[I. CALL TO ORDER]
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OF THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER. LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A QUORUM OF BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT. THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED. AND NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. EXCELLENT. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GOING TO START WITH OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND ERIBERTO PADILLA FROM VIDA LIFE CHURCH. THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR PLEDGE FROM SOME OF OUR KIDS FROM RUTHERFORD ELEMENTARY.
THEIR SPONSOR IS BRANDI LEWIS. REVEREND. PLEASE STAND. GOOD EVENING. I FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. AND MY BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND FOR EVERY STUDENT, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD FOR THE NEW YEAR. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD HELP YOU. LET'S PRAY. DEAR LORD, WE BEFORE YOU, WE REALLY, REALLY ALL OUR HEART BECAUSE WE KNOW, LORD, THAT YOU ARE SOVEREIGN OVER THE WORLD IN THIS MOMENT. WE WANT TO PUT IN YOUR HANDS THE LIFE OF THE ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE MESQUITE SCHOOL BOARD TOO. I LOST TO MANY TIME MAYBE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR US, BUT WE ARE TRUSTING THAT YOU WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN HELP US IN THIS NEW YEAR. PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS OVER OUR LIVES AND LORD, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE CAN SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY. AMADO. AMADO, SENOR. GRACIAS. GIVING US A TODOS LOS AQUI Y POR TODO ESTE ANO EN EL NOMBRE DE JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. TELL US YOUR NAME AND SCHOOL. MY NAME IS ROSA COLEMAN, AND? AND I'M IN FIRST GRADE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KNOX CARTER, AND I'M IN SECOND GRADE. VERY GOOD. MY NAME IS REESE BYRD, AND I'M IN SECOND GRADE. I'M GOOD. MY NAME IS MASON BYRD, AND I'M FIFTH GRADE. OKAY. MY NAME IS LAKELAND COLEMAN, AND I'M IN FOURTH GRADE. MY NAME IS JAYDEN VASQUEZ, AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ARE. WE KNOW IT IS THE SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, SO WE HAVE A SMALL GIFT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU.
OH, MY, OH MY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OVER THERE. I HAVE ONE ALREADY. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. KIDS. GOOD JOB. HEY, LET'S START TRAINING THEM YOUNG. OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE TEAM OF
[II. TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT]
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EIGHT MOMENT. MISS COLLIER, I BELIEVE YOU HAD. SO I JUST GOT BACK FROM. I'M A JOURNALIST IN THE REST OF MY LIFE. AND THE NORTH TEXAS AUTO DEALERS GAVE THIS FANTASTIC PRAISE FOR OUR AUTO TECH KIDS THAT CAME OUT OF VANGUARD. THEY ARE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC BEING AWESOME. AND SO I'M JUST TAKE THIS MOMENT TO BE LIKE, OKAY. YEAH. SO THEY ARE THEY'RE OUT THERE RESPECTFUL, POLITE, SHOWING UP TO WORK, DOING A GREAT JOB AND TEACHING PEOPLE AROUND THEM. SO I'M REALLY PROUD, REALLY, REALLY PROUD. BUT IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU GET SURPRISED WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR KIDS. YOU'RE LIKE. AND THEN HIGH PRAISE. SO THANK Y'ALL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DOCTOR RIVERA, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE. YES, MISTER PRESIDENT. SO AS THE RUTHERFORD KIDS WERE JUST TELLING US, THE STUDENTS AT RUTHERFORD. RIGHT.JANUARY SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL WHO TIRELESSLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND AS VOLUNTEERS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE. THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS. THEY'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT THEY'RE VOLUNTEER. IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR US TO SHOW, TO SHOW THEM HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEIR WORK, THEIR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS OUR FUTURE IS PUBLIC SAYS IT BEST. OUR BOARD BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WORKS EVERY DAY TO BUILD A STRONGER FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S SO MUCH SO THAT OUR BOARD HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A FINALIST. TOP FIVE FINALISTS FOR THE AWARD. GIVE HIM A ROUND. THAT IS NOT AN EASY TASK, AND THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FINAL INTERVIEW IN A WEEK TO SEE IF THEY GET H-E-B BOARD OF THE YEAR. OUR BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH SPECIAL TOKENS OF APPRECIATION TONIGHT, INCLUDING THANK YOU CARDS, PERSONALIZED CARICATURE DRAWINGS CREATED BY SOME OF OUR TALENTED FINE ART STUDENTS, DIFFERENCE MAKERS, COASTERS AND CUSTOMIZED LAPTOP BAGS FEATURING OUR MESQUITE ISD LOGO. HOLD YOUR BAGS UP. TRUSTEES AND YOUR PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO WRITE. IT IS. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AS SUPERINTENDENT TO SERVE WITH THIS BOARD. AND I DON'T SAY IT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE MY BOSSES. I REALLY MEAN IT. I, I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THIS IS THE BEST BOARD TO WORK WITH. TO COMPLETE THE MISSION OF MESQUITE ISD AND SERVING OUR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF GROUPS HERE TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND SHARE THEIR GRATITUDE.
SO FIRST, I'D LIKE TO CALL MISS KEITH OR EMMY OR MESQUITE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DANNY BEVEL TO THE LECTERN, PLEASE, DANNY. MOVE FORWARD. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR RIVERA. JANUARY SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, AND ON BEHALF OF THE MESQUITE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR'S THEME, THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IS PUBLIC, SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE PARTNERSHIP WE VALUE BETWEEN THE BOARD, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, AND EDUCATORS. STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BUILT THROUGH COLLABORATION, TRANSPARENCY AND MUTUAL RESPECT AND IS GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU IN SUPPORT OF MESQUITE ISD. AS A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE A TASTE OF TEXAS GIFT BAG WITH EACH OF YOU AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH ME. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. DANNY. YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EMEA. THERE ARE GREAT PARTNERS I KNOW. WELL. THANK YOU AMY. NEXT, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP TO THE LECTERN IS THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES, MISS EMMA MCDONALD. I'M GOING TO GIVE THESE OUT FIRST.
[00:10:10]
SO AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, LIBRARY SERVICES HAS PURCHASED A BOOK IN HONOR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION. AND THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.THIS YEAR, WE HAVE CHOSEN HOME BY MATT DE LA PENA, AND IT'S ILLUSTRATED BY LOREN LONG. I PROMISE I'M NOT READING THE BOOK TO YOU. SO GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND DOCTOR RIVERA. IN HONOR OF SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, WE HAVE PURCHASED HOME BY MATT DE LA PENA. I'D LIKE TO START BY READING JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE INSIDE FLAP. SUMMARY OF THE BOOK. FOR HOME IS AN IDEA MORE PROFOUND THAN THE WALLS WE BUILD UP AROUND OURSELVES. IT'S THE FAMILY THAT SHOWS ITS LOVE THROUGH SMALL GESTURES EVERY DAY. IT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT SEES ONE ANOTHER THROUGH HARD TIMES. WE CHOSE THIS BOOK BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO MAKE MESQUITE ISD FEEL LIKE HOME, LIKE A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF BELONG EVEN IN THE HARD TIMES. AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES RIGHT NOW AS A DISTRICT. IN THE BOOK, THE AUTHOR WRITES, A DAY MAY COME WHEN IT'S HARD TO FIND YOUR FOOTING. WHEN EACH GUST OF WIND THREATENS TO SWEEP YOU UP AND CARRY YOU AWAY. BUT SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY YOU WILL FIND A HARBOR OF LOVE. ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM RIGHT NOW, I SEE HOPE IN THE WAY OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS STRIVE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF MESQUITE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL DECISIONS. I SEE HOW AS A SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WE ARE ALSO A HOME FOR ONE ANOTHER, READY TO GIVE A LISTENING EAR, A HUG OR JUST SILENT SUPPORT. WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT WILL SEE EACH OTHER THROUGH THESE HARD TIMES, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT WE HAVE FROM EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR MAKING HARD DECISIONS. TO ENSURE THE LONGEVITY AND SUCCESS OF MESQUITE ISD, TO VISITING SCHOOLS, TALKING WITH TEACHERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, READING TO STUDENTS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. SO BACK TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. THIS IS VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THIS. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET FROM STUDENTS. I RECEIVED THIS FROM PERLA GUERRERO AND I WANT TO MENTION HER NAME. WE SHOULD MENTION EVERYBODY'S NAME THAT DID A PICTURE LIKE THIS FOR US, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THIS EDUCATION AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THEM. THAT'S THE WAY I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IT. I DID WANT TO MENTION I RECEIVED A CHRISTMAS CARD, GUYS, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TODAY, BUT I LOVE THIS CARD BECAUSE IT WAS SENT TO ME BY NATHAN. IT SAYS NATHAN FROM HENRY ELEMENTARY, AND HE SENT ME THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND THIS NICE LITTLE SCRIBBLE. AND I THINK THAT'S COMMENDABLE.
GUYS, WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT DO THIS FOR YOU, IT WARMS YOUR HEART. YOU CAN'T PUT BUT REALIZE YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR THEM, OKAY, SO WITH THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO STUDENT
[III. STUDENT AND STAFF GUEST]
AND STAFF GUESTS. MISS MISS SMITH, GOOD EVENING. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION SECTION OF THE BOARD MEETING THIS EVENING. AND THE VERY FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS, OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DEPARTMENT, THE LEARNING FORWARD TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS SELECTED MESQUITE ISD AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE TWO 2026 OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AWARD. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT'S FAMILIAR TO THIS PLACE FROM LEARNING FORWARD, TEXAS HERE, THAT'S DEBBIE TANTON. SHE'S GOING TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS HONOR. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TEAM AT THE PODIUM. WE ARE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.GOOD EVENING. THRILLED TO BE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE LEARNING FORWARD TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IT IS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE MESQUITE ISD WITH THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. MAKES ME WANT TO TEAR UP A LITTLE BIT. YES, MA'AM. YES. APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, REFLECTING A STRONG COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTED TWO DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.
IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR. THEY REALLY STOOD OUT FOR THEIR INTENTIONAL JOB. EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT RESULTS IN IMPROVED STUDENT OUTCOMES. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN
[00:15:01]
CONGRATULATING JENNIFER, JENNIFER AND LIZ. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS.ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING TWO NEW INDUCTEES INTO OUR PRESTIGIOUS APPLE CORPS PROGRAM. THE APPLE CORPS AWARD IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MESQUITE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND CLAY COOLEY OF MESQUITE. SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR SUPPORTING OUR AMAZING EDUCATORS. OUR FIRST HONOREE FOR THIS MONTH IS CHRISTY MCCALL OF AGNEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. MISS MCCALL IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION DYSLEXIA TEACHER WITH EIGHT YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN MESQUITE ISD. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES HER AN APPLE CORPS TEACHER. MISS MCCALL STANDS OUT AS A MODEL OF COMPASSION, PERSEVERANCE, AND INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE. AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET THE DIVERSE LEARNING NEEDS OF HER STUDENTS. SHE DEMONSTRATES AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS SUCCESS THROUGH HER TIRELESS WORK ETHIC AND HER ABILITY TO INDIVIDUALIZE INSTRUCTION. HER HIGH EXPECTATIONS, COUPLED WITH HER SUPPORTIVE AND RESPECTFUL APPROACH, INSPIRES STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES ALIKE. KRISTY'S DEDICATION TO HELPING STUDENTS GROW IN CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE MAKES HER ONE OF THE BEST. WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE CHRISTY ON BEING THIS MONTH'S APPLE CORPS RECIPIENT. HAVING TWO CHILDREN OF MY OWN, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT EVERY STUDENT FEELS LOVED AND ACCEPTED. AND YOU KNOW, I WANT THEM TO TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR REGARDLESS OF THEIR SITUATION OR REGARDLESS OF THEIR GRADES. AND I THINK THAT JUST ENCOURAGING THEM AND GIVING THEM AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE IN WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO OUT AND BE SUCCESSFUL. AND WE NEED THESE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LEADERS SOMEDAY. AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL PREPARED AND TO HAVE THE GOOD QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT LEADING OUR NEXT GENERATION. THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. BUT I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, I TOOK GREAT JOY IN WATCHING THOSE TWO KIDS AS THEY WERE SO PROUD OF THEIR MOM DURING THAT VIDEO. THEY'RE VERY SPECIAL. 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 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 CHRISTY MCCALL INTO MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS 12TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. GOOD EVENING. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE OTHER DAY, ONE OF MY STUDENTS LOOKED AT ME AND VERY CASUALLY SAID THAT I LOOKED ABOUT 52 YEARS OLD. NOW I'M ACTUALLY 39, SO I'LL ADMIT THAT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. BUT INSTEAD OF BEING OFFENDED, I CHOSE TO STEP BACK AND TURN THAT MOMENT INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT MY STUDENTS AS WELL. THAT COMMENT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN TAKEN NEGATIVELY. INSTEAD, IT BECAME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SELF-IMAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND THE CHOICES WE MAKE, BIG AND SMALL, AND HOW THOSE CHOICES IMPACT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES. I EVEN JOKED WITH THEM AND SAID, WELL, I GUESS I'VE EARNED THOSE EXTRA YEARS OF WISDOM. THIS EXPERIENCE BROUGHT ME BACK TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHRASES MAKE GOOD CHOICES. WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE HOW WE RESPOND TO SITUATIONS, HOW WE CARE FOR OURSELVES, AND HOW WE APPROACH THE WORLD. WHETHER IT'S CHOOSING HOW TO REACT TO SOMEONE'S WORDS, TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY, OR MAKING DECISIONS THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR VALUES, WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE GOOD CHOICES EVEN WHEN FACED WITH CHALLENGES.
[00:20:01]
SO THE NEXT TIME LIFE THROWS SOMETHING UNEXPECTED YOUR WAY, REMEMBER, YOU CAN TURN IT INTO A TEACHING MOMENT AND MAYBE EVEN DISCOVER A NEW FAVORITE EYE CREAM ALONG THE WAY. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY. TO BE NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD IS TRULY AN HONOR, AND I WANT TO THANK THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY HUSBAND, RJ, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER AND MY STEADY SOURCE OF STRENGTH. ON THE DAYS I DOUBTED MYSELF. YOU NEVER DID. YOU PUSHED ME TO BE BETTER NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERYONE AROUND ME. YOUR BELIEF IN ME, YOUR SACRIFICES, AND YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE HAVE CARRIED ME TO THIS MOMENT AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU. TO MY DAUGHTER, RILEY, AN EIGHTH GRADER AT AGNEW. YOU HAVE SUCH A KIND AND CARING HEART. YOU ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP OTHERS LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT AND OFFER SUPPORT WHEREVER IT'S NEEDED. A TRUE INSPIRATION TO YOUR PEERS AND ADULTS ALIKE.AND TO MY SON JACE, A FOURTH GRADER AT WILLETT ELEMENTARY. YOU ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG PERSON. YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME THE TRUE MEANING OF PATIENCE. NOT JUST WAITING, BUT UNDERSTANDING, ADJUSTING, AND ALLOWING GROWTH. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. TO MY COLLEAGUES AT AGNEW WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND, DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CLASSROOM, CAFETERIA, HALLWAYS, ATHLETICS, OR BEHIND THE SCENES, YOU HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN TRULY LEARN AND GROW. AGNEW IS A PLACE I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF. OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM IS SIMPLY THE BEST. SHABANI, WHO ALWAYS COMES TO MY RESCUE, WHETHER IT'S MAKING COPIES, COVERING MY CLASS, OR MAKING ME LAUGH.
TREVINO, WHOSE IDEAS ARE INCREDIBLE. ANYTIME I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, SHE HELPS CREATE A THOUGHTFUL PLAN AND SEES IT THROUGH OUR TESTING COORDINATOR. GONZALEZ TRULY DOES IT ALL. SHE ALWAYS HAS THE BEST ADVICE AND CAN BUILD A SPREADSHEET FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING WITHIN MINUTES. TO MY LUNCH CREW, MRS. CASTILLO AND MRS. HOLBROOK. YOU MAKE WORK SO ENJOYABLE, MRS. CASTILLO. I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY, EVEN WHEN IT'S SOMETHING HARD TO HEAR. MRS. HOLBROOK, YOUR POSITIVITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT CAN TURN EVEN THE TOUGHEST DAY AROUND. I AM GRATEFUL NOT ONLY TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT TO CALL YOU FRIENDS, TO THE COUNSELORS, WENDY'S AND COOK BROWN. THANK YOU FOR BEING A CONSTANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN THE CARE AND COMPASSION YOU SHOW WHILE GUIDING STUDENTS THROUGH SOME OF THEIR MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE LEARNING POSSIBLE FOR EVERY STUDENT, FROM PAPERWORK AND LESSON PLANNING TO BEHAVIOR SUPPORT AND PARENT COMMUNICATION, YOU COME TOGETHER TO ENSURE STUDENT SUCCESS. I AM TRULY, TRULY GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU. AND FINALLY, TO THE AGNEW ADMINISTRATION TEAM. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING AS SMOOTHLY AS YOU DO, BUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. MR. PETERSON, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND TRUSTING ME TO EDUCATE STUDENTS WHO FIND READING AND WRITING INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING. MRS. WHITE, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO ALWAYS DO THEIR BEST.
MRS. JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND STEADY PRESENCE. I KNOW I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU TO LISTEN AND REMAIN CALM. AND MRS. MORGAN, THOUGH YOU ARE NEW TO AGNEW, YOUR IMPACT HAS ALREADY BEEN UNDENIABLE. YOUR COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF TRULY STANDS OUT. THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING AGNEW SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO WORK AND GROW. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE MESQUITE ISD COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND OUR 2ND FEBRUARY APPLE CORPS HONOREE THIS EVENING IS KIMBERLY MOORMAN OF THOMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MISS MOORMAN IS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER WITH 23 YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE IN MESQUITE ISD. IF YOU'LL PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN. SO WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MISS MOORMAN. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR MISS MOORMAN TO RECEIVE THE APPLE
[00:25:01]
CORPS AWARD. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF HOW SHE SHOWS UP EVERY DAY, THAT SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE. IN MY SHORT TIME HERE WITH HER, I'VE ALREADY SEEN HER JUST JUMP IN WITH GREAT IDEAS, THINGS THAT WILL ALSO IMPACT OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY, AND JUST WAYS THAT SHE IS JUST SPREAD SOME LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE CAMPUS. AND SO SHE'S SO DESERVING OF THIS AWARD AND CONGRATULATIONS.TEACHING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I JUST LOVE THE WHEN THE KIDS GET THAT MOMENT OF THEY'VE BEEN STRUGGLING ALONG AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO THEM. AND SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT STRUGGLE IS GOOD IN THEIR LIFE AND WILL HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
ALL RIGHT. WHEREAS THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARD. OOPS, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS. NOT AT ALL. LET'S TRY AGAIN. WHERE THAT GOES. OKAY. I'M BACK. 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 KIMBERLY MOORMAN INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS DAY, 12TH DAY OF JANUARY. ALL YOUR GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU.
IT'S MY SISTER IN LAW, SO THANK YOU, BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RIVERA, FOR THIS AMAZING HONOR AND THIS CHANCE TO BE RECOGNIZED. I WANT TO FIRST THANK GOD FOR GUIDING MY PATH DAILY AND GIVING ME STRENGTH. I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF MESQUITE ISD, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MANY WONDERFUL TEACHERS WHO POURED INTO ME AT RUTHERFORD, AGNEW AND NORTH MESQUITE THAT HELPED FUELED MY DESIRE AND PASSION FOR TEACHING. TWO OF MY FIRST GRADE TEACHERS ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR SUPPORTING ME EVEN NOW. I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE WONDERFUL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH THEM BESIDE ALONG THE WAY AT GALLOWAY ELEMENTARY, WHERE MISS WANDA MINGO HELPED ME DEVELOP WHO I AM AND WHERE I STAND TODAY AT FLORENCE ELEMENTARY AND AT THOMPSON UNDER MISS BENNETT AND MISS BAXTER FOR THE SUPPORT THEY GIVE US AND HELP US TO PUSH KIDS FORWARD AND HELP THEM ENGAGE, ENGAGE, EMPOWER AND EXCEL EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME TO BE A BETTER TEACHER AND A PERSON. I KNOW SOMETIME IT TOOK A LOT OF PUSHING, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERY STEP AND EVERY FAITH THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME. FINALLY, THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY. MY DAUGHTER AND MY SON COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT. THEY BOTH GOT ILL TODAY, SO THEY'RE AT HOME. BUT I TRULY AM HONORED AND BLESSED IN THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GIVE ME NO MATTER WHAT. THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, KENNY, WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TEACHING WAS ALL ABOUT UNTIL WE GOT MARRIED. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO, BUT HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO HELP. CUT. HELP, VOLUNTEER, HELP, GRADE PAPERS, WHATEVER I NEED. AND HE ALWAYS WELCOMES ME WHEN I TELL HIM I NEED TO GO SPEND SOME MONEY ON THIS. HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED, HONEY. YOU DESERVE IT. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. AND MY SISTER IN LAW'S HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BEST FRIEND AND NOW MY SISTER IN LAW. THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES. MISS MCCALL, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND TO INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY, HAVE THEM STAND UP SO WE COULD RECOGNIZE MY SON JAY AND MY DAUGHTER RILEY. OKAY. AND DO YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU? ANYBODY FROM YOUR AGNEW FAMILY ARE THERE? THEY ARE. AND. AND MR. PETERSON IS IN THE CORNER.
YOU WERE LOOKING FOR HIM? THE SAME WITH MISS BOORMAN. YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY. PLEASE BE RECOGNIZED. AND YOU HAVE YOUR THOMPSON FAMILY. OH, WOW. FANTASTIC. I STARTED I GREW UP
[00:30:09]
GOOD. AND. THANK YOU FOR BEING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES. VERY APPRECIATIVE, MISS SMITH.OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTSTANDING PARAPROFESSIONAL OF THE MONTH WITH OUR STAR AWARD. THIS YEAR, MESQUITE ISD IS EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP OF AMERICA TO PROVIDE THE STAR RECIPIENT WITH A GIFT CARD. WE COULDN'T HAVE AN FGA REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, SO OUR DIRECTOR OF BENEFITS, LISA PORTER, IS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND JOIN FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL YVETTE LOZANO, CABRALES WITH OUR JANUARY STAR PARA ANNA RUIZ, AT THE PODIUM. AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT MAKES MISS RUIZ SUCH A SPECIAL PART OF THE FLORENCE FAMILY. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, BUT YOU WANT HER UP HERE. OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DOCTOR RIVERA AND FRIENDS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MISS REESE FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES FOR OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. SHE IS THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL. HER DEDICATION TO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR PARENTS, STUDENTS AND EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS JUST REMARKABLE. MISS REESE IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO LIGHTS UP A ROOM. SHE'S ALWAYS HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, AND INCREDIBLY GENEROUS WITH HER TIME AND ENERGY. AND BOY DOES SHE KNOW HOW TO COOK. SHE ALWAYS FINDS WAYS TO CONNECT WITH EVERYONE AROUND HER. IT'S JUST HER WARMTH AND WILLINGNESS TO GO THE EXTRA MILE THAT TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. REESE POR TODO.
POR TODO LO NUESTRO ESCUELA DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD ES EL CORAZON. DE NUESTRA ESCUELA. UN SERVICIO EXCEPTIONAL A NUESTROS PADRES ESTUDIANTES. TODOS COMUNIDAD ES NOTABLE. ES EL TIPO DE PERSONA DE CUALQUIER LUGAR. SIEMPRE ES UTIL AMIGABLE INCREIBLE CON SU TIEMPO Y ENERGIA SIEMPRE ENCUENTRA EN TODO ALREDEDOR DISPOSITION PARA HACER ADDITIONAL, LO CUAL ES LA DIFERENCIA? GRACIAS.
CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT UP, WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE OUR FEBRUARY COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. ASCEND PARENT CAFE HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES BY PARTNERING WITH MOSQUITO ISD FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TO FACILITATE PARENT CAFES DURING MONTHLY MOMS CLUB GATHERINGS. THESE. THESE CAFES PROVIDE A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE WHERE MOTHERS CAN OPENLY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE HAVE A SPECIAL VIDEO TO SHOW YOU MORE ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP. THIS MONTH WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD TO ASCEND, SPECIFICALLY THEIR PARENT CAFE PROGRAM. ASCEND WITH THEIR PARENT CAFE PROGRAM, HAS PARTNERED WITH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TO CREATE A SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL MOTHERS DURING OUR MOMS CLUB GATHERINGS.
THIS IS A SPACE WHERE MOMS AND FAMILIES CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER, TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. IN ADDITION, ASCEND DALLAS HAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A LEADERSHIP ROLE TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS IN MESQUITE ISD BY ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME TABLE HOSTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ASCEND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR PARENT CAFES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND HELPING US STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS HERE AT MESQUITE ISD.
[00:35:03]
THANK YOU. THANK.YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO PROCEED WITH OUR STUDENT RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.
AND FIRST UP, WE HAVE A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT WERE SELECTED AS QUESTBRIDGE NATIONAL COLLEGE MATCH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. QUESTBRIDGE AWARDS. TOP PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WITH FULL FOUR YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE NATION'S TOP COLLEGES. ONLY 2550 SENIORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE SELECTED FOR THIS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR, AND WE WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OURS. SO FIRST UP, FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE CATHY AVILA, A QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR WHO MATCHED WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY. THIS. SHE'S HERE WITH SPONSORS ZACH BRINEGAR AND ASHA PERKINS, HER SPONSORS. CONGRATULATIONS, CATHY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE ANTONIO CHARLES AND A QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR MATCHED WITH RICE UNIVERSITY. ANTONIO'S SPONSORS ARE ZACH BROWN AND ASHA PERKINS. FROM WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE ELIZABETH PARDO, QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR, WHO HAS MATCHED WITH COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS. WEST MESQUITE. SPONSOR IS SAM PARKER.
FROM VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE LUIS IBARRA, QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR, MATCHING WITH RICE UNIVERSITY. SPONSORS EMILY ROTH. ALSO FROM VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE TIFFANY WOLK, A QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLAR, MATCHING WITH BOSTON COLLEGE. LET'S HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
APPLAUSE FOR THOSE QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLARS. BEFORE WE MEET SOME OF OUR EXCELLENT ATHLETES, I WANT TO SHARE SOME NEWS HOT OFF THE PRESS TODAY, WE WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL AND VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL, WHO RECEIVED THE BRONZE AP HONOR ROLL STATUS FROM COLLEGE BOARD FOR THEIR 2025 COLLEGE CULTURE, COLLEGE CREDITS, AND COLLEGE OPTIMIZATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS. THIS IS A CULMINATION OF HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO A COLLEGE GOING CULTURE. SO WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH THOSE AMAZING SCHOLARS TO RECOGNIZE MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL AND VANGUARD. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME ACADEMIC, I MEAN, SOME ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE. EXCUSE ME. FIRST UP, WE HAVE RECENT DISTRICT AND AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND GAMES FROM VARSITY VOLLEYBALL. THIS IS THE NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
THEY WERE BI DISTRICT CHAMPIONS FOR THE STALLIONS. THEIR COACHES LARRY LIMA.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, LET'S WELCOME JOHN HORN HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM. THESE LADIES WERE BI DISTRICT CHAMPIONS AS WELL. THEIR COACHES COURTNEY LINTON.
THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE POTEET HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO BE HERE WITH COACH ERICA DUPREE MILES. THEY HAD A CONFLICT THIS EVENING, BUT THEY WERE AREA CHAMPIONS THIS SEASON. AND I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION
[00:40:01]
A VERY SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR BY OUR WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM. THEY WERE 14 FIVE A DISTRICT CHAMPIONS UNDEFEATED BY THE WAY, AND ALSO AREA CHAMPIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE TEAM ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH ASSISTANT HEAD COACH TREY ALLEN.THANK YOU. MATERIAL. CONTINUES TO BE. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT SOME EXCELLENCE IN FINE ARTS, SPECIFICALLY OUR MARCHING BANDS WHO ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR. FIRST UP, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND. THEY ADVANCED TO THE AREA MARCHING BAND CONTEST. THEY ARE HERE WITH THEIR SPONSOR, LANCE.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE HAVE THE NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND. THEY ADVANCED TO THE UIL STATE MARCHING BAND CONTEST THIS YEAR. THEY'RE HERE WITH DIRECTOR SCOTT RIVAS AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS.
THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, PLEASE HELP US WELCOME THE WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND REPRESENTATIVES, ALONG WITH THEIR DIRECTOR, JENNIFER BORDERS. THEY ADVANCED TO THE AREA MARCHING BAND CONTEST FINALS. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE.
CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT UP FROM POTEET HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE OUR MARCHING BAND WITH DIRECTOR TISH GOMEZ AND REPRESENTATIVES ALSO THEIR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS ARE HERE. THIS MARCHING BAND ADVANCED TO THE UIL STATE MARCHING BAND CONTEST AND WERE UIL AREA C MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONS. YES. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THE JOHN HORN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND WITH DIRECTOR TODD BURKE AND ASSISTANTS. LOOKS LIKE WE THEY ADVANCED TO THE UIL MARCHING AREA MARCHING BAND CONTEST THIS YEAR.
AND LASTLY, TO CONCLUDE OUR STUDENT RECOGNITION PORTION TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOUR THEATER STUDENTS FROM WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL WHO WERE NAMED TO TEXAS THESPIAN NATIONAL QUALIFIERS. THEY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN A MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THEIR PRODUCTION OF ANNIE, WHICH OPENS ON THURSDAY. BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THEM, AND WE WANTED TO HONOR THEM BY LETTING YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE. IT'S SAVANNA JONES, COSTUME DESIGN, LILA PURDUE SOLO MUSICAL GIOVANNI RESENDEZ,
[00:45:06]
THEATER MARKETING, AND ALICIA ROWEN, STAGE MANAGEMENT, STAGE MANAGEMENT. THEIR TEACHERS ARE PHIL ELLENS AND RYAN BURKE, AND WE ARE VERY HONORED TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ALL THESE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS. THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU, MISS SMITH. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A[IV. CONSENT AGENDA]
RECONVENE TO OUR SESSION. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE ANY ITEM THE BOARD WANTS TO PULL OR ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
YEAH. OPERATING PROCEDURES. WE'RE NOT DOING ANY ISSUES RIGHT NOW. NOT THIS YEAR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU. APPROVE SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT, A SECOND BY MISS HORNSBY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM
[V. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT]
A PERSONNEL FIRST ITEM IS APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTS. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, DOCTOR RIVERA. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO CALL MR. TAYLOR MORRIS TO THE LECTERN AND HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR TONIGHT.GOOD EVENING. BOARD. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOMMEND MISS PAM CHERYL, AS THE AS THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, PAM HAS BEEN SERVING AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR SINCE JULY OF 2025.
AND YOUR ACTION TONIGHT WOULD REMOVE THAT INTERIM TAG. MISS CHERYL HAS MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF NURSING EXPERIENCE. SHE JOINED MESQUITE ISD IN 2015 AS A REGISTERED NURSE AT FLOYD FLORENCE ELEMENTARY. SHE LATER SERVED IN THE ROLE OF NURSE FACILITATOR, PROVIDING DISTRICT WIDE SUPPORT THROUGH COORDINATED HEALTH SCREENINGS, CPR AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING, CLINIC SUPPORT, AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR CAMPUS STAFF. IN ADDITION TO HER SERVICE IN MESQUITE ISD, PAM HAS SERVED AS ASSISTANT HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR CAMP KENNEKUK AND PREVIOUSLY SPENT 17 YEARS AS A LEAD SCHOOL NURSE AT FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY.
SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, AND WAS NAMED A 2021 DFW GREAT 100 NURSES HONOREE. PAM HAS A PASSION FOR HER WORK, AND SHE LEADS WITH PATIENCE, POISE, AND WISDOM. SHE'S AN AMAZING TEAMMATE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT SHE WILL ACCOMPLISH IN OUR HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM FOR YOU ALL. IT IS WITH THAT BOARD. THERE'S AN ACTION ITEM ON THE TABLE TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT OR DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES. YEAH. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. BINGHAM, SECOND BY MR. SEWARD, TO APPROVE THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT FOR THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS? THERE ARE NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS. VERY. THANK YOU. DOCTOR RIVERA AND THE MEMBERS OF THE MESQUITE ISD SCHOOL BOARD. YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME AS I ACCEPT THIS POSITION OF HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING UNDER TWO OUTSTANDING LEADERS, MISS BETH DITTMAN AND MRS. MACY MELTON. LEARNING FROM EACH OF THEM HAS PREPARED ME WELL FOR THIS ROLE. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY SET AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY SHARED. I'LL ADD ONE BRIEF PERSONAL NOTE. WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO BAYLOR TO REGISTER FOR FRESHMEN CLASSES, IT WAS REQUIRED TO DECLARE A MAJOR. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ADVISOR, MY MOTHER SAID, JUST TELL THEM YOU'LL BE A NURSE. YOU LOOK GOOD IN WHITE. WHAT BEGAN AS A SIMPLE SUGGESTION HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE. AFTER BAYLOR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT BAYLOR AND AT ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S, AS WELL AS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE WITH AN ORAL SURGEON, A PEDIATRICIAN, AND AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, THOSE EXPERIENCES ULTIMATELY LED ME TO SCHOOL NURSING, WHERE I HAVE SPENT THE PAST 30 YEARS. I FOUND IT TO BE A REWARDING CALLING ON MY LIFE. THANK YOU, TAYLOR, FOR YOUR STEADY ENCOURAGEMENT AND PATIENCE AS I ASK MANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY. I'M ALSO THANKFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE MANY DEDICATED NURSES IN MESQUITE. I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY FACILITATOR, LISA MARIE RAINWATER, AND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITATOR, ALISON DICKEY, WHO CONSISTENTLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. FINALLY, THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, ED OF 38 YEARS FOR HIS CONSTANT SUPPORT. AS I STEP
[00:50:04]
INTO THIS NEW ROLE. I'M HONORED TO SERVE MESQUITE ISD AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK IN SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS CHERYL. WITH THAT, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM TWO. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE TERMINATION OF CHAD BERRY'S TERM CONTRACT FOR GOOD CAUSE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND. CLEAR. YEAH. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT. SECOND BY MISS COLLIER TO APPROVE THE TERMINATION OF CHAD BERRY'S TERM. CONTRACT FOR GOOD CAUSE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM B EFFECTIVENESS REPORT. IT'S A REPORT ON PERSONNEL SERVICES.YES SIR. WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME I THINK IT'S CHESTER WILLIAMS MR. EMILIO DURAN TO THE LECTERN.
AND THEY'LL BE TAKING CARE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS REPORT FOR THE PERSONNEL SERVICES. TAKE IT AWAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, DOCTOR RIVERA AND BOARD FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SHARE OUR PERSONAL SERVICES EFFECTIVENESS REPORT WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
I'M EMILIO DURAN AND CHASTITY WILLIE. OKAY. YOU FIGURED THAT OUT? I BELIEVE WE SERVE IN THE BEST DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. OUR PERSONAL SERVICES FAMILY IS LED BY A GREAT BOSS AND EXCEPTIONAL LEADER, DOCTOR HENSLEY. AND IT'S AN HONOR TO GET TO WORK WITH SUCH AMAZING, SUCH AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY. IT'S A PLEASURE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. WE WE DO SOME HARD THINGS, BUT IT'S VERY NICE TO BE WITH THEM. ALSO, I HAVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR SUPPORT STAFF. THEY THEY ARE THE TRUE HEROES IN OUR DEPARTMENT. THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT RUNS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, AND WE JUST CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY DO. OKAY, PERSONAL SERVICES HAS MANY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
BEGIN WITH PERSONNEL, OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE, WHETHER IT'S STATE, FEDERAL OR LOCAL LAW, EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK POLICIES, RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND STAFFING WITH THAT INCLUDES PROFESSIONALS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AUXILIARY AND SUBSTITUTES, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, THE ENROLLMENT AND THE COORDINATION OF BENEFITS COMPENSATION, WHICH INCLUDES SALARY SCHEDULES AND PAY STRUCTURES, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND PERFORMANCE, WHICH HAS EVERYTHING FROM EMPLOYEE CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS, RECORDS, CONTRACTS AND CLASSIFICATION CONTRACT ACTIONS. AS WE JUST TALKED IN SOME ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, LEAVE, ADMINISTRATION, FMLA, SICK LEAVE, LOCAL AND MILITARY, AND THEN CERTIFICATION, ON BOARD COMPLIANCES, LICENSURE, RENEWAL, TRACKING, FINGERPRINTING AND BACKGROUND CHECKS WITH EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT NOWADAYS WITH THE NEW LAWS COMING IN, BACKGROUND AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND MESQUITE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CENTER ARE ALSO TWO THAT FALL UNDER OUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. PERSONAL SERVICES. WE HAVE OUR MISSION AND VISION. OUR MISSION IS OUR WHY WE EXIST TO RETAIN, SUPPORT AND DEVELOP EXCELLENT EMPLOYEES AND OUR VISION, WHICH IS OUR HOW WE WILL PROVIDE POSITIVE CLIENT EXPERIENCES FOSTERING GROWTH, TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.
THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO ASK OURSELVES IN PERSONAL SERVICE IS WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS, AND THAT'S HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS. AND THEN HOW DO WE KEEP THOSE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS BY TREATING THEM THE RIGHT WAY? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK EVERY DAY THAT WE DO OUR JOB. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR. JUST TO NAME A FEW, YOU KNOW, AUTOMATING AND STREAMLINING OUR SYSTEMS. WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT OUR NEW HIRES AND OUR ONBOARDING DOCUMENTS FOR NEW HIRES AND NEW EMPLOYEES ARE ALL PAPERLESS, AND WHICH MAKES US A VERY EFFECTIVE AND VERY EFFICIENT IN TRYING TO GET CONTRACTS OUT TO THEM VERY QUICKLY. WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR IN-PERSON ONBOARDING SESSIONS. THERE ARE LARGE GROUPS THAT TAKES A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOTS OF DEPARTMENTS TO GET THEM READY.
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT SHORTLY. OUR DOCUMENTATION SERIES, TRAINING FOR PRINCIPALS AND DEPARTMENT SUPERVISORS. WE TAKE EXTRA PRIDE IN DOING THAT, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE NEW TO THEIR ROLE AS SUPERVISORS TO ENSURE DOCUMENTATION AND APPROPRIATE, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING POLICIES AND SUCH. AND THEN OUR STAFFING AND GUIDELINE RATIOS, WE HAVE SOME SOME STAFFING RATIOS THAT ARE SET, AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP US WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME
[00:55:06]
DECISIONS REGARDING STAFFING. AND THAT WAY WE CAN STRATEGICALLY STAFF OUR CAMPUSES IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER. SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW CELEBRATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON TOP OF THE CHALLENGES. LIKE EVERY EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE STAFFING IN THE HIGH NEED CONTENT AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN BILINGUAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF NEW LEARNING HAPPENING WITH THE NEW MISCONDUCT REPORTING LAWS WITH THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.SO WE'RE LEARNING A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS IN THAT REALM, BUT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB IN THAT AS WELL. OKAY. SO THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES OUR EXIT SURVEY FEEDBACK. AND NEARLY HALF OF EXIT EMPLOYEES ACCEPTED POSITIONS IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHEN THEY LEFT THE DISTRICT.
AND ABOUT 39% LEFT EDUCATION ALTOGETHER. BUT WE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES TO SHARE THAT OUR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND COMPENSATION AREAS ARE PLACES WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE AS A DISTRICT, BUT THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT THEY VALUE THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE DISTRICT STANDPOINT. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD TO KNOW THAT THEY FEEL THAT OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR WORK ENVIRONMENTS ARE CONDUCIVE TO THEM BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR JOB. OVERALL, 81% REPORTED BEING SATISFIED OF WORKING IN MESQUITE ISD. THIS IS ABOUT OUR NEW HIRES AND OUR NON-CERTIFIED TEACHERS. SO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE HIRED 811 NEW EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL EMPLOYEE GROUPS FROM TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND AUXILIARY STAFF OF OUR TEACHING HIRES, 99 WERE NON-CERTIFIED, AND THAT'S REPRESENTING ABOUT 12.5% ACROSS THE DISTRICT. BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO BREAK DOWN WAS FOR YOU TO SEE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW MANY WE HAVE AT THOSE CAMPUSES. THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP US TARGET RECRUITMENT AND SUPPORT EFFORTS, WHILE MAINTAINING A STRONG ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STAFF. NOW SS WE'VE BEEN WITH SS, THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR WITH SS, AND WE HAVE SOME CELEBRATIONS HERE AS WELL BECAUSE COMPARED TO THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR, OUR NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED FOR TEACHERS.
WE'VE GONE UP TO 99% FILL RATE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES. WE'VE GONE UP TO 95% FILL RATE.
AND OF THOSE SUBSTITUTES, SS HAS HIRED 945 SUBSTITUTES. BUT WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 724. THAT I SHOULDN'T SAY, ONLY BECAUSE THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER, THAT WE HAVE 724 THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING. AND A SUCCESS FOR US IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE 59 OF THOSE SUBS TO BE TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS IN OUR DISTRICT. SO OUR GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH SS HELP KEEPS OUR CLASSROOMS AND SUPPORT ROLES COVERED, ENSURING EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS. OUR HEALTH PLAN. SO, MESQUITE ISD OFFERS FIVE HEALTH PLANS, WITH 59% OF EMPLOYEES ENROLLED IN THE POLO PLAN AND 31% IN THE EPO HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN. OUR NEW HIRES ARE REQUIRED TO ENROLL IN THE HIGH PERFORMANCE NETWORK PLAN. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT MESQUITE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CENTER, AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ENROLLED IN OUR INSURANCE TO USE THE MESQUITE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CENTER.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE COPAY AT $15, WHERE IF THEY WERE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER PRACTICE, THEY WOULD BE PAYING $70 FOR A CO-PAY. SINCE APRIL, THE MHRC HAS RECORDED 3088 VISITS BY 1407 UNIQUE PATIENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES RETURNED TO THE MESQUITE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CENTER MORE THAN ONCE. THIS REPRESENTS 33% OF EMPLOYEES IN 27% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION. OUR ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AS A DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR DOING. YES, I'M SORRY. THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR DOING LARGE GROUP ONBOARDING AND IT'S GONE VERY WELL. BUT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, PAYROLL, BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND TEACHING AND LEARNING. WITH OUR PLANNING AND TEAM WORK, WE MADE SURE EVERYONE HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED ON THE FIRST DAY SO THEY COULD FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR ONBOARDING SURVEY RESULTS, AND OVERALL, THE RATING WAS AT 4.92%, AND WE CALL THAT A SUCCESS. AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF
[01:00:01]
THE QUOTES THAT WERE SHARED AS A RESULT OF THE SURVEY THAT WE GAVE THEM. I LOVE THE TIME YOU TOOK TO PROVIDE ONBOARDING TRAINING. THIS IS AMAZING FOR NEW EMPLOYEES. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ONBOARDING EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD. EVERYTHING WAS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. IT IS IMPRESSIVE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF POSITION, GOES THROUGH THE SAME ONBOARDING INFORMATION. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT THE OVERALL NEW HIRE ONBOARDING PROCESS HAS BEEN STELLAR. SO TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE VERY PROUD OF THE GREAT JOB THAT WE AS A DISTRICT DID TO ONBOARD OUR NEW EMPLOYEES. SO IN CLOSING, ALL OF THESE EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A STRONG WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF AND A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AS A DEPARTMENT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THIS PROGRESS AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT HELPING US ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GREAT SUCCESS RATE 59 OUT OF 724.
THAT'S 8% THAT WE KEPT. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO SECTION SEE ADMINISTRATION. NUMBER ONE ITEM IS A REPORT ON THE LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT TEAM DOCTOR GULLEY. I WANT TO START BY SAYING GOOD EVENING BOARD AND HAPPY BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME OUT AND STAND BEFORE YOU AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR. SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT OUR MISSION IS TO REMOVE ANY OBSTACLES THAT MAY IMPEDE DIGNITY AND BELONGING FOR OUR STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. AND WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? WELL, BECAUSE YOU'VE CHARGED US WITH THAT. YOU'VE CHARGED US WITH CREATING A CULTURE OF DIGNITY THAT LEADS TO BELONGING FOR ALL. SO WHAT HAS THIS DONE AND HOW HAVE WE DONE THIS? WE'VE USED THE MESQUITE PROMISE, WHICH IS HOW WE HAVE CREATED A LENS TO SHOW OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO A COLLECTIVE VISION FOR YOUTH. WE'VE ALSO PROMOTE A FRAMEWORK THAT IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS, AND WAYS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, FINALLY, THERE ARE JUST SOME SIMPLE STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE USED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING DIGNITY AND BELONGING. SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BILL CURVE CHART HERE. AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY SPECIFIC WITH THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE YOU. OF COURSE, IT ILLUSTRATES THE 90TH PERCENTILE, WHICH IS A RELATIVE SCORE TO OUR PANORAMA NATIONAL SCHOOL DATA SET. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS OVER 2 MILLION STUDENTS ARE SURVEYED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND THEY'RE SURVEYED ON VARIOUS THINGS. AND DEFINITELY BELONGING IS ONE OF THOSE. OF COURSE, THE CENTER REPRESENTS THE 50TH PERCENTILE AND LOCATED AT THE FAR RIGHT OF THE CURVE. THIS INDICATES THE SCORE THAT IS HIGHER THAN 90% FOR ALL SCHOOLS. AND SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LOOKING AT ALL SCHOOLS NATIONALLY, AS WELL AS OUR COMPARISON GROUP, WE ARE BEYOND THE 90TH PERCENTILE. WE ARE CONSIDERED AN ELITE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUTPERFORMING THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR DATA SET. THIS SPEAKS TO OUR INTENTIONALITY AROUND DIGNITY AND BELONGING WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. TODAY, WE HAVE OVER 900 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN OUR EMERGING LEADER PROGRAMING.
WHETHER IT IS AMAZING SHEIKH ON THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, JUNIOR EMERGING LEADERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND OUR I ALWAYS SAY IT'S OUR BEGINNING, THE HIGH SCHOOL COMPONENT OF EMERGING LEADERS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 900 STUDENTS. AND I'M JUST REALLY BEING JUST COMPLIMENTARY OF THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS, THIS CHART HERE, BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THAT HAS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE
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DONE WITHIN EMERGING LEADERS. WE'VE HAD TWO OF OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE HAD GRANTS FUNDED AND PROGRAMING ACTUALLY HAPPENING AT MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN OF COURSE, ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WITH OUR ENHANCING EDUCATION INITIATIVE THAT IS LED BY MISS KARLA RAMIREZ, WHO IS A STUDENT, WAS A STUDENT AT WEST MESQUITE BUT NOW IS A STUDENT AT YALE. OF COURSE, I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT AMAZING SHEIKH AND HAVING OVER 330 STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN THAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A RETENTION RATE SO FAR OF THIS YEAR OF 70% AND OVER 17,000 STUDENT SERVICE VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE MET THIS LAST YEAR. AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE GIVEN BACK RIGHT HERE IN MESQUITE, THIS IS NOT A NUMBER THAT I GENERATED. THIS NUMBER COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY OF MESQUITE. AND THEN OF COURSE, LAST YEAR WE HAD 26 STUDENTS RECEIVE EMERGING LEADER COURSE FOR COMPLETING OUR PROGRAM. THIS YEAR ALONE, THOUGH, WE ALREADY HAVE 24 STUDENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED FOR JUST ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES.AND THAT'S POTEET HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE SUSPECT YOU GUYS WILL BE COURTING QUITE A FEW STUDENTS IN MAY. WE ALSO HAVE OUR PROJECT LEAD PROGRAM, WHICH ENGAGES OUR STUDENT. I'M SORRY, OUR CITIZENS, THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCREASING AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND, OF COURSE, THAT WE'RE BUILDING A PIPELINE OF DIVERSE AND FUTURE LEADERS, HOPEFULLY TO MAYBE SIT WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE ONE DAY. RIGHT, BUT DEFINITELY HOLD LOTS OF COMMITTEE POSITIONS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND IN THE CITY. I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR OUR MEMBERS HERE.
THESE ARE OUR ELECTED CAPTAIN CAPTAINS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK ON OUR CAMPUSES AND REALLY WORK HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STRATEGIC GOALS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE MESQUITE PROMISE LESSONS ARE BEING TAUGHT, THAT WE'RE CREATING A MENTOR MENTEE PROGRAM, AND THAT WE ARE REALLY ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY ON PURPOSE, IS HAPPENING ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES. AND FINALLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION JUST ALL OF THE HARD WORK. I WAS TELLING YOU THAT IT TAKES ABOUT 250 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT TO DO THIS WORK AND DO IT EFFECTIVELY, AND YET THESE PEOPLE JUST TAKE IT ON. THEY NEVER SAY NO. THEY ALWAYS GO OVER AND BEYOND, AND THEY DO IT BECAUSE IT IS HARD WORK. I JUST IT JUST REALLY MAKES ME PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AND BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS REALLY GREAT NEWS ABOUT HOW WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS IN MESQUITE ISD. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE QUESTION I JUST HAVE PRICE. YOU KNOW, IT'S WONDERFUL TO WATCH. SO ENGAGED WITH THE STUDENTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I APPRECIATE IT. DOCTOR GULLY, I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS, THE FIRST MEETING WAS IN THIS SAME ROOM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD TABLES IN A RECTANGLE IN ABOUT 20, 20, 25 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. THREE OF THEM WERE STUDENTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD AND TO SEE IT GROW INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY, THIS IS JUST AN HONOR TO YOU. I MEAN, YOU HAVE GROWN THIS PROGRAM. YOU HAVE DONE WONDERFUL THINGS WITH IT. AND I COULD SEE IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW IF I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE OUR JUNIOR HIGH, KIDS WERE STRUGGLING AS FAR AS THE BELONGING, HAVE WE MADE ANY HEADWAY ON THAT OR HAVE WE GONE BACK TO REASSESS AND KIND OF WHERE ARE WE ON THE JUNIOR HIGH? YEAH, WE DEFINITELY DID REASSESS. AND IN FACT, AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE NOT ONLY CREATED JUNIOR EMERGING LEADERS AND MADE SURE THAT WE CREATED THAT PILOT LAST YEAR THIS TIME, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE INSTITUTED WHAT WE CALL OUR MIDDLE, THE MESQUITE PROMISE DAYS. AND THOSE ARE FOR FRIDAYS RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR HOLIDAY OR BREAK, WHERE OUR STUDENTS SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY FOCUSED ON ONE PRINCIPLE AND THE FOUR HABITS.
AND THEY DO ACTIVITIES ALL DAY LONG TO REALLY ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AROUND OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, YES, IN FACT, OUR PERCENTILE RATING HAS IMPROVED FROM ABOUT 10% WHEN WE STARTED THIS TO ABOUT RIGHT AT 40%. SO OUR KIDS ARE CONTINUING TO GROW AND GAIN HIGH LEVELS OF EMPATHY AND
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UNDERSTANDING AND CREATE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING THAT WE WANT FOR THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU.THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN ACTION ITEM TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT TO. YES, IT'S MISS AUSTIN. NO. GOOD EVENING. SO T HAS RELEASED OUR TAPER REPORTS. THAT IS THE TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT. WE GET THAT FOR THE DISTRICT AND ALL CAMPUSES. IT INCLUDES ASSESSMENT DATA BROKEN DOWN BY GRADE LEVEL SUBJECT SUBGROUPS. IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. I'VE PRESENTED SOME OF IT TO YOU, BUT THIS IS A LOT MORE GRANULAR. IT ALSO INCLUDES STAFF DATA AND SOME FINANCIAL DATA. AND WE RELEASED THOSE WERE RELEASED MID DECEMBER KIND OF RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK. SO THEY HAVE BEEN OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT INFORMATION OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE ANYONE ON THIS MISS SMITH. OKAY. WITH THAT WILL CLOSE THE HEARING. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, MR. AUSTIN. NEXT ITEM, OUR THIRD ITEM UNDER ADMINISTRATION IS DISCUSSION OF THE DISTRICT WIDE INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT REPORT FINDINGS. MR. TAYLOR, GOOD EVENING. BOARD. AS I SAID LAST MONTH, WE EXPECTED A HANDFUL OF OF INTRUDER AUDITS BEFORE THE WINTER BREAK. WE GOT THOSE. WE GOT ALL WE GOT SEVEN THAT WE WERE EXPECTING. SO WE'RE AT 27 OF OUR 52 CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN SEEN BY THE AUDITOR. STILL NO FINDINGS. AND AGAIN, WE DISCUSS THOSE. JEFF, WILLIE AND ELIZABETH AND THEIR TEAM WORK TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY WITH OUR CAMPUSES. THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT. IT'S A CONSTANT PURSUIT OF PERFECTION THAT'S REALLY HARD TO ATTAIN. BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF, TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE IN THE BEST PLACE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO NOTHING TO REPORT TODAY, BUT WE WOULD REPORT THAT IN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING TO REPORT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. TAYLOR.
THAT'S OUR LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
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* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.