[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:06]
I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT AND THAT NOTICE OF THE MEETING IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPENS MEETING ACT.LET US DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE STAND WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE OF FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.
>> TODAY, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[III. Public Comment]
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNAWARE, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME AND TALK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA POSTED WITHIN NOTICE OF THE MEETING.
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL SIGN UP BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS AS SPECIFIED IN THE BOARD'S PROCEDURES ON PUBLIC COMMENT AND SHALL INDICATE THE AGENDA ITEM OR TOPIC ON WHICH THEY WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
AN INDIVIDUAL'S COMMENTS TO THE BOARD SHOULD NOT EXCEED THREE MINUTES PER MEETING.
WHEN YOU REACH TWO MINUTES, YOU WILL GET A NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.
THIS DOESN'T MEAN YOU STOP, THIS JUST MEANS THAT YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.
IF I COULD PLEASE ASK MISS MARIANNE ALVES TO STAND.
>> WOW, THAT'S LOW. READY? GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND OUR DISTRICT STAFF.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY UNDER PROTECTIONS PROVIDED BY DISTRICT POLICY DIA, AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.007.
AS YOU MENTIONED, MY NAME IS MARIANNE ALVES.
I'M A PROUD ALUMNUS OF DEL VALLE ISD, HAVING ATTENDED FROM KINDER THROUGH 12TH GRADE, AND I SERVE THE STUDENTS OF DEL VALLE AND THE FAMILIES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM A, CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT EXCEEDING $50,000 FOR CONSULTATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT EDUCATION CONSULTING SERVICE.
THE BOARD HAS PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO A THOROUGH VETTING PROCESS FOR CONSULTANTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ENSURING ADHERENCE TO THE REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSAL PROCEDURES FOR PROCUREMENT.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT CONSENT AGENDA ITEM SEEMS TO LACK TRANSPARENCY THAT OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH YOU DO REPRESENT, HAS BEEN ASSURED OF REGARDING CONTRACTS AND APPROVALS.
THE BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF GABRIEL MUNOZ AT CONVOCATION STATING ONLY THAT HE WORKS IN HUMAN RESOURCES WAS MET WITH SOME SURPRISE AND CONCERN FROM MANY LONGSTANDING DVISD STAFF MEMBERS.
IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT MR. MUNOZ WAS PREVIOUSLY REASSIGNED FROM AN HR ROLE DURING HIS TENURE WITH DEL VALLE ISD, WHICH IS PUBLIC INFORMATION.
THIS RAISES QUESTION ABOUT THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF BRINGING HIM BACK IN THIS ROLE AND APPROVING A CONTRACT EXCEEDING 50,000 FOR HIS CONSULTING SERVICES AT THIS TIME.
THE BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED PRACTICES FOR SELECTING FIRMS FOR AUDITS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND A SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE SAME TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES ARE APPLIED TO ENSURE THE BEST CONTRACT SERVICES OR BUSINESSES ARE CHOSEN BEFORE COMMITTING OUR DISTRICT FUNDS.
THE EXPEDITED NATURE OF THIS CONTRACT APPROVAL, ALONG WITH THE CONSULTANT'S EXISTING WORK WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR MONTHS, WAS ONLY PUBLICLY DISCLOSED TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AUGUST 20 BOARD AGENDA.
THIS RAISES CONCERN ABOUT THE ADHERENCES TO PREVIOUS GUIDELINES SET BY THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD.
BEFORE APPROVING ANY CONTRACTS, INCLUDING THIS ONE, I WOULD HOPE THAT THESE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES ARE CONSIDERED.
THE PROCUREMENT METHOD UTILIZED, SELECTION PROCESSES, INCLUDING AN IMPARTIAL SCORING COMMITTEE, A DETAILED RUBRIC USED FOR EVALUATING ANY PROPOSED SERVICE OR BUSINESS, REFERENCE CHECKS, AND CONTRACT SERVICE BUSINESS HISTORY.
SO MY QUESTION IS, HAVE THESE BEST PRACTICES BEEN FOLLOWED IN CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT.
>> MISS ALVES YOU HAVE A MINUTE.
>> GIVEN THE THOROUGH EVALUATION OF CONSULTANTS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE DELIBERATIONS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUSINESSES, NON PROFITS, AS WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FIRMS,
[00:05:01]
I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO APPLY THE SAME LEVEL OF INTENSE SCRUTINY TO THE SAME MATTER AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.WELL, WE WILL NOW, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW TURN INTO CLOSED SESSION. YEAH, WE DO WANT TO DO.
>> I APOLOGIZE, MS. KAY, I APOLOGIZE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO ACTION ITEM A.
[V.A. Consider and Act on Modifying or Adopting the Board Operating Procedures]
CONSIDER AND ACT ON MODIFYING OR ADOPTING THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.>> THEN ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE A PRINTED OUT COPY OF THE OPERATING PROCEDURES?
>> ACTUALLY, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS SINCE JUNE.
IS THAT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AS MODIFIED AND UPDATED BY THE COMMITTEE THAT SPENT MANY HOURS AND MET SEVERAL TIMES WITH TASBY CONSULTANT, DAVID COMP.
>> WE WILL MOVE INTO DISCUSSION.
MISS, K IF YOU WOULD KINDLY COME FORWARD, I'LL LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SHARE WITH US WHY YOU'RE HERE, WHY WE ASKED YOU TO BE HERE AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN MOVE INTO DISCUSSION FOR THIS ITEM.
>> I'M K DOUGLAS. I HAVE BEEN A CONSULTANT WITH TASBY FOR 21 YEARS.
I WAS A BOARD MEMBER FOR 16 YEARS IN HUNTSVILLE, AND I WAS A PROSECUTOR SO YOU KNOW THAT I DID THE LORD'S WORK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER LAWYERS DO.
YOU INVITED ME BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU WALK THROUGH THESE, MY GUESS.
>> I'M SORRY. I WASN'T AWARE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE HERE.
THANKS FOR COMING, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION ITEM SINCE IT'S LISTED UNDER ACTION.
>> I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE REQUEST WAS TO HAVE A BOARD WORKSHOP SO THAT WE COULD DISCUSS THIS AS A BOARD IN A WORKSHOP AND HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION AND THEN POSSIBLY ADD NEW ITEMS BEING THAT WE HAVE THESE CURRENT ONES FOR SIX MONTHS ALMOST WITH NO ADDITION ADDED TO OR NO COMMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO UPDATE THEM.
IF WE WANT, AND I WOULD SUGGEST IF WE WANT TO DO A MORE THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND ADD NEW ITEMS THAT WE HOLD A WORKSHOP IN THE FUTURE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE PREVIOUSLY.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME CLARIFYING COMMENTS.
THIS WAS GOING TO BE JUST A WORKSHOP INITIALLY.
WE MOVED THIS INTO A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE WE HAD SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WE MOVED OVER, AND THEREFORE, IT HAD TO BECOME A SPECIAL MEETING IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THESE ACTION ITEMS LIKE THE CONTRACT FOR MR. MUNOZ.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WE MADE IT OUTSIDE OF A WORKSHOP, PLEASE.
>> NO. THE CONSIDER AN ACT ON MODIFYING OR ADOPTING THE BOARD OPERATING MADE IT A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING RATHER THAN A WORKSHOP BECAUSE THERE WAS ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN ON THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND THAT IS WHY IT BECAME A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION AND CORRECTION.
YES SO BECAUSE WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON IT, WE NEEDED IT TO BE A SPECIAL MEETING.
IF IT WAS JUST A DISCUSSION WITH NO ACTION, THEN WE COULD HAVE DONE JUST A PLAIN WORKSHOP.
BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD HAD WITH MR. COMP, WHO WAS OUR TASBY CONSULTANT PRIOR, IN ORDER FOR US TO FINISH IT ALL UP AND GO THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS, HE HAD RECOMMENDED AT THAT TIME THAT WE HAVE A CONSULTANT HELP US WALK THROUGH IT AND SINCE HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, HE DID PROVIDE US WITH MISS DOUGLAS' INFORMATION TO HAVE HER COME AND ASSIST US WITH THIS AND SO WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH HER TO COME TODAY TO DO THIS WITH US.
>> WE CONTRACTED WITH SOMEBODY AND THE BOARD'S NOT AWARE OF IT? THANK YOU.
>> MAY YOU REPEAT? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
>> WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THIS FOR TONIGHT AND THE REST OF THE BOARD IS NOT AWARE OF IT.
AT LEAST, THREE IT LOOKS LIKE OF YOU ARE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN FOR THIS WORKSHOP TO TALK THROUGH IT.
>> IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE CONTRACTED WITH DAVID PROBABLY WITH TASBY THROUGH THAT CONTRACT? I HAVE NO PROBLEM.
I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK WE NEED ALL THE INFORMATION WE CAN.
I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSION.
>> ANY COMMENTS ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS?
[00:10:05]
>> THE COMMITTEE SPENT ABOUT 3 HOURS, A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS SO THERE WAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THIS DIST TO PROVIDE INPUT BUT SHOULD THE DAIS WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT.
HOWEVER, LIKE IT'S BEEN STATED, THESE OPERATING PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DRAFTED FOR SOME TIME, AND THERE HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THIS, AND I BELIEVE THIS CONVERSATION GOES BACK LIKE TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WAS REQUESTED BUT IF THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO, THEN, OKAY.
>> I WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY PUT THE WHOLE SPECIAL BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE COMMITTEE TOGETHER.
I HAVE WENT OVER THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR TAKE AWAY FROM IT, BUT I'M WILLING TO HEAR WHAT THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT.
>> CAN I MENTION WE CAN MODIFY AND CHANGE THESE AT ANY TIME THAT WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO.
I THINK THAT FOR TIME SAKE AND FOR GETTING BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES DONE, THAT IT'S PRUDENT OF US TO JUST DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SINCE WE'VE HAD THESE FOR SO LONG AND ESTABLISH A BASELINE AND THEN COME BACK AND HAVE AN ACTUAL WORKSHOP WHERE WE CAN FULLY DISCUSS SOME MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES AND I KNOW THAT SOME BOARD MEMBERS AT ONE TIME THAT ARE NOT HERE, WANTED TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO IT.
I'M JUST SAYING FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND THE SAKE OF RESPECTING THE COMMITTEES TIME THAT THEY PUT INTO IT, THAT WE JUST MOVE FORWARD AND THEN SCHEDULE AN ACTUAL WORKSHOP WHERE WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA THINGS ON THERE AND WE AS A BOARD CAN DISCUSS FREELY AND MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE WERE MORE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYONE'S IDEAS OUT IN A WORKSHOP VERSUS BEING ON THE BOARD.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE ANY DIVISION OVER WORDSMITH OR ANY OF THAT OTHER STUFF AT THIS TIME. OKAY.
>> I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE WITH YOU. I AGREE.
I THINK WE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS WITH IT.
WE CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT THINGS.
I THINK IN HONOR AND RESPECT FOR THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF THERE'S MAYBE CERTAIN ONES THAT THEY HAVE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL OF THEM BECAUSE I AGREE THERE'S A LOT ON THERE.
IF WE WANT TO JUST PICK AND CHOOSE SOME OF THOSE THAT MAYBE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DO HAVE QUESTIONS ON, WE CAN DO A BRIEF DISCUSSION.
IF IT BECOMES A LONGER DISCUSSION, I'M HAPPY TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S MOVE THEM TO LATER, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT WORKSHOP IN ANOTHER SETTING.
I WOULD LIKE TO USE MISS DOUGLAS' EXPERTISE SINCE SHE'S HERE JUST TO HELP US WORK THROUGH SOME OF IT.
I ALSO HAVE SOME COMMENTS OF THINGS I DIDN'T ADD AT THAT TIME WHEN I WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE AFTER GOING TO THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE THAT CAME OUT OF ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS, THAT I THOUGHT THEY HAD SOME GREAT IDEAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND SEE WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD ALL THINK.
>> AT THIS TIME, ARE WE GOING TO BE JUST MODIFYING THE CURRENT ONES THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, OR ARE WE GOING TO BE ALSO ADDING TO OTHERS? BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONGER DISCUSSION.
IT TOOK US OVER 18 HOURS TO JUST REVISE THESE ONES.
I WANT TO RESPECT EVERYONE'S TIME AS WELL AND KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG DISCUSSION.
>> LIKE I SAID, LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES, HOW LONG THE DISCUSSION GOES.
I THINK WE DO IT BASED ON THE NEW ONES THAT WE PUT FORWARD BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, THE WHOLE BOARD HAS HAD ACCESS TO THEM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW IT SO IF WE GO OFF OF THE ONES THAT WE'VE ALREADY EDITED OR THAT WE PROPOSED, AND IF PEOPLE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THOSE EDITS, WE CAN DO IT BASED ON THAT, NOT ON THE 2015 VERSION.
>> WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF HOURS AT THIS BOARD MEETING UNTIL 1:30 IN THE MORNING, 1:35, 3:45 I THINK WE KNOW WE SPEND THE TIME WE NEED.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE'VE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS, NOT A DISCUSSION.
SOME OF THE THINGS I SENT IN DID NOT GET PUT INTO HERE SO WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS.
WE'VE HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT WE'VE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION ON IT.
>> GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> I WILL DO THAT BUT YOU'RE NOT PRESIDENT, SO I'LL ASK.
>> I WAS ALSO UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WOULD BE HAVING A WORKSHOP ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVED ON.
>> WELL, THEN, COULD WE POSTPONE IT FOR A WORKSHOP BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A WORKSHOP
[00:15:06]
AND WE AGREED TO DO A WORKSHOP AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S A DISSERVICE TO OUR BOARD.WE'RE BICKERING ABOUT ON THE DAIS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO APPROVE THESE OR NOT, WHEN AGAIN, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A WORKSHOP WHERE WE COULD AIR A LOT OF THIS OUT.
>> HOW WOULD YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AND JUST APPROVING CERTAIN ITEMS OF THEM THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH BECAUSE THERE'S LIKE I DON'T EVEN KNOW 18, 20 SOMETHING ITEMS ON THIS AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE.
WE CAN JUST SINCE WE HAVE THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THOSE AND THEN THE OTHER ONES, YES, WE CAN DISCUSS HAVING I DON'T KNOW WHEN IS THE PROBLEM WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS.
>> MY POINT IS, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON EVERY ITEM.
WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS DURING BOARD MEETINGS AND MAKE DECISIONS DURING BOARD MEETINGS.
WE SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY PASS THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A WORKSHOP.
BOARD MEETINGS ARE FOR DISCUSSIONS AND THIS ROLLED INTO A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.
BUT YEAH, I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS I'D LIKE TO ASK. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OFF.
I THINK WE'VE HAD TO PUT THIS OFF SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE POPPED UP.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, HOW MANY TOPICS ARE THERE THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON OR THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK WAS HOW WAS THE BOARD GOING TO SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN IN OUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR A LONG TIME THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWED.
DID YOU ALL DISCUSS HOW WE'RE GOING TO HOLD BOARDS ACCOUNTABLE?
>> JUST HOW MANY JUST SO WE CAN GAUGE.
>> I MARKED THEM, SO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
THE NUMBER 1, WHICH IS WHY DID AND I ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER.
WHY DID WE REMOVE THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FOR SMALL BOARDS BECAUSE THAT WAS PUT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, AFTER I'D BEEN TO A TASBY CONFERENCE AND THEY RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL BOARDS THAT WE ADOPT THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDERS FOR SMALL BOARDS BECAUSE IT'S MORE EFFICIENT.
MAYBE OUR CONSULTANT CAN ANSWER THAT BUT ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS REMOVED BECAUSE IT'S MORE EFFICIENT FOR SMALL BOARDS TO HAVE THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDERS FOR SMALL BOARDS.
>> TRUSTEE I MEAN, WE DISCUSSED [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY POLICY AND IT WAS ALREADY A GIVEN.
WE WERE TRYING TO MINIMIZE HOW MUCH STUFF WAS ACTUALLY IN HERE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT SHOULD ALREADY BE DONE AND SHOULD BE KNOWN.
DURING ORIENTATION, IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED WHAT HAPPENED AS WELL.
WE'RE LIKE, WELL, LET'S NOT WASTE MORE SPACE AND PUT IT ON THERE WHEN IT SHOULD ALREADY BE A KNOWN ITEM.
>> I CONCUR WITH THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ADVISED BY MR. COMPOREN AND MISS DOUGLAS, WOULD YOU CARE TO SHOW YOUR EXPERTISE ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PART ABOUT ADDING THE ROBERTS RULE BOARD OPERATING BRIEF?
>> ROBERT'S RULES HAS A LARGER SET OF RULES, ROBERTS DOES, BUT THERE'S ALSO ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR SMALLER BOARDS OF GENERALLY LESS THAN A DOZEN.
WHAT IT DOES IS TAKES AWAY SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS LIKE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND BEFORE YOU CAN ACTUALLY DISCUSS SOMETHING IN THE SMALL BOARD RULES, THAT'S NOT THERE.
THEY'RE DIFFERENT BUT NOT VASTLY DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE JUST MORE MANAGEABLE, THE SMALLER SET.
>> WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE INCLUDE IT IN OUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE PACKET OR THE WAY THAT WE PULLED IT OUT IS OKAY.
>> I THINK YOU CAN DO IT HOWEVER, YOU AGREE.
IF YOU SAY WE WANT TO USE THESE, YOU USE THESE, IF YOU SAY WE'D RATHER USE THESE, AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN YOUR POLICY ANYWAY.
IF IT'S IN THE POLICY, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPEATED IN THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE CONSISTENT.
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ONE THAT SAYS ONE THING AND THE OTHER THAT SAYS THE OTHER.
>> DOES THE POLICY SAY FOR SMALL BOARDS OR JUST ROBERT RULES?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR POLICY SAYS.
>> THE REASON WE CHANGE IS BECAUSE IT JUST SAID ROBERT'S RULES FROM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, SO I DON'T REMEMBER AS UPDATING THAT.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT, THE POLICY HAS TO BE CHANGED.
>> WE'RE UNDER 12. WE'RE A SMALL BOARD. SHE SAID UNDER 12, RIGHT?
>> YES. BUT THE POLICY AND YOUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT SO WHATEVER YOUR POLICY SAYS, SHOULD BE.
>> I CAN MAKE A NOTE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TWO.
>> OUR POLICY DOES LIVE ONLINE, SO CAN WE JUST CHECK RIGHT NOW?
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS ONE.
ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS, WAS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO ADD?
[00:20:03]
>> ALSO, NUMBER 18, THE OFFICER SHALL NOT SERVE MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN ONE OFFICE.
I THINK THAT'S LIMITING BOARDS AND I THINK TO ME, YOU'RE LIMITING BOARDS OF WHO CAN SERVE OR WHATEVER OFFICES.
THAT ONE I HIGHLIGHTED, I THOUGHT THAT ONE WAS I DON'T KNOW LIKE I SAID LIMITING BOARDS BECAUSE THE BOARD RIGHT NOW GETS TO VOTE EVERY YEAR ON OFFICER.
>> TRUSTEE, CAN I ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT ONE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAD A DISCUSSION AND YOU HELPED US UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT AS WELL SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SHARING THAT.
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT IT WOULD CAME IN LIGHT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A DISTRICT DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT WITH OUR BOARD OFFICERS AND THAT WE GIVE OTHER FOLKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THEY WANT A LEADERSHIP ROLE, NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T VOTE ON SOMEBODY, BUT IT'S TO GIVE EVERYBODY A BREAK AND MAYBE TRY SOME NEW LEADERSHIP.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT REASON, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY AS AN OFFICER FOR I DON'T KNOW, SEVEN YEARS AS BOARD PRESIDENT WITHOUT SWITCHING IT UP AND GETTING A NEW PERSPECTIVE FROM OTHER FOLKS.
IF THE BOARD JUST DECIDES THAT, HEY, WE CAN ABIDE BY THAT POLICY, THESE ARE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES.
THESE ARE NOT SET IN STONE OR LIKE POLICIES, SORRY, THESE ARE PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES.
AGAIN, IF SOMEBODY DECIDES THAT, HEY, AS A BOARD, WE DECIDE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO STEP UP, AT THAT POINT, WE CAN MODIFY OUR BOARD OPS AND MAKE THOSE CHANGES AT THAT TIME BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BECOME COMPLACENT AS A BOARD AND OUR OFFICERS AS WELL.
>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, THOUGH, IT WASN'T A RECOMMENDATION.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT AMONG US AND AGREED ON.
>> I THINK THAT TO ME, YOUR ARGUMENT IS NOT TO BE COMPLACENT.
THE BOARD GETS TO VOTE EVERY YEAR ON OFFICERS, BY PUTTING THIS IN HERE, YOU'RE LIMITING THE BOARD ON WHO CAN SERVE AN OFFICER.
I'VE SEEN BOARDS THAT THEY ROTATE OFFICERS ALL THE TIME, WHICH IS NOT SOMETIMES THE BEST AND SO I JUST THINK WOULD REMOVE THAT ONE IF WE WANT TO.
I JUST THINK IT'S IT'S NOT NECESSARY WHEN THE BOARD GETS TO VOTE EVERY YEAR, IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE AND THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD SAYS, NO, YOU'VE SERVED LONG ENOUGH OR YOU'RE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS USED TO BE OR WHATEVER, THEN THE BOARD GETS TO VOTE ON WHO'S GOING TO BE OFFICERS.
I JUST THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OVERKILL ON THAT ONE.
>> THAT IS NUMBER 18, YOU SAID? NUMBER 18 IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HOLD AND WHEN WE GO THROUGH, WE CAN SEE IF WE HAVE A MAJORITY FOR IT.
>> CAN WE ASK THE EXPERT WHAT HER ADVICE WOULD BE SINCE SHE'S HERE FOR THIS. THANK YOU.
>> I'M ONLY AN EXPERT BECAUSE I AM TWO COUNTIES AND THREE RIVERS AWAY.
I'M FROM HUNTSVILLE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU BOTH SIDES.
I'M A LAWYER. I COULD ALWAYS ARGUE BOTH SIDES.
ONE IS, IF YOU CONSTANTLY CHANGE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGING BECAUSE LOTS OF BOARDS DO IT DIFFERENTLY SAY, YOU MUST BE THE SECRETARY, THEN YOU WILL BE THE VICE PRESIDENT, THEN YOU WILL BE THE PRESIDENT, WHICH PRESUPPOSES THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE THE PRESIDENT, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
THE OTHER SIDE IS, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS AN AMAZING PRESIDENT AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR THREE YEARS, WHAT THIS SAYS IS, BASICALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY YOU'RE OUT.
IT'S SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF PUSHBACK ON THESE AREN'T CARVED IN STONE.
WE CAN CHANGE THEM WHENEVER WE WANT.
I HAVE SEEN BOARDS WHO SAY, GIVEN THE SCENARIO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SECRETARY, THEN VICE PRESIDENT, THEN PRESIDENT.
THAT WORKS WELL UNTIL WE GET TO SOMEBODY WE DON'T WANT TO BE PRESIDENT SO THEN WE GO AND WE CHANGE THEM AND WE GO, YEAH, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT SYSTEM ANYMORE.
NOT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, BUT TO GIVE YOU THE PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> I APOLOGIZE. I STEPPED OUT BUT DID YOU DISCUSS ABOUT HOW IT'S A FOUR YEAR TERM AND THAT'S WHY WE DID THREE?
>> NO, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
>> I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, WE EACH HAVE A FOUR YEAR TERM AND SO WE SAID THREE YEARS AND THAT SAY THEY COME IN ON THEIR SECOND YEAR, THEY DO THREE YEARS, AND THEN NOW THEY'RE COMING FOR THEIR NEXT TERM.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE TO COME IN FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS, SO THEY COULD ESSENTIALLY DO SIX YEARS.
>> IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IN THE IN THE OPERATING PROCEDURE.
>> BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S HOW WE HAD DISCUSSED IT.
>> YEAH, YOU'RE CORRECT. THAT'S HOW IT WAS.
IF WE HAVE TO MODIFY IT TO SAY THAT LANGUAGE, I'M OKAY WITH DOING THAT.
[00:25:02]
I DON'T WANT TO REMOVE IT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR THING THAT WE CAN ADD TO.>> I JUST THINK YOU ALL ARE MAKING IT WAY TOO COMPLICATED.
IF YOU PUT ON THAT AND THEN YOU PUT QUALIFIERS AND IT IS JUST WAY TOO COMPLICATED AS BOARD MEMBERS COME AND GO SO YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IN THERE, BUT IF YOU'RE ELECTED FOR A SECOND TERM, YOU CAN CONTINUE SERVING.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE JUST MAKING IT COMPLICATED FOR FUTURE.
[OVERLAPPING] I GUESS IT IS IF ANYONE CAN BE ELECTED AN OFFICER.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO LIMIT IT AND THEN SAY, WELL, BUT IF THEY ARE ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM, THEY CAN SERVE ANOTHER THREE YEARS? IT'S JUST COMPLICATED IN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT TO FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS.
I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE CLEANER TO NOT LIMIT HOW LONG A PERSON.
IF THEY'RE A BAD BOARD PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, THEN I WOULD HOPE THE BOARD WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE IN THAT ROLE.
>> WHEN WE HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, DO WE JUST PULL IT OUT AND THEN VOTE ON IT AT A SEPARATE ITEM?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL.
>> BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT WANT TO BE.
>> I ACTUALLY WANT TO LOOK OVER HERE.
TRUSTEE CHANTE, RIGHT HERE, YOU'RE A NEW BOARD MEMBER ON HERE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC ONE? DOES THAT SEEM CONFUSING TO YOU? BECAUSE TO BE AN OFFICER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SERVED AT LEAST A YEAR ON THE BOARD TO START WITH?
>> I GUESS ONCE YOU BROKE IT DOWN THE DETAIL ASPECT OF IT AND THAT DEFINITELY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE DEPICTED IN THIS LANGUAGE AND WITHIN THIS INFORMATION.
HAVING EXPLAINED IT, I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING OVERLY EXCESSIVE OR DIFFICULT IF IT'S DETAILED IN THERE, AND IT IS WHAT IT IS IN MY OPINION.
>> YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH EITHER IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
>> SARA, YOU SAID IT DOESN'T SAY HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO SERVE ONE YEAR BEFORE YOU CAN BE AN OFFICER.
IT SAYS, BOARD OFFICER SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE IS GOING TO REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES SO LET'S JUST PULL THIS ONE AND MAKE THOSE.
>> I WOULD AGREE. LET'S PULL THIS ONE AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YES, WE HAVE ALL OUR DUCTS IN A ROW.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL IT.
EVERYTHING ALIGNED ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THE NEXT ITEM?
>> WELL, THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD WERE ON IF YOU ALL DISCUSSED SEVERAL NUMBER TWO, EXCEPT IN THE EVENT OF MERCH FAMILY COMMITMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL NOT EMAIL OR SEND MESSAGE IN ME.
THEN IN NUMBER 5, BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD INFORM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COMPLAINT IF THE ISSUE IMPACTS THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
THEN BOARD NUMBER 17 BOARD MEMBERS.
>> CAN WE JUST DO ONE OUT OF TIME?
BOARD MEMBERS SHALL REFRAIN FROM DISCUSSING BOARD BUSINESS AND SEEKING TO INVESTIGATE CAMPUS OR DISTRICT ISSUES.
I'M NOT ASKING TO CHANGE ANY OF THESE.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN OUR BOARD POLICY SINCE I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER 2010.
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ALL DISCUSS HOW TO HOLD BOARD MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE BOARD OPERATION.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE LARGER DISCUSSION PROBABLY FOR A WORKSHOP, SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT ONE BE PULLED.
>> YEAH. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, BUT WE HAD DISCUSSED DURING OUR WORKSHOP, WE COULD ADD SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO THE BOARD OFF TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY WOULD EXPLAIN THAT IN THERE BECAUSE WE DID WANT TO HAVE A LARGER DISCUSSION WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD.
>> I AGREE AND DAMON, WE BROUGHT IT UP THAT WE WANTED TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE.
WE JUST DIDN'T GET AROUND BECAUSE WE DID DECIDED IT SHOULD BE A BIGGER BOARD DISCUSSION.
>> WITH THAT, I THINK I COUNTED FOUR ITEMS.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THE LAST THREE.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW SINCE WE HAVE HAD BOARD MEMBERS VIOLATE THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOREVER, IF YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT WHAT APPARENTLY DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON HOW TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, ALL OF OURSELVES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A GROUP ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT ALSO, I PUT THIS WHEN I SET MY INFORMATION IN MY SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS.
IF WE WANTED TO ADD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR BOARD COMMITTEES AND THEN BOARD WORKSHOP PROCEDURES BECAUSE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I THINK EVEN SENT IN FROM A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON WHAT THEIR OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE FOR SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WAS IN WHEN I SENT IT TO YOU ALL TO THE COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT MADE IT OR NOT TO USE A DISCUSSION.
>> I DON'T THINK WE ACTUALLY GOT TO THE ADDITIONAL ONES.
[00:30:03]
WE ONLY WENT THROUGH WHAT THE CURRENT WAS AND THAT WAS PART OF WE NEED TO PROBABLY DO A WORKSHOP TO DO THE ADDITIONS.I KNOW THAT TRUSTEE ALSO HAD SOME ADDITIONS THAT HE HAD RECOMMENDED AND WE WERE GOING TO GET TO THEM AT A LATER TIME.
>> YOU'RE CORRECT. THE IDEA BEHIND THAT WAS WE WERE GOING TO WITHIN THE COMMITTEE, LET'S DISCUSS IT, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY WHAT THAT WAS.
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, HOW DO WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE? WELL, THE HOW WAS, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT THE WORKSHOP AND TALK ABOUT THE HOW AND THEN ADD THE LANGUAGE TO THIS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL NUMBER 1,2 TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE THE TRAVEL AND REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES.
>> NUMBER 1, IS THAT A QUICK QUESTION OR IS THAT GOING TO BE LET'S SEE WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE TO LATER.
>> I JUST REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WELL, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, QUITE A WHILE AGO.
WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CAR AND USING YOUR CARS AND WE ADDED IT, I THINK THAT'S WHEN LV WAS THE FAIRLY NEW BOARD MEMBER.
WE ADDED IT THAT IF ANYONE ELSE, AND MAYBE DAVID DIDN'T REALIZE WHY WE PUT IT IN THAT IF SOMEONE DROVE SAY WE WERE AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND ONE PERSON HAD RENTED A CAR BUT DIDN'T ALLOW OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO USE THAT CAR SO THAT'S WHY THAT WAS IN THERE.
>> WE TOOK IT OUT BECAUSE OF LIABILITY REASONS.
IF SOMEBODY RENTS A CAR, THEY ARE LIABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CAR AND BY MANDATORY MAKING SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE ACCESS TO IT TO US, IT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE.
YOU CAN'T PUT THAT ON A BOARD MEMBER.
INSTEAD, WE SAID, HEY, IF A BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO OFFER A RIDE TO SOMEBODY, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
BUT FOR LIABILITY REASONS, WE PUT IT OUT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT WITH THEIR OWN INSURANCE AND WHATNOT.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST NOT HAVING RENTAL CAR.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING HERE ABOUT RENTAL CARS.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND I'VE BEEN, I'VE NEVER HAD TO RENT A CAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BUSES, YOU GOT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IT SAYS.
>> NO, WE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, MY AC BROKE DOWN AND WE HAD A CONFERENCE IN FORT WORTH AND SO IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.
I'M NOT GOING TO RIDE ALL THE WAY TO FORT WORTH IN UNCONDITIONED VEHICLE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO PAY A RIDE SHARE TO TAKE ME ALL THE WAY TO FORT WORTH SO IT WAS CHEAPER JUST TO RENT A CAR AND DRIVE MYSELF TO FORT WORTH.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE DISTRICT MONEY, TURN IT IN IN FORT WORTH AND THEN GET ANOTHER ONE, WHEN YOU GET OUT, THAT'S UP TO YOU, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT, THAT'S PROBABLY RECOMMENDED, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON BOARD MEMBERS FOR EMERGENCIES LIKE THAT.
>> TO ADD ON FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, [INAUDIBLE] GAVE YOU AN EXAMPLE BEING AT A CONFERENCE UTILIZING IT AT THE CONFERENCE LEVEL.
CURRENTLY, THE PROCEDURE DOES NOT INCLUDE RIDE SHARE.
HOWEVER, RIDE SHARE AND TAXI ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE ADDED IN RIDE SHARE.
IF I DO GET MYSELF TO FORT WORTH, AND I NEED TO USE A RIDE SHARE OR FOR SOME REASON, I'M FLYING INTO A NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND IT'S CHEAPER TO DO THE RIGHT SHARE RATHER THAN CAR RENTAL, WE EXPANDED THE OPTION WHERE GOING BACK TO THE LIABILITY PIECE, WE'RE NOT RENTING VEHICLES ON MY OWN INSURANCE AND THEN COSTING MORE MONEY FOR IT.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE RIDE SHARE.
I THINK IT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE USE ANYMORE.
DID YOU ALL DECIDE WHO DETERMINES WHAT'S REASONABLE USES? I JUST WONDERED HOW [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE IDEA WAS THAT WE WOULD AT THAT POINT TALK TO OUR FINANCES AND SEE WHAT OUR BOARD BUDGET IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A BOARD BUDGET.
AGAIN, THIS WAS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AT A WORKSHOP.
WE WOULD GO THROUGH EACH BOARD MEMBER HAS EXPENSE ACCOUNT THAT THEY'RE ALLOTTED.
REASONABLE STAY WITHIN THE REASONABLE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE GIVEN, THAT'S REASONABLE.
>> THE REASON I BROUGHT THAT UP YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN ANOTHER WORLD, WE GAVE AIRFARE MILEAGE AND SOMEONE DECIDED TO DRIVE FROM TEXAS TO DC FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
SEVERAL OF US HAVE ATTENDED NATIONAL CONFERENCES OVER TIME SO I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING IN THERE WE HAD TO GO BACK AND SAY THAT MILEAGE WOULD NOT EXCEED THE COST OF AIRFARE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE A PHOBIA,
[00:35:03]
YOU'RE HINDERING THEM BY THEIR DISABILITY.>> NOT TO SAY THAT I WOULD DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO DC BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A LONG DRIVE, BUT WHERE DO WE STOP.
>> MS. HARRIS, ACTUALLY JUST BROUGHT IT UP THAT WE DO HAVE THIS IN POLICY, BBG LOCAL, AND IT SAYS, THE DISTRICT SHALL PAY 100% OF REASONABLE EXPENSES, HAVE THAT IN THERE TOO, FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO INCLUDE LODGING, AIRFARE OR MILEAGE, COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION, REGISTRATION FEES, AND INCIDENTAL SUCH AS PARKING, AND SHUTTLE OR TAXI SERVICE FEES.
>> I GUESS FOR ME, IT'S JUST THE BUDGETS ARE SO TIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT AND WHEN IT GETS OUT, EVERYBODY JUST NEEDS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THE WORD REASONABLE EXPENSES WOULD ACTUALLY GO TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK AND BE LIKE, THAT'S NOT REASONABLE.
>> I RODE TO DALLAS LAST YEAR ON AMTRAK FOR $28 ROUND TRIP. IT WAS AWESOME.
IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE, BUT I THINK IN MY OPINION, WE USE GOVERNMENT PER DM RATES OR ANY KIND OF ADVANCE OR REIMBURSEMENTS AND THAT'S WHAT IS PROTOCOL OR ACROSS THE BOARD AND ACROSS THE STATE.
>> AS IT STATES NOW, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO IT OR DO WE NEED TO PULL IT AS WELL? IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S JUST ADDITIONAL [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PIECE.
WE'VE NOT BEEN HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S IN THE LIGHT OF EVERYTHING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, HOLDING EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR US TO REVIEW THESE MORE OFTEN.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. COMPELL DID RECOMMEND THAT WE DO LIKE CHECKS ON IT MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN ONCE A YEAR ON OUR BOARD CALENDAR, WE ACTUALLY CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE THESE CHANGES.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME THAT ANYTHING HAS HAPPENED TO THESE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG.
>> IN THE POLICY, IT DOES SAY THAT MOST MEAL EXPENSES FOR TENANT WAS WAS DISTRIBUTED, TOTAL REIMBURSEMENTS, A PER DUM POLICY AND THE RATE AUTHORIZED FOR STATE EMPLOYEE STATE APPROPRIATION.
>> THEN MAY I ADD, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THE LAST TIME THIS WAS REVISED IN 2015.
WAY OVERDUE, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. THANK YOU.
IT WAS A VERY LONG TIME AGO AND SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN HERE LIKE TAXI SERVICES.
JUSTICE HUBERT, I HEAR YOU, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE EVEN THE CURRENT ONES DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
I HEAR YOU AND I DO WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT A LATER TIME.
>> I THINK THAT ONE IS OKAY TO MOVE FORWARD AS IS, AGAIN, WE CAN ALWAYS REVISE LATER AFTER A WORKSHOP.
ANY OTHERS, TRUSTEE HEBERGER, AT THIS TIME?
>> NO, WE'RE STILL PULLING 18 AND 19.
>> SO 18 MEDIA INQUIRIES TO, IS THAT THE ONE OR?
>> WE'RE SELECTING THE BOARD OFFICERS AND THEN ABOUT THE ROBERT ORDER.
I THOUGHT WE SAID WE WOULD PULL THOSE ARE THE TWO I SEE THAT NEED A LITTLE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY THAT ROBERT'S RULES IS ADDRESSED IN POLICY BE, WHERE IT STATES THIS IS LOCAL POLICY.
THE BOARD SHALL OBSERVE THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AS FOUND IN ROBERT'S RULES ORDER NEWLY REVISED, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN BOARD PROCEDURAL RULES OR BYLAWS.
PROCEDURAL RULES MAY BE SUSPENDED AT ANY BOARD MEETING BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THAT POLICY ALLOWED US TO DO THE SMALL THE WAY I HEAR IT LOUD US TO DO THE SMALL BOARDS, WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED BY TASB AT A CONFERENCE AND BEFORE 2015, I THINK IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN.
THAT DOES COVER IT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T WANT DUPLICATION BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY IN THERE.
>> IT SAYS WHATEVER YOU PUT IN THE BOARD BASICALLY THE PROCEDURE.
IF WE WANT TO ADD, WE NEED TO PUT IT IN THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
THE POLICY ONLY SAYS ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ADD IN THE PROCEDURES.
BY ADDING THIS ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS OR SMALL BOARDS, THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PUT THAT IN OPERATING PROCEDURES.
[00:40:03]
IF YOU LOOK AT BOARD MEMBER CONDUCT DURING MEETINGS, THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR PRESIDING OFFICER WILL HAVE FULLY AUTHORITY TO FOLLOW AND ENFORCE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDERS PROCEDURES FOR SMALL BOARDS EXHIBIT A AND THE LANGUAGE IS THERE.
IT'S ALREADY IN THE OPERATING PROCEDURES.
>> THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR FINDING THAT. I WAS LIKE WE HAD IT SOMEWHERE.
>> BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOOD TO JUST LIST THEM.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THESE PROCEDURES.
HOW MANY HAVE ROBERT'S RULES? WHAT DEFINES IT AS ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
I HAVE A WHOLE BOOK ON PROBABLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO US JUST HYPER LINKING THAT TO SMALL BOARDS?
>> WE HAVE SOME OTHER HYPERLINKS THAT BECAUSE I THINK BOARD MEMBERS COME ON.
IT WOULD BE FOR THEM TO KNOW THIS IS WHAT ROBERT'S RULES OF OVER SMALL BOARDS IS.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL I WENT TO THE SESSION.
THAT WOULD WORK. WE CAN JUST EDIT THAT TO ADD THE LINK IN THAT.
>> YEAH. THAT'S TRUE. WE JUST WERE JUST PULLING YOU SAID THAT ONE ITEM THEN.
>> WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR EXPERT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION? GIVEN THAT I'M YOUR NEW EXPERT AS OPPOSED TO YOUR OLD EXPERT, AND GIVEN THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT AND GIVEN THAT THERE ARE TWO OF YOU WHO ARE NOT HERE, AM I COUNTING CHAIRS? THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE THAT'S IN HUNTSVILLE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO.
I AM GOING TO SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP, AND YOU INVITE ME AND IN A GESTURE OF ABSOLUTE GOODWILL.
I WON'T BE TAXING YOUR BUDGET.
I NOW KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, SO I WON'T GET LOST, NOT THAT I GOT LOST ON THE WAY HERE.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT SHARE WITH YOU MY SUPER SECRET CELL PHONE NUMBER, WHICH I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.
EVERYONE IN THE STATE KNOWS IT.
YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AND ASK ME NOW THAT I HAVE THE COPIES AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? WE CAN HAVE A MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKSHOP.
TAKE OUT YOUR PENS. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY SUPER SECRET CELL PHONE THAT EVERYONE IN THE STATE HAS.
IT'S 936 BECAUSE I'M FROM EAST TEXAS, 661-8800.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST YEAR WITH TASB.
YOU'RE PART OF MY FAREWELL TOUR.
I WILL NOT CHANGE MY PHONE NUMBER WHEN I RETIRE, SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH IT WON'T WORK ANYMORE.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE ON OFF TO A GREAT START, AND THE ONE THING I WILL WORK ON DRAFTING IS HOW TO HOLD EACH OTHER MUTUALLY ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE IS NO POINT IN PASSING THESE IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME MECHANISM.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'LL ALWAYS WORK PERFECTLY, BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU A GUIDELINE OF HERE IS WHAT I DO IF I BELIEVE THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS NOT ADHERED TO THESE.
I PROMISE IT'S VERY PAINLESS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT DRAFTED FOR YOU FOR WHEN YOU DO THAT.
AGAIN, YOU MAY CALL ME AT ANY TIME.
YOU MAY ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? I'LL GIVE YOU MY IT DEPENDS LAWYER OPINION AND SO THAT WHEN WE RESCHEDULE, WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS IN A MORE RELAXED FASHION WHERE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE IF I DON'T BRING IT UP NOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP, AND THEN THE OTHER PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AGAIN? THEN ARE YOU RETIRING AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2024 OR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR? BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS CONFUSING.
MY FIRST NAME IS KAY, K-A-Y, I COULD NOT AFFORD AN E, DO NOT ADD AN E, AND DOUGLAS, WITH ONE S, I COULDN'T AFFORD TWO, D-O-U-G-L-A-S, AND I AM RETIRING NEXT YEAR.
WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, BUT DON'T DRAG IT OUT.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE 18 HOURS THAT THE COMMITTEE PUT INTO THIS.
YOU ARE SO CLOSE TO THE FINISH.
LET'S NOT PUT THIS OFF UNTIL MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ELECTED, AND I'VE DIED OR SOMETHING.
I'M NOT PLANNING TO DIE, BUT JUST IN CASE. YES, MA'AM.
>> SHOULD WE ADOPT THESE AS THEY'RE PRESENTED WITH POLLING NUMBER 18? THIS IS THE WAY WE DO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
TO ME, WE WOULD ADOPT THEM HAVING POLLED ITEM NUMBER 18 TO BE TABLED TO THE WORKSHOP.
[00:45:01]
I'D LIKE TO AMEND MY MOTION TO REFLECT EXACTLY WHAT I JUST SAID.
LET'S ADOPT THE ENTIRETY AS PRESENTED BY THE COMMITTEE HAVING PULLED ITEM NUMBER 18, EXCEPT FROM, MS. KAY HAS A QUESTION.
>> I'M SORRY. LET ME SAY WHY THAT MIGHT NOT BE ADVISABLE.
BECAUSE IF YOU ONLY PULL 18 AND THEN SOMEBODY SAYS, I REALLY WANT IT SEVEN PULLED TWO, THAT'S NOT TECHNICALLY IN YOUR MOTION.
I AM GOING TO SUGGEST AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET THIS DONE.
THAT YOU DON'T ADOPT IT UNTIL YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING BECAUSE YEAH, I WOULD JUST THAT BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I WOULD ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU, BUT FOR THE FACT THAT I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER REVISIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT, MS. KAY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THEN WHEN DO WE MEET? BECAUSE LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I WOULD LIKE A WORKSHOP.
BUT I CAN'T DECIDE THAT. WE HAVE TO DECIDE THAT. WHEN DO WE MEET?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION IS, IF WE DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND AT LEAST APPROVE SOME OF THEM, THEN AGAIN, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE.
WHEN WE PUT OUT SOME DATES FOR SOME SPECIAL WORKSHOPS, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE COMING UP.
DO WE WANT ANOTHER DOODLE POLE SENT OUT FOR THAT?
>> ARE THEY TRUE WORKSHOPS OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE ANOTHER MEETING?
>> WELL, THIS ONE WE CAN SAY WOULD BE A WORKSHOP, AND THEN MAYBE WE DO THE ACTION ITEM OF ADOPTING IT ON THE FOLLOWING.
>> I THINK THAT WORK FOR ME, BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE AT, I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD ADOPT WHAT WE HAD AGREED UPON AND THEN PULL THAT ITEM AND THEN TALK ABOUT MORE THINGS.
RESPECTFULLY, I TOTALLY RESPECT YOU.
>> I DON'T GET PAID MORE IF YOU TAKE MY ADVICE.
>> WE HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING IN SINCE 2015.
WE NEED SOME GUIDANCE TO GO BY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN LIMBO, AND WE'RE LIKE, WHICH ONE ARE WE GOING BY? I THINK IT WOULD HELP US TREMENDOUSLY BY HAVING SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVE AND WE'RE OKAY WITH RIGHT NOW TO HELP US OUT AS A BOARD SO WE ARE MORE IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER.
>> WE CAN HAVE A MOTION AND SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DOING IT PULLING THAT ITEM.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. PERFECT. THIS QUESTION WILL BE TO YOU.
ARE WE ABLE TO DO A WORKSHOP, DISCUSS A DOOR THING, AND THEN GO INTO SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTE ON IT ON THE SAME DAY?
>> I BELIEVE THERE'S NOTHING THAT KEEPS YOU FROM DOING THAT.
>> I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> MAY I SAY THIS? I'M AVAILABLE 24-7.
IF YOU ALL WANT TO MEET AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON A SUNDAY, I'M HERE.
[LAUGHTER] SATURDAYS WORK FOR ME.
I JUST WORKED IN SAN MARCOS ON SATURDAY, SO DON'T LET MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LIMIT YOU.
>> I BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE, FROM MY OWN INTERPRETATION, THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WORKSHOP, SPECIAL MEETING, SPECIAL MEETING WORKSHOP, I'M LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, WE COULD HAVE DONE WORKSHOP AND THEN A SPECIAL MEETING.
THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE HERE.
THAT'S WHEN MY QUESTION CAME. [LAUGHTER]
>> I UNDERSTOOD YOU AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS, I'VE HEARD THAT WENT TO SOME SESSIONS AT SLI, THAT THERE WERE OTHER THINGS YOU WANTED TO ADD.
IT WOULD JUST BE IF WE GO THROUGH IT AND DISCUSS EVEN JUST BECAUSE WE ADOPT THIS MOTION IF WE ADOPT THIS MOTION DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO NOT ADD THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE HEARD SEVERAL OF YOU ALL TALK ABOUT THERE WAS SOME REALLY GOOD INFO YOU OBTAINED FOR SOME OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR OPERATING PROCEDURES AS LONG AS WE LEAVE IT OPEN TO ADD TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK IF WE GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT TRUSTEE WODIE SAID GO AHEAD OR TRUSTEE WAGNER SAID, WE DO THEN WE PULL THAT ONE ITEM, WE SCHEDULE A TRUE WORKSHOP THAT COULD GO INTO A SPECIAL MEETING AFTERWARDS WITH MS. DOUGLAS.
WE CAN DO 18 PLUS ANY OF THE ADDITIONS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME OF THE NOTES THAT WE TOOK FROM.
>> THERE'S NOTHING SAYING THAT WE CAN'T GO AND MODIFY ANY OF THE OTHER ONES AT THAT TIME, EITHER.
>> WE JUST NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
>> AS LONG AS WE POSTED THIS WORKSHOP AND THEN SPECIAL MEETING.
>> FOR THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY, IT IS NOT OF THE EXISTING.
IT IS 18 AS DISCUSSED IN THE COMMITTEE WHICH THE NAME OF WHAT IT IS.
[00:50:01]
THE HEADING OF CRITERIA/PROCESS FOR SELECTING BOARD OFFICERS.>> YEAH. IT'S ORIGINALLY NUMBER 14.
>> ORIGINALLY NUMBER 14. GOOD JOB.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE WODIE, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU. I CAN'T COUNT 7-0, MOTION PASSED. THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD. WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENINGS IN SEPTEMBER ALREADY BOOKED, SO YOU GOT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
>> MS. AUGUSTUS, IF YOU DON'T MIND SENDING OUT A DO POLL FOR A. THANK YOU.
LET'S MOVE ON TO CLOSED SESSION.
[VI. Closed Session]
WE WILL MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.WE'LL NOW ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS OPENS MEETING ACT, TGC 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, TGC 551.074, REVIEW AND APPROVE EMPLOYMENT RESIGNATION AND TERMINATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL STUFF.
CONSIDER SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING POSSIBLE HIRING OF DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL, INCLUDING ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY AND HELPING US.
WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 8:56.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT RESIGNATIONS AND TERMINATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF AS PRESENTED.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSED 7-0.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE HIRING OF ROBERTS DIRECTOR SPECIALTY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. 7-0. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 8.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH INDEPENDENT EDUCATION CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CONSULTATION SERVICES OVER $50,000.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? 7-0. MOTION PASSED.
I WILL NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:57.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.