[Community Input Meeting]
[00:00:03]
IT IS NOW 6:30 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER OUR COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT.
DURING THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS IT RELATES TO AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE WILL CALL YOUR NAME IN THE ORDER THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THEM AND MR. HILL. WE NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION OF OUR AGENDA.
THE BOARD WELCOMES COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PUBLIC COMMENT FORMS THIS EVENING, WHICH ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE OPEN MEETING AND ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE 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.
PLEASE KEEP ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CONCERN RELATED TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT OR A SPECIFIC STUDENT ISSUE, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN BOARD POLICIES DGBA, LOCAL, F AND G, LOCAL AND GF LOCAL.
WE HAVE ONE NOW AND WE'LL HAVE ONE, I THINK, NEXT MONTH.
THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THIS EVENING IS AIAN SHEIKH, FOLLOWED BY ANNE WE WILL HAVE OLU BALOGUN. AIAN THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING FISD BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AIAN AND I AM A SENIOR AT EMERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A SIMILAR ISSUE, BUT ONE THAT'S TARGETED MORE TOWARDS MY AGE DEMOGRAPHIC.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SEXTORTION.
LET'S START WITH A FEW NUMBERS.
PRECISELY THE HIGH SCHOOL GOING AGE.
WITH 800 PLUS SEXTORTION RELATED CASES REPORTED EACH WEEK AND TEXAS BEING IN THE TOP FIVE, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS BECOMES A CONCERN, WITH FISD.
WITH 38,000 STUDENTS SPREAD ACROSS 30 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS ISSUE.
BUT HOW DOES THIS EVEN START? THE INITIAL CONTACT ALWAYS BEGINS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND THIS SENSE OF TRUST RESULTS IN THEM SHARING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES WITH THE PERPETRATOR AND ONCE RECEIVED, THEY THREATEN TO RELEASE THOSE IMAGES UNLESS THE VICTIM ALIGNS WITH THEIR DEMANDS, WHICH OFTEN CAN RESULT IN VARYING CONSEQUENCES.
THE MOST DISHEARTENING OUTCOMES OF THIS CASE WAS WITH JORDAN DEMAY.
HE WAS HIS HIGH SCHOOL'S HOMECOMING KING IN UPPER MICHIGAN, AND WHEN FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SENDING MONEY HE DIDN'T HAVE AND RUINING HIS PUBLIC IMAGE AT HIGH SCHOOL, HE DECIDED TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE.
BUT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HITTING REAL CLOSE TO HOME AS WELL.
[00:05:04]
VICTIM IN PARTICULAR BEING A VICTIM FOR TWO YEARS.TO CONCLUDE THIS CRITICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT SEXTORTION, LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS.
OUR DISTRICT IS NOT IMMUNE TO IT, BUT WE CAN PREVENT IT.
WE NEED TO TEACH KIDS THAT ONE NEVER SHARE COMPROMISING IMAGES ONLINE.
TWO BE CAUTIOUS OF SUSPICIOUS REQUESTS THREE IF TARGETED, DO NOT PANIC AND SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY.
AND FOUR FINALLY REPORT INCIDENTS TO TRUSTED ADULTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
LET'S COMMIT TO HAVING THOSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT.
NEXT. NEXT WE WILL HAVE OLU BALOGUN.
YES. AND MICHAEL MORGAN WILL FOLLOW YOU.
MY NAME IS OLU AND I OWN A BUSINESS CALLED OLU BOX.
AND I REALIZED THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT EDUCATORS ARE GOING TO BE FACING MOVING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE TO COMMUNICATE WITH BETWEEN THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND THE OLDER GENERATION. SO THIS GENERATIONAL GAP OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, OBVIOUSLY IS NOT IS NOT HELPING THAT AT ALL, BECAUSE MOST TIMES WHEN STUDENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM TO LEARN.
THEY WANT TO BE ON THE SOCIAL MEDIAS, YOU KNOW AND SO SO THAT'S WHY THROUGH MY COMPANY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE THIS WONDERFUL CARD GAME THAT'S SUPPOSED TO INSPIRE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, AMONG OUR TEACHERS SO THAT THEY COULD REALLY BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THAT WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHY.
AND THE FIRST P IS ABOUT PURPOSE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ANYTHING WE DO IN LIFE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR BIG WHY.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SENSE OF WHY.
THE SECOND ABOUT THAT IS ALSO ABOUT PROBLEMS. WE NEED TO BE SOLVING PROBLEMS IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO CREATE LEADERS IN THE SOCIETY YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MISSING PIECES THAT WE HAVE, THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE WORLD TODAY ARE RESULT FROM LEADERSHIP CRISIS.
AND WE NOT BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE AND HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO INSPIRE WITH WHAT I HAVE CREATED HERE.
SO I REALLY WANT TO PUT THESE TWO IN THE HANDS OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS, RIGHT? TO REALLY BEGIN TO USE IT TO ENGAGE OR EVEN EVEN TEACHERS THAT COULD USE IT TO ENGAGE STUDENTS.
I JUST FINISHED HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT HAVING A TEACHER THAT HAS THIS ALTRUISTIC APPROACH TO HOW THEY DO THINGS.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE CREATED THIS.
MY, MY, MY FIRST DEGREE WAS PHILOSOPHY IN COLLEGE, YOU KNOW.
THE THIRD P IS ABOUT THE MINDSET.
THE FOURTH P IS ABOUT PLAN HAVING THE RIGHT PLAN IN PLACE.
AND THE LAST IS ABOUT PERFORMANCE.
SO I REALLY WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT LET'S BRING THIS TO TO THE CLASSROOM.
AND I'M ALREADY WORKING WITH DALLAS ISD ON THIS, AND I HOPE TO DO THE SAME WITH FRISCO.
AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND GOD BLESS.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL MORGAN, FOLLOWED BY LEONARDO PEREZ.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
SO WE'RE HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.
WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE, PARENTS AND FCA MEMBERS HERE TO BACK US UP MAYBE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
BACK IN 2007, THE TEXAS STATE HOUSE AND SENATE PUT TOGETHER HOUSE BILL 1287, AND IT BASICALLY CALLED IT THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
AND AS THEY VOTED ON THAT BASICALLY A BIBLE CLASS IN THE TEXAS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, THE VOTE THAT DAY WAS 167 FOR 3 VOTED AGAINST.
[00:10:08]
POLITICAL HISTORY, RIGHT? THE 2000S HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TOUGH POLITICALLY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND BUT TO HAVE 167 OUT OF 170 AGREE THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING.AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THAT BILL, THE WHOLE THING.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT.
AND I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OTHER THINGS LATER ON.
BUT THE REASONS WE FEEL YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS IS, WELL, NUMBER ONE, THE BIBLE HAS BEEN USED IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS THROUGHOUT THE SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY AND EVEN BEFORE.
I MEAN, AND STUDY FREELY GOD'S WORD.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY I WANT THIS TO GO.
I WANT GOD'S WORD TO BE IN THE SCHOOL FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
AND UNTIL 1962, THE BIBLE WAS IN THE SCHOOLS AND IT WAS BEING USED AS A BOOK OF LITERATURE, AN ENGLISH BOOK IN MANY WAYS. AND EVEN TODAY, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN PARTS OF THE WORLD STUDYING THE BIBLE AS THEY'RE LEARNING ENGLISH.
THE CLASSES I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER HANDOUT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
BUT ON THE BACK IT HAS THE REASONS WHY THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT.
THIS BOOK INFLUENCES OUR LITERATURE, OUR MUSIC, OUR ART, OUR HISTORY.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS COLLEGE PROFESSORS.
LIKE THIS KIDS THAT READ THE BIBLE.
BASICALLY, IT GOES ALONG WITH THE LAW AND BUT IT JUST BASICALLY SAYS, WE WANT TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURE AS IT RELATES TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE LEONARDO PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY JUDY OSBON.
MIC] THIS IS ME SCREAMING FOR MY [INAUDIBLE] SCREAMING FOR HELP.
NO ONE IN FRISCO ISD HEARD MY SCREAM FOR HELP.
AND WE ARE NOT SAFE IN FRISCO ISD.
BULLYING IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY AND NO ONE IN FRISCO ISD CARES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION BRAGS OF HAVING YOUR OR HAVING OVER OVER 400 PLUS PERSONNEL, BRAGS TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR US.
NOT ONE OF THE OF THE 400 PLUS CAME CAME TO HELP ME AND NO ONE WILL COME TO HELP YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER.
EVERY PARENT IN FRISCO MUST KNOW FRISCO ISD WILL LET WILL LET YOUR SON OR PARENT OR DAUGHTER COMMIT SUICIDE INSTEAD OF PROVIDING US FOR COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL OR MEDICAL SERVICE.
WE DON'T HAVE RIGHTS IN FRISCO ISD.
OR YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS NEXT.
DON'T LET THESE PEOPLE HURT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER OR LET LIKE THEM HURT ME.
THE THE DRAMA WILL EAT YOU ALIVE.
[00:15:02]
THE PAIN AND THE REGRESSES REGRESSION HAVE NO END.MY LORD JESUS CHRIST SAY, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
NEXT WE HAVE JUDY OSMOND, FOLLOWED BY JORGE PEREZ.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JUDY OSMOND AND I AM A SENIOR AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL IN FRISCO ISD.
FOR MY PARENTS, EDUCATION WAS NOT JUST A PRIVILEGE, BUT A PATH TO A BETTER LIFE.
BUT MY PARENTS DIDN'T COME TO AMERICA JUST FOR THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.
I CARRY THESE VALUES WITH ME EVERY DAY AS A STRAIGHT-A STUDENT, AN AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION, AND A PROUD, DEVOUT MUSLIM, I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A NATION WHERE I CAN PURSUE BOTH OF THESE RIGHTS THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION AND THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE MY FAITH.
FRISCO ISD HAS A THRIVING MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.
TWO OF THESE PRAYERS OFTEN COINCIDE WITH SCHOOL HOURS.
LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD OUR FRIDAY PRAYERS, OUR MANDATORY OUR MANDATORY CONGRESSIONAL PRAYERS, AS WELL AS DAILY PRAYERS TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO WORSHIP AT APPROPRIATE TIMES. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR THE DISTRICT HAS IMPOSED LIMITATIONS ALLOWING STUDENTS TO PRAY ONLY DURING LUNCHTIME, WHICH FOR SOME IS BEFORE THE PERMISSIBLE TIME TO PRAY, SO THEIR PRAYER IS ESSENTIALLY INVALID AND RESTRICTING HOW MANY STUDENTS CAN PRAY, CAPPING IT AT THREE PEOPLE.
FOR MY SCHOOL, THAT HAPPENS TO BE A DUSTY OLD LIBRARY CLOSET THAT'S LOCKED MOST OF THE DAY, AND MY FELLOW CLASSMATE WILL BE PROVIDING IMAGES SO YOU CAN SEE IT FOR YOURSELF IN A BIT. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT STUDENTS WILL BE MISSING VALUABLE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME DURING THEIR PRAYERS.
THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT FRISCO ISD RECONSIDER ITS CURRENT POLICY AND COLLABORATE WITH MUSLIM STUDENTS AND PARENTS ALIKE TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT IMPROVES UPON LAST YEAR'S STRUCTURE. HAVING BEEN PRESENT FOR EVERY SINGLE PRAYER LAST YEAR, I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST TO HOW MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT THESE MOMENTS ARE FOR SO MANY STUDENTS, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A POLICY THAT IS RESPECTFUL, INCLUSIVE, AND PRACTICAL.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE JORGE PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY MAX PEREZ.
YES. AS YOU ALREADY HEARD TWO YEARS AGO, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED.
AND UNTIL THIS DATE, NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO HELP THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF ONE DAY FRISCO ISD IS THE NEXT UVALDE, THE NEXT MASSACRE HERE IN TEXAS FOR NO MAKING FOR NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES.
[00:20:26]
THIS KEEPS HAPPENING EVERY DAY TO A LOT OF STUDENTS.WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN ANY CHANGE AT ALL? THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT WE HAVE MAX PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY SHANNON AYERS.
WE ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED HERE IN FRISCO ISD BECAUSE OF OUR BECAUSE OF OUR DISABILITY MY PARENTS ASKED IN OUR MEETING AT WAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE FOR ME.
THE COUNSELOR AT WAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL SAW ME FOR FIVE FOR LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.
THEY DIDN'T CARE TO PROVIDE ME.
THEY DIDN'T CARE TO PROVIDE ME WITH SERVICES FOR THE TRAUMA I WAS GOING THROUGH.
MONTHS PASSED AND WAS STILL BEING BULLIED IN FRONT OF THE TEACHER.
AND I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE BEING BULLIED.
THEY HAVE DECLINED TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING.
THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH THEY WANT US TO BE SAFE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WHO WE NEED, WHO DO, WHO DO WE NEED TO GO FOR HELP? YOU, AS PARENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP US MAKE A CHANGE IN FRISCO ISD, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL NEVER CARE.
END OF SPEECH [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SHANNON AYERS, FOLLOWED BY MISHA SHARIF.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHANNON AYERS, AND I'M WITH CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS BOARD'S RECENT DECISION TO ADOPT CHANGES TO YOUR EFB LOCAL POLICY, PROPOSED IN THE TASB 123 UPDATE, SPECIFICALLY THE REMOVAL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DISTRICT RESIDENTS FROM THE RECONSIDERATION PROCESS FOR LIBRARY MATERIALS.
LET'S BE CLEAR THIS WAS NOT A SIMPLE OVERSIGHT.
THESE WORDS WERE DELIBERATELY REDLINED IN THE UPDATE, CASTING DOUBTS ABOUT TASBS CREDIBILITY AND SIGNALING AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO SIDELINE THE VOICES OF TAXPAYERS.
WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DIMINISH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
[00:25:02]
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARD MEMBERS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS, I'VE HEARD A TROUBLING SENTIMENT THAT THOSE WITHOUT KIDS IN THE DISTRICT DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR SCHOOLS. TO THAT, I SAY TWO THINGS.FIRST, IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T CARE THEN WHY BOTHER REMOVING THEM FROM THE PROCESS? BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF A COMMUNITY MEMBER CHOOSES NOT TO PARTICIPATE, THAT IS THEIR DECISION.
IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO EXCLUDE THEM.
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GET TO DECIDE WHO CAN HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE AND WHO CANNOT.
THE WAY I SEE IT, THERE ARE TWO POSSIBILITIES HERE.
NEITHER SCENARIO IS ACCEPTABLE.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT POLICY CHANGES.
IT'S ABOUT RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS YOU.
I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION AND REFLECT ON ITS IMPLICATIONS.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MISHA SHARIF, FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE LINDSTROM.
IS IT OKAY IF I COME UP AND GIVE THEM? CAN YOU GIVE THEM TO THIS YOUNG LADY ON THE END FOR US? THANK YOU.
MEMBERS OF THE FRISCO ISD BOARD.
THEY SAY THAT A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER WHEN THEY SHARE SACRED MOMENTS TOGETHER.
AND TODAY, I FEAR THAT YOUR MUSLIM STUDENT COMMUNITY MAY BE AT RISK.
NOW, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A KEY CLAUSE IN THE FRISCO POLICY THAT REALLY SPOKE OUT TO ME WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS SPEECH, SECTION F, PART FNA UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT TITLE, WHICH STATES THAT STUDENTS OPEN QUOTE CAN PRAY OR MEDITATE IN SCHOOL IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DISRUPT INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES CLOSE QUOTE.
MY REQUEST TODAY ALIGNS WITH THIS POLICY.
IN MY HANDS IN WHICH I GAVE TO YOU.
I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PRAYER SPACES IN A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS.
AS A PERSON ADDITIONALLY WHO HAS SEVERE ASTHMA, I AM BARELY ABLE TO PRAY IN THESE ROOMS FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT TAKING MULTIPLE PUFFS OF MY INHALER, OR EVEN JUST HAVING TO LEAVE THE ROOM ENTIRELY.
AND DUE TO THESE DISTRICT POLICIES, THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS NOT ABLE TO PRAY AS A GROUP TOGETHER, WE LEAVE THESE SACRED MOMENTS OUT AND WE HAVE TO PRAY INDIVIDUALLY [INAUDIBLE] THROUGH OUR DESIGNATED PRAYER TIMES.
INSTEAD NOW WE HAVE TO PRAY DURING OUR LUNCHES.
AND AS SOMEONE HAD SAID EARLIER, IT DOES INVALIDATE OUR PRAYER.
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A DESIGNATED SPACE FOR US STUDENTS TO PRAY IN, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING TO LEAVE CLASS MAY POSE A SECURITY RISK, BUT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO MITIGATE THIS, INCLUDING HAVING A SPONSOR IN THE ROOM TO WATCH US PRAY.
THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE CANNOT HAVE THAT.
AND ADDITIONALLY, HAVING A SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT SHEET, WHICH I PERSONALLY IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS A STRIKE SYSTEM SAYING THAT IF YOU WERE ABSENT MORE THAN TWICE, YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE PRAYER ROOM.
[00:30:06]
TO JUST LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS IN TERMS OF GETTING THEIR ISSUES AND QUESTIONS ADDRESSED AND ANSWERED? ABSOLUTELY. INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD REGARDING YOUR CONCERNS WE DO HAVE AN FAQ PROCESS WHERE WE'RE HEARING YOUR CONCERNS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT OF US, THEY'RE TAKING DOWN NOTES SO THAT THEY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AND ALSO OFFER FEEDBACK.THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE BOARD IS NOT LISTENING AND TAKING NOTES.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM DEBBIE LINDSTROM, FOLLOWED BY SHYAM SUNDAR.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEBBIE LINDSTROM, AND I'M WITH CITIZENS DEFENDING FREEDOM.
AS WE APPROACH THIS CRITICAL ELECTION, FRISCO RESIDENTS FACE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR VOTING PROCESS AND POTENTIALLY LEAD TO VOTER SUPPRESSION. LET ME OUTLINE THE SITUATION.
FIRSTLY, I AM IN POSSESSION OF EMAILS BETWEEN ELECTION DAY JUDGES AND COLLIN COUNTY ELECTION OFFICE STATING THAT FRISCO ISD IS IMPOSING SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON POLL JUDGES ACCESS TO VOTING LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY.
INSTEAD, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT 5 A.M.
ON ELECTION DAY TO PREPARE EVERYTHING.
SECONDLY, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF SOME ASSIGNED VOTING SPACES.
THIS IS HARDLY SUFFICIENT TIME TO PLAN FOR EFFICIENT VOTER FLOW AND POTENTIAL ISSUES.
LEAVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ELECTION OFFICE.
THIS LACK OF COOPERATION IS ALARMING AND UNPRECEDENTED.
THESE RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS POSE SEVERAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THEY HAMPER THE ABILITY TO SET UP EFFICIENTLY AND SECURELY.
THEY MAY LEAD TO DELAYS AND LONG WAIT TIMES FOR VOTERS.
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY DISCOURAGE VOTER TURNOUT DUE TO INCONVENIENCE.
IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT SEVERAL EXPERIENCED ELECTION DAY JUDGES HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO RETURN THIS YEAR, WHICH RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORKING CONDITIONS THEY MAY HAVE FACED PREVIOUSLY. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH BOTH THE ELECTION OFFICE AND FRISCO ISD.
LET ME BE CLEAR THESE ARE NOT MERELY LOGISTICAL INCONVENIENCES.
THESE CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO VOTER SUPPRESSION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM SHYAM SUNDAR, FOLLOWED BY [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD EVENING, FRISCO ISD BOARD MEMBERS.
FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH MY MY SPECIFIC SCHOOL, MOSS MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE THERE ARE BROKEN FOUNTAINS, TOILETS AND OTHER APPLIANCES AROUND THE SCHOOL THAT I WOULD I WOULD LIKE IF IT WOULD BE FIXED.
I GENERALLY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES I FORGET TO PACK MY WATER BOTTLE.
[00:35:10]
WORKING, THE OTHER BARELY HAD ANY FLOW TO DRINK OUT OF.THAT IS ONE CONCERN I WOULD LIKE TO STATE.
AND ANOTHER CONCERN I WOULD LIKE TO STATE, IS THAT I'M A FORMER STUDENT AT [INAUDIBLE] ELEMENTARY, AND I HAVE A COUPLE FRIENDS WHO GO TO THAT SCHOOL, AND I HEARD FROM A FAMILY THAT THIS YEAR, AND I'VE SEEN IT TOO.
THEY DON'T HAVE A CROSSWALK THERE, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S NOT VERY SAFE FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS I MYSELF, WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STRUGGLED WITH STRUGGLE WITH CROSSING THE ROAD MYSELF AS I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW LIKE WHEN TO CROSS WHEN IT WAS THAT SAFE.
AND SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE SEMI CLOSE CALLS AND I FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AS I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE ATTENDING THAT SCHOOL.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE JACQUELINE FOLLOWED BY MR. PAUL JESSON.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON MUSLIM STUDENT PRAYER, INCLUDING LIMITING THEIR PRAYER TO LUNCH PERIODS AND RESTRICTING FRIDAY GROUP PRAYERS TO THREE INDIVIDUALS.
FIRST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT FRIDAY IS A HOLY DAY FOR MUSLIMS. ON THIS DAY, JUMMAH PRAYER, A CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER THAT HOLDS SPECIAL SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE. JUST AS WE ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS FROM OTHER FAITHS FOR THEIR HOLY DAYS, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE RESPECT THE RELIGIOUS NEEDS OF MUSLIM STUDENTS BY ALLOWING THEM TO PROPERLY OBSERVE FRIDAY PRAYER WITHOUT UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS.
UNDER SECTION 25901 OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE GUARANTEES THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO INDIVIDUALLY, VOLUNTARILY AND SILENTLY PRAY OR MEDITATE IN A NON-DISRUPTIVE MANNER DURING SCHOOL.
LIMITING MUSLIM STUDENTS TO ONLY PRAYING DURING LUNCH UNDERMINES THIS RIGHT AND FAILS TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, WHICH ARE GUIDED BY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE SPECIFIC PRAYER TIMES.
MOREOVER, SECTION 25087 OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE MANDATES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST EXCUSE STUDENTS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, INCLUDING OBSERVING RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS.
RESTRICTING FRIDAY PRAYERS TO GROUPS OF THREE DIMINISHES THE COMMUNAL IMPORTANCE OF JUMMAH, AND DISREGARDS THE SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY. THESE LAWS WERE ENACTED TO PROTECT STUDENTS RIGHTS TO RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION AND OBSERVANCE.
AND THAT INCLUDES PROVIDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS PRACTICES MUSLIM STUDENTS TYPICALLY REQUIRE ONLY A FEW MINUTES FOR DAILY PRAYER, WHICH CAN BE DONE QUIETLY AND IN NON-DISRUPTIVE SPACES.
IN CONCLUSION, I URGE FRISCO ISD TO CONSIDER THESE RESTRICTIVE PROPOSALS BOTH THE US CONSTITUTION AND TEXAS LAW PROTECT THE RIGHT OF STUDENTS TO PRAY AND OBSERVE THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES FREELY.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE PAUL JESSON, FOLLOWED BY VINNY PATEL.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
[00:40:06]
A LOT OF PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES NOT CLEAR SOLUTIONS, SOMETIMES CLEAR SOLUTIONS.SO I CAME UP WITH A POTENTIAL SOLUTION.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CAN'T PRINT THESE OUT AND GIVE US COPIES.
AND I'M THINKING, WELL, MAYBE IT'S A BUDGETARY PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW.
SO I'M THINKING I COULD ESTABLISH A FUND WITH $100 BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRINT WITHOUT TOUCHING YOUR BUDGET, AND PROVIDE IT FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY MONTH CAN'T READ.
SO MY ASK IS, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO BRING ON SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, THOSE SLIDES IN PRINTED FORM, IN COLOR? THAT'S WHY IT'S $100 BUCKS AND I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BLACK AND WHITE, SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOU GUYS AND BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, TO WHOM DO I GIVE THIS MONEY? HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH THE FUND, AND CAN WE GET THE SLIDES NEXT COUNCIL YEAH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CAN WE HAVE THEM NICELY PRINTED UP IN COLOR SO WE CAN FOLLOW ALONG? NOBODY'S ANSWERING.
SO THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM THE BOARD MEETING, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND THAT WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ONE TIME THE SUPERINTENDENT DID RESPOND.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING MEETING, I ASKED FOR A RESPONSE AND DIDN'T GET ONE.
SO IS THIS A I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLICY IS.
ARE WE DON'T GET COMMENTS OR WE DO GET COMMENTS, AND IF WE DON'T, WHERE CAN WE GET THEM? IF THAT COULD BE CLARIFIED, THAT WOULD BE NICE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING. JUST MAYBE NOD.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING? THANK YOU, MR. JESSON, AS IT RELATES TO YOUR QUESTIONS JUST AS I'VE SHARED A FEW MOMENTS AGO YOU WILL HAVE A RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS WITHIN 72 HOURS, AND THEY'RE POSTED ON THE ON THE WEBSITE.
AND THOSE WILL BE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE POSED TODAY.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO START A FUND TO HAVE MATERIALS PRINTED.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT, THOUGH.
WE WILL WE WILL WAIT UNTIL THE RESPONSES ARE GIVEN WITHIN 72 HOURS.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO TO READ THEM TO GET A RESPONSE.
OKAY. I'M A LITTLE COMPUTER ILLITERATE.
SOMETIMES. I CAN'T FIND THE STUFF ON THE WEBSITE, BUT I'LL GET SOME HELP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR [APPLAUSE].
NEXT WE HAVE VINNY PATEL, FOLLOWED BY SARAH SHEIKH.
MY NAME IS VINNY PATEL, AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST THE EXPANSION OF THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM THAT IS OFFERED IN FIVE OF FRISCO ISD HIGH SCHOOLS.
I'M OFFERING MY VOLUNTEER HOURS IF THAT IS NEEDED AS WELL.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. OUR FINAL SPEAKER OF THE EVENING IS SARAH SHEIKH [APPLAUSE].
AND TODAY I'M REPRESENTING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN FRISCO ISD.
FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION, FRIDAY IS A HOLY DAY FOR MUSLIMS. OUR FRIDAY PRAYER, JUMMAH IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY VALUED PRAYER IN OUR RELIGION OF ISLAM.
IT IS OBLIGATORY FOR MUSLIMS TO PROPERLY PERFORM THIS PRAYER.
THERE WERE AROUND 11 OF US WHO HAD NO IDEA THE CHANGES WE WOULD EXPERIENCE.
AFTER WALKING IN THROUGH THOSE EIGHT FEET OFFICE DOORS.
[00:45:01]
WE HAD NEVER PRAYED IN THE AP OFFICE BEFORE BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS PERMITTED TO PRAY IN A CLASSROOM.WE ORIGINALLY CAME TO PRAY OUR FRIDAY CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER, BUT WE LEFT WITH INVALIDATED PRAYERS AND THE STRUGGLE OF PRAYING IN A TINY, SMALL, CLOSETED CONFERENCE ROOM. THE CURRENT CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE HAVE TO PRAY IN DUE TO THE NEW POLICY, IS AT MAX ENOUGH FOR FIVE PEOPLE, LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO GATHER FOR THIS ESSENTIAL CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER.
JUMMAH ISN'T JUST A PERSONAL DEVOTION, BUT A COMMUNAL OBLIGATION FOR MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE.
EVERY RELIGION HAS THEIR RIGHT TO EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SO WHY SHOULD WE, AS MUSLIM STUDENTS BE LIMITED? TO CONCLUDE, WE ARE HUMBLY REQUESTING AND URGING YOU TO CONSIDER THIS, TO RECONSIDER THIS POLICY, AND TO CREATE A SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS US TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO PRAY BY GIVING US A SPACE BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF US.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
BOARD THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT.
IT IS 7:16 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.