NO COST TO OUR LOCAL ONE NINE NINE FUNDS.
[02:35:03]
THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM LIST THE FOUR ADDENDUMS. ONE IS THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND BOOSTER STIPEND, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD INFORMATION ABOUT EARLIER THIS EVENING, WHICH FOR THE VACCINE STIPEND ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, WOULD RECEIVE A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS STIPEND AND FOR THE BOOSTER STIPEND.ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THAT ONE WOULD RECEIVE A 250 DOLLAR STIPEND, A NON CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR SALARY FOR THIRTY THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH IS THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY, A MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEAM LEAD STIPEND OF TWENTY ONE HUNDRED SIXTY DOLLARS, A SUBSTITUTE RETENTION STIPEND OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS.
YOU HAVE EXHIBITS WHICH DESCRIBE EACH OF THESE STIPENDS.
I AM READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF A COMMENT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED ON THIS, BUT THEN AGAIN, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD.
BUT IT'S JUST MY HEARTFELT OF WHAT I FEEL LIKE, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PICKED UP A TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR STIPEND THAT WE'RE GIVING ALL THE TEACHERS THIS YEAR AS FAR AS THEIR PAY RAISE.
PLUS, ALONG WITH THE TWO PERCENT.
AND ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE WITH THE ESSER TWO FOR THE BOOSTER FOR THE SHOT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT WE ARE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IS TO TAKE THAT MONEY, THAT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS STIPEND THAT WE WOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL THE FOR THE VACCINE, BECAUSE THAT IS A VOLUNTARY FREEDOM OF CHOICE IF YOU WANT TO TO GO GET YOUR SHOT.
I KNOW WE WANT TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND WELL, BUT WE NEVER KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET BRONCHITIS [INAUDIBLE] OR WHATEVER, SOMETHING DIFFERENT BESIDES COVID OR THE FLU OR WHATEVER.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE THAT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND PLACE THAT IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SLASH DYSLEXIA SLASH 504 ACCOUNT, THAT'S ONLY GETTING 5.60 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING CHILDREN.
AND I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE TEACHERS THERE FOR THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD SURE GO FOR THAT PURPOSE, BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING, WHEN DR. LOPEZ CAME ABOARD, OUR DYSLEXIA PROGRAM WAS REALLY SUFFERING.
AND WE HAD TO HIRE A LOT OF TEACHERS IN OUR 504 AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IN THE READING AND THE MATH IN THE OTHER AREAS THERE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION, THEY WOULD PROBABLY JUST JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY.
NOW I AM IN FAVOR OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLAR BOOSTER.
IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WANT TO GET THEIR BOOSTER AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR STIPEND AMOUNT OF MONEY RIGHT THERE BECAUSE IT IS ESSER TWO FUNDS AND THAT IS THE ESSER TWO FUND BREAK DOWN ALSO.
SO THAT'S JUST MY OWN COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY AND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM FROM IT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE THE BACKGROUND ON WHY WE WERE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THE FIRST THING IS WE HAVE A SUB SHORTAGE.
WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS OUT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST COVID.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TEACHERS OUT THAT ARE PREGNANT, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS OUT FOR TAKING CARE OF THEIR THEIR LOVED ONES.
AND THEN YOU ADD COVID AND ADD A SUB SHORTAGE.
WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS STARTING TO CLOSE THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ABOUT OUR SIZE THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE VERGE OF CLOSING SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE SUBS.
WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPORTATION STAFF THAT ARE OUT.
AND THEN FINALLY, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT OUR VACCINATION RATE IN OUR AREA.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONLY GARLAND ISD IS NOT HIGH AT ALL.
A MATTER OF FACT, PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED BOTH VACCINATIONS IS BELOW 50 PERCENT.
SO YOU COMBINE ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
THIS IS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND IN SCHOOLS.
AND I REALIZE THAT IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE IT MIGHT SEEM DIFFERENT, LIKE, HEY, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS FOR THAT? WE NEED PEOPLE IN IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NEVER A PERFECT SITUATION.
BUT IF WE'VE LEARNED IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, THE PROBABILITY OF YOU CONTRACTING THE VIRUS FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE SEVERITIES ARE DEEPER THAN FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THIS INITIATIVE.
OF COURSE, WE'RE AT THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
I WILL SAY THAT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH ESSER FUNDS, WE DID GO THROUGH SPECIAL ED AND WE ASKED ALL THE NEEDS THAT WERE HAPPENING TO INCLUDE 504 AND DYSLEXIA.
[02:40:02]
WE ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO INCLUDE SPECIAL ED WITH ESSER FUNDS.THE OTHER THINGS THAT I GUESS SINCE YOU DID MENTION IT WAS WAS PERSONNEL ON THE SECOND PAGE.
IT DOES TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTE RETENTION STIPENDS.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE, ARE WE GIVING THEM AN INCREASE IN PAY SO THAT WE POSSIBLY COULD? JUST LIKE TONIGHT, WE COMPLIMENTED A TEACHER THAT HAD RETIRED THAT WE BROUGHT BACK AS FULL TIME AGAIN.
AND I KNOW THAT MY COUSIN IS A RETIREE AT REHIRE BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE WERE REALLY JUST KIND OF LIKE WE DO FOR THE BUS DRIVERS WHEN WE RAISE THEIR PAY TO TWENTY ONE DOLLARS, ARE WE LOOKING TO GET THE RAISE THAT POSSIBLY TO HELP.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE FUNDS WHERE WE CAN HELP IN THE ON THE TEACHER SIDE THERE, THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE DYSLEXIA SIDE, BUT ALSO IN THE SUBSTITUTE SIDE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY GIVING THEM 0.770 PERCENT.
AND SO I'M JUST AGAIN, JUST THROWING THAT THAT OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WILL IS OF THE BOARD ON THOSE FIGURES, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THAT THE THE SHOT AND THE STIPEND FOR THAT IS IS SOMETHING THAT IS THAT IT'S VOLUNTARY FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL IF THEY WANT TO GET THAT SHOT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND I JUST HAVE HEARTBURN FOR THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO BRING BACK A PROPOSAL FOR AN INCREASE IN SUBSTITUTE PAY.
BUT WITH THERE ARE SOME RULES WITH ESSER TWO AND ONE OF THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE FULL TIME REGULAR EMPLOYEES AND SUBSTITUTES ARE NOT CLASSIFIED AS FULL TIME REGULAR EMPLOYEES.
BUT IF WE INCREASE SUBSTITUTE PAY, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM A DIFFERENT BUDGET CODE.
COULD YOU SPEAK SOME MORE ABOUT THE TEAM LEAD STIPENDS? WHO WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE? ARE THEY ARE THEY LEADERS ALREADY OR ARE THEY JUST TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO THAT POSITION? THE TEAM LEAD STIPEND IS TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING TO OCCUR DURING OUR PANDEMIC.
THESE ARE TEACHERS THAT ARE SELECTED AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUSES, AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES, WHO WILL WORK WITH TEACHERS WHO TEACH THE SAME SUBJECT, AND THEY WILL SERVE TO DO DATA ANALYSIS ALONG WITH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND USE THAT DATA DATA ANALYSIS TO HELP THE TEACHERS OF THAT SUBJECT DESIGN LESSONS THAT ARE SPECIFIC FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.
OK, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BOARD.
DO I HEAR ANY MOTIONS ON THIS ITEM ? MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF REGARDING SALARY SCHEDULE ADDENDUM HAS PRESENTED BY DR.
OK, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. JOHNSON.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
I THOUGHT SHE VOTED IN THE FIRST ROUND.
I'M GONNA DO IT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
OK, WITH THAT DONE, WE GO TO ACTION ITEM 9D CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ENDORSEMENT FOR TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS, REGION 10
[IX.D. Consider Approval of Endorsement for TASB Board of Directors Region 10, Position A - James Miller]
POSITION A.MECHELLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THIS ITEM? I'M GOING TO PASS OUT THE RESUME MAY HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO REQUESTED OUR ENDORSEMENT, AND THEN I'LL COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOU A QUICK BACK.
[02:45:09]
GOOD EVENING.PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.
LOPEZ, THIS EVENING BEFORE YOU, WE HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR A TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION A FOR REGION 10 FOR MR. TY JONES OF LANCASTER ISD.
I BELIEVE HE WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE FROM THIS REGION WHO REQUESTED OUR ENDORSEMENT FOR US TO TAKE AND GIVE HIM OUR CONTRIBUTION AND ENDORSEMENT TO BECOME ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I BELIEVE THESE SEATS ARE ABOUT THREE YEAR TERM.
SO EVERY THREE YEARS WE'RE REQUESTED TO PICK A POSITION FOR EITHER POSITION A OR C OR D, I BELIEVE, ARE FOR OUR REGION.
AND THIS YEAR, SEAT POSITION A WAS UP FOR ENDORSEMENT.
THE SECOND POSITION WAS BEING HELD BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS RUNNING UNOPPOSED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S DEBBIE GILLESPIE FROM FRISCO.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY THREE YEARS.
AND IF WE GET AN ENDORSEMENT REQUEST, WE USUALLY HONOR THOSE IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE REQUESTS.
THIS IS THE TIME WE WOULD DELIBERATE SINCE WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE BEFORE YOU.
HIS RESUME IS IN FRONT OF YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE ONLY THING I HAVE ON THAT I'M SORRY, MR. PRESIDENT, I DIDN'T EVEN WAIT TILL I WAS ACKNOWLEDGED.
THE ONLY THING I'VE SEEN IS MR. JONES'S RESUME.
IS HE CURRENTLY ON A SCHOOL BOARD? YES IN LANCASTER ISD.
OK, BECAUSE THE WAY IT READS ALMOST LOOKS LIKE IT'S PAST TENSE.
I CANNOT FIX HIS GRAMMAR FOR HIM.
IF I WERE HIS BOARD CLERK, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CORRECTED IT.
I HAPPEN TO HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. JONES, HE OUR LEADERSHIP CLASS, VISITED LANCASTER ISD.
HE IS TRULY ONE OF THE AMAZING TRUSTEES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IS WORTHY OF THIS BOARD'S ENDORSEMENT.
CAN I ADD SOMETHING? [INAUDIBLE] LET ME ADD SOMETHING.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STATE FOR OUR BOARD, THESE INDORSEMENT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT THEY COME OPEN.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN 10E FOR EIGHT OR NINE YEARS.
SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET AT THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY AND THE RESOLUTIONS AND THE BYLAWS.
SO THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT BRING US ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND KEEP ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AFLOAT THAT TASB GIVES TO US FOR TRAINING AT OUR CONVENTIONS AND SOI.
YEAH, SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TY G JONES ENDORSING FOR REGION 10 POSITION A.
OK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BOARD? IF NOT, PLEASE INDICATE APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
MS. STANLEY DID YOU ABSTAIN? I'M ABSTAINING.
SHOW MS. STANLEY ABSTAINED, PLEASE.
LET'S GO TO ITEM E CONSIDER APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, CAMERA
[IX.E. Consider Approval of Resolution for Special Education Camera Installation and Activation - Dr. Bentley Parker]
INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION.I BELIEVE THIS ITEM WAS IN THE COMMITTEE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM? CHAIR, I SHOULD ASK, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES IN THE PRESENTATION SINCE COMMITTEE? NO, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL ED CAMERAS INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION IS PRINTED IN OUR BOARD BOOKLET.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY MR. SELDERS, BOARD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF T-TESS APPRAISAL CALENDAR FOR 2021
[IX.F. Consider Approval of T-TESS Appraisal Calendar for 2021-2022 - Dr. Gradyne Brown]
2022 DR.IS THIS ITEM AND THIS ITEM ANY CHANGES SINCE THE COMMITTEE? NO, SIR, NO CHANGES.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BROWN OR ANY MOTIONS? MR. PRESIDENT? YES, MA'AM.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE T-TESS APPRAISAL CALENDAR FOR 2021, 2022 AS PRINTED IN
[02:50:07]
OUR AGENDA.WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY MOTION BY MS. GRIFFIN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
THERE'S A DELAY ON THE CAMERA.
MS. STANLEY, I'M GOING TO ASK IF YOU VOTED AFFIRMATIVELY.
MS. GRIFFIN SHOW THAT UNANIMOUS, PREVIOUS ITEM.
ITEM G, CONSIDER APPROVAL SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
[IX.G. Consider Approval of Setting the Tax Rate for the 2021-2022 School Year – Dr. Brent Ringo, Brandy Mayo]
BRANDY MAYO, ARE YOU GOING TO PRESENT? YES, SIR.GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTING OUR TAX RATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE STATUTES.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE TAX ROLL FOR 2021 IN THE AMOUNTS THEY'RE OUT HEREIN AS CERTIFIED BY THE CHIEF APPRAISER OF THE DALLAS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE FOR THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 2021 SHALL BE IN HERE BY FIX AT POINT NINE THREE EIGHT FOUR, THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND TAX RATE FOR THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 2021 SHALL BE AND IT'S HEREBY FIXED AT POINT THREE ONE SEVEN NINE FOR A TOTAL OF ONE POINT TWO FIVE SIX THREE.
MS. MAYO WHAT WAS THE RATE LAST YEAR? ONE POINT TWO FIVE SIX THREE.
THE SAME TOTAL TAX RATE TAX RATE.
ANY QUESTIONS BOARD? MR. JOHNSON? NOT TO BE REPETITIVE OF WHAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT JUST ASK YOU, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION THAT WE'RE AFTER.
WE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR.
RINGO THAT HAS TO HEAR THIS RANT THIS YEAR, TODAY.
AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE [INAUDIBLE] FROM HERE.
SO HE'S BUT WE ARE FORCED BY AUSTIN TO READ A MOTION THAT INDICATES THAT WE HAVE INCREASED TAXES EFFECTIVELY.
BUT AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, IN RESPONSE TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT'S QUESTION, OUR TAX RATE IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WE HAVE NOT RAISED TAXES.
THIS INCREASE IS REFLECTIVE OF INCREASES IN APPRAISED VALUES, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, YOU WILL READ THEM.
BOARD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY MOTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF ONE POINT TWO FIVE SIX THREE ZERO ZERO, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A SIX POINT TWO FOUR PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
YOU DROPPED IT BEFORE I LOOKED DOWN YOUR WAY.
LET'S GO TO ITEM H CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 2021,
[IX.H. Consider Approval of Budget Transfers and Amendments to the 2021-2022 General Fund – Brandy Mayo]
22 TO GENERAL FUND MS. MAYO, ANY CHANGES SINCE COMMITTEE? NO, SIR.BOARD, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE ON THIS? MR. PRESIDENT, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 21 22 GENERAL FUND AS PRINTED IN OUR BOARD BOOKLET.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
LET'S GO TO ITEM I CONSIDER APPROVAL TO DISPOSE OF VEHICLES.
[IX.I. Consider Approval to Dispose of Vehicles – Mark A. Booker]
MR. BOOKER ANY CHANGES SINCE OUR PREVIOUS MEETING IN COMMITTEE? MR. MILLER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BOOKER OR ANY MOTIONS? MR. PRESIDENT, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL TO DISPOSE OF
[02:55:05]
VEHICLES AS PRINTED IN OUR BOARD BOOKLET.WE HAVE A SECOND BY MR. JOHNSON.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
YOU WANNA TAKE THESE TOGETHER.
[IX.J. New Bids]
MR. PRESIDENT? CAN WE TAKE A CONSOLIDATED? NO I'M SAYING THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES.WE HAVE NO ADDENDUMS AT OUR STATION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT NEW BIDS ONE THROUGH SEVEN.
THAT WAS A QUICKEST SECOND WE'VE HAD ALL NIGHT.
[INAUDIBLE] OK, WE'RE GOING TO GO ITEMS J ONE THROUGH SEVEN.
THE MOTION IS FOR APPROVAL OF THESE AS A GROUP.
SECOND WAS BY MR. GLICK, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[IX.K. Increase to Awarded Bids]
K ONE THROUGH SIX.WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THESE AS A GROUP? MR. PRESIDENT, THESE WERE ALL DISCUSSED IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TWO WEEKS AGO.
MR. BOOKER, ANY CHANGES? NO, SIR.
IF NOT, I WILL THEN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE K ONE THROUGH SIX INCREASE TO AWARDED BIDS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS BOARD.
INDICATE YOUR APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR LAST ITEM OF ADJOURNMENT.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT SHOW THAT WE HAVE ENDED THE MEETING AT 11:10.
THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.