[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[I. Call to Order]
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A CORP IS PRESENT AND THAT NOTICE OF THIS HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.FIRST ON OUR AGENDA IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AS BEING LED BY HILLCREST ELEMENTARY CHOIR.
>> WE ARE FROM HILLCREST ELEMENTARY.
AND WERE YOU TO PERFORM [INAUDIBLE] SONG.
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE]
[00:05:06]
>> NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA ARE RECOGNITION ITEMS,
[III.A. Superintendent's Students of the Month]
AND THE FIRST ONE UP IS SUPERINTENDENT STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.>> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT OF THE MONTH HERE AT OUR BOARD MEETING.
SO THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED.
LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT WE HAVE NEARLY 12,000 STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE ARE RECOGNIZING THIS MONTH 14 STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXHIBITED STRONG CHARACTER, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER AREAS AND HAVE REALLY SERVED AS ROLE MODELS AT THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OR MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM SO PROUD OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND JUST THE POSITIVE ENERGY IN THIS ROOM IS PALPABLE.
WE ARE ALL SO PROUD AND EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS.
AND I KNOW IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS AND THE PHONE CALLS THAT WERE MADE TO PARENTS, THERE IS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
AND SO I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE OUR 14 STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BECOME A TRADITION MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> SO, TO KICK US OFF THIS EVENING, WE'RE GOING TO START AN ALPHA ORDER WITH THE SCHOOLS.
AND OUR FIRST ONE IS ASHLEY GARCIA FROM BETTY ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].
AND THE NEXT UP, WE HAVE YAN LUCIA TORRES MORALES FROM CREEDMOOR ELEMENTARY. [APPLAUSE]
>> PARENTS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES, THAT'S FINE.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE RICHARD KINDER FROM DALEY MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].
AND NEXT, WE HAVE GESELLE GUTIERREZ FROM DEL VALLE ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].
>> HE IS HERE. SO THE NEXT IS NOAH.
>> AND IF WE COULD HAVE NOAH DOMINGUEZ FROM DEL VALLE MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].
THAT WAS NOAH, SORRY. DA SHAAN DIXON FROM DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] AND IF WE CAN HAVE JAYDEN ALON FROM GILBERT ELEMENTARY.
[00:10:16]
WE HAVE ARIANA DIO FROM HILLCREST ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].AND UP NEXT, WE HAVE SOPHIA ACTO FROM HORNSBY DUNLOP ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].
AND IF WE CAN HAVE THE DYLILA FLOTES FROM HEATHER MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].
AND THEN IF WE CAN HAVE JULIAN SMITH OLE FROM PAPA ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ANAYA RE RODRIGUEZ FROM SMITH ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE].
AWESOME. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A GROUP PICTURE.
AND WHILE WE DO THAT, ALL STUDENTS RECEIVED AN ATHLETICS PASS THEY CAN GO AND [INAUDIBLE] THEMSELVES AND OF COURSE, THAT YARD SIGNS SO YOU CAN PROBABLY DISPLAY IT ON YOUR YARD.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. YEAH.
[00:15:14]
>> NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS THE DEL VALLE DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION AWARD,
[III.B. Del Valle District of Distinction Award]
AND DR BAILEY, YOU'RE UP.>> AWESOME. GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THE DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION IS THE HIGHEST HONOR AWARDED BY THE TEXAS ART ASSOCIATION.
TEXAS ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
TONIGHT WITH ME TO PRESENT TONIGHT'S RECOGNITION IS KATHERINE HUMPHREY, DIRECTOR OF VISUAL PERFORMING ART.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT JAGAN, AND DR. GUTIERREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO SHARE SOME INCREDIBLE NEWS REGARDING THE DEL VALLE ISD FINE ARTS DEPARTMENTS.
I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE TEXAS ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AS THE DISTRICT OF DISTINCTION.
TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT, THERE ARE OVER 1,200 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.
ONLY THE TOP 4% RECEIVE THIS HONOR ANNUALLY.
THIS ISN'T JUST AN AWARD FOR HAVING AN ART PROGRAM.
IT'S A RIGOROUS EVALUATION OF HOW WE INTEGRATE VISUAL ARTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
TO EARN THIS, DEL VALLE ISD HAS TO DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE TIKA LINE CURRICULUM, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN STATE LEVEL COMPETITIONS LIKE VASE AND JUNIOR VASE, COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH THE ARTS, AND AN IMPACTFUL PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS OF STUDENT ARTWORK.
WHILE THE AWARD BELONGS TO THE DISTRICT, THE HEARTBEAT OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS OUR FACULTY.
FACULTY, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND UP. BE RECOGNIZED.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR VISUAL ART TEACHERS HERE TONIGHT TO COME ON UP AND BE RECOGNIZED WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE FINE ARTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OFFICIALLY DISPLAYING THIS TROPHY, IF I DON'T BREAK IT, AS A SYMBOL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO A WELL-ROUND EDUCATION FOR EVERY STUDENT IN DEL VALLE ISD.
>> NEXT UP IS BOARD RECOGNITION, MISS TONY CORDOVA.
[III.C. Board Recognition]
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR. GUTIERREZ.
AS WE GATHER THIS EVENING, WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES DURING SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
OBSERVED EACH JANUARY, THIS MONTH HIGHLIGHTS THE VITAL ROLE OUR BOARD MEMBERS PLAY IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR TRUSTEES ARE MORE THAN DECISION MAKERS.
THEY ARE VISIONARIES, ADVOCATES, AND STEADFAST CHAMPIONS FOR EVERY STUDENT IN OUR DISTRICT.
THEY DEDICATE COUNTLESS HOURS TO UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS, COLLABORATING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND ENSURING THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY OPEN DOORS TO BRIGHTER OPPORTUNITIES TOMORROW.
THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE LED WITH DETERMINATION, NAVIGATED CHALLENGES WITH RESILIENCE, AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO KEEPING STUDENTS AT THE HEART OF EVERY DECISION.
ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
TOGETHER, WE CONTINUE TO AIM HIGHER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING EACH OF OUR TRUSTEES ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AND HELP MAKE DEL VALLE ISD WHAT IT IS TODAY.
STAY TUNED. AS THERE ARE A FEW MORE VIDEOS TO COME OVER THE FINAL DAYS OF JANUARY.
IN ADDITION, EACH TRUSTEE HAS A FEW SPECIAL GIFTS WAITING AT THEIR SEAT, TOKENS OF APPRECIATION FROM OUR SCHOOLS, INCLUDING STUDENT-CREATED ARTWORK, CAMPUS SWAG,
[00:20:01]
AND OTHER THOUGHTFUL ITEMS. TO CONCLUDE, WE INVITE EVERYONE TO ENJOY A SHORT COMPILATION OF THE VIDEOS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO DEL VALLE ISD COMMUNITY.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE MY GRANDBABY HERE IN DEL VALLE.
SO WHEN I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, DR. GUTIERREZ SAID THAT EVERY STUDENT HERE WAS A GUTIERREZ.
SO I GO, YOU KNOW, YOUR LAST NAME IS GUTIERREZ? AND SHE GOES, AH. [LAUGHTER]
>> MY PASSION IS IN EDUCATION.
I'VE BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND DEL VALLE IS NOT ONLY MY HOME, BUT MY FAMILY.
WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT DVISD? EVERYTHING. HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
BUT THEN YOU GO TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE, IT'S GREAT.
IT'S JUST, I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE IT.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE FINALLY CAPTURING THAT POTENTIAL.
>> SEEING ONE OF MY FORMER CHEERLEADERS BECOME HOMECOMING QUEEN.
AND SEEING THE EXCITEMENT OF MY DAUGHTER AND ALL OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WE KIND OF GREW TOGETHER, SEE HER FROM 11 TO SENIOR, AND IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS A GREAT MEMORY.
>> I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN THERE WAS AN ADMISSION FEE THAT I COULD NOT PAY FOR.
ONE OF THE COLLEGES THAT I APPLIED TO.
SHE PULLED OUT HER CREDIT CARD AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS ADMISSION FEE SO YOU CAN GO.
BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IN ME, AND HERE I AM YEARS LATER ON THE BOARD.
I LOVE THAT EVERY KID, EVERY TIME, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN WITH EQUITY.
>> THE COMMUNITY, FOR SURE, IS MY FAVORITE THING OF DVISD.
IT REMINDS ME A LOT ABOUT HOW I GREW UP.
I SEE MYSELF IN OUR KIDS A LOT OF TIMES.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE HEART THAT THESE KIDS BRING, THEIR SMILES.
>> KIDS ARE AWESOME. THEY'RE AMAZING.
THEY LEAVE AND DO PHENOMENAL THINGS, SEEING SOME, I SAY FINISHED PRODUCTS, BUT WHAT THEY'VE TURNED INTO ADULTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY PART OF THAT AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS SOMETHING THAT IS AWESOME.
>> PAIRING THE SENSE OF BELONGING THAT HAS ALWAYS EXISTED IN DEL VALLE WITH A REAL STRENGTH IN ACADEMICS, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY GROW WHAT WE CAN OFFER AND DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE, PATCH KIDS OR I COULD BE SWEET & SASSY MIX.
>> MAN, SO I KIND OF EAT EVERYTHING.
I DO NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE SNACK.
SO AS LONG AS I GOT SOME OF THE SNACK ON AND PROBABLY A SOUL AROUND NINE INCH AT NIGHT, I'M GOOD TO GO.
>> I GO FOR SNICKERS OR THE CHEETOS AND COFFEE.
>> WOULD BE ICE CREAM. IT'S AWFUL.
I'M REALLY TRYING NOT TO EAT SO MUCH OF IT.
BUT I REALLY DO. AND COOKIES AND CREAM IS MY FAVORITE.
>> CHOCOLATE CANDY. LIKE COKE ZERO.
>> IF THEY HAVE THE CHOCOLATE CAKE THAT THEY HAVE TONIGHT, THAT IS MY FAVORITE LATE-TIME SNACK.
>> CAKE BALLS. BUT THEY SHOULD DOUBLE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE CAKE BALLS, AND EVERYBODY JUST EATS THEM.
>> THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE POPCORN.
>> BUTTER FINGERS. HANDS DOWN, BUTTER FINGERS AND ALMOND JOYS.
[IV. Public Comment]
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL SIGN UP BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS A SPECIFIED IN PROCEDURES ON PUBLIC COMMENT AND SHALL INDICATE THE AGENDA ITEM OR TOPIC ON WHICH THEY WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY BOARD POLICY AND THE BOARD'S PROCEDURES ON PUBLIC COMMENT, AND INDIVIDUALS COMMENT TO THE BOARD SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE MINUTES PER MEETING.
SECRETARY WEGNER WILL GIVE EACH SPEAKER A ONE-MINUTE WARNING.
AND WE'VE GOT TWO SPEAKERS TODAY.
FIRST UP IS MISS CRISTELA ROCHA, AND IT'S ON A THANK-YOU.
>> I THINK I HAVE THE TEACHER VOICE, BUT CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME NOW? ALL RIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. GUTIERREZ, STAFF, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND STUDENTS, IF THERE'S ANY OF YOU LEFT.
[00:25:01]
THE DEL VALLE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS OR ATP AND SEVENTH GRADE ELR TEACHER.TONIGHT, I COME TO YOU AS A SEVENTH-GRADE ELR TEACHER.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A THANK-YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR VERSATILITY.
THAT'S OUR WEEKLY VOCABULARY IN COMING TOGETHER TO FIND CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MOVE THE DISTRICT FORWARD TOGETHER. WE KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.
IT STARTS WITH MOMENTS LIKE TONIGHT, RECOGNIZING THOSE STUDENTS THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME TONIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS, CAN YOU SHOW ME TINY? CAN YOU SHOW ME LARGE OR TREMENDOUSLY LARGE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THESE DUCKIES YOU SEE ARE AROUND THE ROOM ARE TINY.
THANK YOU. CAN WE SAY THAT? ARE WHAT? TINY. SHOW ME SMALL, PLEASE, OR TINY. THANK YOU, GOOD.
THESE DUCKIES ARE SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF HAVE EMBRACED AT OJEDA TO NOT ONLY BUILD COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR STUDENTS TO FEEL A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES.
IF YOU FOUND A DUCKER RECEIVED ONE TODAY AGAIN, PUT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IT. AND IT IS WHAT? TINY. AS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, WE ARE KINDLY REMINDED THAT SMALLER THINGS BECOME BIGGER THINGS.
THEY BECOME BIGGER THINGS WHEN THEY'RE FED AND WATERED.
AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING STARTS WITH A TINY IDEA THAT TAKES TIME TO FLOURISH INTO SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US, LARGER THAN US.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET THE DUCKIES IN YOUR HANDS BE A REMINDER THAT OJEDA MIDDLE SCHOOL IS ON THE RISE.
IT STARTS WITH THE SMALL STEPS.
>> YOU MAY NOT SEE THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE THEY TAKE TIME TO BECOME BIGGER THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT STEP, WE HAVE AMYNA DOSANI ON BOARD APPRECIATION.
>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT GUADIAN, BOARD, DR. GUTIERREZ.
I'M SECRETARY OF DEL VALLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO A COUNSELOR AT DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT TO EXPRESS DVAS APPRECIATION FOR SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF HOURS, ALL OF YOUR MEETINGS, ALL OF YOUR TRAINING, LATE NIGHT SNACKS.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT DEDICATION. IT'S A LOT OF TIME.
WE WERE REALLY GLAD TO SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AT THE TOWN HALLS THAT YOU ALL HOSTED PREVIOUSLY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THOSE IN THE FUTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HELP ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT MEANS A LOT.
WE WERE ALSO REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE KEEPING THAT ORIGINAL 25-DAY GRIEVANCE POLICY THAT DVA ORIGINALLY ADVOCATED FOR TO PUT IN POLICY.
AND INSTEAD OF THE 15-DAY TASK RECOMMENDATION, WE REALLY GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE ALL COME OUT TO OUR MONTHLY SOCIALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE PRESENTATION ITEMS AND DR. GUTIERREZ.
[V.A. Superintendent's Comments]
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES DURING THIS BOARD APPRECIATION.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENT STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
WHEN I REFLECT ON HOW FAR WE'VE COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM OF 10, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE TRUST, THE COLLABORATION AND SHARED FOCUS THAT GUIDE OUR WORK.
THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING AS A DISTRICT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS IN ALIGNMENT AROUND WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS, AND YOU ALL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE NEW YEAR HAVE TRULY BEEN A TIME OF LISTENING, LEARNING, AND CONNECTION ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS PART OF OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO STAYING CONNECTED WITH FAMILIES, LAST WEEK, I MET WITH OUR PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
WHERE FAMILIES SHARED THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK ON STUDENT ASSESSMENTS, AREAS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH, AND REASSURANCE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
WE APPRECIATED HEARING EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE PRACTICES ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR CAMPUSES, INCLUDING EXPERIENCES WITH TEACHERS REVIEWING DATA DURING CONFERENCES WITH PARENTS.
THESE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE TO INFORM OUR WORK AND STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FAMILIES.
WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SUPERINTENDENT COFFEE CHATS.
SINCE RETURNING FROM WINTER BREAK, WE HOSTED COFFEE CHATS AT ALL THREE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE FEEDBACK, AND CONNECT WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE INVALUABLE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS AND STRENGTHEN TRUST ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
STUDENT VOICE REMAINS CENTRAL TO OUR WORK AS WELL.
WE MET WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY TEAM, WHERE STUDENTS SHARED INSIGHTS RELATED TO ASSESSMENTS,
[00:30:01]
INSTRUCTION, SCHOOL CULTURE, AND ENGAGEMENT.THEIR PERSPECTIVES CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR DECISIONS AND REMIND US WHY THE WORK THAT WE DO MATTERS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE A RECENT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DVHS STUDENT KENDAL HENRY, WHO WAS NAMED ALL-STATE DANCER THROUGH THE TEXAS DANCE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A REFLECTION OF KENDAL'S DEDICATION, TALENT, AND HARD WORK, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF OUR FINE ARTS EDUCATORS.
FINALLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE STRONG LEARNING HAPPENING AMONG OUR STAFF.
I WAS GRATEFUL TO VISIT WITH CAMPUS LEADERS AND EDUCATORS IN OUR FIRST WEEK BACK DURING DR. JOSE MEDINA'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION.
AS WE CONTINUE STRENGTHENING OUR DUAL LANGUAGE WORK, HIS MESSAGE WAS CLEAR AND POWERFUL.
THE SUPERINTENDENT MUST BE THE PRIMARY DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNER, GUIDING THE DISTRICT TOWARDS SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I AM PROUD TO LEAD THIS JOURNEY ALONGSIDE OUR AMAZING EDUCATORS WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ARE EVIDENT ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.
TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT DR. KATRINA BAILEY ON FOUR
[V.B. Goal 4 GPM 4.3 CCMR IBCs]
ON OUR GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES WITH COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS.PRESIDENT GUADIAN. AND I'M SORRY.
I'M GOING TO KEEP MESSING THAT UP.
PRESIDENT GUADIAN, SUPERINTENDENT, DR. GUTIERREZ, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT, I AM HERE TO PRESENT AN UPDATE ON GOAL FOR OUR CCMR OR COLLEGE CAREER IN MILITARY-READINESS AND HOW WE ARE PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER THEY LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOARD GOAL 4, OUR GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES OR GPM 4.1, 4.2, AND 4.3, I'M BRINGING YOU AN UPDATE ON CCMR. IN SHORT, TONIGHT IS ABOUT HOW WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT OUR GRADUATES ARE READY FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS EVENING I HAVE WITH ME, ADRIAN GUTIERREZ, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF CTE, OUR PRINCIPAL OF DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL, LARRY DE LA CRUZ, AND OUR ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL OF OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, DR. TERRANCE EATON, BECAUSE THE WORK DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN IN TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND IT HAPPENS ON OUR CAMPUSES, AND THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HELPING TO LEAD THAT WORK.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALSO SEE A FACE TO THE NAME BEHIND ALL OF THE WORK THAT GOES INTO PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
>> TEXAS OFFERS MULTIPLE WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE READINESS OR TO MEET THE TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE.
SO WE DO THAT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH EXAMS, THE TSIA EXAM, AP, IB, DUAL CREDIT ENROLLMENT, EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, ONRAMPS COURSES, THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS, OR EARNING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OR HAVING MILITARY CONNECTEDNESS AS THEY LEAVE DEL VALLE ISD.
A NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN DEMONSTRATE IT.
WHAT THIS REALLY SHOWS IS THAT CCMR REALLY PLACES THE STUDENT'S STRENGTH.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT STUDENTS GRADUATING AND GOING ON TO COLLEGE.
IT OFFERS MULTIPLE PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE READY AND HAVE A PLAN WHEN THEY LEAVE DEL VALLE ISD.
WHY IT MATTERS IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY? CCMR CONTRIBUTES ACROSS ALL OF OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DOMAINS.
WHETHER IT'S STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SCHOOL PROGRESS, OR CLOSING THE GAPS, CCMR FITS INTO OUR A-F ACCOUNTABILITY RATING, NOT JUST FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
CCMR IS A LAGGING INDICATOR, AND I'M GOING TO LOOK BACK HERE AT MR. DE LA CRUZ, BECAUSE HE'S CONSTANTLY REMINDING US IN THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING.
WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, BUT HE IS ALWAYS LOOKING TWO TO THREE YEARS OUT, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR FRESHMEN, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR SOPHOMORES, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR JUNIORS, BECAUSE IT IS A LAGGING INDICATOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE THINK IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR'S 2026 ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR CLASS OF '25 GRADUATES.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE CLASS OF 2026 OR THE CLASS OF 2025.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CLASS OF '27, THE CLASS OF '28, THE CLASS OF '29, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY ARE NOT JUST GOING TO AFFECT THE STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATING TODAY, THEY'RE GOING TO AFFECT THOSE STUDENTS TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM NOW, AND HOW THAT AFFECTS US IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR ACTUAL GOAL FORM.
[00:35:03]
THAT SHOWS THAT 68% OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY MEET DESTINATION.THAT'S A VARIETY OF WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN MEET THAT.
AS YOU CAN OBSERVE, ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF OUR GRADUATES ARE STILL LEAVING WITHOUT A CLEAR POST-SECONDARY READINESS INDICATOR.
OUR GOAL IS 90% BY THE END OF 2030, WHICH WHAT REFLECTS NOT WHAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, EXCUSE ME, BUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY DESERVE.
WE KNOW THAT IS AN AMBITIOUS GOAL, BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR GRADUATES WHEN THEY LEAVE DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY LEAVE THE PLAN, WHETHER THAT'S COLLEGE, WHETHER THAT'S LEAVING WITH AN INDUSTRY-BASED CERTIFICATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE EMPLOYABLE OR THEY'RE GOING TO ENLIST MILITARY.
WE WANT EVERY STUDENT WHEN THEY GRADUATE TO GRADUATE WITH THE PLAN.
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS NOW THEY'RE GOING TO IMPACT OUR STUDENTS TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM NOW AS WELL.
MOVING ON TO THE GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES.
AGAIN, THIS ISN'T ALL OF CCMR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I PREFACE THAT TONIGHT.
AS I GO THROUGH THE THREE GPMS THAT I'M GOING TO BE UPDATING ON THIS EVENING, KNOW THAT TSI IS COMPREHENSIVE.
THESE ARE JUST THE INDICATORS THAT WE ARE TRACKING AND MEASURING BECAUSE THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY INCREASE AND ACTUALLY OUR LOWEST PERFORMING AREAS RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF CCMR AND WHERE WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE.
CURRENTLY 22.6% OF OUR GRADUATES ARE CURRENTLY GRADUATING TSI READY IN ELA AND MATH.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT 22.6% OF OUR STUDENTS CAN ACTUALLY LEAVE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER BE READY TO ENROLL IN A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE.
AS YOU CAN REMEMBER IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD BEFORE, NOT ONLY DO THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE FROM US, BUT IF THEY WANT TO ENROLL IN OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, NOT NECESSARILY ENROLL, BUT IF THEY WANT TO ENROLL THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AND BE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES TAKING STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY SO THAT THEIR TSI READY IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE TRACKING THIS PARTICULAR INDICATOR BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BOARD'S INVESTMENT IN AN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR GOAL BY THE END OF 2028 IS TO GET TO 25%.
I'M SORRY. I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTE HERE AND IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S THERE, SO I APOLOGIZE.
IT IS TO GET TO THE 25% BY AUGUST OF 20.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRACKING. WHEN WE LOOK AT 4.2, THE PERCENT OF GRADUATES THAT EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WILL INCREASE FROM 2.9% IN AUGUST OF 2025 TO 5% BY 2028.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT IS A VERY AMBITIOUS GOAL.
BUT STUDENTS EARNING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTS A STRONG RETURN, AGAIN, AS I'VE SAID ON THE BOARD'S INVESTMENT IN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, CURRENTLY 2.9% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE WHILE WE ARE PROJECTING 4% FOR 2026.
WITH IMPROVED ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORT, WE AIM TO DOUBLE THAT OUTCOME BY 2028, THAT 2%.
THEN LASTLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT GOAL 4.3, INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATIONS, THAT'S OUR STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO LEAVE WITH A CERTIFICATE IN HAND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE EMPLOYABLE THE DAY THAT THEY GRADUATE FROM DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL, EVEN BEFORE, IN SOME CASES.
INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATIONS OR IBCS PROVIDE IMMEDIATE WORKPLACE VALUE UPON GRADUATION.
IBCS REPRESENT CREDENTIALS THAT CONFIRM THAT STUDENTS HAVE JOB READY SKILLS ALIGNED TO HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE CAREERS, SKILLS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY BY EMPLOYERS, BUT HAVE IMMEDIATE WORKPLACE VALUE.
WE MUST ENSURE CERTIFICATIONS ALIGNED TO HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE CAREERS IN OUR AREA, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON.
WITH OUR CT DIRECTOR, MR. GEEZ, HE IS CONSTANTLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR INDUSTRY BASED PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ARE WHAT WE ARE ALIGNING HERE AT DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL, SO THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH THOSE CERTIFICATES THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE EMPLOYABLE IN OUR GREATER AUSTIN AREA AND IN DEL VALLE.
OUR TARGET GROWTH IS AMBITIOUS BUT ACHIEVABLE WITH SUSTAINED FOCUS.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE AT 12.7% WITH THE PROJECTION OF 14.7% FOR THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR AND A GOAL OF INCREASING BY 22.7 BY 2028.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME AMBITIOUS GOALS, BUT WE THINK THAT THROUGH THE ALIGNED WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS A TEAM IN COMBINATION WITH OUR CTE TEACHERS IN COMBINATION WITH OUR INDUSTRY BASED PARTNERS THAT WE CAN GET THERE AND ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING WITH THE PLAN.
WHAT'S WORKING? CURRENTLY, WE'RE EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EARN CREDENTIALS ALIGNED TO THE WORKFORCE NEEDS.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS.
WE'RE SEEING GROWTH IN DUAL CREDIT AND ON RAMPS PARTICIPATION, GREATER COLLABORATION WITH OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM.
[00:40:03]
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES.SO MR. DE LA CRUZ AND MR. GUTS IS HAVING LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ALL IN ALIGNMENT AND ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED WHEN THEY ENTER INTO DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL AND SOON TO BE OUR NORTH DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
THAT TEACHERS ARE ACTIVELY TRACKING CCMR INDICATORS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZE COMING INTO THE DISTRICT AND IS MR. DE LA CRUZ AND INHERITING DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL AS OUR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IS THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD WAY OF TRACKING OUR CCMR INDICATORS AND ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT WAS MEETING THOSE CCMR INDICATORS.
HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM, WITH OUR TEAMS TEAM WITH THE TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM TO ACTUALLY CREATE A DASHBOARD SO THAT WE CAN TRACK OUR STUDENTS.
WE WERE ALSO HEARING THAT FROM SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AS WELL, TOO, IS THAT DO WE REALLY HAVE GOOD TRACKING INDICATORS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO MEET.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN PARTNERSHIP.
THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.
OF COURSE, TSI REMEDIATION AND PREPARATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRIOR TO US OR AFTER WE ACTUALLY SENT IN THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING, WE WERE ACTUALLY AWARDED A GRANT THROUGH COLLEGE SPRING, TOTALING $463,000, I THINK IS WHAT IT TOTALS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE PREP CLASSES AND TO BE ABLE TO PASS THE TSI EXAM.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
BUT I DIDN'T GET TO PUT THAT IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE FOUND AFTERWARDS, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSEWORK STILL NEEDS SOME WORK.
AGAIN, IT'S WHETHER OR NOT OUR STUDENT.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR OUR STUDENTS, IT'S WHETHER OR NOT OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED.
THAT'S SOMETHING AGAIN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY, THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, KNOWING THAT ALL OF WHAT HAPPENS IN HIGH SCHOOL IS THAT PREPARING THAT HAPPENS AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAVE WITH OUR CAMPUS LEADERS IS THAT WE CAN'T WAIT TILL THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL TO START PREPARING THEM FOR ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE.
THE RIGOR HAS TO START HAPPENING IN ELEMENTARY.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT PREPARE THEM AT MIDDLE SCHOOL SO THAT THEY ARE READY BY THE TIME THEY ENTER DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL AND SOON TO BE NORTH DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO ENSURING GAINS IN IBCS AND DUAL CREDIT CONTINUE YEAR OVER YEAR AND THEN COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION TO FAMILIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IS ENSURING THAT OUR FAMILIES KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS IN DEL VALLE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CTE WING.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALL KNOW THOSE THINGS, BUT DOES OUR COMMUNITY KNOW? DOES THEY KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE 3ES, WHETHER IT'S ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE, ENLISTMENT IN THE MILITARY OR HAVING EMPLOYABLE SKILLS WHEN THEY LEAVE, DO OUR FAMILIES REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW WE'RE PREPARING THE STUDENTS HERE AT DEL VALLE ISD? WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH ARC ON THAT COMMUNICATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLICATION THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES SO THAT THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE.
THEN LASTLY, IN GOING BACK TO OUR STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AGAIN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT STRENGTHENING ALIGNMENT, SO LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY STRONG PLC WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS REALLY OPEN.
REFOCUSING OUR P-TECH PROGRAMS, SO REALIGNING CURRICULUM AND SUPPORT SO THAT STUDENTS IN OUR P-TECH PROGRAMS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO MEET COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS BENCHMARKS.
BUILDING A CONTINUOUS PATHWAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS, AGAIN, AS I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED IS WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO START PREPARING OUR STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'RE WORKING ON STRENGTHENING THAT PATHWAY AND THEN PREPARING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY CHANGES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS THAT SOMETIMES THAT ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDLE MOVES AND THE EXPECTATIONS CHANGE.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE AS THOSE CHANGES COME.
THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE FOR TONIGHT AND WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME.
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SECRETARY WEGNER.
>> YOU BROUGHT UP THE $463,000 GRANT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THAT IS AMAZING.
WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME THAT THAT GRANT IS ACTUALLY APPLICABLE? WHEN DOES IT START?
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO ACCEPT IT.
IT'S BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH AGREEMENT PROCESS.
IT'S SO WE'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY NOW. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTION? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TRUSTEE SIERRA.
>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA JUST TO UNDERSTAND.
>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE GOAL 4.
[00:45:01]
I SEE THAT OUR EMERGENT BILINGUALS.THERE'S A BIG GAP THERE, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE THREE INDICATORS, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH MEETING EXPECTATIONS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS. WHAT'S DRIVING THAT GAP FOR OUR EMERGENT BILINGUAL, DO YOU KNOW?
>> I THINK A BIG PART OF IT GOES BACK TO HOW WE'RE TRACKING OUR STUDENTS, AND SO I THINK THAT IT GOES BACK TO HOW WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNICATION PIECE OF WHETHER OR NOT OUR STUDENTS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
I'LL JUST SPEAK PRETTY TRANSPARENTLY.
DR. GUTS WAS SHARING ABOUT THE STUDENT ADVISORY GROUP.
ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH THEM LAST WEEK IS JUST, HOW DO WE ENGAGE YOU IN SCHOOL AND WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MEET YOUR NEEDS? ONE OF THE STUDENTS WAS SHARING THAT SHE WAS IN OUR HEALTH SCIENCES PATHWAY.
SHE WAS LIKE, I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET SOME CERTIFICATION, BUT CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO IT.
I THINK THAT THAT GOES BACK TO OUR PARENTS UNDERSTAND BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN THOSE PATHWAYS, AND THAT'S NOT ANY FAULT OF REALLY ANYONE'S, BUT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.
I THINK A BIG PART OF IT IS THE COMMUNICATION PIECES AND THE COMMUNICATION GAPS, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THE COMMUNICATION PIECE AND ENSURING THAT NOT JUST THAT OUR PARENTS SHOULD KNOW, BUT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT OUR STUDENTS KNOW WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN THOSE PARTICULAR PATHWAYS SO TO US.
CAN OUR STUDENTS EVEN ARTICULATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHY? I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVEN JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTION? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TRUSTEE CHANTE HAIRWAG.
FOR THE TSI, FOR OUR STUDENTS, ARE THERE ANY PRACTICE EXAMS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND IF SO, AT WHAT GRADE LEVEL CAN THEY?
THAT'S PART OF WHAT COLLEGE SPRING IS DESIGNED TO DO IS PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR THAT EXAM AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE, BUT I'M ALSO THEY WORK WITH SOME OF THEM.
>> GOOD EVENING. WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN EXPOSE THE STUDENTS TO SOME TSI, SOME EXPOSURE TO IT.
THROUGH COLLEGE SPRING, THERE'S ACTUALLY A DIAGNOSTIC THAT THEY HAVE DESIGNED WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN GIVE IT TO THE STUDENTS AND THEN IT CAN INFORM US ON WHO'S READY TO TAKE THE EXAM, WHO'S CLOSE TO PASSING THE EXAM, AND WHO NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE TUTORING.
THE KIDS WHO ARE READY TO TAKE THE EXAM WILL EXPOSE THEM TO THE EXAM IMMEDIATELY AS OPPOSED TO THEM WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE TUTORING.
WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS ALONG WITH OUR COLLEGE PRE MATH, OUR COLLEGE ELA TEACHERS.
THEY INCORPORATE THE CURRICULUM THREE DAYS A WEEK.
THEN WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS THAT DO PULL OUTS WITH GROUPS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE SAME AREA.
THEY TUTOR THEM AND THEN ONCE THEY DIAGNOSTIC, AGAIN, THEY PASS THAT EXAM, BUT THEY'RE SHOWING THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, THEN WE EXPOSE THEM TO THE TSI EXAM AGAIN.
THERE'S ALSO CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW AND WORKING WITH OUR CURRENT EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO NINTH GRADE, DOING A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM WITH THEM WHERE THEY CAN COME IN, GET SOME INTENSE TUTORING WITH THOSE SAME TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HELPING US WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE INTENTIONS THAT ONCE THEY PASS THAT TSI EXAM, THEY CAN START THEIR COLLEGE CAREERS OR NINTH GRADE YEAR.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH TESTING THE STUDENTS.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING PRIOR TO COLLEGE SPRING COMING ON BOARD.
BUT NOW THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PLAN, WE HAVE A LOT MORE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACCESSING THE TUTORING PIECE TO IT.
NOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF KIDS WHO THEY'RE READY TO PASS THE TSI EXAM.
OUR FRESHMAN, WE ALREADY TESTED EVERY SINGLE FRESHMAN ON OUR CAMPUS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE NUMBERS ARE MUCH LARGER IN OUR FRESHMAN COHORT THAN THEY ARE IN OUR SOPHOMORE JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR.
I THINK WE'RE UP TO LIKE 108 STUDENTS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE ALREADY THEY COULD BE IN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE OPTED IN TO BE AN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.
ARE WE ABLE TO KEEP THE STUDENTS FROM FRESHMAN YEAR ALL THE WAY TO SENIOR YEAR? WE'LL BE WAY PAST THE 5% THAT WE SAID WE WOULD BE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. OF THOSE THAT YOU'VE TESTED AND ARE READY, ARE THEY ALREADY IN THE EARLY COLLEGE?
>> YES, WE OFFERED IT TO ALL OF THEM.
I THINK WE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T WANT TO OPT INTO IT.
WE'RE ASKING 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS TO BE COLLEGE LEVEL STUDENTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES TAKE AWAY FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE WHERE THE KIDS HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION SOMETIMES.
DO I WANT TO TAKE A COLLEGE COURSE OR DO I WANT TO BE IN CHEER, OR DO I WANT TO BE IN FOOTBALL AND SOCCER? THERE'S A FEW OF THOSE STUDENTS.
BUT LIKE WE SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS TO STILL EARN DUAL CREDIT ON RAMPS, TAKE AP LEVEL COURSES, WHERE THEY CAN STILL GRADUATE WITH US WITH 40, 30, 20 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT IN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN UP RIGHT NOW WITH
[00:50:01]
OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES IS FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T EARN COLLEGE CREDITS.WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT PIECE.
>> WE GO DOWN. ANYBODY ELSE OVER HERE? SUSANA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZE SECRETARY WEGNER.
>> I WANT TO SAY, IT SADDENS ME IMMENSELY THAT THE STUDENT COULDN'T SPEAK TO THE PATHWAY THAT SHE'S ON.
BUT SECONDLY, I'M GLAD THAT SHE HAD A VOICE AND COULD SPEAK TO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TRUSTEE CHANTE HEYWOOD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF YOUR COMMENT ABOUT KIDS HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE IT'S HARD AND OBVIOUSLY THEY WANT TO BE IN ALL THE EXCITING, THE SPORTS, AND THE DANCES AND ALL THAT THING.
BUT I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT WE REALLY GO INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY QUICK DETERMINATION YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
YOU PASS THIS TEST AND THEN WE COME TO THEM WE WANT TO GO THIS WAY OR DO YOU WANT TO GO THAT WAY? I THINK LEADING UP TO THEM MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, IF WE GIVE THEM A FULL VIEW OF THE PROS AND THE CONS OF EACH DECISION, THEY CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WITH THEIR TIME AND JUST THEIR GOALS IN GENERAL.
IT'S HARD FOR US AS ADULTS TO MAKE DECISIONS SOMETIMES.
I JUST THINK GIVING THEM ALL OF THAT ENCOURAGEMENT AND ALL OF THOSE FACTS AND THINGS WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
>> MOST CERTAINLY. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THERE'S TWO THINGS WITH THAT IS YOU'RE CORRECT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY INVITING OUR EIGHTH GRADE FAMILIES THIS WEDNESDAY TO COME IN AND LEARN ADVANCED ACADEMICS, AND WE'LL HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT IT SHOULD THEY WANT TO COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
BUT A KID DOESN'T NEUTRALLY HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION FROM EIGHTH GRADE GOING INTO NINTH GRADE AND PASS INTO TSI.
>> STUDENT THAT WE GET THE TSI EXAM AND THE STUDENT GETS CLOSE TO PASSING IT, WE HAVE A CLASS THAT'S CALLED COLLEGE TRANSITIONS CLASS THAT THEY TAKE THE FIRST SEMESTER OF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.
IF THEY PASS IT AT THAT TIME, THEN THEY START THEIR COLLEGE CAREER SECOND SEMESTER OF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.
THERE'S EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF STUDENTS WHO THEN DECIDE OR PASS IT, LET'S SAY SECOND SEMESTER OF THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR, THEY CAN START THEIR ECHS CAREER THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR OF THE FIRST SEMESTER.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO CATCH UP TO ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS, BUT THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE SHARE ALL THE INFORMATION TO THE FAMILIES, TO THE STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION OF EXACTLY WHAT DIRECTION THEY WANT TO GO.
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS SELLING TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR STUDENTS OF GRADUATION WITH COLLEGE CREDITS. THAT'S ALWAYS THE IDEA.
>> DO YOU ALL START TALKING TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT WHICH UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE THEY WANT TO GO TO IF THEY CHOOSE TO TRANSFER AFTER THEY HAVE AN ASSOCIATE'S? BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE DEPENDING ON WHICH UNIVERSITY AND WHAT CREDITS WILL TRANSFER.
>> YEAH. I THINK FOR OUR NON-ECHS STUDENTS, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER WHO REALLY WORKED WITH THE STUDENTS, MAINLY THEIR SENIOR YEAR, IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
BUT I THINK DEFINITELY FOR OUR NON-ECHS STUDENTS, WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB WITH THAT PIECE.
>> THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD ON, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, PRESIDENT GUADIAN, IS EVEN THINKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE TAKING AP COURSES BECAUSE NOT ALL OF OUR AP COURSES WILL ALSO TRANSFER OUT OF STATE EITHER.
AND THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS ABOUT SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS ARE.
>> BECAUSE WE TEND TO SEE THOSE THAT TRANSFER, WHERE I WORK, IS SOMETIMES THEY COME IN WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND JUST HAVE TWO MORE YEARS TO GO, AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, DEPENDING ON SEQUENCING.
IF THEY TOOK A SCIENCE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A LAB AND LAB IS REQUIRED, THEN THEY HAVE TO RETAKE IT.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TRUSTEE SIERRA.
>> I WANTED TO GO BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDED MORE ATTENTION, JUST TO ASK YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.
IT SAYS, SUSTAINABILITY OF GROWTH ENSURING GAINS IN IBCS AND DUAL CREDIT CONTINUE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE SEEING OR WHAT THAT MEANS?
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AREN'T NECESSARILY COMPLETING THEIR PATHWAYS, SO WHAT WE'RE FINDING RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S REQUIRED NOW IN TERMS OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDLE MOVING, IS OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE THEIR PATHWAYS.
SO IF THEY ENTER INTO A HEALTH SCIENCE PATHWAY AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATION, AND THEY DON'T GET THE CCMR CREDIT FOR THAT.
SO THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE A PATHWAY OF STUDY IN ORDER TO GET ONE,
[00:55:01]
THE CERTIFICATION, BUT ALSO TO GET THEIR CCMR CREDIT.SO WE HAVE STUDENTS AS MR. DE LA CRUZ WAS SHARING, WE AREN'T EVEN PROVIDING ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE READY.
AND SO HOW ARE WE GOING AND WE RECOGNIZING AND FINDING THOSE STUDENTS? BECAUSE WE HAVE DATA.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US THROUGH PRE K. SO WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF YEARS OF DATA LEADING UP TO HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE CAN HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE STUDENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE READY, THAT ARE JUST NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE STUDENTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW THAT ARE READY AND PREPARED THAT HAVEN'T TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ANY OF THE ADVANCED LEVEL COURSEWORK THAT ARE NOT ON THE PATHWAY TO COMPLETE AN INDUSTRY-BASED CERTIFICATION OR NOT ENROLLED IN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO THAT GOES BACK TO THE TRACKING AND HOW WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TRYING TO INCREASE THAT OVER TIME.
SO IT'S A STRATEGY-BASED APPROACH FOR US TOO.
>> TRUSTEES, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DOCTOR BAILEY.
MR. GUTIERREZ HAS SOMETHING THAT HE NEEDED TO SHARE. I'M SORRY.
>> SO TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE HARD WORK, WE MISSED THE KIND OF CELEBRATION AT THE BEGINNING.
I DO NEED JUST 60 SECONDS, IF YOU WOULD, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU GUYS.
SO DO I HAVE CONTROL? SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE PICTURES, WHAT DO YOU SEE JUST IN THESE TWO PICTURES? WOOD.
>> POTENTIAL. OKAY. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE REGULAR WOOD.
YOU MIGHT SAY THICK WOOD, WHATEVER. STILL THE SAME THING? SO WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS HARDWOOD.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU JUST GO GET A TWO-BY-FOUR AND YOU BUILD A HOUSE.
AND I WANT TO SHARE JUST A FEW PICTURES OF THE CARPENTRY STUDENTS.
AND I WANT TO CALL, DID MR. MIDDLETON LEAVE ALREADY? HE DID LEAVE.
OUR KIDS, ACTUALLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME GOT TO WORK WITH HARDWOOD AND CARPENTRY.
THEY'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
THEY NEVER WORKED WITH HARDWOOD AND THEY NEVER MADE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE THREE PRACTICAL CLASSES.
THEY STARTED CUTTING THEM DOWN INTO LITTLE BITTY RIPS OF CUBES.
WHAT THEY DID IS THEY MADE SOMETHING FOR YOU OUT OF THAT HARDWOOD.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE KIDS DID ALL OF THIS.
THE TEACHERS HELPED BECAUSE WE HAD TO REPAIR SOME MACHINERY AND WE LEANED ON SOME OF THEM FOR SOME OF THEIR EXPERTISE.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE KIDS DID THIS.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, TURN AROUND AND GRAB THE BOARD, AND THEN THERE IS A LITTLE GLASS BOTTLE OF LIQUID, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS.
AND IF YOU COULD MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAMERAS, IF YOU COULD JUST HOLD IT UP IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHAT IS IT? [APPLAUSE] OH, GO AHEAD.
[APPLAUSE] WHAT THIS IS, AND MAYBE SET IT DOWN BECAUSE IT IS HEAVY.
IT IS HARD MAPLE, SO THAT IS LONG GROWTH.
AND SO WHAT IT IS, SOMEBODY, DR. GUTIERREZ AND HIS PEOPLE ASKED FOR US TO DO THIS FOR YOU.
THEY GAVE US THE DESIGN, AND THEY WANTED THAT SPECIFIC DESIGN.
WE HAD TO KIND OF PUNT AND CHANGE IT UP AT LAST MINUTE, BUT I THINK IT WORKS.
DR. GUTIERREZ, WHAT DO YOU [OVERLAPPING] I THINK IT WORKS.
AND SO THE GLASS IS MINERAL OIL.
SO HOW IT'S FINISHED, IT MAY BE A LITTLE KIND OF TACKY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT HAS BEE'S WAX.
THEY PUT MINERAL OIL, AND THEN THEY POLISHED IT WITH BEE'S WAX.
LET IT SIT FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN WHEN YOU DO USE IT, AFTER YOU DO JUST SOAP AND WATER, THAT MINERAL OIL, AND YOU CAN GET IT OVER THE COUNTER.
WE JUST WANTED TO START YOU WITH.
PUT THAT ON SO IT DOESN'T DRY OFF.
BUT THAT'S DR. GUTIERREZ AND HIS TEAM AND CT'S GIFT TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AT DEL VALLE ISD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.
>> I HAD ALREADY FOUND MINE, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY WERE, I WANT TO SAY, MILLED PIECES AND THEN PUT TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION.
YOU CAN SEE THE WORK AND THE DEDICATION IN THIS, AND IT'S A VERY THOUGHTFUL GIFT.
>> NEXT UP, WE'LL MOVE ON TO INFORMATION ITEMS AND
[VI.A. Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors Appointment]
TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT, DR. CANTU.[01:00:04]
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT GUADIAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR. GUTIERREZ.
THIS MAY SEEM REALLY FAMILIAR BECAUSE THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT AS A BOARD, MEMBERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT.
WELL, THERE'S BEEN A RESIGNATION ON THEIR BOARD, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR TWO MORE MEMBERS.
SINCE THEY'RE ASKING FOR TWO MORE MEMBERS, THIS GOES THROUGH 2027 OR THE END OF 2027.
TODAY, WE NEED TO BRING IT FOR INFORMATION SO WE CAN ACT ON IT AT THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND ON THIS.
THE FOLKS THAT YOU WILL ASK TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND IF THEY ACCEPT AND THEY GET NOMINATED, THEY MUST RESIDE IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND THEY MUST HAVE BEEN IN DVISD PRIOR TO DOING THAT.
SO WE ASKED THAT TWO NOMINEES BE SUBMITTED.
CURRENTLY, AS OF TODAY, IT IS STILL OPEN FOR MORE NAMES.
IF YOU ALL WISH TO SUBMIT MORE NAMES, WE HAVE ONE THAT PRESIDENT ELVIA SUBMITTED TO US, MR. MOHAREZ.
WE HAVE TRUSTEE FRANCO WHO HAS SHOWN INTEREST.
AND THEN WE HAVE A PERSON THAT TRUSTEE PANTOJA HAS NOMINATED.
IT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION TODAY.
IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A NAME TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A NAME THROUGH EMAIL, THAT WORKS AS WELL AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE NAMES BY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, TRUSTEES? THANK YOU. I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO NOMINATE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> NEXT STEP, WE HAVE COMMUNITY UPDATES BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
[VII.A. Committee Updates by Board Trustees]
DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES?>> I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF UPDATES FROM THE GOVERNANCE.
ONE THING IS THAT ONE OF THE NEXT MOVES ON OUR AGENDA IS TO THINK ABOUT TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION AGAIN.
SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT A QUARTERLY CADENCE OF LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND GATHERING INFORMATION AND SHARING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BOARD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON SOME IDEAS, BUT WOULD LOVE, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY, YOU THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON IN SPEAKING TO THE COMMUNITY OR PLACES WE SHOULD SHOW UP TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SEND THOSE TO PRESIDENT GUADIAN ON FOR HER TO SHARE THOSE.
>> I RECOGNIZE TRUSTEE LEDESMA WOODY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE BOARD.
THE COMMITTEE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED JUST TO HELP WITH THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT GOALS.
ARE WE GOING TO EXTEND THAT TO THESE OTHER THINGS, OR ARE WE GOING TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? WHAT'S THE PLAN WITH THAT?
>> IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK IT WAS A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO WORK WITH ANYTHING THAT LONE STAR GOVERNANCE DID.
>> YES. BECAUSE OTHERWISE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN AND START.
SO THEY CAN COME UP WITH THINGS AND BRING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD.
>> OKAY. AND IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT.
>>CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, TRUSTEE LEDESMA WOODY.
SO WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION THAT WE'VE CREATED THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW.
SO IT DOES HAVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
BUT OUR GOAL FOR THE COMMITTEE IS TO RUN AS LONG AS THE LSG PROGRAM RUNS.
ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT JOURNEY, WE CAN REVISIT IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD, LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IF NOT, THEN IT CAN DISSOLVE AT THAT TIME.
BUT WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR THE DURATION OF LSG JUST SO THAT WAY, THE COMMITTEE DOES THE FOOTWORK AND PROVIDES THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD, BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR ALL NINE OF US TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT ON MORE WORKSHOPS THAN NEEDED TO MAKE THOSE FINAL DECISIONS THAT I THINK IT HELPS CREATE THAT WORK AND DECISIONS FOR THE BOARD.
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SECRETARY WEGNER.
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTION FOR THE COMMITTEE IS, DID YOU ALL EVER DO THE BOOK STUDY? ARE YOU ALL GETTING THE BOOK? DID YOU'LL NOT GET THE BOOK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT?
[01:05:02]
>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS.
SO I DO HAVE AN UPDATE. THE BOOK STUDY.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS OF HOW TO BE ABLE TO EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT CAUSING A QUORUM AND DISCUSSION OF BOARD BUSINESS DURING THOSE MEETING TIMES.
WHAT WE DISCOVERED IS THAT CENTRAL TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD OF ASSOCIATION, THE CTSBA, THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A BOOK STUDY RIGHT NOW FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THAT SAME BOOK.
I DID REACH OUT TO THE CONTACT FOR THAT BOOK STUDY, AND AS SOON AS SHE HAS MORE DETAILS AND A SCHEDULE, SHE'LL PROVIDE IT TO US, AND I'LL DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION TO THE REST OF THE BOARD, SO THAT WAY, THE BOARD CAN CHOOSE TO GO OR NOT AND PARTICIPATE.
BUT AS FAR AS THE BOOK IN ITSELF, I SENT OUT AN EMAIL COMMUNICATION.
I'VE HEARD BACK FROM EIGHT BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE BOOK.
SO THERE'S ONE THAT I DID NOT HEAR BACK.
WITH THAT INFORMATION, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THAT BOOK.
I KNOW THERE SOME SUGGESTION ABOUT IT COMING OUT OF THE LSG FUND, WHICH I THINK WE ALL AGREED THAT IT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE SUPPLY FUNDS SINCE IT'S SUPPLY TOOL THAT THE BOARD WILL BE USING.
SO, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WANTING THE BOOK AND ALSO WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN A BOOK STUDY, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ORDERING THOSE BOOKS SO WE CAN HAVE IT IN TIME FOR THE BOOK STUDY WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD OF ASSOCIATION.
>> WHAT I SEE AS AN ADVANTAGE IS JOINING THE CTSBA BOOK STUDY IS YOU HAVE MORE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER IDEAS AND CONCEPTS OF HOW THEY SEE IT.
IT'S JUST NETWORKING AND TALKING TO THEM AND SEEING WHAT THEY DO, WE DO, AND WORKING TOGETHER AS FAR AS ON GOVERNANCE.
>> DID YOU SAY A DATE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION? BECAUSE FOR ME WHEN WE FIRST DID IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BOARD DRIVES THE COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF THE COMMITTEE DRIVES THE BOARD, SO IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME ON HOW WE'RE SWITCHING THAT NOW.
BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS LIKE WE HAD THE BOARD, WE DISCUSSED IT, WE CREATED THE COMMITTEE TO DRIVE THESE THINGS.
AND NOW WE'RE SAYING THE COMMITTEE'S GOING TO COME AND DRIVE THE BOARD.
>> I THINK THE THING IS THAT THE COMMITTEE IS FOLLOWING LSG TIMELINE.
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION IS ON THERE AND STUFF.
WE'VE ALREADY WORKING WITH LSG AND THE TIMELINE.
THAT'S ALL THERE. AM I CORRECT? SO YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE TIMELINE AND COMING UP WITH THINGS LIKE THE TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION IDEAS AND A PATHWAY ON HOW WE GET TO THAT, AND WE ACCOMPLISH THE TWO WAY COMMUNICATION.
>> I HAVE THE DESCRIPTION READY.
I DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS TALKS ABOUT JUST HAVING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR THE REST OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE SERVE ON.
WE WANTED TO BRING THEM BOTH TO THE BOARD.
THE OTHER ONE, THE WHOLE DISTRICT, THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES IS NOT READY TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD JUST YET FOR REVIEW, BUT I DO HAVE THE LSG DESCRIPTION READY IF YOU GUYS ARE READY TO RECEIVE IT AND REVIEW IT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AND MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES.
I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT OUT TO EVERYONE VIA EMAIL TONIGHT.
>> ANY OTHER UPDATES? THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES TRUSTEE CHANTE.
>> I JUST HAD A QUESTION. ON THE BOOK STUDY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD HAS TO VOTE IN OR IS THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEE HOW THAT GOES AND WHOEVER IS INTERESTED? AND IF SO, IS THAT SELF-PACED? IS THAT SOMETHING I HAVE TO BE KEEPING UP WITH YOU GUYS ON CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BOOK OR IS IT SOMETHING I CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN SHARE?
>> I'LL ANSWER. DEFINITELY. IT'S SELF-PACED.
THE BOOK STUDY THROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS [INAUDIBLE] THEY WILL HAVE A SCHEDULE.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTEND GREAT, IF NOT, THAT'S FINE TOO.
BUT YOU'LL HAVE THE RESOURCE, WHICH IS THE BOOK, AND IT'S AT YOUR OWN PACE, YOUR OWN LEISURE.
IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS ON THE TRUSTEE HOW THEY WANT TO DELEGATE THEIR TIME TO THAT.
[01:10:01]
>> WHEN I THINK OF BOOK STUDIES AND BOOK STUDIES I'VE DONE WITH MY TEAM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS, I'VE DONE IT IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
I THINK IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS DONE.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE CENTRAL TEXAS TASB IS ENGAGING IN THIS BOOK STUDY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE WITH FAMILIES AND WORK AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, BUT I ALSO THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A SMALL GROUP OR EVEN INDEPENDENTLY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
WE ALL LEARN VERY DIFFERENT AND SOME OF US LEARN BETTER.
I DON'T APPEAR TO BE, BUT I'M AN INTROVERT.
AS I WAS STUDYING IN COLLEGE AND IN SCHOOL, I LOVED WORKING INDEPENDENTLY, AND I THINK GIVING THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE FLEXIBLE AND CHOOSING HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WOULD BE A GREAT WAY, AND IT'S A BOOK THAT SEVERAL ON THE TEAM ALSO HAVE, AND SO SOME OF US WILL ALSO BE ENGAGING IN THAT BOOK STUDY AS WELL.
>> WITH THE CENTRAL TASB ASSOCIATION, WHAT HAPPENS IS I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THEM ON ZOOM BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM CENTRAL TEXAS RIGHT FROM THE REGION.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THEY'LL GIVE YOU THE DATES AND YOU CAN LOG ON WHENEVER YOU'RE ABLE TO.
>> IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT.
WHEN I DID TALK TO THE CONTACT THERE, SHE DID SAY THAT THEY MEET VIA ZOOM AND IN PERSON DURING LUNCH.
THEY CAN JUST HOWEVER YOU WANT TO MEET.
ALSO, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, I'M WILLING TO MEET WITH SOME OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS OVER LUNCH OR COFFEE MORNING AND JUST DISCUSS THE BOOKS, SOME CHAPTERS.
I'M WILLING TO DO THAT AS WELL.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SCHEDULE, THEN I'M ALWAYS OPEN AND READY TO DISCUSS.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
>> WITH THAT INFORMATION, I THINK IN THE [INAUDIBLE] THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ORDERING THE BOOKS, THE PURCHASE OF THOSE BOOKS, AND THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THOSE BOOKS READY FOR THE BOOK STUDY WHEN THAT SCHEDULE COME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[VIII. Consent Agenda]
DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE'RE PULLING ITEM NUMBER A.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE B THROUGH D?
>> TRUSTEE LEDESMA WOODY MAKES A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS MAKES A SECOND.
[VIII.A. Policy Update 126]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. FOR CG LOCAL REGARDING PROHIBITED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AND PROHIBITED ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, WHAT IS THE DISTRICT DOING IN REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR POLICY? I KNOW THIS IS PERTAINING TO CONTRACTORS BEING PROHIBITED TO ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY, BUT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ITEM FOR OUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DIVERSITY THAT WE DO HAVE HERE.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR CONTRACTORS?
>> LEGALLY NOW, WITH THE LATEST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, THAT'S WHY THIS IS BEING CHANGED.
WE CANNOT USE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR DEI INITIATIVES.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WITH THE VALUES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS AND NOT INVEST THOSE MONIES THAT WAY.
WE CAN WORK WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO, WHAT IS ALLOWABLE BY LAW AND DO THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE,
[01:15:01]
FROM A LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT.WHAT DO WE BELIEVE IN CLASS? WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO SEE? WE STILL FOLLOW THE TEAKS, WE STILL TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE ALLOWABLE.
WE JUST CAN'T USE FEDERAL OR STATE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO PAY A CONTRACTOR TO COME AND DO [INAUDIBLE] WOULD IMPACT THIS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT EXPLAINS IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THAT ONE. THANK YOU.
>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM A? VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS MAKES A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WRIGHT‑HAYWOOD MAKES A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES 6:0.
THE BOARD WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS TGC 551071,
[IX. Closed Session]
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, 551072, DISCUSSION OF REAL PROPERTY, 551.074, DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL, REVIEW AND APPROVE EMPLOYMENT RESIGNATIONS AND DETERMINATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF, CONSIDER SANCTIONS FOR ABANDONMENT OF CONTRACT.TGC 551.076, DISCUSSION OF INTRUDER DETECTION AUDIT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS.
THE BOARD ENDED IN [INAUDIBLE] SESSION AT 8:40 PM, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, THE BOARD IS NOW RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION.
I TURNED IT OFF. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO APPROVING ACTION ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
[X.A. Discuss, Consider and Possibly Act on Employment, Resignations, and Terminations of Professional Staff]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND POSSIBLY ACT EMPLOYMENT RESIGNATIONS AND DETERMINATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF?>> SECRETARY WEGNER MAKES A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? TRUSTEE WRIGHT‑HAYWOOD MAKES A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE APPROVING? MOTION PASSES 6:0.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE SANCTIONS FOR ABANDONMENT OF CONTRACT?
[X.B. Discuss, Consider and Possibly act on Sanctions for Abandonment of Contract]
[LAUGHTER] SECRETARY WEGNER MAKES A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?>> I MOVED THAT THE BOARD FIND GOOD CAUSE DID NOT EXIST UNDER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 21.210 C2 FOR SEAN GROUNDS CONTRACT ABANDONMENT AS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.
>> SECRETARY WEGNER MAKES A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS MAKES A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSES 6:0.
ALL THOSE AGAINST? ALL THOSE ABSTAINING? MOTION PASSES 5:4 AND ONE ABSTAIN, 5, 0, 1.
BOARD, DO WE HAVE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS?
[XI. New Business/Future Board Agenda Items]
FOR FUTURE BUSINESS, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO BOARD AGENDA ITEM THE LSD DESCRIPTION.
I'LL PROVIDE THE DESCRIPTION TO THE BOARD AS SOON AS TONIGHT TO START REVIEWING, IF WE COULD HAVE IT ON A BOARD AGENDA ITEM TO VOTE ON IN THE FUTURE.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? TRUSTEE LEDESMA WOODY.
[01:20:03]
WE STILL HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH OUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SO I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT AT SOME FUTURE SOON. I'VE ASKED FOR IT.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH LSG, THE TIMELINES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT ALIGNS WITH LSG?
>> IT'S ON THE TIMELINE, RIGHT?
ARE WE GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH ITEM OR WHAT?
>> GO OVER THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> AS SOON AS WE CAN GET READY TOGETHER.
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT A WORKSHOP TO GET THROUGH AND THEN WE'LL GO AFTER THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE IN FRONT OF ME.
>> I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE IN FRONT OF ME EITHER, BUT IT WAS SHARED WITH THE BOARD THE TIMELINE.
I THINK MAYBE I CAN FIND IT IN MY EMAIL AND JUST FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE SO IT CAN BE ON TOP OF YOUR EMAIL.
>> OKAY. SO WHAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT? WHAT'S THE OUTLINE FOR IT? BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE, IS IT WE'RE JUST GOING TO REVIEW IT OR WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF IT OR WHAT IS THIS PART WITH LSG?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO A POLICY DIVE.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE IN FRONT OF ME.
IT'S A POLICY DIVE, AND THEN I ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS.
IT'S THE POLICY DIVE AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES SO THEY'RE BOTH IN LINE.
>> IF I CAN ADD TO THAT ALSO IT'S A PROCESS, FIRST WE HAVE TO, LIKE SHE MENTIONED, DO THE POLICY DIVE FIRST SO THAT ONCE WE DO THAT, THEN WE CAN WORK ON THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IN LINE WITH THE POLICIES [INAUDIBLE] STEP PROCESS.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO. WE DO HAVE THE TIMELINE AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE IN MARCH SINCE FEBRUARY.
>> WE'RE NOT HAVING A MARCH MEETING.
>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'LL START RIGHT AFTER THIS NEXT WORKSHOP.
>> IT WILL HAVE TO BE A WORKSHOP IS WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING.
I LIKE WHAT WE DID BEGINNING WITH THE ATTORNEYS A LITTLE BIT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] CLARIFY IT'S NOT ITS OWN OBJECT, IT'S GOING TO GO PART OF LSG.
>> WE'LL BE DOING BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES WITH LSG.
THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT I WILL CLARIFY WITH HIM AGAIN.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? TRUSTEE SIERRA MAKES A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? VICE PRESIDENT CISNEROS MAKES A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MEETING ADJOURNED TO DATE 15/2.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.