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[1. Communication to and from the Board including public comments]
AND I CALL TO ORDER A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRISCO ISD SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES.WE DO HAVE A QUORUM WITH SIX MEMBERS PRESENT.
TRUSTEE. ELAD IS UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING DUE TO OBSERVATION OF A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.
WE WILL START WITH OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT.
SHANNON MERCER, FOLLOWED BY SHERRY SOLIS.
MAY I PAUSE YOU FOR A MOMENT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MIC ISN'T WORKING? SORRY. THAT'S. THAT'S ON US.
THANK YOU. WE'LL RESET YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR SERVING.
WE KNOW THAT YOU WANT THE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND YOU BACK THAT UP BY OFFERING SESSIONS LIKE THIS.
AS YOU KNOW, BEGINNING WITH THE SOPHOMORE CLASS OF 2025 AND BEYOND, CADETS MUST ENROLL IN LEBANON TRAIL FULL TIME AND TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED. MY SUGGESTION IS TO UTILIZE THE RESIDENTIAL CTE BUS SYSTEM THAT ALREADY CARRIES STUDENTS BETWEEN THEIR HOMES AND THE CTE CENTER AND IS ALREADY CONNECTED BY A MORNING AND AFTERNOON SHUTTLE TO LEBANON TRAIL.
THESE TWO BUILDINGS ARE VIRTUALLY NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.
AGAIN, THE RESIDENTIAL CTE BUS SYSTEM ALREADY EXISTS.
THE NEDEC STUDENTS JUST NEED THE OPTION TO USE IT, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN.
THE RESIDENTIAL CTE BUSSES HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE FOR THE FEW CADETS WHO MIGHT NEED IT.
IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN PLEASE INCLUDE A CTE SECTION WITHIN THE HIGH SCHOOL SURVEYS.
CTE SURVEYS HAVE BEEN SENT IN THE PAST BUT HAVE STOPPED IN RECENT YEARS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO FRISCO ISD AND FOR OFFERING THE FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHERI SALAS, FOLLOWED BY KRON GUPTA.
GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE THINGS I MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT ARE PRIORITIZED IN GREATEST TO LEAST I AM ON THE STANDARD BASED GRADING PARENTS ACADEMY AND I AM GRATEFUL TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR NEEDED CHANGE IN THE GRADING PROCESS.
IS IT FAIR TO ADD THIS TO OUR EDUCATORS PLATE? NUMBER TWO, WHAT'S WITH THE GRADING RULES BEING DIFFERENT FROM CAMPUS TO CAMPUS? CAN WE EXPECT A DISTRICTWIDE POLICY MAKING THIS THE SAME ACROSS THE DISTRICT? AND IF NOT, CAN WE EXPECT CLEAR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THAT NEEDS TO BE LEFT ON CAMPUS LEVEL? THIS IS THIS QUESTION IS FOR MRS. ELAD. I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE HERE.
I READ YOUR POST COVERING WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SPED STUDENT AT LONE STAR.
I READ YOU ARE DEEPLY WORRIED.
YOUR POST GOES ON TO FOCUS MORE ON THE VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS A WHOLE.
CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON YOUR POSITION ON A VOUCHER SYSTEM SUPPORTING PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH THE LIBERTY TO DENY SPED KIDS ADMITTANCE TO SCHOOLS AS YOUR SUPPORT AS YOU SUPPORT ALL THINGS VOUCHERS AND SCHOOL CHOICE.
SHOULD WE ASSUME YOU SUPPORT SPED STUDENTS NOT HAVING THOSE OPTIONS? PLEASE RESPOND.
MR. LOWE AND MRS. ELAD. DO YOU PLAN TO BE FEATURED SPEAKERS AT MORE PARTISAN FUNDRAISERS FOR CANDIDATES THAT GO UNOPPOSED? I'D LIKE THAT ANSWERED IF POSSIBLE.
BOARD WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO PREVENT OUR ISD TITLES FROM BEING SOLICITED FOR PARTISAN POLITICAL FUNDRAISERS? IF NOT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO THEN IMPLEMENT A FEE FOR SPEAKERS SO OUR ISD CAN CAPITALIZE ON THE BRAND BEING USED BEING MARKETED FOR
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POLITICAL PARTISAN POLITICAL FUNDRAISERS? WELL, ANYTHING REALLY.AND THEN LASTLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THE BOOK PROCESS.
I'VE PAID VERY CLOSE ATTENTION AND THIS IS SERIOUSLY TO THE STAFF.
I APPRECIATE ALL THAT EXTRA WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KRON GUPTA FOLLOWED BY MAHESH [INAUDIBLE].
WHILE, HE'S COMING UP, RENE, CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK? WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT 423 IN ROCK HILL ROAD.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ZONING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO LISTEN, BUT THAT'S NOT UNDER OUR PURVIEW.
I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THAT OUT.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS WE HAVE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF WAREHOUSES, AMAZON WAREHOUSES ON FM 423 ON THE ROCK HILL PARKWAY. AND THE CORNERS AND [INAUDIBLE] CORNERS.
AND WE LIVE ON THE ROCK HILL PARKWAY.
THERE ARE SO MANY HOUSES OUT THERE AND RESIDENTIAL.
WE HAVE CONCERNS BASICALLY AROUND THE TRAFFIC.
WE HAVE FOUR SCHOOLS AROUND THE AREA LIKE MINET, MILLER AND PANTHER CREEK.
AND [INAUDIBLE] MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO THE MAIN CONCERN IS BASICALLY FOR PARENTS, THE SAFETY RIGHT FOR FIRST THINGS COMES IS A SAFETY.
LIKE IF KIDS THERE ARE NO BUSSES FOR A MINETT.
SO SOME OF THE KIDS, THEY WALK OR THEY RIDE THEIR BIKES.
AND THE THIRD THING IS THE POLLUTION.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS LIKE 800 SEMI-TRUCKS, WHICH ARE EIGHT, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE 18 WHEELER TRUCKS, WHICH MIGHT [INAUDIBLE] CAN COME THERE. SO THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
SO WE DID GO TO COUNCIL MEETING AT FRISCO CENTER AND THEY WHEN WE RAISED THIS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, THE TRAFFIC, THEY SAID, I SHOULD WE SHOULD COME AND TALK TO YOU ALSO.
SO THERE IS A REASON WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME SOLUTIONS.
SO. THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY.
I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL LEARN SOMETHING FROM YOU GUYS.
TODD, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SHARED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, SO I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER IT, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN SPEAK TO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE CITY TO FIND OUT THE TIME FRAME, LIKE THE TIMES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT AND THEN ISSUE A COMMUNICATION TO OUR PARENTS.
YEAH. I MEAN, WE USUALLY THEY USUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH US WHEN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY OVER WHETHER THEY HAPPEN OR WHAT ANYONE DOES ON THEIR OWN LAND.
BUT TYPICALLY THE CITY COMMUNICATES WITH US WHENEVER SOMETHING'S GOING ON AROUND THE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. MAHESH [INAUDIBLE].
FOLLOWED BY ALLISON DARRELL AND THEN TIM LAMBERT.
THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M GOING TO REQUEST THE BOARD TO DECLARE A HOLIDAY FOR DIWALI.
SO DIWALI IS BASICALLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FESTIVAL OF HINDUISM IN INDIA.
SO DIWALI SYMBOLIZES THE SPIRITUAL VICTORY OF LIGHT OVER THE DARKNESS.
GOOD. OVER EVIL AND KNOWLEDGE OUR IGNORANCE.
SO I HEARD, LIKE, THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO A FEW OF THE STATES ALSO DECLARING HOLIDAY ON THE EAST COAST, AS FAR AS MY KNOWLEDGE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES MY KIDS COMING LATE.
BUT THIS IS AN EVENING WE CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL, SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT MISSING KIDS AT HOME.
THIS IS A BIG FESTIVAL FOR US.
SO LIKE I MENTIONED, LIKE THERE ARE AROUND 800 SEMI-TRUCKS GOING THROUGH TO THE ROADS.
EXACTLY. AND THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE ROCK HILL AND THE FM 423 SO THIS IS KIND OF A WE HEARD LIKE LAST MINUTE APPROVALS CAME THROUGH LAST YEAR.
SO THAT WHOLE ZONE IS KIND OF A WAREHOUSE ZONE LIKE 30 YEARS AGO.
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BUT SO A LOT OF LIKE, I MEAN, LIKE 80% OF THE AREA IS ALREADY RESIDENTS ARE COMMUNITIES DEVELOPER AND HALL HOMES ARE BUILT SO NOW LIKE THE LEFTOVER LAND SO THEY CAME OUT THEY HAVE LONG TERM APPROVALS BUT I THINK LAST YEAR THEY WENT FOR HEARING AND THEY GOT APPROVAL AGAIN.AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY LIKE A BIG CONCERN.
OTHERWISE WE CAN PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS.
THE TRAFFIC GUIDELINES AND GOING THROUGH THE ROCK HILL INSTEAD OF USING ONLY THE FM FOR 23.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN CONTROL SOMETHING.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO THAT WILL BE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. ALLISON DARRELL, FOLLOWED BY TIM LAMBERT AND THEN GARY SMITH.
HI. MY NAME IS ALLISON DARRELL.
FISD CHARTER IS TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE AND WHOLESOME LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
I REMIND YOU THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
THEIR SEXUALITY IS NONE OF THE EMPLOYEE'S BUSINESS.
IT NEVER HAS BEEN, AND IT NEVER WILL BE.
FRISCO PARENTS PRESUME THAT ADULT FISD EMPLOYEES KNOW AND HONOR THAT BOUNDARY.
HOWEVER, FISD HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY NOT DOING SO.
SUCH INFRINGEMENTS OCCUR WITHOUT PARENTS KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMED CONSENT.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANY FISD EMPLOYEE TO INTERFERE IN THE SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT OR IDENTITY OF OUR CHILDREN IN ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE MANNER. TWO SOCIAL MEDIA INFRACTIONS OCCURRED RECENTLY, THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SELF CARE/SEX TOY TWITTER POST AND THE FISD LIBRARY'S TWITTER POST, BEST BOOK CLUB EVER.
IN THE LATTER INCIDENT, THE TWITTER POST DISPLAYED FISD PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS.
DR. WALDRIP WHEN YOU WERE QUESTIONED AT THE AUGUST BOARD MEETING, YOU DISMISSIVELY SAID THAT LITTLE TO NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE TO INVESTIGATE OR DISCIPLINE THE EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE GRAVE INFRACTIONS.
A LEADER WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S TRADITIONAL VALUES WOULD HAVE FIXED THESE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY.
WE EXPECT A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES TO NOT INTERVENE, TO INTO PROHIBITING THEM FROM INTERVENING IN OUR CHILDREN'S SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT OR IDENTITY.
WE HOPE THIS BOARD WILL DISCIPLINE DR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BOARD'S ACTION ON THESE CRUCIAL MATTERS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TIM LAMBERT, FOLLOWED BY GARY SMITH AND THEN SRINIVAS KASSALA.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD, SIR. I CAN GO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE THREAT POSED TO ISD PARENTS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BY THE ADDITION OF TWO TITLE NINE RULES CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
WHEN SOON ENTERED INTO THE FEDERAL REGISTER, THEY WILL BE FORCED TO BE THE FORCE OF LAW MIND.
OUR CONGRESS HAS NO INPUT ABOUT THESE RULES.
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ETC., BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY.THEY WOULD ALLOW SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO AUTHORIZE A CHILD'S GENDER TRANSITION WITHOUT REQUIRING NOTICE TO THEIR PARENTS THE INVOLVEMENT OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OR LEGAL DOCUMENTATION.
FOUR, MAKES UPHOLDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING BY BIOLOGICAL REALITY A FORM OF SEX SEX BASED HARASSMENT.
FIVE, USURPS PARENTAL AUTHORITY BY SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS, CLAIMING THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO ENDORSE A CHILD'S DISCORDANT IDENTITY WITHOUT NOTICE TO OR CONSENT OF AN EVEN OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF THEIR PARENTS.
THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS COULD PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR A REPORT TO STATE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR PARENTS WHO WISH TO UPHOLD BIOLOGICAL REALITY AND REFUSE TO ALLOW SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO ENDORSE THEIR CHILD'S DISCORDANT GENDER IDENTITY.
SIX THREATENS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH IN FAVOR OF GENDER INDOCTRINATION.
SEVEN JEOPARDIZES GIRLS AND WOMEN'S ATHLETIC AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AS THEY WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO COMPETE ON AN UNFAIR BASIS AGAINST MALES WHO HAVE A PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE THAT CANNOT BE OVERCOME BY CROSS SEX HORMONES.
THE MAGICAL WAY TO AVOID THE NEED TO IMPOSE THESE THREATS TO OUR PARENTAL FREEDOMS IS FOR THE FRISCO ISD TO NO LONGER ACCEPT $12 MILLION OF FEDERAL REVENUE.
THIS OUT OF AN $859 MILLION TOTAL REVENUE, THE $12 MILLION REPRESENTS 1.4% OF TOTAL REVENUE OR ONE $100 OR SO INCREASE IN THE FIRST HOUSEHOLD ANNUAL TAX.
A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR FREEDOM FROM THESE NEW RULES.
WE DO NOT NEED TO ACCEPT THIS FEDERAL BRIBE.
WE IMPLORE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOT IMPOSE THESE ONEROUS NEW TITLE NINE RULES.
GARY SMITH FOLLOWED BY SRINIVAS KASHALA AND THEN GORDIE CARMONA.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS GARY GREGG SMITH.
I'M A PARENT OF SIX CHILDREN, THE YOUNGEST TWO, WHICH ATTENDS SCHOOL IN FRISCO ISD.
I FIRST LEARNED OF THE PRACTICE IN QUESTION ON SEPTEMBER 9TH THIS YEAR.
PRIOR TO THAT, I HAD ASSUMED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DISTRICTS IN TEXAS HAVING UNPUBLISHED PRACTICES THAT COULD MAKE MY OWN CHILDREN UNCOMFORTABLE AT SCHOOL, OR, WORSE YET, POTENTIALLY PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY.
HOWEVER, THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING STUDENTS TO USE A COMMUNAL RESTROOM THAT DOESN'T MATCH THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER WAS UNKNOWN TO AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDING FISD SCHOOLS AND THEIR PARENTS.
I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A SATISFACTORY ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS.
PRACTICE WAS NOT PUBLISHED WHEN IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2015, NOR TO WHY IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FISD STUDENT SERVICES TEAM OR OF THE ISD DURING THEIR YEARLY REVIEW OF THE PRACTICE TO ENSURE FISD STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WERE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
EVEN THE TRANS FRIENDLY GUIDE PUT TOGETHER BY THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION STATES PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELONG TO ALL, AND POLICY DECISIONS ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES SHOULD BE MADE ONLY AFTER THE APPROPRIATE INVOLVEMENT OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DECISION AND WITH DUE CONSIDERATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THOSE HOLDING DISSENTING VIEWS, SEEKING TO RECONCILE SOMETIMES DEEPLY CONFLICTING COMMUNITY VIEWS AND LEGAL IMPERATIVES ON THESE ISSUES.
IF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TITLE NINE TRAINING CAME FROM THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION, WHICH ADVISES AGAINST INFORMING PARENTS PRIOR TO OR EVEN AFTER TAKING A CHILD TO A CLINIC TO OBTAIN CONTRACEPTIVES IN DEFIANCE OF HER PARENT'S WISHES.
GIVEN THAT THIS UNPUBLISHED PRACTICE WAS PUT IN PLACE IN A CLANDESTINE FASHION, I FEEL IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE TO DOCUMENT IT IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK UNTIL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DECISION HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATELY INVOLVED AND THERE HAS BEEN DUE CONSIDERATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF THOSE HOLDING DISSENTING VIEWS.
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AT THE VERY LEAST, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE NOTIFICATION OF ALL STUDENTS, SAID SCHOOL AND THEIR PARENTS.JUST AS TROUBLING TO ME AS THE FACT THAT FISD STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WERE NOT INFORMED OF THIS PRACTICE WAS THE WAY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT IT WERE AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WERE ANSWERED BY LEGAL COUNSEL.
IS THAT MY TIME OVER? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOWED BY GORDIE CARMONA AND THEN ANGELA DUNFORD.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I CAME HERE TO RAISE A CONCERN ON THE SAFETY ISSUES ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
AND THE KIDS SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BUILD IN THE THERE ARE THREE WAREHOUSES ARE BUILDING ON THE 430 ROCK PARKWAY AND THERE ARE THREE SCHOOLS CURRENTLY ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
AND THE NEXT YEAR WE ARE OPENING THE ANOTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS GOING TO IMPACT LIKE A MINETT, MILLER AND [INAUDIBLE] AND THE PANTHER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL [INAUDIBLE] AND HIGH SCHOOL, WE DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL BUS.
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, NEXT YEAR, WE'LL GET A BUS FROM SOME PART OF THAT ONE CROSSING THE 423 BECAUSE OF THE SIX LANES AND 445 MILES SABO SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE OF THAT ONE.
SO THE SCHOOL BUSSES WILL IMPACT.
BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS WHICH ARE ENTERING THERE.
THAT A BIG TRUCK WILL BE THERE.
THE BIG TRUCKS IS LIKE THE SEMI TRUCKS ARE.
BUT THEY HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE ANY OF THIS TRAFFIC RELATED ISSUES ARE ANYTHING THEY MAY NOT KNOW ALL THOSE HOW THAT WILL IMPACT BECAUSE THE BLIND SPOT IS BIGGER AND KIDS, THEY DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERN.
MY DAUGHTER, SHE ALWAYS PUSHES FOR ME TO BEFORE REACHES TO THE SCHOOL TO REACH THE SCHOOL.
AND IF ANY MINUTE IT'S A LATE SHE WILL LIKE.
SHE'S UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS.
AND NEXT YEAR SHE IS GOING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ALL OF YOU.
FIND A SOLUTION AND WHICH IS A SAFER AND STRESS FREE FOR KIDS.
THAT IS MY REQUEST FOR THAT ONE.
ANOTHER ONE I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS CITY APPROVED WITHOUT ANY TRAFFIC STUDY? THAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE FISD.
NOT SURE. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
GORDIE CREMONA FOLLOWED BY ANGELA DUNFORD AND THEN SANTA JOCELYN.
I THINK I CAME BY TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE BEING USED AND IN RECENT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.
IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT GENDER IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SEX.
SEX CHARACTERISTICS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER.
THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
SO I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH THE PRIVACY OF THE STUDENTS.
STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION TO THEIR PEERS OR TO THE STAFF.
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VERY TRANSPHOBIC.AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DOES MORE TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, NOT JUST PARENTS THAT HAVE CONCERNS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING PROTECTED LIKE I SAID AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THERE HAS BEEN ZERO INSTANCES OF TRANSGENDER MISUSE OF THE BATHROOM.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
ANGELA DUNFORD FOLLOWED BY [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY, [INAUDIBLE].
AND THEN OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS SRINIVASA ADORA.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DOING THAT.
THE TWO MAIN ITEMS I WANTED TO SPEAK ON HAVE TO DO WITH STUDENT SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
SO WE CURRENTLY, AS YOU GUYS PROBABLY KNOW, DO A REALLY GREAT JOB OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT PLAY BREAKS ARE REALLY VALUABLE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, ETC..
AND I WOULD SAY WE DO BETTER THAN MOST DISTRICTS IN TEXAS WITH THAT.
WE ALSO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AT THE ELEMENTARY OR SORRY, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HAVING SOME FLEXIBLE TIME IN THE DAY WHERE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT TIME TO DECOMPRESS, RELAX, SOCIALIZE, WHATEVER THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO DO.
WE DO THAT WITH LIKE POWER HOUR OR, YOU KNOW, IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS CALL IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT USUALLY THEY'VE GOT AN EXTRA CHUNK OF TIME IN ADDITION TO THAT NORMAL HALF HOUR LUNCH TIME TO DO WHAT THEY WANT AND MEET THEIR NEEDS EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.
AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, WE DON'T HAVE REALLY ANYTHING STANDARD SET IN PLACE.
SO AT MY CHILDREN'S MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL DURING THE DAY FOR MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO RELAX OR SOCIALIZE FREELY UP UNTIL THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL AND SHE'S STARTING SOME NEW THINGS, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT, HAVING SOME MORE FLEXIBLE TIME DURING ADVISORY PERIOD.
I'M HOPING TO SEE THAT CONTINUE AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT BECOME STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THEIR NEED FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIKE TO DE-STRESS OR WHATEVER IT DOESN'T.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE SUMMER, GOING FROM FIFTH GRADE INTO SIXTH GRADE.
RIGHT? SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
I ALSO LOVE THAT SHE'S MADE IT MORE STANDARD NOW AT OUR SCHOOL TO HAVE NO PHONES AT LUNCH TIME SO THAT THE KIDS ACTUALLY UTILIZE UTILIZE THAT TIME IN A MORE SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY WAY TO LEARN HOW TO CONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS.
LAST, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RESOURCES BEING ALLOTTED TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH SPECIFICALLY, NOT MORE DISTRICT LEVEL PROGRAMING, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF COOL IDEAS GOING ON AND NOT MORE DISTRICT LEVEL ADMINISTRATION EVEN.
BUT FROM THE FEEDBACK I'VE HEARD FROM TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS THAT I'VE PERSONALLY TALKED TO, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE SAYING WHAT WOULD MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR THEM WOULD BE TO PROVIDE MORE ONSITE CAMPUS LEVEL SUPPORT STAFF, MORE BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS, MORE COUNSELORS, ETC., ACTUALLY AT THE CAMPUSES.
SO PEOPLE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH THE STUDENTS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LISTENING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SANTA JOCELYN, FOLLOWED BY SRINIVASA DHARA.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
I MOVED FROM MINNESOTA LAST YEAR AND MY SON GOES TO TRENT MIDDLE.
HE WAS WITH CHLOE MILLER AND HE'S ON SIXTH GRADE.
AND WE JUST MOVED TO OUR NEW HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO THE WAREHOUSES.
AND AS YOU PROBABLY MIGHT KNOW, THESE WAREHOUSES ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE REGION, AND THEY ARE BUILDING THREE WAREHOUSES, ONE ON THE TOP AND THEN TWO WAREHOUSES IN THE SOUTH.
AS PER THE PLAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE 650 CAR PARKING AND 200 TRUCK PARKING IN THAT SPACE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO EXPECT 650 NEW CARS COMING INTO THE REGION RIGHT IN THE AREA, AND THEN 200 PLUS TRUCKS, HUGE TRUCKS COMING IN AND.
IF YOU KNOW WHERE COREY MILLER IS, THE ONLY WAY TO GO TO MILLER IS THROUGH ROCK HILL.
AND ALMOST 90% OF THE PARENTS TAKE THE JUNCTION 423 AND ROCK HILL, THEY GET INTO IT.
IN THE MORNING, IT'S PRETTY CROWDED.
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THE OTHER THING IS MINETT IS LIKE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS LIKE RIGHT NEXT TO THE WAREHOUSE.YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SCHOOL FROM THE WAREHOUSE AND THE KIDS ARE GOING TO CROSS 423 FROM ROCK HILL AND GO TO A MINETT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SAY ON THE ZONING.
IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT PRETTY SOON.
RIGHT. SO WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DO ANYTHING IN TERMS OF ZONING OR ANYTHING.
BUT THE MOMENT MY SON GETS INTO THE BUS UNTIL HE COMES BACK AND GETS DOWN FROM THE BUS.
I TOTALLY DEPEND ON YOU GUYS FOR HIS SAFETY.
AND IF HE'S ON THE BUS RIGHT NEXT TO MULTIPLE TRUCKS GOING ON THE ROAD, I'M REALLY CONCERNED.
I KNOW YOU GUYS TAKE SAFETY AS A PRIORITY.
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED OUR KIDS INTO YOUR HANDS, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND COME BACK TO HOME. COME BACK HOME SAFELY.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY MY CONCERN.
AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SRINIVASA.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
WE WENT THERE, WE TALKED THERE.
RIGHT. WHEN THEY GO THERE, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAFFIC.
AND THEN I WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT LIKE TEN YEARS BACK BEFORE WE MOVED TO TEXAS.
SO WE DON'T WANT ANY OF OUR KIDS TO BE IN ANY OF THESE SITUATIONS.
BUT THESE ARE CALLED ACCIDENTS FOR A REASON.
SO WHY PUT OURSELVES IN THESE SITUATIONS WHEN WE CAN AVOID THEM? RIGHT. THAT'S WHY WE WANT YOU TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND WITH THE PARENTS TO SEE IF THERE IS AN AMICABLE SOLUTION OUT THERE IN THE THESE BIG SEMI TRUCKS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE SCHOOL ZONES AT A CERTAIN TIME, WHATEVER IT IS.
RIGHT. I, I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION TO PROPOSE, BUT IF WE THREE PARTIES, RIGHT, THE CITY, THE SCHOOL AND THE PARENTS LIVING IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE, IF WE CAN PARTNER TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION WHICH CAN KEEP THE KIDS SAFE AND NOT STRESS THE PARENTS OUT, BECAUSE IF WE ARE LATE, I THINK FIVE OR SIX DAYS.
AND IF THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE TRAFFIC RELATED PROBLEMS, THAT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.
RIGHT. SO WITH ALL THESE CONCERNS, IF WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT, THAT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
AND I THINK THIS IS OUR MOST WELL-ATTENDED COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT EVER.
WALDRIP AND HIS STAFF SORT OF THE WAY THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T ATTENDED BEFORE, IN THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS, WE WILL POST THE STREAM OF THIS MEETING WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED, AS WELL AS ANY RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL ALL BE ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND WE DO HAVE ALL OF YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE AN EMAIL MIGHT COME YOUR WAY FROM A STAFF MEMBER IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC.
AND MANY OF YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE, AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE.
AND WE WILL I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE UNTIL THIS EVENING, SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL CAME AND BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION, CERTAINLY WITH A GROWING CITY AND NEW PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION THAT DOES PRESENT SOME SAFETY ISSUES.
AND SO LET US DO OUR WORK AND FOLLOW UP WITH THE CITY.
SO I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION EITHER.
[00:35:05]
IT PROBABLY WILL NOT COME QUICKLY WITH ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES INVOLVED, BUT KNOW THAT THE STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP AND WE WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND BOARD IT IS 7:05 P.M.
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.