[00:00:04]
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CALLED BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2021 TO ORDER.TRUSTEE XIAO IS NOT IN ATTENDANCE YET, AND TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
IF WE CAN ALL STAND FIRST FOR, THE PLEDGE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> EACH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD WILL SET ASIDE TIME TO AFFORD
[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA]
THE GENERAL PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.WE ASKED 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 REQUESTS THAT COMMENTS, WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL.
FOR TEXAS PENAL CODE SECTIONS 38.13 AND 42.05, 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.
THE BOARD SHALL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
IF AFTER ONE WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, ANY 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.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AND THE VIEWERS THAT THE COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS REFLECT THEIR OWN POSITIONS OR OPINIONS.
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 RESPONSE FROM BOARD MEMBERS, DOES NOT INDICATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE COMMENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
MS. FOWLER WILL BE THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR IN-PERSON STUDENTS PRESENT.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE APPOINT OF ORDER, CAN YOU CLARIFY THE TIME PERIOD I BELIEVE WE ALLOW OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS IS TWO MINUTES?
>> YES. UNDER BOARD POLICY BED LOCAL, IT DOES SAY THAT HOWEVER, WHEN NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE MEETING MANAGEMENT OR TO ACCOMMODATE LARGE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
HOWEVER, NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE GIVEN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE TO MAKE COMMENTS.
>> WHY IS IT NECESSARY TONIGHT?
>> WE HAVE 115 SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY.
>> WHILE SHE'S COUNTING, I ASKED FOR THIS AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO START A MEETING AT MIDNIGHT AND DO EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OUR TIME.
WE'VE GOT TO START OUR MEETINGS EARLIER, SO I DID REQUEST THIS AS WELL.
>> YEAH, I DISAGREE. I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD, I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THIS.
I THINK THAT THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT IS PERHAPS A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE THAT WAS HERE LAST MONDAY, WHEN WE HAD ALMOST 200 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD, I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHERS AT THE DIAS FEEL.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL GET ON THE RECORD THAT I WANT TWO MINUTES AFFORDED TO ALL SPEAKERS, AS ALL WERE LED TO BELIEVE AND ALL THE NUMEROUS SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP LAST MONDAY, WERE ALLOWED.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.
THIS BOARD TO WAVE, TO FOLLOW POLICY BED LOCAL FOR MEETING MANAGEMENT AND TO ALLOW ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER.
>>WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I CAN'T SEE MS. HARRISON ON THE ZOOM AT THIS MOMENT, BUT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF LIMITING THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TO ONE MINUTE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> I HAVE A CRYSTAL QUESTION, SO IS LIMIT FOR ONE MINUTE?
>> ALL THOSE AGAINST? MOTION PASSES FIVE, TWO.
WE WILL FOLLOW OUR BOARD POLICY BED LOCAL, AND ALLOW ONE MINUTE PER SPEAKER.
WE WILL START WITH OUR STUDENT IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS EMMA RAY.
>> PRESIDENT, WELL I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
I THINK I RAISED MY HAND ON BOTH OF THOSE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, I ONLY MEANT TO RAISE IT FOR A YES VOTE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD IF IT'S ON THE VIDEO. THANK YOU.
I'M AN INCOMING JUNIOR ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:05:02]
FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS, THANK YOU SO MUCH BOARD FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR IS THAT ALL OF YOU DON'T AGREE ON EVERY SINGLE THING, YOU GUYS DISAGREE AND TO ME THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL THE STUDENTS THAT I KNOW WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE, AND WHO DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE.
I KNOW THE ISSUE HERE IS TO DISCUSS MASKS, BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS VOICES FOR STUDENTS.
AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR PRINCIPLES EMAILS THEY SAY, "DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AT SCHOOL TO MAKE EVERY CHILD FEEL AT HOME" CREATING THIS MANDATE DOES NOT ALLOW EVERY CHILD TO FEEL AT HOME OR HAVE A VOICE, I DON'T FEEL HEARD ON THIS ISSUE AT ALL AND THAT'S ACTUALLY EVIDENT OF THE EMAILS THAT I SENT.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE OF BON AND TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] FOR RESPONDING TO ME.
OVERALL, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FRIENDS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES A VOICE.
PLEASE LIVE UP TO YOUR TRUTH AND ALLOW EVERY KID TO HAVE A VOICE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON BUI.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JASON BUI AND I'M A JUNIOR AT MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL.
TO GIVE CONTEXT, I STRUGGLED GREATLY IN SCHOOL LAST YEAR WITH MOTIVATION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
HOWEVER, I'VE SINCE BECOME MORE CONFIDENT IN TRULY BEING MYSELF, THIS HAS MANIFESTED IN MY DECISION TO NOT WEAR A MASK AT SCHOOL.
I REFUSE TO TAKE PART IN SOMETHING I DO NOT BELIEVE IN AS IT IS ALL A STATEMENT WHEN A SOCIAL PANDERING AND VIRTUE SIGNALING.
I'VE SEEN THE HYPOCRISY OF THE MASKS, THE POLICIES AND THE PEOPLE ADVOCATING THEM.
IN MY CLASSES, I AM THE ONLY ONE NOT WEARING A MASK.
HOWEVER, AS I PASS MY SCHOOL'S BAND SETTING UP THE REHEARSALS, I SEE THE SAME STUDENTS FROM MY CLASS WHO HAVE NOW SHUT THEIR MASKS AND I'M CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS DONE TO FIT THE NEW SOCIAL CIRCLE THAT THEY WERE NOW IN.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO PREACH MASKS AND THEIR SUPPOSED EFFICACY, ONLY DO SO AS A SOCIAL STATEMENT RATHER THAN FOR TRUE MEDICAL CONCERN.
THIS MANDATE WILL ONLY ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF CONFUSION TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, IN WHICH WE ARE ALREADY CONFUSED AFTER AN 18 MONTH BREAK FROM NORMALCY.
I KNOW THAT THIS MANDATE WOULD SET ME BACK SOCIALLY AND UNDO MY PERSONAL GROWTH AS I KNOW IT WOULD FOR MANY OTHERS, I WENT FROM DOUBLE MASKING AT IN-PERSON SCHOOL LAST YEAR TO NOT WEARING ONE AT ALL ANYMORE AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHY.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADDISON WINTERS, AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE OVERFLOW, IT'LL BE JAYDEN VAZQUEZ AND THEN JULIET ABER AFTER THAT.
IS THERE ADDISON WINTERS? [NOISE] WE DON'T HAVE ADDISON WINTERS, JAYDEN VASQUEZ? [BACKGROUND] ACTUALLY, ADDISON'S FIRST AND THEN YOU'LL BE NEXT, JAYDEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ADDISON WINTERS.
I AM A SENIOR AT CEDAR RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
AS A NEWLY REGISTERED VOTER, I WILL BE VOTING FOR LEADERS WHO UPHOLD THE LAW AND RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION, NOT POLITICIANS WITH AN AGENDA.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU HOLD NO AUTHORITY OVER THE LAW AND HAVE NO RIGHT TO MANDATE MASKS, AND WITH THIS BEING SAID AND BEING A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, YOU CANNOT DENY ME AND EACH FREE EDUCATION, YOU CANNOT DENY ME TO ENTER THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JAYDEN VASQUEZ.
I'M A JUNIOR AT CEDAR RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOOTBALL ALL THROUGH COVID.
WE BLEED, SWEAT, SPIT, AND TACKLE EACH OTHER EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE ARE FINE.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO WEAR MASKS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TELL ME, THIS IS AMERICA, THAT IS YOUR RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN TO DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.
I FIND IT REALLY SADDENING THAT YOU AS ADULTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEADING AND TEACHING US TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT YOU-ALL HAVE LESS RESPECT FOR MY RIGHTS AND WHAT I BELIEVE IN THAN MY FELLOW PEERS.
THIS IS JUST REALLY SAD, I CAN'T EVEN JUST READ ALL THIS.
I JUST HOPE THAT YOU-ALL PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY MY RIGHTS.
I LEAVE THIS WITH YOU-ALL QUESTION, IF YOU-ALL TAKE AWAY THIS RIGHT, WHAT RIGHT ARE YOU-ALL GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM ME NEXT? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WILL BE A NEXT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIET ADAR.
THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE CELICIA LANDERS AND THEN JACOB MITCHELL.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS.
WELL, I SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IN SCHOOL.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT TO WEAR A MASK.
I HAVE DYSLEXIA, SO IT'S HARDER TO LEARN WITH A MASK.
[00:10:05]
I WENT TO SUMMER SCHOOL, I LEARNED PERFECTLY FINE BECAUSE NOBODY WAS WEARING A MASK.MASK FEEL WORSE THAN WHEN I ACTUALLY HAD COVID.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO. NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN.
AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW BY NOW, I'M JACOB MITCHELL, SENIOR ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL AND GIVEN WHAT'S ON MY FACE, I'M SURE THAT YOU CAN ASSUME MY POSITION HERE TODAY.
I'M NOT HERE TO THROW STATISTICS AT YOU AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOMEONE MUCH MORE QUALIFIED THAT CAN PRESENT TO YOU THE EXACT BENEFITS OF WEARING A MASK AND THE EXACT REASONS AND PRECISE REASONS WHY ONE WOULD MEDICALLY NOT NEED TO WEAR ONE OR IT WOULD RATHER PROVE HARMFUL TO WHERE ONE.
TO MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT HEARING THOSE STATISTICS FROM A CREDIBLE SOURCE WOULD BE AN ACT OF EXTREME IRRESPONSIBILITY.
AS A STUDENT, I FEEL UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE WALKING THE HALLS, SITTING IN CLASSROOMS, AND BEING AROUND THOSE WHO ARE UNMASKED.
SCHOOLS ARE INTENDED TO BE A PLACE OF LEARNING, NOT A PETRI DISH FOR THE VIRUS OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
TO THOSE WHO GENUINELY STILL DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD REQUIRE MASKS, ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE TO BECOME A STATISTIC FOR YOU TO CARE? THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE FIVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY.
WE'LL GIVE THEM JUST A SECOND.
HENRY CHO IS OUR FIRST VIRTUAL STUDENT SPEAKER.
I AM IN FOURTH GRADE AT PURPLE SAGE ELEMENTARY.
OUR STUDENTS ARE AT STAGE FIVE IN COVID AND IF WE DO AN OPT-OUT, WE WOULD BE PROTECTING LESS PEOPLE THAN WE COULD BE.
THE HOSPITALS IN AUSTIN ARE FULL.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO OTHER HOSPITALS TO GET TREATED THE RIGHT WAY.
IF THOSE HOSPITALS FILL UP THEN THERE WILL BE NO DOCTORS TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK.
I BELIEVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER SICKNESSES [OVERLAPPING] LIKE CANCER MATTER TOO.
IF WE WEAR MASKS, WE'RE PROTECTING THEM.
5,000 KIDS HAVE CHOSEN VIRTUAL SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO JOIN US AND IF THE OPT-OUT ENDS, THEN SOME OF THOSE OTHER KIDS CAN COME BACK TO SCHOOL.
HAVING AN OPT-OUT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE EVERYONE'S JOB TO PROTECT PEOPLE INSTEAD OF ENDANGERING THEM.
WHEN THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BECOME SICK, THEN THE SCHOOL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AXEL EMMONS.
I JUST STARTED SECOND GRADE AT ANDREWS MILL ELEMENTARY AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO A MASK MANDATE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK AND HAVING TO TRAVEL TO OTHER CITIES.
SOME ARE EVEN HAVING TO TRAVEL TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A MASK MANDATE WHERE THERE IS NO CHOICE.
IF WE DO A MASK MANDATE THAT HAS A CHOICE, [OVERLAPPING] MORE PEOPLE WILL OPT OUT AND THAT WILL CAUSE THE VIRUS TO GET WORSE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE WEARING JUST PAPER.
IF WE ALL PAPER DOUBLE, BUT I RECOMMEND A N95 OR KN95.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILES RUBIN.
>> MY NAME IS MILES RUBIN AND I'M IN THE FOURTH GRADE AT LAUREL MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
PLEASE MAKE MASKS REQUIRED FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO ENTERS MY SCHOOL.
ALL OF THE STUDENTS THERE ARE TOO YOUNG TO BE VACCINATED.
IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT KIDS COULDN'T CATCH COVID AS EASILY OR THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET SICK FROM IT.
WE NOW KNOW THAT'S WRONG, AND WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, KIDS ARE GETTING SICK AND EVEN DYING MORE AND MORE.
I HAVE CELIAC DISEASE, WHICH MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS ACTUALLY AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE.
SO WHILE I MAY NOT [OVERLAPPING] BE ANY MORE LIKELY TO CATCH COVID THAN OTHER KIDS, I'M A LOT MORE LIKELY TO GET REALLY SICK FROM IT.
[00:15:03]
NONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A PROBLEM WEARING MASKS LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS REQUIRED.PLEASE, FOR MY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND ALL THE OTHER KIDS TOO, PLEASE MAKE MASK REQUIRED THIS YEAR TOO.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIAS RUBIN.
>> MY NAME IS ELIAS RUBIN AND I'M IN SECOND GRADE AT LAUREL MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
PLEASE MAKE MASKS REQUIRED FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO ENTERS MY SCHOOL.
>> I NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL IN PERSON EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] I SPEND ALMOST 10 HOURS PER WEEK WORKING WITH MY SPECIALTY TEACHER, MISTY.
>> OTHER CHALLENGES THAT I CAN'T WORK FROM HOME.
>> JUST READ THE LAST SENTENCE.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME IS UP, SWEETHEART.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR LAST STUDENTS SPEAKER IS SAM B.
I'M A JUNIOR AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND I ALSO SPOKE AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
I WAS SATISFIED AT THE COMPROMISE THAT WAS REACHED LAST MEETING BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THOSE WHO NEEDED TO OPT OUT, BUT ALSO KEEPS A MANDATE IN PLACE FOR MOST OTHERS.
I THINK THAT OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN SAFELY WEAR IT AT SCHOOL, AND GETTING RID OF THE OPT-OUT WOULD HURT STUDENTS THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT AND HAVE A LITTLE BENEFIT FOR OTHERS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SUPER HIGH COMPLIANCE RATE OF 90 PERCENT.
GETTING RID OF THE OPT-OUT [OVERLAPPING] MAY SLIGHTLY REDUCE THIS, BUT THERE WILL STILL BE STUDENTS WHO REFUSE.
WE REFUSE TO PROVIDE THEM AN EDUCATION.
IF NOT, THEN THIS MEETING MEANS NOTHING AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK MASK COMPLIANCE ANYMORE.
IF WE KICK THEM OUT OF SCHOOL, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO LEARN ANYMORE.
I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP AN OPT-OUT PROVISION AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON A VIRTUAL OPTION FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT.
A MASK MANDATE WOULD HURT A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WOULD HELP.
>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR ADULT SPEAKERS, THOSE IN-PERSON.
JACOB? [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> THE POLIO VACCINE HAS SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES AND HAS MADE OUR PARENTS' GENERATION, OUR GENERATION, AND OUR CHILDREN'S GENERATION SAFE.
MASK ARE ESSENTIAL IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT REQUIRES STERILIZATION BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A MEDICAL PROCEDURE.
THESE ARE FACTS, FACTS THAT HAVE BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY BUILT WITH NEARLY A CENTURY OF TRIAL AND ERROR, AT THE DETRIMENT AND BENEFIT FOR BOTH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND THE PATIENTS.
WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AS PARENTS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND THE ONES WHO ENSURE OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY BASED.
INSTEAD OF USING LOGIC AS A SPEARHEAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID, WE'RE USING FEAR.
FEAR, LOGIC HAS TAKEN BACK SEAT WASHING HANDS CLEAN OF ILLOGICAL GUILT AND POSSIBLE LIABILITY.
THIS MASK DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE RISK OF CONTRACTING ANY DISEASE OR INFECTION.
THIS WAS PURCHASED IN THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES SECTION.
THIS MORNING DOES NOT END THERE.
THE MAJORITY OF MASKS BEEN WORN ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION OR EVEN IF THE DISTRICT ENFORCED UP TO SPEC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME. [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL SADLER.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DON'T PRETEND THAT ANY OF THESE DECISIONS ARE EASY.
I HAVE A 10-YEAR-OLD. HE ATTENDS DEEP WOOD ELEMENTARY AND HE ENJOYS HIS TEACHERS.
THAT BEING SAID SINCE THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING REMOVING THE OPT-OUT OPTION FOR MASK AND IN TURN, MANDATING, I'M HERE TO URGE AGAINST THAT.
I'M ASKING THAT THE CURRENT MASK POLICY BAR ROUND ROCK ISD REMAIN AS IS WITH THE OPTION FOR PARENTS TO OPT-OUT.
IF THE BOARD SEES FIT TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY TO MANDATE MASK DISTRICTS-WIDE AND THEY CAN MANDATE THE ROUND ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TEACHERS AND STAFF BE FULLY VACCINATED.
AS WE'RE ALL AWARE, THE FDA JUST APPROVED THE VACCINE, MANY COMPANIES, HOME DEPOT, AT&T, AND MANY OTHERS ARE MANDATING VACCINATION AS A CONDITION OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE LIST GOES ON.
I BELIEVE THE BOARD SHOULD LEAVE THE CURRENT MASK POLICY IN PLACE,
[00:20:02]
CHANGING IT WITHOUT BRINGING EMOTION TO ALSO MANDATE TEACHER AND STAFF VACCINATIONS, WHICH SHOWED THAT THE BOARD IS NOW USING ALL ITS TOOLS THEN TO ACTUALLY PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY'VE SACRIFICED SO MUCH THIS PAST YEAR.
>> YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA COVELLI.
>> HI. I'LL LET ONE MY SIGN SPEAKS FOR MYSELF, MY CHILD MY CHOICE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I RESPECT EVERYONE'S WAYS TO MAKE AND WHATEVER THAT IS.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE EARLIER SPEAKERS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT IF EVERYONE HAS THAT CHOICE, WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE THAT IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK, THAT'S FINE.
I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE SCIENCE OR ANY OF THAT.
THAT IT'S UP TO THE [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] I'LL LIKE TO HAVE MAYBE DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT CAN.
>> CAN YOU COME CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE?
>> I'M SORRY IF YOU CAN'T HEAR ME MY APOLOGIES.
I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND PARENTAL RIGHTS AND THEIR RIGHT TO CHOICE ON WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AND COMFORTABLE FOR THEIR CHILD.
EVERYONE'S ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN TEXAS, AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT, BECAUSE IT'S AN AMAZING DISTRICT.
I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPT-OUT PROVISION THAT IT SAYS, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL NOT BE ELIMINATED. AS I SAID.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN FELTHAUSER.
>> HI, I HAVE SUBBED IN THE DISTRICT SINCE 2000.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR A MASK MANDATE WITH SOME TEETH.
ONLY PEOPLE WITH A MEDICAL OR A DEVELOPMENTAL NEED SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPT-OUT.
WEARING A MASK IS THE LEAST PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT OTHERS.
ALTERNATIVELY, WE COULD OFFER AN OPTION FOR REMOTE LEARNING TO THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO WEAR MASKS.
WELL, DR. AZIZ HAS SAID LESS THAN NINE PERCENT OF STUDENTS HAVE OPTED OUT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM, IT'S OFTEN CLOSER TO 30-40 PERCENT GOING UNMASKED.
I AM SURE SOME WITH AND SOME WITHOUT PERMISSION.
I'M AFRAID THAT THOSE GOING UNMASKED ARE THE SAME AS THOSE WHO WILL NOT GET VACCINATED WITH THE INCREASED TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE DELTA VARIANT.
I'M AFRAID THEY'RE PUTTING THE PEOPLE WHO DO MASK UP AT GREATER RISK AS WELL AS THEMSELVES.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE OUR DISTRICT OR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS CLOSE DOWN AGAIN THIS YEAR, AS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG MCLEAN.
>> HI, I THINK YOU HAVE A HIGHER PRIORITY HERE.
FIRST, DOCTORS SAY DO NO HARM.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
THERE'S A PROHIBITION ON ME BRINGING A GUN IN HERE, EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LICENSED AS POLICE OFFICERS TO PROTECT THIS.
YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.
SHE'S NOT GOING TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE MASK MANDATE IS NOT BEING FULLY ENFORCED.
WE'RE CONCERNED THAT SHE CAN'T GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE RULES. DRUNK DRIVING.
SOME PEOPLE SAY I THINK I'M FINE.
BUT WE HAVE RULES AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S INHERENTLY DANGEROUS.
YOU DON'T ALLOW DRINKS IN HERE.
YOU HAVE A COCA-COLA THERE, BUT I DON'T BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROTECT THE CARPET.
THERE ARE INFRINGEMENTS AND THINGS THAT WE DO TO PROTECT THINGS.
WE DON'T ALLOW SMOKING IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE.
WE DON'T ALLOW VAPING OR GUNS.
PLEASE PUT TEETH IN THE MASK MANDATE IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IF ANYONE CAN OPT-OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL LEAVENWORTH.
>> MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS THAT OPT FOR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR OWN BODIES.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I AM STRUGGLING WITH IS THE MANDATE OF MASK.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MANDATE TODAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OPT-OUT. I'LL FOCUS ON THAT.
WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 POSES MINIMAL RISK TO CHILDREN.
IN FACT, THE HIGHEST SPREADER OF COVID-19 AMONGST SCHOOL MEMBERS IS TEACHER TO TEACHER, AND THEN THE NEXT IS STUDENT TO TEACHER, AND THEN THE VERY LAST IS STUDENT TO STUDENT.
TEACHERS CAN CHOOSE TO GET VACCINATED IF THEY WISH.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT-OUT OF WEARING MASKS. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
[00:25:01]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DENISE RAY.
>> HI, I'M DENISE RAY AND I'M A PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE'RE PLEADING WITH YOU TO KEEP THE OPT-OUT OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE HAVE SEEN THE HYPOCRISY OF THE MASK-WEARING PLAY OUT FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE HAVE WITNESSED IT WITH OUR POLITICIANS CLEAR ON DOWN TO OUR OWN BOARD MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATION.
ONLY WEARING MASKS IN FRONT OF A CERTAIN AUDIENCE THAN RIPPING THEM OFF WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THEIR CHARADE.
WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY CLAIM THEY ARE SO FEARFUL YET THEY WILL GATHER IN LARGE CROWDS UNMASKED.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SCIENCE, IT'S ABOUT IMAGE.
JUST AS MY DAUGHTER STATED DURING A RECENT BOARD MEETING, THE STUDENTS ARE WATCHING AND LEARNING FROM YOU.
IF YOU LEAVE BY HYPOCRISY AND DISHONESTY, THEY WILL FOLLOW WHAT YOU MODEL.
DO NOT DISCOUNT THE MESSAGE YOU ARE ALL CONVENED TO YOUR OWN STUDENT BODY.
THEY ARE MUCH MORE OBSERVANT AND PERCEPTIVE THAN YOU ARE GIVING THEM CREDIT FOR.
ALSO DO NOT TAKE AWAY A PARENT'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY FEEL IS MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILD.
DOING SO MAY RESULT IN A REBELLION THAT WILL BRING ON MORE CHALLENGES TO YOUR PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS THAN THEY NEED.
LET THESE ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.
TEACH AND GUIDE OUR CHILDREN, NOT POLICE THEM. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEREMY STORY.
>> WE CONSIDER A VERY SERIOUS DECISION TODAY.
I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY AND INTEGRITY OF THIS BOARD.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CAN, OF COURSE, REVIEW MY SOCIAL POSTS AND LETTERS TO THE BOARD AT A DIFFERENT TIME TO SEE THAT.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS A MODE RATHER THAN A METHOD OF MOVING FORWARD AND JUDGING FROM THE TA MONITOR APPOINTED, THEY SHARE MY SIMILAR CONCERNS TOO.
I SEE A DISTRICT DIVIDED ON MANY THINGS, NAMELY TODAY WHETHER STUDENTS SHOULD BE FORCED TO WEAR CLOTHS ACROSS THEIR FACE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT SEEMS THAT EITHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE LOOKS AT THE OTHER AS AN ENEMY.
WE ARE MORE THAN MASK WEARERS OR MASK AVOIDERS.
SCIENCE AND SOCIOLOGY LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE THAT MASK MANDATES ARE INEFFECTIVE WHILE OTHERS IN THIS ROOM DO NOT DRAW THAT CONCLUSION IN SPITE OF THIS DIFFERENCE IN GOD'S EYES AND WITH HIS, THEY'RE EQUAL CREATIONS OF GREAT VALUE AS TO ANYONE WHO AGREES WITH ME.
GOD DESIRES TO USE ALL THINGS THAT DRAW US CLOSER TO HIM.
EVEN OUR WILLFUL SIN CAN BE REDEEMED BY HIM AND TURN TO LEAD US TO HIM.
THE FIRST STEP IS OWNING OUR ACTIONS.
SOMETIMES THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS IN REAL LIFE AND THE COURTS, OUR JOBS AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALVIN KEENEY.
>> SORRY, I HAVE TO CATCH MY BREATH. MY NAME IS ALVIN KEENEY AND I HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER HERE IN RISD.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO STATE THAT WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT COVID, BUT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE IN OUR APPROACHES ON HOW WE FACE THE FEARS OF COVID AND THE FEAR OF UNKNOWN.
OUR DISAGREEMENTS WITH ALL, THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL MEASURE IS WRONG WITH OUR HEALTH AND WITH OUR BODIES.
OUR PROTESTS ARE AGAINST THE HEALTH MEASURE MANDATE THAT HAVE NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO REALLY SAY MASKS WORK OR NOT.
AS FOR THE DATA IS CONCERNED, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR TRAVIS COUNTY STATES THAT HAVE 927 DEATHS IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND 523 IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, AND THERE ARE ZERO COVID DEATHS IN THE AGE GROUP 0-18.
AS FAR AS NATIONWIDE DATA GOES, THERE IS 361 COVID-19 DEATHS, WHILE THERE ARE 865 PNEUMONIA DEATHS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MASK YOUR CHILDREN ALL THE YEAR THROUGH, RIGHT? BECAUSE PNEUMONIA IS SPREAD THROUGH BACTERIAL AND VIRAL INFECTION JUST LIKE HOW COVID SPREADS.
LASTLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR CHILDREN'S LEARNING.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLENDA MOSLEY AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOLICIA LANDERS AND THEN LAUREN HEINZ.
>> HI, I'M HERE TODAY NOT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND BECAUSE BASED ON THE SLIDE DECK YOU POSTED EARLIER, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION.
[00:30:02]
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.A FRIEND OF MINE WHO TEACHES AT ONE OF THE ROUND ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TEXTED ME THIS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE MESS VIRTUAL TEACHING IS CREATING AT THE SCHOOL AND THE PART IT IS PLAYING IN THE CURRENT MASS FIASCO.
ROUND ROCK ISD HAD MORE STUDENTS ELECT VIRTUAL THAN THEY CAN FINANCIALLY ACCOMMODATE.
THE NEW MASS MANDATE AT LEAST PARTIALLY IS ABOUT GETTING THOSE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PULLED ONE OF THE FIRST GRADERS TO BE VIRTUAL TEACHER BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND ENOUGH TEACHERS TO TEACH VIRTUALLY.
THE STUDENTS IN THAT TEACHER'S FORMER CLASS WERE SPLIT ACROSS THE OTHER FIRST GRADE TEAMS WHICH CAUSED ISSUES WITH EVERYTHING; LUNCH, SPECIALS, AND IT GOES ON AND ON.
BASICALLY, THIS FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SOLICIA LANDERS AND THEN LAUREN HEINZ AND THEN CARA RUIZ WILL BE AFTER THAT.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO READ THAT THE OPT-OUT ITEM MIGHT BE DECREASED AND EASILY OBTAINED.
THE REASONING IS MY SON, NICHOLAS, IS 14 AND A FRESHMAN AT ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL.
HE CONSCIENTIOUSLY WEARS HIS MASK WITH FILTER AND DISINFECTS HIS HANDS REGULARLY.
HE DOESN'T DO THIS FOR HIMSELF REALLY.
HE DOES IT TO KEEP FROM BRINGING COVID HOME TO HIS DAD WHO IS FIGHTING CANCER AND ME WITH SEVERE ASTHMA.
EVERYONE WEARING MASKS CORRECTLY PROTECTS EVERYONE ELSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYONE DOESN'T WANT THEIR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT PROTECTING OTHERS IS, AS WELL AS THEMSELVES.
I GOT AN EMAIL AS OF TODAY THAT MY SON WAS A DIRECT EXPOSURE ON FRIDAY, THREE DAYS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN HEINZ AND THEN IT'LL BE CARA RUIZ AND THEN ANDREA PLOWMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE MOTHER OF A FIRST GRADER AT GREAT OAKS ELEMENTARY.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE SECOND MEETING SO QUICKLY AND NOT WAITING UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
I FEEL LIKE MY SON IS SAFER AND HE IS LESS LIKELY TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME IN QUARANTINE DUE TO THE ACTIONS YOU TOOK LAST WEEK.
A START CASE STUDY IS UNFOLDING IN MISSISSIPPI WHERE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO WITHOUT MASK REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE.
THE MISSISSIPPI CLARION-LEDGER REPORTS THIS AFTERNOON THAT OVER 30,000 STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE IN QUARANTINE.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ACTED BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED.
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SEPTEMBER MEETING, I WANT THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL POLICIES TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS STAY OPEN THIS FALL.
ONE, EXTEND THE MASK REQUIREMENT UNTIL AUSTIN IS IN STAGE TWO OR BELOW, OR WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS YELLOW OR BLUE.
TWO, EXTEND THE MASK REQUIREMENT FOR ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOLS UNTIL THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE FOR THESE AGE GROUPS, AND THREE, EXPLORE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES OF TEACHERS AND STAFF.
AUSTIN ISD IS OFFERING A $250.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARA RUIZ.
THEN WE'LL HAVE ANDREA PLOWMAN AND THEN JOHN SCOTT.
I HAVE A FIVE AND SEVEN-YEAR-OLD IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
I'M ASKING FOR THE MASK OUT WAIVER TO STAY IN PLACE AS IS.
IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, PLEASE GIVE OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AN OPT OUT OPTION.
SOME FEEL THERE IS NO COST TO REQUIRING CHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS, BUT AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT KNOW THE PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME OF ALL THIS ON CHILDREN, NOR THE COST TO OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IN THE FORM OF DELAYED READING, LISTENING, AND SPEAKING SKILLS.
THE PROBLEM WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO CHILDREN IS THAT WE DO NOT OFTEN RECOGNIZE IT UNTIL IT HAS BECOME A PROBLEM.
THIS SUMMER WHEN OUR CHILDREN WERE GIVEN AN OPTION NOT TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC SPACES, WE WITNESSED HOW EARLIER REQUESTS WITH OUR FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO WEAR A MASK HAD IMPACTED HER AS SHE WAS AFRAID TO ENTER THE STORE WITHOUT A MASK BECAUSE SHE WAS CERTAIN SHE WOULD GET SOMEONE SICK.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD IS BURDENED WITH THAT THOUGHT? BECAUSE THERE ARE COSTS AND POTENTIALLY GREAT ONES, THE BENEFITS OF REQUIRING MASKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA PLOWMAN.
THEN WE HAVE JOHN SCOTT AND THEN IT WILL BE ROB LELM.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREA PLOWMAN AND I'M A ROUND ROCK ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND ROUND ROCK RESIDENT.
I MEAN NO OFFENSE WHEN I SAY YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE IN MY CLASSROOM EVEN IF YOU HAVE VISITED SCHOOLS.
A VISIT DOES NOT EQUATE TO MY EXPERIENCE.
AFTER BEING IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE PAST FIVE DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, I CAN UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY THAT APPLYING A MASK MANDATE IS SOUL-CRUSHING.
[00:35:02]
WHAT ABOUT THE ROUND ROCK ISD MISSION STATEMENT; INSPIRING STUDENTS TO LEARN, EMPOWERING STUDENTS FOR LIFE.THOSE MAKING THESE DECISIONS SHOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE SAME AS THEY ARE ASKING THEIR CHILDREN TO DO.
I STARTED AN OPEN CONVERSATION WITH MY STUDENTS.
IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK, WEAR ONE.
IF YOU LEARN BETTER WITHOUT ONE, THEN YOU MAY CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR IT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I ASKED MY STUDENTS TO BE RESPECTFUL AND KIND OF EACH INDIVIDUAL'S DECISION.
DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS DONE JUST THAT? MAYBE THE ADULTS COULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM THESE KIDS.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN SCOTT.
THEN ROB LELM AND THEN DAVID GRANADO.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EGOISM IS THE VIEW THAT HUMANS ARE ALWAYS MOTIVATED BY SELF-INTEREST AND SELFISHNESS, EVEN IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE ACTS OF ALTRUISM.
MASK MANDATES ARE ABOUT PEACE OF MIND, I ARGUE IT'S ABOUT SELFISHNESS.
WHY WOULD THOSE MASKED NOT HAVE PEACE OF MIND? YOU AND I FOLLOWED THE MANDATES, BUT IT'S BECOME CYCLICAL.
THIS FACT, THAT FACT, THIS CHANGE, THAT CHANGE, ARE WE LIVING IN A DR. SEUSS BOOK? WHY IS PIECE OF MIND NOT IN REACH? BECAUSE OF CHILDREN LEARNING AND PLAYING UNMASKED IN THE TEXAS HEAT.
WHILE YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING GOOD BY MASKING OUR CHILDREN, YOU FAIL TO REALIZE IT IS YOUR DESIRE FOR PEACE OF MIND THAT DRIVES YOU TO IT.
EVEN THOUGH PROPER PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES SHOULD NEVER FORCE OR SHAME ANYONE, THIS SELFISHNESS HAS LED US TO HATRED, DIVISION, SHAMING, AND TRIBALISM.
IN CLOSING, I CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT REALLY DRIVES OUR ACTIONS.
I MAY BE UNMASKED AND YOU DEEM THAT I NEED SAVING, BUT ARE YOU THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EGOIST WHOSE SELFISHNESS DRIVES YOU TO THINK THAT BEING AN AUTHORITARIAN WILL GIVE YOU PEACE OF MIND?
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROB LELM.
THEN IT WILL BE DAVID GRANADO AND THEN BURTON BOMPUS.
>> I'M A FATHER OF TWO AT ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOLS.
I'M A 27 YEAR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, BEEN A PARAMEDIC FOR THE LAST 15, AND THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS BEHIND THIS.
SCIENCE HAS BEEN MANIPULATED UNFORTUNATELY WHERE THEY'RE FINDING AN ANSWER THAT THEY WANT, THEN THEY'RE DEVELOPING ALL THEIR TESTS TO FIND THE ANSWER THAT THEY ALREADY CAME UP WITH TO START.
THIS MASK MANDATE IS UNFORTUNATELY GIVING TOO MANY PEOPLE POWER TRIPS AND WE NEED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE FREEDOM, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE WEARING A MASK, IF YOUR CHILD'S WEARING A MASK, THEY ARE PROTECTED IN YOUR EYES.
THAT SHOULD NOT DICTATE WHAT MY CHILDREN OR OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN WHO DO NOT WANT TO WEAR MASKS DO. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID GRANADO.
THEN IT WILL BE BURTON BOMPUS AND THEN BEN ROUGH.
>> HELLO. YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE SAME SIMPLISTIC TALKING POINTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN MEANT TO SHUT DOWN CONVERSATION.
FIRST, THERE'S THE EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION THAT USUALLY SOME VARIATION OF, "WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN." THAT IMPLIES THAT THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS AND WE DON'T, AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
WE'D START BLIND TO THE SURFACE LEVEL PROBLEMS. THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THE TOP LEVEL.
BUT YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID BECAUSE THE SIGNS AND EXPERTS SAY THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE SHOULD BE DEAD ABOUT FIVE TIMES OVER BY NOW.
THE SEASONAL WAVE THAT HIT US IS PASSING AND DOES COUNTER TO WHAT FOUCHIER AND ALL OF THEM SAID.
NOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS FOR SOCIAL REASONS, FOR THE SOCIAL PRESSURE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DUDE WEARING 17 OF A MOUNTAIN THE SON? HE'S DOING IT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, NOT FOR SCIENTIFIC REASONS IS EXPERTS AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE PRESSING THIS, LIKE KNOW TOMORROW.
NOW, ANYBODY I DON'T DENY YOU YOUR RELIGIOUS FOR.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARTON BUMPUS, THEN IT WILL BE BEN [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN LINDSEY LEDYARD.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
I WANTED TO JUST MAKE MY BRIEF.
[NOISE] I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE BOARD KEEP THE EXISTING MANDATE FOR MASS OPTIONAL OPT UP IN PLACE THROUGH THE EXPIRATION DATE AND THEY ALSO CONSIDER AT THE END OF THAT EXPIRATION DAY WHEN HAD THEIR NEXT MEETING TO CONTINUE THAT MANDATE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND CHANGE THE POLICY WITH HIS FOLLOWING GUIDELINE THAT, MASK MANDATE SHOULD BE APPLIED AT A CAMPUS LEVEL WHEN THE CASE LEVEL AT A CAMPUS REQUIRES IT.
THE REASON WHY THE MASK MANDATE IS IN PLACE SIMPLY TO ALLOW FOR THE HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCAL CAMPUS TO MANAGE HIS CASELOAD.
[00:40:03]
THERE'S NO REASON WHY THAT CAN'T BE DONE NOW.WE COLLECT DATA AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL, WE SET OUR THRESHOLD FOR THAT AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL AND WE MANAGE IT AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THAT NOW.
I HAVE SOME DATA THAT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH IT WITH YOU.
BUT I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER ACTUALLY CONSIDER LEAVING IT AS IT IS NOW IN IMPLEMENTING A MASK MANDATE THRESHOLD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, BEN RUPP.
THEN IT WILL BE LINDSEY LEDYARD, AND THEN KRISTINA [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BEN RUPP AND I'M THE PARENT OF TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DAUGHTERS IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I STRUGGLE TO REALIZE WHY WE'RE EVEN HERE THIS EVENING.
JUST EIGHT DAYS AGO, WE ALL SAT HERE FOR SIX HOURS AND LISTENED TO PASSIONATE SPEAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS EQUATION PRESENT MOUNTAINS OF CONFLICTING DATA.
I THINK IN THE END THE BOARD TRIED TO STRIKE A COMPROMISE THAT'S BEEN WORKING WELL SO FAR.
IF YOU'RE PRO-MASK, YOU HAVE 91 PERCENT COMPLIANCE.
IF YOU'RE ANTI-MASK, YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT.
NEITHER SIDE GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED, BUT PEACE WAS MADE AND EVERYONE WENT ON WITH THEIR LIVES.
THAT IS, UNTIL THOSE FRESH WOUNDS WERE TORN WIDE-OPEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS IRRESPONSIBLE EMAIL SAYING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN, SENDING EVERYONE BACK TO THEIR BATTLE STATIONS.
THE SIMPLEST, MOST EQUITABLE THING TO DO IS TO LEAVE THE OPT-OUT IN PLACE.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THE DATA AND COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MASKS ARE AN INEFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROL THE VIRUS THAT IS LESS HARMFUL TO CHILDREN THAN THE FLU ARE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE MEDICAL DECISIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THIS INCLUDES WHAT THEY WEAR ON THEIR FACES, DESCRIBING THE TEA.
>> TIME, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSEY LEDYARD.
THEN IT WILL BE KRISTINA [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN KRISTIE DAVIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MODIFYING THE OPT-OUT OPTION TO MEDICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS ONLY.
FAMILY AND TEACHERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ASSESS THE RISK OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO COME TO SCHOOL AND POTENTIALLY PASS ALONG THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE TO OTHER CHILDREN AND STAFF WHO MAY BE OR HAVE FAMILY WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AFTER ALL, WE ONLY HAVE ONE PICK YOUR BED AND 10 ADULT ICU BEDS IN OUR TRAUMA SERVICE AREA RIGHT NOW.
NOW ONE ONCE MASS FOREVER, I PROPOSE THAT BE PEGGED TO A DECISION TREE BASED ON LOCAL COMMUNITY SPREAD, VACCINATION AVAILABILITY FOR KIDS IN HOSPITAL CONDITIONS AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SO ELOQUENTLY SAID, ALL LIFE IS INTERRELATED.
WE ARE ALL CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY.
HE CONTINUES, WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. LET'S WORK AS A COMMUNITY BY REQUIRING MASKS INDOORS IN ORDER TO STAY OPEN AND GIVE OUR CHILDREN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTINA [INAUDIBLE], THEN IT WILL BE KRISTIE DAVIS AND AND THEN JASON CASEY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KRISTINA [INAUDIBLE] I HAVE THREE BOYS IN THE ROUND ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, GRADE SIXTH, FIFTH AND SECOND.
THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING AND I ALMOST DIDN'T COME TONIGHT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT WHAT I HAD TO SAY WOULDN'T REALLY MATTER AND THAT THE MEETING WAS MERELY FOR A MELODY, FOR AN RID DECIDED VOTE.
IT WAS EXTREMELY DISCOURAGING.
BUT I DID WATCH THE VIDEO FROM THE LAST MEETING AND I DID COME TO REALIZE THAT I DO THINK A MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD DOES HAVE OUR CHILDREN'S BEST INTENTIONS AT THEIR HEART.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO APPEAL TO THOSE GOOD INTENTIONS.
I WON'T GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OR INEFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS.
I DON'T THINK IT TAKES A VERY IQ, OR MORE THAN AN OUNCE OF COMMON SENSE TO REALIZE THAT A PIECE OF CLOTH OVER A CHILD'S FACE IS GOING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING THE VIRUS.
I WON'T GO ON ABOUT HOW IT IS OUR CHOICE AS PARENTS AND NOT YOURS TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
BUT WHAT I WILL ASK IS THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THE MESSAGE YOU'RE SENDING TO OUR CHILDREN.
I AM DOING MY BEST TO RESPECTFUL, KIND, LAW ABIDING UPSTANDING FUTURE. [OVERLAPPING].
>> TIME, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE IT. BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIE DAVIS.
THEN IT WILL BE JASON CASEY, AND THEN JACQUELINE CAMPBELL.
>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THE PUBLIC ONLY GETS ONE MINUTE WHEN THREE-LETTER AGENCY PUPPETS GOT ALL THE TIME WITH A WORLD LAST MEETING.
I AM A LONGTIME NEWS PROFESSIONAL, BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS, TELEVISION NEWS FOR 13 YEARS, A MAIN EVENING NEWS ANCHOR FOR HALF THAT TIME.
WHY IS THAT RELEVANT? BECAUSE I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FROM THE NEWS IS PROPAGANDA, WHICH IS WHY I LEFT MAINSTREAM NEWS AND HAVE BECOME AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST.
I'M CHALLENGING YOU TO NOT LISTEN TO THE PROPAGANDA, TO LISTEN TO YOUR NEWS PROFESSIONAL THAT IS TELLING YOU THAT WHAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING IS THE TRUTH, DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AND FIND OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE RISK-REWARD BENEFIT.
THERE ARE RISKS TOWARDS CHILDREN WEARING MASKS.
WE NEED THAT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
I LEFT CALIFORNIA AS A NEWS ANCHOR TO COME TO TEXAS FOR FREEDOM.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE COME TO, MORE TYRANNY.
[00:45:01]
TRUST ME, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CALIFORNIA, OUR KIDS ARE SUFFERING.I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU AS AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST, I'M PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE THAT YOU WILL.
>> TIME, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, JASON CASEY.
THEN IT WILL BE JACQUELINE CAMPBELL AND THEN JAMES HOLLOWAY.
>> I HONESTLY NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THE DAY WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD BE WILLING TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT BREAKING THE LAW IS OKAY.
I ORIGINALLY CAME HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME FACTS ON WHY MASKS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING COVID AND HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CHILDREN.
BUT YOU ALL GOT MY EMAIL WITH THAT INFORMATION, PROVIDING WELL-DOCUMENTED STUDIES THAT HAD THE PROPER REFERENCES.
HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF YOU DECIDED TO IGNORE THAT.
WHY SHOULD US PARENTS HAVE TO BE THE ONES TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS INFORMATION WHEN YOU ARE THE ONES MANDATING THE MASS.
TONIGHT, I DEMAND THAT YOU PROVIDE US ALL PARENTS WITH PEER REVIEWED STUDIES SHOWING MASS PROTECT AGAINST COVID.
I DEMAND YOU DISCLOSE TO ALL PARENTS THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS THAT WEARING A MASK CAN HAVE ON OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT.
I ALSO CALL FOR THE RESIGNATIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS.
WERE, FELLER, HARRISON, SHAW AND VESTA, AND ALSO THE SUPERINTENDENT AS THIS, OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE AND THEY NEED US.
>> TIME, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES HOLLOWAY.
THEN IT'LL BE DARYL LAWRENCE AND THEN MITCHELL EVANS.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN EIGHT DAYS TO BASICALLY DISCUSS THE SAME THING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO POINT TO THE 91 PERCENT MASQUERADE AND SCHOOLS, BUT MY DAUGHTER'S CLASS 61 PERCENT OPTED OUT. DON'T QUOTE THAT TO ME.
WE'RE MANDATED THAT WE CAN'T SPEED, CAN'T DRINK AND DRIVE, AND THAT'S NOT FOR OUR OWN GOOD, IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC.
AFTER WORLD WAR II, THIS COUNTRY RATIONED GREATLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.
NONE OF THAT WAS AGAINST OUR RIGHTS, NEITHER ARE MASKS.
PLEASE FOLLOW ON THE SIDE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN AND NOT ON THE SIDE BEHIND AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH TRIED TO CONSOLIDATE POWER AWAY FROM OUR LEGISLATURE, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND US.
TO QUOTE JERRY JONES, WE HAVE TO CHECK I AT THE DOOR AND PROCEED WITH WE.
TO PARAPHRASE JESUS, "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR WITH NO EXCEPTIONS."
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DELLAH LAWRENCE.
THEN IT WILL BE MITCHELL EVANS AND THEN AARON TOLIAS.
FORTUNE EVEN TOLD US THIS IN THE BEGINNING.
HE ALSO IN A PRIVATE EMAIL TOOK COLLEAGUE THAT YOU GUYS NEED RESOURCES MORE.
SECOND OF ALL, THIS IS AN ILLEGAL ORDER.
YOUR DIRECT DEFIANCE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS AND AG PAXTON HAS ALREADY SAID THAT HE'S GOING TO SUE ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT DEFIES HIM.
THAT WAS AS OF LAST FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON AFTER THE NEWS CAME OUT.
LASTLY, WE VOTERS AREN'T GOING AWAY, WERE ACTIVATED NOW.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF US. WE DON'T FORGET EITHER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MITCHELL EVANS, AND THEN AARON TOLIAS, AND THEN AUSTIN KLEON. MITCHELL EVANS.
>> IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE WATCHED MY CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH TAKE TURNS FOR THE WORST AS A DIRECT RESULT OF OVERREACHING COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN SCHOOL.
JUST THIS AFTERNOON, MY MIDDLE SCHOOLER CAME HOME IN TEARS BECAUSE ALL SHE WANTED FROM THIS YEAR WAS TO SEE HER FRIENDS' FACES, WALK CLOSELY WITH THEM, AND TO HUG THEM.
SHE IS PRESSURED BY HER TEACHERS, DESPITE THE OPT-OUT, TO MASK UP OUT OF RESPECT, PITTING HER AGAINST HER MASKED PEERS.
MY CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT UNDER THE US AND TEXAS CONSTITUTION TO A FREE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THIS SHOULD BE UNENCUMBERED BY ARBITRARY PREVENTIVE HEALTH MEASURES WHICH MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH STATUS BY ACTING LIKE THEY ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK.
THERE ARE STUDENTS WITHOUT ACCESS TO PHYSICIANS TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION TO PLEASE YOU, DUE TO TRANSPORTATION OR FINANCIAL REASONS.
WHAT ABOUT ADA, WHICH REQUIRES NO DOCUMENTATION WHATSOEVER? IF YOU REFER TO THIS AS A UNIFORM MASKING, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW TEXAS EDUCATION CODE ABOUT UNIFORMS AND ALLOW PARENTS TO EITHER OPT-OUT OR TRANSFER THEIR STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY DISRUPTIONS OR YELLING FROM THE CROWD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIN TULLIUS, THEN WE'LL HAVE AUSTIN GUYAN, AND THEN REBECCA MCCAULEY.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ERIN TULLIUS.
[00:50:02]
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY NIECE AND NEPHEW.I'M GOING TO PRESENT SOME DATA, A LAB ANALYSIS OUT OF UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO SIX FACE MASKS BACK IN JUNE.
THIS IS BY NO MEANS A LARGE SAMPLING, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE INSIGHT.
THEY FOUND 11 PATHOGENS INCLUDING STREP, TUBERCULOSIS, MENINGITIS, LYME, STAPH.
ANOTHER LAB ANALYSIS WAS COMMISSIONED IN GERMANY FROM MASK OF SCHOOLCHILDREN, AND THAT LAB CONFIRMED 82 SEPARATE BACTERIAL COLONIES AND FOUR ADDITIONAL MOLD COLONIES.
BUT EVEN IF COVID WERE THE ONLY PATHOGEN IN THE WORLD WE EVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT, IN JULY OF 2020, THE CDC THEMSELVES DETERMINED THAT 85 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO CONTRACTED COVID WERE AVID MASK WEARERS, WITH ONLY 3-9 PERCENT OF THOSE FALLING INTO THE NEVER WEAR A MASK CATEGORY.
I'M GOING TO SKIP TO THE END, BUT YOUR CONTINUAL EFFORTS TO CIRCUMVENT PARENTS AND STATE LAW, PIT STUDENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND ENDANGER THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN IS REPREHENSIBLE AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY MYSELF OR THE THOUSANDS OF PARENTS LIKE ME.
YOUR POLITICAL THEATRICS ARE NOT BASED IN SCIENCE. [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AUSTIN GUYAN, THEN REBECCA MCCAULEY, AND THEN JESSICA PRIOR.
I APOLOGIZE IF I PRONOUNCED YOUR NAME INCORRECTLY.
>> IT'S AUSTIN GUYAN. THANK YOU, BOARD.
I ALMOST DIDN'T COME, LIKE OTHERS.
I'M SADDENED TO BE HERE AFTER EIGHT DAYS.
I SAT HERE FOR ALMOST SIX HOURS JUST TO BE BACK AGAIN.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE OPT-OUT, MY KIDS SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE.
IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE, AND I KNOW ALL THE PARENTS HERE, AFTER EIGHT DAYS, ARE WONDERING WHY.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED IT.
IT LITERALLY MAKES NO SENSE TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN AFTER EIGHT DAYS.
DO WE MANDATE THAT OUR KIDS EAT RIGHT, AND EXERCISE, AND SLEEP WELL? WELL, GUESS WHAT? THAT'S A PART OF THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
THIS THING IN MY POCKET, THIS MASK, IT DOES NOTHING TO MY IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T HELP CURE VIRUSES, IT DOESN'T HELP DO ANYTHING, ALL IT DOES IT'S A POWER TRIP.
IT IS NOTHING BUT POWER BY THE BOARD TO WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER MY CHILDREN.
I HAVE TWO KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL THAT ARE HEALTHY AND THAT HAVE ZERO FEAR OF GETTING COVID OR GETTING SICK AND DYING FROM COVID, BUT INSTEAD, I HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME HERE [OVERLAPPING] FIGHTING FOR THEM.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA MCCAULEY, THEN IT WILL BE JESSICA PRIOR, AND THEN DESNEKKA TAYLOR.
REBECCA MCCAULEY? JESSICA PRIOR?
>> OKAY. DESNEKKA, D-E-S-N-E-K-K-A, TAYLOR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DESNEKKA TAYLOR AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY THIRD-GRADER, WHO HAS DYSLEXIC AND SPEECH IMPEDIMENT.
WHEN A THIRD-GRADER IS TRYING TO LEARN, THEY WATCH YOUR MOUTH, THEY WATCH HOW YOU TURN YOUR LIPS FOR TALKING, AND HE HAS BEEN SEVERELY HINDERED AND PUT BACK FROM THE LAST YEAR OF MASK, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND LEARN PROPERLY.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AND THIS IS A SCHOOL TO TEACH THEM, AND HE'S NOT GETTING WHAT HE NEEDS BECAUSE OF A MASK MANDATE.
MY SIXTH-GRADER SUFFERED SUCH SEVERE DEPRESSION, SHE DIDN'T EVEN COME OUT AND TALK TO ANYONE BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF DEPRESSION.
THE CHRONIC HEADACHES, THE SORE THROATS FROM BREATHING BACTERIA.
OSHA STANDARDS IS FOR PARTICLES SMALLER THAN DUST.
YOU HAVE TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR WITH RESPIRATOR FILTERS THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE DAILY, AND YOU WANT US TO WEAR A PIECE OF CLOTH THAT DOES NOTHING.
YOUR CHOICE, WHATEVER MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US WHO WANT A CHOICE, IS WE HAVE RESPECT, WHEREAS OTHERS BULLY.
WE HAVE BEEN BULLIED AND PEOPLE WON'T EVEN SHOW UP OVER THAT, AND THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A ZERO-TOLERANCE BULLYING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THANK YOU.
>> WE STILL REBECCA MCCAULEY OR JESSICA PRIOR, LESLIE WINTERS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT'LL BE LEANDRA VASQUEZ.
I ALSO HAVE DAVID T. EVERYONE IN HERE HAS SPOKEN.
[00:55:14]
>> HI, MY NAME IS LEANDRA VASQUEZ.
I HAVE TWO OF MY CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT.
YOU HAVE ALL BEEN VOTED HERE TODAY, OR WHENEVER YOU WERE VOTED IN, TO MAKE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BETTER.
YOU'RE NOT HERE TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY CHILDREN OR THEIR MEDICAL CHOICES.
IT'S SAD THAT THIS CHAOS CONTINUES.
THE ONLY THING THAT THIS IS DOING IS CAUSING DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO BRING US BACK TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY HAS A CHOICE, LET'S DO THAT.
GIVE THEM THE CHOICE THAT THEY HAVE.
I MEAN, WEAR A MASK, DON'T WEAR A MASK, WE DON'T CARE.
THE OTHER THING IS WAITING TILL THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TO DO THIS.
THERE'S SEGREGATION NOW IN MY SON'S FIFTH-GRADE CLASS.
ONLY THE KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE MASK ARE SITTING TOGETHER, AND ALL THE KIDS THAT ARE MASKED.
WHAT DOES THAT DO? WHAT DOES THAT SHOW? NOW MY SON IS, "OH, I CAN ONLY SIT WITH UNMASKED KIDS.
I CAN ONLY PLAY WITH UNMASKED KIDS." THIS ISN'T A GOOD EXAMPLE. YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW.
IF YOU HAVE $1,000 A DAY PER STUDENT TO GIVE THE STATE WHENEVER THEY SUE YOU, GIVE OUR TEACHERS RAISES, GET THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
MY SON IS DYSLEXIC, I HAVE AN IEP, I ALREADY [OVERLAPPING] HAD TO GO.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LESLIE WINTERS.
I'M A MOM OF THREE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS PAST APRIL WE DID A MASK RELEASE.
WE FILED ALL THE PROPER PAPERWORK, AND ON THE FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL, MY SON WAS RETALIATED AGAINST BY A PAIR OF PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS HIS TEACHER IN HIS CLASSROOM BECAUSE HE SHOWED UP WITH A FACE SHIELD.
WE'VE BEEN THERE, WE'VE DONE THAT, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT AGAIN.
I'M NOT RELEASING MY MEDICAL INFORMATION TO YOU, NONE OF YOU.
ALSO, HE'S IN A TITLE 1 SCHOOL WHERE 40 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN HIS TITLE 1 SCHOOL ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
NOW, 40 PERCENT OF THE KIDS ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
ARE WE STILL GIVING FOOD OUT FOR FREE THIS SCHOOL YEAR? I THINK WE ARE.
KIDS KNOW WHERE THEIR MEALS COME FROM, AND YOU DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEED YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL THESE MASK UPDATES AND YOU'RE GOING TO OPT-OUT AND TAKE THAT AWAY ONLY FOR WHO YOU LET HAVE MEDICAL.
WHO'S GOING TO APPROVE THE MEDICAL MANDATE ANYWAYS? KIDS KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET FOOD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE FORCING THEM TO WEAR A MASK.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID T. THERE'S NO LAST NAME, JUST DAVID T, AND THEN RACHEL [INAUDIBLE], AND AFTER THAT WILL BE KERRY KANSAS.
[NOISE] OKAY. AFTER KERRY KANSAS IS KATRINA BOUGHAL, B-O-U-G-H-A-L. [NOISE]
>> YES. [NOISE] AFTER THAT IS KATRINA BOUCHON THEN TJ ROSWELL
I WORK AT DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN HERE.
COVID IS NOT DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN.
IT'S A BIG LIE THAT EVERYONE IS TELLING YOU.
THE PICU IS FULL AT DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
NONE OF THEM HAVE COVID, THEY ALL HAVE RSV.
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IS WAY MORE DANGEROUS TO KIDS.
THREE TO 500 KIDS DIE EVERY SEASON FROM RSV.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN OUR PICU RIGHT NOW.
THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE DIED OF COVID SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
EVERYONE OF THOSE HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
ZERO CHILDREN HAVE DIED FROM COVID THAT IS HEALTHY.
AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WORKS IN THE ER AT DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
SHE USED TO SEE ONE CHILD A WEEK FOR A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
THERE IS A PANDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY.
CHILDREN ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO THEM AND THE STRESS THAT WE ARE PUTTING ON THEM.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I HAVE A KINDERGARTNER AND A FOURTH GRADER, FROM BLUFF ELEMENTARY.
MY YOUNGEST CHILD JUST TURNED FIVE YEARS OLD A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND SHE ATTENDED AN IN-PERSON PRESCHOOL FOR FIVE HOURS A DAY,
[01:00:01]
THREE DAYS A WEEK LAST YEAR.NO CHILDREN AT THIS PRESCHOOL EVER WORE A MASK AND AT NO POINT WAS THERE A CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO KEEP THE OPT-OUT OPTION FOR ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN.
A RECENT STUDY OF COVID MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND RATES IN SCHOOLS USING DATA FROM 1.6 MILLION STUDENTS IN FLORIDA, NEW YORK, AND MASSACHUSETTS, FOUND THAT COVID TRANSMISSION RATES WERE NEARLY IDENTICAL IN SCHOOLS WITH MASK MANDATES VERSUS THOSE WITHOUT MASK MANDATES.
WHILE THE MASKS MAY GIVE US THE ILLUSION OF SAFETY, THIS ROBUST DATASET SHOWED NO DIFFERENCE IN COVID TRANSMISSION RATES.
BUT THE SCIENCE, DATA, AND NUMBERS DO SHOW THAT CHILDREN ARE A VERY LOW RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID AND EVEN LOWER RISK OF DEATH.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY AT RISK, THE ELDERLY AND ADULTS WITH HEALTH ISSUES HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO GET VACCINATED AND PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT REMAIN UNVACCINATED KNOW WHAT RISKS THEY'RE TAKING.
I DO NOT SEE WHY VERY YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN OF PROTECTING THEM ANY LONGER TIME. THANK YOU.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TJ ROSWELL, AND THEN RYAN COOK, AND THEN MARK MONGER.
>> WE WERE HERE LAST WEEK DISCUSSING THE SAME THING.
MASK BY THEMSELVES DO NOT WORK.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY CONSTABLE EXPLAINED THIS VERY POINT LAST WEEK.
HOWEVER, PROPER MASK WHEN WORN PROPERLY DO WORK TO PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL FROM GERMS. NOW LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING, LISTEN TO THAT, YOU SEE WHAT THAT IS.
THIS IS MY FIRST GRADE SON'S FABRIC MASK AFTER EACH SCHOOL DAY.
IS IT PROTECTING HIM FROM GERMS? IS IT PROTECTING OTHERS FROM HIS GERMS? IS THAT EVEN SAFE FOR HIM? THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS IT ISN'T.
IF IT'S WET, IT'S NOT WORKING RIGHT.
WELL, THE DISTRICT AT POLICIES ON WHAT? A PROPER MASK OF FACE COVERING IS.
WELL THE DISTRICT HAS POLICIES ON WHAT IS PROPER USAGE AS WELL AS TRAINING FOR STAFF TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WITHOUT THESE MASKS WILL NOT WORK.
AS THE DATA SHOWS THAT YOU'VE BEEN SAYING, THE MASK WILL BECOME HAZARDS TO MY CHILDREN.
THE MASK WILL BECOME HAZARDS TO EVERYONE THAT COMES NEAR.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] FEAR REACTS, LOVE RESPONSE.
IN MY RESPONSE TO THE YOUTH BOARD, I SEE IT IN YOUR EYES.
THAT YOU NEED TO HIDE YOUR FACE.
AFRAID TO STEP OUTSIDE, SO YOU LOCK THE DOOR.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY.
NO MORE LIVING IN THE SHADOWS.
PLEASE DO NOT LOCK THE DOOR ON OUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPT OUT OPTION.
YOU'VE MADE ROOM FOR EVERYONE AT THE TABLE.
I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING BEING SAID TONIGHT.
JUST TAKE A BREATH AND JUST LISTEN TO YOUR HEART FOR ALL TO BE WELCOME AT THE TABLE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RYAN COOK, AND THEN MARK MONGER, AND THEN SANDRO TRUJILLO. ARE YOU MARK OR?
>> THANK YOU. I'M HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS RYAN COOK, I HAVE A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD IN SECOND GRADE AND I'M HERE TO JUST SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE.
I FEEL IT GOES AGAINST OUR RIGHTS AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR AS THIS COUNTRY.
I FEEL THIS SIGN RIGHT HERE BOTH OF THESE MATTER MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SITUATION.
I FEEL MY KIDS HEALTH IS BEING AFFECTED BY YOUR SITUATION AND YOUR DECISIONS.
I'VE BEEN OUT HERE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WORKING NON-STOP, NOT CHANGING MY LIFESTYLE AT ALL AND I'VE YET TO BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL YET TO COME DOWN WITH COVID OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I COME HOME TO MY CHILDREN. THEY DON'T GET SICK.
I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE I GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND I MEET MANY DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND MANY FAMILIES HAVE KIDS, MANY DON'T.
THE VIEWPOINT CHANGES WHEN YOU GET INSIDE A HOME AND YOU START SEEING THE REAL ANSWERS IN REAL DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE AND I FEEL A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DISTRACTED BY EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD JUST COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DECISION FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST ONE SIDE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK MONGER.
THEN IT WILL BE SANDRO TRUJILLO AND THEN ELIZABETH COOK.
>> FIRST OFF, I WAS WONDERING WHY EVERYONE'S HIDING BEHIND ALL THE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE.
BUT WE'RE ALL COWERING IN A WAY OVER HERE.
THIS MAKES ME UNDERSTAND NOW BECAUSE WE'RE GOING AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS HERE, SO WE'RE BREAKING THE LAW, BUT YOU WANT US TO COMPLY WITH YOU BREAKING THE LAW.
GUESS WHAT, SIR? WE WILL NOT COMPLY.
WE WILL NOT GIVE OUR FREEDOM TO YOU.
THAT ARROGANCE, FOR YOU TO THINK THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE FREEDOM AWAY FROM OUR KIDS WHEN WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS.
[01:05:06]
THIS IS NOT COMMUNIST RUSSIA, SIR, YOU ARE POURING GASOLINE ON THE FIRE AND I BEG YOU AND I PLEAD WITH YOU, PLEASE DON'T PUSH US IN A CORNER BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THIS DISTRICT, OUR KIDS AND OUR COUNTRY.PLEASE, DON'T DO ANYMORE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDRO TRUJILLO, AND THEN ELIZABETH COOK, AND THEN KRISTEN TRUJILLO? MS. COOK, GO AHEAD AND COME ON, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S ELIZABETH COOK.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I ALSO WORK AT DELL CHILDREN'S.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, COVID IS NOT AN EPIDEMIC THAT IS FILLING OUR HOSPITALS.
WHAT'S FILLING OUR HOSPITALS IS CHILDREN TRYING TO HARM THEMSELVES FROM THE SOCIAL OUTCASTS THAT THEY'RE FEELING.
FROM THE JUST THE MASKING AND TRYING TO BE SILENCED.
YOU WERE HIRED BY US, THE VOTERS.
DO NOT TELL ME HOW TO RAISE MY CHILDREN.
DO NOT TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH MY CHILDREN.
YOU ARE SETTING AN EXAMPLE AND YOU WANT MY CHILDREN TO LOOK AT YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW BY GOING AGAINST YOUR SUPERIORS RULES.
UNACCEPTABLE. MY ER, ON A DAILY BASIS SEES ANYWHERE FROM 10-15 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS.
I HAVE WATCHED PARENTS HOLD THEIR CHILDREN AND HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON TO TURN OFF LIFE SUPPORT, ALL BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE WANT TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THEIR KIDS.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE SANDRO OR KRISTEN TRUJILLO.
HEATHER DOGAN OR ALLAN MARTINSON. YOUR NAME IS?
>> KRISTEN TRUJILLO. HI, MY NAME IS KRISTEN TRUJILLO.
I HAVE KIDS IN ROUND ROCK SCHOOLS.
I FIRST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK WITH THE CURRENT OPT-OUT PROVISION, YOU GUYS ACTUALLY MADE AN AMAZING COMPROMISE, GIVES EACH STUDENT PARENT AND STAFF MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND THEMSELVES.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE ALL RISK FROM THE VIRUS.
BUT THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR ARE SCARED.
THEY CAN ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN FREE ONLINE SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE SAFE AT HOME, OR THEY CAN MESS THEIR OWN KIDS.
WE ARE SIMPLY FIGHTING FOR A CHOICE.
[NOISE] WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE TOLERANT AND COMPASSIONATE OF DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.
WE TEACH THEM NOT TO CAVE TO PEER PRESSURE AND NOT TO BULLY.
BUT WHAT EXAMPLE ARE THE ADULT SETTING FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.
WE TEACH TOLERANCE AND COMPASSION FOR OTHER VIEWPOINTS AND BELIEFS, BUT WE DON'T SHOW IT.
ARE WE TEACHING HYPOCRISY AND INTOLERANCE? MY DAUGHTER DID VIRTUAL SCHOOL LAST YEAR.
SHE WAS SO EXCITED TO GO BACK.
SHE SAID NO ONE HAS ANYTHING UNIQUE TO HER, NO ONE.
THEY'RE KIND AND THEY'RE SWEET TO EACH OTHER.
WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THE KIDS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ACTING THESE MORE.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> HEATHER DOGAN AND THEN ALLAN MARTINSON.
>> HELLO, I'M A PARENT OF SEVEN CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY OTHER PARENTS LIKE-MINDED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BONE, AND MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY FOR STICKING UP FOR US.
IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE WHETHER MY CHILD WEARS A FACE-COVERING IN SCHOOL, IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE WHAT IS HEALTHY FOR THEM.
I'M BAFFLED BY THE NUMBER OF EDUCATED ADULTS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE WILLING TO HAVE THE WOOL PULLED OVER THEIR EYES.
THIS IS MY CHOICE, IT IS MY RIGHT, AND I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO MAKE YOURSELF CRIMINALS BY MAKING THIS MANDATE NOT OPTIONAL.
IT IS JUST SICK AND I WILL PUT MY TAX DOLLARS WHERE MY MOUTH IS, I IMPLORE EVERY LIKE-MINDED PARENT IN THE DISTRICT TO DO SO.
MY CHILD WILL NOT ATTEND ROUND ROCK ISD IF YOU REMOVE THIS, MY SEVEN CHILDREN, AND THAT'S NOT A THREAT.
IT'S JUST MY CHOICE TO DECIDE.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALLAN MARTINSON, AND THEN YESENIA GUERRERO, AND THEN VANESSA WHINAKER.
>> LEAVE THE MASK OFF OPT OUT, AS IS.
IMAGINE HAVING HEARING LOSS OR BEING DEAF.
EVEN BETTER PUT SOME EARPLUGS IN AND GOT INTO PUBLIC AND TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE WEARING MASKS.
I HAVE HEARING LOSS FROM BEING IN THE MILITARY.
[01:10:03]
IMAGINE BEING A CHILD THAT CAN HEAR WELL ENOUGH UNTIL IT BECOMES CHALLENGING, THIS WAS MY BROTHER'S SITUATION.HE COULD HEAR WHEN HIS TEACHER WOULD SPEAK WHILE FACING THE ROOM, BUT COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THE TEACHER FACED THE CHALKBOARD, HE WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO SAY ANYTHING.
HIS EDUCATION SUFFERED AND HE NEVER ACHIEVED WHAT HE COULD HAVE.
MASK WEARING THIS LIKE FACING A BLACKBOARD ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU'RE WEARING A MASK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY THAT KEEPS COCKING THEIR HEAD.
YOU CAN GUESS THAT PERSON HAS HEARING LOSS AND HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.
I'VE SEEN KIDS DOING THIS AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL, THIS HAPPENING TO SOME OF YOUR KIDS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK YOUR KIDS IF THEY EVER HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE WEARING MASKS.
SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [BACKGROUND] YESENIA GUERRERO, AND THEN VANESSA WHINAKER, AND THEN TERA HARRELSON.
>> HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
YOUR SALARIES ARE BASED ON OUR TAXES.
YOUR POSITIONS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD IS BASED ON OUR VOTE.
DECISIONS MADE FROM FEAR, GET LEADERS RELIEVED, OTHER CHARGE AND RIGHTFULLY PLACED ON THE SIDELINE.
WE PUT YOU IN THOSE SEATS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CAN EASILY REPLACE YOU WITH THOSE WHO WILL.
LAST MESSAGE, THE LORD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF LOVE, POWER, AND SOUND MIND.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VANESSA WHINAKER THEN TERA HARRELSON, AND THEN JOEL WENTHE.
>> HI. IF THIS VIRUS IS SO DEADLY, WILL YOU GUYS HAVE BIOHAZARD WASTE CANS AROUND THE SCHOOLS FOR THE MASKS? MASKS ARE NOTHING BUT A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY FOR THOSE THAT LIVE IN FEAR.
I BELIEVE SOME OF YOU DON'T LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE I'VE SEEN YOU IN PUBLIC WITHOUT YOUR MASKS.
THEY DON'T PROTECT YOU FROM COVID UNLESS YOU WEAR THE PROPER N95 MASKS, WILL YOU BE SUPPLYING THOSE? MY CHILDREN ARE NOT YOUR SECURITY BLANKET.
MY PERFECTLY HEALTHY GIRLS WILL NOT BE FORCED TO WEAR PETRI DISHES ON THEIR FACES AND RISK LUNG INFECTIONS FAR WORSE THAN COVID WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING SOCCER ACROSS THE NATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT HASN'T AFFECTED THEM ONCE.
YOU HYPOCRITES DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO BREATHE FRESH AIR FROM OUR CHILDREN.
I AM TELLING YOU NOW YOU HAVE AWAKENED A SLEEPING GIANT THESE PARENTS THAT WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN.
IT IS VERY APPARENT NOBODY'S GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
WILL YOU DENY THEIR EDUCATION IF THEY SHOW UP MASKLESS? IF SO, THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN CARING ABOUT OUR CHILDHOOD AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TERA HARRELSON THEN JOEL WENTHE, THEN AMY A'BEAR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TERA HARRELSON.
I'M THE MOM OF FOUR BOYS, THREE OF THEM WHO ARE CURRENTLY AT SCHOOL IN ROUND ROCK.
MY THIRD GRADER FOUND OUT HIS TEACHER, HIS BEST FRIEND IS IN HIS CLASS FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS THRILLED.
WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS MOST EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL FOR THIS YEAR AND HE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, IT'S SO HARD TO BREATHE WEARING A MASK." I'M LOOKING AT A NINE-YEAR-OLD TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE MAKING IT HARD FOR HIM TO BREATHE.
HARD FOR HIM TO BREATHE. MY SIXTH GRADER REPEATED THE SAME THING, AS DID MY EIGHTH GRADER.
I GREW UP AS A CHILD OF THE EIGHTIES AND THE NINETIES, LOOKING AT POSTERS IN SCHOOL THAT SAID, WHAT IS POPULAR IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, WHAT IS RIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR.
AS A COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE'RE GOING ALONG WITH WHAT'S POPULAR.
WE ARE GOING ALONG WITH WHAT WE THINK EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING, AND EVERY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING THIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BUCK THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO DO.
YOU BUCK THE SYSTEM, YOU FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS, YOU STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
I WILL NEVER ASK YOUR CHILD TO WEAR A MASK OR TO NOT WEAR A MASK EXCUSE ME, DON'T DO THAT TO MINE.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOEL WENTHE THEN AMY A'BEAR, BRADY MARTIN, BRIAN HACKNEY, CHRIS MCGREGOR, KATHY IRWIN, CINDY BARRET, OR MICHAEL BARRETT. DID I CALL YOUR NAME?
>> HELLO. I'LL TRY TO SPEAK LOUD ENOUGH BECAUSE THE OUTSIDE LOBBY THERE SEEMS TO THINK THAT ANYBODY WITH A MASK CANNOT SPEAK LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD.
[01:15:02]
THE POINT OF WEARING MASKS IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST TO PROTECT THE PERSON WEARING IT, BUT TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM POTENTIAL SPREAD.THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO SPREAD ANYTHING, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU PICK UP SOMETHING TILL YOU LATER.
WEARING A MASK DOES NOT INFRINGE ON YOUR BASIC FREEDOMS OR LIBERTIES PROTECTED BY THE US OR TEXAS CONSTITUTION, YOU STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO YOUR RELIGION, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ETC.
IT DOES NOT INHIBIT THOSE ANYMORE THAN WEARING YOUR SHOES AND A PUBLIC BUILDING.
I NOTICED EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, AS WELL AS OUT THERE HAD THEIR SHOES ON, AGAIN, NOT BY CHOICE, IT'S A PUBLIC REQUIREMENT IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
MY SON WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SCHOOLS STAY OPEN, NOT HAVING THIS SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND HAVE TO CLOSE IT BECAUSE OF TOO MANY CASES AND TOO MANY PEOPLE GETTING SICK.
I'M HAPPY THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SPEAKING TONIGHT DON'T KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, IF YOU KEEP GOING, THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING.
YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOEL WENTHE AMY A'BEAR.
BRADY MARTIN, BRIAN HACKNEY, CHRIS MCGREGOR, OR MICHAEL BARRETT.
I HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT AND I ALSO SUBSTITUTE TEACH AROUND THE DISTRICT.
MY DAUGHTER [INAUDIBLE] EARLIER, KEEP TALKING ABOUT COMING TO PUBLIC.
WE WERE DEFINITELY ON BOARD FOR EVERYTHING LAST YEAR.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO MASK BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS CANNOT GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE THEY COULD BRING IT HOME TO SOMEONE THAT'S IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
MY DAD IS CURRENTLY FIGHTING STAGE 4 CANCER RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T FEEL THAT THESE KIDS NEED TO BEAR THE BRUNT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE HAVE JUMP THROUGH THESE HOOPS, WE HAVE DONE THE THINGS, WE'VE WAITED FOR THE VACCINE, WE'VE DONE ALL THESE THINGS.
SHE HAS EXPERIENCED QUITE A LEARNING LOSS, AS SHE SAID, SHE WAS IN SUMMER SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
THEY SAFELY WERE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER WITHOUT A SPREAD.
IN SUBSTITUTE TEACHING, WE SEE THEM ABLE TO EAT SIDE-BY-SIDE AND FOR 30 MINUTES.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DOESN'T MAKE A SPREAD, BUT SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THE CLASSROOM DOES.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU START?
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND SUCH PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.
I DO HAVE A POINT OF ORDER SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT ROUND IF I COULD.
IF I HAD A MEETING IN MY COMPANY AND THERE WAS A TIMEKEEPER REMINDING ME EVERY 30 SECONDS WHAT WAS GOING ON; I WOULD KNOW RIGHT THEN AND THERE THAT THEY COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE A PAID ATTENTION AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO CONCERNED WITH THE TIME.
WHAT I SUGGEST, AND I WILL VOLUNTEER FOR COVID MEETINGS TO KEEP YOUR TIME FOR YOU FROM NOW ON, SO THAT YOU ARE A COMMITTEE MEMBER AND HAVE A CHANCE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE JOEL LENGTHY, BRADY MARTIN, CHRIS MCGREGOR, KATHY ERWIN, OR MICHAEL BARRETT?
>> I'M BRADY MARTIN. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF MY SECOND GRADE DAUGHTER WHO KNOWS WHERE I AM TONIGHT AND IS TERRIFIED OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN SO HAPPY THAT SHE WAS NOT WEARING A MASK.
WEARING A MASK HAS MADE IT HARD FOR HER TO BREATHE, MADE IT HARD FOR HER TO LEARN, MADE IT HARD FOR HER TO ENJOY HER SCHOOL LIFE.
MY DAUGHTER ATTENDING A TEXAS SCHOOL, I'M A TEXAN AND I RESPECT AND SUPPORT GOVERNOR ABBOTT.
THE FACT THAT YOU ALL WANT TO UNDERMINE AND DEFY WHAT HE HAS IN PLACE AND THEN YOU WANT US TO BE ACCOMPLISHED TO IT AND IT WON'T HAPPEN.
WE WILL UNENROLL IF NECESSARY.
I JUST WANT YOU TO PLEASE KEEP THE OPT-OUT OPTION OPEN.
IT WILL BRING US ALL TOGETHER, IT WILL NOT CAUSE A TEAR.
PERSONAL HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A PERSONAL CHOICE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[01:20:03]
ONE LAST CALL FOR JOEL LENGTHY, CHRIS MCGREGOR, KATHY ERWIN, OR MICHAEL BARRETT.>> ALSO, PRESIDENT WEIR, I'M GETTING MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLED EARLIER THAT DIDN'T COME LIKE ONE OF THEM IS A REBECCA MCCAULEY.
>> YEAH. WHAT I DID LAST TIME IS I WENT BACK THROUGH AFTER I GOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
I'M TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONES THAT HAVEN'T SHOWN UP.
WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER, IT SAYS JSON JSON, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE LAST NAME IS FOR.
>> YEAH. NOW I CAN. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. I REGISTERED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN.
MY NAME IS SO GOOD, YOU CAN CALL ME TWICE.
WHERE THE DISTRICT WILL BE LEGALLY A MONTH FROM NOW IS WHAT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT.
WHAT POLICY WOULD ENSURE THE DISTRICT'S INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED REGARDLESS OF THE EVENTS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN? IF GREG ABBOT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WINS IN COURT, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT OPTING OUT IS RENDERED MOOT.
THAT SAID, SUCH OUTCOME IS NOT CERTAIN.
WHAT [OVERLAPPING] BOARD POLICIES AREN'T IN LINE WITH TRAVIS COUNTY'S MASK MANDATE.
IT SEEM TO OPEN UP SOME LEGAL LIABILITY UNLESS THE OPT-OUT OPTION WERE REMOVED.
SURE. ANOTHER MEETING COULD BE CALLED AFTER ANY LEGAL CHALLENGE TO TRAVIS COUNTY'S MANDATE HAS BEEN DECIDED.
BUT HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WASTE? ALSO, TRUSTEE WESTERN, THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR TWO MINUTES AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
>> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH RODDY.
IS THERE SARAH RODDY ON THE CALL? IS THERE JOE RODDY ON THE CALL?
>> YEAH, I'M HERE. I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET SARAH.
[LAUGHTER] SORRY. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START?
>> YES, SIR. GO AHEAD AND THEN I'LL CALL HER AGAIN IN JUST A SECOND.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR, BOARD OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS JOE RODDY, I'M A FATHER OF TWO IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M GOING TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS OF THIS BOARD TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND WORKABLE SOLUTIONS.
BUT JUST SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN, IN REVIEWING THE AVAILABLE DOCUMENTATION WITH RECOMMENDATION WITHIN, I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF MODIFYING THE OPT-OUT POLICY TO REQUIRE RECENT DOCUMENTATION OF HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITION.
BUT IN THIS MEASURE THROUGH STANDARD PROCESSES MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
IT'S EASIER FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AS THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS ON ACHIEVEMENT.
>> THE ANDREW ISD ALMOST SHUT DOWN TODAY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD MASKS ARE NOT CAUSING MENTAL ILLNESS ENTIRELY ON THEIR OWN.
THIS IS A HIGHLY TRAUMATIC GLOBAL EVENT AND THE CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH IN THESE AGE GROUPS HAS BEEN ON THE RISE FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH RODDY.
I'M A MOTHER OF TWO STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MEETING AGAIN TO REVIEW THE OPT-OUT POLICY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY STATEMENT PUBLIC THAT I SUPPORT REVISIONS OF THE OPT-OUT POLICY TO INCLUDE ACCOMMODATIONS BASED ON [INAUDIBLE].
IF A STUDENT HAS A MEDICAL NEED, THERE ARE KNOWN ROUTES THEY CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO OPT-OUT BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS SHOULD REST ON PERSONAL PARENTAL CHOICE.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE WILKENS.
IS JAMIE WILKENS ON THE CALL? NATASHA CHO?
[01:25:04]
>> I WANT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A THERAPIST WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN WHO DURING THE LOCKDOWN HAD TO PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL SCHOOL DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
I SAW A DECLINE IN MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, I SAW AN INCREASE IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND OCD SYMPTOMS, I SAW LOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, FOR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS AND MUSIC AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT.
MY SCHEDULE IS FULL, MY COLLEAGUES SCHEDULES ARE FULL.
WE DON'T HAVE ROOM TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN.
IF THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL SHUT DOWN, IF THERE'S ANOTHER LOCKDOWN DUE TO INCREASING COVID CASES BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T WEARING MASKS AND PROTECTING THE CHILDREN IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THERE'S NO ONE FOR THEM TO GO AND SEE.
PLEASE WEAR A MASK, PLEASE PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN IN YOUR COMMUNITY, KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL, KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY GUSTIN.
>> THANKS. MY NAME IS JENNY GUSTIN.
>> MS. GUSTIN, CAN YOU HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
CAN YOU TURN UP THE VOLUME ON OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT QUIET IN HERE.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT QUIET IN HERE.
ANYBODY ELSE NEED THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS A LITTLE MORE?
>> I AGREE WITH THAT. CAN WE CONFIRM IF THE SPEAKERS OUT THERE CAN HEAR, DO WE KNOW IF THEY CAN HEAR WHAT THEY'RE WATCHING?
>> IT'S BROADCASTING OUT THERE.
>> LET'S GIVE THAT ANOTHER TRY MS. GUSTIN.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JENNY GUSTIN AND I AM READING A STATEMENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT ROUND ROCK ISD.
I AM ASKING YOU TO REVOKE THE OPT-OUT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF EXCEPT FOR DOCUMENTED MEDICAL REASONS.
WE REQUIRE MASKS AT ALL TIME WHEN INDOORS ON DISTRICT PROPERTY.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER REMOVING THE EXEMPTIONS FOR INDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS.
THESE EXEMPTIONS MAKE NO SENSE, THEIR GOAL IS TO CURB THE SPREAD.
OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE TASKED WITH SETTING THE EXAMPLE.
WHAT DOES IT SAY TO A CHILD WHEN THEIR TEACHER OR PRINCIPALS WON'T WEAR A MASK? KIDS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE SCIENCE OF HOW IT WORKS.
OPINIONS AND MOTIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. WHAT ARE WE TEACHING.
PREVENT IT, THAT IT IS A CHOICE TO FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES.
HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE LEVEL OF TRUST THEY PLACE IN THEIR TEACHERS WHEN THEY ARE CONFRONTED WITH SUCH BLATANT CONTRADICTION? PLEASE PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND REVOKE THE OPT-OUT EXCEPT WHERE MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
WE REQUIRE A MASK AT ALL TIMES WHEN INDOORS UNTIL OUR COMMUNITY SPREAD IS DOWN AND CHILDREN UNDER 12 CAN BE VACCINATED.
IT IS THE MINIMUM WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RONALD CRISTOBAL.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RONALD CRISTOBAL, IN FAVOR OF [INAUDIBLE] I GET IT. I WENT THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY AND NOW I WORK AS A BOARD CERTIFIED CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST.
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO READ FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHEN SPEAKING THROUGH A MASK.
I ALSO KNOW HAVING WORKED WITH KIDS THAT ARE COVID POSITIVE.
THOUGH MOST KIDS GETS BOUNCE BACK HEALTHY, THE PROSPECT OF LONG COVID SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO ALL PARENTS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, I'VE SEEN KIDS WHO HAVE HAD PERSISTENT HEADACHES OVER WEEKS WHICH MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT POTENTIAL PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU WERE INCLINED TO GET A MEDICAL EXCEPTION, PLEASE CONSULT WITH THE DOCTOR THAT YOU TRUST.
AFTER OFF, YOUR CHILD'S PEDIATRICIAN IS A PERSON YOU WOULD LIKELY TRUST TO TREAT YOUR CHILD FOR THE FLU, ABDOMINAL PAIN, ATHLETIC INJURIES, MAYBE EVEN COVID-19.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. EVERYBODY, STAY SAFE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M SHARING A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF DR. DEBBIE ADDY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DR. DEBBIE ADDY AND I AM BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN A PEDIATRICIAN IN THE ROUND ROCK COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
MY PARTNERS AND I AT TREEHOUSE PEDIATRICS WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO NOT ONLY MAKE OUR SCHOOLS AN EXEMPLARY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BUT A SAFER ONE.
AS EVERYONE KNOWS, COVID-19 CASES HAVE BEEN RAPIDLY RISING IN OUR COMMUNITY, MORE SO IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION THAN WE HAD SEEN BEFORE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> IN OUR OFFICE ALONE, OUR CASE POSITIVITY RATE FROM TESTING WAS 10 PERCENT LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK IS 15 PERCENT.
THIS VIRUS IS ALSO LEADING TO MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AS WELL AS LEADING TO MORE COMPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN THAN WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ALL STRATEGIES POSSIBLE TO KEEP KIDS SAFE IN SCHOOL.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS FEELS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO BE LEARNING IN SCHOOL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
[01:30:01]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA HIXON.>> THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO FIRST START BY SAYING THAT WEARING A MASK DOES NOT CAUSE CHILDREN TO COMMIT SUICIDE, THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
SECOND, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE OPPRESSED, LIVE IN THE LIFE OF SOMEONE OF COLOR.
THINKING WEARING THE MASK IS OPPRESSING, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OPPRESSION IS.
I'M FOR MASS MANDATES WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
I CAN'T QUITE THINK OF WHAT MEDICAL EXEMPTION THERE COULD BE BUT MAYBE POSSIBLY SOME, BUT WE NEED A STRONGER MASS MANDATE AND K THROUGH 12 VIRTUAL FOR ALL STUDENTS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE VALLEY.
>> YES. HI, HOW ARE YOU? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING MY MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENT, HIS BROTHER HAS CURRENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID THIS WEEK.
HIS DAY CARE BROTHER HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID THIS WEEK, I APOLOGIZE MY WORDS AREN'T GREAT BECAUSE WE ARE EXHAUSTED BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT EVERY NIGHT SITTING OUT WHILE MY DAY CARE CHILD HAS COUGHED THROUGH THE NIGHT WONDERING WHETHER WE SHOULD TAKE HIM TO ICU.
KNOWING THERE ARE NO BEDS AVAILABLE.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT QUICKLY IN MY 30 SECONDS LEFT.
I COULD SEND MY ROUND ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT TO ROUND ROCK ELEMENTARY TOMORROW.
I COULD SEND HIM TOMORROW, EVEN THOUGH HIS BROTHER HAS BEEN COUGHING ON HIM ALL WEEKEND LONG, WE HAVE COVID IN OUR HOUSE, I COULD SEND THEM TOMORROW TO SCHOOL WITH NO MASK TO SIT NEXT TO YOUR CHILD.
I COULD SEND HIM TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH NO MASK, POSSIBLY ASYMPTOMATIC COVID POSITIVE IF I WERE A DIFFERENT PARENT.
>> TIME, YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN LESSING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS MEETING.
I'M AN INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND MOTHER OF A CHILD, CURRENTLY WHO'S IN KINDERGARTEN IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
THERE ARE NO TRIALS THAT I KNOW OF THAT SHOW MASS CAUSE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN OR ADULTS AND I ASK THOSE THAT CLAIM THIS, FACT CHECK THEMSELVES AND NOT WITH A RANDOM NEIGHBOR OR FACEBOOK.
THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT VIRTUAL LEARNING IMPACTS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
THE WAY WE CAN KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN, ALL THAT WE HAVE NOW IS TO WEAR MASKS.
>> MY LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT COMMENT IS, WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 12 WERE VACCINATED.
BUT FOR NOW, WE NEED THEM. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHAD PAVLISKA.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHAD.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
I WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF SIMPLE THINGS.
ONE IS THAT, I DO RESPECT EVERYBODY THAT THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO BRING THEIR OPINIONS AND FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD.
I WILL SAY AFTER I'VE REVIEWED ALL THE DATA THAT I'VE LOOKED AT, ALL THE REPORTS AND PEER-REVIEWED STUDIES THAT I JUST CAME TO A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION THAN A LOT OF THE UNMASKED TEXAS CROWD.
>> I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MASKS AND WITHOUT AN OPT-OUT CLAUSE.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT, THE BOARD, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A FIVE-TWO DECISION.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO DEBATE THIS VERY MUCH, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO EVERYBODY RESPECTFULLY.
IT'S OKAY THAT WE DISAGREE ON THINGS.
BUT YOU SHOULD DO WHAT 70 PERCENT OF THE PARENTS SAID [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON SKLAR.
>> HI, SIXTY, THE NUMBER OF SECONDS I HAVE.
SOME OTHER NUMBERS TO CONSIDER, 68, NEW POSITIVE CASES TODAY, 202 TOTAL CUMULATIVE CASES.
THAT MEANS IN FOUR DAYS WE HAD 134 CASES.
WE'RE ON TRACK TO DOUBLE CASES IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS WITH EXPANSION OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IT WILL DOUBLE IN FIVE DAYS, THEN FOUR DAYS, THEN YOU GET THE PICTURE.
OTHER NUMBERS TO CONSIDER, 1100 CLOSE CONTACTS AS OF YESTERDAY, 2200 CLOSE CONTACTS AS OF TODAY, DAILY DOUBLE.
YESTERDAY, THERE WERE 1100 FAMILIES [OVERLAPPING] WHO WERE NERVOUS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEIR KIDS WERE INFECTED.
TODAY, THERE ARE 2200 FAMILIES WITH THE SAME WORRIES.
THIS ALSO MEANS THAT YESTERDAY, ONE IN FIFTY STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE EXPOSED TO A KNOWN POSITIVE COVID CARRIER.
[01:35:02]
TODAY, THAT NUMBER IS AROUND ONE IN 25.MORE NUMBERS TO CONSIDER, 99.9 PERCENT.
EVEN IF WE ACCEPT THAT 99.9 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SURVIVED COVID, IN FIVE WEEKS WE'LL LIKELY HAVE OUR FIRST DEATH.
SO ONE, MAYBE ONE DEATH IS TOLERABLE.
BUT THINK ABOUT THEIR FAMILY, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR SCHOOLMATES, THEIR ADMINISTRATORS, HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE DEVASTATED BY THIS [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVA PULYALA.
IS THERE A SHIVA S-H-I-V-A PULYALA P-U-L-Y-A-L-A? [BACKGROUND] IS THERE A CATHERINE KAISER?
>> YES. HELLO. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATIE KAISER AND I'M A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LOCK DOWN AND HOW THAT RELATES TO COMMUNITY SPREAD.
WE'RE PLANNING TO FLY TO TENNESSEE TO VISIT MY GRANDMA THIS WEEKEND FOR PROBABLY THE LAST TIME.
SHE WAS RECENTLY MOVED FROM A FACILITY TO MY AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE FOR HER END-OF-LIFE.
THEY ARE IN THEIR 70S AND THEY WILL BE HER CAREGIVERS UNTIL THEN.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE TRAVEL BECAUSE AIR TRAVEL IS VERY STRICT AND HEAVILY ENFORCED.
WE DID IT LAST MONTH WITH A FACE SHIELD AND KN95 MASK AND WE WERE SAFE.
>> WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE TEACHER WHO TOLD MY CHILD'S CLASS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THEY'RE VACCINATED AND MULTIPLE OTHER STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO GO UNMASKED IN HER SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
WHAT IF WE SHOW UP TO TENNESSEE PRE-SYMPTOMATIC? WHAT IF IT'S TOO EARLY TO SHOW UP ON A TEST? I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF WE SHOULD EVEN GO, IF MY DAUGHTER WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HER GREAT GRANDMA ONE MORE TIME.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE 18 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE STILL ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MASKS WORK. [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN WILLIAMS. LAUREN WILLIAMS?
>> YES. HI. SORRY ABOUT THAT. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> HI, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
MOTHER OF THREE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY, BUT EARLIER I WATCHED TRUSTEE HARRISON GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE BOARD MEETING OF SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING.
SHE SAID, ONE OF THE MOST LOGICAL THINGS THAT I THINK I'VE HEARD IN THIS ENTIRE DEBATE, AS IT SPANNED OVER 18 MONTHS NOW, AND I'M PARAPHRASING.
BUT SHE SAID THAT, HER DECISION TO ALIGN TO THE [OVERLAPPING] CODE OF CONDUCT DOCUMENT, AND THAT SHE WILL BASE HER DECISIONS ON FACTS AND NOT PUBLIC FAVOR.
I THINK, GIVEN THAT NONE OF US ARE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HERE TODAY, ALL WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO IS MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE PROVIDED THEIR OPINION IN A SAFE WAY TO BE IN SCHOOL.
SO I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF MASKS IN SCHOOL.
I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF ENDING THE OPT-OUT UNLESS IT'S MEDICALLY NECESSARY. THANKS SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBYN HUNICKE.
>> HI, I'M READING OUT A STATEMENT FROM DR. MELVIN LAU WHO CAN'T BE AT THE MEETING TODAY.
HE COVERS SEVERAL LOCAL HOSPITALS AND HE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE CONDITION IN THE ICUS.
MY NAME IS MELVIN LAU, A PARENT AND ALSO A PHYSICIAN SERVING WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY PATIENTS.
I KNOW ABOUT THE ICU AND THE HOSPITAL FLOORS.
I URGE ROUND ROCK ISD TO FOLLOW COVID GUIDELINES FROM THE CDC AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO GET COVID UNDER CONTROL.
HOSPITALS ARE SHORT ON EXPERIENCED PHYSICIANS AND NURSES, WHICH AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
PATIENTS ARE NOT RECEIVING TIMELY SERVICES OR TURNED AWAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CARE FOR THEM.
IMAGINE HAVING DELAYED SCREENING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CATCH A TUMOR EARLY.
IMAGINE WAITING IN AN OVERCROWDED ER FOR HOURS BECAUSE THERE IS NO STAFF TO SEE YOU.
IT'S AFFECTS OUR ALREADY EXHAUSTED STAFF.
WE HAVE TALENTED NURSES LEAVING THE FIELD ALTOGETHER.
TREATING COVID PATIENTS CAN FEEL LIKE PTSD WHEN ONE HAS TO WITNESS SO MUCH DEATH.
>> YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LORENA HIGUERA.
>> OKAY. ALL CHILDREN OF ROUND ROCK ISD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAFE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON TO SPREAD DELTA.
WHAT RIGHTS DO THE OTHER KIDS HAVE? TODAY IT WAS REPORTED THAT 400 PLUS CASES OF COVID WERE IN LEANDER ISD.
PLEASE VOTE YES, ON A STRONGER MASK MANDATE WITH MEDICAL [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE USE REAL-TIME METRICS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY AND
[01:40:02]
WILLIAMS COUNTY TO DETERMINE WHEN TO RELAX THE MANDATE.ARBITRARY DEADLINES DON'T DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD.
WHEN I ENROLLED MY KIDS IN SCHOOL, I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE RECORDS. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DID IT AND I KNOW GETTING MY KIDS IMMUNIZED WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY STAY SAFE.
WHY SHOULD WE TREAT COVID ANY DIFFERENTLY? PLEASE MANDATE VACCINES FOR ROUND ROCK ISD EMPLOYEES.
THE STAFF IN THE SCHOOL SPEND ALMOST ALL DAY WITH OUR CHILDREN.
SAN ANTONIO ISD WILL ACQUIRE VACCINES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. LET'S BE NEXT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG HAHN.
>> HIS AUDIO IS NOT WORKING, YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO HIM?
IS THERE LINDA QUINTANA? LINDA QUINTANA.
THANK YOU. I WAS STUCK ON MUTE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS GREG HAHN.
MY WIFE, STEPHANIE AND I'VE HAD TWO CHILDREN IN ROUND ROCK ISD SINCE THE FALL OF 2007.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE UNEQUIVOCALLY BELIEVE THAT THE MASK OPT-OUT PROVISIONS REMAIN AS IS.
WE BELIEVE THAT FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN IRREPARABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM TO STUDENTS WITH ROUND ROCK ISD.
IF THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO WEARING MASKS AT SCHOOL IS A REQUIREMENT OF A DISABILITY, YOU'VE PLACED THE SCARLET LETTER OF D FOR DISABLED ON IT.
OTHERWISE, ABLE CHILDREN COULDN'T BE ABLE TO BLEND IN SO MUCH.
>> YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT THEM UNDERNEATH FIVE OR FOUR, AND HAVING ONLY AN ACCEPTING OF A DISABILITY VIOLATES THAT OBLIGATION.
IF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES SHARE DISCRIMINATION, WHICH MANY WILL, THEY WILL WEAR THOSE MASKS AND THEY WILL PLACE THEM IN A POSITION OF STRESS AND ANXIETY, WHICH COULD HAVE GREAT CONSEQUENCES.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH DISABILITY, YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS AND YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA QUINTANA.
IS COURTNEY WRIGHT ON THE CALL?
I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I RUN SEVERAL CLINICS THAT SERVE YOUNG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN ROUND ROCK, NORTH AUSTIN AND NEW ORLEANS.
WE'VE BEEN VERY STRICT WITH MASKING AND TESTING THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND WITH OVER 25 CASES, WE HAVE YET TO HAVE A SINGLE INSTANCE OF SPREAD UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN A CLIENT CAUGHT COVID FROM THEIR SIBLING IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
PRIOR TO HIM DISPLAYING ANY SYMPTOMS, HE HAD A FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEE OR MASKLESS AND AROUND EACH OTHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES.
SHE HAS SINCE TESTED POSITIVE WITH THE VIRUS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT IS THE FIRST RISK OF SPREAD THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS ENTIRE TIME IN ALL OF OUR CLINICS, AND IT CAME DIRECTLY FROM ROUND ROCK ISD.
WE TESTED THE REST OF THE CLINIC.
NO ONE ELSE TESTED POSITIVE, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKING.
ALSO, OUR CLINIC HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS CAUSING OBVIOUSLY A LOSS OF REVENUE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE KIDS AREN'T GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
THE DECISIONS OF THIS BOARD GO FAR THAN THE SCHOOL ROUTES, AND THEY AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE ALONSO.
>> OKAY. HI, THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M JULIE ALONSO, A PEDIATRICIAN AND CHILD PSYCHIATRIST, AND PARENT OF TWO ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENTS.
I WANT TO REITERATE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE MASK MANDATE TO INCLUDE A STRICT POLICY FOR MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY EXEMPTIONS ONLY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT IT CAN BE TRACKED AND ENFORCED.
THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN OR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH HEALTH RISK FACTORS, AND WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
CASES ARE ALREADY RISING IN ROUND ROCK, WE MUST ENACT UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M ALSO FRANKLY HORRIFIED THAT PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO CONFLATE PEDIATRIC SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH WITH THIS ISSUE WHEN THEY ARE UNRELATED.
FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, PEDIATRIC SUICIDE IS NOT RELATED TO MASKING ISSUES.
HOW CAN WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOL AND THEN IGNORE WHAT DOCTORS,
[01:45:01]
SCIENTISTS, AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE TELLING US? YOUR JOB AS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING A QUALITY EDUCATION IN KEEPING THEM HEALTHY AND SAFE AS POSSIBLE.PLEASE DO NOT PUT THE ILL-ADVISED OPINIONS OF THE FEW OVER THE WELL-BEING OF THE MANY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG BEERS.
>> HI. I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING THE OPT-OUT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY MEASURES IN OUR SCHOOL, AND THESE ARE LAYERED SAFETY MEASURES.
ALL OF THEM HELP PROTECT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AS A COMMUNITY.
I HEAR ALL JUST PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE MASK.
MASK MARGINALLY PROTECT THE WEAR, THE MOST EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING THE SPREAD AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
OUR CHILDREN NEED TO DO IS PROTECT NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BECAUSE KIDS CAN TRANSMIT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE DATA FROM LAST YEAR, SAYING KIDS CAN'T TRANSMIT, TO SCHOOLS WEAR MASKS, SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.
IT'S NOT IN PROTECTING THEMSELVES, PROTECTING THE TEACHERS, PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FRANCHELI ROMERO.
ROUND ROCK ISD TRUSTEE MEMBERS, I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS FRANCHELI ROMERO, AND I'M A DOCTOR AND A MOTHER TO ROUND ROCK ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT.
A WELL-KNOWN PRESCHOOL HERE IN ROUND ROCK HAS HAD TO CLOSE FOR TWO WEEKS DUE TO OVERWHELMING CASES OF COVID IN ITS SCHOOL.
LEANDER ISD WAS TOLD BY HEALTH OFFICIALS YESTERDAY THEY RECOMMENDED THEIR SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR 10 DAYS DUE TO UNCONTROLLED SPREAD WITHIN ITS DISTRICT, 43 PERCENT OF WHICH ARE IN ITS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WE ARE IN A CRITICAL POINT HERE AT ROUND ROCK, WE HAVE NOT REACHED THIS THRESHOLD AND WE MUST BE PROACTIVE IN OUR MITIGATION PROTOCOL. MASKING IS ONLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> AS IT PRIMARILY PROTECTS YOUR RESPIRATORY DROPLETS FROM REACHING OTHERS.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE IMPACTS OTHERS' RIGHT TO LIVE.
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL MAY DICTATE CERTAIN RARE INSTANCES WHERE A MASK SHOULD BE USED FOR MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL PURPOSES.
OUR KIDS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL AND AS OF YET ARE THRIVING.
PLEASE ENSURE THIS CONTINUES BY ONLY ALLOWING MEDICAL OPT-OUTS APPROVED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND CONTINUE TO MANDATE MASK FOR STAFF.
WE NEED TO HAVE OUR KIDS IN-PERSON AT SCHOOL AND WE NEED TO HAPPEN THERE SAFELY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGHNA ROY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND ROUND ROCK ISD ADMINISTRATION TEAM FOR YOUR WORK AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF OVER 1,000 DIVERSE PARENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY IN ROUND ROCK ISD WHO WANT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN OF RRISD COMMUNITY.
WE ARE FAMILIES UNITED FOR STUDENTS SAFETY, PURSUANT TO ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD GUIDELINES [OVERLAPPING]
>> WITH THE HONOR IN CONDUCT, WHICH RESPECTS THE MAJORITY DECISION AND BASE DECISIONS ON FACT, WE REQUEST THE BOARD TO FOLLOW CDC, AAP, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY GUIDELINES.
PLEASE THE MASK OPT-OUT OR LIMIT IT TO VERIFIABLE MEDICAL REASONS TO PROTECT OUR STUDENT POPULATION.
MASK UP, ROUND ROCK ISD. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANJU DAVIDSON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANJU DAVIDSON, AND I AM A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A PARENT OF TWO KIDS IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
THERE ARE NO PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES THAT SAY MASK-WEARING IS DETRIMENTAL TO MENTAL HEALTH.
PEOPLE HAVE HAD NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO BEING IN A PANDEMIC THAT ARE UNRELATED TO MASK-WEARING.
ANXIETY IS REDUCED WHEN PEOPLE HAVE STRUCTURE, PREDICTABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY.
THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN CHAOTIC.
PLEASE REMOVE THE EXCEPTIONS YOU HAVE LISTED IN THE PREVIOUS MASK MANDATE.
ONLY MEDICAL NECESSITY SHOULD ALLOW SOMEONE TO REMOVE THEIR MASK INDOORS.
>> CURRENTLY, THERE ARE TOO MANY EXCEPTIONS WHICH MAKES THE MANDATE INEFFECTIVE.
THE EXCEPTIONS YOU HAVE LISTED LIKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND LUNCH WILL LIKELY LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IF DISTANCE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED INDOORS.
THE BEST WAY TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION IS TO HAVE CONSISTENT AND UNIVERSAL MASKING BY EVERYONE AT ROUND ROCK ISD.
IN-PERSONS SCHOOL IS GREAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH IF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE IN PLACE.
PLEASE REMOVE THE EXCEPTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THE MANDATE INEFFECTIVE AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES SET BY OUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AS AAP AND THE CDC.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE BLACKWOOD.
>> HI. MY THIRD GRADER IS TOO YOUNG TO BE VACCINATED.
WHEN I SEND HIM TO SCHOOL, I EXPECT HE WILL BE KEPT SAFE.
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, YOUR RIGHT TO SWING YOUR FIST ENDS AT MY NOSE.
IF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IS UNLIMITED WE WOULDN'T HAVE LAWS.
THE RIGHT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL NOT TO WEAR MASK ENDS WHEN IT
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ENDANGERS KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND RESULT IN SCHOOL CLOSURES.MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PLEASE STOP DOING THINGS HALFWAY.
>> -AND WORK WITH LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS.
MAKE THE MASK MANDATE, A REAL MANDATE FOR EVERY PERSON ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, REMOVE NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS, REQUIRE PROOF FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE AND THE ARBITRARY DEADLINES AND FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE.
ONE DAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOSEN RESTRICTION AND DROP OUR MASKS, TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN KIKI.
JOHN KIKI. HOW ABOUT ANAND SANKARAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND FOR CALLING THIS MEETING ON A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
YOUR MASS REQUIREMENT DECISION LAST WEEK GAVE US THE COURAGE TO SEND OUR DAUGHTER TO IN-PERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BUT HONESTLY WE'VE BEEN STRESSED WITH THIS DECISION EVERY DAY.
I SIMPLY TOOK OUT THE OPT-OUT NUMBERS THAT YOU PUBLISHED AND I SORTED FROM HIGHEST TO LOWEST BY SCHOOL, AND GUESS WHAT? FIVE OF THE TOP 10 SCHOOLS IN THAT OPT-OUT LIST ARE ALSO IN THE TOP 10 FOR THE HIGHEST REPORTED COVID CASES FROM THIS WEEK.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
NINETY TWO PERCENT OF OUR DISTRICT STUDENTS ARE WILLINGLY PUTTING UP WITH THE INCONVENIENCE OF WEARING A MASK SEVEN HOURS A DAY FOR THEIR SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS IN THE SCHOOL.
I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE REASONS THE OTHER EIGHT PERCENT DID NOT WANT THE MASK.
I SINCERELY REQUEST THAT THE DISTRICT TO ALLOW THESE INDIVIDUALS TO OPT-IN FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOL INSTEAD AND MANDATE MASK DEFINITELY AT LEAST IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ONLY THEN A 100 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS WOULD BE SAFE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA STEWARD.
>> THE SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED ON MASKS, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OPINIONS IF THEY ARE EFFECTIVE.
WHETHER OR NOT WE WEAR A MASK SHOULD BE OUR PERSONAL CHOICE, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLE AND THEIR DEEPLY HEALTH PERSONAL CONVICTIONS.
MY OWN CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL WITH THE MASK, BUT ARE GIVEN A PERSONAL CHOICE AS TO WEAR ONE.
TEACHERS ALSO FACE PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES. I'M A TEACHER.
WHEN STUDENTS FACES AND MOUTHS ARE OBSTRUCTED WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH THEM TO READ, I CAN SOMETIMES BARELY HEAR THEM AND THEY ALSO CANNOT SEE MY FACE ON HOW TO PRONUNCIATE WORDS.
THIS IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE AUTONOMY OVER MY BODY NOR MY CHILDREN'S BODIES.
MY OWN CHILDREN DEVELOPED CONSTANT ACNE AND SKINNY ROTATIONS ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY WORE MASKS.
[NOISE] THEY WERE REPEATEDLY INSTRUCTED TO EXERCISE OR RUN WITH THE MASK ON AND OFTEN COMPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY COULD NOT GET ENOUGH AIR.
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE OPT-OUT OPTION.
MY QUESTION TO THE BOARD IS, WHAT WILL THE DISTRICT DO WHEN THE PARENTS TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS IVAN DOVCHEV.
I'M THE FATHER OF A THIRD GRADER AT LAUREL MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY.
I ALSO LEAD A DATA SCIENCE TEAM AT A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY WHERE WE MAKE DECISIONS BY ANALYZING DATA.
THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT COVID-19 HAS MILD OR NO SYMPTOMS IN YOUNG CHILDREN OR PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED.
AT THIS POINT, GROWN-UPS HAVE THE CHOICE TO GET A VACCINE.
ADULTS AND CHILDREN HAVE THE CHOICE TO WEAR N95 MASKS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES-
>> -FROM THE PARTICLES OF THE VIRUS.
THEREFORE, I OPPOSE ANY MANDATE ON MASKS.
INSTEAD, LET'S ALLOW EACH FAMILY AND TEACHER TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO GET VACCINATED AND WEAR MASKS AT SCHOOL OR AT HOME OR ELSEWHERE.
IF YOU DECIDED TO KEEP THE MASK MANDATE, PLEASE ALLOW FAMILIES TO OPT OUT JUST LIKE WE CAN TODAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH GEORGE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GEORGE AND I LIVE IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSE WITH MY MOTHER WHO'S CURRENTLY BATTLING CANCER AND MY FATHER WHO IS IMMUNE SUPPRESSED, A SPECIAL EDUCATION LEARNER AND A FIRST-TIME KINDERGARTNER.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE BOARD TO THOUGHTFULLY BE PROACTIVE IN FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES AND CREATING A PROTOCOLS TIED TO THE HEALTH STANDARDS AS PUT OUT BY
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WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY WHEN WE ENTER EACH STAGE.YOU HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY SEALED MY FAMILY'S FATE.
THE CHILDREN THAT WALKED INTO THE SCHOOL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME OF THEIR FIRST DAYS WILL CONTRACTED COVID AND BROUGHT IT HOME TO THEIR ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THOSE CHILDREN WILL NEED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL AND SOME OF THOSE ADULTS, AND HOPEFULLY NOT SO MANY THAT WE HAVE TO CANCEL MY MOTHER'S SURGERY TO KEEP THE SYSTEM AFLOAT.
I ASK THAT YOU PRACTICALLY SET THE GUIDELINE WHEN TRIGGERS THEM AT EACH STAGE WITH THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
I KNOW THAT IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE FOR MY FAMILY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES IN ROUND ROCK THAT IT'S REALLY JUST NOT TOO LATE FOR YET.
PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT CALL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLINA TREMPER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CAROLINA TREMPER.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M OF COURSE, WANTING TO SAY I'M PRO MASKS.
THE ONLY REASON IS WE ALL AGREE THAT OUR KIDS SHOULD WEAR CLOSED TOE SHOES FOR THE GYM, OR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
I'M SAYING, HEY, THIS IS ALSO A MEDICAL HAZARD.
THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT OUR KIDS RIGHT NOW IS USING MASKS.
IF THERE WASN'T A FORM OF PROTECTING OUR KIDS, I WOULD BE FOR IT AS MY KIDS DON'T LIKE TO WEAR MASKS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY LIKED TO DO.
>> BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE JUST TEMPORARILY TO AT LEAST PROTECT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S NOT 100 PERCENT, BULLET PROOF OR PROTECTS AGAINST THE VIRUS OR KILLS THE VIRUS ON CONTACT, BUT IT IS THE PROTECTION THAT IS IN PLACE NOW THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE VACCINATIONS, SO YEAH, PLEASE BOARD DO THE RIGHT DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER [NOISE] IS STACEY PATTERSON.
>> HI. I'M THE PARENT OF TWO DAUGHTERS AT GRAHAM ELEMENTARY.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR UNIVERSAL MASKING POLICY THAT LIMITS OPT-OUTS TO ONLY THOSE WITH A MEDICAL EXEMPTION OR MEDICAL NEED.
[NOISE] ON DAY FOUR OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO UNMASKED STUDENTS IN HER CLASSROOM WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.
ALONG WITH MULTIPLE STUDENTS, HER TEACHER IS ALSO NOT WEARING A MASK.
TODAY I'M FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF QUARANTINING MY CHILD FOR 10 DAYS OR SENDING HER BACK INTO HER CLASSROOM WHERE I'M OVER CERTAIN THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE COULD POTENTIALLY INFECT HER.
FURTHERMORE, IF I CHOOSE TO KEEP HER QUARANTINED, [OVERLAPPING] SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN HER CLASSROOM VIRTUALLY, SO THAT SHE IS NOT THE ONE WHO IS MISSING OUT DUE TO OTHER STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO NOT WEAR A MASK.
TODAY I'M BEGGING YOU TO DO THE MINIMUM TO KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE, WHICH IS TO REQUIRE UNIVERSAL MASK FOR ALL [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMY LANNING.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO REMOVE THE OPT-OUT OPTION FROM OUR MASK MANDATE EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO MEDICALLY NEED IT.
THE CURRENT MANDATE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS, AND AS SUCH IS NOT CREATING THE SAFER ENVIRONMENT IT WAS MEANT TO DO SO.
THE OPT-OUT PERCENTAGE NUMBERS BY SCHOOL ARE NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT'S TRULY OCCURRING.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY SON'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE LEAST PERCENTAGE OF OPT-OUT PARENTS IS 15 PERCENT.
BUT IN HIS 20 PERSON CLASSROOM, ONLY FOUR STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY CONSISTENTLY WEARING MASKS.
ALSO, THE LACK OF CLEAR GUIDANCE [OVERLAPPING] AND DISPARITY AROUND COVID PROTOCOL ENFORCEMENT HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVEN REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NOT BEING APPROVED.
CLASSROOMS ARE SET UP IN DESK CLUSTERS WITH LITTLE REGARD TO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKED STUDENTS ARE DIRECTLY FACING UNMASKED ONES.
REQUESTS FOR SEEING CHANGES TO GROUP MASKED STUDENTS TOGETHER ARE BEING DENIED DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT SINCE THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR A MASK THROUGHOUT THE CLASSROOM.
IN ADDITION TO REMOVING THE OPT-OUT OPTION, CLEAR GUIDANCE MUST BE SENT OUT TO ALL ABOUT WHAT IS EXPECTED IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT OF COVID GUIDELINES, MASKING INCLUDED.
LASTLY, THE VIRTUAL ENROLLED SHOULD BE REOPENED FOR STUDENTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHANDANA CHAKKA.
I'M A PHYSICIAN WHO WORKS IN A DIFFERENT LINE, TAKING CARE OF SICK COVID PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC.
WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I TOOK CARE OF A VERY YOUNG PATIENT IN HER 30S WHO REQUIRED LIFE SUPPORT MACHINE AND TRACHEOSTOMY AND SENT HER TO GO TO A NURSING HOME.
I ALSO TRANSFERRED ANOTHER YOUNG PATIENT IN HIS EARLY 20S TO ANOTHER FACILITY OUTSIDE THE AUSTIN AREA FOR THE LACK OF ICU BEDS HERE AND FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF ECMO.
ALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH PREVENTABLE.
[02:00:02]
I CANNOT IMAGINE OUR KIDS AND SCHOOL STAFF GOING THROUGH THIS.WE CANNOT ALLOW [OVERLAPPING] PARENTING CHOICE AND FREEDOM WHEN IT COMES TO MASKING, JUST LIKE WE CANNOT ALLOW PARENTAL FREEDOM OR PERSONAL CHOICE AND FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING AGAINST THE TRAFFIC.
THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL BE HURT, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE PUTTING OTHERS LIVES AT RISK.
I'M ASKING TO REMOVE OPT-OUT OPTION FOR MASKS.
WE'D ALREADY SEEN HOW THE DAILY NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING UP AT A HIGHER SPEED.
I'M VERY MUCH DISAPPOINTED ABOUT LAST WEEK'S DECISION ABOUT HOW EASY IT WAS TO OPT-OUT OF MASKING.
I'M VERY GLAD THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO MEET SO QUICKLY AND NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. [OVERLAPPING]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTA TYLER.
>> AWESOME. I ASK THAT THE OPT-OUT PROVISION BE ELIMINATED EXCEPT IN RARE CASES OF MEDICALLY DOCUMENTED HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
ALL OTHERS SHOULD BE WEARING MASK INDOORS.
EVERY MINUTE THAT A MASK IS IN PLACE HELPS MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
I ASK THAT YOU PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, OUR STAFF, AND OUR STUDENTS, AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE IRRESPONSIBLE MINORITY.
REFUSING TO MASK UP INCREASES EVERYONE'S RISK OF CATCHING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY DISABLING DISEASE AND THE IRRESPONSIBLE CITIZENS [OVERLAPPING] PERPETUATELY THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF THIS PANDEMIC.
ELIMINATE THE OPT-OUT PROVISION UNLESS IT IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING A VIRTUAL OPTION.
I'M AN EMPLOYEE IN ROUND ROCK AND A PARENT IN LEANDER, AND LEANDER DOES NOT HAVE THIS VIRTUAL OPTION, SO THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VIRGINIA WESTMARK.
>> I'M SPEAKING AS A LIBERAL MOTHER OF THREE HERE IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
THERE ARE 1,247 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, AND AS OF TODAY, ONLY 70 ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH EOD A38.
THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA HAVE MADE THIS CASE THE SIDE OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL AND LIFE VERSUS DEATH.
WHILE PERTAINING MOST TEXANS IS WISHING TO HAVE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOL, THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG.
AS A LIBERAL, I'M SO ASHAMED OF MY FELLOW LIBERALS.
WE HAVE FOUGHT LONG AND HARD FOR BODILY AUTONOMY AND THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE, AND FOR ME THAT ENCOPASES [OVERLAPPING] WHAT WE PUT ON OUR AND OUR CHILDREN FACES.
NO ONE IS DENYING COVID AND THAT THE DELTA VARIANT IS CONTAGIOUS BUT SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE NOT VECTORS FOR DISEASE THAT THE MEDIA PORTRAYS THEM AS.
WE ARE RAISING THEM IN A CLIMATE OF FEAR AND FIVE ON THIS BOARD AND AN EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE SHOWN THEY DO NOT VALUE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, NOR DO THEY RESPECT OUR RIGHTS AND FAIRNESS TO SEE TO THEIR HEALTH AS WE SEE FIT.
NO ONE HAS SAID THAT YOU CAN'T WEAR A MASK.
DON'T TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT THEM ON.
LET OUR KIDS BREATHE OR THEY'RE LEAVING. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAN LARSON.
>> SHE WAS REMOVED. SHE WAS REMOVED AGAINST HER WILL.
>> THEN OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIM SIMPSON.
>> HI. MY NAME IS TIM SIMPSON AND I HAVE A CHILD WHO JUST STARTED AT ROUND ROCK ISD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO REMOVE THE OPT-OUT EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THERE IS A DOCUMENTED MEDICAL NECESSITY BEFORE ROUND ROCK ISD STARTS TO LOOK ANYMORE LIKE LEANDER ISD.
PLEASE RESPECT THE NINE OUT OF 10 KIDS WHO ARE WEARING MASKS AND PROTECTING EVERYONE AROUND THEM, EVEN IF IT MEANS SLIGHTLY INCONVENIENCING THE ONE OUT OF 10 WHO ISN'T WEARING A MASK AND COULD BE SPREADING COVID.
FURTHERMORE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON TO ME THAT A TEACHER, FACULTY MEMBER, OR BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BE ABLE TO FORGO A MASK AND RISK GETTING EVERYONE ELSE SICK.
FINALLY, COVID CIRCULATES INDOORS AND SIX FEET OF DISTANCE ALONE CAN'T STOP IT FROM SPREADING BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS MEETING.
I DON'T THINK [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE A WEEK TO CHANGE THIS. THANKS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATALIE EBAUGH.
>> HI. I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> HI. I'M STILL IN SHOCK THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.
ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS YOU CAN'T MASK OR VACCINATE YOUR WAY OUT OF A VIRUS.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE APPARENT THAN THAT.
I'M STILL IN SHOCK THAT US EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN VIOLATE A GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER AND TAKE AWAY A PARENT'S RIGHT TO INFORM CONSENT.
I DID SEND AN EMAIL THAT INCLUDED THE FEDERAL STATUTE [OVERLAPPING] THAT MASKS [INAUDIBLE] ONLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THAT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH WHAT WAS ALREADY SAID.
[02:05:02]
I'M REALLY SAD.WHAT I SEE WITH THIS BOARD THAT YOU'RE PUTTING PARENTS THROUGH THIS.
I KNOW YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR DECISION MADE UP SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT I'LL HAVE TO PULL MY CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL.
[NOISE] THAT REALLY IS SADDENING TO ME BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS EXAMPLE TO BE WHAT SHE LEARNS [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA CYR, C-Y-R.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I SUPPORT YOUR SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO REVISE THE OPT-OUT MASK PROCESS FOR OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS.
THOSE UNDER 11, THE VACCINES ARE SIMPLY NOT AVAILABLE, THUS THEIR ONLY PROTECTION IS THE MASK.
I ASK, WHY WOULD YOU NOT AFFORD THE PROTECTION POSSIBLE TO THESE VULNERABLE STUDENTS? IN LESS THAN A WEEK, THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM LIKE OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS POSITIVE COVID CASES AMONG STUDENTS AND ITS EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE VERY VIOLENT DELTA VIRUS, AND IT'S BEEN LESS A WEEK.
[OVERLAPPING] THE BOARD MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ITS STUDENTS AND ITS EMPLOYEES.
THE BOARD MUST FOLLOW THE SCIENCE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN CONSIDERING MODIFYING THE OPT-OUT PROCESS, AND I FULLY SUPPORT SUPERINTENDENT HAFEDH AZAIEZ'S RECOMMENDATION TO DO SO.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEANEANE MCNULTY.
>> HI. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PERSONAL HEALTH CARE CHOICE, THIS IS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
I HAVE TWO KIDS IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
I SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE MASK MANDATE TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH EXPERT CDC AND PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE SO THAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN STAY OPEN.
PLEASE REVOKE THE OPT OUT EXCEPT FOR MEDICAL AND DISABILITY REASONS.
REMOVE THE SIX FOOT PROXIMITY EXCEPTION WHEN INDOORS WITH OTHERS, ANTI-LOOSENING OF COVID PROTOCOLS [OVERLAPPING] PUBLIC HEALTH METRICS, AND ALLOW THOSE OPPOSED STRONGLY TO MASKS TO OPT-IN TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN GOULD.
IS MONIQUE RIDWAN ON THE CALL?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPT-OUT AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO KEEP IT, SO MASK MANDATE.
A MASK MANDATE WILL ONLY GIVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WEARING ANY MASKS WILL REDUCE SPREAD OF TRANSMISSION.
NEW RESEARCH, HOWEVER, SHOWS THAT ONLY DRY MASKS WILL, AND STUDY SUGGESTS MASKS AS CURRENTLY USED ARE INEFFECTIVE IN REDUCING TRANSMISSION.
ADDITIONALLY, KIDS HAVE THE NATURAL CAPABILITY OF EVADING THE COVID VIRUS DUE TO THE LACK OF EC2 RECEPTORS IN THEIR NOSTRILS.
INSTEAD FOCUS ON ENFORCING SAFETY PROTOCOLS SUCH AS MAKING SURE THAT THEY KEEPING DISTANCE, USE HAND SANITIZER, NOT GOING TO SCHOOL WHEN YOU'RE SICK, REGULAR CLEANING AND SANITIZING OF HIGH TOUCH AREAS.
I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN CERTAIN POINT BUT I DON'T SEE OTHER THINGS HAPPEN IN CERTAIN POINTS.
>> YES, YOU HAVE THE POWER, BUT PLEASE DO NOT USE IT TO SATISFY AND RESEMBLE FEAR.
DON'T GET ME WRONG I BELIEVE THAT COVID IS REAL, BUT [BACKGROUND] MANDATE IS NOT NECESSARY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEANNA DAWSON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DEANNA DAWSON.
I'M AN EDUCATOR HERE AT ROUND ROCK ISD AND I'M ONE OF THE OFFICERS AT EDUCATION IN ROUND ROCK. WHAT ARE TRUSTEES? THE TITLE IN WHICH YOU WERE ELECTED TO CARRY.
THE MAIN WORD IN THAT TITLE IS TRUST.
TRUST THAT YOU WILL PROTECT AND SERVE THE STUDENTS, YOUR STAFF, AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THE BOARD IF THE OPT-OUT OPTION IS STILL IN EFFECT FOR ALL INSTEAD OF THOSE THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS? THE OPT-OUT OPTION WAS A LOOPHOLE.
I HAD A SPEECH THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I SAW THIS WEEK AS AN EDUCATOR.
>> I HAVE NO WAY TO ENFORCE WHO OPTED IN AND WHO OPTED OUT.
ALL I SAW WAS A LOT OF KIDS MIMIC EACH OTHER, AND MODELING EACH OTHER.
THOSE PARENTS THAT THOUGHT THEY HAD THEIR KIDS SAFE, COMING INTO SCHOOL MASKED, BY THE END OF THE DAY, HAD THEIR MASK UNDERNEATH THEIR CHIN BECAUSE THEIR FRIENDS DID.
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY GUYS TO DO A SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WE HAVE FULL LOADS OF KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
HALF MY POPULATION IS NOT VACCINATED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENJAMIN STERLING.
[02:10:03]
MY NAME IS BEN STERLING.I'M THE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION IN ROUND ROCK.
I'M AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT IN THIS DISTRICT.
WE REACHED 212 REPORTED CASES, AND I SAY REPORTED IN FIVE DAYS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CASES.
THE STUDENTS NEED MASKS [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S NO CONTACT TRACING IS VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT GUIDELINES.
WE CAN'T ENFORCE MASKS, WHICH MEANS MASKS DON'T GET WORN.
OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE DAYS, I'VE WATCHED MASS PARTICIPATION DROP.
KIDS COME WITH MASKS, THEY JUST WEAR THEM.
BUT THE KIDS AREN'T WEARING THEM BY THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE WE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TO THEM.
I PERSONALLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD TASK, THE MASK REQUIREMENT FOR A DRESS CODE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COLLEEN DAVEY.
>> HI, MY DAUGHTER'S A STUDENT AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE'S LEGALLY BLIND, AND SHE HOPES THAT EVERYONE WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE SCHOOL OPEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE BOTH IN FAVOR OF LIMITED OPT-OUT FOR MEDICAL REASONS ONLY.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY DAUGHTER TO SEE IF SOMEONE IS OR ISN'T WEARING A MASK, INCLUDING HER TEACHERS.
SHE APPROACHED ONE OF THE TEACHERS AND SAW THAT THEY WERE NOT WEARING MASKS, AND SHE TOLD THEM THAT MADE HER WORRIED AND THEY TOLD HER TO SIT IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS WHERE SHE WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO SEE THE PRESENTATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HER RIGHT TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PROTECTED BY TITLE 11 OF THE FEDERAL LAW WHICH SUPERSEDES THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT LESIEUR, L-E-S-I-E-U-R.
HEATHER MILLER OR ROBERT LESIEUR.
>> HEATHER MILLER HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> MY NAME IS HEATHER MILLER AND I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AT GREEN OAKS ELEMENTARY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY YOU-ALL.
SADLY THE ONLY REASON THE BOARD IS CALLING THIS SPECIAL MEETING IS BECAUSE THEY MADE THE IMPORTANT DECISION TO ALLOW VIRTUAL CLASS WHICH HAS CAUSED THE DISTRICT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THEY HAD NO IDEA SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THIS OPTION AND NOW ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BY MAKING A MASK MANDATE TO TRY TO GET THEM BACK.
DOLLAR SIGNS ON YOUR CHILD'S HEADS.
TO THE VIRTUAL PARENT, [OVERLAPPING] SPECIAL MEETING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RISK OR THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS.
I WANT TO SHARE TWO NEW STUDIES PUBLISHED THIS WEEK.
YOU'RE AWARE OF HOW INEFFECTIVE THE SCHOOL'S COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE.
CLOTH MASKS ARE 0-10 PERCENT EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING SPREAD AND PLASTIC BARRIERS AND CLASSROOM ACTUALLY SPREAD COVID BY PREVENTING PROPER VENTILATION IN THE CLASSROOMS. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK TO? REALIZE WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE MONEY BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. KEEP THE OPT-OUT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GARIMA KOCHHAR.
>> HI. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE VENOM THAT'S DIRECTED AT THE BOARD BY A LOT OF SPEAKERS IS COMPLETELY UNCALLED FOR AND YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.
THAT'S FALSE, AND I'M TAKING UP 20 SECONDS TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.
WHEN I COMPOSE MY NOTES THEY WERE 127 COVID CASES, BY THE TIME THE MEETING STARTED, THERE WERE 202, AND DURING THE MEETING, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT YET ANOTHER CASE.
THIS IS FIVE DAYS, WE CLEARLY NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTROL COVID.
IF YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THE MASK MANDATE NOW TO REDUCE OPT-OUT, PLEASE DO SO.
ROUND ROCK HAS NO PLAN FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOLING FOR KIDS WHO HAVE TO QUARANTINE.
THAT'S ANOTHER FIGHT FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT FOR TODAY, PLEASE KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE WITH LIMITED OPT-OUT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS META VAHAKTA.
IS META VAHAKTA, V-A-H-A-K-T-A ON THE CALL? CHRISTEL ERICKSON COLLINS?
>> HI, I'M SPEAKING TODAY FOR EDNA LAWSON, WHO WAS STILL ON THIS CALL AND GOT REMOVED.
[02:15:01]
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF ANTI-RACIST COMING TOGETHER TO REQUEST THAT YOU TIGHTEN THE OPT-OUT LOOPHOLE THAT UNDERMINES THE MEDIAN DAY.NOT ONLY IS THE OPT-OUT PROVISION NOT ALIGNED WITH THE CDC AND AAPA RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNIVERSAL MASKING.
IT IS AGAINST THE ADVICE OF DR. WALTZ OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE PRECIPITOUS RISE IN COVID CASES LAST MONDAY.
AS OF TODAY, THE FIFTH DAY OF SCHOOL, 62 EVEN NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.
WE WERE SEEING HIGH LEVEL CONTROLS SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT IN VARIOUS SCHOOLS.
AS REPORTED TODAY, LEANDER ISD HAS BEEN ADVISED TO CLOSE SCHOOLS FOR 10 DAYS IN ORDER TO GET THEIR SPREAD UNDER CONTROL.
WITH HIGH STUDENT DENSITY IN CLASSROOMS, SOME UP TO 30 STUDENTS, OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES OF DISTANCING AND AIRFLOW DO VERY LITTLE TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE NEW VARIANT.
UNIVERSAL MASKING, WHILE NOT 100 PERCENT EFFECTIVE, STILL REMAINS OUR BEST CHANCE OF PREVENTING TRANSMISSION.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRANDON GRAHAM.
>> I HAVE FOUR KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE BATTLED WITH.
YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT THE INDEX AS FAR AS THIS COMING IN SEPTEMBER WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN FLATTENING THE CURVE FOR TWO WEEKS.
THIS IS A CHOICE THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE.
YOU GUYS WANT TO GO THROUGH AND DIRECTLY IGNORE THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST.
BUT THAT'S TEACHING MY KIDS TO DO THE SAME THING.
IF THEY DON'T COME WITH MASKS, ARE YOU GOING TO PUNISH THEM FOR THAT? WHENEVER YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING AND NOT EXPECTING TO BE PUNISHED.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SETTING.
>> THE MASK, YOU HAVE 10 PERCENT THAT IT PROTECTS.
WELL, THIS MAY BE SOME PERCENTAGE PREVENTING SOMETHING.
WELL, THE MATH YOU'RE ARE DOING ARE WAY WORSE.
WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR KIDS AND PARENTS A CHOICE.
THIS IS NOT YOUR CHOICE TO MAKE.
THIS AS OUR CHOICE AS PARENTS AND OUR KIDS.
I HAVE KIDS THAT WANT TO WEAR MASK AND SOME THAT DON'T.
BUT THAT SHOULD BE THEIR CHOICE.
THAT'S WHY WE LIVE HERE. THAT'S WHY WE GO TO SCHOOL HERE.
THAT'S WHY WE PAY IN OUR TAXES HERE AND THAT'S WHY WE ELECT OUR OFFICIALS HERE.
IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE.
>> YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. RUBY SAHOO.
>> HI. MY NAME IS LAKSHMI SUBRAMANIAN, AND I HAVE A UNVACCINATED EIGHT-YEAR-OLD AND AN UNVACCINATED MIDDLE SCHOOLER WHO WILLINGLY WEAR MASKS AND GO IN-PERSON TO ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOLS.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE COVID-RELATED SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING, I'VE FEEL THE ONUS OF MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE TEACHERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THE MASK TO THE CHILDREN [OVERLAPPING] OR ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PERSONS WHO MIGHT EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOM TO OPT OUT THE MASK.
I URGE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THE HARD CHOICES.
WE, THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MASK OPT-OUT OPTION ONLY TO BE EXERCISED BY THOSE WHO HAVE A MEDICAL NEED.
WE DO NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THE TRAGEDY OF THE LEANDER ISD THAT WE HAVE SEEN, THAT THEY HAVE HAD 411 CASES WHILE WE HAVE BEEN AT 212, AND WE'RE JUST TWO DAYS BEHIND THEM.
>> TIME. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIANA PITS.
IS BRITTANY GARZA ON THE CALL.
THAT WAS THE LAST OF THOSE SPEAKERS.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH REAL QUICK TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS MISSED.
IS JASON CASEY HERE IN PERSON? DO WE KNOW IF THERE STILL PEOPLE OUT? [BACKGROUND]
I WAS CALLED, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ON.
COULD YOU PLEASE PUT ME ON THE LIST TO SPEAK?
I'M GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH.
>> I'M STARTING WITH JASON CASEY, IN PERSON? MADAM PRESIDENT, DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE FROM ADMINISTRATION TO COORDINATE?
[02:20:04]
[BACKGROUND] YES.>> OKAY. YEAH. I HAVE JASON CASEY, REBECCA MCCAULEY, JESSICA PRIOR, DAVID T.
>> REBECCA MCCAULEY IS RIGHT HERE.
>> OKAY. YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> DO I TURN IT ON? THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.
HI. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT OR ON THE NEWS.
I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM CAMPUS THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE SHE HAD AN APPOINTMENT.
I WALKED IN AND WALKED INTO THE OFFICE.
I WAS THERE ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES.
THERE WERE ABOUT 20-30 PEOPLE.
CONTRARY TO YOUR EMAIL, ONLY ONE OR TWO WERE WEARING MASKS, AND THERE WERE SUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS IN THAT ROOM.
LAUGHTER, KIDS, TEACHERS, STAFF, EVERYONE, JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME. GUESS WHAT? FOR ME, WAS THAT I HAVE CHILDREN WHO WERE VERY NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU ALL CREATED LAST YEAR.
WHEN I GOT HOME THAT DAY AND SAW YOUR EMAIL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO START ALL OF THIS OVER AGAIN AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, TEACHING OUR KIDS THAT IT'S OKAY NOT TO COMPLY IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE RULES.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE RULES YOU'RE GOING TO PASS.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> PRESIDENT, WE ALREADY HAD JESSICA PRIOR WRITTEN DOWN THAT SHE DID SPEAK.
>> DID SHE ALREADY? OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> SANDRA TRUJILLO? GO AHEAD, SIR. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS SANDRA TRUJILLO.
I'M A PROUD FATHER AND I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN FAVOR OF EVERYONE CHOOSING THEIR OWN RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS. I'M SURE YOU KNOW IMMIGRANTS COME HERE BECAUSE THEY SEE AMERICA AS A BEACON OF TOLERANCE AND FREEDOM.
BUT WHAT I'M SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY IS TURNING INTO SOMETHING TERRIFYING.
IT'S FRIGHTENINGLY SIMILAR TO WHAT CAUSED THE DOWNFALL OF VENEZUELA AND CUBA AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHINA RIGHT NOW WITH THEM FORCING THE MASKS.
GOD GAVE US INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND HE GAVE US THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
WHENEVER ANYTHING IS FORCED UPON SOMEONE, HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS, IF IT'S FORCED ON YOU? LIKE THOMAS JEFFERSON ONCE SAID, THOSE WHO ABANDON FREEDOM TO OBTAIN TEMPORARY SECURITY DESERVE NEITHER AND WILL LOSE BOTH.
PLEASE LEARN FROM THE PAST, PEOPLE.
DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES. THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST IS FOR CALL FOR JOEL WENTHE, CHRIS MCGREGOR, KATHY ERWIN, OR MICHAEL BARRETT.
WE WILL NOW GO ONE MORE TIME THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS WHO WERE MISSED.
JAMIE WILKENS, SHIVA PULLIYALA, LYNDA QUINTANA.
>> YES, I'M HERE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY IN MY QUICK MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I GOT THREE LETTERS FROM TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, SO HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SECOND THING, I HAVE KIDS THAT ARE ATHLETES.
MY SON RUNS PROMPTED TO INTERACT WITH A MASK ON AND DOES NOT COMPLAIN.
HE DID THAT ALL LAST YEAR BECAUSE HE WAS PROTECTING HIS MOTHER WHO HAS ASTHMA AND HIGH RISK.
THE THIRD THING IS EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE FREEDOM.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS, WHAT WE'RE TEACHING CHILDREN IS THAT THEY ARE BREAKING A SOCIAL CONTRACT THROUGH EACH OTHER.
>> WE'RE TEACHING CHILDREN THAT THEIR COMFORT LEVEL IS MORE TO THEM THAN PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE.THAT IS COMPLETELY WRONG, AND IT IS DISHEARTENING, AND IT'S IMMORAL.
I CANNOT BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE GOING ON TO SAY, MY POOR KID WANTS TO SEE A SMILE.
REALLY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE MY KID ALIVE THAN HAVE THEM DEAD.
I'D RATHER YOUR KID BE ALIVE THAN DEAD.
I TEACH MY KIDS TO CARE ABOUT OTHERS.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GOD, THAT IS WHAT JESUS TEACH US.
WE TEACH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> JOHN KEYE? WAS EDNA LAWSON ABLE TO GET BACK ON? NATALIE EVA?
[02:25:10]
JONATHAN GOULD.ROBERT LESIEUR, L-E-S-I-E-U-R?
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M ROBERT LESIEUR, I'M A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT.
COUPLE OF QUICK NOTES. THIS PANDEMIC IS BEING CHARACTERIZED AS ONE OF THE UNVACCINATED.
HOWEVER, THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD JUST RECENTLY PUBLISHED A STUDY SHOWING THE VACCINATED CARRYING THE SAME VIRAL LOAD AS THE UNVACCINATED.
OTHER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN, AS MUCH AS ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE, LARGER VIRAL LOADS IN THE VACCINATED.
YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS SCIENCE AS YOU WORRY ABOUT SCHOOL KIDS SPREADING COVID.
ARE WE LOOKING AT BEING MASKED FOREVER WHEREVER WE GO, INCLUDING OUR OWN HOMES?
>> IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, ARE YOU DOING THAT YOURSELF? A UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO STUDY PUBLISHED 21 JULY SHOWS THAT CLOTH AND SURGICAL MASKS HAVE 10 AND 12 PERCENT FILTRATION AFFECTING THIS RESPECTIVELY.
[NOISE] THESE STUDIES CONTRADICT THE NARRATIVE.
I'M SURE THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T CARE, THEY'VE ALREADY MADE A DECISION OR MORE PRECISELY, THE UNLAWFUL FIVE ON THE BOARD HAVE ALREADY MADE THE DECISION BUT THIS WILL REACH THIS [NOISE] TEXAS SUPREME COURT SOON ENOUGH.
TO THE PARENTS WHO BELIEVE IN PERSONAL FREEDOMS AND THE TRUTH, STAY STRONG, WORK TOGETHER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
DR. RUBY SOHUM, KIANA PITTS, AND BRITNEY GARZA.
HELLO. MY NAME IS BRITNEY GARZA.
I'M A MOM OF THREE, TWO OF WHICH ATTEND ROUND ROCK ISD.
MY YOUNGEST IS FOUR AND DUE TO A GENETIC PREDISPOSITION, HE IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
I'M HERE [NOISE] TO TELL YOU THAT THOSE WITH IMMUNOCOMPROMISED LOVED ONES AREN'T PROPERLY REPRESENTED.
MY POSITION IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH WOULD BE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE HOW TO KEEP EACH OF OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND NOT BE COERCED TO DO WHAT SOMEONE ELSE FEELS IS BEST.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MYSELF, I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF ROUND ROCK, [OVERLAPPING], [NOISE] ISD GRADUATE AND FORMER ROUND ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WITH MANY LEADERSHIP ROLES, BOTH CAMPUS, ON CAMPUS, AND AT DISTRICT LEVELS.
I'VE SEEN A BROAD SPECTRUM OF STUDIES PRESENTED.
I BELIEVE THAT IS OBSOLETE BECAUSE YOU CAN CHANGE STUDIES TO MEET YOUR POINT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
>> I'M STILL HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SONIA YU.
>> WHO ARE YOU? CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME?
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SONIA YU.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE I HAD THAT NAME ON MY LIST.
THAT WAS NOT SOMEONE THAT SIGNED UP FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
>> YOU SIGNED UP FOR SPEAKING, WHICH IS WHY YOU GOT THE CONTACT INFO FOR THIS ZOOM CALL, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T HAVE EVE MARGOLIS ON MY LIST.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SPEAK ANYWAY?
>> NO, MA'AM. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SIGNED UP BY THE 2:30.
>> PRESIDENT CAN WE JUST GET CLARIFICATION FROM MS. CAPUTO.
IF [NOISE] SHE HAS THE LINK, WOULD IT BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE JUST TO HER? COULD SOMEONE HAVE SHARED THE LINK TO HER?
>> IT'S A ZOOM LINK SO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SHARED.
PATTY WOULD HAVE THE LIST AND SHE EMAILS THE ENTIRE LIST, THE ZOOM LINK, BUT IT CAN BE SHARED.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT NAME ON OUR LIST.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
>> YEAH, I DO NOT HAVE THAT NAME ON THE LIST.
IT IS EIGHT O'CLOCK OR 7:59, ALMOST EIGHT.
I SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE ABOUT A 15-MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE START THE PRESENTATION.
WE WILL TAKE A RECESS UNTIL 8:15.
[02:30:02]
ALL RIGHT, IS 8:15, AND WE ARE ALL BACK.[D. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION]
CONSIDERATION OF MASK OPT OUT PROVISION, DR. AZAIS.>> [NOISE] GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT, TRUSTEES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS INFORMATION.
IF WE CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME.
I KNOW WE HAD A MEETING TO DISCUSS MASK LAST WEEK SO I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TIME TO MEET AGAIN THIS EVENING.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THEN WE HEARD A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT THE LEGALITY IN RAKING IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND ANY UPDATES SINCE LAST WEEK.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAD SEVERAL UPDATES, LEGAL UPDATES. ALL RIGHT, MS. WELLS.
>> HELLO, LAST TIME THAT WE SPOKE, IT WAS THURSDAY, AUGUST 19TH.
THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, SOME OF WHICH I MIGHT NOT HAVE EXPLAINED AS CLEARLY, BUT THE MAIN THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING WHERE ALL THE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT WERE TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AGAINST EXECUTIVE ORDER 38.
THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT RULING EARLIER IN THAT WEEK THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT, WHERE THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A STAY, BASICALLY, FOR DALLAS COUNTY AND BAYER COUNTY OFFICIALS THAT ENFORCED MASKS.
THE SUPREME COURT PUT A STAY OVER THOSE ORDERS UNTIL HEARINGS COULD BE HEARD ON THE MERITS.
IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THERE ARE THREE CASES THAT ARE PENDING.
ACTUALLY, ARGUMENTS WERE HEARD TODAY IN ONE OF THEM AND IN THOSE CASES, THOSE WERE ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THEY WERE DISCUSSING SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEING ABLE TO EXERCISE LOCAL CONTROL AND MANDATE MASKS.
ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED THE SAME STAY FOR THOSE CASES.
THIS IS WHAT WE EXPLAINED LAST TIME, IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT DECLINED TO DO THAT.
THEY DECLINED TO GRANT THE RELIEF THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON WE'RE REQUESTING.
BASED ON THAT AND BASED ON THE OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, AS WELL AS A FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN ADDITION TO SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, THE TEA CAME OUT AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE ANTI-MASK PROVISION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 UNTIL THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS COULD BE COMPLETED.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY CURRENTLY BOTH HAVE ORDERS THAT APPLY TO OUR SCHOOLS IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY IS REQUIRING MASKS BY STUDENTS AND STAFF AND VISITORS AND ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THOSE JURISDICTIONS.
FOR ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A MASK, THEY COULD BE DEEMED A PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCE AND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY COULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE SCHOOLS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE ORDERS.
THOSE ORDERS DO NOT APPLY TO OUR SCHOOLS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY OR ROUND ROCK.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN NOR TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE JURISDICTION TO GOVERN OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
HOWEVER, THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY OFFICIALS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENFORCE EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE TEA'S GUIDANCE AND THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING.
HEARINGS ON THE MERITS IN ONE OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY CASES WAS HEARD YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
I THINK TOMORROW AND MAYBE THE NEXT DAY THE REST OF THE CASES WILL BE HEARD ON THE MERITS AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE SHOULD ISSUE A DECISION BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
THEY MAY GRANT AN INJUNCTION AGAINST EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 OR THEY MAY RULE THAT AN INJUNCTION IS NOT NECESSARY.
AT THAT TIME, THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS WOULD BE THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT, ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON, WOULD APPEAL THAT DECISION TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND THEN THAT DECISION WOULD THEN GET APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT.
THAT WOULD BE THE DECISION ON THE MERITS.
IT USUALLY TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME BUT THESE ARE BEING EXPEDITED, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, VERY QUICKLY.
BUT YOU'RE AT LEAST LOOKING AT A FEW MORE WEEKS UNTIL THOSE PROCEEDINGS CAN TAKE PLACE.
THAT'S THE LEGAL STANDING THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
BASICALLY, IF WE DON'T HAVE A MASK MANDATE IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, WE'RE VIOLATING THOSE ORDERS.
A QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT, WHAT IF WE DON'T FOLLOW EXECUTIVE ORDER 38 BASED ON THE TEA GUIDANCE?
[02:35:04]
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS UPHELD? THEN IT BECOMES APPLICABLE AGAIN.SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE PENALIZED FOR FOLLOWING TEA'S GUIDANCE IN THE INTERIM.
IT'S NOT THAT IF WE TOOK THIS ACTION NOW AND THEN IN A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, COURTS RULED IN FAVOR OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT, BUT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SAY HE FAILED TO FOLLOW THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TEA PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE THAT WAS ISSUED SAYING THAT DUE TO THOSE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, IT IS UNABLE TO ENFORCE IT AT THIS TIME.
>> MS. WESTERN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. WELLS?
>> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THIS.
IS NOW THE TIME FOR THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT? [NOISE]
>> SHOULD WE JUST WAIT AND GO THROUGH OR WOULD YOU PREFER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW?
>> THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE LEGAL UPDATE.
I KNOW WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN OUR PRESENTATION [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHY DON'T WE FINISH THE PRESENTATION THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
JUST GOING BACK, AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED THIS ALSO LAST TIME, BUT WE HAD ACTUALLY DR. WOLK FROM THE CITY OF HUSTON TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MASK TO ADDRESS THE SURGE AND VACCINATION AND THE PANDEMIC.
WE INVITED LAST THURSDAY, DR. AMANDA NORWOOD.
SHE'S THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE WITH US LAST THURSDAY, BUT SHE SENT HER RECOMMENDATION AGAIN FOR REVERSE OF INDOOR MASKING.
I WANT TO JUST RECAP AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT NOT JUST THE CITY OF HUSTON, BUT ALSO WILLIAMSON COUNTY ARE RECOMMENDING TO US TO DO.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE DISTRICT PRIORITIES.
AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF, REALLY OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
JUST THE FIRST THREE DAYS, WE ONLY HAD 78 AT THE TIME REPORTED CASES.
BY TODAY, WE'RE UP TO 202 CASES.
WE WENT FROM 433 CLOSE CONTACTS TO LITTLE OVER 2,000 CLOSE CONTACTS.
THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP AND ACTUALLY GOING UP RATHER QUICKLY.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, BUT ALSO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND OUR STUDENTS LEARNING WITH FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP ALSO ALL COMMUNITY.
YOU HEARD FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ICU BEDS AND HOW THOSE ICU BEDS ARE REALLY LIMITED NOW AROUND US HERE AND ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
ALSO WE'RE TRYING TO REVERSE THE TREND OF COMMUNITY SPREAD AND TRYING TO HELP EVERYBODY GETS BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION.
[NOISE] I JUST WANT TO ALSO ADD, AND I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH INCREASING CASES.
SOME OF YOU PROBABLY HEARD, BOARD MEMBERS, WE PUT A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AT LEANDER RECEIVED ON AUGUST 24TH FROM THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH ASKING THEM, RECOMMENDING FOR THEM TO CLOSE FOR 10 SCHOOL DAYS AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT MITIGATIONS OR MORE MITIGATION SYSTEMS TO DECREASE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, BECAUSE THIS [INAUDIBLE] INCREASE ALSO.
I THINK WE HAVE OVER 400 CASES IN THE PAST I THINK WEEK AND A HALF.
IT'S HAPPENING, WILLIAMS COUNTY.
I'M SURE IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THAT TREND, WE MAY BE RECEIVING THE SAME THING FROM OUR COUNTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRAVIS COUNTY WILL DO, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD AND MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR STAFF ARE STAYING SAFE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES REMAIN OPEN.
WE DON'T WANT TO CLOSE FOR A WEEK.
WE DON'T WANT TO CLOSE FOR 10 DAYS.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE INSTRUCTION EVERY DAY.
THEREFORE, I'M BRINGING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, WHICH IS, I KNOW LAST WEEK WE APPROVED THE TEMPORARY MASK REQUIREMENT.
I THINK WE'RE BEEN A WEEK SO FAR, MORE OR LESS ALMOST A WEEK, SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS IS TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THAT MASK REQUIREMENT FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND VISITORS.
WE HAD PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO OPT OUT AND FILL UP THE FORM.
I THINK WE HAVE CLOSE TO 4,000 STUDENTS WHO OPT OUT.
WE WILL MAKE THAT OPT OUT STRICTER AND WE WILL
[02:40:03]
ALLOW FOR OUR PARENTS TO RESUBMIT AND PROVIDE FOR HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITION.WE WILL GIVE THEM ONE WEEK TO REALLY GIVE US THOSE DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR OR PROVIDE SOME DOCUMENTATION, SO WE'LL BE FLEXIBLE WITH THEM AND GIVE THEM ABOUT A WEEK TO GIVE US THE DOCUMENTATION.
STAFF ALSO WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS UNLESS ALSO THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF HEALTH ISSUE.
WE ALSO WILL GIVE US OUR STAFF ALSO SOME TIME TO PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION, NO MORE THAN A WEEK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A WEEK TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO SEE A DOCTOR OR GET THE DOCUMENTATION.
WE ALSO WILL BE PROVIDED MASK FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE OR DID NOT BRING A MASK, SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS TO ENSURE AGAIN THAT THEY HAVE THE MASK AVAILABLE.
THIS RECOMMENDATION OR THIS REQUIREMENT AGAIN WILL BE JUST STRICTLY TEMPORARILY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2021, UNLESS EXTENDED BY OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE ARE REALLY HOPING THAT THE NEXT THREE WEEKS WE'LL SEE A DECREASE IN THE CASES AND WE SEE FEWER AND FEWER OF OUR STUDENTS' CASES, I GUESS IN OUR CAMPUSES.
MAYBE BY THAT TIME WE CAN JUST DECIDE TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
THE MASK WILL BE REQUIRED INDOORS ONLY.
IF THEY ARE IN THE CAFETERIA EATING LUNCH, OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL HAVE TO REMOVE THOSE MASKS.
MASKS MAY BE REMOVED FOR ACTIVITIES DURING ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COACH, DIRECTOR, OR INSTRUCTOR.
WE ALSO WANT TO ADD TO THAT, THAT OUR TEACHERS ALSO WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A LOT OF MASK BREAKS IF THEY SEE APPROPRIATE; WHEN IT'S SAFE TO DO SO.
THEY CAN PROVIDE THOSE MASK BREAKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IF IT'S DEEMED SAFE.
THAT WAY OUR STUDENTS CAN TALK AND DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO WITHOUT WEARING MASKS.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SAY IN CONCLUSION THAT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE LIKE US DON'T LIKE TO WEAR MASK.
I DON'T LIKE TO WEAR MASK MYSELF, BUT I'M WEARING IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE, BUT ALSO OUR SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN.
THAT'S REALLY THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF YOU. LEANDER [INAUDIBLE].
JUST AS I SAID EARLIER, THEY RECEIVED THAT LETTER AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE NEXT. THAT'S THE ONLY THING.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE CLOSING OUR CAMPUSES OR OUR DISTRICT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE INSTRUCTION EVERY DAY.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR. I'M REALLY CONFUSED WHY WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS MEETING.
PRESIDENT WEIR, CAN YOU JUST INFORM ME WHO CALLED FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT? CAN WE GET THAT ON THE RECORD, PLEASE?
>> TRUSTEES ZHAO AND HARRISON AND DR. AZAIEZ.
>> THANK YOU. WE SPENT NINE HOURS ON THIS TOPIC LAST MONDAY.
IT WAS A BRUTAL EXERCISE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ENDURED IT.
FOR WHATEVER REASON WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO, I GUESS TRY TO SNATCH DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY.
LAST MONDAY WE FOUND A LAWFUL COMMON SENSE MIDDLE GROUND.
THE FEEDBACK THAT I WAS GETTING FROM ACROSS THE CAMPUSES IS THAT PEACE WAS BREAKING OUT ACROSS ROUND ROCK ISD.
THAT MASKED AND UNMASKED PERSONS WERE SOMEHOW FINDING A WAY TO COEXIST.
BUT I GUESS IN THIS BOARDROOM, WE CAN'T FIND THAT.
I'M GOING TO PIVOT TO THE LEGAL STUFF.
I HAVE HERE A LETTER FROM KEN PAXTON DATED AUGUST 17TH, NOTIFYING ROUND ROCK ISD THAT, "WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY AND BEAR COUNTY STAY, THAT LOCAL ORDERS PURPORTING TO ENJOIN THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY MAY NOT BE ENFORCED WHILE THE COURT CONSIDERS THE UNDERLYING MERITS OF THESE CASES.
MY OFFICE WILL PURSUE FURTHER LEGAL ACTION INCLUDING ANY AVAILABLE INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES, PENALTIES, AND SANCTIONS INCLUDING CONTEMPT OF COURT AVAILABLE AT LAW AGAINST ANY LOCAL JURISDICTION AND ITS EMPLOYEES THAT PERSIST IN ENFORCING LOCAL MASK MANDATES AND VIOLATION OF GA-38 AND ANY APPLICABLE COURT ORDER." THAT'S DATED AUGUST 17TH.
THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE TRAVIS COUNTY ORDER.
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENT DATED 17 AUGUST FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IN IT, AS MISS WELLS SAID, THERE IS BASICALLY A THREAT TO SUE US.
I'VE GOT THE ELECTED AG THREATENING TO SUE ME IF I FORCE CHILDREN TO WEAR MASK.
I'VE GOT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THREATENING TO SUE ME
[02:45:01]
IF I DON'T FORCE THEM TO WEAR THE MASK.I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY JUDGE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, BILL GRAVELL, AND I ASKED HIM, HEY, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? HE'S TELLING ME VIA EMAIL, "THERE ARE NO MASK MANDATES IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, AND NO OTHER COUNTY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE IT." I ALSO HAVE HERE A DOCUMENT THAT DOCTOR AZAIEZ REPLIED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN HE RECEIVED THE THREAT OF LEGAL LITIGATION, IN WHICH DOCTOR AZAIEZ CITES THE OPT-OUT PROVISION THAT THIS BOARD PASSED LAST MONDAY TO ASSURE THE AG THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS HERE.
>> POINT OF ORDER, PRESIDENT. ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT TRUSTEE WESTON IS BRINGING UP OCCURRED BEFORE THIS LAST DAY THAT TOOK ALL OF THESE DECISIONS MADE MUTE WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THE GA-38 COULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
EVERYTHING THAT TRUSTEE WESTON IS BRINGING UP IS A MUTE POINT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. THE AUGUST 17TH LETTER CAME BEFORE THE AUGUST 19TH DECISION BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CASES, AS WELL AS THE TEAS UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.
THOSE PREDATED THE AUGUST 19TH DECISIONS BY THE SUPREME COURT IN DEA.
>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY.
THERE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY HAVE STAYED THE DALLAS COUNTY AND BEAR COUNTY TROS, AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS THEY HAVE REFERRED THE TRAVIS COUNTY TRO BACK TO THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE OVER 80 TROS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE SUPREME COURT HAS ELECTED TO TAKE THE FIRST TWO.
IT HAS REFERRED ALL OF THE OTHERS BACK TO THE COURTS OF APPEALS.
IF THEY TOOK ALL 80, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO REASON TO HAVE COURTS OF APPEALS.
I DON'T SEE HOW ANY THING ON THAT MATTER HAS CHANGED ANYTHING REGARDING OUR LEGAL FOOTING.
>> THE GOVERNOR ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO DO IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WHAT THEY DID DECIDE TO DO IN DALLAS AND BEAR COUNTY, AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID NO.
THAT'S WHAT THEY, SAY WHETHER YOU CALL IT A DECISION, IT WASN'T A WRITTEN DECISION, BUT THEY DECLINED TO OFFER THE RELIEF THAT HE REQUESTED.
>> THEY REFERRED THEM TO THIRD COURT OF APPEALS, CORRECT?
>> THE ORDER JUST SAYS DECLINED.
>> OKAY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS REFERRED TO THE THIRD COURT OF APPEAL SO THE SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED NO RULINGS THAT ALL THEY HAVE DONE THAT WOULD EVEN POINT TO A RULING IS THEIR STAY THAT THEY ORDERED A WEEK AGO, SUNDAY ON THE DALLAS COUNTY AND BEAR COUNTY ORDERS.
BUT TO THE TEA GUIDANCE HERE, IT DOES SAY THAT UNMASKS, THIS IS ALSO A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENT FOR THOSE LISTENING.
IT SAYS, "PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE FROM TEA, AUGUST 19TH, 2021." IT SAYS THAT, "PLEASE NOTE MASK PROVISIONS GA30 ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED AS THE RESULT OF ONGOING LITIGATION." THE WAY I READ THAT, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DOES THE TEA TELL THE ELECTED WILLIAMSON COUNTY LEADERS THAT DO THEY STAND IN JUDGMENT OR CAN THEY DIRECT ELECTED WILLIAMSON COUNTY LEADERS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO? THE WAY I READ THIS IS THAT THE TEA IS STAYING OUT OF THIS MATTER AS IT'S BEING LITIGATED.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT I'VE READ, THERE IS NOTHING THAT HAS CHANGED.
THE FACT THAT ONE TRO CHALLENGE HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING FROM LAST MONDAY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] CAN WE GET A CLARIFICATION ON THAT? I THINK MS. WELLS SAID EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE, BUT IS THERE A QUESTION THAT YOU'RE ASKING?
>> YEAH, WHY ARE WE HERE? ULTIMATELY, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
>> BECAUSE MS. WELLS IS SAYING EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASSERTING.
THE AUGUST 19TH, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT SHE JUST SAID IS THAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT IS NOT GOING TO EVEN DEAL WITH, THEY'VE DECLINED TO DEAL WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY TRO'S.
THOSE TROS STAND IN EFFECT, IT'S GONE BACK DOWN.
I'M SURE IT'S NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS.
IT'S PROBABLY THE TRIAL COURT, IF THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE HEARING ARGUMENTS.
>> THEN TONIGHT ARE WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT TRAVIS COUNTY SCHOOLS? CAN WE GET CLARITY ON THAT?
>> CITY OF AUSTIN. YOU BRING UP THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALSO AS ONE.
>> CAN I JUST SAY THAT I ASKED THE AG ABOUT THIS, SOMEBODY IN HIS OFFICE AND IT IS ACTUALLY EXACTLY WHAT TRUSTEE WESTERN SAID THAT THEY JUST ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO INCLUDE THE TRAVIS COUNTY ONE WITH THE DALLAS AND BAXTER COUNTY.
BUT THE SUPREME COURT SAID, "NO, YOU'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH, THEY'RE NOT SIMILAR ENOUGH CASES." SO WE'RE GOING TO DENY THAT.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOLS, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MANDATING MASK IN THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S LITERALLY A TECHNICALITY THAT WE'RE SENDING IT BACK TO THE LOWER-LEVEL COURTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN LAW AND ORDER, AND IT WILL MAKE ITS WAY BACK TO
[02:50:02]
THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE THEY COULD BRING IT BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT.YEAH. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE TO PAUSE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE MAY NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION TONIGHT BECAUSE WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT CHANGES, I THINK MAYBE WHERE OTHER TRUSTEES MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL ABOUT THIS.
>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WHEN IT COMES TO LITIGATION.
I MAY HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH AND PRESENT WHERE YOU'RE CITING CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE ONLY THING I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT, THIS IS TRAVIS COUNTY ORDER.
>> AFTER THAT IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN ONE.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES?
>> AM I JUST LIMITED TO QUESTIONS, MADAM PRESIDENT?
>> YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO QUESTIONS, BUT WE'RE AT THE QUESTION POINT AND THE ASSERTION WE JUST MADE THAT SOME TRUSTEES MAY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, I MEAN, I NEED CLARITY.
AT ONE POINT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS MS. WELLS OR DR. AZAIZ, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THAT THERE'S AN ANTI MASK PROVISION IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT'S FACTUALLY INCORRECT.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S GA38 IS VERY CLEAR.
A GOVERNMENT ENTITY CANNOT COMPEL SOMEBODY TO WEAR A MASK.
ANTI MASK, THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOU WON'T ALLOW SOMEBODY TO WEAR A MASK.
>> TO CLARIFY, I MEANT TO SAY ANTI MASK MANDATE, MY APOLOGIES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY IT WAS THAT WILCO IS NOT ABLE TO ENFORCE GA38.
WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE COUNTY ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY WHO SENT US A LETTER AND SAID, WE ARE ENFORCING GA38.
THEN TODAY I'M BEING TOLD BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY CAN'T ENFORCE GA38.
I WOULD REALLY BEG FOR A PAUSE.
I MOVE THAT WE NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS REGARDING ANY CHANGES TO MASK POLICIES THAT WERE APPROVED ON AUGUST 16TH IN THIS ROOM BY THIS BOARD UNTIL WE GET A DECISION FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS TO PROVIDE DIRECTION. THAT'S MY MOTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ACTION.
>> IS THERE A SECOND PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT? I NEED A SECOND ON THAT.
OKAY, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, MS. HARRISON, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DO NO ACTION TONIGHT UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT MAKES A DECISION.
>> THESE WILD SWINGS IN POLICY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE.
WE ARE FAILING WHEN WE'RE GIVING THE GREEN LIGHT, THEN WE GIVE THE RED LIGHT, THEN WE GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT, THEN WE GIVE THE RED LIGHT.
MANDATES FROM ON HIGH FROM OUT OF TOUCH, DICTATORS DO NOT AGE WELL IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS, AND I WOULD BEG THAT WE STOP BECAUSE I'VE GOT A PILE OF DOCUMENTS HERE FROM DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTY IN THE CITY.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS STOP TORTURING OUR COMMUNITY, LET'S WAIT FOR A SUPREME COURT DECISION. THAT IS MY ASK.
>> TO THAT POINT. THIS IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE BELIEVE IN LOCAL CONTROL HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR IS FOR US TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR OUR DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AS SUCH, DR. ZHAO AND I REACHED OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING.
WE HAVE PEOPLE SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT TO BE ON LAW SCHOOL, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE UNLAWFUL," YET NOW WE'RE VIOLATING THE TRAVERSE QUARTER.
ON ONE HAND, IT'S WE DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO MANDATES FROM ON HIGH WHEN OUR GOVERNOR, WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR LOCAL CONTROL IS MANDATING THAT WE CAN'T DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
I LOOKED BACK AT OUR CODE OF ETHICS.
IT SAYS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BASE DECISIONS ON FACT RATHER THAN SUPPOSITION, OPINION, OR PUBLIC FAVOR.
I LOVE GETTING INPUT FROM COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE, AND WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITIES THAT HAVE TOLD US WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I WOULD LOVE TO CALL THE PANEL AND JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON IT.
[02:55:02]
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT THIS TIME.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, 5, 2 WILL CALL THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> POINT OF ORDER. HOW DID TRUSTEE VESTERN VOTE? I DIDN'T CATCH IT, THAT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY.
WE CAN VOTE AGAIN. ALTHOUGH [OVERLAPPING].
>> SHE RAISED IT FOR OR AGAINST?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DO NOTHING TO CHANGE THE VOTE OF THIS BOARD ON AUGUST 16TH UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT MAKES A FINAL DECISION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION FAILS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT?
>> CAN YOU ANNOUNCE HOW IT FAILED.
>> PRESIDENT, WE ARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS THIS IS THE ONE WARNING FOR THE WHOLE ROOM.
THE OFFICERS WILL ESCORT THE NEXT PERSON OUT.
OKAY. GOODBYE, MA'AM. YOU HAVE TO GO.
>> PRESIDENT WEIR CAN YOU ANNOUNCE WHAT THE VOTE WAS?
>> CAN YOU ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE?
>> THIS MAN HAS MADE COMMENTS UNDER HIS MASK BUT I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING.
YOU'RE GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE HE IS SIDING WITH YOU.
>> MA'AM, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S SAYING AND I DIDN'T HEAR.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID TO ME? DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID TO ME?
>> BUT I HAVE TO BE ESCORTED OUT, RIGHT?
>> YOU GUYS ARE A DISGRACE, AND I HOPE YOU GET VOTED OUT DISGRACEFUL [INAUDIBLE].
>> PLEASE, NO MORE COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
THE VOTE WAS TWO FOR THE MOTION, FIVE AGAINST THE MOTION.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAD TWO TO FIVE ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A LEGAL QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL SITUATION.
CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR ENFORCEMENT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE BECAUSE I KNOW HOW THINGS WERE BEFORE.
BEFORE WHEN A CHILD WOULD NOT COMPLY, WHEN A FAMILY WOULD NOT COMPLY, THEY WERE PUT INTO THE VIRTUAL OPTION.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT REALLY ANYMORE FOR ALL GRADES AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT WE COULD ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IN IF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SEEMINGLY DO NOT WANT THIS, EVEN IF IT'S JUST A NINE PERCENT.
I JUST WAS WONDERING, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS PROVISION?
>> THAT WOULD BE THE MASK-WEARING IF THE BOARD APPROVES TODAY, IT'S PRETTY MUCH WOULD BE REINFORCED LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S CALLED PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL START BY TALKING TO THE STUDENT, TALKING TO OUR PARENTS, TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE IF THERE IS SOME SITUATIONS.
REMEMBER, WE STILL HAVE THE EXCEPTIONS, RIGHT.
IF THEY HAVE SOME MEDICAL OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A WEEK FOR OUR PARENTS TO ALSO PROVIDE US WITH THE DOCUMENTATION.
IF THEY DO, OBVIOUSLY, THEY WILL STILL IN THE OPT-OUT LIST.
BUT IT WILL BE REINFORCED LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
DO WE WANT TO SUSPEND STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WEARING MASKS? OF COURSE NOT. WE WANT TO TRY TO WORK WITH OUR PARENTS AND WITH THEM.
WE'RE ASKING FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND THAT WE ALSO MINIMIZE IN THE SPREAD.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR A WEEK OR TWO, OR OUR DISTRICT TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR A WEEK OR TWO.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARENTS AND DOING AS MANY ACCOMMODATION AS WE NEED.
>> WHAT COULD AN ACCOMMODATION LOOK LIKE? COULD AN ACCOMMODATION LOOK LIKE PROVIDING A SIX FEET OF DISTANCE SO THAT IF A PERSON IS JUST LIKE I REALLY CANNOT, I DON'T HAVE A MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASON, BUT I JUST CANNOT LEARN WITH THE MASK ON.
THAT WE COULD FIND AN ACCOMMODATION WHERE THEY JUST SIT SIX FEET AWAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO MASK.
COULD THAT BE AN ACCOMMODATION?
>> IT COULD BE SOCIAL DISTANCING, IT COULD BE, AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE DESK SHIELDS.
[03:00:01]
WE HAVE ALSO THOSE FACE SHIELDS AS WELL.THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS WE CAN UTILIZE WORKING WITH OUR PARENTS, WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR TEACHERS TO ACCOMMODATE IF THAT'S NEEDED.
AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO SUSPEND STUDENTS.
OUR GOAL IS JUST TO TRY TO PROTECT ALL OF THEM AND MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
>> THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE MY DESIRE IS TO TRY TO FIND SOME TYPE OF WAY THAT WE CAN MITIGATE SPREAD BUT STILL ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN.
BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR A LOT OF CHILDREN, WEARING A MASK IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THEIR LEARNING AND FOR LITTLE ONES TOO, THERE IS TRUTH TO THE FACT THAT IF THEY CAN'T SEE PEOPLE'S MOUTHS.
IT'S HARD SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO, TO ONE, KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO MITIGATE SPREAD.
BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT KIDS CAN LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAN LEARN IN.
I'M NOT DENYING THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T BREATHE.
I'M NOT SAYING, THIS IS EVERYBODY.
OUR SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE OKAY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EVERYBODY IN THE CLASS.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THIS CONCEPT OF PUTTING CERTAIN STUDENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CLASS.
BUT I THINK THAT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
THERE'S NO PERFECT SOLUTIONS HERE.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.
WHILE THERE CAN BE GOOD ARGUMENTS MADE THAT CHILDREN ARE THE LEAST AFFECTED IN TERMS OF COVID, THERE IS A VERY GOOD ARGUMENT THAT SCHOOLS CAN BE VECTORS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT WE COULD HAVE ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHERE IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANOTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCY UNRELATED TO COVID, THEY MAY NOT BE TREATED BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPACE AVAILABLE TO TREAT THEM OR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS BOTH NEEDS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
>> I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE THING AGAIN, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY THING.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER WITHIN THREE WEEKS AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME BACK AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING EVEN MORE FLEXIBLE, I GUESS THAT WILL PROPOSAL TONIGHT.
AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, MINIMIZE THE SPREAD, AND KEEP OUR CAMPUSES OPEN.
>> CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CONCEPT OF HOW EFFECTIVE THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES WE'RE USING OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS ARE, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DISTRICTS NEIGHBORING TO US IN THE SAME SITUATION IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY SPREAD WITH DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS AND SEE IF, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE PERSON WHO SAID THAT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF OPT-OUTS AND THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES WAS VERY REVEALING.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT DATA THAT I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION IN TERMS OF WHETHER OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE ACTUALLY WORKING.
BECAUSE THE GOAL IS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
BUT IF WHAT WE'RE DOING ISN'T WORKING, THEN WE NEED TO CHANGE COURSE AND FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO PUT FORWARD.
I DON'T WANT US TO END UP BACK IN THE SAME SITUATION AS WE WERE WITH THE LAST MEETING.
I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS NECESSARILY TIME FOR APPEASEMENT AND IT PAINS ME TO SAY THOSE WORDS.
BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE WANT TO GAIN FEEDBACK AND WE WANT TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO HERE IN THIS INSTANCE.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.
I DON'T THINK THAT LOSE MANDATES WITH EASILY NAVIGATED ACCOMMODATIONS, HONOR THE TRAVIS COUNTY BORDER, I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AND REQUEST THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO OPT-OUT [NOISE] OR NEED ACCOMMODATIONS, GO THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED 504 ACCOMMODATION PROCESS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF MOVING PARTS AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW THINGS.
[03:05:02]
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATION ABOUT VIRTUAL ON BOTH THE PARENT SIDE AND THE TEACHER SIDE.I THINK THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WELL ENOUGH AND ENGAGE TEACHERS IN PLANNING EARLY AND OFTEN AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, THAT'S NOTHING NEW.
THERE ARE LOTS OF FRUSTRATIONS THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING.
HOWEVER, IF WE KEEP GOING AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE GOING NOW, WE WILL NO LONGER BE DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A MASK MANDATE OR NOT.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE CLOSING OUR SCHOOLS.
I SAW THE NUMBERS IN OUR DISTRICT RISE FROM 154 FROM WHEN I LOOKED AT SOME POINT EARLIER TODAY TO OVER 200 CASES.
AUSTIN ISD HAD 100,000 STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE HAD A MASK MANDATE FROM THE BEGINNING.
HOW DID THEY HAVE 100,000 STUDENTS AND HAVE LESS POSITIVE CASES THAN WE DO? THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DEDUCT FROM THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO DRAW US BACK TO.
WE'RE NOT HERE FOR PUBLIC FAVOR.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE FOR MASKS OR AGAINST MASKS.
LIKE I SAID, IT PAINS ME TO SAY THAT BECAUSE NORMALLY I REALLY CARE, AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I'M NOT MAKING THIS DECISION BASED ON PEOPLE'S FEELINGS OR BASED ON DISCOMFORT.
I'M MAKING MY DECISION BASED ON WHAT THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES HAVE SAID, THE CDC, THE AAP, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITIES, AND THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH WE RELY ON THOSE WHO KNOW THE MOST ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT, MAYBE THIS COULD HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION AROUND THIS.
BUT, WHEN YOU'RE A TEACHER, WHEN YOU START THE YEAR, OFTENTIMES YOU START REALLY TOUGH.
EVEN IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE BIG, SOFTY TEACHERS THAT'S REALLY CONGENIAL AND IS A PRETTY MILD MANNER.
YOU START TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO EASE UP THAN IT IS TO CONTINUE TO IMPOSE MORE SANCTIONS AS TIME GOES ALONG.
I FEEL LIKE PERHAPS WE'RE ALREADY FAILING OUR WIDER COMMUNITY.
THE R-NAUGHT OF DELTA IS, AND THAT MEANS THE NUMBER OF CASES, ONE PERSON TYPICALLY IMPACTS AND INFECTS 5-9.5 PEOPLE.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LOW END OF THAT NUMBER FROM WHERE WE STARTED LAST FRIDAY, AND I HAD A TEACHER ASKED ME, SO WE HAVE 85 CASES LAST FRIDAY.
HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE MASKED STUDENTS AND HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE UNMASKED? AT THAT JUNCTURE, IT PROBABLY DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE 85 POSITIVE CASES, ON THE THIRD DAY OF SCHOOL MEAN THAT'S LIKELY 85 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO CAME TO SCHOOL THE FIRST DAY POSITIVE.
IF WE LOOK AT THE R-NAUGHT VALUE ON THE LOWEST END, FIVE TIMES 85 OR 74, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER WAS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY 400 CASES BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE HIGH END OF THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT 800, 900 CASES BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES REQUESTS TO CLOSE CAMPUSES AND CLOSE THE DISTRICT TO CONTROL COMMUNITY SPREAD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO FEAR MONGER.
I'M BEING REALISTIC ABOUT HOW WE KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND WE PRIORITIZE FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, THAT I'M NOT AFRAID TO LEARN SOMETHING.
LAST YEAR GOING BACK IN PERSON, I WAS REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.
I WAS EXTREMELY HESITANT EVEN WITH ALL THE GUIDELINES IN PLACE.
BUT WHAT I LEARNED OVER TIME WAS THAT THOSE GUIDELINES AND THOSE MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE LAST YEAR TRULY KEPT STUDENTS SAFE AND TEACHERS SAFE.
>> MISS FELLER. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
I NEED JUST A RECLARIFICATION ON THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE.
IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY, TRO THAT IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT MAKES GA 38 UNENFORCEABLE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> OKAY. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN VIOLATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY LAW.
>> AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, GA 38 DOES NOT APPLY.
>> THE ANTI-MASK MANDATE PROVISION IS NOT ABLE TO BE ENFORCED.
THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS OF GA 38 THAT ARE, BUT THE ANTI-MASK MANDATE PROVISION IS NOT ENFORCEABLE AT THIS TIME BASED ON THE TEA GUIDANCE AND THE SUPREME COURT'S DENIAL OF RELIEF REQUESTED BY PAXTON.
>> EIGHT DAYS AGO, WE SAT HERE AND YOU SAID PICK ONE, WHICH ONE WE FOLLOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFLICTION.
BUT AS WE SIT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO CONFLICTION AND WE ARE VIOLATING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
[03:10:05]
>> OKAY. I JUST NEEDED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE IN AGREEMENT WITH TRUSTEE WESTERN, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ORDERS THAT HAVE COME OUT, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OTHER MOVEMENT ALONG THE WAY.
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT OUR STAND IS LEGALLY.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR DR. AZAIEZ.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION THAT IS IN OUR FOLDER, SAYS THAT STUDENTS, STAFF, VISITORS, AND TRUSTEES MAY REQUEST AN EXCEPTION DUE TO HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASON.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF WHAT HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASON IS?
>> HEALTH MOST LIKELY WOULD BE A DOCTOR NOTE SAYING THAT FOR MAYBE THIS STUDENT MAY HAVE SOME CONDITION AND THEY CANNOT WEAR MASKS SO THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE THE CASE FOR MEDICAL.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROBABLY ALSO ITS PRIORITY WOULD BE LIKE MORE LIKE WHAT MISS HARRISON WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO 504 ROUTE TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT CONDITION THE STUDENT MAY HAVE.
THEN BASED ON THAT, WE MAY DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO HONOR THAT REQUEST FROM OUR PARENTS OR NOT.
>> OKAY. THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
I LOVED THE 504 ROUTE, BUT AS A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND HAVING GONE THROUGH THOSE, SOMETIMES THAT PROCESS IS RATHER LENGTHY TO REQUEST 504 SERVICES, TO SCHEDULE [INAUDIBLE] MEETINGS AND WHATNOT, AND GETTING 504 ACCOMMODATIONS MAY NOT BE AS TIMELY OF RESPONSE AS WHAT WE WOULD WANT FROM OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
OBVIOUSLY WE'LL TRY TO EXPEDITE BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY MAIN NEED IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
REMEMBER, WE'VE GIVEN ALL PARENTS A WHOLE WEEK TO NOTIFY US AND SO WE CAN WORK WITH THEM AND ACCOMMODATE THEM.
>> OKAY. NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW DO PARENTS, STAFF, ETC REPORT THESE EXCEPTIONS?
>> IT'S EASIER FOR ELEMENTARY BECAUSE USUALLY, THEY MAY HAVE ONE TEACHER OR TWO TEACHERS SO IT'S EASIER FOR ELEMENTARY.
FOR SECONDARY, WE'LL PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE CONFIDENTIAL BUT SHARED ONLY WITH THOSE PARTICULAR TEACHERS WHO HAVE THE STUDENTS.
WE CAN ALSO HAVE IT IN A WAY LIKE USE OUR ESCHOOL SYSTEM.
MAYBE WE CAN DEVELOP SOMETHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE AS YOU CLICK ON THE STUDENT'S NAME, YOU CAN SEE IF THEY HAVE THE OPT-OUT OR THE EXCEPTION FOR MASKS AS WELL.
>> OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF ALLOWING AN OPTION FOR SOMEONE DUE TO HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASONS, CONCERN I HAVE ABOUT THAT IS IT FURTHER IDENTIFIES AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY AND IT REQUIRES PEOPLE TO JUSTIFY WHY THEY NEED THAT ACCOMMODATION.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THINGS THAT MAKE KIDS DIFFERENT IN ENVIRONMENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALLOWING THAT IF WE TAKE THAT DEVELOPMENTAL AND HEALTH REASON OUT ALTOGETHER, THEN THEY LOSE EVEN THAT BENEFIT.
BUT THAT DOES BOTHER ME AND IT IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS FOR IT, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT DOES BOTHER ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR CONCERN.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR DISTRICT LAST YEAR ALSO PROVIDED SOME ACCOMMODATION LIKE THIS RIGHT DR. PRESLEY? I WASN'T HERE SO MAYBE IF YOU CAN TALK HOW WE'VE DONE IT HERE.
>> YES, PARENTS HAD AN OPTION LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE MASS MANDATE TO OPT OUT FOR MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASONS AND THERE WEREN'T REALLY TO SCALE.
THERE WEREN'T REALLY THAT MANY FOLKS WHO DID THAT, BUT THERE WAS AN AVENUE TO DO THAT LAST YEAR.
>> OKAY. THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS HAD LAST YEAR ABOUT MASKS AS TALKING ABOUT OPT-OUT OPTIONS FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASONS.
I'M GLAD THAT THOSE THAT HAD NEEDED IT, THIS IS NOT A NEW LANDSCAPE FOR THEM TO NAVIGATE.
THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU AND WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY TRUSTEE FELLOW, YOU READ UP A POINT ABOUT EVEN POSSIBLE DISCRIMINATION FROM A KID WHO HAS A MEDICAL NEED AND IT IDENTIFIES THEM.
IF YOU GUYS RECALL, WE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM A PERSON, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST SCHOOL YEAR WHO I BELIEVE SHE WAS ACTUALLY CRYING.
IT WAS A PARENT IN OUR DISTRICT AND FORTUNATELY, I KNOW THIS LADY AND I KNOW HER DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST LAST YEAR IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH REGARDS TO WEARING A MASK AND THE MASK MANDATE.
IT'S WHY I'M VERY SAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT MASKS DO NOT HURT STUDENTS, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
I WOULD HOPE THE OTHER TRUSTEES WOULD READ THEIR EMAILS.
ACTUALLY, I'LL START FORWARDING YOU ALL THE EMAILS THAT I
[03:15:02]
SEE AND I'LL MARK THEM SO THAT YOU GUYS SEE THOSE.MAYBE YOU DON'T GET TO READ THOSE OR MAYBE THEY'RE JUST SENT TO ME AND SO I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET TO SEE THEM.
WE HAD YOUNG KIDS AS TRUSTEE VESSA WAS TALKING ABOUT WE HAD YOUNG KIDS THAT JUST COULDN'T KEEP THEIR MASK ON.
I HOPE YOU GUYS REMEMBER THOSE EMAILS.
THE PARENT SAID I REALLY TRIED, HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE OFFICE AND THEN WE HAD TO REMOVE HIM FROM ROUND ROCK ISD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD TO REMOVE A KID FROM A SCHOOL, BUT THE EMOTIONAL STRESS IS CRAZY.
WE HAD EMAILS LAST YEAR AND I'M REFERENCING LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY WHAT FOUR DAYS INTO SCHOOL, FIVE DAYS.
WE ALSO HAD PEOPLE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSIONS SAYING, MY KID WANTS TO COME BACK, BUT THEY WILL NOT COME BACK.
I CAN'T DRAG A 16-YEAR-OLD, A 17-YEAR-OLD.
THEY'RE AT HOME ALONE IN THE MORNING.
THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK TO YOUR SCHOOLS.
PLEASE LET THEM NOT WEAR A MASK.
THEY'LL GET THE VACCINE AND THEY WON'T WEAR A MASK.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I BET YOU, THOSE KIDS HAVE THE VACCINE BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HEARD STORIES.
MY KID GOT THE VACCINE BECAUSE YOU GUARANTEED THEM IF THEY GOT THE VACCINE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK.
MAYBE WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL WE CAN REVERSE.
MAYBE WE CAN PULL THE VACCINE OUT OF THESE KIDS SINCE THEY GOT IT, MAYBE WE CAN FIND A WAY FOR THAT SO THAT THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE HAD THE VACCINE AND SO NOW THAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER YOUR CHILDHOOD, BUT I LOOK BACK AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THESE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT CAME UP AND YOUNG ADULTS, THEY WERE NICE TO US BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE USED WORDS LIKE HYPOCRITES, LIARS.
THEY WERE KIND TO US BECAUSE THEY USE WORDS LIKE, PLEASE GIVE STUDENTS A VOICE, LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS.
THERE'S A REASON THAT HIGH SCHOOLERS WEREN'T WEARING MASKS.
THERE'S A REASON THAT THE OPT OUT, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE OPT-OUT, THE HIGHEST LEVEL WAS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY GOT THE VACCINE.
I DIDN'T LIE TO YOU BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW I'M NOT VOTING FOR MASKS TO HIGH SCHOOLERS.
WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THESE KIDS SAID.
STUDENTS ARE RESPECTING EACH OTHER, YOU'RE NOT AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
DOCTOR AZAIEZ, YOU SAID YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU KNOW THE RIGHT THING IS AN INTERESTING THING, BECAUSE WE HAD THE STUDENTS UP HERE SAYING THE RIGHT THING IS THAT STUDENTS ARE RESPECTING EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAW ON CAMPUS.
YOU WANT TO KNOW, I HEARD THAT FROM MASKERS AND THE ANTI MASKERS.
WE HEARD FROM VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE FOR THE MASKS, VERY FEW.
THAT'S WHY I'M SURPRISED WE'RE HERE.
WE NEED TO LISTEN AND WE NEED TO WATCH AND I WILL SAY IT BECAUSE WE GET THESE AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE AND WE STILL HAVE A DOCTOR OR NURSE FROM DELL HERE.
MASK, YES, THEY CORRELATE TO MENTAL HEALTH.
DO THEY DIRECTLY CAUSE MENTAL HEALTH? NO. I'VE NEVER SAID THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU HOW MASKS CORRELATE TO HIGH SCHOOL AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SIT IN THE SEAT.
THE KIDS WILL NOT COME BACK TO IN-PERSON IF YOU MAKE THEM WEAR THE MASK.
DR. PRESLEY SAW THIS LAST YEAR.
I WISH PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD SPEAK UP THAT SAW IT.
THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND YOU HAVE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.
THIS STARTS IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.
FOR YOU THAT ARE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO BE AT HOME, AND YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, SHAME ON YOU.
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I GREW UP WITH PARENTS THAT WEREN'T THERE.
HOW DO YOU GET A SEVENTH, EIGHTH GRADER TO 12TH GRADE TO GO TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO? I'M NOT GOING TO SCHOOL WEARING A MASK, MY TEACHER'S GOING TO GIVE ME STUFF.
ALL MY TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HATE ME, I ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF STRESS IN MY LIFE.
THE LAST THING I NEED IS A MASK.
BY THE WAY, I'M PULLING THE CARD.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SCIENCE AND I JUST SIT HERE AND SMILE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT SCIENCE.
SCIENTISTS DON'T CREATE THINGS.
YOU KNOW WHO CREATES THINGS? YEAH, ENGINEERS.
LOVE YOUR ENGINEERS WHETHER YOU'RE FOUR BANDS, YOU'RE NOT, WE CREATE A LOT OF STUFF.
YOU'VE HEARD THE DATA SCIENTISTS TONIGHT.
THERE IS A VIDEO OUT THERE GOING VIRAL AND IT'S AN ENGINEER. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S SAYING, MASK, DON'T WORRY, GET FILTRATION.
HERE'S THE THING, I ACTUALLY CAN'T TELL YOU IF MASKS WORK OR NOT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T DONE THE STUDIES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE STUDIES AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF MASKS WORK OR NOT.
THEN I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS, THEY DO HURT CHILDREN.
[03:20:01]
THAT'S WHY WE DID LIKE WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK.WE GAVE AN OPTION TO THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS, AND WE'RE RIPPING THAT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM.
LAW, NO LAW, I REALLY DON'T CARE.
I WANT TO READ THE YOUNG LADY THAT CAME.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TAKE THIS TO HEART.
I DON'T KNOW, SHE'S PROBABLY A SECOND, THIRD GRADER, REMEMBER HER? MASK FEEL WORSE THAN WHEN I HAD COVID.
I'LL SHOW YOU THAT MY OWN DAUGHTER SAID, I WON'T GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
BEFORE YOU GUYS VOTE TONIGHT, I WANT EACH OF YOU TO GIVE ME SOME PARENTING ADVICE.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ME HOW I GET MY DAUGHTER TO GO TO SCHOOL WHEN SHE'S TELLING ME SHE'S NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
YOU GUYS LEARNED ALL THIS IN A WEEK? I GET TO FIGURE HOW TO EDUCATE MY DAUGHTER.
MAYBE DR. AZIZ, YOU CAN TELL ME.
HOW DO I GET MY DAUGHTER TO GO BACK? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ASKING, IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK.
I'M NOT SENDING HER BACK AND MAKING THE TEACHERS DO IT.
THEY ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH JOBS.
SHAME ON US BY THE WAY, WE'RE SITTING HERE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS LIKE, OH, THESE ARE SO EASY.
HEY, WE'RE GOING TO EXPEDITE THESE 504S AND THESE HEALTH FORUMS. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
DO WE HAVE THE STAFF DR. AZIZ? I'VE HEARD WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED.
I HAVE TO GET E-MAILS, WE'RE HAVING TO PULL TEACHERS.
IT'S ALREADY CRAZINESS WITH VIRTUAL.
DO WE HAVE THE STAFF TO EXPEDITE ALL THE HEALTH FORUMS? SAY WE HAD 4,600 HEALTH FORUMS, DO WE HAVE THE STAFF TO EXPEDITE THOSE IN A WEEK?
>> THE PLAN IS TO HAVE IT HANDLED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
MOST OF THOSE FORUMS WILL BE HANDLED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL, SO THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL ALONG WITH A NURSE AND ETC.
THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT ALL THAT INFORMATION.
>> EACH CAMPUS HAS ONE NURSE, RIGHT? MOST OF ELEMENTARIES, ONE NURSE? THEY HAVE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH? I'M JUST ASKING.
DO WE HAVE THE BANDWIDTH, TO EXPEDITE?
>> DR. [INAUDIBLE], I RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THIS IS AN UNCHARTED WATERS FOR ALL OF US.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT IT TO BE IN THIS POSITION ON THIS PLACE.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN REALLY TO NAVIGATE, AGAIN, THE SAFETY, THIS VIRUS, THIS DELTA VARIANT.
NOTHING IS GOING TO BE PERFECT BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE IT.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO MANEUVER AROUND IT AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ENSURE, AGAIN, THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND OUR CAMPUSES ARE OPEN.
OBVIOUSLY, WHILE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY GETTING TO THESE FORUMS. YES. BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DON'T HAVE A YES OR NO ON IF WE HAVE ENOUGH.
I UNDERSTAND. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> CAN WE HAVE OTHER TRUSTEES?
>> EXCUSE ME. POINT OF ORDER, PLEASE.
THERE'S MANY TIMES TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE], THAT WE SAT AND LISTEN TO YOU SO.
I REALLY NEED ASSERTION, AND I APPRECIATE, TRUSTEE FELLER.
SHE HAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME QUESTION, BUT IT WAS IN DIFFERENT FORUM AND I THINK YOU MIGHT GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER.
I'M REPHRASING IT, ASKING AND AGAIN, UNTIL THEY GO.
NTA, THEY SAY THE MASK PROVISIONS OF GA 38 ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED AS A RESULT OF ONGOING LITIGATION.
GA 38 IS STILL LAW, RIGHT? GA 38 OVERALL IS STILL IN PLACE.
YOU ALREADY SAID OTHER PROVISIONS OF THAT ARE STILL IN PLACE.
>> RIGHT. THE REST OF GA 38 I BELIEVE IS STILL IN EFFECT EXCEPT FOR THE MASK PROVISION.
>> RIGHT. IT'S ACTUALLY GA 38 IS IN EFFECT?
>> THIS PART OF GA 38 IS JUST NOT BEING ENFORCED.
>> RIGHT. THE MASK PROVISION IS NOT BEING ENFORCED.
>> RIGHT. BECAUSE OF ONGOING LITIGATION.
>> IF GA 38 LITIGATION GOES THE WAY OF THE GOVERNOR, MASS MANDATE, CAN'T HAVE THOSE, THEN WE AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TO END THIS IF WE DO A MANDATE? IS THAT HOW THAT WOULD WORK?
>> TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] CAN I JUST ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE?
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
WHEN WE WERE ON THE BREAK, I RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM A HIGH LEVEL TEA OFFICIAL.
WANTING TO MAKE IT CLEAR, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS MEETING TONIGHT THAT THIS BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT TEA IS NOT THE ENFORCER OF ANY PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES FROM ANY OF THESE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KNEW THAT.
I THINK YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT TEA AND YOU'RE ASKING ME ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF GA 38.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS BECAUSE THIS IS
[03:25:02]
ALL TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] AND I KEEP TALKING ABOUT, GOOD GOVERNANCE.GOOD GOVERNANCE DOESN'T EBB AND FLOW.
IT DOESN'T JUST GO WITH THE WIND [NOISE].
FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT STILL ELUDES ME, I REALLY STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DR. AZIZ HAD TO PUT OUT A VERY DIVISIVE STATEMENT, WHICH BY THE WAY, YOU MADE A COMMENT IN THAT DIVISIVE STATEMENT THAT MOST OF OUR ROUND ROCK ISD COMMUNITY HAS COMMITTED TO DO THEIR PART.
YOU SIR, RIGHT THERE, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PEOPLE, MOST.
IF YOU'RE JUDGING ME BECAUSE I'M WEARING A MASK OR NOT WEARING A MASK, YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT WEARING A MASK.
I HAVE A FRIEND, HER DAUGHTER CANNOT WEAR A MASK, SHE'LL DIE.
I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR SOME OF YOU TO ACCEPT, BUT IT'S THE REALITY THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING. YOU KNOW WHAT? HONESTLY, FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT GET COVID, GUESS WHAT? THEY CAN'T WEAR A MASK RIGHT AFTERWARDS.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER HE SAYS, BE NICE TO OUR NEIGHBOR.
IF YOU'RE NOT WEARING A MASK, THERE'S PROBABLY A REASON.
GOOD FOR YOU. YOU'RE WEARING A MASK.
WE ALL ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING TO DO OUR PART.
BUT PLEASE WATCH OUT WITH THE DIVISIVE STATEMENTS.
>> I HAVE THREE OTHER TRUSTEES THAT HAVE THEIR LIGHTS ON. DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
MAYBE THIS IS FOR OTHER TRUSTEES, MAYBE DR. AZIZ.
BUT WE'RE TALKING TONIGHT ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL.
I'VE HEARD THAT FROM TRUSTEE HARRISON.
WELL, WHAT DOES LOCAL CONTROL REALLY MEAN? SURE IT'S A CATCH PHRASE, I'M NOT GOING TO USE IT.
BUT WHAT IS LOCAL CONTROL? ARE WE LOCAL CONTROL?
THAT'S WHAT THESE PARENTS ARE HERE BEGGING YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LOCAL CONTROL.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEIR, BECAUSE THAT GOES TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY AND AUSTIN TOTALLY OVERSTEPPING GETTING OUT OF THEIR LANE.
THEY'VE NEVER MANDATED WHAT WE DO IN THE SCHOOLS LIKE THIS.
WHY THEY ADDED SCHOOL BUSES, OR HAVE THEY?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY TODAY THAT I DID A WEEK AGO.
THIS BOARD WAS ELECTED TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CITY, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE COUNTY, IT NOT BE THE STATE, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD, IS THEN WHEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY WANT THE LOCAL CONTROL.
WHAT WE'RE TELLING THE STATE, WHAT WE'RE TELLING GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WHAT YOU ALL ARE TELLING GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS WHAT THE PARENTS ARE HERE TELLING YOU.
THEY'RE THEIR OWN LITTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT RIGHT IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEY'RE SAYING, WE WANT OUR LOCAL CONTROL.
I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO TAKE THAT TO HEART, BECAUSE THAT IS FOR LOCAL CONTROL.
HONESTLY, WHAT I'M GIVING EVERYBODY, YOU CAN CONTROL WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR HOUSE.
I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR HOUSE.
I DON'T WANT TO CONTROL WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR HOUSE.
>> WELL, MOST TRUSTEES HAVE TALKED.
I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, AND THIS GOES BACK TO TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE], WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE], WE GOT A GOOD ANSWER.
BUT WHO'S GOING TO SAY WHAT MEDICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS? WHERE'S THAT AT TONIGHT? HOW CAN WE VOTE ON THIS? EVEN IF I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS, GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS THAT WAS BROUGHT TONIGHT.
I DO THIS FOR A LIVING. I WRITE REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WORDING IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ANYBODY THAT VOTES FOR THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S A STATEMENT IN HERE THAT ALL STUDENTS.
WELL, IS IT REALLY ALL STUDENTS? THERE'S WORDS LIKE THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEN THERE'S TEACHERS AND COACHES MAY ALLOW MASK BREAKS AT APPROPRIATE.
WHAT DOES APPROPRIATE MEAN? WHO'S DEFINING APPROPRIATE? WE GOT INTO THIS LAST YEAR AND YOU KNOW ALL THIS DOES, CAUSE A STRESS.
WHAT DOES APPROPRIATE MEAN? WHAT DOES HEALTH MEAN? TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] YOU GOT INTO THIS.
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTAL REASON? I TOTALLY DON'T AGREE TAKING IT OUT.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS IT, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN THERE FOR HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL PURPOSES.
THE OTHER THING IS, WE DID A BIG SURVEY.
I DIDN'T SEE THE SURVEY RESULTS, SO ARE THE SURVEY RESULTS HERE FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF? I BELIEVE THAT WENT OUT YESTERDAY. DID WE GET THE RESULTS?
>> WE HAVE JANIE HERE, SHE CAN SHARE SOME INFORMATION.
[03:30:15]
>> BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KEEP THIS ANONYMOUS, WE DO KNOW THAT THIS LINK WAS SHARED AND WE SAW THAT THE PERCENTAGES CHANGED AT THAT TIME WHEN THE LINK WAS SHARED SO WE DID HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND TRY TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THE DATA.
WE HAD MULTIPLE FOLKS ACCESSING IT FROM THE SAME IP ADDRESS.
BUT THE FINAL RESULTS WERE, I'M SORRY.
THE SURVEY JUST CLOSED SO WE JUST GOT THE REPORT.
PERCENTAGE OF SURVEY RESPONSES BY STAFF, ROLE OR DEPARTMENT.
THE VAST MAJORITY WERE TEACHERS, 63 PERCENT, 52 PERCENT OF THOSE TEACHERS, THAT MASK OPT-OUT SHOULD BE RESERVED ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES, 45 PERCENT THOUGHT WE SHOULD LEAVE IT THE SAME.
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS WERE ROUGHLY THE SAME, BROKE DOWN 52 PERCENT FOR TIGHTENING THE OPT-OUT, 44 PERCENT FOR LEAVING IT THE SAME, AND THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THOSE THAT JUST SAID THEY WERE UNSURE.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF SAID 71 PERCENT THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD TIGHTEN UP THE OPT-OUT PROVISION, 27 PERCENT THOUGHT IT SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME.
CAMPUS AUXILIARY, 46 PERCENT WERE FOR TIGHTENING THE OPT-OUT, 51 PERCENT REMAIN THE SAME.
TRANSPORTATION WAS 40 PERCENT.
SO JUST ASSUME THAT THE FIRST NUMBER IS [LAUGHTER] FOR MAKING THE DATE 40 PERCENT TO 57 PERCENT CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, 55 PERCENT TO 45 PERCENT.
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION STAFF, 53 PERCENT TO 42 PERCENT.
TECHNOLOGY, 29 PERCENT TO 71 PERCENT.
FEED SERVICES, 31 PERCENT TO 69 PERCENT, MAINTENANCE, 27 PERCENT TO 64 PERCENT, CUSTODIAL, 33 PERCENT TO 67 PERCENT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THOUGH AGAIN, THERE WERE MUCH SMALLER NUMBERS IN EVERY OTHER CATEGORY OTHER THAN TEACHER AND AGAIN THIS WAS JUST COMPILED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I BELIEVE OUR BIGGEST NUMBERS THEREFORE IS TEACHERS, THOSE ARE THE LARGEST [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING THE OVERALL NUMBER BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU GUYS.
BUT IT WAS 63 PERCENT WERE TEACHERS AND THAT BREAKDOWN AGAIN WAS 52 PERCENT FOR MAKING THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND 45 PERCENT FOR LEAVING IT THE SAME, AND IF I FIND THAT OVERALL NUMBER I WILL LET YOU KNOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'LL JUST REPEAT THOSE TEACHERS, 52 PERCENT FOR THIS CHANGE TONIGHT, 45 PERCENT FOR LEAVING IT AS IT WAS.
WE GOT TO PAUSE. THAT'S 45 PERCENT OF YOUR TEACHERS.
THEY'VE ALREADY GOT A LOT GOING ON AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 52 PERCENT THAT THEY WANT THIS, PEOPLE CAN WEAR A MASK.
>> MS. FELLER, PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR LIGHTS ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. MS. FELLER DID YOU HAVE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THEM WHERE THEY'RE REAL QUICK.
I SEEM TO BE, I KNOW YOU START INTERRUPTING ME AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AS AN ENGINEER WITH SOMEBODY WITH DYSLEXIA, EVERY TIME SOMEBODY INTERRUPTS ME LIKE YOU DO, IT MAKES ME RESET AND BE LIKE WHERE WAS I? SO JUST MAYBE FOR FUTURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, INTERRUPTING TRUSTEES.
I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT TO KEEP THE MEETING GOING BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION TONIGHT BECAUSE I WILL END IT WITH THIS.
ME AND MY FAMILY WILL NOT BE WEARING A MASK AND I HOPE YOU JOIN ME.
MS. FELLER, I WILL SAY THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I SAID THIS LAST MONDAY AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CHARGED WITH BALANCING PERSONAL FREEDOMS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
HAVING SAID THAT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND TEMPORARILY REQUIRE MASKS FOR ALL STUDENTS, STAFF, TRUSTEES, AND VISITORS, INDOORS AT ALL DISTRICT FACILITIES AND ON DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION WHEN MAINTAINING SIX FEET OF DISTANCE IS NOT POSSIBLE.
THIS MANDATE IS NOT EFFECTIVE WHEN SEATED IN SCHOOL AND STAFF LUNCH ROOMS, TEACHERS AND COACHES MAY ALLOW MASK BREAKS AS APPROPRIATE INCLUDING DURING RIGOROUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DURING ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
STUDENTS, STAFF, VISITORS, AND TRUSTEES MAY REQUEST AN EXCEPTION DUE TO A HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASON.
THIS MANDATE IS EFFECTIVE BEGINNING AT 12:01 AM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH.
IS THAT THE RIGHT DATE? TODAY IS THE 24TH [OVERLAPPING].
OH, YES, SO IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE FOR TOMORROW SCHOOL.
SORRY. THIS MANDATE IS EFFECTIVE BEGINNING AT 12:01 AM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2021 AND SHALL EXPIRE AT 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2021.
[03:35:01]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY THAT.
>> I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.
>> YOU SECOND FOR CALL THE QUESTION?
>> OKAY. SO WE NEED TO VOTE FOR CALL THE QUESTION.
WE NEED TO CALL THE QUESTION FIRST.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION FOR THAT?
>> I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK.
I HAVE A LOT OF SEROUS QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUITY, THE LAW.
I LACK CLARITY THAT THIS IS [OVERLAPPING].
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE SPEAK. LET'S VOTE FIRST.
>> ACTUALLY WHEN WE GET A SECOND FOR THAT, WE HAVE TO VOTE.
IF THERE'S TWO THIRDS THEN WE'LL VOTE.
IF THERE'S NO TWO THIRDS, THEN DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE AND WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I BELIEVE I GET TO AMEND THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER IS IF SHE MAKES THE MOTION, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO AMEND IT RIGHT AWAY.
[BACKGROUND] I WENT TO AMEND IT [BACKGROUND].
>> CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOUR EXPLANATION OF THIS? THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WHAT I HAVE WAS THERE WAS A MOTION BY TRUSTEE FELLER AND SHE READ THAT MOTION AND THEN IT WAS SECONDED BY TRUSTEE JOHN, I'M SORRY, AND THEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> HE SECONDED THE CALL THE QUESTION.
>> I SECONDED HER OR EITHER YOU SECONDED HER MOTION.
>> I MADE THE MOTION TRUSTEE BOND ASKED TO AMEND IT BEFORE IT RECEIVED A SECOND, THEN IT RECEIVED A SECOND, THEN I CALLED THE QUESTION AND I GOT A SECOND.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THE MAIN MOTION ON THE FLOOR HAVE THE SECOND AND THEN DISCUSSION COULD OCCUR BUT A CALL TO THE QUESTION WAS RAISED.
THEN WE HAD A SECOND TO THAT, SO THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO COME FIRST BEFORE THE MAIN MOTION AND TAKE A VOTE ON THAT FIRST AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MAIN MOTION AND THEN DEAL WITH THE AMENDMENT IF THAT'S GOING TO BE RAISED TO THE MAIN MOTION.
>> WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION, WORKING OUR WAY DOWN THAT LIST.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CALLING THE QUESTION RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? IT PASSES FOUR THREE ACTUALLY, SO WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION.
OH, IT DOES TAKE TWO THIRDS, SO THAT'S ONLY FOUR.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION THAT HAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THIS.
[LAUGHTER] FIRST I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE DATE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO DO THIS PIECE-WISE OR THE WHOLE THING?
>> NORMALLY, YOU SHOULD AMEND IF YOU CAN, THE MAIN MOTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, WHAT WORD YOU NEED TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE WORD ALL.
>> IT WAS A RATHER LENGTHY MOTION, SO IF SOMEONE COULD BE KEEPING TRACK OF THAT.
>> IT'S THE FIRST ONE. "I MOVE THAT THE BOARD IS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND ADMINISTRATION TEMPORARY REQUIRE MASK FOR" AND THEN THAT WOULD BE THOSE STUDENTS, STAFF, TRUSTEES, VISITORS, INDOORS AT ALL DISTRICT FACILITIES, ON DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION WHEN MAINTAINING SIX FEET OF DISTANCE IS NOT POSSIBLE OR BY THEIR CHOICE. THIS IS REALLY WORDY.
THEN I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE DATE OF AUGUST 26TH TO SEPTEMBER 17TH.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE MOTION ACTUALLY IS.
>> TRUSTEE BONE IS MAKING AN AMENDED MOTION TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SHE HAS MADE SOME INDICATIONS OF WHAT SHE'D LIKE TO AMEND.
[03:40:02]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO READ WHAT THAT FINAL AMENDMENT WOULD BE, TRUSTEE BONE, SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY CAN VOTE FOR ON THAT AMENDMENT.>> DOES IT HELP IF I READ THE WHOLE THING OR JUST SHOW YOU WHERE THE WHOLE THING?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION TEMPORARY REQUIRE MASK FOR THOSE STUDENTS, STAFF AND TRUSTEES.
I'M CHANGING THE WORD ALL. STUDENTS, STAFF, TRUSTEES AND VISITORS INDOORS ON ALL DISTRICT FACILITIES AND ALL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION WHEN MAINTAINING SIX-FEET DISTANCE IS NOT POSSIBLE OR BY CHOICE.
>> THAT SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU WOULD REQUIRE A MASK BY CHOICE?
>> BUT YOU WANTED TO CHANGE THE DATES ALSO?
>> YES. JUST THE AUGUST 26TH AND THAT WOULD GO TO SEPTEMBER 17TH.
IT WOULD START AT 12:01 AND EXPIRE AT 11:59.
>> I HAVE THE WRONG DATE. WHAT IS TWO WEEKS FROM NOW?
>> SEPTEMBER 7TH. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> SEPTEMBER 7TH. THERE YOU GO.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, AN AMENDED MOTION AND A SECOND.
CAN WE HAVE DISCUSSION? [NOISE]
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THE AMENDED MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS READ BY DR. BONE?
>> THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S GETTING INCREDIBLY LATE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CALLING THE QUESTION, RAISE YOUR HAND.
THAT IS FIVE. ALL AGAINST? TWO. BUT FIVE IS TWO THIRDS, SO THAT QUESTION IS CALLED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED MOTION AS READ BY DR.
BONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION FAILS.
NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL [OVERLAPPING] MAIN MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WAS RAISED BY TRUSTEE FELLER, I BELIEVE.
WE HAVE A MOVEMENT AND A SECOND TO THAT.
>> BUT CAN WE PLEASE HAVE DISCUSSION SINCE CALLING THE QUESTION FAILED?
>> YES. LET ME GO BACK AND LOOK BECAUSE I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A WHILE. I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS NEXT BUT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A WHILE.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT TRUSTEE VESSA PROBABLY HAD HER LIGHT ON ACTUALLY SINCE BEFORE DR.
BONE STARTED TALKING. I HAVE TRUSTEE VESSA THEN I HAVE TRUSTEE HARRISON, THEN I HAVE TRUSTEE XIAO AND THEN I HAVE YOU. TRUSTEE VESSA.
>> MINE ARE JUST [NOISE] WE'RE TALKING HERE AND JUST GIVING COMMENT.
MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS WATCHING ME LAST YEAR THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC.
THE GOAL WAS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY KIDS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOLS.
EVEN WHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOLD US TO CLOSE SCHOOLS, OR WE SHOULD BE ALL VIRTUAL, I FOUGHT REALLY HARD TO KEEP THEM OPEN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE KIDS NEED TO BE FOR LEARNING, FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, FOR PROTECTION, FOR A SAFE PLACE.
SCHOOLS SERVES SO MANY PURPOSES.
THAT HAS BEEN MY PRIMARY GOAL, IS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND KEEP SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
I FOUGHT REALLY HARD FOR VIRTUAL [NOISE] BECAUSE SOME KIDS SAFER ISN'T SAFE ENOUGH.
THEY NEED TO BE COMPLETELY SAFE.
THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THAT THIS ENTIRE THING IS ABOUT GETTING MONEY, THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
I WAS AT THE CAPITOL TODAY FIGHTING FOR FUNDING FOR OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
SB15 HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING BY THE END OF THE WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK.
[03:45:01]
I BELIEVE THE FIRMEST HEARTS, THAT WE WILL GET FUNDED, SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT PAYING FOR VIRTUAL STUDENTS.
I HEARD AT THE CAPITOL, AN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF FUNDING VIRTUAL, OVERWHELMING.
THAT MOTIVATION IS JUST NOT TRUE.
IN TERMS OF THIS, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF AN OPT OUT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE COULD HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.
BUT ONE, WE FOUND THAT WE DON'T.
TWO, WE FOUND THAT THIS VARIANT IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.
I'M WILLING TO TRY TO TIGHTEN IT UP TO TRY TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
HOWEVER, I DON'T WANT TO SEND KIDS HOME.
LET'S TRY TO BE ACCOMMODATING AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHILE KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN AND PROTECTING STUDENTS AND MINIMIZING SPREAD.
BUT I WILL ALWAYS ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SENDING KIDS HOME OR PUTTING THEM IN SUSPENSION, BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK IT OUT.
WHATEVER THAT WAY WE CAN TO WORK IT OUT, WHETHER THAT BE SIX FEET OF DISTANCE OR SOME OTHER REMEDY, WE WORK IT OUT.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND WORK THINGS OUT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE FIGHTING ALL THE TIME.
WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND SOLUTIONS IF WE DON'T VILIFY EACH OTHER AND WE DON'T JUST ENCAMP AND SAY, I WON'T WORK WITH YOU.
IF WE'RE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS.
MY LAST STATEMENT I STATED BEFORE, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE THAT THE PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON TONIGHT, WILL ACTUALLY SUFFICIENTLY MITIGATE SPREAD.
I WANT DATA TO SHOW WHETHER IT IS WORKING.
BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT WORKING, THEN WHEN WE COME BACK, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE SPREAD? OR ARE WE WORKING WITH A VIRUS THAT JUST WON'T BE MITIGATED? I DON'T KNOW THAT. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION, BUT IT'S IT'S ENTIRELY A POSSIBILITY.
I THINK THAT THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU TRUSTEE VESSA AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE PROGRESS ON THAT VIRTUAL BILL.
I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORKED ON IT. A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER 1, CAN WE PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, DR. AZAIZ, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE ASKED FOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
CAN WE PLEASE GET A DECISION MATRIX? I THINK THAT PARENTS AND STUDENTS NEED CLARITY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN.
I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT TELL THE FUTURE, BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF WE KNEW, AND I FEEL LIKE TRAVIS' ORDERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED THIS FOR US.
I AM HAPPY. WE HAVE CO-CREATED POLICY BEFORE AND I WORKED ON POLICY WITH STUFF.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO VOLUNTEER TO WORK ON A DECISION MATRICAL STAFF BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE UNCERTAINTY IS FRUSTRATING OF, ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES? WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT FROM WHERE IT'S SPREAD IN OTHER PLACES, IS THAT IT SPREADS SO QUICKLY, LEAVING DISASTER IN ITS WAKE, AND THEN PEAKS AND THEN DISSIPATES.
THIS MAY NOT BE A PROLONGED PEAK, SO IT'D BE REALLY GREAT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO LOOSEN OUR PROTOCOLS.
I VOTED AGAINST CALLING THE QUESTION BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT.
THE SIX FEET OF DISTANCE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WITH THE VIRAL NATURE OF DELTA AND JUST HOW QUICKLY THINGS ARE SPREADING ALREADY THIS FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL.
I WOULD LOVE SOME CLARITY, DR. AZAIZ, WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING WHEN YOU'RE SAYING MAINTAINING SIX FEET OF DISTANCE.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF, IF THEY'RE SITTING SIX FEET APART, YOU'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO WEAR MASKS? I JUST WANT CLARITY ON THAT.
FOR THE RECORD, WE HAD 202 CASES IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE 141 IN AISD.
[03:50:03]
STUDENTS DESERVE REGULAR IN-PERSON LEARNING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR.THAT'S WHAT STUDENTS DESERVE, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR THEM.
THAT'S NOT THE CURRENT REALITY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN.
I'M NOT A PARENT HERE, I'M JUST A TEACHER AND A PERSON THAT'S PASSIONATE ABOUT STUDENTS FIRST AND THEN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
BUT WHAT I THINK THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM THIS IS GRIT AND DETERMINATION, WE TALK ABOUT GRIT A LOT.
STUDENTS PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS AND HAVE GRIT.
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH SOME OF THE HARDEST TIMES, AND I'M CHOOSING TO BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE SHOWING UP WITH RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION IN THE FACE OF UNFAIR AND HARD TIMES, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THESE UNFAIR AND HARD TIMES WITHOUT HURT, HARM, OR DANGER TO ONE ANOTHER.
WE TALKED ABOUT EMAILS THAT PEOPLE SEND US AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT TODAY I GOT A HEARTBREAKING EMAIL ACTUALLY FROM A STUDENT, AND I'M LOVING THE STUDENT VOICE, SO KEEP BRINGING IT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS BASED ON PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
AGAIN, THAT SAYS THAT IN OUR CODE OF ETHICS, IT SAYS WE BASE DECISIONS ON FACTS RATHER THAN SUPPOSITION, OPINION, OR PUBLIC FAVOR.
EVEN WHEN WE'RE DOING SURVEYS ABOUT THIS, A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING BECAUSE I LOVE COMMUNITY AND PUT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
BUT I'M NOT WEIGHING WHAT WE DO WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH BASED ON SOMEONE'S OPINION.
THERE ARE FACTS, THERE'S DATA, THERE'S EVIDENCE, AND THERE IS GUIDANCE, AND I LOOKED OVER THE GUIDANCE TO DR. GEARING AND WE ENTER ISD TODAY, AND THEY RECOMMENDED SCHOOLS DID CLOSE FOR 10 DAYS, AND THEY SAID IF YOU PUT THESE MITIGATION EFFORTS IN PLACE, WE FEEL THAT YOU WILL BE READY TO OPEN IN 10 DAYS.
LATER ISD CHOSE TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE, WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES FOR THEM WITH EXPONENTIALLY LARGER CASES THAN OTHER AREA DISTRICTS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A PATH FORWARD, IT'S JUST ARE WE GOING TO FOLLOW IT WILLINGLY? ARE WE GOING TO EVENTUALLY BE FORCED TO FOLLOW IT WHILE WE LOSE PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS? THAT IS MY QUESTION.
THIS EMAIL FROM THIS STUDENT SAID.
THIS IS VERY STUDENT LANGUAGE.
"I HEARD ABOUT MEETING, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO HEAR MY VOICE.
I'M A 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, IN MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE MORE AT RISK OF COVID BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE NOT WEARING MASKS.
WHICH WE KNOW MCNEIL HAD A LOT OF CLOSE CASES AND A LOT OF CASES.
VACCINATION IS GOOD, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED BUT STILL PRODUCE POSITIVE TESTS AFTER CONTRACTING COVID.
WEARING A DOUBLE MASK DURING PASSING PERIOD CAN REALLY HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID IN SCHOOLS.
STUDENT CHANCE THE OPTION TO TAKE OFF THEIR MASK OR TAKE OFF THEIR SECOND MASK DURING CLASS IF THEY NEED A BREAK.
THAT IS A MATTER OF OPINION, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY RESEARCH ABOUT TWO MASKS I'M NOT SAYING WE DO THAT, BUT THIS IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
"COMING HOME EVERY DAY IS VERY SCARY AND IT'S MAKING ME ANXIOUS.
IT'S GETTING ME TERRIFIED TO GO TO SCHOOL.
I CAN'T STAND THE THOUGHT OF LOSING MY OWN MOTHER TO COVID BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT HOME WITH ME FROM SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY VOICE." [NOISE] THERE ARE LOTS OF FACTORS, I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
I'VE HEARD LOTS OF MENTIONS OF SUICIDE CONCERNS.
DR. AMY GROSSO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE SHE HAS THE TITLE THAT SHE HAS NOW, IT IS A PASSION FOR HER.
THERE IS THAT WORK THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AS TRUSTEES AND AS COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS, REAL FEARS, AND REAL OUTCOMES OF COVID FOR OUR STUDENTS.
LASTLY, I FEEL LIKE GINNY WALLS HAS BEEN PERFECTLY CLEAR ABOUT THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE, AND I MEAN, WE CAN ASK HER A MILLION TIMES, BUT I FEEL LIKE SHE'S BEEN REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.
WE DON'T GET TO REDEFINE LOCAL CONTROL.
LOCAL CONTROL IS REALLY WELL-DEFINED, AND IF PARENTS HAVE LOCAL CONTROL THEN WE REALLY DON'T NEED A SCHOOL BOARD, THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO EXIST.
I'M ALSO REALLY DISHEARTENED THAT A TRUSTEE WOULD ASK AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEFY OUR POLICIES, ONCE WE SET POLICY, THAT'S DISAPPOINTING.
LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE ON POLICY AROUND A MATRIX AND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CREATE TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY ASSURANCE.
LASTLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE 504 IEP RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTING OUT MASKS.
NOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS BEHIND WHY I ADVOCATED FOR THAT.
NUMBER 1, STUDENTS WHO TRULY NEED THAT, AS A MATTER OF MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL REASONING, THEY LIKELY ALREADY HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND THEY HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL THAT HAVE THAT IN PLACE.
THE SECOND REASON WHY I WOULD LIKE TO GO THAT ROUTE IS BECAUSE THERE IS CONFIDENTIALITY.
AS A TEACHER AT ANY POINT WHERE I HAVE A STUDENT ON A 504 OR IEP, EVEN IF IT'S IMPLEMENTED IN MID-YEAR, I GET THAT PAPERWORK.
I SIGN OFF ON THAT PAPERWORK, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING.
IT'S A VERY COMMON PRACTICE, AND IT DOES GIVE DISCRETION FOR THE STUDENT, BECAUSE I'M NOT HAVING TO KEEP A SPREADSHEET AND LECTURE A STUDENT.
I HAVE A FORM OF SIGNED ACCOUNTABILITY OF
[03:55:03]
KNOWING WHAT THAT STUDENT'S NEEDS ARE AND MAKING SURE THAT I MEET THEM, AND SO THAT IS AN ESTABLISHED PROCESS THAT I'M NOT SAYING TO SHAME STUDENTS, BUT I'M SAYING TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALSO TO PROVIDE SOME DISCRETION IN A DISCRETE WAY TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T SINGLE STUDENTS OUT.WE DEAL WITH THEM ALL THE TIME, I KNOW WHICH STUDENTS NEED TO SIT CLOSE TO THE BOARD, ETC.
JUST A THOUGHT AND THEN [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT WAS A LOT. BUT DR. AZIZ, I DID HEAR AN ACTUAL QUESTION IN THERE ABOUT THE SIX-FOOT DISTANCE?
>> WHETHER THAT MEANT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IF YOU WERE SIX FEET?
>> YES. WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE TEAM AND WE TALKED ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR TEACHERS.
WHEN THEY'RE MAYBE SITED MORE THAN SIX FEET AWAY FROM THEIR STUDENTS BY THEIR DESKS.
THEY MAY BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE MASK AND MAYBE LECTURE OR TALK TO THEIR STUDENTS OR A TEACHER, MY GUESS, WHATEVER THEY NEED TO TEACH.
THAT'S MORE LIKE ACCOMMODATION FOR OUR TEACHERS.
BUT ALSO WE UNDERSTAND ALSO THE STUDENTS MAY HAVE TO HAVE SOME MASK BREAKS, AND SO HAVING THEM SPREAD OUT MAYBE SIX FEET AWAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE THE MASK AND HAVE THOSE MASK BREAKS AS WELL.
THINK THAT'S MORE BUT WE'RE OPEN FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO ADJUST THAT NUMBER.
>> [NOISE] FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE LAST MONDAY MEETING.
BEFORE I STEPPED INTO THE ROOM, I KEPT REMINDING MYSELF, DON'T DO SHAME AND BLAME.
BUT AFTER SEEING A COUPLE OF STUDENTS WITHOUT MASK AND AFTER HEARING THEIR SPEECH, I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND VERY SAD.
THEN MORE SPEAKERS, MORE VOLUMES, AND CONSTABLE AND A MAN DRAGGED AWAY BY THE POLICE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF YOU HAVE AN INFRARED CAMERA POINTING AT ME, YOU WILL SEE I WAS RAIDING WITH HEAT.
ALL I CAN THINK OF AT THAT TIME WAS SHAMING, SHAME AND BLAME.
LATER I DUMPED MY ANGER ONTO TRUSTEE WESTERN.
TRUSTEE WESTERN I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, AND I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT WEIRD FOR STOPPING ME FROM FURTHER EMBARRASSING MYSELF.
TODAY WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LAWS, RIGHTS, FREEDOM, FAIRS, LOTS OF OPINIONS.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, SO I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
I'M A SCIENTIST, I'M GOING TO TALK ONLY TALK ABOUT SCIENCE, NO VALUE JUDGMENT.
I WILL TALK ON MATH, I WILL TALK OF PHYSICS, I WILL TALK BIOLOGY, JUST STATE FACTS.
CORRECT MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISINFORMATION.
THE FIRST THING ABOUT MASK, WHY MASK WORK? THE NUMBER 1 ARGUMENT AGAINST WEARING MASK IS THAT A CLOTH MASK IS NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VIRUS, THAT'S THE NUMBER 1 ARGUMENT WE HEARD ABOUT, BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS MICROSCOPIC AND THERE ARE GIANT GAPS BETWEEN THE FIBERS.
LET ME DO A SCIENCE DEMONSTRATION.
[NOISE] HERE IS A MASK, A [NOISE] REALLY, REALLY CHEAP MASK.
I DON'T HAVE THE CROSS MASK, BUT WORK THE SAME.
IF YOU ZOOM IN ON THIS [LAUGHTER] MASK, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE FIBERS AND THEY ARE THE GAPS.
SUPPOSE THIS ONE IS A FIBER, THIS ONE IS ANOTHER FIBER THERE IS A GAP RIGHT BETWEEN IT, AND PEOPLE SAY THE VIRUS IS SO SMALL, YEAH THE VIRUS IS SMALL.
THE CORONA-VIRUS IN TERMS OF VIRUS IS ACTUALLY BIG.
ITS DIAMETER IS ABOUT 0.1 MICROMETER.
0.1, SO I CAN EASILY FIT INTO THE GAP BECAUSE USUALLY THE GAP BETWEEN FIBERS IS ABOUT LIKE 5, 10 MICROMETERS.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT VIRUS DON'T HAVE LEGS, DON'T HAVE WINGS.
THEY DON'T JUST GO THROUGH THE GAPS.
[04:00:01]
A TYPICAL DROPLETS, THE SIZE IS ONE MICROMETER TO FIVE MICROMETERS.SUPPOSE THIS IS A DROPLET AND SUPPOSED THE GAP IS TOO BIG ENOUGH FOR THE DROPLET TO GO THROUGH.
BUT THE THING IS THAT [NOISE] THE THREE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES PRINCIPLE APPLIES HERE.
IMPACTION, SEDIMENTATION, AND DIFFUSION.
I ONLY TALK ABOUT DIFFUSION BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
SOME MASS ALSO HAVE ELECTROSTATIC BASE OF ITERATION, BUT I SKIP THE DETAILS I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT DIFFUSION.
THE JOB THAT IT COMES TO YOU AS YOU BREATHE IN OR BREATHE OUT IS A RANDOM PROCESS.
IT'S NOT A MOSQUITO OR GUIDED MISSILE THAT JUST GOES THROUGH THAT GAP.
IT'LL JUST HIT ANYWHERE ON A MASK.
BUT THE THING IS THAT THE FIBERS WIDTH IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE GAP.
THE PROBABILITY WISE, THE DROPLET ARE MORE LIKELY TO HIT THE FIBER THAN THE GAP.
ANOTHER THING IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MASK, THEY ARE ACTUALLY MULTIPLE LAYERS, IT'S NOT JUST ONE LAYERS.
THIS NON-WOVEN USING NON-WOVEN TECHNOLOGIES.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF FIBERS, SO THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER LAYER RIGHT HERE.
MAYBE THIS GOES THROUGH THIS BUT IT WILL HIT ANOTHER LAYER.
DON'T TALK ABOUT THE MASK DOESN'T WORK.
MASK WORK TO SOME EXTENT TO HELP YOU REDUCE THE DROPLET IN AND OUT.
ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE FIBERS, THE NON-WOVEN FIBERS IS NOT LIKE THIS, IS NOT ACTUALLY ROW AND A COLUMN LIKE VERY REGULARLY.
IT'S A MASH NETWORK, AS I SAID, THERE'S NETWORKS OF THOSE THINGS.
EVEN A SIMPLE GAS MASK CAN GIVE YOU SOME PROTECTION.
NOT A WHOLE LOT AGAINST BREATHING VIRAL PARTICLES.
THE SAME GOES ALWAYS BREATHE OUT.
NOW THE NEXT QUESTION IS THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK, WHY DO YOU WANT TO FORCE EVERYONE TO WEAR A MASK? WE ALREADY HAVE 90 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WEARING A MASK ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY.
WHY DO YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO WEAR THE MASK? BEFORE I ANSWER THIS QUESTION I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT THIS PROBABILITY QUESTION, A TEST.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 25 PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT TWO OR MORE PEOPLE HERE HAS THE SAME BIRTHDAY EXCLUDING THE YEARS? SAME BIRTHDAY.
WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT TWO OR MORE PEOPLE HERE HAS THE SAME BIRTHDAY? THAT IS THE QUESTION. LET'S THINK ABOUT IT, A MINUTE.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE MASK BUSINESS.
[NOISE] MATHEMATICALLY THE PROBABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL GETTING INFECTED FROM A SOURCE AND LET'S DEMONSTRATE.
>> DR. JUN IS THERE GOING TO BE A QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
>> BECAUSE WE WANT TO USE SIZE TO GUIDE OUR DECISION.
I'LL EXPLAIN THE SIZE, BECAUSE I RELATE TO [NOISE] SIX FEET ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.
MATHEMATICALLY THE PROBABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL GETTING INFECTED FROM A SOURCE, SUPPOSE THIS IS SOURCE, IS A FUNCTION OF DISTANCE AND A TIME DURATION.
WITHOUT MASK, THIS IS A PERSON WITHOUT A MASK, NEXT TO A SOURCE, IT'S JUST TAKE ONE BREATH, YOU ARE GONE.
IT PROBABLY LAST YOU 10 BREATH OR 30 SECONDS BEFORE YOU'RE KNOCK OUT.
WITH N-95 YOU ARE PROBABLY TO LAST LITTLE LONGER LIKE 5, 10 MINUTES BEFORE YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN.
BUT YOU MAY SAY THAT JUST PROVED MY POINT BECAUSE MASTER DWAYNE ONLY LASTED 30 SECONDS, A HALF MINUTE.
BUT THE THING IN THAT IF YOU'RE NEXT TO A PERSON THAT COUGHING, SNEEZING ARE YOU GOING TO STAY WITH HIM? NO YOU'RE GOING TO DISCREETLY MOVING AWAY.
ANOTHER FACT THAT YOU KNOW IS DISTANCE.
IT FOLLOWS ANOTHER PHYSICAL PHENOMENON.
JUST LIKE GRAVITATIONAL PULL OR INTENSITY LIFE.
[04:05:03]
IT IS FOLLOWED INVERSE SQUARE LAW, SO THAT IS SIX FEET AWAY VERSUS THREE FEET AWAY YOU GET FOUR TIMES MORE PROTECTION.SIX FEET AWAY VERSUS THREE FEET AWAY.
AT A CERTAIN DISTANCE WITHOUT A MASK, YOU'LL PROBABLY LAST FOR 15 MINUTES.
YOU WON'T GET ENOUGH VIRAL INOCULATE TO KNOCK YOU OUT, LAST 15 MINUTES.
BUT WITH MASK, YOU PROBABLY LAST TWO HOURS IF YOU HAVE GOOD VENTILATIONS.
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, THE PROBABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL GETTING INFECTED FROM A SOURCE IS A SYNCHRONY FUNCTION OF DISTANCE AND TIME DURATION.
I WILL SAY THIS TO THE TEACHERS, IF YOU ARE SIX FEET AWAY FROM ALL STUDENTS, ADDITIONAL, THE ROOM HAS GOOD AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM AND YOU FEEL LIKE THE MASK IMPEDED ON INSTRUCTION, I SUPPORT YOU.
YOU CAN TAKE OFF YOUR MASK AT YOUR DISCRETION, I SUPPORT THAT.
THAT THERE ARE SOME PHYSICS INVOLVED INTO IT.
NOW, GETTING TO BACK TO EARLIER QUESTION, THE ANSWER IS, THE PROBABILITY OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE HERE HAVE SAME BIRTHDAY IS MORE THAN 50 PERCENT.
THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT PROBABILITY SOMETIMES IS COUNTER-INTUITIVE.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IS SOMETIMES HARD TO GRASP.
PEOPLE LIKE TO USE THE LIGHTNING STRIKE ANALOGY FOR COVID.
IMAGINE YOU ARE A TREE IN A FOREST, RIGHT NOW IS THE DRY SEASON, HIGH WIND, HIGH TEMPERATURE, THERE'S A LIGHTNING STORM COMING.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL PROBABILITY OF YOUR PARTICULAR TREE GETTING STRUCK BY THE LIGHTNING, THE CHANCE IS INFINITELY SMALL, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE FOREST THE FIRE DANGER IS IMMINENT.
IT CAN BURN THROUGH EVERYTHING.
WE ARE NOW FACING THIS SITUATION WITH COVID.
THREE NUMBERS TO LOOK AT IT: THE REPRODUCTION NUMBER, R NAUGHT, THE VACCINATION RATE, AND THE PREVALENCE OF THE VIRUS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALL THREE ARE TERRIBLE NEWS RIGHT NOW.
THE VACCINE RATE AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ZERO PERCENT, IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IS BELOW 50.
THOSE ARE HORRIBLE NUMBERS WITH R NAUGHT FIVE ABOVE.
THE FIRE WILL BURN THROUGH THE DRY TIMBER IF WE DON'T TAKE STRONG MEASURES NOW.
IT IS NOT THAT I WANT TO FORCE YOUR CHILD TO WEAR MASK.
THE CURRENT DIRE SITUATION REQUIRES THAT EVERYONE TO WEAR MASK IF WE WANT TO SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD.
ON AVERAGE, THERE'LL BE 10 COVID PATIENTS WALKING INTO 500 STUDENTS' SCHOOL THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHO WILL THAT PERSON BE AND ASK THEM TO WEAR MASK IF THERE'S NO UNIVERSAL MASK WEARING.
UNIVERSAL MASK REQUIREMENT WILL GREATLY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO NEEDED TO QUARANTINE WHEN EXPOSED TO COVID.
BECAUSE AS THE PER CDC REQUIREMENT, PER CDC GUIDELINE, AND OUR ROUND ROCK ISD DEFINITION OF A CLOSE CONTACT, A STUDENT WOULD NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE IF BOTH STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN CONSISTENT AND CORRECT USE OF WELL FITTED MASKS.
THE NUMBER ONE GOAL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS TO PREVENT OUTBREAK IN SCHOOL.
IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS AND LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND THE FACULTY ARE UNDER QUARANTINE, WE'LL HAVE TO SHUT THE SCHOOL DOWN AS MANY TRUSTEE ALREADY MENTIONED.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU LIKE TO WEAR MASK TO SCHOOL.
THAT IS THE REALITY WE'RE FACING.
I'M NOT MAKING A HEALTH DECISION FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL.
I'M MAKING A DECISION FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
I'M MAKING A DECISION TO HELP OUR SCHOOL REMAIN OPEN.
FOR TEENAGERS, LET ME SAY THAT FOR TEENAGERS, THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD WEAR MASKS,
[04:10:01]
EXCEPT FOR MEDICAL REASONS.FOR 6, 7-YEARS-OLD, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY CAN WEAR THE MASK CORRECTLY.
THIS IS A BEHAVIOR OR SCIENCE QUESTION.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THAT, BUT THERE ARE SOME DEBATES AMONG PEDIATRICIANS AND THE CHILD HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, BUT THE MAJORITY OF EXPERTS RIGHT NOW BELIEVES THAT WE SHALL HAVE CHILDREN WEAR MASKS.
THE MAJORITY, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE MAJORITY IS NECESSARILY RIGHT.
BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION OF COVID IN THE DISTRICT, I WOULD TAKE THE EXPERT'S ADVICE.
I'M NO EXPERT, I WILL TAKE THE EXPERT ADVICE.
THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO SUPPORT GIVING TEACHERS SOME FLEXIBILITIES FOR THE MASK REQUIREMENT FOR THE LITTLE ONES, FOR THE REALLY YOUNG ONES.
IF DEFERMENT IS THE CIRCUMSTANCE, SUCH AS PHONAK, INSTRUCTIONS OR SPEECH, WARREN TAKING MASS OF TEMPORARILY, I AGREE TO THAT, I CAN SUPPORT THAT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE LEARNED FROM THIS PANDEMIC, IT IS IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION.
SCIENCE EDUCATION, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE EMAILS, LIKE TODAY, SITING NEWS ARTICLES, RESEARCH PAPERS, STUDY RESULTS.
EVERYONE NOW APPEAR TO BE STATISTICIAN, MICROBIOLOGIST, MEDICAL EXPERT, BUT THE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE OFTEN MISQUOTE, MISINTERPRET AND QUOTE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK FOLKS WHO SEND ME THOSE LIST OF LIKE 40 PAPERS ACTUALLY READ ANY OF THEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.
WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THEM RIGHT NOW, THE RECIPE.
START WITH SOMETHING TRUE, REMOVE THE CONTEXT, PLAN SOME DOUBTS, SPRING SOAP SPICY CRANES AND DRAW THE WRONG CONCLUSIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I REMEMBER ONE SPEAKER DURING THE LAST MEETING TALKING ABOUT CDC SAYS CONFESSED THAT THEIR COVID TEST IS NOT ACCURATE, CANNOT TELL THE RESULTS FROM FLU VERSUS COVID.
THERE IS A CDC, WAS CDC [INAUDIBLE].
HE IS REFERRING TO A CDC NOTICE.
IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THE CDC NOTICE, YOU WILL TELL WHAT IT DID MEAN.
THE CDC BASIC TELLS HOUSE PROVIDERS FROM WHERE WE HIT DECEMBER THIS YEAR, WE WILL INTRODUCE A NEW TEST PROTOCOL THAT WILL TEST COVID AND FLU AT THE SAME TIME.
INSTEAD OF THE PROTOCOL WE USE NOW, THAT ONLY TESTS COVID.
BECAUSE IT A SPEED UP PROCESS.
IT'S NOT CDC SAID, THE PREVIOUS TESTS CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COVID AND FLU.
IT DOES NOT TEST FOR FLU, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
COVID, I HEARD THAT MANY TIMES, COVID IS JUST LIKE FLU.
BUT COVID IS CAUSED BY A NOBLE VIRUS THAT NO ONE HAS NATURAL IMMUNITY FROM.
THE SYMPTOMS MAY LOOK THE SAME TO ANOTHER PERSON, BUT THAT COVID VIRUS CAN INTERACT WITH THE ACE 2 RECEPTORS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY ORGANS, LUNG, SMALL INTESTINE, ALSO A KIDNEY, HEART, AND BRAIN.
THERE CAN BE NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE THAT IS HARD TO EVALUATE NOW.
IT HAS TO BE SURE THAT COVID-19 IS ASSOCIATE WITH LONG-TERM COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION, SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S.
IF YOU CAN AVOID GETTING COVID, IF YOUR KID CAN AVOID IT, AVOID IT.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOSES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND FDA JUST FORMALLY APPROVED IT YESTERDAY.
THE MID THE VACCINES LIKE SELF-DESTRUCT, LIKE MESSAGE IN THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE MOVIE.
IT WANTS TO EXPRESS THE PROTEINS GONE, YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS GONE.
THERE'S NO LONG-TERM EFFECTS THAT WE KNOW OF.
THERE IS NO ADE, NO SUCH THINGS.
IT TOOK MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF RESEARCH AND HUNDREDS OF SCIENTISTS COMBINED EFFORT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN TO SAVE US FROM THE PANDEMIC.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THINGS THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
VACCINES ARE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED, BUT SO ARE THE MONOCLONAL ANYBODY.
NONE OF THE ANTIBODY TREATMENT ARE FDA APPROVED.
[04:15:03]
THEY ARE JUST EMERGENCY AUTHORIZED.BOTH THE VACCINE ANTIBODY TREATMENT ARE FREE FOR COVID PATIENTS.
ALL OF US TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR IT, ALL THOSE THINGS.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT A VACCINE COST $15 FOR EACH DOSE, FOR THE GOVERNMENT, BUT MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT IS $2,000 PER DOSE, AND IT USUALLY ONE NEEDS MULTIPLE DOSES.
YOUR DECISION OF NOT WEARING MASK, NOT GETTING VACCINE NOT ONLY AFFECTS YOUR OUTCOME, IT EFFECTS EVERYBODY ELSE, EVERYBODY'S WELL WELFARE.
IF YOU ARE NOT DOCTOR, LISTEN TO A DOCTOR.
BUT OF COURSE THERE ARE DOCTORS WHO SUGGEST VITAMIN D, AND ZINC, AND MANAGEABLE HORSES TO TREAT COVID, BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS, BE RATIONAL WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THESE VOICES.
SO FAR THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED TONS OF LOTS OF ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST ME, WHICH HAVE CONSUMED A LOT OF TIME OF OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT STAFF, SOME OF THE COMPLAINT, ACCUSE ME OF HAVING OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS WAS THE VACCINE BUSINESS.
>> DR. XIAO, I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY STOP RIGHT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S OFF TOPIC ON OUR AGENDA ITEM.
RIGHT NOW, WE WERE REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OPT OUT.
>> JUST ONE ONE MINUTE I'M GOING TO FINISH, IS THAT OKAY? I'M JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IN THE PUBLIC.
I'M A SCIENTIST, I'M WALKING WITH MY WIFE WHO IS A PROFESSOR ON SYSTEM IMMUNOLOGY.
WE ARE DOING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH ON HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM, T-CELLS AND B-CELLS THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE AN IMPACT FUTURE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER KINDS OF TREATMENT.
I HAVE A PHD IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, BUT I SHIFTED MY RESEARCH INTERESTS INTO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ABOUT 6, 7 YEARS AGO FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST, I FELT THAT BUILDING COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT SELL MORE IS NO LONGER WORTH MY TIME.
I SPEND MORE TIME ON ENGINEERING SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY MEANINGFUL FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION.
THE SECOND REASON I SWITCHED MY RESEARCH INTERESTS IS I WANT TO SUPPORT MY WIFE'S ACADEMIC CAREER.
SHE'S A TYPICAL ASIAN EXTREMELY PERSISTENT.
I CAN NEVER WIN ARGUMENT AGAINST HER.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS TO ALL GIRLS AT OUR SCHOOLS, YOU CAN DO WELL IN STEM, STUDYING MATH AND SCIENCE.
WE NEED MORE FUTURE WOMEN SCIENTISTS LIKE MY WIFE.
FINALLY, THE LAST POINT I AM GOING TO HAVE.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL STUDENTS.
AFTER 18 MONTHS, WE AGAIN ASK YOU TO WEAR MASKS, CARRY A BURDEN FOR EVERYONE, THE ELDERLY AND THE VULNERABLE.
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD A BARRIER AROUND YOU WITH VACCINATION AND DERIVE A ROBUST CONTACT TRACING, AND TESTING PROTOCOL TO PROTECT YOU FROM GETTING INFECTED.
INSTEAD, WE'RE BRINGING UP PETTY POLITICS NONSTOP.
I MYSELF, I'M A TERRIBLE ROLE-MODEL LAST MONDAY. DON'T BE LIKE ME.
BE KIND, BE GENTLE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY APPRECIATION TO TRUSTEE HARRISON.
SOME OBSERVERS WATCHING MASK WARS 1 LAST MONDAY AND THEN MASK WARS PART 2 TONIGHT MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT TRUSTEE HARRISON AND I ARE NOT ALWAYS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF VOTES.
BUT THERE IS, I THINK, A RESPECT THERE AND I APPRECIATE YOU NOT VOTING TO CALL THE QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT ALLOWED TRUSTEE XIAO TO SPEAK, IT ALLOWED TRUSTEE VESSA TO SPEAK.
THIS IS A CONSEQUENTIAL TOPIC AND I RESENT HAVING THE QUESTION CALLED SO EARLY IN THE EVENING WHEN YOU KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH ON MY OWN.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CRYING OUT.
DANIELLE, PLEASE ASK THIS QUESTION.
DANIELLE, PLEASE ASK THAT QUESTION.
FOR MY COLLEAGUES, SOME OF YOU TO CALL THE QUESTION AND VOTE FOR THAT.
WE'LL LEAVE IT FOR THE OBSERVERS TO DRAW THEIR CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THAT.
BUT THANK YOU, TRUSTEE HARRISON.
WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF MASKS.
THIS WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT TONIGHT'S MEETING IS ABOUT? I THOUGHT THAT WAS LAST MONDAY.
I WAS TRYING TO GET CLARITY WHEN I STARTED. WHY ARE WE HERE? IF WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF LEGAL REASONS, LET'S SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.
[04:20:04]
I THINK I ACCIDENTALLY LEARNED SOMETHING OVER HERE, DR. XIAO.I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE MASK EFFICACY IS THE REASON FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS THIS TRAVIS COUNTY STUFF.
I'M LOOKING AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY OR THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH FIVE COUNTIES.
THE DATA HASN'T CHANGED SINCE LAST MONDAY.
IN FACT, ALSO THE GOVERNOR TODAY WAS TWEETING THAT THE ROLLING 14 DAY AVERAGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS DECLINING.
CAN I JUST ASK DR. AZAIEZ, WHY ARE WE MEETING TONIGHT? ARE WE MEETING TONIGHT BECAUSE OF A SUPREME COURT REFERRAL OF A TRAVIS COUNTY TRO TO THE THIRD COURT OF APPEAL? IS THAT WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAD THE MASK EFFICACY QUESTIONS LAST MONDAY.
WE HAD THE DILEMMA ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS.
WE WALKED THROUGH ALL OF THAT LAST MONDAY.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. WAS TONIGHT ABOUT TRAVIS COUNTY?
>> FROM THE ADMINISTRATION STANDPOINT, WE'RE HERE TRYING TO MITIGATE SOME MORE OF THE VIRUS.
FOR OUR DISTRICT, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR CASES, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE AND KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND KEEP OUR CAMPUSES OPEN.
THAT IS REALLY AT THE CORE OF WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO, AND WE CAME TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE IDEA AND SUGGESTION.
I KNOW TO OUR OWN BOARD MEMBERS ALSO WANTED TO HAVE THIS MEETING.
BUT AGAIN, WITH A RECOMMENDATION, AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATION, WE'LL DO WHATEVER THIS BOARD WANT US TO DO.
>> WELL, NOW I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> CAN I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? TRUSTEE HARRISON, WHEN WE GOT THAT NOTICE ABOUT TRAVIS COUNTY, WHEN MISS WELLS SENT IT OUT ABOUT TRAVIS COUNTY, THAT IS, SHE FORWARDED THAT TO ME AS PART OF HER REQUEST TO HAVE THIS MEETING.
>> THEN I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE MORALITY OF MASKS TO MASK EFFICACY.
BUT AGAIN, I THOUGHT THAT WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND HAD THAT NINE-HOUR MEETING.
SO IF TONIGHT IS ABOUT A TRAVIS COUNTY ISSUE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
>> WELL, WE DO HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
>> WE HAVE MANY THAT ARE NEITHER.
WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS OR STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID? HOW DO WE MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS? DO YOU KNOW, DR. AZAIEZ? DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID?
>> WELL, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE STUDENTS, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RIGHT NOW.
BUT AGAIN, THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND WE'LL JUST SHOW YOU THE LETTER. WHEN THEY DECIDE.
>> NO, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT LETTER. BUT DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS OR STAFF IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID?
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE DON'T.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. NOW LET'S PIVOT TO THE LETTER.
THIS LETTER FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY, CITIES, AND HEALTH DISTRICT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEMBER IS BEING REPLACED RIGHT NOW.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT.
IT'S STARTING TO MAKE SENSE TO ME WHY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT LAST MONTH VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE HIRING OF AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT AGENCY TO ANALYZE THIS ORGANIZATION.
I'M GOING TO KEEP THAT COMMENT TO MYSELF.
BUT I WILL JUST TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THIS WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT.
IT'S A REALLY BOLD THING TO TELL A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SHUT DOWN FOR 10 DAYS.
BUT YOU ALL MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT ORGANIZATION.
PRESIDENT, WE ARE TO YOUR POINT, LOCAL CONTROL.
LAST YEAR THIS TIME, I WAS NOT A TRUSTEE.
BUT THERE WAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE THREE OF YOU WHO WERE ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
BUT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DO, I'D LIKE TO DEBATE THAT.
I'D LIKE TO DEBATE WHY SOMETIMES SOME EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE OKAY, AND THEN SOME ARE NOT.
THE LAW HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVE THE FULL FORCE OF LAW THAT HAS BEEN UPHELD.
THERE HAVE BEEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT I HAVEN'T LIKED EITHER.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT I WOULD BE A MEMBER OF AN ELECTED BODY THAT ONE DAY WOULD CONTEMPLATE, DEFINE THAT.
BUT NOW LET'S PIVOT TO DATA BECAUSE I THINK TRUSTEE VESSA AND TRUSTEE HARRISON HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT. WE HAVE DATA.
[04:25:03]
IT'S CALLED COMAL ISD, THAT IS A LARGE DISTRICT JUST SOUTH OF US, AND THEY STOPPED MANDATING MASKS BACK IN THE EARLY SPRING.THEIR DATA IS OUT THERE AND IT'S AVAILABLE, AND YOU CAN SEE IF THEY HAD SPIKES IN CASES WHEN THEY LIFTED THEIR MASK MANDATE.
WHAT I BELIEVE, THIS MOTION THAT YOU GUYS APPARENTLY WANT TO PASS IS THE DEFINITION OF A LACK OF EQUITY.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I GOT THAT E-MAIL ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK AS MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ROLLING OUT TO DATE NIGHT, GOING TO ENJOY OUR FRIDAY NIGHT.
I GET THIS E-MAIL, SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AT THE RESTAURANT, AND I TEXTED OUR FAMILY DOCTOR.
I SAID, I TELL YOU WHAT, I NEED A MEDICAL EXEMPTION FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY KIDS BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE MY DISTRICT'S GOING ROGUE.
YOU WORK IN A HOSPITAL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
MY MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS ARE IN MY HOUSE ALREADY.
THE WESTIN'S ARE READY TO GO. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T EVEN NEED A MEDICAL EXEMPTION, BECAUSE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I HAVE THE LAW ON MY SIDE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HERE, YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH TITLE 5 OF THE PENAL CODE.
IT IS A FELONY IN THE THIRD DEGREE FOR ANY ACTOR TO RESTRAIN ME WHILE I AM HERE IN THE DISCHARGING MY OFFICIAL DUTIES FOR ANY REASON.
I GET TO WALK IN HERE BECAUSE I'M PART OF THE ELITE CLASS.
I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND NOBODY CAN MAKE ME.
MY KIDS ARE GOOD TO GO, THEY GOT THEIR EXEMPTIONS.
TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FLIP A SWITCH AND WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS MANDATE FROM ON HIGH AND NOT GIVE FAMILIES AT LEAST TWO WEEKS.
I'VE GOT MY DOCTOR ON SPEED DIAL.
THERE'S A THING CALLED POVERTY.
DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S ON MEDICAID? YEAH. I GREW UP WITH PEOPLE ON MEDICAID.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO FLIP A SWITCH AND SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MEDICAL REASON.
THAT IS OUT OF TOUCH, IT IS ELITIST, IT IS NOT EQUITABLE, AND YOU GUYS NEED TO GIVE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO FAMILIES TO OBTAIN APPOINTMENTS, TO GET TIME OFF FROM WORK TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY HAVE A CHILD ON A 504.
I DO. THAT'S NOT A QUICK PROCESS.
THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE WEIGHING IN ON THIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, I'M MARRIED TO AN IDEA, I HAVE TWO EGGS THAT ARE SONS NOT A FAN.
HOWEVER, WHAT ARE THEIR RULES ON MASKS? HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED, NOT REQUIRED.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT I WILL DEFER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO ME, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER DO WE HAVE OTHER LIGHTS, PRESIDENT WE'RE OKAY.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ASSERT TO KNOW A LOT OF THINGS.
IF I'M GOING TO BE THE LEAST IMPRESSIVE AND LEAST EDUCATED TRUSTEE, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE THE LEAST IMPRESSIVE.
IT MIGHT AS WELL BE ME. WHAT DO I DO? I JUST READ THE BOX, I JUST READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
WE HAVE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT LENT ME THIS BOX.
HE SAID, ''YOU GUYS NEED TO REALLY PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.'' HE LOANED ME THIS AND HE ASKED ME TO READ IT.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH MY COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT THE CVS MASK THAT THIRD GRADERS DROP ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR.
''THE MASK DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE RISK OF CONTRACTING ANY DISEASE OR INFECTION.
IMPROPER USE MAY LEAD TO ILLNESS AND EVEN DEATH.
USE THIS PRODUCT IMMEDIATELY AFTER PACKAGE IS OPENED.
DO NOT USE MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS AT A TIME.
[04:30:01]
DISCARD. AVOID HAND CONTACT WITH THE MASK.THIS IS A ONETIME USE ONLY PRODUCT.'' THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE I DIFFER.
WE HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE A REAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN PUBLIC SPACES.
IT'S NOT SAFE. THERE'S A NOVEL VIRUS OUT THERE.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED THAT IF WE ISSUE SOME STATEMENT, THERE'S A MASK MANDATE IN ROUND ROCK ISD.
THESE PARENTS ARE GOING TO SEND THESE VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO OUR SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE NOT SAFE.
THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
OVER THE WEEKEND, AUSTIN SOCCER TEAM, FC AUSTIN, I THINK IT'S CALLED.
IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE YOU ALL.
IT WAS FULL LOOK AT THE VIDEOS, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE, ALL THOSE MILLENNIALS, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED.
THEY DON'T WANT TO WEAR MASKS.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
IT IS NOT THEIR BURDEN TO BEAR.
IF SOMEBODY CAME IN HERE AND TOLD ME THAT THESE KIDS WERE BEING TAKEN TO THE ICU IN TRUCKLOADS AFTER TRUCKLOADS AFTER TRUCKLOADS IF THERE WAS DATA TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT IT'S NOT.
IN THE COMMUNITIES OUT THERE LIVING THEIR LIVES.
BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING FORCED TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THIS AND IT'S NOT THEIRS TO BEAR.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT CHASING HAPPINESS.
COMMUNITY, YOU ARE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
I TRUST YOU TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.
>> WE HAVE FOUR TRUSTEES WITH LIGHTS ON.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY GIVEN THE LENGTH OF TRUSTEES STATEMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE CONTINUE.
>> IT IS 10:17 WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 10:30? [NOISE] IT'S 10:30 AND WE ARE GOING TO CALL BACK TO ORDER.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE.
I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE UP HERE THAT HASN'T SPOKEN FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR EACH.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG MEETING, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND EVERYTHING THAT OUR SPEAKERS HAVE SAID.
I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ABOUT LIMITING TIME, BUT INSTEAD, GIVEN THAT IT IS 10:30, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION. [NOISE] SECOND.
WE'LL WAIT FOR TRUSTEE LIST IN JUST SECONDS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES FIVE TWO.
[NOISE] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT AGAIN, BUT IT IS THE MOTION THAT TRUSTEE FELLER READ EARLIER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES FIVE TWO.
[NOISE] WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON OUR AGENDA.
>> POINT OF ORDER. CAN I ASK A QUESTION THOUGH.
CAN WE CLARIFY? BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. THE MOTION PASSED.
FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE, THIS GOES INTO EFFECT.
CAN WE CLARIFY WHEN IT GOES INTO EFFECT.
[NOISE] CAN WE ALSO CLARIFY WHAT WE ENDED UP SAYING ABOUT HEALTH BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND THEN WE JUST CALL THE QUESTION AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT HEALTH MEANS OR WHAT WE MEANT BY IT.
>> THE MOTION THAT PASSED WAS FIVE TWO.
THE MANDATE IS EFFECTIVE BEGINNING AT 12:01 AM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2021, AND SHALL EXPIRE AT 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2021.
AFTER THAT DISCUSSION IS OVER.
[04:35:01]
THE MOTION IS OVER.THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN ADJOURNMENT.
>> MAY I MAKE A STATEMENT OR COMMENT? USUALLY ASK FOR COMMENTS.
>> IT IS NOT ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE? [NOISE]
>> I SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. FIVE TWO WE ARE ADJOURNED. IT IS 10:32.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.