[1. Notice and Return] [00:00:02] >> THE TIME IS NOW 2:09 PM. WE HAVE A QUORUM AND THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY POSTED. WE WILL DISPENSE WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE SALUTE TO THE TEXAS FLAG. THE FOLLOWING TRUSTEES ARE EITHER PHYSICALLY PRESENT OR PARTICIPATING SIMULTANEOUSLY VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE, VIA ZOOM: EDWIN FLORES, DUSTIN MARSHALL, DAN MICCICHE, KARLA GARCÍA, MAXIE JOHNSON, JOYCE FOREMAN, BEN MACKEY, JOE CARREON, AND JUSTIN HENRY. OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DR. MICHAEL HINOJOSA ALSO JOINS US. ON MARCH 16TH, 2020, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT, GRANTED A REQUEST BY ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND A LIMITED NUMBER OF OPEN MEETINGS LAWS THAT THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ALLOW TELEPHONIC OR VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE SUSPENDED RULES, WE CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING: NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS. WE HAVE A QUORUM IN ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING, EITHER PHYSICALLY OR TRUSTEES ARE IN ATTENDANCE SIMULTANEOUSLY THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE, VIA ZOOM. WE ARE MEETING BY USE OF ZOOM MEETING SOFTWARE APPLICATION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. ALL MEETING PROCEDURES WILL ADHERE TO BOARD ADOPTED PROCEDURES TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE. AN AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS BEING MADE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. WE APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY UNFORESEEABLE DIFFICULTIES AND ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE NAVIGATE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUSPENDED LAWS, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL AT 888-672-6787 OR BY EMAIL AT TOMA@OAG.TEXAS.GOV. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH AT ALL TIMES. OUR AGENDA NOW CALLS FOR THE PUBLIC FORUMS SEGMENT OF OUR MEETING. HOWEVER, I WAS INFORMED THAT NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THEREFORE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 4, AUTHORIZE, NEGOTIATE, [A. Consider and Take Possible Action to Authorize, Negotiate and Enter Into an Interlocal Acquisition Agreement with Region 4 Education Service Center and Execute Any Related Vendor Agreements in Conjunction with Operation Connectivity for the Purchase of Fixed Home Internet Services for Students Districtwide (Not to Exceed $18,000,000 Over Thirteen Months / General Operating/Special Revenue/Bond Funds)] AND ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL ACQUISITION AGREEMENT WITH REGION 4 EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER AND EXECUTE ANY RELATED VENDOR AGREEMENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OPERATION CONNECTIVITY FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIXED HOME INTERNET SERVICES FOR STUDENTS DISTRICT-WIDE. NOT TO EXCEED 18 MILLION OVER 13 MONTHS GENERAL OPERATING SPECIAL REVENUE BOND FUNDS. TRUSTEES, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TRUSTEE FLORES, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE CARREON. IS THEIR DISCUSSION AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START WITH A PRESENTATION FROM JACK. YEAH, MISS PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, VERY BRIEF COMMENT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AUGMENT OUR RESOURCES, BUT IT'S NOT TIME TO MEET WITH OUR NIGHT AGENDA ITEM, SO WE WERE ASKING FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JACK TO FULLY EXPLAIN. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT MACKEY, HONORABLE TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT HINOJOSA. ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY IS A RECOMMENDED ACTION REGARDING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER 4 FOR HOME INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS. AS THE SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED, WE'RE ON A SHORT TIMELINE DUE TO THE TIGHT DEADLINES FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. I BRIEFED THE BOARD IN JUNE REGARDING THE OVERARCHING OPERATION CONNECTIVITY STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC PLAN. TODAY, WE'RE FOCUSED IN ON THE PURCHASE OF HOME INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT. THE RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WOULD ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO PURCHASE COMMERCIAL INTERNET SERVICES FROM BOTH AT&T AND CHARTER SPECTRUM, THE TWO DOMINANT PROVIDERS IN OUR AREA. YOU CAN SEE THEIR COVERAGE MAPS. THEN SUBJECT TO YOUR DECISION TODAY, THE PROCESS WOULD UNFOLD AS NUMBER 1. ACTUALLY, THESE FIRST THREE ITEMS WOULD BE TAKEN IN RAPID SUCCESSION, WE WOULD ENTER INTO THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH REGION 4. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WOULD FILE OUR APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND. AS WELL, WE WOULD LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN TO ENROLL PARENTS AND FAMILIES INTO THIS PROGRAM. ONCE WE DO THAT, WE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, THEY DO THEIR OWN VALIDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SERVICE WILL GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAT IN JUST A MOMENT, AND THEN WE WOULD ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE CONNECTED. THE WAY THE PROGRAM WOULD WORK, IT IS THAT IT WOULD BE OFFERED TO FAMILIES THAT ARE NUMBER 1, ACTIVELY ENROLLED IN DALLAS ISD. NUMBER 2, ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ACCORDING TO OUR EXISTING CRITERIA AND PROCESS. NUMBER 3, LOCATED WITHIN THOSE ISP SERVICE AREAS, AND NUMBER 4, DON'T HAVE AN EXISTING SUBSCRIPTION TO THOSE SERVICES. THEN LASTLY, THE PARENT AGREES TO HAVE THE INTERNET SERVICES INSTALLED IN THEIR HOME. VERY QUICKLY, OUR NEXT STEPS, AGAIN, WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TODAY FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE ACTION. THE ECF APPLICATION IS DUE TOMORROW, AND THEN PENDING THE OUTCOME HERE, WE WOULD LAUNCH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO ENROLL FAMILIES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED TIMELINES ON THE SLIDE, THESE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT JUST DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS GO, RECOGNIZING THIS IS A NEW PROCESS AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE, BUT WE WOULD TRY TO GET THOSE SERVICES INSTALLED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THE SERVICES WOULD TAKE US THROUGH THE END OF NEXT SUMMER OR UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2022. [00:05:06] WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, JACK. TRUSTEES, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE'LL START WITH TRUSTEE MICCICHE, FOLLOWED BY TRUSTEE FOREMAN. THANK YOU, JACK, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ALSO, I DO WANT TO SAY I GENERALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE CONNECTED. ONE OF THE SLIDES UP THERE INDICATED THAT THE CRITERIA FOR BEING ELIGIBLE INCLUDES YOU HAVE TO BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND HAVE NO EXISTING SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION. IF YOU ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, BUT SOMEHOW YOU ARE PAYING FOR INTERNET SERVICE TODAY, YOU ARE EXCLUDED FROM BEING ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM, IS THAT THE WAY IT WORKS? YES, SIR. THE PROVIDERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PEOPLE TERMINATING THEIR EXISTING SERVICE AGREEMENT AND MOVING OVER TO THIS ONE. I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT, THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THAT SPEAK TO THAT SCENARIO, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT PROGRAM, WHERE FAMILIES CAN APPLY IF THEY ALREADY HAVE SERVICE AND GET DISCOUNTS OFF THOSE SERVICES. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAN WHAT WE'RE GEARING FOR IT HERE. THEN THE OTHER POINT THAT I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED ON THIS SLIDE IS TO BE VERY CLEAR, IS THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO THE FAMILIES THAT CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. THERE'S NO UPFRONT COSTS, THERE'S NO MONTHLY COST, THE DISTRICT WOULD BEAR THOSE COSTS, AND AGAIN, APPLY FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. WE BELIEVE THEY ARE 100% REIMBURSABLE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF OUR APPLICATION. OKAY. THERE WAS ONE THING HE SAID IN THAT EXPLANATION THAT I WASN'T QUITE CLEAR ON, AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS NOT BEING INTERESTED IN APPLYING THIS PLAN TO EXISTING SUBSCRIBERS. ASIDE FROM PROVIDING THE SERVICE, ARE THEY PROVIDING IT FOR FREE OR AT A DISCOUNT? OR ARE THEY GETTING PAID FOR IT? THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SIR? YEAH. THE PROVIDERS WILL BE PAID FOR THIS PROGRAM. THEY WILL BE PAID BY THE DISTRICT. OKAY. THEY'RE GETTING PAID FOR SERVICES? YES, SIR. MAYBE A CLEARER WAY FOR ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS THAT THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED FOR FAMILIES THAT DON'T ALREADY HAVE INTERNET SERVICES. OKAY. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR FAMILIES DON'T HAVE INTERNET SERVICES? WE HAVEN'T EDUCATED, GUESS. I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND WE'RE BASING OUR ESTIMATES ON WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE FIRST PHASE OF OPERATION CONNECTIVITY WITH OUR HOTSPOTS. WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 FAMILIES THAT TOOK US UP ON THOSE SERVICES. OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T APPLY THESE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AT THAT TIME, SO THE NUMBERS COULD BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER IN THIS CASE, I EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BE, BUT WE ESTIMATED BASED ON A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. OKAY. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THESE EFFORTS. WE'VE GOT SO MANY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT CONNECTED, AND WE HAVE SO MANY ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES. IT'S HARD TO KNOW EVERYTHING WITH PRECISION, BUT THANKS FOR TRYING TO GET THEM ALL HOOKED UP. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MICCICHE. TRUSTEE FOREMAN, FOLLOWED BY TRUSTEE GARCIA. >> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE END, SOME CLARIFICATION. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE OPERATING ON A PLAN THAT THE BOARD REALLY HASN'T VOTED ON AND SO I STILL HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I REMEMBER OUR LAST CONVERSATION, I THINK THE LAST TIME YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING FORWARD, I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND WHY WE WERE GOING IN TO TRYING TO DO TOWERS WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS AVAILABLE. I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU MOVED TOWARD THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT THE END-ALL FIX, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE FAMILIES INVOLVED VERY QUICKLY AS OPPOSED TO THE TOWERS. [00:10:06] BUT A CONCERN, NUMBER 1 IS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS. WHAT EXPENSES IS THE CITY OF DALLAS TAKING ON OR IS IT JUST IN NAME AND DISD IS SPENDING THE MONEY. >> FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE INITIATIVE, THIS IS ALL DISTRICT BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND ONLY APPLIES TO EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. >> I GET THERE. BUT WHEN YOU SAY IT'S A COLLABORATION, WHEN I THINK OF COLLABORATION, I THINK EVERYBODY'S IN ON IT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT, THAT CONCERNS ME AND I YOU CAN GO FIGURE IT OUT. YOU MIGHT WANT ANOTHER WORD INSTEAD OF COLLABORATION, BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE PAYING ALL THE MONEY. THEN THE SECOND THING IS PROVIDER OF WHICH I THINK IS GOOD. BUT IS THERE A DISCOUNTED RATE THAT WE'RE PAYING THE PROVIDER RATHER THAN JUST A REGULAR RATE? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S WHY WE WOULD ENTER INTO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH REGION 4. REGION 4 CONDUCTED AN RFP PROCESS STATEWIDE FOR ALL THE PROVIDERS, AND THEN NEGOTIATED HEAVILY DISCOUNTED RATES WITH EACH OF THOSE PROVIDERS AND SO WE'RE BENEFITING FROM THAT LEVERAGE, THE STATEWIDE ECONOMY OF SCALE AND YES TO YOUR QUESTION, THESE ARE DISCOUNTED RATES OVER THE NORMAL RATES THAT THE FAMILIES WOULD PAY. >> I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE IT NOW, BUT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT THE ACTUAL RATE USUALLY IS, AND WHAT THE DISCOUNTED RATE IS SO THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE. >> I CAN ANSWER HALF OF THAT RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY. >> I CAN CERTAINLY TAKE AWAY THE OTHER PIECE. I DO HAVE THE MSRP RATES, IF YOU WILL, NOT IN MY POCKET, BUT THE RATES THAT WE WOULD BE AGREEING TO PAY UNDER REGION 4, I HAVE THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU. FOR CHARTER SPECTRUM, IT WOULD BE A MONTHLY FEE OF $25 A MONTH AND THEN CHANGE. THERE'S A FEW PENNIES ON THAT. >> PER HOUSEHOLD? >> YES. PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH? YES MA'AM. FOR AT&T, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, IT'S AROUND $33 PER MONTH PER HOUSEHOLD. SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SERVICES BUT THOSE ARE THE THE NEGOTIATED PRICES. >> DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE WERE PROUD TO GET THIS INTO? >> YES, MA'AM. I'VE BASED THIS RECOMMENDATION IN THIS BUDGET ON APPROXIMATELY 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS. AGAIN, WE WOULD ONLY PAY FOR THE ACTUAL HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE CONNECTED. >> OKAY. IS THIS JUST THE CITY OF DALLAS OR IS THIS FOR DALLAS ISD? >> THESE ARE JUST FOR DALLAS ISD FAMILIES. >> THAT'S NOT JUST THE CITY OF DALLAS BECAUSE WE ARE 13 MEMBER CITIES. IT WOULD NOT BE JUST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS. IT'S FOR DALLAS ISD? >> CORRECT. WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS JUST FOR DALLAS ISD FAMILIES. >> THAT MEANS IT WOULD NOT JUST BE THE CITY OF DALLAS. AGAIN, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS IS A CONCERN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT BIGGER PICTURE BECAUSE IT COULD BE ENCOUNTERED. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> IT COULD BE A WILMA, IT COULD BE IN HERTZ, IT COULD BE A FORMER BRANCH. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. >> FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO JUST TELL US HOW MUCH MONEY CITY OF DALLAS PUT INTO OPERATION CONNECTIVITY EFFORTS THROUGH THEIR DOLLARS THAT YOU KNOW OF TOP OF YOUR HEAD. >> DOC, I DON'T WANT TO GUESS. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT YES, CITY OF DALLAS HAS MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE. OUR MOBILE HOTSPOTS, THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED AS WELL TO THE PRIVATE CELLULAR TOWER AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE. THERE'S VARIOUS PLACES AND THEY EVEN CONTRIBUTE IN A WAY THAT HELPED US WITH OUR LEVERAGE AND OUR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEA. SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, DOC, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS SIR. >> [INAUDIBLE] ALSO IS NOT THAT I AM FIGHTING AGAINST THE CITY OF DALLAS, THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK FOR TRANSPARENCY, AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU PUT OUT A DOCUMENT. THIS IS THE CITY OF DALLAS AND DISD IS IN COLLABORATION ON THIS PROJECT AND THEN YOU HAVE 13 MEMBER CITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT, AND THAT BECOMES A CONCERN. I DON'T DOUBT IT OUT THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS IS PUSHING TO TRY TO GET THE PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES ARE IN FACT CONNECTED. BUT YOU'VE GOT A DIFFERENT SCENARIO HERE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PIECE. THANK YOU. [00:15:07] >> THANK YOU TRUSTEE FLORES AND TRUSTEE GARCIA. >> THANK YOU JACK FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO START OFF WITH A COMMENT ABOUT HOW JUST EXCITED I AM THAT PART OF THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED INCLUDE FAIBA CONNECTION FOR STUDENTS. I'M JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THE MAP WHERE THOSE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT STUDENTS WOULD HAVE A HIGH-SPEED RELIABILITY. THE EXPIRATION OR FAMILIES MESSING UP BY AUGUST 31ST, THAT'S COMING UP RATHER SOON FOR 40,000 FAMILIES POTENTIALLY, AND ASKING UP TO 40,000 FAMILIES TO SIGN UP AND THEN HAVE SERVICES INSTALLED BY OCTOBER 31ST. WE ARE NOT NOTIFYING FAMILIES THAT THEY QUALIFY. THIS IS OPT-IN ESSENTIALLY. YES? >> YES. WE'RE ASKING FAMILIES TO GO TO THIS WEBSITE ACTUALLY CAN USE THE QR CODE TO GET TO OUR FORM IS AN INTEREST FORM. IT SAYS, YES, I WANT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. FROM THERE, WE'LL SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS. THEY'LL DO THE VALIDATION THEY NEED TO DO AND THEY'LL COME UP WITH AN INSTALLATION DATE FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND THEN THEY'LL SCHEDULE AND DEPLOY INSTALL THE SERVICES DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE PROVIDER AND THE FAMILIES? I'M NOT SURE. DID I ANSWER YOUR COMPLETE QUESTION? >> IT DOES. I'M JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THE AUGUST 31ST DAY AND BE MINDFUL OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> THANK YOU. I AGREE. IT MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS TOO, SO WE HAVE A DATE. THAT'S WHY I SAID THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT DEPENDING ON IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THE NUMBERS, OR WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE, IS QUICKLY AS WE SHOULD. WE MAY HAVE TO EXTEND THOSE DATES, BUT WE DO NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT THERE'S A BUNCH OF LOGISTICS AND INSTALLATIONS AND TRUCKS THAT NEED TO ROLL AND ALL THOSE THINGS BEHIND IT. WE DO NEED TO BE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE DID HAVE TO ADJUST DEADLINES A LITTLE BIT. >> NOW JUST VERY QUICKLY, FAMILY QUALIFIES, INTERNET SERVICES INSTALLED. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IF THEY'RE TUNING AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD? >> ABSOLUTELY. IF A FAMILY AGREES TO THIS AND THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEY SCHEDULED THE INSTALLATION SERVICES IN THEIR HOUSE DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY LIVE OR IF THERE'S ALREADY A CONNECTION IN THEIR HOUSE, THEY COULD HAVE THE VAN COME OUT AND INSTALLER ACTUALLY MAKE THAT CABLE CONNECTION OR LAST MILE, WE CALL IT FAIBA CONNECTION INTO THEIR HOME. THEY WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH THE MODEM OR THE WI-FI ROUTER THAT WOULD COVER THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT. THE PROVIDERS WILL DO THE COMPLETE INSTALLATION, MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICE IS WORKING BEFORE THEY LEAVE THAT HOUSEHOLD AND THEN WE'LL LEAVE THEM WITH THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION. IN THE EVENT THAT THEY NEEDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THEY HAVE A CONTACT OR REACH OUT TO. >> THIS IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE TO SINGLE HOUSEHOLDS, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, ETC. >> YES, MA'AM. >> WONDERFUL. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WORK. >> THANK YOU TRUSTEE GARCIA, TRUSTEE FLORES? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I THINK THAT THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR [NOISE] TEAM AND EVERYBODY FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I TOO HAVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND MAYBE EVEN ANOTHER CITIES AND HAVING TALKED TO SOME OF THE COUNTY AUTHORITIES ABOUT OPERATION CONNECTIVITY AND STUFF. BUT I THINK THAT WORKING TOGETHER AND WE ALL CARRY OUR OWN WEIGHT AND ARE EFFICIENT WITH THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS FOR ALL OUR ENTITIES, I THINK THAT THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE VERY GRATEFUL AND SO I JUST WANT TO THROW IN MY GRATITUDE FOR PUSHING THIS FORWARD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE REGION FORWARD AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN GETTING OUR KIDDOS CONNECTIVITY IS REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL. I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE GOING IN PERSON AND WHATNOT, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN WE CAN DO BY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> TRUSTEES, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE WILL TAKE A VOTE BY ROLL CALL. >> PRESIDENT MAGGIE, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, SIR. TRUSTEE MARSHALL. >> JACK YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES DURING YOUR PRESENTATION THAT THIS WAS THE REIMBURSEMENT WAS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF OUR APPLICATION. WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? >> YES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE DEVELOPED OUR APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT. DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME TODAY, WE WOULD SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE BACKUP AND SUBSTANTIATING MATERIAL THAT THEY TYPICALLY REQUIRE. THE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY ADMINISTER VERY SIMILAR TO E RAY, AND THROUGH THE SAME AGENCY THAT ADMINISTERS E RAY. THEY NEED DOCUMENTATION, PRICE QUOTES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION NOW, THEY'RE READY TO SUBMIT. THEN THERE WILL BE A WAITING PERIOD THAT WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH [00:20:01] WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER OUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THESE DOLLARS, BUT WE BELIEVE WE'RE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE, RELATIVELY AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I THINK THE ONLY PRIORITY THAT MAYBE HIGHER THAN URBAN AREAS WITH A HIGH NEED IS RURAL AREAS WITH A HIGH NEED. BUT THEY ARE PRIORITIZING BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE. AGAIN, WE'RE AT THE HIGH END OF THAT SPECTRUM, AND SO WE DO ANTICIPATE RECEIVING PRIORITY TO THAT APPLICATION PROCESS. SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE DATE THAT WE'LL FIND OUT THE DISPOSITION OF OUR APPLICATION, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU POSTED WHEN WE DO. >> WHAT'S THE WORST-CASE EXPOSURE SCENARIO IF WE APPROVE THE DISBURSEMENT OF THESE FUNDS AND DON'T GET THE APPROVAL OF THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FEDS? >> I THINK THE WORST CASE IS THE FULL AMOUNT. >> WHICH IS WHAT? >> I THINK THE TOTAL AUTHORIZATION TODAY WE'RE ASKING FOR IS 18 MILLION. SO THAT WOULD BE THE WORST-CASE. BUT IF WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUNDING ON THIS, WE COULD ALSO APPLY FOR IT THROUGH A DIFFERENT FEDERAL PROGRAM OR THROUGH THE ESSER PROGRAM. THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US IF THE ANSWER ON THIS ONE IS NO. >> WHERE DOES THE 18 MILLION COME FROM IF WE DON'T GET REIMBURSEMENT? >> I'D PROBABLY DEFER TO THE CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER ON THAT, BUT I'M GUESSING, IS IT DWAYNE? >> WELL, LET ME GO AHEAD TO MAIN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> WE DO HAVE A BUDGET LINE ITEM FOR OPERATION CONNECTIVITY AND THE ESSER FUNDS, SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO JUST INCORPORATE THAT COST IN THERE FOR THAT APPLICATION. >> WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED THE ENTIRETY OF THE AVAILABLE ESSER FUNDS TO OTHER SPENDING PROGRAMS, RIGHT? >> PART OF THAT ENTIRE PROGRAM WAS OPERATION CONNECTIVITY AS WELL. >> RIGHT, BUT IF YOU HAD AN $18 MILLION TO YOUR ESSER APPLICATION FOR THIS, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE $18 MILLION FROM SOMETHING ELSE, RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT ACTUALLY, YOU WOULD TAKE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THE TECHNOLOGY PORTION. >> OKAY. THAT'S THE NATURE OF MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE LOSE IF WE DON'T GET THE REIMBURSEMENT APPROVED? WHEN YOU SAY, COMING FROM THE TECHNOLOGY BUDGET, DO YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE WOULD NOT GET IF WE HAVE TO SPEND OUR OWN 18 MILLION BUCKS ON THIS? >> SINCE IT'S IN THE ESSER, WE HAVE IN THERE, FOR INSTANCE, INTO THE FUTURE OR REFRESH MACHINES. SO MAYBE AT THAT POINT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO A REFRESH, AND WE'RE TALKING YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, TWO OR THREE YEARS. THOSE ARE THE POTENTIALS IF WE HAD TO GO TO THE ESSER, BUT WE WOULD STILL USE THAT SAME LINE ITEM. >> IN THE SHORT TERM, FOR MY CASH FLOW PERSPECTIVE, THE 18 MILLION BUCKS YOU JUST SPEND OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE? >> ACTUALLY, IF IT NEEDED TO BE, I WOULD SPEND IT OUT OF THE ESSER IN THE SHORT-TERM, AND THEN DEAL WITH HAVING TO DO THAT INTO THE LONG-TERM. >> OKAY. JACK, DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO EXPECT THAT THERE'S ANY REASON WHY OUR PETITION FOR REIMBURSEMENT WOULD NOT BE APPROVED? >> NO. >> OKAY. DOCTOR, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? >> NO, WE'RE THE POSTER CHILD ON THIS AND I THINK WE WOULD GET IN FRONT OF THE LINE FOR ALL THE INDICATORS. SO I THINK THERE'S A HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. WORST-CASE SCENARIO OF ALL THINGS WOULD BE FUND BALANCE, BUT THAT'S NOT LIKELY AT ALL, WAS HIGH PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS ON THIS. >> OKAY, GREAT. MY LAST QUESTION, JACK, IS, HOW DOES THIS DOVETAIL WITH THE TOWERS AND HOW ARE THE COMMERCIAL ENTITIES THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THIS, HOW ARE THEY RECEIVING US ALSO HAVING EXISTING CELL TOWERS THAT ARE EATING INTO THEIR POTENTIAL REVENUE BASE IN THE CELL TOWERS? >> I THINK THIS BUYS US TIME TO BUILD THE DETAILED PLAN FOR TOWERS, EXACTLY WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO INVEST IN THEM. THE COST-SHARING MODEL FOR THEM, BUILD OUT THE DETAILED PLANS. WE'VE SEEN THE HIGH LEVEL PLANS AROUND THAT, BUT THIS WOULD BUY US SOME TIME TO BUILD UP A DETAILED PLAN, GO OUT TO THE MARKET, AND BEGIN CONSTRUCTING THAT NETWORK AGAIN WHERE WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT THAT NETWORK. THIS IS ANOTHER SHORT-TERM MEASURE. OUR FIRST SHORT-TERM MEASURE WAS THE HOTSPOTS, THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE HOTSPOTS THAT GETS US ANOTHER YEAR DOWN THE ROAD. I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE LONG-TERM PLAN WHICH IS YES, [00:25:03] WE DO WANT TO BUILD SOME INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND SOME OF THESE SERVICES IN THE OUT YEARS AS WELL. >> THE AMOUNT OF TIME ADVISED TO YOU IS ONE YEAR? >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GREAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS. >> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MARSHALL. TRUSTEE GARCIA, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR SECOND ROUND? >> SECOND ROUND. >> TRUSTEE GARCIA. >> FOLLOWING TRUSTEE MARSHALL'S QUESTION ABOUT ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AUGUST 31ST? >> THE SERVICES WOULD EXPIRE ON AUGUST 31ST, 2022. WE WOULD ASK FAMILIES TO RETURN THE EQUIPMENT TO THE DISTRICT AND OR THE PROVIDER DIRECTLY. BY THEN, HOPEFULLY, WE DO HAVE A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION IN PLACE FOR THEM LIKE THE PRIVATE SELLER OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THESE SERVICES WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE LIMITATION ON THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE EXPIRATION OF THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDING MECHANISM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. >> THANK YOU. >> TRUSTEES, SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE WILL VOTE BY ROLL CALL. TRUSTEE EDWIN FLORES HAS STEPPED OUT. TRUSTEE MARSHALL? >> YES. >> TRUSTEE MICCICHE? >> YES. >> TRUSTEE GARCIA? >> YES. >> TRUSTEE FOREMAN. >> YES. >> TRUSTEE MACKEY VOTES YES. TRUSTEE CARREON HAD STEPPED OUT. TRUSTEE HENRY? >> YES. >> THE ITEM PASSES SIX TO NOTHING WITH THREE NOT PRESENT TO HAVE A VOTE. TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE JUST ADOPTED THE MOTION TO APPROVING TO AUTHORIZE, NEGOTIATE, AND ENTER INTO INTERLOCAL ACQUISITION AGREEMENT WITH REGION 4 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER AND EXECUTE ANY RELATED VENDOR AGREEMENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OPERATION CONNECTIVITY FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIXED HOME INTERNET SERVICES FOR STUDENTS DISTRICT WIDE, NOT TO EXCEED 18 MILLION OVER 13 MONTHS, GENERAL OPERATING, SPECIAL REVENUE, AND BOND FUNDS. THE TIME IS NOW 2:36, [NOISE] AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.