Sep 22, 2025 Regular Meeting

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM ]

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING. WE HAVE CONVENED FOR A REGULAR MEETING OF THE DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THIS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND. THE TIME IS NOW 6:01 P.M. THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED.

WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT THIS EVENING. WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR OPENING CEREMONIES WITH PLEDGES TO THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. AND I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME DYLAN SANDERS AND JACKSON VILLA, 7TH GRADERS AT SYCAMORE MIDDLE, TO HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

OH.

THANK YOU. THANKS, GUYS [APPLAUSE].

[3. ANNOUNCEMENTS ]

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TIGER BAND ON THEIR 7TH PLACE FINISH IN LAST WEEK'S BAND OF AMERICA AUSTIN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION IN ROUND ROCK.

JUST SO THAT Y'ALL ARE AWARE, THE APPLICATION WINDOW FOR OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES HAS CLOSED. WE HAVE 14 DISTRICT COMMITTEES THIS YEAR AND 11 OF THOSE HAD OPENINGS.

WE RECEIVED OVER 250 APPLICATIONS, SO WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST IF THEY'RE SELECTED FOR A COMMITTEE.

OUR ANNUAL TAXPAYER TUESDAY SERIES WILL KICK OFF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, WITH A SESSION ON SCHOOL FINANCE AND THE IMPACTS OF THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE EVENT BEGINS AT 9:30 A.M. AT WILDWOOD SPRINGS ELEMENTARY, AND YOU CAN RSVP ONLINE.

AND THEN THIS WEEK'S HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES INCLUDE A PARADE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 6:00 P.M.

WEATHER PERMITTING. CIRCLING THE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PARADE IS A COMMUNITY PEP RALLY THAT'LL BE IN TIGER STADIUM, FOLLOWED BY A CARNIVAL AT 7:00 P.M. AND THEN ON FRIDAY, THE TIGER FOOTBALL TEAM WILL HOST AUSTIN AKINS FOR THE HOMECOMING GAME AT TIGER STADIUM, AND KICKOFF IS AT 7:30 P.M. EXCITING! GO, TIGERS!

[4. LEARNING SPOTLIGHT ]

Y'ALL CAN JUST STAND RIGHT HERE IF WE FIT. WE HAVE A BIG GROUP.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. DOCTOR MORRIS-KUENTZ, ALL OF DSISD COMMUNITY.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE EXCITED TO KICK OFF THE LEARNING SPOTLIGHTS FOR EACH MONTH.

MY NAME IS KELLY MILLER, PRINCIPAL AT SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

TONIGHT WE ARE SHOWCASING OUR PALS PROGRAM. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE KNOWN ME OVER THE FOUR YEARS OVER AT SYCAMORE, A BIG THING THAT I'VE BEEN PUSHING IS STUDENT LEADERSHIP ON OUR CAMPUS AND REALLY EXPANDING ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDDOS.

SO INCREASING ALL OF THOSE ROLES, ALL OF THOSE CLUBS SO THAT WE CAN FIND OUR KIDDOS SO THEY CAN FIND THEIR PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE A VOICE.

PALS IS ONE OF THOSE GROUPS THAT'S BEEN THERE.

I GOT TO JUMP IN AS A NEW PRINCIPAL, AND I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOWED ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO STEAL THEIR THUNDER, SO I'M GOING TO PASS THE MIC.

I WANT ALL OF YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SAY WHAT GRADE YOU'RE IN, AND THEN DOCTOR DYER WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON PALS.

AND THEN EACH KID CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN SLIDE WHEN I ASKED THEM, WHAT DOES PALS MEAN TO YOU? WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT PALS? THEY CAME UP WITH THOSE TALKING POINTS ON THEIR OWN.

MY NAME IS GRACE GARRETT AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS MADISON LAMAR AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS AIDEN WARD AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS ABIGAIL ROY AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS KATIE CASPER AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS OLIVIA AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE. MY NAME IS CHEYENNE MURPHY AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS CHRISTIANA HOOVER AND I'M IN EIGHTH GRADE.

MY NAME IS CLARK COFFEY AND I'M IN SEVENTH GRADE.

[00:05:03]

I AM THEIR SPONSOR FOR PALS. SO PALS STARTED IN 2019.

BEFORE THAT, WHEN DANIEL WAS OUR PRESIDENT, WE DID SOMETHING CALLED IMPACT MORE, AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE STUDENTS INVOLVED MORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND MINE WAS TO GO NEXT DOOR TO SSES AND KIND OF BE A PAL OR BUDDY AND READ TO THE KIDS.

AND THEN WE GOT THE CLASS APPROVED IN 2019, AND IT'S BEEN GOING STRONG EVER SINCE.

SO THESE KIDS HERE ARE GOING TO BE ANOTHER PLACE THAT THAT THE LITTLES THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL THEM PALEES LITTLES GET TO LOOK UP TO AND AND HELP GUIDE SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOMETIMES WITH THE OLDER GROUPS IT'S ACADEMICALLY.

OUR MOTTO IS TO LISTEN, TO UNDERSTAND AND AND NOT TO RESPOND.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT. I'M SO SORRY [LAUGHTER].

SO THEY LEARN THROUGH THE NINE WEEKS OF TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, HOW TO WORK WITH CERTAIN SITUATIONS, HOW TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM WITHIN THEMSELVES. I TELL THEM THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS TO BUILD THE SELF-ESTEEM WITHIN THEMSELVES, THEN THEY THEY'RE NOT READY TO HELP BUILD THE SELF-ESTEEM AND THE LITTLE KIDS.

SO WHY IT'S IMPORTANT? PALS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT GIVES KIDS A FRIEND.

MAKING FRIENDS ISN'T EASY. AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN A ROOM SURROUNDED BY YOUR FRIENDS, BUT STILL FEEL LONELY. ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PROGRAM IS GIVING KIDS A PERSON TO TRUST.

IT CAN SOMETIMES BE HARD FOR OUR LITTLES TO FIND SOMEONE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE TALKING TO.

SO OUR MISSION IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THEM.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT TO GIVE OUR PALEES SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE SCHOOL DAY.

WE WANT OUR PALEES TO HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, AND WE FEEL LIKE VISITING THEM WILL MAKE THEIR DAY BRIGHTER.

HOW DO WE BECOME A PAL? WE BECOME A PAL BY FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS LIKE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A PAL? HOW WILL BEING A PAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE? WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU THINK A PEER HELPER SHOULD HAVE? AND WRITE FIVE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY.

NEXT, DOCTOR DYER SENDS OUT RECOMMENDATION FORMS TO TEACHERS.

IF WE GOT THREE OR MORE TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS, SHE WOULD BRING US IN FOR AN INTERVIEW.

WE THEN SAT DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH DOCTOR DYER.

SHE ASKED US QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO THE APPLICATION.

SHE ALSO ASKED US, WHY SHOULD I MAKE YOU A PAL AND WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF PALS? IF WE DID WELL ON THE INTERVIEW AND HAD TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS, WE WERE THEN WELCOMED INTO THE PROGRAM.

SO THIS IS HOW PALEES GET PICKED. TEACHERS WERE FIRST.

TEACHERS REFER STUDENTS WHO THEY THINK COULD USE A FRIEND AND A MENTOR THAT THEY CAN LOOK UP TO.

PARENTS CAN FILL OUT A GOOGLE FORM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE A PAL.

TEACHERS AND PARENTS REFER TO STUDENTS WHO THEY FEEL WOULD BENEFIT FROM A PAL, BOTH SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AS WELL AS ACADEMICALLY.

PALS MAKES A DIFFERENCE BY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING THE PALEES GROW.

PALS LEARN MANY SKILLS SUCH AS PATIENCE, RESPONSIBILITIES, EMPATHY AND LISTENING.

WE ARE ABLE TO GROW WITHIN OURSELVES AS WELL AS IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PALEES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS WITH OUR PALEES.

WE ARE GAINING A LOT OF SKILLS TO HELP MAKE CLOSER FRIENDSHIPS WITH OUR PALEES.

WE HOPE OUR PALEES WILL HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH US AND WILL BE ABLE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES.

IF OUR PALEES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME, WE CAN SHOW THEM HOW TO GROW AND GET BETTER AT MAKING FRIENDS AND SIMILAR THINGS.

I WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER CHOICE TO BE IN PALS, BUT THEY HAVE A COMPLICATED, INTENSE INTERVIEW PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH, SO THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION THEY'VE GOT TO GET, WHAT IS IT? THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM TEACHERS, AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST AN ELECTIVE THAT THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, THIS SOUNDS FUN AND I'M GOING TO SIGN UP.

THESE KIDS WERE HAND-PICKED. THEY PUT IN THE WORK TO EVEN GET INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. AND I COULD NOT LIKE THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ALL BRING TO SYCAMORE.

ALWAYS BLOWS ME AWAY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO OUR THREE FEEDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

OKAY. NOW, BOYS, SORRY

[00:10:08]

THIS PROGRAM, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP IS OBVIOUSLY. I SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR IT.

AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WITH THAT. OKAY SO.

ALRIGHT, WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER THIS CAN ANSWER THIS. ALRIGHT. WHAT HAS BEEN SO FAR THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU WITH THE LITTLES OR THE PALEES SO FAR THIS YEAR? THEY'RE STILL IN TRAINING [LAUGHTER].

OKAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT BACK. BUT SHE THIS YOUNG LADY WAS READY. SHE HAD SOMETHING ALREADY. I THINK SHE WAS FIRED UP. I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE TRAINING, THOUGH. I KNOW YOU AREN'T WORKING WITH YOUR PALEES YET, BUT ANYTHING PART OF THE TRAINING THAT'S BEEN ESPECIALLY ENLIGHTENING FOR YOU GUYS? GRACE HAS SOMETHING WE, LIKE, FIGURE OUT ABOUT OURSELVES FIRST, AND WE FIGURE OUT, LIKE, WHAT WE NEED TO WORK ON AND WHAT WE NEED TO GROW ON.

SO THEN WE CAN BE ABLE TO, LIKE, WORK WITH OUR PALS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO WORK ON AND WHAT THEY NEED TO GROW ON.

WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES FIRST BEFORE WE CAN FOCUS ON OUR PALS.

HOW MANY OF YOU WERE PALEES? DOES ANYONE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IMPACT ON BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE? SO WHENEVER I HAD A PAL, SHE ACTUALLY HAD A FRIEND THAT WAS ALSO A PAL, SO SHE DIDN'T SPEND AS MUCH TIME WITH ME.

AND I FELT VERY LONELY [LAUGHTER] AND VERY LIKE, WHY? WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG? SO NOW I WANT TO JOIN PALS, TO GIVE A KID THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I NEVER GOT.

THAT WAS A HIGH SCHOOL LET ME JUST INTERJECT RIGHT KIDS? IT'S REALLY MORE THAN JUST. ALL RIGHT, I GET TO BE PART OF A CLUB OR A GROUP.

RIGHT? WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT. BUT ALSO YOU GET TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

AND SO LET'S JUST ENCOURAGE YOU ALL IN THAT THIS YEAR, AS YOU GET TRAINED BY YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR PRINCIPALS, REALLY COMMIT TO THOSE PALEES THIS YEAR, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FEED INTO THAT AND TO GROW SO THAT MAYBE IN A COUPLE YEARS THEY'RE STANDING UP HERE BEFORE THE BOARD.

HOW ABOUT THAT? ALL RIGHT. GREAT JOB Y'ALL. I THINK YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR US. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IT'S OKAY WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD? I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. BEFORE I ANSWER IT, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW.

I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. I LIKE THE SLIDE YOU CAME UP WITH, BUT I LOVE WHAT YOU STAND FOR, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.

SO KUDOS TO YOU. WHAT INSPIRED ME TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BOARD? I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION.

MY VERY FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER.

I WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

I WAS AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. AND NOW I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I KNOW NOTHING BETTER THAN TO GET UP AND GO TO SCHOOL AND GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND SURROUND MYSELF WITH FABULOUS STUDENTS LIKE YOU.

NOW I GET TO SIT BEHIND THE DAIS, AND I GET TO WATCH ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU DO.

BUT IT'S MY 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT INSPIRED ME TO DO THIS.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD? GREAT QUESTION. FIRST I'LL SAY IT'S SUPER REWARDING.

IT'S A REALLY REWARDING ROLE, BUT IT DEFINITELY COMES WITH SOME CHALLENGES.

I THINK THAT ONE OF SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT SOMETIMES IS WHENEVER YOU'RE BALANCING PRIORITIES THAT ARE COMPETING IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE CAN AFFECT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND TAXPAYERS AND PARENTS.

AND SO NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON EVERYTHING. AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS, WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES, I THINK SITTING HERE.

ANOTHER ONE IS THAT LONG TERM, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE A LONG TERM IMPACT, BUT CHANGE TAKES TIME, SO PEOPLE EXPECT RESULTS IMMEDIATELY. AND SOMETIMES WE'LL MAKE A DECISION THAT WE WON'T SEE THE OUTCOME OF FOR, YOU KNOW, MONTHS OR MAYBE YEARS. SO WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING CHANGE TO BE QUICK, THAT CAN BE KIND OF DIFFICULT IN THIS POSITION TOO.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD?

[00:15:03]

BUT I CAME UP WITH TWO, IF THAT'S OKAY. I THINK TWO ARE ARE KIND OF EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT.

AND NUMBER ONE IS JUST KIND OF FOR US TO ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE SUCH A PASSION AND SO MUCH HEART FOR WHAT WE DO, AND WE WANT TO BE WE ALL WANT TO DO SO MANY THINGS, BUT JUST REMEMBERING OUR KEY ROLES IN GOVERNMENT AND BUDGET AND OVERSIGHT ON A DAILY BASIS. STRATEGIC, EXCUSE ME. STRATEGIC PLANNING, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY, WHICH INCLUDES ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURES.

AND THEN, NUMBER TWO, EXCUSE ME, MY ALLERGIES ARE REALLY BAD.

IS JUST EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE. LIKE SHANDA SAID, EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE, WE THINK ABOUT STUDENT OUTCOMES.

AND IT COULD BE LONG TERM. EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE, WHETHER IT'S SUPPORTING OUR LEARNING AND INNOVATION, WHEN WE'RE BUYING TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE INVESTING IN CURRICULUM, WE'RE INVESTING INTO PROGRAMS. WE ARE BRINGING NEW PROGRAMS INTO WHETHER IT'S CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, EVERY SINGLE THING, EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW IT IS IMPACTING YOUR CLASSROOMS AND YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR EDUCATION, AND THAT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. SO THOSE ARE THE TOP TWO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS GUYS. THANK YOU ALL [APPLAUSE].

AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING THEM COME IN AND SHOWCASE WHAT WE LOVE TO DO.

OF COURSE. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY DO WE START WITH Y'ALL? I'M SO PROUD OF YOU I'M HANDING EVERYTHING TO YOU SHE'S YOUR PERSON IT'S GOOD SHE'S YOUR PERSON GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR RECOGNITIONS, OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS.

[5. RECOGNITIONS ]

WE'RE COUNSELORS AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL. WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT OUR NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS NOMINEES FOR 2026.

THEY JOINED A SELECT GROUP OF MORE THAN 1600 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

WELL, THEY WERE JUNIORS WHEN THEY TOOK THE TEST, BUT SENIORS NOW REPRESENTING LESS THAN 1% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

SEMIFINALISTS WILL COMPETE FOR APPROXIMATELY 6900 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH $26 MILLION IN TOTAL.

AND ROUGHLY ABOUT 95% OF THE SEMIFINALISTS ARE EXPECTED TO ADVANCE STANDING.

SO WE HAVE TWO THIS YEAR. I'LL LET I'LL LET THE ONE THAT'S HERE INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

BUT SANVI AND I'VE BEEN PRACTICING HER NAME, SURAPANENI.

SHE WAS SICK. AND SO SHE APOLOGIZED THIS MORNING SAYING SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT, BUT SHE REALLY WANTED TO.

SO I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE WELL I'LL LET HIM INTRODUCE HIMSELF. WILL YOU TELL THEM YOUR NAME? WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR NEXT YEAR AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE [LAUGHTER]. OKAY SO I'M GRANT, I'M A SENIOR. I'M ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

I'VE DONE SOME STUFF IN NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, GOT ON THE BOARD FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, I'M APPLYING TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY.

LIKE WHAT? WHAT'S THE BEST SCHOOL YOU WANT TO GO TO? BUT, I MEAN, MY TOP THREE RIGHT NOW ARE STANFORD, RICE AND UT.

I'D LOVE TO GO TO ONE OF THOSE. AND I HOPE TO STUDY HISTORY AND ECONOMICS OR SOME COMBINATION OF THOSE.

[00:20:05]

SO [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, GO SHAKE HANDS THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT.

[6. LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT ]

MY FACE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING THIS TIME, SO THANK YOU ALL [LAUGHTER].

KIM, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WILDWOOD SPRINGS? OH, IT WAS GREAT. WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT FOR THAT CEREMONY, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPRESSIVE MOMENT FOR ME AT THIS RIBBON CUTTING WAS WHEN STEVE GOT UP TO GIVE A SPEECH TO WELCOME ALL OF US, HOW EMOTIONAL AND DRIVEN HE WAS TO MAKE SURE OPENING THIS NEW SCHOOL, THAT EVERY STUDENT IN THAT BUILDING HAD THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES.

AND YOU COULD SEE THE PASSION IN THIS MAN'S FACE, HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.

AND I THOUGHT TO TURN THESE KIDS LOOSE IN THAT BUILDING WITH HIM IN CHARGE EVERY DAY, THAT'S A WIN WIN FOR US.

BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. GREAT TURNOUT.

AND WE STAYED A LONG TIME. WE STAYED A COUPLE OF HOURS, SO IT WAS WELL DONE.

IT'S A GREAT CAMPUS. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD CONVENTION ALSO.

I'LL START WITH SHANDA AND WE CAN KIND OF JUST GIVE OUR 60 SECOND HIGHLIGHT FROM THE WEEKEND.

SO FIRST OFF MY FAVORITE SESSION WAS DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD SESSION.

HUGE KUDOS TO JENNIFER AND HER TEAM. I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO SIT IN THE SESSION WAS KIND OF SPECIAL BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I HADN'T SEEN IT. AND SO IT WAS BEING ABLE TO SIT AS A PARTICIPANT IN IT.

IT WAS IMPRESSIVE. IT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE. SO ALL OF YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.

YOU WERE SO WELL SPOKEN AND SO ELOQUENT AND I FEEL LIKE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING TO ME WAS THAT YOU GAVE ACTIONABLE STEPS.

SO SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO AND SIT IN THERE AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, OH, GOSH, WHAT DO THEY MEAN? AND YOU TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS, HERE'S WHAT YOU HERE'S WHAT WE DID, HERE'S WHAT WORKED.

AND HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO. SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS I MEAN, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

SO KUDOS TO YOUR TEAM AND OUR TEAM. SO MY FAVORITE SESSION WAS WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFFS FOR OUR DIEGO BERNAL AND TRENT ASHBY, AND THEY GAVE THE INSIDE SCOOP OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND A COUPLE OF TAKEAWAYS FOR ME. A LOT OF IT I ALREADY KNEW.

BUT REALLY JUST THE EMPHASIS AND THE WHY BEHIND THIS IS THE TIME NOW, IN THE INTERIM, TO BE TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATORS.

AND ONE OF THE TIPS WAS TRY TO BRING THEM TO YOUR EVENTS.

SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR MORRIS-KUENTZ, FOR GETTING AT LEAST ONE COMING TO OUR FACILITIES THIS FRIDAY RIGHT. WITH REPRESENTATIVE ISAAC AND JUST BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE IN THE PAST.

AND THEN ALSO THE, I GUESS, EFFICACY OF TALKING TO THE CHIEFS.

AND WHEN YOU CANNOT GET TO THE LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES, THEY NECESSARILY HAVE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVERYTHING.

SO WE'RE HYPER FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE THE BREADTH OF TOPICS THAT PEOPLE COME TO THEM ABOUT.

AND SO IF YOU KNOW, TO NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU CAN'T GET THE LEGISLATOR AND THEN I'M ASSUMING TRICIA WILL MENTION DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.

BUT I GET TO MENTION YOU FOR A SECOND, IF I COULD.

YOU'RE VERY. YOU'RE SO HUMBLE, YOU WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE YOURSELF. SO LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM. YOU YOU WERE NAMED PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, MARY JANE. AND SO THAT IS A AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.

THANK YOU AND SO CONGRATULATIONS WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.

[00:25:01]

AND SO I GOT A CHANCE IN MY ROLE AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER TO TALK ABOUT A CASE STUDY.

AND THAT CASE STUDY WAS OUR CASE STUDY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHOOL MARSHAL PROGRAM THAT OUR WONDERFUL DIRECTOR OF SAFETY OVER THERE SIRENNA CUMBERLAND HAS LED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT, AND IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO TALK TO EVEN THOUGH 07:30 IN THE MORNING.

RIGHT. SHOUT OUT TO KIM AND HOLLY FOR SHOWING UP TO MY 7:30 A.M.

SESSION [LAUGHTER]. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT WAS PACKED.

WHICH I WAS IT CAME TO QUITE A SHOCK. AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME IT HAS TO DO WITH SCHOOL SAFETY. THERE WERE COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE STATE THAT WERE IN THERE TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE DID HERE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS SO EFFECTIVELY.

AND SO I WAS HAPPY TO SHARE THAT, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER, REALLY TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY IN GENERAL. BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE DID IN DRIPPING SPRINGS TO BECOME FULLY COMPLIANT WITH HB 3 AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFER.

AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THIS BOARD AND TALK ABOUT THAT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES. SO WELL DONE TO US.

SERENA IS A PLEASURE TO REPRESENT. YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO GET US IN A POSITION THAT WE'RE IN.

THANK YOU. PARDON ME, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT CONFERENCE.

I WENT TO ONE THIS YEAR CALLED A BOARD MEMBERS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO GO TO THIS ONE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE AS A BOARD MEMBER, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE I NEED MORE EDUCATION AND WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE. ALSO BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I REMEMBER TEACHERS WERE ALWAYS LIFERS.

THEY WERE CAREERS. I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME EDUCATOR.

AND I THINK IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE'RE MISSING THAT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND THEY'RE NOT MAYBE LOOKING AT IT AS A CAREER.

SO I HAVE A PASSION FOR US TO BE BUILDING THAT KIND OF LIKE MAKE EDUCATION A CAREER AGAIN.

SO I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS AND AND THAT.

SO I LEARNED A LOT. BUT WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM IT WAS HOW EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLEX IT IS.

WHICH LEFT ME A LITTLE LESS OPTIMISTIC, BUT MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE.

SO FIRST I'LL TALK ABOUT THE DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. I WAS THE DELEGATE FOR TASB CONFERENCE.

SO I WENT IN AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP VOTE ON THE BYLAWS AND THE DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT TASB WAS TRYING TO MAKE.

BUT MY MOST MEMORABLE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.

HIS NAME IS, OF COURSE I JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT IT IS KEVIN BROWN. HE HAD A REALLY ENGAGING STORY ABOUT HIS AUTISTIC SON.

AND IT WAS JUST BASICALLY THE EFFECTS OF SHOWING WHAT MATTERS MOST.

AND IN, IN HIS STORY WHAT MATTERED WAS HE TOOK HIS KID TO HIS SON, THEY TOOK HIS SON TO DISNEY WORLD, AND THEY SAT DOWN AND THE COOK FROM THE BACK CAME OUT, AND HIS SON WAS ON A SPECIAL DIET, AND SHE WROTE DOWN THE SPECIAL DIET. AND HE, SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE INGREDIENTS THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT.

BUT THE NEXT DAY HE SHOWED UP AND SHE DID. SO SHE HAD GONE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SHE SHOWED UP FOR HIS SON.

BUT IT WAS IT WAS A SUPER ENGAGING STORY. HE WAS FUNNY, TOO, BUT IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY INSPIRATIONAL.

SO THAT WAS MY BEST MOMENT. OKAY I WENT TO A SESSION FROM A DISTRICT I STARTED WORKING AT BACK IN 1980, CLEAR CREEK ISD THAT'S WHAT GOT MY ATTENTION.

THE NAME OF THEIR SESSION WAS IMPROVE YOUR DISTRICT CULTURE BY LISTENING.

AND WHAT THEY DID THEY HIRED ENERGAGE SURVEY COMPANY AND THEY WANTED TO BE SURVEYED IN THE HOUSTON AREA COMPARED TO ALL COMPANIES, NOT SCHOOLS THAT HAD THE SAME NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT THEY DID AND THEY WANTED TO GET AN ENGAGEMENT READ ON HOW WELL THINGS WERE GOING WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

SO WHAT THEY DID, THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR CABINETS, AND THEY WENT TO EVERY LOCATION IN THE DISTRICT, EVERY CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION, CHILD NUTRITION EVERYWHERE.

AND THEY DID WHAT THEY CALLED THE SOLUTION FORUMS. AND WHEN THEY WENT INTO THESE FORUMS, THEY WERE LOOKING AT THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, ARE WE WANT TO KNOW FROM EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, WHAT ARE THREE THINGS GOING WELL? WHAT ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON. AND WHAT IS ONE THING THAT HAS TO STOP? WE JUST CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. SO THEY WENT OUT AND THEY SAT AND THEY LISTENED.

THE MAJORITY OF THE FIXES IN THESE LISTENING GROUPS WERE FREE OF CHARGE.

IT WAS A COMMUNICATION ISSUE, OR IT WAS A SMALL GLITCH HERE AND THERE.

AND THEY WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, CLEAR IT UP AND THEIR SURVEYS DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE CHANGES THAT THEY MADE,

[00:30:07]

AND THEY DO IT EVERY YEAR. IT WASN'T A ONE STOP SHOP KIND OF THING.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING IN AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LISTENING, AND WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THESE THREE THINGS. THEIR BOTTOM LINE IS INVEST IN YOUR PEOPLE AND CELEBRATE ALL THE SUCCESSES THAT YOU HAVE.

THEY DO AN ANGEL TREE IN THEIR DISTRICT FOR STRUGGLING EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HAVING A HARD TIME, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE DISTRICT, NOT THE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT EMPLOYEES.

THEY DO ANGEL TREES AND THEY'RE BUILDING TO HELP FUND AND HELP THOSE FAMILIES BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

MY LAST FAVORITE THING THEY DO IS THEY DO THE CHICK-FIL-A COUCH.

THEY WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A COUCH AND A GARAGE SALE, AND THEY PACK IT IN A TRUCK AND THEY TAKE IT EVERYWHERE THEY GO.

AND THEY SIT DOWN AND THEY TELL STORIES JUST LIKE THEY DO ON THE CHICK-FIL-A COMMERCIAL.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, STUDENTS WOULD COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THAT DISTRICT HAD MADE.

AND I LOOKED AT THE IMPACT THAT DISTRICT MADE WHEN I WORKED THERE FOR TEN YEARS.

IT WAS WONDERFUL. BUT WHAT A SIMPLE THING TO DO TO JUST LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE TO IMPROVE YOUR CULTURE.

AND IT WAS MY FAVORITE SESSION OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT OUR BOARD DID.

SO GREAT HIGHLIGHT OUR TEAM. AND JUST TO SET SOME CONTEXT TO THAT.

I GOT THE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT WITH NONE OTHER THAN OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR MORRIS-KUENTZ, AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, WHO DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB ON THE PRESENTATION AND ALSO JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

KUDOS TO YOU. AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED THE LAST FEW YEARS.

BUT I SIT THROUGH SOME OF THESE SESSIONS, LIKE HR, AND WE KIND OF ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLED INTO ANOTHER SESSION ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND RATINGS, WHICH HONESTLY, THE ENTIRE SESSION WENT OVER ME, KIM AND ROB'S HEAD BECAUSE IT WAS SO COMPLICATED AND JUST MASSIVE, MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE AMAZING TEAM THAT YOU HAVE BUILT AROUND YOURSELF IN OUR DISTRICT.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I GO TO THESE CONFERENCES, I REALIZE OUR DISTRICT'S REALLY AHEAD OF QUITE A BIT.

AND I AM JUST EVEN MORE CONFIDENT IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT INTO LEADERSHIP IN OUR DISTRICT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO I JUST LEFT FEELING LIKE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ISSUES WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR STATE, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT EVERY DISTRICT IS FACING, AND WE ARE AS WELL, BUT WE ARE STILL AHEAD OF SO MUCH.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, DOCTOR MARY JANE HETRICK.

VERY PROUD OF YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THE BOARD ENCOURAGES COMMENTS. OH, TRUSTEES OH, YEAH. OH, YEAH. I GOT TO TALK ABOUT BABY KATE OKAY.

I WILL, SINCE I GUESS I HAVE THE MICROPHONE NOW. SO, ACTUALLY SHANDA AND HER DAUGHTER AS WELL IS AN NCL, AND THIS WAS KATE'S FIRST YEAR TO KICK OFF ITS.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO I WANTED TO INCLUDE IT IN TRUSTEES AROUND TOWN.

BECAUSE IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW CHAPTER. I THINK THERE'S SECOND YEAR NOW? LIKE. YES, SECOND YEAR. SECOND YEAR, JUST IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.

AND SO THE LEADERSHIP, BIG KUDOS TO THE LEADERSHIP WHO'VE KIND OF TAKEN THIS ON THE NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS, FOR PHILANTHROPY AND LEADERSHIP. AND IT'S A VERY GROWING, VERY HOT ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT. AND THIS WAS HER KICKOFF THAT WE GOT TO THAT WE GOT TO DO LAST MONTH.

ROB. I GUESS I'M IN THE TWO OTHER TWO. LET ME JUST DO SOME SHOUT OUTS.

THAT'S REALLY WHY THEY'RE THERE FIRST TO OUR FRIEND AND YOUR FRIEND, OUR GOOD FRIEND, OUR, OUR SHERIFF ANTHONY HIPOLITO, WHO RUNS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THIS COUNTY AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT SITS UP IN THE BOOTH AND IS THE VOICE OF THE TIGERS.

THAT'S A HARD WORKING FELLOW RIGHT THERE. HE OBVIOUSLY DRESSES WELL, AS YOU CAN TELL BY WHAT HE AND I ARE WEARING [LAUGHTER]. WE DIDN'T DO A TWINSIE THING.

IT'S JUST HOW IT TURNS OUT. OKAY? BUT A HIP MAN WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT.

ON TOP OF WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY. AND THEN LASTLY, SHOUT OUT TO THE TIGER FIELD CREW FOR THE TIGER TUNNEL.

LET ME TELL YOU, LIKE THESE THINGS. GOT THESE GUYS GOT THIS THING DOWN. THIS GROUP OF TIGER DADS GETS THIS WHOLE THING OUT.

THIS WAS AT THE GAME AT BUDA JOHNSON ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES ARE WEIRD. LET'S AVOID THAT AT ALL POSSIBLE COSTS FOR THE FUTURE. JUST NOTE FOR ME JUST FEELS DIFFERENT.

JUST A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. ANYWAY, SORRY. GETTING GETTING SIDETRACKED. THIS TEAM WORKS HARD. DILIGENTLY TO SET THIS THING UP, TEAR IT DOWN, TAKE IT ON THE ROAD. MAN, WHEN OUR KIDS GET IN THAT, WHEN OUR FOOTBALL TEAM GETS IN THERE, THEY, LIKE, FLIP A SWITCH. SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST SETTING UP A DEAL.

IT REALLY. IT'S LIKE IT'S GAME TIME. AND THOSE KIDS FLIP A SWITCH. THEY'RE ROLLING OUT. WE GOT THE FOG MACHINE GOING. IT JUST REALLY GETS THE GETS THEM AMPED UP.

AND OUR TIGERS ARE 4 AND 0. SO LET'S REJOICE IN THAT.

WE GOT A LOT A LOT OF SEASON LEFT TO GO, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING REALLY, REALLY GOOD. SO, TIGER DAD'S TUNNEL, TUNNEL CREW,

[00:35:03]

I JUST COMPLETELY JUMPED AHEAD REALLY QUICKLY. DO WE HAVE LIAISON REPORTS? I'LL START WITH YOU, KIM. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, YOU CAN JUST PASS. NO, I DO.

WE WOMEN'S CLUB THIS MONTH MET, AND IT'S ABOUT TO SELL OUT.

THERE'S ONLY 12 MEMBERSHIP SPOTS LEFT. KATHY RAPP IS THE NEW PRESIDENT.

DID A GREAT JOB, AND THE ROOM WAS FULL. THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS PAULA SHEPHERD.

SHE TALKED ABOUT AUTHENTIC FRIENDSHIPS AND THE IMPACT AND THE MESSAGE ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES IS SPEAKING AND LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE.

AND IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT SESSION. EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WE'RE EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT GRANTS.

THEY'RE NOW OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 17TH. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR BOLD, CREATIVE IDEAS AT ELEVATE LEARNING AND CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

SCHOOL HOUSE SCRAMBLE IS COMING UP ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND.

WE HAVE 144 PLAYERS THAT WILL HIT THE GREENS AT GREY ROCK CLUB FOR THE 16TH ANNUAL SCRAMBLE.

IT'S GOING TO KICK OFF THE FIRST EVENT OF THE YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN WITH FELLOWSHIP AND SUPPORT WITH OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS EVENT, SO IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND LET THEM KNOW.

AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DROP BY. BECAUSE EVERY TIME ALL OF Y'ALL DROP BY, IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL. Y'ALL ARE LIKE MOVIE STARS IN TOWN [LAUGHTER].

MONTHLY GIVING THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE FOR THE TEACHER DRAWING.

AND OUR MONTHLY GIVING CAMPAIGN IS MAKING A BIG IMPACT AND WE LOOK FOR THAT TO CONTINUE.

THANK YOU CAROL FAULKENBERRY WITH GO TEXAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING FARMERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS.

I HAVE THE FEELING THAT JOHN CROWLEY HAS LOOKED INTO THIS ALREADY, BUT I HAVE CAROL'S CONTACT INFORMATION.

SHOULD CHILD NUTRITION WANT THAT. AND THEN THE SPONSOR WAS ALLY MEDICAL.

AND THERE'S THIS WHOLE LIST OF COURSES THAT ARE FREE FOR THE COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT TYPES OF CPR.

AND THEN I LEARNED IN OUR LEARNING AND INNOVATION REPORT THAT THEY ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH DSISD FOR CPR AND AED CLASSES SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEVENTH GRADERS. SO SUPER IMPRESSIVE.

BUT THERE'S LIKE FIVE DIFFERENT COURSES THAT YOU CAN TAKE.

THE COUNCIL OF PTA DID HAVE THEIR FIRST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.

CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.

HE IS REALLY MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT FOR COHESIVENESS AMONG ALL OF THE CAMPUS PTAS.

SO HE HAS VISITED EACH CAMPUS BOARD MEETING TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT RESOURCES THEY HAVE, HOW THE COUNCIL CAN BE HELPFUL, FOR THAT KIND OF THING. SO I THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB IN THAT ROLE.

HE KIND OF SET UP A NEW FORMAT FOR THE MEETING, WHERE WE ARE HAVING FORMAL REPORTS FROM THE BOARD AND FROM THE ED FOUNDATION, SO THAT WAS NICE. AMY EMBRY WAS SITTING IN FOR LINDSEY AND THAT, AND SHE GAVE US AN ED FOUNDATION UPDATE.

I GAVE A BOARD UPDATE. SO IF THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL WANT ME TO RELAY TO THE COUNCIL, JUST LET ME KNOW. AND THEN WE HAVE 2358 MEMBERSHIPS DISTRICT WIDE IN THE PTA.

THE OTHER THING I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THE TEXAS PTA DOES OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS AND FOR FACULTY.

SO $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS. THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON NOVEMBER 15TH.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE TEXASPTA.ORG, I BELIEVE IS THE WEBSITE AND FACULTY SPONSORSHIPS OF $500. AND THESE ARE FOR TEACHERS, TEACHERS AIDES OR OTHER FACULTY MEMBERS PLANNING TO TAKE COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES, WORKSHOPS OR CONTINUING EDUCATION, WHICH IMPROVES THEIR TEACHING PROFICIENCY OR APPLIES TO A SPECIFIC EDUCATION RELATED CERTIFICATION, SO THAT ALSO CAN INCLUDE ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNSELING CERTIFICATIONS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS GREAT.

SO NOVEMBER 15TH THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE. THE LAST THING THEY ARE RELAUNCHING THEIR COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERIES.

IT'S CALLED TIGER TALKS WHERE THEY WILL EACH CAMPUS WILL ROTATE HOSTING THESE EVENTS.

ROOSTER IS HOSTING THE FIRST EVENT IN NOVEMBER, AND IT WILL TIE IN TO WELLNESS MONTH FOR NOVEMBER.

AND THEIR NEXT MEETING IS ON OCTOBER 6TH. ALL RIGHT NOW PUBLIC COMMENTS [LAUGHTER].

[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE BOARD IS NOT PERMITTED TO DISCUSS OR ACT UPON ANY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.

[00:40:07]

INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH YOUR NAME AND CONNECTION TO THE DISTRICT. ONCE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, THE TIMER WILL BEGIN. WHEN YOU HEAR THE TIMER SOUND, PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD. LYDELL GOWANS.

THIS MAKE YOU I'M LYDELL GOWANS. I'M A PARAPROFESSIONAL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR. IT'S PROBABLY MY FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME TO COME SPEAK TO THE BOARD.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THESE WONDERFUL PARENTS AND TEACHERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.

SO HERE WE GO. I SPOKE AS A PARA FOR PARAPAY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT A ONE AND DONE.

SOME OF YOU WERE NOT HERE AT THAT TIME. SOME OF YOU WERE. SO WE'RE HERE TO REMIND YOU BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT DID SPEAK, THAT IS NOT HERE, THAT WAS A STATEMENT THAT WE TOOK AS A PROMISE.

SO I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH TO SOME LONG TIME DRIPPING SPRINGS RESIDENTS, AND I ASKED TWO QUESTIONS.

FIRST ONE WAS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A FAMILY COULD LIVE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS FOR $2,000 A MONTH? 50 YEARS AGO. HAPPY SESQUICENTENNIAL [LAUGHTER].

THE SECOND QUESTION WAS WHAT IS THE BARE MINIMUM YOU WOULD EXPECT A PERSON TO LIVE ON NOW? AND THE ANSWER WAS $5000 TO $6000 A MONTH. I HAVE TWO CHARTS HERE.

ONE IS A NATIONAL. ONE IS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE'RE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTOM. WE'RE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT 1975. ACCORDING TO WWW.IN2013DOLLARS.COM $2,000 IN 1975 IS EQUAL TO $10,009.22 TODAY. SO WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE? IT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO STRONG WORK ETHIC, POSITIVE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR.

RELIABLE WILLINGNESS TO LEARN. TEAMWORK FINDS MEANING WITH THEIR JOB.

AS AN ADULT OUR PAYCHECK IS OUR REPORT CARD. AND EVEN WHEN WE'RE HITTING AND EXCEEDING ALL OF THE BENCHMARKS OF A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE, WE RECEIVE FAILING GRADES FROM OUR PAY.

WE ALSO HAVE MANY PARENTS THAT WORK MANY DIFFERENT SIDE JOBS.

ONE GETS UP AT 3 A.M. TO DO LAUNDRY FOR AIRBNBS.

ANOTHER ONE QUIT AFTER HER FIRST PAYCHECK BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD HER CAT AND HER CAR, AND SHE LIVED WITH HER PARENTS. WE HAVE ONE PARENT WHOSE HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND SHE COULDN'T AFFORD RENT, SO HER FRIEND SUGGESTED SHE LIVE IN AN RV ON HER PROPERTY.

SHE'S DONE THAT FOR TEN YEARS. HER RV NEEDS A SEVERE OVERHAUL, IS NOT MEANT TO BE LIVED IN EVERY DAY FOR TEN YEARS.

SHE SAYS SHE'S THANKFUL FOR THAT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS SAD THAT AFTER WORKING 19 YEARS IN THIS DISTRICT, SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE OR IN AUSTIN. SHE SAID IT'S TIME TO REEVALUATE AND BE VALUED MORE THAN IN WORDS.

SHOW ME THE MONEY, PLEASE. SHE'S NOT THERE BECAUSE SHE MISMANAGED HER FUNDS.

SHE'S THERE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE FUNDS TO MANAGE.

AND SPEAKING TO KIM, THE THING THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP.

I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO COME VISIT US, PUT US FIRST ON YOUR LIST.

COME SEE US. AND WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION AND OUR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.

NEXT IS OUR PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION. FIRST IS ON OUR TAX REPORT.

[8. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION]

HE WILL BE REPORTING ON OUR DELINQUENT GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU AND UPDATE YOU ON OUR EFFORTS IN.

BY THE WAY, IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE AND SEE ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON AT DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD, FROM THE LEADERSHIP, FROM YOUR STUDENTS TO THE LEADERSHIP FROM YOUR BOARD.

[00:45:01]

DOCTOR HETRICK, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION AS PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT'S A DISTINCT HONOR FOR THE DISTRICT. AS MS. COGBURN STATED. MY NAME IS SERGIO GARCIA. I'M A PARTNER WITH PERDUE BRANDON IN THE AUSTIN OFFICE.

AND I'M GOING TO I'D LIKE TO START MY PRESENTATION WITH A DELINQUENT TAX YEAR CALENDAR BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH DELINQUENT TAXES. WE'RE WE'RE DEALING WITH PAST YEARS. SO THE MOST RECENT DELINQUENT YEAR IS THE 2024 TAX YEAR CALENDAR.

THE PROPERTIES, OF COURSE, ARE APPRAISED BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON JANUARY 1ST OF EACH YEAR.

IS WHEN THE BEGINNING. WHEN THE PROCESS BEGINS, TAX BILLS ARE MAILED OUT IN OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR, AND THEY BECOME DELINQUENT ON THE FOLLOWING FEBRUARY 1ST.

IN MAY OF EACH YEAR YOUR TAX OFFICE MAILS A NOTICE OF A DELINQUENT COLLECTION PENALTY TO EVERY DELINQUENT TAXPAYER IN THE COUNTY, AND IT LETS THEM KNOW THAT ON JULY 1ST, ANY DELINQUENT ACCOUNT WILL INCUR AN ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY FEE OF 15%. THAT FEE IS PAID BY THE TAXPAYER.

IT IS ADDED ON TO DELINQUENT DELINQUENCY SO THAT OUR SERVICES DO NOT COST DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD ANYTHING.

THEY ARE PAID FOR BY THE DELINQUENT TAXPAYER.

AND ON JULY 1ST, DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS ARE TURNED OVER TO OUR LAW FIRM.

BY WAY OF AN OVERVIEW, I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE PREVIOUS TWO TAX YEARS, 2023 AND 2024, JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR OVERALL LEVY VERSUS YOUR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR 2023, THE TOTAL LEVY WAS OVER $115 MILLION.

OF THAT 98%, MORE THAN $113 MILLION WERE COLLECTED BEFORE ANY ACCOUNTS WERE TURNED OVER TO OUR LAW FIRM. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR TAXPAYERS PAY BEFORE JULY 1ST OF EVERY YEAR.

AND RIGHT BELOW, A LITTLE LESS THAN 2% WAS TURNED OVER TO OUR LAW FIRM IN 2024.

FOR THE 24 TAX YEAR. SAME FORMAT. YOU CAN SEE THE LEVY WAS $120 MILLION.

MORE THAN 98.5% OF YOUR TAXPAYERS PAID BEFORE JULY 1ST, AND ABOUT 1.4 OF THE DELINQUENCY, ABOUT $1.6 MILLION, WAS REFERRED TO OUR FIRM ON JULY 1ST.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE COME IN, WHEN WE GET TO WORK FOR YOU GUYS.

WHEN THE DELINQUENCY IS TURNED OVER TO OUR LAW FIRM ON JULY 1ST, WE DO SEND A MAILING TO EVERY DELINQUENT ACCOUNT IN THE DISTRICT, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR TAXES ARE DELINQUENT, AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT AND CONTACT US IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS. WE ALSO HAVE A CALL CENTER THAT ALSO REACHES OUT TO YOUR TAXPAYERS BY PERSONAL PHONE CALLS.

AND THESE ARE THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL PHONE CALLS.

THESE TAX THIS CALL CENTER IS OUR CALL CENTER.

THEY'RE HIRED BY US. THEY'RE TRAINED BY US. THEY'RE SUPERVISED BY US.

AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOUR TAXPAYERS AND FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES THAT ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM PAYING THEIR TAXES.

SOMETIMES IT CAN JUST BE AN OVERSIGHT. SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE CASH FLOW ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, THEY THEY MAY OWE $2000 OR $3000. THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE RIGHT AWAY.

IN THAT CASE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY ENTER INTO A PAYMENT AGREEMENT.

AND WE FACILITATE THOSE PAYMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THE TAX OFFICE AS WELL.

WE CAN ALSO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE AN ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY OR HER LOST HER JOB AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE TAX OFFICE AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL FOR THOSE TAXPAYERS.

THIS CHART REFLECTS HOW MUCH WE COLLECT IN THE FIRST YEAR, THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.

[00:50:04]

SO WE DO TRY TO GET YOU AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OF COURSE, OUR EFFORTS CONTINUE BEYOND THAT FIRST YEAR.

FOR THE 2020 YEAR, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE 92% COLLECTIONS AS OF JUNE 30TH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE SAME FORMAT FOR 2021, 22 AND 23. FOR 2023 YOU CAN SEE WE COLLECTED ALMOST 85% OF THE DELINQUENCY IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? GREAT. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE FINAL SLIDE IN THE PRESENTATION.

AND WHAT THAT SHOWS YOU IS THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OVERALL LEVY VERSUS THE AMOUNT THAT IS STILL OUTSTANDING.

SO FOR 2020 FOR EXAMPLE, FIRST YEAR BETWEEN CURRENT COLLECTIONS AND DELINQUENT COLLECTIONS, YOU'VE COLLECTED ALMOST 100% OF YOUR OF YOUR ROLE, 99.87%.

THERE'S A BALANCE OF $19,000, ALMOST $20,000, THAT REMAINS UNCOLLECTED.

AN ADDITIONAL $88,000 IS IN TAX DEFERRALS. TAX DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS ARE ACCOUNTS THAT BY LAW, WE CANNOT PROCEED ON. THEY APPLY TO HOMESTEADS ONLY THAT ARE OWNED BY INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR DISABLED, AND BY LAW, THEY CAN FILE A TAX DEFERRAL WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

AND WE CANNOT COLLECT ON THOSE ACCOUNTS. OF COURSE THEY'RE STILL PAYING INTEREST, 5% INTEREST EVERY YEAR.

SO EVENTUALLY THEY WILL BECOME COLLECTIBLE WHEN THE HOME IS NO LONGER OCCUPIED.

IS THE PRIMARY HOMESTEAD OF THE OF THE TAXPAYER.

FOR 2021, YOU CAN SEE YOU HAVE AGAIN, ALMOST 100% COLLECTIONS.

AND THE MOST RECENT YEAR YOU CAN SEE 2024. THOSE ARE THE THE MOST RECENT YEAR.

AND AS OF JUNE, YOU TURNED OVER ABOUT $1.6 MILLION.

OF THAT, $1.5 MILLION WAS COLLECTIBLE IN AS OF THE END OF AUGUST.

WE HAVE COLLECTED 46% OF THE DELINQUENCY. SO RATHER THAN THE $1,600,000 YOU HAD, TURN OVER, YOUR CURRENT OUTSTANDING IS $836,000 IN BASE TAX ONLY.

SO WE'VE MADE QUITE A BIT, QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS IN THE FIRST, THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYTHING TO CLARIFY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING, YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT OF THE REPORT.

YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL IF YOU NEED ANYTHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SERGIO. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT IS OUR BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE. YES, WE HAVE JARROD CADY, WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MR. WILSON COULD NOT BE WITH US THIS EVENING.

WHO IS THE CURRENT CHAIR. SO JARROD WILL BE GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON THIS COMMITTEE'S WORK FOR THE YEAR.

GOOD EVENING I'D LIKE TO SAY MY NAME IS JARROD CADY.

I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, STANDING IN FOR MIKE WILSON, WHO WAS OUT OF TOWN TRAVELING.

THIS FIRST SLIDE IS BASICALLY JUST A LIST OF THE MEMBERS AND KIND OF WHEN OUR EXPIRATIONS ARE.

SO WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR THAT ARE THAT ARE ROLLING OFF TWO OF THOSE REAPPLIED, TWO ARE DECLINED.

REAPPLY SIMPLY FOR PERSONAL REASONS. THEY INCREASED TRAVEL WITH THEIR WORK.

BUT YOU ALSO SEE THAT WE HAD SOME A COUPLE OF RESIGNATIONS THIS YEAR AND THE ALTERNATES ACTUALLY STEPPED IN AND BECAME FULL MEMBERS.

SO YOU GUYS APPOINTED TWO NEW ALTERNATES IN THEIR PLACE.

SO SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MEETINGS SINCE THE LAST UPDATE YOU RECEIVED.

SO IN MARCH, WE HAD A QUORUM. EACH ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR IN 2025, WE'VE HAD A QUORUM.

SO WE TOURED WILDWOOD SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN IT WAS STILL LIKE WASN'T DRIED IN YET.

[00:55:03]

BUT THE MAIN THING THAT STOOD OUT FROM THAT MEETING IS DISCUSSING THE UPCOMING 2025 BOND ELECTION AND ALL THE PLANNING AND CONTENT THAT WENT INTO THAT.

SO WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE THAT GET ON THE ON THE DOCKET AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY GET APPROVED.

SO MOVING ON TO JUNE. WE HAD A QUORUM THERE, TOO.

WE TOURED THE SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPANSION, AND MAN THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED SINCE WE WENT TO SCHOOL [LAUGHTER] IN TERMS OF WHAT THESE KIDS HAVE. AND IT IS IT IS SOMETHING ELSE.

IT'S REALLY STATE OF THE ART AND IMPRESSIVE TO SEE.

SO THERE WE WERE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THE 2025 BOND AND WHAT WAS COMING UP.

FOR THE FOR THOSE FUNDS AND THE PLANNING THAT'S GOING INTO THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL JUST GOING IN RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM SYCAMORE SPRINGS. WE'RE EXCITED TO TALK TALK THROUGH THAT.

WE ALSO DISCUSSED ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

SO YOU GUYS KNOW THIS WELL, IN K THROUGH 12 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.

BY JUNE 12TH, WE WERE, YOU KNOW, HOT AND HEAVY, RUNNING FAST.

SO IT WAS A BIG MEETING, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ONGOING PROJECTS.

AND THEN TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.

SO THE DESIGN OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. ONE OF THE THINGS IN HERE IS WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT ONE OF OUR JOBS AS A BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO REVIEW THE FINANCIALS. RIGHT? AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING ON TRACK THERE.

AND WE GOT A LOT OF VERBAL CONFIRMATION HERE.

AND WHAT WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS MEETING WAS TO HEAR THAT A BOND ACCOUNTANT POSITION HAD BEEN FILLED.

AND SO WE WERE GOING TO GET A LITTLE MORE GRANULAR, A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE FINANCIALS IN THE FUTURE.

SO BUT ELAINE ALWAYS KEPT US UP TO DATE. JAMES ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WAS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ALL ALONG THE WAY.

SO WE FELT CONFIDENT IN IT. BUT IT WAS EXCITING TO KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET A LITTLE MORE GRANULAR THERE. SO, SO THE THE LAST MEETING I WASN'T ACTUALLY ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT I DID GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION WITH ELAINE.

SO THEY TOURED WILDWOOD SPRINGS AGAIN. I DID HEAR IT WAS IT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THIS TIME WITH IT BEING COMPLETED AND THEN KIND OF DISCUSS THE YOU KNOW, THE THE HAIR ON FIRE LAST MINUTE WRAP UP, ALL THE SUMMER PROJECTS AS KIDS AND TEACHERS ARE MOVING IN.

SO WHAT WAS ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS KIND OF CLOSING OUT A LOT OF THOSE 2023 BOND PROJECTS AND TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANNING OF THAT 2025 BOND. SO THEN ALSO WITH THE ADDITION OF THAT BOND ACCOUNTANT, THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE THE FINANCIALS, SEE THOSE STARTING TO GET RECONCILED AND START TO SEE WHERE WE.

A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT 2020, 2023 BOND.

SO YOU CAN SEE A QUOTE THERE FROM, FROM MIKE WHERE HE SAID, IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THE SUCCESSFUL WORK OVER THE SUMMER OF 2025.

THERE WERE SOME LAST MINUTE STRESSFUL MOMENTS RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUT ALL GOT RESOLVED SUCCESSFULLY.

SO MOVING FORWARD. SO OUR NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE AT THE THE CURRENT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY EXCITING AS WE CONTINUE INTO THE PLANNING FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL TO KIND OF SEE SOME LESSONS LEARNED, SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE UPCOMING PROJECTS THERE.

AND THEN HOW WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE PLANNING OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEN ALSO CLOSING OUT THE 2023 BOND PROJECT.

SO AS WE KIND OF GET THOSE ACCOUNTS RECONCILED, WE'LL WILL ONE OF OUR FUTURE OBJECTIVES WILL BE TO COME TO YOU GUYS WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE REMAINING FUNDS.

THIS TEAM HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD STEWARDS OF THE FUNDS, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE'S A DECENT AMOUNT THERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND FOR SOME OTHER PROJECTS HERE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

OTHER THINGS IS JUST GOING HOT AND HEAVY IN THAT 2025 BOND PROJECT.

SO PLANNING FOR SUMMER OF 2026 SO THAT WE CAN LEARN SOME LESSONS FROM THIS YEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

[01:00:08]

MARY JANE. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

A MOTION FROM MARY JANE, A SECOND FROM SHANDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO OUR. FIRST OFFICIAL ACTION CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF OUR TAX RATE.

[10. ACTION]

BUT TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE 2025 TAX RATE ADOPTION.

I'LL EXPLAIN HOW THE RATE IS BUILT AND SOME RECENT LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS, AND THEN WHAT THAT MEANS FOR BOTH THE DISTRICT AND OUR TAXPAYERS.

SO, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE TAX RATE IS MADE UP OF TWO PARTS.

IT'S THE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS OR M&O. AND THAT PAYS FOR OUR DAILY OPERATIONS LIKE STAFF PROGRAMS AND MAINTENANCE.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE INTEREST AND SINKING RATE OR I&S, WHICH PAYS FOR BOND DEBT.

THAT'S USUALLY YOUR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE YOUR M&O IS SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE AND YOUR I&S RATE IS NOT.

SO IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, 2025, THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION WHICH THE VOTERS WILL BE ASKED TO RAISE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM $100,000 TO $140,000. THE LARGER EXEMPTION IS WHAT WE'RE USING NOW TO CALCULATE OUR TAX REVENUE FOR THE M&O PART OF THE TAX RATE.

BUT BECAUSE OF THAT LARGER EXEMPTION IT'S ACTUALLY PRODUCED LITTLE OR NO COMPRESSION IN OUR TAX RATE.

SO THE M&O RATE REMAINS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.

AND IN YOUR PACKET THERE'S A WORKSHEET FROM THE COMPTROLLER THAT CALCULATES A RATE CALLED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THIS RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S COMPARING PRIOR YEAR CERTIFIED VALUES UNDER $100,000.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO CURRENT YEAR VALUES UNDER $140,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY COMPARING TWO DIFFERENT TAX BASES.

SO OVERALL THE OVERALL, THE PROPERTY VALUES ROSE JUST UNDER 1%, RIGHT AT 0.88%.

SO THE M&O RATE. THE M&O TAX RATE IS BASICALLY MADE UP OF TWO PARTS.

YOU HAVE TIER 1, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE, WHICH IS SET BY THE STATE, AND IT'S TIED TO PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH.

AND SINCE 2019, THAT RATE HAS FALLEN FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS FROM A DOLLAR TO JUST OVER $0.61.

YOUR TIER 2 ARE VOTER APPROVED PENNIES. AND THESE WERE AUTHORIZED BY DRIPPING SPRINGS VOTERS IN 2016, BUT THEY'VE BEEN COMPRESSED FROM $0.17 IN 2016 TO JUST A LITTLE OVER $0.13.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IF A DISTRICT DOESN'T LEVY THE TIER 1 STATE RATE, STATE FUNDING CAN BE REDUCED BY A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BASIC ALLOTMENT. AND SO IF THAT GOES DOWN, THEN YOUR RECAPTURE GOES UP.

THIS SLIDE KIND OF SHOWS YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THE TIER 1 AND THE TWO COMPONENTS OF TIER 2.

AND THIS IS THE SEVENTH YEAR OF COMPRESSION. BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SINCE HOUSE BILL 3 HAS COME ALONG THIS YEAR, THE EXEMPTION CHANGES HAVE OFFSET ANY COMPRESSION THIS YEAR.

[01:05:02]

THERE ARE SOME HOLD HARMLESS PROVISIONS BUILT IN FOR LOST TAX REVENUE DUE TO DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

OUR RATE FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS IS SET AT $0.35 AND IT'S TO COVER OUR EXISTING BONDS.

PLUS, IN JULY OF THIS YEAR WE WE HAD BOND SALES FOR THE THE REMAINING 2023 BOND ISSUANCE IN THE FIRST PART OF THE 2025 BOND SALE. SO IN CALCULATING OUR DEBT SERVICE FOR NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $38.4 MILLION.

THAT $0.35 IS EXPECTED TO BRING IN ABOUT $34.7 MILLION, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION IN HOLD HARMLESS, LEAVING US ABOUT $1.7 MILLION SHORTFALL. BUT WE EXPECT WITH PENALTIES AND INTEREST AND INVESTMENT INCOME TO MAKE UP MOST OF THAT SHORTFALL. AND SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THOSE COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IF NECESSARY, WE CAN LEAN ON THE DEBT SERVICE FUND BALANCE TO HELP MAKE UP THAT GAP.

SO HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL RATE. SO FOR 2025 WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME RATE AS IN 2024.

BUT IT'S ABOUT $1 IN A LITTLE OVER $0.10 $1.1052 PER $100 VALUATION.

AND IT'S MADE UP OF $0.75 AND A HALF CENTS FOR M&O AND $0.35 FOR I&S.

THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE YOU SEE HERE IS THE STATUTORY WORDING REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION.

BUT UNLIKE PRIOR YEARS, THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT REQUIRE THE RAISES MORE TAXES LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE HIGHER $140,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION MEANS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IS ACTUALLY PAYING LESS M&O TAXES.

AND HERE YOU CAN SEE A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE DISTRICT'S TAX RATE HISTORY.

AND SO OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE A STEADY DECLINE IN THE TOTAL TAX RATE.

AND THAT'S DUE TO THAT STATE DRIVEN COMPRESSION.

THIS TREND HAS HELPED OFFSET RISING PROPERTY VALUES FOR TAXPAYERS, WHILE THE DISTRICT CONTINUES TO BE RESPONSIBLY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING BOTH THE OPERATING AND DEBT SERVICE NEEDS AND.

NEED TO GET MY PRESCRIPTION FIXED ON MY GLASSES.

BUT IF I SEE YOU CAN SEE FROM 2018 TO 2025 THAT STATE COMPRESSION HAS HELPED TAXPAYERS IN THIS DISTRICT BY LOWERING THE RATE ALMOST $0.415 CENTS.

AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, THE NEW HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROVIDES SOME MEANINGFUL RELIEF.

EVEN WITH GROWTH AND DEBT NEEDS, THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER WILL SEE LOWER M&O TAXES THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

OVERALL, THE BALANCE IS TAXPAYERS. THIS BALANCES TAXPAYER IMPACT WITH DISTRICTS RESPONSIBILITIES TO FUND DAILY OPERATIONS AND MEET DEBT COMMITMENTS. YOU CAN SEE IN THE TABLE THE AVERAGE MARKET VALUE AND TAXABLE VALUE OF A RESIDENCE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

AT THAT SAME RATE, WITH THE INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION YOU'D SEE ABOUT $360 DECREASE IN OVERALL TAXES.

SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL DO MY VERY BEST TO ANSWER THEM.

OLIVIA? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS GREAT. I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ON THE LAST SLIDE.

I FEEL LIKE IN THE PAST WE LOOKED AT AVERAGE ASSESSED VALUE.

DO WE HAVE THAT? OR WHY DID WE CHOOSE TO DO THE CALCULATION ON AVERAGE MARKET VALUE? THEY, THIS IS FROM THE TAX NOTICE THAT'S PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER.

AND SO THEY SHOW THE AVERAGE MARKET VALUE OF A RESIDENCE.

AND THEN THE AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE. SO IT'S IT'S TAKING THAT MARKET VALUE DOWN BY THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

AND THEN THE TAXABLE VALUE IS WHAT THE TAX RATE IS ACTUALLY COMPARED TO OR ARE CALCULATED ON.

OKAY THANK YOU. MARY JANE. COULD YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE NINE? I BELIEVE IT IS. AND THE DELTA AFTER THE HOLD HARMLESS.

OH, YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T HAVE NUMBERS, DO YOU? [LAUGHTER] AT THE TOP IS.

[01:10:03]

THE HOLD HARMLESS THAT WE'VE CALCULATED SO FAR BASED ON PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES COME IN, COMES IN AT ABOUT $2 MILLION.

SO THERE IS A POSSIBLE GAP THERE OF ABOUT A MILLION SEVEN.

BUT WHEN WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU DON'T INCLUDE IN THE TAX CALCULATION.

WHEN YOU'RE GOING OVER THIS THE INTEREST REVENUE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DON'T INCLUDE PENALTIES ON DELINQUENT TAXES. YOU DON'T INCLUDE BUT LOOKING AT LAST YEAR, WE'VE COLLECTED JUST ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $1.7 MILLION IN INTEREST FROM INVESTMENTS AND SO FORTH. SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COVER THAT GAP.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE DONE WELL ON OUR END, I GUESS IS MY POINT.

CORRECT AND THE HOLD HARMLESS IT'S BASED ON. SO WHEN WE CALCULATED THIS, WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OUR PAYMENTS WERE GOING TO BE YET ON THE NEW DEBT, AND NEITHER DOES TEA. SO ONCE ALL THAT GETS REPORTED, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO COME IN A LITTLE HIGHER.

I'M REAL CONSERVATIVE WHEN I DO THE NUMBERS. SO I MEAN TO ME THE $1.7 MILLION IS PROBABLY WORST CASE.

OKAY SO IT PERKED MY INTEREST TO DOCTOR HETRICK ON THIS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING ABOUT A POTENTIAL GAP IN THE I&S RATE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE YOU'RE DOING A REALLY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. TO OUR WHOLE HARMLESS. EXCUSE ME. SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST [LAUGHTER]. OUR HOLD HARMLESS ESTIMATE.

IS THAT ALSO A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE? RANDY? YES WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT AS A BOARD ABOUT TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE 35 CENT I&S TAX RATE.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GROWING AND WE HAVE TO BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.

WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT IT LOOKS FROM WHAT I'M SEEING HERE, BASED ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASING YOU KNOW, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, MAYBE EVEN THE NEXT ONE THAT THAT THIS COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN THE OUT YEARS.

IS THAT A FAIR PROGNOSTICATION? I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THAT, BUT IS THAT A FAIR PROGNOSTICATION? I WOULDN'T GO SO FAR TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THEY'RE GOING THEY'RE COMPARING THE $100,000 TO $140,000.

SO WE'VE ESSENTIALLY CREATED A NEW BASE YEAR.

SO GOING FORWARD YOU SHOULD SEE THOSE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE LIKE YOU WERE USED TO IN THE PAST.

WHICH IS THE GOAL. TO BE AROUND 5%. THE GOAL IS GROWTH TO PAY FOR GROWTH.

YES. I THINK THE CHALLENGE WILL BE CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT? AS WE'VE TRIED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO DO THAT AND CERTAINLY IN THE LAST TWO SESSIONS OR THE LAST TWO BOND EFFORTS THAT WE DID IN 2023 AND 2025.

RIGHT AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, ALSO IN AUGUST.

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN AUGUST. EXCUSE ME. WE PAID A HUGE AMOUNT OF DEFEASANCE, SO WE PAID OFF QUITE A BIT OF DEBT AS WELL.

SO WHEN THIS CALCULATION WAS DONE FOR THE TRUTH AND TAXATION PART THAT GETS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER, THAT DEFEASANCE WAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION HERE AS WELL.

SO AS I SAID, THESE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS.

OKAY AND EVEN IN WORST CASE, WE STILL HAVE SUFFICIENT FUND BALANCE IF NEED BE, TO RELY ON THAT.

PERFECT AND LASTLY, JUST A COMMENT. I WAS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HOW YOU KNOW, 24 MILLION IN DEFEASANCE AND ANOTHER $4 MILLION IN INTEREST SAVINGS, ABOUT $28 MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR AT $0.35 ON THE I&S, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.

YOU KNOW, IN HIGHLIGHTING THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY THIS YEAR BY WAY OF KEEPING THE RATE STEADY. AND OF COURSE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE, EVEN BY TAXING AT THE MAXIMUM COMPRESSION RATE FOR A TIER 1 ENTITLEMENT, WHICH MEANING WE CAN'T TAX OUR WAY WE'RE STUCK WITH THAT. AND ALSO IT PROHIBITS US FROM ADDRESSING SOME THINGS LIKE WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHERE OUR COMP PLAN IS STILL HAS SOME CHALLENGES AROUND IT. SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. AND I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WE'RE DOING THIS ALL WHILE MAINTAINING A BALANCED BUDGET.

AND I KNOW WE AUTHORIZE YOU AT 2%. DO WE APPROVE THAT BUDGET WITH A 2% DEFICIT PARAMETER.

BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN 2024, 2025, WE LANDED THE PLANE.

I THINK IT WAS WITHIN 0.02% OF A FULLY BALANCED BUDGET WHICH MEANS WE'RE PRESERVING OUR FUND BALANCE FOR SITUATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE AS FAVORABLE IN THE FUTURE.

SO I APPLAUD OUR TEAM. APPLAUD WHAT WE'RE DOING.

TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO LET'S JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON IT, BECAUSE I THINK THE I&S RATE WILL BE OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

[01:15:03]

WE'RE GOING TO GET A PASO SURVEY HERE SOON. WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW FAST WE ARE GROWING.

WE CAN MAKE SOME ASSERTIONS THERE. BUT I APPLAUD THE TEAM FOR BEING EXCELLENT STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND MANAGING THIS.

WELL, WITH THAT, I YIELD THANK YOU. YEAH I WOULD JUST SAY TO BOTH OF YOUR POINTS, I MEAN, THE HOLD HARMLESS ISN'T PERFECT. SO THAT LEGISLATIVE NUMBER IS NEVER EXACT.

BUT THAT'S WHY THE TEAM DOES CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, WE ARE GRATEFUL WE HAVE A TEAM WHO MANAGES OUR MONEY SO CAREFULLY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IF YOU DO THAT WRONG, YOU REALLY CAN HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. AND IT'S CERTAINLY WITH THE HOLD HARMLESS NOT BEING PERFECT.

WE HAVE TO MANAGE TO THAT NUMBER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW YOUR GOAL IS NOT TO INCREASE THAT.

SO WE'RE WATCHING ALL THOSE THINGS AND WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF IT.

THANKS, RANDY. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

IT'S A LONG ONE. I THINK I CAN SPEAK SLOW ENOUGH TO GET IT OUT MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.

GO AHEAD ROB. ALL RIGHT. I'LL GIVE THIS THE BEST SHOT HERE. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HEREBY LEVY OR SET THE TAX RATE ON $100 VALUATION FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025 AT $0.05552. AGAIN, THAT'S 0.0.

WHERE AM I? 0.5 $0.05552? YES $0.7552. FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND $0.3500 FOR THE PURPOSES OF PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON DEBTS.

I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TOTAL TAX RATE OF.

IS THAT THE CORRECT LANGUAGE? THAT IS THE CORRECT LANGUAGE, RIGHT? ARE YOU GIVING ME THE GIVE ME THE LOOK, ELAINE. IT SAYS, WHICH IS A 0% INCREASE RATE OF $1.1052 WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 0% TAX INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

DID I DO OKAY ELAINE? I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOU. MAKE SURE I GOT THAT RIGHT. OKAY, I DID GOOD THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THAT WAS A MESSY MOTION FROM ROB [LAUGHTER] AND A SECOND FROM OLIVIA.

ALRIGHT. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. YAY ON THE TAX RATE! GO, TEAM! OKAY THE SECOND WAS FROM OLIVIA.

ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ACTION THIS EVENING IS OUR GMP AMENDMENT #1 FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL #2.

ALL RIGHT AND THEY HAVE PROPOSED GMP #1 IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,984,623.

THAT IS SITE WORK FOR THE MOST PART. THAT THAT IS THE FIRST OF, OF 2 OR 3.

TWO GMPS FOR THE BUILDING ITSELF. WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM AMERICAN HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SHANDA EVERYTHING, PARKING LOTS AND ALL CONCRETE WORK? THAT'S SIDEWALKS, CURBS, ALL THE THINGS. SO I KNOW IT INCLUDES UTILITIES.

IT INCLUDES PAVEMENT. IT INCLUDES GRADING, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT IT INCLUDES THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE GRADING, WHICH IS ALL THE DIRT WORK AND THE UTILITIES AND THE BUILDING PADS.

SOME OF THE KIND OF THE FINISHED PRODUCTS THERE, THE DRIVEWAYS AND THE LANDSCAPING AREN'T IN THERE, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE ON THE PONDS, WHICH WE HAVE TO GET ESTABLISHED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SIDEWALK.

OKAY. SO IT'S NOT ALL CONCRETE? CORRECT. IT'S JUST THE BUILDING SITE ITSELF.

CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. TRICIA. I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT PRETTY QUICKLY. THE GENERAL CONDITIONS. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT ACTUALLY? THE GENERAL CONDITIONS, WE TYPICALLY CALL THAT PEOPLE IN TRAILERS. SO IT'S THE PROJECT SUPERVISION AND THEN THE JOB SITE OFFICES.

OKAY THANK YOU. KIM.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION IF WE'RE READY IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,984,623 FOR HIGH SCHOOL #2.

I FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY IN THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE THE GMP AMENDMENT IN A FORM APPROVED BY LEGAL COUNSEL.

A MOTION FROM KIM, A SECOND FROM TRICIA. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? JUST A QUICK COMMENT, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE WERE JUST COMING OFF A PROJECT AT WILDWOOD WHERE WE WERE ALL A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH THE SITE PACKAGE, NOT

[01:20:06]

FOR A MUCH, MUCH LARGER CAMPUS. AND SO IT SPEAKS TO.

DRAMATICALLY CHEAPER FOR GETTING NUMBERS TO BE GOOD. AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE WAITING FOR PERMITS READY TO GET MOVING DIRT RIGHT SCOTT? SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. BUT GREAT GREAT START TEAM. GREAT START. ALL RIGHT. NO MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. OKAY. ANY MORE HIGHLIGHTS? WE WENT THROUGH REPORTS AND

[11. REPORTS AND INFORMATION]

WHAT'S THE NEXT? SESQUICENTENNIAL EVENT OR CELEBRATION THAT WE'LL DO? WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL OFFICIAL DAY OF THAT THE DISTRICT WAS LAUNCHED AND THAT IS IN MARCH.

AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PLAN EVENTS. THAT'LL BE THE NEXT BIG THING OFFICIALLY.

SO WE'RE JUST IN THOSE PLANNING DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW.

AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. LEARNING AND INNOVATION. I JUST HAVE ONE UPDATE AND IT'S FOR THE ADVANCED ACADEMIC INFORMATION NIGHT.

ORIGINALLY IT HAD IT FOR SEPTEMBER 23RD WHICH WOULD BE TOMORROW.

IT IS NOT IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.

SO NEXT WEEK JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. HUMAN RESOURCES. NO UPDATES FINANCE REPORTS. ALL RIGHT. OPERATIONS. NO REPORTS.

MARY JANE. SORRY, I JUST HAVE TO AGAIN, GIVE A PUBLIC SHOUT OUT.

WE WOULDN'T KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T SHARE THESE NUMBERS WITH US, BUT I READ IT AGAIN.

LIKE THE 800 WORK ORDERS IN WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN 17 BUSINESS DAYS.

IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND. OR WE THINK OF TRANSPORTATION AS JUST THE MILES DRIVEN, BUT 2500 EMAILS TO RESPOND TO, AND SOME OF THEM REQUIRED ACTION. SO JUST A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF YOUR TEAMS. YES ALL RIGHT AND WE GOT A VERY BRIEF BOND CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.

BOARD MEMBERS, WE WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN? DID WE FEEL LAST WEEK WAS SUFFICIENT? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS? OKAY DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL PUNCH OUT OVER THERE.

MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME AC ISSUES OR SOMETHING LIKE, ARE WE? HOW ARE WE? IS THAT ALL STUFF, SCOTT? ARE WE ON THAT OR WHATEVER IT IS? THERE'S SOME STUFF WE NEED TO? WE ARE ON IT YES.

AS AS WE ARE NOTIFIED. SOMETIMES THEIR WARRANTY ISSUES, SOMETIMES THEIR CONTROLS.

BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE TO THE POINT TO WHERE THOSE ARE.

I'M NOT I'M NOT SHOWING UP TO WORK AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING AND HAVING AC ISSUES ANYMORE.

SO I BELIEVE WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONSTRUCTION RELATED AC SO NOW IT'S ON US. SO THAT WAS ALL KNOW THEY WERE. THEY WERE WORKING ON THE CHILLERS TODAY, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS I'M NOT HEARING ISSUES FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

OKAY, OKAY. AND LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JERRY POINTED OUT EXTREMELY WELL.

RIGHT? THE THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME SOMETIMES THESE LITTLE THINGS KIND OF FLARE UP.

I GUESS IT'S BUBBLED HIS WAY UP TO LIKE SOME, SOME CONCERN ABOUT THAT. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ON IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KIND OF GOT A PLAN WITH THE GC STILL MOBILIZED OUT THERE TO FACILITATE THOSE. OKAY PERFECT THANKS.

I'VE KIND OF HEARD THAT TOO. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK, IS THERE DO WE HAVE ANY SORT OF IDEA ON A DEFINITIVE DATE? LIKE THEY WILL BE OUT OF THERE EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE BY X OR? THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE THERE IN A MINOR WAY THROUGH THIS SEMESTER.

OKAY IT'S ACTUALLY THE STAIRWELLS NOW, AND WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE CAMPUS TO SEE WHEN THEY WOULD LIKE US TO DO PHYLON IN THE THE LOBBY OR THE FRONT AREA,

[01:25:01]

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT, BUT THEY MAY WANT US TO DO THAT OVER A LARGER BREAK.

SO THERE'S THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THAT THEY MIGHT BE THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT THE PUNCH LIST IS GETTING DONE.

I'M PUSHING ON MY TEAM AND OUR TEAM TO TO LEAN ON THEM SO THAT WE CAN SO THEY CAN BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY IT DOES DISRUPT A LITTLE BIT, EVEN IF THEY'RE WORKING IN AFTER HOURS AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE DONE SO THAT WE MINIMIZE THAT.

YEAH AND THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW JUST BECAUSE WHEN WE GET QUESTIONS WE CAN SAY THEY'RE NOT DONE YET. DON'T WORRY IT'S COMING.

SO JUST THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT IT COULD EXTEND THROUGH THE SEMESTER JUST FOR THOSE LAST MINUTE ITEMS. SO THANK YOU. I WILL TELL YOU, WE DID ASK THEM TO, AND THEY'RE AT A POINT WHERE THEY CAN DO THIS TO VACATE THE CLASS.

WE HAD GIVEN THEM ONE CLASSROOM TO KIND OF MOBILIZE IN, AND SO WE'VE ASKED THEM TO VACATE THAT BY NEXT FRIDAY.

SO THEY'LL BE OFF CAMPUS AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

AS FAR AS AN OFFICE GOES BY BY NEXT FRIDAY. IF NO ONE HAS ANYTHING LEFT ON OPERATIONS, I WANTED TO HOP BACK TO HR.

JUST HAVE A DELIVERABLE REQUEST, IF THAT'S OKAY? TRICIA, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO, I JUST WANTED TO ASK 18 PLUS SITE FACILITY.

THE SITE DESIGNS ARE COMPLETE, RIGHT? THE CDS ARE DUE IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'RE PLANNING ON CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR. CORRECT? YES WE'RE TALKING IN CLOSED ABOUT 18 PLUS.

OKAY PERFECT. THANK YOU. HR IS THERE CAN WE GET A I'M SORRY.

I SHOULD JUST ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO ASK MY QUESTION IF YOU CAN READ MY MIND. MY COUGH IS SO BAD.

CAN WE GET. WE HAD DONE THIS WITH BUS DRIVERS IN THE PAST.

A DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC SPREADSHEET THAT SHOWS US HOW MANY, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES, HOW MANY ARE AT WHAT HOURLY RATE AND HOW MANY YEARS EMPLOYED.

BUT EXTRACTING THAT WITH PAIRS ONLY? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. NO NEW INFORMATION ON THAT EITHER.

ALL RIGHT. THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS POSTED ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING, AS ALLOWED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS

[12. CLOSED SESSION ]

ANY ACTION THE BOARD WISHES TO TAKE AS A RESULT OF DISCUSSION IN CLOSED SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE BOARD RECONVENES IN THE OPEN MEETING.

THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CLOSED MEETING. THANK YOU ALL.

ALL RIGHT THE BOARD IS BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 8:09 P.M.

[13. OPEN SESSION ]

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM ROB. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE REVISED SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION. MOTION FROM ROB. A SECOND FROM SHANDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HOLLY FOR 20 MORE YEARS [LAUGHTER].

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS [LAUGHTER]. THAT IS OUR MEETING FOR THIS EVENING.

WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 8:09 P.M. GOOD NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.