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I'M GOING TO CALL THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2021 TO ORDER.
ALL TRUSTEES ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
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.
. MADAM PRESIDENT, BEFORE WE START, I HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION REGARDING THIS PUBLIC MEETING.
THE MASK MANDATE, REQUIREMENT DOES IT COVER TRUSTEES? YES? YES, IT DID. WHY THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS? NOW, WHY THEY ARE NOT [INAUDIBLE].
CAN I ANSWER? PRESIDENT WEIR? I THOUGHT THAT LANGUAGE DID NOT INCLUDE TRUSTEES.
THE OPT OUT LANGUAGE ONLY INCLUDED STAFF AND STUDENTS.
SO THEY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK? MAY I ANSWER IT, PRESIDENT WEIR? THE REASON THAT I PERSONALLY AM NOT WEARING A MASK AND I BELIEVE DOUG THAT; IS DOUG IN HERE? I THINK THIS IS OK TO READ, DOCTOR? MR. PAXTON'S LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT? JUST THE EMAIL? I THINK IT'S FINE, RIGHT? MR. PAXTON, THIS IS THE AG OF TEXAS, WHO WAS MY AG.
HE WORKS FOR A GUY NAMED GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WHICH IS MY GOVERNOR, BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.
IT SAYS, YOUR LETTER INDICATES THAT I ENACTED A LOCAL POLICY MANDATING THAT STUDENTS OF FACULTY WEAR MASK AT SCHOOL FACILITIES.
AND YOU BELIEVE THIS ACTION EXCEEDS MY AUTHORITY AS [INAUDIBLE].
ANYWAYS, IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE GA 38.
SO UNTIL THAT IS RESOLVED, I LIVE IN TEXAS, THE MANDATE STATES THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND IT SUPERSEDES THE LOCAL POLICY.
NOW, THEY OBVIOUSLY TRUSTEE BONE IS NOT GOING TO WEAR MASK ANYWHERE ON CAMPUS.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM GOING TO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT MASKS ENDANGERING OUR KID'S LIFE? AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THEY WOULD, BUT ACTUALLY THEY CAN, RIGHT? THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN STOP THEM.
TRUSTEE XIAO, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN CLOSED FOR THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THEY WERE NOT ACTUALLY POSTED FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
OKAY, I UNDERSTAND. OK, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, AT EACH REGULAR BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD WILL SET ASIDE TIME TO AFFORD THE GENERAL PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS LISTED OR NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
WE ASK THAT CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS REGARDING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS NOT BE RAISED IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM. SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT EMPLOYEES OR FORMER EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ACCORDING TO APPLICABLE BOARD POLICIES.
THE BOARD REQUEST THAT COMMENTS, WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL. PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, THAT RIGHT IS NOT UNLIMITED. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS ABOUT THE PERSONAL PRIVATE MATTERS OF EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, CITIZENS OR BOARD MEMBERS.
NO AUDIENCE MEMBER OR SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENGAGE IN ANY CONDUCT THAT IS DISRUPTIVE OR THREATENING TOWARD ANY SPEAKER OR OTHER PERSON, OR TO VIOLATE THE PRIVACY RIGHTS OF ANOTHER PERSON.
PER TEXAS PENAL CODE, SECTION 38.13 AND SECTION 42.5, THE BOARD SHALL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
[ECHO]. IF AFTER AT LEAST ONE WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, AN INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTIONS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL REMOVED FROM THE MEETING. THE BOARD MAY NOT DISCUSS OR ACT UPON ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE ACTION ITEM PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
THEREFORE, BOARD MEMBERS MAY NOT DISCUSS THE COMMENTS OF SPEAKERS.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A LACK OF A RESPONSE FROM BOARD MEMBERS DOES NOT INDICATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE COMMENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
MS. FELLER WILL BE THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER.
SHE DOES HAVE HER 30 SECOND WARNING.
WE WILL START WITH OUR IN-PERSON CARDS AND THEN IN-PERSON ONLINE SIGN UP AND THEN VIRTUAL AFTER THAT. SO OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN KAGI.
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WELL, I'M JOHN KAGI, AND I'M THE PARENT OF THREE ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENTS.THIS BOARD IS USED TO BULLYING AND COERCION TO ACHIEVE A MASK MANDATE THAT IS ILLEGAL.
RESCIND THE MASK MANDATE BEFORE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INCURS HEAVY LEGAL FEES AND FINES, WHICH ONLY TAKE AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUNDING.
THINK OF OUR KIDS, NOT YOUR POLITICAL AGENDA.
STOP BEING A HORRIBLE EXAMPLE FOR OUR KIDS.
I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT A VERY CREDIBLE WOMAN HAS ALLEGED CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS OVER A DISTRICT STAFF MEMBER.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THESE ALLEGATIONS.
WHY? WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO SEEK THE TRUTH? IF YOU DO NOT ADDRESS THIS VIOLATION, WHAT OTHER VIOLATIONS WILL YOU ALLOW? THIS WOMAN DESERVES TO BE HEARD, AND I ASK THAT YOU HEAR HER, BY SEEKING THE TRUTH.
HOLD THIS REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENISE RAY.
HI, MY NAME IS DENISE RAY, AND I'VE BEEN A PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 12 YEARS.
I'M HERE SEEKING ANSWERS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT THEIR CONDUCT AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
EVERYTHING I REFERENCE HERE, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND AND HERE'S A TIMELINE OF EVENTS.
ON JULY 5TH, AN ANONYMOUS CITIZEN PRIVATELY ALLEGEDLY MESSAGED ONE OF YOUR TRUSTEES, MS. VESSA, ABOUT THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THREATS BY HIM.
SHE APPARENTLY DISMISSED THEIR MESSAGE AND SAID THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST AND DIRECTED THEM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ON JULY 6TH, AN ALLEGED ASSAULT OCCURRED.
ON JULY 13TH, THE ALLEGED VICTIM REACHED OUT TO DR.
BONE AND STATED SHE FEARED FOR HER LIFE AND THAT OF HER UNBORN CHILD.
DR. BONE CONTACTED PRESIDENT WEIR WITH A REQUEST FROM THE ALLEGED VICTIM TO ALSO SPEAK TO PRESIDENT WEIR, TO WHICH SHE DENIED AND DECLINED THAT OFFER.
JULY 14TH, THE VICTIM E-MAILED THE ENTIRE BOARD, LEAVING TRUSTEE VESSA OUT OF THE EMAIL CHAIN. ON JULY 23RD, THE CONCERNED CITIZEN EMAILED THE ENTIRE BOARD WITH EVIDENCE OF ALSO HAVING INTERACTED WITH THE ALLEGED VICTIM.
ON AUGUST 2ND, THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS SERVED WITH A RESTRAINING ORDER, CITING CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.
ON AUGUST 2ND, I RECEIVED AN EMAILED RESPONSE FROM TRUSTEE FELLER SAYING THAT THE BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY CLAIMS OF ASSAULT OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM ANY ALLEGED VICTIM.
ON AUGUST 3RD, I RECEIVED AN EMAILED RESPONSE FROM TRUSTEE VESSA SHE SAID SHE REACHED OUT TO EVERY OTHER TRUSTEE EXCEPT FOR ME.
I WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY COMMUNICATION BY HER, AND I ONLY FOUND THAT OUT THROUGH THE EMAIL FROM OUR LAWYERS, WHICH CONTRADICTS WHAT TRUSTEE FELLER STATEMENT JUST SAID.
ON AUGUST 3RD, TRUSTEE WESTON AND DR.
EXACTLY THREE WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED INTERNALLY AS SOON AS WE RECEIVED THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM A CONCERNED CITIZEN. TWO OF OUR TRUSTEES SHOULD NEVER HAVE FELT THE URGE OR THE NEED TO RELEASE A PRESS RELEASE THREE WHOLE WEEKS AFTER.
TO THIS DAY, 44 DAYS AFTER AN ALLEGED ASSAULT OCCURRED, NONE OF YOU HAS MET AS A BOARD TO DISCUSS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS.
MY CONCERN IS FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD STUDENT.
TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN FELTHOUSER.
OK, I CAME HERE MAINLY TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR DECISION TO HAVE PEOPLE WEAR MASKS.
I FEEL THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WHO HAS WORKED IN THIS DISTRICT FOR OVER 20 YEARS, I FEEL THAT I WILL FEEL MUCH SAFER WORKING ACROSS THE DISTRICT WITH THIS REQUIREMENT IN PLACE. I SAID IN JANUARY, MY FATHER, MY STEPFATHER DIED OF COVID 19 AFTER HAVING BEEN FOR A SHORT HOSPITAL STAY, UNRELATED TO COVID.
MY 27 YEAR OLD SON AND GIRLFRIEND GOT COVID AT A SMALL FUNERAL RECENTLY.
MY NIECE'S THREE MONTHS OLD AND FOUR YEAR OLD AND VACCINATED HUSBAND WERE AFFECTED BECAUSE OF DAYCARE, ALSO A SMALL SITUATION.
THE DELTA VARIANT IS AFFECTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AND VACCINATED PEOPLE AS WELL.
I READ TODAY THAT TWIN FETUSES HAVE DIED FROM COVID IN TEXAS.
TEACHERS ARE EXPOSED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AT UP TO 180 KIDS A DAY IN THE CLASSROOM
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ALONE, NEVER MIND IN THE HALLS.OK. AND I SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE WAIVERS THAT YOU HAVE SUGGESTED EACH CHILD WHOSE PARENT HAS SIGNED A WAIVER SHOULD GET A LITTLE CARD THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR DESK.
WHEN YOU'RE IN FRONT OF 30 CHILDREN, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHO HAS A WAIVER AND WHO DOESN'T HAVE A WAIVER. AND I'D LIKE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND, AS YOU GO THROUGH WITH YOUR DECISIONS, THAT LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS IDENTIFIED OVER THIRTY SIX HUNDRED POSITIVE CASES ALREADY THIS YEAR.
MISSISSIPPI HAS SHOWN 5993 STUDENTS POSITIVE AND QUARANTINED, 20000.
TEXAS HAS ALREADY CLOSED FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CURTAILING THE SPREAD OF COVID IN ROUND ROCK ISD. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK COSTENGATER.
THANK YOU. I'M THE PARENT OF A ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, AND I'VE BEEN A ROUND ROCK ISD TAXPAYER FOR 26 YEARS.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE ADOPTION OF THE 2021-2022 STUDENT HANDBOOK TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE SEXIST AND RACIST NATURE OF ITS DRESS CODE.
BLACK GIRLS IN ROUND ROCK ISD LIKE GIRLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MISS OUT ON CRUCIAL CLASS TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE CLOTHES THEY WEAR OR THE STYLE OF THEIR HAIR.
THEY'RE SUSPENDED FOR TIGHT CLOTHING SENT TO THE OFFICE UNTIL THEY MUST COVER UP BEFORE THEY CAN LEARN. STRICT DRESS UNIFORM AND GROOMING CODES DO NOTHING TO PROTECT GIRLS OR THEIR CLASSMATES LEARNING. RATHER, THESE CODES NEEDLESSLY INTERRUPT EDUCATION.
WHILE ALL STUDENTS DISCIPLINED FOR DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS FACE THESE INTERRUPTIONS, INCLUDING MY OWN DAUGHTER.
DURING HER TIME AT WALSH MIDDLE SCHOOL, BLACK GIRLS FACE UNIQUE DRESS AND HAIR CODE BURDENS. FOR EXAMPLE, ROUND ROCK ISD BANS HAIRSTYLES ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN. PAGE 60 OF THE STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK PROHIBITS SWEATBANDS SCARVES, BANDANAS, DURAGS, HOODS AND OTHER HEADGEAR FROM BEING WORN INSIDE CAMPUS BUILDINGS.
THESE PROHIBITIONS SEND A STRONG AND AUTHORITARIAN MESSAGE OF EXCLUSIVITY TO THESE GIRLS . BLACK GIRLS ALSO FACE ADULT STEREOTYPES PERCEPTIONS THAT THEY ARE MORE SEXUALLY PROVOCATIVE BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, AND THAT'S MORE DESERVING OF PUNISHMENT FOR LOW CUT SHIRT OR SHORTS.
GIRLS WHO ARE MORE PHYSICALLY DEVELOPED OR CURVIER THAN THEIR PEERS MAY ALSO BE VIEWED AS MORE PROVOCATIVE BY ADULTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THEM BEING PUNISHED MORE OFTEN FOR TIGHT OR REVEALING CLOTHING. DRESS CODES ALSO COMMUNICATE TO STUDENTS THAT ALL GIRLS ARE TO BE BLAMED FOR DISTRACTING BOYS INSTEAD OF TEACHING BOYS TO RESPECT GIRLS, CORRECT THEIR BEHAVIOR AND BE MORE RESPONSIBLE.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE THAT PROMOTES SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS.
AS SUCH, I CALL FOR AN AMENDMENT OF ROUND ROCK ISD'S DRESS CODE TO REMOVE RACIST AND SEXIST PROHIBITIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK FEMALE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DUSTIN CLARK.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS DUSTIN CLARK, I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT I HAVE HERE AN ARTICLE FROM A MEDIA OUTLET CALLED TEXAS SCORECARD, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED AUGUST 6TH ABOUT ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS BEING MADE AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND IN IT, THERE IS A STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OFFICERS, PRESIDENT AMY WEIR, VICE PRESIDENT AMBER FELLER.
THE STATEMENT READS, THE FULL BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY CLAIMS OF ASSAULT OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM ANY ALLEGED VICTIM.
THIS BOARD ALSO RECEIVED NO REPORTS FROM ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY INDICATING CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED. WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED ARE SOME UNSUBSTANTIATED RUMORS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT THERE IS SOME CONFLICT WITH A STATEMENT.
I ALSO HAVE HERE A RESTRAINING ORDER FROM ALLEGED VICTIM THAT WAS SERVED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT HERE AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON AUGUST 2ND, FOUR DAYS BEFORE THIS ARTICLE WAS RELEASED. AND I ALSO HAVE HERE AN EMAIL FROM TRUSTEE VESSA, THAT SAYS ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, EXCEPT FOR HER, RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE ALLEGED VICTIM.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE HERE A COPY OF AN AFFIDAVIT DATED JULY 16TH, SIGNED BY DR.
AZAIEZ AND FILED IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY THAT STATES THAT ON JULY 15TH, HE WAS, QUOTE, INFORMED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS HAD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM AND THE ALLEGED VICTIM'S NAME WAS BLACKED OUT FOR HER PROTECTION, MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION. SO WHO IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH? IS THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE BOARD OFFICERS IN THE SCORECARD ARTICLE A LIE? OR IS DR. AZAIEZ AND TRUSTEE VESSA'S COMMENTS A LIE? I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE.
I'M CONFUSED. MAYBE YOU CAN ALL TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ON MONDAY AND GET THE STORY STRAIGHT. LASTLY, YOUR BDAA LOCAL POLICY FOR DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD OFFICERS STATES THAT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE EQUALLY INFORMED REGARDING THE PERTINENT ISSUES OF THE DISTRICT.
BUT WHEN I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF TRUSTEES, THEY SAID PRESIDENT WEIR DID NOT MAKE THEM AWARE THAT SHE WAS SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.
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WHY IS THAT, PRESIDENT WEIR? NOT DOING SO GIVES AN APPEARANCE OF COLLUSION OR AT LEAST SUPPRESSION OF MATTERS PERTINENT TO THIS ISSUE. TIME.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEREMY STORY.
I PRESENTED A PUBLIC RESTRAINING ORDER TO THIS BOARD THAT SHOWS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIM FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE PRESENTED THAT IN VIA PUBLIC EMAIL TO ALL YOUR PUBLIC EMAILS.
I ALSO PRESENTED EVIDENCE TO THE BOARD THAT SHOWS THAT THE WOMAN IN QUESTION EMAILED THE BOARD PRIVATELY, I HAVE THAT EMAIL HERE IN MY HAND, AS WELL AS THE RESTRAINING ORDER.
THE WOMAN, AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I SUBMITTED EVIDENCE OF DR.
AZAIEZ'S PUBLIC AFFIDAVIT TO THE COURT PUBLIC RECORD, WHERE HE CLAIMED THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT, AMY WEIR, TOLD HIM THAT THIS ALLEGATION HAD BEEN MADE.
AND AS SUCH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PRIVATE, AS SUCH, THEN I PRESENTED EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT HE WENT AND ASSAULTED ALLEGEDLY THIS WOMAN IN QUESTION, WHICH IS WHAT RESULTED IN THE RESTRAINING ORDER. I THEN EMAILED ALL OF YOU AND TOLD YOU ALL OF THESE THINGS, PRESENTED EVIDENCE TO ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND EACH ONE OF YOU, EXCEPT FOR TRUSTEE BONE AND TRUSTEE WESTON, EITHER DISMISSED THE VICTIM OR DISMISSED THE VALIDITY OF THE NEED TO DO ANYTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT THIS.
NOT A ONE OF YOU WAS WILLING TO ACT ON IT, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I EMAILED YOU AND SHOWED YOU MORE AND MORE EVIDENCE.
EVEN WHEN SEVERAL OF YOU I RE-MESSAGED AND ASKED YOU, ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE EVIDENCE? YOU REFUSED TO SPEAK.
AND AS A RESULT, SEVERAL OF YOU, SEVERAL OF YOU ARE DIRECTLY COMPLICIT IN AN ALLEGED ASSAULT. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU WERE WARNED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHEN HIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE WARNED YOU TO SAY THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERING.
MANY OF YOU, FIVE OF YOU, EVERYONE, BUT TRUSTEE BONE AND TRUSTEE WESTON PRESSED AHEAD WITH THE HIRE AND WERE UNWILLING TO EVEN ALLOW FOR ONE MORE WEEK OF VETTING.
AND AS SUCH, YOU'RE FURTHER GROSSLY NEGLIGENT OF ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.
IN SPITE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS, NOW, THE DISTRICT FACES A LOT OF EMBARRASSMENT AND POTENTIAL LAWSUITS BECAUSE OF THE BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INVOLVEMENT, AND ALLEGED FAMILY VIOLENCE AND MORE.
HE ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE MISREPRESENTED HIMSELF TO YOU GUYS WHEN HE WAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT FOGLE.
5002 IS A NUMBER I'D LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT.
THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING I'VE COME TO AS A CONCERNED PARENT.
I HAVE TWO KIDS AND CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MY WIFE IS THERE TONIGHT AT THE PTA MEETING BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER OURSELVES ENGAGED AND INVOLVED PARENTS.
AFTER THE LAST TIME WHEN I SPOKE AT THIS MEETING.
I WAS LEFT TO THINK THAT MY INTENTIONS OF COMING IN AND TRYING TO ENGAGE AND PARTNER AND COORDINATE EFFORTS AND ACTIVITIES WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS, IS REALLY A POOR IDEA AT BEST.
DURING MY PRESENTATION OR DURING MY TWO MINUTES WITH YOU ALL, TWO PEOPLE MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME, ONLY TWO, WHICH KIND OF LEADS ME TO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, I JUST WONDER WHAT YOU'RE UP HERE FOR, WHAT WHY YOU'RE HERE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHO OR WHAT HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE? AND I GOT THIS OFF YOUR WEBSITE.
IT'S THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR A BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER.
AND IT SAYS, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, EACH TRUSTEE PROMISES THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE AND TO THAT END, SHALL ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING ETHICAL STANDARDS: EQUITY AND ATTITUDE, HONOR AND CONDUCT, INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER, COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND STUDENT CENTERED FOCUS.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO MORE THAN TWO BULLET POINTS INTO THE VERY FIRST CODE OF ETHICS TO SEE AND OBSERVE AND SHARE WITH YOU VIOLATIONS OF THESE.
AND THIS ONE IS ACCORD OTHERS THE RESPECT THEY WISH FOR THEMSELVES.
WE JUST SAW THE DISMISSAL OF AN OPINION THAT IS NOT WELCOMED BY A DEMONSTRATED WALKOUT.
INCREDIBLE AD HOMINEM ATTACKS OF ONE ANOTHER.
WHY ARE YOU HERE, IF YOU'RE NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS? TWO MINUTES. AND YOUR BEST EFFORTS TO KEEP AS MANY AS YOU COULD OUT OF THE ROOM.
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S MUCH OF A COORDINATED EFFORT.
TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR COMMENT.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTA LANE.
IF YOU HOLD ON ONE SECOND, BECAUSE I, I ACTUALLY FORGOT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE.
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SO AFTER THAT, IT WILL BE DOUG MCLEAN AND THEN KIANA PITTS, IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE.I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ATTEND CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, TRUSTEES AND STAFF FOR YOUR SERVICE.
NONETHELESS, I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO STEP UP RIGHT NOW AND FIX THE LOOPHOLE THAT HAS COST ROUND ROCK IT'S MASK MANDATE.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO CRITERIA AND NO APPROVAL PROCESS FOR OPTING OUT OF A MASK.
IF 100 PERCENT OF STUDENTS SPEND 20 SECONDS ON A FORM, THEN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF STUDENTS WILL NEVER HEAR THE WORD MASK FROM ROUND ROCK ISD AGAIN, FOREVER.
FOR TEACHERS, IT'S EVEN EASIER DECIDE NOT TO WEAR A MASK AND STOP.
YOU DON'T NEED TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL.
JUST STOP. THAT'S NOT A MANDATE.
ROUND ROCK ISD IS CLEARLY OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY ORDERS, WHICH THEY DO PLAN TO ENFORCE.
THIS WEEK, TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARED ANY SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF TWO TO WEAR A FACE COVERING ON ALL SCHOOL PROPERTY AND SCHOOL BUSSES WHENEVER AUSTIN IS IN STAGES THREE, FOUR OR FIVE TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
THE COMMISSIONERS THEN AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FILE CIVIL SUITS TO ENFORCE IT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS REPORTEDLY LOOKING AT PULLING ESSER FUNDS AND PURSUING CIVIL RIGHTS CASES AGAINST SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH CDC MASKING REQUIREMENTS.
DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES ARE ALSO FILING LAWSUITS.
ENFORCEMENT WILL HAPPEN, REGARDLESS OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
I'M ASKING YOU TO CALL AN EMERGENCY MEETING AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS.
ONE, SET MASK OPT OUT CRITERIA, SUCH THAT ELIGIBILITY IS THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE.
OTHERWISE, THE POLICY ISN'T A MANDATE.
TWO, MODIFY THE DURATION OF THE MASK MANDATE TO MATCH TRAVIS COUNTY'S ORDERS, WHICH IS WHENEVER AUSTIN IS IN STAGES THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.
THAT'S A GREAT DECISION CRITERIA, TOO.
THREE, REVISE THE MASK MANDATE TO APPLY TO ALL SCHOOL PROPERTY AND SCHOOL BUSSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRAVIS COUNTY'S ORDERS.
WHEN MEETING, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.
NO ONE IS SUGGESTING REMOVING THE OPT-OUT PROVISION ALTOGETHER.
REVISE IT INCLUDE SOME CRITERIA THAT ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS AND STAFF WITH MEDICAL NEED.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ARE NEEDED FOR STAFF, NOT JUST STUDENTS.
PRINCIPALS SHOULD HAVE A LIST OF STAFF WHO HAVE OPTED OUT.
SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY CONTACT TRACE. TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG MCLEAN.
AND THEN KIANA PITTS AND THEN CHUCK SANDERS.
YES, SIR, MR. MCLAIN? AND TWO MINUTES? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS DOUG MCLAIN.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY FAMILY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TEMPORARY MASK MANDATE.
I FRANKLY WISH IT WAS MORE PERMANENT.
I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WHO'S IN CEDAR VALLEY, WE'RE FORTUNATELY HE'S 13 YEARS OLD.
HE'S BEEN ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.
MY NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOING TO TERRA VISTA, ALTHOUGH VIRTUALLY THROUGH I THINK IT'S REDBUD NOW, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.
IF WE HAD A MANDATORY MASK MANDATE IN THE SCHOOL PERMANENTLY WHERE I KNEW IT WOULD BE THERE, I WOULD HAVE HER ENTER THE SCHOOL WITH A MASK.
BUT SINCE YOU PUT OUT IS JUST TEMPORARY FOR NOW, I KNOW THERE'S BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH THE RULES IN WHAT YOU ALL CAN DO.
I WOULD HAVE HER IN SCHOOL IF THERE WERE MASKS EVERYWHERE, AND I KNEW THAT WOULD CONTINUE. BUT ONCE WE GO INTO SCHOOL, IT SAID WE CAN'T GO BACK TO VIRTUAL IF THAT RULE CHANGES. SO THAT'S A CONCERN.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TEMPORARY MASK MANDATE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WE WOULD ENTER SCHOOL AND MY DAUGHTER WOULD LOVE TO ENTER SCHOOL, WILL GET HER VACCINATED AS SOON AS WE CAN.
AND THEN I WANT HER TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. MY WIFE'S A PHYSICIAN.
THE HOSPITALS ARE FULL RIGHT NOW AND THEY'RE FULL WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED.
AND THE SAME PEOPLE AREN'T VACCINATED ARE THE SAME ONES WHO DON'T WANT TO WEAR MASKS.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE KEEP THE MASK MANDATE THERE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY THAT PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH. THANK YOU. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, AND WE SHOULD TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW OUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILIES, TO OUR KIDS, TO ALL OF US.
AND WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IF YOU HAVE TO KIND OF GO AROUND THE RULES AND MAKE IT WHERE IT'S A DRESS CODE POLICY, PLEASE DO THAT. IF IT HAS TO BE MANDATED OR WHATEVER.
BUT WE'VE HAD TO GET VACCINES FOR OTHER THINGS IN THE PAST, THIS SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KIANA PITTS.
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BUT WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MS. PITTS, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, MR. SANDERS. HELLO, MY NAME'S CHUCK SANDERS, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY, FOR EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW.IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I'M THE PARENT OF A LITTLE GIRL WHO WILL BE COMING TO ROUND ROCK ISD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT. AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING MASKS BACK IN SCHOOLS.
IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT HAD TO BE MADE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S CONTROVERSY WITH IT.
BUT I WANTED TO SHARE A STORY FROM A FRIEND OF MINE WHOSE LITTLE GIRL HAD HIS FIRST DAY, EXCUSE ME, HAD HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN LEANDER ISD.
THEY SEND HER TO SCHOOL WITH A MASK ON, THEIR ONE DAY TOTAL WAS 95 CASES.
SO THEY INSTITUTED A MASK POLICY THAT WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY.
SO THE MASKS WORK. NOT THAT WE SHOULD STILL BE DISCUSSING THAT, BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS.
WE ALSO HAD 24000 CASES OF COVID TODAY OR EXCUSE ME, YESTERDAY, THAT WAS FROM YESTERDAY'S REPORT. HALF OF THOSE RESULTED IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.
I'M A FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKER, I'M A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST.
I MANAGE VENTILATORS FOR COVID PATIENTS.
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THERE ARE 315 ICU BEDS AVAILABLE.
THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH COVID.
THAT MEANS IF YOU GET IN A CAR EXIT ON THE WAY HOME, A LOVED ONE HAS A HEART ATTACK.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO GET AN ICU BED.
WE'VE BEEN SENDING PEOPLE HOURS AWAY.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS, BECAUSE THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE HAVE A HUMAN COST.
THANK YOU. WAS MS. PITTS OUT THERE? OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER WHITE.
JENNIFER ISN'T? ALL RIGHT, THEN STEWART LITWIN.
I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF A PARENT OF THREE DAUGHTERS WHO ALL GRADUATED FROM ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT IN THIS BUILDING.
AND I APPRECIATED THE GREAT EDUCATION THEY GET, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS GOING FORWARD GET THE SAME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
ON MONDAY, I BELIEVE THE BOARD PASSED A MASK MANDATE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
I'M WONDERING WHY THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE ALLOWED TO NOT WEAR MASKS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS AN OPT OUT FOR ANY VISITORS.
SO I WOULD JUST QUESTION WHY THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BE HERE AT THIS MOMENT WITHOUT PUTTING ON MASKS? I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ANOTHER WAY OF TRYING TO GET MORE STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS, AND THAT'S TO PUT IT INTO THE DRESS CODE.` I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER ISD THAT'S IN TEXAS THAT HAS DONE THAT. AND ANOTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. ON PAGE FIVE, IT LISTS THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BEHAVE IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
NOT WEARING A MASK VIOLATES THAT PROVISION OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK, IN MY OPINION.
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE HUMBLENESS IS EXTRANEOUS.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I THINK THAT IF MS. PITTS OR MS. WHITE ARE NOT HERE, WE WILL GO TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON IF WE'RE STILL IN.
JASON KILGORE IS OUR FIRST VIRTUAL SPEAKER.
PLEASE SAY THAT LAST NAME AGAIN, JASON CHO, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S? JASON KILGORE IS OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS JENNY GASTON, AND I AM THE PARENT OF A ROUND ROCK ISD SECOND GRADER.
I AM SPEAKING TO THE ADOPTION OF THIS YEAR'S STUDENT HANDBOOK.
UNDER DRESS AND GROOMING THE DISTRICT STATES IN PART, THE DISTRICT DRESS CODE TEACHES GROOMING AND HYGIENE PREVENTS DISRUPTION, MINIMIZE THE SAFETY HAZARDS, AND MAINTAINS A POSITIVE LEARNING CLIMATE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MASKS ADDED TO THE SECTION IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE DISTRICT'S OWN REASONS FOR HAVING DRESS AND GROOMING RULES.
WE USE THE DRESS AND GROOMING SECTION OF OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK TO TEACH HYGIENE.
IT MAKES SENSE TO INCLUDE MASKS AS A MITIGATION OF THE SPREAD RESPIRATORY DROPLETS.
THE AAP CONSIDERS MASKS BEING AKIN TO HANDWASHING WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPREAD OF THE
[00:30:03]
VIRUS. IF WE USE DRESS AND GROOMING SECTION OF OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK TO MINIMIZE SAFETY HAZARDS. IT MAKES SENSE TO INCLUDE MASKS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CDC THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD USE INDOOR MASKING FOR ALL TEACHERS, STAFF, STUDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.THIS FOLLOWS SAFETY GUIDELINES.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THE BOARD VOTE ON MONDAY TO UTILIZE AN OPT OUT FORM THAT ANYONE CAN FILL OUT WITHOUT NEEDING A REASON.
YOU FAILED IN PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
YOU FAILED IN LISTENING TO WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
AND YOU FAILED IN USING SOUND JUDGMENT TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
THE PROCESS FOR ARRIVING AT THIS DECISION WAS FLAWED AND UNACCEPTABLE.
THERE'S A TRUSTEE WHO HAS STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT, QUOTE, NOT SURE WHAT THE MOTION SAID. ANOTHER TRUSTEE SAID THE VOTE AND DISCUSSION WAS RUSHED.
THE MOTION SHOULD BE NULLIFIED AND A REVISION TO THE OPT OUT POLICY SHOULD BE VOTED UPON.
ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELAINE LEE.
HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELAINE LEE.
I'M HERE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE ENGAGED WITH A FEW PEOPLE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME ON THIS ALLEGATION.
I TRULY BELIEVE MATTERS SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE AUTHORITIES.
ONCE THAT'S SETTLED, THEN THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTIONS.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT TRAINED TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT A MASK MANDATE.
WE KNOW THAT BEFORE STARTS BEFORE THE SCHOOL STARTS FROM JULY 1ST TO MIDDLE OF AUGUST, THERE WERE 783 CHILDREN ADMITTED TO TEXAS HOSPITAL WITH COVID 19 AND ONE TRUSTEE COMMENT ED, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ONLY FIVE CHILDREN IN A HOSPITAL IN AUSTIN, AND THAT NUMBER IS NOT SIGNIFICANT. I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION, HOW MANY HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS [INAUDIBLE] IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR A STRICT INDOOR MANDATE TO TAKE EFFECT IN OUR DISTRICT? AND I UNDERSTAND TRUSTEE WESTON PROPOSED A NO QUESTION ASKED OPT OUT DUE TO A LACK OF TIME ON MONDAY, I KNOW IT'S A VERY LONG MEETING, BUT ARE THERE OTHER METRICS BEING CONSIDERED BEFORE WE INVALIDATE THAT [INAUDIBLE]? AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITHOUT DOCUMENTED SPECIAL NEEDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, POSITIVE CASES PER CAMPUS, PERCENT OF STUDENTS.
30 SECONDS. OK, I'M GOING TO END BY REMINDING YOU, THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WHEN HE TESTED FOR COVID 19, HE IMMEDIATELY GOT REGENERON TREATMENT, THAT TREATMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO AVERAGE AMERICANS, AS DOCUMENTED IN THE LOCAL NEWS.
I WANT TO REMIND ALL OF THE TRUSTEES YOU ARE ELECTED TO SERVE ALL THE AVERAGE FAMILIES IN THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN HOENIG.
HEY THERE. I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT I CAN'T BE SILENT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD IN OUR ADMINISTRATION FAILS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE FROM THE DELTA VARIANT, DESPITE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS BEING ON THE SIDE OF A MASK MANDATE AND THE LEGAL TEAM SAYING IT'S NOT WRONG TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE.
WE ONLY GOT A TOOTHLESS MASK MANDATE.
THERE WAS A CLEAR DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRO MANDATE MAJORITY, WHICH INCLUDED MOST OF THE STUDENTS AND THE ANTI MANDATE MINORITY AT MONDAY'S MEETING.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION REPEATEDLY REASSURED THAT MINORITY, THOUGH, THAT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN IF THEIR CHILDREN CAME TO SCHOOL MASK LESS.
AND THEN THE VOTE ON THE OPT OUT PROVISIONS ALSO BROKE DOWN ON DEMOGRAPHIC LINES.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO THOSE STUDENTS ABOUT WHOSE NEEDS MATTER, WHOSE COMFORT MATTERS, AND WHO HAS POWER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? THE DISTRICT MUST DO BETTER.
THE BOARD CAN START BY NULLIFYING AND RE VOTING ON THE OPT OUT PROVISIONS, WHICH WERE ONLY BRIEFLY DISCUSSED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE PROVISION, AND OTHERS MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN EITHER. AT THE NEXT CALLED MEETING, THE BOARD MUST VOTE TO REVISE THE OPT OUT POLICY. MASKING OPT OUTS MUST REQUIRE SUPPORTING MEDICAL DOCUMENTS AND FOR STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH 504. IN ADDITION, VIRTUAL EDUCATION MUST BE EXPANDED TO UPPER GRADES TO PROTECT MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES, YOUNGER CHILDREN AND THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
AND WE MUST GIVE YOUNGER STUDENTS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEIR PARENTS HAVE SEEN HOW UNSAFE IN-PERSON SCHOOLING CAN BE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS.
THE TEA SAYS THAT DUE TO ONGOING LITIGATION, THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NOT BEING
[00:35:05]
ENFORCED. LEANDER ISD HAS NO QUARANTINES AND AN OPT OUT PROVISION IN THEIR SO-CALLED MANDATE, TOO. AND IN ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL, THEY'VE HAD AT LEAST 135 COVID CASES, AND SECONDARY STUDENTS HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN CONTACT TRACING.IF ROUND ROCK IS ANYTHING LIKE LEANDER, WE WILL HAVE OVER 100 CASES BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK. GET READY FOR ANOTHER EMERGENCY MEETING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA QUINTANA.
LINDA QUINTANA? WE'LL GO ON TO ELIZABETH GEORGE.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES, THANKS.
AND THANKS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I AM THE PARENT WHO BEGGED YOU FOR THE LIFE OF MY MOTHER BY NOT OVERBURDENING THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN THE LAST MEETING.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE SIX WEEKS, BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
IN THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN AUSTIN HAS RECEIVED DELIVERY OF REFRIGERATED TRUCKS FOR MORGUES OVERFLOW BECAUSE THE BODIES, THEY CAN'T HANDLE THEM IN THE MORGUES. IN THAT TIME, THEY'VE HAD BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN UNMASKED SITUATIONS, EVEN IN VACCINATED FOLKS SUCH AS OUR VERY OWN GOVERNOR.
THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOOD NEWS.
PARIS ISD PASSED A DRESS CODE UPDATE TO INCLUDE MASKS TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS. AND I DO FEEL LIKE WE COULD DO EXACTLY THE SAME.
THERE IS A LEGAL PROCESS THAT EXISTS WITHIN EDUCATION AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT APPLIES TO EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND CHRONIC ILLNESSES.
AND THEY CAN USE THAT AT ANY TIME THEY NEED AN ACCOMMODATION.
SO I THINK THERE WERE SOME BAD FAITH ARGUMENTS OUTLINING THAT POPULATION WHEN THERE IS AN EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK, AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE VERY ADEPT AT HANDLING THAT.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE SCARIEST PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
30 SECONDS. THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM HAS ACTUALLY ASKED FOR MORE OXYGEN, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF IT.
THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED BOTH LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ANY DISTRICT WILLING TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS.
OUR MASK MANDATE IS NOT ENOUGH, IF THERE IS AN OPT OUT ISSUE.
MASKS ONLY WORK IF EVERYONE WEARS THEM.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATASHA CHO.
HI, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NATASHA CHO, AND I AM THE PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AT PURPLE SAGE ELEMENTARY. I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AGAIN THIS EVENING, AFTER WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS A VERY POORLY EXECUTED DISCUSSION.
FIRST, I WILL STATE THAT FORCING A VOTE AT 2:30 IN THE MORNING WAS NEITHER PRUDENT NOR PROFESSIONAL. YOU SHOULD HAVE EXERCISED BETTER JUDGMENT AND HAD A BETTER PLAN AND SCHEDULE IN PLACE. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT YOU WERE NOT POSITIONED TO USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT, AS SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE STATED, THEY CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT THEY VOTED ON.
I AM DISGUSTED AT THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE CLEAR MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SPOKE AGAINST A MASK MANDATE WERE WHITE.
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO VOTED FOR THE OPT OUT WERE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT WHITE.
THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF A MASK MANDATE, WHICH IN THEIR PERSPECTIVE CLEARLY DID NOT INCLUDE AN OPT OUT, WERE LARGELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE ONLY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD VOTING AGAINST THE OPT OUT WERE ALSO PEOPLE OF COLOR.
A MAJORITY WHITE BOARD VOTED AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE MAJORITY OF ITS PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN FAVOR OF AN AGENDA FAVORED BY A SMALL WHITE MINORITY.
THE DECISION WAS INHERENTLY RACIST IN NATURE.
DESMER WALKS IS ALSO A PERSON OF COLOR WHOSE DATA WAS IGNORED.
BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE OPT OUT NEED TO EXAMINE THEIR PRIVILEGE AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARGINALIZATION OF THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ONE OF YOU ALLIED WITH THE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON YOUR OWN BOARD IN THAT VOTE.
WE HAD MANY STUDENTS OF COLOR COME SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MASK MANDATE.
30 SECONDS. WHAT LESSON DID THIS DECISION TEACH THEM ABOUT THEIR VOICES AND WHO HAS POWER IN THIS SITUATION? MY OWN CHILDREN ARE ASIAN-AMERICAN AND MY STOMACH SINKS WHEN I THINK OF HOW THIS HAS MADE THEM FEEL.
SECOND, I AM DEMANDING THE FOLLOWING ACTION ITEMS BE ADDED TO OUR NEXT AGENDA, OR ACTED
[00:40:03]
UPON IMMEDIATELY TO ADD A LAYER OF SAFETY TO OUR SCHOOLS.ONE, IMPLEMENT OUTDOOR SEATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH CDC GUIDELINES.
TWO, REVISE THE OPT OUT CLAUSE.
THREE, UPDATE THE COVID DASHBOARD TO KEEP NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OPTING OUT.
UPDATE. TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAGNA ROY.
HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS. I AM HERE AGAIN REPRESENTING AND ON THE BEHALF OF THE 94 OR 93 PERCENT OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE NOT OPTED OUT.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY ON HOW THIS IS IMPACTING INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE PARENT'S REQUEST OF KEEPING THE KIDS SAFE ACROSS OUR ISD IS BEING RESPECTED BY THE EDUCATORS EQUITABLY.
BASED ON INFORMATION FROM RRISD, ROUND ROCK ISD PARENTS THAT OPT OUT OF PERCENTAGE IS NOT ACCURATE IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE.
YOU HAVE PUT ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON ADMINS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH YOUR LACK OF LEADERSHIP, WHEN EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON LEARNING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
NOW THEY'RE STRESSED OUT EVERY DAY ON WHO IS GOING TO KEEP THEM SAFE OR NOT.
I AM APPALLED THAT THE BOARD IGNORED THE VOICE OF MAJORITY, WHICH INCLUDED MEDICAL EXPERTS AND PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
I'M APPALLED THAT THE BOARD CHOSE NOT TO LISTEN TO DIVERSE, BRAVE STUDENTS WHO SPOKE FOR THE MASK MANDATE.
I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO THE MAJORITY.
REMOVE THE OPT OUT FOR NONMEDICAL REASONS.
YOU ARE PUTTING CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS AT RISK THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS.
DO YOU AGREE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO LOST LIVES AND LONG TERM HARM? I URGE YOU, YET AGAIN, TO LISTEN TO HEALTH CARE AUTHORITIES AND SAFE PEOPLE ON YOUR WATCH. PLEASE REMOVE THE OPT OUT FOR NONMEDICAL REASONS.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EVE MARGOLESE.
EVE MARGOLESE? WE'LL GO ON TO SHANNON PROBY.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS SHANNON PROBY, I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND PARENT OF TWO FUTURE ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENTS. AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE DRESS CODE IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
THE STUDENT DRESS CODE, AS WRITTEN, SAYS THAT IT, QUOTE, TEACHES GROOMING AND HYGIENE, PREVENTS DISRUPTION, MINIMIZE THE SAFETY HAZARDS, AND MAINTAINS A POSITIVE LEARNING CLIMATE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS DRESS CODE THAT DON'T ACTUALLY DO THAT.
SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE HEADGEAR SECTION.
THIS DRESS CODE WAS NOT WRITTEN WITH MANY CULTURAL AND OR RACIAL GROUPS IN MIND AND SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE THE CULTURAL PRACTICES OF STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. OUR DRESS CODE, AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, PROHIBITS, QUOTE, SCARVES, BANDANAS AND DURAGS.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE RECENTLY IN THESE BOARD MEETINGS CLAIMING DISCRIMINATION BY THIS DISTRICT. I HOPE TO HEAR THEIR SUPPORT IN REMOVING THESE ITEMS FROM OUR DRESS CODE IS PROHIBITED SINCE THESE ITEMS ARE DIRECT VIOLATIONS OF PEOPLE'S GUARANTEED FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RELIGION.
I'M INCREDIBLY HARD PRESSED TO BELIEVE THAT IF IT WERE TYPICAL FOR CHRISTIANS AND/OR WHITE PEOPLE TO WEAR HEADSCARVES OF SOME SORT, THEY WOULD NOT BE PROHIBITED BY OUR DRESS CODE. I ALSO EXPECT TO HAVE TRUSTEE WESTON UNWAVERING SUPPORT, IN PARTICULAR IN DEFENDING OUR NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND GRANTING OUR STUDENTS THE FREEDOMS AS GUARANTEED BY SAID DOCUMENT. ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS DRESS CODE IS FOR SOME REASON EASY TO ENFORCE, AND YET SOMEHOW REQUIRING THAT STUDENTS WEAR MASKS IS NOT EASILY ENFORCEABLE. I FIND THIS AT BEST TO BE CONFUSING AND AT WORST, AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO PUT OUR STUDENTS AND GREATER COMMUNITY AT RISK BY THOSE ARGUING THAT MASKING WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE.
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY YOU PUT OUR STUDENTS AT RISK, WITH A THIS IS NOT REALLY A MANDATE MANDATE. THE NO QUESTIONS ASKED OPT OUT MAKES IT SO THAT A FEW, ALBEIT LOUD PEOPLE CAN. 30 SECONDS.
DR. BONE, TRUSTEE WESTON, YOU ARE TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU WALKED INTO SCHOOLS WITHOUT MASKS, KNOWING FULL WELL YOU COULD BE ASYMPTOMATIC AND YOU PUT OUR STUDENTS AT RISK.
YOU SHOULD WORK TO CREATE A MASK9ING POLICY THAT ENSURES SAFETY OR RESIGN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY WILEY.
JENNY WILEY? OK, CHELSEA MAK? HELLO.
HELLO. MY NAME IS CHELSEA MAK.
TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CHUY ZERATI.
HE'S A PARENT OF THREE AND IN FAVOR OF A FULL MASK MANDATE.
[00:45:05]
WAS THAT THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR COMMENTS? NO.THIRTY SECONDS. WE DID NOTHING JUST NOW AND WASTED YOUR TIME.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU VOTED TO OPT OUT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH VALGUS.
MY NAME IS JASON VALGUS, I AM A ROUND ROCK RESIDENT AND FATHER OF A YOUNG BOY.
I PLAN TO ENROLL IN ROUND ROCK ISD ONCE HE IS OF AGE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REFLECT ON THE ROUND ROCK ISD MASK MANDATE THAT WAS PASSED TWO DAYS AGO. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE FIVE MEMBER BOARD THAT DECIDED TO ENACT THE MANDATE FOR STUDENTS.
HAVING A MASK RECOMMENDATIONS WILL HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD AND PROTECT THEIR FELLOW CLASSMATES AND FELLOW CITIZENS.
I FURTHER WISH SPECIFICALLY THANK TRUSTEES HARRISON AND XIAO FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO VOTE AGAINST CREATING THE BLANKET OPT OUT OPTION FOR STUDENTS.
CREATING AN OPT OUT OPTION ALLOWS FOR A WEAKENING OF OUR COLLECTIVE LINKED CHAIN OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT OF THE VIRUS AND ANY OTHER FUTURE VARIANTS.
I AM SPEAKING TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THEIR STANCE IN REGARDS TO OPT OUT OPTION. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD FURTHER CONSIDER THE ACTIONS OF THE PARIS ISD SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE AN OPT OUT OPTION WAS NOT PROVIDED, AND MASKS REMAINED A PART OF THE DRESS CODE. THIS BOARD ARGUED THERE IS NO WAY TO ENFORCE A MASK MANDATE.
THE DRESS CODES ARE FREQUENTLY AND REGULARLY ENFORCED BY ADMINISTRATION AGAINST STUDENTS WHO ARE DRESSED INAPPROPRIATELY.
PLEASE REVISE MASK MANDATE TO BE A PART OF THE DRESS CODE AND ALLOW THE OPT OUT OPTION TO BE LIMITED ONLY TO THOSE WITH NOTED MEDICAL ISSUES AS PRESENTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE ALONZO.
OK. HI, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN AND FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK.
MY NAME IS JULIE ALONZO AND I'M A BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRICIAN AND CHILD PSYCHIATRIST, AND PARENT TWO ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENTS.
I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AGAIN TO ASK THE.
BOARD TO RECONSIDER THE PARAMETERS OF THE MASK MANDATE.
THE DEFINITION OF A MANDATE IS AN AUTHORITATIVE COMMAND, NOT AN EASILY LOOPHOLE SUGGESTION. SHOULD THERE BE EXCEPTIONS TO THE MASK MANDATE? YES, BUT IN RARE INSTANCES AND WITH MEDICAL JUSTIFICATION.
I ASK FOR THE BOARD TO REQUIRE A MEDICAL OR DISABILITY EXEMPTION FOR THE OPT OUT INSTEAD OF A FORM THAT TAKES LESS THAN A MINUTE TO FILL OUT.
AS IT STANDS NOW, IN EFFECT, IT IS MORE OF A STRONG RECOMMENDATION WITH NO TEETH.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE OPT OUTS ARE BEING TRACKED AND IF THERE'S ANY ENFORCEMENT FOR STUDENTS NOT WEARING A MASK WHO HAVE NOT OPTED OUT.
I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE MENTIONS OF PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING. I TREAT KIDS AND ADULTS WITH SEVERE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, OR EVEN ATTEMPTS AS PART OF MY DAILY JOB.
IT'S AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CONCERN WHICH DESERVES FURTHER DISCUSSION, AND I'M GLAD THE BOARD IS GIVING IT ATTENTION.
HOWEVER, THIS IS CONFLATING TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
WEARING MASKS HAS NO CORRELATION WITH SUICIDE OR SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS.
THE WAY TO OPTIMIZE THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF KIDS IS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN, KEEP KIDS ENGAGING WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND SOCIALIZING WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
KEEP KIDS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE.
ALREADY, SCHOOLS IN TEXAS, GEORGIA, FLORIDA AND OTHER STATES HAVE HAD TO SHUT DOWN.
LEANDER, WHICH STARTED JUST FIVE SCHOOL DAYS EARLIER, HAS ALREADY SEEN A RAPID RISE IN CASES AND INSTITUTED A MASK MANDATE BASED ON A STAGED APPROACH.
I HEARD TALK ABOUT A MATRIX AT THE MEETING ON MONDAY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR A STAGED APPROACH TIED TO MEASURABLE METRICS TO END THE MASS MANDATE.
ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT CAN BE EXTENDED BY THE BOARD, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO SET AN ARBITRARY DATE TO END IT.
THAT WILL LIKELY STILL FALL WITHIN THIS DELTA SURGE.
I ALSO ASK AGAIN THAT THE SCHOOLS WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY TO COMPLY WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY AND CITY OF AUSTIN ORDINANCES.
WE MAY BE TIRED OF COVID, BUT COVID IS NOT DONE WITH US, UNFORTUNATELY.
I IMPLORE THE BOARD TO SET GUIDELINES.
[00:50:03]
10 SECONDS. IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR DECISIONS. THANK YOU.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON SKLAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE COVID DASHBOARD IS UP, THANK YOU FOR STARTING IT TOMORROW INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR AN EXTRA WEEK.
WHEN IT COMES TO TRACKING EXPONENTIAL GROWTH, EVERY DAY HELPS.
ANYHOW, MY APPEAL IS NARROWLY FOCUSED THIS TIME BECAUSE WE CAN STILL FIX THINGS.
FIVE OF YOU VOTED TO ADD THE OPT OUT OPTION THAT EFFECTIVELY KNEECAPPED THE MANDATE.
IT'S A JOKE, AND IT WOULD BE LAUGHABLE IF IT WASN'T SO PATHETIC AND DANGEROUS.
A FEW OF YOU SEEM PRETTY SET IN YOUR WAYS AND NOT OPEN TO REVISITING YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON THE SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVICE YOU WERE PRESENTED ON MONDAY NIGHT.
SO I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE REMAINING THREE OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR THE OPT OUT.
PEOPLE WHO I THINK WHO I HOPE HAVE THE WILL AND INTERNAL FORTITUDE AND FRANKLY, GOOD CONSCIENCE TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISIONS.
ONE OF YOU HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH RRISD PARENTS, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR YOU AND IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR US ALL.
SO WHAT AM I, A PARENT OF TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS, ASKING THE THREE OF YOU? FIRST, RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'VE MADE A MISTAKE AND THEN HAVE THE COURAGE TO FIX IT.
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. AS ADULTS, WE NEED TO OWN THEM, LEARN FROM THEM, AND IDEALLY NOT REPEAT THEM. A MANDATE IS NOT A MANDATE WHEN PEOPLE CAN OPT OUT, BECAUSE FREEDOM.
CALLING THIS A MANDATE IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND MISLEADING.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT ONLY SIX PERCENT OF FAMILIES ARE OPTING OUT.
LOOK AT THE PICTURES, READING EMAILS AND POSTS.
WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO FILL OUT THE FORM? NONE. KNOW AS WELL THAT WHILE SOME SCHOOLS ARE LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OPT OUTS, MANY ARE 30 PLUS PERCENT OPT OUTS FACING KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO WANT TO BE SAFE AND WHO WANT TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS WHO DON'T SEEM TO CARE AT INCREDIBLE RISK.
30 SECONDS. THOSE WHO DON'T MASS PROVIDE CATASTROPHIC VECTOR OF INFECTION SPREAD.
SECOND, AFFIRM THAT SCIENCE MATTERS AND THE DATA ARE CONCLUSIVE THAT MASKING MATTERS.
THIRD, LISTEN TO YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
BOTH ATTORNEYS ON MONDAY, THEY MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR YOU HAVE A LEGAL LEG TO STAND IF YOU MANDATE MASKS. OR IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BREAKING THE LAW, CONSIDER OTHER LAWBREAKERS, SUFFRAGETTES, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND A CERTAIN HISTORICAL FIGURE WHO BROKE ROMAN LAW AND PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
THESE ARE ALL LINE BREAKERS, BUT THEY BROKE LAWS BECAUSE JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS WAS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG GILDEN.
THANK YOU. I AM A PARENT OF THE NEW KINDERGARTEN STUDENT AT POND SPRINGS ELEMENTARY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD TO REQUIRE ANY STAFF OR STUDENTS HAVE A MEDICAL REASON IN ORDER TO OPT OUT OF WEARING A MASK.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC, COVID 19 SPREADS WHEN AN INFECTED PERSON BREATHES OUT DROPLETS AND VERY SMART SMALL PARTICLES THAT CONTAIN THE VIRUS.
THE DROPLETS AND PARTICLES CAN BE BREATHED IN BY OTHER PEOPLE OR LAND ON THEIR EYES AND NOSES OR MOUTH. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHEN AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS IN THE CONCEPT OF IT, IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THAT WEARING A MASK IS NOT A PERSONAL CHOICE, IT IS PUBLIC SAFETY. THE CHOICE TO NOT WEAR A MASK MEANS YOU'RE ACTIVELY CHOOSING TO HARM OTHERS AROUND YOU. THE MINOR INCONVENIENCE OF A MASK MATTERS MORE TO YOU THAN POTENTIALLY HURTING CHILDREN. THAT IS NOT FREEDOM, THAT IS CRIMINAL.
SOMETIMES HE PUTS ON SHORTS AND THEN PUTS ON MORE SHORTS BECAUSE HE FORGOT HE WAS WEARING SHORTS. HE WILL SHOW UP TO SCHOOL IN A MASK AND DO HIS BEST TO KEEP IT ON.
I CANNOT REASONABLY SEE HOW A TEACHER OR NURSE OR ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBER WORKING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COULD LEGITIMATELY SAY THEY ARE CARING ABOUT THE KIDS THEY SERVE WHILE ALSO NOT WEARING A MASK RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE SPREAD AND PRESENCE OF COVID IN OUR COMMUNITY. NUMEROUS OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS HAVE MORE SUBSTANTIVE MASS REQUIREMENTS THAN ROUND ROCK.
THE ADULTS RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING AND CARING FOR MY SON NEED TO BE MASKED UNTIL HE CAN RECEIVE THE VACCINE.
YOU WOULD NOT FIND IT ACCEPTABLE FOR A STAFF MEMBER TO PHYSICALLY HURT A CHILD.
SO IT ISN'T ACCEPTABLE EITHER.
30 SECONDS. TO INFECT ONE WITH THE DEADLY VIRUS.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELISSA GILDEN.
HI, I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF A MASK MANDATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD TO REQUIRE MEDICAL REASONING TO OPT OUT OF WEARING A MASK.
I'M IN FAVOR OF STRENGTHENING THE MANDATE IN WHATEVER WAY THE BOARD CAN DO TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN, FACULTY AND STAFF IN THIS DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I AM A ROUND ROCK ISD PARENT AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK FOR MY PROFESSION.
A LICENSED CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND A LICENSED SPECIALIST IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.
I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT FACILITATING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND FIRMLY SUPPORT THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE THAT SCHOOLS HAVE FOR CHILDREN AND FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. I'VE SPENT MY CAREER DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND TOWARD INCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES FOR KIDS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
THE BOARD MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK, I HEARD MENTIONED OF CONCERN REGARDING CHILDREN'S
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MENTAL HEALTH AND ESPECIALLY WHAT THIS IS LOOKED LIKE DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH PANDEMIC.I SHARE THESE CONCERNS ABOUT CHILDREN AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS BEEN STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE, FOR KIDS, FOR PARENTS, FOR TEACHERS, FOR ADMINISTRATORS, FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR HUMANS.
WHAT CHILDREN NEED IS A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN LEARN.
I WANT TO SAY AS CLEARLY AS I CAN THAT THERE IS NO ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT LINKS MASK USAGE OR WEARING MASKS, OR REQUIRING MASKS WITH AN INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, INCLUDING SUICIDALITY OR DEPRESSION.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICT CAN WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS CONVERSATION, THOUGH, IS UNRELATED TO MASKS AND TO THE CURRENT NEED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THIRTY SECONDS. I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN THEIR POWER TO INCREASE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SCHOOLS FOR ALL CHILDREN.
SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE SCIENTIFIC, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT A STRONG MASK MANDATE CAN DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA HICKSON.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MELISSA HICKSON, AND I REPRESENT MYSELF, AND I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO REMOVE THE MASK OPTION, THE MASK OPT OUT OPTION AND OFFER VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR ALL GRADES. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE HARRISON FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE CLASS THAT YOU ALWAYS EXHIBITED IN YOUR POSITION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THERE SHOULD BE MORE LIKE YOU THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND ACT LIKE YOU REPRESENT EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT ON THAT BOARD.
ON MONDAY, THE BOARD SAT FOR SEVEN HOURS AND HEARD TESTIMONIES OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM BEGGED, PLEADED, QUOTED DATA, PRESENTED EVIDENCE FOR THE BOARD TO PUT IN PLACE A MASK MANDATE, ONLY TO COMPLETELY DISREGARD WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS ASKED FOR.
TRUSTEES BONE AND WESTON, WE SEE YOU.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE YOU'VE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON EVERYONE IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE WILL REMEMBER HOW YOU SHOWED UP AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNMASKED WHEN YOU KNOW THOSE CHILDREN CANNOT BE VACCINATED.
WE WILL REMEMBER HOW YOU, TRUSTEE WESTON, ADMITTED THAT YOU NEVER WANTED AN EMERGENCY MEETING CALLED SO THAT PARENTS COULD VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
WE WILL REMEMBER HOW YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY NEEDED YOU THE MOST.
WHEN RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE, YOU SAID YOU WERE PROUD MILITARY VETERAN AND MOM, BUT YOU LED THE CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT INTO AN AMBUSH, AND WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.
AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE SEES EXACTLY WHAT BONE AND WESTON ARE DOING AND EXACTLY HOW DIVISIVE THEY ARE MAKING THIS BOARD.
YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE VOTES YOU OUT NEXT TIME. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME AND THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND I JUST WANTED TO BE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS.
WE'VE BEEN IN COVID NOW FOR MORE THAN 18 MONTHS, AND WE SEE THE EFFORTS YOU ARE TAKING TO TRY TO USE DATA TO TRY TO USE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FOR EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION, TO.
ONE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHOICE OF WORDS WE USE.
MANDATE. IT IS A MANDATE ONLY IF IT IS TRULY EXECUTED AS A MANDATE.
HAVING AN OPT OUT OR A REQUIREMENT THAT LETS PEOPLE CHOOSE IN OR OUT IS NOT A MANDATE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THE GUIDELINES IN PLACE THAT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO WEAR THE MASK TO GET AWAY SCOT FREE.
OUR CHILDREN NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
THEY NEED YOU TO PROTECT THEM AS TRUSTEES OF THE BOARD.
THE WORD TRUST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOUR ROLE IS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND KEEP THEM SAFE AT ALL TIMES.
WE TRUST YOU WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS PARENTS.
PLEASE DO TAKE A LOOK ALSO AT DATA.
THE REASON FOR THE OPT OUT OPTION, I BELIEVE, WAS BECAUSE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR DATA TO HELP DRIVE DECISION MAKING.
THIRTY SECONDS. BUT THE WAY THE OPT OUT IS SET UP RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COLLECT THE DATA AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THE RIGHT WAY.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE CALL AN EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING SO THAT IT CAN BE RE VOTED IN THE RIGHT WAY AND WE CAN TAKE OUT THE OPT OUT PROVISION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON CHOE.
HI, MY NAME IS JASON CHOE, I'M A PARENT OF TWO CURRENT AND ONE FUTURE ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENT, ALL OF WHOM ARE TOO YOUNG TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE MASK MANDATE.
BUT A MANDATE WITH UNCONDITIONAL OPT OUT IS NOT A TRUE MANDATE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO
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PROTECT STUDENTS OR THEIR FAMILIES.I'M CALLING ON THE BOARD TO ADD THESE ACTION ITEMS TO THE NEXT AGENDA IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE.
FIRST, WE NEED TO REVISE THE OPT OUT CLAUSE TO RESTRICT THE OPT OUT TO ONLY THOSE WITH A MEDICAL NEED. WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT OUTDOOR SEATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH CDC GUIDELINES, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE AT SOME CAMPUS.
THIS IS AN EQUITY ISSUE, CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.
AND TO UPDATE THE COVID DASHBOARD WITH THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OPTING OUT, BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHO IS AND WHO ISN'T.
AND WE HAVE NO. AS PARENTS, WE CAN'T ACT ON THAT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDAN GOLDMAN.
HELLO, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M THE FATHER OF A YOUNG BOY WHO JUST STARTED KINDERGARTEN IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
AND I JUST WANTED TO START BY SAYING THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DECISION AT MONDAY'S MEETING TO ALLOW FOR PARENTS TO OPT OUT OF THE SO-CALLED MASK MANDATE WITHOUT ANY CONDITION OTHER THAN THEIR CONSENT, ENDANGERS OUR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS AND COMPLETELY UPENDS ANY NOTION OF A MANDATE.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE. BUT THEN TO ALLOW FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS TO OPT OUT AND BE UNMASKED AND POSSIBLY UNVACCINATED AROUND OUR CHILDREN WITHOUT OUR CONSENT GOES EVEN FURTHER BEYOND THAT FAILURE OF JUDGMENT.
YESTERDAY, ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE SAW PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES BREAKDOWN IN REAL TIME. DURING THE DROP OFF AND PICKUP OF OUR CHILD, SOCIAL DISTANCING WENT RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW DUE TO MISCOMMUNICATION AND LACK OF PLANNING.
THIS IS WHY MASKS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY AND TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF COVID COVID AMONG OUR CHILDREN RATHER THAN A REACTIVE APPROACH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT OUR SON TO HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF A SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
BUT THE LACK OF MASK PROTOCOL AND SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN CANNOT BE IGNORED, AND WE NEED YOU TO PLEASE DO BETTER.
TRAIN YOUR STAFF TO TAKE SOCIAL DISTANCING SERIOUSLY.
EXPLAIN TO YOUR STAFF THAT THEIR CHOICE TO BE UNMASKED IN A CLASSROOM WITH OUR KIDS UPENDS ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT WE AS RESPONSIBLE PARENTS HAVE INSTILLED IN OUR YOUNG ONES TO STAY MASKED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
IT SETS A BAD EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND IT CREATES A FEELING OF DISTRUST AND HOSTILITY BETWEEN PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS WANT A MASK MANDATE WITHOUT A LOOPHOLE.
YOU MUST KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
IF WE WERE ON A SINKING SHIP AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CREW DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO PLUG UP THE LEAKS, WE WOULD HOPE THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN WOULDN'T CATER TO A SMALL MINORITY THAT BELIEVED ALLOWING WATER INTO THE BOAT WASN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
WE COULDN'T PLUG UP MOST OF THE HOLES WHILE IGNORING OTHERS AS THIS INEFFECTIVE APPROACH WILL SURELY CAUSE THE ENTIRE VESSEL TO SINK.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM BARTLETT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE DRESS CODE IN THE PROPOSED STUDENT HANDBOOK, MUCH LIKE SOME PARENTS OF MASKING, I WONDER IF I CAN GET AN EXCEPTION FOR MY CHILDREN FROM THE POLICIES OF DISTRICT BY SPELLING OUT A SIMPLE FORM.
THE POLICIES AS WRITTEN, WHILE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE PREVIOUS POLICY, STILL MAINTAIN OUTDATED AND MISOGYNISTIC VIEWS OF DRESS BANNING SPAGHETTI DRESS AND THAT LEISURE CLOTHING, DO WHAT AGAIN? REINFORCE OUTDATED VIEWS OF SOCIETY, REINFORCE THAT GIRLS AND WOMEN'S BODIES ARE NOT THEIR OWN. REINFORCE THAT BOYS AND MEN CAN'T CONTROL THEMSELVES.
NONE OF THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR MODERN SOCIETY.
OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE BROUGHT UP THE RACIST AND XENOPHOBIC ASPECTS OF THIS POLICY, WHICH ARE LIKELY SO IN THEIR DESIGN PURPOSE.
IRONY IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT MANY OF THE PARENTS AND TRUSTEES WHO FEEL THAT THIS DISTRICT CANNOT AND SHOULD ENFORCE MASKING AT ALL LIKELY FULLY SUPPORT, MAKING SURE GIRLS COVER UP THEIR SHOULDERS AND DON'T WEAR LEGGINGS.
UPDATING THIS POLICY SHOULD BE STUDENT LED, OR AT LEAST A STUDENT ENGAGED PROCESS.
THE SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBLE PROVIDE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR FUTURES, WHICH WILL LIKELY INVOLVE WHEN THEY'RE WEARING STRAPLESS TOPS AND DARING TO EXPOSE THEIR MIDRIFF.
THE SOONER WE EDUCATE STUDENTS THAT THEY AND THEY ALONE ARE ON CONTROL OF THEIR BODIES, THE BETTER. FINALLY, IF THE DISTRICT CAN MANDATE THAT WE WEAR PANTS OR SHOES TO SCHOOL, WHY SHOULD WE JUST END ALL THE SHENANIGANS AND MANDATE THE WEARING OF MASKS AS PART OF A CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS? A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE INDICATES THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ONLY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CAN MAKE POLICIES TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF THE DISTRICT. 30 SECONDS.
ROUND ROCK ISD CONTAINS A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CLAUSE.
I KEEP HEARING ABOVE THE LAW MENTIONED BY SOME FOLKS, ESPECIALLY FROM TRUSTEES BONE AND WESTON AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE, KEN PAXTON, WHO'S BEEN INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY AND GREG ABBOTT, ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
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THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE DOES NOT GIVE THE GOVERNOR THE POWER TO OVERRIDE ANY AND ALL LAWS OF THE STATE AT WILL.AND THE LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD CAN AND MUST MAKE POLICIES THAT ENSURE SUCCESS OF OUR GOAL, A SAFE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. TIME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
MONDAY WAS HORRENDOUS BECAUSE I WATCHED ONE AFTER ANOTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND OH, MY GOD.
I'M NOT AS PREPARED, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.
MAYBE I COME FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD WHERE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IS LIKE, HEY, CAN I LIVE OR DIE? NOT WHETHER YOU CAN WEAR A MASK OR NOT.
SO I AM SO GLAD BECAUSE I RANTED ON AND ON AND ON MONDAY INTO EARLY IN THE MORNING ABOUT A MANDATE. DO WE HAVE TO TEACH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHAT THE MEANING OF A MANDATE? BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU PUT THE OPT OUT, IT WENT OUT THE DOOR.
SO I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LANGUAGE, WHAT KIND OF VOCABULARY WE ARE TEACHING THE KIDS IN RRISD NOW THAT WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF A MANDATE.
THAT'S ONE THING. I'M SO GLAD THAT ALL OF YOU DID THAT EMERGENCY MEETING REGARDLESS.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE ONES WHO WERE QUESTIONING THOSE WHO DID ASK FOR THE EMERGENCY.
WHY DO THEY THINK THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE EMERGENCY MEETING? IT WAS MORE LIKE A BLAME LAKE WHO ASKED FOR THIS MEETING.
I WANT TO ASK THEM, WHY WEREN'T THEY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF ASKING FOR A MEETING BETTER LATE THAN NEVER? SO AND I WANT TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT AND COMPASSION, THE COMPASSION AND COMMON SENSE THAT SOME OF THE TRUSTEES DIDN'T SHOW.
THAT I AM GIVING BENEFIT OF DOUBT TO TRUSTEE WESTON AND TRUSTEE BONE THAT THEY WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR MISTAKE AND HELP IN FIXING THIS MASK MANDATE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT IS A CHOICE.
IT IS A RECOMMENDATION, IT IS NOT A MANDATE.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSAY LEDGARD.
LINDSAY LEDGARD ? OK, ACTUALLY, AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH EVERYONE THAT WAS MISSED BECAUSE I DID RECEIVE SEVERAL NOTES OF PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED OR WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ON VIRTUALLY. SO IS KIANA PITTS OR JENNIFER WHITE HERE? HELLO? OH, CAN YOU GUYS GET ME? HOLD ON. HELLO.
YES, WAIT JUST A SECOND, THOUGH.
WE'RE GOING BACK THROUGH THE LIST REAL QUICK, BUT HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU, BUT HELLO.
OR WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET ON SEARCH.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JENNIFER WHITE, AND I'M A PROUD PARENT OF TWO FEMALE TEENAGERS HERE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT CHILD SAFETY.
WHY IS THE BOARD COVERING UP AND NOT WANTING TO ADDRESS THE ASSAULT CHARGES, THE ALLEGED ASSAULT CHARGES AND THE RESTRAINING ORDER THAT A JUDGE IMMEDIATELY IMPOSED AGAINST THIS SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT HARMING HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND? AND I KNOW YOU HEARD ABOUT TIMELINE AND CORY VESSA.
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW, YOU GOT TO YOU GOT A MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE ON JULY 6TH AND YOU IGNORED THE CRIES OF THE DIRE URGENCY AND CONCERNS THEY HAD ABOUT SAID SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT YOU BLEW HER OFF. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS HOW DO WE TRUST YOU AS A TRUSTEE TO HAVE OUR BACKS? BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT SAME DAY YOU RESPONDED BACK, JULY 6TH, WAS THE SAME DAY OF THE ASSAULT, THE ALLEGED ASSAULT.
YES. AMY WEIR AND TIFFANIE HARRISON, YOU BOTH KNEW, I KNOW FOR A FACT, ON JULY 13TH, YOU ARE BOTH FULLY BRIEFED ABOUT THE ASSAULT CHARGES AND THE RESTRAINING ORDER.
[01:10:03]
BUT YOU BOTH HAVE ACTUALLY MISLED THE PUBLIC, OUR COMMUNITY, THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW.IT'S FALSE. I KNOW FOR A FACT.
I KNOW IT. WHAT'S REALLY CONCERNING IS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ASKED, WHY IS THIS A CONCERN? IT'S PRIVATE.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE THIS BOARD HAS SET THE WORST EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE THINKING THEY CAN ASSAULT ONE ANOTHER. STUDENTS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, THE TOP PERSON COULD ASSAULT SOMEONE.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT SERIOUS.
KIDS, BOYS, GIRLS CAN ASSAULT EACH OTHER AND INSULT EACH OTHER, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS IT. YOU'RE HIDING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING HIM? WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? WHO AND WHY WOULD WE WANT TO TRUST ANY OF YOU, ESPECIALLY YOU, VESSA ? ABOUT SOMEONE CAME TO YOU WITH A CRY FOR HELP AND YOU IGNORED IT, AND THEN YOU LIED ABOUT IT. SO PLEASE PUT HIM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED, OR BETTER YET, FIRE HIM. TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TO PRESIDENT WEIR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I HEARD YOU CALLING MY NAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MONDAY, BUT I HAD TO PUT MY THREE CHILDREN TO BED SO THAT THEY COULD BE READY TO GO TO SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS A MASS MANDATE, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.
TODAY, I WAS TRYING TO GET THOSE SAME THREE KIDS SITUATED AT HOME BECAUSE WE GET IN A LITTLE LATER SINCE WE ARE NO LONGER ATTENDING THE ROUND ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.
SO I WAS HOPING TO BRING THEM BACK TO ROUND ROCK THIS YEAR, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE CULTURE IN ROUND ROCK IS NOT SAFE FOR MY BLACK CHILDREN.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND WE NEED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND UP AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN NOT CAVE.
CAN WE PLEASE TAKE ACTION LIKE LITTLE OLE PARIS, TEXAS? AND FOR HEALTH REASONS, MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS AND STUDENTS TO MEDICATE FLU, COLD PANDEMIC AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
THANK YOU, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK NOW TO THE LIST OF OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, LINDA QUINTANA. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YEP. AWESOME, THANK YOU AND MY APOLOGIES, I WAS ABLE TO JUMP ON I PUT IN THE WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS. LET ME GO TO START, MY NAME'S LINDA QUINTANA.
I HAVE THREE KIDS, ONE AT WESTWOOD TWO.
CANYON VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL THEIR AGES ARE 16, 13 AND 11.
I ALSO LIVE IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID BRING UP WAS APPARENTLY ROUND ROCK.
ISD IS IN VIOLATION RIGHT NOW.
AND IGNORING AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY ORDERS ARE THE MASK MANDATE.
I KNOW WE DO HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
I BROUGHT THAT UP MONDAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU NOW IS PART OF AN EXCERPT FROM A LETTER FROM ANOTHER MOM WHO IS FIGHTING HER OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT TO OPT OUT ON MASKS AS WELL DRESS CODE. AS A PARENT OF TWO DAUGHTERS AT CBMS, I FIND THE DISTRICT'S DRESS CODE POLICY TO BE MISOGYNISTIC AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE SELF-ESTEEM OF ALL YOUNG WOMEN.
AND I SAY THAT AS A GIRL SCOUT TROOP LEADER FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
IN LIGHT OF THE OPT OUT OPTION RELATED TO THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MASK MANDATE, I CAN BARELY ASSUME THAT PARENTS MYSELF ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH SCHOOL POLICIES THAT MY CHILDREN, MY DAUGHTERS COULD BE SUBJECTED TO.
AS SOMEONE WHO HOLDS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO MY FEMINIST IDEALS AND DESIRE TO RAISE MY DAUGHTERS TO BE STRONG, EMPOWERED YOUNG WOMEN, I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES. IT WAS 95 DEGREES TODAY.
YESTERDAY, IT WAS IN THE 90S AS WELL AND A.
ROUND ROCK SCHOOL BUS WAS OUT, WAS DELAYED BY 40 MINUTES.
I HAD TO GO PICK THEM UP. THEY'RE SWEATING, IT'S HOT.
THEY CAN'T WEAR CERTAIN SHORTS, THEY CAN'T WEAR TANK TOPS.
THE DRESS CODES ARE PREDOMINANTLY APPLIED TO FEMALE STUDENTS AND ALSO TO CHILDREN OF COLOR. 30 SECONDS.
SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS IT'S LUDICROUS BECAUSE YOUNG WOMEN SHOULD BE TAUGHT THAT THEY HAVE TO COVER THEMSELVES UP.
NO BOYS SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO OBJECTIFY WOMEN.
WHY DO GIRLS HAVE TO BEHAVE A CERTAIN WAY BECAUSE BOYS CAN'T HANDLE THEMSELVES? THIS IS RAPE CULTURE AND IT NEEDS TO STOP.
BOYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.
AND I SAY THIS AS A MOTHER OF A 16 YEAR OLD SON, I TAUGHT HIM RESPECT.
I TELL HIM TO KEEP HIS EYEBALLS IN HIS HEAD.
IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY ON WHAT DISTRACTS HIM, AND IT'S NOT THE GIRLS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON KILGORE.
THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON, JADEN, WHO IS A SECOND GRADER AT GREEN OAKS ELEMENTARY. JADEN, DO YOU WEAR YOUR MASK TO SCHOOL? I DO. YOU DO? WHY DO YOU WEAR YOUR MASK TO SCHOOL? BECAUSE CORONAVIRUS.
[01:15:02]
RIGHT. BECAUSE IT SPREADS GERMS. RIGHT. IF YOU DON'T.A SEVEN YEAR OLD KNOWS MORE AND IS MORE EDUCATED ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK THAN SOME OF OUR BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE REST OF MY COMMENTS TO MY FELLOW PARENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPT OUT.
IF YOU'LL INDULGE MY GEEKING OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE ANSWER TO WHY THE BOARD MADE AT LEAST AN ACCEPTABLE DECISION LIES IN THE FIELD OF BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS.
A STUDY IN 2008 SHOWED THAT FOUR PERCENT OF DENMARK'S POPULATION SIGNED UP TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR, WHILE 86 PERCENT OF OF NOT DENMARK OF SWEDEN DIDN'T.
USUALLY WHEN YOU ASK SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, OUR BIASES TELL US, WELL, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE CULTURE.
WELL, MAYBE PEOPLE JUST CARE MORE ABOUT OTHERS.
I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE. IN OUR SOCIETY OR MAYBE IT'S ABOUT RELIGION, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW TWO COUNTRIES, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR CULTURALLY, JUST EXHIBIT ANTITHETICAL BEHAVIOR.
THE SECRET HAS TO DO WITH THE FORM AT THE DMV.
DENMARK, YOU HAD A CHECKBOX THAT YOU GOT.
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO OPT IN TO BEING AN ORGAN DONOR WHILE SWEDEN'S YOU HAD TO OPT OUT OF BEING AN ORGAN DONOR.
AND IF YOU'RE CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DAN [INAUDIBLE] TED TALK ENTITLED ARE WE IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN DECISIONS? IT'S BOTH EDUCATIONAL, ENTERTAINING ANYWAY BY THE BOARD BY PROVIDING AN AUTOMATIC OPT IN YOU'VE LIKELY SAVED MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM SICKNESS, AND IN SOME CASES CERTAINLY WORSE. SO THAT'S WHY I THANK THE BOARD FOR PASSING THE MASK REQUIREMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EVE MARGOLIES.
HI, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
SO THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THE HOW IT'S MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A MASK MANDATE AND AN OPTION AN OPT OUT TOGETHER.
IT'S VERY CLEAR. AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THAT WAS DONE AT THAT LATE TIME IS THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE BOARD WHO WERE REALLY TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY, THEY WERE REALLY JUST TRYING TO DO THAT JUST TO PLEASE EVERYBODY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMED TO HAVE EMBOLDENED SOME OF THE PARENTS WHO ARE ANTI MASKERS WHO ARE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE TEACHER IN EANES WHO HAD HER MASK RIPPED OFF BY A PARENT. I'VE ALSO HEARD ABOUT TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN MOCKED BY PARENTS, PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN RUDE AND AGGRESSIVE.
THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS NOTHING TO DO [INAUDIBLE] WANT TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGGRESSIVE HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND I UNDERSTAND EITHER NOT KNOWING HOW TO MAKE THEM FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE TO DO THAT WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER WAYS TO DEAL WITH BULLIES, TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INTIMIDATING AND PEOPLE WHO ASSAULT OTHER PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS DISTRICT.
30 SECONDS. PEOPLE KEEP THEIR MASKS ON JUST TO THE TEACHERS.
I MEAN, THE IRONY ISN'T LOST ON ME, BY THE WAY, THAT THERE WAS A NURSE AT PAWN SPRINGS WHO WAS NOT WEARING A MASK.
SO IT'S EVEN HARDER FOR TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS WHEN THERE'S OTHER TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT WEARING THEM. SO THERE DOES NEED TO BE A MANDATE.
AND PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR THEM CAN CHOOSE TO DO VIRTUAL.
AND PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO WEAR THEM AND GO TO SCHOOL SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES.
THANK YOU. IS JENNY WILEY ON THE ZOOM AT THIS POINT.
ALL RIGHT, LINDSAY LEDGARD, I THINK WE SAW HER JUST A MOMENT AGO.
HI CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME NOW AND SEE ME NOW? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. FIRST I WAS HERE.
I WAS WITH YOU GUYS TILL THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING ON MONDAY.
I GUESS IT WAS TUESDAY MORNING.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE FIVE OF YOU, FOR PASSING THE FIRST TWO MASKS REQUIREMENTS. HOWEVER, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ENDED UP WITH A BLANKET OPT OUT.
WALKES WAS PRESENTING THERE WERE FIVE PEDIATRIC CASES OF COVID 19 HOSPITALIZED.
HOW MANY MORE WILL THERE BE NEXT WEEK? DELL CHILDREN'S HAS TWENTY FOUR PEDIATRIC ICU BEDS, AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN THAT THOSE NINE DON'T ACCOUNT FOR THE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF RSV THAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IN OUR PEDIATRIC
[01:20:02]
ICU HERE.WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.
SO IF WE HAVE OTHER CHILDREN THAT NEED TO GO INTO THAT HOSPITAL AND WE DON'T HAVE BEDS AVAILABLE, THERE WILL BE SENT HOURS AWAY.
SO SPREAD WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS IMPACTS NOT JUST OUR KIDS, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED IN OUR AREA.
THERE ARE FOUR ICU BEDS AVAILABLE.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT TO REQUEST THAT YOU CALL ANOTHER EMERGENCY MEETING TO REVISE THE OPT OUT POLICY AND REQUIRE A MEDICAL EXEMPTION THROUGH 504 ACCOMMODATION AND REQUIRE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.
MASKS ONLY WORK IF EVERYONE WEARS THEM.
YOU CREATED A HARDER SITUATION FOR ALL ADMINISTRATORS, AS THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO KEEP ALL OF THAT IN PLACE.
THEY CAN KEEP TRACK OF LEGITIMATE 504S.
THEY CANNOT KEEP TRACK OF THE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE CLAIMING AN OPT OUT.
30 SECONDS. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ENFORCE MASKING, WE NEED WE CAN ADD IT OR AMEND THE PREVIOUS MANDATE OR OPT OUT.
WE CAN ALSO ADD IT TO OUR DRESS CODE TO ENCOURAGE PROPER HYGIENE AND PROTECT OUR STUDENTS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS TRUSTEE BONE'S COMMENTS THAT SHE DID NOT WEAR A MASK BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VIOLATING GA 38.
THERE IS A TRO THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE STATE RELATED TO A CASE FROM THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR CHILD ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE ONE LAST CALL TO JENNY WILEY IF SHE IS ON.
WE DON'T HEAR OR SEE HER, SO THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND WE DO NOT HAVE A SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
DR. AZAIEZ. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR, TRUSTEES.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. WE HAVE WITH US DR.
PRESLEY, AND HE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH US THE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU, DR.
AZAIEZ, PRESIDENT WEIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO WE'VE SENT YOU COPIES OF OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK, AND THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM TONIGHT.
THE STUDENT HANDBOOK IS OVER 100 PAGES.
I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN EVOLVING OUR HANDBOOK TO THE TASB MODEL, WHICH THEY RECOMMEND.
SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS WITH NOMENCLATURE AND SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS HERE AND THERE, BUT IT'S REALLY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.
CURRENTLY, LAST YEAR'S HANDBOOK IS WHAT'S POSTED WERE TWO DAYS INTO SCHOOL.
AND SO WE WANT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CONVERT TO THE NEW ONE, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE.
THERE ARE NO LARGE CHANGES OR BIG ROCKS THAT WERE REMOVED.
AND IF THERE ARE ITEMS, I WOULD ASK THE BOARD IF THERE ARE PARTS OF THAT YOU'D LIKE A CLOSER EXAMINATION OF I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TOGETHER SOME FOCUS GROUPS, MAYBE ON CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AND BRING SOMETHING TO YOU TO TO CONSIDER AS WE MOVE THROUGH THAT WITH A LOT OF INPUT.
AND SO I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING THE STUDENT HANDBOOK TONIGHT.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM, NOT AN ACTION ITEM.
AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, SO I'LL JUST OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
MS. HARRISON. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR.
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS RECENTLY WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT MORE FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS, AND I LOVE THAT. SO STUDENTS, IF YOU'RE WATCHING BOARD MEETINGS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK.
SORRY, I'M LOOKING FOR THE EMAIL.
SHE'S AT MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR DRESS CODE BECAUSE THERE ARE STEREOTYPES THAT ARE HARMFUL FOR FEMALE IDENTIFYING STUDENTS AT ROUND ROCK ISD. THE DRESS CODE PROMOTES THE SHAMING OF WOMEN AND THE IDEA THAT THEIR BODY WILL BE SEXUALIZED UNLESS IT IS COVERED.
AND SHE SUGGESTED THAT OUR DRESS CODE BE MODELED MORE AFTER THE DRESS CODE PUT IN PLACE BY LEANDER ISD, AND SHE LINKED IT BELOW.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF MY FELLOW TRUSTEES DID SEE THAT, BUT I DID TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THEIR VALUES, ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRESS COMFORTABLY FOR SCHOOL AND ENGAGE IN THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT FEAR OF UNNECESSARY DISCIPLINE OR BODY SHAMING.
AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PUNITIVE DISCIPLINE THAT COMES ALONG WITH DRESS CODE. AND THERE IS A LOT OF REMOVAL.
SO STUDENTS BEING REMOVED FROM CLASS TIME.
SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SUGGEST THAT WE REVISIT THIS WITH STUDENTS AND WITH A FOCUS GROUP OF VERY DIVERSE STUDENTS REPRESENTING ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER ON THAT DRESS CODE SPECIFICALLY.
IF I CAN MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TO THAT.
SO THE TREND WITH THE TASB MODEL IS TO BE MORE GENDER NEUTRAL.
[01:25:03]
SO WE'VE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WITH THAT.SO WHEN YOU READ A PART OF THE DRESS CODE THAT SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, NO STRAPLESS TOP SPAGHETTI STRAPS TOPS BACKLESS HALTER'S LARGE ARMHOLES OR OFF THE SHOULDER TOPS, WHICH SOUNDS CONSERVATIVE, THAT APPLIES TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS WHO MIGHT WANT TO WEAR THOSE THINGS. SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT IT'S TRENDING TOWARDS MORE AGGRESSIVE RULES TOWARDS GIRLS, THESE RULES APPLY TO BOYS, BECAUSE IT'S YOU KNOW, IN OUR DAY AND TIME, IT APPLIES TO BOYS AND GIRLS AND AND FOLKS THAT IDENTIFY ANY KIND OF WAY.
SO THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN HERE, THERE'S BEEN SOME ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE GENDER NEUTRAL.
SO IT WOULD APPLY TO LIKE WHEN YOU SAY THAT A STUDENT CAN'T WEAR A SEE THROUGH MESH SHIRT, THAT APPLIES TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS AND HOWEVER ANYONE IDENTIFIES.
SO OUR DRESS CODE DOES TREND TOWARD THE CONSERVATIVE.
AND WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP LOOKING AT THAT.
ONE THING THAT WAS CHANGED THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE PART THAT ON SHIRTS, BLOUSES, SWEATSHIRT, SWEATERS.
THERE WAS A PART IN THERE THAT SAID, NO, LOW NECKLINES AND THEN IN PARENTHESIS IT SAYS WHICH REVEAL CLEAVAGE.
SO THE CLEAVAGE WAS TAKEN OUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A ONCE AGAIN, AN EFFORT TOWARDS MOVING GENDER LINES AND MAKING OUR DRESS CODE MORE GENDER NEUTRAL FOR ANY STUDENT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.
SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THE MORE STUDENT INPUT WE GET, THE BETTER.
I KNOW PRESIDENT WEIR AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADJUST OUR DRESS CODE, BECAUSE SOME DRESS CODES HAVE BECOME MORE RELAXED.
AND I THINK THAT'S A MATTER OF COMMUNITY INPUT, AS WELL AS PARENT INPUT AS WELL.
BUT ALWAYS AS A 20 YEAR PRINCIPAL, I DO WANT TO ALWAYS HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT TRUSTEE HARRISON SAID.
I'VE BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS A LOT.
MY KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE DRESS CODE IS NOT IMPLEMENTED CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THOSE.
THEY GO FROM ELEMENTARY WHERE THEY CAN WEAR BASICALLY ANYTHING.
BY THE WAY, I HAVE TWO GIRLS, SO AND IT IS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT OUR DRESS CODE, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU GO INTO THE SCHOOL, SOMEHOW IT'S APPLIED HEAVIER TO THE GIRLS.
SO MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO WORK ON THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU GO INTO ELEMENTARY, BASICALLY IT'S NOT APPLIED.
YOU GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IT'S VERY HEAVY HANDED.
AND THEN YOU GET TO HIGH SCHOOL AND IT OPENS BACK UP AGAIN.
I ACTUALLY WITNESSED A YOUNG GIRL OF COLOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BE BROUGHT INTO THE OFFICE.
I WAS WAITING AND THEY BROUGHT HER IN.
MY FAMILY IS VERY CONSERVATIVE, AS MOST OF YOU GUYS KNOW.
SO MODESTY, IT WAS VERY MODEST.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY WHAT THEY WERE DOING, BUT I REALIZED WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
THEY WERE DRESS CODING HER. AND I'M WATCHING IT, AND SHE'S ABOUT IN TEARS.
AND ALL THEY DID FINALLY, THEY JUST LIKE PULL IT DOWN.
AND SO SHE PULLED IT DOWN AND IT WAS FINGERTIP.
AND HONESTLY, THIS DRESS CODE IS ONE OF MY MAIN POINTS THAT I WANT TO GET CHANGED ON THIS BOARD. I WATCHED A GIRL CRY, ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS PULL IT DOWN AND SHE WAS IT WAS FINE.
SO I WANT TO SEE THE FINGERTIP OR MID LENGTH THAT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED BECAUSE I WATCHED THE VOLLEYBALL GIRLS RUN AROUND IN THEIR LITTLE SPANX AROUND THE SCHOOLS.
SO SOME OF THIS JUST MAKES NO SENSE.
I WANT THIS TO REFLECT REALITY.
THE NO CLOTHING THAT IS TOO TIGHT, SUCH AS SPANDEX, UNLESS WORN WITH A DRESS SKIRT.
LET'S ALLOW LEGGINGS. I THINK SOMEBODY SAID LET'S ALLOW LEGGINGS, LEGGINGS.
IF YOU GO TO THE STORE, WOMEN WEAR LEGGINGS, YOGA PANTS, THEY'RE COMFY.
EVERYBODY WEARS THEM. LET'S GET IT BACK TO REALITY.
THE NO STRAPLESS TOPS, THAT'S FINE, BUT SPAGHETTI STRAPS, HALTERS THEIR POPULAR SPAGHETTI STRAPS, EVERY LITTLE GIRL HAS SPAGHETTI STRAPS, AND THEN THEY GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, STILL WEARING YOUNG GIRL CLOTHING AND SPAGHETTI STRAPS, GET RID OF IT. NO LOWER THAN NECKLINES.
I WOULD ACTUALLY JUST REMOVE THAT BULLET.
AND THEN THE NO SEE THROUGH NO MESH SHIRTS WHEN SHIRT WORN UNDERNEATH DOES NOT MEET THIS DRESS CODE. THE WAY THAT READS TO ME IS THAT YOU JUST CAN'T WEAR A MESH SHIRT WITH A SHIRT UNDERNEATH IT. IT'S FINE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY IN STYLE RIGHT NOW.
ALL THE GIRLS ARE DOING IT. BOYS TOO.
AND THEN THE HEADGEAR SWEATBAND, SCARVES, BANDANNAS, DO-RAGS.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE. EVERYBODY IS WEARING THEM.
SO. I JUST WANT THIS TO BE WITH REALITY AND LET THE KIDS BE THERE FOR EDUCATION, FEEL SAFE, FEEL ACCEPTED IN WHAT THEY'RE WEARING.
AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE PRETTY QUICKLY AND THAT WE JUST KNOW
[01:30:03]
NEED TO BE MADE SO THAT THESE KIDS CAN JUST BE RELAXED AND GO TO SCHOOL.PRESIDENT WEIR, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A STORY THAT I HAVE SO A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS ENTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE READ IN THE DRESS CODE POLICY, THE FINGERTIP HOW WHEN YOUR HAND IS DOWN BY YOUR SIDE.
THE SHORTS HAVE TO BE AT LEAST THAT LONG.
AND WE LEARNED THAT THOSE SHORTS DON'T EXIST FOR MY DAUGHTER.
WE LITERALLY WENT ALL OVER TOWN AND WE COULD NOT FIND A PAIR OF SHORTS FOR SALE.
I ENDED UP JUST TELLING HER, YOU KNOW, JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN.
IF ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, PULLS YOU ASIDE, JUST LET ME KNOW AND I'LL GO DOWN TO THE SCHOOL.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SHE NEVER WAS PULLED ASIDE.
AND MAYBE THAT SPEAKS TO WHAT DR.
BONE IS TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT INCONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO I THINK THAT I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE HARRISON FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND BROAD SUPPORT, TRUSTEE HARRISON FOR VISITING THIS.
AND I THINK ANOTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS AND A BRIGHT SPOT IN THIS IS THAT I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF STUDENT GROUPS THAT EXIST LIKE VOICE, WHERE STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALREADY BEEN AN OBJECTIVE OF GETTING A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS TOGETHER THAT WE COULD PROBABLY LEVERAGE.
I WOULD NEVER PROPOSE TO TELL THE ADMINISTRATION HOW TO PUT A STUDENT GROUP TOGETHER TO DO THIS. BUT I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE IS THAT IS ONE GROUP THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON THIS IS I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO DR.
AZAIEZ THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF THIS WEEK.
I ASKED MS. AGUILERA TO PRINT OUT THE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR ME, AND SHE DID IT IN A MATTER OF 30 MINUTES. AND ALSO, DR.
PRESLEY WAS VERY RECEPTIVE WHEN I SAID THAT I HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND HE WAS VERY RECEPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO ME.
XIAO. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS THIS HANDBOOK IS REVIEWED EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? SO TODAY WE HEARD A LOT OF PROBLEM THAT SEEMS THE HANDBOOK IS OUTDATED FOR QUITE A WHILE.
SO WHY IS THOSE ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED EARLIER.
AND THEN ANOTHER ISSUE I WANT TO RAISE IS THAT TRUSTEE WESTON TALK ABOUT PRINT OUT THOSE DOCUMENT STUDENT HANDBOOK.
SO IT'S LIKE HUNDREDS OF PAGES.
IT'S JUST CUTTING TREES. THERE'S NO NEED TO PRINT THOSE PAPERS.
YOU CAN PROBABLY READ ON A COMPUTER SCREEN.
SO THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT REGARDING THE MASK.
I'M WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PUT MASK WEARING AS A POLICY IN THE FACE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. OK.
RIGHT NOW, OUR REACTION IS JUST TOTAL CHAOS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE POLICIES.
OK, I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN PUT SOMETHING INTO THE STUDENT HANDBOOK POLICY, BECAUSE LONG TERM, THIS PANDEMIC WILL EVENTUALLY EVOLVE INTO ENDEMIC.
SO IT WILL PROBABLY BE SEASONAL, RIGHT.
THE WAVES WILL COME. SO IF THERE'S A CERTAIN SITUATION THAT WARRANT THE MASK WEARING IT SHOULD BE A LONG TERM SOLUTION INSTEAD OF EMERGENCY OR THOSE THINGS.
YEAH. IF I COULD MAKE A COMMENT.
SO THE THE REFERENCE TONIGHT SEVERAL TIMES WAS THE PARIS ISD, WHICH IS A VERY SMALL DISTRICT IN EAST TEXAS, WHICH APPARENTLY THEY REQUIRE UNIFORMS. SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY MADE MASKS PART OF THEIR UNIFORM POLICY.
AND THEN THAT WAS PUSHED BACK ON AGAIN TODAY BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SO THE LATEST ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MASKS MANDATE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE OPT OUT IS A TEMPORARY COVID RESPONSE.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT PART OF OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK OR OUR CODE OF CONDUCT OR OUR DRESS CODE.
THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL ADVICE.
I THINK, ONCE AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE DRESS CODE IN GENERAL, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE STANDARDS OF DRESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE PLIGHT OF A PRINCIPAL ON A CAMPUS EVERY DAY AND AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND TEACHERS IS IT'S JUST LIKE HONESTLY, IT'S JUST LIKE THE MASKS THING. THERE ARE PARENTS WHO WOULD COME TO ME DAILY AS A PRINCIPAL FOR MANY YEARS.
HOW ARE YOU LETTING THAT STUDENT WEAR THAT, WHETHER IT WAS A A SHIRT WITH SOME SUGGESTIVE THINGS OR WHETHER IT WAS.
I NEVER REALLY SAW THE SCOPE OF A GENDER BALANCE IN THAT LIKE IT WAS.
THERE WERE AS MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT BOYS ARE WEARING AS WHAT GIRLS ARE WEARING, WHETHER IT WAS A TANK TOP FOR A BOY OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
SO I THINK OUR DRESS CODE, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, DOES TREND A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS THE CONSERVATIVE. I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT SOME MODELS OF OTHER DISTRICTS, EVEN NATIONALLY, AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND THEN BUT HAVE SOME STUDENTS, AS MS.
[01:35:03]
HARRISON SAID, KIND OF DRILL DOWN ON IT GIVE THEIR OPINION.BUT ALSO THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPERVISE THIS, BECAUSE FOR EVERY PARENT THAT I HAD COME TO ME ON A GIVEN DAY AS A PRINCIPAL AND SAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE WEARING THIS, I HAD ANOTHER PARENT WHO WAS UPSET BECAUSE I WOULDN'T LET THEIR KID WERE THAT.
AND I WOULD HAVE PARENTS CALL ME ON A REGULAR BASIS AND SAY, MY DAUGHTER WORE THIS TO SCHOOL TODAY. CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE HER CHANGE CLOTHES? SO IT'S OR WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.
AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN ROUND ROCK.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF AMAZING KIDS WHO FOR THE MOST PART, FOLLOW OUR RULES.
AND WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO FEEL VIOLATED.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO EXPRESS THEIR CULTURAL SENSITIVITY HOWEVER THAT MAY LOOK.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE TIME.
THIS IS THE DRESS CODE THAT WE'VE HAD PRETTY MUCH YOU KNOW, I'VE MENTIONED ONE LITTLE ADJUSTMENT. THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS THAT FOLLOWS THE TASB MODEL.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A LOT OF DISTRICTS.
BUT IF WE WANT TO TREND TO A DIFFERENT LOOK, WE NEED SOME TIME TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
BUT WE'RE TWO DAYS IN THE SCHOOL, SO OUR KIDS NEED SOME RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE POLICING.
I CAN GET SOME NUMBERS TOGETHER FOR YOU ABOUT HOW MANY DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS THERE ARE IN A GIVEN YEAR AND HOW MANY KIDS ARE SENT TO THE OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE VIOLATING DRESS CODE. I ALWAYS HAD VERY LITTLE ISSUES WITH STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAID, HEY, YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT, AND THEY'D SAY, OK, AND THEY WOULD CHANGE. SO EVERYBODY KIND OF NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF A TEACHER AND A PRINCIPAL ON A CAMPUS, HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THAT ALL DAY WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO READ. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, WHICH ARE KIND OF OLD MAN COMMENTS.
BUT GIVE US SOME TIME. WE CAN BRING SOME INFORMATION BACK TO YOU.
BUT THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH OUR TRUSTEES INVOLVING STUDENTS.
I THINK OUR FIRST MEETING, AS FAR AS THE VOICE IS SEPTEMBER 7TH.
THAT'S MAYBE A DATE WE CAN START HAVING THE CONVERSATION.
BUT I THINK THE VOICE, THE ORGANIZATION IT ONLY INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, OR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
SO WE WORK ON A PLAN AND TRY TO BRING IN OR GATHER MORE INPUT FROM OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD FROM ELEMENTARY ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT THE VOICE, IT'S A GOOD START.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WESTON FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND OUR FIRST MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 7TH.
SO MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS THAT THEN WITH THEM, AT LEAST START THE CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. MS. FELLER. I'M NOT GOING TO BE REPETITIVE, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I DID READ THAT SAME EMAIL FROM THE STUDENT AND I FELT REALLY BAD FOR HER THAT IT CAME IN IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE MASK EMAILS AS WELL.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU READ IT AND IT DIDN'T GET LOST AS WELL.
THE ONLY COMMENT I HAD IS I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INCLUDING PARENTS IN ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK IN THAT JUST SO THEY ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS.
I AGREE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I THINK OUR STUDENTS AND THAT'S NOT THE FIRST AND AS DR. PRESLEY SAID, HE AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS AFTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S THE MCNEIL KIDS THAT SEEM TO SEND ACTUALLY THE MOST EMAILS, BUT WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
SO I LOVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT IT AND UPDATING IT AND LETTING OUR STUDENTS HAVE A VOICE AND JUST DR.
XIAO. I HAVE TO SAY, FOR THOSE OF US THAT NEED PRINT, BECAUSE I DON'T I CAN'T READ ON THE COMPUTER. I DO TRY TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT I DO STILL BELIEVE IN PAPER. MS. HARRISON. YEAH, BRIEFLY, I MEAN, I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS DISCUSSION ONLY SO THERE'S NO VOTE TO BE TAKEN.
WE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT WHAT PARIS ISD DID.
AND EVEN NOW AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THERE'S STILL SOME LITIGATION PENDING AND THINGS HAPPENING AND CHANGING WITH THE WHOLE MASK MANDATE.
SO I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND WE JUST HAD ANOTHER STUDENT EMAIL US RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S EXCITING. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WE'RE NOT IGNORING THAT VERY THOUGHTFUL AND CREATIVE IDEA.
JUST ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE EQUITY OFFICE CAN HELP WITH.
AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN RAISED BEFORE, BUT THE CULTURAL ISSUE BEHIND THE HEAD COVERINGS, BOTH RELIGIOUS ISSUES AND FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR.
A BLACK BOY MAY PLAY FOOTBALL IN THE MORNING AND HE MAY SHOWER AND HE MAY WANT HIS HAIR LAID. RIGHT. SO HE WANTS HIS HAIR TO BE SMOOTH AND SLICK DOWN TO HIS HEAD.
AND THAT WILL REQUIRE A DO-RAG.
AND HE'S NOT WEARING A DO-RAG BECAUSE HE'S IN A GANG.
HE'S WEARING A DO-RAG BECAUSE HE WANTS HIS HAIR TO BE NICE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
AND SO WE REALLY HAVE ROOM TO GROW THERE.
AND I KNOW OFTENTIMES WHEN WE BRING THAT UP, WE GET THE EXPLANATION OF HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN. BUT THIS CAN BE A NEW HORIZON.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND ADMONISH US AS A BOARD IF WE CAN GET OUR FOCUS TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR DISTRICT, THEN WE WILL HAVE SOME GUIDELINES TO MEASURE THINGS LIKE THIS. SO IF WE'RE SAYING WE'RE PRIORITIZING STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO BE IN CLASS AND NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE DISCIPLINARY REMOVALS, THEN, YEAH, WE CAN HEAR FROM PARENTS, WE CAN HEAR FROM COMMUNITY AND WE CAN HEAR FROM STUDENTS.
BUT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE STUDENT'S TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.
[01:40:01]
SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DOCUMENTS LIKE THIS, SUCH THAT WE'RE NOT REMOVING KIDS FOR HOW THEY SHOW UP AT SCHOOL.WE'RE WELCOMING THEM HOW THEY ARE.
AND SO I THINK THAT THIS JUST LENDS ITSELF TO A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT US GETTING OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
AND THAT'S REALLY WORKING TO GET OUR GOALS TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK DR.
AZAIEZ, FOR BRINGING UP THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF MY INPUT AND I JUST CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH, BECAUSE SOMETHING I DIDN'T SAY IS THAT WHEN MY OLDEST WENT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, OF COURSE, SHE HAD LOTS OF FRIENDS.
THEIR MAIN STRESSOR WAS THE DRESS CODE.
SO I JUST WANT THE BOARD AND DR.
PRESLEY AND DR. AZAIEZ FOR YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS REALLY STRESSFUL.
THEY WERE JUST WAITING TO GET TO HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DOESN'T IMPLEMENT THE DRESS CODE THE SAME. SO, I MEAN, LITERALLY EVERY MORNING SHE WOULD BE LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, AM I GOING TO GET DRESS CODED? AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF HER FRIENDS GOT DRESSED, CODED FOR A BANDANA IN HER HAIR ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND WAS MADE TO TAKE IT OUT.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS PULLED OUT OF CLASS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MORE THAN THE DRESS CODE, BUT MAYBE THE WAY WE HANDLE THE DRESS CODE. LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO HOW, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST A PARENT SITTING IN THE OFFICE AND A GIRL WAS BROUGHT IN AND DRESS CODED.
I WAS ABOUT READY TO START CRYING WITH HER.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAYBE ADDRESS ALSO HOW WE HANDLE DRESS CODE.
AND IT'S NOT IN PUBLIC, BUT I THINK SO I DO YOU THINK THIS IS A BIGGER TOPIC.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BRING UP SHORTS AGAIN AND THE FACT THAT I KNOW FINGERTIP, BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MEASUREMENTS, FINGER TIPS IS AN EASY MEASUREMENT.
AND LIKE TRUSTEE WESTON SAID, IT'S JUST NOT PRACTICAL.
AND ALL OF OUR ATHLETES WEAR SHORT SHORTS.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE JUST REALLY LOOK AT THE SHORTS, THOUGH.
I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MAYBE UPDATED, YOU KNOW, SOON WITH SOME OF THESE CHANGES, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY SHAKING THEIR HEAD NO.
BECAUSE I KNOW IF WE COULD DO THE VOICE, I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE I WANT THEM TO GET INVOLVED.
I JUST WANT TO SEE THESE CHANGES, BECAUSE IT'LL BE REALLY CONFUSING FOR THE KIDS TO START OFF FOR A MONTH OR TWO WITH SOME DRESS CODE.
AND THEN IT CHANGES, ESPECIALLY AGAIN FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
WE COULD AIM OR MAYBE WE COULD ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO AIM FOR JANUARY.
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE COME BACK FROM THE BREAK IF THERE WERE CHANGES THAT YOU HAD TO RECOMMEND. MS. WESTON. YES, DR.
PRESLEY, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT BEING AN OLD MAN, WELL, I HAVE AN OLD LADY COMMENT MYSELF HERE, AND THIS GOES TO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENT AND IT SPEAKS TO YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE NEED TO THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE.
I DO THE BEST I CAN WITH SCREENS.
BUT FOR MANY PEOPLE MY AGE, MACULAR DEGENERATION IS REAL.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT I AM GOING TO REVIEW AND PREPARE FOR A BOARD MEETING, I REVIEW AND PREPARE FOR A BOARD MEETING.
I ALSO SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME OUTDOORS.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO READ A SCREEN IN THE SUN, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
SO. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING BEFORE WE SAY IT.
DR. XIAO. YES, I PERFECTLY AGREE WITH WHAT TRUSTEE WESTON SAID.
BUT THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUDENT HANDBOOK, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THINGS THE PAGES IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED.
WHAT IS THE REASON TO PRINT 100 PAGES IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING INTO A FEW PAGES.
BECAUSE I WANTED TO READ THE DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING.
ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ACTUALLY FOR DR.
PRESLEY. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR ITEMS, ACTION ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION BY CONSENT.
MS. FELLER. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE WANTED TO PULL? I BELIEVE DR. BONE HAS ONE SHE WOULD LIKE TO PULL.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THE ITEM THREE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
AS I BELIEVE WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE ON IT FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEMS G ONE, TWO, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE AND 10 BY CONSENT. SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE, TWO, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT,
[01:45:05]
NINE AND 10 BY CONSENT.IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT. SO IT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
BONE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE ITEM THREE.
YES. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND A COUPLE OF GRIEVANCES, AND WE HAD ACTUALLY ASKED FOR ACTION.
I BELIEVE THERE WERE MOTIONS COMING OUT.
I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GO BACK AND AND LOOK AT THOSE.
BUT I BELIEVE ONE OF THEM WAS ABOUT SENDING KIDS TO THE DAEP AND HOW WE DO THAT.
MAYBE TRUSTEE HARRISON CAN HELP ME OUT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAD A VERY LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AND MAKING IT MORE EQUITABLE.
AND MAYBE THERE WERE SOME CODES OF CONDUCT.
IT HAD TO DO WITH PARENT NOTIFICATION, RIGHT.
YES. YES, IT HAD TO DO WITH PARENT NOTIFICATION.
AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OTHER THINGS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK.
IT ALSO HAD TO DO WITH DIGGING DOWN ON THE ROOT CAUSE OF REMOVAL.
SO HOW THINGS ARE CODED LIKE DISRESPECT TO TEACHER CAN BE INTERPRETED VERY DIFFERENTLY CULTURALLY AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW AND WHERE THAT FALLS IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. YEAH, REALLY IT WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO CHANGE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TO REVISIT THAT.
AND I THINK THERE WAS ALSO THE E-CIGARETTES.
THERE'S A DEFINITION IN HERE, BUT AS WE UNDERSTAND IT NOW, VAPING IS NOT JUST E-CIGARETTES. SOME PEOPLE, I GUESS, USE IT FOR HEALTH.
I DON'T KNOW THIS STUFF, BUT THIS HAS COME UP.
SO WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT HOW WE DEFINE THAT.
AND SO THAT WAS THE OTHER, I BELIEVE, ACTION ITEM THAT I REMEMBERED WE WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO. AND THEN I DID HAVE A QUESTION AND IT KIND OF GOES INTO WHAT TRUSTEE HARRISON WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT PAGE 17 AND IT TALKS ABOUT DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENT, WHICH I THINK ACTUALLY TRUSTEE HARRISON, THIS GETS INTO SOME OF WHAT YOU WERE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. DO STUDENTS HAVE TO BE CONVICTED OR CHARGED OR HAVE A COURT DATE BEFORE THEY GO TO THE DAEP.
SO SOMEBODY JUST HAS TO ACCUSE THEM OR IT AND THEN.
WELL DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COURTS, BUT WE HAVE VERY FEW DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAD ANY DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE MANDATORY. AND OF COURSE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.
SO DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS ARE USUALLY RELATED TO ACTS ON CAMPUS THAT ARE JUST OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WARNING AFTER WARNING, AND THEN THE STUDENT IS PLACE FOR DISCRETIONARY REASON. BUT THEN THERE ARE MANDATORY OF COURSE AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
SO THEY COMMIT AN OFFENSE, THAT MAKES THEM MANDATORILY PLACED IN THE DAEP.
RIGHT. SO EVEN THE MANDATORY I GUESS THAT'S I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE WERE GETTING INTO EVEN THE MANDATORY ARE THEY PLACED IN DAEP BEFORE THEY GO INTO MANDATORY? YES. AND THEN THERE'S AN APPEAL PROCESS.
USUALLY A STUDENT WHO COMMITS AN OFFENSE IS SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE OF WHATEVER THEY DID, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS A MANDATORY OFFENSE.
SO THEY'RE NOT ON THE CAMPUS IN CERTAIN OCCASIONS THEY COULD BE PUT IN IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION WHILE THEY'RE AWAITING THEIR DAEP APPEAL OR THE DAEP PLACEMENT.
YEAH, I THINK THIS IS THE DISCUSSION WE WERE HAVING, BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF CONVICTING THEM BEFORE.
I MEAN, WE MIGHT FIND OUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T DO THAT OR IT REALLY WASN'T HOW IT WAS.
AND I THINK THIS WAS SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE PUT KIDS INTO THE DAEP, THAT WE MADE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME CREDIT TO THE REASON THEY WERE GOING INTO DAEP BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT WE MAY HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, A CASE HERE OR THERE THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT UP WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, DR. AZAIEZ, I KNOW WE'LL HAVE A RUNNING LIST OF THINGS THAT WE WANT LOOKED AT. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST REALLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WE HAD VERY FEW DAEP PLACEMENTS LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE WEREN'T IN PERSON MOST OF THE YEAR. BUT WHAT WE KNOW IN PREVIOUS YEARS IS THAT MANY TIMES THOSE PLACEMENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONAL IN TERMS OF RACE AND ALSO IN TERMS OF ABILITY AND EVEN IN TERMS OF GENDER. AND NOT ONLY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST REALLY UP TO SOMEONE'S INTERPRETATION.
LIKE I SAID, HAVING BEEN A TEACHER FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, WHAT ONE KID DOES, I CAN INTERPRET AS DISRESPECT AND MAYBE AT THEIR HOME, THAT'S HOW THEY ACT.
AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DEEPER DIGGING.
SO COULD WE MAYBE PUT THIS, YOU KNOW, ON A MAYBE SOMETHING WITH EQUITY OFFICE? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
[INAUDIBLE]. AS WE LOOK AT EQUITY, WE DON'T JUST LOOK AT ACADEMIC EQUITY, BUT ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT DISCIPLINE. IF DO WE HAVE EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION?
[01:50:02]
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND RUNNING THOSE DATA AND MAKING SURE AND AGAIN, THAT THERE IS EQUITY WITH THE PLACEMENT. AND LIKE YOU SAID, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.MAYBE IT'S THE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
MAYBE WE HAVE TO USE MORE RESTORATIVE DISCIPLINE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS, NOT TO GET INTO SENT TO THE DAEP EVENTUALLY.
SO WE'D BE WORKING ON THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT VERY CLOSELY WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE, AS WELL AS AS A SCHOOL'S OFFICE.
AND I'M RECALLING, I THINK WE WERE WANTING A PROCESS THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR.
WE WANTED A STEP BY STEP PROCESS TO SEND SOMEBODY TO THE DAEP.
PRESLEY WAS TALKING ABOUT, USUALLY THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF SENDING STUDENTS TO THE DAEP DISCRETIONARY, WHICH IS BASED ON REPEATED OFFENSE, SOMETIMES THE SAME OFFENSE, MAYBE JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, DISRESPECTFUL, LIKE TO AN ADULT OR WHATEVER.
AND THEN THERE IS THE MANDATORY.
THE MANDATORY WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM BECAUSE IT'S MANDATED.
BONE, WE HAVE TO ENSURE AGAIN THAT THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE BEFORE WE SEND THE STUDENTS TO THE DAEP. AND ONE WAY WE CAN GO AROUND THAT, NOT SENDING THE STUDENTS OR MAYBE PUT THE STUDENTS IN ISS OR SOMEWHERE IN THE SCHOOL, STAYS IN THE SCHOOL, RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOL WHILE WE FIGURE OUT IF IT ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPENED.
AND THAT GRANTS US TO SEND THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT TO THE DAEP.
AND ALSO THOSE DAYS THAT THEY SPEND, LET'S SAY ISS WOULD BE DISCOUNTED FROM THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO BE SPENDING IN THE DAEP.
SO LET'S SAY THE STUDENT GETS SENT TO 45 DAYS AND THEY SPEND FIVE DAYS IN ISS.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING TO FOUR OR FIVE DAYS TO THE DAEP WILL END UP GOING ONLY FOR 40 DAYS.
SO THERE'S A WAY WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT OUT.
YEAH, I THINK THE PROCESS WHAT THIS CAME OUT OF IS PARENT NOTIFICATION AND STUDENT NOTIFICATION. OKAY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS IN THAT PROCESS, LIKE EVEN BEFORE YOU SEND A KID TO ISS, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THE PARENTS NOTIFIED AND HOW DO YOU ENSURE HOW DOES THE DISTRICT ENSURE THAT THE PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED? AND JUST THOSE CHECKBOXES LIKE WE WERE LOOKING I REMEMBER AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE BOARD WAS LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, A PROCESS WITH LIKE CHECK BOXES LIKE THIS WAS DONE. AND NOW I CAN MOVE TO THIS STEP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED BY PHONE, YOU KNOW, CAN'T JUST SEND AN EMAIL, MAYBE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IS A STEP BY STEP PROCESS, LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THEY GO TO ISS.
OK, NOW WE CAN MOVE THEM TO DAEP.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, PARENTS HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED AGAIN.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT DETAILED PROCESS SO THAT IT COULD BE CONSISTENTLY APPLIED ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU, DR.
BONE. NO, I WILL WORK WITH THE TEAM WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AND COME UP AND DEVELOP SOMETHING. AND I THINK, DR. PRESLEY, YOU WERE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I'M PROBABLY PULLING YOUR MEMORY.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 19 OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR REMOVALS TO DAEP AND IF YOU READ THROUGH THERE, THERE IS A PROCESS NOW IN THE ONE INCIDENT YOU'RE ALLUDING TO, I THINK, WHERE A PARENT CLAIMED THAT PROCESS WASN'T FOLLOWED.
I THINK THAT WAS A MISSTEP FROM THAT PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 19 AND 20.
THE DAYS AND THE MITIGATING FACTORS AND THE PLACE AND ORDER AND COURSE WORK.
YEAH. SO THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAYING IT MAY NEED TO BE MADE MORE CLEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AUTHENTICATED ON OUR CAMPUSES.
RIGHT. AND I THINK WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IS WHEN WE BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IS WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US.
RIGHT. THAT WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION.
AND WHAT HAPPENED IS WE WEREN'T ABLE THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE GIVEN TO US.
SO, YES, [INAUDIBLE] YOU KNOW, HEY, IT'S A NOTE.
IT CAN BE A NOTE. I CALLED THIS PERSON.
BUT ALL THAT DOCUMENTATION IS REALLY THE DOCUMENTATION.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WHEN IT'S DISCIPLINARY, I THINK THAT DOCUMENTATION IS REALLY NEEDED.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WE NEED DOCUMENTATION TRAINING FOR ALL OUR ADMINISTRATORS.
THAT PARTICULAR CASE THOUGH REMEMBER, THE STUDENT WITHDREW BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO AND WE COULDN'T GET IT. SO IT JUST PROTECTS THE DISTRICT.
AND WE WERE THINKING A CHECKLIST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
NO, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU'RE ASKING DR.
BONE. IT'S LIKE THIS ONE AND PUT IT MORE LIKE IN A LIST IN A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING, OK, DID WE DO, DID WE TAKE [INAUDIBLE] TO CLASSROOM ACCOUNT LIKE A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH THE STUDENT CHECK? YES, WE DID.
DID WE MAYBE HAVE A SIGN, MAYBE DETENTION AFTER SCHOOL LIKE SO KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE CALL PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE. RIGHT.
DID WE FOLLOW THE I GUESS, THE MINIMUM DISCIPLINARY ACTION FIRST AND THEN ESCALATE IN THAT ALL THE WAY EVENTUALLY TO DAEP.
AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO.
YEAH, IT'S THAT. AND THEN JUST THE DOCUMENT.
AND WE WERE REALLY DOING IT ALSO FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE THAT WAY IT SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER, BECAUSE THAT WAY THERE'S NO QUESTION THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO GET TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATORS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
[01:55:01]
ABSOLUTELY. WE ALWAYS NEED MORE TRAINING.SO BUT IF THERE'S A ONE CASE THAT GETS TO A LEVEL THREE AND IT BECOMES LIKE THERE'S THIS HUGE PROBLEM, MY PERCEPTION IS, HAVING BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR A WHILE IT'S NOT A HUGE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN TRAIN MORE ON.
ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK WE'VE SEEN ONE CASE, SO.
MS. WESTON. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU, DR.
AZAIEZ, OR YOU DR. PRESLEY, BUT AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ACTUALLY REMOVE STUDENTS FROM THEIR HOME CAMPUS AND WE SEND THEM TO THE DAEP EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ONLY JUST ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING? WELL, THERE SHOULD BE A CAMPUS INVESTIGATION TO HEARING BOTH SIDES TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER A STUDENT IS GOING TO DAEP OR NOT.
AND USUALLY THAT'S WHY, ESPECIALLY ONCE AGAIN, MOST OF OUR PLACEMENTS IN THE DAEP ARE MANDATORY. SO AS THE INVESTIGATION TAKES PLACE, TYPICALLY A STUDENT WILL BE SUSPENDED WHILE THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT.
SO IF THEY ARE GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? AN INCIDENT HAPPENS.
A STUDENT IS SEEN OR REPORTED TO BE SEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL UNDER THE BLEACHERS AT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM. THEN WHAT HAPPENS? THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS INVESTIGATE.
WE WILL USE, BUT NOT SOLELY USE ANY KIND OF POLICE INVESTIGATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AT A FOOTBALL GAME IN A STADIUM OF THE STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR BEING INTOXICATED IN PUBLIC.
RIGHT. AND THEY GET A CITATION AT ON OUR FACILITIES AT AN EVENT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IF IT'S AT SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, AT A PARTY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.
SO I COULD TALK ABOUT A THOUSAND DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS.
BUT SO TYPICALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THE ADMINISTRATORS WOULD HAVE THE STUDENT COME IN WITH THEIR PARENTS. SAY IT HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
SO ON MONDAY, THE STUDENT COMES IN.
THEY GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.
THEY TALK TO ANY WITNESSES THAT WERE THERE, IF THERE WAS POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL ON THEIR PERSON. THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE IF THERE WERE POLICE INVOLVEMENT.
THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE. SO THEY INVESTIGATE THAT AND MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT THIS STUDENT NEEDS TO GO TO THE DAEP.
THE PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL.
IF THE PARENTS SAYS, MY STUDENT WASN'T DRINKING, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALCOHOL, THEN THERE'S AN APPEAL PROCESS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL WHERE A DETERMINATION IS MADE.
BUT TYPICALLY, THAT STUDENT, DEPENDING ON THE OFFENSE, WHETHER IF THEY'RE NOT A THREAT TO THE CAMPUS, THEY MAY GO TO IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION WHILE THIS IS BEING SORTED OUT.
YEAH THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. AND USUALLY IT HAPPENS.
WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I HATE TO CUT YOU OFF.
BUT MY EXPERIENCE IN HEARING FROM PARENTS IS THAT THEIR CHILDREN GO TO THE DAEP PENDING THE OUTCOME OF LOOKING INTO THESE THINGS.
NOT PENDING THE OUTCOME, PENDING THE APPEAL.
SO THE STUDENT PLACES A STUDENT, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF THE OFFENSE. RIGHT.
SO THEY'RE NOT SENT UNTIL EVERYBODY'S.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK. SO EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY. THE CAMPUS MAKES THE DETERMINATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DAEP AND THEN THEY GO TO DAEP IF THEY APPEAL IT UNTIL IT'S HEARD AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
SO MANY TIMES PARENTS WON'T SEND THEIR KIDS UNTIL THEY'VE HAD THE APPEAL.
SO THEY ARE JUST ABSENT UNTIL THEY HAVE THE APPEAL, WHICH IS ONLY USUALLY A COUPLE OF DAYS. IT'S NOT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WEEKS OR MONTHS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT WORKS.
YOU KNOW, I CAN SEND YOU GUYS SOMETHING IN WRITING WITH MORE EXPLANATORY INFORMATION.
BY THE WAY. PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE STUDENT, A STUDENT, SHOULD NOT GO TO THE DAEP PENDING.
I'M JUST WANTING CLARITY ON THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR CAMPUSES PRIOR TO BEING CONVICTED OF ANY CRIMES.
NO THE GUILT, THE DETERMINATION OF GUILT IS MADE BY THE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU'VE DONE THIS AND WE'VE DETERMINED IT WE'VE INVESTIGATED, WHICH SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE THE JUDGE AND JURY.
YEAH. OH, OK COMMITS AN ARMED ROBBERY, EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS AND WE GET THE POLICE REPORT. WELL WHAT HAPPENS IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT? WELL, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE, THEY COULD BE EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL, WHICH RARELY HAPPENS IN ROUND ROCK, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD GO TO JJAEP.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE ASSAULT, ASSAULT WITH BODILY INJURY, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. OH THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.
THERE'S A VERY WIDE RANGE OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN.
SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLE AFTER EXAMPLE BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO VISIT WITH ANY OF YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS.
WELL, AND TO THAT END, I THINK I HAVE A MOTION GIVEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DR.
BONE HAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR IN PREVIOUS GRIEVANCES I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO.
AND THAT WE CAN MOVE THAT TO THE MONDAY MEETING.
I MOVE WE TABLE ITEM G THREE FOR TONIGHT AND MOVE THAT TO OUR WE ALREADY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED ON MONDAY. IF WE COULD JUST MOVE IT TO MONDAY, PERHAPS TO GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION SOME TIME TO MAYBE GO BACK AND REVIEW THOSE GRIEVANCES.
WHAT WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR.
I'M RELUCTANT TO GREENLIGHT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T REFLECT A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE BROUGHT UP AND ALSO SO THAT WE CAN ALL THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT
[02:00:05]
DR. PRESLEY HAS OFFERED, AND THAT IS TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION WITH US.HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING ABOUT IS NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO OR REFLECTED IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT IS MORE SO THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS AND STAFF, NOT NECESSARILY LIKE POLICY.
IT IS PRACTICE THAT WE WANT THEM TO WORK ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE IMPLICATION FOR TABLING THE CODE OF CONDUCT? AREN'T PARENTS BEING EXPECTED TO SIGN OFF ON THIS? YES, OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO A CODE OF CONDUCT.
AND AS I SAID, WE'RE TWO DAYS IN THE SCHOOL.
AND THE BOARD CAN COME BACK AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT AT ANY TIME.
I THINK THE PROCEDURES WE HAVE ARE STANDARD.
IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER DISTRICTS, WHAT WE HAVE, OUR LAWS OR NOT LAWS, BUT OUR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. AND WHAT KIDS ARE EXPECTED TO DO AND NOT DO IN OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, IN MY OPINION, ARE VERY APPROPRIATE.
SO I WOULD HATE TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE AN APPROVED CODE OF CONDUCT.
TABLING IT UNTIL MONDAY DOESN'T REALLY GIVE A LOT OF TIME TO PREPARE MORE INFORMATION.
AND THE THINGS THAT WERE BORN OUT OF THE FEW GRIEVANCES WE HAD LAST YEAR WERE PROCEDURAL.
AND IT DOES AFFECT I MEAN, IT INVOLVES TRAINING.
IT'S THE FACT THAT ARE WE FOLLOWING THE DOCUMENT? AND WITH AS MANY STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND SAY, ADMINISTRATOR YOU DIDN'T DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. JENNY WELLS HASN'T HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY SINCE SHE'S NEW TO US TO TRAIN. WE, YOU KNOW, DOCUMENTATION, TRAINING.
AND I HEAR TRUSTEE, BONE VERY CLEARLY WHEN SOMETHING COMES TO THE BOARD LEVEL, WHEN SOMEONE'S DISSATISFIED WITH THE DECISION, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE CROSSED ALL THE T'S AND DOTTED ALL THE I'S SO THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR ADMINISTRATORS FOLLOWED PROCEDURE. WE HAVE PROCEDURE IN THE DOCUMENT.
IT'S NOT THE DOCUMENT THAT HAS ANY FLAWS.
THERE'S ALWAYS EVERY DOCUMENT HAS SOME FLAWS.
BUT IT'S STANDARD, WE NEED A CODE OF CONDUCT.
WE CAN RAMP UP TRAINING IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO.
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THEN WE CAN SHARE MORE INFORMATION. BUT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND I'LL REFER TO MS. WELLS OR DR. AZAIEZ YOU GUYS CAN COME BACK AT ANY TIME IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT'S IN HERE. BUT THE INFORMATION IN HERE IS APPARENT IF MY KID GOES TO DAEP, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. IT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF US FOLLOWING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO ADD ALSO, WE ALSO FOLLOW THE TASB MODEL, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE STATE IS THE SAME, A VERY SIMILAR MODEL.
BONE WAS SAYING, THAT WE WILL DEVELOP THAT SHEET AND DOCUMENTATION, DR.
BONE. WE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT STUFF.
LIKE DR. PRESLEY WAS SAYING, THOSE ARE PROCEDURALS MORE THAN ANYTHING.
AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION AS WELL AS THE TRAINING.
BUT WE ALSO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THE STATISTICS, LIKE WHAT I TOLD MS. HARRISON, TRUSTEE, HARRISON, AS WELL, TO ENSURE EQUITY IS HAPPENING ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO DAEP REFERRAL. SO I AGREE WITH DR.
PRESLEY. I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION STILL WOULD LIKE FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO APPROVE THIS EVENING. MS. FELLER.
DID TRUSTEE WESTON GET A SECOND OK.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM G3 AS PRESENTED.
I'LL SECOND THAT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE G3 AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
DR. BONE? YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE CHECKLIST I WOULD LIKE THAT AS LIKE AN APPENDIX.
SO I WANT IT IN THE DOCUMENT THAT WE APPROVE BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEE IT BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT END UP GETTING THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTATION WE NEEDED.
SO I'M ACTUALLY ON THE SIDE OF APPROVING TONIGHT IF WE AGREED TO MAKE AN APPENDIX WITH A CHECKLIST. AND I WILL ALSO SAY IT'S NOT JUST FOR US, BUT IN THAT GRIEVANCE, THE PARENT.
IT WAS VERY CONFUSING AND WE HEAR THAT A LOT.
IT'S A CHECKLIST ALSO THAT THE PARENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE GIVEN RIGHT AWAY THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S NUMBERS OR CONTACT INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PUT ON THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. IT'S NOT ONLY FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION OR MAYBE THERE'S TWO CHECKLISTS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.
I DON'T CARE. BUT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE ONE THAT THE PARENTS ARE GIVEN.
SO I'M GOOD AS LONG AS THIS IS LIKE AN APPENDIX TO THIS AND IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVE. AND DR.
PRESLEY, CAN I JUST ASK YOU, I KNOW YOU SAID MONDAY IS TOO QUICK, BUT IF WE ASK THAT YOU BRING THAT APPENDIX BACK TO US, SAY BY OCTOBER, IS THAT THE OCTOBER MEETING? ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S FINE.
XIAO. SO EARLIER, WHEN TRUSTEE WESTON ASK DR. PRESLEY'S QUESTIONS REGARDING ALL THOSE [INAUDIBLE] STAFF.
I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT TRUSTEE WESTON IS LIKE OH, WOW
[02:05:09]
SURPRISE. BECAUSE I VIVIDLY REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME ALL THE ANSWERS.IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF GETTING TIRING.
YOU ALWAYS GO CIRCLING AROUND TO GET THEORETICAL WHATEVER EFFECT.
DR. XIAO, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE, SO WE'RE ONLY TAKING COMMENTS ON THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING G THREE AS PRESENTED. RAISE YOUR HAND.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL GO NOW TO OUR ACTION ITEMS TO APPOINT A DELEGATE AND AN ALTERNATE TO THE 2021 TASB DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
I NOMINATE TRUSTEE HARRISON TO BE OUR TASB DELEGATE? I'VE SERVED FOR TWO YEARS IS THE TASB DELEGATE.
AND YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I ENJOY IT, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT OTHER TRUSTEES SHOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING AS WELL.
AND SO I'D BE HAPPY TO SERVE AS AN ALTERNATE TO HELP HER AND GET UP TO SPEED AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT SHE HAS AND OF COURSE, FILL IN IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.
DID YOU MAKE A MOTION? I PROBABLY NEED THEM MOTION LANGUAGE UP, THOUGH.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS ACTUALLY A MOTION OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO IF YOU WERE JUST VOLUNTEERING HER. I WAS VOLUNTEERING HERE, BUT I'M BRINGING UP THE MOTION LANGUAGE.
I MOVE THAT TRUSTEE HARRISON BE NAMED DELEGATE AND TRUSTEE VESSA BE NAMED ALTERNATE TO THE TASB 2021 DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
MS. WESTON. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MS. WESTON. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? SO ON THE AGENDA THAT I HAVE HERE IT SAYS YOUR NAME AMY? SO CAN YOU KIND OF FILL ME IN ON THAT? AND THEN. I THINK JUST THAT I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD LIKE DR.
PRESLEY WOULD I'M NOT DOING IT.
OH, OK. THEN PERHAPS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CAN JUST GIVE ME THE READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF WHAT THIS IS. OK.
CAN I BE LIKE A LITTLE FLIP? BECAUSE BEFORE TRUSTEE VESSA, IT WAS WHOEVER WAS THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER HAD TO TAKE THIS JOB BECAUSE YOU STAY AT THE END OF THE CONFERENCE FOR A BIG, LONG MEETING.
TRUSTEE HARRISON, ARE YOU UP FOR THAT? SO THAT'S WHY YOU WANT.
I AM. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY PRESIDENT WEIR, IF YOU CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN OR TRUSTEE VESSA WHAT THIS PROCESS IS SO PEOPLE KNOW.
I THINK TRUSTEE VESSA WILL DO A BETTER JOB.
SO WHAT HAPPENS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DO ALL YEAR LONG, IS THAT TASB HAS LEGISLATIVE, LOCAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES, AND WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS THAT LIKE ON THEIR AGENDA FOR THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS.
LIKE WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA MAINLY.
AND SO WE OFFER UP THESE DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS AND PRIORITIES.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GO TO THIS WHEN EVERYBODY'S THERE FOR TASA TASB IN THAT MEETING IN THE FALL, THEN THERE'S A DELEGATE FROM EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE ALL THOSE PRIORITIES AND RESOLUTIONS.
AND SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED ALL YEAR AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING THOSE TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
AND SO YOU MEET AND YOU GO THROUGH THEM AND THEY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND IN SMALLER GROUPS, AND THEN YOU GO TO THE BIG ASSEMBLY AND THEN FROM THE SMALLER GROUPS, YOU CAN ASK FOR LIKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS AND PRIORITIES.
AND THEN YOU PRESENT THOSE BEFORE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY AND WE VOTE THEM UP OR DOWN.
AND THEN FINALLY APPROVE THE WHOLE DOCUMENT.
MS. FELLER. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I HAVE SERVED AS ALTERNATE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT IS WHY I QUICKLY SECONDED TRUSTEE VESSA'S MOTION.
I'M ONE OF THE WEIRD PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY ENJOYS IT.
THIS IS LIKE VERY EXCITING TO ME.
I ENJOY DOING IT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I NEED A TEAM.
I NEED HELP. SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON SKILLED AND TRAINED IN THIS WORK SO THAT WE CAN PARTNER TOGETHER TO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY.
SO THE ALTERNATE MUST BE AS PREPARED AS YOUR DELEGATE.
[02:10:04]
AND YOU WAIT IN CASE THE DELEGATE PASSES OUT OR NEEDS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.AND OTHERWISE, YOU SIT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND JUST WATCH.
SO I AM HAPPY TO PASS THAT ALONG.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A NOMINATION AND A SECOND TO HAVE TRUSTEE HARRISON BE OUR DELEGATE AND TRUSTEE VESSA TO BE OUR ALTERNATE FOR THE 2021 TASB DELEGATE ASSEMBLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT, IT PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH SLEEP AS A BOARD.
SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ALSO FOR US TO DECIDE ON WHO WE ARE GOING TO ENDORSE FOR OUR TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REGION 13 POSITION C.
IN OUR INFORMATION, AUSTIN ISD IS A LARGE DISTRICT, SO THEY HAVE THEIR ONE PERSON.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR NAMES.
I PERSONALLY ONLY KNOW ONE OF THEM.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANOTHER ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. MS. VESSA. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE NOMINATE RENEE MITCHELL.
I WORK WITH HER ON THE CENTRAL TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
SHE'S ONE OF THE OFFICERS AND I THINK SHE DOES A FABULOUS JOB REPRESENTING CENTRAL TEXAS AND IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
AND SHE'S ALSO AN EXTREMELY CARING TRUSTEE.
AND SO I THINK SHE WOULD BE A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE FROM REGION 13.
I ACTUALLY WENT OR VIRTUALLY WENT TO ONE OF HER SEMINARS AT TASB, AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB. TERRENCE OWENS IS THE OTHER ONE THAT I KNOW.
HE DID THE BOARD OFFICER TRAINING WITH ME AND IS AWESOME.
BUT I AGREE. I THINK MS. MITCHELL HAS REALLY DEDICATED A LOT OF TIME TO REGION 13 RIGHT NOW.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER. MS. HARRISON. I WAS GOING TO SAY I'M FINE WITH EITHER ONE OF THOSE CHOICES, I THINK THAT THEY'RE BOTH STRONG CHOICES AND THOSE WERE MY TWO KIND OF NOMINATIONS.
SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY OTHER TRUSTEES IF THEY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS.
MS. WESTON, I'LL JUST SHARE THAT I'VE ONLY CONVERSED IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY WITH MR. TERRENCE OWENS FROM HUTTO.
SO JUST AS A, YOU KNOW, A RESPONSIBLE VOTER, I JUST FEEL, YOU KNOW, FOR MY OWN MORAL STANDING THAT THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, VOTE FOR.
I THINK I'D HAVE TO ABSTAIN ON ANY OTHERS, NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING NEGATIVE, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW THEM. DR.
TERRENCE AND I HAVE SOME MUTUAL FRIENDS, AND I KNOW HE'S VERY INVOLVED IN HUTTO AND HIS COMMUNITY AND FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I'M NOT FOR SURE HOW LONG HE'S BEEN ON BOARD.
HE'S BEEN A BOARD MEMBER FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, TOO.
TO BE RESPONSIBLE, I WOULD JUST HE'S THE ONLY ONE I KNOW AND CAN PUT MY VOTE BEHIND.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST WE HAVE TWO THEN THAT I WOULD SAY, HAVE BEEN NOMINATED, SO WE WILL LET'S FIRST VOTE ON RENEE MITCHELL.
DO WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I CAN MOVE. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD NOMINATE RENEE MITCHELL FROM PFLUGERVILLE ISD TO THE TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN REGION 13, POSITION C.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RENEE MITCHELL.
THAT'S 4 ALL OPPOSED ALL ABSTAINING.
AND IF THERE'S AN ALTERNATE, I GUESS WE WOULD WANT TERRENCE OWENS TO BE OUR ALTERNATE, BUT WE WILL SUBMIT THE NAME OF RENEE MITCHELL.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THEN WE ARE NOW TWO ITEMS I OUR CLOSED SESSION.
PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE UNDER SECTION 551.074 AND 551.71.
THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THE TEA LETTER PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE UNDER SECTION 551.074 AND 551.071.
THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THE QUARTERLY INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT AND LIGHT HOUSE COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TRUSTEES PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 AND 551.074 THE BOARD WILL CONSULT WITH ATTORNEYS TO DISCUSS THE DUTIES, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PUBLIC OFFICER AND EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING HANDLING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.
IT IS 7:45, AND WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK.
[02:15:02]
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE IN CLOSED WITH US.SO IF WE COULD ASK EVERYONE TO WAIT OUTSIDE WHILE WE DO OUR CLOSED SESSION.
WE ARE GOING TO CALL BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, PRESIDENT WEIR. BECAUSE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT FOUND ROUND ROCK ISD IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, CHAPTER 11, SUBCHAPTER D POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE 2018 2019 SCHOOL YEAR. AMBER.
I THINK THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY NEED TO COME IN.
WHEN WE COME BACK TO OPEN SESSION, I THINK THERE WAS PEOPLE WAITING.
SO I DO WE NEED TO WAIT FOR THEM TO COME IN PRESIDENT WEIR.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.
THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT FOUND ROUND ROCK ISD IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, CHAPTER 11, SUBCHAPTER D, THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE 2018 2019 SCHOOL YEAR.
ROUND ROCK ISD PROVIDED EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING A FORMER BOARD TRUSTEE BEHAVIOR DIRECTLY IN CONFLICT WITH AND AN OVERREACH OF HIS DUTIES AS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT.
THE EVIDENCE PROVIDED TO THIS SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT CONFIRMED THAT THIS TRUSTEE REFUSED TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM A LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE HEARING ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2019, IN WHICH HE WAS THE PRIMARY INDIVIDUAL NAMED IN THE GRIEVANCE.
DUE TO THIS FACT I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AGREE TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IN TEA COMPLAINT NUMBER IR 2020-12001.
I WILL SECOND IT. OK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
I CAN'T SEE SO MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED? MS. WESTON? YES, I JUST WANTED TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THEIR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3RD.
THEY MEET QUARTERLY DOWN AT THE WILLIAM B.
TRAVIS BUILDING DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
I USUALLY STREAM THEIR QUARTERLY MEETINGS.
I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THEIR JUNE MEETING.
THESE ARE VERY INTERESTING MEETINGS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THEIR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH THE 3RD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MS. HARRISON. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR JUST LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE'VE SPENT ZERO MINUTES DISCUSSING STUDENT OUTCOMES TONIGHT.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD POSSIBLE ACTION TO THE MONDAY AGENDA.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST POSSIBLE ACTION.
THANK YOU. I HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT REQUEST.
MS. VESSA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE HOUSE, THE TEXAS HOUSE HAD QUORUM TONIGHT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE COULD BE HEARING SB 15 SOON, WHICH MEANS THAT IT COULD PASS.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE COULD BE FUNDED FOR OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS A VERY BIG DEAL.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THEY GOT QUORUM.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY WITH THIS BILL PASSING.
MS. FELLER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM SUPER EXCITED THAT WE HAVE KICKED OFF DAY NUMBER TWO OF OUR 21 22 SCHOOL YEAR.
I KNOW WE ARE STILL UNDER A LITTLE BIT OF ROCKY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT I HAVE HOPES FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR, AND I AM VERY EXCITED TO GET THIS UNDER THE WAY.
SO WELCOME BACK TO EVERYBODY, ALL THE STUDENTS THAT ARE BACK ON CAMPUS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 MONTHS TO ALL OF OUR TEACHERS.
[02:20:04]
SO IT'S VERY EXCITING.I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE ON THE QUORUM.
TRUSTEE VESSA AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY, AND I HOPE WE CAN CROSS THE FINISH LINE HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
DR. BONE. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO LOOP BACK AROUND.
I BELIEVE IF I REQUEST AN AGENDA ITEM, RIGHT TO THE PRESIDENT.
AND THEN I REQUEST IT HERE THEN IT HAS TO BE VOTED ON.
ISN'T THAT OUR POLICY WITH AGENDA ITEMS? DOES THAT NOT APPLY TO THIS? SO YOU CAN GAUGE WHETHER THERE'S A CONSENSUS FOR APPEASING OR GRANTING THE REQUEST, I SHOULD SAY. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A REQUEST TO PUT POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY.
I GUESS DO WE TAKE A VOTE OR JUST DO A ROLL CALL.
YOU CAN JUST GET A SENSE FROM PEOPLE.
CAN I ASK EVEN WHAT CAN WE EVEN DO? WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M ALREADY LOST AT ALL THOSE MINUTES SPENDING ON WHAT EVERYTHING IS IN THE CLOSED SESSION. I JUST PASS.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S TALKING ABOUT.
MS. WESTON. YEAH, I THINK ANYTIME WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES TO EACH OTHER OUT OF COURTESY, WE SHOULD AGREE TO THAT.
SO I'M ALL FOR POSTING FOR POSSIBLE ACTION FOR MONDAY.
MS. VESSA. WELL, I'M HESITANT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE WOULD BE VOTING ON. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT POSSIBLE ACTION CAN WE TAKE.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT MY RESPONSE WAS WE HAD ADVICE FROM COUNSEL TO HAVE A TWO STEP PROCESS WHERE WE HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE ONLY GET LEGAL ADVICE AND THEN WE DECIDE AND HAVE A SECOND MEETING IF THE BOARD WISHES TO TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION.
IF THAT WERE NEEDED, IF THE BOARD DECIDED THAT WE'RE NEEDED.
AND THAT IS WHAT I SHARED WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND IT IS WHY IT WAS NOT POSTED FOR ACTION.
OK, WELL, I GUESS I WOULD FOLLOW THE LEGAL ADVICE AND WAIT TILL ANY ACTION ON OUR SECOND MEETING. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'RE A NO FOR POSSIBLE ACTION.
MS. FELLER. I'M A NO, I'M A NO.
YOU'RE A YES. I'M OF COURSE, I'M A YES, AND IT WOULD JUST BE POSSIBLE ACTION, VERY STRANGE THAT WE WOULDN'T JUST PUT POSSIBLE ACTION BECAUSE LIKE TRUSTEE VESSA SAID, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT ON MONDAY AND IT WOULD SAVE US A MEETING IF MAYBE MONDAY WE FIGURE THERE IS A RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN HAVE.
IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO HAVE POSSIBLE ACTION POSTED IF WE PUT.
I DON'T HAVE TO DO ACTION. WE DON'T HAVE A CONSENSUS FOR THAT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY, AS IS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA? I PRESSED BUTTON MULTIPLE TIMES.
OH, I'M SORRY. IT DIDN'T LIGHT UP.
ONE THING IS THAT TO ECHO TRUSTEE HARRISON THAT WE SPEND ZERO MINUTES ON STUDENT OUTCOME. THE SECOND IS THE REQUEST FOR ANOTHER EMERGENCY MEETING REGARDING ABOUT MASK POLICY. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN WE SEE THIS COVID SITUATION AND THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING FROM DAY TO DAY, IT MAY GET BETTER IT MAY GET WORSE.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A BUFFER TIME LIKE HAVE THIS MEETING SET UP TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE ACTIONS. BUT BECAUSE REALLY, WE DON'T KNOW THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND.
THE TEACHERS ARE THE [INAUDIBLE] SOLDIERS.
THEY ARE TAKING ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT HOW IS THE SITUATION AT THE SCHOOL? WE DON'T KNOW. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO REQUEST AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS ABOUT SITUATION POLICY, WHETHER WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING OR NOT.
I KNOW THERE ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CALLING AN EMERGENCY MEETING, I'M NOT SURE WE QUALIFY FOR THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE.
SO A PANDEMIC COULD THEORETICALLY TRIGGER THAT, BUT WE ARE IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO US, SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS.
I CAN CIRCULATE THOSE TO THE BOARD SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT QUALIFIES.
THERE ARE LIMITED REASONS TO CALL AN EMERGENCY MEETING.
SO THIS MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR TRULY AN EMERGENCY MEETING.
I WOULD FOREWARN YOU. AND WE ALSO.
AND BY EMERGENCY, YOU MEAN LIKE DOING IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE TOMORROW OR LESS THAN THE 72 HOURS, IF YOU'RE JUST SAYING IT'S URGENT, LET'S DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT POSTING FOR 72 HOURS, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
XIAO, I MEAN, IF YOU COULD PUT THAT IN WRITING TO DR.
[02:25:01]
AZAIEZ AND I WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION COMING WITH ANYTHING, HONESTLY.BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT MECHANISM PROCESS.
I JUST WANT US TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THINGS QUICKLY, BECAUSE THE REASON I REALLY REQUEST THIS IS WHEN I SEE THE LAST EMERGENCY MEETING IT SHOULD HAPPEN EARLY INSTEAD OF JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL OPEN.
I JUST WORRIED THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO A SITUATION. MS. FELLER. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, TRUSTEE XIAO, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN EMERGENCY MEETING YET.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE THINK YOU'RE USING AN EMERGENCY MEETING THAT LIKE WE CAN CALL IT TOMORROW.
OK, A SPECIAL MEETING MEANS WE JUST HAVE TO GIVE 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO CALL IN TERMS OF LIKE NEXT WEEK.
MAYBE WE GET THE COVID NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE WEEK OR ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
THEN WE CAN SAY NUMBERS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD.
WE HAVE 72 HOURS WE CAN POST FOR A SPECIAL MEETING.
CORRECT ME IF I'M IF I'M WRONG, WE COULD POST FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING NEXT WEEK IF THE NUMBERS TAKE A SUDDEN SPIKE AND HAVE A MEETING WITH LESS THAN 72 HOURS NOTICE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE CALENDAR IN ORDER TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
AND THEN IF AN EMERGENCY MEETING COMES UP BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND QUICK CHANGE, THEN WE CAN DO IT WITH LESS THAN 72 HOURS NOTICE.
I APPRECIATE YOU. I WASN'T FOCUSED.
AND THAT'S WHAT LEANDER DID WHEN THEIR NUMBERS SPIKED.
THEY DID HAVE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEETING THAT FELL UNDER THE LAW FOR AN EMERGENCY.
ANOTHER THING IS JUST LOOK AT THE LEANDER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHAT THEY DID IS THE SUPERINTENDENT ISSUED SOME POLICIES RIGHT AWAY.
THEN THE BOARD KIND OF SECOND APPROVE THOSE KIND OF PROCESS.
I JUST WANT TO IF WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROCESS THAT IF THE SUPERINTENDENT SEES SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY, JUST DO IT.
YES, IT COULD BE DONE, BUT REMEMBER ALSO HAS TO BE THE ACTING IN ORDER FOR THERE IS THE ACTING BOARD.
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND LEGALLY I GUESS THAT'S THAT'S HOW WE CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM MAKING A DECISION.
BUT IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE BLESSING OF ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
RIGHT. AM I CORRECT SIR. SO YOU COULD DELEGATE AUTHORITY PERHAPS THROUGH BOARD ACTION FOR SUCH A SITUATION, THE SITUATION THAT I DON'T LIKE BUT I'VE SEEN DONE IS RATIFICATION, WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT GETS AN INDICATION THAT IT'S OK.
BUT HE STICKS HIS NECK OUT, FRANKLY, AND MOVES A CERTAIN DIRECTION, WAITING FOR THE BOARD TO COME BACK AND RATIFY WHAT HE'S DONE.
SO THERE ARE WAYS, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, PERHAPS TO HAVE QUICKER ACTION THAN WAITING FOR THE BOARD MEETING.
BUT TO THE EXTENT WE CAN ANTICIPATE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS BEST.
ALL RIGHT, I MADE A NOTE OF IT DR.
MS. WESTON. SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF BOARD POLICY AND WHAT I HAVE DONE AND BEEN ADVISED TO DO WHEN I HAVE WANTED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND WHEN I HAVE WANTED SPECIAL MEETINGS IS THAT I HAVE PUT THAT IN WRITING TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN AWAITED A DECISION. AND THEN IF I WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THAT DECISION, THEN AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING THAT WAS PUT UP FOR A QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE WOULD DEVIATE FROM THAT? NO, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY I ASKED DR.
AZAIEZ AND I. ALL RIGHT I DON'T SEE ANY MORE LIGHTS.
IT IS 11:12, AND IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.