[00:00:01] GOOD EVENING. IT IS 6:30 P.M. [Community Input Meeting] AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF FRISCO ISD. WE DO HAVE SIX TRUSTEES PRESENT, AND WE WILL BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION TODAY WITH ONE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM THE BOARD, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENTS, MR. HILL. 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 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. 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 THE TIME FOR EVERY SPEAKER. EACH SPEAKER SHALL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING ITEMS RELATED TO DISTRICT BUSINESS OR GOVERNANCE. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH EACH INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. 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. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE ARE FIVE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP. THANK YOU, MR. HILL. THOSE THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO OFFER A PUBLIC COMMENT DURING COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE RESPONDED TO VIA OUR Q&A OR FAQ ON OUR WEBSITE WITHIN 72 HOURS. THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE THIS EVENING IS FLOYD BECKETT, FOLLOWING MR. BECKETT WE HAVE BRUCE SPURLING. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS BECKETT FLOYD, AND I'M A JUNIOR AT LONE STAR HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE, GAINING MEANINGFUL KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO DUAL CREDIT IN THE FRISCO SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN PARTICULAR, I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY PURSUING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE AT LONE STAR. MANY OF MY PEERS SURROUNDING IN SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS PLANO, ALLEN, PROSPER, CELINA AND LEWISVILLE HAVE A CLEAR CUT AND WELL-DEFINED PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SEAMLESSLY EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL ON THEIR SCHOOL CAMPUS. MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS BEGIN IN NINTH GRADE, WITH APPLICATIONS STARTING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS POSSIBLE IN FRISCO ISD TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, BUT THERE IS NO CLEAR CUT ROUTE, NO MEANINGFUL DIRECTION, AND NO COUNSELOR TO GUIDE ME THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE. I'M ALSO PEERLESS IN MY PURSUIT AT MY SCHOOL. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO INFORMATION ON FRISCO ISD'S WEBSITES ABOUT EARNING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. IN CONTRAST, PLANO ISD HAS A PROGRAM CALLED PLANO ISD WILDCAT COLLEGIATE ACADEMY THAT WILL GRADUATE AT LEAST 125 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. LAST YEAR, FRISCO ISD ONLY GRADUATED TWO STUDENTS WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. WE ARE A LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A REPUTATION FOR FUTURE READY STUDENTS, SO LACKING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS IS CONCERNING. THIS DISCREPANCY OF OPPORTUNITY PUTS ME AT A CLEAR DISADVANTAGE WHEN APPLYING FOR COLLEGE. IN ADDITION, MANY OF OUR LOW INCOME STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITHIN FRISCO ISD THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES COULD ESSENTIALLY EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FOR FREE. THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER IN THE LIVES OF THOSE STUDENTS, AND UNCOVER A TRUE POSSIBILITY TO GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY DEBT FREE. I FEEL THE DISTRICT IS DOING THESE FAMILIES A HUGE DISSERVICE BY NOT WANTING, NOT OFFERING A PROGRAM TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, OR CLEARLY PROMOTING WHAT IS ALREADY POSSIBLE. I URGE THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THOSE IN SURROUNDING DISTRICTS THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES EARNING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE BOARD TO ADOPT A POLICY OFFERING THESE CLASSES BEGINNING IN NINTH GRADE, WITH EXTENSIVE INFORMATION SESSIONS BEGINNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT SHOULD BE A PATHWAY OPTION BEGINNING IN EIGHTH GRADE. I AM CURRENTLY A JUNIOR, SO IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME TO JOIN AN ON CAMPUS ACADEMY TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. I AM LEFT TO DO MANY OF MY COLLEGE CLASSES AFTER SCHOOL, ONLINE AND OVER THE SUMMER. MY HOPE IS THAT EVEN WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT I'M NEEDING, I WILL GRADUATE FROM COLLIN COLLEGE WITH MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE JUST A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO ME EARNING MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. I SHOULD NOT BE ALONE IN THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT I FEAR I WILL BE AMONG VERY FEW IN THE DISTRICT ACCOMPLISHING THIS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INFORMATION AND CLEAR [00:05:09] CUT PATH. IF I CAN MAKE THIS DEGREE A REALITY, I PERSONALLY INVITE EACH ONE OF YOU TO MY COLLIN COLLEGE GRADUATION IN MAY OF 2026. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FLOYD. AND BE SURE TO SEND US YOUR INVITATION TO YOUR GRADUATION, BECAUSE I'M CERTAIN WE HAVE SOME TRUSTEES THAT WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE. OKAY. WE WILL HAVE SOME INFORMATION AGAIN SHARED ON THE FAQ PAGE REGARDING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN 72 HOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BRUCE SPURLING, FOLLOWED BY [INAUDIBLE]. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. I'M WITH MY NAME IS BRUCE SPURLING. I'M WITH BIBLE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND WE'RE A GROUP THAT WAS EXCITED TO FIND THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS APPROVED A BIBLE CLASS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WE GO ABOUT BRINGING THIS INFORMATION, ATTEMPTING TO GET IT TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE STUDENTS. THE BIBLE IS THE FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION, AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS KNEW THIS. NOAH WEBSTER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, EDUCATION IS USELESS WITHOUT THE BIBLE. AND LEADING UNIVERSITIES TODAY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU GOT HARVARD, RICE, STANFORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE BIBLE THAT FRESHMEN INCOMING FRESHMEN TEND TO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE A BIBLE CLASS AND THOSE THAT DON'T. AND THE REASON IS FOR THAT AND THE REASON THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS APPROVED IT IS THE BIBLE IS ESSENTIAL FOR CRITICAL THINKING. AND THIS BOOK THAT WE'RE PROMOTING, IT'S A IT'S A SOCIAL STUDIES BOOK. IT'S A CLASS WE'RE PROMOTING. IT'S A SOCIAL STUDIES BOOK, A HISTORY OF THE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION. AND IT APPLIES THE BIBLE IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. HOW DIFFERENT DIFFERENT STORIES IN THE BIBLE RELATE TO ART, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, THE LAW, SCIENCE. THERE'S EVEN A SEGMENT IN THERE IT TALKS ABOUT CHLOROFORM. WHEN CHLOROFORM WAS FIRST INVENTED, THE CHURCHES WERE AGAINST IT. THEY WERE AGAINST THE ANESTHESIA OF ANY KIND. AND THE INVENTOR OF CHLOROFORM REFERENCED A POINT IN THE BIBLE THAT GOT IT APPROVED. SO YOU NOW CAN BE OPERATED ON WITHOUT BEING INJURED. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN CASE THERE'S A STUDENT HERE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM THE ANSWERS TO THE TEST, BUT ALL THE ALL THE TESTIMONIES WE'VE HAD FROM STUDENTS WHO TAKE THIS, THE CLASS HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS. THEY HAVE FOUND ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CLASS PROMISES HAVE BEEN MET. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. MR. [INAUDIBLE] PARUCHURI FOLLOWED BY SIRI G. PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME FOR ME I KNOW, I KNOW, I DIDN'T PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY. [INAUDIBLE] OH OKAY. I WAS ALMOST RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUDHIR AND I'M A STUDENT AT FRISCO ISD. TODAY ME AND MY PEERS ARE HERE TODAY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF JUSTICE TEXAS, A YOUTH LED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR HUMAN CENTERED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. WE ARE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF OVER 1000 YOUTH THAT HAS BEEN FEATURED BY MEDIA OUTLETS SUCH AS TIME, THE WASHINGTON POST AND CNN. AS STUDENTS, WE LIKE TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ALARMING ISSUE OF DEEPFAKES AND PROPOSE IDEAS TO CONFRONT THE GROWING THREAT. WITH THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES, WE ARE WITNESSING UNPRECEDENTED ADVANCES IN DIGITAL MANIPULATION AND DEEPFAKES HAVE EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TOOLS OF THIS NEW ERA. DEEPFAKES ARE SYNTHETIC MEDIA, VIDEO, OR IMAGES ALTERED BY AI TO DEPICT EVENTS THAT NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN. THIS TECHNOLOGY, INITIALLY SEEN AS NOVELTY, NOW POSES A REAL RISK TO PRIVACY, INTEGRITY, AND TRUTH ITSELF. OVER THE PAST YEARS, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT DEEPFAKES CONTENT HAS SURGED BY MORE THAN 290% ACROSS THE INTERNET'S TOP TEN PLATFORMS, WITH SURVEYS INDICATING THAT ROUGHLY 1 IN 10 MINORS WORLDWIDE REPORT KNOWING FRIENDS OR CLASSMATES WHO HAVE USED AI TOOLS TO GENERATE NEW IMAGES OF OTHER KIDS. THIS SURGE HAS CREATED A CULTURE OF FEAR AMONG TEENS, AS STUDENTS LIKE US FIND OURSELVES INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO HARASSMENT, BULLYING AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA INFLICTED BY THESE DOCTORED VIDEOS. EVEN THOUGH THE TEXAS SENATE BILL 179 ALREADY MADE CYBERBULLYING A CRIME, WHEN A STUDENT RELEASES OR THREATENS TO RELEASE INTIMATE VISUAL MATERIAL SUCH AS DEEPFAKES WITHOUT CONSENT, WE BELIEVE THAT FRISCO ISD NEEDS TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON COMBATING THE PROLIFERATION OF DEEPFAKES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT AMONG STUDENTS. [00:10:05] SPECIFICALLY, TO EFFECTIVELY COMBAT THE PROLIFERATION OF SEXUAL DEEPFAKES, FRISCO ISD SHOULD MODIFY ITS STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY TO EXPLICITLY EQUATE REAL IMAGES WITH DEEPFAKE GENERATED IMAGES. THIS CHANGE IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT REINFORCES THE IDEA THAT THE HARM CAUSED BY DEEPFAKES IS ON PAR WITH THAT OF TRADITIONAL FORMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARASSMENT ENSURING THAT STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF SUCH ACTIONS. BY CLEARLY DEFINING DEEPFAKE IMAGES AS EQUIVALENT TO REAL IMAGES, THE DISTRICT CAN ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG STUDENTS, DETERRING THEM FROM MAKING OR SHARING HARMFUL CONTENT. FURTHERMORE, UPDATING PROCEDURES THAT ADDRESS SEXUAL ABUSE INCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF DEEPFAKES IS ESSENTIAL AS IT ESTABLISHES A CONSISTENT AND SERIOUS APPROACH THAT TREATS THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF NON-CONSENSUAL SEXUAL DEEPFAKES IMAGES AS EQUIVALENT OF THAT OF REAL IMAGES, THEREBY PROTECTING VICTIMS AND HOLDING PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE. THIS ALIGNMENT NOT ONLY PROMOTES A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO BETTER EDUCATES STUDENTS ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT IN AN INCREASINGLY TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT WE HAVE SIRI G. FOLLOWED BY STEVEN SMITH. GOOD EVENING FRISCO ISD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SIRI GANAPATHY AND I'M A SENIOR AT REEDY HIGH SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO WHAT MY PEER [INAUDIBLE] PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE FISD TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY STATES THAT STUDENTS WILL NOT RETRIEVE, SAVE, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPLAY HATE BASED, OFFENSIVE, OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL. HOWEVER, STUDENTS CAN FIND LOOPHOLES THAT CIRCUMVENT THESE POLICIES, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EXISTING DISTRICT POLICIES EXPLICITLY ADDRESS DEEPFAKES AND HOLD STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR GENERATING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL USING THIS TECHNOLOGY. BY DIRECTLY CONFRONTING THESE ACTIONS, WE CAN CREATE CLEAR CUT PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATORS TO FOLLOW. FRISCO ISD SHOULD ESTABLISH STRICT STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING DEEPFAKE GENERATED SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL. FISD SCHOOLS NEED PRE-ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS TO DISCREETLY INFORM LOCAL AUTHORITIES AT THE ONSET OF DEEPFAKE SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS, ENSURING VICTIMS RECEIVE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT. WITH SUCH STRICT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, EDUCATORS CAN THEN BE MADE AWARE AND THEREFORE BE MORE PREPARED FOR PROTECTING VICTIMS THROUGH DEDICATED TRAINING. CREATING PROCEDURES SPECIFICALLY FOR INVESTIGATING DEEPFAKE INCIDENTS IS ESSENTIAL DUE TO THIS, UNIQUE COMPLEXITIES OF THESE CASES INVOLVING VICTIM PRIVACY. DEEPFAKES BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN REALITY AND FABRICATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DISCERN AUTHENTICITY WITHOUT PROPER EXPERTISE. A STRUCTURED APPROACH IS NECESSARY, INVOLVING TRAINED PERSONNEL WHO CAN ACCURATELY ASSESS SITUATIONS AND GATHER RELEVANT EVIDENCE TO ENSURE THE PRIVACY OF ALL VICTIMS INVOLVED. ADDITIONALLY, THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON VICTIMS CAN BE PROFOUND, REQUIRING SENSITIVE HANDLING TO ENSURE THEIR WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION. TAILORED PROTOCOLS WILL HELP FRISCO ISD ADDRESS THESE INCIDENTS WITH THE SERIOUSNESS THEY DESERVE, WHILE MAINTAINING THE UTMOST PRIVACY OF VICTIMS AS POSSIBLE. FOSTERING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT WHILE REINFORCING THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FURTHERMORE, IN THIS RAPIDLY EVOLVING AGE OF AI, FRISCO ISD MUST PRIORITIZE EDUCATION FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON THE DANGERS AND IMPLICATIONS OF DEEPFAKES BY INTEGRATING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS INTO THE CURRICULUM, ADVISORY LESSONS, AND PD TRAINING, THE DISTRICT CAN EMPOWER SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE AND CRITICALLY ASSESS DEEPFAKE CONTENT. SUCH PROACTIVE MEASURES WILL NOT ONLY FOSTER A SAFER DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF AI AND ITS SOCIETAL IMPACT. WE HOPE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH FRISCO ISD IN HELPING FORMULATE THESE CHANGES. ULTIMATELY, BY TAKING THESE STEPS, FRISCO ISD CAN LEAD THE WAY IN CREATING A RESPONSIBLE AND INFORMED COMMUNITY THAT VALUES INTEGRITY AND RESPECT IN THE DIGITAL AGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT WE HAVE STEVEN SMITH, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL MORGAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVEN SMITH I'M WITH BIBLE IN THE CLASSROOM. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THERE'S THREE OF US HERE AS YOU CAN TELL, WE'RE OF RETIREMENT AGE. AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR US BEING HERE. OKAY. JESUS SAID THAT WE ARE TO BE THE SALT AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2015. THAT'S OUR INTENTION. THAT'S OUR MOTIVATION. SO IN 2007, THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED THIS LAW THAT SAYS THAT THE BIBLE CAN BE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. AND IT WAS PASSED 167 TO 3 BY THE LEGISLATURE. THEY FELT THAT THE BIBLE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, AND THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE BETTER PREPARED FOR COLLEGE IF THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW THE BIBLE INFLUENCES THE CULTURE AROUND THEM. THIS IS THE ACTUAL TEXTBOOK. [00:15:02] IT'S CALLED THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION. SO FOR A SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS A STATE APPROVED BOOK. IT'S A LAW AND YOU'RE PROTECTED. STUDENTS WILL NOT ONLY STUDY FROM THIS TEXTBOOK, BUT THEY WILL BRING THEIR OWN BIBLE OF CHOICE TO THE CLASS EACH AND EVERY DAY. THE TEACHER WILL WALK THEM THROUGH THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, SHOW THEM HOW THE BIBLE, THE BOOKS AFFECT A MOVIE, PERHAPS, OR A PIECE OF ART OR LITERATURE. SAME THING WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT. THEY'LL WALK THEM THROUGH DURING THE COURSE OF THE CLASS. STUDENTS WILL LEARN WHY B.C. BECAME A.D. RIGHT AROUND THE TIME JESUS WAS BORN. STUDENTS WILL LEARN THE GREATEST IRONY IN HISTORY. THE ROMANS WHO KILLED JESUS BY THE FOURTH CENTURY, WERE ON THEIR KNEES BEFORE JESUS WORSHIPING HIM. WHY DID JESUS COME IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE? ROME HAD 45,000 MILES OF ROAD. HIS WORLDVIEW COULD BE SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE KNOWN WORLD. FURTHERMORE, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A MAIL SYSTEM. SO AGAIN, JESUS WORLDVIEW COULD BE SPREAD RAPIDLY. THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM WAS BORN AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET THE BIBLE INTO VARIOUS LANGUAGES, SO IT COULD ALSO BE SPREAD EASILY. SHAKESPEARE STUDIED THE BIBLE. I HAD NO IDEA. BUT IN THE PLAY MACBETH, HE ACTUALLY IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A TERRIFYING STORY. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF GUILT, NOT BECAUSE OF THE MURDERING AND THE TREACHERY, BUT THE LADY MACBETH AND HER HUSBAND ACTUALLY CONSPIRED TO KILL THE KING. THEY DO IT. AND THEN THERE'S A SCENE THAT SHAKESPEARE PUTS IN THERE WHERE SHE'S HAVING A NIGHTMARE WALKING AROUND THE CASTLE, RUBBING BLOOD OFF HER HANDS. SHE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T WASH THE BLOOD OFF HER HANDS. SOAP AND WATER ISN'T GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S SIN. IT'S GUILT. SHE FEELS THAT, AND SHAKESPEARE WANTS THE AUDIENCE TO SEE THAT AND KNOW THAT ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS WILL REMOVE THAT GUILT. THANK YOU. FINALLY, DR. FIORE'S GOT THIS UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE APPROVED. NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL MORGAN, FOLLOWED BY JOCELYN ELLISON. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS TIME. I AM MICHAEL MORGAN WITH BIBLE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND AS BEN MENTIONED, IN 2007, THE STATE OF TEXAS DECIDED TO ENRICH OUR STUDENTS BY ALLOWING THE BIBLE TO BE TAUGHT AND USED AS A TEXTBOOK IN OUR CLASSES. NOW, SINCE 2007, THERE'S BEEN SLOW GROWTH. THERE'S LESS THAN 10% OF THE DISTRICTS IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW OFFERING THIS COURSE. BUT AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, IF WE LOOK BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY, THE BIBLE WAS A PROMINENT SOURCE OF READING AND USE FOR WRITING, AND THERE'S EVEN MATH STUFF IN THERE. YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW TO BUILD A SHIP IN THE BIBLE. THERE'S ALL SORTS OF FUN TOPICS AND THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING CHOICE FOR A STUDENT TO USE AS A TEXTBOOK. HAS BEEN MENTIONED, LITERATURE COMMON IN PEOPLE'S WRITINGS ALL OVER. MUSIC. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. THE BIRDS BACK IN THE 60S. THEIR SONG TURN, TURN, TURN COMES STRAIGHT FROM ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER THREE. THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THE LYRICS FOR THE SONG. THAT'S PRETTY COOL. A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS WOULD LOVE TO LEARN THINGS LIKE THAT. MOVIES. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS LONG MOVIE, HARD TO SIT THROUGH, BUT VERY INFORMATIVE AND VERY WELL, IT'S PRETTY COOL, AND I LIKE THAT. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW IN THE METROPLEX, THERE ARE 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFERING THIS CLASS, OR A VERSION THEREOF, DIFFERENT TITLES, DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT WITH THE SAME GENERAL BASIS, THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION. SOME OF THOSE AROUND US HERE IN THIS AREA. AUBREY STARTED THE CLASS THIS YEAR. CELINA STARTED THE CLASS THIS YEAR. PROSPER, TWO OF THEIR THREE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE IT RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE WORKING ON THE THIRD. AND AS SOON AS THE FOURTH ONE GETS OPENED IN PROSPER, I'M SURE IT WILL GO THERE AS WELL. LEWISVILLE HAS IT, PLANO HAS IT, MESQUITE JUST ALL IN THIS AREA. THERE'S SOME BIG, BIG SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT OFFER THEIR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE BIBLE AS A TEXTBOOK. AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE FRISCO JOIN IN WITH ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS AROUND US HERE AND, AND DO THE SAME TO ENRICH THEIR STUDENTS LIVES WITH THE GREATEST [00:20:01] TEXTBOOK THAT'S EVER BEEN WRITTEN AND BEEN USED SINCE LITERALLY THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY AND BEFORE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT WE HAVE JOCELYN ELLISON, FOLLOWED BY LEONARDO PEREZ. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. OUR NAMES ARE JOCELYN ELLISON, MARIE HAMPTON AND L'OREAL BRYAN, SENIORS AT PANTHER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL. WE STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO EXPLORE WAYS WE CAN EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT GROWTH AND SOCIO EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY ALLOWING NON-CURRICULAR CLUBS TO MEET DURING SCHOOL HOURS ONCE AGAIN. HELLO. OUR GOAL IS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DISTRICT IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE, TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL CLUBS DURING SCHOOL HOURS ONCE MORE, THAT ARE NOT JUST CURRICULAR CLUBS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS WE BELIEVE THAT THESE CLUBS ARE VITAL FOR FOSTERING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WITHIN SCHOOLS AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAREER READINESS. STUDIES LIKE THOSE FROM THE URBAN INSTITUTE SHOW THAT 83% OF CHILDREN AGES 6 THROUGH 17 PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST ONE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY. INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN THESE ACTIVITIES IS CORRELATED TO BETTER INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND BETTER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. SCHEDULING CLUB MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS IS OFTEN INCONVENIENT AND DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HOLD PART TIME JOBS OR RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER SCHOOL IS CONSTANTLY RISING, WHICH LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO STAY LATE. MEANWHILE, TEACHERS ARE ALSO BALANCED AFTER SCHOOL COMMITMENTS AS WELL. THIS BEING OH, I'M SORRY. THIS BEING SAID, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO MEET DURING SCHOOL AGAIN, STUDENTS DESIRE TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE CLUBS IS GOING TO DECLINE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE FOUND THAT MANY STUDENT LED CLUBS ARE NOT CURRICULAR BASED, WHICH STAGNATES THE OPTIONS OF CLUBS STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DURING SCHOOL HOURS. WITH THIS, WE ALSO FOUND THAT THE AMOUNT OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WITHIN SCHOOLS MAY DECREASE. FACULTY ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS NEW RESTRICTION. EXISTING SPONSORS OF CLUBS MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CLUBS BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE RESPONSIBILITY. WITH THE SOURCES WE JUST WE JUST PROVIDED WE ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN MODIFYING THE NON-CURRICULAR CLUB RULES FOR FRISCO HIGH SCHOOLS. WITH THESE NEW RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE, THE INVOLVEMENT OF STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL DECREASE. THE NEW LIMITATIONS PUT ON OUR CURRENT CLUB GUIDES WILL NOT ONLY MAKE IT HARDER FOR STUDENTS, BUT TEACHERS AND SPONSORS AS WELL. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE DONE OVERNIGHT, AND AS SUCH, WE ARE PREPARED TO PUT IN THE WORK REQUIRED TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL. AS STUDENTS, WE ASPIRE TO BE A VOICE OF CHANGE NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN SCHOOL, BUT FOR FRISCO ISD AND ALL DISTRICTS AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER OUR PROPOSAL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO FURTHER ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE INVOLVED. WE WOULD LIKE TO NEXT INTRODUCE OUR PEERS FROM LONE STAR HIGH SCHOOL'S BLACK STUDENT UNION. WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS MATTER SIDNEY SINCLAIR AND BRADLEY NEWMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. LADIES, BEFORE YOU ALL LEAVE, IF YOU CAN GIVE, WE HAVE TWO EXTRA SPEAKERS THAT WEREN'T ON THE SIGN UP SHEET. IF YOU CAN GIVE IT TO THIS YOUNG LADY TO MY RIGHT, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION FOR DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE, YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO SPEAK. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE MOVING FORWARD, YOU ALL DO NEED TO SIGN UP INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LEONARDO PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY MAX PEREZ. OKAY. I'M LEO AND I WILL LIKE TO ASK YOU, HOW MANY MORE OF US WILL NEED TO COMMIT SUICIDE SO YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE IN FRISCO ISD? OUR VOICE WILL NOT BE SILENCED ANYMORE. WE WILL BE THE VOICE OF ALL THE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS. AND WE WILL NOT LET YOU DISCRIMINATE US ANYMORE. YOU WILL NOT DENY US WITH OUR SERVICE ANYMORE. [00:25:06] ANYMORE. I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE DEAF BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DON'T YOU STILL DON'T HEAR MY SCREAM FOR HELP, I WILL REMIND YOU EVERY DAY. I WILL REMIND EVERY PARENT. EVERY PARENT. [AUDIO] OKAY, I, I WILL REMIND YOU PARENT IN FRISCO OF THE ATROCITIES FRISCO ISD IS COMMITTING AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. NEXT WE HAVE MAX PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY BRADLEY NEWMAN. I AM MAX PEREZ, AND I HAVE A SPEECH I WOULD LIKE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO GROW UP SOME MAN BALLS AND START MAKING A CHANGE ON THE BULLYING WE ARE SUFFERING FROM FRISCO ISD. I PERSONALLY WAS A VICTIM OF BULLYING AND WAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL DOES NOT CARE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE ASK FOR. THEY PUT BACK THIS BULLY IN ONE OF MY CLASSES THIS YEAR, IN WHICH I HAD TO CHANGE MY CLASSES BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF BEING NEAR THIS BULLY. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST US ANYMORE. AND IF YOU'RE AND IF AND IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THE BULLYING IN FRISCO ISD. STEP OUT OF THOSE CHAIRS AND LET SOMEONE WHO CARES AND WANTS TO MAKE A CHANGE TO DO, TO MAKE A CHANGE TO DO THIS JOB. END OF SPEECH. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. OUR FINAL SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS BRADLEY NEWMAN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M BRADLEY NEWMAN, AND THIS IS SYDNEY SINCLAIR. AND WE ARE SENIORS AT LONE STAR HIGH SCHOOL. TODAY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT SOCIAL GROWTH AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY ALLOWING NON-CURRICULAR CLUBS TO MEET DURING SCHOOL HOURS ONCE AGAIN. THE FISD RULES REGARDING NON-CURRICULAR CLUBS MEETING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS HAS CAUSED A DECLINE IN OUR CLUB'S ENGAGEMENT. MANY STUDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE BSU HAS TO OFFER, BUT HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE MEETINGS OFTEN BECAUSE OF WORK SCHEDULES OR NOT HAVING TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO STATE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS SPONSORS HAVING THEIR OWN SCHEDULES OUTSIDE OF WORK. BSU IS MORE THAN JUST A CLUB TO SOME, MORE LIKE A SAFE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS AND GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TOPICS THAT THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY CAN RELATE TO THEM. AND OUR MEETINGS, WE OFTEN DISCUSS EVENTS THAT ARE AREN'T AS TALKED ABOUT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE ON THE CULTURE, AND WE ALSO HOLD OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS. IT IS VERY BENEFICIAL THAT WE HAVE THE TIME SET ASIDE DURING SCHOOL, SUCH AS ADVISORY RIOT TIME ROUND UP TO MEET DURING THOSE HOURS BECAUSE LIKE BRADLEY SAID, AFTER SCHOOL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JOBS. I KNOW I'M ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE A JOB. AND TRANSPORTATION IS NOT GIVEN TO ALL. SO THE TIME THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE DURING ADVISORY WHERE WE GET TO GATHER WITH OUR FRIENDS, GATHER WITH NON-CURRICULAR CLUBS IS WHAT OTHER STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO. AND BSU IS MORE THAN JUST A NON-CURRICULAR CLUB. IT IS A RESOURCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST OF COLOR, BUT MANY MORE TO GET COLLEGE RESOURCES THAT FISD DOESN'T NORMALLY PROVIDE THAT THEY BRUSH OVER, SUCH AS THE BLACK COMMON APP, WHERE THEY PROVIDE OVER 60 DIFFERENT HBCUS THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO WITH THE FEE WAIVED. WE GO OVER ALL OF THAT. WE GIVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. SO IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL THAT WE CAN USE THAT TIME DURING THE DAY, USE THE TIME THAT WE HAVE DURING CLASS WHERE WE CAN'T GO OUT, WHERE WE CAN STAY TO GIVE THOSE RESOURCES OUT TO OTHER STUDENTS. [00:30:05] AS WELL AS WE ALSO DURING OUR MEETINGS, WE USUALLY TALK ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE, EVENTS AND FACTS THAT AREN'T EXPRESSED ABOUT AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY LIKE, THEY DON'T KNOW AND TO SPREAD MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT GIVES THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SENSE OF SELF, AND TO ALSO SPEAK ABOUT IT AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS THAT MAY BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUES THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. THAT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. MAKE SURE THIS YOUNG LADY HAS YOUR INFORMATION. OH, NO. YEP. RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. BOARD THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY INPUT NIGHT. FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE PLEASE REFER TO OUR WEBSITE TO THE FAQ PORTION WHERE YOU WILL FIND YOUR RESPONSES WITHIN 72 HOURS. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:00. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.