[1. 5:30 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
IT IS 5:34, AND THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, MS. ELLIS HAS THIS MEETING BEEN POSTED IN A LAWFULLY AND TIMELY MANNER.
AND FOR THE RECORD, ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
[2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION]
AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO THE CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS FOR WHICH CLOSED SESSIONS ARE AUTHORIZED BY TITLE FIVE, CHAPTER 551, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.THE SUPERINTENDENT, AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, WILL PRESENT FOR THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.
PERSONNEL, INCLUDING ALL MATTERS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT, RESIGNATION, RETIREMENT TERMINATION, NON RENEWAL, REQUEST FOR LEAVE, CONTRACT EXTENSION AND SUSPENSION, REAL PROPERTY, STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY STATUTE IN CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT 7 P.M.
AND MAY TAKE AN ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION.
THIS MEETING IS NOW IN CLOSED SESSION.
GOOD EVENING. IT IS 7:02 AND THE BOARD HAS RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION, IS THERE ANY ACTION
[3. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION.SEEING NONE. THIS WILL MOVE US TO OUR INVOCATION.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR JOSHUA WARD, WHO'S A STUDENT PASTOR AT THE FIELDER CHURCH GRAND PRAIRIE CAMPUS, TO COME DOWN FOR US.
IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR FOR OUR INVOCATION, LET US PRAY.
WE EXALT YOUR NAME ABOVE ALL OTHERS.
LORD WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY THAT ALLOWS US TO COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY. FATHER, I PRAY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE GATHERED HERE TODAY TEACHERS, STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS AND JUST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THEM A HUMILITY WHERE THEY WOULD NEED IT.
AND CONFIDENCE WHERE YOU GRANT IT FATHER, WOULD YOU UNITE THEM IN PURPOSE THAT BEING THE WELL-BEING, THE SUCCESS IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS ALL MADE IN YOUR IMAGE.
WE PRAISE YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS DAY LORD, BE WITH US IN THIS PLACE.
AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR WARD.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MS. GLORIA CARRILLO TO LEAD US ON THE PLEDGE TO OUR COUNTRY AND STATE FLAGS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT, THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MR.
[6. RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS]
SAM BUCHMEYER TO THE PODIUM, INTRODUCE OUR RECOGNITION AND SPECIAL GUESTS.THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MS. ELLIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR RECOGNITION'S WITH A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE THIS YEAR.
THE SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COACH BRION RAVEN AND HIS STAFF ADVANCED FARTHER THAN ANY OTHER SGP GIRLS TEAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY. [APPLAUSE] ABSOLUTELY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE COACH RAVEN AND THE GIRLS TO COME FORWARD, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
[00:05:03]
MR. PRESIDENT, THE NATIONAL AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF PLAYWRIGHT AUGUST WILSON AND TO ENSURE THAT HIS WORK REMAINED ALIVE ACROSS THE GENERATIONS.IT'S A CELEBRATION OF HIS WORDS, INSPIRING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO FIND AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THEATER.
JAYLA GOSSETT, A STUDENT FROM GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, COMPETED IN AND WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE STATE AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION.
[APPLAUSE] SHE NOW GOES ON TO COMPETE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ON MAY 3RD, VIA ZOOM.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE JAYLA WITH US TONIGHT AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US A LITTLE TASTE OF HER PERFORMANCE. JAYLA, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE? [APPLAUSE] BERNIECE FROM THE PIANO LESSON.
YOU AIN'T TAKING THE PIANO OUT OF MY HOUSE.
LOOK AT IT. MAMA OLA POLISHED THIS PIANO WITH HER TEARS FOR 17 YEARS.
FOR 17 YEARS SHE RUBBED ON IT UNTIL HER HANDS BLED.
AND THEN SHE RUBBED THE BLOOD IN AND MIXED WITH THE REST OF THE BLOOD ON IT.
EVERY DAY THAT GOD, BREATHED LIFE INTO HER BODY, SHE RUBBED AND PRAYED AND POLISHED AND CLEANED THAT PIANO.
[LAUGHTER] PLAY SOMETHING FOR ME BERNIECE, PLAY SOMETHING FOR ME.
EVERYDAY. WELL I CLEANED IT FOR YA PLAY SOMETHING FOR ME BERNIECE.
YOU ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT YOUR DADDY, BUT YOU NEVER STOP ONCE TO LOOK AT WHAT HIS FOOLISHNESS HAS COST YOUR MAMMA,17 YEARS WORTH OF COLD NIGHTS IN AN EMPTY BED . AND FOR WHAT FOR A PIANO FOR A PIECE OF WOOD TO GET EVEN WITH SOMEBODY . WHEN I LOOK AT YOU YOU'RE ALL ALIKE, YOU, PAPA BOY CHARLES, DOAKER, CRAWLEY, YOU'RE ALL THE SAME. ALL THIS THIEVING AND KILLING AND THIEVING AND KILLING.
AND WHAT IT EVER LEAD TO? HMM. MORE KILLING AND MORE THIEVING. I AIN’T NEVER SEEN IT COME TO NOTHING. PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT. PEOPLE ARE GETTING BURNED UP. AND PEOPLE ARE FALLING DOWN THEIR WELLS. IT DON’T EVER STOP.
[00:10:26]
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WOW, YOU ARE AN AMAZING YOUNG LADY.THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.
DIRECTORS FROM GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, CHAD MOORE, LISA STUCKER, GRACE HELLYER.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, THE POWER OF HOPE AWARDS IS BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT THE NATION'S ECONOMIC GROWTH IS DEPENDENT UPON ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY MORE LOW INCOME AND PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY STUDENTS, CAN GO TO COLLEGE.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ENGAGE COUNSELING SERVICES STAFF IN LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT EFFECTIVELY ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT DISTRICT WIDE POST-SECONDARY READINESS ACTIVITIES.
THE NATIONAL POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTE IN MICHELLE OBAMA'S REACH HIGHER ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED THE SIX WINNING DISTRICTS OF THE FIRST EVER POWER OF HOPE AWARD.
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT THAT OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF DISTRICTS VYING FOR THIS AWARD, GRAND PRAIRIE ISD IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIX POWER OF HOPE AWARD WINNERS.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR AMAZING COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND COLLEGE ADVISERS FOR EARNING THIS AWARD. THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADERS. THEY TEACH OUR STUDENTS ABOUT POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR POST-SECONDARY DREAMS BECOME A REALITY.
THIS IS THE AWARD THAT HAS RECENTLY ARRIVED.
WHY DON'T YOU SHOW THAT? [APPLAUSE] THE NATIONAL POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTE, MICHELLE OBAMA'S REACH HIGHER ORGANIZATION, HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE A PHOTO TONIGHT.
WE WERE GOING TO TAKE ONE ANYWAY [LAUGHTER] OF OUR GPISD FOR A NATIONAL PUBLICATION THAT THEY PUT OUT. SO BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, COMING DOWN AND BEING PART OF THIS PICTURE, DR.
JACKSON, IF YOU AND YOUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN HERE.
OH, YEAH. WE'VE GOT THE WIDE ANGLE LENS.
PURPLE SHIRTS HERE. [LAUGHTER] THE FIRST RESPONDERS.
IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD MEETING WHERE'S EMILY. WHERE'S BRYAN. OKAY EVERYBODY READY [APPLAUSE] MS. MCCOWAN ALSO REMINDED ME TO TELL YOU ALL THAT YOU HAVE A COMMEMORATIVE POWER OF HOPE AWARD CUP THERE IN FRONT OF YOU AT YOUR BOARD PLACE.
OH THAT'S NICE. THAT'S WHAT THAT BOX IS.
WHAT IS THAT IN PREVIOUS MONTHS, WE HAVE CAST A SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHERS, NURSES, OUR CUSTODIAL TEAM AND OUR M&O TEAM. TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHINE THE LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT ON OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. ON THE HEELS OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK, WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THIS GROUP FOR BEING THE BACKBONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO IN THEIR HONOR.
[00:15:28]
AND SETTING THE TONE FOR THE DAY ALL THE WAY TO DISMISSAL AND SENDING THEM HOME SAFELY AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN, THEY KNOW THE NAMES OF THE KIDS.SO THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT SAYING GOOD MORNING, JONATHAN, TO PRESENTATIONS] OR TAKE OVER A CLASSROOM WHEN THEY HAVE TO OLE SMILE AND A GREAT ATTITUDE.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY HELP ME RUN THIS SCHOOL.
AP WORKS THEIR MAGIC TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE AT THE CAMPUS.
THEY WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF.
AND THEY ARE A CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE A SPECIAL HEART AND THEY ARE ALWAYS SERVING OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE THEMSELVES, AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR NEEDS OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS BEFORE THEIR OWN.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, I'D PROBABLY GET NO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN GPISD ARE ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN FIRST.
THEY'RE IN THE CAFETERIA EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE ON CAMPUS AT ALL TIMES AND THEY SERVE IN MANY CAPACITIES AND WEAR MANY HATS.
THEY MAKE ME LAUGH. WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER.
THE TEAM THAT I HAVE, THIS YEAR IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND THEY'RE THE BEST THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE WORKING WITH ANYONE ELSE.
I COULD NOT DO THIS ON MY OWN AND I'M SO BLESSED I COULDN'T IMAGINE EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT THEM HERE.
TO ALL OF OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
[APPLAUSE] FINALLY TONIGHT, IT IS TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS OF CHARACTER FOR THE THIRD NINE WEEKS PERIOD, AND WE HAVE A SLIDE SHOW SO WE CAN VIRTUALLY HIGHLIGHT THESE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE.
FROM AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ACADEMY, LEIGHANNA MORGAN.
FROM BONHAM EARLY EDUCATION SCHOOL, LILY VILLANUEVA.
FROM JAMES BOWIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY ALONDRA GRANADOS-RUIZ.
FROM THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT BARBARA BUSH ELEMENTARY, DEACON NICHOLAS FLAKES.
FROM CROCKETT EARLY EDUCATION SCHOOL LUIS PONCE.
FROM DANIELS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND MATH, JUSTIN PHAM.
FROM DE ZAVALA ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ACADEMY, KALEB RODRIGUEZ.
FROM DICKINSON MONTESSORI ACADEMY, GABRIELLE WILLIAMS. EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY, ROSLYN PEREZ.
FROM FLORENCE HILL ELEMENTARY, ELIORA TUMMALA.
AND GARCIA ELEMENTARY, IZABELLA HERNANDEZ.
AND GARNER FINE ARTS ACADEMY, MIA MUTURI.
FROM DELMAS F. MORTON ELEMENTARY, GABRIELLE JOHN.
FROM UPLIFT MORTON PREPARATORY GENESIS SIBRIAN.
FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY RYAN MARTINEZ.
ALSO FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, BERKLIE PLEMONS.
FROM SALLYE MOORE COLLEGE AND CAREER PREP, BENJAMIN FLORES.
FROM MIKE MOSELEY ELEMENTARY, KORNELIA NEUVERTH.
FROM ELLEN OCHOA STEM ACADEMY AT BEN MILAM ELEMENTARY, DIEGO MANCIA.
AND COLIN POWELL ELEMENTARY, MICAH WASHINGTON.
FROM SAM RAYBURN ELEMENTARY STEAM ACADEMY, JOE GONZALEZ.
FROM SCHOOL FOR THE HIGHLY GIFTED BRONSON COOK.
FROM SEGUIN ELEMENTARY LESHLY ONTIVEROS.
FROM TRAVIS WORLD LANGUAGE ACADEMY, KEITH EDEN MARQUEZ GARCIA.
FROM TRAVIS WORLD LANGUAGE ACADEMY ANAHI GUADALUPE RODRIGUEZ.
FROM WHITT FINE ARTS ACADEMY, NAOMI KEEBLE.
FROM HOBBS WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY, CARLOS ANTONIO GOMEZ JR.
[00:20:02]
IN THE DIGITAL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY AT ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL, KEVIN MOORE.FROM FANNIN MIDDLE SCHOOL ASHLEY BONILLA.
FROM JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, NATHAN REEB.
FROM REAGAN MIDDLE SCHOOL ZIERRA MILLER.
FROM TRUMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AILYN BECERRIL.
FROM THE YOUNG MEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUAN IBANEZ SALAS.
FROM THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT ARNOLD, ALEXSANDRA SANTIN.
FROM GRAND PRAIRIE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE CHRISTOPHER MORENO.
FROM GRAND PRAIRIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY, XAVIER WILLIAMS. FROM CROSSWINDS ACCELERATED HIGH SCHOOL, LUIS ACOSTA.
FROM DUBISKI CAREER HIGH SCHOOL, ASIA HARVEY.
FROM GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, MORGAN TABOR.
FROM GRAND PRAIRIE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, NICHOLAS ROEBUCK.
FROM SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, ELYSSA GALAN.
AND FROM THE SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, LAILA SIMONE WOODS.
OUR APRIL 2021 STUDENTS OF CHARACTER.
[APPLAUSE] WE KNOW TONIGHT WE PROBABLY HAVE LOTS OF PARENTS, LOTS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THESE STUDENTS WATCHING ON THE LIVESTREAM, SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THESE CHILDREN.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR INFLUENCE THAT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE THEM AT BOARD MEETINGS.
THANK YOU, MR. BUCHMEYER. MR. PRESIDENT.
MS. ELLIS. WOULD YOU ALLOW ME TO DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION? ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT.
I SPOTTED YOU IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK TO GRAND PRAIRIE, OUR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC COORDINATOR, COACH [INAUDIBLE].
[APPLAUSE] IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.
THANK YOU, SIR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK.
AT THIS TIME, THIS WILL BRING US TO OPEN FORUM FOR AGENDA ITEMS. MR. BUCHMEYER, DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE? NO SIR. WE HAVE NONE THIS WEEK, SO THAT WILL MOVE US TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
[8. ADOPT AGENDA]
BROOKS. I MOVE THE BOARD ADOPT THE AGENDA.MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I ASK MR. BROOKS TO AMEND HIS MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YES. EXCUSE ME. PLEASE CONTINUE.
[LAUGHTER] I THOUGHT WE SKIPPED SOMETHING THERE.
I'LL SECOND IT. ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BROOKS SECOND BY MRS. LILES. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT. NOW, THIS WILL BRING US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
MR. PRESIDENT. MS. ELLIS. THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED TO PULL CONSENT AGENDA ITEM A MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE OTHERS ITEMS, 9B, C, D AND E AS PRESENTED.
ALL RIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT. MR. HALL.
I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM A. ALL RIGHT. I SECOND.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. HALL, A SECOND BY MR. ESPINOSA. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL RIGHT. THAT MOTION WILL CARRY 7 0.
ALL RIGHT NOW, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR ACTION ITEMS.
[Items 10A & 10B]
ACTION ITEM A. WILL BE CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR OUT OF STATE STUDENT TRAVEL.MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE MS. FRANCIS IS HERE IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS.
WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS GOING? THEY'RE GOING TO ORLANDO FLORIDA.
I'M SORRY, SIR, I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION. WHERE ARE THEY GOING.
FOR THE A ITEM THEY ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD.
AND WHAT IS THAT FOR? IT'S AN ENRICHMENT TRIP THAT THE DIRECTORS OFFER STUDENTS.
IT'S OPTIONAL. THEY'LL BE MARCHING IN THE PARADE AND WHATNOT SEEING THE ICONIC SIGHTS THAT DISNEY WORLD HAS TO OFFER.
SO THE DIRECTORS OF WHO APPROVED THAT, WHICH THE DIRECTORS AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
OFTEN OUR DIRECTORS OF PROGRAMS, WANT TO TAKE STUDENTS ON ENRICHMENT TRIPS, GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY IN DIFFERENT VENUES AND SEE OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND IN THIS CASE, THAT'S WHAT THIS AND WHO'S PAYING FOR THIS TRIP? THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, THEY DO FUNDRAISING.
[00:25:03]
BROOKS, WOULD YOU CONSIDER A MOTION FOR A AND B, ABSOLUTELY.I'D LIKE TO MOTION THAT WE APPROVE A AND B.
I'LL SECOND THAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
SO ON B, WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS GOING THERE ALSO TO DISNEY WORLD.
NO THEY'RE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY.
OK, AND WHAT'S THAT TRIP FOR? THIS IS AN ACTUAL COMPETITION.
SO THEY SUBMITTED A RECORDINGS FOR ORCHESTRA AND THEY SUBMITTED A RECORDING AND WERE HAPPILY SELECTED TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMPETING AND OH, OK.
SO THEY THEY WERE LIKE INVITED OR THEY EARNED THE NEXT LEVEL OF COMPETITION.
OKAY. AND I'VE ALWAYS QUESTIONED AND TALKED ABOUT TRAVEL.
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT TRAVEL OUT OF STATE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH AND DUBISKI AND ALSO MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND OTHER SCHOOLS TOO.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY CURRENTLY ALLOW MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO GO ON OVERNIGHT TRIPS.
BUT THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS THAT YOU MENTIONED HAVE TRAVELED OUT OF STATE AS WELL.
AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE YEAR THE GROUPS YOU HAVE ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
SO GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL HAVE GONE TO DISNEY WORLD AND NEW YORK.
THEY'VE GONE TO DISNEY WORLD A COUPLE TIMES AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT ON THE [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEARS THAT THAT YEAH, I MEAN, JUST TRAVEL IN GENERAL SO THAT'S BEEN MY QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SCHOOLS GET INVITED TO OR GO ON THESE OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL.
ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BROOKS. AA SECOND BY MS. LILES. YES, SIR. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. MR. PRESIDENT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE NO.
OK. AND, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES.
BUT LIKE I'VE STATED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE EQUITY IN STUDENT TRAVEL. OK, SO THAT MOTION WILL CARRY 6 TO 1.
MR. ESPINOSA BEING THE DISSENTING VOTE.
NOW, THIS WILL MOVE US TO ACTION ITEM C, APPROVAL OF VOLUNTARY BENEFITS.
[10.C. Consider Approval of Voluntary Benefits]
MS. TRACY RAY.PRESIDENT KING SUPERINTENDENT ELLIS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT WE WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU FIVE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OF VOLUNTARY BENEFITS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION TONIGHT ABOUT MEDICAL THAT WILL COME AT A FUTURE TIME.
AND WITH ME TONIGHT IS NICK LONG, GALLAGHER BENEFIT SERVICES.
THE BOARD APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH THEM A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
AND SO HE AND HIS COMPANY AND HIS TEAM RUNS OUR BENEFIT PROCESS AND ARE THE EXPERTS IN THE MARKET AND KNOW HOW TO GET US THE BEST RATES WITH THE BEST VALUE, WITH THE BEST BENEFITS IN THE PLAN.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NICK AND HE'S GOING TO GO THROUGH A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. I HAVE QUITE A FEW SLIDES IN HERE, BUT I WANTED EVERYBODY TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IT ALL. I WANT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT AND THEN WE'LL FIELD ANY QUESTIONS WE CAN FOR YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
AND IF AT ANY TIME THERE'S QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE JUST TO INTERRUPT AND WE WILL ANSWER THOSE. WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
THESE ARE ALL PRODUCTS THAT ARE FUNDED COMPLETELY BY EMPLOYEE MONEY.
THERE IS NO DISTRICT MONEY ON ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS.
WE TOOK THESE PRODUCTS TO THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE, GOT THEIR GOT THEIR APPROVAL, GOT THEIR FEEDBACK WHEN WE WERE CREATING THESE.
AND REALLY, WE WENT OUT FOR TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRODUCTS.
THE DENTAL AND VISION, WHICH THE REASON WE WENT OUT FOR THOSE IS BECAUSE THEY GOT A VERY LARGE INCREASE.
AND THEN THE WORKSITE PRODUCTS AND THE WORKSITE PRODUCTS, THE STAFF FELT IT WAS TIME TO GO OUT FOR THOSE BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES.
THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING PAYMENTS ISSUE.
THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY WORKING WITH THE COMPANY THAT WAS IN THERE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THAT PROCESS.
SO WHEN WE WENT OUT TO BID, WE GOT 15 DIFFERENT CARRIERS AND YOU'LL SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT LINES THAT THOSE CARRIERS BID ON.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO COVER A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE MARKET WITH THOSE DIFFERENT CARRIERS. WE ALSO THE FIRST THING THAT WE DO WHENEVER WE GO OUT TO BID ON PUBLIC COMPANIES, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMPANIES WITH SOLID FINANCIALS AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR RATING NEXT TO IT.
AND SO THEY'RE ALL A RATED OR BETTER COMPANIES.
AND HERE'S JUST THE CHART SHOWING YOU WHAT THOSE ACTUAL RATINGS MEAN.
[00:30:02]
THE FIRST ONE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS DENTAL.WE WENT OUT AND GOT 4 WHAT WE CONSIDERED RESPONSIVE BIDDERS OUT OF THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE AETNA, AMERITAS, DELTA DENTAL, UNITED, CONCORDIA, AND THEN THE FIFTH BEING METLIFE, WHO WAS YOUR CURRENT INCUMBENT CARRIER.
AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND BROUGHT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR AETNA TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND SO HERE ARE THE PLAN DESIGN FOR METLIFE UP AGAINST THE PLAN DESIGN FOR AETNA.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR PLAN DESIGN.
AETNA MATCHED THE PLAN DESIGN ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE DISTRICT OR THE DISTRICT'S EMPLOYEES, RATHER, OVER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SO WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE RATES AT THE CURRENT RATES AND MAINTAIN THE CURRENT BENEFITS.
WE TOOK THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE RESISTANT IS THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT FELT LIKE MAYBE THE DISTRICT WOULD BE BETTER START PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE TO STAY WITH METLIFE IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE DISRUPTION.
THE VAST MAJORITY, WELL OVER 90 PERCENT, FELT THAT THE SAVINGS AND THE NETWORK AND THE PLANS BEING SIMILAR, THEY'D RATHER SAVE THE MONEY AND MAKE THAT MOVE.
ON A SIMILAR VEIN, METLIFE CURRENTLY HAS THE VISION PLAN.
AND SO THE VISION PLAN WAS ALSO GETTING AN INCREASE.
WE GOT BIDS FROM METLIFE AMERITAS, AVESIS, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND EYEMED.
AND THE PLANS ON HERE, DON'T EXACTLY MATCH UP.
BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS AVESIS WHICH IS A SLIGHTLY RICHER PLAN THAN WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE AT SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATES.
AND THESE PLANS COME BOTH THE HIGH AND THE LOW VERSION, AND IT WILL REPRESENT A SAVINGS OF OVER EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
SO THEY WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SAME HIGH QUALITY COVERAGE WITH THE SAME VAST NETWORK AT REDUCED RATES FROM WHAT THEY'RE OFFERED CURRENTLY.
THE NEXT KIND OF PRODUCTS, THESE ARE THE WORKSITE PRODUCTS.
THINK OF THEM AS AFLAC TYPE PRODUCTS THAT YOU PROBABLY SEE ADVERTISED AND THE DUCK ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON THIS ONE, WE RECEIVED NUMEROUS BIDS.
WE RECEIVED BIDS FROM THE INCUMBENTS, CHUBB, WHICH HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES. WE ALSO RECEIVED IT FROM AETNA, AFLAC, ALLSTATE, GUARDIAN, HARTFORD, METLIFE, UNUM AND SO THERE'S A VERY ROBUST GROUP OF CARRIERS HERE.
WHEN WE WENT THROUGH IT, THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO ON THESE KIND OF PRODUCTS, IS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN WORK ON YOUR SYSTEM.
AND SO WE CHECKED WITH THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS AND WORKED THROUGH THE I.T.
SIDE OF IT AND CAME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF AFLAC AND THE REASON AFLAC WAS ABLE TO ENHANCE THE BENEFITS, REDUCE THE PRICES AND WORK ON YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM.
SO IT CHECKED ALL THOSE DIFFERENT BOXES.
IT'S AN AGE RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND THE PRODUCT BREAKS OUT BY DIFFERENT TIERS.
IT IS ALSO A UNI-TOBACCO RATE.
SO THERE'S THE SAME RATE FOR SMOKERS AND NON SMOKERS.
SO IT DOESN'T EXACTLY LINE UP WITH WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE CHUBB WHICH HAS SMOKER AND A NON SMOKER RATES.
BUT THIS PLAN WILL REDUCE THE RATES OVERALL FOR THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES AND ENHANCE BENEFITS. ON A SIMILAR VEIN, THE ACCIDENT PLAN, ANOTHER ONE OF THESE PLANS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO BE ADMINISTERED ON THE SYSTEM.
THE RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE TO GO TO AFLAC FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
CHIEF REASON AMONG THEM IS YOUR CURRENT PLAN HAS A THOUSAND DOLLAR BENEFIT.
THIS IS A FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR BENEFIT WITH REDUCED RATES AND IS ABLE TO BE ADMINISTERED ON THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
THESE RATES ARE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE RATES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE AND REPRESENT SOME LEVEL OF SAVINGS, NOT MUCH, BUT THE ENHANCED BENEFIT CERTAINLY MAKES UP FOR AND GIVES ANOTHER REASON TO MAKE THIS MOVE.
THE LAST PLAN IS A PERMANENT LIFE PLAN.
THE PERMANENT LIFE PLAN IS PROBABLY THE TRICKIEST TO ADMINISTER BECAUSE SIMPLY EVERY SINGLE AGE HAS A DIFFERENT RATE AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON CAN DECIDE THEIR OWN LEVEL OF COVERAGE. SO YOU GET A VERY LARGE RATE TABLE.
AND SO SOMETIMES THE COMPANIES CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED ON YOUR DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. YOUR SYSTEM IS ABLE TO RUN THE TRANSAMERICA PERMANENT LIFE.
THEY HAVE MATCHED AND WILL HONOR ALL PLANS FROM YOUR PREVIOUS.
SO THEY WILL TAKE OVER NO LOSS, NO GAIN ON ANYBODY THAT CURRENTLY HAS A POLICY.
THEY WILL ALSO [INAUDIBLE] THE EXACT SAME RATES AND ARE ABLE TO BE ADMINISTERED SEAMLESSLY ON THE SYSTEM.
IT HAS THE SAME PROVISIONS FOR CRITICAL CARE AND HAS THE SAME PROVISIONS FOR EARLY DEATH BENEFITS AS WELL, SO IT MATCHES VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HAD BEFORE.
[00:35:07]
IN SUMMARY, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE RATES ON THE PRODUCTS AND EITHER MATCH OR ENHANCE THE BENEFITS ON THE PRODUCTS AND FIND PRODUCTS THAT WILL WORK ON YOUR BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE STAFF.ALL THESE HAVE GONE IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE.
THEY WERE PASSED AT OVER 90 PERCENT, MANY OF THEM AT 100 PERCENT.
AND THESE WILL GO LIVE FOR YOUR 9-1 EFFECTIVE DATE.
CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE PRICE DIFFERENCE FOR WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE VERSUS WHAT THE PROPOSED PLANS ARE GOING TO BE? ABSOLUTELY. SO ON THE PERMANENT LIFE, IT'S THE EXACT SAME RATES.
THEY JUST DID NO LOSS, NO GAIN.
SO THEY TOOK THE EXACT SAME RATES AS YOU HAD BEFORE.
AND THEY WILL HONOR THOSE POLICIES AND THEY WILL HONOR ANY MEDICAL UNDERWRITING THAT WAS DONE BEFORE. SO IT'S NO LOSS, NO GAIN, EXACTLY THE SAME RATES.
ON THE ACCIDENT. YOU CAN SEE IN THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE, THERE IS A SLIGHT SAVINGS.
I MEAN, IT'S VERY SLIGHT. EIGHTY TWO CENTS ON THE EMPLOYEE ONLY.
HOWEVER, THE BENEFIT INCREASES BY 50 PERCENT.
IT GOES FROM THOUSAND DOLLAR BENEFIT TO A FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR BENEFIT WITH 82 CENTS A MONTH SAVINGS. SO NOT SUBSTANTIAL, BUT YOU ARE GETTING A BETTER BENEFIT OUT OF THAT.
ON THE CRITICAL ILLNESS, THIS IS AGE RELATED, SO THE SAVINGS VARIES BY AGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE SAVINGS ACTUALLY ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE.
OH WAIT THE SAVINGS SO THE SAVINGS VARIES BY AGE AND BY PLAN.
OVERALL, IT WILL REPRESENT A SAVINGS TO THE EMPLOYEES IN AGGREGATE OF AROUND THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. SO THIS AREA IN GRAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE.
NO, THOSE ARE THE CURRENT RATES, THE FAR RIGHT HAND RATES ARE THE NEW RATES.
SO THERE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT AGE TWENTY FIVE, IT COSTS 16 CENTS MORE.
HOWEVER, AT AGE 65, IT IS 14 DOLLARS LESS.
SO IT VARIES BY AGE ON WHAT THE SAVINGS OR COST COULD BE.
BUT IN AGGREGATE, IT IS A SAVINGS OF THE GROUP.
SO AS THE AGES GO UP HIGHER, THE SAVINGS ARE MORE.
YEAH, THEY AFLAC JUST USES A DIFFERENT TIERING SYSTEM, SO THEY CHARGE THE OLDER PEOPLE LESS. THE AVERAGE AGE ON THIS POLICY IS ABOUT FORTY FIVE YEARS OLD IN YOUR DISTRICT.
ON THE VISION, IT IS A TOTAL SAVINGS OF EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, AND THAT'S THAT GREEN BOX AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S TWENTY FOUR PERCENT SAVINGS FROM RENEWAL.
WHAT'S THE MONTHLY DIFFERENCE? YEAH, SO IT VARIES BY TIER AGAIN, SO IT'S A TWO DOLLAR SAVINGS ON THE LOW PLAN EMPLOYEE ONLY. IT IS A THREE DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS ON THE HIGH PLAN EMPLOYEE ONLY, AND IT VARIES BY TIER. BUT EVERY TIER DOES SAVE ON THE NEW PLAN.
SO SINGLE SPOUSE, CHILDREN, FAMILY, EACH OF THOSE RATES.
EACH OF THOSE RATES SAVE SOMETHING.
YES. AND THEY ARE GETTING THE SAME BENEFITS YOU SAID.
THEY ARE GETTING THE SAME RATES. YES. MR. LONG, HAVE Y'ALL SPOKE WITH SUPERIOR VISION AT ALL.
WAS THAT ONE Y'ALL CONSIDERED.
WE DID NOT GET A BID FROM SUPERIOR, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT GET A BID FROM SUPERIOR VISION.
THEY USE THE SAME NETWORK AS MANY OF THESE OTHER VISION PROVIDERS.
OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, ON THE DENTAL, THE DENTAL IS THE LARGEST SAVINGS, IT'S THE LARGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN AS WELL.
AND IT IS ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR A YEAR SAVINGS WITH THE EXACT SAME PLANS AND THE EXACT SAME BENEFITS.
AND IT'S THAT MATCHES THE CURRENT RATES.
THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOU WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEE THANK YOU. AND AS I SAID, ON THE WORKSITE PRODUCTS, WHICH YOU'LL SEE WAS 100 PERCENT IN FAVOR, THOSE YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FELT GOOD ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SAVINGS GENERATED THERE.
I BELIEVE THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE WERE OPPOSED TO THAT IS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD A STRONG AFFINITY FOR METLIFE JUST AS A COMPANY.
AND YOU SAID THERE'S GOING TO BE NO LAG IN SERVICE OR THERE IS GOING TO BE A LAG ONCE YOU SWITCH. THERE IS NO LAG.
AND SO PARTICULARLY ON THE DENTAL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS BECAUSE IT'S A MID YEAR PLAN, THE
[00:40:05]
PLAN ACTUALLY RESETS ON JANUARY 1ST, WE WILL GET A DEDUCTIBLE REPORT.WE WILL DO THAT ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF THE PLAN.
WE WILL THEN LOAD THAT INTO THE AETNA SYSTEM TO GET DEDUCTIBLE CREDIT.
AND THEN RIGHT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, WE WILL GET ANOTHER REPORT TO UPDATE THE DEDUCTIBLES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DOUBLE PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK MIDMONTH IN SEPTEMBER AND GET A LAST REPORT.
THE CONCEPT IS IF YOU WENT ON AUGUST 29TH AND GOT A DENTAL EXAM, OBVIOUSLY THE DENTIST PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO FILE THE CLAIM UNTIL SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PLAN HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE CREDIT THAT THEY'RE DUE FOR THEIR DEDUCTIBLES.
THANK YOU. COULD YOU TELL US AGAIN HOW MANY FOLKS WERE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND WHO COMPRISED THAT COMMITTEE? YES, IT WAS A SUBSTANTIAL COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT THERE WAS SEEM LIKE EXCESS OF 40 PEOPLE.
THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 PLUS PEOPLE THAT WERE INVITED THAT ARE ON EITHER THE BENEFITS COMMITTEE OR THE BENEFIT STEERING COMMITTEE, AND ON THAT DAY I THINK WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 50 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.
AND SO THIS IS FROM THAT PARTICIPATION OF THE ZOOM MEETING THAT DAY.
MS. RAY AM I CORRECT THAT EACH CAMPUS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE? SO THERE IS A CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH CAMPUS.
YES. WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT LARGE, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE CALENDAR CONFLICTS OR THINGS THAT MIGHT KEEP SOME FROM BEING ABLE TO JOIN US.
MS. RAY, OF THE 50 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT COMMITTEE.
YES. HOW MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE TEACHERS? THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY GROUP, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, CUSTODIAL MAINTENANCE. BUT THE MAJORITY COME FROM OUR CAMPUSES, TEACHERS.
ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. HALL I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BOARD, APPROVE THE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. HALL. DO I HAVE A SECOND.
PRESIDENT, I SECOND HIS MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. HALL, A SECOND BY MS. CARRILLO. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OK, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT, THIS WILL MOVE US TO ACTION ITEM D BOARD DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF
[10.D. Board Discussion and Consideration of Approval of Employee Appreciation Compensation]
APPROVAL OF EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION COMPENSATION.BEGINNING EARLY IN THE FALL SEMESTER, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL AND HAVE SHOWN AMAZING COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN. ALL SEVEN OF YOU, EVERY MEETING THERE HAVE BEEN MONTHLY CONVERSATIONS AT EVERY SESSION THAT WE'VE HAD, YOU'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR AND UNITED THAT TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDING THE MOST WE CAN DO TO RECOGNIZE THEIR VALIANT EFFORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY.
MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU HAS BEEN CONSISTENT.
LET'S WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE ANSWERS TO FINANCIAL QUESTIONS SUCH AS HOLD HARMLESS FOR REDUCED ATTENDANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THERE WERE ALWAYS TWO PRIORITIES AT THE BOARD.
HONOR THE STRONG FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AND STANDING OF THE DISTRICT AND TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WITHOUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN REALIZED, I COULD HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON ANY OF THOSE MONTHS THAT WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
I PERHAPS COULD HAVE RECOMMENDED TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.
I COULD HAVE RECOMMENDED FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.
BUT YOU ALL SEVEN OF YOU WANTED TO DO MORE.
YOU CONSISTENTLY TOLD ME YOU WANTED TO DO MORE.
WE NOW HAVE THE ANSWERS THAT WE'VE NEEDED.
AND MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME IS THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A ONE TIME COMPENSATION FOR ALL, ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THAT THIS BE PAID THE WEEK OF MAY THE THIRD.
AND IT WILL KICK OFF AN INCREDIBLE CELEBRATION FOR EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK.
[00:45:02]
[APPLAUSE] YEAH.SO I JUST HAVE TO SAY THIS, SO YOU GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND YOU GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND YOU AND YOU.
MR. HALL. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE INCLUDE RESOLUTION REGARDING A ONE TIME PAYMENT TO EMPLOYEES FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR PART TIME EMPLOYEES.
WHO? MR. ESPINOSA. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ON THAT SECOND.
[LAUGHTER]. I THINK THE WHOLE BOARD'S SECONDING AT THIS POINT.
YOU MIND IF I TAKE A MINUTE, MR. PRESIDENT? SURE. AND NOW I'VE GOT A MOTION BY MR. HALL. A SECOND, BY MR. ESPINOSA. NOW WE'RE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
OK. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER WHO'S A PART OF GPISD.
IT HAS BEEN A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER AND YOU HAVE STOOD STRONG.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING HARDER THAN YOU'VE EVER HAD TO AND ADOPTING CHALLENGES SOMETIMES AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. THANK YOU TO THE COUNTLESS HOURS YOU'VE SPENT PLANNING AND PREPARING MOST OF IT ON YOUR OWN TIME.
THANK YOU FOR SETTING ASIDE YOUR FEARS AND SHOWING UP EVERY DAY FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MS. ELLIS. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS GUIDED US THROUGH THIS STORM WITH GRACE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PATIENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH THE BOARD.
WE'VE MADE VERY TOUGH BUT NECESSARY DECISIONS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERY DECISION THAT WE HAVE MADE HAS LED US TO THIS MOMENT TO WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND GPISD. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OF YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY.
MS. CARRILLO. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AGAIN THAT I THANK OUR TEACHERS, THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, OUR TEACHERS, ALL OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAD WORKED SO HARD DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR US, FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, PARTICULARLY THE SFE EMPLOYEES WHO MADE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAD LUNCHES TO EAT DURING THIS TERRIBLE TIME.
AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS FOR GPISD, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK LINDA FOR HER LEADERSHIP, MS. TRACY RAY FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
AND I'M JUST SO PLEASED AND SO PROUD TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION. THANK YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. MR. PRESIDENT. MR. BROOKS.
ECHO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR.
PLUS, I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD, I GUESS, ESPECIALLY MS. ELLIS, FOR WHEN SOME OF US WERE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING OF LESSER VALUE THAN A THOUSAND.
AND JUST HELD THE REIGNS BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
WE JUST GOT A FEW MORE T'S TO CROSS AND I'S TO DOT.
AS SOON AS WE CAN GET TO THIS LEVEL, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER THAN THAT TWO OR FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. AND SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU'RE WORTH A LOT MORE THAN JUST A THOUSAND OR THE FIVE HUNDRED WHICH EVERYONE YOU'RE GOING TO GET. BUT YOU'RE A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN THE TWO OR FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT SOME OF US WERE THINKING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART, MY HEART AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A LITTLE PATIENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING MAYBE NOW MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN YOU WERE A FEW MONTHS AGO. I CERTAINLY AM.
AND JUST I'M SO PROUD TO BE DOING THIS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MR. BROOKS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MR. ESPINOSA.
YOU KNOW, I WENT TO A CONCERT THE OTHER DAY AND, YOU KNOW, I GET TO TALKING, AND SOCIALIZING AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT SOME TEACHERS HAVE A SECOND JOB, YOU KNOW, AND THAT KIND OF HIT ME KIND OF HARD RIGHT THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW
[00:50:03]
SOME PEACE OFFICERS HAVE OFF DUTY JOBS TO MAKE UP FOR THERE.AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO HAVE A SECOND JOB TO MAKE UP, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD.
AND A LOT OF THEM LOST THAT SECOND JOB BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
A LOT OF THEM HAD TO PUT GROCERIES BACK BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES HAPPENING.
AND I KNOW IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT WE'VE BEEN FRUSTRATED BACK THERE IN THAT BACK ROOM.
I MEAN, THE FRUSTRATION HAS GOTTEN REAL TENSE WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND WE SOMETIMES DISAGREE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I CONSIDER IT A SERVICE AND HOPEFULLY THIS THOUSAND DOLLARS IS ENOUGH SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO PUT GROCERIES BACK ON THE SHELVES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MR. ESPINOSA. MR. PARRA. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, THIS HAS BY FAR BEEN THE HARDEST YEAR IN EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY EVER SEEN.
THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE FOURTH QUARTER WE ARE ALMOST DONE WITH THIS YEAR AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND WE ARE IN THE HOMESTRETCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS DISTRICT, TO OUR STUDENTS. AND I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD AS WELL FOR MAKING THIS A REALITY TODAY.
I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT A THOUSAND ISN'T ENOUGH.
I WISH IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT.
BUT I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE DISTRICT KNOWS THAT THE BOARD SUPPORTS YOU AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ALONGSIDE WITH YOU AS WE MOVE OUR DISTRICT FORWARD. THANK YOU.
IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE SOME COMMENTS WHEN YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE YOU'RE THE LAST ONE. AND EVERYBODY'S PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING.
BUT I WOULD SAY THIS, THAT TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY LOVE YOU AND WE SUPPORT YOU.
AND LIKE MR. BROOKS SAID THIS ISN'T YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MONEY.
IT'S FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT OUR ABILITIES ARE TO DO FINANCIALLY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED TO DO OR WHAT WE COULD DO TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE KNOW IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND IT'S BEEN HARD.
AND TEACHERS, YOU, LIKE MR. ESPINOSA, SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE PUT GROCERIES BACK ON THE SHELF.
YOU'VE PICKED UP A SECOND JOB.
YOU'VE MISSED OUT ON TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF EMOTIONAL SPELLS.
I WOULD BE AND I'M GOING TO TALK REAL.
YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY EVEN HAD SOME OF OUR STAFF IN COUNSELING OVER THIS.
I MEAN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT A TOUGH JOB AND TOUGH PROFESSION THIS HAS BECOME, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
AND THERE WAS NEVER ONCE THAT ANY MEMBER ON THIS BOARD OR OUR SUPERINTENDENT EVER DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS OR KNEW THAT WE COULDN'T.
WE JUST HAD TO, YOU KNOW, MANAGE AND MAKE SURE WE WERE IN THE RIGHT SPOT.
AND I WANT TO STEP OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND EVEN SPEAK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AT THIS MOMENT AND SAY THIS IS THE LEADERSHIP THANKS TO THIS BOARD THAT WE'VE BEEN ELECTED TO DO TO BE FRUGAL WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AND BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND BE RESOURCEFUL WITH IT. SO MAINTAINING OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE EFFECT THAT WE HAVE AND HAVING SUCH AN AWESOME FINANCIAL RECORD RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, WE ARE DOING VERY WELL, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FUND BALANCE IS IN PLACE AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND TO DO THIS TOOK A LOT OF WORK FROM OUR STAFF HERE AT THE ED CENTER FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
AND IT TOOK SOME BIG DECISIONS FROM THIS BOARD.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU TO OUR CONSTITUENTS FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE ON OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT AND TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, BAD BUNNY CAME OUT WITH HIS TICKETS DON'T TOO EXPENSIVE DON'T BUY THOSE. [LAUGHTER] OK, SO WE'RE AT THE MOMENT, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. HALL, A SECOND BY MR. ESPINOSA. WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT ALREADY [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS LIKE AN HOUR AGO RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[00:55:04]
AYE. AND THAT MOTION WILL CARRY SEVEN ZERO.ALL RIGHT SO THIS WILL NOW BRING US TO ACTION ITEM E, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF DICKINSON
[10.E. Consider Approval of Dickinson Elementary Name Change and Performance Agreement]
ELEMENTARY NAME CHANGE AND PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT.BOARD THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU LAST MONTH AS AN INFORMATION ITEM.
MS. CARLISLE MS. DAVIS THEY ARE HERE.
MR. PRESIDENT. MR. BROOKS. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM E DICKINSON ELEMENTARY NAME CHANGE.
ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION MADE BY MR. BROOKS. I HAVE A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION. NO DISCUSSION.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A VOTE.
[10.F. Consider Approval of 2021-2022 Calendar for Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute]
INFORMATION ITEM F CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 2021 2022 CALENDAR OF GRAND PRAIRIE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.MS. DAVIS IS HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WAS PRESENTED AS AN INFORMATION ITEM LAST MONTH AS WELL. MR. PRESIDENT. MS. LILES.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE 21 22 CALENDAR FOR GPCI.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY MS. LILES, A SECOND BY MR. HALL ANY DISCUSSION.
CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS.
MS. ELLIS. MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS NO ACTION TONIGHT ON ITEM G.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR ACTION ITEMS. NOW THIS WILL MOVE US TO INFORMATION ITEMS, INFORMATION ITEM, A WELLNESS POLICY UPDATES.
[11.A. Wellness Policy Updates]
MS. NURSE LINICOMN, THANK YOU.THERE SHE IS. AND MR. PETERSON, I SEE YA.
GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT KING, OUR SUPERINTENDENT MS. ELLIS, TRUSTEES OF THE BOARD.
I'M MARY LINICOMN THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE WELLNESS UPDATES TO YOU ON OUR WELLNESS POLICY.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MR. DOMENIK PETERSON AND THE WELLNESS POLICY WAS LAST UPDATED OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
SO IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE GET IT UPDATED.
OK, SO WHAT IS THE WELLNESS POLICY, THE WELLNESS POLICY IS A WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT GUIDES THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY OR SCHOOL DISTRICT'S EFFORTS TO CREATE SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENTS? I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE SHAC COMMITTEE HAS ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH TASB TO ESTABLISH THESE WELLNESS UPDATES.
SO THE SHAC COMMITTEE IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING SEGMENTS OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES APPOINTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE DISTRICT, ON COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMING AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS HEALTH AND LEARNING, EVERY DISTRICT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE A SHAC, OF WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS SHOULD BE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE SHAC SHALL CONSIDER AND MAKE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS HENCE THE WELLNESS POLICY UPDATES. THE COMPONENTS OF THE SHAC INCLUDE HEALTH, EDUCATION, P.E., HEALTH SERVICES, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND WELLNESS, EMPLOYEE WELLNESS.
ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE STUDENT HEALTH, SAFETY AND LEARNING.
THE CURRENT GPISD WELLNESS POLICY FFA LOCAL CONSIST OF NUTRITION GUIDELINES, WELLNESS GOALS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SCHOOL BASED ACTIVITIES AND, OF COURSE, IMPLEMENTATION.
THE UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW OF GUIDELINES AND GOALS OF THE WELLNESS POLICY SHALL BE OVERSEEN BY THE SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL OR THE SHAC.
THE SHAC SHALL DEVELOP A WELLNESS PLAN WHICH WILL ADDRESS STRATEGIES FOR SOLICITING INVOLVEMENT IN THE WELLNESS PLAN, BENCHMARKS AND ACTIVITIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE WELLNESS GOALS, METHODS FOR MEASURING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WELLNESS GOALS.
[01:00:02]
STANDARDS FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGES PROVIDED TO THE STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AND COMMUNICATION METHODS OF THE WELLNESS PLAN TO THE APPLICABLE PUBLIC.MORE RECOMMENDATION UPDATES INCLUDE THE DISTRICT MAY ALLOW EXEMPTIONS REGARDING RESTRICTIVE FOODS PER FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE BEVERAGES SOLD FOR FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES.
MORE RECOMMENDATION UPDATES THE DISTRICT'S NUTRITION PROMOTION ACTIVITIES SHALL ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM AND ANY OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE DISTRICT.
NUTRITION PROMOTION GOALS INCLUDE PROMOTING HEALTHY NUTRITION MESSAGES IN THE CAFETERIA AND IN THE CLASSROOMS, SHARING EDUCATIONAL NUTRITION INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY NUTRITION CHOICES, AND ENSURING THAT FOOD AND BEVERAGE ADVERTISEMENT IS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS.
EXCUSE ME. ENSURING THAT FOOD AND BEVERAGE ADVERTISEMENT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS ON DISTRICT PROPERTY MEET THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITIVE FOODS. AND THAT IS THE END OF THE UPDATES, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. DOMENIK? [LAUGHTER] OKAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] NOW THIS WILL MOVE TO INFORMATION ITEM B ADDITIONAL DAY SCHOOL YEAR ADSY 2021 SUMMER LEARNING
[11.B. Additional Day School Year (ADSY) 2021 Summer Learning MyCAMP]
MYCAMP MS. PAT LEWIS.YES WE'RE OVER HERE. ALL RIGHT. OH IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME TO MYCAMP, WHERE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT LIGHT UP EDUCATION.
PRESIDENT KING SUPERINTENDENT ELLIS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE ARE VERY PROUD TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR GPISD ADDITIONAL SCHOOL DAY, SCHOOL YEAR, SUMMER LEARNING MYCAMP.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT STARTED WITH HOUSE BILL THREE TO ADDRESS LEARNING GAPS AS WELL BY COMBINING ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
THE DISTRICT RECEIVED ADSY IS WHAT WE CALL IT, PLANNING GRANT LAST SPRING TO SPEND A YEAR LONG PLANNING THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE SO EXCITED IT FINALLY IS HERE.
AND SO WE WANTED TO ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS GRANT WAS AWARDED TO US BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN LAST SPRING.
SO WE WERE ALREADY THINKING AHEAD OF WHAT WE COULD DO FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER.
THIS SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE AND REMEDIATE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND PROVIDE A JUMPSTART LEADING UP TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS YEAR, MYCAMP WILL BE OFFERED AT WHITT FINE ARTS ACADEMY, GARCIA ELEMENTARY, SEGUIN ELEMENTARY, DAVID DANIELS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND MATH AND BOWIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.
JUST FOR THE BOARD TO KNOW, TEA HAD GIVEN US A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, SO WE HAD TO SELECT FIVE FROM THE LIST AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR AREA SUPERINTENDENTS THESE FIVE WAS USED TO PILOT THE PROGRAM THIS SUMMER.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR TWENTY FIVE DAYS GRADES K THROUGH FIVE OF ENGAGING IN FUN ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES STARTING JUNE 3RD THROUGH JULY 14TH, CLOSED THE WEEK OF JULY 5TH, THROUGH THE 9TH FOR SIX HOURS A DAY AND WE'RE PROJECTING TWO HUNDRED FIFTY STUDENTS PER CAMPUS, WHICH IS ABOUT ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY STUDENTS.
TONIGHT YOU WILL SEE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING TEAM.
[01:05:06]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. SUZEANA BARRERA, ELEMENTARY READING LANGUAGE ART FACILITATOR AND MS. TAMARA MAJORS ELEMENTARY MATH AND SCIENCE FACILITATOR.[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MS. LEWIS. WE WANT TO START BY FIRST TALKING ABOUT MYCAMP ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM, THEY WILL CONSIST OF AN ACADEMIC PORTION AND AN ENRICHMENT PORTION THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY WILL EXPERIENCE THROUGH MY CAMP.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SAMPLE SCHEDULE, STUDENTS WILL BE DOING ACADEMICS IN THE MORNING AND THEN FUN ENRICHMENT AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND SO BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DISCUSSED THAT IN GRAND PRAIRIE WE VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY DEVELOPMENT AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PURPOSELY CURATED A CAMP THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO FOR RLA OUR PURPOSE IS TO RETAIN, BUILD ON AND LEARN ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED FOR STUDENT LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT WHILE ALSO BRINGING THAT FUN OF LEARNING.
WE ALSO WANTED TO GROW IN CONTENT, KNOWLEDGE AND VOCABULARY WHILE STRENGTHENING CRITICAL SPEAKING, LISTENING, THINKING, READING AND WRITING SKILLS THAT WE KNOW OUR KIDS NEED.
AND THEN OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE JUST THE EXTRA OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO READ AND APPLY THE SKILLS IN A SAFE AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT TO INCREASE THEIR READING LEVEL AND CLOSE THAT READING ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
SO TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT READING AND WRITING TIME FOR MY CAMP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT AN HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES IN READING AND WRITING, WHICH IS ABOUT CLOSE TO WHAT THEY WOULD SPEND IN A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY.
AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO THIS CAMP IS THAT WE'RE CREATING A CURRICULUM THAT IS SPECIFIC TO ALL KIDS.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 20 MINUTES OF ORAL LANGUAGE AND SPENDING TIME ON THOSE EARLY READING SKILLS TO CLOSE THE READING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS A PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY AND FLUENCY.
AND SO EVERY ROOM AND TEACHER IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE KIDS NEED AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON. AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE 40 MINUTES OF RLA TIME IS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT READING LITERACY COMMUNITY AND WORK ON THOSE GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC CONTENT TEKS.
AND THEN WE ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND THAT TIME THAT WE KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S THAT SMALL GROUP DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY KID.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TEACHER IS ABLE TO SEE EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY.
AND SO ONE THING OUR TEAM PURPOSELY CHOSE LIT CAMP AS ONE OF OUR MAIN CURRICULUMS BECAUSE IT IS INCLUDED.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE CORNER THERE, IT IS BASED ON SEVEN SEL THEMES.
AND EACH OF THE THEMES ARE AND YOU CAN SEE IS BELONGING, CURIOSITY, FRIENDSHIP, KINDNESS, AND SO EACH OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON THE LITERACY THAT THEY PROVIDE AND THE LESSONS, THE INTERACTIVE LESSONS THAT WE DO.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND THESE SEL THEMES AND SKILLS THROUGHOUT ALL CONTENT AREAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES FOR LIT CAMP THAT ARE PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE SPANISH COMPONENT IS GOING TO BE AUTHENTIC LITERATURE AS WELL. AND SO TO SUPPLEMENT, BECAUSE WE KNOW NOT ONE PROGRAM CAN FIT EVERY STUDENT, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT FOLLOWING THE HOUSE BILL THREE, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING RESEARCH BASED RESOURCES THAT GO ALONG TO TEACH PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY AND FLUENCY, AND ALL THESE RESOURCES WILL BE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
SO NOW I'LL PASS IT ON TO TAMARA WHO WILL TALK ABOUT MATH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE.
WE ARE SO ELATED FOR WHAT OUR STUDENTS WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER TO ADD TO WHAT MS. BARRERA SHARED.
OUR THREE PURPOSES FOR MATH WILL BE TO BUILD STUDENT NUMERICAL FLUENCY, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE THEIR THINKING USING ACADEMIC LANGUAGE.
AND FINALLY, ALL NEW LEARNING WILL BE EMBEDDED WITHIN A REAL WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING
[01:10:05]
CONTEXT. COMBINED THESE THREE PURPOSES REALLY HELP OUR STUDENTS GAIN CONFIDENCE WHILE BUILDING TOWARDS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR EVERY STUDENT.OUR TIME SPENT DURING THE MATH BLOCK FOR THE SUMMER CLOSELY MIRRORS WHAT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE DURING OUR REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR WITH 15 MINUTES OF PROBLEM-SOLVING, 40 MINUTES OF OUR INTERVENTION LESSON, AND THEN 30 MINUTES OF SMALL GROUP GUIDED MATH WHERE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEIR TEACHER TO FOCUS ON THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR NEEDS.
MS. BARRERA AND I WORKED CLOSELY WITH DEVELOPING AND SELECTING A CURRICULUM FOR OUR STUDENTS THIS SUMMER.
THE MATH DEPARTMENT SELECTED DO THE MATH SUMMER INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO EXTEND OUR STUDENTS LEARNING BEYOND THE REGULAR YEAR WITH ENGAGING FUN LESSONS THAT ARE HANDS-ON AND INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY.
TO CONTINUE OUR CAMP CULTURE, THAT'S SO KEY TO THE FUN AND SUCCESS OF MYCAMP FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE ARE CALLING OUR TEACHERS CAMP COUNSELORS AND WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THE TRAINING THAT OUR CAMP COUNSELORS NEED IN ORDER TO REALLY OPTIMIZE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT'S READING, MATH OR ENRICHMENT.
FINALLY, HERE IN GPISD, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD AND MYCAMP IS NO DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR ENRICHMENT TEAM TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY DEVELOP AND GROW ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO WITHIN ENRICHMENT EVERY DAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND NOW TO SHARE THE TIRELESS EFFORTS THAT WE'VE ALL GONE THROUGH AND OUR ENRICHMENT TEAM, THEY HAVE JUST DONE SO MUCH AND WE'RE SO EXCITED.
WE HAVE HERE KASIE RODEN DIRECTOR OF STEM, AND AMY FRANCIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS. [APPLAUSE] GOOD EVENING.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SHARE THE ENRICHMENT PLANS FOR MYCAMP WITH YOU, THE ENRICHMENT PORTION OF THE DAY IS GOING TO OCCUR IN THE AFTERNOON OF MYCAMP AND THEY WILL HAVE LESSONS THAT REINFORCE THE LEARNING FROM THE MORNING.
AND ALSO IT'S GOING TO BE INTEGRATED WITH STEM FINE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY.
[INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN ON OUR ENRICHMENT TEAM AS WELL, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED, HELPING OUR STUDENTS MOVE FROM CONSUMERS TO CREATORS.
SO OUR CAMP THEME IS ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM, AND MANY OF OUR LESSONS ARE GOING TO CENTER AROUND THAT THEME. OUR ENRICHMENT BLOCK WILL BE APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES AND IT'S GOING TO BE COMPRISED OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTS.
WE'LL HAVE THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING LESSONS AND INTEGRATED CONTENT AS WELL WITH THE MORNING. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HANDS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE SOME REALLY EXCITING FIELD TRIPS WHERE THEY GET TO HAVE LEARNING ON LOCATION AND WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE LINED UP.
GOOD EVENING, WE'LL BEGIN EVERY DAY WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, MINI LESSONS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF OUR WONDERFUL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT, DR.
EACH OF OUR LESSONS WILL FOCUS ON ONE OF THE THEMES TAUGHT DURING THE READING BLOCK.
AND WE'LL HAVE A FUN HANDS ON ACTIVITY OR GAME FOR THE STUDENTS.
THESE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL THEMES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CAMP AND THE ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM VISION THAT THEY'LL ALSO BE THE THEMES OF OUR CAMP BUNKS.
THE ENRICHMENT LESSONS ARE DIVIDED INTO STRANDS, EACH INTEGRATING FINE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY AND STEM.
OUR WEEKLY STRANDS ARE POEM AND MONOLOGUE WRITING, DIGITAL VISUAL ARTS, AUDIO VIDEO PRODUCTION, CODING AND ENGINEERING.
BECAUSE THIS IS A SUMMER PROGRAM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET UP, MOVE AND DO STUFF.
WE'LL ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SCREEN AND NON SCREEN OPTIONS.
WE WANT TO MAKE THIS FUN AND PHYSICAL.
OUR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES ARE REALLY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S GOING TO BE INTEGRATED LEARNING ON LOCATION.
SO THERE WILL BE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE SO FUN.
WE'RE GOING TO MOTIVATE INTO ATTENDANCE.
OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO WANT TO GO HOME AND TELL THEIR PARENTS ABOUT IT AND SAY, I HAVE TO GO BACK TOMORROW BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING NEXT.
WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE THAT THEIR STUDENT CENTERED AND ALSO SAFE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR GPISD COVID TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE EVEN WHEN THEY'RE OFF CAMPUS, THEY'RE STILL SAFE. OUR GOALS FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING INCLUDE REINFORCING THE ACADEMIC
[01:15:06]
CURRICULUM AND PROVIDING NOVEL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FUN EVENTS THAT KEEP THEM COMING BACK TO CAMP. HERE'S A FEW POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF OUR CITY AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS A REALLY FUN CAMP.
THIS IS A SAMPLE OF OUR CURRICULUM PACING CALENDAR, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT EACH STRAND HAS A MIX OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND EVEN CAREER CONNECTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN SOME EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE GUESTS, PUPPETEERS, MUSICIANS, CODERS, SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN HAVE THAT CAREER CONNECTION AS WELL.
AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK WITH THE KIDS ON LESSONS.
WHAT IS A BETTER WAY TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW OUR CAMP WILL GO THAN TO HEAR IT FROM ONE OF OUR CAMPERS? WE HAVE IMA GOGETTER HERE WITH US TONIGHT WHO IS A THIRD GRADE STUDENT FROM BOWIE. [LAUGHTER] IMA HOW'S CAMP GOING.
WELL, I FOUND OUT THAT MY BUNK IS COURAGE.
I LEARNED THAT WE'LL BE MAKING A SHOWCASE FOR OUR SUPERHEROES.
AND WOW, I GOT TO DESIGN AND BUILD MY VERY OWN STAGE USING STRAWS AND CONNECTOR'S PAPER DIORAMAS, 3D DRAWING AND SOME AWESOME DIGITAL APPS.
WELL WHAT DID Y'ALL DO YESTERDAY.
OH, WE WENT TO THE NATURE CENTER AND THE THEATER AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
I GOT TO WRITE MY POEM AND MONOLOGUE WHILE I SAT OUTSIDE WITH NATURE AND ALSO INSIDE THE HUGE THEATER.
WOW. WELL, WHAT ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO TOMORROW? WELL, I'M PRACTICING MY PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS ON AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OUTING.
I'M IN THIRD GRADE AND I SAID EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE GOT TO GO NOW, MRS. RODEN. I NEED TO GET READY FOR MY SHOWCASE PRESENTATION, READY FOR MY CLOSE UP.
[APPLAUSE] WAIT CAN I JUST JUMP IN HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MATURE THAT THIRD GRADER SOUNDS.
AND I'VE GOT AN EAR FOR THIS, I HAVE AN EAR FOR THIS KIND OF THING, JUST LISTENING TO THAT VOICE, I BELIEVE THAT THIRD GRADER IS GOING TO GROW UP AND BE A DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS SOME DAY. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
SO ALL OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT AN OUR PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN A KEY PART ALONG THE ENTIRE PROCESS TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND TO PROVIDE A PRINCIPALS PERSPECTIVE IS ANA HOLLAND PRINCIPAL AT BOWIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.
GOOD EVENING, I'M THE PRINCIPAL WHERE IMA GOGETTER GOES TO SO YES.
[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. SO YOU SEE FROM A PRINCIPALS POINT OF VIEW, THE EXCITEMENT THAT IS SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE, THAT'S HOW WE FEEL RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU KNOW, AS A PRINCIPAL, WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE GOT TO COLLABORATE BECAUSE WE WERE INVITED TO EVERY PLANNING MEETING FOR OUR SUMMER CAMP.
WE'VE HAD A VOICE IN CHOOSING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE BASED, OBVIOUSLY ON OUR STUDENT AND COMMUNITY INTEREST.
STUDENTS AND PARENTS KNOW ABOUT THIS NOW AND THEY'VE BEEN INFORMED AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POSITIVE.
THE COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED.
THE MORNING AFTER WE BEGAN THE REGISTRATION, I WAS AT THE FRONT GREETING STUDENTS AND THE FOURTH GRADER CAME IN, MS. HOLLAND I'M GOING TO CAMP AND I'M LIKE, OH, GOD, [INAUDIBLE] EXCITED.
THE OTHER PARENTS WERE ABLE TO REALLY TALK TO THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING. SO I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND OTHER KIDS THAT. DID YOU CALL MY PARENTS? AND I SAID I DID, BUT I LEFT A MESSAGE AND THEY SAID, CALL AGAIN AND CALL MY MOM THIS TIME, BECAUSE DAD DOESN'T ALWAYS ANSWER.
SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW THE KID IS ENROLLED AND THEY'RE COMING TO CAMP.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT AT WHITT FINE ARTS ACADEMY, A PARENT REGISTERED HER CHILD THREE TIMES JUST TO ENSURE SHE GOT A SPOT.
SO SHE ALSO HAS A SPOT AND SHE'S COMING TO CAMP.
MS. GOGETTER WAS THAT YOUR FAMILY? [LAUGHTER] SO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER EXCITING COMPONENT IS THE SUPPORT THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE GETTING. OUR CAMP TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE FULLY PREPARED, AS YOU HEARD, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EQUIPPED TO DELIVER MEANINGFUL INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE FASCINATING, CAPTIVATING ACTIVITIES AND OF COURSE, ALSO INTEGRATE THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
[01:20:01]
THE MOST EXCITING PART FOR ME AS A PRINCIPAL IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ENGAGING OUR PARENTS WITH OUR SUMMER CAMP.EVERY TIME OUR KIDDOS GO ON A FIELD EXPERIENCE, OUR PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING A RESOURCE THAT'S GOING TO GUIDE THEM ON WHAT TYPE OF QUESTIONS TO ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR FIELD EXPERIENCE.
ATTENDANCE. YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY ATTENDANCE CONCERNS.
YEAH. SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAMP, SPECIFICALLY THE ENRICHMENT BLOCK, IS WHAT'S GOING TO MOTIVATE OUR KIDDOS TO KEEP COMING BACK DAY AFTER DAY FOR THE TWENTY FIVE DAYS OF SUMMER CAMP. HOWEVER, AS PRINCIPALS, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO PUT SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
AND SO WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING ATTENDANCE IN HUDDLES AND IN PARENT NEWSLETTERS.
AT BFAA AT MYCAMP IS WE'RE GOING TO BE RAISING UP THE FLAG OF THE GRADE LEVEL WITH THE MOST ATTENDANCE JUST SO THE KIDDOS CAN HAVE SOME BRAGGING RIGHTS THERE.
AND OF COURSE, WHAT'S A CAMP WITHOUT A BADGE? KIDDOS ARE GOING TO EARN THEIR ATTENDANCE BADGE.
AND, OF COURSE, TO BUILD MOTIVATION, CONFIDENCE, UNITY IN A CAMP CULTURE, YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY HEARD THEY'RE GOING TO BELONG TO SPECIFIC BUNKS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET T SHIRTS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACKPACKS, WRISTBANDS AND JUST A VARIETY OF BADGES.
FUN. THANK YOU. SO, YOU SEE, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PLANNED OUT TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND FUN OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM INTO BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE FOR OUR KIDDOS AND SIGNIFICANT MEMORIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO AS A PRINCIPAL, I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY STUDENTS TO GO TO MYCAMP.
SO THE BACKPACKS OR JUST SAMPLES OF WHAT WE HAVE ORDERED FOR THE STUDENTS, JUST FOR YOU TO SEE THE BACKPACKS.
I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T ORDER EXTRAS FOR BOARD MEMBERS, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
[LAUGHTER] MINE HAS MONEY IN IT.
SO ALL THE CAMPERS WILL GET BACKPACKS.
THEY'RE COLOR CODED FOR A REASON FOR I THINK IT'S GRADE LEVELS OF THE BUNK HOUSES FOR THE GRADE LEVELS. AND THE T SHIRTS WILL BE ALSO MATCHING BACKPACKS.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT GRADE LEVEL YELLOW IS? BECAUSE I JUST NOTICED THAT YOU HAD GAVE ME AND BROOKS YELLOW.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT GRADE Y'ALL PUT US IN. I THINK KINDERGARTEN, THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE.
I'M PRE-K. [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THE BAG BACK, YOU KNOW, MS. ELLIS WARNED US OF THAT EARLIER TODAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL THEM. YES.
THESE ARE FOR KIDS. OK, IN CLOSING, YOU CAN SEE THE EXCITEMENT AND PASSION FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING TEAM.
WE'RE READY TO HAVE THE BEST SUMMER CAMP EVER.
THESE EXPERIENCES WILL CREATE MOMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR PARENTS.
[APPLAUSE] THE TEAM WE'RE HERE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YES, MA'AM.
OK. MS. LEWIS, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
YOU MENTIONED THE CAP OF THE CAMP IS 1250.
HOW ARE THOSE STUDENTS SELECTED? PRINCIPAL, YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? AT MY CAMPUS SPECIFICALLY, WE LOOKED AT THE CHILD AS A WHOLE HOLISTICALLY.
WE DID ASK OUR TEACHERS TO GIVE US JUST FIVE NAMES, IT DIDN'T MATTER, GRADES, WHATEVER, GIVE US FIVE NAMES OF THE KIDDOS YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THIS CAMP THAT YOU NEED, YOU NEED FOR THEM TO GO. THOSE WERE THE KIDS THAT WE FIRST TARGETED.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WAS ANYBODY WHO WOULD WANT TO COME.
WOULD THERE BE A WAY TO SEE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM EACH ELEMENTARY CAMPUS ACROSS THE DISTRICT? YES.
YES. RIGHT NOW AT MY CAMPUS, I HAVE TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE STUDENTS ENROLLED ALREADY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GROW.
YES. ALL ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THIS IS A GREAT PLAN.
AND PLEASE, YOU GUYS HAVE MY SUPPORT.
AND I MEAN, THIS CAMPUS GREAT STUFF.
YOU MADE ME WANT TO GO, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ME TOO. LIKE THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING I MIGHT JUST POP IN.
YOU KNOW WHAT? IF I HAD A KID IN ELEMENTARY, MY KID WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
[01:25:04]
FANTASTIC. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN AND NOTHING THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.WOW. [APPLAUSE] I'M EXCITED FOR OUR KIDDOS.
YEAH. SO HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION THAT SNACKS.
WHO PROVIDES US SNACKS? WHO PAYS FOR THOSE SNACKS. EACH CAMPUS WILL BE DESIGNATED AS A SUMMER FEEDING SITE, SO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WILL EAT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH BASED ON THE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM, AND THEN WE DO HAVE A BUDGET TO PURCHASE SNACKS FOR THE KIDDOS.
OH, THAT'S GREAT. SO I'LL CALL ON ALL THE LOCAL WAL-MARTS AND WE WILL TAKE DONATIONS.
AND THIS IS A MESSAGE TO ALL THE BIG COMPANIES IN OUR CITY TO PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER.
YES. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH MS. ELLIS AND THE TEAM YESTERDAY THAT I GOT AN EMAIL FROM EDUCATE TEXAS, WHICH IS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TEXAS, THEY OFFERED TO HELP FUND THE PROGRAM THIS SUMMER AND WANT TO HELP DONATIONS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM NEXT SUMMER.
SO WE ALSO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO WROTE A GRANT THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET TO PURCHASE THE T-SHIRTS FOR ALL THE KIDS AND TEACHERS.
AND SO WE ARE STARTING TO GET DONATIONS AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT GRAND PRAIRIE ISD HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED WITH TEA AND THE PLANNING OF THIS SUMMER CAMP. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FROM IT.
ABSOLUTELY. GOOD JOB, MR. HALL, I'M SORRY. YES.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT OF THE FOLKS WHO JUST PRESENTED, AND THAT IS SO EVIDENT. AND I'M 100 PERCENT POSITIVE.
THAT'S WHY SO MANY PROGRAMS IN THIS DISTRICT WORKS BECAUSE OF THE MANPOWER THAT'S PUT BEHIND IT AND AND THE ENTHUSIASM THAT GOES WITH THAT MANPOWER.
THIS IS FUN. THIS IS EXCITING.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT COMPLIMENT TO A LOT OF CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH I THINK FIVE CAMPUSES, AS YOU SAID.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE GREAT SUCCESS IN.
AND I KNOW I'LL BE WATCHING THIS.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF THING, YOU WANT TO SUCCEED AND YOU DEFINITELY WANT MORE OF IT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND IT'S ALSO GREAT TO HAVE IMA GOGETTER MOM ON THE TEAM BECAUSE WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE A DRUM LINE DRILL TEAM CHEERLEADERS LINED UP WELCOMING THE KIDS TO THE SUMMER CAMP.
THAT'S GREAT. SO THANKS TO I'M A GO GETTER, MOM.
I GOT BRYAN NEXT. I JUST HAD A COMMENT LIKE EMILY I WANT TO GO TOO.
ALRIGHT. I NOTICED SOME OF THE MATERIAL THAT YOU PASSED OUT WAS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH WILL SOME OF THE READING CLASSES BE IN SPANISH.
HERRON AND MS. [INAUDIBLE] LOOKING AT THE DUAL LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE CLASSES.
WE'LL HAVE THE LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT INVOLVED.
YES SO IT'S GOING TO BE ONE CLASS PER GRADE LEVEL FOR DUAL LANGUAGE.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A KINDER THROUGH 5TH GRADE DUAL LANGUAGE.
KNOW THERE WILL BE GOOD JOB. AWESOME. MR. PARRA. MS. LEWIS, TRYING TO ENVISION THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE FIVE CAMPUSES. WILL TRANSPORTATION BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS THAT LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM THOSE CAMPUSES? WE'VE WORKED WITH TRANSPORTATION AND MS. DANA [INAUDIBLE] IS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR TRANSPORTATION. IF THEY'RE RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION NOW, THEY WILL GET TRANSPORTATION FOR SUMMER CAMP. OKAY.
AND MY LAST QUESTION, MS. LEWIS, HOW ARE THE TEACHERS SELECTED FOR THESE SUMMER CAMPS? CAN I CALL DR.
HERRON UP TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS A TEAM WE HAVE ABOUT 18 OR 20 PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, SO EVERYONE IS HELPING OUT.
GOOD EVENING, ACTUALLY, THEY CREATED A WONDERFUL RECRUITMENT VIDEO TO RECRUIT TEACHERS TO PARTICIPATE AND APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
FROM THERE ONCE THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED, OUR H.R.
DEPARTMENT, THEY REVIEW IT TO CHECK CERTIFICATIONS.
THEN IF THEY APPLY FOR THE ACADEMIC SIDE, IT'S REVIEWED BY THE TEACHER.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TALK WITH THIS MASK. THEIR APPLICATION IS FIRST SCREENED BY THE
[01:30:02]
TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM.FROM THERE, THEY'LL MOVE FORWARD TO THE CAMPUSES THAT THEY APPLIED THAT THEIR PREFERENCE IS. AND THEN THOSE TEACHERS ARE INTERVIEWED IF THEY APPLIED FOR THE ENRICHMENT SIDE.
THAT TEAM HAD THE TEACHERS SUBMIT A VIDEO AND SO THEY WATCHED THE VIDEO AND THEN FROM THERE, THE SAME PROCESS OCCURRED.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR. I FORGOT WHO ASKED THE QUESTION SO I'M LIKE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO THROW ONE OUT THERE AND I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE I'M A LITTLE SIDETRACKED, A LITTLE SQUIRREL, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND CAPTURING KIDS HEARTS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO LITERALLY CAPTURE A KID'S HEART.
I MEAN, THE TERM SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
YOU KNOW, I'M A PRODUCT OF GPISD.
AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.
AND I'LL STAND UP AND HAVE THAT REAL CONVERSATION WITH YOU IT WASN'T.
WE HAD SOME TRAINING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
MR. BROOKS BROUGHT UP IN THAT TRAINING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AT ONE POINT AND I WAS A PRODUCT OF THAT ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AS WELL, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY IN TROUBLE AND IN THE OFFICE.
AND, HEY, THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE NO MATTER WHAT.
AND I GREW TO NOT LIKE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS TOUGH.
BUT THERE WERE YOU KNOW, YOU CAME TO SCHOOL AND TEACHERS HAD A JOB TO TEACH.
AND IF YOU CAN'T OBEY, IF YOU CAN'T LISTEN, IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND, IF YOU CAN'T LEARN, IF YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, IF YOU DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN LEARN, WE NEED YOU OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING.
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE THESE DAYS.
IT TOOK A LOT, YOU KNOW, OUT OF ME TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL.
AND I DID IT, YOU KNOW, AND NOW HERE I AM SERVING ON THIS BOARD.
BUT I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN MY FAMILY AND MY WIFE, I MENTIONED MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, HOW I'M JEALOUS LIKE I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND START OVER NOW, EVEN AT 35 YEARS OF AGE, I'LL GO BACK AND START THE KINDERGARTEN AND GO THROUGH WAS THAT BILLY MADISON OR THERE'S AN ADAM SANDLER MOVIE WHERE THEY DID THAT.
BILLY MADISON. AND, YOU KNOW, HE GOES THROUGH SCHOOL AGAIN AND WOW, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD BE TO LEARN UNDER THE GUIDELINES AND THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE THESE DAYS.
I MEAN, I'M CERTAINLY JEALOUS, BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR OUR KIDS AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
I MEAN, IT'S ENDLESS, YOU KNOW, AND AND I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD ARGUE THAT THE WORLD HAS GOTTEN TOUGHER.
IT'S GOTTEN CRAZIER THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE.
AND I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, OUR KIDS NEED THAT SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST SIMPLE AS A TEACHER, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE MISSING THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME. MOM AND DADS ARE IN PRISON OR THEY'RE WORKING LONG HOURS OR THEY'RE JUST ABSENT AND NOT IN THE PICTURE. AND FOR SOME OF THESE KIDS, THE TEACHER IS THE ONLY THING THAT THEY HAVE. SO FOR THAT TEACHER TO LOVE THEM AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HUG THEM AND SUPPORT THEM AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN I HELP YOU AND CAPTURE THEIR HEART, THAT'S HUGE.
AND FOR ME EVERY BIT IF THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I GOT TO FOCUS ON IN MY TERM WHILE SERVING ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD, HANDS DOWN, WORTH IT.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE HAVE THAT CAPTURE KIDS HEARTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PEOPLE IN SCHOOL, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW HIM, HE'S PASSED AWAY NOW.
BUT IT WAS A JANITOR AT DALWORTH WHEN I WENT TO DALWORTH, MR. WILSON, MIKE WILSON.
AND I MEAN, I ADMIRED THAT MAN, BUT HE WAS ONE EVEN AS A JANITOR THAT LOVED ON KIDS.
AND IT STARTS WITH ALL OF US WITH THE BOARD SUPERINTENDENT, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, CUSTODIAL STAFF, BUS DRIVERS, ALL OF US.
SO WE ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU GUYS IN MY LIFE AND TO HAVE YOU ALL IN THE LIVES OF THESE KIDS. SO THANK YOU.
HE'S A GO GETTER AT BOWIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] GREAT JOB THANK Y'ALL.
ALL RIGHT, AND I'M ASSUMING THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION.
OK, THIS WILL MOVE US TO INFORMATION ITEM C CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
[11.C. Career and Technical Education]
ELNA DAVIS. HELLO DR.THERE YOU GO. GOOD EVENING BOARD PRESIDENT KING, SUPERINTENDENT ELLIS AND TRUSTEES.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS DESIGNED TO EQUIP STUDENTS FOR A WORLD OUTSIDE OF GPISD.
AND WE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.
ACCORDING TO LABOR MARKET RESEARCH BY HANOVER, CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF THE TOP 10
[01:35:01]
PROFESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE METROPLEX IN 10 YEARS THE PREDICTION IS THAT THERE WILL BE THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND JOBS IN THE METROPLEX ALONE AND 750,000 JOBS IN TEXAS.NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS A GREAT PROFESSION TO BE IN.
WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT CTE, BUT I AM PARTICULARLY EXCITED TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
BUT FIRST, LET'S JUST GO THROUGH A FEW FACTS.
IT'S LOCATED AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE FIVE INSTRUCTORS WITH OVER 75 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TOTAL AND APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS. WE'RE ALL ABOUT CHOICE IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD SO THE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM CARPENTRY, MASONRY, BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND ELECTRICAL.
I BROUGHT THE WHOLE CREW WITH ME TONIGHT.
SO IF ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS COULD STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, THAT BE GREAT.
[APPLAUSE] SO NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN THE INSTRUCTORS, LET'S HEAR FROM THEM .
SCHOOL. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD BUILDING MAINTENANCE, IT'S AN ELECTIVE SO THEY KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVERYTHING, LIKE THEY SAY THAT JACK OF ALL TRADES MASTER OF NONE, THAT'S WHAT BUILDING MAINTENANCE DOES.
WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR IS WE'VE STARTED THE FRAMING.
TAUGHT THEM HOW TO PUT A PLATFORM IN.
YOU GOT A DOOR HERE A WINDOW HERE.
YOU GOT A COUNTER. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS. WE'RE GOING TO PUT A COUNTERTOP ON PUT IN THE SINK.
PUT IN A DRAIN AND RUN ELECTRICAL.
AND AFTER WE FINISH THIS PROJECT.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM DOWN PRESENTATION] AND WE HAVE LAMINATED TABLES, WE BUILT SAWHORSES.
RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE EVEN BUILDING BIRDHOUSES, SO ANYTHING I CAN TEACH THEM IF THEY MAY COME ACROSS IN THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE SETTING THAT'S MY GOAL.
HELLO, I'M KALEB BLANKENSHIP I TEACH PRINCIPAL OF CONSTRUCTION HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL. MY CLASS IS MAINLY ALL THE SAFETY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS PATHWAY FOR CONSTRUCTION. SO I GET THEM CERTIFIED WITH CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR PATHWAY.
I'M ROBERT MCKIBBEN I'M THE CARPENTRY INSTRUCTOR AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
CARPENTRY. AND JUST SUCCEED IN LIFE. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ROGER LOPEZ I'M THE ELECTRICAL PATHWAY TEACHER HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL. I TEACH ELECTRICAL ONE, TWO AND THREE HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL WE ARE TRYING TO MOTIVATE AND GET THESE KIDS TO LEARN A NEW CAREER IN THE ELECTRICAL PATHWAY.
MY PASSION IS TO GET THEM READY FOR THE FUTURE AS ELECTRICIANS IN THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY AND RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRY.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO GET THESE KIDS READY AND GIVE THEM JOBS FOR THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP AND ALSO FOR GRADUATES FOR CAREERS.
HELLO I'M MERRIT JOHNSON I'M A MASONRY DIRECTOR HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
I TEACH EMPLOYMENT AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM AND GET INTERNSHIPS FOR THEM DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. KALEB BLANKENSHIP.
HE TEACHES PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION.
HE'S GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CURRICULUM CERTIFICATIONS, CTSO'S AND INTERNSHIPS. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LIKE SHE SAID, MY NAME IS KALEB BLANKENSHIP AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TEACHING PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR FOUR YEAR PROGRAM USES NCCER CURRICULUM WHICH STANDS FOR NATIONAL CENTER OF CONSTRUCTION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.
[01:40:02]
NCCER IS THE LEADER IN CONSTRUCTION, TRADE, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ACCREDITATION. THIS YEAR, STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED EVERYTHING FROM SAFETY ON THE JOB SITE TO THE TOOLS USED ON THOSE JOB SITES, SUCH AS HAMMERS, TAPE MEASURES, SAWS AND EVEN READING THE BLUEPRINTS OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ACTUALLY SEE AROUND THE ROOM RIGHT NOW.STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN SEVERAL CERTIFICATIONS WHICH ARE INCLUDED AS OF RIGHT NOW, OSHA 10 WITH NCCER THEY CAN DO THE CORE CURRICULUM.
THEY HAVE THE CARPENTRY ONE AND TWO AND MASONRY ONE AND TWO AS WELL.
NEXT YEAR, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO BECOME CERTIFIED IN OSHA 30, WHICH IS A STEP UP FROM THE OSHA 10 CERTIFICATION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE INTERNSHIPS WITH HILL AND WILKINSON.
THESE INTERNS ARE THERE GETTING THE REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR TRADE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING OUT THERE AND GETTING THAT REAL LIFE JOB TRAINING.
NEXT YEAR WE ARE EXPLORING PROJECTS WITH THE CITY AND ALSO SOME POSTGRAD EMPLOYMENT WITH LOCAL COMPANIES. ANOTHER BIG KEY IN THIS IS ACTUALLY COMPETITION.
CT IS REAL BIG ON COMPETITIONS.
THIS YEAR WE SENT TEN STUDENTS TO DISTRICT COMPETITIONS, WHICH SIX OF THOSE ACTUALLY QUALIFIED AND WENT ON TO STATE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MR. BLANKENSHIP. SO EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS, THAT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR PROGRAM FROM MILWAUKEE TO DEWALT, MIXERS, TABLE SAWS, VARIOUS HANDHELD TOOLS.
WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO TAUGHT HOW TO HANDLE THESE TOOLS SAFELY.
WE ARE LOCATED AT 320 NORTH TARRANT DRIVE.
IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS SO ROBUST AND IT'S CONSTANTLY GROWING FROM 21 22, WE HAVE GOALS FOR EXPANSION. WE WANT TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THE PROGRAMS INTO ONE LOCATION.
WE WANT TO INCREASE WORKSPACE.
WE'D LIKE COVERAGE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER, MORE STORAGE SPACE AND SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSROOMS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL INCREASE OUR PARTNERSHIPS, OUR INTERNSHIPS AND OUR PATHWAY INTEREST. WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING OUR OPTIONS FROM BUILDINGS TO PORTABLES TO ROOFS TO COVERS. WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING ALL OF OUR OPTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE HAVE MORE SPACE.
SO I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE NOTICED, JUST LIKE MR. BLANKENSHIP MENTIONED, THE STUDENTS HAVE A GREAT TIME WORKING ON PROJECTS AND WE'VE BROUGHT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS HERE TODAY, FROM BIRDHOUSES TO CAMPFIRE CHAIRS TO BENCHES TO DOG HOUSES.
WE BROUGHT ALL THOSE HERE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE.
AND WE ALSO BROUGHT TWO STUDENTS ALONG WITH US TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.
SO FIRST UP IS LEO AND LEO ACTUALLY BUILT THE BIRDHOUSE AND CAMPFIRE CHAIRS.[APPLAUSE] GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I JOINED THE CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THE PATHWAY IS THE HANDS ON PART.
MY FAVORITE PROJECT WAS ONE OF THESE DOG HOUSES WE BUILT.
AND THEN THE MOST INTERESTING PART ABOUT THE PATHWAY IS HOW I GET TO BUILD UP MY SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEACHERS, MY PARENTS AND GPISD FOR PUSHING ME TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LEO.
AND NEXT UP IS ABEL AND ABEL ACTUALLY BUILT SPOT'S DOGHOUSE OVER THERE IN THE CORNER WITH THE DOORBELL AND THE PORCH LIGHT.
YES. SO COME ON ABEL, LET'S HEAR ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
HELLO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM ABEL [INAUDIBLE] I JOINED THE CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO CONTINUE BUILDING THINGS.
WHAT I MOST LIKE ABOUT THIS PATHWAY IS TO HAVE A BETTER KNOWLEDGE IN THE FUTURE.
MY FAVORITE PROJECT WAS THE DOGHOUSE BECAUSE I BUILT IT MYSELF.
THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF MY PATHWAY IS TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO, AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEACHER, MR. [INAUDIBLE], AND MY PARENTS FOR TELLING ME TO NEVER GIVE UP AND TO TRY MY BEST.
THANK YOU ABEL, GREAT STUDENTS.
SO EXCITING NEWS FOR NEXT YEAR, 21 22.
WE ARE BRINGING THE CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY TO FANNIN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[APPLAUSE] THIS WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO FEED THE PIPELINE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT THE STUDENTS IN BUSINESS CLASSES BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO
[01:45:02]
UNDERSTAND THE MANAGEMENT SIDE OF CONSTRUCTION AS WELL.SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY TAKING BUSINESS CLASSES AND NEXT YEAR THEY'LL TAKE THEIR INTRODUCTORY CONSTRUCTION CLASSES.
SO LET'S HEAR WHAT PRINCIPAL ROBERT LOPEZ HAS TO SAY.
WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE CTE PATHWAY OF CONSTRUCTION COMING TO FANNIN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
THIS PATHWAY IS GOING TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE FOUNDATION AND FUNDAMENTALS OF CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO HOW TO LEARN AND RUN A BUSINESS.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GIVE OUR KIDS OUR EXPERIENCES IN THE CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY, AS WELL AS BRING THE HANDS ON REAL LIFE APPLICATION INSIDE OF OUR CAMPUS TO OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU, GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
FANTASTIC. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PATHWAY AND WHAT'S TO COME, AND THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] SURE DO. HANG ON TO THAT MR. HALL.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I'VE GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY A FEW TIMES TO VISIT THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES PROGRAM, AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE SPOTLIGHT TEACHERS THAT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE USE TO CALL IT KID MAGIC. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF KID MAGIC THAT'S GOING ON AT THAT CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY ME IT'S RECOGNIZED BY ALL OF US.
I THINK I SAW IN ONE OF THE SLIDES 200 KIDS IN CONSTRUCTION TRADES AT THIS TIME.
IS THAT CORRECT? APPROXIMATELY, YES.
HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IS THAT BUILDING OVER THERE? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY BALLPARK.
200. HOW MANY? TWENTY FOUR HUNDRED SQUARE FEET.
YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS AND YOU'VE GOT A WORK, BASICALLY A WORKSHOP IN THERE.
CAN YOU GET TWO HUNDRED STUDENTS IN THAT BUILDING AT ONE TIME.
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN DFW COMING UP FOR OUT OF CONSTRUCTION, AND I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SUCCESS SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAD. HOW MANY FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE MASONRY WINNERS HAVE WE HAD IN THAT PROGRAM? CAN YOU COUNT.
MR. JOHNSON? TOO OLD TO REMEMBER 17, NO, 18, BUT I THINK WE'VE HAD SECOND, THIRD, AND THIS YEAR I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIRST, SECOND THIRD AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE] AND I'M ONLY JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO STRESS TO THE BOARD AND THIS COMMUNITY THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, AND THEY'VE DONE IT IN A VERY, VERY CONSTRICTED SPACE.
AND I THINK THE PROOF'S IN THE PUDDING.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, HOW VALUABLE THIS CAN BE FOR SOME OF THESE KIDS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY AND FOR THEIR FUTURES.
I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THESE PROGRAMS COULD DO IF THEY REALLY, REALLY HAD MORE SPACE AND WERE REALLY ABLE TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS, SO TO SPEAK.
SO AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SORRY, THERE'S ALSO I KNOW THAT WITH THAT LIMITED SPACE, A LOT OF PROJECTS ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS, EVERY TIME THERE'S SOME KIND OF WEATHER THAT'S LOST INSTRUCTION TIME AND THAT ALMOST CANNOT BE RECOUPED.
OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MR. JOHNSON. I HAVE A STUDENT THAT GRADUATED LAST YEAR AND HE GOT A JOB.
HE WORKS FOR THE TEXAS MASONRY COUNCIL AND I ASKED HIM HOW MUCH HE MADE AND HE SAID NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
THAT'S NOT QUITE 100,000, BUT THEY PAY FOR HIS CELL PHONE, COLLEGE, HIS HOTEL, INSURANCE AND A HUGE SALARY, ONE YEAR OUT OF SCHOOL.
I FINALLY PINNED HIM DOWN AND SOMEWHERE AROUND 88 THOUSAND DOLLARS FIRST YEAR OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
[LAUGHTER] MS. DOUGLAS CAN WE GO BACK TO MR. PHELPS SLIDE? NOT NECESSARILY THE VIDEO, BUT IN HIS SLIDE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD A SLIDE.
AND WE CAN EVEN TURN THE AUDIO DOWN.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE TO THE CONSTRUCTION CENTER AS WELL.
AND, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S A TIGHT SPACE.
[01:50:02]
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BUILDING, I THINK, FOR WHAT IT IS.BUT WE HAVE EXTREMELY OUTGROWN IT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE ON THE ELECTRICIAN SIDE.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PORTABLES THAT ARE SITTING OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HOUSE IT INSIDE. AND IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE STRUCTURE HERE THAT IS BUILT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT EXACT STRUCTURE IS, BUT IF YOU CAN IMAGINE SQUEEZING THAT STRUCTURE INTO ONE OF THE PORTABLES AND THEN ADDING KIDS TO THAT, THERE'S PRACTICALLY NO ROOM TO WORK. AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU'VE NOTICED HERE EITHER.
BUT THE ROOM IN WHERE THEY'RE IN AND THE ROOM IN WHICH THEY ARE AT RIGHT NOW IS THE BASEMENT OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GYMNASIUM.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT THEM ALL TOGETHER.
YOU'RE CORRECT. IT'S THE ABSOLUTELY. AND I CERTAINLY I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PROFESSIONS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE GROWING AND BOOMING, BUT, MAN, CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE BOOM FOR SURE.
SO, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT I'VE REMODELED MOST OF MY HOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET ON GOOGLE AND LOOK UP A TOILET FLANGE THAT YOUR TOILET MOUNTS TO, DOES IT GO ABOVE THE TILE OR IN THE TILE? IT'S LIKE A 50 50 IN THE INDUSTRY.
LIKE SOME PEOPLE SAY, HEY, IT GOES HERE.
SOME PEOPLE SAY IT GOES HERE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT I KNEW WHERE TO FIND THE ANSWER. SO I STOPPED AND I GOT THAT ANSWER DIDN'T I.
[LAUGHTER] AND THESE GUYS PULLED OUT EVERYTHING I NEEDED.
AND I MEAN, WE FIGURED IT OUT.
BUT ANYWAY, I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT TO THE BOARD.
BUT ALSO MS. DOUGLAS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES ANNUAL BUDGET IS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD A BALLPARK? I DON'T KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
GENTLEMEN, WHAT WERE YOU GIVEN THIS YEAR? WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
YEAH. OK? YEAH. TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR.
TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR.
YES SIR. AND THAT'S TO BUY MATERIALS, TOOLS.
THAT'S TO OPERATE CLASS IN FIVE CLASSES.
OK, THEY ALSO HAVE A FUNDRAISERS THAT GO TO THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITY ACCOUNT TOO.
WOW. YEAH. SO, AND I'M NOT, BEING SMART BUT I MEAN EVEN THAT STRUCTURE THAT Y'ALL BUILT THERE WITH THE WALL AND THE WINDOWS, I MEAN THAT'S NOT CLOSE TO TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WOOD, BUT COST OF WOOD IS SO HIGH RIGHT NOW THAT'S GETTING CLOSE.
AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WANTED TO POINT THIS OUT AS THE REASON I'M ASKING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM DEWALT, MAKITA, PORTER-CABLE, RYOBI, MILWAUKEE, RIGID, WHOEVER, THEY COULD BE LISTENING TO THIS OR THAT YOU KNOW SOMEONE MAY HAVE THAT CONNECTION, TOO. BUT ONE THING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO BUY PENCILS AND PENS AND BUY PAPER AND STUFF FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIES.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GETTING INTO DRILLS, WE'RE GETTING INTO SAWS, WE'RE GETTING INTO, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED.
I MEAN, THOSE THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE.
I MEAN, I HAVE A GARAGE FULL OF IT AND I KNOW WHAT I'VE PAID.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY AWESOME IF WE HAD A CONNECTION, IF NOT OUR TEACHERS OUR TEACHERS HAVE A LOT. EVERYBODY HAS A LOT GOING ON.
BUT IF OUR UPPER ADMIN IN THE CTE AREA COULD FIND SOME WAY TO GET IN TOUCH AND TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THESE COMPANIES AND FIND SOME KIND OF SPONSORSHIPS, AND I CAN'T VOTE FOR THE BOARD AND THIS ISN'T A VOTE OR MOTION BY ANY MEANS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, DEWALT OR RYOBI OR WHOEVER IS GOING TO DONATE X AMOUNT OF TOOLS, NOT THE MONEY, BUT THE TOOLS, YOU KNOW, HEY, LET'S WE'LL PUT YOUR NAME UP IN LIKE A MARQUEE OR SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OF OUR CONSTRUCTION BUILDING.
HEY GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, CTE, CONSTRUCTION TRADE, YOU KNOW, PROUD SPONSORS AND BOOM NAME OFF THESE COMPANIES OR WHEREVER WE CAN.
BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE SO HUGE AND I HOPE IT WOULD BE MY PRAYER THAT SOMEBODY LISTENING TONIGHT, WOULD HAVE THAT ACCESS OR THAT REACH TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE THINGS DONATED.
BECAUSE, I MEAN, HOW MANY TOOLS, WHAT KIND OF TOOLS ARE Y'ALL GOING THROUGH.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE Y'ALL START A YEAR OFF WITH SOME FRESH TOOLS AND YOU IN THE YEAR WITH THOSE SAME FRESH TOOLS.
SO AND WE ACTUALLY WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF DONORS BRICK DONORS.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. WE OFFER HEY, WE'LL PUT YOUR NAME UP ON THE MARQUEE, WILL PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BUILDING. WE'LL PUT YOUR NAME ON THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU DONATE TO US.
SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT, THAT WE LIVE AND DIE OFF DONATIONS.
AND MOST OF THESE TOOLS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY, RIGHT? NO, THEY DON'T.
THEY SHOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE BEING USED COMMERCIALLY AND NOT I MEAN, LIKE A HOMEOWNER CONSUMER, YOU MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WARRANTY, BUT ON A COMMERCIAL GRADE, YOU'RE NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR IT OUT QUICKER PRESIDENT. MS. LILES. OK, SO THIS IS NOT MY FORTE.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS, SO BEAR WITH ME.
AND I THINK SOMEWHERE MAYBE IN THE PRESENTATION I HEARD THERE'S 200 KIDS IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. CURRENTLY.
OK CURRENTLY. SO THAT'S NINTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE KIDS.
YES, OK. AND SO I KNOW WHERE THE BUILDING IS ACROSS FROM THE STADIUM.
AND THAT IS WHERE OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE VIDEO THAT WE SAW.
THAT'S NOT WHERE THOSE KIDS WERE.
BUT CLASS DOES TAKE PLACE OUT THERE.
YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE A LAB AND CLASSROOMS OUT THERE, BUT OUR FRESHMEN ARE NOT LOCATED OUT
[01:55:03]
THERE AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE IS NOT LOCATED OUT THERE.CORRECT. OK, AND THEN WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THIS TO BE WITH AS FAR AS STUDENT GROWTH IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE'RE AT LEAST 800, 900 STRONG.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE BASE AT FANNIN.
SO AS LONG AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO REPLICATE THAT BASE, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT IT'LL BE AT LEAST 800, 900 STRONG.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, I'M A GIRL. I CAN SWING A HAMMER, BUT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MISS THE NAIL.
I HEAR WHAT THESE TWO ARE SAYING LOUD AND CLEAR.
WE NEED A BUILDING AND WE NEED MONEY IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND TOOLS. AND TOOLS. AND I JUST LIFETIME WARRANTY. I CAN'T GET THAT.
I THINK IT DOES BRING OUR DISTRICT A LOT OF RECOGNITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMPETITIONS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE TONIGHT AND TALKING TO US ABOUT IT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING GREAT THINGS.
ABSOLUTELY. MR. PRESIDENT. MR. PARRA, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO OUR YOUNG SCHOLARS, CONTINUE TO WORK ON YOUR CRAFT, TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERTISE THAT THIS STAFF IS PROVIDING.
AND TO YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF PEOPLE THEIR AGE GOING INTO THAT INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO PERFECT YOUR CRAFT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.
THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO BE VIRTUAL, BUT THESE STUDENTS IN THIS PATHWAY ARE SO PASSIONATE, THEY'RE AT SCHOOL EVERY DAY TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY.
AND I JUST COMMEND THEM FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION TO STAY AT HOME.
WELL, MS. DOUGLAS CONGRATULATIONS ON BRINGING THE WHOLE CREW.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT MS. DOUGLAS AND DR. DAVIS AND CHARLIE [INAUDIBLE], MR. [INAUDIBLE], ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO EXPAND THIS.
WE'RE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DOING THAT.
SO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU ALL STUDENTS AMAZING.
AND THE THINGS YOU BROUGHT TO SHOW US TONIGHT ARE AMAZING.
I DON'T TAKE THE DOGHOUSE UNTIL I CAN GET BACK THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DOORBELL AND THE LIGHT ON IT.
MS. ELLIS. ALL OF MY MASONRY HAS DONATED ALL OF MY MATERIALS.
I GET LIKE BECAUSE ALL MY GRAY HAIR HAS BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS SO LONG, YOU KNOW, BUT I GET ALL MY MATERIALS WERE DONATED AND WE TAKE THE TRUCK OVER HERE AT [INAUDIBLE] LOAD UP BLOCKS WE GET BRICK FROM ACME.
HOW NICE HAVEN'T SPENT VERY MUCH ON TOOLS A LOT OF THEM ARE BECAUSE I'VE HAD ALL THESE KIDS THAT WIN COMPETITION AND PEOPLE FROM 20 YEARS AGO.
I GET FREE STUFF SENT TO ME AND I'M ALL ABOUT THAT, MR. KING. I'M ALL ABOUT GETTING FREE STUFF.
AND I GET A BUNCH OF IT, A LOT OF IT I STUFF DONATED. IT HELPS THE CARPENTRY BECAUSE IT COST A FORTUNE TO DO CARPENTRY.
I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THIS AND I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT SAYING IT, BUT EARLIER THIS MEETING, I WAS THINKING AND I JUST MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING FOR A WHILE NOW, YOU KNOW, THE 70S AND THE 80S HAVE BEEN CALLING MANY TIMES, WARNING THAT THAT PODIUM RIGHT THERE BACK.
[LAUGHTER] AND I WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING, I WAS LOOKING AROUND ALL THE CONSTRUCTION I THOUGHT MAN THIS IS COOL.
AND I THOUGHT, HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE? AND NOT JUST A ROUGH CONSTRUCTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY FINE FINISHING FURNITURE.
YOU KNOW ALMOST, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW COOL WOULD IT BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN OUR ED CENTER IF THE KIDS BUILT ONE OF THOSE NEW PODIUMS. I'M NOT PROPOSITIONING THAT, BUT I HAD THAT THOUGHT EARLIER AND I THOUGHT MAN THAT'D BE COOL. SO WITH Y'ALL BEING HERE I JUST THOUGHT I'D GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT.
[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, THAT PODIUM WAS AT THE OLD BUILDING THOUGH.
THE OLD BUILDING'S STILL THERE.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO JUST AGAIN, JUST THANKS YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THESE THINGS UP HERE.
I KNOW THAT STUFF WAS HEAVY I SAW Y'ALL BRINGING IT IN TODAY IT WAS AMAZING.
AND IT REALLY SPEAKS WELL TO TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR PROGRAMMING.
THERE'S YOU KNOW, I CAN VOUCH FOR EVERY BOARD MEMBER UP HERE THAT WE'VE ALL. YEAH, THE LEGAL COUNSEL'S NOT NEAR ME.
I KNOW EVERYBODY ALWAYS SAYS [INAUDIBLE]. BUT NO, WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR BOTH CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS.
AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW OF CAREER PATHWAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE
[02:00:04]
OF GPISD.AND I KNOW EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS ADVOCATED FOR THAT SINCE THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
WELL, BRYAN IS A NEWBIE, BUT HE IS YOU KNOW.
I APPROVED THIS MESSAGE. [LAUGHTER] NO, BUT SERIOUSLY, NOT ALL STUDENTS GO TO COLLEGE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MORE LEAN TOWARDS THE TRADES.
AND THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM, FULL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] WELL, I WISH I COULD END THE MEETING AFTER ALL THAT GREATNESS.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP ON OUR INFORMATION ITEM, WE HAVE BOARD TRAINING CREDITS, MS.
[11.D. Board Training Credit]
ELLIS. BUT THIS IS EXCITING, TOO.IT IS A REQUIREMENT FROM HOUSE BILL THREE THAT WE REPORT THE TRAINING CREDIT THAT OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVE EARNED.
AND SO TODAY WE ARE REPORTING THE AGGREGATE BETWEEN MAY 20 AND MAY 2021.
WE WILL BE DOING MOVING FORWARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOUSE BILL THREE.
YES, HOUSE BILL THREE. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING PRIOR TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTION.
SO IN APRIL, WE'LL BE DOING IT AGAIN.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE HOURS, IF YOU'D LIKE, FOR ME TO.
SURE. OK, MR. TERRY BROOKS, 13.25 HOURS.
MS. GLORIA CARRILLO 29.25 HOURS.
MR. DAVID ESPINOSA 17.25 HOURS.
AND MR. BRYAN PARRA 34.75 HOURS.
34. AND NO, YOU DON'T GET TO AVERAGE FOR THE BOARD.
OH, NO I DO. AND IF YOU AVERAGE THEM, WE ALL HAD 21.
WE SPLIT THOSE HOURS. NO MA'AM.
NO. OR SHOULD I SAY YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. MS. ELLIS.
LAST ON OUR INFORMATION ITEM WILL BE THE REVIEW OF THE BOARD AGENDA CALENDAR.
[11.E. Review of Board Agenda Calendar]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE WILL HAVE OUR SERVICE AWARDS.THE DRIVE THROUGH BANQUET WILL BE ON APRIL THE 27TH.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
WILL YOU I WANT EVERYONE TO SEE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW. I'M SO PROUD.
I'M ALWAYS SO PROUD OF GRAND PRAIRIE ISD AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAPPENS HERE.
BUT TOMORROW AT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION STATE MEETING, THERE'S GOING TO BE A VIDEO REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GRAND PRAIRIE STARTING AND TRAINING TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE IN AMERICAN INDIAN NATIVE STUDIES.
WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE OVERVIEW FOR THEM TO SEE TOMORROW, BUT YOU CAN LOG ON TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TOMORROW AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT ALL OF OUR STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
THANK YOU IT'S SHORT. I'M LINDA ELLIS, THE PROUD SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO INVITE YOU TO COME ALONG WITH ME AS WE LEARN FROM A STUDENT IN GRAND PRAIRIE, ISD, WHO IS LEADING OUR COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. SO JOIN ME AS WE GO INTO A CLASSROOM AT GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND LET'S ALL LEARN FROM OUR STUDENT AS WE TAKE A JOURNEY THAT WILL EXPAND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING. ARE Y'ALL READY.
I'M JOEY SILVA FROM THE LAKOTA NATION.
TODAY, WE INVITE YOU ON OUR JOURNEY FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND A STRONGER COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE A PART OF OUR JOURNEY.
WITH MORE THAN 500 NATIONS JUST IN THE UNITED STATES IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAND OF THOSE WHO WERE HERE BEFORE US.
WE WILL DO THIS NOW. WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE MEETING ON THE AMERICAN INDIAN / NATIVE LANDS IN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS NORTH AMERICA AND WHAT OUR NATIONS REFER TO AS TURTLE ISLAND. WE RECOGNIZE THE ALABAMA COUSHATTA, CADDO, CARRIZO COMECRUDO, COAHUILTECAN, COMANCHE, KICKAPOO, LIPAN APACHE, TONKAWA, WICHITA AND AFFILIATED TRIBES YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO AND ALL THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND NATIVE PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN OR HAVE BECOME A PART OF THESE LANDS AND TERRITORIES IN TEXAS.
WE ARE NOT DEFINED BY STEREOTYPES.
WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, FOODS AND LANGUAGES.
WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OWN CULTURE AND WE WANT TO SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVES WITH OTHERS. I'M A STUDENT WITH AN INTEREST IN ACTING AND FILMS, I'M A NATIONAL MERIT
[02:05:07]
SCHOLARSHIP NOMINEE AND I'M LAKOTA.IN MOST WAYS I'M LIKE EVERY STUDENT WHO LOVES HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS.
AND I STRESS OVER AP TESTS AND OTHER COURSES, TOO.
HOWEVER, AS A LAKOTA STUDENT, I STRUGGLE WITH BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MY CULTURE WITH MY FRIENDS AND PEERS, BUT NOT BECAUSE I'M ASHAMED, BUT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A NATIVE AMERICAN.
I ENJOY ATTENDING POW WOWS AND CEREMONIES, BUT HAVE NO WAY TO RELATE THIS TO MY FRIENDS.
AN AMERICAN INDIAN / NATIVE STUDIES COURSE WILL NOT JUST ALLOW OTHERS TO LEARN THE HISTORY, BUT TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS CULTURES.
AND THIS WILL MAKE FOR BETTER RELATIONSHIPS ALL AROUND.
GRAND PRAIRIE ISD LISTEN TO US THROUGH A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EVENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRIBAL MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT NATIVE NATIONS, PROFESSORS AND EDUCATORS HAVE DEVELOPED AN AMERICAN INDIAN / NATIVE STUDIES COURSE TO BEGIN FALL OF 2021 AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY OF UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY AND HOPE FOR A BETTER WORLD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU.
AS CHIEF JOSEPH OF THE NEZ PERCE SAID, I BELIEVE MUCH WOULD BE SAVED IF WE OPENED OUR HEARTS MORE. WE ARE STILL HERE SEE US.
[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MR. ELLIS. THIS WILL BRING US TO OPEN FORUM FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS, MR. BUCHMEYER. ALL RIGHT.
NONE. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE TO COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS AND I'LL START UP ON
[13. COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS]
MY LEFT, MR. HALL.OH, LUCKY ME. SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK REAL QUICK AND JUST SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR ENTIRE GPISD STAFF.
THE MONEY THAT WE VOTED ON TONIGHT FOR YOU TO RECEIVE IS NOT COMPENSATING YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE.
IT IS ONLY A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.
AND WE FRANKLY, OBVIOUSLY WISH WE COULD DO WAY MORE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS, ALL OUR STAFF, OUR ADMIN, THIS BOARD, BECAUSE I THINK THIS BOARD HAS REALLY MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS HERE RECENTLY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SERVE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU GUYS.
I WANT TO THANK THIS COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO ALLOW ME TO SIT HERE AND THANK YOU.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE. THANK YOU, MR. HALL. MS. CARRILLO. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT BURKE HALL HAS SAID.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.
AND WE THANK YOU, OUR CHILDREN THANK YOU.
I'M SO PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE BOARD FOR VOTING TOGETHER ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
THANK YOU ISN'T A BIG ENOUGH WORD AND A THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ISN'T A BIG ENOUGH STIPEND. BUT I'M PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THIS FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND THEN LASTLY, REALLY QUICKLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DR.
SO PROUD OF YOU AND IT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WEEK.
WELL, IN MY SCHOOL CAREER HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, I GOT TO KNOW THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND THE COACHES INTIMATELY AND VERY WELL ABOVE ANYBODY ELSE.
BUT I ASSURE YOU, THAT'S NOT JUST WHAT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL DOES IS THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. IN FACT, THEY DON'T DO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ANYMORE.
BUT THAT'S ANOTHER SUBJECT WE NEED TO DEBATE SOMEDAY.
THANK YOU, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, FOR JUST BEING THERE.
THE STIPENDS, IF YOU'LL NOTICE IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MS.
[02:10:06]
ELLIS, AND THIS BOARD THAT THE WORDS IN THERE ALL EMPLOYEES, ALL EMPLOYEES, FULL TIME EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.ALL PART TIME EMPLOYEES, THE 500 DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT JUST THE CAMPUSES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALREADY SOME.
OH WELL WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME? [INAUDIBLE]. NO, ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES GET THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONE SECTION WAS HERE AND ONE SECTION, WAS THERE? NO. ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND AGAIN. I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING, ESPECIALLY NOW, BECAUSE I GUESS THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WELL KEPT SECRETS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS Y'ALL PROBABLY [INAUDIBLE] KNEW ABOUT THAT TWO WEEKS.
NO, I DON'T THINK YOU DID, BUT IT WAS HARD TO KEEP IT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BUT IT ALL WORKED OUT VERY WELL.
I LIKE WAS SAID BEFORE ME AND I EVEN SAID IT EARLIER, TOO, THAT THIS IS JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT YOU'RE WORTH. FROM THIS ED CENTER TO THE CAMPUSES TO THE DRIVERS TO IN FACT, I WANT TO USE THE RESTROOM A FEW MINUTES AGO, THERE'S TWO JANITORS IN THE HALL BACK THERE WHEN I COME BY AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE VOTE.
THEY'RE PROBABLY STILL DANCING BACK THERE.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT THEY WERE EXCITED.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
YEAH. ABSOLUTELY, YES, AND IF YOU EVER WANT TO SEE THEM OR TALK TO HIM PERSONALLY AT FRIDAY MORNINGS AT OUTLAW'S.
THEY HAVE THEIR BREAKFAST CLUB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU. I'M GLAD WE COULD VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU MR. BROOKS.
MR. ESPINOSA. THE STIPEND. I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND NO AMOUNT OF MONEY, I MEAN, A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, WE GAVE YOU GUYS, BUT THIS IS.
YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY SOME APPRECIATION, WE GOT A LOT OF HEAT FOR THIS, BY THE WAY, JUST FYI TO THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS A LOT FROM I'M PRETTY SURE EVERY BOARD MEMBER UP HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME MEAN THINGS SAID, BUT WE FORGIVE YOU.
[LAUGHTER] ANYWAY. THE COUNSELORS.
THANK YOU, GUYS. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR THIS COMING YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCILORS ARE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THAT STUFF, YOU KNOW, AND LET'S JUST BE REAL WITH IT.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH THIS PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, AND MOST OF IT IS MENTAL MENTAL ILLNESS, MAYBE NOT ILLNESS, BUT MENTALLY GOING BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS AND GETTING BACK TO NORMAL. YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE AND I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL AND GET BACK IN SCHOOL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR MS. ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU, SIR. WE'LL BE READY.
THEY'RE AMAZING. AND I'M SURE YOU WILL BE READY.
AND YOU KNOW I'LL SAY IT IN SPANISH.
SPANISH] AND ALSO DON'T FORGET EARLY VOTING MONDAY.
LOCAL ELECTIONS. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.
MR. PARRA. YES SIR. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING HOW THANKFUL I AM OF THIS BOARD FOR THE
[02:15:04]
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE DAY IN, DAY OUT, MONTH IN AND MONTH OUT, I THINK, AT ALL MOMENTS OUR FOCUS WAS TO ALWAYS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR EMPLOYEES ANY WAY THAT WE COULD.BUT THAT ALSO REQUIRED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH IN THE POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO WHILE STILL MAINTAINING FINANCIAL SECURITY OF THE DISTRICT AND HAVING CERTAIN QUESTIONS ANSWERED AS FAR AS TAX COLLECTION, AS FAR AS HOW THE STATE WAS GOING TO COMPENSATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR ATTENDANCE VERSUS ENROLLMENT.
WE HAD TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT WE ALWAYS HAD THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STAFF AT HEART. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT MS. ELLIS, HER STAFF AND THIS BOARD PUT INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT PRESENTATION SAID IT, YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS DISTRICT AND I TOTALLY GET IT.
THIS FEELS LIKE YEAR ONE FOR ME AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ALL OVER AGAIN.
MY FIRST YEAR WAS EASIER THAN THIS YEAR.
TO OUR LIBRARIANS WHO ALSO HAD A NATIONAL LIBRARIAN DAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SHOUT OUT TO OUR LIBRARIANS. NEXT WEEK WE HAVE ON THE TWENTY FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DAY SO SHOUT OUT TO ALL THOSE TO THE SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS THAT WERE HERE TONIGHT.
IT IS ALWAYS INSPIRING TO SEE HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE SEIZING THE MOMENT AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY THAT GPISD CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS AS LONG AS WE ARE UP HERE WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE GPISD ON THEIR POWER OF HOPE AWARD.
I'M THANKFUL TO ALL OF YOU WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
GOOD LUCK ON THIS UPCOMING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR STAAR TESTING AND THOSE THAT WILL BE TAKING THEIR STAAR TEST PRETTY SOON WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I KNOW YOU WILL DO YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST AND I'M GOING TO HOLD FOUR FINGERS UP INTO THE AIR.
IT'S JUST A COUPLE MORE WEEKS LEFT TO GO.
LET US FINISH STRONG TOGETHER.
AND I AM PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE THIS BOARD TO SUPPORT THIS DISTRICT AS BEST AS WE CAN.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
MS. ELLIS. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO DR.
DANA JACKSON IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOUR GROUP BACK TONIGHT FRIEND.
IT WAS GREAT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, MS. ELLIS. CONGRATULATIONS, DR.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE TO ADD SINCE MOST OF THE BOARD HAS ALREADY SPOKEN IN THE REGARD.
BUT TEACHERS THANK YOU, STAFF THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATORS THANK YOU.
BUS DRIVERS THANK YOU, CUSTODIAL THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US AND CHOOSING KIDS EVERY DAY, EVEN ABOVE YOURSELF.
IT MEANS A LOT. AND I CAN SAY THAT THIS BOARD, THIS SITTING BOARD CAN NEVER PROMISE ANYTHING. BUT I CAN PROMISE THAT THIS SITTING BOARD CURRENTLY HAS THE DRIVE EVERY YEAR TO DO THIS. THAT'S NOT A PROMISE THAT THIS WILL ALWAYS HAPPEN.
BUT THIS BOARD WANTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THAT LOVE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO WHILE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE FALSE HOPE THAT IT WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE ENCOURAGING HOPE THAT WE WILL ALWAYS FIGHT WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE OR WE WILL FIGHT, BUT WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE, WE WILL PREVAIL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
IT IS 9:20 AND TOGETHER WE ARE GPISD AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.