May 27, 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting

GOOD EVENING. IT IS 5:01 AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING FOR TUESDAY,

[00:00:09]

PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE. 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.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC FORUM SECTION OF OUR MEETING.

[III. Public Forum]

WILL YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE PARTICIPANTS WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS? YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WE'RE NOW AT THE PUBLIC FORUM PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND PER POLICY BD LOCAL, WE HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON COMMENTS THIS EVENING TO ALLOW FOR AS MANY PUBLIC FORUM PARTICIPANTS AS POSSIBLE ON ANY SUBJECT AVAILABLE.

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

WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS AND AFFILIATION TO THE DISTRICT AND YOUR TIME BEGINS AT THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE PODIUM. THE YELLOW LIGHT INDICATES ONE MINUTE, AND WE KINDLY ASK YOU TO STOP TALKING WHEN THE RED STARTS AND THE BEEPING BEGINS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HOGAN. FIRST NAME I HAVE IS APRIL ASTON.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND OTHER GUESTS.

MY NAME IS APRIL ASTON. I LIVE AT 5606 PRESTON FAIRWAYS DRIVE IN DALLAS, TEXAS, AND I AM A TEACHER AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AVID BUDGET. GOOD EVENING.

I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE GISD FAMILY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF GARLAND ISD, THE DAUGHTER OF A GISD TEACHER, AND I'VE BEEN TEACHING AT NORTH GARLAND FOR 26 YEARS, WHERE I HAVE SERVED AS THE AVID COORDINATOR FOR THE LAST 12.

THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CHANGES THROUGH AVID, DONE CORRECTLY AT A SCHOOL, CAN BRING TO A CAMPUS. TO ME, AVID IS ABOUT GENERATIONAL CHANGE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SINGLE STUDENT WHO IS THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IT'S ABOUT ALL OF THE LIVES THAT COME AFTER THEM, THE ONES THAT ARE CHANGED BY ONE STUDENT GOING TO COLLEGE.

IT'S THEIR SIBLINGS, THEIR COUSINS, THEIR NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND THEIR PARENTS.

AVID IS ALSO SCHOOL WIDE CHANGE. IT CREATES A CULTURE OF PUSHING YOURSELF HARDER, OF REACHING HIGHER INITIATIVE, OF COLLEGE FOR ALL GOES HAND IN HAND WITH AVID.

AVID IS THE SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE THROWN INTO COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES WHEN THEY'RE 14 AND NEED HELP TO SURVIVE.

IT IS THE HEART OF A SCHOOL WHO HAS 97% OF STUDENTS WHO ARE CCMR MET.

IT IS THE HEART OF A SCHOOL WHO HAS EARNED AN A RATING FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

AND IT IS THE SOUL OF A SCHOOL WHO HAS EARNED OVER $10 MILLION IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS JUST FROM OUR AVID STUDENTS.

WITHOUT AVID, OUR FIVE DELL SCHOLARS WOULD NOT EVEN BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, AND THEIR $100,000 PLUS WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY.

IT IS THE PUSH THAT IS FELT CAMPUS WIDE, AS AVID STUDENTS BEGIN TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT THEIR DREAMS, ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION PROCESS, ABOUT APPLYING FOR FAFSA, AND THEY TALKED TO THEM ABOUT HOW HARD THEIR AVID TEACHERS PUSHED THEM, WANTING THEM TO ATTEND FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE GOING TO FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. MOST DROP OUT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR ATTENDING A TWO YEAR UNIVERSITY, BUT THEIR SUCCESS DOUBLES BY ATTENDING A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY. AND THE MORE SELECTIVE THE UNIVERSITY, THE GREATER THEIR CHANCES OF CLIMBING THE ECONOMIC LADDER.

SO WE PUSH THEM. NORTH GARLAND HAS 148 AVID SENIORS, 600 ACCEPTANCES TO FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES, AND 75% OF THEM HAVE COMMITTED TO ATTENDING A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL.

YOU WILL HEAR TONIGHT ABOUT HOW IT CHANGES LIVES, BUT IT ALSO SAVES THEM.

[00:05:04]

AFTER CALLING CPS, THE KID EVENTUALLY GRADUATED.

HE WENT TO SCHOOL AND JUST GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM A UNIVERSITY WITH A FULL RIDE.

WE KNOW SOMETIMES DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE AND HARD CUTS ARE INEVITABLE, BUT THIS IS JUST A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS SITTING HERE TONIGHT WHOSE LIVES ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ONE CUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE LENA TRAN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LENA TRAN, AND I WAS A PART OF MISS ROJAS'S SENIOR AVID CLASS OF 2025.

I'M SPEAKING TO YOU NOT JUST AS A STUDENT, BUT AS LIVING PROOF OF THE LIFE CHANGING IMPACT THAT AVID PROGRAM HAS ON THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO AVID FOR GUIDING AND SHAPING MY ACADEMIC JOURNEY, WHILE BENEFICIALLY TRANSFORMING MY LIFE. BEFORE AVID, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT COLLEGE OR WHERE I WAS GOING WITH MY FUTURE.

I HAD AMBITION FOR MY EDUCATION, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR HELP TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THE PATHWAY TO COLLEGE.

MY PARENTS WERE FIRST GENERATION AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF GETTING ME TO COLLEGE, AND I DIDN'T HAVE OLDER SIBLINGS TO GUIDE ME.

I HAD TO DO EVERYTHING INDEPENDENTLY, BUT THAT WAS UNTIL I JOINED AVID.

STUDY TECHNIQUES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES WERE HELPFUL, BUT WHAT AVID REALLY GAVE ME WAS BELIEF.

BELIEF IN MY OWN ABILITIES AND MY POTENTIAL, AND IN THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUTURE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

IT GAVE ME SKILLS THAT NO REGULAR CLASS COULD.

HOW TO STAY ORGANIZED. HOW TO MANAGE MY TIME AND HOW TO CONTROL MY OWN LEARNING, AND HOW TO SPEAK UP WITH CONFIDENCE.

I ALSO LEARNED HOW TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY GOALS AND SUPPORT THEM WITH ACTION.

THROUGH TUTORIALS, SOCRATIC SEMINARS, AND COLLEGE PREP I WAS PUSHED OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE IN THE BEST WAY.

IT WAS IN AVID THAT I TOURED MY FIRST COLLEGE CAMPUS, AND IT WAS IN AVID THAT I HAD SOMEONE READ OVER MY COLLEGE ESSAYS.

WHEN NO ONE AT HOME KNEW HOW TO HELP. AVID ALLOWED US TO DO COLLEGE TOURS, ENCOURAGED AND PROMOTED EVERYONE TO WORK ON SCHOLARSHIPS, AND HAD US SPEAKING TO OUR ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED MYSELF TO BE SO INVOLVED IN THE COLLEGE PROCESS PRIOR TO AVID.

AVID TAUGHT ME HOW TO GET UP FROM MY MISTAKES AND HOW TO SEEK HELP.

HOW TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO UPLIFT AND CHALLENGE ME.

IT WASN'T ONLY COLLEGE, IT WAS SORRY. IT WASN'T ONLY I WASN'T ONLY ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE BECAUSE OF AVID, I WAS PREPARED TO GO. AND NOW I WILL USE THE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM AVID EVERY DAY AS I WORK TOWARDS MY DEGREE.

SO TO DOCTOR LOPEZ AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS TO STUDENTS LIKE ME, THE ONES WHO WANT MORE AND THE AND JUST NEED SOMEONE TO SHOW THEM HOW TO GET THERE.

AVID IS THAT SOMEONE? AVID IS THE BRIDGE. YOU DON'T JUST REMOVE A CLASS BY ENDING AVID, YOU REMOVE OPPORTUNITY.

I HOPE YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO SUPPORT AVID AND THE STUDENTS JOINING AVID AFTER ME, WHO ARE JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GUIDE THEM TO SUCCESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS DAPHNE GOMEZ.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DAPHNE GOMEZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF GARLAND, TEXAS.

I ACTUALLY LIVE ON EAST DARBY DRIVE AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A STUDENT THROUGH THE GISD.

THE AVID PROGRAM STANDS AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, AND ITS IMPACT REACHES FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

AS A FORMER AVID TUTOR, A FORMER AVID STUDENT, AND A RESIDENT OF GARLAND, I CAN SAY THAT I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND IT IS A GREAT LOSS FOR STUDENTS NOT TO HAVE IT.

AS A TUTOR, I WITNESSED TRANSFORMATIONS IN STUDENTS SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT RIPPLES THROUGH EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY.

THOSE WHO ONCE HESITATED TO SPEAK UP BEGAN RAISING THEIR HANDS, SHARING IDEAS, DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP, AND BELIEVING IN THEIR OWN POTENTIAL. AS AN AVID STUDENT, I EXPERIENCED THIS TRANSFORMATION MYSELF.

AVID CULTIVATES SELF-DIRECTION, TEACHING STUDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING.

THEY STOP WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO GUIDE THEM AND THEN START ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

INSTEAD, THEY SET THEIR OWN GOALS AND DEVELOP THE INDEPENDENCE THAT WILL SERVE THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, AVID SHARPENED, SORRY.

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STUDENTS LEARN TO ANALYZE AND SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION RATHER THAN SIMPLY MEMORIZE FACTS.

THEY BECOME PROBLEM SOLVERS WHO CAN NAVIGATE THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

THE PROGRAM TRANSFORMS HOW AVID STUDENTS COMMUNICATE, AND THROUGH AVID, THEY DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO MAKE COMPELLING ORAL PRESENTATIONS.

THEY CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO CLASS DISCUSSIONS, AND THEY EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE.

THESE COMMUNICATION SKILLS OPEN DOORS TO LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE CAREER SUCCESS.

ONE OF AVID'S MOST PRACTICAL GIFTS IS TEACHING STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND UTILIZE ACADEMIC TOOLS.

THEY LEARNED THE VALUE OF SENTENCE STEMS, ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES, AND STUDYING TECHNIQUES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY DEVELOPED THE WISDOM TO SEEK OUT THESE RESOURCES INDEPENDENTLY.

THEY BECOME STRATEGIC LEARNERS WHO KNOW HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES SUCCEED.

AVID REVOLUTIONIZES HOW STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER.

THEY LEARN TO COLLABORATE EFFECTIVELY WITHIN GROUPS.

UNDERSTAND THAT TEAMWORK ISN'T JUST ABOUT DIVIDING TASKS, IT'S ABOUT COMBINING STRENGTHS, SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER, AND ACHIEVING COLLECTIVE SUCCESS.

THIS COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT EXTENDS BEYOND GROUP PROJECTS, AS STUDENTS ACTIVELY SEEK OUT TO PROVIDE HELP TO THEIR PEERS, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS WHO LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

THE BEAUTY OF AVID LIES NOT ONLY IN ANY SINGLE BENEFIT, BUT IN HOW THESE SKILLS ARE ALL WOVEN TOGETHER.

AVID DOESN'T JUST PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, IT PREPARES THEM TO THRIVE IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.

IT TRANSFORMS ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, CREATING CULTURES OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND MUTUAL SUPPORT.

IT'S A VITAL INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS FUTURES AND ULTIMATELY IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS DIEGO AMAYA ZAVALA.

MY NAME IS DIEGO AMAYA AND I'M A NORTH GARLAND AVID GRADUATE LIVING AT 2809 BROOKCREST DRIVE.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

LOOKING BACK AT MY YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN BEFORE I WAS LOST, I HAD NO PLAN, NO DIRECTION, AND NO REAL MOTIVATION FOR MY FUTURE. COLLEGE WAS NEVER SOMETHING I SAW FOR MYSELF.

I PLANNED TO BECOME A TRADESMAN. IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS PLACED INTO AVID WITHOUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT WAS, OR WHY I WAS IN IT. THIS WAS BECAUSE I WAS ENROLLED IN THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL ECHS PROGRAM.

CRAZY, RIGHT? AN EARLY COLLEGE STUDENT WITH NO INTENTION OF GOING TO COLLEGE.

MY PARENTS HAD SIGNED ME UP WITHOUT FULLY KNOWING WHAT IT MEANT.

AND HONESTLY, I WAS DOING MOST THINGS JUST TO PLEASE THEM.

OVER THE YEARS, MANY TEACHERS ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSIDER COLLEGE, BUT I NEVER TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.

THAT DIDN'T CHANGE UNTIL I MET MISS ROJAS. SHE SIMPLY WOULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

I WOULD TRY TO AVOID COLLEGE RELATED WORK LIKE SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY PREP, AND I WAS LAZY WHEN IT CAME TO ANYTHING INVOLVING HIGHER EDUCATION.

I HAD MADE UP MY MIND AND I DIDN'T WANT COLLEGE GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY PLAN.

BUT I STARTED TO NOTICE SOMETHING. I WATCHED MY PEERS WORKING HARD ON THEIR COLLEGE ESSAYS, DOING TRFS AND RESEARCHING SCHOOLS. I LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATIONS ROJAS LED IN CLASS.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO QUESTION EVERYTHING. AM I CHOOSING THIS PATH FOR MYSELF OR FOR MY PARENTS? MY DAD ALWAYS WANTED ME TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. BUT THEN MS. ROJAS SAT ME DOWN AND ASKED ME A SIMPLE QUESTION WHAT'S YOUR PLAN? I TOLD HER MY PLAN WAS TO SKIP COLLEGE AND GO TO A TRADE SCHOOL.

AND THAT WAS IT. I HAD NOTHING ELSE MAPPED OUT.

MISS ROJAS TOOK IT UPON HERSELF AND CREATED ME A PLAN AND ONE THAT INCLUDED IN COLLEGE, AND TO MY SURPRISE, IT SOUNDED BETTER THAN THE ONE I HAD. THAT CONVERSATION OPENED MY EYES.

MY DAD USED TO TELL ME HE NEVER WANTED ME TO BE LIKE HIM.

HE ALWAYS WANTED ME TO BE BETTER. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW NEITHER OF MY PARENTS GOT THE CHANCE TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.

I REALIZED THAT JUST FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL AND GOING STRAIGHT TO WORK LIKE THEY DID WASN'T ENOUGH. IF I TRULY WANTED TO BE BETTER. THE KEY WAS EDUCATION.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING COLLEGE RELATED REQUIRED, ESPECIALLY FINANCIAL AID.

BUT AVID WALKED ME THROUGH EVERY STEP. HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY, APPLY TO SCHOOLS, CHOOSE A MAJOR, AND NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE PROCESS. THROUGH IT ALL, I STILL WANTED TO HONOR MY DAD'S DREAM FOR ME TO WORK WITH ELECTRICITY.

THAT'S WHEN, AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH WITH MISS ROJAS, WE DISCOVERED CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. INSTEAD OF BEING AN ELECTRICIAN, I'LL MANAGE AND CONTRACT THEM. THAT FELT LIKE A BIG LEAP FORWARD AND ONE THAT HONORS WHERE I CAME FROM.

THANKS TO AVID, I'VE UNCOVERED OPPORTUNITIES I NEVER KNEW EXISTED.

I AM NOW A PROUD DELL SCHOLAR, AND I'LL BE ATTENDING TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY IN THE FALL WITH MY TUITION FULLY PAID FOR.

I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF AVID, AND ESPECIALLY FOR HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING MISS ROJAS'S STUDENT.

THANK YOU. NEXT CARD I HAVE IS JOSE LUNA.

[00:15:01]

BEFORE I SPEAK, I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING MY PEERS AND MYSELF TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU ALL. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, MY NAME IS JOSE PEREZ LUNA.

I'M A GRADUATE FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

I GRADUATED TWO YEARS AGO, AND I WILL NOW BE GOING INTO MY JUNIOR YEAR AT EMORY UNIVERSITY.

I HAVE JUST RECEIVED MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT TWO YEARS WILL HOLD IN EMORY'S PRESTIGIOUS BUSINESS SCHOOL, THE GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL. BUT TODAY, I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY FUTURE, BUT FOR AVID'S FUTURE.

YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE PROGRAM?WHY WOULD I TAKE THE TIME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PROGRAM WHEN I COULD BE SPENDING THIS TIME WORKING WITH MY FAMILY OR WITH MY FRIENDS? BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S WORTH IT.

BECAUSE I OWE IT TO THE PROGRAM AND ITS TEACHERS THAT I HAVE BEEN WITH, THAT HAVE BEEN WITH ME AND HAVE TAUGHT ME MANY VALUABLE LESSONS.

LIKE MANY OF THESE STUDENTS, I'M A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND FIRST GENERATION UNIVERSITY STUDENT.

AND I'M HUMBLE ENOUGH TO ADMIT THAT I WOULDN'T BE SUCCEEDING IN EMORY IF IT WEREN'T FOR AVID AND THE TEACHERS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO LEARN FROM.

MANY JAZZY STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF SEEK TO MAKE THEIR PARENTS PROUD.

AND IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO CONTINUE STUDYING IN COLLEGE AFTER WE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

SOME OF THESE STUDENTS COULD BE THE OLDEST SIBLING LIKE MYSELF.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING OUT A CLEAR PATHWAY TOWARDS COLLEGE GETS HAZY, CONFUSING, LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE IN A DENSE FOG.

AVID HAS HELPED ME GET WHERE I AM TODAY. I GENUINELY OWE IT TO THE PROGRAM THAT I RECEIVED A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP AT EMORY.

I UNDERSTAND THE ENORMOUS BLESSING THAT THE ECHS PROGRAM HAS FOR ITS STUDENTS ENROLLED IN IT.

BUT I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AVID'S INVALUABLE IMPORTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO MANEUVERING LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL EXPOSES STUDENTS TO A COLLEGE EDUCATION WHILE STILL BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL. IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE ALONG WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

IT'S A BRILLIANT PROGRAM, BUT AVID, AND ECHS CAN COEXIST.

THE JUMP FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO CLASSES TO COLLEGE CLASSES IS DIFFICULT TO ADAPT TO, WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE CLASSES, AVID WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO NOT ONLY SUCCEED IN THEIR COLLEGE CLASSES, BUT TO CONTINUE TO DREAM BIG LIKE I ONCE DID.

AVID HAS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY AND I KNOW IT WILL BE.

IT WILL HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS AFTER ME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS MIMOSA NGUYEN.

HERE HE IS.

HELLO. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING. NOT JUST ME, BUT ALL OF MY PEERS SPEAK TONIGHT.

I'M A RECENT GRADUATE FROM NORTH GARLAND'S AVID, AND I'VE BEEN AN AVID EVER SINCE SIXTH GRADE.

BEFORE I JOINED AVID I NEVER CONSIDERED GOING TO COLLEGE OR GOING TO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY.

MY MOM, SHE NEVER EVEN FINISHED MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MY DAD BARELY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN VIETNAM.

AND BOTH OF MY PARENTS IMMIGRATED TO THE US WITHOUT REALLY HAVING MUCH OF A PLAN, BESIDES MAKING SURE THAT ME AND MY BROTHER HAD A BETTER FUTURE THAN THEY DID.

AND WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO GARLAND ISD, I MOVED FROM MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT BECAUSE OF SEVERE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT FROM MY OTHER PEERS DUE TO MY RACE AND MY GENDER. SO WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO GARLAND ISD, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

I DIDN'T I COULD BARELY GO TO SCHOOL OUT OF FEAR, AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF MY AVID TEACHERS AT MY MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT I WAS ABLE TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND FEEL LIKE I ACTUALLY HAD A COMMUNITY AND A PLACE WHERE I FELT SAFE.

AND ONCE I FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO, ONCE I REALIZED THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SAFE AND THAT YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO FINALLY, LIKE, LEARN WITHOUT FEELING LIKE I DIDN'T BELONG.

I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PURSUE COLLEGE AND BE ABLE TO FIND, YOU KNOW, WHERE I COULD GO, WHERE I WANTED TO, WHAT I WANTED TO BE AND BE ABLE TO PURSUE IT.

SORRY. I'M REALLY NERVOUS. THAT'S OKAY. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I JOINED JUNIOR YEAR, MY AVID THAT MISS ROJAS

[00:20:09]

SHE GUIDED ME TO FIGURE OUT THE. SORRY. SHE GUIDED ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MY AVID, MY COLLEGE APPLICATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. AND IT WAS ONLY WITH HER HELP THAT I WAS ABLE TO GO TO GET ACCEPTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN WITH AID FROM THE DALLAS SCHOLAR AND ALSO WITH MY AVID SCHOLARSHIP.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP, NOT JUST ONLY TO FEEL SAFE AT MY SCHOOL, BUT ALSO MY PEERS WHO CAN COME TO HER IN THE MORNING AFTER SCHOOL WITH NOT JUST GUIDANCE WITH THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, BUT ALSO WITH ISSUES WITHIN THEIR OWN LIFE.

YOU KNOW, I HAD PEERS WHO ALSO STRUGGLED WITH STUFF AT HOME, STUFF AT SCHOOL, AND I FEEL LIKE NOT JUST ME, BUT ALL OF MY PEERS CAN TRULY SAY THAT AVID IS THEIR FAMILY.

AND WE ALL STRONGLY URGE THAT THE BOARD RECONSIDERS THE CUT TO AVID, NOT JUST FOR THE NEXT YEAR THAT'S COMING IN, BUT ALSO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS WHO MAY ALSO STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES OF THAT ALL FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH THEIR APPLICATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS LUIS DORANTES.

DID I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECT? GOOD EVENING BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MY NAME IS LUIS DORANTES.

I LIVE ON 4501 ELEMENTARY LANE GARLAND, TEXAS.

I WANT TO START BY SAYING I JOINED AVID ORIGINALLY IN SEVENTH GRADE TO HAVE MY MATH TEACHER AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR BECAUSE SHE WAS OUT OF A DIRECTOR AT COYLE.

SHE HELPED ME A LOT. SHE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY, AND LITTLE DID I KNOW OF THE DOORS AND WINDOWS IT WOULD OPEN AVID WOULD OPEN FOR ME.

IN SIXTH GRADE. IT WAS MY MOM'S FIRST TIME CHEATING, MY PARENTS FIRST SEPARATION.

SO MY MY TEACHER HELPED ME OUT A LOT. I STAYED IN AVID.

IT HELPS YOU. AVID HELPS YOU. SCHEDULE YOURSELF.

GET YOURSELF IN CHECK FOR THE DAY BEFORE BUYING YOUR CHECKS.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN BUYING YOUR CHECKS. IT'S A FAMILY. IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU, HELP YOU AND MOTIVATE YOU.

IT HELPS YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU REALLY WANT FOR YOURSELF.

THAT'S WHAT IT HELPED ME A LOT WHENEVER I STARTED IT, WHENEVER I CONTINUED IT AT LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL.

I HAD AMAZING TEACHERS WHO HELPED ME A LOT. I HAD REALLY TERRIBLE TEACHERS, OF COURSE.

BUT I STICK THROUGH IT AND KIDS DO STICK THROUGH IT.

IN MY AVID CLASS, THERE'S KIDS OF ALL GOING THROUGH ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATHS NAIL TECHS, BARBERS, GOING TO TRADE SCHOOL AND DONE. AND IT HELPS YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THAT.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK AVID IS MORE THAN COLLEGE.

I THINK IT'S AVID IS MORE BEING THERE FOR YOU, BEING THE SUPPORT GROUP, BEING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A COMMON GOAL THAT YOU WORK TOWARDS WITH. AND THAT'S WHAT AVID DID. THAT'S WHAT HELPS ME, AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS HELPED KEEP FAMILY MEMBERS LIKE MISS NAVARRO.

SHE'S ALSO A TEACHER THERE. EDGAR. EDGAR, MY UNCLE, WHO WAS A UNT GRADUATE.

FOR ME PERSONALLY COLLEGE WASN'T AN IDEA. MY PARENTS, MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME, YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT FAFSA. I HAD TO DO IT ON MY OWN.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY THERE. BUT MRS. GORDON AND MY AVID TEACHER TO HELP ME DO IT. BUT IT HELPED ME REALIZE WHAT I WANT, AND I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF SCHOOL. IT'S VERY HARD. BUT I KNOW AVID WILL BE THERE.

I KNOW I COULD ALWAYS REACH OUT TO MISS GORDON IN THE FUTURE TO MISS DOW, WHO IS STILL A TEACHER AT THE COMMUNITY ISD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS ISAAC ADEYEMI. EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.

YOU MAY STEP OUT. THANK YOU. YOU MAY CONTINUE.

HI. MY NAME IS ISAAC ADEYEMI. I'M A CURRENT SOPHOMORE AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND A PROUD STUDENT.

I LIVE AT 4509 MIDLAND DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.

[00:25:01]

SAMUEL JUST COMPLETED HIS FIRST YEAR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND IS STILL IN SCHOOL.

THIS IS HIS MESSAGE. DEAR MEMBERS OF THE GISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES , MY NAME IS SAMUEL ADEYEMI, A FORMER NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND A PROUD PRODUCT OF THE AVID PROGRAM IN GISD.

I'M WRITING TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF AVID FUNDING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.

HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET A SELECT FEW OF YOUR BOARD.

I KNOW YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS IN AVID, AND AVID IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

AS A STUDENT WITH BIG DREAMS BUT LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AVID GAVE ME THE STRUCTURE, SUPPORT, AND CONFIDENCE I NEEDED TO PURSUE A FUTURE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

AS A CHILD OF NIGERIAN IMMIGRANTS, I GREW UP WITHOUT A CLEAR ROADMAP FOR NAVIGATING THE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SEEING AS MY PARENTS, THOUGH HARDWORKING AND SUPPORTIVE, SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OR TIME TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS.

EVEN STILL, I WAS DETERMINED TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY THAT WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE ME THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO EXCEL IN THE PRE-MED TRACK BUT ALSO OPEN DOORS FOR ME AS I FURTHERED MY EDUCATION. UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN THE REALITY OF MY FINANCES AND SUPPORT AT HOME, THIS DREAM SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBILITY AS I AS I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT ON MY OWN.

WITH THE HELP OF THE AVID PROGRAM AND TEACHERS LIKE MS. ASTON AND MS. ROJAS, I WAS COACHED IN APPLYING TO A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND WAS INTRODUCED TO THE QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP IN THE FALL OF MY SENIOR YEAR. WITH HELP FROM MY PEERS AND TEACHERS IN THE AVID CLASSROOM, I WAS GUIDED NOT ONLY IN PREPARING FOR THE SAT, BUT ALSO WRITING NUMEROUS COLLEGE ESSAYS AND PERFECTING HOW TO TELL MY STORY.

IT WAS A PIECE OF MY APPLICATION THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE ME FROM MY PEERS AND HELP ME RELATE TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

MISS ASTON AND MISS ROJAS TOOK TIME WITHIN THE AVID ELECTED PERIOD TO AND COUNTLESS HOURS OUTSIDE OF CLASS TO REVIEW MY WRITING AND OFFER INSIGHTFUL CRITIQUES. ONE DAY I WAS DESPERATE FOR HELP AND MISS ASTON AFTER SPENDING A DAY ON A COLLEGE TOUR FIELD TRIP AND MAKING IT BACK EVEN BEFORE THE SCHOOL DAY STARTED WITH ME ASKING ME QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS SENTENCE SERVE? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THEM? WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT YOU IN ORDER TO IN ORDER TO FINE TUNE MY WRITING THROUGH THOUGHTFUL MOMENTS LIKE THESE, I WAS ABLE TO PERFECT MY STORY, SUBMIT APPLICATIONS, AND GAIN ADMISSIONS TO MY DREAM SCHOOL NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, CURRENTLY RANKED SIXTH IN THE NATION THROUGH QUESTBRIDGE, A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP WORTH $400,000.

SIMPLY PUT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THESE HURDLES WITHOUT AVID.

MORE THAN THIS, AVID CREATED A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS ALLANSON GUERRERO.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALLANSON GUERRERO AND I CURRENTLY LIVE AT THE ADDRESS OF 6504 ROSEBUD DRIVE, ROWLETT, TEXAS. GREETINGS, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AS I SAID, MY NAME IS ALLANSON GUERRERO AND I JUST GRADUATED FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A PART OF THE AVID PROGRAM AS AN AVID STUDENT FROM A HISPANIC BACKGROUND AND A FIRST GENERATION DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS.

I HAVE GROWN UP AWARE OF MANY OF THE SACRIFICES MADE SO THAT I COULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEVER HAD.

MY PARENTS HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION WAS HIGH SCHOOL, AND YET THEY WORKED LONG HOURS AND OVERCAME COUNTLESS OBSTACLES TO PROVIDE ME WITH STABILITY AND THE GIFT OF EDUCATION. I WATCHED THEM COME HOME EXHAUSTED AFTER LONG SHIFTS, NEVER COMPLAINING, JUST PUSHING FORWARD. THEIR PERSEVERANCE MOTIVATES ME TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW. NOW, AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, I PLAN TO MAJOR IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND PREPARE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I WAS ADMITTED TO THE UTD COLLEGIATE V HONORS PROGRAM, WHERE I WILL TAKE RIGOROUS COURSES THAT REFLECT MY DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR LEARNING.

I KNOW IT WILL BE CHALLENGING, BUT I AM READY.

I CARRY WITH ME THE TOOLS AVID GAVE ME, THE LESSONS MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME AND THE DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED.

AVID PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY COLLEGE JOURNEY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS, I FELT OVERWHELMED BY EVERYTHING COLLEGE ESSAYS, DEADLINES, FINANCIAL AID, AND ALL THE DECISIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE.

[00:30:04]

MY AVID TEACHER, MISS ROJAS, GUIDED ME THROUGH EVERY STEP, OFFERING FEEDBACK ON ESSAYS, HELPING ME BUILD MY RESUME, AND CHECKING IN ON MY PROGRESS. AVID CREATED A SYSTEM THAT MADE THE PROCESS LESS INTIMIDATING AND MORE EMPOWERING.

I HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE PERFECT STUDENT. AS A PART OF THE ACADEMIC MIDDLE, I DIDN'T ALWAYS EARN STRAIGHT A'S.

I STRUGGLED, BUT AVID WAS THERE FOR ME THROUGH TUTORIALS, PEER SUPPORT, AND CONSISTENT MOTIVATION.

I FOUND CONFIDENCE IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS AND UNDERSTOOD THINGS THAT ONCE CONFUSED ME BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AVID CREATED.

THE WEEKLY TUTORIALS TAUGHT ME HOW TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF, AND RELY ON MY PEERS AS COLLABORATORS RATHER THAN COMPETITORS.

THIS YEAR, I'VE EMBRACED EVERY AVID LESSON, FROM THE ESSAY WRITING WORKSHOPS TO COLLEGE PREP DAYS TO SOCRATIC SEMINARS.

I'VE STAYED CURIOUS, ORGANIZED, AND EVOLVED AS HOSTS OF PARLIAMENTARIAN, A NONPROFIT, VOLUNTEER, LEAD, AVID AMBASSADOR, AND FORMER DRILL TEAM OFFICER.

THESE ROLES REFLECT MY COMMITMENT TO MY COMMUNITY AND GROWTH AS A LEADER IMPLEMENT HOW AVID HELPED ME TO DO ALL OF THIS.

AVID MEANS MORE THAN JUST A CLASS. THE WORD ITSELF, AVID, MEANS TO BE EAGER, PASSIONATE, AND COMMITTED.

THAT'S WHO I AM. I'M NOT PERFECT, BUT I'M PERSISTENT AND RESPONSIBLE AND PROUD OF WHERE I COME FROM AND WHERE I'M GOING.

BUT THIS IS ALL JUST THANKS TO AVID. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS KATHLEEN CARLIN.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATHY CARLIN. I'VE BEEN A GARLAND RESIDENT SINCE 1984.

MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE BEEN GISD STUDENTS, AND MY GRANDSON WAS ENROLLED IN AVID.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN AVID TUTOR FOR BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I'M AN ARDENT SUPPORTER OF THE AVID PROGRAM. AS AN AVID TUTOR, I WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AS WELL AS GROUPS, AND I PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON TASKS AND PROJECTS.

I MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS ARE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN GROUP ACTIVITIES.

I FURNISH NEEDED TOOLS AND RESOURCES AS REQUESTED.

I ASSESS THE USAGE OF ACADEMIC VOCABULARY AND VALIDATE THE STUDENT'S UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE CONCEPT.

TUTORS ARE SPECIFICALLY TRAINED TO FACILITATE A CORE COMPONENT OF THE AVID PROCESS, WHICH IS CALLED THE AVID TUTORIAL PROCESS. THIS. MY ROLE IS TO ACT AS A COACH TO A TEAM OF 5 TO 6 STUDENTS.

I MAKE SURE THEY FOLLOW THE FORMAT THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATES AND THAT THEY MEET ALL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

MY INTENT HAS BEEN TO JUST GIVE YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT A TUTOR'S ROLE IS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A MINUTE MORE SHARING PROGRAM BENEFITS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED.

MY FIRST YEAR AT BRANDENBURG, I WORKED WITH SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS WHO WERE NEW TO THE AVID PROGRAM.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I WORKED WITH THOSE SAME STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR EIGHTH GRADE, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH THESE STUDENTS GREW IN THEIR ACADEMIC SKILL MASTERY. I REALIZED THAT AVID ALONE IS NOT WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR GROWTH, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE AVID TOOLS, TECHNIQUES, AND CLASS ASSIGNMENTS ARE FOCUSED ON FOSTERING DEVELOPMENT IN TARGETED AREAS.

I ALSO KNOW THAT SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE MUCH MORE FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH THAT AVID HAS FOSTERED.

AVID HELPED THESE STUDENTS ACTUALIZE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL.

AREAS OF GROWTH THAT STOOD OUT TO ME INCLUDE INCREASED SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-DIRECTION, IMPROVED CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, THE ABILITY TO MAKE ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND TO PARTICIPATE ORALLY IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS.

IMPROVED WRITING SKILLS, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF TOOLS AND SEEKING THEM OUT ON THEIR OWN.

WORKING MORE EFFECTIVELY WITHIN GROUPS. SEEKING AND PROVIDING COLLABORATION.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE AVID WILL HELP ALL STUDENTS ACHIEVE INCREASED SUCCESS IN WHATEVER CAREER PATH THEY CHOOSE, AND I TRULY HOPE THAT GISD WILL FULLY SUPPORT IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

[00:35:04]

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JULIE SCOTT. DAWN AND I HAVE PROUDLY BEEN A MEMBER OF THE GISD FAMILY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, FOR AS A STUDENT AND 26 AS A SECONDARY EDUCATOR.

THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN OUR DISTRICT, I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN PRIDE IN WORKING FOR AN ORGANIZATION WHOSE CORE VALUES HAVE ALIGNED SO CLOSELY TO MY OWN TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THESE LAST 12 YEARS AS AN AVID COORDINATOR AND TEACHER, THAT THIS PROGRAM IS WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND IVY LEAGUE ACCEPTANCES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, DATA SHOWS THAT AVID STUDENTS TAKE MORE RIGOROUS CLASSES THAN THEIR PEERS.

SHOW A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF CCMR MET, HAVE HIGHER ATTENDANCE RATES, AND CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORM THEIR PEERS ON STAAR, PSAT, AND SAT. IN THE AVID ELECTIVE, WE SEE STUDENTS BEGIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AFRAID TO EVEN SPEAK ALOUD IN CLASS, AND BY YEAR'S END, WE WATCH THEM PRESENT WITH CLARITY.

WE WITNESS STRUGGLING LEARNERS WITNESS STRUGGLING LEARNERS HAVING BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE AVID TUTORIAL MOMENTS WHEN CLASSMATES GUIDE EACH OTHER THROUGH COMPLEX PROBLEMS, BUILDING BOTH CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. WE SEE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CONTINUE THAT UPWARD TRAJECTORY, APPLYING AVID STRATEGIES INTO ALL THEIR COURSES.

THEY LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE, MASTER CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND FORM COLLABORATIVE STUDY GROUPS THAT DRIVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

NO OTHER PROGRAM SO THOROUGHLY SUPPORTS OUR SENIORS THROUGH THE COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESSES, OR PREPARES THEM FOR LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

NO OTHER INITIATIVE SO CLEARLY ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF OUR FIRST GENERATION OR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS OUR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS, OR OUR EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO COULD NOW BE LEFT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF AVID.

THIS PROGRAM DOESN'T SERVE THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE ELECTIVE.

IT LIFTS ENTIRE CAMPUSES AND REACHES BEYOND OUR STUDENTS.

ON MY OWN SITE TEAM ALONE, WE HAVE THREE FORMER GISD TUTORS AND A FORMER AVID STUDENT FROM SOUTH GARLAND, ALL WHO WERE SO INSPIRED BY THEIR AVID EXPERIENCES, THEY PURSUED CAREERS IN EDUCATION.

AS AN AVID COORDINATOR, I'VE SEEN THE IMPACT OF AVID PD ON TEACHERS, HOW IT CHANGES THEIR INSTRUCTION IN THE OVERALL CULTURE OF A CAMPUS FOR THE BETTER.

REMOVING THIS PROGRAM STRIPS AWAY A CULTURE OF ACHIEVEMENT, SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITY.

AVID IS MORE THAN JUST A CLASS. IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL SYSTEM.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND SUPPORTED.

AVID TEACHERS ARE MORE THAN JUST TEACHERS. WE'RE CHEERLEADERS, CHAMPIONS OF ALL SUBJECTS.

WE'RE SCHOOL MOMS AND DADS WHO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR KIDS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW HARD WE MAKE THEM WORK, AND THEN TEACH THEM HOW TO TURN THAT FRUSTRATION INTO MOTIVATION AND SUCCESS.

THE AVID COORDINATORS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE CAMPUS, LEADING PD AT BOTH THE CAMPUS AND DISTRICT LEVELS, MAKING SURE THAT THE FOCUS IS ON BRIDGING THE GAP FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE YEARS OF FUNDING AND THE WAYS YOU'VE SUPPORTED OUR PROGRAM, AND OUR GOAL TONIGHT WAS FOR YOU TO SEE THAT IT WASN'T IN VAIN.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS TRULY IMMEASURABLE.

OF COURSE, OUR TRUE HOPE IS FOR A FUNDING MIRACLE.

HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTAND THE DECISIONS THAT YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE FOR THE BETTER OF OUR DISTRICT.

SO OUR SECOND AND MOST HEARTFELT HOPE IS THAT WHEN IT'S TIME TO RECONSIDER PROGRAMS AND REINSTATING THEM, THAT YOU REMEMBER AVID FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE CONFIDENCE, PURPOSE AND SENSE OF BELONGING IT INSTILLS WITHIN ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS SARA NGUYEN. I THINK SHE'S IN THE HALL FOR KEY CLUB.

SHE'S HERE.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SARA NGUYEN AND I AM A GRADUATING SENIOR IN THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M SPEAKING TO YOU NOT JUST AS A STUDENT, BUT AS SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE TRAJECTORY HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHAPED BY THE AVID PROGRAM.

TO PUT IT SIMPLY, I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT AVID.

I COME FROM A LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD. AFTER LOSING MY FATHER TO CANCER AT A YOUNG AGE.

I WAS RAISED BY MY MOTHER, WHO WORKED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AS A HAIRSTYLIST TO KEEP OUR FAMILY AFLOAT IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN MEASURES SUCCESS BY STARTING POINTS.

[00:40:03]

I'LL BE HONEST, I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR AVID BY CHOICE.

I WAS PLACED INTO IT MY FRESHMAN YEAR AND I EVEN ASKED TO LEAVE AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THE BINDERS AND TRFS.

BUT LOOKING BACK, I'M BEYOND GRATEFUL I STAYED.

WHAT SEEMED LIKE SMALL ROUTINES AT THE TIME, TUTORIALS, ORGANIZATION CHECKS, AND COLLEGE PREP SESSIONS TURNED OUT TO BE THE FOUNDATION FOR SOME OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MY HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY.

AVID GAVE ME THE TOOLS AND MINDSET TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES I MIGHT NEVER HAVE DISCOVERED ON MY OWN.

FROM WALKING ME STEP TO STEP THROUGH, REGISTERING FOR THE SAT, TO PUSHING ME TO START MY COLLEGE ESSAYS EARLY, AVID GAVE ME A HEAD START. INTRODUCED ME TO SCHOLARSHIP PLATFORMS, SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND COLLEGE SUCCESS INITIATIVES LIKE THE HORATIO ALGER COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM, WHERE I EARNED A $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP IN ONE ON ONE COLLEGE ADVISING.

IT HELPED ME PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND BELIEVE THAT SCHOOLS LIKE YALE, PRINCETON, AND HARVARD WERE WITHIN MY REACH.

TODAY, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'LL BE ATTENDING YALE UNIVERSITY, AND I'M.

AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO AVID. AVID GAVE ME A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

IT SURROUNDED ME WITH TEACHERS WHO BELIEVED IN ME, AND CLASSMATES WHO WERE ON THE SAME PATH OF GROWTH AND SELF-DISCOVERY.

THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE NOT HANDED TO ME, BUT AVID GAVE ME THE STRUCTURE, THE MENTORSHIP, AND THE BELIEF THAT THEY WERE WITHIN MY REACH.

AVID IS ABOUT BUILDING PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME WHOSE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT OTHERWISE LIMIT THEIR POSSIBILITIES.

IF AVID IS CUT, FUTURE STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS MAY LOSE ONE OF THE FEW SYSTEMS THAT TRULY LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS MARIA NOGUERA.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MARIA NOGUERA. I AM A 2025 AVID GRADUATE LIVING AT 1813 VINE DRIVE.

I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONGEST AND MOST HEARTFELT SUPPORT FOR THE AVID PROGRAM AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AND TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER ANY DECISION THAT WOULD REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ITS FUNDING.

AVID'S JUST NOT ANOTHER CLASS. IT IS A LIFELINE, A LAUNCHPAD, AND A TRANSFORMATIONAL FORCE FOR THE LIFE OF STUDENTS LIKE ME.

AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT, THE JOURNEY TO HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER FELT IMPOSSIBLE.

MY PARENTS IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY FROM COLOMBIA WHEN I WAS JUST TEN YEARS OLD.

THEY KNEW THAT THIS COUNTRY WOULD PROVIDE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES, AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD COME TO ME THROUGH EDUCATION.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT NOT ONLY BECAME ACHIEVABLE, IT BECAME A REALITY.

THIS FALL, I WILL BE ATTENDING TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY, HAVING BEEN ACCEPTED INTO 14 COLLEGES AND AWARDED OVER $142,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN NEARLY UNIMAGINABLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT, STRUCTURE AND PREPARATION PROVIDED BY THE AVID PROGRAM.

FROM MY VERY FIRST YEAR, AVID OFFERED ME THE TOOLS I NEEDED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.

COACH WRIGHT'S CLASS INTRODUCED US TO THE TUTORIAL PROCESS, EASING THE OVERWHELMING TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SOPHOMORE YEAR COACH MEDFORD STRAIGHTENED OR TO STUDY HABITS INSTILLED A LOVE FOR READING, PUSHING, US TO SEEK ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH FREQUENT TUTORIALS.

THEN CAME THE SPANISH CLASS, WHICH HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON HER COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS HELPING US PERFECT OUR COLLEGE ESSAYS, GUIDING US THROUGH SAT AND ACT PREP AND SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS.

FINALLY, MRS. ROJAS BROUGHT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

HER COMPASSIONATE AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT GUIDED US THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS FINALIZING ESSAYS, COMPLETING APPLICATIONS, APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID, REGISTER FOR HOUSING AND ORIENTATION.

EVERY DETAIL MATTERED AND AVID WAS THERE THROUGH IT ALL.

BY THE TIME SENIOR YEAR ARRIVED, WE WERE NOT JUST READY, WE WERE CONFIDENT.

WHILE MANY STUDENTS WERE JUST BEGINNING THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, AVID STUDENTS WERE PREPARED, POLISHED, AND FOCUSED. ACCEPTANCE LETTERS BEGAN TO ROLL IN, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I FELT LIKE THE DOORS TO HIGHER EDUCATION HAD TRULY OPENED UP FOR ME. AVID WAS MORE THAN JUST A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

IT WAS A FAMILY. WITHOUT AVID, I LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE APPLIED TO ANY FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS, NOT DUE TO LACK OF AMBITION, BUT DUE TO LACK OF GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES.

CUTTING FUNDING FOR AVID WOULD STRIP AWAY LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES FROM STUDENTS WHO NEEDS THEM THE MOST THOSE WHO HAVE THE PASSION AND DRIVE, BUT NOT THE FINANCIAL AND MENTORSHIP TO SUCCEED.

AVID BRIDGES THE GAP. IT EQUIPS UNDERREPRESENTED AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO EXCEL IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND BEYOND.

MY STORY IS JUST ONE AMONG THOUSANDS. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT AVID WORKS.

[00:45:03]

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THAT CHANCE AWAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS SARAH ROCK. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SARAH ROCK. I LIVE AT 2710 PHILLIPS DRIVE IN GARLAND, TEXAS, AND I'M THE AVID ELECTIVE TEACHER AND THE AVID COORDINATOR FOR THE CLASSICAL CENTER AT BRANDENBURG. STUDENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, THE ONES WHO AREN'T IN ALL HONORS BUT WHO AREN'T FAILING ALL THEIR CLASSES.

THE ONES WHO ARE UNSEEN, OFTEN IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY'RE GIVEN THE TOOLS, CONFIDENCE, AND SUPPORT TO EXCEL ACADEMICALLY THROUGH AVID.

AVID DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

THE CURRICULUM TEACHES CRITICAL ORGANIZATION, NOTE TAKING STRATEGIES AND INQUIRY BASED THINKING SKILLS.

AVID STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATE HIGHER STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND GREATER ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS THAN THEY DID PRIOR TO BEING AN AVID.

AVID INCREASES ACADEMIC RIGOR BY DEMANDING ENROLLMENT IN AP COURSES, WHILE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM NECESSARY FOR KIDS TO SUCCEED IN THOSE CHALLENGING COURSES. IN AN AVID CLASSROOM, YOU'LL FIND STUDENTS INTERACTING WITH THEIR NOTES, ENGAGING IN SOCRATIC SEMINARS AND WITH STRUCTURE, COLLABORATING IN TUTORIAL GROUPS USING THINKING TECHNIQUES THAT ENHANCE LEARNING ACROSS ALL SUBJECTS.

THE DATA IS CLEAR. AVID PROGRAMS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES, PARTICULARLY FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

AVID PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT DURING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING GUIDANCE ON SELECTING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR THEM, COMPLETING APPLICATIONS, AND SECURING FINANCIAL AID.

AN AVID STUDENT SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE GOALS ARE BUILT THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM.

THE PROGRAM FOSTERS A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS DEVELOP SELF-EFFICACY AND RESILIENCE.

AVID BUILDS CONFIDENCE FOR SELF-ADVOCACY. STUDENTS LEARN TO ASK QUESTIONS, TO SEEK HELP WHEN NEEDED, AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN EDUCATION. CSGS OR COLLABORATIVE STUDY GROUPS HAVE STUDENTS BECOME THE LEADERS OF THEIR OWN EDUCATION AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR OTHER STUDENTS, HELPING THEM THINK MORE DEEPLY AND WITH MORE QUALITY ABOUT THEIR CONTENT TOPIC.

AVID ALSO EMPHASIZES BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS AND PEERS WHILE REQUIRING THE GROWTH MINDSET THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.

AVID BENEFITS ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. SCHOOLS WITH STRONG AVID PROGRAMS SEE IMPROVED ATTENDANCE RATES, DECREASED DISCIPLINARY ISSUES, AND A MORE POSITIVE CAMPUS CULTURE OVERALL.

BECAUSE AVID BRINGS UNITY, AVID ISN'T JUST ANOTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

IT'S A PHILOSOPHY WITH STRUCTURE THAT SAYS WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT, ACHIEVEMENT IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

IT ADDRESSES ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BY RAISING THE SUPPORT, NOT LOWERING THE STANDARD.

IT PREPARES STUDENTS NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE, BUT FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS CAPABLE OF CREATING THE FUTURE THAT THEY ENVISION.

I ASK THAT WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE TO BRING BACK PROGRAMS THAT YOU PLEASE REMEMBER THE UNSEEN CHILDREN.

PLEASE REMEMBER AVID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS CODY BOWIE.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CODY BOWIE.

I'M A GRADUATE OF NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS IS MY STORY OF AVID.

I STUCK WITH AVID FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. OVER THESE YEARS, I FOUND SCHOOL VERY DEMANDING AND INTIMIDATING.

HOWEVER, I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF HOW AVID HAS PUSHED ME TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

EVEN IN MY DARKEST TIMES. ENTERING EIGHTH GRADE AS STUDENTS WERE RETURNING FROM COVID, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT AVID OTHER THAN IT WAS COLLEGE PREPARATION.

AND BUT BECAUSE OF MY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AVID COORDINATOR MISS WALKER PERSISTENTLY PUSHED FOR STUDENTS TO JOIN EACH YEAR AS WELL AS HER PASSION FOR TEACHING.

SHE DREW ME TO SOLIDIFYING MY DECISION TO DECISION TO JOIN.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTROVERTED AND QUARANTINE FED INTO THAT ASPECT, BUT SLOWLY I BEGAN TO OPEN UP TO AVID STUDY GROUPS.

TO ME I SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE MYSELF BACK INTO SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.

AND AS YEARS WENT ON, I ENTRUSTED MY FUTURE TO AVID AND IN RETURN, THEY GAVE ME THE RESOURCES I NEEDED TO SUCCEED WHILE PUSHING ME TO GROW INTO THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF. THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, I HAVE DECIDED TO ATTEND UTD.

IT WAS MY SOPHOMORE FIELD TRIP TO UTD WITH AVID THAT ALLOWED ME TO NOT ONLY APPRECIATE THE CAMPUS, BUT ALSO FORM A GENUINE CONNECTION WITH A FORMER AVID TUTOR.

[00:50:02]

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FEELING OF BEING HEARD, LISTENING TO HIS INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE AND PHILOSOPHY, AS WELL AS HIS TEACHINGS OF BEING INQUISITIVE.

I'LL NEVER. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WILL NEVER FORGET THE ENERGY HE WOULD GIVE ME EVERY TIME I'D ENTER THE LIBRARY AND ASK HIM FOR HELP.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MISS ASTON AND MISS ROJAS, AS THEY'RE AMAZING AVID COORDINATORS AND TEACHERS WHO WOULD GIVE PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK TO IMPROVING COLLEGE ESSAYS FOR AVID SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

THEY'D PUSH ME TO WRITE EVEN WHEN I WAS UNMOTIVATED, AND IN THE END, I GOT INTO MULTIPLE COLLEGES AND OBTAINED SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE OF THEM.

LIKE MANY OTHER AVID STUDENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MY NARRATIVE ALONE, BUT THROUGH THE STORIES, BOOKS, AND ESSAYS WE READ AS A CLASS, I FOUND JUST THAT.

AVID HAS PUSHED ME TO BUILD ON MY PAST BY WORKING ON THE PRESENT.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT I'D GRADUATE WITH A BLANK RESUME, BUT AS I REFLECT, I REALIZED AVID IS WHAT ENCOURAGED ME TO STEP OUT OF MY SHELL AND JOIN VARIOUS CLUBS FILLING THAT EMPTY SPACE. THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL MY AVID TEACHERS FOR MAKING THE PROGRAM WHAT IT IS AND SHAPING ME INTO WHO I WANT TO BE.

INSPIRING ME TO NOT JUST BE A STUDENT, BUT AN ACHIEVER.

YOUR PASSION FOR TEACHING SPREADS TO THOSE YOU'VE TAUGHT, AND I HOPE AVID WILL STAY TO GIVE THE SAME GUIDANCE I GOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS JANICE HOWARD.

JANICE HOWARD, 638 WENTWORTH DRIVE, RICHARDSON, TEXAS.

GOOD EVENING. DOCTOR LOPEZ BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

MY NAME IS JANICE HOWARD AND I AM A PROUD EDUCATOR WHERE I SPENT 35 YEARS IN VARIOUS ROLES AS A TEACHER, MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AS WELL AS THE FIRST AVID DIRECTOR.

EARLY ON IN GARLAND ISD THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE GRANTS AND AT THE TIME, I WANTED TO GET SOME TEACHERS TOGETHER TO WRITE A GRANT FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NEW AND UNIQUE TO ME. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT AVID WAS DESTINED FOR GARLAND ISD BECAUSE I READ ABOUT IT 1ST NOVEMBER IN 2002, WHILE BABYSITTING FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN IN MCKINNEY, TEXAS.

THERE WAS THIS ARTICLE IN THE MCKINNEY NEWSPAPER, AND IT WAS DESCRIBING AVID AND WHAT IT HAD DONE FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT HAD CHANGED THE FROWNS TO SMILES.

IT CHANGED STUDENTS BEING AWARDED CERTIFICATES FOR MATH SCIENCE WHO HAD NEVER RECEIVED CERTIFICATES BEFORE. IT SHOWED STUDENTS HOW TO THINK, HOW TO SPEAK, HOW TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE.

AND AS I READ THIS ARTICLE, I WAS GOING, THIS IS.

I SEE THESE SAME STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL WHERE I AM PRINCIPAL.

THEY THEY DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF DIRECTION. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AND YOU LOOK AT THEIR STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE AT A PERCENTAGE THAT THEY COULD IMPROVE.

WHAT SUPPORT, WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT? THE SUPPORT THAT I READ THAT WAS GOING ON AT THIS MCKINNEY ISD MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND I SAID, I'M GOING TO GET THIS PROGRAM.

I HAD NO CLUE HOW MUCH IT COSTS. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT HAD.

I HAD TO DO OR ANYTHING. BUT WHEN I REMEMBERED THE EDUCATIONAL GRANT THAT I COULD WRITE FOR A PROGRAM THAT DID NOT EXIST IN THE DISTRICT I IMMEDIATELY SAID, THIS IS AVID, AND I GOT SOME TEACHERS TOGETHER FROM SELLERS, AND I SAID, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GUIDELINES AND HOW WE COULD WRITE UP FOR A PROGRAM THAT WOULD CHANGE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS TRAJECTORY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

I ALSO READ SOME ARTICLES ON THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND HOW SO MANY OF THEM HAD NEVER HAD ANY GOALS OR EXPECTATIONS TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT ONCE THEY GOT INTO AVID, IT CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY.

[00:55:03]

THAT'S YOUR TIME, UNFORTUNATELY. THANK YOU. BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU JUST ONE THING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS DANIELA LOPEZ.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DANIELA LOPEZ. I RESIDE IN 2108 BOWERS ROAD, SEAGOVILLE, TEXAS, AND I AM A RECENT GRADUATE FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

IN THE UNITED STATES, APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE OF THE HISPANIC COLLEGE STUDENT POPULATION UNENROLLED FROM COLLEGE EVERY YEAR, AND ONLY 20% OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

WHILE THESE STATISTICS MAY NOT SHOW THE FULL PICTURE, THEY MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY CHALLENGES AND FEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE FIRST GENERATION AND COME FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS.

BEFORE JOINING AVID, I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ROLE THAT I PLAYED AND OF THE MARK I WAS LEAVING BEHIND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.

MY JOURNEY IN AVID BEGAN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AFTER ONE OF MY TEACHERS HAD RECOMMENDED ME FOR THE PROGRAM, UNAWARE WHAT THE PROGRAM ENTAILED, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A CHANCE.

UNFORTUNATELY, COVID 19 ENDED MY SEVENTH YEAR SEVENTH GRADE YEAR EARLY, FORCING ME TO TAKE AVID ONLINE.

THE DISCONNECT ONLY MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE USE OF THE RESOURCES AVID PROVIDED ME WITH.

FORTUNATELY, WHEN I ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL, THE FEAR OF STRUGGLING WITH MY COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES MADE ME STAY AND AVID MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT I REALIZED THE TRUE INTENTION FOR WHY MY TEACHER HAD RECOMMENDED ME FOR THE PROGRAM.

I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT I NEEDED HELP ACADEMICALLY, BUT I WAS WRONG.

SHE CHOSE ME BECAUSE SHE SAW POTENTIAL IN ME TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.

AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT, I REALIZED THAT I ACTUALLY DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT COLLEGE LIFE.

MY PARENTS DID NOT GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, SO I COULD NOT ASK THEM FOR HELP WHEN I NEEDED IT.

I REALIZED THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE THAT I NEEDED TO OBTAIN A COLLEGE DEGREE.

DURING MY TIME IN AVID, I GOT ACCUSTOMED TO MANY OF THE SKILLS THAT WE PRACTICED.

I REALIZED THAT EVEN IF I WAS NOT STRUGGLING WITH THE MATERIAL IN MY CLASSES, I WAS ABLE TO HELP OTHERS DURING TUTORIALS.

WHEN I DID NEED HELP, MY PEERS WERE THERE TO SUPPORT ME AND HELP ME WITH MY ASSIGNMENTS.

MY PLANNER AND BINDER KEPT ME ORGANIZED BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.

I ALSO ENJOYED PRESENTING DURING AVID NIGHT, WHERE I COULD INFORM PARENTS AND STUDENTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

IT FELT GREAT KNOWING I WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS WHO SHARED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF AVID THAT I LEARNED ABOUT FINANCIAL AID AND COLLEGE LIFE, STARTED APPLYING TO A RANGE OF SCHOOLS, AND GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR SCHOOLS WITHIN TEXAS.

I WAS ABLE TO BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH OTHER STUDENTS WHO SHARED THE SAME STRUGGLES AND LACK OF GUIDANCE.

IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE THE FULL PICTURE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, AVID WAS SHAPING ME TO SUCCEED AS A AS A FUTURE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. MY TIME IN THE PROGRAM TAUGHT ME ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

I PURSUED OPPORTUNITIES I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD.

TOOK ON LEADERSHIP ROLES AT SCHOOL, CONTINUED TAKING RIGOROUS COURSES, AND TAUGHT OTHERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

I NOT ONLY RECEIVE THE SUPPORT I NEEDED, BUT ALSO BECAME THE SUPPORT THAT OTHERS DID NOT HAVE.

IT IS BECAUSE OF AVID THAT I AM NOW ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AS A CIVIL ENGINEERING MAJOR WITH OVER $40,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

AVID DID NOT CREATE THE PERFECT STUDENT, BUT A STUDENT THAT IS PREPARED TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT. AS A VENTURE INTO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR, I WILL MAKE I WILL TAKE SMALL PIECES OF MY TIME IN AVID AND CONTINUE TO EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AVID STUDENT THAT, ABOVE ALL ODDS, STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUCCEED WITH DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK.

I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE FUNDING THE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT CARD I HAVE IS ANNE ROJAS.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANNE ROJAS AND I RESIDE AT 7113 STAFFORD DRIVE IN ROWLETT.

I AM ONE OF THE COORDINATORS AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM ALSO AN EARLY COLLEGE ALGEBRA TWO TEACHER AND HAVE JUST COMPLETED MY 20TH YEAR AT NORTH.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AVID'S IMPACT.

AVID IS IN THE BUSINESS OF CHANGING LIVES. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A QUALITY EDUCATION IS THE SUREST PATH TO ECONOMIC STABILITY AND A SECURE FUTURE. AS A MOTHER, I ALWAYS WANTED THE BEST EDUCATION FOR MY CHILDREN, AND WHAT I WANTED FOR MY OWN CHILDREN IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT FOR MY AVID STUDENTS AT NORTH. A PATHWAY TO OPPORTUNITY, STABILITY AND SUCCESS.

[01:00:02]

THEIR FAMILIES FLED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, VIOLENCE OR WAR IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES IN SEARCH OF SAFETY AND A BETTER FUTURE.

NOW THEY WORK LONG HOURS CLEANING HOUSES, COOKING IN KITCHENS OR WORKING IN FACTORIES TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A SHOT AT A BETTER LIFE.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EDUCATION, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX COLLEGE PROCESS.

THAT'S WHERE AVID STEPS IN. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EQUITY AND WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CHANGING LIVES.

OUR STUDENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS, COUSINS AND EVENTUALLY THEIR OWN CHILDREN WILL FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

THEY ARE TRAILBLAZERS AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.

AVID'S FRAMEWORK TELLS US THAT STUDENTS NEED THREE THINGS TO SUCCEED ONE RIGOROUS, RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS, TWO OPPORTUNITY KNOWLEDGE, AND THREE STUDENT AGENCY.

AT NORTH GARLAND, WE'VE ENSURED THAT OUR AVID STUDENTS ARE READY TO ATTEND SOME OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO SCHOOLS LIKE HARVARD, PRINCETON, YALE, EMORY, NORTHWESTERN, NOTRE DAME, UT AUSTIN AND MANY MORE. THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO QUALIFY FOR PROMISE PROGRAMS THAT GUARANTEE FREE TUITION, AND HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP COVER THE COST OF HOUSING AND MEAL PLANS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE MADE SURE THEY HAVE OPTIONS.

OUR SENIORS ARE GRADUATING WITH OVER 600 ACCEPTANCES TO FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO THRIVE ONCE THEY GET THERE.

AS IMPRESSIVE AS THE NUMBERS ARE, WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE ARE THE FACES AND STORIES BEHIND THEM.

IT'S THE REFUGEE FROM IRAQ WHO WON A $20,000 DELL SCHOLARSHIP AND WILL STUDY COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS AT UTD THIS FALL.

IT'S HIS BEST FRIEND, THE SON OF IMMIGRANTS FROM EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS, WHO ALSO WON A DELL SCHOLARSHIP AND WILL STUDY CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT TEXAS TECH.

IT'S THE DAUGHTER OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS, A MEMBER OF THE WORLD DANCE TEAM WHO WILL BECOME A CIVIL ENGINEER AT UT AUSTIN WITH ENOUGH SCHOLARSHIP MONEY TO COVER THE FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE. IT'S A STUDENT WHO'S ESCAPING A FAMILY HISTORY OF VIOLENCE WHO COULD HAVE EASILY GONE DOWN THAT SAME PATH, BUT IS BUT NOW ATTENDING A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY STORIES WE COULD TELL.

WE KNOW HARD DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE AND CUTS ARE INEVITABLE, BUT WE WANT YOU TO SEE WHO'S AFFECTED BY THIS DECISION.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS AL- HASSAN SABAWI. WE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LOPEZ AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AL-HASSAN ALI SABAWI AND I JUST GRADUATED AT NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

I LIVE AT 122 RIDGEGATE DRIVE, GARLAND, TEXAS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE AVID PROGRAM AND ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO PLEASE CONTINUE FUNDING IT FOR THE FUTURE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS LIKE ME. THANKS TO AVID, I'VE LEARNED HOW TO MANAGE SCHOOL, WORK, AND LIFE AT HOME WITHOUT FEELING OVERWHELMED OR STRESSED.

I USED THE TOOLS AVID TAUGHT ME EVERY DAY LIKE SETTING GOALS, USING A CALENDAR, AND KEEPING A PLANNER TO STAY ORGANIZED AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING.

AVID TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAN AHEAD AND STAY FOCUSED SO I DON'T FALL BEHIND IN SCHOOL OR IN LIFE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AVID GAVE ME WAS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COLLEGE.

COMING FROM IRAQ, I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE COLLEGE SYSTEM IN AMERICA AND HOW IT WORKED.

BUT WITH THE HELP OF MY AVID TEACHERS, MISS ASTON, MY JUNIOR YEAR, AND MS. ROJAS MY SENIOR YEAR, WHO HAS BEEN A ROLE MODEL TO ME, I APPLIED TO MULTIPLE COLLEGES AND GOT ACCEPTED.

I EVEN RECEIVED THE DELL SCHOLARSHIP WITH THE PUSH OF CONVINCING ME THAT I COULD ACTUALLY WIN IT.

AND NOW WE'LL BE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS TO EARN MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMPUTER INFORMATION SCIENCE COMPLETELY FOR FREE.

THIS IS A LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY, AND MEANS THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON MY PARENTS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY COULDN'T AFFORD, THEN JUST HELPED ME ACADEMICALLY.

IT CHANGED MY PERSONAL LIFE TOO. BEING SURROUNDED BY A COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS WHO PUSH THEMSELVES AND WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR FUTURE HAS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON.

HAVING TEACHERS WHO STAY AFTER SCHOOL TO HELP, WHO BELIEVE IN YOU FULLY, AND WHO YOU COULD TRULY TRUST, MAKE AVID MORE THAN JUST A PROGRAM. TO ME, IT'S FAMILY.

PLEASE KEEP AVID FUNDED SO MORE STUDENTS LIKE ME CAN HAVE THE SAME LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MISS HOGAN, DID YOU RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL

[01:05:08]

[IV.A. Sign Statements of Elected Officer - Mechelle Hogan]

MISS HOGAN. TRUSTEES WE WILL NOW DO MY FAVORITE PART OF THE YEAR SWEARING IN OUR NEWLY ELECTED OR REELECTED TRUSTEES. I HAVE THREE THIS EVENING.

WE'LL GO IN PLACE ORDER. SO, MR. GLICK, IF YOU WILL COME DOWN, WE'LL BEGIN YOUR SWEARING CEREMONY.

MISS HOGAN, WHILE YOU GUYS ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE PODIUM, ARE YOU GOING TO DO A AND B WITH EACH TRUSTEE? YES SIR.

THANK YOU FOR EFFICIENCY WE'LL DO A AND B SINCE HE'S ALREADY HERE.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT. WHICH SIDE YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS SIDE OR THIS SIDE. OKAY.

SO WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO ACTION ITEM B FOR MR.

[IV.B. Administer Oath of Office to Newly Elected Trustees - Mechelle Hogan]

MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR. RAISE YOUR HAND. REPEAT AFTER ME, PLEASE.

IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

GLICK. I LARRY H. GLICK. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.

THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF.

THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF. GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE.

GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE. PLACE ONE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

PLACE ONE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND.

PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND. THE CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. IF I WILL NOW, PLEASE HAVE MR. JOHNNY BEACH COME DOWN.

MIC] HERE.

Y OU WANT TO GET A PICTURE BEFORE WE START? YOU WANT TO DO A PICTURE FIRST? LET'S DO A PICTURE.

COME ON UP. LET'S GET YOU ON THE FRONT.

COME UP HERE, GUYS. NO! THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT.

CAMERA. WE'RE GOOD RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU. Y'ALL STAY RIGHT HERE, ALL RIGHT? Y'ALL STAY RIGHT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE.

SURE. IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF. IN THE NAME AND AUTHORITY OF.

THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE STATE OF TEXAS. I JOHNNY BEACH.

I, JOHNNY BEACH. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

OR AFFIRM. OR AFFIRM. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.

THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF.

THE DUTIES OF. THE OFFICE OF. THE OFFICE OF. GARLAND ISD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE.

GARLAND ISD TRUSTEE. PLACE TWO. PLACE TWO. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

AND WILL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE. PRESERVE.

PROTECT. PROTECT. AND DEFEND. AND DEFEND. THE CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE LAWS. AND THE LAWS.

OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE.

AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.

[01:10:01]

THE REASON THESE FOLKS ARE STANDING HERE. FIRST OF ALL, I AM TRULY HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF GISD.

GARLAND, ROWLETT AND SACHSE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE PRAYERS AND THE ELECTION FOR ME.

EVERY DECISION I MAKE WILL BE IN SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, THE PARAS, EVEN THE SRO OFFICERS FOR OUR SAFETY, THAT ARE STANDING HERE BEFORE ME TODAY. THIS IS MY WHY THESE FOLKS STANDING HERE TODAY.

AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, REPRESENTING THAT FOR GISD.

TODAY I TAKE THE OATH NOT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT AS A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO SHAPE OUR SCHOOLS.

LET'S GET TO WORK. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. AND NOW, MAY I PLEASE HAVE MRS. LINDA GRIFFIN COME DOWN? OKAY. NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME? MAKE SURE YOU GET PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. IN THE NAME. IN THE NAME.

AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF. AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF.

THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE STATE OF TEXAS. I LINDA L.

GRIFFIN. I LINDA L. GRIFFIN DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. SWEAR.

AND AFFIRM. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.

THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF. THE DUTY OF THE OFFICES, THE OFFICE DUTIES, AND THE OFFICE OF.

GARLAND ISD. GARLAND ISD. SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE.

SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE. PLACE THREE. PLACE THREE.

OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND. PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND.

THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION. AND THE LAWS OF.

AND THE LAWS OF. THE UNITED STATES. UNITED STATES.

AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD. GOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] THAT CONCLUDES BOTH A AND B. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HOGAN.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM FIVE ON OUR AGENDA INFORMATION ITEMS FIRST 5 A EVIDENCE OF EXCELLENCE A1 RECOGNIZED NORTHEAST

[V.A. Evidence of Excellence ]

MR. MATA. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR LOPEZ.

WE ARE PROUD. EXCUSE ME. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE BOTH ON THEIR CAMPUSES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH KEY CLUB, A STUDENT LED ORGANIZATION SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST DALLAS COUNTY KIWANIS.

THE NEDC KIWANIS CURRENTLY SUPPORT ACTIVE PROGRAMS IN TEN SCHOOLS, INCLUDING GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS PAST MONTH, STUDENT LEADERS FROM THESE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS ATTENDED THE TEXAS OKLAHOMA DISTRICT CONVENTION, WHERE THEY COMPETED AGAINST MORE THAN 200 KEY CLUBS FROM ACROSS TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA AND BROUGHT HOME SEVERAL MAJOR HONORS.

THESE AWARDS ARE A TRUE REFLECTION OF OUR STUDENT SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

TIAN BUI, LEADER OF LEADERS AWARD AND DISTINGUISHED TREASURER.

AND EMILY DISTINGUISHED SECRETARY.

[01:15:10]

FROM THE TOP. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR LOPEZ. WE'LL START FROM THE TOP. WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING STUDENTS FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL AND NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, BOTH ON THEIR CAMPUSES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH KEY CLUB, A STUDENT LED ORGANIZATION SPONSORED BY THE NORTHEAST DALLAS COUNTY KIWANIS.

THE KIWANIS CURRENTLY SUPPORT ACTIVE PROGRAMS IN TEN SCHOOLS, INCLUDING GHS AND NGHS.

THIS PAST MONTH, STUDENT LEADERS FROM THESE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS ATTENDED THE TEXAS OKLAHOMA DISTRICT CONVENTION, WHERE THEY COMPETED AGAINST MORE THAN 200 KEY CLUBS FROM ACROSS TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA AND BROUGHT HOME SEVERAL MAJOR HONORS.

THESE AWARDS ARE A TRUE REFLECTION OF OUR STUDENT SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

OUR GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL MEMBER AWARDS THIAN BUI, LEADER OF LEADERS AWARD AND DISTINGUISHED TREASURER.

AND EMMY LE DISTINGUISHED SECRETARY FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE COME UP. [APPLAUSE] FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER PHAM, OUTSTANDING WEBMASTER.

ANDREW DUONG, DISTINGUISHED EDITOR. RICKY NGUYEN, DISTINGUISHED TREASURER.

ZARA GUERRA-ARCHER , OUTSTANDING SECRETARY AND DISTINGUISHED SECRETARY.

KRYSTAL TRAN, DISTINGUISHED VICE PRESIDENT . SARAH NGUYEN, OUTSTANDING VICE PRESIDENT .

YEN DO, DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENT. KAYLA DO, DISTINGUISHED SECRETARY.

AND SAMRAWIT BEKELE DISTINGUISHED EDITOR. PLEASE COME ON UP.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THESE REMARKABLE STUDENTS, AND TO THE ADVISORS OF KIWANIS AND SPONSORS WHO SUPPORT AND GUIDE THEM.

THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING GARLAND ISD WITH PRIDE, LEADERSHIP, AND PURPOSE.

CONGRATULATIONS. JOSE, DO YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR THE PRINCIPALS TO COME UP AND PARENTS? LET'S DO THE STUDENTS FIRST. YOU GOT IT.

OKAY. PARENTS, IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE COME UP AND BE WITH YOUR STUDENTS.

ALSO, PRINCIPALS OF THE SCHOOL, PLEASE COME UP, MR. FISHPAW, MR. BARNETT. Y'ALL COME ON. PARENTS.

ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS, STUDENTS. THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER TWO TO RECOGNIZE TEXAS ACADEMIC DECATHLON STATE CHAMPIONS.

MR. MATA. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND DOCTOR LOPEZ.

WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL'S ACADEMIC OCTATHLON TEAM ONE FOR WINNING THE 2025 TEXAS ACADEMIC OCTATHLON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, COMPETING AGAINST TOP SCHOOLS AT LEBANON TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL IN FRISCO.

THIS GROUP OF FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES DEFEATED DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION LUBBOCK HIGH SCHOOL TO WIN THEIR REGION, THEN WENT ON TO EARN THE HIGHEST OVERALL SCORE IN THE STATE.

TEAM ONE SCORED AN INCREDIBLE 32,866.7 POINTS, THE HIGHEST OCTATHLON SCORE IN GARLAND ISD HISTORY AND THE HIGHEST IN TEXAS SINCE 2019. THEIR PERFORMANCE MARKS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015 THAT A TEAM OTHER THAN LUBBOCK OR JAMES E TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL HAS WON THE STATE TITLE, AND THE SECOND TIME EVER A GARLAND ISD TEAM HAS CLAIMED THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS WAS A TOTAL TEAM VICTORY. IN FACT, EVEN IF ANY SINGLE TEAM MEMBERS SCORE WERE REMOVED,

[01:20:05]

CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM ONE AND THEIR COACHES ON THIS HISTORIC AND UNMATCHED ACHIEVEMENT.

AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP PETER AARON, AVI BRYDEN, ALFREDO GARDUNO CRUZ, MARIA GONZALEZ MARRERO, SHAYLYN MONROE, LYDIA MULLENS, HEATHER NGUYEN.

TANVI SHIBU AND BRIDGET PARKER. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SHOURYA VYAS, WHO EARNED NATIONAL HONORS LAST WEEKEND BY WINNING THE ONLINE INDIVIDUAL VERSION OF THE UNITED STATES ACADEMIC DECATHLON COMPETITION. SURYA NOT ONLY CLAIMED THE TOP SPOT, HE DID SO WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE SINCE 2021 AND THE FIFTH HIGHEST IN THE COMPETITION'S HISTORY. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHOURYA THE OCTATHLON TEAM 1 AND THEIR COACHES ON THIS HISTORIC AND UNMATCHED ACHIEVEMENT. WOW! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] LET'S GET A GOOD PHOTO.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

MIC] LOOK RIGHT HERE. TURN YOUR HEAD.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. ONE. TWO. THREE.

. PARENTS, IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND STAND WITH YOUR STUDENTS? PLEASE DO SO. MR. BARNETT.

YOU GUYS NEED TO STEP UP HERE. YEAH. Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO STEP UP.

WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING ON UP. THERE YOU GO. I LOVE IT.

HEY.

GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] GIG EM OWLS. LET ME GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.

RECOGNIZE THE IWRITE STUDENT PUBLICATIONS, MR. MATA? WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE TODAY.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES . AND DOCTOR LOPEZ. WRITING IS MORE THAN JUST PUTTING WORDS ON PAPER.

IT'S A TOOL FOR UNLOCKING CREATIVITY, BUILDING CONFIDENCE, AND OPENING DOORS TO NEW POSSIBILITIES.

WHEN STUDENTS FIND THEIR VOICE THROUGH WRITING, THEY GAIN THE COURAGE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, SHARE THEIR STORIES, AND IMAGINE A FUTURE FILLED WITH ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES. ONE ORGANIZATION HELPING YOUNG AUTHORS DISCOVER THAT POWER IS THE IWRITE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FOSTERING CONFIDENCE THROUGH WRITING. IWRITE ENGAGES STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH 12 WITH EXCITING AUTHOR DESIGN PROGRAMS THAT MAKE WRITING AND PUBLISHING FUN.

THEIR ANNUAL PUBLISHING CONTEST GIVES STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD THE INCREDIBLE CHANCE TO BECOME PUBLISHED AUTHORS AND EXPERIENCE THAT VALIDATES THEIR VOICES IN A TRULY MEANINGFUL WAY. THIS YEAR WE'RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT FIVE TALENTED GARLAND ISD STUDENTS WERE SELECTED BY IWRITE TO BE FEATURED ON THEIR UPCOMING PUBLICATION.

AMONG THEM IS ONE STUDENT WHO EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD, THE HIGHEST HONOR GRANTED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THESE PHENOMENAL YOUNG WRITERS.

AS I CALL YOUR NAME. PLEASE COME UP. MIA ANDREA FROM NORTH GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] MILAN LE FROM GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] AND OUR EDITORS CHOICE, SIERRA THOMPSON FROM ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS GUYS. HERE WE GO.

[01:25:19]

PRINCIPALS YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO.

VERY GOOD.

. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

RECOGNIZE THE NATIONAL AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION ACDA 11 THROUGH 12 HONOR CHOIR INDUCTEES.

MR. FIGARELLI. GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT, SELDERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR LOPEZ. THE NATIONAL ACDA 11TH AND 12TH GRADE HONOR CHOIR IS A PRESTIGIOUS ENSEMBLE ORGANIZED BY THE AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. ACDA, ONE OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS FOR CHORAL MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS HONOR CHOIR BRINGS TOGETHER EXCEPTIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY THOSE IN GRADES 11 AND 12, TO PERFORM IN A SELECT CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A WELL-KNOWN GUEST CONDUCTOR.

FOR THE 2025 HONOR CHOIRS, OVER 5000 STUDENTS AUDITIONED NATIONWIDE FOR SELECTION OF ONE OF THE FOUR ENSEMBLES.

AMONGST THE STUDENTS SELECTED FOR THIS HONOR, ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL HAD THREE STUDENTS MAKE IT INTO THE 11TH AND 12TH GRADE HONOR CHOIR.

THE STUDENTS FROM ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL WHO EARNED THIS PRESTIGIOUS DISTINCTION DISTINCTION ARE.

ENRIQUE CASTILLEJA, JACOB ELLIOTT, AND JULIUS PANTOJA.

ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] THESE STUDENTS REPRESENT THE EXCELLENCE IN CHORAL MUSIC EDUCATION AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL, AND ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF THE SCHOOL'S CHOIR PROGRAM.

DIRECTORS OF CHOIRS IS MR. RICO HAMILTON. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IS MISS KELLY FLORES, SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS MR. DAVID DUNPHY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE STUDENTS.

YES.

ONE. TWO. THREE. OKAY. OR THE PARENTS HERE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM. PARENTS, COME ON UP. WE LIKE TO GET THE PARENTS INVOLVED.

MR. PRINCIPAL. YES. IS DUNPHY HERE? I DIDN'T SEE HIM STANDING THERE.

OH. YOU'RE GOOD, THANK YOU RHONDA SQUEEZING.

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT. OKAY, THAT TAKES US TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

RECOGNIZE THE TAEA VISUAL ARTS AWARD WINNERS, DOCTOR MICHELLE CROMER.

GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT, SELDERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR LOPEZ.

SEVERAL OF OUR ELEMENTARY ART STUDENTS COMPETED AT THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY ART MEET.

OVER 6936 ENTRIES WERE SUBMITTED ACROSS THE STATE, AND 533 OF THESE WERE AWARDED THE TOP OF TEAM.

TWO OF THESE ENTRIES COME FROM OUR VERY OWN GISD.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE LARK ROBBINS FROM HICKMAN ELEMENTARY AND KAYLA NGUYEN FROM ETHRIDGE ELEMENTARY.

THE HICKMAN ART TEACHER IS TRISH BALLAST AND THE PRINCIPAL IS CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL.

THE ETHERIDGE ART TEACHER IS ORLANDO SOLORZANO AND THE PRINCIPAL IS CYNDI ORTIZ.

AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, 14,330 WORKS WERE ADJUDICATED STATEWIDE.

[01:30:01]

11 OF THOSE PLATINUM MEDALS COME FROM GISD STUDENTS.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE LAYLA D. JONES, ISAAC J. RIVAS AND XIMENA TENORIA FROM AUSTIN ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE, JULIET E. PATONI AND ROSALIE RODRIGUEZ FROM CLASSICAL CENTER AT BRANDENBURG, HAILEY HILER FROM COYLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR MATH AND SCIENCE.

FAITHROSE FONTENAROSA AND ISRAEL PRADO FROM JACKSON TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

SOPHIE NGUYEN, ORELLANA MAYRA AND ELISE SATARAY FROM SELLERS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE ART TEACHER AT AUSTIN ACADEMY IS KATHERYN CRENSHAW.

THE PRINCIPAL IS DOCTOR KEISHA RIDER. THE ART TEACHER AT THE CLASSICAL CENTER AT BRANDENBURG IS JOVENNE KYBETT .

THE PRINCIPAL IS RANDY KING. THE ART TEACHER AT COYLE TECHNOLOGY FOR MATH AND SCIENCE IS KELSEY RUCKLE.

THE PRINCIPAL, CHERELLE WILSON. THE ART TEACHERS AT JACKSON TECHNOLOGY CENTERS ARE SAMUEL SKINNER AND JESSICA CARPINTEYRO.

THE PRINCIPAL IS DOCTOR MARK BOOKER. THE ART TEACHERS AT SELLERS MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE KIM FARRIS AND MICHAEL GROARK.

THE PRINCIPAL IS DAVID GUZMAN. AND FINALLY, ALL SEVEN OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS COMPETED AT THE REGIONAL BASED COMPETITION.

STUDENTS FROM FIVE OF THE SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLS ADVANCED TO THE STATE LEVEL.

OF THESE, 2363 WORKS ADVANCED TO STATE. ONLY 164 WERE AWARDED GOLD SEALS IN THIS STATE ARTIST.

ARWA ITANI, THEO RUGGIERO, ZA’NIYA SIMMONS, AND IYANNA WASHINGTON FROM ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL EARNED THE COVETED GOLD SEAL AWARD AWARD.

THESE STUDENTS ARTWORKS REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE BEST.

THE ROWLETT ART TEACHER IS CHAD WILKINSON AND THE PRINCIPAL IS DAVID DUNPHY.

AT THIS TIME, WE CAN HAVE ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL ART STUDENTS TO COME UP AND BE RECOGNIZED.

Y'ALL ARE READY. THEY'RE GREAT. THEY WOULD ALL COME UP AT THIS TIME.

GOOD. EVERYBODY HERE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S SQUEEZE IN THERE AND LET'S GET A PHOTO.

WAIT, WE'RE NOT DONE YET. LET'S GET A PHOTO.

YEAH. THERE'S TWO. ROW IT. CONGRATULATIONS, COME ON.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU'RE GOOD.

OKAY, LET'S GET THE PARENTS IN HERE, TOO. PARENTS, COME ON UP.

AND PRINCIPALS. COME ON. RANDY. YOU'RE REAL GOOD.

WHY ARE YOU SITTING IN THE BACK ROW? YOU HAVE TO SQUEEZE IT IN.

SQUEEZE IN. TALL ONES IN THE BACK. NO. IT'S OKAY.

I'M GOOD. I'M OKAY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. OH, THERE YOU GO.

SO THIS GROUP. COME IN, COME IN. YES, MA'AM. HERE WE GO.

OKAY. THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] WELL, THEY'RE ALL DISPERSING. WE'LL GO TO ITEM B ON OUR AGENDA.

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

GOING THE EXTRA MILE. THE GEM AWARD RECIPIENT.

AND I WILL GIVE THAT TO MR. JASON WHEELER. WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

ARE YOU DOING IT? I'M DOING IT FOR HIM. YES, SIR. MR. YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR LOPEZ, AT THIS MONTH'S MEETING, WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE RICHARD SOMERS, ARMED SECURITY OFFICER AT FREEMAN ELEMENTARY AT GOLDEN MEADOWS, AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE GOING THE EXTRA MILE AWARD.

OFFICER SOMERS JOINED GARLAND ISD AS PART OF THE DISTRICT'S SWIFT AND PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO A NEW STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRING ARMED SECURITY PERSONNEL ON EVERY PUBLIC

[01:35:08]

SINCE DAY ONE, OFFICER SOMERS HAS BEEN A BEACON OF POSITIVITY AT FREEMAN AT GOLDEN MEADOWS.

MORE THAN A PROTECTOR, HE IS A MENTOR, A MOTIVATOR, AND A TRUSTED PRESENCE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF.

HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT, LISTEN, AND UPLIFT HAS HELPED FOSTER A SENSE OF TRUST AND SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS.

WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFICER SOMERS EXEMPLIFIES PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION.

SINCE JOINING GISD TWO YEARS AGO, HE HAS SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE WITH BOTH VIGILANCE AND COMPASSION BEYOND THE SCHOOL WALLS.

OFFICER SOMERS CONTINUES TO HIS ADVOCACY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR THE THIN BLUE LINE LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTORCYCLE CLUB, FOR FURTHER DEMONSTRATING HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND SUPPORT.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING OFFICER RICHARD SOMERS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF STRENGTH, SERVICE AND CONNECTION AS WE CELEBRATE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO GISD AND HONOR HIS COMMITMENT TO TRULY GOING THE EXTRA MILE.

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS FOR YOU. THIS IS FOR YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

IF YOU DON'T MIND THE TEAM. YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE TEAM? COME ON. OH, ALSO. COME ON.

MIC] ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. SQUEEZE IN RIGHT THERE.

BUT I FEEL SAFE NOW. THANK YOU. GUYS. ONCE AGAIN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD. SAY A FEW WORDS.

THEY SAID JUST, YOU KNOW, THANK THE BOARD. I GOT THREE MINUTES.

OKAY, I NEED TEN, I NEED TEN. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THIS ALSO, MARK FOR BUILDING SUCH A GREAT TEAM AND BROTHER FERGUSON FOR POLISHING, POLISHING ALL OFF. SO NEXT YEAR I PLAN ON DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF BIKES AND POSSIBLY TWO TWO SCHOOLS AT THE LORD WILLING.

SO THANK YOU GUYS. [APPLAUSE] WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM

[V.C. Receive Intruder Detection Audit Report - Mark Quinn]

THE TOP PRIORITY OF GARLAND ISD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS KEEPING STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE EVERY DAY.

THE TEA AND REGION TEN RECENTLY CONDUCTED AN INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT AT ONE OR MORE OF OUR CAMPUSES.

THE AUDIT TESTS WHETHER A CAMPUS IS ACCESSIBLE TO AN UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL.

THE AUDIT SEEKS TO HELP DISTRICTS IDENTIFY HOW CAMPUSES CAN IMPROVE SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, SUCH AS ENSURING EXTERIOR DOORS ARE LOCKED.

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 IN SECURING OUR DOORS FOR THE PROTECTION OF EVERYONE IN OUR CAMPUSES.

THE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE AND CONDUCTING THE INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

WE KNOW THAT THIS WORK DOES NOT END. WE APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S SUPPORT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE VERY LIKELY VERY INTERESTED IN THE DETAILS OF THE AUDIT RESULTS. 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.

GARLAND ISD IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

THANKS.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHERE WE WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL

[VI.A. Recognize Texas Instruments Foundation Innovation in STEM Teaching Award Winners - Lisa Cox]

[01:40:01]

AGAIN THIS YEAR. WE ARE ONE OF EIGHT DISTRICTS IN TEXAS SELECTED TO RECEIVE A GRANT THAT REWARDS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION. THIS IS OUR 11TH YEAR TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.

IN THOSE 11 YEARS, THE FOUNDATION HAS INVESTED THROUGH THIS GRANT OVER $330,000 IN GARLAND ISD.

THIS YEAR'S GRANT TO THE FOUNDATION TOTALED $31,500.

FUNDS FROM THIS GRANT ARE BEING USED TO HONOR THREE GISD SECONDARY TEACHERS WITH A T I FOUNDATION INNOVATION IN STEM TEACHING AWARD.

THESE THREE WINNERS EXEMPLIFY THE OUTSTANDING LEARNING AND INNOVATION THAT TAKES PLACE ACROSS OUR DISTRICT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

EACH OF THEM IS BEING HONORED WITH A $10,000 GRAND PRIZE.

TONIGHT EACH AWARD WINNER WILL RECEIVE THEIR $5,000 FOR PERSONAL USE.

LATER THIS SUMMER THEY WILL RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO BE USED FOR STEM RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND OR CLASSROOM MATERIALS. NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE WINNERS TO YOU.

OUR FIRST WINNER IS JENNIFER DIMSDLE FROM THE CLASSICAL CENTER AT BRANDENBURG.

JENNIFER TEACHES EIGHTH GRADE ON LEVEL AND HONORS MATH AS WELL AS ALGEBRA ONE.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT BRANDENBURG HAS HAD A TIE WINNER.

HER PRINCIPAL, RANDY KING, STATES, MISS DIMSDLE CONTINUES CONTINUALLY SEEKS BEST PRACTICES FOR STUDENT MATH ACQUISITION.

SHE INCORPORATES STRATEGIES OF LEARNING FOR THE WHOLE CHILD INSTEAD OF SIMPLY PAPER AND PEN WORK, OR ONLY COMPLETING WORK ON A DEVICE. HER STUDENTS ENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MAKE THEM THINK, USE THEIR TEAMWORK SKILLS, AND COLLABORATE. MISS DIMSDLE WILL NOT ONLY TEACHES IN THE CLASSROOM, SHE IS ALSO THE MATH DEPARTMENT CHAIR FOR BRANDENBURG.

AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, SHE IS A TEAM LEAD FOR EIGHTH GRADE MATH AND ALGEBRA ONE, AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE GISD CURRICULUM ADVISORY BOARD.

PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE JENNIFER ON THIS GREAT HONOR.

[APPLAUSE] AND I AM GIVING THEM $5,000 CHECKS, BY THE WAY.

OUR NEXT WINNER IS NICOLE WAGGONER GAMBIOS FROM ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.

NICOLE TEACHES TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDES ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND PRESENTATIONS.

THIS IS ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST TIME TO WIN THE TI AWARD.

HOWEVER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MR. DUNPHY IS NOT HERE.

BUT HE BRINGS TO ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL GREAT LUCK, BECAUSE AT HIS PREVIOUS CAMPUS, JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL THEY WON THE AWARD FOUR TIMES OVER THERE. SO WE FEEL LIKE MR. DUNPHY HAS BROUGHT HIS GOOD LUCK TO ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.

MR. DUNPHY STATES MISS WAGNER GAMBIOS USES PROBLEM BASED LEARNING AND COLLABORATION AMONG STUDENTS OF VARYING SKILL LEVELS. HER CLASSES ARE INTERACTIVE, HANDS ON, AND ARE A HUB OF ACTIVITY AND CREATIVITY.

WORKING IN CONCERT WITH COLLABORATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT.

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, NICOLE STARTED A TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION CHAPTER AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN A PRESENTER AT NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS ACROSS GARLAND ISD AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE SHE FINDS TIME TO CONTINUE HER OWN EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATIONS BY TAKING COURSES IN HER FIELDS OF STUDY.

SHE HAS ADDED A CERTIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION TO HER TEACHING CREDENTIALS.

PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE NICOLE WAGGONER G AMBIOS.

[APPLAUSE] AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL HAS HAD A WINNER.

BRYANT VARNELL TEACHES ANIMATION AT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND AN INTERESTING FACT IS THAT BRYANT IS A SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, AND HE TOOK ANIMATION FROM ERIC BUSHLAND AT SACHSE YEARS AGO. MR. BUSHLAND WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST OF THE THREE WINNERS OF THE T.I STEM AWARD BACK IN 2015.

NOW MR. BUSHLAND STUDENT IS A WINNER. MR. DARNELL'S PRINCIPAL, SEH CREOLE, STATES HE WORKS MAINLY WITH NINTH GRADE

[01:45:09]

THE CONTENT IS RIGOROUS, BUT MR. VARNELL SCAFFOLDS THE MATERIAL AND AND CREATES MANY TUTORIAL TUTORIAL VIDEOS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN AND UNDERSTAND. HE IS ALWAYS CHECKING ON THE STUDENTS AND MEETS THEM WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR LEARNING PROCESS.

LAST YEAR, MR. VARNELL AND SOME OTHER SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS CREATED A FILM FESTIVAL FOR STUDENTS TO ENTER.

THEY SPENT HOURS ON THE PROJECT AND IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.

STUDENTS TODAY STILL TALK ABOUT HOW FUN AND WONDERFUL THAT FILM FESTIVAL WAS.

HE ALSO SERVES AS AN E-SPORTS COACH AND COLLEGE FACILITATOR FOR THE DALLAS COLLEGE EARLY COLLEGE CLASSES AT SACHSE HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE HELP ME RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE BRYANT VARNELL.

I THINK HE TOLD US HE WAS GOING TO BUY A TV WITH HIS MONEY.

[LAUGHTER] IT'LL TAKE IT ALL. I'M ALSO PROUD.

WELL, LET ME BACK UP. ON BEHALF OF THE GARLAND ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION, I WANT TO THANK THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN GARLAND ISD AND FOR CHAMPIONING EDUCATION AND STEM EDUCATION ACROSS NORTH TEXAS, AS WELL AS IN TWO DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF UTAH.

I AM ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TI FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY INFORMED US THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING THE STEM TEACHING AWARD IN THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. THE BIG NEWS IS TI IS INCREASING THEIR AWARD AND WE WILL RECEIVE THE FOUNDATION WILL RECEIVE $61,500. WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE WILL AWARD THREE $20,000 AWARDS NEXT YEAR TO DESERVING STEM TEACHERS, $20,000.

10,000 FOR PERSONAL USE AND 10,000 FOR THEIR CAMPUS OR CLASSROOMS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THESE AMAZING TEACHERS AND TO ADDRESS YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. LISA. [APPLAUSE] OKAY. PLEASE COME OVER IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM THERE AND WE'LL GET YOUR PICTURE.

OKAY. CAN WE GET FAMILY MEMBERS AND PRINCIPALS COME UP? I'M OUT OF HERE.

GET OUT FRONT THERE, RANDY. I'M SURE IT'S PERFECT.

NO, NO. WAIT A MINUTE. NICE. NICE.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS. NICE JOB. WELL DONE.

YOU. GUYS WANT TO GO? WELL, WE'RE NOT THERE YET. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN, OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.

[VII.A. Trustees' Report]

TWO ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.

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. MR.. EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION AND JUST ASK, COULD WE ELIMINATE ITEM SEVEN IN LIGHT OF THE HOUR AND THE AGENDA THAT IS AHEAD OF US? I'M FINE WITH THAT IF TRUSTEES ARE FINE WITH THAT.

RIGHT. BUT OKAY. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY GOOD? YEAH.

MISS HOGAN, PLEASE LET THE NOTES AND MINUTES REFLECT THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.

[01:50:05]

[VII.B. Superintendent's Report]

DO YOU WANT THE WHOLE ITEM BECAUSE THERE'S A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF TRUSTEES WANT THAT. OKAY.

WELL LET ME 7AB. IF THAT IS AGREEABLE WITH YOU DOCTOR LOPEZ. I'M AT THE WILL OF THE BOARD. WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST A AND B.

IS EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT, SO MISS HOGAN.

SEVEN A AND B AND THEN FOR SEVEN C, DOES ANY TRUSTEE HAVE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD AT THIS TIME? NOBODY. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[VIII. Consent Agenda]

SO NO CHANGES, NO CHANGES. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR BLANKET MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

MR. PRESIDENT. YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS FOLLOWS EXCLUDING THE HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVE EIGHT BE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF STATUTORY WRITE OFF OF DELINQUENT JOHNSON, YOU SAID EXCLUDING. I BELIEVE YOU SAID WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

I JUST SAID EVERYTHING ELSE DIDN'T CHANGE. SO. OKAY. YEAH.

SO WE INCLUDE WE WILL INCLUDE IT. YES. TO THE HR DEPARTMENT.

VERY GOOD. OKAY, SO LET ME START OVER AGAIN. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM EIGHT ITS ENTIRETY AS PRINTED IN THE BOARD BOOK, INCLUDING A, HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT. B, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF STATUTORY WRITE OFF OF DELINQUENT TAXES.

C, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 2025 GENERAL FUND.

D, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE EQUALIS GROUP COOPERATIVE SERVICES PURCHASING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT E, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING NEW BIDS ONE CONTRACT 227-25 APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF PAINTING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SERVICES.

TWO CONTRACT 237-25. APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF INTERNET CONTENT WEB FILTERING.

THREE. CONTRACT 302-25-04. APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, TESTING AND EQUIPMENT.

FOUR CONTRACT 31825-02 APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF EFFICIENCY AUDIT FIVE CONTRACT 394-25-14 APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WITH MESQUITE.

REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF. F INCREASE TO AWARDED BIDS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTS ONE.

CONTRACT 48-23 APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARD AMOUNT FOR DISH ROOM CHEMICALS, SAFETY, SANITATION AND SERVICES TWO.

CONTRACT 90-24-01. APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARD AMOUNT FOR ONLINE TICKETING SERVICES.

THREE CONTRACT 214-24-10. APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARD AMOUNT FOR ELECTRONICS AND APPLIANCE SUPPLIES.

FOUR CONTRACT 290-22. APPROVAL OF INCREASE IN AWARD AMOUNT FOR DIGITAL PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON, SECONDED BY MR. GLICK. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? IF THERE IS NONE, PREPARE TO VOTE.

VOTE NOW. MR. SELDERS. YES, SIR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, THE BOARD ROSTER REFLECT THE CORRECT SPELLING OF MY NAME. THAT'S NOT YOU? JAMIE MILLER PLACE FIVE. THAT MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

WOULD IT BE A TEAM? TEAM PLAYER. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NINE.

[IX.A. Consider Approval of Endorsement of Trustee Robert Selders, Jr. for Region 10, Position A, on the TASB Board of Directors - Ricardo Lopez]

HI. YES. ACTION ITEM 9 A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ENDORSEMENT OF TRUSTEE ROBERT SELDERS JR.

FOR REGION 10, POSITION A ON THE TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

MAY I HAVE SOMEBODY TO MAKE A MOTION AND FOLLOW FOR APPROVAL? I WILL DO THAT. YEAH. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF ENDORSEMENT OF TRUSTEE ROBERT SELDERS JR.

FOR THE REGION TEN POSITION A ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

DO I HAVE A MOTION. OR DO I HAVE A SECOND? YEAH, I JUST GOT CLARITY.

HE DID. SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. DO Y'ALL HAVE A SECOND? CAN I GO? CAN WE GO BACK? I'M SORRY. YEAH. I WANT TO HAVE MR. BEACH MANAGE THAT AND THEN ASK FOR A MOTION. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION FOR ITEM 9

[01:55:04]

[IX.B. Consider Approval of Recommended Guaranteed Maximum Price(GMP) #1 for Bond 2023 Lakeview Centennial HS and Naaman Forest HS Addition/Renovation - Javier Fernandez]

ADDITION RENOVATION. MR. FERNANDEZ. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SELDERS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DOCTOR LOPEZ.

WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU A RECOMMENDATION FOR A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL AND NAAMAN FOREST HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS.

THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE IS BEING RECOMMENDED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, LEE LEWIS CONSTRUCTION, WHO IS THE ASSIGNED CONSTRUCTION MANAGER WITH A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $65,994,029.

AND THIS WOULD BE FUNDED OUT OF THE BOND 2020 2023 PROCEEDS.

AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY ANY QUESTIONS? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MR. MILLER. SORRY, I'M HAVING TO SHARE A BOARD BOOK.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE.

NUMBER ONE FOR BOND 2023 FOR LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL.

NAAMAN FOREST HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS.

RENOVATION AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TONIGHT.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. MILLER, SECONDED BY MISS GRIFFIN.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE. PREPARE TO VOTE.

VOTE IS OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. MR. SELDERS, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I THINK IT'S A GREAT HONOR THAT YOU'RE COMPETING FOR THAT SEAT.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU GUYS. GET IT DONE.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

[X. Executive Session]

TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551. 001A. 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 TS INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS.

ITEM B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.089.

DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS.

THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT REQUIRE A GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO CONDUCT AN OPEN MEETING TO DELIBERATE ONE.

SECURITY ASSESSMENTS OR DEPLOYMENTS RELATING TO INFORMATION RESOURCES.

TECHNOLOGY TWO. NETWORK SECURITY INFORMATION AS DESCRIBED BY SECTION 2059.05 5 OR 3.

THE DEPLOYMENT OR SPECIFIC OCCASIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR SECURITY DEVICES ONE DISCUSSION REGARDING SECURITY UPDATES TO BOND PROJECTS. ITEM C 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, CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION TO A SETTLEMENT OFFER, OR THREE ON 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. ITEM C1.

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE RATIFICATION OF LITIGATION AGAINST HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS LOCATED OUTSIDE ROWLETT, AND PURCHASING AND ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE TAX EXEMPT STATUS TO PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN ROWLETT AND GARLAND ISD BOUNDARIES.

[02:00:08]

ITEM E PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074.

DELIBERATION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

E1 CONSIDERATION AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.

NON RENEWALS OF MARK DAVIS AND MARY CATHERINE GWINN E2.

CONSULTATION AND DELIBERATION REGARDING THE SELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES .

IT IS NOW 7070 1 OR 702 NOW, AND WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[XI. 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.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE MOTIONS THAT I WILL NEED TO ENTERTAIN.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM A? YES, MR. PRESIDENT.

WITH REGARD TO ITEM A, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE NON-RENEWAL OF THE CHAPTER 21 TERM CONTRACTS OF MARC DAVIS AND MARY CATHERINE GWINN.

MR. JOHNSON, LET'S DO THIS. CAN WE TAKE THEM SEPARATELY? I THINK, DID YOU, SCOTT? THEY'RE SEPARATE. WHICH ONE IS FIRST? I DON'T SEE THEM ON OUR SCREEN. MARC DAVIS IS FIRST.

OKAY. MARC DAVIS, MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE NON-RENEWAL OF THE CHAPTER 21 TERM CONTRACT OF MARC DAVIS.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON, SECONDED BY MISS STANLEY.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE. PREPARE TO VOTE.

VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

MR. PRESIDENT. YES, SIR. I FURTHER MOVE THAT TO APPROVE THE NON-RENEWAL OF THE CHAPTER 21 TERM CONTRACT OF MARY KATHERINE GWINN.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON, SECONDED BY MISS STANLEY.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THERE IS NONE. PREPARE TO VOTE.

VOTE OPEN. VOTE CLOSED. THAT MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM B? YES. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RATIFICATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO ENGAGE THE LAW FIRM OF DAVID IGLESIAS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING THE FILING OF LEGAL ACTIONS RELATIVE TO EXTRATERRITORIAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS SEEKING TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND THE GARLAND ISD BOUNDARIES.

IT CAUSE NUMBER DC 25, DASH 07779 AND DC 25 0007778. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. JOHNSON, SECONDED BY MR. MILLER. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? NOT. PREPARE TO VOTE.

OKAY. ONE LAST VOTE. VOTE CLOSED. THAT MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

DOCTOR LOPEZ. WELL, BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR CONSIDERATION, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS REGARDING REGARDING BOARD OFFICERS, I WANT TO THANK MY BOARD PRESIDENT, ROBERT SELDERS JUNIOR, FOR A GREAT YEAR.

YOU DID A LOT IN THE SUMMER. I MEAN, YOU PUT IN THE WORK, YOU GOT THE RESULTS.

WE HAVE NOW A NEW DEFINED BOARD GOALS. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER GET TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S COMMUNICATION STYLES.

YOU'VE LAID A FRAMEWORK FOR THE TRANSITION PERIODS, WHETHER THEY HAPPEN OR NOT.

THOSE THOSE THINGS ARE SET FORTH. AND YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN REALLY GIVING US GOOD FEEDBACK ON HOW TO GET OUR STEERING COMMITTEES GOING AND REALLY LOOKING INTO A POTENTIAL PROPOSITION.

A THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN AUGUST.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AND DOCTOR LOPEZ,

[02:05:02]

JUST REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THE EFFORT AND AND THE WORK EVERYBODY'S DOING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY, TO HELP CONTINUE, HELP GARLAND ISD TO CONTINUE TO BE UNMATCHED.

SO THANK YOU ALL. YAY! ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE NOMINATION OF BOARD PRESIDENT DOCTOR LOPEZ I MOVE THAT JOHNNY BEACH BE NAMED BOARD PRESIDENT.

THESE ARE NOT MOTIONS. THESE ARE NOT NOMINATIONS.

YES. SO WE HAVE A NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR FOR JOHNNY BEACH AS PRESIDENT.

WE WILL GO AHEAD. THIS IS NOT ON THE RIGHT MANUAL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A MANUAL VOTE FOR THE NOMINATION OF BOARD PRESIDENT FOR JOHNNY BEACH.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT BEACH.

WOW. THANK YOU BOARD FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY CAN CONTINUE.

WHAT? MS. GRIFFIN AND ROBERT, THE GROUNDWORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE LAID THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

AND ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT TONIGHT. APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE GOING TO NOW HAVE OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATION FOR VICE PRESIDENT .

DO I HAVE A NOMINATION? MR. BEACH? YES, MISS STANLEY.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BEACH, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE WES JOHNSON FOR VICE PRESIDENT , WES JOHNSON FOR VICE PRESIDENT .

ANY OTHER NAMES? IF NONE, WE VOTE. LIFTING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

WES JOHNSON FOR VICE PRESIDENT . THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

NEXT WE'LL GO TO SECRETARY. WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY.

MR. MILLER. YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DAPHNE STANLEY AS SECRETARY.

YOU HAVE A NOMINATION FOR DAPHNE STANLEY FOR SECRETARY. ANY OTHER NAMES? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF STANLEY FOR SECRETARY, PLEASE RAISE THEIR HAND.

THAT PASSES SEVEN ZERO. THEN WE HAVE THE OPENING OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY DO WE HAVE AN Y NOMINATIONS FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

MS. STANLEY. MR. BEACH. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE JAMIE MILLER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

SHE'S NOMINATED JAMIE MILLER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING NONE.

MR. MILLER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY, PLEASE VOTE.

APPROVES. SEVEN ZERO. THANK YOU. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE NEED, MISS? MISS HOGAN? NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA.

IT IS 10:25. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT?

[XII. Adjournment]