[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING. LET US PLEASE COME TO ORDER FOR THE CALLED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
[1. Call to Order ]
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL TRUSTEES ARE PRESENT.[3. Closed Session ]
REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.551.071. CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY.
[4. Reconvene ]
GOOD EVENING. WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 7:56 P.M..I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT OR REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY SLATED FOR A WORKSHOP.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE STAND AS MS.
[5. Meeting Opening ]
FARRAR LEADS US IN THE PRAYER AND MS. THOMAS LEADS US IN THE PLEDGES.THANK YOU. THIS TAKES US TO ITEM SIX OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[6. Public Comments ]
MS. MOYE. ARE THESE ALL THE CARDS? OKAY, SO THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING THE BOARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS IS AS FOLLOWS.BOARD POLICY PROHIBITS THE DISCUSSION OR COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES DURING AN OPEN FORUM.
SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CAROLINE FERGUSON.
HELLO, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE, SO GOOD EVENING.
I HAVE LIVED IN MANSFIELD FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT I HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS MY ENTIRE LIFE.
GROWING UP, I ALWAYS FELT LEFT OUT.
I NEVER SAW MYSELF IN ANY CHARACTERS IN MOVIES I WATCHED OR BOOKS THAT I READ.
I ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE TELLING ME WHO I WAS OR WHO I COULD BECOME OR COULDN'T BECOME.
I ENDURED THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE OR READ ABOUT ANYONE GOING THROUGH WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.
THEY STARTED DIRECTING MOVIES AND SHOWS THAT MADE MY FEELINGS VALID.
LATER IN LIFE, MY HUSBAND FOUND OUT HE WAS AUTISTIC.
SO MUCH OF HIS CHILDHOOD MADE SENSE WHEN HE REALIZED WHY HE WAS THE WAY HE WAS.
HE DIDN'T FIND OUT EARLIER BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T BOOKS OR MOVIES WITH CHARACTERS OUT THERE LIKE HIM.
MUCH LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE, AUTISM IS MISUNDERSTOOD AND STEREOTYPED.
THEY ARE PUT IN A SMALL BOX AND TOLD WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.
[00:05:06]
HE FELT SEEN AND HEARD.IT'S BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WITH UNTOLD STORIES THAT WANTED TO BE HEARD THAT WE FOUND COMMUNITY AND CREATED FRIENDSHIPS AND OTHERS WHO LIVED OR ARE LIVING SIMILAR LIVES. LIVES ARE CONTINUING BECAUSE OF STORIES THAT ARE BEING WRITTEN AND FILMED.
LIVES ARE BEING HEALED BECAUSE BRAVE PEOPLE WITH STORIES ARE REFUSING TO STAY SILENT.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN BAN, BURN, BOMB AND IMPRISON THOSE YOU WANT TO KEEP SILENT, BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THOSE WORDS HAVE PASSED ON. THEIR STORIES WERE SHARED AND HISTORY WAS MADE.
HISTORY ALSO TEACHES US THAT THOSE WHO TRY TO SILENCE OTHERS ARE JUST AFRAID--AFRAID OF WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND OR AFRAID OF BEING WRONG.
ONCE AGAIN, HISTORY TEACHES US THAT THEY ARE FUELED BY FEAR THAT THOSE FUELED BY FEAR, RUN OUT OF FUEL OR THEIR FLAMES ARE PUT OUT WITH TRUTH AND FACTS, AND I HAVE FAITH THAT FEAR WILL FAIL AND BRAVE STORIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE TOLD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER REICH.
JUST BE CAREFUL. OKAY, JENNIFER REICH.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.
THE POLICY REVISING THE ACQUISITION OF LIBRARY BOOKS HAS NOT YET COME UP FOR A SECOND READING.
I'M HOPING THAT MEANS YOU LISTENED AND HEARD WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SHARED.
RECENTLY THE STATE LEGISLATORS PASSED HOUSE BILL 900.
ITS GOAL IS TO REGULATE SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL.
SUBSECTION B, THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SHALL ADOPT VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICES OTHER THAN COLLECTING COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL CONSIDER THE STANDARDS IN DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING AND EXPANDING THE LIBRARY.
THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY ARCHIVES COMMISSION, WITH APPROVAL OF MAJORITY VOTE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SHALL ADOPT STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ADHERE TO IN DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTING THE DISTRICT'S LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICIES.
THIS NEW LEGISLATION, IN MY VIEW, MAKES THE NEED TO ADOPT A NEW POLICY UNNECESSARY.
IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO CONTINUE PURSUING A NEW POLICY, I WONDER AT THE IMPACT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, HOW DOES IT PROTECT ALL CHILDREN BY ALLOWING THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN LITERATURE? IF SOME STUDENTS ARE EXCLUDED, HOW DOES THAT CONFLICT WITH THE DISTRICT'S STATED GOALS FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING? SECONDARILY, HOW WILL THIS POLICY, IF ADOPTED, IMPACT HIRING TEACHERS STRIVE TO TEACH ALL THEIR STUDENTS.
WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO APPLY TO A DISTRICT THAT CHOOSES TO NOT SUPPORT LGBTQ STUDENTS? IF ALL STUDENTS ARE NOT SUPPORTED, WHY WOULD A TEACHER CHOOSE TO COME HERE WHERE THEY WILL BE RESTRICTED FROM TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS? WHY WOULD THEY TRUST MANSFIELD ISD TO SUPPORT THEM? THE DISTRICT HAS ALREADY FACED THAT CONSEQUENCE WITH ONE ART TEACHER.
WHAT WILL THE CONSEQUENCES BE TO STUDENTS? HOW MANY TEACHERS WILL SEEK TO COME TO MANSFIELD ISD AMID THIS REGIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE? CHOICE HAS CONSEQUENCE.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHEILA FAVOR.
I'M SHEILA FAVOR AND I DIDN'T BRING ANY PAPERS.
I JUST CAME BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE POLICIES THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE STILL HOPEFULLY LOOKING AT, I HOPE, WITH THIS NEW LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS YOU IN YOUR DECISIONS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE RIGHT ROAD BY DOING THIS, AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL AFFECT TEACHER SHORTAGES.
I THINK TEACHERS WILL BE HAPPY TO COME HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU MIGHT LOOK AT THE FIGURES SAY, OH, THESE TEACHERS ARE LEAVING.
YOU LOOK AT TALK TO THEM WHY THEY'RE LEAVING.
IT'S SOMETIMES HIGHER POSITIONS.
IT'S SOMETIMES THE KIDS AND THE BEHAVIOR OF THE KIDS, BUT I REALLY SEE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO, AGAIN, I SAY I MIGHT BE ONE PERSON, BUT THERE ARE TONS AND TONS MORE JUST LIKE ME THAT FEEL JUST THE SAME WAY THAT SUPPORT YOU IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANKS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MYRA MILLER-CASTLES.
[00:10:14]
AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE EVERYONE, INCLUDING LOVING THOSE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH US.THERE'S A WAY TO SHOW LOVE TO SOMEONE AND SHOW LOVE WITHOUT ENDORSING THE LIFESTYLE OR HOW THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE THEIR LIFE.
WHENEVER WE'RE CHRISTIANS, IT SAYS THAT WE'RE THAT TO BE A CHRISTIAN, WE SHOULD START TELLING THOSE THAT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S THE TRUTH AND NOT GIVING IN TO THE LIES OF SOCIETY.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE, DIFFICULT JOURNEY TO WORK RIGHT NOW WITH OUR GENERATION, AND I THINK WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S NOT TO SUPPORT SUPPOSED TO BE HARD OR EASY FOR OR IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EASY FOR US AS CHRISTIANS WITH OUR CHRISTIAN VALUES IN SOCIETY THAT'S REJECTING EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IN AS CHRISTIANS VALUES PERSPECTIVE BUT THE GOSPEL DOES NOT SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EASY AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOVED, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MILLION FRIENDS IN LIFE OR FACEBOOK OR 5 MILLION FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER OR TIKTOK OR EVEN EVERY JOB OPPORTUNITY WE WANT.
IT DOESN'T SAY IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FEEL GOOD TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
IN FACT, THE GOSPEL REPEATEDLY SAYS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IF YOU DARE TO TELL THE TRUTH TO THE WORLD, THAT'S REJECTING THE VERY CONCEPT OF TRUTH THAT WE BELIEVE IN CHRISTIAN, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, AND I KNOW FOR ALL OF YOU, YOU'VE TAKEN LOTS OF CRITICISM.
YOU'VE BEEN CALLED NAMES THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE CALLING EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS.
YOU'RE NOT CHRISTIAN NATIONALISTS.
YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO BAN SOMETHING.
YOU'RE TRYING TO SET LIMITS FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND THAT'S OKAY.
SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PRESTON HORN.
HI, EVERYONE. I'M PRESTON HORN.
WHAT IS BECOMING SIGNATURE DAD HAT ON A GOOD TONIGHT.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT HEARING THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF YOUR CONTRACT TONIGHT.
I REALLY ADMIRE HOW YOU'VE HANDLED THE LAST THREE YEARS OF BEING SUPERINTENDENT.
IT'S BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT, AND THE BOARD, THROUGH PANDEMIC, THROUGH DATA BREACH, THROUGH LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES WITH SECURITY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE VERY HARD THINGS TO NAVIGATE.
I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE BY LISTENING TO THE VOICES, THE VOICES OF THE MANY, LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE MARGINALIZED.
I WAS REMINDED TODAY THAT THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE MARCHING DOWN BROAD STREET FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER ON JUNE 6TH, AND IT WAS SUCH A POWERFUL, AMAZING DAY, AND HERE WE ARE, THREE YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT DISCUSSING THINGS THAT REALLY IMPACT MARGINALIZED GROUPS, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T TAKE LIGHTLY AND WE CAN'T LOOK AT ARCHAIC UNDERSTANDINGS WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO TODAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA HORN.
IS IT ANNA OR IS IT ANA? IT'S ANNA. I THOUGHT SO AFTER I SAID IT.
HELLO TO THE BOARD. MY NAME IS ANA HORN.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA TONIGHT, I DID SEE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT KIND OF JUMPED OUT AT ME, ONE BEING ITEM 9.2, TALKING ABOUT THE BOARD ACCOUNTABILITY, AND IT JUST WAS MAKING ME WORRIED THAT WITH THE POLICIES THAT ARE COMING UP, I JUST WAS WONDERING IF THE BOARD REMEMBERED.
THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT.
I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT YOU GUYS DON'T, BUT I WOULD JUST IMPLORE YOU THAT WITH POLICIES THAT ARE COMING UP, YOU AS THE BOARD AND ALL THE TIME THAT YOU GIVE AND ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GIVE ARE TO HELP TEACHERS DO THEIR JOB, NOT HINDER IT AND EVEN IN LOOKING AT THE HR REPORT AND WHILE I'M GLAD THAT ALL THE NEW HIRES, THEY'RE ALL AT THE ADMINISTRATION LEVEL AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE TO KEEP GOOD QUALITY TEACHERS LIKE THE OTHER PERSON SPOKE TONIGHT, WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET GOOD TEACHERS, WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO KEEP GOOD TEACHERS.
THE POLICY, THE BOOK BANNING POLICY THAT EVERYBODY IS ALLUDING TO OR NOT ALLUDING TO, STRAIGHT UP TALKING ABOUT THAT EVEN BEING UP FOR DISCUSSION WOULD IMPLY THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT POLICY WITH HOW WE HAVE HANDLED THIS SITUATION HISTORICALLY, BUT WITH THE ONE BOOK FROM THIS YEAR NOTWITHSTANDING, NO BOOKS HAVE BEEN
[00:15:08]
CHALLENGED IN MISD.THIS ISN'T A RAMPANT PROBLEM OUR DISTRICT HAS HAD OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST HAVE INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS LURKING IN THE DARK CORNERS OF OUR LIBRARIES.
NO ONE TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS WITH THE CURRENT POLICY, AND IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT POLICY, WHY ARE WE CHANGING IT? WHY IS IT EVEN UP FOR DISCUSSION? THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS THAT THIS BOARD WHO WAS VOTED IN NEED TO HELP ACTUALLY SOLVE OUR ACCOUNTABILITY RATING HAS DROPPED. YOU'RE LOSING TEACHERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL.
INSTEAD, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE COMMITTED TO SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT DON'T EXIST.
WHO WOULD WANT TO COME WORK HERE? WHY WOULD OUR GOOD TEACHERS STAY? AND THOSE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED NEW POLICY HAVE ALSO YET TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS WITH THE CURRENT POLICY.
THOSE WHO SPORT SLOGANS OF SUPPORTING BOOK BOUNDARIES WOULD IMPLY THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO BOUNDARIES, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE.
THE POLICY IN PLACE AFFORDS THEM ALL THE OPTIONS THEY NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE WHATEVER DECISION THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO PRESENT IT OTHERWISE IS AT WORST DECEITFUL AND AT BEST WILLFUL IGNORANCE.
THERE ARE REAL PROBLEMS FACING THIS DISTRICT, AND I IMPLORE YOU THE BOARD TO FOCUS ON SOLVING THOSE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE] FRANCIS.
I'M GOING TO BACK UP AND DO THIS BECAUSE THE SCREEN AND ME WORKING MY PROGRESSIVE LENSES.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE 2014.
ON THE WHOLE, IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
I'VE COME UP HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE AND SAID HOW EXCITED I AM TO BE IN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE I'M STILL AMAZED AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE EXPOSURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE, BUT I'M GETTING CONCERNED.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT OF PAUSE AND WE HAD COVID.
YES, THAT WAS THAT WAS HARD ON EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE MOVING PAST THAT, AND I GET THE FEELING THAT WE'RE OUT HERE TRYING TO MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE BECAUSE WE GOT KIND OF CAUGHT UP ON HAVING ALL THESE COVID ISSUES, AND THAT'S A CONCERN.
TEXAS DOES EVERYTHING BIGGER AND BETTER, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN I MOVED HERE.
IT WAS LIKE, HEY, BECAUSE WE'RE THE BADDEST.
WE DO ALL OF THIS, BUT ARE WE TRYING TO BECOME THE DUMBEST? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS BOOK POLICY SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.
WE ARE TRYING TO DUMB DOWN OUR STUDENTS.
OH, HEY, THEY CAME FROM TEXAS.
THEY GOT TO KNOW. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO KNOW NOW IS, OH, YOU CAME FROM TEXAS.
YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T READ HALF THE BOOKS ON THE LIST ON THE AP TEST BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED YOU DIDN'T GET CRITICAL DISCUSSION AND LECTURE ON THOSE BECAUSE MAYBE TWO PAGES MENTIONED SOME SUBJECT MATTER THAT SOMEBODY GOT UPSET ABOUT.
THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE HAVE EXPERTS.
EVERYONE'S TALKED ABOUT THEM AD NAUSEUM.
THEY ARE WELL TRAINED TO VET OUT OUR BOOKS FOR WHAT GRADES, WHAT LEVELS, ALL OF THAT STUFF, AND IN FACT, I THINK IT WAS MAY 16TH, I WAS HERE AND TRUSTEE ANDERSON SAID SHE DOESN'T EVEN INTEND TO READ THE BOOKS THAT PEOPLE PROPOSE TO BANNED BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DO THAT AND GIVE YOU A SUMMARY AND LET YOU KNOW IF YOU SHOULD BAN IT OR NOT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE THE EXPERT LIBRARIANS, THROW THEM TO THE SIDE AND JUST TAKE SOME SUMMARIES THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T EVEN READ THE BOOKS OURSELVES AND SAY, LET'S BAN THEM.
[00:20:02]
SO THIS 8.1 WHERE YOU WANT TO SAY TO TEXAS, GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY, BUT LET US CHOOSE OUR OWN VENDORS AND OUR OWN CURRICULUM.I DO NOT THINK THIS BOARD SHOULD SUPPORT THAT.
I DON'T EVEN TRUST Y'ALL TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
YOU ARE SHOWING US RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT EXERCISING GOOD JUDGMENT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO READ THE BOOKS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LET SOME CHRISTIAN ZEALOTS TELL YOU TO BAN OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF OUR EXPERTS, AND NOW YOU WANT TO MAKE CURRICULUM DECISIONS. YOU WANT TO TELL MY KID WHAT KIND OF SCIENCE THEY CAN LEARN.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO REJECT RESOLUTION.
BEFORE WE KNOW IT, OUR KIDS WILL BE RUNNING AROUND HERE NOT KNOWING ONE THING TO THE NEXT.
OKAY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. JOANNA CARDOZA.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WILSON, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
DR. CANTU. MY NAME IS JOANNA CARDOZA.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON SEVERAL ISSUES.
MANY SUMMIT PARENTS AND I ARE CONCERNED OVER THE CONTINUED DEFUNDING OF STAFF AND RESOURCES IN RESPECT TO EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS IN RECENT YEARS.
WHEN THE BOY'S COACH RESIGNED AT THE END OF THE 2022 SCHOOL YEAR, THE POSITION WAS NOT FILLED.
INSTEAD, THE GIRLS COACH WAS ASKED TO COACH THE BOYS AND GIRLS TEAM.
NOW, AT THE END OF THE 2023 SCHOOL YEAR, THE DISTRICT IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE CHOIR TEACHER'S ASSISTANT.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU AGREE THAT ACCESS TO EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS IS IMPORTANT.
WHEN SCHOOLS COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER DUE TO THE SUPPORT, COACHING AND THE TIME A TEACHER CAN SPEND WITH EACH STUDENT BE SHORTENED DUE TO THE LACK OF STAFF.
IN REGARDS TO THE NEW PRINCIPAL SELECTION PROCESS FOR SUMMIT.
VERY ENGAGED PARENTS AND I ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE FOLLOWING INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE WANT SOMEONE THAT WILL BE DEDICATED TO STAY AT SUMMIT FOR A WHILE, WILL MAKE THE TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND VALUE SUMMIT STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS, WILL VALUE AND INTENTIONALLY CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CANDIDATE THAT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE PICKED TWO YEARS AGO WAS NOT SELECTED FOR THE PRINCIPAL POSITION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SAME APPLICANT HAS REAPPLIED FOR THE POSITION.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS APPLICANT HAS A WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORT FROM SUMMIT STAFF AND PARENTS.
THE APPLICANT HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TO THE SUMMIT COMMUNITY AND IT IS TIME THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL THAT HE DEEPLY LOVES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GWEN BELLINGER.
HI, GOOD EVENING. I'M GWEN BELLINGER, AND THIS IS ABOUT AUTONOMY.
I'M SORRY. ACTUALLY, LET'S SAY ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S BEEN A JOY, AND NOW, WITH A SUDDEN EXODUS OF TEACHERS AND COLLEGE READINESS, SCORES OF ONLY 32, WE'RE WONDERING WHY ACADEMICS ARE NOT ENTRUSTED MANAGING ACADEMIA ANYMORE TO SOLVE THIS DECLINE.
ACADEMICS KNOW THAT ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS SACRED, AND AS AMERICANS, WE KNOW THAT STEALING PARENTAL AUTONOMY FOR OUR OWN FAMILIES WHILE ALLOWING A TINY GROUP TO IMPOSE THEIR SMALL CHOICES ON OUR FAMILIES INSTEAD IS CONTRARY TO AMERICAN VALUES AND IT'S AN INTELLECTUAL AND SAFETY DISASTER.
PARENTS AND TEACHERS NEED THE BOARD PROTECTION SO THAT OUR CHILDREN AREN'T LIED TO AND DUMBED DOWN.
[00:25:05]
I PROMISE EIGHT YEAR-OLDS ALREADY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE STORK, IT'S THE BIOLOGY OF MAMMALS, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON YOU'RE AFRAID OF THAT, NO ONE IS FORCING THAT DOWN YOUR THROATS.DON'T LIE TO THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF BIOLOGY.
TO BE SAFE AND COMPETITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL, STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN ABOUT CONSENT, BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND HOW TO SET AND RESPECT BOUNDARIES. IF YOU LIMIT THEM LIKE THEY'RE UNINTELLIGENT, THEY WILL BELIEVE IT.
IF YOU LIE TO THEM, THEY'LL LEARN TO BE LIARS AND THEY'LL LEARN THAT YOU CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
PLEASE SQUASH THIS DANGEROUS DECLINE.
SUPPORT TEACHERS, SUPPORT TRAINED EDUCATORS TO EMPOWER OUR KIDS TO BE LEARNERS AND THINKERS.
INSTEAD, THIS IS MAKING THEM THIS PROPOSED CHANGE IS MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO PREDATORS AND LESS QUALIFIED FOR UNIVERSITY SPOTS AND CAREERS THAN THEIR MORE INTELLECTUALLY ADVANTAGED PEERS JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT, AS YOU KNOW, AND SO ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT FIRST AND FOREMOST, SAFETY, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS AND STUDIES, INSTEAD OF FRINGE GROUPS, POLITICIANS OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS, NO MATTER HOW WE FEEL AT HOME, PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO GROW, COMPETE IN THE WORLD AND SUCCEED NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE IS WHY WE'RE HERE.
SO WHY WOULD ANYONE FIND THIS TOP TAX RATE REMOTELY APPEALING IF WE'RE NOT ACCOMPLISHING THAT? AND WHY WOULD TEACHERS COME HERE IF THEY CAN FIND AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE NOT AT RISK AND OUR CHILDREN AREN'T EITHER? INSTEAD, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CLAIRE MILLER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT.
AS A PARENT OF FOUR MISD STUDENTS, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR DESIRE TO EDUCATE THEM INTO COMPETENT AND KIND ADULTS.
BENITA REED--A FEW MEETINGS BEHIND.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR YOU AND APPRECIATE YOUR ETHICAL CAMPAIGN.
RELATING TO ITEM 8.2, HR REPORT.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MISD STAFF MEMBERS, TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT ALMA MARTINEZ INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL IS MISS [INAUDIBLE] FUHRMAN, LIBRARIAN.
SO YES, I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING ON ABOUT THE AMAZING STAFF THAT WE STILL HAVE.
I VOLUNTEERED AT THE LIBRARY WITH HER AND SEEING HOW MISS B.F.
SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY ACQUIRING DONATIONS OF BOOKS TO ADD TO THE LIBRARY AND FINDING OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP STUDENTS BE CURIOUS ABOUT LEARNING AND DEVELOPING EMPATHY FOR OTHERS THROUGH BOOK CLUBS, ENGAGING LESSONS AND BOOK FAIRS.
IN MY VIEW, HER JOB BECOMES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IF THIS NEW POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT AND STUDENTS WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AS THEIR ACCESS TO NEW AND UPDATED UPDATED MATERIAL WILL NOT HAPPEN IN A TIMELY MANNER AS PROVEN IN A VERY SIMILAR POLICY CHANGE IN KELLER ISD.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD ABOUT THE NEW POLICY.
NUMBER ONE, HOW MANY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND SPECIFICALLY LIBRARIANS HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THE NEW BOOK POLICY? IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.
NO, I KNOW THERE'S NO DISCUSSION.
NUMBER TWO, WILL THE BOARD BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT ALL LIBRARIANS' IDEAS OF ARE OF THE NEW POLICY? WE'VE ONLY HEARD FROM THE BOARD THAT THE LIBRARIANS HAVE CONCERNS, AND ONLY A FEW LIKE IT.
NUMBER THREE, WHAT IS THE BOARD'S RESPONSE TO THE LETTER THE ACLU SENT THE BOARD ON MAY 16TH? IT STATES THAT THE POLICY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND DISCRIMINATORY.
[00:30:03]
WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL VIEWS OF GENDER, SEXUALITY, RELIGION, AND I KNOW THE SPEAKING HERE WILL NOT CHANGE THAT BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL 35,000 STUDENTS STRAIGHT, QUEER, TRANS ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN.I'M GOING TO HAVE TO STOP YOU, SO EVERYBODY STAYS ON THE SAME--SEVEN PLUS RACES REPRESENTED.
WE WILL NOT STAND FOR OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION TO BE WHITEWASHED AND COVERED IN CHRISTIAN VALUES.
OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER PATTERSON--EXCUSE ME--GREGORY.
HI, I'M JENNIFER PATTERSON--GREGORY.
I'VE GOT TWO KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO A FORMER TEACHER AND A COACH WITH 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
I WAS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER.
I HAVE A DEGREE IN BUSINESS FROM TCU.
I'VE OWNED MY OWN BUSINESSES AND I AM CERTIFIED IN FOUR SUBJECTS, INCLUDING BUSINESS.
I TAUGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH LEVELS.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR OUR STATE'S GOVERNING BODIES FOR PASSING THESE MUCH NEEDED BILLS.
WITH THAT SAID, I KNOW THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE OPPOSITION TO THE NEW LIBRARY AND MATERIALS POLICY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK SOME FACTS TO COUNTER THE AMPLE AMOUNT OF FEELINGS EXPRESSED IN PRIOR BOARD MEETINGS.
FEELINGS, LIBRARIANS WON'T BE NEEDED, LISTENED TO, NOR RESPECTED.
FACTS, LIBRARIANS ARE RESPECTED MEMBERS OF OUR MISD COMMUNITY.
THEIR JOB GOES WELL BEYOND SELECTING SUPPLEMENTAL READING MATERIALS.
FEELINGS. CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING ERASED THROUGH THIS POLICY.
IN FACT, NO GROUP OF PEOPLE IS BEING ERASED BY ANY OF OUR BOARD'S POLICIES.
FEELINGS. THE TIME CONSUMED WITH CHECKING BOOKS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM SCHOOL SAFETY.
TEACHER RETENTION MEASURES AND THE BOARD'S OTHER DUTIES.
FACT, TTHE STATEMENT IS A HUGE ASSUMPTION THAT PARENTS ARE GOING TO CALL INTO QUESTION A LARGE NUMBER OF BOOKS OR EVEN THE BOARD OR LIBRARIANS OR OTHER TEACHERS, WHEN IN FACT THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF BOOKS CHALLENGED LAST YEAR.
SO IN CONCLUSION, TO THOSE SPEAKING AGAINST THE NEW POLICY, ASIDE FROM YOUR HOLLOW AND BASELESS ACCUSATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THIS BOARD WANTING TO ERASE AND COMMIT VIOLENCE AGAINST CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE, YOU HAVE PRESENTED NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE OR DATA AS TO WHY THIS SHOULD NOT PASS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA FUENTES.
I AM A PARENT OF ONE LAST CHILD IN MANSFIELD.
MY THREE OLDER DAUGHTERS HAVE GRADUATED FROM SUMMIT.
ONE IS WORKING ON HER MASTER'S AND IS A MOTHER.
THE OTHER ONE IS WORKING ON HER OWN EDUCATION AND SHE WORKS FOR THE DISTRICT.
I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT SHE WORKS AT THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE STARTED HERE.
SHE WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT.
THAT'S WHAT DREW ME TO MANSFIELD.
WHEN I CAME TO WORK HERE, I WAS RECRUITED OUT IN EL PASO TO COME WORK FOR AMR IN ARLINGTON.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTED.
I KNEW FORT WORTH, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ARLINGTON, MANSFIELD, ANYTHING, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF 2007 IS NOTHING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF 2023 IS NOTHING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WE ENTERED.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT BOARD ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHO ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO? THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT OR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS WHO HAVE TAKEN-- AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY IT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
[00:35:05]
THREE BOOKS.99% OF THE STUDENTS WON'T EVEN EVER SEE IT.
MY STUDENTS WILL BECAUSE I'LL BUY IT FOR THEM IF THEY ASK ME FOR IT, BUT THAT SET ASIDE WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS AND PARENTS KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING? BECAUSE I SENT OUT A MASSIVE TEXT MESSAGE TO ALL MY TEACHER FRIENDS.
ONE TEACHER SAID THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK YOU GUYS OUT IN A LINEUP.
ONE TEACHER AND MOSTLY BECAUSE ONE MEMBER IS A MEMBER OF OUR PTA.
SO MOST OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T KNOW YOU OUT ON THE STREET.
THEY WOULDN'T KNOW ANY OF YOU GUYS OTHER THAN DR.
REED, BECAUSE SHE JUST GOT NEWLY ELECTED.
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T TRUST YOU AND THAT'S AN EMPLOYEE.
WELL, NOT ONE OF OURS, BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND THAT'S WHO YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO.
THAT YESTERDAY THERE WAS 358 POSITIONS OPEN ON THE CAREERS PAGE.
THIS MORNING, WHEN I CHECKED AT 7:00 THIS MORNING, THERE'S 362.
GRANTED, I JUST LEARNED THAT TWO OF THEM HAD BEEN FILLED.
TWO VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT, AND SOMEBODY JUST TOLD ME TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
SHE TEXTED ME SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANY OF YOU GUYS AND SHE JUST LEFT THE DISTRICT.
SO, WHO ARE YOU GUYS ACCOUNTABLE TO AND WHO ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO HIRE WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO COME HERE? THANK YOU, MS. FUENTES. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENISE[INAUDIBLE].
I'M IN SUPPORT OF YOUR POLICY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BRING TO FRUITION IN THE DISTRICT, AND I AM GLAD THAT HOUSE BILL 900 PASSED. I'M GOING TO READ A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS FROM AN ARTICLE I'VE BEEN READING.
THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE IS A GENERATION AT RISK: HOW THE RADICAL LEFT IS DESTROYING AMERICAN YOUTH.
IN RECENT YEARS, POLL AFTER POLL HAS SHOWN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN AMERICA TODAY ARE MORE DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS AND LONELY THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT WHILE THE LEFT BLAMES THESE STRUGGLES ON EVERYTHING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AND SYSTEMIC RACISM TO REPUBLICAN EXTREMISM, A LITANY OF EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE OPPOSITE CONCLUSION THE SUFFOCATING HOLD ON THE LEFT HAS OVER NEARLY EVERY AMERICAN INSTITUTION HAS LED TO A GENERATION WIDE CRISIS.
HERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE SENTENCE WOKE EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS PUSHED THE LIE THAT AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON RACISM AND SLAVERY.
GOVERNMENT CLASSES HAVE STOPPED TEACHING THE BASICS ABOUT HOW OUR DEMOCRACY FUNCTIONS AND ARE INSTEAD MOLDING STUDENTS TO BECOME AN ARMY OF COMPLIANT LEFT WING ACTIVISTS.
A TEACHING PRACTICE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ACTION CIVICS.
ALL OF THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF A YEARS LONG EFFORT BY LIBERAL, LIBERAL ACTIVISTS AND GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS TO TRANSFORM SCHOOL SCHOOL CURRICULA INTO A CRASH COURSE IN LEFT WING ORTHODOXY.
BATTLE FOR THE AMERICAN MIND, UPROOTING A CENTURY OF MISEDUCATION, AND IT'S WRITTEN BY PETE.
PETE HEGSETH WITH DAVID GODWIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE] JONES.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] JONES, A LONG TIME LISTENER, FIRST TIME CALLER.
THESE THINGS ARE SEEN AS A BIG DEAL.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU YOUR IDEA OF A BIG DEAL IS ABOUT TO CHANGE AND RIGHT QUICK.
IN 43 YEARS OF WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY, I'VE WATCHED SEVERAL KILLER APPLICATIONS RISE.
[00:40:05]
EACH ONE HAS CREATED ECONOMIC BOOMS AND LAID WASTE TO INDUSTRIES.IN EVERY CASE, THE WINNERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THOSE WHO EMBRACE THE CHANGE.
THOSE WHO CLUNG TO THE PAST LOST OUT.
IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS FOR IPHONE SALES TO HIT 100 MILLION.
THEY CAN COMPOSE MUSIC AND ART, SOLVE COMPLEX MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS, COMPLETE YOUR KID'S HOMEWORK, CONSTRUCT LEGAL BRIEFS, PERFORM INTRICATE DIAGNOSES, WRITE CODE, AND EVEN OFFER ADVICE ON SEX.
AI IS JUST TECHNOLOGY LIKE A GUN.
WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS.
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON THE INTERNET RIGHT NOW IS GITHUB.COM, WHERE THE MOST POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN IS AVAILABLE FREE TO DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW TO MANIFEST ANY TEENAGER'S GREATEST DREAMS OR WORST NIGHTMARES.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE AI AS PART OF THE EQUATION, AND I IMPLORE YOU, TEACHERS, BOARD MEMBERS AND PARENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY, GOOD AND BAD, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD SO PROFOUNDLY, BUT BY THE TIME OUR NINTH GRADERS GRADUATE, THE JOB MARKET WILL BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT AND WILL NEED RADICALLY DIFFERENT SKILLS THAN ARE CURRENTLY BEING TAUGHT.
AMEND VISION 2030 AND YOU'VE GOT NINE DAYS TO GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
BECAUSE THE WORLD OUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP IN IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE MENTALLY PREPARED FOR.
IT'S OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMMY HARLAN.
GOOD EVENING BOARD AND MRS. CANTU. MY NAME IS TAMMY HARLAN AND I AM A PARENT AND A MEMBER OF MANSFIELD.
I'VE SPOKEN AD NAUSEAM ABOUT THE BOOKS, ALL THE OTHER ISSUES.
TWO SETS OF PARENTS SITTING BEHIND ME DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO GET INTO A FIGHT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GRADUATION, THEY GO OUT AND MANSFIELD ISD POLICE COME UP.
INSTEAD OF MAKING THESE PARENTS LEAVE, THE PARENTS THAT STARTED THE FIGHT WERE ESCORTED DOWN AND WERE ALLOWED TO SIT THREE ROWS FROM THE STAGE. WHAT ARE WE TELLING OUR KIDS? WE DON'T DISCIPLINE.
OUR DISCIPLINE POLICIES ARE RIDICULOUS.
OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN.
THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO WEAR PAJAMA PANTS.
THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO FIGHT WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO BRING GUNS TO SCHOOL.
IF WE DON'T CONTROL OF THE VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE DISCIPLINE IN OUR SCHOOLS, BOOKS AREN'T GOING TO MATTER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO EDUCATE THE KIDS THAT ARE WALKING OUT THE DOOR.
MY SON STARTS LAKE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE FALL.
I PROMISE YOU, IF YOU THINK YOU DON'T SEE ME, YOU SEE ME NOW.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME A LOT MORE.
AS FAR AS PARENTS WHO DON'T KNOW YOU AND TEACHERS WHO DON'T KNOW YOU, SHAME ON THEM.
WHO ARE YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR PRINCIPALS.
IF TEACHERS DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, THAT'S THEIR FAULT.
[00:45:04]
AND DO WE REALLY WANT THEM TO TEACH OUR KIDS? I DON'T.COACHING THESE KIDS WHO ALREADY HAVE FEEL LOST, FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT WANTED, FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T MATTER, AND THESE TEACHERS ARE COACHING THEM WHAT TO SAY IN FRONT OF YOU.
THEIR JOB IS TO TEACH THEM, NOT COACH THEM ON THE THINGS THEY BELIEVE IN.
THEY DON'T NEED TO INDOCTRINATE.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS CASSIE REDDINGER.
I'M CASSIE REDDINGER, A RESIDENT OF MANSFIELD HERE.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ANYBODY WHO HAS EARNED THEIR MASTER'S DEGREE, WHAT A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS, BUT HERE'S THE THING, HAVING THE DEGREE DOES NOT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR MY CHILDREN OR MY GRANDCHILDREN OR ANYBODY OF THEIR CLASSMATES.
THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE TO BE THERE.
SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE PARENTS WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO PULL THEIR KIDS OUT AND SOME OF THEM ARE, BUT SOME OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE TO WORK SO THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO HOMESCHOOL.
WHAT THESE KIDS ARE BEING TOLD NOW, DOES THIS OFFEND YOU? SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP, AND THE NEXT ONE COMES ALONG.
DOES THIS OFFEND YOU? LET'S MAKE IT BETTER.
HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU? WHAT ABOUT THE ONE YOU JUST SAID? SUCK IT UP. YOU KNOW.
SOME PARENTS DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU GUYS, AND WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO HELP THEM AND.
IF WE CAN'T DO IT, WHO WILL? IF YOU WANT TO CATER TO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE AND LET THIS GROUP GO AWAY.
WHAT ABOUT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT? WHAT ABOUT THE PADDLE THAT USED TO BE? YOU KNOW, WE GOT RID OF THAT.
WHY? AM I FOR CORPORAL PUNISHMENT? NO, BECAUSE IT CAN BE ABUSED AS WELL, BUT I CONGRATULATE YOU, THE BOARD, FOR ENDURING CRITICISM FROM ALL SIDES.
YOU HAVE BECOME A STRONG FORCE TO RECKON WITH.
SOME OF THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO TAKE A STAND FOR THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO FIGHT FOR THEM, AND I IMPLORE YOU TO BE THAT VOICE OF REASON FOR THEM.
[7. Action on Items Discussed in Closed Session ]
MAY I PLEASE RECEIVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.WHO SECONDED? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY MS. THOMAS AND A SECOND MADE BY MS. FARRAR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS COMING OUT THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO? OKAY. WELL, WITH THAT, MAY I PLEASE SEE A SHOW OF HANDS FOR ALL THOSE THAT APPROVE? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
[8. Business Items Requiring Board Action ]
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT.OUR BUSINESS ITEMS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION 8.1.
MAY I PLEASE RECEIVE A MOTION ON THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS FOR THE ADVOCACY AGENDA? SO MOVED. OKAY.
OKAY. THE MOTION MADE BY MISS FARRAR AND A SECOND MADE BY MISS ANDERSON.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TASB DOING IT.
[00:50:10]
WHOLE. WE ALL KNOW THERE'S MORE POWER IN NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE FIGHTING.I HATE TO SAY FIGHTING, BUT LEGISLATURE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
WE'RE IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MISS FARRAR, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON IT OR DID YOU WANT ME TO ASK? YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK ON IT.
SO THE FIRST RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, IT JUST STATES TASB ADVOCATES FOR TAKING TEXAS FROM 41ST IN PER PUPIL FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BY THE END OF THE DECADE BY PRIORITIZING PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING DURING THE 89TH 90TH AND 91ST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LIKE I SAID, TEXAS CURRENTLY RANKS 41ST IN PUPIL FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
I BELIEVE, IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, IT'S $9,606.
IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? -ISH? SO CURRENTLY THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN THE UNITED STATES IS 15,621.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BY THE END OF THE DECADE, BUT WE ARE REQUESTING THAT TASB ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE WANTS TO ADD TO THAT RESOLUTION? OKAY, AND THE SECOND ONE, I'LL ASK DR.
SCOTT TO ELABORATE ON, BECAUSE IT DOES REVOLVE AROUND CURRICULUM, AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, WE ARE SUCH A PRIVILEGED DISTRICT, AND YOU JUST SPOKE TO THAT WE--I SAY WE BECAUSE I LIKE TO TAKE CREDIT, BUT IT'S NOT ME--IT'S ACTUALLY THESE GUYS, AND WE WRITE A LOT OF OUR OWN CURRICULUM STAFF DOES, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S PERTAINING TO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT READS.
SO, DR. SCOTT, DID YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT? I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP US OUT WITH IT.
YEAH, SO TASB ADVOCATES FOR ROLLING BACK THE EVER EXTENDING POWER OF THE TEA COMMISSIONER AND VENDORS HE HAS SELECTED BY NOT PENALIZING ISDS FOR USING DISTRICT CREATED AND CURATED CURRICULUM BY PROVIDING LESS FUNDING THAN IF THEY USED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL FROM TEA VENDORS.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ELABORATING ON HOW WE KIND OF CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.
ABSOLUTELY. SO IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAD A BILL PASSED THAT WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ALLOTMENT, HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ALLOTMENT THAT WOULD GIVE $90 PER STUDENT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IF YOU SELECTED TEA'S VENDOR MATERIALS.
MANSFIELD ISD STARTING AROUND 2009, WE BEGAN WRITING OUR OWN CURRICULUM IN MANSFIELD AND WE ALIGN THAT CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT'S LED BY MISS JENNIFER YOUNG AND HER TEAM, SOME COORDINATORS AND SOME COACHES WHO WORK WITH TEACHERS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND DURING THE SUMMER, AND THEY WRITE OUR CURRICULUM TO ALIGN TO THE TEKS.
THE THINKING BEHIND THE COMMISSION AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ALL OVER THE STATE ARE HAVE CURRICULUM, HAVE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THE STATE TEAKS, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THEN THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF.
SO OUR BIG FUSS OF THAT IS THE NUMBER YOU KEEP HEARING IS THAT ONLY 27% OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ALIGN WITH THE TEKS. WELL, THAT'S THE TEA NUMBER, AND THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM 19 DISTRICTS WHO REACHED OUT TEA HELP ASK FOR HELP WITH LITERACY BECAUSE THEIR READING SCORES WERE SO LOW.
THEY WENT TO TEA AND ASKED TO BE A PART OF A STUDY. IT ONLY INCLUDES THOSE 19 DISTRICTS.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE DISTRICTS LIKE MANSFIELD, BIRDVILLE, H-E-B, FRISCO DISTRICTS THAT WORK REALLY HARD ON CURATING THEIR CURRICULUM. SO THIS IS OURS; I GUESS WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT TEA IS PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES OUT THERE, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE IT IS OUR BELIEF AND POSSIBLY THE BOARD'S BELIEF THEY PASSED THE RESOLUTION THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FINANCIALLY FOR WORKING TO CURATE THESE.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THIS? MS. THOMAS? I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE THAT WORKED ON THAT.
IT'S NICE THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR VOICE OUT THERE.
WE ARE A BIG DISTRICT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THINGS TOGETHER THAT ARE UNIQUE TO OUR DISTRICT THAT WILL HELP US, AND BY PUTTING THIS OUT HERE, WE CAN TAKE IT TO TASB AND GIVE THEM DIRECTION ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[00:55:07]
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT.IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER TRUSTEES? YES, WE SET FORTH SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
SO YOU ALL REMEMBER, AND WE DID THAT ON PURPOSE, AND HONESTLY, YES, IT IS TO FIGHT FOR US , BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE SOME SMALLER DISTRICTS AS KIND OF WHAT DR. SCOTT WAS ALLUDING TO AND THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR ALL PUBLIC EDUCATION, BECAUSE NOT ALL DISTRICTS ARE AS FORTUNATE AS US TO HAVE THE STAFF THAT CAN WRITE THE CURRICULUM, NOT MUCH LESS HAVE THE PEOPLE THE POWER TO HELP BATTLE FOR US.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MAY I PLEASE SEE A SHOW OF HANDS? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION APPROVAL OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT.
MAY I PLEASE RECEIVE A MOTION? A MOTION MADE BY MISS NEWSOM.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, AND A SECOND MADE BY MISS THOMAS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
MAY I PLEASE SEE A SHOW OF HANDS? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY SEVEN ZERO.
TAKES US TO ITEM 8.3 CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF BID 23-027 FOR BACKPACKS WITH SUPPLIES.
MAY I PLEASE RECEIVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
OKAY. Y'ALL GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT IT? NO, I'M KIDDING. [CHUCKLING] SO, MOTION MADE BY MISS FARRAR AND A SECOND BY MISS THOMAS.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, MAY I PLEASE SEE A SHOW OF HANDS? OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
[9. Work Session ]
THIS TAKES US ON TO THE WORK SESSION.IT'S NOT QUITE AS BIG AS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BY THIS TIME OF YEAR.
YOU NEVER KNOW. HOWEVER, THE FIRST THING IS JUST OUR BOARD COMMITTEE AND LIAISON POSITIONS.
I CAN, YOU ALL WANT ME TO READ THEM OFF? BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE ASK SOMETIMES WHO'S ON WHAT COMMITTEES AND STUFF.
SO GOING INTO THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, MS. MOYE WAS ABLE TO GET IT ALL ON ONE SHEET, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO READ IT EVEN WITH MY BIG GLASSES.
SO OUR POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE IS DESIREE THOMAS, MS. FERRAR AND MYSELF, OUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE, IS DR.
REED. OUR TECHNOLOGY REPRESENTATIVE IS CRAIG TIPPING.
REED. WE USUALLY PUT THE NEW PERSON THERE IN CASE YOU ALL WERE WONDERING, AND THEN THE TASB DELEGATE ALTERNATE, WHICH WAS THE NEW PERSON, IS MS. ANDERSON THIS YEAR AND THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT IS MS. THOMAS, MS. FERRAR AND DR.
REED. THE AUDITOR COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A FINANCE COMMITTEE IN SOME DISTRICTS, IS MS. THOMAS, MS. FARRAR AND DR.
REED. THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IS MYSELF, MS. THOMAS AND MS. NEWSOM. THE SAFETY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE, WHO SITS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS MS. NEWSOM, MR. TIPPING AND MS. FARRAR, AND THEN THE BOARD OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH WORKS ON THE SCORECARD THAT SOME I THINK SOMEBODY SPOKE ABOUT IS MYSELF, MS. THOMAS AND MS. ANDERSON.
OKAY, SO WHAT DID I DO? SO AUDITOR JUST READ IT AGAIN.
OH, I SAID IT WRONG. OH, IT'S ALL THE BS AND THE SMALL PRINT.
IT'S THE OTHER B. SO IT'S MS. ANDERSON, MS. NEWSOM AND MR. TIPPING.
OKAY. SO DID ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING OR ARE YOU ALL GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY. SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 9.2.
MS, ANDERSON, DID YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY REGARDING THIS? THIS IS JUST KIND OF WRAPPING UP FOR OUR WHOLE YEAR OF KIND OF WHERE WE FELL WITH WHAT THE GOALS THAT WE SET, AND I BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION IN JULY OR SOMEWHERE IN THERE WHERE WE'LL GO OVER REALLY IN DETAIL OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND ADJUST.
SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IS JUST KIND OF A REPORT? I MEAN, WE'VE DONE THE REPORTS AND THE CHARTS EVERY MONTH, SO YOU CAN KIND OF GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE, AND THIS IS JUST A WRAP UP OF ALL OF THAT ALL TOGETHER.
[01:00:10]
AS YOU SPOKE TO, WE ALSO KNEW WE WERE GETTING A NEW TRUSTEE, SO WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN ON THE WORK.YOU KNOW, WHEN WE COME UP WITH OUR NEW STANDARDS, I GUESS OUR SCORES, OUR GOALS.
SO, AS MS. THOMAS ASKED, DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TOWARDS THAT? MISS ANDERSON. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE'LL BE SPEAKING KIND OF A BEST IN CLASS OR SHOW.
OH, YEAH. LET ME BRAG ON OUR TEAM UP HERE.
SO YES, WE ARE ASKED TO SPEAK OR APPROVED TO SPEAK AT BOTH THE SUMMER CONFERENCES REGARDING THIS ACCOUNTABILITY SCORECARD AND THE BOARD WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.
SO PRETTY EXCITED FOR THE TEAM BECAUSE ESPECIALLY THAT COMMITTEE DID A LOT OF WORK FOR IT.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE IT'LL BE A BIG TEAM OF EIGHT SO IT'S EXCITING.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ANYONE.
ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN AT 8:56.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.