[00:00:03]
[1. 5:30 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER]
THE TIME IS 5:32 ON THURSDAY, JULY 18TH, 2024.ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
DOCTOR ARREDONDO, HAS THIS MEETING BEEN POSTED IN A LAWFUL AND TIMELY MANNER? YES IT HAS.
[2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION]
THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERATION FOR MATTERS.THE SUPERINTENDENT, AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT, WILL DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.
PERSONNEL, REAL PROPERTY IMPLEMENTATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY ITEMS, STUDENT ISSUES AND OTHER MATTERS PROTECTED BY THE STATUTE, AND CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
THE BOARD WILL RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AT 7 P.M.
AND MAY TAKE ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION.
OKAY, IT IS 7:23 AND WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.
[3. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY SENIOR PASTOR OF INGLEWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH, DOCTOR RICKY GUNTHER.Y'ALL JOIN ME IN PRAYER, PLEASE.
GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN.
FATHER, THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE TO DO, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
AND, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR A CITY THAT GOD, WE CAN WORSHIP YOU.
FATHER, I PRAY RIGHT NOW FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE DIVISION THAT'S THERE, FATHER, THAT LORD, THAT YOU WOULD INTERVENE AND GOD THAT WE WOULD DRAW BACK TO YOU AND LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR ALL THE TEACHERS GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO TEACH.
I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THEM GOD, JUST THAT EXTRA PATIENCE, FATHER, THAT PEACE ABOUT GOING BACK AND FACING THE KIDS AND I PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING.
GOD, WE JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREAT CITY.
THIS IS A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE WANT I WANT TO LIFT THEM UP TO YOU TONIGHT.
I WANT TO LIFT THIS BOARD UP TO YOU, FATHER, AS THEY LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND NEED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN EACH OF THE SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
GOD, WE WANT YOU TO INTERVENE IN ALL THE CAMPUSES.
FATHER, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT'S HERE.
WE JUST PRAISE YOU TONIGHT FOR THAT AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR JESUS AND IT'S IN HIS NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN. WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR PLEDGES.
. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW BE SEATED.
[6. RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS]
NOW WE WILL HAVE OUR RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO SAM BUCHMEYER, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.DOCTOR ARREDONDO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
JOINING US FROM REGION 10 IS CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER RACHEL FROST.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
I WANTED TO START BY SAYING THAT I KNOW THAT THERE IS SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES INTO PUTTING IN THE NOMINATION PACKET FOR THE BOARD OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND TO ALL OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.
I AM NOT PART OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, BUT I DO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO LOOK AT THOSE NOMINATION PACKETS AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY BY HOW WELL DONE THAT WAS.
[00:05:09]
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL BOARD.AS A TEAM OF EIGHT, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE POWER OF UNITY AND LEADERSHIP.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOUR WORK EXTENDS BEYOND THESE MONTHLY MEETINGS.
YOU SHOW UP AS GUEST READERS IN CLASSROOMS, AT STUDENT PERFORMANCES, COUNTLESS ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS, AT EDUCATION FOUNDATION EVENTS, GRADUATIONS, BAND COMPETITION AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT REALLY MATTERS.
YOU'VE NAVIGATED COMPLEX ISSUES THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES, FROM ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS, TO SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION.
YOUR DECISIONS HAVE SHAPED A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN THRIVE.
YOU'VE SHOWN THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO BALANCE DIVERSE COMMUNITY NEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS THE EDUCATION AND WELLBEING OF STUDENTS TO EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON BEING NAMED THE 2024 REGION TEN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [INAUDIBLE] . I FORGOT AN EXCITING PIECE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AS WELL.
AWESOME. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IN JUNE, AT THE 95TH NATIONAL LULAC CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION IN LAS VEGAS, GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS TEACHER MARY CAVAZOS RECEIVED THE 2024 NATIONAL LULAC RAYMOND TILLIS AWARD FOR EDUCATION.
THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST NATIONAL AWARDS GIVEN BY LULAC.
IT RECOGNIZES EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
[00:11:09]
LET'S GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MS. CAVAZOS. THAT IS AMAZING.SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE STUDENTS IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
ALL RIGHT. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS IN REGARDS TO OPEN FORUM FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. WE WILL MOVE TO, AND THERE IS NO ACTION AS A RESULT TO CLOSED SESSION.
[8. ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION]
SO NOW WE WILL MOVE TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.[9. SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE]
UPDATE HIS VERY FIRST UPDATE FROM DOCTOR JORGE ARREDONDO, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT FOUR OF OUR SCHOOLS ATTENDED THE 59TH ANNUAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS THE NATION'S LARGEST SHOWCASE OF SKILLED TRADES.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS AS SKILLS USA.
THE FOUR SCHOOLS THAT ATTENDED SCHOOLS USA NATIONALS WAS DUBISKI CAREER HIGH SCHOOL, GRAND PRAIRIE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, SCHOOL FOR THE HIGHLY GIFTED, AND THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, AND THEY ALL EARNED MEDALS.
THE OVERALL TOTAL COUNT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS 76 MEDALS, AND GRAND PRAIRIE ISD HAD 36 OF THOSE, MEANING OUR SCHOOLS WERE AWARDED 47% OF ALL THE MEDALS GIVEN.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE WON NATIONAL SKILLS USA OFFICER JANA KAWASMI, WHICH IS FROM GRAND PRAIRIE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE WELL OVER 25,000 STUDENTS REGISTERED AT THIS TIME.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR PRE, WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR PRE K ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOMING THESE STUDENTS AND MANY MORE STUDENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 13TH.
THE FIRST DAY WILL BE TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 13TH, SO THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GREAT EDUCATORS TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE AS WE ARE ALL. WE WILL BE HAVING A JOB FAIR SOON, SO PLEASE JOIN THE GRAND PRAIRIE FAMILY REMINDER TO ALSO, PLEASE BE SURE TO GO AND COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION AS WE STILL HAVE ROOM HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
FROM OUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM.
SHOUT OUT GOES OUT TO MISTER FALCON AND THE ENTIRE CHILD NUTRITION TEAM, WHO DID A FABULOUS AND SPECTACULAR JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE FED AND READY TO LEARN.
MAKING SURE. THEY MADE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
AND WE KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
FIRST FEW DAYS HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
THERE YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE PICTURE NUMBER ONE WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND CITY LEADERS.
WE HAVE THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE VISION OF THE BOARD, FOR MY TRANSITION AND BEING ALLOWING ME TO HAVE TIME TO SPEND WITH SUPERINTENDENT ELLIS AND ENSURING THAT THERE WAS A SMOOTH TRANSITION HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND THERE YOU SEE SOME PHOTOS OF DURING THAT TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, YOU HAVE A FEW DAYS HERE WITH CAMPUS LEADERS AS WELL AS SPENT TIME WITH THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD, AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THE GREAT COLLABORATION. AS WE KNOW THEY'RE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
[00:15:03]
NEXT, YOU HAVE THERE ME HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE LIFELINE LUNCHEON, WHICH IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS IN NEED.ALSO, YOU HAVE ME THERE MAKING SOME VIDEOS THERE WITH OUR LEGENDARY SUPERSTAR ADMINISTRATOR, MISS SUSANA RAMIREZ AND SHE'S OUT HERE TODAY, I THINK.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER FEW MORE PHOTOS THAT I LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.
THERE. YOU SEE ME SPEAKING AT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM KICKOFF, WHERE WE KICKED OFF ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE ENTIRE CENTRAL OFFICE TEAM OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ENSURED THAT WE WERE ALIGNED WITH OUR VISION AND MISSION THAT THE BOARD HAS WORKED ON, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE A QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
THERE YOU SEE ME ALSO INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS AT OUR MEET AND GREET RECEPTION.
AS WELL AS TAKING TIME TO GO SEE OUR CTE STUDENTS.
THESE ARE OUR CTE STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED FROM OUR PROGRAM AND I GOT TO HEAR JUST HOW ELOQUENT AND HOW EDUCATED AND SHARP OUR STUDENTS ARE WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE ISD AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAD HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
IT'S JUST WARM MY HEART TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AND INTERACT WITH THEM AND SEE THEM PRESENT IT EVEN ONE OF OUR STUDENTS EVEN IS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH I WAS, HAD THE PLEASURE OF LETTING HER KNOW THAT I WENT THERE THREE TIMES AND SO, ANYWAY SHE IS A GREAT STUDENT, AND I EVEN PASSED OUT MY INFORMATION TO SEE IF I COULD EVER CONNECT HER THERE AT THE UNIVERSITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL, AND WE KNOW JUST BECAUSE YOU GRADUATE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE ISD DOES THAT DOES NOT STOP YOU FROM US WANTING TO SUPPORT YOU ALONG YOUR WAY. SO JUST WARM MY HEART TO HAVE THIS GREAT RECEIVE THIS GREAT WELCOME HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND AT THIS TIME, AS PART OF MY UPDATE, WE'RE GOING TO NOW PROVIDE SOME DATA REPORTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE HAVE FARED, ALONG WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION HERE ON THE STAR EXAM.
DOCTOR STEGER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DOCTOR STEGER.
SHE SAID THIS WILL ONLY BE ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
THEY'RE THEY'RE USED TO ME RUNNING LONG.
THEY KNOW I GET EXCITED WHEN WE HAVE SOME CHARTS IN FRONT OF US.
SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MOFFITT.
DOCTOR ARREDONDO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT DATA.
WE HAVE SOME INTERESTING TRENDS THIS YEAR WITH STAR ON IN LAST MONTH WAS WHEN THE PUBLIC RELEASE CAME OF ALL OF THE STAR SCORES FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND INTERESTINGLY, TEA PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN RECALL IN MY HISTORY, WORKING WITH ASSESSMENT DATA SCORES DECREASED ACROSS THE STATE, THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, MATH AND SCIENCE DECREASED EVERY SINGLE GRADE LEVEL ACROSS THE STATE.
STATEWIDE THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.
YOU'LL SEE IN A SLIDE HERE IN A MOMENT THE STATE SAW SOME DECREASES WHERE WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK OR AN INCREASE BUT IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING YEAR FOR US.
AND SO A LITTLE BIT PERPLEXING, NOT JUST IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD BUT ACROSS THE STATE AND SO TYPICALLY WE COMPARE JUST OURSELVES TO THE STATE AND WHETHER WE'RE OUTPACING BUT OUR PARTNERS THAT COMMIT WHO WORK WITH US THROUGH WITH DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICTS, GET LOVE, HAVE A GREAT PERSPECTIVE ON DATA, AND GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE LOOK LIKE, NOT JUST IN RELATIONSHIP TO IN RELATION TO THE STATE, BUT ALSO RELATIVE TO OUR PEER DISTRICTS HERE IN DALLAS COUNTY EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME STRUGGLES AND SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT.
EACH ONE OF THESE CLUSTERS OF BARS REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, AND THE FAR RIGHT CLUSTER REPRESENTS THE STATE AND WHAT YOU SEE BOXED IN GREEN IS GRAND PRAIRIE ISD AND WHILE THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGES OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE, THIS IS A REPRESENTATION OF OUR DIFFERENCE FROM 2023 TO 2024.
SO YOU HAVE A HORIZONTAL AXIS.
ANYTHING BELOW THAT SHOWS A DECREASE IN PERFORMANCE.
[00:20:06]
DECREASE AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, FIFTH GRADE RLA ON THE FAR RIGHT, YOU SEE THAT THE STATE HAD A DECREASE AT THE APPROACHES AND THE MEETS GRADE LEVEL AND IF I CAN BACK UP, I APOLOGIZE.SO THE STATE SAW A SLIGHT DECREASE AT THE APPROACHES IN THE MEETS WITH STATE STATIC AT THE MASTERS GRADE LEVEL ON OUR FIFTH GRADE RLA.
SIMILARLY, IN GPISD WE HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE, BUT IT WAS LESS OF A DECREASE THAN THE STATE.
SO IT KIND OF GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE WHILE WE DO NOT CELEBRATE A DECREASE BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE IN THAT RELATION TO WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS OUR AREA, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE GIVES AN INTERESTING SPIN.
THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE AT THE STATE.
AGAIN, LESS OF A DECREASE HERE IN GPISD, BUT THE MASTER'S LEVEL, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE, SAW AN INCREASE IN OUR INCREASE HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE STATE AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN SOME OF OUR PEER DISTRICTS HERE IN DALLAS COUNTY AND AGAIN KEEPING THE PRESENTATION FROM GOING 45 MINUTES.
WE DON'T HAVE A SLIDE FOR EVERY SUBJECT IN EVERY GRADE LEVEL, BUT WE JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE KIND OF THE OVERALL TREND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN, NOT JUST IN GRAND PRAIRIE, BUT HOW WHAT THIS IMPACT LOOKS LIKE.
SO FIFTH GRADE MATH, WE SAID THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN EVERY SINGLE GRADE LEVEL.
ALGEBRA ONE WAS AN AREA WHERE NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN OUR ALGEBRA ONE PERFORMANCE GREATER THAN SEVERAL OF OUR PEER DISTRICTS AND GREATER THAN THAT INCREASE AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL AND SIMILARLY WITH BIOLOGY, WE SAW THAT THAT INCREASE AS WELL.
BUT IT'S A LITTLE MORE PERSPECTIVE.
AGAIN BY NO MEANS ARE WE HAPPY WITH WHERE WE LANDED IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAD DECREASES.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS.
A LITTLE BIT OF A JAW DROP THIS YEAR AND SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE STATE ADDRESSES IT AND THE COMMISSIONER MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE SEEING KIND OF SOME OF THOSE LONG TERM EFFECTS AND THIS YEAR'S THIRD GRADE, THE 23-24 THIRD GRADE CLASS WERE IN KINDERGARTEN THAT HYBRID YEAR AND SO THIS IS THE FIRST CLASS THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT STARTED SCHOOL WITH THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC IN THIRD GRADE AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PROGRESSES THROUGH THOSE UPPER GRADE LEVELS.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, MADAM PRESIDENT? YES. SO JUST CURIOUS OF YOUR OPINION OR WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, BUT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE CHANGE OF FORMAT IN THE TEST AND OR THE GRADING BEING DONE BY AI HAS ANY IMPACT ON THIS? GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPINIONS, A LOT OF SPECULATION.
THE CHANGES IN THE TEST WE ARE STILL ADJUSTING TO.
BUT INTERESTINGLY, WE HAD THOSE SAME CHANGES LAST YEAR.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT JUST THE FORMAT.
BUT SEEING KIND OF THE INCREASE OF THOSE CLASSES AND THOSE YOUNGER STUDENTS NOW TAKING MORE MORE OF THOSE GRADE LEVELS, THE AI SCORING, I WILL TELL YOU IN DECEMBER WHEN THAT HIT WITH OUR DECEMBER RETEST AND THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ZEROS ON THE WRITTEN COMPOSITION, TEA OFFERED EVERY DISTRICT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO GO DOWN.
THEY DIDN'T RELEASE ANYTHING, BUT WE COULD GO DOWN, SIGN OATHS AND ACTUALLY SCORE AGAINST THE RUBRIC, LOOK AT A STUDENT'S COMPOSITION, LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE ZEROS AND COMPARE AND OUR TEAM, ONE OF OUR RLA FACILITATOR AND ONE OF OUR STRATEGISTS WENT DOWN AND THEY LOOKED AND THERE WERE NOT ANY DISCREPANCIES THAT THEY FOUND.
IN FACT, IN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES, THEY WOULD HAVE SCORED A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
[00:25:02]
WHAT CONSTITUTES BECAUSE A STUDENT NOW CAN WRITE A BEAUTIFUL COMPOSITION FULLY WELL PUT TOGETHER, BUT IF IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE PROMPT, IT'S AN AUTOMATIC ZERO, NO MATTER HOW GRAMMATICALLY SOUND IT IS.WHEREAS UNDER PREVIOUS RUBRICS WE COULD GET SOME POINTS AND SO WE ARE SEEING SOME IMPACT.
BUT THE AI WE'RE NOT SEEING THE IMPACT THAT WE FELT INITIALLY WAS GOING TO BE RESULTING FROM THAT.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE.
OKAY. MY THING IS THE COMMISSIONER OR TEA SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE FORMAT? I KNOW WE'VE MOVED AWAY FROM PAPER.
PENCIL. YES, MA'AM AND WE'VE MOVED COMPLETELY TO ONLINE STAAR TESTING AND YOU STILL HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO NEED PAPER PENCIL FOR LET'S, FOR EXAMPLE, A MATH TEST.
YES. HAVE THEY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THAT REQUEST TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A PAPER PENCIL VERSUS TAKING IT COMPLETELY ONLINE? YES, MA'AM. THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH IF THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXTREME IS NOT THE A FAIR WORD, BUT SIGNIFICANT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WARRANT A PAPER VERSION.
WE ACTUALLY CAN MAKE A REQUEST TO THE STATE AND SO IT'S NOT THAT THERE AREN'T ANY OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT IT IS RARE THAT IS OFFERED AND SO WHAT WE DO AS A DISTRICT IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXPOSING THOSE STUDENTS EARLY AND OF COURSE, YOU AS A BOARD HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT TECHNOLOGY IS IN OUR HANDS AT A YOUNG AGE SO THAT THE STUDENTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THAT.
BUT WE DO HAVE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OF STUDENTS WHO DO HAVE NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SEEGER.
MY HUSBAND WOULD LOVE FOR EVERY CONVERSATION.
[INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
ALRIGHT. SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR ARREDONDO, FOR YOUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
GREAT JOB. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSIDER OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS.
[10. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
CAN I ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MADAM PRESIDENT? SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN, ZERO.
NOW WE MOVE FORWARD FOR CONSIDER OF APPROVAL OF ACTION AGENDA ITEMS.
[11.A. Out-of-State Travel - 2024 SkillsUSA National Officer Training]
FIRST ITEM IS OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL 2024 SKILLSUSA NATIONAL OFFICER TRAINING.BRYAN DID. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE BROOKS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NAY. ALL RIGHT.
[11.B. 2024-2025 Lunch Prices]
OPERATIONS.I GUESS I WAS WAITING FOR A MOTION, BUT.
SPEAKING TONIGHT ON THE MEAL PRICES FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
CURRENTLY, OUR MEALS FOR AND I WANT TO UNDERLINE LUNCH.
OKAY. CURRENTLY, OUR PRIMARY OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUNCHES ARE $2.80 AND AT THE SECONDARY CAMPUSES, THEY'RE $2.90. GOING TO $0.10 WOULD, OF COURSE, TAKE THE ELEMENTARIES TO $2.90 AND $3 FOR THE SECONDARY CAMPUSES.
[00:30:04]
SO YOU CAN SEE, WELL, LET ME BACK UP.YEAH $2.80, $2.90 FOR SECONDARY, THE AVERAGE WOULD BE IT WOULD BE $2.85.
SO YOU TAKE THE 385 AND SUBTRACT THE 285.
WE'RE A DOLLAR LESS THAN WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT $3.85 OKAY.
THE TEA TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
WHAT THEY AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT IN THE AREA THAT'S LIKE THIS.
NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ARE ALSO IN THE SAME SITUATION.
THAT WAY IT'S NOT SUCH AN IMPACT TO FAMILIES.
THIS IS REALLY JUST BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH TDA.
WE WANT TO BE IN COMPLIANT WITH TDA.
WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS.
IF WE CHOSE NOT TO GO WITH THIS INCREASE AND WE JUST STAYED PAT WITH THESE PRICES, WITH THESE [INAUDIBLE] PRICES TDA WILL COME AND DO THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR THEIR AUDIT, AND THEY WILL FIND WHERE WE DID NOT GO.
WE DID NOT PROVIDE AN INCREASE AND THAT WOULD BECOME A FINDING, IT WOULD BECOME A FISCAL FINDING AND THAT WOULD RESULT IN A FINANCIAL PENALTY TO THE DISTRICT AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE THERE.
THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN IN WITH CHILD NUTRITION.
YOU SAW THE RECOGNITION THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE SUMMER LUNCHES, AND WE DID A, THE TDA DID A DINNER AUDIT THIS PAST SPRING, AND IT WAS NEAR IMMACULATE AND THAT'S WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
WE WANT TO DO THAT WITH OUR THIS SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM.
WE WANT TO DO IT WITH THIS NEXT YEAR'S SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THIS 10 CENT INCREASE, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE, MADAM PRESIDENT? YES. DOES THE FEDERAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE CHANGE OR HAS IT BEEN $3.85.
SO WE'RE I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT IT WAS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT CAN CHANGE EVERY YEAR.
OKAY. SO WE'RE SO IT'S GOTTEN HIGHER EVERY YEAR.
YEAH, I MIGHT DEFER THAT QUESTION IF WE CAN.
I MEAN, I'VE GOT DUSTIN SEYMORE, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES.
IF HE IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP HERE AND MAYBE SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
WELCOME, DUSTIN. I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT HE TELLS ME.
OH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON OR SAY GOOD MORNING OR GOOD EVENING.
SO YES IT'S BASED ON INFLATION.
SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP AND SO THE GAP WILL CONTINUE TO GET LARGER.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T IMAGINING THINGS AND THIS IS JUST FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR CHILDREN ARE QUALIFIED FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES? 75, 76%? YES, MA'AM. THAT EQUALS TO ABOUT 20,000 STUDENTS.
YEAH.. SO WHAT PERCENT DO WE NEED TO GET TO FOR ALL STUDENTS TO GET FREE LUNCH? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALWAYS THERE'S A PERCENTAGE FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT WE NEED TO MEET BEFORE ALL STUDENTS CAN GET FREE LUNCH.
THERE'S MULTIPLE OPTIONS IN WHICH THE DISTRICT CAN PURSUE.
SORRY. THERE'S MULTIPLE OPTIONS IN WHICH THE DISTRICT CAN PURSUE IN THE FUTURE.
WHICH LEVEL WE NEED TO REACH FOR ECONOMICALLY.
CORRECT. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS.
[00:35:02]
OPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE.DUSTIN AND I AND MR. FALCON. WE LOOKING INTO THAT, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT 100% FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED FOR US THIS TIME AROUND, ACCORDING TO DUSTIN AND SO BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD THAT I THINK WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THINGS MORE EQUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY THERE ON THE CAMPUS.
DOES IT IS IT DETERMINED BY THE CAMPUS AS FAR AS LIKE THEM BEING TITLE ONE, OR IS IT BASED OFF OF HOW MANY FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS OUR PARENTS FILL OUT UPON REGISTRATION IS BASED OFF OF A FREE AND REDUCED PERCENTAGE.
YEAH, AND THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FILLED OUT.
SO WE NEED TO WORK ON GETTING ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO NOT BE AFRAID TO FILL THAT OUT.
AND THEN IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS 100%, WE HAVE TO PAY X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.
SO TRUSTEE ESPINOSA, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN THERE'S FORMULA THAT THEY HAVE OR IN GUIDELINES AND SO IF WE'RE IN THAT WINDOW OF WHATEVER THEIR FORMULA IS, THEN WE CAN QUALIFY.
BUT WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE OUR PARENTS TO TURN IN THOSE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS.
OKAY AND THOSE FORMS FOR THE FREE FOR THE LUNCH FORMS. DO THEY PUT THEM IN A FOLDER OR DO THEY PUT IT ON THE APP THAT THE IS THERE A WAY WE CAN PUSH THE FORM.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. FILL IT OUT.
SO PARENTS CAN FILL THAT FORM OUT.
YES, SIR. THIS YEAR WITH THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, THEIR FORMS WILL BE INSIDE EACH BACKPACK.
AWESOME. IT'S ALSO ON SKYWARD.
CORRECT. LIKE WHEN I REGISTER MY KIDDO.
IS THERE A WAY THAT THE AND THIS MAY BE AGAINST THE LAW? IS THERE A WAY THAT CAN BE A REQUIREMENT TO FILL OUT? BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN SKIP THAT.
RIGHT AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP.
SO ON SKYWARD, AS YOU'RE REGISTERING YOUR STUDENT, IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT TO WHERE THEY HAVE TO FILL IT OUT? [INAUDIBLE]. YES.
IT'LL BE BLASTED ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
OKAY, THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR COMING UP, MR. SEYMOUR. YES. THANK YOU.
YES. TRUSTEE, I HAVE A QUESTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE FORM THAT MISS LILES WAS REFERRING TO.
IS THAT FORM IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH OR VIETNAMESE? YES. I GOT THE THUMBS UP.
IF THERE'S A CERTAIN LANGUAGE THAT A FAMILY IS REQUESTING THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO OUR FAMILIES, HOW WILL THEY GO ABOUT REQUESTING THAT IF THEY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, I BELIEVE THEY COULD REACH OUT TO THE BONHAM SERVICE CENTER, THE GRANT COUNTY FAMILY SERVICE CENTER.
YES. SO OUR FAMILY SERVICE CENTER.
I DIDN'T MEAN BONHAM. THE GRANT FAMILY.
PERFECT. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM PRESIDENT? YES.
I MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE THE LUNCH PROCESS FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE LILES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM C, AND IT'S THE REQUIRED
[11.C. Required Public Meeting to Discuss Budget and Proposed Tax Rate for 2024-2025]
PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR.OUR PRESENTER IS TRACY RAY, OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT ARREDONDO AND BOARD MEMBERS.
SO THIS IS JUST THE ANNUAL AGENDA ITEM WHERE I ASK YOU TO COMMIT TO OUR FINAL BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR TO WHERE WE CAN ADOPT YOUR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, YOUR 24-25, SET YOUR TAX RATE AND THEN MAKE FINAL AMENDMENTS.
[00:40:02]
AND SO I'VE SELECTED THURSDAY, AUGUST THE 22ND.THAT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR MY TEAM.
BUT IN THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE READY FOR THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S A GREAT DATE FOR YOU BECAUSE WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE TO HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY FIVE OUT OF SEVEN INSTEAD OF JUST A QUORUM, BECAUSE TRUTH AND TAXATION IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGES, AND I WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT PROCESS AND I CAN'T START THAT UNTIL I RECEIVE CERTIFIED VALUES NEXT WEEK.
SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK IF WE COULD HAVE THIS MEETING ON AUGUST THE 22ND.
OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MADAM PRESIDENT.
TRUSTEE PARRA DO I HAVE? THANK YOU.
TRUSTEE LILES. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AUGUST 22ND FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE MEETING.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. RAY. ALL RIGHT.
[11.D. Updates to Local Policies ]
NOW WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM G UPDATES TO LOCAL POLICY AND OUR PRESENTER IS DOCTOR MELISSA KATES, OUR GENERAL COUNSEL.DOCTOR ARREDONDO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE HAVE SIX POLICIES IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT.
AND WHAT THESE SIX POLICIES ARE COMPRISED OF LAST MONTH THAT THE BOARD WILL REMEMBER, YOU VOTED ON FIVE DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS TO OUR DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN AND SO WHAT THESE POLICIES DO IS THEY GO IN AND THEY PUT INTO POLICY THE CHANGES THAT YOU MADE.
HOWEVER, THE FIRST FOUR POLICIES THAT YOU'LL SEE DBA, DQ, EB AND EB PART OF UPDATING OUR POLICIES, TASB HAS MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO US TO REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLANS IN OUR LOCAL POLICY, AND THEY'VE NOW JUST PLACED IT IN OUR LEGAL POLICY.
SO THE FIRST FOUR POLICIES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY, THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE THAT IT'S DOING.
IT'S WE'RE NOW JUST GOING TO REFER TO OUR DISTRICT OF INNOVATION PLAN AND OUR LEGAL POLICIES AND THEN POLICY FDA THAT IS THE FIFTH POLICY IN YOUR BOOK TONIGHT AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT CHANGES THE ABILITY FOR THE WELL, IT CREATES THE ABILITY FOR THE DISTRICT TO REVOKE A ONE YEAR OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFER TO THE DISTRICT.
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT WAS IN MAY AND JUNE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDERED THOSE AND ADOPTED THOSE AND THAT IS ACTUALLY JUST BRINGING UP OUR POLICY IN LINE WITH THAT CHANGE THAT WAS MADE ABOUT EJECTION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM ANY OF OUR DISTRICT FACILITIES.
SO THESE ARE THE SIX POLICIES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND AGAIN, THERE'S JUST FROM THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION POLICIES THAT YOU HAD ALREADY ADOPTED LAST MONTH.
SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
CAN I ENTERTAIN A MOTION? THANK YOU. YES.
[INAUDIBLE]. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A FROM TRUSTEE BROOKS.
ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO THANK DOCTOR KATES FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT SHE DOES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. ESPINOSA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO AND NOW WE'LL MOVE TO INFORMATION DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[12.A. 2024-2025 District/Campus Improvement Plans: Priority Focus Areas and Measurable Objectives]
ITEM A THE 24-25 DISTRICT CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLANS, PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS AND MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES.OUR PRESENTER TONIGHT WILL BE DOCTOR DANA JACKSON, WHICH IS OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, AND DOCTOR HOLLY MOHLER, OUR DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS OUTCOMES.
IT'LL BE SWITCHING OVER SOON AS WE SWITCH OVER.
BOARD PRESIDENT MOFFIT, SUPERINTENDENT ARREDONDO AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I'M HERE ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE HOLLY MOHLER, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS OUTCOMES AND TODAY, WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT OUR ROAD TO ELEVATION, THE STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING TO CREATE OUR NEW DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
[00:45:06]
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.SO WE'RE STARTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING.
THAT'S HOW WE STARTED WITH LAST YEAR.
WE HAD A GROUP OF COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE WITH GRAND PRAIRIE ISD DEALING WITH THAT, WE HAVE CREATED A PROFILE OF A GRADUATE.
SO LET'S JUMP ON THE ROAD TO COMMUNITY VISIONING.
SO LIKE I SAID, END OF LAST YEAR WE HAD IN FRONT OF YOU OUR COMMUNITY VISIONING COMMITTEE, AND IT CONSISTED OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GENERAL AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT SOME OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DID TO COME UP WITH SOME PRIORITIES FOR OUR DISTRICT TO HELP US REVISION, REIMAGINE OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION FOR THE DISTRICT.
ALSO TO HELP US SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ABOUT WHAT THAT MISSION AND VISION IS AND OUR MISSION AND VISION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS, ALL STUDENTS IN GPISD.
WITH ANY GREAT PLAN, YOU NEED TO START WITH THE END IN MIND.
AND THE END IN MIND IS OUR WHY? OUR GRADUATES.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT A GPISD GRADUATE TO LOOK LIKE, TO EXPERIENCE, TO HAVE WHEN THEY LEAVE OUR GRADE SCHOOL DISTRICT? WE WANT THEM TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
IT'S LIKE DOCTOR JACKSON SAID, STARTING WITH THE END IN MIND AND WORKING BACK FROM THERE.
SO REALLY KEEPING IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MIND WHAT THAT GRADUATE NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE, SOUND LIKE, EXPERIENCE AND BE READY FOR AND FROM THAT, CRAFTING A STRATEGIC PLAN TO GET THEM THERE AND SO THE COMMUNITY VISIONING GROUP CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, WHERE DO WE NEED TO SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME ENERGY FUNDS IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT END GOAL OF A GRADUATE THAT'S WELL ROUNDED AND READY FOR SUCCESS AND THEY IDENTIFIED THESE EIGHT PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS AND SO I'M GOING TO REVIEW THESE BRIEFLY.
SO IN THE FIRST AREA IT'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.
AND THAT'S LED BY DOCTOR BLANCA MCGEE.
SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LED BY NEIL SANDLIN.
THE EFFORTS OF OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TEAM LED BY MISS MARIA HERRERA.
OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TEAM WINNING ALL THOSE SKILLSUSA MEDALS LED BY MISS DOUGLAS AND IN THE AREA OF COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS.
THAT'S A TEAMWORK BETWEEN MR. REESE JOHNSON AND MYSELF AND THEN FINALLY, IN THE AREAS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS PERSONNEL, WE HAVE MISS TRACY RAY AND CARRIE CHAPMAN AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY, MR. ANTOINE ROBERTSON.
IT OUTLINES ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE GOALS, AND THEN THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE DISTRICT AND CAMPUS PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE BOARD AND WHEN WE SAY THEY NEED TO BE SMART GOALS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE GOALS ARE SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT, AND TIMELY.
SO IN THE FIRST PIECE, AS ARE THE PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS BROAD SUCH AS WELLNESS AND SAFETY.
THE OBJECTIVES HERE ARE MORE SPECIFIC AND NARROW FOCUS.
[00:50:02]
THERE'S A SPECIFIC MEASURE THAT IS BEING USED TO DETERMINE SUCCESS IN THIS AREA.THEY'RE ACHIEVABLE, BUT STILL GROWTH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SET GOALS THAT ARE TOO EASY TO MEET, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ACHIEVABLE SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. THEY NEED TO BE RELEVANT AND SO WE'RE CONNECTING THEM TO THOSE STRATEGIES, THOSE STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS.
THESE ARE TIME BOUND. THERE'S A TIME FRAME IN WHICH WE HAVE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.
SO WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? OUR NEXT STEPS. FIRST IS WE WANTED TO GET QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL JUST TO SEE WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO BE REFINING THOSE GOALS WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT WE JUST SHOWCASED AND ALSO OUR PRINCIPALS GETTING FEEDBACK, ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THEM. ONCE WE HAVE THAT, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THIRD PARTIES SUCH AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE COMMIT ORGANIZATION, REGION TEN, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GOALS ARE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES, NOT JUST FOR GPISD, BUT FOR OUR REGION, FOR OUR STATE, FOR THE NATION AND ALSO WE WILL BE FINALIZING THOSE GOALS WITH OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM, BECAUSE WHATEVER THOSE GOALS WILL BE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS THAT WE'VE SET AND THEN WE'LL BE RETURNING BACK TO YOU TO GIVE YOU A OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH AND ASKING FOR YOU TO AGREE FOR THAT TO BE OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
SO WITH ALL THIS, OUR DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT IS LASER FOCUSED ON THE VISION AND THE MISSION FOR THIS DISTRICT.
I'VE ADDED TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO ADD A LITTLE BIT SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OUR MODEL.
OUR MOTTO IN OUR DISTRICT IS TO INNOVATE, EDUCATE AND GRADUATE.
BUT WITH OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WE'VE ADDED A LITTLE SOMETHING ELEVATE.
SO THIS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THIS DISTRICT UNDER ITS LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE COMMUNITY IN MIND, BECAUSE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK THAT WE CAN TAKE AT THIS TIME? MADAM PRESIDENT, WHENEVER THE COMMUNITY VISIONING MET, THE BOARD WAS PRESENTED WITH THAT INFORMATION, ALONG WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT HAD GOALS IN IT. I BELIEVE THOSE WERE GOING TO BE THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN GOALS.
SO AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE GOALS ARE WHAT YOU ARE NOW GOING BACK TO REVISIT, TO BRING BACK TO US? YES AND IS IT STILL GOING TO BE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT OUR AMAZING COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY VISION COMMITTEE DID? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO YES, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THOSE PRIORITIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY VISION COMMITTEE.
SO THE VISION WAS MORE BROAD AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS A DISTRICT, WE'RE LASER FOCUSED ON BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT FOLLOWING THOSE DISTRICT PRIORITIES. SO WITH THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS DOING IT'S TAKING THAT VISION AND MOVING IT INTO A SMART GOAL SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEASURE OUR PROGRESS.
SOMETHING SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ATTAINABLE, ACHIEVABLE, AND TIMELY AND RELEVANT.
SO THAT IS JUST THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE TAKING THE SAME PRIORITIES.
SO BASICALLY YOU'RE JUST SAYING WHAT WAS IN THERE WASN'T SMART.
NO NOT THAT IT WASN'T SMART THAT IT WAS.
ABSOLUTELY. SO SAY SOMETHING FOR A SECOND.
SO EACH CAMPUS HAS A CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
EACH DISTRICT HAS A DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO WHAT WAS CREATED WAS A COMMUNITY VISIONING DOCUMENT.
AND SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT METRICS ARE TIED TO THAT AND TRANSFER THAT INTO THE DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALIGNED. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT MOFFIT.
ABSOLUTELY AND YOU GIVE ME JUST THE LUXURY OF JUST READING.
I JUST WANT TO READ JUST REALLY QUICKLY.
SO ON THE COMMUNITY VISIONING PLAN, THE OBJECTIVE IS FOR I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THIS VERY FIRST ONE THAT WE HAVE UP FOR WELLNESS GPISD WILL EMPOWER STUDENTS TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, FOSTER ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPATHY, AND
[00:55:08]
CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY.SO THAT'S FROM THE VISIONING DOCUMENT.
BY JUNE 2025, GPISD WILL SEE A 5% DECREASE IN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION, OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION AND DAEP BY IMPLEMENTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS, PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOSTERING STRONG STUDENT STAFF RELATIONSHIPS AND UTILIZING RESTORATIVE DISCIPLINE PRACTICES. SO WE'RE TAKING THEIR VISION AND JUST PUTTING METRICS IN IT SO THAT WE'RE BETTER ABLE TO SEE IF WE MEET IT.
YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE STUDENT OUTCOMES AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY VISION IS COMING INTO FRUITION.
[12.B. Review of Board Agenda Calendar]
CUT OFF ON THAT ONE. OH.LET ME SEE. I THINK WE HAVE A SUMMER GRADUATION AUGUST 1ST AND THEN FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AUGUST 13TH.
THOSE ARE THE TWO DATES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CALENDAR COMING UP.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DOCTOR ARREDONDO.
SO WE'RE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL COMING UP.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITIZENS IN REGARDS TO OPEN FORUM FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE TO COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS.
[14. COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS]
TRUSTEE BROOKS.[INAUDIBLE] I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE BABIES GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND I'M TALKING ABOUT FOUR OF THEM THAT ARE AT MY HOUSE.
SO GOD BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS.
TEACHERS, STAFF, DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE CHILDREN THE SUCCESS THAT THEY ARE.
IT'S NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
MY KIDS ARE THEY? MY GRANDCHILDREN AMAZE ME EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE AND I THINK I'VE TOLD Y'ALL THIS BEFORE.
LET'S HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
THANK YOU. DOCTOR [INAUDIBLE].
I JUST WANT TO WELCOME AGAIN DOCTOR ARREDONDO TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'RE SO EXCITED FOR A NEW AND EXCITING YEAR AND LIKE TERRY SAYS, WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
MY YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER WILL BE A SENIOR THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND I WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR BACKPACK PROGRAM ON AUGUST THE 3RD AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S UNIDOS, THE YMCA.
WE WILL BE GIVING OUT 10,000 BACKPACKS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRE-REGISTER.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE HAIRCUTS AND IMMUNIZATIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED VOLUNTEERS.
SO Y'ALL COME OUT AND HELP US.
I'M GLAD THAT EVERYONE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO TO REST AND RECOVER OUR STAFFS ON CAMPUS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AS YOU PREPARE TO GET OUR SCHOOLS READY FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN EXCELLENT 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR TO OUR PARENTS, START MAKING SURE WE PUT OUR SCHOLARS TO BED A LITTLE BIT EARLY THIS WEEK SO THEY CAN GET READY TO BRIGHT AND EARLY ON AUGUST 13TH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOCTOR ARREDONDO AND THE REST OF THE TRUSTEES FOR FOR A GREAT 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. PARRA. TRUSTEE.
ESPINOSA. I JUST WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE BACK FROM SUMMER.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MISS MARY CAVAZOS.
I WANT TO WISH DOCTOR ARREDONDO, A GREAT YEAR.
YOU KNOW I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH OUR DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND GOOD LUCK THIS YEAR AND I HOPE EVERYONE MAKES IT BACK SAFE TO GRAND PRAIRIE AND READY FOR THE
[01:00:11]
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL [SPANISH].I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, MISS BRIDGES.
I TOO, WANT TO WELCOME DOCTOR ARRENDONDO.
HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
ALSO I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR BOARD RECOGNITION.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I DID THAT MUCH, BUT WE ALL GOT RECOGNIZED AND IT'S A GREAT FEELING WHEN REGION TEN COMES WITH A BANNER AND PRESENTS SOMETHING TO US.
BUT IN THE DISTRICT DID A GREAT APPLICATION FOR US.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE OF YOU OVER THERE WHO HELPED DO OUR APPLICATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MISS BRIDGES.
YES. OH, WAS THAT OKAY? GOOD. AND FOR THE RECORD.
IT'S MY TURN. FOR THE RECORD, THIS WILL BE GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, SECOND AWARD TIME, BECAUSE WE ALSO WON LARGEST URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT BACK IN 2017.
THAT WAS FROM H-E-B, THOUGH, FROM H-E-B.
BUT YEAH, WE GOT THAT AWARD THROUGH H-E-B AND THAT WAS IN 2017.
TRUSTEE ESPINOSA AND ALSO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THANK YOU GLORIA FOR BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING GETTING ALL THESE BACKPACKS.
I KNOW YOU WERE A BIG PART OF IT, AS WERE OTHERS, BUT SEE EVERYONE ON AUGUST 13TH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BRIDGES.
TRUSTEE. LILES. I WOULD TOO WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK TO SCHOOL.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THIS TEAM.
FROM OUR CUSTODIAL AND TRANSPORTATION STAFF ALL THE WAY TO OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND ABOVE.
I SEE YOU. I KNOW THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE GET TO SIT UP HERE AND TAKE CREDIT FOR THESE THINGS.
SO I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I TRULY APPRECIATE IT AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T.
HOPEFULLY SHE'S WATCHING TONIGHT AT HOME IF I DIDN'T SHOUT OUT MISS TERRY WILSON, WHO REALLY SPEARHEADED THAT APPLICATION PROCESS AND DID A LOT OF WORK, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE FINAL PRODUCT AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING US LOOK AMAZING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO AUGUST 13TH AND 15TH AND SEEING ALL OF THE KIDDOS THEN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY BOARDS WISH THEY COULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED, BUT THERE'S ONLY, I THINK, 13 OR 14 FROM THE ENTIRE STATE AND WE'RE STILL IN THE RUNNING AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'LL GET TO THE NEXT ROUND AS WELL.
THERE'S SO MANY GREAT THINGS THAT YOU CAN SAY ABOUT GRAND PRAIRIE.
I WANT TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT TRUSTEE PARRA IS SAYING ABOUT GETTING UP EARLY ON DAY ONE, I GOT UP AT FIVE IN THE MORNING, AND I HAVEN'T STOPPED SINCE.
THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS FEELING TO BE ABLE TO GET UP EARLY AND COME TO WORK AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH SUCH A GREAT TEAM THAT I HAVE HERE AND MEET THE COMMUNITY, MEET THE PARENTS AND EVERYBODY HERE HAS JUST BEEN AMAZING IN TERMS OF WELCOMING ME AND MY FAMILY HERE TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
SO THE EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, RIGHT? WHEN WE RAISE OUR KIDS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND MY TEAM AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR GRAND PRAIRIE AND SO IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE AND I DO GET UP EARLY EVERY DAY BECAUSE I'M HAPPY TO COME, AND IT'S A BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO AND SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
[01:05:01]
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT AND I THANK MY FAMILY FOR DURING THIS TRANSITION.THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ME AND MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN ALSO GETTING UP EARLY SO SHE CAN DO WELL IN CROSS COUNTRY BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO REPRESENT GRAND PRAIRIE AS WELL AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO WORK HARD AND ACHIEVE GREAT RESULTS AND THAT'S IT'S A BLESSING.
SO THANK EVERYBODY HERE AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT TO THE MEET AND GREET.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE LINE THERE.
I HAD A CHANCE TO FEEL FOR A FEW MINUTES.
WHAT A CELEBRITY GOES THROUGH.
I'M DOWN TO EARTH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT I LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY DURING THESE DURING MY TIME PERIOD, AS I CONTINUE TO TRANSITION THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO EVERY CAMPUS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FIRST DAY AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ARREDONDO.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT MY BOARD, COLLEAGUES AND SUPERINTENDENT ARREDONDO HAS SAID.
READY TO WELCOME OUR STUDENTS BACK ON AUGUST THE 13TH.
PARENTS, JUST HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM BACK SHORTLY.
I WANT TO SAY AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR OUR SKILLSUSA STUDENTS AND MISS DOUGLAS AND THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO AND OUR TEACHERS AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD 47% OF WHAT WAS HANDED OUT CAME FROM GRAND PRAIRIE ISD AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.
SO I LIKE TO CALL IT THE GPISD TAKEOVER BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
OUR NATIONAL AWARD WINNER BACK THERE, MS. CAVAZOS, CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN OUR DISTRICT AND BE REWARDED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS IN LIFE WE HAVE THE POWER OF THE POWER AND THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND YOU CHOOSE TO EAT.
YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND YOU CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO TO WORK, AND YOU CHOOSE WHERE YOU SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AT AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERY PARENT, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STAFF MEMBER THAT HAS CHOSEN GPISD AS A PLACE WHERE THEY EITHER ARE GETTING EDUCATED OR PROVIDING THE EDUCATION OR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
10,000 BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. AS WE TRANSITION TO THE MESH AND CLEAR BACKPACKS, WE'RE NOT ONLY TRANSITIONING, BUT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES IN A TIME OF INFLATION.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES THIS WORK.
WE GET PAID LOTS OF MONEY TO DO THIS WORK AND THEY'RE LIKE, NO, WE DON'T.
BUT THE TIME AND THE SERVICE THAT WE ALL PUT IN IT'S A LOT.
IT'S A SACRIFICE TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES WORK AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR PLATES TO BE ABLE TO SIT UP IN THE SEATS AND HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO SERVE YOU THE BEST WAY WE KNOW HOW, KEEPING OUR WHY AT THE FOREFRONT AND THAT'S OUR STUDENTS AND GRADUATING THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU, DOCTOR ARREDONDO.
IT IS 8:31 AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.