[00:00:02]
[1. Call to Order]
LET US PLEASE COME TO ORDER FOR THE CALLED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL TRUSTEES ARE PRESENT.
[3. Closed Session]
PERSONNEL TO DELIBERATE REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION AND CONTRACT.551.071. CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY.
551.072 REAL PROPERTY AND 551.076 TO CONDUCT DELIBERATIONS REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS. WE WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION AT 5:00 PM AND WILL RECONVENE IN FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 6:20 P.M..
[4. Reconvene]
SORRY, MY COMPUTER'S GOT A THOUGHT OF ITS OWN.[5. Meeting Opening]
I'LL ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER THAT WILL BE LED BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WARREN DAVIS.AND THE PLEDGE IS LED BY BOARD MEMBER DES THOMAS.
OH, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD DISPATCH YOUR SPIRIT AMONGST THIS PLACE.
KEEP US ON ONE ACCORD FOR THE BIGGER GOALS THAT WE ARE ASSEMBLED TO PERFORM.
FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HOLD US EACH ACCOUNTABLE TO THE WORK THAT WE DO.
YOU WILL MOVE US AND GUIDE US IN THAT WAY.
FATHER, I PRAY THAT THAT YOU WOULD JUST GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND RULE OUR THOUGHTS ALONG THESE LINES.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[6. Public Comment]
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 6.1.THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING THE BOARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS IS AS FOLLOWS.
LOCAL COPIES OF PRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL TRUSTEES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
BOARD POLICY PROHIBITS THE DISCUSSION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES DURING AN OPEN FORUM.
MS. MOYE ARE THERE ANY OTHERS THAN THE ONES I HAVE? THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS CYNTHIA DANIELS.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO DR.
CANTU AND PRESIDENT WILSON AND THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA DANIELS AND I WATCH THE JOINT MEETING FROM MARCH 7TH, WHERE I HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT WERE CHALLENGED AND SOME RATHER UGLY COMMENTS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE WHO VOLUNTARILY SERVED.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS WHO ARE HIRED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO DO THE JOB OF A LIBRARIAN, WHICH INCLUDES SELECTING BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARIES. MOST, IF NOT ALL, HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE AND HAVE SPENT TIME IN THE CLASSROOM AS TEACHERS.
THEY READ QUALIFIED REVIEWS OF EACH BOOK THEY SELECT AND USE GUIDELINES LAID OUT BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, JUST LIKE A DOCTOR WOULD USE THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. THEY CHOOSE AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS FOR THEIR LIBRARY.
WHAT THEY DON'T DO IS MAKE PARENTAL DECISIONS FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE SCHOOL.
IT CAN BE FURTHER CHALLENGED AND SENT TO A COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW.
THE COMMITTEE USES A DISTRICT CREATED CHECKLIST AS A GUIDE THAT IS VERY EASY TO FOLLOW.
[00:05:03]
THE COMMITTEE THEN READS THE BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY, DISCUSSES THE BOOK AND VOTES ON WHETHER TO KEEP THE BOOK IN THE LIBRARY.SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, I URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT POLICY BY TAKING ALL FAMILIES INTO ACCOUNT, NOT JUST THE ONES WHO THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH OR THE ONES WHO YELL THE LOUDEST WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME WHEN POLICY IS FOLLOWED.
OH, COME ON. MAYBE I KNOW HER.
OKAY. MY NAME IS JENNIFER REICH.
I AM A RETIRED LIBRARIAN FROM MISD.
I'M THE ONE WHO PROVIDED EACH OF YOU A COPY OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S TEA CRITERIA FOR BEING A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AND HIGHLIGHTED ONES THAT I THOUGHT WERE APPROPRIATE TO COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT.
AS WAS STATED, WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO UPHOLD CERTAIN STANDARDS.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE.
IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO NOT HAVE ONE.
WE HAVE RETIRED ALL OF THOSE, I BELIEVE, IN OUR DISTRICT THAT JUST EXITED IN.
NOW YOU MUST HAVE SO MANY YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE.
A FULL MASTER'S DEGREE PAST THE EXIT SPECIALTY FOR LIBRARY SCIENCE.
SO JUST A LITTLE ADDED NOTE THERE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I AM JENNIFER REICH, NOT REIKI OR ANYTHING ELSE, AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
AND MY FIRST ONE IS WILL THIS POLICY CHANGE SUPPORT MISD VALUES? MISD STATES ONE OF ITS VALUES AS STUDENTS FIRST, WE ARE A HIGHLY DIVERSE DISTRICT, SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY, ECONOMICALLY.
WILL ALL STUDENTS FIND THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE LITERATURE IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARY IF THE SCHOOL THE DISTRICT POLICY IS CHANGED? EACH PARENT HAS THE RIGHT, ACCORDING TO TEA AND THE DISTRICT, TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR PERSONAL CHILD READS.
ENGAGING WITH THE CHILD OVER LITERATURE HELPS DEVELOP AN ENGAGED READER AND STUDENT.
HOWEVER, IF ONE OR A FEW PARENTS WITH LOUD VOICES DOMINATE WHAT LITERATURE IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE, THEN MANY OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN MISD WILL BE DISENFRANCHISED AND DIMINISHED.
SURELY NO PARENT, NONE OF YOU WOULD WANT THAT FOR YOUR CHILD.
AND HOW CAN THE SCHOOL BOARD LIVE UP TO THE DISTRICT MOTTO MANSFIELD ISD IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN AND TEACH IF ANY CHILD BECOMES DISENFRANCHISED AND DIMINISHED.
A FEW MORE RECENTLY REFORMED KELLER SCHOOL BOOK SELECTION PROCESS HAS A PROCESS FOR REVIEWING AND PURCHASING BOOKS WITH A SECOND STEP OF A COMMUNITY REVIEW.
NOWHERE DOES IT REQUIRE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THIS, THAT AND I WROTE THIS OUT.
I HAVE BEEN RETIRED NOW GOING ON THREE YEARS.
IT'S YOU KNOW, NOWHERE DOES THIS FORM REQUIRE RESIDENCY IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS WOULD ENABLE ANYONE ANYWHERE TO TRY AND INFLUENCE DECISIONS IN MISD, DESIGNATE IT DESIGNATES WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTENTS.
THE BOOKS YOU ARE CHALLENGING HAS NOT MET FOR THE DESIGNATED GRADE LEVEL AND THEY HAVE A LIST PROFANITY, PASSIONATE AND OR EXTENDED KISSING, HORROR, VIOLENCE, BULLYING, DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE BY MINORS.
[INAUDIBLE] AM I AT MY TIME? THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOUR JOB IS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
WE SHOULD NOT DIMINISH ANY OF OUR STUDENTS.
YOU HAVE A PERSONAL CHOICE FOR YOUR CHILD.
LOOK AT WHAT TEA REQUIRES OF US.
BECAUSE I WOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW AS AN EDUCATOR.
BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE I'M SORRY. WE GOT TO GET TO THE NEXT PERSON.
OKAY. EBONY, AM I ON? I'M SORRY. EBONY TURNER.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND DR.
MUCH ADO HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT CERTAIN BOOKS.
WELL, A CERTAIN BOOK, MAYBE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN LABELED BY SOME AS PORN.
AND LET'S BE HONEST, BOOK BANS ARE A RIGHT WING TALKING POINT.
[00:10:01]
NOTHING MEANINGFUL WILL EVER BE ACCOMPLISHED BY BANNING A BOOK.AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT DYING AT THE HANDS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
BOOK BANNING WON'T STOP THE NEXT SCHOOL SHOOTING.
BANNING A BOOK WON'T INCREASE TEACHER PAY OR TEACHER RETENTION.
BANNING A BOOK WON'T BOOST STUDENT MORALE.
BANNING A BOOK WON'T IMPROVE STUDENT TEST SCORES OR RAISE THIS DISTRICT'S RATING BACK TO AN A.
LET'S FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUES OF SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIAL ED SERVICES AND GET BACK TO THE REAL VISION AND MISSION OF MISD, WHICH IS TO GRADUATE LIFE READY STUDENTS.
I JUST NEED YOU ALL TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ALL WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL 35,000 PLUS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND NOT TO DO THE BIDDING OF JUST ONE PERSON, NO MATTER HOW MANY EMAILS OR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS YOU RECEIVE.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU SHEILA FAVOR.
I KNOW THE AGENDA TONIGHT WAS NOT ABOUT CHANGES.
IT WAS ABOUT CHANGES TO THE BOOK POLICY.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.
BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT MOST PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WANT SCHOOL, WANT THE BOOKS TO BE IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY THAT HAVE EDUCATIONAL VALUE AND ARE NOT ADVOCATING AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE.
AND I DO USE THE WORD ALTERNATIVE LOOSELY.
I KNOW THE BOARD IS WORKING ON A NEW POLICY, WHICH I AM SO GLAD FOR AND ON BOOK CHALLENGES, AND I KNOW MISD VALUES THAT MOST PEOPLE THAT MOVE TO OUR DISTRICT SO THEIR CHILDREN COULD BE A PART OF THIS.
ALSO, I WOULD ASK THAT THE BOOK COMMITTEE MEMBERS BE OPEN AGAIN THIS SUMMER.
AS A RETIRED MISD EMPLOYEE, I WOULD VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I NEVER SAW THE APPLICATIONS I WORKED HERE FOR 24 YEARS.
AND I WAS A LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR, SO I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY THAT IS THE ISSUE HERE.
I THINK THE ISSUE IS THE VALUES THAT YOU'RE TEACHING THE STUDENTS AND IS THIS THE EDUCATIONAL VALUES THAT WE WANT? NOT FOR MY CHILD.
MY CHILD IS ALREADY GRADUATED, BUT SOME OF YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN HERE AND YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT YOU WOULD REALLY CONSIDER THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE TAKING OUR DISTRICT.
HI, MY NAME IS KRISTEN HENDRIX.
I WILL START THIS BY STATING THAT I AM HESITANT TO GIVE MY NAME DUE TO THE RETALIATION I HAVE SEEN FROM CERTAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PERSONALLY ATTACK MISD EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
HOWEVER, I WILL NOT LET THAT PERSON'S BULLYING TACTICS DISSUADE ME FROM SPEAKING AND ADVOCATING.
BASED ON THE COMMUNICATION THE MISD COMMUNITY RECEIVED ON MARCH 10TH.
I KNOW THE BOARD IS LOOKING TO CHANGE POLICIES REGARDING BOOKS.
I'M ALSO A PROUD MISD EMPLOYEE.
THIS IS MY 18TH YEAR WORKING FOR MANSFIELD ISD.
I SPENT 14 YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM AND I'M NOW A LIBRARIAN.
AND WHEN I SAY I LOVE MY JOB, I TRULY MEAN IT.
I RECEIVED MY MASTER'S IN LIBRARY SCIENCE FROM UNT IN 2019.
SCHOOL LIBRARIANS MUST BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
A MASTER'S DEGREE IS REQUIRED AS WELL AS HAVING AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE.
IN MY ROLE AS A LIBRARIAN, I DO MANY THINGS.
I PLAN ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR THE STUDENTS.
I HOST THE BOOK FAIR TWICE A YEAR.
I HELP IGNITE THE LOVE OF READING AND BOOKS.
I OFFER STORY TIME TO OUR FUTURE STUDENTS.
AND OF COURSE, I WORK ON MAINTAINING THE LIBRARY.
SELECTING BOOKS FOR MY CAMPUS IS A DUTY THAT I AM HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR.
BOOKS SHOULD PROMOTE LITERACY.
[00:15:06]
CURRICULUM. I ALWAYS READ THE PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS AND AGE CONTENT FOR THE BOOKS I ORDER .ALL OF THESE THINGS HELP ME DECIDE WHICH BOOKS TO ORDER FOR MY SCHOOL.
PARENTS, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO PLACE LIMITS ON YOUR CHILD'S ACCOUNT? IF YOU DO NOT WANT THEM CHECKING OUT BOOKS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS, YOU SIMPLY LET YOUR CHILD'S LIBRARIAN KNOW.
AND IT'S COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL.
IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF FREEDOM.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO MY CAMPUS.
CAN I CLOSE WITH A QUOTE REAL QUICK.
LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES AND DR.
CANTU. MY NAME IS DENISE LENSKI.
I WANT TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS REGARDING BOOK BANNING.
AND THESE TYPE OF BOOKS NEED TO BE BANNED FROM SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
I READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE TEXAS SCORECARD WRITTEN BY AARON ANDERSON ON MARCH 17TH, 2023.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN EMAILED TO ALL EIGHT OF YOU.
AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE, THERE IS A LIST OF 25 BOOKS THAT SHE HAS FOUND TO BE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT.
HERE IS THE LIST OF BOOKS AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF BY ELANA K ARNOLD.
ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE BY GEORGE M JOHNSON.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT BY ERIKA MOEN.
THE HANDMAID'S TALE, A GRAPHIC NOVEL BY MARGARET ATWOOD AND RENEE NAULT.
ROSEN. ALL YOUR PERFECTS BY COLLEEN HOOVER.
ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM BY YUSEI MATSUI.
A CART OF THORNS, A COURT OF THORNS, AND ROSES BY SARAH J.
MAAS. FUN HOME BY ALISON BECHDEL.
THIS BOOK IS GAY BY JUNO DAWSON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA FUENTES.
THIS TIME I'LL STICK TO THE SCRIPT AND NOT REDUCE MYSELF TO TEARS.
CANTU AND THE BOARD FOR LETTING US SPEAK.
WHAT AN AWFUL, AWFUL PHRASE IT IS AWFUL TO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT I DON'T HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE OR THE WILL TO ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO READ WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY SHOULD READ.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT MY DAUGHTERS READ.
[00:20:03]
THREE OF THEM HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED THIS DISTRICT.AND SHE HAS MADE THE HEARTBREAKING DECISION NOT TO ALLOW HER SON ATTEND MANSFIELD ISD.
THESE KIDS MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME, NOT JUST MINE, BUT EVERY STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT.
I DONATE BOOKS TO GLEN HARMON LIBRARY EVERY YEAR.
5 TO 10 BOOKS A YEAR, JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THOSE BOOKS TO READ.
MOST OF THEM ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS HAVE NO EDUCATIONAL VALUE, BUT HELPING A CHILD READ LOVE, HAVING A CHILD LOVE READING ENCOURAGES LEARNING.
SO THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ WHAT THEY WANT.
HERE'S A NOVEL CONCEPT IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILD READING THOSE BOOKS, TALK TO THEM.
IT IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO OPEN UP A CONVERSATION WITH A PERSON YOU GAVE BIRTH TO.
ON TOP OF THAT THE COUPLE OF BOOKS THAT WERE MENTIONED.
AND THE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE THAT PEOPLE DIEM WRONG.
IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THEM TO DEEM WHAT IS WRONG AND WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
AS A QUEER MOTHER OF QUEER CHILDREN, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT MY CHILDREN READ.
THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOANNA CARDOZA.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT DR.
CANTU. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I AM HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT 21, WHICH INCLUDES TARRANT COUNTY AND REGARDS TO A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS THAT WERE RECEIVED AGAINST ADMINISTRATION AT DP MORRIS AND HOW SPED TEACHERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO NOT CONCENTRATE ON SPED CHILDREN OF COLOR, ONLY WHITE SPED CHILDREN.
DURING A RECENT MEETING WITH AN HR ADMINISTRATOR, WE WERE TOLD THAT SHE ONLY HAS KNOWLEDGE OF COMPLAINTS MADE DIRECTLY AGAINST A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE BY OTHER EMPLOYEES. IF A PARENT FILES A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SAME DISTRICT EMPLOYEE, THE PROCESS GOES THROUGH STUDENT SERVICES UNDER A DIFFERENT INVESTIGATION AND DIFFERENT INVESTIGATOR.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE WHEN THERE MIGHT BE A PATTERN OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR.
WHEN SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES BUT BEING INVESTIGATED BY TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT AWARE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A MAJOR PROBLEM TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON MY COMMENTS I HAVE IN REGARDS TO THAT.
I HAVE I'M A PARENT OF FOUR MISD CHILDREN.
THEY ALL WENT THROUGH THE SUMMIT FEEDER PATTERN.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR LIBRARIANS ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
WE NEED TO LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS AS THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE.
ALL OF YOU, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE DISTRICT AND YOU REPRESENT MANY, MANY FAMILIES AND MANY STUDENTS.
AND MANY OF YOU DID NOT WIN YOUR ELECTIONS BY A BIG LANDSLIDE.
SO OUR DISTRICT HAS DIFFERENT VIEWS AND VERY DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE PURCHASED OUR HOME HERE BECAUSE OF THE ACADEMICS THAT YOU WOULD PROVIDE THE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU WERE GOING TO PROVIDE MY CHILDREN WITH.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I CHOSE TO BUY MY HOUSE IN THE MANSFIELD INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.
I THINK YOU ALL ARE CONCENTRATED ON THE WRONG ISSUE.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT DOING TOO GOOD IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT RATED BY TEA AND ALSO SEVERAL C RATED SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WHERE YOU ALL NEED TO BE CONCENTRATING ON.
NOT I WANT MY SON TO FINISH HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR HERE IN MANSFIELD, AND I WANT THIS TO BE THE DISTRICT THAT IT USED TO BE. AND PLEASE DON'T BRING YOUR POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES INTO BOARD POLICY.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
[00:25:07]
IT'S MARK J.THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEING HERE.
MOST OF YOU GUYS KNOW ME AS A SIGN GUY OR THE GUY WITH THE LONG HORNS DOWN THE STREET.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS. MY NAME IS MARK HAYES.
THEY ALL GO TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR GRADUATED.
AND THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP IS THE BOARD.
THIS DISTRICT IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE HAVE A LONG HERITAGE OF DOING GREAT JOB HERE IN MANSFIELD.
COLLIER, MR. NEWMAN, SOMEONE'S PROUD FAMILY MEMBER, DR.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS BACK IN THE 80S AND THE 90S WHERE THE PLACE TO HANG OUT WAS THE THE RODEO DOWN THE STREET OR GOING OVER TO QUICKSTOP, WHICH WAS WE CALL IT BACK THEN.
IT WASN'T QUICKSTOP, WAS IT? IT WAS DAIRY QUEEN.
YOU PASS NOTES TO YOUR FRIENDS IN CLASS.
WE'RE NOT THAT ENVIRONMENT ANYMORE.
AS WE'VE NOTICED RECENTLY WITH BRANDON HENSLEY AND KRISTI DIAZ, WHO HAD AN A SEXUAL INNUENDO AT SCHOOL, OR KELLY DON WILLIAMS, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER BACK IN 2015 WHO HAD A SEXUAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A SPECIAL ED STUDENT, OR STACY BAILEY, WHO WAS SUSPENDED AND THEN SUED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN EVEN A MORE SERIOUS CASE, RUSTY FRANK WILLIAMS, WHICH HAD STARTED A RELATIONSHIP OVER THREE YEARS WITH ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AT THE AGE OF 15 WHO FATHERED A CHILD WITH THAT STUDENT AND THEN HAS LEFT THE DISTRICT.
AND THE ONE I WOULD START WITH IS PROTECTING OUR KIDS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE BOARD.
AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, THERE'S MANY WAYS TO DO THAT.
EVERYONE IN OUR AUDIENCE USE IT.
YOU EVER GO ON YOUR SMARTPHONE AND TYPE A WRONG WORD INCORRECTLY OR THE WRONG PHRASE AND IT COMES BACK IN AND RECOMMENDS SOMETHING BETTER? WE CAN PUT BOT GPT OR AI IN PLACE TO HELP PROTECT US AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING IS MYRA MILLER.
GOOD EVENING. SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A DEFENDANT.
AND ON THE 15TH OF JANUARY IN 2023 AND THE COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS DIDN'T INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY CAUSE SEXUAL ORGAN OF HIS DEFENDANT TO CONTACT SEXUAL ORGAN OF CHILD WHO WAS UNDER THE AGE OF 17 AT THE TIME, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER DEFENDANT KNEW OF THE CHILD'S AGE.
IT IS FURTHER PRESENTED IN SAID COURT THAT THE DEFENDANT IN THE COUNTY OF TARRANT AND SAID STATE ON THE 15TH OF JANUARY OF 2023 DID INTENTIONALLY OR KNOWINGLY CAUSE THE FINGER OF THE DEFENDANT TO PENETRATE THE SEXUAL ORGAN OF SAID CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 17.
AND REGARDLESS IF HE KNEW THE AGE OF THE CHILD.
COUNT THREE. IT IS FURTHER PRESENTED IN THE SAID COURT THAT THE DEFENDANT IN THE COUNTY OF TARRANT IN SAID STATE ON JANUARY 15TH OF 2023 DID INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY CAUSE SEXUAL ORGAN OF THE DEFENDANT TO CONTACT THE MOUTH OF A CHILD YOUNGER THAN THE AGE OF 17.
IT IS FURTHER PRESENTED THAT THE COURT AND THE DEFENDANT IN THE COUNTY OF TARRANT COUNTY, IN THE STATE THEREOF, INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY CAUSED THE MOUTH THE DEFENDANT OF THE SEXUAL ORGAN, TO CONTACT A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 17.
[00:30:06]
AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO READ IT, DESENSITIZE THEM.THE DISTRICT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND THAT'S HOW MANY OF US HAVE ASKED FOR COMING FORWARD.
I'VE NEVER REQUESTED A BOOK BANNED, AND I WILL NEVER REQUEST A BOOK BANNED.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S CURRENT LAWS WITHIN THAT STATES THAT YOU CANNOT REMOVE A BOOK.
BUT I ASK YOU TO PROTECT MY CHILD WHO I LIKE TO KEEP INNOCENT.
BY DOING THAT, I HAVE MADE SUGGESTIONS SUCH AS SKYWARD.
THEREFORE, PARENTS LIKE MYSELF WHO DIDN'T ORIGINALLY KNOW THAT WE HAD SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL IN THE LIBRARIES DON'T HAVE TO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE OKAY WITH THAT AND THEIR CHILDREN READING PORN.
BUT DON'T MAKE ME HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ALL THAT THIS COULD EVEN BE IN OUR FOUR WALLS OF OUR SCHOOL.
THEREFORE, AGAIN, IT ALLOWS ALL OF US PARENTS TO HAVE THE RIGHT.
I WON'T TREAD ON THEM, THEIR CHILDREN, AND I DON'T WANT THEM TREADING ON MY CHILDREN.
I LIKE TO KEEP MY CHILD INNOCENT.
AND IF THAT IS BY NOT LETTING THEM READ BOOKS SUCH AS THIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE THAT YOU DO.
AND YOU'RE CERTAINLY APPRECIATED FOR DOING THAT.
AND I'M FINALLY GLAD SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2021 THAT YOU'RE TAKING THIS.
IT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S JUST BEEN RECENT.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S TIME.
THANK YOU. SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 7, OUR DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[7. Discussion]
WE'LL START FIRST WITH 7.1, OUR POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE UPDATE COMMITTEE.YES. SO BOARD THE POLICY COMMITTEE RECONVENED, I GUESS, LAST WEEK.
AND AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY UPDATES.
OKAY. SO THEN 7.2, OUR BOARD SCORECARD.
IS THERE ANY UPDATE FROM THOSE THAT I KNOW? MS. THOMAS AND MS. ANDERSON YOU ALL USUALLY TAKEN THAT ON BY THE HORNS, OF COURSE.
WE HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PRESENT AT OUR SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, BOTH IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN FORT WORTH ON OUR SCORECARD.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY COOL BRAGGING POINT THAT WE GET TO DO FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO WE GET TO GO AND PRESENT ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON IT.
IT'S A GOOD GROUP EFFORT AND DR.
CANTU WILL BE JOINING US, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
YOU ALL HAVE YOU ALL HAVE PUT A LOT OF GOOD WORK INTO THAT.
AND THE BOARD LIKES IT, APPRECIATES THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE TAKE ON WITH THAT, AS WE SHOULD.
[8. Business Items Requiring Board Action]
RENEWALS. MAY I PLEASE RECEIVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS? SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY MS. THOMAS AND A SECOND MADE BY MR. DAVIS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS COMING FROM THE BOARD? YEAH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.MAY I PLEASE SEE A SHOW OF HANDS? OKAY, SO THERE ARE NONE OPPOSED AND THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
WITH NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 9 TO ADJOURN AND IT IS.
6:52 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.