Jul 25, 2022 Called Board Meetings

[00:00:02]

IT IS 5:30 AND I HEREBY CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES CALLED BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE.

ALL RIGHT, WE ARE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH BOARD MEETING.

[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY]

WE ASK THE CONCERNS ARE 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.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AND THE VIEWERS THAT THE COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS REFLECT THEIR OWN POSITIONS OR OPINIONS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, THAT RIGHT IS NOT UNLIMITED.

PER TEXAS PENAL CODE.

38.13. 42.01, 42.02 AND 42.05, AND TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 37.105.

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 AT LEAST ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, ANY INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTIONS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.

THE BOARD MAY NOT DISCUSS OR ACT UPON ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE ACTION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

THEREFORE, BOARD MEMBERS MAY NOT DISCUSS THE COMMENTS OF SPEAKERS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD DOES NOT INDICATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE COMMENTS.

EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN 2 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

TRUSTEE HARRISON IS THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS SHANNON PROBE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT? I DO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, TRUSTEES.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULL BOARD OF TRUSTEES THROUGH THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LITTLE TRICKY TO FIGURE OUT HOW ALL OF THIS PROCESS WORKS, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPENNESS OF COMMUNICATION THAT THE BOARD HAS HAD WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT IS LINDSEY LEDYARD SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT? YES, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING TO HELP MOVE OUR DISTRICT FORWARD BY APPOINTING A TRUSTEE UNTIL THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR A TRUSTEE TO BE APPOINTED IN ORDER FOR THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN UNIMPEDED AND TO MAKE SURE A QUORUM IS ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED FOR MEETINGS, AS WE KNOW, HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE IN RECENT MONTHS TO THE 25 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR DISTRICT AND TO THE FOUR WHO WERE SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS TONIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU.

I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE SOME IN THE COMMUNITY TRYING TO UNDERMINE THIS PROCESS AND CAST DOUBT IN ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BRAVELY PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE HOT SEAT TONIGHT. I TRUST THEY ALL HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR DISTRICT AND ALL STUDENTS IN MIND, AND I TRUST THE BOARD TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE WITH THIS APPOINTMENT AND THAT WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE, IT IS WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY INFLUENCES OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS SHARED BY THESE CANDIDATES TONIGHT AND WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MOVING FORWARD INTO THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WHERE THE BOARD CAN OPERATE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE CONCERN FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF REMAINING AT THE CENTER OF ALL FUTURE MEETINGS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS DENISE RAY SPEAKING AN AGENDA ITEM D ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

I CONCUR WITH LINDSEY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER TRUSTEE ON HERE JUST SO WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, FAIR REPRESENTATION.

FOCUS ON EDUCATION WAS CREATED DUE TO THE FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP ON THIS PRESENT BOARD, AND THE SAME BOARD WILL BE VOTING TO NAME AN INTERIM REPLACEMENT FOR TRUSTEE XIAO'S SEAT RATHER THAN YIELDING TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INPUT AND VOTE.

I'VE ASKED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN THE WAY OF CANDIDATE BACKGROUNDS, STATEMENTS OF PHILOSOPHY AND QUALIFICATIONS.

I RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM ONLY TWO TRUSTEES WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME TRANSPARENCY AFFORDED TO THE COMMUNITY.

[00:05:02]

TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND DISREGARD FOR THE FACTS AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

DO WE HAVE FAITH THAT YOU CAN FINALLY GET SOMETHING RIGHT? AT THIS TIME, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS A RESOUNDING NO.

TO THE CHOSEN CANDIDATE, WE WELCOME YOU, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S LITTLE WE ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT YOU, AND THAT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND CAUTION YOU TO NOT BECOME PART OF THE CORRUPTION THAT PRECEDES YOU.

YOU'RE HERE TO BE A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND TO REPRESENT ALL STUDENTS.

YOU'RE NOT HERE TO BE AN ARM OF THE CURRENT CORRUPT INCUMBENTS.

WE HOPE YOU'LL LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND WORK TO PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND HEALING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF DESERVE NOTHING LESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS RICKY NELSON SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

I'M REALLY JUST GOING TO REITERATE WHAT DENISE SAID.

I'M REALLY UPSET YOU'VE HAD, I DON'T KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE MEETINGS AND STILL TO NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT RELEASING THEIR RESUMES.

THAT JUST GIVES EVERYBODY, THE COMMUNITY, THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

IT JUST ALLOWS EVERYBODY TO HAVE THE TIME, AND FOR YOU TO SAY, WE JUST HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT, YOU'VE HAD AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE MEETINGS.

YOU KNEW HE WAS GOING TO RESIGN.

YOU KNEW PEOPLE WOULD ASK FOR THIS.

IT'S THE SAME THING EVERY TIME.

SAME REASON WHY YOU SAID, WELL, WE JUST DIDN'T THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD WANT TO KNOW OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

IT'S ALL BS AND IT'S ALL A WAY FOR YOU NOT TO BE TRANSPARENT, AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO PUT THAT DOUBT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULDN'T TAKE THIS TIME TO PUT IT OUT THERE.

THESE ARE THE CANDIDATES.

THIS IS THEIR PHILOSOPHY.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN COME TONIGHT.

SAME THING. THE SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETING.

YOU ALL DIDN'T MAKE THAT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

SO I HOPE THAT WHOEVER GETS THE JOB TONIGHT CAN WALK IN WITH AN OPEN MIND, THINK FOR THEMSELVES, MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES, AND HELP TRY TO HEAL THIS COMMUNITY, AND MAYBE YOU ALL WILL GET IT.

WE JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

YOU CONTINUE TO ROADBLOCK IT EVERY TIME AND I'M LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN CHARGE, THEN LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO IT, BUT THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE COULDN'T HAVE HAD THE RESUMES OUT AND ABOUT BEFORE THIS MEETING.

NONE. SO I HOPE YOU ALL START TO TAKE THAT TO HEART.

BE MORE TRANSPARENT. I MEAN, CLEARLY YOUR HIGHER WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO TRANSPARENT, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER UNTIL YOU MAKE IT BETTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS ESMERALDA RUBALCAVA HERNANDEZ, YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

YOU DIDN'T LIST A AGENDA ITEM.

I'M ASSUMING IT'S D ONE.

THANK YOU. HI, EVERYBODY.

SO I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT, BUT I FELT COMPELLED TO COME UP HERE AND THANK THOSE TRUSTEES WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DR.

XIAO DID FEEL A NEED TO LEAVE THE BOARD BECAUSE OF TRUSTEES BONE AND WESTON AND THEIR ANTICS.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS NEW TRUSTEE WHO WE WELCOME ALL FOUR OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE ON AND DO THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT AND SO THAT WE CAN JUST GET BACK TO OUR FAMILIES, GET BACK TO OUR CHILDREN AND ENJOY THE REMAINDER OF OUR SUMMER. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT THE CHILDREN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT UP HERE GRANDSTANDING AND, YOU KNOW, PUTTING FORTH OTHER CAMPAIGNS.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEES WHO HAVE BEEN AS TRANSPARENT AS ALLOWED BY THE LAW, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MEETING TONIGHT BEING SHORT AND SWEET, HOPEFULLY SO THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN GET HOME TO OUR KIDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING IS VIRTUAL SPEAKER JACK CHILES, SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

JACK CHILES.

I APOLOGIZE.

I GOT MUTED BY ACCIDENT.

GO AHEAD. YOUR TIME HAS STARTED.

I'LL BE VERY QUICK AND VERY SIMPLE.

THE ONLY REASON WE NEED TO APPOINT IS BECAUSE TWO TRUSTEES IN PARTICULAR HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE HELLBENT ON KEEPING THE DISTRICT FROM CONDUCTING ITS BUSINESS.

IF THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE DECENCY TO DO THEIR JOBS, WE WOULDN'T NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A FIFTH TRUSTEE, BUT OF COURSE, WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY FLAT REFUSE TO. SO YEAH, WE HAVE TO TREAT THEM LIKE THEY'RE INSUBORDINATE AND CHURLISH AND DESIGNED FOR AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO BE OUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE ARE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM D ONE.

[D. ACTION ITEMS (Part 1 of 3)]

[00:10:04]

BOARD TRUSTEE WESTON SENT ME AN EMAIL THIS WEEK.

IT WAS THE ONLY TRUSTEE TO MAKE THIS REQUEST.

ADMINISTRATION DID NOT POST RESUMES OR STATEMENTS OF PHILOSOPHIES.

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE THAT WAY IN THE PAST, AND SO IF WE WANT TO POST THAT, THAT WOULD BE A BOARD DECISION.

IT WAS NOT A DECISION THAT I COULD MAKE UNILATERALLY.

IF WE WANT TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION, SO WE JUST NEED AS A BOARD, NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.

DO WE POST THESE RESUMES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INTERVIEWING OR ALL RESUMES, STATEMENTS, PHILOSOPHIES OF ALL 25 APPLICANTS OR NONE OF THE ABOVE.

SO JUST NEED SOME FEEDBACK FROM TRUSTEES.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO I THINK I WOULD JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MY CASE TO MY COLLEAGUES.

ABSOLUTELY. GO AHEAD.

SO I THINK IT'S HELPFUL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD 25 PEOPLE APPLY FOR THIS, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN WHAT THOSE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT FROM THAT 25 THAT THESE WERE THE FOUR THAT WERE SELECTED TO BE ABLE TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE FOUR THAT WERE SELECTED.

AGAIN, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH MANY OF THE APPLICANTS, AND I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES TO SEE ALL OF THAT.

SO WE'LL NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TRUSTEES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ARE THEY GOING TO BE REDACTED? I WOULD WORRY THAT I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF PRIVATE INFORMATION, INCLUDING WHERE PEOPLE WORK RIGHT NOW, GIVEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD REALLY HATE FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST APPLIED FOR A VACANT POSITION TO START GETTING HATE MAIL AT THEIR WORK.

SO I WOULD LEAVE THAT TO THE LEGAL OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT BY LAW THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE STATUTE.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE STATUTE THAT SAYS THAT WE COULD PROHIBIT THIS UNDER A PIA REQUEST, ANYWAY.

AGAIN, I'VE LOOKED, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S FERPA RELATED OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S PROTECTED, I WOULD OF COURSE BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

I WOULD PUNT TO MS. HILL FOR A LEGAL OPINION OF WHAT PIA WOULD BE AND WOULD NOT BE, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON THIS AS WELL.

WITH REGARD TO ANYTHING.

I YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF THE APPLICANTS HAD INDICATED IT THAT THEY HAD STUDENTS HERE, IF THEY HAD INDICATED ANYTHING PARTICULAR WITH THE STUDENTS THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY FERPA, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PULL OUT WITH REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION, SUCH AS THEIR PERSONAL PHONES, PERSONAL EMAILS.

WE WOULD NEED TO PULL THAT OUT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE SOME PRIVACY CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THEIR PLACES OF WORK THAT COULD FALL UNDER A PIA SITUATION THAT COULD FALL UNDER SOME CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

THESE ARE NOT EMPLOYEES AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, AND THESE ARE NOT, FOR INSTANCE, ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS WHERE YOU WOULD YOU WOULD ASK THE CANDIDATE THAT QUESTION.

WE DON'T POST OUR ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS' RESUMES ON THE BOARD ON PUBLICLY. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE INFORMATION, BUT THAT'S INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE CHOSEN.

I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH PEOPLE WHO JUST APPLIED, HAVING ALL OF THEIR STUFF KIND OF SET OUT THERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT WANT ANYONE WHO HAD BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PART OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAD PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE TO BE HARASSED IN ANY WAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A CONCERN, BUT I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION AND MAKE ANY CALLS ON THAT BEFORE WE POSTED THEM.

I DO KNOW THAT THE APPLICANTS HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO SUBMIT MORE INFORMATION THAN WE ON THE BOARD HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO SUBMIT.

THAT'S JUST PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT SO WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS, AND THE MICS ARE REALLY HOT TONIGHT.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE ONE THING OR TWO THINGS.

MAYBE I WOULD HAVE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE IF PEOPLE THAT SUBMITTED KNEW THAT THIS WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THAT WE WOULD BE POSTING THEIR RESUME AND THEIR INFORMATION.

MAYBE WE COULD COMPROMISE ON THEIR STATEMENTS, BUT IN TERMS OF RESUMES AND THE PROPENSITY OF SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTACT EMPLOYERS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO THE RESUMES, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ON THE 12TH OF JULY AND WE RECEIVED INFORMATION PRIOR TO THAT, AND I REALLY THINK THAT IF THE PROCESS NEEDED TO BE DIFFERENT, THAT FEEDBACK NEEDED TO BE GATHERED, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE

[00:15:10]

SO IT FEELS A LITTLE LATE IN THE GAME, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT, BECAUSE IT'S UNFAIR TO HAVE PEOPLE SUBMIT THEIR PERSONAL, PRIVATE INFORMATION AND THEN, OH, WE'RE GOING TO JUST RELEASE IT ALL.

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING, TRUSTEE HARRISON, THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE INITIAL.

HEY, ALL OF YOUR RESUME IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

YOUR STATEMENT IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE TO SAY JUST THE STATEMENT, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, WE'RE MOST ALL, BUT YOU AND TRUSTEE BONE ARE UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR, SO WHOEVER WE PICK WE'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATED ON THAT PICK IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.

SO I THINK THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS BEFORE, WE SHOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED IT TO THE APPLICANTS, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO THEM TO COME BEHIND AND SAY, OH, ALL YOUR STUFF IS NOW PUBLIC.

SORRY WE DIDN'T TELL YOU BEFOREHAND.

ON THAT NOTE, I WOULD SAY THAT WE DID MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT IF YOU WERE SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW THAT WE WOULD BE RUNNING A BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO IF ANYONE HAD A CONCERN ABOUT THAT, THEY'D NEED NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.

SO JUST TO THAT POINT.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS THE BOARD'S DECISION.

I THINK A MIDDLE GROUND WOULD BE TO POST THE NAMES AND STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY FOR ALL 25 PEOPLE AND THEN GO TO AN AG FOR AN OPINION.

JUST TO ME, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAS TO BE REDACTED FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT WITH REGARDS TO THE PERSONAL INFORMATION, BUT I'M FINE WITH THE NAMES AND THE STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY FROM ALL OF THE 25 CANDIDATES.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SO I'M GOING TO INSIST THAT THE RESUMES BE POSTED.

THE RESUMES ARE WHERE PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE THE CALIBER OF PEOPLE WHO APPLIED AND WHO WAS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEW.

SO I'M GOING TO INSIST THAT ALL OF IT BE DISCLOSED.

MS. HILL, AS YOU SAID, THESE ARE NOT APPLICANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN BE WITHHELD FROM THE PIA.

ARE YOU ABLE TO GET AN AG OPINION WITHOUT A PIA REQUEST? I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN A PIA REQUEST ALREADY.

SO WE'LL LET THAT PROCESS PLAY OUT THEN AND SEE WHAT THE AG SAYS.

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AGAINST AN AG OPINION.

THIS IS NOT I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON THIS IF THERE'S A LEGAL BOUNDARIES ON IT.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN THERE IS A PENDING PIA REQUEST AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS ABOUT, LIKE YOU SAID, NOT AN EMPLOYEE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER COMMON LAW CONFIDENTIALITY, THINGS THAT MAY BE APPLICABLE.

I DON'T KNOW. THE AG WILL PROBABLY RULE FAIRLY QUICKLY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CAN I JUST MAKE A MOTION THEN, MADAM CHAIR? I DON'T KNOW. VALERIE, ARE WE ALLOWED TO TAKE MOTION SINCE WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR ANY KIND OF ACTION ON THIS? IT IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST COURSE BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSTED FOR ANY POTENTIAL ACTION FOR THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE.

SO I THINK THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT IS TO SEE ON THE PIA SIDE, IF THEY THINK WE CAN AND WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE AGS AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET US A SPEEDY DECISION, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, AND I CAN LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THAT DECISION IS, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH RELEASING WHATEVER THEY SAY WE CAN RELEASE.

ALL RIGHT, THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WAS OVER THE WEEKEND THERE WAS SOME MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING ON A COUPLE OF TRUSTEES' SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR TONIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT SOME OF THIS MISINFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THE OVERALL PROCEDURE AND THE MEETING DATE SELECTION.

ON JULY 8TH, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WERE SENT A PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR THE PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDED DEADLINES, MEETING DATES TO FINALIZE THE PROCESS AND THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE.

ON JULY 12TH, THIS PROCESS WAS CODIFIED IN A PUBLIC MEETING AND COMMUNICATED TO ALL CANDIDATES.

ON THAT SAME DAY, THE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS FROM THE 25 OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD.

ALL SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD RECEIVED COPIES OF THE APPLICATIONS.

TRUSTEES WEIR, HARRISON, VESSA, XIAO AND MYSELF EACH INDEPENDENTLY SUBMITTED A NAME FOR INTERVIEWS.

[00:20:06]

IN ADDITION, ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SUBMITTED QUESTIONS FOR TONIGHT'S INTERVIEWS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING.

THE BOARD MAY APPOINT AN APPLICANT FOR THE PLACE ONE VACANCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURE.

ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF TRUSTEE BONE AND WESTON, HAVE RETURNED THEIR PACKET OF APPLICATIONS TO LEGAL SERVICES.

ADDITIONALLY, TRUSTEE WESTON AND BONE STATED ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY HAD BEEN PROVIDED, QUOTE, INSIDE INFORMATION THAT THE BOARD MAJORITY HAD ALREADY DECIDED, UNQUOTE, ON A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE.

NEITHER BONE OR WESTON HAVE SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE FULL BOARD, AND THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIATION FOR THEIR CLAIMS AT THIS POINT.

IF THIS IS IN FACT TRUE, I WOULD EXPECT TRUSTEES WESTON AND BONE TO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH BBF LOCAL.

FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EACH OF THE TRUSTEES ON THE DAIS THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS.

NUMBER ONE, HAVE YOU PREDETERMINED WHICH CANDIDATE YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR TONIGHT? AND NUMBER TWO, HAVE YOU ACTIVELY COACHED ANY OF THE APPLICANTS OR PROVIDED THEM WITH ANY OF THE QUESTIONS FOR TONIGHT'S INTERVIEW? TRUSTEE WEIR TWO ANSWERS.

NO. NO.

TRUSTEE HARRISON.

NO, I HAVE NOT, AND NO, I HAVE NOT.

NO. FOR ME, ON FIRST AND SECOND QUESTION.

TRUSTEE WESTON. VALERIE, ARE WE POSTED TO TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA IN THIS MEETING? BECAUSE IF SO, I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THAT AS WELL.

I WAS TAKING NOTES AS SHE WAS READING, BUT I THINK THAT IF IT'S REGARDING THE CANDIDATES TO BE INTERVIEWED TONIGHT THEN Y'ALL CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT.

SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT IS POSTED ON TRUSTEES' SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES IN THE EVENT THEY POST ABOUT IT IN ADVANCE OF A MEETING.

WE CAN BRING THAT UP WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA IN OUR MEETINGS WHEN THE AGENDA ITEM COMES BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO SET A PRECEDENT HERE, I NEED CLARITY.

IS THIS ABOUT THE INTERVIEW OF CANDIDATES, WHATEVER IT IS, IS ABOUT PARTICULAR CANDIDATE THAT IS BEING INTERVIEWED TONIGHT.

CAN I GO AND CLOSE AND HAVE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THOSE? YES. TRUSTEE VESSA DO YOU CAN YOU ANSWER OR HAVE YOU BEEN PREDETERMINED WHICH CANDIDATE YOU WILL BE VOTING ON TONIGHT AND HAVE YOU ACTIVELY COACHED ANY OF THE APPLICANTS OR PROVIDED THEM WITH ANY OF THE QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW? NO, NO, THANK YOU.

WE DO NEED TO GO TO CLOSED.

[E. CLOSED SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]

I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM TRUSTEE WESTON, BUT WE DO NEED TO GO TO CLOSE TO ORDER.

WE DO NEED TO CLOSE.

GO TO CLOSE. TO TALK WITH VALERIE, AND WE ALSO NEED TO GO TO CLOSE TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR THE ROOM, GO INTO CLOSE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

WE'LL BRING YOU BACK IN AND WE'LL START THE.

I SAID I HAD A POINT OF ORDER.

I WAS FINISHING SPEAKING AND NOW WHAT IS YOUR POINT? THIS FEELS ADVERSARIAL.

POINTS OF ORDER [INAUDIBLE] PROCEED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK, AND SO THE REASON THAT I DID NOT ANSWER IS BECAUSE VALERIE JUST SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED.

SO I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TRUSTEE.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE THE ANSWERS, NO, I HAVE NOT PREDETERMINED WHO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR, AND NO, I HAVE NOT ACTIVELY COACHED ANYONE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSED.

IT IS 5:53 AND WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PURSUANT TO.

YEAH, GO AHEAD AND READ IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO THAT'S REGARDING THE DELIBERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT.

SO IT'S RELATED TO THAT BUT ALSO GO.

[INAUDIBLE] THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071 IN ORDER TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF PLACE ONE.

IT IS 5:54.

WE ARE GOING INTO CLOSED.

IT IS 6:24.

WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION WITH ALL OF THAT INFORMATION CLEARED UP.

[D. ACTION ITEMS (Part 2 of 3)]

LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR INTERVIEWS.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT ORDER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY ASSIGNED.

I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A GREAT THANK YOU TO MS. HILL, OUR ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT WHO HAS COORDINATED THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND SO AT THIS TIME, I THINK, MS. CAPUTO, WOULD YOU PLEASE ESCORT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST APPLICANT OUT OF THE ROOM? AND WE WILL GET STARTED WITH OUR INTERVIEWS.

[00:25:01]

THERE YOU GO. SOMETIMES WE USE ONES THAT YOU PUSH AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

THE LIGHT HAS TO BE ON FOR US TO HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SO WELCOME.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST INTRODUCE YOUR NAME AND THE LEARNING COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE IN, AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED WITH QUESTIONS.

YOU'LL HAVE TO TURN ON YOUR RED LIGHT.

THERE YOU GO. OH, THAT LIGHT.

OKAY, MY NAME IS KEN ZORN'S.

I LIVE IN ROUND ROCK OFF OAKLAND'S AVENUE BOULEVARD.

I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS AND MOVED BACK TO TEXAS TO ROUND ROCK FROM ESTES PARK, COLORADO, TWO YEARS AGO.

SPENT EIGHT YEARS IN IN AUSTIN AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR TBEC TEXAS BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION AND 30 YEARS UP IN THE DALLAS AREA. I WAS ON THE DALLAS SCHOOL BOARD FOR SIX YEARS.

I DID TWO TWO TERMS AS BOARD PRESIDENT THERE, AND MY BUSINESS BACKGROUND INCLUDES PLANT MANAGEMENT FOR A NATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR OF METALS AND PLASTICS.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

EACH ONE OF THE TRUSTEES SUBMITTED A QUESTION FOR THE TWO TRUSTEES THAT ARE NOT HERE.

I WILL BE READING IN THEIR STEAD AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHO THE QUESTION WHO SUBMITTED THAT QUESTION.

AMBER HE DIDN'T HIT THE LEARNING COMMUNITY.

HE DIDN'T. HE SAID. ROUND ROCK HE SAID HE'S LIVED IN ROUND ROCK SO THAT'S HIS LEARNING COMMUNITY.

YOU LIVE IN THE ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY LEARNING FERN BLUFF WHICH WOULD BE ROUND ROCK YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, THE FIRST QUESTION WAS SUBMITTED BY TRUSTEE BONE DESCRIBE WHY OR WHY NOT YOU FEEL THE BOARD SHOULD BE FOCUSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TIME AND STUDENT MONEY ON THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ELECTED TRUSTEE THAT WILL SERVE A VERY SHORT TIME? INSTEAD OF BEING LASER FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY FIND QUALIFIED STAFF THAT WILL EDUCATE THE CHILDREN, ENSURING OUR SCHOOLS ARE SECURE FOR STUDENTS, AND ENSURING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO CLOSE EDUCATIONAL GAPS.

I'LL READ IT ONE MORE TIME.

YEAH, PLEASE DO. PLEASE DESCRIBE WHY OR WHY NOT.

YOU FEEL THE BOARD SHOULD BE FOCUSING THEIR TIME AND MONEY ON THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF SELECTING A TRUSTEE TO SERVE FOR A VERY SHORT TIME, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON PREPARING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY FINDING QUALIFIED STAFF TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND ENSURING THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SECURE FOR STUDENTS AND THAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO CLOSE THE EDUCATIONAL GAP.

I THINK THIS BOARD CAN DO ALL OF THAT AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE REASON, THE MAIN REASON YOU NEED THE STAKEHOLDERS DESERVE TO HAVE A FULL BOARD TO DO THE DISTRICT'S BUSINESS.

SO SIMPLE SIMPLY THAT'S THE ANSWER.

YOU NEED A FULL BOARD AND I'M WILLING TO PROVIDE MY SERVICES TO BE FULLY ENGAGED UNTIL NOVEMBER WHEN THE VOTERS GET TO ELECT SOMEONE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE HARRISON HAS OUR NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM THE ROLE OF A SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION? OUR JOB AS A BOARD MEMBER IS TO EVALUATE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

IT'S TO APPROVE A BUDGET, WHICH I THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT AND TO OVERSEE THE DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT.

YOU'VE GOT QUALITY TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM.

EXCUSE ME. THE POLICYMAKERS TO ADOPT POLICY THAT SERVES THE DISTRICT WELL.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. GREAT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS MY QUESTION.

THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD WORKS UNDER A LONESTAR GOVERNANCE MODEL TO HELP US REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.

HOW CAN A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE KNOW IF ITS GOALS ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED AND ITS POLICIES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED? AND IF YOU ARE APPOINTED TO PLACE ONE TRUSTEE, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO REMAIN TO MAKE SURE THIS REMAINS YOUR FOCUS? I'LL READ IT ONE MORE TIME. IT'S KIND OF LONG.

ALL RIGHT, THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD WORKS UNDER THE LONE STAR GOVERNANCE MODEL TO HELP US REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.

HOW CAN A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE KNOW IF ITS GOALS ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED AND ITS POLICIES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED? AND IF YOU WERE APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE YOUR FOCUS? I'LL WORK WITH THE OTHER TRUSTEES, AND WE WILL EVALUATE THE RESULTS FROM WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS, AS HAS DONE IN THE DISTRICT.

LOOKING AT SCORES, LOOKING AT OUTCOMES, AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT AT THE VARIOUS CAMPUSES, BUT BY AND LARGE, OUR JOB AS A BOARD MEMBER IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS TO SAY AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE IS MEETING THE OBJECTIVES THAT THE BOARD HAS SET FORTH.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT IS TRUSTEE XIAO, AND HE'S NOT HERE.

[00:30:02]

AMONG ALL OF THE BOOKS YOU HAVE READ THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH ONE HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO A SCHOOL AGE CHILD AND WHY? WELL, I'VE READ IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD IS AMONG MY FAVORITES, AND THEN THE LAST PART OF THAT IS WHY.

IT SPEAKS ABOUT COMMITMENT BY AN INDIVIDUAL.

IT SPEAKS TO THE DESIRE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TELL THE TRUTH. WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS TRUSTEE WEIR.

DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT WAS ONE DECISION OF THE BOARD YOU AGREED WITH AND WHEN YOU DISAGREED WITH AND WHY? I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE THAT I MEAN, THIS IS A GOOD DECISION TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO FILL THE VACANCY THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AS FAR AS THINGS THAT I MIGHT DISAGREE WITH, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT IN THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME ISSUES, ALL SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE ISSUES, AND I THINK THOSE THINGS CAN BE WORKED OUT AMONG THE TRUSTEES.

BUSY WRITING. I'M MAKING SURE I GET GOOD NOTES.

THE LAST IS TRUSTEE WESTON.

SORRY. NOT THE LAST.

SORRY. NEXT TO THE LAST.

GOOD EVENING, SIR. PRIOR TO ALL TRUSTEES TAKING THEIR SEAT AT THE DAIS, THEY TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE.

IN THIS OATH, THE TRUSTEE AFFIRMS THAT HE OR SHE WILL UPHOLD ALL LAWS, INCLUDING ALL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

FURTHERMORE, THE EDUCATOR'S CODE OF ETHICS IS SET FORTH IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE LAW TO PROVIDE RULES FOR STANDARD PRACTICE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT TOWARDS STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE HELP US UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY HOW YOU WOULD NAVIGATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A DECISION BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MAJORITY IS COUNTER TO THE LAW.

CAN YOU READ THAT ONE MORE TIME? NO, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO. THE BOARD MAKES A DECISION THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT.

AS FAR AS THE OATH, I'VE TAKEN THE OATH SEVERAL TIMES AS A VETERAN AND AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN COLORADO AND AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN DALLAS, I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

IT'S ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ALL RIGHT, OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE VESSA.

IN SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT, DO YOU ALSO PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD THIS NOVEMBER? WHY OR WHY NOT? I DO NOT PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD IN NOVEMBER.

IT'S A BIG JOB.

I'M WILLING TO BE FULLY ENGAGED BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, BUT NEVER SAY NEVER.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE END OF OUR QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT.

I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO APPLY, AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO BE EXCUSED AND WE WILL BRING IN THE NEXT CANDIDATE THAT HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT. YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. ZORNS, ONE LAST THING.

IS THERE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BOARD TO KNOW BEFORE WE CLOSE? IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. I WANTED TO JUST OPEN TO ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES AFTER THE QUESTIONS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE DIDN'T TOUCH ON OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW, PLEASE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO KNOW.

NO, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVEN'T WRITTEN OUT AND WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT, I'M WILLING TO STAY FOR THAT.

SO IT'S UP TO YOU.

WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU, AND IF YOU PLEASE, STICK AROUND UNTIL WE FINISH THE EVENING.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, AND SHE GAVE THEM ALL A COPY. HE HAS A COPY OF THE QUESTION, SO INSTEAD OF REPEATING THEM, IT'D BE BETTER JUST TO HAVE THEM READ IT.

[00:35:02]

JUST IN CASE YOUR PAGES GET SEPARATED.

YOU'LL KNOW WHO GOES WITH WHO.

SORRY. GOOD EVENING.

LET ME START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR APPLYING AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND OUT HERE AND PUT YOURSELF FORWARD FOR INTERVIEWS TONIGHT, AND IF YOU WOULD START WITH YOUR NAME AND THE LEARNING COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE IN AND IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

JUST A BRIEF INTRO.

SURE. MY NAME IS ALISHA MARKHAM.

I'M IN THE ROUND ROCK HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING COMMUNITY.

I HAVE BEEN A PARENT, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER IN THE DISTRICT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

I HAVE SERVED IN PTA IN A VARIETY OF ROLES, MOST RECENTLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE PTA AT OUR LOCAL ELEMENTARY FOR THREE YEARS AND ON THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL.

I'VE ALSO SERVED ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AS THE PTA LIAISON AND RECENTLY STARTED IN THE SURROGATE PARENT PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICT THIS YEAR. GREAT.

THANK YOU. EACH TRUSTEE SUBMITTED THEIR OWN QUESTION.

I WILL BE READING THE QUESTIONS FOR TRUSTEE BONE AND TRUSTEE XIAO AND THEY ARE IN THE SAME ORDER FOR ALL THE CANDIDATES.

SO WHEN THEY COME TO THEIR QUESTIONS, I'LL READ THEM AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY SUBMITTED IT.

SO OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.

YOU HAVE A COPY OF THEM IN FRONT OF YOU.

DESCRIBE WHY OR WHY NOT.

YOU FEEL THE BOARD SHOULD BE FOCUSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TIME AND STUDENT MONEY ON THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ELECTED TRUSTEE THAT WILL SERVE A VERY SHORT TIME? INSTEAD OF BEING LASER FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY FINDING QUALIFIED STAFF THAT WILL EDUCATE THE CHILDREN, ENSURING OUR SCHOOLS ARE SECURE FOR STUDENTS, AND ENSURING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO CLOSE EDUCATIONAL GAPS.

SURE. SO FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, TOO, FOR CONSIDERING ME AND HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

I THINK THAT YOU CAN DO BOTH.

I WATCHED THE MEETING WHERE YOU GUYS ACCEPTED TRUSTEE XIAO'S RESIGNATION AND DECIDED TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE VACANCY.

I KNOW THAT THE CONCERN WAS THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE QUORUM FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED TO DO TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

IF WE DON'T CONDUCT BUSINESS, THAT AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS.

SO IF WE WANT TO BE FOCUSED ON EDUCATING THE CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT, IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO CLOSE THE EDUCATIONAL GAPS, THEN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH BUSINESS.

IF YOU CAN'T BE HERE AND MEET, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, AND IF THAT'S YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN FOR FILLING THIS VACANCY, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE HARRISON.

THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM THE ROLE OF A SUPERINTENDENT OR ADMINISTRATION? SO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS FIVE TENETS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO HIRE AND EVALUATE A SUPERINTENDENT, TO ADOPT POLICIES AND REVIEW THEM FOR EFFECTIVENESS, TO ADOPT STUDENT OUTCOME GOALS AND REVIEW THEM FOR SUCCESS AND TO ADOPT A BUDGET AND SET A TAX RATE.

THE ROLE OF A TRUSTEE DIFFERS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION AND THAT WE DON'T DIRECT CURRICULUM OR HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT.

THAT'S AND WE DON'T DO HIRING.

THAT'S THE JOB OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

OUR ROLE IS SPECIFICALLY THE FIVE THINGS THAT I JUST NAMED AND NOTHING OUTSIDE THAT PURVIEW.

GREAT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MY QUESTION.

THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD WORKS UNDER A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE MODEL TO HELP US REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.

[00:40:06]

READ IT AGAIN. YEAH.

GIVE ME A SECOND. SO YOU ALREADY HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THROUGH LONE STAR GOVERNANCE TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW YOUR STUDENT OUTCOMES.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE POINT OF THE STUDENT OUTCOME GOALS WORKSHOPS IS YOU CREATE THESE GOALS, YOU WORKSHOP THEM UNTIL YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE NEEDS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE STEPS BUILT IN TO REVIEW THOSE FOR SUCCESS.

ANY GOAL HAS TO HAVE HAS TO HAVE MEASURES SO THAT THE DATA THAT INFORMS THOSE MEASURES IS THE WAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF YOU'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, AND I THINK AS A TRUSTEE, THE STEPS YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON THAT IS THAT YOU SHOW UP.

YOU'RE HERE FOR THOSE WORKSHOPS.

YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE THE IMPORTANT VOTES.

YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

WE REMAIN FOCUSED WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT HOW TO INFORM THOSE GOALS AS PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, IT'S OUR JOB TO REACH OUT.

THERE'S LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS DISTRICT THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN A VARIETY OF AREAS OF EDUCATION.

IT'S OUR JOB TO REACH OUT TO THOSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE PARTNERS WITH OUR PARENTS AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO INFORM THOSE THOSE GOALS.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN OUR ADMINISTRATION.

WE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING OVER OUR THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LEADERSHIP.

WE SHOULD BE LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM THAT, SYNTHESIZING THAT INFORMATION AND PUTTING THAT INTO OUR GOALS.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS TRUSTEE XIAO'S QUESTION.

AMONG ALL OF THE BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE READ THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH ONE HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST AND THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO A SCHOOL AGE CHILD AND WHY? SO I AM A BIG FAN OF PERIOD DRAMAS, SO MINE WOULD BE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE ASPECTS OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE THAT MAKE US REEXAMINE SOCIAL STRUCTURES AND ASSUMPTIONS AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

SORRY I HAD TO WRITE ALONG.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS TRUSTEE WEIR, AND IF YOU GUYS NEED ADDITIONAL TIME, JUST TAKE IT UNTIL YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION.

IF YOU'RE STILL MAKING NOTES.

DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT WAS ONE DECISION OF THE BOARD YOU AGREED WITH AND ONE YOU DISAGREED WITH AND WHY? I FEEL LIKE I'VE AGREED WITH MOST OF THE DECISIONS THAT THE BOARD HAS COME TO.

EVENTUALLY. I THINK THE PART THAT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE COMMUNITY IS TO MAINLY JUST WATCH THE CONTENTION IN THESE MEETINGS.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF ROOM LEFT FOR FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR PARENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE OTHER NOISE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

SO FOR ME, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE A DECISION OF OF THE BOARD THAT I AGREED OR DISAGREED WITH.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE WAY THAT MEETINGS ARE BEING CONDUCTED.

I WILL SAY THAT ONE THAT I CAN THAT I DISAGREED WITH WAS IN OUR RECENT STUDENT OUTCOMES, YOUR RECENT STUDENT OUTCOMES MEETING AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE AND PARENT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION GOAL REWORKED, AND I DO THINK YOU GUYS ARE WORKING WITH CPAC TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND I LOVE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN SPECIAL EDUCATION SO MUCH ATTENTION THIS YEAR, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT GOAL REWORKED AND CONSTRAINTS BUILT INTO ALL THE OTHER GOALS THAT APPLY TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS TRUSTEE WESTON.

WELCOME. PRIOR TO ALL TRUSTEES TAKING THEIR SEAT AT THE DAIS AND FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW ALONG IF THAT'S EASIER FOR YOU.

[00:45:03]

IN THIS OATH, THE TRUSTEE AFFIRMS THAT HE OR SHE WILL UPHOLD ALL LAWS, INCLUDING ALL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

FURTHERMORE, THE EDUCATOR'S CODE OF ETHICS IS SET FORTH IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE LAW TO PROVIDE RULES FOR STANDARD PRACTICES AND ETHICAL CONDUCT TOWARDS STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE HELP US UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY HOW YOU WOULD NAVIGATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A DECISION BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MAJORITY IS COUNTER TO THE LAW.

SURE. I THINK THAT'S AN EASY ONE FOR ME.

WE HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR A REASON.

IT'S NOT MY JOB TO BE AN ATTORNEY.

SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD IS DOING THAT'S NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, THEN I WOULD EXPECT THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO DETERMINE HOW THEY SHOULD PROCEED.

AND OUR LAST QUESTION THIS EVENING COMES FROM TRUSTEE VESSA.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

IN SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT, DO YOU ALSO PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD THIS NOVEMBER? WHY OR WHY NOT? YES, I DO PLAN TO RUN.

MY VISION FOR OUR DISTRICT IS TO BE THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

TO ME, THAT BEING THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE MEANS BEING AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITY MINDED DISTRICT THAT'S OFFERING HIGH QUALITY OPTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.

WHETHER THEY'RE COLLEGE BOUND, THEY WANT TO GO INTO THE WORKFORCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION OR THEY'RE ENTERING AN 18 PLUS TRANSITION PROGRAM.

SO MY GOAL IS TO BE A PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF MAKING THAT VISION A REALITY. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE END OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE PREPARED.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND YOU ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING ADDITIONALLY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THIS BOARD, ANYTHING THAT WE DIDN'T GO OVER.

NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM US, BUT JUST A BRIEF OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT.

WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I READ A STATEMENT? SAY IT AGAIN? WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I READ? THAT'S FINE. OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO A LITTLE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO TRUSTEE VESSA'S QUESTION, I GUESS, ABOUT WHY I'M HERE.

ALL OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT MY CHILD WITH AUTISM.

MY SON WAS NEVER PLACED HERE FOR ME.

HE'S AN INDIVIDUAL WITH HOPES AND DREAMS OF HIS OWN.

MY LEARNING FROM HIM AND GROWING IN MY ABILITY TO BETTER INTERACT WITH THE WORLD IS JUST A BONUS.

HE HAS HELPED ME GROW IN MY DESIRE TO LIVE BEYOND MYSELF AND EMPATHIZE WITH THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS.

HE HAS HELPED ME TO SEE PEOPLE RATHER THAN PROBLEMS. THIS IS EXPERIENCE.

I INVEST IN EVERY LEADERSHIP ROLE I TAKE ON AND HOPE TO BRING TO THE BOARD.

MY FAMILY LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

MY CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL HERE.

I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS DISTRICT, AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS AND STAFF HERE WELL.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND INVESTING THE ENERGY INTO THIS PROCESS, AND WE'LL ASK YOU TO BE EXCUSED AND WE'LL BRING YOU BACK AFTER DELIBERATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:50:25]

IF YOU WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, LET US KNOW WHAT LEARNING COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN, AND IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US A BRIEF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU'VE APPLIED, I MEAN, NOT REALLY WHY YOU'RE APPLIED, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF WHO YOU ARE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DR. KEVIN JOHNSON SR.

I ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE STONY POINT FEEDER PATTERN LEARNING COMMUNITY.

THIS IS NEW. IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT.

I LIVE IN THE VIZCAYA NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN ROUND ROCK ROCK, TEXAS.

MY BACKGROUND TEACHER AT STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR FOR TWO YEARS WITHIN THE DISTRICT WENT TO BE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT LBJ COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL FOR A YEAR, WORKED AT TEA FOR THREE YEARS AS A STATEWIDE COORDINATOR, AND NOW I CURRENTLY WORK FOR A NATIONAL NONPROFIT CALLED ADVANCED CTE, AND NOT FROM TEXAS, BUT I'VE MADE TEXAS MY HOME.

WHAT'S THE OLD SAYING? NOT FROM HERE, BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD, AND THE ONE THING I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN.

EXCITED AND ECSTATIC ABOUT BEING HERE AND ALSO WHAT IS MEANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

EACH TRUSTEE SUBMITTED A QUESTION TO BE ASKED THIS EVENING.

FOR THE TWO TRUSTEES THAT AREN'T HERE, I WILL ASK THEIR QUESTION IN THEIR STEAD AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHO SUBMITTED THAT QUESTION.

WE'LL GO THROUGH IN ORDER AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF WRAP UP AT THE END.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.

DESCRIBE WHY OR WHY NOT? YOU FEEL THE BOARD SHOULD BE FOCUSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TIME AND STUDENT MONEY ON THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ELECTED TRUSTEE THAT WILL SERVE A VERY SHORT TIME INSTEAD OF BEING LASER FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY FINDING QUALIFIED STAFF THAT WILL EDUCATE THE CHILDREN, ENSURING OUR SCHOOLS ARE SECURE FOR STUDENTS, AND ENSURING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO CLOSE EDUCATIONAL GAPS.

WOW, LONG QUESTION.

SO I WILL SAY THIS.

I CAN'T SAY I NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH ASPECTS OF THE PREMISE THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON STUDENTS AND STUDENT SUCCESS, BUT THE BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN PLACE TO CONDUCT THE VOTE AND HAVE A QUORUM, AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT WE ALSO THAT WE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THAT BEING STEWARDS OF THE DISTRICT ALSO ENSURES THAT BUSINESS STILL CONTINUES.

SO I WILL SAY THAT I'VE ATTENDED A FEW MEETINGS AND DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DISTRACTION FROM THOSE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO, THOSE ISSUES, THAT WE GET BACK TO SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AND I'LL STOP THERE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. WHEN YOU'RE READY, TRUSTEE HARRISON, YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM THE ROLE OF A SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION? SO FOR ME, THE ONE THING AND I TALKED ABOUT IT IN MY PHILOSOPHY WHEN I SUBMITTED IT IS THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE OF A TRUSTEE AND A STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE DIRECTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT SYSTEM.

IT'S THE GREATEST SYSTEM IN THE WORLD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOU GET TO VOTE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT REPRESENT YOU AND THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE DECISIONS, AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME.

THE BOARD HOLDS THOSE ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE, THOSE EVALUATIONS, THOSE SYSTEMS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, BUT AS YOU SIT THERE ON THE DAIS, THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE TO THE VOTERS, AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR ME, AND THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM VISIONING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS ON THIS BOARD, AND I'LL STOP THERE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ME.

THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD WORKS UNDER A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE MODEL TO HELP US REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.

HOW CAN A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE KNOW IF ITS GOALS ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED AND ITS POLICIES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED?

[00:55:01]

RIGHT. ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, ALL RACES, ALL GENDER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS.

I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT, AND THEN ALSO THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BOARD TO HOLD THOSE ADMINISTRATORS AND THOSE SUPERINTENDENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHETHER OR NOT THOSE GOALS ARE BEING MET.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THOSE TARGETS ARE INCREMENTAL AND ARE SET THROUGHOUT A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ALSO SUPPORT THEM AND ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THEY CAN MEET THOSE GOALS THAT THEY'RE PROVIDED WITH THE PROPER RESOURCES AND THE PROPER LEADERSHIP TO MEET THOSE GOALS.

SO IT'S ALSO ASKING THEM FOR THOSE REPORTS THAT WE TALK NOT ONLY ABOUT THE DATA ITSELF, BUT WE LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSES, AND THEN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THOSE GOALS ARE BEING MET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE XIAO.

AMONG ALL THE BOOKS YOU HAVE READ THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH ONE HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST AND THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD AND WHY? SO MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN, SO I CAN'T SAY I'VE READ ANY SCHOOL-AGED BOOKS.

MY SON IS 23, GRADUATED FROM STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL.

MY DAUGHTER IS 21.

SHE'LL BE 21 ON SEPTEMBER THE FOURTH.

ALSO A GRADUATE OF STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I CAN'T SAY I'VE READ ANY CHILDREN'S BOOKS, TO BE QUITE FRANK, SO I CAN JUST STOP THERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ANY BOOK THAT YOU HAVE READ THAT COULD BE RELATABLE, I'LL ALLOW THAT KIND OF EXPANSION ON THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU. SO GOOD TO GREAT.

MY FAVORITE BOOK TO REALLY QUOTE AND TO REALLY TALK ABOUT AND OF COURSE, [INAUDIBLE] I THINK EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] BUT JUST HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITHIN OUR SOCIETY AND HOW WE TAKE THOSE CHALLENGES AND BUILD UPON THOSE CHALLENGES, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT IS BASED UPON THAT WHY.

SO DEFINITELY LIKE TO LIST THOSE TWO.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

WHEN YOU'RE READY, TRUSTEE WEIR YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION.

DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT WAS ONE DECISION OF THE BOARD YOU AGREED WITH AND ONE YOU DISAGREED WITH AND WHY? INTERESTING, SO I WOULD AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A POPULAR ANSWER, BUT I'M GOING TO BE MYSELF, AND THAT'S THE ONE THING I WAS DEDICATED TO DOING WHEN I DECIDED TO APPLY. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN FOR COVID, THE ONE THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DISAGREE WITH IS THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENCE, DUE DILIGENCE DONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO AVOID THE LEARNING LOSS AND CLOSING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO I CAN'T SAY I FULLY AGREE WITH THAT.

A DECISION I DID AGREE WITH HAVING A SRO OR A ROUND ROCK ISD POLICE FORCE. THE ONE THING THAT I'VE RECOGNIZED FROM JUST WORKING AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT AN ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THAT HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE JUDGE AND JURY ON EVERY INSTANCE WITH A STUDENT, THAT THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE SCHOOL SAFETY NEEDS TO BE IN THE HAND OF A SRO.

SO AGAIN, NOT POPULAR POINTS.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAID THOSE THINGS, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY FOR AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE FORCE THAT YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THAT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, THAT THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES THAT YOU DON'T WANT YOUR ADMINISTRATOR TAKING ON THAT LIABILITY AND THAT RISK. GREAT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION WHEN YOU'RE READY COMES FROM TRUSTEE WESTON.

WELCOME, SIR. WE'RE ON QUESTION SIX, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG.

IT'S KIND OF A LONG QUESTION.

PRIOR TO ALL TRUSTEES TAKING THEIR SEAT AT THE DAIS, THEY TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE.

IN THIS OATH, THE TRUSTEE AFFIRMS THAT HE OR SHE WILL UPHOLD ALL LAWS, INCLUDING LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

FURTHERMORE, THE EDUCATOR'S CODE OF ETHICS IS SET FORTH IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE LAW TO PROVIDE RULES FOR STANDARD PRACTICE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT TOWARD STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

[01:00:05]

FASCINATING. SO THE ONE THING ABOUT BEING COUNTER TO THE LAW IS THINKING ABOUT THE ADVICE THAT'S BEING GIVEN, THAT IF THERE IS A DECISION THAT'S BEING MADE, THAT'S COUNTER TO THE LAW. HAVE YOU GOTTEN PROPER GUIDANCE? HAVE YOU REACHED OUT, FOR INSTANCE, IN THIS INSTANCE, TALKING TO THE DISTRICT COUNSELOR? IF YOU TALK TO THE AG, AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT REALLY THAT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS [INAUDIBLE] DEBATES INCLUDE FACTS, FACTS AND THEN ALSO RECOMMENDATION FROM THOSE EXPERTS, BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A TRUSTEE OR NOT, YOU STILL NEED TO RELY ON THE EXPERTS AND THE COUNSEL OF OTHERS. NOW, ONCE THAT DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THAT STANDPOINT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CODE OF ETHICS AND IT HAS WITHIN AND I LOOKED AT THAT BEFORE COMING IN THAT'S LISTED ON THE BOARD SITE, IT SAYS THAT YOU WOULD BUILD THAT CONSENSUS ONCE THE CONSENSUS IS REACHED THAT THE BOARD ITSELF AS A WHOLE SUPPORTS THAT CONSENSUS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT AGREE WITH, BUT IF YOU SIT ON THIS BODY, YOU'VE MADE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THAT OATH, AND THAT'S A PART OF THAT OATH ALSO.

RIGHT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT CODE OF CONDUCT THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE BOARD'S DECISION AND MOVE FORWARD.

NOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, AS USUAL, BECAUSE WE DO ANSWER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, TO HAVE THAT COME OUT IN YOUR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD AND NOT STOP THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR LAST QUESTION WHEN YOU'RE READY IS FROM TRUSTEE VESSA.

IN SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT, DO YOU ALSO PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD THIS NOVEMBER? WHY OR WHY NOT? SO SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD FOR AT LEAST A YEAR TWO YEARS WORKING FOR THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.

THAT WASN'T A POSSIBILITY UNTIL I LEFT THE AGENCY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE DEFINITELY BEEN EXPLORING.

I JUST LEFT THE AGENCY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021.

SO I DO PLAN ON SEEKING AND ONLY FOR THE REASON THAT I JUST MENTIONED THAT WE GET BACK TO SERVING OUR STUDENTS, SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AND LISTENING TO TRANSPARENCY AND DEFINITELY LISTENING TO AND USING DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING AND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THE END OF OUR PREPARED QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND APPLYING.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND ONE FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT WE DIDN'T COVER IN THE QUESTIONS.

JUST ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SAY.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND YOU DID DROP YOUR HANDKERCHIEF.

JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL I WOULD SIMPLY SAY IS THAT I CAME TO ROUND ROCK ISD.

SO ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY.

SO I'M A MILITARY TRANSPLANT.

SPENT TEN YEARS IN THE ARMY, AND I CAME TO THIS CITY AFTER LEAVING D.C., WORKING AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, AND I HAD TO CONDUCT THE RESEARCH.

I HAVE AN ADULT AUTISTIC SON.

SO WHEN I CONDUCTED THAT RESEARCH BETWEEN GEORGETOWN ISD BELTON ISD AND MAKING SURE THAT I BROUGHT MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE, THAT I CHOSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS A BEACON OF EXCELLENCE.

WHEN I CAME TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO WORK AS A TEACHER AND TO BE PROUD TO HAVE MY STUDENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE ONLY THING THAT I IMPLORE REGARDLESS OF THE CANDIDATE THAT YOU SELECT TONIGHT, REGARDLESS OF THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE GET BACK TO THAT EXCELLENCE THAT'S DRAWN INDIVIDUALS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT WHEN I TALK TO FORMER STUDENTS, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, GOING TO LAW SCHOOL, THAT WE'RE PUTTING KIDS INTO STANFORD AND HARVARD, WE'RE ALSO PUTTING KIDS IN THE PRAIRIE VIEW, TSU, HBCU'S THAT WERE ACROSS THE GAMUT THAT WE'VE WORRIED ABOUT.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND THAT WE GET BACK TO THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

WE'LL ASK YOU TO BE EXCUSED.

PLEASE STICK AROUND UNTIL AFTER DELIBERATIONS WHEN WE MAKE OUR FINAL SELECTION.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, MA'AM.

[APPLAUSE]

[01:05:54]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME, THE LEARNING COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE IN AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD.

SURE. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS CASSANDRA HULSEY.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS ZONED FOR THE STONY POINT LEARNING COMMUNITY.

I HAVE WORKED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS IN A VARIETY OF ROLES.

I BEGAN AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL.

I THEN DID MY COURSEWORK TO BECOME A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, AND I WAS A SCHOOL BASED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST FOR NINE YEARS, INCLUDING HERE IN ROUND ROCK FOR I THINK IT WAS FIVE OR SIX YEARS, BUT I'VE ALSO I'VE WORKED IN KANSAS AND A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THERE.

I HAVE WORKED IN GEORGETOWN ISD, AUSTIN ISD AND CURRENTLY WORK IN BELTON ISD AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR. SO I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

I ALSO HAVE SERVED MY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSION ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

I'VE SERVED IN A VARIETY OF ROLES THERE AS WELL.

I BEGAN AS AN AREA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA.

I WAS THE GOVERNMENT AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR AND MOST RECENTLY HAVE SERVED AS PRESIDENT.

MY CURRENT ROLE TASK IS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT.

SO I'VE GAINED A LOT OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS IN THAT LEADERSHIP CAPACITY THROUGH THAT SERVICE, INCLUDING ADVOCACY AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL REGARDING ISSUES OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL SAFETY, AND JUST OTHER GENERAL TOPICS OF EDUCATION IN GENERAL. WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU. EACH OF THE TRUSTEES HAVE SUBMITTED A QUESTION.

I WILL BE READING THE QUESTIONS FOR TRUSTEE BONE AND TRUSTEE XIAO, SINCE THEY ARE NOT IN ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AND THERE'LL BE A WRAP UP AT THE END. SO THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU.

DESCRIBE WHY OR WHY NOT.

YOU FEEL THE BOARD SHOULD BE FOCUSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TIME AND STUDENT MONEY ON THIS POLITICAL PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ELECTED TRUSTEE THAT WILL SERVE A VERY SHORT TIME? INSTEAD OF BEING LASER FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BY FINDING QUALIFIED STAFF THAT WILL EDUCATE THE CHILDREN, ENSURING OUR SCHOOLS ARE SECURE FOR STUDENTS, AND ENSURING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO CLOSE EDUCATIONAL GAPS.

IT'S A LONG QUESTION, SO IF YOU WANT TO REREAD IT AND THEN TAKE A SECOND, FEEL FREE TO.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS PROCESS WAS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE BOARD AND WAS AGREED THAT THIS WAS THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION.

SO IT FEELS LIKE THAT.

THAT REQUEST WAS MADE AND LISTENED TO, AND IF THAT WAS NOT THE WILL OR THE DESIRE OF THE COMMUNITY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED THIS WAY.

SO. IT.

THIS PROCESS ALLOWS THE VACANCY TO BE FILLED, WHICH I GUESS PROVIDES MORE PROCEDURAL CONSISTENCY IN ENSURING THAT THERE'S A QUORUM PRESENT TO CONDUCT BOARD MEETING BUSINESS AND ENSURING THAT IMPORTANT MATTERS REGARDING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE NOT GOING TO BE DELAYED OR DERAILED DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM.

GREAT. THANK YOU. WHEN YOU'RE READY, THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM TRUSTEE HARRISON.

[01:10:03]

WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM THE ROLE OF A SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION? THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PATH AND THE TRAJECTORY THAT THEY BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WHEREAS THE ROLE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS TO FOLLOW THE VISION CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD AND TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE GOALS ARE MET THROUGH HIS OR HER KNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND EDUCATED EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

SO THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE THE ONE TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ME.

THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD WORKS UNDER A LONE STAR GOVERNANCE MODEL TO HELP US REMAIN FOCUSED ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.

HOW CAN A SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE KNOW IF ITS GOALS ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED AND ITS POLICIES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED? AND IF APPOINTED TO THE POSITION OF PLACE ONE TRUSTEE, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THESE REMAIN YOUR FOCUS? ANOTHER LONG QUESTIONS, SO FEEL FREE TO REREAD IT AGAIN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, IF NOT TO, HAVING A PHYSICAL COPY OF THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANNING GOALS AVAILABLE AT EACH BOARD MEETING, AT LEAST TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE OVERARCHING GOALS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES, AND THE WAY THAT YOU REACH GOALS IS BY REGULARLY CHECKING IN ON THE PROGRESS SO.

THE GOALS NEED TO HAVE INCORPORATED WITHIN THEM SYSTEMATIC WAYS OF MEASURING THEIR PROGRESS SO THAT WE KNOW AT VARIOUS INTERVALS ALONG THE WAY WHETHER WE'RE HITTING THOSE TARGETS OR NOT, AND IF WE'RE NOT, THEN WE CAN RESPOND ACCORDINGLY, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, DISCUSS WHY OR WHY NOT THAT MAY BE HAPPENING, BUT THE KEY IS THAT YOU'RE REGULARLY CHECKING IN ON THE PROGRESS TOWARDS THOSE GOALS AND ADJUSTING AS APPROPRIATE.

THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE XIAO.

AMONG ALL THE BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE READ THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH ONE HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST AND THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD AND WHY? I LOVE THAT QUESTION.

LET ME THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE.

ABSOLUTELY. TAKE YOUR TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COUNTS AS RECENT, BUT I AM A HUGE FAN OF THE HARRY POTTER SERIES.

NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S GREAT STORYTELLING, BUT THEMES IN IN THAT STORY ARE VERY APPLICABLE TO THE REAL WORLD AND REALLY EMPHASIZE VALUES OF INTEGRITY AND COURAGE AND STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT BOOK, AND IT'S DISCUSSED, WELL, SEVEN BOOKS AND IT'S DISGUISED FANTASTICALLY IN A GREAT STORY.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM TRUSTEE WEIR WHEN YOU'RE READY.

DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT WAS ONE DECISION OF THE BOARD YOU AGREED WITH AND ONE YOU DISAGREED WITH AND WHY? I HAVE BEEN.

THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR LARGELY IN AGREEMENT WITH.

COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT HAVE BEEN DECIDED ON USING PUBLIC OR COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A SOURCE OF CONTENTION AMONG OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED THAT.

WE HAVE BROUGHT IN COMMUNITY EXPERTS BECAUSE I AM NOT A HEALTH EXPERT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF OUR CURRENT TRUSTEES ARE COMMUNITY HEALTH EXPERTS.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THOSE THINGS ARE PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO US, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO

[01:15:08]

ONE THAT I'VE DISAGREED WITH.

HONESTLY, I CAN'T THINK OF A SPECIFIC DECISION, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THAT I'VE BEEN SADDENED BY SOME OF THE TOPICS AND THE LACK OF FOCUS ON STUDENTS IN SOME OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS REGARDING ADULT ISSUES THAT AREN'T ALLOWING US TO FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS, WHICH IS WHAT MATTERS MOST , AND THAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE THING THAT I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I DISAGREE WITH OR WISH WOULD GO IN A DIFFERENT WAY IN THE FUTURE.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT QUESTION WHEN YOU'RE READY COMES FROM TRUSTEE WESTON.

WELCOME. FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW ALONG.

NUMBER SIX PRIOR TO ALL TRUSTEES TAKING THEIR SEAT AT THE DAIS, THEY TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE.

IN THIS OATH, THE TRUSTEE AFFIRMS THAT HE OR SHE WILL UPHOLD ALL LAWS, INCLUDING ALL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

FURTHERMORE, THE EDUCATOR'S CODE OF ETHICS IS SET FORTH IN THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE LAW TO PROVIDE RULES FOR STANDARD PRACTICE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT TOWARDS STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, PARENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PLEASE HELP US UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY HOW YOU WOULD NAVIGATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A DECISION BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MAJORITY IS COUNTER TO THE LAW.

AS I STATED IN A PREVIOUS RESPONSE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RELY ON PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN MATTERS THAT I DON'T OR THAT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE.

SO WHILE I WILL ABSOLUTELY DO MY BEST TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON ALL OF THE LEGAL PARAMETERS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL BOARD DECISION MAKING, IN MATTERS WHERE I AM UNFAMILIAR, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO LEGAL COUNSEL TO PROVIDE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE LAST QUESTION THIS EVENING COMES FROM TRUSTEE VESSA.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

IN SEEKING THIS APPOINTMENT, DO YOU ALSO PLAN TO RUN FOR THE BOARD THIS NOVEMBER? WHY OR WHY NOT? PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT.

I DO HAVE AN INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I HAVE NOT MADE UP MY MIND WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION FOR ME AT THIS TIME.

THE REASON THAT I AM CONSIDERING IT IS THAT I AM ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS AND FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ONE OF MY DEEPEST CONVICTIONS AND SOMETHING THAT I FIND A LOT OF MEANING IN, AND I REALLY ENJOY EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY IN THAT CAPACITY.

I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY TIMING WAS APPROPRIATE.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE TRUSTEES AT THE TABLE CURRENTLY, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT I'D LIKE TO RUN AGAINST ANY OF YOU BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE GREAT WORK IS, IS HAPPENING BY THE TRUSTEES AT THIS TABLE.

SO IF I WERE TO FEEL COMPELLED TO RUN AT THIS TIME, I THINK I WOULD REALLY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER MY SERVICE IS NEEDED AT THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME IN ORDER FOR ME TO FIND IT MOST MEANINGFUL.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME AND PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE AND APPLYING FOR THIS SEAT.

IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND YOU ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US ANYTHING THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE COVERED IN THESE EIGHT SEVEN QUESTIONS.

NO MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS, BUT FEEL FREE TO TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T COVER.

OKAY, I WILL JUST SAY I AM A PARENT, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF ROUND ROCK ISD.

[01:20:03]

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES.

I THINK WE DO GREAT THINGS FOR CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD THAT MY DAUGHTER ATTENDS ROUND ROCK ISD.

I JUST I REALLY LOVE THIS DISTRICT AND I REALLY HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO EXCUSE YOU.

THE BOARD WILL ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS AND DELIBERATE THE FOUR CANDIDATES THAT WE INTERVIEWED TONIGHT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] SO AT THIS TIME DURING THE MEETING, THE BOARD MAY RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.

[E. CLOSED SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]

IT IS 7:21 AND WE ARE IN CLOSED SESSION.

I'LL ASK YOU TO LEAVE THIS ROOM AND WE'LL CALL YOU BACK WHEN WE ARE READY.

WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY JUST THANKING OR TELLING YOU THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL FOUR OF OUR CANDIDATES WHO INTERVIEWED FOR PLACE ONE.

[D. ACTION ITEMS (Part 3 of 3)]

HAVING SAID THAT, DO I HAVE ANY MOTIONS? TRUSTEE VESSA.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPOINT KEVIN JOHNSON TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLACE ONE VACANCY AND SERVE UNTIL THE OPENING UPCOMING NOVEMBER 2022 ELECTIONS.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

TRUSTEE WESTON. ANY COMMENTS? YES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK NOT ONLY THE FOUR FINALISTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, BUT ALSO ALL 25 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO EITHER PUT TOGETHER RESUMES OR SEND US RESUMES TO ANSWER A STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE PUBLIC VIEW.

MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SHARED WITH ME A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS BOARD, MAKING A CHOICE TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO REPRESENT THEM.

IT'S LIKELY THAT ALMOST 100,000 VOTERS WILL WEIGH IN ON THESE TRUSTEE ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER.

MY REQUEST HAS BEEN TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR US TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE, NOT THE FIVE OF US WHO WILL BE THE NEXT TRUSTEE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IN NOVEMBER.

I BELIEVE OUR AGENDAS SHOULD BE FILLED WITH TOPICS THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO ADDRESSING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

MUCH OF THOSE NEEDS I HEARD ABOUT TODAY DOWN AT THE CAPITOL WHEN I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC EDUCATION HEARINGS.

WE HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE DECISION MAKING ABILITY OF THIS BOARD.

MY NO VOTE ON THIS IS ROOTED IN MY CONCERN, NUMBER ONE, ABOUT THE PROCESS.

NUMBER TWO, MY BELIEF THAT WITH ONLY THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE ELECTION, WE REALLY NEED TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, AND THIRD, THAT I BELIEVE THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS A LOT ON THEIR HANDS RIGHT NOW AS THEY PLAN TO WELCOME STUDENTS BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS IN JUST THREE WEEKS.

OUR COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THAT, NOT SPENDING TIME AND MONEY ON APPOINTING SOMEBODY TO THIS SEAT FOR THREE SHORT MONTHS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? TRUSTEE HARRISON.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHY WE NEED TO APPOINT SOMEONE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE QUORUM IS DELIBERATELY DISRUPTED.

SO THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO APPOINT AND THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE THEIR SAY IN NOVEMBER, BUT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE DISTRICT BUSINESS RUNNING AND WITH NOT ONLY ONE, BUT A COMING PANDEMIC THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, INCUBATION PERIODS OF YOU HAVING TO BE SEQUESTERED FOR 21 TO 28 DAYS, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE THAT WILL CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP FOR MEETINGS, AND FOR THAT VERY REASON I WILL SECOND TRUSTEE VESSA'S ORIGINAL MOTION.

SO I ALREADY SECONDED, BUT THANK YOU FOR SECONDING.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU SECONDED IT OR IF YOU WERE ASKING IF SOMEONE HAD A SECOND.

I SECONDED IT. WELL THEN I'D LIKE TO CALL THE QUESTION.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEEING NO OTHER LIGHTS ON.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION PASSES 4-1.

THIS MOTION. [APPLAUSE] AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANK YOU TO ALL CANDIDATES.

[01:25:05]

HE IS NO LONGER AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.

THERE WILL BE SOME UPCOMING TRAININGS AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET YOU RAMPED UP AND ON BOARD, AND AS ALREADY STATED, THIS IS FOR ONLY FOUR MONTHS AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND THIS SEAT WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

HAVING NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA, IT'S 7:54 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.