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[1. Notice and Return]
TRUSTEES. WE WILL FOREGO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AS WE JUST DID BOTH NOT TOO LONG AGO.THE FOLLOWING TRUSTEES ARE EITHER PHYSICALLY PRESENT OR PARTICIPATING SIMULTANEOUSLY BY VIDEO CONFERENCE. A QUORUM OF THE BOARD IS PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT THIS LOCATION. TRUSTEE FOR DISTRICT 1, LANCE CURRIE. DISTRICT 2, SARAH WEINBERG.
DISTRICT 3, DAN MICCICHE. DISTRICT 4, PRISMA GARCIA.
DISTRICT 5, BYRON SANDERS. DISTRICT 6, JOYCE FOREMAN.
DISTRICT 7, BEN MACKEY. DISTRICT 9, ED TURNER.
THE MEETING WILL BE AVAILABLE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AT DALLASISD.ORG.
IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR THE PERSON WITH INTENT TO PREVENT OR DISRUPT A LAWFUL MEETING, TO SUBSTANTIALLY OBSTRUCT OR INTERFERE WITH THE ORDINARY COGNITIVE MEETING BY PHYSICAL ACTION OR VERBAL UTTERANCE, AND THEREBY CURTAIL THE EXERCISE OF OTHERS FOR SIMILAR RIGHTS. SPEAKERS ARE CAUTIONED THAT WHAT THEY SAY COULD VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS, AND THE LAW OF DEFAMATION AND INVASION OF PRIVACY. IF THEY´RE UNSURE OF THE LEGAL EFFECT OF THEIR REMARKS, THEY MAY WANT TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE PRIOR TO THE UTTERANCE. ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS, DISRUPTIVE OR FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THIS ASSEMBLY WHILE ADDRESSING THE BOARD WHILE ATTENDING THIS MEETING, SHALL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. FAILURE TO LEAVE WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO, MAY RESULT IN THE PERSON BEING ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING AND SUBJECT TO ARREST. TRUSTEES, WE WILL NOW TURN TO AGENDA ITEM 3, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING.
[3. Public Comment]
OUR AGENDA NOW CALLS FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM SEGMENT OF OUR MEETING. WE WILL HAVE SPEAKERS TO AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I'M ASKING SPEAKERS TO BE MINDFUL OF CHILDREN THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE, CHILDREN AND UNWILLING ADULT RECIPIENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO LEWD, FILTHY, VULGAR, OBSCENE, OR EXPLICIT LANGUAGE FROM SPEAKERS.SPEAKERS THAT INSIST ON EXPOSING THE PUBLIC TO THIS LANGUAGE SHALL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.
FURTHER, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS AND TO REFRAIN FROM USING INDIVIDUAL´S NAMES, STUDENT´S NAMES, AND TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND NOT INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES.
THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED PROCEDURES TO HEAR AND ADDRESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT SPEAKERS AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE GRIEVANCE POLICY TO SEEK RELIEF VIA THOSE PROCEDURES.
AUDIENCE, I'M ASKING YOU TO NOT ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT WILL DISRUPT THE MEETING.
UNLAWFUL OR DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT, INCLUDING INTERRUPTING SCHEDULED SPEAKERS, SPEAKING OUT OF TURN, CROSSING OFF THE ROPED OFF BARRIERS, OR INTERFERING WITH THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. EACH SPEAKER IS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT AND CONSEQUENCES OF HIS OR HER OWN STATEMENTS. SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT SUBSTITUTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
IF YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK, YOU CANNOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE.
MISS FLORES, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS? GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE SPEAKERS THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY FOR YOUR NAME. I WILL CALL FOUR SPEAKERS AT A TIME.
WILL THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? FORMER TRUSTEE HONORABLE CAMILLE WHITE AND OLIVIA SOLIS, FOLLOWED BY FORMER TRUSTEE HONORABLE MIGUEL SOLIS AND TYLER AMAYA ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT. I AM IN FAVOR OF A BOND.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE ACTUALLY REALLY NEED $6.2 BILLION, BUT I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF A BOND BECAUSE DISTRICT 4 DEFINITELY NEEDS A LOT OF WORK DONE. THE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT SAMUEL HIGH SCHOOL IS GETTING A NEW CAMPUS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST FEEL THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS SOME OF.
WELL, IT'S A FEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WAS HERE. EARLIER WE HAD A CONVERSATION.
I DON'T KNOW, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME TO KEEP UP.
AND JUST NOT IN MY AREA. THERE IS PORTABLES ALL OVER THE DISTRICT AND SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.
I THINK I WAS OVER NEAR THE MOCKINGBIRD AREA.
IT WAS SO MANY PORTABLES I WAS JUST HORRIFIED.
EVERY TIME IT SEEMS LIKE YOU, YOU, YOU PICK UP YOUR DEVICE, YOU'RE MAYBE LOOKING ON FACEBOOK,
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YOU'RE ON TIKTOK, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, THERE'S A REPORTING OF A SHOOTING.SO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS DEFINITELY KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.
NOT SAYING I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE TEENAGERS, BUT I'M JUST SAYING FOR THE BABIES, THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO BE IN A AREA WHERE IT'S CONTAINED AND THEY'RE NOT GOING FROM THE WALKWAY AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
YES, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING. WE ARE.
AND OF COURSE, WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS. WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHIEF ALFRED AND ALSO CHIEF BATES AGAIN, AS WELL AS THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN I CAME AND ASKED FOR CERTAIN THINGS FOR THIS, FOR MY AREA, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THE 2015 BOND, THE 2020 BOND, THERE WAS THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T GET AND WE DESPERATELY NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SPRUCE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND WE HAD MONITORS FALLING OFF THE WALLS, TEACHERS GETTING SICK. THIS IS LONG OVERDUE, AND I'M QUITE SURE THE PLEASANT GROVE COMMUNITY IS REJOICING WITH ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING DONE. I HOPE THERE'S A SOLUTION THAT THE KIDS ARE NOT SEPARATED WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
I HOPE THAT WE DO LIKE THEY DID THE URBANDALE WHEN THEY BUILT THE SCHOOL AND TORE THE UP AND DOWN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? OLIVIA SOLIS. FORMER TRUSTEE HONORABLE MIGUEL SOLIS, FOLLOWED BY TYLER AMAYA AND TYLER MARIE SCOVELL ON DECK.
SOLIS, AND I'M A SECOND GRADER AT SOLAR PREP SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN DISD.
EVERY MORNING AT MY SCHOOL, WE START WITH A PLEDGE.
WE SAY, I BELIEVE IN MYSELF, I BELIEVE, I REFUSE TO LET WHAT I WANTED TO FIND ME.
WHEN I SAY THAT, IT MAKES ME FEEL BRAVE. LIKE EVEN THOUGH I'M LITTLE, I CAN STILL DREAM BIG.
AT SOLAR PREP, MY TEACHERS HELP US LIVE OUT THAT PLEDGE.
THEY TELL US IT'S OKAY TO TRY HARD THINGS, TO BE BRAVE, AND TO GO AFTER OUR DREAMS. EVEN WHEN THEY FEEL REALLY BIG. THEY TELL US THAT BEING COURAGEOUS DOESN'T MEAN YOU AREN'T SCARED, IT MEANS YOU TRY IT ANYWAYS. WHEN I AM IN MY CLASSROOM, I FEEL SAFE.
HAVING A SCHOOL THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF HELPS ME TO BELIEVE I CAN SHINE AND PLAY BIG.
I HEARD THAT THE BOND YOU ARE VOTING ON IS $6 MILLION.
YOU ARE BEING BRAVE. YOU ARE PLAYING BIG AND YOU ARE BELIEVING IN KIDS LIKE ME.
REFUSING TO LET OUR FUTURE BE DEFINED BY WHAT FEELS SMALL OR SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR THE WAYS YOU'VE SUPPORTED SCHOOLS IN THE PAST.
BECAUSE OF YOU, MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE PLACES WHERE WE FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO DREAM BIG.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE UPCOMING SCHOOL BOND SO MORE STUDENTS CAN LEARN IN SCHOOLS THAT BELIEVE IN BIG DREAMS, AND IN THE GROWN UPS WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? FORMER TRUSTEE HONORABLE MIGUEL SOLIS, TYLER AMAYA FOLLOWED BY TYLER MARIE SCOVELL AND OVIDIA AMAYA ON DECK. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CARREON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MY DEAR FRIEND SUPERINTENDENT ELIZALDE.
I FIRST HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE SOME REMARKS. I'LL BE QUICK, I PROMISE.
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I DID NOT REALIZE THAT DAVID BATES WAS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY.AND I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID BATES, WHO HAS BEEN A DEAR, DEAR FRIEND OF MINE FOR SO, SO MANY YEARS. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. WE'LL MISS YOU, BUT I HAVE A FEELING WE'LL SEE YOU BACK AGAIN AT SOME POINT, DAVID. MY NAME IS MIGUEL SOLIS AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH DALLAS ISD SINCE 2009.
FIRST AS AN EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER, THEN AS A CENTRAL ADMINISTRATOR, LATER SERVING SEVEN YEARS ON THIS BOARD AND TODAY SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT AS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMIT PARTNERSHIP. FOR 16 YEARS, I'VE POURED INTO THIS SYSTEM AS AN EDUCATOR AND A STEWARD.
TONIGHT THE CIRCLE CLOSES. YOU JUST HEARD FROM MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, OLIVIA.
THE SAME SYSTEM I ONCE SERVED IN A CLASSROOM.
THE SAME SYSTEM I HELPED GOVERN FROM THIS DAIS IS NOW THE SYSTEM EDUCATING MY CHILD.
SHE DOES NOT YET GRASP WHAT $6.24 BILLION MEANS.
SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND LONG TERM DEBT, INTEREST IN SINKING RATES OR TAX COMPRESSION.
SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE BOND THAT HER DADDY VOTED FOR, ALONG WITH SOME OF YOU ALL IN 2015 AND IN 2020, HELPED BUILD THE SCHOOL SHE NOW ATTENDS. BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS SOMETHING DEEPER.
SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WALK INTO A BUILDING THAT SAYS YOU MATTER.
FIVE YEARS AGO, THIS BOARD PLACED BEFORE VOTERS THE LARGEST BOND IN TEXAS HISTORY.
SOME QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS PRUDENT. OTHERS QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS POLITICALLY SURVIVABLE.
PERFORMANCE HAS IMPROVED. MORE STUDENTS ATTEND HIGHER PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
THAT IS WHAT DISCIPLINE GOVERNANCE PRODUCES. THAT IS RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
BUT NONE OF THAT WAS GUARANTEED. SINCE MY TIME IN DISD HAS WRAPPED UP, SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED ME, WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOARD, HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENT? IT FEELS HEAVY. YOU FEEL THE SCRUTINY. YOU FEEL THE TENSION.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WILL STAND WITH YOU. AND YOU KNOW, THE EASIER PATH WOULD BE TO RETREAT.
TRUSTEES, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER THIS INVESTMENT IS TOO LARGE.
BOBBY KENNEDY ONCE SAID, SOME PEOPLE SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE AND ASK WHY.
I DREAM OF THINGS THAT NEVER WERE AND ASK WHY NOT.
TYLER AMAYA. TYLER MARIE SCOVELL, FOLLOWED BY OVIDIA AMAYA AND TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL ON DECK.
TYLER AMAYA, NOT PRESENT. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? TYLER MARIE SCOVELL. OVIDIA AMAYA. FOLLOWED BY TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL AND DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER ON DECK.
TYLER MARIE SCOVELL, NOT PRESENT. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? OVIDIA AMAYA, TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL, FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER AND WHIT PAYNE ON DECK.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY SON WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, AND I'M SORRY.
MY NAME IS OVIDIA AMAYA. I COULDN'T USE EVELYN FOR EASIER PRONUNCIATION.
HE HAD SURGERY, SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON SOME OF HIS POINTS.
AS I MENTIONED, MY NAME IS OVIDIA AMAYA. I AM A PROUD ALUM, BUT I'M ALSO A PROUDER PARENT OF DISD.
I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A MOTHER OF A GRADUATING WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHO HAS SPENT THE LAST 12 YEARS IN DALLAS DISD AND WILL BE ENROLLING INTO THE ENGINEERING PROGRAM AT UNT IN DALLAS. THIS DISTRICT HAS HELPED SHAPE THE YOUNG MAN HE IS TODAY.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE MORE THAN BUILDINGS. THEY ARE WHERE OUR CHILDREN GROW UP, BUILD LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS, DISCOVER THEIR TALENTS AND BEGIN SHAPING THEIR FUTURES.
THANK YOU JOE. BECAUSE DALLAS ISD MATTERS DEEPLY TO ME, TO MY FAMILY AND THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY, THE WORK WAS NOT ABSTRACT. IT WAS PERSONAL. I CHOSE TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS, TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE AND TO BE THE VOICE OF NEARLY 70% OF
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HISPANIC FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT WHO UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF WORK SCHEDULES, LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, ARE OFTEN NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE OR ABLE TO BE STANDING HERE AS I AM.THIS WAS NOT RUSHED. IT WAS NOT ABOUT ASKING FOR EVERYTHING.
THROUGH SPORTS, MY FOUR CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP AND RESILIENCE.
AND AS A FAMILY, AS WE TRAVEL TO OTHER CITIES AND COMPETE, WE SAW THE DISPARITIES IN FACILITIES.
WE ALSO SEE THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN OUR OWN DISTRICT.
CAMPUSES THAT HAVE BEEN REBUILT OVER THE LAST YEARS, OR UPGRADED WHILE OTHERS ARE STILL WAITING.
FOR ME, THIS BOND IS ABOUT STUDENTS SAFETY, DIGNITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
AND IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SO YOU'RE AWARE, I HAVE ASSISTED FIVE FAMILIES BURY THEIR STUDENT, MOST RECENTLY WORNAN GARCIA, A STUDENT ATHLETE WHO HAD MANY DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS IN SOCCER.
THAT CHANGES YOU. IT REMINDS YOU THAT OUR WORK, YOUR DECISIONS, OUR DECISIONS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BUILDINGS, IT'S ABOUT THEIR LIVES. WHEN STUDENTS WALK INTO SCHOOLS THAT ARE WELL MAINTAINED, MODERN AND DESIGNED FOR LEARNING, IT SHAPES WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM.
AS A MOTHER AND ON BEHALF OF MY SON TYLER AND TANNER FAMILIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
TYLER MARIE SCOVELL, TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL, FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER AND WHIT PAYNE ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, MY NAME IS TYLER SCOVELL.
WE'RE PROUD DALLAS ISD STUDENTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN DALLAS IS PART OF OUR FAMILY STORY.
PRETTY LONG STORY. OUR GREAT GRANDFATHER, FIELD SCOVELL, ONCE SERVED AS A DALLAS ISD TRUSTEE JUST LIKE YOU AND MY GRANDPARENTS, DIANE AND JOHN SCOVELL, HAVE SUPPORTED EVERY DALLAS ISD BOND CAMPAIGN SINCE THE 1980S.
WE CALL THEM DIANE BABU, AND THEY'RE PRETTY OLD.
BECAUSE OF THAT LEADERSHIP, MORE THAN 200 CAMPUSES WERE IMPROVED, 14 SCHOOLS WERE WERE REPLACED, AND TEN BRAND NEW CAMPUSES WERE BUILT. SO IT WORKED.
NOW YOU'RE CONSIDERING A $6.2 BILLION BOND TO HELP MAKE OUR SCHOOLS BETTER.
THAT WILL HELP TRAIN FUTURE TEACHERS, ENGINEERS, NURSES AND BUSINESS LEADERS RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS.
AND MAYBE A FUTURE TRUSTEE. OUR DAD IS THE CHAIR OF THIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH MEANS HE CHECKS HIS PHONE A LOT. HE SAYS HE WON'T REALLY RELAX UNTIL THE BOND PASSES.
AND WHEN WE GROW UP. WE WANT TO PROUDLY SAY THAT WE ARE PRODUCTS OF DALLAS ISD JUST LIKE OUR DAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THEN. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO LEAD AGAIN TONIGHT.
BECAUSE DALLAS VOTES FOR KIDS. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.
WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL. OH. DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER, WHIT PAYNE, FOLLOWED BY RENATO DE LOS SANTOS, DEMARCUS OFFERED ON DECK. WELL, IT'S PRETTY BORING TO FOLLOW BEHIND THAT.
BUT Y'ALL, I'VE SERVED AS A VICE CHAIR DALLAS ISD BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I WAS TIRED OF LOOKING AT BRANT AND AS WELL AS DAVID BATES.
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AND SO WE WERE JUST GOING FROM MEETING TO MEETING.I STAND HERE KNOWING MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO WHERE I STOOD IN THE FACE OF THIS DISTRICT.
AND IT HAS CAME A LONG WAY FOR ME TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
OF COURSE, WITH THE STUDENT WALK OUT OF SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS 26 YEARS OLD WHEN I ORGANIZED THOSE KIDS TO WALK OUT.
I TURNED 37 ON SUNDAY. SO ABOUT TEN YEARS LATER.
AND I REMEMBER WHAT WAS AN IDEA. AND SEEING THE BABIES AND SEEING THE OPPORTUNITIES.
I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEN CHIEF OF SCHOOLS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LINCOLN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW, BRAND NEW, STATE OF THE ART TELEVISION STUDIO IN THE FOURTH MEDIA MARKET IN THE COUNTRY, AND HOW WE HAD TO DO BETTER, AND TO WALK THERE AND ACTUALLY SEE AN ACTUAL DREAM COME TRUE.
TO WALK AND SEE THE BRAND NEW JOHN LEWIS SOCIAL JUSTICE ACADEMY AND SEE JOHN LEWIS´ FACE.
ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE WE ARE YET SEEING THESE BASIC RIGHTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS BE ERODED.
IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT WE'RE DOING. I REMEMBER ONE TIME THE BOND DEPARTMENT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF CONTRACTORS, AND I CALLED THEM HOPE BUILDERS.
WHAT WE'RE BUILDING IS A HOPE, A BETTER TOMORROW.
IT'S AMAZING. I WANT TO USE MY FINAL 30S IN SAYING MR. DAVID BATES, IT'S VERY, VERY HOT WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
GOOD LUCK, MY FRIEND. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE CANNOT SAY WE COULD PROBABLY HAVE A WHOLE NIGHT OF SAYING THANK YOU.
WE COULDN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. SALUTE TO YOU.
AND YOU ARE ALWAYS FAMILY OF DALLAS WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? TYLER DUPREE SCOVELL, WHIT PAYNE, FOLLOWED BY RENATO DE LOS SANTOS AND DEMARCUS OFFERED ON DECK.
HI. THANK YOU. I'M DUPREE SCOVELL. I'M GLAD YOU GOT TO HEAR FROM MY TWO KIDS, SKIP AND TYLER.
THEY'RE A LOT MORE INTERESTING THAN ME. I REMEMBER BEING DRAGGED BY MY MOM TO TO HAMMER IN YARD SIGNS FOR BOND CAMPAIGNS WHEN I WAS THREE AND THEN AGAIN WHEN I WAS LIKE, I THINK 12.
AND SO THERE'S A GENERATIONAL COMMITMENT HERE THAT'S GONE ON FROM MY, MY GRANDFATHER, WHO'S A TRUSTEE, AS THEY MENTIONED, TO MY PARENTS TO NOW ME AND THE KIDS.
AND OUR COMMITMENT IS SIMPLE. AN EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN, A DISCIPLINED CAMPAIGN THAT'S WIDE REACHING.
AND THIS IS SO. I MEAN, I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU HOW CRITICAL THIS IS FOR THE DALLAS COMMUNITY, BUT A WIN HERE IS A WIN FOR DALLAS. AND AS A BUSINESS LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR DALLAS.
IF WE DON'T FIX IT, WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN ON FEAR ANYMORE.
NOW IT'S LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE LED THIS IN SUCH A WAY WHERE IT'S LIKE, WE ARE WINNING AND WE'RE GOING TO COME AT THIS CAMPAIGN WITH SAYING WE'RE BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS NOW OCCURRED. AND FOR THIS 26 CAMPAIGN, THAT'S THE MESSAGE IS IT WORKED IN 2020 AND NOW WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE INVESTMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO CLIMB THIS HILL THE WAY WE SHOULD.
SO A VOTE FOR THIS IS A VOTE FOR DALLAS. I SURE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ENTRUSTING US WITH IT.
SO DALLAS VOTES FOR KIDS. APPRECIATE IT GUYS.
THANK YOU. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? WHIT PAYNE, RENATO DE LOS SANTOS, FOLLOWED BY DEMARCUS OFFERED AND TURNER LABRIE ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS WHIT PAYNE AND I'M A FORMER TEACHER AND A RESIDENT OF THIS DISTRICT, AND AN INDEPENDENT CITIZEN WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF DALLAS.
AS A FORMER TEACHER, I'VE SEEN HOW MUCH A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT SHAPES A STUDENT'S MINDSET.
WHEN A SPACE FEELS PURPOSEFUL, FORWARD LOOKING, STUDENTS FEEL THAT.
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IT AFFECTS THEIR CONFIDENCE, THEIR FOCUS, AND THEIR SENSE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE.WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WHAT THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENT CAN CREATE.
THE CAREER INSTITUTE NORTH, WHICH WAS FUNDED BY THE LAST BOND, IS A STRONG EXAMPLE.
THE PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED TO INDUSTRIES THAT ARE GROWING AND EVOLVING.
THE FACILITY FEELS DESIGNED AROUND WHERE DALLAS IS HEADED, NOT WHERE IT'S BEEN.
THAT KIND OF ALIGNMENT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADVANCED TRADES.
THESE FIELDS ARE TRANSFORMING VERY QUICKLY, AND IF DALLAS WANTS TO STAY COMPETITIVE AND CONTINUE TO GROW, OUR SCHOOLS NEED THE CAPACITY TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THAT FUTURE REALITY.
FOR ME, THIS BOND IS ABOUT KEEPING THAT MOMENTUM GOING.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT DELIVER MEANINGFUL RESULTS.
SO CONTINUING THAT TRAJECTORY REQUIRES FORESIGHT AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ACT BEFORE WE FALL BEHIND.
AS A RESIDENT WHO WANTS THE BEST FOR ALL OF OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE, I BELIEVE INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS STRENGTHENS ALL OF US, WHETHER WE HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM OR NOT.
STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT A STRONG WORKFORCE, AND A STRONG WORKFORCE SUSTAINS A THRIVING CITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, MR. PAYNE. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? RENATO DE LOS SANTOS, DEMARCUS OFFERED, FOLLOWED BY TURNER LABRIE AND MITT WITT ON DECK.
MY NAME IS RENATO DE LOS SANTOS, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS OF DALLAS AND TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY TRUSTEE MACKEY AS A MEMBER OF THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS WELL.
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONSISTENTLY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRICT'S SIGNIFICANT AND URGENT NEEDS, RANGING FROM FACILITY CONDITIONS AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS TO INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
THE CONVERSATIONS WERE NOT ALWAYS SIMPLE OR EASY.
BASED ON THE WORK COMPLETED, I BELIEVE THE COMMITTEE REACHED WHAT MANY OF US FELT WAS A BALANCED AND REALISTIC RECOMMENDATION, ONE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS WHILE ALSO REMAINING SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
EARLIER, FORMER TRUSTEE SOLIS, STATED THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, YOU WILL BE WONDERING WHO EXACTLY MIGHT BE STANDING WITH YOU. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AT LAST NIGHT'S LULAC COUNCIL 272 MEETING, THE EDUCATION COUNCIL, THEY FULLY ENDORSED UNANIMOUSLY A CONCEPT THAT THE DISTRICT TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF PASSING A $6.2 PLUS BILLION BOND, AND THE 42 MEMBERS PRESENT LAST NIGHT COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO ALSO HELPING IN BEING PART OF THE PROCESS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHY WE NEED THAT BOND.
TODAY, I ALSO HEARD FROM THE MEMBERS OF LULAC COUNCIL 100 THAT THEY ALSO HAD TAKEN A SIMILAR STEP.
AND ALSO, I WANT TO JUST CLOSE AND SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE STAFF, BUT ESPECIALLY BRANT AND ALL OF HIS TEAM THAT REALLY MADE.
[00:30:03]
THANK YOU.WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? DEMARCUS OFFERED, TURNER LABRIE, FOLLOWED BY MITT WITT AND OLIVER BLACK ON DECK.
I ACCEPTED THE HONOR TO SERVE ON THE CITIZENS BOND STEERING COMMITTEE BECAUSE WHEN I ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL IN A LARGE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IN VIRGINIA, THE FACILITIES I LEARNED IN WERE GROSSLY INADEQUATE.
MY SENIOR YEAR, SOMEONE BROUGHT A LOADED GUN ONTO MY CAMPUS THROUGH AN UNLOCKED SIDE DOOR.
THEIR POOLS WERE BRIGHT, CLEAN, AND SPACIOUS.
THEY WERE PLACES YOU'D BE PROUD TO COMPETE IN.
MY SWIMMING POOL, IN CONTRAST, WAS DARK AND CRAMPED.
IN BETWEEN YOU AND ME, IT SMELLED. SO WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THIS BOND STEERING COMMITTEE, I SIMPLY COULD NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A BOND THAT WOULD MAKE ALL DALLAS ISD STUDENTS HEALTHIER, SAFER, AND MORE SUCCESSFUL. DURING MY TIME ON THE COMMITTEE, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY HOW THOUGHTFUL AND RIGOROUS THE PROCESS WAS.
THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF VOICES WHO COLLABORATED, WRESTLED WITH TRADEOFFS, AND AT TIMES DISAGREED. AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS A LOT OF THAT.
WHAT EMERGED FROM THE PROCESS IS A BOND THAT NOT ONLY PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE OF TODAY, BUT ALSO THE JOBS OF TOMORROW, AND ENSURES THAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN FACILITIES THAT ARE SAFE AND SECURE, AND ENSURES THAT THERE WILL NO LONGER BE CHILDREN IN DALLAS ISD LEARNING IN PORTABLES.
AND IT CARRIES FORWARD THE MOMENTUM OF THE 2020 BOND.
ULTIMATELY, THE FIRST THING OUR STUDENTS ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY AS THEY WALK TO CAMPUS AS THE QUALITY OF THEIR FACILITIES, AND IT COMMUNICATES TO THEM HOW MUCH THEIR EDUCATION IS VALUED.
MY SCHOOL DISTRICT DID NOT TELL ME THAT MY EDUCATION MATTERED, BUT THIS BOARD AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL 135,000 STUDENTS IN DALLAS ISD AND TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF THE 2020 BOND, THAT THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR FUTURE MATTERS.
SO I URGE THE BOARD TO PLACE THIS BOND ON THE UPCOMING BALLOT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING YES, YES, YES, YES ON MAY 2ND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DEMARCUS OFFERED. NOT PRESENT. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? MITT WITT, OLIVER BLACK, FOLLOWED BY JOHN PROCTOR AND JOHN MARTINEZ.
IS IT MIA WITT? GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT CARREON, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT ELIZALDE.
MY NAME IS MIA WITT. I RESIDE AT 6046 BIRCHWOOD DRIVE.
I'M A PROUD DALLAS ISD GRADUATE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
THIS IS MY 11TH YEAR WORKING IN DALLAS ISD SCHOOLS AND SERVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
I TEACH IN DALLAS ISD BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A QUALITY EDUCATION.
I MAKE IT A POINT TO TEACH EACH CHILD AS IF THEY WERE MY OWN FAMILY.
I'VE TAUGHT AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS HERE, FROM WORKING AT HISTORIC CAMPUSES WHERE IT RAINED INDOORS, TO MODERN CAMPUSES WITH BRAND NEW FURNITURE. ALL STUDENTS DESERVE SAFE AND UPDATED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY CAN IMAGINE THE BRIGHTEST OF FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE. THE PROPOSED BOND WILL HELP ENSURE THAT CAMPUSES LIKE MINE STAY A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO GROW.
WE CAN PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION WHEN WE'RE IN HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES.
THE FUTURE OF DALLAS IS IN OUR CLASSROOMS TODAY.
STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE, ECONOMY AND CIVIC FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
[00:35:03]
EVERYONE BENEFITS EVEN THOSE WITHOUT CHILDREN IN OUR SYSTEM.THIS BOND REFLECTS RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTS INTO OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.
THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
ALL STUDENTS IN DALLAS ISD ARE OUR STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE, TO TAKE CARE OF, AND TO TEACH.
LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE BELIEVE IN THEIR FUTURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? OLIVER BLACK, JOHN PROCTOR, FOLLOWED BY JOHN MARTINEZ AND ANNE HILDENBRAND.
SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. GOOD EVENING.
OLIVIA COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT SHE WANTED ME TO TELL YOU ALL THAT THEY NEED NEW BATHROOMS, AND HER LOCKER DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. ALL RIGHT.
SHE HAS PRACTICE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS OLIVER BLACK.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DALLAS, MEMBER OF THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE FATHER OF A 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, OLIVIA. SHE'S A STUDENT IN DALLAS ISD AND WE PLAN TO GRADUATE FROM DALLAS ISD.
SO FOR ME, THIS BOND IS VERY PERSONAL. MY WIFE AND I MADE OUR HOME IN DALLAS BECAUSE WE BELIEVED IN DALLAS, AND WE BELIEVED IN THE FUTURE OF DALLAS ISD. I VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON THE BOND STEERING COMMITTEE BECAUSE DALLAS ISD MATTERS TO ME AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY. I WANTED TO DO MY PART TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS WAS THOROUGH, RESPONSIBLE, AND STUDENT CENTERED. AT ITS CORE, THIS BOND IS ABOUT SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, AND DIGNITY.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE FACILITIES THAT REFLECT THEIR VALUE.
MODERN, WELL MAINTAINED SCHOOLS ARE NOT A LUXURY.
THEY ARE A STATEMENT. THEY SAY TO A CHILD THAT YOU MATTER AND YOUR EDUCATION MATTERS.
YOUR FUTURE MATTERS. WHEN STUDENTS CAN WALK INTO A BUILDING THAT ARE SAFE, UPDATED AND EQUIPPED FOR TODAY'S LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, IT SHAPES HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHAT THE BOND REPRESENTS TO ME. HOPE.
HOPE THAT EVERY STUDENT, NO MATTER THEIR ZIP CODE, CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY LEARNING SPACE.
HOPE THAT WE'RE PREPARING THEM NOT JUST TO GRADUATE, BUT TO LEAD.
HOPE THAT WE'RE BUILDING A DISTRICT THAT FAMILIES CHOOSE AGAIN AND AGAIN.
MY HOPE IS THAT OLIVIA WILL NOT ONLY GRADUATE FROM DALLAS ISD, BUT THAT SHE TOO, WILL MAKE HER HOME IN DALLAS, AND THAT ONE DAY, MAYBE HER CHILDREN WILL ALSO WALK THE HALLS OF A DALLAS ISD SCHOOL.
I URGE YOU TO MOVE THIS BOND FORWARD TO THE VOTERS.
THIS IS ABOUT HOPE. THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND THE FUTURE OF DALLAS ISD IS CERTAINLY WORTH INVESTING IN.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? JOHN PROCTOR, JOHN MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANNE HILDENBRAND AND DEMETRIA BIVENS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERINTENDENT. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY TRUSTEE, GEORGE FOREMAN.
I SEE MR. TURNER UP THERE WITH MY BUSINESS IS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT'S JUST AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO TALK ABOUT KIDS BEING LESS THAN. IT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ANYTHING CALLED.
WE GOTTA REPAIR. MAJOR REPAIRS IN THE SCHOOL THAT SHOULD BE ALREADY DONE.
AND DALLAS, TEXAS, IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE, AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT GETTING READY WHEN THEY GET HERE.
WE GOT TO BE READY WHEN THEY DO GET HERE. SO WE GOT TO BE READY.
WE GOT TO GO AND INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN. WE GOT INVEST IN OUR CITY.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK IN OAK CLIFF AND SOUTH DALLAS, WHERE I'M FROM, IT'S JUST GROWING TREMENDOUSLY.
ALREADY RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND IN HOUSING.
WE GOT HOUSING SHORTAGE. SO THAT MEANS THEY DIDN'T GET READY.
WE DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLS TO BE LIKE THAT. WE WANT THE SCHOOL TO BE READY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS MY GRANDCHILDREN.
WE CAN'T WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
[00:40:02]
THESE SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED, BUILT AND READY FOR THE FUTURE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING.WHEN I ASKED Y'ALL DO THAT, THIS IS NOT PERSONAL.
THIS IS OUR LIVES. THIS IS OUR FAMILY'S LIFE.
SO TAKE TIME AND THINK ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND THINK ABOUT YOUR CITY.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT TAX BASE, THIS CITY´S GOING TO GO OUT TO CEILING, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS RIDE DOWN WHEATLAND AVENUE IN OAK CLIFF. YOU SEE NOTHING BUT HOMES BEING BUILT EVERYWHERE.
WHERE IS THE SCHOOLS? OUR SCHOOLS. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? SO WE GOT TO BE READY FOR YOUR TIME AND TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE CITY, BECAUSE WE'RE A GREAT CITY.
DALLAS IS A GREAT CITY. I LOVE THE CITY. I COME OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND I SAW SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SEE, AND I SAW INTEGRATION. GOD DUG IT. SO LET'S GET READY TO DO WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I SUPPORT THIS BOND, AND I ASK Y'ALL TO SPEND YOUR TIME AND THINK ABOUT NOT YOURSELF.
THANK YOU, MR. PROCTOR. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? JOHN MARTINEZ, ANNE HILDENBRAND, FOLLOWED BY DEMETRIA BIVENS AND AMANDA MORENO LAKE ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS JOHN MARTINEZ.
I'M WITH THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS. YOU MAY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S OBVIOUS WHY THE CONTRACTORS WANT A $6 BILLION BOND.
AND THEY WROTE ME A BUNCH OF GOOD POINTS HERE, RIGHT? BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT ME. WHEN WE SAY THIS IS GENERATIONAL, IT IS GENERATIONAL, RIGHT? I PROBABLY MAKE AT LEAST TEN TIMES WHAT MY FATHER EARNED.
I'M NOT THE SMARTEST ONE IN MY FAMILY, NOT THE SMARTEST ONES IN MY GENERATION.
BUT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO A REALLY GOOD DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, T.R. MARSALIS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. THE TEACHERS WERE WELL EDUCATED.
WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL BECAUSE WHITE FLIGHT HAD JUST HAPPENED, AND THAT'S WHY MY DAD COULD AFFORD THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE HE COULDN'T DO IT NOW.
BUT WHAT THAT SCHOOL DID. I'M NOT AN IMMIGRANT.
MY PARENTS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS. MY GRANDPARENTS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS.
MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS. BUT THAT SCHOOL MADE MY FAMILY AMERICANS.
THAT SCHOOL SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO VALUE YOU, GIVING YOU GOOD SCHOOL, GOOD TEACHERS, GOOD ADMINISTRATORS. AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER YOU GO ON THIS PLANET THAT YOU CAN COMPETE.
I DID NOT HAVE TEACHERS LIKE I HAD IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNTIL I WENT TO SMU, AND I COMPETED WITH KIDS WHO HAD GONE TO SCHOOL ALL OVER THE WORLD, SOME OF THE BEST BOARDING SCHOOLS, SOME OF THE BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
AND MY LITTLE BLACK SCHOOL THAT I WAS THE ONLY NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN, EQUIPPED ME SO THAT I COULD TUTOR THESE LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND GIRLS IN ENGLISH, A LANGUAGE THAT WAS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE ON TONIGHT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF JOHN MARTINEZ'S AND OTHER KIDS THAT WAY THAT YOU WILL LONG IMPACT THEM.
THEY WILL SEE YOUR NAMES ON SIGNS, BUT THEY WILL LIVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GIVE THEM.
SO YES, AS A CONTRACTOR, I TELL YOU, PLEASE PUT THEM OUT THERE.
WE WANT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. BUT AS A CITIZEN, I'M TELLING YOU, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE.
SO WE HAVE ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND SO THOSE KIDS CAN KIDS COME UP AND WHEN THERE'S A $20 BILLION ONE, THOSE KIDS SAY, WE'LL GLADLY DO IT, BECAUSE THAT'S MY FUTURE AND YOUR FUTURE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? ANNE HILDEBRAND, DEMETRIA BIVENS, FOLLOWED BY AMANDA MORENO LAKE AND LANCE BARASH ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS ANNE HILDENBRAND, AND I'M WITH BRW ARCHITECTS.
I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY ON THE DALLAS AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS BOARD, AND I'M AN ACCREDITED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PLANNER.
I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS FOR 30 YEARS, AND AS AN ARCHITECT DESIGNING SCHOOL CAMPUSES, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT STRENGTHEN STUDENT OUTCOMES AND INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THE PROPOSED BOND REPLACING AND RENOVATING DISTRICT CAMPUSES WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE SAFETY,
[00:45:07]
HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF STAFF, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS.REPLACING AGING SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES WILL CREATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS FEEL EXCITED AND SUPPORTED IN OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HILDEBRAND.
WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? DEMETRIA BIVENS, AMANDA MORENO LAKE, FOLLOWED BY LANCE BARASH AND ERIC HALE ON DECK.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS DEMETRIA BIVENS.
I AM A DALLAS FORT WORTH CONTRACTOR, A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATE, AND A COMMUNITY LEADER COMMITTED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, CONSTRUCTION, ECONOMIC GROWTH ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.
I AM HERE TONIGHT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF PLACING A DALLAS ISD BOND ON THE MAY BALLOT.
THIS BOND IS MORE THAN BUILDING. IT'S ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY, MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY, AND THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF DALLAS.
ACROSS THE DISTRICT, MANY CAMPUSES ARE AGING.
THEY'RE OUTDATED AND STILL DEPENDENT ON PORTABLE CLASSROOMS. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE SCHOOLS THAT REFLECT THEIR VALUE, DIGNITY, AND POTENTIAL.
SAFE, SECURE SPACES DESIGNED FOR HOW STUDENTS LEARN TODAY AND HOW THEY WILL WORK TOMORROW.
MODERN FACILITIES ALSO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF DALLAS. EVERY DAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WE SEE THE URGENT NEED FOR SKILLED WORKERS.
ELECTRICIANS, WELDERS, HVAC TECHNICIANS, CARPENTERS, PAINTERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS.
THERE ARE HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE CAREERS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO GRADUATE WITH NOT ONLY A DIPLOMA, BUT WITH REAL ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND PURPOSE, OFTEN WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF COLLEGE DEBT.
THIS BOND CREATES THOSE PATHWAYS. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ALSO STRENGTHENS THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
MAJOR BOND INVESTMENT GENERATE LOCAL JOBS, SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, AND MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ON THE CONTRACTOR SIDE, WHO LIVE HERE, HIRE HERE AND REINVEST RIGHT HERE IN DALLAS.
WHEN DALLAS ISD BUILDS SCHOOLS, IT IS ALSO BUILDING FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, PLACING THIS BOND ON THE BALLOT DOES NOT DECIDE THE OUTCOME TONIGHT.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO MOVE THE BOND FORWARD TO THE MAY BALLOT.
THANK YOU, MISS BIVINS. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? AMANDA MORENO LAKE, LANCE BARASH, FOLLOWED BY ERIC HALE AND T.J.
SOLOMON. AMANDA MORENO LAKE. NOT PRESENT. LANCE BARASH.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, WITH ALL THAT EXPERIENCE, THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WELL KEPT SAFE FACILITIES AND NOT IS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER IN QUALITY EDUCATION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.
I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES, AND THIS BOND WILL MOVE US FORWARD TO UPDATE ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES AND PLAYGROUNDS AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE TO JUST INCREASE SAFETY AND GIVE STUDENTS THE DIGNITY TO LEARN IN DALLAS ISD.
I ALSO COME TO REPRESENT THE SECOND HALF OF MY IDENTITY, WHICH IS 15 MONTHS AGO, I BROUGHT A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY INTO THIS WORLD. MY FIRST, AND HE WANTS TO GO TO A DALLAS ISD SCHOOL IN THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS AND I WANT TO SEND HIM TO ONE. I LIVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES FROM HERE, ZONED TO SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I LOVE DALLAS ISD, AND THIS BOND IS GOING TO KEEP ME IN DALLAS FOR THE LONG RUN.
AND SO I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION IN MAY, AND I'M GOING TO RUN TO THE BALLOT BOX TO VOTE YES, NOT JUST FOR MY SON, BUT FOR ALL OF THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DALLAS ISD STUDENTS WHO DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AMAZING, WELL KEPT FACILITIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
[00:50:03]
WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? ERIC HALE, T.J. SOLOMON AND MIKE HOOK ON DECK.HELLO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.
THANK YOU TO DOCTOR ELIZALDE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ERIC HALE. I'M COMING TO YOU AS A TAXPAYER AND AS A PARENT OF A CHILD THAT ATTENDS SUDIE WILLIAMS SCHOOL AND ALSO AS A TEACHER FOR DALLAS ISD. I KNOW YOU GUYS, AND I KNOW YOUR HEART FOR CHILDREN, I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED HERE IN SEEING HOW YOU GUYS HAVE RESPONDED TO TORNADOES, TO PANDEMICS, TO INFLATION, TO REALIZING THAT TEACHERS NEED TO BE COMPENSATED BETTER, TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.
THIS CHOICE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE, THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH FORWARD, IS JUST ANOTHER CHOICE IN A LONG LINE OF THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR THE CHILDREN OF DALLAS. DALLAS ISD IS THE BIG LEAGUES AS WE GO.
SO GOES. SO GOES ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE DFW AREA.
I IMPLORE YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN. THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T ADVANCE WITHOUT FINANCE.
SO PLEASE PUSH IT FORWARD AND LET CARING CITIZENS AND CARING PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. I KNOW YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A FATHER OF A CHILD THAT ATTENDS A DALLAS ISD SCHOOL, AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE DALLAS ISD FAMILY AS AN EDUCATOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF EXPERTISE AND YOUR YEARS OF GUIDING THIS DISTRICT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THAT'S MY TIME. THANK YOU, MR. HALE. WILL THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? T.J. SOLOMON AND FOLLOWED BY MIKE HOOK. GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS T.J. SOLOMON, AND I PROUDLY REPRESENT THE DALLAS BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED DALLAS ISD BOND, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS IS INVESTING THE FUTURE DALLAS. THIS BOND IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE, VALUED, AND EQUIPPED TO SUCCEED.
MODERN CLASSROOMS, UPDATED TECHNOLOGY, AND SAFE CAMPUSES ARE ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE.
IF WE EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO COMPETE AND THRIVE IN TODAY'S WORLD.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THE DISTRICTS TO KEEP EQUITY AT THE FOREFRONT, ENSURING THAT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES RECEIVE THE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CLOSE OPPORTUNITY GAPS. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY FACILITIES, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.
STRONG SCHOOLS, BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES AND A STRONGER WORKFORCE.
WHEN WE INVEST IN EDUCATION, WE STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS.
FIVE YEARS AGO, YOUR 2020 BOND WAS 3.47 BILLION BUCKS, THE LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY UNTIL 2025, WHEN YOU COOKED UP 79% MORE AT 6.2 BILLION.
THIS WHILE YOU ASSAULT THE ENVIRONMENT OF TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, STUDENTS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES.
YOU CREATE INSURMOUNTABLE BOTTLENECKS WHILE YOUR JOB IS TO PREVENT THEM.
THESE BOTTLENECKS INCLUDE BULLYING OF ALL KINDS, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, STABBINGS, SHOOTINGS AND MURDER OF
[00:55:07]
SHARLA SIMS AT SPRUCE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU FOCUS ON STRUCTURAL BUILDING, BLING, COMPUTERS, ILLEGAL STUDENT DATA MINING AT THE BEHEST OF GREG GRAVITT AND MIKE MORATH.GROWING OF OVERHEAD EXPENSE. WHILE MASSIVE STUDENT EXODUS OCCURS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO DECADES, YOU HAVE ALLOWED 67% OF THE STUDENTS IN ALL GRADE LEVELS PERFORM BELOW THEIR GRADE LEVEL BECAUSE YOU IGNORE YOUR BOSS, THE TAXPAYERS. GET BOOKS, TEACH READING, WRITING, MATH, AND CRITICAL THINKING THAT PRODUCES HEALTHY, HAPPY ADULTS. YOUR CURRENT ASSAULT PRODUCES UNEDUCATED, UNHAPPY 12TH GRADE EXITERS.
STOP BLEEDING AMERICA OF OUR CAPITAL. EDUCATE OUR KIDS.
CITY HALL IS ASSISTING YOUR DESTROYING OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY CLOSING LIBRARIES IN AN ERA OF DISD IMPOSED SOCIETAL DESECRATION. WHAT ARE OUR PARENTS AND KIDS TO DO UNDER DESTRUCTION? STARTING AT THE GOVERNOR AND FLOWING THROUGH DISD? WOULD YOU WHITE COLLAR PHDS STOP THAT? ALSO, DAN BONGINO AND BRANDON TATUM ARE TWO COPS WHO SHOW ACTUAL LEADERSHIP AS LEGITIMATE OATH KEEPING LEOS.
THANK YOU, MR. HOOK. PRESIDENT CARREON, THIS CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU, SPEAKERS. TRUSTEES, WE'LL NOW TURN TO AGENDA ITEM 4, CLOSED SESSION.
HOWEVER, THE BOARD WILL NOT RETIRE TO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS MEETING.
SO TRUSTEES, WE´LL NOW TURN TO AGENDA ITEM 5.
[5. Action Item]
THE ACTION ITEM 5.A. CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026. SUCH ELECTIONS AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN THE ANTICIPATED TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,243,110,000, AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PROPERTY TAX TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AN INTEREST OF THE BONDS.TRUSTEES, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
TRUSTEES, WE ACTUALLY NEED THE FORMAL LANGUAGE TO READ OUT.
I MOVE TO CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026. SUCH ELECTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS AND THE ANTICIPATED TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,243,110,000, AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PROPERTY TAX TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AN INTEREST ON THE BONDS.
SECOND. DOCTOR JORDAN, THAT. IF YOU COULD JUST SAY THE SIMPLE ORDER TO CALL A BOND ELECTION. OKAY. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026. THANKS. SECOND. TRUSTEE, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
TRUSTEES, IS THERE DISCUSSION? I'M SEEING TRUSTEE TURNER AT THE.
OKAY. SO THEN I SEE TRUSTEE CURRIE. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CARREON.
I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS BOND.
I SUPPORT THIS BOND BECAUSE I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FAITH IN THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GOT HERE.
WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS WORKING THROUGH OUR BOND COMMITTEE, WHICH I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE TIME AND THEIR EFFORT AND THEIR DEDICATION TO HELP US TRY TO MAKE GOOD CONSIDERED DECISIONS ON WHAT TO DO TO HELP SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS.
[01:00:08]
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES CONDITION IS RIGHT? MEANING THAT THE LIGHTS WORK, THE SWITCHES TURN OFF AND ON THE TILES AND THE CEILING AREN'T CRACKED, CERTAINLY THOSE KINDS OF BASIC CONCEPTS, BUT ALSO ASKING THE QUESTIONS, HAVE WE CREATED SPACES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE? OR DO WE STILL HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO DANCE CLASS WITHOUT A MIRROR, OR ARE TAKING SCIENCE LABS WITHOUT A SINK? AND THAT PROCESS HAS GIVEN ME A GREAT DEAL OF FAITH IN KNOWING THAT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TO DO IS THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THAT CASE FOR THEMSELVES AND TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER THEY BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE DISTRICT. I SUPPORT THIS BOND BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES 100% OF THOSE FACILITY CONDITION ITEMS. IT ADDRESSES THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO MAKE OUR CLASSROOMS SUITABLE FOR KIDS.IT REMOVES EVERY SINGLE PORTABLE IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH ARE BLIGHTS THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE AND ALSO NEED TO BE REMOVED, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE SAFE.
IT ADDRESSES OUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS. IT ADDRESSES OUR ATHLETIC FACILITIES THAT NEED SOME UPDATING IT.
PROP C SIMPLY SAVES THE DISTRICT OVER $10 MILLION IN JUST REFINANCING OLD DEBT.
IT FINALLY ADDRESSES OUR SWIMMING POOLS AND I KNOW SOME WILL SAY SWIMMING POOLS? SURELY YOU DON'T NEED TO BUILD SOME FANCY GLASS STRUCTURE.
RIGHT NOW, WE JUST WANT TO PUT PLASTER ON THE POOLS THAT ARE 40 YEARS OLD SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN SWIM, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND US ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO SUPPORT THE BOND BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS INCREDIBLE VALUE.
AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE EYE OPENING WHEN YOU HEAR A NUMBER THAT IS OVER $6.2 BILLION, AND THAT IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT HEADLINE COMES FROM.
NOW, IF WE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO ADD THAT ONE PENNY, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE LARGEST BOND ELECTION IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS, BECAUSE WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY LARGE DISTRICT. IT'S JUST A FUNCTION OF OUR SIZE, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT.
AND SO WHERE DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER BOND PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED RECENTLY BY VOTERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES? AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS PROPOSAL IS GOING TO ASK FOR A $33 ROUGHLY INCREASE PER YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY.
AND BY THE WAY, NO TAX INCREASE WHATSOEVER FOR SOMEONE OVER THE AGE OF 65.
RICHARDSON ISD IN 2025, FOUR TIMES THAT AMOUNT AT $124.
GARLAND ISD IN 2023, $171. CORSICANA ISD IN 2025, $806.
SUNNYVALE ISD, $148. WE ARE MATERIALLY LOWER THAN EVERY OTHER BOND INCREASE.
NOT EVERY OTHER BOND INCREASE, BUT ALL OF THE INCREASES THAT I HAVE JUST MENTIONED.
THE REASON WHY THE NUMBER IS SO HIGH IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE SO BIG.
SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT NUMBER, AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHOSE EYES IMMEDIATELY WIDEN THE MOMENT IT COMES, HAVE THEM TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND LOOK AT THE MATH AND LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE REALLY ASKING PEOPLE TO DO.
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO SACRIFICE A CUP OF COFFEE ONCE A MONTH, AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO THAT FOR THE FOURTH REASON WHY I SUPPORT THE BOND, WHICH IS BECAUSE OUR KIDS DESERVE IT. OUR KIDS DESERVE TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY IN PLACES THAT MAKE THEM SMILE WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR.
THIS DISTRICT HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED OUTCOMES OVER THE LAST DECADE PLUS, AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE FACILITIES IN THIS DISTRICT OVER THE LAST DECADE PLUS. AND YOU SEE THE PRIDE IN KIDS IN MY DISTRICT WHEN THEY WALK IN TO WALNUT HILL INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, OR MARCUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, OR THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, OR SO MANY OTHERS WHEN THEY KNOW THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A CITY IN DALLAS, BELIEVE IN THEM ENOUGH TO INVEST IN THEM.
SO I BELIEVE IN THOSE STUDENTS. I BELIEVE IN THOSE TEACHERS.
I BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY BELIEVES IN OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.
[01:05:03]
I FIRST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE UP OVER 1000 COLLECTIVE MAN HOURS MEETING WHOEVER MANY TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF NEARLY A YEAR TO REALLY HASH OUT WHAT THIS BOND LOOKS LIKE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. AND I THINK YOU SAW JUST A SLIVER OF THAT TONIGHT WITH OUR SPEAKERS.
AND I THINK THIS UNDERSCORES A KEY POINT FOR ME, WHICH IS THIS IS NOT MY BOND.
THIS IS NOT THIS. THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM IS OWNED BY THE FOLKS IN DALLAS ISD.
THE TAXPAYERS, THE CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE WHO SEND THEIR KIDS IN ARE PART OF THIS FAMILY.
AND I, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE AND IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE SAYING, THIS IS A BOLD CHOICE THAT DALLAS ISD GETS TO MAKE.
CANDIDLY, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BOLD CHOICE AT ALL.
AND SO FOR THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS, GIVING THIS CHOICE TO VOTERS.
I HAVE FULL FAITH THAT OUR VOTERS HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER THE LAST 5, 10 YEARS. THE FACT THAT DALLAS ISD IS HITTING HIGHS IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, RETAINING TEACHERS AT RATES THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, DROPPING BELOW THE STATE AND REGION ON TURNOVER RATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY AND FACILITIES PLAY A KEY PART IN THAT.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN BUILDINGS THAT ARE QUALITY, THAT HAVE LIGHT, THAT HAVE HVAC SYSTEMS THAT WORK, THAT ACTUALLY SHOW OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, GAVE THEIR TIME, GAVE THEIR TALENT, AND GAVE THEIR ENERGY INTO TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS DISTRICT, BECAUSE THIS IS COLLECTIVELY OUR DISTRICT AND NOT THIS BOARD'S OR ANYBODY ELSE'S.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SANDERS. 65 COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
65. SINCE WE'VE BEEN COUNTING, THAT'S THE MOST THAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN A BOND PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO CHIEF ALFRED. SHOUT OUT CHIEF BATES.
CHIEF BATES, I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED NOT TO SLASH YOUR TIRES.
OR, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR FLIGHT STATUS REVOKED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO THAT'S FAIR.
YOU'VE SERVED WELL. AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE HERE AND, QUITE FRANKLY, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP OVER THE YEARS, TOO. WE HAVE A PACKAGE THAT'S BEEN VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING PROCESS TO SEE FROM THIS SEAT HERE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS.
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SOLID. THE THOUGHTFULNESS, THE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS HAS BEEN SOLID, BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN INFORMED BY BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
THIS IS FROM FIRST HAND WITNESS OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BETTER THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE TO IMPROVE. AND THE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I WANT TO STRESS HERE, IS THAT WE ADDED A NEW LAYER TO OUR ASSESSMENT.
SO NOT ONLY WERE WE GOING OUT AND LOOKING, AS WAS SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE HAD ASBESTOS OR, YOU KNOW, THE CEILINGS FALLING DOWN OR THE WALLS CAVING IN.
BUT WE ALSO LOOKED AT A EDUCATIONAL SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT.
NOT DID WE HAVE A ROOM, BUT WAS THE ROOM RIGHT FOR SCIENCE? WAS THE ROOM RIGHT FOR THE MUSIC PROGRAM THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR KIDS DESERVE? DID WE HAVE THE RIGHT FACILITIES, NOT JUST THE RIGHT SQUARE FOOTAGE? WAS IT SUITABLE FOR EDUCATION, AND THE EDUCATION THAT WE'RE SEEING KIDS DESERVE WHEN THEY COME TO A DALLAS ISD SCHOOL? SO WE ACTUALLY PUT OURSELVES UNDER A UNIQUE TYPE OF MICROSCOPE AND WE GAVE OURSELVES A DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT.
AND THOSE THINGS COMBINED TOLD US THESE ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE NEEDED TO MAKE INVESTMENT.
NOW, I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU THAT I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED OUT OF THIS BOND.
I WANTED. AND I'LL BE SPECIFIC. JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW, WE'RE NOT TALKING IN AMBIGUITIES HERE.
I WANTED US TO GO IN AND GO HARD FOR EDUCATOR HOUSING, RIGHT? AND IT WASN'T GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT WOULD, IT WOULD IT WOULD IT WOULD DO SOMETHING TO ONE,
[01:10:01]
MAKE A STATEMENT BUT ALSO ADDRESS A BIT OF, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSE TO THE HOMES WHERE THEY ARE AND THEY CAN THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY CENTER. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.SURE. FANTASTIC. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR US TO MOVE EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVELY TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M ONE DUDE, AND I HAD A THOUGHT THAT THESE THINGS COULD BE GOOD.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND A FILTER THAT WAS PUT TOWARD WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW? AND I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS RIGHT. OUR AVERAGE AGE OF A SCHOOL RIGHT NOW IN THIS DISTRICT IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE NATION WIDE AVERAGE. BUT AFTER THIS BOND, THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR FACILITIES WILL BE JUST A LITTLE OVER 30 YEARS OLD. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A 20 YEAR CUT TO THE AGE OF OUR FACILITIES DISTRICT WIDE AND IN A DISTRICT AS BIG AS DALLAS ISD.
THAT IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT. THAT'S HUGE. AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN REALITY BEYOND JUST OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDINGS. WHAT IS THAT? WHAT COULD THAT MEAN TO THE EXPERIENCE OF A YOUNG PERSON? WELL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS CORRELATION DOESN'T PROVE CAUSATION, BUT I'M GOING TO LET YOU INFER A COUPLE OF THINGS AS WELL.
STAGE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
AND SO WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE AGE OF THE A THROUGH F STATUS FOR A LONG TIME, THESE SCHOOLS WERE CONSISTENTLY ON THE BAD LIST OF SCHOOLS IN TEXAS TODAY. PINKSTON HIGH SCHOOL.
B ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL. WE SAY B TWO. WHY? BECAUSE IN TWO YEARS IT WENT FROM A FAILING SCHOOL TO NOW A B. SOUTH OAK CLIFF. Y'ALL HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
ONE POINT AWAY FROM AN A. IT'S A B SCHOOL. IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE ENROLLMENT IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S MOVING IN ALL THREE OF THESE SCHOOLS, THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST SCORES, THE HIGHEST RATINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THESE SCHOOLS FOR OVER TWO DECADES. THESE ARE HEAVILY RENOVATED IN NEW SCHOOLS.
AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU WANTED TO LIVE, IF YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO BUY A NEW HOUSE, DID YOU SAY? NO, I JUST I JUST NEED THE TOILET TO WORK.
I JUST I JUST NEED THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. I JUST, I JUST, I JUST.
LISTEN, I JUST I JUST NEED THE DOOR TO OPEN AND LOCK.
NO, YOU WANTED A NICE HOUSE. YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT THE NATURAL LIGHTING.
YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT THE CURB APPEAL. YOU WANTED IT TO FEEL SAFE WHEN YOU WALKED OUTSIDE.
YOU WANTED IT TO BE. YOU WANTED TO FEEL PROUD WHEN YOU INVITED PEOPLE OVER.
WHEN YOU HOSTED THAT THANKSGIVING DINNER, YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LOVE COMING AND WALKING INSIDE AND KICKING UP THEIR HEELS AND FEELING COMFORTABLE AND WELCOME, AND LIKE IT WAS A PLACE THAT FELT LIKE HOME. WHY DO WE THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR KIDS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IN MY DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN DALLAS, IN WEST DALLAS AND WILMER-HUTCHINS THAT WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THEM THE BARE MINIMUM.
THAT. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE. OH, NO, NO, NO, WE GOT ENOUGH LOVE IN HERE.
WE GOT ENOUGH MOXIE. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE BUILDING.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PROGRAMING IS RIGHT.
GIVE THE POOR PEOPLE JUST ENOUGH, AND THEY SHOULD BE FINE.
WE GOT OVER 50 NEW SCHOOLS SINCE 2015, AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
WE GOT THE CAREER INSTITUTES, AND IT'S BETTER THAN ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
IF YOU HAVEN'T WALKED IN, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU.
[01:15:02]
AND WE STILL GOT WORK TO DO. SO, YEAH. 6.2 WITH MY WHOLE CHEST.TEN TOES DOWN. EXCITED ABOUT IT. THRILLED. AND IF YOU WANT TO DEBATE ME, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO RIGHT BY THIS COMMUNITY, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN ONE SENSE A SLURPEE, A BIG MAC, WHATEVER YOU WANT. PICK SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GLUTEN FREE.
I DON'T CARE, BUT YOU CAN DO WHAT WE'RE ASKING US TO DO.
I AM VOTING FOR THIS BOND. I'M PROUD OF THIS BOND.
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM THAT ORGANIZED IT. THE FACILITATOR THAT FACILITATED PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR COUNTLESS TIME.
I WISH WE COULD PAY YOU FOR THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I'M GRATEFUL AND PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS OUT TO THE VOTERS, AND I HOPE THAT THEY SUPPORT IT.
I'M VOTING FOR THIS BOND. TRUSTEE GARCIA. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO OUR CHIEFS, CHIEF BATES.
I'LL DEFINITELY MISS YOU. AND THEN, OF COURSE, CHIEF ALFRED, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMITMENT YOU'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND INFORMING ALL OF US, BUT ALSO MYSELF AND ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM DISTRICT 4.
PERHAPS I WAS THE STUDENT WITH THE LEAKY BUCKET AT SPRUCE, RIGHT? IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE, AND PERHAPS THINGS TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT FOR ME.
BUT I THINK SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT WE HAVE TO REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE ODDS FOR OUR KIDS. AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN WHY NOT? SO FOR ME, THIS BOND IT'S BEEN DATA DRIVEN, BUT DATA ONLY TELLS US ONE STORY.
GROWING UP, I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT. A LOT OF OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE MAY BE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE LIKE, I DON'T HAVE KIDS, OR THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT, OR MY KIDS WILL BE GRADUATED. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT BETTER SCHOOLS EQUAL BETTER COMMUNITIES, THAT BUSINESSES WANT TO INVEST IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THESE, AND THAT STUDENTS ARE READY TO LEARN AND BE THAT FUTURE WORKFORCE.
OF COURSE, AS AN ALUM, I THINK GOING BACK TO A SCHOOL WHERE I CAN SEE THAT THINGS HAVE IMPROVED, IT WILL ALWAYS MAKE ME PROUD. AND IN PLEASANT GROVE, WE NO LONGER WILL HAVE TO LOOK TO OTHER COMMUNITIES TO SEE WHAT IS OUT THERE AND BE PROUD FOR THEM AND SAY, OH, THAT'S WHAT WE ASPIRE BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A NEW SAMUELL HIGH SCHOOL.
ANOTHER THING IS TO TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE OTHER LARGER AREA, RIGHT? WE TALK ABOUT DALLAS, AND I'M VERY DALLAS, PROUD OF MYSELF.
BUT THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF BECOMING TRUSTEE AND BEING HERE, I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY COMMUNITIES, I'VE HEARD FROM BOX SPRINGS, I'VE HEARD FROM SEAGOVILLE, CLEBURNE, RILEY AND SEAGOVILLE AS A AS A TOWN.
THEY'RE SMALL TOWN, BUT THEY'RE GROWING TOWN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE BOND. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOT TO REMOVE ALL THOSE PORTABLES.
AND I'VE, I THINK I'VE COMMENTED ON EVERY SLIDE IN THE PRESENTATION DECK AND I BUT I DO WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF THANKS TO TO SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED ME ON THIS BOND PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR FROM DISTRICT 3, AND I SEE HILLARY JURASSIC BACK THERE, MY, MY BOND COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND YOUR YOUR YOUR CONSTANT DILIGENCE.
AND I SEE PRINCIPAL ALEX MERRITT, WHO IS THE REGION TWO PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN, IN LEADING ALEX SANGER PREPARATORY AND OF COURSE, THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SERVED ON THIS THIS PROJECT AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT HERE TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN IN A DALLAS ISD BOARD MEETING WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE IN SUCH UNITED AGREEMENT ABOUT A PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 13 YEARS AND I AM SO PROUD OF THIS DISTRICT.
[01:20:05]
WE ARE THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND THE MOST IMPROVED DISTRICT IN THIS STATE, AND I HOPE WE GET AN OVERWHELMING VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BOND.THANK YOU EVERYONE. TRUSTEE WEINBERG BRIEFLY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ECHO THE THANKS TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS, IN PARTICULAR IN DISTRICT 2 TO WADE JOHNS, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. I KNOW HE WANTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO CHIEF BATES AND CHIEF ALFRED FOR ALL YOUR WORK. AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVED.
I ALSO APPRECIATE JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS TO OUR VOTERS.
I'M SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS BOND. I THINK IT IS PAST TIME TO GET RID OF THE PORTABLES.
OUR KIDS DESERVE HIGH QUALITY, AMAZING ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH TO LEARN.
AND I'VE SEEN THE TRANSFORMATION IN DISTRICT 2 AND ACROSS THE ACROSS THE DISTRICT, BUT IN DISTRICT 2, WITH LONGFELLOW AND WITH GENEVA HEIGHTS, IT'S REALLY TRANSFORMED THE COMMUNITIES.
THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SCHOOLS ARE SO EXCITED AND SO PROUD.
AND THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THESE THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
AND I JUST IT'S SO MONUMENTAL. AND I REALLY HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY REALIZES THE IMPORT, REALIZES THE IMPACT, AND REALIZES THE INVESTMENT THAT IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE MAKE.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR ROUND ONE? ROUND TWO.
TRUSTEE SANDERS. I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE AVERAGE COST OF A BIG MAC A MONTH IS ACTUALLY ABOUT $5.79. THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR FOR YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BOND.
THAT IS MY FINAL COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TRUSTEE CURRY I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE AVERAGE CUP OF COFFEE OF BYRON SANDERS IS OVER $6, SO YOU CAN GET TWO MONTHS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BE ABLE TO BUY BYRON SANDERS CUP OF COFFEE.
I ALSO JUST DIDN'T GET TO COMMENT ON CHIEF BATES.
THANK YOU, CHIEF BATES. ROUND TWO. THEN I'LL GO.
I AM SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS BOND PROPOSAL.
DALLAS ISD. TODAY IS SETTING THE STANDARD IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS FROM 38 SCHOOLS TO 60.
ALSO THE WORK OF MANY EDUCATORS, ALL OUR EDUCATORS THAT ARE OUT THERE ON ALL OUR 230 PLUS CAMPUSES.
TRUSTEE MACKEY SAID, WE LEAD THE REGION IN TEACHER RETENTION BECAUSE OF THAT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE TEACHERS WANT TO TEACH IN PLACES THAT ARE CLEAN AND SAFE AND THAT NOT ONLY ARE CLEAN AND SAFE, BUT THAT ALSO INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS. AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF BUILDING THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
IN TODAY'S DALLAS ISD. RIGHT. THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE ALSO HELPED US WIN ON THE FIELDS.
RIGHT. WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BECAUSE OF THESE INVESTMENTS.
AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. AND I DO NOT THINK THAT THE TIME TO SLOW DOWN IS NOW.
AND I 100% FULLY BELIEVE THAT THE VOTERS AND PEOPLE OF DALLAS ISD AGREE WITH ME AND AGREE WITH THIS BOARD. IF THIS BOARD TAKES THAT ACTION. SO I WILL BE ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THIS BOND AND EXCITED TO BRING IT BEFORE THE VOTERS OF DALLAS ISD.
TRUSTEE TURNER. YES. CHIEF BASE I AM FLATTEN YOUR TIRES.
JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S ME. I'M ON CAMERA. I AM SUPPORTING THIS BOND.
[01:25:01]
I'VE SEEN THE WORKS OF THE 20 2015 BOND. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GREAT JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION.JIM, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE 2020 BOND MLK ARTS ACADEMY, SOMETHING THAT ME AND DOCTOR ALIZADE ADVOCATED FOR WHEN IT WAS JUST AN IDEA. NOW IT'S COMING A REALITY SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH.
TRUSTEES, YOU'VE JUST ADOPTED THE ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2ND, 2026.
TRUSTEES, THE TIME IS 7:47 P.M. IN. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.