Feb 09, 2026 Board Meeting

[I. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

QUORUM OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT, THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED, AND THAT NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT. TEXAS

[II. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[III. Reconvene from Executive Session for Action Relative to Items Considered During Executive Sess]

[*A portion of this video is without audio*]

[00:17:29]

[00:17:35]

[00:17:42]

HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE AND BREATH. HEALTH AND STRENGTH. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT CITY OF MESQUITE.

THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR DAN ALAMO CITY MANAGER CLIFF KAHELE. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU THIS EVENING FOR THIS AMAZING SCHOOL DISTRICT, UNDER THE EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP OF DOCTOR VERA IN THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL BOARD. THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY HIGHLY RATED IN EVERY AREA OF EDUCATION. I PRAY GOING FORWARD. OH, GOD. YOU'LL CONTINUE TO LEAD, GUIDE AND DIRECT EACH AND EVERY DECISION THEY WILL MAKE. THEY'LL BE MAKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF EACH OF US IN THIS VERY ROOM IN THE DAYS AHEAD. HEAVENLY FATHER, YOUR WORD SAYS, IF ANY MAN LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO US. I ASK FOR NOT ONLY MAN'S WISDOM FOR THIS SCHOOL BOARD, BUT ALSO THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM ABOVE. PLEASE CONTINUE, HEAVENLY FATHER, TO BLESS THEM.

LIFT YOUR COUNTENANCE UPON THEM. MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE UPON THEM AND GIVE THEM YOUR PEACE. THIS

[00:20:02]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. RIGHT, SIR. YEAH. GO AHEAD. I HAVE 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. HONOR. TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. AND TO CLOSE TO THE WALL. OKAY. LET'S HEAR FROM OUR HENRY ELEMENTARY KIDS. HI. MY NAME IS DANIEL, AND I'M A SECOND GRADE. NICE. HI. MY NAME IS ANNA, AND I'M. AND I'M IN KINDER. KINDER. MY NAME IS LIAM, AND I'M IN KINDER. MY NAME IS RAY AND I'M IN SECOND GRADE. MY NAME IS JULIA AND I'M FROM SECOND GRADE. MY NAME IS MADELINE AND I'M FROM FIRST GRADE. MY NAME IS JIMENA AND I'M FROM FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. MY NAME? MY NAME IS JULIAN, AND I'M IN KINDER. MY NAME IS NATALIE, AND I'M FROM. I MEAN, I'M IN FIFTH GRADE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KIDS.

GREAT JOB. WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE THE TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT BOARD MEMBERS. WE HAVE ANYTHING.

[V. TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT]

[VI. STUDENT AND STAFF GUESTS]

[00:25:04]

HOLD ON. WHERE IS THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT? BOARD OF 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 EMILY TURNER INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE VERY PROUD. I'M NOT CRYING. YOU GUYS ARE CRYING. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I'M TRULY HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR THE CONSTANT, CONSTANT SUPPORT YOU GIVE TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. IT MEANS MORE THAN I CAN SAY TO FEEL SEEN AND VALUED IN THIS WORK. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, PATIENCE AND BELIEF IN ME, ESPECIALLY ON THE LONG DAYS, MAKES EVERYTHING I DO POSSIBLE. TEACHING IS NEVER A SOLO EFFORT AND I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM BEHIND ME. FINALLY, I'M THANKFUL EVERY DAY FOR MY STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES WHO CHALLENGE ME, INSPIRE ME, AND REMIND ME WHY THIS WORK MATTERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. IT TRULY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. OUR SECOND APPLE CORPS HONOREE THIS EVENING IS MISS DESTINY DIAZ OF GRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MISS DIAZ IS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER WITH FIVE YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE HERE IN MESQUITE ISD. IF YOU WILL TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREENS, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MISS DIAZ. DIAZ HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS.

SHE INITIALLY STARTED OUT AT GRAY IN FIFTH GRADE. SHE HAD THE DESIRE A FEW YEARS AGO TO MOVE DOWN TO FIRST GRADE, AND THAT, HONESTLY, IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THINGS ABOUT HER IS HER WILLINGNESS TO GROW. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING FUN AND EXCITING GOING ON IN HER CLASSROOM, AND IT'S REALLY HER. HER ABILITY TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK AND TAKE THAT AND TURN IT.

WHICH IS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING ABOUT HER? THE VALUE THAT SHE ADDS TO OUR CAMPUS IS REMARKABLE. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS DIAZ. I FEEL THAT TEACHING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU ARE ABLE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR STUDENTS AND ALSO CHALLENGE THEM IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THEY MIGHT THINK THAT THEY HAVE TROUBLE IN WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING, BUT ALSO BUILDING LIFELONG LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE READY TO GO INTO THE REAL WORLD AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT. I'LL READ THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. WHERE'S 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 DESTINEE DIAZ INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU.

GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M INCREDIBLY HONORED AND DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE BOTH MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS AWARD AND TEACHER OF THE YEAR TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY BY THE DISTRICT THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME IS TRULY HUMBLING. MESQUITE ISD IS NOT JUST WHERE I WORK,

[00:30:01]

SHE NEVER ALLOWED ME TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE GOOD ENOUGH. INSTEAD, SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO REFLECT, TAKE RISKS, AND CONTINUOUSLY GROW, EVEN WHEN IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. BECAUSE OF HER BELIEF IN ME, I BECAME A STRONG, MORE INTENTIONAL TEACHER, AND I CARRY THOSE LESSONS WITH ME EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THE CLASSROOM. TEACHING FOR ME HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT MORE THAN ACADEMICS. IT IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, GROWTH, AND BELIEVING IN STUDENTS EVEN WHEN THEY ARE STILL LEARNING TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. EVERY DAY I STRIVE TO BE THE TEACHER.

MY OWN TEACHERS WERE FOR ME, SOMEONE WHO SEES POTENTIAL AND SETS HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND NEVER GIVES UP ON CHILDREN. THANK YOU, MESQUITE ISD FOR INVESTING IN EDUCATORS, SUPPORTING INNOVATION, AND CREATING A CULTURE WHERE BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN THRIVE. THANK YOU TO MY ADMINISTRATORS AND LEADERSHIP FOR ALWAYS SETTING HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ME AND PROVIDING ME WITH OPPORTUNITIES. MISS QUESENBERRY. TO TO BECOME IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND TO MY FRIENDS AT WORK. THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGEMENT, COLLABORATION, LAUGHTER AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT. TEACHING IS BETTER BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I GET TO DO IT ALONG WITH EVERY DAY. THANK YOU AS WELL TO MY FAMILY FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN ME. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SERVE MESQUITE ISD, THE DISTRICT THAT RAISED ME AND CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ME. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE REAL QUICK AND ASK MISS EMILY TURNER IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, IMMEDIATE FAMILY, AND YOUR SCHOOL FAMILY MEMBERS. VIAGRA AND MY HUSBAND AND AND MY PRINCIPALS HERE AND TEACHER TONY. AND IF YOU WOULD DO THE SAME. MY FAMILY IS HERE. MY MOM AND DAD, MY BOYFRIEND, MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE. ALSO MY PRINCIPAL, MY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HERE AS WELL. AND MISS MARTINS IS HERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU. AND THANK THE FAMILY BECAUSE WITHOUT SUPPORT, IT'S VERY TOUGH JOB TO DO. SO. THANK YOU. SO WE SHALL. ALL RIGHT. IT'S NEXT TIME FOR US TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTSTANDING PARAPROFESSIONAL FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WITH OUR STAR PAIR AWARD. MESQUITE ISD IS EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP OF AMERICA TO PROVIDE THE STAR PAIR RECIPIENT WITH A GIFT CARD. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FFG HERE TONIGHT. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE JOIN OUR PRINCIPAL FROM VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL, MR. CLINT ELSASSER, ALONG WITH OUR FEBRUARY STAR PARA, CATHY HERNANDEZ AT THE PODIUM.

PRINCIPAL ELSASSER IS GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MAKES MISS HERNANDEZ SO SPECIAL.

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT BOARD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MISS CATHY HERNANDEZ. SHE IS ONE OF OUR PARAS AND SHE DOES OUR. SHE DOES EVERYTHING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. SHE DOES OUR FINANCES, SHE WORKS WITH OUR SUBS. AND YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ABOUT OUR SUBS COVERING CLASSES. SHE DOES ALL OF THAT. I THINK THE THING THAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT HER, SHE DOES EVERYTHING WITH SUCH A GRATEFUL HEART AND GRATEFUL SPIRIT. SHE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE. WHEN I COME IN. SHE'S THERE BEFORE ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE, AND SHE'S ORGANIZING THE SUBS AND GETTING THEM LOCATED AND COVERING AND WORKING IN FRONT

[00:35:05]

AND IF I COULD DUPLICATE YOU 100 FOLD, I WOULD. AND SO WE JUST APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR SMILE AND HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS. AND SO WE JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BLESSING OUR CAMPUS WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO PROCEED WITH JUST A FEW STUDENT RECOGNITIONS THAT WE HAVE THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF MESQUITE ISD ADVANCED ACADEMICS DEPARTMENT, WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THE WINNER OF OUR DISTRICT SPELLING BEE THAT THEY RECENTLY HOSTED. IT WAS VERY EXCITING COMPETITION, AND I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MATTHEW GIBSON FROM REGAL ELEMENTARY. HE IS OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER. OF THE DISTRICT SPELLING BEE. HE'S HERE WITH HIS SPONSOR, CARLY FRAZIER, AGAIN FROM REGAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND I KNOW THAT.

OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HONOR THEM FROM WILKINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL. KIM MADABHUSHI WAS OUR SECOND PLACE WINNER AND A SPONSOR IS MELINDA FONSECA. AND FINALLY, TONIGHT WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE. SOME STUDENTS FROM THE 2026 TDE. THAT'S THE TEXAS DANCE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION.

THESE ARE ALL STAR DANCERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE CRYSTAL AIRASIA AND SPONSOR MARY GARCIA. ALL FROM POTEET HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE LEILA YELL AND SPONSOR NICOLE MOISON, ANOTHER ALL STATE DANCER. ALL RIGHT. AND FROM JOHN HORN HIGH SCHOOL, MORGAN STERLING, ALL STATE DANCER WITH SPONSOR BRYNN SCOTT AND MELISSA COTNER. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WE HONORED HERE THIS EVENING, INCLUDING OUR 52 CAMPUS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR. THIS CONCLUDES OUR RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

[IX. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT]

[00:40:14]

SAME SIGN. EYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. DOCTOR RIVERA. YES. BOARD MEMBERS. MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT YOU JUST APPROVED WAS A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FACILITIES. AND THAT IS NONE OTHER THAN MR. DANIEL CONTRERAS. SO CONGRATULATIONS, DAN. MR. PRADO, MR. POTTER WILL MOVE TO THE LECTERN AND READ HIS BIO AND INTRODUCE US TO MR. CONTRERAS. WELL, GOOD EVENING, BOARD SUPERINTENDENT. DOCTOR RIVERA. IT'S IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I INTRODUCE OR REINTRODUCE DANIEL CONTRERAS AS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES. AND IF YOU WOULD JUST ALLOW ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT. DANIEL HAS PROUDLY SERVED MESQUITE ISD FOR MORE THAN 32 YEARS. DEDICATING HIS CAREER TO SUPPORTING THE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY.

THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, HE HAS HELD A VARIETY OF ROLES, GAINING EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF OUR DISTRICT OPERATIONS. MR. CONTRERAS HAS BEEN LEADING THE DEPARTMENT AS AN INTERIM, AS YOU APPROVED A WHILE AGO AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES SINCE JULY OF 2025, A PROUD PRODUCT OF MESQUITE ISD, MR. CONTRERAS ATTENDED MESQUITE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HIS SCHOLASTIC CAREER AND IS A GRADUATE OF WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. HIS LIFELONG CONNECTION TO MESQUITE ISD REFLECTS HIS COMMITMENT TO THE DISTRICT'S MISSION AND TO CREATING A SAFE, WELL MAINTAINED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. DANIEL, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I WROTE A FEW THINGS DOWN SO I WOULDN'T FORGET BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU GET NERVOUS UP HERE IN FRONT OF Y'ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TEAM. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RIVERA, DOCTOR FIELDS, AND MR. PRADO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU TO SCOTT OWENS FOR HIRING ME 32 YEARS AGO AND HAVING MY BACK FROM DAY ONE. THANK YOU TO THE INCREDIBLE STAFF AND FACILITIES. EXCEPTIONAL. EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY WIFE, SARAH. WHO. HAS TO DEAL WITH ME GETTING UP AT 415 IN THE MORNING, EVEN THOUGH I THINK I'M BEING QUIET, I STILL WAKE HER UP AT LEAST AN HOUR OR MORE BEFORE SHE NEEDS TO BE UP. SO THANK YOU FOR NOT MOVING ME INTO THE GARAGE. THANK YOU FOR MY FAMILY THAT CAME TO SUPPORT ME TONIGHT. MY BROTHER JOHN, MY SISTER NANCY, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER ELIZABETH, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER ADELINE, AND MY WILD MAN THOMAS. AND THEN MY MOTHER.

HER NAME FOR RODRIGUEZ. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY MOM BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE THE WORK ETHIC THAT I HAVE BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE'S DONE. SHE'S ALWAYS WORKED TWO JOBS AND A LOT OF TIMES THREE JOBS TO GIVE US WHAT WE NEEDED. GROWING UP, SHE GAVE ME THE DISCIPLINE I NEEDED, AND SOMETIMES I MIGHT HAVE NEEDED QUITE A BIT. SHE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ME AND IT HAS PAID OFF. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST FOR MSD AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELCOME.

NEXT ITEM NUMBER TWO IS AN ACTION ITEM AS WELL. EVALUATION OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. MR. PRESIDENT, DO WE COMBINE THAT EVALUATION WITH THE CONTRACT. WE CAN AS WELL. THEN I WOULD

[00:45:02]

CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO SKIP TO ITEM NUMBER SIX WHICH IS CONTRACT. CONTRACT RENEWAL OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS.

INCLUDING CHIEF OFFICERS ALSO INTERNAL AUDITOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, PRINCIPALS AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES AND ATHLETIC COORDINATORS. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS? I'M JUST KIDDING. YES WE CAN ALL NIGHT LONG. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE ALL AFOREMENTIONED SECOND. OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT. SECOND, BY MISS HORNSBY TO APPROVE ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED.

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, CHIEF OFFICERS, INTERNAL AUDITOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, PRINCIPALS AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS. OTHERS.

I'LL LET THE COORDINATORS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WAITING TOO FAST FOR MY OWN GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Y'ALL GOT CONTRACTS? YEAH, YEAH. YOU CAN CLAP FOR YOURSELVES. YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO BE GOOD ONE MORE YEAR. SO WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO ITEM B CONSTRUCTION. FIRST ITEM IS TO APPROVE GNP TWO FOR NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONS ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS. DIRECTOR RIVERA. YES, SIR. MR. POOL IS GOING TO WORK HIS WAY.

HE'S GOING TO SASHAY UP TO THE TO THE LECTERN TO COVER THIS ITEM. WHAT DID YOU DO THIS TIME? OH, WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME? NOW IT'S BACK ISSUE. SO YOU'RE A TREAT. I BROKE IT TEN YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T KNOW IT. SO NOW IT'S A PROBLEM. SO? SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO WE HAVE SOME GMPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE TONIGHT. BUT WE WERE ALSO GOING TO LET YOU KIND OF GIVE YOU A LESSON ON WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GMP, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT TI REQUIRES US TO GET APPROVED AND THEN TOTAL COST, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO DO IT, BUT IT SURE HELPS GILBERT TO PUT ALL THE MONEY IN THE RIGHT SPOT WHEN WE DO THAT. SO EVERY TIME THAT WE DO GMPS, WE APPROVE BOTH. DIFFERENCE IN THE THE GUARANTEED MAX PRICE FROM TOTAL COST. WE WANT TO CLARIFY THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING PROJECT. SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE CHECK WE WRITE TO THE BUILDER, THE GMP, AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY REQUIRED TO OPEN THE SCHOOL DOORS, WHICH IS THE TOTAL PROJECT COST. KIND OF LIKE THE LITTLE BUCKET IS, IS THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, BRICKS AND STICKS AND EVERYTHING. AND THEN ONCE YOU PUT FURNITURE CONSULTANTS, ARCHITECTS, EVERYTHING FROM THERE, THAT'S THE TOTAL COST. THAT PLUS THE GMP IS WHERE WE GET THE TOTAL COST NUMBER. SO IT'S ALWAYS HIGHER ON THAT ONE. WHAT THE GMP COVERS IS BASICALLY ALL THE HARD COSTS BRICKS, MORTAR, STEEL, CONCRETE, LABOR SITE, WORK CONTRACTORS FEE AND OVERHEAD CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCIES, WHICH IS BASICALLY A SAFETY NET FOR THE BUILDER. ERRORS OF MATERIAL PRICE SPIKES. THE KEY CONCEPT IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR PROMISES THAT THE COST WON'T EXCEED THE NUMBER FOR THE DEFINED SCOPE, WHICH IS THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE. THEN THE SOFT COSTS GO ON TOP OF THAT, THE BUILDER DOESN'T PAY THESE. THE DISTRICT PAYS THEM DIRECTLY. THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ARCHITECT, ENGINEER AND LEGAL FEES. THE F.F.A, WHICH IS FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT, DESK, SMART BOARD, CAFETERIA, TABLES, COMPUTERS, LIBRARY, BOOKS. AND THEN IT'S ALSO PAYS FOR THE TESTING AND INSPECTIONS, SOIL TESTING AND CODE INSPECTIONS.

[00:50:04]

THEY DON'T PAY THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED THEM, AND THEY DON'T PAY THE CITY FOR THE BUILDING PERMITS. THOSE ARE CALLED SOFT COSTS, AND THEY'RE SUBSTANTIAL, OFTEN 20 TO 25% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. SO THE KEY SUMMARY IS GMP EQUALS CONSTRUCTION COST ONLY FOR THE BUILDING. TOTAL COST IS GMP PLUS ALL THE SOFT COSTS, THE RISK TRANSFER. THE GMP PROTECTS THE DISTRICT FROM CONSTRUCTION PRICE HIKES. THAT'S WHY IT'S GUARANTEED. AND THE BUDGETING.

WE MUST FUND THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, NOT JUST THE GMP. IN SUMMARY, THE GMP IS A PRICE CAP FOR CONSTRUCTION. THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS AN ALL IN INVESTMENT TO DELIVER A FUNCTIONING SCHOOL TO OUR STUDENTS. AND BY KEEPING THESE TWO BUCKETS DISTINCT, WE ENABLE TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. AND WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? TEST? THAT'S AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IT'S A FUN ONE. SO NOW WE'LL GO ON TO THE FOR THE GMP. THE FIRST ONE UP IS FOR NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. W W A ARCHITECTS AND MESQUITE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITION AND RENOVATION GMP TWO. THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE NUMBER TWO IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $50,533,515 AS SUBMITTED. GMP ONE, WHICH WAS $1,670,000 AND 100 FOR THE WHICH WAS FOR THE TENNIS COURTS, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL GMP TO $52,203,515, AND THEN THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST IS 59,411,000 AND $594.42, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE OVER 900,000 LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD INITIALLY ESTIMATED IT AT. SO THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED GMP TWO FOR THE NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS. ANY QUOTES FROM MR. BINGHAM? SORRY, DON. ALONG WITH THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, THERE'S ALSO BASED ON WHETHER THERE'S A TIMELINE REGARDING COMPLETION AS WELL. RIGHT. WE DON'T COUNT WHETHER SO IT'S IT'S THEY PUT WEATHER DAYS IN IN THERE BUT SELDOM DO WE USE THEM. RIGHT.

YOU ALLOCATE FOR IT. WE ALLOCATE FOR IT. BUT YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THE SCHEDULE GET BEHIND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE WEATHER IS. YEAH. LET ME ASK WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO START THE MAIN CONSTRUCTION. I KNOW THAT WE'RE FINISHING UP THE TENNIS COURTS. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT WILL BE FINISHED, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO START RIGHT AFTER THAT. SO THEY SHOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE NETS AND SCREENING TODAY. THE LIGHTS ARE UP NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DON'T REALLY NEED THOSE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TENNIS COURTS. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT THE GRASS GOING DOWN, WHICH WILL BE THIS WEEK. AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY OPEN THEM UP, WHICH THEN ALLOWS US TO START CONSTRUCTION ON NORTH MESQUITE, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING WE DO IS TEAR DOWN THE OLD TENNIS COURTS. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE LIGHTS DOWN AND BECAUSE WE REUSED THEM OVER AT THE NEW PLACE. OKAY, WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. I MOVE, I MOVE TO APPROVE. YEAH, WELL, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BINGHAM AND A SECOND BY MR. ROSE. WE WANTED TO LOCK YOU OUT.

WITH THAT SAID, ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WITH US TONIGHT IS RARA IN THEIR TEAM. AND GRAHAM WILL INTRODUCE ALL OF THEM LATER.

AND THEN WITH LEE LEWIS CONSTRUCTION WE GOT MASON NELSON AND TY PARSONS HERE. OH GREAT. THANK YOU. WELL NOW WE GO TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO WHICH IS GMP TWO FOR BEASLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATIONS OKAY. ARCHITECTS AND MESQUITE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE BEASLEY ELEMENTARY GMP TWO, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,970,207. GMP ONE WAS 174,309 FOR THE SWITCHGEAR, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL GMP TO $3,144,516. THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST WILL BE $3,742,588.02 FOR THE ENTIRE BEASLEY ELEMENTARY RENOVATION.

[00:55:03]

RARA ARCHITECTS AND MR. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE GRAY ELEMENTARY GMP TWO IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,119,202. GMP ONE WAS 763,159 FOR THE CHILLER AND THE SWITCHGEAR, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL GMP TO $4,882,361, AND WITH THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST $5,911,917.86 FOR THE ENTIRE GRAY ELEMENTARY RENOVATION, AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED GMP TWO FOR THE GRAY ELEMENTARY RENOVATION. AND ONCE AGAIN, WITH US HERE IS W.R. AND BUFORD THOMPSON MOVE TO APPROVE, INCLUDING THE $0.86. TOTAL. FIXING THE TWO. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. SEWARD, SECOND BY MR. BINGHAM, TO APPROVE THE GMP FOR GRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATIONS. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I WAS GOING TO ASK ON THE LAST ONE. AND THIS ONE. WHERE ARE WE ON THE BUDGET? I KNOW WE'RE UNDER. AT LEAST WE'RE GOING TO BE ON ALL THREE OF THEM TOGETHER. WE'RE WE'RE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY 200,000 OVER AT THE AT THE MOMENT THERE. BUT YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME WE'RE FINISHED WITH THE ENTIRE PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING WITH CONTINGENCIES AND ALLOWANCES ALL SQUARED UP, WE'LL BE RIGHT AT OR BELOW BUDGET BY THAT POINT. OKAY. YEAH. GOOD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE GO TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR. APPROVED GMP TWO FOR MOSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATIONS. ALL RIGHT. THE LAST ONE, W.R. AND MSD CONSTRUCTION SERVICES RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE MOSS ELEMENTARY GMP TWO, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 3,922,829 GMP, ONE WAS 202,000 AND $670, WHICH WAS FOR THE SWITCHGEAR, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL GMP TO $4,125,508 AT THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST WILL BE $4,884,306.85. THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE GMP TWO FOR THE MOSS ELEMENTARY RENOVATION, AND ON THIS JOB ALSO IS W.R. ARCHITECTS AND BUFORD THOMPSON.

EXCELLENT. MR. ROSE. OKAY. GREAT BOARD. ANY QUESTIONS? CORRECTIONS THERE? NONE.

THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. ROSE, A SECOND BY MR. EVERETT TO APPROVE THE GMP FOR NUMBER TWO FOR MOSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATIONS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. POOL. NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE SCHEMATIC

[01:00:04]

AS YOU'RE MOVING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO CLASSROOM BARS, YOU'LL NOTICE THE COUPLE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LEVEL. TWO BREAKING THOSE SPRINKLED OUT THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. AND THEN ALSO AT THE VERY SOUTH, OUR LAST TWO GRADES, THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE CLASSROOM WING. FROM THERE, I'LL HAND IT OFF TO JAMES TO TALK EXTERIORS WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU KENNY, AND THANK YOU BOARD. I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF LOOKING AT GREAT,

[01:05:02]

AND WE HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SEE THE SIGNAGE THERE AS WELL, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE FROM MOTLEY, EVEN ALL THE WAY ON THE FAR WESTERN SIDE OF MOTLEY HERE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SCHOOL. AS KENNY EXPLAINED WHILE WE WERE WALKING THROUGH THE SITE PLAN, WE HAVE TWO DISTINCT PLAYGROUNDS, ONE FOR LITTLES AND ONE FOR BIGS, AND THAT'S PART OF THE THE DESIRE TO HAVE TWO DISTINCT LEARNING COMMUNITIES DISTRIBUTED BY AGES, AS WELL AS SPACES FOR TEACHERS TO SUPERVISE UNDER COVER, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM AS WELL.

AND WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THOSE COLLABORATION SPACES THAT YOU SAW IN THE PLAN WITH THESE INDENTATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM WING AS WELL. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BACKSIDE WHERE THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED, AND THE LIBRARY REALLY LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE FRONT, BUT JUST SCALED DOWN TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE STUDENTS AS THEY'RE OUTSIDE. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF OF THE LANDSCAPE HERE, WHICH IS A PRETTY FLAT SITE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE SOME ENVIRONMENTS FOR THESE STUDENTS THAT PLAY AN OUTDOOR. LEARNING IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN THIS SPACE, HERE IN THE WING, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE ART ROOM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUTDOOR LEARNING AND THEN CONNECTED TO THAT AS A LIBRARY.

SO THE LIBRARY WILL HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE EXTERIOR. AND OF COURSE ALL OF THIS PLAY SPACE IS SECURE WITH WITH A FENCE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PLAY SPACE. SO NOBODY OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITIES OR OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OF THE PLAY SPACES. JUST GO AHEAD AND YEAH. AND OH YEAH, AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PLAY THE VIDEO. AND IN THE VIDEO, I HOPE THAT YOU YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THESE SAME SPACES HIGHLIGHTED HERE AS WELL.

AGAIN, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO YOU A NEW DESIGN TONIGHT. I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS TEAM, WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

[01:10:03]

NUMBER ONE IS BACKUP, BUT THE SECOND IS THE KIDS TRYING TO RUN ACROSS TO GET ONTO THE END OF THOSE CARS ON MOTLEY. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE. THIS IS A SPECIAL PROJECT FOR US.

THESE TWO SCHOOLS ARE VERY VALUABLE TO US, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE OUTSTANDING SCHOOLS.

BUT SO THERE WAS SOME APPREHENSION ABOUT THIS. BUT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE DESIGN.

IT OUGHT TO ALLEVIATE. THEY OUGHT TO TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS NEW BUILDING. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. GRAHAM. HOW MANY HOW MANY STUDENTS IS THIS DESIGNED FOR. WE'RE GOING TO DESIGN FOR 700 750 FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF STUDENTS.

YEAH. MR. PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND. I'LL SECOND. VERY INNOVATIVE DESIGN I LOVE IT I LOVE THE MATERIALS. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TEAM. WITH THAT THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT. SECOND BY SECOND BY MR. BINGHAM TO APPROVE THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY CAMPUS, REPLACING MOTLEY ELEMENTARY AND LA LAWRENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THERE ARE NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS EFFECTIVENESS REPORT. AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM UNDER THAT TITLE.

AND IT'S A REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS. WE WILL HAVE MISS SMITH. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT RIVERA AND TRUSTEES, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVENESS REPORT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SPOTLIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADING THE WORK AND THAT YOU'LL SEE REFLECTED IN THIS PRESENTATION. MOST OF MY TEAM IS HERE TONIGHT, SEVERAL IN THE BOOTH MAKING THIS BROADCAST HAPPEN. WHILE NOT EVERYONE IS HERE TONIGHT, MOST OF THEM ARE IN. THIS WORK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ALL OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. WE ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY DEPARTMENT. TOGETHER WE ARE FOCUSED ON CLEAR, PROACTIVE AND STUDENT CENTERED COMMUNICATION. AND TONIGHT WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW OUR WORK SUPPORTS THE DISTRICT'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES. AS A DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR GOALS THAT GUIDE OUR WORK AND ANCHOR OUR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PLANNING. THESE GOALS ARE CENTERED AROUND AWARENESS OR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY WELL-INFORMED, ENSURING THE BRAND IS ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCELLENCE. CREATING A CULTURE OF CELEBRATION, AND LASTLY, ESTABLISHING OUR DISTRICT AS THE GO TO STRATEGIC MARKETING PARTNER FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS AND INITIATIVES. EACH YEAR WE EVALUATE THESE GOALS, IDENTIFY TACTICS AND TOOLS TO ACHIEVE THEM, REVIEW EVIDENCE OF IMPACT, AND REALIGN OR REFINE STRATEGIES AS NEEDED. I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT AND SHARE SOME BIG WINS. AS WE LOOK BACK.

[01:15:05]

WE SEE STEADY GROWTH IN OUR AUDIENCE. FOR SOME COMPARISON, HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS OF SIMILAR SIZE. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE OUTPACING THEM THERE. BUT NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT SUBSCRIBERS AND FOLLOWERS, WE ALSO WANT TO MEASURE OUR ENGAGEMENT AND REACH. THIS TELLS US HOW EFFECTIVE OUR CONTENT IS AT BREAKING THROUGH TO OUR AUDIENCE. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT OUR AVERAGE MONTHLY INTERACTIONS. SO THAT'S ON INSTAGRAM. THAT'S GOING TO BE A LIKE A SHARE A COMMENT, A SAVE. IT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 41,000 TO 58,000. NOW YOU SEE IN 2023 THAT 58,000. THAT'S REALLY DUE TO TWO VIDEOS THAT WENT VIRAL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE WERE WE HAD GREAT REACH THERE, BUT WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS, OUR AVERAGE MONTHLY INTERACTIONS. SO PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH OUR CONTENT, WITH OUR CONTENT. AND OVER ON FACEBOOK YOU CAN SEE OUR AVERAGE MONTHLY REACH, WHICH THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE AND HOW MANY ACCOUNTS OUR CONTENT IS ACTUALLY GETTING TO. THAT'S STEADILY GROWN OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, BRENDA GONZALEZ, LEADS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT STRATEGY. SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB. I WOULD PUT OUR ANALYTICS AND PERFORMANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AGAINST ANY DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY. ANOTHER PLATFORM THAT PEOPLE DON'T SOMETIMES THINK ABOUT AS SOCIAL MEDIA IS LINKEDIN. WE'VE BEEN ON THAT PLATFORM FOR A WHILE, BUT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF OUR MARKETING COORDINATOR, MIKE CHERYL, WE KIND OF CHARGED HIM WITH BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING FOLLOWERS AND CURATING CONTENT THAT FOCUSES ON OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. AND SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, WE'VE GAINED 1400 FOLLOWERS. WE'VE ALSO SEEN SEARCH APPEARANCES UP 41% ON LINKEDIN. SO WE TALK ABOUT DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL MARKETING. ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS THAT WE HAVE ON THE DIGITAL, ON THE TRADITIONAL MARKETING SIDE IS OUR RADIO STATION. IT IS THE LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RUN RADIO STATION IN THE NATION, AND IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR US TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND DISTRICT ARE DOING. THEY'RE CONSTANTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AT EVENTS REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT, AND THEY WERE NAMED A RUNNER UP FOR THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE 29 STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THEM TO BECOME PART OF THE CTE FAMILY. WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF A DIGITAL AUDIO TECHNOLOGY NEW PROGRAM OF STUDY, AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO INCREASING STUDENT GENERATED CONTENT COMING FROM THAT PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE. A COUPLE OTHER TRADITIONAL MARKETING TACTICS THAT YOU'LL SEE. WE HAD ADVERTISEMENTS IN TOWN, EAST MALL FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS. NOW, MOST RECENTLY, OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT BASED ON TRAFFIC IN A 26 WEEK RUN THERE, WE HAD A 5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, WE CONTRACTED WITH MOD MEDIA, DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AND RAN OUR ADS IN AND AROUND THE TOWN SHOPPING MALL. AND THE ANALYTICS THERE ARE FROM LOCAL IMPRESSIONS, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO TELL THE CELL PHONES THAT COME WITHIN A CERTAIN RADIUS OF THAT VEHICLE. THEY COUNT THAT AS AN IMPRESSION, BUT NOT ALSO PHONES. THESE ARE LOCAL IMPRESSIONS. SO THE CELL PHONES THAT BELONG IN THIS AREA, WE HAD 24 OVER 245,000 IMPRESSIONS OVER THE SIX DAYS. SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. AND

[01:20:05]

WE ALSO ARE ON GOOGLE PAID SEARCH. SO WE'RE POPPING UP AHEAD OF FOLKS WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. AND THAT'S DELIVERED ANOTHER 5 MILLION IMPRESSIONS AND 291 INTERACTIONS. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PARENT SQUARE. THIS IS A SHIFT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT MADE.

THIS JULY WE LAUNCHED PARENT SQUARE AS OUR MASS NOTIFICATION TOOL. SO THAT ALLOWS THE DISTRICT AND CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF ON THIS PLATFORM, WE HAVE 99% CONTACT ABILITY. THAT MEANS THAT ONLY 1% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE NO VALID CONTACT IN OUR SYSTEM, AND WE'RE WORKING AT MAKING THAT 100%. 99% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE A TEXT CONTACT, WHICH IS THE PREFERRED DELIVERY METHOD FROM OUR PARENTS. WHEN WE SEND A NOTIFICATION, AS WE DID WITH OUR RECENT SNOW DAYS, IT GOES OUT IN 37 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT THAT HAVE INDICATED THEIR HOME LANGUAGE IS ONE OF 37 LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, AND SO WE REALLY LIKE THAT WHEN WE SEND A MESSAGE, WHETHER IT'S A TEXT ALERT THAT SCHOOL IS CLOSED, OR ONE OF OUR EMAILS THAT GOES OUT EACH WEEK FROM THREE THINGS, OR OUR MONTHLY EXCELLENCE AND EXCELLENCE IN ACTION HIGHLIGHTS, IT'S BEING DELIVERED TO THEIR PHONE OR THEIR EMAIL, IN THEIR LANGUAGE. OUR WEBSITE ALSO TRANSLATES TO THE SAME 37 LANGUAGES, AND IT HAS HAD 223,000 VISITS JUST SINCE JULY. NOW TO PAGES THAT ARE RELATED TO JOB SEARCHES OR EMPLOYMENT, AND ANOTHER 125,000 VISITS RELATED TO ENROLLMENT. SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH OUR WEB TRAFFIC AND PRESENCE. SINCE JULY, THERE EARNED MEDIA REPRESENTS THIRD PARTY COVERAGE THAT MESQUITE ISD DOES NOT PAY FOR, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST CREDIBLE AND INFLUENTIAL WAYS TO BUILD TRUST, VISIBILITY, AND REPUTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN NEWS OUTLETS COVER DISTRICT STORIES, IT SIGNALS RELEVANCE AND PUBLIC INTEREST WHILE EXTENDING OUR MESSAGE BEYOND DISTRICT OWNED CHANNELS. TRACKING EARNED MEDIA THROUGH THIS NEW TOOL THAT WE'RE USING CALLED CRITICAL MISSION, HELPS US UNDERSTAND BOTH THE REACH AND IMPACT. YOU CAN SEE THERE THIS IS POSITIVE AND NEUTRAL MENTIONS IN 2025. SO NO NEGATIVE COVERAGE. AND WE HAD 744 STORIES. THE ESTIMATED AUDIENCE IS HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKELY SAW THOSE STORIES MENTIONING THE DISTRICT. AND THE PUBLICITY VALUE TRANSLATES THAT COVERAGE INTO AN ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNT, REFLECTING WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST TO ACHIEVE THE SAME EXPOSURE THROUGH PAID ADVERTISING. WE TALK ABOUT A CULTURE OF CELEBRATION, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS.

ADRIANNA TATE IS OUR NEWEST COORDINATOR AND SHE'S HERE TONIGHT. SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING MULTIPLE DISTRICT WIDE EVENTS AND RECOGNITIONS. YOU CAN SEE THEM LISTED THERE.

THESE MOMENTS ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO INTENTIONALLY CELEBRATE STUDENTS, STAFF, ALUMNI, AND PARTNERS AND REINFORCE THE PRIDE IN MESQUITE ISD. THESE EVENTS ALSO CREATE MEANINGFUL TOUCHPOINTS THAT HUMANIZE OUR WORK, STRENGTHEN TRUST AND CONTENT. CONSISTENTLY ELEVATE THE MISD BRAND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. JUST WEDNESDAY, LATER THIS WEEK, WE'LL BE HOSTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM, A REALTOR LUNCHEON THAT ADRIANA HAS BROUGHT ON BOARD. WE HAVE OVER 60 REALTORS RSVP'D TO COME HERE AND GATHER IN THIS ROOM. THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDED LUNCH FROM OUR POTEET CULINARY STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S, OUR SCHOOLS AND THE VALUE WE OFFER TO FAMILIES CONSIDERING OUR COMMUNITY. SO A COUPLE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THAT ARE DEPARTMENT IS FACING. ONE IS JUST CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICIENCY. WE LOST THE INTERNAL PRINT SHOP LAST YEAR. WE'RE STILL ADJUSTING TO THAT. WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM, SO ANYTIME WE HAVE STAFFING CHANGES, IT'S A CHALLENGE. BUT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED TEAM AND ALL OF US I'VE CHALLENGED THIS YEAR, ALL OF US, TO KEEP UP WITH INDUSTRY TRENDS. WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN UTILIZE AI TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND STAY UP TO DATE WITH THINGS

[01:25:03]

DOCTOR RIVERA. GOOD. YES. YEAH. GOOD. MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE TO. THERE'S A MOTION. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM. YEAH. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT, A SECOND BY MR. SEWARD TO ADOPT ALL ORDERS RELATING TO THE MAY 2ND, 2026 TRUSTEE ELECTION. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A REPORT. MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGE. DOCTOR RIVERA. YES, MR. PRESIDENT? DOCTOR MORRIS WILL COME UP TO THE LECTERN AND TAKE THIS ITEM. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT SOME WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT, TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE. AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP EVERYBODY INFORMED AS TO WHAT THESE CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE. SO HERE WE GO. SO AS WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR SORT OF CONCURRENT QUESTIONS THAT WERE ALL SEEMING TO COME UP AT A SIMILAR TIME REGARDING IS OUR CURRENT DOUBLE BLOCKING OF RLA THE MOST EFFECTIVE, AND IS IT ALSO AS EFFECTIVE TO BE DOUBLE BLOCKING OUR MATH? WE'VE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE EXPOSE MORE AND MORE OF OUR STUDENTS TO PROGRAMS OF STUDY FOR CTE COURSEWORK EARLIER? AND SO REALLY LOOKING AT HIGH SCHOOL, LOOKING AHEAD AT HIGH SCHOOL A BIT MORE STRATEGICALLY, WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO OFFER MORE CTE PRINCIPLES CLASSES IN THE EIGHTH GRADE. WE'RE ALSO IMPLEMENTING USE OF IREADY THIS YEAR. SO WE WANTED TO BE INTENTIONAL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE IMPLICATIONS INSTRUCTIONALLY AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, IN OUR WORK IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, WE CONSTANTLY WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS POST HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT ARE

[01:30:01]

THEY ALL AFFECT ONE ANOTHER. AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AS WELL AS THEIR REGISTRARS, TO TO CONSIDER SOME POSSIBLE CHANGES IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY WOULD EACH AFFECT ONE ANOTHER. SO AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES COMING IN OUR DISTRICT IN THE COMING YEAR. AND SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHY WOULD WE DO THIS NOW WHEN WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING HAVING SO MANY OTHER CHANGES HAPPENING? AND SO REALLY WHAT THAT COMES DOWN TO IS NOW IS THE TIME RIGHT TO TO PLANT THE TREE THAT YOU NEED YEARS LATER. RIGHT. AND SO WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW THAT'S COMING UP IS THAT OUR CURRENT SIXTH GRADERS ARE GOING TO BE HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD IN THEIR ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR CMR. SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE PLANNING AHEAD AND THINKING ABOUT THAT HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY AS REALLY MORE OF A SIX YEAR MODEL AND BEING WAY MORE INTENTIONAL AND STRATEGIC FOR THOSE KIDDOS. ADDITIONALLY, AS WE KNOW, WE'RE NAVIGATING STAFFING REDUCTIONS AT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES. AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHICH POSITIONS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND HOW AND HOW THAT AFFECTS SCHEDULING FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A CHANGE, THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE, WE REALLY NEEDED TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE IT HAD MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR STAFFING MODELS. AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU PLANT THE TREE NOW THAT YOU NEED LATER. AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW MIDDLE SCHOOL AFFECTS OUR OPTIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE'RE PUTTING THOSE SYSTEMS IN PLACE NOW SO THAT IT SETS OUR STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE. LIKE I SAID, WE DID NOT MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP OF IN INSIGHTS. AND SO WE STUDIED A NUMBER OF COMPARISON DISTRICTS ALSO LOOKED INTERNALLY AT OUR OWN DATA. WE MET WITH A FOCUS GROUP AND ALSO COLLABORATED WITH ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, AS WELL AS THEIR REGISTRAR COUNSELORS. WHEN CONSIDERING POSSIBLE CHANGES. AND SO THOSE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE COMING ARE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN TO SINGLE BLOCK OUR SIXTH GRADE AND SEVENTH GRADE RLA AND MATH. WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT AN HOUR AND A HALF OF RLA COURSEWORK, ALL ALL TOGETHER IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR FOR OUR KIDDOS. AND SO WE WANT TO LOOK FOR A MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH TO THAT IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT RIGHT FIT WOULD BE. WHERE WE ALSO LANDED IS THAT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO MOVE TO A SEVEN PERIOD DAY. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT AN HOUR AND A HALF, IT SEEMED TOO LONG AND 46 MINUTES SEEMED A BIT TOO SHORT.

AND SO THAT GOLDILOCKS FIT. REALLY, IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE NEEDED TO EXTEND THOSE CLASS PERIODS AND TO DO SO WITHOUT EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY. WE NEEDED TO GO TO SEVEN PERIODS RATHER THAN EIGHT. WHAT WE'VE ALSO WANTED TO DO, LIKE I SAID, IS TO BE MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO CTE PROGRAMING. AND SO WE'RE WANTING TO INTRODUCE A MORE FOCUSED APPROACH FOR AND SHOWING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS EARLIER. SO WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED TO OUR PRINCIPALS IS, AS THEY'RE ABLE TO DO SO WITHIN THEIR SCHEDULES, BOTH FOR STAFFING AND AS AS WELL AS WHAT WORKS BEST FOR STUDENTS. BUT TO GET AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE INTO THE INVESTIGATING CAREERS CLASS IN SIXTH GRADE, THE CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION CLASS IN SEVENTH GRADE, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE REALLY SPECIFIC AND STRATEGIC LEVEL ONE CTE COURSES IN THE EIGHTH GRADE THAT ALIGN REALLY WELL TO OUR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS. WE'RE MAKING REVISIONS TO THAT CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION COURSE, SO THAT IT REALLY DOES A GREAT JOB OF SHOWING OUR STUDENTS THE OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN OUR PROGRAMS OF STUDY AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS INTRODUCING THEM TO QUITE A BIT OF THE BENEFITS OF THE AVID COURSEWORK THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO AT THIS TIME. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL. WE DON'T GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE WANT MORE AND MORE STUDENTS IN ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES. OUR STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE, AND WE WANT THEM TO SELF-IDENTIFY AS ADVANCED LEARNERS. AND SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TO BUILD THAT PATHWAY THERE AS WELL, SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU ARE JUST SOME MODELS, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO TO TO SHOW THAT WE'VE THOUGHT OUT HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT EACH GRADE LEVEL AND SHOWING THAT YOU DO HAVE ROOM FOR A NUMBER OF ELECTIVES. AND SO WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE FOR SIXTH GRADERS MOVING AWAY FROM THAT DOUBLE BLOCK RLA AND DOUBLE BLOCK MATH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO GET QUITE A FEW STUDENTS INTO FINE ARTS PE, AS WELL AS INVESTIGATING CAREERS. AND SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY A WHOLE LOT IS THAT WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT IS GOING TO HAVE THIS SCHEDULE. THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS.

[01:35:02]

SCHEDULES FOR STUDENTS IS A NUANCED THING, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY INTENTIONAL AND PRIORITIZING STUDENT INTEREST WITH THAT. SEVENTH GRADE LOOKS LIKE THIS.

AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT YOUR CORE CLASSES. YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE FINE ARTS, PE OR ATHLETICS STARTING IN SEVENTH GRADE AND THEN THAT CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION CLASS, AS WELL AS OR AVID FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO WHICH THAT APPLIES. AND THEN IN EIGHTH GRADE, SIMILARLY, YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE CORE CLASSES. YOU CAN CONTINUE WITH THE FINE ARTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH PE OR ATHLETICS, YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. IT IS NOT REQUIRED IN THE EIGHTH GRADE TO DO SO. AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOR MANY STUDENTS TO TAKE THOSE PRINCIPLES OF CTE COURSES AS WELL. SO AGAIN, THE IDEA IS NOT FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT TO BE IN THIS MODEL, BUT TO MAKE THIS MODEL A AVAILABLE AND INTENTIONAL FOR MORE STUDENTS THAN WE'VE DONE SO IN THE PAST. AND SO THE NEXT STEPS ARE TO FINALIZE OUR BELL SCHEDULE. WE WERE WORKING WITH A FOCUS GROUP OF PRINCIPALS JUST TODAY TO WORK ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT MEETS EVERYBODY'S NEEDS, AND WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE START OR END TIME OF THE DAY. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVISING OUR CURRICULUM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT NEW SCHEDULE. AND MR. ELSASSER, THE HEAD OF CTE PROGRAMING, JUST MET WITH ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR OWN STAFFING AND THEIR OWN MASTER SCHEDULES, TO STRATEGICALLY PLACE CTE COURSES THAT WOULD ALIGN WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS OF STUDY. AND AT THIS TIME, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THEM. MEMBERS, THIS WILL BE THE START OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. YES, SIR. I KNOW WE WENT OVER IT DURING THE WORK SESSION. WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS BUT THIS IS VERY GOOD PROGRAMING. I THINK IT'S REALLY PUTTING US WHERE WE HAVE TO BE BECAUSE WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. OKAY LET'S GO. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL CALENDAR, MISS SMITH. AGAIN BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2627 CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AS WELL AS OUR PROPOSED CALENDAR FOR YOUR APPROVAL THIS EVENING. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO REVIEW THE ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES. SINCE I'VE BEEN LEADING THE WORK AROUND CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT, WE START OFF BEFORE WE DO ANY WORK ON LOOKING AT THESE PRIORITIES, AND THAT'S THE FIRST PLAN FOR QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS THAT MEET OUR STUDENTS NEED AND MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS. SECOND, WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE QUALITY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT OUR DISTRICT PROVIDES AND PROTECT TIME FOR TEACHERS THAT ALIGNS WITH INSTRUCTION. WE ALSO WANT TO TRY TO PROVIDE AT LEAST TWO DEDICATED CLASSROOM WORKDAYS FOR OUR TEACHERS, ALONG WITH MAINTAINING TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS AND THE NEWER BREAKS I KNEW I MEAN FALL BREAK THAT PREVIOUS SURVEYS HAVE TOLD US ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES AND STAFF. AND THEN TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WE TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT CALENDAR SO FAMILIES AND STAFF AREN'T SHIFTING FROM YEAR TO YEAR WITH VERY DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS. SO THE PROCESS WE START WITH LOOKING AT PREVIOUS SURVEY DATA, CURRENT CALENDAR FEEDBACK.

EVERY YEAR WE PUBLISH THE CALENDAR. THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF FEEDBACK AND OPINIONS. SO WE ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO INTO CONSIDERATION. WE ALSO TALK TO CABINET ABOUT DISTRICT PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. WE SPENT SOME TIME CONSULTING WITH TEACHING AND LEARNING, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND THEN PERSONNEL SERVICES TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE NEEDS ARE MET. WE THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY CONVENED A PRINCIPAL COMMITTEE TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK. THEN WE PRESENT TO DLT AND ILT, BOTH FOR INPUT, AND WE HAVE A STANDING MEETING WITH THE MTA BOARD TO REVIEW AND GATHER THEIR FEEDBACK. SO LIKE I SAID, FIRST WE PLAN FOR INSTRUCTION. OUR SCHOOL DAY IS 450 MINUTES AND WE WERE REQUIRED MINIMUM IS 75,600 MINUTES. ANY MINUTES ABOVE THAT ARE BANKED FOR BAD WEATHER DAYS. WE HAVE TO PLACE THE HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS AT THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS, THOSE TWO DEDICATED WORK DAYS, AND THEN WE START CHECKING. MAKE SURE THE CALENDAR HAS 187 WORKDAYS FOR MOST OF OUR TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY IDENTIFY 236 WORKDAYS FOR THOSE 226 EMPLOYEES. BECAUSE TEN OF THOSE DAYS ARE ARE NON-PAID NON-DUTY DAYS. SO THIS IS WHAT THE DRAFT LOOKS LIKE. WE PLACED THE BASICALLY PLACED THE HOLIDAYS AND LOOK AT THOSE 187 DAYS FOR

[01:40:04]

TAYLOR. IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PRINTED VERSION. FRIDAY JUNE, FRIDAY. IT'S AFTER.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN EARLY JUNE THIS YEAR IT'S THE FOURTH AND FIFTH, RIGHT. SO FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH AND SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH. AND THE THREE THREE SCHOOLS ON EACH DAY, THOSE ARE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS CUT OFF GRAPHIC HERE. BUT THE ONE WE PUBLISHED TONIGHT WILL HAVE WHICH SCHOOLS OR WHICH DAY TAYLOR. UNLESS YOU HAVE THEM JUNE 5TH AND JUNE 6TH, FOURTH AND FIFTH, FOURTH AND FIFTH, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. NO. SUNDAY. OKAY. PEOPLE WORK. ALL. I'LL BRING IT UP LATER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL CALENDAR. SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. SEWARD, SECOND BY MISS HORNSBY TO APPROVE THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL CALENDAR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS? OKAY.

THERE NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. NO

[01:45:07]

IN FACT, FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FAITH BASED GROUPS AT OUR SCHOOLS. SIMILARLY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HISTORICALLY ACCOMMODATED EMPLOYEES FREE EXERCISE OF THEIR RELIGION AT SCHOOL. SENATE BILL 11 DOES NOT CHANGE THAT AS LONG AS STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE TESTS AT SCHOOL, THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE STUDENTS THAT PRAY AT SCHOOL. AND AS LONG AS THERE ARE STUDENTS TESTING THE PATIENCE OF TEACHERS, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE TEACHERS PRAYING AT SCHOOL. SO IF THE BOARD DOES NOT ADOPT A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD UNDER SENATE BILL 11, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE DISTRICT IS AGAINST PRAYER OR READING OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS AT SCHOOL.

STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES WILL STILL BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT SCHOOL, JUST AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE BOARD DOES ADOPT A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD, THE POLICY MUST INCLUDE SEVERAL THINGS. FIRST, THE POLICY MUST PROHIBIT A STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE FROM PARTICIPATING IN A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD UNLESS THE STUDENT'S PARENT OR THE EMPLOYEE HAS SIGNED A CONSENT FORM, AND THAT CONSENT FORM MUST INCLUDE A WAIVER OF THE PERSON'S RIGHT TO BRING A CLAIM. UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE TO MAKE PARENTS OR THE EMPLOYEES WAIVE THEIR RIGHTS. SECOND, THE POLICY MUST PROHIBIT PRAYER OR READING OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS OVER A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM OR A PA. IN MY OPINION, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN THE LAW. THE US SUPREME COURT IN 2000, IN THE CASE OF SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VERSUS DOE, STRUCK DOWN THE TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT'S POLICY OF PERMITTING A PRAYER OVER THE PA DURING FOOTBALL GAMES. THIRD, THE POLICY MUST ALSO ENSURE PRAYER OR THE READING OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS IS NOT DONE IN THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF, WITHIN THE HEARING OF, OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER THAT COULD HARM A PERSON WHO DID NOT CONSENT. THIS WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO SEGREGATE STUDENTS INTO SEPARATE AREAS, AND TO ENSURE ONLY STUDENTS WITH SIGNED CONSENT FORMS OR EMPLOYEES ARE PRESENT OR ABLE TO HEAR THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYEES. EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE TO MONITOR AND ENFORCE THIS, AND LAST, THE DAILY PRAYER PERIOD MAY NOT BE DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IF THE BOARD ADOPTS A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD UNDER SENATE BILL 11, IT COULD ACTUALLY BE MORE RESTRICTIVE AND PLACE MORE LIMITATIONS ON STUDENTS AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL WORK ON ON OUR FACULTY. SO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVIDED TWO SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 11, OPTION ONE, THE BOARD MAY MOVE TO ADOPT A POLICY REQUIRING A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD OR OPTION TWO THE BOARD MAY MOVE TO DECLINE TO ADOPT A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. WE ADOPTED THE POLICY THAT IS THIS. THIS IS NOT DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. WHEN WOULD IT BE? WE HAD FOR

[01:50:02]

ANY MORE COMMENTS? NO MORE QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DECLINE. DECLINE TO ADOPT THE CURRENT THE RESOLUTION BEFORE US TO KEEP OUR CURRENT PRACTICES IN PLACE AND AVOID ADDING OPERATIONAL BURDEN, AND MAINTAINS THE DISTRICT'S NEUTRAL POSTURE TOWARDS RELIGION, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY. SECOND. SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION BY MR. SEWARD, SECOND, BY MISS HORNSBY TO NOT APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REGARDING ADOPTING A DAILY PRAYER PERIOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.

RESOLUTION. RIGHT. THE. AND MR. THOMAS, IF THIS IS VOTED ON BY THE BOARD, NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF WILL STILL BE ALLOWED TO PRAY ON OUR CAMPUSES. THAT IS CORRECT. GOOD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MR. THOMAS. YEAH, I GOT A. OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO SECTION E IN BUSINESS. APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT. MR. PRADO. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM BOARD. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. DOCTOR RIVERA, BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. IT HAS TWO PORTIONS TO IT. ONE IS THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND, AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND. WE ARE CAPTURING AN EXPENSE TO PAY OUT THE LAST PAYMENT OF STATE PAY, WHICH IS AN EXPENSE OF ABOUT $3.1 MILLION. SO THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD BE CONSIDERING APPROVING FOR THE GENERAL OPERATING FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. WE ARE RECOGNIZING RECORDING THE DISTRICT. AUGUST 20TH, 2025 BOND REFUNDING, WHICH WAS THE PARAMETER ORDER, WAS APPROVED IN JUNE. WE EXECUTED THE DEAL IN JULY AND THEN WE CLOSED THE DEAL IN AUGUST. NOW WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT ACTION TO REFUND OUR 2014 AND 2015 BOND SERIES. SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, MR. PRADO. YES. THANK YOU. AND I TALKED A LITTLE BIT. TOTAL SAVINGS FOR THAT REFUNDING. IS THAT ABOUT $3 MILLION? THAT IS CORRECT.

YES, SIR. SECOND. MOTION BY MR. BINGHAM, SECOND BY MR. SEWARD. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AS PRESENTED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEING THERE? NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION

[X. Reconvene from Executive Session for Action Relative to Items Considered During Executive Session ]

[XI. Action Relative to Items Considered in Executive Session]

[01:55:02]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOARD. AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.