[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM]
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WE HAVE CONVENED FOR A DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE HAVE CONVENED FOR A MEETING WITH THE DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THIS MONDAY, MAY 18TH.
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.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AND I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME LEO BALRAF, AN 8TH GRADER FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, TO HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE.
IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE EASTERN PUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[3. ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANNOUNCEMENTS? WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO SOPHOMORE IZZY CREW ON CAPTURING A STATE TITLE IN THE WHEELCHAIR SHOT PUT AT THE UIL TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS LAST WEEK.SHE'LL BE JOINING US NEXT MONTH FOR RECOGNITION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TIGER BASEBALL TEAM ON ADVANCING TO THE REGIONAL FINALS.
THEY WILL FACE PSJA IN A BEST OF THREE SERIES STARTING THURSDAY.
GAMES WILL BE PLAYED AT CALLAHAN HIGH SCHOOL AND COASTAL BEND COLLEGE.
TICKET INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
A REMINDER TO OUR FAMILIES TO PLEASE COMPLETE ANNUAL VERIFICATION BY SATURDAY, MAY 23RD, IF YOU WILL HAVE A CHILD ENROLLED IN DSISD SCHOOLS FOR THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS IS REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OUR DISTRICT AND NEW TO DSISD STUDENTS.
FRIDAY, MAY 22ND IS OUR LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.
ALL CAMPUSES WILL HAVE EARLY RELEASE THAT DAY.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL RELEASE AT 12.05 AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT 1.10.
WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2026 ON FRIDAY WITH A COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY BEING HELD AT 7 30 P.M.
TICKETS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR THE CEREMONY AND A CLEAR BAG POLICY WILL BE ENFORCED AT THE GATE.
AND THEN THE DISTRICT WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, MAY 25TH FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND BEGINNING THE WEEK OF JUNE 1ST THE DISTRICT WILL BEGIN SUMMER OPERATING HOURS AND BE CLOSED ON FRIDAYS THROUGH THE MONTH OF JULY.
AND THERE'S OUR MAY ANNOUNCEMENT.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR LEARNING
[4. LEARNING SPOTLIGHT]
SPOTLIGHT FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL.WE HAD A WHOLE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD, SO WE'RE SORRY OUR BACKS ARE TO YOU.
HI EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS ANGELA FRANKHAUSER AND I AM THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AT DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I HAVE A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TO HELP TELL THE WONDERFUL STORY OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND I'M GOING TO LET EACH ONE OF THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, SAY THEIR NAME AND THEIR GRADE LEVEL.
HI, MY NAME IS LAURA GILLUM, I'M IN 8TH GRADE.
HI, MY NAME IS SABINA AND I'M IN 6TH GRADE.
HI, I'M HADLEY HATFIELD AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.
HI, I'M JENNIFER MORRIS AND I GET TO TEACH SIXTH GRADE RURAL CULTURES AND I GOT TO PARTNER WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL.
I'M A COUNSELOR AT DURBAN SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT I'M ALSO THE LIGHTHOUSE LEAD.
AND THIS IS MR. HENRY, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, DOING THE TECH FOR US.
SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE LIGHTHOUSE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPEN AT DRIPPING SPRINGS
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MIDDLE SCHOOL.THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR WE STARTED DOING LEAD LESSONS, WHICH ARE LESSONS AROUND LEADER IN ME FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
MS. SHEERAN AND MS. MORRIS WORKED HARD WITH OUR LEADERSHIP LIGHTHOUSE TEAM TO WRITE LESSONS AND THEN STUDENTS DELIVERED LESSONS TO THEIR PEERS DURING OUR ADVISORY.
I'M GOING TO LET MS. SHEERAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE APPROACH AND HOW WE STARTED.
SO LEADER IN ME ALREADY HAS A BUNCH OF LESSONS CREATED.
THEY ARE PRETTY SIMPLE, PRETTY EASY, BUT SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT OUR STUDENTS GAVE US IS VERY, VERY SIMPLE.
SO WE LOVE THE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS BECAUSE WE DO WANT THEM TO BE ENGAGED.
SO ONE WAY TO GET THE ENGAGEMENT IS HAVE OUR LIGHTHOUSE TEAM CREATE SOME OF THESE LESSONS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WANTED TO STICK TO THE IDEA OF LEADER IN ME, SO WE ALSO CREATED A WORD OF THE MONTH.
WE WENT ON THE LEADER IN ME WEBSITE.
WE CHOSE SOME OF THE VOCABULARY.
THE ADULTS CHOSE THE WORD THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE BEST.
OUR WHOLE LEADERSHIP TEAM CHOSE THOSE WORDS.
AND THEN THE STUDENTS TOOK THOSE WORDS IN TEAMS OF FOUR AND CREATED A LESSON WRAPPED AROUND THAT.
MS. MORRIS WAS SUPER HELPFUL AS THE TEACHER LEAD TO HELP THE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO BREAK DOWN A LESSON WITH AN INTRO, THE GUTS OF THE WHOLE THING, AND THEN THE WRAP-IT-UP EXIT TICKET.
AND SO JEN HELPED REALLY GET THE STUDENTS MAPPED OUT AND SET UP A WHOLE LESSON PLAN.
SO THE STUDENTS CREATED EIGHT LESSONS, AND THEN THEY GOT TO TEACH THOSE LESSONS TO THEIR PEERS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR YOU IS ALL THE VOCABULARY WORDS, AND WE'VE EVEN PUT IN SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT THEY CREATED.
SO WOULD YOU LADIES LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE MAKING AND DELIVERING LESSONS? OKAY, SO WHEN I WAS MAKING THE LEAD LESSON, I FOCUSED MOST ON MAKING SURE IT WAS RELATABLE AND MAKING SURE IT TEACH SOMETHING TO OUR PEERS.
MY FAVORITE PART OF LEAD LESSON WAS HAVING LIKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
SO I WAS NOT A PART OF THE LEAD LESSON TEAM, BUT I WAS A PART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING.
I WAS THE PRESIDENT AND WAS ALSO LED BY MS. HUNDLE AND MS. ELLIOTT.
SO I GOT TO HELP PLAN THE SCHOOL DANCE AND ALSO HELPING PLAN THE SCHOOL DANCE IS GREAT.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE BE THERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FUN, ENJOYING ONE OF THEIR CORE MOMENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO WE FELT LIKE AN IMPORTANT PART OF DOING THE LEAD LESSONS IS HAVING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT AT THE END.
AND SO BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL WAS RENOVATED AND WE HAVE NEW WALLS, THANK YOU, WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT THINGS ON THE WALLS AND THEY STAY UP.
FOR YEARS WITH THE CINDER BLOCK WALLS, WE WOULD PUT THINGS AND THEY WOULD JUST FALL.
SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ALL THE EXIT TICKETS.
THAT KIDS DID AFTER THEIR LEADERSHIP LESSONS AND CREATE SOME REALLY NICE DISPLAYS AND REMIND KIDS WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT THOSE LESSONS WERE AS THEY JUST WALKED THROUGH OUR HALLS.
THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DID AT THE END OF THEIR LESSONS AROUND COURAGE, CONSIDERATION, COOPERATION, INTEGRITY, PURPOSE.
ALL REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT LESSONS FOR OUR KIDS.
OKAY, I THINK YOU GUYS DID AN AWESOME JOB.
THE NEXT THING I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THIS PAST WEEK, BOTH SYCAMORE SPRINGS AND DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOLS DID AN EVENT CALLED TIGER'S RISE.
TIGER'S RISE IS FOR ALL THE FIFTH GRADERS IN THE DISTRICT TO HAVE A DAY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES TO SHARE WITH YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO LET NORA TALK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SHE WAS A LEADER ON THAT DAY, AND SHE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE.
SO I WAS VERY GRATEFUL THAT I GOT TO BE A GROUP LEADER IN TIGER RISE AND JUST REALLY SEEING HOW ALL THOSE FIFTH GRADERS DID TO COME INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BEING SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AND REALLY SHOWING THEM AROUND, SEEING WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE, AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED BY ANYONE ELSE.
AND YOU JUST REALLY GET TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND YOU GET TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT KIDS THAT ARE COMING IN AND REALLY JUST BEING ABLE TO BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVE THAT FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.
IF I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS COMING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JUST SEEING HOW EXCITED THEY ARE TO EXPERIENCE HOW GREAT DSMS IS.
THEY CAME IN, THEY ALWAYS COME IN WIDE-EYED AND SUPER NERVOUS, AND THEN WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME AND TO LET THEM SEE A DAY IN THE LIFE, TO LET THEM
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EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCES BY ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT GROUPS.SO THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE BAND, AND WE HAD A WELCOME COMMITTEE THAT GAVE THEM HIGH FIVES COMING ON IN.
THEY WENT TO THE LIBRARY AND STUDENTS PRESENTED ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTIVES THAT THEY CAN TAKE AND WAYS THAT THEY CAN GET INVOLVED AT SCHOOL.
WE DID A SIXTH GRADE PANEL, AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE FIFTH GRADERS GET TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS OF CURRENT SIXTH GRADERS.
AND THE WISDOM FROM MOUTHS OF BABES WAS MAGNIFICENT.
I HEARD, YOU REALLY HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF, ALL FROM KIDS.
AND THEY ALSO TOLD THEM THINGS LIKE, DON'T WORRY, IT'S A BIG PLACE, BUT YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT IN THE FIRST DAY.
IT WAS TRULY WONDERFUL TO WATCH THE SIXTH GRADE PANEL.
THEY GOT TO TOUR THE WHOLE CAMPUS WEARING THEIR CLASS OF 2033 T-SHIRTS, WHICH WAS PRETTY CUTE, WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE.
THEN WE HAD A PEP RALLY, AND THE BAND PLAYED, CHEERLEADERS CHEERED, THE DANCE TEAM PERFORMED.
WE HAD THEATER PERFORMED, SO YOU CAN SEE THEY DID A SEGMENT OF BYE BYE BIRDIE.
WE ALSO HAD A WONDERFUL GAME WHERE ONE ADULT AND ONE FIFTH GRADER FROM EACH SCHOOL HAD TO RUN ACROSS THE GYM HOLDING A BEACH BALL ONLY WITH PLUNGERS.
AND IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL DAY, AND I TRULY BELIEVE OUR FIFTH GRADERS ARE EXCITED.
BE THE LEADERS THROUGH ALL OF THAT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY'VE HAD ON CAMPUS IS REALLY SPECIAL AND IT'S FAR MORE MEANINGFUL COMING FROM THEM.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT.
I HAVE ONE LAST ONE LAST MESSAGE WHICH IS AS YOU ALL KNOW I AM RETIRING SO THIS IS MY LAST SCHOOL BOARD PRESENTATION AFTER 30 YEARS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AND TO THE ENTIRE DSMF COMMUNITY AND I MEAN IT I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.
OUR KIDS HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT.
THESE ARE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO THEM.
OH, HOLD ON ONE SECOND JUST BEFORE YOUR QUESTIONS.
YOU GUYS DID AN AWESOME JOB, AND THANK YOU.
MS. SPRANKHAUSER FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR FINISHING YOUR WONDERFUL TENURE IN EDUCATION WITH US IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS? OLIVIA? I WAS JUST GOING TO OFFER SOME FEEDBACK IF I COULD.
I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO START SERVING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, THIS BOARD BODY TOWARD.
DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE COVID AND A LOT OF THINGS.
AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A GROUP OF SIXTH GRADERS AND WE SAID, WHAT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL? AND THEY ALL SAID THE TRANSITION BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE.
AND AT THAT POINT, YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR CAMPUS LEADERS DECIDED TO REALLY FOCUS MORE ON TIGER RISE AND BRING STUDENTS INTO THAT EQUATION.
AND IT HAS MADE, YOU GUYS HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS.
ON THE CAMPUS AND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
AND I ECHO WHAT EVERYONE SAID.
MS. FRANK-HELDER, WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH.
AND I WANT TO SAY, AS MY SIXTH GRADER, I HAVE A SIXTH GRADER AT DSMS IN HOLLIS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW HER.
DID THE TIGERS RISE LAST YEAR AND SHE CAME HOME JUST EXCITED AS ALL GET OUT TO BE GOING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THE PEP RALLY.
IT WAS JUST IT'S SUCH A IT'S SUCH A SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE FIFTH GRADERS AND SO I THINK THAT I'M I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO IT AND THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP THAT THAT GOES INTO THAT.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE READY FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
WHAT DECISIONS DO YOU MAKE THAT IMPACT CLASSROOMS? TEACHERS.
SO LOTS OF DECISIONS, PRETTY MUCH EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE IMPACTS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, BUT A COUPLE OF
[00:15:01]
THINGS THAT SPECIFICALLY I CAN POINT OUT.ONE THING THAT WE DO IS WE APPROVE THE OVERALL DISTRICT BUDGET.
SO ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU KNOW STARTS AT THE TOP AND KIND OF TRICKLES DOWN INTO THE CLASSROOMS, YOU KNOW DOWN TO THE PENCILS THAT YOUR TEACHERS ARE PROVIDING.
WE TAKE STATE GUIDANCE ON CURRICULUM, SO THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LEARNING DON'T JUST COME OUT OF THE AIR.
THE STATE TELLS US WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING, AND WE AS A BOARD MAKE DECISIONS ON THE MATERIALS THAT YOU GET IN YOUR CLASSROOM TO LEARN.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I WANT TO KIND OF POINT OUT IS THAT WE DO ALL THAT USUALLY WITH THE GUIDANCE, ALMOST ALWAYS WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM OUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND FROM YOUR TEACHERS AND FROM...
SO I KIND OF LIKE TO SEE IT AS A LADDER WHERE EVERYTHING KIND OF GOES UP THE LADDER FROM THE TEACHER LEVEL AND THEY SAY, HERE'S WHAT WE NEED.
AND THEN THE PRINCIPAL SAYS, YES, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
IT KIND OF COMES THROUGH UP TO US AND WE SAY, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE CAN APPROVE.
AND NONE OF US, NOT ONE OF US HAS THE POWER TO APPROVE IT.
IT HAS TO BE AT LEAST FOUR OF US BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A MAJORITY.
AND THEN IT COMES UP THE LADDER AND THEN THAT GETS APPROVED AND THEN IT KIND OF GOES BACK DOWN THE LADDER AND TRICKLES BACK DOWN INTO YOUR CLASSROOM.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT WORKS.
WHEN YOU VISIT CLASSROOMS, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU WERE IN SCHOOL AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT? OH, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.
KIM VOLUNTEERED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
LET ME SET THE VISUAL FOR YOU.
I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL 58 YEARS AGO.
AND IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.
THE ONLY THING IN COMMON BETWEEN NOW AND 58 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM.
MY CLASSROOM WAS LITTLE METAL DESK.
YOU SAT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
OUR TEACHER WROTE ON A GREEN CHALKBOARD EVERY DAY.
ON A LITTLE PIECE OF PURPLE AND WHITE PAPER CALLED A DITTO MACHINE THAT WOULD PRINT THOSE OUT.
OUR TEACHER'S GRADE BOOK WAS LIKE A SPIRAL NOTEBOOK, AND THE GRADES WERE WRITTEN BY HAND IN THERE, TRANSFERRED TO A LITTLE PAPER REPORT CARD.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOUR AVERAGE UNTIL THE END OF THE SIX WEEKS, AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR LITTLE REPORT CARD HOME THAT HAD TO BE SIGNED BY YOUR PARENTS, AND ALSO THERE WAS NO TALKING IN CLASS.
THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SPEAK WAS TO RAISE YOUR HAND, AND THAT'S PROBABLY IF YOU NEEDED TO USE THE RESTROOM.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN SCHOOL WITH Y'ALL NOW.
Y'ALL HAVE A BLAST, AND I LOVE THE WAY YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
AND FRANKLY, AFTER I HEAR WHAT I LIVED THROUGH, I'M JUST GLAD I GREW UP AND I SURVIVED.
[5. RECOGNITIONS]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR RECOGNITIONS.WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF RECOGNITIONS, SO I ASK US TO HOLD APPLAUSE FOR EACH SECTION AND NOT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.
SO FIRST WE ARE RECOGNIZING OUR BOYS GOLF STATE QUALIFIER.
ON BEHALF OF MS. GOMEZ, COACH ZIMMERMAN, COACH 2Z, AND MYSELF, COACH BIAGINI, AND THE GOLF PROGRAM, I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE WILLIAM MANGIONE, WHO FINISHED TIED FOR THIRD AT 6A STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT.
WILLIAM LOST ON A SECOND HOLE PLAYOFF FOR THE MEDAL, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, T3 IS...
SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WILLIAM MANGIONE.
I'VE BEEN PLAYING GOLF SINCE THE AGE OF FOUR, INTRODUCED BY MY DAD.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY THANKING THEM.
THEY'VE, THE SACRIFICES THEY'VE MADE TOWARDS ME IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE, AND I THANK THEM EVERY DAY.
UM, BUT, YEAH, UM, I AM GOING TO SCHOOL AT INCARNATE WORD UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO FOR
[00:20:02]
DIVISION I GOLF.SO I'M SUPER EXCITED, SUPER EXCITED.
ONE THING I LEARNED WAS JUST TO BE PERSISTENT WITH EMAILING COLLEGES BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY STUBBORN IN RESPONDING TO ME, I'LL SAY THAT.
BUT YEAH, I GOT THE CALL, I VISITED, I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
IT'S A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, I'M CATHOLIC, SO I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED TO BE GOING THERE.
AND YEAH, I'VE MADE SO MANY FRIENDS.
GOLF HAS TAUGHT ME SO MANY LESSONS THAT I'LL CHERISH FOREVER.
AND YEAH, MAKING STATE MY SENIOR YEAR IS JUST, I'M SUPER GRATEFUL.
ALL THE HARD WORK HAS FINALLY PAID OFF.
AND I THANK COACH BIAGINI FOR EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR ME AND FOR THE TEAM, HIS DEDICATION AND HIS HARD WORK FOR MAKING THE PLAYERS ON THE TEAM BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE.
GO TIGERS ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR FISHING CLUB STATE QUALIFIER.
I'M THE ANIMAL SCIENCE TEACHER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ALONG WITH A SPONSOR FOR OUR DS TIGER BASS FISHING CLUB.
AND THIS PAST YEAR, JADEN HAS FISHED ALL FIVE TOURNAMENTS.
WHICH HE WAS TOP 10 FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEM AND THEN WENT ON TO REGIONALS AND NOW STATE.
WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD AND HE HAS A LOT MORE PATIENCE THAN I DO TO STAY ON THE WATER AS LONG AS HE DOES.
SO I'M GOING TO LET HIM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE THAT'S COMING UP AND ABOUT HIMSELF.
MAY'S DATE, AND WE'RE TRAVELING UP TO LAKE TEXOMA ON MAY 30TH, AND I'LL BE COMPETING AGAINST OVER 200 TEAMS FOR THAT FIRST PLACE TROPHY.
AND MOST OF THESE TOURNAMENTS ARE 150 TEAMS PLUS, SO IT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR CAPT SPEECH CONTEST.
I'M THE HEAD SPEECH AND DEBATE COACH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M HERE FOR A COUPLE REASONS TODAY, BUT THE FIRST ONE IS FOR OUR TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SPEECH CONTEST.
CONTESTANTS, WE HAD THREE OF THEM THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE UP THERE.
WE HAD THIS YEAR'S TOPIC WAS SOMETHING ABOUT SAFE RIDES, EVERYDAY HEROES.
AND ONE OF OUR COMPETITORS, PIA RAJNEESH, A FRESHMAN, SHE PLACED THIRD IN THE STATE.
WE ALSO HAD TWO OTHER COMPETITORS, ONE REPRESENTING THE SOPHOMORES, ONE REPRESENTING THE JUNIORS.
OUR SOPHOMORE COMPETITOR WAS...
TOMAS ABANEZ-DURAN AND OUR JUNIOR WAS ANVIKA JAIN.
SO THEY ALL DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AND MS. SWANKS WANTS TO TALK A LITTLE
[00:25:01]
BIT ABOUT THE CONTEST.JUST REAL QUICK, I ENJOY EVERY YEAR GETTING TO GO AND LISTEN TO THE SPEECHES FROM AROUND THE STATE.
WHAT THE CONTEST DOES IS IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS TO BE CONSCIOUS AND BE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY.
SO I LOVE THE ATTENTION THAT THEY BRING TO THAT.
AND ALSO PROVIDES THEM, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
AND SO THROUGH CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, THEY DO GET SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.
THEY GET TO WALK AWAY WITH SOME MONEY FOR PARTICIPATING, EVEN AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
SO IT'S JUST GREAT, AND THEY ALWAYS REPRESENT US WELL EVERY YEAR.
SO I'M VERY PROUD, PIA, AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
AND OUR SPEECH AND DEBATE STATE QUALIFIERS.
OKAY, IF Y'ALL CAN COME UP HERE, PLEASE, THAT'D BE GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, I'M ALSO HERE WITH OUR ASSISTANT COACH, RYAN LOVE, THE GREATEST ASSISTANT COACH OF ALL TIME, WHO IS SADLY LEAVING US THIS YEAR.
ANYWAY, WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SEASON, I GUESS, OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE SPEECH AND DEBATE PROGRAM THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN TO LIKE 20 OR 25 COMPETITIONS THIS YEAR.
AND WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE LEFT THIS SUMMER AT NATIONALS.
SO THESE KIDS WORK REALLY HARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PRACTICING, GOING TO TOURNAMENTS, RESEARCHING.
FOR THIS YEAR, WE COMPETE ON A FEW DIFFERENT CIRCUITS, BUT ONE OF OUR MAIN ONES IS THE TEXAS FORENSIC ASSOCIATION CIRCUIT, WHERE WE HAD 12 QUALIFIERS THIS YEAR.
WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS QUALIFIED IN WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE, SOME QUALIFIED IN CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.
WE HAD A LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATER.
WE HAD A STUDENT WHO WAS QUALIFIED IN PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUALIFIERS IN VARIOUS THINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO NATIONALS THIS SUMMER FOR THE NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
ALL OF THEM THAT WE'RE TAKING, OKAY, ACTUALLY, WE'RE TAKING FIVE.
WE HAVE A FULL FIVE-PERSON TEAM OF WORLD SCHOOLS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL DEBATER GOING THIS SUMMER.
THE TOURNAMENT'S IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS STUDENTS.
WE TOOK A TEAM OF FIVE TO LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND COMPETED AT THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, AND WE REACHED THE QUARTERFINALS, WHICH IS BASICALLY A TIE FOR FIFTH.
SO WE HAD A REALLY OUTSTANDING YEAR, AND THESE STUDENTS DESERVE A LOT OF PRAISE.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THE MIC DOWN, LET THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU.
THEY'LL TELL YOU THEIR NAME, WHAT GRADE THEY'RE IN, AND IF THEY'RE A SENIOR, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE.
MY NAME IS SHREYAS RANGARAJAH, A JUNIOR AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IF I COULD EXPLAIN WHAT DEBATE IS IN ONE WORD, IT WOULD BE A ROLLER COASTER.
BECAUSE USUALLY, LIKE, BEFORE YOU GET ON A ROLLER COASTER, YOU'RE REALLY SCARED AND NERVOUS.
BUT THEN AFTER YOU ACTUALLY FINISH IT, IT'S LIKE REALLY FUN AND YOU WANT TO GET ON AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY I COULD DESCRIBE IT.
THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBATE.
I'M A SENIOR, AND I'M GOING TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STARTING IN AUTUMN.
I'M ALSO A SENIOR, AND IN THE FALL, I'LL BE HEADED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
I'M A SENIOR, AND IN THE FALL, I'LL BE HEADING TO THE BRUSSELS SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
MY NAME IS ANIELIA HERNANDEZ AND I'M A JUNIOR.
MY NAME IS PRIYANKA RAJNEESH AND I'M A FRESHMAN.
MY NAME IS ANIKA JALILA AND I'M A JUNIOR.
[00:30:01]
LIAM WAS THE FOURTH BEST SPEAKER IN THE STATE AND ZOE WAS THE SIXTH BEST SPEAKER IN THE STATE THIS YEAR, SO JUST FYI.ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR ORCHESTRA STATE QUALIFIERS.
HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS GREGORY PERRIN AND I'M THE NEW ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR HERE IN THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL CAMERATA ORCHESTRA'S RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
THIS SEMESTER HAS BEEN A HISTORIC TIME OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM.
AND IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE DSHS CAMERATA ORCHESTRA.
JUST RECENTLY, THIS ENSEMBLE COMPETED AT THE UIL CONCERT AND SIGHT READING EVALUATION, AND I'M THRILLED TO SHARE THAT THEY EARNED THE PRESTIGIOUS SWEEPSTAKES AWARD, RECEIVING STRAIGHT SUPERIOR DIVISION I RATINGS FROM ALL SIX JUDGES.
THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNANIMOUS DECISION ACROSS BOTH THE PREPARED STAGE PERFORMANCE AND THE SIGHT READING PORTIONS OF THE EVENT.
AN ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS CALIBER IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO REACH, AND IT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE UNRELENTING WORTH, ETHIC, DEDICATION, AND IMMENSE TALENT THRIVING WITHIN THIS ENSEMBLE.
BUT THE ACCOLADES DON'T STOP THERE.
TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS STANDING HERE WITH ME.
THESE STUDENTS ACHIEVED SUPERIOR RATINGS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL AND HAVE QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AT THE UIL STATE SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST NEXT WEEK.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE WAVE YOUR HAND.
ABEER KULKARNI, ALEXANDER JOHNSON, CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, AMELIA TREVINO-HERNANDEZ, VIBHA GUDI, AND WILLIAM RIAL.
WHAT MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE MUSIC WORLD MIGHT NOT REALIZE IS THE SHEER AMOUNT OF UNSEEN WORK REQUIRED TO STAND WHERE THESE STUDENTS ARE TODAY.
IN ADDITION TO AMASSING ALL THEIR COMPLEX VARSITY ORCHESTRA REPERTOIRE, EACH OF THESE STUDENTS HAD SPENT COUNTLESS GRUELING HOURS ALONE IN PRACTICE ROOM REFINING THEIR INDIVIDUAL SOLO PIECES.
TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE LEVEL, A MUSICIAN MUST PERFORM PIECES OF THE HIGHEST TECHNICAL AND ARTISTIC DIFFICULTY ENTIRELY FROM MEMORY.
THEY THEN HAVE TO TAKE THAT MUSIC INTO A PRESSURE COOKER ENVIRONMENT AND UNDERGO A DEEPLY SCRUTINIZING EVALUATION BY EXPERT JUDGES WHO CRITIQUE EVERY SINGLE NOTE, SHIFT, BOW STROKE, AND MUSICAL NUANCE.
TO EARN A SUPERIOR RATING UNDER THAT LEVEL OF MICROSCOPIC JUDGMENT REQUIRES AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF RESILIENCE, MENTAL FOCUS, AND GRIT.
THEY REPRESENT THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD, NOT JUST IN THEIR MUSICAL MASTERY.
BUT IN THEIR CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE TO THEIR PEERS.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK AND TO OFFICIALLY WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK AS THEY HEAD OFF TO REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT AT THE STATE LEVEL NEXT WEEK.
I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO BE THEIR DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO OUR ORCHESTRA PROGRAM AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE PHENOMENAL STUDENT LEADERS.
[00:35:44]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS OUR BAND STATE QUALIFIERS.GOOD EVENING, I'M DEREK WOODS, DIRECTOR OF BANDS.
THESE ARE A REPRESENTATION OF SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT QUALIFIED.
SIMILARLY TO THE ORCHESTRA STUDENTS THAT MR. PERRIN JUST TALKED ABOUT, THEY WENT TO THE UIL REGION LEVEL CONTEST, PERFORMED A SOLO THAT IS CALLED A CLASS 1, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST DIFFICULTY LEVEL, MOSTLY COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL MUSIC.
THEY HAD TO, IF THE PIECE CALLED FOR IT, THEY HAD TO PERFORM WITH AN ACCOMPANIST.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE VERY NERVE-WRACKING.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PREPARATION LEVEL NEEDS TO BE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL SO THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
THESE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL SOLOS, AS YOU SEE HERE.
I'LL HAVE THESE PEOPLE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND THEIR GRADE AND THEIR INSTRUMENT IN JUST A MOMENT.
AND WE HAD SOME ENSEMBLES, TOO.
THE CLARINET QUARTET AND THE FLUTE CHOIR THAT YOU SEE THERE, THEY PUT THEIR PIECES TOGETHER TOTALLY ON THEIR OWN, COMING IN EARLY BEFORE SCHOOL, STAYING LATE.
AND THEN THE TROMBONE CHOIR HAS ONE OF OUR PRIVATE LESSON TEACHERS THAT KIND OF LEADS THAT.
THEY MEET REGULARLY EVERY WEEK.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I JUST LEFT ONE OF THEIR REHEARSALS.
AND THEY WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE STATE LEVEL UIL.
SO AN ENSEMBLE THIS MONDAY, THERE WERE SOME, HOW DO I WANT TO SAY THIS? I WON'T SAY GROANS, BUT DEFINITELY EYE ROLLS FROM SOME SENIORS WHO REALIZED, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM THIS WAY BACK IN FEBRUARY, THAT IT WOULD BE AFTER GRADUATION.
SO THEY ARE PUTTING IN EXTRA TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR SOME OF THE ENSEMBLES AND THEIR SOLOS.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.
TO CONTINUE THAT DEDICATION TO THEIR CRAFT, NAME, GRADE, INSTRUMENT, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE, WHERE? HI, I'M CARSON BONE.
I'M A SOPHOMORE, AND I PLAY THE BARRY SACHS.
I'M A JUNIOR AND I PLAY TRUMPET.
I'M A SENIOR AND I PLAY THE TUBA AND I'M GOING TO IOWA STATE THIS FALL.
I'M JACKSON WILLIAMS. I'M A SENIOR.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE TROMBONE CHOIR AND I'M GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS THIS FALL.
ALL RIGHT, AND OUR WINTER GUARD STATE QUALIFIERS. SO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ALSO INTRODUCING OUR VARSITY WINTER GUARD.
[00:40:02]
AN INTERESTING TIDBIT, THERE ARE 12 PERFORMERS ON THE VARSITY TEAM, AND 11 OF THEM ARE SENIORS.AND MARY ANN, WHO YOU'LL MEET SHORTLY, IS OUR LONE JUNIOR.
SO SHE'S GOING TO TAKE US INTO NEXT YEAR, NICE AND STRONG.
SO THE WINTERGARD CIRCUIT IS, THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT CIRCUITS AROUND THE STATE.
THE CIRCUIT WE COMPETE AGAINST SERVICES THE HOUSTON AREA, EVERYTHING BETWEEN HOUSTON AND AUSTIN, AND DOWN INTO THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 350 WINTER GUARD TEAMS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS, DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS.
FOR OUR CLASSIFICATION, SCHOLASTIC NATIONAL A, THERE ARE ABOUT 70 IN THE CIRCUIT.
AND THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ON AT THE STATE COMPETITION, WHICH WAS AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, WHEN WAS THAT, APRIL? APRIL 18TH, EARNED FIFTH PLACE IN OUR ROUND, SO WE'RE VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE SUCCESS.
AND THE VARSITY AND THE JV TEAM PERFORMED AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL PEP RALLY THIS YEAR, SO IF YOU WERE AT ONE OF THOSE PEP RALLIES, YOU GOT TO SEE A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT THEY DO.
IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ROUTINE.
BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD AND PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THIS GROUP.
AND WE TRADITIONALLY DO PRETTY WELL IN THIS ACTIVITY, SO I'M VERY HAPPY FOR THESE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT TRADITION GOING.
SAME THING, NAME, GRADE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I'M A SENIOR, AND I'M GOING TO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY THIS FALL.
OKAY, OUR LAST STUDENT RECOGNITION THIS EVENING IS OUR THEATRICAL DESIGN.
I'M THE TECHNICAL THEATER DIRECTOR OVER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE HAVE BEEN COMPETING IN THEATRICAL DESIGN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
AND I'VE GOT LILA BARTRAM HERE, WHO HAS, SHE TOOK THIRD PLACE THIS YEAR.
WE COMPETED ON SATURDAY IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND SHE TOOK THIRD PLACE, WHICH IS A HUGE STEP UP IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SHE TOOK FOURTH PLACE AND FOURTH PLACE, AND LAST YEAR WAS ALSO A PART OF A GROUP DESIGN TEAM THAT TOOK FIRST PLACE AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
SHE COMPETED IN THE INDIVIDUAL SET DESIGN CONTEST.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THEATRICAL DESIGN.
UIL PICKS A PLAY OR MUSICAL AND GIVES US A PROMPT TO DESIGN TO.
AND THE ENTIRE STATE IS DESIGNING FOR THE SAME SCRIPT.
IN THE FIRST ROUND, WE SUBMIT DIGITALLY AND WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST...
AT THE 6A LEVEL PROBABLY 300 PLUS DIFFERENT ENTRIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
AND FROM THAT IT GOT WHITTLED DOWN TO 20 ENTRIES THAT WENT TO THE ACTUAL STATE COMPETITION AT AUSTIN ISD PAC THIS PAST WEEKEND.
AND SHE TOOK THIRD PLACE, SO SHE'S PRETTY TOP NOTCH.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2006.
I COMPETED IN THE SECOND ONE IN 2007, SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT LEGACY STILL GOING ON.
BUT YEAH, SHE'S PRETTY AWESOME, AND I'LL LET HER SAY A COUPLE THINGS.
HI, I'VE BEEN IN THE THEATER DEPARTMENT FOR ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT'S GIVEN ME SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES,
[00:45:02]
AS YOU CAN SEE.AND I'M GOING TO BE GOING TO COLLEGE FOR SET DESIGN AT THE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IN CINCINNATI.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF ANNOUNCING AND RECOGNIZING OUR 2025-2026 RETIREES.
AND SO WE WILL START WITH SYCAMORE SPRINGS ELEMENTARY'S MEG COE.
MEG HAS BEEN HERE WITH THE DSISD FOR TWO YEARS AND HAS 20 YEARS IN EDUCATION.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE MISS ANGELA FRANKHAUSER FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ANGELA HAS 30 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN AS A TIGER.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHELLE GILPIN FROM ROOSTER SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
MICHELLE HAS 15 YEARS IN EDUCATION, 3 WITH DSISD.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. KEVIN HANEY FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
KEVIN HAS SPENT ALL 11 YEARS HERE AT DSISD.
NEXT WE HAVE MS. JEN HAVLIN FROM SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
JEN HAS 20 YEARS IN EDUCATION, 9 IN DSISD.
NEXT WE HAVE BEAU HENRY FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
MR. HENRY HAS 18 YEARS IN DSISD AND 18 IN EDUCATION.
NEXT WE HAVE NANCY HENRY FROM OUR SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
NANCY HAS 45 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND 25 OF THOSE WITH DSISD.
NEXT, FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE MARY BETH HUNDLE.
MARY BETH HAS 21 YEARS IN EDUCATION, 18 OF THOSE AT DSISD.
NEXT, FROM WALNUT SPRINGS ELEMENTARY, MAUREEN JAMAIL.
MAUREEN HAS 22 YEARS IN EDUCATION WITH 20 OF THOSE AS A TIGER.
STEPHANIE LOVE IS OUR NEXT RETIREE FROM OUR LEARNING AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.
STEPHANIE HAS 23 YEARS AT DSISD AND 37 IN EDUCATION.
FROM SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE ELIZA LOYOLA.
ELIZA HAS 28 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND TWO AT DSISD.
NEXT, WE HAVE NANCY MARFIN FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
NANCY HAS 29 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND 24 OF THOSE AT DSISD.
NEXT, MS. PAULA MATTHEWS FROM THE LEARNING AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.
PAULA HAS 21 YEARS IN DSISD AND 35 IN EDUCATION.
[00:50:05]
NEXT, WE HAVE MELISSA MCALPIN FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.MELISSA HAS 29 YEARS IN EDUCATION AND TWO OF THOSE WITH DSISD.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. JOE MONTGOMERY FROM OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.
JOE HAS 17 YEARS IN EDUCATION, ALL 17 OF THOSE HERE AS A TIGER.
NEXT WE HAVE CHRISTINA MOTT FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
CHRISTINA HAS 27 YEARS IN EDUCATION, FOUR OF THOSE AT DSISD.
NEXT FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, LAURA MURPHY.
LAURA HAS SPENT ALL 11 YEARS OF HER EDUCATION AT DSISD.
NEXT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE RENEE RODRIGUEZ.
SENOR RODRIGUEZ HAS 16 YEARS IN EDUCATION, NINE OF THOSE AT DSISD.
NEXT WE HAVE MS. PEGGY SIMMONS.
MS. PEGGY HAS SPENT FOUR YEARS IN DSISD AND 23 IN EDUCATION.
NEXT WE HAVE MARTHA VERGARA FROM WALNUT SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
MARTHA HAS 21 YEARS IN EDUCATION, 15 OF THOSE AT DSISD.
NEXT FROM OUR SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE RANDY WEST.
BRANDI HAS SPENT 20 YEARS IN DSISD AND NOW IS 20 IN EDUCATION.
AND WE HAVE KIRBY WILLIAMS FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
KIRBY HAS SIX YEARS AT DSISD AND 21 IN EDUCATION.
ALL IN ALL IN THIS GROUP, NOT INCLUDING DR.
MORSE-KUNTZ, WE HAVE 286 YEARS OF SERVICE IN DSISD AND 544 YEARS OF SELFLESS DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS IN EDUCATION.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THE CLASSROOM PICTURE TAKING, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET ON TWO ROWS AND FIND A WINDOW.
[00:55:53]
THANK YOU ALL[6. LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT]
FOR YOUR SERVICE.WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT.
FIRST WAS OUR TAXPAYER TUESDAY.
KIM? YEAH THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
WE TOURED THE CAMPUS WITH A COUPLE OF STUDENT LEADERS AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB SHOWING US AROUND.
THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS ACTUALLY A DISPLAY OF ALL THEIR ARTWORK IN THE GYM.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEIR ART TEACHER THIS YEAR, IT'S HER FIRST YEAR TO TEACH ART.
THE FAVORITE THING THAT THESE KIDS DISPLAYED IN THIS GYM WAS THEIR CLAY PROJECTS.
THEN SCOTT DID A GREAT JOB ON A DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT.
WE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD TURNOUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE I HAD NOT SEEN ATTENDING THE EVENT ASKED SOME GREAT QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THEY...
TOOK A GLIMPSE INTO OUR FUTURE, SO GREAT JOB, SCOTT.
NEXT WAS OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL.
WE WERE ALL THERE, WHICH WAS LOVELY.
MARY JANE, SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS.
RENEWED APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK OF LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE WHEN WE WERE MOVING FROM OLD ADMIN TO HERE AND YOU JUST SAW A LOT OF THAT REFLECTED IT MADE IT ALL THE MORE SPECIAL SO THANK YOU BUT I JUST THOUGHT YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AND THEN OLIVIA YOU WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE 18 PLUS GRADUATION KIND OF SAD MR. WEST HAS LEFT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF A REALLY, I THINK, BIG LOSS FOR THE DISTRICT AND FOR THE PROGRAM.
THIS WAS MY FOURTH OR FIFTH YEAR TO ATTEND.
EVERY YEAR I ENJOY IT SO INTIMATE, JUST MEETING THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THE PROGRAM.
WE HAD TWO GRADUATES THIS YEAR THAT WILL BE GOING ON AND STAYING LOCAL AND WORKING LOCAL.
SO IT WAS GREAT JUST TO MEET THEIR FAMILIES AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM AND HEAR FROM THE JOB COACHES AND THE TEACHERS AND THE DIRECTOR.
OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE PROGRAM.
THERE WAS A WONDERFUL ANALOGY, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SHARING VERY QUICKLY, IT WAS VERY LONG, ABOUT WINNING THE LOTTERY AND JUST COMING BACK TO HOW BLESSED WE ARE THAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS THESE KIDS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFE SKILLS.
THIS WAS SENIOR RECOGNITIONS? WAS THIS TRUST? WHAT WAS, WHAT IS THIS? IS THIS ALL THE THINGS? THERE WAS LOTS OF THINGS.
OKAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'LL JUST GO START FROM THE TOP LEFT AND WE'LL GO AROUND.
MARY JANE? I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER BASED ON WHAT I'M WEARING WHICH ONE THAT WAS.
OKAY, YES, I JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS A CHART BECAUSE IT'S IN MY LIFETIME ON THIS BOARD THAT WE HAD OUR VERY FIRST ONE.
SO I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE THAT TIMELINE AT SOME POINT, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT MY SON WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR, THE NASEM CERTIFICATION HAS RESULTED IN A FANTASTIC JOB FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
SO I'M JUST SO THRILLED THAT THESE STUDENTS HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
KIM, OLIVIA? YEAH, THE CTE CEREMONY WAS GREAT.
HEALTH CARE SEEMS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE NUMBER OF CERTIFICATIONS.
THEIR PROGRAM IS JUST, THEY COULDN'T EVEN FIT ON THE STAGE.
BOTTOM LEFT, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT LITTLE BITTY PICTURE,
[01:00:03]
THAT WAS STEEL DRUMS. AND THEY PLAY, THE PERCUSSION IN THE BAND PLAYED A PERFORMANCE AT SALT LICK, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY.WE DON'T HAVE STEEL DRUMS HERE.
THESE ARE BORROWED DRUMS. THESE TWO GENTLEMEN IN THE PICTURE WITH ME CAME AND WORKED WITH THESE STUDENTS, AND HE SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN SUCH MOTIVATION IN A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AS OUR KIDS WHEN THEY LEARNED THESE PIECES THAT THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T EVEN GET THE EQUIPMENT UNTIL AFTER SPRING BREAK.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THEY BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN AT SALT LAKE.
PEOPLE, NOBODY WANTED TO EAT INSIDE.
EVERYBODY WANTED TO EAT OUTSIDE AND LISTEN TO THE BAND.
THE NEXT ONE WAS BASEBALL SEND-OFF.
VERY WINDY DAY, BUT A LOT OF FUN.
WE CHEERED ON THE SOFTBALL AND THE BASEBALL TEAM THERE.
AND THEN THAT SENIOR AWARDS CEREMONY IS THAT LITTLE ONE IN THE MIDDLE.
THOSE WERE, I CANNOT BELIEVE, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE EARNED IN SCHOLARSHIPS.
LIKE 95% OF THE CEREMONY WAS SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN TO THE SENIORS OF THIS.
AMAZING, AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SO MANY KIDS GOING OUT OF STATE, PURSUING THEIR DREAMS. YOU KNOW, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR THESE KIDS.
THE VOLUNTEER HOURS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE PUT IN, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK AND THEN THE ONE ON THE END WAS THE FINE ARTS SIGNING CEREMONY ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT.
AND I GUESS MY FAVORITE ONE WAS A HIGH STEPPER.
MY DAUGHTER WAS A HIGH STEPPER, AND SHE TRIED OUT FOR A DANCE TEAM FOR A COLLEGE IN OHIO, AND IT IS THE NUMBER ONE DANCE TEAM, D1 IN THE NATION, AND SHE QUALIFIED AND MADE THEIR TEAM AND GOING ON A SCHOLARSHIP TO DANCE THERE.
THAT'S JUST A SNIPPET OF THESE 12 PEOPLE AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT, MAN, ARE WE PROUD TO SEND THIS CLASS OUT INTO THE WORLD.
LOTS OF EVENTS BEING END OF THE YEAR.
AND I WANT TO GIVE ONE SHOUT OUT TO OUR AWESOME BASEBALL TEAM.
THAT WAS ME WITH PRINCIPAL GAMAS IN MAY WEARING A SNOW CAP.
BUT THEY ARE STILL IN IT TO WIN IT AND PLAYING THIS WEEKEND, I THINK, FOR THE REGIONAL.
AND TOP LEFT IS ME WITH MY LITTLE GUY, FOURTH GRADER.
I JUST, I,I, INCLUDED THIS OF ALL THE MILLION OF ACTIVITIES I'VE GONE THROUGH FOR MY KIDS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING MOST OF OUR CAMPUSES, IF NOT ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, DO.
AND I JUST LOVE THE INTERWEAVING OF THE SIMILAR CURRICULAR ITEMS FOR FOURTH GRADERS IN PARTICULAR.
THIS IS THE FAMOUS TEXANS PROJECT, AND IT'S JUST COOL FROM CAMPUS TO CAMPUS HOW THINGS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT STILL REALLY SIMILAR TRADITIONS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THE PICTURE ON TOP IS FROM FOUNDERS DAY, A NEW ORGANIZATION CALLED COMMUNITY HEART AND SOUL.
IT'S JUST GETTING STARTED, AND WE HAD POSTCARDS THAT SAY, WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT DRIPPING SPRINGS? AND THIS YOUNG GUY WROTE THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE STUDENT-LED, WHICH BLEW ME AWAY, AND THEN DAD GAVE PERMISSION TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIS KIDDO.
AND RIGHT BELOW THAT WAS THE JOHN PHILIP SOUSA AWARD CEREMONY.
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED THE SOUTHER SHIELD.
AND A PHENOMENAL HONOR FOR THIS PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE WE WERE ONE OF THREE IN THE LARGE DIVISION.
LOOKING AT A BAND MOM IN THE AUDIENCE.
JUST A PHENOMENAL BAND PROGRAM.
WELL SPEAKING OF BAND, THE ONE THERE IN THE BOTTOM WITH KIM AND HOLLY.
OH DO YOU HAVE, WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU THEN? YOU'RE ON THE END.
WE GOT TO GO TO NIGHT OF JAZZ, WHICH WAS, OH MY GOODNESS, INCREDIBLE.
MY SON IS IN THE SIXTH GRADE JAZZ BAND.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE KIDS, WHETHER THEY'RE BEGINNING OR THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.
THEY'RE JUST AT ANOTHER LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.
AND REALLY IMPRESSED WITH SYCAMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS AN EIGHTH GRADE KIND OF EMERGING JAZZ.
AND THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.
AND BY THE WAY, THE COMMUNITY PACKED THAT EVENT OUT AT THE CANYONWOOD.
A COMMUNITY OF ALL OF OUR DEALS, WHETHER IT'S BASEBALL ON THE ROAD OR FOOTBALL OR THE ARTS, ET CETERA.
AND THEN LAST, SPEAKING OF BASEBALL, ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE, THOSE ARE THE 11TH, 5TH, AND 6TH GRADERS THAT ARE GOING TO GET TO REPRESENT THE DRIP AND THE DS IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK IN JUNE.
THAT OLD FART IN THE BACK IS ME.
I'M IN MY LAST SEASON OF COACHING SELECT BASEBALL.
[01:05:02]
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE.YOU JUST KNOW, DRIP AND SPRINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF 12-YEAR-OLDS UP IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK, REPRESENTING THE TIGER MARINE.
WITH ALICE, YOU MAKE US PUT ON THESE COOPERSTOWN JERSEYS.
BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'LL BE WEARING OUR DRIP SWAG QUITE A BIT.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
AND WITH THAT, MY COLLEAGUE, SHANDA, PLEASE, WILL YOU TAKE IT AWAY? MY FAMILY WENT TO THE DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE OF BYE BYE BIRDIE.
AND AS ALWAYS, KIND OF THE SAME SENTIMENT ALL AROUND US, THAT THE TALENT OF THE KIDS JUST IS MIND-BLOWING.
AND SO THEY RAN FOR THREE DAYS, AND THEY WORKED SO HARD LEADING UP TO IT.
UNTIL THEY STAY AFTER SCHOOL AND THEY'RE THERE SOMETIMES UNTIL 9, 9.30.
AND IT'S JUST REMARKABLE HOW MUCH DEDICATION AND TIME THAT THEY PUT INTO IT.
AND THEN BOTTOM RIGHT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD FARMER'S MARKET AT CYPRESS SPRINGS.
AND THESE KIDS HAVE THEIR OWN GARDEN AND SHOWED UP ON A FRIDAY MORNING.
AND I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING UNTIL THEY EXPLAINED EACH ITEM TO ME.
WAS IT EASY TO GROW? WOULD IT DIE? IF IT LIVED, WHAT WOULD I SERVE IT WITH? THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANY OF THESE ITEMS. THEY STARTED WITH A GRANT FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND THEY HAVE JUST TAKEN OFF WITH IT.
AND I GOT A BAG OF TOMATOES, AND I GOT A LITTLE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THESE KIDS ARE DOING, AND THEY'RE SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES, AND I JUST LOVE WATCHING THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.
KIM, I'LL START WITH YOU FOR ANY LIAISON OR SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES.
FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS EDUCATION FOUNDATION, I KIND OF WANT TO GIVE A HIGHLIGHT OVERVIEW OF THEIR YEAR.
SO I'VE JUST GOT SOME THINGS TO GO OVER HERE THAT BEN INGRAM WANTED ME TO CONVEY TO EVERYONE THE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DSIC, THE ED FOUNDATION, HAS MADE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON STAFF AND STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
THEY WANT TO THANK THE DONORS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR THE INCREDIBLY GENEROUS SUPPORT THIS YEAR AND THEY'RE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY.
IN TOTAL, THEY DISTRIBUTED $338,000 FOR THE BENEFIT OF TRIPPING SPRINGS ISD IN 25-26.
THIS IS THROUGH ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS, THE INNOVATIVE TEACHING GRANTS, STUDENT LEADERSHIP GRANTS, HOPE SQUAD, THE BRIDGE PROGRAM, TEACHER RETENTION EFFORTS, ALL THE THINGS, THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY DO.
THEIR ANNUAL EVENTS THIS YEAR INCLUDED THE SCHOOLHOUSE SCRAMBLE GOLF TOURNAMENT, THE HEART OF THE TIGER GALA, AND CLAYS FOR CLASSROOMS. AND SO...
THE BIGGEST UPDATE THAT THEY WANT TO GET ACROSS IS THEY'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO HIRE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOUNDATION.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY REVIEWING APPLICATIONS.
THE EMAIL ADDRESS, IF ANYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO YOU CAN REFER FOR THAT POSITION OR YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT POSITION, IS ADMIN AT DSEDUCATIONFOUNDATION.ORG.
THEY ARE ALSO WORKING HARD ON SETTING UP ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR WITH BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND THERE ARE OTHER THREE MAJOR EVENTS FROM THIS YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR.
BEN HAD A LITTLE STATEMENT THAT HE WANTED FOR ME TO SAY.
SO HE SAID, AS WE CLOSE OUT THE YEAR, I WANT TO AGAIN SAY THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF HAVING ME SPEAK AT THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD.
HE REALLY WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
IS IT SILLY TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY, I WAS REALLY HONORED TO DO THAT? AND I WAS LIKE, NO, THAT'S REALLY GREAT.
HE SAID, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE DSEF BOARD, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THEIR CLOSEOUT.
I'VE GOT SIMILAR FOR THE COUNCIL OF PTA.
THEY HOSTED FOUR TIGER TALKS THIS YEAR, WHICH THEY'RE REALLY PROUD OF, TOPICS LIKE NUTRITION, BULLYING, KINDNESS, AND USING SOCIAL MEDIA WISELY.
WE CLOSED OUT THE YEAR WITH A DISTRICT RECORD OF 03,408 PTA MEMBERS, SO THAT'S BIG.
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM ADVANCED THROUGH THE LOCAL COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL, OR THE, SORRY, HER SCHOOL COUNCIL.
THE PTA COUNCIL TO STATE TO NATIONALS AND WHERE SHE WON A NATIONAL PTA AWARD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC COMPOSITION THAT WAS A BIG BIG DEAL MOST
[01:10:01]
RECENTLY THEY HOSTED TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND SHARED THE LOVE WITH 160 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES THEY PROVIDED A BARBECUE BAKED POTATO BAR FROM PIGPEN AND ICED TEA FROM HTO.HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR, THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST TIGER TALK IN PRELIMINARY PLANNING, AND THEY'RE HOPING TO SEE THAT THAT SERIES CONTINUES TO GROW.
EACH SCHOOL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST ONE OF THOSE.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET INVOLVED AND GET ENGAGED.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, NOT MINE, CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ, HE IS THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF PTAS.
HE SAID HE IS AT THE END OF HIS SECOND YEAR SERVING ON THE COUNCIL, HE IS EXCEEDINGLY PROUD OF THE TEAM AND OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DID.
MATT WALKER WILL BE TAKING ON THE ROLE AS PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR.
HE SAYS THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT, AND HE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW THINGS THAT THE PTA BOARD ACCOMPLISHES.
[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
ALL RIGHT.OKAY, NEXT IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES COMMENTS ABOUT THE DISTRICT FROM RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT, FROM DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, OR FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
EACH PRESENTATION CAN BE NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES PER PERSON OR SIX MINUTES FOR A PERSON USING A TRANSLATOR.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS OR CRITICISMS CIVIL AND COURTEOUS, EXCEPT FOR THE SPEAKER STUDENT.
NO OTHER STUDENT'S NAME OR IDENTITY SHOULD BE DISCUSSED.
IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE HEARD AND RESOLVED, PLEASE PRESENT YOUR CONCERN THROUGH THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE POLICIES.
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.
THIS MEANS THAT BOARD MEMBERS ARE UNABLE TO DELIBERATE, ASK QUESTIONS, PROVIDE YOU WITH A RESPONSE, OR TAKE ANY ACTION RELATED TO YOUR COMMENTS.
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 THE 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.
SPEAKERS SHALL BE HEARD ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS AND ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RELINQUISH TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
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.
PLEASE NO APPLAUSE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? I AM JACKSON LUCK AND NEXT TO ME IS SABRINA.
WE ARE BOTH RISING SEVENTH GRADERS AT SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGH SCHOOL NAMING AND BRANDING COMMITTEE AND I HAVE SKIPPED BASEBALL, WHICH SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY ENJOY.
I HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES AT THE MEETINGS TO BE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
I ALSO HEARD THAT WE ARE A STUDENT-LED DISTRICT.
I WAS, OH, WE SPENT HOURS CHOOSING A NAME, COLORS, AND MASCOT UNTIL THE LAST MEETING WHEN THE BOARD CHANGED THE RULES AND PUT LIMITATIONS ON OUR CREATIVITY.
STUDENTS WANT A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, NOT A COPYCAT OF DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ARE THE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WOLVES AND THE COLORS ARE NAVY, GOLD, WHITE, AND BLACK.
THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS WHO WANT THIS.
I HAVE A PETITION OF SIGNATURES HERE FROM MY MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO ALL WANT TO CHANGE THEIR OWN SCHOOL IDENTITY.
THESE ARE ALL STUDENTS THAT WANT THE DRIFTWOOD WOLVES AND THERE ARE OVER 80 STUDENTS WHO WANT TO CHANGE.
AND THESE ARE NOT, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL.
THE SURVEYS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
51% OF PEOPLE SAID NO TO THE TIGER MASCOT.
54% SAID THAT THEY WANT A TEXAS INSPIRED MASCOT.
46% SAID THAT THEY WANT A UNIQUE MASCOT.
744 PEOPLE SAID THAT THE NAME SHOULD BE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
62% DO NOT WANT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL COLORS TO BE MAROON AND GOLD.
IN OUR 60-PERSON COMMITTEE MEETING, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANTED THE NAME TO BE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
IF WE ARE REALLY COMMUNITY-LED, THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LOGICALLY, THEN IT SHOULD BE EASY TO DECIDE.
IN FACT, THE WHOLE WEBSITE AND SURVEY DATA ARE SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WOLVES.
NOW, YOU MAY BE WONDERING, WHY DO WE LIKE THE WOLVES OVER A STALLION, TIGER, OR DIAMONDBACK? UNLIKE THE OTHER ANIMALS, WOLVES LIVE TOGETHER IN A PACK, JUST LIKE US STUDENTS AT DRIPPING SPRINGS.
ALL SNAKES ARE SNEAKY AND MISCHIEVOUS.
WOLVES ARE NOBLE, COURAGEOUS, AND STRATEGIC ANIMALS.
THEY LOOK OUT FOR THEIR YOUNG THE WAY OLDER STUDENTS IN EACH
[01:15:01]
OF MY SCHOOLS HAVE HELPED ME.OUR SCHOOL NEWSPAPER COULD BE CALLED THE HOWLER, OUR LOCKER ROOM COULD BE CALLED THE WOLF DEN, AND SPORTS TEAMS COULD CALL THEMSELVES THE PACK WHEN GETTING HYPED UP FOR A GAME.
WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO THINK OF GREAT IDEAS FOR OUR FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL.
IT FELT GOOD TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS, AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOW MY FRIENDS AND I ARE GOING TO LEARN WHAT BEING STUDENT-LED ACTUALLY MEANS TO THE BOARD AND WHEN WE USE OUR VOICE TO SPEAK UP.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
WE DO LOVE OUR STUDENTS SPEAKING AND JACKSON, I LOVE YOUR HEART AND YOUR SERVICE.
I SAW YOU AT ALL THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
PLEASE LET'S KEEP OUR VOICES DOWN AND CHEERS DOWN.
I KNOW WE'RE VERY HAPPY FOR OUR STUDENTS, SO PLEASE NO APPLAUSE OR INCREDIBLE COMMENT.
I WILL SAY FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON THAT IS LISTED AS ACTION IS OUR NAME.
WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON ALL OF THE BRANDING DECISIONS, BUT WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY ACTION ON ANYTHING POTENTIALLY OTHER THAN THE NAME TONIGHT.
NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM SARAH MATT.
I'M THE PARENT OF A FUTURE STUDENT AT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M NEW TO THE AREA TOO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE THOUGHTFUL WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS SO FAR, NOT ONLY FROM THIS GROUP BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY GROUP TOO.
AND I JUST, AS AN OUTSIDER KIND OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS FROM THE FIRST TIME, I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT WE THINK.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT NAMING THE SCHOOL DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND GIVING IT ITS OWN COLORS AND MASCOT AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT THAT WE ARE SEPARATE FROM THE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I THINK STUDENTS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD PRIDE AND TRADITIONS AND AN IDENTITY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE JUST AS STRONGLY THAT THE DSISD CAN UNITE BOTH SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS THROUGH SHARED VALUES, SHARED TRADITIONS, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS TEXAS THAT LIVE YOU KNOW, WITHIN ISDS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE THIS MODEL HAS WORKED WELL.
IN FRISCO ISD, PROSPER ISD, KATY ISD, AND CONROE ISD ALL HAVE MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS WITH DIFFERENT MASCOTS, COLORS, AND TRADITIONS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A STRONG DISTRICT UNITY AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.
AND I THINK THAT THOSE DISTINCT IDENTITIES OFTEN STRENGTHEN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE STUDENTS FEEL OWNERSHIP AND CONNECTION TO THEIR CAMPUS.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE DSISD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE VERY SAME.
OUR KIDS WILL STILL GROW UP TOGETHER, WILL COMPETE TOGETHER, PERFORM TOGETHER, AND GRADUATE TOGETHER AS PART OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD.
AND I THINK ONE COMMUNITY, TWO TRADITIONS, SHARED VALUES.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN FULLY EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A SECOND GREAT HIGH SCHOOL THAT HONORS BOTH INDIVIDUALITY AND UNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT ON THE SURVEY.
I FEEL LIKE IT KIND OF WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE TOO EARLY BEFORE THERE WAS MORE INFORMATION TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON.
AND WITHOUT HAVING A FULL, COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE COMMUNITY PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE, AS WELL AS THE PROCESS INTERNALLY, THAT COULD, WHERE YOU COULD SURVEY MORE CONCRETE QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF...
YEAH, BUT IT KIND OF SEEMED LIKE TO ME THAT IT TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE PROCESS AND BEFORE A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO WHAT THE POTENTIAL COULD BE.
AND NOW WHEN THERE'S MORE INFORMATION, PERHAPS IT MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT RESULTS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS.
AND THIS IS GRAYSON, THE FUTURE STUDENT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALRIGHT, HI, MY NAME IS KELLYN BLOUNT.
I'M A PARENT AND A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE NAME DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
I FIRST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY AND HONESTLY WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE THIS IS.
VERY FEW SCHOOL BOARDS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE THE IDENTITY OF A BRAND NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE NOW WILL HELP DEFINE TRADITIONS, MEMORIES, AND COMMUNITY PRIDE FOR GENERATIONS
[01:20:01]
OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.AND I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN A VERY CLEAR SIGNAL ABOUT THE IDENTITY THAT RESONATES MOST DEEPLY WITH THEM.
TO START, BASED ON THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, DRIFTWOOD AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS RECEIVED 744 WRITE-IN RECOMMENDATIONS AS THE PREFERRED NAME.
THAT'S MEANINGFUL BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT SIMPLY CHOOSING FROM A LIST, THEY WERE PERSONALLY WRITING IN THE NAME DRIFTWOOD.
THAT REFLECTS A GENUINE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND BRAND POWER.
WHAT'S ALSO REMARKABLE IS THAT THE NAMING COMMITTEE ULTIMATELY ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION.
A GROUP OF 60 PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS REVIEWED THE DATA, DISCUSSED THE OPTIONS, AND ULTIMATELY ALIGNED UNDERFOOT HIGH SCHOOL AS THEIR NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION.
IN TODAY'S WORLD, THAT KIND OF CONSENSUS IS SO RARE, AND I THINK IT DESERVES REAL CONSIDERATION.
I ALSO WANT TO GENTLY ADDRESS THE IDEA THAT NAMING THE SCHOOL DRIFTWOOD SOMEHOW SEPARATES IT FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS OR WEAKENS THE DISTRICT'S BRAND IDENTITY.
I TRULY BELIEVE THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
THESE STUDENTS WILL STILL PROUDLY BE A PART OF DSISD.
NAMING THE SCHOOL AFTER THE ACTUAL TOWN AND COMMUNITY WHERE IT EXISTS DOES NOT DIVIDE THE DISTRICT.
IT HONORS THE FULL IDENTITY OF THE DISTRICT.
AFTER ALL, DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER THE TOWN IT RESIDES IN.
DRIFTWOOD SHOULD BE AFFORDED THAT SAME DIGNITY AND AUTHENTICITY.
AND HONESTLY, THE NATURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN DRIP AND DRIFT IS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.
DRIFTWOOD IS A REAL PLACE WITH REAL ROOTS AND A REAL IDENTITY IN THE HILL COUNTRY.
BY COMPARISON, NAMES LIKE SYCAMORE OR CYPRESS FEEL LESS ROOTED IN PLACE AND HISTORY.
AND I WORRY THAT IT UNINTENTIONALLY CREATES A DYNAMIC WHERE THIS NEW SCHOOL WILL ALWAYS FEEL SECONDARY.
RATHER THAN ALLOWING STUDENTS TO FULLY BUILD PRIDE AND TRADITION AROUND AN IDENTITY THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC AND LONG-LASTING.
AND IMPORTANTLY, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE DISTRICT ITSELF HAS TO LOSE COHESION OR REBRAND.
THERE ARE THOUGHTFUL WAYS TO MAINTAIN A UNIFIED DISTRICT IDENTITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, CONTINUING ELEMENTS LIKE A MASCOT WITH A PAW, WHICH YOU GUYS OUTLINED, AND THE COLOR GOLD, WHICH ALREADY REPRESENTS EXCELLENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, TRADITION, AND SHARED PRIDE ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.
GOLD ALSO PAIRS BEAUTIFULLY WITH JEWEL TONES LIKE MAROON AND NAVY, A COLOR CHOICE BY THE COMMITTEE INSPIRED BY THE FACT THAT DRIFTWOOD IS A DARK SKY COMMUNITY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DECISION IS BIGGER THAN BRANDING.
IT'S ABOUT GIVING FUTURE STUDENTS A NAME AND AN IDENTITY THAT CAN TRULY CONNECT TO THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IS THE STRONGEST, MOST AUTHENTIC, MOST LASTING, AND ULTIMATELY MOST UNIFYING IDENTITY AVAILABLE TO THE DISTRICT.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, A PARENT, AND A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THOUGHT THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING INTO NAMING HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER TWO.
HOWEVER, I KEEP HEARING YOU GUYS MENTION IN THE AGENDA MEETING AND OTHER PLACES THAT YOU'RE BALANCING 150 YEARS OF TRADITION IN REGARDS TO USING DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT SPRINGS.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT NARRATIVE IS SOMEWHAT MISLEADING.
THE DISTRICT THAT BEGAN 150 YEARS AGO WAS HAYES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 10, NOT DRIPPING SPRINGS.
FOURTEEN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAME TOGETHER TO FORM THE DRIPPING SPRINGS RURAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE DSISD WE KNOW TODAY DID NOT OFFICIALLY EXIST UNTIL 1950.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SPRINGS NAMING CONVENTION IS NOT A CENTURY-OLD TRADITION.
IT BEGAN IN 2007 WITH WALNUT SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
THE FIRST SCHOOL TO ADOPT THIS NAMING PATTERN OUTSIDE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPER WAS ROOSTER SPRINGS IN 2008.
I MOVED TO DRIPPING SPRINGS IN 2007, SO I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 20 YEARS.
AND BY MOST STANDARDS, I'M NOT CONSIDERED OLD DRIP.
THAT MEANS THAT THIS NAMING TRADITION IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AGE AS MY OWN TIME IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF THE GOAL IS TO TRULY HONOR 150 YEARS OF DISTRICT HISTORY, THEN I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO LOOK BEYOND THIS RECENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NAMING PATTERN THANK YOU.
AND INSTEAD RECOGNIZE THE ACTUAL HISTORIC COMMUNITIES THAT BUILT THIS DISTRICT.
DRIFTWOOD SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED BEHIND THE METHODIST CHURCH IN 1905.
MOUNT GAYNOR SCHOOL OPENED IN 1906.
[01:25:01]
BACK TO 1886.HENLEY AND PERTINALLIS FALLS ALSO HAD EARLY SCHOOLS SERVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE 1880S.
THOSE NAMES REPRESENT REAL PLACES.
REAL HISTORY AND REAL COMMUNITIES THAT HELPED FORM THIS DISTRICT LONG BEFORE THE RECENT GROWTH ERA.
STUDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THEY WANT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL TO HAVE A TRUE IDENTITY TIED TO A RECOGNIZABLE PLACE.
A HIGH SCHOOL NAME FOLLOWS STUDENTS TO COMPETITIONS, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, RESUMES AND ALUMNI CONNECTIONS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
A HIGH SCHOOL DESERVES MORE WEIGHT AND CONSIDERATION.
THAN SIMPLY EXTENDING A NAMING PATTERN CREATED LESS THAN 20 YEARS AGO FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DURING RAPID EXPANSION PLEASE HONOR THE DEEPER HISTORY OF THIS DISTRICT AND THE HISTORIC COMMUNITIES WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES BY CHOOSING DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL A NAME WITH TRUE ROOTS IDENTITY AND MEANING THANK YOU THANK YOU NEXT IS FINIAN MAKEPEACE HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING THIS COMMENT.
I HAVE TWO KIDS GOING TO CYPRUS.
I MOVED TO THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND REALLY WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY, NOT JUST BY THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE WORK THAT EVERYONE HERE DOES TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST AREAS IN THE AUSTIN AREA, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS AREA IS INCREDIBLE.
ACTUALLY TODAY A FILM THE THIRD IN OUR TRILOGY, GROUNDSWELL, JUST WON THE GOLDEN GLOBE AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL.
I WANT TO TELL STORIES ABOUT THIS REGION, WORKING WITH THE DRIFTWOOD CO-OP, DRIFTWOOD GOLF COURSE, AND REALLY ALLOWING FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO BRING TO THE WORLD SOMETHING UNIQUE AND SHOW THAT.
I LOVE DRIPPING SPRINGS, AND I LOVE DRIFTWOOD, AND I THINK THE WORLD NEEDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO START TO SEE WHAT DRIFTWOOD IS AND WHAT THE BEGINNING OF HILL COUNTRY REALLY IS IN THIS AREA.
IT'S TRULY AMAZING AND I THINK THAT A SCHOOL THAT HOLDS THE NAME DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL REALLY DOES, AS SO MANY BEFORE ME HAVE SAID, HONORS THIS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
THIS REGION, I MAKE FILMS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, REGENERATIVE GRAZING.
THIS REGION IS HISTORICALLY AN INCREDIBLE GRAZING, AMAZING FARMS HERE.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AMAZING, ENERGETIC, BEAUTIFUL, SCENIC PLACE KEEPS ITS FORCE.
SO THIS HIGH SCHOOL, ADOPTING THE NAME DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, REALLY DOES ALLOW FOR THAT TO BE CEMENTED IN THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THE PRIDE TO REALLY EMERGE FOR WHAT DRIFTWOOD IS.
AS I SAID, MANY OF US HERE LOVE DRIFTWOOD.
DRIPPING SPRINGS, IT'S NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY.
I THINK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.
AND I THINK THAT THE WHOLE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OF EVERYONE PUTTING IN THEIR INPUT IS SHOWING THAT THIS REALLY DOES MATTER FOR THE COMMUNITY, REALLY DOES MATTER FOR THE KIDS.
SO THE NAME DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTFUL NOW AND FOR THE STORIES THAT ARE TOLD OF THIS REGION FOR DECADES TO COME.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JAMISON SALCEDA.
I AM A PROUD PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AT SYCAMORE SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND A NOW HOPEFULLY LIFETIME RESIDENT OF DRIFTWOOD.
I'LL LET MY DAUGHTER PENELOPE SPEAK HERE IN A SECOND, BUT THE ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO COMMUNICATE IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, COMPOUNDS ON WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS WE MOVED TO THIS DISTRICT IN 2020 AND SINCE IT...
I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE REALLY JUST SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER, THE SCHOOLS BEING STUDENT-LED AND HAVING THE SUPPORT OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU.
I WILL SAY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS CHOSEN FOR THE NAME, THE COLORS, THE MASCOT, I DON'T SEE THAT DISCONTINUING JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL INTRODUCE MY DAUGHTER.
I'M GOING TO THIRD GRADE AT SYCAMORE SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IN SCHOOL, WE ARE TAUGHT TO BE LEADERS, AND I BELIEVE THE NAME OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD BE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL COYOTES WITH NAVY AND GOLD COLORS.
[01:30:04]
HI, MY NAME IS BONNIE HICKMAN ROQUETTE.I INITIALLY MOVED TO DRIPPING SPRINGS 30 YEARS AGO IN 1996 AND I GRADUATED FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL IN 2004.
I'M NOW RAISING MY TWO KIDS HERE AND THEY WILL GRADUATE FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL IN 2036 AND 2038.
I AM ALSO A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND PTA BOARD MEMBER AT WALNUT SPRINGS AND A SOFTBALL COACH AND COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH DSYSA SOFTBALL.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT THERE WERE SOME REQUESTS FOR A BIT MORE INPUT FROM WEST SIDERS AND OLD TIMERS AND I BELIEVE I QUALIFY AS BOTH.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T JOIN THIS COMMITTEE.
INITIALLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS AS MUCH MY BUSINESS AS IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SEND KIDS THROUGH THIS SCHOOL.
BUT IF YOU WANT MY INPUT, HERE IT IS.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER THE TOWN WHERE IT IS LOCATED, JUST LIKE DSHS.
DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR CHOICE.
I ALSO LOVE THE PARALLEL DRIP AND DRIFT BRANDING.
I THINK THE UNIFYING COLOR SHOULD BE GOLD AND THE DISTINCTIVE COLOR SHOULD BE A JEWEL TONE LIKE NAVY OR DARK GREEN.
I DO NOT THINK THAT DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD ALSO BE THE TIGERS, BUT I'M FINE WITH THE PARAMETER TO KEEP A MASCOT WITH A PAW AS A UNIFIER.
I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE REMAIN AS ONE TOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN THROUGH THIS GROWTH, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOLERS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY.
YOU CAN SAY PRACHEL OR LIKE RACHEL WITH A P IN THE FRONT.
BUT ANYWAYS, I DON'T HAVE MUCH DIFFERENT TO SAY THAN WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY SAID SO WELL.
I WAS ON THE NAMING COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ALL THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SIT IN THIS EXACT ROOM.
60 PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS AROUND IT.
COME UP WITH A GOOD NAME AND BRAND TO RECOMMEND TO YOU.
I THINK YOU'LL HAVE AN ENORMOUS DECISION AHEAD.
I, TOO, SUPPORT DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT WAS MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO MUCH LONGER THAN THAT BECAUSE I ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID.
EVERYTHING I SAID WAS ON HERE.
BUT I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS YOU GO TO THE NEXT STEPS.
YOU'RE NOT MAKING A DECISION ON THE NAME TONIGHT.
SORRY, THE MASCOT AND THE COLORS.
ONE THING THAT YOU TOLD THE COMMITTEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMITTEE WAS DO NOT.
DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT WITH A PERCEIVED NOTION OF EXISTING BRANDING.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SLIDES THAT JENNIFER SHOWED US.
SO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE MASCOT AND THE COLORS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE.
DON'T BOX YOURSELF IN ON PERCEIVED LIMITATIONS OF BRANDING AND COLOR.
BUT ALSO, QUICK SHOUT OUT, THAT WAS MY SON IN ONE OF THE PICTURES.
THANK YOU, MARY JANE, FOR PUTTING THAT UP THERE.
I TOOK A PICTURE HE'S GONNA LOVE IT THANK YOU GUYS NEXT IS HOPE SADLER HI MY NAME IS HOPE SADLER I GO TO SYCAMORE SPRINGS OLYMPIC GRAPEFURS LET ME SAY THAT MY MOM LET ME WRITE THIS STATEMENT BUT THESE ARE 100% MY OWN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS I AM THE YOUNGEST OF FOUR GIRLS.
MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN DRIFTING SPRINGS FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS.
SO OBVIOUSLY I WAS BORN HERE SINCE I'M ONLY 11 YEARS OLD.
ONLY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, I FELT SAD.
I DIDN'T WANT THERE TO BE A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANTED TO GRADUATE FROM THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL AS ALL MY SISTERS GRADUATED FROM.
OVER TIME, I REALIZED I WOULD BE OKAY, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT FUN.
MY MOM HELPED ME GET EXCITED AND ENCOURAGED OUR FAMILY TO BRAINSTORM SOME NAMES, COLORS, AND MASCOTS
[01:35:02]
FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.OUR FAMILY TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT MASCOTS, SORRY, DIFFERENT, SORRY.
NAMES FOR A LONG TIME AND BY THE TIME OUR SURVEY CAME OUT WE DECIDED ON DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WRANGLERS BLACK AND GOLD AND THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED FOR.
WHEN LOOKING AT THE SURVEY WITH MY MOM I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO SEE TIGERS AND MAROON ARE BEING CONSIDERED AS OPTIONS FOR THE MASCOT AND COLORS.
I WONDER WHAT WE REALLY, I WONDER IF WE WOULD REALLY HAVE TWO SCHOOLS IN THE SAME TOWN WITH SIMILAR MASCOTS AND COLORS.
IT SEEMED SO BORING, ODD, AND CONFUSING.
I'M A HUGE FOOTBALL FAN, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN TWO SCHOOLS IN THE SAME TOWN WITH SO MANY SIMILARITIES.
I WAS BACK TO BEING SAD ABOUT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
I FELT LIKE IF ME AND MY FRIENDS WERE GOING TO BE FORCED TO GO TO A NEW HIGH SCHOOL, AND NOT WHERE OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS GRADUATED FROM, WOULD WE AT LEAST GET...
OUR OWN IDENTITY, NOT BE A COPYCAT OF THE OLD SCHOOL.
WE, THE KIDS OF THIS HIGH SCHOOL, WILL ALWAYS LOVE DRIPPING, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS AWESOME DISTRICT.
BUT WE ALSO FEEL WE DESERVE A STRONG NAME.
OUR IDENTITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE OUR OWN HISTORY AND TRADITIONS.
JUST LIKE THE KIDS AT DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
MY VOTE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL IS DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, NO SPRINGS, WRANGLERS, AND NAVY AND GO DRIFT, GO WRANGLERS.
OKAY, NEXT IS CATHERINE WILLIAMS. HOWDY Y'ALL, MY NAME IS KAT WILLIAMS AND I'M HERE WITH MY KIDS WHO ARE ROOSTER SPRINGS STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME, EFFORT, AND WISDOM YOU PUT INTO MAKING OUR DISTRICT GREAT.
ALSO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE TO HELP NAME OUR SECOND HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M SIXTH GENERATION TEXAN AND HERE MY CHILDREN WITH ME ARE SEVENTH GENERATION.
I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTH TEXAS WITH REAL STRONG TRADITIONS AND HAVE ALWAYS WANTED THE SAME FOR MY CHILDREN.
WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT A JOB IN AUSTIN WE LOOKED FOR A TOWN WITH THESE TRADITIONS.
AND AND WE FOUND IT HERE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS.
THE NAMING OF SCHOOLS AFTER SPRINGS IS NO SURPRISE TO THOSE MOVING HERE, BECAUSE WE ALL LOOKED AT SCHOOL NAMES AND RATINGS BEFORE COMING.
THE TRADITIONS OF SPRINGS AND SCHOOLS NAMES IS VERY CLEAR AND UPFRONT, AND ONE THAT WE PERSONALLY LOVE.
AS A VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT MUCH OF THE WORK VOLUNTEERS DO GOES UNTHANKED.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL NAMING COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD THAT CHANGING TRADITIONS THAT HAVE LASTED FOR OVER 100 YEARS, IS A DECISION THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH SHOULD BE TAKEN THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ENSURE THAT ALL VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
THE SURVEY RESULTS FROM THE ADULT RESPONSES, THE STUDENT RESPONSES, AND ALSO THE PREVIOUS SURVEY FOR WILDWOOD ALL CHOSE EMERALD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL AS THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE.
NAMING THE HIGH SCHOOL EMERALD SPRINGS WOULD GIVE THE MOST KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL WITH THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY'S CHOICE.
MY CHILDREN AND I ALL WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE OUR HIGH SCHOOL'S NAME.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT CONSERVING NAMES SO YOU CAN CONTINUE WITH THE NAME, WITH NAMING SCHOOLS AFTER SPRINGS, STICKING TO THE CAMPUS NAMING TRADITION WOULD BE GREAT TOO.
CYPRESS SPRINGS WOULD MAKE A GREAT HIGH SCHOOL NAME AS WELL.
IN THE LAST MONTH, WE WATCHED ANOTHER COMMITTEE IN OUR TOWN MAKE THE DECISION TO WALK AWAY FROM TRADITION, THE FOUNDERS DAY COMMITTEE, AND WE WATCHED HOW THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED TO HAVING A TRADITION REMOVED.
IT WAS A SHORT 20-MINUTE PARADE WITH GAPS ALONG THE WALKWAY AND A LOT OF UPSETNESS ON FACEBOOK.
AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT AND RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH OUR COMMUNITY LOVES TRADITIONS AND THAT THIS IS A TRADITION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG.
TRADITIONS GIVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY AND COHESION.
TRADITIONS PROVIDE COMFORT, FAMILIARITY, AND CONTINUITY, EMOTIONAL ANCHORS.
TRADITIONS SHOW WHAT WE HOLD DEAR AND ARE VALUE REINFORCERS.
[01:40:02]
OF OUR HERITAGE, ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE OUR ROOTS AND UNIFY WITH THOSE IN OUR TOWN.PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THESE TRADITIONS FROM OUR CHILDREN AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE UPHOLD OUR TRADITIONS AND SAVE OUR SPRINGS.
AND I WAS WONDERING, I DIDN'T REALIZE KIDS COULD SPEAK, AND MY DAUGHTER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
IS THAT OKAY? YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS.
FOURTH GRADER AT ROOSTER SPRINGS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THE NAME SPRINGS BECAUSE IT'S OUR TRADITION.
BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS, AND THEN WE WILL GO INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS. OKAY.
[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
OKAY, WE ARE BACK.AND WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT, REALLY.
WITH ALL OF THE AVENUES THAT WE HAVE NOW FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE MY DESIRE THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION EXEMPTION.
FOR CTE WITH REGARDS TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION, BUT I DO STILL WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT WE STILL TRY TO PURSUE TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS ON THOSE TEACHERS.
AND I LOVE ALL OF THE AVENUES TO CERTIFICATION THAT WE'RE OFFERING.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S GREAT, SUCH AN ASSET TO OUR DISTRICT.
ROB? I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I'M NOT STEPPING OVER.
OLIVIA? NOPE, I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
ON 8J, I HAD ASKED HOLLY ABOUT THIS BEFORE, ON THE EASEMENT FOR SUDS ON THE BACK, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC USING DISTRICT PARKING TO COME THROUGH TO ACCESS THE CAR WASH, CORRECT? NO.
BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD IT FULLY OPEN.
IT'LL ONLY BE FOR UTILITY SERVICES AND EMERGENCY ACCESS.
OKAY, THEY'VE NOT BEEN KEEPING IT CLOSED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
ARE THEY GOING TO KEEP A SEMI-PERMANENT GATE CLOSURE THERE? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TALK WITH THEM ABOUT.
IT COULD BE A GATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE NOTED THAT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE USING OUR PARKING LOT TO GET THROUGH THERE.
BUT THE EASEMENT DOES STATE THAT IT'S FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS ONLY.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE IT.
AND ALSO THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT ARE...
PRETTY SHORT INITIALLY AND IT'S JUST FOR US TO GET A REAL FEEL FOR HOW THAT IS BEING USED AND IF IT'S USED IN A WAY THAT'S CONTRARY TO THAT AGREEMENT THEN WE CAN GET OUT OF THE AGREEMENT ENTIRELY ROB MADAM PRESIDENT I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED A MOTION FROM ROB A SECOND FROM SHANDA ANY MORE DISCUSSION ALL THOSE
[9. ACTION]
IN FAVOR SEVEN OH ALL RIGHT MOVING ON TO THE ACTION OF THE EVENING.CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF A NAME FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 2.
WE WILL FIRST HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM JENNIFER.
SO Y'ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
WE REVIEWED THIS IN THE WORKSHOP, BUT JUST WE'LL GO OVER IT AGAIN.
WE HAD FOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THE PROCESS STARTED BACK IN MARCH.
SO WE COMPLETED FOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS FROM AN OVERALL PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, WITH THE GOAL BEING FOR US TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL TONIGHT.
AND THEN THE PLAN WOULD BE THAT WE'LL DO THE CREATIVE WORK OVER THE SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL, AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO REVEAL WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START THE FINAL CREATIVE PROBABLY SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, SOMETIME IN THE FALL, REVEAL THAT OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEE PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, THEY WERE DEALING ONLY IN CONCEPTS, RIGHT? SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE, WE WEREN'T DOING ANY CREATIVE WORK, RIGHT? IT WAS ALL JUST PURELY HYPOTHETICAL, AND THAT WAS DONE IN FOUR MEETINGS.
THE COMMITTEE, AS YOU HEARD TONIGHT, WAS COMPRISED OF 64 PEOPLE.
IT INCLUDED 10 STAFF MEMBERS AND 10 SECONDARY STUDENTS.
EVERY WORKING GROUP HAD A STUDENT ASSIGNED TO THEM AND A STAFF MEMBER, NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WE HAD PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN THAT RATIO, BUT THERE WAS STUDENT AND STAFF REPRESENTATION IN EVERY GROUP.
ALMOST EVERY PERSON WHO APPLIED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE WAS SELECTED.
THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS WERE THOSE THAT MAYBE WERE ALREADY SERVING ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE OR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOSE PARAMETERS IF YOU'RE SERVING ON DAC OR SERVING ON SLACK OR SERVING ON SHAC. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOSE LIMITATIONS.
[01:45:01]
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYBODY THAT APPLIED WAS TAKEN.AND ON AVERAGE OUR ATTENDANCE AVERAGED ABOUT 45 PEOPLE.
SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MEAT OF THE PRESENTATION, I DO WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A HUGE IMPORTANT DECISION FOR US AND SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR TIME.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BIG HEAVY LIFT AND CERTAINLY I ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT COME AND DO THIS WORK WITH US SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS REALLY, THE PROCESS STARTED WITH THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.
SO BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE DID OPEN A COMMUNITY SURVEY.
THAT SURVEY OPENED IN FEBRUARY.
IT WAS OPEN FROM FEBRUARY 13TH TO MARCH 5TH.
IT WENT OUT IN A MEDIA RELEASE, PARENT EMAILS, DISTRICT AND CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THROUGH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS FAR AS PROMOTION.
WE HAD VERY GOOD RESPONSE RATE WITH 3,990 PEOPLE.
COMPLETING THAT SURVEY, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPICS THAT WERE SURVEYED THERE.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THAT DATA IN THE WORKSHOP.
AS FAR AS THE NAME RECOMMENDATION, THE COMMITTEE, WE REVIEWED THE NAMING POLICY AND THEY WERE GIVEN A POLICY, THEY WERE GIVEN A COPY OF THE POLICY, SO WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT OBVIOUSLY.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE NAMING, HAVING SPRINGS IN THE NAME IS NOT IN POLICY.
BUT IT IS DICTATED THAT WE NAME OUR FACILITIES AFTER LOCAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS OR GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES, STATE OR NATIONAL LANDMARKS, AND WE CAN'T NAME OUR FACILITIES AFTER PEOPLE.
SO THEIR CHARGE WAS TO RECOMMEND THREE NAMES.
THAT'S WHAT WE STARTED WITH, AND THEN WE EXPANDED THAT OVER TIME BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE WORKSHOP TO KIND OF BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE WORK.
TO GIVE YOU ALL MORE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER AND THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL WILL HEAR TONIGHT.
PART OF OUR PROCESS WAS TO IDENTIFY ATTRIBUTES OF THE BRAND THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE REPRESENTED AS WE GO FORWARD IN THE WORK.
AND SO THERE WAS LOTS OF EXERCISES AND LOTS OF TABLE WORK THAT THEY DID AND CERTAINLY IN THE MATTER OF THIS SHORT PRESENTATION, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THAT.
Y'ALL SAW A LOT OF THAT WORK IN THE WORKSHOP THAT WE DID.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT I WAS ASKED TO REITERATE THESE WERE THE BRAND ATTRIBUTES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CARRIED FORWARD IN THE BRAND.
SO THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY BRAND ATTRIBUTES THAT WE WILL USE AS WE GO FORWARD IN BUILDING WHATEVER NAME AND CREATIVE COLORS AND MASCOT, WHATEVER THAT ENDS UP BEING, WE WILL TRY TO INFUSE THESE ATTRIBUTES INTO THAT WORK.
COMMUNITY, EXCELLENCE, GRIT, LEADERSHIP, PRIDE, STRENGTH, AND TRADITION.
THE FIVE NAMES THAT THE COMMITTEE SETTLED ON WERE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, BEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, SYCAMORE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, AND CYPRESS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
AS MENTIONED, YOU HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT, DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL QUICKLY BECAME THE FRONTRUNNER AMONG THE COMMITTEE.
BUT SYCAMORE SPRINGS STAYED PRETTY, YOU KNOW, IT STAYED IN THE MIX THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
BEAR CREEK AND CYPRESS KIND OF FLOATED IN AND OUT, BUT DRIFTWOOD AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS, DRIFTWOOD PRIMARILY WITHOUT THE SPRINGS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE SPRINGS ADDED, BUT DRIFTWOOD AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS STAYED CONSISTENTLY AT THE FRONT, AS THE FRONT RUNNER AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEE GOES.
AND OF COURSE, THAT MATCHES THE SURVEY DATA, WHICH Y'ALL HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE Y'ALL THROUGH.
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON COLORS AND MASCOT, AS DR.
REINHOLD MENTIONED, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE MAINLY ONLY CONSIDERING NAME TONIGHT, BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO SEE THE FULL OUTPUT OF THEIR WORK.
WE ARE NOT DOING ANY CREATIVE.
SO ANYTHING WE SEE TONIGHT ARE GOING TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF OTHER HIGH SCHOOL MASCOTS, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE OUR ACTUAL MASCOTS.
SO AS FAR AS PACKAGES GO, THE FIVE PACKAGES WOULD BE DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, WITH WOLVES AS THE MASCOT WITH NAVY BLUE GOLD AND WHITE.
DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL ALSO WITH WOLVES SO KEEPING THAT PAW UNIFIER NAVY BLUE GOLD AND WHITE SO THAT REALLY BECAME THE FRONT RUNNER CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE COMMITTEE.
THIRDLY WE HAVE BEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL WITH BRUINS AS THE MASCOT WITH MAROON AND SKY BLUE SO THAT BRINGS OUT THAT MAROON AS THE UNIFIER AND BRUINS USING A PAW, SO THAT IS THE UNIFIER THERE IN THAT PACKAGE.
[01:50:01]
SYCAMORE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, STALLIONS AS THE MASCOT WITH MAROON AND METALLIC SILVER.AND THEN LASTLY, CYPRESS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL WITH COYOTES AS THE MASCOT WITH FOREST GREEN AND GOLD.
NAVY BLUE AND GOLD CONSISTENTLY WAS A FAVORITE AMONG THE COMMITTEE.
GREEN AND GOLD ALSO GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONSIDERATION.
NAVY WAS THE PREDOMINANT, SEEMED TO BE THE PREDOMINANT.
FAVORITE, BUT GREEN AND GOLD, YOU KNOW, HAD A LOT OF INTEREST TOO AMONG THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SO RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE AND TWO, I GROUPED THESE TOGETHER JUST BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL BE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ALL DO DRIFTWOOD OR DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS.
SO DRIFTWOOD AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS, THE COLOR COMBINATION IS THE SAME, NAVY BLUE AND GOLD OR NAVY BLUE AND GOLD AND WHITE WITH WOLVES.
OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE OTHER TEXAS HIGH BUT THAT WOULD BE THE COMBINATION.
ABLE TO USE THE DF IF WE GO WITH SPRINGS, WITH THE PAW, WITH WOLVES.
NEXT, WE HAVE BEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL WITH BRUINS, MAROON AND SKY BLUE.
NEXT, SYCAMORE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL WITH STALLIONS, WITH MAROON AND SILVER.
LASTLY, CYPRESS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL WITH COYOTES, FOREST GREEN, AND GOLD.
AND SO JUST IN SUMMARY, SINCE THIS IS FOR ACTION...
LET ME COVER THIS SO SORRY ONE MORE THING UM I KNOW MASCOTS IS THE MAIN UM I THINK MASK THE MASCOT CONVERSATION WE CRYSTALLIZED AND AND KIND OF DRIFT DRIFTWOOD OR DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS BECAME THE FRONT RUNNER NAVY AND GOLD OR GREEN AND GOLD BECAME THE FRONT RUNNER ON THE COLORWAYS THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT MASCOT AND SO THIS SLIDE IS SIMPLY TO SHOW OTHER MASCOTS THERE THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT.
SO THEY ENDED UP BUILDING THE PACKAGES BASED ON THE UNIFIERS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THEM.
HOWEVER, BOBCATS, WILDCATS, WRANGLERS, DIAMONDBACKS, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE DID DISCUSS.
AND SINCE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MASCOTS HAVE BEEN SO VARIED, I WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS JUST SO YOU KNOW, Y'ALL WERE AWARE OF THAT DIVERSE CONVERSATION AMONG THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SO LASTLY JUST AS WE WRAP UP FOR ACTION CONSIDERATION THESE ARE THE FIVE NAMES THAT ARE IN THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT QUESTIONS DISCUSSION BOARD MEMBERS OKAY, I'LL BREAK THIS.
ACTUALLY, MARY JANE, BEFORE, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING, A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
I THINK THIS IS THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE'VE HAD TO SAY FOR ACTION IN A LONG TIME.
SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT Y'ALL ARE SO PASSIONATE.
WE EQUALLY SHARE IN THAT PASSION.
I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT FROM OUR BOARD POINT OF VIEW.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS.
MARY JANE HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR MUCH LONGER.
HOLLY BEGAN HERE IN OUR DISTRICT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND I CAN TELL YOU IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE TRIED TO TEE THINGS UP FOR THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD, WE, REALLY JENNIFER AND HER TEAM, HAS COLLECTIVELY REALLY LED A CHARGE TO BEGIN A BRANDING PROCESS THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF OPTIONS FORWARD FOR OUR DISTRICT.
AND SO JUST KNOW LIKE WE'VE CONSIDERED A LOT OF THINGS.
IT'S WHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WENT TO SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BRANDING THIS YEAR.
IT'S WHY OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE KIND OF SOLIDIFIED THINGS.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON EVEN JUST THE COLOR GOLD.
SO HEARING GOLD AS A UNIFIER, JUST KNOW IT'S TAKEN A LOT TO EVEN, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT GOOD AT MATCHING THAT COLOR AT OUR JUST ONE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO OPEN THIS CONVERSATION.
WE AS A BOARD BODY HAVE FUNDED AN AMAZING SCHOOL FOR Y'ALL.
THIS WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY ALL SUPPORTED IN THE MOST RECENT BOND PROJECT, THAT THIS WAS A NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IT WAS A NEED TO BE AT CAPACITY FOR 2,500 STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE, THAT WOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE AND EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT TO OUR EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS NOT A LESSER THAN SCHOOL.
OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE SECOND HIGH SCHOOL SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
WE KNEW WE WANTED, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAD SPOKE UP, THEY WANTED SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO OUR EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS CAMPUS.
WHEREVER WE STAND ON NAME, BRAND, COLORS, AND WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
ALL OF US ARE PARENTS OURSELVES.
WE'VE ALL HAD KIDS IN THE DISTRICT, SOME CURRENTLY, SOME FORMER, BUT WE'RE...
[01:55:01]
VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROJECT.WE SHARE THAT WITH Y'ALL, OKAY? WE ARE ALSO MANAGING A LOT OF PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
Y'ALL HAVE HEARD SOME OPINIONS TONIGHT.
WE'VE GOTTEN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND THOUSANDS OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE JUST REACHING OUT TO US IN THE COMMUNITY, SHARING THEIR OPINIONS.
SO WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS THAT MAYBE NOT EACH INDIVIDUAL IS HEARING TO THE SAME BREADTH THAT WE ARE ON THE DAIS.
SO, BUT WE SHARE IN YOUR PASSION.
AND I WELCOME MORE DISCUSSION FROM MY TRUSTEES.
MARY JANE? I THINK I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY.
I'M AN EASY PERSON TO START BECAUSE I SAID LAST WEEK IN AGENDA REVIEW THAT MY MAIN CONSIDERATION IS KEEPING SPRINGS.
I WILL TELL YOU, THOUGH, FOR THOSE OF YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT JUST DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FALSE.
CHOICE HERE AND THERE'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD IN BERNIE WHEN I REALIZED THAT SOME OF OUR EMAILS MIRRORED SOME SOCIAL COMMENTS ABOUT WELL YOU KNOW THIS DISTRICT IN THIS DISTRICT AND THIS ONE ACROSS THE STATE HAVE DONE THIS BEAUTIFULLY AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW I KNOW A TRUSTEE IN ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS SO WHY DON'T I PICK UP THE PHONE AND HEARD SOME FASCINATING STORIES AND THE DRAMA IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT RIGHT BUT THERE'S ALWAYS PASSIONATE.
OPINIONS ABOUT A NAME, I'LL JUST PICK ONE OF THOSE, PARDON ME, CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT IS BERNIE.
AND SO I'VE ALWAYS JUST HEARD BERNIE CHAMPION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
THERE'S SO MUCH PRIDE IN THAT.
THE ACTUAL NAME OF THE SCHOOL IS BERNIE DASH, AND THERE'S A WHOLE STORY AROUND THE DASH.
EVERYBODY JUST SAYS BERNIE CHAMPION.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO BOTH.
WE CAN KEEP THE SPRINGS NAMING COMMITTEE.
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S 150 YEARS OLD, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE IMPORTANCE THAN EVEN BEING A FEW DECADES OLD, AND THAT IS THE WHY.
WHY DID THAT START? THE REALIZATION THAT THE GROWTH THAT WAS GOING UP AND DOWN I-35 WAS COMING TO 90 WEST.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PRESERVE SOME OF THE TRADITIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY? AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, HOW IS THAT NOT ACTUAL BOARD POLICY? THEY JUST ASSUMED THAT IT WAS.
I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED COLOR PALETTE.
I'M SURE THAT WE'LL COME UP WITH A GREAT MASCOT, BUT I PERSONALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT SPRING.
CHANDA? I KIND OF WANT TO ADD TO WHAT MARY JANE SAID, THAT SOMETHING KIND OF PROFOUND THAT I STARTED REALIZING IN THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WITH JUST THAT IT'S NOT IN THE POLICY.
THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP WITH SPRINGS.
AND YET, EVERY BOARD THAT SAT BEFORE US THAT NAMED A SCHOOL DID IT.
AND SO FOR ME, I LOOK AT THAT AND GO, WELL, WHAT I WISH THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WENT ON BACK THEN TO ALL THE THERE AREN'T RECORDINGS OF BOARD MEETINGS PRIOR WHEN THEY WERE NAMING SCHOOLS PRIOR TO THIS BOARD.
BUT IT WASN'T IN THE POLICY AND YET THEY DID IT.
AND SO FOR ME, THAT FEELS LIKE THERE IS THAT THAT IS.
HONORING TRADITION AND THE HERITAGE AND, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
AND SO I AGREE WITH MARY JANE THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, TURN MY BACK ON SOMETHING THAT OTHER BOARDS DIDN'T HAVE TO DO.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY DID.
AND SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU SHARED THAT.
I ALSO THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE, THAT SOME SCHOOLS ARE NAMED.
YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND EVEN SAID, HE'S LIKE, I WENT TO RICHARD KING HIGH SCHOOL IN CORPUS CHRISTI.
IT WAS NO ONE KNEW IT WAS CALLED RICHARD KING.
SO I THINK I AGREE WITH MARY JANE THAT WE CAN HAVE BOTH.
I ALSO DO WANT TO POINT OUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SAID THAT DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS DOESN'T EXIST AS A SPRING.
OF UNNAMED SPRINGS IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.
AND THERE IS A, I'LL TELL YOU WHO IT IS, THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS IN CHARGE OF MONITORING.
IT'S A SPRINGS MONITORING PROGRAM, AND THEY EVALUATE NEW SPRINGS FOR MONITORING, AND THEY CAN INCLUDE THEM IN OFFICIAL RECORDS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD BE A PROJECT FOR SOMEONE
[02:00:01]
IF THAT ENDS UP BEING THE NAME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WOULD CURB SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT...DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXIST BECAUSE IT COULD.
OLIVIA? I'LL JUST SAY I THINK THAT AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES TODAY, WE MIGHT TAKE MORE TIME TO SHARE THOUGHTS THAN WE NORMALLY DO BECAUSE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THROUGH ASSUMPTIONS AND THROUGH MISINFORMATION AND THROUGH LIMITED INFORMATION, THINGS CAN GET REALLY CHALLENGING, AND I HOPE THAT AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS, WE JUST HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR GROWTH AND OUR FUTURE.
I KNOW FOR YEARS THIS BOARD BODY HAS SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG CONVERSATION.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT.
SO I'M GOING TO SHARE SOMETHING, AND I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT.
100% THAT THIS DISTRICT COMMUNITY BODY WAS LITERALLY GOING TO BE LIKE THE HUTTO HIPPOS.
I THOUGHT THERE IS NO WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD EVER WANT TO GET AWAY FROM MYRRH AND GOLD AND FROM TIGERS.
I JUST PICTURED DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL GROWING.
AND IN LIFE AND IN LEADERSHIP, BEING HUMBLE AND LISTENING ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SKILLS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, AND SERVICE.
AND THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS AND THE COFFEES THAT I HAVE WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND PAY TAXES HERE AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL HERE AND APPRECIATE OUR HISTORY AND OUR HERITAGE, I HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I THINK THAT RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON OUR SHOULDERS.
REALLY LAYERED MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT SPRINGS BECAUSE WE DIVE IN DEEP AND WE DO THE WORK AND WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL HISTORY THERE.
I WONDER WHY HASN'T IT BEEN CODIFIED? SO SHANDA KIND OF THE SAME THING.
SO THEN I LOOK AT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN AND SAY, WHY WASN'T IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE CODIFIED? WAS IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP THE NAMES ON REAL SPRINGS AND SOMEONE AT SOME POINT IN TIME SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF SPRINGS.
WE, YOU KNOW, AND I, WONDER ABOUT THAT.
THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES RESONATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL HEAR IT.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HEARING IT BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING IT IN EMAILS.
WE'RE SEEING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT DRIFTWOOD STANDING ALONE IS, I'LL SAY THIS BECAUSE IT'S TRUE, AND I THINK THE DATA BACKS IT, IT IS THE MAJORITY.
SO I HAVE A HARD TIME IN MY MIND AND THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THROUGH MY COMMITMENT TO VOTE FOR OUR HERITAGE AND OUR HISTORY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESPECT OUR PAST AND GROW INTO THE FUTURE, THAT ONE WORD HAS BECOME A REALLY, REALLY BIG DECISION BECAUSE I FUNDAMENTALLY HAVE A PROBLEM OR A CHALLENGE, I GUESS I COULD SAY, HEARING THE SAME THING FROM SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND IF MY VOTE IS FOR A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SOLID EXPLANATION.
SO I'M SHARING THAT TO SAY I WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY.
I WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MARY JANE.
WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN CODIFIED? BECAUSE TO ME, I THINK THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE MY PERSONAL DECISION WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THIS.
FOR OUR AREA AND OUR HERITAGE.
I MEAN, OUR FOUNDERS IN THE 1800S, WHEN THEY WERE LITERALLY SETTLERS DRIVING THROUGH, THAT'S THE NAME, THE LIMESTONE, THERE WAS WATER DRIPPING EVERYWHERE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE ABUNDANCE OF WATER AND DRIPPING SPRINGS? BUT THAT'S WHAT THE TOWN WAS NAMED AFTER.
AND I THINK THAT SPRINGS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THEY JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NEW, SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD DID, AND THERE IS A REASON AND THERE IS A HISTORY.
THE AREA, BECAUSE IT'S HONORING THE HERITAGE OF OUR TOWN.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR ELEMENTARIES AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
I GUESS ACTUALLY THAT IS A QUESTION.
WHY HASN'T THAT BEEN CODIFIED IN THE PAST? AND WAS THERE A CONVERSATION SURROUNDING THAT, THAT YOU CAN JUST ENLIGHTEN US ON? THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
IN FACT, WHEN STEPHANIE A LONG TIME AGO ASKED ME, I HAD TO THINK, BECAUSE SHE ASKED ME, IS IT IMPORT POLICY? WELL, I HAD MISSPOKE.
I THINK ALL OF US HAD BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL ASSUMED IT WAS IN BOARD POLICY.
I MEAN, MY PERSONAL OPINION, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SEEM NEEDED, WHY ADD TO POLICY IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS AN EXPECTED NAMING CONVENTION WITHOUT IT BEING, YEAH.
[02:05:01]
I HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION TONIGHT.THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COME TO MIND TO ME.
I LOVE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CARE.
THERE'S COMMUNITIES THAT BUILD A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL AND NOBODY SHOWS UP.
NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE NAME, THE COLOR, THE MASCOT, BUT THIS COMMUNITY CARES.
I HAVE SEEN RESULTS OF A SURVEY.
YOU STOOD HERE TONIGHT BEHIND THE MICROPHONE AND TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY EVENINGS AT HOME WHERE YOU COULD BE SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR FAMILIES, AND THIS SHOWS TO ME THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I'M ONE OF THOSE THAT VALUES THE WORK OF A COMMITTEE.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT.
BUT TO ASK THESE PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THAT MUCH TIME OF THEIR LIFE AND AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND TRY TO COME TOGETHER.
AND MAKE A DECISION THAT, TO ME, REPRESENTS THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL.
I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND I NEED TO LISTEN.
I'VE READ ALL OF THEM, ALL THAT WERE SENT TO US.
I LOVE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES, AND I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE SAID.
I HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THE NAME.
AND AS I READ THROUGH ALL OF THOSE EMAILS, THERE WERE MANY.
MY EYES WERE KIND OF OPEN TO, I WAS KIND OF TORN BETWEEN DRIFTWOOD AND DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS.
SO DO YOU DO THIS SPRINGS THAT MAYBE IS NOT IN DRIFTWOOD AND DO DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS? OR DO YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY? AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNITY OF DRIFTWOOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT.
IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFERENT TO NAME IT DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL INSTEAD OF DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY AND I LOOK AT HOW YOU FEEL, AND I REALLY VALUE STUDENT INPUT, STUDENTS THAT HAVE WRITTEN US LETTERS, STUDENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN IN FRONT OF US AND SPOKEN TONIGHT, MY HEART...
JUST REACHES OUT TO THE CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD PRIDE.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO START TRADITIONS.
AND I NEVER REALLY KIND OF IMAGINED THIS TOWN WITH A HIGH SCHOOL OR A BUILDING OR ANY, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT SPRINGS ATTACHED TO IT.
AT ONE POINT, I HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LISTENING TO.
I LOVE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND HOW THINGS ARE NAMED AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PROCEED.
I'M FOLLOWING THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
I'M FOLLOWING HOW I HAVE HEARD WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID AND TO ME IT'S JUST BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR AND LOUD WHAT THEY WANT AND I JUST WANT THAT ON THE RECORD.
I THINK I HAVE THE MOST KIDS HERE AND I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT WILL GRADUATE FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS.
HIGH SCHOOL AND I WILL HAVE TWO KIDS THAT GRADUATE FROM THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE ONE IN OR TWO IN ELEMENTARY, ONE THAT WILL BE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
MY FIFTH GRADER IS MOVING UP TO SIXTH GRADE.
SHE WILL BE LIKELY THE FIRST FRESHMAN CLASS IN THE LOVELY NEW SCHOOL.
SO THIS IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I PERSONALLY WANT, OBVIOUSLY.
IT MATTERS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT THEY DECIDE.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EMAILS, AND I HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
AND THIS IS A VERY TOUGH DECISION BECAUSE WE MOVED HERE TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE LOVE THAT EVERYBODY'S A TIGER, AND WE LOVE THAT THE MAROON AND GOLD, AND THAT'S ALL YOU SEE.
AND OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL COMING ONLINE.
I WAS A PART OF THE JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL DISCUSSION IN HAYS CISD AND OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TRADITION OF SPRINGS VERSUS NOT SPRINGS.
THERE'S NOT REALLY TO ME I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAD MUCH TRADITION I FELT LIKE THEY KIND OF CAME UP WITH A NEW PLAN WITH EVERY HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY OPENED AND SO
[02:10:01]
AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY DECISION AND IT WILL ALWAYS SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY DECISION.BUT I THINK AS A BOARD MEMBER AND LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY STAYS SMALL, I RAN ON TWO MAIN THINGS THE FIRST TIME THAT I RAN, AND IT WAS COMMUNITY AND IT WAS FINANCES, FISCAL.
AND EVERY CONVERSATION THAT I EVER HAD WAS, WE WANT TO BE A SMALL TOWN.
WE KNOW WE'RE GROWING, BUT WE WANT TO BE A SMALL TOWN.
I WAS ALSO ON THE LINE THINKING THAT SPRINGS WAS A PART OF BOARD POLICY.
ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE SPRINGS.
WE'VE HEARD FROM DRIFTWOOD RESIDENTS THAT FEEL LIKE OPENING A HIGH SCHOOL NAMED DRIFTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO TAKE FROM THE SMALL TOWN FEEL THAT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE THAT HAVE STUDENTS IN HAYS CISD AND IN WIMBERLEY, AND WE ACTUALLY JUST HAVE A SLIVER.
AND IF THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT WOULD BE AUSTIN, WHICH IS MY ZIP CODE.
I MEAN, SO, AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HENLEY, ARE WE GOING TO NAME IT HENLEY HIGH SCHOOL? WE'RE ALL A PART OF DRIPPING SPRINGS.
WE'RE ALL A PART OF A BIG UMBRELLA OF DRIPPING SPRINGS AND SO I THINK ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW NAMING OF THE SCHOOL.
YES, IT WILL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS.
IT IS GOING TO HAVE ITS OWN IDENTITY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE NAME IT AND I THINK IT STILL NEEDS TO BE A PART OF DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD.
I SEE CHILDREN FALLING ASLEEP.
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETING ACT AND THE FACT THAT WE DID A WORKSHOP, WE HAVE SO LITTLE TIME WHERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I WOULD LIKE HOLLY OR JENNIFER AND MARY JANE'S INSIGHT ON.
THE DISTINCT, GIVEN HISTORICAL PRECEDENT, RIGHT, WAS SPRINGS.
THREE OF OUR CAMPUSES ARE NAMED GEOGRAPHICALLY.
THE DRIPPING SPRINGS, OBVIOUSLY, ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.
DO WE SEE A DISTINCTION THERE BETWEEN BEING NAMED AFTER A LANDMARK SPRING, WHETHER IT'S A REAL SPRING OR NOT, VERSUS THE PRECEDENT OF GEOGRAPHICALLY NAMED CAMPUSES? AND I REFRAME THAT QUESTION.
YEAH, THE WORD SPRINGS IS THERE, BUT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY NAMED BASED ON GEOGRAPHIC AND BASED ON THE DISTRICT NAME.
THEY WEREN'T NAMED OFF THEĀ CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE I'M JUST NOT WANTING THIS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
BUT ARE YOU ASKING ADMINISTRATION FROM THEIR EXPERTISE, LIKE, WHAT THEY RECOMMEND IN REGARD TO SPRINGS? NO, I'M ASKING IF THIS ISĀIF SPRINGS IS HISTORICAL AND IT'S JUST WHAT THE BOARD DID, IS THERE, OR HOW IS THERE NOT, A DISTINCTION THAT THREE OF OUR CAMPUSES ARE NOT NAMED OFF OF BODIES OF WATER OR STREAMS OR CREEKS OR ANYTHING? THEY CAME FROM THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE CAMPUSES AND THE NAME OF THE DISTRICT.
NO, THE ORIGINAL SCHOOLS ARE NAMED AFTER THE ORIGINAL, I MEAN, YES, THAT'S THE TOWN, BUT THE ORIGINAL SPRINGS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE MEANING? SO THE ORIGINAL SCHOOLS, AND THEN I MIGHT NOT BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION.
BEGINNING THIS WRONG BUT SO THE ORIGINAL FEEDER THE ORIGINAL PATTERN ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL NAMED AFTER THE TOWN BUT ALSO THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AT THE CENTER OF THE TOWN AND THEN ALL OTHER SCHOOLS WE HAVE THAT LIST OF SPRINGS IN THE BOUNDARY AND EVERY OTHER SCHOOL TO DATE HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER A REAL SPRING INSIDE THE DISTRICT BOUNDARY BUT NOT THERE'S NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LOCATION OF THE SPRING TO THE SCHOOL SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE BOUNDARY ALSO, RIGHT? LIKE THEY JUST, IN EVERY NAMING COMMITTEE, THEY JUST ARE GIVEN THE LIST OF SPRINGS IN MY EXPERIENCE.
SO ARE YOU SAYING BECAUSE HOW DRIPPING SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS NAMED AND HOW THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS NAMED? NO, YOU'RE SAYING, SO JENNIFER'S SAYING IT'S BOTH.
YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE THREE CAMPUSES THAT ARE THE OUTLIERS BECAUSE THEY'RE DIRECTIONAL NAMES.
IT IS THE DIRECTION, BUT IT IS ALSO THE NAME OF A REAL SPRING.
TECHNICALLY, ALL OF OUR EXISTING CAMPUSES, FOR THE RECORD, ARE ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER REAL SPRINGS.
AND WHEN WE DID THE NAMING COMMITTEE FOR WILDWOOD, I WILL SAY THAT COMMITTEE DID NOT KNOW THAT.
[02:15:01]
MADE-UP SPRING, THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS DID NOT REALIZE THAT.THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE MADE-UP SPRINGS.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THOSE WERE REAL SPRINGS.
CAN I ASK THIS ON THAT TOPIC? BLUEBONNET SPRINGS WAS NOT A REAL SPRING.
AND THAT WAS THE SECOND ON OUR LIST FOR WILDWOOD.
SO A LONG EXISTING SPRING WAS PREFERRED BY THAT COMMITTEE AT THE TIME.
AND IF YOU LOOK BACK IN HISTORICAL INFORMATION, LIKE WHEN THEY NAMED SYCAMORE, I THINK, YOU CAN SEE THE COMMITTEES ALWAYS IN THEIR NOTES.
THEY BEGIN TO CONSIDER AND CONTEMPLATE.
OKAY, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF SPRING NAMES.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I DO THINK THAT'S BEEN A CONSISTENT TALKING POINT AND AGENDA.
DO WE WANT TO CONSIDER THIS? WHEN I'VE LOOKED BACK AT PREVIOUS, BECAUSE I'VE GONE BACK EVERY TIME AND LOOKED AT PREVIOUS AGENDAS OF THE MEETINGS AS FAR AS THE RECORDS I HAVE, AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOPIC FOR THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER.
DO WE WANT TO CONSIDER THIS? DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS TRADITION, AND CAN WE CONTINUE IT WITH THE NAMES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US? CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW ON THE SURVEY DATA? THE QUESTION, HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO BE NAMED AFTER A REAL SPRING? WHAT WAS THE, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? I DON'T REMEMBER.
I MIGHT HAVE TO PHONE A FRIEND TO BLAKE.
WELL, THE MOST RECENT QUESTION, AND ACTUALLY THIS WAS THE STANDARD SURVEY.
THE ONLY SURVEY THAT WAS ACTUALLY DIFFERENT WAS THE WILD, THE ELEMENTARY SIX SURVEY.
SO THE STANDARD SURVEY FOR ALL THE CAMPUSES WAS ACTUALLY IN HOW IT WAS ASKED THIS TIME AS WELL.
AND THE QUESTION WAS, IF WE CONTINUE SPRINGS, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT IT'S REAL SPRINGS? AND I STILL DO BELIEVE THAT THE POSITIVES OF JUST HAVING SPRINGS DID OUTWEIGH, LIKE, YES, EVEN HAVING A MADE-UP SPRING OUTWEIGHED NOT HAVING THE SPRING.
I WROTE A NAME, MADAM PRESIDENT, IT WAS ABOUT 70%.
YEAH, I DO REMEMBER IT WAS ABOUT THAT, YEAH.
OKAY, AND THEN BLAKE'S SAYING 22%, SO AS FAR AS...
REAL SPRINGS VERSUS NOT REAL, 22% SAID IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, 40% SAID IT WAS PREFERRED, AND 27% NOT IMPORTANT.
IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S REAL OR PREFERRED, BUT NOT.
YEAH, THEY DIDN'T GIVE THE OPTION TO NOT SAY SPRINGS AT ALL.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THE SURVEY, JUST BECAUSE THAT CONTINUES TO COME UP AND IT SEEMS TO BE A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION.
I THINK THAT WAS SIMPLY NOT ASKED BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ASSUMED IT WAS SUCH A STRONG TRADITION.
WE DID ASK IT IN WILDWOOD BECAUSE IT HAD NEVER BEEN ASKED BEFORE AND I WANTED TO KNOW.
BUT WE HAD ASKED IT TO GET A BENCHMARK, BUT I THINK WE ASSUMED THAT WE ASKED IT IN WILDWOOD, SO WE GOT THE BENCHMARK.
BUT NOT TO CONTINUE ASKING THAT, THAT IS A LONGSTANDING TRADITION.
SO IN HINDSIGHT, WE UNDERSTAND.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE JUST SAY WE ALWAYS WANT TO ASK IT GOING FORWARD.
BUT JUST IT'S CLEARLY BECOME A POINT OF CONTENTION IN THAT.
I THINK WHAT'S THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT? ROB? MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROUD OF ME BECAUSE I WROTE DOWN WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.
MY COLLEAGUES LIKE TO SAY, ROB, YOU TALK TOO MUCH.
SO I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF AND THEN PROBABLY BE GONE IN THIS CONVERSATION.
SO LIKE MOST OF YOU, AND I'M TALKING JUST TO YOU ALL, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, HEARD A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGED A LOT, JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU HAVE.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME LISTENING TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH LONGTIME FAMILIES WITH DEEP ROOTS IN DRIPPING SPRINGS AND NEWER RESIDENTS.
WHO ARE NOW HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR DISTRICT.
WE HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM TONIGHT.
AFTER THOSE CONVERSATIONS, REVIEWING THE QUANTITATIVE SURVEY FEEDBACK SUBMITTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND CONSIDERING THE WORK AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE NAVY COMMITTEE, WHICH I VALUE, I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE NAME DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER TWO.
ONE OF THE STRONGEST THEMES I HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WAS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS A DECISION TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND NOT DIVIDE THEM.
THAT SENTIMENT MATTERS VERY DEEPLY TO ME.
I REMEMBER STANDING ON THE SIDELINE OF THE ALAMO DOME THIS FALL.
I THINK TRISHA WAS DOWN THERE WITH ME TOO.
I DIDN'T SHARE THIS WITH YOU AT THE TIME, BUT THIS WAS MY THOUGHT.
I WAS SURROUNDED BY THOUSANDS OF OUR TIGER FANS WHO TRAVELED TO SUPPORT OUR TEAM IN THE REGIONAL PLAYOFF GAME.
IN THAT MOMENT, I'LL ADMIT, I WAS PRETTY SAD KNOWING THAT IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS, MANY OF THOSE TEAMS AND FAMILIES WOULD BE CHEERING FOR A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
BUT AS I REFLECTED ON THAT MOMENT, MY PERSPECTIVE HAS CHANGED.
OUR FUTURE IS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT.
I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT STUDENTS AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS WILL ACHIEVE GREAT SUCCESS, MANY OF THEM WE ALSO HEARD FROM TONIGHT, ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THROUGHOUT LIFE, EVEN WHILE REPRESENTING DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, NAMES, AND MASCOT.
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME IS THAT MOVING FORWARD WE REPRESENT TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, NOT TWO SEPARATE COMMUNITIES.
[02:20:01]
TO ME.I'M COMMITTED TO THAT UNWAVERINGLY.
AS WE CELEBRATE 150 PROUD YEARS OF DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL, I BELIEVE DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE.
IT HONORS THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF A BROADER COMMUNITY THAT HELPED BUILD THIS DISTRICT OVER 150 YEARS, WHILE ALSO GIVING STUDENTS AT THIS NEW CAMPUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE TRADITIONS AND A LEGACY UNIQUELY THEIR OWN, WHICH I DO THINK IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.
SO AS WE CELEBRATE 150 PROUD YEARS OF OUR DISTRICT, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY RESPECT THE TRADITIONS THAT HAVE BROUGHT US HERE.
WHILE ALSO EMBRACING THE FUTURE AHEAD.
THIS NEW CAMPUS SHOULD NOT SIMPLY REPLICATE WHAT ALREADY EXISTS.
IT SHOULD BECOME A PLACE WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS CAN BUILD SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THEMSELVES AND THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY GOAL IS SIMPLE.
SUPPORT A DECISION THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED COMMUNITY VALUES, HONORS OUR HISTORY, AND CREATES A SCHOOL IDENTITY THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL PROUDLY RALLY BEHIND FOR DECADES TO COME.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS NAME ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
AND WITH THAT, I'D BE PROUD TO SUPPORT IT.
WELL, I HAD TO PULL SOME NUMBERS.
I KNOW WE HAD ASKED AT, I THINK, OUR WORKSHOP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, LIKE, HOW MANY STUDENTS EVEN LIVE IN DRIFTWOOD? AND YOU HAD THAT NUMBER.
HOW MANY OF OUR, I THINK IT WAS 600-SOMETHING.
SO, OF OUR ALMOST 9,000 STUDENTS, 631...
THERE ARE AROUND 6,000 RESIDENTS IN THE ZIP CODE 78619.
SO DRIPPING SPRINGS IS A TINY SLIVER OF THIS OVERALL AREA.
AS TRICIA SAID, WE HAVE HEARD VERY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM DRIFTWOOD RESIDENTS.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WEIGHING.
SO DRIFTWOOD WAS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE.
TO KIM'S POINT, I VERY MUCH RESPECT COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I VERY MUCH RESPECT PEOPLE'S TIME.
I'M A VERY FULL SEASON OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
MY OLDEST IS 13 AND MY YOUNGEST IS FOUR.
SO I EMPATHIZE WITH ANYBODY WHO IS EVEN HERE AT THIS MEETING TONIGHT OR LISTENING ONLINE THAT THIS IS TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY.
AND I I'M WILLING TO GO WITH A NAME THAT WAS NOT AT ALL IN MY TOP BECAUSE I HONOR THE WORK AND THE INPUT PROVIDED BY THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH.
I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE I DO SEE, OKAY, DRIFTWOOD IS A LOCATION.
HOWEVER, ALSO SOME CONTEXT, DRIFTWOOD IS NOT A MUNICIPALITY.
IT IS AS MUCH A CITY AS AUSTIN 78737 IS AUSTIN.
THERE IS NOTHING THERE OTHER THAN A POST OFFICE.
I LITERALLY LOOK, MOST OF IT IS IN DRIPPING SPRINGS CITY LIMITS ETJ.
WE HAVE NO CONNECTION TO DRIFTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB.
IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN THE SAME DEMOGRAPHIC, OKAY? OUR GOLF TEAM IS NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AT THAT GOLF COURSE, ALL RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS WITHIN DRIFTWOOD, SALT LAKE, NOT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT CITY LIMITS.
YOU KNOW, HAY CITY STORE, NOT WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS, LIKE NOT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT LIMITS.
SO I'VE ALREADY HAD TO COME A LONG WAY, AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I DO RESPECT AND HONOR PEOPLE'S TIME.
RESOUNDING FEEDBACK THAT THIS IS A CLEAR FAVORITE AND I RESPECT AND HONOR THAT.
BUT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK SAYING DRIFTWOOD ALL OF A SUDDEN, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE DRIFTWOOD IS EITHER.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE DRIFTING SPRINGS IS, LET'S BE HONEST.
SO I LOOK AT SOME OF THE SUBDIVISIONS.
I ACTUALLY DID SOME OF THE RESEARCH SHANDA DID TOO, THAT THERE IS ACTUAL UNINCORPORATED DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS.
SO IT I THINK YOU HONOR THE HERITAGE, THE TRADITION, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BRANDING ATTRIBUTES.
I SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO SEE THOSE BRANDING ATTRIBUTES WORDS.
TRADITION WAS VERY HIGH FROM THE COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE.
AND THE COMMITTEE WANTS COHESION.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR Y'ALL.
SO I ALSO THINK DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE.
ALL IN ON DRIFTWOOD AND WE DON'T NEED THE SPRINGS BECAUSE IT'S A CITY AND THEN UNDERSTANDING SOME MORE OF THE HISTORY BEHIND DRIPPING SPRINGS AND ALSO FEELING I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT BALANCE THAT KIND OF MEETS EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE ARE WHILE STILL PRESERVING SOME OF THE TRADITION THAT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY.
THAT SAID I THINK WE NEED SOME WORK ON ACRONYMS BECAUSE THAT
[02:25:02]
WAS A CONCERN BY OUR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL COACHES YOU KNOW I THINK WE NEED TO DO A DIFFERENT YOU NOTE.I HEARD AT OUR CHURCH SERVICE ON SUNDAY WHEN HE RECOGNIZED OUR SENIORS GRADUATING, HE JUST SAID DRIP HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME BETTER WAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO MARY JANE'S POINT, THERE'S A BOTH AND HERE.
LIKE, CAN WE CALL IT DRIP HIGH SCHOOL, DRIFT HIGH SCHOOL? DO WE EVEN HAVE TO SAY DSHS IN OUR, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE MAYBE MOVE AWAY FROM THAT AND FIND SOME OTHER WAY TO MAKE SOME INTENTIONAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE NAMES BECAUSE THEY'RE DEFINITIVELY DIFFERENT NAMES.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO SAY, I GO TO DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, I GO TO DRIFT.
I'M GOING TO GO, BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY COOL, Y'ALL.
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, JUST LIKE, WHAT DO THEY SAY NOW? I GO TO DRIFT HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I TALK TO THE SWAG PEOPLE, Y'ALL.
I TALK TO ALL MY SWAG FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALL OF US, WE REALLY CARE, OKAY? PLEASE DON'T COME AFTER US WITH PITCHFORKS, EVEN THOUGH YOU PROBABLY WILL.
BUT JUST KNOW OUR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, OKAY? WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST.
I MEAN, LITTLE, I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON COLORS AND MASCOT.
I'VE SAID PUBLICLY BEFORE, I THINK OUR MASCOT NEEDS SOME WORK.
JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I LOVE THE WRANGLERETTES, THE RANCHERS.
YOU KNOW, I COULD GET BEHIND A LOT OF DIFFERENT MASCOTS, I THINK.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO FLESH OUT WHAT THAT MEANS, BUDGET, FISCALLY, FOR THE FUTURE, FACILITIES.
BECAUSE, I MEAN, EVEN LOOKING AT ALL MY KIDS' SCHOOLS THIS WEEK BECAUSE I'M IN ALL THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING'S MAROONED.
SO WHAT DOES A PHASED APPROACH LOOK LIKE IN A REBRAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DECIDED TODAY OR EVEN THIS YEAR, BUT WE WILL, AS A BOARD BODY, NEED TO MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS TOO.
THAT'S PAINFUL AND IT'S EXPENSIVE, Y'ALL.
AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC EDUCATION DOESN'T GET A LOT OF MONEY, IF YOU HAVEN'T KNOWN.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND THE BUDGET AND HONORING EVERYBODY'S VALUES.
AND SO I ALSO, I THINK, SEE DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS AS A NICE OPTION FOR WORK.
TRICIA? I CONCUR AND AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID.
I THINK THAT DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT, AND I, AM NOT REALLY A FAN OF DRIFTWOOD EITHER.
I'VE COME A LONG WAY AND I DO THINK ALSO THE DRIFT AND THE DRIP, I MEAN THAT IS KIND OF COOL AND YOU KNOW I'LL HAVE SOME DRIP KIDS AND SOME DRIFT KIDS AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY COOL.
I THINK THE KIDDOS ARE GOING TO LOVE IT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE COLORS AND THE MASCOT COME TO DO BUT I AM READY TO GO FOR DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS AS WELL.
JUST ONE POINT THAT I WANT TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAS, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY EMPHASIZED POINT FROM THE COMMITTEE AND FROM A LOT OF THE EMAILS WAS THEY WANT THEIR OWN, WANT THIS HIGH SCHOOL TO HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURE AND THEIR OWN IDENTITY.
AND WHAT REALLY COMES TO MIND FOR ME IS THAT WHAT WE GET TO SEE ALL THE TIME AS WE GO TO EVERY SINGLE DIFFERENT SCHOOL IS THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE ALL NAMED WITH SPRINGS AND HAVE THE SAME MASCOT AND UP UNTIL THIS YEAR HAD THE SAME COLORS.
EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, LIKE CULTURE AND IDENTITY IS NOT GIVEN.
AND SO I THINK THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE NAME OF THIS SCHOOL IS, IT COULD BE DRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 2 MAROON AND GOLD TIGERS, AND IT WOULD HAVE A CULTURE AND IDENTITY THAT'S GOING TO BUILD OVER TIME.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL IN A NAME, AND IT'S NOT GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL IN THE COLORS OR THE MASCOT.
IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT OVER TIME.
AND I THINK ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, BUT ONE OF THE LIKE MOST EXCITING PARTS ABOUT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS IS WHEN THEY PLAY EACH OTHER.
YOU SIT ON THE SIDELINES, YOU'RE ROOTING FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S KID BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYONE, I'VE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM SYCAMORE THAT HAVE KIDS AT SYCAMORE MIDDLE, HAS YOUR KID EVER FELT LIKE THEIR SCHOOL WAS THE LITTLE BROTHER TO DSMS? THE ANSWER IS NO.
NO ONE HAS SAID THAT SYCAMORE SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL FEELS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER SCHOOL.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT AND KIND OF MAKE THAT DISTINCTION THAT THIS SCHOOL, NO MATTER WHAT,
[02:30:01]
IS GOING TO BUILD ITS OWN IDENTITY AND ITS OWN BRAND AND ITS OWN CULTURE.MARY JEAN? I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL AS THE NAME FOR HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER TWO.
A MOTION FROM MARY JANE, A SECOND FROM SHANDA.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SIX.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ONE OPPOSED.
WE HAVE A NAME AT DRIFTWOOD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
MADAM PRESIDENT, CAN I GIVE A LIGHTHEARTED ANECDOTE AS WE'RE COMING OFF THIS, RIGHT? A LITTLE TRANSITION TO THE NEXT ITEM.
SO IN ONE OF MY CONVERSATIONS, I MET WITH A...
A HIGH SCHOOL ALUM, AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE SAID HE REFUSES TO CALL US DRIP.
I SAID, BRO, WHY? LIKE, LITERALLY, IT'S ON MY BASEBALL UNIFORM.
OUR KIDS WEAR THAT? HE GOES, LIKE TRAVIS, WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, WOULD MAKE FUN OF US, CALLING US DRIP, AND SO IT WAS DEROGATORY AT THE TIME.
IS THAT NOT CRAZY? AND NOW, LITERALLY, IT'S ON OUR UNIFORMS. WE EMBRACED THE DRIP, RIGHT? AND THAT SPEAKS TO SHANNON'S POINT.
LET ME TELL OUR OWN STORY HERE.
ROB, YOU KNOW THAT? WE TELL OUR OWN STORIES.
WE DON'T LET LAKE TRAVIS DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, TO SHANNON'S POINT, HOW CULTURE CHANGES OVER TIME, AND IT'S BUILT BY THE STUDENT BODY, I'M EXCITED FOR IT.
WELL, IT'S FUNNY, TOO, BECAUSE THE OLDER CROWD THAT WE WERE TALKING TO, EVEN AT THE 150, THEY WERE LIKE, WE DON'T LIKE DRIFT.
AND THEN THEIR KIDS WERE LIKE, WE LOVE DRIFT.
IN JUNE, CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON COLORS.
AND COLORS AND MASCOT AT WORKSHOP.
AND THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE BRANDING, THE FULL BRANDING PICTURE.
AND THEN ALSO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THOSE CONVERSATIONS OF KIND OF AUDITING FACILITIES AND SEEING WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON.
AUDITING, LIKE GIVING US ALL PART COST AND THINGS LIKE THAT? YEAH, I THINK THAT'LL BE A LARGER CONVERSATION, BUT YES.
AUDITING EVERYTHING THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN AND PREPARING SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATION OR AT LEAST OUTLINE FOR THAT.
EVERY COMMITTEE MEMBER, EVERY EMAIL WE GOT, EVERYBODY WHO ENTERTAINED THE CONVERSATION AND REALLY ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, THANK YOU, JENNIFER, FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.
IT WAS A VERY LONG BUT VERY EXCITING PROCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MOVING ON TO ANOTHER EXCITING PROJECT, CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR OUR 18-PLUS PROJECT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE DID BRING ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS TO YOU IN DECEMBER, WHICH YOU'LL APPROVE.
THE INITIAL GMP FROM THOSE DOCUMENTS CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER BUDGET, AS WE'VE MENTIONED.
SINCE THAT TIME, OUR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAMS HAVE RE-EVALUATED THE PROJECT'S DESIGN AND SCOPE VERY AGGRESSIVELY, AND DARYL WITH PBK IS HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE REVISED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT REFLECT THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS WHILE STILL...
MAINTAINING ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING NEEDS FOR THAT PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SWINNERTON HERE AND JAMES AND DARRYL IF THERE'S QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
SO I'M GONNA I'M GONNA LET DARRYL PRESENT.
IMAGINE GETTING TO FOLLOW THE NAMING OF A BRAND NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
WELL THIS IS HOW WE HAD YOU PRESENT LAST WEEK.
SO WE GAVE YOU YOUR THUNDER LAST WEEK.
PRESIDENT REINHOLD, TRUSTEES DR.
MORRIS COATES THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK HERE TO BRING SOME EXCITING NEWS ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE 18 PLUS PROJECT, WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PROJECT TIMELINE.
I'LL REVIEW THE PROJECT TIMELINE THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY THAT PRESENTED TO YOU IN MARCH AND THE TIMELINE THAT WE'VE REVISED AND WHY AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND WE'LL WALK THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THAT ARE BEING PRICED, WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE PARAMETERS THAT WENT INTO PLAY, MODIFYING THOSE DOCUMENTS, AND THEN ASK YOU TO...
ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
SO THIS IN THE MARCH 30TH BOARD MEETING IS THE SCHEDULE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU.
AT THAT TIME THE BOARD CHOSE TO NOT HAVE TWO GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICES ISSUED TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.
ONE FOR THE FOUNDATION AND UTILITIES AND THE SITE WORK AND THEN ONE FOR THE REST OF THE BUILDING ITSELF.
THE BOARD TO MITIGATE ITS RISK DECIDED LET'S COME BACK WITH A SCHEDULE THAT JUST HAS ONE GMP SO WE CAN APPROVE THAT AND KNOW WHAT ALL OF OUR DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE FOR THE PROJECT.
SO IN THIS PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE WHAT'S CHANGED IS THAT THIS PROJECT WILL STILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR,
[02:35:01]
AS THIS SCHEDULE SHOWS FROM THE 30TH.BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS COMPRESSED THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT SCHEDULE TO WHERE THOSE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS WERE COMPLETED ON THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH SO THAT WE COULD GIVE SWINERTON MORE TIME TO GO OUT TO SUB-TRADES IN THE MARKET AND GET THE BEST POSSIBLE PRICING.
WITH A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE THAT WILL STILL BE DELIVERED AND COMPLETED ON MARCH 5TH, PRESENTED AT THE MARCH 22ND, I'M SORRY, JUNE 25TH, PRESENTED AT THE JUNE 22ND BOARD MEETING.
SO THAT HASN'T CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.
WE'VE GIVEN SOME MORE COMPRESSED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT TIME, COMPRESSED THAT TO GIVE SOME MORE BIDDING TIME TO SWINERTON.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY BIDDING THAT PROJECT, AND THEY'RE OUT WITH 270 PLUS SUB-TRADES LOOKING AT THOSE DOCUMENTS RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IN THAT PROCESS, JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAD SOME THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN, WHICH IS LET'S IMPROVE THESE DOCUMENTS.
IF WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, LET'S MAKE SURE WE TIGHTEN UP EVERY SINGLE THING SO THAT EVERY SUB TRADE THAT SWINERTON'S HAVING ENGAGED TO PUT PRICING TOGETHER CAN SEE THIS VERY CLEARLY AND GIVE US VERY GOOD TIGHT NUMBERS.
SO WE'LL GET BETTER BIDS AS A RESULT.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE NOT MODIFYING THE SCHEDULE.
THIS WILL STILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF DECEMBER.
AND THEN TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING YOU, THE BOARDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE 100% CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.
WE'VE HANDED THOSE TO SWINERTON.
THEY'RE OUT IN THE MARKET CURRENTLY BEING BID CURRENTLY.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THOSE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE PRESENTED TO YOU AT YOUR JUNE BOARD MEETING.
AND THEN LET'S JUST REMIND OURSELVES WHAT WE DID IN THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T COMPROMISE A SINGLE THING THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED.
AND WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU HAD YOUR GROUNDBREAKING FOR THIS FACILITY.
SO WE DID NOT MODIFY THE PROGRAM OF SPACES.
ALL OF THE PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS THAT WENT INTO THIS FACILITY HAVE REMAINED IN THIS FACILITY AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
THEN THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE BUILDING, THE STUDENTS IT SERVES, THE FUNCTIONS WITHIN THAT BUILDING, WITHIN THOSE SPACES, HAVE NOT BEEN COMPROMISED OR CHANGED.
WHAT YOU PRESENTED ORIGINALLY IS STILL WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY OF THE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING BUILDING.
THAT WAS DESIGNED ORIGINALLY THAT'S BEEN MODIFIED BUT STILL WILL HAVE THE SAME APPEARANCE SAME AESTHETIC AND SO WITH THAT WHAT HAVE WE DONE WE'VE BEEN MINDFUL OF YOUR BUDGET WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WE VERIFIED AND VALIDATED ALL THE SCOPE MAKE SURE WE HELD TO THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT ORIGINALLY WE WENT THROUGH EVERY PIECE AND PART OF THIS PROJECT TRIED TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT MORE EFFICIENT FROM A MATERIAL STANDPOINT FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT EVERY PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT WENT INTO THIS BUILDING, EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ANALYZED AND MODIFIED AND REVIEWED.
AND THEN WE IDENTIFIED COST SAVINGS WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE ITEMS. AND SO LET'S TALK JUST FOR A SECOND ABOUT WHAT WE MODIFIED IN TERMS OF THE SITE PLAN.
WE REDUCED THE PARKING THAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD LAID OUT.
WE MOVED THE BUILDING AND THE PARKING OVER A BIT, IF SOME OF YOU THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH TOPOGRAPHY, SO THAT WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FLATTEST PART OF THE SITE, AND SO WE HAD FEWER SITE MODIFICATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING, DRIVES, CIRCULATION.
WE STILL ADHERED TO CODE REQUIREMENTS.
WE STILL ADHERED TO MAKING SURE THAT DROP-OFF AND PICKUP WORKED AS IT NEEDED TO.
BUT WE'VE REDUCED SOME OF THAT PARKING AND DRIVES.
AGAIN, WE HAD RETAINING WALLS THAT WE REMOVED AND CHANGED THE LAYOUT OF THE PARKING.
AND SO WE'VE MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO SIMPLIFY THE SITE AND THE UTILITIES, WHICH HAS MADE THE PROJECT MORE ECONOMICAL.
THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE ADDED TO THE PROJECT AS WE WENT ALONG THAT WILL BE FUNDED LATER.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED THERE.
SOME OUTDOOR YARD AND FENCING, GREENHOUSE, SOME POTENTIAL RAINWATER COLLECTION, GOLF CART DRIVES AND PARKING.
AND WE'VE GOT A REDUCED CANOPY SYSTEM.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN JUST A SECOND.
WE STILL HAVE A CANOPY THAT EXTENDS TO THE DROP-OFF.
WE HAD IT WRAPPING AROUND THE BUILDING PREVIOUSLY.
IT DOESN'T FULLY WRAP AROUND THE BUILDING NOW.
AGAIN, WE'VE LEFT THE FLOOR PLAN THE SAME.
WE'VE NOT MODIFIED THE SPACES.
WE'VE NOT MODIFIED ANY OF THE FUNCTIONALITY.
BUT WE CHANGED THE FRAMING SYSTEM.
WE CHANGED THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM.
SO ALL OF YOUR SYSTEMS, YOUR ROOFING, ALL OF THE CANOPIES, THE EXTERIOR MATERIALS, WE'VE EVALUATED ALL OF THOSE, BUT AGAIN, STILL LEFT THE BUILDING INTACT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT COVERED AREA, THAT'S THE CANOPY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
THE PRIOR DESIGN HAD IT WRAP AROUND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU IMAGERY.
THIS STILL HAS A VERY SIMILAR APPEARANCE TO WHAT YOU PRESENTED ORIGINALLY.
HOWEVER, THAT CANOPY EXTENDS OUT TO THE DROP-OFF, DOESN'T WRAP AROUND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
SO I'LL RUN THROUGH THAT VERY QUICKLY.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASK BUT I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE ONE MORE THING THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO BE CERTAINLY A SERVICEABLE WELL EASY TO MAINTAIN COMMERCIAL BUILDING WITH BUILT WITH INTEGRITY YOUR DIFFERENCES YOUR YOUR FRAMING SYSTEM IS NO LONGER A STEEL
[02:40:02]
BUILDING YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WOOD FRAME COMMERCIAL BUILDING HERE AND JUST SOME EXAMPLES TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE ARE THOSE WOOD FRAME BUILDINGS EXIST IN A WHOLE HOST OF PLACES IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN COMMUNITIES AND THEN ALSO RESTAURANTS THAT WE ALL DINE IN SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.TRICIA? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE NON-NEGOTIABLE PART OF THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE I DO WANT THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROGRAMS AND THE SPACES ARE WHAT WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO AND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT GO ON IN THIS PROGRAM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE IN PLACE AND THE AESTHETICS.
I MEAN, WE DEFINITELY WANT THE BUILDING TO RESEMBLE THE BUILDING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT TO.
I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION, THOUGH, AS FAR AS THE OUTDOOR YARD AND FENCING.
I DO KNOW THAT THE GREENHOUSE IS PULLED, AND WE'RE GOING TO POTENTIALLY LOOK FOR OTHER FUNDS FOR THAT.
BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE YARD AND FENCING FOR? AND AS FAR AS FENCING IS CONCERNED, IS IT NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD...
PAY FOR OUT OF THE SAFETY ALLOTMENT.
I THINK THERE'S MAYBE SOME POTENTIAL ON THAT.
IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT THOUGH, SO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
AND IT ALSO DEPENDS ON AT WHAT POINT IF WE STILL HAVE THOSE GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.
MY QUESTION WAS ON THE FENCING TOO.
SO BY PULLING THOSE OUT, AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THAT THOSE ARE A PRIORITY, I WOULD IMAGINE FOR EVERYBODY, THE RAINWATER COLLECTION.
THE GOLF CART PATH AND PARKING, ARE THESE THINGS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS, I'M SORRY, NOT ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WHERE WE'RE UNDER BUDGET ON OTHER ITEMS BECAUSE THIS WAS A BOND APPROVED PROJECT, WE CAN POTENTIALLY USE THOSE FUNDS, YES? YEAH, THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT.
THESE WERE THINGS THAT, AS WE WERE SEEING OTHER CHALLENGES AT THE SYCAMORE CAMPUS, GOT ADDED TO THIS PROJECT.
THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY THINGS THAT WERE PART OF 18-PLUS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT PROJECT.
THEY WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE LIKE, OH, THESE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS. WE'LL FIX THEM WHILE WE'RE THERE.
SO WE PROBABLY WILL NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER BOND FUNDS AND NOT CONSIDER IT A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION ON FENCING.
SO DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN THERE MIGHT BE NO FENCING TO START? NO, I THINK THERE'S SOME POTENTIAL.
REQUIRED? ISN'T THERE SOME REQUIRED, WHETHER IT'S ADA OR SAFETY AND SECURITY? YEAH, IT'S GOT VERY LIMITED REQUIREMENTS, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE THE SAME AS ANOTHER SITE, BUT IT WILL MEET ALL OF THE SAFETY STANDARDS.
ROB? OLIVIA, I LIKE WHERE YOUR HEAD'S AT, AND I AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M JUST NOW REALIZING WE'RE PULLING RAINWATER COLLECTION OUT.
HERE'S WHAT I THINK COULD WORK, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT, MAYBE I'D LIKE TO SEE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH POTENTIALLY EXPLORING CHANGE ORDERS ON THIS PROJECT TO LOOK AT THESE SPECIFIC ITEMS, AT POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR THIS BODY TO CONSIDER TO USE THINGS LIKE BOND INTEREST, ET CETERA.
TO FACILITATE SOME OF THESE ITEMS ON THIS PROJECT THAT WE WOULD VIEW AS POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTFUL.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL COME FROM YOU.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT AS THE PROCESS CONTINUES.
LET'S NOT WAIT FOR THOSE CHANGE ORDERS TO A POINT TO WHERE IT BECOMES NOW SUPER EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.
SO I'D BE VERY WILLING TO ENTERTAIN POTENTIAL CHANGE ORDERS TO LOOK AT FACILITATING A COUPLE MORE OF THESE ITEMS. THAT WE COULD USE THINGS LIKE BOND INTEREST TO PAY FOR.
I THINK THAT IS A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO AND ALSO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT THIS PROJECT HAS AND THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES, MAINLY AROUND WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME CONSENSUS AROUND THAT BEING A GOOD IDEA, AND IF SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONSIDER THAT MOVING FORWARD.
I HAD THE MIC, SO I'M HAPPY TO DO IT, MADAM PRESIDENT.
LET ME PULL OUT OF THIS REAL QUICK.
AND BY THE WAY, DARRELL, I'M PULLING THIS UP.
YOU PRESENTED THIS NOW, I THINK, TO A SIX DIFFERENT TIMES, SIR.
TO YOUR CREDIT, THOUGH, YOU PRESENTED EVERY TIME.
AND AS OUR PRINCIPAL, I HAVE A SAYING, YOU CAN FAKE CARING, BUT YOU CAN'T FAKE SHOWING UP.
AND, SIR, YOU HAVE SHOWED UP, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT, EVEN THOUGH NONE OF US ARE REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW THIS YOU HAVE BEEN THERE.
YOU'VE BEEN GUIDING US THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
MARY JANE? OH, YOU JUST WENT OFF OF IT.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD 18 PLUS PROJECT AS PRESENTED.
A MOTION FROM ROB, SECOND FROM SHANDA.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0.
[02:45:01]
THANK YOU.NEXT IS OUR CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF OUR COMPENSATION PLAN.
SO OUR COMPENSATION PLAN GOES HAND IN HAND WITH OUR GENERAL PAY INCREASE THIS YEAR.
THIS COMPENSATION PLAN REFLECTS A .5% INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM, THE MIDPOINTS, AND THE MAXIMUMS. AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO IS IT'S GOING TO HELP US STAY COMPETITIVE WITH OUR NEW HIRES COMING TO THE DISTRICT FROM OUTSIDE.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT WITH LAST YEAR'S TEACHER RETENTION ALLOTMENT, THAT HAS BEEN THE FLOW THROUGH FOR THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY.
$2,500 FOR THE THREE AND FOUR YEAR AND $5,000 FOR THE...
TEACHERS WITH FIVE YEARS OR MORE IT MADE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE TO THE TEACHER PAY SCALE AND SO ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT PERCENT IS WHAT OUR TEACHERS SAW FOR THEIR INCREASE LAST YEAR SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE COMPARED TO THE ADMIN PROFESSIONAL AND THE OTHER PAY GRADES THEY'RE NOT MATCHING AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS WE'RE NOW SEEING SOME CHALLENGES WHEN WE'RE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OFF THE TEACHER PAY SCALE AND WANT TO MOVE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL SCALE THEY'RE NOT INCREASING AT THE SAME RATE AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE IN THAT THEY THEY MAY EITHER A NOT SEE AS MUCH OF AN INCREASE AS THEY WERE HOPING OR THEY MAY NOT SAY SEE AN INCREASE AT ALL UM WE ARE STILL DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP IT COMPETITIVE IT'S JUST IT'S A FANTASTIC THING TO PAY OUR TEACHERS AS MUCH AS WE CAN IT'S JUST THAT WE CANNOT MAKE THAT SAME INCREMENTAL INCREASE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL PAY SCALE.
OTHERWISE, THIS IS OUR COMPENSATION PLAN FOR THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, IF ANYBODY WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE'S HEARINGS, THE INTERIM TESTIMONY, THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM LORENA, DR.
KUCHERA, I BELIEVE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MID-SIZED DISTRICTS, POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THIS VERY PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS WHO WOULD MAKE EXCEPTIONAL INTERVENTIONISTS, INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS, AND THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO FOR THAT VERY REASON.
AND THEN THAT WAS ECHOED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM COMEL ISD, FORGOTTEN HIS NAME, BUT BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
SO AT LEAST THE PUBLIC COMMITTEE IS HEARING THAT AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE A SOLUTION IN THE 90TH.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2026-2027 COMPENSATION PLAN AS PRESENTED TO TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026.
MOTION FROM MARY JANE, A SECOND FROM OLIVIA.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN OUR GENERAL PAY INCREASES.
SO TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT 0.5% INCREASE FOR THE COMPENSATION PLAN, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A 1% INCREASE ON THE MIDPOINT FOR ALL OF OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO US NEXT YEAR AS A RETENTION PIECE FOR ALL OF THE MIDPOINTS ON THEIR SCALES FOR ALL OF OUR GROUPS. ROB? SO I STARTED MY MORNING AS I WAS WATCHING MY COFFEE, WATCHING THE NEWS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST REPORTS WAS A SISTER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS CLOSING FOUR CAMPUSES, A SISTER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE ALLISON AREA THAT HAS NO IDEA HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S A MONTH OR TWO AFTER ONE OF OUR SISTER DISTRICTS HERE LOCALLY IS HAVING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE SIZE OF THEIR WORKFORCE. AND HERE WE ARE. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO OUR BUDGET IS LOOKING GOOD.
WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. YET IN THE MIDST OF THAT, THOUGH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 1% INCREASE IN PAY INCREASES, RIGHT? AND SO... IT'S A GOOD-BAD STORY.
IT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO OFFSET SOME OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ON OUR TEACHERS, WHICH WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T KEEPING UP WITH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE GREATEST CHALLENGE THAT THIS BOARD FACES IS HOW DO WE MAKE GOOD DECISION-MAKING FROM A LONGEVITY STANDPOINT FROM OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, NOT KNOWING HOW THE BIENNIUM IS GOING TO GO IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR CLASSROOMS ARE STEADY-EDDY. AND I DO THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT, AND THAT OF YOUR TEAM, THAT YOU'RE AFFORDING US OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.
ON A YEAR THAT WE HAD 68% INCREASES WITH TRS, TRS, T, WHATEVER, WHAT'S IT CALLED? TRP. OH, MY GOSH. WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID.
[02:50:01]
BUT ALSO NOW REFLECT OUR BUDGET TO PROVIDE SOME INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS ON TOP OF THAT FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET YEAR, I THINK, IS WISE. AND I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION.AND IF THERE'S NO OTHER THOUGHTS, I'LL OFFER A MOTION, MADAM PRESIDENT. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2026-2027 GENERAL PAY INCREASE OF 1% FOR CURRENT TEACHING STAFF, AUXILIARY STAFF, CHILD NUTRITION STAFF, TRANSPORTATION STAFF, CLERICAL TECHNICAL STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING JULY 01, 2026. A MOTION FROM ROB, A
[10. REPORTS AND INFORMATION]
SECOND FROM KIM. ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO REPORTS AND INFORMATION.ANY HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK? LEARNING AND INNOVATION? HI, GOOD EVENING.
THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM THE REPORT LAST WEEK. WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT SUMMER SCHOOL WILL BE STARTING AND THAT WE'LL BE USING A LOT OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS TO HELP AND SUPPORT THAT AND THEN SOME PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. HR? NO UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK. FINANCE REPORTS? THERE ARE NO UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK. OPERATIONS? NO UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK.
SUPERINTENDENTS? JUST A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE THE 26-27 BOARD MEETING DATES FOR YOU ALL. NOT ANTICIPATING ANY CHANGES, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR NEXT YEAR. ALREADY STARTING TO PLAN FOR THAT. I BROKE THE NO UPDATES PROCEDURE.
ALL RIGHT. WE DO NOT HAVE CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING, AND WITH NO FURTHER ACTION, WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 9 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.