[00:00:06] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE GRAND PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 5:30 ON MONDAY, [1. 5:30 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER] FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025. ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. MISS RAE, HAS THIS MEETING BEEN POSTED IN A LAWFUL AND TIMELY MANNER? YES, MA'AM. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUR AGENDA ITEMS OUT OF ORDER. WE WILL FIRST HAVE OPEN FORUM FOR AGENDA ITEMS, AND THEN THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE ACTION AGENDA ITEMS. WE THEN MAY CONVENE TO CLOSED SESSION. WE NOW MOVE FORWARD TO OPEN FORUM REGARDING THE PENDING AGENDA ITEM FOR THE OPEN FORUM. [4. OPEN FORUM FOR AGENDA ITEMS] REGARDING AN AGENDA ITEM, WE RECEIVED THREE CARDS AND BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO READ THE FOLLOWING. STATE LAW PROHIBITS BOARD MEMBERS FROM RESPONDING TO SPEAKERS IN PUBLIC FORUM UNLESS THE TOPIC REGARDS AND MATTERS SPECIFICALLY POSTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. 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 CHARGE AGAINST A SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE OR A SPECIFIC BOARD MEMBER OR A SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUE, YOU NEED TO UTILIZE THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN BOARD POLICIES DGBA 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. FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ AND I RESIDE AT 1322 CLARK TRAIL GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS 75052. AND I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED TAXPAYER, CONCERNED CITIZEN. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS A GRANDMOTHER OF TWO GRANDSONS THAT ATTEND SCHOOLS IN GRAND PRAIRIE ISD. IT TRULY HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNING, CONFUSING AND FRUSTRATING THE MANNER THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND ON WITH THIS INVESTIGATION AND WITH ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT DR. ARREDONDO AND ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BOARD MEMBERS. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL. HOPEFULLY I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE READY FOR THIS TO BE OVER. AS SOME OF US IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TOO. MY HOPE IS THAT THE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT I STILL FEEL HAS BEEN LACKING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE TIED BECAUSE OF LEGAL CONSTRAINTS. HOWEVER, MY HOPE WAS THAT AT LEAST YOU WOULD GIVE US SOME DETAILS OF WHAT YOU CAN. BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST. NOW WE'RE FEBRUARY 1ST. IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS. IT'S BEEN LONG AND DRAWN OUT INSTEAD OF BEING EXPEDITIOUS. AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THE TAXPAYER IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE SPENDING ON TWO LEGAL FIRMS AND HOW MUCH MORE ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE SPENDING. MAYBE IT MIGHT NOT BE OR MAYBE IT'S EASY FOR YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ALL DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TAXPAYERS, WE DO. AND THAT CONCERNS ME. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO SOME RESOLUTION SO WE CAN HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT FOCUSES ON BEING IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I KNOW INTERIM TRACY RAY, YOU'VE BEEN HERE. AND BUT YOU'RE THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND I'M SURE IT'S DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON THAT AND BEING INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. SO MY HOPE IS WE CAN GET TO SOME RESOLUTION AND THE TAXPAYERS NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY LEGAL FEES ONGOING AND ONGOING. AND WE NEED SOME RESOLUTION. AND THAT'S MY HOPE THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WHATEVER YOU ALL. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE TO MAKE THAT DIFFICULT DECISIONS. IT'S EASY FOR ME TO SAY, SINCE I'M OVER HERE AND YOU'RE OVER THERE, YOU ALL ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN VOTED IN TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS, AND FOR THE BEST ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. MY OTHER CONCERN IS WE HAVEN'T BEEN FOCUSING ON THE DAY TO DAY WE HAD. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS 13 OUT OF 42 CAMPUSES. I HAVEN'T SEEN WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT. HOWEVER, THAT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING THE CHILDREN OF GPISD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I COUNT ON YOU ALL FOR US TO DO THAT, AND MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN EXPEDITIOUSLY AND WITH FIDUCIARY. THAT'S RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS RODNEY ANDERSON. [00:05:03] GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS THAT EACH ONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE ON THIS ISSUE, NO MATTER WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON, YES OR NO. FIRST, MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT ASSUMING THE TERMS OF THE SEPARATION AGREEMENT ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND THEY ALWAYS ARE, TRANSPARENCY IS BEING COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. A YES VOTE MEANS THE PUBLIC WILL NEVER KNOW THE TERMS, NOR SEE THE RESULTS OF THE WALSH GALLEGOS INVESTIGATION. THIS THIRD PARTY REPORT, BASED ON 40 PLUS WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND TWO PLUS HOUR INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, HAD FINDINGS SO SERIOUS THAT FIVE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD VOTED TO PLACE HIM ON LEAVE. IF THOSE VOTES HAVE CHANGED, THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW WHY AND AT WHAT COST. FURTHER, WHO'S DEMANDING CONFIDENTIALITY? IS IT YOU, THE DISTRICT? IS IT THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT? WHO DOES NOT WANT THE FULL TRUTH? WHATEVER IT IS TO COME OUT, AT LEAST TELL US. I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. TELL US. SECOND, A SETTLEMENT LIKE THIS SETS A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. THE DIA LOCAL POLICY EXISTS TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION. IF VIOLATIONS OCCURRED AND YOU VOTE YES, YOU'RE REWARDING THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE WITH ZERO TRANSPARENCY. YOUR YES VOTE SENDS TWO CLEAR MESSAGES TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE TONIGHT. ONE, YOUR POLICIES ARE IRRELEVANT WITH SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. TWO, YOUR EMPLOYEES DON'T MATTER. YOUR LOYALTY SHOULD NOT BE TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR INTEREST GROUP, PUPPET MASTER OR INDIVIDUAL. NOT EVEN A SUPERINTENDENT. YOUR DUTY SHOULD BE TO THE TAXPAYERS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF MEMBERS OF THIS DISTRICT. A YES VOTE WITH ZERO TRANSPARENCY TELLS EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES THAT YOUR ALLEGIANCE LIES ELSEWHERE. THIRD, A YES VOTE WITH NO DISCLOSURE IS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY. IT'S ERASURE. ALL OF US, ALL OF US, WE'RE TOLD, JUST WAIT. THE FACTS WILL COME OUT. MEANWHILE, MANY HONEST, VERY WELL INTENTIONED PEOPLE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MISLED WITH INFORMATION FITTING A VERY WELL CRAFTED POLITICAL NARRATIVE. THAT SAID, THE PUBLIC ON BOTH SIDES DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH. IF YOU BELIEVE THE WALSH GALLEGOS REPORT JUSTIFIED THE TERMINATION, THEN VOTE NO ON AN AGREEMENT. IF YOU BELIEVE THE ACTIONS DON'T JUSTIFY THE TERMINATION, THEN VOTE YES. EITHER WAY, VOTE TO RELEASE THE REPORT AND THE SEPARATION TERMS. DON'T HIDE BEHIND CONFIDENTIALITY, SILENCING THE FINDINGS AND EXPECT THE PUBLIC TO JUST TRUST YOU. LET THE FACTS COME OUT. WHETHER YOU SUPPORT A SETTLEMENT OR NOT, A YES VOTE WITH NO TRANSPARENCY IS A BETRAYAL TO YOUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT, JUST GO AWAY WITHOUT BY SETTLING. WHILE I DISAGREE, I UNDERSTAND IT. SO LONG AS YOU'RE TRANSPARENT. VOTE TO RELEASE THE REPORT IN THE SETTLEMENT TERMS AND IF THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT REJECTS THAT PROVISION, AT LEAST LET THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW WHO DIDN'T WANT THE TRUTH TO COME OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS MAGGIE WALTERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT MOFFITT, SCHOOL BOARD. I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES OR LESS THAN THAT NOW. I LIVE AT 3944 HOLLY HILL HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE. I'M JUST AS TIRED AS YOU ARE OF COMING HERE AND TRYING, PRAYING FOR TRANSPARENCY, CLARITY, EVERYTHING UNDER THE BOOK. YES, LIKE THE TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. AND NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THE GPISD FAMILY. BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HIDING SOMETHING. AND WHEN WE MEET WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMUNITY. IS THE SCHOOL BOARD HIDING SOMETHING? AND IF THEY'RE, IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW. SEE, I WAS WATCHING THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, AND THERE WAS A COMMENT IN THERE THAT THEY SAID, WHEN DO WE KNOW ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? AND HOW MANY BANDAGES CAN WE PUT IN A BUILDING? AND WHO SAYS THAT? AND THE TRUTH IS, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHO'S USUALLY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THAT? THE SUPERINTENDENT, THAT'S HIS OR HER JOB TO FORESEE EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO THE DISTRICT AND BRING IT TO YOU. AND WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT THAT'S BEEN PAID, BUT IT'S NOT HERE. WE HAVE ALLEGATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PROVED, AND WE KEEP ON HEARING ALLEGATIONS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT I THINK OR I HEARD OR I SAW, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CLEAR. [00:10:10] AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE LUDICROUS. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME I'M THINKING, COULD THEY BE TRUE? AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO STOP THIS IS IF WE CLEARLY GET A CLEAR ANSWER OF WHAT'S GOING ON. WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SO THAT WE CAN HEAL AS A COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT A THREAT. I'M NOT THREATENING YOU WITH CANDIDATES. I'M NOT THREATENING YOU WITH ELECTIONS. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE COMMUNITY IS TIRED. WE NEED A SUPERINTENDENT. AND IF YOU'RE ALREADY PAYING ONE, FINE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEVER TIES WITH THIS PERSON, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW WHY. BECAUSE HE'S NOT THE FIRST OR THE LAST SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO LEAVE HIS POST. AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY WHAT WE SEE THROUGH NATIONAL NEWS. THE DIFFERENCES, THEY TELL US WHY AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS GETTING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, AND NOBODY IS GETTING AWAY WITH THINGS THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE NOW WILL MOVE TO ACTION AGENDA ITEM A, CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON [5. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ACTION AGENDA ITEMS] THE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, JORGE ARREDONDO. DO I HAVE A MOTION, MADAM PRESIDENT? YES. YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE WITH JORGE ARREDENDO TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF THE APPROPRIATE SETTLEMENT. MADAM PRESIDENT, MAY I CALL FOR A ROLL CALL? WE HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND. FIRST. OH. EXCUSE ME. IT'S OKAY. I KNOW THE WORDS. DO I HAVE. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR MR. BROOKS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. AND ROLL CALL. VOTE BOARD SECRETARY. CAN I HAVE DISCUSSION FIRST? DISCUSSION CAN OCCUR FIRST. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, SINCE BEING ELECTED IN 2019, I'VE STOOD FIRM ON THE PRINCIPLES OF POLICY TRANSPARENCY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND ALWAYS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. THE SEARCH FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GPISD IS NOT ONE WE TOOK LIGHTLY. LAST YEAR, AS WE BEGAN THAT JOURNEY, WE WERE CONFIDENT IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS, BUT TODAY, WE NOW KNOW THAT PROCESS WAS FLAWED AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM O'HANLON AND CASTILLO EXPRESSING THEIR DESIRE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. WHEN THIS BOARD WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT, WE FOLLOWED OUR DISTRICT POLICY TO THE LETTER WHEN WE WERE PROVIDED WITH A FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT DONE BY A THIRD PARTY LAW FIRM. THESE ALLEGATIONS BECAME FACT AND THE BOARD TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTION. FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, I'VE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY FROM YOU IN THIS ROOM DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY, DUE PROCESS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THE SITUATION HAS CAUSED. I HEAR YOU AND I AGREE. AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE WITNESSED THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION FUELED BY SOME OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES. MY FAMILY'S NAME HAS BEEN DEFAMED AND MY REPUTATION TARNISHED. IN THE NAME OF POLITICAL PANDERING, AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. FOR EVERY DECISION I'VE MADE HAS BEEN IN PURSUIT OF THE VERY THINGS THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR. TRANSPARENCY. RELEASE OF THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT. DUE PROCESS FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DISTRICT SPENDING. UNFORTUNATELY, A YES VOTE TONIGHT STRIPS ALL OF THAT AWAY. TRANSPARENCY IS LOST. THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT BECOMES UNLIKELY. AND FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I WILL TELL YOU MULTIPLE FOIA REQUESTS HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE DISTRICT HAS NO ISSUE RELEASING THE REPORT WITH STAFF NAMES REDACTED, BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS ASKED THAT THOSE REMAIN SEALED. DUE PROCESS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND THE FINANCIAL DETAILS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WILL REMAIN HIDDEN FROM THE COMMUNITY. THIS GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THIS BOARD HAS WORKED FOR AND EVERYTHING THAT I STAND FOR. MY DISTRICT SIX COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF GRAND PRAIRIE EXPECT AND DESERVE BETTER. AND SO MY VOTE WILL BE NO TONIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM PRESIDENT? YES. AND ALL THE VOTES IN ALL THE ISSUES THAT'S COME UP BEFORE ME IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, I'VE ALWAYS HAD FOUR BLOCKS THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO CHECK BEFORE I MADE ANY VOTE, ANY DECISION. AFTER GOING OVER THIS IN MY MIND FOR THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I THINK, DAD GUM BUTTON. I'M SORRY. I THINK THAT MY FOUR VOTES HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THIS IS ME. THE FIRST IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS. CHECKED. WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE TAXPAYERS? MY MIND CHECKED. WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS DISTRICT? MY MIND IS CHECKED. AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THIS DISTRICT? [00:15:06] CHECKED. AND MY VOTE WILL DISPLAY THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ROLL CALL. VOTE. YES. OKAY, I'LL START WITH MISS BRIDGES. YES. MISS KOREA? YES. MR. PARRA. NO. MISS MOFFITT. NO. MR. ESPINOSA. YES. MR. BROOKS. YES. AND MY VOTE IS NO. SO THAT'S FOUR, THREE AND THE AFFIRMATIVE. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ACTION AGENDA ITEM B, CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION TO POST THE POSITION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. DO I HAVE A MOTION, MADAM? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR MISS LILES. A SECOND FOR MR. PARRA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. THE BOARD WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS FOR WHICH CLOSED SESSIONS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. [2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION] THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION AND FILLING THE SUPERINTENDENT VACANCY AND CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE TIME NOW IS 6:34 AND WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. [3. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION] AND ACCORDING TO OUR AGENDA, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.