Sep 28, 2021 Board of Trustees Meeting

[00:00:01]

OK, THANK YOU.

[I. Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum]

IT'S NOW 5:03 AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THIS EVENING'S MEETING.

THIS IS THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THIS IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING.

IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2021.

AND I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH OUR PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE, IF YOU WILL STAND WITH ME.

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.

NOW THE TEXAS PLEDGE.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. OK, THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT.

[III. Public Forum]

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS MAY COMPLETE A PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION REQUEST IN PERSON AT THE HARRIS HILL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING INDICATED IN THE POSTING NOTICE.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT STUDENT DISCIPLINE, SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUES OR PERSONNEL MUST BE ADDRESSED THROUGH APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANNELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AND BOARD POLICY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE THAT'S LISTED IN OUR AGENDA.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ALSO THAT AGAIN, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA, I NEED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE FOR AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR IS PER OUR BED LOCAL.

COMMENTS REFERRING OR REFERENCING SPECIFIC STUDENT NAMES OR SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DUE TO STUDENT PRIVACY CONCERNS.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE HAS AN ALTERNATE FORM UNDER THE FNG, LEGAL AND LOCAL PROCESS.

SO WE'LL BEGIN THAT NOW, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THE CARDS IN THE ORDER THAT I HAVE THEM.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

MS. HOGAN, THESE ARE ALL THE CARDS, RIGHT? OK. OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE EVERY SPEAKER THREE MINUTES.

DR. BRENT RINGO WILL BE OUR TIMEKEEPER.

HE WILL OPERATE THE CLOCK.

WHEN YOU SEE IT GO TO WAS IT YELLOW? GIVES YOU ONE MINUTE.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THE RED LIGHT, COME ON.

YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AND PLEASE SHOW COURTESY OF THOSE COMING BEHIND YOU, PLEASE EXITING AS SOON AS THE RED LIGHT COMES ON. SO FIRST, WE HAVE, I THINK IT'S SHANIA SMITH.

IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD, SPEAK TO US.

JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SHANIA SMITH AND I RESIDE AT 351 NORTH FIFTH STREET IN DOWNTOWN GARLAND.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.

OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

I AM SHANIA SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE GARLAND AREA ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS.

WITH ME IS MY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, CRYSTAL GROSSE.

AND NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE HONOR OF WORKING FOR GARLAND ISD, BUT WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS OF GARLAND ISD.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, GABSE AND ALL ITS MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE UTMOST THANKS TO THE GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARD SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS THE NATION WITH OTHER AFFILIATE MEMBERS, THEY ARE OFTEN IN AWE OF THE SUPPORT WE HAVE.

THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR GARLAND ISD GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SHARED VISION OF EMPOWERING ALL STUDENTS.

WE JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SHORT MINUTE OF YOUR TIME AND GIVE YOU SOME WORDS OF AFFIRMATION AND THANKS.

IN A SEASON OF UNCERTAINTY AND HARD DECISIONS, WE THANK YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, CHRIS, IS A MOYER OR MOYIA.

[00:05:10]

MY NAME IS CHRIS MOYER.

I LIVE AT 4409 VISTA CREEK DRIVE IN ROWLETT AND WE HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.

SO WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO TODAY IS I WAS CURIOUS WHY GARLAND ISD WOULD INSTITUTE AN ILLEGAL MASK MANDATE IN THE FACE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 THAT BANS SUCH MANDATES.

ONE WOULD ASSUME THE DISTRICT HAD A GOOD REASON, LIKE MAYBE AN EXPLOSION OF COVID CASES ENDANGERING OUR STUDENT AND TEACHER POPULATION.

BUT WAS THAT THE CASE? LET'S LOOK AT THE DISTRICT'S OWN NUMBERS REPORTED ON THE GISD COVID 19 DASHBOARD ON AUGUST 9TH, ONE WEEK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1.2 PERCENT OF THE STUDENT TEACHER POPULATION HAD AN ACTIVE CASE OF COVID 19.

THIS ONLY AMOUNTS TO SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE CASES OUT OF SIXTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR THE CASES PEAKED AT ROUGHLY ONE POINT FIVE PERCENT, OR AROUND NINE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN CASES.

BUT FROM THAT POINT ON, THE CASES STEADILY DECLINED.

PRIOR TO THE MASK MANDATE GOING INTO EFFECT, GISD REPORTED ON THEIR DAILY DASHBOARD THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, THE PERCENTAGE OF ACTIVE CASES HAD DROPPED FORTY FOUR PERCENT FROM ITS PEAK, DOWN TO ONE POINT ZERO TWO PERCENT OR SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY TOTAL CASES.

THIS SIGNIFICANT DECLINE BEGAN BEFORE THE MASK MANDATE WENT INTO EFFECT, AND YET GISD CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT ITS ILLOGICAL AND ILLEGAL MASK MANDATE.

THE NUMBERS, OF COURSE, CONTINUED TO DROP SEPTEMBER 7TH IT WAS POINT EIGHT EIGHT PERCENT, SEPTEMBER 15TH POINT SIX TWO.

SEPTEMBER 21ST POINT FOUR TWO.

AND TODAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH POINT ONE TWO PERCENT, OR ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN ACTIVE CASES OUT OF SIXTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FOUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

WHILE PROPONENTS OF THE MASK MANDATE WILL ATTEMPT TO CREDIT THE ILLEGAL POLICY WITH THIS DECLINE, I DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE CASES DROPPED FORTY FOUR PERCENT FROM THEIR PEAK IN ONLY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ILLEGAL MANDATE BEING INSTITUTED.

THESE DECLINING NUMBERS ALSO COINCIDE WITH THE STEADY DECLINE IN TEXAS NUMBERS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

JUST LIKE GISD, TEXAS IS AT ITS LOWEST RATE OF INFECTIONS SINCE AUGUST.

THERE IS NO REASON TO CONTINUE THIS ILLEGITIMATE ILLEGAL POLICY.

WHILE GISD HAS PROVIDED EXEMPTION OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE FROM BOTH FELLOW STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS TO CONFORM SO AS NOT TO BE LABELED AN OUTCAST OR TROUBLEMAKER.

ALSO, AS PARENTS, WE ARE NOT AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY AT ALL FOR EXEMPTION WHEN ATTENDING OUR STUDENTS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ALL BECAUSE OF AN ILLEGAL POLICY INSTITUTED BY GISD THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY FROM THE START.

WHAT HAPPENED TO FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE? THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT COVID IS NOT BEING SPREAD SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

IF IT WAS, THE NUMBERS WOULD HAVE EXPLODED OVER THE FIRST MONTH.

THEY WOULD NOT HAVE PEAKED IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS AND THEN SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED.

GISD HAS CREATED AN UNDUE BURDEN ON ITS FACULTY, STUDENTS AND PARENTS ILLEGALLY.

IT HAS ALSO OPENED ITSELF UP TO SIGNIFICANT FINES, ACCORDING TO GA 38 THERE'S A FINE UP TO $1000 FOR EACH ILLEGAL INSTANCE, WITH SIXTY ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALONG WITH COUNTLESS PARENTS THERE THEY COULD BE POTENTIALLY ON THE HOOK FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OK, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CATHY STURGEON, JUST COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, PLEASE THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS CATHY REICHARD STURGEON.

I REMEMBERED SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS LAST MONTH.

I HAVE ONE CHILD IN THE DISTRICT.

SHE GOES TO LUNA ELEMENTARY MONTESSORI SCHOOL.

I RESIDE AT 3146 PAMELA PLACE.

I SPOKE LAST MONTH ON THE EXACT TOPIC OF MASKS AND THE EXACT TOPIC LAST MONTH.

THE SPEECH I GAVE WAS ON MASKS AND HOW MUCH WE NEED THEM, AND THE EXACT TOPIC AND SPEECH I GAVE WAS, I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER, IS THAT AT THE TIME WE HAVE SEVEN HUNDRED AND SO ODD NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES AT THE TIME AND WE ONLY ARE ONE THIRD OF THE SIZE OF DALLAS COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY HAD SIX HUNDRED ACTIVE CASES AND THEY HAD A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOU LISTENED AND I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU.

[00:10:05]

THANK YOU.

YOU LISTENED AND PUT MASKS IN PLACE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I MEAN, IT HAS WORKED WONDERFULLY.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BEFORE WE WENT ON VACATION.

THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN TO TWO HUNDRED.

I MEAN, IT IS PROVEN, IT IS PROVEN THAT IT'S WORKED.

OUR PEDIATRICIAN HAS SAID IN OUR OFFICE THAT THEY CANNOT TAKE.

I HAVE TRIED CALLING IN TO GET A REGULAR EXAM AND IT IS THREE MONTHS BACKED UP TO GET A REGULAR EXAM BECAUSE OUR OWN PEDIATRICIAN HAS SAID THERE IS TOO MANY SICK APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY COVID AND REGULAR SICK APPOINTMENTS.

IT'S GOTTEN TO WHERE IT'S OVER, AND HE HAS STATED THAT IT'S NOT ONLY HIS OFFICE, IT'S OTHER OFFICES AS WELL.

AND I CAN REMEMBER FROM THE LAST MONTH, ANOTHER PEDIATRICIAN HAD THE EXACT SAME CALL IN AT THIS EXACT MEETING, SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING.

IT IS NOT JUST MY PEDIATRICIAN, AND I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT INTO OFFICE.

PLEASE DO NOT WHEN IT COMES UP FOR NEXT ELECTION, THE NEXT TIME TO VOTE ON IT AGAIN.

PLEASE DO NOT.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE OUR MASKS BACK, PLEASE.

IT IS VITAL.

IT IS A VITAL, VITAL, VITAL, A VITAL TOOL.

PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

OK, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG GEORGE, I BELIEVE.

STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS CRAIG GEORGE.

I HAVE THREE CHAMPION KIDS IN THIS DISTRICT AND I LOVE THEM.

I LIVE AT 6400 ROSEBUD DRIVE IN ROWLETT.

PROUD TO BE PART OF GISD.

I AM A TEACHER IN RICHARDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT AS MY TIME STARTS, AM I ALLOWED TO PASS MY TIME ON TO ANOTHER PERSON? NO, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS.

YOU CAN SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT. LIKE I SAID, I'M PROUD THAT MY KIDS ARE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE I GUESS, AS A TEACHER, I'LL JUST TALK FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

THEN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS I HAVE FOUND IN THE YEAR AND A HALF THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH COVID IS I FEEL LIKE I'M TEACHING TO A BUNCH OF MUZZLED KIDS, AND I HATE TO BE BLUNT LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S I'M NOT GETTING THE SAME THINGS FROM THEM.

I'M NOT GETTING THE SAME COMMUNICATIONS FROM THEM AND I'M NOT GETTING THE SAME LOVE AND SPIRIT FROM THEM.

AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY ENJOYMENT AND MY LOVE FOR TEACHING.

I LOVE IT. I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THEY CAN'T SEE MY IMPRESSIONS, THEY CAN'T SEE MY FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

THEY CAN'T GET MY INFLECTION WHEN I'M SPEAKING AND WHEN I WAS A COACH, THE INFLECTION AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY GOT FROM THAT REALLY DROVE A LOT OF KIDS INTO THE EXCITEMENT.

AND I AM A JOKESTER AND I CAN'T GET THAT TO MY KIDS THROUGH A MASK.

I JUST CAN'T. AND THE COMMUNICATION PIECE OF THE KIDS COMING TO ME IS HINDERED, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS WHO ARE FEARFUL AND SCARED OF THE DISEASE, BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE SOCIAL PART.

I WORRY ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF OUR KIDS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THINGS.

I RESPECT THE DISEASE, I RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH IT, AND I RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST PEOPLE THROUGH IT.

BUT I ALSO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE.

I DON'T HAVE PAPERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I, BECAUSE I WANT TO DO THE BEST THING THAT I CAN DO FOR MY KIDS AT SCHOOL AND I WANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

BUT I THINK THAT AS THEY'RE BREATHING IN THEIR OWN, I CALL IT WASTE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAN BE HEALTHY FOR THEM, AND I PRAY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

[00:15:04]

I PRAY OVER EACH OF YOU AS OFTEN AS I CAN, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR, FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR FAMILIES.

I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE. [APPLAUSE] OK, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTINA MOORE.

IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MARTINA MOORE.

I HAVE ONE CHILD IN THE DISTRICT, 1806 HOLLOW CREEK COURT GARLAND, TEXAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MARTINA MOORE AND MY DAUGHTER IS THE JV CHEER CAPTAIN AT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE RULES IN THE VAPA AND CHEERLEADING HANDBOOK, WHICH IS POSTED ON THE GARLAND ISD WEBSITE, ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED AS IT READS.

AS STUDENT ATHLETES, THE GIRLS FULLY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE REPRESENTING THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

IF AT ANY POINT THEY CHOOSE TO RISK THAT PRIVILEGE BY ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE THEY ARE CHOOSING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY FOLLOW THEIR ACTIONS.

THE CHEERLEADING HANDBOOK IS VERY CLEAR AS TO WHAT IS DEEMED UNACCEPTABLE.

HOWEVER, CURRENTLY AT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL EQUITY IS NOT BEING APPLIED WHEN INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS ARE BEING MADE AWARE OF.

AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THE HANDBOOK AND CREATE A COMMITTEE OF STUDENT ATHLETES, SPONSORS AND COACHES TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE EQUALITY ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS TROYLENE MOYER.

JUST STATE, YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, THANK YOU.

YES. TROYLENE MOYER 4409 VISTA CREEK DRIVE, ROWLETT, TEXAS.

WE HAVE THREE KIDS IN GISD AND SO I'M GOING TO PICK UP WHERE MY HUSBAND LEFT OFF, WHICH AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT HE STATED IS ALL FROM GISD FACTS.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO READ THE FACTS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT EMOTIONS, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONS INTO THE MASK.

BUT I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT GISD IS LISTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS BEING IN VIOLATION OF GA 38 AND HAS BEEN SENT A LETTER WARNING THEM THAT LITIGATION IS COMING. AS PARENTS AND LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, WE ARE ASKING THAT GISD DO THE RIGHT THING AND END THIS ILLEGAL POLICY IMMEDIATELY.

I'M GOING TO READ A COUPLE MORE THINGS, BUT TO BE HONEST, IT HAS EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY AFFECTED A LOT OF CHILDREN, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE EVEN KNOW THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO TO CHILDREN SOCIALLY.

HAVING A MASK OVER THEIR FACE, NOT BEING ABLE TO, JUST LIKE CRAIG HAD SAID AS FAR AS LIKE JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE SMILES AND INTERACTIONS AND REACTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, GOD DIDN'T MAKE US TO HAVE COVERINGS OVER OUR FACE.

HE MADE US TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE FREELY AND TO SPEAK FREELY.

AND SO MY 13 YEAR OLD SPECIFICALLY IS VERY INVOLVED SOCIALLY AND OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, IT HAS AFFECTED HER VERY MUCH SO, SO MUCH THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE SHE HAD SO MUCH SOCIAL ANXIETY AFTER BEING BASICALLY LOCKED UP IN THE HOUSE OVER ALL OF THIS COVID STUFF.

ARE WE SAYING COVID IS NOT REAL? ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE KNOW SOME, MANY DEAR FRIENDS OF OURS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY, SO WE'RE NOT CLAIMING THAT IT'S NOT REAL, BUT IT WILL.

MASK DO NOT WORK.

THEY DO NOT KEEP FROM SPREADING COVID AS THE FACTS HAVE SHOWN THAT.

AND THEN ALSO EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 38 AS APPLIES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AGAIN, TO FURTHER ENSURE THAT NO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY CAN MANDATE MASKS.

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS SHALL CONTINUE TO APPLY NO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, INCLUDING A COUNTY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES GISD, WE'RE A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND NO GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIAL MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO WEAR A FACE COVERING OR TO MANDATE THAT ANOTHER PERSON WEAR A FACE COVERING.

THE OTHER THING IS BACK TO THE SHAMING THERE HAVE BEEN I WILL NOT LIST SPECIFICS.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES, BUT SEVERAL TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT DO SHAME CHILDREN FOR NOT WEARING A MASK AND TREAT THEM DIFFERENTLY.

AND I THINK IF YOU WANT TO BRING UP THE MANY SUBJECTS OF DISCRIMINATION, THAT IS A VERY

[00:20:05]

AS WELL AS ONE OF MY FRIENDS, HER STUDENT CONTINUED TO BE COUNTED ABSENT BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT WEARING A MASK BY ONE TEACHER, AND THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

AND EVEN THOUGH FACE COVERINGS CANNOT BE MANDATED BY ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT DOES NOT PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM WEARING ONE.

AS WE'VE SAID, WE'RE FREEDOM.

IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK, WEAR A MASK.

IF YOU DON'T, DON'T.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OK, THE NEXT SPEAKER, I'M NOT GOING TO GET THE NAME RIGHT, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY.

AVINCI AGUILAR.

I'M SORRY. YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AT THE PODIUM.

OK, PERFECT. AND THEN I'LL LEARN THIS NAME.

OK, GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AGUILAR, AND I DO HAVE ONE STUDENT IN THE GARLAND ISD. I LIVE AT 3607 GALAXY CIRCLE IN GARLAND, TEXAS, AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, MY SON'S EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL.

AT HOME, WE DID, AND THIS IS IN REGARDS TO MASKING AND ALL THE THE COVID PROTOCOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HAVE COME UP.

SO AT HOME, WE DID TRY TO MAINTAIN A VERY NORMAL SCENARIO.

SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT ABOUT OUR LIVES AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.

AND HE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FINE.

NOW, ONCE HE WENT INTO FACE TO FACE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF ALL THE MASK REQUIREMENTS, THE TEACHERS JUST I FEEL TO A POINT BULLYING THEM TO HAVE A MASK ON AND HIM FEELING LIKE HE WAS GETTING IN TROUBLE BECAUSE HE WASN'T WEARING ONE.

IT BECAME VERY EMOTIONAL FOR HIM.

AND SO TO THE POINT WHERE HE WAS FRIGHTENED WHEN HE WOULD COME HOME, HE WOULD TELL ME STORIES OF MY TEACHER SAID THAT I NEED TO WEAR A MASK BECAUSE OF THIS OR BECAUSE OF THAT OR BECAUSE OR THEY WOULD JUST TELL HIM TRAGIC STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING SICK.

IF AT MY HOME, I TRY TO MAINTAIN A VERY NORMAL ATMOSPHERE FOR HIM.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES OR THE TEACHERS HAVE ANY RIGHT TO FRIGHTEN MY CHILD THAT WAY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LAWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHILE THEY GET SORTED OUT THAT THEY'RE IN PLACE, BUT THE TEACHERS SHOULD LIMIT THEMSELVES TO JUST ASKING THEM IF THEY HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE THE EXEMPTION OR NOT FIGURING THAT OUT AND THEN LEAVING THEM ALONE.

I DON'T BELIEVE MY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN THAT ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE I WANT HIM TO BE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.

AND I'M JUST SPEAKING OUT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WHAT I'VE SEEN, THE CHANGES THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY CHILD.

HE IS IN SECOND GRADE AND I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO COME HOME TO ME AND TELL ME THIS ATROCITIES, BECAUSE AT HOME, EVERYTHING IS NORMAL.

BUT HE GOES OUT AND, YOU KNOW, IN SCHOOL AND NOTHING IS NORMAL.

EVERYTHING IS CHAOS, AND HE'S AFRAID.

SO I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CONSIDERED AND MAYBE IMPLEMENT SOMETHING IN SCHOOLS TO WHERE KIDS ARE NOT FRIGHTENED.

I MEAN, FIND A WAY AROUND THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN BY STATES OR SCHOOL OR WHATEVER OR GOVERNMENTS. BUT THAT SHOULD NOT AFFECT OUR CHILD'S EMOTIONS WHILE THEY'RE LEARNING.

IT SHOULD BE A STRESS FREE ENVIRONMENT.

AND LATELY, THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, IT HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT THAT FOR MY CHILD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT EXPERIENCE OUT THERE SO THAT YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND WHAT CHILDREN ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND THIS IS FROM A SECOND YEAR OLD THAT IS COMING HOME, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES CRYING.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, YOU KNOW, GET HIM TO COME OUT OF THAT FEAR.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY.

JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OK, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIM NICKERSON.

GOOD EVENING, GISD BOARD.

MY NAME IS KIM NICKERSON, AND I HAVE LIVED AT 1709 ST.

JAMES PLACE IN GARLAND FOR 20 YEARS.

I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO GISD STUDENTS, ONE OF WHOM IS A SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER AND A GNT STUDENT AT HILLSIDE ACADEMY.

I WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED BY HEARING ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH A SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER WHO MADE RACIST REMARKS ABOUT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENT.

IT ALSO DISTURBED ME THAT THIS CHEERLEADER ALSO MADE THE CHOICE TO CYBERBULLY THIS YOUNG LADY. THIS IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE AND COMPLETELY VIOLATES THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

[00:25:06]

IT IS LIKE AN ICEBERG.

SOMETIMES WHAT WE SEE ABOVE THE SURFACE IS LITERALLY JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT LIES BELOW THE SURFACE. HATE IS TAUGHT.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING, WE PUT OUR HAND OVER OUR HEARTS AND WE RECITED HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD AND ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THESE WORDS, THEN WE NEED TO SHOW IT AND HONOR GOD BY ABIDING HIS GREATEST COMMANDMENT, WHICH IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, NOT HATE.

MY REQUEST IS THAT YOU PERMANENTLY REMOVE THIS STUDENT FROM THE SACHSE CHEER TEAM, AFTER ALL WHY CHEER FOR PEOPLE WHO YOU SAY ARE BENEATH YOU? THAT IS NOT WHAT GOD CALLS US TO DO.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OK, THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC RITCHIE.

YES. EXCUSE ME, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, THANK YOU. YES.

MY NAME IS ERIC RITCHIE.

I LIVE AT 8901 LINDA VISTA DRIVE IN ROWLETT AND I HAVE TWO AT SACHSE AND ONE AT BRANDENBURG. BUT I'M NOT HERE ALONE.

I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A GROWING NETWORK OF CONCERNED PARENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE WITH ME NOW, WHO ALSO HAVE CHILDREN ATTENDING GISD SCHOOLS.

OUR NETWORK BEGAN AS A MISSION TO BE THE WATCHMAN AT THE GATES TO SAFEGUARD OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FROM CULTURAL AND POLITICAL, IDEOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION IN THE CLASSROOM AND MEDICAL CHOICE FREEDOM UNDER THE LOVING CARE AND AUTHORITY OF THEIR PARENTS, NOT PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF INSTITUTIONS OR GOVERNMENT.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ENTRUST THIS SCHOOL BOARD WITH HELPING OUR KIDS HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AND WITH THEIR SAFETY WHILE ATTENDING GISD SCHOOLS.

HOWEVER, AND I MEAN THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT SEEMS THAT THIS BOARD MAY VERY WELL BE OUT OF TOUCH WITH HELPING EDUCATE OUR KIDS AND KEEPING THEM HEALTHY AND SAFE WHILE ATTENDING GISD SCHOOLS.

TODAY, WE ADDRESS THIS SCHOOL BOARD'S LATEST TEMPORARY MASK REQUIREMENT THAT YOU VOTED INTO EFFECT ON AUGUST 24TH 2021 AND IS SET TO TENTATIVELY EXPIRE OCTOBER 26, 2021 AND PRESENT TO YOU THAT ANY MASK REQUIREMENT IS CONTRARY TO THE VALUES AND MISSIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, WHICH IN PART YOU ARE SAID TO PROVIDE THROUGH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING OR SEL.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS MASK REQUIREMENT FOR CHILDREN IS EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

IN FACT, THE POLICY ITSELF SMACKS OF CHILD ABUSE.

I CAN'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING NELSON MANDELA HAS SAID, BUT ONE THING I CAN AGREE WITH HIM ABOUT IS WHEN HE SAID THERE CAN BE NO KEENER REVELATION OF A SOCIETY'S SOUL THAN THE WAY IN WHICH IT TREATS ITS CHILDREN.

SO TODAY IT SEEMS SOCIETY'S SOUL IS THAT OF AN ABUSIVE PARENT.

ON THE GISD WEBSITE, IT STATES THAT SEL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT INSTRUCTION AND THAT THESE SKILLS HELP STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.

YOU STATE THAT IT IS YOUR MISSION TO HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS, BY EMPOWERING LEARNERS, BY DEVELOPING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS, FOSTERING OPEN AND EQUAL ENVIRONMENTS, CULTIVATING PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP AND THRIVE.

THAT SEL IS THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-CONTROL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR LIFE, AND THAT SEL BUILDS RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, SELF-AWARENESS, SOCIAL AWARENESS, SELF-MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING.

IN PRACTICE SEL IS TO HELP GROW IMPORTANT SOFT SKILLS LIKE UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING EMOTIONS, SETTING AND ACHIEVING POSITIVE GOALS.

FEELING AND SHOWING EMPATHY FOR OTHERS.

ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.

GISD FURTHER STATES IT USES THE BASICS TO GUIDE OUR USE OF SEL IN OUR DISTRICT.

IT LISTS THE BASICS AS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, DEVELOPING STUDENT GRIT, CREATING ENGAGING LEARNING SPACES, WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

THIS SOUNDS GREAT, AND IT'S NECESSARY, BUT COMPARED WITH SEVERAL STUDIES THAT REPORT THE ADVERSE OUTCOMES FOR MASKING CHILDREN.

ADVERSE OUTCOMES OTHER THAN THOSE AFFECTING THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, ONE CAN PLAINLY SEE THAT MASKING CHILDREN IS CONTRARY TO SEL, RENDERING THE CURRICULUM USELESS.

IF SEL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT INSTRUCTION TO HELP STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.

MASKING THEM LIMITS THAT INSTRUCTION.

GISD'S LAST BASIC POINT WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT WE UNDERSTAND TO CONSTITUTE THE NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD'S ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL EDUCATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AND SHOSHANA RITCHIE.

AND I HOPE I DID THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR, YOU DID. STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SHOSHANA RITCHIE.

I LIVE AT 8901 LINDA VISTA DRIVE IN ROWLETT, TEXAS.

[00:30:02]

I'M GOING TO PICK UP FROM WHERE MY HUSBAND LEFT OFF.

RENDERING THE CURRICULUM USELESS.

IF SEL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT INSTRUCTION TO HELP STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY, MASKING THEM LIMITS THAT INSTRUCTION.

GISD'S LAST BASIC POINT WHOLE CHILD DEVELOPMENT, WE UNDERSTAND TO CONSTITUTE THE NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD'S ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL EDUCATION.

BUT WE ALSO THINK OF THE WHOLE AS THE SUM OF ALL ITS PARTS.

IT IS COMPLETE AND UNDIVIDED.

NOTHING IS MISSING, NOTHING BROKEN.

AND I MEAN WHOLENESS IN THIS SENSE AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. BUT WHAT WE SEE DEVELOPING WITH MASKING CHILDREN IS HARDLY WHOLENESS.

BUT THE SLOW DETERIORATION OF AND VIOLENCE AGAINST EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL ON A MASS SCALE ACROSS THE K THROUGH 12 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECTRUM.

AS PARENTS, THIS IS VERY ALARMING TO US.

WE ARE ALL BIOLOGICALLY WIRED TO RECOGNIZE FACES.

AFTER BABIES ARE BORN THEY IMMEDIATELY START LOOKING FOR AND EVEN SHOW A PREFERENCE FOR FACES. AND BY SEVEN MONTHS OF AGE, THEY CAN RECOGNIZE EMOTIONS LIKE ANGER OR FEAR THROUGH FACIAL EXPRESSION.

IN AN ARTICLE TITLED WHY A MASK IS NOT JUST A MASK, THE AUTHOR KATHLEEN M.

PIKE, PHD, WHO'S A PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH WHO COLLABORATING CENTER AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, STATED THAT THE EMOTIONS JOY, ANGER, FEAR, SURPRISE, SADNESS, CONTEMPT AND DISGUST ARE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE WRITTEN ALL OVER OUR FACES.

THROUGH THESE SEVEN CORE FEELINGS, IN ADDITION TO OTHER EMOTIONS, WE DEPEND ON FACIAL EXPRESSION TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH I THINK CAN BE APPLIED TO AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION ACCOUNTS FOR MOST OF WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD IN SOCIAL EXCHANGES, BUT WITH FACES HALF COVERED PEOPLE LOSE KEY NON-VERBAL INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION LIKE RAISED EYEBROWS AND SHOULDER SHRUGS BECOME HIGHLY AMBIGUOUS WITHOUT CUES FROM THE MOUTH.

DR. PIKE LIKENS THIS LOSS OF INFORMATION TO TALKING ON YOUR PHONE IN A ZONE WITH WEAK CELL SERVICE LIKE THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU ONLY HEAR EVERY THIRD WORD AND EVENTUALLY THE CALL DROPS. THE EFFECT LEAVES US FEELING LESS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND LESS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. IN AN ARTICLE FROM THE HILL, THE AUTHOR STATES THAT COVERING CHILDREN'S FACES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPEDE VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION AND BY EXTENSION, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

AMONG THE VERY THINGS WE SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL TO LEARN.

AND I ADD THAT THESE ARE ALL A NECESSARY PART OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND THANK YOU, DR.

RINGO, FOR TIMING AND TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND YOUR DECORUM. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON IN THE AGENDA TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE

[IV.A. Evidence of Excellence]

WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE TOP MYON CAMPUSES JEANIE BOYETT AND DR.

ANGIE DAVIS, WHO I HAVE ON THE AGENDA.

MR. MILLER, WE'RE GOING TO PULL THAT ITEM FOR NEXT MONTH.

IT'S INTERCESSION WEEK.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL THOSE PRINCIPALS AND STAFF MEMBERS UP HERE.

WELL, AFTER HOURS.

OK, WE'RE PULLING THAT BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL A1.

HOW ABOUT A2.

MS. HOGAN? A2 IS GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE MS. SHERMIKA NELSON-FLUKER AND DR.

SUSANNA RUSSELL IS COMING TO THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

OH, SORRY. PRESIDENT MILLER TRUSTEES DR.

LOPEZ. IF I COULD GET MS. FLUKER TO COME STAND BESIDE ME WHILE I TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HER AMAZINGNESS.

I AM SO INCREDIBLY DELIGHTED TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE A PERSON WHO HAS A CRITICAL IMPACT ON HASHTAG THE GISD EFFECT.

IT IS NO SECRET THAT GARLAND ISD IS RELENTLESSLY FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING STUDENT LEARNING AND CULTIVATING A ROBUST LEADERSHIP PIPELINE.

WHAT IS PROBABLY NOT AS WELL KNOWN IS THAT WE HAVE A SECRET SUPERHERO AT WORK, SHERMIKA NELSON-FLUKER.

A SECRET SUPERHERO YOU MIGHT ASK ME.

WHAT IS HER SUPERPOWER? WELL, SHE IS THE GARLAND ISD GRANT WRITER EXTRAORDINAIRE.

SINCE JOINING GARLAND ISD, SHE HAS WRITTEN IN ONE COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS FOR OVER 5.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN ACTUAL FUNDS?

[00:35:04]

I'VE GOT MORE.

SHE WAS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE GRANT FOR THE HOLDSWORTH CENTER, WHICH WILL BRING A $6 MILLION VALUE IN TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO FOCUS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. [APPLAUSE].

AND SHERMIKA CAN NEVER REST.

WE ARE CURRENTLY PENDING OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS, AND SHE IS AGGRESSIVELY AND ACTIVELY RESEARCHING FURTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU MAY HAVE NEVER MET HER.

SHE LARGELY WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES.

SHE WORKS ENDLESSLY AND TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES THAT IS, AND PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT EACH GRANT SUBMITTED TAKES HOUR UPON HOUR OF PREPARATION AND RESEARCH, AND WHAT SHE BRINGS TO THE TABLE EXTENDS FAR BEYOND AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING FUNDING SOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SHERMIKA HELPS TEAMS DECIDE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEST FOR US AND WHICH ONES WE SHOULD NOT PURSUE.

SHE DEALS IN FACTS AND DATA, AND SHE DOESN'T HESITATE TO DIPLOMATICALLY TELL EVEN ME NOPE. WHEN I SEND HER A GRANT, I FOUND.

I AM PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT MS. NELSON-FLUKER WILL NOW ALSO BE APPLYING ALL OF HER GRANT SKILLS TO MANAGING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHE HAS HELPED TO BRING TO GARLAND ISD.

HER WORK HAS HELPED FUND ADDITIONAL KEY INITIATIVES SUCH AS PRE-K EXPANSION, THE SCHOOL ACTION FUND, SCHOOL REDESIGN, BLENDED LEARNING, P-TECH AND EVEN SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY. SHE'S HELPED, SHE HAS EVEN MORE IDEAS UP HER SLEEVE THAT WILL HELP US ALL LEVEL UP EVEN HIGHER.

SHERMIKA, IT IS A TREMENDOUS JOY TO WORK WITH YOU AND AN EVEN GREATER JOY TO SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE IMMEASURABLE IMPACT YOUR WORK HAS ON THE GARLAND ISD STAFF AND STUDENTS . TRUSTEES IT IS MY THRILL TO PRESENT TO YOU, MS. SHERMIKA NELSON-FLUKER.

YOU ARE NOT ONLY LIVING EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE, YOU ARE THE GISD EFFECT.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

DR. LOPEZ, I STAND BEFORE YOU VERY GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THIS HONOR AND ACTIVELY AGAIN PURSUING OTHER GRANTS THAT WILL DEFINITELY ADD RESOURCES TO OUR INITIATIVES TO PUSH OUR DISTRICT FORWARD.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THIS EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENT RECOGNITION AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL SEE MORE OF ME SOON.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING. [APPLAUSE] IF WE COULD GET A PHOTO.

IF PRESIDENT MILLER WILL COME DOWN.

OK.

I GET TO STAND BY A SUPERSTAR.

CONGRATULATIONS .

4 A3 RECOGNIZE MR. MARK BOOKER. DR.

BRENT RINGO. MR. JOHNSON, MR. MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.

LOPEZ. GOOD EVENING.

ALSO, I WILL INVITE MR. BOOKER TO COME ON UP AS I READ THIS.

IT'S NOT OFTEN WE GET TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE SUCCESS THEY HAVE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS PAST WEEK AT AN EVENT.

AND I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NOW, AND I'LL TURN OVER TO MR. BOOKER BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF THE BETTER SPEAKERS YOU'LL EVER BE AROUND AND HAS GREAT ANALOGIES FOR WHATEVER WE'RE FACING.

BUT THE GREATER SOUTHWEST BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S EXPAND MEN IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 TO RECOGNIZE BUSINESS MEN IN THE DFW METROPLEX.

THE CONFERENCE IS DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS, ESTABLISHED BUSINESSMEN, DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS LEADERS, INCLUDING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO EXPAND AND GO BEYOND THEIR KNOWLEDGE BY CHALLENGING ISSUES AND CONCERNS THOSE MEN ENCOUNTER IN TODAY'S BUSINESS WORLD.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING FOR GARLAND ISD, MARK BOOKER, WAS AWARDED THE PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AT THE EXPAND BUSINESS MEN'S CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 24TH 2021.

MR. BOOKER IS A PROCUREMENT LEADER.

[00:40:02]

AS A RESULT OF MR. BOOKER'S LEADERSHIP IN THE PROCUREMENT FIELD, THE GARLAND ISD IS ONLY ONE OF SEVEN DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE THE CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT TRANSPARENCY STAR.

HE MOTIVATES HIS TEAM AND PERSONNEL HE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH, BUILDS A SENSE OF PURPOSE TO SUPPORT DISTRICT OPERATIONS AND IS OFTEN ASKED TO LEAD TRAINING FOR OTHER PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS FOR THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS.

GREAT LEADERS KNOW THEIR TEAM AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.

INSPIRES OTHERS TO GROW.

CARE ABOUT OTHERS AND OUR TRANSPARENT AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE.

ALL OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBE MARK BOOKER.

CONGRATS, MR. BOOKER. BUT BEFORE I FINISH NOT ONLY IS HE A PROCUREMENT LEADER, HE IS A GREAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

I CONSIDER HIM A GREAT FRIEND, TOO.

AND SO WITH THAT, MR. BOOKER, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO MR. MILLER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO DR.

LOPEZ, I'M HUMBLED AND THANKFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE GREATEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I'M FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH A GREAT TEAM WITH A LEADER WHO IS SO SUPPORTIVE.

I'M SO THANKFUL FOR DR.

RINGO AND ALL OF MY FELLOW DISD TEAMMATES THAT I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH.

I'D BE REMISS IF I STOOD BEFORE YOU AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME TRULY BEYOND MEASURE AS A RESULT OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND I WOULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE MY WIFE FOR THIRTY NINE YEARS.

DEBORAH. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] SHE HAS BEEN BESIDE ME FOR THIRTY NINE YEARS AND THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT I SPEND AT THE OFFICE WORKING, I COULD NOT DO WITHOUT HER RAISING OUR THREE CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING OUR THREE GRANDCHILDREN.

SO I'VE TRULY BEEN BLESSED AND JUST HONORED TO WORK WITH THE GREATEST PURCHASING TEAM.

I CERTAINLY DON'T DO IT BY MYSELF AND JUST THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. [APPLAUSE] I'M IN TROUBLE NOW. WE NEED SOME BEAUTY I AGREE. HE'S ALSO A BARBECUE CHAMPION. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM

[IV.B. Going the Extra Mile (GEMs)]

[APPLAUSE] MS. CAMPBELL, IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DR.

LOPEZ, OUR HONOREE TONIGHT IS MS. JUDY CAMPBELL, GISD'S ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN BE CONSIDERED A TRAILBLAZER IN THEIR PROFESSION, BUT SHE DEFINITELY CAN TOUT THAT HONOR AFTER SERVING 45 YEARS IN GARLAND ISD.

[APPLAUSE] SO LET ME TELL YOU HER STORY, JUDY STARTED HER CAREER AS A COACH IN ROYSE CITY, WHERE SHE GREW UP.

THE LEGENDARY HOMER B JOHNSON HEARD ABOUT THIS DYNAMIC YOUNG LADY AND ASKED JUDY TO COME ON OVER TO GARLAND AND START HER CAREER IN A BETTER DISTRICT.

SO JUDY WAS HIRED AT SOUTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AS THE FIRST, AS THE FIRST AS THE FIRST FEMALE COACH IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

YES. [APPLAUSE] YOU SEE, FORTY FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO GIRL SPORTS IN GARLAND AT ALL.

NOW WE KNOW THAT WOMEN'S RIGHTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

[00:45:03]

I'M SURE DISAPPROVAL SHE MUST HAVE FACED AT THAT TIME.

YET DESPITE THESE BARRIERS, JUDY HELD HER HEAD HIGH.

SHE PRESSED FORWARD WITH UNWAVERING FORTITUDE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS, BUT SPECIFICALLY FEMALE STUDENTS AND OTHER WOMEN IN GISD.

AND SHE NOW SAYS THAT TAKING THAT CHANCE TO COME TO GARLAND WAS THE BEST DECISION SHE EVER MADE. AFTER YEARS OF COACHING AT SOUTH GARLAND AND THEN NAAMAN FOREST HIGH SCHOOL, JUDY MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT ROLE WHILE ACHIEVING HER CAREER DREAM OF BEING AMONG THE INAUGURAL WOMEN ACCEPTED INTO THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION, WHERE SHE MENTORS YOUNG COACHES ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, JUDY'S BEEN KICKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR DECADES, AND SHE FEELS STRONGLY THAT WOMEN SHOULD COACH OTHER WOMEN BECAUSE IT SETS A GOOD ROLE MODEL INFLUENCES OUR YOUNG LADY ATHLETES.

OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WHO'S HERE TODAY, DR.

RON GRIFFIN, SAYS THAT JUDY'S PASSION AND DEDICATION TO SERVING COACHES AND STUDENT ATHLETES IN GISD IS DEFINITELY WHAT MAKES HER AN OUTSTANDING LEADER.

SHE IS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS LOVED BY ALL, AND I'M BLESSED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER. WELL, JUDY, YOU ARE A GOOD ROLE MODEL AND YOU ARE A TRUE GEM.

YOU HAVE TOUCHED LIVES IN, OUT AND AROUND GISD AND ALL THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

YOUR IMPACT HAS CHANGED LIVES AND YOU'RE STILL IMPACT PUT YOU ARE THE GISD EFFECT.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER YOU'LL BE HERE IN GISD.

IT'S ONLY BEEN FORTY FIVE YEARS.

[LAUGHTER] SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU NOW AND GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS AND TELL YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE MADE GARLAND ISD ATHLETICS THE PILLAR OF SUCCESS THAT IT IS TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESILIENCY, YOUR FORTITUDE, YOUR DEDICATION AND PASSION.

CONGRATULATIONS, JUDY.

YOU ARE TRULY A GEM AND BY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME HERE TO SUPPORT YOU TONIGHT, YOU ARE DEFINITELY LOVED.

I THINK SHE DESERVES A STANDING OVATION.

[APPLAUSE] PRESIDENT MILLER AND DR.

LOPEZ AND BOARD PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME KNOW THAT I GET VERY EMOTIONAL AND I GET VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT SPORTS AND ABOUT GARLAND ISD.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT AND SO HUMBLING TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TO HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE SUPPORTING ME.

WORDS CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN.

JUST I'M HUMBLED, I'M HONORED, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND SHERESE, ESPECIALLY YOU. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THE INSTIGATORS OF ALL THIS, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND WE'LL GET IT, ANYBODY UP HERE YOU WANT TO GET.

OH OK, PERFECT.

OH MY GOSH. NOBODY SAID I WAS GOING TO GET A DIAMOND.

YOU'RE GETTING A DIAMOND. [LAUGHTER] PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY, ALL FRIENDS AND DIRECTOR RON GRIFFIN, WE WILL COME UP AND HAVE HIM TAKE A PICTURE.

OH, OK. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE EVERYONE.

DON'T RUN OFF WITH MY DIAMOND.

EVERYBODY.

YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:51:31]

[V.A. Trustees' Report]

THIS IS WHERE TRUSTEES WILL GIVE REPORTS.

TRUSTEES WILL REPORT ATTENDANCE AT RECENT COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT EVENTS ANNOUNCING UPCOMING DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY DISTRICT STAFF AND STUDENTS.

RECOGNITION OF NEW PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.

AND I WILL START TO MY RIGHT WITH MRS. GRIFFIN. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT MILLER.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTREMELY BUSY 30 DAYS.

I FIRST WANT TO GIVE MY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR LATINO COMMUNITY, HISPANIC COMMUNITY. THEY MAKE UP SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR THE ACTIVITIES, YOUR TRADITIONS AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD ON THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. ONE THING THAT I WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED AND APPRECIATIVE OF WAS THAT SOUTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN THEY TURNED THEIR LIBRARY INTO A CLASSROOM FOR HISPANIC AFFAIRS.

AND IF YOU WENT, IT WAS NOT FOR YOU TO JUST WALK AROUND AND SEE.

THERE WERE ACTUALLY GAMES TO BE PLAYED, QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.

ALL SEGMENTS OF THAT LIBRARY WAS FROM SOME PART OF THE HISPANIC CULTURE . THAT WAS EXCITING IN ITSELF, BUT CLASSES WERE IN ATTENDANCE IN THE LIBRARY AND THEY HAD THEIR CHROMEBOOKS WALKING AROUND BECAUSE THEY HAD ACTIVITIES AND CLASSWORK TO DO ON THIS CELEBRATION. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? AND I THINK EVERY TIME WE CAN GIVE OUT INFORMATION AND GIVE OUT FACTS, I JUST THINK WE RICHEN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.

SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO SOUTH GARLAND FOR THAT.

AND AGAIN, MY CONGRATULATIONS AND ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR MONTH.

THE OTHER THING WE HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE-BY GIVEAWAY OF THE TRADITIONAL

[00:55:04]

DR. LOPEZ WAS THERE DANCING WITH THE MUSIC, AND HE WOULDN'T TELL YOU ALL THAT.

BUT HE WAS AND EMCEEING AND MEETING THE PUBLIC AND JUST BEING OUT EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING IN THE FRESH AIR.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ENVIRONMENT.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A TASB AND A TEA WEBINAR THAT WAS DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING THESE PAST 18 MONTHS.

AND I KNOW YOU SAY, WELL, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE LIVED THROUGH IT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS TO SHARE.

GOOD TO SHARE WITH YOUR FELLOW DISTRICTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT WHAT WAS MOST SURPRISING ABOUT THAT TASB AND TEA WEBINAR WAS THAT IT WAS LED BY FORMER GARLAND ISD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER JEFF COTTRILL, WHO IS NOW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN TEA.

I DIDN'T REMEMBER HIM, BUT HE SAW MY NAME AND MR. GLICK'S NAME IN ATTENDANCE AND CALLED US OUT.

AND SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE CALLED OUT WHEN YOU DON'T THINK ANYONE IS WATCHING.

SO I AM VERY GLAD OF HIS SUCCESS THAT HE HAS GONE FROM HERE TO MANY OTHER DISTRICTS AND NOW IS THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN TEA.

I WANT TO THANK THE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING COMMITTEE OR THE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK ALL OF US KNOW WE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE WE WERE IN COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED COLLEGE FAIR AND COLLEGES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COME TO RECRUIT OUR CHILDREN.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT OUR GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT DID KNOWING THAT WE COULDN'T ATTEND, THEY CAME IN AND DECORATED OUR TABLES IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

AND WHEN I SAY IT'S ONE THING TO DECORATE, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO TAILOR IT.

THEY HAD THE BANNERS OF OUR SCHOOL AND I WAS VERY GLAD TO SEE TENNESSEE STATE.

THAT'S REALLY THE TRUE TSU.

SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR THE EXTRA MILE THAT THEY WENT TO DO THAT.

REGION 10 HAD A DIGITAL TRANSITION DISCUSSION THAT SPONSORED BY A LEARNING COUNCIL AND WHO WAS THERE LIVE AND IN LIVING COLOR TALKING ABOUT OUR DIGITAL TRANSITION.

AND THAT WAS NONE OTHER THAN COLEMAN BRUMAN FROM THE GRTC TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND ALTHOUGH WE LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING AND WE LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING. BUT THIS TRAINING SESSION WAS TALKING ABOUT SOPHISTICATED DESKTOPS, LAPTOPS, ALL THINGS THAT ARE USED TO AND ARE REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND TECH PROGRAMS. AND WE CHECKED ALL OF THE BOXES IN TERMS OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE STRIVING FOR.

AND ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE WHEN WE OPENED THAT BUILDING IS THAT IF WE COULDN'T HAVE THE STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT OVER THERE, YOU ALL THAT WAS AROUND, THEN YOU REMEMBER THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE CAN SHOWCASE THAT BUILDING NOT ONLY WITH HOW IT LOOKS, NOT ONLY WITH WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING WHEN THEY GET THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT FOR ALL LEVELS OF TRAINING OVER THERE.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING, WHEN IS SHE GOING TO BE QUIET.

WELL, I HAVE TWO MORE.

THERE WAS THE TASB CONFERENCE AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE MANY OF US WAS THERE. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE SESSIONS WAS REWARDING BECAUSE WE TOOK A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GARLAND MULTI COMMISSION, AND WE'VE DEVELOPED SOMETHING INTO AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT'S CALLED LITERACY FOR LIFE.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP MADE ITSELF TO THE TASB CONVENTION, AND MANY

[01:00:08]

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, MR. BEACH.

YES, I'M GOING TO NAME A FEW THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, GOOD LUCK TO OUR FFA STUDENTS THAT ARE AT THE DALLAS STATE FAIR.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE SHOWING ANIMALS AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, SO GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

ALSO THE GARLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD MET LAST WEDNESDAY AND THE GIVING CAMPAIGN HAS ENDED, BUT WE HAVE SET A NEW RECORD FINANCIALLY FOR OUR TEACHERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY DONATE TO THEM.

IT WAS A SET OF RECORD AND I'D LIKE FOR EVERYBODY TO MARK THEIR CALENDARS FOR DECEMBER THE 3RD FOR TRIVIA AND TINSEL AND ATTEND THAT FUNCTION.

IT'S ALSO A FUNDRAISER FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT VENUE.

IF YOU'VE NEVER ATTENDED, PLEASE DO SO.

ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL 20 YEAR CELEBRATION PARADE.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN OPEN 20 YEARS, BUT THEY DID A PARADE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT UP AND DOWN THE STREET ON MILES ROAD.

IT WAS AN EXCELLENT VENUE AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO GO UP AND WAVE AT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I SAW AND KNEW.

ALSO WE HAD A GROUP FROM THE BOARD PLAY IN THE GARLAND CHAMBER TOURNAMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT LAST WEEK AND WE SHOT 11 UNDER.

WE DID VERY WELL AND GOT TO REALLY PROMOTE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WE WERE OUT THERE ON FRIDAY, DIDN'T WIN THE TOURNAMENT, BUT WE DID HAVE A GOOD ROUND OF GOLF.

ALSO, I DID ATTEND THE TASB CONFERENCE THE LAST FOUR DAYS LAST THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, AND TO MENTION THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE THAT TO REPRESENT THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. ERIA CRUMP PRESENTED IN ONE SESSION THE LITERACY FOR LIFE WAS RAMONA AGUILAR, LAKISHA CULPEPER, JASON ARMSTRONG AND TRACEY MCCRUTCHEON, AND THEN OUR DR.

LOPEZ ALSO PRESENTED AT A TWO SESSIONS.

AND THEN NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEN JASON WHEELER ALSO PRESENTED FROM OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. SO WE WERE WELL REPRESENTED AT THE TASB CONFERENCE, AND THE PEOPLE REALLY FLOCKED TO THOSE PARTICULAR ROOMS WHERE OUR INDIVIDUALS WERE THERE INVOLVED AT TASB BECAUSE THEY'RE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE GISD EFFECT IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY DISPLAY THAT THROUGHOUT TEXAS.

ALSO TODAY, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A RETIRED TEACHER LUNCHEON AND THE ONE THING THAT REALLY.

TWO HUNDRED AND SOMETHING STRONG TODAY, AND THE ONE THING THAT REALLY MADE ME FEEL REALLY GOOD HAD GOOSE BUMPS THEY'RE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP THE GISD EFFECT.

WHERE CAN THEY GET INVOLVED? THEY, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAD EX PRINCIPALS UP THERE SPEAKING AND SAYING, WE NEED YOU AS TUTORS, WE NEED YOU AS SUBS.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE WRITING, YOU CAN SEE THEM WRITING NOTES WHO WERE TO CALL AND WHATNOT. SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT INCREASE FOR US.

SO THAT WAS REALLY A GOOD VENUE THAT I ATTENDED THERE.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BUT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN.

YOU DESERVE THIS BREAK, AND I AM SO THANKFUL.

SEVENTEEN THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE INTERCESSION, THE TEACHERS THAT ARE THERE WORKING WITH THOSE STUDENTS, THE TIME OFF THAT YOU WILL GET NEXT WEEK FOR THE FALL BREAK. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARGUED ABOUT THE CALENDAR WHEN WE PUT IT OUT THERE A YEAR AGO, BUT NOW THEY'RE SAYING, BOY, Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB.

WE LIKE THIS. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TEACHERS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND THE HARD WORK AND THE HOURS THAT YOU PUT IN CONTINUOUSLY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

I'VE BEEN THERE, BEEN IN YOUR SHOES AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CERTAINLY, MR. JOHNSON.

THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING MY NAME, MR. PRESIDENT. [LAUGHTER] FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MR. JOSEPH FIGARELLI AND THE ENTIRE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THE BAND FEST LAST NIGHT, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I THINK I WAS TALKING WITH TRUSTEE GRIFFIN ABOUT THIS AND WHAT WE WERE KIND OF AMAZED ABOUT IS THESE KIDS THAT ARE OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS.

THEY WENT THROUGH A WHOLE YEAR FROM THEIR SIXTH GRADE YEAR TO THEIR SEVENTH GRADE YEAR, TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS ONLINE.

SO IN A LOT OF CASES, AND YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT FROM GOING OUT THERE AND WATCHING THE PERFORMANCES, THEY WERE JUST AS OUTSTANDING AS EVER.

I THINK THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

I SPOKE AT THE SACHSE CHAMBER AND I TALKED TO THE SAME THING ABOUT.

IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR OUR FINE ARTS, TRYING TO TEACH REMOTELY OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THEY'RE ABLE TO DO HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION WITH OUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A MIRACLE, IN MY OPINION, ONLINE, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO REALLY TAKE THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL NOW.

SO GOOD JOB ON THAT.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT WE HAD LAST NIGHT.

I ALSO WAS WITH MR. BEACH AT THE GARLAND CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT.

IT WAS A FUN DAY AND IT WAS GOOD TO PROMOTE THE GISD EFFECT TO EVERYBODY WHO IS IN THE

[01:05:04]

I SPENT THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS AT TASA TASB ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

I WON'T REDUNDANT THAT I WILL SAY THIS HAT'S OFF TO JASON WHEELER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC PRESENTATIONS I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME AND IN THE GISD COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WAS VERY WELL REPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THAT.

AND LAST, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PBK.

PBK IS THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM THAT WON THE AUCTION FOR THE DINNER AT HOME, COOKED BY FORMER TRUSTEE AND FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT JED REED, AND I WAS THERE SERVING WINE TO THEM.

THEY CONTRIBUTED A LOT OF MONEY TO THE GEF EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

IT TOOK US TWO YEARS TO FINALLY GET THE DINNER SCHEDULED DUE TO COVID, BUT I'M GLAD THEY WERE ABLE TO, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP IN NOVEMBER WITH PURDUE BRANDON, WHO ALSO WAS THE CO-OWNER OF THAT THEY TIED AND WE AGREED TO GIVE THEM TWO DINNERS.

SO WE'LL BE REDOING THAT DR.

LOPEZ WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOR.

HE WAS THE GUEST OF HONOR AT THIS ONE WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOR AT THE NEXT ONE, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A BUNCH OF OTHER CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR THE GISD AT THIS YEAR'S TINSEL AND TRIVIA. THANK YOU.

GREAT. THANK YOU. MS. STANLEY. OK, SO I ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS THIS MONTH, BUT I DID ATTEND THE ROWLETT IN SACHSE CHAMBER LUNCH AND THE ROWLETT CHAMBER LUNCH WE GOT TO.

THEY WERE HONORING THE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, AND I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING THE TEACHERS AND THE PRINCIPALS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT I KNOW, AND THEN I GET TO MEET SOME NEW ONES.

I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SACHSE HOMECOMING PARADE, SO I GOT TO PIN THE CORSAGE ON THE HOMECOMING KING, AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY ENTIRE YEAR SO FAR.

THE PINNING OF THE CORSAGE WAS A LITTLE ROUGH, BUT THE YOUNG MAN WAS VERY PATIENT WHILE I TRIED TO PIN THAT CORSAGE.

IT'S AN ART AND I HAVEN'T REALLY FINE TUNED IT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BUT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE GAME WAS THE COMMUNITY PEP RALLY THAT MOST OF US HAD GONE TO AND WHEN WE WERE SITTING MY HUSBAND AND I AND SOME FRIENDS WERE SITTING IN THE STANDS WATCHING.

BECAUSE THEY DID ALL THE DIFFERENT DANCE TEAMS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT BANDS DID LITTLE MINI ROUTINES AND THEY HAD THESE LITTLE KIDS.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

BUT WHEN THEY WERE ALL THE DIFFERENT GRADES FOR THE HOMECOMING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT CALLED THE ENTOURAGE? I FORGET WHAT IT'S CALLED, BUT THERE WAS THESE PARENTS BEHIND US THAT WARNED US THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET REALLY LOUD BECAUSE THEIR DAUGHTER WAS ONE OF THE SENIOR NOMINEES FOR THE HOMECOMING QUEEN.

AND BOY DID THEY GET LOUD.

BUT SHE ENDED UP WINNING, AND SO THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING, TOO.

SO THAT WAS.

AND THEN I DID DO THE TASA AND TASB CONFERENCE AND THEN THE BAND FEST.

THAT IS THE VERY FIRST TIME I WAS NEVER A BAND PERSON, BUT I'M LEARNING TO LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE BAND, AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

SO THAT WAS IT. MR. SELDERS. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. ASIDE FROM THE TASA TASB CONFERENCE AND THE GOLF TOURNAMENT, AS I WON'T REHASH THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND IS THE NORTH TEXAS AREA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS FIRST MEETING.

THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD IN-PERSON SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, AND IT WAS HELD IN MCKINNEY ISD PHENOMENAL VENUE THAT THEY HAD THERE.

AND WE HAD SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE STATE IN LOCAL AREA TO TALK ABOUT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BUILDING COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READY STUDENTS.

SO IT WAS A GREAT PANEL DISCUSSION AND WE HAD, I THINK, OVER 70 OR SO TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS FROM AROUND THE NORTH TEXAS AREA IN ATTENDANCE, WHICH WAS A GREAT FIRST MEETING. AND SO THE NEXT MEETING IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HELD HERE IN GARLAND ISD AT THE GRCTC ON NOVEMBER 17TH.

SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR TRUSTEES AND DR.

LOPEZ, IF YOU GUYS ARE AVAILABLE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT AND WE WILL HAVE TASB'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN TROXELL.

HE WILL BE THERE TO TALK ABOUT HOT TOPICS AND POLICY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THANK YOU. OK, THANK YOU.

AND AS FOR ME, A VERY BUSY WEEK IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

VERY BUSY MONTH.

I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A COUPLE OF THE CHAMBER MEETINGS WHERE DR.

LOPEZ DELIVERED SOME AWESOME UPDATES ON THE GISD EFFECT.

I'M SURE HE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT THE CHAMBERS OF SACHSE AND GARLAND WERE WELL REPRESENTED.

ONE OF MY PLEASURES WAS BEING ABLE TO SPEAK AT THE SUMMER GRADUATION.

[01:10:06]

IT WAS AN EXCELLENT EVENT, WELL ATTENDED, AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE FAMILIES OF THESE KIDS WERE SUPER APPRECIATIVE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THEIR KIDS.

AND SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD GRADUATION.

THANK YOU, DR.

LOPEZ, FOR ALL THAT WERE INVOLVED.

JUST FOR THE BOARD I WILL SAY THAT WE'RE STILL ATTEMPTING TO SET UP OUR GOAL SETTING.

WE WILL HAVE THAT THERE'S A DATE AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER GOAL SETTING MEETING SOON.

SO CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND SOME FOOTBALL GAMES AND IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING OUT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUPPORT THAT THESE KIDS NEED. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS A CHILD IN THE DISTRICT WHO PARTICIPATES AND WHERE YOU ACTUALLY SHOW UP TO SHOW THEM YOUR SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT KIDS CAN DO IS PARTICIPATE, ESPECIALLY AS A TEAM. THE TASB THING WAS GREAT FOR ME I WENT TO SEVERAL OF THE LEGAL UPDATES WHERE WE TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT WERE ADDRESSED JUST TO MENTION A FEW OF THEM.

THIS PAST LEGISLATURE, IT WAS CURRENTLY GOING ON.

I THINK THEY'RE IN A THIRD SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THEY'VE TACKLED BUDGET, PUBLIC ED AND BROADBAND COVID VOTING LAWS, POWER GRID FAILURES, CIVIL JUSTICE, POLICE, TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING AND TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S JUST A FEW THERE'S, DR.

RINGO COULD PROBABLY SPEAK BETTER TO IT, BUT I THINK THERE WERE OVER 600 BILLS THAT PASSED. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THEM HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC ED, SO WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH THOSE AS THE YEAR UNFOLDS.

AND I THINK THAT COVERS IT FOR ME.

DR. LOPEZ.

[V.B. Superintendent's Report]

IT'S NOT EASY BEING A TRUSTEE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND I KNOW MR. GLICK ISN'T HERE. HE'S HERE IN SPIRIT.

EACH OF THE TRUSTEES GIVES SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO BE INFORMED TO MAKE THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS TODAY, BUT TO GO OUT AND VENTURE TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE FROM BEING INTEGRAL PARTS OF OUR NORTH TEXAS ASSOCIATION TO BEING PART OF NATIONAL ALLIANCES TO BEING PART OF JUST LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS.

I MEAN, IT IS VAST AND BROAD.

THE TIME AND COMMITMENT THAT A BOARD MEMBER GIVES, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT BOARD MONTH, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S HARD TO GO FROM ZERO TO A THOUSAND SOMETIMES.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BOARD.

YOU GUYS ARE GETTING INVITED EVERYWHERE IT ALMOST.

YOU HAVE THIS GUILTY FEELING OF, GOSH, I CAN'T BE STRETCHED IN FOUR PLACES AT ONCE.

WE DID HAVE A GOOD CONFERENCE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

BEFORE THAT, THE TEAM STARTED THEIR SECOND MEETING OVER AT HOLDSWORTH, WHICH WAS VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL.

WE GOT TO SEE HOW H-E-B OPERATES AND SOME OF THE VALUES AND GOALS THAT MAKES THEM A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN HONOR OF THEM, TODAY I'M WEARING MY H-E-B SOCKS.

I GOT A SWAG BAG AND IT INCLUDES SOME SOCKS AND I LIKE LOUD, CRAZY SOCKS.

SO I WENT AHEAD AND IN A TRIBUTE TO HOLDSWORTH, WENT AHEAD AND WORE THOSE TODAY.

AND I COULD SEE IN THE YEARS TO COME HOW THIS IS GOING TO CASCADE DOWN ALL THE WAY TO OUR TEACHERS, TO OUR BUS DRIVERS, AND JUST GIVE THEM A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE AND START BUILDING LEADERSHIP FROM EVERY FACET OF OUR DISTRICT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST TURN THE KEY AND IT STARTS.

BUT ONCE WE GET THIS MOTION RUNNING IN TIME, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF. WHICH GETS ME TO THE GISD EFFECT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK OUR, WE CALL IT CPR TEAM.

IT'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM.

THEY'VE HAD AN EXTREME STUDENT CENTERED FOCUS ON A LOT OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

I THINK YOU COULD SEE IT EVEN WITH OUR GAME ANNOUNCEMENTS THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT THEY DID TO TAKE THESE PICTURES OF KIDS IN ACTION JUST TO GIVE IT A UNIQUE FEEL AND ANNOUNCE WHAT'S GOING ON. OUR ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN UP AT ALL SCHOOLS, I WOULD SAY, AND IT'S APPRECIATED. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE GISD EFFECT.

AND I WANT TO GIVE MY PRESIDENT A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE HE SAYS THE GISD EFFECT ISN'T SOMETHING NEW. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE DONE.

IT'S JUST WE LOST IT DURING COVID TIMES, AND THAT'S EXACTLY TRUE.

YOU HEAR THE PRIDE AND WE DON'T SAY WE'RE PERFECT.

I MEAN, WE'RE A PUBLIC ENTITY.

WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN SOCIETY IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

[01:15:01]

YOU KNOW, AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT THE GISD EFFECT WILL IMPACT ALL OF US WITH. NOW THIS MARKS OUR INTERCESSION FOR OCTOBER.

AND SO I WANT I WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ABOUT TWELVE THOUSAND STUDENTS COMING TO OUR SCHOOLS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND NEXT WEEK IT'S A DISTRICT SHUT DOWN OUTSIDE OF ATHLETICS.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY CAN'T WE SHUT DOWN ATHLETICS? WELL, IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ATHLETICS, IT'S NEVER SHUT DOWN, EXCEPT FOR SOME SUMMER WEEKS. SO IF YOU'RE AN ATHLETE IN SPRING SPORTS, YOU DON'T GET A SPRING BREAK.

IF YOU'RE AN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN BASKETBALL, YOU DON'T GET THANKSGIVING OFF AND YOU GET A VERY LIMITED CHRISTMAS BREAK.

IF YOU'RE IN FOOTBALL, IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PLAYING LATE AND IN VOLLEYBALL, PLAYING LATE, YOU DON'T GET A TRUE BREAK IN THANKSGIVING EITHER.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS IT DOES LIMIT.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT OUR STIPEND THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU DOESN'T COME THIS MONTH'S PAYCHECK. IT COMES IN NEXT MONTH'S PAYCHECK IN OCTOBER.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, THAT'S THE FIRST PAYOUT.

SO PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHERE IS IT, LOPEZ? IS IT COMING IN THE MAIL? IS IT? NO, IT'S IN OCTOBER.

OK, SO OCTOBER IT COMES.

THEN YOU'LL GET ONE. I BELIEVE IT'S DECEMBER AND THEN MARCH.

SO THAT PAY CATEGORY, NOT AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN WE HAVE THE BREAK.

SO IT GOES AT FIVE HUNDRED OCTOBER THOUSAND.

IS IT DECEMBER OR JANUARY DECEMBER? AND THEN IT GOES FIVE HUNDRED FOR MARCH.

SO THOSE THAT STAY GET PAID.

AND IF YOU'RE NEW HERE, STAY NEXT YEAR AND YOU'LL GET YOU'LL GET TO GET ANOTHER TWO THOUSAND THAT GOES FOR EVERYBODY THAT STAYS WITH US NEXT YEAR.

LET'S MAKE IT A GREAT DAY.

ALL RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU.

THAT TAKES US TO ITEM C FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BOARD.

DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS THAT YOU LIKE TO PUT FORTH AT THIS TIME? OK, THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX CONSENT AGENDA.

[VI. Consent Agenda]

MR. PRESIDENT. THERE'S AN UPDATE TO THIS INFORMATION THAT IS IN YOUR FOLDERS AT YOUR DESK.

OK. MR. PRESIDENT. YES, MA'AM.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT AS DELIVERED TO US AT OUR STATION WITH UPDATES.

OK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

BOARD INDICATE YOUR APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

ANY OPPOSED LIKEWISE.

SHOW IT APPROVED UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR SECOND PAGE OF OUR AGENDA.

[Items VII.A. - VII.F. (Part 1 of 2) & VII.G. - VII.M]

WE HAVE A THROUGH M ON THIS AGENDA.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY OF THESE AS A GROUP MS. GRIFFIN OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM INDIVIDUALLY? SEEING THAT, WE HAVE NO UPDATES TO ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.

I WOULD MOVE THAT WE TAKE 7 A B C D E F G H I J K L M AS PRINTED IN OUR AGENDA.

OK, BOARD THERE'S BEEN A.

IS THAT A MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION? OK. THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE ITEMS A THROUGH M UNDER SECTION SEVEN.

ALL ITEMS THAT WERE TOTALLY DISCUSSED IN OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO ANY OF THE MATERIALS.

IF BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL ONE OF THESE ITEMS FROM THE GROUP, WE CAN DO SO.

OTHERWISE, I'M LOOKING FOR A SECOND.

CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION? YES, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN OUR MANILA FOLDER.

IS THIS JUST A.

IT'S A CONCEALED BID.

YES, MA'AM. SO IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT THIS ONE. NO MA'AM. IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME THAT YOU RECEIVED IT.

YOU EVEN RECEIVED THAT SAME DOCUMENTATION IN YOUR RED FOLDER AT COMMITTEE.

OKAY. THAT IS YOUR CONFIDENTIAL BID TAB.

SO JUST HOLD ON TO THAT ONE, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING.

OK, THANK YOU.

SECOND, OK.

BOARD WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ANY OPPOSED? SHOW IT UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.

LET'S GO TO ITEM.

TAKE THIS TO ITEM EIGHT.

[VIII. Executive Session]

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSES PERMITTED BY TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.001 ITEM A PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE

[01:20:07]

WHEN THE BOARD SEEKS THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY ABOUT PENDING LITIGATION.

A SETTLEMENT OFFER ON A MATTER IN WHICH 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.

WE HAVE ITEM ONE DISCUSSION REGARDING CURRENT TEA GUIDANCE, AND WE HAVE ITEM TWO DISCUSSION REGARDING DATA USED IN INTERNAL AUDIT PROCESS.

ALSO, SECTION B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.074 DELIBERATION REGARDING APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION OR REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

ITEM NUMBER ONE IS THE CONSULTATION AND DELIBERATION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES.

SO I PUT ON MY GLASSES SO I CAN SEE WHAT TIME IT IS.

IT IS 6:24 AND WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THANK YOU. OK.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS NOW 8:15, AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, I CAN

[IX. Reconvene from Executive Session for action relative to items considered during Executive Session]

WE DO HAVE ONE ACTION ITEM COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

DO I HEAR ANY MOTIONS.

THIS IS REGARDING CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES.

YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

YES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES FOR MS. JENNIFER MILLER. I'LL SECOND IT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS MOTION.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, PLEASE VOTE FOR BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

ANY OPPOSED? SHOW IT UNANIMOUS THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS? MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A POINT OF ORDER AND SEEK CLARIFICATION REGARDING

[VII.F. Consider Approval of Option for Terracon Soil Sampling Services at Sam Houston Middle School – Javier Fernandez (Part 2 of 2)]

ITEM 7F REQUIRED SOME DETERMINATION BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO AN OPTION THAT WAS TAKEN. IF WE COULD HAVE DISCUSSION ON THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

YES, NOW WE CAN HAVE THAT.

WOULD YOU LIKE ANYBODY TO COME FORWARD TO CLARIFY.

DR. RINGO.

MR. JOHNSON, LOPEZ GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

THIS ITEM, THERE WERE THREE OPTIONS BEING RECOMMENDED OR BEING OUTLINED, I SHOULD SAY, WITH OPTION TWO BEING RECOMMENDED BY ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TERRACON SOIL SAMPLING, WHICH IS ITEM. I'M NOT ABLE TO SCROLL.

HERE WE GO. IT IS UNDER ITEM.

SEVEN F. SEVEN F.

AND SO WE DO HAVE THAT PRESENTATION THAT SHOWS OPTION ONE OPTION TWO THE REQUEST AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING WAS TO ADD OPTION 2B, WHICH WOULD REALLY GIVE US THREE OPTIONS.

AND SO WE ADDED THAT OPTION 2B, AND I CAN BRING UP MR. FERNANDEZ TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE TERRACON SOIL SAMPLING OPTIONS AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION.

YES, MR. JOHNSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THAT? I THINK IT'S NECESSARY AS WHEN I LOOK AT THE AGENDA ITEM IN PARTICULAR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA ITEM JUST SAYS PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN WRITING IN THE AGENDA ITEM THAT DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR NUMBER TWO MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON WHAT DR.

RINGO IS SAYING. BUT WHEN WE APPROVED IT, WE EFFECTIVELY HAD NOTHING TO APPROVE.

SO I THINK THAT I THINK THAT THAT VOTE HAD NO VALIDITY TO IT.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO AMEND. JUST A QUICK POINT EARLY IN THE PRESENTATION ITEMS, IT DOES SAY IT'S STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTION TWO.

[01:25:02]

UNDER THE SUMMARY. YEAH I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM.

THE ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM OK, SO FOR THE CLARIFICATION OF THE BOARD, IF JUST QUICKLY, THEN THE STAFF, SOMEBODY COULD STAND UP TO TELL US WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS AND WHY.

AND THEN I THINK MR. JOHNSON ASKED FOR A THIRD OPTION AND JUST EXPLAIN THAT THIRD OPTION.

YES SIR, WE CAN DO THAT. DR.

LOPEZ. SO DURING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE DID PROVIDE OPTION ONE, WHICH WAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE SAMPLING OPTION, WITH SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE SAMPLES THAT WENT AS DEEP AS TWENTY FOUR INCHES.

AND THEY DID FIVE DEPTH INTERVALS ZERO TO ONE INCH, ONE TO SIX, SIX TO 12, 12 TO 18 AND 18 TO 24. THE TIME AND MATERIALS COST WOULD BE ROUGHLY ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED.

OPTION TWO, WHICH WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION, HAS TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE SAMPLES.

THAT HAS TWO DEPTH INTERVALS.

BOTH OF THESE ARE LOOKING.

OH, I'M SORRY. THE FIRST ONE LOOKED AT 22 METALS.

THESE ARE ONLY LOOKING AT TWO ARSENIC AND LEAD.

THE TWO DEPTH WOULD BE ONE INCH, ZERO TO ONE INCH AND ONE TO SIX INCHES, AND TIME AND MATERIALS COST WOULD BE SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

FROM THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, IT WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT A SEPARATE OPTION, AND THAT WOULD ADD ONE MORE INTERVAL TO WHAT WE HAVE ON OPTION TWO, WHICH IS SIX TO 12 INCHES, AND THAT WOULD PUSH THE COST TO NINETY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IT IS ONLY TWO METALS WITH ARSENIC AND LEAD.

SAME 253 SAMPLES.

OK, SO WITH RESPECT TO THAT, AND JUST ONE SECOND.

WITH RESPECT TO THAT, IF SOMEBODY WOULD TALK TO US ABOUT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND WHY THAT BECAME THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF.

YES, SIR, I WILL HAVE MR. FERNANDEZ COME UP SINCE HE IS OVERSEEING THIS PROJECT.

BOARD TRUSTEE MILLER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.

LOPEZ, SO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS OPTION TWO, AND OPTION TO TALKS ABOUT THE TWO METALS, ARSENIC AND LEAD.

IT'S TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE SAMPLES.

ALL THE DEPTH INTERVALS WILL BE DONE BY HAND, SO THE COST FACTOR THERE GIVES US SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED.

OPTION TWO B, WHICH IS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL DEPTH OF SIX INCHES FROM SIX TO 12 INCHES.

THE COST FACTOR THERE IS INCREASED BECAUSE ALL OF THE SAMPLING IS GOING TO BE DONE USING A DRILLING RIG.

SO WE HAVE I'VE REACHED OUT TO TERRACON AND I'VE ASKED THEM SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THESE TWO OPTIONS.

THE REASON THAT OPTION 2B IS ALL SAMPLES DONE BY A DRILLING RIG IS TO AVOID ANY CONTAMINATION BETWEEN SOILS BEING GATHERED BY HAND.

SOIL BEING GATHERED, SAMPLES BEING GATHERED BY HAND SAMPLES BEING GATHERED BY DRILLING RIG. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL SAMPLES ARE GOING TO BE DONE BY THE DRILLING RIG.

THAT'S WHY THE COST HAS INCREASED ABOUT $30,000 THERE.

NOW WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IS OPTION TWO, AND THAT IS THE DEPTH INTERVALS OF ZERO TO ONE, ONE TO SIX INCH IT'S SIX INCHES.

THIS IS FOR SAM HOUSTON.

THE COMPARISON MODEL THAT WE ARE USING TO MAKE THIS ASSESSMENT IS THE SAMPLING THAT WAS PERFORMED AT PARK CREST, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

WHEN WE PERFORM THE SAMPLING AT PARK CREST, WHAT WE FOUND WAS WE FOUND LEVELS OF, WE SAY, ELEVATED LEVELS AND THOSE ARE MINIMUM ELEVATED LEVELS OF ARSENIC.

BUT THEY WERE FOUND AT SIX INCHES FROM ZERO TO SIX INCHES.

NOTHING WAS FOUND AT DEPTHS GREATER THAN SIX INCHES.

SAME THING WITH LEAD.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT LEAD, IT WAS ALL FOUND BETWEEN ZERO TO ONE AND ONE TO SIX INCHES.

WHETHER IT'S IN THE CREEK, WHICH IS AT PARK CREST WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT.

THOSE ARE THE DEPTH LEVELS THAT WERE FOUND, EVEN THOUGH ADDITIONAL DEPTH LEVELS WERE PERFORMED. NOTHING WAS FOUND AT THOSE LEVELS.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT OF OUR FACT FINDING OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AT PARK CREST, WE UNDERSTAND THOSE PIECES AND UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS METALS THAT WERE ACTUALLY SAMPLED AT PARK CREST. ONLY TWO METALS WERE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED AT PARK CREST.

SO USING THAT, USING PARK CREST AS OUR BASELINE, WE FELT THAT AND THIS IS IN CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE PROFESSIONALS BEING TERRACON WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING

[01:30:05]

NOW, ALL THAT BEING SAID, IF IN FACT WE FIND ANY MATERIALS OF CONCENTRATION OR ANY ITEMS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION, WE'RE GOING TO PERFORM THOSE INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SAMPLE AND SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE. IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FURTHER, IT'S THE PROFESSIONALS RECOMMENDATION TO SAY, YEAH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DIG IN FURTHER.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE PROFESSIONALS HAVE COUNSELED ME AND SAID, LOOK AT THIS TIME, WE BELIEVE OPTION TWO IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD HELP THE DISTRICT UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE SOIL MAKEUP IS THERE AT SAM HOUSTON.

NOW THIS IS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THREE SAMPLES.

THIS IS THE ENTIRE PROPERTY OF SAM HOUSTON, SO WE WILL BREAK IT UP IN THE GRIDS.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THE BACKSIDE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ENTIRE PROPERTY. MR. JOHNSON.

OK, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JAVIER AT THIS TIME? MR. PRESIDENT AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CERTAIN WE HAVE A CLEAR RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE AMEND OUR PREVIOUS VOTE FROM EARLIER TONIGHT TO SPECIFICALLY VOTE FOR OPTION TWO WITH RESPECT TO THIS PER THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION.

OK, THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION MADE TO AMEND THE VOTE FROM EARLIER TONIGHT TO CLARIFY THE OPTION. SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOTIONED AND SECOND.

LET ME ASK A POINT OF ORDER HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO TO ASK IT TO, BUT DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE IT AND THEN VOTE TO CHANGE IT? OR CAN WE HANDLE IT IN ONE VOTE? I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WHAT YOU SHOULD REFERENCE IS THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO AMEND ITS EARLIER VOTE ON LET'S SEE HERE 7F.

SEVEN F AND JUST AMEND THAT PARTICULAR VOTE, AND THEN I WOULD GO BACK AND LIST IT WHERE IT SAYS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF OPTION FOR TERRACON SOIL SAMPLING SERVICES AT SAM HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND MY AMENDMENT.

[LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE BOARD'S EARLIER VOTE THIS EVENING WITH RESPECT TO ACTION ITEM SEVEN F AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF OPTION TWO FOR TERRACON SOIL SAMPLING SERVICES AT SAM HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

OK. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.

AND THAT NEEDS A SECOND.

AND THEN WE'LL NEED A SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, PLEASE SHOW YOUR APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSE, I GUESS, MR. SELDERS. THAT WAS AFFIRMATIVE.

I RAISED MY HAND. OK. ANY OPPOSED? OK. SHOW IT UNANIMOUS.

AND THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S BUSINESS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S 8:27.

MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED.

WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.