[00:00:02]
MAY I PLEASE HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. BEFORE THE MEETING BEGAN. WE ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. BEFORE BEING I S D BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING IS AN OPEN MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE THE BOARD CONDUCTING DISTRICT BUSINESS. THEREFORE PATRIOTS MAY ONLY ADDRESSED THE BOARD DURING THE DESIGNATED AUDIENCE ITEMS SECTION ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU HAVE PRINTED MATERIALS YOU WANT TO GIVE TO BOARD MEMBERS. YOU MUST PROVIDE THEM TO ME OR ANY OFFICER PRESENT AND WE WILL PROVIDE THEM TO THE BOARD. WE ALSO ASKED THAT MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS BY REMAINING QUIET SO THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO HEAR THE PROCEEDINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, OFFICER. THE TIME RIGHT NOW IS 1001 AM
[1. Call to order]
AND THIS MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER. WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM ATTENDING IN PERSON NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE AND OTHER FOUR BAND I SEE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M GOING TO ASK[2. Public Comment]
. I'M LOSING MY VOICE, SO I'M GOING TO ASK A DOCTOR TO GET IN TO, UM, TO READ THIS AND DO I HAVE ANY SPEAKERS TODAY? DO IT. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? JUST ONE. SHE'S COMING, OKAY? CAN YOU READ THIS? THANK YOU, DR GILLIAM . THE BOARD ENCOURAGES AND WELCOMES. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM OUR PATRONS. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MEANT MENTIONING A STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE'S NAME WHEN VOICING A CONCERN OR COMPLAINT AS BOARD POLICY PROVIDES ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS POLICIES G F LOCAL OR D.G B, A LOCAL TO SEEK RESOLUTION TO COMPLAINTS I WILL READ THE NAME OF THE PERSON REGISTERED TO SPEAK AND SHARE THAT THEY HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS ONCE THE SPEAKER STARTS THEIR COMMENTS, THE BOARD SECRETARY DAVID HAMILTON'S WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING ONCE THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT HAS EXPIRED, AND WHETHER THE SPEAKER HAS CONCLUDED THEIR COMMENTS. DAVID HAMBLETON WILL ANNOUNCE THAT THAT THE SPEAKER'S TIME HAS ELAPSED. I THEN ASKED THAT YOU RETURN TO YOUR SEAT. IN OUR FIRST. I THINK THE SPEAKER IS COMING. OH, OKAY. HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OK GREETINGS. LET ME JUST REPEAT, UM, ONCE THE SPEAKER STARTS THEIR COMMENTS, BOARD SECRETARY DAVID HAMILTON'S WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS, SO YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS CARRIE BRONSON.
OKAY I JUST I'M REALLY NERVOUS. SORRY I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A LIST OF RHETORICAL QUESTIONS APPARENT ESSENTIALLY. UM HOW AND WHEN DID ALL THE BOARDMAN MEMBERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW THE LOAN FINALIST? HOW WILL THAT PERSON WORK WITH THE DIVIDED BOARD? WILL THERE BE A PROPER BACKGROUND CHECK? AND UM. WILL THE MANDATED 21 DAY PERIOD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE PERSON'S OFFICIAL HIRE DATE? THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. THANK YOU HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. NOW THE BORDER WILL RECOVER BEING WELCOMED THE
[3. Convene in closed session under Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551 under the following sections: 551.071 - For the purpose of a private consultation with the Board's attorney on any or all subjects or matters authorized by law; Section 551.072 - Consider purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, Section 551.074 - Personnel matters, Section 551.076 - Security matters, Section 551.082 - Student discipline matter or complaint, or Section 551.0821 - Personally identifiable information about public school student]
INCLUDE SESSION DR GILLIAM, CAN YOU READ? THE SECTION ABOUT CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT[00:05:05]
CODE CHAPTER 551 UNDER THE FOLLOWING SECTION SECTION 551.071 FOR THE PURPOSE OF A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARDS ATTORNEY ON ANY OR ALL SUBJECTS OR MATTERS AUTHORIZED BY LAW SECTION 551.072. CONSIDERING PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY SECTION 551.07. PERSONNEL MATTERS SECTION 551.076. SECURITY MATTERS SECTION 551.082 . STUDENT DISCIPLINE MATTER OR COMPLAINT OR SECTION 551. 0.08 TO ONE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT. THE TIME IS 1006 AM THE TIME IS NOW 1121 AM AND WE[4. Reconvene in open session]
[5. Consider Action on Closed Session Items]
ARE NOW RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION. DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM CLOSED SESSION? MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVED THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMED DR MARK SMITH AS THE LONE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY MR HAMILTON'S SECOND BY MS HANAN , DO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION? MS SIA DISCUSSION. OKAY? WELL, I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED TO HAVE AH.DR MARK SMITH COMING ABOARD AND MARK IS AMONG THE TOP SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE TOP SUPERINTENDENT IN THE STATE. WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PERSUADE HIM TO RETURN TO FORT BAND I S D. WE KNOW MARK PURSUED HIM AND OUR LAST SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH BUT THE TIMING WASN'T RIGHT. AND WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HE CAN COME AND JOIN US RIGHT NOW. YEAH, THE HISTORY WITH OUR DISTRICT AND ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE LIKE TO THINK THAT MARK IS COMING HOME TO WHERE HE BELONGS. AND SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW MARK'S HISTORY WITH OUR DISTRICT? HE SERVED IN FOR BEN I S D AND THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL WITHIN 2006 AND 2007 AND THEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FROM 2007 TO 2012. HE LEFT THE DISTRICT TO BECOME THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MARSHALL IS D AND THEN DUNCANVILLE I SD WHERE HE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING BEING THE NAME THE REGION. 10 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR. AND SO MARK IS A SPECIAL PERSON. HE'S A MAN OF FAITH AND HIGH INTEGRITY AND MARK FROM JUST HAVING CONVERSATION WITH MARK MARKET SENSITIVE TO AND UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES CONFIRMED IT BY DIVERSE SCHOOL DISTRICT LIKE OURS, AND SO MARK HAS A HEART FOR PEOPLE. AND A REPUTATION FOR BUILDING UNITY. AND SO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARK AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE WILL POST UH, HIS RESUME, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HOW EXCITED WE ARE ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE UNDER DR SMITH'S LEADERSHIP, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM ON HIS ENTRY PLAN. AND OUR SHARED GOAL OF MAKING FOUR BEN I S D, A TOP DISTRICT IN THE STATE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BETH AND BETH. I JUST LOVE YOU. AND WHEN WE ASKED BEST TO SERVE AS THE ACTOR IN SUPERINTENDENT SHE AGREED AND TOLD US SHE HAD NO INTEREST IN BECOMING THE SUPERINTENDENT. BIRTH DEATH WORKED VERY HARD TO KEEP THE DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD WHILE WE WORK TO BRING MARK TO THE DISTRICT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO OUR DISTRICT. AND THE FOUR BEN I SD COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR JONES. MR MALONE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? HMM. DR GILLIAN. ALRIGHT, I'LL WAIT. OKAY? DO WE HAVE ANYONE OVER HERE ONCE SAY SOMETHING, MR HAMBLETON? YES.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, DR SMITH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS AND EAGERNESS. TO COME HOME TO HOUSTON AND HOME TO FORT BENNING S D AND FOR STEPPING UP TO LEAD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD
[00:10:02]
THE DISTRICT FORWARD IN THIS TIME. TO THE FORBIDDEN I SD COMMUNITY. DR SMITH IS A LEADER AND A COMPETITOR. HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE LEADS BY LISTENING, WHICH IS A GREAT QUALITY TO HAVE HIS RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES HERE IN 14 SD AS WELL AS IN MARSHALL IS D AND DUNCANVILLE ISD E THE WAYS THE COMMUNITIES IN EACH OF THOSE DISTRICTS WENT TO GREAT MEASURES TO PERSUADE HIM TO STAY SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT DR SMITH, HIS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND HIS CHARACTER, DR SMITH, WELCOME HOME. THANK YOU.OKAY MS. HANAN SO I JUST HAVE A VERY BRIEF COMMENT. UM FOR DR SMITH. I DO THANK HIM FOR COMING TO FORGE BEN ICED TEA, OR I SHOULD SAY COMING BACK TO FORT BEND. I S D AND I LOOK FORWARD AS A SINGLE BOARD MEMBER, BUT MORE SO AS UH TEAM WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH YOU, UM, TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN FOCUS AND TO MOVE ON AND CONTINUE BUILDING THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAKING IT EVEN BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY . UM LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH YOUR WIFE, TINA. AND AGAIN.
I REALLY THANK YOU, DR SMITH FOR BEING HERE WITH US AND COMING BACK TO FORT BENNING HONESTY.
HMM. THANK YOU, MISS SHANNON. MR GARCIA, PRESIDENT DAY. DR SMITH. I'M I'M VERY EXCITED, UM, HAD SOME WONDERFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOUR GUIDANCE. YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THIS DISTRICT IS DEFINITELY UNIQUE IN ITS DIVERSE AS IT IS, I FEEL THAT YOU KNOW. YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THIS SHIP TO GET US, UM ON TRACK BACK ON TRACK.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOING SOME PRETTY GOOD THINGS BEFORE, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO SOME GREAT THINGS EVEN MORE GREAT THINGS MOVING FORWARD. I'M VERY EXCITED. SO WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU, MR GARCIA. DR GILLIAN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS DR SMITH. AND I'M GOING TO READ JUST A LITTLE BIT. A LOT OF TIMES, FOLKS. OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATE, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THIS. DR SMITH STARTED HIS CAREER AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND COACH BEFORE ADVANCING INTO CAMPUS IN DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
HE HAS SERVED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS, NEARLY 12 OF THOSE YEARS SERVING AS SUPERINTENDENT IN DUNCANVILLE , ISD AND MARSHALL, I S D. HE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECOGNITIONS AND ACCOLADES FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROLE HONORABLY IN 2020. HE WAS SELECTED AS THE REGION 10, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR, FOLLOWED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BEING RECOGNIZED AS A TOP FIVE STATE ON OUR BOARD IN 2021. AND, UM, DR SMITH AND I KNOW WE GO BACK FROM THE TIME THAT HE WAS HERE, UM IN FORT BENNING, SD. HE WAS ALWAYS VERY KIND. HE'S A LISTENER. AND AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THINGS WILL HAPPEN. THINGS WILL HAPPEN, AND WE APPRECIATE MEANING THAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I APPRECIATE I'VE GOTTA LOOK YOU STRAIGHT IN THE FACE. I APPRECIATE YOU. EVEN OPEN TO COMING TO FORT BENNING SD AT THIS TIME, SO THANK YOU WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THERE WAS JUST A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD AND, UM, AND THAT CONVERSATION WAS VERY UPLIFTING. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HOW YOU'VE ALREADY SHOWN A COUPLE OF US TODAY THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION THAT IS BEING POSED AND UNDERSTANDING THAT HOW'D UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING HOW TO WORK WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT OUR CALIBER, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE WE? WE KNOW EACH OTHER, BUT WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER THAT WELL AND SO AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO. WE HAVE TO GET ALONG AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR 80,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. UM BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO CHOOSE YOU AT THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US. THANK YOU, DR SMITH. THANK YOU, DR GILLIAM. ALONG HMM. THANK YOU. SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FIRST.
UM AND I WANT TO EXPRESS VERY CLEARLY THAT THESE QUESTIONS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CANDIDATE AT HAND. AND MR MARK SMITH. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT WAS THE
[00:15:03]
SELECTION AND EVALUATION PROCESS? MISTAKE THAT WOULD BE TO YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE WHAT THE SELECTION AND EVALUATE ORDER? IS THIS YOUR MAIN TO THE AGENDA ITEM, MR. BRUSH? ABSOLUTELY. DISCUSSING THE APPOINTMENT AND PROCESSES JERMAINE. MISS MALONE. I WILL HIS QUESTION. I THINK IF YOU'RE ASKING IF YOU THIS AND YOU LEGAL CONCERNS, I WILL REFER THIS QUESTION TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. UM IT'S NOT A LEGAL CONCERN. IT'S WHAT WAS THE SELECTION AND THE EVALUATION PROCESS. THAT'S IT. LET ME ELABORATE, SO LAST TIME WE DID.THIS WAS PART OF IT. IN 2021. IT WAS A THREE MONTH PROCESS WHERE WE WENT THROUGH CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEWS AND IT WAS, UM IT WAS A PROCESS IN EXTENUATING PROCESS ARE EXTENSIVE PROCESS, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD SHARE FOR MYSELF AND THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I WASN'T A PART OF THE PROCESS UNTIL 1030 THIS MORNING. UM WHAT WAS THE PROCESS? THAT'S IT JUST A SELECTION AND EVALUATION PROCESS, PLEASE. THE ONLY COMMENT I WILL MAKE MISS MALONE IS YOU WERE PART OF THE PROCESS. IN 2021. I'M REFERRING TO 2023 TODAY. IF SOME DO WE NOT? DID WE NOT HAVE AN EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS. THAT'S IT, AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH MISS HANNAH'S QUESTION AND COMMENT. YOU WAR PART OF THIS PROCESS IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE, THAT'S REALLY YOUR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE. THE REST OF THE BOARD WE WERE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS, I MEAN, THAT'S THIS IS A VOLUNTEER POSITION. SO EVERYONE REALLY HAVE A YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION. OKAY? CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME WHEN THE BOARD FULLY PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE I CHECKED ALL EMAILS AND ACCOUNTS AND LOOKED BACK AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY INVITATIONS FOR A REVIEW OF SUPERINTENDENCY. FOR INTERVIEW AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. WHEN DID THESE INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE? I'M GOING TO LET YOU ALL KNOW. I INTERVIEWED TODAY AT 10:30 A.M, AND I'M GLAD I DID. AH! MR BRUSH , CAN I? I'M NOT SO SURE BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAPPENED IN CLOSED SESSION. CAN'T I MEAN, IN ORDER TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, I MAY HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSIONS AND RECALL THE PERSONNEL DISCUSSIONS ARE ALLOWED TO OCCUR IN CLOSED SESSION, SO ALL I CAN SEE IS MISS MALONE. THOSE DISCUSSION HAPPENED IN CLOSED SESSION. ALRIGHT SO THEN I'LL I'LL SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT. SO FIRST OF ALL TODAY, UM, ARE NOT TODAY. ON TUESDAY, I RECEIVED NOTICE IN A LITTLE CALENDAR THING CAME UP. FOR US, YOU KNOW, THE LONE STAR FINALIST? OKAY THAT'S INTERESTING. FRIDAY AT 10 A.M. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW. UM WITH MY FAMILY, AND I'M NOT. I SENT MY KIDS ON WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS. BUT I'M GOING TO BE FLYING OUT LATER THIS EVENING BECAUSE I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT THE DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY IS THE SUPERINTENDENCY. AND THAT IS THAT DOG ON IMPORTANT REGARDING THE CLOSED SESSIONS THAT THEY KEEP ALLUDING TO. I WANT TO BE EXTREMELY CRYSTAL CLEAR. I HAVE ATTENDED EVERY CLOSE SESSION ASIDE FROM MONDAY, DECEMBER, 11TH THE SECOND ONE. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS EXTRAORDINARILY, UM, CONTENTIONS FINISHED BUSINESS AT HAND. AND AFTER THE BUSINESS AT HAND, I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEM AND THERE WASN'T AND I WAS NOT GOING TO, UM POSITION MYSELF TO BE. IN SUCH A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AGAIN ON THE SECOND ONE, I ASKED AGAIN, WHAT IS THE BUSINESS ITEM DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A BUSINESS ITEM. AND I'M HERE TO DO BUSINESS. I AM NOT HERE TO UM, BE ATTACKED, FRANKLY. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM THAT. AND ASK ONE MORE QUESTION. AND THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT ONE MORE. HOW MANY CANDIDATES WERE THERE? I GUESS WHO'S WHO'S THE APPROPRIATE PARTY TO DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCESS? DO WE HAVE ONE? MY UNDERSTANDING WITH NONE OF US ON
[00:20:13]
THE STYLES HAS OBLIGATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON THE DIETS. YOU CAN ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS THROUGH EMAIL, AND I WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. AND THAT'S NOT THE REASON WE'RE HERE . OKAY SO I DID ADDRESS ALL OF MY QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL. SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT AS WELL. AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOW ASKING IN PUBLIC BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE ANSWERS THAT I ASKED.SPECIFICALLY AT 1013. THIS MORNING, I FINALLY RECEIVED THE RESUME OF OUR LONE STAR FINALIST THAT'S UPDATED WITH CURRENT INFORMATION. SO I'M JUST GONNA GO ON FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU THOUGHTS ON THAT, UM. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A CRUCIAL THIS IS A CRUCIAL DECISION FOR OVER 80,000 KIDS AND 12,000 EMPLOYEES. THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY. AND HEAVY, HEAVY HEART. UM. I BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. I BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND I THINK IT'S THE BEDROCK UPON WHICH DECISIONS ARE MADE APPEAR. AND IT MADE IT EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO BE PREPARED AND TO MAKE ANY DECISION. UM, WITHOUT HAVING THAT INFORMATION PRIOR TO THIS MORNING. I FOUND MYSELF IN A PREDICAMENT. BECAUSE I THINK INFORMED DECISIONS ARE IMPERATIVE. TO OUR ROLES AS TRUSTEES. SO WITH THAT SAID, I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE HOW THIS BOARD HAS HANDLED THIS SITUATION. UM BUT I WANT TO EXPRESS SOMETHING ELSE. MR MARK SMITH. THANK YOU. FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I HAD BEEN ASKING FOR THE RESUME. I HAD BEEN ASKING ABOUT INTERVIEWS AND I HAD NOT BEEN PRIVY TO THAT INFORMATION. THE ONLY CLOSE SESSION I MISSED WAS MONDAY NIGHT, THE SECOND ONE WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR DR WHITBECK. UM I GUESS. SEND OFF IF YOU WILL. YOU ARE A FINE, GENTLEMEN. AND.
THROUGH THE QUESTIONS. I ASKED YOU ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I ASKED YOU ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION ACADEMICS ASKED YOU ABOUT YOUR VISION. AND SIR. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I WILL STAND BEHIND YOU THAT I WILL SUPPORT YOU. AND THAT REGARDLESS OF AND I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU YOU KNOW HOW YOU GOT HERE? IS ONE THING. AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T LIKE THE HOW IT HAPPENED, I AM TRUSTING AND HAVING FAITH IN GOD, THAT. YOU ARE THE CORRECT PERSON FOR THIS JOB AND THAT YOU WILL LEAD OUR DISTRICT FORWARD. AND SO I WILL TELL YOU WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU, MR MALONE. MS MARTINEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AH, FEEL REMARKS? THANK YOU MISSED A DOCTOR SMITH, WELCOME TO FOUR BAND ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM. WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS TRANSITION AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN A POSITIVE WAY FORWARD FOR $4 BILLION AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. PARENTS AND COMMUNITY. WE WELCOME YOU BACK, AND WE'RE READY TO SUPPORT YOU. AND TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR MARTINEZ. UM, BEFORE I START MAKING MY STATEMENT I WANTED TO SAY EVERY SINGLE BOARD MEMBER ON THE TIRES WERE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH DR SMITH. UM AGAIN. IT'S PERSONAL CHOICE IF YOU DECIDE TO DO IT OR NOT, BECAUSE THERE'S NO OBLIGATION BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE AS A VOLUNTEER. THAT IS ALL. UM I WANTED TO MAKE BUT BECAUSE TODAY IS THE DAY FOR DR SMITH AND LET'S MAKE IT THAT DAY FOR DOCTORS MYTHS, SO I WANTED TO SAY THE FIRST TIME I MET DR SMITH WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I WAS ELECTED ON THE BOARD DURING THAT TIME IS STILL COVE A TIME AND A MATCH WITH BEEN DOING THE ZONE CALL AND ALSO IN PERSON. AND FAST FORWARD. I HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH DR SMITH RECENTLY. AND I HAVE TO SAY WHAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST IS DOCTOR SMITH NEVER MENTIONED
[00:25:04]
NOT EVEN ONCE ANYTHING CONCERNING HIMSELF. OUR CONVERSATIONS ALWAYS FOCUS ON HIS VISION FOR THE DISTRICT AND HIS EXCITEMENT ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM. SHE IS A FULL OF POSITIVITY AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE DISTRICT AND OUR CONVERSATIONS ALWAYS END WITH WITH HIS CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION TO DO WHAT IS THE BEST FOR THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT DR SMITH IS WAITING TO LEAD THIS DISTRICT AND I AM ASKING OUR COMMUNITY TO PLEASE PLEASE GIVE HIM THE FULL SUPPORT HE DESERVES. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR. MISS SMITH TO BEING HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY THAT BE SAID. THAT'S VOTES. LET'S VOTE. LET'S VOTE.MOTION PASSES 70. CONGRATULATIONS, DR SMITH. THANK YOU, MISS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO STILL FEEL WORDS? PLEASE? THANK YOU. OR IS IT GOOD AFTERNOON? IT'S ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON. UH MADAM PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING YOUR TRUST FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN ME AND SELECTED ME AS THE LONE FINALISTS, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE STATED FOR BEN ICE D HAS PLAYED SUCH AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN MY DEVELOPMENT AS A LEADER AND IN MY JOURNEY AS BEING SUPERINTENDENT AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS NOW AND I'M FOREVER INDEBTED FOR WHAT FOR BEING ICED TEA HAS DONE TO ME AND I'M EXCITED OR DONE FOR ME AND I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SERVE AND THE KEY WORD IS SERVED. I THINK LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT SERVICE, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY SERVE THE BOARD SERVE, THE STAFF DECIDED TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE TEACHERS FOR BUSINESS AND ON FOR HAVING OUTSTANDING TEACHERS. AND I'M READY TO MEET THEM AND PARTNER WITH THEM TO SEE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND JUST TO EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE KNOW ARE OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING HERE. I'M GLAD TO BE BACK HOME AND I KNOW THAT I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND FAITH AND CONFIDENCE. YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN MOTION TO ADJOURN SECOND TIME HE'S 1144 THE MEETINGS OR JERK
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.