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>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS 6:31 PM AND WE WILL OFFICIALLY KICK OFF COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT.
[Community Input Meeting]
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION MS. GILLESPIE IS UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING BECAUSE SHE HAS A PRIOR COMMITMENT WITH TASB IN AUSTIN, SO THAT IS WHY SHE IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
WE WILL GET KICKED OFF WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, PUBLIC COMMENT, AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WITH US BEFORE, THERE'S A TIMER UP ON THE PODIUM AND YOU'LL SEE THE LIGHTS.
GREEN MEANS GO AND THEN IT'LL GIVE YOU AN INDICATION WHEN YOUR TIME IS ALMOST UP.
WE WILL GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER, KYLA PRUSAK, FOLLOWED BY TIFFANY CRAIG AND THEN STEPHANIE COOK.
>> HELLO. DO I JUST START? I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY INTRODUCING MYSELF.
I'M A FISD PARENT AND FISD TAXPAYER AND AN FISD EMPLOYEE SINCE 2004.
TO SERVE ON ANY SCHOOL BOARD IS AN HONOR.
IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS SINCE MY GRANDFATHER'S BOTH SERVED ON SCHOOL BOARDS AND PRIOR TO THAT ONE OF MY GRANDFATHER'S SAT IN YOUR SEAT, DR. WALDRIP.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO COMMIT TO THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT AND TO SERVE ON A SCHOOL BOARD.
I UNDERSTAND THE TIME THAT YOU'RE AWAY FROM YOUR OWN FAMILIES AND FROM YOUR OWN CAREERS.
FOR THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR JOB IS TO SERVE AND REPRESENT OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN FRISCO ISD.
IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, YOU MUST BE PRESENT.
SOME OF YOU ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, SOME OF YOU ATTEND EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, YOU ATTEND VARIOUS DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, YOU ATTEND DISTRICT CELEBRATIONS, YOU WALK OUR HALLS, YOU GET TO KNOW OUR TEACHERS AND YOU INTERACT WITH OUR STUDENTS, AND SOME OF YOU DON'T.
A SCHOOL BOARD IS CALLED TO SERVE ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, NOT JUST WHEN THE TOPICS ARE FLASHY.
YOU'RE CALLED TO BE IN THIS WORK ALL THE TIME.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO SHOW UP FOR OUR DISTRICT, I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO US WHEN WE SEE YOU JOIN US.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ONLY WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR DISTRICT DURING CERTAIN TIMES OR FOR CERTAIN REASONS, I URGE YOU TO DO BETTER, TO BE BETTER, TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN YOUR SERVICE, TO BE SOMEONE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN LOOK UP TO, TO LIVE OUR MISSION AND GET TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF BY NAME AND NEED, TO ACT AND SPEAK IN A MANNER THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR FISD STUDENTS WOULD BE PROUD OF.
AS I SAID, IT IS AN HONOR TO SIT IN YOUR SEAT, AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN THE EXCELLENCE THAT IS FRISCO ISD. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. TIFFANY CRAIG, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE COOK, AND THEN ANGIE WILLIAMS.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. WALDRIP.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE MY VOICE HEARD TONIGHT.
I AM A FRISCO RESIDENT, HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ATTENDED FISD AND THEN MY 12TH YEAR OF TEACHING IN THE DISTRICT.
MY SON GRADUATED IN 2021 FROM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL AND MY DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR THERE.
I'M GRATEFUL MY CHILDREN WERE EDUCATED IN A DISTRICT FULL OF DIVERSE ETHNICITIES, CULTURES, AND RELIGIONS, AND FOR THE ACADEMIC CHOICES THEY'VE HAD.
FISD HAS PREPARED MY CHILDREN TO THRIVE IN A GLOBAL WORLD.
AS FISD LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO ADOPT POLICIES, GOALS, PRIORITIES, AND MONITOR SUCCESS FOR OUR DISTRICT, I'M CONCERNED.
I AM CONCERNED BY THE RECENT EXTREMIST ATTACKS ON TEACHERS AND OUR SCHOOL BOARD BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INFLUENCED BY CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND FALSE INFORMATION.
THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DESCENDED ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS UNDER THE GUISE OF WANTING TO BAN PORN IN THE LIBRARIES, REMOVE CRT, CLAIM TEACHERS ARE INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE HOSTILE TOWARDS OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.
THESE ATTACKS NOT ONLY HARM THE REPUTATION OF EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL BOARDS, BUT ALSO UNDERMINE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THOSE WHO STRIVE TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THE LATEST ATTACK HAS LANDED ON OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS HOLD A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELING,
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AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN COUNSELING OR PSYCHOLOGY.THEY ARE PREPARED TO WORK WITH STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND GRADE LEVELS.
I WOULD NEVER THINK TWICE ABOUT ALLOWING MY OWN CHILD TO VISIT A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, WHETHER BY FILLING OUT A QR CODE OR JUST ASKING A TEACHER TO SEE THE COUNSELOR.
LET ME SHARE SOME EXPERIENCES FROM MY 12TH YEARS AT CARROLL ELEMENTARY.
OUR COUNSELOR IS ONE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF ANY STUDENT WHO'S IMMEDIATE PERSONAL CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS PUT THEIR EDUCATION, PERSONAL OR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT RISKS.
WITH A COUNSELOR ON CAMPUS, I FEEL BETTER EQUIPPED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MY STUDENTS.
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF COUNSELOR REFERRALS I HAVE MADE.
STUDENTS WITH ANXIETY, STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH EMOTIONS AND APPARENT SEPARATION, STUDENTS SUFFERING GRIEF, STUDENTS WHO ARE SOCIALLY WITHDRAWN, STUDENTS WITH ANGER ISSUES, STUDENTS WHO ARE DEPRESSED AND WHAT TO HURT THEMSELVES, STUDENTS WHO SHOW SIGNS OF NEGLECT OR ABUSE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS OF A STUDENT NEEDS IMMEDIATE HELP.
WITHOUT A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW IT'D BE ABLE TO HANDLE SITUATIONS AND TEACH MY PE CLASS.
NOT ONLY IS OUR COUNSELOR, A FIRST RESPONDER, BUT SHE TEACHES GUIDANCE CLASSES TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR FULL EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL.
PART OF THAT IS FILLING STATE REQUIREMENTS TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS IN SOCIAL SETTINGS.
THANK YOU TO DR. WALDRIP AND THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE SETTING THE DIRECTION FOR THE DISTRICT AND ENSURING THAT SCHOOLS ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE COOK. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING.
AT TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC, IT FEELS AS IF WE LIVE IN A CULTURE OF CHAOS, A WORLD IN WHICH LEARNING TO REACT IN BINARY FACTIONS HAS BECOME THE NORM.
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE AUDIENCE FOR TONIGHT, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT I'M SPEAKING TO THOSE WHO STILL HAVE EARS TO HEAR AND EYES TO SEE.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN FRISCO FOLLOW THE LAW, BUT WHAT SEPARATES US IS THAT WE DO IT WITH RICH PRACTICES AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT PROCESSES.
DISTRICTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER LOOK TO US REGULARLY.
THESE PRACTICES ARE FULLY TRANSPARENT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.
WE WERE TRANSPARENT BEFORE TRANSPARENT WAS COOL.
WE'RE THE ONLY DISTRICTS THAT I'M AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AROUND CURRICULUM AND POST IT ONLINE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO SEE EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF WHAT WE TEACH.
SINCE WE STARTED, WE HAVE HAD ZERO FAMILIES OPT OUT.
WHAT IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATE, BUT WHAT IS THIS BEST PRACTICE IS TO PROVIDE A ONCE A MONTH FLYER THAT IS A COMPANION TO OUR LESSONS.
WITH THIS RESOURCE, WE HOPE ALL FAMILIES ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH US TO HELP DEVELOP CHARACTER, A SENSE OF PURPOSE, SELF-CONTROL, AND GRIT.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW STUDENTS DO BEST IN A COHESIVE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL NOT COME TO BOARD MEETINGS TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS THAT EXPERIENCE ACUTE MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOSPITALIZATION LAST YEAR.
STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW BACK IN SCHOOL AND SUCCEEDING, WE DO NOT ASK FOR RECOGNITION WITH A STUDENT WITH MULTIPLE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS WHO NOW COME TO THE COUNSELING OFFICE ONLY ONCE A WEEK TO USE THEIR COPING STRATEGIES.
YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHAT THE TOP 10 LUNCH, DINNER GRADUATION, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE WALKING THE STAGE BECAUSE A COUNSELOR HELPED THEM TO LEARN HOW TO BALANCE EXPECTATION AT MOM AND DAD'S DURING THE DIVORCE IN THIRD GRADE.
YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS SOCIAL SERVICES AND TRANSITION THAT THEY FACILITATED AFTER STUDENT WAS VICTIMIZED.
YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHICH ONE OF THEM TOOK HOME ONE OF THE HALF A MILLION WEEKEND PACKS OF FOOD WHILE THEY ATTENDED OUR SCHOOLS IN A DISCRETE BAG TO PRESERVE A STUDENT'S DIGNITY.
THERE'LL BE NO INDICATION OF THE STUDENTS THAT RECEIVED HOLIDAY GIFTS OR THE STUDENTS THAT HELP TO DONATE BUT THE COUNSELOR KNOWS.
THEY TURN ALL THE GEARS BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT JUST TO SERVE, BUT TO COORDINATE A SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
WHAT ARE THE COUNSELOR'S VALUES? IT'S EASY TO SEE HEADLINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND BE FEARFUL LOCALLY.
IT IS ANOTHER LEVERAGE POINT AND FEARS VERY POWERFUL, BUT LOVE IS MORE SO.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNSELORS AT FRISCO ISD, THEY DO NOT SEEK RECOGNITION, BUT TO SERVE.
EVERY DAY THEY BUILD THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
THEY HELP FEED THE HUNGRY, SERVE THE ORPHANS, AND HELP BIND UP THE BROKEN HEARTED.
THEY SUPPORT THOSE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED LOST DURING THESE YEARS.
I CANNOT IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE SUCH THINGS ARE QUESTIONED.
REVEREND DR. MLK SAID, "WE HAVE A HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OF CREED AND WE ARE ANEMIC IN DEEDS." I'M GRATEFUL THIS ISN'T TRUE OF COUNSELORS IN FRISCO.
I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT'S NOT TRUE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IF THERE ARE SOME FOR WHOM IT IS TRUE, I HOPE THEY FIND A VENUE WITHOUT CHILDREN TO SERVE. [APPLAUSE]
>> ANGIE WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY LAURA FIX, AND THEN BETH EVANS.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANGIE WILLIAMS AND I SERVE AS ONE OF THE COUNSELING SERVICES COORDINATORS IN THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO START BY RECOGNIZING AND THANKING YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE MANY, MANY HOURS YOU PUT INTO SERVING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
FOR FRISCO'S EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IS FOUNDED ON OUR EXTRAORDINARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
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FISD HAS ACHIEVED THIS REPUTATION, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE COHESIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS. THANK YOU FOR BEING A POWERFUL STAKEHOLDER IN THAT WORK.AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW COUNSELORS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A SYSTEM THAT ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.
FISD COUNSELORS ARE PART OF THE SCHOOL SUPPORT LEADERSHIP TEAM AND PROVIDE A CRITICAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT.
BY IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM, COUNSELORS CAN HELP SET STUDENTS ON A PATH FOR POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS.
AS LEADERS ON WHOLE CHILD COMMITTEES, THEY HELP CREATE A CAMPUS CULTURE THAT IS ACCEPTING AND POSITIVE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE PHRASE, MASLOW'S BEFORE BLOOMS. THIS INTENTION IS FOUNDATIONAL IN THE WORK OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT STUDENTS HAVE BASIC NEEDS MET IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN THEIR LIFE.
OUR COUNSELORS WORK TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS BASIC PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE MET AND THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE READY LEARNING THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH FRISCO ISD'S CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMS. OUR DEPARTMENT MOTTO IS STUDENTS HAVE THE NEED TO FEEL CARED FOR, CAPABLE, AND CONNECTED.
I TALK WITH COUNSELORS DAILY WHO ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
OFTEN WE WILL CONSIDER THESE THREE IDEAS TO HELP IDENTIFY WHY STUDENTS ARE FLOUNDERING.
COUNSELORS WORK DILIGENTLY TO FACILITATE THE CONNECTION OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE STUDENTS.
THE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO FINDING ADDITIONAL TIME FOR COUNSELORS TO WORK WITH STUDENTS SO THEY ARE PREPARED, FUTURE-READY LEARNERS.
WE HAVE CREATED AUTOMATED PROCESSES FOR TASKS LIKE SIGNING UP TO SEE THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR THROUGH USING A QR CODE, AT RISK IDENTIFICATION, REQUEST FOR OUTSIDE OF RESOURCES, SELF-HARM NOTIFICATION, DUAL CREDIT PROCESSES, ETC.
THE DRIVE BEHIND THIS COMMITMENT IS TO INCREASE COUNSELORS' FACE-TO-FACE TIME WITH STUDENTS AND DECREASE CLERICAL TASKS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY STATE MANDATED CHARACTER EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH LESSONS SO COUNSELORS ARE NOT LEFT TO CREATE THOSE ON THEIR OWN.
AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO BUY TIME WITH STUDENTS.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE DR. WALDRIP AND SOMETHING HE ONCE SAID, "KNOWING EVERY STUDENT BY NAME AND NEED IS MORE THAN A MOTTO AND IT'S MORE THAN A SLOGAN.
IT MEANS KNOWING STUDENTS AT A DEEPER LEVEL AND WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS.
WE WORK REALLY HARD TO ESTABLISH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIDS TO WORK ON THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL NEEDS AS WELL AS THEIR ACADEMIC NEEDS.
WE WANT TO PRODUCE STUDENTS WHO ARE READY FOR THE WORLD." THAT'S THE END OF HIS QUOTE. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN THE WORK SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE DOING TO SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT MOTTO OF NAME AND NEED, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS.
FRISCO ISD COUNSELORS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] LAURA FIX, FOLLOWED BY BETH EVANS, AND THEN YAMINA TUCKER.
I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. WALDRIP AND OTHER DISTRICT LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK TONIGHT.
WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING NOT AS INDIVIDUALS BUT WE PROUDLY COME COLLECTIVELY TO REPRESENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELING AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS.
THE SKILLS PROVIDED THROUGH COUNSELING PROGRAMS, EQUIP STUDENTS FOR TODAY AND FOR THEIR FUTURES.
WE ARE HONORED TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN THIS AMAZING SCHOOL DISTRICT.
KNOWING EACH STUDENT IN EACH CAMPUS BY NAME AND NEED ALLOWS US TO SERVE IN UNIQUE WAYS.
WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, PROVIDING THE SPACE TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY AND CELEBRATE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS.
HAVING A PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO PROCESS THROUGH STRUGGLES THAT MIGHT BE IMPEDING THEIR ABILITY TO FOCUS AND LEARN.
SUPPLYING A QUIET PLACE FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED TO GRIEVE OVER THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.
ESTABLISHING A SAFE AND COMFORTING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO USE COPING SKILLS THEY'VE LEARNED WHEN FEELING DYSREGULATED, THUS LIMITING DISRUPTION IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IMPROVING BEHAVIOR.
FACILITATING PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITH STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE SOCIAL SKILLS.
FINALLY, PARTNERING WITH PARENTS TO BEST SERVE ANY AND ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR NEEDS, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY'S NEEDS.
THE NURTURING SIDE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR COINCIDES WITH A VERY PRECISE SET OF STANDARDS THAT FRISCO ISD COUNSELING PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE VERY TENET THAT EVERY CHILD IS CARED FOR, CAPABLE, AND CONNECTED.
THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM IN FISD ALLOWS THE ASCA, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELING ASSOCIATION MODEL.
WE'RE DRIVEN BY THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AS STATED WITHIN ITS FRAMEWORK.
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THAT WE BASE EVERYTHING ON DATA INFORMED DECISION-MAKING.WE DELIVER TO ALL STUDENTS SYSTEMATICALLY.
WE INCLUDE A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON THE MINDSET AND BEHAVIORS OF ALL STUDENTS THAT THEY NEED FOR POST-SECONDARY READINESS AND SUCCESS.
WE CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS AND TO HELP RESULT IN IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND DISCIPLINE.
HOW DO WE CARRY THESE COMPONENTS OUT WITHIN OUR PROGRAM? THE DELIVERY OF OUR PROGRAM IS THREEFOLD.
NUMBER 1, ALL STUDENTS IN ALL GRADE LEVELS ARE SERVED THROUGH THE GUIDANCE CURRICULUM, WHICH FOCUS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION TO PROMOTE GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO BE FUTURE READY LEARNERS.
NUMBER 2, WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION BY USING DISTRICT-WIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
FOR INSTANCE, THE OLD AS BULLIES SURVEY, AND THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM BEHAVIOR AND ATTENDANCE.
FINALLY, WE SUPPORT THE WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS SUPPORT FORMS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] BETH EVANS, FOLLOWED BY YAMINA TUCKER, AND THEN BETH HIMBIE, THEN KEN TYSON.
I'VE BEEN A TEACHER IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR 28 YEARS, AS WELL AS A PARENT OF THREE GRADUATES FROM FRISCO ISD.
I'VE WORN ALL THE HATS FROM ROOM MOM TO PTA SECRETARY, BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR MY LEVEL, THE HONORS, GIFTED AND TALENTED AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE DISTRICT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.
NONE OF US IS IN THIS BUSINESS FOR THE MONEY, LEAST OF ALL, YOU ALL.
I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT IN, MANY OF YOU FOR YEARS TO SERVE OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AS I'VE SAID, I'VE TAUGHT IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT IT WAS FRISCO ISD WHERE MY HUSBAND AND I CHOSE FOR OUR CHILDREN IN 2009 AND WHERE I CHOSE TO COME BACK TO FULL-TIME TEACHING IN 2014.
THE REASON FOR OUR CHOICE IS BECAUSE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER AND PARENT IN OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ALL A VERY HIGH CALIBER, WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT FRISCO IS THE VISION FROM THE TOP-DOWN.
FRISCO IS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY IN BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATION.
SINCE MY CHILDREN FIRST STARTED IN THE DISTRICT, I HAVE WATCHED AS FRISCO AS CAREFULLY STUDIED RESEARCH-BASED METHODS TO IMPLEMENT TECHNIQUES AND PRACTICES WHICH ARE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR CHALLENGING EACH STUDENT TO REACH HIS OR HER FULL POTENTIAL, PREPARING THEM FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.
AS A VETERAN TEACHER, I CAN SAY THAT WHILE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF MY SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, I AM A MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHER TODAY AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGING APPROACHES TO TEACHING THAT I'VE IMPLEMENTED IN FRISCO IN RESPONSE TO THE RESEARCH-BASED METHODS WE HAVE LEARNED.
THIS INCLUDES FOCUS ON STANDARDS, MORE DISCRETE RUBRICS WHICH TIE GRADES TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT RATHER THAN SIMPLY COMPLIANCE.
I HAVE CONSISTENTLY HAD STUDENTS RETURN FROM EITHER COLLEGE OR FROM POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS TO REPORT HOW WELL-PREPARED THEY WERE.
THIS INCLUDES STUDENTS FROM THE IVY LEAGUE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I CAN ALSO ATTEST TO HOW WELL-PREPARED MY OWN CHILDREN WERE FOR THEIR POSTGRADUATE WORK DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THEY RECEIVED HERE IN FRISCO.
OUR SCHOOL BOARD MANDATES THAT WE ARE CAREFUL TO GUIDE OUR STUDENTS IN CRITICAL THINKING WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHAT TO THINK.
THIS IS WHAT I WITNESS DAILY FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I ALSO GET TO WATCH COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS PARTNERING WITH PARENTS TO HELP GUIDE OUR STUDENTS DEAL WITH CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING, WHICH CAN BE BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
WHEN I STARTED TEACHING, IT WAS CONSIDERED A PRIVILEGE TO TEACH IN SCHOOLS LIKE FRISCO AND NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS.
NOW, WE HAVE A LACK OF YOUNG PEOPLE WANTING TO JOIN THE PROFESSION.
THE WAY TEACHERS ARE CHARACTERIZED IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA AND FRANKLY, OFTEN IN THIS BOARDROOM SURELY PLAYS INTO THAT.
I STAND HERE AS A PROUD PARENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PRIDE IN MY WORK, AND I'M SO GRATIFIED TO PLAY A PART IN HELPING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE GROW ACADEMICALLY.
BUT I AM WORRIED THAT UNLESS WE COME TOGETHER WITH AN ATTITUDE OF RESPECT, BELIEVING THE BEST IN EACH OTHER, IT WILL BE THE CHILDREN OF OUR DISTRICT WHO WILL PAY THE PRICE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DR.
WALDRIP FOR YOUR SERVICE TO EVERYONE IN OUR DISTRICT.
MY NAME IS YAMINA TUCKER AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT HAAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY AS A WIFE, MOTHER, VOTER, TAXPAYER, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS I'VE WORKED IN THIS DISTRICT.
I'M PROUD TO SAY FRISCO ISD IS MY HOME.
I STAND HERE TODAY TO SHARE THE ENORMOUS WORK AND IMPACT OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
MANY ADULTS THAT I KNOW DON'T REMEMBER HAVING AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
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CONSEQUENTLY, THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR CAN BE AMBIGUOUS AT TIMES.THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION.
THE HISTORICAL FACTORS OF SCHOOL COUNSELING BEGAN IN 1895 WITH GEORGE MOREL, WHO DEVELOPED THE FIRST SYSTEMIC GUIDANCE PROGRAM IN SAN FRANCISCO.
BUT IT WAS FRANK PARSONS IN 1908, WHO'S CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF VOCATIONAL COUNSELING.
HE ALSO FOUNDED THE VOCATION BUREAU OF THE CIVIC CENTER, WHICH HAS BECOME THE DIVISION OF EDUCATION AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
WHILE THE NAME HAS CHANGED FROM VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR TO GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND NOW SCHOOL COUNSELOR, THE GOAL REMAINS THE SAME, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
THE CURRENT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH FACTORS INCLUDE RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION, SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TEXAS FOR AGES 10 THROUGH 24.
A BI-ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IN TEXAS SHOWS THAT 31 PERCENT OF OUR CHILDREN, AGED FIVE AND YOUNGER ARE CURRENTLY BEING SERVED.
AT MY CAMPUS THAT EQUALS TWO GRADE LEVELS COMBINED FOR CHILDREN AGED SIX TO 12, IT'S 55 PERCENT.
HOW DO SCHOOL COUNSELORS DIRECTLY IMPACT STUDENTS? IT'S THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM AND BASED ON THE TEXAS MODEL, THAT INCLUDES FOUR COMPONENTS.
GUIDANCE COUNSELING, RESPONSIVE SERVICES, STUDENT PLANNING, AND SYSTEM SUPPORTS.
MY ROLE AS AN EDUCATOR IN A SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM INCLUDES, I DO RECOGNIZE MY VALUES, BUT I DON'T IMPOSE THEM ON SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD.
BUT THE ESSENCE OF WHAT I DO EVERYDAY CAN BE FOUND IN MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, WHICH ENSURES THAT EVERY STUDENT IN MY SCHOOL REACHES THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> BETH CAN BE FOLLOWED BY KEN TISIL, DENNIS THORPE, AND THEN TEAL PEREZ.
>> HI. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE FISD SCHOOL BOARD, DR. WALDRIP, THE FISD LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND THE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT FOR SEEING A NEED AND CREATING A PROGRAM CALLED INTERIM LEARNING TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
I AM BETH HIMBIE, I AM ONE OF THE TWO HOSPITAL LIAISONS FOR FRISCO ISD.
FRISCO ISD CONTINUES TO LOOK AT THE DATA, MONITOR TRENDS, AND COUNSELING NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS ONGOING SITUATIONS.
AS HOSPITAL LIAISON, MY JOB ENTAILS SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND TREATMENT WITH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ENCODING ATTENDANCE, AS THE PANDEMIC RAMPED UP SO DID OUR NUMBERS.
IN 2019, FISD HAD 220 STUDENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR, OUR NUMBER ROSE TO 759 AND CONTINUED TO RISE IN 2021 AND 2022.
WITH EXTRA FUNDS THE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE DISTRICT'S NEED TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZED STUDENTS BY HIRING A SECOND HOSPITAL LIAISON.
AS OF TODAY, INTERIM LEARNING HAS SERVED 417 STUDENTS IN THE 2023 SCHOOL YEAR STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
[NOISE] BESIDES THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PLACEMENTS, THE LEVEL OF ACUITY HAS ALSO RISEN.
THE INTERIM LEARNING LIAISONS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOSPITALS AND CAMPUSES TO HELP OUR STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME OF NEED.
MOST OF THE TIME, A FAMILY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION ON THEIR OWN AND AT HOME UNTIL A CRISIS ARISE.
WHEN A STUDENT COMPLETES THEIR TREATMENT PLAN AND IS DISCHARGED FROM THE FACILITY, IT IS THE CAMPUS COUNSELOR WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY TO COLLABORATE WITH FAMILIES AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED AS THEY TRANSITION BACK TO CAMPUS.
THESE INDIVIDUALIZED AND TARGETED PLANS ENSURE THAT WE ARE SET UP FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY RETURN FROM HOSPITALIZATION.
OUR FISD COUNSELORS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN KEEPING THESE STUDENTS AND ALL STUDENTS SAFE AS THEY RETURN TO CAMPUS.
AS A HOSPITAL LIAISON, I HAVE WITNESSED MANY BENEFITS OF THE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INTERIM LEARNING TEAM AND THE COUNSELORS.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE SUCCESS STORIES INCLUDE SENIORS THAT ARE ABLE TO REMAIN ACTIVE IN THEIR ACADEMICS AND THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND RECEIVE TREATMENT AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR THEM AS THEY START TO LEAVE ON THEIR JOURNEY INTO ADULTHOOD.
THE BENEFITS OF TREATMENT ARE LIFELONG.
HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES COMPLEMENT, FISD IN OUR CAMPUS COUNSELORS AND HOW THEY SUPPORT STUDENTS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
[00:25:04]
FISD, WE'RE A TRAILBLAZER IN MANY WAYS AND I'M GRATEFUL EVERY DAY FOR OUR CAMPUS COUNSELORS.>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KEN TISIL, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED HERE IN FRISCO ISD SINCE 2008.
SINCE THIS IS BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS WELL AS DR. WALDRIP, ALL FISD TEACHERS AND STAFF.
YOU'RE OFTEN THE TARGETS OF LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOR THAT'S UNINFORMED, MEAN-SPIRITED, AND WRONG.
AND FROM COMMENTS IN LAST WEEK'S MEETING, A LITTLE WEIRD.
NOT SURE IF I WAS ATTENDING A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OR A QUEUE AND ON GROUP THERAPY SESSION.
YET IN SPITE OF THAT, YOU EXHIBIT GRACE AND COMPOSURE AND PUT IN THE HARD WORK FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SO THANK YOU.
BUT WE NEED TO TALK AND SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS STEPHANIE AND MARVIN.
YOU ARE ON THE BOARD BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT FROM CULTURALLY CONSERVATIVE AND EVANGELICAL SUPPORTERS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.
BUT THAT SUPPORT MUST BE GROUNDED IN FACTS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT MUCH OF YOUR SUPPORT IS DRIVEN BY MISINFORMATION AND CONSPIRATORIAL THINKING.
WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK UP AGAINST SUCH MISINFORMATION.
I WILL ALSO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE ALL ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL OF FRISCO ISD AND THAT'S ALL REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, WHITES, BLACKS, HISPANICS, ASIANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, CONSERVATIVES, MODERATES, LIBERALS, JEWS, HINDUS, MUSLIMS, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS, STRAIGHTS, GAYS, AND MANY OTHERS.
PRETTY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN EXACTLY THE WORLD THAT OUR STUDENTS WILL ENTER AFTER THEY FINISH THEIR STUDIES.
TO FINISH, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW SOME FACTS ON RECENT ISSUES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN YOUR BASE WHO WANT TO SHAME AND DEMONIZE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.
[APPLAUSE] AND IT'S AN INFREQUENT ISSUE FALSELY LABELED AS A HUGE EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.
LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OUT OF 40,000 SECONDARY STUDENTS, ABOUT 50 HAVE ASKED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
THAT IS 0.125 PERCENT OF STUDENTS.
FOR THOSE AFFECTED, IT IS BEST HANDLED COMPASSIONATELY ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
AS THE FISD SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ATTEMPTING TO DO.
BOOKS, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
ACCORDING TO DECEMBER 2022 NEWS REPORT, ONLY ABOUT 15 BOOKS HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY REMOVED OUT OF 1 MILLION REVIEWED.
THAT WORKS OUT TO 0.0015 PERCENT OF BOOKS AVAILABLE.
THAT IS NOT AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS EITHER.
BUT THAT ISN'T A GAME BEING PLAYED HERE.
THIS MOVEMENT, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, IS JUST A PLOY TO REMOVE ANY BOOKS THAT CONTAIN IDEAS AND HISTORICAL TRUTHS THAT YOUR SUPPORTERS FEAR.
CRITICAL RACE THEORY. THIS HAS NOT BEEN TAUGHT IN FRISCO ISD, NOR HAS EVER BEEN.
[APPLAUSE] IT'S A MORE SIMPLE MATH. THAT'S 0.0.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> FOR THOSE THAT ARE BEING CUT OFF BY THE TIME AS I MENTIONED, EVERY BOARD MEETING COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT, YOU ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS TO LITERS AT FRISCOISD.ORG.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DENNIS THORPE AND I HAVE BEEN A COUNCIL AND FIRST GUY, STEVE, FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WHAT DO COUNSELORS REALLY DO? IT SEEMS TO BE A QUESTION IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU A TYPICAL DAY, BUT AS MY COLLEAGUE CAN ATTEST, THERE IS NO TYPICAL DAY AS A COUNSELOR, YOU HAVE WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO AND THEN THE KIDS SHOW UP AND ALL BETS ARE OFF.
I WISH I COULD JUST TELL YOU ABOUT FRIDAY; [LAUGHTER] CALMING THE LATEST DRAMA IN THE HALLWAYS, ANSWERING MUNDANE SCHEDULING QUESTIONS, CONFRONTING THE STUDENT WHO LOST HIS FATHER OVER THE WINTER BREAK, A STUDENT WHO HAD JUST STARTED SELF-HARMING AND ANOTHER THAT HAD CONSIDERED SUICIDE, THAT WAS JUST FRIDAY AND THEY WERE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT DO COUNSELORS WANT? WE WANT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND BE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
WE WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GROW IN THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS A STRAIGHT LINE, WE ARE HERE TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK, BE THAT ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND OR EMOTIONALLY.
WE CELEBRATE IN YOUR CHILDREN'S SUCCESS AND WE FEEL IT WHEN THEY ARE HURTING.
[00:30:04]
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.BUT THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO COUNSELORS AND WE ARE NOT ISLANDS, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE PART OF A TEAM OF TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICE STAFF WHO MAKE THE PLACE RUN, CROSSING GUARDS AND BUS DRIVERS WHO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND CUSTODIAL STAFF WHO I PROMISE YOU DESERVE YOUR RESPECT FOR HAVING TO CLEAN UP AFTER EIGHTH-GRADE BOYS FOR SOMEHOW MORE FOOD ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR THAN IN THEIR MOUTHS.
WE'RE PART OF AN AMAZING TEAM OF ADULTS WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE SET OF SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND YET THEY ALL COME TOGETHER FOR THE SAME PURPOSE; TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE FISD, HAVE THE BEST DAY THEY CAN, LEARN SOMETHING NEW, AND FEEL SAFE AND CARED FOR.
LASTLY, COUNSELORS ARE HUMBLE HEROES.
THE JOKE ABOUT THAT IS IF YOU KNOW ME, MAY NOT BE TRUE ABOUT ME.
THIS GROUP WORKS VERY HARD FOR VERY LITTLE FANFARE OF RECOGNITION.
LAST YEAR I GAVE A PRESENTATION AND ASKED HOW MANY OF THEM FELT LIKE THEY HAD SAVED A LIFE.
IN A ROOM OF OVER 100 PEOPLE, VERY FEW HANDS WENT UP.
MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WAS, HOW MANY HAVE HAD A STUDENT COME TO YOU WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AND LATER HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER YOU GOT THEM THE HELP THEY NEEDED BY CONTACT THE FAMILY AND GETTING EVERYTHING WORKED OUT THUS SAVING A LIFE.
I POST THIS LOT TO THEM AND NOW I DO TO YOU, WHEN POLICE OFFICERS SAVE A LIFE, WE CELEBRATE AS WE SHOULD, WHEN FIREFIGHTERS SAVE LIVES, WE CELEBRATE AS WE SHOULD, WHEN COUNSELORS SAVE A LIFE, WE MIGHT GIVE OURSELF 10 MIN FOR LUNCH INSTEAD OF FIVE.
COUNSELORS AREN'T BATTLING FLAMES OR IN HIGH-SPEED CHASES, WE GO INTO ACTION AND AS FAR MORE DISCRETE.
WE SAVE LIVES BY NOTICING CHANGES IN OUR STUDENTS, BY ASKING THEM THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND READING BETWEEN THE LINES.
WE HELP OUR STRUGGLING STUDENTS TAP THE BRAKES ON THEIR EXTREME EMOTIONS, AND AS THEY SPIRAL TO KEEP THEM EITHER AS PART, THERE WAS A HOPE THAT THERE IS HELPING ANOTHER WAY AND WE SUPPORT THEM AND THE FAMILIES ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.
ON A FINAL NOTE, AS THE DUST SETTLES, I AM GIVEN PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THAT TOMORROW ALL OVER THE DISTRICT, ALL OVER THE STATE, AND ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS, AND ALL THOSE STAFF WILL GO TO SCHOOL TOMORROW AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> TEAL PEREZ, HALL BY LESLIE [INAUDIBLE], SEAN OAKLAND, AND THEN MAX MCCAULEY.
>> MY NAME IS TEAL PEREZ AND I AM THE LEAD COUNSELOR OF REEDY HIGH SCHOOL.
IN THE LAST YEAR, RHS COUNSELORS MAINTAIN THE ACADEMIC RECORD, SCHEDULES, AND GRADUATION PLANS OF 2,270 STUDENTS.
WE WELCOMED AND SUPPORTED 170 NEW STUDENTS FROM 10 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN 20 DIFFERENT STATES.
WE SUPPORTED THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT OF EACH STUDENT THROUGH 5,908 INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS; 16 HOLD CHILD CLASS GUIDANCE, 14 SEL IN STATE MANDATED LESSONS.
WE EDUCATED PARENTS THROUGH 12 PARENT EDUCATION MEETINGS.
WE CELEBRATED 40 STUDENTS WHO GAINED MENTORSHIP THROUGH OUR ETHOS PROGRAM,100 PERCENT GRADUATION RATE.
WE WROTE 305 RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WITH A 98 PERCENT COLLEGE-BOUND RATE OF STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE CELEBRATED 14 NATIONAL MERITS, 1,140 INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER ACADEMIC AWARDS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FROM STATE, NATIONAL, AND LOCAL ENTITIES.
WE HELPED 33 DIFFERENT STUDENTS NAVIGATE THROUGH HOSPITALIZATION, AND SUPPORTED EACH ONE OF THEM AS THEY CAME BACK TO SCHOOL.
EACH OF THESE STUDENT'S SUCCESSES HAS A COUNSELOR BEHIND THEM WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SEE THEM, TO SUPPORT THEM, TO GUIDE AND TO ADVOCATE.
SOMETIMES OUR STUDENTS SIGN UP TO SEE THEM, SOMETIMES WE GET THEM, BUT THEY ALL HAVE ACCESS.
OUR QR CODES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THEM REACH US AT ANYTIME, WE MUST WORK EFFICIENTLY.
SOME OF THE CONFUSION AROUND COUNSELORS MAY STEM FROM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE DO, THE VALUE WE BRING AND HOW WE DELIVER THESE SERVICES.
THE GOAL IS NEVER TO UNDERMINE THE PARENTS, PLACE A WEDGE BETWEEN FAMILIES OR IMPACT OUR PERSONAL VALUES ON OUR STUDENTS.
THE GOAL IS TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR SYSTEM, THEIR VALUES, AND HOW THOSE IMPACT WHAT THEY DO.
OUR ETHICAL GUIDELINES ASK THAT WE RECOGNIZE, HONOR, AND RESPECT THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTS WHEN WE PROVIDE SERVICES AND WE DO THAT EVERY DAY.
THE NATURE OF THE COUNSELING JOB IS TO LISTEN, CONNECT, AND HELP STUDENTS SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CREATING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS.
WHEN WE BELIEVE MORE IS NEEDED, WE PARTNER WITH THE FAMILY AND PROVIDE REFERRALS AS WE KNOW THE NATURE OF SCHOOL COUNSELING IS NOT TO PROVIDE THERAPY.
IT COMES AT NO SURPRISE THAT THE JOB HAS CHANGED THROUGH THE YEARS AND AS THE WORLD AROUND US BECOMES MORE COMPLEX AND DEMANDING AND MANY TIMES CONFUSING, WE ARE CHARGED WITH EVERYTHING FROM ACADEMIC SUCCESS TO SUICIDE PREVENTION.
[00:35:02]
ACCESS TO COUNSELORS IS INVALUABLE.WE HOPE THAT SUPPORT OF THIS ROLE CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR PROGRAM TO BEST SUPPORT THE STUDENTS OF THIS DISTRICT.
MY HOPE IS THAT THOSE THAT ARE LEERY WILL SEE THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE FOR OTHERS, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES.
>> LESLIE WORSTLER FOLLOWED BY SEAN OAKLAND, MAX MCCAULEY, AND VEREEN CHEROLA.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD IN IST, I'M LESLIE WORSTLER AND I'VE PROUDLY SERVED FISD FOR 16 YEARS AS A TEACHER AND SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND I'M CURRENTLY THE LEAD COUNSELOR AT LONE STAR HIGH SCHOOL WHERE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.
AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, IT WAS STATED, PARENTS DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNSELORS YOU ARE GIVING THEM ACCESS TO, WHICH IN MY OPINION, IS NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF HOW THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS, STUDENTS, OR STAFF IN THE DISTRICT FEEL ABOUT THE COUNSELORS AND THE WORK WE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
THIS STATEMENT WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING AS IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER I'VE FELT OPENLY AND SUPPORTED BY A SCHOOL MEMBER, AND I ALSO DEMONSTRATED THE NEED TO SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND WHAT OUR JOB ENTAILS.
OUR PURPOSE AND OUR CALLING IS TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AS OUTLINED BY THE STATE.
[NOISE] BASED ON THOSE GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS, WE ARE TRAINED TO BE NON-JUDGMENTAL AND TO NOT IMPOSE OUR PERSONAL BELIEFS ONTO OUR STUDENTS.
WE RESPECT THE VALUES OF EACH FAMILY AND TREAT EACH STUDENT AND FAMILY WITH RESPECT.
MY FAVORITE PART OF MY JOB IS BEING A RESOURCE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS STAFF AND PARENTS AND HELPING OUR STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY FROM SELECTING CLASSES TO COMPLETING COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.
I ENJOY HELPING STUDENTS BUILD TOOLS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.
I ENJOY HEARING ABOUT STUDENTS EXTRA-CURRICULAR SUCCESSES AND ACTIVITIES.
EVEN WHEN THE CHALLENGING TIMES ARISE, I AM PREPARED TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DURING THIS PART OF THEIR JOURNEY, WHETHER THAT BE A CANCER DIAGNOSIS, AN INPATIENT STAY, OR THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER.
OUR GOAL IS TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS AT ANY TIME AND ONE OF THOSE WAYS THAT WE ARE MADE AVAILABLE IS THROUGH QR CODES.
THE USE OF OUR QR CODES HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE I STARTED BACK AT MOSS IN 2010.
THIS WAS A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO REPORT A NEED AT ANY TIME, WHETHER IT WAS A PERSONAL QUESTION, TO REPORT A CONCERN FOR A PEER OR JUST TO LET US KNOW SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE BUILDING.
OVER THE YEARS, THE QR CODE HAS CONTINUED TO BE A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO REQUEST MEETINGS WITH COUNSELORS THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED PERSONALLY BY ME AS A WAY TO KEEP PARENTS OUT OF THE LOOP, AS THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE CERTIFIED AND LICENSED EDUCATORS WHO ASSIST ALL STUDENTS BY IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM.
WE HELP ALL STUDENTS THROUGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT STRATEGIES, WAYS TO MANAGE EMOTIONS AND APPLY INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AT SCHOOL, AND PLAN FOR POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS.
I BELIEVE IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND I VALUE THE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS I'VE BUILT WITH OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
I APPRECIATE THOSE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY WHOSE SUPPORT AND VALUE OUR ROLE.
>> IS IT GREAT? [LAUGHTER] THERE WE GO.
GOOD EVENING? MY NAME IS SEAN OAKLAND.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH FRISCO ISD FROM K THROUGH 12, STARTING IN 2004 WHEN WE MOVED HERE.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
WHAT I WANTED TO COME AND TALK ABOUT WAS TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE COUNSELORS HAVE IMPACTED MY KID'S LIFE.
MY YOUNGEST SAVANNA, SHE'S A SENIOR AT LEBANON TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL.
WHEN SHE WAS A FRESHMAN, SHE HAD REALLY BAD SOCIAL ANXIETY.
IT GOT IT CONSIDERABLY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE WHEN WE GOT TO DECEMBER OF THAT SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAD TO TAKE HER OUT.
[00:40:02]
SHE HAD OUTSIDE COUNSELING AND WENT INTO ONLINE SCHOOL.THE SUMMER BEFORE HER JUNIOR YEAR, SHE CAME TO ME AND SHE SAID, "DAD, I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL ".
SHE'S REALLY INTO HORTICULTURE.
SHE LOVES PLANTS. THAT'S HER THING.
I SAID, " WELL, YEAH", AND SHE GOES," I SAW THEY HAVE A GREENHOUSE THERE AND I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT ", I SAID, " THAT'S AWESOME ".
SHE MET WITH TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY INTEGRAL IN GETTING HER WHERE SHE'S AT, JANICE BENNETT AND JOHN STEVENS.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE SHE'D BE [APPLAUSE] WITHOUT THOSE TWO.
SAVANNA HAS COME TO THE POINT NOW WHERE SHE'S ABOUT TO GRADUATE.
JANICE HAS HELPED HER PUT IN FOR A MASTER GARDENER SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH SHE'S APPLIED FOR.
JOSH MADE SURE THAT HER CORE SCHEDULE, THE CLASSES THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE WERE THERE WHILE SHE CAN STILL PURSUE HER PASSIONS.
WHAT SHE WANTED TO COVER. IT'S ALL WORKED.
JUST EVEN ANOTHER LITTLE SMALL EXAMPLE, JUST LAST WEEK, SAVANNA TOLD ME LAST FRIDAY THAT THERE WERE SENIOR DAY AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE BIG PICTURE OUTSIDE.
JANICE STOPPED BY REAL QUICK TO LET HER KNOW, " HEY, WE NEED TO GET YOU OUT SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT PICTURE ".
HER AND JOSH HAVE JUST BEEN THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST THOSE TWO THERE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES.
IT'S ALL THE COUNSELORS IN THIS DISTRICT.
SAVANNA, MY DAUGHTER, IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF ONE STUDENT THAT HASN'T BENEFITED TREMENDOUSLY AND AS HER DAD, I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL.
>> MAX MCCAULEY FOLLOWED BY VEREEN CHEROLA, AND THEN RAJIJ SENGHANI, AND THEN ANGELA DENVER.
>> HELLO, BOARD. MY NAME IS MAX MCCAULEY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE AMAZING FISD TEACHERS I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE FOR MY TIME AT ECS THROUGH WHERE I AM TODAY AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.
I CURRENTLY PLAY FOR THE JV TENNIS TEAM.
MY BROTHER BEN PLAYS ON THE VARSITY TEAM.
I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME OF MY OTHER TENNIS PLAYING FRIENDS.
THIS WEEK, A NEW POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT REGARDING TENNIS COURT USAGE AT 5:00 P.M EVERY DAY.
FOUR OF THE SIX TENNIS COURTS OF IHS, WILL BE TURNED OVER TO A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS INSTRUCTOR WHO WILL RUN PRIVATE AND GROUP LESSONS FOR PROFIT.
THE REMAINING TWO COURTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BE RESERVED BY THE COMMUNITY FOR $11 FOR 90 MINUTES OF PLAY.
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE ON AN APP.
THIS WILL HAPPEN AT SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND FRISCO.
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS CAN PLAY ON THE TWO REMAINING COURTS ARE FREE, BUT AS SOMEONE WITH A RESERVATION SHOWS UP, WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE.
WE ARE STUDENT ATHLETES AND WE TRAIN HARD TO COMPETE FOR OUR SCHOOL AND TO REPRESENT FISD.
I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS, GET PRIORITY USAGE OF THE COURTS.
WE DON'T HAVE JOBS, SO WE DON'T HAVE $11 TO RENT A COURT EVERY DAY.
IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS.
I PLAY TENNIS WITH MY BROTHER AFTER SCHOOL TO IMPROVE MY GAME AND TO STAY HEALTHY.
THIS NEW POLICY WILL LIKELY PUT AN END TO THAT ROUTINE.
I DON'T HAVE A LICENSE, SO I CAN'T DRIVE ALL OVER FRISCO TO FIND A COURT THAT HASN'T BEEN RESERVED.
UNFORTUNATELY, TENNIS HAS LONG BEEN SEEN AS A SPORT FOR THE PRIVILEGED.
THANKFULLY, THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT AND TO MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE, THIS NEW POLICY DOES NOT PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY.
ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD THE COURT FEE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE COURTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FISD HAS PUT MAKING MONEY OVER WHAT'S BEST FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYERS.
THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF TAXPAYER FUNDED COURTS BEING USED FOR MONETARY GAIN BY A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR WHO'S OVERSEEING THE RESERVATIONS.
IT HAD BEEN NICE FOR FISD TO HAVE COLLECT THE TAXPAYER AND FOOT BEFORE MAKING THIS POLICY.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FISC TO GIVE HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYERS AN HOUR FREE COURT USAGE EACH DAY AFTER SCHOOL.
THIS CANNOT BE HARD TO IMPLEMENT.
SIMPLY PUSH BACK THE RESERVATION START TIME TO 6:00 P.M. FOR THE PRONE SECTORS AND COMMUNITY.
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE FRISCO TEAMS THIS SPRING AND GOODNIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> YOU GIVE IT TO US? YEAH. JUST REAL QUICK.
VEREEN WILL GET TO IN JUST A SECOND.
I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TENNIS COURTS USAGE HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
I GOT CHILLS INFORMATION DOWN RENE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MEETING SET UP WITH OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
IS IT TOMORROW OR THURSDAY? THURSDAY.
THURSDAY, VERY GOOD. WE'LL GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED THERE AS WELL.
MAX, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TODAY.
[00:45:02]
[APPLAUSE] MAX, WE'RE GOING TO REACH BACK OUT TO YOU AS WELL AND VISIT WITH YOU JUST SO YOU'RE NOT IN TROUBLE AT ALL, BUT AT ALL.[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND JUST KNOW.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO ALONG ABOUT THIS.
IT'S BEEN WORKING ON ABOUT THREE YEARS AND REALLY MAX, YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS AND YOUR TENNIS PLAYERS OUT THERE.
IF IT DOESN'T GO THIS DIRECTION, WE'LL STOP DOING IT.
BUT THIS WAS DONE SO THAT YOU AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
YOU, THE PLAYER'S, NUMBER 1, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO COURTS INSTEAD OF PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS FROM ALL OVER NORTH TEXAS COMING IN AND MONOPOLIZING THE COURTS.
WE WORKED WITH YOUR TENNIS COACHES.
WE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF FRISCO AND ALSO WITH A THIRD PARTY TOO TO BRING ALL THIS TOGETHER.
THE PURPOSE IS TO BENEFIT YOU, NOT HURT YOU AT ALL.
I WANT TO WALK THROUGH OR TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE AND COACH MCDOWELL WITH OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, WILL DO SO AS WELL AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ANSWER THOSE AS THEY COME IN.
USUALLY AS WE TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEY ARE IN A VERY GOOD PLACE BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE WHEN THEY SEE WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
NOW, THIS IS NEW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT, GET USED TO.
SECOND, THERE MAY BE SOME HICCUPS WITH IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE ABOUT THAT. WE WILL ADJUST.
IF THIS GETS TO BE A COMPLETE MESS AND IT DOESN'T WORK, WE WON'T DO IT ANYMORE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING TO TRY TO GET THE TENNIS COURTS BACK MORE TO THE PLAYERS, AND MORE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HOLD.
THAT'S WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.
WE'VE WORKED WITH EVERYBODY UP HERE ON THIS DIOSIS AS WELL.
IT IS NOT TO HURT ANYTHING AT ALL, ESPECIALLY FOR SCHOLASTIC PARENTS AND THE TENNIS PLAYERS.
WE HAVE GREAT TENNIS PROGRAMS HERE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON THAT AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THE SPEAKERS AS THREE OF THEM TO THAT IN MORE DETAIL NEXT WEEK OR SO.
>> HEY, MY NAME IS VEREEN CHEROLA.
ONE OF MY GIRLS GRADUATED FROM THE FRISCO ISD AND I HAVE ANOTHER KID IN THE ISD RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF IN THIS ROOM.
YES, MY KID WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHERE SHE IS WITHOUT THE HELP SHE GOT.
AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THE SPEAKERS AND HOW ARTICULATE THEY WERE.
THIS ALMOST SOUNDS TRIVIAL, [LAUGHTER] BUT ALMOST FEEL EMBARRASSED TO BE HERE, BUT THOUGHT I SHOULD BRING THIS UP AND TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB TALKING ABOUT THE TENNIS THING.
THIS IS ABOUT THE NEW POLICY THAT'S GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT IN A WEEK OR SO.
IT SAYS THAT IT'S ABOUT IMPROVING ACCESS.
BUT MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT IT'S $11 FOR 90 MINUTES OR SO.
THERE ARE KIDS WHO USE THE COURTS FIVE TIMES, SIX TIMES A WEEK.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDING UP VERY QUICKLY.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S A WAY FOR KIDS TO USE THEIR ID OR SOMETHING TO RESERVE THE COURT WITHOUT PAYING THE FEE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG BURDEN FOR ALL THE KIDS WHO ARE TRYING TO PLAY THE GAME AND LEARN AND REPRESENT THE ISD.
THE SECOND THING, I'M NOT SURE HOW THE FEE $11 CAME INTO PICTURE BECAUSE WHEN I COMPARE, SAY COURTS OF MACKINEY OR HIGH POINT IN PLANO, THOSE ARE CTE FUNDED FACILITIES AND THEY CHARGE REALLY LESS.
I COULD GET $25 MEMBERSHIP AT COURTS OF MACKINEY AND RESERVE THE COURTS WITHOUT PAYING THE FEE.
HIGH POINT IS $4. I KNOW THE POLICY OR THE ANNOUNCEMENT ALSO MENTIONED THERE'LL BE LIMITS ON PRIVATE COACHES.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT'S FOUR OUT OF SIX, FIVE OUT OF SIX WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR COACHING OR IS IT TWO OR ONE? I THINK HAVING SOME SPECIFICS AROUND THAT ON HOW MANY COURTS YOU PLAN TO ALLOCATE FOR THE COACHES VERSUS THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS MAYBE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IN GENERAL, IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE HAVE THIS GREAT RESOURCES THAT OUR TAX FUNDED AND FOR THE STUDENTS THOSE ARE PROBABLY ARE BEING HANDED TO THE THIRD PARTY ON A PLATTER TO RUN AN ACADEMY.
THAT SEEMS TO BE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PARENTS HAVE.
IT WILL COULD BE GOOD IF THOSE CAN BE ADDRESSED.
BEFORE YOU JUMP INTO THIS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE THOUGHT THROUGH ALL THE CONSEQUENCES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY DATA OR EVIDENCE THAT WAS GATHERED TO SUPPORT THIS APPROACH.
BUT HAVE A REAL LOOK AT THIS AND DON'T RUSH INTO IT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A BIG CHANGE.
[00:50:03]
AGAIN, A THIRD-PARTY RUNNING AN ACADEMY USING PUBLIC FACILITIES.>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AFTER RAJESH, ANGELA DANFORD, AND THEN KEISHA GADDIS, AND THEN OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING AS MONICA ROUSSEAU.
>> THANK YOU. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HEARING ME OUT ON THIS ONE.
THE STUDENT ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT THIS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SIMILAR THING, BUT JUST LIKE SAY NO TO THE TENNIS COURT FEES.
I MOVED TO FRISCO WAY BACK IN 2013 AND I HAVE ONE YOUNG KID WHO IS A VERY GOOD TENNIS PLAYER.
NOT JUST ME, BUT ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE FRISCO ISD, WHO WERE THERE.
WHAT ASPIRING TENNIS AS A BIG SPORT FOR THEM AND THEY REALLY ADMIRE THIS SPORT A LOT AND THEY PLAY THIS TRIBE EVERY HARD.
THEY HAVE ALREADY PUT A NUMBER OF YEARS INTO THIS SPORT AND THEY WANT TO GROUP EVERY PLAYER COLLEGE LEVEL, BECOME A PRO LEVEL AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SUDDENLY, AFTER SEEING THIS THINGS ON THE THE TENNIS COURT FEES AND EVERYTHING, WHAT IT HAS BEEN FAIR FELT LIKE THE KIDS ARE FEELING LIKE, HEY, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AFTER 5 O'CLOCK.
I'M COMING BACK TO SCHOOL FROM SCHOOL, I DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO PRACTICE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO GROW MY THINGS ANYWHERE.
THIS IS BECOMING A BIG NO FROM THEM.
THE KIDS ARE FEELING LIKE REALLY A VACUUM, THERE IS A BIG VACUUM AROUND THEM AND WHY IS THIS BEING ASKED.
THIS IS A BIG, HUMBLE REQUEST TO THE BOARD.
WE AS A COMMUNITY TAXPAYERS, WE ARE ALREADY PAYING TAXES NOW FOR THIS SPORT AND ALSO NOT JUST THIS FACILITY, BUT THROUGH THE EVERYTHING ESA PROPERTY TAXES.
NOW, WHY THIS SPORT IS ALONE GETTING CHARGED? WHY NOT THE OTHER FIELDS? LET'S SAY THE SOCCER FIELDS ARE THERE.
ALL THE RADIUS ARE THERE WHY NOT FOR INSTANCE ALSO TRY TO CHARGE THEM.
WHY JUST THERE WE ARE AGAINST THE TENNIS? IT FEELS LIKE A BIG, I'M LIKE VERY DIFFERENT WORDS ON THIS ONE, BUT IT IS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO SEE AFTER SEEING LIKE 10 PLUS YEARS WHERE THE KIDS HAVE ALREADY PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND CERTAINLY THEY ARE FEELING, OKAY, HEY, WHAT DO I DO NEXT NOW? I'M DONE. AM I DONE? IS MY TENNIS CAREER DONE OVER HERE? DO I NEED TO LOOK FOR SOME OTHER SPORT? WHAT IS THE ENTIRE VISION FROM THE FRISCO ISD THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE AGAINST TENNIS.
JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, IT'S A HUMBLE REQUEST.
LET'S STOP. WE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGING THIS MUCH THE HIGH DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THESE OF THE TENNIS FEES AND THAT WOULD BE THE THING FOR US.
>> ANGELA DANFORD FOLLOWED BY KEISHA GADDIS, AND THEN MONICA ROUSSEAU.
APPARENTLY JANUARY'S BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH IN TEXAS.
I DECIDED TO COME ON UP HERE AND SHARE MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF YOU.
I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN OVER JUST THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IN OUR DISTRICT, I FEEL LIKE HAVE BEEN MARKEDLY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO WHAT I'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU-ALL ARE DOING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY KEEP DOING IT.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS I PERSONALLY, I'M AWARE OF.
I KNOW THERE'S MANY, MANY MORE, BUT JUST A FEW OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, WHERE IT SHOWS ME THAT YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MOVED COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT TO 6:30 TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
YOU EVEN CHANGED THE COMMENTS SIGN-UP TIME TO 6:30 INSTEAD OF 6:15, MAKING IT SO THAT YOU CAN GET HERE A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE AND STILL SIGN UP TO SPEAK.
AGAIN, MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HEARD.
YOU REMOVED THE ILA PILOT IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WHICH I PERSONALLY WASN'T A HUGE FAN OF.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL IN THAT PILOT AND GATHERING THAT DATA.
YOU'RE VERY TRANSPARENT AND PRESENTING IT.
IN THE END, YOU CHOSE TO REMOVE IT BECAUSE THE DATA WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SMART MOVE AND I APPRECIATED THAT.
I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BURDEN THAT TEACHERS EXPERIENCE, AND I SEE THAT OUR DISTRICT IS HEARING THAT TOO AND THAT YOU'VE STARTED A STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT INITIATIVE.
THAT'S AMAZING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT IT SAY A REAL SYSTEMATIC EFFORT
[00:55:02]
TO TRY TO REMOVE THINGS FROM TEACHERS PLATES SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE ATTENTIVE FOR THEIR STUDENTS.YOU PUT OUT A THIRD PARTY TEACHER SURVEY.
YOU'VE REMOVED MANY INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARIES AND IMPROVED THE PROCESS FOR LIBRARY REVIEW.
YOU EVEN SENT OUT A SURVEY RECENTLY ASKING PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHAT THEIR OPINIONS WERE ON THE CALENDAR.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A SURVEY BE SENT OUT LIKE THAT BEFORE, BUT I THINK THAT'S AMAZING AND I HOPE WE GET TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
I KNOW AS BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS NOT EASY.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT'S NOT EASY TO THROW YOURSELF OUT INTO THE PUBLIC EYE AND BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PUT YOUR REPUTATION ON THE LINE.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE THE HOURS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE LOGGED FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR ZERO PAY.
ALL THE HOURS VISITING CAMPUSES TRAINING, DOING NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS.
THERE ARE STILL PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO THOSE, BUT WE'RE MOVING A GOOD DIRECTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M KEISHA GADDIS AND I'M A COUNSELOR AT HART MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME SOME TIME TO TALK TODAY.
I WANT TO START WITH A QUOTE FROM DR. MAYA ANGELOU, "PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL." AS A COUNSELOR IN FISD, MY GOAL IS TO HELP ALL STUDENTS FEEL CARED FOR, CAPABLE, AND CONNECTED.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, I ENJOY HELPING STUDENTS SET GOALS FOR ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, AND SOCIAL GROWTH, SOLVE TOUGH PROBLEMS, TALK THROUGH WORRIES AND ANXIETY, COPE WITH BIG FEELINGS SUCH AS GRIEF, ANGER, AND BEING OVERWHELMED.
NAVIGATE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF FRIENDSHIPS, DEAL WITH CHANGING FAMILY DYNAMICS AND MUCH MORE.
TODAY'S STUDENTS HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE PAST YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO BEING JUST A REGULAR KID GOING THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, WHICH IS ALREADY AWKWARD FOR MOST.
OUR CURRENT STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUS RIGHT NOW HAVE LIVED THROUGH AN ONGOING GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE FATAL 2022, UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE.
THE UNPRECEDENTED DFW SNOWSTORM OF 2021, WHICH LED TO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WITHOUT HEAT FOR HOURS AND SOME FOR DAYS, AND THE HOSTILE 2020 POLITICAL CLIMATE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE GREATLY AFFECTED OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFFS MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD, IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO LEARN.
HERE'S SOME DATA FROM MY CAMPUS ALONE.
DURING THE 2021, 2022 SCHOOL YEAR, LAST SCHOOL YEAR, MY COUNSELOR PARTNER AND I SUPPORTED THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS THROUGH 946 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS, WE CONDUCTED 47 SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENTS AND MADE THE APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS FOR SERVICES.
OUT OF THOSE 47 ASSESSMENTS, 17 STUDENTS FROM MY CAMPUS WERE ADMITTED TO A MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL.
WE RESPONDED TO 76 LIGHT-SPEED STUDENT ONLINE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ALERTS AND WE WELCOMED 187 NEW STUDENTS TO OUR CAMPUS, CONNECTING THEM WITH PEERS TO HELP THEM FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING.
IF THOSE NUMBERS DON'T RESONATE WITH YOU.
THE MAIN THING THAT I WANT YOU TO HEAR FROM ME IS THAT WE, THE COUNSELORS OF FRISCO ISD, LOVE OUR STUDENTS.
WE HELP SHAPE FUTURE-READY LEARNERS, AND WE HELP STUDENTS FEEL CARED FOR, CAPABLE AND CONNECTED.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MONICA ROUSSEAU.
I'M A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE BREAKING OUT OF FRISCO ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AS WELL AS FISD TAXPAYER.
WATCHING LAST WEEK'S BOARD MEETING, FLUSTERED ME AND MADE ME DECIDE I NEED TO BE MORE ACTIVE, HENCE MY PRESENCE TONIGHT.
FIRST, THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WHAT YOU DO IS VOLUNTARY AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR DISTRICT.
AS EVIDENCED BY OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND COMMENTS MADE, MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO FREQUENCY BIAS.
[01:00:02]
I'D LIKE TO BREAK THAT LOOP WITH TRUTH, AND I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.HEARING ALLY OVER AND OVER DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUTH.
[APPLAUSE] I DO HOPE MORE VOICES OF TRUTH WILL BE SHARED AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS AS HAPPENED TONIGHT.
WITH THAT SAID, LET ME SAY AWARDS ARE NOT SEGREGATION.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD FOR RECOGNIZING OUR STUDENTS.
FOR THOSE UNINFORMED, PLEASE LOOK UP THE COLLEGE BOARD.
THOSE STUDENTS RECOGNIZE THAT LAST WEEK'S BOARD MEETING OR A PART OF THE COLLEGE BOARD'S NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
I'D ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH ISSUE TO TAKE UP ANY COMPLAINTS WITH THEM, NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT I FULLY SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT DO AS WELL.
OUR COUNSELORS WORK EACH DAY TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND FISD.
FOR MANY STUDENTS, THEY PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE TO SPEAK THAT THEY DON'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE.
WHY ARE KIDS GOING TO SPEAK WITH A COUNSELOR INSTEAD OF A PARENT? PERHAPS, THEY JUST NEED SUPPORT AND THAT SAFE SPACE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL PARENTS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR STUDENTS VERSUS BRINGING A COMPLAINT HERE ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO SEE ISSUES IN OUR SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO SEEK OUT SOLUTIONS WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
[APPLAUSE] TALK TO YOUR KIDS, GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILD'S TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS, AND ADMIN.
IT'S NOT AS EASY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMEONE YOU KNOW, OR HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH.
YOU WILL FIND THAT OUR EDUCATORS DON'T HAVE SOME SECRET HIDDEN AGENDA, THEY'RE ARE NOT OUT TO BRAINWASH KIDS.
REALLY, THEIR AIM IS TO TEACH EACH STUDENT THAT ENTERS THEIR CLASSROOM.
THE EDUCATORS AND STAFF, WE HAVE AN FISD, DO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, OR PASSIONATE ABOUT STUDENTS AND LEARNING, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOSING SOME DARN GOOD ONES BECAUSE OF SOME PARENTS, AND THEIR AGENDA IS PUSHING THEM AWAY.
THIS IS A SCHOOL BOARD, MAY WE ALL KEEP THAT AS OUR FOCUS.
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE THE FUTURE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN AS THEIR LIFE WORK TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ALL THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.
>> MONICA, YOU ARE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
I WANT TO JUST SAY TO ALL OF YOU GUYS.
AS IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH TODAY WITH ALL OF OUR KIDS, YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE YOUR HEART'S ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES, AND THE FAMILIES, AND KIDS THAT YOU SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I AM BEYOND APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU CHOSE FRISCO ISD IN WHICH TO SHARE YOUR TIME, AND TALENTS, AND EXPERTISE, AND THAT YOU CONTINUE EVERY YEAR TO CONTINUE TO CHOOSE FRISCO ISD.
BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A PARENT, I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE ENCOURAGED IN MY LIFE THAT I CHOSE THE RIGHT DISTRICT FOR MY CHILD THAN TONIGHT.
THIS BOARD, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM APPRECIATES YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR TRUTH INTO OUR BOARDROOM.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE GOOD IN THIS DISTRICT EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO CALL FRISCO ISD HOME, AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO ALL THE FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT GIFT US WITH THEIR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT GIFT CONTINUES TO MAKE FRISCO ISD ONE OF THE BEST DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THAT IS IN LARGE PART TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO ARE SITTING HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL. FOR THOSE COUNSELORS, AND TEACHERS, AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE WATCHING BUT COULDN'T JOIN US THIS EVENING, WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WELL.
YOU HAVE OUR HEARTS AND YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT CAN I SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
>> THANK YOU. FIRST, THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I HAD SOME TIME TO REFLECT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF OUR BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, AND THERE ARE A FEW THINGS WEIGHING HEAVY ON MY HEART AND MIND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
I HAVE NOT BEEN SITTING IN THE SEAT FOR VERY LONG, AND I WELL REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SIT IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE, AND COURAGE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH IS WHAT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION ALLOWS FOR.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROVIDES CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
THAT MEANS, THAT CITIZENS CAN COME IN AND SHARE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS, AS WELL AS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK OF THIS DISTRICT AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY CAN RAISE QUESTIONS AND ISSUES.
AS MUCH AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO PRAISE, AND COMMEND OUR EFFORTS, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CRITICIZE US, AND IT IS OUR JOB TO LISTEN TO THEM WITH RESPECT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE WITH OR LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
LAST WEEK THERE WAS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO RAISED A CONCERN ABOUT A PROCESS BY WHICH STUDENTS CAN VISIT WITH THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELOR WITHOUT PARENT KNOWLEDGE.
I DIDN'T INTERPRET HER COMMENTS TO BE AN ATTACK ON A PARTICULAR COUNSELOR, OR ALL COUNSELORS.
[01:05:03]
SHE WAS STATING A CONCERN WITH THE PROCESS THAT SHE DISAGREED WITH.SHE WAS INTERRUPTED AND ARGUED WITH.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, AN EXCERPT OF HER SPEECH WAS USED IN A DISTRICT PRODUCED VIDEO ALONG WITH SEVERAL EXCERPTS FROM OTHER SPEECHES, AND WAS SENT TO DISTRICT STAFF AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.
THE STATE AND INTENT WAS TO CORRECT THIS INFORMATION.
THIS DISTRICT HAS COUNTLESS RESOURCES TO COMMUNICATE VARIOUS MESSAGES ABOUT PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED EITHER ONE OR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK DURING A PUBLIC POST AND MEETING.
THE POWER IMBALANCE HERE IS CRYSTAL-CLEAR.
THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE MIGHT SHAME YOU IF YOU SAY SOMETHING WE DON'T LIKE OR DISAGREE WITH.
THE TWO TIMES THAT I ADDRESSED THIS BOARD FROM THE PODIUM, NOT FROM THE DAIS, I WAS NOT INTERRUPTED, NOR WAS A PORTION OF MY COMMENTS EDITED AND SENT OUT TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT ME.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT MIGHT FEEL LIKE.
THE DAY AFTER THE VIDEO CAME OUT, DISTRICT LEADERS AND THE BOARD RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THIS COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
SHE WAS UPSET THAT HER WORDS WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT AND ASK THAT A CORRECTION BE SENT TO THE STAFF.
INSTEAD OF REACHING OUT TO HER TO WORK THIS OUT IN A PRODUCTIVE MANNER, HER EMAIL AND ITS ENTIRETY WAS FORWARDED TO 9,000 STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS TAKES TIME AWAY FROM TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO ARE FOCUSED ON THEIR JOBS AND DOES NOT HELP THE ONE PARENT WHO SHARED A CONCERN WITH THIS BOARD.
A TEACHER WHO REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT THIS EMAIL SAID IT WELL, "I HAVE A JOB TO DO AND I DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE SHENANIGANS." ON A BROADER NOTE, I'M UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, THAT WOULD HANDLE A CONSTITUENT OR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT IN THIS MANNER.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS DISTRICT AND THAT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.
SHORTLY AFTER I WAS SWORN IN, I RECEIVED SOME ADVICE FROM A TRUSTEE IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
HE SAID, BE CAREFUL HOW YOU USE YOUR BULLY PULPIT AND REMEMBER WHAT IT FEELS LIKE NOT TO HAVE ONE.
I THINK WE COULD ALL USE THAT REMINDER RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO DESIRES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TO REVIEW THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.007, WHICH CLEARLY ENSHRINES A CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THIS BOARD, DISTRICT, OR ANY ACT, OMISSION, POLICY, PROCEDURE, PROGRAM, OR SERVICE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN LEADING THIS DISTRICT, IS MORE GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
WITH GREAT PRIVILEGE COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
IF THERE IS A DESIRE TO CORRECT THE RECORD, SO TO SPEAK, THAT IT IS DONE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT HUMILIATE OR GAS LIGHT ANY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW WE'RE READY TO CALL IT OUT, AND I KNOW THIS IS BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH, BUT TODAY MY HEART SWORE WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE DOOR AND I SAW SOME FAMILIAR FACES.
I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WITHOUT YOU, THERE WOULD BE NO US.
THANK YOU TO EVERY EDUCATOR THAT IS HERE, WHETHER YOU ARE A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, A JANITOR, A TEACHER IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL, I KNOW THAT TODAY WAS DIFFICULT TO COME HERE AND TO SPEAK YOUR HEART.
DIDN'T MATTER TO ME WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS ON HIS DESK OR ANYWHERE OUT THERE, YOU ALL ARE THE REAL HEROES.
>> MAX, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THIS BOARDROOM WITHOUT SAYING HOW PROUD WE ARE OF VIEW, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS AS A STUDENT.
[APPLAUSE] IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE AS A STUDENT TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN SEE A BEAUTIFUL INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE SUPPORTED YOUR VOICE, AND YOU USING YOUR VOICE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE THAT ISN'T QUITE RIGHT ON YOUR CAMPUS.
BOARD, WITH THAT AT A 7:40 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU-ALL. [APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.