Noting that a quorum is present, I hereby call this regular meeting of today's Board of Trustees
Katy ISD · Regular Board Meeting Agenda
Katy ISD Regular Board Meeting, March 29, 2021
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- 0:00 to 4:06 Item 1 Call to Order - Upon announcement by the presiding officer that a quorum is present, the meeting will be called to order. The presiding officer will verify that the meeting has been duly called and notice of the meeting has been posted for the time and manner required by law.
- 4:06 to 38:48 Item 3 Open Forum - In accordance with BED (LEGAL) and BED (LOCAL), the Board shall allot up to 30 minutes to hear persons who desire to make comments to the Board. Persons who wish to participate in this portion of the meeting shall sign up via email at publicrecords@katyisd.org by 2 p.m. on Monday, March 29, 2021.
- 38:48 to 49:07 Items 4 & 5 4. Closed Meeting - Closed Meeting will be held for the purposes authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 et seq. concerning any and all purposes permitted by the Act, including but not limited to the sections and purposes listed below. 4.1 Consultation with Board's attorney. (Texas Government Code 551.071: For the purpose of a private consultation with the Board's attorney on any or all subjects or matters authorized by law; and Texas Government Code 551.129: For the purpose of a private consultation with the Board's attorney by telephone conference call.) 4.2 Discuss and consider Board approval for employees who are being recommended to receive one-year employee probationary contracts, one-year employee dual assignment probationary contracts, one-year employee term contracts, one-year employee dual assignment term contracts, and two-year employee dual assignment term contracts for the 2021-2022 school year. (Texas Government Code 551.074: For the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee.) 4.3 Discuss safety/security update. (Texas Government Code 551.076: To consider the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation, of security personnel or devices; or a security audit.) 4.4 Discuss Board duties. (Texas Government Code 551.074: For the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee.) 5. Reconvene from Closed Meeting - The Board will reconvene from Closed Meeting. 5.1 Consider Board approval for employees who are being recommended to receive one-year employee probationary contracts, one-year employee dual assignment probationary contracts, one-year employee term contracts, oneyear employee dual assignment term contracts, and two-year employee dual assignment term contracts for the 2021-2022 school year.
- 49:07 to 57:23 Item 6.1 Katy Independent School District 2020 - 2021 Transportation Update
- 57:23 to 1:14:23 Item 6.2 Update on damages to Katy ISD buildings related to the freeze in February 2021
- 1:14:23 to 1:16:43 Item 7.1 Discuss and consider Board approval of the January 2021 Financial Reports.
- 1:16:43 to 1:17:46 Item 7.2 Discuss and consider Board adoption of a resolution extending the bank depository contract.
- 1:17:46 to 1:19:44 Item 7.3 Discuss and consider Board approval of the March 2021 budget amendments.
- 1:19:44 to 1:23:12 Item 7.4 Discuss and consider Board approval of the renewal of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Fund Casualty Program.
- 1:23:12 to 1:24:19 Item 7.5 Discuss and consider Board approval of a Missed School Day waiver.
- 1:24:19 to 1:25:14 Item 7.6 Discuss and consider Board approval of an "Other" waiver for select campuses who engaged in asynchronous learning.
- 1:25:14 to 1:28:24 Item 7.7 Discuss and consider Board approval of the proposal for the replacement of gym bleachers at three campuses.
- 1:28:24 to 1:31:43 Item 7.8 Discuss and consider Board approval of the proposal for the replacement of the main gym floor at Katy High School.
- 1:31:43 to 1:34:56 Item 7.9 Discuss and consider Board approval of the proposal for the replacement of the air-cooled chillers at Cimarron Elementary School.
- 1:34:56 to 1:36:47 Item 7.10 Discuss and consider Board approval of the proposal for the replacement of a HVAC chiller at Paetow High School.
- 1:36:47 to 1:39:05 Item 7.11 Discuss and consider Board approval of the proposal for the Building Management Control System Replacement at multiple campuses.
- 1:39:05 to 1:40:53 Item 7.12 Discuss and consider Board approval of three Interlocal Agreements with Municipal Utility Districts and Katy Independent School District for Bryant Elementary School.
- 1:40:53 to 1:41:47 Item 7.13 Discuss and consider Board approval of the plat for Elementary School #44.
- 1:41:47 to 1:44:04 Item 7.14 Discuss and consider Board approval of the updated contract with Region 3 (ESC) for participation in the Purchasing Cooperative of America (PCA).
- 1:44:04 to 1:44:27 Item 7.15 Discuss and consider Board approval of the minutes of the February 2021 Board meetings.
- 1:44:27 to 1:44:55 Item 8.1 Consider Board adoption of the local policies included in Board Policy Update 116.
- 1:44:55 to 1:49:43 Item 8.2 Consider Board approval of the campus staffing plan for the 2021-2022 school year.
- 1:49:43 to 2:11:13 Item 9 Discuss future possibility of Katy Virtual Academy beyond the 2020-2021 school year.
- 2:11:13 to 2:11:24 Item 10 Donated Items to Katy Independent School District
- 2:11:24 to 2:11:31 Item 11 Regular Board Meeting - Monday, April 26, 2021
- 2:11:31 to 2:12:15 Items 12 - 14 12. Closed Meeting - Closed Meeting will be held for the purposes authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 et seq. concerning any and all purposes permitted by the Act, including but not limited to the sections and purposes listed below. 12.1 Consultation with Board's attorney. (Texas Government Code 551.071: For the purpose of a private consultation with the Board's attorney on any or all subjects or matters authorized by law; and Texas Government Code 551.129: For the purpose of a private consultation with the Board's attorney by telephone conference call.) 12.2 Consider a Level Three DGBA grievance (DGBA 21-005) pursuant to Katy Independent School District policy DGBA (LEGAL) and DGBA (LOCAL) regarding employees Kayla Vingco, Joseph Danna, Christopher Ashmore, Jazmine Garcia, Ryan Pickett, Kim Garcia, Ryan Simpson, Paola Santoyo, Christina Cantu, David Plant, Jose Gonzalez, Larry Johnson, Robin Semien, Joseph Aguilar and Pablo Cantu of the Katy ISD Police Department. (Texas Government Code 551.074: For the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee.) 13. Reconvene from Closed Meeting - The Board will reconvene from Closed Meeting. 13.1 Consider Board action regarding a Level Three DGBA grievance (DGBA 21-005) pursuant to Katy Independent School District policy DGBA (LEGAL) and DGBA (LOCAL) regarding employees Kayla Vingco, Joseph Danna, Christopher Ashmore, Jazmine Garcia, Ryan Pickett, Kim Garcia, Ryan Simpson, Paola Santoyo, Christina Cantu, David Plant, Jose Gonzalez, Larry Johnson, Robin Semien, Joseph Aguilar and Pablo Cantu of the Katy ISD Police Department. 14. Adjournment
Full transcript
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Item 1
of the Katy Independent School District to order. Today is Monday, March 29, 2021,
and the time is 5.32 p.m. Dr. Gagorski, will you verify that we are in compliance with the
provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act with regard for the notice of this meeting?
Madam President, I do confirm we're in compliance with the provisions of the
Texas Open Meeting Act for the meeting this evening.
Thank you, Dr. Gagorski. We will now open tonight's meeting with the pledges of
allegiance dr. Gorsi would you like to introduce our pledge leader thank you so
much miss madam president and so a little bit different in order but yeah
we're gonna start our meetings with the pledge leader first and we do have a
special guest tonight Mustafa Khalif who is a fifth grader over at made Creek
Elementary I see his principal it's over to my left over there Felicia Sheedy and
his parents Rasha and Ahmad Khalif his sister Celine and a brother Ali in third
third grade and students special interest playing the violin video games
and playing with his brother and sister favorite subject math a couple of quotes
from his teachers from Miss Rhea Marsh Mustafa is a great musician he is a
leader in the MCI choir and Orff ensemble he is always on time and brings
energy and excitement to the groups and from Miss Sharon Apple who must have
known him a long time because she's his previous pre-k teacher mustafa is a great conversationalist
always has something interesting to add to any discussion so we will go ahead and turn
it over to mustafa it's all yours to lead us in the pledge flag of the united states of america
and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state, under God, one indivisible.
Go ahead.
Good evening, President Ms. Ashley Vann, board members, and Superintendent Gagorski.
My name is Mustafa Khalif, and I am a fifth grade student at May Creek Elementary.
I am 10 years old, and I have been a student here since pre-K in Ms. Apples' class.
What I love about this amazing school is they always motivate kids to do the right thing,
and teachers always make learning fun.
I have participated in many activities here at MCE.
Some of these activities include MCE Choir, Orph Ensemble, the musicals our music teacher, Ms. Marsh, creates, and the signagrams we have near holidays.
I and the other students here at May Creek Elementary are very grateful to have our teachers.
I can't wait to go to middle school and learn more about life.
May Creek Elementary is the best elementary school ever.
Thank you.
Great job.
We have a certificate for you.
And this very special backpack.
We only give out a few of these every year,
only to people who come here and do the pledge.
Special thing for a special fifth grader.
Very proud of you.
Do you want to take a picture, maybe, with your principal and your mom up here?
Should we do that?
Let's do that.
Thank you.
We'll now move to agenda item three, open forum.
Item 3
At this time the Board of Trustees will give members of the public an opportunity to speak
in accordance with KDISD Board Policy BED Local.
As defined by the Board Policy, the first 10 speakers who signed up by 2 p.m. on Monday,
March 29, 2021, and have provided their first and last name will be allowed to address the
Board.
A maximum of 30 minutes has been allocated, with the time divided equally among those
who have signed up.
However, the maximum amount of time for anyone to speak is three minutes.
If you're not finished speaking at the end of your three minutes, your audio will turn
off.
If speakers wish to share written material with the Board, you must email a copy to the
Secretary for Board Services for Board Members, the Superintendent, the Chief Communications
Officer and Permanent Record.
If a speaker has not attempted to solve a matter administratively through proper channels,
As stated in board policy, the presiding officer's designee shall advise the speaker to seek
resolution through the appropriate policy.
Finally, pursuant to Texas government code sections 551.074 and 551.821, the board will
not permit the presentation of personally identifiable information regarding a student
and will not discuss the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline,
or the dismissal of a public officer or employee, or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee.
Should a speaker wish to address one of these issues, they must do so through appropriate local grievance policies,
FNG local, DGBA local, CKE local, or GF local.
I just also wanted to make a comment that everyone has been told of the decorum in the boardroom.
There will be no first warnings of any outbursts or inappropriate activity that we've asked
not to happen in this meeting of the public.
I'm sorry, for the public.
We'll be removed.
So I just want to make that clear on the record before I call the first speakers.
First speaker is Mary Ellen Cuzela.
Mary Ellen Cuzela, sorry.
Thank you.
again for the opportunity to speak with you briefly tonight. Thank you for the
time you put in to serve the families and taxpayers of Katy ISD. I'm here again
to request that you make facial coverings optional for in-person
instruction immediately. I also ask that you please discuss the facial covering
mandate and take it to a vote tonight. Let's quit wasting time. Children of all
ages are suffering and experiencing nonsensical thinking. I want to give you
examples of firsthand experiences of Katy ISD students. A mother explained to
me on March 12th her first grade son was told he was not properly wearing the mask on the bus
the bus driver pulled over stopped the bus to explain to this one little first grader
that he must wear his mask the first grader later told his mother that night he was just hot on the
bus and that's why he pulled the mask down a first grader two Katy ISD elementary school music
classes one kindergarten and the other first grade were reminded to properly wear their masks and
that there's a mask competition where they could earn extra time or maybe even popcorn.
Last Friday in a seventh grade junior high classroom students were awarded lollipops after
a class competition. The kids were instructed by the teacher to bend the stick of the lollipop
in such a way so that they could keep their masks on while sucking on the lollipop.
But they can remove their masks to eat lunch in the cafeteria. Why can people seated at
restaurants remove their masks but children seated in classrooms cannot a 16 year old
girl told her mother she thinks she's prettier with her mask on a ktisd girls soccer coach
required his teams to train with their masks on all season long they ran and played soccer with
their masks on a turf field this includes training time in the fall when summer temperatures radiated
off the turf but when they played their games they didn't have to wear their mask
The boys soccer team at the same high school were not forced to wear their masks by their coach while training.
This is unjust on multiple levels.
The same girls soccer coach stated to an 18 year old senior that when he's around him he better be sure his mask is above his nose even when they're socially distanced.
Facial coverings manipulate our kids.
kids.
Last Monday, a high school senior, a seemingly unemotional, not terribly sensitive dude,
said, you know, masks cover up your smile.
And when you see other people's smiles, it makes you happy.
Even he gets it.
Over 78 Texas school districts, actually 80, and nine private schools have gone mask optional
just this March.
This means over 190,000 Texas students and 24,000 teachers and staff can choose whether
to wear a mask or not.
Arastroid classical Academy on Morton Ranch Road right here in Katy Texas made
mass optional earlier this month on March 8th they are a public charter
school also under the jurisdiction of the TEA please stop managing fear and
leaning on virtual school and lead Katy ISD families with confidence and facts
and let's not waste time and wait for a lawsuit thank you
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Cuzela.
Our next speaker is Claudia Turcotte.
Good evening.
My name is Claudia Turcotte.
I've been a KDISD mom since 2009.
We moved to this area because of the excellent KDISD schools.
Unfortunately, even a cursory look at your website makes it glaringly obvious that KDISD
is falling far short of its mission.
You believe all learners are unique and thrive through personalized learning experiences.
Concepts like unique and personalized have been rendered null and void by forcible masking.
You mentioned that when ideas and individuals are respected, it builds a culture of mutual
respect.
In the current situation, there is no individual, only a sea of anonymous masked beings.
You value creating ownership that drives personal accountability.
My children are being forced to take ownership of adults' health and well-being
and are being held accountable for keeping adults safe.
This is a terrible and highly inappropriate burden to place on any child.
You believe meaningful relationships are vital to success.
I submit to you it's not possible.
to have anything let more than superficial and casual interaction take place under these
expressionless anonymous conditions your learner profile highlights critical thinking and analytical
skills we can't teach what we don't first model if either of those were being implemented most of the
coveted protocols but particularly the mass would long have been abandoned you want learners to
communicate through understanding the audience active listening non-verbal interaction oral
I don't think I need to point out that covering a child's nose and mouth makes executing any of that virtually impossible.
You want students to adapt using coping skills. Those coping skills have been taxed to the limit by KDISD COVID protocols.
You want our students to contribute with empathy. How and for who? Students cannot see or be seen.
Traits like empathy are developed and flourish amid meaningful personal interaction.
action. That can't happen with a masked student and teacher population. You state KDISD will
actively support the emotional well-being of all learners. At this point, KDISD is actually
actively working against the emotional well-being of its students by continuing to require forcible
masking. You promise a secure and safe environment. Please consider the security risk posed by a school
filled with hundreds of people whose identities are concealed. The vaccines are now widely
available to anyone who wants them. Why are my healthy children being forced to mask when this
is the case? Please acknowledge us as members of the community and put a discussion and vote
for optional face coverings on the agenda for immediate consideration.
Finally, I know you're in a tough situation. Being in a position of leadership requires
courage and a willingness to do the right thing, even when it's unpopular. Other districts and
and schools are looking to you for leadership.
Please, this is a tremendous responsibility.
Thank you, Ms. Turcotte.
Our next speaker is Ross Patton.
Thank you all again.
I may have had a little bit more passion
in my voice last week.
We could so apologize for maybe coming to a little wrong, but I know on the action item tonight, there's one 9.1 discussing the possibility of extending KBA beyond this year.
I want to know where the action item is that's discussing the side effects that we should be polling parents, kids and teachers about.
I've already sent you an email of a list of things. You know, like I said, if there's a mass mandate next year, I'm taking my kids out of the district hands down.
But, you know, regardless of that fact, I do believe that KDISD should implement a registry of sorts for those that choose to remain in this mask experiment.
So, like I said, we're performing daily screenings every day in the morning for some cold symptoms.
But we're not concerned about the daily effects that our kids are coming home with at this point.
So just a sample of some of those things that we need to include in this daily registry would be headaches.
My kids are having those pretty regularly at this point.
My third grader is ready for me to take him out of the school, so I'm going to be taking care of that this week.
Concentration difficulties, discomfort, impairment in learning, drowsiness, tiredness, tightness under the mask,
feeling of shortness of breath, dizziness, dry neck, syncope, unwillingness to move, unwillingness to play,
itching in the nose, nausea, feeling of weakness, abdominal pain, accelerated respiration, disease feeling,
tightness in the chest, flickering eyes, loss of appetite, tachycardia, stumbling heart stings, noise in the ears.
We already know that's happened to one of our favorite restaurants employees or owners
I should say short-term impairment of consciousness feigning spells
Vomiting the child's more often irritated than usual the child is less cheerful the child no longer wants to go to school
Kindergartner, which is my other set months one of my other child's
The child's more restless than usual the child sleeps worse than usual
No other abnormalities no the child has developed new fears the child sleeps more than usual the child plays less the child has a greater
greater urge to move than usual. Do you all know if this is in the works? Because I've asked. I
think that should be implemented immediately. As y'all stated, the safety and health of our
students and staff and teachers is important, but has the board thought about the long-term
effects that this is going to have on our kids? You know, we're creating chronophobia is what
we're creating, okay? You know, I urge you guys to add this to the action items next week or next
month at the board meeting, and let's get something implemented immediately. We've had a
whole year to create our own database or survey as such. I know of no mask survey or no mass study
that's showing the effects of wearing the mask. If you guys can find one, send it to me please and
I'll dissect it for you but there is none. We've never done this. This is an experiment. So I'm
gonna leave you with this. James 3.1 says not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers,
because you know that those who teach will be judged more strictly. So thank you for your time.
Thank you, Mr. Patton.
Our next speaker is Carl Ulrich.
Good evening.
Carl Ulrich.
I'm a lifelong Texan, fifth generation on my father's side.
I love the flags you guys have up behind you.
There's some guideposts here for us.
I've been a KD resident for 15 years and I have eight children two of them are
current students in KDSD five are former students and one is a future student so
ages 3 to 2 20 and I want to thank you guys for all that you do I listened to
the other day I listened to Paul Harvey's so got made a farmer I think he
probably should have done one so God made a school board trustee you guys got
got a lot to do. Um I too tonight asked that you guys lift the mass mandate.
Um you know looking at this and I went back and even tonight just to kind of
clear my thoughts, I wanted to look and see what the CDC recommends and they,
you know, a lot of things that says it may,
it may protect you, not me or two. It says if properly worn, I've looked
around, I've seen a lot of people not properly wearing masks and that's
hanging off the ear touching it wearing gators i brought one in so i could speak tonight face
shields ones with valves on it these actually do absolutely nothing i saw i was a i'm a i'm a
scout master as well and i was working with some boys and they were crossing over and one of the
scout masters when they're crossing over from we blows he was wearing it looked like he was some
sort of alien or something i mean he had hipa filters on his things but it had no filter on
on the way out, but nobody realized that, right?
So those kids, so there was this perception of safety
that wasn't there, and I think that's what we're driving
at our kids, and I know a lot of people have talked
about it before me, but you know, there are physical things,
right, short-term physical harm for these kids.
You know, my kids come home and they've got acne
around their face, even my older ones, and you know,
headaches, and you know, some of the things I worry about,
and our kids don't have the opportunity like you do
to come sit down and have space and take off your mask
ass and listen so we could see each other. They're forced to wear them all the time,
and they're breathing through these, and microfibers are breaking off, even in the cloth.
And you think about the plastic ones like the officer over there is wearing. That's pulling
in the lungs. We don't understand what that's going to do to us over, you know, we've been
doing this for over a year, and we're making our kids wear this. Hear about that experiment.
I'll wrap it up, you know, and I'm going to, you know, most of my mom would always tell me,
growing up be safe but tonight i'm going to charge you to be something different i'm going to charge
you to be dangerous dangerous in the spirit of the men and women who flew these flags behind you
i want you to be dangerous and choose freedom over compliance my my daughter she was told by
a teacher when her mask fell down she goes do you want me to be you to be the reason i die
we can't hang this on our kids guys this was at a high school around the corner south of i-10
in. Thank you for your time. Be dangerous, gentlemen. Ladies.
Thank you, Mr. Ulrich. Next speaker is Mr. Eric Smith.
My name is Eric Smith, and I have three children in KDISD. I can't imagine being in your position
over the past year, but I'm hoping to share my expertise to help inform your decisions.
I have a doctorate in multi-phase fluid dynamics, which includes the study of how fluids and aerosols
flow around and through masks. That's the topic I'd like to address today. I'll start by quoting
Michael Osterholm. The CDC's mask recommendation, quote, was published without a single scientific
paper showing masks actually provide any respiratory protection, he continues. Never before in my 45
year career have I seen such a far-reaching public recommendation
issued by any governmental agency without a single source of data or
information to support it." And it's true despite four decades of research
the CDC issued their recommendation providing zero evidence for their
position. Models predicted that if masks were worn by 85% of the population we
could push our zero, the growth rate below one. If the growth rate falls below
one then we will see a decline in cases so how did that play out for eight
months we ran an experiment with 28 million Texans in April the country had
a growth rate in cases of 2.4 in Texas from October to December cases increased
from 3,000 to 20,000 per day corresponding to a much larger growth
rate and we know what compliance levels are thanks to Carnegie Mellon cases
should have never risen again so why did they the modelers assumed a mask
effectiveness that was wrong but they did publish their mask functions with
the real case data in hand and these functions we can back calculate the
effectiveness of masks the models used to sell masks to us now tell us that
masks are literally zero percent effective according to the published
papers which I sent you earlier today we've been duped we've listened to
doctors immunologists virologists epidemiologists but not engineers masks
Masks are an engineering problem, not a medical problem.
I know you've done your best, but it's time to revise your decisions based on the data.
I'm not against mitigation measures.
There are some important ones we've ignored.
If the data told another story, I'd wonder what happened with four decades of research
and happily put on my mask.
But the science was correct.
County after county, state after state, country after country, the evidence against cloth
masks as a mitigation measure is overwhelming.
It is now time to lead with science and logic.
Martin Kulldorff from Harvard Medical School said, after 300 years the enlightenment is
dead.
He is referring to anti-science measures like lockdowns and masks.
Let's prove to him that in Katy, Texas, the ideas of the enlightenment are alive and well.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Smith.
Our next speaker is Gloria Petter.
Hi.
My background is in medicine.
My family, I'm a nurse, my sister is a nurse, and my brother is a doctor.
And I wish I could say that masks work, but they don't.
I have worked in microbiology before I became a nurse, so I do know the world of microbes.
And I am also a surgical nurse, so part of my duty is wearing a mask.
When we wear the mask, we don't wear it to keep out viruses because they don't.
A virus is 100 nanometers, one one-thousandth the width of a hair.
The masks, the blue masks are 30 times, the pores are 30 times wider than the virus.
So masks are not used to keep out viruses.
In certain situations, like if somebody has tuberculosis, you would use an N95 mask.
You have to be properly fitted for it.
You have to be tested to make sure it's a tight fit.
You have to be tested every year for it.
You leave it in the room when you go in there to take care of the patient.
You try to do it very quickly.
You throw it in the garbage in the room.
After 20 minutes, a typical mask becomes saturated with water vapor.
Bacteria gets trapped in it.
It becomes incubators for germs.
At that point, it's totally ineffective for any virus.
The virus can't get in.
It can't get out.
stuck there. So you see people constantly adjusting their masks and never washing
their hands. If you touch your mask you should go to the restroom, wash your
hands for 20 seconds, turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel, touch the
doorknob with a clean paper towel. That's the proper way to wash your hands. But
nobody is doing that. So everybody is continuing to spread filth. In the
the hospital if you have a procedure where there is a virus you have to have
a special laser mask and nobody's even talking about right that right now so
the masks are I would bet that there are children in this school that have never
washed their masks that have worn it for a whole year and have never washed it so
what you're dealing with is absolute filth I challenge you to pick a few
students and do a culture on the mask culture it for viruses bacteria
bacteria, parasites, anything you can think of.
These masks also increase acne.
They increase dental problems.
They're an environmental hazard.
They're in the bayous.
They're in the rivers.
They're in the ocean.
They're tangling up in little animals.
And they give a false perception of security that is absolutely not there.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Petter.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Ms. Ann Russey.
Hi.
I'd like to speak with you about a concern recently raised in a community Facebook group
pertaining to a list of block topics in the BrainPop app that includes many civil rights leaders and movements.
This is an example of an opportunity where we need to take a self-reflective
look at how we resolve concerns related to inclusion and diversity. In this
example we're talking about inclusive curriculum. Too often our district just
lets things like this go unaddressed in hopes that the few people who speak up
will forget about it and just move on. We try to placate the ones who are upset by
by offering reassurance that we hear them
and we will look into their concerns.
In this case, we leave Anne Frank,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X,
the Trail of Tears, a house on Mango Street,
and Hitler on the same list of banned topics.
This is a decision that upholds a racist choice.
I'm not saying the person who made the decision
to censor these topics is a racist I'm saying the impact of their decision is
racist in that it implies there is something inherently controversial or
off-limits about these leaders and these historical movements in particular if
our students and teachers can use this app to explore history that revolved
around upholding slavery and segregation they should be able to learn about the
civil rights leaders who spent their lives fighting for justice and equality and died
trying to overcome the evils of white supremacy too the intent of this decision may not have been
racist but the impact is one way to correct a racist action is to take an anti-racist action
in this case you could unblock the topics related to already approved curriculum my guess is that no
No one sitting in this room made the decision to place these topics on this list, but you
each have the power and responsibility to address the racist impact the decision has
had.
Doing nothing now that you are aware of the problem and the impact would be another example
of a racist choice.
one that says the white people in this room believe that it is acceptable to
leave these restrictions that block access to lessons about black indigenous
Hispanic Jewish and Asian people in place doing and saying nothing to
address this is silently siding with the commenters on the Facebook post who said
good all of these topics should stay blocked you are charged with ensuring
equity and inclusion in our public school system you may not want to pick a
side but when one side is racist and one side is not you must thank you
miss Russi our next speaker is dr. Lisa Babin good evening I am dr. Babin my
qualifications are I am an LCMSW I am a PhD and I have two well I'm a double PhD
and I have two years of medical school. I state my qualifications because I'm
going to speak to the mask if I have time left. I'm here tonight to ask a
couple things. I noticed on the school board, running for the school board web
page that one gentleman, I will not mention his name, has not completed one
piece of paper and I'm curious if it's the code of ethics I think is the name
of the the title of it everybody else has filled it out except for one
gentleman and I'm curious to know if that is an oversight on the election
trustee mr. Graham's part or maybe maybe the gentleman filled it out and it has
not been on I'm not accusing or saying anything I'm just curious if it is
mandatory for someone to fill that out to run for school board if at
everyone else has filled out all of their paperwork.
So I just kind of like a clarification on that,
if I could have that clarified,
because I just kind of think it's unfair to the rest of the candidates
if they've filled out their paperwork and one candidate has not.
Perhaps it's an oversight.
Perhaps he doesn't want to fill it out.
Perhaps it's sitting in his in-basket.
I just don't know.
The second thing I'd like to address is
I want a parliamentarian back on the school board for a position.
We have a secretary.
We have a president.
We have a treasurer.
Blah, blah, blah.
years and years ago when I started coming to school boards,
Hugh Hayes, we always had a parliamentarian.
I want this to relieve the burden of Mr. Graham
having to interrupt speakers on policy and procedure.
I think it's patently unfair to make him become a de facto board member
when in fact he is not.
He is the school district lawyer and that should be his position.
It trains people up in Robert's Rules of Orders,
which we should be doing our board member board meetings by it also sets the proper example for
the community for ptas etc children seeing it and i think it helps with debate teams our debate teams
are fabulous in this district they don't get enough detention and they know robert's rules
of orders going on to college the last thing i want to talk about the mass mandate is is i hear
what all of y'all are saying as a psychologist i take a middle of the road position i will always
have a mask with me I have lupus which is an autoimmune disease I have allergies
and we have dust so I see what you are saying because this is today's mask it
is disgusting I wear a fresh mask probably two or three times a day but I
want to put my trust in the school board to do the right thing y'all were elected
to do the right thing I don't like theatrics and dramatics I do appreciate
protests I love them I should have been there with you but I want to be able to
trust you Mr. Grigorski and board to be able to make the right decisions at the right time
and trust is a hard word for me with this district you know that so thank you so much I appreciate it
thank you Dr. Babin
our next speaker is Travis Anderson
Thank you for letting me speak. I'm going to start out by introducing myself. My name is Travis Anderson. I'm a student at Katy High School. I'm on the varsity swim team. I participate in track, varsity drumline, all advanced classes, and I'm the Hobie ambassador for Katy High School.
As far as I'm aware, no one on the board currently has students in KDI school, and you probably graduated high school a while ago.
So I just want to give my perspective on what's going on in the classes.
And I actually want to start out by talking about something that happened today.
I wasn't planning on talking about it, but after coming back from track practice, I had band practice right after track practice.
and track ends at 2.35, band starts at 2.45, so got to be quick.
And after track practice, after rushing to band practice,
I'm exhausted and I'm breathing very heavily,
so I pull my mask down just to breathe
because it's extremely difficult right after I've run track.
And a teacher comes up to me and she asks me to pull it up,
and I don't want to create a scene, I don't want to be disrespectful.
respectful. So I just I decided to try something. I said, but ma'am, what if it hurts me?
And her response was shocking. She said, good. And I know that's hard to believe.
I barely believed it. And my friends surrounding me barely believed it.
But she said, good. And I asked, what if it hurts me? So I was,
I wasn't that was a big reason why I spoke today and and the mask if it
wasn't a problem at all then I wouldn't be here and they wouldn't be here if it
wasn't a problem then first week might have showed up and then it wouldn't have
been that bad so it would have gotten used to it I would have gone to class
and not worried about it but I can feel the effects every day I can tell you as
a student my friends feel the effects every day everything they're saying
about their kids is true and it I really appreciate it if it stopped and go
through it my headaches if I wear it too long it does I can actually like I know
the the medical doctors talked about the the filth but I can actually feel the
filth on my face and it's it's not great makes my acne worse I can't see other
kids faces which I can barely tell what people look like and interacting
acting socially just feels wrong.
Also, at lunch, we sit with these plastic offices.
So my friend across the table, I feel like I'm
visiting him in a prison.
So that's all.
I just wanted to let you guys know what
I'm going through every day.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Anderson.
You are a busy young man.
Our last speaker of the evening is Jenny Alexander.
Jenny Alexander So I wasn't going to say this, but you know, several months ago, I was telling
you all about those crazy experiments they were conducting in the mid 20th century, psychologically.
What Travis just described to you from his teacher, that's the Milgram experiment where they
They crank it up until you die in the other room.
And you all need to think about the amount of cruelty that you're letting these children suffer from
because adults are freaked out that they're going to die from something that they have a 99.98% chance of surviving.
It's higher than the flu unless you're over 85.
And seriously, if you're over 85, you've already lived past the average life expectancy.
All right.
This is where I really wanted to start.
I need to apologize for last week using an incorrect word.
I confused the word adversive with aversive
in the prohibited aversive techniques
that are illegal in the Texas Education Code.
Aversive doesn't mean harmful.
It means repellent, abhorrent, cruel, harsh, and devious.
Yes. So we're left with the board, the superintendent, the district's attorney, all insisting that 5600 people put themselves in legal jeopardy every day, insisting that 86000 other people wear masks.
Board members, KDISD, police, the district's attorney, I once again remind all of you that you've taken an oath to the constitutions of Texas and the United States.
And no law that conflicts with either constitution is actually a law in our country.
And I know it's like crazy because we live in this country that's just gone off the rails.
rails. I apologize for using the wrong word because it puts me in dishonor to
come up here and give you guys incorrect information. It puts all of
you in dishonor
to ignore your oaths to go above them to do something completely different.
Covid 19 has been an excuse all year long. Covid 19 doesn't make a decision.
Covid 19 doesn't tell you to wear a mask, restrict parental access to
school buildings, put up plastic partitions in the lunchroom. It doesn't kick you out of regular
school and put you into KBA if you can't wear a mask. It doesn't tell people to wear two masks.
It doesn't tell people they can't visit their relatives in a nursing home. It doesn't separate
children from parents in hospitals. It doesn't close businesses, sometimes forever. And it
doesn't increase suicide rates and ideation in our youth. The decisions that you people make
make and other people in government make are what's doing that.
If Santa Ana could have pulled off a well-advertised pandemic,
Davy Crockett wouldn't have died in the Alamo.
Thank you, Ms. Alexander, and to all of our speakers tonight.
This concludes the open forum portion of our meeting.
The Board will now convene and close meeting as authorized under Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code for the following purposes.
Items 4 & 5
Texas Government Code 551.071, 551.129, and 551.074.
Madam President, if I could just one moment.
Oh, sorry.
I'm going to go ahead and jump in because we've had some speakers the last couple of weeks, and so I do want to address a couple things.
And I do hear what you're saying.
I understand that.
I hope you understand the district's in a tight spot on some of these things.
I hope you understand that.
A lot of the information that does come out, it's a mixed message.
I'll go find you research that says this, and I'll find you research that says this.
And we can agree to disagree to those points.
So I'm not going to sit here and try to convince people to go on one side or another.
I don't think that's going to be productive.
I don't think I can do that.
I will share a couple of other things that one of the things that was shared that our school board members,
I believe we've got five of seven on this school board do have children in the district.
district. Their children, just like my children, attend public schools and they do the same
thing we ask our children of your children. I'm very, it's important to me that I wouldn't
ask my child to do anything I wouldn't ask your child to do. So some of the decisions
we make are some tough decisions on that. Brought up a couple of things on school districts.
So if you look in the Houston area, we've got an area called, Texas is divided into
20 regions so we're region for Education Service Center 48 public traditional
public school districts in there of those 48 school districts there's only
three that have taken the mask off right now and those are three very rural
districts one of them has about 200 kids in the district and the other two are
less than 3,000 we're we're a little bit over 85,000 kids large districts so not
a lot of whole districts have done that I looked at San Antonio today saw one
one district in all the San Antonio area has pulled that back.
So, you know, I mean, I think there's a lot of folks out there that might disagree with what you've shared today.
And I'm not saying that to try to make argument with you.
I respect what you're saying, and I hope you respect what we're saying in regards to that.
I do like what Dr. Babin just said.
I had to write it down there, and I'll look there.
The right decision at the right time.
I do like that.
I think that's a good example of what's going on here.
right now if you look at the number of active cases of covid whether you believe them or not
whether kovid's real or not i'm not going to argue that point but if you look at all the active cases
in the state of texas the three highest counties are montgomery county harris county fort ben
county of current active cases as of today of all active cases in the state of texas of covid
almost half of them are in those three counties so covid is still all around us in this area so
So is it the right decision at the right time to pull the mask off right now?
I would disagree that it is.
So I will say this.
We've put a lot of protocols in place.
The wearing of the facial coverings is one of many protocols we have in place.
I'll say we've done a pretty fantastic job of having school this school year to have in-person instruction for any person who wants it, any child who wants it.
When we've got schools all over the nation that haven't even opened their doors all school year.
And we've been able to do that and the protocols we have in place have allowed that to happen.
I am concerned about, for example, with the protocols we have and certain things we do in quarantining students,
that when students are wearing the mask and the employees are wearing the mask and we do have COVID spread,
we don't quarantine all those kids. Some districts do.
If you look around the state of Texas, those that are even wearing masks, they quarantine and they close schools.
We don't do that all the time. We're very specific on how we do that.
we contact trace it and try and figure it out but i am concerned as if we took all the masks off all
the kids say elementary school a third grade class and they're not wearing them and covid comes into
that classroom and it very well could we'd have to quarantine that classroom and maybe parts of the
building and now we're getting towards the end of the school year uh do i want to see a bunch of our
classes towards the end of school years we're trying to get to that finish line quarantined
now some will disagree with me on that but it's still a realistic thing that happens you can agree
or disagree and that's the great thing about America. We can agree and disagree with that. So
can I ask for our parents support in terms of getting us to that finish line? We're almost
at the finish line here. There's not much of the school left and we've got protocols in place that
have allowed us to keep our doors open all year. I don't want to close our doors. I don't want a
lot of COVID coming in and then we've got to close our doors. Speak briefly also about this vaccine.
It's available for anybody who wants it. That's a great thing in Texas. Today it became available.
I wish it had been available to our teachers and our most vulnerable populations, those with underlying health conditions or a little bit older.
I wish that had been available to our folks a little bit earlier in the process.
I'm not trying to be critical of those decisions.
I understand why they're made.
But I think possibly we could be in a different position right now if we had protected our most vulnerable folks in the school district.
So we're almost there.
We've made it available to anybody who wants it.
We've got vaccination clinics going on.
Can we get through those clinics?
Can I get people vaccinated?
Can I get him their second dose and
then we make a different decision on this?
Possibly so goes back to that quote.
I'm going to steal it and keep on using it.
Right decision at the right time.
So can we get closer to that finish line?
Do I anticipate that we're in this same
situation heard one gentleman speak earlier today?
I don't recall who it was,
but I'll give him credit for that and he
spoke to if we're in this same boat next year and we're wearing masks in August,
he would leave the district and take his kids out of the district.
I certainly respect that.
I understand that.
I don't think that's the situation we're in.
If people are fearful of that, we're not there.
I don't anticipate that.
There would have to be a whole lot of things happen between now and August for me to make
that decision.
But I don't anticipate we're wearing masks past this school year.
I really don't.
I think we need to get to that finish line, figure out what we do, and then make different
decisions coming up in the future.
There's so many unknowns between now and August of certain things that we'll have to do, but I don't think masks are an unknown right now.
I think we get through this and then we can make much better or different decisions when it comes to mask wearing in the future.
But I do just ask for your support to try and get to the finish line. We're almost there.
And like I said, I'm not here to try and convince anyone either way.
And I hope we can all respect each other and we can have good discussion about things.
I think I've been upfront and honest with many of you who have emailed me.
I think I've talked to you and tried to share some of my concerns.
I hope you respect those things, but it's a tough road we're in.
There's no easy solution here.
There's no easy answer on this, although some people think there aren't.
But respect what you're saying.
I know this board respects it as well.
We have much discussion on these.
I share a lot of information with the board, but appreciate that,
and I appreciate the opportunity to say a few things about that.
So thank you.
Thank you, Governor.
Dr. Grossi.
The Board will now reconvene in open meeting.
Today is Monday, March 29th, 2021, and the time is 718 p.m.
On behalf of my colleagues, I welcome everyone to this evening's regular Board meeting.
Each Board member received the agenda and documentation for this meeting on Friday, March 26th, 2021.
The Board will receive information and recommendations from staff, administration, and the superintendent on these agenda items at tonight's meeting.
Board members will be able to ask questions, receive answers, and should be prepared to take action this evening.
The Board has just now reconvened from closed meeting in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
Any action arising from discussions in a closed meeting must be taken in an open meeting.
Agenda Item 5.1, consider Board approval for employees who are being recommended to receive one-year employee probationary contracts,
one-year employee dual assignment probationary contracts, one-year employee term contracts,
one-year employee dual assignment term contracts,
and two-year employee dual assignment term contracts for the 2021-2022 school year.
Dr. Gorski.
We presented those contracts.
I'm ready for a motion.
Madam President.
Ms. Gessler.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the one-year employee probationary contracts,
one-year employee dual assignment probationary contracts,
one-year employee term contracts,
one-year employee dual assignment term contracts and two-year employee dual assignment term contracts for the 2021-2022 school year as
recommended by the superintendent in closed meeting
second
Motion has been made by miss guest office second by mr. Redmond. We will now proceed to vote all those in favor
Please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye
Motion passes 7 to 0
Dr. Gorski, madam president while we're talking about personnel or lease contracts
contracts. We did have a new hire recently. Haven't had an opportunity to bring him to a
board meeting, but I do want to introduce new Maid Creek High School football coach Jay Jensen out
here. So awful excited to have Jay with us. I'm super excited the fact that he played for Maid
Creek High School as a student athlete. He's coming back to give back to that community.
Spent a number of years in various programs, but most recently over at Taylor High School with that
program that's been winning some games lately so we're going to continue that
success as we get over to May Creek see coach Decker out there and I see
principal Edwards out there but I see a few other folks you might have brought
with you if you would introduce those Jay and let us know who you brought with
you
37 years teaching at KID.
Awesome.
That's special.
Well, I heard, Jay, not only you tell me she spent 37 years with hats off to any educator who could do that long in the classroom,
but she also had to put up with, as a student, she taught Lance Redmond during that time.
So that's awesome.
So, yeah.
All right.
Well, welcome aboard.
I know you've been with us, but taking over that program, we appreciate it.
and i know you'll do some wonderful stuff over there for those kids in that program so thank you
congratulations again coach jensen and again you have a very cool name
Item 6.1
okay we'll move to item six uh report 6.1 kd independent school district 2021
20 2020 2021 transportation update mr landis
good evening president van uh superintendent gorski and trustees thank you for this
opportunity to spend a few moments to update you on where we are at
transportation this year. If you remember the global positioning system, the GPS
system that we approved and we put in beginning August of 2019, that's gone
into 495 buses. There's the edulog parent portal light app, a free app for the
parents that's available for iOS and Android that they are able to use to
monitor the location of the buses and we'll talk about that a little bit more
in a minute. So how does GPS help KDISD? It gives us the ability to find the
location of a bus in real time. It gives us the ability to verify route
information. You know, was the bus at the stop on time? Is the bus following this
proper route? It assists our routing with timing issues, being able to look at what
we've planned versus what's actually happening. It helps us locate traffic
bottlenecks, lets us monitor arrival times on campus and bus stops, and it
And it also helps us research concerns.
If we get a concern about excessive speed, we can go and look and verify if that was
the case or not.
How does GPS help our families?
It gives them the security of knowing the location of the bus.
They know how close the bus is to their stop.
They can know when they need to leave their house to get to the bus stop.
They know when the bus has reached the school.
And they know how soon their child will be home.
There's less time waiting at the bus stop for their child in the afternoon.
This is much easier and faster than calling dispatch to try to get that information.
And also, they can receive messages from transportation through the app, such as if a bus is running late or something like that, that also can be sent through the app to those specific parents.
We've also put cameras on the buses in the last year.
These cameras come from a local Houston area company called Safety Vision.
We have eight cameras on each of our buses that we have the cameras on.
We began installing those in February of 2020 and they've been installed on 550 buses.
There's wireless access to download the video when the bus is sitting on our lot.
So we don't have the ability to look in real time as the bus is driving down the road,
but we can wirelessly get that video while the buses are on our transportation line. So how does this help Katie?
The benefits to the campus, it gives a more thorough investigation of incidents that may happen on the bus.
It's not as not as reliant on student statements anymore when we can go and
look at that video or the campuses can go look at that video. It gives them better
confidence in handling the situations that do arise and ability to access
video quickly without having to contact transportation. An AP at the campus
can get that video without having to go through us once they've learned that
process. It benefits the Transportation Department by giving us the ability to
observe drivers and how they do their jobs. It gives us the ability to
accurately count students at times which is really important to help us manage
the loads that we have on the buses and it's a great tool to help with accident
investigation and gathering evidence in that situation how does it help our
families it makes us accountable to them you know there's a record of what
actually happens it's not a he said she said anymore on the bus when we have the
cameras there the security of receiving accurate information relying on witness
statements alone can often lead to inaccurate information campuses can see
what's happening on the bus. Like I said, they can look in there without going through us to see that
situation. There's a consistent incident response from the campus. Once they have the facts, they
can respond quicker and more effectively to incidents that happen on the bus. This is kind of
an example of what the view that they get on the bus right now if they go to look at that camera.
You can see down into each seat. Previously we had one camera at the front of the bus looking down
the whole distance of the bus. Not very effective compared to what we can access now. We also have
cameras looking forward on the bus and along the side of the bus that give us a lot of views of
what happens outside the bus when it comes to accidents or other kind of situations like that
that help in those situations we've also brought in gold star transportation this year to help us
out with some of our staffing issues we began partnering with them in august of 2020 they have
covered 20 routes for us this year and they've mainly been transporting payto high school and
the various elementary schools that connect to payto that's what they've done for us this year
and they will continue next year also with us so they've allowed us to complete more route coverage
we've not been able to train as many new drivers during the covid because of dps being shut down
as they are they finally opened back up somewhat we're getting that pipeline moving again just a
little bit they've allowed transportation staff to focus on the primary job instead of subbing
on routes mechanics and office staff drive when needed but this has allowed more of those to stay
in their in their primary work duty and they've reduced transportation over time because of the
mechanics and office staff when they do drive it usually ends up being overtime
the new thing that we're trying to work on is third-party testing
this is a partnership with texas dps dps looks and approves the facility that we have and the
driving course that we would use during driver testing and dps would train then our testers to
be licensed testers just like when you go to dps to get your license the first time it's a similar
thing but we'd be able to do this ourselves this would allow us to license our own drivers which
speed up the licensing process significantly this is the biggest obstacle we have right now back in
back last summer and in this the fall it would take three four months sometimes just to get an
appointment to do a written test we weren't going to hire many drivers with
that kind of situation going on no longer will we have to rely on that
appointment at DPS and we won't have to travel to DPS to take these tests we're
currently application phase that's phase one phase two would be the approval of
our facility in our course and then phase three would be actually training
our personnel to be testers any questions
Ms. Champagne.
Madam President, I'm sorry.
Thank you for your presentation.
I know that the Gold Star is a fairly new thing that we're doing.
And just for clarification for everyone to know, because we do have a couple of new board
members, can you explain why we started with that?
And also, can you tell the difference between them and the other members of the board?
One of our own, but sure could a child or a parent tell I mean are they identified differently or?
I'll start with the second part of the question first. Yes, their buses don't say Katie is D on the side
They do say gold star transportation, I believe and
so they are different in that aspect yes, and
But they do still have the cameras on the bus
We still can track them through our GPS system and in all that there
They do show up on the parent app along with our buses, too
And they were just hired primarily to fill in all the gaps that we couldn't fill?
Right, basically because we were having a shortage of getting appropriate enough drivers,
late to campus, having office staff, mechanic staff driving the bus. This was help to
leave that situation. Thank you. Madam President.
I just wanted to say, Mr. Landis, I've only been here for three years, so it's a short time, but this is such an amazing
example of continuous improvement I mean when you think of the step change in
three years in transportation GPS on the buses cameras that you can see every
seat you know it's all downloaded right every day from the Wi-Fi campuses can
access the buses I mean it's just an incredible improvement and the you know
you crack the nut of the not having enough drivers and not having mechanics
and office assistants out driving the buses so I just wanted to say
congratulations because i think we've done amazing stuff in three years thank you we appreciate that
anyone else okay thank you so much michelandis thank you
next up item 6.2 update on damages to kdic buildings related to the freeze in february
Item 6.2
2021 mr veerling and mr smith all right well good evening uh everybody uh mr beerling and i are
are going to take turns up here and promise you won't have to hear me ramble for 30 minutes.
But I am going to talk a little bit about the damages summary, and I'm going to turn it over
to Mr. Beerling to talk about our major expenses, and then I'm going to finish it up with our
recovery efforts. Our damages summary, let me just say that this may have changed in the last couple
of business days. Maybe 81 of 84 of our facilities received some form of damage during the freeze
freeze that we had last month. Main problems that we had were broken pipes
and power due to the power outages and power outages at our schools. The
estimated cost that we have thus far is somewhere between 2.6 and 2.9 million
dollars. We're still obtaining quotes and everything to get the some of the
repairs done and Mr. Bierling will go into that here in a second. We've not
done a budget amendment yet right now we're spent about 900 000 of that 2.6 to 2.9 and we're kind
of leaning really heavily on uh district-wide contingency at this point uh and the operating
budget of maintenance and operations at some point but they are going to need in order to make it
through the summer they are going to need us to do a budget amendment probably targeting in april
when we had to get this information uh submitted into the board uh it was march the 11th uh which
which was just about three weeks after the storm.
And so we're still collecting all of this information and trying to put it together.
We probably could have done a little budget amendment here in March.
We just didn't know enough that we're going to know in the next week or two.
So we're targeting an April budget amendment.
And I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Veerling to talk about some of these damages.
Good evening everybody. I'm sure that many of you are familiar with some of the issues that
popped up during and then after the freeze, whether it was your own personal home,
friends of the family, family, our students, our staff. We had hundreds, thousands really of people
throughout the houston area that struggled with broken pipes all related
to the freeze, but then in addition made worse by the fact that the power is down for multiple
days.
You don't see pipes freezing up necessarily at your house in the intensity or in our schools
in the intensity that you do unless the power's out, the water stops flowing, the heat stops
running and the pipes freeze.
So I'm going to go through some big ones tonight.
There are far more issues that we've had throughout the district than just the ones we're going
going to talk about, but some of the big ones this evening. Chillers at Cimarron and Pato High
School. I'm not going to read through all the prices for you. You guys can see all that,
but obviously a high dollar item. We had HVAC coils frozen and break in 22 campuses throughout
the district, and we're still working on, we've got quotes now, and we're going to work on getting
those replaced here in the coming weeks. Gym floors were tough for us at West Memorial Junior
junior high and then at Pato High School.
Morton Ranch High School is one that's been added recently.
We didn't get it on the presentation.
We just got the detail on it late last week.
So Morton Ranch is another floor, again,
related to water intrusion in the gyms,
getting either on top of or underneath the floor.
And if you guys have been on a basketball court,
you know that if they get wet, buckles bad,
and it'll ruin that entire floor, becomes a safety issue.
So those were those were a couple of big ones for us
And then we had a smaller repair at Cinco Ranch High School on the gym floor there
A couple of other items here Schmalz Elementary unfortunately made me famous on the news there for about had my 15 minutes of fame
I will will say and I should have said it before
Mr. Teed's team
just did an outstanding job of getting out there and leaving their own families
and going to these buildings and getting them straight and getting the water
turned off and doing what they could to prevent even further damage and so we
were out there at Schmalz Elementary I say we they were out there Schmalz
Elementary early on getting that water damage fixed in those classrooms and
Miss Gilder was very complimentary the crew they had those classrooms up and
running in just a couple of days and the teachers were able to get back in there
Exley to a certain extent went by there. They had a classroom that was damaged as well. It was a literacy library.
Luckily they didn't lose a whole bunch of stuff, but there was some significant damage to the sheetrock.
Cardiff, the main backflow, any of you guys have backflows on your sprinkler systems? Hopefully you didn't lose any.
But if you did, you know what we're talking about here. But this one was the backflow to the entire building.
We lost that entire backflow valve. The guys had to get out there and get that replaced.
There's there's a whole lot more to that very simple sentence, but that was a big one for us
And then of course irrigation back flows throughout the district
All the all the irrigation that we do here in the district clearly significant
We also had fire alarm component damage at Morton Elementary and Beckendorf junior high
Related to the power outage and the power goes out some of those systems come back up really easy
Some are a little more dated and struggle to come back up and can damage some of the equipment so we had to replace
the those fire alarm components and then cooling tower valves Kilpatrick Davidson
and Schaefer Elementary and I'm going to turn that over to Chris and I'll be
back to answer any questions and and mr. Verling mentioned it real real well
about mark Dayton and the maintenance and operations staff as I understand it
have we not had boots on the ground like we did in the coverage of the district
wide it could have been much worse and I'm really happy that we had people
there to basically turn the water off and identify the problems and put it
put it put it out in a quick period of time or we would have been looking at
much more dollar figures in this but insurance claims just a reminder we've
spent about four million dollars in insurance we have a still a hundred
thousand dollar deductible for per facility so unless one of those
facilities has over $100,000 and many of them don't. We're not looking at
insurance claims but we think we have about eight campuses right now that will
be in above $100,000. Those are those things where it's a gym floor or a
chiller, those big dollar items. All those rooftop items added up unfortunately
there's probably not going to be an insurance claim for those campuses if
that's all they had because nothing's over $100,000. There's just a bunch of
of them. And then FEMA, we're working on our FEMA claims and Ann Feitinger and the accounting staff
are doing a fantastic job to go through a myriad of work and a tremendous amount of work in hopes
that we may get some FEMA monies out of this. Right now, the only thing that's open at FEMA
is protective measures. So there's several categories. Protective measures are things like
what we did with the boots on the ground and walking the buildings and trying to protect
them up front and cleaning up the leaks and with our people etc and and we think
that we may only have about three hundred fifty thousand dollars
associated with that type of expense that's the only category that they have
open right now now we have filed all the other categories which could be many
hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars but those aren't open yet by
FEMA so we're filing as hoping others do to where they hit the threshold
statewide then those categories may be opened up but at this point in time
we're only looking at at that one at the one emergency protective measures at the
75% cost here so that three hundred fifty thousand dollars would reimburse
us about two hundred sixty two thousand that's the only claim we have but
working on a whole lot more than that and we do think that they'll open up
more here in the future we're also looking at the Texas Education agencies
is doing a survey uh they've now since since we left for spring break and came back they've now
combined that a covid and a a winter freeze survey and we're providing information to them i think
they have an april the 6th uh deadline for that they they set that back in in early march knowing
that it's going to take districts a lot of time to get their quotes and everything ready to give them
a good estimate of what what type of things that we're looking at so you saw earlier i said between
between 2.4 and 2.6 and 2.9 million dollars. That could change, especially now that we learned that
we had another ninth grade center with some damages to the gym. But we're working on it.
We're putting it together. You can't expect a budget amendment to come up. One of the things
that when we get the insurance claim, there'll be revenue associated with that because we'll have to
record the entire expense of the claim let's just say there was one campus at a
$200,000 claim well insurance would cover a hundred thousand of it so they'd
send us a hundred thousand above the hundred thousand we record that as
revenue and the full two hundred thousand is an expense so there's going
to be a pretty complicated budget amendment that will present in April and
we'll probably have to clean it up in May knowing that not everything is going
to be done at this point but we did want to let you know the extent of the
the damages that we have and the fact that we do have a tremendous amount of people doing a lot of
work trying to get all this this stuff in order on top of their regular jobs to to be able to get as
much recovery as we can out of insurance FEMA etc so at this point I guess mr. beer Ling and myself
are open to any questions or do we have any questions madam president okay first of all I
I did watch the whole 15 minutes of your fame.
I was really, really proud of you and the district.
And also so proud of Mr. Teet and his team.
I couldn't believe how hard y'all worked all weekend to get it open.
And then we were only closed at the one or two schools because of the
boil water, not because of anything, not because of the buildings.
So I was really impressed with that.
But I'm wondering, I didn't dissect the information,
But is any of the floors being replaced and all that, is any of that an overlap from the bond?
Any of the renovations that are coming up in the bond proposal?
Fire alarm mark?
Yes, ma'am.
The fire alarm is the only one that finally gave out on the freeze.
So we'll have some work on those because there are other fire alarms that need work.
work. So we would just bump those up. Since Beckendorf and Morton Ranch Elementary have now
been done, we'll bump those next ones up. Okay. And then also, I just have one other
question about the Exley Literacy Library. So I know that, I mean, that's a school that's near
and dear to my heart, but, and I know the teacher that's in charge of that. Is the coverage of that,
is that just for the building part of it, or does it cover any of the books and such that they lost?
I think any of the contents in the literacy library would be district property, so they
would be taken into consideration.
I can't speak to what they're doing to replace those books, but I'm sure Dr. Carlson-Skruggs
would be able to provide that information.
If you would like a follow-up, we can do that for you.
Okay, that would be great because I am interested in that.
Thank you.
You bet.
Madam President, I feel like we're monopolizing the questions.
But so, you know, it's an anomaly, right?
It's a one-off.
It happens once every century, and then the power goes out, too.
But I wonder, and maybe it's too early, but, you know, normally something big like that,
how could you kind of do an after-action review and you think, well, what did we learn from this?
Just curious if there were any kind of big learnings that came out that you might not do things differently,
but just learned in general, how we maintain the facilities better?
Yes, we first learned that we never wanted to go to nine degrees again.
That's the, I mean, you know, I think in a situation like that,
and Mark and I have had numerous conversations about, you know,
what could we have done differently?
You know, can we get the guys out faster?
When I say guys, I mean guys and gals.
Can we get them out faster?
or can we, we've gotten a quote, you know, for some alarm, you know, systems to let us know when power goes out
or when the water is, you know, an issue and that sort of thing.
So that's an expensive bill.
That's, you know, we're looking, you know, at about a $3 million bill right there, you know, on the preliminary stuff.
So the tough thing is though if you in this case if you had an alarm
Your alarms would be going off across the district and then what do you do when?
You have an alarm like that and I think in a situation like this where you've got such extreme temperatures
It really it really hampers your ability to respond because what you would really need is you'd have a team of people at every single
Campus ready to crank the water off and and all that kind of stuff and so absolutely we're gonna do some after-action
stuff and we've worked with you know chief and Ruben's team and we've talked
about communication those are the kinds of things you know that that where we
really make progress when you're talking about responding to a situation like
this is how well do we communicate you know how fast can we get people in how
fast can we let people know that it's safe to get in you know and then the
behind-the-scenes stuff about you know who we call and who we bring it in and
and that sort of thing so you know really being able to respond quickly when you know there's a
problem because even a low flow i want to go into a bunch of detail we'll be here all night but
but but even if you know that there's a low flow alarm at a school the water is you know we feel
like the water's down what does that mean you know is it a mud issue because in this case it could
have been or is it a broken pipe in at schmalz elementary and water's flooding the art room
You know and so we're looking into all that stuff. We'll have some more information for you guys later on
I know dr. G wants us to provide him some information as well
So we just got that quote in recently and we'll get you guys some updates on that stuff
Anyone else I
had the opportunity to come to smalls and see the hard work and how fast and
What some people might not know is it was music rooms that were affected and music's for every student
So it was the entire school not just a single teachers class and any classroom affected is is you know devastating?
But I got to see firsthand the hard work
The amount of water being removed in the carpet and all that and how fast and hard people working so I really appreciate
Mr.. Teets department and all that you did as well. Can I just say one more thing?
I just you know I've been in this district a long time as a kid and a staff member and and and I think
incidents like these and Chris said it talked about the the finance folks work
there's so many people that are working behind the scenes to get these
buildings back up for kids for staff they they care so much about these kids
and these teachers and the work that they do behind the scenes always something
they never get you can never give these folks enough credit for what they do but
it's such a team effort and everybody's working together there's a lot of
synergy there and I know that you don't see it all the time but I got to say
that. One other thing, you know, you mentioned that food services is a big
area that's affected and it's in these numbers it wasn't big enough to stick
out but you know if you don't you think about it we lost a lot of food at these
campuses because nobody we were expecting to prepare and serve that food
not just let it sit there and and go bad or freeze or in whatever have the power
go out and lose that in what's in the freezers so that's just another area
that we didn't touch tonight but just to give you the idea of the vastness. Thank
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Thank you very much.
We'll move on to discussion action.
Item 7.1
Item 7.1, discuss and consider board approval of the January 2021 financial reports.
Ms. Feitinger.
Good evening, President Vann, Dr. Gagorski, and board.
Item 7.1 is to consider approval of the district's January financial statements.
We do have our normal four financial statements.
We have our revenues and expenditures, which we have every month, our construction report,
the tax report, and the check register.
The financial statement is through January and it's the first five months of the year,
which is just under 42 percent and you'll see that most of those functions are running
just under that.
I do want to point out that please look at the footnotes.
You're going to see food service still looks very far, very below budget, but we do have
another summer feeding program running in another fund that doesn't get presented here
so although we saw a deficit in 240 we do have a profit showing in the other fund so we're still
net profit for those two funds thank goodness for that summer feeding program also the esser
one program funding is showing below the line on that second page and that's about 4.4 million of
salaries the state if you remember supplanted those funds so those are picking up salaries
that will come back into the general fund next year.
The construction report represents our two authorizations outstanding,
the 2017 and 2014, and then our E-rate and TERS funding.
The tax report is still running about 5% below collections,
but looking forward into February, we're seeing that come back to right at the 96%, 97%,
and coming back, and so it was a timing difference.
So those are coming back to see what we've historically seen in our collections.
And then finally you have our check register for the month of January.
Board members, any questions? I'll entertain a motion.
Madam President. Mr. Redmond.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the district's January 2021 financial statements.
Second.
Motion by Mr. Redmond, a second by Ms. Champagne. We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
Thank you so much.
Item 7.2, discuss and consider Board adoption of a resolution extending the bank depository
Item 7.2
contract.
Mrs. Butterfield.
Thank you, President Vann, Trustees, Dr. Grigorski.
Tonight, we have an extension on our depository contract.
This renewal is in line with the terms of the previous contract, and we continue to
experience a very successful business relationship with Prosperity Bank.
We mutually agree to the terms of the extension.
Board members, do you have any questions?
I will entertain a motion.
Second, President.
Ms. Gassoff.
I move the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution authorizing the extension of the bank depository
contract with Prosperity Bank for the two-year term beginning September 1, 2021.
Second.
A motion by Ms. Gassoff.
A second.
mr keller we will now proceed to vote all those in favor please raise your right hand and say aye
motion passes seven to zero all right yes again thank you uh tonight we're amending the general
Item 7.3
operating fund budget by seventeen thousand five hundred dollars both in revenue and expenditures
to run the summer camp at the steam steam center uh additionally we're amending the budget for
expenditures for $9,480 to increase signage throughout the district and $242,500 to increase
various budgets and risk management related to student activity at I'm sorry student athlete
accidental insurance TASB liability insurance and to increase extra duty pay related to
to forms processing from COVID.
The remainder of the general operating fund expenditures
are direct offsets between different functions
and approval of these amendments will result
in a $251,980 decrease to fund balance,
which is a total GOF deficit budget
just under 16 million at this point.
Construction funds are amended 786,000
for the gym bleacher replacements at five campuses,
as approved at last meeting.
And funds are available for this within the 2017 bond project savings,
resulting in no change to construction fund fund balance.
Board members, does anyone have any questions?
Madam President.
Mr. Redman.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the district's March 2021
21 budget amendments.
Second.
I have a motion by Mr. Redmond, a second by Ms. Champagne.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
Thank you so much, Mrs. Butterfield.
7.4, discuss and consider board approval of the renewal of the Texas Association of School Boards TASB Risk Management Fund Casualty Program.
Item 7.4
Mr. Nauman.
Good evening, Dr. Grigorski, President Vann, Board of Trustees.
In March 2020, the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a renewal premium quote for casualty coverage from the Texas Association of School Boards' TASB Risk Management Fund for a 12-month period.
The renewal premium provides auto, general liability, police liability, and school board legal liability coverage for the district at a cost of $302,751.
The Risk Management Department seeks to renew this program, which provides casualty coverage
for the district.
Because the district continues to grow, adding more employees and assets yearly, the renewal
premium is offered at 3.3% higher than any expiring premium.
This increase is the result of organic growth and not related to adverse claim history.
This program provides commercial auto liability coverage for vehicles owned, operated, and
or leased by the district.
Additionally, the program provides general liability coverage to insure against actions
resulting from the day-to-day operations of the district.
Next, police operations are contemplated as part of this offering.
Lastly, the program extends school board legal liability coverage for claims related to administrative
issues. Enhancements to existing coverage include violent acts coverage for
expenses incurred resulting from mass incidents at campuses. The program has
been reviewed regarding the adequacy of coverage, assessment of risk, availability
of service, and cost. Authority is granted to purchase this coverage
through CRB legal. It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the
renewal of the TASB risk management fund casualty program.
Board members, any questions?
Madam President?
Ms. Champaign.
Okay. So I don't know if you know, but I'm a newly elected TASB director,
and I was asked to give you a shout out by Mrs. Romano. She said that you're awesome to work with
and your handling of the COVID, all the COVID situations have been awesome.
Thank you.
So I also wanted just to say, because since I just had the training,
I thought this was interesting that the fund is not only the largest provider of risk management
coverage and services to TASB members, but also one of the largest and most respected
pools in the nation.
So I think that it's good that we're with this program.
They said that the fund covers almost 37,000 other types of vehicles and plus 27,000 buses,
buses, but that it's equivalent to 28% of the entire worldwide fleet of enterprise rental
car.
But I thought I would just give you that shout out because she specifically asked me to do
that.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
I'll entertain a motion.
Madam President?
Ms. Gassoff.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the renewal of the Texas Association of School
Boards Risk Management Fund Casualty Program.
Second.
Motion by Ms. Gassoff, a second by Mr. Redman.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-2-0.
Thank you so much.
Item 7.5
Item 7.5, discuss and consider board approval of a missed school day waiver.
Ms. Ashmore.
Thank you, President Vann, Dr. Gregorski, members of the board.
Chris Smith and Ted Verlin gave us a good start
on talking about the residual effects of the winter storm.
So we're gonna continue that train of thought
with two waivers presented to you tonight.
The first item 7.5 is for a missed school day waiver.
This is for those days where every single classroom,
every campus was closed.
By approving this waiver,
we'll be able to collect those instructional minutes
that give us the flexibility
that Dr. Gorgarski shared with us
regarding that extra day we have off in April
and to cover for bad weather days
and allow our seniors to graduate early.
Any questions?
Madam President.
Ms. Gessoff.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the submission of a missed school day waiver.
Second.
I have a motion by Ms. Gessoff, a second by Mr. Redman.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
Item 7.6, Ms. Ashwin.
Item 7.6
Thank you.
While other campuses were able to return after those bad weather days,
Smosh Elementary and Bear Creek Elementary required additional closure.
During those days, those students were able to access
the intermittent asynchronous learning from their home.
So it's not truly a missed school day.
Therefore, TEA will allow us to recover the full value of those minutes
with the approval of what they call an other waiver
to go ahead and gain those minutes towards our poll.
Do we have any questions?
Madam President. Mr. Redman. I move that the Board of Trustees approves the other waiver for select campuses who engage in asynchronous learning.
Second. Motion by Mr. Redman and second by Ms. Champagne. We will now proceed to vote. All those in favor please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye.
Motion passes 7-0. Thank you so much.
Item 7.7
Item 7.7 discuss and consider board approval of the proposal for the replacement of gym bleachers at three campuses. Mr. T.
Good evening, President Vann, Board Members, and Dr. Gagorski.
It's recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the proposal for the replacement of the gym bleachers at Cinco Ranch Junior High,
Katie Junior High, and Katie High School to Key Enterprises ADP Limco in the amount of $441,250.90,
utilizing the by-board contract 583-19 and a total not to exceed project cost of 501-250-90 cents.
These gym bleachers at these three campuses are original to the campus and have exceeded their replacement life cycle.
You may recall that last month I brought you five other campuses for replacement,
and we got such favorable pricing on that that we reached out to the company to see
if they could do more with the allowable funds that we had been given.
And they confirmed that, but unfortunately they confirmed it beyond our deadline to make last month's board meeting.
So that's why I'm bringing you these three.
We did confirm with the company that they can get them to us, install them in time, and meet the deadline.
So that's why we're bringing these three separately from last month's.
The owner's contingency in the amount of $60,000 has been included to cover any unforeseen
issues during the replacement, and the replacement will be coordinated with the campuses and
athletic department and is expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2021-2022
school year, specifically August the 2nd.
A copy of the proposal is included for your review, and again, the project funding source
is a 2017 bond savings.
The Cinco Ranch Junior High project cost is $48,313.00.
Katie Junior High is $48,313.00.
And Katie High School project cost is $344,624.88.
The owner contingency brings the total project cost not
to exceed $501,250.90.
Approval of this recommendation this month will provide for completion prior to the beginning
of the 2021-2022 school year.
Any questions?
Madam President, I move that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement
of gym bleachers at Cinco Ranch Junior High, Katy Junior High, and Katy High School to
to Key Enterprises slash ADP Lemco Incorporated in the amount of $441,250.90,
utilizing the by-board contract number 583-19,
and a total not-to-exceed project cost of $501,250.90.
Second.
Motion by Ms. Gassoff, a second by Mr. Redman.
We'll now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes.
seven to zero you're up again seven point eight yes ma'am it's recommended that the board of
Item 7.8
trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of the main gym floor at katie high school to
quality hardwood floors inc in the amount of 179 665 utilizing the buy board contract 560-18
and a total project cost not to exceed 219 655 the main gym floor is original to the building
building, 1975, and has reached its operable life cycle.
The flooring will be replaced in conjunction with the bleacher replacement project.
An owner's contingency in the amount of $40,000 has been included to cover any unforeseen
issues during this project.
The replacement has been coordinated with the campus and the athletic department and
is expected to be completed by August 3, 2021.
Copy of the proposal is included for your review, and again, this is being funded by
2017 bond savings at a project cost of $179,655 for a total project cost not to exceed $219,655.
Do we have any questions?
Madam President.
Mr. Teague, as I was reading this the other day, what's the normal life cycle of a gym
floor?
It's 45 years. That seems to be a really long time.
It is. Typically it's about 25 to 30 years. It depends on how many times you have to sand it.
And again, that depends on how you use it. You know, you can sand a gym floor.
and something happens and a year later you could have to sand it again.
Typically you sand them every three to four years.
Okay.
So we try to not sand them as...
Things built back in 1975 just last longer than what we built today.
I didn't realize this one was actually that old.
Yeah.
I think my parents had a refrigerator that old probably from 1975.
Yeah.
Any other questions?
I would like to blame that for for the time I fell down on that basketball game
maybe that's worth it I move that the Board of Trustees approves or approves
the proposal for the replacement of the main gym floor at Katy high school to
quality hardwood floors Inc in the amount of one hundred and seventy nine
thousand six hundred and sixty five dollars utilizing the by board contract
number 560-18 and a total project cost not to exceed $219,655.
Motion by Mr. Redman and second by Ms. Wilson. We'll now proceed to vote. All those in favor,
please raise your right hand and say aye. Aye. Motion passes 7-0. Ms. Vann, President Vann. Yes.
I just those last two items are timing sensitive and so we're going to follow
up next month with the budget amendment but we are probably going to go ahead
and try to start arranging some monies to get there so the procurement if
necessary can be made between now and next month and we will just be bringing
that information as a formality in the budget amendment to you guys next month
okay thank you for the information 7.9 mr. teeth again it's recommended that
Item 7.9
the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of the air-cooled chillers at
Cimarron Elementary to Hunting Services in the amount of $405,493 and the total not to exceed
project cost of $425,493 utilizing the Choice Partners Contract 19-036-MR-03. The two air-cooled
chillers at Cimarron were damaged in the February 21 freeze beyond repair.
Renal chillers were procured and set up to provide air conditioning to the campus.
After reviewing the three proposals submitted, the proposal submitted from Hunting Services
was considered as best value to the district.
An owner's contingency in the amount of $20,000 has been included to cover any unforeseen
issues during the replacement.
The replacement will be coordinated with the campus and is expected to be completed by
May 31st, 2021.
A copy of the tabulation sheet and the proposal is included for your review.
The project funding source is a general operating fund.
And the total project cost again is not to exceed $425,493.
Any questions?
I have one.
Mr. T.
Chief, are we seeing, I know we've replaced several chillers over the past couple years.
Are we seeing that because of the freeze, and I'm sure we're not the only school district having to go through this now,
is there a premium we're having to pay to get these fixed during the school year
rather than kind of planning out and fitting on their schedule to do the construction?
Or is it?
For the chillers, no, sir.
Okay.
Other things, yes, there is.
But for these, no, sir.
They are a custom-made.
you know you you you order it and they they build it so it's other than just
you know they are putting ours in front of the line of some others to get us
back online because we are at school and we're renting a chiller you know to keep
the school open and going so we are taking you know a step ahead of like new
construction or something like that thank you
any other questions madam president miss champagne I'm maybe that the Board of
trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of an HVAC chiller at
Pato High School to Huntington Services and the amount of $232,990
in a total not to exceed the project cost of $252,990.
Do we? It's the other one. Did I read the wrong one? Yes. I was 7-9. 7-9. Okay. Then otherwise I move that the Board of Trustees approves the
proposal for the replacement of the air-cooled chillers at Cimarron Elementary School to
Hunt and Services in the amount of $405,493 and the total not to exceed project costs
of $425,493.
Thank you very much.
Do I have a second?
Motion by Ms. Champagne, a second by Mr. Redman.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
7.10, Mr. Teet.
Item 7.10
It's recommended that the Board of Trustees approves proposal for the replacement of an HVAC chiller at Pato High School to Hunt and Services in the amount of $232,990 and a total not to exceed project cost of $252,990 utilizing the Choice Partners Contract 19-036MR-03.
Again, this chiller was servicing the Navatorium at Pato High School, was damaged in the February
freeze beyond repair.
A rental chiller here was also procured for this site and is providing air conditioning
and dehumidification for the pool to continue to be used.
After reviewing the two proposals submitted, the proposal from Hunting Services was considered
as the best value to the district.
An owner's contingency in the amount of $20,000 has been included to cover any unforeseen
issues during the replacement. The replacement will be coordinated with the campus and the
athletic department and is expected to be completed also by May 31st, 2021. Copy of the
tabulation sheet and the proposal is included for your review. And again, this is general operating
fund project not to exceed $252,990. Any questions? Ms. Champagne, you want to go at it again?
Okay. This time I move that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of an HVAC chiller at Pato High School to Hunton Services in the amount of $232,990 and a total not to exceed the project cost of $252,990.
Second.
Motion by Ms. Champaign and second by Mr. Redman. We'll now proceed to vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
7.11 you're still here ma'am it's recommended that the board of trustees approves a proposal
Item 7.11
for the building management control system replacement at exley elementary franz elementary
griffin elementary and rhodes elementary to unify energy solutions in the amount of two million one
hundred and eighty thousand dollars and a total project cost not to exceed two million four hundred
and sixty seven thousand two hundred dollars the current building management control system in
these four elementary campuses is no longer supported by the manufacturer and parts are
not being manufactured. An owner's contingency amount of $100,000 has been designated to cover
any unforeseen issues found during the replacement project. The total project cost also includes the
design and commissioning fee. Work will be coordinated with campus staff to not interfere
with the daily work or facility use schedules. Estimated completion is August
the 4th, 2021. A copy of the evaluation tabulation, contract, and recommendation
letter is included for your review. This is being funded by the 2017 bond
component replacement and the total project cost is not to exceed $2,467,200.
$200.
Chair Stephanie Sharp.
Any questions?
Chair Stephanie Sharp.
Madam President, I have a question.
Just for clarification, please, Mr. Tate, what is a building management control system?
Mr. Tate.
It is the building automation controls, the HVAC and some of the interior lighting and
some exterior lighting.
Okay.
So it's the lighting and everything.
This seems very expensive.
Dominantly HVAC system.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you.
Chair Stephanie Sharp.
Madam President.
Yes, myself.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the Building Management Control System, BMCS, replacement at Exley Elementary, Franz Elementary, Griffin Elementary, and Rhodes Elementary schools to unify energy solutions in the amount of $2,180,000 and a total project cost not to exceed $2,467,200.
Second.
Motion by Ms. Gassoff, a second by Mr. Rebman.
We'll now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
One last time, 7.12, Mr. Teague.
Item 7.12
Yes, ma'am.
It's recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the three interlocal agreements
with Fort Bend-Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 3,
Harris-Waller County's Municipal Utility District No. 3,
and Willow Creek Farms Municipal Utility District
and the Katy Independent School District
for additional play equipment at Bryan Elementary School.
The Fort Bend Waller MUD No. 3 wishes to donate $6,000.
The Harris-Waller County's MUD No. 3 wishes to contribute $6,000.
And the Willow Creek Farms MUD wishes to contribute $10,000
towards the purchase of additional play equipment at Bryan Elementary.
The project will be managed by the Maintenance and Operations Department,
and a copy of the interlocal agreements are attached for your review.
The interlocal agreements have been reviewed by District Legal Counsel and approved as
to form.
And the approval of these three interlocal agreements will provide the campus with the
needed funding to complete the project prior to the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
Any questions?
Madam President.
Mr. Redmond.
I move that the Board of Trustees approves the three interlocal agreements with Fort
Fort Bend-Waller County Municipal District Number 3, Harris-Waller County's Municipal Utility District Number 3,
and Willow Creek Farms Municipal Utility District and Katy Independent School District for additional play equipment at Bryant Elementary School.
Second.
I have a motion by Mr. Redman and a second by Ms. Champagne.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you.
Item 7.13
Item 7.13, discuss and consider board approval of the plat for elementary school number 44.
It's Lisa Kastman.
Pardon me.
Good evening.
Upon a successful May bond referendum and to meet a fall 2022 opening date for elementary number 44 in Kane Island,
a recorded plat needs to be approved at this time so that permitting with the city of Katy can commence.
Any questions?
Madam President, I move the Board of Trustees approves the plat for elementary school number 44.
Second. I have a motion by Ms. Gassoff, a second by Mr. Redman. We'll now proceed to vote. All those
in favor, please raise your right hand and say hi. Don't say hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Motion passes 7-0.
Thank you, Ms. Gossman. Thank you. Next up, 7.14, discuss and consider board approval of the updated
Item 7.14
a contract with region 3 esc and participation in the purchasing cooperative of america pca mr
ms truskowski i think i didn't say that good evening president van board of trustees and dr
gregorski so back in october 2018 i brought the initial pca interlocal agreement for the board to
approve. So just kind of going back just a few steps, PCA is actually an interlocal that we
work with through Region 3, so that's out of Victoria. And with them, but they're primarily
an education institution kind of governmental agency and we're also looking at law enforcement
and a couple of other new and I guess non-taxable organizations that they work with.
So recently what they've done is they've actually opened up that pool to include additional contracts.
And with that contracts, they're looking at cities and counties that they can add to that specific, to their interlocal.
With that, they've asked that we, you know, kind of take a look at it, review it.
And we saw that it was beneficial to the district.
So we bring it today for you to review and hopefully to approve the interlocal with PVA.
Madam President, if I may, on top of that, this is the reason that the purchasing department would bring this to you today is because it's an interlocal agreement which requires board action.
But, of course, as Gloria will tell you, any purchases made in the future through that
that exceed a certain amount will either be in the budget as a line item budget or they
will be brought before this board.
So it's not an actual purchase that we're making today.
MS.
Thank you for that clarification.
Do we have any questions?
I'll entertain a motion.
MR.
Madam President, I move that the Board of Trustees approves the new interlocal
agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of America.
MS.
Second.
Second.
Motion by Mr. Redman, a second by Ms. Champagne.
Thank you.
We will now proceed to vote.
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
7.15, discuss and consider board approval of the minutes of the February 2021 board meetings.
Item 7.15
Madam President, I move that the Board of Trustees approves the minutes of the board meeting held in February 2021.
Second.
Motion by Ms. Gassoff, a second by Mr. Redman.
We will now proceed to vote.
all those in favor please raise your right hand and say aye aye motion passes
seven to zero now I move on to agenda item eight our action items I'll
Item 8.1
entertain a motion president move that the Board of Trustees adopts the local
policies included in board policy update one one six second motion by miss gas
off a second by mr. Edmund thank you mr. Graham we will now proceed to vote all
All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say aye.
Aye.
Motion passes 7-0.
Item 8.2
Action item 8.2.
Madam President.
Ms. Champagne.
May I ask a question about the staffing?
Yeah.
Okay.
Because I know that we went over this last week, but during the week, I just noticed this, that there's a loss of one.
I don't know where Mr. Schuch is.
Hi.
There's a loss of one elementary music teacher.
And can I know where that one is, what school that's at?
Or do you know?
I don't know that off the top of my head.
Dr. Hill?
Are you talking about the net loss?
Right.
Right, there's a loss of one music teacher in elementary.
Thank you.
That's probably a net loss.
We have some campuses that are gaining
and we have some that are losing.
So overall, there probably is a net loss of one.
On top of my head, I can't remember specifically
which campuses are losing fine arts.
But based on the formula.
formula at about 1,000 kids is when you lose a fine arts teacher.
Okay, so if they have 950 kids, so they've been having two or whatever they had all along,
and now they have 40 or 50 kids less, and so one teacher is going to have to do 950 kids.
It is formula-driven, and so there's a, for every, do you have the staffing formula,
Mr. Schuss, with you?
I know that 1,000 is the cutoff there.
Ms. Helm, I'll go ahead and jump in.
I can go ahead and get those staffing standards to the board.
We're not prepared with everybody's staffing and standards,
but I'll speak to them generally because I think most of those staffing standards,
I worked very closely with HR putting those in place back when I was deputy superintendent.
So we do have staffing standards that we allocate positions,
especially for what you're talking, specials, for number of counselors, ratios,
assistant principals everything is built upon a standard so we do move personnel
around based upon those standards so yes there could be a school that has
attrition of students which means a reduction in staffing based upon the
attrition of students so but if you have a specific campus you would like us to
analyze and get that information to the board we can get that but overall I can
just get you all those staffing standards okay well I have heard from
one of the campuses and it's Bonnie Holland and I don't so I don't know how
many other people are losing but and specifically about that is just that I
know that would be a great loss I don't know what's going to happen to the
employee and I don't I don't mean to ask about that but I just know that for from
a from the schools point of view you know from you know having I don't know
know what it was a thousand kids in the 950 or whatever it's still a lot of kids sure and so
i would just hope that what if the numbers change you know what if the kids come back what if um
it does end up being a thousand you know what happens then do what happens to do we get to
bring a teacher back i mean well first let me answer your question about i don't know what
will happen to that teacher we have a process that we go through called excess and so those
teachers are those campuses that are gaining a fine arts teacher and those
that are losing they have the opportunity to pick up from the campuses
that are losing a fine arts teacher those that are gaining and so there's
there's always room and there's always placement we're always able to find a
home for those that are on the access but if they're if their numbers built
back up to a thousand let's say about the fall would would they be able to get
another teacher again we do the same process in the fall we have fall
enrollment balancing and so we always take a look at those in the fall to see if any campuses are in
need of something and we work hard to try and get them those positions okay i appreciate your time
thank you i'll entertain a motion
madam president mr redmond i move that the board of trustees approves the campus staffing plan for
the 2021-2022 school year as recommended by the superintendent second i have a motion by mr redman
and second by miss gessoff we will now proceed to vote all those in favor please raise your right
hand and say aye aye motion passes seven to zero item agenda item number nine discussing discuss
Item 9
future possibility of katie virtual academy beyond the 2020-2021 school year dr gorgorski thank you
madam president so this is uh that that big question that i get asked all the time is uh
we currently have just a just a quick recap we've got in-person learning this year and we've got a
katie virtual academy and why do we have katie virtual academy to give those parents a choice
uh during the covid pandemic that they would have that opportunity to learn from home the other part
of that is that tea texas education agency allows us to have that virtual academy because they
we can collect funding, full funding, for the attendance for those kids that are in a virtual
academy. So where do we go from here? The question is, will we have virtual academies next year in
KDISD? Well, a couple of questions that I don't know answers to today is, what will TEA do next
year in regards to virtual academies? First thing I'll say is, we're in a legislative session right
now, and last time I looked, there were 16 bills already filed in regard to virtual learning,
virtual academies virtual schools I don't know which of those bills will one
or many or none pass through the legislature but if whichever one gets
through or does get through that's going to give us some guidance as to how
virtual schools could operate in the state of Texas based on any of those
bills so let's go back to TEA. TEA recently released a document that they
refer to as the virtual and hybrid school accelerator application process that's a
mouthful there so they are allowing possibility to apply with tea for schools to have virtual
schooling and be fully funded we'll see what that looks like so when i talk about fully funded if
the state will not fully fund a virtual academy we can't have one how are we going to pay for it
yeah i mean that's the big question i do think the legislature is going to do something i think at the
the very least if the legislature didn't do something, TEA is going to do something with
this application process for virtual schools. So we've been talking about this a bunch.
A lot of people are concerned. It's a question board members have asked me and teachers have
asked me, different groups have asked me, would a virtual academy operate next year like it does
this year? The most important question in that, are we going to have teachers who are teaching
virtual students and in-person students at the same time? And I keep telling them, no, that's
not going to happen any future program that we design for a future virtual academy of any sort
we're not going to ask the teachers to teach both if we had a virtual academy and operate under a
different set of standards than we are currently operating right now under the pandemic so
so let's talk about that a little bit we we've we've talked about this at length with a team
of experts and we firmly believe that all of our students should return back next year for
in-person learning that is the best way to instruct it's the best way to have kids succeed
in schools it would not be my recommendation to this board to create a virtual academy for
elementary school nor would i recommend we create one for junior high but if the board would like
us to do those things i would need some guidance from them tonight to look into those too we could
talk all day long if you want me to but i won't bore you with all the reasons why i don't recommend
elementary or a junior high virtual Academy different reasons for both but
we can talk about those now we have showed some success at high school I
think some of our high school kids have done well in a virtual environment and I
think there could be possibly interesting KTISD for a high school
virtual Academy should we choose to create one in the future years and
should it be funded and everything else that goes hand-in-hand with that but we
We can't wait till the legislature finishes up their session in June, try to create one in July, and then open the doors in August.
So I need some direction now with the board is thinking about that.
We could start with some surveying.
We're prepared to survey our high school students and ask them some questions with the parents.
Would you be interested in a virtual academy under certain parameters?
We don't have an entire plan mapped out.
It would include some of the things we're doing right now, which we do a fantastic job on, something called Katy Virtual Schools.
We have a whole lot of courses that are offered right now for original credit through Katie Virtual Schooling,
and I think our teachers do a fantastic job teaching the kids and the kids are very successful.
It's one of those things in the summer that there's so much demand for it.
Sometimes there's so much demand for summer Katie Virtual School that we don't have enough teachers to teach it.
But it's a very popular option. So we could weave those things into it.
But a few things that would be part of that framework I want to put out there.
Get the board's thoughts on those and you can tell me how you feel about that.
and then we can go from there but a few things if we were going to create a Katie
virtual school the discussions we've had so far that this would be an online
course offering would be available for students enrolled in grades 9 through 12
we understand and believe the district cannot replicate everything within Katie
ISD if you think about every academic program every course we have every
course of study every pathway every CTE course everything we do we can't
replicate all of that in a virtual environment so it would have some limitations virtual students
would withdraw from their home campus and enroll in a kd isd virtual high school virtual students
could only enroll and withdraw at the beginning or end of a semester you might recall this year
we're allowing kids to jump in and out every six weeks that's not the best model for high school
we would want kids to come in and out at the end of the semester after we can post grades
that would be the the most optimal way to do that a high school diploma we
would we would enter in for a specific PEMS code for that high school and a
high school diploma would be issued as a KT ISD virtual high school virtual
students would be ranked by GPA and quartile class rank with other students
enrolled in the KT virtual high school why do we do that how many times has the
board asked me this school year heard from parents that they think there is
some kind of possible possibility of an unfairness between virtual high schools and in-person high
schools so this levels that playing field from those concerns that i've heard this year
we also have put in there that students would participate in a kd high school virtual high
school graduation ceremony with other kd isd virtual high school graduates students would
be ineligible for participation in student programs at their so-called home campus they
would not have a home campus anymore,
they'd have a virtual campus, students
may only participate in co-curricular and non-UIL
eligible student programs that may be offered
at that type of virtual high school.
So those are the beginning developments
of a framework of a possible virtual high school.
Should we want to offer it?
Should there be interest?
If there's not enough interest, it's not cost effective
to do it.
It would be not in our best interest to do that.
But I'd recommend we start with some sort of survey
to our families.
see who's interested in something like this.
If there is enough interest and it's being funded,
I would have our team start working together to put a framework for the board,
bring that back for some discussion over the next couple of board meetings.
We could probably bring back some sort of framework in April
and then kind of go from there and have this thing probably designed by May or June
with the only caveat we can design it,
but there could be slight modifications based on what goes through the legislation
legislation here at this 87th legislative session.
So with that bit of information, I'm going to go ahead and turn that back to the board
for any kind of discussion or questions or what your thought process might be on building
that, looking for the board's guidance on what they might want to do here in Katy ISD.
Madam President, I have like 57 questions.
I don't really love everything that you said about it being its own cohort of kids, and
I think that's important for that sense of belonging, too.
Definitely loved what you said about teachers not doing hybrid and in person.
Definitely love that.
But so if they're at the virtual campus, then they can do sports or
band or any of that, right?
Because they can't go to Cinco and join the band.
And then one of my other questions would be, as important as I think it is for
the students to have that cohort in Katy Virtual School.
I wonder, and you probably don't know, but what does it look like for
the teachers?
You know, we want the teachers to still go report to a campus, but would they be sitting
all over the place at other high schools?
Would they all be sitting together so that they have that sort of camaraderie and they
know the kids and they get to talk about, you know, lesson planning and you can't do
an exam next week because I'm doing an exam next week?
Yeah, we would have to do some structure in there, similar way we do right now for high
school with testing on kind of that odd even type testing schedule.
You bring up a good point with the teachers.
One is we would create a brand new job description for these teachers.
We have a framework of what we expect.
I think our instructional technology folks, that would be John Alawne's team
and Darlene Rankin, who oversees a lot of that through Katy Virtual School,
these folks are trained in virtual instruction.
Not everyone knows how to do virtual instruction.
I think we threw people into virtual instruction this year by need,
but it needs to be a different more standardized type process that these
teachers are hand-picked they want to be in a virtual environment but we would
have to figure out where they are in that virtual environment it would be in
a location we think the teaching is very robust when it's from the classroom
because you have access to all the technologies to do the synchronous type
learning with a real schedule that kids would go through daily with interactions
with their teachers we would envision it that way with some make asynchronous
as well that's how kitty virtual school uh operas right now for some of those things so
a few unknowns in there but uh definitely hand-picked those folks would work together
they would get a lot of professional development and they would work as their own kind of campus
where that location would be that's a good question and to piggyback on
miss gassoff's question were you um this high school will also have its own principal
Correct. There would have to be a staff assigned to it. I would need an attendance clerk most like
there's a handful of positions you need, but you would need some sort of high school principal
over this. And they would have to set the schedules. They build the master schedule.
They would work very closely with instructional tech on all the curriculum. They would work with
Dr. Kasky's team on designing courses, maybe new courses that we don't quite offer, but we need to
offer in this type of environment. There's a few things that we don't offer in KVS right now that
that would need to be required in their certain types of,
science has come to mind, foreign languages come to mind.
So there's a few things that we would have to do in there.
Yeah, just to piggyback off the support of the teacher.
You bet.
You had mentioned at one point out
that there will be a campus leadership in place.
Yes.
Madam President, may I ask a question please, Dr. Gregorci?
I think this sounds good.
I know that there's a lot of things
that you have to play into, you know,
whatever the law is going to be in all this.
But I'm wondering, I've been wondering this all year.
So I know you may not agree with me,
but I think that one of the good things that came out of this
was the ability to do the teaching online
when there's something like a natural disaster
or something like, you know, bad weather day,
rather than just losing the whole day.
Maybe sometimes, you know, we could go into the online schooling.
schooling, will this continue to be something that we can do?
For example, well, like a bad weather day is the best example I can think of, but also
there might be some other things like where a child has a long-term illness or something
like that, and then rather than miss, you know, two or three weeks of school, they could
go do the asynchronous teaching, learning from home.
I don't know if that's a thing to think about or not.
Sure.
Sure.
I think we've learned a lot of valuable lessons this year and certain instructional practices that we could replicate.
Could that be types of asynchronous learning that kids can learn to home, certainly over some bad weather days?
That's a possibility.
Some of it comes down to funding, though.
If there's no funding mechanism for asynchronous learning at home on a bad weather day, we'd either have to have those minutes in the calendar or we'd have to make up those minutes.
So some of that's going to be a bit of an unknown, but could we pivot to those things much better than we did in the past?
Absolutely.
This would be a good opportunity to speak to this as well.
We've got this bond coming up in May.
We've got a proposition for $59 million worth of technology.
Part of that technology is additional student devices that we will need for kids to take home in emergencies.
They can check out things right now through their library.
That's a possibility.
But the other big thing with that is in the retrofit standards to start doing laptop computers for all teachers on every retrofit.
That's part of this bond.
And that would make it easy for teachers to quickly pivot to add home instruction.
If they knew the possibility we're going to close tomorrow, grab your laptop, take it home, and let's do learning from home in different models.
So I think there's a possibility of that.
Some of it's going to depend on what the state will allow us to do and what we could do.
The other great thing about that is maybe you've heard of something we use called Canvas.
It's our learning management system.
We are in the process of talking about how we're going to get more teachers trained as
professional learning on Canvas so they can put the lessons in there and the lessons are
ready to go at a moment's notice.
A lot of our teachers currently do it now.
Can we get more teachers trained doing it at all levels, elementary through high school?
Absolutely.
Discussions we've had.
So can I just do a little follow-up to that?
I'm going to give you a little example.
So I have a friend that has a kid that broke their leg.
So rather than missing school, because this year, you know, you could go back and forth,
you know, he could do his classes online or whatever, so he didn't have to miss any school.
You know, he was counted as present, you know, because he could do his classes.
And I don't know if that's something that could be considered in the future if some child,
I don't know, had mono or they would have to miss a long time,
but they could sit at their house and did on their laptop.
Sure, there's some pros and cons to that as you're describing it.
Currently we do have a system set up for any child that has would have like some
kind of medical emergency or medical condition that prevents them from coming
to in person instruction.
And then they go on homebound instruction and we teach differently.
Is it like this asynchronous learning?
Not really, it's not the same.
Could it be more robust, a homebound type instruction because of what we've learned
on this possibly, there's a possibility in there.
but once again it comes back to that funding mechanism I am a little concerned
about that doing it differently in terms of this if it's just a kid here and
there and now the teacher has to now kind of take care of the kid at home for
two or three weeks and the classroom it goes back to the other problem we're
trying to solve of the teacher not having that kind of complex type schedule
so there would have to be some things we work through on that but definitely
there's possibilities there. We've learned a lot of lessons from COVID that we can replicate moving
forward. Madam President, I'm sorry. Madam President, yes. Dr. Gorce, I have a question
and it's probably going to go a little, it ties in line with this of just an idea. I know we don't
currently have like an international baccalaureate program where kids are really working to work
towards that degree by the time they graduate high school. Is there any way to use something
something like this where it's kind of a separate schoolhouse, so to speak, where that's where
they're planning on?
Is that just too far off topic from this or maybe something that could be considered within
that construct?
Sure.
Yeah, we've explored it before.
I would have to ask Dr. Caskey to, it was before I got here, I believe, that we explored
IB.
It does get a little bit costly.
The training for the teachers is costly.
the curriculum, the instructional materials,
the coursework were not set up as an IB.
Could we explore an IB-type virtual academy,
and what would that cost?
We could put a figure to it and see if that's feasible,
but it probably wouldn't be cost-effective
unless you had enough kids doing it.
Like, some of these programs are so darn expensive to start,
and then if I only had 30 kids interested in it,
it would not be.
But I would put our AP program, and I know AP is not IB.
I don't even mean I'll say the two in the same sentence
But then every curriculum person will probably kill me for trying to even talk about the two at the same time
But our AP program is pretty darn robust and I will remind it. I'll put a plug in for all the work
Dr. Caskey's team does on an AP that we were selected Katie I see just two years ago as the large district of the year
For all of the work we've been doing an AP the coursework we do and the number of kids we have in there and the number
of as we grow the program more kids get in it more kids scoring three four and
five that's pretty good deal for me so I like our AP programming in there plus
you get the college credit for that so that's a pretty good deal but we can
certainly look at it yeah I'm sorry I just have two more robust rigorous
testing so if the kids are gonna sign up for this kind of virtual Academy are we
Are they going to have to commit to, like, you have to have your camera on when we're testing?
Those sorts of things.
Do you anticipate that?
I do.
We're currently using the Proctorio software right now that allows us to put the camera on,
and it does allow us to lock down browsers, and it does record.
It's always recording, but we're not always watching it.
The teacher would only go back and watch right now under our current system if they see an anomaly,
some reason to go into the video and see what might happen.
So we have some of those systems in place right now.
That proctorio is very similar to what a lot of colleges and universities are doing.
And I believe College Board uses it as well.
So, yeah, we put those things in there.
You speak to testing.
The high school kids would still have to come in.
There is no virtual EOC star.
So kids would still have to come in for that type of testing.
But yeah, I could see us trying to do our best to ensure the integrity of the program
throughout the virtual learning experience.
I just think that needs to be part of the survey so that we're really up front about
that.
And then last question, what do you do about phys ed?
Surprisingly or not, you can get phys ed online right now already.
The way they generally do it, I'm not an expert in that area, but the kids record their activities,
activities, log sheets, talk about what they're doing, and the virtual teacher gives them
suggestions and activities and minutes.
You'd be surprised to note what our coaches did this year with kids.
When kids were in the summer sack camps and they were learning from home, my kid had their
phone out on the back patio doing every workout with their coaches as required via Zoom.
So you'd be surprised what kids can do on physical activity, even in a virtual environment.
That's amazing.
Thank you.
It is.
I have one other question I just thought of.
So in eighth grade, you know how the kids have to choose their core, I can't even remember
what it's called, but you know, they're either STEM or they're fine arts or they're…
Yeah, they're foundation.
Yes.
So they would be limited because they couldn't choose, for instance, fine arts.
You know, they would be more limited.
Yeah, yes and no.
limited um i would have to have dr caskey's group present a little bit on that as we get further
down the line i still think there could be pathways open some courses need different things
there could be limited options within a pathway but the pathway would still be open
even the fine arts pathway oh oh if you're talking about the uh dr caskey refresh my memory there's
There's five, but there's not a fine art pathway.
Not a pathway, but students, like if they're in art, they could continue, like art one,
two, three, four, dance one, two, three, four, band one, two, three, four.
Is that what you're talking about, sequence level?
No, I'm talking about the foundation thing that they had to choose in eighth grade, the
core.
The endorsements.
The endorsements.
Oh, oh, the endorsements.
Yes, yes.
The five endorsements.
Five, yes, yes, yes.
Yes, a multidisciplinary would probably be, actually, multidisciplinary would be the one that would be utilized at this proposed virtual school, which is similar to the 4x4.
Oh, okay, good.
So they would be limited on choosing the endorsement then, I guess.
Could be.
Could be.
If we couldn't replicate it all.
Yeah, the multidisciplinary gives them actually more option within their sequence, their pathway.
Any other questions?
Okay, thank you very much for your information.
Item 10
I will direct your attention to Agenda Item 10,
Donated Items to the Katy Independent School District.
The Board was provided a copy of the donated items to Katy ISD.
Item 11
Our next Board meeting will be Monday, April 26, 2021,
right here in this Boardroom.
Items 12 - 14
And Item 12.2 has been postponed at the request of the Grievant.
The Board will now convene and close meeting
as authorized under section 551.001 of the Texas government code for the
following purposes Texas government code 551.071 and 551.129
and if I may for those folks that are out there from our cabinet executive
cabinet and directors you guys don't need to stick around for this we're
gonna go into executive session we'll come out close the meeting afterwards
but there's no more items for for the rest of you enjoy your night
there being no further business for the board this meeting is adjourned the time is 9 22 p.m
Official documents
Agenda
The district's own agenda file, as published on its video page. 4 pages.
Board packet · 40 documents
The district's own backup material for this agenda, retrieved from BoardDocs. Each file was checked against the size BoardDocs states for it.
- 2021-2022 Casualty Renewal 17 KB
- March Donation Report-PDF Finalized 111 KB
- Katy HS main gym floor replacement proposal 201 KB
- Katy ISD 3 Added Campuses Bonded Proposal 2-17-21 Revised 2-25-21 210 KB
- BES HWMUD Interlocal 49 KB
- 3-3-21_Katy_ISD_ILC 651 KB
- CE Chiller Replacements Tab Sheet 65 KB
- Proposal QUO-40454-B6M0G3 - Katy ISD - Cimarron Elem - Packet 418 KB
- SOBe Recommendation Letter 152 KB
- Year 3 (Phase 5) - 2017 Bond BMCS Recommendation and Ranking 88 KB
- 3 Construction Report - January 2021 171 KB
- 1 Financial Statements - January 2021 68 KB
- 2 Function Object Analysis - January 2021 79 KB
- Update 116 - Instruction Sheet 12 KB
- Update 116 - Explanatory Notes 46 KB
- Update 116 - Local Policy Overview 58 KB
- Update 116 - LOCAL For Adoption 826 KB
- Update 116 - LEGAL for Reference 2703 KB
- March 2021 217 KB
- plat for elem 44 5499 KB
- Ft Bend Waller MUD #3 Interlocal 71 KB
- WCF - Interlocal Agmt w Bryant 71 KB
- 4 Tax Report - January 2021 56 KB
- 5 Check Register - January 2021 60 KB
- BMCS Unify Phase 5 Contract - Unify signed 13993 KB
- PHS Chiller Replacement Tabulation 65 KB
- Proposal QUO-40625-K0K0K7 Katy ISD Paetow HS - Packet 427 KB
- Transportation Update - Board Presentation 03.29.21 1411 KB
- Board Presentation- Freeze Update- 3-29-21 812 KB
- 2021_101914_61413_Missed-School-Days 179 KB
- 2021_101914_61411_Other 193 KB
- MIN 2 22 2021 Regular Meeting SIGNED 3438 KB
- MIN 2 8 2021 Special Meeting SIGNED 499 KB
- MIN 2 1 2021 Special Meeting SIGNED 574 KB
- Ft Bend Waller MUD #3 Interlocal SIGNED 2353 KB
- WCF Interlocal Agmt w Bryant SIGNED 2235 KB
- BES HWMUD Interlocal SIGNED 2262 KB
- BMCS Unify Phase 5 Contract SIGNED 7179 KB
- 3 3 21 Katy ISD ILC SIGNED 1943 KB
- plat for elem 44 SIGNED 5556 KB
Motions and votes
Recorded actions
MOTION 001 · AGENDA 5.1
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees, as recommended by the superintendent in Closed Meeting, approves the one-year employee probationary contracts, one-year employee dual assignment probationary contracts, one-year employee term contracts, one-year employee dual assignment term contracts, and two-year employee dual assignment term contracts for the 2021-2022 school year.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 002 · AGENDA 7.1
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the District's January 2021 financial statements.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 003 · AGENDA 7.2
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution authorizing the extension of the bank depository contract with Prosperity Bank for the two-year term beginning September 1, 2021.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 004 · AGENDA 7.3
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the District's March 2021 budget amendments.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 005 · AGENDA 7.4
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the renewal of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Fund Casualty Program.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 006 · AGENDA 7.5
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the submission of a Missed School Day waiver.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 007 · AGENDA 7.6
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the "Other" waiver for select campuses who engaged in asynchronous learning.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 008 · AGENDA 7.7
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of the gym bleachers at Cinco Ranch Junior High, Katy Junior High, and Katy High School to Key Enterprises/ADP Lemco Inc. in the amount of $441,250.90 utilizing the Buyboard Contract #583-19, and a total not to exceed project cost of $501,250.90.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 009 · AGENDA 7.8
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of the main gym floor at Katy High School to Quality Hardwood Floors, Inc., in the amount of $179,665, utilizing the BuyBoard contract #560-18, and a total project cost not to exceed $219,655.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 010 · AGENDA 7.9
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of the air-cooled chillers at Cimarron Elementary School to Hunton Services in the amount of $405,493.00, and the total not to exceed project cost of $425,493, utilizing the Choice Partners Contract 19/036MR-03.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 011 · AGENDA 7.10
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the replacement of an HVAC chiller at Paetow High School to Hunton Services in the amount of $232,990 and a total not to exceed project cost of $252,990, utilizing the Choice Partners Contract 19/036MR-03.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 012 · AGENDA 7.11
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the proposal for the Building Management Control System (BMCS) replacement at Exley Elementary, Franz Elementary, Griffin Elementary, and Rhoads Elementary Schools to Unify Energy Solutions in the amount of $2,180,000 and a total project cost not to exceed $2,467,200.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 013 · AGENDA 7.12
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the three Interlocal Agreements with Fort Bend-Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 3, Harris-Waller Counties Municipal Utility District No. 3, and Willow Creek Farms Municipal Utility District and Katy Independent School District for additional play equipment at Bryant Elementary School.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 014 · AGENDA 7.13
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the plat for Elementary School #44.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 015 · AGENDA 7.14
PassedIt is recommended that the Board approves the new interlocal agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of America (PCA).
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 016 · AGENDA 7.15
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the minutes of the Board meetings held in February 2021.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 017 · AGENDA 8.1
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees adopts the local policies included in Board Policy Update 116.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |
MOTION 018 · AGENDA 8.2
PassedIt is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves the campus staffing plan for the 2021 - 2022 school year as recommended by the superintendent.
7 Yes · 0 No
| Trustee | Vote |
|---|---|
| ashley-vann | Yes |
| dawn-champagne | Yes |
| duke-keller | Yes |
| greg-schulte | Yes |
| lance-redmon | Yes |
| leah-wilson | Yes |
| susan-gesoff | Yes |