[1. Communication to and from the Board including public comments]
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AND I CALL TO ORDER OUR COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT.
WE DO HAVE QUORUM OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH SIX MEMBERS PRESENT.
MR. PONANGI IS UNABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT DUE TO RELIGIOUS OBSERVATION.
OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS REGARDING ANY ITEM RELATED TO DISTRICT, BUSINESS OR GOVERNANCE FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS THIS EVENING, WHICH ARE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AND ARE NOT TRANSFERRABLE TO OTHER SPEAKERS.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE INFORMATION SHARED IN PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE INFORMATION SHARED BY THE PRESENTER AND SOLELY PROVIDES THE OPINION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER, NOT THE DISTRICT.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONLY NOT OTHER ATTENDEES, AND ONLY MADE ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO SPEAK TO ENSURE THAT ALL SPEAKERS ARE TREATED EQUALLY AND HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, THE PODIUM MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE CONCLUSION OF EVERY OF THE TIME FOR EACH SPEAKER.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP.
IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CONCERN RELATED TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT OR A SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUE, YOU SHOULD UTILIZE THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN BOARD POLICIES DGBA LOCAL F AND G LOCAL AND GF LOCAL.
EACH GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ALLOWS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO REDRESS GRIEVANCES WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I'M SORRY. THERE'S NO LAST NAME FOLLOWED BY KELLY TANGENT AND THEN SUZANNE STRICKLER.
I AM REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
USUALLY I AM ATTENDING THESE TYPE OF EVENTS AS EITHER A PARENT OR A CIVIC LEADER.
TODAY, I'M REALLY HERE JUST SIMPLY FOR INTRODUCTION SAKE.
HOPEFULLY I'M THE MOST EASY VOICE FOR YOU TO HEAR TONIGHT.
MY COMPANY'S NAME IS PEOPLE WORK, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH FRISCO TO EXPLORE HOW WE CAN HELP EXPAND THE EFFICIENCIES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR CTE PROGRAMS AND YOUR CAREER COUNSELORS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AS FRISCO HAS DEVELOPED.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB BRINGING OVER 76 COUNSELORS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT YOUR SECOND AND MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE EXCUSE ME, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY READY FOR EITHER COLLEGE, CAREER OR MILITARY FOCUSED ON THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
BUT WHAT OUR TECHNOLOGY IS ABLE TO DO IS BRING PREDICTIVE INFORMATION TO YOUR CAREER COUNSELORS SO THEY NOT ONLY KNOW WHAT REALLY WILL FIT THAT YOUNG ADULTS FUTURE INTEREST, BUT WHAT REALISTIC JOBS WILL BE AVAILABLE FIVE YEARS, EIGHT YEARS, TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
SO IF I CAN DO ONE THING TODAY IS JUST LEAVE AN INTRODUCTION OF PEOPLE WORK, YOU WILL HEAR FROM US AGAIN BECAUSE WE ARE DOING GREAT WORK AND DISCOVERY SESSIONS WITH YOUR OTHER ADMINISTRATORS. WE WILL BE AT YOUR CTE CAMPUS VERY SOON.
BUT THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR CONVERSATION IS TO DO THAT, TO SUPPORT THE BOARD IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE PRODUCING FUTURE READY, REALISTICALLY READY YOUNG ADULTS ACHIEVING YOUR SECONDARY PRIORITY TO ENHANCE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND BONUS IS TO ENHANCE YOUR CURRENT CAREER COUNSELOR TO STUDENT RATIO FROM 289 STUDENTS TO EVERY ONE CAREER COUNSELOR TO ONE ON ONE CAREER COUNSELING, PREDICTIVE INFORMATION SO THAT EVERY STUDENT GETS REACHED WITH AN INFORMED AND PREPARED FUTURE.
KELLY TANGENT FOLLOWED BY SUZANNE STRICKLER AND THEN STACY HERLOW.
HI, MY NAME IS KELLY TANGUAY, AND I'M A SMITH ELEMENTARY PARENT AND A PTA MEMBER AND A FORMER EDUCATOR IN FISD FOR 14 YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SCHOOL REZONING PLAN BECAUSE OF ITS INADEQUATE IMPACT TO THE SMITH STRONG SMITH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY, BOTH TRUSTEES THEMSELVES AND IMPACTED FAMILIES WERE NOTIFIED MERELY A WEEK AGO OF THE PROPOSED ZONES, WHICH WILL UPROOT OUR SMITH STRONG COMMUNITY AND REDISTRIBUTE THESE STUDENTS ACROSS THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. THE TIMING OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE THIRD AND TRUSTEE VOTE ON THE 14TH IS CLEARLY INADEQUATE FOR BOTH IMPACTED FAMILIES AND TRUSTEES ALIKE TO PERFORM THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN DETERMINING WHETHER THERE ARE ALTERNATE ZONES WHICH CAN MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO ALL STUDENTS WHILE STILL ACCOMPLISHING THE GOALS OF ALLEVIATING SCHOOLS AT
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OR NEAR CAPACITY AND MAINTAINING BALANCED ENROLLMENT ACROSS THE DISTRICT.IF HE IS TO TRULY VALUES FEEDBACK FROM ITS PARENTS, WE IMPLORE YOU TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IN PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING.
ALTHOUGH THE SMITH STRONG COMMUNITY HAS MOBILIZED QUICKLY, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT ALLOWS THE DISTRICT 10 BUSINESS DAYS TO RESPOND UNDER THE CURRENT TIMETABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND VOTING, PARENTS DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AND DIGEST THESE CRITICAL PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TO PROVIDE FACT BASED COMMENT, RECOMMENDATIONS AND OTHER INPUT TO DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
IF THE TRUSTEES WANT TO MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION WITH THE PARENTS THEY ARE ELECTED TO SERVE, IT'S NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE EVALUATION PERIOD AND SPECIFICALLY DELAY THE HEARING AND VOTING DATE FOR THE PROPOSED NEW ZONES, RATHER THAN SIMPLY RUBBERSTAMP THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT FIRM WITH NO PERSONAL TIES TO THE DISTRICT.
TOUTING THE NEED TO REZONE 18 TIMES IN THE LAST 21 YEARS SHOULD NOT BE AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS FIRM'S WORK, BUT RATHER A CLEAR SIGN THAT THERE IS A STRONG NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN FISD STRATEGIC APPROACH TO REZONING AND THE FIRMS THEY PROCURE FOR ADVISEMENT.
AND AS AN EXAMPLE, I QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM THE WEBSITES FROM WEBSITE FISD CLAIM AROUND REZONING IN EAST FRISCO QUOTE THIS WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, END QUOTE.
WE NOW IMPLORE FISD AND YOU, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSING ALTERNATIVE ZONING.
THANK YOU, SUZANNE STRICKLER, FOLLOWED BY STACY HERLOW, AND THEN KEITH GROTE.
HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUZANNE STRICKLER.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THESE MEETINGS.
THIS IS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK TO EVERYBODY.
I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS WHICH I UNDERSTAND.
SO OUR STAFF IS ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, EVERY QUESTION THAT'S ASKED THIS EVENING WILL BE POSTED.
THE QUESTION AND ANSWER WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, ALONG WITH THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT.
SO MY QUESTIONS REVOLVE AROUND TEACHER RETENTION, WHICH I KNOW IS OBVIOUSLY A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW.
LAST WEEK YOU IT WAS MENTIONED DURING THE MEETING THAT 860 TEACHERS HAD LEFT THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR.
IS THE DISTRICT TRACKING DATA OF LIKE WHAT LEVEL OF TEACHERS ARE LEAVING? IS IT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL? IS THAT DATA BEING TRACKED? AND IF SO, WHERE CAN WE FIND THAT? AND IF IT'S BEING TRACKED ONLY BY LEVEL OR IS IT ALSO BEING TRACKED BY CAMPUS? AND IF THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, LIKE WHAT DOCUMENT IS IT CALLED, HOW DO WE GET A COPY OF THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THAT OR I JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE IT ON THE WEBSITE.
SO BY LEVEL AND BY CAMPUS AS WELL.
THANK YOU. MY SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT STRUCTURES OR SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE FOR TEACHERS WITH A GRIEVANCE? IS IT JUST THE FISD GRIEVANCE POLICY OR HIRING AN ATTORNEY, OR IS THERE ANOTHER POLICY OR A PROCEDURE IN PLACE FOR TEACHERS THAT HAVE GRIEVANCES? WELL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE AVENUES WHEN YOU'VE GOT GRIEVANCE, WHICH IS OUR GBA LOCAL POLICY.
SO AND ANY EMPLOYEE HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A GRIEVANCE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
NOW, OF COURSE, WITHIN BOARD POLICY, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE GOAL IS THAT PEOPLE CAN RESOLVE THESE ISSUES INFORMALLY AS WELL BY SPEAKING, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE COLLEAGUE OR WITH THE SUPERVISOR.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAY ASK QUESTIONS OF US IN HR AND WE HAVE FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS.
SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OTHER THAN FILING A GRIEVANCE.
BUT A GRIEVANCE IS ALWAYS THERE AS AN OPTION FOR AN EMPLOYEE.
SO THE GRIEVANCE POLICY, BUT THEY ALSO COULD REACH OUT TO EITHER SUPERVISOR OR TO THE HR DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STACY.
FOLLOWED BY KEITH GROAT AND THEN GARY GREG SMITH.
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HI. GOOD EVENING.MY NAME IS STACY HERLIHY, AND I'M A SMITH ELEMENTARY PARENT AND MEMBER OF THE PTA.
IT IS NO SECRET THE DISTRICT STRUGGLED TO ADEQUATELY STAFF ITS BUSSING PROGRAM THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE INCREASED DEMAND POTENTIALLY CREATED BY THE PROPOSED ZONING NOT ONLY EXACERBATES THE EXISTING SHORTAGE, BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAY REQUIRE THE DISTRICT TO INCREASE ITS BUSSING SPEND AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER BUDGET LINE ITEMS WHICH MORE DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS AND TEACHER SATISFACTION, BOTH HALLMARKS THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TOUTS.
IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES TO THE DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE COMMON RESPONSE TO DATE BY THE DISTRICT TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST AND THE INADEQUATE TIMELINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT SET BY FISD, WE CANNOT TAKE THESE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS AS A COMMUNITY AS WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT'S PLAN.
WITH THIS CONCERN, WE NOW IMPLORE YOU FRISCO ISD AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IN PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING.
IN ADDITION TO THE BEST IN CONCERN, WE ARE TROUBLED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPACT TO THESE CHILDREN.
BASED ON INFORMATION WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONFIRM UTILIZING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST.
IT IS THE PARENT'S UNDERSTANDING.
THIS DISTRICT COMPLETES TRAFFIC AND SAFETY STUDIES AFTER IMPLEMENTING NEW ZONES.
SIMPLY STATED, THAT IS NONSENSICAL IF SAFETY.
OF THE STUDENTS IS A PRIORITY FOR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENTS TRANSITIONING TO KURT SINGER.
THERE'S A SINGLE CROSSING GUARD FOR THE ENTIRE HILLCREST LEBANON INTERSECTION.
THIS COMPROMISES STUDENT SAFETY.
EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THE TRANSITION OF SEAL PLACE TO SHAWNEE TRAIL WERE WALKERS BECAUSE FEW, IF ANY IN THE SUBDIVISION WILL QUALIFY FOR BUSSING WILL NOW BE REQUIRED TO CROSS HILLCREST IN OHIO, WHERE THERE IS NO CROSSING GUARD IN PLACE, AND THE INTERSECTION SERVES COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, PLACING OUR STUDENTS AT RISK NOT ONLY BASED ON THE TRAFFIC, BUT ALSO BY FORCING THEM OUT OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND THROUGH COMMERCIAL SPACES.
KEITH GROAT, FOLLOWED BY GARY GREG SMITH AND THEN DAVID WOLF.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KEITH GROAT, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT STUDENTS RETENTION.
IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING, CHRIS POOLE INDICATED THAT ONE OR TWO NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA SIGNIFICANTLY AND SHE SAID WOULD AWFULLY IMPACT THE STUDENT POPULATION IN FRISCO ISD.
WALDRIP TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN AN EFFORT TO RESTRICT EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE THE EFFECT OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY FRISCO ISD.
ONE CHARTER SCHOOL HAS A NEW POPULATION OF ABOUT 650 STUDENTS, WHICH IS MADE UP OF HOME SCHOOLERS, OTHER ISD STUDENTS AND FRISCO ISD STUDENTS GROWING TO ABOUT 950 STUDENTS OVER TIME.
THIS IS ONLY ABOUT 1.3% OF THE 67,000 STUDENTS IN FRISCO ISD.
NO DATA HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS TO HOW MANY STUDENTS REALLY COME FROM FRISCO ISD.
THE BUDGET IN FRISCO ISD IS APPROXIMATELY $12,500 PER STUDENT.
YET THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ARE ON WAIT LISTS TO GET IN THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THE NUMBER ONE MISSION OF FISD IS TO KNOW THE NEED OF EACH STUDENT.
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TO OR PUTTING THEM IN HOME SCHOOL, WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE.GRADING POLICY, BATHROOM POLICY, DISCIPLINE POLICY.
MAYBE THE CURRICULUM OR I COULD GO ON.
MY SUGGESTION, IF YOU WANT TO STOP THIS EXODUS, SURVEY THE PARENTS THAT ARE LEAVING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, WHAT'S THE REASON? [INAUDIBLE] USED DATA.
AND PRIORITIZE CREATIVELY, FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO HERE TO TRY TO RETAIN THOSE STUDENTS.
THERE'S MANY THINGS YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO TO TRY TO DO THAT.
I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULD LOVE THE COMPETITION FROM THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE HOME SCHOOL GROUPS BECAUSE PARENTS ARE THE MAIN STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE STUDENTS. THEY'RE THE DECIDING FACTORS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WELL, THEY BROUGHT THEIR KIDS HOME.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THEM ARE STAYED.
AND THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THEY CAN EASILY HOMESCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY THEIR KIDS NOW AS COMPARED BEFORE.
SO THEY'RE FINDING OUT IT'S A LOT EASIER THAN THEY THOUGHT IT WAS.
THANK YOU. GARY GREG SMITH, FOLLOWED BY DAVID WOLFE AND THEN MANDY SQUIBB.
SO I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD.
AND PLEASE SUBSTANTIATE ANY CLAIMS THAT ANSWERS WOULD REVEAL PII OR PUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AT RISK.
IF FRISCO ISD IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF EVERY STUDENT, WHY ARE SOME FISD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOT ALLOWED TO BEGIN EATING THEIR LUNCH UNTIL 2:20 P.M.? WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE USED TO KEEP THE FRISCO ISD PRACTICE OF ALLOWING BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER TO USE COMMUNAL RESTROOMS DESIGNATED FOR BIOLOGICAL FEMALES AND VICE VERSA? OUT OF THE STUDENT HANDBOOK WHEN IT WAS FIRST AGREED UPON, HOW ABOUT WHEN IT WAS REVIEWED BY FRISCO ISD ADMINISTRATORS EACH YEAR SINCE 2015? WERE DIRECT EMPLOYEES OF FRISCO ISD DISCOURAGED IN ANY WAY FROM DISCLOSING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC PRIOR TO MAY 2022 THE FRISCO ISD PRACTICE TO ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER TO USE COMMUNAL RESTROOMS DESIGNATED FOR BIOLOGICAL FEMALES AND VICE VERSA.
WHAT CONTROLS WERE IN PLACE PRIOR TO MAY 2022 TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE FRISCO ISD PRACTICE TO ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER TO USE COMMUNAL RESTROOMS DESIGNATED FOR BIOLOGICAL FEMALES AND VICE VERSA BY ANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO KNEW ABOUT IT.
HOW MANY FISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO USE A COMMUNAL RESTROOM THAT DOES NOT MATCH THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER SINCE 2015? HOW MANY FISD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO USE A COMMUNAL RESTROOM THAT DOES NOT MATCH THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER SINCE 2015? HOW MANY FISD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO USE A COMMUNAL RESTROOM THAT DOES NOT MATCH THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER SINCE 2015? HOW MANY FISD STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SLEEP IN THE SAME ROOM WITH INDIVIDUALS OF THE OPPOSITE BIOLOGICAL GENDER DURING SCHOOL SPONSORED OR SANCTIONED OVERNIGHT TRIPS OR ACTIVITIES SINCE 2015? WHEN DID THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FIRST BECOME AWARE OF THE FRISCO ISD PRACTICE TO ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER TO USE COMMUNAL RESTROOMS DESIGNATED FOR BIOLOGICAL FEMALES AND VICE VERSA? FRISCO ISD.
FRISCO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TODD FOUSHEE AND EACH CURRENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS WERE AWARE PRIOR TO MAY 2022 OF THE FRISCO ISD PRACTICE TO ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER TO USE? AND I'M OUT OF TIME.
DAVID WOLFE, FOLLOWED BY MANDY SQUIBB AND THEN LESLIE HAGEN.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DAVID WOLF, AND I'M A SMITH ELEMENTARY PARENT, MEMBER OF THE PTA.
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HOWEVER, DOING SO SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE EXISTING STUDENTS, NOR THE PARENTS WHO HAVE INVESTED YEARS IN DEVELOPING THE CULTURE, WHICH MAKES SMITH SO SUCCESSFUL.UNDER THE PROPOSED ZONE SEVEN PTA EXECUTIVE TEAM POSITIONS WOULD BE REDISTRIBUTED, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHOM VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE IMPACTED, AND MANY BUSINESS OWNER FAMILIES WHO OFFER THE PTA AND SCHOOL FINANCIAL SUPPORT YEAR AFTER YEAR WOULD BE REASSIGNED REVIEWING PTA LOCATIONS OF ADJACENT AFFECTED SCHOOLS.
WITH THIS CONCERN, WE NOW IMPLORE FISD AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING.
UNDER THE PROPOSED REZONING, SOME SCHOOLS AND CONTIGUOUS ZONES TO THE AT CAPACITY SCHOOLS.
THIS REZONING IS NOT EQUITABLE AND POTENTIALLY NOT SUSTAINABLE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEIR NATIONAL ATTRITION AND OR AGE OUT RATES SHOW AN EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT DECREASE GOING INTO THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR.
AS IMPACTED PARENTS, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND ARE HOPEFUL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP DESIRES TO PARTNER IN THE SAME MANNER. ADDITIONALLY, THE NUMBERS SHOWN IN THE REZONING PLAN DO NOT ALWAYS CORRELATE WITH THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AS PROVIDED BY FISD.
WITH THIS CONCERN, WE NOW IMPLORE FISD AND YOU, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING.
AND I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
HOW DOES THE DISTRICT PLAN TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH IN THE SOUTH, WHY ARE RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE CURRENTLY ENROLLED, STUDENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO ZONING, BEING NOTIFIED OF THE CHANGE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. MANDY SQUIB, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE HAGAN AND THEN JESSICA JIMENEZ.
MY SON ATTENDS SMITH ELEMENTARY.
MY SEVENTH GRADE SON ALSO ATTENDED SMITH ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SCHOOL REZONING PLAN BECAUSE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] IMPACT TO THE SMITH STRONG SMITH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY. BASED ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S NEED FOR CONTINUALLY REZONING AND THE RESULTING UPHEAVAL OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS, AS STATED ON YOUR WEBSITE AS SEEMINGLY A BADGE OF EXPERIENCE.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DOES THE ISD PLAN TO DO BETTER? NO MORE EXCUSES OF GROWTH.
THE GROWTH IN THIS AREA IS IN NO WAY UNFORESEEN.
NO MORE PUTTING INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES OPINIONS TO THE SIDE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IT IS CERTAINLY SYMPTOMATIC OF A LACK OF STRATEGIC VISION AND PLANNING.
SO THE TIME FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING IS NOW.
THERE IS AN OBVIOUS NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUSES TO SERVE THE VAST INFLUX OF DEVELOPMENTS IN SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE DISTRICT.
THE 2018 BOND PACKAGE APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT'S 45TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
YET FOUR YEARS LATER, THE DISTRICT IS STILL OPERATING AT ONLY 43 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THE DISTRICT IS NOT EQUITABLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OTHER THAN WITH A BAND-AID AND OR GUNSHOT APPROACH CLEARLY MEANT TO BE EXPEDITED AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC OPINION AND NEED. BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE DISRUPTION OF THE 23 TO 24 SCHOOL YEAR.
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STUDENTS MAY EVENTUALLY BE SHIFTED YET AGAIN DURING THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAREERS TO ALLEVIATE THESE CAMPUSES, ABSORBING THE BRUNT OF OUR RAPID POPULATION GROWTH.THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS TO SMITH ARE NOT NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SUBDIVISIONS.
AND THEY'VE HAD SMITH AS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL SINCE OPENING IN 1997 DUE TO DISPLACED STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO PURCHASED IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A REASONABLE EXPECTATION.
LESLIE HAGEN, FOLLOWED BY JESSICA JIMENEZ.
AND THEN OUR FINAL SPEAKER OF THE EVENING IS ANGELA DUNFORD.
HI, MY NAME IS LESLIE HAGAN, AND I AM THE SMITH ELEMENTARY PARENT, A MEMBER OF THE PTA.
MY SON IS A FIRST GRADER, AND I WILL HAVE A DAUGHTER ATTENDING SMITH IN TWO YEARS.
IF THE CURRENT FORM OF THE ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY MODIFICATION SHOULD PASS AND BECOME IMPLEMENTED, THEN THE DISTRICT SHOULD PRIORITIZE MINIMIZING THE DISRUPTION TO THOSE STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE NO CHOICE TO BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR EXISTING AND WELL ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE AND UNFAIRLY DIVIDES THE SMITH STRONG COMMUNITY, ALSO BASED AGAIN ON THE DISTRICT'S VERY OWN CLAIM ON ITS WEBSITE THAT STUDENTS SHOULD, QUOTE, BE ALLOWED TO MAKE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS IN KINDERGARTEN THAT CAN BE MAINTAINED THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, END QUOTE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BOUNDARY MODIFICATIONS BEING UNFAIR.
IT IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
IF GIVEN THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO RESPONSIBLY REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE PROPOSAL, THE SMITH STRONG COMMUNITY PLEDGES THAT IT WILL NOT POINT FINGERS BUT WILL PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGE WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT CHALLENGES AND PROVIDE ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS FOR THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
WITH THIS CONCERN, WE NOW IMPLORE FISD AND US BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP IN PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
MY NAME IS JESSICA AND I'M A SMITH ELEMENTARY PARENT, A MEMBER OF THE PTA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SCHOOL REZONING PLAN BECAUSE OF THE INADEQUATE IMPACT ON THE SMITH STRONG SMITH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY. YOUR FISD COMMUNITY IS IN ACTION AND AS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ALL ASPECTS OF THE REZONING PROPOSAL, WE ARE INFORMED CITIZENS WITH A VOICE. THERE WAS AN INITIAL COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ATTENDED BY 40 FAMILIES LAST EVENING WITH MANY MORE INTERESTED.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY IMPACTED FAMILIES ARE ONLY NOW FINDING OUT ABOUT THE REZONING PROPOSAL DUE TO BEING NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL FISD COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION.
HOWEVER. OR EXCUSE ME, RATHER.
WE CONSIDER ALL MEMBERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN OR NOT TO BE AFFECTED.
WE WILL SEEK THEIR INPUT AND REPRESENT THEIR VOICE AS WELL.
WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH THE BOARD FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING, NOT A COMPLAINT SESSION.
WE ASK THAT YOU HEAR OUR CONCERNS AND IN TURN INCLUDE US MORE TRANSPARENTLY IN THE UNDERSTANDING, THE CHALLENGES WE SEEK TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE POINTS OF CONCERNS AND GAIN REASONABLE, EQUITABLE SOLUTION AND TRULY CRAFTED WITH COMMUNITY INPUT.
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IN THE SPIRIT OF WORKING TOGETHER, WE NOW IMPLORE FISD AND YOU, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, TO POSTPONE THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.AND SUBSEQUENT VOTING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES CAN PROPERLY EVALUATE, REQUESTED INFORMATION AND PARTNER WITH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PROPOSING ALTERNATE ZONING OPTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THERE'S LOTS OF, YOU KNOW, CONSULTING WITH THIRD PARTY PROFESSIONALS, ETC..
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, WELL, I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR.
YOU GUYS MAY HAVE MAY RECALL, BUT I STILL I DON'T SEE THAT SIMPLE CHANGE BEING MADE.
AND I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE IT WOULD GO SUCH A LONG WAY WITH PARENTS IF THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT ONLY BEING HEARD, BUT THAT THEIR INPUT WAS ACTUALLY WANTED NOT NOT JUST SIMPLY LISTENED TO, BUT IT WAS SOUGHT OUT, IT WAS WANTED.
OKAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT, BUT CAN WE AT LEAST SEE OK? WELL, THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WANTED THIS OPTION OVER THAT ONE AND NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, BUT THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT.
SMITH STUDENTS TO OTHER SCHOOLS, INCLUDING MY OWN, AND THEN MOVES 314 NEW STUDENTS IN TO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AN INCREASE OF 113.
SO WHY MOVE 201 OF OUR STUDENTS OUT IF THE END OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT AT SMITH TO HELP WITH RELIEVING CAPACITY AT OTHERS? THERE'S ALSO SO I'VE LOOKED AT THE LINES VERY CLOSELY.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO REDRAW THESE LINES.
I'VE GONE DOWN MY ADHD RABBIT HOLE ON THIS LATE AT NIGHT.
THERE'S ALSO THE OPTION FOR ADDING PORTABLES, PERHAPS IN SOME SCHOOLS.
MAYBE PARENTS WOULD LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GATHERED THAT INPUT, THOUGH, ON THE SURVEY.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO PARENTS, LIKE I SAID, THAT THEIR INPUT IS NOT ONLY HEARD BUT WANTED WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON FAMILIES DISRUPTING FRIENDSHIPS AND CONTINUITY OF COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THEIR YEARS AT FISD.
BUT THE REZONING WOULD PUT THEM 1.9 MILES AWAY FROM THEIR NEW SCHOOL, WHICH IS NOT FAR ENOUGH TO BE GIVEN A BUS, BUT TOO FAR FOR A YOUNG CHILD TO BE ABLE TO WALK SAFELY. SO PLEASE DELAY VOTING ON THE PROPOSED REZONING IN ORDER TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR FORMALLY GATHERING BROADER PARENT INPUT VIA SURVEY AND ALSO TO, AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED TONIGHT, ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO RECEIVE AND PROCESS AVAILABLE DATA AND ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT.
STAFF ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE? OKAY. AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, THE MEETING THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 3RD AT 5:30.
IT'S JUST FOCUSED ON REZONING.
SO WE WON'T BE VOTING AT ALL THAT EVENING.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S SOON, BUT THAT ALLOWS US TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AS AN ENTIRE GOVERNING BODY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY VALUE.
AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF MY FIRST THREE YEARS ON THE BOARD, WE DID NOT REZONE.
LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST REZONING.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST YEAR I WAS REALLY AND I'VE BEEN ON THE REZONING COMMITTEE ALMOST EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH STAFF TAKING ALL OF THE FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES.
[00:35:04]
I MEAN, I'M NOT MAKING PROMISES, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND STAFF WILL ITERATE ON THIS PROCESS BEFORE PRESENTING FINAL MAPS TO THE BOARD TO VOTE ON.SO WE HAVE MANY WE HAVE A LOT OF ITERATION AHEAD OF US IN REZONING.
I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED LAST YEAR WITH WITH WHERE WE STARTED AND WHERE WE ENDED IN THIS PROCESS.
DR. FOUCHE ONE THING I'LL SAY TO JUST SO YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND AND SO THE THING WITH WE'VE RE ZONED 18 OUT OF THE LAST 21 YEARS, THAT IS WE'VE OPENED OVER 50 SCHOOLS DURING THAT TIME AND EVERY TIME WE OPEN A NEW SCHOOL WE REZONE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PLANNING, IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN SO MANY NEW STUDENTS.
SO NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS, BUT JUST A COMMENT ON THAT.
I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION PROBABLY FOR SCOTT.
IS THERE A WAY TO BRING IN SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE MIKE WAS SUGGESTED, ESPECIALLY OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED TO SEE IF MAYBE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE DATA WITH FRESH EYES, THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS THOSE OF US WHO'VE DONE THIS BEFORE AND I'M NOT ONE OF THEM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A SET OF FRESH EYES TO JUST SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE DATA.
DO WE DO THAT? SO YOU ASKED US TWO QUESTIONS THERE.
I THINK AROUND 32 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN REGARDS TO THE SMITH REZONE.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SITTING OUT HERE, I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
I HAD CONVERSATIONS AND RENE SPOKE TO THIS.
WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY DAY AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND LOOK AT THAT FEEDBACK.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK NOT ONLY INTERNALLY WITH WITH MYSELF AND OUR INTERNAL DEMOGRAPHER.
WE ALSO THEN WORK WITH CHRIS, WITH PISA OUR EXTERNAL.
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE REVISIONS AND WE LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO IF WE MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE DIFFERENT TO OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHAT IS THE LONGEVITY OF THOSE CHANGES? DO WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE CHANGES CAN LAST FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS? SOMETHING WE LOOK AT.
WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT I HEARD A COMMENT TONIGHT ABOUT BUILDING MORE SCHOOLS.
WELL, WE HAVE CAPACITY IN SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING SCHOOLS THAT THAT PART OF WHAT WE DO WITH REZONING IN TODAY'S WORLD BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BUILDING THE WAY WE USED TO, IS WE'RE LOOKING AT BALANCING ENROLLMENT IN THE SCHOOLS THAT WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND THAT'S A NEW STORY FOR FRISCO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT.
TO YOUR QUESTION ON, WOULD WE I THINK YOUR FIRST QUESTION WAS, WOULD WE ASK PARENTS? I WILL SAY I THINK THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT IS WE DO TAKE THEIR FEEDBACK WHEN THEY SEND IT TO US IN AN EMAIL AND IN A PHONE CALL.
AND WE LOOK AT THAT FEEDBACK AND SOME OF THAT IS SPECIFIC FEEDBACK.
AND THAT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS PROCESS WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE DO PUT A LOT OF TIME.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY ANSWER.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS IS REALLY PERSONAL, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE MOVE INTO A HOUSE, WE BUY A HOUSE, WE RENT A HOUSE, WE RENT AN APARTMENT, WHATEVER.
AND WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THIS SCHOOL FOREVER.
AND I GET THAT IT DOES IMPACT ALL KIDS.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL KIDS AND SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET IMPACTED.
RIGHT. AND THEY NEVER WANT IT TO BE THEIR OWN.
I GUESS WHAT I WOULD JUST ADD IS IF WE COULD FIND A FORUM OR A WAY AND I KNOW SOME OTHER DISTRICTS DO IT, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY DO IT TO BRING SOME OF THE IMPACTED FOLKS INTO THE CONVERSATION.
IT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE THE OUTCOME, BUT IT COULD, RIGHT? MAYBE THEY HAD AN IDEA THAT THE DEMOGRAPHERS NEVER THOUGHT OF, BUT IT ALSO MIGHT JUST ENABLE THEM TO FEEL MORE PART OF THE PROCESS AND AND HAVE MORE BUY IN TO THE
[00:40:05]
PROCESS. SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY.AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T ON THE BOARD LAST YEAR, BUT I SAW I WAS HERE FOR THE MEETINGS WHEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PARENTS CAME IN AND SPOKE ABOUT IT. AND IT'S JUST SUCH A PERSONAL THING.
SO I THINK EVEN IF WE JUST LISTEN AND DO OUR BEST TO RESPOND, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GO A LONG WAY.
AND I WOULD SAY I THINK TONIGHT IS WHEN WE'RE IT'S ONE OF OUR AVENUES FOR LISTENING.
SO I THINK WE DO GIVE THAT AVENUE FOR LISTENING TO FEEDBACK AND THEN WE DO.
I THINK OUR TRACK RECORD WOULD SHOW, ESPECIALLY HERE RECENTLY, THAT WE DO LISTEN TO THE FEEDBACK AND WE'VE MADE WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I CAN'T PROMISE THAT WE'LL DO THAT THIS YEAR, BUT I CAN PROMISE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 4 WEEKS TO TO DIG IN AND LOOK AT ALL POSSIBILITIES. THANK YOU.
BOARD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY, AWESOME. IT IS 7:11 AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.