[00:00:01]
[3. Call Meeting to Order]
DATE IS MARCH THE SIXTH, 2023.THE TIME IS 5:30 PM THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD AT THE LANG SHORE ID, ADMINISTRATIVE FOR AUDITORIUM AT 4 22 SOUTH CENTER AVENUE, LANG SHORE, TEXAS, 75,146.
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
I WILL NOW TAKE ROLE TO ESTABLISH A QUO.
AT THIS TIME, THE FIRST ITEM IS CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS.
DO WE HAVE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS? HAVE ONE.
BOARD POLICY BD LOCAL STATES THAT PUBLIC COMMENT DURING A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT.
IF ADDRESSING AN ITEM, AN AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE IDENTIFY THE ITEM THAT YOU WILL BE COMMENTING ON.
SPEAKERS MAY NOT USE ANY INDIVIDUAL'S NAMES OR IDENTIFIABLE TITLES WHEN ADDRESSING THE BOARD IF THE SPEAKER IS PRESENTING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THAT PERSON.
ALTHOUGH THE BOARD CANNOT TAKE SPECIFIC ACTION ON CITIZENS COMMUNICATION TOPICS DUE TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, THEY WILL HEAR THE TOPIC AND THE BOARD MAY HAVE THE ITEM PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR ACTION OR REFER THE ITEMS TO A BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE, OR REFER THE ITEMS TO STAFF OR STUDY FOR CONCLUSION.
WE ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRIOR TO SPEAKING AND IDENTIFY THE TOPIC THAT YOU'RE COMMENTING ON.
UM, AFTER YOU STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND THE AGENDA ITEM, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I ASKED MR. UH, HANLIN IF THAT WAS THREE MINUTES FOR A CITIZEN'S COMMENT OR IF THIS WAS A PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
AND HE SAID THIS, THIS IS COMMUNICATION.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR TIME WILL START AFTER YOU SAY THAT.
BEFORE WE AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, CLARK.
UM, CAN WE CLARIFY WITH TRANSPARENCY THE DIFFERENCE? CAUSE I HAD TO GET CLARIFICATION IF, UH, I, I CAN CLARIFY THAT I'VE NOT OPENED UP THE PUBLIC HEARING YET.
THE FIRST ITEM IS THE CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION.
SHOULD I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR AGENDA? WELL, YOU, IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP AT ALL.
I'LL CALL FOR, UM, PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE.
I'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FOR THE RECORD, THERE ARE NO CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS.
[6. Convene Public Hearning]
MOVE ON TO THE, UH, CONVENE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.THIS IS A HEARING TO DISCUSS THE CONSERVATOR APPOINTED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY.
TE THE HEARING WILL OPEN AT 5:33 PM OKAY.
THIS HEARING IS BEING HELD DUE TO A CORRESPONDENCE WE RECEIVED ON NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH, LANCASTER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM COMMISSIONER MIKE MORATH ADVISING THAT DUE TO THE SPECIAL, THE FINAL REPORT RESULTING IN THIS S I U SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2023, WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT WE WILL BE APPOINTED A CONSERVATOR.
SHE WILL BE, SHE IS CURRENTLY ACTIVE HERE IN LANGSTER IS S D AND I WILL GIVE, I WILL READ THE SUMMARY OF THE FINAL REPORT INTO THE RECORD.
THE FINDINGS OF THE SI ESTABLISHED THAT THE LANGFORD ISE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED TO APPROVE AN APPROXIMATELY 2.1 MILLION VOLUNTARY SEPARATION AGREEMENT WITH DR.
THE BOARD GAVE ITS CONSENT TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN THE INTENDED USE, WHICH IS FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DISTRICT STUDENTS.
FURTHERMORE, THE APPROVED AGREEMENT IS AN EXCESS PAYMENT OF DISTRICT FUNDS, WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
THAT IS A, CONSIDERED A PUBLIC GIFT OF FUNDS.
IN ADDITION, THE MAJOR RIFT IN THE BOARD LED TO THE APPROVAL OF A LEGALLY INVALID AGREEMENT THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE DISTRICT.
LASTLY, THE BOARD'S DECISION PLAYED IN, EXCUSE ME.
THE BOARD'S DECISION PLAYED AN EXCESSIVE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE DISTRICT.
THE INFORMATION GATHERED FOR THIS INVESTIGATION SUPPORTS THE S I U CONCLUSION THAT VI THAT VIOLATIONS DID OCCUR.
AT THIS TIME, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, IF YOU COME DOWN TO THE FIRST ROW, AND THEN I'LL CALL YOU IN ORDER AT THAT POINT.
[00:05:16]
OKAY.AND THERE ARE QR CODES FOR THE, UM, LINK FOR THE FINAL REPORT.
THIS REPORT IS ALSO ON OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
LANCASTER, I READ SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SO I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT I'VE NOT SEEN.
SO, UM, I WILL SPEAK ABOUT OUR FUTURE, BUT FIRST I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE PAST BY STATE LAW SCHOOL BOARD CAN SLANDER ANYBODY THEY WANT AND THEY CANNOT, CANNOT BE SUED.
MOST OF THE SUPPOSEDLY FORENSIC AUDIT ONLINE CONCERNS, DECISIONS MADE BY A MAJORITY VOTE.
I HAD ONE VOTE, BUT ONLY I AM TARGETED IN THIS.
MS. CLARK, LET ME RE CAN I REDIRECT YOU? THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT THE, WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR A CONSERVATIVE BEING APPOINTED TO LANG R S D AND I CAN'T TALK ABOUT, OKAY.
CAN I TALK ABOUT FUTURE IF IT'S PERTAINING TO THE CONSERVATOR? SURE.
SO FROM GOING FORWARD, FROM THIS POINT, A SCHOOL BOARD CREATES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES THAT SHOULD BE WORKING TO SEE THE POLICIES ARE FOLLOWED.
THERE'S A POLICY OF THE DISTRICT STUDENTS THAT CAUSE ACADEMIC AND DISCIPLINE ISSUES THAT SHOULD SH THAT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE DISTRICT.
THESE ARE THE THINGS I FEEL LIKE THE CONSERVATOR SHOULD LOOK AT.
AND MR. O'HANLAN, IS THAT APPROPRIATE PER THE STUDENTS? A LOT OF FIGHTS INVOLVING OUT A DISTRICT.
SO WHY ARE THOSE STUDENTS STILL IN THERE TO HERE? LANCASTER STUDENTS, STUDENTS NEED TO BE SENT TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AND PARENTS NEED TO BE MADE TO COME TO SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM.
STUDENTS AND PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT A STUDENT NEEDS TO BEHAVE IN OR SUFFER SOME TIME OF PUNISH PUNISHMENT.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, SAID, WELL, MONTHS AGO, HOPING NOBODY WOULD GET, UH, HOPING NOBODY WOULD GET HURT OR KILLED.
TEACHERS ARE AFRAID TO COME INTO THE HALL CLASSROOM IN THE HALL DURING CLASS.
WE'RE STILL, THIS IS, YOU'RE STILL OFF TOPIC FOR THE CONSERVATOR APPOINTMENT.
WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC.
I THOUGHT WE WERE HERE TO TALK TO THE CONSERVATIVE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL LIKE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE CONSERVATOR.
NOW THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE TA HAS REQUIRED THAT WE NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF LANGUR, THAT WE HAVE BEEN APPOINTING A CONSERVATOR INTO OUR DISTRICT.
THE CONSERVATOR, THE CONSERVATOR WAS APPOINTED OVER CONCERNS, UH, IN CONCERNING WITH CONCERNING GOVERNANCE.
SO IS THIS NOT GOVERNANCE ABOUT DISCIPLINE? NO DISCIPLINE ABOUT GOVERNANCE.
GOVERNANCE BEING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE, AND THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
IT'S THE GOVERNANCE IS A TERM USES CONCERNING, LIKE I SAID, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ITS DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS AND TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND HOW THEY INTERRELATE WITH PRINCIPLE SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR.
THEN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, SIR.
WHEN I, THE, WHAT I GOT FROM THE TEA SAID THAT THE CONSERVATOR WILL WORK WITH L I S D TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE, PREVENT FURTHER ISSUES THAT LED TO NON-COMPLIANCE AND ASSIST THE BOARD IN WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM IN THE BEST INTEREST OF L I S D STUDENTS.
THAT'S, THAT'S GOVERNANCE WORKING THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WELL, PROBABLY NOTHING I HAVE TO SAY IS APPROPRIATE FOR HERE.
AND I'M SORRY I MISUNDERSTOOD IT.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT, MIGHT HAVE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED.
I KNEW THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
MS. WHITFILL, TAMIKA WHITFIELD, TRUSTEE DISTRICT THREE.
UM, I GUESS I ALSO MISUNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO SPEAK ON BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER CLARIFIED.
SO I AM GOING TO PRETTY MUCH SUMMARIZE WHAT I HAVE
[00:10:01]
TOGETHER AND TRY TO BE AS PROMPT AS POSSIBLE.I'M STANDING HERE TO STATE THAT I AM, UM, I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE RECEIVING A CONSERVATOR AND SINCE MY ELECTION AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN SWORN IN, IAN, I HAVE RECEIVED, I HAVE MY, AS FAR AS THE DOCUMENTS ARE CONCERNED, MY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED AND WHEN I'VE ALSO BEEN INSULTED.
MS. WHITFIELD, YOU'RE OFF SUBJECT.
THIS IS PERTAINING TO SUBJECT, BUT IT'S OUT, OFF TOPIC.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONSERVATOR, MA'AM.
SO AS FAR AS THE CONSERVATOR, COULD YOU PLEASE TURN OFF THE MIC IN THE BACK FOR ME? CUZ YOU'RE OFF SUBJECT AND I WAS POLITE AS POSSIBLE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE OFF SUBJECT.
AS FAR AS THE CONSERVATOR CHIEF TURN OFF, I TRIED TO ADVISE YOU, SO YES, I DID.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? MS. MORRIS, CAROLYN MORRIS, 8 87 WINTERGREEN REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT SIX.
I WANNA SAY TO OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A LONG TIME WAITING FOR THE CONSERVATOR APPOINTMENT TO GET HERE, UH, IN LOOKING WHAT THE CONSERVATOR HAS TO ADDRESS, WHAT OUR DISTRICT IS IN THIS.
AND I THINK FOR EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO READ THE INVESTIGATING REPORT, THEY CAN GET IT FROM, UH, JUST HOLD THEIR CELL PHONE UP AND GET THE QUEUE TO THE FINAL REPORT.
THE COMMISSIONER WAS VERY CLEAR IN WHAT HE HAS PRESENTED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, ALL BOARD MEMBERS KNEW BEFORE TODAY THAT THE CONSERVATOR WAS COMING AND THE REASON WHY THE CONSERVATOR WAS COMING.
I AM PLEASED AND HONORED THAT WE AS A TEAM OF SEVEN, UM, AND ONE PLUS THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE CONSERVATOR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD MEETINGS.
AND THE CONSERVATOR PURPOSE IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HOLD BUSINESS.
I WANT TO THANK EACH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING WHY THE CONSERVATOR IS COMING AND THIS INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT FORTH IN FRONT OF US.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? HEARING NONE, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY THAT WE WELCOME THE CONSERVATOR INTO OUR DISTRICT TO CORRECT SOME ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR LANGSTER I S D.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE DIOCESE? I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE, HAVE A CONSERVATOR COMING IN, UM, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PAST, BUT UM, TO CORRECT SOME GOVERNANCE ISSUES THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON NOW.
AND I AM OPEN TO WHATEVER THE CONSERVATOR WANTS, UM, FOR ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.
SO WHAT HAVE YOU AND PREPARED WITH ALL MY NOTATIONS.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:43 PM OKAY.
[8. Action Items]
BOARD, WE DO HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA.FIRST ACTION ITEM IS A TO DIS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL TO CERTIFY UNOPPOSED SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT FOUR, FIVE, AND SEVEN IN THE CANCELLATION OF THE MAY, 2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION, B B D, LEGAL AND LOCAL.
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY MS. MORRIS.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? YES, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW, UH, TRANSPARENCY REASONS.
UM, HOW WAS THIS INFORMATION COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMMUNITY AS IT RELATES TO, UM, LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RUNNING? AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE, I ALSO NOTICED THAT WE HAVE A, UM, WE HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR MEETINGS, OUR AGENDAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF OUR SITE, AND THEY'RE ALSO SUBJECT TO BE ON THE MARQUES, BUT I DID NOT SEE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SPECIFICALLY.
UM, ON THE FRONT PAGE FOR TRANSPARENCY OR EVEN ON THE MARQUES, I
[00:15:01]
WILL SAY THERE IS AN ELECTION PAGE ON OUR LINKS IOC C WEBSITE WHERE INFORMATION IS PRINTED.THESE ARE ELECTED OFFICIAL POSITIONS.
INDIVI INDIVIDUALS THAT SEEK THEM WILL GO OUT AND FIND THE INFORMATION IN THE DEADLINES.
SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CANNOT ADVERTISE FOR OPEN SCHOOL BOARD SEATS, BUT WE DO HAVE A WEBPAGE THAT HAS ALL THE INFORMATION ON IT.
THE STATE LAW PRO PRESCRIBES THAT, THAT THAT SCHOOL, SCHOOL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, HAVE AN ELECTION PAGE ON THE ELECTION PAGE.
SO, SO THAT RE THAT APPLIES TO THE AGENDA AS WELL? BASICALLY THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S, IT SHOWED ON IF IT'S, IT'S IF IT'S REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA.
NO, THAT ELECTION PAGE IS A, IS A, I MEAN, I'M SEEING A STANDARD FEATURE OF THE, UH, OF THE WEBSITE THAT, THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
IT'S NOT FOR US, IT'S FOR EVERYBO.
ALL THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, WE POSTED, UH, THE DISTRICT POSTED 30 DAYS BEFORE, UH, THE, UH, UH, BEFORE THE SIGNUP PERIOD STARTS A, UH, UH, PUBLIC NOTICE.
IT'S CALLED A NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR A PLACE ON THE BALLOT THAT HAS TO BE POSTED.
UH, AND IT WAS 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SIGNUP TIME.
UH, AND SO THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS POSTED, THAT'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISION TO THE ELECTION CODE.
UH, THEN THERE, THERE ARE THE DATES.
WE'VE ALSO, UH, ADOPTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH DALLAS.
UH, OR WE'RE ABOUT TO AN ELECTION ORDER THAT'LL SET FORTH A TOUR.
WOULD WOULD'VE DONE THE ELECTION ORDER.
UH, THAT WOULD CALL FOR SPECIFICALLY CALL FOR THE ELECTION.
OUR ELECTIONS UNDER PROVISION IN THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN THE ELECTION CODE ARE REQUIRED TO BE JOINT ELECTIONS.
UH, THERE'S A PROVISION IN, UH, CHAPTER 11 OF THE ELECTION CODE THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR, UH, ELECTIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ELECTIONS POSTED FOR THE, UH, OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY.
THE DALLAS COUNTY DOES RUN A MAY UNIFORM ELECTION DATE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE, UH, SETTING UP FOR.
BUT, UH, BECAUSE OF, UH, CUZ OF THE SITUATION, WE CAN, WE CAN CANCEL THE ELECTION IF THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON, UH, FOR EACH THAT SIGNS UP FOR EACH, UH, AND, AND NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COST OF THE JOINT ELECTION.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT THE, THIS MOTION IS.
SO ALL OF THIS IS FAIRLY WELL REGULATED, UH, BY THE TEXAS, MOSTLY BY THE TEXAS ALLEGED ELECTION CODE WITH ONE PROVISION COMING OUTTA THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT TRANSPARENT EXPLANATION.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND BOARD.
ANY OF THE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
MOTION PASSES FOR INTER RECORD AS THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE OFFICIAL BALLOT PREPARED.
I CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES ARE UNOPPOSED FOR ELECTION TO OFFICE FOR THE ELECTION SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON MAY 6TH, 2023.
THE OFFICES INCLUDE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT FOUR, DARRYL LEWIS SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT FIVE, TAIJI JONES SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT SEVEN, KENDALL SMITH.
SO WE WILL BE CANCELING OUR MAY 6TH ELECTION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE UNOPPOSED INDIVIDUALS.
OKAY, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ADJOURNMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE? HAVE A MOTION BY MS. MORRIS.
WE ARE NOW CLOSING AT 5:49 PM.