[00:00:03]
>> IT IS 5:30 ON THURSDAY, JULY 28TH 2022.
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
I HEREBY CALL THE MEETING OF THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CALL BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT IS TRUSTEES, WILL, HARRISON, FELLER, WESTON, VESSA AND JOHNSON, LOOKS LOVELY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ONLINE TONIGHT, THAT'S WONDERFUL, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
SORRY FOR THE HESITATION, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE JOINING US TONIGHT VIRTUALLY, TRUSTEE JOHNSON AND SO IT'S VERY NICE TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING.
WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING WITH US.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND BEFORE I READ THE RATHER LENGTHY SPEECH,
[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY]
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS SPEECH IS BEING REVISED PER RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MEETING ON JULY THE 26TH.I HAVE NOT HAD CHANCE TO MEET WITH LEGAL TO MAKE THOSE REVISIONS, BUT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TIME WITH OUR LAWYERS, BUT IT WILL BE A REVISION COMING ON THIS.
AT EACH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD WILL SET ASIDE TIME TO AFFORD THE GENERAL PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
WE ASK THE 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.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AND THE VIEWERS THAT THE COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS REFLECT THEIR OWN POSITIONS.
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 ACT UPON OR DISCUSS 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 BOARD MEMBERS DOES NOT INDICATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE COMMENTS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER.
FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS SHANNON PROBE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> I HATE TO SAY POINT OF ORDER BOOK, BUT DIDN'T YOU WANT TO GO WITH THE STUDENT SPEAKER?
SORRY ABOUT THAT, WE DO HAVE ONE VIRTUAL STUDENT SPEAKER, I EVEN SAID THAT OUT LOUD.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKER, WILLIAM DANIELS, WHO'S A STUDENT AND THEN YOU'RE ON DECK.
YOU'RE IN-PERSON, GREAT, THANK YOU.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND., GIVE ME A LITTLE CHANCE FOR THE MIC TO TURN ON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS WILLY DANIELS AND I'M A STUDENT AT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
EARLY COLLEGE IS THE ONLY CAMPUS THROUGHOUT THE ROUND ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BUILDING.
THIS DOESN'T PROMOTE EQUALITY THROUGH ALL SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
I PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN ENTERING THE EARLY COLLEGE CAMPUS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH OPEN RISK THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE CAMPUS.
I THINK THAT EARLY COLLEGE SHOULD HAVE A BUILDING BECAUSE IT ENSURES EQUALITY AND SAFETY.
IF THERE WOULD BE A TORNADO IN THE BUILDING, IT WOULD PROTECT STUDENTS MUCH BETTER THAN PORTABLES.
IF THERE WOULD BE A FIRE, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WOULD BURNED DOWN EASILY.
WITHOUT A BUILDING, ANYONE CAN EASILY WALK IN TO SCHOOL AND HARM STUDENTS.
WITH PORTABLES, STUDENTS ARE EASILY EXPOSED TO VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF SITUATIONS, INCLUDING THE FIRE, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND TORNADOES.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND GIVE US THE BUILDING THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON THIS CAMPUS DESERVE TO HAVE SO THAT WE FEEL SAFE GOING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO SHANNON PROBE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND THANKS TO MOST OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AT THE RECENT SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETING, I MENTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH MANY DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS HAD ASKED WHY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT, RATHER THAN BEING A SEPARATE ENTITY,
[00:05:02]
TO DATE NONE OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN AN ANSWER.RECENTLY, I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE DISTRICT PARENTS SAY THERE WAS LEGISLATION REQUIRING IT, BUT NO ONE WORKING FOR THE DISTRICT HAS TOLD ME THIS.
I SEARCHED AND CANNOT FIND LEGISLATION SAYING SUCH AND I KNOW OTHERS HAVE DONE THE SAME WITH THE SAME RESULTS.
IF THAT LEGISLATION EXISTS, PLEASE REPLY TO MY EMAIL TO THE BOARD INCLUDING THE TEXT OF THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHAT I DID FIND WAS SECTION 37.081 D-4 UNDER SUB-CHAPTER C, LAW AND ORDER OF THE EDUCATION CODE, WHICH READS, IN DETERMINING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES UNDER SUBSECTION D, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL COORDINATE WITH DISTRICT CAMPUS BEHAVIOR COORDINATORS AND OTHER DISTRICT EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE TASKED ONLY WITH DUTIES RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTERVENTION AND NOT TASKED WITH BEHAVIORAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES BETTER ADDRESSED BY OTHER DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
YET, ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, 'SRO DUTIES INCLUDE COUNSELING OF STUDENTS'.
I ALSO LOOKED THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY DOCUMENTS POSTED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS FOR THESE COMMUNICATED A DESIRE FOR THE POLICIES TO BE CENTERED AROUND THE PROTECTION OF STUDENTS, EVEN AND PERHAPS ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO INTERACTIONS WITH DISTRICT POLICE.
IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND RULES OF CONDUCT, I LOOKED FOR USES OF THE WORDS STUDENT, PARENT AND CHILD.
BETWEEN THOSE PAGES, I FOUND EXACTLY ONE USE OF THE WORD STUDENT AND THREE USES OF THE WORD PARENT.
NOPE, NEVER MIND, THAT WAS THE WORD APPARENT.
THERE WERE NO USES OF THE WORD PARENT.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S APPARENT TO ME? I WOULD LIKE TO OPT MY CHILD OUT OF INTERACTIONS WITH SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE POWER TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGES HERE, TRUSTEES. THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I DIDN'T CATCH WHAT THE SPEAKER, THE TEC THAT SHE MENTIONED, IS IT OKAY IF YOU ASKED HER?
>> SHE CAN PROBABLY PUT IT IN THE EMAIL TO US.
>> IT WAS 37. SOMETHING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL HIGHLIGHT THIS ON THE EMAIL.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS REBECCA MOLIS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D1 AND E1 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> I DO. JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT'S M-O-L-I-S, JUST ONE L, FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT D1.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL LISTED IN THERE BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN.
THEY NEED A BUILDING, THEY NEED A BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUILDING.
WHEN WE HAD A TORNADO A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT WAS AMAZING AND TERRIFYING TO THINK, IF I WAS A PARENT AND MY KID WAS IN A PORTABLE, HOW TERRIFIED I WOULD BE.
THEY'D BE A LITTLE BIT SAFER IN A BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUILDING.
THEY DESERVE IT, IT'S EQUITY FOR THEM.
THE OTHER THING IS, I SAW IN E1, THAT THE TEA ONLY TALKS ABOUT DOORS.
DOORS ARE GREAT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE ACTIVE SHOOTERS, ALL THE SCHOOL SHOOTERS, DOORS DIDN'T MATTER.
WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH FOR KIDS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THESE KIDS.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF BLACK AND BROWN KIDS THAT ARE SENT TO THE ROCK BECAUSE THEY'RE THREATS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY'RE NOT.
WE'RE FEEDING THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE.
WE NEED TO TEACH THE SROS, WE NEED TO TEACH THE COUNSELORS HOW TO HELP THESE KIDS BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS RENATA SIMS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1 AND D3 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> I DO. THANK YOU, TRUSTEES FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TONIGHT, HOPEFULLY UNINTERRUPTED.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WILL BE SPEAKING ON D3, POSSIBLE FUTURE FACILITY NEEDS AND E1.
I PROMISE I WILL STAY COMPLETELY ON TOPIC OF THESE TWO POINTS.
ON D3, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TO ADD FOR FACILITY BUDGETING, TO RETHINK THE BATHROOM SYSTEMS IN THE SCHOOLS, TO HAVE A DESIGNATED BIOLOGICAL MALE BATHROOM, DESIGNATED BIOLOGICAL FEMALE AND THEN MAYBE DESIGNATED ALL OTHERS OR FIND SOME SOLUTION THAT WILL KEEP OUR GIRLS FROM INTRUSION AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
ALSO, ON OUR ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATE, ONE OF THEIR BIG PILLARS IS EQUITY.
I WOULD JUST WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT IT IS NOT EQUITABLE TO BIOLOGICAL FEMALES, WHEN MALES ARE ALLOWED TO INTRUDE ON THEIR BATHROOM AND WHILE THEY'RE CHANGING.
DR. AZIZ, ME AND A FRIEND REACHED OUT TO YOU BACK IN THE FALL LAST YEAR WHEN THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED.
SADLY, YOU WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE WITH YOUR OWN SCANDAL AT THE TIME, BUT HOWEVER, THAT MIGHT BE UNDERSTANDABLE, NOT EXCUSABLE.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THIS AREA TRUSTEES AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR THAT WILL SHOW THIS COMMUNITY,
[00:10:04]
THAT YOU MEAN BUSINESS WHEN YOU SAY EQUITY FOR SAFETY FOR ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU.>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AGENDA ITEM E1 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> ON THE TOPIC OF THE PD, I UNDERSTAND THAT Y'ALLS HANDS ARE TIED AS FAR AS NEEDING A PD AND SROS ON CAMPUS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE FOR YOU ALL THAT WHILE OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE TIED UP IN A PD BUDGET WHICH DO NOT AGREE WITH.
I ALSO DON'T AGREE WITH THE TERMINOLOGY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
IT'S MENTAL HEALTH. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS A VERY OUTDATED INSTITUTIONAL TERM, WHICH IS A RED FLAG.
WHAT OUR KIDS NEED IS APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH.
SRO IS NOT A COUNSELOR DESPITE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING.
FRANKLY, THE PRESENCE OF SROS ON CAMPUS IS TRIGGERING TO SOME OF OUR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED STUDENTS.
I WOULD SUGGEST, INSTEAD OF SROS, WE HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS ON CAMPUS TO PROVIDE THE ACTUAL SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED.
WITHOUT THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET AS FAR AS FEELING SAFE AND SECURE AT SCHOOL GOES, NO LEARNING CAN OCCUR. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS ESMERALDA RUBALCABA HERNANDEZ SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
>> I DO. SO AFTER LOOKING AT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, DRIVE ON THE DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, I HAVE A GREAT MANY CONCERNS SOME WHICH I WILL ADDRESS BY AN EMAIL AT A LATER TIME.
BUT I'D LIKE TO FOCUS NOW ON THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT DOCUMENTS.
NOT ONCE IN THIS DOCUMENT DOES IT DESCRIBE ANY POLICY RELATED TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF A MINOR OR FAMILY MEMBER OF A STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT.
THE FOCUS OF THE DOCUMENT IS ONLY ON EMPLOYEE'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT, WHICH WHILE IMPORTANT, IS NOT FULLY ENCOMPASSING OF REALITY.
I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT ANYONE IN THIS ROOM OTHER THAN PERHAPS A PERPETRATOR, WOULD HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH POLICY AND PROCEDURE OUTLINING THE EXACT STEPS TO BE TAKEN WHEN A DISTRICT POLICE OFFICER IS ACCUSED OF OR FOUND GUILTY OF ANY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WITH OUR STUDENTS OR FAMILIES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE WHO ARE AFRAID OF TRANS WOMEN WHILE IGNORING THE REAL THREAT TO OUR CHILDREN, POLICE.
WHEN SROS ARE ARRESTED, THE MOST COMMON REASON IS FOR A SEX-RELATED CRIME WITH A FEMALE STUDENT AS THE VICTIM.
A 2014 NATIONAL STUDY FOUND THAT SORROWS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER POLICE OFFICERS TO BE ARRESTED FOR SEX-RELATED CRIMES.
MOST ARRESTS OF SROS ARE FOR SEX-RELATED CRIMES IN WHICH THE SRO TARGETED VICTIM ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY WERE EMPLOYED.
INCIDENTS INCLUDED ONE SRO SENT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TEXT TO A STUDENT ENROLLED IN THE SRO JUNIOR CADET PROGRAM.
AT ANOTHER SCHOOL, OFFICIALS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE SRO INTERACTIONS WITH A FEMALE STUDENT.
THAT SRO WAS LATER ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH HAVING SEX WITH THE STUDENT.
MOST SROS ARRESTED FOR SEX-RELATED OFFENSES AGAINST STUDENTS HAVE WORKED IN A SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
THE LONGER AN SRO REMAINS AT A SCHOOL, THE MORE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLES THEY ASSUME, THUS INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FROM FORMAL INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS.
SRO ROLES AND AUTONOMY IN SCHOOLS MAKE IT HARD TO PREVENT THESE ABUSES OF POWER.
FEMALE STUDENTS DO NOT FEEL SAFER IN SCHOOLS WITH SROS.
ONE NATIONAL STUDY FOUND THAT FEMALE STUDENTS WERE LESS LIKELY THAN MALE STUDENTS TO REPORT THEY FELT SAFE AT SCHOOL, AND THAT THERE WAS NO LINK BETWEEN INTERACTING WITH AN SRO.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS UNET DEVELA SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D3 AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
IN PERSON UNET DEVELA, WE'LL COME BACK.
NEXT IS. MINO MCNARY SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.
YOU'RE VIRTUAL AND YOU DID LIVE IN THE DISTRICT?
>> YES. THANK YOU. HI, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY REGARDING AGENDA ITEM E1.
AS AN ARMY WAR VETERAN, I WOULD LIKE TO CENTER MY COMMENT AROUND THE REPORT RELEASED BY TEXAS APPLESEED IN 2019, MARCH.
WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS, THIS MEANS MORE THAN POLICING AND DISCIPLINE.
BUILDING SAFE AND SUPPORTED SCHOOLS INCLUDES ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING, MENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND TO DIRECT OUR BUDGETING TOWARDS DEVELOPING THESE SERVICES.
WE USE ROUND ROCK ISD SHOULD THINK OF WAYS TO DEVELOP SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS.
ONE WAY WE CAN DO THIS IS TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A WELL-TRAINED, SUPPORTIVE STAFF SUCH AS COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND LICENSED SPECIALIST IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.
ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY CARINE HARRINGTON, THEY FOUND THAT THE RATIO OF STUDENTS TO COUNSELORS IN A SCHOOL WAS STRONGLY RELATED TO STUDENT OUTCOMES WITH MORE FAVORABLE RATIOS RELATED TO IMPROVED ATTENDANCE RATES IN ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.
AS TEXAS APPLESEED STATES IN THEIR REPORT,
[00:15:03]
THERE MUST BE A SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS AND THIS REQUIRES US TO CONSIDER FAR MORE THAN PHYSICAL SECURITY AND MONITORING.AS WE LOOK TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON PHYSICAL SECURITY AND MONITORING EACH YEAR, WE DO THIS DESPITE A LACK OF RELIABLE RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE EFFICACY OF THIS APPROACH.
AT THE SAME TIME, IMPORTANT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE UNDERFUNDED.
THIS SKEWED APPROACH COMPROMISES THE ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND SOCIAL SUCCESSES OF STUDENTS.
OUR BUDGET HERE IN ROUND ROCK REFLECTS WHAT WE VALUE AS A COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD NOT INCREASE FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY AND MONITORING.
>> BEYOND THAT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
THE ROLE OF SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO RESPONDING TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND EMERGENCIES.
INSTEAD OF ROUTINE STUDENT DISCIPLINE OR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND COUNSELING OF STUDENTS, WHICH IS WHICH IS ILLEGAL PER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, 37.081, SECTION D4.
WE SHOULD WORK TO ENABLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MEET THE RECOMMENDED STUDENT TO PROFESSIONAL RATIOS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS NATASHA DANIELS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.
YOU ALSO SIGNED UP FOR J1, BUT THERE'S NO J1 ON THE AGENDA.
WERE YOU ALSO GOING TO SPEAK ON D1?
>> NO PROBLEM. YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M A PARENT OF THREE IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO REQUEST THAT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVE FUNDS TO COMPLETE A BUILDING.
I OPENED EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AS AN ITS WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M NOW PROUD THAT MY SON ATTENDS EARLY COLLEGE AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION THAT DR. WILSON, BACK IN THE BACK HAS TAKEN THE SCHOOL.
AS AN EMPLOYEE, WE WERE TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT WE WOULD HAVE A BUILDING WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
THE 2018 BOND PROVIDED FUNDS FOR LAND MASTER PLAN DESIGN IN PHASE 1 CONSTRUCTION.
I FIND IT HEARTBREAKING THAT THE STUDENTS ON THAT CAMPUS AND MY OWN SON HAVE WITNESSED THE BUILDING OF RED BUD ELEMENTARY AND AQUATIC CENTER AT CEDAR RIDGE, THE YEARS LONG CONSTRUCTION AT MCNEIL, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRAND NEW CD FOLKS WHILE THEY LACK THE BASICS THAT OTHER STUDENTS GET, INCLUDING PROTECTION FROM WEATHER AND THE ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE FROM CAMPUS INTRUDERS.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE ROUND ROCK ISD SAFETY AND SECURITY PRESENTATION COMING UP TONIGHT.
SLIDE 7 HAS A VENN DIAGRAMS SHOWING AN INTERACTION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS, WHICH I FIND DEEPLY CONCERNING.
THESE ARE CHILDREN AND POLICE HAVE NO PLACE HANDLING DUTIES THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
I'M OPTING MY CHILDREN OUT OF ANY INTERACTION WITH THEIR SORROWS.
THEY ARE HERE TO ENFORCE LAWS, NOT COUNSEL OR MENTOR MY CHILDREN.
I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN GOING THROUGH THE STRESS OF ANY INTERACTIONS WITH ARMED OFFICERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS EMILY SALVEDRA SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D1 AND D3.
YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, BUT YOU ARE A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT?
>> YES. I AM AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF AT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR CAMPUS CONSISTS ENTIRELY OF PORTABLE.
EVERY PASSING PERIODS, THE STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO RAIN, SUN FREEZING, COLD EVERY TIME THEY WALK ON PORTABLE TO PORTABLE OR TO THEIR ACC CLASSES.
IN THE CASE OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE PORTABLES PROVIDE LITTLE TO NO PROTECTION.
AS YOU CAN RECALL, LATE EF2 TORNADO THAT HIT ROUND ROCK THIS PAST MARCH DAMAGED MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND HOMES.
IF A TORNADO WERE TO HIT OUR CAMPUS, IT COULD EASILY LIFT THE PORTABLES OFF THE GROUND AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE.
THE SECOND CONCERN IS IN LIGHT OF THE HORRIFIC TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED AT ROB ELEMENTARY IN UVALDE.
IF WE WERE TO FACE A SCHOOL SHOOTER, HOW DO I PROTECT MY STUDENTS WHEN THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THEM AND A POTENTIAL SHOOTER IS ME AND A THIN-WALL OR MY PORTABLE? WHILE THERE IS A VIDEO INTERCOM THAT CONTROLS ENTRY INTO OUR ADMIN PORTAL, THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM WALKING RIGHT UP TO ANY OF OUR PORTABLES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IS THE ONLY SCHOOL IN ROUND ROCK ISD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A BUILDING.
THEREFORE, THIS IS NOT EQUITABLE AND DOES NOT ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE ALLOCATE FUNDS IN THE 2020/2023 BUDGET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROUND ROCK EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING.
[D. FACILITIES WORKSHOP]
[00:20:06]
WE ARE GOING TO GO ONTO OUR FACILITIES WORKSHOP, WHICH INCLUDES THE 2018 BOND STATUS, PROPERTY ASSETS, AND POSSIBLE FUTURE FACILITY NEEDS.I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DR. AZIZ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS.
WE HAVE THE TEAM HERE WITH US TO PRESENT AND GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES.
TERRY, I WILL JUST PASS IT TO YOU AND GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
MADAM PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC, WE'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR WORK IN OPERATIONS AND PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2018 BOND PROJECTS.
WE'RE GRATIFIED TO BE ABLE TO SAY TONIGHT THAT IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE'S A VARIANCE, A SURPLUS THAT THIS BUILDING AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE THIS PROGRAM UNIQUE, IS THAT APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO ON AUGUST OF 2018, THERE WAS A BOND CALL TO START THIS PROGRAM.
AS A BOND CALL WAS CREATED THEN IMMEDIATELY WE WENT TO NOVEMBER IN ELECTION AND RIGHT INTO THE PROJECTS FROM THAT POINT.
WITH STARTING A BOND PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE, BEING THE CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER AND LEADING MANY OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THAT PROGRAM, I'VE FOCUSED ON TWO THINGS TO START WITH.
IS THAT ONE WE CALLED THE PROGRAM THE CONSTITUTION.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE SPREADSHEET IS THE CONSTITUTION.
WE CONSIDER THAT CONSTITUTION SACROSANCT.
WE DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THAT CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT VOTERS AND THE TRUSTEES VOTED UPON.
SECONDLY, FROM THAT POINT IS THAT AS WE BEGAN TO DEVELOP THE PROJECTS, WE CREATED WHAT I CALL THE BOND CONGRESS.
EVERY TWO WEEKS AS WE BEGIN THE PROGRAM, I WOULD INCLUDE ALL DIRECTORS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT IN A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND CONSIDER THEM AS PART OF THE CONGRESS TO ENACT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE CORNY, BUT IT WORKED GREAT.
THEY INTERNALIZE THAT AND THEY ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
WITH THOSE FOCUSES IN PLACE FROM THE CONSTITUTION AND THE STAFF, THEN THE WHOLE OUTLOOK, THE WHOLE INTENT OF US TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISH THIS PROGRAM WAS TO FOCUS ON INSPIRATION.
HOW CAN WE DO THESE PROJECTS WITH INSPIRATION? HOW CAN WE DO THESE PROJECTS AND ACCOMPLISH THESE PROJECTS WITH STELLAR STEWARDSHIP AND TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS CONSTITUTION, THIS OBLIGATION IN THOSE TWO CONTEXTS? YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE RESULTS OF THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.
BUT IN CONTEXT OF ALL OF THAT WORK IT'S NOT JUST MY PRIVILEGE TO SAY THAT I ACCOMPLISHED THAT.
IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FROM STAFF.
THE STAFF THAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF STAFF THAT REPRESENT TALENT AND THEY REPRESENT PROFESSIONALISM AND THEY REPRESENT EXPERIENCE.
WITH THAT, I HAVE SOME INTRODUCTIONS TO MAKE.
ONE IS THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE A PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE.
THE REASON I DO THAT IS KANAE IS A FAIRLY NEW IN WORKING WITH ME AS MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.
KANAE IS VERY, VERY ENGAGED IN HOW WE MOVE OUR WORK THROUGH BECAUSE OUR WORK IS A BIT UNIQUE WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND APPROPRIATELY, I NEED TO PUBLICLY THANK DEBBIE MILLER, WHO WAS MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, WHO'S MOVED AWAY FROM ROUND ROCK AND SO I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HER FOR THE HARD WORK THAT SHE PUT IN THE TIME THAT SHE SPENT WITH ME BECAUSE SHE WAS INTEGRAL TO MANY OF THE SUCCESSES WE HAVE HERE.
WITH THAT DISCUSSION THEN I HAVE A CLICKER AND LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I CAN CLICK FORWARD HERE.
OH, THERE WE GO. LET'S GO BACK.
THERE WE ARE. THIS IS THE FIRST SLIDE.
I'M GOING TO BRING UP MELANIE.
MELANIE IS THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION AND MELANIE IS GOING TO LEAD YOU THROUGH THE BOND PROJECT REVIEW.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PROJECTS FIRST. HERE YOU ARE MELANIE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
[00:25:01]
TESTED THIS BEFORE ME SO I KNOW WHICH BUTTON TO CLICK.>> JUST SAY WHEN YOU WANT. [LAUGHTER]
>> OUR PRESIDENT, FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MELANIE, CAN YOU MOVE THAT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE IN IN 2018 BOND PROGRAM.
I'M GOING TO START WITH A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE.
WE JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM TOUCHED EVERY CAMPUS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO FAR EVERY CAMPUS HAS BEEN TOUCHED OF WHETHER THAT'S A MARQUEE PROJECT, A LARGE RENOVATION, A SMALL PROJECT, OR A DISTRICT WIDE PROJECT.
WE'LL START OFF. SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETED INCLUDE 3HVAC AND ROOFING PROJECTS THIS SUMMER.
THESE ARE THE LAST THREE OF THE HVAC AND ROOFING PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.
ATHLETIC PROJECTS INCLUDING TURF, TRACK, AND WEIGHT ROOM ADDITIONS.
DISTRICTWIDE PROJECTS, FIRE ALARM, PAVING, KEYING AND DOOR HARDWARE, CEILING, INTERIOR REFRESHES, THERE'S ELECTRICAL PROJECTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRICT WIDE PROJECTS AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE MARQUEE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESIGN THROUGH CONSTRUCTION.
THE HVAC PROJECTS AND ROOFING PROJECTS.
THERE'S SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THEM ARE NOT AS EXCITING BUT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE CAMPUSES.
THOSE ARE FOREST CREEK, GREAT OAKS, AND SPICE WOOD.
THEN YOU CAN SEE ON THE LIST THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED ON THE LAST TWO SUMMERS.
ON FOREST CREEK, GREAT OAKS, AND SPICE WOOD WE JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE ARE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT'S ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
REALLY IT CHANGES WEEKLY WHAT THAT ITEM OR MATERIAL MIGHT BE.
FOR THIS PROJECT, WE HAD HVAC SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
BUT ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND PLANNED WITH THE CAMPUSES SO THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN RETURN SAFELY.
CONSTRUCTION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT IT WILL BE WORKED AROUND STAFF NEEDS AND STUDENT NEEDS.
WE HAD ATHLETIC PROJECTS THAT WE WORKED ON.
WE HAVE CHISHOLM TRAIL MIDDLE-SCHOOL WEIGHT ROOM THAT IS ONGOING THAT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE FALL AS SCHEDULED.
HOPEWELL MIDDLE SCHOOLS TRACK, MCNEIL, AND WESTWOOD HAD TURF REPLACEMENTS AND STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL'S CONCESSIONS, WHICH WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD.
WE'RE DOING FOOD TRAILER FOR THAT CAMPUS.
EVERYONE IS AWARE OF REDBUD, BUT WE WANTED TO JUST BRING THAT UP AGAIN AND SHOW EVERYBODY THESE ARE ACTUAL IMAGES.
A LOT OF THEM APPEAR TO BE RENDERINGS, BUT THESE ARE ACTUAL FACILITY IMAGES OF THE CAMPUS THAT OPENED THIS LAST YEAR AND WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF THIS FACILITY.
ROUND ROCKS AQUATICS FACILITY.
WE DO AGAIN, HOWEVER, HAVE A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE WITH THE GARAGE DOORS.
THE CERTIFICATE FOR OCCUPANCY TO USE THIS FACILITY FOR END-USERS HINGES AROUND THOSE DOORS.
AT THAT MOMENT, WE ARE HAVING CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR THE END-USERS.
WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WAITING ON TO BE DELIVERED.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT OF THE CAMPUS ON THE TOP-LEFT.
THE POOL FACILITY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, ON THE TOP, THE FRONT LOBBY SPACE, AND ON THE BOTTOM-LEFT IS A MULTI-PART MULTIPURPOSE ROOM.
BOTTOM, MIDDLE IS A LOCKER ROOM AND THEN YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE POOL EQUIPMENT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT THAT IT TAKES TO RUN THIS FACILITY.
CD FOLKS MIDDLE SCHOOL'S COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAMPUS IS CURRENTLY IN THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
TO OCCUPY, WE NEED ALL OF THOSE INFECTIONS WILL BE PASSED.
THOSE HAVE BEEN ONGOING THIS WEEK AND THEY CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK.
BUT WE HAVE FURNITURE BEING MOVED IN AND DELIVERED AS WE SPEAK THIS WEEK THAT'S BEEN OCCURRING AND WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK AND ALSO MOVING ALL OF THE TEACHER BELONGINGS INTO THE BUILDING FROM THE OLD FACILITY.
MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUES, PHASE 2.
YOU CAN SEE THE CAFETERIA THAT'S ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND THEN UTILIZED BY THE STUDENTS.
BUT THIS NEXT PICTURE, IS ACTUALLY THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL, THIS IS THE NEW SCIENCE WING THAT WAS ADDED THAT CURRENTLY IS BEING STOCKED WITH FURNITURE ALSO.
THAT'S BEEN MOVING IN. INSPECTIONS CONTINUE ON THESE FACILITIES AS WELL.
INSPECTIONS OCCURRED ON THAT WING AND THEN THEY CONTINUE ON INTO NEXT WEEK FOR THE CTE AND THE MUSIC WINGS AND SO ON THE BOTTOM, PICTURES ARE ALL SOME OF THAT NEW CTE SPACES.
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IS PHASE 4 CONTINUES ALSO, FINE ARTS ADDITION, THE ROTC RENOVATION AND THE CLASSROOM ADDITIONS ARE ALL COMPLETE AND THOSE WERE UTILIZED BY THE STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
THE THEATER ART SHOCK AND SOME OTHER FINE ART SPACES TO CONTINUE TO BE WORKED ON, INCLUDING THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER. THOSE CONTINUE ON.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD SOME UNFORESEEN UTILITY ISSUES AND SOME OF THE NEW SPACES,
[00:30:05]
THEY REQUIRE JURISDICTIONS TO WORK WITH US TO MOVE THOSE.WE AREN'T ABLE TO MOVE THOSE OURSELVES.
WHAT WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THOSE THAT HAS CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION IS ON TRACK.
THAT IS TO BE WORKED ON THROUGH THE REST OF THE FALL SEMESTER.
WHAT'S REMAINING AFTER THAT IS THIS LIST THAT YOU SEE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE LARGER REMAINING PROJECTS AND WE'VE BROUGHT SOME OF THEM TO YOU.
CARAWAY ES EXPANSION IS IN PERMITTING.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THE PERMIT SOON, BUT UNTIL WE HAVE THAT, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.
BRUSHY CREEK ELEMENTARY IS EXPANSION IS IN PRICING AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT SOON TO BRING BACK TO YOU FOR GMP EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH ACC, BUT THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THAT PROJECT FOR THE BUILDING IS COMPLETE.
STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL'S CAFETERIA AND COURTYARD ARE IN DESIGN.
GRISHAM'S WEIGHT ROOM IS ALSO IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO WE'RE WAITING ON PERMITTING TO BE COMPLETE FOR THAT AS WELL, BUT WE ARE READY TO MOVE AS SOON AS THAT IS COMPLETE.
THEN WE HAVE THE CONTINUATION OF THOSE DISTRICT WIDE PROJECTS.
SOME OF THOSE TOUCH EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS AND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
IT TAKES SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, BUT WE CONTINUE THOSE AS WELL.
I WANT TO HAND THIS OFF TO PIERRE.
>> I'M GOING TO MENTION PIERRE IS NEW TO THE DISTRICT IF HE IS A MEMBER OF THE EACH PM TEAM AND PIERRE COME TO ENJOY PIERRE VERY MUCH IN HIS WORK AND HE HAS TAKEN ON A HEAVY LOAD.
PIERRE, TYPICALLY IT WOULD BE HERE WITH BEN HANSEN.
BEN'S DAUGHTER HAD SOMEBODY SOME UNEXPECTED SURGERY TODAY AND SO BEN IS NOT HERE WITH US.
MY SUPPORT GOES TO PIERRE HERE.
HE MAY ELBOW ME HERE IN A MINUTE IF YOU NEED SOME HELP. THERE YOU GO.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT.
NOW THAT MELANIE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT, I WANT YOU TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE FINANCIALS AND WHERE ARE WE AT.
JUST TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE, WE ARE TRACKING ALL THE COST THROUGH A SOFTWARE CALLED PROCORE.
EVERY MONTH IS ALSO RECONCILED WITH THE TALENT MUNIS PLATFORM TO MAKE SURE IT MATCHES AND THAT ALL THE POS ENTERED, ALL THE INVOICES MATCH ON BOTH PLATFORMS SO THERE IS NO DISCREPANCIES.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 199 BOND PROJECTS.
THE AMOUNT FOR THE 2018 BOND TURNS WHERE 508 MILLION.
THERE WAS SOME BOND MONEY FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WERE ALSO ADDED TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER.
IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THE RIGHT COLUMN THERE, IT WILL NOT ADD TO 517 MILLION.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS PREVIOUS FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WERE USED FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS.
COMPLETED PROJECT, WE HAVE 108 COMPLETED PROJECT OUT OF THE 170 THAT WHERE CONSTRUCTION ONLY, SO NOT TECHNOLOGY, NOT TRANSPORTATION.
THOSE WERE ACROSS 37 CAMPUSES AND THE BOND TARGET WAS A 124 MILLION.
THEY'RE FINALIZED THERE, BECAUSE AT 105 SO I CREATED $18 MILLION SURPLUS ON THOSE A 108 PROJECTS.
ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE 72 PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING.
A BIG PORTION OF THOSE WILL BE COMPLETED AFTER THE SUMMER.
THEY'RE WORKING ON 19 DIFFERENT CAMPUSES WITH FOUR MAJOR PROJECTS, 248 MILLION WERE PLANNED AND WE ARE TRACKING CURRENTLY TO BE FINALIZING AT 241 MILLION.
THAT WOULD CREATE A SIX-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS SURPLUS FOR ALL THE ONGOING PROJECTS.
FUTURE CONSTRUCTION, THOSE ARE UPCOMING PROJECT THAT FOR ALL OF THEM DESIGN HAS STARTED, ALWAYS COMPLETE AND IT'S IN CURRENTLY IN PERMITTING, BUT CONSTRUCTION HAS NOT STUDIED.
THERE'S 19 MAIN PROJECTS ACROSS NINE CAMPUSES.
FOR THIS ONE, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, EITHER ORIGINAL PLAN HAS CHANGED, KOBAS CHANGE, OR INFLATION HAS HIT SOME SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRADES ALSO.
NOW THAT WE'VE BROKEN THOSE COSTS AT A HIGHER RATE THAN WE WOULD HAVE A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THEN PERMITTING IN GENERAL OR CHANGING JURISDICTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'VE PUT THOSE PROJECTS TO BE FORECASTED CONSTRUCTION OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE SHARING A $15 MILLION GAP IN THE FUNDING OF THOSE UPCOMING PROJECTS.
AGAIN, WE HAVE CLASSIFIED THAT
[00:35:03]
AS A WORST-CASE SCENARIO ON THAT 57 MILLION FORECAST IT SPANS.IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE GOOD STORIES, IF WE ADD ALL OF THE COMPLETED IN PROGRESS AND UPCOMING, WE STILL HAVE A SURPLUS OR 9.4 MILLION.
THOSE EARLY SAVINGS INTO THE COMPLETED AND IN PROGRESS PROJECTS WOULD BE ABLE TO FUND ALL THE UPCOMING PROJECTS AND STILL HAVE A $9.4 MILLION SAVINGS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE CONSERVATIVES.
>> I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT, IS THAT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE HERE CHANGED PRACTICALLY DAILY.
AS WE GO THROUGH THE COMPLETED PROJECTS OR PROJECTS IN PROGRESS AND AS WE CLOSE THEM, THERE ARE CONTINGENCIES AS YOU REMEMBER, WHEN YOU APPROVE A PROJECT, THERE IS A CONTINGENCY.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONTINGENCIES THAT WE CLOSE IT, COME BACK TO THE DISTRICT.
THIS IS WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE FORECASTING THE MOST AGGRESSIVE, PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY THAT WE COULD SPEND.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S SO HARD TO FORECAST, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS SO DIFFICULT TO TRACK AND THAT THE PRICES ARE EVERYWHERE.
WE HAVE LABOR SHORTAGES EVERYWHERE, WE HAVE LACK OF MATERIALS EVERYWHERE.
WE DON'T KNOW TIMELINES, WE DON'T KNOW CAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN WE DON'T JUST KNOW THINGS.
THIS IS OUR BEST FORECAST AT THIS POINT IN TIME, TODAY THIS IS OUR BEST FORECAST. THANK YOU, PIERRE.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE TIS AND SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATES AND I KNOW DANI IS HERE, MARKS HERE, SO MARKS COMING UP.
WELL, BOTH ARE COMING UP, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE UP MY SEAT.
THERE WE GO. GOOD THING OF MARKETS THIN.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, GOOD EVENING SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR PROGRESS WITH THE BOND PROJECTS INVOLVING TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE TECHNOLOGY.
HE'S OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE REPLACED SCOTT STANDS BARRY WHO WHO LEFT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY SO MANY OF YOU SITTING ON THE BOARD PARTICIPATED IN THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE AND YOUR EFFORTS WERE WELL SPENT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT OUR PROJECTS THAT THE VOTERS EVENTUALLY APPROVED.
I ALSO WANT TO DO A SPECIAL THANKS TO AMBER FELLER, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY SECURITY, THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY, ROUND ROCK ISD IS A LARGE ENTERPRISE AND OUR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IS LARGE.
WHAT THE BOND PROVIDED US WAS FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY AND SECURITY AND FOR CONSTRUCTION RELATED TECHNOLOGY AND THE BOND WAS INTENDED FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED THROUGH 21-22.
SOME PROJECTS WERE UNDERFUNDED, WHILE OTHERS WERE OVER FUNDED.
FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF ALL PROJECTS WITHOUT EXCEEDING THE TOTAL BOND PROJECT.
WE HAVE NOT GONE OVER WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED, BUT DURING THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS OF DOING THESE PROJECTS, WE'VE HAD TO MOVE MONIES FROM ONE PROJECT TO THE OTHER TO ENSURE WE COULD GET THEM DONE.
BASICALLY, THIS IS THE TECHNOLOGY BONDS SUMMARY AND THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT YOU, THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR US TO DO.
WE HAVE ABOUT 2.9 MILLION REMAINING.
BUT TO POINT THIS OUT, WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL ONGOING.
THE ENDPOINT DEVICES IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.
[00:40:03]
WE'RE REALLY CUT AND ALSO WITH THE INTERACTIVE FLAT PANELS, WHICH WAS A HUGE PROJECT FOR US, WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED, WHERE WE SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL.THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT.
A POINT OUT TO YOU WOULD BE THE WHEN FIBER REFRESH WITH THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EIGHT E-RATE FUNDING AND STATE FUNDING TO PAY 70% OF A $10 MILLION FIBER REPLACEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT.
WE'RE NEARING ABOUT 85% COMPLETION WITH THAT PROJECTS SHOULD BE DONE BY CHRISTMAS.
WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE VOTED TO DO AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THEM, AND THERE REALLY WON'T BE MUCH MONEY LEFTOVER.
THE ONE BIG ITEM THAT WE HAVE LEFT THERE IS THE CTE PROGRAM AT THE VERY BOTTOM AND THAT WAS INTENDED TO FUND CYBER SECURITY, LABS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, DRONE LABS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE BEEN MOSTLY COMPLETED, BUT IT'S ALSO TO PICK ONE HIGH SCHOOL LOCATION TO DO A STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING LAB.
WE'RE WORKING WITH SHERRY BONDS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY WANT THAT TO BE PLACED BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS THERE FOR THAT TO OCCUR.
ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE IS SAFETY AND SECURITY AND ONCE AGAIN, 15.5 MILLION ARE ALLOCATED FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT MANAGED BY THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY I WORKED CLOSELY WITH MARIO DELLA ROSA, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND SECURITY WHEN WE HAD OUR CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE, AND HE WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS.
THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WE WERE ASKED TO IMPLEMENT.
THE AREAS THAT FUNDING IS STILL REMAINING INVOLVES WE HAVE SOME FUNDING LEFT FOR ADDITIONAL CAMERAS.
WE DO HAVE AN AGING CAMERA FLEET OUT THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START FIGURING OUT WAYS TO REPLACE SOME OF THOSE CAMERAS.
WE ALSO DID A GRANT WITH THE USING THIS STATE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED AND WE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND BOUGHT SOME CAMERAS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THE BUS FLEET MANAGEMENT IS FOR THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AND SMART TAGS, GPS TRACKING TYPE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THAT'S SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THE BUSES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DELIVERED BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
THEN FINALLY, ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DOOR ALARMS AND STAFF AGING.
THAT'S THE LAST MAJOR PROJECT WE HAVE WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT I'VE BEEN MANAGING, AND THAT IS GOING TO GO AROUND AND WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE ALL THE CARD READERS AT THE DOORS THAT WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS CONTROL.
IMPORTANT TO SHARE IS THAT EMERGENCY TELEPHONE INTERCOM AT THE TOP THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
WE DO HAVE STUDENT BADGING SYSTEM.
WE PROVIDED TWO-WAY RADIOS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'VE PROVIDED CAMPUSES THAT RADIO SYSTEM AND SIGNAL REPEATERS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AT THE SCHOOL.
THEN FINALLY, THE LAST PART OF THE BOND THAT WE MANAGED DEALS WITH CONSTRUCTION AND YOU CAN SEE THESE CAMPUSES ARE BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITIZENS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN ENCUMBERED TOTALS 5 MILLION.
THIS WILL BE AN AREA THAT WE'LL HAVE EXTRA DOLLAR.
WE WILL NOT NEED ALL OF THAT MONEY TO COMPLETE THE TECHNOLOGY PORTIONS FOR THESE CAMPUSES.
THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY LEFTOVER.
GUESSTIMATING BETWEEN ONE TO ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS,
[00:45:02]
BUT THAT'S JUST A FORECAST AS TERRY LIKES TO SAY.ALL RIGHT, FINALLY, TECHNOLOGY BOND AND THE GRANT FUNDS THAT WE DID RECEIVE WILL COVER OUR NEEDS FOR THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT'S MORE THAN ONE YEAR LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED.
SEVERAL LARGE SAFETY SECURITY PROJECTS ARE ONGOING AND WILL BE COMPLETED WITH EXISTING BOND FUNDS, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE MUCH FUNDING LEFTOVER AND AS A REMINDER, IN TERMS OF FUTURE NEEDS FOR THE 23-24 AND BEYOND, WE'RE DOING A ROAD MAP RIGHT NOW TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING NEEDS TO REPLACE AND OR ENHANCE STUDENTS STAFF ENDPOINT DEVICES, CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY, NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALSO, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE MORE STUDENT GROWTH AND WE NEED FUNDING TO REPLACE AND ENHANCE SAFETY SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN FOR FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY AND FUTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, LIKE WHAT TERRY SAID IS THAT IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE STAFF WHO HAS PUT IN LONG HOURS TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS WORK AND WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST PEOPLE, STAFF TO MAKE A LOT OF THIS WORK.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, MARK AND DANI.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TINA JOIN ME HERE.
IS THAT TINA IS LIKE THE ANCHOR ON THE 4 BY 100 RELAY AND SHE'S GOING TO SPRINT TO THE FINISH LINE, AND SO HERE YOU GO, TINA.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I LIVE AND BREATHE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, 24-7.
GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE, FIRST ON OUR 2018 BOND AT DATE OR FACILITY PARKING LOT EXPANSION.
IT IS COMPLETE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE NEEDED THE ROOM.
ACTUALLY ALSO OUR EAST FACILITY, UNDERGROUND FUEL TANKS TO ABOVE TANKS.
IT'S ALL TORN UP, BUT IT LOOKS AMAZING.
WE'RE IN JULY, THE END OF JULY, SO NEXT WEEK THEY'RE PROMISING US THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE BACK IN AND HAVE OUR EAST AND WEST TRANSPORTATION BACK.
OUR NEW SCHOOL BUSES, ACTUALLY, TECHNOLOGY DID TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY HAS ISSUES, WE HAVE PARTS ISSUES.
WE ARE HOPING THAT THE REMAINDER OF OUR BUSES ARE HERE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER, MAYBE DECEMBER.
IT'S JUST EVERY DAY IS A DIFFERENT DAY WITH PARTS.
JUST SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR, OUR REGULAR AND THIS IS INTERESTING, WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE A WEEKLY REPORT THAT WE GIVE ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE PUT IN THIS REPORT AND THEN WE DISCUSS IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF HOW AMAZING OUR TEAM IS AND WHAT WE DID THROUGH THE YEAR.
OUR REGULAR FIT, WHICH IS OUR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION ROUTES.
MILES TRAVEL FOR THE YEAR WERE 2,445,662 MILES.
STUDENTS THAT WE TRANSPORTED SAFELY EVERY DAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL WERE 3,287,760.
THAT IS ABOUT ALMOST 20,000 STUDENTS A DAY.
KUDOS TO OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR STAFF AND ALL OF US THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT THAT SAFELY IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THEN ALSO, WE HAVE 169 DAILY ROUTES.
IT LOOKS IT SOUNDS LIKE HOW IN 169 ROUTES, CAN YOU TRANSPORT THREE MILLION STUDENTS? ALL OF OUR REGULAR ED ROUTES ARE THREE TIER.
WHAT THREE TIER MEANS IS WE GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING.
MOST OF OUR BUSES, SOME OF THEM LEAVE AT 5:15 AM IN THE MORNING,
[00:50:03]
WE GO PICK UP ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, WE TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL THEN WE GO PICK UP ALL OF OUR MIDDLE-SCHOOL, WE TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL.THEN WE PICK UP ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
IN THE AFTERNOON, WE DO THE SAME THING.
THEN ALL OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS ARE THE SAME WAY.
THE ONLY THING ON THAT IS THEY HAVE THREE TIERS.
BUT A LOT OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS DRIVE ALL DAY LONG.
IT'S A NINE HOURS A DAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MID DAYS.
THEY COULD BE FOUR OR FIVE AND SOME SIX TIER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, WE SAY 169 ROUTES BUT YOU CAN TIMES THAT BY WHAT? NINE, 10.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
ON OUR FIELD TRIPS LAST YEAR, WE HAD 3,280 FIELD TRIPS AND WE TRAVELED 317,958 MILES.
I WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FIELD TRIPS.
PRE-COVID WE WERE REACHING AROUND 6,000 FIELD TRIPS.
WHEN WE STARTED LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT BUT WE WERE TRAVELING, GETTING OUR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
BUT WE JUST WE'RE NOT DOING A LOT OF FIELD TRIPS EXCEPT FOR THE SPORTS.
BUT AFTER ABOUT THESE JANUARY COMING PEOPLE, WE GOT TO GET THOSE KIDS OUT OF THE CAMPUSES AND FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
WE LOOK FOR THAT THIS YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED, THAT WILL BE UP TO OUR 6,000 FIELD TRIPS.
THEN ACTUALLY THAT'LL DOUBLE IN THE MOUTH.
THEN JUST A FEW OTHER LITTLE THINGS.
IF I HAD ANYTHING TO [NOISE] SAY, THAT WORRIES ME IS OUR FUEL COSTS HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
JUST IS THE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR PRICE, IF IT HAS GONE DOWN, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
HOPE THE FUEL KEEPS GOING DOWN.
BUT IF IT STAYS THE SAME OR GOES BACK UP, WE COULD DEPLETE OUR FUEL BUDGET WITHIN 5-6 MONTHS.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BUS SHORTAGE.
AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 225 EMPLOYEES.
PRE-COVID, WE HAD ABOUT 300, A LITTLE OVER 300.
RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 60 VACANCIES IN THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S WHY I COME WITH THIS OUR DRIVER SHORTAGE.
IT'S NOT A ROUND ROCK ISD PROBLEM, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
YESTERDAY, I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS AT ANOTHER SCHOOL, NEIGHBORING SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE 40 DRIVER SHORT.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF ARE DRIVING MORNING AND AFTERNOON BUS ROUTES IN ADDITION TO THEIR OWN JOB DUTIES AND THAT'S EVERY ONE OF THEM.
I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE ON THE BUSES TOO.
ACTUALLY I'VE DONE IT FOR 18 YEARS AND IT'S HARD TO DO YOUR JOB AND DRIVE THE BUS.
I'M USUALLY IN THE ROUTING DEPARTMENT AND HELPING THAT WAY.
ALSO WITH THAT, WHEN I SAY THAT, YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT OUR STAFF AND WE ARE WORKING 12-14 HOURS EVERY DAY TO ENSURE OUR ROUTES ARE COVERED.
PRE-COVID, WE WORKED 12-14 HOURS A DAY, PROBABLY AUGUST THROUGH OCTOBER, AND THEN STARTING UP IN JANUARY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN, ROUTES ARE CHANGING, STUDENTS CHANGE SCHOOLS TOO.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
BUT LAST YEAR, WE ALL WORK THAT.
IN CLOSING, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE WHAT A GREAT DEPARTMENT WE HAVE.
WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP EVERY DAY.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT TEAM BECAUSE THEY'RE AMAZING.
ANOTHER THING, I'M STARTING MY SIX-YEAR WITH THEM.
WE'VE BUILT A GREAT TEAM AND I LOVE EVERY ONE OF THEM.
>> THANK YOU, TINA. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS QUICK STORY AS WE MAKE A TRANSITION HERE, IS THAT I SPENT THE WEEKEND IN DENVER WITH MY 20-MONTH GRANDSON.
HIS FAVORITE SONG IS THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND AND SO WE ALL SEEING THAT WE LOVE THAT SONG.
MY SEGMENT OF THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT IS TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY AND THE ASSETS THAT REPRESENT PROPERTIES.
[00:55:03]
THERE ARE FOUR SLIDES THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A PREFERENCE.IS THAT THE PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNOCCUPIED AND I GUESS TO SAY FRANKLY, THEY COST THE DISTRICT IN TIME BY MAN-HOURS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE TO MANAGE THESE PROPERTIES BY MOWING THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE MORE OF THESE PROPERTIES AND WE CARE FOR THEM AND WE CHECK ON THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO COME UP HERE IN A MINUTE, WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO OVER AND CHECK BECAUSE ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES HAS A HISTORY OF HAVING VAGRANTS GETTING INTO IT AND LIVE THERE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THERE'S GRAFFITI THAT WE PAINT, ET CETERA ON A BUILDING THAT'S UNOCCUPIED.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A COO, I BRING THESE TO YOU AS NOT NECESSARILY A RECOMMENDATION, BUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AS TRUSTEES TO DISCUSS AND OBVIOUSLY CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT ANOTHER TIME.
BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, I GUESS, MONETIZE OR LIQUIDATE.
I PROBABLY DIDN'T GET THAT OUTRIGHT.
BUT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S ASSETS, THERE'S VALUE IN THESE.
BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY OR RECOMMEND THAT WE DO SOMETHING WITH THEM TONIGHT.
I JUST BRING THEM TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS BASICALLY REPRESENTS TWO PARCELS.
THE CYPRESS 17 IS A FORMER MANUFACTURING BUILDING AND IT WAS PURCHASED AROUND 2016.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED TO REPRESENT A CTE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE 2017 BOND AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT DID NOT COME TO FRUITION.
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IS A SITE TO THE LEFT IN THIS GRAPHIC THAT'S LOWER IN ELEVATION.
THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS WERE GOING TO BUILD A WAREHOUSE FACILITY.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE GRAY OUTLINE IS A FOUNDATION.
THERE IS A SIX-INCH SLAB THAT'S LAYING ON THAT FOUNDATION WITH HEAVY FOUNDATIONS UNDER IT.
BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE UNUSED AND THEY REPRESENT OPPORTUNITY AND WHERE THEY REPRESENT US A CHANCE TO MOVE TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE NEXT ONE IS THAT THERE'S SOME SMALL PARCELS ALONG 620.
AS YOU KNOW THE 620 DEVELOPS TO THE WEST, IS THAT YOU'VE SEEN SEVERAL FAST-FOOD AND DIFFERENT INTERESTS THAT HAVE CONTACTED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT THIS PARCEL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A RIGHT-HAND TURN LANE OFF OF 620, AND IT WOULD MAKE A GOOD MARKETING TOOL PROPERTY FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY WANT TO CREATE A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
BUT MEANWHILE, IT SITS THERE AT THE SCHOOL AND THE DISTRICT, I SHOULD SAY WE'LL NEVER HAVE A USE FOR THIS SMALL PARCEL. IT'S PRETTY SMALL.
THE NEXT ONE IS WHAT WE CALL HUNTERS CROSSING.
NOW, THESE TWO PARCELS ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF SAM BASS ROAD AND THEY ARE PECULIAR IN THAT SEE THAT WHITE LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THERE THAT IS A GAS LINE, A MAJOR GAS LINE THAT RUNS DIAGONALLY THROUGH THOSE TWO PARCELS.
PROBABLY BACK IN 1997, THEY WERE BEQUEATHED OR GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE.
WE HAVE TO GO MOW THOSE PARCELS BECAUSE THEY'LL GET OVERGROWN AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO MOW THEM.
YOU CAN SEE THAT DEPENDING UPON WHERE THAT GASOLINE EASEMENT IS AND THAT SIZE THAT EASEMENT, THERE MAY BE A DEVELOPER OUT THERE WHO IS CREATIVE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A HOUSE OR A GARAGE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE PARCELS THAT WE WOULD EVER HAVE A USE FOR.
LASTLY, IS PEARSON RANCH ROAD WHEN THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED AND YOU'LL SEE THE LARGE PARCEL ON THE RIGHT FROM THE AERIAL VIEW, THAT IS OUR FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL SITE.
BUT WHEN THAT ROAD WAS ACTUALLY PLOTTED, THAT PARCEL WAS SPLIT OFF, AND ON THE WEST SIDE, AS YOU SEE OUTLINED IN YELLOW, THERE'S A LITTLE STRIP OF LAND THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE FENCE AND ACTUALLY, IT GOES ACROSS THE ROAD AND DOWN TO WHERE THAT TRAPEZOIDAL SHAPE IS, IS A DRAINAGE WAY THAT TAKES WATER DOWN THROUGH THERE.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT DOOR WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE AN INTEREST OF LIQUIDATING THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND THERE.
I BRING THIS FORWARD TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S A GOOD USE FOR THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE CONVEY THAT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENCOURAGE THE CHILDREN TO PLAY THERE.
[01:00:02]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL COME IN THIS DISCUSSION, LATER ON, IS THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT PARCEL MANAGEMENT, THEN THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROTOCOL IN HOW TO LIQUIDATE THESE THINGS AND IT COMES THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.THERE'S SOME TIME FRAMES THAT GO INTO THAT SO YOU DON'T MODERNIZE THESE JUST IMMEDIATELY.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH APPRAISALS AND THERE ARE SOME EXPENSES TO GO THROUGH APPRAISALS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE 620 PARCELS, IS THAT THERE'LL BE SOME WORK WITH CIVIL ENGINEERING TO RE-PLOT THIS AND RE-RECORD IT AND THAT SORT OF THING.
NONE OF IT IS WITHOUT TOTAL FREEDOMS. THERE ARE SOME OFFSETS AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU GO BACK TO THIS PARCEL HERE, IS THAT WORKING WITH OUR BROKER WHO IS IN THE CUSHMAN WAKEFIELD ORGANIZATION, IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS IF WE ELECTED YOU TO CONSIDER THESE TWO PARCELS, IS THAT WHAT'S OUR BEST VALUE? WHAT'S THE BEST VALUE? AND HOW DO WE MARKET THAT? FOR EXAMPLE, THAT BUILDING IS REALLY IN BAD SHAPE AND THERE'S NOTHING INSIDE AT ALL.
THERE'S NO MECHANICAL, THERE'S NO SPRINKLING SYSTEM.
WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS CONVEYED, ALL OF THE COPPER HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THIS BUILDING.
WHEN WE THINK OF REUSING THESE PARCELS FOR DISTRICT USE, YOU HAVE TO THINK OF WE'RE STARTING FROM NEW.
BASICALLY, THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH THERE TO START WITH.
I KNOW A COST TO DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING AND CLEAN THAT UP.
I ALSO KNOW A COST OF DEMOLISHING OR REMOVING THAT SLAB WHICH MAY MAKE THOSE PARCELS MORE VALUABLE. WE DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THOSE PARCELS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO START LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
THAT FUTURE REPRESENTS, I'M GOING TO USE THE PLATFORM OF THERE'S BEEN SOME UPGRADES AND SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN HOW THE POLICY OF CV LEGAL HAS BEEN WRITTEN.
CV LEGAL BASICALLY REQUIRES A DISTRICT TO BEGIN TO WORK WITHIN THE DISTRICT ITSELF IN LOOKING FORWARD BY WAY OF MASTER PLANNING AND EDUCATION SPECIFICATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS AN EDUCATION SPECIFICATION? AN EDUCATION SPECIFICATION IS NOT WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD LEAP TO ASSUME TO BE WHERE YOU WOULD BE NAMING ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS SUCH AS DOOR HARDWARE AND WINDOWS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT'S REALLY A TEACHING AND LEARNING TOOL.
IN THAT, AS YOU HAVE THE SPECIFICATION YOU BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE, HOW IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BEST UTILIZE YOUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES IF YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, AND, OR HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ELEVATE THOSE? THAT'S PART OF THE PLANNING THAT GOES FORWARD IN EDUCATION SPECIFICATIONS.
IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF PLANNING THAT GOES FORWARD IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT TOOL THAT WHATEVER PLANNING COMES FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, IT STARTS FROM THERE.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THAT WORK NOW BECAUSE IT TAKES SOME TIME TO GET THAT ORGANIZED AND IT TAKES A COMMITTEE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AS WE TALK ABOUT VARIANTS AND BOND THEN MANY DISTRICTS USE A LITTLE OF THAT VARIANCE AS SEED MONEY TO START THIS PROCESS.
IT LEADS YOU TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THE WAY.
THAT TAKES ME TO THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I VERY MUCH RESPECT THE SPEAKERS.
I VERY MUCH RESPECT THOSE WHO SEND EMAILS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IS STILL POSITIONED AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE FUTURE FORECAST NEEDS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY COMMUNICATING AND THERE ARE OTHERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IS THAT BACK NOVEMBER 7TH WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE WERE VERY DIRECT AND WE ALL KNEW THAT
[01:05:02]
THE BOND WORK WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION FOR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.THE BUILDING HAS BEEN DESIGNED, THE DOCUMENTS ARE CREATED, BUT THE BOND NEVER HAD THE MONEY.
IT WAS UNDERFUNDED TO BUILD EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AND NOT CONSTRUCT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
ORIGINALLY, THAT BUDGET WAS $15 MILLION, WE'VE SPENT JUST RIGHT OUT OF A MILLION DOLLARS WITH ARCHITECTURAL WORKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE FEAST TO DESIGN AND DOCUMENT AND HAVE PERMIT READY A BUILDING AS CALLED FOR IN THE BOND.
NOW WE DID NOT, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BUY A LAND.
ORIGINALLY THAT BUDGET WAS DESIGNED TO BUY A LAND, DO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE ENTITLEMENTS AS WE CALL THEM.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PHASE 1 WORK.
WE'RE POSITIONED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT, BUT WE HAVE A SHORTFALL FOR FULL CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S WHY WE TALK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE, HOW DO YOU FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE FUTURE? PARTICULARLY IF THERE ARE NEEDS THAT ARE FURTHER NOW AND YET THERE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THEM IMMEDIATELY, THAT SORT OF THING.
THERE'S JUST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THESE FUTURE NEEDS AT THAT POINT, BUT WE'RE NOT READY TO GO INTO THAT AND LESS FROM THERE.
I'M SURE I'VE SEEN YOU WERE WRITING, MANY OF YOU WRITING.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO DO UP AND DOWN IN THE SEATS HERE AS WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF I CAN FILL THEM, SO WE'LL PAUSE THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON.
BEFORE I GET TO QUESTIONS, I DID WANT TO REMIND TRUSTEES THAT WITH BOTH ITEMS ON D AND E TONIGHT, WE CAN GO INTO CLOSE SESSION EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR IT.
WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO INTO CLOSE SESSION.
JUST TO REMIND YOU REASONS THAT WE WOULD GO INTO CLOSE SESSION WOULD BE TO DISCUSS THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT TERRY JUST TALKED ABOUT AND THINGS THAT MIGHT COME UP IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU WELL NOW SO I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU AGAIN AT THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
THAT DEPLOYMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL OR DEVICES, TECHNOLOGY OF SPECIFIC SECURITY, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFICS.
IF YOU ASK A QUESTION AND IT REALLY SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN CLOSED SESSION, EXPECT FROM MS. HILL TO POP IN ON US AND REMINDS US, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE POSTED FOR IT.
I DIDN'T EVEN PUT IT ON HERE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE THAT ADDRESSED ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.
BUT IF WE DO NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED, WE CAN AT ANY POINT TO DISCUSS WITH OUR LEGAL.
RIGHT NOW I WAS ACTUALLY WATCHING AS THEY POPPED UP, TRUSTEE HARRISON, TRUSTEE VESSA, AND THEN TRUSTEE WESTON.
MR. JOHNSON, SINCE YOU ARE VIRTUAL, JUST GIVE ME A WAVE.
YOU ARE UP ON THE SCREEN IN OUR ROOM NOW.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, JUST GIVE ME A WAVE AND I'LL BE WATCHING OUT FOR YOU SINCE I DON'T HAVE A LIGHT FOR YOU ON MY SCREEN TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO CLOSE TO DISCUSS REAL PROPERTY VALUE.
IT CAN WAIT UNTIL MAYBE WE ASK OUR QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO THE PUBLIC.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HEAR THE BAND.
IT GOT ME EXCITED FOR SCHOOL AGAIN AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL STAFF THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD RIGHT NOW TO GET US READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND TO START UP.
>> [OVERLAPPING] FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ON THE SCREEN, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, WE COULD HEAR THE BOND PRACTICING OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING HERE.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS GOING, WHAT BOND IS SHE TALKING ABOUT? WE CAN HEAR THE BOND HERE IN THE BUILDING SO EXCITING.
>> IT'S A REALLY NOSTALGIC AND WONDERFUL FEELING.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US AND TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND AS A BOARD, WHETHER IT'S THIS BOARD OR THE BOARD THAT TAKES PLACE IN NOVEMBER.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAKE BOND PROCESSES AND FACILITIES PROCESSES MORE EQUITABLE.
BECAUSE EARLY COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL, THE SMALL CAMPUS.
IN SOME BOND WORK, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH VOICE.
NUMBER 1, IS IT STANDARD PRACTICE TO HAVE FUN TO SOMETHING? CAN YOU EXPLAIN? WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, HOW IT MIGHT BE THAT A BOND GOES FORWARD WITH A BUILDING NOT FULLY FUNDED?
>> AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THERE WAS IN A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SCOPE WOULD BE.
CONSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS EVEN A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO WORK WITH ACC, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THE LAND OWNERS AROUND AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN HOW THEY CONVEY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
[01:10:03]
THERE WAS NO PLAN ON WHERE THE SCHOOL WOULD GO FOR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, HOW HE WOULD BE FORMATTED, WHERE IT'D BE FORMATTED, WHAT CONCEPT THAT WOULD BE? FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS WAS JUST SET ASIDE LIST DESIGN OF THE STAR.LET'S HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE GO INTO A LAND PURCHASE, OR WHETHER OR NOT WE GO INTO ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW.
IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE HALF-FUNDED, IT WAS JUST A BUDGET NUMBER THAT WAS PLACED IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS A PURCHASE OF LAND THAT WAS NECESSARY.
THAT WAS A NOTION AT THE TIME, A CONCEPT AND THEY HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE TO PAY FOR PROFESSIONALS TO DO THEIR WORK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THERE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN NOVEMBER, WAS IN EXECUTIVE MEETINGS WITH CHANCELLOR, DR. RHODES AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT NEIL VICKERS, AND AT THAT TIME, OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, DR. FLORES, AND FORMER AREA SUPERINTENDENT NATALIE NICHOLS IS THAT THE MEETING TUMBLED THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO SAY, RATHER THAN WE SPEND MONEY ON BUYING LAND OR SUBDIVIDING AND WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH DR. RHODES SAID, YOUR STUDENTS ARE MY STUDENTS AND AGREED THAT WE CAN MOVE OUR FACILITY IN HER CAMPUS, WHICH IS A REAL WIN-WIN AND THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO TIE INTO THE ACC'S INFRASTRUCTURE BY WAY OF CHILLED WATER, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'S WHY WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FAIRLY ROBUST SET ASIDE RIGHT NOW BUDGET.
THEREFORE, EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
IF WE WERE BUYING LAND AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT WOULD BE REDUCED BY HALF, MAYBE MORE, AND EVEN IF WE WERE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HOW STREETS ARE, STREETLIGHTS OR WATER LINES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT BUDGET COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN EXHAUSTED.
>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
>> CAN I GIVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE HISTORY ON THAT? JUST SINCE I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSIONS FROM THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE ON THAT.
THERE WAS ALSO SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A BUILDING AT THAT TIME AND THE BOARD AT THE TIME WAS ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT WENT ON, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS, I THINK HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS THAT CAME TO THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE THAT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE BOARD TO ACTUALLY GET PUT ON.
ONE I EVER ALWAYS REMEMBER AN EXPANSION AT FOREST CREEK ELEMENTARY AND THEY HAVE A PORTABLE THERE AND I THINK THAT'S 30 YEARS OLD OR 40 YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THERE WERE A BUNCH OF NEEDS THAT DIDN'T GET ON.
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INTEREST THAT WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT A FULL 30 MILLION DOLLARS ON TO THE PLAN AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO.
THERE WAS A LOT OF OBTUSENESS ABOUT THE PROJECT AT THE TIME.
IT WAS HERE'S SOMETHING TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED.
IF I'M REMEMBERING THAT JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT.
>> I THINK IT WAS A SECOND PART TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT EQUITY.
TERRY, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT WHY WE AS A DISTRICT, WE ARE MOVING TOWARD GETTING THE EDUCATION SPECIFICATION FOR THAT SAME EXACT VERSE? BUT A LITTLE MORE TO DO WITH, TRUSTEE HARRISON.
>> THANK YOU BECAUSE I APOLOGIZE FOR OVERLOOKING AT BECAUSE IT BECOMES OBVIOUS TO ME IN AN EDUCATION SPECIFICATION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, IS THAT WE HAVE FACILITIES THAT SPAN FROM THE '60 ERA TO OBVIOUSLY NOW.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION USE OF SPACE CHANGES THROUGH THOSE ERA'S.
CONSEQUENTLY, OBVIOUSLY NOW, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S POPULAR, BUT IT'S NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EDUCATIONAL SPACES THAT HAVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING.
BUT BACK IN THE 60S AND 70S, IT WAS A CORRIDOR IN CLASSROOMS AND THINGS ON THE SIDE.
THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY THE ARCHITECTURAL NOTION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT INTERACTIVE LEARNING, SMALL SPACE BREAKOUTS.
OF COURSE, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A MORE GLAZING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHIN A FACILITY.
THE FOCUS OF AN EDUCATION SPECIFICATION IS TO LOOK AND ASSESS ALL OF THE FACILITIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND TO BEGIN TO SAY, IF THIS IS THE MODEL THAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, HOW ARE THESE FACILITIES DEFICIENT? WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BRING THEM UP TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT MODEL THAT WE WANT TO PORTRAY GOING INTO THE FUTURE? CONSEQUENTLY, YOU LOOK AROUND AT MORE CONTEMPORARY SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT
[01:15:03]
MORE CONTEMPORARILY RECENTLY VERSUS THOSE THAT HAVE NOT.THE WHOLE NOTION SUCH AS WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSIONS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THERE AND THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THEIR MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL AND MORE TO COME.
OR SOME OF THAT NOTION IS THAT THERE'S A ONE YOU SAW IN THE SLIDE.
THERE'S A WONDERFUL CTE WING AND FOCUS THERE AT MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL.
I'LL TELL A STORY IN THAT CONTEXT OF THE CAFETERIA.
AMANDA JOHNSON TOLD ME WHEN STUDENTS TOOK POSSESSION OF THAT.
THERE WAS A STUDENT THAT HAD A REPUTATION OF BEING A BIT UNRULY AND I WON'T USE ALL OF THE VOCABULARIES THAT THE STUDENT USED WITH AMANDA JOHNSON.
BUT HE CAME INTO THE CAFETERIA AND AMANDA HAD GONE OVER TO TALK TO HIM, SAY, "HEY, YOU NEED TO GET TO CLASS" TYPE OF THING, AND HE WAS STANDING THERE AND HE PAUSED AND HE WAS LOOKING AT THE CAFETERIA AND SAYS, "THIS IS BEAUTIFUL".
THAT'S THE EQUITY OF BEING ABLE TO SAY WE STILL HAVE WORK AT STONY POINT HIGH SCHOOL.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF AYANA WAS SITTING HERE, A FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR, AYANA WOULD SAY, "THAT SERVICE LINE OVER STONY POINT JUST IS HORRIBLE, LET'S GET THAT BETTER".
YOU TALK ABOUT, HOW DO YOU GET A KITCHEN FACILITY UP TO A STANDARD WHERE FOOD DELIVERY PRODUCT THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THE STUDENTS AND HOW YOU MOVE THEM THROUGH IS IMPORTANT? LET'S DO IT LIKE THAT IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO CD FOLKS, THAT KITCHEN IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
SAME WAY WHEN WE REFRESH CHISHOLM TRAIL OVER HERE.
WE STILL HAVE KITCHENS TO IMPROVE AND ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S THE EQUITY PART AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE CONCEPT OF IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE OF 1.5 MORE QUESTIONS.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT EDUCATION SPECIFICATION.
WHAT I THINK I LIKE BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING AND LEARNING FROM YOU IS THAT IT SEEMS THERE ARE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
EDUCATOR STUDENT'S PARENTS, TO BUILD WHAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S VERY MUCH CORRECT? YES.
>> THAT HONESTLY SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE OUR BOND PROCESSES BETTER, MORE EQUITABLE, HAVE A GOOD STARTING PLACE TO GO FROM.
>> THAT'S THE ABSOLUTE INTENTION.
>> I LIKE THAT BECAUSE I FELT THAT'S OUR CHARGES THE BOARD TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THE CONSTRAINTS AT THE TIME, BUT, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED? NOT THAT I'M BLAMING ANYONE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT TAKES AWAY THE PAIN OF FEELING YOUR CAMPUS IS FORGOTTEN.
YES. I'LL SAY THAT I'M WHITE HAIRED AND OLD AND LONG IN THE TOOTH IN CAREER HERE, SO I'VE BEEN IN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE BOND PROGRAMS IN MY LIFE AND CAREER.
EVERY BOND PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT ROLLS OUT IN A NECESSITY IN THAT TIMEFRAME AND SO IT WAS A NECESSITY TO MOVE INTO 2018 ON THE HEELS OF A DISAPPOINTMENT IN 2017.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WE'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION.
LET'S PREPARE FOR THE NEXT WHATEVER YEAR OR WHENEVER THAT MAY OCCUR AND THE CALL AND WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE PROJECTS SCOPED, PRICED, AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT ORGANIZED MUCH MORE SYSTEMATICALLY.
>> THANK YOU. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT ABUNDANT APPROACH.
INSTEAD OF LIKE, I THINK THAT THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT WE ARE ALL ONE DISTRICT AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN GET WHAT THEY NEED.
MY LAST QUESTION IS REALLY, I KNOW WE CAN SELL OFF REAL PROPERTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO CLAUSE AND DISCUSS THE VALUE OF SOME OF THAT REAL PROPERTY.
BUT CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE FOR FUNDING EMERGENT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED, THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF A BOND, BUT THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO BE FUNDED? WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?
>> THEY'RE LIMITED. YOU BASICALLY HAVE THREE.
I'LL START WITH SUCH AS A SHORTFALL THAT WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT, EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, IS THAT OBVIOUSLY TO FILL IN THAT SHORTFALL IS TO GO INTO FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE. TO MODERNIZE AND BY WAY OF LIQUIDATION AN ASSET, AND THAT GOES WITH THE CONCEPT OF TO GET SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING.
THIRDLY IS TO WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE TO GO INTO A BOND PROGRAM OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
THAT BASICALLY IS YOUR ONLY THREE OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.
[01:20:01]
THE BUDGET HAS BEEN BALANCED AND SO THERE IS NO BUDGET WITHIN THIS YEAR'S OPERATING BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE PROJECTS OF THIS SIZE AND THIS SCOPE.>> TERRY, CAN YOU RESTATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID? GO THROUGH THOSE THREE THINGS, ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO. IS THAT NUMBER ONE IS TO GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE.
NUMBER TWO IS TO, LET'S SAY, LIQUIDATE ASSETS OR MODERNIZE ASSETS AND DISPOSE OF ASSETS.
NUMBER THREE IS TO WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ANOTHER BOND PROGRAM OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
>> I HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW-UP AND THEN I'LL STOP HOGGING THE MIC.
MY QUESTION IS, YOU SAID THAT WE CAN MONETIZE BY WAY OF LIQUIDATION, BUT THEN YOU ALSO SAID DURING THE PRESENTATION IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FAST PROCESS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TIMELINE WISE?
>> COULD BE SIX MONTHS IN THAT ONE, AND THERE MAY BE SOME COMPRESSION THAT YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH.
BUT ONE, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH AN AUDIT PROCESS.
I KNOW, WHEN I SAY SIX MONTHS, COMMERCIAL AUDITORS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET A COMMERCIAL AUDITOR TO COMMIT TO A PROJECT, OR AT LEAST YOU HAVE TO GET IN LINE TO HAVE THEM DO THAT WORK.
YOU HAVE TO PUBLICLY ADVERTISE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT'S A PUBLIC BID PROCESS AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S AN ACCEPTANCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP I HAVE TRUSTEE VESSA.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO FIRST JUST START OFF BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SHEPHERDING OF THIS BOND PROGRAM AND ESPECIALLY IN QUITE POSSIBLY FOR SOME OF THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES YOU COULD IMAGINE HAPPENING, TRYING TO EXECUTE SO MANY MAJOR PROJECTS AND TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE ON BUDGET, MAYBE EVEN POSSIBLY HAVING A SURPLUS IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THIS DISTRICT TO HAVE COMPLETED SO MANY PROJECTS DURING, LIKE I SAID, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND SO I DO WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYONE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT AND FROM MARK'S DEPARTMENT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED BY ME, AND I'M SURE THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TOO, BECAUSE WE ALL GET TO ENJOY THE FRUIT OF YOUR WORK.
THAT IS FROM THE INTERACTIVE FLAT PANELS TO THE NEW SCHOOL AND EVERYWHERE IN-BETWEEN.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE.
>> ONE THING THAT I HAD ASKED FOR IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, AND I KNOW IT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING WHEN, AS YOU TALK ABOUT FUTURE NEEDS AND WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE COMING UP THAT VOTE IN SEPTEMBER, DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET US A FIGURE ON IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED TO JUST MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS?
>> THAT GOES ALONG WITH SOME OF THE ASSESSMENTS, ASSUMING THAT WE GO INTO EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATION ASSESSMENTS, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE CYCLING.
LIFE CYCLING CAN SPEED UP, SLOW DOWN AND, FOR EXAMPLE, AS MY CLIENT LOOKS OVER A TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] THINKING ABOUT THE MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL ROOF.
>> THE REALITY IS THAT ROOFS FAIL.
SOMETIMES THEY FAIL PREMATURELY AND SOMETIMES NOT, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE PREDICTABLE AND SO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS HARD TO REALLY PIN DOWN IN THIS ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE EVEN JUST ORDERING ROOFING MATERIAL, GETTING ROOFING MATERIAL TO A JOB SITE WAS SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS JUST TO GET THE MATERIAL DELIVERED TO YOUR JOB SITE, EVEN AFTER RELEASED ORDERS.
I THINK I DON'T HAVE A PREDICTION OF HOW LONG YOU WOULD TAKE.
ALLOW ME TO WORK WITH MY TEAM AND GO FROM THERE. YEAH.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD MR. [INAUDIBLE], IS WE WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT, STRATEGICALLY, AND WE DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW RANDOM NUMBER.
I MEAN, WE CAN GUESS, BUT WHAT WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING IS A FACILITY ASSESSMENT AND ALSO THE DEDICATION AND SPECIFICATION.
THAT, REALLY, WILL GIVE US AND THE COMMUNITY A BETTER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE BACK IN 2018, I BELIEVE, AND THEY WERE NOT.
AT SOME POINT THEY WERE REMOVED FROM THEM,
[01:25:02]
AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME HVAC UNITS THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT ITSELF, I THINK WE'RE WHAT, LIKE $300, $400 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.>> AT THE TIME, AND YOU ALL RECALL THAT AND TRUSTEE FELLOW ALLUDED TO THAT, IS THAT BOND, OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING A 800 MILLION PLUS IN THAT ERA AND $400 MILLION IN THAT TIME WAS DEFERRED TO A FUTURE, AND THAT GOES TO SOME OF THAT LIFE CYCLE DISCUSSION SUCH AS HVAC.
AS WE WORK WITH HVAC, HVAC IS JUST A VERY, VERY MUCH FRUSTRATION IN THE DELIVERY OF UNITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
HVAC IS WORKING, BUT THERE'S A MAJOR COST IN THE HVAC THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND WE WE WOULD HAVE TO REFRESH THE DEFERRED PROJECTS IN A MAJOR WAY.
THANKFULLY, OUR COLLEAGUE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND BOND MANAGEMENT HERE WITH HPM HAS THAT ABILITY TO HELP US GO BACK THROUGH THAT.
THAT WAS PART OF OUR WORK THAT WE ARE WANTING TO GO THROUGH WITH THE ASSESSMENTS.
>> WELL, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING TO TRY TO MAKE AN ESTIMATE.
IT'S JUST THAT AS WE GO INTO OUR PLANNING FOR OUR VOTE AND KNOWING ALL THE NEEDS IS IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE HAD $400 MILLION.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER BEING ON THE CAPITAL RENEWED COMMITTEE AND NOT FUNDING NEAR TO ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE THERE AND SO CERTAINLY WE'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED COST ESCALATIONS OF EXTREME PROPORTIONS.
JUST HAVING A SENSE OF JUST EVEN IT IS A BALLPARK NUMBER, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN TERMS OF GOING INTO KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH THE TAX RATE MOVING FORWARD ON I&S.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS ABOUT THE COVID FUNDS THAT WE RELIEVED.
AND THIS MAY BE RECEIVING MORE TOWARDS MR. [INAUDIBLE] TEAM, BUT WE PROBABLY RECEIVED SOME IN TERMS OF OUR FACILITIES AS WELL.
DID THOSE FUNDS HELP COVER SOME OF THE COSTS THAT MAYBE WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR OUT OF BOND MONIES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE FUNDS IN TERMS TO GO ONE-TO-ONE FOR ALL OF OUR DEVICES AND UPGRADE IN TERMS OF OUR TECHNOLOGY AND THEN ALSO TO MAKE OUR BUILDINGS MORE SAFE IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY AND WHATNOT.
>> YOU'LL FIND MOST OF THE COVID EXPENSES ARE NOT RELATED TO THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR OF THE BOND PROGRAM.
YOU WILL LEAN MORE TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY, AS MARK WILL EXPLAIN HERE IN A MINUTE, AND OR THE MAINTENANCE COST WITHIN THE OPERATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FILTRATION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR IN THE BOND, BRICK-AND-MORTAR, NONE OF THOSE DOLLARS ACTUALLY WERE SIPHONED INTO THE COVID ITSELF. SO MARK.
>> THE SR FUNDS THAT WENT DIRECT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS MANAGED BY THE OPERATIONS TEAM DOING PROJECTS.
BUT FOR TECHNOLOGY, WE USED THAT MONEY FOR HOTSPOTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE COULD APPLY FOR OPERATION CONNECTIVITY FUNDS THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL AS ECF FUNDS, EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDS FROM E-RATE.
BECAUSE OF THOSE EFFORTS, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING.
I INCLUDED THAT IN THE POWERPOINT, BUT I DIDN'T POINT THAT OUT, IT'S $6.7 MILLION.
THIS IS ALLOWING US TO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER OUR THREE-YEAR BOND AND ALLOWING US TO USE THE FOURTH YEAR WITH THOSE FUNDS TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
>> THAT IS CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, AND CERTAINLY THOSE FUNDS,
[01:30:01]
LIKE YOU SAID, EXTENDED THE BOND'S LIFE SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS ANOTHER YEAR.BUT YOU ANTICIPATE THAT AFTER THAT, WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS.
YOU WENT INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
>> YES. THE LIFE CYCLE, WHICH IS REPLACEMENT CYCLE FOR TECHNOLOGY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR STUDENT DEVICES, CHROMEBOOKS THAT WE SENT HOME IS FOUR YEARS.
FOR STAFF LAPTOPS, IT'S FIVE YEARS.
TECHNOLOGY HAS A LIFECYCLE AND A REPLACEMENT CYCLE.
FOR THE MOST PART IT'S ANYWHERE FROM FOUR YEARS TO SEVEN YEARS OR EVEN MORE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE INTERACTIVE FLAT PANELS HAVE A LIFE CYCLE OF 7-8, NO MORE THAN NINE YEARS.
>> WHICH I RECALL WAS ACTUALLY AN EXTENSION FROM THE PREVIOUS PROJECTORS.
>> YES, THEY HAVE A MUCH LONGER LIFE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY BULBS FOR THE PROJECTORS.
>> THAT SAVES ON MAINTENANCE COSTS IN TERMS OF HAVING PEOPLE COME IN AND REPLACE THOSE AND WHATNOT.
>> PLACE THE BULBS AND CLEAN THE FILTERS AND SO ON. YES.
>> THE LAST QUESTION, AGAIN THAT I HAVE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION IN THE PRESENTATION IT TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, THEY INCREASE COST OF FUEL.
MR. WOSTER NIGHT HAD TALKED EARLIER THAT BUSES ACTUALLY ARE NOW MORE EXPENSIVE AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH WE PAY MAINLY THOSE OUT OF BOND FUNDS WHERE FUEL COMES OUT OF OPERATIONS FUND, I WAS JUST WANTING TO GET A REMINDER HOW WE'RE FUNDED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
WE GET A SET AMOUNT PER MILE, CORRECT?
>> AFTER TWO MILES. [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TINA COME TO THE CHAIR. THERE YOU GO.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, TRANSPORTATION HAS TWO REPORTS THAT GOES TO TEA EACH YEAR.
ONE THAT WE JUST TURNED IN TODAY, AND THAT RIGHT THERE IS ACTUALLY OUR ROUTE SERVICE REPORT OR ROUTE SERVICE REPORT FUNDS.
THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WE ARE A SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A $1.8 A MILE, OUR REGULAR AID IS A DOLLAR.
WE HAVE CTE AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE RAISED THOSE MILES, BUT WE GET $6.49 PER MILE.
AS LONG AS OUR BUSES IN TRANSPORTATION OR TAKING THOSE STUDENTS, THAT'S A BIG FUND.
WHEN I GOT HERE FIVE-YEARS AGO, WE WERE NOT GETTING ANY OF THOSE FUNDS.
I KNEW THAT, AND FROM LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT IN $30,000 AND THIS YEAR, I THINK I TOLD TODAY IT WAS OVER 130,000.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT.
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS, AND IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THEN OUR OPERATIONS REPORT ACTUALLY IS, IT JUST WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU SPENT ON EVERYTHING, HOW MANY BUSES YOU HAVE, HOW OLD THEY ARE? THOSE ARE OUR TWO REPORTS.
I CAN'T SAY YOU ASKED, HEY, WHERE DOES ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM? ACTUALLY, A THIRD OF IT COMES FROM TEA.
>> I KNOW THAT WHEN I REMEMBER BACK IN 2019 THAT THEY TRANSFERRED TO THIS PER MILE BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT BEFORE THAT.
NOW, HAS IT BEEN INDEXED FOR INFLATION AS WE HAVE HAD INFLATIONARY COSTS, AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR NEED TO PAY OUR DRIVERS MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY VACANCIES OR THE INCREASED FUEL COSTS WITH THAT, HAS IT REMAINED THE SAME OVER THE PAST SINCE THE CHANGE IN THE LAW IN 2019 OR DID THEY INDEX IT TO GO UP?
>> PRETTY MUCH THE SAME IN THAT WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THE TRANSPORTATION, THE REPORT WHERE THEY STARTED PAYING WAS IN THE 80'S AND IN 2019 THEY ACTUALLY IT WAS JUST A MUCH SIMPLER, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
I LOOK BACK LAST YEAR, WHEN WE DID THE REPORT, IT WAS THE NEW WAY AND THEN THEY WOULD CALCULATE THE OLD WAY.
[01:35:03]
MAYBE NOT 100,000, BUT IT IS PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT BY ANY MEANS.>> YOU'LL BE FAIR TO SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ARE REIMBURSEMENT, THEN THE STATE HAS IN REAL TERMS GONE DOWN?
>> ABSOLUTELY. JUST FUEL ADDITIVES, PARTS.
>> THEN THAT MEANS MORE MONEY GOING TOWARDS THOSE COSTS RATHER THAN TOWARDS INSTRUCTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET KIDS TO SCHOOL AND GET THEM HOME FROM SCHOOL.
>> I BELIEVE THAT OUR TEAM IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE VERY EFFICIENT.
WE'VE BROADCAST DOWN AND WE HAVE BROUGHT DOWN EVEN WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING.
BUT THROUGH THE YEARS WE BROUGHT DOWN OUR OVERTIME.
THAT'S JUST BEING EFFICIENT IN BEING ON TOP OF YOUR MONEY AND WHAT YOU'RE GUIDED AT WHAT'S GOING ON TO THAT.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT MY BUDGET, SO I FEEL THAT OUR DEPARTMENT'S VERY EFFICIENT.
COULD WE BE MORE EFFICIENT? ABSOLUTELY, IF WE HAVE MORE DRIVERS.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY A TOPIC COMING UP.
THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS AS WE DISCUSS ALL OF THE FUNDING NEEDS FOR OUR DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. HAVE WE HAD ANY TRUSTEES TOUR OF THE NEW POOL FACILITY YET? I WOULD LIKE TO SO IF I COULD JUST PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR AT A TIME THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT MAYBE HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.
>> ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME, ACTUALLY WE TRIED I THINK PATTY SENT FEW DATES, WHEN WAS IT PATTY?
>> WE SEND IT TO DAN, THE BOARD UPDATE AND WE TRIED TO BOOK SOME DATES FOR YOU SO HOPEFULLY UNTIL NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS AT CARAWAY AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A ROUND ROCK ISD PROBLEM.
THIS KEEPS COMING UP EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE BOND AND SO TONIGHT I SIT HERE AND I ASK MYSELF, IS THERE ANY ADVOCACY THAT YOU BELIEVE OR YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SOME OF US NEED TO GO AND MEET WITH THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYTHING? I SEE TRUSTEE HARRISON NODDING LIKE I THINK WE'RE UP FOR THAT.
IF YOU GUYS TELL US THAT THAT'S HELPFUL, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL?
>> TRUSTEE WESTON OFTENTIMES GOING TO THE MAYOR OR A COUNCIL MEMBER IS ACTUALLY AN ADVERSE EFFECT.
BECAUSE I'LL USE A METAPHOR, IMAGINE A FOUR OR FIVE LANE FREEWAY AND THERE'S AN AXON OR AN OBSTRUCTION AND IT'S A LONG-STANDING OBSTRUCTION AND JUST THINK OF THE LINE OF CARS THAT'S WAITING TO GET THROUGH THAT ABSTRACTION ON THE FREEWAY.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS AND CITY OF AUSTIN FELL BEHIND DURING THE COVID ERA.
BECAUSE THEIR REVIEWERS WERE AT HOME AND SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM TO MOVE PROJECTS THROUGH AND WE TRIED TO WORK WITH EXPEDITERS AND OTHERS AND IT'S JUST [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL SEE HERE'S THE THING.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS SOME WEALTHY FIVE MILLION DOLLAR HOME OWNER TRYING TO PUT IN A SECOND POOL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL TEXAS THAT TAXPAYERS HAVE APPROVED FOR CHILDREN AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOUR YEARS.
AGAIN, I KNOW THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM, BUT I'M JUST FRUSTRATED AND I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SUPPORT HERE TO DO SOMETHING IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE.
I WON'T BELABOR IT, BUT I'LL JUST SAY, I THINK THAT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN THINK OF, I KNOW I AND I THINK OTHERS HERE, WOULD STAND READY TO HELP IF YOU GUYS BELIEVE THAT'S NECESSARY.
I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR MS. TINA, TRANSPORTATION.
YOU GAVE US A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING AND GOOD STATISTICS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
WE ACTUALLY ARE THE REGIONAL DEAF EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER IN TEXAS FOR OUR AREA, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE BUSES THAT LEAVE ROUND ROCK ISD? CAN YOU JUST TELL US BRIEFLY, GIVE US A SENSE OF SCOPE AND SCALE ON THAT? BRIEFLY.
WE DO CARRY THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
LATELY, WE DO LEAVE THE DISTRICT,
[01:40:01]
AND GO WHERE WE NEED TO AND ALSO YES TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT ALSO WE HAVE OUR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION AND WE ACTUALLY TRAVEL MORE MILES ON THAT, WE GO ALL OVER THE PLACE.>> HOW FAR? GIVE ME A SENSE OF SOME REALLY FAR PLACES?
>> BELTON. THING OF IT IS WE'VE TRAVELED OVER MORE THAN 50, 60 MILES AT TIMES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT SOMETIMES, BUT YEAH, WE'RE TALKING IN LESS 50 MILES THERE AND 50 MILES BACK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHEN I WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR AIR CREWS, THERE WERE RULES WITH REGARD TO CREW REST AND TERRY HAS A SON WHO IS A PILOT, I KNOW HE KNOWS ABOUT THIS, WHERE YOU HAD TO HAVE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CREW REST BEFORE GETTING IN FRONT OF A JET.
ARE THERE RULES LIKE THAT? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKING 12 AND 14 HOUR DAYS AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT, ARE CREW REST REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVERS?
>> ACTUALLY, IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THERE'S NOT, THIRD PARTIES THERE ARE BUT WE ARE VERY COGNITIVE.
SOME OF OUR DRIVERS AND IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, LOVE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, WE WATCH FIELD TRIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THEIR EIGHT HOURS SLEEP AND SO THERE'S NOT THIRD PARTY THERE IS BUT YES, WE WATCH THAT AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO TURN DOWN FIELD TRIPS BECAUSE OF IT.
BECAUSE MOST OF OUR DRIVERS GET UP AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
THERE WE HAVE SEVERAL BUSES THAT LEAVE AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
SOME OF OUR BUSES THAT FEAR TRANSPORTATION THE DEATH HAD, SOME DO NOT GET BACK TILL SEVEN O'CLOCK AND THAT'S IF WE HAVE NO TRAFFIC ON 35.
IT'S BEEN NINE O'CLOCK AT TIMES BECAUSE OF ACCIDENTS ON 35 SO GREAT QUESTION.
BY THE WAY, SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD IN ROUND ROCK ISD WAS AS A BAND BOOSTER AFTER A FOOTBALL GAME, DRIVING HOME, SITTING BEHIND THE BUS DRIVER ON I35 AND LISTENING TO ALL THEIR STORIES.
>> MR. WOOSTER, I'M GOING TO CUT TO THE CHASE ON EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN A MISCOMMUNICATION?
>> I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN EARLY ON WHEN STUDENTS AND PARENTS WERE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS TO KNOW THAT THE BUILDING WAS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
YOU SAW THE SLIDE THERE THAT, IN THAT TIMEFRAME, WHEN WE WERE DESIGNING THAT BUILDING, WE SAW FAIRLY ROBUST VARIANCE, POSITIVE AND UNFORTUNATELY COVID ARRIVED, ESCALATION ARRIVED THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND SO THAT EVAPORATION OF THAT ROBUST VARIANCE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A VARIANCE NOW SURPLUS, HAS LED TO SOME OF THAT THOUGHT PROCESS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A HOPEFUL TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT VARIANCE TO MOVE OVER AND MAKE UP THAT SHORTFALL.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.
EARLIER, TRUSTEE HARRISON ASKED TO GO INTO CLOSED AND WE MIGHT NEED TOO FOR MY QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN APRIL OR MAY, DR. PRESLEY I SPENT AN AFTERNOON WITH YOU AND YOU GUYS WENT OVER ALL THE PROPERTIES WITH ME AND I HAVE THAT WITH ME.
ON THE SLIDE YOU REFERENCED 17 AND TWO CYPRUS.
I HAVE A MEMORY FROM OUR FOUR OF US WHO GOT ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE PROPERTIES WHERE I THOUGHT WE MADE A DECISION.
>> YOU MUST MAKE A RESOLUTION.
>> THERE'S STILL BOARD ACTION THAT'S REQUIRED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> I PROMISE TO BE REALLY SHORT BECAUSE I DO APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
DR. AZIZ, HE'S HAVING YOUR STAFF.
I WAS GONE LAST WEEK AND DIDN'T DO MY HOMEWORK UNTIL YESTERDAY.
I KNOW HOW TO LOVE QUESTIONS AND I TRULY, APPRECIATE THAT YOU ACTUALLY GOT THE ANSWERS.
AT FIVE O'CLOCK THEY CAME IN AND E-MAIL FOR ALL OF YOU ALL TO SEE.
I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR ON YOUR VARIANCE ON THE BONDS IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND IN MY ANSWER.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR ANSWERS TO ME WAS THAT THE OVERAGE IT WAS LIKE A SHORTFALL OF $15 TO $18 MILLION, RIGHT.
FOR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE.
I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE TO MY COLLEAGUES IF YOU HADN'T SEEN THAT ANSWER THAT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, 15-18 IS NOT HUGE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUND BALANCE OR LIQUIDATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD THAT INFORMATION AND I KNOW THAT
[01:45:04]
THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY COME TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER.BUT JUST FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND, I THINK MOST OF MY QUESTIONS GOT ANSWERED.
I KNOW AUSTIN HAS AN EDUCATION LIKE A FAST-TRACK ON THEIR BUILDINGS USUALLY, IF IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY.
DO WE KNOW ANYWHERE WHERE LIKE CARAWAY AND GRISHAM ARE IN THAT.
>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU TONIGHT WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT WE DO USE EXPEDITERS TO TRY TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WITH CARAWAY SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CARAWAY SPECIFICALLY, IS THAT YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE SCOPE WAS CHANGED AND SO THE DOCUMENTATION WAS "WE HAD TO RE-DOCUMENT THE PROJECT, AND RESUBMIT."
>> YOU DID TELL US YOU DID WARN US THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE DID THAT.
I HAD A VERY GENERAL QUESTION AND THEN ONE MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION.
MY GENERAL QUESTION IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
I MEAN, WE HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME AND I DON'T KNOW, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE IN THE FIELD FROM EXPERTS, IS THERE ANY TIMELINE JUST AS A NATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THAT, THERE'S A FORECAST OF WHEN THAT MIGHT GET BETTER, WHEN WE MIGHT GET BACK TO PRE-COVID, WHEN COSTS MIGHT GO BACK DOWN?
>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WE ALL KNOW, THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR THESE ROLL-UP DOORS OR GARAGE DOORS AT THE AQUATIC CENTER.
HERE'S, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.
FOR EXAMPLE, ALUMINUM MATERIALS TYPICALLY ARE ANODIZED AND WITHIN THE LAST TWO, THREE FOUR YEARS, THE ANNOTATION PROCESS FOR ALUMINUM IN THE UNITED STATES MOSTLY, HAS BEEN MOVED OFFSHORE TO OTHER PLACES.
I GUESS HAVE ANODIZED ALUMINUM MATERIALS SUCH AS THESE ROLL-UP GARAGE DOORS ARE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ALUMINUM SENT THEM OFFSHORE, THEIR CUSTOM DOORS.
THEY ANODIZED CUSTOM SHAPES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND THEY SEND THEM BACK.
EVERYBODY IS DOING THAT THEY'RE SENDING STUFF OFFSHORE AND IT'S COMING BACK.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST SUCH A LARGE VOLUME OF STUFF GOING TO DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT'S, A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM IN THAT A LOT OF MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION STRUGGLE WITH HAVING LABOR TO BE ABLE TO MANUFACTURE THINGS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE ON OUR FOURTH MAYBE FIFTH, OR SIXTH PROMISE ON HAVING DOORS ARRIVE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER.
WHEN I SAY IS VERY FRUSTRATING IS THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE LEVERAGE ON BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE THAT AS A CLIENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE WITH YOUR LAW BACKGROUND, YOU'LL KNOW THAT IT'S A RELIANCE.
WE'RE RELYING ON WHAT SOMEONE IS TELLING US IN A CONTRACT.
OUR PARTNERS, WHO ARE BUILDERS, GENERAL CONTRACTORS ARE RELIANT UPON THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS, WHO ARE RELYING UPON THEIR DISTRIBUTORS, WHO ARE RELYING UPON THE MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE, WHO'S RELYING UPON THE MANUFACTURER TO TELL THE TRUTH.
SOMEONE ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT LIST OF RELIANCE MAY SAY, WE'LL HAVE THOSE PRODUCTS AND WE'LL SHIP THOSE AT CERTAIN POINT IN TIME, THAT COMES AND PASSES.
AGAIN, WITH YOUR LAW BACKGROUND, YOU UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC LOSS DOCTRINE DOESN'T REACH OUT.
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THAT LEVERAGE TO REACH OUT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOWNSTREAM IN THAT.
HERE IT'S A CONSTANT WORK TO SAY, CAN YOU GUARANTEE AND, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES EASILY.
>>THERE'S NO FORECAST OF IT GETTING BETTER ANYTIME SOON?
>> MY VERY LAST QUESTION BECAUSE I HAD ASKED IT IN WHAT I SUBMITTED AND I WAS GOING OVER REAL QUICK WHAT CAME IN THE BOARD UPDATE.
I KNOW WE ADDED CVC LEGAL INTO THEIR BYLAWS WHEN THEY STARTED.
IS THE IDEA THAT THAT GROUP WILL MAYBE BE PART OF SETTING UP OUR FUTURE NEEDS AND OUR FORECASTED NEEDS, OR IS IT GOING TO BE A SEPARATE GROUP?
>> I WOULD ADVOCATE AS A SEPARATE GROUP SIMPLY BECAUSE OF BYLAWS OF THEIR CPC OC TEND TO FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL PART OF THAT.
I WOULD SUGGEST ANOTHER ORGAN, A GROUP, BE FORMATTED.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO?
>> IS THAT I THINK IT COULD BE WORKED THROUGH WITH BOTH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS DIFFERENT, ONE IS TO REVIEW THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE BOND AND THE OTHER ONE IS TO LOOK AT THE GROUP.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY GROWTH, BUT THE PLANNING AND THE INTENT OF MAKE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT.
[01:50:01]
WE WOULD HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF THIS PROCESS RIGHT BEFORE WE GET THERE.I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT?
>> NO MA'AM, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING ABOUT I DO NOT AT THIS POINT.
>> I BET YOU HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS BUT NOT READY TO ASK THEM TONIGHT [LAUGHTER].
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. DEFINITELY.
>> WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO CATCH YOU UP TO SPEED.
THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS, AGAIN, REALLY RELATES TO EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, MY PASSION, I STOOD OUT ON THE GRASSY AREA OUT FRONT OF THE PORTABLES IN THE SPRING OF 2018.
THAT DAY IT WAS A LITTLE MISTY.
THE WEATHER WASN'T GREAT AND KIDS WERE OUTSIDE PLAYING FOOTBALL, THROWING THE FOOTBALL TO EACH OTHER, MILLING AROUND AND IT WAS CREDIT WHETHER THEN IT'S A 105 LATER ON IN THE SEMESTER AND IT'S STILL CRAZY WEATHER.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND PORTABLES.
IF I HAD A MAGIC ONE, THAT WOULD GET THEM ALL OUT OF PORTABLES.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON THIS BOARD AND THIS ISN'T JUST DIRECTED TO YOU, BUT WITH DR. AZIZ AS WELL, A CONSENSUS ON THE BOARD THAT AN ENTIRE CAMPUS IN PORTABLES IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I KNOW THAT, THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS AND POSSIBILITIES TO FUND IT.
I THINK THAT THIS BOARD WOULD BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THOSE AS THEY COME UP.
I'M NOT SAYING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FUND IT, BUT JUST AS WE FINALIZE AND ROLL-OUT THE REST OF THESE PROJECTS, I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SPEND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN THE BOND UNTIL WE'VE CLOSED OUT ALL OF IT BECAUSE WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE MADE A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS FOR IN 2018.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT I THINK THAT THIS BOARD REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT FOCUS FOR EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT THE GIST OF IT FROM US.
>> ACTUALLY I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
ACTUALLY, WE ARE JUST NEEDED THE FUNDING.
AS THERE WE'RE WAS SAYING, WE HAVE THE DRAWING, WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN THAT VENERATED THE MOU WITH ACC IS PRETTY MUCH DONE.
WE'RE REALLY LIKE READY, LIKE WE CAN JUST READ GROUND.
I MEAN, ONCE WE GET THE MONEY, WE CAN START TOMORROW.
>> I JUST THINK THAT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT.
WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAYING, CAN YOU JUST PUT IT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE OF US JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT $15 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TO SPEND ON EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAT COME INTO THAT PLAY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS REALLY CLEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS JUST SAYING PUT IT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, JUST PUT IT IN THE BUDGET AND WE JUST IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE TO ECHO WHAT DR. JOSE HAS MENTIONED.
IT'S NOT THAT ANY OF US DON'T WANT TO DO THE PROJECT, DO WE WANT TO DO THE PROJECT? IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S JUST THE MECHANICS OF BEING ABLE TO GET TO THAT POINT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I WILL JUST CLOSE BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, I WILL CLOSE WITH JUST THANKING ALL OF YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, YOU DO HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM.
I WAS HAVING FLASHBACKS THE CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN DOING ALL OF THAT PLANNING AND SEEING ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS.
ALTHOUGH I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, THERE WAS NOT A PLAYGROUND DEDICATED SLIDE IN HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY [OVERLAPPING]
>> AMBER BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR E1.
CAN WE SAVE A CLOSED SESSION FOR THE END OF THE EVENING.
>> THAT WOULD STAFF BE ABLE TO GO HOME IF I THINK IT'LL BE A RELATIVELY SHORT MAYBE A FIVE OR 10 MINUTE CONVERSATION.
I'M THINKING YOU PROBABLY ARE WONDERING HOW MUCH WE COULD GET FOR IT AND WHAT WE COULD DO WITH IT.
>> NO I THINK IT SHOULD BE REALLY QUICK AND THAT WAY WE CAN LET STUFF GO HOME.
>> WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THEN WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A RECESS SO EVERYBODY TO TAKE.
THEN WE'LL GO INTO CLOSED AND THEN WE WILL ASK EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM TO LEAVE THIS AREA.
WE WILL HAVE CLOSED IN THIS ROOM.
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE ALL YOUR POSSESSIONS WITH YOU AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE COME BACK IN, HOPEFULLY BEFORE EIGHT O'CLOCK.
IT IS 7: 24 AND WE ARE IN RECESS, A 10-MINUTE RECESS.
IT IS 7: 35, WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.
I'M GOING TO READ US INTO CLOSED AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072.
THE BOARD WILL MEET TO DISCUSS AND DELIBERATE ON THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE,
[01:55:02]
OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.THE BOARD MAY SEEK LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THE REAL PROPERTY.
IT IS 7: 36 AND WE'RE GOING TO CLOSED SESSION.
IT IS 8:27, AND WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM E1,
[E. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT]
ROUND ROCK ISD POLICE [OVERLAPPING] DEPARTMENT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATE.I MAY TURN IT OVER TO DR. AZIZ.
>> MY POINT IS I MOVE TO POSTPONE ITEM E1, RRISD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATE, ITEM E1 ON THE AGENDA POSTPONE IT DEFINITELY TO SOMETIME CONVENIENT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND BEFORE HALLOWEEN.
IF I CAN GET A SECOND, I'LL TALK ABOUT WHY.
>> NO SECOND, BUT I DO HAVE DISCUSSION. HOLD ON IN A MINUTE.
WAIT. FOR LACK OF A SECOND, THERE'S NO MOTION.
MOTION FAILS. TRUSTEE HARRISON?
>> I UNDERSTAND WANTING A MORE ROBUST MEETING, OR I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR EXPLANATION ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK THAT AHEAD OF GOING INTO SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE VALIDATE AND OTHER THINGS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS OVERVIEW TONIGHT, AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO REVISITING THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT.
I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME LONG-HELD QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK THE TIMING IS RIGHT FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR DESIRE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT GOING ON ACROSS ROUND ROCK ISD TONIGHT BY CHANCE.
I ORIGINALLY WAS NOT GOING TO COME TONIGHT.
I'M NOT WITH MY FAMILY DOING OTHER THINGS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DOING A LOT OF THINGS.
WE HAVE A TRUSTEE WHO IS NOT EVEN HERE TONIGHT, WHO WAS THE PERSON WHO SECONDED MY REQUEST FOR THIS, SO SHE DOESN'T EVEN GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
THERE WERE SOME NEW PEOPLE THAT CAME TONIGHT, BUT BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE OTHER DUTIES AND THEY ONLY HAD 72 HOURS OF NOTICE OF THIS MEETING, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PREPARE.
I'M HEARING A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT HAVING SUCH A HIGH THIS TOP OF MIND ISSUE BEING DONE TONIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS WHY I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS.
>> I HEAR YOU, AND WOULD BE AMENABLE TO REVISITING IT, BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO BEFORE WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND GET SOME UPDATES IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I UNDERSTAND THE TIMING MAY NOT BE THE MOST DESIRABLE, BUT PEOPLE CAN WATCH AND THEN THEY CAN BRING FORTH THEIR QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY WORTH REVISITING AGAIN.
>> WE DO HAVE SOME DEADLINES THAT TEA HAS ALSO PUT OUT THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1ST THAT ARE PART OF THE SLIDE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GO THROUGH THAT.
I DIDN'T GET ANY EMAILS FROM ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY ASKING US TO POSTPONE THIS.
I DID GET AN EMAIL FROM TRUSTEE BONE ASKING TO POSTPONE IT AND FROM YOU, BUT I DIDN'T GET ANY E-MAILS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO RECORD ALL OF THEM, SO THAT'S WONDERFUL THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND WATCH IT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT CONVERSATION WHEN THEY WATCH THE MEETING, IF IT SPARKS ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE CAN ALWAYS ADDRESS IT EITHER DIRECTLY FROM ADMINISTRATION, OR A FUTURE TOPIC FOR IT.
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY BEFORE WE GOT STARTED WAS THIS, TYPICALLY, I HAVE PUT ON AGENDAS WHO REQUESTED, AND THIS ALL STEMMED FROM MY REQUEST, FROM TRUSTEE WESTON, BUT IT DIDN'T PUT IT ON THERE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS ADDED TO IT THAT WERE NOT IN HER ORIGINAL REQUESTS, SO IT'S NOT ENTIRELY STEMMING FROM HER REQUEST, SO THAT'S WHY HER NAME DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, IT WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AGENDA REQUEST FROM TRUSTEE WESTON AND ADMINISTRATIONS ADDITIONAL INPUTS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL GO AHEAD AND TURN THIS OVER TO DR. AZIZ.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT TO COVER AND BY THE WAY, I JUST WANT TO ALSO SHARE WITH YOU THAT OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF WILL BE STARTING WITH US NEXT WEEK, AUGUST 1ST IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIS FIRST DAY.
OBVIOUSLY, I HOPE HE'S WATCHING AND I KNOW WE WANT TO GIVE HIM SOME TIME JUST TO SETTLE.
HE'S MOVING OUT, AS I SAID, MOVED OUT FROM ANOTHER STATE.
ONCE HE COMES INTO OUR DISTRICT, WE ARE PLANNING ON INTRODUCING HIM TO THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND ANSWER SOME MORE QUESTIONS, HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW THAT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS IN EVERYBODY'S MIND NOW MORE THAN EVER.
BUT ANYWAY, SO WE HAVE WITH US DR. PRESLEY, AND HE WOULD BE TAKING US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, BUT WE'RE ALL ALSO HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, DR. AZIZ, PRESIDENT FELLOW AND TRUSTEES.
TONIGHT, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION REGARDING AN UPDATE,
[02:00:05]
THE STATUS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO SOME SAFETY AND SECURITY PIECES INCLUDED THERE AS WELL.AS DR. AZIZ SAID, EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF ARRIVING NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I'M DEFINITELY NOT THE POLICE CHIEF, I'M THE PRESENTER.
JENNIFER'S GOT IT UP. GOING TO THE FIRST SLIDE, JENNIFER TIMELINE.
I THINK FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN LOOKING AT THAT, WENT BACK TO MARCH OF 2017, AND WE GOT NOTIFIED AT THAT POINT BY THE CITY AND THE HISTORY AS ALL OF YOU KNOW FROM, FROM A SROS IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE TRADITIONAL STAFFING MODEL HAS BEEN THE TARGET TO HAVE TWO SRO AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT WAS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF STAFFING OWNED BY THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OVER THE YEARS, OUR SCHOOLS THAT WERE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK WERE STAFFED BY WILLIAMSON COUNTY, OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE IN THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK WERE STAFFED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.
I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE DISTRICT SINCE 2009, BUT COMING HERE AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, THERE WERE MANY DAYS WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE AN SRO, I MIGHT HAVE ONE SRO BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DISTRICT OR OF ME.
THAT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS OF THE CONSISTENCY OF PROVIDING OFFICERS AT THE SCHOOLS.
IN MARCH OF 2017, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE CITY BASICALLY GIVING US A FOUR-YEAR HEADS UP THAT IN STARTING IN 2021, THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US OFFICERS.
ALONG WITH THAT IN CONVERSATION WAS YOUR BEST BET IS TO EITHER FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO STAFF IT OR START YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN TEXAS HAD BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S, SCHOOL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, I'M SORRY.
WE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR YEARS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
IN APRIL OF 2018, WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF ROUND ROCK AS WELL AS JUDGE CARVEL WITH THE COUNTY, TELLING US THAT THEY BOTH EVEN THE COUNTY NOW SAYING BY 2021 WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT, WE DON'T HAVE OUR OFFICERS TO PROVIDE.
THAT WAS PART PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE GROWING NEED IN THE COMMUNITIES.
THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE STAFFING THEIR OFFICERS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY.
THEY HAD OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO STAFF THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
IN JUNE OF 2018, THE BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION FOR US TO PUT TOGETHER A TASK FORCE.
I KNOW MISS HARRISON WAS PART OF THAT TASK FORCE.
I APPRECIATE THE THOUSANDS OF HOURS YOU PROBABLY SPENT LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WITH THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SERVED ON THAT, AND I THINK TRUSTEE WESTON CAME TO EVERY MEETING.
I APPRECIATE YOU-ALL LOOKING AT THAT.
THEY SPENT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LOOKING AT WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS A DISTRICT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
THAT PRESENTATION HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019.
THE TASKFORCE CAME FORTH, AND THERE WAS VARYING VIEWS ON THAT TASKFORCE.
THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THERE'S NO PLACE FOR OFFICERS PERIOD.
THERE WERE OTHERS WHO BELIEVED WE COULD TWIST THE ARM OF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND MAKE THEM STAFF US, WHICH THEY TOLD US MANY TIMES THEY COULDN'T AND WOULDN'T.
THEN THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WANTED MORE, THEY WANTED AN OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL, SO IT WAS VERY A VARIETY OF OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
I THINK IT WAS 152 PAGE REPORT.
THEY WENT OVER WITH THE BOARD, NOT WORD FOR WORD, BUT THEY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019.
WE'RE MOVING ALONG FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO START OUR ON POLICE DEPARTMENT EVEN, IN FACT, WE WANTED AN OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WHEN WE SURVEYED OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS, OVERWHELMINGLY, THEY WANTED TO HAVE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS.
ONCE AGAIN, THERE WERE VARYING VIEWS AND THE COMMUNITY ON WHETHER OFFICER SHOULD BE IN SCHOOLS OR WHETHER THEY SHOULDN'T.
BUT OUR COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE, EXPECTS US TO HAVE PROTECTION AND INSIDE OUR BUILDINGS AT OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES, REALLY SOME PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.
IN DECEMBER OF 2019, WITH THE HELP OF SOME BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK WE PUSHED THE COUNTY TO TAKE IT.
IN DECEMBER OF 2019, WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MET TO CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GIVING US AN EXTENSION, BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROMISE THAT THEY WOULD STAFF LESS IN PERPETUITY.
I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JENNIFER.
>> DR. PRESLEY, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU REAL QUICK ON THAT.
JUST A LITTLE BLIP THAT WENT IN THERE IN BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER.
THE BOARD AT THE TIME TASKED ME WITH MEETING WITH THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FORMER TRUSTEE CHADWELL, AND I MET WITH SHERIFF JODIE AT THE TIME AND TRIED TO WORK UP AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT AND ALL OF THAT, AND ALL OF THOSE TALKS FAILED BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
BUT THOSE TALKS DID HAPPEN BETWEEN TWO TRUSTEES AT THE TIME, WE DRAFTED A WHOLE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT AND WE
[02:05:03]
ALSO WENT TO THE CITY AND MET WITH CHIEF BANKS AND MAYOR MORGAN, AND THEY AGAIN REITERATED THAT THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THE BOARD WAS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO WORK ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP AS WELL.
>> ANOTHER PART OF THAT WAS ALONG THE WAY, WE WERE STILL HAVING HOLES IN OUR STAFFING, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE DAYS WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE OFFICERS AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, SO WE HAD CAMPUSES THAT WERE BASICALLY UNCOVERED FROM THE TRADITIONAL MODEL WE HAD OF HAVING SROS THERE EVERY DAY.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE.
WHAT I DO REMEMBER IS WHEN PEARSON RANCH OPENED AS BRAND NEW SCHOOL, WE HAD PLANNED FOR TWO YEARS FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY TO PROVIDE A DEPUTY THERE AND SRO FOR THAT CAMPUS, AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THE SUMMER BEFORE IT OPENED THAT THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE A DEPUTY.
WE WERE FACED WITH THE SITUATION.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN A BRAND NEW SCHOOL AND ALL OF OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD DEPUTIES WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO COME THAT DAY, BUT PEARSON RANCH WOULD NOT HAVE ONE.
I'M GUESSING HERE, BUT I THINK WE HAD OVER 100 PARENTS WHO SHOWED UP AT A MEETING AND THEY WERE UPSET BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE STAFFED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
THE OTHER HICCUP IN THE WHOLE STAFFING THING WAS THAT CANYON VISTAS ARE ONLY MIDDLE-SCHOOL THAT'S OUTSIDE OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, SO THEY HAD NOT HAD AN OFFICER.
THEN THERE WERE PARENTS CONCERN THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THOSE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY 11 WOULD NOT HAVE AN OFFICER.
AT THAT POINT, AND IT'S NOT ON THE TIMELINE, IS WHEN WE START THINKING, WELL, WHAT DO WE DO? WE NEED TO HAVE AN OFFICER THERE, THAT'S OUR MODEL.
WE REACHED OUT TO ACC AND THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD GIVE US FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICER AT PEARSON RANCH IN [INAUDIBLE] FOR ONE YEAR.
DR. RHODES WAS VERY GRACIOUS IN MAKING THAT HAPPENED.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR IT WAS FOR ONE YEAR.
WE WERE ABLE TO STAFF THOSE AND GET THEM GOING FOR THE START OF SCHOOL AND THEY WERE BOTH VERY SUCCESSFUL, GREAT OFFICERS THEY PUT THERE.
FEBRUARY 2020 AT THE REQUEST OF ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD MEMBERS.
WE WANT REACHED OUT AGAIN TO TRAVIS COUNTY.
TRAVIS COUNTY HAS A SMALL SRO PROGRAM AND THE REASON IT'S SMALL IS BECAUSE THE AUSTIN ISD HAS THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEY'D HAD THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
TRAVIS COUNTY HAD SOME PERIPHERAL COMMUNITIES THEY PROVIDED SROS FOR, BUT THEY WEREN'T PREPARED OR HAD ANY INTEREST IN EXPANDING THEIR SRO CAPACITY TO COVER OUR SCHOOLS.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2020, THE BOARD RESOLUTION WAS PASSED TO ESTABLISH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN AUGUST OF 2020, OUR FIRST POLICE CHIEF WAS HIRED, AND THEN HE BEGAN HIRING OFFICERS IN SEPTEMBER.
THE FIRST OFFICERS CAME ON BOARD IN THE 2021 YEAR, WAS A TRANSITIONAL YEAR, WHEREAS AS THE YEAR WENT ALONG, WE WERE ADDING OFFICERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND THERE WERE OFFICERS WHO ARE LEAVING FROM THE OTHER ENTITIES BECAUSE THEY WERE PUTTING THEM BACK OUT ON PATROL AND OTHER PLACES AS THEY NEEDED THEM WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
THEN JUNE OF 2021, WE WERE FULLY OPERATIONAL.
I'VE HEARD THIS PRESENTED MANY TIMES BY CHIEF YARBOROUGH WHEN HE WAS HERE.
BUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BUILT ON THE FOUR PILLARS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, EQUITY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND STUDENT ADVOCACY, AND HE COULD SPEAK VERY ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THAT AS GOOD.
OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF IS NO LONGER HERE, ASSISTANT CHIEF WILLIBY.
BUT THAT'S THE PLATFORM THAT THEY'VE BUILT AND TRAINED OUR OFFICERS AND EVERYONE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING.
I'LL GET MORE INTO THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OTHER PARTS OF TIE INTO THAT.
BUT SAFETY AND SECURITY FIRST AND FOREMOST, EQUITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TREATING EVERYONE THE SAME, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WHICH TIES INTO DR. GROSSO AND THE FOLKS THAT REPORT TO HER, AND THEN STUDENT ADVOCACY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE A BIGGER STUDENT ADVOCATE THAN OFFICERS HAVE EVER BEEN ANYWHERE.
INITIALLY OFFICER EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS FROM FOLKS WHEN WE WERE STARTING THE DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OFF OUR OFFICERS.
NOBODY WHO'S GOING TO COME HERE.
ACTUALLY WE GOT REALLY HIGH-QUALITY FOLKS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE SINCE GONE ON AND DONE OTHER THINGS.
BUT OVER 50% OF OUR OFFICERS ARE ALL CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS, THEY HAD CRISIS NEGOTIATION EXPERIENCE IN ALL SROS, EVEN THE ONES WE HAD FROM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND FROM ACC ARE NASRO-TRAINED.
ALL OF THEM ARE BASIC AND MOST OF THEM ARE ADVANCED, ALL OF OURS, I THINK WERE ADVANCED AT THE TIME.
THEN THEY HAVE THE RECOGNITION OF MASTER/ADVANCED PEACE OFFICERS.
IN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AS THE DEPARTMENT GOT UP AND GOING, THESE ARE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ENGAGE WITH.
THERE WERE PRESENTATIONS MADE, THERE WERE LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TO INTERACT AND PRESENT TO LOCAL, STATE, AND EVEN IN NATIONAL SAFETY SCHOOL CONFERENCE THEY WERE INVITED TO PRESENT TOO.
THEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER, NOT THIS VENN DIAGRAM AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM ALMOST 40 YEARS OF WORKING IN SCHOOLS, MOSTLY IN HIGH SCHOOLS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE.
IT'S ALL OF THE POLICE IN A SCHOOL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY'RE FROM.
IF IT'S A STATE TROOPER OR A FEDERAL AGENT OR A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE OFFICER,
[02:10:02]
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION DEALS WITH ON A CAMPUS AND WHAT THE POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.I CAN TELL YOU TODAY WE'RE BETTER AT THAT THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN IN ROUND ROCK.
BECAUSE HAVING BEEN A PRINCIPAL IN MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND MULTIPLE DISTRICTS, I'VE SEEN MANY TIMES WHERE AN OFFICER OVERSTEPS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND GETTING TOO INVOLVED IN THE STUDENT SITUATION, AND I'VE ALSO SEEN ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF MEMBERS ASKING FOR HELP FROM AN OFFICER WHEN IT WASN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE TRIED TO CREATE WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, WHAT'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN A SITUATION WITH THE STUDENT AND WHAT'S THE POLICE OFFICERS? OUR OFFICERS ARE TRAINED TO INTERACT WHEN THERE'S A SERIOUS CRIME COMMITTED, WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH.
I CAN TELL YOU IN MY TIME HERE IN ROUND ROCK, I'VE SEEN THAT GO AWRY, BUT SOMETIMES IT WAS BACK WHEN WE HAD OFFICERS FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT WERE INVOLVED.
I THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING OUR RRISD PD, AND CHIEF WEINER CAN PROBABLY TALK MORE ABOUT THIS WHEN HE GETS HERE NEXT WEEK, IS THAT WE TRAIN OUR OFFICERS.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR ROUND ROCK ISD WHO REPORTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT IS IN CHARGE OF DECIDING WHAT OUR OFFICERS WILL ATTEND AND TRAINING AND WHAT THEY WOULDN'T ATTEND.
I WOULD HAVE SOME GREAT TRAININGS AS A PRINCIPAL IN YEARS PAST AND I WOULD INVITE MY SRO TO COME AND THEY COULDN'T COME BECAUSE THEIR CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OR THE COUNTY OR WHATEVER MIGHT BE HAD THEM DOING OTHER THINGS.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF DIRECTING THE TRAINING AND HOW THESE OFFICERS FUNCTION ON A CAMPUS AND KEEPING A REAL TIGHT LENS ON THAT.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED TO OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, IF I'M A PRINCIPAL OR AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, OR EVEN A TEACHER AND I CAN'T GET A KID TO GET IN CLASS, I CAN'T GET THEM TO GET A CLASS, IT IS NO WAY NEAR AN OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GO GRAB AN SRO AND SAY, CAN YOU GET DANI TO GET TO CLASS? I CAN'T GET HIM TO GO TO CLASS.
THAT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
IF A KID WON'T PUT THEIR CELL PHONE UP, IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATOR TO TELL THIS OFFICER, HEY, CAN YOU GO GET THAT CELL PHONE FROM THAT KID BECAUSE THEY WON'T GIVE IT TO ME.
OR ANY OTHER CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OFFICERS ARE TRAINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THERE ARE PRESENCE ON THE CAMPUS THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN THE DAY TO DAY THINGS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH KIDS ON CAMPUS.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT SLIDE, AND THAT SPOT IN THE MIDDLE IS WHEN THERE'S A CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION THAT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT THE POLICE HAVE TO INTERVENE, LIKE AN ASSAULT OR SOMETHING THAT'S VERY SERIOUS WITH BODILY INJURY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHY THE MIDDLE PART, THE VENN DIAGRAMS THERE, THAT'S THE PART WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION IS INVOLVED AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED.
IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.
THERE ARE TWO AVENUES OF CONSEQUENCES WHEN A KID DOES SOMETHING REALLY SERIOUS ON A CAMPUS.
IT'S WHAT THE SCHOOL, THE CODE OF CONDUCT SAYS WILL BE A CONSEQUENCE, AND THEN IT'S WHAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM SAYS WILL BE A CONSEQUENCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE HAD A STUDENT BEFORE NOT IN THIS DISTRICT, SURELY NOT IN THIS DISTRICT, A STUDENT WITH MARIJUANA.
THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN IN ROUND ROCK EVER.
BUT I'VE HAD A STUDENT WHO WAS IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA ON CAMPUS AND I HAD AN OVERZEALOUS SRO, THIS IS IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, WHEN I WAS LOOKING IN THE KID'S CAR BECAUSE WE HAD A REPORT THAT THE KID HAD MARIJUANA IN HIS CAR, WAS SELLING MARIJUANA ON CAMPUS.
I GO OUTSIDE. THE OFFICER FOLLOWS ME AND WHILE I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE CAR, THE OFFICER LOOKS THROUGH THE CAR AS WELL.
THE OFFICER IS THE ONE WHO FOUND THE MARIJUANA.
AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, I CAN LOOK IN THAT VEHICLE, I CAN LOOK IN A BAG, I CAN LOOK IN A LOCKER.
THE OFFICER SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN INSIDE THAT CAR AND I WASN'T REALLY PAYING ATTENTION THAT HE WAS REACHING UP UNDER THE DASH WHEN I WAS LOOKING IN THE BACK SEAT AND FOUND IT.
THE KID WENT TO RDAP AT THE TIME FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA ON CAMPUS.
IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER TO US WHAT THE POLICE DID WITH HIM BECAUSE THAT WAS A POLICE TRACK.
HE HAD A CONSEQUENCE, HE GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA, BUT IT GOT THROWN OUT IN COURT BY THE WAY IT WAS FOUND, THE SEARCH THAT THE OFFICER CONDUCTED, THAT WAS AN UNLAWFUL SEARCH.
BUT THE KID STILL WENT TO DAP FOR THE CAMPUS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE HE VIOLATED THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME WHO FOUND IT.
I SAW IT AND HAD IT IN MY HAND AND WE WENT TO THE OFFICE.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE I THINK THAT CLARIFIES THE ROLES OF POLICE AND STAFF ON A CAMPUS.
I'LL TRY TO QUIT TELLING STORIES BECAUSE IT'S GETTING LATE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACETS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT JUST FOR ROUND ROCK ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE.
YOU CAN GO THROUGH BEGINNING WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE SUPERINTENDENT, OUR EQUITY OFFICE THAT WE'VE CREATED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND THEN IT GETS INTO THE ONES
[02:15:01]
THAT APPLY TO ALL TCOLE-APPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.DR. GROSSO IS HERE TONIGHT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE THINGS.
BUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE REALLY HERS, BUT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEM AND THEN IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT SHE NEEDS TO COME UP THAT I CAN'T ANSWER A LITTLE BIT WE'LL DO THAT.
YOU SEE THESE ARE SOCIAL WORKERS THAT WE'VE ADDED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, TWO YEARS TO HELP WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT OUR STUDENTS SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE AND STAFF SOMETIME EXPERIENCE.
THIS WHOLE DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT, WHAT HAS BEEN CREATED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. GROSSO.
NOW IN OUR MODEL OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, DR. GROSSO REPORTS TO THE POLICE CHIEF WHO REPORTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT THESE SOCIAL WORKERS DO NOT REPORT TO THE POLICE CHIEF, THEY REPORT TO DR. GROSSO.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ACCOLADES, MANY FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS MODEL.
BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY, THERE'S A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN DIAGNOSING AND HELPING WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
OUR OFFICERS AREN'T DIAGNOSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES ON THE CAMPUS.
THEY'RE REFERRING THEM TO THESE FOLKS YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING GOING ON THAT NEEDS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ATTENTION.
THIS ACTUALLY GETS INTO STUDENT ADVOCACY TOO THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
BECAUSE NORMALLY, IF A STUDENT'S ACTING OUT IN A SERIOUS WAY IN YEARS PAST, THEY MIGHT BE ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO JAIL FOR THAT.
IN ROUND ROCK ISD WHEN SOMETHING SERIOUS IS HAPPENING AND THERE'S A CRISIS WITH THE KID OR THE FAMILY THEN OUR POLICE OFFICERS DON'T ARREST THEM.
THEY SEND THEM TO SOME OF THESE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS UNDER DR.
GROSSO'S WATCH AND THEN THEY WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK THERE'S ALSO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE OFFICERS ON THE CAMPUS.
THEY MIGHT BE A MENTOR, BUT EVERY ADULT ON A CAMPUS SHOULD BE A MENTOR.
BUT THEY'RE NOT INTERVENING IN A CLINICAL WAY WITH ANY OF THESE KIDS WHO ARE IN CRISIS MODE OR HAVING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY'RE REFERRING ONTO DR. GROSSO AND HER TEAM TO WORK WITH THAT.
THEN IN THE NEXT SLIDE, SOME THINGS ABOUT OUR SOCIAL WORKERS.
AS I SAID, THEY REPORT DIRECTLY TO DR. GROSSO.
THEY TAKE REFERRALS FROM CAMPUSES.
ON A CAMPUS, IF A COUNSELOR IS HAVING A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH A STUDENT OR A TEACHER OR ADMINISTRATOR OR ANYBODY RECOGNIZES THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUSLY GOING ON WITH THAT KID OR WITH THE STAFF MEMBER, THEN THEY CONTACT DR. GROSSO AND SO THEY TAKE REFERRALS FROM CAMPUSES ALL THE TIME AND SHE CAN GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS AT SOME POINT OF HOW MANY REFERRALS THEY GET AND HOW IT WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, THOSE HAVE BEEN INCREASING.
WE'RE VERY BLESSED AND I THANK THE BOARD FOR APPROVING THOSE SOCIAL WORKERS AND HELPING DEVELOP THIS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY DO PROVIDE CRISIS SUPPORT TO OUR OFFICERS, THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
THEY PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS, AND HAVING THEM THERE IS A VALUE-ADD BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY TRAIN OUR POLICE OFFICERS ON WHEN TO REFER SOMEONE, WHEN TO PASS THE BATON, HOW TO DEAL WITH SOME SITUATIONS.
I THINK MORE AND MORE, EVEN OUR MUNICIPAL OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE STREET ARE BECOMING BETTER TRAINED ON HOW TO DEAL WITH.
BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN, VIOLENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN, AND OTHER THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE NATION ARE DRIVEN BY MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS, OR MENTAL ILLNESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
SO WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM AND THEY DO A LOT OF TRAINING OF OUR OFFICERS.
GOING BACK IN HISTORY A LITTLE BIT TO THE TIMELINE I MENTIONED EARLIER.
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY TASKFORCE WHEN THEY DID THEIR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE 44 OFFICERS.
I THOUGHT, "WOW, THAT'S A LOT," BECAUSE IN THE FORMER MODEL, WITH FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS WITH TWO OFFICERS AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN WE WERE USING LEAVES IN COUNTY AND ROUND ROCK.
WE HAD ONE AT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE AT THE ROUND ROCK OPPORTUNITY CENTER. THAT WAS 12.
THEN WE HAD ONE AT EACH OF OUR, AT THE TIME, 10 MIDDLE SCHOOLS, PEARSON RANCH HAD OPENED, SO 11.
WE WERE RUNNING WITH 21 OFFICERS, BUT WE ALWAYS HAD TIMES WHEN THERE WERE NO OFFICERS AVAILABLE.
ONCE AGAIN, THE SROS WE HAD IN THOSE PROGRAMS WERE GREAT.
I KNOW MANY OF THEM PERSONALLY.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY LOVED STUDENTS.
BUT IF THERE WAS A CRISIS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'D BE PULLED OFF IN A HEARTBEAT TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS WITH NOBODY THERE.
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT LEAVING, AND IT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME.
WHEN I CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY AS A PRINCIPAL OF A HIGH SCHOOL, I NEVER KNEW WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE NO OFFICERS, ONE OFFICER, OR BOTH OFFICERS WOULD BE THERE.
BUT THE RECOMMENDATION, BY DEVELOPING OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT BY THE TASK FORCE, WAS TO HAVE 44 OFFICERS.
THAT 152-PAGE REPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO LOOK AT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH OF '19.
[02:20:03]
THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS OF US TRYING OUR BEST, AND PRESIDENT FELLOW MENTIONED IT EARLIER, OF TRYING TO GET SOME OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO HELP US SO THAT WE WOULDN'T DO A POLICE DEPARTMENT.THERE WAS A PROPOSAL PUT FORTH BY WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
THEY SAID IF THEY DID IT THEY WOULD NEED 28 OFFICERS, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND WHAT WE WERE ALREADY PAYING FOR. THEY WERE WANTING US TO PAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, WHEN WE HAD SROS FROM THE CITY AND FROM THE COUNTY, WE PAID THEIR SALARIES.
SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE ON LOAN TO US ON THE DIME OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, BUT WE WERE PAYING THEIR SALARIES, WE WERE PAYING FOR REPAIR OF THEIR CARS, WE WERE PAYING FOR THEIR TRAINING, AND SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WERE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THOSE OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T WORKING FOR ROUND ROCK ISD.
IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO EVERYBODY.
WHEN OUR DEPARTMENT WAS DESIGNED, AND CHIEF YARBOROUGH WAS DEFINITELY ON TOP OF THIS AS FAR AS WHAT WE NEEDED AND WHAT OUR OUTCOMES WOULD BE AND ALL THAT, AND SO WE LANDED ON 31 OFFICERS.
THE MODEL WE HAVE NOW, AND WHEN I TALK TO OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF, WILLOUGHBY, A FEW DAYS AGO, WE HAVE EIGHT OPENINGS RIGHT NOW FOR OFFICERS, SO WE'RE EIGHT SHORT OF THAT 31.
BUT HE WAS VERY CONFIDENT WE WOULD HAVE ONE OFFICER AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TWO AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL.
THE OTHER PIECES OF THAT NUMBER ARE PATROL OFFICERS.
THAT WAS A MODEL THAT SOME OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE THAT WE LIKED, WHERE THE CONCEPT WAS BEYOND THE ONE OFFICER AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND TWO OFFICERS AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THERE WERE PATROL OFFICERS THAT WOULD PATROL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND FREQUENT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ALL DAY.
THEY WOULD GET TO KNOW THE PRINCIPALS, AND THE TEACHERS, AND THE KIDS THERE.
IF I WERE A PATROL OFFICER, I MIGHT FREQUENT 10-15 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS A DAY AND SPEND A LITTLE BIT TIME.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE THERE, ANYTHING, BUT THEY WOULD JUST GO BY AND CHECK ON THINGS AND SEE HOW THINGS WERE GOING.
THAT WAS THE MODEL WE WERE TARGETING WITH THE 31 OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE NOW.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ALL 31 RIGHT NOW.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST RECOGNITIONS THEY'VE RECEIVED, AND YOU CAN READ THAT.
BUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE OF THE MODEL WE HAVE, BLENDING OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS WITH THE WORK OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADVOCATE FOR KIDS, AND TO DESTROY THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR KIDS, HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF RECOGNITION.
THEY GOT THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD FROM THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER.
THAT'S RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. WE WERE RUNNING ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THAT RECOGNITION TOOK PLACE.
THEN THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED.
THEY WERE SELECTED FOR THE CAMPUS SAFETY MAGAZINE, WHICH IS A NATIONAL PUBLICATION.
CHIEF YARBOROUGH WAS A FINALIST FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BASED ON HIS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICING STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES OF ROUND ROCK ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYBODY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN WANTING TO KNOW, WHAT'S ROUND ROCK DOING? HOW ARE YOU-ALL DOING THAT? I KNOW DR. GROSSO, AND CHIEF YARBOROUGH, AND THEIR TEAMS WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN ROUND ROCK.
NEXT SLIDE. REGULATORY AUDITS.
THERE WERE CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE OF WHO'S WATCHING, IF THE POLICE CHIEF REPORTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TELLING HIM, DON'T REPORT THIS OR DON'T REPORT THAT.
WE HAVE ALL THESE REPORTING AGENCIES THAT AUDIT US.
I SAY REPORTING AGENCIES, DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT WERE REQUIRED TO DO AUDITS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE REPORTS THAT ARE GIVEN ANNUALLY, AND SOMETIMES MORE FREQUENT THAN THAT, TO TCOL, DPS, THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
I KNOW WE DO REPORTS ON PROFILING, LIKE THE RACIAL IDENTITY OF THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE OR BEEN ARRESTED FOR WHATEVER REASON.
OUR EQUITY DEPARTMENT ONCE AGAIN LOOKS AT THAT, OUR INTERNAL AUDITOR LOOKS AT THAT, AND THEN THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION.
THE NEXT SLIDE GIVES A COST COMPARISON.
BECAUSE THAT WAS ANOTHER CONCERN WHEN WE START OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE INFLATED, WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING 10 TIMES MORE THAN WE WERE BEFORE.
AS I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, THE SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS WE HAD WE PAID, SO WE GOT BILLED.
THE WAY IT WORKED IS WE WOULD GET BILLED, I THINK ONE BILLED US IN TWICE A YEAR, AND ONE BILLED US AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
THEY'D SEND US A BILL AND WE'D PAY IT FOR THAT ENTIRE YEAR OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAD PROVIDED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND YOU WERE SENT THIS ON MONDAY, AND IT'S POSTED FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE, BUT WE WENT BACK TO 2018-'19, AND '19-'20, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF OUR OWN OFFICERS, WE JUST HAD A SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
IN 2018-'19, IT WAS $3,100, 2019, $203,700 WAS HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT PAID FOR SROS.
>> CAN I MAKE A QUICK CLARIFICATION ON THIS? IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS ADJUSTED FOR 31 OFFICERS, SO IT'S NOT WHAT WE PAID, IT WAS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE PAID [OVERLAPPING] HAD THERE BEEN 31 OFFICERS.
>> YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THE TRANSITION YEAR IS LEFT BLANK BECAUSE THAT WAS A YEAR WHERE OFFICERS FROM OUR PARTNERS WERE LEAVING AND WE WERE HIRING OFFICERS.
IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT LIKE IF AN OFFICER LEFT IN OCTOBER,
[02:25:01]
WE HIRED ONE IN DECEMBER.WE COULD SPEND TIME GETTING THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TERRIBLY DIFFERENT ACROSS THE LINE THAN THE THREE MILLION THAT YOU SEE GOING ACROSS.
THEN IN '21-'22, WE WERE AT 3,200.
I'M SORRY, THAT'S ROUND ROCK ISD.
THEN THE WILCO PROPOSAL THEY GAVE US BACK WHEN THE SHERIFF WAS SAYING, "WE CAN DO THIS." THEN HE WOULD SAY, "WE CAN'T DO THIS." THEN IT DIDN'T TAKE ANY WINGS WITH THE COUNTY.
THEIR PROJECTED COSTS FOR THOSE OFFICERS, THEY WERE SUGGESTING, WAS 4.7 MILLION, WHICH WAS WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE PLANNING IN THE YEAR PRIOR WITH WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND ROUND ROCK PD COMBINED.
THEN THE TASKFORCE ESTIMATE, WHEN THEIR REPORT THEY ESTIMATED THE COST OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE $4.5 MILLION.
SO YOU CAN SEE WITH INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE IT'S NOT OUT OF LINE WITH WHAT WE WERE PAYING PRIOR.
I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY COST-EFFICIENT AS WELL.
PLUS, FOR THE MOST PART ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN COVERED, WHICH FROM WHAT WE GET FROM SURVEY, OR WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM SURVEYS, IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
THE VAST MAJORITY ONCE AGAIN OF OUR COMMUNITY WANT OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS.
ONE OTHER THING AT THE BOTTOM DOWN HERE ON NOTES THAT I WAS GOING TO MENTION, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE OTHER THING.
EVERYBODY THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BUY ROLLS-ROYCE POLICE CRUISERS AND SPEND $200,000 PER VEHICLE.
CHIEF YARBOROUGH ACTUALLY WENT WITH THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ONES ON THE MARKET AT THE TIME.
MY DAD WAS A STATE TROOPER FOR 34 YEARS.
YOU CAN HAVE THEM WITH WAY MORE STUFF DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR JOB IS.
BUT I THINK HE WAS VERY COST-EFFICIENT IN THE VEHICLES THAT HE PURCHASED.
THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE AS WELL.
THE LAST SLIDE I HAVE IS ON THE REQUIRED SCHOOL SAFETY ACTION STEPS THAT EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WERE TOLD TO COMPLY WITH THIS SUMMER.
WE HAD A SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK, AND GEORGE SHEARS HERE, OUR DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT, AND HE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
HE'S LEADING THAT CHARGE WITH THE SAFETY TEAM IN ABSENCE OF A POLICE CHIEF.
I CAN JUST TELL YOU WITHOUT READING THROUGH ALL THIS WE ARE FOLLOWING THESE STEPS.
WE ALSO HAVE A PERIPHERAL COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE LOOKING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH ALL THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE A SAFETY AUDIT THAT'S REQUIRED EVERY THREE YEARS.
WE'LL BE HAVING A SAFETY AUDIT OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN AUGUST.
WHAT THEY'LL DO IS SEND A TEAM IN AND THEY AUDIT ALL OUR FACILITIES AND IT'S EVERYTHING FROM EXTERIOR DOORS, INTERIOR DOORS, SIGNAGE, SAFE DRIVEWAYS, ITS CHEMICAL STORAGE.
AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS THAT AREN'T BEING IMPROPERLY STORED.
IT'S VERY THOROUGH, AND WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE TRUSTEES.
THAT'S A CLOSED SESSION SHARE WHEN WE GET THE AUDIT BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE HOLES, YOU DON'T WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW WHERE YOUR HOLES ARE.
I THINK IN THE AUDIT IN 2019, AND I THINK SOMEONE ASKED TO SEE THAT AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT AS WELL TO THE TRUSTEES IN CLOSED SESSION, BUT I THINK WE GOT A SCORE OF 87 OUT OF A 100.
ROUND ROCK, FOR THE MOST PART, IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REALLY SAFE PLACE.
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF CONCERNS.
YOU SEE THE EXTERIOR DOORS SAFETY AUDIT, WHICH HAS BECOME A BIG DEAL WITH DOORS, AND I CAN TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT TERRY AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH OUR DOORS.
ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS LOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE.
ANY BUILDING WE HAVE, HAS A LOCKABLE DOOR.
THE CHALLENGE IS IT'S THE HUMAN PART OF THAT.
SOMEBODY PROPPING A DOOR OPEN, SOMEBODY HOLDING THE DOOR OPEN TO LET SOMEBODY IN THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, AND THAT JUST EXIST.
BUT I MET WITH ALL THE PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN THE DISTRICT LAST WEEK, AND I EMPHASIZED HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DOORS STAY LOCKED ON THE OUTSIDE.
THEN WE CAN GO INSIDE AND TALK ABOUT INTERIOR DOORS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL OF OUR INTERIOR DOORS ARE LOCKABLE.
ALL OF OUR CLASSROOM INTERIOR DOORS ARE LOCKABLE.
NOW, WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS TO CHANGE SOME OF THE LOCKS BECAUSE SOME OF THE DOORS YOU HAVE TO LOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE.
BUT WHAT I'VE TOLD ALL OF THE APS AND PRINCIPLES IN A MEETING LAST WEEK, IS THAT WHEN SCHOOL STARTS AND WE'RE HAVING CLASS, I WANT EVERY CLASSROOM DOOR IN THIS DISTRICT CLOSED AND LOCKED.
SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE LOCKABLE FEATURES ON THE INSIDE, SO YOU HAVE TO LOCK IT.
IF I'M TEACHING AT ANY OF OUR CAMPUSES, WHEN I COME TO SCHOOL, I'LL OPEN THE DOOR TO GO IN, I'LL LOCK IT BACK, LEAVE IT OPEN FOR MY KIDS TO COME IN, AND WHEN I START TEACHING, I SHUT THE DOOR AND IT'S LOCKED.
BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THINK OUR DOORS DON'T LOCK.
THEY ALL LOCKED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO LOCK FROM THE INSIDE.
[02:30:02]
BUT IF EVERYBODY IS DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.WHEN YOU VISIT CAMPUSES, AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU VISIT CAMPUSES FREQUENTLY, WHEN I VISIT CAMPUSES, IF I SEE DOOR STANDING OPEN DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PASSING PERIODS AND KIDS HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE BATHROOM AND HAVE TO GO TO THE CAFETERIA, INTO RECESS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S A REAL ATTENTION GETTER FOR ME.
EVEN WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, I'D GO AROUND AND IF SOMEBODY HAD THEIR DOOR STANDING OPEN, I WOULD SHUT THEIR DOOR.
IF IT DIDN'T LOCK, I WOULD LOCK IT FOR THEM, THEN I WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION.
ALL OF OUR DOORS IN THIS DISTRICT, WHERE STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS AND INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS, SHOULD BE LOCKED ALL THE TIME.
FOR SURE, FOR SURE, ALL OF OUR EXTERIOR DOORS SHOULD BE LOCKED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES HAVE SAFE AND SECURE ENTRANCES THAT NOW HAVE CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES.
USUALLY EVEN WHEN I GO TO A CAMPUS, I PUSH THE BUTTON AND THEY ASKED WHY I'M THERE, WHO I AM AND THE OTHER THING ARE BADGES.
WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW OF REQUIRING STUDENTS TO WEAR BADGES AT ALL TIMES.
I'VE BEEN IN DISTRICTS THAT DID IT AND OTHER DISTRICTS THAT DON'T.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT FOR SURE, STAFF MEMBERS NEED TO WEAR THEIR BADGES AT ALL TIMES.
I WOULD EVEN SAY, TRUSTEES, WHEN YOU COME TO BOARD MEETINGS, IT'D BE NICE IF YOU WORE YOUR BADGE.
DO YOU NEED A NEW ONE? I CAN GET YOU ONE.
BUT EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR THEIR BADGES AT ALL TIMES.
SPEAKING OF THE BADGING SYSTEM, ANOTHER PART OF THE 2018 BOND THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH, IS CHANGING OUT THE SWIPE.
I HAVE TWO CARDS THAT I HAVE TO USE.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL HAVE A ONE BADGE SYSTEM SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OLD AND NEW.
WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S A PROCESS THAT'S ONGOING AND WE'RE GETTING FAIRLY CLOSE TO FINISHING THAT UP.
IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
PART OF A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE, I KNOW YOU GET TIRED OF HEARING THAT, BUT GETTING THE READERS IN.
WE'LL BE HAVING THE AUDIT RESULTS TO YOU.
I WOULD GUESS PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER.
MAYBE A LITTLE LATER THAN THAT, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO WRITE IT UP AND GET BACK TO US.
WE ALREADY HAD THE AUDIT SCHEDULE.
WE'VE HAD IT SCHEDULED FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO ONE EVERY THREE YEARS.
WE WERE LUCKY TO GET IN THE QUEUE BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE SCRAMBLING RIGHT NOW TO HAVE AN AUDIT, AND ALL THE MAJOR AUDITING FOLKS WHO DO THIS ARE PROBABLY PRETTY TIED UP.
BUT THE THING ABOUT THE AUDIT TOO, AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS, I'VE SEEN IT FOR THE LAST TWO AUDITS, IS IF AUDITORS ARE ON A CAMPUS AND FIND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY PARALYZED, THEY LET US KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
THAT GETS FIXED. THAT'S THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, LIKE IF I FOUND A DOOR THAT WONT LOCK OR I FOUND WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEN WE YOU GET ON THAT RIGHT AWAY.
ALONG THE WAY OF THE AUDIT, PRINCIPLES ARE UPDATED ON THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE OR THINGS THEY SHOULD BE DOING.
I WANTED TO MENTION TOO, IT'S NOT ON THIS LAST SLIDE, BUT DRILLS.
I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT DRILLS.
WE WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE SECURE DRILL A YEAR.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO LOCKDOWN DRILLS A YEAR.
BUT THIS IS ON EVERY CAMPUS AND THEY CAN BE AT VARIOUS TIMES, ONE EVACUATION DRILL A YEAR, ONE SHELTER IN PLACE DRILL A YEAR, AND ONE SEVERE WEATHER DRILL PER YEAR, AND THEN WE DO A FIRE DRILL.
OUR TARGET IS TO DO ONE EVERY MONTH ON EVERY CAMPUS.
I THINK THE REQUIREMENT THERE, THE WAY THE STATUTE IS, IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IN ROUND ROCK UP.
AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE HAD A FIRE DRILL EVERY MONTH.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF DRILLS AND IT'S REALLY DISRUPTIVE, BUT IT PREPARES YOU WHEN SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS AND EVEN THE FIRE DRILLS RIGHT NOW WITH THIS DROUGHT AND WILDFIRES THAT ARE POPPING UP.
WE HAVE SOME CAMPUSES THAT ARE EXPOSED MORE TO NATURE AND OPEN FIELDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE HIGH PRIORITY.
WE HAVE A 360 SYSTEM WHERE PRINCIPALS PUT IN THEIR SCHEDULES.
SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE ALL OF OUR SCHEDULED DRILLS IN THAT SYSTEM BY SEPTEMBER.
I THINK IT'S BY THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER OR SEPTEMBER 9TH.
OUR PRINCIPALS ARE POPULATING THOSE NOW.
SOME OF THEM ALREADY FINISHED DOING IT OF WHAT DAYS ARE GOING TO HAVE DRILLS.
THEN WHEN THEY EXECUTE THAT DRILL THEY GO BACK IN AND PUT THAT THEY'VE EXECUTED THAT DRILL AND THEN SEND THE QUEUE AND DOCUMENT IT THAT THESE CAMPUSES HAD THESE DRILLS ON THESE DATES.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DRILLS.
WITH THAT, I WILL ASK FOR QUESTIONS AND ASK TEAM MEMBERS TO COME UP HERE SO I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO WHAT DR. PRESLEY.
I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
WHAT DR. PRESLEY WAS TALKING ABOUT IS A PROGRAM CALLED NAVIGATE360.
I KNOW DR. GROSSO IS LOOKING AT ME, I KNOW SHE'D WANT TO ALSO TALK ABOUT A THREAT ASSESSMENT TOO SO, IT'S A VERY ROBUST PROGRAM THAT PRETTY MUCH HAS EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND SECURITY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT IT, I'M NOT NECESSARILY THE EXPERT.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT DR. GROSSO MAY HAVE A BIT MORE.
WE DID JUST SOME TRAINING ABOUT IT WITH
[02:35:02]
OUR PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACTUALLY, LAST WEEK.THAT'S WHEN WE DID. THANK YOU.
>> I'M REALLY AN EXPERT ON THAT, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL ASK DR. GROSSO TO ANSWER THOSE.
>> I'LL JUST MENTION WE'VE USED NAVIGATE360 THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, FOR ALL THE DRILLS. WE'RE SWITCHING NOW.
THIS YEAR, MYSELF AND [INAUDIBLE], WHO'S THE COORDINATOR OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, HAVE HEADED UP.
INSTEAD OF GAGGLE, WE'RE GOING TO THEIR SYSTEM CALLED DETECT BECAUSE IT ALSO MONITORS OUTWARD FACING SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR G SUITE ACCOUNTS AND STUFF.
IF THEY THREAT TO SELF OR OTHERS, THE PRINCIPALS AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND CAMPUS COUNSELORS ARE ALERTED.
WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
ALSO WE'RE USING THEIR ANONYMOUS REPORTING.
IT'S CALLED P3. WE HAVE BEEN USING ANONYMOUS ALERTS.
THE BENEFIT OF BOTH OF THOSE BEING INTEGRATED IS WE'RE ALSO USING THEIR THREAT ASSESSMENT AND SUICIDE SCREENING PROGRAM SO WE CAN LINK EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
IF THERE IS A THREAT TO OTHERS, IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO OUR THREAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL, WHICH IS ALL DIGITIZED FOR CAMPUS PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND THE SAME FOR SUICIDE SCREENERS WITH OUR COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
IT HAS A BETTER CAPABILITY THAT WE CAN GET COMPLETE PICTURES FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF INTERVENTION.
THAT'S, FOR ME, MORE THAN A STUDENT GETTING IN TROUBLE.
IT'S HELPING US TO EARLIER IDENTIFY SO WE CAN GIVE INTERVENTION SERVICES.
>> I DO HAVE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON ALREADY.
TRUSTEES, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ONE MORE TIME THAT ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT PROPOSE A SAFETY RISK TO OUR BUILDINGS, THAT WE CAN GO INTO CLOSE SESSION, OR MIGHT EXPOSE ANY OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS, NOT SAFETY RISK, IF THERE'S WHAT MIGHT EXPOSE ANY OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THAT.
JUST A REMINDER. MS. HILL, ARE YOU GOING TO BE QUICK TO POP UP IF THERE'S SOMETHING?
>> ALL RIGHT, FABULOUS. I WATCHED THE LIGHTS COME ON AND FIRST WAS TRUSTEE WEIR AND TRUSTEE JOHNSON TEXTED ME AND SAID, "HEY I HAVE QUESTIONS TOO AS WELL."
>> I ONLY HAVE ONE BECAUSE, AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE THAT [INAUDIBLE] YOU ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS IN WRITING EARLIER, BUT ONE THAT I HAD THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I WON'T CALL NAMES WAS JUST HOW THE ROUND ROCK PD AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKS WITH OUR CAMPUS SAFETY TEAMS. CAN YOU KIND OF GO OVER THE CAMPUS SAFETY PART OF IT?
>> YEAH. EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES, ALL 56, HAVE A CAMPUS SAFETY TEAM.
AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THE SROS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THOSE CAMPUSES WORK WITH THOSE TEAMS. AT ELEMENTARY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE ASSIGNED SROS, SROS DO COME TO THEIR SAFETY MEETINGS WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
EVERY TIME THERE'S A CAMPUS SAFETY TEAM MEETING, THERE'S NOT AN OFFICER THERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THERE IS AT THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD BECAUSE SERGEANT CLAIRE, WHO TENDS TO BE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT A LOT OF TIMES ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES WILL CALL ONE OF THE OFFICERS TO ASK THEM TO COME HELP.
THINK ABOUT THROUGH A SOLUTION LIKE SHE'S GOING TO GO TO BERKMAN BECAUSE WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION WITH CD FOLKS, THEIR TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WILL SHIFT AND SO THAT OUR OFFICERS DO THAT ALSO, THAT ANYTIME ESPECIALLY ELEMENTARY, SINCE THERE IS NOT AN OFFICER THERE, THAT THEY READILY GO WHEN ASKED SO THAT THEY CAN HELP THE CAMPUSES.
>> DOES YOUR TEAM SIT ON THE CAMPUS SAFETY OR IS JUST COUNSELOR AT THE SCHOOL?
>> IT'S PROBABLY THE COUNSELOR AT THE SCHOOL.
NOW WE ARE RESTRUCTURING THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN CAMPUS SAFETY BECAUSE CAMPUS SAFETY IS MORE LIKE THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS AND SOME OF THOSE AND THOSE DRILLS, BUT THE THREAT ASSESSMENT IS MANDATED BY SENATE BILL 11.
WE'VE RESTRUCTURED SOME, SO THOSE DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE EITHER A COUNSELOR OR A SOCIAL WORKER ON THEM.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
>> HOW ABOUT WE CAN GO TO MY COLLEAGUE, DR. JOHNSON AND THEN I'LL PICK UP, IF THAT'S OKAY.
HE'S AFTER YOU HAVE WATCHED LIGHTS GO ON AND EVERYTHING.
>> I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE PROACTIVE MEASURES.
I REALLY NEED SOME CLARIFICATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE INTERVENTION ASPECTS? FOR INSTANCE, I'M HEARING ABOUT THE SAFETY MEETINGS AND THEN THE OTHER MEETINGS THAT TAKE PLACE, BUT IS THAT A CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM ON EACH CAMPUS.
I HEAR THAT THE COUNSELORS ARE PART OF A DIFFERENT SET OF MEETINGS, BUT IS THERE A REGULARLY SCHEDULED CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM FOR PROACTIVE MEASURES TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS AND LOOK AT THEIR NEEDS IN A PROACTIVE MEASURE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS?
>> ALL CAMPUSES HAVE, THEY MIGHT CALL IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
[02:40:02]
BUT THEY DO AND LOOKING AT NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT LOOKING AT STUDENTS THAT MAY BE OR ABSENT STUDENTS, THAT BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED, THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT KEY.I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF WE'RE ONLY FOCUSED ON CRISIS RESPONSE, WE'RE MISSING THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR PREVENTION AND BEING PROACTIVE IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, WE HAVE 150 SCHOOL COUNSELORS ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN MY TEAM AND COUNSELING SERVICES WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER TO HELP.
THEN IF THE HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICES AS NEEDED, THAT'S WHEN A SOCIAL WORKER WILL GET INVOLVED.
ALSO SOME OF OUR OTHER RESOURCES LIKE OUR TEACH-OUT PROGRAM MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN GETTING THOSE SUPPORT SERVICES.
>> BUT NOT NECESSARILY INTEGRATED CARE MODEL, BUT AN ESCALATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT'S IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SCHOOL AND WHAT DOES THAT REFER PROCESS LOOK LIKE? DO YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF ANY TYPE OF INTEGRATED CARE THAT MAY BE WITHIN THE DISTRICT ITSELF OR IS JUST ALL EXTERNAL.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS INTERNALLY THANKS TO FUNDING FROM THE BOARD THAT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
OUR FIRST-LINE IS ALWAYS WITH ANY THING LIKE MENTAL HEALTH OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IS OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
THEY ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND THEY ARE TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST STUDENTS IF HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE IS NEEDED.
THERE'S MY DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THREE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THAT.
THE FIRST ONE WE'VE HAD IS THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS WITH BUBONIC TRAIL.
WE CONTRACT FOR THERAPISTS TO PROVIDE THERAPY FOR OUR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS.
WE FUND THAT AND IT'S A REFERRAL PROCESS THROUGH THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR WITH PARENT.
PARENT HAS TO AGREE IN CONSENT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
ANOTHER ASPECT IS OUR TEACH-OUT PROGRAM, WHICH THIS CAME OUT FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IT'S ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT WE'RE PARTNERED WITH DELL MED SCHOOL.
IT PROVIDES UP TO FIVE FREE SESSIONS AND WITH EITHER A PSYCHOLOGIST, A PSYCHIATRIST, OR A THERAPIST.
ONCE AGAIN, WITH PARENT CONSENT IS THE ONLY WAY IT HAPPENS.
THEN THEY REALLY COORDINATE WITH THE FAMILY, THE STUDENT, AND THE SCHOOL OF WHAT IS NEEDED, AND THEN THEY HELP ENSURE CONTINUED CARE AFTER.
THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES.
THAT CAN BE A REFERRAL EITHER FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, THE PRINCIPLE THAT API AND THE NURSE REALLY EASING THAT A LOT OF TIMES NURSES MAYBE PICK UP ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THEN THEY MAKE A REFERRAL TO THE SOCIAL WORKER.
THEN THE SOCIAL WORKER WILL WORK WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THINK MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE THE SOPS UP WHEN IT COMES TO THAT THE MATRIX THAT LINE BETWEEN WHERE AN OFFICER GETS INVOLVED IN AND WHAT'S LEFT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR TO DEAL WITH.
ARE THEIR STRICT GUIDELINES AS TO WHERE AN INTERVENTION BY AN SRO IS MANDATED BY THE DISTRICT OR BY THE ACTION THAT'S TAKEN AND IS THAT CLEARLY DEFINED?
>> WHAT SHOULDN'T BE DEFINED BY THE LAW.
IF SOMEONE'S BREAKING THE LAW.
OUR SROS ARE LICENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER OFFICER IN THE STATE FROM ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION.
THE LINE IS WHEN YOU BREAK THE LAW, WHAT I'VE SEEN HAPPENED IN OUR DISTRICTS SOMETIMES IS THAT OUR SROS WILL FIND WAYS TO, EVEN THOUGH IF A STUDENT BREAKS THE LAW, THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS RATHER THAN ARRESTING THE KID.
IT'S JUDGMENT CALL, BUT THE LAW IS THE LINE.
IF YOU'RE COMMITTING A CRIME, THEN THE SROS SHOULD AND WILL BE GETTING INVOLVED.
BUT THERE ARE MANY OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE OFFICERS HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE RATHER THAN ARRESTING A STUDENT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, REFER THEM TO THEIR PARENT, THEIR COUNSELOR, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND LETTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PLAY OUT WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
BUT THAT'S I THINK THE DELINEATING FACTOR IS A CRIME BEING COMMITTED.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO BROADLY, I DO APPRECIATE THE PURPOSEFUL EFFORT OF ENSURING THAT YOU'RE INCLUDING OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO JUST ARRESTING STUDENTS OR PUTTING STUDENTS HAVE IN THE RECORD THAT SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND THAT THERE IS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO INCLUDE OTHER RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THIS IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION FOR ME AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT I HAVE FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HAVING POLICE IN SCHOOLS.
[02:45:02]
I'M HOLDING THE DUALITY OF DEEP APPRECIATION FOR SEEING HOW MUCH OUR OFFICERS CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND WANT TO WORK THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHILE ALSO KNOWING THE DATA AND THE EVIDENCE.SERVING ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY TASK FORCE FOR OVER A YEAR.
IT FELT LIKE THOUSANDS OF YEARS, BUT THOUSANDS OF HOURS WITHIN A YEAR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE.
THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SENDING THEM AHEAD OF TIME.
I WANTED TO KNOW FROM DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, I HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE HARDENING OF SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH SO MANY THINGS IN OUR WORLD THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR SCHOOLS TO BE SAFE.
BUT DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THINGS THAT WOULD INCLUDE HARDENING LIKE INAPPROPRIATE HARDENING, IN MY OPINION, LIKE CLEAR BACKPACKS, ANYTHING LIKE METAL DETECTOR.
I MEAN, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE CALL FOR THAT, BUT THERE IS A MAJOR DOWNSIDE TO THAT MAKING SCHOOL VERY PRISON LIKE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD COME ABOUT.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THIS SUMMER HAVE SWITCHED TO ONLY CLEAR BACKPACKS.
WHICH PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A HORRIBLE IDEA, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING RIGHT NOW.
IT COULD BE A FUTURE CONVERSATION.
ABOUT THE ONLY HARDENING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BRIEFLY OR THE MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR FACILITIES ARE SECURED AND LOCKABLE AND ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS ARE LOCKABLE.
THEN I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS IN THE PAST WHICH LIKE, IT'S NOT BULLET PROOF GLASS, BUT ARE ALL OF THE FRONT OF OUR BUILDINGS.
THE GLASS HAS BULLET RESISTANT GLASS.
THAT WOULD SLOW DOWN SOME PERPETRATOR WHO'S TRYING TO COME IN AND SHOOT THE WINDOWS OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY INTEREST, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHICH IS AN INCONVENIENCE FOR PARENTS TO THE SCHOOL MAYBE THAT ARE USED TO COME UP TO THE SCHOOL ALL THE TIME THEY HAVE TO.
ANOTHER THING IS WE'RE TIGHTENING UP THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO WRAPPED HER IN.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOT OF TIMES ON A CAMPUS, YOU HAVE PARENT VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE THERE EVERY DAY.
IF YOU GET A LITTLE LAX ON THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BADGE TO GET IN.
BUT THERE USED TO NOT WRAP DURING.
THAT WAS ANOTHER POINT THAT I DISCUSSED WITH ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS LAST WEEK FROM OUR CAMPUSES IS THAT EVERYBODY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT ID AND THEY NEED TO WRAP HER IN.
I KNOW THAT'S AN INCONVENIENCE AND I GET COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS ABOUT THAT.
BUT THOSE ARE THE HARDENING ELEMENTS SO THAT I CAN THINK OF.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF HARDENING IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE CLEAR BACKPACKS BECAUSE THAT'S A VIOLATION OF STUDENT PRIVACY AND I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S NOT RESEARCH OR EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT REALLY STOPS GUN VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE LIKE I DO APPRECIATE THE RAFT DURING AND I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT SAFETY IS ALL OF OUR JOB.
I HAD A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER WHERE I STARTED UNDERSTANDING THAT IF I SEE SOMEONE IN THE HALLWAY AND THEY'RE NOT NUDGED FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, I NEED TO STOP AND SAY, HEY, ARE YOU LOST? CAN I GUIDE YOU TO THE FRONT OFFICE? I KNOW TEACHERS HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE, BUT WHAT REMINDING AND TRAINING AND SUPPORT IS GOING TO BE OFFERED AS WE ENTER THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I'M SORRY.
ACTUALLY, WE STARTED SOMETHING REALLY COOL.
ACTUALLY, GEORGE, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT WHAT GEORGE DID LAST YEAR, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GEORGE?
>> NO, ABOUT THE GIFT CARDS WE GET FROM THE PI FOUNDATION ABOUT.
HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY COOL THAT WE STARTED THIS PAST YEAR.
>> SORRY. OUR OPERATIONS TEAM OR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY, ANYTIME THAT THEY HIRE A NEW PERSON, [NOISE] WE ACTUALLY WILL TAKE THEM, I'M NOT INVOLVED WITH THIS, BUT WE WILL TAKE THEM AND DROP THEM OFF AND SEE HOW FAR THEY CAN GET INTO THE BUILDING OR IF THEY CAN EVEN GET INTO THE BUILDING WITHOUT A BADGE.
SINCE THERE ARE NO NEW FACE WE TRIED TO TAKE THAT ADVANTAGE OF THAT NEWNESS. THEY DON'T KNOW THEM.
IF SOMEONE CATCHES THEM ON CAMPUS AND WALKS THEM TO THE OFFICE, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE PIE FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY DRIED TERRY TO PROVIDE GIFT CARDS.
IF I'M WALKING ON CAMPUS AND SOMEBODY CATCHES ME WITHOUT MY BADGE AND THEY WALKED ME TO THE OFFICE, THAT PERSON WHO WALKED ME INTO THE OFFICE AND BUSTED ME, IF YOU WILL, WE'LL GET A $20 GIFT CARD TO CHICK-FIL-A OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S TWO THINGS. ONE, PRETTY MUCH WE ARE ASSESSING WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THAT BUILDING? NUMBER 2, IS THERE ALSO REWARDING OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR ACTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING LIKE YOU SAID, STOPPING THE PERSON IS WALKING WITH THEM.
ACTUALLY, THEY SUPPOSED TO WALK WITH THEM TO THE MAIN OFFICE, NOT JUST, "HERE'S THE MAIN OFFICE.
GO OVER THERE." WHAT IF THEY GO SOME OTHER PLACE? THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO WALK WITH THEM TO THE MAIN OFFICE.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE SAFETY AUDIT AS WELL.
THAT WHAT THEY'LL DO IS HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL
[02:50:01]
GO TO A CAMPUS AND TRY TO SEE HOW MANY WAYS THEY CAN GET IN.THEN IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET IN ON-CAMPUS AND SOMETIMES THEY CAN LOOK AT ARRIVAL TIME.
THEY JUST WALK IN THE DOOR AND FOR WHATEVER REASON SOMEONE DOESN'T SEE THEM AND THEY TIME HOW LONG THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE CAMPUS.
THAT'S PART OF THE AUDIT REPORT, IS, "I WENT TO THIS CAMPUS AND I WAS ABLE TO WALK AROUND FOR ONE MINUTE.
I GOT STOPPED," AND "I WENT TO THIS CAMPUS AND WALKED AROUND FOR 30 MINUTES AND NOBODY EVER ASKED ME WHAT I WAS DOING THERE." THAT'S PART OF THE AUDIT PROCESS STUDENTS.
THROUGH THE YEARS WE'VE DONE THAT ALSO, NOT AS A FULL-BLOWN AUDIT, BUT JUST BRINGING AUDITORS IN AND DOING THAT TO SEE HOW LONG THE MIXTURE OUR CAMPUSES ARE SECURED.
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AFTER ALL THIS WITH OUR PRINCIPAL OR ADMINISTRATORS.
OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE THEY WILL SHARE THAT INFORMATION ALSO WITH OUR TEACHERS IN THE NEXT FACULTY MEETING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT ANSWERS.
>> WELL, I WOULD SIMPLY WANT TO ADD TO THAT IS THAT, THE NEW INDIVIDUALS OBVIOUSLY ARE STOPPED BY CUSTODIANS.
IT'S NOT JUST TEACHERS, BUT OBVIOUSLY CUSTODIANS IN THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS ONCE THEY IDENTIFIED THIS TIME AMOUNT THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN THE BUILDING, IS THAT THERE IS A COUNSELING SESSION WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON-SITE.
ONCE THEY LEARNED THAT THAT'S HAPPENED, IT BECOMES AN EXTRAORDINARY LEARNING TOOL.
THEN IT GIVES THE MAINTENANCE TEAM WITH THEIR NEW STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND TEST THAT THEORY THAT THEY'VE IMPROVED.
WE FIND THAT THERE'S A MARKED IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE STAFF WITH THE STRANGER DANGER ON CAMPUS AGAIN.
>> [NOISE] I FEEL TWO WAYS ABOUT [LAUGHTER] THAT LIKE I AM GRATEFUL THAT THERE IS PROOF OF FIDELITY.
BUT AS WE EXPERIENCED THESE THINGS, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE DRILLS THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE TO ENDURE.
WHAT I CAN SAY ON BEHALF OF EXPERIENCING THIS IN THE DISTRICT, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THEM BECOME MORE ROBUST AND BE MORE CONVERSATIONAL, AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A CLASSROOM EDUCATOR TWO YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, MY STUDENTS AND I WERE HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCY.
BUT THEN WE ALSO MADE SOME TIME AND SPACE FOR CARE AND REPAIR AFTERWARDS BECAUSE THAT'S DEEPLY TRAUMATIC.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND THIS IS MAYBE A DOCTOR GROSSO QUESTION IS LIKE, AS WE SEE EVOLVING AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REALLY UPSETTING, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR HAVING THESE NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS, HAVING THESE DRILLS, BUT THEN ALSO SUPPORTING STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY SEEING THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO HAVE LIKE RANDOM AUDITS LIKE THAT IS TRAUMATIC FOR STUDENTS, FOR PARENTS, FOR ALL INVOLVED.
>> NOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I'VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS EVEN BEFORE I HAD THIS POSITION OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT VERSUS WHAT ARE WE DOING THAT'S CAUSING MORE ANXIETY? HOW CAN WE DO THESE THINGS WITHOUT RAISING ANXIETY LEVELS? I DO THINK IT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON HIS CONVERSATIONS.
WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE THOSE.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO THAT A LOT OF TIMES WITH DRILLS AND IN HIGH SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY THAT THEY GO TO IT'S NOT JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS, BUT LET'S TALK THROUGH THESE, WHICH I THINK THEN LENDS ITSELF FOR HONEST CONVERSATIONS OF I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS THING.
I'VE ALSO, AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE CAMPUSES, BUT THERE'S WAYS OF EVEN DOING DRILLS THAT'S MORE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.
LIKE HOW WE DO A DRILL AND HIGH-SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN HOW WE DO IT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ELEMENTARY, IT'S MORE THEY GET PRACTICE OF GOING TO CERTAIN PLACES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT SCARY FOR THEM.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE KEY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, THAT WE WANT THEM PREPARED, BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM SCARED FOR NO REASON.
I MEAN, I MYSELF HAVE AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD AND SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT OF LETTING KIDS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD BUT NOT MAKING THEM FEARFUL TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHICH FOR OUR KIDS, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THEIR SAFE PLACE.
HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT? I THINK THAT'S THE NURTURING FROM OUR TEACHER.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB TRAINING OF WHAT THAT CAN REALLY LOOK LIKE? I DO KNOW, AND EVEN THE LEGISLATION HAS COME AWAY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DO SIMULATION DRILLS WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS LIKE NOW OUR OFFICERS DO THEY DO SIMULATION DRILLS LIKE ON PD DAYS, JUST WITH THEM? ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
BUT SIMULATION DRILLS FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE ON THAT CAMPUS EVERY DAY WITH OUR STUDENTS, IT'S NOT USEFUL.
I ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE LIKE WHEN YOU GET ON AN AIRPLANE, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS? THEY GO OVER THE SAFETY FEATURES BUT THEY DON'T SCARE YOU ABOUT IT.
YOU GO THROUGH IT AND WHEN THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE.
I THINK THAT'S THE MINDSET THAT I THINK WE CAN TAKE WITH A LOT OF THESE DRILLS, INSTEAD OF IT BEING A SCARY TYPE OF THING.
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIGILANCE AROUND THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY HARD TIME.
WHEN WE STARTED SAYING, "THERE MAY BE SOME RANDOM AUDITS WHERE PEOPLE POP IN",
[02:55:03]
LIKE THAT'S TRAUMA THAT IT'S HARD TO UNDO FOR EVERY CHILD.I'LL LET THIS BE MY LAST QUESTION FOR NOW.
EQUITY IS NOT TREATING EVERYONE THE SAME, EQUITY IS VERY SIMPLY PUT, IT'S DEEPER THAN THIS, BUT VERY SIMPLY PUT, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN TO FLOURISH, AND THOSE NEEDS MAY BE DIFFERENT.
ONE THING THAT I REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO ADDRESS IS WHEN IT'S COMING TO SOMETHING THIS SENSITIVE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY MAJORITY RULES.
LIKE I UNDERSTAND MAJORITY RULES AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANTED TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT WHAT WE'RE NAVIGATING IS THAT THERE IS HARM DONE TO STUDENTS IN THESE MARGINALIZED CATEGORIES; ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, BLACK/BROWN, LGBTQI PLUS, DISABLED, STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND THAT IS PROVEN AND THERE'S DATA.
SO MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO HEAR, AND THIS IS PART OF THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
WHEN WE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE, IT'S STILL PART OF THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO HEAR, "OH, MAJORITY RULES." I WANT TO KNOW HOW OUR SYSTEM OF POLICING IS IMPACTING THE MOST MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE VERY REAL FEAR, VERY REAL CONCERNS, VERY REAL TRAUMA TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS AND TO COLLABORATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FEELING SUPPORTED, THAT THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE INTENTIONALITY BEHIND DOING THAT AND WHAT ARE PROCESSES FOR THAT? YOU CAN ANSWER THAT FIRST AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
>> I CAN ONLY ANSWER PARTLY BECAUSE I'M ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IN SOME OF THE TRAININGS THAT I'VE SEEN THE OFFICERS GO THROUGH AND CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN AND I THINK IT'S HONEST CONVERSATIONS.
WE WILL TAKE A LOT OF THE MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY THAT FIRST YEAR LIKE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MEDIA WHERE POLICE MAYBE HAVE DONE HARM, AND HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OFFICERS AND WITH ALL OF US SAYING, "HOW DO WE NOT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN?" UNDERSTANDING OUR OFFICERS FROM A DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, LIKE A LOT OF OUR OFFICERS SHARING THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH POLICE.
OR THEY COME FROM A COMMUNITY THAT TYPICALLY DOESN'T TRUST POLICE AND WHAT DOES THAT BEEN LIKE FOR THEM? THEN THEY'LL BEING AN OFFICER AND THEN THEY'RE HONEST CONVERSATIONS OF HOW THEY APPROACH [NOISE] STUDENTS AND THAT THEIR JOB ISN'T TO SCARE STUDENTS, BUT IT'S HOW DO THEY FORM? IF A STUDENT WANTS A RELATIONSHIP, BUT HOW DO THEY DO THAT? IT'S ALSO FOR US THAT WE HAVE TRAINED SOME ADMINISTRATORS, EVEN THE POLICE AREN'T THERE TO SCARE THE KIDS, WE'VE HAD TO HELP TRAIN LIKE YES, THAT KIDS ACTING UP BUT THE OFFICERS AREN'T GOING TO COME AND SCARE AND HAVE THAT TALK WITH THAT ELEMENTARY KID.
THAT'S EVEN WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THE STUDENT ADVOCACY SIDES, THE OFFICER SAYING, "I'M NOT GOING TO CROSS THAT LINE." LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T SAY HOLISTICALLY BECAUSE I'M NOT THE POLICE CHIEF OR THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AND I DON'T OVERSEE THE OFFICERS.
BUT THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I DON'T THINK I EVER EXPECTED TO SEE YOU IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE OFFICERS, THEY'VE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY AS AN OFFICER AND I THINK MANY OF THEM WERE WANTING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE'S HONEST CONVERSATIONS TOO THAT THEY HATE THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE THAT SOME OFFICERS HAVE DONE AND IT CAUSES THEM GREAT PAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE THE TOTAL OPPOSITE.
IT HURTS THEM THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TREAT STUDENTS OR ANYONE THAT WAY.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT A COMPLETE ANSWER.
LIKE I SAID, I'M VERY LIMITED IN WHAT I CAN SHARE, BUT I KNOW THAT'S BEEN INTENTIONALITY THAT I'VE SEEN.
>> [NOISE] I WOULD ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS SO I'VE SEEN THE SAME NAMES SINCE IN THE BRIEF TIME WE'VE HAD A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE INTERACTION WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR STUDENTS THAT I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS PRIOR.
NOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE GREATEST SROS, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
I THINK THAT'S WHY OUR CHIEF BEFORE HE LEFT WAS GETTING SUCH ACCOLADES AND INTEREST IN HOW WE WERE DOING THIS.
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY DOING, WHAT THEY WERE MODELING.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE A CHANGE IN THE DATA IN ROUND ROCK MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT GET ARRESTED WHO ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU OCCASION AFTER OCCASION THIS PAST YEAR.
STORIES THAT WERE SHARED WITH ME ABOUT INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KIDS, AND HOW THAT HAD A VERY POSITIVE OUTCOME.
I JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WHEN OUR SCHOOLS GET BURGLARIZED OR SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING NOW IT'S OUR POLICE WHO RESPOND TO THAT IT'S OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
WE HAD A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT WHERE SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS BROKEN ONE NIGHT AND TOOK FIRE EXTINGUISHERS OFF THE WALL.
[03:00:03]
THEY LEFT, THEY WERE SPRAYING THEM AROUND.OUR POLICE OFFICERS GOT CALLED TO REPORT TO THE SCENE, DIDN'T ARREST THE KIDS, CALLED THE KIDS PARENTS HAD A CONVERSATION.
I THINK THEY HAD TO PAY FOR SOME DAMAGE, HELP REPAIR SOME OF THE THINGS THEY BROKE.
BUT THEY DIDN'T EVER GET ARRESTED AND IF THERE WAS A BURGLAR OF A SCHOOL FIVE YEARS AGO IN ROUND ROCK OR WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY OR CITY OF AUSTIN AND AN AUSTIN PD OFFICER SHOWS UP OR A ROUND ROCK CITY OFFICER SHOWS UP OR WHOEVER IT MAY BE, THEY WOULD HAVE RESTED THE KID, I'M 90 PERCENT SURE, MAYBE NOT ON EVERY OCCASION.
BUT THERE ARE STORIES LIKE THAT WHERE I KNOW OUR OFFICERS HAVE INTERVENED WITH KIDS WHO MIGHT'VE BEEN ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO JUVENILE DETENTION OR THEY WERE OLD ENOUGH TO THE ADULT WILLIAMSON COUNTY JAIL OR TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL WHERE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THOSE ARE ANECDOTAL, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE STEP THAT CHIEF YARBOROUGH WAS TAKING THAT WAS MAKING OUR SCHOOL POLICING DIFFERENT.
I CAN'T CONVINCE ANYBODY ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE MAJORITY, EVERYBODY WANTS OFFICER.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT, I CAN TELL YOU AS A PRINCIPAL, AS A FORMER TEACHER, JUST AS AN ADMINISTRATOR EDUCATOR, I ALWAYS HAVE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE OVER ALL THESE YEARS WHEN I HAD AN SRO IN THE BUILDING.
I'M SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A GUN PULLED ON ME.
I'VE HAD A KNIFE PULLED ON ME.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHERE IT HAD AN OFFICER NOT BEEN THERE CLOSE BY.
I MIGHT NOT BE HERE AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING, BUT THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE YOU NEED AN OFFICER IN THE SCHOOL AND WE CAN SURVEY AGAIN.
WE CAN ASK OUR PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF.
BUT I'LL REMEMBER I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME TONIGHT, BUT I REMEMBER IT IN AN OVERWHELMING WAY WHEN WE ASK THE BASIC QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS OR DO WE NOT? IF THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY BELIEVES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THEM IN OUR SCHOOLS, THEN HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THAT? I THINK THAT'S WHERE CHIEF YARBOROUGH GOT VERY CREATIVE ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT IN JOINING HANDS WITH DR. GROSSO AND WHAT THEY WERE CREATING.
IN WHAT SHE'S CONTINUING TO CREATE, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK PAST TENSE BECAUSE CHIEF WEINER WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO ADD FOR THAT.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M NOT ARGUING WHETHER OR NOT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANT POLICE IN SCHOOLS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M SAYING THEIR POPULATIONS FOR WHOM HAVING POLICE IN SCHOOLS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMFUL, NO MATTER OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
A SOCIAL WORKER HAS TO DO A HOME VISIT.
THEY RIDE WITH A POLICE OFFICER.
IT'S A KID THAT'S BEEN IN OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
THAT CAN BE REALLY LIKE, IT DOESN'T MATTER OUR EXPERIENCES ADULTS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO CHILDREN.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW WE ARE INTENTIONALLY AND SPECIFICALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST BY POPULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OR MAYBE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY POLICE PRESENCE SINCE THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY SAID THEY WANTED IT AND IT'S THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE IT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR ADULT EXPERIENCES.
IT'S ABOUT HOW ARE WE INTENTIONALLY LOOKING AT THE IMPACT ON OUR MOST MARGINALIZED AND HOW ARE WE WORKING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AND HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
>> I'LL LET DR. GROSSO SAY SOMETHING.
WHAT I'LL SAY IT ISN'T ABOUT OUR ADULT EXPERIENCES AND I HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'VE SEEN A CHANGE IN WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO.
I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING OFFICERS ON OUR POLICE FORCE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT DR. GROSSO DESCRIBED EARLIER.
THERE'S INTENTIONALITY AND TRYING TO WORK WITH KIDS RATHER THAN TAKING THEM TO JAIL.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN, SO WE'VE GOT TO GIVE IT A CHANCE BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT'S TWO YEARS OLD AND WE'VE LOST OUR CHIEF AND OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF AND WE'VE LOST SOME OTHER REALLY GOOD OFFICERS.
WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IF THAT'S THE MODEL WE'RE GOING WITH AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE WITHOUT MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALL THE TIME, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A MISTAKE.
I CAN SAY THAT FOR ANY STAFF MEMBERS, EVEN BEYOND THE POLICE.
BUT DR. GROSSO MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT QUESTION.
EVEN JUST SEEING THAT MIGHT BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME PEOPLE AND THEY'VE HADN'T NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE, THAT OUR OFFICERS BECAUSE WE GET TO PICK WHAT TRAINING THEY HAVE, THAT IT'S THAT WE DO DISCUSSIONS AND THEY LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAUMA AND THEY LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND ADOLESCENTS WHERE I LEARNED THIS FROM OUR OFFICERS.
THEY GO THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER TRAINING, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY TOUCH ON WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH LOOK LIKE IN KIDS AND TEENS, WHICH IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN SOMETIMES THE ADULTS.
I THINK A LOT OF THAT OF LEARNING. WHAT'S UNDERNEATH? WHAT'S A STUDENT MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING? THAT EXPERIENCE IS VALID FOR THAT STUDENT.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT IF POLICE ARE PHYSICALLY IN SCHOOL OR NOT THERE ARE TIMES PLEASE HAVE TO BE CALLED TO A SCHOOL.
HONESTLY, OUR OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRAINED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE STUDENTS,
[03:05:01]
BECAUSE THEY KNOW STAFF, THEY CAN APPROACH IT IN A WAY THAT'S DIFFERENT.IF IT'S A COP THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE SCHOOL, NEVER BEEN IN A SCHOOL, NEVER WORKED WITH JUVENILES, THEN I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE DANGER COULD HAPPEN OF THINGS GOING WRONG AND KIDS BEING INTRODUCED TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHEN THEY MADE STUPID ADOLESCENT MISTAKE.
I THINK WE'VE ALL DONE THAT AND I CAN SAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT VERY IN DADDY AT YET, BUT I KNOW AT LEAST THROUGH MID ALMOST TO MARCH.
ANY ARREST THAT HAPPENED ON CAMPUSES WERE VICTIM INITIATED.
VICTIM INITIATED WE DON'T HAVE SAY LIKE BECAUSE THE VICTIM HAS THE RIGHT.
BUT I DO KNOW WE TALK IN OUR OFFICERS AND OUR SERGEANTS HAVE TAUGHT, LIKE EVEN TALKING TO VICTIMS ABOUT WHAT THEIR DIFFERENT OPTIONS ARE AND MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO REST, BUT THEY WANT THAT THERE'S SOME CONSEQUENCE IS THAT DISCIPLINE.
ONE OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS THAT WE JUST HIRED HAS A BACKGROUND IN VICTIM SERVICES.
REALLY OUR DETECTIVE PARTNERING WITH HER TO ENSURE THAT EVEN THE VICTIMS GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED, WHICH I DON'T SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE COULDN'T TRAIN OUR OWN.
I THINK WHAT I SEE BEING IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> BEFORE WE GO, CAN I SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THIS?
>> GOES BACK TO WHAT I LEARNED ON THE BOARD IN 2019 IS WHEN TRUSTEE CHADWELL AND I WERE MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF JODIE AT THE TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT WAS IF WE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE TRAINING THAT THEY RECEIVED AND THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY NOT OPEN TO THAT.
I KNOW SHE MENTIONED THAT THAT WAS A REALLY NICE ASPECT OF IT.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT WHY WE HAVE OUR SOCIAL WORK COMBINED WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE DEPUTIES THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH DEPUTIES, BUT THOSE ARE DEPUTIES WITH MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING.
THEY ARE NOT SOMEONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
HAVING SOMEONE WHO HAS A MASTERS, THESE ARE LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS AND MASTERS LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH YEARS AND YEARS OF TRAINING, OF SCHOOLING, AND THEN ON TOP OF WHATEVER THEY'VE DONE THE JOB, I'M SURE THAT A LOT GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE FIRST DAY OUT AND WORKING FOR US.
BUT HAVING THAT COMBINATION WHERE WE HAVE OFFICERS WHO HAVE THAT ROBUST TRAINING THAT WE HAVE SELECTED AS A DISTRICT TO SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE THINK THAT OUR OFFICERS SHOULD BE HAVING AND IN COMBINATION WITH A SOCIAL WORKER WHO HAS THIS.
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTION, WHY DO YOU NEED BOTH? SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THEY BECOME A THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
YOU NEED THAT CONCERTED COMBINATION APPROACH BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CASE THAT CROSSES THAT BORDER OR THAT BOUNDARY BETWEEN THAT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS NOW BECOMING A THREAT TO OTHERS.
I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER SAFETY NET THAT WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT.
WHY ARE THEY COMBINED? BUT A LOT OF THE TIMES THOSE TWO AREAS.
YOU CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO WORK IN CONCERT TOGETHER.
>> I THINK FOR ME WHERE MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY DETENTION ORDERS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR ARE MINISCULE.
THAT MEANS A KID IS A THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND THE POLICE TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, PARENTS AREN'T INVOLVED.
THE ONLY TIME I CAN THINK THAT HAPPENED, IT WAS A KID IN CPS CARE AND HE WASN'T GETTING HELP ANY OTHER WAY LIKE WE HAD NO OTHER OPTION.
THAT WAS THE OPTION AND I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE THE SOCIAL WORKER GETS INVOLVED AND TAKES OVER AND CAN HELP THE PARENTS ENSURE THAT THEY GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED INSTEAD OF JUST QUICKLY TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I UNDERSTAND ALL THE EFFORTS AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS.
I'M ASKING US TO CONTINUALLY EVALUATE OUR IMPACT EVEN IF IT'S NOT NEGATIVELY INTENDED BY CHECKING IN WITH THOSE WHO ARE MOST GREATLY IMPACTED.
THIS CAME UP DURING SAFETY AND SECURITY.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR MANY TIMES AND I CAN NEVER REALLY GET A CLEAR ANSWER.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR COMMITMENT IS TO ANY COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE REQUIRED SAFETY COMMITTEE, BUT IS THERE ANY INTEREST? IS THERE ANY COMMITMENT TO HAVING SOME COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT AND EXPLORING THAT? I KNOW IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE IT'S A TRICKY LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, WE KNOW THAT.
BUT WE KNOW YES, CINDY IS LIKE, YOU SEE ME, I SEE YOU. I GET THAT.
BUT I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST WE'VE MET WITH APD AND THEY HAVE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT, SO I KNOW THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT.
I KNOW THAT COULD BE ABOUT CALIBRATION.
I KNOW THAT COULD BE ABOUT EARNING MAYBE THE TRUST OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE DEEPLY IMPACTED AND NERVOUS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
[03:10:03]
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, MAYBE IT'S NOT A QUESTION, MAYBE IT'S A SUGGESTION AND A THOUGHT FOR HOW THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE DONE.>> WE DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EXPLORE ADDRESS HERE HARRISON.
CHIEF YARBOROUGH LEFT PRETTY MARCH, APRIL, MARCH.
THEN SO SINCE THEN, WE DIDN'T HAVE CHANCE REALLY TO HAVE A CHIEF.
I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR NEW CHIEF TO ARRIVE HERE, GET STARTED, AND DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AND EXPLORE.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THERE MAY BE ALSO SOME LEGAL RAMIFICATION TO THAT TOO.
>> THE QUESTION NOW WE GET SO OFTEN IS, WHY DO YOU REPORT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE, AND WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THAT?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION.
I WAS IN THIS POSITION THAT WAS WAY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.
I CAN TELL YOU THE IMPACT I SEE EVERY DAY IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND HOW I SEE KIDS GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE.
I SEE IT IN JUST WHAT WE TALKED IN THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY FORM AND HOW BOTH SIDES LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND WE BECOME BETTER PROFESSIONALS.
I SEE THAT OUR STUDENTS AREN'T JUST CRIMINALIZED, THAT WE SEE AND THAT OUR OFFICERS REALIZE LIKE, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S A REASON THEY KID ACTED THIS WAY AND THEY'RE HUNGRY AND THEIR FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE THIS SUPPORT.
I KNOW THIS IS ANOTHER ANTIDOTAL, BUT IT WAS LAST YEAR ONE OF OUR OFFICERS COULD TELL WAS A MENTOR TALKING WITH A KID, BUT THE MOM HE COULD TELL WAS COMPLETELY ABOUT READY TO JUST GO OVER THE EDGE.
HE CONTACTED THE SOCIAL WORKER.
THE MOM WAS READY TO GIVE UP HER RIGHTS TO HER KIDS BECAUSE SHE WAS SO FRUSTRATED AND THE SOCIAL WORKER GOT TO WORK WITH THEM AND SAY, YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS BUT THAT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE OFFICER REFERRED AND I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THAT FAMILY IF THE SOCIAL WORKER WASN'T ABLE TO INTERVENE.
I SEE THAT WHEN THERE ARE CALLS BECAUSE SOMETIMES CAMPUSES, IF A KID IS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, MAYBE IT'S EXHIBITING MORE LIKE, I WANT THE POLICE, BUT NOW GUESS WHAT? THE SOCIAL WORKER IMMEDIATELY GETS CALLED.
THE POLICE CAN LEAVE AND THE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THE ONE THAT TAKES OVER.
I OFTEN GET ASKED BECAUSE WHEN WE DO PRESENT, I WAS JUST AT A CONFERENCE IN FORT WORTH, GOT ASKED TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW SOCIAL WORKERS AND OFFICERS WORK TOGETHER THAT I GET ASKED LIKE, WAS THERE A FLOWCHART? I'M LIKE, NO, IT'S A DANCE.
IT ONLY HAPPENS BECAUSE OUR OFFICERS AND OUR SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE TRAINED TOGETHER, WE HAVE MEETINGS TOGETHER, THEY EAT LUNCH TOGETHER.
THEY ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF EACH OTHER.
BOTH SIDES AND I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING AND IT IS CONVERSATIONS EVERY HOME VISIT, NO, WE'RE NOT TAKING AN OFFICER THAT'S HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.
I'LL SAY ONE OTHER THING, I KNOW WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT HAVE JUST COME BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT RELATIONSHIP.
I HAVE HAD SOCIAL WORKERS COME JUST BECAUSE OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN HOW MANY TIMES IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT A PARTNERSHIP AND NOBODY WINS WHEN THERE'S IN-FIGHTING BETWEEN DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS.
>> TRUSTEE VERSA, I WASN'T HERE WHEN CHIEF YARBOROUGH OR I GUESS CAME UP WITH A MODEL, BUT I KNOW OUR PURPOSE AND I THINK WE HEARD TRUSTEE HARRISON AND MANY OF YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IS REALLY TO BREAK THE PIPELINE.
THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE AND FIND A BETTER WAY BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED SAFETY AND SECURITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT OUR SORROWS TO REALLY DO A GOOD JOB WITH OUR STUDENTS AND REALLY HELP THEM, AND BEYOND THE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, TRYING TO HELP THEM OVERCOME ANY CHALLENGES THEY MAY HAVE, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL OR OTHERWISE.
THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE, REALLY AND SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR STATS AND MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ACHIEVING WHAT WE SAID WE WILL ACHIEVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING WITH ALL GREAT OFFICERS AND OUR NEW CHIEF AND HOPEFULLY EVEN YOU ASSISTANT CHIEF.
>> I JUST HAD ONE MORE QUESTION UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO TRY.
I KNOW THAT PRIOR TO HAVING OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD A DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND THEN WE HAD SROS.
I FEEL LIKE, THERE'S SROS AND WHAT THEY DO AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT AND WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN TERMS OF OUR FACILITIES, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND SECURE.
[03:15:04]
HAS THERE BEEN TALKS ABOUT WHETHER THAT IS IN NEED?>> YES, ABSOLUTELY IT'S IN NEED.
I HAD CONVERSATION ACTUALLY WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS INCLUDING DENNIS.
I THINK DR. PRESLEY TOO, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, A COUPLE OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND WE ARE DEFINITELY CONSIDERING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE NOT READY TO GO PUBLIC WITH IT, BUT YEAH, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THE CHIEF OF POLICE HERE, AND THEN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH HIM BEING PRESENT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT ANNOUNCE OR DO ANYTHING YET.
>> TRUSTEE WEIR, I JUST HAD ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND STATISTICS.
IT USED TO BE THAT WE HAD A CONSTRAINT ON DR. FLORES WHERE WE WERE AND I PULLED IT UP.
SUPERINTENDENT SHALL NOT ALLOW THE DISPROPORTIONALITY OF STUDENT DISCIPLINARY REMOVALS TO STAY THE SAME OR INCREASE.
WHAT WE WERE TRACKING IS TRYING TO GET THAT DOWN.
WELL, THE LAST REPORT THAT I COULD FIND WAS DECEMBER 2020, AND THAT SEMESTER, OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE VERY FEW KIDS IN SCHOOL, SO OUR NUMBERS LOOK GREAT BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD BASICALLY A FULL SCHOOL YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A CONSTRAINT NOW, TALKING ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER, I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD MAYBE AT SOME FUTURE TIME SEE, AND EVEN A COMPARISON TO SOME OF THE PREVIOUS REPORTS FOR THAT CONSTRAINT TOO.
>> TRUSTEE WEIR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT REALLY THIS DEPARTMENT A JOB, BUT I KNOW I HAD CONVERSATION WITHOUT EQUITY OFFICE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THEIR TASK IS TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION TRACK THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE THAT'S EQUITY TOO.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON AND DEFINITELY, WE WANT TO SEE THAT ALSO NARROWING THE GAP.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION A LOT BECAUSE I HEAR THAT NOT JUST IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT OTHERS LIKE OFFICERS AND DISCIPLINE LIKE THE DISCIPLINE DATA IS ADMINISTRATIVE, AND THAT'S NOT THE OFFICERS, AND THOSE WERE THOSE CIRCLES INTERSECTING THAT, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OVERLAP BUT THE DISCIPLINE DATA IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> WELL, THEN I GUESS MAYBE EVEN EXPAND IT A LITTLE BIT.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO ACTUALLY SEE THOSE BROKEN OUT FOR US IN THAT VENN DIAGRAM, LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER HERE VERSUS WHAT HAPPENING.
>> WE CAN PRODUCE REPORTS THAT SHOW YOU HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ARRESTED AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WENT TO DAP.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOLLOWING AND LOOKING AT IT REALLY CLOSELY FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT, MAYBE NOT THE FULL TIME, BUT FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS IS THE DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS BECAUSE BY STATE LAW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT A STUDENT DOES ON A CAMPUS THAT BY LAW THEY HAVE TO GO TO ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT.
WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO REDUCE THAT VIA THE DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS, LIKE SOMETHING THAT THE KID DOES.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET SENT TO DAP, BUT THE PRINCIPAL FEELS LIKE THEY SHOULD GO.
THAT INFORMATION GOES TO THE AREA SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN ULTIMATELY GORDON PEREZ, WHO'S BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
HE'S THE FINAL DECISION-MAKER ON DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS TO GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT.
BACK WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE DISTRICT ABOUT FOOT LOCKER KIDNEY TO GET A DAP ON A DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENT, I WOULD PUT THEM IN DAP.
IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
IT GOES THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS OF EVALUATION TO SEE SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS DONE.
THAT'S FAIRLY SERIOUS 20 TIMES, BUT IT'S NOT MANDATORY.
IT MAY BE TIME THEY GO TO DAP BECAUSE I KNOW THE OTHER THING OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS IS TO HAVE ORDERED ON OUR SCHOOLS IF SOMETHING BECOMES SO DISRUPTIVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY A REASON A KID'S DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S THE INTERVENTION WE NOW HAVE WITH AMY AND ALL OF HER TEAM, AS WELL AS OUR COUNSELORS AND OTHER FOLKS BUT WE TALKED TO OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REALLY MAKING SURE ON DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS, ESPECIALLY AND WE'VE SEEN A DROP IN DISCRETIONARY PLACEMENTS BUT WE CAN GET YOUR DATA ON A PROFILE OF LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY STUDENTS WENT? WHAT WAS THE MAKEUP OF THE STUDENTS FROM AN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OR WHATEVER CATEGORY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT? I KNOW THOSE ARE THINGS WE WERE LOOKING AT BEFORE WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON LSG AND ALL THOSE THINGS BUT WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU FOR SURE AND SEE AS TRUSTEE HARRISON WAS SAYING ORDER TO TRACK AND SEE WHAT IMPACT ARE WE HAVING.
WE SAY WE'RE GETTING BETTER, BUT SHOW US HOW WE'RE GETTING BETTER, SO I GET THAT.
>> TRUSTEES, JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALL LIKE FROM ADMINISTRATION? IS A SUMMARY OF THAT? YES, TRUSTEE WESTON.
IN THE NEXT ONE OR TWO BOARD UPDATES, COULD YOU WORK ON GETTING, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT TIME FRAME THAT TAKES, BUT LET ME KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT A TIME FRAME ON YOU IF I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TOGETHER THE DATA.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IF IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG,
[03:20:01]
THEN YOU DON'T NEED A VERY LONG TIME TO DO IT, SIR.THIS IS A TOPIC THAT I'VE LONG REQUESTED AND I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S FRUITFUL AT THIS POINT.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN HERE ALL DAY AND THIS IS WHY I REQUESTED THAT THIS BE MOVED TO GIVE IT THE TIME AND ATTENTION THAT IT DESERVES.
IF THERE'S ONE REASON I MET THE DYESS TODAY, IT'S BECAUSE BACK IN 2018, WHEN I CAUGHT WIND THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS CONSIDERING CREATING A POLICE FORCE, IT WAS DEEPLY CONCERNING AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT ENGAGED.
IT WAS CONCERNING THEN AND IT'S CONCERNING TODAY.
I DON'T THINK THE TIMING ALLOWED FOR A LOT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND INPUT.
HOWEVER, THE TWO SPEAKERS THAT WE DID HAVE ON THE TOPIC, I THOUGHT CONTRIBUTED MEANINGFULLY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE STATUTE ACTUALLY PROHIBITS THE WHOLE BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT THE STATUTE SPECIFICALLY LIMITS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES.
CAN WE PUT SLIDE 7 BACKUP, PLEASE? SLIDE 7 IS THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS A VENN DIAGRAM.
I REMEMBER BACK SIX MONTHS AFTER I WAS ELECTED, FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED, YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE APRIL 20TH OF 2021 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND YOU'LL SEE A PRESENTATION AND IT'S VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I'M FRUSTRATED IS BECAUSE FOR ME THERE'S NOTHING NEW HERE TONIGHT AND YES, I WAS AT ALL THE SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETINGS.
I'VE BEEN INTENTLY INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, BUT I REQUESTED THIS AGENDA ITEM TO TRY TO GET NEW INFORMATION AND TO MAKE PROGRESS AND TO GET MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
BUT THAT SLIDE RIGHT THERE IS WHAT'S CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE ON APRIL 20TH OF 2021, IN THAT BOARD MEETING, I ASKED BASICALLY ONE QUESTION OF CHIEF YARBOROUGH AND THAT WAS, DO THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS ENFORCE SCHOOL POLICIES? HE WAS ADAMANT THAT THE ANSWER IS NO AND THEN OF COURSE, I HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FALLING UNDER THE POLICE FORCE AND THEN THERE'S THE EXPLANATION, WELL, IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK THAT WAY.
BUT THEN WE HAD A PUBLIC SPEAKER TONIGHT WHO'S TELLING US THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, WE ACTUALLY ADVERTISE THAT SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS ARE COUNSELING STUDENTS.
I JUST DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, IT'S PRODUCTIVE FOR ME TO GO HAVE ALL THESE Q&A'S.
I THINK EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT IS THE SAME, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT I HAVE A HOST OF CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ANY POLICE OFFICER.
MY FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
HE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP BECAUSE HE WAS GOING OUT AND SUPPORTING AND DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ISSUE IS EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THIS AND THE MISSION AND THE PURPOSE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
I'M LOOKING AT THE C2 SCHEDULE FROM THE 2018 CERTIFIED ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT AND I SEE THAT IN 2018, THE LINE ITEM 52, SECURITY AND MONITORING SERVICES.
MR. COVINGTON, IS THAT WHERE THE POLICE FORCE IS HOUSED? DO YOU KNOW LINE ITEM 52, SECURITY AND MONITORING SERVICES?
>> OKAY. I SEE THAT IN 2018, WE SPENT $3.6 MILLION AND THIS IS ALL PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
THIS ISN'T CONFIDENTIAL. THIS IS ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE.
PAGE 20, IN 2018 CERTIFIED ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
IN 2018, WE SPENT $3.6 MILLION ON THAT.
DR. AZIZ, YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE YET. I WASN'T ON THE BOARD.
THEN LAST YEAR WE SPENT $6.5 MILLION.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALL POLICE, BUT WHEN WE'RE SPENDING $40,000 ON VEHICLES AND YOU'RE DOING TRAINING, AND THEN WE'RE SENDING THESE PEOPLE TO ALL THESE CONFERENCES AND ALL THESE THINGS AND THEN I SIT LAST WEEK IN A STATE MANDATED SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETING CHAIRED BY YOU, GEORGE AND I'M LEARNING ABOUT SOME LOCKS AND THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PURCHASED FROM THE 2018 BOND.
THERE'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION, I THINK FROM ACROSS DIFFERENT POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THIS ISSUE.
WHETHER IT'S MONEY, WHETHER IT'S THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART,
[03:25:01]
WHETHER IT'S PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES, AND SO RATHER THAN BELABOR THE POINT TONIGHT, I'LL JUST SAY THIS.MY EXPECTATION AS NOT ONLY A TRUSTEE BUT AS A PARENT, IS THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS, THE PURPOSE IN MY MIND IS ONE, AND THAT IS TO BE ON HIGH ALERT FOR ANY THREATS TO THE LIFE AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, AND IF THE THREAT ENTERS OUR CAMPUS, YOU WILL SHOOT AND KILL THE THREAT, PERIOD.
IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS ON OUR CAMPUSES, THAT IS MY EXPECTATION.
IT'S WHEN WE GET INTO SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF WHERE I GET CONCERNED.
LIKE I SAID, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS.
MY REQUEST GOING FORWARD STILL STANDS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE IN A TWO-WAY AND LET'S DO THE FORUMS. WE HAD A POLICE FORUM SCHEDULED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR AND THEN IT WAS MOVED TO MARCH, AND THEN IT WAS CANCELED AND WE HAVEN'T REVISITED IT.
LET'S GIVE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH AT LEAST 30 DAYS OF NOTICE WOULD BE MY REQUEST AND WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, LET'S GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS ON THIS TOPIC.
THIS $6.5 MILLION WE NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON SAFETY AND SECURITY.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL NEVER GO TO TEACHERS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL NEVER ADDRESS A LOT OF OTHER NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
LET'S OPEN THIS UP AND BRING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND HEAR PARENTS AND THEIR CONCERNS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME TONIGHT.
WHAT WE WENT OVER TONIGHT IS NOT WHAT I ASKED FOR.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE BRIEFING YOU CAN FIND FROM APRIL OF 2021 AND I THINK THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SEEK A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WE SCHEDULED COMMUNITY FORUMS TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FEBRUARY AND I HAVE E-MAILS FROM YOU SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANTED, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WERE REQUESTING.
BUT YET TONIGHT NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU DO WANT COMMUNITY FORUMS AND THEN WE SCHEDULED TONIGHT'S MEETING, AN E-MAIL WENT OUT TO TRUSTEES LAST THURSDAY SAYING IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO SEE, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO HEAR, PLEASE GET THOSE QUESTIONS TO ADMINISTRATION SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY INCORPORATE IT.
PRESENTATION WENT OUT MONDAY OF THIS WEEK.
THIS PRESENTATION SAID IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO ADMINISTRATION AND I DID SEE YOU SENT AN E-MAIL YESTERDAY WITH A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
I WOULD NEED SOME CLARIFICATION AS A PRESIDING OFFICER AT EXACTLY HOW TO FULFILL YOUR REQUEST BECAUSE I WENT THE COMMUNITY FORUM ROUTE, YOU SAID THAT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE.
I WENT THIS ROUTE AND NOW THIS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE.
I REALLY NEED SOME CLARIFICATIONS.
IF YOU COULD JUST TELL ME EXACTLY HOW WE NEED TO PROCEED AND I MEAN, WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS THAT HAVE GONE INTO WEE HOURS OF THE DAY, 10 O'CLOCK IS STILL RELATIVELY EARLY FOR THIS BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT PROBABLY OUR STAFF WOULD PROBABLY WILLING TO STAY FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR WHATEVER FOLLOW-UP.
THE REASON WHY I SAY THIS TRUSTEE WESTON IS BECAUSE I DO SEE HOW IMPORTANT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND FOR THE TRUSTEES ON THIS DAIS, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND.
IT IS BEYOND IMAGINABLE TO ME TO THINK ABOUT SENDING A CHILD TO SCHOOL AND THEN NOT COME HOME.
I CAN'T EVEN PROCESS WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE.
I NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY NEED ANSWERED TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS, INCLUDING PEOPLE ON THE DAIS, INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED THIS POSTED AND I WANT IT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH AND SAY, HEY, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT X, Y, AND Z.
LET ME GET THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU OR LET'S HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ABOUT IT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE IF WE GET TO THIS POINT AND WE SAY, YEAH, THIS JUST DOESN'T DO IT FOR ME, WE'LL HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE ANY FURTHER ALONG.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU AND HOW CAN YOU HELP ME SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS TOPIC FORWARD FOR SPECIFICALLY YOUR REQUESTS?
>> I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THE FORUMS, BUT THEN WHEN THE FORUMS WERE SCHEDULE, THERE WAS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE FORUMS AND THEN THE FORUMS WERE CANCELED.
AT THIS POINT I SAY, WHY DON'T WE DO A FORUM? IF THERE WAS ENTHUSIASM FOR THAT, THEN LET'S DO IT.
MY ISSUE WITH TONIGHT IS THAT,
[03:30:02]
PULL UP THE BRIEFING FROM APRIL OF 2021.I WAS AT THE CAPITOL ALL DAY MONDAY.
I WAS AT THE CAPITOL ALL DAY TUESDAY.
THIS IS OUR THIRD BOARD MEETING OF THE WEEK.
I MEAN, THIS IS A LOT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I SENT YESTERDAY ARE THE SAME QUESTIONS I SENT BACK IN MAY.
THE QUESTIONS ARE GIVEN THE INCREASED SPENDING, 44 PERCENT IN THREE YEARS.
ARE OUR STUDENTS 44 PERCENT SAFER? IF YOU WANT TO GO THERE AT 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT, THAT'S FINE.
>> I DO WANT TO GO THERE. ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> WHY DOES ALL THE DISTRICT WEBSITE SAY THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO BE COUNSELING OUR STUDENTS? THE LAW SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS INNER CO-MINGLING OF MENTAL HEALTH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHY IS THAT LITERALLY HOW IT'S ARRANGED ON THE ORG CHART?
>> LET'S START WITH THE MONEY AND I THINK WE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION IF I REMEMBER A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT WE'LL GO BACK AND ANSWER IT AGAIN.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, DENNIS, THE MONEY PART, PLEASE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE OTHER QUESTION FOR TRUSTEE WESTON?
>> YES, SIR. THE 2017/18 KHAFRE WAS 3.685 MILLION FOR SECURITY AND MONITORING.
THE NEXT YEAR, IT GREW TO 4.5 MILLION IN 18/19, AND IT REMAINED 4.5 IN 19/20.
THEN THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS THE FOUR YEAR OF WHAT HAPPENED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT GREW TO 6.5 MILLION.
THERE'S A TWO MILLION DOLLAR CHANGE BETWEEN 19/20 AND 2021.
1.3 MILLION OF DEBT IS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE SPENT TO BUY THE CARS AND JUST THE CARS.
THEN WE SPENT ANOTHER 265,000 FOR THE EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS TO STAND UP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> TO BE FAIR THOSE ARE NOT ONETIME COSTS.
CARS DON'T LAST FOREVER AND EQUIPMENT WEARS OUT.
THE SALARIES FOR THE OFFICERS WAS ABOUT 900,000 AND THE REDUCTION FOR THE CONTRACTS WAS ABOUT 500,000 FOR THE CONTRACT TO SECURITY OFFICERS.
WE BROUGHT ON ASSISTANT CHIEF IN 2021 AND A RECORDS MANAGER.
THEN THERE WAS ALSO A REDUCTION IN A NON-MAJOR FOR THE GRANT AND FOR ACTIVITIES THAT THE OFFICERS DO FOR THE SCHOOLS.
THE TWO MILLION DOLLARS IS BROKEN OUT THAT WAY.
I SENT THIS TO PATTY TONIGHT, SO IT'LL BE COMING TO YOU ALL THAT HAS THE SAME SPREADSHEET.
BASICALLY THIS TWO MILLION WAS MAINLY TO STAND UP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT FIRST YEAR.
>> IF I CAN ADD TO WHAT DENNIS IS SAYING, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE 14, THE WAY IT WAS BREAKING DOWN BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, TRUSTEE WESTON IS FOR SEVEN YEARS.
THAT 3.4 MILLION IT'S BREAKING DOWN THAT COST OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
WHEN YOU ALL ADD THEM UP, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE BELOW.
THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY PROPOSAL WAS 4.7, AND ALSO THE TASKFORCE ESTIMATE WAS A 4.5 MILLION.
BUT AS I SAID, YES, IT'S A ONE TIME FOR SEVEN YEARS, BUT WE'RE BROKEN DOWN TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND HERE ON THIS CHART.
>> THAT WAS THE TOTAL, THAT OUTLINE TWO MILLION DOLLAR DIFFERENCE.
I SHOULD SAY THAT TOTAL OR THE SIX MILLION IS NOT JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS CROSSING GUARDS, AND ALSO LIKE TO HAVE WHEN THE SCHOOLS DO [OVERLAPPING].
>> HOLLOWAY MONITORS IS IN THERE TOO.
>> YES. THE 6.5 INCLUDES THE COST THAT'S ON THAT SLIDE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> LAST WEEK WAS THE SUMMER SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETING AND IT WAS NOT WIDELY ADVERTISED.
I ATTENDED AGAIN, GEORGE CHAIRED THE MEETING. I'M DR. AZIZ.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ASSERTED IN THAT MEETING THAT GOING FORWARD, THOSE MEETINGS WILL BE MORE WIDELY ADVERTISED.
WE ONLY HAD, I THINK THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO CAME BECAUSE THEY JUST HAPPENED TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
BUT LITERALLY RANK AND FILE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
GEORGE MENTIONED, I THINK THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO CONVENE AGAIN IN AUGUST TO GO OVER SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THE SAFETY AUDIT AND I THINK THAT
[03:35:02]
PROBABLY THE COMMITTEE WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.WOULD YOU IMAGINE TO REVIEW THOSE FINDINGS?
>> MAY I RESPOND TO THAT AND THEN I WILL ALLOW GEORGE.
TRUSTEE WESTON, I'M THE ONE WHO PROPOSED AUGUST.
THE AUGUST BECAUSE PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO ACTUALLY REVIEW THE EOP.
TO REVIEW THE EOP HAS TO BE DONE IN CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE THE PLAN WE HOPE AGAIN TO GET OUR CHIEF NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE EARLY AND PUBLICIZE THE DATE AND WILL BE IN AUGUST WHEN WE, AS A COMMITTEE, WILL GO TO CLOSED SESSION TO REVIEW THE EOP.
THEN GEORGE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEXT MEETING, ARE WE PLANNING ALSO HAVING IN THE FALL, PLEASE.
>> BEFORE YOU GO, GEORGE, CAN WE ALSO HOLD THAT MEETING IN THE EVENING BECAUSE HOLDING IT AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON ON A TUESDAY OR A WEDNESDAY, I DON'T THINK IS CONDUCIVE OR RESPECTFUL OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER OR MAYBE I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE I DISCUSSED AFTER YOU LEFT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED WITH GEORGE BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE SOME TEACHERS WHO ARE SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE AND WE TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO DO IT AFTER SCHOOL.
THE REASON IT WAS OVER SUMMER TWO O'CLOCK.
I KNOW IT WAS INCONVENIENT FOR MANY, BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT MANY OF OUR STAFF WERE OFF, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT YES, MOVING FORWARD, SUPPOSED TO BE AFTER-SCHOOL. YES, MA'AM.
>> YES. MOVING FORWARD WE DID DISCUSS THAT.
WE ALSO DISCUSSED ADDING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER TO THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE OUR MIDDLE-SCHOOL TEACHER WAS SO ENLIGHTENING.
>> SHE WAS AWESOME. MOVING FORWARD, MEETINGS WILL START AROUND 5:00 OR 5:30.
TO DO THAT, OF COURSE CHIEF WEINER WILL BE SHARING THOSE MEETINGS UNLESS THERE'S CHANGES MADE.
THEN IN THE FALL, I RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE A MEETING AFTER THE SECURITY AUDIT TO REVIEW THE SECURITY AUDIT, WHICH WOULD BE PROBABLY DONE IN CLOSED SESSION, AND THEN MAYBE ANOTHER MEETING A MONTH LATER TO TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHERE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES SOONER RATHER THAN WAITING.
>> I THINK WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THESE SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEETINGS IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OUR PUBLIC, I FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT AND THEY NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET BETTER.
I'VE ASKED TO FORMALLY BE ASSIGNED TO THAT COMMITTEE.
I'VE NOT HEARD BACK YET FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.
ARE WE GOING TO DO A FORUM OR NOT?
>> WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HEARD THAT YOU WANTED ANOTHER FORUM, SO I CAN'T MAKE THAT COMMITMENT AT THIS MOMENT.
I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, WE HAD THEM SCHEDULED IN FEBRUARY.
ONE WAS CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER, WE HAD ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED IN MARCH, AND IT WAS CANCELED WHEN CHIEF YARBOROUGH ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION.
WE WERE COMMITTED TO DOING TWO OF THEM.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T DO THEM AGAIN.
I JUST WAS WORKING ON THE FEEDBACK.
>> IT WASN'T WHAT I WANTED, AND THEN THEY WERE SCHEDULED AND THEN THEY WERE CANCELED, AND SO NOW I'M SAYING LET'S DO IT.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH ENTHUSIASM THERE WAS GOING TO BE WHEN THEY GOT SCHEDULED.
>> DR. AZIZ, CAN YOU EXPLORE WITH CHIEF WEINER.
>> YEAH. FOR SURE. WE JUST NEED TO GIVE HIM A WEEK OR TWO JUST TO SETTLE.
>> CHIEF WEINER WHEN WE CAN POSSIBLY LOOK AT GETTING HIM ENGAGED BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT HIM HERE FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB AND SAY HEY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, AND I THINK I SHARE THAT ONCE HE GETS HERE, WE WERE PLANNING ON INTRODUCING HIM TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING THEM MAYBE HAVE A QA SESSION OR SOMETHING WITH HIM MAYBE AN HOUR THE WEST SIDE OF THE DISTRICT AND THE EAST SIDE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
MAYBE I CAN TALK WITH HIM AND FIGURE OUT WHEN IS CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE REALLY AND TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS ALSO IF WE WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU PUSHING THROUGH AND ASKING SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT TRUSTEE WESTON BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY. ARE WE LEAVING?
SHE ASKED, WHY WAS IT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE OFFICERS WORKING IN A MENTOR OR ROLE FOR.
>> THE COUNSELOR ROLE AS IT'S LISTED ON THE WEBSITE?
>> RIGHT. SHE SAID THAT SHE FELT THAT THAT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW AS SHE READ IT.
[03:40:05]
>> HONESTLY OUR OFFICERS, THEY ARE NOT COUNSELORS.
WE HAVE COUNSELORS, WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKER.
I THINK WHAT THEY DO IS THEY REFER AND I THINK YOU HEARD DR.
GROSSO EARLIER TALKING ABOUT [NOISE] THEM SO IF KIDS COMES TO THEM AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD REFER THE KID OR THE STUDENT TO THE SOCIAL WORKER.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN LICENSED TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THEM IN FRONT OF CERTIFIED EXPERT FOLKS IN THE MATTER AND OUR POLICE OFFICER, THEY MIGHT BE TRAINED A LITTLE BIT BUT THEY'RE NOT MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.
>> I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, AND I'M JUST ADDING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING DR. ZEA.
SO I ALWAYS WANTED MY OFFICERS ON THE CAMPUS TO MENTOR THE KIDS SO IF WE'RE USING THE WRONG VERBAGE WITH COUNSELING VERSUS MENTORING.
I'VE HEARD SR THAT EVERY SATURDAY WOULD TAKE A GROUP OF KIDS FISHING ON HIS DAY OFF AND THESE WERE KIDS WHO NEEDED SOME TIME.
THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY HAVING A CRISIS, BUT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT MAKES THE SCHOOL RUN SMOOTHER.
BUILDING TRUST HELPS STUDENTS FEEL BETTER ABOUT BEING AT SCHOOL.
IT'S NOT LIMITED TO POLICE OFFICERS.
SO I'D NEVER WOULD EXPECT AN OFFICER TO COUNSEL THE KID OR TO DEAL WITH MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUT TO PASS THAT OFF TO THE COUNSELOR OR THE SOCIAL WORKER OR WHATEVER THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME BUT NOT TO GO INTO SOME SORT OF INTENSE COUNSELING SESSION.
BUT I ALWAYS EXPECT EVERY ADULT THAT I WORKED TO MENTOR SOMEBODY.
MENTOR A KID. THEY NEED MENTORS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN MENTORS TO KIDS, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTORING A KID WHEN THERE'S A SERIOUS ISSUE WHERE THEY NEED SOME COUNSELING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> IF IT'S JUST A NOMENCLATURE ISSUE.
SO WE GOT AN EMAIL TONIGHT AT 7:41 TELLING US THAT OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE SAYS THAT SRO DUTIES INCLUDE COUNSELING OF STUDENTS AND SO WHEN I READ THAT, IT DOES SOUND COUNTER TO THE LAW AND SO I THINK THAT'S WORTH LOOKING AT.
LIKE I SAID, WE ALL HAVE THAT EMAIL NOW AND THERE'S ALSO DATA.
I'VE READ THE AFTER-ACTION REPORTS FROM PARKLAND, I'VE READ THE AFTER-ACTION REPORTS FROM UVALDE.
OBVIOUSLY I'VE READ THE BOOK AFTER COLUMBINE.
I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT WHEN THAT HAPPENED.
WE KNOW THAT TAKE PARKLAND FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS IN THAT REPORT IS THAT YOU HAD AN SRO WHO HAD BEEN AN SRO FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT HE JUST WASN'T STREET SMART ANYMORE.
HE WAS IN THE MINDSET, THIS IS A SCHOOL, OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, BAD THINGS DON'T HAPPEN HERE, AND YOU GET COMPLACENT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT THAT COMPLACENCY THAT WE HAVE SEEN PLAY OUT IN OTHER PLACES? WE KNOW THAT IT IS BETTER PROBABLY FOR AN SRO NOT TO REMAIN ON THE SAME SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR AN EXTENDED SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE IT OPENS A DOOR FOR PERHAPS SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT AND THE DATA BACKS THAT UP AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.
SO OUR SCHOOLS EXIST TO EDUCATE CHILDREN.
THAT IS WHY OUR SCHOOLS EXIST.
I'LL TELL YOU, AS LONG AS I MET THIS [INAUDIBLE], WHEN THINGS COME UP THAT DO NOT DIRECTLY RELATE TO THAT, MY INTEREST IS GOING TO BE PEAKED AND THE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO FLOW.
>> NOT A PROBLEM. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, TECHNICALLY LAST YEAR WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR REALLY BECAUSE THE STANDARD MID-YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE WE'RE FULLY STAFFED LIKE DR. PRESLEY WAS SAYING, I THINK MAY OR JUNE OF 2021.
I WORKED IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THEY HAD POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT'S A VERY COMMON PRACTICE.
LIKE YOU SAID, POLICE OFFICERS EVERY 2-3 YEARS, THEY WILL BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT CAMPUS.
WE'RE NOT THERE YET BECAUSE AGAIN, LAST YEAR TECHNICALLY WAS OUR FIRST YEAR REALLY.
THEN THE SECOND THING, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ARE CERTIFIED TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS LIKE CITY OF ROUND ROCK.
NOT ONLY THAT, THEY RECEIVE PLENTY OF TRAINING.
EVEN BEFORE UVALDE, OUR POLICE OFFICERS WAS THROUGH TRAINING IN THE FALL, SO WAS DURING CHRISTMAS BREAK OVER LIKE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY ALERT, SHARP, UP TO DATE WITH ANY NEW STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES, AND TO BE VIGILANT BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE READY.
GOD FORBID, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, THEY WOULD BE READY TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, AND I TRULY THINK THAT WE EVEN HAVE A TRAINER FOR THE TRAINER ACTUALLY.
ONE OF OUR SERGEANTS IS ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW IS GETTING TRAINED SO THAT HE CAN COME BACK AND TRAIN OUR OFFICES.
[03:45:02]
HE'S WHAT'S CALLED TOT.SO NOT JUST GO AND RECEIVE TRAINING, WE HAVE SOMEBODY, AN EXPERT, AND WE'LL COME BACK AND DO THE SAME THING.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALSO INVOLVING DOING SOME PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY ON DOING SOME DRILLS TOGETHER.
OBVIOUSLY NOT WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE AROUND.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFTER HOURS OR MAYBE SATURDAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE STUDENTS AROUND SO WE CAN BE PREPARED AND READY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING, SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN GOD FORBID IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.
>> THE ONE OTHER QUESTION I SAW HER WAS THAT WHICH I THOUGHT WASN'T EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY, WHY THERE WAS AN OVERLAP IN WHAT WAS A CRIMINAL VIOLATION AND A CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION, WHY THERE WAS OVERLAP.
I THOUGHT IT WAS EXPLAINED BY DR. PRESLEY IN TERMS OF THAT WE HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT PROHIBITS DRUGS ON CAMPUS AND THAT'S ALSO A CRIMINAL VIOLATION SO THAT'S WHERE THEY MIGHT OVERLAP, BUT MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD FURTHER ELABORATE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT TRUSTEE WESTON UNDERSTANDS.
>> I THINK HE SPOKE ABOUT IT EXTENSIVELY AND I THINK THAT MY CONCERNS ABOUT IT STAND, SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
>> HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE OVERLAP WHEN IT HAPPENS LIKE THAT? OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION AND IT'S A CRIMINAL VIOLATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD SAY THAT I DON'T WANT THERE EVER TO BE OVERLAP.
THERE IS, SO THEY HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH BOTH.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD WORK OUT IN REALITY.
>> THE WAY IT WORKED OUT, IN REALITY, IS MY 13 YEARS AS A PUBLIC EDUCATION STUDENT WHERE THERE WAS NEVER SROS IN MY SCHOOLS, AND YET THE SCHOOLS WERE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND OPERATE.
THE ADMINISTRATORS WERE ABLE TO ENFORCE DISCIPLINE AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A REQUIREMENT, IT'S A RUB.
MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR SROS IN OUR SCHOOLS, THEY NEED TO BE LASER-FOCUSED ON BEING ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATS TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE THEM OUT, AND WHEN WE START VENTURING INTO OTHER THINGS, TO INCLUDE, THINGS AS INNOCENT SOUNDING AS MENTORING, OR AS CODE OF CONDUCT.
THERE'S TENSION FOR ME THERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IS TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND PROTECT THE CITIZENRY.
WHEN I LOOK AT OUR ORG CHART, AND THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, AND THE THINGS I'VE HEARD AT OTHER TIMES, THERE'S TENSION THERE FOR ME.
I'VE HEARD DR. PRESLEY AND I RESPECT IT.
I THINK THAT'S A PERSPECTIVE THAT I CAN HEAR AND IT CAN ALSO GIVE ME PAUSE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND BE SKEPTICAL AT ALL TIMES.
BECAUSE I'M FOCUSED ON THE MISSION OF OUR SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE DOING, AND ANYTHING THAT'S EXTRANEOUS FROM THAT, I'M GOING TO SCRUTINIZE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO PRESS THE ISSUE, A QUERY WITH HIM, THAT'S FINE BUT [OVERLAPPING] BUT I DON'T REALLY
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU THOUGH.
SO IT YOU WOULD BE YOUR PREFERENCE TO HAVE, IN THE CASE WHERE YOU HAVE DRUGS ON CAMPUS THAT YOU JUST HAVE APD, ROUND ROCK PD, NO ONE TRAINED TO WORK WITH JUVENILES COME ON CAMPUS AND PROSECUTE THAT.
THE BEAUTY OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS PEOPLE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO WORK WITH STUDENTS RESPONDING AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND DEALING WITH THAT.
THAT'S THE WHOLE PREMISE OF IT.
BUT WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS, WELL, I WOULD JUST RATHER HAVE THEM NOT BE THERE AND THEN BRING IN AN OFFICER THAT'S NOT TRAINED TO WORK WITH THE JUVENILES, DOESN'T HAVE THAT MISSION TO PROCESS THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS.
I WOULD JUST TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS INNOVATIVE AND TRYING TO EXPLORE A DIFFERENT WAY SO THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL, SO THAT THEY AREN'T DERAILED BY BAD CHOICES THAT LAND THEM IN THE CRIMINAL, SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
SO I JUST SEE THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.
I SEE THIS AS HELPING THEM ATTAIN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN PRISON. THAT'S WHAT I SEE.
I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH THAT NOTION AND OBVIOUSLY YOU DO.
[03:50:04]
BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TAKE ON IT, AND THAT'S THE BASIS FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MODEL.>> SO IF SOMEBODY HAS SOME DATA TO BRING ME THAT SHOWS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SROS IN SCHOOLS, THAT YOU END WITH THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE OR YOU ERODE IT, I'D BE HAPPY TO REVIEW THAT DATA.
I'VE NEVER COME ACROSS IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER COME.
OKAY, YOU'VE NEVER COME ACROSS IT.
OKAY. BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO REVIEW THAT.
I THINK THAT WHEN CRIMES ARE COMMITTED, WHEREVER YOU ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY IF YOU SEE A CRIME COMMITTED, YOU CALL THE POLICE.
SO I WOULD SAY, IF THERE'S A CRIME THAT'S COMMITTED, LET'S CALL THE POLICE.
THE TRUTH IS THE REASON THAT POLICE CAME INTO OUR SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST PLACE BACK IN THE EARLY '90S, FOR MOST PLACES IS WHEN IT STARTED, IS NOT BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL THREATS TO SCHOOLS.
THAT IS NOT WHY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOLS. IT'S JUST NOT.
THE REASON THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOLS WAS BECAUSE STUDENT ON STUDENT VIOLENCE, OR STAFF MEMBERS THAT THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD BE VICTIMS OF STUDENTS, OR STUDENTS THAT THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE VICTIMS OF STAFF MEMBERS.
SO THE REASON THAT THE POLICE EVEN CAME INTO OUR SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS INTERNALLY AMONG THE PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.
NOW TODAY, I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF PARENTS, IF YOU ASK THEM, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, DR. PRESLEY.
I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WANT SROS IN OUR SCHOOLS. I THINK THAT'S A FACT.
YOU POINTED TO THE 2019 INCIDENT AT PEARSON RANCH.
I WAS HERE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN THAT BOARD MEETING.
THIS ROOM WAS FULL WITH PEARSON RANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS WHO WERE UPSET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE AN SRO.
SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT IS AN EXPECTATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF HOW WE RUN HERE WITH THE SROS.
AND I WOULD SAY, LIKE I SAID, I THINK I SAID IT FOUR TIMES, I'LL SAY IT FIVE TIMES.
IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SROS IN OUR SCHOOLS, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THEY ARE JUST LASER-FOCUSED ON TAKING OUT THESE ACTIVE SHOOTER THREATS, THESE THREATS TO THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR TEACHERS, AND WHEN WE GO BEYOND THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A LEVEL OF COMFORT WITH GOING BEYOND THAT, WHICH I RESPECT YOUR OPINION.
I THINK THAT'S A VALID OPINION.
I THINK I COULD MAKE THAT CASE.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO HIDE THAT I'M SKEPTICAL OF IT.
I'M GOING TO BE HONEST THAT I'M SKEPTICAL ABOUT IT, AND I'M GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS. I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
>> I THINK THE DATA IS HELPFUL, AND I THINK THAT OUR ASKING FOR THE DATA IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DATA.
IF THE DATA PROVES THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING A DENT, AND THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THE SAME PATTERNS THAT HAVE EXISTED, THEN WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA AND SEE WHETHER WE HAVE AN INNOVATIVE MODEL, WE'RE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO TRY TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
SO LET'S GIVE IT A CHANCE TO SEE IF IT WORKS, AND LOOK AT THE DATA, AND HONESTLY CONSIDER WHETHER WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.
>> I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, ONE MORE TIME SAY THIS, I THINK I SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY.
WITH OUR NEW CHIEF COMING IN, AS I SAID, WE WILL ARRANGE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN ANYWAY, BUT DEFINITELY OUR COMMUNITY PROBABLY WANT TO DO THIS, OR BE PART OF IT.
WE WILL SCHEDULE SOME MEET AND GREET WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO HAVE MAYBE HIM LISTEN AND LEARN WHETHER THE CONCERNS, SUGGESTIONS, INPUT, FEEDBACK, WHETHER OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, OUR STAFF WANT TO SHARE WITH HIM.
I'M SURE WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND JUST FIGURED OUT A WAY HOW TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYONE.
SO AS I SAID, LET'S WAIT FOR HIM TO SHOW UP, START, AND THEN WE WILL ARRANGE FOR THAT, AND THEN ALSO MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.
TRUSTEE JOHNSON, JUST MAKING SURE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOU?
>> THE ONLY THING I WILL QUICKLY ADD IS THAT, AND I NOTICED IS JUST ADDING SOME ANECDOTE AND SOME HISTORY TO IT.
THE SROS PROGRAMS ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE 1950S.
THEY WERE BROUGHT IN AS FULL-TIME TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS.
IT BECAME A BIG SUCCESS, ODDLY ENOUGH, IN FLINT, MICHIGAN.
THAT FROM THERE IN THE '70S IT BECAME A BIG HIT AS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
THAT THAT WAS THE INITIAL BASIS OF IT.
THAT MAY HAVE CHANGED IN THE '90S.
THAT'S TRUE. THE FOCUS DID CHANGE? BUT THERE HAS TO ALWAYS BE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUDENTS SUCCESS AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK, AGAIN, THAT HAS TO BE THE FOCUS.
[03:55:02]
THAT WE ALWAYS CIRCLE BACK TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO BREAK THAT SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.THAT THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM, THAT IT DOES NEED THE CHANCE TO SUCCEED. I AGREE.
I LOVE SO MUCH THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND THAT WE RELY ON THE DATA TO CONTINUE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
A PUBLIC FORUM IS A GREAT WAY TO BRING IN THE COMMUNITY, LET THEM HAVE THEIR SAY.
THEN WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, AGAIN, BASED ON THE DATA AND THE QUALITATIVE DATA THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE MY ONLY COMMENTS.
>> WONDERFUL. AGAIN, WONDERFUL ADDITION TO HAVE YOU WITH US ON THIS BOARD NOW, AND I KNOW YOU WILL BE FINISHED WITH YOUR TRAVELING AND JOINING US IN PERSON NEXT WEEK, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU UP HERE ON THE DAIS NEXT WEEK.
WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST WILL SAY WE HAVE ONE VERY BRIEF MEETING SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK FOR AUGUST 2ND TO CALL FOR THE ELECTION.
OTHERWISE, IT IS 10:28, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.