HEAR ME CLAP TWICE. THANK YOU. IT IS 6:52 P.M.
[Community Input Meeting on February 24, 2025.]
[00:00:09]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.WE DO HAVE SIX TRUSTEES PRESENT, AND WE DO HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS EVENING THAT IS COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM THE BOARD, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS EVENING, FOLKS, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE THAT CAME TODAY TO SPEAK. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 31 THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. HILL SO THAT HE CAN GIVE US SOME INSTRUCTIONS.
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 EVERY 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 THEY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
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 THEIR GRIEVANCE 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. IN ADDITION TO WHAT HE SHARED TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT WHILE YOU ARE GOING TO COME UP AND SPEND YOUR TIME SHARING YOUR CONCERNS WITH US, WE CANNOT GO BACK AND FORTH IN CONVERSATION OR COMMUNICATION WITH YOU.
THE MEMBERS OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM WILL TAKE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED TONIGHT, AND THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE RESPONSES WITHIN 72 HOURS.
IS THAT CORRECT? MRS. MCCUNE. IS IT 72 HOURS ON OUR ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER THE FAQ TAB.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS, PERHAPS YOU MAY RUN OUT OF YOUR THREE MINUTES.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL THE TRUSTEES HERE ON THIS DAIS, AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM TO GET INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU THAT YOUR ENTIRE MESSAGE IS HEARD.
BUT IF YOU DO REACH THAT THREE MINUTE MARK, YOU WILL HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH US BY SENDING THE REST OF YOUR INFORMATION VIA EMAIL SO THAT YOUR RESPONSES OR RESPONSES CAN BE GENERATED TO YOUR CONCERNS.
ALL RIGHT, JUST CLAP FOR ME ONE TIME IF YOU UNDERSTAND.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL. WE ALSO MEET EVERY SECOND MONDAY OF THE MONTH, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A FULL HOUSE ON EVERY SECOND MONDAY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
SO PLEASE DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYONE THAT'S COMING OVER THERE IS BUTTON IN FRONT OF YOU.
I KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT LINES AND PEOPLE GETTING IN FRONT OF US, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM SHARING THEIR NAMES IN ORDER AND IF THEY GET HERE, I WILL BE FITTING THEM IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS. THANK YOU.
OUR FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS INCLUDE GRACE KANG, LEANNE JOHNSON, EMILY LEVIN, LAURA BRANDENBURG, AND KAYLA WALTON, IN THAT ORDER.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS GRACE CAIN. THE SECOND SPEAKER WILL BE LEANNE JOHNSON.
IS GRACE HERE TODAY? YES. COME ON UP.
[00:05:10]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GRACE KANG, AND I AM A PROUD HARP STUDENT IN FRISCO ISD.TONIGHT, I STAND ALONGSIDE A GROUP OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO URGE THE DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO END THE HARP PROGRAM.
EACH OF US BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, BUT WE ARE UNITED BY ONE MESSAGE.
THIS PROGRAM IS INVALUABLE AND ITS ELIMINATION WOULD BE A PROFOUND LOSS.
I STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAT BEHIND A HARP, FEELING ITS STRINGS BENEATH MY FINGERS, HEARING THE RICH AND RESONANT SOUND. IT ISN'T JUST MUSIC.
IT IS AN INSPIRATION, A CHALLENGE AND A RARE OPPORTUNITY THAT HAS SHAPED ME.
BUT NOW, FUTURE STUDENTS MAY NEVER GET THAT SAME CHANCE.
THAT'S WHY I STARTED AN ONLINE PETITION TO SAVE FRISCO'S HARP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS GATHERED OVER 4500 SIGNATURES DEMONSTRATING HOW DEEPLY THIS PROGRAM MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2007 WITH JUST NINE STUDENTS IN THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
MANY OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE ACHIEVED STATEWIDE RECOGNITION, COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.
FRISCO ISD IS ONE OF THE ONLY DISTRICTS IN TEXAS THAT OFFERS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY.
THIS DECISION DOESN'T JUST AFFECT ME. IT AFFECTS STUDENTS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IF THIS PROGRAM IS ELIMINATED, SHE AND SO MANY OTHERS WILL LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY.
TAKING THIS PROGRAM AWAY ISN'T JUST ABOUT REDUCING COSTS.
IT'S ABOUT TAKING AWAY A UNIQUE AND LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR COUNTLESS STUDENTS.
ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED MOMENTS IN THIS PROGRAM IS THE DISTRICT WIDE HARP CONCERT.
EVERY YEAR, STUDENTS FROM ACROSS FRISCO ISD COME TOGETHER.
SEEING SIXTH GRADERS ALONGSIDE GRADUATING SENIORS REMINDS US OF THE SHARED PASSION WE ALL HAVE.
IF THIS PROGRAM IF THIS PROGRAM DISAPPEARS, SO DOES THAT TRADITION.
FRISCO ISD OFFERS DIVERSE, WELL-ROUNDED OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS.
THE HARP PROGRAM IS A PART OF THAT IDENTITY. I URGE THE DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER, NOT JUST FOR THOSE OF US WHO PLAY NOW, BUT FOR GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS WHO DESERVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY, DISCIPLINE AND INSPIRATION THAT THE HEART BRINGS.
IF WE TAKE IT AWAY, WE MAY NEVER SEE A PROGRAM AS SUCCESSFUL OR IMPACTFUL AS THIS ONE AGAIN.
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE THE LAST CHAPTER IN FRISCO ISD'S HARP LEGACY.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GRACE. WE NOW HAVE LEE ANN JOHNSON, FOLLOWED BY EMILY LEVIN, LAURA BRANDENBURG, KAYLA WALTON, AND MEREDITH ROSS. HELLO. MY NAME IS LEANNA JOHNSON AND I'M A FORMER FISD HARP TEACHER. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
STUDENTS IN THE FISD HARP PROGRAM HAVE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN A GROUP CLASSROOM SETTING.
THIS RIGOROUS, CONSISTENT, AND TEAM ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT IS A HUGE FACTOR IN STUDENT SUCCESS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS OF FRISCO HARP STUDENTS.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO NOTE FRISCO HARP PERFORMANCE IN BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WIDER MUSICAL COMMUNITY AS STUDENT AMBASSADORS AND HONOR ORCHESTRA MEMBERS. THE PROVIDED LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHOWS A LONG PERIOD OF SUCCESSES, BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROGRAM IS GETTING STRONGER OVER TIME.
FRISCO NOW PRODUCES SO MANY STRONG STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETELY DOMINATED LOCAL COMPETITIONS AND HONOR ORCHESTRAS, AND HAVE BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS WELL. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF FISD HARP STUDENTS IN ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS. THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE HONORS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC STUDENT.
[00:10:02]
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE EXCELLENCE OF MUSIC EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE NUMBER FROM ONE DISTRICT ALONE.NEARLY EVERY YEAR, FRISCO HARPISTS CLAIMED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ALL-STATE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR OUR DISTRICT, WHICH WAS FOUR PRIOR TO 2018 AND SIX AFTER THAT POINT.
PLEASE NOTE THE ATTACHED LIST OF PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES THAT FRISCO HARP STUDENTS HAVE ATTENDED.
STUDYING THIS UNIQUE INSTRUMENT SETS STUDENTS APART, PROVIDING THEM WITH VALUABLE SKILLS BEYOND MUSIC, IN ADDITION TO ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE, HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING, COMMITMENT, SELF-MOTIVATION AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AMONG OTHER POSITIVE QUALITIES. I SPOKE WITH A FORMER FRISCO HARPIST WHO RECEIVED A SIZABLE SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY THE HARP AT HER UNIVERSITY OF CHOICE, AND SHE SAID, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE SUCH A RIGOROUS BUSINESS DEGREE PROGRAM IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE HARP PROGRAM, MAKING IT FINANCIALLY POSSIBLE. HARP ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE PLAYING AND PURSUING MY PASSION, WHILE ALSO SECURING A BUSINESS DEGREE, WHICH ULTIMATELY SHAPED MY CAREER.
THIS SKILL OPENS DOORS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS LONG AFTER THEY GRADUATE.
DUE TO FISD'S LONG INVESTMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO STRONGLY ASK THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION TO PHASE OUT THE HARP PROGRAM SO THAT STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INCREDIBLE PROGRAM THAT FISD, THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT, ADMINISTRATORS AND MUSIC STAFF.
AND OF COURSE, THE HARP TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN. PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN. ALL WE SEE IS THE TOP OF YOUR HEADS.
WE WANT TO SEE YOUR FACES LISTENING TO THEM. NEXT WE HAVE EMILY LEVIN, LAURA BRANDENBURG, KAYLA WALTON, MEREDITH WATTS, AND DANITRA WIDJAJA.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EMILY LEVINE.
I'M THE PRINCIPAL HARPIST OF THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND I'M ALSO HARP FACULTY AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY AND THE ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL. BEFORE I MOVED TO DALLAS IN 2016, I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM, WHICH HAD GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION IN THE HARP WORLD.
TO HAVE SUCH A ROBUST PROGRAM WITH TOP PERFORMING HARPISTS AND TEACHERS.
THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN DFW, I HAVE WORKED WITH THE FRISCO ISD HARP STUDENTS.
IN MASTER CLASS SETTINGS AS A COMPETITION ADJUDICATOR AND AS A PRIVATE TEACHER.
THE STUDENTS ARE DRIVEN, FOCUSED, INTELLIGENT, CURIOUS, AND HARD WORKING.
THE ENVIRONMENT OF BOTH STUDIO LEARNING AND PRIVATE TEACHING HAS ALLOWED THESE STUDENTS TO FLOURISH, WITH STUDENTS GARNERING ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS, MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS, MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS, AND MORE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL.
MANY OTHERS HAVE STUDIED AT OUR VERY OWN TEXAS SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, AND MANY OTHERS.
THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED TOP PRIZES IN STATE AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY, NATIONAL COMPETITION, AND THE TEXAS ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA.
IN 2025, THE TOP SIX POSITIONS FOR ALL-STATE HARP WERE AWARDED TO FRISCO ISD STUDENTS.
TO SEE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING PROGRAM ABRUPTLY TERMINATED WITH NO WARNING IS NOT ONLY SHOCKING, IT'S A DISSERVICE TO THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE PROGRAM'S EXCELLENCE.
A PROGRAM THAT HAS SEEN SO MANY STUDENTS THRIVE AND THAT HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL EXCELLENCE SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, NOT SHUTTERED. AND ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM.
I ASK THAT IT BE REINSTATED AND THAT ITS EXEMPLARY WORK BE COMMENDED AND SUPPORTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE LAURA BRANDENBURG, KAYLA WALTON, MEREDITH ROSS, DENITRA
[00:15:09]
WIDJAJA, AND EMILY PETERS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOCTOR LAURA BRANDENBURG, AND I REPRESENT THE DALLAS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF THE CHAPTER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS MEMBERSHIP BASE, WE STRONGLY URGE THE ADMINISTRATION OF FRISCO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM, THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY IN DALLAS WAS CHARTERED IN 1963.THE MISSION STATEMENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION READS, IN PART, THAT THE AHS IN DALLAS SEEKS A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ACCREDITED SCHOOLS AND MUSIC FACULTIES TO PROMOTE STUDY OF THE HARP.
IN THE TWO DECADES SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM, ITS OUTSTANDING HARP TEACHERS HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE AHS IN DALLAS, AND ITS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORTHY RECIPIENTS AND WINNERS OF OUR MANY PROGRAMS, COMPETITIONS, AND GRANTS. AWARDS. FRISCO STUDENTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DOMINATED AT TEXAS ALL-STATE, AND MANY HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME WELL-RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL HARPISTS. MANY MORE HAVE LEVERAGED THE RIGOROUS TRAINING THEY RECEIVED IN THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM INTO THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND INTO FLOURISHING CAREERS IN A VARIETY OF DEMANDING FIELDS.
THE INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THE DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED THE HARP PROGRAM IN FRISCO OVER THE YEARS, ALONG WITH ITS DEDICATED AND WORLD CLASS HARP FACULTY, HAS RESULTED IN A MODEL PROGRAM FOR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. IT IS A PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND PROTECTED AS A CROWN JEWEL OF THE DISTRICT.
RENOWNED MUSIC EDUCATOR AND FOUNDER OF THE SUZUKI METHOD, DOCTOR SHINICHI SUZUKI, FAMOUSLY WROTE, TEACHING MUSIC IS NOT MY MAIN PURPOSE. I WANT TO MAKE GOOD CITIZENS.
THE CORE OF HIS TEACHING PHILOSOPHY IS THAT CHILDREN WHO HEAR FINE MUSIC AND LEARN TO PLAY IT DEVELOP SENSITIVITY, DISCIPLINE AND ENDURANCE. THEY GET A BEAUTIFUL HEART.
THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE STUDENTS, THE HEARTS OF ALL OF OUR FUTURES MIGHTILY DEPENDS ON ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSICAL AND CULTURAL EDUCATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
OKAY. WE NOW WILL HEAR FROM KAYLA WALTON, MEREDITH ROSS, DENITRA WIDJAJA, EMILY PETERS, AND CINDY LIN IN THAT ORDER. HELLO, FISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS KEYLA WALTON, AND I AM THE HARP INSTRUCTOR AT TCU IN FORT WORTH AND THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR HARPISTS WHOSE MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE OUR LEGACY, INSPIRE EXCELLENCE, AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF HARPISTS. IN 2019, I WROTE THE FEATURE ARTICLE GOING PUBLIC FOR THE HARP COLUMN MAGAZINE, IN WHICH I RESEARCHED AND PROFILED SIX OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SCHOOL HARP PROGRAMS. ONE OF THESE WAS THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM.
I SHARE THESE CREDENTIALS WITH YOU SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY THE FRISCO ISD HARP PROGRAM IS UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY IN TEXAS, BUT ACROSS THE US NATIONALLY. THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT HYPERBOLIC NOR SYCOPHANTIC.
I SPEAK FROM A PLACE OF SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HARP SOCIETY, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER CARLA SIGISMUND, THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP, AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE FISD HARP PROGRAM.
FISD HARP STUDENTS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, HAVE REPRESENTED FRISCO ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, BOTH AS OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS AND FOR THEIR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO THE HARP COMMUNITY. IT IS RARE FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL HARP PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE COMPETITION WINNERS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, YET FISD CAN BOAST TWO AHS NATIONAL COMPETITION PRIZE WINNERS.
NATHAN ZHAO, CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL 2024 VALEDICTORIAN, CURRENTLY HOLDS THE POSITION OF AHS EMERGING ARTIST AND IS PURSUING A DEGREE AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. KATHLEEN HOPKINS, LEBANON TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL 2021 WON FIRST PRIZE IN THE 2019 INTERMEDIATE ONE DIVISION OF THE AHS NATIONAL COMPETITION AND IS CURRENTLY PURSUING A HARP
[00:20:09]
DEGREE AT JUILLIARD. THE AHS CHAPTER AMBASSADORS PROGRAM PROVIDES A NATIONAL SERVICE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS FUNDING TO ATTEND AHS EVENTS. SINCE 2018, SEVEN OF THE 38 AHS CHAPTER AMBASSADORS HAVE BEEN FRISCO ISD STUDENTS.IT IS SHORT SIGHTED TO END A SUCCESSFUL SIGNATURE PROGRAM WHICH SETS FRISCO APART.
ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DISTRICTS IN TEXAS, FRISCO FACES UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL CHALLENGES YET.
FRISCO ISD HAS FOR 18 YEARS HEAVILY INVESTED IN ONE OF OUR NATION'S PREMIER HARP PROGRAMS. THAT INVESTMENT HAS RESULTED IN POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR GRADUATES NOT ONLY TO GO ON TO RECEIVE DEGREES IN MUSIC, BUT ALSO BUSINESS SCIENCES AND MORE. HAVING SERVED IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP FOR OVER A DECADE, I UNDERSTAND BUDGET CHALLENGES. I IMPLORE YOU TO WORK WITH YOUR HARP HEART TEACHERS, YOUR MUSIC EDUCATORS, YOUR FINE ARTS ADMINISTRATORS TO SEEK OTHER BUDGET SOLUTIONS AND CREATIVE NEW STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE A VIBRANT HARP PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE MEREDITH ROTHS. DENATRA WIDJAJA, EMILY PETERS, CINDY LIN, AND NIKHIL SEVANTHI.
HELLO. MS. WALDRIP AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEREDITH ROTHS.
I AM A PARENT OF A FORMER HARP TEACHER, ANNA, AND A CURRENT HARP TEACHER, LAUREN.
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2016.
MY DAUGHTER, ANNA ATTRIBUTES MUCH OF WHO SHE IS AS AN ADULT TO THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE PROGRAM. WHEN ANNA WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT GAVE HER A ROOM TO HANG OUT IN A GROUP TO BELONG TO, AND SHE TURNED TO THE INSTRUMENT AS A FORM OF THERAPY WHEN FRIENDS WERE STRAINED AND FRIENDSHIPS WERE STRAINED.
I REMEMBER A SPECIFIC TIME WHEN A CLOSE FRIEND ENTERED A MENTAL HOSPITAL FOR ATTEMPTING TO TAKE HER LIFE, AND ANNA STRUGGLED WITH THAT REALITY. BUT SHE WOULD GO TO SCHOOL AND PLAY THE HARP AS A RELEASE.
ALSO, PLAYING HARP ALLOWED ANNA TO BE INVOLVED IN OTHER GROUPS AT SCHOOL AS WELL.
SHE WAS APPROACHED BY THE THEATER TEACHER TO BE INVOLVED IN A ONE ACT PLAY.
IT WAS A SHAKESPEARE PLAY THAT REQUIRED A HARP PLAYER, SO SHE WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
IT WAS MEMORABLE AND A NEW EXPERIENCE SHE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD OTHERWISE.
ANNA JUST GOT MARRIED LAST MONTH, AND THE ONLY TEACHER SHE INVITED TO HER WEDDING WERE HER MUSIC TEACHERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE HER HARP TEACHERS. THESE TWO TEACHERS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN HER LIFE AT A VERY PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HER GROWTH, AND THEY HAVE REMAINED INTERESTED IN ANNA'S FUTURE AND SUPPORT HER STILL TODAY.
MUSIC IS KNOWN TO HELP CHILDREN COGNITIVELY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
IT HELPS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND PROMOTE CREATIVITY.
IT IS A FAMILY, BUT WE ARE SADDENED THAT HER FUTURE WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.
LAUREN WILL ALWAYS BE THE YOUNGEST HARPIST IN HER GROUP.
IT WILL JUST GET SMALLER EACH YEAR AS STUDENTS GRADUATE.
AS A PARENT, OF COURSE, I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DECISION.
WHAT PROGRAM WAS SAVED BECAUSE THE HARP PROGRAM WAS BEING DISSOLVED? WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TAKING MONEY FROM A BIGGER PROGRAM? WERE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES? MAYBE SPORTS GOT CUT IN SOME WAY.
DID OTHER PROGRAMS SEE THE SAME CUT THAT WE'RE SEEING? I KNOW THE HARP PROGRAM HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENTS BEING AFFECTED, BUT TO THOSE STUDENTS, THE HARP PROGRAM IS THE WORLD. PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS CUT.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ATTENDED THE ANNUAL HARP CONCERT, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO.
IT'S VERY SPECTACULAR. IT'S MONDAY, APRIL 14TH AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DANATRA WIDJAJA, THEN EMILY PETERS, CINDY LIN, NIKHIL SEVANTHI, AND ANISHA CHINTALA. GOOD EVENING,
[00:25:05]
BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DANATRA WIJAYA AND I AM A FRESHMAN HARPIST AT LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL.TO BE OR NOT TO BE. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S FAMOUS QUOTE REPRESENTS THE ULTIMATE QUEST FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS THEY CONTEMPLATE THEIR FUTURE CAREERS.
HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THE DECISION TO CUT THE HARP PROGRAM, WHICH NOT ONLY REMOVES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AT FISD, BUT ALSO TAKES AWAY A STUDENT'S CHANCE TO PURSUE A FUTURE IN HARP.
IF THAT IS THE GOAL, WHY CUT THE HARP PROGRAM? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY NORTH TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFER HARP PROGRAM? FROM MY RESEARCH, ONLY ODESSA APPEARS TO BE THE OTHER ONE.
IN ADDITION, FISD HARP PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS FINE ART PROGRAMS HERE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 2024 ALL-STATE RESULTS OF THE UNDER 24 PLAYERS THAT GOT IN, FIVE OF THEM WERE HARPISTS, MAKING UP ABOUT 20% OF THE ENTIRE GROUP. WE PUNCH WAY ABOVE OUR HARP WEIGHT.
IN CONCLUSION, THE HARP PROGRAM IS UNIQUE AND SUCCESSFUL AND SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED.
INSTEAD, WE SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FIND A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO KEEP IT.
I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUESTION. DO YOU OR DO YOU NOT WANT TO SAVE THE HARP PROGRAM? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE EMILY PETERS, FOLLOWED BY CINDY LIN. NIKHIL SEVANTHI, ANISHA CHINTALA AND DAYA SANGAT OR DIA SENEGAL.
GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE FRISCO ISD SCHOOL BOARD.
THE LESSONS OF PLAYING THE HARP CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE MY LIFE AND MY CAREER.
THE SKILLS LEARNED THROUGH THE HARP EXTEND FAR BEYOND MUSIC.
THE HEART PROGRAM HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR ME.
WITHOUT IT, I WOULDN'T HAVE 14 YEARS OF HARP EXPERIENCE FOR THIS RARE INSTRUMENT.
AS A SUMMA CUM LAUDE GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, WHERE I STUDIED MATHEMATICS, I CAN TELL YOU THE DISCIPLINE IT INSTILLS STRENGTHENS PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THE FOCUS IT REQUIRES SHARPENS TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS ESSENTIAL IN MY CAREER.
THESE BENEFITS REACH FAR BEYOND MUSIC. WHILE PRIVATE HARP LESSONS ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS, THE SCHOOL PROGRAM OFFERS A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY BY PROVIDING BOTH THE INSTRUMENT AND EXPERT INSTRUCTION IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR DISTRICT'S HARP PROGRAM IS KNOWN FOR ITS EXCELLENCE, WITH STUDENTS REGULARLY EXCELLING AT ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA, AND THIS LEGACY MUST BE PRESERVED. I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FRISCO ISD FACES, BUT I URGE YOU TO LOOK BEYOND THE NUMBERS. CUTTING THE HARP PROGRAM WOULD NOT ONLY DISAPPOINT STUDENTS, BUT WOULD ALSO DIMINISH THE CULTURAL RICHNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
IT'S ABOUT SUSTAINING A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AS AN ALUMNA, I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER ANY DECISION THAT WOULD END THE HEART PROGRAM.
DON'T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY FADE AWAY AND ENSURE THAT FUTURE STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN THE HARP,
[00:30:01]
AND ENRICH THEIR EDUCATION AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. TOGETHER, WE CAN PRESERVE THIS INCREDIBLE LEGACY AND GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC.NEXT, WE HAVE CINDY LYNN, NIKHIL SEVANTHI, ANISHA CHINTALA, DIYA SENGAL, AND TADD TOLBERT. GOOD EVENING. I'M CINDY LYNN CHU AT FISD COUNCIL MEMBER, A CHAMBER MUSIC INTERNATIONAL BOARD MEMBER AND THE CREATOR OF TWO MUSIC PROGRAMS. I HAVE SERVED AS THE LEBANON TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT, THE LT TENNIS BOOSTER CLUB VICE PRESIDENT, AND THE PTA BOARD MEMBER. MY OLDEST GRADUATE FROM FISD, WHILE MY OTHER TWO ARE CURRENT ADVISED STUDENTS.
MY FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN TEXAS, WITH EVERYONE EITHER CURRENTLY ATTENDING OR HAVING GRADUATED FROM TEXAS UNIVERSITIES UT AUSTIN, TEXAS A&M, BAYLOR, AND SMU. I HAVE LIVED HERE LONGER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
SO I SPEAK NOT JUST AS A PARENT, BUT AS A PROUD TEXAN WHO HAS ADVISED HIS BEST INTERESTS IN MIND.
SINCE COST IS THE PRIMARY CONCERN, LET'S TALK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
THIS PROGRAM EXCEEDS EVERY METRIC OF SUCCESS USED TO EVALUATE TEXAS SCHOOLS.
IT CREATES NOT JUST FUTURE READY STUDENTS, BUT FUTURE LEADERS.
TAKE MY DAUGHTER EVELYN AS AN EXAMPLE. SHE WAS A STRONGER TENNIS PLAYER THAN A HARPIST, BUT HER BRILLIANT HARP TEACHER INSTILLED IN HER AN UNMATCHED WORK ETHIC. TODAY, SHE IS A NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST, A UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR, A RECIPIENT OF TEXAS A&M HIGHEST MERIT AWARD.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE USED HER MUSICAL TRAINING TO CREATE HARPING ON HEALTH, A DOSE OF MUSICAL MEDICINE, PARTNERING WITH TEXAS A&M HEAD ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR TO BRING LIVE PERFORMANCES TO HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES EVERYWHERE.
BEYOND INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS STORIES, LET'S LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.
TEXAS IS BOOMING. COMPANIES ARE MOVING HERE, BRINGING FAMILIES WHO WANT TOP SCHOOLS.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FINE ARTS PROGRAM LIKE THIS ONE WE HAVE, SETS FISD APART, FISD ALREADY LEADS IN ACADEMICS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS. BUT AMONG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ONLY FISD HAS A HARP PROGRAM.
ELIMINATING IT WOULD MEAN LOSING A UNIQUE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
INSTEAD OF CUTTING THE PROGRAM, LET'S MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ACHIEVE THIS. A HARP PERFORMANCE PRACTICUM WHERE ADVANCED STUDENTS TEACH.
AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR CREDIT. WHILE FISD BENEFITS FROM TUITION PAY BY PARTICIPATING STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER OR HOMESCHOOL ANYWHERE COULD BE A GOOD START.
FISD HAS A CHANCE TO BECOME THE INCUBATOR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HARPISTS.
YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE BOARD THAT TURNED CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.
LET'S MAKE HARP A DEFINING FEATURE OF FISD, FRISCO AND TEXAS.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE NIKHIL SEVANTHI, ANISHA CHINTALA, DIA SENGAL, TADD TALBOT AND SYEDA KANTHI.
OR IS IT SYEDA SITA? OKAY. THANK YOU. DEAR FRISCO ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS NIKHIL AND I HAVE BEEN WITH FISD FOR NINE YEARS.
RECENTLY I, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS, HEARD THAT FRISCO ISD IS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO CAN COMPETE IN CTSOS TO 100 STUDENTS PER SCHOOL, PER ORGANIZATION. WHEN I HEARD THIS, MY HEART SANK.
CTSOS AREN'T JUST CLUBS OR COMPETITIONS, THEY'RE LIFELINES FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED HIGH SCHOOL, I STRUGGLED NO MATTER HOW HARD I WORKED.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS FALLING BEHIND. SO NATURALLY, I STARTED TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO BETTER MYSELF INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CTSOS. ALL MY FRIENDS HAD JOINED AND MY NATURAL INSTINCT WAS TO DO THE EXACT SAME.
AFTER THE INFORMATIONAL MEETING, I WAS HELPLESS, CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR A TEAM TO COMPETE WITH.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. NOBODY WANTED TO COMPETE WITH ME.
[00:35:04]
THAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE MOTIVATED ME AND SET ME ON MY JOURNEY.FINALLY, I FORMED A TEAM AND AGAINST ALL ODDS, WE SOMEHOW MADE IT TO STATE ON A TECHNICALITY.
YEAH, IT WAS LUCK, BUT WE REFUSED TO LET THAT WORD DEFINE US.
WE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BECOME THE ONLY FRESHMAN TEAM IN OUR CHAPTER TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS.
AND LIKE CLOCKWORK, WE DID THE EXACT SAME THING THE YEAR AFTER.
IT SHOWED THAT I HAD POTENTIAL. IT SHOWED THAT I HAD SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
IT'S JUST AS THE FAMOUS SAYING GOES, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET BACK UP. BUT WHAT IF YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GET UP? WHAT IF YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO EVEN TRY? IMAGINE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE IN THE SAME POSITION AS I WAS, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CTSO COMPETITORS.
WE AREN'T JUST TURNING STUDENTS AWAY FROM AN EXTRACURRICULAR.
WE'RE TAKING AWAY THEIR SHOT AT GROWTH, CONFIDENCE, AND THE ABILITY TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN POTENTIAL.
WE ARE TELLING THEM THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY WORK, THEY WON'T GET THE CHANCE.
HAD THIS POLICY BEEN IN PLACE MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I CAN PROMISE YOU I'LL BE LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE, SEEING OTHER STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND SUCCEED.
SO I URGE YOU, PLEASE RECONSIDER BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT SHOULD SUCCEED.
EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE CHANCE TO RISE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ANEESH CHINTALA, DIA SANGAT, TED TALBOT, SITA KANTHI AND VISHAKHA DEV REDDY.
COMING INTO HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
HOWEVER, THROUGH CTSOS, I FOUND A PASSION FOR MY FUTURE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, CTSOS SHARE THE COMMON GOAL OF ALLOWING STUDENTS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE WITHIN THESE INDUSTRIES THAT THEY FALL UNDER, PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE. THEY PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW.
FRISCO ISD IS HOME TO VARIOUS CTSO CHAPTERS ON EVERY CAMPUS, AND WITH THIS RULE IN PLACE, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WILL NO LONGER HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE.
HOWEVER, HOW CAN WE AS STUDENTS BELIEVE THIS IF WE ARE TOLD WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BEGIN WITH? HOW CAN WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IF NOT GIVEN THE CHANCE? CTSOS REMAIN A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS FOR FRISCO, DECA, BPA, FFA, FCCLA, AND HOSA HAVE RECOGNIZED OUR VARIOUS CHAPTERS AND HIGHLIGHTED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR VARIOUS MEMBERS, SHOWCASING THE EXCELLENCE THAT DEFINES OUR CAMPUSES.
ADDITIONALLY, EACH CAMPUS IS SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED CHAPTER OFFICERS WHO INVEST SIGNIFICANT TIME AND EFFORT TO PREPARE EVERY STUDENT FOR COMPETITION, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.
BY IMPOSING THESE RESTRICTIONS, FISD UNDERMINES THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT GOES INTO THESE ACCOLADES, DIMINISHING THE RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE EARNED THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT AND EFFORT.
THOUSANDS OF FRISCO STUDENTS CONSIDER THEMSELVES MEMBERS OF THESE CTSOS, AND BY PLACING THIS RULE, THE MAJORITY OF THEM LOSE THE CHANCES THAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR.
THESE MEMBERS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
IN FACT, A PETITION THAT STARTED ONLY TWO DAYS AGO ALREADY HAS GAINED OVER A THOUSAND SIGNATURES SHOWING HOW IMPERATIVE THIS ISSUE TRULY IS FOR FISD STUDENTS. SO I URGE THE BOARD TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL AT STAKE AND RECONSIDER THIS RULE.
[00:40:08]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.NEXT, WE HAVE DIA SANGAT, TAD TOLBERT, SYEDA KANTHI SZASZ DEVIREDDY, SZASZ DEVIREDDY, KAREN KARTHIK, AND HAYDEN LEE.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DIA SENGUL, JOINED BY ARIN MAGNUM.
I'VE BEEN A STUDENT IN FRISCO ISD FOR EIGHT YEARS.
FRISCO ISD IS HOME TO THE LARGEST BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA REGION IN THE ENTIRE NATION, A REGION THAT'S KNOWN TO BE SO COMPETITIVE AND SO ACCOMPLISHED THAT WE'VE BEEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR PRODUCING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
OFFICERS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, AND STUDENTS WHO GO ON TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
CURRENTLY, 1706 STUDENTS FROM FRISCO ISD COMPETE IN BPA AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
BUT UNDER NEW RULE NEXT YEAR, THIS NUMBER IS GOING TO TURN INTO 600.
PUTTING THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT NOW, ONLY 19% OF COMPETITORS CURRENTLY ADVANCE THE STATE, MEANING THAT WE HAVE 336 MEMBERS GOING THIS YEAR.
FRISCO ISD'S BPA REGION ISN'T JUST THE LARGEST IN THE NATION BY MEMBERSHIP, IT'S ALSO THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHICALLY, EXTENDING ALL THE WAY TO TEXARKANA. BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE, ONLY FRISCO AND PLANO COMPETITORS REMAIN IN THIS REGION, WHICH IS WHY WE HOST REGIONALS HERE AT REEDY HIGH SCHOOL.
IF FRISCO'S NUMBERS SHRINK, SCHOOLS THAT WERE REASSIGNED ELSEWHERE COULD RETURN, POTENTIALLY MOVING REGIONALS TO A NEW LOCATION, INTRODUCING NEW TRAVEL COSTS AND NEW LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES.
RIGHT NOW, FRISCO ISD CURRENTLY SPENDS A TOTAL OF $0 ON THE BPA REGIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.
EVERYTHING BEYOND THAT FOOD AND MATERIAL IS FUNDED BY OUR BPA REGION ITSELF.
THE DECISION TO ELIMINATE THESE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US AS A BUDGETARY MEASURE.
HOWEVER, IF NO MONEY IS BEING SPENT AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, WHY AREN'T WE BEGINNING THE CUTS WHERE THE MONEY BEGINS? RATHER THAN CUTTING STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES IN A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES NO DIRECT FUNDING AT THIS LEVEL? FRISCO ISD HAS TRULY BUILT SOMETHING INCREDIBLE IN OUR CTSOS SOMETHING THAT PULLS STUDENTS OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, EXPOSES THEM TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES, AND GIVES THEM A COMMUNITY TO RELY ON.
IF WE'RE MAKING BUDGET CUTS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER MAKING CHANGES WHERE THEY ACTUALLY MATTER AND ENSURE THAT WE AREN'T BLINDLY TAKING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES THAT COST NOTHING BUT MEAN EVERYTHING TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
NEXT WE HAVE TAD TALBERT, SIDA KATHY. SZASZ DEVIREDDY, KAREN KARTHIK I'M BIG ON NAMES Y'ALL BECAUSE MINE HAS BEEN MISPRONOUNCED MY WHOLE LIFE, SO I DO ASK FOR HELP. KAREN KARTHIK, HAYDEN LEE AND MEGHANA SHOTOVER. THANK YOU. MEGHANA GAONKAR. HELLO BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TAD TOLBERT AND THIS IS MY 11TH YEAR WITHIN FISD.
MY LOVE FOR THE CTSO STEMS FROM THE WAY IT DEVELOPS.
FROM A FIRST TIME MEMBER TO A CHAPTER OFFICER TOOK MY CURRENT POSITION OF DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT.
I'VE LOVED WATCHING THOSE AROUND ME LEARN TO FIND THEMSELVES, GROW AS INDIVIDUALS AND COMPETITORS, AND HAVE FUN ALONG THE WAY. AS WE DO UNDERSTAND, THE MAIN ISSUE AT PLAY HERE IS MONEY, AND THAT SOME CHANGES DO NEED TO TAKE PLACE TO HELP ACCOMMODATE FOR THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET DEFICIT.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME NUMBERS, WE'VE ESTIMATED THE TOTAL AMOUNT NEEDED FOR BOTH DECA.
DISTRICTS AND STATE TO BE APPROXIMATELY $377,000.
$377,740, WITH EACH STUDENT PAYING ON AVERAGE $145 IN REGISTRATION AND TRANSPORTATION FEES.
[00:45:07]
THIS LEAVES FISD TO PAY THE REMAINING $30,175.IN SUPPORT OF THIS POLICY, WE'VE HEARD THAT ALLOWS FOR A VERY EQUITABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ALLOW SOME MEMBERS TO COMPETE WHILE NOT FURTHER RAISING DUES, POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EITHER CAPABLE OR WILLING TO PAY.
WHILE AT FIRST GLANCE THIS MAY SEEM A DECENT SOLUTION, CONSIDER THE 300 STUDENTS ON SOME CAMPUSES WHO WOULD BE TOLD YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT THEY WEREN'T PART OF THE HUNDRED AND WON'T GET A CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES.
IF I HADN'T BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE TODAY A COMPLETELY CHANGED PERSON.
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE, WE'VE COME UP WITH A FEASIBLE SOLUTION WE FEEL TAKES THE LOAD OFF OF THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT, ALLOWING THE PARENTS TO PAY THE EXTRA COST.
WE CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY.
FIRST, FISD HAD JUST UNDER 2400 MEMBERS AT THE TIME OF THIS YEAR'S DISTRICT CDC.
SPECIFICALLY, IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED $30,000 PAID BY THE DISTRICT.
WE FOUND MEMBERSHIP DUES WOULD RISE BY ONLY $12.58 ON AVERAGE.
THIS MEANS THAT $158 PER KID WOULD FULLY COVER THE DISTRICT'S EXPENDITURES, BRINGING THEM TO $0.
SO WHY NOT LET THE FAMILIES PAY? WHY NOT GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE'VE ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE SIDDHA KANTHI. SASAKI SASAHARA. DEVIREDDY KARAN.
KARTHIK HAYDEN. LEE. MEGHANA CHAWLA. JANANI JAYARAJ.
THANK YOU. HELLO, BOARD. MY NAME IS SID DECONTI.
THIS IS MY SIXTH AND FINAL YEAR IN FRISCO ISD.
LOOKING BACK, MY FRESHMAN YEAR WAS A BLUR, BUT THERE WAS ONE THING THAT I'D STILL DO REMEMBER, AND THAT WAS MY DECA EXPERIENCE. THAT JANUARY LEADING UP TO OUR DECA DISTRICT CONFERENCE, THERE WAS ONE SENIOR, PRANAV JAGANNATHAN, WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF HIS LIFE TO MAKE ME MAYBE SLIGHTLY BETTER AS A SPEAKER.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE BELIEVED IN ME MORE THAN I BELIEVED IN MYSELF.
A FEW DAYS LATER, I CAUGHT COVID LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE OUR DISTRICT COMPETITION, AND LOOKING BACK, I DON'T EVEN THINK I CLEARED THE FIVE DAY QUARANTINE PROCEDURE.
BUT SOMEHOW I FOUND MYSELF AT THE IRVING. IT WAS CLOSE.
IT WAS PROBABLY AROUND FOUR DAYS, LIKE FOUR AND A HALF, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT SOMEHOW I FIND MYSELF AT THE IRVING CONVENTION CENTER, MIRACULOUSLY ADVANCING TO THE STATE COMPETITION.
THAT SAME YEAR, I PLACED SECOND INTERNATIONALLY.
THIS MIXTURE OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE CONTINUED INTO MY JUNIOR YEAR, BUT OVER THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE DISCOVERED MYSELF, AS CLICHÉ AS IT SOUNDS.
I WENT FROM THE KID WHOSE BODY SHOOK IN NERVOUSNESS DURING A CONVERSATION WITH A SENIOR TO THAT SAME SENIOR WHO'S HELPING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FIGHT THAT NERVOUSNESS AND DISCOVER THEMSELVES. I'VE EXPERIENCED THE CONFIDENCE BOOST ASSOCIATED WITH THE THRILL OF TRIUMPH AND THE HUMBLING EXPERIENCE OF UNEXPECTED FAILURE.
THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT WE ARE RIPPING AWAY FROM HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS.
OUR SCHOOL'S DECA CHAPTER TOOK OVER 200 COMPETITORS TO THE DISTRICT COMPETITION.
AND THE STORY I JUST TOLD YOU WOULDN'T EXIST.
ONCE AGAIN, WE URGE YOU TO DO. WE URGE YOU TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP THESE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY OPEN SO THAT WE CAN KEEP GENERATING STORIES LIKE MINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
[00:50:12]
NEXT WE HAVE SAI DEVOTEE, KAREN KARTHIK, HAYDEN LEE, MEGHANA CHODAVARAM.JANANI JAYARAJ. JAY VELATUM. THANK YOU. CAN Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR GOPAL PONANGI.
HE'S BEEN SAVING MY LIFE FOR FIVE YEARS. THANK YOU.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS WOULDN'T BE IN DECA IF THEY COULDN'T COMPETE.
STIFLING MEMBERSHIP AND IMPOSING QUOTAS IS ONLY GOING TO MAKE OUR CHAPTERS LESS COMPETITIVE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE SID, TAD, DIA, ANEESH, NIKHIL, MYSELF AND THOUSANDS OF FRISCO ISD STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CTSOS, THE ABILITY TO NOT COMPETE DOESN'T JUST HURT THE STUDENTS, IT ALSO HURTS THE CHAPTERS.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE AT MOST A 90 DAY WINDOW TO DO THE FOLLOWING ONE.
COMPLETE MEMBERSHIP AND EVENT REGISTRATIONS TWO.
LET MEMBERS PREPARE FOR PRELIMINARY TRYOUTS. THREE HOLD OBJECTIVE TRIALS OF EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR CHAPTER, SOME OF WHICH HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS, FOUR SELECT CANDIDATES BASED ON ARBITRARY AND INADEQUATE CRITERIA, AND FIVE PREPARE THEM FOR COMPETITION IN JANUARY, WHILE ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING A BUNCH OF OTHER EVENTS THAT FALL UNDER OUR PURVIEW.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT A FEASIBLE TIMELINE FOR US TO EXECUTE IF WE WANT TO UPHOLD THE EXCELLENCE AND HIGH STANDARDS OF CTSO THAT FRISCO ISD IS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FOR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I HAVE THE HONOR OF LEADING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DECA CHAPTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND BEING AFFILIATED WITH CTSOS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT THIS THIS OPPORTUNITY IS OBJECTIVELY ONE OF THE BEST WE HAVE AS FRISCO STUDENTS AND LEADERS IN TRAINING IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR OUR CAREERS, TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY, AND TO SUSTAIN FRISCO ISD'S REPUTATION AS A HIGH ACHIEVING DISTRICT OF EXCELLENCE.
GOING THROUGH WITH THIS PROPOSAL WOULD HURT THE STUDENT BODY, OUR CTSOS, AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE URGE YOU TO KEEP ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MAINSTAYS OF OUR SCHOOLS INTACT.
NEXT WE HAVE KAREN KARTHIK, HAYDEN LEE MCCUNE, JANANI JAYARAJ, JAY LATHAM AND CHUCK SMITH.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ME TODAY.
MY NAME IS KARON KARTHIK AND THIS IS MY 11TH YEAR AS AN FISD STUDENT.
I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL ISSUE FACING OUR CTSO PROGRAMS. THE CONCERN OVER PAY TO PLAY, AND TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION THAT PRESERVES FAIR ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING UNDUE FINANCIAL BARRIERS.
MANY HAVE EXPRESSED WORRY OVER THE RISING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVANCING TO THE STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL OF COMPETITION WITH OUR DISTRICTS BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE HEARD SOME PROPOSING A CAP TO THE NUMBER OF CTO COMPETITORS TO ONLY 100.
OUR SOLUTION IS BOTH STRAIGHTFORWARD AND EFFECTIVE.
A MODEST $12 INCREASE IN DISTRICT FEES FOR ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CTSOS.
AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS MAY SEEM COUNTERINTUITIVE AMID PAY TO PLAY CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, CONSIDER THAT WHILE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, ONLY A SELECT FEW ADVANCE TO STATE COMPETITIONS BY IMPLEMENTING A SLIGHT FEE INCREASE FOR EVERYONE.
WE BUILD FOUNDATIONS TO FUND TO SUPPORT THOSE ADVANCING TO STATE AND BEYOND, COVERING ESSENTIAL EXPENSES SUCH AS REGISTRATION, TRAVEL AND MATERIALS. ENSURING THAT EVERY PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTES TO THE BROADER SUCCESS OF OUR CTSOS.
[00:55:04]
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE IDEA OF INCREASING FEES IN AN ENVIRONMENT ALREADY SENSITIVE TO PAY TO PLAY ISSUES MAY RAISE CONCERNS.YET, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A PART OF A WELL-RESOURCED COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES ROUTINELY INVEST IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH OUR GENERATION'S FUTURE. THE ADDITIONAL FEE IS MINIMAL, AND IT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WHEN SUMMED UP TOGETHER.
THESE CASES REPRESENT AN EXTREME MINORITY. INSTEAD OF RESTRICTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MAJORITY, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON TARGETED SOLUTIONS FOR THE MINORITY, SUCH AS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, SECURING CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, AND ORGANIZING COMMUNITY DRIVEN FUNDRAISERS TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
IN CONCLUSION, BY SLIGHTLY RAISING DISTRICT FEES ACROSS ALL CTO PARTICIPANTS, WE CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STREAM THAT SUPPORTS STATE LEVEL COMPETITION WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND INCLUSIVITY.
NEXT, WE HAVE HAYDEN LEE, MAKENNA CORDOVA, JANANI JAYARAJ, JAY LATHAM, CHUCK SMITH AND JEANETTE ALEXANDER. GOOD EVENING.
MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FRISCO ISD ADMINISTRATION.
MY NAME IS HAYDEN LEE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE NEW FISD CTSO POLICY THAT WOULD CAP THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS WHO COULD COMPETE IN DISTRICT COMPETITION TO 100 PEOPLE. THE CTSO COMMUNITY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS DECISION, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT CTSOS CAN HAVE ON BOTH PEOPLE'S LIVES AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. AT FISD WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE SUPPORT THE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY MODEL, AND WE WANT TO FOLLOW A FUTURE READY FRAMEWORK TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLD.
IF THIS POLICY WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD DIRECTLY BAR STUDENTS FROM HAVING ACCESS TO LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CONNECTIONS, GAIN REAL LIFE SKILLS, AND PURSUE THEIR CAREER GOALS.
THIS IS BECAUSE JOINING A CTSO IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO GET REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TO BECOME REAL WORLD LEADERS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, FROM BUSINESS TO HEALTH CARE. NOT TO MENTION MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, FIND A COMMUNITY IN JOINING A CTSO, WHICH CAN BE HARD TO FIND IN HIGH SCHOOL. AS MY PEERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED, WE HAVE VARIOUS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR FINANCIAL WORKLOAD OFF THE BOARDS OF SHOULDERS. SO IF THIS POLICY WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD TRULY AFFECT THE STUDENTS MORE THAN THE DISTRICT.
IN FACT, I'VE HEARD FROM A CTE DIRECTOR THAT THERE IS A DISTRICT THAT TRIED TO IMPLEMENT A CTSO POLICY THAT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ONE FISD IS PLANNING ON LAUNCHING, AND THEY LOST A LOT OF TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THE SUBJECTIVITY OF JUDGING WHO CAN COMPETE LIKE WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
THE SOLUTION THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED THE NEXT YEAR WAS THAT MEMBERS FULLY PAID FOR THEIR OWN COSTS TO ATTEND THE COMPETITION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO TODAY. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MISTAKES AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT FISD IS A DISTRICT THAT IS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURES. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE AN ENTITY THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS, NOT BEARS THEM FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
SO I STAND HERE TODAY TO URGE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE AND OUR PLEAS FOR HELP TO PRESERVE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVEN TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME BOTH COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
I KNOW THAT I CAN CONFIDENTLY SPEAK IN FRONT OF EVERYONE HERE TODAY WHEN I SAY THAT WE DO NOT STAND FOR LIMITING STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES, SIMPLY FOR THIS $10 BILL THAT YOU SEE HERE, BECAUSE THAT IS ALL OUR SOLUTION REQUIRES.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HAVE MEGAN JANANI, JAYARAJ VELATUM.
CHUCK SMITH, JEANETTE ALEXANDER, JESSICA EASTON.
THANK YOU. WHICH OF THE 200 IN THIS ROOM DO YOU THINK ARE WORTH IT? TELL ME HONESTLY. I WANT YOU TO TELL 50 OF US THAT WE ARE WORTH IT, AND THE REST THAT WE ARE NOT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING FOR YOUR TEACHERS TO DO IN THIS NEXT YEAR WITH THE NEW POLICY.
[01:00:07]
THIS MARKS MY 13TH YEAR WITHIN FISD, BUT WHAT DREW MY PARENTS TO FRISCO INSTEAD OF ALLEN OR PLANO WAS SIMPLE OPPORTUNITY.IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OPPORTUNITY MEANT POSSIBILITY, THE CHANCE TO DREAM.
GRANTED, I WASN'T THE BEST SPEAKER, BUT AFTER LONG HOURS WE BARELY MADE IT TO STATE.
BUT WE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE WORKED HARDER AND WE ENDED UP PLACING FOURTH AS A FRESHMAN TEAM.
THAT ONE OPPORTUNITY LED TO ANOTHER. I RAN FOR CHAPTER OFFICER USING THE SKILLS I HAD DEVELOPED, AND THAT LED FOR ME TO RUN AS A STATE OFFICER AS A SOPHOMORE THAT YEAR.
AS THE TEXAS BPA STATE VICE PRESIDENT, I HELPED CREATE THE FIRST EVER TEXAS LEADERSHIP CAMP, OPENING THE OPPORTUNITY OF LEADERSHIP FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
SO TELL ME, HOW CAN WE DETERMINE WHICH STUDENTS ARE WORTHY OF THAT INVESTMENT? HOW CAN YOU STAND BEFORE US TO CLAIM WHO WILL FLOURISH AND WHO WON'T IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM A TRY? THE REALITY IS, NONE OF US ARE FORTUNE TELLERS.
SO HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY STRIPPING THAT FROM HUNDREDS NEXT YEAR? NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK THE SKILL OR THE POTENTIAL, BUT BECAUSE OF LIMITS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN TOGETHER BYPASS? WFISD IS KNOWN FOR OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHAT MAKES FAMILIES LIKE MINE CHOOSE TO BUILD THEIR FUTURES HERE.
AND IF WE TAKE THAT AWAY, WE AREN'T JUST CUTTING NUMBERS, WE ARE CUTTING FUTURES.
WE ARE TELLING STUDENTS LIKE ME THAT THEY DON'T GET TO TRY AND THEY DON'T GET TO DREAM.
I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER OUR STORIES, OUR SOLUTIONS, AND OUR POTENTIAL.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT DEFINES FISD.
AND BY LIMITING THAT, THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT WE WILL HAVE JANANI JAYARAJ, J VELATUM, CHUCK SMITH, JEANETTE ALEXANDER, JESSICA EASTON, SACHIT MARDANOV.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS JANANI JAYARAJ AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO CTSO SCHOOL CLUBS.
I'VE ALREADY SEEN HOW THIS PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS DEVELOP CRITICAL BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
DECA IS MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.
IT IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM THAT TEACHES ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, TEAMWORK, AND BUSINESS STRATEGY.
IT GIVES STUDENTS A CHANCE TO APPLY WHAT THEY LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM TO REAL WORLD SITUATIONS.
FOR MANY OF US, CLUBS LIKE DECA AND HOSA IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER HAD TO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PITCH AN IDEA, CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN, OR THINK CRITICALLY UNDER PRESSURE IN FRONT OF JUDGES.
IT PREPARES US FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS IN WAYS THAT FEW OTHER ACTIVITIES DO.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT DECA IS ABOUT. DECA IS ABOUT GROWTH.
MANY STUDENTS GROW TREMENDOUSLY BETWEEN THEIR FIRST AND SECOND YEARS IN DECA, BUT WITH THIS CAP, A LOT OF STUDENTS MAY NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AND IMPROVE.
I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL HAVE ON STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY UNDERCLASSMEN LIKE ME, WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING OUR JOURNEY IN DECA. IF THESE RULES HAD BEEN IN PLACE THIS YEAR, I MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AT ALL.
[01:05:05]
THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN AWAY ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR.PLEASE RECONSIDER THESE CHANGES AND FIND A WAY TO KEEP DECA OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO LEARN, GROW, AND CHALLENGE THEMSELVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE JOEL ITEM, CHUCK SMITH, JEANETTE ALEXANDER, JESSICA EASTON.
SACHIT MUDURNU. JANARDAN GANAPATI. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU HEARD A LOT OF THINGS.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK YOU ALL. RUNNING SUCH A BIG SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT AN EASY JOB.
YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE, I TRULY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DECA, BUT THIS ISSUE IS MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST ONE CLUB.
IF WE TRULY WANT TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND FUTURE CAREERS, WE SHOULD BE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST RESTRICTING THEM. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, COLLEGE READINESS REQUIRES EXTRA CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT.
MY FIRST DAUGHTER STARTED DECA AS A FRESHMAN, WORKING HER WAY UP TO PRESIDENT BY SENIOR YEAR.
SO BY RESTRICTING CLUB PARTICIPATION, WE ARE NOT MAKING STUDENTS MORE PREPARED.
WE ARE MAKING THEM LESS COMPETITIVE IN THE COLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS.
THAT MEANS STUDENTS FROM LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WILL SHUT OUT.
IF PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED ONLY TO HIGHER SCORERS, WHAT HAPPENS TO STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LEARN AND IMPROVE? IF CLUBS BECOMES UNAFFORDABLE, WHAT HAPPENS TO STUDENTS WHO RELY ON THEM FOR CAREER EXPLORATION? SO I STRONGLY URGE THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THESE CHANGES AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES RATHER THAN RESTRICT THEM.
GROW AS A LEADER AND PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE.
LET'S MAKE SURE OUR DISTRICT REMAINS IN PLACE FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE CHUCK SMITH, JEANETTE ALEXANDER, JESSICA EASTON, SUCHIT MADHU. JANARDAN GANAPATI. KATHIRESAN DEVASAGAYAM.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHUCK SMITH.
I HAVE THREE KIDS IN FRISCO ISD AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF STALEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH A QUOTE FROM AN EMAIL FROM DOCTOR WALDRIP TO THE STALEY COMMUNITY ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024, FOLLOWING THE FAILED BOND ELECTION LAST YEAR.
QUOTE I WANT TO CONFIRM WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT STALEY IN THE 2025, 2026 SCHOOL YEAR END QUOTE. THIS EMAIL WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION THAT PARENTS HAVE RECEIVED FROM FRISCO ISD REGARDING THE STATUS OF STALEY THROUGH COMMUNITY NEWS ARTICLES, SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOPS, WORD OF MOUTH.
WE HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT THE CONFIRMATION STALEY WILL BE OPEN NEXT YEAR MAY NOT BE TRUE, AND THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE DECIDING WHAT THE FUTURE OF STALEY LOOKS LIKE, IF ANYTHING. EMAILS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS DIRECTLY REGARDING THE FUTURE OF STALEY. IF SOMETHING HAS CHANGED BETWEEN THE TIME OF DOCTOR WALDRIP EMAIL AND NOW THE PARENTS,
[01:10:04]
STAFF AND STUDENTS OF STALEY DESERVE TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT THE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD.OUR CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPLIT UP FROM FRIENDS THAT THEY'VE ATTENDED SCHOOL WITH SINCE THEY WERE IN KINDERGARTEN. OUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS, WHO MAY ABSORB A PORTION OF THE 590 STUDENTS ATTENDING STALEY, DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THEIR CAMPUS.
NEXT WE HAVE JEANETTE ALEXANDER, JESSICA EASTON, SUCHIT MADHU, JANARDAN GANAPATI, KATHIRESAN DEVASAGAYAM, CHAD WOOD. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE STALEY PTA, TO DEMAND A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THE PARENTS AND STAFF OF STALEY, ROGERS AND BRIGHT ELEMENTARY.
WE FEEL DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED AND FRANKLY MISLED BY THE DISTRICT'S RECENT ACTIONS.
THE TIMING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRANSFER WINDOW CLOSURE APPEARS PARTICULARLY DECEPTIVE.
THIS HAS LEFT OUR STAFF FEELING UNDERVALUED AND YET AGAIN INSECURE ABOUT THEIR JOBS.
THE DISTRICT'S LACK OF PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION HAS ONLY FUELED SPECULATION AND ANXIETY.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF STALEY'S CLOSURE ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES 597 STUDENTS.
147 ESL STUDENTS AND 130 SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
STALEY PROVIDES ESSENTIAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR THESE STUDENTS.
SHUTTING DOWN STALEY TAKES AWAY THAT ACCESS. OUR STUDENTS DEPEND ON THE ABILITY TO WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL FOR ACTIVITIES, SPORTS, TUTORING, AND OTHER EXTRACURRICULARS.
DISPERSING THEM WILL RESULT IN A LOSS AND LOST ACCESS TO MUCH NEEDED TITLE ONE RESOURCES SUCH AS ESL PARAPROFESSIONALS AND TITLE ONE INTERVENTIONISTS. GIVEN THE DISTRICT'S PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION AND THE COMMITMENTS MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT STALEY REMAIN OPEN FOR ONE MORE YEAR.
MOREOVER, OUR STUDENTS NEED THIS INFORMATION TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES LIKE CHEER TRYOUTS, WHICH OCCUR IN APRIL, KNOWING THEIR NEW CAMPUS ASSIGNMENTS WILL ENABLE THEM TO TRY OUT AT THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL.
WE DEMAND PROACTIVE AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF.
OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND OUR STAFF'S LIVELIHOODS ARE AT STAKE.
THE FIGHT FOR OUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN MET WITH RESISTANCE AND DISMISSAL, AND WHILE WE WITNESS OTHER SCHOOLS RECEIVING REFRESHES AND FURNITURE UPGRADES, STALEY CONSISTENTLY OPERATES WITH A LACK OF RESOURCES AND MAINTENANCE, AND WE ARE STILL CURRENTLY FURNISHING OUR SCHOOL WITH THE DISTRICT'S DISCARDED ITEMS AT AKER ELEMENTARY. THIS ONGOING NEGLECT ONLY REINFORCES THE FEELING THAT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS BEING INTENTIONALLY OVERLOOKED.
WE KNOW THESE KIDS AND WE SEE THEIR NEEDS ON A DAILY BASIS.
HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT EDUCATION REMAINS CONSISTENT AND ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
TITLE ONE STUDENTS. TWO. HOW WILL YOU REBUILD TRUST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY? AND THREE. WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO RETAIN OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AT STALEY AND WITHIN THE DISTRICT? THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE JESSICA EASTON, SUCHIT JANARDAN GANAPATI, KATHIRESAN DEVASAGAYAM, CHAD WOOD, AND ROBERT FINCH. GOOD EVENING. I COME BEFORE YOU AS A CONCERNED YET HOPEFUL PARENT OF A SEVENTH GRADE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT AT STALEY
[01:15:09]
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE FUNCTIONAL ACADEMIC CLASS.MOST IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN DISMAL THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AS A PARENT, I HAVE WATCHED WITH GROWING CONCERN AS UPDATES HAVE BEEN FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, AND WHEN WE REACHED OUT FOR CLARITY, MANY OF OUR EMAILS WERE MET WITH AGITATION.
STALEY PARENTS HAVE BEEN MORE THAN PATIENT, WAITING FOR ANSWERS SINCE THE 2018 BOND PASSED.
AND YET WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DEFINITIVE PLAN FOR OUR TO GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY.
THEIR DEDICATION IS SOMETHING THAT ANY SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT WOULD BE FORTUNATE TO HAVE, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO CLOSE STALEY, YOU WILL PRIORITIZE RETAINING THESE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, IT IS MY HEARTFELT WISH THAT MY SON IS ABLE TO FINISH MIDDLE SCHOOL AT STALEY NEXT YEAR, AS MOVING HIM FOR EIGHTH GRADE WOULD NOT BE IDEAL GIVEN HIS UNIQUE NEEDS AND THE ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS HE HAS BUILT.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE SUCHIT MADHU, JANARDAN GANAPATI, KATHIRESAN DEVASAGAYAM, CHAD WOOD, ROBERT.
FINCH, CHIRAG SAMANTHA. ROY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
AND FEW PARENTS ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. WE ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS FAILURE IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND LEADERSHIP BY THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT THAT PUT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND SAFETY AT RISK ON FEBRUARY 18TH.
ON THAT DAY, A SMOKE AND GAS LEAK LED TO THE EVACUATION OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF AT AROUND 2:45 P.M., WHILE EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS MUST BE FOLLOWED. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE EVACUATION WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING BY THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT. OUR CHILDREN WERE LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE SCHOOL CAMPUS GROUND IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR OVER AN HOUR.
WE FINALLY PICKED UP OUR CHILDREN AT AROUND 3:45 P.M.
WE WITNESSED THEM CRYING, SHIVERING IN THE FREEZING COLD AND VISIBLY DISTRESSED.
IT WAS TOTALLY HEARTBREAKING FOR US AS PARENTS.
OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INCIDENT NUMBER ONE EVACUATION LOCATION WAS UNSAFE.
IF EXPLOSION HAD OCCURRED, OUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
INSTEAD, WE WERE KEPT WAITING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES, FURTHER EXTENDING OUR CHILDREN'S EXPOSURE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR NO REAL TIME COMMUNICATION. PARENTS RECEIVED ONLY ONE VAGUE EMAIL AND NO REAL TIME UPDATES REGARDING OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY OR WHEN OUR CHILDREN WOULD BE RELEASED.
NUMBER FIVE SEVERE HEALTH IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN.
PARENTS ALSO WITNESSED THEIR CHILDREN'S SKIN TURNING BLUE DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE COLD, AND SEVERAL CHILDREN BECAME SICK. NUMBER SIX SCHOOL MANAGEMENT'S INACTION AND POOR LEADERSHIP WHEN QUESTIONED.
[01:20:02]
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SIMPLY STATED THAT THEY FOLLOWED PROTOCOL.BUT WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN SNOWING OR RAINING THAT DAY? WOULD THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE FORCED THE CHILDREN TO SUFFER JUST TO FOLLOW A CHECKLIST OF PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURE? OUR REQUEST TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. NUMBER ONE FLEXIBLE PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES PRIORITIZING CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OVER RIGID RULES.
NUMBER TWO REAL TIME COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS TO PARENTS DURING EMERGENCIES.
YOU. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM JANARDAN GANAPATHI, KATHIRESAN DEVASAGAYAM, CHAD WOOD, ROBERT FINCH, CHIRAG SAMANTHA. MANOJ BELANI. THANK YOU. YEAH.
GOOD EVENING, ALL. I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT JUST SACHIT HAS TALKED ABOUT.
SO I HAVE THREE KIDS AND ALL OF THEM ARE IN FRISCO ISD, RIGHT? I HAVE TWO TWIN GIRLS WHO ARE STUDYING IN COY MILLER, AND MY KIDS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME WHAT HE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
RIGHT. SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT HE MENTIONED, BUT IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT WE DID NOT DO ANY FIRE DRILLS DURING EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS.
SO THAT IS ONE MAJOR OBSERVATION. RIGHT. AND THERE IS NO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NO SUPPLIES, YOU KNOW, WHICH CAN HELP KIDS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS.
RIGHT. AND IT APPARENTLY ENTIRE STAFF WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE THEY TOOK MORE THAN AN HOUR TO COMPLETE THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ROLL CALL.
SO WE HAVE FEW RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE WE ARE NOT EXPERTS.
WE ARE NOT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRE SAFETY KNOWLEDGE.
SO THAT IS NOT OUR AREA OF EXPERTISE. BUT WITH COMMON SENSE WE CAN MAKE FEW SUGGESTIONS AND WE REQUEST THE DISTRICT TO, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER OUR SUGGESTIONS AND PROBABLY TRY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.
AND AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FIRE DRILL IN DURING WINTER AND EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS GET PREPARED IN A BETTER WAY.
IT IS NOT ONLY APPLICABLE FOR COY MILLER, IT COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW WITH ANY OTHER SCHOOL.
RIGHT. AND SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS, RIGHT, ARE SUGGESTIONS.
I WOULD NOT CALL RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE I AM NOT AN EXPERT, BUT THE SUGGESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
SO COLD EXPOSURE RISKS, RIGHT? SO PROBABLY YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT GRAB AND GO CODE POLICY.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS ARE WEARING COATS OR, YOU KNOW, WINTER CLOTHES DURING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AT LEAST ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS WHILE DURING SUCH EVENTS.
AND IF POSSIBLE, STORE BLANKETS AND PROBABLY THAT IS RELATED TO YOUR BUDGETS AND ALL THAT.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO ATTENDANCE, RIGHT. GO WITH THE DIGITAL DIGITALIZATION.
TECHNOLOGY IS SO IMPROVED. WE ARE IN A WORLD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE DIFFICULTY IN, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE ATTENDANCE. AT LEAST PRINT A COPY.
NEXT WE HAVE PATRICE DEVASAGAYAM, CHAD WOOD, ROBERT FINCH, CHIRAG SAMANTHA ROY, MANOJ BELANI, ANDREW EHRHARDT. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, ADMINISTRATORS, FELLOW PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS KATHIR.
I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THE CASE PRESENTED BY SACHIT, AND TO SHARE MY FAMILY'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION THAT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 18TH DUE TO SMOKE DETECTION AT COY MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MY SON, A FIFTH GRADER IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WAS ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO GOT IMPACTED BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT AND POOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT. AS PART OF THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION, MY SON WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND GOT EXPOSED TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER
[01:25:09]
FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. WITHOUT HIS WINTER JACKET, WHEN HE RETURNED FROM SCHOOL, HE GOT AFFECTED WITH FROSTBITE AND SUFFERING TREMENDOUSLY.THE DOCTORS WARNED US THAT IF WE HADN'T ACTED IN TIME.
HIS CONDITION COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS ISSUES OR EVEN PARALYSIS DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER EXPOSURE.
I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS THE PAIN, THE TRAUMA.
INCIDENTS LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN SUCH A REPUTED ISD.
WHAT MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH WAS PAINFUL, TERRIFYING, AND ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE.
THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE TOP PRIORITY.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE DISTRICT TO INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN THE EXISTING PROTOCOLS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE POSSIBLE CRISIS SITUATIONS. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND FROM WHERE THEIR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS PROTECTED.
THE TRAUMA MY FAMILY HAS ENDURED SHOULD NEVER BE REPEATED TO ANY OTHER FAMILY HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE CHAD WOOD, ROBERT FINCH, CHIRAG SAMANTHA ROY.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S USUALLY MORE AFRAID WHEN I GO TO THE MIC, WHETHER IT'S MY WIFE.
ONE SECOND SIR. ONE SECOND. YEAH. CAN YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? SAMANTHA ROI. MAN. MELANIE. ANDREW EARHART AND NAIM AHMED.
THANK YOU. SO I'M. I'VE BEEN AT STALEY A LONG TIME.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING AT STALEY SINCE WE WERE ONE HIGH SCHOOL TOWN, WHEN WE USED TO HAVE TO MARCH IN THE HOMECOMING PARADE AND ALL THOSE FUN THINGS. AND THROUGH THROUGHOUT ALL, ALL, ALL OF THE CRAZINESS AND THE GROWTH AND EVERYTHING, I'M HONESTLY JUST BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE.
I FOUND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SUPPORT THAT SUPPORTS US.
IT'S AWESOME SEEING ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT SPOKE HERE TODAY.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING. BUT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY AND STAFF THAT SUPPORTS THEM.
JUST LIKE I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THAT HERE. AND WHEN I THINK BACK TO MY DAUGHTERS, WHO ARE CURRENTLY A SOPHOMORE AT MEMORIAL, AND I HAVE A SEVENTH GRADER AT STALEY, AND SHE WAS A FIRST GRADER WHEN THE 2018 BOND PASSED.
WE'RE JUST WAITING. WE'RE JUST WE'RE WAITING.
AND REALLY, THE ONE THING THAT I THINK IF YOU TALK TO OUR COMMUNITY IS, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, WE JUST WANT TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FALSE NARRATIVES.
AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN A TERM THAT'S BEEN THROWN OUT.
EVERY SCHOOL STRUGGLES WITH MAINTENANCE. WE HEAR THAT A LOT, TOO.
WE KNOW THEM BY NAME BECAUSE THEY'RE ON OUR CAMPUS SO OFTEN, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A BIG DISTRICT, BUT WE HAVE ISSUES. WE LOSE DAYS OF INSTRUCTION EVERY YEAR, LIKE EVERY YEAR SINCE BEFORE COVID.
WE'RE LOSING OUT ON CLASS TIME, SENDING STUDENTS HOME BECAUSE OUR CAMPUS CAN'T SUPPORT US.
WE DON'T LIKE HEARING THINGS THAT, LIKE THE PHOTOS I POST ARE FAKE.
THEY'RE NOT FAKE. LIKE IT'S WHERE WE LIVE. JUST COME VISIT US AND YOU'LL SEE.
WE DON'T LIKE HEARING THE PROP B FAILED BECAUSE OF STALEY.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN LET'S RELEASE THE SURVEY RESULTS AND LET US SEE IT.
WE DON'T LIKE HAVING TO BE TOLD JUST TO WAIT.
THAT WAS ALWAYS THE CASE. ALL ALONG. WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE AS A STAFF.
AND SO JUST START TELLING US WHAT TO DO TO PLAN NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
[01:30:01]
BECAUSE WE NEED TO START PLANNING NOW, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT NEED AS MUCH HELP AS THEY CAN.I'D ASK THAT YOU GUYS PLAN TO MEET WITH THE STAFF BOARD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SPREADING THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT NICE HOMES SHOULDN'T BE COMING TO STALEY. THAT'S TOTALLY NOT TRUE. I FEEL LIKE OUR STAFF HAS THE BEST INTEREST IN MIND OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO KIND OF TALK TO YOU GUYS AND KIND OF GIVE OUR VISION FOR WHAT STALEY IS.
WE MOST OF US DON'T WANT NEW. WE JUST WANT IT TO WORK.
AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKS AT STALEY. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO TEACH ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER MY TIME THERE, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
OKAY. WE ARE DOWN TO OUR FINAL FIVE SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE ROBERT FINCH, CHIRAG SAMANTA ROY, MILANI, ANDREW EHRHARDT, NAIM AHMED.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY OTHERS TONIGHT ON THIS TOPIC, BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE WHY THIS ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY AND THE CONCERNS WE HAVE WITH THIS POLICY CHANGE. THIS IS PERSONAL.
DECA IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT MY CHILD IS TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
WE WERE IN AWE OF THE TALENT, THE PREPARATION, AND THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THESE STUDENTS, AND WE WERE LEFT WISHING WE HAD ACCESS TO THIS AND THESE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE WERE AT THAT AGE.
BY CAPPING PARTICIPATION, YOU ARE DENYING STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO COMPETE, LEARN AND GROW.
A CAP OF JUST 100 FOR EACH CLUB MEANS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WILL BE CUT, WILL BE SHUT OUT NOT BECAUSE THEY AREN'T CAPABLE, BUT BECAUSE OF AN ARBITRARY LIMIT. THIS POLICY CREATES INEQUITY AND AN UNCLEAR SELECTION PROCESS, AND HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON A LARGER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER.
HOW WILL IT BE DECIDED? WHO COMPETES IF BASED ON PAST SUCCESS? NEW STUDENTS WILL BE SHUT OUT. IN ADDITION, LARGER HIGH ACHIEVING CHAPTERS WILL BE UNFAIRLY PENALIZED SINCE THE CAP IS THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD NO MATTER HOW IT'S DONE.
THIS CAP LIMITS OPPORTUNITIES RATHER THAN EXPANDING THEM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS DECISION CONTRADICTS WHAT FISD'S COMMITMENT TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, STUDENT OPPORTUNITY, AND EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE WHILE WEAKENING FISK'S PRESTIGE AND STUNTING GROWTH.
CTSOS ARE NOT JUST CLUBS. THEY PROVIDE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE, AND EVEN SCHOLARSHIPS.
REDUCING PARTICIPATION HURTS STUDENTS FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DECISION WAS ORIGINALLY MADE DUE TO BUDGET CONCERNS, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE WORKED HARD TO PROVIDE A SELF-FUNDED SOLUTION THAT ELIMINATES ANY COSTS TO THE DISTRICT. I KNOW, I KNOW.
I KNOW THE BOARD HAS DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE, BUT I ASK YOU TRULY TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THIS POLICY NOT JUST ON A SPREADSHEET, BUT ON THE LIVES OF REAL STUDENTS LIKE MY CHILD WHO HAVE FOUND PURPOSE AND SUCCESS THROUGH DECA.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HAVE CHIRAG SAMANTA ROY, MON MILANI, ANDREW EHRHARDT, AND NAIM AHMED.
I'M SURROUNDED BY A ROOM FULL OF WINNERS. THIS ROOM CONTAINS BOTH THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG MINDS THAT FRISCO ISD HAS TO OFFER, AS WELL AS THE PARENTS AND LOVED ONES WHO HAVE NURTURED THESE STUDENTS OVER TIME.
[01:35:04]
I'M GENUINELY GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SUCH AN INSPIRATIONAL STUDENT BODY WITHIN FRISCO ISD.THROUGH THIS AMBITION COMES THE VAST STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT INCLUDE DECA, BPA, HOSA, AND MORE. I, CHIRAG MANTRA AM ONE OF THESE AMBITIOUS STUDENTS.
I LOVED THE IDEA OF COMPETING IN A HIGH STAKES ENVIRONMENT AS A MEANS OF PROVING MYSELF, PROVING TO MYSELF THAT I HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO BE SUCCESSFUL. NOW, IN REALITY, THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH UPS AND DOWNS.
UPON THESE SHORTCOMINGS HAVE COME SELF-REFLECTION.
I HAVE OFTEN ASKED MYSELF, WHAT ROLE HAS DECA PLAYED IN MY LIFE? WHAT PURPOSE DOES DECA SERVE ME? AND WHEN I ASK MYSELF THESE QUESTIONS, I COME TO THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME.
DECA HAS MADE ONE OF THE GREATEST IMPACTS ON MY LIFE.
IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I WAS OFTEN MADE FUN OF FOR MY INABILITY TO SPEAK COHERENTLY AND MY TENDENCY TO MUMBLE AND STUTTER WORDS, INCLUDING BY SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS. I OFTEN FELT SO BAD FOR MYSELF, THINKING, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE SUCH TREATMENT? DESPITE THIS, I TURNED THIS MINDSET AROUND WHEN DECCA PROVIDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THESE FEELINGS OF SADNESS INTO A CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIUM.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE MELANIE ANDREW EARHART AND NAHIM AHMED.
THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS MELANIE AND THIS IS MY 13TH AND FINAL YEAR AS AN FISD STUDENT.
I HAVE COMPETED IN DECA FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
MY DECA JOURNEY STARTED IN THE WAKELAND LIBRARY, WHERE THE CHAPTER ADVISOR GLOATED ABOUT HOW AMAZING WAKELAND DECA IS TO OVER 300 PROSPECTIVE COMPETITORS. I WAS ZONED BY THIS BOARD AND FORCED TO MOVE TO WAKELAND HAD VERY FEW FRIENDS AND FELT A LACK OF BELONGING IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT, SO JOINING DECA DIDN'T REALLY TAKE MUCH CONVINCING.
AFTER LOOKING AT THE DECA WEBSITE, I DECIDED ON THE SHARK TANK STYLE INNOVATION PLAN.
COMPETING AT ICDC MULTIPLE TIMES OPENED DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES, HELPING ME CONNECT WITH OTHERS, EXPLORE MY INTERESTS AND IMPROVE MY SPEAKING SKILLS.
IT WAS IN THESE FOUR WALLS FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN I HEARD PRAISE OF THE SMALL SCHOOL MODEL, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVE IN THEIR SCHOOLS, CREATING A LOW BARRIER TO JOIN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS.
BY LETTING THESE MOTIONS PASS, YOU'RE COUNTERACTING YOUR OWN POLICIES AND GOALS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPLORE TO WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS AND GROW. ISD'S MOTTO IS TO KNOW EVERY STUDENT BY NAME AND NEED.
BUT DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS? WHEN YOU DEPRIVE STUDENTS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE LIKE MINE? IS THIS A LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND IN THE MINDS OF THESE STUDENTS? IT'S REALLY YOUR CHOICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HAVE ANDREW EARHART AND NAEEM AHMAD.
[01:40:09]
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANDREW EARHART AND I HAVE TWO BOYS BOTH THROUGH FRISCO ISD.ONE GRADUATED LAST YEAR AND THE OTHER IS CURRENTLY AN EIGHTH GRADER AT STALEY.
WE'VE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 24 YEARS.
MY WIFE'S BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PTA AND NOW TEACHES AT ROGERS.
MY COMMENTS TONIGHT PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FLAVOR.
HAVING SPENT 25 YEARS IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, K-12 AND HIGHER ED, AND I WOULD REQUEST AND CHALLENGE THE BOARD TONIGHT TO, IN TURN, CHALLENGE THE FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION GROUP TO GET A NEW STALEY TO AN AMOUNT THAT CAN BE AFFORDED. THE $80 MILLION I'VE HEARD SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH.
I DON'T MAKE THAT STATEMENT LIGHTLY OR BLINDLY, AND NOR DO I THINK THAT IS WITHOUT CHALLENGES.
SO I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY. FROM THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
WILKINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED IN 2023 FOR $57.6 MILLION AND AT 159,000FT², COMES OUT TO ABOUT $361 A FOOT. QUITE REASONABLE, BUT I AM AWARE AS OF ALL OF US, OF ESCALATION.
SO, WILKINSON, I BELIEVE, WAS HAD A GMP A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE APPROVED IN LATE 21 AND THAT TIMING PROVIDES FOR MORE ESCALATION BESIDES BEING A MORE ACCURATE COST. THE HISTORICAL COST DATABASE I HAVE ACCESS TO.
TECHNICALLY, THE PERSON THAT CREATED IT AND MANAGES IT TOLD ME.
NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ESCALATION IS AT 16.2% FOR THE DALLAS AREA IN THAT TIME FRAME.
SO IF YOU ESCALATE WILKINSON FROM LATE 21 TO TODAY'S DOLLARS, THAT WOULD BE $67 MILLION, NOT 80.
THAT'S A LOT CLOSER TO THE FUNDS STATING BEING AVAILABLE.
THIS CAN BE SAID FOR LAWLER TOO, AND EVEN WORTHAM INTERMEDIATE, WHICH IS A THREE STORY BUILDING AND A DIFFERENT DESIGN, AS WOULD A NEW STATELY BE IF THAT NUMBER IS NOT THERE AND FURTHER REDUCTIONS ARE NEEDED TO PROVIDE A NEW STALEY THE SIZE OF THE ENROLLMENT, AND THUS THE PROGRAM OF A NEW STALEY SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO IF YOU TAKE THAT ESCALATED VALUE OF WILKINSON AT 67 MILLION.
REDUCE IT BY 30%, WHETHER IT'S CLASSROOMS OR OTHER AREAS.
THAT GETS US TO $45 MILLION, WHICH IS WELL IN REACH OF OUR AVAILABLE FUNDS.
NOW, I REALIZE THAT'S AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION, BUT I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES.
SPEAKING OF DESIGN, A FAIR AMOUNT WAS COMPLETED ON THE NEW STALEY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT STATE THE DRAWINGS WERE COMPLETED AND WHEN THE SELECTED GC PROVIDED THEIR PRICING AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, BUT I IMAGINE IT COULD BE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF DESIGN.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING IS NAIM AHMAD.
HI. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT HERE AND TALK TO YOU GUYS TODAY.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT STALEY AND THE STALEY COMMUNITY.
BUT BEFORE WE GO THERE, I SEE A LOT OF FUTURE LEADERS.
I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO DIVERSIFY THE BOARD.
SO MR. GOPAL IS NOT THE ONLY ONE SAYING OUR NAMES.
HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STALEY AND FRISCO ISD.
THE REASON WE MOVED HERE WAS FRISCO ISD, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE OUR CHILDREN RAISED IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SECURE FOR OUR KIDS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A FUTURE THAT THEY DESERVE. MY KIDS WENT TO ROGERS AND NOW MY SEVENTH GRADER IS AT STALEY.
COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN DISMAL AT BEST WHEN IT COMES TO STALEY.
WE WERE TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT STALEY WILL CONTINUE TO STAY OPEN.
THEN IT KIND OF WENT AWAY. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN WE WENT TO SOCIAL MEDIA, WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM DOCTOR WALDRIP WITHIN 24 HOURS SAYING THEY GUARANTEE US THAT STALEY WILL BE OPEN FOR 25-26 SEASON OR YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ELSE SINCE THAT EMAIL.
WE HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON. WE TALK ABOUT MISINFORMATION.
[01:45:02]
MISINFORMATION HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO INFORMATION.YES, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT TO QUOTE CHUCK HAD QUOTED ONE PIECE OF THE EMAIL.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT EMAIL IS WE VALUE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT PLAN, AND WE WILL CONTINUE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU AS WE PROGRESS.
NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO COMMUNICATION.
SO STALEY IS A COMMUNITY. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS THAT THIS IS GOING TO PUT ON EVERYBODY TO MOVE. PEOPLE DON'T JUST GET UP AND MOVE THEIR HOUSES ON A WHIM.
YOU CANNOT TELL FAMILIES ON MARCH AND SAY, YOUR KIDS WON'T HAVE A SCHOOL HERE.
ALL WE ASK FOR IS SOME CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND IN THE END, I'D LIKE TO SAY AS DEVASTATING LUKA TRADE WAS STALEY CLOSING WILL BE MUCH MORE DEVASTATING TO THESE FAMILIES. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR CONCERNS.
WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SHARED THIS EVENING.
I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I'VE REACHED OUT AND DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE.
CONTINUE THE EMAIL. CONTINUE TO EMAIL. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
IT IS 8:39 P.M.. WE ARE ADJOURNED. SHAMEFUL. THIS BOARD HAS FAILED STALEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.