[00:00:04]
>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOW 6:01 PM.
[1. Call to Order]
LET US COME TO ORDER FOR THE CALLED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL TRUSTEES ARE PRESENT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ITEM 7, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING, IS THAT CORRECT? WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 4 CLOSED MEETING,
[4. Closed Meeting]
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 TO CONSULT WITH THE DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY IN PERSON OR BY PHONE ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE DISTRICT UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551 AND THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, INCLUDING TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING A LEVEL 3 HEARING ON A STUDENT MATTER.WE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:02.
WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 6:34.
[5. Reconvene]
IF YOU'LL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER, LED BY A SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEE, BIANCA BENAVIDES ANDERSON AND THE PLEDGES LED BY BOARD MEMBER CRAIG TIPPING.>> LET US BOW OUR HEADS. DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GLORIOUS RAIN THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, LORD.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR US ALL COMING TOGETHER FOR THIS EVENING LORD.
WE ASK FOR YOUR DAILY GUIDANCE, LORD, THROUGHOUT EACH DAY FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR OUR SURROUNDINGS.
WE ASK ALL THIS IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME, AMEN.
>> PLEASE SHOW ME FOR THE PLEDGES.
>> WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM 6.1,
[6. Open Meeting]
CONDUCT A LEVEL 3 HEARING AND DELIBERATE ON THE MATTER.AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 6.1, WHICH IS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER A LEVEL 3 APPEAL FILED BY JESSE AND MARIKA CANNON.
AM I SAYING YOUR NAME RIGHT, MARIKA? IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.071, 551.074, 551.082 AND 551.0821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING THESE MEETINGS IN OPEN SESSION.
WELCOME. MY NAME IS KEZIAH FARRAR, AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
FOR THE RECORD, TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2024.
THE BOARD HAS CONVENED IN OPEN SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING A LEVEL 3 APPEAL BROUGHT FORWARD BY JESSE AND MARIKA CANNON IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY FNG LOCAL.
THE PORTION OF THE PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENT THEIR STATEMENTS WILL BE AUDIO RECORDED.
THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS AND CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
FOR THE RECORD, EACH PERSON IS ASKED TO STATE THEIR NAME, REASON FOR THE ATTENDANCE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMPLAINANT, IF APPLICABLE.
WE WILL START WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
EACH PERSON PLEASE STATE HIS OR HER NAME.
WE'LL START DOWN WITH MISS NEWSOM.
>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE NEWSOM.
>> MIKE LEASOR, COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD.
>> DAVID WRIGHT, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> LYNN ROSSI SCOTT, ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, AND I HAVE WITH ME ANDREA PARRIS, AN ATTORNEY.
>> JESSE CANNON II, ALSO A PARENT.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INSTRUCT ALL PARTICIPANTS TO PLEASE AVOID TALKING WHEN ANOTHER PERSON IS SPEAKING SO THAT THE RECORDING WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT THE PROCEEDING.
FURTHER, PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO MAKE YOUR ORAL STATEMENTS AS CLEAR AND COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE.
[00:05:04]
REMEMBER THAT THE AUDIO RECORDING WILL NOT REFLECT GESTURES OR ANY OTHER FORM OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION.THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE POLICIES AND LAWS.
IT WILL BE BASED ON THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARINGS.
NO NEW EVIDENCE SHALL BE PRESENTED.
THIS IS NOT A FORMAL LEGAL PROCEEDING AND NO STRICT RULES OF EVIDENCE OR PROCEDURE WILL APPLY.
THIS HEARING IS AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD REGARDING A PRIOR DECISION.
EACH PARTY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ITS PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
THE PARTIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CROSS EXAMINE EACH OTHER.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO ASK QUESTIONS AT EITHER PARTY.
HOWEVER, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE NOT SUBJECT TO QUESTIONING BY THE ADMINISTRATION, COMPLAINANTS OR COUNSEL.
THE BOARD'S DECISION MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARINGS AND NO NEW EVIDENCE WILL BE PERMITTED.
BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPEAL OF A PRIOR DECISION, THE COMPLAINANT WILL PRESENT HIS ARGUMENT BASED ON THE RECORD FIRST.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE.
BOTH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ALLOTTED 15 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
IF THE COMPLAINANT OR THE ADMINISTRATION WISHES TO RESERVE A PORTION OF THE 15 MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL FOLLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRESENTATION, THAT IS PERMITTED.
THIS IS BEING CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THE VOTE WILL BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ALL GRIEVANCE HEARINGS THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS HOW THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED? THE BOARD SPECIFICALLY REQUESTS THAT THOSE PRESENTING DO NOT USE STUDENTS' NAMES WHEN DISCUSSING STUDENTS OTHER THAN THE GRIEVANT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PROCEDURES FOR THE HEARING, IT'S TIME TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER THIS MATTER.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD FEELS THAT HE OR SHE CANNOT DO SO, THE BOARD MEMBER SHALL SO STATE AT THIS TIME AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING.
ANYONE? LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD PRESENT HAS INDICATED THAT HE OR SHE CAN CONSIDER THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THIS HEARING AND MAKE A DECISION IN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MATTER.
MR. OR MS. CANNON, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON YOUR BEHALF?
>> OKAY. MR. CANNON, YOU WILL HAVE 15 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
DO YOU WISH TO RESERVE A PORTION OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR ANY REBUTTAL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE FIVE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.
CAN I ALSO GET A ONE MINUTE WARNING WHEN THE FIRST INITIAL STATEMENT, PLEASE?
>> THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL KEEP THE TIME AND WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LEFT OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME.
YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING BOARD. PRESIDENT FARRAR.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS.
MY NAME IS JESSE CANNON II ALONG WITH MY WIFE.
HERE TO ADDRESS THE GRIEVANCE OBVIOUSLY REGARDING THE OVERCROWDING OF CLASSROOMS AND THE TRANSFER PROCESS THAT THE DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS IN PLACE.
OUR GOAL IS TO ADVOCATE OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR CHILD, BUT ALSO TO ADVOCATE FOR CLEAR COMMUNICATION TIMELINES, A STREAMLINED PROCESS TO HANDLING OVERCROWDING AND REVALUATION OF THE SCHOOL CHOICE MODEL AT OVERCROWDED CAMPUSES.
YOU HAVE THE BINDER IN FRONT OF YOU OR THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ALSO SHARED WITH US, BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE A MORE SUCCINCT TIMELINE OF HOW THE INFORMATION WAS COMMUNICATED TO US AS PARENTS.
THE CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE WHERE PRINCIPAL CONTACTED US ON THE TUESDAY WITH THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSFER.
PRIOR TO THAT TUESDAY, THE EMAIL THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE DIGITAL BINDER IS THE EMAIL REGARDING LEVELING AT THE CAMPUS.
MY WIFE AND I BEING EDUCATORS WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE LEVELING PROCESS AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS, WHAT THE EMAIL DID NOT COMMUNICATE TO US WAS THAT OUR CHILD WOULD BE MOVED TO ANOTHER CAMPUS.
IT REFERENCED LEVELING IN REGARD TO LEVELING CLASSES DUE TO CLASS SIZE, WHICH WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED WITH THE PRINCIPAL, WE THEN RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM HER STATING TO THE RECEIVING CAMPUS PRINCIPAL, THE INFORMATION, AND THAT HE WILL BE TRANSFERRING ON THE DATE THAT IS LISTED THERE ON PAGE 9, GIVING MY WIFE THE RECEIVING
[00:10:01]
CAMPUS INFORMATION ALONG WITH THE ADDRESS AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND THEN GIVING HIS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER INSTRUCTION TO COLLECT HIS SUPPLIES AND SCHOOL ITEMS FOR HIM TO TAKE HOME TOMORROW IS WHAT THE EMAIL STATES, AND THEN GIVING THE PMS CLERK THE INSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THE TRANSFER PROCESS.AT THAT TIME ON TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 20TH, THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT OR CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE PRINCIPAL THAT AGREED, NOR WAS THERE ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS EMAIL.
AS I SHARED WITH THE PRINCIPAL, THE INFORMATION AS IT'S LISTED READS AS IF A PRISONER IS BEING RELEASED FROM JAIL, AND HE'S BEING GIVING HIS BELONGINGS.
MY CHILD WAS GIVEN HIS SUPPLIES IN A BOX, AND MANY OF THEM WEREN'T HIS SUPPLIES, BECAUSE WE UNBOXED HIS SUPPLIES, WE PUT ALL THE THINGS AND SORTED THEM FOR THE TEACHER WHEN WE MET THE TEACHER THAT DAY, NOT THAT DAY, I'M SORRY, THE WEEK PRIOR TO MEET THE TEACHER AT THE CAMPUS.
I'VE ADDRESSED THOSE WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
I'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TIMELINE, BUT I ALSO TAKE GRIEVANCE WITH CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION TASKING PRINCIPALS, WE'RE DELIVERING THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION WHEN THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS.
WE TALK ABOUT RETENTION WITH OUR TEACHERS.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT RETENTION WITH OUR CAMPUS LEADERS, BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE THE PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN, AND TEACH, THEY'RE VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROCESS IN MAINTAINING THOSE CAMPUSES.
HAVING TO STEP AWAY FROM SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND MAKING 13 PHONE CALLS TO PARENTS TO DELIVER THIS INFORMATION, AND I USE THE TERM INFORMATION LOOSELY BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDED AN ADDRESS, BUT WE'RE NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION.
WE'RE NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL CARE.
IT'S JUST HERE'S THIS INFORMATION AND FIGURE IT OUT IN 24 HOURS, 48 HOURS, TO BE EXACT.
ON PAGE 10, THE DISTRICT PROVIDES A TEMPLATE THAT I'M ASSUMING IS A PART OF THE PROCESS.
WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THIS TEMPLATE.
EVEN IF WE DID RECEIVE THIS TEMPLATE, IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION.
AS A PRODUCT OF MANSFIELD ISD, AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF MANSFIELD ISD.
THIS IS NOT WHAT DREW ANYONE TO OUR DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS, I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE CORRECTIVE ACTION IN PLACE FOR THOSE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES THIS PROCESS.
BUT ALSO THERE SHOULD BE A MUCH MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
THROUGHOUT CONTINUING ON WITH THE TIMELINE, MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THEN WAS NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH DR. VARDY, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DR. VARDY AND I ONLY MENTIONED THAT STAFF MEMBER'S NAME BECAUSE THE PRINCIPAL SAID THAT IF I HAD ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE TRANSFER, THAT THAT'S THE PERSON THAT WOULD REACH OUT TO ME.
THERE WAS A TRAINING THAT DAY.
I UNDERSTAND OUR WORLD, WE'RE BUSY.
I HAVE NOT TO THIS DAY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL OR AN EMAIL FROM THAT PERSON, SO WENT AND COMMUNICATED WITH DAVID WRIGHT AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION.
OF COURSE, WE MOVE NATURALLY THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I DO WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OTHER PAGES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE PACKET.
ON PAGE 20, BEGINNING ON AUGUST THE 16TH.
THERE WAS COMMUNICATION WITH THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES REGARDING AND, "WE KNOW YOUR FIRST GRADE IS HIGH, AND WE'RE WORKING ON OPTIONS.
WE'LL TOUCH BASE LATER TODAY OR ON MONDAY TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION.
THE RESPONSE FROM THE PRINCIPAL, IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVOKE ANY TRANSFER OF KIDS IN FIRST GRADE SINCE THE OTHER STUDENTS HAVE HOMES THEY HAVE PURCHASED HERE.
PLEASE LOOK AND CONSIDER KINDERGARTEN TOO." THIS CONVERSATION DIDN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE 16TH.
WHEN WE'VE HIRED DEMOGRAPHERS TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH US, AND WE KNOW THAT NORWOOD IS GOING TO BE OVERCROWDED BASED ON THE PROJECTED NUMBERS THAT WE'LL REVIEW HERE IN A SECOND.
WHY DID WE THEN APPROVE MORE TRANSFERS THAN WE KNEW THE CAMPUS COULD HOLD? PAGE 22 IS ALSO THE SAME TEMPLATE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS TO PROVIDE THE OPTICS OF OVER COMMUNICATION,
[00:15:01]
BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE IN THIS INSTANCE.ON PAGE 22, IN ADDITION TO THIS LETTERHEAD, IF THIS IS WHAT THE DISTRICT DECIDES TO DO.
ALSO ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE IN THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, THERE SHOULD BE MUCH CLEARER INFORMATION THAT'S LISTED AND THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THINKING THAT PARENTS WILL SEARCH THROUGH POLICY BECAUSE IF WE'RE HONEST, MANY OF US BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT THAT WAS, DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, AND MANY OF OUR PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK BECAUSE WE'RE TASKING OUR PARENTS TO REGISTER FOR SCHOOL.
WE DON'T SAY, HEY, REGISTER FOR SCHOOL, BUT ALSO LOOK AT THE DISTRICT POLICY AS IT RELATES TO TRANSFER IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR STUDENT REGISTERS AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE CHOOSE STUDENTS TO BE MOVED.
IF ALSO IN THAT TIMELINE, WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS THAT THE PROCESS IT BE MOVED FROM CAMPUS PRINCIPALS TO CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF.
CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF IS TASKED WITH SUPPORTING OUR CAMPUS PRINCIPALS AND OUR TEACHERS.
I THINK THAT FALLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
AS YOU'RE CREATING THE TIMELINE, THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THEIR PURVIEW BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE MEETINGS WHEN THE DATA IS DISCUSSED, AND OUR PRINCIPALS ARE ON CAMPUSES DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.
ON PAGE 47, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES SAYS, WE WILL BE HANDLING OVERFLOW AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
WHERE IS THAT PROCESS LISTED OUT? IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SOLELY BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST? WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF TIMES FROM OTHER PARENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND EVEN SOME OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
WELL, I THINK THE BUCKS SHOULD STOP HERE JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENS EVERY YEAR DOESN'T MEAN THAT THIS IS NECESSARILY THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE HANDLED EVERY YEAR.
THANK YOU. IF YOU GO TO PAGE 86, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT FROM THE DEMOGRAPHERS, BUT THIS INFORMATION IS NOT NEW TO THE DISTRICT BECAUSE PRIOR TO BUILDING THE CAMPUS, THE DISTRICT HIRES DEMOGRAPHERS TO REVIEW THE DATA AND REVIEW THE GROWTH TRENDS IN THE CITY AND WITH NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
SOUTHPOINT M3 RANCH IS NO DIFFERENT, AND IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 86, THE 10 YEAR FORECAST FOR THE CAMPUS IS HUGE.
I APOLOGIZE. THAT IS ON PAGE 85 WITH THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES.
PAGE 85. WHEN THE DISTRICT HAS REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION, AND WE STILL MAKE THE DECISION TO PUT TWO CHOICE PROGRAMS ON THE CAMPUS.
THANK YOU. TO CHOICE PROGRAMS ON THE CAMPUS THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THAT THESE ARE THE GROWTH TRENDS FOR THIS COMMUNITY? IS THAT THE BEST DECISION WITH TAX DOLLARS? BUT ALSO, OUR CHOICE PROGRAMS SHOULD THOSE PROGRAMS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THOSE STUDENTS RECEIVE AT CHOICE PROGRAMS BE AVAILABLE AT EVERY CAMPUS IN THE DISTRICT.
YOU SEE BY GRADE LEVEL, BUT ALSO BY CAMPUS, THE GROWTH TRENDS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ALL USE TO SHAPE THE NEW ZONING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT THAT WE MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE DEDICATED TO SOLITARY SITUATIONS LIKE ZONING.
IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE USED AS WE ARE USING BOND MONEY AND PREPARING FOR ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES IN THE DISTRICT.
WHEN NUMBERS ARE BEING REVIEWED BASED ON THE REPORTS, THE CAMPUS IN QUESTION IS ALREADY OVERCROWDED.
IS IT WISE FOR THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE MAINTAINING THE SCHOOL CHOICE MODEL AT A CAMPUS THAT IS ALREADY BEYOND ITS CAPACITY? I THINK THE LACK OF CLEAR AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION REGARDING ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, LEVELING AND OVERCROWDING HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR FAMILIES AND STAFF, THESE NUMBERS SHOULD BE REGULARLY REVIEWED AND PUTTING PROACTIVE MEASURES IN PLACE THAT CAN ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH DISTRICT POLICY AND THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
WHILE WE ARE AWARE OF THE EDUCATION CODE, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO ELEMENTARY CLASS SIZES IN THE GRADES THAT ARE LISTED IN POLICY.
[00:20:02]
EXCUSE ME. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE BESIDES MOVING SIX KINDERGARTNERS AND SEVEN FIRST GRADERS.I THINK GIVEN THESE ISSUES, AS I SHARED, I WOULD JUST REQUEST THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO IMPLEMENT A MORE CLEAR TIMELINE WITH COMMUNICATION.
DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED PLAN FOR OVERCROWDING, REVIEW THE SCHOOL CHOICE MODEL AT CAMPUSES THAT WILL BE OVERCROWDED, REGULARLY REVIEW ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE TRANSFER PROCESS AND WHAT THAT IS LIKE.
THE EMAIL THAT WAS NOT IN THE DIGITAL BINDER, BUT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COPY IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WAS SENT ON AUGUST THE 29TH.
SAYS THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT PROOF OF RESIDENCY ON FILE FOR YOUR STUDENT.
AS OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW AROUND US AND MANY NEW FAMILIES MOVE IN, NORWOOD WILL REQUIRE PROOF OF RESIDENCY FROM EVERY STUDENT IN EVERY GRADE.
PROOF OF RESIDENCY MAY BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO NORWOOD LIST THE E MAIL ADDRESS.
I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE DISTRICT POLICY MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE NO LONGER, I BELIEVE IS AN AFFIDAVIT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY WHERE A STUDENT IS IF THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY IN PLACE WITH THE AFFIDAVIT.
ONCE YOU COMPLETE THE AFFIDAVIT, THE DISTRICT DOESN'T DO ANY RESEARCH IF THE STUDENT ACTUALLY LIVES THERE OR IF A FAMILY FRIEND PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION FOR THEM.
AS WE STILL ARE A DESTINATION DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO THE DISTRICT.
I THINK THE QUESTION LIES IN, ARE WE COMMITTED TO DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN JUST FOR THE SAKE OF NOT RENEWING PROCESSES? AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE DISTRICT AND HOW OTHER DISTRICTS LOOK TO US FOR INNOVATIVE THINGS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING TO US IN THIS REGARD WITH THIS PROCESS.
I THINK WITH THAT MODEL, AND WITH THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE JUST DISCUSSED AND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE NORWOOD TRANSFER, WITH CLEAR COMMUNICATION IN THE STANDARDIZED PLAN, IF WE COULD ACT QUICKLY SO THAT THE KINDERGARTNERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTED BY THIS SITUATION DON'T HAVE TO ENDURE THE SAME THING WHEN THEY GO TO FIRST GRADE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, YOU'VE RESERVED APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE FOR REBUTTAL.
YOU WILL MAKE YOUR REBUTTAL PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMPLAINT.
THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE REMAINING. THAT WILL BE AFTER.
THE BOARD WILL NOW MOVE TO THE NEXT GRIEVANCE HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM AGENDA 6.1, WHICH IS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER A LEVEL THREE APPEAL FILED BY MATTHEW MELTON AND EMILY DANIEL.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.07 1,551.07 4,551.082 AND 551.0 821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING THIS MEETING IN OPEN SESSION.
WELCOME. MY NAME IS KEZIAH FARRAR, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
FOR THE RECORD, TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5, 2024.
THE BOARD HAS CONVENED IN OPEN SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING A LEVEL 3 APPEAL BROUGHT FORWARD BY MATTHEW MELTON AND EMILY DANIEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY FNG LOCAL.
THE PORTION OF THE PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENT THEIR STATEMENTS WILL BE AUDIO RECORDED.
THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS AND CONSULTATION WITH ITS ATTORNEY WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
FOR THE RECORD, EACH PERSON IS ASKED TO STATE THEIR NAME, REASON FOR THE ATTENDANCE, AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMPLAINANT, IF APPLICABLE.
WE WILL START WITH BOARD MEMBERS. MICHELLE NEWSOM.
>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE NEWSOM.
>> BOARD MEMBER COURTNEY LACKEY WILSON.
[00:25:03]
>> MICHELE COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD.
>> DAVID WRIGHT ASSOCIATE SUE FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> LYNN ROSSI SCOTT, ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, AND I HAVE WITH ME ANDREA PARRIS, ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INSTRUCT ALL PARTICIPANTS TO PLEASE AVOID TALKING WHEN ANOTHER PERSON IS SPEAKING SO THAT THE RECORDING WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT THE PROCEEDING.
FURTHER, PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO MAKE YOUR ORAL STATEMENTS AS CLEAR AND COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE.
REMEMBER, THE AUDIO RECORDING WILL NOT REFLECT GESTURES OR ANY FORM OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION.
THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE POLICIES AND LAWS.
IT WILL BE BASED ON THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
NO NEW EVIDENCE SHALL BE PRESENTED.
THIS IS NOT A FORMAL LEGAL PROCEEDING AND NO STRICT RULES OF EVIDENCE OR PROCEDURE WILL APPLY.
THIS HEARING IS AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD REGARDING A PRIOR DECISION.
EACH PARTY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ITS PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
THE PARTIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CROSS EXAMINE EACH OTHER.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO ASK QUESTIONS OF EITHER PARTY.
HOWEVER, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE NOT SUBJECT TO QUESTIONING BY THE ADMINISTRATION, COMPLAINANT OR COUNSEL.
THE BOARD'S DECISION MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARINGS AND NO NEW EVIDENCE WILL BE PERMITTED.
BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPEAL OF A PRIOR DECISION, THE COMPLAINANT WILL PRESENT HIS ARGUMENT BASED ON THE RECORD FIRST.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE.
BOTH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ALLOTTED 15 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
IF THE COMPLAINANT OR THE ADMINISTRATION WISHES TO RESERVE A PORTION OF THE 15 MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL FOLLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRESENTATION, THAT IS PERMITTED.
THIS HEARING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THE VOTE WILL BE TAKEN IN AN OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ALL GRIEVANCE HEARINGS THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS TO HOW THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED?
>> THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THOSE PRESENTING DO NOT USE STUDENT NAMES WHEN DISCUSSING STUDENTS OTHER THAN THEIR GRIEVANCE.
NOW THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PROCEDURES FOR THIS HEARING, IT IS TIME TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER THIS MATTER.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD FEELS THAT HE OR SHE CANNOT DO SO, THE BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD SO STATE AT THIS TIME AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT EACH BOARD MEMBER OF THE BOARD PRESENT HAS INDICATED THAT HE OR SHE CAN CONSIDER THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THIS HEARING AND MAKE A DECISION IN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MATTER.
MR. MELTON, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON YOUR BEHALF?
>> MR. MELTON, YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
DO YOU WISH TO RESERVE A PORTION OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR ANY REBUTTAL?
>> THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL KEEP THE TIME AND WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE LEFT OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME.
YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME?
O BVIOUSLY, YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU ALL.
THE PROCESS STARTED WHEN MY WIFE SIGNED OUR SON UP FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BACK IN APRIL.
WHEN IT CAME TO MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT, WE WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING OUT WHOS TEACHER WOULD BE.
WHEN WE CONTACTED SOMEBODY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AT SCHOOL THAT NIGHT.
WE WENT TO MEET THE TEACHER AND MET WITH SOMEBODY IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THEY INFORMED US THAT OUR PROOF OF RESIDENCY WAS OUTSIDE OF 30 DAYS.
NOT THAT IT WASN'T TURNED IN, BUT IT WAS BEYOND 30 DAYS.
THEY PUT US IN THE CLASS AND WE WENT AND, YOU KNOW, MET THE TEACHER.
SHE HAD STATED THAT SHE HAD SENT US FIVE E MAILS.
WE VERIFIED THAT THE E MAIL ADDRESS THAT SHE SENT IT TO WAS CORRECT, AND WE HAD NO RECORD OF THOSE E MAILS.
FAST FORWARD TO THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
AT 2:00, I GOT A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT, THE PRINCIPAL OF NORWOOD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TRANSFER MY SON.
SHE TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECOURSE, I HAD NO OTHER OPTIONS, THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
OBVIOUSLY, I CALLED MY WIFE, RUSH HOME AFTER WORK, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO OUR KIDS TEACHER IS GOING TO BE AND WHERE THIS SCHOOL IS LOCATED.
IN THE PROCESS OF WAITING FOR THAT E MAIL AND SEARCHING FOR IT, I SINCE I WAS EXPECTING THE E MAIL, I STARTED SEARCHING THROUGH SPAM TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS IT.
THAT IS WHEN WE SAW THE EMAILS FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR AT NORWOOD.
[00:30:02]
I DIDN'T LOOK THROUGH TO SEE IF THERE WAS FIVE OF THEM OR NOT.I DO KNOW ONE WAS SENT AUGUST 2 AND ONE WAS SENT AUGUST 3.
SHE DEFINITELY SENT ONE DAY RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.
THAT E MAIL ALSO FOR THE TRANSFER FOR THE KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION CAME IN 450, AND WE HAD TO BE AT SPENCER AT 5:30.
THEN WE HAD TO RUSH OVER THERE TO GO TO THAT ORIENTATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ORIENTATION WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE HELPFUL PRIOR TO SCHOOL SINCE IT WAS A LOT OF FIRST DAY PROCEDURES, AND THIS IS OUR FIRST KID IN SCHOOL.
OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THAT WAS NEW TO US.
THE REASON FOR BEING TRANSFERRED, THE REASON WE WERE GIVEN IS BECAUSE HIS REGISTRATION WAS FINALIZED ON THE 12TH.
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHEN WE ACTUALLY DID ALL THE PAPERWORK, I GUESS IT WAS FINALIZED ON THE 12TH. THAT WAS THEIR LOGIC.
THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THIS COMMUNICATION, BEFOREHAND, WE COULDN'T RECTIFY THE SITUATION BEFORE WE WENT TO MEET THE TEACHER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE GRIEVANCE THAT WE'RE ASKING TO BE FIXED.
A SIMPLE PHONE CALL, WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE OR I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, IT WAS THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE A LETTER BEING MAILED WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE I GUESS PROOF THAT YOU SENT SOMETHING OUT THEN JUST EMAIL.
THIS WHOLE ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE DISTRICT, I'M SORRY, THAT NIGHT, WE WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT RECOURSE WE HAD BECAUSE WE TOLD WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT WAS TRUE.
WE E MAILED THE SUPERINTENDENT, SOMEBODY FROM HER OFFICE CONTACTED MY WIFE THE NEXT DAY AND WE TOLD HER THAT WE WERE GOING TO FILE START THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, AND THEY TOLD HER ESSENTIALLY THAT IT WAS POINTLESS.
YOU COULD DO IT, BUT YOU'RE JUST WASTING YOUR TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, THE NEWS CAME OUT AND ONE OF MY CO WORKERS SENT ME THAT ARTICLE AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE DID HAVE MORE OPTIONS.
AND ALL OF THOSE E MAILS, I KNOW WE IN THAT BINDER.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE CONTACTED AND WE REALLY TRIED TO GET THE SITUATION FIGURED OUT.
LOOKING MORE INTO THE STUFF THAT YOU ALL SENT AS WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY, AS MR. CANNON BROUGHT UP, THERE'S OVERCROWDING AT NORWOOD, AND THAT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS.
I MEAN, AND GROWTH BEING EXCUSE, I DON'T FIND ACCEPTABLE.
SEEING IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THEY'RE LITERALLY POURING A FOUNDATION FOR A HOME RIGHT NEXT TO THE SCHOOL.
WE PARKED IN FRONT OF ANOTHER HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO WALK. OUR CHILD INTO SCHOOL.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S GROWING.
YOU HAVE SOUTHPOINT AND SOMERSET IN THAT DISTRICT, AND OBVIOUSLY SOUTHPOINT IS A THAT BIG APARTMENT COMPLEX RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE AREA.
WITH THE OTHER PROGRAMS AT NORWOOD, WHY, I THINK THEY'RE REALLY COOL THAT WE OFFER STEM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ZONED FOR IT, I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT THEN YOU DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR THESE OTHER PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THE REASON GIVEN IS THAT THERE LITERALLY WASN'T A SPACE TO OPEN UP ANOTHER KINDERGARTEN CLASS.
ALSO, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE HERE IN KINDERGARTEN, THESE ARE THE SAME KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO GO IN FIRST GRADE AND THEN SECOND GRADE.
OBVIOUSLY, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AND THEN IF ANYBODY MOVES IN THAT HAS A FIRST GRADER OR A KINDERGARTENER, THE PROBLEM IS JUST GOING TO BE EXACERBATED.
WITH THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT OR THE E MAIL THAT WAS SENT OUT LAST WEEK ABOUT PROOF OF RESIDENCY WAS WAS CRAZY SEEING AS THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON THAT OUR REGISTRATION WAS CONSIDERED LATE BECAUSE OUR PROOF OF RESIDENCY WAS OUTSIDE OF 30 DAYS.
NOW, APPARENTLY, THEY DON'T THEY NEED PROOF OF RESIDENCY FROM EVERYBODY.
THAT WAS THAT WAS KIND OF AN ISSUE.
I DON'T I THINK DISTRICT NEEDS TO LOOK INTO WHY THAT BECAME AN ISSUE.
OUR BIGGEST THING WITH THIS, OBVIOUSLY, OUR KIDS GOING TO FINISH A SCHOOL YEAR OUT AT SPENCER, AND I WILL SAY THAT THE PRINCIPAL AT SPENCER AND HIS TEACHER AT SPENCER HAVE BEEN AMAZING.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, OUR TAXES GO TO NORWOOD, OR EVEN IF THEY GO TO THE DISTRICT, I KNOW THAT TAXES TEND TO FOLLOW THE RESIDENTS, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU TAX BASED OFF THE PRICE OF THE HOME.
I WOULD LIKE MY KID TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE TO, AND I WOULD LIKE MORE CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND OBVIOUSLY ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS.
I'D MUCH RATHER BE SITTING HERE HAVING POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE BOARD AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAD A HOME BUILT HERE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[00:35:03]
ACTUALLY EVEN BEFORE WE HAD KIDS, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF COMING TO MANSFIELD AND STARTING OUR FAMILY.HAVING NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD RIGHT OFF THE BAT IT TAKES AWAY.
WE TRUST OR WE TRUST SCHOOLS WITH OUR KIDS, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT THAT TRUST IS WELL PLACED.
THE WHOLE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED WAS, I JUST DIFFICULT.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAYBE SOME DUE DILIGENCE TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE.
>> I HAVE SEVEN MINUTES AND 36 SECONDS LEFT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. MELTON.
THE BOARD WILL NOW MOVE TO THE NEXT GRIEVANCE HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 6.1, WHICH IS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER A LEVEL 3 APPEAL BY TARA AND MICHAEL MITCHELL.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.071, 551.074, 551.082 AND 551.0821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE BOARD IS CONDUCTING THIS MEETING IN OPEN SESSION.
WELCOME. MY NAME IS KEZIAH FARRAR, AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
FOR THE RECORD, TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5, 2024.
THE BOARD HAS CONVENED AN OPEN SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING A LEVEL 3 APPEAL BROUGHT FORWARD BY TARA AND MICHAEL MITCHELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY FNG LOCAL.
THE PORTION OF THE PROCEEDING IN WHICH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENT THEIR STATEMENTS WILL BE AUDIO RECORDED.
THE BOARD'S DELIBERATION AND CONSULTATION WITH ITS ATTORNEY WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
FOR THE RECORD, EACH PERSON IS ASKED TO STATE THEIR NAME, REASON FOR ATTENDANCE, AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMPLAINANT, IF APPLICABLE.
WE WILL START WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS. MICHELLE NEWSOM.
>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE NEWSOM.
>> BOARD MEMBER COURTNEY LACKEY WILSON.
>> MICHAEL, SIR, COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> DAVID WRIGHT, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> LYNN ROSSY, SCOTT ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND I HAVE WITH ME, ANDREA PARRIS ATTORNEY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INSTRUCT ALL PARTICIPANTS TO PLEASE AVOID TALKING WHEN ANOTHER PERSON IS SPEAKING SO THAT THE RECORDING WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT THE PROCEEDING.
FURTHER, PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO MAKE YOUR ORAL STATEMENTS AS CLEAR AND COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE.
REMEMBER THE AUDIO RECORDING WILL NOT REFLECT GESTURES OR ANY FORM OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION.
THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE POLICIES AND LAWS.
IT WILL BE BASED ON THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARING AND NO NEW EVIDENCE SHALL BE PRESENTED.
THIS IS NOT A FORMAL LEGAL PROCEEDING AND NO STRICT RULES OF EVIDENCE OR PROCEDURES WILL APPLY.
THIS HEARING IS AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD REGARDING A PRIOR DECISION.
EACH PARTY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ITS PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
THE PARTIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CROSS EXAMINE EACH OTHER.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO ASK QUESTIONS OF EITHER PARTY.
HOWEVER, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE NOT SUBJECT TO QUESTIONING BY THE ADMINISTRATION, COMPLAINANT OR COUNSEL.
THE BOARD'S DECISION MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD MADE FROM THE PREVIOUS HEARINGS AND NO NEW EVIDENCE WILL BE PERMITTED.
BECAUSE THIS IS AN APPEAL OF A PRIOR DECISION, THE COMPLAINANT WILL PRESENT HIS ARGUMENT BASED ON THE RECORD FIRST.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S SIDE.
BOTH THE COMPLAINANT AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ALLOTTED 15 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
IF THE COMPLAINANT OR THE ADMINISTRATION WISHES TO RESERVE A PORTION OF THE 15 MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL FOLLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRESENTATION, THAT IS PERMITTED.
THIS HEARING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THE VOTE WILL BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ALL GRIEVANCE HEARINGS THIS EVENING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS TO HOW THIS HEARING WILL BE CONDUCTED?
[00:40:01]
THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THOSE PRESENTING DO NOT USE STUDENT NAMES WHEN DISCUSSING STUDENTS OTHER THAN THEIR GRIEVANCE.NOW THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PROCEDURE FOR THE HEARING, IT IS TIME TO DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAR AND CONSIDER THIS MATTER.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD FEELS THAT HE OR SHE CANNOT DO SO, THE BOARD MEMBER SHOULD SO STATE AT THIS TIME AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT EACH BOARD MEMBER OF THIS BOARD PRESENT HAS INDICATED THAT HE OR SHE CAN CONSIDER THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THE HEARING AND MAKE A DECISION IN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MANNER.
MR OR MS. MITCHELL, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON YOUR BEHALF?
>> MRS. MITCHELL, YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
DO YOU WISH TO RESERVE A PORTION OF THE ALLOTTED TIME FOR YOUR REBUTTAL?
>> THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL KEEP THE TIME AND WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LEFT OF YOUR ALLOTED TIME.
YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARDER OF TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS TARREN MITCHELL, AND I'M HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, MITCHELL MITCHELL.
WE ARE MANSFIELD RESIDENTS AND PARENTS OF TWO MANSFIELD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS.
TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO ADDRESS OUR GRIEVANCE REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF OUR SON FROM BRENDA NORWOOD ELEMENTARY TO CORA SPENCER ELEMENTARY.
WE BELIEVE HIS TRANSFER WAS UNFAIR, AND WE REQUEST THAT HIS TRANSFER BE WITHDRAWN AND HIS ENROLLMENT AT NORWOOD BE REINSTATED FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, THE PRINCIPAL OF NORWOOD CAMPUS INFORMED US THAT HE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO CORA SPENCER DUE TO OVERCROWDING, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 21ST.
AFTER REQUESTING ADDITIONAL TIME, WE WERE GIVEN A BRIEF EXTENSION UNTIL AUGUST 22ND.
WHEN ASKED WHY OUR SON WAS SELECTED, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE COMPLETION DATE OF HIS ENROLLMENT PACKAGE.
HOWEVER, WE SUBMITTED HIS REGISTRATION IN APRIL 2024 AS REQUIRED BY BOTH THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
HIS APPLICATION INCLUDED ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS OF PROOF OF RESIDENCY, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, SHOT RECORDS, AND A CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
ALTHOUGH THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE DOES NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT, WE WERE TOLD THAT HIS ENROLLMENT WAS CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE DUE TO MISSING DISTRICT FORMS, WHICH WE PROMPTLY SUBMITTED BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
AT NO POINT BEFORE SCHOOL BEGAN WERE WE INFORMED OF THESE MISSING FORMS, EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING.
IF WE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED EARLIER, WE WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE IMMEDIATELY.
THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 25.032 STATES THAT STUDENT TRANSFER DECISIONS MUST BE MADE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
HOWEVER, IN OUR SON'S CASE, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TRANSFER HIM WITHOUT CONSIDERING WHAT WAS IN HIS BEST INTEREST.
OUR SON LIVES WITHIN THE NORWOOD CAMPUS ATTENDANCE ZONE, JUST ONE MILE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE SCHOOL.
CORA SPENCER, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS FIVE MILES AWAY.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR SON'S OLDER SISTER IS A SECOND GRADE STUDENT AT NORWOOD.
WE NOW ARE FACED WITH THE STRESSFUL DIFFICULTY OF MANAGING DROP OFF AND PICK UP AT TWO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH THE SAME START AND END TIMES, AND ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE WHICH SCHOOL EVENTS TO ATTEND.
FURTHERMORE, THE DISTRICT'S TRANSFER POLICY IS INHERENTLY UNFAIR TO NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS.
TRANSFER APPLICATIONS OPEN ON FEBRUARY 1ST AND MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN APRIL 1ST.
BUT NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT FOR KINDERGARTEN DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL APRIL 1ST.
GRAYSON WAS ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE AS HIS TRANSFER WAS BASED ON THE DATE HIS ENROLLMENT WAS COMPLETED, PUTTING HIM BEHIND STUDENTS WHO APPLIED FOR TRANSFERS TO NORWOOD EARLIER.
THERE ARE ALSO INCONSISTENCIES IN ENFORCING THE DISTRICT'S PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.
ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE, ALL NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES, PRE KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, THIRD, FIFTH, SEVENTH, NINTH, AND 11TH GRADES SHALL PRESENT PROOF OF RESIDENCY BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.
[00:45:05]
HOWEVER, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 29TH, TWO WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ALONE WITH OTHER PARENTS, RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE NORWOOD CAMPUS REQUESTING PROOF OF RESIDENCY FOR OUR SECOND GRADER STATING THAT STUDENTS WITHOUT PROOF ON FILE BY SEPTEMBER 3RD WOULD BE WITHDRAWN.RECEIVING SUCH A REQUEST SO LATE INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND JUST BEFORE A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, ONLY ADDED TO OUR STRESS AND FRUSTRATION WITH THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS.
GIVEN THE RAPID GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND THE INCREASE IN NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS AND TRANSFER REQUESTS FOR THE MANSFIELD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE BELIEVE SCHOOL OVERCROWDING WILL ONLY WORSEN.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE BOARD ENSURES ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT OF ENROLLMENT AND TRANSFER PRACTICES AND REVISITS DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO GUARANTEE FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
IN CLOSING, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR DECISION TO MOVE TO THE CITY OF MANSFIELD AND THE SOUTHPOINT COMMUNITY WAS BASED ON BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN ATTENDING NORWOOD ELEMENTARY.
FOR THE REASONS STATED, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT OUR SON'S TRANSFER BE WITHDRAWN, AND HIS ENROLLMENT IN NORWOOD REINSTATED FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> I HAVE NINE MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS REMAINING. 9933.
>> THANK YOU, MRS. MITCHELL. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS, IF ANY, UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION OF BOTH SIDES.
WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF ADMINISTRATION?
>> ALL RIGHT. MRS SCOTT, YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
DO YOU WISH TO RESERVE A PORTION OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME FOR ANY REBUTTAL?
>> THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL KEEP THE TIME AND WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LEFT OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME.
YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME.
>> AS I SAID, I'M LYNN ROSSI SCOTT.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO REPRESENT YOUR ADMINISTRATION IN THIS MATTER.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSFERRING CHILDREN FROM THEIR HOME SCHOOL IS THE LAST THING THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DO.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME REALITIES IN A FAST GROWTH SCHOOL DISTRICT LIKE MANSFIELD ISD.
YOU KNOW THAT RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS CAN BUILD HOMES FASTER THAN YOU, THE BOARD, CAN CONDUCT A DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY, CONDUCT A FACILITY STUDY, CO FOR A BOND ISSUE, WIN A BOND ELECTION, HIRE AN ARCHITECT DESIGN SOME BUILDINGS, HIRE A CONTRACTOR, AND THEN BUILD SOME SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME INEVITABLE OVERCROWDING AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME INEVITABLE TRANSFERS OF STUDENTS BETWEEN SCHOOLS WITHIN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHY BY LAW, THE SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS ARE THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY.
ULTIMATELY, THERE IS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO ATTEND A PARTICULAR SCHOOL.
THE LAW RECOGNIZES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO MOVE CHILDREN AROUND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE SERVE THEM PROPERLY.
IN YOUR DISTRICT, YOU'VE DELEGATED THAT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS, SHE RELIES ON YOUR STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS TRANSFERS, YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO EMPLOY SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL, YOUR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES, AND YOUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES.
THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES BASED ON DATA ABOUT THE NEED FOR CLASSROOMS AND TEACHERS IN EACH GRADE LEVEL AT EVERY CAMPUS.
THEY DO THIS FOR 49 CAMPUSES AND 15 GRADE LEVELS.
THE AMAZING PART IS THEY ALMOST ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT.
ONCE IN A WHILE, THEY DO NOT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
EACH YEAR, THE STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT BEGINS WORK ON REQUESTED TRANSFERS ON FEBRUARY 1, AND THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF DATA POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY START DOING THAT.
THEY THEN RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM HUMAN RESOURCES IN MID MARCH ABOUT STAFFING.
PRE K AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO START ENROLLING ON APRIL 1ST.
[00:50:01]
THEREFORE, STUDENT SERVICES WILL HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING SOME STUDENT ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS BY THAT TIME AND THEY CONTINUE TO DETERMINE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.IT IS NEVER COMPLETE BECAUSE ANY CHILD CAN ENROLL IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ON ANY DAY SO IT IS A CONTINUING PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT SOUNDS SIMPLE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT FROM THE INSIDE, THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
YES, THEY MISS OCCASIONALLY IN CERTAIN GRADES.
FOR NORWOOD, THEY EXPERIENCED AN OVERFLOW IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE.
KINDERGARTEN IS THE HARDEST TO PREDICT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A HISTORY WITH THOSE CHILDREN.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE HOW MANY OF THEM ARE OUT THERE.
IN PLANNING, WE LEAVE LOTS OF ROOM FOR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
IN FACT, WE STARTED ON APRIL 1ST, AS OF MAY 22ND WE STILL HAD ENOUGH ROOM FOR 21 MORE STUDENTS BEFORE WE HAD ANY OVERFLOW IN KINDERGARTEN AT NORWOOD.
WE COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT MANY KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED AFTER MAY 22ND.
WE HAVE SIX KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS AND THERE IS NO MORE ROOM FOR CLASSROOMS AT NORWOOD.
THEY DID FACE THE SAME ISSUE IN FIRST GRADE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ADD A FIRST GRADE TEACHER OVER AT SPENCER, TRANSFER THOSE STUDENTS THERE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE STUDENTS WHO THEIR PAPERWORK WAS FINAL LATER AND MOVE THEM OVER TO SPENCER WHERE WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY USED WAS THAT OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.
THE LAST ONE TO FINALIZE WAS THE FIRST ONE WHO MOVED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SPENCER IS AN EXTRAORDINARY CAMPUS.
WE'RE NOT MOVING THEM TO A POOR SCHOOL.
WE ARE MOVING THEM TO AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY PRINCIPAL AND EXTRAORDINARY STAFF, AND I MAY HAVE SAID THAT WRONG.
NORWOOD IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL, BUT IT IS IN A VERY HIGH GROWTH AREA.
IT'S IN YOUR HIGHEST GROWTH AREA AS A MATTER OF FACT AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU MAKE THIS DECISION.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD BEFORE THEY MADE THE DECISION TO TRANSFER STUDENTS.
THEY DON'T MAKE DECISIONS UNTIL THE STUDENTS SHOW UP BECAUSE SOME STUDENTS DON'T SHOW UP.
STUDENTS MAY START ENROLLMENT AND NEVER FINISH IT, THEY MAY FINISH ENROLLMENT AND NEVER SHOW UP AND SO YOU DON'T WANT TO START TRANSFERRING STUDENTS UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO START TRANSFERRING STUDENTS.
IN ADDITION, THREE OF YOUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, INSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES WENT AND WALKED THE NORWOOD CAMPUS TWICE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYWHERE THEY COULD PUT ANOTHER CLASSROOM AND ANOTHER TEACHER.
THEY LOOKED AND LOOKED AND COULD NOT FIND ANOTHER PLACE THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO PUT ANOTHER CLASSROOM.
THEY EVEN WENT AND COUNTED HEADS IN CLASSROOMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WHO WERE ENROLLED ACTUALLY WERE SHOWING UP TO SCHOOL.
IT WAS ONLY AFTER EXHAUSTING ALL THE OPTIONS THEY DETERMINED THEY NEEDED TO TRANSFER STUDENTS.
THEY THEN FOUND A TEACHER FOR FIRST GRADE AT SPENCER WHERE THERE WAS ONE AVAILABLE ROOM AND ONE AVAILABLE ROOM, AND THEY TRANSFERRED THE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY COULD ABSORB THEM INTO THE EXISTING CLASSROOMS AND THE FIRST GRADE STUDENTS.
THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD DO TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS WERE ADEQUATELY SERVED.
EXHIBIT ONE IN THIS CONTAINS THE ENROLLMENT DATES, AND IT IS THE DATE THAT ENROLLMENT WAS FINALIZED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY START ENROLLMENT AND NEVER FINISH AND WE DON'T COUNT THEM FOR THESE PURPOSES UNTIL IT'S FINISHED.
>> THOSE THREE IN RED IN YOUR DOCUMENT, IN EXHIBIT 1, ARE THE THREE OF THE APPEALS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TONIGHT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, KINDERGARTEN FILLED UP ON AUGUST 7.
WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL NEARLY WHEN THAT HAPPENED.
THESE PARENTS FINALIZED THEIR PAPERWORK ON AUGUST 12 AND AUGUST 13, SCHOOL STARTED AUGUST 14.
AS I SAID, THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED WHY WE DIDN'T TRANSFER IMMEDIATELY AND IT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REALLY NEED TO TRANSFER BEFORE WE DO IT.
WE LOOK AT EVERY OTHER OPTION BEFORE WE DO THAT.
THE QUESTION MAY BE ASKED WHY WE DON'T ASK FOR A WAIVER.
THE REASON IS IT'S IN A HIGH GROWTH AREA, A WAIVER IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.
ANOTHER CHILD CAN ENROLL ANY DAY AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, AGAIN.
THE TRANSFER, ACTUALLY, PREVENTS YOU FROM HAVING TO SEEK A WAIVER AND GIVES YOU A PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH WAIVERS IS YOU HAVE TO PROVE A LOT OF THINGS TO TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE THE ENROLLMENT GROWTH,
[00:55:01]
THAT YOU HAVE A LACK OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES, A LACK OF TEACHERS, AND A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.WELL, YOU CAN'T REALLY PROVE THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE EXCELLENT FACILITIES FOR THESE CHILDREN.
IT IS HARD TO GET A WAIVER IN THIS SITUATION.
REPEATED WAIVERS, TEA MAKES CLEAR, REPEATED WAIVERS CAN RESULT IN SANCTIONS AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF WE HAVE ANOTHER OPTION, THEN A WAIVER, WE DO TAKE THAT OPTION.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION IN THE PAST ABOUT WHY WE CAN'T USE A PORTABLE BUILDING, AND YOU, THE BOARD HAVE MADE THE DECISION WE DON'T WANT PORTABLE BUILDINGS TO HOUSE OUR CHILDREN.
WE WANT BRICK AND MORTAR, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT, AND THAT IS A MUCH BETTER DECISION FOR THESE CHILDREN.
THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION USED OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.
THEY DID NOT BASE IT ON ANYTHING, BUT WHO COMPLETED THEIR PAPERWORK WHEN, AND THAT IS IT.
EXHIBIT 2 IS YOUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ZONES, AS YOU KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY REZONED INTERMEDIATE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU MAY HAVE TO DO SOME REZONING FOR ELEMENTARY.
THAT IS SOMETHING ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT.
NOTHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU AT THIS TIME, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER.
THE THIRD PAGE OF EXHIBIT 2 IS THE DATA POINTS THAT ARE PRESENTED FROM HUMAN RESOURCES THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT IS VERY COMPLEX.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT CLASS SIZE WAIVERS, LET ME GO BACK AND SAY ONE THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR TEACHERS.
OUR TEACHERS DO NOT WANT MORE THAN 22 STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM.
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT CHILDREN WHO'VE NEVER BEEN IN SCHOOL, WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO BEHAVE, HOW TO SIT DOWN, HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, HOW TO STAND IN LINE, YOU DON'T WANT MORE THAN 22.
MORE WE CAN ASSIST OUR TEACHERS AND KEEP OUR CLASSROOMS AT 22, THE BETTER YOUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE THAT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER OPTION, WE HAVE AN OPTION TO TRANSFER THESE STUDENTS TO AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL.
I THINK YOUR TEACHERS ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU THAT THAT HAS BEEN THE OPTION.
THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION RAISED ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS ON THAT CAMPUS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE BOND ISSUE.
THOSE PROGRAMS WERE PUT IN PLACE ON THAT CAMPUS.
WE DO HAVE SPECIFIC FACILITIES FOR THOSE PROGRAMS ON THAT CAMPUS.
SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE THAT OR SHOULD YOU PUT THAT IN EVERY SCHOOL, WHICH IS A HUGE AND EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING? THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER AT ANOTHER TIME, BUT THAT IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING THAT'S BEEN SUGGESTED.
EXHIBIT 3 DOES SHOW YOU THE NOTIFICATIONS.
COULD WE HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB? COULD WE HAVE FOR WARN PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM MORE TIME? WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING AS EDUCATORS WE LEARN EVERY DAY.
CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB NEXT YEAR? SURE. OF COURSE, WE CAN.
WILL WE WORK ON THAT IF WE COME UP WITH THIS ISSUE, AGAIN, NEXT YEAR, WILL WE WORK ON THAT BETTER? OF COURSE.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OUR PROCESSES TO BE AS HELPFUL TO FAMILIES AS WE CAN.
THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER IN ONE OF THESE APPEALS IS NUMBER 1, YOU CANNOT USE RACE AS A CRITERIA.
THAT IS A VERY OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.
YOU HAVE VERY DIVERSE CLASSES AT NORWOOD AND AT SPENCER.
THE STUDENTS WHO WERE TRANSFERRED ARE, ACTUALLY, VERY DIVERSE DIFFERENT RACES.
IT IS CLEAR FROM THE RECORD THAT IT WAS NOT BASED ON RACE.
THE LAW SAYS THAT THE BOARD MUST GRANT A PARENT'S REQUEST UNLESS THERE'S A REASONABLE BASIS TO DENY IT.
WELL, THE REASONABLE BASIS IS YOU DON'T HAVE A CLASSROOM AND YOU HAVE NO ROOM FOR A CLASSROOM.
THAT IS A REASONABLE BASIS, AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFER THE STUDENTS TO A GREAT SCHOOL.
AS TO THE QUESTION OF COMING BACK TO NORWOOD.
TYPICALLY, ONCE A STUDENT IS TRANSFERRED, THE STUDENTS GUARANTEED A SPOT AT THAT NEW SCHOOL THROUGH THE REST OF THAT CHILD'S CAREER AS LONG AS THE PARENTS STAY RESIDENCE IN THAT AREA.
UNLESS THERE'S DISCIPLINE REASONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN THIS CASE, WITH THESE SITUATIONS, THE DISTRICT IS WILLING TO BRING THOSE CHILDREN BACK TO NORWOOD WHEN THERE IS SPACE AVAILABLE.
BUT NOT UNTIL THERE'S SPACE AVAILABLE.
THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT WITH ONE OF THE FIRST GRADE STUDENTS BECAUSE SOMEONE DIDN'T SHOW UP WHO HAD REGISTERED.
THEY HAD A SPACE AND SO THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE THAT OFFER TO ONE OF THE FIRST GRADE PARENTS.
[01:00:03]
FOR NEXT YEAR, THE SAME THING, IF THERE IS SPACE AVAILABLE, THOSE PARENTS WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO NORWOOD.YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT BUILDING CAPACITY.
AS I'VE TOLD YOU, THERE IS NO MORE ROOM AT NORWOOD.
THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM AT SPENCER, AND WE USED THAT ROOM TO TAKE CARE OF THESE STUDENTS.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT GROWTH PROJECTIONS.
THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE GROWTH IN THE NORWOOD AREA.
AS I SAID, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
TEACHER ALLOCATIONS IS ONE THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT.
THERE ARE SIX KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS NOW AT BOTH SCHOOLS AND YOUR CLASS SIZES ARE AT 22 FOR THE MOST PART.
I'VE GIVEN YOU YOUR BOARD POLICIES.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY TIME ON THOSE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT, WILL TRANSFERS START IN FEBRUARY AND IS THAT FAIR? WHAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION DID IS THEY WOULD ALLOW TRANSFERS INTO NORWOOD ONLY IF SOMEONE LEFT.
THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON THEY DID.
HOW THAT CAME OUT WAS THEY ALLOWED NINE TRANSFERS INTO NORWOOD BECAUSE 12 LEFT.
THEY ADDED THREE MORE SPACES TO MAKE EVEN MORE ROOM FOR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
THEY DENIED 27 TRANSFER REQUESTS TO GO INTO NORWOOD.
THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF, WE PUT ALL THE TRANSFER KIDS IN AND NOW THERE'S NO ROOM.
WE ONLY PUT A CHILD IN WHEN WE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS LEAVING AND WE DENIED. THANK YOU.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GRANT THE PARENTS REQUEST? THEN IT'S UP TO YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN IN A SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS NO ROOM, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
YOUR OTHER OPTION IS TO TRANSFER OTHER CHILDREN OUT OF NORWOOD, BUT THAT WOULD CREATE A WHOLE NEW SET OF PROBLEMS FOR YOU.
I DON'T IMAGINE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
IF YOU DID THAT, YOUR CRITERIA WOULD HAVE TO BE OBJECTIVE.
IT COULD NOT BE PICKING AND CHOOSING.
LET ME REPEAT THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION DID EVERYTHING IT COULD TO AVOID THESE STUDENT TRANSFERS.
IT CONSIDERED ALL DATA POINTS.
IT HAD PLENTY OF AVAILABLE ROOM AND COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT LARGE OF AN INFLUX OF KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
IT CONSIDERED ALL AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES, DID NOT MAKE TRANSFER DECISIONS UNTIL THEY WALKED THE CAMPUS TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS NO AVAILABLE ROOM AND NO AVAILABLE OPTIONS.
THERE IS NOTHING SIMPLE ABOUT IT.
THEY ARE THE LAST RESORT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION DECISION.
>> THANK YOU, MS. SCOTT. MR. CANNON, AT THIS TIME, YOU HAVE RESERVED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE FOR A REBUTTAL.
YOU MAY TAKE YOUR REBUTTAL PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMPLAINANT.
THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL INDICATE TO YOU AND YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY YOU GOT ONE MINUTE. YOU MAY PROCEED.
>> IN MY LIMITED TIME THAT I HAVE LEFT, I DO WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THERE WERE ACTIONS STATED THAT COULD BE DONE FASTER.
I'M AWARE OF THE BOND PROCESS AND THE TIMELINE THAT TAKE PLACE, BUT I ALSO KNOW WAIVER IS PROBABLY THE FASTEST RECOURSE.
THE DISTRICT DID THAT IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
YOU STATED THE REASONS WHY THEY COULD NOT DO THAT.
I'M ALSO AWARE THAT I'M NOT ASKING THE DISTRICT TO BUILD ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.
I'M ASKING THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS. MY WIFE'S A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT.
SHE WAS AT HOWARD. NOW, SHE'S AT MCKENZIE.
THE PROGRAMS AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE AT MCKENZIE VERSUS HOWARD ARE NOT EQUITABLE.
SO I'M NOT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.
STUDENTS AT LEARN PIANO AT NORWOOD.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO HAVE DONE IN THE DISTRICT THAT IT'S AVAILABLE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WITH MY REMAINING TIME, I DO WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO BRYANT MERCHANT AND LUCY DILLARD, TRANSPORTATION.
THEY CAME OUT ON SUNDAY TO MY HOUSE SO THAT MY WIFE AND MY SON WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BUS THAT MY SON IS TRANSPORTED ON FROM OUR HOUSE TO CORA SPENCER AND PRINCIPAL HABIT SPENCER AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CANNON. MR. MELTON, AT THIS TIME, YOU HAVE RESERVED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MINUTES AND 36 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL.
YOU MAY TAKE YOUR REBUTTAL PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMPLAINANT.
THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE REMAINING IN YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. YOU MAY PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU. OBVIOUSLY, WHAT MR. CANNON SAID ABOUT THE EQUITABLE TREATMENT ACROSS THE BOARD
[01:05:02]
AND OBVIOUSLY IF NORWOOD DOESN'T HAVE THE SPACE, AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SPACE NEXT YEAR, THEN OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE, WHETHER THAT'S THE FACILITY OR THOSE CHOICE CLASSES.YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WAS, YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY KINDERGARTNERS YOU WOULD HAVE, BECAUSE THE STUDENTS DIDN'T EXIST IN THE DISTRICT.
NOBODY KNEW ABOUT THEM IN THE DISTRICT.
NO, I COULD ARGUE THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE LIMITED ON YOUR PRE-K. PRE-K IS NOT OFFERED EVERYWHERE.
THEN IT'S A LOTTERY SYSTEM OR YOU HAVE TO PAY, AND THEN THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY FIRST INTERJECTION WITH THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR WHERE WE GOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OPENINGS AND THERE WAS AN OPENING A WEEK AFTER SCHOOL STARTED.
THEN WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND WE HAD ABOUT TWO HOURS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
DUE TO CHILDCARE AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
THE DISTRICT COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT MY KID BECAUSE MY COOK COULDN'T EVEN ROLL PRE-K. UNTIL KINDERGARTEN, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN.
NOT COUNTING A KID UNTIL ENROLLMENT IS FINISHED, SEEMS A CHEAP WAY OUT OF IT BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, SOMEONE STARTED THE PROCESS.
WE'RE NOT FLYING STAND BY ON AN AIRPLANE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN HERE.
IT'S REAL EASY TO BE ABLE TO COUNT AND YOU CAN LOOK AND SAY, WE HAVE 130 STUDENTS AND I HAVE 100 CHAIRS, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE.
POTENTIALLY, YOU COULD HAVE KNOWN THAT LONG BEFORE AUGUST 7, IF YOU WOULD HAVE COUNTED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAD A GOOF IN THEIR REGISTRATION PROCESS, WHICH THAT'S IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THE OOPS, WHICH AT LEAST TWO OF US DIDN'T.
OBVIOUSLY, BUILDING NEW FACILITIES IS A BIG DEAL.
HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ZONING, IF YOU LOOK AT NORWOOD ZONING, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SOUTHPOINT, SOMERSET.
THEY'RE BUILDING IN BOTH THOSE AREAS, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE HIGHEST GROWTH AREAS.
THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY IN THAT AREA.
AND OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE THAT MOVE TO THAT AREA, ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS IS THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THAT AREA.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM WALKING THROUGH SPENCER, THE TEACHERS I MET WERE AMAZING AND THE PRINCIPAL I MET WAS AMAZING.
THAT FACILITIES QUALITY OF THE ACTUAL FACILITY COMPARED TO NORWOOD, ISN'T THERE? IT REMINDED ME OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I WENT TO 30 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S NOT IN THE TEACHERS OR ANYTHING.
I'M JUST SAYING THE QUALITY, AND EVEN MY KINDERGARTNER HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE STUFF HE HAD AT HIS BRIEF TIME IN NORWOOD COMPARED TO THE QUALITY OF STUFF THAT HE LEARNS WITH AT SPENCER ARE NOT EQUAL.
AS FAR AS BEING A GREAT FACILITY, I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE TEACHERS IS GREAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE QUALITY IS NOT THE SAME.
WE MOVED TO GO TO THOSE HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
MS. MITCHELL, AT THIS TIME, YOU HAVE RESERVED APPROXIMATELY NINE MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL.
YOU MAY MAKE YOUR REBUTTAL PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMPLAINANT.
THE BOARD SECRETARY WILL INDICATE TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE REMAINING OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. YOU MAY PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU. ONE ISSUE THAT WE WANTED TO BRING UP, IS THE TRANSFER STUDENTS, AGAIN.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ALLOWED PER HER STATEMENT, NINE TRANSFERS BECAUSE 12 LEFT, BUT THERE'S STILL THE CONCERN THAT TRANSFER KIDS ARE ALLOWED TO ENROLL BEFORE NEW ENROLLEES ARE ALLOWED.
ALSO, BASED ON THE NUMBERS FOR THE PRIOR YEAR WITH PRE-K. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A DEFINITE NUMBER, BUT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT OVERCROWDING.
>> YOU WAVE YOUR MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT, [INAUDIBLE].
>> BASED ON THE NUMBERS FOR PRE-K FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RED FLAG AND SOME CONCERN ABOUT CROWDING FOR THIS YEAR.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF A STANDARDIZED PROCESS FOR HANDLING OVERCROWDING AND FOR COMMUNICATING TRANSFERS OF STUDENTS.
I KNOW IN THE PACKAGE THAT YOU GOT, THERE WAS A TEMPLATE LETTER COMMUNICATING, EXPLAINING THE TRANSFER PROCESS.
I BELIEVE NONE OF THE OTHER PARENTS RECEIVED IT EITHER.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MS. SCOTT, BECAUSE YOU TECHNICALLY WERE ALLOWED 15 MINUTES AFTER EACH ONE,
[01:10:04]
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE?MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AT THIS TIME? DOCTOR RACHEL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, I THINK THE TRANSFER PAGE, I'M ON PAGE 6, I BELIEVE OF AND SOME OF THIS REPEATS, SO OF THE LEVEL 3 HEARING FOR MR. CANNON.
I'M LOOKING AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SPREADSHEET.
THAT SHOWS THE TRANSFERS, I THINK THAT WERE MENTIONED, SO THE TRANSFERS IN NINE FOR KINDERGARTEN, THE TRANSFERS IN FOR FIRST WERE TWO.
ABOVE THAT, IT TALKS ABOUT TOTAL EMPLOYEE TRANSFERS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE ARE 13.
I KNOW WITH TRANSFERS PART OF THE QUESTION IS ABOUT FINDING THAT AVAILABLE SPACE.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KINDERGARTEN AT LEAST, I THINK ALL OF THESE ARE ABOUT KINDERGARTEN.
AUGUST 7TH WAS THAT DATE WHERE KINDERGARTEN WAS FULL.
WHAT IS THE CUTOFF DATE FOR DETERMINING IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE FOR THESE TRANSFERS OR IS THERE OR NOT? I DON'T KNOW IF I'M MAKING MY QUESTION CLEAR.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE DATE PART? AUGUST 7TH, I THINK, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PRESENTATION ON THE SPREADSHEET OF LET'S SEE, THIS IS PAGE 4, AT THE VERY BOTTOM LINE 130.
AUGUST 7, 2024, I BELIEVE MISS ROSS SAID WAS THE DATE THAT KINDERGARTEN WAS FULL AT NORWOOD.
I'M ASKING ABOUT WHEN TRANSFER DECISIONS ARE DETERMINED IF THE LAST DATE THAT KINDERGARTEN IS FULL IS AUGUST 7TH.
ARE THEY DETERMINED AFTER THAT OR BEFORE THAT? I THINK IT'S I HAVE TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THANKS. I MEAN I HAVE BEEN CLEAR, SORRY.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I HAVE TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.
TECHNICALLY, THERE'S A WINDOW OF TRANSFERS THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON THAT SOME PEOPLE NEED TRANSFERS AND SO THAT PROCESS NEVER STOPS.
IT'S 12 MONTHS A YEAR THAT WE DEAL WITH TRANSFERS FOR CERTAIN FAMILIES ALL YEAR LONG.
THE BIG WINDOW IS STARTS IN FEBRUARY FIRST.
THE OTHER PART THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WITHIN THAT WINDOW, WE SET CERTAIN PARAMETERS AND THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY ON PAPER.
THEY'RE WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH MY TEAM, AND ESPECIALLY TAMMY VARDY, WHO'S THE ONE THAT DOES THESE, WHERE WE HAVE CONCERNS, HOW WE DEAL WITH THOSE CONCERNS.
IT MAY BE A CAMPUS OVER IN A NORTH-WEST PART OF THE DISTRICT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS RIGHT NOW, THAT ARE PARTIALLY IN THE DISTRICT.
WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THOSE.
SHE BRINGS CONCERNS TO ME IF THEY'RE NEEDED.
OR WE TALK ABOUT MARY JOE SHEPHARD, THEIR SECOND GRADE IS GETTING PRETTY TIGHT.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WE MEET EVERY WEEK ON LOOKING AT MARY JOE SHEPHERD'S NUMBERS JUST TO MAKE SURE.
SOME POINT IN TIME AND I'M GETTING YOUR QUESTION.
[01:15:04]
AT SOME POINT IN TIME, AND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS AT THIS SET SOME POINT IN TIME STARTED FROM DAY ONE AT NORWOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE TIGHT.A COUPLE OF OTHER CAMPUS WERE TIGHT.
WHAT I INDICATED WAS, WE'RE NOT GRANTING ANY TRANSFERS.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IN THE DENIALS, THERE WERE 13 DENIALS IN KINDERGARTEN AND THERE WAS 27 DENIALS OVERALL TO NORWOOD AS A WHOLE.
MOST OF THOSE WERE STAFF MEMBERS. WE JUST DENIED.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE AND WE CAN LOOK.
WHAT WE DID WAS SO EARLY ON, WE JUST SAID THIS CAMPUS FOR TRANSFERS IS CLOSED.
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T DO RIGHT OR WRONG.
WHAT I DIDN'T DO WAS TO SAY, I WILL LET YOU GRANT A TRANSFER IN KINDERGARTEN.
I WILL LET YOU GRANT A TEACHER'S KID THAT WORKS ON THAT CAMPUS IF SOMEBODY UNENROLLS.
AS ONLY WAY I WILL LET IT HAPPEN.
WE MEET EVERY WEEK ON THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADD TO ANY PROBLEMS THAT'S THERE.
WHAT I WILL ALSO SHOW TO YOU, WE GOT THE REPORT FROM HR IN MARCH.
WE ALSO NOTICED THAT YES, THERE'S PEOPLE AS THE FAMILIES TALKED ABOUT TODAY, THEY'RE IN STATES OF FLUX ON THEIR ENROLLMENTS AND WHERE THEY'RE AT PART OF THAT PROBLEM ALSO IS ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, THE ELEMENTARY TEAMS PEOPLE, THEY DON'T WORK IN THE SUMMER.
WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE AT.
BUT WE LOOKED AND SAW THAT THERE WAS 21 SPORTS LEFT.
BEFORE WE WENT LEFT FOR THE SUMMER.
WE FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.
EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE TIGHT.
WE KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY NORWOOD, KINDERGARTEN AND NORWOOD FIRST GRADE WERE GOING TO POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE PRE TIGHT.
WE TYPICALLY ON SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT TIGHT WE TYPICALLY SAY, WE WILL LEAVE 5-7 SPOTS OPEN FOR PEOPLE THAT ENROLL IF THEY COME IN OVER THE SUMMER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE.
I WILL TELL YOU NO DISRESPECT TO THE FAMILIES.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN THEIR POSITION TOO EITHER.
I MEAN, WE MESSED ON THEIR CHILDREN. I GET IT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE TONIGHT EITHER, EVEN MORE THAN I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.
BUT TIME AFTER TIME YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE DO GET IT RIGHT OR WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT WHERE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IT JUST DID ON ON THIS SITUATION.
IT DOESN'T FIX IT FOR THESE THREE FAMILIES.
[01:20:01]
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS WHY DID THIS HAPPEN OR WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS DECISION HERE? NOT DO WAIVERS.BECAUSE THERE IS 12 OR 13, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY ALREADY AT NORWOOD WHO WOULD NEED WAIVERS.
THE POTENTIAL WOULD BE FOR MORE TO COME BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A HIGH GROWTH AREA.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ALREADY KNOW OF THREE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING AND WILL BE HERE WITHIN THESE ENROLLMENTS, GOING TO BE ONE KINDERGARTNER AND TWO FIRST GRADERS.
THOSE THREE STUDENTS WHEN THEY GET HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO NORWOOD. THANK YOU.
THAT'S THE REASON THAT THIS DECISION WAS MADE.
AT THE LEVEL WE MADE IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
IF YOU NORMALLY, YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO AT A CAMPUS AT DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS.
WE HAD 13 LOOKING AT 15 OR 16 OR 17 ALREADY THAT ARE GOING TO BE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID A LOT OF WORDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
YOU DID ANSWER MY QUESTION AND YOU GAVE EVEN MORE THAN THAT I'M SORRY.
I HAVE ONE MORE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
ON THAT SAME DOCUMENT AT THE BOTTOM, IT SAYS HOUSE BILL TRANSFERS ONE.
THAT IS THE NEW HOUSE BILL PASS THAT ALLOWS FOR AND WE DON'T GET TO MAKE ANY CALLS ON IT, IS THAT IF A FIRST RESPONDER WANTS TO MOVE THEIR KID INTO YOUR DISTRICT, AND THEY GET TO PICK TO WHAT DISTRICT AND WHAT SCHOOL? REALLY I SHOULD SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
THE GIST OF THAT BILL IS FIRST RESPONDERS CAN BE IN A VERY UNSAFE PROFESSION.
SOMETIMES WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY POLICE OR FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THEY DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS TO HAVE TO BE EXPOSED TO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THEY THAT ARE THERE.
THAT'S WHY THAT BILL WAS PASSED.
ANYTHING TO WRIGHT? I DO JUST HAVE ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION, MR. WRIGHT.
YOU SAID THAT TRANSFERS WERE CLOSED TO NORWOOD, BUT NINE OF THOSE WERE APPROVED AND THOSE ARE ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT NORWOOD. DID I HEAR YOU, CORRECT? THOSE ARE NINE OF THE TEACHERS THAT WORK AT NORWOOD.
THOSE WERE THE ONLY TRANSFERS THAT WERE APPROVED. THANK YOU.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, THIS CONCLUDES THE PROCEEDING.
YES, I'M SORRY. YES, DOCTOR RED.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO AND EXPRESS YOUR GRIEVANCE? THIS IS A HARD DECISION FOR ME AND I THINK FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE WE WANT THE KIDS TO BE HAPPY AND TAKEN CARE OF, WE WANT PARENTS TO BE COMFORTABLE.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CANDOR.
LET ME ASK THIS FIRST QUESTION.
IS THERE A PROCESS OR A PLAN THAT WE USE IF WE HAVE SIBLINGS ALREADY ENROLLED AT THAT SCHOOL? IF YOU'RE ASKING, WOULD WE NOT FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND LEAVE
[01:25:01]
THEM THERE AT AND IN THIS CASE AT SPENCER, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, AT NORWOOD, THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR PROCESS BECAUSE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD JUST CAUSE OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THAT IS TO ALLOW THEM FAMILIES TO SAY, IF YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO STAY TOGETHER, WE WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO TOGETHER.
MATTER OF FACT, AND I'VE EVEN TALKED TO A COUPLE OF FAMILIES AND SAID, IF THIS SCHOOL DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU, WE CAN FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT MAY BE CLOSER.
NOW WE CAN'T PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE CAN FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT COULD WORK FOR BOTH OF YOUR KIDS IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS MORE PALATABLE FOR YOU.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS BEST WE CAN FOR A BAD SITUATION.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET IT DONE FOR YOU.
I JUST CAN'T SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS.
I KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS PROBLEM.
IT'S LIKE HAVING A GOOD PROBLEM WHERE WE'RE GROWING.
I APPRECIATE THE PARENTS COMING AND COOPERATING AND WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT.
I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I KNEW THAT TWO OF THE PARENTS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, HAD OLDER SIBLINGS AT THE SCHOOL.
I THINK I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION.
WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A PLAN GOING FORWARD FOR OVERCROWDEDNESS, AND BEING AWARE OF THAT WE AWARE OF STATEMENT OR HOW WE HANDLE OVERCROWDEDNESS? I THINK ONE OF THE PARENTS MENTIONED HAVING ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION SO THAT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
DO WE KNOW WHERE THAT IS IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE, DO WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE? IF IT IS AVAILABLE, CAN WE DIRECT PARENTS TO THAT SO THAT WE'RE NOT HERE.
>> I UNDERSTOOD PART OF YOUR QUESTION, BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS THAT BEING AWARE OF WHAT INFORMATION?
>> I THINK THERE IS THE OVERCROWDED PROCESS OR THE OVERFLOW PROCESS.
DO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION? I KNOW WE ARE I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT WORKING ON THAT GOING FORWARD BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THAT AREA IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
WHAT I'M ASKING IS, DO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION EXPRESSED ANYWHERE SO THAT PARENTS KNOW THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY.
>> THAT'S WHAT SOMETHING THAT MR. CANNON AND I TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IN OUR MEETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AS MUCH OR AS EARLY AS JUST TODAY ABOUT PUTTING THAT OUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HOW TO PUT IT THIS.
I THINK IT'S A VERY FAIR QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S VERY FAIR FOR PARENTS TO WANT THAT.
PROBABLY WITHIN THAT WAS THAT WE NEVER PUT THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS SITUATION, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
WE DO HAVE TO WRITE A WAIVER TO.
WE DO HAVE TEACHERS THAT WE MOVE FROM ONE CAMPUS TO ANOTHER, BUT IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE MOVE KIDS FROM THEIR HOME SCHOOL.
WE HAVEN'T SAT DOWN AND PUT THAT PROCESS AND PUT IT ONLINE, BUT WE CAN DO THAT.
[01:30:06]
>> I WAS ASKING BECAUSE JUST DISCUSSING IN OUR AS A DISTRICT SAYING THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS AREA IS GROWING BEYOND WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH.
I APPRECIATE IT. TO THE TEACHERS, MISS FARRAR LED ME ONE MOMENT.
I KNOW THE TEACHERS ARE JUST CRINGING.
WE APPRECIATE THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM.
THIS IS NOT IDEAL, SO WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.
I'M TRYING NOT TO CRY. MISS NISA.
>> SORRY, ONE MORE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
WE WERE GIVEN THIS DOCUMENT WE GOT HERE TODAY.
THE EMAIL THAT WENT OUT AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED THIS.
WE DON'T DO THIS VERY OFTEN HAVE TO MOVE KIDS.
BUT DID THIS GO OUT BECAUSE OF THE CROWDING THERE OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S DISTRICT WIDE RIGHT NOW OR ONLY CERTAIN CAMPUSES?
>> I SAY TWO THINGS, WHEN WE DETERMINED THAT IT'S NOT TYPICALLY WHEN WE START SEEING THINGS THAT ARE OVERCROWDED OR GETTING TO THAT POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO AND DID DO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IS I GOT MY TEAM AND SAID, I WANT US TO VERIFY EVERY AFFIDAVIT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND HAVE WORKED ON THAT.
THE EMAIL THAT YOU SEE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT PRINCE THE PRINCIPAL IN HER ZEAL FOR JUST FEELING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL KIDS AT [INAUDIBLE].
WE WEREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THAT EMAIL UNTIL THIS WEEK.
>> I THINK IT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO PROVE RESIDENCY SHOWS THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THESE FOLKS.
BUT THEN I KNOW THERE WAS A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
IS MAKING PHONE CALLS PART OF THE PROCESS OR JUST EMAILS.
>> IF PEOPLE DON'T COMPLETE OR THINGS ARE NEEDED, I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
AND I CAN I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE PROCESS FOR PAM'S IS.
>> THE PAM'S CLERKS AREN'T THERE OVER THE SUMMER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEING CLEAR.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I SITTING TOGETHER.
>> NOBODY AT ELEMENTARY IS ON STAB.
THERE THERE'S NOBODY AT ELEMENTARY CAMPUS.
>> I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION NOW P. ANOTHER QUESTION.
ON THE AFFIDAVIT IS BEING VERIFIED, ARE YOU DOING THAT JUST ON PARTICULAR CAMPUSES OR ARE WE DOING THAT DISTRICT WIDE?
>> TYPICALLY, NO NOT DISTRICT WIDE.
TYPICALLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF OR EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT WE DO TELL THE PRINCIPALS IS, IF YOU HAVE ANY INKLING, IF YOU HAVE ANY RESERVATION ABOUT ANY ADDRESS, ANY FALSIFICATION, ANY AFFIDAVIT, LET US KNOW.
WE WE'LL SEND SOMEBODY TO VERIFY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO VERIFY EVERYTHING JUST BECAUSE, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THEM, WE WILL SEND SOMEBODY TO VERIFY IT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS? IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, THIS CONCLUDES THE PROCEEDING.
AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 55171 OF
[01:35:06]
THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR THE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY AND SECTION 551 0821.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE WILL BE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AFTER OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH OUR FINAL DECISION.
WE WILL NOW RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION AT 9:31 P.M. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR STATEMENT?
>> MR. AND MISSES CANNON, MR. MELTON, MR. MS. MITCHELL, WE, THE BOARD ARE TRULY VERY SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR CHILDREN.
WE BELIEVE OUR ADMINISTRATION DID ALL THEY COULD, TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN NORWOOD ELEMENTARY.
WE HOPE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT THEIR RETURN SOON.
>> THE BOARD HAS HEARD A LEVEL THREE APPEAL FILED BY MR. MISSES CANNON CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.07 4,551.082 AND 551.0 821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE BOARD THEN ADJOURNED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 AND 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, ANY ACTION REGARDING THIS MATTER MUST BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE LEVEL 3 APPEAL?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DENY THE LEVEL 3 APPEAL THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE LEVEL 3 APPEAL.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO CALL MY NAME.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT I THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHARING THIS IS MY FIRST LEVEL 3 GRIEVANCE.
FOR ME IN MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S THE POLICY PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, AND SO DEFINITELY SEE POLICY AND SEE VERY OBJECTIVE PRACTICES, BUT DIDN'T SEE THEM NECESSARILY CONSISTENTLY IN WHAT WAS PRESENTED.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE LEVEL THREE APPEAL THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 61.
THE BOARD HAS HEARD A LEVEL 3 APPEAL FILED BY MR. MELTON AND MISS DANIEL CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION, PURSUANT TO THE SECTIONS 551.07 4,551.082 AND 551.0 821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
THE BOARD THEN ADJOURNED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, ANY ACTION REGARDING THIS MATTER MUST BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE LEVEL 3 APPEAL?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DENY THIS LEVEL 3 APPEAL THE THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY MICHELLE NEWSOM AND A SECOND BY CORRECT TIPPING.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? DR. CRUTCHFIELD?
>> FOR THE RECORD. I WANTED TO SHARE AGAIN AND THIS BEING MY FIRST LEVEL 3 GRIEVANCE THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS LOOKING AT POLICY AND PRACTICE.
FROM WHAT'S WRITTEN, WHAT'S SHARED, THERE IS AN OBJECTIVE PROCESS, DIDN'T SEE THE CONSISTENT PRACTICE.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE LEVEL THREE APPEAL, THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> THE MOTION PASSES 51 WITH ONE ABSTAINING.
[01:40:06]
THE BOARD HAS HEARD A LEVEL 3 APPEAL FILED BY MR. AND MRS. MITCHELL, CONDUCTED IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551.07 4,551.082 AND 551.0 821 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.THE BOARD THEN ADJOURNED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, ANY ACTION REGARDING THIS MATTER MUST BE TAKEN IN OPEN SESSION.
TO HAVE A MOTION ON THE LEVEL 3 APPEAL.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD DENY THIS LEVEL 3 APPEAL THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY MICHELLE NEWSOM AND A SECOND BY CRAIG TIPPING.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD?
>> YES. FOR THE RECORD, I WANTED TO SHARE AGAIN THAT THIS BEING MY FIRST LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE.
THE UNDERSTANDING I HAVE IS ABOUT FOLLOWING POLICY AND PRACTICE.
I THINK POLICY IS CLEAR, AND I THINK THE PRACTICE OR THE PROCESS WAS AN OBJECTIVE ONE.
WE APPRECIATE THAT I WASN'T CLEAR OR IT WASN'T DEMONSTRATED TO ME THAT THE PRACTICE WAS CONSISTENT BASED ON WHAT WAS PROVIDED.
>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE LEVEL THREE APPEAL, THEREBY UPHOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE POSED? MOTION PASSES 52.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:30 I'M SORRY, 9:37 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.