Feb 14, 2023 Special Board Meetings

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING, IT IS 5:02 AND THIS IS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE GARLAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

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

MISS HOGAN, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?

[III.A.. Consider all matters incident and related to calling a bond election to be held by the Garland Independent School District, including the adoption of an order pertaining thereto - Dr. Brent Ringo]

SO WE MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM THREE ACTION ITEMS. CONSIDER ALL MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE CALLING OF A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDER PERTAINING THERE TO DR.

BRENT RINGO.

MR. JOHNSON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

DR. LOPEZ. GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS THE ACTION ITEM TO CALL FOR A BOND PROGRAM ON MAY 6TH, 2023, WITH THREE PROPOSITIONS.

THIS HAS BEEN SHARED IN DETAIL WITH THE BOARD.

THE COMMITTEE PROCESS STARTED IN THE FALL WITH THE SIX MEETINGS OUR COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN JANUARY ON THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS.

THE BOARD TOOK ACTION ON THE JANUARY AT THE OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING ON THE SCOPE OF PROJECTS THAT INCLUDED THE FOURTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE BOND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FEES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND SO BEFORE YOU IS THE ORDER OF CALLING THE BOND REFLECTING PROPOSITION A IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.1 BILLION PROPOSITION B, WHICH IS THE MULTI PROGRAM ACTIVITY CENTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF 135.9 MILLION, AND THEN PROPOSITION C, WHICH IS THE 1 TO 1 DEVICE REFRESH FOR 40.6 MILLION, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE SEPARATED OUT INTO SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS BASED ON STATUTES, AND WITH THAT, MR. JOHNSON, WE ALSO HAVE BOB DRANSFIELD, OUR BOND COUNSEL FROM NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING, AND ALSO OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, GEORGE WILLIFORD WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDER IT HAS BEEN TENDERED AS COPY IN THE AGENDA? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDER WAS PREPARED BY OUR BOND COUNSEL SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS EVENT, AND THE BOND LANGUAGE ITSELF IS REFLECTIVE OF ALL THREE OF THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WOULD SHOW UP ON THE BALLOT.

IT IS ENTITLED AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAKING PROVISION FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION AND RESOLVING SUCH OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO SUCH ELECTION INCLUSIVE FULLY OF THE ELECTION DATES.

THE THREE PROPOSITIONS, THE CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ELECTION WOULD BE HELD.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR.

RINGO OR OUR BOND COUNSEL WHO IS PRESENT REGARDING THE TEXT OF THE ORDER ITSELF? SEEING NONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO AND TAKE A MOMENT TO GO AROUND TO EACH DIFFERENT TRUSTEE AND JUST GET IF ANYONE HAS THOUGHTS OR WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOND PROCESS AND THE UPCOMING, I GUESS, STILL POTENTIAL OF A BOND ELECTION UNTIL WE MAKE THIS VOTE.

SO POTENTIAL. I'M GOING TO START WITH MR. GLICK. THANK YOU, SIR.

WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO NAME SEVEN CITIZENS, I INTENTIONALLY APPOINTED THREE CITIZENS WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH THE 2014 PROCESS AND FOUR WHO WOULD BE BRAND NEW JUST TO SEE THEIR DIFFERENT REACTIONS AND TO A PERSON THEY ALL APPRECIATED AND APPLAUDED THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE SAW THAT WE FOLLOWED THIS TIME.

I THINK EVERYONE ENJOYED THE TOUR OF THE FACILITIES.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

I THINK THEY ENJOYED THE PROCESS, EVEN THE LAST PROCESS WITH THE VOTING, THEY ENJOYED MEETING FIVE WHERE THEY WERE VOTES, TAKING MOCK VOTES TO SEE WHERE WE WERE HEADING, AND THEY ENJOYED CERTAINLY ALL THE INFORMATION THEY GOT.

I THINK THE THING THAT I ENJOYED MOST IS THAT WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THE PRODUCT, IT WAS A PRODUCT THAT I THINK IS THE MOST HELPFUL FOR OUR DISTRICT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AS YOU KNOW, I WOULD COMMENT TWO YEARS AGO AND WITHOUT USING THE WORD BOND, I WOULD CALL IT THAT FOUR LETTER WORD.

KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR GETTING TO THIS POINT, AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT I INDIVIDUALLY WOULD HAVE WANTED IN THERE.

I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, WELL, I WOULD HAVE LIKED THIS.

I MIGHT HAVE LIKED THAT, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT WE HAVE FOR OUR OUR STUDENTS, AND WITH THE FOUR NEW ELEMENTARIES, THE EXPANSION OF THIS

[00:05:04]

WE TALKED TODAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MR. GONZALES, TALKED ABOUT THE LAST BOND.

WE PUT OVER $150 MILLION INTO HVAC IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING, AND THERE AGAIN IN THIS BOND.

SO WE'RE RECOGNIZING AS OUR FACILITIES AGE, ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO DO, AND THEY'RE ALL IN THIS BOND AND THAT WHICH MAKES ME VERY HAPPY WITH THE PROCESS AND VERY HAPPY WE'RE AT THIS POINT, SIR.

THANK YOU. MS. STANLEY. SO NOT TO GO OVER TOO MUCH REPEAT WHAT MR. GLICK SAID, I WAS HESITANT ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

I'M VERY HESITANT ABOUT BONDS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT IT'S REALLY ADDRESSING, IN MY OPINION, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE , AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY TOURS OR ANY OPEN DOORS THAT WE DO TO DISCUSS THE BOND, TO REALLY TAKE SOME OF OUR GLASSES OFF AND LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES AND LOOK AT HOW I THINK ONE OF OUR CO-CHAIRS SAID IT THE BEST THAT WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE OUR KIDS THAT ARE JUST ATTAINING GREAT THINGS WITH OUR HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGED, BUT OUR BUILDINGS JUST DON'T.

THEY JUST DON'T REFLECT THE GREAT THE GREAT DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE REALLY SHOULD BE PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN WITH BASIC, FUNDAMENTALLY BETTER BUILDINGS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF DESERVE BETTER BUILDINGS THAN THEY'VE BEEN WORKING IN.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS DOES AND A FUTURE VISION.

I'M A STRONG PROPONENT THAT THIS IS JUST A VERY SMALL PIECE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

I MEAN, WE ARE A BIG BUILDING.

I, TOO, WHEN I DID MY APPOINTEES, I REALLY WENT OUTSIDE OF PEOPLE.

I REALLY LOOKED FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE I WASN'T REAL FRIENDS WITH.

I REALLY TRIED TO GO FIND A MIX OF I TRIED TO FIND A YOUNG PERSON FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, PARENTS, A TEACHER, TAXPAYERS, SO THAT THEY COULD PARTICIPATE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

I MEAN, WE REALLY, TRULY ARE, AND SO I JUST FELT LIKE INCLUSIVITY WAS SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT WHEN I WAS COMING UP WITH MY PEOPLE.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW THIS PROCESS CONTINUES ON, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

THANKS.

MISS GRIFFIN. YES, THANK YOU.

THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT IN TIME.

IN THE HISTORY AND THE LEGACY OF THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

OUR FOCUS IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

IS NOW TURNING TO FOCUS ON MAKING OUR FACILITIES A QUALITY.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOND COMMITTEE FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, FOR THEIR DEDICATION, FOR THE VISION, FOR THEIR FOCUS ON DETAILS, AND I THINK THEY LAID OUT FOR US A MODEL OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AS WE HAVE FOCUSED AND HEARD THEM SAY THAT WE NEED TO SCHEDULE THE NEXT ONE PRETTY SOON TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING AND TIMES AND THE AGING OF OUR BUILDINGS.

I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE STAFF AND DR.

LOPEZ AND HIS TEAM FOR THE DETAILED WORK TO ORIENTATE AND TO TRAIN ALL OF THE CITIZENS, THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS THAT WAS WILLING TO COME AND LEARN.

IT'S TIME TO GET STARTED.

IT'S WORK TO BE DONE, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS POINT IN TIME.

[00:10:05]

MR. MILLER. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO BE REPETITIVE OF ANYBODY BECAUSE I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH ALL THE SENTIMENTS SO FAR.

ONE OF MY GOALS IN THIS, I DIDN'T COME TO A SINGLE MEETING.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GET SOME UNSOLICITED FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF MY APPOINTEES OR PEOPLE WHO WANTED CLARIFICATIONS, BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO DO IS I WANTED THEM TO WORK THE PROCESS AND LET THE VOICE OF THIS COMMITTEE BE THE ONE THAT WAS HEARD, AND I THINK FOR ME, I'M JUST VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT CAME OUT.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME GREAT LEADERSHIP THAT CAME OUT OF THE BOND COMMITTEE GROUP.

THAT STEERING COMMITTEE I THINK, DID A FABULOUS JOB.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THAT AND SO VERY PROUD OF STAFF AND THE WAY THEY ASSISTED THESE INDIVIDUALS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 80 SOME ODD 80 INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE UP THIS COMMITTEE.

SO I WAS JUST VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THE OTHER THING, I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN EYE FOR THIS, AND I THINK WE'RE DOING IT.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT WE SHOULD MARRY OUR FACILITIES TO OUR ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN ALL ABOUT ACADEMIC RECOVERY SINCE COVID.

WE'VE BEEN ALL ABOUT SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACADEMIC IN NATURE, AND MAN, I THINK WHAT IS MOST IMPRESSIVE TO THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT WERE ON THE BOND COMMITTEE THAT DID THE TOUR IS HOW FAR BEHIND SOME OF OUR FACILITIES HAVE GOTTEN AND THE SHEER NEED TO CATCH BACK UP.

WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY OLD FACILITIES AND WE HAVE SOME TEACHERS AND SOME STAFF WORKING MIRACLES WITH STONE AGE TYPE OF FACILITIES , AND SO FOR ME, IN ORDER TO MARRY OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR ACADEMIC OBJECTIVES, WE'VE GOT TO MARRY THAT WITH THE PROPER FACILITIES, AND I'M REAL PROUD OF THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE TO ME IT'S THE CLOSEST THING I'VE SEEN TO IT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR THESE SIX YEARS.

THANK YOU. MR. SELDERS. YES, THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. I THINK SINCE THE 2014 BOND, I GOT ON THE BOARD IN 2015, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO AND LEADING UP TO AND FROM A BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT ALL WENT INTO THAT PROCESS AND SO I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING WHAT THIS PROCESS PROCESS WOULD YIELD, AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE MR. GLICK TALKED ABOUT AND MS. STANLEY TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SELECTED, I INTENTIONALLY SELECTED PEOPLE THAT I KNEW HAD NEVER BEEN A PART OF ANY PROCESS OR COMMITTEE WITHIN GISD, BUT ALSO THEY HAD STUDENTS OR KIDS IN THE DISTRICT OR HAD KIDS IN THE DISTRICT OR TAXPAYERS KIDS THAT HAVE GRADUATED, AND THEY HAD A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT BUT ALSO THE PRODUCT THAT WE WERE PRODUCING WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE.

SO WHAT I WAS MOST INTRIGUED BY WAS GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A STANDARD THAT WE CREATED FOR ONGOING WORK IN ANY BOND PROGRAMS THAT WOULD COME SUBSEQUENT TO THIS, KNOWING THAT THIS WAS JUST KIND OF SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF ALL THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT, AND SO I WAS JUST REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE , AND I FELT LIKE THE PROCESS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH DELIVERED A PRODUCT, THIS PRODUCT BEING PART OF THE OVERALL PRODUCT, I THINK THAT WILL COME IN THE COMING YEARS.

THAT RAISES THE STANDARD IN OUR DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED, I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES IS THAT THERE HAD BEEN MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER AND THEN OUR FACILITIES IN THE PLACES WHERE THESE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AND SO I FEEL LIKE THIS BOND PROGRAM IS A STEP IN THE DIRECTION TO GET ALIGNED SO THAT WE CAN BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER THOSE PROGRAMS AND STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SAID THAT GARLAND IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN NORTH TEXAS.

NOT ANYMORE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BOND PROGRAM GOING FORWARD, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE AREA, AGAIN, GETTING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, ASKING LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND PARTICIPATING WITH US IN GETTING THIS DONE.

[00:15:02]

I REMEMBER PEOPLE COMING TO SEE THE GRCTC FROM THE OTHER BOND PROGRAM AND THEY HAD DOUBT AND UNTIL THEY STEPPED FOOT IN HERE AND THEY SAW WHAT IT PRODUCED, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EXTENSION TO THIS PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET BEHIND WHAT WE HAVE A VISION FOR.

I WANT THE TRI-CITIES TO GET MOTIVATED, TAKE OUR FACILITIES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

WHEN YOU READ THE PROPOSITION A, B, AND C, LOOK WHAT'S GOING TO GO ON IN THOSE PROPOSITIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT AND UPGRADE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE TRI-CITIES.

I WANT TO THANK MY THE GROUP OF FOLKS THAT I CHOSE FOR THE BOND PROGRAM.

THEY ENJOYED THE PROGRAM.

THEY SAW THE FACILITY, THEY TOURED IT.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED.

THEY'RE MOTIVATED AND GOING TO BE OUT THERE REALLY GOING AFTER IT FOR US.

I WANT TO THANK MR. ROBERTSON AND ALSO MR. AUBIN, THE PRESENTATION AND THEIR PASSION, THEIR MOTIVATION FOR WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO US HERE AT THE BOARD LEVEL AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS THAT WE ALL GET BEHIND THIS AND SUPPORT IT.

I WANT TO THANK DR. LOPEZ AND THE STAFF, THE TREMENDOUS JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

FOLKS, IT'S HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL FOR IT, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL RALLY BEHIND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND LET'S REALLY PUT GARLAND ON THE MAP, AND WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY COME MAY THE SIXTH. THANK YOU.

I GUESS THAT LEAVES ME. YOU KNOW, IT ALL COMES BACK TO ME WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE IS THE ENGINE BEHIND THIS BOND.

THIS IS THEIR BOND.

THEY PUT IT TOGETHER.

THEY BROUGHT US THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THEY WORKED EXHAUSTIVELY ON IT.

I THINK THE THING THAT'S SHOCKING TO ME IS BECAUSE I KNOW THE PEOPLE I APPOINTED, I DELIBERATELY POINTED, SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE PROBABLY SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL ABOUT BOND ELECTIONS AND SUCH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COME OUT AND WE NEED TO--NECESSARILY WE NEED TO CONVINCE--BUT THEY NEED TO BE CONVINCED ABOUT THE UTILITY AND THE NEED FOR THIS , AND THE UNANIMITY FROM THE BOND COMMITTEE WAS REALLY STUNNING, AND I WAS A MEMBER--I WASN'T A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, BUT I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. WHENEVER THE 2014 BOND COMMITTEE MET, AND THERE WASN'T THAT LEVEL OF UNANIMITY ABOUT THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE NEEDED, AND I'D LIKE TO THINK IT WAS COMPLETELY JUST, MAN, WE DID AMAZING JOB OF SECURING.

I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB OF PICKING A COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK OVERWHELMINGLY IT'S BECAUSE I THINK ANYONE WITH EYES AND COMMON SENSE KNOWS OUR FACILITIES ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. I TRAVEL AROUND A LOT TO OTHER DISTRICTS NOW, BOTH IN MY ROLE AS BOARD PRESIDENT AND ALSO IN MY ROLE AS DAD GOING AROUND TO OTHER DISTRICTS, AND IT IS STRIKING TO ME HOW FAR BEHIND OUR FACILITIES ARE BY COMPARISON.

IN PARTICULAR, I'M NOT GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IT, BUT IT'S A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT.

I WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL BAND COMPETITION AT THAT DISTRICT AND MY KIDS WERE KIND OF AMAZED BY THE FACILITY AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH NEWER WAS THIS BUILDING THAN OUR BUILDING.

I HAD TO TELL THEM IT WAS 14 YEARS OLDER AND THEY'RE LIKE, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? I SAID, BECAUSE THEY'VE SPENT MORE MONEY RENOVATING IT.

THEY'VE PASSED BONDS, THEY'VE DONE THIS, THEY'VE INVESTED IN THEIR FACILITIES BETTER THAN WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S SIMPLE TRUE, I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL OF PAST BOARDS, BUT THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS YOU KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, AT SOME POINT THE CAN GETS FLAT AND IT WON'T GO ANYMORE.

YOU CAN'T KICK IT ANY FURTHER, AND I THINK WE'VE KIND OF REACHED THAT POINT.

IT'S UP TO NOW THE VOTERS.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE VOTERS, I SUSPECT, AFTER THE VOTE IS TAKEN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHAT I'VE DONE AND WHAT OPENED MY EYES TO THE NEEDS FOR THIS AND GO SEE OTHER FACILITIES IN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.

GO SEE IF THE ITEMS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THESE PROPOSITIONS OR SOMETHING THAT KIDS IN PLANO GET, KIDS IN WYLIE GET, KIDS IN MESQUITE GET, KIDS IN RICHARDSON GET, KIDS IN DALLAS GET AND THEN ASK YOURSELF THE SIMPLE QUESTION DO KIDS IN GARLAND DESERVE THIS, TOO.

[00:20:03]

I THINK OUR KIDS DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT ALL THE KIDS AROUND US GET.

THEY SHOULD GET ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHER DISTRICT KIDS GET, AND JUST REMEMBER ONE THING: ALMOST EVERY DISTRICT AROUND US IS ALSO AN OPEN ENROLLMENT DISTRICT NOW , AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME TO OUR SCHOOLS, AND IF WE DON'T OFFER FACILITIES THAT ARE CLEAN AND SAFE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME, AND THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE A FAIRLY CATASTROPHIC CHAIN REACTION NOT ONLY TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE THE GLUE THAT BIND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO MOVE.

IT IS A NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO STAY.

SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STARTS RIGHT HERE.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION.

IT STARTS RIGHT HERE.

THERE IS NO THING THAT WILL BE DONE THIS YEAR OR PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS THAT WILL BE MORE VITAL TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THREE OF THESE CITIES THAN WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT RIGHT HERE, AND AS FAR AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, IT WOULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO DO IT, TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ON THESE BUILDINGS.

ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU ANY GOOD HOMEOWNER KNOWS THERE COMES A TIME WHEN SPENDING MONEY ON A BAD BUILDING JUST BECOMES A MONEY PIT, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT NOW. WE'RE SAVING MONEY ULTIMATELY BY BUILDING SOUND STRUCTURES THAT ARE EFFICIENT AND WORK AND ACTUALLY PERFORM THEIR INTENDED FUNCTION.

THAT'S NOT IRRESPONSIBLE.

EVERY SINGLE MEETING OF THE FINANCE FACILITIES COMMITTEE WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST YEAR, THEY'VE COME UP TO US, WE NEED 200,000 THERE BECAUSE OF THIS FAILED.

WE NEED 200,000 HERE BECAUSE THAT FAILED, AND IT'S ALL ON THESE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE AND WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AND WE'VE BEEN PATCHING FOR NOW DECADES IN SOME CASES.

WHEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TOURING THE GREAT CENTERVILLE ELEMENTARY WITH WONDERFUL TEACHERS, WONDERFUL STUDENTS, WONDERFUL ADMINISTRATION, I HAD TO DUCK TO GET IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THE DUCTING FOR THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS SO LOW.

I'M NOT THAT TALL A GUY AND I HAD TO GO UNDER IT, AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE BUILDING WASN'T BUILT WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND THEY HAD TO RETROFIT IN EXTERIOR DUCTS SO WE COULD GET AIR CONDITIONING IN THAT STRUCTURE.

WE STILL HAVE A TON OF BUILDINGS THAT WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF AIR CONDITIONING BEING COMMONPLACE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE'RE BUILDING, AND THESE AND I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS NOT THE CLASSIC 1930S PALATIAL STRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE THAT WAS BUILT THAT WILL BE HERE IN 3000 YEARS.

NO, THESE WERE BUILDINGS THAT WERE THROWN UP DURING THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE TWO BIG GARLAND HOUSING BOOMS, AND THEY COULDN'T GET THEM UP FAST ENOUGH, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO STAY UP ANYMORE.

THEY'RE STAYING UP NOW THROUGH SHEER WILL OF OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT AT THIS JUNCTURE.

THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOND, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAME UP WITH.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS IS YOUR BOND.

NO, I IMMEDIATELY [INAUDIBLE] NOT OUR BOND.

IT'S THE COMMUNITY'S BOND.

THE COMMUNITY CAME UP WITH THIS.

YOUR NEIGHBORS CAME UP WITH THIS.

THIS IS THE PRODUCT COMPLETELY OF THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE.

THE ONLY THING WE DID AND I MADE CERTAIN THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP VALIDATED IT WAS SINCE WE MANAGED TO SAVE A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOND, WE'RE ABLE TO AFFORD TO ADD A FOURTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN HERE THROUGH THAT SAVINGS AND THE BOND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE BOND COMMITTEE ROUNDLY APPARENTLY APPROVED OF, BUT JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT LEVEL OF SAVINGS AT THE TIME. SO THAT'S LITERALLY IT.

THIS IS THE PRODUCT OF THE COMMITTEE AND THAT IS ALL WE'RE DOING.

YOUR NEIGHBORS CAME UP WITH THIS.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE BALLOT BOX, THIS ORDER THAT YOU SEE HERE, IT'S 13 PAGES.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT VERBATIM HERE.

WE'LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT, BUT THIS ORDER WILL BE POSTED ON THE GISD WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH IT COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT, EVERYTHING IN IT.

IT OUTLINES THE WHOLE SCOPE OF THE BONDS.

IT OUTLINES HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DONE, HOW THE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTED, EVERYTHING, BUT IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE GISD WEBSITE, I'M ASSUMING BY TOMORROW.

IS SHERESE IN HERE? I THOUGHT I SAW HER EARLIER.

IT WILL BE UP TOMORROW. IT'LL BE UP TOMORROW.

THERE YOU GO. OKAY, DR.

LOPEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS? I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THEIR TIME.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS SINCE 2018.

THERE'S HUNDREDS, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THIS FROM NOT ONLY WHAT WERE PRIORITY ITEMS THAT STARTED IN 2018, BUT DESIGN CONCEPTS

[00:25:07]

FROM SAFETY STANDARDS TO LIGHTING TO CLASSROOM STANDARDS TO STORAGE, IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE PROCESS THAT WE INVITED PEOPLE AND THEY CAME THE WHOLE TIME, AND WHEN PEOPLE LEFT, THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND WHEN WE RE-EVALUATED THE IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE OF WHAT THEY CREATED, IT WAS ASTOUNDING.

IT STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

SO THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE APPLIED TO THESE NEW BUILDINGS.

THE BOND COMMITTEES, ENERGY, THEIR HONEST DISCUSSIONS CAME WITH A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COMES FROM IT. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WEB PAGE, GO LIVE AFTER THE VOTE, AND WE WILL BE DOING TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION SHARING.

THE DISTRICT WILL ONLY DO FACT SHARING.

THE REST OF IF THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE DOING OTHER THINGS, THAT'S NOT US. WE CAN ONLY FACT SHARE, AND SO IF YOU WANT SOME FACT SHARING, US GOING TO GO DO A PRESENTATION FOR FACTS SHARING, REACH OUT TO US.

WE WILL BE THERE. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCESS.

THIS IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE THAT COVERS THE ARTS, EARLY EDUCATION, CAREER EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, AND OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, STUDENT SAFETY, AND ABOUT $70 MILLION ALONE IS IN STUDENT SAFETY, INCLUDING REMOVING ALL ELEMENTARY PORTABLE BUILDINGS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU, DR. LOPEZ.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? IF THERE IS NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MR. PRESIDENT, ARE YOU READY? WE'VE GOT A MOTION? YES, YOU'VE GOT ONE TOO? YEAH, EVERYONE'S GOT THE MOTION.

[CHUCKLING] WELL, LUCKY ME.

GO AHEAD, MR. GLICK, YES. JUST BEFORE I MAKE THIS MOTION, I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE OTHER THING.

I THINK IT BESEECHES THE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHO WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, ALSO TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS WHO KNOW US REALLY WELL.

IF YOU PUT A RESUME TOGETHER, OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE HERE, OF ALL THE COMMITTEES WE'VE BEEN ON, WE LIVE IN THE THREE CITIES OF EACH OF THE COMMITTEES, EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, THE LENGTH OF TIME WE'VE LIVED IN THIS AREA.

PEOPLE KNOW US VERY WELL.

THEY RESPECT US.

WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, AND BY THIS VOTE TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS.

I BESEECH YOU, BE OUT AT THE POLLS.

BE THERE FOR EARLY VOTING.

BE THERE ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S THAT IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE US AND THEY KNOW IT.

SIR, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD MAY 6TH, 2023, BY THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO SUCH ELECTION.

SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. GLICK AND A SECOND BY MR. SELDERS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.

[APPLAUSE] THAT

[IV. Executive Session]

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSES CONTAINED--IF I CAN GET TO THE AGENDA--TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074 FOR DELIBERATION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

IT IS 5:31 AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. IT IS 5:44 AND WE'VE RETURNED FROM CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[V. Reconvene from Executive Session for any possible action relative to items considered during Executive Session]

WE HAVE NO ACTION COMING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING REAL QUICK.

THIS IS OUR LAST FULL BOARD MEETING AT THE GRCTC AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN OUR HOME NOW SINCE MARCH OF 2022.

SO LITERALLY THIS IS MONTH 12 THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE, SO A YEAR.

WHENEVER THEY FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS, LITERALLY SOMEONE SAID WE MIGHT BE BACK IN AUGUST.

AUGUST IS A LONG TIME AGO NOW, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, I THINK, FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD.

[00:30:06]

[APPLAUSE] SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM.

I WANT TO THANK PRINCIPAL SCHNEIDER.

I WANT TO THANK DR. BRUMAN BACK THERE FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US WITH RESPECT TO THIS.

I KNOW THAT I TALKED TO COLEMAN, HE SAID THEY'RE STAYING.

SO HIS HIS OFFICE IS LIKE, NO WE AIN'T GOING BACK THERE, SO WE'LL SEE YOU FOOLS LATER, [CHUCKLING] AND THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY TO WORK IN EVERY DAY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, AND AGAIN, I THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE US FEEL AT HOME, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND A BOARD MEETING, YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT AT THE OLD PLACE.

SO WE'LL BE BACK THERE AT A REGULAR MEETING IN FEBRUARY.

SO THAT BEING SAID, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING?

[VI. Adjournment]

ACKNOWLEDGING THE THANKS YOU JUST GAVE TO THE GRCTC STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 5:46 P.M..

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.