Feb 10, 2025 Board Meeting

[ll. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

[00:00:08]

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT RECONVENES FROM CLOSED SESSION TO AN OPEN MEETING AT 6:34 P.M. FOR ACTION RELATIVE TO ITEMS CONSIDERED DURING CLOSED SESSION. UP NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR INVOCATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALLEGIANCE. THE REVEREND SAN SAM PADILLA, IS THAT CORRECT? FROM INSPIRATION CHURCH WILL GIVE THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE STUDENTS FROM TOSCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN JOIN US AND STAND OR WHATEVER FOR WHATEVER. ALL RIGHT. LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS WE RECOGNIZE OTHERS THIS EVENING. WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF EDUCATION FOR THE LEADERS, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS WHO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS GREAT PLACES OF GROWTH, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY. LORD, WE LIFT UP THE MEMBERS OF THIS SCHOOL BOARD TO YOU. GRANT THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE LIVES OF SO MANY. FILL THEM WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY MAY MAKE CHOICES THAT ARE JUST, COMPASSIONATE, AND ALIGNED WITH YOUR WILL. MAY THEIR HEARTS BE OPEN TO THE NEEDS OF EVERY CHILD, TEACHER, AND FAMILY REPRESENTED IN THIS DISTRICT. WE ALSO PRAY FOR ALL THE EDUCATORS WHO POUR THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND HEARTS INTO SHAPING YOUNG MINDS.

BLESS THEM WITH STRENGTH, PATIENCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS THEY GUIDE THEIR STUDENTS. GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE, NURTURE, AND FOSTER A LOVE FOR LEARNING THAT LASTS A LIFETIME.

FINALLY, LORD, WE LIFT UP THE STUDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. PROTECT THEM, GUIDE THEM, AND SURROUND THEM WITH YOUR LOVE. MAY THEY FEEL VALUED, SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE PRAY THAT THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE OPEN TO THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM THAT WILL HELP THEM GROW INTO THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU FILL THIS ROOM WITH YOUR PRESENCE TODAY. MAY THE CONVERSATIONS HERE BE FILLED WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING, AND MAY EVERY DECISION REFLECT YOUR LOVE AND GRACE. WE TRUST IN YOUR PROVISION, KNOWING THAT YOU ARE WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN.

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. ON THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. QUIZZES ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. MY. MY NAME IS REAGAN. I GOT A. MY NAME IS REAGAN. I GO TO TASHA ELEMENTARY. MY TEACHER IS MISS LOPEZ AND I AM IN SECOND GRADE. AND I AM MACKENZIE. I GO TO TASHA ELEMENTARY. MY TEACHER IS MISS LOPEZ AND I AM IN SECOND GRADE. MY NAME IS ANGEL. I GO TO TULSA ELEMENTARY. MY TEACHER IS MISS MENDEZ AND MY GRADE IS SECOND GRADE. HELLO. MY NAME IS DANE. I AM IN TULSA ELEMENTARY. I AM IN SECOND GRADE. MY TEACHER IS MISS MENDEZ. AND I'M IN PRE-K AND I'M. AND I'M IN MISS MOORE CLASS. MY NAME IS JAYLA, AND I GO TO TASHA ELEMENTARY. I'M IN THE THIRD GRADE, AND MY TEACHERS ARE DICKENS AND MISS HAMILTON. MY NAME IS KINGSTON. I GO TO

[00:05:04]

HELLO. MY NAME IS DARRYL. I GO TO TASHA ELEMENTARY. I'M IN THE FOURTH GRADE, AND MY TEACHERS ARE MISS RUIZ AND MR. MARTINEZ. HELLO. MY NAME IS MASON. I'M IN THIRD GRADE. MY TEACHERS ARE MISS SMITH AND MISS BOWERS. HI. MY NAME IS KNOX. I'M IN FOURTH GRADE. I GO TO TASHA ELEMENTARY AND MY TEACHERS ARE MR. CLANCY AND MR. MARTINEZ. WELL, THANK YOU, STUDENTS. THAT WAS GREAT.

AND, REVEREND, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. LET'S GIVE ALL THOSE THOSE STUDENTS ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OUR TEAM OF

[V. TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT ]

PRESIDENT SEWARD. I'D LIKE TO CALL DIANE NIX UP TO THE FRONT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. DIANE NIX WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE DISTRICT 16 DALLAS COUNTY SENATOR NATHAN JOHNSON WITH A RESOLUTION. AND I'M PRIVILEGED AT THIS TIME TO READ THAT RESOLUTION. SHE'S ALREADY HAD IT PRESENTED IN SENATOR JOHNSON'S OFFICE, BUT WE FELT AN OBLIGATION TO READ THIS AND RECOGNIZE DIANE RIGHT NOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS RESOLUTION. WHEREAS DIANE NIX COMMENCED HER 51ST YEAR IN TEACHING ON AUGUST 2ND, 2023, MEANING THAT SHE'S IN HER 52ND YEAR NOW, AND IT IS INDEED FITTING TO RECOGNIZE HER LONG RECORD OF SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, EMPLOYED WITH THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF HER CAREER, MRS. NIX CURRENTLY TEACHES ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AT MOTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND WHEREAS, MRS. NIX DECIDED TO BECOME A TEACHER WHEN SHE WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE, THAT WAS ABOUT, WHAT, 20 YEARS AGO? AND FULFILLING THAT DREAM, SHE BEGAN HER NOTEWORTHY TENURE IN EDUCATION IN 1973 BEFORE FOCUSING ON ESL INSTRUCTION. SHE TAUGHT SECOND AND THIRD GRADE. SHE HAS MENTORED COUNTLESS STUDENTS OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING SOME WHO RETURNED TO JOIN HER ON THE MOTLEY ELEMENTARY FACULTY. AND WHEREAS, KIND AND CARING, MISS NIX FOSTERS ENTHUSIASM ON THE CAMPUS AS THE HEAD OF THE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE. SHE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MESQUITE ISD CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. AND WHEREAS, FOR THE PAST FIVE DECADES, DIANE NIX HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF HER PROFESSION, PROVIDING YOUNGSTERS WITH A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION WHILE INSTILLING VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS. AND SHE HAS EARNED THE LASTING GRATITUDE, RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF ALL WHO ARE PRIVILEGED TO KNOW HER. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT DIANE NIX BE HONORED FOR HER 50 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND THAT SHE BE EXTENDED, SINCERE. BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN HER IMPORTANT WORK. SIGNED SENATOR NATHAN JOHNSON, DISTRICT 16 OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. DIANE, WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. AND LEAVE YOU WITH THAT. DIANE. WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

DIANE. DIANE, DIANE, DIANE, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

[00:10:22]

INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THINK OF ALL THE LIVES SHE'S TOUCHED. AMAZING. 50 YEARS. I KNOW SOME OF US HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO SHARE A LOT OF THAT TIME WITH HER. ABOUT 30 YEARS OR 28 YEARS FOR SOME OF US, DOING A LOT OF BUSINESS FOR SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT YOU ALWAYS ENCOURAGE US TO KEEP ON GOING AND WORK HARD. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FROM YOU. YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS I'VE STAYED HERE SO LONG. THANK YOU. IT'S YOUR FAULT. YES, DIANE. I WAS ELECTED IN 1991 ORIGINALLY AND BECAME YOUR FRIEND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BACK. PRIOR TO THAT, WE WENT THROUGH THE ROLLBACK ELECTION TOGETHER, AND RECENTLY ROBERT AND ELAINE AND I GOT TO BE ON A JUDGE AT THE CHILI COOK OFF AT MOTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THAT WAS GREAT. I'LL DO IT AGAIN NEXT WEEK IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT BUT I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING I NOTICED, AND I'M SURE ROBERT AND ELAINE DID AS WELL. THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT EVERY CAMPUS IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS AT JACK MOTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS FOSTERED, ESPECIALLY BY ALL THE STAFF. BUT. BUT DIANE NIX PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CULTURE THAT EXISTS AT MOTLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT QUALITY EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT IN MESQUITE ISD, AND A LOT OF DIANE'S CONTEMPORARIES ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I HOPE ROBERT WILL ALLOW THEM TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED IN JUST A MINUTE, TOO. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIANE, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR MESQUITE ISD AND OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE.

AND, DIANE, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO SAY. ONE IS, I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY DATING MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS, BUT YOU'RE LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY. SHE KEEPS ON GOING AND GOING AND GOING, BUT SHE'S POWERED BY THE PROFOUND LOVE OF TEACHING, AND WE SEE THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

DIANE, NEXT STORY REMINDS US OF THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT ONE DEDICATED TEACHER CAN HAVE THROUGH FIVE DECADES. AND SHE DOESN'T WANT ME TO SAY HALF A CENTURY OF SERVICE. SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT TRUE PASSION FOR EDUCATION NEVER DIMS. IT ONLY GROWS STRONGER, CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE THE PATH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LEARNERS AND TEACHERS. DIANE, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE HOPE YOU STAY ANOTHER 25 YEARS. WE WILL. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR RETIREMENT AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO SUPPORT HER. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE STAND FOR MOTLEY AND ELSEWHERE, AND WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM. AND I'M SURE SHE'S TRAINED. ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. DIANE. NEXT, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON MR. CARVILLE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT MOTLEY, DIANE'S INFLUENCE AND ALL THAT WE HAVE.

DOCTOR DEL MAR HAS A SUPERSTAR TEACHER. HER NAME IS SUSANNAH. MICHELLE. THERE SHE IS. OKAY. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO HER CLASSROOM AND SPEAKING TO THE STUDENT COUNCIL. STUDENTS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. NOW, THAT'S KIND OF UNHEARD OF. THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT NOT MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ADOPTED, AND WE HAVE A STRING OF SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE FEEDERS FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. AND SUSANNA, YOU HAVE SIX KIDS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YOU BROUGHT TODAY BEFORE MY OFFICE SECRETARY AND HISTORIAN AND HISTORIAN. THERE YOU GO. NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. THESE KIDS, THEY GO TO THE BRADFIELD PLACE. IT'S A SENIOR CITIZENS HOME AND THEY PLAY GAMES WITH THEM. THEY ENTERTAIN THEM. I MEAN, THEY LOVE TO HAVE THESE KIDS THERE.

[00:15:04]

THAT'S FANTASTIC. GUYS, I WANT TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE FUTURE LEADERS. AND IF WE START TEACHING THEM AT AN ELEMENTARY LEVEL, THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY PROGRESS WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THESE ARE THE NEXT KIDS THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE SITTING IN THESE SEATS. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE START THEM YOUNG AND THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO I REALLY COMMEND YOU KIDS.

YOU HAVE ALL MY ADMIRATION. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND THANK YOU, MISS MICHELLE. YES.

MR. COLLIER, I BELIEVE YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. YEAH. SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING WITH TASB. THAT'S TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS TO GO TALK WITH OUR CONGRESSPEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND JUST REPRESENT US THERE AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE. WE ARE IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS LIKE, IF YOU NEED A FACE TO PUT TO IT, WE'RE IT. THIS IS IT. IT WAS FASCINATING. THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED, ASKING ABOUT WHAT OUR KIDS DO, WHERE THEY ARE, WHAT MATTERS TO THEM, DOES THIS ACTUALLY IMPACT THEM? IT WAS FASCINATING TO LISTEN TO IT AND TO GET TO SPEAK UP FOR NOT JUST MY KIDS, BUT LIKE ALL THE KIDS OF MESQUITE, AND TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MESQUITE IS ALL IT'S A THREE LETTER WORD. IT'S AN ALL THING. ALSO HAD A LOT OF FUN LISTENING TO HOW THINGS WORK IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND THE BLENDING OF CITY AND SCHOOL BOARDS, AND WHERE HOW THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WORK. MESQUITE IS BLESSED THAT WE WORK WELL WITH OUR CITY. THAT IS SOMETHING I GOT TO WITNESS AND GOT TO LISTEN TO IT WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK AS WELL. I WAS LIKE, INTERESTING. BUT WE ARE REALLY BLESSED THAT WE GET TO HAVE THAT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER AND SIT AT THE SAME TABLES. ANOTHER THING THAT WAS, THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. OUR REPRESENTATIVES WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICES, NOT JUST YOUR OWN. SO THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS PART OF IT. BUT SO WE'RE LISTENING. THEY'RE LISTENING. IT'S A GOOD TIME. THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE LAST MONTH WAS BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH AND BOARD MEMBERS, I BELIEVE YOU RECEIVED A PORTRAIT PORTRAIT THAT WAS HAND DRAWN. YES. YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I'M DELIGHTED TO RECOGNIZE MISS RUBY RAMOS, A TALENTED FRESHMAN AT POTEET HIGH SCHOOL, FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY HAND-DRAWN PORTRAITS OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

MISS RAMOS IS SHE IS VERY EXCEPTIONAL IN CREATIVELY AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO SHINING THROUGH HER EVERY STROKE OF HER PENCIL AND DEMONSTRATES AN INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS. IN HER PORTRAITS, WE SEE MORE THAN OUR OWN REFLECTIONS. WE SEE THE BRIGHT, INSPIRING FUTURE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR MISS ROMO'S GIFT, WHICH SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND PROMISE THAT RESIDES WITHIN OUR YOUNG STUDENTS. HER WORK IS NOT JUST ART. IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HOPE, THE CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP THAT CONTINUES TO FLOURISH IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY.

AND THOSE PORTRAITS WERE REAL NICE. AND IN FACT, ON THE BACK OF THEM, IF YOU TAKE OFF THE BACK, SHE WROTE EVERYBODY A MESSAGE. IT'S UNIQUE. SO WHEN YOU GET HOME, YOU CAN PULL THAT OFF AND YOU SEE THE MESSAGE SHE WROTE FOR YOU. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR RIVERA. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. SO ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THIS BOARD APPROVED THE EXPANSION OF THE AVID PROGRAM IN MESQUITE ISD. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU, YOU KNOW, NOT FAMILIAR WITH EDUCATIONAL LINGO, AVID STANDS FOR ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION AND IS A PROGRAM THAT WE HAD AT TWO OF OUR FEEDER PATTERNS THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE LIFE AND BEYOND. AND WE ONLY HAD IT AT NORTH MESQUITE AND WEST MESQUITE FEEDER PATTERNS. BUT THIS BOARD APPROVED THE EXPANSION OF THE AVID PROGRAM TO GO DISTRICT WIDE, AND ALL STUDENTS AT MESQUITE ISD NOW ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF THAT PROGRAM. SO I WANT TO READ A PROCLAMATION BY DOCTOR TUONG NGUYEN FROM THE AVID CENTER. WHEREAS AVID CENTER RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,

[00:20:04]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO STUDENT AND STAFF GUEST, MISS SMITH.

[VI. STUDENT AND STAFF GUESTS ]

CONGRATULATIONS MISS BEECH, YOU ARE DEFINITELY DESERVING TO BE IN APPLE CORPS TEACHER TEACHING IS SUCH A MULTIFACETED PROFESSION IN EDUCATION. I GET TO DO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

I GET TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR MY STUDENTS. I GET TO INTRODUCE THEM TO SO MANY TOPICS AND SUBJECTS THAT THEY SEE FOR THE FIRST TIME. AS AN EDUCATOR, I'M ABLE TO BUILD THOSE FOUNDATIONS.

BUT I'M NOT ONLY JUST TEACHING THEM THEIR CORE SUBJECTS, I'M ALSO TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE INDEPENDENT, HOW TO BE PROBLEM SOLVERS, CRITICAL THINKERS. I HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP THEM SEE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BUILD ON THAT. I GET TO HAVE THEM BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES LIKE I BELIEVE IN THEM. THE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE, AND I'M JUST PRIVILEGED TO GET TO BE A PART OF THAT. PIECES. I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEEKS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS OF MESQUITE ISD. AND WHEREAS, THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS CONSISTS OF EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS TO RECEIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HIGHEST RECOGNITION. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OFFICIALLY WELCOMES KAYLEE BEECH INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THANK. WHEN THEY SAID I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING, I CRAWLED OUT OF MY SKIN A LITTLE BIT. BUT I AM HONORED TO BE RECEIVING THIS AWARD. IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED, MUCH LESS

[00:25:04]

I'M SURE A LOT OF TEACHERS HAVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS, BUT FOR ME, TEACHING IS IMPORTANT TO JUST BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS THAT LASTS AND OVER YEARS. I LOVE IT WHEN STUDENTS FROM HORN COME BACK AND VISIT AUXILIAR WHEN THEY DO THEIR SENIOR WALK, THEY COME BACK AND SAY, OH, COACH SPERLING, HOW'S IT GOING? JUST BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENTS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING. I CAN'T BELIEVE HE TOOK THE HAT OFF. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS IN MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEEKS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS AT MESQUITE ISD. AND WHEREAS, THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS CONSISTS OF EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS TO RECEIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HIGHEST RECOGNITION. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OFFICIALLY WELCOMES NATHAN SPRADLIN INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, I KNOW KIM GREGORY. SHE'S HERE TODAY. YES, I MAY. I TRY TO DECIDE IF I WAS GOING TO WEAR MY I CAN'T NOT IT GIVES ME A. THERE WE GO. THERE IT IS. I, I TRY TO I'M GOING TO BE HONEST. I TRY TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR AND KEEP A LOW PROFILE. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE TIME TO, I GUESS, RECOGNIZE A LOT OF SCHOOL. SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON'T DON'T DO THAT. WHICH MAKES MESQUITE SPECIAL. SO BOARD TRUSTEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A WHOLE. I THINK RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES, CERTAIN LEGISLATION JUST ISN'T GOING ON IN AUSTIN. WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN GET. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATORS. DOCTOR RIVERA, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US. DOCTOR FIELDS, THANK YOU. NOT MANY LEADERS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS EITHER ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES AND EMPOWER THEIR TEACHERS TO VOICE THEIR OPINION, AND WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DID. AND WE CAN TELL IT'S SINCERE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING IN OUR EYES AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY LISTENING, NOT JUST HEARING HEARING THE WORDS. SO THANK YOU, MISS ROBIN CATHCART,

[00:30:05]

SHE DOES WHATEVER WHATEVER WE NEED. SHE'S WILLING TO HELP US OUT AND GIVE US THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED TO DO GREAT THINGS. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO PRETEND THIS WAS A UNANIMOUS, UNANIMOUS DECISION OF ME GETTING THE APPLE CORPS LIKE A BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, EVEN EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WENT AND TOLD THE TEACHER THAT I VOTED FOR RIGHT.

AND SHE SHE TOLD ME, WELL, I VOTED FOR YOU, SO I, I GOT I, YOU KNOW, THANK MY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU TO MY AUXILIARY FAMILY FOR NOMINATING ME. YOU DON'T ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, SABRINA ALEXANDER AND BLANCA FERNANDEZ AND MY ASSISTANT COACHES LIKE THEY'RE AWESOME. IT TAKES THE WINNING COACH YESTERDAY SAID FOR GREATNESS TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW YOU NEED GREAT PEOPLE AROUND YOU. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY EAGLES FANS ARE IN HERE, BUT. THAT SAID I. KIM JOHNSON WISH SHE'S HERE TONIGHT. WHERE IS SHE? THERE SHE IS. SHE WAS SHE WAS THE FIRST PRINCIPAL AT TIGER AND I, I TOLD HER RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR GIVING 23 YEAR OLD MASTERS GRAD WITH NO TEACHING EXPERIENCE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER AND COACH, AS SHE TRUSTED ME WITH THAT. AND SO I TOOK THAT TO HEART. IT WAS AWESOME. CHRISTIE GREGORY WAS A PRINCIPAL AFTER AFTER THAT, SHE SUPPORTED ME AS WELL. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM. I'M ACTING LIKE I START PLAYING THE MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND. SUSAN HENDERSON, WENDY HATLEY AND DANIELLE, THE PE COORDINATORS.

I'M SORRY. THE PE TO ME IS IT'S IMPORTANT. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS CHANCE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE ALL THE DIFFERENT TESTS THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE, IT'S THE ONE PLACE THAT I THINK THE KIDS CAN RELEASE THAT ENERGY AND KIND OF BE THEMSELVES. AND I ENCOURAGE THAT, ENCOURAGE THAT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL. AS YOU CAN SEE, I, I WEAR MY HAT WHEREVER I GO, AND THE KIDS KNOW WHEN I'M WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY, HEY, THAT'S COACH POWELL. I TRY TO BUILD THAT RESPECT WITH THEM. AND THEY SHOWED ME THE SAME. MY FAMILY, ROWENA AND DANNY SPRADLIN, THEY'RE UNDER THE WEATHER, SO THEY'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT. BUT MY WIFE GLORIA AND I HAVE THREE KIDS. JACE, MICHAEL AND MATTHEW. TWO OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT. PLEASE, I NEED I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU STAND UP OR WAVE. THEY'RE BACK THERE. WELL, LET'S MAKE THEM STAND U AHEAD, GUYS, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO. THEY THEY I TRY NOT TO EMBARRASS THEM TOO MUCH WHEN THEY COME INTO MY GYM. THEY HE WAS MICHAEL WAS IN THE VIDEO IN THE BACKGROUND. AND YOU KNOW THEY TRY TO I TRY TO KEEP THINGS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CHILL FOR THEM. SO I DON'T EMBARRASS THEM TOO MUCH. BUT. THEY FAMILY MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. AND YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THEM. AND I'LL ONE LAST THING. I'LL LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THIS. SOMEBODY ASKED ME, YOU KNOW WHY? WHY DO YOU CONTINUE BEING A TEACHER? AND IT'S LIKE I SAID IN MY VIDEO, WHEN I SEE THE HIGH SCHOOL KID AT HORN HIGH SCHOOL WALKING ACROSS THE FIELD IN HOMECOMING COURT AND FOOTBALL PLAYER, I CAN THINK BACK. AND I REMEMBER SITTING WITH THAT STUDENT IN THE CORNER OF MY GYM WATCHING YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF HOW TO TIE THEIR SHOES, AND THAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS YEAR. AND HE'S HE ASKED, HE SAID, COACH BROWN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU TAUGHT ME. AND WHEN I WAS LITTLE. IT'S THOSE. THAT'S WHY I STAY IN ELEMENTARY. I LIKE YOU, SAID MR. CARVER, IS IMPORTANT. THAT'S THAT'S THE YEARS WHERE YOU CAN TEACH THEM THE MOST. THEY SOAK IT IN LIKE A SPONGE. SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS LIKE THAT, LIKE TYING SHOES. IT'S NOT IN THE CURRICULUM, BUT TEACHERS DO THAT ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR KIDS NEED. SO

[00:35:02]

FOR. AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS BEACH AND MR. OR COACH SPRADLIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SMITH. ALL RIGHT. IT'S TIME FOR US TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTSTANDING PARAPROFESSIONAL OF THE MONTH WITH OUR STAR PAIR AWARD. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP OF AMERICA THIS YEAR, WHICH IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE STAR PAIR RECIPIENT WITH A $50 GIFT CARD. I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR FFG REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN OUR FEBRUARY STAR PARA, WHO IS SYLVIA GREEN, ALONG WITH HER PRINCIPAL, TERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM TERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IRINA MASON.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS GREEN. THANKS, GARY. GOOD AFTERNOON. BOARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, DOCTOR RIVERA. SO TODAY IS MY ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO IS TRULY THE HEART OF TERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL. SYLVIA GREEN IS THE PERSON WHO KEEPS OUR FRONT OFFICE RUNNING SMOOTHLY, WHO WELCOMES EVERY STUDENT, PARENT, AND STAFF MEMBER WITH KINDNESS AND WHO SERVES OUR SCHOOL WITH PROFESSIONALISM, PROFESSIONALISM AND GRACE. SYLVIA GREEN BEING HONORED IS A RECOGNITION THAT IS SO WELL DESERVED. IF YOU'VE EVER WALKED THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS OF TERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THE WARMTH AND DEDICATION THAT MISS GREEN BRINGS TO OUR SCHOOL. WHETHER IT'S ANSWERING PHONES WITH PATIENTS, ASSISTING A PARENT WITH A CONCERN, HELPING A SUB FIND THEIR WAY AROUND THE BUILDING, OR SUPPORTING OUR STAFF WITH A LAST MINUTE REQUEST. SHE DOES IT ALL WITH A SMILE AND A SERVANT'S HEART.

JEFF MOORE AND WILLIE WILKINS, OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAM, WOULD BE PROUD OF HOW SHE TREATS TERRY LIKE FORT KNOX AND MAKES SURE THAT ALL VISITORS HAVE AN ID BADGE AND SIGN IN. MISS GRANT IS NOT JUST AN INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONAL, BUT SHE TRULY IS A SOURCE OF COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND POSITIVITY FOR EVERYONE AROUND HER. SHE IS THE FIRST FACE OUR FAMILY SEE WHEN THEY ENTER, AND SHE SETS THE TONE FOR WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL SO SPECIAL. A PLACE WHERE WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL. MISS GREEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU'RE NOT JUST THE HEART OF OUR FRONT OFFICE. YOU'RE THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

MY.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS SYLVIA GREEN. I JUST THOSE WORDS. I RETIRED FROM THE TELEPHONE COMPANY AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND I ASKED MYSELF WHEN I LEFT FROM THERE, WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO DO? HOW CAN I BE OF SERVICE OTHER THAN JUST TO SERVE OUR KIDS? SO I'VE BEEN WITH MESQUITE FOR 15 YEARS, DOING THAT EVERY DAY, SERVING OUR KIDS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS, TRYING TO HELP THEM JUST TO MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SOMEONE LOVES THEM WHEN THEY'RE AWAY FROM HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN I HAVE MY FAMILY AND TERRY FAMILY STAND? TERRY FAMILY STAND UP. AND I ALSO HAVE PREVIOUS TERRY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND TO. AND I ALSO HAVE MY SON HERE. HE IS A SPEECH THERAPIST IN GREENVILLE ISD. I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO STAND. I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. WE HAVE SPEECH THERAPIST VACANCIES AND

[00:40:05]

FOR. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR MESQUITE ISD FAMILIES. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE TWO VERY OUTSTANDING COUNSELORS. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS JACKIE OR AND ELIZABETH BAKER TO COME UP FRONT WHILE I TALK ABOUT YOU. BOTH JACKIE AND ELIZABETH WERE RECOGNIZED AS THE 2024 TEXAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS OF THE YEAR.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT. BOTH STATE SCHOOL COUNSELORS OF THE YEAR ARE FROM RIGHT HERE IN MESQUITE ISD. JACKIE OR OF FROM GALLOWAY ELEMENTARY, HAS BEEN WITH MESQUITE FOR 13 YEARS AND WAS NAMED THE TEXAS ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR. AND ELIZABETH BAKER OF VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN IN MESQUITE FOR 15 YEARS AND WAS NAMED THE TEXAS SECONDARY COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR.

WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE AND THAT YOU PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS. WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE YOU IN MESQUITE ISD.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE ANOTHER DIFFERENCE MAKER. MISS SHANNON HUGHES, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT AUSTIN ELEMENTARY. IF YOU WOULD WALK UP, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU ON JANUARY 8TH, AN AUSTIN ELEMENTARY STUDENT IN THE CAFETERIA INDICATED THAT SHE WAS CHOKING. HER FRIENDS NOTICED AND THEY WERE RAISING THEIR HANDS TO GET ATTENTION. VERY QUICKLY, MISS HUGHES NOTICED SOMETHING WAS GOING ON. SHE IMMEDIATELY REACTED AND TO THE GOT TO THE AREA AND BEGAN THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER THREE TIMES. AND THEN THE FOOD BECAME VISIBLE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SWEEP THAT OUT AND TAKE THE CHILD TO THE NURSE AND REALLY, REALLY THANKFUL THAT SHE WAS THERE AND ACTED SO QUICKLY.

HER STUDENTS RECOGNIZED THAT SHE WAS KIND OF A HERO. AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK IN THE CAFETERIA ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER, THEY SAID, WE HAVE ALL WITNESSED A MIRACLE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND BEING A DIFFERENCE MAKER. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE A FEW OUTSTANDING STUDENTS. WE HAVE SEVERAL FINE ARTS STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN BOTH BAND AND CHOIR. FIRST, WE HAVE ISRAEL GONZALEZ, TMEA, ALL-STATE BAND MEMBER FROM POTEET HIGH SCHOOL. NEXT UP, WE HAVE JAY CARDOZO TMEA, A ALL-STATE BAND MEMBER FROM POTEET HIGH SCHOOL, ALONG WITH THE SPONSOR, TISH DOWNS. NEXT WE HAVE ZINNIA VILLATORO, TMEA ALL-STATE CHOIR MEMBER FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL WITH SPONSORS RYAN AND CHRISTIE FAULKNER.

[00:45:08]

MESQUITE. IT'S THE SAME THING AS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE NORTH MESQUITE STATE MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONSHIP. AND WE ALSO HAD THE POTEET HIGH SCHOOL BAND PLACED SECOND AT THE AREA C COMPETITION AND ADVANCED TO THE STATE MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONSHIP. THEIR DRUM MAJORS ARE HERE TONIGHT ALONG WITH DIRECTOR TISH DOWN, STEVE KATH, BEN BROWN, AND CHRISTIAN SAWYER. YES, THEY ARE ON THE. COME ON BY ON BE RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SWITCHING GEARS, WE'RE GOING TO HONOR SOME EXCELLENCE AND ACADEMIC AND OUR DISTRICT SPELLING BEE, BRIELLE AMBER WAS OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE DISTRICT SPELLING BEE FROM WOOLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL. HER SPONSOR IS LATONYA MASON. ALEXANDRA PIERCE. OKAY. SO. AND ALSO FROM PERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE SECOND PLACE DISTRICT SPELLING BEE WINNER ALEXANDRA PIERCE, WITH HER SPONSOR, KAREN SEIBERLICH. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR STUDENT RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A SEAT. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM OUR BREAK. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR AUDIENCE PORTION. FOR THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA. MISS SMITH, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY? ALL

[VIll. CONSENT AGENDA ]

[IX. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT]

[00:50:03]

IT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SEWARD, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR RIVERA, LAST MONTH, OUR FACILITY COMMITTEE SHARED WITH YOU THE LENGTHY PROCESS THEY COMPLETED TO DISTRICT FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDED MULTIPLE MEETINGS WHERE THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE DISTRICT OUR FACILITY NEEDS OVERALL, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT FINANCES. AND THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING A POTENTIAL BOND ELECTION. TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO DO A QUICK REVIEW OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED LAST MONTH AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION, OF COURSE, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I'M ALSO JOINED TONIGHT BY A NUMBER OF GUESTS WHO WILL BE HELPFUL IN ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY POSE. WE HAVE MR. JASON HUGHES, THE SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HILLTOP SECURITIES, MISS KRISTEN VAN BOND, COUNCIL PARTNER WITH NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, MR. GRAHAM BOWMAN AND MR. ROLAND GENTRY FROM W.R. ARCHITECTS, AS WELL AS AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, OUR WONDERFUL IN-HOUSE MR. PRADO. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THE FACILITY COMMITTEE LANDED ON THESE PRIORITY AREAS BEFORE YOU AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS FOR IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY.

IT CONSISTS OF ADDING SECURE VESTIBULES TO OUR TWO REMAINING CAMPUSES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE SECURE VESTIBULES, ADDING STORM SHELTERS TO OUR CAMPUSES, SECURING OUR ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUNDS BY MOVING THEM CLOSER TO THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES AND PROVIDING PERIMETER FENCING AND ENHANCED SECURITY TECHNOLOGY. WE ALSO LOOKED AT OUR EXISTING FACILITIES, OUR AGING FACILITIES IN PARTICULAR, AND LOOKED AT OUR TWO OLDEST ELEMENTARIES. AND THE FACILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED CONSOLIDATION OF THE TWO OLDEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BUILDING A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS AT THREE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT OF SOME OF OUR AGING FUEL TANKS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT GROWTH ON THE SOUTH END OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND SO THEY MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HELP US MOVE INTO THE FUTURE AND MANAGE THE GROWTH ON THAT SOUTH END OF THE DISTRICT. ONE OF THOSE THINGS INCLUDES A NEW PRE-K CENTER TO HELP OFFSET THE ENROLLMENT OF SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ALSO PROVIDE A STATE, STATE OF THE ART, WORLD CLASS LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. EXPANSION OF THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ALSO IN THE FEEDER PATTERN TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASING ENROLLMENT AND EXPANSION AT JOHN HORN HIGH SCHOOL, SPECIFICALLY THE FIELD HOUSE, THE ONE PART OF THAT CAMPUS THAT HAS NOT BEEN EXPANDED TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED ENROLLMENT. AND THEN THEY ALSO MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND REPLACEMENT CYCLES TO ADDRESS ROOF REPLACEMENTS, BUS REPLACEMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENTS. ADDRESSING ALL OF THESE ITEMS WOULD NECESSITATE A $600 MILLION BOND, AND, IF PROPOSED TO OUR VOTERS, WOULD CONSIST OF TWO DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS. PROPOSITION A INCLUDES THE BULK OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TOTALS $578.5 MILLION, AND THAT INCLUDES THAT SECURITY TECHNOLOGY, THE INCREASED SAFETY WITH STORM SHELTERS AND SECURE ENTRY POINTS, ELIMINATING OUTDATED AND TEMPORARY CLASSROOM SPACES, PORTABLES CONSOLIDATING THE TWO OLDEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT, EXPANDING CLASSROOM SPACE, AND ADDING THAT PRE-K CENTER IN THE HORN FEEDER PATTERN, REPLACING VESTMENTS, BUSSES, AND ROOFS.

SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES, AND UPGRADES AGAIN TO THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER. AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION, PROPOSITION B THAT TOTALS $21.5 MILLION. THAT WOULD INCLUDE DISTRICT WIDE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT. AND WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT IN IN A SEPARATE PROPOSITION IF WE DO INDEED MOVE FORWARD. INCLUDED IN THIS SLIDE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION. SO THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE WOULD BE APRIL 3RD. EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE FROM APRIL 20TH 2ND TO APRIL 29TH, AND ELECTION DAY WOULD BE SATURDAY, MAY 3RD. THE FACILITY COMMITTEE WAS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. NOTHING MORE THAN A $0.01 INCREASE TO OUR INS RATE WAS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE. THAT WOULD PUT US AT A 40 $0.01 INS RATE, UP FROM OUR CURRENT 4040 CENT RATE. WHEN CALCULATING THE DISTRICT'S BOND CAPACITY.

WITH THAT $0.01 INCREASE, WE WERE EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE IN THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING THE PROJECTED INTEREST RATE, PROJECTED TAX BASE AND THE POTENTIAL USE OF EXCESS DEBT SERVICE FUNDS. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE HOMEOWNER IN

[00:55:03]

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPT AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ON MAY 3RD, 2025. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. ABBOTT AND A SECOND BY MR. BINGHAM. THEY MOVED THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPT AN ORDER CALLING FOR A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ON MAY 3RD, 2025. BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. I THINK THAT IT'S A $0.01 INCREASE. WE GET TO DO A WHOLE LOT WITH $0.01, LIKE A WHOLE LOT, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED. THERE ARE THINGS THAT DON'T JUST LAY OUT ON THE TABLE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE PART PASSES AND THE OTHER PART DOESN'T? MR. PRADO. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SEWARD. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. WE HAVE A TEAM HERE, OF COURSE, TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. SO WE'RE GOING TO TEAM UP. I HAVE MR. JASON HUGHES, OF COURSE. HE'S ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED. GRAHAM AND ALSO KRISTIN SAVANT. AND SO KRISTIN SAVANT IS OUR BOND COUNSEL AND HAS EXTREME EXPERIENCE. SHE'S BEEN HERE WITH US FOR VERY MANY YEARS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT ANSWER OR THAT QUESTION QUICKLY. GOOD EVENING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. SO YOUR QUESTION IS JUST WHETHER IF ONE PASSES AND THE OTHER DOESN'T I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE REALLY IN BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECTS. THEY'RE NOT CONDITIONAL. SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THEY STAND ALONE. AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THEY THEY HAVE YOU VOTED SEPARATELY TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON CERTAIN OF THE PROPOSITION. SO WE DID AS PART OF OUR MEETINGS, OF COURSE, GO THROUGH THERE'S SIX REQUIRED SPECIAL PURPOSE PROPOSITIONS, WENT THROUGH EACH ONE AS PART OF THE PROJECT LIST TO ENSURE THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS APPLICABLE WAS THE TECHNOLOGY. EQUIPMENT IS PROPOSITION B, BUT AGAIN, THEY STAND ON THEIR OWN.

SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A CONNECTION IN THE PROJECT LIST. ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT. SO. MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED AND THE WORK THAT THEY DID. THEY DID A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND DID A GOOD JOB. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S THE LARGEST BOND PROPOSAL WE'VE EVER DONE. BUT I HOPE OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS HOW SERIOUSLY THIS BOARD TAKES THIS. WE VALUE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY AND OUR PATRONS AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM. BUT I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS BOARD FOR A LONG TIME, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND I HOPE IT'S KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS BOARD IS VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AND FOR YEARS WE HAVE DONE A BETTER THAN AVERAGE, WAY BETTER THAN AVERAGE JOB OF MANAGING OUR

[01:00:07]

THIS IS A SMALL $0.01 INCREASE, BUT IT GETS A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK. WITHOUT THIS. IT'S REALLY THE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO TO RAISE THIS, THESE FUNDS SO WE CAN KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. OUR MAINTENANCE GUYS BACK THERE IN THE BACK, OUR CYCLE OF REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE ON OUR BUILDINGS HAS SAVED US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS, AND IT ALLOWS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO HAVE A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR LEARNING.

THIS WILL CONTINUE THAT IT WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE THAT ARE DEAR TO EVERYBODY'S HEART, BUT HAVE SERVED A GOOD PURPOSE AND GET A GOOD A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE KIDS TAKES CARE OF OUR GROWTH. I JUST I JUST WANT THE VOTERS TO KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY WE KNOW THE IMPACT THIS MIGHT BE. IT WILL BE A SMALL INCREASE FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THIS DISTRICT. AND I SAY WE WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SUPES AND ALL THE STAFF AS WELL, I WOULD SAY AS WELL OR BETTER THAN MOST OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND, AS FAR AS THIS AREA OF OUR, OUR FACILITIES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. SO I THAT'S WHY I SECONDED THE MOTION. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE ON OUR BONDS IN THE PAST, AND I HOPE OUR REPUTATION, I THINK OUR REPUTATION DESERVES CONSIDERATION FOR THIS THIS TIME. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, OUR DISTRICT IS CHANGING AS YOU WELL KNOW. YOU KNOW, GROWTH IN THE SOUTH SIDE. I THINK THIS BOND IS ADDRESSING THE GROWTH THAT IS NOT IN THE NORTH SIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR BUT OUR FACILITIES IN THE NORTH SIDE. GET A LOOK. SEE, WE DIDN'T LEAVE ANYBODY OUT IN THE CITY. WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CITY AND LOOKED AT. AND I KNOW FROM LISTENING TO THE COMMITTEE THEY WERE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SIDE OF TOWN. SO WE'VE ADDRESSED IT. THIS BOND HAS ADDRESSED ALL OF THE CITY, NOT JUST SOUTH SIDE.

YOU KNOW, SOUTH SIDE IS OUR GROWTH AREA. NORTH SIDE, NOT SO MUCH. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THAT'S THERE IN THIS BOND, EVERYBODY GETS SOMETHING FROM THIS BOND THAT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. I KNOW DOCTOR DELMAR IS HERE FROM MOTLEY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN MOTLEY LAWRENCE, TO TALK ABOUT THEM. AND THAT HAS BEEN ON A BOND WHAT FOR THE LAST 2 OR 3 BONDS WE'VE HAD. BUT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO ADDRESS IT THIS TIME. SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THAT SIDE, YOU KNOW, AND IN THE NORTH SIDE'S GOING TO GET A LOOK. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS BOND. I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE ANSWERING SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. I WANT TO ECHO THE WORDS OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS. I REALLY WANT TO HIT ON SAFETY BECAUSE IT'S A BIG TOPIC NOT ONLY HERE, BUT IT'S A BIG TOPIC TOPIC IN AUSTIN AS WELL.

AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD THAT IN THE COMMITTEE. THREE OF US WERE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE.

AND THE RESPONSE OF THAT COMMITTEE, WE HAD WE HAD PARENTS, WE HAD BUSINESS PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONALS. AND BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, WHAT, 89 PORTABLES AND WE COULD ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE, THAT WE'RE ADDING STORM SHELTERS, THE ONES THAT WERE LEFT AND THE SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE THEM, THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE VESTIBULES, WHICH I KNOW JEFF HAS BEEN WORKING REAL HARD ON THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ENTRY TO OUR SCHOOLS. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT. IT'S THE REST OF THE SCHOOLS, THE DOORS IN THE BACK AND THE SIDE. EVERYTHING'S BEEN LOOKED AT, AND THIS BOND IS GOING TO HELP US REALLY HONE IN TO SOME OF THOSE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF THOUGHT WAS PUT INTO IT, LIKE MR. BINGHAM SAID, BUT A LOT OF THOUGHT WAS PUT INTO IT BY EVERYBODY THAT WAS IN THAT COMMITTEE AND EVERYBODY WAS LISTENED TO, AND THE WAY IT WAS ORGANIZED, IT MADE IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO US. AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED. SO I AM 100% FOR THIS MEASUREMENT. AND I

[01:05:03]

AND I WOULD THE KIND OF THE WAY THAT I DESCRIBED IT WAS IF MESQUITE ISD IS OUR HOME, IF WE WERE HOMEOWNERS, THEN IT'S TIME TO IT'S TIME TO REMODEL SOME BATHROOMS. IT'S TIME TO DO SOME WORK ON THE HOUSE WE'VE NEEDED FOR A LONG TIME. AND WHAT THIS EQUATES TO IS WE'RE TAKING SOME OF THE VALUE IN OUR HOME, AND I'M GUESSING I CAN. I GUESS I CAN PICK ON MR. HUGHES OR MR. PRODUCT. CAN DO IS WE HAVE A CAPACITY OF MONEY THAT WE CAN TAKE. I EQUAL THAT TO LIKE A HOME EQUITY LOAN, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT MONEY OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR HOME, IN OUR HOUSE TOGETHER AND GET OUR FACILITIES UP TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. AND THAT'S AND THEN WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST PAY THAT BACK OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS. SO YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND I WILL HAVE MR. HUGHES COME AND ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON IT. AND THAT THAT'S BASICALLY IT TAKES A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO A MODEL TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT THE DISTRICT CAN AFFORD, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT THAT I WILL HAVE. MR. HUGHES KIND OF ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ON THAT.

HEY, JASON, BEFORE YOU DO, ALSO, JASON IS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. I'M CURIOUS IF THE VOTERS APPROVED THIS IN MAY, HOW QUICKLY DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD BEGIN OUR FIRST SALE? CERTAINLY. PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR RIVERA, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. SO LET ME ADDRESS THE FIRST QUESTION. SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS A VERY APT DESCRIPTION. ONE OF THE NICE THINGS THAT THE BOARD HAS DONE IS YOU'VE TAKEN CARE OF YOUR FINANCES. AND SO WE'VE HAD BOND ELECTIONS. ANYTIME WE'RE LOOKING NOT ONLY AT THE NEW MONEY SIDE, BUT WE ALSO LOOK FOR REFINANCING OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE'VE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, ABOUT $48 MILLION OF GROSS SAVINGS JUST FROM REFINANCING. ALL THOSE THINGS ADD INTO YOUR CAPACITY. SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. SO THAT'S AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MR. PRADO AND I LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, BUT ULTIMATELY, OBVIOUSLY KNOWING THAT THE BOARD WAS LOOKING FOR THE $600 MILLION, THAT'S WHERE WE CAME TO. AND AGAIN, CAN DO THAT FOR THAT ONE PENNY. SO AND THEN AS FAR AS TIMING. SO IF YOU PASS THAT THERE IS BASICALLY A 30 DAY CONTEST PERIOD ON MY SIDE. ON KRISTEN'S SIDE, WE'LL BE WORKING ON EVERYTHING TO HAVE A SALE READY TO GO, PROBABLY SOMETIME MID JULY TO MAYBE FIRST PART OF AUGUST. THAT WOULD BE THAT FIRST ISSUANCE OF BONDS. WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE HOW MUCH THAT FIRST SALE WOULD BE. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO THIS POINT HAVE LOOKED AT IS AROUND 275 MILLION SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALLPARK. I SERVED ON THE BOND FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE AS WELL. AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF, DOCTOR FIELDS, DOCTOR PRADO, I MEAN, MR. PRADO, DOCTOR RIVERA, JASON, YOU AND GRAHAM AND MIKE HOLMGREN HAD SOME GREAT PRESENTATIONS TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF US GOING OUT FOR THIS BOND REFERENDUM BACK IN 1964, I BEGAN ATTENDING ELSIE SHANNON'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT WAS BRAND NEW. THEN. THE SCHOOL THAT I WAS PREVIOUSLY ATTENDING WAS WAS M B LAMAR ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE. IT'S, IT'S IT WAS ON THE VANSTON CAMPUS, BUT THAT BUILDING WAS LATER CHANGED TO ED VANSTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND EVENTUALLY IT WAS DEMOLISHED BECAUSE OF THE POOR CONDITION THAT IT WAS IN. BUT WHEN I WENT TO A BRAND NEW SCHOOL, ELSIE SHANNON AND A LOT OF ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THAT SCHOOL OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS, I CAN JUST RELATE TO HOW I FELT WHEN I WAS BEGINNING A THIRD GRADER, HOW PROUD I WAS OF BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THAT FACILITY, AND AT THE TIME IT WAS SAFE. THE FACILITY WAS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT OF 1964, AND TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES MAYBE A DIFFERENT

[01:10:06]

THAT'S RIGHT. SO NO, THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ALWAYS VERY CONSERVATIVE PUTTING TOGETHER THE INITIAL PLAN. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE AND AS DOCTOR FIELD SHOWED THE ANALYSIS, THE INTEREST RATE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON FOUR AND A HALF TO 5%. IF WE WERE TO ISSUE BONDS TODAY, WE'D BE CLOSER TO 4% TO MAYBE FOUR AND A QUARTER. SO WE'RE CONSERVATIVE THERE. I THINK THE TAXABLE VALUES AS WELL, 5% FOR TWO YEARS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, 3% FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND THEN COMING DOWN OFF OF THAT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE DONE AGAIN, WHEN PUTTING TOGETHER THOSE SCENARIOS. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE LAST BOND ELECTION. IF YOU GO BACK MORE TOWARDS THE MID TO LATE 2000, IT WAS KIND OF THE OPPOSITE, WHERE THE BOARD ACTUALLY SLOWED DOWN THE PACE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE HAD FALLING TAX VALUES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THERE WAS MORE PRESSURE ON TAX RATES BECAUSE OF THE GREAT RECESSION. SO THE BOARD HAS HISTORICALLY SHOWN THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS TO SLOW DOWN THE PACE AT WHICH THEY WERE ISSUING. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT LED TO THAT, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE'D PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT THE EXACT SAME THING. SO THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF CONSTRUCTION WORKED INTO THIS.

THERE'S A CUSHION IN CASE INFLATION HAPPENS AND THINGS GET MORE EXPENSIVE. GRANT WAS PROBABLY THINKING SHE I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO SAY IT. I KNOW SHE IS. NO, THAT IS CORRECT.

THROUGH THE ANALYSIS AND I HAVE MR. GRAHAM COME UP AND KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT. BUT YES, THOSE FACTORS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. SO WE DO HAVE AN INFLATION VALUE FACTORED IN TO

[01:15:06]

WE THOUGHT THROUGH A LOT OF THAT. DO YOU JUST DON'T THROW OUT A BOND JUST LIKE A LOT OF EXACTLY THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SLOW THINGS DOWN IF WE NEED TO.

ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS AN AUTHORIZATION TO SELL. IT'S NOT A MANDATE TO SELL. EXACTLY. SO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ARE YOU GUYS STILL HAVING TO JUMP OUT THERE LIKE WE DID BEFORE.

AND I WAS JUST PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, BUT BEFORE WE'VE HAD TO RUN OUT AND ORDER THINGS LIKE STEEL AND SOME OF THAT STUFF. ARE Y'ALL STILL HAVING TO DO SOME THINGS LIKE THAT? THE MARKET'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT IN 2020, 2021 WHERE WE HAD TO ORDER STEEL VERY EARLY. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T HEARD THAT SAME THING IN THE MARKET. THERE WAS RIGID INSULATION ON ROOF. WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO THAT QUITE AS MUCH. SWITCHGEARS AND TRANSFORMERS. IT'S MORE OF A LEAD TIME ISSUE THAN TRYING TO CHASE INFLATION. THOSE ARE OUT 52 TO 65 WEEKS, SO THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED CONSTRUCTION TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU NEED A NEW SWITCHGEAR, A NEW TRANSFORMER. SO THOSE THOSE ARE THE LEAD TIMES THAT WE CHASE NOW, BUT WE TRACK THAT EACH OF THOSE ITEMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE A REPORT WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING. I APPRECIATE THE CONSTANT EYE ON IT. YES. THANK YOU. AND THEN IF WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE SAID IT ALL. AND I THINK YOU CAN TELL FROM THIS BOARD THAT WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO CALL A BOND PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR NEEDS, ESPECIALLY OUR URGENT NEEDS COMING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE, THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE, ALL THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION, FOR THEIR HARD WORK, AND FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OUT HERE THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT FACILITY COMMITTEE AND DOCTOR FIELDS FOR LEADING THAT EFFORT. I THINK THAT THEY'VE DONE YEOMAN'S WORK ON THAT TO REALLY DIG INTO THE DETAILS AND TO COME UP WITH THE URGENT NEEDS OF THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IMPACTS OUR KIDS ON FACILITIES AND ESPECIALLY SAFETY AND SECURITY. AND OF COURSE, WE NEED THE TECHNOLOGY ALSO. MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD REITERATE, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED, BUT THAT IF WE CAN GET THIS THROUGH THE GOAL, THEN THIS IS GOING TO SATISFY OUR BOND NEEDS FOR SOME SIGNIFICANT YEARS GOING FORWARD. WE WON'T HAVE TO JUMP OUT AND DO ONE FOR A WHILE. I AGREE, IT'S WORTH SAYING AGAIN, AND I'LL JUST REPEAT ONE THING THAT GARY ALLUDED TO. THIS IS AN AUTHORIZATION AS WE GO FORWARD. IF IT GETS APPROVED BY THE CITIZENS, WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE VOTES ON SELLING BONDS DOWN THE ROAD. ISN'T THAT CORRECT? SO IT STILL HAS TO BE ACTION TO THE BOARD AT ANY TIME. WE WANT TO GO OUT AND DO A SALE. SO IT'S NOT JUST AN AUTOMATIC DEAL. AS A MR. BINGHAM ALLUDED TO. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? HE SAID HE OUTRIGHT SAID IT. DOCTOR SEWARD, I ECHO THE REMARKS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HE'S LIKE, YES, I'M THINKING ALL THE WERE INVOLVED.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE INVOLVED. I KNOW YOU TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO JOIN US, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT. BUT I REALLY ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE LEADERSHIP THAT DOCTOR RIVERA AND, AND DOCTOR FIELDS HAVE DEMONSTRATED WHEN SHE WAS FIRST APPROACHED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SHE TOOK IT WITH ALACRITY AND MOVED FORWARD AND WAS FAST AND FURIOUS. AND SHE HASN'T SLOWED DOWN. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO ECHO THOSE THOSE REMARKS. AND ALSO DOCTOR RIVERA FOR HIS SUPPORT AND DILIGENCE ON GETTING US TO WORK TOGETHER AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. AND I THANK DOCTOR RIVERA. WOULD

[01:20:03]

AND I THINK THAT WILL SUFFICE. AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THIS DISTRICT FOR YEARS TO COME. SO IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE OUR LAST BOND. AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RIVERA, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU BOARD MEMBERS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPT AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ON MAY 3RD, 2025. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I. I. THOSE OPPOSED? NO. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU. IT TAKES NUMEROUS DEPARTMENTS. SO TO NAME A FEW THAT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESS OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, JEREMY LEWIS AND HIS TEAM IN TECH SERVICES, SCOTT OWENS AND HIS TEAM AND FACILITIES, MACY MELTON AND HEALTH SERVICES, KRISTY DAVIS AND COUNSELING SERVICES AND OTHERS. WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT THEIR HELP. IT ALSO TAKES OUR CAMPUSES FIRST RESPONDERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THINK ABOUT ONE DOOR LEFT UNLOCKED OR UNSECURED COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEEPING A THREAT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING AND EVERYONE SAFE INSIDE, OR THE THREAT GETTING INSIDE THE BUILDING AND PUTTING LIVES IN JEOPARDY FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES TO BE EFFECTIVE. THE LITTLE THINGS REALLY DO MATTER. COMING AND GIVING THIS PRESENTATION, I WAS KIND OF HOPING THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE LISTENING TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR ADMINISTRATORS MUST SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND ESTABLISH A CULTURE WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS, UNDERSTANDS AND IS TRAINED IN OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES. ALL OF OUR STAFF MUST FOLLOW THOSE PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES. THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE, HELP AND REMIND EACH OTHER ABOUT THE PROCEDURES WHEN NEEDED, AND KINDLY ACCEPT THOSE REMINDERS WHEN GIVEN. FIRST RESPONDERS PROVIDE US WITH EXPERT GUIDANCE AND RECOMMEND BEST PRACTICES TO INFORM OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES. THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THEY RUN INTO THE FIRE AND TOWARD THE GUNSHOTS TO SAVE LIVES. THEY ARE THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM THE MOST. OUR PARENTS, WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN YOU MAY THINK. PLEASE FOLLOW OUR PROCEDURES. REMIND OTHERS AND AS I MENTIONED, KINDLY ACCEPT REMINDERS FROM STAFF AND OTHER PARENTS. WE SHOULD ALL WELCOME THESE REMINDERS BECAUSE IT'S FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE. STUDENT. OUR STUDENTS. YOU ARE WHY WE ARE HERE. IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, I WOULDN'T BE GIVING THIS REPORT TONIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 5000 MISD STAFF MEMBERS WORK TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE, MENTOR, ENCOURAGE AND PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. STUDENTS, WE NEED YOU TO REPORT CONCERNING BEHAVIOR OR

[01:25:01]

BE THE DRIVERS OF YOUR CAMPUS SECURITY CULTURE AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. WHY AM I SAYING ALL THIS? WELL, HISTORY SHOWS US THAT MOST SECURITY FAILURES ARE HUMAN FAILURES. THEREFORE, EVERYONE MUST DO THEIR PART TO KEEP OUR CAMPUSES SAFE. SAFETY AND SECURITY TRULY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT. SO WHAT'S OUR MISSION? THE MESQUITE ISD SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL THOSE WHO UTILIZE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY FOR EDUCATIONAL USE. OUR PURPOSE. THE MESQUITE ISD SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT'S PURPOSE IS TO PREPARE OUR CAMPUSES, EXCUSE ME, OUR CAMPUS STAFF AND STUDENTS TO MITIGATE, PREVENT, OR TO QUICKLY AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO THREATS OR HAZARDS THAT ARE LIKELY TO IMPACT OUR CAMPUSES AT ANY TIME AS A PART OF ITS PURPOSE, OUR DEPARTMENT REQUIRES EACH CAMPUS TO FOSTER A SAFETY CONSCIOUS CULTURE BY TAKING INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP OF OUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAMS THROUGH PROPER PLANNING AND INITIATING AN INNOVATIVE TRAINING PROGRAM, WE CAN ACHIEVE A MORE SUCCESSFUL STATE OF READINESS AND PREPAREDNESS. THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF HINGES ON THE COOPERATION AND COMMITMENT OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED TO PRODUCE POSITIVE AND LASTING IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPROVEMENT.

CONTINUAL EFFORT MUST BE MADE ON ALL LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT EACH PERSON UNDERSTANDS AND CAN EASILY AND SEAMLESSLY EXECUTE OUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS. FOR THIS REASON, OUR DEPARTMENT IS ALSO DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THESE NECESSARY SKILLS THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION VIA TRAINING EXERCISES AND SEMINARS TO MEET THE EVER CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE BOND AND THIS ACTUALLY WASN'T IN MY PRESENTATION, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY ALLOTMENT FOR FROM THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IS JUST OVER $1 MILLION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR THINGS LISTED, WHICH ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WE HAVE TO FIND FUNDS TO PUT IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE, THEY TOTAL NEARLY $5 MILLION. SO WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 20% OF THE MONEY WE NEED TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE. NOW, I'M NOT HERE TO DISCUSS WHETHER THEY'RE RIGHT OR WRONG. THE ONLY THING IS, IS THAT WE'RE BEING REQUIRED TO DO A LOT, BUT WE'RE NOT BEING PROVIDED ENOUGH MONEY. AND SO JUST LOOKING AT THOSE FEW THINGS, THAT'S ONLY A JUST FOUR THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED. IF WE THINK ABOUT EF5 TORNADO SHELTERS, IF WE HAD ONE. WELL, MY FRIEND SCOTT OWENS LEFT, IF WE HAD ONE SQUARE FOOT OF SPACE, WE HAVE TO ADD F5 TORNADO SHELTER. SO IT GOES FROM MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MILLIONS. SO FUNDING IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHEN WE LOOK AT SAFETY AND SECURITY EFFECTIVENESS, ESPECIALLY THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES. ON THIS SLIDE, ONE THING WE START AT THE END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER. WE STARTED ADDING THESE DOOR STICKERS TO EVERY EXTERIOR DOOR. SO FAR, WE'VE ADDED 260. AND THAT BASICALLY EQUATES TO ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THESE STICKERS. DO IS THEY REMIND OUR STAFF TO CLOSE THOSE DOORS LIKE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. DOORS ARE THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR CAMPUSES SAFE. IT ALSO TELLS PEOPLE TO NOT OPEN DOORS FOR ANYONE. VISITORS NEED TO GO THROUGH DOOR NUMBER ONE, AND THEN IT ALSO TELLS THEM THAT THE DOORS ARE ELECTRONICALLY MONITORED. AND THAT'S PART OF THAT DOOR ACCESS CONTROL PROJECT THAT'S NEAR COMPLETION.

TRAININGS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER CAMPUS STAFF. SINCE MAY OF 24, WE'VE CONDUCTED 58 TRAININGS FOR OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS. THIS YEAR, WE'VE ADDED 49 SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.

AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE LOOK AT IT, WE VET THAT. SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY APPROPRIATELY. AND SO WE PUT CAMERAS WHERE WE HAVE BLIND SPOTS WHERE IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE OUR SECURITY ON OUR CAMPUSES. SOME OTHER THINGS WE'VE DONE, WE'VE ADDED RADIO REPEATERS AND THOSE IMPROVED TWO WAY RADIO RECEPTION. THOSE ARE CRITICAL COMMUNICATION DURING AN EMERGENCY. AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER CAMPUS STAFF THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO A RADIO ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY THOSE WITH THEM AT ALL, ALL TIMES. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT AND YOU NEED IT, IT DOES YOU NO GOOD. VIDEO INTERCOMS. WE'VE ADDED THOSE TO EVERY CAMPUS THAT ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY VISITORS BEFORE THEY COME INTO THE BUILDING. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT WE HAD TO PUT IN PLACE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

ENTRY RESISTANT FILM, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES. WE COMPLETED THAT PROJECT AS WELL. WE ALSO ADDED A COORDINATOR OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. IN THAT PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE MR. WILKINS IS DOING ONE OF THE CAMPUS TABLETOP EXERCISES. AND ACTUALLY FOR THAT CAMPUS, HE WAS TRAINING THE ENTIRE CAMPUS, NOT JUST THE ADMIN TEAM. AND SO ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT MR. WILKINS WAS RECENTLY A RECIPIENT OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY

[01:30:01]

WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE. WE'VE ADDED NUMEROUS MORE AGENCIES THAT HAVE JURISDICTION IN MESQUITE ISD'S AREA, AS WELL AS EXPERTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL COUNSELING AND HEALTH SERVICES. I'M TALKING A LOT ABOUT TRAINING TONIGHT. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT THAT REALISTICALLY DOESN'T COST US A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY. AND SO YOU SEE IN THOSE TWO PICTURES, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TWO CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS THAT WERE TRAINED. AND WE INCLUDE THE ARMED GUARD AS WELL. SO THEY'RE UP TO DATE ON WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON CAMPUSES. EOP UPDATES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR. WE ADDED THE SEVERE WEATHER, HAZMAT, CYBERSECURITY AND TRAIN DERAILMENT ANNEXES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE IN THE COMING YEARS. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW, SOME OF OUR CURRENT PROJECTS ARE VAPE SENSORS. WE'RE TESTING THOSE OUT, AND WE'VE ADDED SOME OF THOSE TO A COUPLE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES, AND WE CAN SEE THAT THOSE ARE MAKING AN IMPACT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR ANOTHER COORDINATOR FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY. WE ADDED AN ADMIN ASSISTANT FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY. AGAIN TRAINING. WE DO TABLETOP EXERCISES WITH OUR CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TO IMPROVE THEIR READINESS AND PREPAREDNESS. BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, IS THOSE CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. WE WANT EVERYONE ON THAT TEAM TO BE PREPARED TO LEAD THAT CAMPUS DURING AN EMERGENCY, SAY THE PRINCIPAL OR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS OFF CAMPUS. WE NEED THEM TO BE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO LEAD THE CAMPUS DURING A FIRE, EVACUATION OR HAZMAT SITUATION OR TORNADO. AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE TABLETOP EXERCISES ARE DESIGNED TO DO. THE SENTINEL WEBSITE WAS RELEASED THIS SUMMER FROM. BY THE WAY, IT'S BASICALLY A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL DOCUMENTATION OF SAFETY AND SECURITY RELATED INFORMATION. INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS ARE CONTINUING. WE'VE COMPLETED 35 OF THE 52 FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. SO WE'RE WE'RE WELL OVER HALF. I THINK IT'S 63.7% OF. MR. MORRIS, IF YOU WANT TO CHECK ME ON THAT. WE'VE WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL PROGRAM TEAM TRAINING. THAT'S OUR BTA TEAMS. WE ADDED MORE TRAINING THIS SCHOOL YEAR THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE. AND THEN ALSO WE IMPROVED OUR DISTRICT TRAINING THAT WE DO WITH ALL OUR TEAMS AND INCLUDED COUNSELORS. THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ADDED TEN MORE RADIO REPEATERS.

THIS YEAR WE DID ALL THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THEIR RADIO RECEPTION ON CAMPUSES. WE CONDUCTED A FULL SCALE ACTIVE SHOOTER EXERCISE ON FEBRUARY 3RD WITH MESQUITE FIRE AND MESQUITE PD. THAT EXERCISE EVENT WENT VERY WELL, AND THE GOAL OF THOSE EXERCISES IS TO TEST YOUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND SEE WHERE YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. AND I THINK IT IT WENT VERY WELL, AND IT HIGHLIGHTED A FEW THINGS THAT WE DO NEED TO CORRECT. AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A DEBRIEF FOR THAT. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE PLANNED HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IMPROVED STAFF AND STUDENT TRAINING. LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT TRAINING TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE CORE THINGS THAT IS JUST GOING TO MAKE UP OUR PROGRAM AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE, ALL OF OUR STAFF WERE GIVEN YELLOW VESTS, ORANGE VESTS DEPENDING ON THEIR ROLE, GO BAGS AND A CRISIS FLIP CHART THAT HAS A RED AND GREEN CARD IN IT. AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS CAME FROM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MESQUITE PD AND MESQUITE FIRE. AND SO IT'S JUST AN EASY WAY TO TELL IF EVERYBODY GOT OUT OF THE BUILDING, LIKE YOU SEE IN THAT EXAMPLE OF A FIRE DRILL THAT WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT I BELIEVE THAT WAS TYSINGER ELEMENTARY. ALSO, MR. WILKINS IS ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER PHYSICAL SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM COMING BACK AND SHARING WHAT HE'S LEARNED THERE. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN APPLY SOME OF THOSE THINGS HERE IN MESQUITE. AND THEN THE T.A. IS RELEASED, A NEW BTA DOCUMENT DOCUMENTING TOOL ON THE SENTINEL WEBSITE. AND SO THAT'S EFFECTIVE FOR EVERY DISTRICT BEGINNING IN AUGUST OF 2025 FOR DOCUMENTING BTAS. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO IMPROVE AND STANDARDIZE OUR BTA PROCESS. THE DOOR ACCESS CONTROL PROJECT AND ALERT AND ALERT PROJECT IS NEAR COMPLETION. THAT'S IS EXTRA CARD READERS, AS WELL AS DOOR ALERTS WHEN A DOOR GETS OPENED AND DOESN'T SHUT BACK, OUR ADMINISTRATORS CAN BE NOTIFIED. THE DISTRICT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS ARE ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. OURS HASN'T BEEN SCHEDULED YET, BUT WE'RE ALREADY PREPARING AND GETTING READY FOR WHEN IT IS SCHEDULED. AND AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER ADMIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING CONFERENCE AT THE END OF THIS

[01:35:08]

IT'LL BE FROM START TO FINISH SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THREE WEEKS. SO THEY'RE JUST COMING OUT TO LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO 25% OF EACH DISTRICT EVERY YEAR. SO FOR US IT COULD BE 13 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. YES, MA'AM. WOW. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. YES, SIR. MR. MOORE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS REPORT ON TECHNICAL SERVICES. MISS JACKSON, MR. LEWIS, I GUESS IT'S GOING TO BE JEREMY. JEREMY FLYING SOLO. SOLO TODAY. YEAH. LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S HARD. PUSH IT. SHE DID TRY TO TRIP ME TO.

SO BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO GET MISS HAVE MISS BOBBY SINGLETON STAND UP. MISS BOBBY SINGLETON IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS DONE ON TIME, BECAUSE SHE FIELDS ALL OF MY CALLS FOR ME, LIKE SALESMAN CALL ME CONSTANTLY. AND SO SHE'S LIKE, SHE'S FIELDING THOSE CALLS SO I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM. SO THANK YOU, BOBBY. THANK YOU. SO GOOD EVENING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR AND TECH SERVICES. AND I HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME TO HIGHLIGHT SOME SUCCESSES AND SOME CHALLENGES AND THAT WE FAC. AND SOME DISCUSS OUR VISION FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. SO LET ME GET RIGHT INTO IT. IF I CAN RUN THE CLICKER, HERE WE GO. SO OF COURSE THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED OVER AND OVER TONIGHT. WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT. THAT'S NO THAT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYBODY. AND WE'RE NO EXCEPTION. WE'RE AFFECTED BY THAT. WE'VE HAD REDUCED OVERTIME AND DELAYED HIRING. IT'S REDUCED OUR COMPLETED WORK ORDERS. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPH. AND LIMITED STAFF FOR PROACTIVE REPAIRS, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH THAT STUFF TO GET OUT AND BE PROACTIVE AND GET KEEPING THINGS FIXED. THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS HAVE ALSO STRETCHED OUR COMPUTER TECHNICIANS PRETTY THIN. WE'VE ADDED A BUNCH OF CAMPUSES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS OR SEVERAL YEARS WITHOUT ADDING ANY COMPUTER TECHS. THE OVERTIME AND STAFFING ISSUES HAVE KIND OF AFFECTED US IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. THE NETWORK DEPARTMENT IS WAY BEHIND ON PROJECTS. ABOUT 80% OF THE PROJECTS ARE BEHIND, AND WE HAVE A PROJECT TO UPGRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL WI-FI THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PURCHASED WITH E-RATE FUNDS. SO WE'RE STRUGGLING AGAINST THE CLOCK TO COMPLETE THAT BEFORE THE RATE DEADLINE IN SEPTEMBER. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE SOME STAFF AROUND AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO, YOU KNOW, ADJUST SOME PRIORITIES TO WORK AROUND SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT CHALLENGES.

THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT. THE OTHER CHALLENGES, NOT BUDGET RELATED, IS THAT THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR TEACHERS DURING OUR LAST SURVEY WAS THAT THE HELP DESK SOFTWARE WAS CUMBERSOME AND HARD TO USE, AND SENT THEM TOO MANY EMAILS. WE ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THAT. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RID OF IT. NOW WE THINK WE'VE FOUND A SOLUTION. SO COME JULY WE WILL HAVE A NEW HELP DESK SOFTWARE. WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY MANAGING PROJECTS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE MORE THAN 350 PROJECTS BETWEEN JUST THREE OF OUR DIRECTORS. DAILY EMERGENCIES, EMAILS ON TOP OF THAT. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. WE HAVE SOME NEW SOFTWARE THAT'S HELPING US KEEP TRACK AND MAKE SURE ALL THAT'S ORGANIZED.

BUT WE WE'RE IT IS STILL A CHALLENGE FOR US. SO I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE SOME OF OUR SUB DEPARTMENTS REALLY FAST. THE NETWORK TEAM MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INTERNET AMONG OTHER THINGS.

THEY ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPUTERS DON'T GET HACKED IN THE DISTRICT. AND WE IMPROVED EMAIL SECURITY THIS YEAR BY ADDING MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION TO YOUR EMAIL. IN OTHER WORDS, WE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR HACKERS TO EMAIL YOU AND SAY THEY NEED MONEY AND GIFT CARDS, WHICH SOME PEOPLE GIVE THEM. WE UPGRADED THE FIBER OPTIC AND THE HIGH SCHOOL WIRELESS. THIS YEAR WE'RE USING MOSTLY E-RATE FUNDS, AND WE'RE STAYING AHEAD IN THAT RACE FOR

[01:40:04]

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SPEND ALL THEIR TIME ON CAMPUSES EVERY DAY REPAIRING COMPUTERS. BIG SUCCESS HERE IS THAT WE HAVE OVER $70,000 IN SAVINGS FROM WHAT WE CALL THE FRANKENSTEIN PROGRAM. WE GOT ALL THE OLD COMPUTERS THAT WERE BOUND FOR AUCTION AND WE JUST TOOK THEM APART. OUR HELP DESK HELPED US WITH THAT WHEN THEY HAD SOME DOWNTIME AND JUST THE PARTS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WERE TRACKING, IT'S NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT WE SAVED AT LEAST $70,000 ON THAT PROGRAM. SO WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT AUDIO VISUAL TEAM. THESE GUYS DO OUR VIDEO STREAMING SERVICES, PA ANNOUNCEMENTS, SO MANY OTHER THINGS. SUCCESSES HERE. THEY ACTUALLY REPLACE THE SCOREBOARDS AND THE STREAMING EQUIPMENT AT MEMORIAL AND HANBY STADIUMS. ALL THAT STUFF IS BRAND NEW OVER THERE AND HOPEFULLY IT ALL WORKS COME TIME FOR ATHLETICS TO START BACK UP.

TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK RIGHT. WE KNOW THAT FIRE AND SECURITY SYSTEMS, SO THESE GUYS, THEY DO MUCH MORE THAN FIRE AND SECURITY. THEY DO CAMERAS, ELECTRONIC DOOR ACCESS. A LOT OF THE STUFF FOR JEFF. WE HELP HIM OUT A LOT. AND THE SUCCESSES HERE IS THAT COMPARING TO THE CONTRACT LABORER WE USED TO USE TO DO THIS, WE'RE DOING ALL OF OUR INSPECTIONS, FIRE INSPECTIONS IN HOUSE NOW AND SAVING ABOUT $94,000 A YEAR. AND WE ACTUALLY GET A GOOD QUALITY OF INSPECTION. NOW, WE WERE NOT GETTING THAT BEFORE. AND SO BRINGING THAT IN HOUSE HAS BEEN A GREAT WIN, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT. THE INSTALLATION GROUP WE'VE HAD, THEY DO NETWORK CABLING, FIBER OPTICS WENT TOO FAR, FIBER OPTICS AND THEY SUPPORT OUR BUILDING PROJECTS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WITH SHUFFLING PEOPLE AROUND IS TO KEEP THE E-RATE PROGRAM RUNNING. WE ACTUALLY PULLED THEM OFF OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING BECAUSE THE NETWORK TEAM WASN'T WORKING OVERTIME. SO THEY'RE PUTTING A LOT OF THAT E-RATE STUFF IN FOR US SO WE CAN MAKE OUR DEADLINES. HELP DESK IS A SMALL GROUP, BUT THEY ARE MIGHTY. THEY CRANKED OUT ABOUT 35,000 WORK ORDERS LAST YEAR, AND THEY ALSO HELPED US CREATE A STUDENT HELP DESK DURING SUMMER MONTHS SO THAT THE KIDS ARE AT HOME. THEY'RE DOING HOMEWORK. THE CHROMEBOOK BREAKS, THEY CAN CALL IN AND GET IT FIXED. SO WE THAT WAS A BIG HELP. TECHNOLOGY ASSET CENTER.

THEY THIS YEAR THEY GENERATED ABOUT $8,000 IN REVENUE FROM SELLING OUTDATED EQUIPMENT, WHICH ISN'T A LOT. BUT THE LAST REPORT WE DID WAS OVER 90,000. WE JUST DIDN'T SELL MUCH EQUIPMENT LAST YEAR, BUT WE ALMOST USED TO GET ALMOST NOTHING FOR THAT EQUIPMENT, $5 A PALLET BACK IN THE DAY. SO $80,000 AND $90,000 IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THAT. OUR MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT STAFF IS WE MANAGE E-RATE, BUDGETING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ALL THAT STUFF. OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL PUSHING ON THE 2.4 MILLION E-RATE PROJECT AROUND IT UP THERE. SO IT SOUNDED MORE IMPORTANT. AND WE THANKS TO E-RATE, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY 20% OF THAT. MR. PRADO HELPED US OUT WITH THE 20%. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET 80% OF ALL OF OUR NETWORK EQUIPMENT FOR BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR JUST A 20% PRICE. SO THAT'S A HUGE BENEFIT. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL NETWORK NEW NETWORK EQUIPMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE, OF COURSE, LIKE JEFF TALKED ABOUT, WE'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY NETWORK AND PHYSICAL MAKING SURE YOUR COMPUTER IS SAFE AND THAT ALL THE DOORS, THE DOORS WORK WHEN YOU SCAN YOUR FILE. ALSO, WE'RE WANTING TO BUILD A CAPACITY IN OUR STAFF BECAUSE WE'RE COMPETING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR SKILLED LABOR. IT'S VERY HARD TO COMPETE WITH THEM.

WE CAN'T PAY WHAT THEY PAY, AND SO WE TRY TO TRAIN FROM WITHIN. AND THAT'S REALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THIS LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY HIRED A FROM INTERNALLY. WE HIRED A IN-HOUSE LICENSED FIRE GUY AND WE TRAINED HIM MYSELF. WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE MORE FACE TO FACE TIME BETWEEN OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND CAMPUS STAFF. FOCUS ON THEIR PAIN POINTS. LET THEM KNOW. LET US KNOW WHAT'S BOTHERING THEM. IT'S JUST WITH THE PACE THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING AT, WE HAVEN'T

[01:45:02]

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SUPPORT. WE KNOW YOU'RE BEHIND US. SO THAT MAKES IT EASIER. AND ALSO THE BOND IS GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER TOO. IF IT IF IT PASSES IT'LL BE A IT'LL BE A HAPPY DAY IN TECH SERVICES AGAIN. SO. WELL ANYTIME YOU HAVE A 2.38 MILLION BILL AND YOU ONLY PAY 476,000, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S AWESOME, ISN'T IT? YEAH, WE LIKE THOSE KIND OF DEALS. YES. SO THANK YOU MR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS UNDER ADMINISTRATION.

ITEM NUMBER ONE IS AN ACTION ITEM TO ADOPT ALL ORDERS RELATING TO THE MAY 3RD, 2025 TRUSTEE ELECTION. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MISS HORNSBY AND A SECOND BY MR. CABELL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I. I. THOSE OPPOSED. NO. MOTION PASSES. SEVEN ZERO. NEXT WE'LL SKIP TWO AND THREE. WE ALREADY TOOK CARE OF THOSE EARLIER. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR EMPLOYEE PAY FOR BAD WEATHER DAYS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BINGHAM AND SECOND, BY MISS COLLIER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST APPRECIATE PEOPLE. SOMETIMES THE WEATHER IS CRAZY. LATELY IT'S BEEN LIKE EXTRA CRAZY. SO APPRECIATE PEOPLE COMING AND SHOWING UP AND BRAVING THE WEATHER AND THE ROAD AND ALL THAT STUFF. COOL. IT'S A BLESSING. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO BOARD MEMBERS. NEXT ITEM IS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH. YOU DO HAVE BEFORE YOU A COPY OF THE TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR MARCH WITH SOME UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. I'M SORRY, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE NUMBER FIVE DISCUSSION. I FORGOT, MR. MORRIS. MR. MORRIS, NO. OH, IT'S A HANDOFF. OH, RIGHT. HE'S MAKING ME DO IT. SO THE INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS. YOU KNOW THAT IF WE IF THESE ARE ON THE BOARD AGENDA, IT MEANS THAT WE HAD FINDINGS THAT ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES. AND SO WE DON'T GO INTO SPECIFIC DETAIL ABOUT THAT. BUT TYPICALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS, IS THAT AN EXTERIOR DOOR WAS LEFT UNLOCKED, UNSECURED OR SOMEONE OPENED IT FOR THE AUDITOR, OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR OUR DOOR CHECK REPORTS AVAILABLE.

BUT WHEN THOSE HAPPEN, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAVE TO OCCUR. STAFF TRAINING. WE HAVE TO WRITE A PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CAMPUS ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO IMPROVE. AND WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT ALL THAT WITH THE BOARD AGENDA AS WELL. WHEN WE SUBMIT THAT TO THE TIA TO GET THEIR REVIEW OF IT ONCE, ONCE IT GOES THROUGH. SO, LIKE I THINK I MENTIONED THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE FOR AN IDA, I THINK IF WE ALWAYS GOT 100% ON THESE, IT WOULD BE A BAD THING BECAUSE POTENTIALLY WE COULD GET COMPLACENT. SO WHENEVER THESE THINGS OCCUR AND IT CAN IDENTIFY POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES OR AREAS OF VULNERABILITY, IT'S GOING TO MAKE US STRONGER AND BETTER IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE CAN PUT THESE NEW PLANS OF ACTIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE CHANGES. SO 35 OF 52 SO FAR. SO WE DON'T HAVE MANY MORE TO GO. AND THIS YEAR WILL BE COMPLETE AND WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO OTHER THINGS. SO ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALWAYS FUN BEING THE LAST ONE. I DON'T KNOW WE MIGHT CALL MR. MORRIS UP ANYWAY. PROBABLY SHOULD. BEFORE YOU A LIST OF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. ANY QUESTIONS? JUST GIVE ME SAMPLES OR MISS GONZALEZ A CALL OR MYSELF. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS, NO OBJECTIONS. WE ARE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.