[00:00:01]
[I. Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum]
JANUARY 21, 2025. I DECLARE THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH OUR AGENDA AS PRINTED.EVERYONE PLEASE STAND. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
I'M OLIVIA BEAUCHAMP FROM SCHRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MY FAVORITE TEACHER IS DOCTOR WEEKS.
THANK YOU, OLIVIA, FOR BEING HERE AND PARTICIPATING AND LEADING US IN OUR PLEDGES.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM THREE, PUBLIC FORUM. MISS HOGAN, I DO HAVE A CARD.
[III. Public Forum]
WOULD YOU MIND SHARING THE DETAILS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING TO US DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. SHOULD YOU WISH TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC FORUM, YOU'LL GET THREE MINUTES TO STAND BEFORE THE BOARD AT THE DAIS.STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME YOUR ADDRESS AND AFFILIATION TO THE DISTRICT.
YOU'LL SEE THREE LIGHTS ON THE PODIUM. GREEN MEANS START.
YELLOW GIVES YOU A HALF MINUTE. RED MEANS PLEASE STOP.
THERE ARE OTHER CHANNELS FOR THAT. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
THANK YOU. THE ONE CARD THAT I HAVE IS FROM LUCERO CAZARES.
GOOD EVENING. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PRESIDENT SELDERS AND SUPERINTENDENT DR.
LOPEZ . MY NAME IS LUCERO CAZARES RODRIGUEZ. I LIVE AT 8314 MEADOWVIEW STREET, ROWLETT, TEXAS.
AND I AM HERE AS THE PRESIDENT OF GARLAND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND EXTEND MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR ASSOCIATION AND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT WE'VE GOTTEN, NOT JUST THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT ALL THE SCHOOL YEARS AND THROUGHOUT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS RECEIVED FROM THIS BOARD. YOU GUYS ARE TRULY DEDICATED NOT JUST TO OUR DISTRICTS OR OUR TRI CITIES, BUT TO OUR STUDENTS, TO THE FACULTY, AND TO ALL THE STAFF IN ALL THE CAMPUSES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM FOUR INFORMATION ITEMS GOING THE EXTRA MILE OR OUR GEM AWARDS.
[IV.A. Going the Extra Mile (GEMs)]
I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE GOING THE EXTRA MILE RECIPIENT BRENDA DERAMEE.MR. WHEELER. PRESIDENT SELDERS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LOPEZ.
FIRST OFF, HAPPY BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
AND TONIGHT'S GOING THE EXTRA MILE AWARD IS A REALLY COOL ONE.
SO WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE BRENDA DERAMEE, FORMER CARVER ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA MANAGER, AND ALSO THE CARVER ELEMENTARY CAMPUS FOR RECEIVING THE 2024 FOOD SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE GARLAND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THIS HONOR CELEBRATES CARVER ELEMENTARY AS ONE OF GARLAND'S CLEANEST AND SAFEST FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
[APPLAUSE] MISS DERAMEE AND CARVER EARNED THIS DISTINCTION BY SCORING IN THE TOP 5%, ACTUALLY 100% SCORE DURING AN UNANNOUNCED FOOD SERVICE INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 AND SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS THE SCHOOL'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO MANY EXEMPLARY FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS AND PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF. AS PART OF THE RECOGNITION, CARVER ELEMENTARY WILL HAVE ITS 2025 ANNUAL FOOD PERMIT FEES WAIVED.
[00:05:05]
SO NOT ONLY SAFEST AND CLEANEST, BUT ALSO SAVING THE DISTRICT MONEY.[APPLAUSE] AS A TESTAMENT TO ITS EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION, WE COMMEND CARVER ELEMENTARY'S TEAM FOR SETTING THE BAR HIGH AND DEMONSTRATING WHAT IT MEANS TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING BRENDA DERAMEE AND CARVER ELEMENTARY AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS.
COME ON. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.
[IV.B. Receive Intruder Detection Audit Report - Mark Quinn ]
MR. QUINN. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.THE TOP PRIORITY OF GARLAND ISD AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IS KEEPING STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE EVERY DAY.
THE TEA AND REGION 10 RECENTLY CONDUCTED AN INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT AT ONE OR MORE OF OUR CAMPUSES.
THE AUDITS TEST WHETHER CAMPUS IS ACCESSIBLE TO AN UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL.
THE AUDIT PROVIDES US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SAFER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR DISTRICT SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TRAINING ALL OUR STAFF AND SECURING DOORS FOR THE PROTECTION OF EVERYONE ON OUR CAMPUSES.
WE KNOW THIS WORK DOES NOT END AND WE APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S SUPPORT.
HOWEVER, IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION TO THE BROADER PUBLIC AS IT COULD LEAD TO COMPROMISING IMPORTANT CAMPUS SECURITY INFORMATION. SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WITH THE SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE.
[V.A. Trustees' Report]
NUMBER TWO ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. NUMBER THREE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY DISTRICT STAFF AND STUDENTS, AND FOUR RECOGNITION OF NEW PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.WE WILL START TO MY LEFT WITH MISS STANLEY. OKAY.
THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE MINE IT WILL BE VERY SHORT AND SWEET DUE TO THE HOLIDAYS.
SO I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR THIS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS DO WAY MORE THAN I DO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT SOMETHING THAT I SEE A LOT OF POSTS OF, AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT IT WAS. AND SO I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND IT LED ME TO OUR DISTRICT TRANSITION PROGRAMS, WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD. SO IN CASE ANYBODY IS WONDERING, IT'S THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR SPECIAL ED KIDS THAT IS THEIR TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE AND SOME OTHER THINGS. AND I ALWAYS SEE THE MAC INTERNS.
SO I HAD TO GO LOOK. AND MAC INTERNS IS THE MEETING AND CATERING SERVICES, AND IT'S A SPECIAL ED, COMMUNITY BASED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES AND THAT LED ME.
I'M GOING TO START RESEARCHING MORE INTO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW AMAZING WE ARE.
[00:10:06]
OUR KIDS GIVE BACK TO US AND OUR COMMUNITY JUST CONTINUES TO BLESS US.SO I'M GOING TO JUST END IT WITH THERE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS STANLEY. MR. JOHNSON, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SELDERS.
IT'S APPRECIATED BY ME, AND I'M ASSUMING BY THE REST OF THE BOARD, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, I'M GLAD I BROUGHT MY TRUCK TODAY BECAUSE I'M GOING TO NEED IT GETTING ALL THIS STUFF HOME.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THROUGH IT. MY KIDS ALWAYS LIKE GOING THROUGH IT WITH ME, TOO.
IT WAS A LITTLE BRISK. IT WAS A LITTLE COOL, BUT WE GOT ON THE FLOAT AND WE MADE IT THROUGH [LAUGHTER] AND WE THREW THAT CANDY AS BEST WE COULD. BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL EVENT THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE NAACP FOR HOW WELL THEY PLANNED THE DAY AND GET EVERYTHING THROUGH.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. AND IT WAS MY HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
ANOTHER THING THAT I DID LAST WEEK THAT WAS, AND I TRY TO DO THIS AT AS MANY TIMES IN THE YEAR AS I CAN, IS I PARTICIPATED IN GRANT DELIVERY WITH THE GARLAND ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
FIRST IF I DON'T DO THIS ENOUGH, THEN SHAME ON ME.
BUT I WANT TO THANK LISA COX AND HER STAFF FOR THE EFFORTS THEY PUT.
I FEEL LIKE EACH YEAR WE GIVE OUT MORE GRANT MONEY.
WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THESE CLASSROOMS AND MEET THESE TEACHERS SPECIFIC GRANTS AND THEIR DREAMS THAN WE DID THE YEAR PRIOR, AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR WE MOVE THAT BAR HIGHER AND HIGHER AND SHE KEEPS MANAGING TO DO IT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN KIND OF THE MOST ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRIPS I'VE TAKEN TO A SCHOOL, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DRIVE UP TO BRADFIELD, IT IS A RELATIVELY UNASSUMING NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IT IS. THEY'RE AN A THEY'RE AS GOOD AS YOU CAN DO.
AND YOU WALK IN AND I GET ASKED THIS QUESTION A LOT WHEN WE GO TO DIFFERENT CONFERENCES AROUND THE STATE, THEY'RE LIKE, WAIT, WHAT'S THE SECRET SAUCE FOR GARLAND? HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO GET STUFF DONE WHERE YOUR SCORES ARE AS GOOD AS SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE LOW SOCIO ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE NUMBERS, WHERE OURS IS OVER 70%. AND NOW I KNOW THE ANSWER.
IT'S NOT IN PEDAGOGY. IT'S IN PEOPLE. THEY'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE SO THRILLED TO SEE THESE KIDS, AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR EYES AND THE LIGHT AND THE KIDS RESPOND TO THEM.
AND TO ME, THAT'S THE THAT'S THE KEY. I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT LITTLE CAMPUS APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED 13 GRANTS FROM THE GISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION. I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A CAMPUS, AND I SERVED ON THE GRANT COMMITTEE FOR LIKE FIVE YEARS THAT GOT THAT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS THAT GOT THAT MANY GRANTS. SO IT'S A LEADERSHIP THING.
SO I WANT MY HATS ARE OFF TO PATRICIA KEHOE, THE PRINCIPAL AT BRADFIELD.
SHE IS RUNNING AN EXTREMELY TIGHT SHIP. THE LEADERSHIP QUOTIENT IS CLEARLY THERE.
ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS. SO HATS OFF TO MAINTENANCE TOO WITH RESPECT, THEY DO.
BUT IT WAS AN EYE OPENING DAY. IT WAS A REALLY ENRICHING DAY.
AND IT RESTORED IT RESTORED THE REASON WHY WE DO THIS.
AND ALL THOSE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE US.
YOU JUST CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. BUT I WANT TO THANK LISA AND MISS KEHOE FOR HAVING ME OUT.
REALLY SPECIAL DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. MR. BEACH. YEAH. THANK YOU, ROBERT. I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THESE KIND OF QUICKLY, BUT ONE, I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO START OF THIS SPRING SEMESTER AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAD A FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
SO AND SAFE THAT'S THE MAIN THING. SECONDLY I'M TRULY HUMBLED TODAY WHEN I COME IN THE BOARD APPRECIATION EACH TIME THAT I SEE THIS, THE MONTH THAT WE CELEBRATE THIS OF WHAT EVERYBODY, THE LOVE THAT THEY POUR OUT.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WHAT YOU DO IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME PERSONALLY, AND IT'S REALLY HUMBLING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THINKING OF US DURING THIS TIME.
[00:15:03]
AS THEY GO DOWN TO TALK TO THE LEGISLATORS AND SHOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.AND I'M REALLY PROUD FOR THEM WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING. ALSO, ON JANUARY 6TH, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A STAFF DEVELOPMENT AT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WHERE BARUTI KAFELE FROM UP NORTH IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA, MASSACHUSETTS AREA, CAME AND SPOKE TO THE ENTIRE FACULTY AT MEMORIAL PATHWAY AND CHALLENGED THE TEACHERS ON HOW TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HOW THE CHANGING OF THE KIDS AND THEIR ATTITUDES.
ALSO, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT SOME OF THEM CAN'T EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THEY EXCEL IN SOME THINGS THAT YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT, ESPECIALLY IN MATHEMATICS. BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS A REALLY A GOOD CONFERENCE.
I THINK THE TEACHERS WALKED AWAY WITH A LOT OF GOOD, SOLID INFORMATION, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO, I WENT TO THE ROWLETT CHAMBER LUNCHEON AND THEY INTRODUCED THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
ALSO, I WENT TO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION WITH JENNIFER AND THOMAS NGUYEN OUT AT SAIGON MALL.
I STILL CAN'T HEAR BECAUSE WE LET OFF THE FIREWORKS.
THEY GAVE US ALL EARPLUGS, BUT I STILL CAN'T HEAR.
SO ANYWAY, IT WAS AMAZING. BUT IT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR THAT COMMUNITY AND FOR THAT MALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR JENNIFER AND THOMAS NGUYEN FOR DOING THAT IN CELEBRATION.
IT'S THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE, I BELIEVE IS THE CORRECT TERM THIS YEAR.
SO ANYWAY, AND THEN ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE MLK PARADE WITH SOME OTHER TRUSTEES.
AND EVEN THREW SOME FOR THE ADULTS THAT WANTED SOME TOO.
SO ANYWAY, THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. WE ENJOYED THAT.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT WITH THIS COMMENT THAT I'M FIXING TO MAKE THE OTHER NIGHT LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, OUR BOND COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THEN OUR DAC MEETING, WHICH IS DISTRICT AFFAIRS, AND FROM THE DISTRICT AFFAIRS LED BY MR. JOHNSON. I REALLY THERE WAS A PRESENTATION MADE BY TWO OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ON UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DOCTOR LOPEZ AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE CAMPUSES THAT ARE FALLING BEHIND AND THE INTERVENTION.
AND I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE REALIZE THAT AND WE KNOW THAT.
AND I WENT AWAY WITH THE HAIR ON MY ARMS STOOD UP BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING IT HEAD ON.
WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING BACK AND SAYING, OH, THAT SCHOOL IS NOT PERFORMING LIKE IT SHOULD.
WE'RE ATTACKING AND WE'RE GOING FORWARD, AND WE HAVE THE STAFF THAT IS DOING THAT.
AND DOCTOR LOPEZ REALIZES HE'S GOT A GREAT CABINET AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY HAVE IN 2025, WE'RE GOING TO THAT'S ONE OF OUR BOARD GOALS, IS TO BRING THOSE CAMPUSES TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
AND I THINK DOCTOR LOPEZ AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN TAKING THIS BOARD AND TAKING HIS STAFF AND TAKING HIS CABINET TO ANOTHER LEVEL, AND FOLKS, IT'S OUT THERE AND WE'RE DOING IT, AND WE JUST NEED EVERYONE TO JUMP ON BOARD AND REALIZE THAT.
I BELIEVE HER NAME IS. CHARMAINE. YES. AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT PRESENTATION OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO KUDOS TO YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BEACH. MR. GLICK THANK YOU SIR.
OUR FAMILY MADE A DONATION FOR TINSEL AND TRIVIA.
AND THANKS TO MISS NATALIE BEACH FOR SELECTING THE TEACHER.
SO THANK YOU, NATALIE. WE WERE THERE FOR MISS TAMMY DOROSHOW, WHO'S A SPECIAL ED TEACHER.
AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT TEACHERS GET BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR GRANT HAS BEEN FUNDED.
AND SO THAT WAS TRULY AMAZING. AND THEN I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ROWLETT CHAMBER FOUNDATION.
AND SO WE THEN WENT OVER TO AND WE GAVE HER TWO GRANTS. SO AND THE EXCITEMENT AND THE WE ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE GYM CLASS AND THEY WERE PLAYING BASKETBALL, WHICH WAS FUN. AND THEY INTERRUPTED THAT. AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE'S GOING TO USE HER GRANT IS TO GET NEW BASKETBALLS, AND YOU COULD TELL THEY NEED NEW BASKETBALLS.
SO AND THE KIDS WERE ALL CHEERING. IT'S JUST SO EXCITING.
IT'S ONE OF THE I DID THIS LAST YEAR. AND AS MR. JOHNSON SAID, IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE GREAT DAYS TO REWARD OUR STAFF WITH EXTRA DOLLARS THAT THEY WRITE THE GRANTS AND THEY NEVER KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE FUNDED.
[00:20:11]
WHAT WAS ALSO INTERESTING AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE RUN INTO THIS, JUST RANDOMLY IN A HALLWAY WE PASSED WAS A METAL DETECTOR AND THE DRUG DOG.AND AGAIN, I SAW THIS LAST YEAR AT LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL.
I HAVE AN IDEA HOW MANY OF THESE TEAMS WE HAVE.
I CAN'T SAY, BUT WE HAVE THESE ALL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S JUST LETTING THE KIDS KNOW THAT RANDOMLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE CHECKS FOR BOTH SUBSTANCES AND WEAPONS, AND THEY WORK AND THEY WORK. AND THEN AT ROWLETT ELEMENTARY I GOT TO MEET THE ASO.
AND THIS GENTLEMAN WAS AMAZING, THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT WE GAVE.
ON FEBRUARY 1ST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR CELEBRATION FOR MISS ZOFFUTO THANKS TO PRINCIPAL CHERELLE WILSON AT COYLE AND CERTAINLY DOCTOR PERALES. WE NOW HAVE FINALLY GOT IN TOUCH WITH HER DAUGHTER, WHO WILL BE ATTENDING.
I'VE FRAMED A LOT OF MEMORABILIA. THIS IS ONE OF THE PICTURES AND YOU MAY SAY, WHAT'S THIS PICTURE ABOUT? WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME TO THE CELEBRATION TO SEE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THAT'S MRS. ZOFFUTO AND MR. WALLACE, WHO WAS THE ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR AND IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF MUSIC THERE.
AND SOME OF THAT MUSIC CAME FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED QUINCY JONES, PROBABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCER OF MUSIC WINNING OF 28 GRAMMYS. AND I WILL TELL THAT STORY AT THE CELEBRATION.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY. SO MY MOM WAS BORN IN 1918, IN MINSK, BELARUS.
BELARUS IN THOSE DAYS OF 1918 WAS KNOWN AS BELORUSSIA, WHITE RUSSIA AND SEVERAL YEARS AFTER HER BIRTH, THERE WAS A POGROM AND HER FAMILY WAS, IF YOU KNOW, THE MOVIE FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE AND THE WHOLE FAMILY ALL MOVED TO POLAND. A FEW YEARS AFTER THEY MOVED, HER FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER, WENT TO THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE IMMIGRATION AT THAT POINT WAS STILL WELL OVER A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR. AND HE GOT A GOOD JOB, AND HE WAS ABLE TO HAVE MY MOM COME OVER AS A TEN YEAR OLD GIRL IN 1928 SHE EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES, SAILING ALONE ON A BOAT OUT OF POLAND.
SIMILAR TO THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.
SO THE ABILITY TO LEAVE EUROPE AND COME TO THIS COUNTRY ALMOST CEASED.
SHE STILL COMMUNICATED. MY MOM AND HER MOM AND MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER COMMUNICATED WITH THEIR RELATIVES BACK IN POLAND, BUT THEY ALSO KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY OUT. JUST SOME STATISTICS TO TELL YOU WHAT THE HOLOCAUST MEANT.
IN 1933, THE JEWISH POPULATION OF POLAND WAS 3 MILLION.
IN 1950, THE POPULATION WAS 45,000. 3 MILLION, 45,000.
I THINK AND THEY NEVER HEARD AGAIN FROM THE REST OF THEIR FAMILY.
SO ON MY MOM'S SIDE OF THE EQUATION, THERE WAS NO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO THEY EVER HEARD FROM AGAIN, LITERALLY STARTING IN LIKE 1935, 36. NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE AVID NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DECEMBER 12TH AT THE SHERATON DALLAS HOTEL.
SINCE I GOT ON THE BOARD, AVID HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS BECAUSE ONE IF IT EXISTED WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AVID MEMBER. FIRST ONE IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
FIRST ONE IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE. I REMEMBER IN 2007 GOING TO ONE OF OUR CONVENTIONS, AND BESIDES HEARING THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND THE LECTURES, THERE WAS A CONVENTION HALL, AND I WALKED AROUND AND I CAME UP TO A BOOTH THAT SAID AVID.
[00:25:04]
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. AND I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN AND HE SAW MY BADGE.HE SAID, OH, WE WORK WITH GARLAND. SO HE SAID, DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT? HE GAVE ME ALL THIS MATERIAL, WHICH I READ THAT NIGHT, AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH AVID AND WHAT WE DO WITH THE WICOR PROGRAM, WRITING, INQUIRY, COLLABORATION, ORGANIZATION AND READING.
I'VE ATTENDED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY AVID ELECTIVES SEEING THE TUTORS COME IN.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WORKS AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.
AND, MECHELLE, WE HAVE A QUICK VIDEO, RIGHT? YES.
I AM A GRADUATE FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AND I CURRENTLY ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
THE AVID TEACHERS THEY WERE VERY ENCOURAGING.
I THINK EVERY AVID TEACHER THAT I'VE HAD HAVE LEFT A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON ME.
I THINK AVID HELPED ME BREAK OUT OF MY SHELL BECAUSE LIKE BACK THEN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I THINK I WAS LIKE A VERY QUIET, INTROVERT PERSON. AND THEN WITH THE EXERCISES WE WOULD DO IT HELPED ME BREAK OUT OF MY SHELL AND JUST BECOME A BIT MORE OUTSPOKEN.
I THINK YOU SHOULD JOIN AVID BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE YOU A FUTURE THAT I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T HAVE, ESPECIALLY BEING THE OLDEST DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS WHO MIGRATED TO THE U.S.
FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. AND NOW HERE I AM, BEING THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, AND NOW BEING THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WITH A FULL RIDE.
IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT. GET INVOLVED IN AVID.
IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. BY THE WAY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT, IS RANKED 11TH IN THE UNITED STATES AND 21ST IN THE WORLD.
IT'S AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING IVY LEAGUE, AND PROBABLY IN SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY. AND SHE GOT A FULL RIDE.
THANK YOU AVID. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, MR. GLICK. MR. MILLER. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I START OFF JUST BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, YOUR COMMITMENT AND INTEREST IN SCHOOL KIDS AND SHOWING UP.
MECHELLE, YOU KNOW WHAT I ALWAYS SAY YOU CAN PRETEND TO CARE, BUT YOU CAN'T PRETEND TO SHOW UP.
AND THIS BOARD HAS MADE A HABIT OF SHOWING UP FOR OUR KIDS.
BUT WE'RE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING OUR KIDS ARE DOING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD, FOR WHAT YOU DO THERE.
ALL I'M GOING TO ADD TO THIS TODAY IS THIS MORNING I SIT ON A ONE HOUR IT WAS A WEBCAST.
IT WAS CALLED TASB LEGISLATIVE BOOT CAMP. AS YOU KNOW, DOWN IN AUSTIN, THEY'VE KICKED OFF THEIR BIENNIAL SESSION. AND I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THIS ENTIRE THING IS GOING TO BE ABOUT EDUCATION.
IT MIGHT INVOLVE THE BORDER AND A FEW OTHER FEW OTHER THINGS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT EDUCATION AND FUNDING AND VOUCHERS AND THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER. SO THERE'S A WEBSITE AND I'LL GET IT TO MECHELLE.
BOARD MEMBERS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AND SET UP YOUR OWN PASSWORD.
YOU CAN EVEN SET IT UP TO DING YOU WHENEVER THERE IS A MEETING OR AN ACTION OR A BILL.
LAST YEAR, OUR LAST SESSION, I THINK THERE WERE 6,800, ROUGHLY BILLS THAT WERE INTRODUCED.
I THINK 1,700 OF THEM WERE PASSED. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US AS LAYMEN TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.
THIS WEBSITE SHOULD BE HELPFUL ALONG WITH THESE SESSIONS IF YOU SIGN UP FOR THIS WEBCAST.
WE WILL BE GETTING UPDATES FROM OUR TASB FOLKS AND OUR LOBBYISTS AND OUR LEADERS AT TASB FROM TIME TO TIME ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IF IT AFFECTS OUR, PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
SO FOR THAT, I'LL GIVE YOU A HEADS UP, MECHELLE.
I'LL TRY TO GET YOU THAT. I CAN'T REMEMBER IT.
I'D TELL YOU, BUT I'VE GOT IT BACK AT THE OFFICE, AND I'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER.
MRS. GRIFFIN. HAPPY BOARD APPRECIATION TO EACH OF MY FELLOW TRUSTEES.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THAT TAKE THE TIME TO BE CREATIVE AND SEND US ALL THESE GIFTS OF LOVE. GARLAND IS A UNIQUE, OUTSTANDING, EXTRAORDINARY DISTRICT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE NATIONALITIES, COMMUNITIES AND CITIES THAT MAKE
[00:30:10]
UP OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE SPONSORS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, AND ABOVE ALL, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND HIS EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR US TO BE KEENLY INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS. WE HAVE A RICH HERITAGE.WE HAVE OVER 100 AND SOME LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN, AND IT REQUIRES A SPECIAL EFFORT FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES TO TAKE THE TIME TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE TRI CITIES OF GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE. I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE THANK YOU TO PEARSON ELEMENTARY, LISTER ELEMENTARY, SACHSE DANCERS, HICKMAN, AND THE GARLAND CHILDREN'S CHOIR FOR LETTING OUR COMMUNITY SEE OUR STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF GARLAND ISD. WE COULD NOT DO IT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GREAT KIDS.
WE COULD NOT DO IT IF PARENTS AND STAFF WERE NOT INTERESTED.
SO THANK YOU. ON A LEGISLATIVE NOTE, THANK YOU JAMIE.
YOU SET THIS UP VERY WELL. I THINK, DOCTOR LOPEZ, IF I AM CORRECT, PROBABLY ONLY 2,000 BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED THUS FAR. AND WE ARE IN THE SEVENTH DAY OF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND THE HOUSE HAS NOT APPOINTED ANY COMMITTEES AS OF 1 P.M.
TODAY. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THE 18 OR 1900 BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED THEY'RE JUST SITTING. WE'RE ALREADY LATE. AND NOW, WITHOUT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THE BILLS NECESSARILY TO GO.
ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT FOR OUR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS THAT 31 NEW MEMBERS, FRESHMEN IN THE HOUSE. THAT'S ALMOST 21% OF THE EXISTING MEMBERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE HOUSE. THE SENATE IS IN PLACE AND HAS DONE MANY THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO, AND THEY HAVE A TOTAL OF 842 BILLS PASSED. WHY DO I SAY THAT? PARENTS, ANYBODY OVER 18, CITIZENS AND OVER. WE NEED YOUR HELP THIS YEAR.
NOT ONLY TALKING AMONG OURSELVES, BUT WE NEED ADVOCATES.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A DIME IN PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 2019.
IT'S UP TO US TO BE CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE 52,000 KIDS THAT ARE IN GARLAND, THAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD.
I THANK PTA FOR GOING DOWN ON RALLY DAY. I THANK DOCTOR LOPEZ FOR NEW ADVENTURE, FOR OUR STUDENT, FOR OUR CHANGE AGENTS. IT'LL BE AN INTERESTING SESSION, BUT MOST OF ALL, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO HELP MAKING PUBLIC EDUCATION THE GREAT INSTITUTION THAT IT IS AND THAT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS ARE BASICALLY DEPENDENT ON. THANK YOU, MR. SELDERS.
THANK YOU, MISS GRIFFIN. JUST WANTED TO WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK FROM THE BREAK.
I HOPE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME GREAT QUALITY TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND REST.
AS YOU HEAR FROM MY FELLOW TRUSTEES, WE'VE KIND OF ALREADY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
[00:35:05]
SO THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE. AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT YOU GOT YOUR REST AND YOU'RE READY TO ROLL.I'VE ATTENDED A LOT OF THE SAME EVENTS AS MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, AND SO I WON'T REHASH THOSE.
BUT I DID WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT. ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT I ATTENDED AS PART OF THE MLK DAY PARADE CELEBRATION WAS A SYMPHONY OR A MUSICAL CALLED FREEDOM'S SYMPHONY.
IT WAS AT THE ATRIUM GRANVILLE ARTS CENTER. AND IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR.
AS I WAS JUST SITTING THERE AND WATCHING THE PERFORMANCES OF THE STUDENTS AND THINKING ABOUT ALL THAT WENT INTO, OR AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT PRODUCTION IT JUST DAWNED ON ME ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SKILL SETS THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY IN OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE SKILLS THAT OUR STUDENTS POSSESS IN TERMS OF THEIR TALENTS AND THEIR ABILITIES.
AND WHAT THEY DID WAS PHENOMENAL. AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE PROPS TO MISS GRIFFIN FOR HER INVOLVEMENT AND VISION WITH THIS PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS HER SON REUBEN GRIFFIN, WHO I THINK RUBEN WAS SORT OF THE MAIN DIRECTOR OF IT ALL, AS WELL AS HIS STAFF. THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
THE VENUE WAS PACKED. IN SOME INSTANCES, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO SIT, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM FOR THAT. BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND IN REFLECTION, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD NINE YEARS.
I REMEMBER MY VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING. BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
AND JUST BEING SO OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED. AND IT'S ALWAYS OKAY TO APPRECIATE PEOPLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS TODAY, BUT I THINK I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US AS A BOARD.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND CHALLENGING US EACH OTHER, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO BE BETTER AS A DISTRICT WITH DOCTOR LOPEZ AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT, AS WELL AS HIS CABINET AND ROUND TABLE. WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO HELP US BE BETTER AT THE WORK THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF SERVING KIDS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. SO FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS PROVIDED A GIFT OR PICTURES THAT WERE DRAWN BY STUDENTS YOU KNOW, LEADERS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, PLEASE THANK THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY DID THE WORK FOR US, BECAUSE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ALL THESE THINGS.
THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT DOCTOR LOPEZ. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SELDERS.
[V.B. Superintendent's Report]
IT IS BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK. AND IF YOU HEARD A LOT OF COMMONALITIES COMING FROM THE BOARD TODAY, IT'S BASICALLY HOW THEY LOVE AND RESPECT EACH OTHER'S WORK.AND THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEY COME WITH COMPETING MINDSETS.
ALL OF THEM GIVE UP ENDLESS TIME, ENERGY, THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T SEE IN OUTSIDE OF, I GUESS, THIS TELECAST. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST YEARS, OUR BOARD DECISIONS DO AFFECT, DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY WHAT HAPPENS IN CLASSROOMS, THE WAKE OF DECISIONS OR THE WAKE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF INITIATIVES CAN DETRACT THE FOCUS ON STUDENTS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF IS THIS BOARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DETRACT FROM THE SPOTLIGHT, WHICH IS THE CAMPUSES AND THE CLASSROOMS AND EVERYBODY THAT'S SERVING THEM.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO DO POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY.
WE HAVE LEGAL MEASURES THAT ARE HAVING SHORTCOMINGS HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT WITH BUDGET SHORTFALLS NOT ONLY IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT ACROSS THE STATE. YOU SEE COMPETING VALUES, YOU SEE ALL THESE TYPE OF THINGS.
[00:40:01]
FRUSTRATIONS. I GET TO SEE HOW THEY WANT TO DO MORE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO KIND OF LEAN INTO THE WIND TO TAKE THOSE SMALL STEPS TO EVENTUALLY GET THOSE BIG STEPS. AND SO I WANT TO START WITH MRS. GRIFFIN I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU. YOU ARE A GREAT CONNECTOR, NOT ONLY FOR THE TRI-CITY AREA, BUT OUTSIDE OF THE TRI-CITY AREA. SHE IS THE FACE OF OUR DISTRICT EVERYWHERE SHE GOES.AND SHE'S DOING SO MUCH ADVOCACY WORK THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE GETTING A LOT OF WE WOULD SAY WE'RE BEING NOTICED FOR ALL OUR EFFORTS, AND IT'S NOT EASY TO SPEND ALL THAT TIME AND MAKING THESE CONNECTIONS.
AND SHE'S REALLY HELPED ME MAKE SOME GREAT CONNECTIONS. SO THANK YOU.
AND JAMIE MILLER YOU KNOW, THE QUARTERBACK OF THE CLUB RIGHT.
AND SO HE'S GARLAND BORN. BUT I WILL TELL YOU HIS FINANCE BACKGROUND IS SECOND TO NONE AND HELPING US AND EACH AND EVERY DAY HE REMINDS US OF THE CORE VALUES OF GARLAND HOW WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THOSE CORE VALUES AND IT'S PEOPLE.
YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THAT HERE IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE THAT LOSE TRACK OF THAT SEEM KIND OF LOSE TRACK OF THEIR WAY.
AND HE DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF KEEPING US CENTERED ON THE CORE VALUES OF GARLAND.
THEN WE GOT LARRY GLICK ALWAYS ROOTING FOR THE UNDERDOG.
OKAY. HE LOVES ALL THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE HE COULD SEE HOW IT LIFTS PEOPLE UP AND OUT OF WHAT WE FEEL SOMETIMES ARE DESPERATE SITUATIONS. A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN'T SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
AND HE'S ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THOSE THAT NORMALLY DON'T GET THE SPOTLIGHT ON THEM.
AND HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PULL THEM OUT.
AND YOU HEAR ABOUT PERSONAL TESTIMONIES AND HE KNOWS HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS CAN DO IT.
I WILL SAY MY BOARD PRESIDENT FOR LAST. I HOPE I'M NOT DOING THAT IF YOU'RE FINE.
OKAY. AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO OVER TO DAPHNE STANLEY.
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WE HAVE A VETERAN BOARD. THE TENURE OF DAPHNE STANLEY SHE'S ALREADY GOING TO BE GOING INTO HER FIFTH YEAR, I BELIEVE. CORRECT. AND SO SHE IS ALL HEART. SHE'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE DO IT WITH PEOPLE IN MIND. AND WE CAN'T JUST BE ALL ABOUT THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THE BUSINESS OF PEOPLE IS WHAT WE DO.
AND WE'RE REMINDED ABOUT THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND THEN WE GOT A DRIVER OVER HERE, MR. WES JOHNSON.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HIS GOLF GAME, WHICH ISN'T SO BAD, [LAUGHTER] BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE VISION, THE DRIVING FORCE OF SEEING THE BIGGER, THE BIGGER THINGS AND HOW WE CAN ATTEND TO THINGS.
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO SEE BEYOND THE HORIZON.
HE'S VERY VERSED IN A LOT OF LAW. SO WHEN PEOPLE COME UP, WE TURN TO HIM AND HE'LL SAY, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS WHAT THE LAW SAYS, AND WE KNOW HOW TO PROCEED. AND THEN WE GO WITH OUR LAWYERS TO VERIFY.
BUT STILL YOU'RE LIKE 99% RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER HOMEGROWN JOHNNY BEACH.
AND JOHNNY BEACH IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR WHAT WE CALL THE REGULAR PERSON, THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN IN GARLAND AND UNDERSTANDS HOW GARLAND OPERATES AND REALLY LIKE JAMIE, KEEPS THE CORE VALUES, BUT ALSO IS DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE KIDS.
ONE OF HIS THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS THE WRONG THING FOR KIDS AND BE IN THIS DISTRICT.
HE HAS A REALLY, REALLY DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS, BEING IN CITY COUNCIL AND BEING ON THE BOARD AND BRINGING ALL OF THAT INSIGHT, PLUS, BEING AN ADMINISTRATOR REALLY KEEPS US CENTERED AND KEEPS THE REAL THING, THE REAL THING, AND ALWAYS REMINDS US, HOW IS THIS AFFECTING THE CLASSROOM? AND FINALLY, MY BOARD PRESIDENT, WHO LEADS WITH VISION.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN AS BOARD PRESIDENT.
ROBERT'S CAPTAIN COOL. I THINK YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW THAT.
BUT I DON'T MEAN, LIKE, HE'S COOL. LIKE HE'S A COOL DUDE.
I MEAN, HE NEVER LOSES HIS COMPOSURE. HE DOESN'T GET RATTLED.
YOU KNOW, HE MIGHT BE SWIMMING INSIDE LIKE A DUCK, BUT YOU WILL NEVER SEE THAT.
SO WE ALWAYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. AND THAT CALIBRATES EVERYBODY.
AND YOU ALWAYS NEED ONE OF THOSE METHODICAL TYPE OF PEOPLE ON THE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BOARD PRESIDENT. AND I JUST WISH YOU ALL GREAT BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING CENTERED ON STUDENTS.
OH, ONE MORE THING. THE MLK PARADE WAS PHENOMENAL.
IT'S THE THING THAT I THINK WE DIDN'T HIT HOME ON IS WHEN WE WENT TO THE LIFTING EVERY VOICE AND SING, I'M GOING TO CALL IT PRODUCTION. IT WASN'T A MUSICAL.
IT'S LIKE A BROADWAY PRODUCTION. YOU GOT THINGS GOING ON ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY HAVE A CHOIR, AND THE CHOIR HAD OVER 200 KIDS.
[00:45:02]
NOW I WANT YOU IN YOUR MIND TO IMAGINE 200 KIDS OF ALL AGE LEVELS, ALL ETHNICITIES AND ALL BACKGROUNDS, AND THEY'RE ALL VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME FOR THIS EVENT.AND THAT'S THE GARLAND WAY. SO WHENEVER WE GO OUT THERE, AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE NEWS OR WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ON TIK TOK, NOW THAT IT'S OPEN AGAIN OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE KIDS ARE GREAT.
WE'RE IN GREAT HANDS. THE KIDS ARE DOING WONDERFUL THINGS.
THEY KNOW UNITY. THEY WANT TO BE TOGETHER. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT DIVERSITY IS A STRENGTH.
THE INTERACTION AND THEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR PARENTS THAT'S WHAT GARLAND IS ALL ABOUT.
AND YOU WILL SAY TO YOURSELF, I'M GLAD I LIVE IN THIS TRI- CITY AREA, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR LOPEZ. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO DISCUSSION ITEM C FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDED TO A FUTURE AGENDA? GREAT. IF THERE ARE NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SIX.
[VI. Consent Agenda ]
CONSENT AGENDA. ASIDE FROM THE HR REPORT, I THINK ALL OF THESE ITEMS CAME TO US THROUGH OUR FFO AND ADAC COMMITTEES. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE ANY CHANGES, DOCTOR LOPEZ.NO CHANGES FOR EVERYTHING LISTED ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND IF YOU ARE GIVEN THE MOTION, PLEASE READ EACH ITEM, PLEASE.
MR. MILLER. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 4A HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT, I THINK WE'RE PULLING THAT ONE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? NO, NO, THAT THAT GETS TO GO FORWARD.
YES. OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU SINGLED THAT OUT. OKAY.
MOVE. YEAH. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. THANK YOU. NUMBER 4A HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT. NUMBER B.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A. 6A. IT'S SIX. 6B. SIX A AND SIX B.
[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE DYSLEXIA TRAINING WHEN I WAS A KID.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER. GOOD GRIEF.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS LOOKING AT JOHNNY TO DO THIS AND HE WAS LOOKING AT ME, SO I WAS OFF GUARD.
I'M GONNA START OVER. WE'RE GOING TO ITEM 6A HUMAN RESOURCES.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS 6A HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT ITEM 6B CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ALLOWING COMPENSATION FOR STAFF MEMBERS DUE TO TIME MISSED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS.
ITEM 6 C CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 2025 GENERAL FUND.
ITEM 6 D THAT'S NEW BIDS. OKAY. SO I'LL STOP THERE.
NO, YOU KEEP GOING. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 6D NEW BIDS D1 CONTRACT 47 - 25.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF TRANSPORTATION, GPS TRACKING SOFTWARE AND RELATED SERVICES.
ITEM 6E THIS IS RENEWAL BIDS. THIS IS NUMBER 6E 1 CONTRACT 215- 21-01. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF OVERHEAD COMMERCIAL DOOR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES.
ITEM 6F 1 CONTRACT 16- 25. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARDED AMOUNT FOR ERP ADVISORY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES. ITEM 6F 2 CONTRACT 15 6-19.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARDED AMOUNT FOR TIME AND ATTENDANCE EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
AND THE NEXT ITEMS ARE ACTION ITEMS AND I WILL STOP.
SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. MILLER SECONDED BY MR. GLICK. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE. PREPARE TO VOTE. VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED.
[00:50:09]
THE MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 7 OUR ACTION ITEM UNDER NON CONSENT AGENDA WE HAVE 7 A[VII.A. Discussion and Consideration of a Resolution Expressing Intent to Redeem the 2015A Bonds for Garland Independent School District - Arturo Valenzuela]
DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING INTENT TO REDEEM THE 2015 A BONDS FOR GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.DOCTOR LOPEZ. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SELDERS AND TRUSTEES.
THIS WAS NOT PRESENTED TO YOU AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEW ITEM THAT WE WANT YOU TO LOOK OVER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FROM THE BOND SERIES 2015 A THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EARLY PAYOFF THAT WE'RE HOPING TO SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS CLOSE TO $17 MILLION. AND SO WE HAVE MONEY THAT'S BEEN FORMULATING IN OUR I&S SIDE OF THE ACCOUNT.
I'LL LET ARTURO VALENZUELA GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU THOSE DETAILS.
YEAH. THANK YOU. SIR. YES. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS, BOARD TRUSTEES, AND DOCTOR LOPEZ, TODAY I PRESENT TO YOU A RESOLUTION FOR THE REDEMPTION OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING GARLAND ISD UNLIMITED TAX SCHOOL BUILDING AND REFUNDING BONDS SERIES 2015 A AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE REDEMPTION OF SUCH BONDS.
THIS REDEMPTION WILL BE FOR $50 MILLION AND THE ESTIMATED FUTURE INTEREST SAVINGS OF THIS REDEMPTION ARE $16,832,152, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, MR. JOHNSON. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED FOR THE REDEMPTION OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS DESIGNED AS GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT UNLIMITED TAX SCHOOL BUILDING AND REFUNDING BONDS SERIES, 2015 A. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON, SECONDED BY MR. GLICK. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE.
PREPARE TO VOTE. VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO 7B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2024 2025 TARGETED IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR MD WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY.
[VII.B. Consider Approval of 2024 -2025 Targeted Improvement Plan for MD Williams Elementary - Ms. Cheryl Alexander, Dr. Charmaine Curtis ]
DOCTOR LOPEZ. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT SELDERS. WE GOT THIS PLAN OVERVIEW AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING FOR ADAC.THIS PLAN IS REALLY PREDICATED ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
AND ALTHOUGH FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE NOT HAD ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS, THE FEDS REALLY AT THIS POINT, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE REQUIRING US TO CREATE A TARGETED IMPROVEMENT PLAN THROUGH THE STATE.
AND IF NOT, THEN WE COULD GO FOR A VOTE. TRUSTEES ANY QUESTIONS? THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED DURING ADAC. THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OR APPROVAL OF THE 2024-25 TARGETED IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR MD WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY, AS PRESENTED IN OUR BOARD BOOKLET.
SECOND. I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. WHO WAS THE SECOND? WES. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. BEACH, SECONDED BY MR. JOHNSON. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION. THERE IS NONE.
PREPARE TO VOTE. VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.
THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO 7 C. WE'LL CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MAY 2025 GENERAL
[VII.C. Consider Approval of May 2025 General Trustee Election Order - Mechelle Hogan]
TRUSTEE ELECTION ORDER. MISS HOGAN. YES. GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT SELDERS, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND TRUSTEES.BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE THE MAY 2025 GENERAL ELECTION ORDER THAT WE MUST CALL.
IT'S OUR ANNUAL REQUIREMENT. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACT PREPARED.
THAT WILL COME TO YOU IN FEBRUARY WITH THE COST ESTIMATE OF POSSIBLY $200,000 OR MORE.
THAT'S JUST OUR BASE. AND IT GOES UP FROM THERE AS INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES DROP OUT.
AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE THERE ARE 34 ENTITIES PARTICIPATING IN THIS MAY 2025 ELECTION.
ALL THREE CITIES FOR ONE OF THE FIRST TIME IN MY TEN YEARS ARE ALL UP FOR ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME.
WE HAVE FOR OUR GENERAL BALLOT PLACE ONE CURRENTLY HELD BY MR. GLICK. PLACE TWO, CURRENTLY HELD BY MR. JOHNNY BEACH, AND PLACE THREE CURRENTLY HELD BY MRS. LINDA GRIFFIN UP FOR ELECTION. THE FILING PERIOD STARTED ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 AND WILL GO THROUGH VALENTINE'S DAY, 5 P.M. FEBRUARY 14, 2025. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I REQUEST YOU ALL TAKE APPROVAL OF THE MOTION AND PROVIDE THE MOTION BELOW,
[00:55:08]
WHICH IS FOR THE MAY 2025 GENERAL ELECTION TRUSTEE ORDER.SECOND. ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS STANLEY, SECONDED BY MR. MILLER. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE.
PREPARE TO VOTE. VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
[VIII. Executive Session]
EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR PURPOSES PERMITTED BY TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.001 A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.076, CONSIDERING THE DEPLOYMENT SPECIFIC OCCASIONS FOR OR IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES.
ITEM A1 DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION REGARDING TEA'S INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS.
B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.
PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY IN PERSON OR BY PHONE.
WHEN THE BOARD SEEKS THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY ABOUT ONE PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION.
TWO A SETTLEMENT OFFER, OR THREE A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER.
C, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.07 4 DELIBERATION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
IT IS 5:59 AND WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TRUSTEES, IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF HANG OUT REAL QUICK, I'LL MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING REAL FAST.
IT IS NOW 10:04 AND WE'VE RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[IX. Reconvene from Executive Session for action relative to items considered during Executive Session]
I CERTIFY THAT NOTHING WAS DISCUSSED THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN OUR BOARD AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION? MR. PRESIDENT? YES, SIR. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, WITH THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT BE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE THE SAME CONTRACT.
SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY. I'M SORRY. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY MR. GLICK WHO WILL BE VOTING MANUALLY TODAY, THIS EVENING.
SO. WHAT'S GOING ON. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. BY SHOW OF HANDS ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT?
[X. Adjournment]
SO MOVED. IT IS 10:04, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.RING THE BELL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.