[3. Call Meeting to Order]
[6. Budget Workshop]
[00:19:24]
>> WE ONLY COLLECT 23 FROM THE STATE AND WE HAVE SETTLE UP IN
[00:19:27]
SEPTEMBER WHEN WE ACTUALLY OWE SOME MONEY BACK TO THE STATE[00:19:31]
FROM THE FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM.[00:19:35]
OTHER AREAS THAT YOU SHOW HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN DO KNOW AREAS UNDER BUDGET. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF VACANCIES.AND OUR SUBSTITUTE BUDGET IS ACTUALLY OVER BUDGET FROM WHAT WAS PROJECTED, WHICH IS -- BECAUSE -- AND WE HAVE TEACHER
[00:20:03]
VACANCIES. THIS, AGAIN, IS A TREND ALL ACROSS THE STATE. LOOKING AT OUR FUND BALANCE HISTORY, YOU CAN SEE THAT EACH YEAR THE FUND -- YOUR FUND BALANCE HAS INCREASED. AND THE -- THE ORANGE LINE THERE IS AN INDICATOR OF WHERE FUND BALANCE TYPICALLY IS LOOKED AT AS BEST PRACTICE, WHICH IS THREE MONTHS OF OPERATING OF GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET. SO IN THE CASE OF FINANCIAL EMERGENCY OR OUR LOSS TO ANY KIND OF REVENUE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST FOR 90 DAYS TO RUN THE DISTRICT.AND THAT -- THAT -- SOMETIMES THAT IS ACTUALLY IN BOARD POLICY, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FUND BALANCE HERE IS WELL ABOVE THAT LINE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SUGGESTED WITH CABINET AND STAFF AND TALKED AT LENGTH TO D DR. PERERA IS THAT WE COULD HAVE -- TAKE SOME OF THAT EXTRA FUND BALANCE OR LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH BEING UNDER BUDGET OVERALL.
AND CONSIDER CREATING FUNDS IN 600S FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
THE BENEFIT TO THAT WILL BE THAT THOSE FUNDS CARRY OVER AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS. I KNOW CAPITAL OUTLAY COMMITTEE BUSY PLY OR ADVERTISING AND PUT MONEY THERE FOR THOSE NEEDS. I KNOW AN EXPRESSED NEED FOR INSTRUMENT AND OTHER NEEDS FOR THE FINE ARTS PROGRAM.
WE HAD TECHNOLOGY NEEDS COME UP ESPECIALLY AFTER THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK AND WE HAD TO SHIFT MONEY AROUND WHEN I HAVE BEEN HERE AND ALSO TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A COMMON PRACTICE IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
IT KIND OF OPENS UP SOME FLEXIBILITY OF THOSE DOLLARS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWS YOU TO SPEND DOWN SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE TALKED -- YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LEGISLATORS IN AUSTIN WHO ARE BEING WATCHDOGS RIGHT NOW OF LARGE FUND BALANCES. AND THEY ARE USING THAT KIND OF THEIR PLATFORM WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE YOU MORE STATE AID IF YOUR FUND BALANCE WOULD INCREASE AND INCREASE AND INCREASE OVER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ARE SPENDING IN YOUR BUDGET.
SO SOME BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2023-'24.
ENROLLMENT. WE ARE KEEPING A VERY, VERY TIGHT LOOK AT ENROLLMENT AND CHECKING IN ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN KEPT FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER AT THE BUILDING. AND WE ARE HOPING TO SEE THOSE INCREASES. WE WANT TO WATCH OUR TREND IN -- IN AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE. OUR THREE-YEAR AVERAGE IS RIGHT AT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 90 AND A HALF PERCENT.
WE ARE PLANNING TO BUDGET ON THE 90% ADA LEVEL TO CALCULATE OUR REVENUE. AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE FROM THE STATE THIS YEAR IN OUR GUARANTEED YIELD WHICH IS ON OUR GOLD PENNIES RAISING IT UP FROM 9856 TO 126.21. AS YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE I IRGNS TAX RATE INFORMATION ALREADY.
BUT OUR M &O CURRENT TAX RATE, THE MAXIMUM IS .9650.
WE EXPECT COMPRESSION OF THAT. HOPEFULLY WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW AND WITH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES AND THE CURRENT LEGISLATION FROM SENATE BILL 2, WE EXPECT POSSIBLY UP TO $.20 COMPRESSION ON THAT NUMBER. CURRENTLY, LANCASTER ISD HAS 90% TAX COLLECTION RATE WHICH IS EXCELLENT.
ESSER 2 ENDS AND MONIES ARE SUNSET IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND ONE MORE YEAR LEFT WITH THE BALANCE OF ESSER 3.
EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS. WHILE WE KNOW THAT SECURITY IS A TOP PRIORITY AND HAS BEEN MADE SO BY THE GOVERNOR WITH MANY UNFUNDED MANDATES, WE ARE FOCUSING ON PROGRAMS, OF COURSE, WITH STUDENTS, EDUCATION AS A TOP PRIORITY.
AND WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON FINANCIAL CONTROLS OVER THE BUDGET SO THAT WE DO HAVE WHETHER IT BE STATE, LOCAL OR FEDERAL. CAMPUS ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN
[00:25:03]
LOOKED AT WITH A MICROSCOPE. I CAN TELL YOU STAFFING ALLEGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROPERLY STAFFING AT EACH CAMPUS AS WELL. BOTH DR. IF WEISMAN AND MYSELF HAVE THE ABILITY TO MEET WITH PRINCIPALS AND REVIEW THEIR MASTER SCHEDULES. CENESSENTIAL IF ORGANIZATION.ONE ON ONE MEETINGS. MANY OCCURRED PRIOR TO ME ARRIVING A MONTH AGO. PLANNED 10% REDUCTION OF ALL DEPARTMENT BUDGETS EXCEPT MAINTENANCE I HAVE A CROSS THE BOARD. ZERO-BASED BUDGETING AND THAT PROCESS BEGAN ALL THE WAY IN JANUARY FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND -- YES? OH, NOVEMBER? ALL RIGHT, ALL THE WAY BACK TO NOVEMBER.
AND WE ARE LOOKING TO BUDGET. AND WHERE ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR STUDENTS.
AT THIS TIME, AS OF 4:45, THIS WAS OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR '23-'24. OVERALL, I WILL POINT OUT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, THIS IS AN OVERALL OF ABOUT $6 MILLION REDUCTION TO REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ACROSS THE DISTRICT. SO OUR CHALLENGES.
APPROXIMATELY A $6.3 MILLION DECREASE OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES WITH A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN 14% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH AN 8% SALARY INCREASE TO OUR EMPLOYEES. AND WE HAVE FACILITIES' NEEDS AND CAPITAL NEEDS ACROSS THE ON COULD BE CONSIDERED WITH THE MAXIMUM DRESSING IS CONSIDERING THE CALL OF A VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE 3.4 PENNIES OF THE MAXIMUM 17 THAT COULD BE ADOPTED THAT ARE NOT PART OF OUR TAX RATE. SO THIS WOULD BE THE ONE TIME THAT WE WOULD HAVE MAXIMUM COMPRESSION ALONG WITH WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE $100,000 HOME -- HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT THOSE LAST 33.4 PENNIES.
IF THE BOARD WERE TO DECIDE TO DO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SO PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 21. THAT WOULD BE THE LAST DAY.
IT WOULD NEED TO BE A SPECIALLY CALLED MEETING, BUT THE IMPACT OF IT AS CALCULATED WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION OF $1.5 MILLION THAT WILL ADD BACK TO -- OH, THANK YOU. YOU ARE RIGHT.
IT IS AUGUST 21. I AM THINKING THREE WEEKS.
SO, YES, PLEASE KNOW, I WILL CORRECT THAT AND SEND THAT BACK OUT IN A CORRECTED PRESENTATION. IT IS AUGUST.
SO IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WOULD HAVE TO, AT THAT SAME MEETING -- WE WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT THE M&O TAX RATE PRIOR TO CALLING AN ELECTION. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WELL. Y
YES? >> YOU RECALL WHEN WE DID OUR COMPENSATION PACKAGE, I SHARED WITH YOU ALL THAT I DIDN'T SEE A WAY IN WHICH WE COULD LEVERAGE ANY DOLLARS TO GO TOWARD OUR STAFF SALARIES. SO WE LOOKED AT EKINGSSER 2 FUNDS AND THE BALANCE OF THAT AND DID A ONE-TIME STIPEND FOR EVERYONE, WHICH ACTUALLY WILL BE COMING OUT AT THE END OF AUGUST TO EVERY EMPLOYEE. BUT WITH THIS -- WITH THIS VATRE OPTION AVAILABLE, WHICH I WOULD ADMIT I WAS NOT NECESSARILY AWARE OF. BUT HOWEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT IT RECENTLY. AND SPEAKING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS AS WELL AS DR. CHEEK.
AGAIN, JUST A PROPOSAL, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD WHERE THAT CAME FROM AS WELL.
>> YES. AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE IMPACT IS TO PUT WHAT IT WOULD RAISE APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION BACK IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. WE WANTED TO TALK SOME ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CONTROLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 300 CONTRACTS THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THE DISTRICT. AND WE HAVE A CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS THAT OCCURS. FIRST, ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS ARE SENT TO OUR PURCHASING COORDINATOR.
AND SHE CHECKS FOR FUNDING SOURCES THAT EACH CONTRACT THAT
[00:30:04]
COMES IS APPROVED VENDOR STATUS. SHE ALSO SCREENS FOR ANY CONTRACT THAT MAY NEED TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD BECAUSE OF ITS AMOUNT. AND ALSO, IF THERE IS A NEED TO SEND FOR AN RPF OR A RFQ, AND THAT IS WHERE THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE. FROM THAT, IF ALL OF THE THV CHECKS HAVE BEEN MAILED, THEN THE CONTRACT IS SENT TO MISS ALEXANDER, OUR ATTORNEY FOR REVIEW AND LAST FOR REVIEW, EITHER BY MYSELF OR DR. PERERA. SOMETIMES BOTH DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CONTRACT IS, AND WE FOLLOW THE CONTRACT REVIEW CHECKLIST THAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE LEFT. THIS PROCESS, THIS CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS CHECKLIST HAS BEEN IN PLACE AT LANCASTER PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL. TO SHARE PROPERTY TAX RATES ACROSS DALLAS COUNTY FOR YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE 2022-'23 SCHOOL YEAR. YOU WILL SEE THAT LANCASTER ISD WAS AT THE TOP. AND WHAT THE AVERAGE IS ACROSS THE BOTTOM. ALL RIGHT, SO ON JULY 14, DR. PERERA AND MYSELF RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM TEA ANNOUNCES THAT OUR DISTRICT -- I AM ASSUMING FOR THE FIRST TIME -- WOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE. AS YOU ARE AWARE, AND I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU BEFORE, "RECAPTURE" OCCURS ON THE COPPER PENNIES IN TIER TWO. WE ARE NOT PART OF ANY KIND OF TIER ONE RECAPTURE. BUT WE ARE SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE ON TIER TWO ON THE COPY PENNIES. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORIES, THERE WAS A -- AT THE TIME CALLED A TRE, TAX AUGUST 1,2018, TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION. >> DR. CHEEK, WE HAVE SOME NEWER BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR BOARD SINCE THAT RECAPTURE WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN TEXAS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THEM EXACTLY WHAT RECAPTURE IS? AND THE FIRST TIME OUR DISTRICT IS BEING -- HAVING TO DO -- PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT? >> SURE.
I PROPOSED IN ANOTHER SLIDE AND TALKED ABOUT A GUARANTEED YIELD, WHICH IS -- A MEASURE SET BY THE STATE OF HOW MUCH YOU CAN COLLECT. AND THEY SET IT FOR -- THEY SET AN AMOUNT FOR TIER TWO -- TIER ONE AND THEY SET AN AMOUNT FOR TIER TWO, AND THAT IS CALCULATED BASED ON -- A WHEEL NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT. AND A LOT OF IT IS YOUR PROPERTY VALUE. OBVIOUSLY AND ALSO YOUR ADA.
SO THAT IS THE FORMULA. BUT IF YOUR COLLECTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE GUARANTEED YIELD THAT IS SET AT THAT TIER, THEN TEA TAKES THAT MONEY BACK INTO ITS COFFERS .IT DOES NOT ALLOW TO YOU KEEP THAT MONEY OR THAT FORMULA -- IN THAT FORMULA.
SUPERHERO /*. >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: WHAT DO THEY DO WITH IT WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND
BOARD TO KNOW. >> IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, CALLED THE POWER EQUALIZATION FORMULA AND ALSO A NICKNAME, THE ROBIN HOOD EFFECT SO THAT THE MONEY COULD BE SENT TO OTHER DISTRICTS. SO THIS IS OUR RECAPTURE ESTIMATE. ALSO FROM THE SAME TEMPLATE WHERE WE GENERATED OUR REVENUES TODAY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFIED PROPERTY VALUE THAT WERE RELEASED ON JULY 25, CURRENTLY IN TIER TWO, TEA WILL TAKE BACK $401,930 FROM LANCASTER AND GIVE IT TO OTHER DISTRICTS. THAT IS A LITTLE HARD TO SWALLOW WITH THE NEEDS WE HAVE AND REDUCTION OF REVENUE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US RIGHT NOW? WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A DISTRICT.
FIRST THING, WE NEED TO SEND AN INTENT FORM PRIOR TO OUR TAX RATE ADOPTION, WHICH I WILL MOST LIKELY DO TOMORROW OR EARLY NEXT
[00:35:03]
WEEK. IT IS JUST WHAT OUR INTENTION IS, BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTION ISES THAT THE STATE GIVES YOU. I BELIEVE IT IS FIVE OR SIX.SOME OF THEM INCLUDE CONSOLIDATING WITH ANOTHER DISTRICT WHICH WE ARE NEVER GOING TO DO.
SELLING OR SENDING YOUR CHILDREN TO A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.
IT IS A LIST THAT WOULD NOT BE AN OPTION FOR LANCASTER EXCEPT ONE THAT IS ON THE LIST. AND I WILL TELL THAT YOU 98% OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE CHOOSE -- AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ATTENDANCE CREDIT AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WE AGREE TO BUY ADA BASICALLY BACK.
AND THAT HOPEFULLY THEN THEY ADD THAT TO THE FORMULA.
AND THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT $401,000 GOES DOWN.
THAT IS THE INTENT. OK OKAY. THAT FORM FOR THE AGREEMENT ITSELF MUST BE SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 1.
AND IN THE -- IN ONE OF THE AUGUST BOARD MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER IT BE AT OUR REGULAR OR WHETHER YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A SPECIALLY CALLED, YOU WILL HAVE TO -- THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO GIVE PERMISSION AND GRANT DR. PERERA THE AUTHORITY TO SEEN THE AGREEMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE THEN DATA COLLECTION. WILL BE TAKEN ALL THE WAY UP TO JANUARY 15 BY THE STATE AND THE DATA THAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS -- AGAIN, ANY CHANGES TO PROPERTY VALUE AS THERE ARE THE -- I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO THINK TO RECALL THE WORD RIGHT NOW. -- AS PEOPLE ARE -- I AM SORRY THAT I AM COMPLETELY DRAWING A BLANK.
THERE MIGHT BE CHANGES TO PROPERTY VALUES.
ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST, THOUGH, IS OUR ADA.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE COLLECTING THAT DATA.
AND THEY WILL ALLOW US TO SUBMIT ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS THAT WE WANT TO UP THROUGH JANUARY 15 TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER.
OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE BACK.
BUT AS OF JANUARY 15, THE NUMBER BECOMES A HARD NUMBER.
AND THEN WE WILL JUST CONTINUE AS I SAID.
WE WILL MONITOR ENROLLMENT AND AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE I THINK SOMETHING WE WILL TALK AT CABINET AND TO OUR PRINCIPALS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL.
IF I CAN SAY ONE THING. I TRIED TO CHEER DR. PERERA UP.
THE GOOD NEWS IF YOU CAN FIND ANY IN THAT, THE STATE SENDS YOU YOUR MONEY UP-FRONT YOU SO ABLE TO MAKE MONEY AND AT THE CURRENT INTEREST RATE AND THEY WILL NOT ASK US TO WRITE A CHECK UNTIL NEXT AUGUST WHEN WE GET IT BACK. JUST A FEW REMINDERS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS NOT OVER AND THEY CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE BUDGET AS WE SEE IT. ONE BIG ONE WITH HOUSE BILL 3 AND THE SAFETY INITIATIVE AND THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE AN ARMED SECURITY OFFICER AT EACH OF OUR 11 CAMPUSES, BUT YET THEY ARE ONLY GIVING US IN THE SAFETY ALLOTMENT AN EXTRA $165,000.
THAT IS TECHNICALLY AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE.
AND FROM YOUR HANDOUTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES HAVE BEEN CALCULATED AND TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS.
ONE AT $40,000 EXEMPTION, WHICH PUTS OUR CERTIFIED VALUES AT 5.2 BILLION. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN CERTIFIED AT THE $100,000 EXEMPTION RATE WHICH IS $4.8 BILLION.
YOU WILL ALSO SEE IN YOUR HANDOUTS, I BELIEVE, THERE IS A CERTIFIED VALUES CAME OUT AT THE $100,000 EXEMPTION RATE.
THAT CAME FROM AUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY, THE BILL THAT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THAT IS THE EXPECTATION THAT IS GOING TO PASS.
THAT THAT LAW IS GOING TO PASS AND THAT IS WHERE OUR CERTIFIED VALUES CAME. THAT IS THE EXACT NUMBER.
>>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: BOARD, I DO NEED TO COMMENT ON THE SAFETY INITIATIVES, THE HOUSE BILL 3.
I DO KNOW BECAUSE OF THAT RECENT RELEASE, I WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR TWO POSITIONS. REALLY WE NEED FOUR; HOWEVER,
[00:40:03]
CHIEF WOOLY AND TWO OTHER OFFICERS HOUSED AT A POLICE STATION. FOUR SCHOOLS THAT NEED A FULL-TIME PERSON THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SHARED.THEY BASICALLY SPEND HALF A DAY AND HALF A DAY AT THE ELEMENTARIES. IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM THERE THE WHOLE DAY, TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE STATION.
ASSIGN THEM TO THE BUILDING. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO ADD THAT -- THOSE TWO OTHERS. SO, AGAIN, WE ONLY HAVE $165,000 FOR THAT. BUT, AGAIN, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO FUND FOUR.
I WILL HAVE TO ASK YOU FOR TWO IN THE NEW BUDGET.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FULFILL THIS REQUEST.
AND WE HAVE THE DOLLARS TO DO SO FOR MOST -- FOR THE MOST PART.
I WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR THAT. BECAUSE THAT WASN'T -- THESE ARE POSITION THAT WERE NOT IN OUR COMPENSATION PACKET EARLIER ON.
YOU ALREADY APPROVED THAT AND I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR THAT. WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
>>TRUSTEE MORRIS: YES, THANK YOU FOR ELABORATING THAT ON D DR. PERERA. IT HAS BEEN ON THE NEWS WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR FINDING WAYS TO ENSURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.
AND GETTING THE OFFICERS ON THE CAMPUS.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS, I KNOW ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE CERTIFIED, BUT WILL THEY HAVE TO HAVE A FIREARM? BECAUSE I DID HEAR THAT ON THE NEWS.
>>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: YES, MA'AM.
ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ARE SWORN-IN POLICE OFFICERS.
WE HAVE THE OPTION TO DO OFFICERS OR WE HAVE THE OPTION TO DO ARMED SECURITY OFFICERS. AND WE HAVE OPTIONS ON BOTH.
>>TRUSTEE MORRIS: THANK YOU. >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: AM I
CORRECT ON THAT, CHIEF? >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
>>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: THANK YOU FOR THAT DR. CREEK.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, WHAT IS THE CURRENT BALANCE IN ESSER 2 AND 3?
>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO GET TO HE WAS FOR YOU AND GET THEM
SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD. >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: DO YOU KNOW WHEN -- APPROXIMATELY WHEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEND THAT OUT.
>> I AM HAVING TROUBLE HEARING? >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WILL POSSIBLY SEND THAT OUT?
SOME TIME SOON? >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: I CAN TELL YOU WITH ESSER 2, ONE AND A HALF WHICH WILL BE DEPLETED BY THE END OF THE MONTH WHEN WE ISSUE THOSE -- THOSE RETENTION BONUSES. THAT WILL BE DEPLETED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. ESSER 3, I AM NOT SURE THE
BALANCE OUT THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: ACCOUNT INFORMATION BE E-MAILED OUT TO THE BOARD IF POSSIBLE?
>>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: WE CAN BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
>>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT TECHNOLOGY -- DUE TO THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK, TECHNOLOGY WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS OR ATTENTION OR -- CAN
YOU -- >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: THESE ARE PRELIMINARY THINGS. THINGS WE CAN UTILIZE.
NOTHING SET IN STONE AS OF YET. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, THE AMOUNTS ARE ONLY EXAMPLES. WE HAVE NEEDS IN TECHNOLOGY.
SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN HELP US WITH OUR NETWORK AND ENSURE THAT THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW. WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR THAT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN-HOUSE THAT IS WITH US ALL THE TIME.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST ESTIMATES AND JUST AN EXAMPLE OF
WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE. >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: I UNDERSTAND. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR WHO IS CURRENTLY DOING CONTRACT SERVICES?
CAN IT BE SHARED WITH THE BOARD? >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: IS THAT GROUP HAS BEEN IN AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ERBRAGO. JULIAN AND HIS TEAM HAVE COME IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE
RANSOMWARE -- SUMMER OF '21. >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: I AM STOR
-- >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: URBAGO.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THE SPELLING. IT IS DIFFERENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A LONG WHILE.
AND, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES, THEY ARE NOT -- THESE ARE NOT ANYTHING WRITTEN IN STONE.
>>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA -- I AM
[00:45:02]
SORRY, YOU ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.THAT -- THANK YOU. >> YES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AS WELL. ONE, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT -- ON THE ADA, 1% EQUATED TO $427,000 IN REVENUE.
>>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: YES. >> I POSED THIS QUESTION BEFORE TO ADMINISTRATION. WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVES ARE WE LOOKING TO PUT IN PLACE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR TO INCREASE
OUR ADA BY CAMPUS? >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: THAT WILL VARY FROM CAMPUS, TRUSTEE JONES, AND ALL CAMPUSES ADDING THAT FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS. I WOULD HATE TO SHARE ANY OF THAT WITHOUT LOOKING AT EACH OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
SOME OF THEM ARE, I GUESS, COLLABORATING IN ORDER TO MAKE THE EFFORTS, BUT WE DO -- JUST AS WE NEED OUR KIDS HERE, WE NEED OUR STAFF TOO, WHICH IS ALSO A CHALLENGE.
WE ARE NOT FUNDED BY THAT, THAT IS A CHALLENGE AS WELL.
WHICH YOU SAW THE BUDGET FOR SUBS BECAUSE -- YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET IS BASICALLY AN ESTIMATE HAND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
THIS PARTICULAR LAST YEAR WAS MORE OF A CHALLENGE THAN EVER
BEFORE. >>TRUSTEE JONES: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION PERTAINING TO INVESTMENTS. I SEE JOSH IS HERE.
I THINK I POSED THE QUESTION THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS BESIDES GOING THROUGH THE POOL TO GENERATE MORE NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH OUR INVESTMENT DOLLARS.
WHEN ARE WE KIND OF BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THAT?
>> A CONVERSATION FOR JOSH AND I TO HAVE, AND WE SET A TIME TO DO
SO YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME RIGHT NOW, JUST -- ALL RIGHT.
AND I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION. WE SAID THEY WERE UNDER BUDGET IN A FEW AREAS? HOW MUCH ARE WE LOOKING TO PUT IN THE FUND BALANCE THAT ARE THE SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS AT THIS POINT? I KNOW IT MAY CHANGE.
I KNOW IT IS FLUID. >> I AM THINKING THAT -- SAFELY, $4 MILLION IS SAFE. FOR OUR AUDITED AMOUNT, BUT THEY REALLY WANT THE FULL AMOUNT TO GO TO FUND BALANCE CLOSE TO
JANUARY. >>TRUSTEE JONES: WITH THATTING SAID, I WANT TO AFFIRM THE FINANCIAL -- THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THAT WORK AND ALSO ADMINISTRATION.
WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PUT MONEY BACK IN FUND BALANCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THIS BEING ANOTHER YEAR IS THE TESTAMENT MUCH OF THE WORK BEING DONE AND UTILIZING WHAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY TO IMPACT GRADUATION RATE OUTCOMES.
THANK YOU. >>SUPERINTENDENT PERERA: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[7. Board Matters]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD MATTERS. A, IS PRESENTATION FROM TEA CONSERVATIVE OF DIRECTIONS FOR LANCASTER ISD ACTION PLANS.
DR. FRANCOIS. >> DR. FRANCOIS: THANK YOU.
BOARD PRESIDENT HAMILTON, TRUSTEES AND DR. PERERA, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PEN FROM THE THELISD CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND PROGRESS REPORT DESIGN. THIS PLAN AND REPORT ARE DERIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS SHARED WITH TRUSTEES, STAFF AND COMMUNITY AT THE JULY 27, 2023 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. TODAY, I WILL EXPLAIN THE NEXT STEPS. BEFORE WE GO FURTHER THOUGH, LET'S REVIEW THE STATUTORY FOUNDATION FOR THE PLACEMENT OF A CONSERVATOR AND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
ACCORDING THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, A CONSERVATOR WILL HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED POWERS AND DUTIES DESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, ISSUE A DIRECTIVE OR ACTION BY A PRINCIPAL, SUPERINTENDENT OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MAY APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY ACTION OF THE PRINCIPAL, SUPERINTENDENT OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THE LETTER GRANT WAS SENT TO THE DISTRICT TO OUTLINE THE CONSERVATOR'S POWERS AND DUTIES IN THAT LETTER.
THOSE POWERS AND DUTIES INCLUDE OVERSEEING BOARD ACTIONS, WHICH MEANS FACILITATING A NEEDS OF ASSESSMENT OF DISTRICT AND CAMPUS SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN WHICH IS DONE. REQUESTING OR CONDUCTING ON-SITE INSPECTIONS AT THE PERIOD OF THE PLACEMENT.
MONITORING AND SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND PARTICIPATING IN AND REPORTING TO THE AGENCY ON
[00:50:02]
THE PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETING THE CORRECTION ACTION PLAN AS WELL AS ALL GOVERNANCE ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT.THIS IS IMPORTANT BACKGROUND BECAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN CONTAIN DIRECTIVES FOR THE TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STATUTE ESTABLISHES THE POWER FOR A CONSERVATOR TO GIVE THESE DIRECTIVES. YOU RECALL AT THE JULY 27 BOARD MEETING I GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE SANCTION MONITORING PROCESS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS FLOW CHART. THE RED BOX INDICATES SINCE MY PLACEMENT AS CONSERVATOR IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST THREE BOXES IN THE CHART IS COMPLETE AND WE ARE NOW AT THE PROGRESS REPORT STAGE. THE PROGRESS REPORT CAPTURES HOW WELL A DISTRICT IS DOING ON ACCOMPLISHING ITS CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. NOW TO GET TO THE PROGRESS REPORT AND CORRECTIVE A ACTION STAGE, A NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WAS WRITTEN. I REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LISD SYSTEM, GOVERNORER NANCE, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, TEACHING AND LEARNING, TALENT AGE INMENT AND OPERATIONS TO WRITE THAT ASSESSMENT.
THE ASSESSMENT I REMINDED YOU ON JULY 27 IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE.
REVEALED THAT OVERALL LISD APPEARS TO BE A HEALTHY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL GOVERNANCE.
NOW BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT, I NEXT MOVED -- NEXT MOVED ON TO WRITE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND PROGRESS REPORT FRAMEWORK REPRESENTED BY THE GREEN BOX ON THE FLOW CHART.
AS YOU WILL RECALL, THE ASSESSMENT REVIEWED SIX LANCASTER ISD CYCLES, GOVERNANCE, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, TEACHING AND LEARNING, TALENT MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS AND CULTURES. FIVE PHOTOGRAPH CUSSED AREA FOR THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS.
THESE FIVE THEN FORMED THE BASIS AND CONTENT OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. FOCUS AREA ONE.
STREAMLINED TIMELY SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS CENTERING ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND OUTCOMES. BOARD OF TRUSTEE ADHERES TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND RELATED LAW FOR SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE.
FOCUS AREA THREE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND DECORUM BETWEEN AND AMONG TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY. FOCUS AREA FOUR, EVIDENCE OF A CLEAR DELINEATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF BOARD WORK AND SUPERINTENDENT WORK AND FOCUS AREA FIVE.
TIMELY RESOLUTION OF PROGRAMMATIC AUDITS AND COMPLAINTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT FOCUS AREAS ONE THROUGH FOUR ARE GOVERNANCE RELATED AND FOCUS AREA FIVE RELATES TO ADMINISTRATION SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? LET'S DIVE INTO THE PARTS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING IT. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY OF THREE MAIN TOOLS. THE EXIT CRITERIA GOALS, THE GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES, AND ACTIVITIES.
NOW ALTHOUGH THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN ITSELF IS A COLLECTION OF DIRECTIVES, FROM TIME TO TIME, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL FORMAL WRITTEN DIRECTIVES TO ADDRESS A HIGH NEED AREA OR SITUATION.
IDEALLY, THE NEED TO DO THIS SHOULD BE LIMITED SINCE THE MORE TIMES FORMAL DIRECTIVES NEED TO BE ISSUED, THE MORE THIS INHIBITS THE COMMISSIONERS' DECISION TO REMOVE A CONSERVATOR. TO DATE, I HAVE ISSUED TWO FORMAL WRITTEN DIRECTIVES. THE CORRECTION ACTION PLAN IS THEN TRANSLATED INTO MONTHLY REPORTS.
AND THE MONTHLY REPORTS UNDERGO 90-DAY COMMISSIONER REVIEWS.
NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT -- OR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE ACTUAL REPORT.
AN EXTRA CRITERIA GOAL IS A SPECIFIC SMART GOAL.
SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT AND TIME BOUND. THAT IS THE HIGH-LEVEL GOAL THAT WILL TELL HOW YOU AS A BOARD AND AS AN ADMINISTRATION IS DOING TOWARD THE COMMISSIONERS USING A CONSERVATOR.
THE GOAL FOR GPM IS HIGH-LEVERAGE SMART GOAL THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT EXIT CRITERIA GOAL.
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THEGMM TO THE SMART GOAL. HIGH LEVEL ACTIVITIES THAT WILL AFFECT THE GPMS. THE ACTIVITY ROLLS UP TO THE GPM, THE GPM ROLLS UP TO THE OBJECT DIRECTIVE CRITERIA.DIRECTIVES ARE THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ACTION PLAN.
NOW WHEN THE REPORTS ARE COMPILED EACH MONTH, THIS IS HOW THEY WILL LOOK. AT THE VERY TOP OF THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PROGRESS REPORT, YOU WILL SEE BASICALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT. THE PLACEMENT DATE, ANTICIPATED EXIT DATE AND SO ON. THE SECOND HALF OF THE FIRST PAGE LOOKS LIKE THIS. UNDER THE DISTRICT PLACEMENT GOALS HEADER, YOU ARE GOING TO FIND THE EXIT CRITERIA GOALS AND GOAL PROGRESS MEASURES OR GPMS. IN THE STATUS COLUMN, THERE ARE DROP-DOWN MENUS THAT SHOW PROGRESS ON GPMS AND THE NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES ASSIGNED TO EACH ONE, HOW MANY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR REMAIN. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A PLACE TO ENTER INFORMATION IF A DIRECTIVE HAD TO BE ISSUED AND THE STATUS OF THE DIRECTIVE. THE NARRATIVE SESSION IS A PLACE FOR WRITTEN UPDATES ON SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND EVEN CHANGES OR PROGRESS TOWARD REACHING THOSE EXIT CRITERIA GOALS. THE SECOND PAGE OF THE REPORT IS A MONTHLY PROGRESS. THIS PAGE GOES INTO DETAIL ON EACH GPM AND THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GPM, SUCH AS THE START OR PROTECTED -- AND OR THE PROJECTED END DATES, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE ACTIVITY AND THE NEXT STEPS.
THE BOARD INTERACTION PAGE RECORDS THE TYPE OF BOARD MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD THE PERCENTAGE OF TRUSTEES ATTEMPTING AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINUTES OF EACH MEETING AND SO ON. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINUTES PER MEETING IS IMPORTANT AS YOU WILL NOTE THE GOAL IS 120 MINUTES PER MEETING WHICH IS TWO HOURS THE LAST COLUMN NOTES THE ACTIONS THAT THE BOARD TAKES AND IF THEY ARE RELATED TO THE EXIT CRITERIA. LET'S GO INTO THE ACTUAL EXIT CRITERIA GOALS, GPMS AND THE ACTIVITY IN THE LISD PLAN AND FORM. EXIT CRITERIA GOAL NUMBER ONE.
BY MAY 1, 2024, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE ALSO HAVE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IN ACCORDANCE OF CHAPTER 11 BY MEETING OR EX-IS SEEDING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING THIS GPMS. THIS IS THE FIRST GPM THAT ROLLS UP INTO EXIT CRY TER TRIA ONE.
1.1. BY MAY 31, 2024, ALL MEETING AGENDAS ARE INSTRUCTED IN A WAY THAT BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND ENDS IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TWO TO THREE HOURS FROM START TIME AS DOCUMENTED IN THE LISD BOARD MINUTES. THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH GPM 1.1 ARE THESE. BY MAY 25, 2023, THE BOARD REORGANIZED THE OFFICERS BY RETAINING OFFICERS ELECTED IN MAY 2022. THAT WILL BE MARKED COMPLETE WHEN I SUBMIT THIS PARTICULAR REPORT BECAUSE THAT WAS DONE.
BY DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE BOARD RESOLVES THE STRUCTURE AND FOR MAT OF TWO MEETINGS PER MONTH. WORK SESSION OF HIGH PRIORITY ISSUES BUT NO ACTION TAKEN AND REGULAR BOARD BUSINESS MEETING WHERE ACTION IS TAKEN AND -- BUT AD HOC COMMITTEES MAY BE CREATED FOR SPECIAL CASES. MAY 21, 2024, THE BOARD ADHERES TO TIMING OF DISCUSSIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, MAY 2024, THE BOARD IMPLEMENTS SUSTAINABILITY OF BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE DATES FOR ACTIVITIES, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO FINISH THEM, COMPLETE THEM BEFORE THE DATE ON THE PLAN AS YOU HAVE DONE WITH SOME OF THESE.
AND GOAL 1.2, WHICH MAY 21, 2024, COMPLIANCE WITH THE WEAVER FORENSIC AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH
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THE GPM ARE THESE, BY 2024 AND ONGOING, QUARTERLY REPORTS OF THE WEAVER FORENSIC AUDIT DOCUMENTS.BY MAY 21, 2024, TO CREATE A STUDY FOCUSED ON STIPENDS AS DISCUSSEDED IN THE WEAVER FORENSIC AUDIT.
EXIT CRITERIA GOAL NUMBER 2. BY MAY 31, 2024, TRUSTEES DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOARD WORK AND SUPERINTENDENT WORK AND RESPECT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DIRECT EMPLOYEES IN DISTRICT AND CAMPUS MATTERS AS EXHIBITED BY MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING TWO GPMS. GPM 2.1. BY MAY 31, 2024, THE BOARD ANNUALLY EVALUATES ITS OWN PERFORMANCE AS A TEAM WITH THE MISSION AND GOALS PERFORMING THE BOARD'S DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENTS AND BOARD'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD BOARD OFFICERS AND THE TRUSTEES.
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THAT GPM ARE THESE, BY DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE IT IS STRICT INSTITUTES A METHOD FOR VETTING LEVEL 1 OR 2 GRIEVANCES TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET BOARD REQUIREMENTS BEFORE CASE LATING TO LEVEL 3 GRIEVANCE A STANDARD US IT.
MAY 31, 2024, THE BOARD FOLLOWS ITS POLICY FOR HEARING LEVEL 3 GRIEVANCES. BY MAY 21, 2024, THE CONSERVATOR REPORTS NO INCIDENTS OF TRUSTEES TAKING INDIVIDUAL ACTION IN POLICY AND DISTRICT AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.
GOAL PROGRESS MEASURE 2.2. BY MAY 31, 2024, THE BOARD DEVELOPS TEAMWORK, PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS AS A TEAM WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWPOINTS, INVOKE THEIR CONVICTIONS YET HORNS THE DECISION OF THE MAJORITY. THE ACTIVITY RELATED TO THIS BY MAY 31, 2024, ALL TRUSTEES HAVE COMPLETED ALL REQUIRED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.
I SKIPPED ONE. EXIT CRITERIA GOAL NUMBER 3, WHICH MAY 31, 2024, THE BOARD HAS SUSTAINED WILLINGNESS TO ADHERE TO AND BEST PRACTICES FOR EDUCATION AMONG THEMSELVES WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, STAFF AND COMMUNITY BY MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING T TWO GPMS. GPM 3.1. BY MAY 31, 2024, TRUSTEES CONSISTENTLY FOLLOW BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND SUPERINTENDENT PROTOCOLS FOR REQUESTING, RECEIVING OR SENDING INFORMATION TO OR FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE RELATED ACTIVITIES TO THAT GPM.
BY MAY 31, 024, THE NUMBER OF TRUSTEE E-MAIL EXCHANGES TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS REDUCED BY HALF FOR THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS MADE IN 2022-2023.
BY MAY 31, 2024, TRUSTEES ARE WITH EXISTING COMMUNICATION TOOLS SUCH AS BOARD NEWSLETTER, BOARD BOOK, GOOGLE CALENDAR, LANCASTER ISD WEB SITE, APP, PODCAST, ETC., FOR ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO FIND FROM THEIR OWN.
BY AUGUST 31, 2023, THE DISTRICT CREATES AND MAINTAINS A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION FOR RSVP FOR NOTIFICATIONS AND FOR TRUSTEE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AND TO TRACK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPENDING. I WILL ADD THAT THAT ONE WILL BE MARKED COMPLETE. THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
CONTINUING WITH THE ACTIVITIES FOR GPM 3.1.
BY MAY 31, 2024 TRUSTEES USE THE RSVP TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO SEND RESPONSES TO TRAININGS, DISTRICT EVENTS, AND SO ON AS A METHOD OF NOTIFYING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ATTEND OR NOT ATTEND AND TO TRACK THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPENDING. BY MAY 31, 2024, TRUSTEES RECEIVED MONTHLY FEEDBACK ON BOARD AGENDA CONTENT BEFORE THE AGENDA IS POSTED. AND BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, THE
[01:05:06]
DISTRICT MAINTAINS A RECORD OF REQUEST MADE BY INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES FOR SPECIALLY PREPARED REPORTS AND THE COST TO CREATE THE REPORT ALSO BE SENT TO TEA ANNUALLY BY SEPTEMBER 1 AND MADE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY THIS TEC CITATION.GOAL PROGRESS MEASURE 3.2. BY MAY 31, 2024, TRUSTEES CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO UPHOLD AND ABIDE BY THE BOARD MEMBER ETHICS POLICY OR RULES OF ORDER FOR BOARD MEETINGS AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
THE ACTIVITIES RELATED BY MAY 31, 2024.
THE CONSERVATOR OBSERVES NO INSTANCES IN WHICH TRUSTEES COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN A MANNER THAT WILL VIOLATE THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. JULY 31, 2024, OBSERVE NO INSTANCES WHERE TRUSTEES ENGAGE DISCOURTEOUSLY WITH OTHER TRUSTEES, STAFF, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OR PUBLIC IN A WAY THAT VIOLATES THE PETITION BOARD ET THINGS AND POLICIES AND RULES OF ORDER FOR BOARD MEETINGS. EXIT CRITERIA GOAL NUMBER 4.
THIS IS OUR FINAL ONE. MAY 31, 2024, ALL OUTSTANDING AND PROGRAMMATIC AUDITS AND COMPLAINTS IN ARE RESOLVE AND EDUCATION GENERAL REGULATIONS KNOWN AS EDGAR AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY RESOURCE GUIDE REQUIREMENTS MET AS EXHIBITING OR EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING TWO GPSMS. GPM.1. BY MAY 31, 2024, THE IT IS STRICT ADDRESSES AND RESOLVES THE CHILD NUTRITION AUDIT.
THE ACTIVITIES BY AUGUST 1, 2024, DISTRICT OF COORDINATING BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL CHILD SERVICE PROVIDER AND THE DISTRICT. BY AUGUST 31, 2023, THE DISTRICT ASSIGNS A DISTRICTLY -- DISTRICT LIAISON.
AND BY AUGUST 31, 2024, LEADERSHIP DESIGNEE OF MONTHLY REVIEWS OF SUPERINTENDENT CABINET MEETINGS OF A PROGRESS FOR ALL CHILDREN NUTRITION AUDIT CITATIONS.
GPM 4.2. MAY 31, 2024, ADDRESSES EDUCATION COMPLAINTS FILED AS OF JUNE 2023.
ACTIVITIES RELATED. BY AUGUST 31, 2023, THE DISTRICT EMPLOYS HIGHLY QUALIFIED LEADERSHIP WITH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. BY AUGUST 31, 2023, SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AND OR ITS DESIGNEE BEGINS AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MONTHLY REVIEWS AT SUPERINTENDENT CABINET MEETINGS A PROGRESS TOWARD ALL SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPLAINTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGION 10 SPECIAL EDUCATION AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS. GO BACK TO THE SANCTION MONITORING CHART TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS OVER HERE ON THE FAR RIGHT. AND UNDER THE PROGRESS REPORT THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED. THE PROGRESS REPORT ON THE EXIT CRITERIA GOALS, THE GPMS AND ACTIVITIES WILL BE SENT TO TEA AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD EVERY MONTH.
IN ADDITION TO SENDING THESE REPORTS, I AM IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH TEA STAFF ABOUT DISTRICT PROGRESS.
EVERY 90 DAYS, AS SHOWN IN THE WHY HE WILL LOW TRIANGLE, THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION REVIEWS THE REPORTS AND DECIDES IF THE CONSERVATORS SHOULD STAY OR BE REMOVED.
IF THE DECISION IS THE RED "NO" BOX, THE COMMISSIONER HAVE A FINAL SAY AND SEND A LETTER TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT STATING THAT THE CONSERVATOR WILL CONTINUE, WHICH MEANS WE JUST KEEP GOING BACK THROUGH THE PROGRESS REPORT UNTIL WE GET TO GREEN. IF THE COMMISSIONER BELIEVES THE PROGRESS REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CONSERVATOR CAN BE REMOVED. THE GREEN BOX AND SEND A REMOVAL
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LETTER TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISION HOW THE CRITERIA IS BEING MET IN THE PLAN BY THE MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS.
THE COMMISSIONER MAKES THE FINAL DECISION, THE CHOICE, AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, TRUSTEES ARE YOURS TO MEET OR NOT MEET THE CORRECTIVE ACTION CRITERIA. ULTIMATELY, THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND PROGRESS FORMAT IS TO HELP THE LISD BOARD OF TRUYST CAPTURE THE WHAT OF SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE.
THIS IS THE WHAT IS, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OVERSIGHT OF STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FOR MAXIMIZING STUDENT PERFORMANCE.
THE HOW. ONCE THE BOARD EMBRACES THE OVERARCHING "WHAT" THEN THE BOARD SHOULD FOCUS ON THE "HOW." AND THESE ARE THE "HOW" STEPS. ENSURE CREATION OF A VISION, MISSION AND GOALS FOR THE DISTRICT AND EVALUATE THE DISTRICT'S SUCCESS. MIRE A SUPERINTENDENT SO SERVE AS A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND EVALUATE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S SUCCESS. ADOPT POLICIES AND ENERGY DISTRICT ACTION. APPROVE AN ANNUAL BUDGET CONSISTENT WITH THE DISTRICT VISION.
AND COMMUNICATE THE DIVISION'S VISION AND SUCCESS TO THE COMMUNITY. HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL BOARDS DO THE "HOW" WELL IN A WAY THAT SUITS THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENT OUTCOMES. STARTING THIS MONTH, I WILL BE TRACKING EXIT CRITERIAS, GPMS AND CRITERIA IN THE PRESENTATION. NEXT YEAR WE WILL REVIEW WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT TO DETERMINE THE I DON'T EVERY ALL PROGRESS AND IF ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEEDED.
I SUGGEST GIVEN THE PASSION AND DEDICATION OF THE LANCASTER ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I EXPECT TO SEE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS ON THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE SOME HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED OR STARTED. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, TRUSTEES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE NEXT STEP IN THE CONSERVATORSHIP PROGRESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER. MADAM PRESIDENT, I RETURN IT
BACK TO YOU. >>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: THANK YOU, DR. ON FROM SWA. ANY QUESTIONINGS FOR DR.
FRANCOIS? >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: I HAVE A
COMMENT. >>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: CAN YOU
PLEASE SPEAK INTO YOUR MIC. >>TRUSTEE WHITFIELD: YES.
MY COMMENT IS BASED ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED, AS WELL AS THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED ON -- FOR THE PRIOR MEETING. THIS PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED AS FAR AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION I CAN UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NECESSARY.
I CAN APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT IT HAS TAKEN TO PREPARE THIS PRESENTATION INFORMATION. SO THAT WE ALL CAN EVE IT AND WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS BOARD MEMBERS IN THE -- THAT IS REALLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR KIDS AS WE CONTINUE TO PUT IT AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT. NOW FROM LISTENING TO -- BASED ON THE SUMMARY THAT WAS SUBMITTED, I DO WANT TO STATE WITH ALL THE DUE RESPECT BUT BEING DIRECT, THAT I DO FEEL LIKE IT WAS BIASSED. I FEEL LIKE THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT IN THERE WAS NOT -- NOT TOO CONSISTENT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED, BECAUSE A LOT OF INFORMATION WAS SHARED DIRECTLY. AND A LOT OF -- THERE WAS A LOT OF DOCUMENTS, DATES, AND SITUATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THAT WAS INPUTED INTO -- INTO E-MAILS AND PROVIDED DIRECTLY.
I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THAT INFORMATION IS INVESTIGATED, REVIEWED OR LOOKED INTO. BUT THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL LATER. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT IS SHARED ON TODAY, I FEEL LIKE IT IS VERY VALUABLE IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO -- TO WORK TOGETHER AS ONE.
BECAUSE AS OF TODAY, WE ARE NOT. AND -- AND UNFORTUNATELY SITUATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BRING UNWANTED ATTENTION TO THIS DISTRICT. IN MY OPINION, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE BEING ON THE BOARD, IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US -- THAT IS INCLUDING ME -- AND I DO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ME.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR ME. WHEN IT COMES TO MY ACTIONS, MY
[01:15:04]
WORDS AND SO FORTH AND THE WAY I -- AND MY COMMUNICATION.AS FOR WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED ON TODAY, I DO FEEL IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AS THE BOARD, WE HAVE TO OPERATE AS A BOARD. THERE IS NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL, NO CHAIR, NO BOARD MEMBER THAT IS OVER ONE OR THE OTHER AND THAT HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE REITERATED AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.
NO ONE IS THE BOSS OR RUNS OR HAS THE SAY OVER ANYONE BUT THE EMPLOYEE, AND ONLY AS A BOARD AS IT RELATES TO THE EMPLOYEE.
I DO FEEL THAT PERSONALLY -- THE PERSONAL HAS TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE BUSINESS. WHATEVER HAS TAKEN PLACE ON A PERSONAL NOTE AS IT RELATES TO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AS OF TODAY HAS TO BE SEPARATED FROM BUSINESS BECAUSE IT IS CREATED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND COMPROMISING -- COMPROMISING BOARD MEMBERS AND -- AND OTHERS.
DECISIONS AND IT ALSO IS A CONFLICT WHEN IT COMES TO ETHICS. I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY AMONGST THIS BOARD AND MEMBERS THAT SIT ON THE DAIS. EVERY MEMBER THAT SITS ON THE DAIS NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. THERE IS A LOT OF -- THERE IS A LOT OF -- THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS DISTRICT THAT I HAVE SHARED. I HAVE SHARED BOTH VERBALLY AND E-MAIL. BY E-MAIL, AS WELL AS WITH TEA AS IT RELATES TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THIS BOARD THAT IS ALSO CREATING THIS CRAZINESS. AND IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.
IF WE ARE FOR THESE -- IF WE ARE FOR THE STUDENTS, WE ARE FOR THE DISTRICT, THEN YOUR PERSONAL, YOUR GAIN, EVERYTHING OF IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. THE BOARD EMPLOYEES AND THE BOARD AND EMPLOYEES MUST REMAIN UNBIASED AND PROFESSIONAL AT ALL TIMES, REGARDLESS OF ANY RELATIONSHIP THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED. IT NEEDS TO REMAIN NONBIASED.
THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN ON EITHER LEVEL.
AND I HAVE EXPRESSED THAT MORE THAN ONCE.
AND IT ALSO REFLECTS IN THE SUMMARY.
POLICY NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
THERE SHOULD BE NO EXCEPTION WHEN IT COMES TO LAW AND POLICY.
AND GIVEN THE HISTORY AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AS IT RELATES TO THE INVESTIGATIONS, THE -- THE HACKING VIOLATION, ETHICS. IN ORDER FOR THIS BOARD TO OPERATE THE WAY IT NEEDS TO AND IT SHOULD AND SUPPOSED TO AND THE OATH THAT WE HAVE TAKEN, THERE CANNOT BE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO POLICY FOR TO LAW. AND THAT IS FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU. >>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR DR. FRAN
FRANCOIS? >> I AM GOING TO POSE A QUESTION TO OUR ATTORNEY. THE STATEMENT THAT MISS WHITFIELD, DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW DUTIES FROM OTHER TRUSTEES DIFFERENTIATE?
>> SURE. DEFINITE LEAVE IN TERMS OF VOTING. IN TERMS OF ACTION ON IT, THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAS THE SAME POSITION OF ANY TRUSTEES.
THERE ARE OTHER DUTIES THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAVE THAT ARE TWO-FOLD. ONE IS, AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER -- ASSUMING THEY ARE THERE. THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD TAKE OVER THE ROLE IF THE PRESIDENT IS NOT THERE TO PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING AND TO OPERATE THE PUBLIC SESSIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH ROBERTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES. THAT IS ONE THE OTHER IS THAT THERE IS A ROLE THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAS OF THE CERTIFICATION AND POSTING OF THE AGENDA.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO PRINCIPAL ADDITIONALLY.
THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAS THE AUTHORITY -- NOT UNDER LAW BUT DISTRICT POLICY, TO APPOINT THE MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES.
THE BOARD CREATES THE COMMITTEES BUT THE BOARD PRESIDENT DELEGATED UNDER POLICY TO APPOINT THE MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMITTEES. THOSE ARE THE THREE PRINCIPAL ONES. ALSO AS -- TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD AS REQUIRED THOSE ARE
[01:20:03]
THE PRINCIPAL ONES THAT ARE DIFFERENT.>>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DA
DAIS? >> YES, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. THAT IS WELL UNDER STOOD AND I APPR APPRECIATE.
THAT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH WHAT I STATED BUT THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION. >>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: BASED ON US HAVING QUESTIONS. DR. FRANCOIS, B NECESSARY?
>> THE CLOSED SESSION, NOT AT ALL.
>>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: ACTION B. >> I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU IF YOU
WANT TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. >> ON THE AGENDA UNDER BOARD MATTER, A B ITEM. DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD OF POSSIBLE BOARD ACTION TO IMPLEMENT ELEMENTS AS
APPROPRIATE. >> I THINK THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU JUST HAD. THE QUESTIONS.
>>PRESIDENT HAMILTON: SO NO NEED.
>> ANY DISCUSSION OF HOW THAT WORKS.
>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS ASKING BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING.
DR. PERERA, A NEED FOR CLOSED SESSION?
[10. Adjournment]
AT THIS TIME ALL THIS LEFT IS ADJOURNMENT.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.