[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:10]
BRIEFING OF THE CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER AT 6:00 PM ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRE MEETING BRIEFING IS TO CONDUCT A BRIEFING SESSION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF REGARDING THE POSTED AGENDA FOR THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED AT 7:00 PM TONIGHT, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026. FOR THE RECORD, BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT ARE KIM BRADY, ILIANA GARZA ROJAS, MARJORIE BARNES, CAROLYN BENAVIDES, PAUL GILMORE, RANDY SCHEKMAN, AND MYSELF, CASSANDRA HATFIELD. THE NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE FOR GUEST. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK DURING AUDIENCE FOR GUESTS MUST HAVE SUBMITTED
[3. Administrative Reports]
A FORM BY 1:00 PM, WHICH IS THE POSTED DEADLINE. MISS CARSON, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY FOR THIS MEETING, SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS. DOCTOR ELDREDGE. OKAY. SORRY.GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. SO OUR FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT IS ITEM FIVE G. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP OUR TEACHERS. SO WE HAVE A AN APPLICATION TO DELAY SOME OF OUR TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SO WE HAVE DOCTOR SMOLSKIS TO EXPLAIN THAT TO US. SO TAKE IT AWAY. WHERE'S MY PRESENTATION. DO I NEED TO CLOSE THAT OR THAT.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HATFIELD, DOCTOR ELDREDGE AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THIS EVENING, I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REASON WHY I'M COMING FORWARD TO REQUEST THE BOARD TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW OUR DISTRICT TIME TO CREATE A PLAN TO CERTIFY ALL OF OUR TEACHERS BY 29, 20, 29, 2030. SO HOUSE BILL TWO PASSED THE LAST SESSION. RESTRICTED RESTRICTS THE DISTRICT FROM WAIVING TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. FOUNDATION PROGRAM COURSES THROUGH THE DISTRICT OF INNOVATION. T CAME OUT IN OCTOBER TO SAY THAT IF DISTRICTS WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS, WE COULD DO SO, AND WE COULD DO SO THROUGH A RESOLUTION APPROVED BY YOU ALL. A PART OF THAT PROCESS IS THAT WE HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN APPROVED PLAN, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE RECEIVED. YOU HAVE A DRAFT COPY OF THAT APPROVED PLAN, AND THEN WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY ALL OF OUR UNCERTIFIED STAFF. AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE IN THAT PLAN THAT YOU RECEIVED AS WELL. WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH OUR EDUCATION PREP PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS, OUR EBPS, TO SUPPORT THOSE CERTIFICATION EFFORTS. AND THEN WE WOULD SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION TO THE T TO GET THIS EXTENSION. CURRENTLY, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE AND THE BENEFIT TO WHY WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS. THIS YEAR. WE HAVE PROVIDED WE PARTNERED WITH THE MULTILINGUAL BILINGUAL PROGRAM, AND WE PROVIDED SIX SATURDAY STUDY SESSIONS FROM 9 TO 12 FOR SOME OF OUR UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS TO HELP THEM WITH PREPARING, PREPPING, STUDYING TO TAKE THOSE CERTIFICATION EXAMS. THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED A LOT OF TIME STUDYING, WORKING ON THAT, WORKING WITH THEIR EAP. I KNOW WITH MISS HOLCOMB'S GROUP AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED A LOT OF TIME WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HANG ON TO THEM FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS SO WE CAN GET THEM CERTIFIED. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A STATEWIDE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY BILINGUAL AND IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. AND SO BY ASKING FOR THIS EXTENSION, WE CAN HELP THESE TEACHERS GET CERTIFIED SO WE CAN KEEP SOME OF OUR TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT. IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF UNCERTIFIED TEACHERS WOULD CREATE STAFFING GAPS AND DISRUPT INSTRUCTION. A SHORT EXTENSION MAINTAINS THE STABILITY WHILE WE TRANSITION TO FULL COMPLIANCE. SUPPORTS OUR CERTIFICATION AND RETENTION OF SOME OF OUR KEY STAFF, ESPECIALLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN SPECIAL ED AND BILINGUAL. THIS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR INTERNAL TRAINING WITH WITH OUR EBPS AND HELPS OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES COMPLETE THEIR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SO IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD TO APPROVE THE DISTRICT PLAN AS PRESENTED, SO WE CAN APPLY TO WITH THE APPLICATION TO THE COMMISSIONER SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR TEACHERS AND HAVE A COMPLETE PLAN. SO BY 2029, 2030, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS WILL BE CERTIFIED.
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS. IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THIS PLAN AFTER READING IT, THE INTENTIONALITY THAT'S BEING PUT BEHIND IT. YOU KNOW, EVERY PERSON THAT WE WORK WITH COSTS MONEY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTENTIONALITY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP AND RETAIN THEM IF WE'RE ALREADY SUPPORTING THEM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. I WILL ALSO SAY TO YOU, WE IT IS SO GREAT TO VISIT TEACHERS IN
[00:05:08]
THE CLASSROOM THAT WANT TO BE CERTIFIED. AND THERE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, TEST TAKING IS VERY HARD. AND SO THROUGH OUR INSTRUCTIONAL WALKS WE HAVE MET MANY TEACHERS AND JUST GIVING THEM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THE TEST IS SO IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY SERVICING OUR KIDS AND THEY'RE DOING THE WORK. SO JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT COMMENT. SO THE NEXT REPORT WE HAVE IS COREY BLACKBURN. SO COREY IS BACK WITH ITEM 5.0 AND £0.05. AND HE WILL TALK ABOUT OUR CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT AND THE PURCHASES. I CAN'T TALK TONIGHT. THE PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR CARROLLTON. SO COREY WE HOPE YOU'RE COMPLETELY WELL NOW AND YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY. YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS. FEELING MUCH BETTER. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR ELDRIDGE, PRESIDENT HATFIELD AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE TONIGHT. AS DOCTOR ELDRIDGE MENTIONED, WE ARE BRINGING A GMP NUMBER TWO FOR THE CARROLLTON ELEMENTARY REPLACEMENT PROJECT.YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED ACROSS THE STREET A PART OF THAT BUILDING IS NO LONGER THERE.
THEY'VE GOT A CONSTRUCTION TRAILER SET. WE'VE GOT TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS IN PLACE.
THE TRANSITION TO THE TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS, I THINK WENT VERY WELL. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE PRINCIPAL TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED, AND I THINK IT'S GONE PRETTY SMOOTHLY, SO WE'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH THAT. I ATTENDED THE BID OPENING AT THE OFFICES OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER. WE HAD A VERY GOOD BID RESPONSE. WE HAD OVER 200 BIDS FOR THE PROJECT, SO WE FELT LIKE WE HAD VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING, VERY PLEASED WITH THAT AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING AS SOON AS WE GET THE BUILDING PERMIT. SO ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL HAVE ON THAT BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. SO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS THAT IS UP FOR APPROVAL IS 50 A LITTLE OVER 53 MILLION, I BELIEVE. A WHILE BACK WE CAME FORWARD WITH AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR 12.5 MILLION FROM THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. SO HOW MUCH ARE WE EXHAUSTING ALL THAT? 12.5 NOT COMPLETELY. WE'RE GOING TO USE ABOUT NINE OF THE 12.5. SO WE HAD I FEEL LIKE IT WAS THE NUMBER WAS ABOUT RIGHT. BETWEEN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS ON THIS CAMPUS VERSUS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING AT FARMERS BRANCH, IT FEELS LIKE THOSE NUMBERS ARE HOLDING UP PRETTY WELL. OKAY, GREAT. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT SINCE THIS IS THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM, WE'VE GOT SOME EXTRA THAT WILL BE GOING BACK INTO THE BUDGET FOR CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER PROJECTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, MISS BENAVIDES? THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK HOW WHAT'S THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION FOR 200 BIDS? THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER GOES THROUGH AND WHAT THEY THEY CALL IT QUALIFYING THE BIDS. SO THEY VERIFY THAT THE SCOPE MATCHES THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, BOTH THE PLANS AND THE CONSTRUCTION, THE WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING COVERED AS FAR AS THEIR SCOPE. THEY INVESTIGATE.
THEY ALSO EVALUATE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE. IF THEY'VE HAD BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A PARTICULAR FIRM, THEN THEY'LL STAY AWAY FROM THEM. SO IT'S A IT'S A FAIRLY THOROUGH PROCESS.
THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE. SO £0.05 ALL RIGHT. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING INVOLVES ALL THE TESTING THAT HAPPENS AS THE EARTHWORK GOES IN. THEY DO DENSITY TESTING TO MAKE SURE THE GROUND IS COMPACTED PROPERLY. THEY'LL INSPECT FOR REBAR BEING PLACED PROPERLY AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND IN THE RIGHT QUANTITY. THEY INSPECT THE CONCRETE TO MAKE SURE THE CONCRETE MEETS THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS. THEY INSPECT THE STEEL ERECTION TO MAKE SURE THE WELDS ARE PROPER.
I COULD GO ON FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF TESTING FOR A NEW PROJECT THAT'S GROUND UP.
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT INVOLVES AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY WANTING TO READ THE FULL LIST. ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE OFF THE HOOK, MR. BLACKBURN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THAT ALL, DOCTOR ELDRIDGE? ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL MOVE TO
[4. Briefing Session with Administrative Staff Regarding the Posted Agenda for the Regular Board Meeting Scheduled for 7:00 PM on February 5, 2026]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE'LL MOVE TO ADJOURNMENT. THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.