[1. Call to Order] [00:00:05] GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOW 5 P.M. OCTOBER 23RD, 2025. MANSFIELD ISD FAMILY. LET'S CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS OUR CALL TO MEETING FOR OCTOBER 23RD, 2025 OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES. LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL SEVEN TRUSTEES ARE PRESENT. AND AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRAYER BY TRUSTEE JASON THOMAS AND DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT FAMILY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT SO THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING IS PIVOTAL. WE ARE ALL WATCHING OR WE'RE PRESENT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WE ALL APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MANSFIELD ISD AND THE KIDDOS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF THEM. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. ON OCTOBER 20TH. ON AUGUST 28TH, 28, DOCTOR CANTU ANNOUNCED THAT SHE HAD PLANS TO RETIRE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. SINCE THEN, OUR BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING. WE'VE BEEN WE'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES TO CONSIDER HOW WE WOULD PROCEED WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT TASK. AS WE STATED IN OUR INITIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE BOARD IS UNIFIED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. I WANT TO REPEAT THAT THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. WE WILL ENGAGE ALL STAKEHOLDERS, STAFF MEMBERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THAT'S SIGNIFICANT TO US BECAUSE ALL OF US BELIEVE IN BEING TRANSPARENT AND HEARING THE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION GOING FORWARD. SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL HEAR FROM TRUSTEE JASON THOMAS AS HE GIVES US THE PRAYER THAT WOULD LEAD US THROUGH THIS NIGHT. AND THEN DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD, TRUSTEE DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD WILL SAY THE PLEDGES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET US PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY. GRANT US WISDOM IN OUR DECISIONS, PATIENCE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND UNITY IN OUR PURPOSE SO THAT ALL WE DO HONORS THE TRUST PLACED IN US AND BENEFITS EVERY CHILD IN MANSFIELD ISD. ALL THESE THINGS WE PRAY IN YOUR SON JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. NOW THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE THOMAS AND DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD. AT THIS TIME, WE. BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. AND DOCTOR CANTU IS NOT HERE. SO IN HER ABSENCE, WE HAVE DOCTOR STOKER. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR STOKER. DOCTOR CANTU IS AWAY. SHE'S OUT OF THE STATE. SHE'S PRESENTING AT A CONFERENCE, SO WE WISH HER GODSPEED. WE KNOW THAT SHE WILL DO WELL. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR STOKER, FOR STEPPING IN. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND WE HAVE FIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING. [4. Public Comments] THE FIRST GENTLEMAN IS DARRELL SNEED, AND THE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 7.1. SUPERINTENDENT, SEARCH FIRM. MR. SNEED. ONE SECOND, MR. SNEED, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING THE BOARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS IS AS FOLLOWS. EACH SPEAKER SHOULD EXIST, SHOULD ADDRESS THE BOARD FROM THE PODIUM MICROPHONE AND STATE HIS OR HER NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. ALL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE COMMENTS. ALL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. MR. PREACHERMAN. TO MAKE COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA UNLESS MODIFIED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT. BASED ON BOARD POLICY, BED (LOCAL) COPIES OF PRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL TRUSTEES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. BOARD POLICY PROHIBITS THE DISCUSSION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES DURING AN OPEN FORUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THREE MINUTES MR. SNEED. TO DOCTOR STOKES AND DOCTOR REID INTO THIS DISTINGUISHED BOARD. [00:05:04] I'M GOING TO TRY TO ADHERE TO THE THREE MINUTES AND BE CUT OFF. I'M DARRELL SNEED. I RESIDE IN MANSFIELD, TEXAS AT MANSFIELD ISD. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, NOT AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OR CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR OR FORMER EDUCATOR WITH 34 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS AND 13 YEARS OF THOSE RIGHT HERE IN MANSFIELD. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS A GRANDPARENT. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NO GREATER JOY THAN THAT OF BEING A GRANDPARENT. I GOT SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN ATTEST TO THAT. LAST SPRING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S PRE-K GRADUATION, AND THEY ANNOUNCED HER AS THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2038. THAT ANNOUNCEMENT WAS LIKE A BOMBSHELL TO MY SPIRIT BECAUSE I REALIZE THE AGE I WOULD BE AT THAT POINT, AND IT HIT ME THAT I MAY NOT BE AROUND TO ACTUALLY SEE HER WALK ACROSS THE STAGE. I MADE A COMMITMENT TO HER, BUT AS LONG AS I'M HERE, I WILL DO MY BEST TO REPRESENT HER INTEREST. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES AS A BOARD IS FOR YOU AS A BOARD WHO OCCUPY THE SEAT IS TO FIND THE BEST SUPERINTENDENT FOR MISD. WITH THE MANY GLARING CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN MANSFIELD, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO FIND THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THE DISTRICT THROUGH MANY CHALLENGES DAYS AHEAD. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT FOR THE SAKE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND OTHER STUDENTS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING, THAT WE HIRE, THAT THE HIRE BE DONE WELL AND IT BE DONE CORRECTLY. YOU WILL NOT FIND A PERFECT SUPERINTENDENT, NOR WILL YOU FIND A PERFECT SEARCH FIRM. YOU MAY FEEL THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TONIGHT, BUT THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE TRUE. YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE. WHAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THAT YOU, AS A BOARD, ARE DULY ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE BEST INTEREST OF TAXPAYERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THIS WONDERFUL DISTRICT. YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM BECAUSE EVERY VIEWPOINT SHOULD BE HEARD. I BELIEVE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS DESERVE TO HAVE INPUT INTO WHAT THEY FEEL IS NEEDED IN THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. IT IS MUCH BETTER AND MUCH WISER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT THAN HAVE TO DO IT. OVER THE STEPS OF WHETHER TO HIRE A SEARCH FIRM OR NOT IS CRITICAL, AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL. AND SO I SO I'M TRUSTING THAT THAT YOUR DECISION WILL BE MADE WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT, AS I'VE HEARD YOU AFFIRM ALREADY, I TRUST YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION IN THE DAYS TO COME. I WILL SAY I'M DRESSED. GIVE ME TWO. GIVE ME 20S. THANK YOU. I'M DRESSED MORE CASUALLY TONIGHT BECAUSE MY AUTISTIC GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO'S ON THE SPECTRUM THERE'S A ROUTINE THAT AUTISM STUDENTS HAVE. AND WHENEVER YOU CHANGE THAT ROUTINE, THEY GO INTO QUANDARY. MY GRANDDAUGHTER, EVERY SINGLE WEEK, SHE SAYS, PAPI, WE'RE GOING TO THE GAME ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE POPCORN AND COKE. AND I SAY, YES, YES, LIBBY, WE ARE ALL THE GAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO THURSDAY NIGHT. AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M DRESSED CASUALLY AS, AS I LEAVE HERE, I'M GOING TO TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO THE GAME. THANK YOU. THROUGH YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER IN THERE, SO GOODNIGHT. ANGIE THOR IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER. AND MISS THOR WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 7.1 SEARCH FIRM. YES. HELLO EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO READ BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I CAN TALK AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER MY THREE MINUTES. SO TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK REGARDING THE SEARCH FOR OUR UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD SUPERINTENDENT. AS A REALTOR, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE MOVE HERE FOR OUR SCHOOLS, AND BASED ON THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN THIS AREA, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION OF OUR DISTRICT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS LAST ELECTION WAS NOT A REFERENDUM ON OUR DISTRICT AND THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT. IT WAS A REFERENDUM ON KEEPING PARTIZAN POLITICS OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY IS ALLOWED TO DETERMINE OUR FUTURE. DOCTOR CANTU ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT SOME TIME AGO, BUT TO DATE I HAVE NOT HAVE HEARD. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. TO MANY, THIS APPEARS AS A LACK OF LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS BY NOT HAVING LISTENING SESSIONS THE APPEARANCE IS THAT POLITICS IS ONCE AGAIN BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR DISTRICT, AND THAT OUR DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BY A SELECT FEW. ANY TALK ABOUT BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT IS PREMATURE WITHOUT HOLDING LISTENING SESSIONS FIRST TO KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. I URGE YOU NOT TO BE LIKE FORT WORTH ISD. THEY DIDN'T TALK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY HIRED A SEARCH FIRM. THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH RESULTED IN HIRING SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT, [00:10:04] AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WELL THAT WORKED OUT. TEST SCORES WENT DOWN, PERFORMANCE DECLINED. THE COMMUNITY WAS NOT HAPPY. THE SUPER LASTED A WHOLE YEAR AND GOT A HUGE PAYOUT. AND I CAN NOW ADD IT AS BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE TEA. THERE IS ALSO GRAND PRAIRIE ISD AND BEFORE THAT DISD. SO THERE IS A PATTERN BASED UPON THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE AREA. PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH OUR DISTRICT. ARE WE PERFECT? NO, BUT WE CAN, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE. 20 OF OUR MISD CAMPUSES ARE A RATED, UP FROM NINE LAST YEAR. THIS MEANS THAT EVEN OUR STRUGGLING SUBPOPULATIONS ARE DOING BETTER BECAUSE A SCHOOL CANNOT RECEIVE A TOP RATING IF ALL STUDENT GROUPS AREN'T IMPROVING. WE ARE ALSO DOING THIS WHILE MAINTAINING OUR FINANCES AS WELL. THE DISTRICT HAS AN A+ RATING PER THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY RATING SYSTEM OF TEXAS. MISD IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. LET'S NOT CONFUSE THE COMMUNITY'S MANDATE TO KEEP DIVISION AND OUTSIDERS OUT OF OUR SCHOOL AS A MANDATE TO CHANGE THE DISTRICT. OUR DISTRICT AND BOARD ARE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES WHO MUST WORK TOGETHER. OUR COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK. KEEP OUR KIDS FIRST. AND LET ME ADD ONE THING. THE BOARD HIRES ONE PERSON AND IT'S THE SUPERINTENDENT. SO YOU GUYS HAVE ONE JOB. AND SO OUR CALL IS TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MISS THOR. MR. CLAYTON WATERS IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER, AND HE IS SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM 7.1. SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL SO CLOSELY THIS EVENING. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR REED. DOCTOR STOKER AND TRUSTEES OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS CLAYTON WATERS AND I AM A MANSFIELD ISD PARENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBER. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SENT EACH OF YOU AN EMAIL EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS AROUND THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AND THE NEED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION. I WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO LISTENING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY WITH SINCERITY. WHEN DOCTOR CANTU ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT IN AUGUST, SHE GAVE THE DISTRICT AN THIS BOARD SIX MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION. TWO OF THOSE MONTHS, ONE THIRD OF THE TIME, HAS ALREADY PASSED, AND PARENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS STILL KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT. WHEN COMMUNICATION IS ABSENT, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, IMAGINATION FILLS THE VOID. PEOPLE BEGIN TO SPECULATE AND FILL IN THE BLANKS THEMSELVES. THE UNCERTAINTY DOESN'T SERVE ANY OF US WELL. WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS IS CLARITY AND CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. SELECTING THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY YOU WILL UNDERTAKE AS A TRUSTEE. THIS RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GENUINE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. MANSFIELD ISD IS STRONGEST WHEN ITS FAMILIES, EDUCATORS AND RESIDENTS FEEL INFORMED AND INCLUDED. I URGE THE BOARD TO LEAD THIS PROCESS IN THAT SPIRIT. YOU MUST COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND SEEK INPUT FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT. HOW YOU SELECT OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHOM YOU SELECT AS OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. PLEASE SET AN EXAMPLE OF OPENNESS THAT STRENGTHENS CONFIDENCE IN BOTH THE PROCESS AND THE OUTCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. WATERS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. NATHAN SMITH, AND HE TOO IS SPEAKING ON ITEM 7.1. GOOD EVENING, MR. SMITH. HELLO, I'M NATHAN SMITH. I LIVE IN MANSFIELD. WHAT IS A MANDATE IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE? TO ME, IT'S AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE BY THE PEOPLE IN SOMEONE TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS IN. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT MANDATES ARE EXPRESSED IN VOTING RESULTS. FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THAT DAYS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY ONE ELECTION CYCLE TO SAY, I WANT THAT PERSON REPRESENTING MY CHILD'S INTERESTS. THAT'S A SPECIAL THING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AND I HOPE IT MEANS A LOT TO YOU EVERY DAY IN YOUR ROLE. NOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE LAST COUPLE ELECTION CYCLES AND I TRY TO READ THE MESSAGE OF THE VOTERS TO ME, WHAT THEY WERE EXPRESSING IS PRETTY CLEAR. MISD VOTERS WANTED CHANGE IN CERTAIN AREAS. THEY WANTED TO PUT PEOPLE ON THAT DAY WHO HAVE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AND YES, WHO DON'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THE NORM OF WHO CAME BEFORE. IN MY OPINION, VOTERS MADE SOME EXCELLENT SELECTIONS. WE HAVE CHOSEN HIGHLY QUALIFIED, PROFESSIONALLY ACCOMPLISHED BOARD MEMBERS. YOU BRING A BREADTH OF SKILLS AND BACKGROUNDS THAT, TAKEN TOGETHER, HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE OUR KIDS WELL. A LOT OF YOU WERE ALSO ELECTED WITH WIDE MARGINS. THAT'S THE VOTERS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND WHO YOU WERE BEFORE AND WHO YOU CONTINUE TO BE NOW. NOW, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED TO A ROLE LIKE THIS ONE, EVEN A FEW YEARS IN IT CAN STILL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE. IT'S PROBABLY EASY TO GET A BIT OVERWHELMED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A BIG DECISION, LIKE HOW THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR OUR NEXT DISTRICT LEADER SHOULD LOOK. [00:15:04] I ASSUME THAT CAN BE INTIMIDATING. IT'S PROBABLY EASY UNDER THAT PRESSURE TO START LOSING CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OWN JUDGMENT. MAYBE YOU EVEN FIND YOURSELF GRAVITATING TOWARDS PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, WHO ASSURE YOU THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST AND ON BRAND FOR MISD. BUT THE MANDATE VOTERS HANDED TO YOU WAS FOR CHANGE. IT WAS FOR AN END TO GOOD OL BOY WAY OF DOING THINGS. A BREAK FROM A TIRED STATUS QUO AND INNER CIRCLES. YOU WERE HANDED A MANDATE TO SHOW BOLD LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE VOTERS LOOKED AT YOUR BACKGROUNDS AND WHO YOU ARE, AND DETERMINED THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BOLD LEADERSHIP. I WOULD JUST URGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OWN INSTINCTS AS YOU APPROACH THIS DECISION. IN KEEPING WITH THAT, I WOULD ALSO URGE YOU TO SEEK A SEARCH FIRM THAT IS INSULATED FROM OUTSIDE PRESSURES AND WOULD BE KINGMAKERS. FIND A FIRM CAPABLE OF BRINGING YOU THE BEST CANDIDATES, UNINFLUENCED BY OTHER AGENDAS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. THEN TRUST IN YOUR OWN JUDGMENT TO SELECT FROM THAT GROUP OF CANDIDATES THE BEST FIT FOR A BOLD MISD MAKE IT THAT SIMPLE. AND SINCE I HAVE 30S LEFT, I WILL JUST SAY I WAS INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN TARRANT COUNTY. AND JUST FROM WHAT I SAW IN THAT PROCESS, IT REALLY UNDERLINED TO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT DOES A NATIONAL SEARCH THAT LOOKS FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE AND IS NOT JUST SOMEBODY THAT IS BROUGHT IN FROM MAYBE THE BEST CANDIDATE IS LOCAL, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT, SO THANK YOU. DID YOU FINISH? YOU GET 20S BECAUSE MR. SNEED TOOK 20. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING IS KRISTIN FLEMING WOOD, AND SHE WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM, AGENDA ITEM 7.1. THANK YOU, MISS FLEMING WOOD. THIS DOWN HERE. GOOD EVENING. ALL I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE. PRETTY MUCH. I'VE SEEN YOU ALL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. AND I'M A PARENT OF FOUR MISD GRADUATES. WE HAVE AN AMAZING DISTRICT. I THINK YOU ALL DO AN AMAZING JOB. AND I KNOW PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONE OF YOU PERSONALLY, AND I ADMIRE EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. BUT I'M HERE. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT HIRING AN OUTSIDE AGENCY BECAUSE I NOW, MIND YOU, MY OLDEST ONE IS 35 YEARS OLD, SO I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE. SO I REMEMBER BACK WHEN DOCTOR V WAS HERE, THERE WAS A WHOLE THERE WAS LIKE A PROCESS WHERE WITH THAT WE COULD INTERNALLY, THE TEACHERS COULD STEP UP TO BECOME PRINCIPALS AND TAKE THESE COURSES AND BECOME CERTIFIED. AND MY QUESTION ABOUT HIRING AN OUTSIDE SEARCH AGENCY WAS, HAVE WE LOOKED WITHIN THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT HERE, AND I HATE TO THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PUTTING THIS WORK IN TO POSSIBLY BE A PRINCIPAL OR BECOME AN ADMINISTRATOR OR BECOME A SUPERINTENDENT ARE JUST GOING TO GET BYPASSED. SO THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE. SO MY QUESTION HAVE WE EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR INTERNAL OPTIONS? HAVE WE GOTTEN IN FRONT OF THESE PEOPLE OR INTERVIEWED THEM TO SEE IF THEY ARE, IF THEY'RE SOMEBODY WE'VE GOT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US THAT COULD STEP INTO THE POSITION. AND I SAID, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS, RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY'S WORKING WITH DEFICITS. WE'RE WORKING WITH LESS. WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT MORE WITH A LOT LESS. SO I THINK THAT BEFORE WE GO SPEND MONEY ON A SEARCH AGENCY, WE PROBABLY REALLY NEED TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON WHO WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE THESE PROGRAMS, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD TALENT THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. AND THE LAST THING I KIND OF WANTED TO FIND OUT, IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEARCH COMMITTEE LIKE, WELL, THERE'LL BE A GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT CAN BE IN ON THE PROCESS SO THAT IT KIND OF LINKS THE COMMUNITY WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE GOT A TOUGH JOB, AND I JUST ASK BEFORE WE GO SPEND SOME MONEY ON. I, BELIEVE ME, MY HUSBAND WORKS WITH HEADHUNTERS A LOT AND THEY'RE NOT CHEAP. SO I'D LIKE TO THINK WE'VE WE'VE GOTTEN THE TEACHERS AND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US. WE'VE MADE SURE THERE'S NOBODY HERE EXCEPT A BOARD THAT COULD DO THE JOB. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GET A SHOT AT IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DOING ALL THE WORK. I'M NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS FLEMING WOOD. TRUSTEES, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM FIVE CLOSED SESSION. [5. Closed Session] ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.07 FOR PERSONNEL TO DELIBERATE REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR A CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. 5510.071 CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD'S ATTORNEY. 551.072 REAL PROPERTY AND 551.076 TO CONDUCT DELIBERATIONS REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS. [00:20:11] WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RETIREMENT AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH AT THIS TIME 5:20 WE WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU CAN WAIT IF YOU'D LIKE. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME, WE THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. WE ARE RECONVENING AT 6:51 P.M.. [6. Reconvene] [7. Business Items Requiring Board Action] AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TRUSTEES TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. BUSINESS ITEMS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION. CONSIDERATION OF A SELECTION OF A SEARCH FIRM TO CONDUCT THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH. I HAVE A MOTION MOVE THAT WE HIRE JG CONSULTING AS THE SEARCH FIRM TO FACILITATE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FORUMS AND THE OVERALL PROCESS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH. I SECOND. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED, PROPERLY MOTIONED BY TRUSTEE CANNON AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE THOMAS. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES. TRUSTEE NEWSOM. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DELICATE DECISION. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION GOING FORWARD. I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT WE CHOOSE ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. I DO HAVE SOME PAUSE WITH THE SELECTION THAT HAS BEEN MADE. MOTION TO TONIGHT. WHEREAS THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVITY AND COMMUNICATION AROUND THAT, THAT I WISH TO NOT BRING INTO MISD AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND THE GOAL AT LARGE. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHILE WE TAKE THIS VOTE UNDERWAY. ANY OTHER TRUSTEES TO MY LEFT? EXCUSE ME. OKAY. TRUSTEES TO MY RIGHT. DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD. OUT THERE. SO I THINK OBVIOUSLY OUR COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MANSFIELD ISD. AND SO I THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S SHOWN UP TO SHARE, WE'VE RECEIVED SOME EMAILS AS WELL. AND SO I JUST WANT TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO CARE AS WELL. AND I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD AND WANTING THIS PROCESS TO REFLECT THE HEART AND THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE AS A DISTRICT. AND SO ONE THING THAT I THINK IS CLEAR, BOTH FROM EMAILS AND PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION PEOPLE COME UP WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THEMSELVES AND SO BY THEMSELVES. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE VOTE TO TRY TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY AGAIN ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS, AT LEAST I'VE HEARD, AND I THINK WE'VE SHARED. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME EMAILS. SO TONIGHT'S TASK IS TO SELECT A SEARCH FIRM. SO THERE'S BEEN A MOTION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MISD IN THE PROCESS HAS USUALLY HAD LEGAL COUNSEL OR FIRM TO CONDUCT A SEARCH. IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN PUBLICLY BROUGHT OUT LIKE THIS. BUT SURVEYS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS, I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO PARTICIPATING IN THOSE SAME THINGS CAN HAPPEN. AND SO A SEARCH FIRM IS LEADING THAT EFFORT. AND SO, COLLEAGUES, HELP ME FILL IN THE GAPS. BUT, YOU KNOW, A SEARCH FIRM USES EXPERTISE TO RECRUIT TOP TIER EDUCATIONAL LEADERS. THEY HOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SURVEYS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY TRULY DESIRES IN OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, AND SO THOSE THINGS ARE STILL TO COME. AND OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT, WE WOULDN'T BE MAKING A DECISION ON THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY. I THINK MAYBE EVEN SOME FOLKS BELIEVE THAT WE WERE PICKING A SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT AND I'M LIKE, NO, THAT THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. BUT AGAIN, IF IF WE DO SELECT A FIRM TONIGHT, THEN COMMUNITY INPUT WILL DRIVE THE PROFILE OF THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN APPLICATIONS OPEN. RIGHT. THE BOARD GETS TO REVIEW THOSE AND WE GET MORE COMMUNITY INPUT ALONG THE WAY LONG BEFORE A FINAL DECISION. AND SO SOMETHING ELSE I'VE HEARD ABOUT IS THIS INTERNAL VERSUS EXTERNAL DISCUSSION. AND SO POTENTIALLY HAVING PEOPLE APPLY. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE BEST QUALIFICATIONS. BUT I KNOW I WOULD WELCOME ANYONE IN OUR DISTRICT TO APPLY TO BE OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WHO MEETS THOSE QUALIFICATIONS. [00:25:02] SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS TO SELECT OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL GO WELL. YES. TRUSTEE HORN. YEAH. IF I COULD ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF MY FELLOW TRUSTEE AS WE HEAD INTO THIS CHAPTER OF HAVING YOU KNOW, TO CHOOSE OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL, RIGHT? TO CHOOSE THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD AND GUIDE OUR DISTRICT. A SIDE PERK OF THAT FOR ME AS A TRUSTEE IS THAT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REBUILD AND STRENGTHEN TRUST IN HOW LEADERSHIP MAKES DECISIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO OUR HEART, LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS AND A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, AND I APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE. AND I LIKE TRUSTEE, DOCTOR CRUTCHFIELD SAID WE WANT IT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WANT YOU GUYS INVOLVED IN AS MANY STEPS AS YOU ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO BE REQUIRED IN. AND SO THE REASON WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE A TRULY OBJECTIVE OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY FIRM IS TO MAINTAIN THAT OBJECTIVITY AND TO MAINTAIN A NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST APPEARANCE. THAT'S ALL THAT IT IS. I AM NOT SURE WHERE SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS HAVE COME FROM, BUT LIKE YOU, THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SPEAKERS HAVE ELOQUENTLY PUT IT, WE GET IT. WHENEVER THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE LIKE TO FILL IN THE NARRATIVE. AND SO I TOO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT CHOOSING A FIRM DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO GET A BUNCH OF RESUMES IN THE MORNING, AND THEN WE HAVE TO DECIDE THAT IS SO STEPS DOWN. BUT NOT ONLY DOES IT NOT MEAN THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN AUTOMATICALLY ANYBODY IS OUT OF CONSIDERATION. AND I TOO, WOULD WELCOME ANYBODY WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO APPLY FOR THIS. BECAUSE GOING WITH THIS FIRM WE'RE JUST SIMPLY CREATING A FAIR AND PROFESSIONAL PROCESS THAT ALLOWS EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD. AND IN FACT, IF SOMEONE IS CURRENTLY ALREADY SERVING OUR DISTRICT WELL, THEY SHOULD WANT TO GO THROUGH A TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT VALIDATES ALL OF THEIR STRENGTHS AND ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE AND ALL THAT THEY CAN DO, AND EARN THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND THAT'S HOW YOU BUILD LASTING TRUST INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING AUTHORITY BY DEFAULT. AND SO AS WE DO MOVE FORWARD ABOUT GOING WITH THIS FIRM, AND THEY PUT A PROFESSIONAL STRUCTURE IN PLACE, ONE THAT WILL GATHER INPUT NOT JUST FROM COMMUNITY, BUT FROM STAFF, FROM CAMPUSES, FROM PEOPLE THAT WORK IN CENTRAL, FROM THE CABINET. THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH INPUT ON THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES. THAT'S WHAT THIS DECISION DESERVES. AND EVERY TRUSTEE HAS AN EQUAL ROLE IN SHAPING THIS PROCESS. AND AGAIN, THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO SEE THAT IN ACTION. AND SO THAT'S ALL WE ARE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS. IT'S PROTECTS THE BOARD FROM BIAS. IT PROTECTS THE DISTRICT'S INTEGRITY, AND IT GIVES LEGITIMACY TO THE FINAL OUTCOME THAT WE HAVE TO COME TO WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE. I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A FEW TIMES SPECIFICALLY, WAS THAT THE CONCERN ABOUT RESOURCES AND HOW WE'RE ALL MINDFUL HOW TIGHT SCHOOL FUNDING IS RIGHT NOW. BUT THE COST OF DOING THIS WRONG, THE COST OF CHOOSING WRONG, THE COST OF A MISSTEP WITH THIS, OF RUSHING, THE PROCESS OF SKIPPING COMMUNITY INPUT OR JUST WISE COUNSEL IS FAR GREATER A COST THAN DOING IT RIGHT, IN MY OPINION. THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING STABILITY AND CREDIBILITY IN THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR DISTRICT. AND TO ME, THAT'S AN INVESTMENT, NOT WASTE. AND IF WE START CALLING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY A WASTE OF RESOURCES, THEN I'M SCARED WE'VE LOST SIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. THIS ISN'T ABOUT BUREAUCRACY. WE'RE NOT DRAGGING THIS OUT FOR THE SAKE OF DRAGGING IT OUT. WE'RE NOT USING RESOURCES FOR THE SAKE OF USING RESOURCES. IT'S BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES TO KNOW THAT WHOEVER BECOMES OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT EARNED THAT POSITION THROUGH A FAIR AND OPEN, CREDIBLE PROCESS. SO I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. THAT LIKE WE'VE SAID, CHOOSING A SUPERINTENDENT IS THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION OUR BOARD IS GOING TO MAKE. AND DOING IT RIGHT WITH STRUCTURE AND FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY ISN'T JUST ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP, BUT FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE WHO LEAD THIS DISTRICT. AND SO DUE PROCESS IS THE VERY THING THAT KEEPS ALL OF US ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU, THE COMMUNITY. AND WE CANNOT SAY THAT WE VALUE TRANSPARENCY AND THEN SKIP A PROCESS THAT ENSURES IT. AND IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A FAIR AND PUBLIC SEARCH WITH AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY FIRM TO HELP US ALONG THIS PROCESS. [00:30:06] THANKS. TRUSTEE CANNON. THANK YOU. I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT, BUT I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY TRUSTEES ON THE LEFT. I STARTED OUR FIRST MEETING OFF BY SAYING WE DIDN'T GET HERE IN ISOLATION AND WE WILL NOT SERVE IN ISOLATION, AND THAT'S A PROMISE THAT I SHARE WITH YOU ALL AS THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S STILL INTACT TODAY. THIS IS NOT A DECISION THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY. MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY TEACHERS, STAFF OF THE DISTRICT IS THAT AS THESE CONVERSATIONS ROLL OUT, AS THESE SURVEYS ROLL OUT, THAT YOU ARE OVERLY HONEST AND COMMUNICATIVE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. RIGHT. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SELECTING A THIRD PARTY, SO THAT THERE ARE NO INTERNAL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONCERN YOURSELF WITH, THAT WE ARE ONCE AGAIN PROVIDING A TRUE, TRANSPARENT PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THE PROFILE OF THE NEXT LEADER OF OUR DISTRICT, BECAUSE THIS NEXT LEADER WILL IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME. SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EMAILS, PHONE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. JUST HEARING THE COMMUNITY'S FEEDBACK. EACH OF US THAT ARE ON THE DAIS ARE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR DISTRICT AND THIS NEXT STEP. AND SO JUST ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO BE ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS THEY TAKE PLACE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR REED. YES, SIR. TRUSTEE THOMAS. YES. THANK YOU, DOCTOR REED. I'D LIKE TO SAY THE FIRST AND FOREMOST ONE THING I KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THAT MANSFIELD ISD HAS ALWAYS HAD SOMEONE TO SHEPHERD THE PROCESS. IN A SENSE, WHEN IT COMES TO SELECTING A SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE PROCESSES. WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT WE'RE GOING WITH JG CONSULTING, WHO FROM PARSING THROUGH THE DATA AND LOOKING AT ALL THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE, THE TOOLS AND THE NETWORK TO DO WHAT IT IS WE REQUIRE FOR A DISTRICT OF THIS SIZE. THE DISTRICT HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS. WE'RE NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 41,000 SOULS. THAT INCLUDES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, 36,000 STUDENTS. 4000, I'M SORRY, 36,000 STUDENTS, ABOUT 5000 ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS. SO WE'VE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THE BEST FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HERE WHO PAYS INTO MANSFIELD ISD 50% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND YOU DESERVE TO GET A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND ALSO, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AS A SCHOOL BOARD. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF MANSFIELD, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE TOP FIVE HIGHEST PAID PERSON EXECUTIVE IN THE CITY. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE'RE TALKING 300 TO $400,000. SO KNOWING THAT EVEN AT PLACES LIKE OUR LOVELY CHICK FIL A ON BROAD STREET, WHERE THEY INTERVIEW FOR EVERYBODY $15 AND UP. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND THAT WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY, AND WE GIVE FOR PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW AND NOT BE FEARFUL OF RETALIATION OR ANYTHING COMING FROM THAT BECAUSE YOU INTERVIEWED AND MAYBE SOMEBODY GOT THE JOB AND THEY SEE THAT YOU DID. SO WE TAKE ALL THAT DOUBT OUT BY GOING WITH THE THIRD PARTY. AND ALSO THIS THIRD PARTY, JG THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK. THEY'RE GOING TO DO STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THE SUIT, SO TO SPEAK, AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS FOR THEIR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. IT WON'T BE JUST THE SEVEN OF US DECIDING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. NO, THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO GIVE INPUT. AND WHEN I SAY COMMUNITY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY GROUPS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TEACHERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS. WE ARE GOING TO DRAW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS CONSULTING FIRM. AND WE'VE HEARD YOU WE HEAR WHAT YOU'VE SAID, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE WITH THIS PROCESS. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH THAT, THIS ISN'T A SITUATION. SEARCH FIRMS DON'T JUST BRING IN THEIR FAVORITE CANDIDATES, DROP THEM ON THE TABLE AND SAY, PICK ONE. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS AT ALL. THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROCESS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, BRING THOSE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE. INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL, WHATEVER THEY ARE, AND MAKE SURE WE PICK THE BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE TO TAKE US FORWARD. BECAUSE TIMES ARE CHANGING AND THINGS ARE DIFFERENT AND WE'RE NOT SMALL MANSFIELD ISD ANYMORE. THIS IS A LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT 41,000 SOULS THAT RELY ON US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION. AND IN PARSING THROUGH THINGS, JG HAS A TRACK RECORD OF ACTUALLY HAVING CANDIDATES STAY ON BOARD FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME THAT EXCEED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS FOUR YEARS. AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE DOING THIS EVERY FOUR YEARS. [00:35:04] I WANT TO DO THIS HOPEFULLY ONE TIME. AND WE TAKE THIS SUPERINTENDENT INTO RETIREMENT. THAT'S THAT'S OUR GOAL AND OBJECTIVE AND AS IT ALWAYS SHOULD BE. AND JUST KNOW THAT WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR EMAILS. I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS. I STILL HAVE TO RESPOND TO QUITE A FEW. BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND THE CONCERN, BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE PARENTS AND THE FACULTY OF MANSFIELD ISD CARE, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I TAKE YOUR CARE SERIOUSLY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PICK THE RIGHT PERSON SO THAT WE AREN'T DOING THIS EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS, OR WE AREN'T DOING THIS EVERY SIX YEARS. AND I THINK JG CONSULTING WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT. BE OBJECTIVE. GIVE THE TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU DESERVE SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THE DISTRICT DESERVES AND UNDERSTAND TRANSPARENCY. LET ME PUT THIS OUT HERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU ANYBODY WHO'S INTERVIEWING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO PLEASE DON'T ASK. SO WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SO I JUST THANK YOU. AND I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, AND THAT IS IT. TRUSTEE LACKEY WILSON. FIRST, I'D JUST LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT WE MEAN BY COMMUNITY, IN CASE THAT DOES SOUND LIKE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WE'LL HEAR FROM WHAT WE WOULD CALL OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT MISD. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES, OF COURSE, OUR STAFF AND FACULTY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE DISTRICT, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, THE ONES DOING THE WORK AND THE ONES THAT KNOW WHO THEY'VE WORKED WITH AND HOW THAT'S GONE FOR THEM, RIGHT. BUT I DO MIRROR MICHELLE'S CONCERNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A DOWNTIME. THIS IS ACTUALLY A COOL AND FUN TIME BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DECISION. AND WE HAVE A PLACE THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN AND TEACH. SO I DO AGREE WITH HER THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO PUT A CLOUD ON THAT OF COURSE. AS SEVERAL OF MY CONSTITUENTS UP HERE HAVE MENTIONED IT IN THE PROCESS. BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, THAT ONE, I WANT TO KNOW THAT WHERE I STAND ON IT IS, IS I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF AND FACULTY, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR CITIZENS FIRST AND FOREMOST. FOR ME, I'M FINE WITH WHOMEVER WE DECIDE TO LEAD THAT CHARGE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF PRIOR SEARCHES, IT MAY NOT HAVE APPEARED BECAUSE WE ARE HELD, YOU KNOW, TO WHERE WE CAN'T NECESSARILY DIVULGE EVERYTHING WE LIKE TO DIVULGE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE TO RUN BUSINESS APPROPRIATELY AND LEGALLY, OF COURSE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PAST. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY THAT WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES COME AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO GIVE US YOUR INPUT ON, IF YOU LIKE THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING. IF YOU WANT US TO HIRE SOMEBODY FROM THE NORTH POLE, IF YOU'D RATHER STAY RIGHT HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU, BUT WHAT WE DO WANT YOU TO DO IS TO TELL US WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU, BECAUSE IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST. AND MR. THOMAS POINT JUST NOW, OUR LAST SEVERAL SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE COME FROM WITHIN, AND THEY HAVE STAYED HERE FIVE, SIX YEARS, EVEN MORE SO FOR A COUPLE OF THEM. I SEE HIS LEGACY SITTING HERE LOOKING AT ME. SO HE STAYED LONGER THAN THAT, BUT, AND BECAUSE WE WENT WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKING US FOR, BUT NOT JUST THAT, WE HAVE AS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAID TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE MOST PHENOMENAL STAFF, AND WE HAVE A GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND KEEP OUR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLAY. AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER MENTIONED TONIGHT, WE HAVE 28 CAMPUSES NOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME GREAT PROCESSES GOING. SO I THINK THAT IT'S IT'S GOING TO GO FINE. AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND AND DON'T DISAGREE WITH MISS NEWSOM ON WHAT SHE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST NOT WANTING ANYTHING OVERSHADOWING THIS. WHAT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT MOMENT FOR US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FIND ANOTHER GREAT PERSON AND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO EASE THOSE THAT ARE WORRIED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, OR MAYBE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE. AND WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY HAPPENS, [00:40:05] EXCUSE ME, TO COME UP TO PLEASE TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LET US KNOW, BECAUSE IT MAY STOP THE SEARCH IN ITS TRACKS OR IT MAY ENCOURAGE US TO GO WORLDWIDE. SO BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IN WHAT YOU ASK US TO LOOK AT OTHERWISE HERE WE GO AGAIN. AND THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE WE'RE A DESTINATION DISTRICT AND A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS LIKE THE DESTINE HERE AND RETIRE. SO IT'S A GOOD THING. ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE]. JUST WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT. THERE'S MANY, MANY THINGS THAT MY TEAM HERE HAVE SHARED THAT MANY OF US DO AGREE WITH. AND THAT IS HOW GREAT THIS DISTRICT IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR VALIDITY AND TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON. SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEAR THAT THROUGH WHAT WE SAY. BUT HOPEFULLY YOU HEAR AND SEE THAT BY WHAT WE DO AS WELL, BECAUSE WE ULTIMATELY WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS. MY HOPE IS THAT THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATION THAT, FOR THE HELP THAT WE NEED TO DO THESE ACTS. AND THE PROCESS, THE WAY WE ENVISION IT IS THAT WE CHOOSE THE BEST, BEST OPTION POSSIBLE FOR US. SO. THANK YOU. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DIFFICULT DECISION FOR US TO MAKE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT TAKEN IT LIGHTLY. AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE SOME TREPIDATION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CANNOT DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME. BUT WHAT I DO HAVE FAITH IN IS THE FACT THAT WE WILL ALL WORK DILIGENTLY TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL FIND THE VERY BEST CANDIDATE TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR MANSFIELD ISD. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS A TEAM. ALL SEVEN OF US. AND THAT WE WILL UPHOLD THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT MANSFIELD ISD. I BELIEVE THAT KIDS ARE FIRST TO US. ALL OF US. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THAT. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS PIVOTAL. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR INPUT. AND WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY, THAT MEANS EVERYONE THAT WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED. WE DO, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DO WANT ALL THOSE WHO DESIRE TO APPLY BECAUSE WE WANT THE VERY BEST CANDIDATE. AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE TOGETHER. I'D LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING THOROUGHLY AND BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE DECISION. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S DILIGENCE AND COMMITMENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS, AND IT IS A PROCESS. BEFORE WE ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING, WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THREE THINGS, UPHOLDING THE VALUES OF MISD. AS I SAID BEFORE, UPHOLDING THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE ESTABLISHED BY THIS DISTRICT AND MOST OF ALL, MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THIS BOARD AND THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW LEADER. OUR PRIORITY IS ALWAYS OUR STUDENTS FIRST AND ALL THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM. SO MAY THOSE WORDS GUIDE US FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE DECISIONS THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND WE WANT US TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, SERVE THIS DISTRICT WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT, AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. ANY OPPOSING. RAISE YOUR HAND. THE VOTE CARRIES 4 TO, 4 TO 3 AT THIS TIME MANSFIELD ISD FAMILY. [00:45:03] WE WILL ADJOURN AT 7:15. AND AS WE ALWAYS CONCLUDE, WE ARE. ALL IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR STOKER. YES. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.