[1. Call to order]
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MAY I PLEASE HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING BEGINS? WE ASK THAT EVERYONE, PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. THE FORT BEND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEE IS HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, THE BOARD WILL ASK IF ANYONE PRESENT WANTS TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE PRESENTATION. WE ALSO ASK MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS BY REMAINING QUIET SO THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS ASKED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE TIME IS 5:31 P.M. AND THIS MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER. WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM ATTENDING IN PERSON AND NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE AND AT THE FORT BEND ISD ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR AT
[2. 2024-25 Budget and Proposed Tax Rate]
LEAST 72 HOURS, THIS IS OUR PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING, AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR SMITH. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE, THIS EVENING WE ARE PREPARED TO, PROVIDE, THE BUDGET INFORMATION TAX RATE INFORMATION, ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC HEARING, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. BRIAN GWYNN, AND HE'S GOING TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR SMITH, AS PART OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET EACH YEAR, THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE. THIS HEARING IS TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ALLOW STAKEHOLDERS TO COMMENT ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR THE 23 OR 2425 SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN PREPARED BASED ON STATE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. THE DISTRICT HAS MET ALL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO TRUTH AND TAXATION THAT ARE LISTED HERE, AND A PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING WAS PUBLISHED IN THREE LOCAL PAPERS ON THE 24TH AND 25TH OF MAY, AND THAT WAS DONE TEN DAYS PRIOR TO TODAY'S MEETING, AND IT WAS POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE AS WELL, AGAIN, MEETING ALL STATUTORY . THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 2425 IS PROPOSED AT $828,587,306. THAT BREAKS DOWN TO EXPENDITURES OF $10,284 PER STUDENT, AND THAT'S A 1.9% INCREASE OVER THE ESTIMATE FOR THE 2223 SCHOOL YEAR END. STATUTORILY, THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE BUDGETS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, DEBT SERVICE FUND, AS WELL AS THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND, AND WILL REVIEW EACH OF THOSE THIS EVENING. THE BUDGET WE'VE PREPARED IS BASED ON THESE ASSUMPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS. WE'RE USING THE DEMOGRAPHERS MODERATE GROWTH SCENARIO OF 80,572 STUDENTS, AND AN ATTENDANCE RATE OF 95. THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS THE BUDGET IS ESTIMATED TO BE 71.6 $0.09, AND THAT IS A 0.23 CENT DECREASE FROM THE CURRENT TAX RATE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCORPORATES THE DIFFERENTIATED TEACHER STEP SCALE THAT WAS PART OF THE VAT THREE, AND THERE ARE 72 NEW CLASSROOM BASED POSITIONS BASED ON ENROLLMENT GROWTH. AND FINALLY, THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES 107 NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE ADDRESSED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THE TEACHER SHORTAGE AND OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT THE DISTRICT IS FACING. THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF 828.6 MILLION INCLUDES 10,250 EMPLOYEES. THE BUDGET IS BROKEN DOWN BY MAJOR FUNCTION, AND IT PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO HOW THE FUNDS WILL ACTUALLY BE EXPENDED. THE LARGEST OF THOSE IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES CATEGORY THAT MAKES UP 62% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. THIS FUNCTION IS OUR CORE BUSINESS AND INCLUDES TEACHING STAFF AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THERE ARE OVER 4700 TEACHERS AND CLOSE TO 1200 CLASSROOM AIDES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET.INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP MAKES UP 8% OF THE BUDGET AND INCLUDES CAMPUS AND NON CAMPUS BASED STAFFING THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING ACADEMIC PROGRAMING WITHIN THE DISTRICT. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES MAKES UP 12% OF THE BUDGET. THIS FUNCTION IS WHERE WE ENSURE THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS THROUGH COUNSELING SERVICES AND ATHLETICS, AND THEN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT MAKES UP 2% OF THE BUDGET. AND THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE SURE BILLS AND EMPLOYEES ARE PAID. THE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES THAT CAMPUSES NEED TO OPERATE ARE PROCURED, THAT WE RECRUIT AND
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HIRE HIGH QUALITY STAFF, AND WE ENSURE WE'RE COMPLIANT WITH ALL STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES.NON-STAT SUPPORT MAKES UP 14% OF THE BUDGET, AND ALTHOUGH WE ITS CALLED ON STUDENT SUPPORT, THIS IS A STATE BASED DEFINITION. IT THEY VERY MUCH SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. THIS IS THE FUNCTION WHERE WE KEEP OUR STUDENTS WARM, SAFE AND DRY. AND SO THIS INCLUDES TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. AND SO FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT ARE ALL INCLUDED WITHIN THIS FUNCTION. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WAS APPROVED AS PART OF THE VA FOR THE ARMED SECURITY AT ALL ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES. OTHER SERVICES IS THE FINAL FINAL MAJOR FUNCTION. IT MAKES UP 1% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, AND THIS INCLUDES EXPENDITURES THAT ARE NOT CATEGORIZED ELSEWHERE. AND SO THIS INCLUDES THE PAYMENT THAT WE MAKE TO THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY VALUATION ASSESSMENTS. THE AMORTIZATION OF COPIER LEASE AND SOFTWARE LICENSING. THIS IS A NEW CATEGORIZATION OF EXPENDITURES THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE UNDER PRIMARILY INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES. THAT'S NOW REQUIRED BY GASB, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD. AND THEN FINALLY, OUR COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES IS ALSO BUDGETED HERE. THERE ARE FOUR EMPLOYEES INCLUDED IN THAT. AND THAT MAKES UP ROUGHLY HALF $1 MILLION OF THAT TOTAL, 12.2 MILLION THAT YOU SEE THERE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2425 IS BALANCED. OUR REVENUES OF 827 MILLION ARE BUDGETED BASED ON THE EXPECTED ENROLLMENT IN ATTENDANCE. ATTENDANCE NUMBERS I MENTIONED EARLIER, EXPENDITURE MEASURES ARE PROPOSED AT 828.6 MILLION, AND AFTER WE FACTOR IN A CONTRIBUTION OF $2.5 MILLION FROM OUR EXTENDED LEARNING AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE BUDGET WILL END WITH A SMALL SURPLUS OF ABOUT $900,000 FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. THAT WILL LEAVE US WITH A FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT $200.9 MILLION THAT MEETS OUR 90 DAY OPERATING RESERVE REQUIREMENT, AS REQUIRED BY BOARD POLICY. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WE ANTICIPATE ENDING OUR CURRENT YEAR. SO IF YOU GO ONE COLUMN OVER, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE'RE ALSO SLIGHTLY EXCEEDING OUR 90 DAY OPERATING RESERVE REQUIREMENT THERE. AS WE CLOSE OUT THE YEAR, WE WILL LIKELY COME IN BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING HERE. WE'LL HAVE OUR FINAL YEAR END ESTIMATE NUMBERS IN MID TO LATE JULY, AND THOSE WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL AUDIT. AND SO IF WE COME IN BETTER THAN EXPECTED, AS WE ARE EXPECTING TO DO, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE US WITH SOME FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THAT'S SURE TO BE VERY ACTIVE.
SO THAT WILL START IN JANUARY OF 25. THE BOARD IS ALSO REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND. THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SPEND DOWN PLAN WITHIN THE FUND. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE DISTRICT'S RECEIVED A NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT HAVE INCREASED THE FUND BALANCE AND UNLIKE THE GENERAL FUND, WE CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS WITHIN THE CHILD NUTRITION FUND. AND SO WE HAVE SUBMITTED A SPEND DOWN PLAN TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED, THAT SPEND DOWN PLAN HAS THE BOARD HAS TAKEN SOME PREVIOUS ACTION RELATED TO THIS THAT INCREASED OUR EXPENDITURES FOR SMALL TYPE APPLIANCES TO REPLACE AND ALL OF THE KITCHENS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AS PART OF THE BUDGET. WE ALSO HAVE TWO NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR CHILD NUTRITION. IT INCLUDES ONE SUPERVISOR THAT IS BEING ADDED AS PART OF THE EXPANSION OF OUR FEEDER PATTERNS. DUE TO CRAWFORD HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN A SECOND SUPERVISOR THAT WILL ACT AS A TRAINING SUPERVISOR TO ENSURE THAT ALL STAFF THAT HAVE FOOD HANDLING TRAININGS AND OTHER REQUIRED TDA TREATMENTS. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TRAININGS ARE MET AS PART OF THAT PROCESS. AND THEN I MENTIONED THAT AS PART OF THE SPIN DOWN PLAN, TDA OR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DID IMPROVE A ONE TIME SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT FOR STAFF THAT HAVE THE FOOD HANDLING CERTIFICATES THAT WOULD BE PAID OUT, LIKELY IN THE SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME, AND IS INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET.
THAT WOULD BE $1,000 PER EMPLOYEE WHO HAS THAT CERTIFICATION. THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THEIR JOB. AND THEN FINALLY, THE DISTRICT WILL BE ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES TO THE COMMUNITY. ELIGIBILITY PROVISION, WHICH OUR CEP STUDENTS AT HIGHTOWER AND BARRINGTON PLACE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NO COST, STARTING WITH THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR AND AUGUST. AND THAT WILL BRING OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF CEP CAMPUSES UP TO 31 FROM THE CURRENT NUMBER TODAY. IF WE LOOK AT THE FINANCIALS FOR THE FUND, THE REVENUES FOR 2425 ARE PROJECTED AT $44.4 MILLION. THAT IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN OUR CURRENT YEAR, BUT THAT IS DUE TO THOSE SUPPLY CHAIN GRANTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT ARE CAUSING US TO GO INTO THE SPEND DOWN PLAN. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PLANNED INCREASES FOR MILL COSTS GOING NEXT YEAR. SO THE PRICE STUDENTS ARE PAYING FOR MEALS THIS YEAR WILL STAY THE SAME FOR 2425. PROPOSED EXPENDITURES ARE AT $58 MILLION. THAT DOES INCLUDE PORTIONS OF THE SPIN DOWN PLAN THAT WE'VE PREVIOUSLY
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DISCUSSED. AND SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT YOU'RE SEEING THAT $13.5 MILLION DRAWDOWN IN FUND BALANCE. THOSE ARE ONE TIME PLANNED EXPENDITURES AND WILL NOT REPEAT INTO THE 25, 26 YEAR.AND SO THIS WILL RESULT IN AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $13.5 MILLION, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE 90 DAY FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT, OR IT DOESN'T EXCEED THE 90 DAY FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT THAT TDA OR USDA HAVE IN PLACE. THE FINAL BUDGET THAT WILL REQUIRE APPROVAL BY THE BOARD IS A DEBT SERVICE FUND. THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS USED TO PAY DEBT ON ISSUED FOR BOND PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY TAXPAYERS FOR THE 2425 YEAR, THE INTEREST AND SINKING TAX RATE OF $0.27 WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE O&M RATE OR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE RATE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, OF 71.6 $0.09, OUR TOTAL TAX RATE FOR THE DISTRICT WILL BE 98.6 $0.09, AND THAT'S 0.2 $0.03 LOWER THAN OUR CURRENT RATE.
HOWEVER, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED TAX ROLL FROM THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THAT UNTIL JULY . AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONCE IT'S RECEIVED, THE STATE, THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY WILL DO A MAXIMUM COMPRESSED RATE CALCULATION AND PROVIDE THAT TO THE DISTRICT. ONCE WE'VE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE TAX RATE ADOPTION PROCESS THAT OCCURS IN SEPTEMBER. AND SO THE NUMBER THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THE 98.6 $0.09, WILL LIKELY BE LOWER THAN WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT. AND SO ALTHOUGH IT IS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S ON THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE, THE TAX RATE STILL HAS ADDITIONAL STEPS TO BE ADOPTED. AND AGAIN, THAT WILL OCCUR IN SEPTEMBER. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES THE PAYMENTS ON PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON ALL EXISTING DEBT THAT'S OUTSTANDING. AND THEN IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, AN ITEM WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER TO ESTABLISH THE PARAMETERS FOR THE 25 CALENDAR 2025 CALENDAR YEAR. AND WE DO THAT EACH YEAR TO ESTABLISH THE LIMITS ON WHAT WE CAN ISSUE FOR OUR DEBT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. OUR ESTIMATED REVENUES AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND ARE $172.3 MILLION. THIS IS ABOUT $6.5 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR, AND THAT IS DUE TO PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH OF ABOUT 6. THERE'S NOT THE SAME CAP ON THE DEBT SERVICE FUND THAT WE HAVE ON THE GENERAL FUND. LEGISLATIVELY EXPENDITURES OF $164.6 MILLION ARE ABOUT $26.4 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR THAT INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES IS FOR THE ADDITIONAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS THAT WILL BE ADDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE 23 BOND, AND AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE'LL BRING FORWARD THAT PARAMETER ORDER AND THE NOVEMBER DECEMBER TIME FRAME. AND THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE LIMITS OF ANTICIPATE DEBT THAT WE WOULD ISSUE IN THE 25 CALENDAR YEAR THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THOSE PAYMENTS. AND SO, IN SHORT, IF THE BOARD WERE NOT TO APPROVE THAT PARAMETER ORDER OR NOT APPROVE THE AMOUNT THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED HERE WOULD ALSO NEED TO GO DOWN AS WELL. BUT THIS IS BASED ON WHAT THE PLAN IS BASED ON THE 23 BOND THAT HAS BEEN PASSED. AND SO BASED ON OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, THE FUND BALANCE AT YEAR END IS EXPECTED TO BE $166.2 MILLION. HOWEVER AS A REMINDER, THE DISTRICT MAKES DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS IN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST OF EACH YEAR. AND SO ONCE WE MAKE THAT AUGUST DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT, IT WILL UTILIZE THE MAJORITY OF THAT FUND BALANCE. THOSE DEBT PAYMENTS ARE 122.20 $2.9 MILLION, AND SO OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AT $44 MILLION VERSUS THE 166.2 MILLION THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO END THE YEAR WITH. THAT WALKS THROUGH THE EACH OF THE FUNDS THAT THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT BY POLICY. SEE, THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONDAY ON JUNE 10TH. THAT MEETING WILL ALSO INCLUDE SOME ACTIONS ON OUR INCLUDE ACTIONS ON THE POSITIONS THAT WERE INDICATED THIS EVENING THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BUDGET. WILL ALSO HAVE OUR FINAL AMENDMENT FOR THE 2324 BUDGET AND THE RESOLUTION FOR THE FUND BALANCE AND THOSE BOTH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR YEAR END WILL BE A MIRROR OF THOSE ESTIMATES THAT YOU'VE SEEN BOTH HERE AND ON THE 13TH AND THE 20TH OF MAY. AND THEN AT THE END OF JULY, WE WILL RECEIVE THE CERTIFIED TAX ROLL FROM THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT THAT I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO AS WELL AS THE PRELIMINARY MINIMUM COMPRESSED TAX RATE FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY. ONCE WE'VE RECEIVED THAT IN EARLY AUGUST, WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE THAT INFORMATION WILL BE WILL GO THROUGH ITS NORMAL PROCESS AND WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION IN SEPTEMBER. AND THEN, ALTHOUGH THIS DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPACT THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL CONVENE IN JANUARY, AND THAT WILL RESULT IN A LOT OF DISCUSSION, PROBABLY AT THE STAFF LEVEL AND BOARD LEVEL, TO DETERMINE HOW THAT WILL IMPACT US FINANCIALLY FOR
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THE 2526 FISCAL YEAR. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU. MR. GWEN, I APPRECIATE THAT, I, I KNOW THAT THE TRUSTEES PROBABLY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, AND WE WILL HAVE THAT DURING OUR REVIEW SESSION, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE OTHER TRUSTEES. WE. YEAH. DURING OUR[3. Public Comment]
REVIEW MEETING, WE WILL BE GOING BACK OVER THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE BOND, SO AT THIS TIME, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP TODAY. DAVINA MILES. AND SINCE OUR BOARD SECRETARY IS NOT HERE, MR. GARCIA, DO YOU MIND KEEPING TIME FOR MISS MILES? HI, THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO YOU YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, JUST LIKE IN REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS TO MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR VICE PRESIDENT, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT TONIGHT IS GOING TO KEEP TIME FOR YOU. AND HE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING. BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR SMITH. MY NAME IS DEVONNA MILES AND I'M THE LEAD SOCIAL WORKER IN FORT BEND ISD. LAST MONTH, THE SHACK ADVOCATED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR EACH HIGH SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN. SO I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE VALUE OF HAVING EXPERIENCED AND TENURED INDIVIDUALS IN THESE ROLES. I AM PART OF A TEAM THAT CONSISTS OF 16 LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS AND SIX MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS, UNDER THE SUPPORT OF LEADERSHIP OF A AVANZA COORDINATOR OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE TIER TWO AND TIER THREE LEVELS OF MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, RESPECTIVELY, AND HAVE NOTICED THAT STUDENTS NEEDING THOSE SERVICES ARE INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY IN THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT. THE SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE AT RISK POPULATIONS LIKE OUR MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, FOSTER CARE STUDENTS, AND PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. DUE TO BEING AWARDED A GRANT BY THE FORT BEND EDUCATION FOUNDATION THIS YEAR, THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A PEP CONFERENCE AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO OUR PARENTING STUDENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE PEP CONFERENCE WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OUR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH FACILITATORS AND EXHIBITORS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE ROLE OF PARENTING, WHILE BEING SUCCESSFUL AT SCHOOL. IN THIS TIER TWO LEVEL, THE SOCIAL WORKERS ALSO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING TO OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING CAMPUS AND DISTRICT CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES. WE ALSO CONDUCT HOME VISITS TO ADDRESS TRUANCY AND DROPOUT PREVENTION NEEDS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS. THE SOCIAL WORKERS OF OUR DISTRICT ARE PHENOMENAL SUPPORT TO CAMPUSES. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL THAT FORT BEND ISD PRIORITIZES MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOTICED SOCIAL WORKERS LEAVING OUR DISTRICT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS SINCE WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OUR SALARIES. EVERY YEAR WE ARE HIRING 3 TO 5 NEW SOCIAL WORKERS. THIS IS A CHALLENGE SINCE OUR PROFESSION FOCUSES ON STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CAMPUSES, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN FORT BEND ISD ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE MASTER'S DEGREES AND ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND ARE BOUNDED BY A CODE OF ETHICS. SADLY, WE ARE ONLY LIGHTS. WE ARE THE ONLY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS IN THE 102 PAY SCALES. WHILE THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS HAVING THE SAME CREDENTIALS ARE PAID AT A HIGHER SALARY SCHEDULE. ALL THE ALL THREE PROFESSIONALS ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS SUPPORTING THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORTS THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS IN PLACE.MOST OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS ON THE TEAM HAVE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENTS JUST TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE. WE DO THIS JOB NOT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPASSION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ADVOCATES AT HEART, AND WE WILL ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE AND AT TIMES FORGET TO BE OUR OWN BIGGEST ADVOCATES. I'M THEREFORE HERE TODAY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS EMPATHETIC, COMPASSIONATE, AND COMPETENT TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DO THEIR WORK IN THE TRENCHES AND BEHIND THE SCENES. WE WILL ALWAYS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOU DO THE SAME FOR US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MILES. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET HEARING. AND SO IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT I MOVE TO ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.