[I. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] EVERYBODY, TO OUR BOARD MEETING TONIGHT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THIS MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2026 AT 6:06 P.M. AND I CONFIRMED THAT A QUORUM OF BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT AND THAT THIS MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. BEFORE WE BEGIN, A QUICK REMINDER, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ANY ITEM LISTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'VE SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE. MISS SABRINA SMITH OVER HERE, OUR CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, WILL ASSIST YOU. WE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGES. TONIGHT, THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY BISHOP DAVID MARTIN, WHO'S THE PASTOR AT GOSPEL TABERNACLE CHURCH. TABERNACLE CHURCH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY THE STUDENTS FROM BLACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPONSORS, CHRISTINA ALVAREZ, AND THEY WILL DO THAT AFTER THE INVOCATION. AND YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US, IF YOU WISH, ON THE BOTH THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGES. FIRST, ALLOW ME TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL THAT I'VE BEEN INVITED TO STAND IN YOUR BEHALF AND GO BEFORE GOD. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD GIVE RESPECT BY BOWING YOUR HEADS. PLEASE. LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND WE REALIZE THAT WE NEED YOU. WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE NEED YOUR GUIDANCE AND WE NEED YOUR WISDOM. I PRAY, DEAR GOD THAT EVERY PERSON THAT SIT HERE TONIGHT THAT REPRESENT A CERTAIN PART OF THIS CITY. MEMBERS OF THE CITY, CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, GOD, THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING DECISIONS AS IT RELATES TO OUR CHILDREN. THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS ROOM, OH GOD, WILL IMPACT SOMEONE'S CHILD CAN IMPACT AND INFLUENCE SOMEONE'S GRANDCHILD. THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS ROOM, GOD, CAN IMPACT NOT ONLY THIS GENERATION, BUT THE NEXT GENERATION AND THE NEXT GENERATION. SO GOD GRANT UNTO THEM WISDOM GOD, IF THEY REACH A PLACE, AN IMPASSE. I PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU CAUSE THEM TO REASON TOGETHER. YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD WHEN WE REACH THOSE POINTS, COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER. HELP THEM GOD TO REASON TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CHILDREN OF OUR CITY. I PRAY GOD THAT YOU BIND THEM TOGETHER AS A UNIFIED FORCE, THAT THEY MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE SHALL GIVE THAT NAME PRAISE FOR IT ALL. IN JESUS'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. BLESS 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. GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS RODNEY. MY NAME IS RODNEY NEGRONI. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I AM A BLACK ELEMENTARY. OKAY. MY NAME IS SOPHIA FERNANDEZ AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I GO TO BLACK ELEMENTARY. MY NAME IS AKARI PAYNE. I'M IN THIRD GRADE AND I GO TO BLACK ELEMENTARY. MY NAME IS CONNOR KELLY. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AND I GO TO BLACK ELEMENTARY. MY NAME IS GENESIS GONZALEZ. I AM IN THIRD GRADE AND I GO TO BLACK ELEMENTARY. [00:05:06] MY NAME IS CARTER KELLY I AM. I AM IN THIRD GRADE AND I GO TO BLACK ELEMENTARY. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT. MISS COLLIER. THIS HAS [II. TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT] BEEN A BUSY WEEK. IT'S BEEN A WEEK OF A LOT OF THINGS. BUT I'M SO PROUD OF OUR TEAMS THAT ARE WORKING WITH OUR KIDS. IT I GOT TO SEE IT AT FRAZIER. I GOT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT IN TRANSPORTATION AND IT'S BEEN SO MUCH WHERE YOU COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS THAT YOU LIVE, WHERE YOU LIVE, AND YOU'RE LIKE, THANK YOU, LORD. BUT JUST CHEERING PEOPLE ON AND SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD WORK AND YOU'RE WITNESSED DOING THE GOOD WORK. SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. MISS MORRIS. HI. I WANTED TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT THE 2026 READ, TALK PLAY FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY EXPO IS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 24TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AT TOWNEES MALL. IT'S HELD ANNUALLY AND IT IS ONE OF THE. IT IS ONE OF RETORT PLAY'S LARGEST FAMILY EVENTS OF THE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MESQUITE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THIS FALL CELEBRATION BRINGS TOGETHER FAMILIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND MESQUITE ISD PROGRAMS FOR A DAY OF LEARNING, CONNECTION AND FAMILY FUN. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR THE SPOOKTACULAR FIVE K AND MONSTER ONE MILE THAT IS HELD FROM 9 TO 1030 IN THE SAME AREA TOWN EAST MALL, AND THE KIDS WHO PARTICIPATE IN FIVE K WILL ENJOY FRUIT TREE FREE TRICK OR TREATING OR AND KIDS ZONE ACCESS. THE EVENT KICKS OFF THE READ TALK PLAY FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL FEATURE VENDOR BOOTHS, ACTIVITIES AND FOOD TRUCKS. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO THE BOARD. AS YOU KNOW, WE GO TO CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND AND I END MY TERM AS DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, WHICH YOU HAVE ELECTED ME TO SERVE AND TO REPRESENT ALL OF YOU. IT'S BEEN A GREAT THRILL. I'VE KNOWN TASB SINCE 1997 WHEN I STARTED WITH LEADERSHIP TASB. AND AS YOU KNOW, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS. THEIR GOAL IS TO DO TWO MAIN THINGS. ONE IS ADVOCATE FOR US AS THE LEADERS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THEY DO IT NOT ONLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND THE SECOND THING IS THEY EDUCATE US. THEY GET US CREDITS, THE CREDITS THAT ARE MANDATED BY BY AUSTIN. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT, GREAT TIME. I SPENT A GREAT TIME WITH THEM. I'VE LEARNED A LOT, BUT IT'S TIME TO LEAVE. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN ME. WELL, KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY. I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF EXTRA TIME AND DAYS AWAY FROM FAMILY AND WORK. YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER FOLKS COMING ON TO TAKE YOUR SPOT. WE'LL FIND OUT WHO THAT IS THIS WEEKEND ON FRIDAY. AND WE'VE GOT THREE DELEGATES HERE, TWO DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE. YOU GUYS WILL BE THERE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ON SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT LEADERSHIP. ALSO, I UNDERSTAND NOBODY CAN LEAVE TODAY UNLESS THEY SIGN UP FOR THE FIVE K, RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S WHAT MISS MORRIS WAS TRYING TO GET TO. NOW, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US AND GET INTO THAT WITH THAT. ANYTHING ELSE, MISS ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME WITH YOU? OKAY. SORRY. ONE ADDITION. I GOT THE CHANCE TO BE AT A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL LAST WEEK, AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A WONDERFUL TEACHER THAT THEY HAVE THERE NAMED MISS CARINO. SHE'S A SEVENTH GRADE MATH TEACHER, SO I GOT TO SEE HER INTERVENING BASED ON THE DOLL DEMONSTRATION OF LEARNING DATA AND MATH, SHE QUICKLY PULLED A SMALL GROUP SO THAT EVERY STUDENT LEFT MASTERING THE EXPECTATION FOR THAT CLASS THAT DAY. AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ROUTINE TO SEE IN ACTION. AND I APPRECIATE DOCTOR TORRANCE'S HOSPITALITY. THAT'S FANTASTIC. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF STUDENT OUTCOMES WORKING TOWARDS THIS DISTRICT. BUT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING IN THIS DISTRICT, ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS, IF THERE'S NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. DOCTOR RIVERA YES, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS THIS TEAM OF EIGHT MOMENT IS ACTUALLY A SHOUT OUT TO BARRY MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES AND PLANNING. AND YOU AS A GOVERNING BODY APPROVES, YOU KNOW SAFETY AND SECURITY UPGRADES. WE AS ADMINISTRATORS PUT IN PLACE TRAINING. AND LAST TUESDAY, BECAUSE OF THAT TRAINING AND THAT EFFORT, THAT THANKS TO Y'ALL AND THE TRAINING WE WE ACTUALLY AVERTED, [00:10:01] IT COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WHAT HAPPENED. AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF AT BARRY, THE LEADERSHIP AT BARRY FOR ADHERING TO THAT TRAINING AND EVERYTHING AS WELL. BUT IT'S A SHOUT OUT TO THAT CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY REACTED IN ACCORDANCE TO HOW THEY WERE TRAINED, AND EVERYBODY DID THEIR JOB FOR THE BENEFIT OF STAFF. STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IT'S STUDENT AND [III. STUDENT AND STAFF GUESTS] STAFF GUESTS, MISS SMITH. TONIGHT WE BEGIN OUR SPECIAL RECOGNITION PORTION OF THE MEETING WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS APPLE CORPS PROGRAM. THE APPLE CORPS AWARD IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MESQUITE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND CLAY COOLEY OF MESQUITE. WE'D LIKE TO THANK THEM BOTH FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR AMAZING EDUCATORS. OUR FIRST HONOREE THIS MONTH IS SELENA ACOSTA OF HANBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MISS ACOSTA IS A FIRST GRADE TEACHER WITH 11 YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE HERE IN MESQUITE ISD. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES HER AN APPLE CORPS TEACHER. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MRS. MARQUEZ FOR BEING OUR APPLE CORPS RECIPIENT FOR THIS MONTH. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE AN EDUCATOR WHO TRULY REPRESENTS WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE STUDENTS WITH EXCELLENCE. SHE IS THE KIND OF PERSON EVERY SCHOOL HOPES TO HAVE ON ITS TEAM POSITIVE, DEPENDABLE, COLLABORATIVE, AND ALWAYS WILLING TO LEARN AND GROW. SHE BRINGS GENUINE EXCITEMENT TO FINDING NEW WAYS TO MAKE LEARNING MEANINGFUL FOR HER SECOND GRADERS, AND SHE NEVER HESITATES TO STEP UP WHEN OUR CAMPUS NEEDS HER. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS MARQUEZ, YOU MAKE US VERY PROUD. SO I THINK TEACHING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS. MY PARENTS ALWAYS INSTILLED THAT IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I TEND TO INCORPORATE INTO MY DAILY TEACHING WITH MY BILINGUAL STUDENTS, GIVING THEM THE SENSE OF THEIR WORTH IN THIS WORLD, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I GET TO BUILD WITH MY STUDENTS, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE. AND SO JUST AS LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE GET TO BUILD WITH OUR FAMILIES IS WHAT I LOVE THE MOST. AND THAT WAS NOT SELENA ACOSTA, THAT WAS NADIA MARQUEZ OF MACKIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE IS OUR SECOND APPLE CORPS RECIPIENT THIS MONTH. SO WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE HER FIRST. NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN HER VIDEO, SHE'S A SECOND GRADE BILINGUAL TEACHER WITH 19 YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE, 19 RIGHT HERE IN MESQUITE ISD. AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME MISS MARQUEZ TO THE PODIUM TO ACCEPT HER APPLE CORPS HONOREE THIS EVENING. YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR FIRST NAME, NADIA NIDIA. OKAY, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE MESQUITE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEEKS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND DEDICATION TO THE STUDENTS OF MESQUITE ISD. AND WHEREAS, THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS CONSISTS OF EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS TO RECEIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HIGHEST RECOGNITION, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OFFICIALLY WELCOMES NIDIA MARQUEZ INTO THE MESQUITE ISD APPLE CORPS ON THIS FIFTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2026. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY TEACHING JOURNEY, I ALWAYS RETURNED TO 2007. I WAS A 25 YEAR OLD FIRST YEAR TEACHER, EXCITED, NERVOUS, AND HONESTLY JUST HOPING THAT SOMEONE WOULD GIVE ME A CHANCE. THEN I MET LISA MILLSAPS, MY VERY FIRST PRINCIPAL. AT THAT TIME, I DON'T THINK EITHER OF US KNEW THAT ONE. YES WOULD EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A 20 YEAR JOURNEY AT THE SAME CAMPUS. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME THE SAME SCHOOL FOR 20 YEARS AND I ALWAYS SMILE BECAUSE FOR ME IT HAS NEVER FELT LIKE JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL OR THIS SCHOOL. IT'S BECOME HOME. THE PLACE WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO BE A TEACHER. IT'S WHERE I MADE MISTAKES, WHERE I GREW, WHERE I TRIED NEW THINGS, LAUGHED, CRIED, YOU NAME IT. AND ESPECIALLY CELEBRATING ALL OF THOSE UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS WITH MY STUDENTS. IT'S ALSO WHERE I LEARNED THAT TEACHING IS REALLY ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW NOT ONLY MY STUDENTS, BUT ALSO THEIR FAMILIES. I'VE WATCHED STUDENTS GROW UP, GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY, WELCOMED THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS INTO MY [00:15:04] CLASSROOM, AND BUILD CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE LASTED FAR BEYOND JUST THE SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM. SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHY I'VE STAYED FOR 20 YEARS, MY ANSWER IS SIMPLE BECAUSE I FOUND MY PEOPLE. I FOUND A SCHOOL FAMILY THAT HAS SUPPORTED ME, ENCOURAGED ME, LAUGH WITH ME, LEARNED WITH ME, AND SHARED THE SAME VISION OF DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY HUSBAND REUBEN, AND OUR KIDS ALEX AND AVA. YOU'VE BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS THROUGH EVERY LESSON PLAN, EVERY LATE NIGHT, EVERY CLASSROOM TRANSFORMATION, EVERY SCHOOL EVENT, AND ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH LOVING THIS PROFESSION AS MUCH AS I DO. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING ME WITH MY STUDENTS AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS. SORRY GUYS. HANG TIGHT. IT'S KIND OF LONG. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FATHER, GUSTAVO, AND MY SIBLINGS ALONSO AND REMI. ANGUS, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME, ENCOURAGING ME, AND BEING PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I DO. HAVING A FAMILY THAT BELIEVES IN YOU MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO OUR DISTRICT'S BILINGUAL DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND COMMITMENT TO OUR BILINGUAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. DAISY. GRACIAS POR TODO TO MY FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY JOURNEY. THIS AWARD MAY HAVE MY NAME ON IT, BUT IT ALSO REPRESENTS SO MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ME, CHALLENGED ME, SUPPORTED ME, AND HELPED SHAPE THE PERSON I AM TODAY. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY CAMPUS LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING DOCTOR MARIA FRANCO AND ANDRE TOWNSEND. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN MY LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. LET'S KEEP MAKING THOSE WAVES TOWARDS EXCELLENCE. AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, IF YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY, YOU FIND YOUR MARIGOLD. THAT PERSON WHO HELPS YOU GROW, BELIEVES IN YOUR ABILITIES, AND REMINDS YOU OF YOUR WORTH. HOW LUCKY AM I THAT I FOUND MINE 20 YEARS AGO, SHE SAID. BACK THERE. DANNY PALMER, LOVINGLY KNOWN AS NINI. YOU ARE MY MARIGOLD. YOU HAVE BEEN MY FOREVER FRIEND THROUGH EVERY SEASON OF THIS JOURNEY, AND YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME. WHEN THINGS GOT TOUGH AND THERE WERE EVEN MOMENTS WHEN I SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED QUITTING TEACHING, YOU WERE THERE TO REMIND ME THAT THE FEELING WAS TEMPORARY, AND THAT ONE DIFFICULT SEASON DID NOT ERASE MY PURPOSE. THEN THERE WERE DAYS WHEN NEITHER OF US NEEDED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH. WE JUST NEEDED FRIES. AFTER A ROUGH DAY, YOU WERE THERE FOR THOSE DAYS TO. YOU HAVE BEEN MY CONFIDANTE, ENCOURAGER, VOICE OF REASON, SAFE PLACE, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THIS PROFESSION HAS GIVEN ME. YOU HAVE CELEBRATED THE HIGHS WITH ME AND HELPED CARRY ME THROUGH THE LOWS. NINI. I TRULY DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU. FINALLY, TO MY STUDENTS, PAST AND PRESENT AND THEIR FAMILIES, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF YOUR LIVES. YOU ARE THE REASON I HAVE CONTINUED SHOWING UP YEAR AFTER YEAR, DAY AFTER DAY, STILL EXCITED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO MAKE LEARNING FUN, MEANINGFUL, AND MEMORABLE. TODAY, STANDING HERE, I AM EVEN MORE GRATEFUL FOR EVERY STUDENT, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY COLLEAGUE, EVERY MENTOR, EVERY FRIEND, AND EVERY PERSON WHO BECAME PART OF MY JOURNEY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. NADIA MARQUEZ OF MACKIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND NOW OUR NEXT HONOREE IS FROM HANBY ELEMENTARY IS CELINA ACOSTA. SHE'S BEEN WITH US 11 YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT WHAT MAKES HER AN APPLE CORE TEACHER. MISS ACOSTA IS A TRUE MODEL OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALL. SHE INTENTIONALLY CRAFTS INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH CRUCIAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC SKILLS. HER DEEP ROOTED SENSE OF VOCATION KEEPS HER GROUNDED, AND OPTIMISM AND EMPATHY, FINDING THE GENUINE JOY IN HER DAILY WORK. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS ACOSTA, I AM HONORED TO WELCOME YOU TO APPLE. CORE. TEACHING IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE. TEACHERS HELP STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, AND LEARN HOW TO WORK AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MY STUDENTS. I WANT MY STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED, VALUED, AND BELIEVED IN. I SUPPORT THEM THROUGH CHALLENGES AND CELEBRATE THEIR GROWTH AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BOTH BIG AND SMALL. I STRIVE TO HELP MY STUDENTS BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES. I AM AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN THEIR CORNER, CHEERING THEM ON, ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN. SO LET ME READ THIS PROCLAMATION WHICH READS. 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 SELENA ACOSTA INTO THE MOSQUITO [00:20:06] IS THE APPLE CORPS AND THIS FIFTH DAY OF OCTOBER OF 2026. CONGRATULATIONS! THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HEY. OKAY. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RIVERA. AND DOCTOR FILLS IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE TODAY AND BE RECOGNIZED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY PRINCIPAL, MISS CALIXTO, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MISS BARBONI, AND THE STAFF, ESPECIALLY MY FIRST GRADE TEAM, WHO FELT I DESERVED THIS HONOR. TO MY PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND PUSHING ME TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE FOR MY STUDENTS. TO MY MOM, MY SISTER MONA, THANK YOU FOR PASSING DOWN THE LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND SHOWING ME HOW TO HOLD THEM FOR HIGH, TO HOLD THEM TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS HELPING ME SET UP MY CLASSROOM EVERY YEAR, AND FOR BEING WILLING TO HELP BUY REWARDS FOR MY STUDENTS. AND OF COURSE, WATCHING YOUR FUR GRANDBABIES WHEN I NEED TO STAY LATE FOR SCHOOL. TO MY VILLAGER FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE, BELIEVING IN ME, AND PUSHING ME TO BE BETTER. I ALWAYS SAY I WANT TO BE THE TEACHER THAT I WOULD WANT MY FRIENDS KIDS TO HAVE. THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AN APPLE CORP TEACHER. I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW WE'RE CELEBRATING YOU TONIGHT, BUT WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY. SO, MISS MARQUEZ, IF YOUR FAMILY IS HERE, WE'D LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SUPPORT IN YOU. MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY HAD A CHOIR CONCERT THAT I DO WITH MY DAUGHTER, SO WE'RE KIND OF DIVIDING THE COUNTRY. BUT I DO HAVE MY DAUGHTER, MARIA FRANCO. I HAVE MY SON ALEX, OKAY. AND I HAVE MY BEST FRIEND, DANNY, ONE OF MY OTHER BEST FRIENDS. LISA. I HAVE MY ONE OF MY OTHER GREAT, GREAT FRIENDS. MY POSITIVITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE HERE, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HER. STUDENT, KIMBERLY. ALL RIGHT. AND IS YOUR FAMILY HERE? WE'D LIKE FOR THEM TO WAVE OR STAND UP. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THEM ALSO. THANK YOU GUYS. MISS ACOSTA, THE SAME THING. YOUR FAMILY THAT'S HERE. OKAY, SO I HAVE MY MOM HERE. MY BEST FRIEND ASHLEY, MY BEST FRIEND MOM. BEST FRIEND KRISTEN. AND THEN I DO HAVE MY PRINCIPAL AND MY FIRST GRADE TEAMMATE, MISS GUTIERREZ. AND THEN MISS CAROL, MY LIBRARIAN. IS THAT YOUR HANBY FAMILY BACK THERE? WELL, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING. AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING PARAPROFESSIONALS WITH THE STAR PAIR AWARD. MESQUITE ISD IS EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP OF AMERICA TO PROVIDE THE STAR PAIR RECIPIENT WITH A $50 GIFT CARD. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JEFF JOHNSON, ALONG WITH OUR OCTOBER STAR PARA VIRGINIA SWINT, TO THE PODIUM. MR. JOHNSON IS GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MAKES MISS SWINT SPECIAL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE OUR STAR PARA OF THE MONTH, MISS VIRGINIA SWINT. MISS SWINT HAS SERVED AS A. OUR REGISTRAR, ACADEMIC DEAN, ASSISTANT AT MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL FOR 34 YEARS AND IS ALSO A PROUD GRADUATE OF MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. THERE IS TRULY NO ONE MORE DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION. THIS SWINT SERVES AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, CONSISTENTLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE NOT ONLY OUR COUNSELORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. OUR ENROLLMENT PROCESS RUNS SEAMLESSLY, AND OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY ARE WARMLY SUPPORTED. WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES WITH EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, KINDNESS, AND HUMILITY. SHE PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL, AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN EMPOWERING OUR CAMPUS AND STUDENTS TO THRIVE. MISS SWINT EXEMPLIFIES UNWAVERING CONSISTENCY, SELFLESSNESS, AND LEADERSHIP. THE PROFOUND IMPACT SHE MAKES IN OUR CAMPUS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. SHE IS NOT MERELY AN ASSET TO OUR TEAM. SHE IS VITAL TO THE CORE MISSION OF OUR SCHOOL. WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER AT THE MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL, AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING FOR OUR CAMPUS. AND IF AND SOMEONE I'M PROUD TO CALL A COWORKER AND A FRIEND, THE [00:25:05] GREAT MISS VIRGINIA SWINT. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE OUR OCTOBER COMMUNITY PARTNER, THE MESQUITE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR THEIR GENEROUS PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING ENRICHING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR MESQUITE ISD STUDENTS. THIS SUMMER, THE MESQUITE FIRE DEPARTMENT LED TWO BLAZE BIG BLAZE BRIGADE CAMPS FOR MORE THAN 35 MIT STUDENTS. WE HAVE A SPECIAL VIDEO TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING PARTNERSHIP. SUMMER, THE MESQUITE FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATED AT CAMP EXCEL BY HOSTING BLAZE BRIGADE. AND SO THIS MONTH, WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS OUR FEATURED COMMUNITY PARTNER. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A COMPONENT FOR ADULTS. IT'S CALLED OUR CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY. WE WANTED TO EXTEND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THE THE YOUTH WITHIN THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHERE THE CAMP EXCEL WAS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THAT. WITH THIS BEING A FIRST YEAR CAMP, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE NEVER KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO GO. BUT THEN THEY SOLD OUT BOTH CAMPS. AND SO THE KIDS, OBVIOUSLY BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT THERE, WERE EXTREMELY EXCITED AND GET TO GETTING TO BRING IT DOWN TO A HUMAN LEVEL WHERE THE KIDS ACTUALLY GET TO SEE WHAT IS IT LOOK LIKE DAY TO DAY, THAT IT'S JUST A LOT MORE THAN JUST RIDING AROUND IN A RED FIRE TRUCK, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE ASPECTS TO IT, AND THEY DO A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR. WE'RE TAKING SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS LAST YEAR AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT BETTER AND MORE FUN FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU TO THE MESQUITE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CREATING SUCH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS SUMMER. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR STUDENT RECOGNITIONS. AND FIRST UP, WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS HERE WHO WERE SELECTED AS NATIONAL MATH STARS FINALIST, EARNING RECOGNITION AMONG OVER 8000 MATHEMATICALLY EXTRAORDINARY STUDENTS NATIONWIDE. FIRST UP FROM GALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAVE DENISE GAYLEN, NATIONAL MATH STAR FINALIST. SPONSOR IS CASSIDY SIRAGUSA. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP FROM TOSH ELEMENTARY WE HAVE ARIANA RODRIGUEZ RAMOS, NATIONAL MATH STARS FINALIST WITH SPONSOR CLAUDIA PULTE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL GROUP OF LEADERS. THESE ARE OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENTS. HELP ME WELCOME FROM MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL A STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ. SHE'S STUDENT COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENT WITH LATORIA SMITH ALBERT WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT THEIR SPONSOR IS AARON VANSICKLE. NEXT UP FROM NORTH MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE CAMILA SALAS, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERE WITH SPONSOR BRADY MINER. ALL. NEXT UP FROM WEST MESQUITE HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE JACQUELINE DE LA SANCHEZ, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERE WITH SPONSOR STEPHANIE BOUCHER AND KRISTEN HAYWOOD. [00:30:21] ALL RIGHT. FROM. FROM POTEET HIGH SCHOOL. DIANA ROBERTS IS THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR THE PIRATES. SHE'S HERE WITH SPONSOR MICHELLE GRIFFIN. NEXT UP FROM JOHN HORN HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE KAREN MCGARRY, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERE WITH SPONSOR CALEB ELLISON. ALL RIGHT, FROM VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE JOY ICHIMURA, STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT WITH SPONSOR WIN. SALADO. GUERRERO. HE JUST ASKED HER. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS COMPLETES OUR STUDENT AND STAFF RECOGNITION PORTION FOR THIS EVENING. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM OUR LITTLE RECESS. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR AUDIENCE SECTION. FOR ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO SPEAK REGARDING ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ONLINE, MR. PRESIDENT? OH, IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER HOUR. NOT THERE BEING NONE. WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE AUDIENCE PORTION. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE [IV. CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT AGENDA. BOARD MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS OR AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL AND DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION SEPARATELY? THERE BEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WRITTEN. OKAY, I'LL SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. CABELL AND A SECOND BY MISS HAWK TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. [V. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT] THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. FIRST ITEM IS UNDER PERSONNEL. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE. ADMINISTRATIVE TERM CONTRACT. DOCTOR RIVERA. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, NOTHING BRINGS ME MORE EXCITEMENT TO BRING YOU THIS RECOMMENDATION. BECAUSE. BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT AN ELEMENTARY COORDINATOR FOR A WHILE NOW. SO I'M GOING TO BUT I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO MISS SMITH, OUR CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, AND SHE WILL INTRODUCE. LET ME TAKE THAT. YES. AS SOON AS WE TAKE ACTION. YOU GOT THE YOU GOT THE MIC. THAT'S RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT, BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM, MR. PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. EVERETT, A SECOND BY MISS COLLIER TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE TERM CONTRACT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION PASSES, SEVEN ZERO. MISS SMITH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT SEWARD, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW ELEMENTARY READING LANGUAGE ARTS COORDINATOR, SARAH GRAF, IF YOU WOULD STAND. SARAH BRINGS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION, MOST RECENTLY SERVING AS AN ELEMENTARY LITERACY COORDINATOR, WHERE SHE LED K-5 LITERACY INITIATIVES, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. HER EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDES SERVING AS A TEXAS READING ACADEMIES COHORT LEADER AND PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN FACILITATOR, AND ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER. GRAF EARNED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY [00:35:02] INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES FROM TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER'S IN TEACHER LEADERSHIP FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY. SHE IS CURRENTLY PURSUING A DOCTORATE OF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH A SPECIALIZATION OF LITERACY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. WELCOME TO THE MISD FAMILY, SARAH GRAF. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. WELCOME. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A REPORT, BOARD MEMBERS, THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE ABOUT RESIGNATIONS AND NEW HIRES. NO QUESTIONS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM UNDER EFFECTIVENESS REPORT. IT'S A TRANSPORTATION REPORT BY RAYMOND FORSBERG. RAYMOND, I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN YOU WITH A SUIT LIKE THAT, I LOVE IT. HE'S DOCTOR RIVERA PRESIDENT STEWART AND ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS RAYMOND FORSBERG HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR MY DIRECT DISTRICT EFFECTIVENESS REPORT. SO IN THIS REPORT I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN THE WHAT'S HAVE BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY WITH TRANSPORTATION, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS NEW SOFTWARE. AND SO I TITLED THIS CONNECTED TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS. AND IN PART, WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING LATER IN HERE ABOUT THE AUDIT FINDING, WHICH I MENTIONED ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN BETWEEN ROUTE TEARS BEING INSUFFICIENT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEES ARE OFTEN THE FIRST AND LAST DISTRICT MEMBERS THAT STUDENTS SEE EACH DAY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THE DRIVERS ARE IN GOOD SPIRITS. AND SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE PROMOTE OPEN COMMUNICATIONS, STAFF RECOGNITIONS, TEAM ACTIVITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR OFFICE HOURS. JUST LIKE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU GUYS, IT WAS 5:30 A.M. TO 6 P.M. WITH AFTER HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WE STILL REMAIN RELIABLE ON TIME TRANSPORTATION STAFF, COMPLIANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS AND SAFE FLEET, SAFE SHOP AND SAFE FUELING OPERATIONS. SO OUR NEW CHAT PLATFORM IS CALLED TRAVERSAL, ROUTING AND TELEMATICS. SINCE WE HAVE ONBOARDED THAT AND IMPLEMENTED THIS SCHOOL YEAR, HELPS US WITH OPERATIONAL DATA COLLECTION THAT HELPS US MAKE GOOD OPERATIONAL DECISIONS SUCH AS ROUTE PROGRESS, ARRIVAL TIMES, BUS LOCATIONS. IT ALL HELPS WITH DISPATCHING AND JUST OVERALL GUIDANCE AND CAMPUS COMMUNICATION. IT MAKES IT HELPS US MAKE BETTER ROUTE DECISIONS. WE CAN LOOK AT RIDERSHIP, LOAD COUNTS, MILEAGE, TRAVEL TIMES AND IT HELPS GUIDE US TO OPTIMIZE OUR ROUTES. SO OUR IMPLEMENTATION FOCUS IS TO CONFIRM QUALITY DATA, TRAIN STAFF AND EXPECTATIONS, AND REVIEW TRENDS REGULARLY. SO THIS ONE CONNECTED INCLUDES JUST NOT JUST THE OVERALL OPERATIONS, WHICH GIVES US ROUTE AND STOP INFORMATION THAT HELPS US PROVIDE EXPECTATIONS AND SERVE EXPECTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. BUT YOU KNOW, OUR TRIP SIDE OF THE PROGRAM IS ADVANCED TRIPS, WHICH ORGANIZE REQUESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS, AND THEN OUR ADVANCED FLEET THAT GIVES SHOPS A RECORD OF MAINTENANCE. IT ALSO HELPS PROVIDE DRIVER COACHING TERMS. THAT GIVES US TARGETED TRAINING WITH THOSE HABITS OF THE DRIVERS THAT IT CAPTURES FOR US. SO SPEAKING OF WHICH, IT'S CONSISTENT COACHING CYCLE CAN REDUCE PREVENTABLE INCIDENTS AND COSTS AS THEY CREATE. SO AGAIN, WE CAN IDENTIFY THE PATTERNS OF DRIVER BEHAVIOR LIKE HARSH BRAKING, HARSH STOPPING, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE REVIEW TELEMATICS, VIDEO, AND ACCIDENT TRENDS TO FIND BEHAVIORS THAT NEED ATTENTION, AND THEN ALLOWS US TO THEN HAVE ONE ON ONE COACHING WITH THEM SO WE CAN HAVE TARGETED CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE WHEEL PRACTICE. AND ALL OF THIS IS JUST TO TO MEASURE IS TO HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS, REPEAT EVENTS AND TRAINING COMPLETIONS. THE TRIP PART OF THINGS, AND I REALLY LOVE THIS PART IS THAT IT SHARES PROGRESS PROCESS THAT MAKES REQUEST COVERAGE AND COMPLETION EASIER TO TRACK. SO WITH THE DATA WE CAN MAINTAIN COMPLETE TRIP ITINERARIES, REVIEW DRIVERS AND VEHICLE AVAILABILITY, AND RESOLVE COVERAGE CONFLICTS EARLY. IT ALSO CAN RECORD CHANGES, CANCELLATIONS, COMPLETE TRIPS FOR THE REPORTING AND BILLING. RIGHT. SO IT HELPS PRIMARILY TO PRESERVE HOMESCHOOL COVERAGE DURING THE PEAK TRIP DEMAND. AND THEN THERE'S THE FLEET MAINTENANCE SIDE OF THINGS, THE ELECTRONIC WORK ORDERS AND DOCUMENTED PROCEDURES ADDRESS THE FINDINGS OF THE 2026 EXTERNAL REVIEWS. SO IT HELPS US WITH THE PLANNED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY VEHICLE. IT HELPS US RECORD DEFECTS, DIAGNOSTICS, LABOR AND COMPLETED REPAIRS, TRACK INVENTORY PARTS CONTROL AND USE REOCCURRING REPORTS TO MONITOR THE READINESS AND MAINTENANCE DEMANDS. AND SO, SPEAKING OF MY MAINTENANCE, I'VE INVITED MY ENTIRE MAINTENANCE TEAM. IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, PLEASE STAND. AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM. SO OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM IS A PRODUCT OF MESQUITE ISD AND THE YOUNGEST ONES ARE VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL MECHANIC PROGRAMS. TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS LAST HERE, I PRESENTED JOAQUIM AND JASON. RAISE YOUR HAND, JOAQUIM AND [00:40:03] JASON. OKAY, SO THEY WERE OUR INAUGURAL STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM. AND WE FOUND THAT SUCH A SUCCESS THAT AFTER THEY SERVED THEIR YEAR AS INTERNS, THEY IN TURN CAME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY GRADUATED AND STARTED WORKING FOR US AS MECHANIC'S HELPERS. AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT TODAY THEY ARE FULL FLEDGED MECHANICS. JOSE FOLLOWED LAST YEAR AS IN TERM, AND THEN WE HIRED HIM THIS YEAR AS A FULL FLEDGED MECHANIC. AND THEN TIFFANY STARTED THIS YEAR AS OUR MECHANIC HELPER. THEY BOTH ARE PRODUCT OF VANGUARD. THEY ALL ARE PRODUCT OF VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH REALLY HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR SHOP. AND TIFFANY IN PARTICULAR IS SCHEDULED TO TEACH THE AUTO BASICS TO FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CLASS IN DECEMBER 1ST AND SECOND, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH MATTER. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF HER AND THE REST OF THE TEAM HERE. THEY'VE DONE AN EXEMPLARY JOB WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH SHOP. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THE MEASURE OF OUR NEXT REVIEW IS TO ESTABLISH A SCORECARD AND ADOPT THE SYSTEM AND VALIDATE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT THAT, THAT, THAT AUDIT BROUGHT. SO OPERATIONAL WISE, RIDERSHIP, ROUTE TIMES, MILEAGE REPORTS REGARDING THE FLEET, THE AVAILABILITY, PM COMPLETION, OPEN WORK ORDERS, SAFETY IS PREVENTIVE ACCIDENTS AND COACH FOLLOW THROUGH. AND THEN THE TRIPS IS JUST COVERAGE COMPLETED TRIP AND OVER TIME EXPOSURES. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AND INVEST IN OUR MECHANIC SHOP. BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS ARE TRAINED FOR SAFETY, IT'S THE MECHANICS THAT MAKE SURE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE AND ON THE ROAD. SO IT'S A STRONG SHOP PRACTICE TO DEPEND ON TRAINED MECHANICS, PROTECTED WORK TIME AND LEADERSHIP CONTINUITY. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAIR VANGUARD GRADUATES WITH SHOP MENTORS, ONGOING TECHNICAL TRAINING AND A CLEAR PATH FOR ADVANCEMENT WHILE WE KEEP THE MECHANICS AVAILABLE FOR MAINTENANCE WORK AND ASSIGNED DOCUMENTED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PRIORITIES. I HAVE IN HERE ABOUT ANDY HOFFMAN. SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT ROY AKINS, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR 32 YEARS, RETIRED, RETIRED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, AND ANDY HUFFMAN IS NOW THE INCOMING FLEET MANAGER, CURRENTLY INTERIM. BUT HE'S DEFINITELY BEEN SELECTED FOR HE'S PLACED THE TASBT TEXAS BEST COMPETITIONS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TEXAS IS A HUGE STATE AND HE BROUGHT IT HOME FIVE TIMES. HIM AND ROY, HE SAID. AND HE'S WAS RECOGNIZED AS SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE TRANSPORTATION. SO HERE'S THE CHALLENGES WITH TRANSPORTATION AT THIS TIME. SO WE STILL OBSERVED THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. AND WE'VE SINCE HAD 19 OPEN POSITIONS SINCE SCHOOL HAS STARTED. AND THIS WAS CAPTURED AS OF SEPTEMBER 24TH LAST YEAR. I PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS AS WELL THAT WE STARTED THE PROGRAM FOR THIRD PARTY EXAMINERS, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY WORKED FOR US. IT MAKES IT A ONE STOP SHOP FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER HAD A CDL TO COME AND GET OURS HERE, DO THE TESTS, GET THE TRAINING, AND THEN PASS THE TEST AND SUBSEQUENTLY GET THE CDL LICENSE ALL IN ONE SPOT. AND IT'S BEEN CERTAINLY SUCCESSFUL. SO WE CONTINUE OUR TRAINING RECRUITMENT WITH GOING TO JOB FAIRS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYEE REFERRALS TO GET THE WORD OUT. SO, TO DISCUSS THE JANUARY 2026 AUDIT IN JANUARY, THIS WAS THE BASELINES OF THEIR FINDINGS, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS 187 BUSSES. FIVE OF THEM WERE DOWN, AND THE AVERAGE FLEET AGE THAT THEY FOUND WAS JUST UNDER 11 YEARS. BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS A SNAPSHOT. THEN IT'S NOT A CURRENT COUNTS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANT TO MENTION IS PART OF THE FINDING IS THE 20 MINUTES BETWEEN TEARS MAKES THE ROUTE INSUFFICIENT. YOU KNOW, WE GOT A BUS THAT CAN SEAT 50 TO 77 PASSENGERS, BUT WE AVERAGED 35. WELL, BECAUSE WE ONBOARDED THIS NEW TELEMATICS PROCESS, IT GAVE US A BIGGER PICTURE, BROADER PICTURE TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. AND WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY MERGE AND, YOU KNOW, COMBINE A LOT OF THESE ROUTES. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE SOME OF THAT GIVEN THE TIME RESTRAINTS. AND IN MAY, I CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT SENATE BILL 546, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2029 DEADLINE FOR THE THREE POINT SEAT BELTS FOR SCHOOL BUSSES. AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR BUSSES CURRENTLY IN OPERATION HAVE PASSENGER SEAT BELTS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING THE PROCESS OF PHASING OUT THE BUSSES WITH THE TWO POINT RESTRAINTS. I DO WANT TO MENTION IT'S ONLY 11 BUSSES. WE WILL CERTAINLY BE IN COMPLIANCE LONG BEFORE THE 2029 DEADLINE. AND IN CONCLUSION, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATING PRIORITIES WITH REDUCING PREVENTIVE ACCIDENTS THROUGH DRIVER COACHING, MONITOR ON TIME AND TRIP COVERAGE, AND USE OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE TO LIMIT AVOIDABLE DOWNTIME. SO AT THIS TIME, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. THANK YOU, MR. [00:45:02] FORSBERG. TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU'RE GOING TO FACE WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS, OR WILL THERE BE ANY CHALLENGES? WELL, THERE CERTAINLY WILL BE SOME CHALLENGES, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY LANDLOCKED WHERE WE AT. AND SO THE CONVERSATION HAD BEEN WITH BOTH TAYLOR, DOCTOR FEINGLASS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OTHER LOCATIONS, POSSIBLY TO DO A SPLIT OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, LIKE MAYBE THE SPED DEPARTMENT, SINCE THEY'RE HAVE TO FLEE, COULD BE PARTLY ACROSS THE STREET. MAYBE IT'S STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, BUT WE DO PLAN ON SHUTTLING, AND WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN HAVING A CONVERSATION. SINCE. YOUR TEAM IS THE FIRST THAT THE KIDS SEE IN THE MORNING, AND THEN LAST PERSON THEY SEE WHEN THEY ALREADY LEAVE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT YOU KEEP SPIRITS UP AND MORALE UP AND PEOPLE ENERGIZED? RIGHT. SO WE HAVE AGAIN, MONTHLY RECOGNITION. I SENT OUT A NEWSLETTER THAT NOT ONLY RECOGNIZES THOSE WHO, YOU KNOW, DO SOME CERTAIN ACCOMPLISHMENTS, LIKE IF I GET AN EMAIL OF SOME KUDOS, I DEFINITELY SHARE THAT WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM. IT MIGHT BE DIRECTED TO 1 OR 2, BUT EVERYBODY GETS TO SHARING THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THAT. THAT MEANS THEY GET A FREE PARKING SPOT JUST FOR THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE JUST DO A LOT OF PRAISES. WE'RE OUT THERE GREETING THEM. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT THEIR INTEGRATION AND JUST FEELING LIKE FAMILY HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE OPEN THE DOOR, I OPENED THE DOOR FOR THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO COME TO ME. AND, YOU KNOW, I DO HAVE A CHAIN OF COMMAND, BUT THEY DO. THEY CAN AND DO COME TO ME TO EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE, AND THEN I DO THE BEST TO HELP THEM OUT. BUT, YOU KNOW, TRINA IS OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WHO'S VERY GOOD AT, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THESE DRIVERS TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, DOING THINGS FOR THEM, LIKE GIVING GIFT CARDS, SAYING THANK YOU. SHE'S REAL GOOD AT IT. SO THANK GOD FOR HER FOR SURE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? IF WE HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT DOCTOR RIVERA, CAN WE COME TO YOU? YEAH, WE'RE CERTAINLY WE'LL JUST HAVE HIM BREAK DANCE IN FRONT OF ALL THE DRIVERS AND LET THEM. ABSOLUTELY. RAYMOND. GREAT. RAYMOND. GREAT REPORT. I'LL TELL YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, WE CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DOES TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE. THEY GET THEM TO SCHOOL TO LEARN, GET THEM BACK HOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE FROM VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL THAT NOW WORKS FOR MESQUITE ISD IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KEEP THINGS MOVING VERY SAFELY. LET ME EVEN ADD TO THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SHORTHANDED. THEY'VE BEEN COVERING ROUTES TOO. SO IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT AND THEY STAY COMMITTED, BUT THEY'RE PART OF THE TEAM AND THEY GET OUT THERE. THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS DO. AND THEN THOSE WHO AREN'T MONITORED. AND SO I WANT TO, AGAIN, RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD. THANK YOU AGAIN. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT ITEM IS UNDER ADMINISTRATION. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. DOCTOR FEINGLASS. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SEWARD. BOARD DOCTOR RIVERA. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME PROPOSED PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS DRAFTED. WE STARTED THIS COMMITTEE THREE SESSIONS AGO. AND IN THE BEGINNING, SIX YEARS AGO, THE GOAL WAS BUILDING KNOWLEDGE. WE WE ESTABLISHED A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE GAINED KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. HOW DOES A BILL BECOME A LAW? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE CAPITAL? WHAT DO WE SAY? WE WORKED ON THAT. WE ENGAGED WITH OUR LEGISLATORS. THE NEXT SESSION. WE WORKED ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND WE BUILT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS. WE MEET WITH THEM YEAR ROUND. WE MEET WITH THEM WHEN THEY'RE HERE. WE MEET WITH THEM IN AUSTIN. BUT WE ALSO ADDED IN THE LEGISLATORS WHO SERVE ON BOTH OF THE COMMITTEES FOR THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, WE STRENGTHENED PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND WE COLLABORATED AND LEARNED ALONGSIDE OTHER DISTRICTS. SO OTHER DISTRICTS, WE REALIZED THAT THE SAME THINGS ARE HAPPENING. WE HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS, WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THE SAME LANGUAGE WHEN WE GO TO THE CAPITOL. IT'S REALLY NOT FAIR TO THE LEGISLATORS TO HEAR 1200 DIFFERENT THINGS FROM 1200 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. SO WE TRY TO COMBINE OUR VOICE. AND THEN THIS SESSION AGAIN, WORKING ON BUILDING OUR VOICE. WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY [00:50:03] AND LEGISLATORS TO DRAFT OUR OWN PRIORITIES. AND SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE DRAFTED OUR PRIORITIES AND THAT IT HAS COME FROM THEM. AND ALSO, JUST SO, WE PRESENTED TO 60 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON PARTNERING WITH THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER. WE ARE THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT HAS A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER TO BUILD PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVOCACY, SO WE ARE TRYING TO HELP OTHERS DO THAT AS WELL. THIS IS OUR COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A MIX OF WE HAVE THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS. WE HAVE CABINET, WE HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS. WE HAVE THE RETIRED RETIRED MARS MESQUITE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED. WHAT'S THE S O MY SCHOOL. GOOD GRACIOUS. SORRY. SCHOOL EDUCATORS. WE HAVE WE HAVE THE CITY CITY COUNCIL. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES. AND OF COURSE, ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES WERE INVITED TO BE A PART OF THIS. AND WE HAVE TWO THAT THAT HAVE JOINED AND BEEN AT ALL THE MEETINGS. THIS IS THE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE DID THIS SPRING. WE STARTED AGAIN. WE STARTED UP AGAIN IN JANUARY, AND WE SPENT TIME LEARNING FROM BOTH THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY EXPERTS. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LEARNING HOW TO DRAFT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND THEN WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ACTUALLY DRAFTING THEM. AND SO WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS THE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING THAT CAME FROM THE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE TWO MAIN AREAS FUNDING AND LOCAL AND LOCAL CONTROL. SO FUNDING, WE WANT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND ALSO INCREASE THE ALLOTMENT FOR BASIC COSTS TO ADDRESS INFLATIONARY INCREASES TO FIXED COSTS, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, UTILITIES AND INSURANCE. AND THESE ARE AREAS THAT THE LEGISLATORS HAVE SAID THEY ARE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF UNFUNDED MANDATES IN THESE AREAS. AND SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO INCREASE THE FUNDING IN. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE HAVE COME TOGETHER ON. THE SECOND ONE BEING LOCAL CONTROL, AND TO PROTECT THE ABILITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SECURE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THROUGH VOTER APPROVED LOCAL TAX EFFORT FOR COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WITH TASB AS WELL, WANTING OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE SAY ON OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO OUR NEXT STEPS IS COMING UP NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. WE'LL BE MEETING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS HERE IN TOWN, AND YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF OUR PRIORITIES AND THAT THEY CAN SPEAK TO THEM. THE SESSION WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY AND THEN FEBRUARY. WE START BACK UP FULL FORCE WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WILL BEGIN, AS WELL AS ALL THE VISITS TO THE CAPITOL. AND SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE ANY OF YOU WHO WANT TO JOIN AND COME TO THE CAPITOL. WE'D LOVE TO, TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PRIORITIES. THIS IS THE ACTION ITEM. BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS. NONE. OKAY. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR FACILITATING ALL THIS. OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A CHORE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. BRINGING IN DANNY STOCKTON TO HELP THE FIRST OR FAST. I'M SORRY. FAST. I KNOW THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE, SOME ARE ALL MAY GO DOWN THIS THIS SPRING. I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CURRENT ELECTION GETTING READY TO OCCUR. WE'RE NOT SURE WHO'S GOING TO BE DOWN THERE AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT THANK YOU FOR PULLING ALL THIS TOGETHER AND AND GIVING A REPORT AND FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR DRAFTING THESE PRIORITIES THAT ARE HIGH LEVEL, THAT GIVES FLEXIBILITY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. BOARD MEMBERS, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION BY MR. EVERETT, SECOND BY MISS COLLIER TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. BEFORE YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, DOCTOR? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. DOCTOR FEINGLASS. WE'VE BEEN DOWN TO MEET WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION CHAIR BUCKLEY, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE WHEN HE WAS AVAILABLE. WE'VE MET WITH HIS STAFF. HAVE YOU EVER VISITED WITH HIM? WE HAVE. WE'VE MET WITH HIM. AND AND BUT USUALLY WE DO MEET WITH THE STAFF AND WE ARE JUST AS HAPPY TO MEET WITH THE STAFF THAT ARE OVER PUBLIC EDUCATION. THEY KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. THEY HAVE THE EAR OF THE REPRESENTATIVE. SO BUT WE HAVE WE'VE MET WITH THAT OFFICE MULTIPLE TIMES. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN [00:55:01] FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I. THOSE OPPOSED. NAY. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO. THANK YOU AGAIN, DOCTOR FEINGLASS. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UNDER BUSINESS. IT'S AN ACTION ITEM TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2026 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOBODY WANTS TO SPEAK. CINDY. THERE BEING NONE, WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE HEARING AND RETURN TO THE OPEN MEETING. NEXT ITEM IS THE REPORT FOR THE 2026 ANNUAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT. MISS CHAPPELLE. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT SEWARD. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR RIVERA. TONIGHT, I WILL PRESENT THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL FIRST ANNUAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORT. THIS YEAR'S RATINGS IS BASED ON THE DISTRICT'S 2024 2025 AUDIT AND SELECTED TEAMS DATA, INCLUDING STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND STAFFING. THIS HEARING GIVES THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR RESULTS AND ASK QUESTIONS. SCHOOL FIRST IS THE STATE'S FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, SOUND FINANCIAL PRACTICES, AND TRANSPARENCY FOR TAXPAYERS. STATE RULES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING. ADVANCE NOTICE THROUGH THE REQUIRED NEWSPAPER AND BROADCAST CHANNELS, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS REPORT. FOR THE 24TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. OUR DISTRICT HAS EARNED THE HIGHEST SCHOOL FIRST RATING OF A SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT. THE DISTRICT EARNED 98 OUT OF 100 POINTS. THIS REFLECTS CONSISTENT FINANCIAL REPORTING, COMPLIANCE, AND RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. FOR THIS PRESENTATION, I HAVE GROUPED THE 21 SCHOOL FIRST INDICATORS INTO FIVE SECTIONS. AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE. FINANCIAL HEALTH AND OPERATIONS. CASH FLOW AND LIQUIDITY. DEBT MANAGEMENT AND ENROLLMENT AND STAFFING. I WILL BRIEFLY EXPLAIN EACH SECTION AND WHAT EACH SECTION COVERS AND HOW THE DISTRICT PERFORMED. SOME SLIDES ALSO WILL INCLUDE PROJECTED RESULTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. THESE ESTIMATES SHOW WHERE WE MAY BE HEADED, BUT THEY DO NOT REFLECT OUR CURRENT RATING. OKAY, SO THE FIRST SLIDE SECTION AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS WHETHER THE DISTRICT COMPLIED WITH FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, DEBT AGREEMENTS, PUBLIC POSTING REQUIREMENTS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL PRACTICES. IT ALSO SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF THE EXTERNAL AUDIT, INCLUDING THE AUDIT OPINION AND ANY IDENTIFIED WEAKNESSES OR NONCOMPLIANCE. INDICATOR ONE THROUGH FOUR AND 16 THROUGH 21 FALL UNDER THIS SECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE DISTRICT SUBMITTED ITS FINANCIAL REPORT ON TIME, RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN AUDIT OPINION, HAD NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE, AND COMPLIED WITH ALL DEBT PAYMENT TERMS. INDICATORS 18 AND 19 ARE SCORED ON YES OR NO. THE DISTRICT RECEIVED YES ON BOTH, RECEIVING TEN POINTS FOR INDICATOR 18 AND FIVE POINTS FOR INDICATOR 19. OVERALL, THE DISTRICT PASSED EVERY INDICATOR IN THIS SECTION, MATCHING LAST YEAR'S RESULTS. THE FINANCIAL HEALTH AND OPERATIONS SECTION EVALUATES THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL FINANCIAL STABILITY. IT REVIEWS NET POSITION. THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE, OPERATING RESULTS, REVENUE ESTIMATES, LONG TERM LIABILITIES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. IT COVERS INDICATORS FIVE, SIX, NINE THROUGH 11, AND 13. INDICATOR FIVE AS TO WHETHER ADJUSTED FINANCIAL RESOURCES EXCEED OBLIGATIONS. TO PASS THIS INDICATOR, THE NET POSITION MUST BE GREATER THAN ZERO. OUR NET POSITION WAS POSITIVE IN EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, IT WAS 548 MILLION. INDICATOR SIX IDENTIFIES IF THERE IS A RAPID DECLINE IN THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE THE DISTRICT PASSES. IF THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE DECLINE IS LESS THAN 25%, THE CURRENT THREE YEAR AVERAGE WAS A POSITIVE 16.11%. THE DISTRICT HAS PASSED THIS INDICATOR FOR ALL THREE YEARS. WE ARE PROJECTING TO PASS THIS INDICATOR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, WITH A DECLINE AVERAGE TOTALING 8.1%, WHICH IS STILL WITHIN THE LIMIT. INDICATOR. NINE TESTS WHETHER OPERATING REVENUES COVER OPERATING EXPENDITURES AND OFFERS TWO TESTS TO PASS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, EXPENDITURES EXCEEDED REVENUE, SO THE DISTRICT DID NOT PASS THE FIRST TEST. HOWEVER, ON THE SECOND [01:00:05] TEST DAYS, CASH ON HAND WAS CALCULATED TO DETERMINE IF THE DISTRICT HAS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER THE SHORTFALL OR A MINIMUM OF 60 DAYS. THE DISTRICT HAD 97 DAYS AND EARNED ALL TEN POINTS FOR NEXT YEAR'S RATING. WE ARE PROJECTING THE SAME RESULTS AS THIS YEAR. WE WILL NOT PASS THE FIRST TEST DUE TO EXPENDITURES EXCEEDING REVENUE. HOWEVER, DAYS CASH ON HAND IS PROJECTED TO BE 76 DAYS, ALTHOUGH THIS EXCEEDS THE 60 DAY THRESHOLD, THE 22% DECLINE WILL BE MONITORED. YES, YOU SAID THAT YOU. EXPECTED TO RECEIVE. WELL, NEXT YEAR IS FISCAL YEAR 2026 ALONG WITH JUST. IS THERE ALWAYS A YEAR BEHIND INDICATOR TEN? LET ME CHANGE THE SLIDE. SORRY. INDICATOR TEN COMPARES BUDGETED REVENUE WITH ACTUAL REVENUE OVER THREE YEARS. ACCURATELY ESTIMATING STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS IMPORTANT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. BECAUSE THESE ESTIMATES GUIDES THE DISTRICT BUDGETING, STAFFING AND SPENDING DECISIONS. THE MAXIMUM TEN POINTS REQUIRES THE AVERAGE TO REMAIN WITHIN 10% OF THE BUDGET. THE DISTRICT'S VARIANCE WAS ONLY 0.39%, AND THE DISTRICT EARNED A MAXIMUM OF TEN POINTS. T DID NOT SCORE THIS INDICATOR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND 2024. INDICATOR 11 COMPARES LONG TERM LIABILITIES WITH TOTAL ASSETS. A RESULT LOWER THAN 60% IS MORE FAVORABLE AND EARNS THE MAXIMUM OF TEN POINTS. THE DISTRICT REMAINED BELOW THE 60% FROM FISCAL YEAR 2023 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2025. INDICATOR 13 COMPARES ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WITH SPENDING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE STUDENTS. FOR DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE, A RESULT OF 8.55% OR LESS EARNS THE MAXIMUM POINTS. THE T A DID NOT MEASURE THIS INDICATOR IN FISCAL YEAR 25. HOWEVER, IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE DID EARN THE MAXIMUM POINTS BECAUSE OUR RATIOS WAS BELOW 8.55%. OKAY, THE CASH FLOW AND LIQUIDITY SECTION MEASURES WHETHER THE DISTRICT HAS ENOUGH AVAILABLE CASH AND CURRENT ASSETS TO PAY ITS BILLS AND MEET OUR SHORT TERM FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. INDICATOR SEVEN CALCULATES DAYS CASH ON HAND AND REQUIRES AT LEAST 90 DAYS TO RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM TEN POINTS. AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE DISTRICT HAD APPROXIMATELY 97 DAYS CASH ON HAND, AND WE EARNED ALL TEN POINTS. INDICATOR EIGHT REQUIRES A CURRENT RATIO OF AT LEAST 3.0 FOR THE MAXIMUM TEN POINTS. THE DISTRICT'S CURRENT LEVEL WAS 3.4, AND THE DISTRICT EARNED ALL TEN POINTS. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE PROJECTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 676, 76 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND, WHICH MEANS THAT WE MAY NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM REPORTS NEXT YEAR. THE DEBT MANAGEMENT SECTION EVALUATES THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE DEBT REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO ITS ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE. IT HELPS SHOW WHETHER THE TAX THE PROPERTY TAX BASE IS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT'S LONG TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE INDICATOR INDICATOR 12 RATIO MUST BE BELOW 4.0. OUR RATIO WAS 4.37, SO WE RECEIVED EIGHT OUT OF TEN POINTS. WE ARE EXPECTING SIMILAR RESULTS ON NEXT YEAR'S REPORT, BECAUSE THIS INDICATOR DOES NOT INCLUDE THE $450 MILLION IN DEBT THAT WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST OF 2025. THE ENROLLMENT AND STAFFING SECTION EXAMINES WHETHER STAFFING REMAINS ALIGNED WITH CHANGES IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT. IT ALSO COMPARES PROJECTED AND ACTUAL AVERAGE DAY. AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACT ON STATE FUNDING FOR INDICATOR 14 FROM FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO 2025, THE DISTRICT'S ENROLLMENT DECREASED WHILE STAFFING INCREASED. AS A RESULT, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER STAFF MEMBER DECLINED BY APPROXIMATELY 7%. TO EARN THE MAXIMUM POINTS ON THIS INDICATOR, THE RATIO MUST BE BELOW 15%, WHICH IT WAS, SO WE EARNED THE MAXIMUM TEN POINTS BECAUSE PERSONNEL IS THE DISTRICT'S LARGEST OPERATING COST, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TREND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. INDICATOR 15 COMPARES THE DISTRICT'S ACTUAL AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE WITH THE PROJECTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE T A IN DECEMBER OF 2022. AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE DETERMINES STATE FUNDING. IF IT IS OVERESTIMATED, THE DISTRICT MAY HAVE TO REPAY THE STATE IN A FUTURE YEAR, WHICH LESS WHEN LESS FUNDING MAY BE AVAILABLE [01:05:04] FOR DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE A VARIANCE OF 7% OR LESS EARNS THE MAXIMUM FIVE POINTS. OUR VARIANCE WAS EXACTLY 7% AND THE DISTRICT EARNED THE FIVE POINTS. THE DISTRICT ALSO EARNED THE MAXIMUM POINTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, BUT THIS INDICATOR WAS NOT MEASURED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023. OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES THE INDICATOR REVIEW. TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION ALSO INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENTS COMPENSATION BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT REIMBURSEMENTS, REPORTABLE GIFTS AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE BOARD MEMBERS, LINKS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT AND THE COMPLETE SCHOOL FIRST REPORT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE. IN SUMMARY, FOR THE 24TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, OUR DISTRICT HAS EARNED A SUPERIOR RATING. THE CURRENT RESULTS ARE STRONG. HOWEVER, AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT RATING CYCLE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE DECREASE IN FUND BALANCE AND DAYS, CASH ON HAND OPERATING COSTS, DEBT LEVELS, AND STAFFING AS ENROLLMENT CHANGE. THANK YOU AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS. A SCORE OF 98 PRETTY WELL SOLIDIFIES THE FACT THAT WE HANDLE OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES VERY WISELY AND PRUDENTLY. AND OF COURSE, MR. PRADO, YOU AND TRACE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MANAGING THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT REPORT. THANK YOU. MISS COLLIER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN? CASH ON HAND MEANS. BECAUSE I HAVE AN IDEA, BUT I COULD BE WRONG. BASICALLY, THEY'RE TRYING TO. THEY TAKE OUR ANNUAL EXPENDITURES AND APPLY TO OUR THE CASH. SO THEY TAKE CURRENT CASH AND CURRENT INVESTMENTS AND DIVIDE IT BY THE EXPENDITURES. AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WE WERE ABLE TO COVER THIS MANY DAYS. AND SO JUST IN CASE THE STATE DOESN'T SEND A PAYMENT OR WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUE IS SHORT, THEY'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW LONG WE CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE. SO THE PROJECTED 76 DAYS THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, THAT 2026 END OF JUNE 30TH, 2026. OKAY. AND THAT'S OUR FUND BALANCE. IS THAT THE SAME THING? NO, THAT'S WHERE THE FUND BALANCE COMES IN. IF WE DON'T GET THE MONEY IN FROM THE STATE, OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COMMENT. MR. POWELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND THE PRESENTATION. VERY THOROUGH. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT MR. MORRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT, I LIKED IT. IT IS AN EXCELLENT REPORT. AND I WILL SAY THIS IS THE BEST PRESENTATION IN THE WAY IT WAS SHOWN. I WE'VE HAD IT BEFORE, BUT IT REALLY MAKES IT TRANSPARENT TO OUR PUBLIC, BUT ALSO TO THE BOARD. WE GOT THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. I THINK IT HELPED A LOT. I KNOW THAT DOCTOR PRADO AND YOUR TEAM, YOU GUYS WORK HARD. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH GOES INTO MAKING SURE THAT ALL THESE PIECES ARE BEING MAINTAINED. YOU JUST CAN'T GO RUN THE BUSINESS WITHOUT ALL THESE CONTROLS AND KEEPING AN EYE ON EVERYTHING. IT'S VERY CRITICAL. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT THINK THAT OUR STUFF'S NOT TRANSPARENT, BUT IT IS. IT'S ON IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT IT HERE. WE HAVE REPORTS. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I SAID, I. SAY, DOCTOR PRADO. HE PAID ME EXTRA TO SAY THAT. BOARD MEMBERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU. I HAVE THOSE THAT ARE ON THE THE RENAMING COMMITTEE. I GAVE YOU THE CHARGE IN FRONT OF YOU. AND EVERYBODY ELSE ALSO HAS A COPY OF THE TENTATIVE OCTOBER AGENDA. WE'LL SEE MOST ALL OF YOU AT THE CONFERENCE AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A SAFE AND A GREAT HOLIDAY. COME ON, FALL BREAK COMING UP NEXT WEEK. AND I KNOW THAT MISS WELL NO LONGER JACKSON, BUT HE'S A YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN NEXT WEEK RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE. AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I SEE NONE. WE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.