[00:00:05]
TESTING. HEY, GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
[A. CALL TO ORDER: Establish a quorum]
WELCOME TO OUR PUBLIC FORUM FOR OUR PROPOSED BOND PROJECTS.WOW. WHAT IS TODAY? THURSDAY, JANUARY 26TH.
ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT TODAY.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. TIM SAVOY.
MR. SAVOY, I JUST WANT TO WAIT JUST A SECOND.
SO JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND WHILE WE DEAL WITH SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
BUT IT'S NOT. OH, YEAH, IT WILL, OK.
CAN YOU HEAR IT ON THE BROADCAST? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? WE DO HAVE ABOUT A FIVE SECOND DELAY JUST IN CASE MAX SAYS SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE.
WE CAN KIND OF MEET THAT FOR HIM.
NO, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR FOR WHATEVER REASON NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOUR MIC.
YES IT'S WORKING. OH, WAIT. YOUR MIC IS WORKING NOW.
AWESOME. SO LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE OK.
THESE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE.
[B. INFORMATION Presentation of Proposed 2023 Bond Recommendations]
AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO KIND OF COVER IS THE PROCESS OF KIND OF HOW THIS WORKS AND WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS ON A BOND.AND AGAIN, A REMINDER BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
SO IF YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK, BE SURE TO TURN IN A FORM.
AND IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING AFTER TONIGHT, YOU ARE STILL WELCOME TO GO TO THE WEBSITE BECAUSE WE HAVE A BOND TALK THERE AND THE BOARD IS GOING TO GET ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS ELECTRONICALLY.
IT REALLY STARTS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE MEAN BY COMMUNITY IS THAT THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S TAXPAYERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT MAKE UP OUR HAYS CISD FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK AND THEY COME UP WITH IDEAS AND THEY MONITOR NEEDS AND ALL OF THAT.
[00:05:02]
OF FUNNEL IT THROUGH IN AN ORGANIZED WAY.THEY HAVE CREATED WHAT'S CALLED THE FACILITIES AND BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE IDEAS, THE FEEDBACK, CONCERNS, THE NEEDS.
ALL OF THAT SORT OF GETS PRESENTED TO THIS YEAR ROUND COMMITTEE.
SO THAT BASICALLY MAKES SURE WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE AT LEAST TIMES SEVEN SO IT'S 28 PEOPLE, AND IT GUARANTEES THAT THESE FOLKS REPRESENT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AT THAT COMMITTEE.
AND THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY MONITOR BOTH BONDS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PASSED AND CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON BUDGET AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO EVEN CONTINUE TO SAVE. AND THEY ALSO LOOK AT THE NEEDS NOT JUST FOR THIS BOND, BUT REALLY THE LONG RANGE PLAN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FINISH GROWING LIKELY AFTER NEXT YEAR.
SO WHAT THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DOES, ONCE THEY'RE CHARGED BY THE BOARD IN ANY GIVEN YEAR TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING A BOND OUT BEFORE THE VOTERS, IS THEY WILL ORGANIZE THOSE PRIORITIES AND THE NEEDS AND THEY'LL SORT OF WHITTLE DOWN WHAT THEY THINK AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IN TERMS OF THE PRIORITIES AND NEEDS.
AND THEY PRESENT THAT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH THEY DID LAST DECEMBER.
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THAT POINT WILL TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION AND MOVE FORWARD OR NOT.
THEY TOOK THE RECOMMENDATION AND SO THEY MOVE FORWARD TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, PUBLIC FORUMS. SO THIS IS THE SWEET SPOT, IF YOU WILL, IN PUTTING A BOND TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS THE BOND IS NOT FINALIZED.
THE LIST THAT WE HAVE IS REALLY KIND OF AN EXAMPLE, NOT AN EXAMPLE.
IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT IS THE PRIORITY LIST, BUT IT'S NOT THE FINAL LIST.
AND THEN AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON FEBRUARY 6TH AT A BOND WORKSHOP THAT THE BOARD WILL DO.
IT THEN GOES ON AN ELECTION BALLOT, AND THAT ELECTION WOULD BE MAY 6TH THIS YEAR.
AND IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED AT THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY'S DECISION.
SO NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU OWN IT, IT'S YOUR INVESTMENT.
AND YOU DECIDE AT THE BEGINNING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO PRESENT AS NEEDS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DECIDE WHAT GETS APPROVED AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BRIEF SUMMARY ON HOW A BOND WORKS.
WE HAVE PRINTED COPIES HERE AND IT'S ONLINE.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO HIT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON IT FOR YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE AN ELEMENTARY TO RELIEVE SCIENCE HALL, FUENTES SOME OF THOSE YEAH SOME AREAS ACTUALLY NOT FAR FROM WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT OUT IN THIS VICINITY AND THAT AND THAT THE PROPOSAL THERE IS OBVIOUSLY THE NEED TO EXPAND OUR SPACE AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THERE IS ALSO ON THEIR CONSTRUCTION TO EXPAND OUR DISTRICT WIDE HIGH SCHOOL CAPACITY, SAFETY AND SECURITY ITEMS. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ITEMS AT THE BOTTOM THERE THAT ARE SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THEY'RE SCRATCHED OFF THEY DIDN'T QUITE MAKE THE FINAL CUT.
DON'T THINK THAT WE DON'T THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.
AND WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES, TOO.
WE'RE KIND OF IN THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION HERE.
AND SO WE WANT TO BEFORE WE ACT ON ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, WE WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED, WHAT KIND OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR US FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY ITEMS. AND SO SOME OF THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT GONE.
THEY'RE JUST SORT OF POSTPONED BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL FOR A BOND ELECTION THIS MAY, BUT THEY MAY COME BACK IN A FUTURE BOND ELECTION. WE HAVE SCHOOL BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION.
WE HAVE MAX WILL YOU HELP ME OUT HERE? WE HAVE 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET.
THAT'S WHAT YOU OWN AS A COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF AIR CONDITIONERS AND SOME OTHER THINGS AND THERMOSTATS AND PIPES AND ELECTRICAL.
WE ALSO HAVE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING AS YOU GROW, YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE ACCESSING NETWORKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THERE ARE ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS IMPROVEMENTS ALSO EMBEDDED IN THERE.
[00:10:02]
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GENERAL CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THIS POTENTIAL BOND PACKAGE.SO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER OUR PUBLIC FORUMS? THE BOARD WILL THEY'LL BE FACED WITH DETERMINING THE FINAL PROJECT LIST, THE FINAL SCOPE AND COST OF EACH PROJECT.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT DISCUSSION UNDERWAY ON FEBRUARY 6TH.
AND THEN THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THEY EVEN WANT TO GO OUT FOR AN ELECTION.
THEY CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME MORE WORK.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. OR THEY CAN SAY, THIS LOOKS GOOD, LET'S PUT IT BEFORE THE VOTERS.
AND THAT'LL ALL HAVE TO BE DECIDED FOR THE MOST PART BY FEBRUARY 6TH THEY DO HAVE A STATUTORY DEADLINE ON FEBRUARY 17TH IF THEY WANT TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION TO BE ON MAY 6TH.
ON THE 18TH IF YOU HAVEN'T CALLED FOR AN ELECTION, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON THE MAY 6TH BALLOT.
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE IN NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO THAT KIND OF IS THE THE REST OF THE PROCESS BEFORE EVERYTHING GETS LOCKED IN.
AND AT THAT POINT, THE VOTERS HAVE TO JUST DECIDE YES OR NO ON WHAT'S ON THE BOND.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE STILL ABLE TO, AS A GROUP, SORT OF DECIDE WHAT MIGHT BE ON THERE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT, BECAUSE YOUR VOICE ALWAYS MATTERS.
BUT ALL OF THE ARTIST'S RENDITIONS AND ALL OF THE SCOPE COSTS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO ONLINE, THERE'S ALSO BOND TALK ONLINE.
IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY AND YOU DIDN'T YOU DIDN'T SAY TONIGHT, OR IF YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS OR SOMETHING AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THEM, JUST HAVE THEM GO TO THE BOND TALK, BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF THOSE COMMENTS IS GOING TO GO TO OUR BOARD AND THEY'LL GET THEM ALL BEFORE THAT FEBRUARY 6TH BOARD WORKSHOP.
THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY DEPICT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW A BUILDING WILL LOOK.
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPUTER.
IT COULD BE JUST A CLIP ART, LET ME BRING UP DR.
YOU KNOW, HE CAN ALWAYS MAKE ANYTHING ENTERTAINING.
[LAUGHTER] AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE SETUP AND THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO.
BUT I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WE WILL DEFINITELY LISTEN TO YOU AND WE WILL BE TAKING NOTES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE BOARD MEMBERS WON'T BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU TONIGHT, BUT THEY WILL BE TAKING NOTES AND I GUARANTEE YOU THEY WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE WHY BEHIND THIS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A FAST GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OTHERS ARE NEW TO THE DISTRICT.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO, LEANDER ISD WAS LEADING THE WAY WITH 3,500 NEW HOME STARTS PER YEAR, AND NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO AROUND 2,500, I THINK IN THAT RANGE, AND WE'RE UP TO 3,500 NOW.
AND WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT OUT UNTIL 2067.
AND AND SO THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU THE TIMELINE FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
SO 3,500 HOMES ALL THE WAY FROM 2023 THROUGH 2067.
WE GET ABOUT 0.5 STUDENTS FROM EACH OF THOSE HOMES THAT ARE BUILT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
AND SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO IN THE FUTURE.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADD ON TO OUR FACILITIES SO THAT WE'LL HAVE SPACE FOR OUR CURRENT KIDS AND OUR FUTURE KIDS. AND WE NEED DIFFERENT REHEARSAL SPACES SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITHIN OUR MISSION OF 100% HAYS WHERE WE TRY TO
[00:15:04]
GET EVERY KID CONNECTED TO SOMETHING THAT'S BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES.AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PROJECTS ON THIS LIST.
AND RIGHT NOW THE LIST TOTALS MORE THAN 400 MILLION.
OUR BOND CAPACITY IS RIGHT AROUND FOR CONSERVATIVE JUST WITH THE NEW GROWTH AROUND 365 MILLION.
AND SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE FEBRUARY 6TH MEETING, MY TEAM AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHAVE PROBABLY ABOUT $60 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ITEMS THAT ARE ON THIS PARTICULAR BOND.
AND SO I WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, TOO, THAT COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, PRICES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ALMOST DOUBLED. AND SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE 421 MILLION, IF YOU WENT TO PRE-PANDEMIC PRICING, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 50% OF THAT.
SO EVERYTHING IS ESCALATED ALMOST DOUBLE.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE WHAT'S ON THIS LIST, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WHY? WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE? THAT'S WHY SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, SUBCONTRACTOR ISSUES AND JUST SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF THE WORKFORCE HAVE REALLY DRIVEN UP PRICES.
AND SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE THAN WE NORMALLY ASK ON A BIENNIAL OR AN ANNUAL BOND.
BUT JUST WITH PRICE ESCALATION, WE'RE HAVING TO TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE STICKER SHOCK.
I KNOW I DID. I LOOKED AND I SAID, WOW, 75 MILLION FOR AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE WERE BUILDING THEM FOR RIGHT AT 30 MILLION.
AND SO THE PRICE HAS JUST REALLY, REALLY INCREASED FOR THE SAME CAPACITY.
SO JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO FOLLOW THESE SPEAKERS, THESE TWO GUYS, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAVE COOL FACTOIDS.
AND SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO BEAT THEM ON THE FACTOID TONIGHT.
AND SO THANKS FOR BRINGING UP THE 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET.
BUT NO, TIM ALSO MENTIONED THE FBOC WEBSITE ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK, I BELIEVE, TO SEPTEMBER OF LIKE 2014.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOID, THOUGH, THAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT IS WE LISTENED.
AND I WAS LIKE, WHY AM I HAVING THIS DEJA VU? SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU IS IN THE OCTOBER 5TH AND 17TH, I BELIEVE WE WERE HERE AT THE CAMPUS AND WE HEARD THESE ITEMS. THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THIS PARTICULAR BOND PROPOSAL IN THE BUDGET, BUT I JUST DIDN'T GET THE NARRATIVE UPDATED.
IT'S IN THE LINE ITEM FOR THE LEHMAN THEATER I BELIEVE.
WE HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR AT LEAST TWO AUTOMOTIVE TECH CLASSROOMS AND A HORTICULTURE ROOM.
BUT LIKE I SAID ON TUESDAY NIGHT, I WAS LIKE, MAN, I'VE HEARD THIS, BUT WHY IS IT NOT IN THE NARRATIVE? SO IT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE IMPORTANT PART, AND WE'LL GET THE NARRATIVE UPDATED.
EACH BOARD MEMBER APPOINTS FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO ON TIM'S SLIDE, YOU SAW THAT WE TAKE ALL WE TAKE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK.
BUT THE 23 BOND WE STARTED IN JUNE SPECIFICALLY ON THIS WORK.
AND JESSICA BEDWELL IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.
SHE'S HERE TONIGHT, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE HER.
SHE'S GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS 2023 BOND PROCESS.
THANK YOU, JESSICA. OH, MY GOSH.
I'M JUST GOING TO HOLD IT. HI.
[00:20:02]
I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.I'M JESSICA BEDWELL. RIGHT NOW I CHAIR THE FACILITIES BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, FBOC.
IF YOU WATCH SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, YOU'LL HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT FBOC.
SO ESSENTIALLY, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE PROUD THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTUALLY HAS AN FBOC AND THEY'RE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS.
SO I'M THRILLED TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU GUYS OUT HERE TONIGHT.
AND I WANT YOU TO HOPEFULLY TAKE TO HEART THAT WHEN YOU SHOW UP TO STUFF, WE LISTEN AND IT MATTERS.
SO QUICKLY WHAT WE DO IS WE WORK WITH THE DISTRICT DIRECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND NEEDS OF THE PROGRAMS AND CLASSROOMS AND FACILITIES AND SCHOOLS AND ALL THOSE THINGS WE HELP DEVELOP A, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON A TEN YEAR PLAN OF PROJECTS.
IF YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T SEE IT ON THE 2023 BOND, IT'S FINE.
WE'VE GOT A PLACE WHERE WE STICK THOSE CONVERSATIONS SO WE CAN WORK THEM BACK IN AND WE ARE ABLE TO ADJUST THAT PLAN AS WE GET , LIKE WE JUST GOT A NEW DEMOGRAPHERS REPORT IN DECEMBER THAT WAS I NEVER CEASE TO BE SHOCKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHERS REPORTS, BUT THIS ONE WAS EVEN MORE SHOCKING THAN USUAL AT HOW FAST THEY ANTICIPATE GROWTH HERE.
SO WE TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE LISTEN TO THE FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND SO WE FIGURE OUT CAPACITY AND WHAT CAN WE DO, AND THEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT BIG RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT BONDS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE OTHER HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS ONCE THINGS IF VOTERS PASS BONDS, THEN IT'S OUR JOB AS A COMMITTEE TO HELP OVERSEE HOW THAT SPENDING IS DONE. SO OUR JOB DOESN'T END WHEN YOU GUYS VOTE YES ON A BOND, WE ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT THAT MONEY GETS SPENT AS IT WAS INTENDED.
AND WE'RE I THINK WE'RE PRETTY FRUGAL WITH YOUR MONEY.
I KNOW THESE PRICE TAGS ARE HIGH.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
OH, THERE ARE SPOTS OPEN RIGHT NOW ON THE FBOC.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THAT COMMITTEE ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD PERSON AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPOTS OPEN FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED.
MR. SAVOY, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP? AND WE HAD SOME PEOPLE COME IN LATE.
MR. RAU, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? IF ANYBODY STILL WANTS TO SPEAK, YOU STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP.
WE'LL JUST. WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS AND TWO WHO HAVE LEFT A COMMENT BUT CHOSE NOT TO SPEAK.
[LAUGHTER] AND THEN I APOLOGIZE.
I HAD A QUESTION EARLIER AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
SO YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT JUST A CONSTRUCTION COST ON THE PROJECT.
SO THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ADDED IN AS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM EXPENSE.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK OR SIGN UP OR NO? OKAY. WE SAW YOU.
OKAY. WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
[C. PUBLIC FORUM]
AND SO YOU'LL COME UP TO THE PODIUM WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.AND IF YOU WOULD, I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYONE 10 MINUTES TONIGHT.
PLEASE DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE 10 MINUTES.
YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED THE FULL 10 MINUTES, BUT WE GAVE EVERYBODY 10 MINUTES ON TUESDAY.
[00:25:03]
SO I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BASICALLY ONE MORE SPEAKER THAN WE HAD TUESDAY.SO AGAIN, YOU DON'T NEED THE FULL 10 MINUTES.
IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO FILL IT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE TO BE FAIR FOR WHAT WE DID TUESDAY NIGHT, THAT SHOULD WORK.
SO. VICTOR [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO SAY IT WRONG.
AND WE'LL USE OUR OUR NEW MIC.
ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS VICTOR FIGUEROA.
I AM THE MARIACHI DIRECTOR HERE AT LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I AM GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE WITH US.
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE NEEDS OF ALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED FOR THE DISTRICT.
SO I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT MARIACHI AS I'M THE MARIACHI DIRECTOR, OF COURSE.
RIGHT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW MARIACHI HAS BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS, RIGHT? FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT THE MARIACHI HAS NEVER HAD A MARIACHI ROOM, RIGHT? WE'VE NEVER HAD A MARIACHI ROOM DEDICATED TO THE MARIACHI PROGRAM.
AND THAT WAS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
AS SOME OF YOU ALL SAW, WE PRACTICE HERE IN THE CAFETERIA.
WE SHARE A SPACE WITH THE BAND AND THE PERCUSSION STUDIO, AND SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PRACTICE THERE BECAUSE THERE IS EQUIPMENT THAT THE PERCUSSION STUDIO HAS TO STORE THERE, WHICH IS LIMITING THE SPACE IN WHICH THE MARIACHI KIDS CAN REHEARSE.
RIGHT? WE APPRECIATE THE SPACE.
WE LOVE BEING THERE WITH THEM, BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT CROWDED FOR US.
WE ALL WANT TO GIVE OUR KIDS THE TIME, BUT WE ARE LIMITED IN SPACE.
I DO FEEL THAT THANKS TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF MAYBE THE THEATER DEPARTMENT GETTING OR THAT THE BUILDING WE OPENED THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE RENOVATION OR THE SPACE FOR THE MARIACHI ROOM AND THE ORCHESTRA ROOM, THE FUTURE OF ORCHESTRA COMING UP.
SO OUR KIDS ARE LIKE, VERY EXCITED TO WORK.
THEY'RE VERY WILLING TO PUT THE TIME.
THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE I BELIEVE IT'S TAYLOR GREEN, IS IT TAYLOR GREEN? YES, COACH GREEN.
I KNOW YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE HEAR ME? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR GREEN. I AM A TEACHER AND COACH AT LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ALL OF YOU AND FOR BEING HERE ALSO TO ALL OF YOU, FOR BEING HERE SHOWS JUST HOW IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE TO OUR DISTRICT. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP AND COVER, AND ON MY PAPER HERE, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT I HAVE STARED ARE NOTHING TO DO WITH ATHLETICS.
I THINK THERE ARE ATHLETIC THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
THE GROWTH IN OUR DISTRICT IS OBVIOUS WITH THE NUMBERS DR.
WRIGHT PUT OUT AND THE NUMBERS IN THE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE WHETHER YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE ROADS AROUND HERE OR JUST DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S TONS OF BUILDINGS COMING UP AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE WANT TO KEEP HAYS ISD AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THOSE THINGS AND THE THINGS WE HAVE ON THIS BOND.
COUPLE OF THINGS I DID WANT TO NOTE IS THAT THESE ITEMS WERE CONSIDERED BUT NOT RECOMMENDED AND THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND IS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CAMPUSES AND FOR INSTANCE, THE SECURITY BOOTH AND GATES AT ALL THREE CAMPUSES.
[00:30:01]
IT CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO KEEP A CAMPUS SAFE, ESPECIALLY AS BIG AS OUR CAMPUSES ARE BECOMING.AND WHEN WE ADD EVEN MORE OF THESE ITEMS AND FACILITIES TO THE CAMPUS, IT'S GOING TO AGAIN INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY OF KEEPING ALL OF THAT SECURED SAFE AND OUR STUDENTS SAFE AT THE SAME TIME. THE LAST THING I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE I'M SORRY, RIGHT HERE IS THE COVERED PAVILION. I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAVE A LOWER END ON THE COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR THE PAVILION, AND IT IS A HIGH PRICE TAG FOR THOSE.
BUT THAT PAVILION JUST I WANT TO BRING IT FORWARD TO EVERYONE IS NOT JUST FOR FOOTBALL OR EVEN ATHLETICS IN GENERAL THAT PAVILION WILL BE USED BY EVERYONE FROM OUR MARCHING BAND TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO TO ME, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT THAT SPECIFIC ITEM IS AND THAT WE MAKE AS MUCH KNOWN TO OTHERS HOW USEFUL IT WILL BE TO THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL TO HAVE AN ITEM LIKE THAT AROUND AT ALL CAMPUS.
THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT. SO THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE TALKING POINTS I HAD.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO TALK IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY ITEMS THAT KIND OF FELL OUT.
AND WE ARE KIND OF WAITING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US SOME DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.
WE WE SUSPECT AND ALL HINTS ARE POINTING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE FUNDS OUT THERE ALLOCATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THINGS LIKE SAFETY AND SECURITY ITEMS SUCH AS THE GATES AND THE AND POTENTIALLY THE GUARD SHACK.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP COACH GREEN.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, I HAVE CARLOS MEHTA.
HELLO. GOOD EVENING TO YOU AND TO EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SPEAKING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M SAD BECAUSE THIS IS MY LAST YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM TO FOLLOW FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND NOT JUST THE SEVEN YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN AROUND THE LEHMAN PROGRAM SINCE THE BEGINNING BECAUSE MY MENTOR AND INSTRUCTOR WAS THE VERY FIRST MARIACHI INSTRUCTOR AT LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL MANY YEARS AGO.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT BECAUSE, AS MR. FIGUEROA SAID, THE MARIACHI PROGRAM, AS MANY YEARS AS IT'S BEEN HERE, IT'S NEVER HAD ITS OWN SPACE.
THE MARIACHI PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED AND IS NOW IN THE EYE OF ALL COMPETITORS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND I COULD TELL YOU AT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE I SAW IT AT THE BEGINNING, IT WASN'T THAT.
AND NOW IT'S EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED THE SPACE BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE TROPHIES COMING.
AS YOU KNOW, MARIACHI PROGRAM IS I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW THAT IT'S A STATEWIDE IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE AND IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH PRESENTATION OF A PERFORMANCE, A CONCERT COMPETITION.
THAT'S HOW THEY DO THEIR PROGRAM.
A LOT OF THEM DO END UP GOING TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE MARIACHI EDUCATION.
SO THEY USE THAT SOURCE OF INCOME AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR STUDIES AND GREATLY, WHICH IS AWESOME, IS THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE FOLLOWED THE PROGRAM OF BECOMING A TEACHER THEMSELVES, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STUDENTS COME THROUGH LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE NOW EDUCATORS IN MUSIC, WHICH IS AWESOME.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE A SPACE THAT THEY SHARE, AS YOU HEARD WITH THE BAND.
SO THERE IS A CONFLICT OF SCHEDULING NEEDING THEIR SPACE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH MORE AND MORE AND MORE STUDENTS COMING IN, WE'RE BUYING INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THEM, SO THEY NEED SPACE FOR STORAGE OF THESE EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTS, NOT JUST PUT THEM IN A CORNER SOMEWHERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE CRACKED GUITARS OR CRACK INSTRUMENTS, RIGHT? AND NOW WE'RE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON INSTRUMENTS.
SO THEY DO NEED A SAFE STORAGE IN A SPECIFIED MARIACHI AREA.
[00:35:03]
THIS YEAR IS OUR FIRST YEAR THAT I'VE SEEN LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL HAVE A SECONDARY TEACHER IN THE MARIACHI PROGRAM, SO I KNOW THEY'RE SQUEEZED IN A LITTLE OFFICE AS WELL.I THINK THEY'RE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE TEACHING.
SO I KNOW THEY'RE NEEDING THAT SPACE AS WELL.
AS I SAID EARLIER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO THE MOST IS PREPARE FOR THEIR COMPETITION.
SO THEY ARE NEEDING THAT SPACE AS WELL TO SET UP THEIR SOUND EQUIPMENT WHILE THEY'RE PERFORMING, BECAUSE I NOTICE IT AS WE DO OUR FESTIVALS EVERY YEAR THAT SOME OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IN THAT STAGE OF PREPARING AND LEARNING HOW TO USE A MICROPHONE.
AND I SEE THAT WHEN I SEE THEM ON STAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT TRAINING.
BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE SPACE TO PUT UP A MICROPHONE STAND OR A SPEAKER, WHERE CAN WE DO THIS? AND THEY'RE USING UP THEIR TIME WHEN THEY COME INTO CLASS TO SET UP THIS EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUT IT AWAY, BECAUSE THE BAND HAS TO USE THE SPACE ALSO AND NOTHING AGAINST THEM, BUT THAT'S THEIR SPACE AS WELL.
SO WE NEED SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN SET UP THIS EQUIPMENT AND LEAVE IT THERE AT ALL TIMES.
THAT IS ONE OF THE POINTS THAT THEY ALSO JUDGE ON WHEN THEY GO ON TO COMPETITION.
AND USING THE MICROPHONE, USING HOW HOW THE SOUND WORKS.
AND LET'S SEE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS.
I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR MARIACHI EDUCATORS IN THIS AREA.
I HEARD GIANT TROPHY CASE IN THAT MARIACHI HALL.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE GREG BLACKWELL.
WRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HAYS COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS GREG BLACKWELL AND I AM A PROUD LEHMAN LOBO DAD.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AT BOND PROPOSAL HERE, THAT NUMBER QUITE SCARES ME.
YOU KNOW, 420 SOME MILLION DOLLARS IS QUITE A BIT.
GENERALLY, I AM DEBT AVERSE, BUT I DO WANT TO COMMENT THAT I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE HAYS CISD BETTER AND THIS IS THE WAY FORWARD WITH THIS BOND.
I'LL TELL YOU, I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AND THE THEATER ROOMS. AND THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT ALL THE FINE ARTS.
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ALL THREE OF THE MUSICALS AT ALL THREE HIGH SCHOOLS THIS FALL.
AND YOU COULD DEFINITELY SEE THE DISPARITY BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN AUDITORIUM HERE AT LEHMAN THAT CAN SUPPORT NOT ONLY LEHMAN, BUT OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE NEIGHBORING.
IT'LL TAKE OVER THAT SPACE THAT THEATER IS USING RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THOSE DOMINOES FALL INTO PLACE THAT WILL THEN ALLOW THE BAND TO RECLAIM THEIR SECOND BAND HALL, AS THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
AND THAT AS THE BAND GROWS AND THE MARIACHI PROGRAM GROWS, OUR THEATER PROGRAM IS GROWING.
OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO PRACTICE, AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, I GUESS, IN GENERAL.
I'M JUST VERY EXCITED TO SEE HAYS CISD GROWING AND THIS IS THE PATH THAT WE NEED TO DO IT.
AND I JUST I LOVE OUR LEHMAN LOBOS AND HAYS CISD.
IS THIS? [LAUGHTER] MADAM PRESIDENT? YES. I BELIEVE THIS CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS.
[00:40:03]
WE HAD FOUR. IS THAT CORRECT? HOLD ON. I'VE GOT SOME THINGS OUT OF ORDER.WE HAD ONE THAT JUST SIGNED UP.
OH, OKAY. ORIGINALLY, WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK, BUT NOW WANTS TO SPEAK.
SO, ALICIA TAYLOR, YOU WILL BE LOOKS LIKE OUR FINAL SPEAKER TONIGHT.
IT JUST SOUNDED DIFFERENT WHEN IT CAME ON.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD HEAR YOU.
HELLO. I GATHERED THE COURAGE TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
I'VE LIVED IN KYLE SINCE 2004 AND WATCHED IT GROW.
I DID MY MASTER'S DEGREE INTERNSHIP HERE AT LEHMAN.
I'M A LEHMAN PARENT AND I'M VERY INVESTED IN THIS SCHOOL BUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GENERAL.
AND I AM A THEATER PARENT, ALSO A BAND PARENT.
SO I'M HERE REALLY TO SUPPORT THE FINE ARTS, ESPECIALLY OUR THEATER SPACE.
AS MR. BLACKWELL SAID, OUR THEATER, I DON'T THINK WE EVER ACTUALLY HAD AN OFFICIAL ONE.
IT WAS KIND OF JUST PUT THERE.
WHEN I WAS DOING MY INTERNSHIP HERE MANY YEARS AGO, THERE WASN'T A THEATER.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT SPACE.
I SEE THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEAUTIFUL PROFESSIONAL THEATERS.
OUR CHILDREN ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN THEY GO TO A UIL ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITIONS, FOR INSTANCE.
WE MAY ONLY GET A COUPLE OF REHEARSALS AT THE PAC, AND OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE THESE GRAND AUDITORIUMS. SO I THINK IT PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE.
OUR THEATER, THE STAGE IS VERY SMALL AND IT CAN BE REALLY INTIMIDATING TO GO FROM PRETTY MEAGER SPACE TO THESE LARGE, BEAUTIFUL AUDITORIUMS. SO OUR CHILDREN REALLY DESERVE THAT.
THEY DESERVE TO GET TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL SPACE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE ORCHESTRA AND MARIACHI SPACE, I SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR MARIACHI TEACHERS DO.
MY HUSBAND'S A TEACHER AT CHAPA, AND I'VE SEEN THE MARIACHI PROGRAM JUST GROW AND EXPAND.
AND THESE CHILDREN ARE AMAZING AND THEY DESERVE A GOOD SPACE.
SAME WITH THE COVERED PAVILION AS A MARCHING BAND MOTHER, IT WOULD BE LOVELY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COVERED SPACE, YOU KNOW, NOT WORRYING ABOUT SUNBURNS AND MY KIDS NOT GOING TO PUT ON A SUNBLOCK EVEN IF I YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN HIS BAG. AND AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE IN THE HOT TEXAS SUN.
AND INSTRUMENTS AGAIN, BAND MOM, OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NEW INSTRUMENTS.
THEY DESERVE THAT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE LAST MINUTE.
NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MS. TAYLOR. ALL RIGHT.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS VANESSA PETREA.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING OR YOU ARE LIKE MS..
WE ALSO HAVE OUR BOND TALK BUTTON.
WE WILL SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE COMMENTS.
MRS. BEDWELL, YOU HEARD HER SPEAK TONIGHT.
WE WANT TO KNOW, DO YOU SUPPORT THESE THINGS? DO YOU NOT SUPPORT THESE THINGS? WE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT SUPPORT TONIGHT.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE LISTENING ONLINE.
WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE LISTENING ONLINE BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THEY COULDN'T HEAR VERY WELL EARLIER.
ANYTHING ELSE, MR. SAVOY? MADAM PRESIDENT, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAWS AND THEY CAN'T GET INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH AUDIENCE MEMBERS BECAUSE IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT POSTED, THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T KIND OF RESPOND TO EVERYBODY.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATORS WILL ALL HANG OUT.
WE CAN TALK TO YOU. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SOMETHING, WE'LL KIND OF HANG AROUND HERE AFTER THE MEETING AND BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND ALL OF THAT.
THEY JUST CAN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE A QUORUM EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN A MEETING.
SO THEY CAN'T REALLY. STUPID LAWS.
[00:45:04]
DR. WRIGHT CAN.BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO BE HERE.
BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE HERE.
SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WILL ADJOURN AT 6:51 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.