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GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, AND WE WILL BE WE
[I. Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum]
WILL BE STARTING THE SPECIAL CALLED SESSION IT IS 2:16.THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
FIRST ACTION IS TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DETERMINE THE QUORUM, AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM TODAY.
MS. HOGAN. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM? NO, SIR. OK, WE HAVE NO, REQUEST FOR SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO, SO WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO
[III.B. Consider Approval of ICON: Vendor Services - Michael Bland (Part 1 of 3)]
ITEM THREE.THERE ARE SEVERAL ACTION ITEMS HERE.
LOPEZ AND LET HIM INTRODUCE THE PLAN OF ACTION FOR TODAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN EARLY FOR THIS SPECIAL SESSION MEETING.
THE MAJORITY OF THESE ITEMS DEAL WITH A VIRTUAL SCHOOL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OFF AND RUNNING CALLED ICON.
I BELIEVE MR. BLAND HAS A PRESENTATION IN ORDER.
SO THEN THAT WAY, EVERYTHING COULD FALL IN IN LINE FROM THAT.
SO WE'RE KIND OF GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF ORDER WHERE IT SAYS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ICON VENDOR SERVICES. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ACTION ITEM 3B AND MICHAEL BLAND WILL START HIS PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN WE CAN GO INTO MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL FOR A THROUGH C AND THEN D WOULD BE WITH TRYING THE TRANSFERS OF MONEY TO FUND THE PROGRAM. SO MR. BLAND, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD PRESIDENT MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT DR.
LOPEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET AND SPECIAL GUEST.
I AM MICHAEL BLAND, THE DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE A PROPOSAL FOR GARLAND ISDS ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS KINDER THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.
AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED SENATE BILL 15 INTO LAW, WHICH EFFECTIVELY GRANTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FULL FUNDING FOR LOCAL REMOTE LEARNING DELIVERED VIA SYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION, ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO FOR GRADES K THROUGH 12.
PREVIOUS TO THE SIGNING OF THIS LAW, GARLAND ISD WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO LAUNCH A VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND RECEIVE FULL FUNDING DUE TO THE LACK OF APPROVED COVID 19 VACCINES FOR STUDENTS AGES 11 THROUGH AND BELOW.
GARLAND ISD HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO COLLABORATIVELY PLAN AND LAUNCH A VIRTUAL SCHOOL FOR GRADES KINDER THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.
THE PROPOSED PLAN HAS TWO PHASES.
FOR PHASE ONE WE PROPOSE TO PARTNER WITH A VENDOR TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS GRADES KINDER THROUGH SIXTH GRADE, AND THE PARTNER VENDOR WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFIED TEXAS TEACHERS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES.
A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE VIRTUAL CURRICULUM AND SUPPORTS.
THIS WILL LIMIT THE DEMAND ON EXISTING STAFF BY NOT HAVING THEM PRODUCE VIRTUAL CURRICULUM MATERIALS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR AND ALSO NOT HIRING FROM A LIMITED POOL OF TEACHERS WHERE THERE ARE MANY SHORTAGES CURRENTLY.
PHASE TWO WOULD CONSIST OF EXTENDING THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL TO INCLUDE GRADES 7 THROUGH 12.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO FACILITATE A GRADUAL RELEASE WHERE GISD STAFF AND MEMBERS COULD TEACH USING A PURCHASED CURRICULUM, POSSIBLY FROM THE VENDOR.
PENDING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT WE WOULD MOVE TOWARD TRANSITIONING FROM THE PURCHASED CURRICULUM TO THE FULL GISD CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SENATE BILL 15 SUNSETS ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 2023, WHICH MEANS WE ARE CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE A VIRTUAL OPTION THROUGH THE 22 23 SCHOOL YEAR.
AS MENTIONED, OUR COMMUNICATIONS RELEASED TO PARENTS, WE'RE PLANNING FOR KINDER THROUGH SIXTH GRADE ROLL OUT FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
WE HAVE EDITED THIS TO REFLECT THAT THE TEACHING AND SUPERVISION WILL BE PROVIDED BY A VENDOR.
OUR GISD SCHOOL DESIGN FACILITATOR WILL OVERSEE THE PROGRAM AND SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN GISD AND THE VENDOR.
HOWEVER, AN MTS FACILITATOR IS ESSENTIAL TO MONITORING AND PROVIDING SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT TO OUR ICON STUDENTS.
MTS STANDS FOR MULTI-TIERED STUDENT SUPPORT FACILITATOR.
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THE MTS FACILITATOR WILL MONITOR ATTENDANCE AND GRADES, AS WELL AS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS. THEY WILL ALSO FACILITATE LPAC 504 ARD MEETINGS FOR ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. LET'S CONSIDER ROLES IN THIS PROCESS.WE WOULD NEED A MTS FACILITATOR.
THIS FACILITATOR WILL ORGANIZE STATE TESTING, PROVIDE PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT, COLLABORATE WITH THE PROVIDER TO PROVIDE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES. HE OR SHE WOULD ALSO COORDINATE THE APPLICATION PROCESS, STUDENT SELECTION, MARKETING AND SUPPORT OF STUDENTS IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR ELL DEPARTMENT, DYSLEXIA OR GIFTED AND TALENTED, FOR EXAMPLE.
PEIMS DATA CLERK RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING TECH SUPPORT STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM DATA UPLOADS, STUDENT ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT ATTENDANCE AND GRADE REPORTING AND EMAIL AND PHONE CALL RESPONSES.
COUNSELING RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD CONSIST OF THAT PERSON FUNCTIONING AS A TESTING COORDINATOR, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, RESPONSIVE SERVICES, REFERRALS, MONITOR STUDENT GRADES AND ATTENDANCE, AND FACILITATE THE LPAC 504 AND ARD MEETINGS AS WELL.
SENATE BILL 15, ESTABLISHES SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL LEARNING WHILE ENABLING THE DISTRICT TO COLLECT AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR FUNDING.
STUDENTS MUST BE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN GISD AND MEET THE 90 PERCENT ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IF STUDENTS WERE VIRTUALLY ENROLLED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF LAST YEAR, THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING THEY WOULD HAVE TO PASS ALL THEIR STAARS ASSESSMENTS PASS ALL CORE CLASSES WITH A C OR HIGHER.
AND IF THEY MISSED THE STAAR ASSESSMENT OR DIDN'T TAKE ONE, THEY MUST DEMONSTRATE GRADE PROFICIENCY OR GRADE LEVEL PERFORMANCE ON MAP IN THAT GIVEN AREA.
ONCE AGAIN, THE 90 PERCENT ATTENDANCE RULE APPLIES TO ALL STUDENT GROUPS AS WELL.
WE WILL ALSO CONSIDER SPECIFIC NEEDS CRITERIA SUCH AS STUDENTS NEEDING HOME HOSPITAL CARE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DISTRICT WILL NOT HOLD NEIGHBORHOOD OR MAGNET SEATS FOR STUDENTS ACCEPTED INTO ICON.
ICON WILL BECOME THEIR HOME CAMPUS.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING A PARTNER VENDOR THAT WOULD NOT ONLY SUPPORT AN ACCELERATED PLAN FOR A LAUNCH, BUT ALSO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOL SUCCESS.
THIS INCLUDES NOT OVERWORKING OUR EXISTING STAFF TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS SUCH AS CURRICULUM, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ELECTIVES, BUT ALSO STAFFING THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL WITH TEXAS CERTIFIED TEACHERS WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT LABOR FORCE HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND ADDING TO THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PARTNER VENDOR WOULD PROVIDE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, AND THEY WOULD ALSO IMPLEMENT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND OR 504 ELL OR GIFTED AND TALENTED, AS COMMUNICATED BY THE MTS FACILITATOR AND CONDUCT CURRICULUM ASSESSMENTS TO MONITOR STUDENT PROGRESS.
AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, GARLAND ISD HAS PROVIDED A PARENT LED TEMPORARY VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS GRADES PRE-K THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.
ONCE AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THIS OPTION WAS NOT IDEAL FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
HOWEVER, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AN APPROVED COVID 19 VACCINE.
THIS WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR GARLAND ISD FAMILIES WITH HOPES THAT THEY WOULD STAY ENROLLED WITH US, KNOWING THAT WE WERE GIVING UP ADA FUNDING FOR ALL THEIR CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TVL PROGRAM.
THE FOLLOWING PHASE OUT PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR CURRENT TVL STUDENTS.
DUE TO PROVISIONS SET BY SENATE BILL 15 PRE-K STUDENTS WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR ADA FUNDING.
THUS, THE DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE TVL FOR 81 PRE-K STUDENTS.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS A REASONABLE OPTION AND INVESTMENT FOR OUR PRE-K STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE AN OPTION FOR AN APPROVED VACCINE.
STUDENTS GRADES K THROUGH THIRD GRADE, WHICH TOTALS ROUGHLY 500 STUDENTS, WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO APPLY FOR ICON.
STUDENTS MUST MEET GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS.
THE SAME IS APPLIED TO STUDENTS GRADES FOUR THROUGH SIX, WHICH ARE ROUGHLY OVER 400
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STUDENTS, AND THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO APPLY FOR ICON, AND STUDENTS MUST ALSO MEET GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS.IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STUDENTS GRADES FOUR THROUGH SIX MUST MEET THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY SENATE BILL 15.
STUDENTS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY WILL BE NOTIFIED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 21ST VIA SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME CAMPUSES FOR FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION STARTING NOVEMBER THE 1ST 2021.
THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION, ALONG WITH THE ICON PLANNING COMMITTEE, REACHED OUT TO FOUR VENDORS THAT COULD PROVIDE WHAT WE NEEDED TO HOST A VIRTUAL SCHOOL WITH THEIR CURRICULUM AND THEIR TEACHERS. THEY INCLUDED PEARSON VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, PROXIMITY LEARNING, BRIGHT THINKER AND STRIDE K THROUGH 12 LEARNING SOLUTIONS.
BASED ON THE CAREFUL REVIEW OF EACH PROVIDER, WHICH INCLUDED A THOROUGH COST ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF THE CURRICULAR MATERIALS ASSESSMENTS AND PROGRAM SUPPORTS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING STRIDE K THROUGH 12 AS OUR PROVIDER.
STRIDE K THROUGH 12 IS A REPUTABLE PROVIDER THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 2000 AND THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SERVED OVER TWO MILLION STUDENTS PROVIDED A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO ONLINE LEARNING THAT INCLUDES A MIX OF TRADITIONAL HANDS ON MATERIALS ALONG WITH ONLINE CURRICULUM. ADDITIONALLY, THEY WERE VERY COMPETITIVELY PRICED AND INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT VALUE. ADDITIONALLY, REVIEW POINTS ABOVE ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR DISTRICT CURRICULUM AND OUR PACING CALENDAR APPROVED BY OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOMMEND STRIDE K THROUGH 12 AS OUR PROPOSED PARTNER, PROVIDER AND VENDOR, WE HAVE A LOT MORE PLANNING AND COORDINATION TO DO TO ADDRESS THE STUDENTS REQUIRING SPECIALIZED PROGRAMING, SUCH AS OUR SELF-CONTAINED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND THOSE REQUIRING RESOURCE PULLOUT SUPPORT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL NEED TO SUPPORT OUR ICON MTS FACILITATOR WITH COORDINATING ACCOMMODATIONS, LPAC PLANNING AND ELL SUPPORT.
BENTLEY PARKER, OUR INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON HOW WE WILL SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ICON.
SO STUDENTS WILL BE SERVED BY SPECIAL EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF MODALITIES THROUGH VIRTUAL LEARNING. STUDENTS WHO ARE MAINSTREAMED WILL HAVE THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS FROM K-12 STRIDE STUDENTS WHO HAVE RESOURCE WILL BE SERVED THROUGH ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING.
A SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE TEACHER WILL CREATE LESSONS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR IEPS.
THE STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE RESOURCE CLASS ASYNCHRONOUSLY DURING CLASS TIME FOR THAT PERIOD, EITHER READING OR MATH.
STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED IN SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOMS ABC, ALE AND BA WILL LEARN THROUGH ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING.
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE RELATED AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, OT, PT, APE AND SPEECH WILL BE SERVED THROUGH A HYBRID MODEL.
THE FIRST CHOICE WILL BE FOR PARENTS TO SIGN UP TO BRING THEIR STUDENTS TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THEIR RELATED OR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICE WORKED VERY WELL WHEN WE WERE DOING LAST YEAR VIRTUAL LEARNING.
AND THEN IF THE PARENT CAN'T DO THAT THE SECOND OPTION WILL BE FOR THEM TO DO TELE THERAPY. AS LONG AS THE LAW IS LEAVING US THE ABILITY TO DO TELE THERAPY, THE PARENTS HAVE TO SIGN A SEPARATE CONSENT FOR THAT.
BUT IF THEY WILL SIGN THE CONSENT FOR TELE THERAPY, THAT WILL BE THE OTHER WAY THAT THEY CAN GET FOR RELATED AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES.
SO THE BIG QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH WILL THIS PROGRAM COST AND HOW WILL WE PAY FOR IT? ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT PREDICT THE EXACT NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WILL ENROLL IN ICON, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 6000 STUDENTS IN GRADES K THROUGH 12 THAT WOULD QUALIFY.
IF THREE THOUSAND OF THEM ENROLLED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY NINE MILLION PLUS.
THIS INCLUDES THE CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR OUR FOUR CORE SUBJECTS AND OUR TWO ELECTIVES CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION, ONGOING TRAINING, IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT, CONTENT HOSTING AND USE OF A VIRTUAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL WILL REQUIRE THREE ADDITIONAL
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GISD STAFF POSITIONS.THE MTS FACILITATOR, VIRTUAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND PEIMS DATA CLERK.
PARKER POINTED OUT PREVIOUSLY, WE WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR SPED RELATED SERVICES AND MATERIALS.
THIS COST HAS ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE 2021 AND 22 SCHOOL YEARS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE THE REVENUE CONSIDERATIONS BY PROVIDING A VIRTUAL OPTION, IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN STUDENT AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE. DOING SO COULD POTENTIALLY OFFSET THE COST OF ICON WITH THE INCREASE IN STATE REVENUE. SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW ADA WOULD BE INCREASED INCLUDE TVL STUDENTS RETURNING TO ICON AND RECOVERING ANY LOSSES IN ADA FROM 2021 AND THE POTENTIAL OF GAIN OF NEW STUDENTS IN GISD FOR THE FUTURE.
PENDING THE APPROVAL FROM YOU, OUR ESTEEMED BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE ICON PLANNING COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION FROM MONDAY, OCTOBER THE 11TH TO FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 15TH WE WILL GIVE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT THE ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL APPLICATION VIA SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS.
THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVERTISED AND PUBLISHED ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE.
ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 13TH.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SECURE OUR BUDGET APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED POSITION REQUEST FOR A MTS FACILITATOR, COUNSELOR AND PEIM'S DATA CLERK, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT WITH THE PARTNER VENDOR.
FROM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 20TH THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER THE 22ND.
PARENTS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE THEIR ICON PLACEMENT.
ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 27TH.
WE WILL HIRE OUR ICON FACILITATOR, COUNSELOR AND PEIMS DATA CLERK.
ON THURSDAY, THE 28TH GARLAND ISD WILL HOST A PARENT AND STUDENT ORIENTATION FOR THE ICON PROGRAM FOR THE SCHOOL AND ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST THE ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED FROM OUR OUTSTANDING GARLAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES? FIRST, WE NEED YOUR APPROVAL TO PROCEED IN CONTRACTING WITH STRIDE K THROUGH 12 FUEL EDUCATION LLC.
WE ALSO NEED YOUR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ICON DISTRICT STAFFING WE DISCUSSED, WHICH INCLUDES THE FACILITATOR, COUNSELOR AND PEIMS DATA CLERK, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION MR. BLAND, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. MS. STANLEY. SO WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT THE 21 22 BUDGET FOR THE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE SPEDS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET.
SO THERE'S THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET FOR ICON THAT STILL EXIST.
AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR THOSE THREE POSITIONS AS WELL AS SUPPLEMENTAL PAY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL? I THOUGHT YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WOULD BE NEEDING FOR THE KIDS THAT WOULD NEED THE TELE THERAPY? OR IS THAT THE SAME.
THAT REFERS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY TO PAY FOR THOSE CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS HERE IN GARLAND TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE STUDENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
MR. JOHNSON. THANK YOU, MR. BLAND FOR THE PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THAT TIMELINE THAT YOU HAD UP.
I UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DESIRE TO FOR A QUICK TIMELINE HERE BECAUSE CURRENTLY I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE'RE NOT ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN ICON ARE CURRENTLY IN TVL, BUT I IMAGINE THAT MAYBE A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE.
AND SO GETTING THEM BACK ON ADA WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR EVERYONE.
BUT IS IT? DOES EVERYONE THINK IT'S REALISTIC THAT WE WON'T HIRE STAFF UNTIL 10-27 AND WE'LL HAVE CLASSES FOUR DAYS LATER? SO THOSE THREE POSITIONS, I'M SORRY, ARE NOT INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS, AND THE VENDOR WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF TEACHERS TO TEACH THOSE STUDENTS AS OF NOVEMBER THE 1ST.
BUT THOSE THREE POSITIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN GET THOSE
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POSITIONS HIRED, BUT WHEN THEY COME ON, THEY'LL SERVE THEIR ROLES.BUT IN THE INTERIM, THE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS.
I THINK WHAT MR. BLAND WAS SAYING ABOUT THE SUPPORTS FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT WE HAVE A COORDINATOR, CHUCKY, HE'S BASICALLY GOING TO BE DOING IT ALL UNTIL WE GET THE THE STAFF ON BOARD.
SO WE HAVE STAFF DOING IT AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO KIND OF LIKE TRANSITION THEM OUT AND THEN THE OTHER TEAM WILL BE FULL TIME SO HE COULD GO BACK TO HIS JOB FULL TIME.
AND I GUESS PART OF MY CONCERN IS WITH RESPECT TO THE TIMELINE.
AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO GET THINGS DONE RAPIDLY.
I KNOW TIME IS MONEY LITERALLY IN THIS CASE.
BUT I AM WORRIED THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVING OUR PARENTS NOT VERY LONG TIME FRAMES TO MAKE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING.
WE'RE GIVING THE APPLICATION, WHICH TODAY IS THE 12TH.
SO THAT TIMELINE SAYS STUDENT APPLICATION 10-11 THROUGH 10-15.
SO THAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY, BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BY THE 22ND.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK TO MAKE A DECISION IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR KID BECAUSE THEY GIVE UP THEIR MAGNET SPOTS, THEY GIVE UP THEIR SCHOOL PLACEMENTS, THEY'RE GIVING UP EVERYTHING IF THEY MAKE THIS OPTION CORRECT.
I'M JUST WORRIED IS THAT ENOUGH TIME NECESSARILY TO GET THE WORD OUT AND HAVE THEM MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT ICON COME THROUGH AS A PARENT FROM THE PARENTAL SIDE AS OF THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL OUR PARENTS WITH RESPECT TO THAT TIME FRAME ABOUT THE DECISIONS AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP MAKE THAT DECISION? SO THE WEEK LONG PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW IS TO MEET OUR COMPRESSED TIMELINE.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COULD BE SEEN AS AN INCONVENIENCE BY SOME, BUT IT'S ALSO A VALUE TO THE OTHER PARENTS THAT WILL APPLY AND GAIN ENTRANCE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC.
SO THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL STUDENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN.
PART OF THE COMPRESSED TIME IS TO GET THE TVL STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE THAT WANT IT.
THE LONGER WE TAKE, THE LONGER THEIR EDUCATION FALLS BEHIND.
AND THE SECOND PART TO IT IS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE ALREADY KIND OF WELL SHOULD. I SHOULDN'T SAY SHOULD. MOST OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS WAS COMING, AND THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED DECIDING WHETHER IT WAS WORTH MOVING OR NOT.
THE ISSUE OF NOT ALLOWING THEM TO HOLD THEIR SEAT AND I WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR WAS BEFORE OUR PLAN WAS ALWAYS TO MAKE THIS A PROGRAM.
AND WHAT A PROGRAM DOES IS LIKE A GRCTC PROGRAM.
YOU COULD GO TO THE GRCTC AND HOLD YOUR HOME CAMPUS SPOT BECAUSE THE GRCTC ISN'T AN OFFICIAL SCHOOL.
THE WAY THE BILL WAS WRITTEN, WE HAD TO MAKE THIS AN OFFICIAL SCHOOL AND A KID CAN'T HAVE TWO CODES.
OK, SO IF THEY'RE DUAL, YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO.
YOU CAN'T BE AT TWO SCHOOLS, RIGHT? SO FOR INSTANCE, WHEN A KID GOES TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, THEY GET DROPPED AND MOVED OVER, RIGHT? IN THIS CASE, IT'S TWO SCHOOLS, AND WE CAN'T JUST LIKE GHOST, A SPOT THAT'S THERE. SO THAT THAT'S THE BIG DECISION THAT SOME OF THEM ARE MAKING.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THIS ISN'T A DECISION WE'RE NECESSARILY MAKING.
IT'S A DECISION THAT WAS MADE FOR US.
YES. AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WITH RESPECT TO HOLDING POSITIONS OR SEATS IN CAMPUSES, WE CAN'T DO IT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE LET THEM KNOW WHY THIS TIME FRAME IS BEING COMPRESSED.
SO THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE JUST UNDER THE GUN ARBITRARILY THAT THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND IT. MR. GLICK.
THANK YOU, SIR. BASED ON AT OUR ELEMENTARY'S WITH, LET'S SAY, A POPULATION OF FIVE HUNDRED TO 800. WE HAVE ONE COUNSELOR HERE.
WE'RE PROJECTING, I THINK YOU SAID IN YOUR FIRST PAGE IS LIKE TWO THOUSAND STUDENTS.
IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING LESS THAN TWO THOUSAND, BUT TWO THOUSAND IS OUR MAX.
AND RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT RATIOS ON CAMPUSES, THERE'S USUALLY AT LEAST ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 700 KIDS, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND OUR NUMBERS THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM TVL AND EVEN REMOTE CONFERENCING CONTINUE TO DECREASE. SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT ONE COUNSELOR FOR RIGHT NOW WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
BUT IF THAT CHANGES THEN WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
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OK. AND HERE'S THE I THINK TO ME THE OVERRIDING QUESTION I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT I'M ASSUMING WE WILL HAVE A CONTRACT SIGNED WITH THIS COMPANY.WHAT IS TO PREVENT THEM? AND I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD POACHING FROM TAKING OUR KIDS AFTER THIS TIME, AND THEY NEVER RETURN TO GISD.
WELL, WITHIN PROVIDING THE INSTRUCTION AND ALSO US CONTRACTING WITH THEM, THEIR CONTRACTING WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE SAME MANNER.
SO THEY DON'T PROVIDE WELL THEY MAY PROVIDE INSTRUCTION ON THEIR OWN AS A COMPANY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT OR HEARD THAT, BUT OUR STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO US UNLESS THEY MOVE OUT OF THE DISTRICT ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH SERVICES WITH ICON.
LOPEZ, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
RIGHT. STUDENTS, APPARENTLY, SO I'M ASSUMING A LOT OF THAT IS PARENTS WHO JUST WANT A VIRTUAL EDUCATION AND THEY GO THERE, THEY PAY A FEE.
NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING A FEE.
BUT WHAT'S TO PREVENT THIS COMPANY FROM TRYING TO TAKE OUR KIDS? MAY I ANSWER THAT? SURE.
CERTAINLY, WE'RE VULNERABLE TO ANY OF THE ONLINE SCHOOLS.
THIS COMPANY IS NOT A SCHOOL, IT'S A CONTRACTOR, AS MR. BLAND SAID. AND SO THEY'RE NOT SET UP.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY ARE NOT SET UP AS THEIR OWN ENTITY OR SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN. AND SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST.
DR. HILL FOR ELL WHAT DID WE WORK WITH THEM FOR? SO NO, THIS IS NOT THAT IT WAS DIFFERENT.
SO THEY RELY ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO COORDINATE SERVICES SUCH AS THIS.
I GUESS ANYBODY COULD SET UP THEIR OWN CHARTER AND ANYBODY COULD SET UP THEIR OWN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT AND THEY WOULD BE OUR COMPETITORS, MUCH LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY WAY TO PREVENT OR GUARANTEE THAT ANY STUDENT WOULDN'T OPT OUT. BUT OUR GOAL IS WITH ICON TO ENTICE OUR STUDENTS BACK WHO MAY NOT HAVE RE-ENROLLED. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF LEAVERS THAT THEIR PARENTS OPTED TO KEEP THEM HOME.
WE ALSO WANT TO GET OUR TVL STUDENTS BACK, HAVING QUALITY INSTRUCTION PROVIDED FOR THEM.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY OUR BEST TOOL THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED RIGHT NOW.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE TEACHER SHORTAGE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS IN HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOR PROFIT COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING VIRTUAL EDUCATION, IF YOU LOOK AT THEM ON, LET'S SAY, ON A STOCK MARKET BASIS, THEIR ENROLLMENTS ARE GOING UP HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PERCENT PER YEAR NOW WITHOUT STOPPING, AND THEY'RE PROJECTED TO KEEP GOING AS PARENTS MAKE DECISIONS.
SO IS THERE ANY WAY IN OUR CONTRACT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INDICATE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
LIKE A NON-COMPETE CLAUSE? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO BUILD ON ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL THING.
THIS IS HISTORIC. THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST FULL FLEDGED, IF APPROVED, VIRTUAL SCHOOL THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS BECAUSE KIDS AND PARENTS RIGHT NOW ARE OPTING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND FOR ALL DIFFERENT REASONS.
OK, WE DON'T KNOW THE FAMILY SITUATION IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS MORE AND MORE FAMILIES ARE FINDING COMFORT IN ALLOWING THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM WITH THEIR CHILDREN. AND SOME IT'S CONVENIENCE.
SOME IT'S BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS.
SOME IT'S BECAUSE OF SOCIAL ANXIETIES.
SO I MEAN, THERE'S A WHOLE GAMUT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY WE FEEL THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY GET SOME KIDS BACK, THAT WERE NOT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, BUT IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
JOHNSON. WITH RESPECT TO THE KIDS THAT DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ICON.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EARN THEIR WAY INTO IT IF THEIR PARENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT? BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DIDN'T REACH THE 90 PERCENT ATTENDANCE LAST SEASON IN FACE TO FACE, OR THEY DIDN'T PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY ENOUGH ON THE STAAR THIS TIME AROUND. IF THEY GET AN ADEQUATE STAAR SCORE IN THE SPRING, WILL THAT ALLOW FOR THEM TO EFFECTIVELY COME INTO ICON AT THAT POINT? WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THE LEGISLATOR TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS DOWN THE LINE IF
[00:30:02]
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE VIRTUAL LEARNING OR THE FUNDING FOR IT, AT LEAST NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SENATE BILL CRITERIA FOR STUDENTS THAT DETERMINATION AT THIS POINT.LOPEZ. THANK YOU, MR. BLAND, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ICON OR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TO OUR FAMILIES? YOU SAID SOMETHING EARLIER THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT OR SOMETHING.
SO HAVE WE HAD THAT LANGUAGE OUT THERE FOR A WHILE? SO MUCH HAS GONE ON.
WE'VE BEEN ON AND OFF AND WHATEVER.
BUT HAS IT BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR A WHILE? OK, SO HISTORICALLY WE HAD PEOPLE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FIRST ITERATION WE CALL INTERNALLY WE CALL THIS ICON 2.0 OR 2.1.
BUT THE FIRST IDEA CAME AND THE BOARD APPROVED COULD NOT EXCEED $5 MILLION DOLLARS.
AND WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT AND THEN ONE WE DIDN'T GET FUNDING AND TWO, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY MAY NOT ACCREDIT THESE COURSES.
AND WHEN WE WERE HAVING HOPE, THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE LEGISLATURE WHERE THAT VOTE NEVER HAPPENED. WITHIN THAT, ONCE ICON CAME ABOUT AND APPROVED THROUGH THE SENATE BILL, WE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE WOULD BE DEVELOPING AN ICON VIRTUAL PROGRAM, AND MANY PEOPLE STARTED SHOWING INTEREST IN THAT, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WERE IN THE VIRTUAL NETWORK.
THIS MIGHT BE VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE NOW WE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON THE MASK MANDATES THAT SAY IT MIGHT BE SAFER TO BE AT HOME.
OK, SO WE'RE TOYING WITH THIS.
BUT SINCE THIS CAME OUT, WE WERE TOYING WITH IT, RIGHT? PUTTING IT OUT THERE. SO WHEN THIS CAME OUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ALREADY COMMENTING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, YOU NAME IT.
SO THEY'VE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ITS RELEASE.
AND WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING OUT THAT THE RELEASE WAS WAS GOING TO BE COMING AS SOON AS WE GOT BOARD APPROVAL.
LET ME GO WITH MR. SELDERS, AND I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, MS. STANLEY. DR.
LOPEZ, JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE MORE INTEREST IN THIS PROGRAM IF WE'VE ALLOCATED ONLY TWO THOUSAND SEATS WHAT'S THE PROSPECT OF EXPANDING THAT IF IT WAS NECESSARY? IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT. SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE BASE IT ON WHAT WE PROBABLY WOULD MAYBE SEE AT ITS MAX. BY LAW, WE CAN'T EXCEED 10 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION, SO THAT'S ABOUT FIFTY THREE HUNDRED SEATS.
THIS ORGANIZATION, I BELIEVE, SAID THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL FIFTY THREE HUNDRED IN THE K THROUGH SIX ERA.
SO WHAT WE PLAYED OUT WAS IF IT'S K THROUGH SIX, RIGHT AND WE MAX OUT, SAY WE GET FIFTY THREE HUNDRED KIDS COME OUT, THAT MEANS WE CANNOT EXPAND 7 THROUGH 12 AT ALL.
THAT MEANS WE'RE ALREADY MAXED OUT.
WE CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT SEVEN THROUGH 12.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S SAY WE GET MINIMAL.
LET'S SAY WE GET TWELVE HUNDRED RIGHT.
THEN WE COULD START PROJECTING OUT HOW WE COULD MAKE THE NEXT VERSION LOOK IF WE NEEDED IT IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM GRADE SEVEN ON UP, IT GETS MORE COMPLICATED WITH SPECIALIZED CLASSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL THIS AND EVALUATING IT, WE KNEW THAT WE COULDN'T DO HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE CREDIT SITUATION.
CREDITS WOULD NOT ALIGN WITH WHAT THEY'RE HAVING, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE IN GISD THAT WOULD NOT BE HERE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEMESTER YOU WOULD LOSE ALL OF THAT. YOU WOULD LOSE IT.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP AT THE SEMESTER THIS IN ITSELF TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED I APPLAUD THEIR EFFORTS.
THIS WAS NOT AN EASY LIFT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE OUTSOURCING A LOT OF IT.
AND SO IF WE HAD TO ACCOMMODATE MORE FOR, LET'S JUST SAY, MORE STAFFING? I GUESS THAT'S YOUR QUESTION.
THEN WE WOULD COME TO THE BOARD AND SAY WE NEED MORE STAFFING IF IT WASN'T IN THE BUDGET TO HELP US ADEQUATELY SERVE THE ICON STUDENTS.
[00:35:02]
ONE OTHER QUESTION. AND MR. BLAND, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.IT SOUNDS LIKE WITH THE AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE HERE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE MAYBE TO PIGGYBACK ON SOMETHING THAT MR. JOHNSON HAD ASKED FOR THOSE THREE POSITIONS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE HAVE SHOWN HERE? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO POTENTIALLY IT MIGHT KIND OF PROLONG THIS THE DATES THAT YOU SHOW? AND THEN MR. YOU KNOW THAT CHUCKY WILL HAVE TO FILL THAT POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO LET DR.
RUSSELL ANSWER THAT QUESTION FROM AN HR PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE THE MANDATORY 10 DAY POSTING.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED IN THE TIMELINE.
WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY WHO MAY HAVE OPTED OUT LIKE, SAY, THE COUNSELOR OR THE PEIMS CLERK MAY HAVE OPTED OUT OF BEING FACE TO FACE IN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL BUILDING.
BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT FOR HEALTH REASONS OR WORRIES, AND SO WE BELIEVE WE HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO THEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T APPROVED AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PRECIPITOUS. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A POOL OF EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT BECAUSE OF HEALTH FEARS THAT MIGHT FIND THIS AN ENTICING OPPORTUNITY.
CERTAINLY, THEY'LL COME TO WORK HERE, BUT THEY WON'T HAVE A SCHOOL FULL OF CHILDREN.
AND SO WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO FILL THAT AND BE MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. I HAD TWO QUESTIONS, SO WE TALK ABOUT A POSSIBLE PHASE TWO, WHICH WOULD BE THE SEVEN TO 12.
BUT WHEN WOULD WE THINK THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING? WHAT WOULD BE THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF THAT POSSIBLE HAPPENING? RIGHT. SO IF WE GO WITH THAT TIMELINE OF LOOKING AT THAT OTHER GROUP THAT WE'RE NOT SERVICING NOW, IT WOULD POSSIBLY BE NEXT SPRING.
BUT I DON'T I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING THAT DIRECTION OR NOT.
WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT OUR NUMBERS LOOK LIKE WITH THIS FIRST PHASE OF ICON.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST ULTIMATELY ONLY GIVE THEM ONE YEAR.
CORRECT. UNLESS IT EXTENDS CORRECT.
CORRECT. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT IT TAKES ME A WHILE TO MULL OVER, SO I APOLOGIZE.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT OUR TEST SCORES AND I LOOK AT OUR STAARS AND OUR MAPS AND STUFF, AND I LOOK AT THE CRITERIA, ARE WE CONFIDENT THAT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE VIRTUAL AND THAT WANT TO BE IN THE VIRTUAL ARE TRULY GOING TO QUALIFY, I MEAN.
SO THEY ALL HAVE TO QUALIFY, AND WE DO HAVE A SET NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR DISTRICT THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS SERVICE, BUT WE JUST CAN'T ANTICIPATE HOW MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT WE, THE TVL ONES THAT ARE CURRENT TVL AND THE ONES THAT HAVE LEFT OR THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED.
SOME OF THE KIDS DID VERY, VERY, VERY WELL IN THE VIRTUAL SETTING, AND SOME OF THEM DID NOT. AND SO WHEN YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THE CHATTER, I'M NOT SURE PARENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT THEIR KIDS MAY NOT QUALIFY.
THIS IS NOT A SHOO-IN UNLESS IT IS A SHOO-IN, AND WE'RE JUST NOT AWARE IT'S A SHOO-IN.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE TEST SCORES AGAIN, I GO BACK TO ALL THE TEST SCORES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SEEING, AND I LOOK AT THE CRITERIA I STRUGGLE IF WE LOOK AT ALL FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND STUDENTS, YES, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A VERY LARGE PERCENT OF STUDENTS THAT COULD QUALIFY.
BUT THOSE AREN'T THE STUDENTS THAT ARE BANGING ON OUR DOOR TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE KIDS THAT ARE BANGING ON THE DOOR TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM ARE THOSE KIDS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE KIDS DO WE TRULY BELIEVE HAVE A REALLY GOOD PERCENTAGE OF GETTING IN? SO CHUCKY, YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT, SIR, IF YOU CAN COME UP.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, WE HAD ABOUT A 100 MR. VIERNES.
I NEED YOU TO USE THE MICROPHONE. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF TOO.
I'M CHUCK VIERNES SCHOOL DESIGN ADMINISTRATOR, I GET TO WORK WITH MR. BLAND IN INNOVATION.
TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION WE'RE WORKING WITH MS. JOYNER AND THAT DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW THAT WENT THROUGH THE NUMBERS OF TVL STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED THAT DO NOT QUALIFY.
AND WE'VE LOOKED AT, FIRST OF ALL, ATTENDANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE IN GOOD STANDING IN 90 PERCENT OR MORE AND ATTENDANCE ACTUALLY HIT A LOT OF KIDS.
WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR STUDENTS IN TVL RIGHT NOW FROM K TO SIX THAT WOULD
[00:40:05]
NOT QUALIFY JUST BASED ON ATTENDANCE.AND THEN WE HAD ADDITIONAL ONLY FOUR FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT AT THE 70TH PERCENTILE AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR THEIR GRADES.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MUDDLING THROUGH GRADE LEVEL PERFORMANCE AS FAR AS STAAR AS WELL AS MAP FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS BECAUSE WE REALLY WOULD NOT BE DOING A SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IF WE PROVIDED AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS WE KNEW COULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE OVER NINE HUNDRED AND 45 KIDS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN THAT DO NOT QUALIFY.
BUT I'M GUESSING THERE'S A LOT MORE AND WE'LL GET THAT NUMBER.
WE'LL UPDATE THAT TO YOU ALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND MAYBE EVEN THIS EVENING WILL HAVE THAT SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE NUMBER OUT OF THE NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR WHO WOULD NOT QUALIFY.
JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS THAT I WOULD LIKE POSSIBLE ANSWERS FOR, AND THAT'S ONE IS, IS 11-1 A CUT OFF DATE AS FAR AS ANYBODY ENROLLING IN ICON.
AND ALSO, LET ME GO AND GIVE TO YOU, YOU CAN PROBABLY ANSWER BOTH.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THOSE THAT MOVE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM AFTER THIS PARTICULAR DATE? SO THE FIRST ANSWER IS THAT'S THE CUT OFF DATE.
I MEAN, THERE WON'T BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO ENROLL.
IF I COULD, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY IF I COULD ANSWER ABOUT MOVE INS.
THIS IS BASICALLY A NEW CHOICE WINDOW THAT WILL BE OPENING FOR PARENTS TO APPLY FOR NEW SCHOOL CHOICE TO CHOOSE ICON MR. BEACH. SO GREAT QUESTION.
AND THEN IF SOMEONE MOVES IN, THAT NORMAL CHOICE PROCESS IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO THERE COULD BE INCIDENTAL STUDENTS JOINING ICON BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED IN.
IN DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, WHENEVER THEY MOVE INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
OKAY. AND AGAIN, THEY WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS FAR AS A COMBINATION OR NOT ONLY SPECIAL ED, BUT ALSO ACCOMMODATIONS AS FAR AS THE 90 PERCENTILE.
ALL THOSE SAME THINGS. YES, SIR, WOULD BE IN EFFECT SIMILAR TO LIKE IF THEY'RE APPLYING FOR A MAGNET. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO. I THINK MOST OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DISCUSS, WERE ASKED, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE HIRING OF STAFF AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FROM INTERNAL SOURCES OR EXTERNAL.
IT APPEARS THAT WE EXPECT MORE OF THE EXTERNAL TYPE OF APPLICANTS TO THAT.
SO IT WON'T EXACERBATE ANY STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OR AT LEAST THAT'S OUR HOPE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK AS WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE WITH COVID, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY WE HAVE TO PIVOT AND FIGURE OUT SOMETHING NEW.
WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE FIRST OF SCHOOL.
OBVIOUSLY, IT DID NOT HAPPEN, SO WE PIVOTED AWAY FROM IT.
AND NOW WE'RE PIVOTING BACK UPON THE SUCCESSFUL PASSING OF THIS BILL.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S HARD TO START AND STOP AND PLAN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ALREADY GOT BUILDINGS FULL OF KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO HELP US GET READY.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD WISH COVID WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE, BUT WITH COVID AS AN ISSUE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ARROW IN OUR QUIVER, ANOTHER TOOL FOR US TO HELP KIDS.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET.
I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET MORE KIDS OVER THE BAR WITH IN TERMS OF THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
LOPEZ, YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR MAKING THIS AVAILABLE.
THERE WERE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS TODAY.
I THINK THE BOARD IS VERY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY MORE PRESENTATION ON THIS.
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE BOARD HAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE SHORTENED APPLICATION PERIOD.
MR. BLAND, COULD WE EXTEND THAT THROUGH THE WEEKEND? SO THEN THAT MONDAY, WHEN WE COME BACK, IT COULD BE USED OR WOULD THAT BE PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR STAFF? NO, WE CAN EXTEND IT.
YEAH. SO WE'LL EXTEND THE APPLICATION PERIOD.
SO THAT WAY THEY AT LEAST HAVE FROM HERE THROUGH THE WEEKEND THIS COMING WEEKEND.
AND WHEN THEY COME BACK, WE'LL SET A NEW DEADLINE FOR THAT AND WE'LL STILL TRY TO GET THAT PLACEMENT, LIKE WHETHER THEY MADE PLACEMENT OR NOT FOR THEM TO ACCEPT THAT WEEK AS WELL. SO THEY'LL KNOW.
WHAT'S THE DATE. THE EXTENSION WILL BE THE 17TH.
SO WOULD WE SAY BY MIDNIGHT, THE 17TH, RIGHT 15TH IS A FRIDAY.
[00:45:02]
WOULD THAT BE WOULD THE BOARD BE OK WITH THAT? OK, MIDNIGHT THE 17TH.OK. JUST MS. GRIFFIN, YEAH, YES. OK.
HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE COMMUNICATED OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES? AND TELL ME SOME OTHER WAYS OTHER THAN SKYWARD.
SO WE'VE UPDATED OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE.
WE'VE INFORMED OUR CAMPUSES OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE INFORMED THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR STUDENTS. AND THAT'S THE MAIN WAY OUTSIDE OF THE SKYWARD MESSENGER THAT WE'VE DONE THAT SO FAR, AND THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN TO DO MOVING FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. MS. GRIFFIN. IF I COULD TAG ON TO THAT, WE ALSO WANTED TO REACH OUT TO OUR CURRENT TVL STUDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS HERE.
AND WE HAD A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION YESTERDAY ABOUT PERHAPS SENDING A NOTIFICATION LIKE, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE PRE-QUALIFIED BECAUSE WE ARE GENERATING LISTS.
MS. DELGADO-JOYNER IS CREATING A LIST OF THE STUDENTS WHO MEET THOSE AUTOMATIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS. AND SO SENDING THEM A COMMUNICATION SUCH AS CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE QUALIFIED, AND AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED FOR ICON.
PLEASE APPLY HERE JUST SO THAT WE COULD SPECIFICALLY TARGET THOSE STUDENTS BECAUSE LOGICALLY, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THOSE MIGHT BE OUR MOST LIKELY STUDENTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE HAD SOME SIDEBAR DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE LEAVERS THAT DIDN'T RETURN, PERHAPS REACHING OUT TO ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS AND SENDING THEM A LETTER.
WE WANT YOU BACK AND WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN MAKE A QUESTION OUT OF THIS.
I LOOK AT TIMING OF THINGS TOO.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE OFFERING THIS AND WE'VE GOT A CUT OFF DATE COMING, SAY, A WEEK FROM YESTERDAY. WE ALSO HAVE ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON WITH MASK MANDATES.
WE HAVE LARGE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT FEEL STRONGLY BOTH WAYS.
I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ELECT VIRTUAL BASED ON ONE MANDATE AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT ELECT VIRTUAL BASED ON ANOTHER.
WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A MASK REQUIREMENT WITH THREE CHOICES FOR OPT OUTS.
AND I THINK THE MATH IS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF PERCENT OF OUR KIDS HAVE OPTED OUT, WHICH WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING FOR ME BECAUSE WE BASED ON MY UNOFFICIAL SCIENTIFIC NONSCIENTIFIC COUNT, WE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THIS ISSUE AND IT WAS ABOUT SIXTY FIVE THIRTY FIVE.
SIXTY FIVE PERCENT FAVORED MASK.
ONLY TWO AND A HALF PERCENT OPTED OUT.
I'M JUST I WISH WE COULD GET THE TIMING OF ALL THIS STUFF LINED OUT.
I WISH THE COURTS COULD MAKE THEIR DECISION.
THIS DISTRICT HAS SAID IT'S GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
WE JUST WISH THEY WOULD GET THE LAW SETTLED AND QUIT GOING BACK AND FORTH SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE SOME CLEAR CHOICES TO OUR PARENTS BASED ON A ENVIRONMENT THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, POTENTIALLY BY THE END OF YEAR WITH RESPECT TO THE LAW AND MASK MANDATE OR NOT. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE FOR THE PARENTS WHEN TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO GO VIRTUAL OR NOT.
AND IT MAY DEPEND ON WHAT THE LAW IS, BUT IT APPEARS NOW FOR WHAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE NEXT WEEK.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO RUN THIS PROGRAM UNLESS WE KNOW.
SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT THE TIMING OF ALL THESE THINGS CAN'T COME TOGETHER, AT LEAST A LITTLE BETTER.
SO THAT'S JUST AN OBSERVATION I HAD.
BOARD DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
MR. LOPEZ, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT, WHICH, ITEM? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO BACK TO 3A WITH MARK BOOKER SO WE COULD DO THE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, THEN VENDOR SERVICES, THE DISTRICT STAFFING AND THEN TRANSFER AMENDMENTS.
POINT OF CLARITY. SO ARE WE GOING TO HEAR THE DISCUSSIONS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND VOTE INDIVIDUALLY OR BECAUSE THE WAY THE.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT WE HEAR EVERYTHING AND THEN COME BACK AND VOTE ON EACH ACTION ITEM.
I'M JUST ASKING, IS THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING? SO ON THE ACTION, WE'LL GO START WITH ACTION ITEM 3A.
[III.A. Consider Approval of Cooperative Purchase Agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of America (PCA) - Mark Booker]
[00:50:03]
MR. BOOKER, NOW HAS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS ORDER IN ORDER FOR US TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE WE FIRST HAVE TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT BEFORE WE CAN APPROVE THE VENDOR.SO MR. BOOKER WILL TALK ABOUT THE AGREEMENT WITH THE VENDOR WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO ENTER THAT COOPERATIVE PROCESS.
LET ME BE CLEAR, AND MAYBE I JUST NEED CLARITY.
I THOUGHT THATWE WERE GOING TO APPROVE THE PLAN, BUT THE WAY THE AGENDA IS WRITTEN, THAT IS NOT THERE. OK, THAT'S I THOUGHT WE WERE.
OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH, NO. SO, OK, SO BUT NOW THAT I GO BACK AND I LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE ACTION ITEMS. OK, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL.
I MEAN, I KNOW WE CAN SAY IF WE APPROVE THE VENDOR, THEN THAT MEANS WE HAVE IT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS REFERENCING.
BUT NOW THAT I GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ACTION ITEMS, HOW IT'S WRITTEN, I UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU. OK? ARE YOU GOOD MS. GRIFFIN? WELL, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT RIGHT, RIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE TO APPROVE THE PROGRAM AGAIN.
WE NOW WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM.
AND I JUST THINK SOMETIMES ALL OF THAT WORDING IS NEEDED.
WE DID. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND WE PUT IT ON HOLD.
BUT WE NEED TO SOMETIME JUST SAY, CONTINUING ON WITH WHAT WE HAD PRE-APPROVED AND LIKE YOU SAID, JUST THEN THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S CHANGED FROM WHAT WE ORIGINALLY WAS TALKING ABOUT, I GUESS IN THE SUMMER OR THE SPRING, WHATEVER IT WAS.
TO MR. MILLER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO DR.
LOPEZ, WE DO HAVE BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THE APPROVAL OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH PCA, WHICH IS THE PURCHASING COOPERATIVE OF AMERICA.
THIS RESOLUTION AND AGREEMENT IS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THE FIRM THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO HOST AND PROVIDE THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL SERVICES, THEIR CONTRACT IS THROUGH PCA OF AMERICA.
THE DISTRICT, AS OF THIS POINT, HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO A RESOLUTION TO ACCESS THOSE CONTRACTS BY APPROVING THE RESOLUTION TODAY BEFORE YOU IT WOULD THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOW US TO ACCESS THAT CONTRACT TO PROCURE THE SERVICES.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE PCA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ALL OF OUR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
I CERTAINLY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE OR THE PROCESS. MR. GLICK. YES, THANK YOU.
EARLIER, I SUGGESTED SOME TYPE OF NON-COMPETE CLAUSE.
AND AS I'M JUST LOOKING THROUGH THIS TODAY, IT'S THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE.
SO IS THERE ACTUALLY NO CONTRACT THAT WE WILL SEE WITH THE STRIDE K-12? THAT CONTRACT IS BEING REVIEWED.
WE'RE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THAT CONTRACT ITSELF WITH STRIDE.
OK. I DID MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE NON-COMPETE PROVISION SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS WE NEGOTIATE THAT AGREEMENT, THAT'S INCLUDED.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH PURCHASING CO-OP OF AMERICA PCA.
THANK YOU, MR. GLICK. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY MR. SELDERS.
LET'S INDICATE APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ANY WHO ARE OPPOSED? LIKEWISE.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO ITEM B.
ITEM B MR. BLAND. THIS IS FOR VENDOR
[III.B. Consider Approval of ICON: Vendor Services - Michael Bland (Part 2 of 3)]
[00:55:02]
SERVICES. AND THEN THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE FOR STRIDE.SO AT THIS TIME AGAIN, I'M ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR THE AWARD CONTRACT FOR STRIDE K THROUGH 12 FOR OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TO START IN NOVEMBER.
I'M SORRY, LARRY, I CAN'T SEE YOU DOWN THERE.
SO ONE THING WE I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THIS AFTERNOON IS WITH THE EXPENDITURE OF NINE MILLION PLUS DOLLARS.
WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO BE THE RETURNING REVENUE ADA FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WILL MOVE THERE? I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE OLD, THE SCHOOL THAT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR OTHER THAN PRE-K. BUT ARE WE INTENDING? DO WE EXPECT TO BRING BACK NEW STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT WITH US.
ARE THERE SOME NUMBERS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT HERE WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE EFFECT OF THE GENERAL 199 FUND WILL BE? IF WE BASE IT ON TWO THOUSAND STUDENTS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE SIXTY SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS WITHOUT THE WADA JUST STRAIGHT OUT SIXTY SIX HUNDRED TIMES WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS IT? WHAT WAS THE TOTAL COST OF RETURN? SIXTY SIX HUNDRED WITH HOW MANY KIDS DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO RETURN AT THE MAX A THOUSAND? THAT'S IF ALL THOUSAND COME THAT'S SIX POINT SIX MILLION.
IT STILL DOESN'T COVER THE GAP.
BUT THE TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INVESTMENT, IT'S NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO.
WE DON'T EXPECT TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE SPENDING, OK, BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY SEE IS KIDS LEARNING, GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND NOT LOSING OUT ON SCHOOL.
SO ON THIS, IF WE SAID NINE MILLION FOR ALL TWO THOUSAND STUDENTS, CORRECT? CORRECT. AND IF ONE THOUSAND OF THOSE TWO THOUSAND STUDENTS ARE NEW STUDENTS, THAT SIX POINT SIX MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A THREE MILLION DOLLAR LOSS.
THANK YOU, SIR. I'LL SAY IT, THREE MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT, YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]. THREE MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.
I HAVE A QUESTION, I GUESS, FOR DR.
RINGO IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING.
ESSERS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IS THE GENERAL FUND THE ONLY OPTION FOR ICON? AT THIS MOMENT YES, ALL THE RESCUE PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO TEA UNDER THE PRIOR PRESENTATIONS AND APPROVED UNDER WHAT HAS BEEN PLANNED AND SUBMITTED AT THIS POINT.
IS THERE. LET ME ASK THIS HYPOTHETICALLY, IF WE HADN'T ALREADY SUBMITTED THAT, WOULD THERE BE AVAILABILITY TO INCLUDE SOME OF THIS IN AN ESSER FUNDS? DOES IT QUALIFY.
WITH THIS ESSER STRICTLY TO SUPPORT LEARNING LOSS UNDER CURRENT DISCUSSIONS, I DO NOT SEE HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE ESSER FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE REGULAR LEARNING PROCESS OF VIRTUAL SCHOOL. SO ICON WOULD NOT.
MR. PRESIDENT. CAN I ASK THAT WE TABLE THIS VOTE OF THIS PRESENTATION UNTIL WE SEE ITEM D FOR THE BUDGET TRANSFERS AN AMENDMENT FROM BRANDY BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION AND THEN COME BACK AND VOTE ON ITEM B? I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD TO ITEM D WE'LL COVER ITEM D, AND THEN
[III.D. Consider Approval of Budget Transfers and Amendments to the 2021-2022 General Fund, Student Nutrition Service Fund and Debt Service Fund - Brandy Mayo]
WE WILL RETURN BACK TO B FOR A VOTE MOMENTARILY.HELLO, GOOD EVENING, MR. MILLER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES DR.
LOPEZ. I AM BRINGING YOU THE BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS.
DUE TO THE TIMING OF THIS MEETING I AM BRINGING YOU ALL THREE FUNDS.
WE DO HAVE OUR FALL SNAPSHOT FOR PEIMS COMING UP AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
SO THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE TAKE TO REEVALUATE WHERE WE ARE AND ANALYZE ALL OF OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSES FOR ALL THREE FUNDS.
SO WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT TODAY THAN JUST ICON.
SO ONE THING I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THE
[01:00:03]
GENERAL FUND, YOU'LL SEE AT THE TOP FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS WE ARE REQUESTING TO INCREASE OUR LOCAL REVENUE.WE DID RECEIVE SOME ADVANCE REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR WINTER STORM, AND SO WE WANT TO INCREASE LOCAL REVENUE BY $900,000 DOLLARS AND WE ARE OFFSETTING SOME OF THAT REVENUE INCREASE IN THE EXPENSES.
BECAUSE WE DO, WE ARE GOING TO REIMBURSE SOME DEPARTMENTS FOR SOME FLOOD DAMAGE TO FURNITURE THAT WE'VE SEEN.
WE ARE ALSO REVIEWING OUR A.D.A..
AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, A LOT BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU.
OUR ENROLLMENT IS KIND OF CLOSE TO WHERE WE DID EXPECT IT TO BE.
BUT OUR ADA PERCENTAGE, WE'RE USUALLY AROUND NINETY SIX OR NINETY SEVEN PERCENT.
WE'RE HEARING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THE ADA PERCENTAGE HAS BEEN AROUND 89 TO 90 PERCENT AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT THERE.
BUT WITH OUR SIX WEEKS REPORTING TO PEIMS, WE ARE LOWER THAN WE DID EXPECT.
SO WE ARE SHOWING ABOUT A $20 MILLION DOLLAR LOSS IN STATE REVENUE.
ONE OF THE BIG REASONS TO SHOW THAT NOW IS AGAIN FOR OUR PEIMS REPORTING, WE HAVE SEEN SOME GAINS THERE.
BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, LOOKING AT HISTORICAL TRENDS AND ANALYSIS IS VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW WHEN WE'RE IN COVID.
TYPICALLY, WE DO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A TREND DOWNWARD IN ADA IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH AND AN INCREASE IN THE SIXTH.
BUT IN THE SIXTH, YEAH SIX WEEKS.
BUT LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T SEE THAT, SO WE HAD IT REALLY FLAT.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GAIN AND WITH ICON WE'RE ABLE TO GAIN WE WILL CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THESE NUMBERS.
AND IF WE DO SEE AN INCREASE IN ADA IN OUR PERCENTAGE OF ENROLLMENT, WE WILL COME BACK AND AMEND THE BUDGET THERE.
BUT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY, WE ARE BRINGING YOU A DECREASE OF STATE REVENUE. WE'RE SHOWING AN INCREASE OF $7 MILLION IN FEDERAL REVENUE.
THAT'S DUE TO OUR INDIRECT COST FROM OUR ESSER 2 AND ESSER 3, SO THAT WAS PRESENTED BEFORE. SO THAT DOES POSITIVELY IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN IN OUR EXPENDITURE SECTION, YOU'LL SEE THE $9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CONTRACT FOR ICON VIRTUAL SCHOOL IS LISTED THERE.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER ITEMS FOR SOME TEACHER REALLOCATION, SOME IMPLEMENTATION FEES, BUS REPAIRS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THEN WE ARE INCREASING THE FUNCTIONS FOR FURNITURE REIMBURSEMENTS WHILE WE ARE INCREASING THE REVENUE BY THE FULL NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
WE ARE ONLY INCREASING FOR FURNITURE REIMBURSEMENTS, I BELIEVE ABOUT SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND. SO THERE IS ABOUT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT IS GOING TO FUND BALANCE THERE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GENERAL FUND? MS. MAYO. AGAIN REAL QUICK CLARIFY FOR ME THE NUMBER OF ADA, HOW FAR SHORT OF OUR EXPECTED OR OUR BUDGETED ADA ARE WE CURRENTLY TRENDING.
CLOSE TO THREE THOUSAND? YES, WE BUDGETED AT FORTY NINE THOUSAND NINE ZERO SIX.
SO LIKE I SAID, OUR ENROLLMENT IS VERY CLOSE TO WHERE WE EXPECTED IT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF ATTENDANCE. AND THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS HAS PUT OUT SURVEYS AND WE HAVE RESPONDED AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO TEA AND THE LEGISLATURE ON THESE LOSSES.
YES, WE I MEAN, BUT PART OF IT IS COVID.
PART OF IT IS THEY'RE NOT COMING CONSISTENTLY.
SPEAKING TO OUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE HIGHEST I'VE HEARD IN DISTRICTS THAT ARE RELATIVELY HEALTHY SIZES IS ABOUT NINETY ONE PERCENT.
THE WORST I'VE HEARD IS ON A DISTRICT OF ABOUT EIGHTEEN THOUSAND THEY ARE AT 78 PERCENT ADA. ABOUT THREE THOUSAND IS HOW MANY MILLION DOLLARS OF LOST REVENUE? AT THREE THOUSAND KIDS.
IS ABOUT 21 MILLION? YES. 21 MILLION. YES, SIR. MR. GLICK.
THERE WAS SOME TALK THAT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MIGHT LOOK AT ANOTHER HOLD HARMLESS FOR THE LOSS OF ATTENDANCE IS THAT DEAD.
I MEAN, WE'RE HOPEFUL, BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING.
AND FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE TOLD US AT THE ABSOLUTE VERY LAST SECOND.
SO WE HAVE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT, JUST OTHER DISTRICTS, BUT WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
DR. RINGO HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING? THAT IS CORRECT. THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S BEEN NOTHING IN ANY BILL THAT HAS DISCUSSED ADA. NOW DISTRICTS ARE SEEKING THAT FEEDBACK BECAUSE THAT TREND AS DR.
[01:05:02]
MAYO MENTIONED HAS BEEN ADA HAS BEEN TRENDING ANYWHERE FROM 89 TO 91 PERCENT FOR DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE ARE HOPEFUL.BUT AS WE SAW LAST YEAR, WITH THE HOLD HARMLESS, THE STATE IS ALWAYS LATE.
I SAY LATE THEY LAG IN MAKING THE DECISION TOWARDS THE END AND DISTRICTS ARE AT LIMBO DURING THAT TIME.
AND MR. GLICK. THE FEEDBACK HONESTLY HAS BEEN THAT IN THEIR SORT OF WAY, THEY JUST SAY YOU HAVE ESSER FUNDS FOR THAT. YES THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING COMING OUT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE? WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST SOURCE, MAYBE FOR PERSUADING THE LEGISLATURE.
OK. ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS JUST IN OUR RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH ICON, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE ABLE TO IF OUR NINE HUNDRED STUDENTS IN TVL ARE QUALIFIED FOR ICON AND WE ARE ABLE TO RECOUP THEM, AS DR.
LOPEZ MENTIONED, THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY COUNTED IN OUR ADA.
ANNUALLY THAT'S ABOUT 5.8 MILLION DOLLARS.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULDN'T SEE THE FULL YEAR DOLLARS, BUT WE'D SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR DOLLARS SO THAT THAT COULD HAVE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT.
AND SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION ALSO HERE.
BABETTA DO YOU KNOW ON STUDENT SERVICES THAT THREE THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT WE'RE LACKING? DO YOU KNOW THE PHONE CALLS THAT ARE BEING MADE OR WHATEVER? ARE WE REACHING ANYBODY? ARE WE KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THOSE STUDENTS? SURE. SO OUR ENROLLMENT. UP HERE.
COME ON UP. OK, SO WE COMPLETED OUR RECOVERY AND ACTUALLY I SAY COMPLETED, WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO RECOVER EVEN THOUGH OUR SCHOOL START WINDOW HAS CLOSED, SO WE ARE RECOVERING STUDENTS DAILY.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE REASON THAT LAG, EVEN THOUGH OUR ENROLLMENT IS ALMOST ON PAR WITH WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, IS BECAUSE THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE ARE NOT COMING FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
AND FOR MANY OF THEM, THAT IS DUE TO COVID RELATED ILLNESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO CALL.
WE STILL HAVE OUR TRUANCY SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, AND OUR ATTENDANCE DEPARTMENT IS STILL WORKING TOWARD GETTING THOSE STUDENTS BACK ON TRACK AND BACK IN.
AND ALL OF OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR DATA CLERKS ARE CONTINUING TO CALL AND FOLLOW UP WITH FAMILIES.
BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE IMPACT I THINK OF COVID IN WHY MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT COMING BACK OR NOT COMING IN AND ATTENDING AT THE HIGH RATE THEY WERE ATTENDING IN YEARS PAST. ARE YOU STILL SEEING STUDENTS COMING INTO STUDENT SERVICES TODAY WANTING TO ENROLL? YES. WE'RE STILL ENROLLING KIDS DAILY.
I WENT INTO OUR ENROLLMENT CENTER JUST BEFORE I LEFT AND EVERY SEAT WAS FULL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO ENROLL HERE.
SOME ARE RE ENROLLMENTS, BUT MANY ARE BRAND NEW ENROLLMENTS TO OUR DISTRICT.
NOW WE ALSO HAVE TO COUNT FOR THE OFFSET OF STUDENTS WHO ARE WITHDRAWING AND GOING OTHER PLACES AS WELL, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY CONTINUING TO ENROLL FAMILIES.
IS IT DUE TO OPEN ENROLLMENT, YOU THINK? OR IS THAT JUST NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE AREA? IT'S JUST NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE AREA AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE AN INFLUX OF ANYTHING COMING FROM THE BORDER.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF REFUGEES OR RECENT IMMIGRANTS COMING IN OTHER THAN OUR REGULAR JUST ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS WHO SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH COMING IN.
AND THE LAST QUESTION, AND THIS IS KIND OF A POINTED ONE, I GUESS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN PLACE THAT THE STUDENT SERVICES HAS TO TRY TO REACH THESE 3000 KIDS TO EITHER BE READY TO SIGN UP VIRTUALLY OR TO GET THEM BACK INTO SCHOOL FACE TO FACE? SO WE CONTINUE WITH HOME VISITS, WITH OUTREACH.
WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER WHO ALSO GOES OUT AND WORKS WITH FAMILIES THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME OTHER BARRIERS IN PLACE.
AND SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE PIECES.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO HOST VACCINATION CLINICS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE REMOVING EVERY BARRIER FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO COME IN AND TO ENROLL WITH US.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING PEOPLE WHO PHYSICALLY GO OUT AND TRY TO BRING OUR STUDENTS BACK INTO SCHOOL.
SO LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES OF THE LEDGER, IF YOU WILL.
HOW ARE OUR WITH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF COVID, HOW ARE OUR EXPENSES TRACKING TO BUDGET?
[01:10:01]
I CAN'T SAY THAT. WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.SO THAT'S ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT AS WELL.
SO WE ARE JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, WE ARE SEEING A HIGHER LEVEL OF VACANCIES THAN USUAL.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WE DO FUND OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, FULL PAYROLL AND EXPECTING THAT. SO EVERY YEAR WE DO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE AROUND A FOUR SIX PERCENT SAVINGS IN VACANCIES THAT WE DO EXPECT TO SEE THAT IF THINGS REMAIN ON TRACK AS THEY ARE NOW TO BE HIGHER, THEN YOU KNOW, PROBABLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.
SO WHEN YOU SEE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT SHOWN TODAY, YOU CAN EXPECT THAT TO BE OFFSET WITH THOSE PAYROLL SAVES.
ONCE WE GET, WE ARE STARTED WORKING ON OUR PAYROLL FORECAST FOR THE YEAR.
AS YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY OCTOBER AND WE ALWAYS LAG A MONTH BEHIND WITH PAYROLL, SO WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE GOOD MONTH TO LOOK AT.
SO AS WE GET CLOSER A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO THE YEAR, WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU WITH THOSE EXPECTATIONS OF SAVES.
BUT WE DO EXPECT TO SEE HIGHER THAN NOW.
IT'S HARD TO SAY NOW WHEN WE SAY HIGHER THAN USUAL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING ON YEAR THREE OF THIS. BUT YOU KNOW, WE LOOK THREE YEARS BACK, IT'S GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN USUAL.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME SAVINGS THERE IN PAYROLL.
RIGHT. AND NON-PAYROLL NOW WE DID LIFT OUR RESTRICTIONS THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.
SO THOSE WILL STILL BE IN PLACE.
BUT I IMAGINE THERE'S STILL SOME LIMITATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT COULD CAUSE SOME NON PAYROLL SAVES.
AND SO MS. MAYO, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ADA AND KIDS THAT AREN'T IN THE SEATS, ARE THERE ANY ABSENCES THAT ARE EXCUSED THAT DON'T COUNT AGAINST ADA OR DOES EVERY STUDENT NOT IN THE SEAT COUNTS? THEY HAVE TO BE KIDS IN SEATS.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S COVID.
THAT'S CORRECT. YES, THERE WERE SOME COVID LIMITATIONS.
I THINK THEY COULD MISS UP TO 20 DAYS.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING ANALYSIS ON THAT.
DR. RUSSELL EXCUSE ME. AND THAT WOULD BE THE REMOTE CONFERENCING.
AND SO FOR STUDENTS HAVE UP TO 20 DAYS TO PARTICIPATE IF IT'S RELATED TO COVID OR COVID QUARANTINE TO PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE CONFERENCING.
THAT HAS TO BE FOUR HOURS OF LIVE SYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION FOR THE UPPER GRADES.
I THINK IT'S TWO HOURS A DAY FOR THE YOUNGER GRADES.
SO, YEAH, IT'S TWO, AND WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO ANY STUDENT WHO IS OUT ON COVID FOR COVID RELATED SITUATION.
AND OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM HAS DEVELOPED LESSONS AND VIDEOS THAT FOR THE STUDENTS TO ACCESS.
AND MR. VIERNES, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO HOW THAT'S GOING? WE DON'T HAVE HIGH PARTICIPATION IN THAT.
WE HAVE WE OFFER IT TO GO AHEAD.
WHILE HE'S WALKING UP, DOES THAT.
AND THEN THAT GIVES US ADA BACK FOR EVERY DAY THEY COMPLETE LIKE THAT.
WE GET THE SAME MONTH OR NEXT QUARTER OR HOW DOES THAT THEY GET RETROACTIVELY MARKED PRESENT? OKAY SO IT'D BE. SO I DID IT TODAY AND THEN I'M RETROACTIVELY MARKED PRESENT WHEN THEY DO ATTENDANCE COUNTING COMPLETE THAT? OR IS IT JUST THE PERIOD WHILE THEY'RE OUT ONLY? IT'S WHILE THEY'RE OUT ONLY.
IF THEY'RE ABLE TO? OKAY, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
AND CHUCK VIERNES SCHOOL DESIGN ADMINISTRATOR.
THE PARENT FILLS OUT A FORM AND IN THAT FORM THEY INDICATE THE PERIOD OF TIME.
AND LIKE DR. RUSSELL HAD MENTIONED, IT'S UP TO 20 DAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, IT'S ANY STUDENT THAT EITHER HAS CONTRACTED COMMUNICABLE CONDITIONS SUCH AS COVID OR IS PUT ON QUARANTINE THAT REQUIRES THEM TO BE SEPARATED, THAT THEY GET TO PARTICIPATE.
AND WE CURRENTLY EMPLOY FOUR LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PROVIDING SUPPORT FACE TO FACE.
SO WE'RE NOT COMPETING WITH THE ALREADY SHORTAGE IN SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM THAT SERVE K THROUGH EIGHT.
AND THEN IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WORK AFTER CONTRACT HOURS AND GET COMPENSATED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.
WE ROUGHLY HAVE ABOUT 300 STUDENTS AND FLUCTUATES ABOUT 20 STUDENTS HERE AND THERE.
BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH CAMPUSES TO COORDINATE AND GET PARENTS INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SIGN UP AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP.
CURRENT PARTICIPATION FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE REGISTERED.
IT VARIES ABOUT TWENTY THREE TO TWENTY EIGHT PERCENT PARTICIPATION, SO WE REALLY WANT THAT AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
IF THEY'RE CHOOSING TO SIGN UP FOR THAT WE WANT THEM TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE, NOT ONLY FOR THE SUPPORT OF HAVING A TEACHER TO TUTORING THEM AND TO PROVIDE THEM INSTRUCTION ACTIVITY WHEN THEY'RE OUT, BUT ALSO FOR THE DISTRICT, FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, RECOVER ADA FUNDING, IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT THIRTY NINE DOLLARS A DAY FOR A KID TO SHOW UP FOR US, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS OF THE 300 KIDS THAT MAYBE QUALIFIED FOR THAT TWENTY
[01:15:07]
TWO PERCENT ARE CURRENTLY SIGNED UP.NO TWENTY TWO TO ABOUT TWENTY SEVEN PERCENT SHOW UP AFTER THEY SIGN UP.
SO EVEN AFTER THEY SIGN UP, THEY DON'T ALWAYS COME.
YES, SIR. I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW THE MATH IS AFFECTED BY ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO REALLY AND I'M SORRY, MS. MAYO. BUT REALLY, NO, THAT'S FOR YOU.
OKAY. AND I KNOW THE REST OF THE BOARD MAY HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
JUST TO CLARIFY, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THERE MAY BE SOME HIGHER THAN NORMAL SAVES WE WILL ADDRESS THAT WHENEVER THAT CLARIFIES WHENEVER THE CRYSTAL BALL CLEARS UP SOME AND AS THE YEAR GOES ON.
SITTING HERE AS A BOARD MEMBER TODAY LOOKING AT A NEW 12 TO 20 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT ON TOP OF THE, I THINK IT WAS 27 THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO BE GETTING TOWARDS 50 MILLION PRETTY QUICK, WHICH WE DON'T THINK IT WILL HIT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER. BUT THAT STILL PRETTY MUCH EATS AWAY THE CUSHION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR FUND.
AND IF YOU COULD REMIND ME AGAIN THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE OVER AND ABOVE THE KIND OF REQUIRED MINIMUM CURRENTLY.
ISN'T IT ABOUT 50 OR 60 MILLION.
IN OUR RESERVE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF WHAT.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF OPERATING.
DOLLARS? I DON'T KNOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
WE WERE I THINK WE WERE LOOKING AT LIKE THREE AND A HALF MONTHS IS WHERE WE WANTED TO BE AND WE WERE AROUND FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
YEAH, AND I'D HEARD DOWN AT THE STATE RUMBLINGS SAYING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY IN RESERVE AND THEN THEY KIND OF WANT US TO BURN THROUGH THAT FIRST BEFORE THEY FIGURE OUT NEW FUNDING.
AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DOING THAT.
I THINK WE MAY BE WORKING ON THAT.
NOW OUR FINAL AUDIT WILL BE COMING FOR YOUR REVIEW AND WE WILL KNOW THOSE EXACT FIGURES BASED ON YOU KNOW HOW FUND BALANCE WAS AFFECTED IN 2020 OR LAST FISCAL YEAR.
SO ONCE THAT COMES TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL, WE'LL HAVE A REALLY GOOD HANDLE ON THAT.
CERTAINLY, I'M SORRY, BOARD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
OK, IF IT'S THE PLEASURE THAT IS ITEM D I THINK.
IF I COULD. THAT WAS JUST THE GENERAL FUND.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STUDENT NUTRITION FUND.
WE ARE REQUESTING TO INCREASE FEDERAL REVENUE THERE FOR THE CHILD NUTRITION EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL COST REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, SO THAT'S FROM THE USDA.
SO WE'RE GETTING A $2 MILLION INCREASE TO FEDERAL DOLLARS THERE FOR STUDENT NUTRITION.
AND WE ALSO HAD SOME EQUITY ADJUSTMENTS FOR STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES, AND THAT'S ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO THAT DOES LEAVE THEM WITH A NET POSITIVE GAIN TO THEIR FUND BALANCE FOR THAT OFFSET.
AND WITH THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WE DID ADOPT OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND AT POINT THREE ZERO NINE CENTS WHEN WE CAME BACK AND ASKED FOR BOARD APPROVAL FOR TO ADOPT OUR TAX RATE.
WE ADOPTED A TAX RATE OF POINT THREE ONE SEVEN NINE.
WITH THAT BEING A HIGHER TAX RATE FOR I&S, IT DID INCREASE OUR I&S REVENUE AT 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS, SO WE'RE REFLECTING THAT IN THE BUDGET THERE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REMAINING TWO FUNDS? ANY QUESTIONS BOARD. AND JUST ONE FINAL THING, MR. MILLER. THIS WOULD SATISFY THE OCTOBER BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SO THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU SEE IN FINANCE COMMITTEE TONIGHT WOULD BE OBSOLETE THAT AGENDA ITEM WOULD BE OLD AND INVALID.
AND THEN ALSO, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES FROM NOW UNTIL THE BOARD MEETING, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT ON OCTOBER 26TH.
SO THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF IT TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER THIS, RIGHT, I THINK WE HAD A VOTE ON ITEM A.
AND WE'RE NOW ON ITEM B TO GO BACK IN ORDER BOARD.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION ON 3D CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 2021 2022 GENERAL FUND, STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICE FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND. OK, THAT WOULD BE ITEM D AS IN DOG.
YES, SIR. AND MR. GLICK HAS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BOARD AND WE HAVE A SECOND MR.
[01:20:04]
SELDERS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND.ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU BOARD THAT TAKES CARE OF ITEM D, AND I THINK WE STILL NEED TO GO BACK TO ITEM B AS IN BOY.
[III.B. Consider Approval of ICON: Vendor Services - Michael Bland (Part 3 of 3)]
OH, YEAH. DO WE HAVE ANY ACTIONS ON ITEM B.MR. PRESIDENT, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO CONSIDER TO APPROVE THE ICON VENDOR SERVICES.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. GLICK ON ITEM B AS IN BOY.
IF NOT, PLEASE INDICATE APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND I BELIEVE THE LAST ITEM FOR ACTION TONIGHT IS ITEM C.
[III.C. Consider Approval of ICON: District Staffing - Michael Bland]
AND I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS FOR THE THREE STAFF POSITIONS, THE THREE, IS THAT CORRECT, MR. BLAND? CORRECT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION . I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ICON DISTRICT STAFFING AS PRINTED IN OUR AGENDA. AND I'LL SECOND.WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. SELDERS SECONDED BY MR. BEACH ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BOARD? IF NOT, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR APPROVAL BY RAISING YOUR HAND ANY OPPOSED.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT MAKES IT THROUGH THE ACTION ITEMS AND TAKES US TO ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DR. LOPEZ, YOU HAVE ANY NEED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE IS NO REASON TO RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO NO OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS NOW 3:38 AND TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 3:38.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.