The monthly work session has held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 agenda video
This meeting was almost three hours and there was a lot discussion about the new library policy, bullying, and Title IX. Also, and very importantly, the latest iteration of the 24-25 school budget was presented.
It started with Jason Golden’s contract (0- 5:22)
The Library policy started at (26:44) and there wasn’t much new. They have been discussing this for a month now and there has to be a policy in place July 1st, so all agreed that what we now have is what we go with because the last opportunity to vote on it is this coming Monday.
The Superintendent’s report was next and focused, for the most part and bullying and harassment and Title IX and ran until (26:44). The discussion started with the announcement that this past year there were 1,111 reported incidents of bullying/harassing but only after investigations, only 243 stood up. Some questions from the board were 1. How many unique events were there, were there cases of one kid bullying multiple times? 2. Which schools had the most cases? 3. What were the actual offenses? With regards to Title IX, there were a couple things that stood out. 1. The school board attorney, at the prompting of one school board member, claimed that the new Title IX regulations that start August 1st do not require school districts to allow boys to play in girls’ sports, share locker rooms and bathrooms. I have law suit From Missouri here ( read paragraphs 65-73) and one from Tennessee here (read paragraphs 11-13) that seem contradict that statement. 2. The same attorney claimed that the court case, won by Ken Paxton the AG for Texas Here, has no bearing on the new Title IX regulations. That is clearly not the case either.
The last part of the Superintendent’s report was about the TCAP. This is the test that all third graders must pass to be promoted to the fourth grade. He has been proven, over the years, that if a child cannot read at grade level by the third grade, he or she will, more than likely, never catch up. Last year we had 134 third graders who didn’t pass the TCAP; this year it was only 22. Just to be clear, the school district employs tutors and summer school to get the failed students up to grade level and many of them have succeeded in that. It was brought up that there is too much pressure on these kids leading up to test day and the response from the superintendent’s office is that they are working on that and trying to make it a fun event. Finally, Portables came up. The Superintendent’s office made it clear that portables have the same security as the regular classrooms; they are locked, the windows are laminated, they have phones, two-way radios, SROs, and cameras.
Next, they talked about the evaluation of the superintendent (135:59) and he passed with flying colors.
Next up was the amendment to the 24-25 budget (1:41.07) I’ve talked about this since March, but a quick recap will put things in perspective. The first budget was $566m with a shortfall of $25m. Since then it as dropped twice, first to $555m and now $448m. The county has offered $445m, so there is still a gap albeit, much smaller than the start and here is how they are doing the last iteration of the budget: this is also in your agenda packet.
Finally, they discussed the pay discrepancy between the arts and athletics which starts at (2:28:03). This has been going on for the past month and it has been pointed out that teachers to direct plays and musicals put huge amounts of time and get very little when compared to the coaches.
Next meeting is this coming Monday at 6:30 pm in the auditorium at 1320 W. Main.
I hope that many people attend this meeting and hopefully, some of you will speak. In order to speak, you must sign up online between now and Monday at 12 noon. Here is how you do it:
If you would like to speak at the June 17, 2024, meeting, sign up will begin at 12 pm on Thursday, June 13, 2024 through Monday, June 17, 2024 at 12 pm.
After the district receives your email at [email protected] you will receive a confirmation email. That email must be brought with you to the meeting.
To be considered to speak we will need the following items:
Your First and Last Name
Complete Address
Your Topic of Comment
Any Organization You Represent
