[1. 5:30 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
THE TIME IS 530 ON MONDAY, DECEMBER THE 2ND, 2020 FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
MISS RAY, HAS THIS MEETING BEEN POSTED IN A LAWFUL AND TIMELY MANNER? YES, MA'AM. IT HAS.
ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE MOVE TO OPEN FORUM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HEARD, BUT FORMER LONGTIME EDUCATOR, GPISD EDUCATOR AND CAMPUS NAMESAKE PASSED AWAY, AND HIS NAME WAS MR. DELL. MISS MORTON, WE ARE SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE PASSING OF DELL.
MR. MORTON ATTENDED TEXAS COLLEGE ON A BAND SCHOLARSHIP AND GRADUATED IN 1952.
HE LATER EARNED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE FROM PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY.
HE SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL OF AUSTIN ELEMENTARY FOR 17 YEARS.
I WAS A STUDENT OF AUSTIN ELEMENTARY.
HE WAS MY PRINCIPAL UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT FROM GRANBURY ISD IN 1996.
MR. MORTON TOUCHED THE LIVES OF GENERATIONS AND STUDENTS IN HIS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GRAND PRAIRIE ISD. HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING FAIR TO ALL STUDENTS AND ALWAYS HAVING THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
TO HONOR HIS LEGACY AS AN EDUCATOR, THE ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMED LEE ELEMENTARY TO [INAUDIBLE] F MORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN JULY OF 2020. A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER IN IRVING IS PENDING.
INTERMENT WILL BE HELD AT THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY AT A LATER DATE.
SO THAT WAS SENT OUT TO ALL GRAND PRAIRIE ISD STAFF TODAY.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF HIS PASSING.
WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD TO OPEN FORUM REGARDING A PENDING AGENDA ITEM.
[2. OPEN FORUM FOR AGENDA ITEMS]
WE RESERVE COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS ON ANY OTHER TOPIC FOR THE END OF THE MEETING.THE BOARD WILL CAREFULLY CONSIDER ANY CONCERNS EXPRESSED.
SPEAKERS WILL LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
PLEASE KEEP ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS.
IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING A CONCERN COMPLAINT OR CHARGED AGAINST A SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE, A SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBER, OR A SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUE, YOU NEED TO UTILIZE THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN THE BOARD POLICIES DBA, LOCAL, F AND G, LOCAL AND GF LOCAL.
EACH GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ALLOWS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO REDRESS GRIEVANCES WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVING STATED THAT, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
IN THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE FOR OPEN FORUM IS MISS GRACIE CORTEZ.
I CAN'T EVEN SEE YOUR FACES, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY PRINTING MY STATEMENT IN BOLD.
WELL, NOT LIFETIME, BUT OVER 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF GRAND PRAIRIE, CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
GEORGE ARREDONDO, WITHOUT INFORMING OUR COMMUNITY OF THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWING DOCTOR ARREDONDO TO USE HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE OUR DISTRICT, WHICH IS WHAT HE WAS HIRED TO DO.
WHY IS REASSIGNING EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FROWNED UPON BY THE BOARD? TO THE POINT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS PLACED ON SUSPENSION AT THE CRUCIAL BEGINNING TIME OF THE SCHOOL YEAR INSTEAD, SHOULDN'T THEY? SHOULDN'T YOU BE LOOKING AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES REASSIGNED?
[00:05:02]
THAT MAKES US TAXPAYERS QUESTION WHY IN THE FIRST PLACE, DID THE BOARD, ALL SEVEN OF YOU, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO HIRE HIM AND VETTED HIM? WHY? THIS BOARD DOES NOT QUESTION THAT.DURING THE CONVOCATION, MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVER 23,000, TO BE SPECIFIC, WERE PAID FOR A ONE HOUR DRUMMING PERFORMANCE AT THE CONVOCATION. WHY ARE CONSULTANTS BEING PAID ALMOST $1,000 A DAY FOR DOING VERY LITTLE? WHY IS THE TUTORING PROGRAM BEING PAID AN ENORMOUS SUM OF MONEY TO SERVE ONLY TWO HIGH SCHOOLS? THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DESERVE SCRUTINY, NOT JUST FOCUSING ON THE SUSPENSION OF DOCTOR ARREDONDO. THIS DESERVES SCRUTINY.
DR. ARREDONDO'S REPUTATION HAS BEEN HARMED BY THIS SUSPENSION, BY THIS BOARD.
IF YOU IF OUR GPISD IS GOING TO BE PUT IN THE NEWS, LET'S DO IT FOR GOOD REASON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS GIL SOTO.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD.
FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS GIL CERDA.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE TO ME LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUS.
HONESTLY, IT LOOKED LIKE A CIRCUS.
APPARENTLY, AGAIN, ALL WE KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WERE TRANSFERRED.
MOVED? I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS FIRED; I DON'T KNOW.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, PERFORMANCE IS THE KEY ISSUE HERE.
AND IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN HERE AND SITS ON THEIR HEINEY IN THE OFFICE ALL DAY LONG, HE'D STILL BE HERE, I GUARANTEE YOU HE'D STILL BE HERE. BUT HE MOVED SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT AFFLUENT IN THIS, WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, VERY AFFLUENT, TO CAUSE THEM TO SAY, OH, WE GOTTA SUSPEND DR.
JORGE ARREDONDO, A MAN WHO EARNED A DOCTORATE DEGREE.
AND VERY FEW OF US HERE HAVE THAT.
BUT HE'S HERE TO WORRY ABOUT CHANGE AND FIX THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT GREAT FOR SOME TIME, AND HE'S HERE TO CHANGE THAT.
AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE THE MAN THE POWER TO DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOREVER FAILURES.
YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THAT'S TO YOUR FOCUS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT DOCTOR WAS DOING, WORKING TO BETTER THIS DISTRICT.
AND THAT NEEDS TO SINK INTO YOUR EARS.
AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND CHANGES DON'T COME OVERNIGHT.
HE DID IT REALLY FAST AND I'M PROUD OF HIM.
THERE WOULDN'T BE NO SAD FACES IN THIS, IN THIS BUILDING.
EVERYBODY WOULD BE, OH MY GOSH, WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB HE'S DOING.
NO, HE'S NOT DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THIS DISTRICT.
AND THIS DISTRICT MUST BE FIXED.
IT'S GOT TO BE FIXED BECAUSE THE NUMBERS SHOW IT.
AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT LATER DOWN THE ROAD.
AND YOU GOT TO ADMIT THAT NOW IS IT.
WERE THEY THE WRONG GENDER OR THEY WERE JUST NOT? HAD IT BEEN HISPANICS, THEY MOVED EVERYTHING BEEN HAPPY? OH, NOBODY WOULD SAID ANYTHING, BUT IT WASN'T.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT WASN'T.
WITHOUT KNOWING THE FACTS, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT'S WHAT THE CASE WAS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS RAUL SANCHEZ.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAUL SANCHEZ.
[00:10:03]
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME BACK THERE? YES. OH.THE NAME. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT DOCTOR ARREDONDO.
IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S GETTING A BAD RUN.
FOR HIM TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE SOME CHANGES.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOOD, BUT IT'S IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A DISTRICT LIKE THIS.
I TOOK A LOT OF LITTLE KIDS TO COURT.
I TOOK A LOT OF MOMMIES TO JAIL THAT I'M NOT PROUD OF.
I HAD TO DO IT, AND I DID IT WELL.
NOW I SEE WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR A GUY THAT IF WE FIRE HIM, WE STILL HAVE TO PAY HIM THREE YEARS SERVICE.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH HIM FOR THREE YEARS.
YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO STAY TOGETHER.
YOU HAVE TO RELAX A LITTLE BIT.
YOU HAVE TO ALLOW WHAT HE IS, WHO HE IS, AND WHERE HE CAME FROM TO SOAK IN TO THIS DISTRICT.
JUST SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, YOU'RE ALL GOING TO BE SAYING THAT THAT SANCHEZ DID A GOOD JOB IN CONVINCING US BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE POSITIVE.
WE NEED THIS DISTRICT TO TURN AROUND.
I SLURRED MY SPEECH BECAUSE I HAVE AN AILMENT THAT I GOT FROM AGENT ORANGE.
BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY, DR.
ARRENDONDO THE BEST THING WE HAVE FOR THIS DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS CLAUDIA FLORES, AND SHE IS IN NEED OF A TRANSLATOR.
I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO DEFEND DR.
[SPANISH]. HE ALREADY HAS A WHOLE COMMUNITY BEHIND HIM.
YOU'RE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AS THE PEOPLE.
[SPANISH]. AS THE PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THAT STEP TOWARDS REASON AND TOWARDS THE STUDENTS.
[SPANISH]. AND I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT YOU DO HAVE AN INTEREST FOR THE STUDENTS.
[SPANISH]. I REMEMBER MY TIME AS A STUDENT.
[SPANISH]. I WAS A REALLY PASSIONATE STUDENT.
[SPANISH]. I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT SOCIETY FUND.
I FOUNDED THE SCIENCE CLUB IN MY HIGH SCHOOL.
[SPANISH]. I WON FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL CONTEST OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
YESTERDAY ONE OF MY FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.
[SPANISH]. HE SAID IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS AND I STILL REMEMBER YOU.
[SPANISH]. CAN YOU IMAGINE SO MANY STUDENTS AND HE STILL REMEMBERS ME.
IN OUR LIFE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW EITHER BRING US UP OR BRING US DOWN.
BASTA! STOP! [SPANISH]. THAT'S ENOUGH.
HOW DO YOU SAY IN ENGLISH? THAT'S ENOUGH. YEAH.
BASTA! ENOUGH! [SPANISH]. OF SO MANY FIGHTING.
[00:15:01]
THIS IS NOT YOU. AGAINST THE STUDENTS.LET'S WORK TOGETHER. [SPANISH].
GIVE YOURSELVES AN OPPORTUNITY.
[SPANISH]. AND GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY.
[SPANISH]. THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS, PLEASE.
[SPANISH]. ONLY THEY HAVE THE FUTURE IN THEIR MINDS AND IN THEIR HANDS.
[SPANISH]. OF THIS BIG NATION OF OURS.
A LITTLE OLDER THAN THE OTHERS.
BUT THEY ARE FORGING OUR FUTURE.
[SPANISH]. BUT LET US LET THEM BE HELPED.
[SPANISH]. I HAVE TWO REQUESTS.
[SPANISH]. GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
[SPANISH]. TO YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS.
LOOK AT THEM, EACH ONE OF THEM.
[SPANISH]. WEIGHT THEM IN THE BALANCE.
REWARD THEM FOR THEIR GOOD DECISIONS AND ACTIONS.
[SPANISH]. AND PUNISH THEM IF THEY DON'T DO IT.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS AURÉLIE MONDRAGON.
MY NAME IS AURÉLIE MONDRAGON GUIRADO.
I'M 19 YEARS OLD AND I AM A FORMER GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
I GRADUATED LAST YEAR, I'D SAY.
I COME FROM A HISPANIC HOUSEHOLD, AND I JUST GRADUATED THIS YEAR OF LINCOLN TECH GRAND PRAIRIE I'VE GRABBED MY CERTIFICATE FOR DIESEL MECHANICS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD BE DOING AFTER MAYBE LIKE A FEW YEARS BEFORE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVED I COULD DO, NOR DID ANYBODY THINK I COULD DO.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, I DID CHASE WHAT I WANTED, AND I OBTAINED IT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF TEACHERS THAT HELPED ME OBTAIN THAT GOAL.
ALTHOUGH I HAD THE ABILITY TO DO TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPEN.
EACH ONE OF THEM HELPED ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
NOW I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT I AM A PART OF THE SECOND BIGGEST FREIGHT COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND I AM THE FIRST OF THE OF THE FIRST TWO WOMEN IN TRUCKING AS A DIESEL MECHANIC.
AND I STILL GET PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE AND DOUBT THAT I CAN'T.
BUT EVERY DAY I DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
THIS IS ALSO FOR THE STUDENTS OF EVERY DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THIS ONE.
IF YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THEN PLEASE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
[00:20:07]
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT BEHIND YOU.BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT BEHIND ME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT DO NOT GET THAT SUPPORT, AND I ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO GIVE THE STUDENTS THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND THEY REQUIRE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS OUR ARACELI MERCADO.
THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING HAPPENED ON THE DISTRICT IS SO SAD THAT I DON'T THINK YOU TAKE.
BUSINESS? NO POLITICAL BUSINESS.
AND THIS IS LOOKING LIKE A POLITICAL ISSUE AGAINST DOCTOR ARREDONDO.
IT'S VERY SAD THAT WE'RE TAKING ALL THIS TIME FOCUS ON OUR ISSUE, BECAUSE THE TWO PAST SUPERINTENDENTS PLAY A REALLY GOOD GAME AS A POLITICAL PEOPLE, BUT NOT AN EDUCATOR.
WE SEE THE RESULTS FOR THE LAST YEAR, AND IT'S REALLY SAD THAT OUR DISTRICT IS SO POOR.
PROVIDING THAT KIND OF EDUCATION AND YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S VERY HARD TO MAKE A CHANGE COME TO A PLACE THAT HE WAS A BRAND NEW PERSON ON THIS CITY, AND THEY DON'T KNOW ANY OF THESE PEOPLE WORKING WITH HIM AND MAKE A CHANGE.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR HIM.
AND IT WAS VERY HARD, MAYBE WRONG WAY TO DO IT ON THIS DISTRICT.
BUT FOR HIM IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT.
EDUCATION, THEY MAKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAPPY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT HIS BUSINESS.
AND HE NOTICED ON THE FIRST MONTH WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE ON THIS DISTRICT.
AND WE DON'T WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT KIND OF EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS IN THIS CITY.
AND WE HAVE THE THINGS TO DO IT.
WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE EXCELLENT SCHOOLS WHERE WE DON'T USE THAT KIND OF SCHOOLS TO BE THE EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE DISTRICT, AND I SAY IT'S ALSO OUR PART, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARENTS TO BE PART OF YOU GUYS.
AND WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS WHEN EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO BE A BETTER COMMUNITY.
AND I REALLY THINK FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
PEOPLE GOT UPSET THE WAY HE'S ACTING, BUT ON MY OPINION, HE WAS DOING WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BEFORE DON'T DO IT BEFORE HIM.
WE CAN SEE THE RESULTS FOR LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE THAT KIND OF EDUCATION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRAND PRAIRIE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL TOGETHER.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME AND GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARREDONDO, DOCTOR ARREDONDO AND OUR KIDS TO BE PART TOGETHER ON THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS MR. DANIEL BECERRA, AND WE WILL ALSO NEED A TRANSLATOR.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO DISTRIBUTE SOME FINE.
NO. YOU CAN GIVE IT TO [INAUDIBLE].
[SPANISH]. I'D LIKE TO BE A PERSON THAT FINDS RESULTS.
[SPANISH]. AND I INVESTIGATED PRESS REPORTS.
TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT.
[00:25:02]
TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT.TEXAS TRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TEXAS TRIBUNE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
[SPANISH]. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT EDUCATION.
[SPANISH]. I WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT THE NUMBERS WERE DIFFERENT.
[SPANISH]. AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT YOUR WORK DE USTEDES.
BECAUSE YOUR REPORT ON CAMINO IS STILL ON THE WAY IN THE NEXT YEAR.
[SPANISH]. TO FIND THESE NUMBERS AND WHERE WE ARE AS AN EDUCATION.
UN REPORT DE LOS HIGH SCHOOLS.
[SPANISH]. THAT CAME OUT LAST YEAR.
[SPANISH] . ARE NOT HAVING THE RESULTS THAT KIDS ARE HAVING.
AND IN THIS BUILDING. [SPANISH].
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE DETENTION CENTER.
[SPANISH]. THE RESULTS OF THE EDUCATION.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
[SPANISH]. I'M MAKING A COMPROMISE COMPROMISING WITH MY COMMUNITY.
[SPANISH] I'M MAKING A COMMITMENT WITH MY COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION RACE.
[SPANISH] . AND LET'S MAKE THIS COMMUNITY.
THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO TELL US WHO WE ARE.
AND WHEN YOUR NUMBERS COME OUT, WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WHO WE ARE.
ARREDONDO COME BACK TO WORK AND GIVE HIM A YEAR.
IF IN THAT YEAR WE DON'T GET RESULTS, I'LL BE HERE TO GET HIM OUT.
SO, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY, OPORTUNIDAD, SO THAT WE CAN GIVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE.
[00:30:01]
WITH THESE NUMBERS, HOW ARE THE OTHER ONES? BUT YOU KNOW ONE THING, [SPANISH] WE CAN BE THE TOP TEN.[SPANISH]. AND WE CAN WORK AND DO BETTER IN RESULTS.
[SPANISH]. I'LL BE HERE WITH YOU AND WE WILL CELEBRATE TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS LUPE ADELE CASTILLO.
I AM LUPE DEL CASTILLO, AND I AM HERE TO FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH YOU HAVE PUT NOT WORKING, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU HAVE MADE A HUGE ERROR.
THIS MAN CAME TO MAKE CHANGES.
HE STARTED MAKING THE CHANGES AND HE GOT KICKED OUT.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHAT WE REPRESENT TO OUR COUNTRY.
BECAUSE BELIEVE ME, WORD IS GETTING OUT HOW BAD IT IS IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOW, A LOT OF YOU LIKE POLITICS.
WHO KNOWS, MAYBE EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WE DESPERATELY DO NEED A NEW ONE.
BUT IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF WE WORK TOGETHER AND STOP FIGHTING AMONG EACH OTHER.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE BRING HIM BACK.
AND REMEMBER, WE DO NOT HAVE A SHORT MEMORY.
WE CAN TAKE YOU DOWN BUT RATHER WORK AND SAY I HELP GET THESE PEOPLE HERE THAN SAYING, OH, I VOTED AND GOT HIM OUT.
SO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND BRING DOCTOR ARREDONDO BACK TO US.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ALFRED DEL CASTILLO.
GOOD EVENING. IT'S GETTING TO BE A HABIT HERE, BUT I LIKE COMING TO TALK TO YOU ALL.
I'M ALFRED DEL CASTILLO, AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'VE GOT A LOT INVESTED IN THE ISD.
GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, THREE OF MY CHILDREN, TWO BOYS AND ONE GIRL, ALL GRADUATED FROM SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY'VE DONE WELL.
I HAVE CURRENTLY A GRANDSON THERE AND HE IS DOING WELL.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAD A VERY GOOD THANKSGIVING.
AND CRANBERRY GOTTA HAVE CRANBERRY.
BUT THE REALLY GOOD THING ABOUT THURSDAY WAS THE COWBOYS WON.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAD THAT MUCH HOPE BECAUSE I'M A LONG TIME COWBOY FAN.
AND WITH THAT HOPE, I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT EARLIER THIS YEAR WHERE I WAS HAPPY ALSO.
NOW, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
I STARTED CHECKING IN ABOUT HIM.
SEEMED TO BE VERY WELL QUALIFIED.
AND ALL OF YOU WERE HOPING THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD DO HERE.
AND LATER THAT SUMMER, THIS SUMMER, I MET HIM.
AND ALL I COULD SEE WAS HE WAS REALLY WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HE WANTED TO GET STARTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH DR.
ARREDONDO. BUT I ALSO WAS LOOKING BACK AND I SAID I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE
[00:35:01]
YOU ALL CHOSE HIM.BECAUSE OF HIS QUALIFICATIONS, BECAUSE OF HIS TRACK RECORD.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT OR THIS EVENING IS THAT YOU THINK BACK AS TO WHY YOU BROUGHT HIM ON, WHY EVERY ONE OF YOU, ALL SEVEN OF YOU UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO BRING THIS PERSON TO OUR DISTRICT.
WHY DID YOU VOTE? SO PLEASE REINSTATE HIM.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ AND I LIVE HERE AT GRAND PRAIRIE.
YOU ALL KNOW I'VE WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 28 YEARS AND PROUD OF IT.
RIGHT NOW, TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT I'M PRETTY UPSET.
AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE EACH ONE OF YOU TO STEP IT UP WITH YOUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT I CONSIDER OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN EASY FOR YOU ALL, BUT WE HAVE AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN THE COMMUNITY WITH TRUSTEE AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THAT IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNICATION HASN'T BEEN THERE AS CLEARLY AS IT COULD BE.
PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING.
IF I WAS NOT ON RETIRED AND HAD THE TIME TO BE LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE EVERY DAY, MORNING AND AFTERNOON, I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MEETING GOING ON.
AND DID YOU KNOW I'M TALKING TO THE CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE? I MEAN, SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE MEETING TONIGHT.
I FIND THAT MIND BOGGLING AND VERY UPSETTING.
SO HOW THE HECK DO YOU EXPECT FOR US COMMUNITY PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT SPECIAL SESSION MEETINGS AND BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND COLLABORATE WITH YOU ALL? I PROMISE YOU, EVERYBODY HERE.
JUST LIKE YOU WANTS THE BEST EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS HERE IN GPISD.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO LAW FIRMS. FIGURED THAT OUT.
ONE OF THEM IS ALREADY, I GUESS, IN OVER 80,000 PLUS.
I'D RATHER THAT MONEY GO TO OUR TEACHERS AND OUR FRONTLINERS.
HOW MUCH MORE IS THIS INVESTIGATION GOING TO COST US? AND WHY THE HECK IS IT TAKING SO DANG LONG? WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT.
BUT YOU ALL NEED TO DO BETTER AS BOARD MEMBERS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE ALLEGATIONS WERE.
YOU SAY IT WAS A DI VIOLATION, WHATEVER THE HECK.
AND THE OTHER BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.
LET'S GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON THE KIDS.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ANNA COCA.
JUST BRIEFLY, MR. BECERRA GAVE THE ATTORNEY SOME RESEARCH AND DATA.
THE TAPIR REPORT AND SOME DATA ON AP SCORES.
SO MAKE SURE YOU GET A COPY FROM THE ATTORNEY.
HE DID A GOOD JOB ON SOME OF THESE DATA.
ANNA COCA, I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE LULAC.
I HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH GPISD FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
I HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH MISS NANCY BRIDGES.
AND LIZ MARTIN WAS OUR BILINGUAL DIRECTOR.
SO AFTER GRAND PRAIRIE, I DID 20 MORE YEARS WITH DALLAS ISD, FORT WORTH ISD, GRAPEVINE-COLLEYVILLE.
SO I'VE BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR 28 YEARS.
[00:40:01]
I HAD THE HONOR OF TALKING TO DR.ARREDONDO WHEN WE HAD A WELCOMING FOR HIM, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION OUT OF MANY SUPERINTENDENTS THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR AND KNOWN, HE HAS THE TOOLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THIS A PREMIER DUAL LANGUAGE, TWO WAY DISTRICT WIDE.
HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE TO ALLOW ALL THE STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TO BE TRILINGUAL.
AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, I FIND OUT THAT HE'S NOT WITH US.
HE HAS THE RESOURCES, THE CAPACITY TO MAKE THIS A PREMIER DUAL LANGUAGE TWO WAY CAMPUS OR DISTRICT WIDE, HAVE OUR STUDENTS TAKE AP SPANISH COURSES AND BE ON THEIR WAY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
AND EVERY STUDENT CAN BE TRILINGUAL.
WITH MISS BRIDGES, WE TOOK OUR TEACHERS.
RIGHT, NANCY? WE TOOK THEM TO YSLETA ISD.
AND WE SAW WE SAW THE TRILINGUAL CAMPUSES IN, IN.
AND THE TEACHERS WERE ALLOWED TO GO TO THE TRAINING.
OUR PRINCIPAL ALLOWED US TO GO TO.
ARREDONDO HAS THE TOOLS TO MAKE THIS A PREMIERE.
I AM ASKING, I AM BEGGING, I'M IMPLORING BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE.
I'VE BEEN IN GRAND PRAIRIE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
ALL OF MY KIDS GRADUATED FROM SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE COACHES, PLEASE, I IMPLORE YOU, DO THE RIGHT THING TODAY.
TALK TO THE ATTORNEYS, GIVE THEM SOME PARAMETERS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS.
HE WILL DO. HE SHALL AND HE WILL.
AND IN 12 MONTHS, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AGAIN.
OUR KIDS NEED US MORE THAN EVER.
WE'RE FIGHTING PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE BIGGER ITEMS TO FIGHT.
PLEASE, AS A PARENT, AS A TEACHER, BRING HIM BACK AND WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION IN SIX MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS AND GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE A TWO WAY, DUAL LANGUAGE PREMIER DISTRICT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS DR.
GOOD EVENING. AND FIRST I WANT TO JUST PUT OUT A DISCLAIMER BECAUSE I AM WEARING SORORITY SHIRT.
I JUST HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY AND HEARD THERE WAS A SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT.
I'M MERELY HERE AS A CITIZEN OF GRAND PRAIRIE AND ALSO AS A GRADUATE FROM GPISD.
I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I WANTED TO COME AND GET ON RECORD FIRST.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE BOARD FOR SERVING.
I WANT TO THANK OUR ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT RAY, WHO HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS ENTIRE SITUATION.
THE REAL ISSUE, IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW GOOD DR.
RUNDLE MAY BE, BECAUSE WE ALL AGREE.
IF YOU'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM THE [INAUDIBLE] MOST OF US, WE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT THIS IS ABOUT I KNOW THAT TRUSTEE NANCY BRIDGES, PRIOR TO OKAY, PRIOR TO JOINING THE BOARD, SHE WORKED FOR THIS DISTRICT IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
IF A PERSON HAS VIOLATED THE LAW OR ANY POLICY, YOU GOT TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT THAT LAW SAYS, THE VIOLATION AND WHATEVER THE POLICY SAYS.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GOING TO GET ROOM FOR THE THOUSAND OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THIS DISTRICT TO USE THAT AS A CASE BASE AND SAY, YOU DID IT FOR ONE, AND WE WANT YOU TO DO IT FOR US.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY? IT MAKES OUR ENTIRE CITY LOOK BAD.
WHEN DEVELOPERS COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WILL MY PROJECT WORK IN GRAND PRAIRIE? PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL.
HOW ARE THE SCHOOL SCORES HERE IN THIS DISTRICT? WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND SAY, THE SCORES ARE SO POOR.
I WANT TO STAND HERE AND SAY, NO, GPISD HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT WHERE YOU WENT WRONG IS BECAUSE OUR DISTRICT IS MAJORITY MINORITY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED A MINORITY SUPERINTENDENT WHEN THERE WAS AN ALL WHITE SCHOOL BOARD.
[00:45:02]
AND WE ALSO WERE COMPLAINING THAT THERE WAS NO DIVERSITY AS A SUPERINTENDENT.SO AS A LEADER, WE CAN'T BE HYPOCRITES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE WILL HAVE IS MAGGIE WALTERS.
AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS MAGGIE WALTERS.
THIS ONE IS HARD, SO I HOPE YOU CAN BEAR WITH ME.
AND WE BEGAN THE GOLDEN YEARS IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD, A SCHOOL OF CHOICE.
PEOPLE DRIVING MILES OUT OF CITIES TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT THEY WERE SERVING CHOCOLATE MILK AT THE BISCUIT.
BUT WE ALSO FORGET THAT DURING THAT DECADE THERE WERE SOME HICCUPS, PERHAPS TO SAY A HOME THAT COST $700,000 PLUS $125,000 IN RENOVATIONS.
AND AS HE OFTEN TOOK OFF WITH OVER A MILLION.
AND I'M TALKING A COMMUNITY THAT IS INVOLVED BY BUSINESSPEOPLE, FAMILIES.
SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? AND EVEN THOUGH I LIKED HER A LOT, SHE WASN'T SUSPENDED.
INSTEAD, YOU GUYS VOTED TO REMOVE THE CLOTHES THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD IN ORDER FOR HER TO DO HER JOB BETTER AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT.
AND NOW, AFTER YOU GUYS DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO, WHICH IT WAS THE RIGHT THING, YOU PAY SOMEBODY.
YOU GOT THE BEST PERSON AND THEN THAT PERSON IS GONE.
BUT THEN I'M THINKING, HERE IT GOES BEYOND THAT.
SEE, TRUST IS JUST LIKE A RUBBER BAND.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THE COMMUNITY CAN TAKE BEFORE THE RUBBER BAND BREAKS.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT CAN'T READ.
WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT CAN WRITE.
AND WE'RE HERE WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON ATTORNEY FEES AND ALL OF THAT.
CAN WE GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO GET OVER THIS AND GIVE BACK OUR TRUST AND OUR COMMITMENT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THE LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS RODNEY ANDERSON.
THANK YOU, BOARD. I'M GOING TO TALK QUICKLY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE I GET THROUGH EVERYTHING, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF IMPASSIONED ARGUMENTS ON THIS TOPIC, MANY BASED IN EMOTION, HEARSAY, INTIMIDATION AND BAD INFORMATION.
WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS FACTUAL, STRAIGHT FACTS.
IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, I MADE THIS STATEMENT.
THE FACTS WILL COME OUT AND THEY'RE STARTING TO COME OUT.
YOU CAN WRITE THESE DATES DOWN IF YOU'D LIKE.
IN AUGUST 2024, THE BOARD RECEIVED MULTIPLE WRITTEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST DR.
THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON FOUR ISSUES DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE WRITTEN COMPLAINTS.
THAT SECTION OF POLICY COVERS DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION OF ANY KIND.
[00:50:02]
THIS MEANS THERE WERE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM DISTRICT EMPLOYEES IN THIS AREA.THE OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT FIRM CONDUCTED MORE THAN 40 INTERVIEWS WITH DISTRICT PERSONNEL, HELD A 2.5 HOUR INTERVIEW WITH DOCTOR ARREDONDO, DURING WHICH HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LEGAL COUNSEL. SO ANY CLAIM THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ALLEGATIONS WERE IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
BUT THE COURT DOCUMENTS THEMSELVES SHOW THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OFFER.
THE BOARD SCHEDULED THE AGENDA ITEM TO CONSIDER POTENTIAL TERMINATION AT THE OCTOBER 17TH MEETING.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT CAN'T BE COVERED IN THREE MINUTES, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN TELL FROM THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY SEVEN ZERO VOTE TO TERMINATE HIS EMPLOYMENT IMMEDIATELY, AND I WOULD URGE THE BOARD TO RELEASE A COPY.
[3. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION]
THANK YOU. THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERATION FOR MATTERS WHICH CLOSED SESSIONS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. 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 AND MAY TAKE ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION.
[4. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION]
THE TIME NOW IS NOW 811 AND WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION.[5. ACTION AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION]
PRESIDENT. YES.I MOVE TO PROPOSE THE TERMINATION OF DR.
ARREDONDO'S CONTRACT AS SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAND PRAIRIE ISD.
CAN WE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 5-2.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.