[I. CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING STATEMENT]
[00:00:06]
>> AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE WICHITA FALLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, I HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL SESSION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT A QUORUM OF THE BOARD IS PRESENT, THAT THE MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED, AND NOTICE OF THE MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED FOR THE TIME AND IN THE MANNER THAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO THIS SPECIAL SESSION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD IN PUBLIC AND NOT A MEETING OF THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT ALL YOUR CELL PHONES ARE TURNED TO SILENT OR TURNED OFF FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] THOUGH.
WE'RE PLEASED THAT YOU'VE TAKEN [NOISE] THE TIME TO JOIN US THIS AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTERESTS, AND MANY OF YOU, FOR YOUR CONTINUED HELP AND SUPPORT WITH THE WICHITA FALLS [NOISE] INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOW, WE WILL ASK MR. THOMPSON IF HE'LL OFFER AN INVOCATION BEFORE WE BEGIN.
>> FATHER, I COME BEFORE YOU JUST THANKING YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS, THANKING YOU FOR YOUR LOVE FOR US, AND I THANK YOU FOR FACULTY AND STAFF, ADMINISTRATION, THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, ALL THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS, JUNIORS GOING FORWARD.
I JUST PRAY FOR PROTECTION FOR THEM TODAY AND IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
I PRAY FOR WISDOM IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE TODAY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE TO US. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, MS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE FIRST ITEM UP IS TO GET AN UPDATE ON OUR CONSTRUCTION OF
[IV.A. Construction Update for WF Legacy High School and WF Memorial High School]
LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL AND MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.>> AS WE DRIVE BY, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE MAKING FAST AND FURIOUS PROGRESS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE WONDERING HOW THE LAST MONTH WOULD GO WITH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
BUT WE'RE HERE TO SAY THAT WE GOT A LOT OF PROGRESS.
I THINK DR. LEE AND PETER SOULS PROGRESSED SINCE THEY GOT BACK, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED WE'VE MADE PROGRESS DURING TIMES THAT WE WONDER HOW EFFICIENT WILL BE.
EVERY DAY IS IMPORTANT, SO FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN AND COVER AS MUCH WORK AS WE CAN, KEEP THINGS MOVING SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT FINISHING ON TIME AND NOT RUSHING AT THE END.
WE'LL START TODAY WITH MEMORIAL AGAIN.
WE'VE CHANGED THE FORMAT JUST A LITTLE BIT, AND SO WE'LL EACH MONTH GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
FINISHING, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
YOU DON'T FINISH A 370,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING ALL ON THE SAME DAY.
AS WE STARTED THE PROJECT, AT A CERTAIN POINT OF THE BUILDING, DIFFERENT PARTS FINISH FASTER THAN OTHERS.
BUT YOU CAN SEE BY THE PERCENTAGES IN EACH AREA, IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA.
WE'LL UPDATE THIS EACH MONTH TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE, WHAT BUILDINGS, WHAT PART OF THE BUILDINGS ARE FURTHER ALONG.
THE OTHER PARTS BECAUSE DELIVERY ITEMS BECAUSE OF COMPLEXITY AND SOME BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE TIME CONSUMING THAN OTHER OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING.
WE'LL SHOW THAT EACH MONTH AND SO YOU CAN PERUSE IT AT YOUR LEISURE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN THE ARENA AREA, WE'RE PAINTED OUT, WE HAVE SEATS, AND WE'VE GOT OUR SCHOOL BOARD HANGING.
GREAT PROGRESS THERE. WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON THE LEARNING STAIRS.
THE TILE FINISH ON THE WALL HAS BEEN DONE.
THE LEARNING STAIR IS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE.
WE HAVE NOW OUR LIBRARY STACKS IN PLACE, IS HIGH DENSITY STORAGE SO THAT WE CAN STORE A LOT OF MATERIAL IN A SMALL AREA.
ON THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE STRO, IT'S FINISHED OUT.
YOU CAN SEE THE TRIM, THE WOOD TRIM, THE BRICK WORK, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE EQUIPMENT GOING ON INSIDE AT A LATER DATE.
AS WE MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE, YOU CAN SEE AROUND THE BUILDING, YOU CAN SEE HOW EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CLEANED UP ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BUILDING.
THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF LANDSCAPING WORK, TREES PLANTED, FINAL GRADING DONE, PARKING LOTS BEGINNING TO GET CLEANED OUT AND CLEANED UP.
IT'S AN ONGOING PROGRESS ON THE OUTSIDE, JUST LIKE ON THE INSIDE.
ON THIS REPORT WILL ALSO SHOW YOU A LITTLE MORE OF THE EXTERIOR THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
OBVIOUSLY, AS WE MOVED OUTSIDE AND YOU'VE WATCHED A PARKING LOT, DRIVES HAVE GOTTEN DONE, WE WERE REALLY INTO THE ATHLETIC PORTIONED OUT.
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS BETWEEN BARLEY, COCK, AND HELLS.
NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT EVERY MONTH BEING COORDINATED WITH WHAT HELLS WAS DOING IN THEIR SCOPE OF WORK AND WHAT HELLS WAS DOING IN THEIR SCOPE WORK.
[00:05:04]
HERE FOR INSTANCE, YOU'LL SEE THE BASEBALL FIELD.YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTBALL FIELD UNDERWAY ALONG WITH SOME NEW CONCRETE THAT'S BEING POURED AROUND THE BUILDING.
HERE'S MORE OF A CLOSE UP OF THE TENNIS COURTS AND THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
A LITTLE CLOSER REVIEW OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND SEE HOW FAR ALONG THEY'VE COME TRACKS, GOOD PROGRESS FIELDS COMING ALONG.
THEN IF WE GO OVER THE LEGACY, YOU'LL SEE THE SAME THING THERE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THE LEGACY STARTED OUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEHIND BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIRT THAT HAD TO BE BOOED ON SITE BEFORE THEY STARTED BING PEERS.
THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING STATEMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT.
WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO FINISH AT THE SAME TIME.
WE DON'T NEED THEM TO FINISH AT THE SAME TIME.
WE NEED A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM FOR YOU GUYS.
YOU GET YOUR STUFF DONE, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO GET OUR TEMPER VIEW, ALL OF OUR OCCUPANCY PERMITS, SO THE CITY HAS TO DO ALL THE SO THEY CAN'T DO ALL THAT, ESPECIALLY AT THE SAME TIME.
EVERYTHING IS STAGGERED RIGHT NOW AND ON ALL SCHEDULED.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE PRACTICE END, YOU SEE THE SUBFLOORING IS DOWN AND THEN LATER ON YOU'LL SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FLOOR OF THE FINISHED FLOOR ON TOP OF THAT LACY.
THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR LIBRARY STACKS IN PLACE.
TYPICAL CLASSROOM FLOORS ARE CLEAN, MARKET BOARDS ARE UP, LIGHTING, AIR CONDITIONING, EVERYTHING'S WORKING INSIDE THE TYPICAL CLASSROOMS. THE WAY ALONG COMMONS AREA, YOU'LL SEE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF CEILINGS IN PLACE, LIGHTING IN PLACE, UP AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON, ALL THE SITTINGS IN, SO THEY'RE WORKING TO THE NORTH.
THERE IS AN ONGOING PROGRESS THERE.
THEY ARE NOT QUITE AS FAR ALONG AROUND THE ATHLETIC AREAS AND ALL THE PARKING LOTS, BUT THEY'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS THERE.
HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL VIEW OF THE ATHLETIC AREAS.
THERE YOU CAN SEE THE SOFTBALL FIELD, BASEBALL FIELD, SOME OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
THERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AROUND THE BASEBALL FIELD.
YOU CAN SEE THE WORK BEING DONE AROUND THE SOFTBALL FIELD, AND YOU SEE WORK BEING DONE THERE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
YOU SEE SINCE WE'VE SHOWN YOU LAST, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK OUT IN THE ATHLETIC FIELD.
THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS BY COX DOING THEIR PART ELSE HAS JUMPED IN WHERE THE BUILDINGS WILL COME AND THE STANDS WILL COME A LITTLE BIT LATER.
THE PROCESS GETTING STARTED ON THE FIELDS WAS EASY AND QUICK, AND THAT GAVE US GOOD PROGRESS THERE.
THE BUILDINGS AND THE GRAND STANDS, THEY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET ALL THE SHOP DRAWINGS AND ALL THE INFORMATION IN. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ORDERED.
THERE'S GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE THROUGHOUT.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF SCHOOLS' PROGRESS?
>> ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? [OVERLAPPING] I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME ABOUT LOCAL FOLKS, TRINITY HUGHES, A LOCAL CONTRACTOR IS ALSO WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> YES, [OVERLAPPING] YES, MA'AM.
THAT'S PART OF THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR HIRING [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT WE TOLD THOSE CONTRACTORS THAT WE WANTED LOCAL PARTICIPATION.
WE WANTED LOCAL MANAGEMENT, NOT JUST FIELD PEOPLE OUT LOOKING AT ALL THE FIELDS, SO THEY ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH US EVERY MONTH IN THE MANAGEMENT PORTION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FROM TRINITY HUGHES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US.
I THINK THAT WE'RE PLEASED WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENT OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. CATER? IF NOT, WE'LL COME TO OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MRS. WARD.
[V.A. Financial Reports as of November 30, 2023]
THIS IS ACTION NEEDED TODAY, SO WELL GIVE ME SOME.>> IT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE WICHITA FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE ATTACHED HERE TODAY FINANCIAL REPORTS AND INVESTMENT REPORTS AS SUBMITTED BY LEE HORTON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND RECOMMENDED BY DR. DONNY LEE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENTS TO REPORT THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE POSITION THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2023 FOR ALL FUNDS.
THAT REPRESENTS FIVE MONTHS OF OPERATIONS FOR 21.67% OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
FOR THE GENERAL FUND, REVENUES WERE 37.28% LAST YEAR, AS COMPARED TO 28.32% THIS YEAR, AND EXPENDITURES WERE 35.87% LAST YEAR AS COMPARED TO 38.32% THIS YEAR.
[00:10:05]
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL REPORTS AS OF NOVEMBER 30TH, 2023.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MRS. WARD? NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.
>> THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION THAT
[V.B. Budget Amendments for December 2023]
THE WICHITA FALLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES THE ATTACHED BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE 2023-24 BUDGET AS DETAILED ON THE ATTACHED BUDGET AMENDMENT REPORT.THESE AMENDMENTS ARE SUBMITTED BY THE IMPORTANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND RECOMMENDED BY DR. DONNY LEE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THE GENERAL OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES REFLECT NO CHANGE, RESULTING IN A DEFICIT BUDGET OF $2.655 MILLION.
THAT'S THE STORM DEDUCTIBLE IN THE NOVEMBER 1 TIME PAYMENT, AND THEN YOUR FOOD SERVICE REVENUE EXPENDITURE REFLECT NO CHANGE RESULTING IN THE DEFICIT BUDGET OF $2.1 MILLION WHICH IS YOUR EXCESS FUND BALANCE EXPENDITURE PLAN.
>> IF WE NEED ACTION ON THIS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> I'M MAKING A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE ATTACHED BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
NOW ANY QUESTIONS? I DO, IF NO ONE ELSE DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FIRST? WILL YOU GO OVER AGAIN? WE'VE BEEN SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A DEFICIT BUDGET FOR A LONG TIME TO THE PUBLIC, AND NOW WE'RE HERE WITH A DEFICIT BUDGET.
>> THE $2.65 MILLION, $1 MILLION IS THE STORM DEDUCTIBLE, THAT WE HAD TWO BUDGETS IN THE EMERGENCY MEETING IN AUGUST, AND THEN THE $1.65 MILLION WOULD BE THE ONE TIME PAYMENT WE MADE IN NOVEMBER.
>> THAT MONEY WILL COME FROM OUR FUND BALANCE, SO WE WILL NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A DEFICIT SPENDING?
>> WE'RE NOT GOING IN THE HOLE.
WE DID HAVE SOME MONEY IN FUND BALANCE THAT WILL COVER THESE.
>> THE FUND BALANCE IS BASICALLY OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.
>> WE JUST DIDN'T BUDGET IT IN THE ONE OF '23-24 BUDGET.
>> IT HAS TO BE AND I JUST DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WALK OUT AND THINK WE'RE $2.5 MILLION IN THE RED, BECAUSE THANK YOU WE'RE NOT.
[LAUGHTER] THIS WORKING IN HER CROWD AND DONE A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH YOU, DR. LEE, TO GIVE US WHERE WE ARE.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN, 6-0.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS YOUR REPORT.
[V.C. 2022-2023 Cooperative Purchasing Fees Report]
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION THAT WICHITA FALLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECEIVED THIS REPORT ON PURCHASING COOPERATIVES THAT WERE UTILIZED DURING THE '22-23, WHICH IS THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.THE FEES ASSOCIATED FOR EACH AND THE PURPOSE OF THE FEE IS LISTED AND NO OTHER FEES ARE PAID FOR CONTRACTS.
A $25,000 MORE AS PRESENTED BY THE LEOPOLD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND APPROVED BY DR. DONNY LEE SUPERINTEND OF SCHOOLS.
THESE ARE PURCHASING COOPS THAT WE ARE A MEMBER OF.
THE FIRST THREE THAT YOU SEE, THERE ARE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE LARGEST IN THE REGION OR THE REGION 7 PURCHASING COOP WHICH WE DID GET REIMBURSED BY ADM FOR THAT $7,200.
THEN YOU'LL SEE THE NEXT THREE LISTED.
WE GET REBATES WHEN WE PURCHASED USING THEIR COOPERATIVES THIS IS JUST A REPORT SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE,.
>> YOU COULD PAY ATTENTION TO THE TEST BE BY BOARD, 3,000,637?
>> THREE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN.
>> WE'VE RECEIVED QUITE A BIT FROM THE ALREADY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THIS IS THE LAST YEAR, THIS IS 2024.
WE'LL RECEIVE EVEN MORE THIS YEAR.
ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE NEW PURCHASE AND PART OF THE PURCHASES WE'VE HAD. CORRECT.
>> WE'VE CANCELED ONE OF THEM, THE PART REGION 7.
>> YES, WE'VE CANCELED REGION 7 AS WE CHANGED CUSTODIAL CONTRACT.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. WARD ON THIS? I THINK WE'RE ALL GOOD. THANK YOU.
[V.D. Purchase of Interactive Flat Panels]
ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE WICHITA FALLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED A PURCHASE OF 162 INTERACTIVE FLAT PANEL AS BUNDLES FOR THE AMOUNT OF $923,076 ESTIMATED BY THE IMPORTANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND RECOMMENDED BY DR. DONNY LEE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.THE ATTACHED POWER TECHNOLOGY QUOTE PROVIDES FOR THE TOTAL OF 162 INTERACTIVE FLAT PANEL BUNDLES, WHICH INCLUDES THE 75 INCH PANEL, CHROME BOX, MINI PC, THE WIRELESS KEYBOARD, MOBILE CAR IN THE SERVICE AGREEMENT.
EACH BUNDLE COSTS $2,849, THIS QUOTE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SET UP, SO TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WILL FULFILL THE SET UP AND ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITS,
[00:15:02]
AND THESE 162 DEVICES WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS, SO 81 BUNDLES FOR EACH CAMPUS.>> THAT'S THE SCREENS WE'LL BE PUTTING IN THE CAMPUS?
>> CAR, KEYBOARD, THE SERVICES AGREEMENT? ALL OF IT EXCEPT FOR THE SET UP.
OUR TECHNOLOGY STAFF WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> YES. THIS WE PAID FOR USING THREE FUNDS AND THIS WAS BUDGETED A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE PURCHASING THESE ITEMS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WERE FUNDS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO CONSENT, FUTURE ACTIONS?
>> MR. SHAKING IS HERE IN CASE YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, WE KNOW. HE'S BEEN WRESTLING, INTERNET SIGNALS, AND A LOT OF WIRING, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN OUR NEW SCHOOLS, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER PART OF THAT, WOW.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY HERE TO BE OFFERING THEIR KIDS.
I WOULD SAY CONSENT. ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT?
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE SPECIAL ED.
[VI.A. Special Education Update]
HERE YOU ARE. [NOISE] GOOD AFTERNOON.THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND UPDATE TO YOU ON OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
AS I MOVE THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, I WILL HIGHLIGHT AND CELEBRATE WITH YOU SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCCESSES.
YOU WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT, SOME OF OUR CURRENT CHALLENGES, AND AT THE END, I WILL ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER A FEW LOTS OF PROPOSALS TO HELP WITH SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES.
>> WE CAN MOVE ON. I THINK WE CAN FOLLOW WITH YOU IF SHE HAS THE TIME WHILE WE'RE THINKING BECAUSE WE MIGHT PUT OUR BACK TO THE PUBLIC.
>> OUR FIRST POINT OF CELEBRATION IS AN UPDATE ON THE DYSLEXIA GRANTS PROGRAM.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE WROTE 401 WAS AWARDED A TWO YEAR GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,476,821 TO PROVIDE TRAINING SPECIFIC TO DYSLEXIA.
THE GRANT CYCLE WILL END AS OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
WE HAVE SO FAR OFFERED DYSLEXIA TRAINING TO ALL CERTIFIED CAMPUS INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.
THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE GRANT SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 49 CANDIDATES ENROLLED AT MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY, TEXAS, SEEKING EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN CREDENTIALLY.
THIS GRANT CAN BE CONSIDERED A RETENTION INITIATIVE AS ALL CANDIDATES ARE CURRENT DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT COMMITTING TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT IN SOME CAPACITY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE GRANT AND IS AT NO COST TO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
AS OF DECEMBER 2023, 21 DIAGNOSTICIAN CANDIDATES HAVE COMPLETED EITHER A MASTER'S DEGREE WITH DIAGNOSTICIAN CERTIFICATION OR CERTIFICATION ONLY FROM MST TEXAS.
ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES WILL TAKE THE DIAGNOSTICIAN CERTIFICATION TEST AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPACT FOR DIAGNOSTICIANS POOL.
I EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SO FAR.
WITH DR. LEE'S APPROVAL, WE HAVE ALSO HIRED TWO RESTORATIVE PRACTICE SPECIALISTS, A PROACTIVE AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT INITIATIVE IN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REHIRING A RETIRED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST TO WORK PART TIME BEGINNING JANUARY 16TH TO HELP US ADDRESS OUR SHORTAGE IN THIS AREA AND TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS.
I WILL SHARE MORE SPECIFIC DATA ON EVALUATIONS WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO THE PRESENTATION.
ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT WE'RE CELEBRATING IS
[00:20:03]
OUR DISTRICT STATUS FOR SIGNIFICANT DISPROPORTIONALITY, OTHERWISE REFERRED TO AS SD.THIS INDICATOR IN ALL RESULTS DRIVEN ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT IS THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S METHOD OF IDENTIFYING WHETHER THERE IS A WIDESPREAD TREND OF STUDENTS OF CERTAIN RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS IDENTIFIED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHO ARE PLACED IN MORE RESTRICTIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AND DISCIPLINED AT MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR PEERS.
OUR DISTRICT WAS RATED FOR SIGNIFICANT DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THE '21-'22 SCHOOL YEAR, BUT CURRENT DATA FROM OUR RESULT DRIVEN ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT SUGGESTS THAT WFISD WILL NOT BE IDENTIFIED FOR THE '22-'23 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE REPORT IS USUALLY ONE YEAR BEHIND.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK OF OUR CAMPUS LEVEL STAFF, SPECIFICALLY OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, WHO ARE USING ALTERNATE DISCIPLINARY OPTIONS INSTEAD OF THOSE WHICH RESULT IN A REMOVAL TO DISCIPLINARY SETTINGS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH OUR RESULTS DRIVEN ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT RELATED TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
ALSO, THE ASSIGNMENT OF A RATING TO OUR SPECIAL ED PROGRAM REFERRED TO AS A DETERMINATION LEVEL.
I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WICHITA FALLS ISD HAS MADE MARKED PROGRESS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND HAS IMPROVED ITS OVERALL PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEAN CALCULATION FOR 2023.
THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEAN DRIVES THE RATING FOR THE DETERMINATION LEVEL.
THE HIGHER THE MEAN, THE HIGHER THE DETERMINATION LEVEL.
THIS MEANS THAT THE DISTRICT'S SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NEEDS MORE INTERVENTION.
THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IN 2021, YOU MAY RECALL THAT WFISD WAS ASSIGNED A DETERMINATION LEVEL 4 WITH A PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEAN OF TWO.
IN 2022, OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM MADE A SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND WAS ASSIGNED A DETERMINATION LEVEL 2 WITH A REDUCED PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEAN OF 121.31.
IN 2023, BASED ON THE DISAGGREGATION OF DATA FROM OUR RDA REPORT, WFISD'S PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEAN IS AGAIN, PROJECTED TO BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, 2.954.
2023 DETERMINATION LEVELS ARE CURRENTLY UNKNOWN, BUT WILL BE RELEASED SOMETIME THIS MONTH BY THE STATE.
THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMPARES THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL MEANS OF ALL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE TO MAKE DETERMINATION LEVEL ASSIGNMENTS.
BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA, IT CAN BE ESTIMATED THAT WFISD WILL EARN A DETERMINATION LEVEL OF ONE, MEETS REQUIREMENTS OR TWO STILL NEEDING A BIT OF ASSISTANCE.
IT IS TOO CLOSE TO TELL AT THIS TIME WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT WILL BE.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT IN ALL THINGS, EVEN WHEN WE MAKE PROGRESS, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR GROWTH.
WE HAVE RECOGNIZED AS WE REVIEWED THE RDA REPORT, THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR GROWTH IN INDICATOR 1, WHICH MEASURES THE PROGRESS OF THE PASSING RATE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TAKING THE STAR TEST IN GRADES 3-8.
THE SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS ARE SCIENCE, WHERE WE NEED TO GROW BY A MINIMUM OF 0.3% TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE STATE'S TARGET AND SOCIAL STUDIES WHERE MINIMUM GROWTH OF 5.2% INCREASE IS NEEDED TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE STATE TARGET.
THESE ARE JUST TWO OF THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO GROW.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT REGION 9, SPECIFICALLY DR. CARRIE YOAKUM AND WILLIS NORTON, AND EXTEND GRATITUDE TO THEM FOR ASSISTING IN THE REVIEW OF OUR REPORTS.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THINGS SPECIAL EDS [NOISE] SUCH AS CHILD FIND, EVALUATIONS, PROGRAMS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING SERVICES INCLUDING RELATED SERVICES AND DYSLEXIA SERVICES WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
WE CONDUCT EVALUATIONS AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN OUR BOUNDARIES.
WE PARTNER WITH HELEN FARABEE TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN
[00:25:04]
IN ITS EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM NEEDING A SPECIAL EDUCATION REFERRAL IS SENT TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THAT THOSE EVALUATIONS ARE ALSO COMPLETED IN A TIMELY MANNER.WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR 504 AND HOME BOND FOR BOTH SPED AND GENERAL STUDENTS.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE SCHOOL HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICE PROGRAM CALLED SHARS AND THE MEDICAID ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMING PROGRAM.
PROGRAMS THROUGH WHICH WE OFFER PERSONAL CARE SERVICES TO STUDENTS SUCH AS TARGETING, AND THROUGH WHICH YOU RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PROVISIONAL SERVICES TO THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE MEDICAID ELIGIBLE.
THIS PROGRAM BRINGS IN ANNUALLY ABOUT $4-5 MILLION TO OUR DISTRICT.
THE REIMBURSEMENT GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ARE ALSO THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
THE PROGRAM SERVES 37 DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE ALSO COORDINATE SERVICES FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO COME INTO OUR DISTRICT AND ALSO SERVE THOSE WHO REMAIN IN THEIR DISTRICT, INCLUDING BABIES.
MRS. THORN AND HER STAFF IN THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM DO AN AMAZING JOB IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
WE SUPPORT CAMPUSES BY PROVIDING BEHAVIOR SUPPORT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION TO INCLUDE TRAINING IN HANDLE-WITH-CARE PROTOCOL, WHICH IS OUR DISTRICT'S SAFETY TRAINING FOR TEACHING STAFF HOW TO MANAGE AND DE-ESCALATE DIFFICULT BEHAVIORS.
THE SPECIAL NEED ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR 64 STAFF AS OUTLINED IN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART WHICH IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT OUR CURRENT SPECIAL EDUCATION TRENDS IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES LOOK LIKE AND ALSO OF 504 AND DYSLEXIA.
THIS CHART REPRESENTS A THREE-YEAR GRANTS OF THE OVERALL PERCENTAGES FOR SPECIAL ED, 504, AND DYSLEXIA.
THE DATA SHOWN HERE FOR THE '21-'22, AND '22-'23 SCHOOL YEAR CAME FROM THE TAPR REPORT AND THE CURRENT YEAR'S DATA CAME FROM PS AS OF JANUARY 5TH.
PLEASE NOTE THE INCREASE OF OPEC POPULATION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND A CONSTANT INCREASE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
NOTE ALSO THAT THE PERCENTAGE FOR THIS YEAR, AS OF JANUARY 5TH, THE CHART CAPTURES A REDUCTION IN 504 AND DYSLEXIA PERCENTAGES.
THIS DECREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION, WHICH HAS NOW MOVED DYSLEXIA FROM 504 TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
DYSLEXIA IS NOW RECOGNIZED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS UNDER THE SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING THE STUDENTS FROM 504 TO DYSLEXIA FOR THAT REASON.
THIS IS ONE FACTOR WHICH WILL ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION NUMBERS AND REFERRALS AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
ON THIS SLIDE, ACCOUNT OF CAMPUSES' OVERALL ENROLLMENT IS SHOWN IN BLUE AND THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION COMP IS IN RED.
THIS CURRENT SLIDE SHOWS THE SPEC PERCENTAGE OF EACH CAMPUS' OVERALL POPULATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO KIRBY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE 27.8% OF ITS POPULATION ARE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
47.1 OF CUNNINGHAM'S ARE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
THIS CAMPUS IS HOME TO SEVERAL OF OUR DISTRICT ELEMENTARY-LEVEL PROGRAMS WHICH SERVES OUR SEVERE AND PERFORMED STUDENTS.
MILAN ELEMENTARY, 31.9% AND IS HOME TO A TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND LANGUAGE AND REACH ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR GRADES TOOK CARE THROUGH TWO.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT, LIKE KIRBY, ALTHOUGH BURGESS ELEMENTARY IS NOT HOME TO A DISTRICT PROGRAM, ALMOST 30% OF THIS CAMPUS ARE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
THESE PERCENTAGES CAN HELP INFORM MANY DECISIONS RELATED TO AREAS SUCH AS HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES, INCLUDING STAFFING.
I HAVE MENTIONED DISTRICT PROGRAMS AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE CENTRALIZED PROGRAMS. THESE TERMS ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY IN REFERENCE TO PROGRAMS WHICH USED TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS.
SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN THESE PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL CLASSROOM AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE SERVED IN THE GENERAL SETTING.
[00:30:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND POWERS WHO SERVE ALL OF THEM.ALL TEACHERS ARE RESILIENT AS THEY COME, AND THEY ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO TOE OUR SPED PROGRAMS. COMES TO THE GREAT WORK OUR STUDENTS ARE PRODUCING, AND HEAR FROM OUR STAFF ABOUT HOW THEY'RE SUPPORTING THEM IN MAKING GAINS.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A COMPARISON TO OUR PAIR DISTRICTS.
ABILENE ISD IS THE CLOSEST AND SPED OVERALL PERCENTAGE AS OF LAST YEAR'S PAPER REPORT.
BASED ON THE SAME SOURCE, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WFISD PERCENTAGE IS WAY ABOVE THE STATES.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY OUR PERCENTAGE IS THIS HIGH.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR REFERRAL COUNTS INCREASE.
AS OF DECEMBER OF 2022 AND DECEMBER OF 2023, YOU WILL NOTE THAT AT BOTH POINTS WE SAW SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN REFERRALS.
IN DECEMBER OF THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAD 158 REFERRALS, 56 OF THOSE INCLUDED THE REQUEST FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.
IN DECEMBER OF 2023, WE HAD PROCESSED 308 INITIAL REFERRALS OF WHICH 19 REQUESTED A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.
>> I'M SORRY. I SEE THAT THE NUMBER IS DOUBLED.
BUT WHY IS IT DOUBLED? I MEAN, WHAT'S CHANGED? WHY ARE WE 5% HIGHER THAN THE STATE?
>> FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, TO INCLUDE, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION INCREASING, WE SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR BEHAVIOR.
USUALLY, THE RESPONSE IS TO COLLECT DATA, AND BASED ON THAT DATA, WE SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR REFERRALS, WHICH NOT ALL REFERRALS RESULTS IN AN EVALUATION.
BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE OF INCREASE IN INITIAL REFERRALS, WE SEE AN INCREASE IN EVALUATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN OUR ELEMENTARY GRADE LEVELS WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING MORE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS.
I THINK THAT TOO IS ACCOUNTING.
THE IMPACT OF COVID, WHERE SOME OF OUR CHILDREN WHO WERE NOW IN SCHOOL WERE NOT IN SCHOOL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
THE SOCIAL IMPACT IN TERMS OF THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEFICITS IS ALSO RESULTING IN AN INCREASE.
>> WE CAN DEFINE REFERRAL. WHO IS THE REFERRAL?
>> THE REFERRAL IS IT COMES FROM USUALLY AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL, INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS NOTES CONCERNS ESPECIALLY AS IT IMPACTS THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND THE STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE AND THAT'S USUALLY REVIEWED THROUGH WHAT WE CALL OUR MTSS PROCESS AND THE COMMITTEE DECIDES WHETHER THERE IS A NEED FOR A SPECIAL EDUCATION REFERRAL.
>> IT MIGHT BE THE TEACHER WHO SAYS JOHNNY NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED.
>> OR THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR, SOMEONE WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS.
A PARENT COULD ALSO ASK FOR REFERRAL.
WE DO RECEIVE A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM PARENTS BASED ON OUTSIDE EVALUATIONS ETC.
>> I'M SORRY, AREN'T THESE COMPARABLE ACROSS THE STATE? I MEAN, ISN'T EVERYONE SEEING A HUGE SPIKE IN THE [OVERLAPPING] REFERRALS? IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT.
>> THE STATE IS 12% AND WE'RE 17.
>> THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE YOU SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES [INAUDIBLE] AS YOU ARE EVALUATING CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED, CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO MY EVALUATION TEAM AND ASK THAT QUESTION AND GET BACK TO YOU.
[00:35:05]
>> BECAUSE AS YOU IDENTIFIED CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED FROM EITHER POVERTY OR COMBINATION OF THINGS, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE AS YOU IDENTIFIED THOSE ISSUES.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE THIS YEAR.
>> I COULD LOOK INTO THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE TEAM AND THEN I WILL BRING INFORMATION TO YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. ON THE NEXT SLIDE. YES. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ON THIS SLIDE, WE WILL LOOK AT SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES.
AND FUNDING, FUNDING, FUNDING CONTINUES TO BE THE BIGGEST HURDLE OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF REASONS, ONE OF WHICH IS WE HAVE RECEIVED NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE ATA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
ALMOST ALL OF OUR STATE ALLOTMENT, SPECIAL ED IS BUDGETED.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 55% OF THAT ALLOTMENT.
THE SECOND MAJOR CHALLENGE IS STAFFING.
A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTIONAL AND EVALUATION STAFF IS RESULTING IN OUR REALITY, CAUSING A DIFFICULTY TO SOURCE HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS, QUALIFIED PARAPROFESSIONALS, DIFFICULTIES IN TALK, IN SOURCING, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
THERE ISN'T A SHORTAGE OF EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIANS BECAUSE OF OUR DYSLEXIA GRANT PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, UNDERSTAFFING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF OUR INCREASING SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNT.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR [INAUDIBLE] FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND FOR SUPPORTING OUR CAMPUS LEVEL STAFF ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES IN TRAINING THE ENTIRE WFIS'S STAFF REGARDING THE 21 PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES FOR TAS REQUIRED SELF-ASSESSMENT OF OUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, A SPECIAL ED PROGRAM.
AGAIN, I MUST SAY, THANK YOU TO OUR SPED DEPARTMENT PARTNERS AT REGION NINE FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
AS OUR NUMBERS INCREASE AND AS A RESULT OF THE SHORTAGE OF STAFF, OUR DISTRICT HAS SEEN THE INCREASE IN CONTRACTUAL COSTS OF PROVIDING SPEECH AND CONDUCT SPEECH THERAPY AND CONDUCTING PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS.
IT IS PROJECTED THAT THE COST OF PROVIDING SPEECH THERAPY FOR THIS YEAR, EXCLUDING THE COST OF PAYING FOR SUBS WHO ACT AS FACILITATORS TO MONITOR STUDENTS DURING TELETHERAPY, IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $642,757.
IT IS ALSO ESTIMATED THAT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS, THIS COST WILL BE $250,000 THEREABOUT.
WE HAVE HAD TO SEEK THIS SERVICE FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES BECAUSE NO ONE VENDOR CAN MEET OR INCREASE INSIGHT EVAL NEEDS.
THE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ARE LISTED FOR YOUR EASY REFERENCE.
THIS CHALLENGE WITH FUNDING HAS IMPACTED THE AVAILABILITY TO PROVIDE ALSO A SPECIAL ED CURRICULUM FOR RESOURCE CENTRALIZED PROGRAMS AND FUNCTIONAL CLASSROOM.
THIS CHALLENGE WITH FUNDING LED TO THE NON-RENEWAL OF OUR UNIQUE LEARNING SYSTEMS CURRICULUM WHICH COSTS ABOUT $65,000.
THE ABSENCE OF THIS CURRICULUM HAS PRESENTED A CHALLENGE TO STAFF IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LESSONS.
WE ARE ALSO BATTLING EXCESSIVELY HIGH CASELOAD, TEACHER CASELOADS.
I MUST RECOGNIZE ONCE MORE THE WORK OF OUR TEACHERS, EVEN WITH THE HIGH CASELOADS THAT THEY MANAGE ON A DAILY BASIS.
THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT OUR TEACHERS WHO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
KNOW THAT THIS TRANSLATES TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND DEVELOPMENT OF IEPS, OR TEACHERS USUALLY ARE ASSIGNED ONE CONFERENCE PERIOD AND THEY SPEND MUCH TIME AFTER DUTY HOURS COMPLETING PAPERWORK TO ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT REMAINS COMPLIANT.
THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO HIGH CASELOADS AND UNDERSTAFFING IS A REALITY FOR EVALUATION AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT TEAM.
PLEASE NOTE THAT CURRENT STAFFING FOR THIS YEAR IS COMPARED YEAR TO THAT OF '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN WE SAW OUR LOWEST POPULATION WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE HAVE ONLY ONE ON STAFF CURRENTLY, AND [INAUDIBLE] IS A HERO.
[APPLAUSE] WITH THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM OUR CONTRACTED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS,
[00:40:04]
WE HAVE 3.5 LESS POSITIONS THAN DURING '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.OR SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, WE HAVE SEVEN HIGH WFISD SLPS, AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE CONTRACT.
WE HAVE SEVEN LESS POSITIONS THAN IN THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSELORS, THREE ON STAFF, ONE LESS POSITION THAN DURING '21, '22.
OUR DIAGNOSTICIANS, WE HAVE 20 POSITIONS WITH ONE VACANCY UNFILLED, FIVE LESS THAN DURING '21, '22.
OUR DISTRICT LEVEL CURRICULUM SUPPORT, WHICH ARE OUR TWO SPEC COORDINATORS, TWO ONE STAFF, FIVE LESS POSITIONS THAN DURING THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR CLERICAL SUPPORT STAFF, TWO ONE STAFF, TWO LESS POSITIONS THAN DURING THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TWO ON STAFF.
THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS, MRS. THORN, ALSO HAS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COORDINATOR FOR THE REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF.
THESE WERE TWO SEPARATE POSITIONS DURING THE '22, '23 SCHOOL YEAR.
OVERALL, THE SPED ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM HAS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR 64 STAFF, 21 LESS POSITIONS AND DURING THE '21, '22 SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ALSO ARE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES WITH BEHAVIOR AND OUR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEFICITS THAT WE ARE SEEING.
THIS IS RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN REFERRALS FOR PHYC EVALS, AN INCREASE IN SPED COUNSELING NUMBERS, COMPOUNDED WITH THE LIMITED OPTIONS IN OUR REGION FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
WE ARE ALSO HAVING CHALLENGES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF INJURIES.
SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEEN A TOTAL OF 91 INJURIES FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND 361 RESTRAINTS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WE RESTRAIN STUDENTS WHEN THEIR BEHAVIOR CREATES AN EMERGENCY, WHICH CAN BE DEFINED AS A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.
THE HAND WITH CARE TEAM HAS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED 139 STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS CHART REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS AT EACH ELEMENTARY CAMPUS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED THROUGH THE TBSI OR WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE TEXAS BEHAVIOR SUPPORT INITIATIVE, WHICH REQUIRES THAT EACH CAMPUS MUST HAVE A CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM.
THIS TEAM MEMBERS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE HAND WITH CARE TRAINING.
THIS AND THE NEXT CHART SHOWS THE NUMBER OF STAFF TRAINED IN BOTH AREAS.
THIS CHART REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SECONDARY STAFF TRAINED.
ON THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE THE IMPACT FOR AND THE NUMBER OF ROUTES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR SPED BUSING.
AS OUR NUMBERS INCREASE, WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE ALSO IN SPED ROUTES, AND WE HAVE 18:00 AM ROUTES, EIGHT MID-DAY ROUTES, AND 18:00 PM ROUTES.
AND SO YOU MAY BE WONDERING, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE ENGAGED INTO ADDRESS OUR CHALLENGES? A SIGNING BONUS OF $2,000 AND A STIPEND OF $3,100 IS OFFERED TO EACH DISTRICT PROGRAM TEACHER.
STIPENDS ARE OFFERED FOR POSITIONS WITH A LEAD AND DESIGNATION.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT ONGOING REVIEW OF SPED NUMBERS AND NEEDS AND REASSIGNED STAFF WHERE NECESSARY INSTEAD OF HIRING NEW STAFF.
WE ARE CONDUCTING A DISTRICT LEVEL REVIEW OF REFERRALS FOR SPECIAL ED EVALUATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION.
THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE INSIGHT TO THE NUMBER OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND RESPOND WITH THE NECESSARY STAFF IN SUPPORT IN A PROACTIVE MANNER.
DISTRICT AND CAMPUS LEVEL SUPPORT STAFF SUCH AS SPED COORDINATORS, [INAUDIBLE], ADAPTIVE PE TEACHER, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST COVER CLASSES WHERE VACANCIES REMAIN UNFILLED OR IN THE ABSENCE OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
WE HAVE HIRED TWO RESTORATIVE PRACTICE SPECIALISTS.
WE PROVIDE CRISIS SUPPORT AND THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE TWO SPED COORDINATORS AND THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.
CURRICULUM SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE TWO SPED COORDINATORS.
WE HAVE AN APPROVED POSITION WHICH IS NOW VACANT FOR AN [INAUDIBLE], A RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE OR THE HIGH NUMBERS OF
[00:45:01]
IEP MEETINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AT [INAUDIBLE] MUST ATTEND.THIS RELIEF GIVES THEM THE OPTION TO RESPOND TO OTHER AREAS OF NEEDS ON THE CAMPUS WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS SUPPORTING OUR MEETINGS.
THE POSITION IS CURRENTLY VACANT.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR TELETHERAPY AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND ALSO WE HAVE TRAINED STAFF AND PROVIDED UPDATED GUIDANCE ON THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SAME.
AS I CLOSE THIS PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR POSSIBLE LONG-TERM RESOLUTION TO SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES.
I ASK THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS A SEPARATE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR I TO STAFF SUBJECT AREAS SUCH AS SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I ALSO ASK THAT WE CONSIDER INCENTIVES SUCH AS STIPENDS OR BONUS PAY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, STAFF WHOSE CASELOADS EXCEEDS PER AS THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
TO PROVIDE A STIPEND TO ADMINISTRATORS WITH DISTRICT PROGRAMS AT THEIR CAMPUS.
ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION, I AM ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF.
THIS CONSIDERATION, I AM ASKING THAT WE REVIEW AND RESTORE SPECIAL ED STAFFING AT THE CAMPUS AND DISTRICT LEVELS IN ALIGNMENT WITH TASB'S RECOMMENDATION.
STAFFING BENCHMARKS FOR SPECIAL ED ARE TRICKY TO DEVELOP BECAUSE IT DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON NUMBERS, BUT MANY OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS NEED.
I FOUND THE TASB STRATEGIC STAFFING DOCUMENT LINKED HERE FOR YOUR REVIEW, WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY JENNIFER BARTON, HR CONSULTANT AT [INAUDIBLE], IN MARCH OF 2021.
AT THE TIME, THE RECOMMENDED STAFF AND BENCHMARKS PROPOSED FOR RESOURCE INCLUSION, CONTENT AND CONTENT MASTERY WERE HIGH SCHOOL 15 TO ONE, MIDDLE SCHOOL, 12 TO ONE, AND NINE TO ONE FOR ELEMENTARY.
FOR A DISTRICT PROGRAMS SUCH AS LIFE SKILLS AND IN THE BEHAVIOR PROGRAM, THE BENCHMARK FOR LIFE SKILL IS FOUR TO ONE, WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO STAFF MEMBERS IN A CLASSROOM REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE LEVEL.
FOR BEHAVIOR, THE BENCHMARK RECOMMENDED AT THE TIME WAS SIX TO ONE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, FIVE TO ONE AT MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, FOUR TO ONE.
THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOMS REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF TWO STAFF MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE LEVEL.
FOR EVALUATION AND SUPPORT STAFF SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIANS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, THE RECOMMENDED CASE LOAD IS 80 TO 85 PER STAFF.
FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, THE RECOMMENDED CASE LOAD WAS 45 TO 50 STUDENTS.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR SPECIAL ED STAFF WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT, AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. THERE'S AN OPEN DOOR.
YES, GO AHEAD AND COMMENT, NOW.
I THINK YOU MAY JUST LOOK REALLY POSITIVE, BUT IN REALITY, I SEE SO MANY FRUSTRATING THINGS IN ALL OF THOSE GRAPHS THAT YOU SENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS, BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING AFTER HOURS.
IT'S NOT JUST A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE WORKING AFTER HOURS.
I'M SURE MANY OF THEM ARE, AND I SO MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT THE SPECIAL ED STAFF HAS DONE, WE'D LOVE TO JUST HAVE THIS BOARD SUPPORT YOU ANY WAY WE CAN, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT MUST BE.
YES, I AGREE. THE THING THAT I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, THING I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND NOT RELEASING THAT MONEY THAT IS SO NEEDED FOR EDUCATION.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE BYPRODUCTS OF WHAT IT IS DOING TO OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND IF I WERE A SPECIAL ED PARENT,
[00:50:01]
I WOULD BE UP IN ARMS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR KIDS.HE'S NOT RELEASING THAT MONEY BECAUSE OF THE VOUCHER SITUATION.
BUT IF WE DID HAVE THE MONEY, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SPECIAL ED CANDIDATES OUT THERE? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS? YES. TO GET THE APPLICANTS ARE JUST PRETTY LOW, AREN'T THEY? RIGHT NOW, AS FAR AS OUR OUR SPEECH THERAPISTS ARE, WE JUST CAN'T FIND YOUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS.
WE CAN'T FIND A LOT OF AIDES, AND SO OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE ABSOLUTELY, THEY'RE HEAVEN SET.
BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND PARAPROFESSIONALS TOO.
COULD WE FIND THE PEOPLE IF WE ACTUALLY HAD THE FUNDS TO DO THIS? I MEAN, TO FUND IT BACK TO WHERE WE MET THE STANDARDS? THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.
ESPECIALLY WITH NOT, THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE MIDWESTERN, HAVING A PREPARATION PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE, I AGREE.
I WORK WITH PRINCIPALS AND THIS IS HOW WE ALL THE TIME TO TRY TO SEE HOW WE COULD RECRUIT TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS.
AS YOU MOVE THE SUPPORT DEAL WITH SUPPORT STAFF, IT GETS EVEN WORSE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS WHO WERE APPLYING FOR POSITIONS, IN ANY QUANTITY FOR A WHILE.
YOU GET ONE HERE AND THERE, BUT SOMETIMES DID NOT EVEN ACCEPT OUR OFFERS.
EVEN GIVING THEM AN INCENTIVE, WE'RE HAVING HARD TIMES, BUT IF WE MAYBE BUMP THAT INCENTIVE UP, IF WE HAD SOME STATE FUNDING, THEN THAT WOULD HELP.
HOPE IS THAT IF YOU HAD INCENTIVES OR WOULD YOU COME A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE AND BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM ELSEWHERE.
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT DOING THE SIGNING BONUS [OVERLAPPING] YES.
WE'RE OFFERING TO THE DISTRICT PROGRAMS [INAUDIBLE].
I WANT THIS PROGRAM TO GROW OUR OWN.
IT OR CBM FORMS, SELF-CONTINUED.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 20 YEARS.
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I WAS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IN 2010.
IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S IMPACTING OUR SOCIETY.
YOU MIGHT CONSIDER LOOKING AT, WE MIGHT CONSIDER LOOKING AT RUN.
WE HAVE, I HEARD YOU SAY, WONDERFUL PARAPROFESSIONALS.
MANY OF THEM HAVE DEGREES AS WELL, OR MAY NOT HAVE DEGREES, BUT MAY HAVE A DESIRE, OR MAY WANT TO GROW OUR OWN, AND HAVE SOME INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION IF THEY LOVE WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, AND OF COURSE, PSYCHOLOGIST, I'M AN OLD RETIRED LSSP, SO I MAY JUST GET UP TO TODAY AND GET A JOB.
[LAUGHTER] I'M SITTING SITTING HERE, I NEED TO MAYBE CHANGE ROLES.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO COMPETE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THAT WAS DONE IN MY PREVIOUS SITUATION IS THAT THERE WAS A BALANCE OF THE SALARIES FOR BOTH.
BUT THE TRAINING FOR AN LSSP IS MUCH MORE INTENSE AND CLINICALLY NEEDED, AND SO THEY HAD TO BUMP THAT UP IN ORDER TO COMPETE.
BUT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING THEN WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT TEXAS IS THE ONLY STATE, I BELIEVE, IT WAS FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT HAD DIAGNOSTICIAN, ALL OTHER STATES, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND RIGHT NOW WITH THE KIDS WE'RE GETTING AND WHAT I SEE, THE INCREASE IN REFERRALS IS IN THE AREA OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING, YOU NEED PSYCHOLOGIST.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK THERE AS A BOARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE DOING WONDERFUL JOB OF WHAT YOU HAVE I'M TELLING YOU.
I HAVE A DEGREE OF THERAPY SO I MIGHT GET OFF THE BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE THE WRONG JOB.
[00:55:03]
WELL, MR. JOHNSON.MR. PHIL, ANY COMMENT? THANK YOU.
WHERE DO WE DO OUR DEAF PROGRAM? WE HAVE THREE CAMPUSES IN OUR DISTRICT WHERE WE ATTEND.
AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL IS AT COTTENHAM, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS MCMILLIAN, AND LAKE PALM RIGHT, A HIGH SCHOOL IS THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY ATTEND.
WE DO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE DEFINITE A HEARING THROUGH WHO CAN ATTEND ANY SCHOOL WITHIN THEIR ATTENDING ZONE.
BUT FOR THE REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF, THOSE ARE THE THREE ASSIGNED CAMPUSES.
THE RDA THAT WE ARE IMPROVING, IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING?
>> IS IT IMPROVEMENT OR IS IT REPORTING THAT'S IMPROVING?
>> WE JUST AGGREGATED THE DATA BY COMPARING THE PREVIOUS YEARS 2021 [NOISE] TO THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.
AND SO WE HAVE NOTED THE GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS AND OVERALL DETERMINATION LEVEL WHICH WOULD BE ASSIGNED FOR US. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE 0.3%.
>> IT WASN'T EVEN 1% IMPROVEMENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S BASED ON HOW MANY SPECIALIZED KIDS PASSED THE SCIENCE.
>> TO MAKE IT TO WHERE WE MADE THE MISTAKE WAS 0.3 INCREASE.
JUST BRIEFLY, THE FLEXIBLE WORK, WHAT'S YOUR VISION ON THAT?
>> WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE MANY DISTRICTS HAVE MOVED TO A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE FOR THEIR SUPPORT STYLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE HISTORY THAT WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR THAT IMPLEMENTED A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE WAS I THINK WOULD BE NICE, AND THEY HAD OFFERED THE DIAGNOSTICIANS TO WORK SOME FROM HOME, LIKE A HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE.
AND WE HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT THIS IS A TREND, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CONTRACT AND CONTRACTING WORKERS.
THEY OFFERED THEIR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY ARE LOCATED IN DIFFERENT STATES OR DIFFERENT CITIES, THOSE OF THEM THAT ARE IN TEXAS.
AND THE COST TO SOURCE ONE OF THEM IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE PAY FOR SOMEONE THAT WE HIRE IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT OF IS WE COULD POSSIBLY RECRUIT IF WE GIVE AN INCENTIVE LIKE THAT.
THE KEYS IN TERMS OF WORKING IT OUT AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SUPERVISORY DUTIES WOULD FALL MOST LIKELY, TO ME, IN TERMS OF MONITORING THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
AND THAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT PART TO WORK OUT.
BUT THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT WE COULD USE FOR REFERENCING WHETHER THEY ARE WORKING AND BEING PRODUCTIVE, SUCH AS THE SYSTEM THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR DIAGNOSTICIANS ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO DO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
[NOISE] IT LOGS THE TIME THAT THEY ENTER, THE TIME THAT THEY EXIT, WHAT ACTIVITY THEY PERFORMED.
>> NOT TO BE SO THEIR FOLLOW-UP WORK COULD BE DONE FROM HOME VERSUS COMING IN TO THE OFFICE.
>> YES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM STAFF IS THAT SOME OF THEM TAKE A DAY OFF TO GET CAUGHT UP ON PAPERWORK.
THERE'S NO OPTION TO CODE IT IN THE SYSTEM AS TAKING A DAY OFF FOR PAPERWORKS IS A PERSONAL BUSINESS DATA, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT WE OFFER.
I AM COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE CAMPUSES UNSUPPORTED, AND OUR CAMPUSES RELY VERY HEAVILY ON OUR DIAGNOSTICIANS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SUPPORT.
I'M NOT PROPOSING OF THINKING THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BE OFF AT THE SAME TIME,
[01:00:03]
AND WHERE WE HAVE DIAGNOSTICIANS, WHERE WE HAVE MULTIPLES AT THE CAMPUS.FOR EXAMPLE, AT RIDER, WE HAVE TWO.
WE COULD AT LEAST STAGGER THEIR ABSENCE FOR WE CANNOT HOLD PARTICULARLY IF WE DECIDED TO DO THAT.
>> WE ALL HAVE A WORK TO DO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST GOT TO FIND THE RIGHT CART TO DANGLE TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY IT AND MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME NEW PEOPLE IN.
>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE, WOULD YOU LET YOUR STAFF STAND UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, SO TAKE A BIG BOW.
I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHO'S WEARING AND WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING.
>> I'M AMBER FROST AND I'M ONE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATORS.
>> [NOISE] I'M JULIANNE BESS, AND I AM THE EVALUATION COORDINATOR.
>> I'M JORDAN CARTER. I'M THE OTHER SPECIAL ED COORDINATOR.
>> I'M STACIA MACLEOD. I'M THE DIAGNOSTICIAN AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SCHOOL.
>> NIKKI GRADY, DIAGNOSTICIAN AT BARWISE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> TRACI GUTIERREZ, DIAGNOSTICIAN AT RIDER, AND I'M IN THE FRONT LINE FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> BRENDA WILLIAMS, SPECIAL ED SECRETARY.
>> DIANN DAVENPORT, COORDINATOR OF DYSLEXIA/504 PROGRAM
>> COURTNEY WIDNER, I'M THE DIAGNOSTICIAN AT CROCKETT AND SHEPPARD.
>> I'M TRACY REDDING, DIAGNOSTICIAN AT FOWLER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE HAYNES, CLERK AND EVALUATION SPECIALIST.
I HOPE I DID WITH ALL HER PAPERWORK.
>> CHELSEA LAWSON, I'M THE DIAGNOSTICIAN AT SCOTLAND PARK.
>> I'M KIM THORNE. I'M THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND THE COORDINATOR FOR THE DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING PROGRAM.
>> I'M DAVID SHIPLEY, THE SOCIAL WORKER FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. APPRECIATE IT.
[VII.A. Personnel Report]
TO MISS HARDAWAY, YOU'RE AHEAD OF ME.>> GOOD. CHRISTMAS BREAK WAS GREAT?
>> GOOD. IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S JUST A REPORT THAT WICHITA FALLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO REVIEW THE EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION AND RETIREMENT THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED SINCE THE LAST FOUR MEETINGS.
THE RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY DR. DONNY LEE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, AND PARTS OF THE POLICY IS THE REQUIREMENTS OF HEALTH [INAUDIBLE].
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SEE HIM GO SOMEWHERE, LONG TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? [INAUDIBLE] NEEDED HERE.
>> YES. THAT'S A ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION THAT
[VII.B. Applicant Pool]
THE WICHITA FALLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVE THE PROPOSED APPLICANT POLL AS SUBMITTED BY DAYNA HARDAWAY, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND AS RECOMMENDED BY DR. DONNY LEE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICANT POLL AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE MCGREGOR?
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME TIME.
BOARD MINUTES, FUTURE MATTERS?
[VIII.A. Minutes from December Meetings]
[NOISE] DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES?>> GOOD. FUTURE ACTION WOULD LIKE TO GO ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA?
>> UPCOMING EVENT, ASHLEY THOMAS.
[VIII.B. Upcoming Events]
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE A VERY BUSY AND VERY EXCITING [NOISE] AHEAD OF US.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON AND SO WE HAVE BEEN VISITING ABOUT SOME WAYS FOR GUYS TO BE MORE INFORMED ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT.
I'LL BE COMING TO THE MEETING EACH MONTH TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE DISTRICT AND SOME EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU CAN STOP ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE THAT WE DO HAVE THE TRANSFER PERIOD GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR CURRENT PRE-K THROUGH SEVENTH GRADERS.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE DID THE TRANSFER PERIOD IN THE FALL FOR OUR NINTH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS FOR MEMORIAL, LEGACY.
[01:05:04]
NOW WE'RE BACK TO OUR REGULAR TRANSFER PERIOD THAT WILL RUN THROUGH THE 31ST OF THIS MONTH.THE TRANSFER APPLICATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WFISD.NET/TRANSFER.
AS SOON AS WE GET ALL THOSE TRANSFER REQUESTS, THE TRANSFER COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW THOSE AND PARENTS WILL BE INFORMED BY MARCH 31ST ABOUT THEIR PLACEMENT FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE CRITERIA INCLUDED ON THE TRANSFER FORM AND ON OUR WEBSITE FOR PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE OUR TEACHERS SPOTLIGHT AWARD THAT HAPPENS EVERY MONTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KED AND FIRSTBANK.
WE RECOGNIZED ADAM WOOD AT BARWISE IN DECEMBER, AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE ANOTHER TEACHER THIS WEEK.
THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS WEEK ON THE JANUARY TEACHERS SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNER.
THAT'S JUST A FUN WAY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE TEACHERS WHO ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE GET SUPPORT FROM HIGH PARTNERS AND EACH MONTH, THE WINNER IS SURPRISED IN THEIR CLASSROOM AND RECEIVES DIFFERENT GIFTS FROM LOCAL HIGH PARTNERS.
WE APPRECIATE THEM AND WE APPRECIATE OUR TEACHERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON OBVIOUSLY, WITH MEMORIAL, LEGACY, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT STAFFING AS THOSE HIRES ARE MADE.
THIS THURSDAY, THERE WILL BE A MEET THE BAND DIRECTORS EVENT GOING ON AT THE CEC AND THAT ALLOWS FOR PARENTS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE BAND DIRECTOR AT WHATEVER SCHOOL THEIR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO AND MEET THE BAND DIRECTOR, ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FINE ARTS PROGRAMS AT MEMORIAL, LEGACY.
THAT'S EXCITING, THAT'S OUR FIRST EVENT TAKING PLACE FOR THOSE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT AS POSITIONS ARE ANNOUNCED TO ALLOW FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO GET TO KNOW THEIR VIEW.
>> IS THIS FOR INCOMING NINTH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS OR ARE WE INVITING MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS IF THEY WANT TO COME?
>> I BELIEVE IT'S MOSTLY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE GOING TO MEMORIAL, LEGACY.
BUT I THINK THAT IF A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WANTED TO ATTEND, JUST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHICH SCHOOL THEY WERE GOING TO BE AT, I THINK IT'S OPEN TO A COMMUNITY TO COME OUT.
>> OBVIOUSLY, MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
FOR MLK DAY, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE SCHOOL ON MONDAY.
THEN THIS VERY BIG DEAL, JANUARY IS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
OUR BOARD MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK BECAUSE OF THE MLK HOLIDAY, BUT WE'LL BE HAVING A RECEPTION IN THE FOYER AT 5:00 PM BEFORE THE MEETING TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THE COMMUNITY AND THE DISTRICT IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT ON TUESDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
THEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT SCHOOL SPIRIT COMMITTEE MEETING COMING UP MONDAY, JANUARY 22.
THAT'S THE MEMORIAL MEETING, AND THESE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING THAT WE HAD.
WE INITIALLY DONE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND NOW WE'RE REALLY GETTING MORE INTO ACTUAL DETAILS OF IDEAS FROM STUDENTS AND THINGS THAT CAN START HAPPENING THIS SEMESTER TO PREPARE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
I SEE IT JUST CONTINUING TO GAIN EXCITEMENT AS WE GET READY FOR THE OPENING OF BOTH SCHOOLS.
THE WFISD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW.
THE DEADLINE FOR THAT IS MARCH 31.
STUDENTS WHO ARE SELECTED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN MAY.
BUT THAT ALL GOES THROUGH OUR WFISD FOUNDATION.
JANUARY MENTIONED WE'VE RECEIVED, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT ABOUT 200 WHO'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THEIR APPLICATIONS.
BUT IF YOU KNOW PARENTS WHO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE SENIORS, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ANY STUDENTS.
WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO GO ON AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM BECAUSE I KNOW PARENTS CAN USE, FOR THOSE GRADUATING SENIORS, ANY MONEY IS WELCOME.
THAT CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.
AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, WE WILL BE HAVING THE VERY FIRST INDOOR GOLF AT NEXT LEVEL GOLF, FEBRUARY 8TH-10TH.
[01:10:03]
IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT LIKES TO GOLF AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BATTLE THE WEATHER, IT'S ALL INSIDE, IT GOES TO BENEFIT THE FOUNDATION.ALL OF THE MONEY FROM THAT GOES TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS TEACHER GRANTS THAT WE DO IN THE FALL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON FACEBOOK AND ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT THAT AS WELL IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
THERE'S DIFFERENT TEA TIMES ON THOSE THREE DAYS THAT THEY CAN SELECT WHEN THEY GO ONLINE.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE START WORKING ON ALL OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
NOMINATION FORMS FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR WILL BE GOING OUT DISTRICT WIDE THE WEEK OF JANUARY 22ND.
SO I'LL JUST GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I'LL BE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FROM EVERY CAMPUS LATER THIS WEEK SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT PROCESS STARTED, RECOGNIZING OUR TEACHERS AND THAT BANK WILL BE LATER IN APRIL.
THEN AFTER OUR HIGH PROGRAM, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR READ 2 LEARN RALLY ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 26.
THAT'S ALWAYS THE LAST FRIDAY OF JANUARY.
THAT INCLUDES ALL OF OUR SECOND GRADE STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT PART OF READ 2 LEARN, WE HAVE A DAY TO ENCOURAGE READING FOR ALL SECOND GRADERS.
THERE'S CELEBRITY READERS THAT COME OUT.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT IN THE PAST.
YOU MAY BE GETTING CALLS THIS YEAR FROM PRINCIPALS, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR OUR STUDENTS, SO IF YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT THAT DAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO VISIT SOME OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO SEE.
>> IS THAT OUR CELEBRITY DR. GRIFFITH THERE?
>> THERE'S DR. GRIFFITH ON THE LEFT, DR. ROBERTS ON THE RIGHT THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS A FUN DAY AND THE KIDS LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT AND EVERY SECOND GRADER GETS A BOOK THAT DAY THROUGH THE PIE DEPARTMENT.
THEN I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION REPEATEDLY.
WE HAVE SHEPHERD ELEMENTARY WAS FILMED YESTERDAY, SO WE'LL BE SHOWCASING SHEPHERD THIS WEEK, AND THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE TO CC AS WELL AS MCNIEL.
ALL OF THOSE ARE POSTED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AS SOON AS THEY'RE GOING TO BE EDITED.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE PREVIOUS ONES ON OUR WEBSITE.
WATCH THOSE AND SEE ALL OF THE NEAT THINGS GOING ON AT OUR CLASSES.
DR. LEE DOES A GREAT JOB GOING OUT AND TALKING TO THOSE TEACHERS.
THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THIS IS THE BISTRO AT THE CC HAS STARTED PROVIDING MEALS ON WEDNESDAYS.
ON WEDNESDAYS, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD IDEAS OR LUNCH IDEAS, THE MENU FOR THE REST OF JANUARY IS UP THERE AND THEY SERVE FOOD FROM 11:30-12:00 EACH WEDNESDAY.
EXCEPT THEY WON'T BE DOING IT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE OF A SHORT WEEK BECAUSE OF THE MLK HOLIDAY.
BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON FROM MY AREA BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I'LL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED AS THINGS HAPPEN EACH MONTH.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU, ASHLEY.
NOW WE WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[VIII.C. Closed Session]
WE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTY, DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL, AND OR COMPENSATION OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
NUMBER 2, DELIBERATIONS REGARDING ABANDONMENT OF CONTRACT BY A TEACHER IN ATTEMPT TO RESIGN.
NUMBER 3, DELIBERATION REGARDING NOTIFICATION TO THE STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION OF THE TEXAS TEACHER CONTRACT ABANDONMENT.
FINAL VOTES, IF ANY, WILL BE IN OPEN SESSION.
THE TIME NOW IS 1:14 AND WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.