[00:00:06]
GOOD EVENING. IT IS 6:20 ON MONDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2023.
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
I HEREBY CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES CALLED BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.TONIGHT IN ATTENDANCE WE HAVE TRUSTEE ZARATE, MARKHAM, WESTON, LANDRUM, HARRISON, WEIR AND BONE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY]
WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.WE DO HAVE ABOUT 15 PUBLIC SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
THE BOARD REQUESTS THAT COMMENTS WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL.
AS A SECOND REMINDER, THE BOARD ADOPTED AN ANTI HATE RESOLUTION ON JANUARY 20TH, 2022, WHERE THE BOARD REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AGE OR POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND STANDS AGAINST SPEECH THAT INCITES HATRED AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS ANY PERSON.
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 TOWARDS 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 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.
THEREFORE, BOARD MEMBERS MAY NOT DISCUSS THE COMMENTS OF SPEAKERS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
TRUSTEE. HARRISON WILL BE THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER.
I DON'T HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT TONIGHT, SO I'M JUST GOING TO BE WINGING IT.
I'M LOOKING AROUND AT THE WALLS WITH ALL THESE NEW PHOTOGRAPHS AND PICTURES DEPICTING ALL OF THESE STUDENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT HERE, AND I'M THINKING IT'S KIND OF A SHAME ALL THE MATERIAL THAT'S BEING THROWN UP AGAINST THE WALLS TO SEE IF THEY STICK IN ATTEMPTS TO DEFEAT A VOTE ON THE VATRE TONIGHT . I CAN'T REALLY GO INTO ANY DETAILS.
I HAVEN'T STUDIED THAT MUCH ON IT OTHER THAN I KNOW FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NEED TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOTE ON.
AS A BOARD, AS A DISTRICT, YOU ALL OWE IT TO THE VALUABLE TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO PREPARE OUR FUTURE GENERATION.
THEY DESERVE WHATEVER WE CAN GIVE THEM TO CONTINUE IN THAT WORK AND TO ATTRACT NEW EDUCATORS AND NEW STAFF TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL THAT MISSION.
THIS ONE'S PROBABLY COMING OUT OF LEFT FIELD, BUT I'M THINKING IN PUBLIC MEETINGS LIKE THIS, THERE ARE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT THE PUBLIC TYPICALLY DOES NOT TAKE NOTICE OF. THEY'RE JUST IN THE BACKGROUND.
[00:05:01]
SO JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE BOARD.YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA MALICE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D TWO AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE VATRE.
I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS TO STAY HERE IN ROUND ROCK ISD TO SUPPORT OUR OUTSTANDING STAFF.
I HAVE ENOUGH CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO UNDERSTAND THAT MY TAXES ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE NO MATTER WHAT LIES STATE OTHERWISE PASS THE VATRE SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER WHITE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM F ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT? I DO. I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING UP THIS MATTER TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, TO LET THE PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE KNOW THAT MANY ON THIS BOARD, THE FORMER AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ROUND ROCK PD OFFICERS HAVE ARE BEING SUED IN FEDERAL COURT.
THE CASE IS MOVING FORWARD TO TRIAL AND OUR DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE BILL TO DEFEND THEM FOR VIOLATING RIGHTS OF PARENTS JUST ASKING TO SPEAK AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.
THESE DEFENDANTS ARE BEING SUED IN BOTH THEIR CAPACITY AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT OR OFFICER, BUT THEY ARE ALSO BEING SUED PERSONALLY BECAUSE YOU ARE FINALLY BEING CALLED OUT FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND THAT YOU'RE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEGAL SLUSH FUND.
CLEAR THE AIR AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THERE IS EITHER YES, THERE'S A SECRET AGREEMENT OR THERE'S NOT A SECRET AGREEMENT WITH THE LAWYER TO REPRESENT YOU ALL IN THE FEDERAL CASE.
SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PERSONAL ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT YOU.
SHE PUTS HER DISTRICT AT RISK AND OUR MONEY AT RISK.
YOU SHOULD DEFEND YOURSELF, AND ALL OF THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEING DEFENDANTS ON THE CASE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY REPRESENT YOURSELF AND PAY BACK TAX DOLLAR MONEY, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT WAS AGENDA ITEM F TWO, EVEN THOUGH SIGNED UP UNDER F ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST READ THIS IS ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE ANTI-HATE RESOLUTION THAT YOU READ IN EVERY BOARD MEETING YOU HAVE.
NOT REALLY BEEN VERY EQUITABLE TO ALL THE GROUPS THAT COME TO THIS ROOM TO SPEAK.
WHO DOES THAT ANTI ANTI HATE RESOLUTION PROTECT? IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, MISS [INAUDIBLE], THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT ON THE AGENDA.
WELL, I'M LOOKING AT D ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THIS IS REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENTS YOU READ BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE ANTI HATE RESOLUTION AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS MICROPHONE AND THEY SLAM ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE AND IT'S DISRESPECTFUL AND IT'S UNCALLED FOR.
POINT OF ORDER. PAUSE HER TIME, PLEASE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE HER HER TIME BACK.
HER TIME WAS STOPPED WHEN THE POINT OF ORDER WAS CALLED.
SO I BELIEVE YOU NEED A LET HER SPEAK ON IT, NOT ON THE AGENDA.
GO AHEAD. YOUR TIME IS GOING TO BE RESTARTED, NOT RESTARTED, BUT START FROM WHERE YOU ARE.
OKAY. WELL, DOES IT APPLY TO EVERYONE IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
YOU TOLD US LAST WEEK THAT YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE A SIGN YET.
SOMEBODY WORE A SIGN ON THEIR SHIRT BEING HATEFUL.
THAT'S FINE. IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S OKAY, IT'S RECORDED. WE'RE GOOD, AND AS FOR THE TAX RATE, WILL THE OPEN ENROLLMENT, THE OUT OF DISTRICT FAMILIES ALSO BE REQUIRED TO GIVE UP A PORTION OF THEIR TAX SAVINGS ALLOCATED BY THE LEGISLATURE? I THINK THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS.
HOW IS THAT EQUITABLE TO ROUND ROCK ISD FAMILIES? IT REALLY ISN'T.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GINA DEPEW SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D TWO, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
[00:10:05]
THERE IS A TRUTH THAT BEARS REPEATING.A WELL-INFORMED ELECTORATE IS A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY.
OUR COMMONWEALTH DEPENDS ON THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE AS A SAFEGUARD OF ORDER AND LIBERTY.
LATELY I WORRY WE'VE LOST SIGHT OF THAT.
THOSE WHO SHAMELESSLY FETISHIZE THE FOUNDING FATHERS WILL FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN OUR REPUBLIC, THE HIGHEST FORM OF SOCIAL SERVICE LIES NOT WITHIN THE PURSUIT OF PERSONAL DESIRES AND GOALS, BUT IN WORK TOWARDS THE GOOD OF THE COMMON.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS WHO ARE THE LEAST REPRESENTED IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
ANOTHER TRUTH THAT BEARS REPEATING BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS.
THEY REVEAL THE PRIORITIES AND VALUES OF A SOCIETY.
EVERY ELECTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES THAT THIS COMMUNITY CLAIMS TO HOLD IN THE HIGHEST REGARD BUT THIS ELECTION WILL GIVE US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PLEDGE DIRECT SUPPORT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
THE REVENUE THAT THIS VATRE WILL RAISE GOES STRAIGHT TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF.
WE BELIEVE THERE IS NO CAUSE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CARE AND EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.
I ASK THAT YOU JOIN ME AT THE POLLS AND PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.
THAT'S NOT CAUSED OR CONTROLLED BY THE DISTRICT'S FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS REMAINED STAGNANT.
THE BASIC STUDENT ALLOTMENT HASN'T BEEN ADJUSTED SINCE 2019.
SPENDING AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL HAS BEEN CAPPED BASED ON THE STATE FORMULAS FOR FUNDING.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FISCAL DISCIPLINE, EVEN WITH ZERO NEW MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
OUR DISTRICT MANAGED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TWO AND 3% RAISES.
THAT IS SOLID FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH, AND OUR LEGISLATURE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP.
WITH REGARD TO THE HR BUILDING THAT WAS MENTIONED DURING THE HEARING, AIR DIDN'T GET A NEW BUILDING.
THEY CONSOLIDATED AND MOVED INTO THE IT BUILDING OFF OF CORNERWOOD.
THAT DID REQUIRE SMALL MODIFICATIONS, BUT IT WAS NOT A NEW BUILDING AS FAR AS THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT.
IT WILL BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE ELECTION AND WILL BE PUBLIC RECORD.
THE VOTE TONIGHT IS SIMPLY TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS JUST TUNING IN WHAT I SHARED DURING THE HEARING.
WHILE A $500,000 HOME COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A TAX RATE THREE PENNIES LOWER IF YOU WERE TO VOTE NO ON THIS, THIS TRANSLATES TO ONLY $135 IN ADDITIONAL TAX SAVINGS PER YEAR. I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SAY THEY CANNOT COME UP WITH LESS THAN $12 PER MONTH TO HELP SUPPORT OVER 47,000 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT.
FOR SENIORS WHO ARE AFRAID OF THEIR TAXES GOING UP, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOU VOTING TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THIS TAX RATE, APPROVAL WILL NOT ACTUALLY RESULT IN AN INCREASE TO YOUR TAXES.
YOUR TAX CEILING WILL BE RECALCULATED AND REDUCED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW COMPRESSION AND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AMOUNTS THAT RECENTLY PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND YOU WILL STILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN YOUR TAXES.
WHILE YOUR KIDS MY GENERATION WERE IN SCHOOL FOR YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE WILKINS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D ONE AND E ONE, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT? YES. AGAIN, I AM A PARENT OF THREE ROUND ROCK ISD STUDENTS AND I AM A FORMER ROUND ROCK ISD EDUCATOR.
IT SAYS IN ITEM 13 THAT WE NEED TO POST A BUDGET AND TAX RATE INFORMATION ON DISTRICT WEBSITE AND SUBMIT IT TO COUNTY ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR AND APPRAISAL DISTRICT DATABASE.
THE DISTRICT MUST POST SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING ITS BUDGET AND TAX RATE ON ITS WEBSITE.
THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE ABOUT ONE CLICK.
I THINK THAT THIS WAS A DISTRACTION AND WE NEED TO VOTE NOW.
AS A FORMER TEACHER IN THIS DISTRICT WHO LEFT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH MONEY.
[00:15:02]
PLEASE VOTE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.WE'RE VOTING TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO VOTE.
SECOND, WE WISH THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD INCREASED PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING, BUT THEY DIDN'T.
SO EDUCATION ROUND ROCK SUPPORTS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION.
THIS WILL NOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE AND THE MONEY STAYS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE INCREASE IS FOR ALL STAFF, NOT JUST TEACHERS.
IT WILL MOST LIKELY INCREASE RETENTION AND HELP WITH RECRUITMENT.
ROUND ROCK IS EXCITED TO ENDORSE THE VATRE AND TO GET THE RETROACTIVE PAY ONCE IT PASSES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EVE MARGOLIS.
SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM D TWO, AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
I NEED TO SAY BEFORE I START WITH WHAT I HAD PLANNED ON SAYING THAT THE AMOUNT OF RE-QUESTIONING AND DISTRACTION THAT HAPPENS DURING I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
SO WHAT I WAS PLANNING ON SAYING WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD WE HEARD FROM A PREVIOUS TEACHER THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING, AND I'M A PREVIOUS TEACHER AND I'M NOT IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE VERY SAME REASON.
ONE OF MY CHILDREN'S TEACHERS WORKS ON THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AS A SHOPPER AT H-E-B.
THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.
THEY'RE DOING MORE THAN MOST OF US DO, AND WE AS A DISTRICT, WE ARE JUST ABOUT PAYING WHAT SURROUNDING DISTRICTS DO, AND I THINK WITH THE VATRE VOTE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MATCH THOSE SALARIES TO KEEP, RETAIN AND ATTRACT OTHER EDUCATORS TO STAY IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHO MAY BE LISTENING THAT THIS IS THE STATE, NOT THE DISTRICT, THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW MUCH MONEY OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES GET USED WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND IF THE PROPOSED VATRE VOTE PASSES, OUR PROPERTY TAXES WOULD TAXES WOULD STILL BE LOWER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR AND ALL THE FUNDS COLLECTED WOULD STAY IN ROUND ROCK ISD FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND IT WOULDN'T GO TO ADMINISTRATORS, IT WOULDN'T GO TO TRAINING AND CURRICULUM, IT WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO EDUCATORS, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, AND WE KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS A BUDGET SURPLUS, THEY REFUSE TO ALLOCATE ANY OF IT FOR TEACHER PAY.
WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR IS DEAD SET ON VOUCHERS AND IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE TRUSTEE BONE TESTIFYING IN COMMITTEE IN FAVOR OF VOUCHERS AND ATTENDING RALLIES WITH THE GOVERNOR INSTEAD OF BACKING OUR DISTRICT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JILL FERRIS IS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM F TWO AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
JUST FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, I GOT THIS INFORMATION OFF OF THE TASB WEBSITE AND THE DISTRICT MUST MAINTAIN A WEBSITE OR HAVE ACCESS TO A GENERALLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE FOR POSTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON ONE PAGE, AND SO THEN I CALLED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-580-5345 AND HAD A CONVERSATION THAT I RECORDED FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE THAT THEN TOLD ME THAT THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE AVAILABLE WITH NO MORE THAN ONE CLICK.
THAT'S WHERE I GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT DAVID ALAN EZRA, A SENIOR US DISTRICT JUDGE IN HAWAII WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO SERVE ON THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO DIVISION, UPHELD MANY OF [INAUDIBLE] CLAIMS AGAINST THE ROUND ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
EZRA DID NOT FIND THE DEFENDANTS GUILTY OF [INAUDIBLE] CLAIMS, BUT HE DID REJECT THEIR MOTIONS TO DISMISS THEM, ALLOWING THE LAWSUIT TO PROCEED AS WEIR REJECTED MOTIONS TO DISMISS CLAIMS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD VIOLATED [INAUDIBLE] FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY LIMITING SEATING CAPACITY IN ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, BY RETALIATING AGAINST HIM FOR ENGAGING IN CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED SPEECH AND BY BARRING HIM FROM A MEETING THAT WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
[00:20:05]
ADDITIONALLY, THE JUDGE UPHELD CLAIMS THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS VIOLATED THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.THIS LAWSUIT ISN'T GOING AWAY, AND I FEEL LIKE THE THREE OF YOU THAT WERE INVOLVED SHOULD ALL STEP DOWN, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY WEIRD THAT YOU GUYS VOTED ON THE MOTION THAT DR.
WHEN THERE'S THREE OF YOU UP THERE THAT WERE INVOLVED, AND SO I THINK THAT SHOULD TAKE TWO OF YOU OUT, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU THAT AREN'T INVOLVED TO VOTE APPROPRIATELY.
I'M A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN WHO HAVE ATTENDED ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOLS FOR ALMOST A DECADE.
I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF ACCESS EDUCATION, RRISD, AND I'M SPEAKING ON ITS BEHALF.
I'M HERE TO VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE VATRE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE VATRE IS THE ONLY TOOL THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS GIVEN US TO WORK WITH.
THEREFORE, VATRE MUST BE A STRONG YES.
I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ROUND ROCK ISD LEADERSHIP AND STAFF IDENTIFYING FOR IDENTIFYING A MECHANISM FOR INCREASING STAFF SALARIES WITHOUT INCREASING THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE PAID BY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ROUND ROCK ISD STAFF FOR THE RECENT CLEAR PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET, INCLUDING COMPARATIVE DATA VERSUS NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ON ITS WEBSITE. I HOPE THAT A SIMILAR WEB PAGE WILL COME SOON ABOUT VATRE, AS IT WOULD BE AN INVALUABLE SOURCE OF ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE WITH OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE COMPLAINT SYSTEM, BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL, HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED AGAINST OUR STAFF IN WAYS THAT HAS DRIVEN THEM OUT OF ROUND ROCK ISD INDEPENDENT OF HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAID.
THE STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR STAFF IN THIS SITUATION IS CLEAR DISTRICT POLICIES TRANSPARENTLY AND WIDELY COMMUNICATED SO THEY FEEL BACKED UP RATHER THAN THROWN UNDER THE BUS. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE VALUE OF STRONG, CLEAR DISTRICT POLICY ON THE ISSUE OF BOOKS ON OUR LIBRARY SHELVES.
THEREFORE, I HOPE THAT THE FUTURE ROUND ROCK ISD VATRE WEB PAGE WILL INCLUDE A CLEAR STATEMENT OF WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION STAFF CAN AND CAN'T SHARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHERE IT IS EASY FOR ALL STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORTS THEM TO FIND AND REFER TO IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HI, MY NAME IS MATT AND WE LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE CALLING TO OPPOSE THAT, AT LEAST DURING THIS SEASON.
SO MANY FAMILIES, INCLUDING OURS, HAVE BEEN PINCHED BY HIGH INFLATION AND A DIFFICULT ECONOMY, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND JUST OUT OF THIS AREA BECAUSE OF COST OF LIVING, AND I WOULD HATE FOR A TAX RATE INCREASE TO CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN TO OUR FAMILY OR TO OTHER FAMILIES. SO PLEASE DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TAX RATE INCREASE, AT LEAST IN THIS SEASON FOR OUR DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS AMANDA ERICKSON AND I'M CALLING IN REGARDS TO THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION.
SO I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF US HAVING THE VATRE HAPPEN.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR LEGISLATURE HAS FAILED TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A HUGE SURPLUS IN THE STATE AND OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT BEING PAID FAIRLY RIGHT NOW.
SO PLEASE LET THIS GO THROUGH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. JEREMY [INAUDIBLE] F TWO.
TONIGHT AGAIN YOU DISMISS DISCUSS MY LAWSUIT.
I WATCH YOU TALK ABOUT RACISM AND OPPRESSED GROUPS WHILE YOU ACTUALLY DO THE OPPRESSING YOURSELF.
[00:25:05]
JESUS STOOD UP FOR THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY, BUT HE ALSO IS THE SAME JESUS THAT OVERTURNED TABLES AT THE TEMPLE OF THOSE USING THAT TEMPLE INSTITUTION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RELIGIOUS PILGRIMS FOR PROFIT.MY ISSUE WITH MR. AZAIEZ'S ACTIONS AREN'T SIMPLY THAT HE SINNED THROUGH ADULTERY.
THE WOMAN I'VE STOOD UP FOR ALSO DID THAT.
YOU CHOOSE TO PUT ME IN PRISON.
WEIR, LANDRUM, AND HARRISON RESIGN.
ISSUE A WRITTEN PUBLIC APOLOGY ADMITTING YOU WERE WRONG.
THIS DISTRICT MUST PURSUE TRANSPARENCY.
OKAY, THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[D. ACTION ITEMS]
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO AGENDA ITEMS D ONE, TWO AND THREE, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. COVINGTON, WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR GUEST AND BRIEFLY EXPLAIN EACH EACH RESOLUTION AND AGENDA ITEM AND TRUSTEES.THERE IS MOTION LANGUAGE ATTACHED TO THE ELECTRONIC AGENDA IF YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS.
WE HAVE WITH US MR. BEN MORSE. HE IS A SORT OF VATRE EXPERT.
HE WILL EXPLAIN THE THREE MOTIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
SO THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS THE ORDER THAT WOULD SET YOUR TAX RATE.
IT'S REALLY AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS.
THIS WOULD BASICALLY BE SETTING A RATE OF 91.9 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION, AND THAT'D BE DIVIDED INTO 72.1 CENTS FOR YOUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION PURPOSES AND THEN 19.8 CENTS FOR YOUR I&S PURPOSES , AND THAT'S REALLY THE ENTIRE ORDER.
SO WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDER AND SET THE RATE THAT I'VE JUST DESCRIBED.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE ORDER SETTING A TOTAL PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.9190 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION, WHICH WILL BE COMPRISED OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE OF 0.7210 AND AN INTEREST AND SINKING RATE OF 0.1980 PER $100 TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.
YES, I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN I HAVE A COMMENT.
CAN YOU SAY THAT, MR. MORRIS, CAN YOU SAY YOUR FIRM JUST A LITTLE BIT SLOWER? AND THEN MY QUESTION BECAUSE I DIDN'T CATCH IT, AND THEN MY QUESTION IS SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT DO OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW LIKE WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T SAY? I KNOW THIS COMES UP DURING BONDS, SO MAYBE THIS ISN'T FOR YOU, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON LETTING THE EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT THEY STILL HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS? I'M GUESSING THAT'S THE ANSWER. YOU HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT YOU PROBABLY CAN'T USE DISTRICT RESOURCES TO WORK FOR OR AGAINST.
CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT? AND THEN, MADAM CHAIR, I DO HAVE A STATEMENT.
MY FIRM IS LEON ALCALA PLLC, AND I THINK THESE ARE ALL KIND OF JOINED TOGETHER BECAUSE ONCE YOU IF YOU DO TAKE ACTION TO ADOPT THIS TAX RATE, YOU'D BE EXCEEDING YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
SO THEN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION TO CALL THE VATRE.
THERE IS THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ONCE THE ELECTION IS CALLED ON WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T SAY.
THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT IS BASICALLY IF ANY DISTRICT RESOURCES ARE USED THAT INCLUDES COMPENSATED TIME OF EMPLOYEES, THEN THE COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE LIMITED STRICTLY TO FACTUAL INFORMATION, AND PART OF WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PREPARED BY THE DISTRICT OR WITH DISTRICT RESOURCES STAY WITHIN THOSE RESTRICTIONS.
AS FAR AS WHAT EMPLOYEES CAN DO OR BOARD MEMBERS CAN DO, BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT COMPENSATED.
[00:30:05]
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON TIME THAT'S COMPENSATED BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF THERE ARE NO RESOURCES USED, THEN, YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBERS OR EMPLOYEES ARE FREE TO THEY HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK THEIR MIND ABOUT WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING IMPORTANT LIKE AN ELECTION.SO BASICALLY THE IF ANY RESOURCES ARE USED FACTS ONLY.
IF NO RESOURCES ARE USED, THEN PEOPLE ARE FREE TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK.
OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THAT ACTUALLY BEGS ONE MORE QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR.
I KNOW I SAID I JUST HAD JUST ONE.
OH, SO YOU JUST SAID THAT D ONE.
SO BECAUSE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE, YOU SAID SO THEN THAT GENERATES D TWO, WHICH IS CAN YOU JUST SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT PROCESS? SO WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON IS NOT THE TAX RATE ADDING THE THREE GOLDEN PENNIES AND PUTTING THAT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS.
WE'RE VOTING ON A TAX RATE THAT'S HIGHER.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT JUST TELL US, WHAT DO YOU WANT IS TELL US WHAT D TWO IS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, AND THEN I HAVE A STATEMENT, MADAM CHAIR. THE FIRST ITEM, BOTH OF THEM KIND OF THE CAPTION IS SUPPOSED TO KIND OF CAPTURE WHAT THEY DO.
SO THE FIRST ITEM, YOU'D BE BASICALLY SETTING YOUR TAX RATE, BUT IT IT ESSENTIALLY AUTOMATICALLY CREATES THE NEED FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT SECOND ACTION AND CALL THE ELECTION.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT--AND SO WHAT IF IT FAILS? IF IT FAILS, THE STATUTE SAYS YOU CANNOT ADOPT A TAX RATE THAT IS THAT EXCEEDS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME BASIC FACTS, YOU KNOW, TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'LL JUST THIS IS THIS IS MY STATEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY, MY OPINION, THIS TAX RATE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WILL BE VOTING FOR, FOR REASONS THAT I WILL EXPLAIN IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WHEN THE ORDER IS ACTUALLY CALLED FOR.
THANK YOU. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING.
THE RISK OF SETTING THIS TAX RATE.
YOU STARTED GOING INTO IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF THE WHAT IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT PASSES AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT DOESN'T PASS? WE USUALLY SET OUR TAX RATE.
I BELIEVE MID SEPTEMBER WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP, AND USUALLY IT'S SET.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DONE BEFORE WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY SET A BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET A TAX RATE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING DOWN A PATH ALREADY AND THEN IF IT FAILS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF $33M.
SO CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT MR. COVINGTON, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RISK OF US DOING THIS? BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THIS, I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS DONE AND TALK ABOUT THE RISK IN TERMS OF LONG TERM AND THE FUND BALANCE.
ALSO, IF YOU CAN PLEASE, BEFORE YOU ANSWER THIS, LET ME JUST CLARIFY, DO WE NEED TO DO THIS IN CLOSED SESSION OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO TALK ABOUT IN OPEN? I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN.
IF YOU ALL DON'T APPROVE THE CALL OF THE ELECTION AND IF YOU DO APPROVE IT AND THE ELECTION FAILS, YOU EITHER GO INTO YOUR FUND BALANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ADOPTED BUDGET ALREADY, OR WE COME BACK AND GIVE YOU AN AMENDED BUDGET TO TAKE SOME STUFF OUT.
SO I AM ASKING, HAS THE ADMINISTRATION RUN THE SCENARIO OF HAVING TO REMOVE THINGS AND WHERE THIS PUTS US LONG TERM, IF THIS WERE TO FAIL WITH FUND BALANCE, AS I BROUGHT UP IN THE BUDGET MEETING, MY RECOLLECTION AND WHAT THE CONSULTANTS TOLD US WHEN THEY CAME IN NOVEMBER WAS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT I MEAN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE $24 MILLION SHORTFALL THAT THIS TAX RATE IS GOING TO HAVE EVEN IF THE TAX RATE PASSES, BUT IF THE TAX RATE DOESN'T PASS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A $33 MILLION SHORTFALL, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, HOW CLOSE ARE WE
[00:35:05]
GETTING TO BEING IN A LONG TERM ISSUE? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THAT? DO WE KNOW? ARE WE JUST LOOKING AT THIS YEAR? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS AND THE WHAT IFS? NO, I HAVE NOT PREPARED A BUDGET SCENARIO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS; THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES AND TRYING TO PREPARE A BUDGET THAT FAR OUT.A $24 MILLION HIT TO FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR.
THAT'S STILL JUST A PROJECTION.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT COMES IN LESS OR THE 7 MILLION IF THE VATRE PASSES.
SO THAT'S THE BUDGET IS JUST A PROJECTION AT THE START OF THE YEAR TO GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR, AND WE WILL AMEND THE BUDGET IN OCTOBER AND IN THE SPRING IF NECESSARY BUT AS FAR AS LONG TERM HIT EVEN IF THE 24 MILLION WAS THE HIT FUND BALANCE, I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE CASH ON HAND THING ABOUT FUND BALANCE.
WE WILL STILL HAVE ENOUGH CASH ON HAND TO MEET THE THAT MEASURE IN THE FIRST REPORT.
YEAH, I THINK MY WORRY IS THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD IS JUST KEPT DIGGING OUT OF THAT FUND BALANCE, AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT WE HAD FOLKS BEFORE US THAT ACTUALLY PUT MONEY INTO THE FUND BALANCE, AND I PREFER TO BE LIKE THOSE FOLKS, AND ALL I SEE ON THIS BUDGET WITH THIS TAX RATE IS RED, AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR SPENDING PROBLEM IN THIS DISTRICT THAT WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING, AND THAT WE KEEP JUST GOING OUT AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. I'M WITH THE FOLKS, THE LEGISLATORS.
WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY SITTING UP THERE IN THE STATE.
THEY NEED TO GIVE IT TO US, AND I DO BELIEVE THEY COULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.
RIGHT, AND THEY MIGHT STILL GIVE US MONEY.
SO I DO AGREE THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO QUIT HOLDING ON TO THAT MONEY AND GIVE IT TO US, BUT NOBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO PROVE TO ME THAT WE HAVE A WE DON'T HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, AND I DO FIND IT INTERESTING AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN, I SAID IT IN THE OTHER MEETING.
HEY, WE NEED $3 MILLION FOR THIS.
HEY, WE NEED 100,000 FOR THIS.
HEY, WE NEED A, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER SIX FIGURES FOR THIS SETTLEMENT.
HEY, WE JUST WANT TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, DOING THIS LAWSUIT AND SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY, AND WE ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE THIS MONEY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHERS. THAT'S WHY I CALL IT HOLDING IT HOSTAGE, AND SOME OF YOU ON THE BOARD.
IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE BEFORE I WAS ON THE BOARD, YOU GUYS AGREED YOU GUYS KNEW THIS WAS THE WAY IT OPERATED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE TALKED TO FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE AND THIS IS THE WAY IT OPERATES IN ALL THE DISTRICTS.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ALL THE DISTRICTS.
THEY ALL HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM.
THIS ISN'T UNIQUE TO ROUND ROCK.
THERE'S A DISPARITY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DISTRICT, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT, BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE WE SET THE TAX RATE, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT AND I THINK YOU TRUSTEE WESTON FOR CALLING THIS FOR TWO AND A HALF, ALMOST THREE YEARS, AND I THINK THIS IS I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD PAUSE AND LOOK AT THE $24 MILLION AND THAT'S WITH YOU ALL GETTING THIS VATRE AND THEN THE $33 MILLION OF NOT GETTING THE VATRE AND RECALL WHAT THE CONSULTANT THAT WE PAY MONEY FOR SAID IN NOVEMBER YOU CAN'T KEEP HAVING THESE DEFICITS.
I MEAN. I DON'T WANT TO GET TO JANUARY AND US HAVE TO AND HAVE TO CUT THINGS IN OUR BUDGET AND START. I MEAN, THAT IS NOT RIGHT TO DO TO PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
AGENDA ITEM D TWO THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDER CALLING VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION.
OKAY. WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF, I GUESS, HAD A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO THIS.
SO SINCE YOUR TAX RATE EXCEEDED YOUR VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, THIS WOULD TAKE ACTION TO CALL AN ELECTION FOR NOVEMBER 7TH TO GIVE VOTERS THE OPTION TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THAT TAX RATE.
IT AUTHORIZES ALL ACTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE.
THE TWO THAT I WOULD POINT OUT WOULD BE CONTRACTING TO BE PART OF THE JOINT ELECTIONS WITH BOTH COUNTIES, AND THEN THE SECOND THING WOULD BE PROVIDING LEGALLY REQUIRED NOTICES, AND THOSE ARE REALLY THE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD POINT OUT, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:40:03]
IF NOT, YOU JUST NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDER CALLING A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION.I WAS JUST ABOUT TO CALL FOR COMMENTS.
SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
POINT OF ORDER. IS IT OKAY FOR TRUSTEES TO MAKE COMMENTS SILENTLY AS WE SIT HERE WITH OTHER TRUSTEES? I WOULD ASK FOR DECORUM ON THE BOARD.
ONCE AGAIN, I WILL CALL FOR DECORUM.
JUST BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO EXERCISE MY RIGHT AND MY DUTY TO SPEAK AT THE DAIS.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND. TRUSTEE MARKHAM, DO YOU MIND TURNING YOUR MICROPHONE OFF? THANK YOU. THIS TAX RATE ELECTION PROPOSAL FROM THE BOARD MAJORITY IS BEING OFFERED UNDER A FALSE NARRATIVE OF PROPAGANDA THAT HOLDS TEACHER RAISES HOSTAGE TO A TAX INCREASE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT IS CRIPPLING MANY FAMILIES.
NO EXPLANATION HAS BEEN OFFERED AS TO WHY AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT WAS NOT DONE PRIOR TO THIS VOTE, AND NO OTHER ASPECT OF MY LIFE WOULD I MAKE SUCH A CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION THAT IMPACTS SO MANY PEOPLE AND THEIR WALLETS AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT TO JUSTIFY IT, AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO START CHANGING THE WAY I'VE DONE BUSINESS MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THIS BOARD LAVISHLY SPENDS YOUR MONEY ON LEGAL BILLS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AND TOO MANY OTHER WASTEFUL ITEMS TO COUNT.
WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A SPENDING PRIORITIES PROBLEM, AND NO, AND I DON'T SEE ANY INTEREST IN STOPPING THIS PATH OF MADNESS THAT WE'VE BEEN ON FOR TOO LONG. IN MY VIEW, THE BOARD HAS ABDICATED ITS SACRED DUTY TO STUDENTS TO EXERCISE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND EXERCISE FISCAL DISCIPLINE.
THIS DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT THAT THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS, IF ADDRESSED, WOULD SEND A SURGE OF ALMOST $40 MILLION INTO THE COFFERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEY WON'T ADDRESS IT. NUMBER TWO, THE BOARD REFUSES TO ADDRESS RIGHTSIZING THE STAFFING LEVELS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ACTUAL STUDENT POPULATION.
NUMBER THREE, THE BOARD REFUSES TO SCRUTINIZE THE BLOATED ADMINISTRATION RANKS.
THE TRUTH IS, THEY NEED MORE OF YOUR TAX MONEY FOR SELF-SERVING OBJECTIVES THAT ARE A MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY THAN THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND TEACHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
I ACTUALLY HAD A QUESTION, AND I THINK EITHER ONE OF YOU COULD ANSWER IT.
HOW MUCH ARE YOUR SERVICES? LIKE HOW MUCH IS THE VATRE ITSELF GOING TO COST US JUST TO DO THE VATRE? KIND OF ORDER DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE MOTION? I MEAN. YEAH, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING TO DO IT BECAUSE IT GOES INTO MY IF I WANT.
SO I WANT TO KNOW IF IT COSTS A LOT OR A LITTLE.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT COST, BUT WE DO HAVE TO PAY THE ELECTION FEES TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE, BUT I CAN GET BACK TO YOU, AND THEN WE'RE PAYING FEES FOR A LAWYER TO USHER US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I MEAN, WOULD HIS SERVICES BE RENDERED IF WE WEREN'T DOING THE VATRE OR ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY HERE FOR THE VATRE? NOW WE TYPICALLY USE THEM FOR OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS.
OKAY, BUT THEY'RE CHARGING US TO DO WORK ON THE VATRE.
I THINK THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY SPEND ON EDUCATING PEOPLE.
DO WE PLAN ON EDUCATING FOLKS ON THE VATRE? IS THAT WE CERTAINLY DO.
THAT MONEY WILL BE GOING DIRECTLY TO TEACHER AND STAFF TO KEEP RETAIN.
[00:45:03]
LIKE YOU HEARD IT MANY TIMES FROM A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.WE'RE GOING TO EDUCATE OUR WE'RE GOING TO HELP INCREASE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF PAY BY 3%.
THAT WILL HELP RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR AWESOME TEACHERS AND MOTIVATE THEM TO CONTINUE DOING AMAZING THINGS WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT'S REALLY AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS. OKAY.
WHY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE TAX RATE ARE GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO THIS IN THE FACT THAT.
OUR BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
THE TAX RATE IS ALSO PART OF THE BUDGET, AND SO IT PLAYS INTO THE MORAL DOCUMENT.
CHOOSING TO HOLD HOSTAGE FOR THIS VATRE.
OUR BUDGET IS OVER $500 MILLION, AND YES, TEACHER PAY IS A LOT OF THAT, BUT THEN THAT STILL LEAVES 12, 15, 18%. THAT'S NOT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD CHOOSE TO HOLD HOSTAGE, BUT THIS BOARD ISN'T.
TO STRONG ARM OUR TEACHERS INTO VOTING FOR VATRE.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN STATED HERE TONIGHT, AND THAT'S THE WAY DR.
AZAIEZ JUST STATED IT, AND I'M MORALLY OPPOSED TO STRONG ARMING TEACHERS FOR THEIR PAY RAISES.
THAT I HAD TO BE STRONG ARMED TO GET MY PAY RAISE.
YOU WORK HARD, YOU DO A GOOD JOB, YOU GET YOUR PAY RAISE.
LET ME FINISH MY POINT OF ORDER.
PLEASE. PLEASE STAY WITH THE FACTS AND NOT ACCUSATIONS.
YEAH. ARE YOU DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ME ON MY VIEWPOINT? MY VIEWPOINT IS THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED FOR PERSONAL FAVORS AND GOT IT.
THAT IS MY VIEWPOINT FROM THE DAIS.
THIS HAS NOTHING. POINT OF ORDER.
I'M SORRY. I NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR.
I WILL RULE THAT IF SHE'S GOING TO CLASSIFY IT AS IT HITS HER OPINION, THEN THAT IS FINE , BUT IF SHE'S GOING TO PROPOSE IT LIKE IT'S FAXED, THAT'S WHEN I HAVE PROBLEMS. SO IF SHE'S GOING TO SAY IT IS MY OPINION THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING PERSONAL FAVORS, SHE'S ENTITLED TO EXPRESS HER OPINION, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CLARIFYING IT IS YOUR OPINION.
POINT OF ORDER? WHAT IS YOUR POINT? IS IT OKAY FOR HER TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS BASED ON HER OPINION? IF SHE SAYS IT IS HER OPINION, SHE IS ENTITLED TO EXPRESS HER OPINION ON THE DAIS? OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW.
WHILE OUR TEACHERS HAVE GONE UNFUNDED, AND PEOPLE SHOULD ASK, HOW WAS IT THAT WE JUST MAGICALLY ALL OF A SUDDEN GIVE TEACHERS, TEACHERS, 3%, OTHER FOLKS, 2% PAY RAISES LAST YEAR? HOW DID WE MAGICALLY DO THAT, Y'ALL? THEY JUST FIND 3% IN THEIR POCKETS.
LIKE IT'S NOTHING. WE COULD FIND 3%.
THAT'S WHAT DANIELLE AND I ARE SITTING HERE TELLING YOU.
DANIELLE AND I FULLY BELIEVE WE COULD FIND THE 3% TODAY.
IT IS MORALLY WRONG FOR THIS BOARD TO HOLD THE TEACHERS HOSTAGE, THEIR PAY RAISES HOSTAGE , AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TEACHERS LEAVE OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE DO. SO STOP DOING THAT.
IT'S FINE. I WILL VOTE FOR THE VATRE.
YOU GUYS FIND $12 MILLION RIGHT NOW TO HOLD HOSTAGE WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
I BET YOU'D GET A 7-0 VOTE IT.
WOULDN'T THAT BE AMAZING? WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE HOLDING THE WRONG THING HOSTAGE FOR THIS VATRE.
I DON'T KNOW. DO YOU WANT A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM? WHATEVER YOU WANT. HOLD SOMETHING ELSE HOSTAGE OTHER THAN THE TEACHER RAISES.
I FULLY BELIEVE WE COULD FIND 3%.
WE DID IT AT THE END OF IN THIS BUDGET.
I FEEL LIKE SOMEWHERE IN BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, WE HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT GRANDSTANDING.
SHE'S ACCUSING PEOPLE OF GRANDSTANDING.
IS THAT HER VIEWPOINT? SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WAS HER VIEWPOINT AND MY PERSONAL OPINION.
YES, I DID, AND YOU NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR FOR THE POINT OF ORDER.
THANK YOU. RULING ON THAT? I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S HER THOUGHTS THAT SHE DID.
[00:50:02]
SO, GUYS, THIS IS SILLY.MOVE ON AND LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
WE ARE NOT DECIDING WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, INCREASING THE TAXES.
SECOND HAVE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ENDING DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE'RE ON TO ITEM D THREE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING TRAVIS COUNTY VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. MORRIS TO EXPLAIN THIS ONE.
SO AGAIN, THIS ITEM KIND OF THE CAPTION DESCRIBES WHAT IT IS THE COUNTY IS USING THIS A CERTAIN TYPE OF EQUIPMENT FROM ES&S, AND THEY HAVE ASKED YOU TO ESSENTIALLY APPROVE THE VOTING EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WILL BE USING IN YOUR ELECTION, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES.
POINT OF ORDER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? I DO NOT RECALL YOU CALLING ON TRUSTEE WEIR AND EMPOWERING HER WITH THE MICROPHONE TO MAKE THAT POINT.
TO MAKE THAT MOTION. I HAD MY BUTTON ALREADY PRESSED.
SO ARE WE ALLOWED? ARE WE INTERJECTING NOW AND SPEAKING WHEN WE'RE NOT BEING CALLED ON? I NEED CLARIFICATION.
TRUSTEES, PLEASE USE YOUR BUTTON.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN? I THINK I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS COMING BEFORE US AND NOT WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND WHY TRAVIS COUNTY FEELS LIKE THEY NEED US TO VOTE ON THIS? I JUST. WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS.
I SEE MR. COVINGTON SHAKING HIS HEAD.
I JUST I MEAN, WHY? SO I'VE SEEN TRAVIS COUNTY ASK THIS EVERY TIME.
I THINK THE REASON THAT THEY'VE NOTED THAT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT NOW THAT EACH POLLING PLACE HAS AN ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINE, AND SO I THINK THEY MAY HAVE SENT THIS OUT JUST TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS TAKEN ACTION TO APPROVE THEIR EQUIPMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER YOU HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.
THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE IN THE VATRE ORDER THAT DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN ACTION TO APPROVE THEIR VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND CAN YOU CLARIFY, BECAUSE WE JUST GOT ALL THIS INFORMATION ON FRIDAY EVENING AT LIKE 4 OR 5:00 THAT THIS IS IT'S NOT AN EXPENSE.
SO IN THE DOCUMENT, IT'S USING THE WORD ACCESSIBLE.
ARE WE TALKING ACCESSIBLE AS IN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT? YES, IT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES.
AREN'T THERE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT REQUIRE THIS ALREADY? YES, THIS WOULD BE BASICALLY TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THIS SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND IS USED BY THE COUNTY AND SO WE STAND IN THE WAY, BUT FOR TO VOTE ON THIS OF WHAT? I'M NOT SURE IF [INAUDIBLE] ESSENTIALLY THIS THIS WOULD BE JUST YOUR FORMAL ACTION TO APPROVE THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THE COUNTY.
RIGHT, BUT WHAT IF WE VOTED NO, LIKE WHAT ARE WE STANDING IN THE WAY OF HERE? I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN, IF THE TRAVIS COUNTY WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US GET THE ELECTION, THIS IS SOMETHING WE RECEIVED FROM THEM.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY DOESN'T ASK FOR IT.
SO AGAIN, IT'S A FORMALITY MORE THAN ANYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DECIDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD TAKE ACTION, BUT IF WE DON'T APPROVE IT, OBVIOUSLY THEY MIGHT NOT PROVIDE US WITH THE MACHINES, I GUESS, AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY. SEE, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN, AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS THE SECRETARY OF YEAH, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S MY OPINION.
LET ME CLARIFY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS A STATEWIDE OFFICIAL.
RIGHT. PRESUMABLY OVERSEEING ELECTIONS IN ALL 254 COUNTIES, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
[00:55:02]
I WOULD SUSPECT NOT, BUT SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY THING IT'S DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU APPROVE THE USE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY, AND SO THIS JUST IT MAKES ME WONDER.I DO KNOW THAT WHEN WE CONDUCT ELECTIONS, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE ELECTIONS.
WE DON'T GET TO JUST PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT AND IT'S FREE.
WHAT I'M WONDERING IS IF TRAVIS COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, AND I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS FRIDAY WHEN THIS GOT POSTED BEFORE I HAD TO MOVE TWO CHILDREN INTO TWO DIFFERENT COLLEGES WAS THE FIRST TIME I LAID MY EYEBALLS ON THIS, AND I'M WONDERING IF TRAVIS COUNTY IS USING EQUIPMENT THAT MAYBE COSTS MORE AND MAYBE TO FOR US TO PUT THINGS ON THEIR BALLOT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASED COST, AND THIS IS SORT OF IN LINE WITH THAT.
WOULD YOU BE SURPRISED IF THAT WAS THE CASE? I WOULD BE SURPRISED. THIS IS JUST THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE IN ALL THEIR ELECTIONS AND YOU'RE TAKING ACTION TO APPROVE THE USE OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
OKAY. CAN YOU TELL ME, IS THERE AN ANSWER IF THIS IF WE VOTE NO, DOES THIS CHANGE ANYTHING? IS THERE ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT? TO THE EXTENT THAT TRAVIS COUNTY WOULD TELL YOU, THEY MAY TELL YOU TO COME BACK AND TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THEIR VOTING EQUIPMENT IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT ALREADY.
RIGHT, BUT IF WE VOTE NO ON IT, ARE THERE ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT COMES TO THE DISTRICT? YES, MA'AM. THEY WILL NOT PUT OUR ELECTION ON THE BALLOT.
OKAY. IF WE CAN'T IF THEY CANNOT USE THEIR EQUIPMENT, WE WON'T HAVE THE VOTERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY VOTING ON OUR VATRE, AND WHY IS WHY ARE WE ONLY GETTING THIS FROM TRAVIS AND NOT WILLIAMSON? I HAVE NO IDEA.
THIS IS A TRAVIS COUNTY REQUIREMENT.
I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY BASIC QUESTION THAT I WOULD NEED AN ANSWER TO.
SO I'M PROBABLY GOING TO END UP JUST ABSTAINING FROM THIS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA ITEMS FOR ACTION ITEMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MORRIS, FOR BEING HERE AND MR. COVINGTON FOR EXPLAINING THESE THINGS.
TRUSTEES, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE INTRODUCTION FOR ITEM E ONE AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A RECESS.
[E. BOARD COUNSEL INTERVIEWS]
SO I'VE GOT A LITTLE SCRIPT HERE OF DIRECTIONS.THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BOARD HAS DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE DAIS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL WORK ON THAT AT THE END.
MAY I PLEASE ESCORT MR. MORSE OUT, PLEASE? SURE, AND THESE INSTRUCTIONS WERE ALREADY COMMUNICATED TO EACH OF THE FIRMS IN A COVER LETTER. SO THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.
OKAY. I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE RESPONSES THAT WE HAD FOR THE BOARD, RFQ.
TONIGHT, WE WILL BE INTERVIEWING FOUR SEPARATE FIRMS. EACH FIRM WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO TEN MINUTES TO PRESENT AND SHARE WITH US ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCES AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY WOULD LIKE US TO MOVE LIKE US TO KNOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS A FINAL SELECTION.
FOLLOWING THE FIRM'S PRESENTATION, THE BOARD WILL MOVE DIRECTLY INTO THE INTERVIEW.
WE HAVE SEVEN QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE IDENTICAL TO EACH FIRM.
THESE INTERVIEWS NEED TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME FOR EACH ONE OF THE FIRMS THAT COME IN TO US.
EACH TRUSTEE WILL READ THE INTERVIEW QUESTION THAT THEY SUBMITTED.
WE WILL BE KEEPING TIME AND WE'LL LET THE FIRM KNOW THAT THEY APPROACHED THE TIME LIMIT.
EACH FIRM WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES BEFORE WE BEGIN? TRUSTEE WESTON.
SO I KNOW WE WERE ALL AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT ONE QUESTION.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE DECISION ON THE HIRING OF A LAW FIRM WE CAN ONLY ASK SEVEN QUESTIONS? YES. THAT'S WHY IT WAS COMMUNICATED TO YOU IN THE TRUSTEE INTERVIEWING LIKE THE DIRECTIONS THAT WERE GIVEN WHEN YOU GOT THE ORIGINAL PACKET. YOU WERE ASKED TO RANK YOUR CHOICES AND YOU WERE ALSO ASKED TO SUBMIT A QUESTION VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WHEN WE INTERVIEWED THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ALL QUESTIONS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.
IT'S FOR FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS.
[01:00:05]
SO I'M ALL FOR FAIRNESS.IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A VERY CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION TO MAKE AND TO BE LIMITED TO JUST SEVEN QUESTIONS TOTAL THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS IS JUST SURPRISING TO ME AND I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS TONIGHT? TRUSTEES? OKAY.
YOU WILL BE GETTING A PACKET THAT HAS THE QUESTIONS ALONG WITH AN ABILITY TO TAKE NOTES AND FOLLOW ANYTHING THAT YOU THAT STRIKES YOU DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
YOU CAN WRITE THEIR RESPONSES, ANY KEY WORDS, THINGS TO HELP YOU REMEMBER AND THEN ONCE ALL FOUR OF THEM ARE COMPLETED, THEN YOU CAN REFER BACK TO YOUR NOTES AS WE DELIBERATE.
YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TEN MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE OUR TIMEKEEPER.
SHE TYPICALLY GIVES ABOUT A TWO MINUTE WARNING, BUT SHE CAN ADJUST IT TO HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE.
WHAT WOULD YOU WHAT KIND OF WARNING WOULD YOU LIKE? TWO MINUTES IS JUST FINE. THANK YOU.
GREAT. SO IF YOU CAN JUST HOLD UP THE YELLOW AND THAT'LL BE YOUR WARNING THAT WE HAVE TWO MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING US TO COME TALK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS DAVID HANSEN AND I'M A SHAREHOLDER WITH EICHELBAUM, WARDELL HANSEN POWELL AND MUNOZ, AND I'M HERE WITH JENNIFER POWELL, ALSO A SHAREHOLDER WITH EICHELBAUM WARDELL HANSEN, POWELL AND MUNOZ.
ERIC MUNOZ WAS GOING TO BE HERE THIS NIGHT.
HE HAD TO BE HE HAD TO GO AWAY FOR A HE HAD A FAMILY MATTER EMERGENCY.
HE HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE.
SO. WELL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE, I CAN TELL YOU.
WHEN I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, I HAD INTENDED I WANTED TO BE A SCHOOL LAWYER, AND THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO AND I WANTED TO REPRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND SO IN THE FIRST SEMESTER, I WENT INTO THE CAREER SERVICES OFFICE AND I SAID, I WANT TO BE A SCHOOL LAWYER, AND THEY SAID, THAT'S NOT REALLY A THING, AND I THOUGHT, WELL, I HOPE I HOPE THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE I JUST WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND NOW HERE I AM.
THEY SAID, DO YOU WANT TO BE AN OMBUDSMAN? I SAID, NOPE, I WANT TO REPRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND SO I LIVED IN FEAR FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS, AND THEN IN MY SECOND YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL, I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CLASS OFFERED IN SCHOOL LAW, AND IT WAS OFFERED BY LEONARD SCHWARTZ OF [INAUDIBLE], AND OUR FIRM WAS FOUNDED BY LEONARD SCHWARTZ [INAUDIBLE] BACK IN 1987.
SO THAT'S WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND BOY, WAS I GRATEFUL, AND SO THAT WAS BACK IN ABOUT 1998, AND SO I STARTED CLERKING THERE AT THAT FIRM BACK IN 1998 AND WAS WAS GIVEN THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF A JOB, WHICH IS ALL A LAW STUDENT REALLY WANTS COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.
IT HARDLY EVER HAPPENS THAT YOU GET THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND ND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS I HAD WANTED TO DO BECAUSE I JUST BELIEVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I ALWAYS HAVE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE NEXT THE NEXT THE WAY TO GET FROM ONE PLACE IN IN THIS WORLD INTO ANOTHER.
THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE, AND I KNOW IT'S THE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
IT'S JUST THAT'S YOUR CHANCE, AND SO IN REPRESENTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT CLIENTS THAT WERE REALLY TRYING TO HELP SOMEBODY, NOT TO BEAT SOMEBODY FOR A DOLLAR, NOT TO BE MEAN TO PEOPLE.
IT WAS REALLY EVERY SINGLE THING.
TOUGH DECISIONS, EASY DECISIONS.
THEY'RE ALL MADE REALLY FOR ONE REASON, AND THAT IS TO HELP KIDS, AND THAT'S AND THAT'S SO EVERY TIME YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COUNSEL A SCHOOL BOARD ON SOMETHING THAT IS CHALLENGING, THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE QUESTION THAT YOU ALL ASK.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE CHILDREN? AND IT WAS PERFECT, AND SO I'VE BEEN SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE WORKED THERE FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER, AND I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING SCHOOL BOARDS FOR ABOUT ABOUT 19 TO 20 OF THOSE YEARS, AND ONE SCHOOL BOARD IN PARTICULAR.
[01:05:04]
I'VE BEEN GOING THERE FOR 20 YEARS, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THAT'S KIND OF CRAZY.IT'S IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STATE.
WHY? HOW DO YOU DO THAT? HOW DO YOU NOT GET FIRED? RIGHT, AND I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, MAYBE I'M JINXING MYSELF HERE, BUT THE ANSWER IS, YOU KNOW, BE BORING.
THERE IS NO FOUR, THREE BOARDS.
THERE IS JUST A CLIENT WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE ANSWER, AND THAT'S BEEN THE THING IS THAT WHENEVER THOSE ISSUES HAVE ARISEN, I CAN BE GO BACK TO BORING, LET'S FIND OUT, AND IN THE BORING COMES HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT A TRUST, AND THAT'S REALLY THE OBJECTIVE OF A SCHOOL LAWYER IS TO BE THAT PERSON THAT YOU CAN TRUST, TO GIVE YOU ADVICE THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON.
THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU CONFIDENT IN GOING OUT AND MAKING THE DECISIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THE OBJECTIVE OF A SCHOOL BOARD'S ATTORNEY IS.
SO THAT WHEN YOU FACE THE HEAT FOR SOMETHING TOUGH THAT YOU DID.
THAT YOU CAN SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, HERE IS IT YOU CAN REACH DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DISPUTES ABOUT THE LAW. AS I'VE SAID, WE'VE BEEN ADVISING SCHOOL DISTRICTS SINCE 1987.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE FIRM SINCE 1999, AND JENNIFER HAS BEEN WITH THE FIRM FOR 15 YEARS? ERIC HAS BEEN WITH THE FIRM HIS WHOLE CAREER AS WELL, JUST LIKE ME FOR 16, 17 YEARS.
SO 17 YEARS NOW, MORE THAN OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, AND SO HE HAS BEEN SO WE'VE DEDICATED OUR LIVES TO THIS PROFESSION AND WE HAVE A FIRM IN AN OFFICE IN PLANO.
FRANKLY, WE ALL KIND OF LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
ACTUALLY, OUR KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.
SO WE'RE HERE AND UP IN PLANO, BUT YOU WOULD BE DEALING MOSTLY WITH PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND WE'RE PIONEERS AND PREVENTIVE LAW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT JUST MEANS WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST FIRMS TO HAVE A BUSINESS MODEL THAT WAS KIND OF TO TRY TO PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS.
THAT WAS OUR FOUNDATION OF THE FIRM, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT PREVENTIVE LAW IS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CLIENTS ARE HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GO FORWARD, AND THAT'S JUST BEEN OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE BEGAN.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
OUR CLIENTS LIKE US, OUR AVERAGE TENURE FOR CLIENTS IS ABOUT 24 YEARS.
SO EVEN LONGER THAN THAN I'VE BEEN THERE AND I'M OLD.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG TIME.
THE AVERAGE TIME THE SHAREHOLDERS HAVE BEEN HERE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SHAREHOLDER TURNOVER 18 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, AND THEN, WE HAVE AS A FIRM NOT JUST THE SHAREHOLDERS WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE TIME WE'VE SPENT LISTENING TO ISSUES FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR CLIENTS, WHICH WE REPRESENT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WE ARE ADVOCATES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT'S THE ONLY YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR ABOUT IT, BUT ALL OF OUR CLIENTS, NEARLY ALL OF OUR CLIENTS ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO OUR FOCUS IS LEARNING ABOUT YOU AND THEN TRYING TO SOLVE AND THEN TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING.
I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR 30 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN BOARD CERTIFIED IN LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR 20 YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN AT THIS FIRM PRACTICING SCHOOL LAW.
AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT LAW SINCE 2008.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT IS THAT I AM THE PROUD PARENT OF FOUR MCNEIL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, AND I WAS LOOKING BACK TO REMIND MYSELF OF OF MY SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT, AND I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD
[01:10:06]
ONE YEAR SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE PTA FOR LIVE OAK, DEER PARK AND MCNEIL ALL IN ONE YEAR, AND SO THAT WAS QUITE A QUITE AN INTERESTING YEAR FOR ME BUT GOING BACK TO THE FIRM, WE LIKE TO SAY WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT NO ONE HAS SEEN IT ALL, BUT OUR EXPERIENCE HAS PREPARED US FOR EVERYTHING AND THAT IS REALLY INTENDED TO CAPTURE THE BREADTH OF OUR PRACTICE.WE SAY FROM CHEERLEADERS TO CHANGE ORDERS REALLY TO CONVEY THAT WE HANDLE STUDENT ISSUES.
WE'VE GOT A TEAM THAT WORKS ON CONSTRUCTION AND PROCUREMENT, OF COURSE, EMPLOYMENT, AS I MENTIONED.
SO WE REALLY DO WE DO HAVE THE FULL SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR SCHOOL LAW.
WE HAVE REPRESENTED OR SAT WITH BOARDS LARGE AND SMALL ALL ACROSS THE STATE, COURTROOMS FROM THE US SUPREME COURT TO THE TINIEST SCHOOLS OUR TINIEST COURTS IN TEXAS.
OF COURSE, GRIEVANCE AND COMMISSIONER HEARINGS, AND WE'VE NEGOTIATED THOUSANDS OF CONTRACTS AND DISPUTES AND DONE TRAININGS AT EVERY LEVEL ON EVERY TOPIC.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT.
THAT'S JUST A SUMMARY. WE'RE READY FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? ALL RIGHT. FABULOUS, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, NONE OF THE FIRMS HAD THESE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME.
SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE SHOOTING BLANK, NOT HAVING ANY PRE KNOWLEDGE OF IT.
SO OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE MARKHAM.
HOW DOES YOUR FIRM LEARN THE CULTURE OF THE BOARD AND DETERMINE HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT RESOLUTION? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MEMBER'S DESIRE TO WIN VERSUS ANOTHER'S DESIRE TO COMPROMISE.
SO YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU LOOK AT EACH EACH ISSUE THAT COMES UP SEPARATELY, YOU REALLY YOU CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE OVERALL DYNAMIC OF A SCHOOL BOARD, WHAT'S GONE BEFORE, WHAT'S GONE AFTER.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE OBJECTIVE ADVICE THAT PEOPLE CAN RELY ON, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU GET IS ANALYSIS OF THE THING THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE WAY THAT YOU HOPEFULLY CAN AVOID HAVING CONFLICTS AND DISPUTES IS TO GIVE PEOPLE ADVICE THAT THEY FEEL CONFIDENT WITH.
NOW, PEOPLE WILL STILL HAVE DISPUTES BECAUSE REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN DIFFER ON DIFFERING SUBJECTS.
SO THE ABILITY OF A BOARD ATTORNEY TO REALLY MANAGE CONFLICTS, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, WE RELY TO A GREAT DEGREE ON THE GRACE OF THE TRUSTEES THEMSELVES, AND WE CAN PROVIDE THE INFORMATION BUT IT WILL IT'S ALWAYS UP TO THE TRUSTEES TO DETERMINE HOW THEY WILL RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES.
ALL RIGHT. WONDERFUL OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TRUSTEE WESTON.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SINCE ATTORNEYS IN TEXAS ARE HELD TO ETHICAL STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BAR LICENSE, WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LEGAL ADVICE? WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW? AND CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY YOU WORKED FOR WERE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND HOW YOU NAVIGATED THAT? AND SHE CAN REPEAT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A REALLY LONG QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, ALL THAT WE CAN DO IS EXPLAIN THE LAW AND THE RISKS WITH TAKING A PARTICULAR COURSE OF ACTION VERSUS ANOTHER COURSE OF ACTION.
WE ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO WE CANNOT MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION.
TO BE HONEST, OCCASIONALLY WE WILL HAVE TO PUT OUR ADVICE IN WRITING SO THAT EVERYONE IS CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ADVISED A CERTAIN WAY.
IF YOU DECIDE TO ADVISE OR PROCEED AGAINST OUR ADVICE, WE HAVE TO DO THAT FOR OUR OWN LIABILITY PURPOSES , BUT. THE DECISION ULTIMATELY IS THE BOARD'S.
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I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT SITUATION A FEW TIMES, AND TYPICALLY, THAT IS EXACTLY HOW HOW WE WOULD HANDLE IT AS I DESCRIBED.ALL RIGHT, GREAT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, HARRISON.
WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECENT RRISD BOARD IN THE LAST THREE YEARS? WHAT SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION DOES OUR BOARD NEED IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR CHALLENGES? THANK YOU. OKAY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE RRISD BOARD IS DERIVED FROM WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES, AND THAT'S OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU'VE LIKE EVERY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TEXAS, YOU'VE BEEN CONFRONTED WITH UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THAT HAVE, FRANKLY, PUBLICLY PITTED YOU AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, AND THAT IS A THAT'S THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ANY OBSERVER CAN CAN SEE.
WHAT DO I KNOW? I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE HEART OF ANY PERSON.
IT'S BEEN MY PHILOSOPHY AND THE ONLY WORKING PHILOSOPHY THAT A SCHOOL LAWYER CAN HAVE IN ADVISING A BOARD THAT EACH PERSON IS INTERESTED IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND FACTS, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING GOOD SOMEHOW. YOU HAVE TO YOU CAN'T PREJUDGE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL COME TO YOU WITH THINGS THAT SEEM OUTRAGEOUS.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE SAME ADVICE TO EACH TIME SOMEBODY COMES AND ASKS YOU.
I KNOW I'VE REPEATED THAT MANY TIMES, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY IN POLITICS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET ELECTED AS TRUSTEES, BUT THE CLIENT OF A SCHOOL LAW FIRM IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS THE BODY CORPORATE, AND SO, AS JENNIFER SAID, NOBODY ELECTED US.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND THE FACTS.
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONFLICTS NO MATTER WHO YOUR COUNSEL IS.
YOU WILL, AND THAT IS EVERY BOARD, EVERY BOARD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY PUBLIC, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VOTE OF THE BOARD IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD, BUT EVERY TRUSTEE, NO MATTER HOW YOU VOTE, IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME TREATMENT AND LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE WOULD GIVE ANY OF THE OTHERS.
GREAT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION ACTUALLY COMES FROM ME HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DESIRE FOR YOUR FIRM TO MAKE A PROFIT AND THE ISD'S DESIRE TO KEEP TAXPAYER FUNDED EXPENSES LOW? WELL, OKAY.
SO THE IDEA THAT HIRING A LAW FIRM, IT'S ALL THE SAME, RIGHT? THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CHARGE YOU MONEY AND COME AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAKE MONEY BY BILLING YOU HOURLY.
WELL, THERE'S WAYS THAT LAW FIRMS AND PARTICULARLY ERIC MUNOZ AND I, WHO HAVE BEEN PRACTICING IN CONSTRUCTION LAW FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, CAN DO THINGS TO HELP, TO HELP YOU TO SAVE MONEY ON ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST EXPENSES, CONSTRUCTION.
RIGHT. SO IT ISN'T JUST IT ISN'T JUST YOU GET ADVICE AND YOU PAY FOR IT.
SOMETIMES YOUR ADVICE IS WHETHER WE SHOULD APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER OR NOT.
ARE YOU GOING TO ENFORCE ALL THE TERMS OF YOUR CONTRACT? WE SEE THAT HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR EXPERIENCE IS WHAT KEEPS US FROM HAVING TO SPEND THREE AND FOUR HOURS RESEARCHING A TOPIC THAT WE HAVE WE KNOW WE CAN GIVE YOU ADVICE ON.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY IN WHICH WE DO COST CONTROL FOR JUST ON THE BILLING SIDE, BUT THE OTHER THE OTHER WAY IS THAT WE CAN HELP YOU TO BE MORE SOPHISTICATED CONSUMERS WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION, PROCUREMENT AND ANY OTHER NUMBER OF FINANCIAL
[01:20:04]
DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.THAT'S A BIG PART OF MY PRACTICE.
SO LAWYERS DON'T HAVE TO BE JUST BILLERS.
GREAT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE ZARATE.
HI THERE. HOW DO YOU HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE? WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO COUNSEL OR IS IT LIMITED TO JUST THE PRESIDENT AND NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? THAT VARIES FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, AND IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE RECOMMEND BE ADDRESSED IN YOUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, IF NOT IN POLICY, AND SO IT IS A DECISION FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE. WE HAVE SOME CLIENTS WHERE EVERY BOARD MEMBER IS FREE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL US AND WE HAVE OTHERS WHERE IT'S SPECIFIED THAT THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO US WHICH WAY YOU PREFER, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS, IF WE GIVE IF WE GET A CALL FROM AN INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE THAT'S NOT SPEAKING AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BOARD, WE WOULD ALWAYS FOLLOW THAT UP WITH GIVING THAT SAME ADVICE THAT WE GAVE TO THAT TRUSTEE TO THE REST OF THE BOARD, USUALLY THROUGH A WRITTEN COMMUNICATION CAN I ADD TO THAT? SO CURRENTLY YOUR BOARD POLICY IS VERY UNCLEAR WITH REGARD TO COMMUNICATION LINES.
YOU COULD YOU COULD EASILY CLEAN THAT UP.
YOU ADDRESS GENERAL COUNSEL, YOU ADDRESS, YOU ADDRESS OUTSIDE COUNSEL, BUT THERE'S THIS SORT OF REFERENCE TO BOARD COUNSEL, BUT THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ABOUT ABOUT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD IN THERE BECAUSE THE OTHERS HAVE A CLEARER LINE.
SO YOU COULD VERY EASILY CLEAN THAT UP.
THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE A DISPUTE FOR YOU GOING FORWARD.
IN ADDITION, IN YOUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, AGAIN, IT IS SOMEWHAT IT'S SOMEWHAT LACKING IN TERMS OF THAT, AND IF THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR YOU, YOU SIMPLY NEED TO CLEAN IT UP IN YOUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
TO BE CLEAR, IF THE PRACTICE IS THAT ALL OF THE TRUSTEES CAN CONTACT THE ATTORNEY, THAT'S FINE.
RIGHT. IN THAT REGARD, WHEN IT'S BIG STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN TALK TO THE ATTORNEY? I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A PRACTICE, AS A PRACTICE, THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHEN A TRUSTEE WILL CONTACT ME ABOUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY IT EITHER MUST BE HANDLED AT THE BOARD OR IT'S A PROBLEM THAT CAN ONLY BE SOLVED THROUGH ADMINISTRATION , AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS TYPICALLY, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO TO YELL INTO THE VOID ABOUT SOME ISSUE? YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY CONNECT THE TWO PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE A CEO AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN OPERATE.
SO YOU HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND CONNECT THE TRUSTEE AND TO HELP TO BUILD THAT SOLUTION BASED RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT JUST IT'LL FESTER.
WONDERFUL. OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TRUSTEE BONE.
ROUND ROCK ISD HAS AN INTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL ASSIGNED TO ADMINISTRATION.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE DIFFERENCES TO BE PREPARED TO ADVISE THE BOARD? WELL, EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT, IF YOU'RE AN ACTUAL EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT, THE GENERAL ARRANGEMENT IS THAT IS THAT PERSON ANSWERS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
HOWEVER, THERE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE AS A MATTER OF LEGAL REASONING, THERE SHOULDN'T BE A WIDE GULF BETWEEN THE ADVICE THAT A GENERAL COUNSEL PRODUCES AND THE ADVICE OF A YOUR BOARD COUNSEL PRODUCES BUT WHEN THERE IS, SOMETIMES THERE ARE GOOD FAITH REASONS WHY THAT ADVICE MAY BE DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE BOTH OF THOSE OPINIONS.
THEY SHOULDN'T JUST MESH, AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE A REASONABLE DETERMINATION ABOUT WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO, AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE WHEN THE WHEN THE OPINIONS THAT YOU GET FROM GENERAL COUNSEL ARE DIFFERENT FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.
[01:25:02]
IT CAN BE THAT THERE'S AN INCOMPLETE SET OF FACTS THAT HAVE TO BE THAT HAVE TO BE RESOLVED AND THEN GENERALLY SPEAKING, THOUGH, JUST AS A MATTER OF LEGAL REASONING, IT'S STUNNING HOW OFTEN PEOPLE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH, LAWYERS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH WIND UP AT THE SAME CONCLUSION JUST BASED UPON THE LAW. IT'S NOT THERE IS A METHOD TO IT, AND BUT WITH THAT SAID, THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD, AS IF THAT'S HOW YOU SET IT UP.THAT IS, YOUR CLIENT IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND A GENERAL COUNSEL WHO WORKS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY IT'S OBVIOUSLY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION, AND I WOULD ADD, THOUGH, THAT WE WOULD, OF COURSE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH IN-HOUSE COUNSEL.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SITUATION WHERE THERE'S CONFLICT BETWEEN THOSE TWO GROUPS, AND I'VE NOT DEALT WITH THE SITUATION WHERE THAT WAS THE CASE, WHERE IT WAS ACTUALLY A CONFLICT TYPE SITUATION, AND SO THERE SHOULD BE COLLABORATION ALL IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT, AND OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, WEIR.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE YOUR FIRM AS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL COUNSEL? I WOULD SAY THAT, LOOK, OUR MY OUR APPROACH AND OUR THINKING ON.
I MEAN, REMEMBER, IT'S YOUR MONEY.
IF YOU DON'T SPEND IT ON CONSTRUCTION, YOU CAN SPEND IT ON OTHER THINGS YOU NEED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND ANYBODY WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE IN NEGOTIATING. YOU WON'T FIND ANYBODY WHO HAS MORE EXPERIENCE IN NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS, LARGE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAN US, AND YOU WON'T FIND ANYBODY WHO IS MORE DETAILED AND RIGOROUS IN ADVISING BOARDS ABOUT WHAT THEIR LIABILITIES ARE MAY BE OR WHAT THEIR WHAT THE BENEFITS OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT MAY BE AND WHERE THEY CAN WHERE THEY CAN REALIZE SAVINGS. WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCE.
EVERYBODY YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TROT OUT SOMEBODY WITH EVEN GREATER HAIR THAN MINE PROBABLY, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT I THINK THAT'S IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST DIFFERENT ABOUT US, THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE ONE POINT OF DISTINCTION.
WONDERFUL. SO IN CLOSING, YOU'LL HAVE A THREE MINUTE CLOSING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US OR ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND SO I THINK WE WOULD JUST CLOSE IT WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE FROM AROUND HERE, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO BOARD COUNSEL.
THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT IS AND THE WAY I'VE APPROACHED IT IN EVERY NEW RELATIONSHIP IS THIS WAY AND IT IS THIS YOU DON'T OWE ME YOUR TRUST, PERIOD.
IT'S YOU DON'T OWE ME YOUR TRUST.
I SHOULD NEVER SAY TRUST ME ON THIS.
OKAY? I CAN'T BE HURT IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO SOME ADVICE.
I CAN'T BE HURT IF YOU QUESTION THE MOTIVES.
YOU JUST HAVE TO OBJECTIVELY GIVE THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IN SERVICE OF OF THE DISTRICT, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY IS LIKE NOBODY YOU DON'T OWE ANYBODY YOUR TRUST IF THEY'RE GIVING YOU COUNSEL. THEY ALL HAVE TO EARN IT, AND THAT'S JUST HOW WE'LL APPROACH IT.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO WAIT IN THIS ROOM, OR YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR I HATE TO SAY HOLDING ROOM, BUT ALL OF THE FIRMS WERE GIVEN SEPARATE ROOMS TO WAIT IN UNTIL THE PRESENTATION STARTED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.
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OUR NEXT FIRM THIS EVENING WILL BE LEON ALCALA.THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU WILL HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE THE TIMEKEEPER.
SHE TYPICALLY GIVES A TWO MINUTE WARNING AND A 32ND WARNING.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY OR IS THAT OKAY? ALL RIGHT. WONDERFUL. WELL, WE'LL ALLOW YOU TO BEGIN.
WELL, GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MADAM CHAIR.
WE ARE THE LAW FIRM OF LEON ALCALA.
SO WHO IS LEON ALCALA? SARA? WELL, WE ARE A LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENTS TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND RELATED ENTITIES, SERVICE CENTERS AROUND THE STATE. WE ARE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AND CREDENTIALED ATTORNEYS, AND WE PROVIDE, WE BELIEVE, THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.
WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT ROUND ROCK ISD IN OTHER MATTERS, AS YOU MET I THINK BEN MORSE EARLIER TODAY AND WE REALLY ENJOY THAT WORK.
WE DO NOT SEE A CONFLICT BETWEEN BEING BOARD COUNSEL AND ALSO REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT, BUT WE DID WANT TO MAKE MAKE YOU AWARE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON OTHER MATTERS FOR ROUND ROCK ISD AND WE THINK THAT IT IS SHOULD NOT POSE A CONFLICT , AND I'M JOHN JANSSEN, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I WILL VISIT WITH YOU IN JUST A MOMENT ABOUT OUR AREAS OF PRACTICE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HERE IN AUSTIN. I'M ACTUALLY IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA, AND AS I MENTIONED, WE REPRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND A VARIETY OF AREAS, AND ON THE SLIDE, BEFORE YOU GET SOME SENSE OF THAT GENERAL SCHOOL LAW, FOR EXAMPLE, EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, STUDENT MATTERS, SPECIAL ED 504 REAL ESTATE.
I THINK YOU'VE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH ONE OF OUR LAWYERS, DEON WARNER, TO THIS POINT.
ALL SORTS OF OPEN MEETINGS, OPEN GOVERNMENT ISSUES, PUBLIC FINANCE.
EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, CIVIL RIGHTS MATTERS.
SPECIAL ED 504, AND AS MENTIONED, WE COVER JUST ABOUT ALL THAT THERE IS IN THE REALM OF EDUCATION LAW AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.
EDUCATION LAW AND PUBLIC LAW IS WHAT WE DO, BUT WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? WE HAVE OTHER EDUCATION LAW FIRMS AND PUBLIC LAW FIRMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE QUALIFIED AND HAVE FULL SERVICE LAW FIRMS, BUT WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT IS THAT WE OUR MODEL IS TO BRING TOGETHER A CLOSE KNIT TEAM OF ATTORNEYS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED, HIGHLY CREDENTIALED, AND WE'RE SOLELY DEDICATED TO PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL LAW.
SO WE ARE EXPERIENCED, WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES, AND WE THINK WE CAN DO THAT IN THE MOST ECONOMIC WAY POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE REALLY DO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO DELIVER TOP QUALITY SERVICE AND DO IT IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER.
WE ARE EXPERIENCED, WE WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE IN DIFFERENT OFFICES.
SARA, MYSELF AND BEN ARE IN AUSTIN.
WE'VE GOT JOHN JANSSEN IN ARLINGTON AND WE'VE GOT A HOUSTON OFFICE, BUT WE REGULARLY TALK AND CONFER WITH OUR PARTNERS AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT JUST DELIVERS A BETTER PRODUCT FOR OUR CLIENTS.
WHEN YOU WORK WITH AN ATTORNEY AT OUR FIRM, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ENTIRE FIRM, NOT JUST ONE ATTORNEY, AND WE THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT AND PROVIDE A BETTER, LIKE I SAID, MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR OUR CLIENTS.
I HANDED EACH OF YOU AT YOUR SEATS A GREEN FOLDER WHICH HAS OUR BIOS AND I KNOW THAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY RECEIVED OUR PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF IN BEING A PART OF THIS FIRM IS THE QUALITY OF THE FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH.
I'VE REPRESENTED PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE FOR 33 GOING ON 34 YEARS.
NEVER A DULL DAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON BASICALLY THE GAMUT OF THINGS THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND SO IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO DO THAT OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
I SEE MICHELLE'S BIO IN THERE.
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I'LL LET HIM TALK ABOUT HIMSELF.SURE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
SO MY KIND OF EXPERTISE AND I THINK A LOT OF US, I WOULD SAY THE REST OF MY PARTNERS HERE, KIND OF MORE GENERAL SCHOOL LAWYERS, THEY DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, ALTHOUGH I DO THINK WE HAVE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS UNIQUE IS WE ALL KIND OF HAVE THESE CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE WORK ON AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPERTISE ON. I'M A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT I REALLY DO WORK IN ONE NARROW AREA, AND THAT'S KIND OF PUBLIC FINANCE BOND ISSUES, VATRES, ANYTHING THAT'S KIND OF FINANCE RELATED IS IS WHAT I WORK ON.
I WOULD NOT BE LITIGATING CASES FOR YOU, THAT SORT OF THING BUT I THINK I'M ABLE TO ADD THAT EXPERTISE WHENEVER WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT OVERLAP WITH KIND OF GENERAL MATTERS IN FINANCE , AND I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE OF US IN THE FIRM.
I MENTIONED MYSELF ALREADY THAT I'M BASED IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, AND AS A LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE SLIDES AND THE BIO WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE PRACTICED FOR ABOUT 28 YEARS NOW AND THE LAST 13 TO 14 CONSECUTIVELY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EDUCATION LAW, AND THAT INCLUDES SERVICE AS GENERAL COUNSEL FOR CORPUS CHRISTI ISD, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED SERVING AS BOTH TITLE NINE COORDINATOR AND A MEMBER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND ALSO INTERFACING WITH BOARD COUNSEL BECAUSE THEY HAD A BOARD COUNSEL AND ADMINISTRATION COUNSEL.
NOT NOT AS, NOT AS NOT MAYBE NOT THE FULL GAMUT AS SARA BUT I'VE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND IN MY TIME ON EMPLOYMENT ISSUES AND SPECIAL ED ISSUES AND LITIGATION AND THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT I DO, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU THAT HANS GRAF IS BASED IN HOUSTON, AND HE SERVED FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AS DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL FOR HOUSTON ISD AND ALSO COVERED A LOT OF GROUND, A LOT OF THE DAY TO DAY MATTERS THAT COME UP IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND ALSO HAD COVERED A LOT OF THEIR SPECIAL ED MATTERS AND I BELIEVE HANDLED IN THE AREA OF SOME 300 SPECIAL ED DUE PROCESS CASES AND HE ALSO IS FAMILIAR WITH REPORTING TO BOARDS ON SOME LITIGATION RISK EXPOSURE AND SPECIAL ED 504 ISSUES.
SARA REYNOLDS IS ONE OF OUR MORE RECENT ATTORNEYS.
SO IN ADDITION TO HAVING SOME GENERAL BACKGROUND, SHE IS REALLY GOOD ON PROCUREMENT ISSUES, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER ON A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT MATTERS AND REVIEW AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
ALSO PART OF OUR TEAM. WE'VE GOT STEPHANIE RITCHIE.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE FIRM, SHE SERVED AS SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND WHAT I'VE SEEN STEPHANIE REALLY DO IS UNDERSTAND THE INSIDES OF HOW A SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES.
SHE HAS TALKED TO DISTRICTS WHO HAD KIND OF, I THINK, INTERNAL NEEDING INTERNAL REVIEW, HOW TO AUDIT, HOW TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES WORK, AND I'VE REALLY JUST SEEN STEPHANIE BE A GREAT RESOURCE FOR OUR CLIENTS WHO ARE WHO ARE.
DEALING OR FACING WITH THOSE ISSUES.
MIGUEL HUERTA IS BEEN PRACTICING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW FOR OVER 25 YEARS, AND HE AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, HE IS THE PERSON THAT WE RELY ON AS A RESOURCE.
DEON WARNER IS OUR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY, AND I THINK HE HAS DONE SOME WORK FOR YOUR DISTRICT, BUT JUST FIND HIM A GREAT RESOURCE FOR ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
HE'S BEEN DOING THAT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NOW.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL DISTRICTS ARE THE SAME.
WE DO REPRESENT SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE WORK WITH AUSTIN ISD, HAYS CONSOLIDATED.
WE SERVE AS BOARD COUNSEL THERE, AND WE'RE GENERAL COUNSEL AND BOARD COUNSEL TO HUTTO ISD.
THEY MAY BE YOUR NEIGHBORS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, AND WHAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO, ALL OF US, IS WE SAID WE WORKED AS A TEAM, BUT WE ALSO REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND OUR CLIENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING YOU IS THE INFORMATION AND THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT YOU CAN AS TRUSTEES FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE SMALLISH IN SIZE AS COMPARED TO SOME OF THE FIRMS IN THIS SPACE.
[01:40:02]
HAVE AND ALSO DO IT IN A PERSONALIZED WAY, AND WE HAVE 30S, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ALL OF OUR ATTORNEYS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.WE DO PROVIDE OUR CELL PHONES, AND SO DAY NIGHT WEEKENDS, WE KNOW THAT SCHOOLS ARE NOT OPERATING FROM 9 TO 5 AND SO WE DO PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING AVAILABLE.
YEAH, REAL QUICK, WE ARE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE GROUP.
WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO HELP RELATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DO HAVE SEVEN PREPARED QUESTIONS.
YOU'LL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES PER QUESTION FOR RESPONSE TIME.
TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE OUR TIMEKEEPER AGAIN.
SHE'LL HOLD UP A THIRTY END OF TIME, AND THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE MARKHAM.
HOW DOES YOUR FIRM LEARN THE CULTURE OF THE BOARD AND DETERMINE HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT RESOLUTION? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MEMBER'S DESIRE TO WIN VERSUS ANOTHER'S DESIRE TO COMPROMISE.
WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. WE CAN GIVE YOU THE LEGAL GUIDANCE WITHIN WHICH TO NAVIGATE THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE US, BUT NO VOTER OF ROUND ROCK ISD HAS VOTED FOR ANYONE AT THIS TABLE TO SERVE AS A TRUSTEE, AND SO WE REALLY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS AND THAT FOR US, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST LEGAL CONTEXT IN WHICH TO MAKE THOSE THOSE DECISIONS.
I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW, BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, WITH THE BOARD POLICIES AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE BOARD KNOWS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT I ALWAYS SAY ABOUT LAWYERING IS, YOU KNOW, I MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHERE TO FIND THINGS, AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD BE A BIG RESOURCE FOR FOR YOU WHEN PROBLEMS COME UP.
ALL RIGHT. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE WESTON.
SINCE ATTORNEYS IN TEXAS AND THIS IS LONG, SO IF I NEED TO REPEAT IT, JUST ASK ME TO.
SINCE ATTORNEYS IN TEXAS ARE HELD TO ETHICAL STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BAR LICENSE, WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LEGAL ADVICE? WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW? AND CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY YOU WORKED FOR WERE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND HOW YOU NAVIGATED THAT? AGAIN, WE SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO THE BOARD.
WE'RE NOT A POLICE TO THE BOARD, IF YOU WILL, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN A BOARD MAY DECIDE AS A AS A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD MAY DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE AN AGGRESSIVE POSTURE AS TO A LAW THAT PERHAPS THE LEGISLATURE PASSES, A LAW THAT THE BOARD FEELS IT MAY BE CONSTITUTIONALLY INFIRM.
I SEE OUR ROLE IS PROVIDING THE BOARD WITH THE BEST LEGAL ANALYSIS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, ALLOW THE BOARD TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE, AND THEN WE SERVE AS A RESOURCE AND AN ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR POLICIES ARE TAKEN, ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
NOT EVERY LAW THAT IS PASSED BY OUR LEGISLATURE IS LEGALLY SOUND OR CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND, AND SO THERE'S VERY FEW TIMES THAT I'VE FOUND WHERE THERE'S ALWAYS A CLEAR CUT ANSWER.
THERE'S USUALLY A CONTINUUM OF RISK INVOLVED IN ANY IN ANY DECISION INVOLVING THE LAW.
JUST AS WHEN YOU PASS A BUDGET, THERE'S A CONTINUUM OF DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE ABOUT WHAT WHAT VALUES YOUR DECIDING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON. SO I WOULD I WOULD JUST SAY IT'S NOT OUR ROLE TO TELL THE BOARD WHAT TO DO TO GIVE US.
OUR ROLE IS TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS.
INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN RELY ON, AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT YOU CAN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY DO WELL, AND THE REASON I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED FROM CLIENTS IS I CAN CALL A LAW FIRM AND THEY WILL TELL ME WHAT THE LAW IS, BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO YOU KNOW, AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT THE BOARD DECIDES TO GO IN AND WE NEED SOMEONE TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT
[01:45:07]
AND SO WHAT I ALWAYS SAY TO THAT IS I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT THE BOARD IS ACTING WITH ACCURATE AND FULL INFORMATION, AND SO THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD, COUNSEL, DISTRICT COUNSEL AND THEN WHATEVER THE BOARD DIRECTION THE BOARD DECIDES TO GO, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THE BEST REPRESENTATION AND MAKE THE BEST ARGUMENT AND TO REALLY HELP NAVIGATE THAT, AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE EXCEL AS A FIRM.THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, HARRISON.
THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECENT RRISD BOARD THINKING ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS? WHAT SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION DOES OUR BOARD NEED IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR CHALLENGES? AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WELL, I YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MICHELLE.
BEN AND I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE IN THIS ROOM WITH YOU ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF ON DIFFERENT ISSUES RELATED TO ELECTIONS, RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RELATED TO THE TAX RATE ELECTION THAT THE BOARD IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO. WE SEE THAT YOU HAVE HAD SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN YOU.
WE ALSO SEE THAT TEA NO LONGER HAS A MONITOR HERE AND THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE POSITIVE, THE POSITIVE STEPS THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN TO RESOLVE SOME OF YOUR CONFLICT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU NEED.
I THINK EVERY BOARD NEEDS A VERY.
A VERY GOOD ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION AND THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR YOUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BOARD.
IT'S ABOUT THE STUDENTS THAT YOU SERVE, AND THAT'S WHERE I WOULD WANT TO GIVE YOU THE BEST INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS FOR THOSE STUDENTS, AND THAT WOULD BE HOW WE WOULD APPROACH REPRESENTING THIS BOARD.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TO YOUR BOARD MEETINGS.
SO YOU NEED A STRONG REPRESENTATION, A STRONG ATTORNEY TO, I THINK, BE OBJECTIVE, AND SO I THINK THAT IS REALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY WATCHING THE MEETINGS IS THAT YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO UNDERSTAND THE LAW, PROVIDE YOU WITH, GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE THAT THEY KNOW THE LAW AND THAT THEY ARE BEING OBJECTIVE IN WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU, THE LAW SAYS, AND THEN AGAIN, HELPING YOU NAVIGATE IN WHATEVER DIRECTION THAT YOU GO, BUT YOU NEED A STRONG REPRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT, I'M NEXT.
SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DESIRE FOR YOUR FIRM TO MAKE A PROFIT AND THE DISTRICT'S DESIRE TO KEEP TAXPAYER FUNDED EXPENSES LOW? I THINK THAT GOES TO ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS ABOUT ETHICS.
WE'RE CHARGED WITH BEING PRUDENT IN OUR USE OF THE TAXPAYER'S FUNDS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES, ALL OF US.
SOME OF OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN IN-HOUSE COUNSEL AND HAD TO PAY THOSE BILLS, AND SO WE'RE VERY MINDFUL ABOUT THE PUBLIC TRUST THAT YOU HAVE AND THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR DISTRICT, TO BE TOTALLY HONEST.
WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE BECAUSE WE NEED EXTRA WORK.
WE FEEL LIKE WE BRING TO ROUND ROCK THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FRESH COUNSEL AND VERY CONSCIENTIOUS COUNSEL, BUT THE MOTIVATION TO EARN EXTRA FEES IS NOT WHY WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY , AND I THINK I'M LUCKY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW, AND THE LAW FIRMS THAT I'VE WORKED AT KIND OF HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT IN THE CULTURE IN THAT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY A LAW FIRM, WE ARE A BUSINESS, BUT WE REALLY DO PRIORITIZE GOOD SERVICE.
WE DO RESPECT WHAT, YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE DOING, WHAT OUR BOARDS ARE DOING, AND SO I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST IS TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE, GIVE THE DISTRICT MEET THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT BEING AN EFFICIENT, YOU KNOW, GIVING THE MOST EFFICIENT BEING EFFICIENT IN PROVIDING THE TOP QUALITY SERVICES, AND THE WAY WE HAVE KIND OF MODELED OUR FIRM, I THINK PROVIDES THAT, BUT BUT CERTAINLY I THINK AS THE CULTURE, OUR
[01:50:03]
PRIORITY IS TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE AND IT'S A BUSINESS, BUT I DON'T I SAY 20 YEARS BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE AT A FIRM THAT ALSO HAD A SIMILAR CULTURE AT THIS FIRM WHO I THINK WE DO THE SAME THING AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PLACE I WANT TO WORK IN, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE.OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE ZARATE.
GOOD EVENING. HOW DO YOU HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE? WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO COUNSEL, OR IS IT LIMITED TO JUST THE PRESIDENT AND NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? THAT SORT OF THING. THAT'S USUALLY A DECISION THAT THE BOARD MAKES, AND I WOULD URGE YOU ALL TO MAKE AS A BOARD.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE BOARD IS ONLY GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IF YOU CAN TRUST ONE ANOTHER , AND IF YOU ARE USING COUNSEL TO, YOU KNOW, TO OBTAIN INFORMATION THAT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DON'T HAVE.
I THINK THAT CAN LEAD UNDERMINE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE AS A BOARD.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD WOULD BE THAT YOU COMMUNICATE WITH COUNSEL THROUGH THE BOARD PRESIDENT, AND THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS TO GET THE SAME INFORMATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE PROHIBITION AGAINST NEPOTISM IMPACTS YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY, THAT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE BOARD NEEDS TO GET A MEMO ON, BUT YOU MAY NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWER.
I WOULD DISTINGUISH THAT FROM ANY KIND OF QUESTION THAT IS IMPACTING THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
EACH OF YOU ARE INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES, BUT YOU CAN ONLY ACT AS A BOARD, AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT YOU FIND A WAY TO SEEK COUNSEL THAT ALLOWS YOU ALL TO HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION.
SO WHEN YOU COME TO A MEETING, IT'S NOT LIKE ONE.
ONE TRUSTEE IS ARMED WITH MORE INFORMATION THAN ANOTHER.
THE OTHER THING THAT I DO I HAVE SEEN OVER MY CAREER IS THAT.
SOMETIMES THE WAY THE QUESTION IS ASKED CAN CHANGE THE WAY THE ANSWER IS GIVEN, AND SO THAT HELPS YOU ALL BE HONEST IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LEGAL PROBLEM IS AND THEN HELPS US GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT PROBLEM.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.
ROUND ROCK ISD HAS AN INTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL ASSIGNED TO ADMINISTRATION.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE DIFFERENCES TO BE PREPARED TO ADVISE THE BOARD? AND I'M SORRY I MISSED THE BEGINNING.
WAS THAT AUSTIN ISD? NO, IT'S ROUND ROCK.
ROUND ROCK ISD. YEAH, I'M SORRY. I WAS LIKE, NO, IT'S I'M SORRY.
IT'S BASICALLY WE HAVE AN INTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL.
YEAH, YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO START WITH THAT? START WITH THAT ONE. SURE.
SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS STRUCTURE, AND, AND AS I MENTIONED A FEW MOMENTS AGO, I'VE WORKED WITH THAT TYPE OF STRUCTURE MYSELF AS AN IN-HOUSE ATTORNEY FOR A LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE MINDFUL OF AND CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO HOW YOU WANT TO STRUCTURE THAT, BUT WHAT WILL OFTEN HAPPEN IS AND THIS IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, COUNSEL, IN-HOUSE COUNSEL, THEY HAVE THEIR CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES.
SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, WITH, WITH, WITH THOSE INSTANCES IN WHICH YOU NEED TO INTERFACE WHEN YOU NEED TO SET UP PERHAPS A GRIEVANCE HEARING IN WHICH AN ADMINISTRATION IS REPRESENTING ONE ONE INTEREST AND YOU NEED TO COUNSEL THE BOARD.
SO WE WORK WITH THAT SCENARIO.
WE ARE PRETTY ADEPT AT IDENTIFYING KINDS OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE BOARD, AND SO WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR THAT AND THEN CAN COUNSEL THE BOARD ACCORDINGLY, BUT I THINK WHAT WE STRIVE TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERESTS ARE ALIGNED AS MUCH AS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THERE'S ONE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD GOVERNS THE WHOLE DISTRICT. SO WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.
SO WE WORK WITH WITH IN-HOUSE COUNSEL COOPERATIVELY AND TRY TO IDENTIFY ISSUES AND THEN HELP BRING THEM TO THE BOARD AND PROVIDE THE COUNSEL TO THE BOARD.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD THERE IS THAT ULTIMATELY THE BOARD IS THE BOARD, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE DISTRICT, AND THAT GOVERNING BODY IS OUR CLIENT. SO IF THE BOARD'S DESIRE IS TO EFFECTUATE A PARTICULAR POLICY, WE WOULD SUPPORT YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL IN GETTING THAT
[01:55:08]
DONE, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, IN MOST CASES THAT'S GOING TO ALIGN WITH WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO, BUT IF THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION, OUR CLIENT IS THE BOARD.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, AND OUR FINAL QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE WEIR.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE YOUR FIRM AS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL COUNSEL? GO AHEAD. YES.
SO TO THIS POINT, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT OUR CREDENTIALS AND OUR COLLABORATIVE NATURE, AND I THINK THE ANSWER FROM MY STANDPOINT, LIES IN THOSE TWO ASPECTS OF THE FIRM.
SO I'M WELL AWARE OF THAT, BUT OVERALL, I BELIEVE, A VERY EXPERIENCED, TALENTED GROUP AND WE WORK WELL TOGETHER.
LET'S SAY THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT IS PRESENTED TO ME THAT I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT, BUT IT'S NOT MY BIGGEST STRENGTH, BUT I KNOW SARA HAS WORKED WITH HER OR BEN HAS WORKED WITH HER AND MICHELLE. SO IN A PHONE CALL OR A TEXT OR AN EMAIL, WE CAN COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE ISSUE, SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND WE CAN GENERALLY TURN AROUND ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS REALLY QUICKLY, OR AT LEAST GET A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HELP HELP BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING RELIABLE ANSWERS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT , AND WE CAN GENERALLY DO THAT PRETTY EFFICIENTLY, THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD FIRMS AROUND.
I KNOW THAT, BUT YOU'VE GOT A GROUP HERE THAT'S REALLY TALENTED, REALLY EXPERIENCED AND WORKS WELL TOGETHER, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FIRMS CAN SAY THAT'S MY PARTICULAR VANTAGE POINT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ADD TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, BUT BUT I TOTALLY AGREE.
I THINK WE HAVE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY EXPERIENCED JUST GENERALLY, AND THEN I THINK WE ALL HAVE THESE STRENGTHS, THESE PARTICULAR STRENGTHS.
SO I BASICALLY FOR MOST OF MY CAREER, I'VE WORKED ON SCHOOL BONDS AND I'VE DONE A 185 BOND DEALS. MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE ARE SCHOOL BOND DEALS.
JOHN AND SARA REYNOLDS ARE SUPER STRONG WITH CONSTRUCTION AND PROCUREMENT.
MICHELLE IS THE BEST WITH KIND OF EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, ALTHOUGH SARA IS KIND OF REALLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING, BUT BUT I JUST THINK WE HAVE ACROSS THE BOARD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WITHIN THE FIRM THAT HAVE PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE IN VERY NICHE AREAS.
SO, AND WE ALL TRULY LOVE WHAT WE DO, AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE MAKES US DIFFERENT, TOO, IS THAT WE ENJOY WHAT WE DO. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE LAWYERS.
WE LOVE WORKING WITH OUR CLIENTS.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, AND OUR FINAL ONE IS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US OR ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? YOU HAVE A THREE MINUTE FOR YOUR CLOSING, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US, THAT'S FINE TOO.
I KNOW YOU HAD A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO GET HERE, AND SO WE'RE PLEASED THAT WE AT LEAST.
I HOPE THAT WE HAVE GIVEN YOU A SENSE OF OUR FIRM AND HOW WE MAY BE DIFFERENT AND MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP YOU DO THE BEST JOB THAT YOU CAN DO AS TRUSTEES.
YOUR INTERVIEW TIME IS CONCLUDED.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO EITHER REMAIN IN THE BOARDROOM OR RETURN TO YOUR HOLDING ROOM OR LEAVE OR WHATEVER, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TONIGHT AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
SINCE I DIDN'T USE MY WHOLE MINUTE, IS THE BOARD'S EXPECTATION THAT WE WOULD STAY TO THE VOTE?
[02:00:04]
OR DO YOU DO YOU PREFER THAT WE STAY? I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN EXPECTATION AND WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS 8:30.IF YOU WANT TO GET HOME TO YOUR FAMILY, IT'S NOT.
YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN, IN MY UNDERSTANDING.
THANK YOU, AND WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS WHILE WE CHANGE OUT OUR PRESENTERS.
FIRM OF O'HANLON, DEMERATH AND CASTILLO.
YOU WILL HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE THE TIMEKEEPER.
SHE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF TWO MINUTES REMAINING AND 30S REMAINING.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIRE OF NOTIFICATIONS, TWO MINUTES IS FINE.
PERFECT, AND AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE SEVEN QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THANK YOU, MADAM BOARD, PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR.
I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH WITH O'HANLON, DEMERATH AND CASTILLO, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY HONORED TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR SELECTING US FOR OUR FINAL INTERVIEW.
WE KNOW THAT YOUR JOBS ARE NOT EASY, SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
SO ABOUT O'HANLON, DEMERATH, AND CASTILLO.
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING SCHOOL LAW SINCE 1994.
OUR FOUNDING PARTNER, HE'S A FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL FOR FOR THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
WE HAVE LAWYERS THAT ARE PROFESSORS, THE LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS.
I'M A FORMER BOARD MEMBER AND A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER ACTUALLY.
WE HAVE FORMER FOLKS THAT WORK AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED OUR FIRM ON IN SERVING SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND SO, AGAIN, WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I'M GOING TO LET MS. LESLIE ALVAREZ KIND OF GO THROUGH THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH YOU ALL, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AT THE END.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. BOARD PRESIDENT.
I'M SUPER HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INVITATION TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH US.
I AM TRYING TO GO NEXT ON THIS POWERPOINT.
PAUSE THEIR TIME REAL QUICK WHILE WE FIGURE OUT THE TECHNICAL ISSUE.
ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD, AND BEN TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR WHEN WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1994, AND WE WERE TRULY FOUNDED TO SERVE PUBLIC ENTITIES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT WAS THE PURPOSE OF OUR FOUNDATION, AND IT IS WHAT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
WE REPRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SINCE OUR FOUNDATION, WE'VE GROWN TO 16 ATTORNEYS, AND LIKE I SAID, EACH OF OUR ATTORNEYS PRACTICES SCHOOL LAW, AND EACH OF OUR ATTORNEYS WAS CAREFULLY PICKED AND WE ALL HAVE SOME TYPE OF BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, WHETHER IT BE FORMER ADMINISTRATORS, FORMER TEACHERS.
I MYSELF WAS A FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWYER BEFORE I WAS BROUGHT ON TO TO THE FIRM, AND SO, AGAIN, WE TRULY SELECT OUR FIRMS VERY CAREFULLY. I'M SORRY, OUR ATTORNEYS VERY CAREFULLY, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE BRINGING ON TO THE TEAM GET TO SERVE OUR DISTRICTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, AND WE ARE TRULY BRINGING QUALITY TO OUR CLIENTS, AND SO IN THE SPIRIT OF SPEAKING OF OUR CLIENTS, WE HAVE SOME OF OUR CLIENTS ON THESE NEXT TWO SLIDES. WE REPRESENT OVER 100 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WHETHER IT BE GENERAL COUNSEL OR SPECIAL COUNSEL.
WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF REFERENCES THAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF OUR REFERENCES SO THAT YOU CAN SEE FROM FROM THEM WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE AND HOW OUR FIRM WORKS.
I KNOW IN THIS SITUATION YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WITH THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE TRULY DO RECOMMEND THAT OUR BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION, IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO ONE OF OUR CLIENTS SO THAT THEY CAN TRULY LET YOU KNOW HOW RESPONSIVE WE ARE AND THE TYPE OF QUALITY SERVICE THAT WE BRING. SO OUR PRIMARY TEAM FOR ROUND ROCK ISD WILL BE MR. BENJAMIN CASTILLO, WHO'S SITTING NEXT TO ME TODAY, AND MR. DAVID CAMPBELL, AS BEN MENTIONED, HE IS A FORMER AND CURRENT BOARD MEMBER, SO HE TRULY LIVES BREATHES, EATS, BOARD, BOARD LAW AND HE IS REALLY AN EXPERT IN THE AREA AND SO ANY QUESTION THAT COMES UP, WE KNOW THAT BEN CAN ANSWER IT AND HE IS THE EXPERT IN OUR FIRM IN THAT AREA.
[02:05:02]
MR. DAVID CAMPBELL IS A ROUND ROCK ISD GRADUATE AND HE IS PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON OUR APPELLATE LITIGATION, BUT ALSO DOES OUR BOARD COUNSEL AND LOTS OF OTHER EDUCATION LAW ISSUES, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THEIR EDUCATION LAW IS WIDE, VAST, AND DAVE IS IS AN EXPERT IN LOTS OF AREAS, NOT JUST APPELLATE LITIGATION, ADDITIONAL TEAM INFORMATION.SO THAT'S MY SPECIALTY, AND OBVIOUSLY I WORK IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
SO WHEN OUR DISTRICTS COME WITH US WITH RECORDS QUESTIONS, KRISTI GODDEN IS THE PERSON THAT ANSWERS THOSE QUESTIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY EVERYBODY ELSE AS WELL, BUT IF WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE REALLY DIFFICULT NITTY GRITTY QUESTIONS, THEN KRISTI ASSIST US WITH THOSE.
I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FINANCIAL PROPOSAL, AND I GUESS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE FINANCIAL PROPOSAL, I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT ALL OF OUR ATTORNEYS BRING AN EXPERTISE WITH THEM THAT IS TRULY SPECIAL, AND THAT'S WHAT HELPS US WHENEVER WE GET QUESTIONS FROM OUR DISTRICTS.
ANSWER THEM EFFICIENTLY, QUICKLY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO OUTSOURCE ANY OF OUR QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO OUTSOURCE ANY OF THE WORK.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU COME TO THE FIRM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT WITHIN OUR FIRM IN AN EFFICIENT AND A QUICK MANNER, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ALL DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS REQUIRE ANSWERS RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T WAIT A DAY OR TWO TO GET SOME OF THESE ANSWERS AND KNOW THAT AT THE FIRM WE ARE EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THOSE DAY TO DAY QUESTIONS AND WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU. WE WON'T EVER LEAVE YOU WITHOUT WITHOUT AN ANSWER, AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SEGUE INTO OUR FINANCIAL PROPOSAL, WHICH ACTUALLY MR. CAMPBELL WILL WILL GO OVER AND HE'LL TAKE OVER FOR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION.
OH, I'M SORRY. IS THAT BETTER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE THING THAT OBVIOUSLY I THINK MATTERS WHENEVER WE PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO ANY CLIENT IS IS BEING TRANSPARENT WITH OUR BILLING, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FIRM AND THAT I ACTUALLY WORK WITH ALL OF OUR LAWYERS ON IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ONLY DO THE WORK THAT IS ASSIGNED TO US.
WE DON'T CREATE OUR OWN WORK, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE BILL, I TRY TO TEACH.
I USED TO TEACH AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT UT LAW IN LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING, AND SO I CARE ABOUT LEGAL WRITING AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, AND SO WHEN WE WRITE OUR BILLS, WE TRY TO WRITE BILLS FOR OUR CLIENTS SO THAT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON LEGAL SERVICES, WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE DO.
WE DO HAVE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN THE LEGAL SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
A LOT OF TIMES THE LAW ISN'T BLACK AND WHITE AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, IS GOING TO BE OUR BEST ANALYSIS OF THE LAW AND WE PROVIDE THAT TO THE BOARD, AND WE DO THAT THROUGHOUT TEXAS TO SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE.
YOU GOT IT RIGHT THERE. HI, MY NAME IS JOHAN HOLTER.
I'M AN ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY WITH THE FIRM.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO THE DISTRICT 24 OVER SEVEN.
WE GIVE OUT OUR CELL PHONE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU. SO YOU COULD CALL US, TEXT US LITERALLY AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, AND IF WE DON'T GET TO YOU IMMEDIATELY, WE'LL GET TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT GOES FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS.
I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON OUR PROCESS JUST FOR A SECOND HERE.
WHEN WE COME INTO A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND LIKE WITH ANY OF OUR CLIENTS, THE ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP IS MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP, ONE SIDE CAN'T SUCCEED WITHOUT THE OTHER SIDE SUCCEEDING.
SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE ANY PROCESSES.
YOU'RE THE CLIENT. YOU KNOW THE DISTRICT.
[02:10:03]
SO YOU KNOW THE BEST APPROACH.WE TRY TO WORK WITH YOU AT EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS, AND WE'RE VERY GOOD AT COMMUNICATING HOW WE WORK WITH YOU BY GIVING YOU UPDATES, BY EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH AN EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH COMMUNICATION, SOMETIMES EMAILS JUST DON'T CUT IT.
SOMETIMES A PHONE CALL IS A LOT BETTER.
SO YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS IN REAL TIME, BUT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CLIENTS, AND IF YOU WERE TO CALL THE. NUMBERS THAT LESLIE MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK THAT THEY WOULD ALL AGREE THAT IT IS MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND JUST TO CLOSE, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MR. CASTILLO SAID EARLIER AND JUST THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS EVENING, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE BEING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE SEVEN QUESTIONS FROM ONE FOR EACH TRUSTEE, AND SO THE FIRST ONE COMES FROM TRUSTEE MARKHAM.
HI THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DOES YOUR FIRM LEARN THE CULTURE OF THE BOARD AND DETERMINE HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT RESOLUTION? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MEMBER'S DESIRE TO WIN VERSUS ANOTHER'S DESIRE TO COMPROMISE.
SO THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, RIGHT? SO I GO TO BOARD MEETINGS EVERY NIGHT.
THIS IS MY SECOND BOARD MEETING OF THE DAY TODAY.
WHERE IT BECOMES DYSFUNCTIONAL IS WHEN PEOPLE TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND SOMETIMES JUST TAKING A BREATH AND REMINDING TRUSTEES ABOUT THAT, REMINDING MYSELF, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE I'M AT A MEETING AND A VOTE DIDN'T GO MY WAY AND I'M THINKING, WELL, WHAT DO I DO TO GET BACK AT THIS PERSON? AND I JUST HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.
IT'S ABOUT THE STUDENTS, RIGHT? SO CONFLICT TO ME, I THINK IF WE APPROACH CONFLICT AS HEALTHY, THAT'S KIND OF THE FIRST STEP, AND NOT TO BE AFRAID OF IT AND TO EMBRACE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES US STRONGER AT THE END OF THE DAY, DIFFERENT OPINIONS, EVEN IF WE DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME VALIDITY BEHIND THEM.
LET'S KIND OF BRING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE A LITTLE BIT AND LET'S SEE WHERE THE OTHER PERSON IS COMING FROM, FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OPINION, AND THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR ME AS A BOARD COUNSEL AND AS AN ATTORNEY AND AS A BOARD MEMBER MYSELF, AND SOMETIMES WE'VE JUST GOT TO COME TO THE TABLE AND JUST AGREE TO LISTEN.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE TO THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, WESTON.
MY QUESTION IS A LITTLE BIT LONG, AND IT'S TWO PARTS.
SO IF I NEED TO REPEAT IT, THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
SINCE ATTORNEYS IN TEXAS ARE HELD TO ETHICAL STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BAR LICENSE.
WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LEGAL ADVICE WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW? AND CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY YOU WORKED FOR WERE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND HOW YOU NAVIGATED THAT? IT HAPPENS MORE THAN YOU THINK.
ALL RIGHT? IT'S EITHER YES OR NO.
WELL, IT'S NOT ALWAYS YES OR NO, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S YES OR NO, AND SO IN THE SITUATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN IN, WHERE THAT CIRCUMSTANCE HAS COME UP, WHERE THERE'S A BOARD MAJORITY THAT WANTS TO DO SOMETHING AND IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE EDUCATION CODE OR GOVERNMENT CODE OR WHATNOT.
I THINK PART OF THAT INTEGRITY PART THAT MR. CAMPBELL, THAT DAVID KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER, IS NOT BEING AFRAID TO SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T DO IT, AND I DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW, AND IF WE HAVE TO, WE PUT IT IN WRITING.
LUCKILY, I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY NO PUSHBACK AFTER THAT POINT MOST OF THE TIME.
SO BUT YEAH, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE LAWYER HAS TO KIND OF SAY NO AND GIVE THE REASONS WHY AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE CLIENT AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BASIS FOR AND THE JUSTIFICATION AND THE EXPLANATION, NOT JUST SAYING NO BECAUSE NO, BUT MOST OF THE TIME BY DOING THAT, HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION
[02:15:04]
BOARDS UNDERSTAND NOT JUST THE MAJORITY, BUT THE ENTIRE BOARD.YOU MIND IF I ADD SOMETHING? YEAH.
I THINK ONE THING THAT DOES SET US APART IS THAT WE ARE COMFORTABLE.
EVEN THOUGH IT CAN FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, WE ARE COMFORTABLE SAYING NO WHEN WE HAVE TO.
I DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOUR QUESTION, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK SETS US APART IS THAT WHEN WE ARE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A DIFFICULT SPOT AND I CAN THINK OF AN INSURANCE ISSUE THAT CAME UP A FEW YEARS AGO THAT I WAS ACTUALLY REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SOLUTIONS THAT BEN CAME UP WITH BECAUSE IT HAD TO DO WITH THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND SO SOMETIMES THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT AREN'T BLACK AND WHITE THAT TAKE GOOD LAWYERS LOOKING AT THE LAW, THINKING OF ARGUMENTS OF HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH IT AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE'RE ABLE TO FIND THOSE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT BENEFIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND SO THAT'S ALWAYS NICE, TOO WHEN WE CAN DO THAT.
THE EXAMPLE HE'S THINKING OF IS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, TRS DID NOT ALLOW FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EXIT AND BIG SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EXIT IF THEY OPTED IN AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO BENEFIT THAT DISTRICT TO GET OUT OF TO USE THE LAW TO BENEFIT THE EMPLOYEES, TO GET BETTER INSURANCE COVERAGE.
SO SO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, YES, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS CLOSED MINDED, BUT IN SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S A PROCUREMENT QUESTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN YES, THEN IT'S MORE KIND OF NO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TRUSTEE, HARRISON.
THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECENT ROUND ROCK BOARD SAYING THE PAST THREE YEARS? WHAT SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION DOES OUR BOARD NEED IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR CHALLENGES? AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT VALID.
SO YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION REALLY DEPENDS ON ON WHAT THIS BOARD WANTS.
DOES THE BOARD WANT A PARLIAMENTARIAN? DOES THE BOARD WANT SOMEBODY ONLY TO SPEAK WHEN THEY'RE SPOKEN TO BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT OR SOMEBODY TO KIND OF HELP THEM DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE KIND OF MAYBE CONFLICT ISSUES WHICH WE COULD DO.
WE COULD ADAPT TO EITHER EITHER STYLE THAT THE BOARD WANTS.
AGAIN, I SERVE AS A I DO TEAM OF EIGHT TRAININGS ROUTINELY.
I'M A TRUSTEE AS WELL. SO I GET IT.
I GET WHAT IT IS TO BE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST THINK JUST BECAUSE THERE IS CONFLICT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A BAD THING, AND I THINK COMING IN WITH THAT TYPE OF MENTALITY, WHICH YOU GET A LOT OF THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
NEXT QUESTION ACTUALLY COMES FROM ME, AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DESIRE OF YOUR FIRM TO MAKE A PROFIT AND THE DISTRICT'S DESIRE TO KEEP TAXPAYER FUNDED EXPENSES LOW? OR OUR MAIN DESIRE IS TO SERVE YOU GUYS AND TO HELP YOU SERVE YOUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S JUST THE TYPE OF FIRM THAT WE ARE.
I THINK DAVE MENTIONED ONE OF THE FIRST KIND OF THINGS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO IS WE DON'T ASSIGN OURSELVES WORK BECAUSE THAT'S EASY TO DO, AND THEN IT'S EASY TO PASS OFF THE BILL TO THE CLIENT AS WELL AND WE DON'T DO THAT.
OUR HOURLY RATES, I WON'T GET INTO IT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE PROBABLY LOWER THAN MOST BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS NOT TO HIT A HOME RUN WITH ONE CLIENT.
SERVE YOU ALL, ESSENTIALLY, AND WITH THAT, WE'RE BUILDING A GOOD REPUTATION WITH PROVIDING GOOD SERVICE, ALBEIT IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN MARKET. IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT OTHER DISTRICTS TAKE NOTICE AND THE PROFIT WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF WHEN IT'S NOT THE MAIN MOTIVATION, AND SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE FIRM.
OUR FOUNDING PARTNER, HE INSTILLED THAT IN ALL OF US.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, OUR MAIN MOTIVATION IS NOT TO MAKE PROFIT.
OUR MAIN MOTIVATION IS TO SERVE YOU AND TO HELP YOU SERVE YOUR COMMUNITIES.
[02:20:02]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE ZARATE.
HOW DO YOU COMMAND? I'M SORRY.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE? WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO COUNSEL, OR IS IT LIMITED TO JUST THE PRESIDENT AND NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR BOARD POLICY SAYS.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE OF A CLIENT OR NEITHER OF US ARE, BUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT IS WE DON'T BILL FOR CALLS FROM NOT THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR THE SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOUR POLICY SAYS AND BECAUSE YOUR POLICY SAYS THAT THERE ARE TIMES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ISSUE IS, THAT WE DO LET THE BOARD PRESIDENT KNOW OF THE SITUATION THAT WE MAY BE CALLED ABOUT.
IF IT'S SOMETHING MINOR, THEN NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WASTE THE BOARD PRESIDENT'S TIME, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING MAJOR, THEN YES, BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE AUTHORITY GRANTED TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT BY POLICY, IN ORDER FOR US TO FOLLOW POLICY, WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE TO INFORM THE BOARD PRESIDENT, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF CALL IT WOULD BE, BUT THE COMMUNICATION IS DEFINITELY LEFT UP TO THE CLIENT.
IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH BOARD MEMBERS CALLING YOU, WE COULD DO THAT AS WELL, BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T BILL FOR CALLS FROM TRUSTEES THAT ARE NOT THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR THE SUPERINTENDENT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY PROBABLY I HAVEN'T READ YOUR POLICY, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOUR POLICY LIMITS IT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, PROBABLY YOUR IN-HOUSE GENERAL COUNSEL AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.
SO ROUND ROCK ISD HAS AN INTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL ASSIGNED TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE DIFFERENCES? TO BE PREPARED TO ADVISE THE BOARD? FORT WORTH ISD THEY HAVE AN IN-HOUSE GENERAL COUNSEL AND I SERVE AS THEIR BOARD COUNSEL, AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN, THE WAY I INTERPRET THAT ROLE IS I REPRESENT THE BOARD IN THAT DISTRICT.
I WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I WORK WITH THE IN-HOUSE GENERAL COUNSEL, BUT WHEN ISSUE, WHEN THERE'S CONFLICT, THAT'S WHEN IT KIND OF SWITCHES, RIGHT? THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO KIND OF DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND, AND I STAND ON THE SIDE OF THE BOARD IN THAT DISTRICT.
IT HAS TO BE IT HAS IT'S NOT AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S ONE OF COOPERATION, BUT MY MAIN DUTY IN THE DISTRICTS WHERE WE SERVE AS BOARD COUNSEL IS TO THE BOARD, NOT TO THE ADMINISTRATION . CAN I ADD SOMETHING? JUST TO ADD ONE SMALL THING, I MEAN, SIMILAR TO WHAT BEN'S TALKED ABOUT ALREADY, IT DEPENDS ON THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? I MEAN, BECAUSE I CAN THINK OF HOW DIFFERENT THINGS WORK WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF FORT WORTH VERSUS ANOTHER DISTRICT.
THAT'S PRETTY RARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT.
EVERY GENERAL COUNSEL IS DIFFERENT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF IT'S CONSISTENT WITH YOUR BOARD POLICIES, THEN WE CERTAINLY TRY TO WORK WELL WITH EVERYONE AT THE DISTRICT CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD'S DIRECTION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, AND OUR FINAL QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE WEIR.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE YOUR FIRM AS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL COUNSEL? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WELL, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? AND DAVE ACTUALLY ASKED ME THAT QUESTION IN THE WAITING ROOM, KIND OF JOKINGLY.
HE GOES, WHY SHOULD THEY PICK US, MAN? WELL, LOOK, I THINK THAT WE'RE OUR EXPERIENCES AND OUR BACKGROUND REALLY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM WHERE THE TRUSTEES ARE COMING FROM.
MY DAD WAS A SUPERINTENDENT FOR 18 YEARS, SO I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD THAT JOB IS.
DAVE BEING A FORMER INTERN AT TASB.
[02:25:09]
SO WHEN WE GET QUESTIONS, WE IT'S JUST NOT IN A VACUUM.TO US, IT'S THE WHOLE PICTURE, AND I THINK THAT REALLY SETS US APART FROM EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THAT EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONLY KIND OF GIVE YOU A BLACK AND WHITE ANSWER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS BLACK AND WHITE.
SOMETIMES THERE'S CONTEXT THAT NEEDS TO BE KIND OF THOUGHT OF.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT SETS US APART FROM THESE OTHER FIRMS THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT, AND I KNOW THAT WE COULD DO A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE, AND JUST CAN I GET 20 SECONDS? SO AS BEN MENTIONED, I REPRESENTED FAMILIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTERS, AND THROUGH THAT JOB, I GOT TO WORK WITH A LOT OF OPPOSING COUNSELS THAT REPRESENTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS , AND I IN THAT WORK TRULY FOUND THAT ODC WAS ALWAYS THE MOST RESPECTFUL AND THE MOST RESPONSIVE, WHICH ARE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, AND IF I WAS APPROACHED BY ANY OF THE OTHER FIRMS TO JOIN THEM, I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE JOB JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS AND SO WHATEVER FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH, I HOPE YOU ALL SEE THAT VALUE IN OUR TEAM THAT I SAW AND THAT I CONTINUE TO SEE, AND IF I COULD TAKE THE LAST 40 SECONDS, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIME BACK, BUT BEN TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE RESPECT, TRANSPARENCY, COLLEGIALITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I THINK, THAT SET THE FIRM APART PERSONALLY.
AS A GRADUATE FROM WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1997, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I MEAN, IT'S REALLY COOL TO SIT HERE, AND SO IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT, AT LEAST FOR ME, WE'D BE BRINGING I'D BE BRINGING KIND OF A SPECIAL PASSION TO REPRESENTING MY OLD HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IN CLOSING, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR TRUSTEES OR IS THERE ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THAT AS WELL? YEAH. I GUESS IN CLOSING, AGAIN, OUR REPRESENTATION APPROACH IS REALLY BASED ON YOU ALL, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BE A PARLIAMENTARIAN AGAIN, KIND OF HELP HELP RUN THE MEETINGS, KIND OF HELP MOVE THINGS ALONG, WE CAN DO THAT. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY JUST TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WHEN THERE'S ISSUES THAT COME UP OR MAYBE EVEN KIND OF LIKE, HEY, GUYS, STOP WHEN SOMETHING'S WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WE COULD DO THAT AS WELL, AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO KIND OF HELP WITH CONFLICT, WE HAVE THAT ABILITY AS WELL.
SO YEAH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION THAT YOU GET FROM US IS GOING TO BE BASED SOLELY UPON THE BOARD AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE EXPECTING, WHATEVER THAT EXPECTATION IS, I AM VERY, VERY CONFIDENT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS DOES CONCLUDE YOUR INTERVIEW PORTION.
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S 9:00 AND AS WE TOLD SOMEONE ELSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
INTERVIEW OF THE EVENING WITH THE LAW FIRM OF ESCAMILLA & PONECK AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE YOU GUYS HERE.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT OR PRESENTATION.
ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF? TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE THE TIMEKEEPER.
SHE WILL GIVE YOU A TWO MINUTE WARNING AND A 30 SECOND WARNING, AND UNLESS YOU'D LIKE SOMETHING DONE DIFFERENTLY, IS THAT GOOD? ALL RIGHT, PERFECT, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S NICE TO SEE FACES FROM THE PAST FOR ME, ANYWAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE CONSIDERED.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TEN MINUTES ON OUR INTRO.
MY LAW PARTNER INSTILLED IN ME HE'S A LITTLE OLDER THAN I AM.
[02:30:03]
HE INSTILLED IN ME SORT OF THE APPRECIATION FOR THE ROLE OF BOARDS.HE HAD SERVED ON THE EDGEWOOD BOARD IN THE 70S.
HE CAME OUT OF THE ACTIVIST 60S LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN HIS COMMUNITY, AND AT THAT TIME, EDGEWOOD HAD THE UNFORTUNATE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE POOREST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TEXAS AND SO HE WAS VERY COMMITTED TO SERVING ON THE BOARD AND IMPROVING THE PLIGHT OF STUDENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY, AND ULTIMATELY THAT LED TO THE SCHOOL FINANCE LITIGATION THAT WE LATER KNOW TO BE EDGEWOOD V KIRBY AND HE WAS A PART OF THAT BOARD AT THE TIME.
HE THEN WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND I WAS, AS I SAID, A LITTLE YOUNGER THAN HE WAS.
SO WHEN I CAME OUT OF LAW SCHOOL, I CAME TO KNOW HIM AND HE'D BEEN PRACTICING IN THIS AREA FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, AND WHEN WE STARTED OUR FIRM, OUR COMMITMENT AT THE TIME WAS TO AND IT STILL IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IS FULLY APPRECIATED WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTEXT, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE HIGHEST EMBODIMENT OF THE DISTRICT IS FOUND WITH THE BOARD.
NOW OUR EXPERIENCE OBVIOUSLY IS WE WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATION, WE WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF, BUT ALL TO THE END OF ADVANCING THE INTERESTS OF THE BOARD WHO SPEAKS MOST LOUDLY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS I SAID, WE WERE STARTED IN 91.
I HAD GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL AND PRIOR TO THAT, HARVARD.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.
BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT STAFF MEMBERS.
YES. I ACTUALLY IN 1991, I THINK I WAS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I LIKE TO SAY I'M A LITTLE YOUNGER THAN DOUG AND MAYBE PABLO ESCAMILLA, BUT NOT TOO MUCH OLDER SINCE YOU ALL KNOW, I JUST RECENTLY HAD A BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK AND I'M NOT THAT YOUNG, BUT I YOU KNOW, I WORKED FOR YOU ALL BEFORE AS BOARD COUNSEL.
I LATER LEARNED IN LIFE IN MY PRACTICE OF SCHOOL LAW, AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.
IT WAS MY FAVORITE CLASS ACTUALLY IN LAW SCHOOL, AND SO I KIND OF STUMBLED UPON, MEETING, A FRIEND IN DALLAS, THAT'S WHERE I WENT AFTER GRADUATING FROM TEXAS TECH LAW SCHOOL, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT DALLAS ISD WAS HIRING A SCHOOL LAWYER AT THE TIME, AND THIS WAS PROBABLY IN 2000 OR 2001, AND I SAID, HE SAID, DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO APPLY FOR A SCHOOL LAWYER? I SAID, OH MY GOSH, I DO.
YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS JUST A SMALL WORLD AND RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP GETTING INTO SCHOOL LAW.
MY FAMILY'S THERE, BUT MOST OF MY CAREER AND PRACTICING SCHOOL ALL WAS IN DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, AND THEN FORT WORTH ISD BECAME A CLIENT OF OURS, AND SO DOUG AND THE FIRM ASKED ME TO GO BACK TO THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.
SO I ENDED UP LEAVING THE FIRM BECAUSE IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, BUT OF COURSE WITH WITH DOUG AND THE PARTNERS' BLESSING ON THAT TRANSITION AND DID THAT CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS AND REALLY LOVED IT. LOVED WORKING WITH FORT WORTH ISD, DALLAS ISD, REALLY GOOD LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GET ME SOME GOOD EXPERIENCE IN THAT CAPACITY OF A SCHOOL LAWYER AND AS BOARD COUNSEL AND AS GENERAL COUNSEL, AND SO I ENDED UP BACK WITH THE FIRM AFTER I LEFT FORT WORTH ISD AND BACK IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
SO I'M HERE PRETTY FREQUENTLY AND I LOVE THE AREA.
MY DAUGHTER LIVES HERE, SO I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND THAT'S KIND OF MY BACKGROUND.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW IT, THANK YOU ALL.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION.
I'M A PRIMARILY MY PRACTICE IS HERE IN AUSTIN.
I CONFINE MY PRACTICE TO POLICYMAKING AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
I BEGAN MY CAREER AT TASB SPENT SEVEN YEARS IN GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND LEARNED THE INS AND OUTS OF SCHOOL FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE.
EVERYTHING THAT TASB IS SUPPORTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE.
SO I WAS THERE SEVEN YEARS AND THEN I TRANSITIONED TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NUANCES OF SCHOOL FINANCE AND STATE FUNDING.
SO THAT EXPERIENCE SERVED ME WELL WHEN I JOINED THE FIRM BECAUSE THE INVITATION TO WORK FOR THIS LAW FIRM WAS WAS ONE THAT I COULD NOT PASS UP BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT THIS FIRM IS ABOUT IS PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR PROBLEM SOLVING.
I KNOW THIS PAST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION SAYS OTHERWISE.
[02:35:05]
THERE WAS, AS YOU KNOW, THIS HEALTHY SURPLUS, BUT WITH EVERY SESSION, EVEN IF IT'S A SPECIAL, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO CHANGE THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BECAUSE LAWMAKERS DON'T HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCE. THEY DON'T KNOW THE DAY TO DAY STRUGGLES, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS ARTICLES, BUT MY JOB IS IS ENLIGHTENING THEM ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT THIS BOARD AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS HAS BEEN ABOUT, AND JUST ONE HIGHLIGHT THAT COMES FROM THIS THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME IS WHEN HOUSE BILL THREE, THE ORIGINAL HOUSE BILL THREE FROM 2019, WAS BEING DEVELOPED.THEY ASKED FOR MY INPUT AND THEY ASKED, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER IN HOUSE BILL THREE? AND THEY SAID, WELL, I SAID, WELL, ROUND ROCK IS A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
THE WAIT FOR MAINSTREAM AT 1.0 HASN'T HAS BEEN STAGNANT FOR DECADES, AND THEY SAY, WELL, MARTY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AVAILABLE, AND I SAID, WELL, WITH THE MONEY YOU DO HAVE, LOOK AT THE RESULTS THAT ROUND ROCK GETS FROM THEIR INVESTMENT, THEIR OUTPUTS, AND SO BASED ON THAT CONVERSATION, THE MAINSTREAM WEIGHT IS NOW 1.15, BUT IT COULD NOT HAPPEN. IT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE WORK OF MARIE GONZALEZ AND HER TEAM AND THE PARENTS AND YOU, THE BOARD, BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON IF THERE WASN'T RESULTS.
SO THIS DISTRICT CAN DRIVE POLICY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER DISTRICTS.
I ENJOY WORKING WITH SCHOOL BOARDS AND TRYING TO SOLVE YOUR ISSUES WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR EXPERTISE THAT IS AVAILABLE BY OUR STAFF.
JUST TO WRAP UP OUR INTRODUCTION, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT IN OUR PROPOSAL WE OUTLINED ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF SCHOOL LAW THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ARE CAPABLE OF REPRESENTING A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THOSE INCLUDE THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL LAW AREAS, INCLUDING SPECIAL ED, FOR EXAMPLE BUT ALSO, AS MARTY HAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
USUALLY, I WILL TELL YOU, HE'S MY YOUNGER BROTHER BY ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, AND MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME TO HIRE MARTY, AND I WAS ACTUALLY RESISTANT TO HIRING HIM BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BE SEEN AS MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND HAVING THAT BENEFIT, AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER AND HE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO WORK FOR US.
HE WENT OUT AND WORKED AT TASB AND SO FORTH AND DEVELOPED SUCH A GOOD RAPPORT WITH BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE AND BEING ABLE TO KIND OF LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE THAT I WOULD HAVE STRANGERS COME UP TO ME AND SAY, OH, YOU'RE MARTY'S BROTHER.
HE HELPED US WITH THIS AND THAT.
AFTER A WHILE IT WAS LIKE, I'D BE A FOOL NOT TO BRING HIM IN.
SO ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT I THINK I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT WE TYPICALLY LAWYERS ARE REACTING TO LAWS THAT ARE PASSED AT THE LEGISLATURE AND WE SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE LAW IS NOW, AND SO NOW WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT ACCORDINGLY, BUT IT IS EXCITING TO BE AT THE FRONT END OF IDEA FORMATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO HAVE SOMEONE TRANSLATE TO LEGISLATORS THE NEEDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY.
IN ADDITION TO GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, WE ALSO DO BOND COUNSEL WORK, AND ALL OF THIS IS JUST TO SAY THAT WE REALLY KIND OF DEDICATED OURSELVES TO TRYING TO BE AS HELPFUL TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CLIENTS AS WE COULD, BECAUSE WE REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT I THINK WE'RE VERY WE TRY TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE AND CONSIDERATE OF OUR CLIENTS' NEEDS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HI. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
HOW DOES YOUR FIRM LEARN THE CULTURE OF THE BOARD AND DETERMINE HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT RESOLUTION? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE MEMBER'S DESIRE TO WIN VERSUS ANOTHER'S DESIRE TO COMPROMISE.
I'LL TAKE THE FIRST STAB AT THAT.
YOU KNOW, EVERY BOARD IS DIFFERENT AND EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT, AND CERTAINLY WITH OUR WORK WITH THIS BOARD, BUT WITH OTHER BOARDS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T COME WITH PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT YOUR BOARD SHOULD BE LIKE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY BASIS UPON WHICH TO ASSERT UPON A BOARD OR BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW I SEE POLICY.
WHY DON'T YOU SEE IT THAT WAY? SO WE WANT TO MODEL OURSELVES TO BE AS ADAPTIVE TO YOUR SITUATION.
[02:40:07]
SO IF YOU HAVE A CONTENTIOUS BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP THE BOARD NOT BE AS CONTENTIOUS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIRST BE LISTENERS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON TO RAISE THEIR CONCERN AND PERHAPS IN A CONFRONTATIONAL WAY.SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT YOUR PARTICULAR BOARD IS LIKE, WHAT THE DRIVERS ARE OF THE CONFLICT OR OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN HAVING RESOLUTION, AND WE TRY TO WORK TO BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH THE BOARD, TO HAVE THE BOARD UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE, TO TELL YOU WHAT THE LEGAL PARAMETERS ARE OF THINGS, AND TO PUT YOU AT EASE THAT IT IS IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST TO LEAN IN THE DIRECTION OF TRYING TO HAVE CONSENSUS.
WE WENT THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE, AS YOU KNOW, OF COVID AND THE ISSUE OF HOW TO RESPOND TO COVID, AND THERE WERE THESE MONUMENTAL FIGHTS THAT TOOK PLACE STATEWIDE ABOUT WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR VERSUS THE SCHOOL BOARD VERSUS TEA AND ALL OF THAT, AND THAT WAS A VERY IMPACTFUL LESSON ABOUT THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE POWER OF THE EDUCATION CODE, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS TO THE EXTENT THAT LAWS ARE NOT OR POWER IS NOT GIVEN TO TEA OR TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IT'S RESERVED FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE OF THE EDUCATION CODE, IT SPEAKS IN TERMS OF THE BOARD HAS THE POWER TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS, THE BOARD, THE BOARD.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS ANY CHALLENGE TO THAT AUTHORITY, WE TRY TO REMIND FOLKS OF THAT LAW SO THAT ULTIMATELY THEY'LL SEE THE VALUE OF WORKING TOGETHER AS A BOARD.
SO WE ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES TO DO THAT WORK, AND WE DON'T TRY TO BE SHERIFFS OR POLICEMEN OF INDIVIDUALS OR THE BOARD. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, WESTON.
SINCE ATTORNEYS IN TEXAS ARE HELD TO AN ETHICAL STANDARDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BAR LICENSE, WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LEGAL ADVICE? WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW? AND CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TIME WHEN THE DESIRES OF A BOARD MAJORITY YOU WORKED FOR WERE IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND HOW YOU NAVIGATED THAT? I'M HAPPY TO REPEAT THE QUESTION IF YOU NEED IT.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
SO OUR JOB IS I STARTED IN OUR INTRODUCTION.
I SAID WE REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I ALWAYS MAKE THIS IMAGINARY SQUARE.
THIS IS THIS ENTITY, THIS DISEMBODIED ENTITY, AND THEN THE BOARD SITS AS THE ULTIMATE EMBODIMENT OF THE DISTRICT AND SPEAKS FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT ULTIMATELY, OUR ETHICAL DUTY IS TO PROTECT THE ENTITY.
SO THAT MEANS THAT SHOULD A MAJORITY OR THE WHOLE BOARD ACT IN A WAY THAT IS VIOLATIVE OF LAW AND AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE DISTRICT, WE HAVE THE ETHICAL DUTY TO STAND TO TRY TO PROTECT THE ENTITY.
NOW, THERE ARE IT'S A VERY EXTREME SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE A CLIENT THAT MAY NOT LISTEN TO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO LEGALLY TO STAY TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT WHEN WHEN A LAWYER ADVISES THE CLIENT TO DO SO.
THAT'S A VERY TRICKY AND RARE SITUATION, BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAVE THE ETHICAL DUTY NONETHELESS TO DO IT, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE WHERE SUCH A SITUATION AROSE, WE REPRESENTED A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THERE WAS SERIOUS CONCERNS BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THAT DISTRICT THAT THERE WAS SOME SHENANIGANS IN THE RATING OF ARCHITECTS IN A PROCUREMENT, AND THE SHENANIGANS MAY BE BEING DONE BY A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR FOR THE DISTRICT WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND THE CONCERN WAS THAT THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR WAS SOMEHOW GOING TO BENEFIT FROM ADJUSTING THE RANKINGS THAT HAD OTHERWISE BEEN PROPERLY CREATED.
SO THAT SUPERINTENDENT HAD TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HE IMMERSED HIMSELF IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THERE WAS ANY WRONGDOING, AND IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE FELT THAT THERE MAY INDEED HAVE BEEN WRONGDOING.
HE, AT A PUBLIC MEETING, WANTED TO PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS TO THE BOARD.
WE HAD BEEN CONSULTED IN THE PROCESS OF HIM DEVELOPING THOSE FINDINGS TO TELL HIM ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES AND SO WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD TO GO TO A BOARD MEETING AND TRY TO ADVISE THE BOARD, AND IN THAT UNFORTUNATE INSTANCE, A MAJORITY OF A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD, FOUR MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD, WE BELIEVE, WERE SOMEWHAT COMPROMISED WITH REGARD TO THAT CONTRACTOR.
[02:45:07]
SITUATION, WE OF COURSE, ASKED THE BOARD TO TAKE US INTO CLOSED SESSION.THE RESPONSE WE GOT FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT, WHICH WAS RATHER REHEARSED, I THINK, WAS YOU HAVE TO, IF YOU GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO GIVE US ADVICE, WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONTRACTOR IN THERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR ADVICE, WHICH OF COURSE, WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO.
WE WENT TO ABOUT THREE MEETINGS LIKE THAT, AND IN EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS, OUR FIRM WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR TERMINATION, AND EVENTUALLY I SAW MY HEAD ROLLING DOWN THE AISLE AND WE GOT TERMINATED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, HARRISON.
THANK YOU. WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECENT ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD LOOKING AT THE PAST THREE YEARS? WHAT SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION DOES OUR BOARD NEED IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR CHALLENGES? AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU, TRUSTEE HARRISON FOR THAT QUESTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY BEFORE I ANSWER IT.
SO THE KNOWLEDGE CAN YOU REPEAT IT SO I CAN MAKE SURE I.
YES. WHAT IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOST RECENT ROUND ROCK BOARD WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WHAT SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION DOES OUR BOARD NEED IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR CHALLENGES? THANK YOU. YES, I'VE COME TO KNOW THE BOARD WORKING FOR YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND ALSO MR. PONECK HAS BEEN YOUR LAWYER AS WELL.
THERE ARE GREAT THINGS GOING ON WITH THIS DISTRICT.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT SUPERINTENDENT.
WE HEAR A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
I THINK THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL, REALLY WELL HERE, AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE BOARD.
YOU ALL WORK REALLY HARD TOGETHER, RIGHT? FOR NO PAY. OF COURSE, THERE ARE CHALLENGES.
PEOPLE DO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THINGS.
I MEAN, THAT HAPPENS WITH ANYTHING YOU THINK OF YOUR FAMILY GROWING UP IN A HOUSEHOLD OF SEVEN CHILDREN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON ON ISSUES, RIGHT? SO OF COURSE, CONFLICT CAN OCCUR BUT I THINK THAT SEEING THAT THE TEA CAME IN AND THEN THE MONITOR'S NOW GONE, I THINK THAT SHOWS AND IT ATTRIBUTES TO THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE WORK HARD AND WORK WELL TOGETHER TO OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE OBSTACLES AND SOME OF THE CONFLICT, AND I THINK I KIND OF WANT TO SHARE EARLIER THAT I DO HAVE A MEDIATION CERTIFICATE FROM LAW SCHOOL AND HAVE JUST PRACTICED A LOT OF MEDIATION EARLIER IN MY CAREER, AND I TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH CONFLICT TO REACH A COMMON GROUND AND COME TO SOME RESOLUTION, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DO AND WORK WITH THIS BOARD BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE.
I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE HEADED WITH THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY, AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING PLACES TO GET TO WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS CONFLICT, AND I'M JUST PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ALL TO WORK TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DESIRE FOR YOUR FIRM TO MAKE A PROFIT AND THE DISTRICT'S DESIRE TO KEEP TAXPAYER FUNDED EXPENSES LOW? SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE A BUSINESS AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUSINESS REALITIES.
SO WE ARE SENSITIVE TO OUR CLIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY OR WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.
WE TRY TO AGAIN RESPOND TO THAT.
WE TRY ALSO TO BE REALISTIC WITH THE CLIENT ABOUT WHAT LEGAL CHALLENGES IT FACES.
SO WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE SUED, THERE ISN'T A LOT YOU CAN DO TO OTHER THAN MAYBE POTENTIALLY SETTLE THE MATTER, WHICH IS ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR A DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE AN ETHICAL DUTY TO PRESENT THOSE OPTIONS TO TO YOU, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE ARE TRYING TO AGAIN, ADAPT AND MODEL OURSELVES TO THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT.
IF THE CLIENT SAYS TO US, CAN WE, WHAT CAN WE DO CREATIVELY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH AS WE DO, THEN WE WILL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT, WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.
WE THINK WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT, FRANKLY, WITH THIS CLIENT.
WE HAD AT THE VERY BEGINNING A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES WE HAD TO DEAL WITH.
THOSE CHANGES, LEGAL ISSUES ARE NOT THINGS THAT WE BRING TO YOU.
[02:50:01]
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO PLEASE YOU.THAT'S TOTALLY NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT.
SOMETIMES, AS I SAID, YOU CAN'T CONTROL LEGAL COSTS IF YOU'RE BESET WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES, AND I THINK SOMETIMES THAT'S BEEN THE CASE, UNFORTUNATELY, AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK WITH A FEW SECONDS ON THAT, IT ALSO KIND OF TIES BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION TRUSTEE HARRISON ASKED ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IN OUR LAST FEW SECONDS, I'D LIKE TO ADD PART OF THE WORK THAT I DO AT THE CAPITOL IS TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GENERATE A SAVINGS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIGURE OUT EFFICIENCIES. ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS GOTTEN POSITIVE FEEDBACK IS, IS SHOULD THE DISTRICT REMIT.
RECAPTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TRUSTEE ZARATE.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD? FOR EXAMPLE, WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO COUNSEL OR IS IT LIMITED TO JUST THE PRESIDENT AND NO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? SO I THINK YOU HAVE RULES ABOUT THAT AND WE TRY TO RESPECT THOSE RULES, I THINK, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THAT BOARD MEMBERS BE INFORMED, AND SO SOMETIMES IF A BOARD MEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, SAYS, HEY, THE BOARD JUST PASSED THIS THING, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THERE WAS THIS PROVISION OR SOMETHING IN THE LAW THAT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THAT.
SO I THINK IN THAT HELPFUL WAY TO KIND OF GET THE BOARD AGAIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S DOING AND TO FEEL THAT THERE IS SOUNDNESS AND REASON AND RESPECT FOR THE LAW, I THINK THOSE KINDS OF COMMUNICATIONS CAN BE HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE OR A GROUP OF TRUSTEES, NOT THE BOARD, SHOULD TRY TO DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES OR BUILD UP A, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW A LEGAL RESEARCH OR SOMETHING TO WORK AGAINST THE BOARD OR THE ULTIMATELY THE DISTRICT'S INTEREST AS IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD.
SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE LIMITS TO THAT KIND OF I WOULD CALL, YOU KNOW, OFFLINE COMMUNICATION.
I DO PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S HELPFUL TO EDUCATE BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT THE LAW IS.
BUT ON THE CAJUN, AS I SAID, IF IT HELPS, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE COLLABORATION TO HELP EXPLAIN WHAT THE LAW IS TO SUPPORT THE BOARD'S FUNCTIONS, SOMETIMES OCCASIONAL OFFLINE COMMUNICATION, I THINK IS OKAY.
YES. AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT.
I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A SPECIFIC LOCAL BOARD POLICY THAT THIS BOARD HAS ADOPTED IN THE PAST.
AND I'VE JUST KIND OF TRIED AS BOARD COUNSEL FOR YOUR DISTRICT, TRY TO HONOR THAT.
AND I TRY TO RESPOND AS BEST I CAN.
BUT ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING THAT GOES ASKING TOWARDS SOME LEGAL ADVICE, I THINK WE HAVE TO YOU KNOW, I JUST KIND OF MAKE THE BOARD MEMBER AWARE THAT, HEY, BY THE WAY, THERE'S THIS POLICY BECAUSE ESPECIALLY NEW BOARD MEMBERS, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT.
AND THERE'S JUST SOME PROTOCOL THAT WE JUST TRY TO KIND OF FOLLOW IN YOUR LOCAL POLICY AS WELL.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE BONE.
THANK YOU. ROUND ROCK HAS AN INTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL ASSIGNED TO ADMINISTRATION.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE THOSE DIFFERENCES TO BE PREPARED TO ADVISE THE BOARD? I LOVE THAT QUESTION JUST BECAUSE I'VE SERVED IN BOTH CAPACITIES, RIGHT?
[02:55:01]
I MEAN, I THINK THAT NOT EVERY LAWYER IN OUR FIRM HAS DONE THAT.AND SO THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN IN HOUSE COUNSEL AS A GENERAL COUNSEL AND STAFF ATTORNEY FOR TWO VERY LARGE DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE, AND ALSO HAVE BEEN IN HOUSE AS A LAWYER AND A FIRM THAT WE SERVE AS YOUR OUTSIDE BOARD COUNSEL.
I'VE BEEN IN BOTH ROLES, SO I CAN REALLY GIVE YOU SOME OF THAT INSIGHT.
AND YOUR BOARD COUNSEL REALLY COMES IN, WORKS WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD PRESIDENT, OF COURSE, SUPERINTENDENT AND ANY OTHER DESIGNATED ADMINISTRATORS THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH AND CERTAIN MATTERS.
BUT REALLY IT'S MORE COMING TO THE BOARD MEETINGS, WORKING WITH THE BOARD, ASSISTING THEM AND RUNNING A PROPER BOARD MEETING, MAKING SURE WE COMPLY WITH TOMA AND JUST HELPING YOU ALL WITH VARIOUS LAWS THROUGHOUT YOUR BOARD MEETINGS AND TO PREPARE FOR THEM AND HELP YOU WITH YOUR AGENDAS.
SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT ROLES AND DIFFERENT DUTIES FOR EACH ROLE.
I WILL SAY WHEN I WORKED AT FORT WORTH, I WAS IN HOUSE CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL.
I WORKED WITH OUTSIDE BOARD COUNSEL THAT THEY HAD THERE.
THAT HELPS FURTHER THE DISTRICT'S INTEREST, RIGHT? AND WORKING TOGETHER, IT'S NOT ABOUT WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
IT'S ABOUT JUST RESPECTING EACH OTHER'S ROLES AND WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE REALLY REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S JUST DIFFERENT ROLES AND DUTIES TO TO GET THERE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? TRUSTEE BONE.
THANK YOU. AND OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM TRUSTEE, WEIR.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WOULD DIFFERENTIATE YOUR FIRM AS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE ROUND ROCK ISD SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL COUNSEL? SO EXCUSE ME, I KNOW THAT WE REPRESENT A LOT OF WE DO A LOT OF BOARD WORK.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LAWYERS WHO WORK AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ROLE OF THE BOARD AND THE ROLE AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE RAISED, OUR FIRM, I THINK, STANDS WITH ANY FIRM IN THAT REGARD.
THERE ARE FIRMS THAT DO A LOT OF LITIGATION.
THEY DO A LOT OF OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORTIVE LEGAL WORK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ATTENDING BOARD MEETINGS AND DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF BOARD MEETINGS AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE DUTIES OF BOARD MEMBERS AND THE INTERFACE BETWEEN BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
WE HAVE WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE ALSO A FIRM THAT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS VERY DEDICATED TO WORKING WELL WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THE NEEDS, BECAUSE WE REALLY THINK THAT OUR APPROACH TO SOLVING PROBLEMS IS UNIQUE.
WE DON'T SEE YOU AS JUST A NAME ON A LIST OF CLIENTS.
EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS MEANS SOMETHING TO US, LARGE OR SMALL.
THIS PARTICULAR CLIENT HAS AT TIMES BEEN CHALLENGING FOR US, BUT WE ARE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE KIND OF STOOD PRETTY SOLIDLY IN OUR ROLE AS THE BOARD COUNSEL WHEN IT WAS PERHAPS NOT SO EASY TO DO SO.
AND AND I THINK THAT GOES BACK, AS I SAID BEFORE, TO HOW WE FOUNDED THIS FIRM.
AND SO I WOULD SAY TO YOU, I THINK THAT IS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE.
HE REALLY IS, ADDS A DIMENSION OF CREATIVITY TO FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD TO KIND OF THINK PROSPECTIVELY ABOUT HOW WE CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS. AND AGAIN, THAT'S THAT TO ME MAKES US, I THINK, SOMEWHAT UNIQUE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
YEAH. I WILL SAY JUST MY EXPERIENCE ALSO WORKING AS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL FOR DISTRICTS, I WILL SAY ALSO THE ROLE THAT MARTY HAS IN THIS FIRM IS VERY UNIQUE AND A STRENGTH OF THIS LAW FIRM THAT MANY WHEN I WOULD HIRE OUTSIDE LAW FIRMS TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS I WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE THAT ROLE AT ALL.
I THINK MARTY WAS THE FIRST ONE ACTUALLY, THAT I SAW MAYBE OTHERS HAVE HIRED SINCE.
BUT MARTY DOES BRING A GOOD ROLE.
AND I THINK THAT JUST EVEN ME HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN-HOUSE AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH THE LAW FIRM, THAT BRINGS VERY GOOD TO INTERESTING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON HOW TO ASSIST A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A STRENGTH AS WELL THAT NOT EVERY LAW FIRM HAS WITH THEIR LAWYERS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND IN CONCLUSION, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US AS TRUSTEES OR DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR CLOSING AS WELL.
WE LOOK, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.
WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
[03:00:03]
I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.WE THINK WE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT.
WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THE ADVICE WE GIVE.
WE DON'T CHURN THROUGH PEOPLE, WE DON'T CHURN THROUGH CLIENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE SEEK TO HAVE LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH DISTRICTS AS LONG AS THEY'LL HAVE US.
WE ARE NOT AS I SAID, WE WE DON'T TAKE THIS RELATIONSHIP LIGHTLY.
AND SO WE'RE VERY EARNEST, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND AGAIN, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO IT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT, SUBMITTING FOR OUR RFQ.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY IN THE BOARD ROOM, RETURN TO YOUR WAITING AREA.
I DID TELL ONE FIRM YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING THIS EVENING.
TRUSTEES, LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE OR A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION AT THIS POINT.
I'M THINKING MAYBE AROUND 10 OR 10:05, DELIBERATE IN OPEN SESSION.
BUT DELIBERATIONS DO HAPPEN IN OPEN SESSION.
ANOTHER REMINDER, ANY NOTES THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE PROVIDED DOCUMENTS OR ON A NOTEPAD, EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IS SUBJECT TO THE PIR. SO AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR DELIBERATION, PLEASE PUT ALL OF YOUR SCORE SHEETS, PRESENTATIONS AND ANY NOTES ON ANY KIND OF ERRONEOUS PAPERS BACK INTO YOUR FOLDER AND THE DISTRICT WILL COLLECT THAT AS WELL.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES BEFORE WE TAKE A RECESS? OKAY. IT'S 9:48.
WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AND THIS IS OUR PORTION OF THE EVENING WHERE WE CAN DELIBERATE AND SEE IF WE CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS ON PICKING A FIRM.
AND IS THERE ANY MORE ADVICE THAT WE NEED, MR. PULLMAN FOR TRUSTEES? I DON'T BELIEVE SO, NO.
AS I MENTIONED, I'LL BE PICKING UP THOSE COLLECTING THE PACKETS WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE.
UM, JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, I DO KEEP ALL OF YOU ALL ANONYMOUS IN OUR RECORDS.
I'VE ASSIGNED YOU EACH AN EVALUATOR NUMBER.
SO UNLESS YOU WRITE YOUR NAME ANYWHERE ON ANY OF THIS, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE ANONYMOUS IN TERMS OF OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND KEEPING YOUR NAMES AND YOUR NOTES PRIVATE.
SO TO START OFF DELIBERATIONS, I USUALLY LIKE TO SIMPLY ASK IF ANYONE'S WILLING TO LEAD OFF WITH ANY FIRM THAT THEY FEEL IS THEIR TOP RANKED FIRM AND WHY. WELL, I WILL USE YOUR LEAD.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO START OFF ON WHY ONE FIRM IS YOUR TOP RANKED OR AND WHY? AND WE'LL USE THIS AS A PRETTY INFORMAL WE DON'T NEED TO USE LIGHTS AS LONG AS WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER AND DON'T INTERRUPT.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CALLED ON NEXT, USE YOUR BUTTON.
BUT OTHERWISE YOU CAN JUST FEEL FREE TO USE YOUR MICROPHONE.
I JUST HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION.
YEP. OR NOT PROCEDURAL, BUT JUST A SOMETHING I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD.
WE HAD FOUR FIRMS HERE TONIGHT.
SOME ACTUALLY MENTIONED CONNECTIONS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME.
I THINK IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, IF WE COULD JUST GO DOWN THE LINE, YOU KNOW, DO ANY OF THE TRUSTEES, YOU KNOW, KNOW ANY OF THESE LAWYERS OR LAWYERS THAT WORK FOR THESE FIRMS OR STAFF MEMBERS THAT WORK FOR THESE? IF WE COULD JUST SORT OF THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY DISQUALIFY YOU, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DISCLOSE THAT, IN MY OPINION, AND THAT I'M FINE WITH THAT. JUST A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.
[03:05:07]
SERVED ON A PTA WITH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT BUSINESS WITH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE? I THINK WE CAN ALL EXERCISE GOOD JUDGMENT.I MEAN, WE'RE ALL ADULTS HERE ON WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DISCLOSE.
ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN? SURE. SO OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO SAY THAT WE KNOW THE ESCAMILLA AND PONCEK ATTORNEYS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO SAY, WELL, MAYBE NOT THE TWO NEW TRUSTEES, BUT [INAUDIBLE] THEY I THINK IT WAS MAY OF LAST YEAR, CAME TO A BOARD MEETING AND ADVISED US ON SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS OUTSIDE OF THAT.
FOR ME, I HAVE NEVER HAD A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH ANY OF THESE PEOPLE.
TRUSTEE MARKHAM. OUTSIDE OF VALERIE BEING OUR BOARD COUNSEL AND MARTY AS A LOBBYIST, WE HAPPEN TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AT THE SAME TIME DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND CHATTED, BUT NOT ABOUT DISTRICT BUSINESS.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, NO, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE.
SURE. OF COURSE I KNOW DOUG, VALERIE, MARTY A LITTLE BIT.
LEON BECAUSE THEY CAME AND DID A PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO OF THEM.
AND THEN ACTUALLY I DO BECAUSE OF MY ROLE IN THE CCPOC, ERIC MUNOZ IS I BELIEVE IS ON THE CCPOC, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS DISCLOSED, BUT I THINK HE WAS EITHER ON IT OR IS ON IT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS IN THIS PACKET SO.
I DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK HE'S PART OF CPOC, BUT I THINK THERE MAY BE HE CAME IN TO TALK ABOUT LIKE SOME CONTRACTS WE HAVE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY HELP US WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS.
HE'S IN THE DISTRICT. HE WAS ON IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S STILL ON IT.
ACTUALLY, I ACTUALLY SAW HIM AT ONE OF THE AT TASB AND WAS LIKE, HEY, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A LAWYER BECAUSE HE WAS AT THE AND THEN HE'S LIKE, OH, YEAH, I WORK FOR A LAW FIRM AND I DO SCHOOL LAW.
SO WHICH FIRM IS THAT? IT'S THE HANSON, PALOMINOS EICHELBAUM WARDELL.
TRUSTEE WEIR. ALL RIGHT, I SERVED ON THE BOND COMMITTEE WITH DAVID HANSON.
I'VE SERVED ON PTA WITH JENNIFER POWELL.
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH SARAH LEON AS BOARD PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.
I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CASTILLO AND CAMPBELL OF O'HANLON DEMARATH AND CAMPBELL CASTILLO ON AT A CENTRAL TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION MEETING.
AND OBVIOUSLY VALERIE, DOUG AND MARTY.
MY KIDS WERE ON SWIM TEAM WITH MARTY, IF THAT, LIKE, REALLY MAKES PEOPLE CURIOUS.
THANK YOU. I HAVE RELATED TO EVERYONE THAT WE KNOW HAS HAD ANY DISTRICT BUSINESS.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT MUNOZ IS ON.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER BEEN THERE WHERE HE'S THERE BECAUSE..
I'M THINKING HE WAS ON IT AND NOW ISN'T.
BUT HE WAS ACTUALLY PART OF I DO BELIEVE HE WAS PART OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THEM ARE AROUND.
WELL, I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T KNOW IF IT MATTERS TO ANYBODY.
OKAY. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I MIGHT HAVE MET HIM, BUT I DON'T RECALL.
I HAVE INTERACTED WITH O'HANLON, DEMUTH AND CASTILLO AT TASB EVENTS.
EICHELBAUM WARDELL HANSON POWELL IS WE'VE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM THEM BEFORE.
ANYBODY THAT WE'VE HAD REPRESENTATION BEFORE I'VE INTERACTED WITH IN THAT CAPACITY.
AND I OBVIOUSLY HAVE INTERACTED EXTENSIVELY WITH ESCAMILLA AND PONECK.
I HAVE HAD A MEAL PRIOR TO THE RFQ GOING OUT WITH BEN CASTILLO AND DAVID CAMPBELL, ONLY KNOW SARAH LEON THROUGH HER INTERACTIONS IN BOARD MEETINGS.
AND I WAS ON A CITIZENS BOND COMMITTEE IN EARLY 2018 WITH DAVID HANSON.
AND THAT'S THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND INTERACTION WITH THESE FIRMS. I DID A QUICK SEARCH AND HE IS STILL ON THE CPCOC EMAIL LIST.
[03:10:04]
SO THAT WAS JUST SENT OUT.WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT, ACTUALLY, SO.
SO IS HE ON THERE? IN WHAT CAPACITY IS HE ON THERE? DID ONE OF US.. HE'S A PARENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO IS HE APPOINTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR ONE OF US? I THINK WE SHOULD ALL KNOW WHO OUR APPOINTEE IS.
YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING. I MEAN, THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE CLARIFIED IF..
SO MAYBE IT HAPPENED BEFORE I ARRIVED HERE.
I DID NOT APPOINT HIM, ACTUALLY.
I THOUGHT HE WAS HELPING US WITH SOME CONTRACT.
I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE. I DON'T KNOW HIM.
JUST LIKE THE SHAC. YEAH, I SEE A SHAKING OF THE HEAD OVER THERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO START OUT WITH THEIR OPINIONS.
I THINK THERE A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF CROSSOVER FOR DIFFERENT LAW FIRMS, BUT I WASN'T CONVINCED ENOUGH TO SEE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE TO A DIFFERENT LAW FIRM OTHER THAN ESCAMILLA AND PONECK.
AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M NOT MAKING EYE CONTACT.
SO YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO CALL ON YOU SPECIFICALLY? WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED LEGAL ADVICE AS FAR AS I MEAN, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GO.
I HAVE SOME PRETTY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THAT.
BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY LAWS WITH WHAT MY COMMENTS WOULD BE.
BUT MY OBJECTION WOULD BE EXTREMELY STRONG FOR WHAT I THINK ARE VERY OBVIOUS REASONS.
AND I'LL HAVE COMMENTS UNLESS YOU THINK I SHOULD CONFER WITH AN ATTORNEY.
SO HOW ABOUT RATHER THAN GOING WITH AN OPPOSITION WITH TRUSTEE ZARATE, HOW ABOUT EXPRESSING WHO YOUR TOP PICK IS OR WHAT YOU LIKED ABOUT SPECIFIC FIRMS OR WHATNOT? I DON'T MEAN TO CALL ON YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'LL DEFER TO YOU GUYS ON THAT.
I JUST HAVE A ADAMANT OPPOSITION FOR THAT PARTICULAR LAW FIRM FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANYONE ELSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY SOMETHING.
I WILL GO. I ACTUALLY I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, EVEN THE THE FIRMS THAT DIDN'T GET AN INTERVIEW.
I THINK THE CHOICES THAT WE HAD WERE AMAZING.
I THOUGHT ALL THE FIRMS WERE VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
THE RESUMES OF THE INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL THE FIRMS WERE REALLY INCREDIBLE AND WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH HIGH QUALITY APPLICANTS COME TO US.
AND IT ACTUALLY MAKES IT INCREDIBLY HARD BECAUSE I THINK THE DIFFERENCES ARE, AS CHUY WE SAID, I THINK THERE THERE'S THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AND THEN THERE ARE CROSSOVERS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SO HIGHLY QUALIFIED THAT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM.
I, I WILL SAY FOR ME, I THOUGHT LEON ALCALA WAS A REALLY STRONG CANDIDATE AND THE INTERVIEWS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW, ESCAMILLA AND PONECK DEFINITELY HAS THE HISTORY.
THEIR ANSWERS WERE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THEY HAVE WITH US.
THERE'S A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH THEM AND WITH THE PERSONALITIES ON THIS DAIS, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THE OTHER FIRMS HAVE WORKED WITH US TOO, AND PROBABLY HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE.
BUT I GUESS THOSE WOULD BE MY TOP TWO.
I WILL TELL YOU TWO THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT WITH ME IS TWO OF THE FOUR FIRMS ACTUALLY MENTIONED STUDENTS IN THEIR RESPONSES, AND THAT WAS LEON ALCALA AND O'HANLON ET AL.
AND I REALLY I PUT A STAR BY THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHY WE'RE HERE, IS FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING LEGAL COUNSEL IS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY AS TRUSTEES IS TO PROTECT THE ENTITY.
I LIKED THE BREADTH OF DIVERSITY THAT LEON ALCALA BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
[03:15:11]
WAS NOT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PULL FROM THEIR INTERNAL RESOURCES.AND THAT TO ME CAME ACROSS REALLY CLEARLY IN THEIR PRESENTATION.
AND I REALLY LIKED THE FACT THAT THEY SAID THEY TRULY LOVE WHAT THEY DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH ESCAMILLA AND PONECK.
I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED FOR THAT TRAVEL RECENTLY.
BUT THAT IS A CONCERN OF MINE NOT HAVING AN OFFICE LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF THE FIRMS HAVE REALLY CLOSE TIES WITH THE DISTRICT.
THEY HAVE KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A GRADUATE OF THE DISTRICT, AND I THINK THAT THAT, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SERVING AND A REASON WHY YOU WANT TO SEE THIS DISTRICT SUCCEED, BECAUSE IT ULTIMATELY AFFECTS YOUR YOUR PROPERTY VALUES, YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, YOUR NEIGHBORS, CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
SO I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF FIRMS TO WITH REALLY CLOSE TIES TO THE DISTRICT AS WELL, HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE WORK THAT WE HAVE HAD PROVIDED BY THESE FIRMS INDIVIDUALLY IN THE PAST.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST SAID SOMETHING REALLY POSITIVE ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE FIRMS, AND I DIDN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A PREFERENCE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF MY OVERVIEW OF SOME POSITIVES OF EACH ONE, AND I'LL KIND OF LEAVE IT AT THAT RIGHT NOW AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME OTHER RESPONSES.
BUT AGAIN, I'M VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE FIRMS THAT STEPPED OUT AND WANT TO REPRESENT ROUND ROCK ISD, BECAUSE DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ALSO PRETTY AMAZING AND WE'RE DOING SOME PRETTY GREAT THINGS.
AND SO SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO JUMP IN ON THIS IS I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, I DID LIKE THE DISTRICT BACKGROUND OF O'HANLON, DEMERATH AND CASTILLO, THE FACT THAT STAFF HAS HAD DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AS ADMINISTRATORS.
I LIKE THE CONCENTRATION OF SPED LAWYERS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NORMALIZE CONFLICT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF IT ON OUR BOARD AND I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE THAT IS ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM. I'M JUST PROBABLY GOING TO GIVE MY GENERAL COMMENTS THIS FIRST..
TIFFANIE ON THAT. SO WAS THERE A FIRM THAT YOU THOUGHT.
I'M SORRY, DID YOU CITE A FIRM THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS BETTER SUITED TO THAT? NO, I'M JUST GOING THROUGH MY COMMENTS.
I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK YOU CAN FIND IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT I LIKE THAT.
AND THEN FOR O'HANLON, I ALSO LIKED THE PIA EXPERTISE.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR EICHELBAUM.
UM. I LIKE THAT CAN'T GET INTO WHAT HAS BECOME WHAT HAS COME BEFORE.
I DO THINK A FRESH START WOULD PROBABLY BENEFIT US JUST IN THINKING THROUGH THAT.
OKAY. I LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING BORING, AND I ALSO LIKED THE PREVENTATIVE LAW ASPECT, LIKE, HOW CAN WE SAVE MONEY UP FRONT? LEON ALCALA. I LIKED A LOT OF WHAT THEY SAID.
I DID HAVE ONE CONCERN, AND THAT IS WE ARE ATTORNEYS, NOT MEDIATORS.
[03:20:03]
IF WE'VE SEEN OUR PAST EXPERIENCES AND WE STILL HAVE A GOOD YEAR AND A HALF WITH THIS CURRENT BOARD.AND SO I WANT TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THAT.
SO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS BLACK OR WHITE, I THINK THAT THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
AND LOOKING AT THE CONTINUUM OF RISKS, WE ARE CHARGED WITH SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS.
SO FOUR GREAT FIRMS. I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE FROM MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I'M READY TO STEP IN A DIRECTION I'VE ALREADY SAID I HAVE SOME COMFORT WITH ESCAMILLA AND PONECK BECAUSE THAT HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I GUESS I'LL GO. UM, SO IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO ME, ESPECIALLY AS SOMEONE WHO'S STILL FAIRLY NEW UP HERE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE APPLIED AND WANT TO WORK IN OUR DISTRICT. SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE CHOICES THAT WE HAD AND FOR EVERYONE THAT APPLIED FOR THIS.
I'LL START WITH O'HANLON, DEMERATH AND CASTILLO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKED AS WELL WAS THE SPED REPRESENTATION AS A SPED PARENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I APPRECIATED AND THAT I FEEL LIKE SHOWED RESPECT TOWARD THEIR CLIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IS THAT YOU BROUGHT ON ATTORNEYS WHO WEREN'T JUST LITIGATING AGAINST PARENTS, THEY WERE LITIGATING FOR PARENTS.
AND SO THAT THAT STUCK OUT TO ME.
UM, AND THEN ISCHEMIA AND PANIC, OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, THE INSTITUTIONAL AND THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH OUR BOARD, THE CULTURE OF OUR BOARD I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I STILL THINK THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE YEARS TO COME.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS WASN'T NECESSARILY MENTIONED IN THEIR INTERVIEW, BUT THEIR ENTIRE RFQ POINTED BACK TO STUDENTS. EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID IN THEIR RFQ POINTED BACK TO OUR STUDENTS AND THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE IS TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME.
AND THEN LEON ALCALA WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE TONIGHT.
I FELT LIKE THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR INTERVIEW.
I LIKED HOW OBJECTIVE THEY ARE.
THAT CAN BE REALLY HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS, PEOPLE WHO ARE OBJECTIVE.
SO I APPRECIATED THAT THAT WAS THE ROLE THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE ON, PROVIDE US WITH ANALYSIS AND HELP US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT WE CAN.
AND I WAS I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT FROM EACH FIRM.
I ALSO FELT LIKE LEON ALCALA WAS THE MOST COMFORTABLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, SPEAKING WITH US AND HAD STRONG PERSONALITIES TO MATCH THE STRONG PERSONALITIES UP HERE.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN STAND BY BEING OBJECTIVE AND GIVE US THE BEST LEGAL ADVICE.
GO AHEAD. YOU KNOW MY TAKEAWAYS.
I THINK I HAD LEON ALCALA, IF NOT NUMBER ONE, MR. PULLMAN. I HAD THEM EITHER NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO GOING INTO TONIGHT.
I MEAN, I DID ONE THING I HIGHLIGHTED THAT I APPRECIATED.
I THINK THERE WERE SOME INCONSISTENCIES TONIGHT ON THE QUESTION NUMBER SIX.
BONE ASKED. UM, THEY SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE BOARD IS OUR CLIENT, AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME RHETORIC ABOUT THE ENTITY AS OUR CLIENT, AND SO I APPRECIATED THAT FROM THEM.
VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY DID IN OUR MEETING IN MAY OF LAST YEAR.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT FIRM.
BUT O'HANLON, DEMERATH AND CASTILLO, I MEAN, I'VE GOT SOME HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTS HERE, I THINK FOR MY QUESTION NUMBER TWO, I THINK THEY HAD THE BEST ANSWER OF THE NIGHT.
THEY SAID THAT WE ARE COMFORTABLE SAYING NO TO A CLIENT.
AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ATTORNEYS THAT I'VE HIRED.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN MY EXPECTATION IN MY PERSONAL LIFE.
AND SO I WOULD BRING THAT EXPERIENCE HERE AS WELL, AND I WOULD HAVE THAT EXPECTATION.
AND THEY SEEM TO BE VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
[03:25:02]
AND NUMBER THREE, ONE OF THEM SAID CONFLICT ISN'T BAD.I MEAN, THAT'S YOU KNOW, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S NOT ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER HERE.
THERE ARE SEVEN BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
AND SO TO HAVE COUNSEL THAT, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T VIEW CONFLICT AS BAD, I THINK IS ENTIRELY HEALTHY, THAT THE CHALLENGE FOR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IS BEING RESPECTFUL OF DIFFERING OPINIONS, NOT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, I PULLED OUT, I COULD PULL OUT SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT THOSE TWO FOR ME AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS BOARD DECIDES TO DOUBLE DOWN ON ESCAMILLA AND PONECK, THAT WOULD BE COUNTER TO ANY RHETORIC ABOUT TRYING TO GET ALONG OR WORK TOGETHER.
THE DAMAGES HAS BEEN DONE THERE AND DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT FIRM COULD ONLY BE SEEN AS DOUBLING DOWN ON THE DYSFUNCTION AT THIS DAIS. I THINK BEFORE US TONIGHT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE VOTES FALL.
THINK TRUSTEE BONE WERE THE ONLY ONE, WE HAVEN'T HEARD YOUR KIND OF SUMMARY.
SURE. I'LL JUST GO IN THE ORDER THEY WERE PRESENTED.
SO, EICHELBAUM, WARDELL, AGAIN ALL FOUR, WELL, I WOULD SAY ALL THREE ARE IMPRESSIVE.
THE FIRST THREE. I WAS IMPRESSED BY THEM.
I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAD ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THEM.
I MEAN, THEY WERE THEY WERE GOOD.
THEY I DID LIKE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD WHEN THEY'RE INVOLVED IN ROUND ROCK.
THERE'S LIKE, THEY EVEN ADMITTED THERE'S GOOD AND BAD ABOUT THAT.
SO OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE INTERFACED WITH OUR DISTRICT.
I DID LIKE WITH THEM THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT TRUST, THAT YOU'VE GOT TO TRUST THE LAWYERS.
I CAN REMEMBER, ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN ROUND ROCK OF LIKE NOT THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE LAWYERS, NOT ONLY WITH THE BOARD, BUT THE DISTRICT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT, THAT IT'S NOT JUST US.
I THINK THEY HAVE TO TRUST OUR LAWYER.
SO I REALLY LIKE THAT. I REALLY LIKE THAT THEY SAID THOSE THINGS.
LEON ALCALA TO ME WAS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPRESSIVE, SO I'M KIND OF GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF US ALONG THE BOARD THAT ACTUALLY IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO HEAR WHEN WE AGREE ON THINGS.
I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE SAID IT.
THEY WERE VERY THEY HAD VERY STRONG PERSONALITIES AND THEY WEREN'T AFRAID TO SAY THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY STATED, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE STATING WHAT THEY WERE SAYING VERY STRONGLY, WHICH KIND OF RESONATES, I THINK, WITH SOME OF OUR PERSONALITIES UP HERE. I ACTUALLY I WOULD SAY I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENCING ON OPINION.
I ACTUALLY LIKE THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE NOT HERE TO MEDIATE.
I DON'T THINK I THINK MOST OF THE LAWYERS ACTUALLY BASICALLY SAID LAWYERS AREN'T HERE TO MEDIATE.
BUT A LAWYERS, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S BEEN COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING AS A MEDIATOR AND IT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS O'HANLON.
ODC I THINK IS WHAT YOU GUYS AND SEE.
THE ONLY CONCERN I HAD HERE IS SOME OF THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY REPRESENTING.
I KNOW LA JOYA ISD HAS HAD ISSUES, LEGAL ISSUES AND FORT WORTH ISD HAVE HAD ISSUES.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO UNTANGLE LIKE THE ROLE THAT THEY'VE HAD IN THOSE.
IS LANCASTER ONE OF THEM? I THINK LANCASTER.
ON THE FINE PRINT BECAUSE I NOTICED THOSE TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
YEAH. BROWNSVILLE, HIDALGO, KINGSVILLE, LA JOYA, LA VILLA, LANCASTER.
LANCASTER. AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT THEIR ROLE WAS, BUT I SAW THAT AS WELL.
I THINK IT WAS LEON ALCALA HAD ONE OF THEIR ATTORNEYS HAD BEEN IN HOUSTON.
LIKE WE'VE SAID EARLIER TONIGHT.
VERY SMART. THEY'RE GOING TO DIG INTO THOSE THINGS.
[03:30:03]
AND AGAIN, TRUST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.SO BUT OTHERWISE, I YOU KNOW, GOOD THINGS.
AND I DID LIKE THEY SAID, THE LAW IS THE LAW.
AND THEN MOVING ON TO ESCAMILLA AND PONECK.
I WAS SURPRISED THEY WERE HERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY MADE IT TO THE TOP FLOOR OR HOW THAT WORKS, BUT OBVIOUSLY.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT? BUT THAT JUST FEELS LIKE AN INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTARY.
SO NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT I CAN RULE ON.
WE DID HAVE SIX TRUSTEES RESPOND TO SCORING THEM AND THEY SCORED HIGH ENOUGH.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS A VERY CLEAR BREAK BETWEEN THE FOUR THAT MADE IT AND THE OTHERS.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO REPHRASE MY STATEMENT.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY WERE HERE.
AND I WOULD ASK AND I THINK PRESIDENT LANDRUM SAID THIS EARLIER TRUSTEE HARRISON, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE WAY YOU SAY THINGS, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO START INTERRUPTING YOU ALSO, I CAN START INTERRUPTING YOU EVERY TIME ALSO.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO INTERRUPT ME, BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU IF POINT OF ORDER, SAY, OR DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A POINT THIS TIME? WHAT? I WAS STILL HAD THE FLOOR.
I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO RESPOND.
SO SHE'S ENTITLED TO DO A POINT OF ORDER.
SHE'S FOLLOWING THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FOR USING A POINT OF ORDER AS CORRECTLY.
SO THAT'S NOT INTERRUPTING YOU.
IT IS MY RIGHT TO CALL A POINT OF ORDER.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT LOB PERSONAL ATTACKS.
MY CONCERN BEHIND THAT POINT, I'M NOT DONE.
I'M NOT DONE. AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED.
SHE'S STILL STATING HER POINT OF ORDER.
SHE'S STILL EXPLAINING HER POINT OF ORDER.
WHEN WE GET TO IT, SPEAK TO PEOPLE DISRESPECTFULLY.
I WILL AGREE THAT WE PLEASE USE DECORUM.
NOW TRUSTEE BONE, YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
MY POINT OF ORDER IS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE LONG, DRAWN OUT POINTS OF ORDER? ARE THEY COMMENTARY OR ARE THEY POINTS OF ORDER? I'M REALLY CONFUSED BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
POINTS OF POINTS OF ORDER IS A QUESTION.
SO. SO YOUR POINT IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN RULE ON.
POINT OF ORDER, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO MAKE YOUR POINT, BUT GO AHEAD.
SO WITH ESCAMILLA AND PONECK, I WOULD AGREE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'M WITH TRUSTEE WESTON.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LEGAL THINGS GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICT, AND THAT FIRM HAS BEEN IN THE BOARD ROOM WHEN THINGS HAVE HAPPENED THAT ARE NOW IN FEDERAL COURT.
AND THEY ALSO WERE THERE WHEN THINGS HAPPENED WITH TA MONITOR.
SO THAT FIRM HAS BEEN IN THIS BOARD ROOM AND I, I FEEL LIKE THEY'VE LOST THEY'VE LOST MY TRUST.
I CAN SAY THAT, THAT'S MY VIEWPOINT.
MY VIEWPOINT IS THAT THAT FIRM HAS LOST MY TRUST.
AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE LOST THE TRUST OF MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PAST BOARD MEMBERS.
IF THEY WERE ABLE TO COME BACK AND GIVE THEIR COMMENTARY.
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ON THE DAIS.
LET'S JUST KEEP IT. ACTUALLY, I HAVE PERSONAL FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT STATEMENT.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE.
SO LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR KNOWLEDGE IS AND NOT.
WELL THAT IS MY FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE.
MY FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE IS I KNOW PARTICULARLY ONE TRUSTEE HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT.
[03:35:02]
YEAH. SO I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT I WAS SAYING.BUT I DO HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, ACTUALLY EVEN STRONGER THAN WHAT I WAS REPRESENTING.
WE CAN GO DOWN THE AISLE AND AND TALK ABOUT A FIRST CHOICE.
ANOTHER OPTION IS TO ANONYMOUSLY SUBMIT YOUR RANK THEM ONE THROUGH FOUR.
AND IF WE DO THAT, YOUR RESPONSES WOULD GO TO MR. PULLMAN, WHO WOULD THEN TALLY UP THE RESPONSES AND GIVE US A RANKED NUMBER BASED ON THAT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO THAT ROUTE, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL.
LET'S DO THAT. IS THAT A CONSENSUS FROM TRUSTEES ON THE DAIS? OKAY. WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL WRITTEN? I THINK IF YOU ALL OPEN YOUR PACKETS AND ON THE INSIDE, JUST ON THE LEFT, RIGHT THERE ON THE PACKET, IF YOU RANK THEM ONE THROUGH FOUR WITH ONE BEING YOUR TOP FIRM AND FOUR BEING THE LEAST PREFERRED, AND THEN JUST HAND YOU YOUR MANILA ENVELOPE BACK.
YES. WITH EVERYTHING IN IT TO ALL THE OTHER.
AND WE'RE JUST ACTUALLY WRITING THE NAME OF THE FIRM WITH THE RANKING.
SO MINE ALREADY HAS THE NAME OF IT.
AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE INTERVIEW ORDER ALREADY PRE WRITTEN IN HERE? YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH THE INTERVIEW ORDER.
OH, OH. WE'RE GOING TO WRITE THEM IN THE ORDER.
SO IN MINE YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO JUST PUT ONE THROUGH FOUR IN THE ORDER? CORRECT. OKAY. SO WRITE THE ORDER OF YOUR TOP RANKED FIRM FIRST, THEN SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH, AND THEN WE WILL TURN IN OUR MANILA ENVELOPES AND ALLOW MR. PULLMAN TO RANK.
DON'T TURN IN ALL YOUR STUFF YET BECAUSE WE MAY NEED TO REFERENCE IT IF WE COME BACK IN.
OH, NO. HE SAID YOUR STUFF FOR THE FIRMS. YES. YOU'RE SAYING.
FIRST, JUST SUBMIT YOUR FOUR RANKED CHOICES INSIDE YOUR ENVELOPE AND THEN AND MR. PULLMAN, IF YOU COULD, YOU DON'T MIND MAYBE STEPPING INTO THE BACK JUST SO THERE'S PRIVACY IN YOUR RANKINGS AND THINGS BASICALLY THAT I WANT.
TRUSTEE ZARATE WATCHING YOU, I KNOW SHE'S GOT ONE MORE HERE.
AND WE'LL TAKE, HOW LONG DO YOU NEED? FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A SHORT FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
THANK YOU. MR. PULLMAN TO GIVE US THE RESULTS PENDING RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS AFTER TALLYING THE RANKINGS.
LEON ALCALA IS THE NUMBER ONE RANKED FIRM.
FROM HERE, THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE BOARD TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THAT FIRM.
DO WE NEED A MOTION FROM THIS BOARD AND DO WE NEED MOTION LANGUAGE TO ALLOW THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO CHECK BACKGROUND? I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SAID IN THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS, IS THE BOARD PRESIDENT WOULD WORK WITH ADMINISTRATION TO CHECK REFERENCES AS WELL AS NEGOTIATE FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S RIGHT. SO IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE MOTION LANGUAGE? SORRY, I CLOSED DOWN MY IPAD.
LET ME PULL IT BACK UP SO YOU CAN DO.
[03:40:04]
WHAT? NO, THERE'S NO MOTION.ALL RIGHT. SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND WHILE WE WORK ON MOTION LANGUAGE.
GO AHEAD. SO IF THERE IF THERE ENDS UP BEING A VOTE FOR THIS FIRM THAT PASSES, DOES THE FORMER FIRM HAVE AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO TURN OVER DOCUMENTS, MATERIALS THAT THEY MIGHT THAT THEY WOULD NEED OBVIOUSLY TO PICK UP AND RESOLVE OUTSTANDING THINGS, OR ARE THEY ABLE TO WITHHOLD THOSE THINGS? CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT AS FAR AS A TRANSITION? SURE. WITH TRANSITION WITH THE LAW FIRMS, THE DOCUMENTS BELONG TO THE CLIENT.
VERY. THAT'S NOT A CONTROVERSIAL THING.
AND SO I ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I'VE DONE THIS HUNDREDS OF TIMES.
DO WE NEED A MOTION THAT THEY HAND IT OVER? NO. OKAY.
IF THERE BECOMES IF IT BECOMES AN ISSUE, THEN I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE KNOWING THE FIRMS INVOLVED THAT IT WILL BE.
AND. OH, MY GOSH, I AM GETTING OLD.
I HAD SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO SAY RELATED TO THAT.
OH, THIS MOTION LANGUAGE WILL BE CONTINGENT ON NEGOTIATIONS GOING THROUGH.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THE FIRM.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OVER UNTIL A CONTRACT IS SIGNED.
SO JUST A REMINDER THAT THE SAME GUIDELINES I WOULD SAY, MISS HILL, UNTIL A CONTRACT IS SIGNED, SHOULD TRUSTEES CONTINUE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THESE FIRMS UNTIL THE UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS IS IS SETTLED ON BETWEEN THE DISTRICT? I MEAN, BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE LAW FIRM? I WOULD SAY THAT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO AVOID ANY CONTACT IN THE EVENT THAT, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COME TO TERMS. ONCE AGAIN, I DO NOT ANTICIPATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
I WOULD ALSO SAY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE RELEASE AND PANIC, THEY WOULD DANNY UNDER UNDER THE CONTRACT WE'VE THEY HAVE AGREED TO STAY ON UNTIL SUCH TIME AS AS WE RELEASE THEM.
SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION IF THERE IS SOMETHING BOARD RELATED THAT I NEEDED TO REACH OUT, I WOULD STILL BE ENTITLED TO REACH OUT TO ISCHEMIA AND PANIC IN THIS NEGOTIATION PERIOD AS THERE ARE CURRENT TRUSTEES.
BUT IF NOT, JUST CONTINUE THE STATUS QUO UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED.
LET ME LET ME WORK ON LANGUAGE FOR JUST A SECOND.
OKAY, NO PROBLEM. AND TRUSTEES AT THIS TIME, IF YOU'LL GATHER UP ALL OF YOUR MATERIALS THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN ON ANYTHING AND PUT IT BACK INTO YOUR FOLDER AND MR. PULLMAN CAN GATHER THAT EITHER NOW OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING, WHATEVER DO YOU DO? YOU NEED THESE FOLDERS THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE FIRMS OR ARE THESE OKAY? AND ALSO YOUR FOLDERS THAT WERE GIVEN.
WELL, MOTION LANGUAGE IS BEING WRITTEN.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU DEFINITELY MADE OUR CHOICES VERY DIFFICULT.
THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THIS PROCESS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[03:45:06]
SO THEY ARE THE ONLY LAW FIRM THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH SINCE WE HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD.AND I GUESS JUST THE TWO OF US WERE HERE IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
DO YOU NEED ME TO TAKE A RECESS, MS..
HILL, OR ARE WE PRETTY CLOSE? OKAY. I JUST.
SO I WOULD SAY IF ANYBODY HAS ANY STATEMENTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE RELATED TO THIS MOTION, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT SO THAT WE CAN USE OUR SPACE AND OUR TIME. TRUSTEE WESTON.
DON'T HAVE ANY STATEMENTS, I JUST HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH MR. DE LEON FOR LOBBYIST SERVICES OR IS IT WITH E&P? AND WOULD THAT END WITH THIS OR DOES THAT CONTINUE? IT ENDED ALREADY AND THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE CONTRACT FROM THE ENP ONE.
AND THE WHAT YOUR WHAT YOU DID TONIGHT IS FOR SCHOOL BOARD COUNCIL, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM ANYTHING ELSE.
TRUSTEE MARKHAM I SHOW YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
YEAH. MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED EARLIER.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHO WOULD SERVE IN THE INTERIM AS BOARD COUNSEL.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TRUSTEE WESTON.
I JUST ASK THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALREADY PLANNING TO, BUT THAT YOU JUST SHARED THAT CONTRACT WITH US.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR.
ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEES, WE HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
F1, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
THE LAST ONE AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT.
I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT TRUSTEE BONE HAD MULTIPLE MOTIONS THAT SHE WANTED TO MAKE.
SHE CONTACTED ME ON FRIDAY MORNING, OBVIOUSLY THAT EVENING AS WELL, BUT ALSO CONTACTED ME ON FRIDAY MORNING, ASKED ME IF SHE IF WE COULD REPOST THIS SO THAT SHE COULD MAKE THESE MOTIONS.
I PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE A NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
THERE'S NO NEW INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THIS INFORMATION.
SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE A DESIRE TO GO INTO CLOSED OR JUST ALLOW TRUSTEE BONE TO MAKE HER MOTION? CAN I ASK A QUESTION, THOUGH? BECAUSE IT SAYS CALL BACK TO ORDER.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
DO WE NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED FOR A MINUTE AND THEN COME BACK OUT? I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE IT UP.
JUST A SECOND. SO AGENDA ITEM G ONE SAYS CALL BACK TO ORDER/EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTIONS.
IT DOESN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE TO DO BOTH.
OKAY. SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO CLOSED.
SORRY. I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW TRUSTEE BONE DO YOU NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED FOR ANY REASON? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
I MEAN, VALERIE HELPED ME THAT EVENING, SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
IF TRUSTEE BONE HAD SAID, HEY, I HAVE EIGHT MOTIONS OR THREE MOTIONS OR HOWEVER MANY, IF YOU GUYS HAVE A MOTION OR YOU'RE AND IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO TIME TO ADJOURN, JUST LET ME KNOW AND THEN I'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE ALLOTTED TIME.
AND ALSO, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON ADJOURNMENT, ROBERT'S RULES DOES ALLOW US TO ADJOURN ONCE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE AGENDA AND WE DOES NOT REQUIRE A MOTION OR A SECOND.
SURE. SO I DO HAVE MULTIPLE MOTIONS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS BACK ON AND LETTING ME CONTINUE TO ASK THESE.
[03:50:01]
SO I MOVE THAT IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL JUDGE DAVID EZRA'S ORDER, DATED JULY 26TH, 2023, WHICH IMPLICATES AN IMMORAL AMBER LANDRUM, FORMERLY AMBER FELLER IN FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS AND VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, ALSO DUE TO HER UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY FOR INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL AND DUE TO THESE ACTIONS, THE BOARD BELIEVES AMBER LANDRUM CANNOT PLACE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE DISTRICT AND STUDENTS ABOVE HER INDIVIDUAL ISSUES THAT THE BOARD ADD AN AGENDA ITEM FORMALLY REQUESTING THAT AMBER LANDRUM RESIGN FROM HER PLACE ON THE ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PAY BACK ALL PUBLIC FUNDS EXPENDED ON THE FEDERAL CASE FOR HER INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.ANY COMMENTS? TRUSTEE HARRISON.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF MY COMMENTS WILL BE HELPFUL OR PRODUCTIVE.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO HANG ON FOR A BIT.
OKAY. SINCE I DON'T HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE, I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS FAR AS THIS FEDERAL LAWSUIT IS CONCERNED, ALMOST 80% OF THE CLAIMS WERE DISMISSED BY JUDGE EZRA.
AND THE INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AS A TRUSTEE, AS A TRUSTEE IS WHAT IS KEY TO A 1983 CLAIM.
IT REQUIRES STATE ACTION FROM A STATE ACTOR.
YOU'RE NOT SUED IN YOUR PERSONAL CAPACITY.
SO TRUSTEE FELLER/LANDRUM IS NOT SUED AS AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN.
THIS IS ABOUT A MOTION ABOUT PRESIDENT LANDRUM.
AND ACTUALLY IT'S NOT A PENDING LITIGATION, SO IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
CAN WE QUIT? CAN THE CHAIR RULE THAT THIS BOARD QUIT USING POINTS OF ORDER IN THE WRONG WAY AND THAT THEY'RE NOT USED TO REBUT OR INTERRUPT PEOPLE, BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A POINT OF ORDER, WHICH IS A QUESTION.
MY POINT OF ORDER WAS IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING I CAN RULE ON AND IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT.
TRUSTEE WESTON DO YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LITIGATION.
I AGAIN FEEL THAT I'M BEING OSTRACIZED AND TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
I BELIEVE THIS IS VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.
I WOULD CAUTION ALL OF YOU NOT TO FLIRT WITH THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO END WELL.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS TO ASSERT THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF AUTOMATIC PROTECTION.
THEN WHY ARE DOCUMENTS SIGNED OUT OF MY VIEW? THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR Y'ALL'S REPRESENTATION.
I HAVE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU GUYS WILL NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
THAT MOTION IS ENTIRELY REASONABLE.
JUDGE EZRA'S 47 PAGE ORDER IS PRETTY SIMPLE TO READ.
IT'S BEEN PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR OVER A WEEK.
SO THE MOTION IS ENTIRELY REASONABLE GIVEN WHAT JUDGE EZRA PUT FORWARD IN HIS ORDER.
THE CASE IS STILL IN LITIGATION.
SO NOT ONLY IS THIS, IN MY OPINION, FRIVOLOUS, IT'S A WASTE OF TIME.
IT'S A WASTE OF OUR RESOURCES.
IT'S A WASTE OF OUR ENERGY, AND IT'S NOT STUDENT CENTERED AND HAPPY TO VOTE.
I'D LOVE TO CALL THE QUESTION.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
FIVE TWO. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? ACTUALLY, I HAVE A QUESTION MOST LIKELY FOR LEGAL.
[03:55:08]
PATH. WE'D HAVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO GET AN OPINION ON THAT.I'LL JUST MOVE ON. I MOVE THAT IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL JUDGE DAVID EZRA'S ORDER, DATED JULY 26TH, 2023, WHICH IMPLICATES AN IMMORAL TIFFANIE HARRISON AND FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION AND VIOLATION OF TEXAS OPEN ACT, ALSO DUE TO HER UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY FOR INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL AND DUE TO THESE ACTIONS, THE BOARD BELIEVES TIFFANIE HARRISON HAS NOT AND CANNOT PLACE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE DISTRICT AND STUDENTS ABOVE HER INDIVIDUAL ISSUES THAT THE BOARD ADD AN AGENDA ITEM TO FORMALLY REQUEST THAT TIFFANIE HARRISON RESIGN FROM HER PLACE ON THE ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PAY BACK ALL PUBLIC FUNDS EXPENDED ON THE FEDERAL CASE FOR HER INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT.
GIVEN THE FINDINGS IN WHAT'S CALLED THE ORDER FROM THE JUDGE AND WHAT HE'S ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS DEEPLY TROUBLING IN MY VIEW.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
AND I'M ALSO GOING TO REMIND THE BOARD, I'M GOING TO TELL THE BOARD SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, AND THAT IS THAT IN A 1983 CLAIM, IF THE PLAINTIFF IS AWARDED $1 IN DAMAGES AND COUNSEL CAN CORRECT ME, $1 IN DAMAGES, WE ARE ON THE HOOK TO PAY 100% OF THE LEGAL FEES OF THE PLAINTIFF.
HILL? I WILL NOT BE GIVING LEGAL ADVICE IN OPEN SESSION.
OKAY. WELL, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND FOLKS CAN CAN LOOK THAT UP IF THEY LIKE.
SO THIS IS ENTIRELY STUDENT CENTERED ENTIRELY BECAUSE THESE ARE RESOURCES INTENDED FOR OUR CHILDREN TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, TO PAY OUR TEACHERS, TO BUILD OUR FACILITIES AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THIS IS ENTIRELY STUDENT CENTERED.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AT THIS POINT.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION. TRUSTEE BONE.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT ONE THING.
SINCE THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD IN THE PROPER WAY BACK IN MAY OF 2022, THAT NONE OF US ACTUALLY CAN SAY EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, HOW IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THERE IS THERE IS A PROCESS THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
AND FIVE OF YOU DID SIGN INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENTS.
WITH A LEGAL ENTITY THAT IS REPRESENTING NOT ONLY THE FIVE BUT ALSO THE DISTRICT.
AND NOBODY YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS OUT THERE AND LOTS OF THEM STATE THAT TO HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE ANY TIME THE BOARD EXPENDS MONEY ON THE BOARD, THE BOARD HAS TO VOTE FOR IT, JUST LIKE WE DID TONIGHT.
OKAY. THE BOARD IS SPENDING MONEY ON THE BOARD.
AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT I WAS A I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LAW AND THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY NOT A SEPTEMBER 14TH [INAUDIBLE] VIOLATION ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE NAMED AND THAT A FEDERAL JUDGE, A FEDERAL JUDGE.
SO I'M NOT YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? OUT OF EVERYBODY I KNOW AND EVERYBODY THAT'S LOOKED AT THIS.
THE FEDERAL JUDGE IS A LEGAL EXPERT AND THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS THERE'S A TOMA VIOLATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THESE MOTIONS IS END THIS NOW WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT.
EXCUSE ME. DID. ARE WE JUST INTERRUPTING PEOPLE NOW? OKAY. YEAH. BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE PROFESSIONAL AND JUST WAIT OUR TURN.
THE GOAL OF THIS MOTION IS TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT.
AND TO PROTECT THE MONEY WE HAVE SAID ON THIS DAIS, AND IT HAD TO RESOLVE LAWSUITS OF SIX FIGURES.
THAT. AND WITH THAT MONEY CAME OUT OF STUDENTS POCKETS, NOT OURS.
IT CAME OUT OF STUDENTS POCKETS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS MOTION.
AND I THINK THESE MOTIONS ARE THESE MOTIONS, BY THE WAY, ARE MADE IN ABSOLUTELY GOOD FAITH.
[04:00:04]
AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE TRUSTEES THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THESE THINK ABOUT WHY THESE ARE BEING MADE.AND THINK ABOUT I MEAN, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY'S READ NOW THE 47 PAGES.
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT'S COMING AND THAT THIS CAN STOP TONIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR OPINION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS MOTION.
GLEEFULLY ELECTED BY A LANDSLIDE.
I FIND SO MUCH JOY IN SERVING OUR STUDENTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO CALL THE QUESTION SO WE CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF CALLING THE QUESTION RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
ABSTAINING. MOTION FAILS 2, 4, 1.
YES. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? SORRY TO INTERRUPT, DR. BONE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE YOU SAID YOU HAVE.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? OKAY.
I ALSO HAVE A MOTION, MADAM CHAIR, SO JUST BE ADVISED OF THAT.
PLEASE DON'T ADJOURN PRIOR TO ME OFFERING MY MOTION THANK YOU.
TRUSTEE BONE. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD SCHEDULE A MEETING FOR AUGUST 25TH 2023 TO CONSIDER TERMINATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT HAFEDH AZAIEZ ON THE BASIS OF THE FEDERAL JUDGE DAVID EZRA'S ORDER RELATED TO THE VIOLATION CLAIMS OF FIRST AMENDMENT AND TOMA FOR HIS MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO REPRESENT HIMSELF AND TRUSTEES AS INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAME FEDERAL CASE WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND.
OH, YEAH. WE DO HAVE SOME LIGHTS ON.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS PUTTING THE DISTRICT AT RISK.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN EMPLOYEE MATTER AND DISCUSSION THAT HAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND CLOSED. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS HARASSMENT AND I'M JUST GOING TO POINT OF ORDER.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT? MADAM PRESIDENT, MAY WE GO INTO CLOSED IF WE NEED TO? THAT'S TOO LATE.
I ALREADY ASKED IF ANYBODY WANTED TO GO INTO CLOSED AND NOBODY SAID THEY WANTED TO.
DID WE GET ADVICE LAST TIME THAT WE COULD GO INTO CLOTHES AT ANY TIME IF WE NEEDED TO, IF WE NEED TO? YEAH. SO AS I WAS SAYING, THE TIME TO GO INTO CLOSED TO DISCUSS YOUR MOTION THAT'S HARASSING OUR SUPERINTENDENT WAS BEFORE YOU MADE THE MOTION. THAT'S DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.
JUDGE EZRA DID NOT RULE ANYTHING.
OKAY? JUDGE EZRA IS EVEN CALLING FOR PROOF.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, AND I KNOW THAT MUCH.
SO THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE PLAINTIFF RIGHT? AND SO THE PLAINTIFF IS GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE JUST BECAUSE HE SAYS SOMETHING HAPPENS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT HAPPENED.
THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE DISTRICT.
AND I OFTEN WONDER, ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT OR ARE YOU ADVERSARIAL TO THE DISTRICT? AND I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
IT PUTS US IN A BAD POINT OF ORDER.
MAY WE HAVE DECORUM? YES. TRUSTEES, PLEASE HAVE DECORUM.
TRUSTEE WEIR. I CALL THE QUESTION.
POINT OF ORDER. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER DOES NOT ALLOW THE PREVENTION OF DEBATE.
ROBERT'S RULES ADVISES A TEN MINUTE LIMIT.
SHOW US. I DON'T EVEN NEED TEN MINUTES.
CAN WE PLEASE GET CLARIFICATION ON ROBERT'S RULES? BECAUSE THAT IS ALSO WHAT I HAVE READ.
YEAH. CAN YOU AT LEAST HAVE TO HAVE TEN POINTS? I'M TURNING OFF MICROPHONES WHEN I'VE GOT THREE PEOPLE TALKING INTO THEM.
WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER.
MISS HILL, CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE IF POINT OF ORDER.
I MEAN, I CALL THE QUESTION IS APPLICABLE IN THIS SCENARIO.
[04:05:08]
JUST A MOMENT. TRUSTEES.I'M SORRY. I HAD CLOSED MY COMPUTER DOWN AND I CLOSED DOWN ROBERT'S RULES.
DID NOT REALIZE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THIS, JUST ONE MOMENT.
IS IT THE SMALL BODY VERSION OR IS IT THE LARGE LEGISLATIVE BODY VERSION? WAS LOOKING AT THE SMALL BODY VERSION.
SO LOOKING AT JURASSIC PARLIAMENT, ALONG ALSO WITH BOARD EFFECT AND ROBERT'S RULES SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE PROCESS FOR CALLING THE QUESTION IS THE MEMBER MUST HAVE THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS MOTION WAIT TO BE CALLED.
THE MOTION CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OR DEBATED.
IT TAKES TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTING MEMBERS IN FAVOR TO CUT OFF THE DEBATE.
THEREFORE, THE CHAIR SHOULD TAKE THE VOTE.
A SHOW OF HANDS AND NOT BY VOICE.
IF INDEED, TWO THIRDS OF THE GROUP WANT TO STOP THE DEBATE AND VOTE, THEN THE CHAIR IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE VOTE ON THE PENDING MOTION, THE MOTION THAT THE GROUP IS CONSIDERING AT THE TIME. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION IS ALLOWED.
ROBERT'S RULES DOES NOT ALLOW THIS MOTION TO BE MADE IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
DO YOU HAVE A SEPARATE A DIFFERENT SOURCE? IS THIS HOT? YEP.
IT'S, YOU JUST READ IT AMBER TO CUT OFF DEBATE.
I'VE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M REALLY CAUTIONING YOU GUYS.
TRUSTEE WESTON. DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SOURCE? WE HAVE A CALL TO QUESTION OF A SECOND.
I JUST HOPE. OKAY, HERE'S MY SOURCE.
[04:10:07]
AND HE SAID THE REASON THAT WAS MOST CRITICAL FOR THAT WAS FOR DISSENTING AND MINORITY VIEWS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.TRUSTEE WESTON, YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT ROBERT'S RULES RECOMMENDS TEN MINUTES.
DO YOU HAVE A SOURCE FOR WHERE YOU GOT THAT TEN MINUTES? TO MY BEST RECOLLECTION, THERE IS A LAMINATED HANDOUT THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN PROVIDED.
I THINK IT'S USUALLY IN THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS.
IT'S IN THIS PACKET. I DON'T HAVE I DON'T I'M NOT GOING TO DIG FOR IT.
I MEAN, YEAH, YOU CAN LOOK FOR IT.
IF IT'S NOT IN THERE, IT'S NOT IN THERE.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR TEN MINUTES.
ALL I NEED IS ABOUT 45 SECONDS.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TRYING TO PREVENT ME FROM TALKING.
WE HAVE A CALL TO QUESTION.. AND WHAT I NEED TO SAY.
I HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR OF ENDING DEBATE AND CALLING THE QUESTION RAISE YOUR HAND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR TRUSTEE HARRISON.
AZAIEZ. ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL OPPOSED.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? YES. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADD AGENDA ITEM TO FILE TO CONSIDER FILING A TEXAS BAR COMPLAINT AGAINST THE ATTORNEY.
THAT WAS IN THE SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021 BOARD MEETING.
AND FOR HIS ACTION AGAINST TRUSTEE DANIEL WESTON AND MARY BONE AFTER THE MEETING AND FOR HIS ROLE IN THE OCTOBER 2019 BOARD MEETING THAT RESULTED IN A ITA MONITOR.
SECOND. AND CAN YOU CLARIFY THE YEAR THAT YOU JUST CITED? OCTOBER 2019.
SECOND. POINT OF ORDER, CAN PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ON THE BOARD MAKE A MOTION ABOUT ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY WERE NOT ON THE BOARD TO SANCTION SOMEONE FROM WHEN THEY WERE NOT ON THE BOARD? THE ACTIVITY HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE ON THE BOARD.
SO THE ACTIVITY THAT RESULTED, THE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021.
AND ALSO, YES, I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN OCTOBER 2019 BECAME A MEETING THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE WERE WE RECEIVED A TA MONITOR BECAUSE OF THE OCTOBER 2019 BOARD MEETING. AND THAT IS WHAT IS REFERENCED IN THIS MOTION.
POINT OF ORDER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? IS THIS ON THE AGENDA AS PENDING LITIGATION? IS THERE PENDING LITIGATION ABOUT 2019? SO IT REALLY FEELS LIKE, MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE WE CAN'T..
THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT RELEVANT TO A PENDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND SO IT'S A COMPOUNDING REASON.
CAN YOU NOT ADD COMPOUNDING REASONS? IT'S GOT TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
IF IF WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IS FILING A GRIEVANCE WITH THE STATE BAR, IT NEEDS TO BE RELATED TO THE PENDING LITIGATION, NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE. IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOUR MOTION WAS TO PUT THIS ON AN..
NOT THIS ONE. THIS ONE WAS JUST FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE TEXAS STATE.
NO, IT'S TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
IT HAS TO BE RELATED TO SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
SO THIS IS TO MOVE TO THE BOARD AT AN AGENDA ITEM TWO.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS ON THIS AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
BUT I DIDN'T AGAIN, I DIDN'T YOU DIDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH ME.
AND SO I PUT THE AGENDA ITEM AND I TOLD YOU THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO PUT THAT AGENDA BACK ON.
AND BUT YOUR MOTION DOES NOT RELATE TO ANYTHING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT.
WELL, NO, ACTUALLY IT DOES THEN.
SO, I MEAN, SO THE BOARD CAN JUST FILE A TEXAS BAR COMPLAINT THEN.
WON'T EVEN BE TO ADD A BECAUSE THAT IS THIS IS ABOUT.
THE AGENDA ITEM WAS PENDING LITIGATION, THE PENDING LITIGATION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PENDING LITIGATION ABOUT THAT ITEM.
THE PENDING LITIGATION, ABSOLUTELY.
IS THE SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021 THAT IS IN THE PENDING LITIGATION AND THE VIOLATION OF TOMA.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO REWORD YOUR MOTION? WELL, MAY I? I THINK THEY DON'T LIKE THE LAST PART ABOUT THE TEA 2019 THING.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS PERTINENT TO THE PENDING LITIGATION.
YEAH. SO I CAN WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND MAKE IT AGAIN.
SO I WITHDRAW. HAD YOU SECONDED IT? IF YOU WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION, SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO.
[04:15:07]
LITIGATION FEDERAL ORDER.OKAY. THAT I'M OKAY WITH THAT HAS TO RELATE TO PENDING LITIGATION.
SECOND. AND DO YOU SEE MY LIGHT? NO, I DON'T.
SO THE BOARD HAS A SACRED DUTY TO PROTECT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ENTITLED TO THE CHILDREN.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, AND GIVEN THE ETHICS THAT ARE CODIFIED INTO FOR TEXAS ATTORNEYS BY THE TEXAS BAR, IT IS ENTIRELY REASONABLE, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS LAWSUIT AND JUDGE EZRA'S ORDER, THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED.
IT'S CALLED AN ORDER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CLEAR A HURDLE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO TRIAL.
THAT HURDLE HAS BEEN CLEARED ON SOME OF THE LAWSUIT.
AND AND SO IT IS ENTIRELY REASONABLE THAT THE BOARD WOULD FILE A BAR COMPLAINT, GIVEN WHAT'S IN THAT ORDER AND WHAT IS GOING WHAT IS GOING FORWARD. TRUSTEE WEIR.
I WAS JUST GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION IF THERE'S NOBODY ELSE, WE CAN JUST VOTE.
OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL OPPOSED OF TRUSTEE BONE'S MOTION TO FILE A BAR COMPLAINT.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? I'M DONE. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE WESTON.
I KNOW YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD A A MOTION TRUSTEE WESTON.
I MOVE TO MAKE PUBLIC THE SIX CONTRACTS FOR REPRESENTATION SIGNED BY INDIVIDUALS ON THIS BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE LAW FIRM REGARDING THE PENDING LITIGATION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT.
TRUSTEE HARRISON. WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO INTO CLOSED BECAUSE WHY WOULD WE RELEASE A DOCUMENT THAT'S WRAPPED UP IN PENDING LITIGATION? UH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT? I'M COMFORTABLE JUST VOTING ON THIS, THEN.
TRUSTEE WEIR. ARE WE ALLOWED TO TALK OFF MIC TO OTHER TRUSTEES WHEN THE COMMUNITY CAN'T HEAR US? I SAID LET'S JUST VOTE.
YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF TALKING OVER HERE, I DON'T THINK.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT? I CAN'T RULE ON A QUESTION TO TRUSTEE WEIR.
YEAH. CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE THE TRUSTEES TALK INTO THEIR MICS AND WAIT THEIR TURN WHILE WE ARE AT THE DAIS, PLEASE? I'M NOT SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN RULE ON, BUT PLEASE FOLLOW BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIONS? DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIONS? SEEING NOTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA, IT'S 11:27 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.