Nov 17, 2025 Regular Meeting

[00:00:03]

>> GOOD EVENING. WE HAVE CONVENED FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING OF

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]

THE TIME IS NOW 6:00 PM.

THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED.

WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT THIS EVENING.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR OPENING CEREMONY WITH PLEDGES TO THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME MARIA KILVASA, WHO WILL HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE THIS EVENING.

>> PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG, FOLLOWED BY THE TEXAS PLEDGE AND THE MOMENT OF SILENCE.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.

>>

>>

>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED [APPLAUSE]

>> GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS ANNOUNCEMENTS. WELL,

[3. ANNOUNCEMENTS]

THEY ADVANCED TO THE FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

THEY HAD A HISTORIC SEASON THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THEIR SUCCESS.

TIGER FOOTBALL TEAM ALSO DEFEATED VISTA RIDGE LAST THURSDAY TO ADVANCE TO THE AREA OF PLAYOFFS.

THEY WILL FACE SAN ANTONIO HARLAN ON FRIDAY AT 7:30 PM AT ALAMO STADIUM IN SAN ANTONIO.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE GAME IS POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AS SOON AS THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL BEST ROBOTICS TEAM WILL HOST A REGIONAL COMPETITION ON SATURDAY FROM 9:00-4:00 PM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GYM.

ATTENDANCE HELPS THE TEAM SCORE POINTS, AND YOU CAN ALSO MEET THE TEAMS, LEARN ABOUT THEIR ROBOT CHALLENGES, AND PICK UP SOME FUN SWAG. PLEASE JOIN US.

A REMINDER THAT OUR CAMPUSES AND OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED NEXT WEEK FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK.

THEN, WHEN WE GET BACK FROM BREAK, OUR NEXT TAXPAYER TUESDAY WILL BE ON DECEMBER 2ND AT ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.

THE EVENT INCLUDES A PRESENTATION ON TAXES AND RECAPTURE AND A GUIDED TOUR OF ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY, AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR THAT ONLINE. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT IS OUR LEARNING SPOTLIGHT FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.

[4. LEARNING SPOTLIGHT ]

>> THANK YOU.

PERFECT [BACKGROUND] FOR OUR DSHS SPOTLIGHT, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF STUDENTS AND STAFF HERE.

AS YOU KNOW, TEENAGERS ARE VERY BUSY WITH WORK AND SCHOOL WORK AND ALL THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

FOR THEM TO SHOW UP TONIGHT IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL, AND IT MAKES ME REALLY.

[00:05:01]

OUR BIG TOPIC TODAY IS BELONGING.

WE HAVE FOUR CORE VALUES THAT WE'VE HELD TIGHT TO OVER THE YEARS, RELATIONSHIPS, BELONGING, INTEGRITY, GROWTH MINDSET.

WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, IT IS THE CONNECTION OUR KIDS HAVE TO THE SCHOOL, AND NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT IN EVERYTHING THEY DO.

WE HAVE OVER 70 ACTIVE CLUBS THIS YEAR OUTSIDE OF UIL AND TEAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

WE HAVE TONS OF PLACES FOR OUR KIDS TO GET CONNECTED, AND THEY'RE ENTIRELY RUN BY OUR STUDENTS.

EVEN OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT, THEY DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON STAFF, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR HOW THEY WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY WANT TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.

WHAT THEY DO EPITOMIZES WHAT WE DO WITH BELONGING.

WE CAN'T HAVE BELONGING WITHOUT OUR STUDENTS, AND I'M JUST SUPER PROUD OF THESE KIDS HERE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB IN BUILDING CULTURE ON OUR CAMPUS.

I'M GOING TO LET THEM SPEAK. HOPE, SQUAD.

>> HOWDY AND GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU MISS GOMEZ FOR INTRODUCING US AND TO THE BOARD FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT A LITTLE BIT.

MY NAME IS JORDAN BATSON, AND I AM THIS YEAR'S HOPE SQUAD ADVISOR.

A NEW ROLE FOR ME AND SUCH A FUN GROUP TO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THEM AND LET THEM SHARE WHAT THEY'VE GOT GOING ON. HEMA?

>> HI. I'M HEMA.

I'M A JUNIOR, AND THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR IN HOPE SQUAD, AND OUR MOTTO FOR THIS YEAR IS HELPING OTHERS PERSEVERE EMOTIONALLY.

THE GOAL OF HOPE SQUAD IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AT SCHOOL THAT STUDENTS GENUINELY WANT TO COME TO.

IF SOMETHING'S GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN MAYBE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL.

WE WANT TO BUILD UPON POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE.

THAT MEANS PARTICIPATING IN THINGS LIKE PEP RALLIES, GIVING LEADERSHIP TALKS.

WE ALSO WANT TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP CAPACITY WITHIN ALL OUR STUDENTS SO THAT MEANS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HOPE SQUAD IN AND OF ITSELF.

WE ALL LEAD ON MANY PROJECTS, WE HELP LEAD LUNCH GAMES THAT WE DO.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO THAT HELP PROMOTE LEADERSHIP WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR INDIVIDUALS, TO HELP THE SCHOOL GROW.

WE ALSO WANT TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH, THAT'S ONE OF OUR CORE FACETS.

BRINGING AWARENESS, TRYING TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING OPEN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

WE BELIEVE THAT BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS IS THE KEY TO ACHIEVING EACH OF THESE GOALS.

>> HI, I'M GRAYSON. I'M A SENIOR, AND IT'S MY SECOND YEAR IN HOPE SQUAD AS WELL.

SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR OUR LUNCH GAMES OR LUNCH OUTREACH PROGRAM, RED RIBBON WEEK, CHARACTER AND MENTAL HEALTH FALL PROJECT, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE SOME UPCOMING THINGS, THE BULLYING ACTION COMMITTEE AND OUR HOPE WEEK IN THE SPRING.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT.

BUT EVERYTHING'S BEEN REALLY GREAT.

IT'S GREAT TO BUILD A SENSE OF BELONGING WITH ALL THOSE STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED AND GOTTEN TO FEEL INCLUDED.

IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO SEE, REALLY COOL TO WORK WITH.

IT'S BEEN A TON OF FUN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I ACTUALLY DID THAT.UNIFIED CHAMPIONS.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M COACH DEL SANTOS.

THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR TO TEACH UNIFIED.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT UNIFIED.

UNIFIED AS A CLASS WHERE YOU TAKE GEN ED KIDS AND YOU PARTNER THEM UP WITH KIDS WITH ALL DISABILITIES.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS.

IT'S PE BASED PRIMARILY, BUT WE DO A LOT OF SOCIAL THINGS TOO.

I'LL SAY THAT I'M A VERY SMALL PART OF THE CLASS.

I JUST PUT OUT FIRES AND HELP MR. GUSS WHEN MR. GUSS NEEDS ME.

I'M GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO THEM.

I WILL SAY THIS JUST ABOUT THESE KIDS.

WE ONLY HAD FOUR UP HERE.

WE COULD HAVE HAD 32, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL JUST INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT ARE SELFLESS AND DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO MR. GUSS, AND HE'LL INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

>> HEY, Y'ALL. I'M GUSS DUP.

THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR IN UNIFIED CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR.

JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UNIFIED.

WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEIR BELONGING, AND WE TRY TO DO THAT THROUGH INTENTIONALLY PLANNED ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S OUR WEIGHT ROOM WEDNESDAY OR WEEKEND ROUND UPS OR OUR DAILY SPORTS ACTIVITIES.

WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A REAL PRESENCE OF INCLUSION, NOT JUST IN THE CLASS, BUT AROUND CAMPUS, AND IT GOES FARTHER THAN JUST OUTSIDE THE CAMPUS.

I'LL PASS IT ON THE GAGE JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE MORE ABOUT IT.

>> ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT UNIFIED IS THE GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS THAT IT CREATES.

[00:10:05]

HIS NAME IS DRAKE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO THAT KID EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY OR WHENEVER I GET TO SEE HIM.

I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BRANCH OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS, WHEN YOU SEE HIM IN THE HALLWAY AND YOU TELL THEM ABOUT DRAKE OR WHOEVER THEIR PARTNER IS, AND IT JUST CREATES A FEELING OF BELONGING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SCHOOL, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> HI, I'M NICO. ANOTHER THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THAT WE JUST LIKE WHAT GAGE SAID, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR PARTNERS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN CLASS, AND PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACE AND ON THEIR FACE.

WHENEVER WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER, AND WE ALSO ARE A PART OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, WHICH IS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE JUST FINISHED BOWLING, AND NEXT UP IS BASKETBALL.

THEN IN THE SPRING, WE'LL HAVE TRACK.

IT'S JUST A FUN PART.

IT'S A FUN WAY TO SEE ALL OF THE KIDS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND JUST TO HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO DO SPORTS WITH THEM AND HAVE FUN.

>> MY NAME IS BILLY MORRISON.

THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR IN UNIFIED.

JUST TO ADD OFF WHAT NICO IS SAYING.

OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, I THINK THE SENSE OF BELONGING AND THE IMPACT THAT UNIFIED HAS MADE CONTINUES.

I'M REALLY CLOSE FRIENDS WITH MY PARTNER IN UNIFIED, DOROTHY.

SOMETIMES I LIKE TO GO TO HER HOUSE. SHE TEXTS ME.

SHE HAS MY PHONE NUMBER, SHE SPAMS ME SOMETIMES, BUT I LOVE IT.

SHE'S LITERALLY ONE OF THE SWEETEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.

UNIFIED ITSELF HAS GIVEN ME A PURPOSE IN LIFE.

I WANT TO BECOME AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST NOW.

THE WAY UNIFIED HAS CHANGED MY LIFE AND CHANGE I THINK EVERYONE'S LIFE IN THAT CLASS IS AMAZING, AND IT'S JUST REALLY CREATED A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE FOR EVERYONE IN IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

>> PALS.

>> THANK YOU, BELLA, FOR MAKING US CRY.

SHE IS ALSO A PAL. I'M HEATHER MCCARTHY.

I AM THE PALS FACILITATOR.

THIS IS MY FOURTH YEAR SPONSORING THIS PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE DENISE DIEGO, OUR PRESIDENT THIS YEAR, AND ALEXA NIMES.

SHE IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT. DENISE

>> I'M DENISE. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR IN PALS.

PALS IS A PROGRAM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MENTOR YOUNGER STUDENTS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT BUILDING CONNECTIONS, CONFIDENCE, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING THAT LASTS WELL BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

PALS CREATES MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS ACROSS GRADE LEVELS, SO EVERY STUDENT FEELS SEEN, VALUED, AND SUPPORTED.

BY MODELING EMPATHY AND INCLUSION, PALS BRIDGES SOCIAL DIVIDES AND BUILD A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN KINDNESS.

THESE CONNECTIONS ARE WHAT MAKE PALS SO POWERFUL, BUT THE LASTING IMPACT OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IS WHAT TRULY CHANGES LIVES.

I'M GOING TO GO PASS IT ON TO ALEXA.

>> HI. I'M ALEXA [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS ALSO MY SECOND YEAR IN PALS.

I THINK ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THESE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH THE KIDS.

IT REALLY JUST BUILDS ON THEM GROWING UP IN THESE VITAL YEARS LIKE THEIR SELF AWARENESS.

IT HELPS THEM COME TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.

LIKE THEY WANT TO BE THERE, THEY WANT TO GO AND SEE US.

IT ALSO HELPS THEM FEEL CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL.

THEY FEEL MORE LIKE THEY'RE PROUD TO BE A TIGER BECAUSE WE'RE TIGERS.

ALSO, WE REALLY GET THE CHANCE TO FOCUS ON ACTIVE LISTENING, BEING THERE FOR THE KIDS, HAVING EMPATHY, AND ALSO HAVING THAT SAME SCHOOL SPIRIT AND CULTURE.

LASTLY, PALS IS A LOT FOR THE KIDS WHO FEEL INVISIBLE, OR THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL. THEY GET TO FEEL SEEN.

THEY GET TO FEEL HEARD, AND THEY GET TO BE REMINDED THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND THAT EVERYBODY MATTERS.

THE MAIN THEME OF THIS SLIDE IS THROUGH PALS, WE SEE EVERY DAY THAT WHEN STUDENTS FEEL CONNECTED, THEY THRIVE. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

>> ENRICH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HI, EVENING. I'M EMILY GROSS, AND I RUN THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL OR IT'S LIKE A PATHWAY THAT THEY GO THROUGH ALL FOUR YEARS.

ENRICH IS PART OF THAT PROGRAM.

I BROUGHT RE STARNS AND MADISON MITCHELL.

>> HI, MY NAME IS RE STARNS, AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM FOR FOUR YEARS.

>> ENRICH, LIKE SHE SAID, IS PART OF THE PROGRAM.

BASICALLY, WE GO TO WALNUT AND WE READ TO ALL OF THE KIDS, AND WE GET TO INTERACT WITH THEM.

IT'S MAINLY AROUND FROM KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GRADE, BUT WE'RE ENCOURAGING READING AND LIKE THE LOVE FOR LITERATURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO INTERACTING WITH THESE KIDS.

WE'RE INTERACTING WITH THESE KIDS, AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING LIKE TIGER PRIDE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT.

TO ME, IT'S JUST VERY MUCH I GET TO ENJOY MYSELF WHILE I ALL BUILDING LIKE A NEW CONNECTION WITH ALL THESE KIDS.

[00:15:04]

THEY'RE LIKE, WAIT, ARE YOU COMING TO MY CLASSROOM? ARE YOU COMING TO READ TO ME? I SEE THEM OUT IN PUBLIC, AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED AND THEY'RE LIKE, I READ THIS NEW BOOK.

I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.

WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THE SEVEN HABITS AS WELL.

WE'LL COME IN WITH A NEW BOOK EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE'RE LIKE, HOW DID THIS BOOK RELATE TO THIS SPECIFIC HABIT? IF THEY'RE NOT INTERACTING VERY WELL WITH THAT, WE'LL BE LIKE, WELL, THIS IS WHY THIS DOES THIS.

>> HI. MY NAME IS MADISON MITCHELL, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS, AND ENRICH ITSELF STANDS FOR ENCOURAGING READING IN CHILDREN.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

I LOVE SEEING THE KIDS.

ONE TIME I SAW KID AT AMY'S.

THE NEXT TIME SHE SAW ME IN SCHOOL, SHE WAS SO EXCITED, AND SHE A UP AND GAVE ME A HUG.

IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL TO BUILD A CONNECTION WITH THESE STUDENTS AND TO ENCOURAGE READING WITHIN THEM [APPLAUSE]

>> INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CLUB.

>> HI, I'M MARCUS CAMILA, AND I'M THE FACILITATOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CLUB.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

THE IDEA POPPED IN MY HEAD WHEN I WORKED WITH THE EMERGING BILINGUAL POPULATION, AND I WOULD ASK THEM TO GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES, DO YOU ATTEND THESE ACTIVITIES AND THEY WEREN'T REALLY INVOLVED, SO I SAID, WELL, LET'S START A CLUB, THAT IS INCLUSION FOR EVERYBODY.

A LOT OF THE KIDS I WORK WITH ARE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

I WANTED THEM TO BE MORE INVOLVED, AND THEY'RE STARTING TO GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES, BASKETBALL GAMES, AND DO OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> HEY, YOU ALL. MY NAME IS ALYSA, AND I'M A SOPHOMORE.

THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR IN THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CLUB.

OUR CLUB IS BASICALLY JUST DEDICATED TO CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS TO BE LIKE IN ONE FRIEND GROUP IS WHAT I LIKE TO CALL IT BECAUSE WHENEVER I SEE THEM IN THE HALLWAY, I ALWAYS TALK TO THEM, OR I ALWAYS WALK THEM TO CLASS, OR THEY WALK ME TO CLASS, BECAUSE I GOT TO KNOW THEM THROUGHOUT MY FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR OR CURRENTLY MY SOPHOMORE YEAR.

BASICALLY, THEY COME FROM VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, AND I LIKE TO LISTEN TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY FUNNY BECAUSE SINCE THEY'VE COME FROM MANY COUNTRIES, I LIKE TO HEAR THEIR STORIES.

THEN ALSO, WE DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, LIKE MR SCAMMEA SAID THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES.

I'VE GOT TO GO TO MANY FOOTBALL GAMES THROUGH MR SCAMMEA.

WE ALSO AIM TO BUILD A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.

WE CELEBRATE ALL CULTURES, LIKE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE WOULD SPEAK OVER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT HISPANIC PERSON, AND WE JUST SAY WHAT THEY WOULD DO AND WHY THEY WERE IMPACTFUL.

I'M GOING TO HAND THE MICROPHONE OVER TO JESSICA.

>> HI. MY NAME IS JESSICA.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR BEING AN OFFICER IN THE CLUB.

LAST YEAR, WHEN I WAS IN THE CLUB JUST JOINING.

I FELT VERY WELCOMED.

I GOT TO MAKE MANY NEW FRIENDS, AND I DEVELOPED A FRIEND GROUP THAT'S REALLY CLOSE TO ME AND THAT I CAN GO TO ANYTIME I WANT, AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.

WE DECORATE FLOATS.

I LIKE GOING TO FOOTBALL GAMES WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICERS.

IT'S REALLY FUN. THAT'S IT.

I'LL PASS THE MICROPHONE TO MERISSA.

>> THEN OTHER STUFF WE DO.

WE DO CELEBRATE OTHER CULTURES.

WE DO HAVE NEW ACTIVITIES THAT ARE VERY COMING SOON.

WE'RE GOING TO HOST PARTIES AND STUFF, SO WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY AROUND US.

>> STUDENT COUNCIL [APPLAUSE].

>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JACK MCCLURE.

I'M THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.

STUDENT COUNCIL IS AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ORGANIZATION.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

I'M SURE YOU KNOW. BUT I'M JUST HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN THE STUDENT COUNCIL.

THE BIG THING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WE DO IS WE PLAN ALL OF HOMECOMING.

THE PARADE, THE CARNIVAL, THE DANCE THAT IS COMPLETELY STUDENT-LED, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING IN CHARGE OF THAT THIS YEAR. IT WAS SO FUN.

WE EVEN HAD SOME OF YOU GUYS HELPING OUT AS JUDGES AND THE MAYOR OF DRIPPING SPRINGS.

[00:20:03]

ANOTHER THING WE DO IS WE ORGANIZE PEP RALLIES.

WE ARE GETTING ALL THE TEAMS TOGETHER FOR ALL THOSE PEP RALLIES.

ME AND MY VICE PRESIDENT MILLER ARE ACTUALLY THE PEP RALLY MCS THIS YEAR.

WE MAKE THAT SCRIPT AND EVERYTHING TOO, SUPER FUN.

THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS I'VE DONE ALL YEAR.

ANOTHER THING WE ARE SUPER BIG ON IS FOSTERING SCHOOL SPIRIT.

WE MAKE ALL OF THE FOOTBALL GAME THEMES, THEMES FOR THE PEP RALLIES.

WE DECORATE THE HALLWAYS FOR THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO GO TO THE GAMES AND REALLY SHOW UP FOR THEIR SCHOOL.

NEXT, WE'RE SUPER BIG ON STAFF AND STUDENT APPRECIATION.

THREE YEARS AGO, I CO-FOUNDED THE STAFF AND STUDENT APPRECIATION COMMITTEE WITH MY FRIEND COCO, AND IT HAS GROWN SO MUCH SINCE THEN.

WE STARTED OUT WITH LITTLE TREAT CARTS FOR THE TEACHERS.

WE'D HAVE A TEACHER OF THE WEEK AWARD, AND WE HAVE GROWN SO MUCH.

WE ACTUALLY JUST DID A CHICK-FIL-A BREAKFAST FOR ALL OF THE STAFF AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WAS SUPER FUN.

I'M SUPER PROUD OF THAT COMMITTEE.

NEXT, WE DO SCHOOL TOURS AS WELL.

ANY NEW STUDENT THAT WANTS TO CHECK OUT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ME AND A COUPLE OF MY OTHER OFFICERS ARE IN CHARGE OF LEADING THEM AROUND.

IT IS SUPER FUN, AND THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS ARE SO AMAZED TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT OUR DISTRICT OFFERS.

EVEN SOME TEACHERS AS WELL WENT ON IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WE'RE LIKE SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MUCH OUR SCHOOL OFFERS BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T SEE IT UNLESS YOU REALLY TAKE THAT TOUR.

LASTLY, WE LIKE TO HARNESS THE COMMUNITY WITH OTHER SCHOOLS.

WE DO A LITTLE STUDENT COUNCIL GIFT EXCHANGE AT ALL THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN, AND THAT'S A WAY FOR US TO CONNECT WITH THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND SHOW THAT WE'RE OPEN AND WILLING TO BE A FRIENDLY DISTRICT.

WE ALSO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE DO A LOT OF STUFF FOR, LIKE, THE HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY.

WE HAVE A YEARLY DRIVE.

YOU CAN SEE WE WENT TO TARGET ONE OF THE YEARS ON THERE.

THAT'S SUPER FUN, AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU THIS YEAR TO MAKE AN EVEN BETTER EVENT.

THAT'S ALL THAT WE DO AT STUDENT COUNCIL.

ACTUALLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU GUYS AS WELL.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU GUYS WHEN YOU'RE MAKING NEW POLICIES FOR THE DISTRICT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

OUR LEGISLATORS MEET EVERY OTHER YEAR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THEY PASS WHAT'S CALLED HOUSE BILLS AND SENATE BILLS, AND THOSE ARE USUALLY SIGNED INTO LAW, THAT CERTAIN ONES APPLY TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ONCE THAT'S DECIDED, THEN THOSE ARE SENT TO TASB, WHICH IS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS.

WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY THAT WORK WITH DRIPPING SPRINGS THERE, AND THEY HAVE A TEMPLATE, AND THEY ENTER THOSE POLICIES.

ONCE IT'S BEEN REVISED THERE, THEN IT IS REVIEWED WITH OUR ATTORNEY FOR OUR DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE IT FITS TO LANGUAGE THAT'S BEST FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS.

IT STARTS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, AND THEN IT ENDS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD. GREAT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU INVOLVE STUDENT AND PARENT INPUT WHEN MAKING DECISIONS TOWARDS THE END OF THAT PROCESS?

>> HI. YOU'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB.

THE WAY THAT WE MOST RECEIVE PARENT AND STUDENT FEEDBACK IS ACTUALLY THROUGH ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND WE REALLY WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES ACROSS TOWN ARE REPRESENTED BY PARENTS FROM THOSE CAMPUSES.

THEN WE HAVE STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES AS WELL.

WE HAVE ONE THAT RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, AND THAT INFORMATION USUALLY COMES FROM HERA.

EXCUSE ME. THAT'S THE BIGGEST WAY.

>> I APPRECIATE. MY LAST QUESTION BUILDS OFF OF THAT.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY CHILDREN OR FAMILY IN THE DISTRICT, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR VALUES AS A BOARD MEMBER?

>> HI. YES. I ACTUALLY HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS IN THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE A THIRD GRADE, A SIXTH GRADE, AND HAVE A FRESHMAN THIS YEAR.

I WILL SAY THAT THIS THEME OF INCLUSIVELY HAS BEEN AMAZING.

SHE HAS FELT SO WELCOME AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR AS A FRESHMAN.

SHE'S JUST FIT RIGHT IN.

LOVED PEPPY. ROB AND I GOT TO ATTEND THAT.

IT WAS AMAZING.

YES, THREE DAUGHTERS.

DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT?

>> WHAT?

>> DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?

>> NO. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO HE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT Y'ALL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO THE ALLIES IN OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS [APPLAUSE].

>> THIS IS OUR LAST. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO CHOOSE.

WE HAVE A TON OF GROUPS ON CAMPUS WHO DO A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS.

THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH US WHILE WE BRAG ON OUR STUDENTS.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CULTURAL FAIR.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M MR RODRIGUEZ.

I'M THE FACILITATOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CULTURAL FAIR, ALONG WITH BERNA FOWLER.

JOHN MIHALY UP THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL FACILITATOR, STUDENT AD.

I'VE TAKEN UPON THAT FROM HIS LEAD.

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FAIR HAPPENS AFTER SPRING BREAK. IT TAKES TWO DAYS.

THERE ARE CULTURAL ART PRESENTATIONS, AND WE ARE INCLUSIVE.

OUR MOTTO IS "ONE TIGER, MANY STRIPES".

I BROUGHT TWO YOUNG LADIES HERE THAT HAVE PRESENTED IT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS,

[00:25:04]

>> HI. MY NAME IS HANSONI.

>> HI. MY NAME IS SHREYA.

>> WE ARE BOTH 11TH GRADERS AT DSHS.

WE HAVE BOTH PARTICIPATED AT THE CULTURE FAIR FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN SUPER FUN.

>> WE WERE BOTH A PART OF SENIOR RODRIGUEZ'S AP SPANISH FOUR CLASS.

THERE, WE LEARNED NOT JUST ABOUT SPANISH CULTURE, BUT HOW TO EXPLORE OUR OWN CULTURES AND NOTICE THE INTRICACIES IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

A GOOD PROPORTION OF OUR SCHOOL COMES FROM VARIOUS ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, AND WE OURSELVES ARE THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS.

WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE OUR VOICE AT THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CULTURE FAIR BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY REPRESENTING OURSELVES.

>> AT THE FAIR, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS THAT PEOPLE PRESENT ABOUT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE DISCUSSED DAILY LIFE AND HOW OUR CULTURE HAS AFFECTED US AND SOME LITTLE TIDBITS ABOUT IT.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL YOU CAN TALK ABOUT.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT FOOD, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT POLITICS.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE SCHOOL.

>> THE CULTURE FAIR TAKES PLACE, AS SENIOR SAID, OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE PRESENTED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE THAT VOICE THAT REPRESENTS NOT JUST OURSELVES, BUT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL WHO COME FROM VARIOUS ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.

>> I HOPE YOU GUYS SUPPORT OUR CULTURE FAIR BECAUSE IT GIVES STUDENTS A VOICE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT, AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS SO WONDERFUL.

I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY MORE STUDENTS.

BUT YES, COME FOR HANDSHAKES.

GREAT JOB, STUDENTS.

THANK YOU.

WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR RECOGNITIONS.

[5. RECOGNITIONS]

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M COACH MORALES.

THIS IS WES ANDERSON [LAUGHTER].

FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, WES IS A CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNER.

HE'S BEEN ON THE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM AND TRACK TEAM.

THIS WILL BE HIS FOURTH YEAR.

HE'S A SENIOR, AND HE HAD A PHENOMENAL SEASON.

HE QUALIFIED FOR THE STATE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

[00:30:01]

AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A 6A ATHLETIC CONFERENCE, AND IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

HE HAD THE ABSOLUTE RACE OF HIS LIFE, I FEEL LIKE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE RACE, BUT IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT. HE EXECUTED A GREAT RACE PLAN FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW.

CROSS COUNTRY IS 3.1 MILES OF PURE HECK [LAUGHTER].

YOU'RE ON A RAZOR-THIN LINE OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN YOUR ENERGY AND NOT OVERDOING IT BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT EDGE AND BE DONE.

HE DID A REALLY GREAT RACE, PASSING PEOPLE.

CONSTANTLY, HE IS VERY COMPETITIVE, AND HE GOT 16TH PLACE AT THE REGIONAL MEET, WHICH QUALIFIED HIM FOR STATE.

AT THE STATE MEET, HE COMPETED AGAINST 152 OF THE FASTEST BOYS IN THE STATE.

HE GOT 55TH [APPLAUSE].

I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO WES.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE HIM.

MR AND MRS ANDERSON, CONGRATULATIONS.

I WANT TO SAY THAT Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB BECAUSE HE'S NOT JUST A GREAT RUNNER.

HE'S A GREAT HUMAN BEING, BOTH ON THE COURSE.

HE'S A GREAT LEADER IN ALL OF OUR PRACTICES, AND HE ALSO GETS THINGS DONE IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE HE'S A GREAT ACADEMIC STUDENT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> I WASN'T REALLY PLANNING ON SPEAKING TODAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS GREAT [LAUGHTER].

THAT'S ABOUT IT [APPLAUSE].

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A GOOD TRACK SEASON, AS WELL.

>> NEXT IS OUR LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT.

[6. LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT]

I THINK WE ALL, AT ONE POINT, GOT TO SEE THIS PERFORMANCE OF OUR MARCHING BAND.

IT WAS EXCEPTIONAL, ABSOLUTELY EXCEPTIONAL.

ANYBODY, TRICIA, YOU WANT TO SPEAK? TRICIA? SOMEONE IN THE MARCHING BAND.

I FOLLOWED IT THE WHOLE WAY.

THEY DID A REALLY AMAZING JOB, AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PARENTS REALLY WORKED HARD WITH THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

I GUESS, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW IT UNLESS YOU'RE IN IT, AND YOU'RE JUST WATCHING THESE PARENTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THEM, TOO.

BUT THESE STUDENTS HAVE WORKED THEIR TAILS OFF, AND IT'S REALLY PAID OFF.

THEY'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD COMPETITION SEASON, AND SUPER IMPRESSIVE. THEIR SHOW WAS AMAZING.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, YOU SHOULD FIND THE LINK AND CHECK IT OUT, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY GOOD.

>> IT WAS SO FUN TO WATCH THEIR RUN, BUT THIS PICTURE WITH DEREK AND I BROUGHT ME BACK TO 2009 WHEN I WAS PRINCIPAL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY WERE AT THE STATE MARCHING CONTEST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HE AND I WERE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON THE STANDS, AND THEY WERE GOING TO RETREAT, AND THEY WERE ANNOUNCING THE TOP AWARDS IN THE WHOLE STATE.

THEY KEPT GOING ALL THE WAY UP THE ROW, AND THEY HADN'T CALLED DRIPPING SPRINGS YET.

I LEANED OVER TO DEREK AND I SAID, YOU GOT THIS, AND HE WAS LIKE, OH, GOD, DON'T SAY THAT. IT'S GOING TO JINX IT.

THEY WON THE ENTIRE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND EVERYBODY SAID, WHERE IS DRIPPING SPRINGS? I SAID, WELCOME. IT'S WEST OF WEIRD. YOU WILL LOVE IT.

IT'S BETWEEN FREDERICKSBURG AND AUSTIN, AND WE HAVE THE GREATEST BAND PROGRAM IN THE STATE, AND OBVIOUSLY, WE STILL DO.

BUT WHAT A BLAST TO WATCH THIS GROUP.

I DIDN'T SIT WITH THEM AND STANCE THIS YEAR.

I JUST DIDN'TN'T WANT TO [INAUDIBLE] SUIT.

>> I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING ABOUT THE BAND.

WE CAN HEAR THE BAND FROM OUR HOUSE AND THIS WHOLE SEMESTER, WE CAN HEAR THE BAND IN THE MORNINGS.

ONE DAY, MY HUSBAND SAID, YOU KNOW WHO THE HARDEST WORKING KIDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL ARE? I WAS LIKE, WHO? HE'S LIKE, IT'S THE BAND.

IT'S THE BAND KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY MORNING.

[00:35:02]

FOR HIM TO SAY THAT, I'M LIKE, HE'S THE BIG SPORTS GUY, AND I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD EVER SAY THAT ABOUT A MARCHING BAND.

WE'VE BEEN SUPER IMPRESSED, AND THEY ARE.

WE CAN HEAR THEM, AND IT SOUNDS AMAZING.

I GOT TO SEE THE SHOW, AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. WELL DONE.

>> NEXT WAS OUR TAXPAYER TUESDAY.

MARY JANE, DO YOU HAVE SOME WORDS?

>> I REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL SO MANY TIMES, AND I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW EVERY TIME, AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU'RE REMINDED OF THE JOURNEY LIKE WITH OUR ROBOTICS KIDS.

WE'VE JUST HAD SOME INCREDIBLE LEADERS, I THINK, IN ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT JULIA IS DOING WITH CTE.

DR. KID JUST GETS FUNNIER ALL THE TIME.

>> NEXT WAS OUR ROOSTER BOARD VISIT SHINA, HOW WAS IT?

>> WELL, REALLY, ME KIM AND TRICIA, THAT'S AT THE TOP, THEY'RE US BUILDING A RAMP.

YOU CAN SEE HOW FOCUSED WE ARE ON THAT.

I LOVED THE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT ASPECT OF EVERYTHING, HOW WE SAW THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS WAS THE FIRST AND SECOND WITH THAT FIRST GROUP OF KIDS, AND THEY WERE WORKING ON MATH.

SOME OF THEM WERE MEASURING IN BLOCKS, AND THEN THE OLDER KIDS WERE MEASURING IN INCHES.

THEY GOT TO RUN THEIR CAR DOWN THIS RAMP THAT THEY BUILT AND THEN MEASURE HOW FAR THE CAR WENT.

I LOVED THAT VERTICAL ALIGNMENT ASPECT OF IT.

THEN WE GOT TO SEE THE GARDEN, AND IT'S SO SPECIAL TO SEE THERE WAS TONS OF PARENTS THERE, VOLUNTEERS. I ENJOYED IT.

>> THEN OUR VERY SPECIAL VETERANS DAY, AND MY HUSBAND MADE A RARE APPEARANCE.

HE IS MAYBE ONE OF MANY VETERANS ACTUALLY THAT DOESN'T LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED VERY OFTEN.

BUT WHEN MY 5-YEAR-OLD CAME TO HIM AND SAID, I TOLD MY WHOLE CLASS THAT YOU ARE COMING, DADDY, BECAUSE THIS IS A PARTY FOR YOU TODAY.

I MELTED HIS HEART.

I ACTUALLY GOT HIM ON CAMPUS TO COME THIS YEAR.

BUT I PERSONALLY LOVE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE A PSA BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN THAT WE HAVE SCHOOL ON VETERANS DAY.

AS SOMEONE IN A VETERANS FAMILY, I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S VERY SPECIAL FOR OUR VETERANS THAT ACTUALLY WE HAVE SCHOOL WIDE EVENTS THAT'S VERY SPECIAL FOR THEM.

I KNOW EVEN AT SYCAMORE, WHERE MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, I THINK THERE WERE 30, 40 VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE.

I KNOW THEY LOVE IT, AND THEY LOVE CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER.

A GENTLEMAN JUST REALLY WANT TO TALK MY HUSBAND'S EAR OFF AFTER THE WHOLE THING, BUT IT'S GREAT FOR THE VETERANS THEMSELVES TO CONNECT.

BUT ROB GAVE SOME WONDERFUL SPEECH FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT DAY AS WELL.

>> TRAVIS AND I, WE BOTH WORE THOSE SAME STETSONS IN IRAQ TOGETHER.

HE'S GOT THOSE SILVER OAKLEAF.

I ONLY HAVE A YELLOW ONE, WHICH MEANS HE RANKS ME SO, BUT THAT'S RIGHT.

HE'S STILL MY GOOD FRIEND.

FOR TWO REASONS, I THINK VETERANS DAY, WHAT WE DO IN OUR DISTRICT IS SUPER SPECIAL.

FIRST, FOR OUR VETERANS, IT IS A CHANCE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY JUST ENGAGE IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T GET TO ANYMORE AND IT'S REALLY COOL.

I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENT MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS AS A DISTRICT FOR OUR VETERANS, BECAUSE THEY ARE A GROWING POPULATION.

SIX PERCENT OF UNITED STATES POPULATION ARE VETERANS, A LOT OF THEM MOVING TO DRIPPING SPRINGS BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME.

SECONDLY, AND I WOULD SAY, EVEN AS A VETERAN, I'LL SAY THIS, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO SEE OUR KIDS GET AN UNDERSTANDING TO GET AN AMAZING LESSON CIVICS TO SEE MEN AND WOMEN, SOME YOUNG, SOME OLDER THAT HAVE HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY TO BE SITTING THERE WITH FLAGS AND JUST TO GET AN IDEA ABOUT PATRIOTISM AND TO LOVE OF COUNTRY BY WAY OF HONORING THESE PEOPLE IS AWESOME.

IT'S A GREAT DAY, ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS HERE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, AND I ECHO THAT THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VETERANS I GET A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH ON VETERANS DAY.

TO OUR TEAMS, OUR PRINCIPALS AND OUR MUSIC TEACHERS AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO MADE ALL THESE ASSEMBLIES POSSIBLE, NOT JUST TO DO THEM, BUT TO DO THEM WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE, WELL DONE.

ON BEHALF OF THE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU'RE HERE.

>> WE HAD OUR 18 PLUS GROUNDBREAKING, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING.

[00:40:04]

KIM, HOW WAS IT?

>> WHAT A GREAT DAY. I THINK MY FAVORITE PART WAS THE SPEECHES BY THE STUDENTS WHO WILL HELP US OPEN THAT BUILDING AND THAT PROGRAM AND THEY MADE IT VERY PERSONAL.

TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE WHEN THIS BUILDING IS FINISHED IS JUST ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE.

WE HAD A HUGE TURNOUT, AND WE EXPECT TO OPEN THAT BUILDING THIS COMING FALL AND PUT OUR NEW CLASS OF STUDENTS IN THERE, AND IT IS A PROGRAM IN OUR DISTRICT THAT'S GROWING, AND THESE STUDENTS ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HAVING A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT THEIR SPEECHES WERE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON THIS MONTH.

ACTUALLY, LET'S JUST GO DOWN.

WHEN YOU DO YOUR TRUSTEES AROUND TOWN, DO YOUR LIAISON UPDATE ALSO. KIM, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I'M IN THE PICTURE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, AND WE'RE AT THE ATHLETES SIGNING DAY.

WE HAD TEN ATHLETES THAT SIGNED ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY.

IT IS SUCH A GREAT THING TO WITNESS IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO IT.

THERE'S TWO DAYS A YEAR.

THERE'S A DAY SET ASIDE IN NOVEMBER AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER DAY SET ASIDE IN FEBRUARY.

WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING ATHLETES.

MY FAVORITE PART AGAIN IS THE COACHES.

THERE WERE TWO COACHES INTRODUCING ATHLETES, AND THEY BECAME VERY EMOTIONAL.

ONE WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT HIS OWN DAUGHTER IN THE SWIMMING PROGRAM.

IF YOU WEREN'T CRYING WHEN YOU LEFT THERE, SOMETHING WAS WRONG. IT WAS WONDERFUL.

THE GOLF COACH AS WELL.

HE DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL THIS SIGNING CEREMONY, OUR VOLLEYBALL PLAYER THAT SIGNED WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WAS NOT ONLY THE NUMBER ONE RECRUIT IN TEXAS, SHE WAS THE NUMBER ONE RECRUIT IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

EVERY COLLEGE IN THE NATION WANTED THIS YOUNG LADY, AND SHE SIGNED HER LETTER OF INTENT THAT DAY, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, AND OUR COACHES KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT PERSONAL.

ONE LIAISON REPORT, SORRY, I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH MY DUTIES HERE.

WE HAD DRIPPING SPRINGS EDUCATION FOUNDATION APPRECIATION WEEK START TODAY AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AT SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS YEAR, THEY'RE GIVING SLICES OF PIE TO EVERY STAFF MEMBER IN THE DISTRICT AND A $20 HEB GIFT CARD.

WATCHING THOSE TEACHERS WALK IN TODAY LIKE, THIS IS FOR ME.

THIS IS ALL FOR YOU, AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THE EXCITEMENT ON THEIR FACES AS WE KICK THIS WEEK OFF, AND THEY'LL GET TO GO SHOP AND GET MAYBE A DIFFERENT FLAVOR PIE IN HEB WITH THAT CARD.

BUT THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTING OUR STAFF.

>> WELL, THIS MONTH OR THIS LAST MONTH, I GUESS, I WAS ACTUALLY I DON'T HAVE A PHOTO OF IT I'M TERRIBLE AT PHOTOS, BUT I WAS INTERVIEWED BY ONE OF THE TROOPS HERE IN TOWN, AND THEY WERE ASKING ME QUESTIONS ALL ABOUT BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND IT WAS SUPER FUN.

THOSE ARE ALWAYS REALLY EXCITING.

IF ANYONE ELSE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, JUST INVITE ONE OF THE TRUSTEES, AND WE WILL COME SPEAK TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT IT.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY LIAISON REPORT, AND WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE NEXT SHACK MEETING, BUT IT IS DECEMBER 2 FROM 6:00-7:00 IN THE CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP.

>> HELLO. I'M GOING TO TALK QUIETLY SO I DON'T HAVE A COUGHING FIT.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH FOR PARKS AND REC OTHER THAN LOTS OF COMMUNITY HOLIDAY EVENTS COMING UP, SO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN ON THAT.

THE AROUND TOWN, LAST WEEK, I GOT TO GO TO OUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS YOUNG BOYS BOWLING, AND IT WAS SO FUN.

I MADE A VERY SWEET FRIEND HERE, AND OUR STUDENTS DID AMAZING.

HE ACTUALLY TOOK HOME THE GOLD.

THAT WAS SUPER SUPER COOL.

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THAT IN THE PAST.

IT MEANT A LOT TO ME, AND IT WAS ALL OF REGION 13.

JUST STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE AREA, A LOT OF FAMILIES, A LOT OF VERY SPECIAL SPED EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT WAS GREAT AND THEN CTE.

MARY JANE AND I ATTENDED OUR FIRST THE CTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND SHE DID.

JULIA DID A PHENOMENAL JOB PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

I'M GOING TO SHARE SOME QUICK STATS WITH YOU GUYS.

EVERYONE THAT WAS IN THE GROUP, I THINK THERE'S ABOUT 15 ON THE COMMITTEE,

[00:45:01]

THEY WERE ALL VERY EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

SHE INFORMED THEM THAT IN 2025, 22% OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY GRADUATED WITH A CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE I LIKE THE WAY THAT SHE ORGANIZED THIS INFORMATION, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE 10 CAREER CLUSTERS.

WE HEAR ABOUT, LIKE VET SCIENCES, HEALTH SCIENCES, AUTOMOTIVE, ETC.

WE HAVE 82 UNIQUE CLASSES WITHIN OUR CTE PROGRAMMING.

THIS WAS A REALLY BIG NUMBER, 02,100 CURRENT ACTIVITIES IN CTE.

SOME STUDENTS MIGHT BE TAKING MORE THAN ONE CLASS, BUT THERE'S CURRENTLY 2,100 WITHIN THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT TELLS US THAT THE COURSES ARE POPULAR.

THE CAREER PATHS ARE VERY POPULAR.

WE'LL BE MEETING AGAIN IN JANUARY, AND SHE JUST DID A REALLY GREAT OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM. IT WAS AWESOME.

>> I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE ON HERE, EITHER, BUT ME AND OLIVIA'S KIDDOS WERE IN THE SYCAMORE MUSICAL JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHICH WAS SO GOOD.

ADMITTEDLY A PLOT. I COULDN'T ALWAYS FOLLOW, BUT THE CALIBER OF THE PERFORMANCE WAS PHENOMENAL.

JUST A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE SYCAMORE MUSICAL AND THEATER TEAM AND THE TECH DIRECTION.

IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SAFETY UPDATES FOR THIS MONTH, BUT THE HIGH SCHOOL TWO NAMING AND BRANDING COMMITTEE WILL BE STARTING SOON, SO I KNOW THAT'S A BIG THING THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT SOON.

>> OLIVIA DID A GREAT JOB OF THE OVERVIEW OF THE CTE, OUR VERY FIRST LIAISON ROLE THERE.

THEN WITH WALT SMITH, I ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST MONTH AND GAVE THE STATISTICS ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH THAT HE SAYS IS COMING TO HAYES COUNTY.

BUT ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IS, AND I'VE FORGOTTEN WHERE I SAID THIS ANECDOTALLY.

BUT JENNIFER, WE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE THIS ON OUR WEBSITE SOMEWHERE, FAQS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN DO, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL AND HIS OFFICE HAS COME UP WITH A LITTLE FLYER THAT SAYS, UNLIKE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH ENJOY THE POWERS OF PLANNING AND ZONING OR THE LIMITING OF WATER RESOURCES, COUNTIES IN TEXAS ARE STATUTORILY LIMITED WITH VERY FEW TOOLS TO ADDRESS DEVELOPMENT.

THEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE AREAS WHERE THEY DO HAVE SOME CONTROL.

I FELT THAT WAS SO HELPFUL BECAUSE GOODNESS KNOWS THAT WE GET QUESTIONS AND SOMETIMES FRUSTRATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT'S NOT IN OUR CONTROL AT ALL.

THEN IF I JUST MAY, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, AND THEN ALL THE KIDS LEFT.

BUT UNIFIED CHAMPIONS HAS BEEN SUCH A SOFT SPOT FOR ME, EVER SINCE MY MIDDLE WAS PAIRED WITH MIGUEL, AND THEY WON GOLD AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS BOWLING.

TO HEAR THE YOUNG LADY SAY THAT SHE WANTS TO BE AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST NOW FROM HER CONNECTION WITH HER, IT IS SUCH A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM, AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT TO THE COMMUNITY IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF IT.

>> THIS PICTURE IS MY FAMILY.

THAT'S MY SIXTH GRADER MAKING HER GRAND DEBUT AS A CARD IN THE DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE OF ALICE AND WONDERLAND.

I ALSO WISH I HAD BRUSHED UP ON MY ALICE AND WONDERLAND BECAUSE I WAS VERY CONFUSED.

I KNOW IT'S A REALLY CONFUSING PLOT, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE KIDS GETTING TO EXPERIENCE BEING ON THE STAGE AND JUST LEARNING THE ROPES, SO WE HAD A GOOD TIME THERE.

I GOT TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF THE PLAYOFF VOLLEYBALL GAMES AS WELL.

I WAS WITH, WELL, NOT WITH SITTING FAR DOWN FROM HOLLY AND MARY JANE AT THE BURGER CENTER, AND KIM SUCH A BUMMER OF A LOSS, BUT IT WAS SUCH A GOOD GAME.

IT WAS AWESOME. THEN FOR MY LIAISON REPORT, THE COUNCIL OF PTAS MET ON NOVEMBER 10.

WE HAVE 3,278 MEMBERS DISTRICT WIDE, WHICH IS PRETTY HUGE.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE LITTLE INITIATIVES THERE THAT CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ IS REALLY FOCUSING ON IS GOING AROUND THE ROOM AND HEARING THE WINDS FROM EACH SCHOOL.

WALNUT SHARED THAT THEY FOR THEIR FALL FUNDRAISER, THEY SWITCHED IT UP THIS YEAR AND MOVED TO A DIFFERENT, THEY'VE DONE THIS FUNDRAISER

[00:50:04]

THEN THIS YEAR, THEY COMPLETELY CHANGED IT UP.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE NEAR AS MANY VOLUNTEERS, AND THE BOARD REALLY JUST DUG IN THERE AND DIDN'T CHARGE TO GET IN.

THEY HAD OVER 400 ATTENDEES, AND THEY RAISED THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAD RAISED IN THE PAST.

WITH THAT ONE FUNDRAISER, THEY RAISED ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY NEEDED FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

IT'S REALLY NEAT TO GO AROUND FOR ALL OF THE OTHER LOCAL CAMPUS PTAS TO HEAR WHAT EACH SCHOOL IS DOING AND CAN FEED OFF OF THAT AND MAYBE INITIATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THEIR SCHOOLS.

THE OTHER THING THAT THEY HELD ACTUALLY THAT NIGHT WAS TIGER TALKS, AND ROOSTER WAS THE FIRST ONE TO HOST THAT.

THIS ONE WAS FOCUSED ON HEALTHY EATING AND HEALTHY HABITS.

THEY'D HAD 38 PEOPLE RSVP, BUT THEY HAD 55 PEOPLE SHOW UP.

THAT WAS HUGE. THEY HAD SIX PRESENTERS.

THEY HAD FREE CHILDCARE, AND SO THEY HAD 13 KIDS THAT USED THE CHILDCARE AND EIGHT STUDENT VOLUNTEERS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND EACH CAMPUS, IT'S GOING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS RECORDED, AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S POSTED, BUT IT WOULD BE ON THE PTAS WEBSITE, IF THE COUNCIL PTAS. THAT'S IT.

>> IN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NO ONE DIED, BUT WE'RE CELEBRATING HOLLY'S BIRTHDAY THIS NIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] IN MEMORANDUM OF HOLLY'S AGING.

NEXT IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]

EACH PRESENTATION CAN BE NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES PER PERSON OR SIX MINUTES FOR A PERSON USING A TRANSLATOR.

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.

IF AN ISSUE MENTIONED IS LISTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, THE BOARD'S DELIBERATION OR DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE TIME DURING THAT MEETING.

FOR ISSUES NOT LISTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY DIRECT A SPEAKER TO THE APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

SPEAKER SHALL BE HEARD ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.

WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH YOUR NAME IN 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.

OUR FIRST COMMENT IS FROM JAMES MIGUEZ.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JAMES MIGUEZ. I'M ALSO KNOWN AS, MR. ANDY. I WAS TERMINATED ON FRIDAY.

I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE ANY EXCUSE FOR WHY I WAS TERMINATED.

IT'S NOT AT ALL, WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

I WASN'T EVEN GOING TO COME HERE.

I WASN'T GOING TO DO ANY OF THIS.

BUT AFTER I WAS TERMINATED, THE ONLY WAY THAT I KNEW TO CONTACT PARENTS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WAS TO MAKE A POST ON THE FACEBOOK DRIPPING SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD PAGE.

I MADE A COMMENT. I DIDN'T SAY WHY I WAS TERMINATED.

I DIDN'T EVEN SAY I WAS TERMINATED.

I JUST SAID, THANK YOU.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU ALL, AND I'M GOING TO MISS YOU ALL DEARLY.

OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, AND IT BLEW UP.

NOW I HAVE A COUPLE OF PARENTS HERE THAT WANT TO SPEAK ON MY BEHALF AND I DIDN'T PLAN ON DOING THIS.

SIR, YOU SAID YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY.

I WAS IN THE ARMY FOR 27 YEARS.

I'M RETIRED FROM THE ARMY, I CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS.

I HAVE A LOT OF SKILLS.

I HAVE A CLASS A CDL I CAN DRIVE ANYTHING WITH WHEELS.

I CAN DRIVE ANYWHERE. I CHOSE TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE.

SIR, YOU KNOW THAT? BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE REASONS AND THAT YOU DO CERTAIN THINGS.

WHILE I DID, THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR IT, THERE WAS A REASON.

I'VE DEALT WITH THIS CHILD ON MY BUS FOR 2.5 MONTHS, THROWING TOMATO, ON MY BUS AT SOME OF YOUR KIDS.

[00:55:01]

HE WAS WRITTEN UP. HIS PARENTS RECALLED.

HIS PARENT SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

UP UNTIL THIS DAY, THAT KID STILL RIDES ON MY BUS, HE'S ONE OF THE MOST POLITE KIDS THAT I'VE EVER MET.

KID THAT THREW THE TOMATO ASKED ME, "I'M IN ALL THIS TROUBLE BECAUSE I THREW A TOMATO?" NO REMORSE, NO REGRET, NO REGARD FOR ANY OF THE OTHER STUDENTS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER BUS DRIVERS IN HERE AND THEY'RE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

BUT WE'RE IN CHARGE OF YOUR KIDS.

AND OUR FIRST PRIORITY AND OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR KIDS IS THEIR SAFETY.

I HAVE 30-50 KIDS ON MY BUS EVERY DAY.

WHEN I HAVE A DISTRACTION OF KIDS THROWING EGGS, THROWING TOMATOES, STANDING UP ON THE AISLE WHILE I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD, TRYING TO CHANGE SEATS WHILE I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THESE KIDS ARE GETTING WRITTEN UP AND THE PARENTS ARE BEING CALLED.

THIS PARENT WAS CALLED TWICE.

THE PARENT NEVER ANSWERED THE PHONE, WAS LEFT A VOICEMAIL, NEVER RETURNED ANY CALLS.

HIS ATTITUDE AND HIS DEMEANOR NEVER CHANGED.

HE CONTINUED TO DO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

>> YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED.

WE DO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT AND SHARING YOUR HEART WITH US, AND WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, MR. ANDY. NEXT COMMENT IS FROM CARRIE FIELDING.

>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS CARRIE FIELDING.

I'M A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

MY DAUGHTER ATTENDS CYPRESS SPRINGS AND ALSO RIDES THE BUS.

MR. ANDY HAS BEEN HER BUS DRIVER.

I AM NOT HERE OUT OF PERSONAL BIAS.

I'M HERE OUT OF CONCERN FOR FAIRNESS, SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

AS MR. ANDY HAD EXPLAINED, IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS SITUATION INVOLVED A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WHO HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO FOLLOW BUS RULES AND HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP MULTIPLE TIMES.

MR. ANDY FOLLOWED PROCEDURE, MOVING THE STUDENT TO THE FRONT OF THE BUS AND NOTIFYING APPROPRIATE PARTIES OF THE BEHAVIOR WITH WRITTEN NOTICES.

BUT PARENT CONTACT REPORTEDLY WENT UNANSWERED, AND NO MEANINGFUL CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE ON THE BUS.

I AM SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT TRANSPORTING DOZENS OF STUDENTS IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUS DRIVERS ARE HELD TO HIGH STANDARDS AS THEY SHOULD BE, BUT THEY ALSO RELY ON THE DISTRICT, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS TO ENFORCE BEHAVIOR POLICIES SO THEY CAN SAFELY DO THEIR JOBS.

IN THIS CASE, IT APPEARS MR. ANDY WAS LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT.

THE STUDENT'S BEHAVIOR CONTINUED, WARNINGS WENT UNADDRESSED BY THE PARENTS, AND MR. ANDY WAS PUT INTO AN ESCALATED SITUATION THAT COULD AND SHOULD, HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

I UNDERSTAND PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH A STUDENT IS A VIOLATION OF POLICY.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO IGNORE THAT.

WHAT I AM ASKING, IS THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE BIGGER CONTEXT, THE SYSTEM FAILED LONG BEFORE THE DRIVER DID.

WHEN A STUDENT REPEATEDLY DISRUPTS THE BUS ENVIRONMENT AND CREATES SAFETY CONCERNS AND NO FOLLOW-UP OCCURS FROM PARENTS OR ADMINISTRATION, WE CREATE A SITUATION WHERE BUS DRIVERS ARE LEFT TRYING TO MAINTAIN ORDER WITH NO BACKUP.

THAT IS NOT SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE BUS DRIVERS.

TERMINATING THE DRIVER WITHOUT EQUALLY EXAMINING THE ENTIRETY OF THE SITUATION SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE UPHOLD FRONTLINE WORKERS FULLY ACCOUNTABLE, BUT NOT THE STRUCTURES THAT PUT THEM IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO REVIEW THE POLICIES, COMMUNICATION PROCESSES, AND DISCIPLINARY FOLLOW THROUGH THAT LED UP TO THIS EVENT.

PLEASE CONSIDER WHETHER TERMINATION WAS THE ONLY APPROPRIATE CONSEQUENCE OR WHETHER A MORE BALANCED APPROACH, SUCH AS RETRAINING, SUSPENSION, OR CORRECTIVE SUPPORT WOULD BETTER REFLECT THE REALITY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF ARE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RE-HIRING OF MR. ANDY.

LET'S PUT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUS DRIVERS SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED IN A SITUATION,, WHERE A LACK OF PARENTAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE LEAVES THEM CARRYING THE FULL WEIGHT OF BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT ALONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]

[01:00:02]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

WHILE WE CANNOT SHARE SPECIFIC PERSONNEL DETAILS, WE DO WANT TO ASSURE OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE FOLLOWING A THOROUGH REVIEW, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

OUR PRIORITY REMAINS PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND TRUSTWORTHY ENVIRONMENT TO OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LINDA HALL, THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER.

WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[8. CONSENT AGENDA ]

>> I JUST HAD A COMMENT TO MAKE ON AD, WHERE WE ARE NOMINATING FOR OUR HAYS CAD BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

JEFF ELSTOCK HAS BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR OUR DISTRICT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB REPRESENTING US.

HIS REPORTS TO US ARE VERY THOROUGH.

I FEEL VERY WELL INFORMED, AND HE HAS JUST GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THAT POSITION, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM REPRESENT US.

>> I SECOND. ROB?

>> JUST FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON 8F.

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS THE FACILITY USE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY THAT WE HAVE WORKED OUT THAT THEY ADOPTED AT THEIR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT SCOTT AND I WERE AT ON A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM.

BUT BIG CHANGES COMING FOR FOUNDERS DAY, WHICH I THINK WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE FESTIVAL WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FESTIVAL AND FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE.

THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO PARTNER WITH THAT EFFORT AND EXPAND OUR OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO FACILITATE THE FESTIVAL.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD AGREEMENT, IT FACILITATES THE FESTIVAL FOR THE FUTURE AND I'D BE IN FAVOR OF IT.

>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SHANDA?

>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> MOTION FROM SHANDA. A SECOND FROM OLIVIA.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

7-0. MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST ACTION,

[9. ACTION ]

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALICIA MAPHIES, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION.

WE HAD OUR FIRST SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING IN OCTOBER.

PER THE GUIDELINES FROM THE SENATE BILL, WE THEN POSTED OUR REQUESTED LIST OF LIBRARY PROCUREMENT MATERIALS, ORGANIZED BY ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, ALONG WITH A PUBLIC COMMENT FEEDBACK FORM ABOUT THOSE PROPOSED LIBRARY MATERIALS.

WITH THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO BRING THAT LIST TO YOU ALL AS THE BOARD MAKES THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION FOR PURCHASING UNDER OUR NEW SENATE BILL GUIDELINES.

>> DR. MAPHIES CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE CONTEXT OR MAYBE [INAUDIBLE] HELP? HOW FREQUENTLY ARE WE GOING TO BE GETTING LISTS LIKE THIS? CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT TO WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AND WHAT TO EXPECT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY. SLACK IS AN OPTIONAL COMMITTEE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HOST OR NOT.

WE DECIDED THAT WE VERY MUCH VALUE THAT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE PARENTAL COMMUNICATION.

WE ELECTED TO HOST A SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL.

WE CAN SET OUR OWN, CADENCE FOR MEETINGS.

THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS TWO MEETINGS A YEAR.

WE WANTED TO MEET MORE THAN THAT.

WE HAVE SET FOUR, MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN EXPECT LISTS LIKE THIS TO COME AROUND QUARTERLY.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN IN JANUARY, IN MARCH, AND THEN IN MAY, ALLOWING OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS TO MAKE THOSE PURCHASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

>> YES, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF WE HAD ANY PUBLIC FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK FORM OR QUESTION FORM THAT YOU HAVE?

>> WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS TRAINED IN THE PROCUREMENT OF OUR RESOURCES AND HOW OUR LIBRARIANS OR OUR FLYS, AS WE CALL THEM, VET THE LISTS AND COME UP WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, WHETHER THAT'S BOOK AWARDS OR THROUGH THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN.

OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS VERY THOROUGH IN AND WHERE DID WE GET THIS LIST AND WHAT WERE THE AWARDS?

[01:05:04]

>> THANK YOU.

>> OLIVIA?

>> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, HOW DO WE SHARE WITH PARENTS HOW THE DESTINY PLATFORM WORKS? OR HOW THEY ALL KNOW IF PLATFORM IS THE RIGHT WORD.

LIKE HOW THEY CAN USE THE SEARCH PORTAL?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

WE DO HAVE A PARENT PORTAL NOW CALLED THE TIGER DEN WHERE ALL OF THE DETAILS ABOUT HOW PARENTS ACCESS THE DESTINY PARENT PORTAL IS AVAILABLE THERE ON THE TIGER DEN.

ALSO IN THAT SAME LOCATION AS HOW PARENTS CAN SEE WHAT BOOKS ARE OPEN TO THEIR CHILDREN TO CHECK OUT.

THE PARENTS CAN CONTROL WHAT BOOKS THEIR CHILDREN CAN CHECK OUT.

>> WE ALSO INCLUDED IT ON THE ITEM SHEET, SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN CLICK RIGHT INTO "BOARD BOOK" AND CLICK ON THAT DESTINY PORTAL LINK, AND IT'LL TAKE THEM RIGHT TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

THEN IF THERE'S EVER ANY QUESTIONS, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CALL THE FLYS, CALL THE CAMPUS, AND WE CAN GET THEM CONNECTED.

>> KIM?

>> THAT WAS A LONG LIST OF BOOKS.

[LAUGHTER] THAT TOOK THE MAJORITY OF MY READING.

NOT ALL THE BOOKS, BUT THE LIST.

I HAD A QUESTION ON THE, LIST OF BOOKS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WERE A LOT OF THOSE DONATIONS OR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BY MAYBE TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS?

>> THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR FLYS OR OUR LIBRARIANS.

THESE ARE NOT DONATIONS.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> AND IS THIS LIST, HOW MANY OF THESE BOOKS ARE ALREADY IN OUR LIBRARIES AND HOW MANY ARE COMPLETELY NEW TO OUR DISTRICT?

>> Y'ALL ARE ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS.

[LAUGHTER] THESE ARE ALL COMPLETELY NEW BOOKS.

UNDER THE SENATE BILL GUIDANCE, IF A BOOK ALREADY EXISTS IN ONE OF OUR LIBRARIES, THEN THE OTHER LIBRARIES AT THAT SAME LEVEL WOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT BOOK.

THESE ARE ALL NEW PURCHASES.

>> ONLY NEW PURCHASES WILL COME TO THE BOARD LEVEL?

>> CORRECT. SHANDA?

>> DID YOU SAY, SORRY, THAT IN THE DESTINY PORTAL, PARENTS CAN SEE THE CHECKOUT HISTORY OF EVERY BOOK THAT THEIR KID HAS CHECKED OUT?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> GREAT.

>> EVEN A CHROME BOOK. THEY CAN SEE IT ALL?

>> EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT?

>> YES.

>> THEY CAN ALSO SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO CHECK OUT TO THEIR STUDENTS.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE DOESN'T MATCH WHAT THEIR FAMILY WANTS THEIR STUDENT TO READ.

THEY CAN EDIT AND CHOOSE WHAT THEIR STUDENT CAN CHECK OUT.

>> THEN THAT FLAGS ON THE FLYS, AND IF THEY BRING THAT BOOK UP AND IT'S SCANNED, IT FLAGS IT TO SAY, THAT'S NOT ALLOWED IN YOUR ACCOUNT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT AND OUR FLYS ARE BEAUTIFULLY DISCREET ABOUT, "SWEETHEART, I CAN'T CHECK THIS BOOK OUT TO YOU, BUT I SEE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LLAMAS.

LET ME GO SUGGEST SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU. " [LAUGHTER].

>> ROB.

>> A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE HERE.

FIRST, I THINK DR. MORSE COONS AND DR. KIDD AND THE TEAM IN IMPLEMENTING SENATE BILL 13, NOT HOUSE BILL 13, HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.

GETTING THE SLACK ON BOARD ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE FIRST MEETING, AND THE WAY THAT THINGS WERE PRESENTED TO THEM ABOUT THE APPROACH THAT THIS BOARD HAS DECIDED TO DO IS VERY GOOD.

I THINK THE ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE WITH PARENTS AND ALLOWING PARENTS TO SEE WHAT THEIR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO, DO SOME PROHIBITIONS, IF THEY FEEL THAT THAT'S BEST APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR KIDS IS ALL CERTAINLY IN LINE WITH THE LAW, BUT ALSO IN LINE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THIS BOARD.

OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU PRESENT US 300 BOOKS OR WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS, I WOULDN'T EVEN ASK YOU WHAT THE NUMBER IS. IT'S A LOT OF BOOKS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUST THAT THE POLICY THAT WE ADOPTED AT OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH IS EFP LOCAL, IS BEING FULLY ADHERED TO.

IN THAT EFP LOCAL, WE ADDRESS A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT BOOKS, ABOUT A RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PROCURE, BUT ALSO, SPECIFICALLY, LIKE WHAT WE'RE NOT OKAY WITH PROCURING, AND THAT'S AROUND, ESPECIALLY WRITING APPROPRIATE MATERIAL, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS A LOT OF PARENTS' BIGGEST CONCERNS.

WITH THAT, TO MY QUESTION, AFTER I GIVE YOU-ALL ACCOLADES FOR DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN MY IMPLEMENTATION IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WE ADOPTED IT LAST MONTH.

I THINK THE SLACK MEANING MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEFORE THAT, IS THE SLACK AWARE OF EFP LOCAL AND THE REQUIREMENTS WHEREOF, WHICH IS, BASICALLY, OUR BODY, SAYING THIS IS WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE, AND DO THESE BOOKS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED ALIGN FULLY WITH THAT?

>> EFP LOCAL WAS SHARED WITH OUR SLACK POST, YOUR ADOPTION OF THAT, AND YES, ALL OF OUR BOOKS ARE ABSOLUTELY IN ALIGNMENT WITH EFP LOCAL AND ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF SENATE BILL 13.

OUR FLY TEAM HAS BEEN VERY CLOSELY WATCHING SENATE BILL 13.

EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAVE VERY FANTASTIC PROFESSIONALS

[01:10:01]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THAT, EF LIVED BY ITSELF BEFORE IT WENT AWAY WHEN EFP CAME, AND WE TOOK THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THE BOARD HISTORICALLY HAS REQUESTED OUT OF OUR CURATION PROCESS.

WE'VE TAKEN THOSE ELEMENTS AND PUT THAT INTO EFP, IF YOU RECALL, IT SAID, REVISED OR SOMETHING.

THOSE WERE THE WORDS WE BLENDED TOGETHER.

WE JUST DIDN'T TAKE IT RIGHT OFF THE SHELF FROM TASB.

>> OLIVIA.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION IF WE THINK WE'RE READY.

>> GO FOR IT.

>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE LIBRARY TITLES AS PRESENTED.

>> A MOTION FROM OLIVIA.

A SECOND FROM TRICIA.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

7-0.

THANK YOU, DR. MAFEAS.

MOVING ON, 9B, CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF THE RANKING OF RFP CMAR SERVICES FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS.

>>WE HAVE A SERIES OF VERY SIMILAR ACTION ITEMS, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME INTRO.

ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, WE ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT-RISK SERVICES FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS UNDER THE 23 AND 25 BOND AUTHORIZATIONS.

PROPOSALS FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXTERIOR PROJECT WERE PART OF THAT.

WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM FIVE FIRMS. JOERIS GENERAL CONTRACTOR SCORED THE HIGHEST OUT OF THE FIRMS, AND THAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT PROJECT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? TRICIA.

>> MY QUESTION IS IN GENERAL FOR ALL THREE.

WE'VE GOT LOWER SCORES THAT I'M USED TO SEEING.

>> PROBABLY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE RANKING THEM AND JUST DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STANDARDS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

>> YOU GUYS GRADED THEM PRETTY HARD, I SEE.

[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WOW.

>> WE HAD SIX FOLKS, INDEPENDENTLY GRADE THEM.

THEN WE MET AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE AVERAGE OF THOSE SIX.

>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. ROB.

>> I THINK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AMERICAN, WHICH WE'LL GET TO A LITTLE BIT LATER ON ANOTHER DEAL, A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES ARE NEW, AT LEAST MORE RECENTLY NEW.

CAN WE GET A TWO-MINUTE ON THE COMPANY IN THE LAST PROJECT THAT THEY EITHER DID WITH US OR WETHER THEY'RE NEW TO US? JUST FOR EACH OF THESE, WE DON'T NEED TO BELABOR THE POINT OR DO THIS LONG, JUST A QUICK LITTLE 45-SECOND DEAL.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE ARE NEW PEOPLE THAT WE'RE BRINGING ON, AND SO I JUST THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PROJECTS THAT JOERIS HAS DONE WITH THE DISTRICT.

EVERY ONE OF THESE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING HAS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

THEY ARE IN THIS AREA.

THEY DO A LOT OF WORK A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF US, BUT WE DID CHECK REFERENCES.

WE LOOKED AT PROJECTS, ANYTIME WE HAD A QUESTION, WE WOULD CALL PREVIOUS CLIENTS AND TALK TO THEM ON ALL OF THEM.

BUT AS FAR AS JOERIS, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE DISTRICT.

>> I'LL JUST ADD SOME CLARIFYING INFORMATION.

WE DID ONE RFP FOR ALL FOUR OF THESE PROJECTS AS ONE, SO WE HAD DIFFERENT FIRMS BID ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

JOERIS DID NOT BID ON EVERY PROJECT.

AMERICAN DID NOT BID ON EVERY PROJECT.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ONES THAT BID PER PROJECT AND THEN RANKING THOSE FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.

>> WAS THAT SAMPLER BRAUN & BUTLER? HAVE WE USED THEM FOR ANYTHING BEFORE?

>> NO, MA'AM. I HAVE USED IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.

>> WHAT IS OTHER ONE? SWINERTON? I THINK THERE'S THREE NEW TO US AT LEAST.

>> SWINERTON, THEY HAVE DONE SOME WORK FOR SOME OTHER ISDS. WE DID CHECK THAT.

I DID CHECK WITH MY COUNTERPARTS.

I HAVE DONE WORK WITH JOERIS IN ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY PERFORMED AWESOME.

THEY WERE A GREAT CONTRACTOR WORK FOR.

BRAUN AND BROTHERS, THE SAME THING, I DID USE THEM IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, AND THEY DO WORK WITH ABOUT, I THINK, IT'S ABOUT 14 DISTRICTS IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA.

WE CHECKED ON A LOT OF REFERENCES, TALKING TO ARCHITECTS AND CLIENTS.

THEN AMERICAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE DONE WORK WITH THEM.

>> YOU HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I GUESS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE I KNOW NUMBER 7, THE PRICE FEE AND GENERAL CONDITIONS, WAS THERE AN OUTLIER HERE OR MOST OF THESE PRETTY SIMILAR IN THOSE TWO AREAS? IF THERE'S AN OUTLIER, JUST GO AND LET'S JUST SPECIFY.

>> WE DID HAVE ONE OUTLIER THAT WAS LOW.

MOST OF THE WERE IN THE SAME WHEELHOUSE AND ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTORS IS ON OUR LIST TO BE AWARDED A PROJECT.

[01:15:04]

>> BUT EVERYTHING IN LINE WITH INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS FOR WHERE WE ARE, K-12 CONSTRUCTION?

>> YES, SIR.

>> FORGIVE ME. WE HAVE NOT PUT THE NEW WINDOWS IN YET.

THOSE ARE THIS COMING SUMMER?

>> NO, MA'AM. THOSE WILL BE GOING IN WITH THIS NEW EXTERIOR.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.

I'M JUST THINKING THIS THROUGH.

I THINK THAT WAS APPROVED IN A PREVIOUS BOND.

ANYWAY, THEY'RE NOW TOGETHER.

THE WINDOW PROJECT AND THE EXTERIOR ARE NOW ONE.

>> Y'ALL APPROVED DESIGN, THIS IS CMAR.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THINKING YOU'VE SEEN THAT PART OF IT BEFORE. YOU HAVE.

>> WE DID THE WINDOWS SEPARATE.

>> YOU'RE CORRECT. MS. BARNARD.

>> NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS PRESENT.

>> ACTUALLY, WHILE WE'RE AT IT, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ALL LUMPED TOGETHER, ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON B THROUGH E? SINCE THEY ARE ALL THE SAME CONTEXTS.

THEY'RE ALL JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT THEN WE'LL DO THE MOTIONS ALL BACK TO BACK.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THE PROCESS?

>> WE'RE STILL GOING TO SEPARATE ALL THESE MOTIONS?

>> WE DO HAVE TO SEPARATE THE MOTIONS.

THEY ARE SEPARATE. THEY ARE STILL SEPARATE CONTRACTS.

>> 9B.

>> 9B.

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE JOERIS GENERAL CONTRACTORS AS THE TOP RANKED OFFER TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, ALSO KNOWN AS CMAR SERVICES FOR THE DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXTERIOR PROJECT.

>> A MOTION FROM ROB. A SECOND FROM KIM. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. 7-0. I'LL TAKE A MOTION FOR 9C.

>> I CAN JUST KEEP IT GOING IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

>> GO AHEAD, ROB.

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THAT BRAUN AND BUTLER, DID I GET THAT RIGHT? BRAUN AND BUTLER?

>> YES.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SIGN SOMEBODY UP THAT Y'ALL TO APPROVE.

I MOVE TO BRAUN AND BUTLER IS A TOP-RANK OFFER TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT-RISK, CMAR SERVICES FOR THE ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT.

>> A MOTION FROM ROB. A SECOND FROM TRICIA.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? I'M SUPER EXCITED TO FINALLY GET SOME OTHER PROJECTS STARTED.

AFTER OUR CAMPUS TOUR, IT WAS SADLY OBVIOUS THAT THAT CAMPUS IS DATED NOW COMPARED TO EVEN DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.

VERY EXCITED FOR THEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

7-0.

MOVING ON, 9D.

>> 9D, MADAM PRESIDENT.

>> HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE AMERICAN CONSTRUCTORS AS A TOP-RANK OFFERED TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT-RISK, CMAR SERVICES FOR THE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT.

>> MOTION FROM ROB. SECOND FROM SHANDA.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? TRICIA'S JUST KEEP HER HAND UP, WHICH IS GOT MOTIONS AND SECONDS AND VOTES AND ALL THE THINGS.

[LAUGHTER] MOVING ON.

OUR LAST OF THIS CLUSTER HERE, 9E.

>> MADAM PRESIDENT, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I MOVED TO APPROVE SWINERTON.

DID I HAVE THAT RIGHT, JAMES, SWINERTON? I MOVE TO APPROVE SWINERTON AS THE TOP-RANK OFFER TO PROVIDE CMAR SERVICES AT THE DS ISD 18+ PROJECT.

>> MOTION FROM ROB. SECOND FROM KIM.

ANY LAST DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

7-0.

GOT SOME GOOD PROJECTS COMING.

OUR LAST ACTION THIS EVENING, OUR GMP FOR HIGH SCHOOL 2.

>> IN AUGUST OF '25, THE BOARD APPROVED 100% CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS.

SINCE THOSE APPROVALS, AMERICAN HAS WORKED TO DEVELOP GMP 1, WHICH WE BROUGHT TO YOU I BELIEVE, IN SEPTEMBER, AND THAT WAS APPROVED.

THAT WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF 16,984,623.

NOW WE BRING BEFORE YOU GMP NUMBER 2, GMP 2.

GMP 1 WAS THE SITE WORK.

GMP 2 IS THE REST OF IT EXCEPT FOR THE WASTEWATER SOLUTION.

GMP 2 IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $230,825,047.

JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE TOTAL OF GMP 1 AND GMP 2 IS $247,809,670, WHICH IS BELOW OR IT'S WITHIN OUR BUDGET OF $251,040,000.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE GMP 2.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE WASTE WATER.

TO REMIND MYSELF, THAT WAS ALSO A SEPARATE LINE ITEM, HONOR BOND.

CORRECT. THAT WAS NOT EVEN IN THIS NUMBER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THAT WAS WHAT? SIX MILLION? WHAT WAS THAT NUMBER?

>> IT WAS IN THE SIX MILLION.

>> AROUND.

>> A LITTLE MORE THAN SIX MILLION.

[01:20:03]

>> QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION. KIM.

>> I WAS GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, ROB?

>> I'LL WAIT UNTIL YOU'VE DONE YOUR MOTION.

>> I MOVE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE GMP AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 IN THE AMOUNT OF $230,825,047 FOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER 2.

I FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY AND THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE THE GMP AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 AND A FORM APPROVED BY LEGAL COUNSEL.

>> A MOTION FROM KIM. A SECOND FROM OLIVIA. ROB?

>> JUST A COMMENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, I ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME QUESTION WHEN I FIRST SAW THE NUMBERS.

HOW MUCH WAS THAT DOGGONE THING AGAIN? THAT WASTE WATER DEAL, WHICH WE'D LOVE TO WORK OUR WAY OUT OF, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I THINK, COLLEAGUES, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, WE SAT, IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO, AND WE'RE TRYING TO SAY, MAN, WHAT'S THAT MAGIC NUMBER THAT WE LOVED TO GET TO.

WE SAID, WE BROUGHT THAT 250 ON THE WALL AND SAID, THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH LIFT.

WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, AND EVERYBODY'S IN THE ROOM.

I THOUGHT JAMES WAS SQUIRMING A LITTLE BIT.

247,809, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S IN THE BALLPARK.

IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A LARGER CONTINGENCY.

BUT STILL WITH A PRETTY GOOD CONTINGENCY IN THE PROJECT.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR US, YOU-ALL.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT FOR OUR BROADER COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, NOT EVERY SCHOOL BOARD DOES THIS, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, TO THIS DEGREE ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

TO BE LOOKING AT MY DIVISION, THE COST, AND I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT IN THE WEEDS.

BUT IT'S GOOD FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, I THINK, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ENDURING THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE WEEDS, AND TO OUR PARTNERS FOR WORKING HARD TO GET THERE.

I'M LOOKING OVER BACK TO AMERICAN.

I KNOW BID DAY WAS PROBABLY ENTERTAINING.

I KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH SOME GUYS TO GET THE NUMBERS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

WE, ON BEHALF OF THE TAXPAYER, THANK YOU.

THOSE EFFORTS ARE WORTH IT TO DELIVER AN EXCELLENT PROJECT ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET, AND WE'RE ON TRACK TO DO THAT.

WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT THIS.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

7-0.

PROJECT MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

THANK YOU-ALL. REPORTS AND INFORMATION, LEARNING AND INNOVATION.

[10. REPORTS AND INFORMATION ]

>> GOOD EVENING. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT.

WE ARE TESTING OVER 300 K-12 STUDENTS FOR OUR GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM.

TESTING IS GOING TO RUN THROUGH DECEMBER.

PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN EARLY JANUARY TO SEE IF THEIR STUDENTS MADE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO START SECOND SEMESTER.

AS TRUSTEE QUINTERO STATED, WE DO HAVE SHAC ON DECEMBER 2ND, RIGHT WHEN WE GET BACK.

THE FOCUS FOR SHAC WILL BE ON THE REQUIREMENT OUT OF SENATE BILL 25, WHICH IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER AN ELECTIVE ON NUTRITION AND WELLNESS.

THE SHAC WILL BE LOOKING AT CURRICULUM AROUND THAT.

THAT CLASS HAS TO BE IN PLACE BY THE '27/'28 SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GIVE THEM PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO, NOT ONLY CURATE WHAT THIS NUTRITION WELLNESS, WHAT VENDORS WE'RE GOING TO BE USING, BUT TAKE THEIR TIME AND LOOK THROUGH THAT.

THEY'LL BE WORKING ON THAT, AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES TO THEIR MINDS FOR THE YEAR.

REDA ALSO IN THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, DID OFFER NARCAN PARENT TRAINING IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FESTA GRANT OUT OF HAYS COUNTY, IT WAS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS ON HOW TO DELIVER NARCAN SHOULD A PARENT HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE DID NOT HAVE GREAT ATTENDANCE FOR THAT, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL IN THE SPRING WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH BETTER ATTENDANCE.

THE COUNSELORS ARE DOING A LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES, WHICH IS UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT.

IT'S OFFERED VIA GOOGLE MEET.

IF YOU CLICK ON THAT LINK THAT'S IN THE REPORT, IT'LL BRING YOU UP TO THIS LUNCH AND LEARN SCHEDULE, AND IN THERE, THEY ARE RECORDING SESSIONS.

THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS NOVEMBER 13TH WAS ON BUILDING RESISTANCE.

IF YOU CLICK THE BLUE LINK FOR THAT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE RECORDING.

ON JANUARY 15TH, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT BALANCING SCHOOL, SPORTS, AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR VERY ACTIVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND THEN FEBRUARY 12TH, FOSTERING GRIT AND APRIL 9TH, OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO HEALTHY HABITS.

THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAD THREE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, CYPRESS, WALNUT AND SYCAMORE, THAT WERE NAMED IN HONOR ROLE FOR LEADER AND ME.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY SCORED ABOVE THE 85TH PERCENTILE THROUGH ALL THE LEADER AND ME DISTRICTS AND CAMPUSES, 85TH PERCENTILE FOR ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY AND OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC GROWTH. THEY GOT THAT HONOR.

>> VERY EXCITING. SHANDA.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK THE QUESTION EVEN, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A BIG PUSH WITH THE FENTYL AWARENESS PROGRAMS. DO WE HAVE PLANS FOR ANY TYPE

[01:25:05]

I MEAN FOR THE PARENTS PROVIDING IT FOR THE KIDS.

THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.

>> JUST GO.

>> THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.

>> THAT ALSO IS A GREAT.

>> LET ME CLARIFY.

I MEAN PARENTS THAT PROVIDE IT FOR CHILDREN.

[LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD.

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THROUGH THE SAME GRANT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES AS WELL, THROUGH ALCOHOL AWARENESS, AND EVEN NICOTINE TOBACCO.

DRUGS, ALL THINGS GO THROUGH THAT SAME FESTA GRANT.

[BACKGROUND] SORRY. THE ANSWER WAS YES.

[LAUGHTER] YES.

THROUGH THE SAME FESTA GRANT AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE FESTA.

WHAT IS IT SAN MARCOS? NO. TEXAS STATE, THINK, YOU HAVE TO LOOK OVER PHONE A FRIEND.

THROUGH TEXAS STATE.

IT'S ALL OFFERED IN A BUNDLE.

SO, YES, THERE ARE OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

>> SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AROUND NOT HAVING THAT THE KIDS AREN'T AWARE NECESSARILY OR IT'S NOT BEING PUSHED AS HARD NOW AS THE FENTANYL TYPE CURRICULUM, AND THAT CONCERNS AROUND PARTIES AND HOW KIDS ARE BEHAVING AND HOW IT'S BEING PROVIDED AT THESE PARTIES BY ADULTS.

I KNOW THE FENTANYL CRISIS IS HEAVY, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING ASIDE THE EMPHASIS ON ALCOHOL AWARENESS.

>> I CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILS TO THE BOARD, IF YOU'D LIKE ABOUT THAT.

>> MARY. DR. GIN, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE LEADER IN ME LIGHTHOUSE HONORS.

BECAUSE THE WAY THAT IT'S WORDED, I'M SURPRISED THAT ROOSTER ISN'T ON THE LIST.

SO THIS IS BASED OFF OF STAR SCORES?

>> THEY LOOK AT STAR SCORES.

THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T SEE ROOSTER ON THE LIST IS THEY'RE NOT A LIGHTHOUSE CAMPUS YET.

YOU HAVE TO BE A LIGHTHOUSE CAMPUS AND PERFORM ACADEMICALLY AND THROUGH GROWTH.

YES, IF THEY WERE A LIGHTHOUSE, WHICH THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS, THEY WOULD BE ON THE LIST AS WELL.

GREAT QUESTION. GREAT CATCH.

>> ALL RIGHT. HR.

>> WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON FILLING EVERY VACANCY IN THE DISTRICT, AND SO WE HAVE HIT ZERO CUSTODIAL VACANCIES THIS MONTH.

FOR OUR CAMPUSES, WHERE WE, AS DSISD ARE FILLING OUR CAMPUSES WITH OUR DSISD CUSTODIAN, WE HAVE ZERO VACANCIES IN THOSE POSITIONS.

THEN FOR OUR ONE TEACHER VACANCY, WE HAVE FINISHED OUR FIRST ROUND INTERVIEWS, AND SO OUR CAMPUSES ARE CHECKING REFERENCES AND ARE ABOUT TO MOVE OUR TWO TOP CANDIDATES ONTO.

THEY FOUND FANTASTIC QUALITY CANDIDATES AND ARE ABOUT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SECOND ROUND INTERVIEWS.

WE ARE HOPEFUL TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT AND MOVE TO ZERO TEACHER VACANCIES AS WELL.

>> AWESOME. GREAT NEWS.

I WRITE FENTANYL REPORTS.

>> THE FINANCIALS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE FOR THE MONTH ENDING SEPTEMBER 2025.

WE'RE ABOUT A QUARTER INTO THE FISCAL YEAR.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, EXPENDITURES ARE NORMALLY RUNNING A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF REVENUE.

I CAN'T SPEAK, DUE TO THE TIMING OF PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS. THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.

IN OUR GENERAL FUND, OUR REVENUES ARE AT 10% OF BUDGET, OUR LOCAL REVENUE IS ABOUT 2%, BUT THERE AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS DON'T BEGIN UNTIL LATER IN THE FALL, AND ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ELECTION JUST TAKING PLACE, HAYES COUNTY SHOULD BE SENDING OUT TAX BILLS HERE WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

OUR STATE REVENUE IS ACTUALLY HIGHER AT THIS POINT THAN LAST YEAR, DUE IN LARGE PART TO AN ADVANCE ON THE TEACHER RETENTION ALLOTMENT.

OUR EXPENDITURES ARE AT 14% OF BUDGET, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH PRIOR YEAR ACTIVITY, AND OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER IS ABOUT 45.3 MILLION.

IN OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE BOTH AT 13% OF BUDGET, AND THAT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH TYPICAL GRANT SPENDING AND REIMBURSEMENT AT THIS POINT IN YEAR.

OUR CHILD NUTRITION FUND, OUR REVENUE IS AT 19%, AND OUR EXPENDITURES ARE AT 11% OF BUDGET.

[01:30:03]

OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE IN THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER IS 2.13 MILLION.

[NOISE] EXCUSE ME, IN OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND, OUR REVENUE IS AT 2%, AND THERE AGAIN, DUE TO PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS, WE'LL START GETTING THOSE HERE LATER NOVEMBER, DECEMBER TIME FRAME.

OUR EXPENDITURES CURRENTLY ARE AT 75% OF THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE MADE A PAYMENT OF DEFEASANCE.

IN SEPTEMBER WAS 23 MILLION.

THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE PERCENT SPEND ON THE BUDGET.

OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE THROUGH SEPTEMBER IS 28.6 MILLION, AND OUR REGULAR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ARE MADE IN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST, SO WE MADE OUR PAYMENTS IN AUGUST, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND HERE IN FEBRUARY.

IN OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE HAVE A POSITIVE NET ACTIVITY OF 315,000 CUMULATIVE SO ALL OUR ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE.

IN OUR TAX COLLECTIONS IN 2024 TAX YEAR, OUR COLLECTION RATE IS 99% SO WE'VE COLLECTED ABOUT 120 MILLION OF OUR LEVY.

WE HAVE OUTSTANDING TAXES OF 2.1 MILLION TO DATE ON THE 2024 TAX YEAR, AND IN CLOSING, I MEAN, ALL OUR FUNDS ARE OPERATING WITHIN EXPECTED PARAMETERS, AND THERE ARE NO CONCERNS OR UNUSUAL VARIANCES NOTED.

>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS. RON.

>> VERY QUICK. NUMBERS ALL LOOK REALLY SOLID.

WE TALKED, I THINK IT WAS A MONTH AGO, MAYBE TWO MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASING WITH THE ELECTION, HOW LAST TIME THERE WAS A BIG DELAY IN THAT.

WE SAID, NO, WE'RE LOOKING GOOD, AND I FELT GOOD ABOUT THAT UNTIL I SAW THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. LAST WEEK? PUT OUT A NOTICE THAT THEY'RE DELAYING TAX BILLS GOING TO, I'M PARAPHRASING, NOT QUOTING ANYBODY, DUE TO HAYES AND THEIR BOND ELECTION NOT PASSING AND HAVING TO ADOPT A TAX RATE.

ARE WE TRACKING THIS, AND HAVE WE TALKED TO THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT DELAY ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> YES. I HAD PUT AN E MAIL OUT TO JENNIFER ESCAR TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, AND SHE HAD SAID THAT SHE WAS WORKING WITH HAYES SINCE IT FAILED TO TRY TO GET THEM TO ACCELERATE THAT.

BUT WHEN I TALKED TO HER, SHE WAS STILL SAYING THAT WE SHOULD SEE TAX BILLS COMING OUT TOWARDS THE END OF NOVEMBER.

>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD. I GUESS I WOULD JUST ASK DR. MOSKIN, IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE TO THAT.

JUST UPDATE US THROUGH THE REGULAR CHANNELS OR WHEREVER IT IS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE'RE READY TO GO.

WE'VE ADOPTED OUR TAX RATE.

WE'VE DONE ANYTHING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. I KNOW WHY WE'RE WAITING.

AGAIN THINGS HAPPEN IN OTHER AREAS, BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DRIPPING SPRINGS.

>> CORRECT.

>> WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO RUN TO THIS ISSUE WE HAD LAST TIME.

BE LEANING AGAIN BECAUSE OUR FUND BALANCE WAS GOING DOWN THE TOILET, AS WE'RE SITTING HERE FINANCING ALL THE DISTRICT OPERATIONS WHILE TAX BILLS WERE SITTING RETURNED.

AS A HOMEOWNER, I ALSO WANTED TO LIKE, HEY, I GOT MY ESCROW I'M READY TO GO.

I'M THE TAX BILL, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M PAYING.

I CAN'T EVEN ACCESS THAT RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T SEE WHAT MY TAX BILL IS.

I'M FRESHING A LITTLE FRUSTRATION THAT CITIZENS IS A TAXPAYER RIGHT NOW, BUT LET'S JUST STAY ON THAT BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT.

THANK GOD, WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, BUT AND IF WE NEED TO CONVEY OUR NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TAXING ENTITIES.

I MEAN, PEOPLE HERE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, TAX AND DON'T PAY TAXES TO HAYES, CSD.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH US.

>> I HAD EMAILED HER.

IT WAS EITHER EARLY LAST WEEK OR LATE THE WEEK BEFORE.

IT WAS LIKE THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR MONDAY LAST WEEK.

BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HER.

>> WE COULD. I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY DELAY FOR US OVER HERE, OR OURSELVES ARE READY TO GO. WE'RE DONE.

WE FULFILLED OUR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE LAW.

LET'S GIVE THE RESIDENTS OR TAX BILLS, SO THEY CAN MOVE ON.

LET'S MOVE ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RON. APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT. OPERATIONS.

>> I'LL START WITH CONSTRUCTION.

OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM IS BUSY WITH PLANNING FOR THE SUMMER AND ACTUALLY FOR THE SPRING AS WELL WITH 18 PLUS, AND THEY ALSO FOUND TIME TO GO TO SOME TRAINING FOR CONSTRUCTION DELIVERY METHOD AND PROCUREMENT BOOT CAMP.

THAT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BRUSH UP ON SOME OF THOSE LAWS.

OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, ASIDE FROM JUST DOING WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO, PROTECTING US, CYBERSECURITY, ANY KIND OF WORK ORDER THAT'S PUT IN BY CAMPUSES OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS,

[01:35:01]

THEY SENT ME WHAT THEY DID.

I RESPONDED TO THEM.

I SAID, COULD YOU TALK TO ME LIKE I'M FOR, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF THESE ACRONYMS AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS ROOSTER SPRINGS AND CYPRESS SPRINGS, WE'VE REPLACED THE POTS LINE, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT POTS MEANT, BUT IT'S JUST PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE SERVICE AND THEY REPLACED THAT.

THEN ALSO, WE'VE HAD SOME INSTABILITY ISSUES WITH OUR 858 NUMBERS IN GENERAL.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN.

YOU PROBABLY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THAT.

IT WAS WITH ONE VENDOR.

IT WAS COPPER.

IT'S JUST OLDER TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE REPLACING THAT WITH AN INTERNET BASED PHONE SYSTEM WITH SPECTRUM ON NOVEMBER 24, WHICH IS NEXT MONDAY, AND THAT SHOULD ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING.

HAPPY ABOUT THAT. FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THEY'VE ADDRESSED AND CLOSED 578 WORK ORDERS IN OCTOBER.

THEY WERE EXCITED TODAY AS I WAS LEAVING BECAUSE THEY WERE DOWN TO 107 OUTSTANDING WORK ORDERS.

THEY'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THAT, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PUSH AND ADDRESS THINGS QUICKER.

I APPRECIATE THAT OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN FACILITIES, WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN POSSESSION OF THREE OF THE NEW WHITE FLEET THAT WAS PART OF THE BOND, AND WE'VE GOT SIX MORE COMING IN THE SPRING.

OUR HVAC TEAM WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN SOME HVAC TRAINING AT WILDWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24.

THEN ALSO THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, WE WORKED WITH OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, JUST GOT SOME INFORMATION FROM HER, AND SHE RECOMMENDED A LOCAL ARBORIST TO COME AND TALK TO ALL OF OUR PEOPLE JUST REALLY LOOKING AT PLANTS AND TREES, IDENTIFYING WHEN ARE THEY STRUGGLING, WHEN ARE THEY HEALTHY? WE HAD ALL OF OUR PEOPLE GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ON CAMPUSES, THEY SEE IT, AND WE WANT TO KNOW.

THEN ALSO, HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM? WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS JUST TO KEEP OUR CAMPUSES LOOKING GOOD.

THE LEADERSHIP ALSO WENT TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE DELIVERY METHOD AND PROCUREMENT TRAINING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME BIG PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE THE SPECIALIZED PROCUREMENT AS WELL.

TRANSPORTATION, THEY DO WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO.

WE'VE GONE OVER THAT, BUT THEY'RE WRAPPING UP THE SECOND INSTALLATION OF THE SEAT BELT RETROFIT, AND IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THAT VERY SOON, AND THERE'S I THINK MAYBE SIX MORE BUSES THAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND THEN I THINK WE'LL BE DONE.

CHILD NUTRITION, DUE TO THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THE STATE REQUIRES THAT 80% OF ALL GRAIN COMPONENTS, THEY BE WHOLE GRAIN RICH, AND EVIDENTLY, THAT AFFECTS THE TASTE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE, AND SO THEY'VE ORDERED THESE BUN TOASTERS WHERE THEY CAN ALL SANDWICHES, ALL HAMBURGERS, EVERY CAMPUS WILL HAVE THOSE, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO THAT. SAY THAT AGAIN? ABSOLUTELY. ALL OF OUR CAMPUS HAVE TOASTED BUNS NOW, AND THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE THE BENEFIT.

[LAUGHTER] YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, WE SELL ADULT LUNCHES AS WELL, SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO CHECK THE MENU IN SIGNOR. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WHICH CAMPUSES WERE MISSING THE BUN TOASTER?

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.

I HAVE IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT ON HERE. I APOLOGIZE.

>> I DID ACTUALLY HAVE A CHILD NUTRITION QUESTION.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW OR IF YOU DO TELL ME, BUT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES THE DIETARY GUIDELINES, DOES THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO US, OR DO WE FOLLOW WHAT THE STATE ADOPTS FOR WELL BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS THAT WHAT A MEAL HAS TO INCLUDE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. IS THAT FROM THE STATE OR IS THAT FROM FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

>> IT'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, BUT YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

>> IF THE WHOLE, MY PLATE OR WHATEVER, IF THAT CHANGES, THEN IT WOULD CHANGE [OVERLAPPING] INTERESTING ONE.

COOL.

ALL THE LAUGHTER ASIDE, I REMEMBER WHEN THE LAW CHANGED, AND I WAS GETTING REPORTS THAT KIDS WERE TAKING THOSE FUNDS AND JUST CHUNKING THEM IN THE TRASH, LIKE IT'S STUNNING FOOD WASTE.

I'M ACTUALLY VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE.

[01:40:08]

>> KIM. I DON'T KNOW YOUR STAFF NUMBERS AND THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, BUT 578 WORK ORDERS IN ONE MONTH I HOPE THEY HAVE TIME FOR LUNCH.

I MEAN, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, WHAT A HARD WORKING TEAM THAT IS DEVOTED TO GETTING THINGS FIXED, GETTING THEM RUNNING, GETTING THEM WORKING, AND I MEAN, KUDOS TO THAT DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN, THAT IS SIMPLY OUTSTANDING.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU.

JUST REAL QUICKLY, ON THE CHILD NUTRITION, WE HAVE OUR ELEMENTARIES ARE ON THE PROGRAM, THEY CALL IT.

THAT'S THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, AND THAT'S WHERE THAT WOULD AFFECT THAT.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD A COMMENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I WANT TO SAY THAT MY COMMENT PREDATES HOLLY'S TIME.

BUT I KNOW WHEN I WAS NEW TO THE BOARD AND WE WOULD WALK FACILITIES, ONE THING THAT WAS ALWAYS LIKE, WHY ARE WE REPLACING THIS AGAIN? WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE MAINTENANCE ISN'T AS STRONG AS IT COULD BE HERE? I AM SO HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOUR TEAM IS DOING.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER LIFE CYCLES OUT OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.

I HAVE A CONFIDENCE NOW THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MAYBE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> LAST BUT NO LEAST, SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

JUST REAL QUICK, FOR YOU ALL, YOU WILL NOTICE, AND THERE WE HAVE THE SECOND PHASE OF LUNAR ROYA.

THAT'S GOING TO BRING IN ABOUT 40 NEW LOTS ON APPROXIMATELY 80 ACRES, SO SOME ACREAGE HOME SITES.

THEN THERE IS ALSO SOME COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMING IN AT HEADWATERS.

THAT'S THE TWO LAND UPDATES THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL.

>> THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS

[11. CLOSED SESSION ]

NO VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CLOSED MEETING.

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.

[OVERLAPPING] ALL RIGHT.

THE BOARD IS BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 8:22 P.M. WITH NO FURTHER ACTION THIS EVENING,

[12. OPEN SESSION ]