[00:00:01]
TODAY'S DATE IS FEBRUARY THE 7TH TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
THIS IS A CALL MEETING AT FIVE THIRTY P.M.
[3. Call Meeting to Order]
AT THE LANCASTER ISD ADMINISTRATION BOARD ROOM AUDITORIUM AT FOUR POINT TWENTY TWO SOUTH CENTER AVENUE, LANCASTER, TEXAS SEVEN FIVE ONE FOUR SIX.AT THIS TIME. TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, I WILL CALL THE ROAD TAX REFORM.
MISS DAVIS MYSELF PRESENT TONIGHT.
OH, EXCUSE ME, MR. JONES IS JOINING US REMOTELY, MR. JONES. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
ABSENT TONIGHT, WE HAVE MR. SMITH AND MISS MAYS.
OK, AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE OUR BOARD COUNSEL HERE, MR ROBERT DAVID, AND I WILL ASK THAT YOU BE THE PRESIDING OFFICER OVER THE HEARING TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. BE GETTING ON WITH THIS.
SO THE AGREEMENTS WILL COME TO ORDER TODAY IS FEBRUARY 7TH, TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
THE TIME IS CURRENTLY FIVE THIRTY FOUR PM AND THE LEVEL THREE GRIEVANCE HEARING OF MISS SONIA BUTLER HAS BEGUN.
ELECTRICITY. UM, LET US GO INTO CLOSE, LET ME GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FIRST AND DO WE KNOW IF THIS WAS REQUESTED TO BE OPEN OR CLOSED? OK, SO AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD IS GOING TO GO IN CLOSED SESSION.
IT'S AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FIVE FIVE ONE TEXAS
[5. Recess to Closed Session]
GOVERNMENT CODE FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN ONE LEGAL ADVICE FOR SCHOOL ATTORNEY FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN TWO DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR AN EMPLOYEE. FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN SIX DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS.THE TIME IS FIVE POINT THIRTY FOUR P.M.
WE'RE DOWN CLOSE, OK, THE BOARD HAS RETURNED.
TIME IS SIX THIRTY ONE FROM THE INFORMATION SESSION.
[6A. Consider possible action on Level III Grievance Hearing for Sonya Butler - DGBA(LEGAL)-(G4)]
MR. DAVID HAMILTON.SO AFTER GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS SOME SPECIFICS REGARDING EXHIBIT 11, WE'RE GOING TO RESUME THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE RATHER BOTH COUNCIL HAS BEEN GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OBJECTIONS AS TO THE EXHIBITS ENTERED INTO THE RECORD.
I HAVE HEARD THOSE OBJECTIONS AND AT THAT POINT MR. ORTIZ ATTEMPTED TO STRIKE OR MADE A MOTION TO STRIKE, EXCUSE ME, EXHIBITS FIVE THROUGH 11 FROM THE DISTRICT'S EXHIBITS.
I OVERRULED THOSE FINDING THAT THEY WERE RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THIS BUTLER DID INDEED MAKE AN EFFECTIVE RESIGNATION AND WHETHER THE BOARD SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DECIDE TO ACCEPT THE RESCINDING OF THAT LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
AT THIS POINT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED INTO THE ARGUMENTS.
BOTH SIDES WILL BE GIVEN 15 MINUTES.
MR. OROCHI HAS PREVIOUSLY MOVED TO GO AHEAD AND RESERVE FOUR MINUTES OF HIS 15 REBUTTAL, SO I WILL OBSERVE THAT ONCE HE HAS FIVE MINUTES OF HIS ELEVEN REMAINING, I WILL GIVE HIM A MOTION THE MORRIS OR SECOND MS. DAVIS OR THE PAUSE FOR MR. ORTIZ, MR. ALEXANDER, MR. YOU'LL BE FREE TO USE THAT TIME AS HE DEEMED FIT FOLLOWING MS. ALEXANDER WILL THEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND RESPOND.
THEN WE WILL GO BACK INTO THE SAME ALTERNATING REBUTTALS AND THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO ANY OF THE BOARD'S QUESTIONS AT THAT POINT.
DOES EVERYTHING MAKE SENSE TO YOU, BOTH SIDES WITH COUNSEL? SURE. A WARNING AFTER FIVE AND AND IF YOU DON'T MIND ANOTHER ONE AFTER CHAN, BECAUSE I MAY SPEAK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT FOUR MINUTES IS PRESERVED.
NO, ABSOLUTELY. SO, MR. ORTIZ, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR WHAT I HAVE IN MIND RIGHT NOW IS I WILL GIVE YOU 11 MINUTES OF YOUR 15 TOTAL TOTAL OR YOUR INITIAL ARGUMENT OF WHICH YOU WILL SPLIT THAT HOWEVER YOU DEEM FIT. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I WILL GIVE YOU A FIVE MINUTE WARNING SIX MINUTES THROUGH YOUR ARGUMENT.
AT THAT POINT, I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER WARNING TWO MINUTES THROUGH JUST SO YOU CAN BRING UP MISS BUTLER IF YOU'D LIKE AND LET HER GIVE HER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT. LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET MY TIMER.
MR. ROOKIE'S YOU READY? WAR PRESIDENT HAMILTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS HONORABLE BOARD.
THAT IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT SONJA BUTLER.
THIS GRIEVANCE IS ABOUT TWO THINGS, TWO THINGS ONLY.
[00:05:09]
MY CLIENT WANTS THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT A NEW ADMINISTRATION IS NOT NECESSARILY A A BETTER ADMINISTRATION THAT THAN BEFORE.AND THE BEST WAY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ACTUALLY HERE, THAT IS TO HEAR FROM MY CLIENT, HOW MY CLIENT'S IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR MISTREATED HER.
SECONDLY, MY CLIENT SUBMITTED A RESIGNATION JANUARY TWENTY FIVE.
MY CLIENT BEGAN AS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AUGUST 2019.
MY CLIENT IS A PRODUCT OF LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MY CLIENT LOVES LANCASTER AND.
MARCH 2020, WE ALL KNOW WE ALL KNOW IT, AND THE TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, TURN SCHOOL DISTRICTS PARTICULARLY UP UPSIDE DOWN A TURN AND THAT TURNED PARTICULARLY TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS UP UP, UPSIDE DOWN.
WE ALL KNOW WE BEGAN TEACHING VIRTUALLY NEVER DID THAT BEFORE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 19 20 SCHOOL YEAR TAUGHT VIRTUALLY FOR THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE SCHOOL YEAR VIRTUALLY.
AND THAT PUT A REAL BURDEN ON TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE NOT COMPLAINING.
JUNE ONE TWENTY TWENTY ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT RETAINS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
JUNE EIGHT, TWENTY TWENTY ONE THROUGH ABSOLUTELY NO FAULT OF MY CLIENT.
RANSOMWARE HIT LANCASTER VERY UNFORTUNATE.
MY CLIENT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD DEALING WITH THAT RANSOMWARE.
JUNE 10 TWENTY TWENTY ONE WORKERS HIRED BARKER AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ARE CLOSED OFF RAMP. SHE'S DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OVER CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION, NOT EVEN CERTIFIED TO TEACH IN THIS STATE AND AND THAT MY CLIENT'S EMAILS THAT ARE MARKED FOR A THROUGH SIX E REFLECT EMAILS BETWEEN BARKER AND BUTLER.
AND THEY'RE NOT THE WAY PROFESSIONALS OUGHT TO TALK THAT THERE'S A CULTURE HERE THE BOARD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND.
MAY 20, TWENTY ONE, PAM BROWN LEAVES JULY 20, TWENTY ONE, MILNER LEAVES JANUARY 20 TWENTY TWO, PUMPHREY LEAVES.
THREE ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT PEOPLE LEAVE MY CLIENT, MY CLIENT SEEKS.
A THAT THIS BOARD RESCIND THAT RESIGNATION, MR ANTHONY AND THE DAIRY JOHNSON ALSO LEAVES. THE.
THAT THAT IT'S IRONIC IN ALL THE MOVIES I DO AT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T. AND TREAT OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE WORST, EVEN MUCH WORSE THAN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
THAT THAT MY CLIENT SUPERVISOR.
NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED BY A FAIR, IMPARTIAL REVIEWER.
MY CLIENT'S EXHIBIT NINE MANDATES EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THIS DISTRICT THE RIGHT TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE ANNUAL EVALUATION.
MY CLIENT NEVER WAS, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED GOOD EVALUATIONS BECAUSE BEFORE JUNE 20, TWENTY ONE, SHE WAS JUDGED FAIRLY.
[00:10:04]
THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS EXHIBITS OR ARE SIMILAR TO MY CLIENT'S EXHIBITS REGARDING THE RESIGNATION. THAT THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS EXHIBIT TWO'S MY CLIENT'S RESIGNATION, SUBMITTED JANUARY TWENTY FIVE AT 12:01 A.M.THAT DR. TAYLOR RESPONDS THAT SAME DAY SIX THIRTY EIGHT, YOUR RESIGNATIONS BEEN RECEIVED.
TAB THREE ADDS DR TAYLOR'S EMAIL TO MY CLIENT, FEBRUARY THREE AT ELEVEN THIRTY ONE AS OF JANUARY TWENTY FIVE BOARD MEETING.
YOUR RESIGNATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND YOUR LAST DAY WILL BE FEBRUARY 15.
REFLECT EXHIBIT ONE, SEE THE JANUARY TWENTY FIVE BOARD MEETING AGENDA.
THIS IS YOUR FIVE MINUTE WARNING.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT ACT UPON MY CLIENT'S RESIGNATION AND IF IT DID ACT UNLAWFULLY, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BOARD CAN ACT LAWFULLY.
A UNLESS IT GIVES PROPER NOTICE, IT DIDN'T DO THAT.
AND THE TAB FOR MY CLIENTS, RESCISSION OF THE PURPORTED RESIGNATION AND THEN AFTER THE FACT. TAYLOR FINALLY MAKES CLEAR AFTER THE FACT THAT YOUR RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED UPON RECEIVED JANUARY TWENTY FIVE TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
SHE HAS TO SAY BY WHOM? MORE POLICY DFA LOCAL SAYS SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TAYLOR KEEPS OUT OF SECRET.
ONCE SUBMITTED, ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION CONTRACT EMPLOYEE MAY NOT BE WITHDRAWN WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE BOARD, BUT WE BELIEVE A SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILED TO GIVE MY CLIENT NOTICE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCEPTED MY CLIENT'S RESIGNATION.
THAT'S WHY BEFORE MY CLIENT RESCINDED.
AND THAT AND THAT IF WE'RE WRONG, WE ASK WE ASK RESPECTFULLY THAT THE BOARD ALLOW MY CLIENT TO RESCIND MY CLIENT'S RESIGNATION.
MY CLIENT TOOK FMLA FROM JANUARY 14.
TWENTY TWENTY TWO UNTIL FEBRUARY ONE.
WASN'T THINKING CLEARLY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT JANUARY TWENTY FIVE WHEN MY CLIENT PURPORTED TO TO TO TO TO RESIGN FOR BOARDING.
SOME ONE THING MY MOM DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, MY CLIENT ASKED THAT THE BOARD RESCIND ALLOW HER TO RESCIND.
MY CLIENT HAS BEEN IN THAT, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FAITHFUL EMPLOYEE.
PLEASE DON'T CONSIDER EXHIBITS FIVE THROUGH 11.
TWO MINUTE WARNING. I'M SORRY, THIS IS YOUR TWO MINUTE WARNING.
THAT'S CORRECT, THAT THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE ALL INSERTED TO JUST PREJUDICE MY CLIENT'S RIGHTS ACT IN A FAIR IN PART.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.