Aug 30, 2023 Special Town Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER (5:30 P.M.)]

[00:00:10]

WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL STUFF GOING ON.

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH, 2023.

WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH CALL TO ORDER.

IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING CALLED.

[C.1. Discussion regarding Town Council Member attendance and State Statue on Vacancies]

FIRST ITEM C123-225 DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL MEMBER ATTENDANCE AND STATE STATUTE OF VACANCIES FOR THE FIRST SLIDE.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM C123-225, AND I'LL SECOND THAT.

[INAUDIBLE] I THINK A MAJORITY CAN MOVE TO TABLE ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

OKAY.

LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON THIS AND I GET A YEAH FIRST, WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR OF TABLING THIS MOTION.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN.

ABSTAIN. ALL RIGHT, SO IT'S 3 TO 2 THERE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[B. CITIZEN/PARENT COMMENTS]

ALL RIGHT. LET'S START OFF WITH FIRST ITEM.

LINDA, DO YOU WANT TO COME ON UP? OH, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? OKAY.

MORE PEOPLE CAME.

JOHN [INAUDIBLE].

GREETINGS, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

I HAVE BEEN A THREE YEAR RESIDENT OF WESTLAKE.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE TOWN.

I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT EVERYBODY'S PUTTING IN HERE.

I KNOW THERE'S A SEARCH GOING ON FOR A NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL.

MY FAMILY DID START AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

WE ACTUALLY LEFT AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IT WASN'T REALLY FOR US.

WE'RE HAPPIER WITH THE SOUTLAKE SCHOOLS, BUT.

LOOK, I'VE BUILT A NUMBER OF LARGE BUSINESSES IN MY LIFE.

MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESSES HIRING A CEO OR A HEAD OF SCHOOL.

SAME THING.

I KNOW THAT THE SEARCH IS SOMETHING THAT'S ONGOING.

HEAD OF SCHOOL IS A CEO OF A SCHOOL, IS THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL.

EVERYTHING TRICKLES DOWN FROM ABOVE.

I REALLY AM DEEPLY CURIOUS, INTERESTED IN HOW THIS PROCESS IS GOING, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A CLOSED DOOR SESSION, BUT HOPEFULLY TONIGHT AMONGST OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SOME DETAILS COME OUT BECAUSE AS A RESIDENT, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SEARCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT IS ROD HARDING.

MAYOR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE MY DRESS.

I HAVE BEEN AT A WORKSHOP AT REGION 11, SO I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO CHANGE.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS INVOLVED WITH THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE POLICY MANUAL.

POLICY NUMBER 2.01 RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONNEL DECISIONS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT POLICY DESCRIPTION SECTION PART D SAYS THE BOARD SHALL HAVE INPUT INTO THE PROCESS UTILIZED FOR THE SELECTION OF THE HEAD POSITIONS. SHALL HAVE INPUT, AND I STARTED WITH THE POLICY MANUAL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY PROCESS.

SO I'M VERY AWARE BEING HERE FOR 12 YEARS THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN.

PARENTS, STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN WHICH TO HIRE THE HEAD OF SCHOOL.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE CAN FORGET LAST YEAR, AND WE CAN'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE AGAIN, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE OUR TIME AND LOOK FOR THE RIGHT PERSON, AND THE RIGHT PERSON HAS TO HAVE A LOT OF QUALITIES.

SOME OF THOSE QUALITIES, AND I'VE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS, I'LL REMIND YOU OF THAT.

IS AN EDUCATOR AND A LEADER WHO NOT ONLY HAS IB EXPERIENCE BUT HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND ALSO TEXAS LAW.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT JOB ENTAILS A LOT OF THAT WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHT THROUGH, RIGHT THROUGH EVERYTHING. THE LAW DEALING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WORKING WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT.

[00:05:10]

I'M SPEAKING FOR THE SCHOOL, BUT NOT ONLY THE SCHOOL FOR THE TOWN.

YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS PROCESS VERY, VERY CAREFULLY, AND I KNOW IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE WISELY, IT WILL HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS NOT ONLY FOR THE SCHOOL AND HOW WE OPERATE, BUT YOU AS A BOARD AND THE VIEW THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

ALLISON SCHNEIDER.

GOOD AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING, MAYOR TRUSTEES.

I'M ALLISON SCHNEIDER.

I AM THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM COORDINATOR AND WESTLAKE ACADEMY HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR 20 YEARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN THIS SITUATION.

I DID GET SOME NOTES TOGETHER BETWEEN DISMISSAL AND OUR FACULTY MEETING BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CLOSE TO HEART AND EMOTIONAL FOR ME.

SO I WANTED TO HAVE MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER.

SO ONE EYE IS ON THE CLOCK.

HERE I GO, AND I'VE SEEN OUR SCHOOL GO THROUGH MANY TIMES OF CHANGE AND GROWTH.

SO MANY STORIES, A LOT OF THEM I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.

I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK.

WHAT HAS LED ME TO STAY AT THE SCHOOL FOR TWO DECADES IS THE COMMUNITY, THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS, THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD, THE WHOLE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND WE COME TOGETHER.

WE COME TOGETHER WHEN WE'RE PAVING A FUTURE, AND I HOPE TODAY IS THE START OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS WE LOOK FOR OUR NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL.

AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE COMMITTED MYSELF TO UNDERSTANDING THIS PROFESSION.

MY COURSEWORK, MY DEGREES, MY CERTIFICATIONS AND MY INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AFFORDED ME TO BE A SCHOOL LEADER. MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND IF YOU LOOK OVER HERE, I HAVE ABOUT TEN OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY OUT OF WE HAVE 18 CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

SO TO HAVE TEN SHOW UP DURING THE EVENING, SOME OF THEM WERE REARRANGING THEIR HOME LIVES AND WHERE THEIR OWN PERSONAL CHILDREN WERE GOING, BUT MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES, THEY MAINTAIN THE SAME POINT OF VIEW THAT I HAVE.

WE ARE ALL WELL VERSED IN WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A PERSON WHO IS LEADING A SCHOOL ORGANIZATION.

PARTNER WITH US.

MODEL THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE IB LEARNER PROFILE.

WE START THIS DAY ONE WITH OUR NEW TEACHERS.

WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME WITH OUR STUDENTS, HOPEFULLY TO THE POINT.

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMY, YOU SEE THEM USING THESE ATTRIBUTES IN THEIR DAILY LIFE.

THEY ARE CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION, OUR VISION AND OUR VALUES, AND IT ALL STARTS WITH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MODELING THESE TEN ATTRIBUTES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I HOPE THAT YOU ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS TO BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

BE A THINKER AS YOU CONSIDER THIS PROCESS.

DEMONSTRATE A CARING AND PRINCIPLED DISPOSITION THROUGH ALL OF YOUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS.

BE OPEN MINDED BY CONSIDERING OTHERS PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING YOUR FELLOW TRUSTEES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

BE COMMUNICATORS BY LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND AND NOT LISTENING TO RESPOND.

CONTINUE. THE TIME IS UP.

WE'LL LET EVERYONE. OH, I'M SO SORRY.

NO, NO, NO. EVERYONE. I TOLD YOU I HAD ONE EYE ON THE CLOCK.

BE AN INQUIRER BY ASKING.

MYSELF OR MY FELLOW EDUCATORS TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

TO START, HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONSIDER.

WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE PERSPECTIVES OF OUR EDUCATORS, CAN THE BOARD TRULY APPOINT A HEAD OF SCHOOL THAT WILL BE EMBRACED BY OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY? WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO US, THE EDUCATORS ON THE FRONT LINE? IF WE DO NOT HAVE A LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION IN THIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS? AND LASTLY, IF YOU DO NOT TRUST US IN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN WEIGHTY DECISIONS, HOW CAN WE TRUST YOU WITH THE OUTCOME OF THOSE DECISIONS? I THANK YOU FOR BEING SERVANT LEADERS IN SUPPORTING THE ACADEMY AND FOR LETTING ME EXPRESS MY VOICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL DONE.

[00:10:01]

RIGHT. LINDSAY MCGRATH.

ALL RIGHT. HELLO, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR YOUR TIME.

I COME HERE. MY NAME IS LINDSAY MCGRATH.

I AM CURRENTLY A G-1 TEACHER.

I WAS A PARAPROFESSIONAL.

I'VE BEEN ON THE FOUNDATION.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF WESTLAKE FOR, I THINK FIVE YEARS NOW, AND IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE I WAS ALSO AN ADVERTISING AND PR, SO I APPROACHED THIS WITH MY VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND I CAN KIND OF GET ALL SPUN UP IN DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I WANT TO JUST COME AT THIS, AND ASK YOU TO BREATHE AND TO PAUSE.

THIS DECISION IS NOT COMING OFF OF A GREAT YEAR.

THIS DECISION IS COMING OFF OF A VERY HIGHLY EMOTIONAL YEAR AND A VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL SUMMER.

THERE WAS REALLY, REALLY BIG BACKLASH AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF DR.

WILSON AND THE FABULOUS FACULTY MEMBERS DIDN'T PAUSE.

THEY KEPT GOING AND THEY SHOWED UP AND THEY SAID, WE ARE AMAZING.

WE ARE WESTLAKE AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT WE DO, BUT WE NEED YOU TO PAUSE.

PLEASE DON'T RUSH INTO THIS DECISION HASTILY.

THERE'S NO NEED. YOU HAVE PUT IN PLACE SOMEONE WHO IS FANTASTIC.

SHE IS FANTASTIC.

SHE IS CAPABLE.

SHE BRINGS THE KNOWLEDGE, THE LAW, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED IN THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW.

SHE ALSO BRINGS THAT NURTURING CONTINUITY THAT WE NEED.

WE CANNOT HAVE A YEAR THAT IS DISRUPTED.

WE NEED TO SHOW OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE IT TOGETHER AND WE ARE THE WESTLAKE THAT EVERYBODY SPEAKS ABOUT AND WANTS TO BE A PART OF.

SO PLEASE JUST PAUSE.

JUST PAUSE AND LET MS. ANDERSON LET HER DO THIS YEAR.

LET HER SHOW YOU WHAT SHE'S MADE OF AND LET HER BRING THAT CONNECTION BACK TO THE ROLE AND TO THE SCHOOL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. I GOT A QUESTION.

STAN, ARE WE ALLOWED TO REPLY IF THIS IS ON THE AGENDA SO I CAN CLARIFY THE PROCESS? YOU CAN REPLY FACTUALLY.

YOU CAN'T ENTER INTO A DIALOG.

UH, OKAY. I'LL DO THAT, IF I MAY, MAYOR.

GO AHEAD. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE.

THERE IS SOME TERRIBLE MISCOMMUNICATION GOING ON.

NOBODY'S BEEN HIRED.

THE SPECIAL SESSION WAS CALLED TO GET A CANDIDATE THAT SOME OF US THINK IS A GOOD CANDIDATE.

FURTHER INTERVIEWS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT'S IT.

I HAVE FULL EXPECTATIONS THAT WE WILL INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL INCLUDE TEACHERS AND STAFF, BUT HOW THIS GOT OFF THE RAILS IS BEYOND ME.

I SWEAR TO YOU, THAT IS THE TRUTH AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.

SO ALL OF THIS STUFF GOING ON IS JUST POLITICAL THEATER.

NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED.

I HELPED DRIVE. I JUST WANT THIS CANDIDATE INTERVIEWED BY TWO OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

FACTUALLY, EVERYONE'S BEEN OFFERED THAT ALREADY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, BUT WE DID TOTALLY ENDORSE CAROLYN, AND WE WERE ON THE PATH OF LET'S PAUSE.

I LOVE THAT WORD AND LET'S GET THROUGH THIS TRANSITION, AND MAYBE SHE'S THE RIGHT ONE OR MAYBE WE HAVE A LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THE SPRING.

THAT'S THE LAST THING I EVER HEARD BEFORE ALL THIS ERUPTED.

SO THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ADD MY TWO CENTS, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

I ALSO DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT TONIGHT'S MEETING WAS ABOUT.

I THINK LAST TIME WHEN WE ALL MET AS A COUNCIL, WE SPOKE WITH A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE AS A RECRUITING FIRM AND WE AGREED WE'D TAKE UP THIS MATTER ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, WHICH IS THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. SO I THINK THIS IS A SURPRISE TO SOME OF US AS WELL.

THE ORIGIN OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT WAS UNDER.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS OF SETTING UP A MEETING.

IF A CALENDAR MEETING SET BY THE COUNCIL.

RIGHT. YOU CAN CALL A MEETING OR OPTION THREE IS THREE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN REQUEST A MEETING AND ON FRIDAY, WITHIN ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES TIMEFRAME, THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS EMAILED REQUESTING TO HAVE A WEDNESDAY 6:00 MEETING.

EMERGENCY MEETING ABOUT HEAD OF SCHOOL.

CORRECT, AND.

SO THE FIRST PERSON WHO ORIGINATED THE EMAIL WAS VICTOR SANSONE, AND TONIGHT WE HAVE A THE AGENDA ITEM ON THERE TALKING ABOUT ATTENDANCE AND WE HAD MISSED FIVE MEETINGS ACTUALLY THIS SUMMER THAT AGENDA ITEM WAS TABLED.

[00:15:05]

SO LET'S GO ON WITH OUR THREE MINUTE SPEECH HERE.

WELL, I GUESS I GET A SECOND TO EXPLAIN WHY I CALLED THE MEETING.

YOU KNOW, THE HEAD OF SCHOOL IS ONE OF 50 THINGS THIS COUNCIL NEEDS HIGHER LEVEL OF URGENCY AROUND.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ACT MORE LIKE A CORPORATE BOARD.

I COME FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD WHERE WE ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH A HIGH SENSE OF URGENCY AND COMPREHENSIVELY AND INCLUSIVELY.

I AFTER COUNCILMAN GREAVES.

ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO HAVE THIS ISSUE PUT ON OUR AGENDA AND WAS IGNORED.

REALLY WAS FORCED TO THIS ACTION.

NOT BECAUSE OF THIS CANDIDATE.

SOMEBODY THAT I.

WANT TO JAM INTO THE ROLE.

THERE'S NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

SIMPLY THAT WE AS A GROUP BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETINGS.

CAN'T REALLY DISCUSS THINGS AS A GROUP.

SO IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THINGS AS A GROUP, THE MAYOR HAS TO CONSENT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

ACTUALLY, AND THAT--CAN I HAVE MY TIME, PLEASE? JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE CAN REQUEST THINGS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA, AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER A NUMBER OF MISSES ON THIS FRONT, AND SEEING THAT WE HAD A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE THAT A HANDFUL OF US INTERVIEWED, INCLUDING THE MAYOR.

I'VE SPOKEN TO THIS GENTLEMAN ONE TIME.

HE WAS AN INCREDIBLE CANDIDATE.

HE'S IN A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, OUR TIMEFRAME AND WINDOW WITH HIM MAY BE LIMITED.

I THOUGHT SEPTEMBER 11TH WAS TOO FAR IN THE FUTURE, AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT I HAD THE OPTION OF DOING WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE THIS CONVERSATION AS A GROUP.

I HAD NO INTENTION OF THIS BECOMING A PUBLIC SPECTACLE.

IT WAS CALLED IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD HAVE JUST GOT TOGETHER FOR AN HOUR AND SAID, IS THIS A GUY THAT WE CARE ABOUT OR NOT? AND THAT'S HOW I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO GO DOWN.

SO THIS CHARADE AND EVERYBODY GETTING FREAKED OUT ABOUT WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT DO TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, MY FULL INTENTION FOR TONIGHT WAS TO GET ALL OF US IN A ROOM SO THAT WE COULD SHARE OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR CANDIDATE, WHETHER WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING HIM FORWARD THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND ALSO TO JUST UPDATE OUR PROCESS.

YEAH, WE AGREED THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME OF YEAR TO BE RECRUITING HEADS OF SCHOOL BUT JUST LIKE WE ALL WANT TO SELL OUR HOUSES IN THE SPRING, I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE'RE FORCED TO DO THINGS OFF MARKET AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT US AS A COUNCIL AGREED WHERE EVERYBODY'S VOICE WAS HEARD.

THE OF THE TIMING OF POTENTIALLY HIRING A CONSULTING FIRM TO ASSIST US IN THIS PROCESS, AND THEN WHAT TO DO.

WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL BETWEEN NOW AND THEN? SHOULD WE GET INTRODUCED TO A CANDIDATE THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER? SHOULD WE IGNORE IT? SHOULD WE START THE PROCESS NOW AND PUT THAT PERSON IN THE PROCESS? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS TONIGHT IN CLOSED SESSION.

THAT WAS WHY I CALLED THE MEETING, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS AS WELL TO CHIME IN.

AS A COUNCIL, I HAVE FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR US TO BE AN EMPOWERED AND ACTIVE COUNCIL, AND AS YOU JUST HEARD VICTOR SANSONE SAY, WE CAN ONLY BE THAT WAY IF WE MEET AND WE TALK AND WE TAKE ACTION, AND THAT'S THE PART THAT HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS THIS INTERNALLY ALL YEAR.

LET ME GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.

WE MEET TWICE A MONTH BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY THIS YEAR.

THE MAYOR CANCELED HALF THOSE MEETINGS WITHOUT CONSENT OF COUNCIL, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SCHEDULED MEETINGS WHICH WERE APPROVED LAST FALL FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2023, BEYOND JUST THE CANCELED MEETINGS, WHICH WAS ALMOST 50% IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR.

SEVERAL MEETINGS WERE ALSO RESCHEDULED.

NOW, MANY OF US STILL HAVE WORK LIVES AND CHILDREN LIVES, AND I TRAVEL QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR WORK.

MY TWO MISSING ABSENCES WERE DUE TO REARRANGE LAST MINUTE RESCHEDULING.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ATTENDANCE, WE REALLY HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT'S WHY I VOTED TO TABLE THIS MOTION ON ATTENDANCE IN TERMS OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE STREAMLINED IF COUNCIL HAD MORE, MORE SAY AND MORE DIRECTION IN THE PROCESS, AND

[00:20:07]

AFTER ALL, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING: WE WANT A VERY QUALIFIED, ALIGNED IN SPIRIT AND PHILOSOPHY AND TACTICS IN THE HEAD OF SCHOOL.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? AND THIS MEETING WILL HOPEFULLY EXPLORE THOSE FURTHER.

THANK YOU.

AT THE END OF EVERY MEETING, COUNCIL CAN ADD SOMETHING TO THE AGENDA.

IT TAKES A FIRST AND A SECOND.

YOU CAN WATCH EVERY VIDEO.

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE.

LET'S GO ON. NEXT IS MARCUS NOVACEK.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M GOING TO REITERATE SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN AND THEN BRING UP A FEW OTHERS.

I WANT TO START WITH A LINE FROM THE COMMUNIQUE THAT WAS SENT OUT ON JUNE 16TH.

IT SAYS A SUBCOMMITTEE, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND PARENTS WILL BE WILL PROVIDE INPUT INTO THIS INCLUSIVE PROCESS, AND FRANKLY, ALL SUMMER WE'VE HEARD NOTHING UNTIL NOW.

YOU'VE EXCLUDED PARENTS FROM THE PROCESS.

IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND FRANKLY, UNPROFESSIONAL.

LAST SPRING, I EXPRESSED TO ALMOST EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT BOTH MY WIFE AND I WERE WILLING TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT OTHER PARENTS FEEL SIMILARLY YET YOU'VE EXCLUDED US FROM THE PROCESS.

THE LAST TWO HEADS OF SCHOOL, FRANKLY, WERE POOR HIRES, IN MY OPINION.

THE FIRST ONE WAS OUT OF TOUCH, ALOOF, A POOR LEADER.

SHE LACKED THE WILL TO ENFORCE STANDARDS OF DISCIPLINE.

YOU REPLACED HER WITH A DISHONEST, LYING, MANIPULATIVE, UNQUALIFIED, THOUGH VERY WELL-SPOKEN INDIVIDUAL WITH, FRANKLY, NO MORAL COMPASS, BUT SO MORE THAN ANYTHING, AS WE GO FORWARD, THE MAIN QUALITY THAT THE NEW HEAD, IN MY OPINION, NEEDS TO HAVE, THEY NEED TO HAVE AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CHARACTER, INTEGRITY AND HONESTY.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A BULLYING PROBLEM, A KINDNESS PROBLEM AND A CHEATING PROBLEM AT OUR SCHOOL.

UNLESS IT STARTS AT THE TOP, HOLDING YOURSELVES AND ADMINISTRATORS RESPONSIBLE, THINGS WILL NOT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

YOU ONLY HELD MR. WILSON RESPONSIBLE, REMOTELY RESPONSIBLE AFTER HE HAD UNILATERALLY LIED TO NUMEROUS PARENTS, SPREAD RUMORS, AND DESTROYED THE REPUTATION OF OTHER PARENTS AND THEN FINALLY DISOBEYED TOWN COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVES.

THE ONLY WAY THIS GETS BETTER OR THIS GETS CORRECTED AND GET THE PROCESS IS TO GET THE PROCESS RIGHT, AND THAT STARTS WITH LETTING PARENTS HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE AS WELL.

IT SHOULD BE WELL REPRESENTED RESIDENTS AS WELL AS LOTTERY PARENTS.

PARENTS OF ABLE BODIED AND DISABLED MINORITY REPRESENTED, SOCIOECONOMIC REPRESENTED AND THE PARENTS OF PYP, MYP AND DP STUDENTS.

LASTLY, IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS YOU HAVE MODIFIED THE SCHOOL MOTTO, THE STUDENT HANDBOOK, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, AS WELL AS REORGANIZED THE SCHOOL WITH NO PARENTAL INPUT OR WORSE, RECEIVING INPUT AND JUST IGNORING IT.

SO AGAIN, IN SUMMARY, PLEASE GET IT RIGHT.

GET THE PROCESS RIGHT.

INVITE PARENTS TO THE TABLE TO HAVE A VOICE AGAIN.

MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH WILLING TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A COMMITTEE FORUM THIS WEEK SO THAT WE CAN TALK TO THE CANDIDATES AND HAVE MORE SAY IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EMAILS TO READ.

MELISSA DEMOSS HERE.

AN EMAIL.

I'LL READ FOR HER. DEAR BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TONIGHT AND CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING.

TONIGHT, I'M EXPRESSING MY CONCERN REGARDING HIRING A NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL.

I HAVE HEARD THE DECISION COULD BE ONE OF TWO CANDIDATES.

I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST EACH CANDIDATE.

MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PROCESS.

I'M ADVOCATING FOR A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

THE PROCESS ALLOWS THE SCHOOL TO GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE SCHOOL.

WESTLAKE IS OFTEN UNDER A PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT.

WE JUST WANT TO DO OUR BEST.

COLLECTIVELY, WE CAN ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE.

A QUICK DECISION DOES NOT ALLUDE TO EXCELLENCE.

PLEASE SUPPORT A FAIR, DETAILED PROCESS AS WE DECIDE ON THE INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THAT SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

[00:25:04]

MAYOR.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

AS A STAKEHOLDER WESTLAKE ACADEMY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSIDER THE INPUT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF A BELOVED ACADEMY.

AS A TEACHER, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD IN SEARCH FOR OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL.

PLEASE CONSIDER HAVING A PANEL OF EDUCATORS WITHIN THE PROCESS.

WE NEED TO KEEP WITH CONSISTENCY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT CAROLYN ANDERSON IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE HEAD OF SCHOOL.

SHE KNOWS OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

I IMPLORE YOU TO COME ON TO CAMPUS AND SPEAK WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR DECISION WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THE DAILY LIVES OF THE EDUCATORS. WE LOVE WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND WE LOVE TO WATCH IT FLOURISH WITH FORWARD THINKING VISION.

WE RESPECT YOUR DECISIONS AS COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN AND HOPE THAT THE PROCESS WILL BE DONE THROUGH A THOROUGH SEARCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

RENÉ BARR.

[INAUDIBLE]. YOU DON'T NEED? OKAY.

I'M DIANE NELSON.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN AS A STAKEHOLDER WESTLAKE ACADEMY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSIDER THE INPUT OF TEACHERS WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES.

OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE SAME EMAIL.

OKAY, AND THEN AARON WELCH.

HEY, FOLKS, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER A QUOTE FOR THE INSULATION.

OH, SORRY. WRONG. WAYNE, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP? WAYNE STOLTENBERG, 2006.

[INAUDIBLE] WESTLAKE, OBVIOUSLY.

I SAT WHERE YOU ALL SIT NOT THAT LONG AGO, AND I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN THERE WAS A HIRING PROCESS, NOT THE LATEST ONE, BUT THE ONE BEFORE THAT, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIBLE PROCESS, AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT AT THE TIME.

THE BOARD HAD ESSENTIALLY NO INPUT.

THE TOWN MANAGER, IT WAS VIEWED AS THE PROCESS WAS TOWN MANAGER SCHOOLS, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TOWN.

IT'S LIKE HIRING A FIRE CHIEF OR A PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER OR THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS.

THE TOWN MANAGER MAKES THE CALL.

AS A BOARD MEMBER, I WAS ABLE TO MEET THE PERSON THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE AFTER THE OFFER HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE AND ESSENTIALLY ACCEPTED.

TERRIBLE PROCESS, BUT I DIDN'T WIN.

I DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA EXPRESSING DISPLEASURE OR JUST DIDN'T HANDLE IT THAT WAY.

LET FOLKS ON THE BOARD KNOW AND THE MAYOR WASN'T HAPPY WITH IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME.

WHAT KIND OF A PROCESS SHOULD WE HAVE? THIS IS NOT THAT HARD.

I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

ONLY ONE AT A TIME, STAN.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPEN MEETINGS ACT ISSUE, BUT HOW DO OTHER HIGH REGARDED, HIGH PERFORMING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FIND A LEADER? OKAY. IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, GUYS.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

THE BOARD FORMS A SEARCH COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH PERFORMING PLACE.

DID THIS ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE WERE HIRING FOR THE PROCESS THAT I WAS INVOLVED WITH DR.

BRYSON AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, WHERE I WENT TO COLLEGE JUST DID IT.

WE HIRED OUR I THINK SHE'S OUR SEVENTH OR EIGHTH PRESIDENT.

WELL, WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY LOOKED SHOCKINGLY SIMILAR.

THE BOARD FORMED A SEARCH COMMITTEE.

THAT SEARCH COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF SOME BOARD MEMBERS, NOT NECESSARILY ALL, BUT FOLKS WHO HAVE TIME TO DO IT.

SOME BOARD MEMBERS, SOME LEADERS AT THE SCHOOL PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND SOME PARENTS, AND THAT'S YOUR SEARCH COMMITTEE, AND YOU FIND FOLKS THAT HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED FOR A WHILE WITH THE SCHOOL, KNOW THE SCHOOL AND HAVE TIME TO DO IT.

THAT'S YOUR COMMITTEE AND YOU HIRE A SEARCH FIRM TO KIND OF ORGANIZE THE PROCESS.

THEY GET CANDIDATES AND I WOULD NOT USE THE SAME SEARCH FIRM WE HIRED THE LAST TWO TIMES.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY EXCLUDED FOLKS THAT GENERALLY HAVE A PRIVATE SCHOOL BACKGROUND.

WE'VE GOT 800 KIDS IN THE SCHOOL PLUS [INAUDIBLE] GIVE OR TAKE.

THAT'S NOT BIG SCHOOL ISD, SO WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT.

I TALKED TO THE SEARCH FIRM. WE WENT THROUGH IT.

HE, YOU KNOW, WASN'T PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAD TO SAY IN TERMS OF WHO WE GOT TO LOOK FOR.

I WOULDN'T USE THE SAME SEARCH OR I'D USE SOMEBODY THAT IS BETTER INVOLVED, THAT HAS SOME EXPERIENCE FINDING A LEADER AT A SCHOOL GENERALLY OUR SIZE, IT'S ENTREPRENEURIAL, BUT THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU DO, AND ULTIMATELY YOU GET INPUT FROM ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS GOING TO INVOLVE LEADERS AT SCHOOL, PARENTS, SOME BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEN YOU GUYS MAKE THE CALL BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BOARD AND YOU ANSWER TO THE TOWN RESIDENTS AND THE TOWN OWNS THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S HOW YOU OUGHT TO DO IT.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN ANY HANDBOOK THAT SORT OF DOESN'T DESCRIBE IT THAT WAY, WE HAVE A LAWYER HERE.

LET'S REWRITE IT.

SO WE HAVE A GOOD PROCESS THAT'S DOCUMENTED.

THIS ISN'T HARD.

NO, KEEP GOING. I'M ALMOST DONE.

[00:30:04]

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S AWESOME AND YOU REALLY THINK WE OUGHT TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THAT TO YOUR JUDGMENT.

YOU'LL BE JUDGED FOR IT, GOOD OR BAD.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

LASTLY, IN TERMS OF CONDUCT ON THE BOARD.

SEAN AN OPEN THING LIKE GROUP MEET IS NOT WHERE YOU CONDUCT SORT OF TOWN BUSINESS OR AIR DIRTY LAUNDRY.

IT'S JUST NOT GOOD.

I WOULDN'T DO IT, AND VIC, YOU DON'T RESPOND TO THAT SORT OF STUFF.

YOU JUST DON'T. SO, GUYS, IF YOU WANT TO SORT OF BE TREATED LIKE ADULTS, YOU NEED TO ACT LIKE ADULTS.

SO LET'S DO THAT.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

THANKS, MAN. SEE, LINDA.

DID LINDA ALREADY COME UP. YEAH, LINDA, DID ALREADY COME UP? LINDA, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? LINDA BJORN 6010 STAGECOACH CIRCLE WESTLAKE, TEXAS.

GOOD SHIRT.

NEED SOME WATER.

SO, YES WELL, ONE THING I WANTED TO DO FIRST WAS I HAVE SUPPORTED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN YOUR HEART HAS THE VERY COMMON GOAL TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR WESTLAKE AND WHAT IS BEST FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND ON THAT, AND SO I THINK BASED UPON THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS PAST YEAR IS REALLY LET'S LOOK AT LESSONS LEARNED.

SOME VERY GOOD POINTS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR SCHOOLS, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY TONIGHT TO COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND WORK OUT WHAT ARE THOSE LESSONS LEARNED AND SHAKE HANDS, GOOD GAME, LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT GAME AND REALLY MAKE IT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE NEXT ROUND.

LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME CHATTER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT PLEASANT.

IT WASN'T GOOD FOR THE REST OF US TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, THE WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEGATIVITY GOING ACROSS BACK AND FORTH.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT AND WE BELIEVE IN YOU ALL AND WE WANT YOU TO COME TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR SCHOOL AND BY OUR COMMUNITY TO REACH THOSE COMMON GOALS, AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS THE HEART AND MIND AND SOUL AND TALENT TO DO THAT AND HAVE NO UNDERLYING AGENDA TO DO ANYTHING BUT THAT.

SO AS AN EXAMPLE, I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE WAS ONE OF THE REASONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK EVERY ONE OF YOU RAN ON AND I'VE BEEN SUBSTITUTING AT THE SCHOOL AND SUBSTITUTING AND THOSE PORTABLE BUILDINGS WHICH WERE JUST THE AWFUL, NASTIEST THINGS THAT I'VE EVER KIND OF BEEN IN, AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TOGETHER AFTER COMING TOGETHER FOR JUST A YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THOSE, WHAT, FOR NINE YEARS, TEN YEARS, AND YOU GUYS AS A TEAM WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, BRING THOSE BUILDINGS SHUT DOWN THE INTERSTATE, YOU KNOW SHUT DOWN THE TOWNS, YOU KNOW, TO GET THOSE BUILDINGS IN ON TIME AND THANK GOD WE GOT MORE THAN ONE BATHROOM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN THERE, MISS DILL.

YES. WHICH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO HER ROOM THERE.

SO, YEAH, THE PLUMBER.

SO I JUST WANT THAT KIND OF TEAMWORK AND ACTIVITY TO OCCUR GOING FORWARD BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ANYTHING, BUT THE BEST THING THAT'S FOR THIS SCHOOL, AND JUST ONE OTHER QUICK EXAMPLE, ONE OTHER QUICK EXAMPLE THAT PRINCIPAL HARDING BROUGHT UP ABOUT, YEAH, WE NEED AN IB LEADER, BUT WE ALSO NEED SOMEBODY THAT DOES UNDERSTAND THE TEXAS EDUCATION RULES BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN THE SECOND CLASS, WAS ACTUALLY IMPACTED AND IT WAS ALMOST VERY SEVERE IMPACT, BUT THANK GOODNESS SHE WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FROM IT, BUT AS AN EXAMPLE, IF SOMEBODY'S NOT UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE A TEXAS STATE DIPLOMA REQUIRED, THE PHYSICS EXAMPLE, THE PHYSICS COURSE PROGRAM, AND THEY WENT, OH MY GOSH, WE DON'T HAVE PHYSICS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICS.

SO WHAT DID THEY DO? YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN ONLINE SUMMER PROGRAM FOR.

TO TEACH PHYSICS, AND IF ANYBODY IS TAKING PHYSICS, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S HARD ENOUGH HAVING A REALLY GOOD PHYSICS TEACHER TO TEACH PHYSICS, BUT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT ONLINE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND MY DAUGHTER IS VERY, VERY BRIGHT, SMART GIRL, BUT SHE STRUGGLED WHEN SHE WENT TO TULANE FOR A CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE.

SHE REALLY STRUGGLED IN THAT AND THAT ALMOST TURNED HER OFF FROM THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM IN THERE, BUT THANK GOD SHE SHE RECOVERED.

SHE ACED HER NEXT PHYSICS CLASS AND WAS ABLE TO DO IT, BUT STEM IS TOO IMPORTANT.

WE CAN'T JUST HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S AN IB HUMANITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST UNDERSTANDS THE HUMANITIES PART OF IT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE INITIAL FOCUS IN THE SCHOOL BEFORE WE

[00:35:01]

SO I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU STEPPING UP SERVING FOR OUR TEAM.

LET'S SHAKE HANDS AT THE END.

LESSONS LEARNED AND PLOW FORWARD POSITIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LINDA.

ONE LAST ONE. CRYSTAL SHINER.

DO YOU WANT TO GO? ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. THAT'S IT FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT SECTION.

LET ME GO FIND PAPERWORK HERE.

NEXT UP IS THE CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION 23-224.

[D. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION]

DO YOU GUYS WANT TO MAKE THIS AN OPEN SESSION OR KEEP IT CLOSED? I MEAN, YOU SURE? I MEAN, WE HAD A SOCIAL MEDIA POST ADVERTISING ON OUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.

IT'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAYOR WE'LL KEEP IT THAT WAY.

OKAY. I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP IT OPEN.

I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP IT OPEN TO ALL THESE PEOPLE.

CAME TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK.

I'M OKAY WITH IT. STAYING OPEN AS WELL.

FIRST, I OPEN.

A SECOND? I WILL SECOND KEEPING IT OPEN.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT OPEN SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL IN FAVOR KEEPING IT CLOSED.

SAY NO.

ABSTAIN, VICTOR.

YEAH, LET'S KEEP IT UP AND THEN. OKAY.

YOU WANT TO BE HEARD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARD.

MAYOR, JUST ONE CAUTION.

IF WE ARE KEEPING THIS OPEN AND STAN CAN CORRECT THIS IF I'M INCORRECT, BUT WE MAKE SURE WE DON'T USE ANY NAMES OF CANDIDATES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

OH, SURE. BEFORE WE START, LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL ORGANIZE OURSELVES AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

WE'RE COMING BACK INTO SESSION RIGHT HERE.

I BELIEVE OUR ATTORNEY, JANET, NEEDS TO SAY A FEW THINGS TO US HERE.

JUST AN UPDATE OR A REMINDER REGARDING THE, THE SCOPE OF CLOSED SESSION WHEN YOU'RE DISCUSSING A PERSONNEL MATTER OR OPEN SESSION, FOR THAT MATTER, BECAUSE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HOLD THIS IN OPEN SESSION.

JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DISCUSS THE DELIBERATION, APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IN CLOSED SESSION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN TO WAIVE THAT PRIVILEGE, BUT AS A REMINDER, THERE IS ALSO A PROVISION UNDER SECTION 551.074 THAT THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT, WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE DELIBERATION, HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THAT INFORMATION BE STAY IN CLOSED SESSION, AND SO WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT ANY DISCUSSION OF A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR CLOSED SESSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, LET'S START OFF WITH A RECAP OF WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST TIME.

WE DURING THE SUMMER, WE POSTED A JOB IN MAY, 134 PEOPLE APPLIED OUR TOP.

WE FORMED A SCORE SHEET WITH THE PRINCIPALS.

ALL THE PRINCIPALS READ THE RESUMES, 130 RESUMES.

THEY BASICALLY CAME UP WITH THE TOP 20.

THEY SCORED THEM.

WE DID THIS PRETTY QUICKLY, AND THEN BY THE TIME WE CALL THESE PEOPLE, EVERYONE ELSE THOUGHT THESE PEOPLE WERE AWESOME, TOO, AND THEY WERE HIRED INSTANTLY, AND SO WE WENT FURTHER DOWN THE LIST TO KIND OF GAUGE OUR PROCESS.

WE HAD SOME STRONG PRINCIPALS OR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, I WOULD CALL THEM, BUT NO CANDIDATE TRULY WOWED US, RIGHT? THEN WE CAME BACK ON THE SECOND ITERATION AND TRIED TO GET SOME MORE.

WE BROUGHT IN A CONSULTANT AND A CONSULTANT KIND OF.

THE CONSULTANT WAS THE SAINT MARK'S CONSULTANT.

THEY DID THE HIRE FOR SAINT MARK'S.

RIGHT, AND THEY OPINED THAT WE SHOULD.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYONE IN THIS TYPE OF YEAR.

ANYONE ON THE BEACH THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU DON'T WANT IS THE PHRASE, AND THE BEST TIME PROBABLY TO POST IS NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND YOU'LL GET A LOT OF CANDIDATES.

[00:40:02]

AGAIN THEY JUST DID THE SAINT MARK'S HIRE FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID YOU CAN DO JANUARY, FEBRUARY INTERVIEWS.

THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THEY RECOMMEND TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS, ENGAGE WITH FACULTY, AND THEN WE DEBATED TO WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM OR SOMEONE LIKE THEM OR KEEP IT IN-HOUSE WITH OUR OWN HR AND TRY TO RUN IT, BUT BASICALLY THAT WAS WHERE WE KIND OF LEFT OFF ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, AND AND NOW WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, SO I'LL LEAVE IT OPEN HERE.

ANYONE? DAVID? I'D LIKE TO KIND OF REITERATE AND BE A LITTLE MORE SUCCINCT ON THE FACTS.

IT IS CORRECT. WE HAD OVER 130 APPLICANTS.

THE THREE PRINCIPALS AND I APPRECIATE IT, ACTUALLY GOT DOWN TO A TOP TEN LIST AND THE TOP TEN LIST.

BY THE TIME WE GOT AROUND TO THE INTERVIEWS, I THINK FIVE HAD TAKEN JOBS.

SO ONE, I DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTOOD THE ENVIRONMENT AND TOO, WHERE WE'RE SLOW OF GETTING TO THESE CANDIDATES.

WE THEN HAD 4 OR 5 INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED.

THE MAYOR AND I INTERVIEWED AND I THINK, DAVID, YOU WERE IN A COUPLE OF THESE.

WE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL PEOPLE, BUT ON AND THIS IS THE GIST OF THIS MEETING AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL.

THE MAYOR AND I INTERVIEWED A CANDIDATE ON JULY 10TH AT 9:00, AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW, I CALLED THE MAYOR AND I SAID, THIS GUY'S GREAT.

HE'S A LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE.

AT THE TIME, THE MAYOR AGREED, AND YOU CAN CONTRADICT ME IF I'M WRONG, MAYOR, BUT THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT FOR FOR WEEKS.

SO ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ON JULY 31ST, I ASKED THE MAYOR TO PLEASE HAVE THE REST OF THE COUNCIL INTERVIEW THIS PERSON, AND THE MAYOR AGREED. NO ACTION TAKEN.

I SENT INDIVIDUAL TEXTS TO COUNCILMAN SANSONE, SHINER AND WHITE SAYING, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CANDIDATE.

INTERVIEWS ARE BEING SET UP.

I WOULD REALLY WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK.

ON AUGUST 4TH, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON AUGUST 4TH, THIS CANDIDATE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM HR SAYING, WE'RE SUSPENDING THE SEARCH TILL SPRING.

SO WE CLEARED THAT UP.

THEN AGAIN, ON AUGUST 7TH, I ONCE AGAIN PRETTY DIRECTLY ASKED THE MAYOR TO HAVE THE REST OF THE COUNCIL INTERVIEW THIS CANDIDATE.

THIS WAS DURING A PRESENTATION AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

NOW, I WILL ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SHINER AND QUINT.

WE DID SAY WE WERE PAUSING TILL SPRING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS CANDIDATE.

IS THIS A VIABLE CANDIDATE? THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS OR NOT.

NO OFFERS WERE MADE.

I JUST WANTED TO GET THIS PERSON INTERVIEWED.

SO FINALLY, AFTER THE MAYOR AND I HAD A PRETTY HEATED CONVERSATION ON AUGUST 18TH AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

THE INTERVIEWS WERE SET UP AND COUNCILMAN SANSONE AND ON AUGUST 23RD INTERVIEWED THIS CANDIDATE AND COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN AND WHITE INTERVIEWED ON THE 26TH.

THAT'S IT. NOTHING NEFARIOUS.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO.

GET IN A ROOM AND SAY, IS THIS A VIABLE CANDIDATE BEFORE WE GO HIRE A RECRUITING FIRM AND WHY? I WAS PUT OFF AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS.

I'M SURE THE MAYOR WILL HAVE AN ANSWER TO IT, BUT I WAS FRUSTRATED.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS POLITICAL THEATER YOU'RE SEEING TONIGHT, BUT IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT REQUEST.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THIS CANDIDATE IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL THE FIRST OF NEXT YEAR, SO WE GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO INVOLVE THE TOWN.

THE TEACHERS PAUSE.

SO I'M SORRY.

YOU ALL ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE THIS CANDIDATE WOULDN'T EVEN BE AVAILABLE TO START UNTIL SPRING.

SO I'M GLAD WE GOT TO HEAR YOU TONIGHT.

THIS IS KIND OF A WEIRD MEETING THAT WE HAD, BUT I THINK WE ALL HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I THINK MOST OF US AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE TOWN NEEDS TO BE PART OF IT.

THE PARENTS NEED TO BE PART OF IT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE HAVE PSTD, WHATEVER THE POST TRAUMATIC THING IS AS TEACHERS OF WHAT'S GONE THROUGH THE LAST HEAD OF SCHOOL MOST OF US DID WEREN'T HERE AND THE ONE COUNCIL PERSON THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY VOTED AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT COUNCIL AND YOU PROBABLY HAD TO GO ALONG WITH THE FLOW. SO I 100% AGREE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE INPUT AND AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT BECAUSE I THINK WE HEAR IT LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, IF THIS GENTLEMAN IS AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING, HE TURNS OUT TO BE THE TOP GUY.

FANTASTIC OR GENTLE WOMAN SINCE I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TIP MY CARDS, AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

I THINK WE ALL HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

COUNCILMAN SHINER, JUST THERE'S ONE.

THANK YOU. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, AND I JUST DO WANT TO SAY TO EVERYONE, WE'RE NOT EVEN FAR ENOUGH ALONG THE IF WE HAD A PROCESS IN PLACE TO INCLUDE PARENTS AND TEACHERS, WE'RE NOT EVEN THERE.

RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE THE CANDIDATES TO DO THAT.

WE'RE REALLY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

THE REASON THERE WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY, IF THIS CANDIDATE HAPPENS TO BE THE RIGHT ONE, HE'S GOT TWO OTHER JOB OFFERS.

HE'S LOOKING AT ONE IN DENMARK AND ONE IN PANAMA.

[00:45:01]

WE'VE LET A LOT OF PEOPLE GO.

YOU JUST HEARD WE LOST FIVE PEOPLE RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

THERE WERE SOME PRETTY GOOD CANDIDATES BECAUSE THEY GOT JOBS.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON FOR THE SENSE OF URGENCY.

I'M FINISHED. I HAVE SOME COMMENTARY HERE.

I ACTUALLY SENT EVERYONE THIS RESUME ON 18TH MAY.

THE CANDIDATE WROTE EVERYONE ON [INAUDIBLE].

IN A TIME NO ONE WAS WILDLY INTERESTED, AND THEN LATER ON, A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, WE DID A ZOOM INTERVIEW.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AN AFFABLE PERSON.

I WAS CONCERNED THEY SPENT TOO MUCH TIME OVERSEAS AND HAD GONE NATIVE LIKE THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TEXAS CODE, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'VE SPENT THE LAST 90 DAYS AS ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL, CLEANING UP SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO AND I'VE THE LAST 90 DAYS HAS BEEN MY HIGHLIGHT. I GOT TO DO THE PORTABLES AND WE REPLACED IT WITH THE MODULARS.

I WAS OBSESSED WITH THE COUNCIL.

WE ALL DID THAT TOGETHER IN COLLECTIVE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE LOW POINT IS, I GUESS WHEN THE PARENTS OF A DECISION I HAD TO GO TALK TO AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEIR CHILD COMMITS SUICIDE, AND IT'S MY FAULT, RIGHT? SO I'M SUPER IN TUNE AND SUPER CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS TEXAS EDUCATION, AND THE MEETING TONIGHT, IN MY VIEW, DID NOT MATCH WHERE WE WERE A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, AND THAT CONCERNED ME DRASTICALLY.

WE UNANIMOUSLY KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WE CAME OUT AND WE VOTED AND WE PUT AN INTERIM IN, AND NOW I'M HERE TONIGHT.

I'M ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. I ALREADY PUT ENOUGH TIME IN FOR THIS STUFF.

THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES. WHY DID YOU CONTINUALLY PUT OFF MY REQUEST TO HAVE THE REST OF THE COUNCIL INTERVIEW THIS CANDIDATE? I DID NOT. IT'S ON THE RECORD.

YES, YOU DID. I DID NOT.

CAN I JUST INTERJECT BRIEFLY? YOU HAD HIS RESUME. HE EMAILED YOU DIRECTLY? YEAH, I'LL LOOK, I'LL TAKE SOME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

I THINK ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAS NOT INTERVIEWED THIS CANDIDATE, THERE'S NO PARTICULAR REASON.

IT'S JUST IS I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SANSONE SAID THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME.

IT IS SO RARE FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL JUST TO DEBATE ONE ISSUE.

SO IT'S KIND OF A.

A GOOD OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE HERE JUST TO DISCUSS THIS POINT.

LOOK, I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE WAS THIS SENSE OF URGENCY.

YES THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN EVOLVING.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS TO REPLACE HEAD OF SCHOOL IN EVERY IF NOT MOST, IF NOT EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WE'VE HAD SINCE THE PREVIOUS HEAD DEPARTED.

I THINK WHAT IS CLEAR IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT DEFINED FULLY YET WHAT THIS PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO.

WE DID TALK TO A RECRUITING FIRM IN THE LAST MEETING.

I THINK THE INTENTION IS WE'LL TALK WITH THEM AGAIN.

I KNOW WE'LL TRY TO CLOSE THIS OUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CANNOT DISCUSS IN AN OPEN MEETING, INCLUDING CONTRACTS AND OTHER SUCH THINGS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC MEETING IS JUST WHAT OUR INTENTIONS AND AMBITIONS ARE.

I THINK WE ALL HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, AND I THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ALL THE COMMENTS AND EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT.

I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE INCLUDED AND HAVE AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

I GENUINELY BELIEVE EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL FEELS THE SAME WAY.

KIM, TO YOUR POINT, I AGREE, LOOK, IF THIS CANDIDATE TURNS OUT TO BE THE VERY BEST, THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD HOLD UP ANY PARTICULAR PROCESS, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD, DEFINE WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

IF THAT'S HAVING A RECRUITING FIRM, IDENTIFYING WHO THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE, HAVING APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDER INPUT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THEN I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT AND I HOPE WE CAN DEFINE THAT BEFORE WE DEPART TONIGHT AND AND GET EVERYTHING MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I PROMISE I WILL TALK TO THIS CANDIDATE AND GIVE YOU MY HONEST FEEDBACK BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THIS CANDIDATE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS MAKING THAT DECISION WITHOUT A BROADER BUY-IN.

YEAH, I'D LIKE TO JUST JUMP IN NOW.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS A SUCCESS.

I MEAN, AS MUCH DRAMA HAS BEEN CREATED AND I NOW GET TO LEARN WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THIS CANDIDATE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS REALLY THE POINT OF ME CALLING THE MEETING WAS, IS THIS SOMEBODY THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT? I THOUGHT HE WAS HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

THERE ARE SOME KNOCKS WITH HIM BEING ABROAD, BUT HE CHECKS THE I'VE BOX THROUGH AND THROUGH.

[00:50:03]

HE'S A COACH.

IT HE OR SHE IS A COACH SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NEVER BE IN THEIR OFFICE BUT WOULD BE IN THE HALLWAYS INGRATIATING THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.

I FELT THIS CANDIDATE SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED, AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THIS PERSON AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF WE WANT TO, Y OU KNOW, ACCELERATE THE PROCESS OF HIRING THIS SEARCH FIRM, PUT THIS PERSON THROUGH MAYBE THEIR PROCESS OF EVALUATION, SINCE THIS IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY, MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO US, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO THINK ABOUT COMPENSATION AND CONTRACTS, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS HIS EXECUTIVE FIRM COULD HELP US WITH THAT AS WELL.

IF WE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE MARKET, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ALL THE MARKET INTEL.

SO, YOU KNOW PART OF THE REASON I WANTED TO MEET WITH THE COUNCIL IS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR PROCESS? AND HOW DO WE HOW DO WE DO THIS SO THAT IT'S UNASSAILABLE? WE HAVE A LOT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I LOOK BACK AT THE LAST YEAR OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WENT DOWN AND WE DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING, AND WE ENDED UP WITH SPECTACLE AFTER SPECTACLE IN THIS CHAMBER.

I CALL THAT AN UNFORCED ERROR.

YOU KNOW. MY BACKGROUND IS INVESTING IN COMPANIES AND TIME IS MONEY, AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY WITHOUT A PLAN, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE HURTING OURSELVES AND OUR REPUTATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING WE TYPICALLY DO IS LINE UP ALL THE PRIORITIES AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THEM.

THOSE ARE USUALLY DRIVEN FROM THE BUDGET.

SO TO HAVE THIS BIG GAP, THIS IS A BIT OF A SIDE POINT FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL.

THIS IS PART OF MY FRUSTRATION WITH JUST HOW THIS ORGANIZATION HAS TO WORK.

THE BUDGET INFORMS THE BUSINESS PLAN.

THE BUSINESS PLAN INFORMS THE KPIS, THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, AND THOSE BECOME THE PRIORITIES OF THE BUSINESS.

WE NEED TO CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE TOWN AND THE SCHOOL.

WE HAVE NOTHING ON THE AGENDA FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR URGENCY AS A COUNCIL INCREASE, WHETHER THAT'S AN OFFSITE.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET WITH STAN, JANET TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET TOGETHER JUST TO WHITEBOARD THIS THING AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE ALL RUNNING AT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST EXECUTE IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS, YOU KNOW, TIMEFRAME.

THIS HEAD OF SCHOOL THING IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY FRUSTRATION WHEN I LOOK ACROSS ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS A TOWN.

THERE ARE MANY.

I'M SURE WE ALL COULD RECITE 20 OF THEM OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEAD THAT NEED ATTENTION, AND IF THIS ONE VERY DEFINABLE THING, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALL DONE IN THIS ROOM, EITHER WE'VE LOOKED FOR A JOB OR WE'VE TRIED TO FILL A JOB, IT'S A PRETTY DEFINABLE PROCESS, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON HOW TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET SMACKED IN THE FACE DAY TWO WHEN WE MAKE THIS DECISION, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO BE INCLUSIVE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CONSTITUENTS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS AND THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL JAMMED.

NOBODY LIKES TO FEEL JAMMED, AND I DON'T INTEND TO BE SOMEBODY THAT JAMS THIS TOWN WITH ANY DECISION AND SO I PUT IT TO THIS COUNCIL.

I PUT IT TO OUR ADVISORS AND THE STAFF TO HELP US FIND WAYS TO GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP LEGALLY AND HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS DEFINE THE PRIORITIES OF THIS TOWN AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ACHIEVE THEM, AND I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY IS.

THIS IS VERY MUCH A THANKLESS JOB, AND THAT'S FINE.

WE GET PAID WHAT IT'S WORTH, WHICH IS ZERO, BUT I'LL SAY THIS.

I MEAN, I NEVER WANTED TO EVER BE A PART OF GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WHEN WE CAME HERE, THERE WAS JUST YOU PICKED UP A ROCK THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

YOU PICKED UP ANOTHER ROCK THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO SAY, WOW, LET'S HAVE A PLAN.

WHEN THE BUILDINGS CAME DOWN ON 9/11.

NO, YOU'RE JUST IN SURVIVOR MODE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU GOT, AND SO I UNDERSTAND VIC'S FRUSTRATION.

I HAVE FRUSTRATION, AND THAT'S WHY I CAME ON BOARD, BUT WHEN VIC AND I TALKED, I SAID, ALL RIGHT, LET ME JUST READ THE 17 THINGS THAT WE DID.

[00:55:01]

SO I PROMISE YOU THIS, THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN HERE HAS DONE THEIR VERY BEST.

I HONESTLY FEEL EVERYONE'S INTENTIONS ARE PURE.

IT JUST HASN'T BEEN EASY, AND SO SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GET TO HELP THE WHOLE COMMUNITY PICK A HEAD OF SCHOOL, AND I PROMISE YOU, WE HEARD YOU AND I PROMISE YOU WE WANT WHAT YOU WANT.

IT'S JUST. WHICH PROBLEM DO YOU FIX FIRST? I MEAN, WE HAD ENTRADA.

WE HAD, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN MANAGER WAS OVER THE SCHOOL.

WE HAD NO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN THE SCHOOL.

WE INHERITED SOMEONE THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED, YOU KNOW, ON AND ON AND ON AND ON, AND SO IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING YET REWARDING BECAUSE WE HAVE ACHIEVED STUFF JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, GETTING RID OF THE PORTABLES.

YOU SAID TEN YEARS. SOME OF THOSE WERE 20 YEARS.

I MEAN, THOSE THINGS ARE HORRIFIC, AND THE BATTLE AND THE ABUSE WE TOOK ON MAKING THE DECISION TO BASICALLY CALL AN EMERGENCY AND GET RID OF THOSE PORTABLES, THOSE SAME PEOPLE AREN'T HERE TODAY, BUT THEY JUST BEAT US UP FOR MAKING AN EXECUTIVE DECISION TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS.

THERE WAS RATS AND RACCOONS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF UNDERNEATH THERE, POSSUMS. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS I AGREE WITH VIC, IT'S FRUSTRATING AND I CAN SEE THE FRUSTRATION, BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS WE'VE LIVED THIS AND WE TURNED IT AROUND AND ANNA, KIM AND AND DAVID WERE THERE LONGER THAN I WAS, AND THANK GOD, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE ENDURED WHAT THEY ENDURED, AND I PARACHUTED IN AND I'VE DONE MAYBE A YEAR OR WHATEVER, AND NOW VIC STEPPING ON, AND I PROMISE YOU WE'LL DO OUR BEST, BUT THIS HASN'T BEEN US SITTING THERE TWIDDLING OUR THUMBS.

THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THINGS, AND I PROMISE YOU WE'LL MAKE YOU PROUD.

I'LL MAKE TWO MORE COMMENTS.

CAN THEY ASK QUESTIONS OF US? IF WE WANT.

SURE. GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST ASKING ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE.

OKAY. OKAY.

GO AHEAD, ANNA. YEAH SO SOME PEOPLE ASKED IF THIS MEETING TODAY WAS REALLY NECESSARY, AND I THINK THE ANSWER FOR ME IS A RESOUNDING YES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES SUCCESS TODAY LOOK LIKE? WELL, FOR ONE THING, WE'VE ACTUALLY COME TO AN ALIGNMENT THAT WE ALL OPENLY AGREE TO, A VERY INCLUSIVE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, BUT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO IMPROVE THE WAYS OF WORKING AMONGST US AS A BOARD AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IN THE SALIENT INCIDENT HERE WITH THE SEARCH FOR THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, THE MAYOR AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS CHARGED AND ACCEPTED THAT TASK TO INITIATE THE SEARCH FOR A HEAD OF SCHOOL, IDENTIFY INITIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE FULL BOARD TO REVIEW, AND I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT WE'VE LEFT THE PUBLIC DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT A HANDFUL OF FINALISTS FOR THE FULL BOARD TO INTERVIEW, AND IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS NOW.

SO I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THE BOARD DIRECTION NEEDS TO BE ROBUST AND UNENCUMBERED.

SO THAT MEANS VERY GRANULAR ASK LIKE NO CANCELING MEETINGS WITHOUT COUNCIL CONSENT, NO SUSPENDING OUR SEARCH PROCESS WITHOUT DIRECTION OR CONSENT BY THE COUNCIL, AND NO OBSTRUCTION WHEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO ADD AGENDA ITEMS TO A COUNCIL MEETING.

I THINK WHEN WE LEAVE TODAY, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE FOR US TO AGREE ON INITIAL NEXT STEPS TO MOVE TOWARDS A BETTER WAY OF WORKING TOGETHER AS A BOARD.

[INAUDIBLE]. IN THE LAST YEAR, I'VE PROBABLY DONE ABOUT 1500 HOURS.

ACTING TOWN MANAGER AND I STEPPED IN AS ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL, AND, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO DO THIS JOB EFFECTIVELY, YOU'VE GOT TO ATTEND MEETINGS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE HERE, AND I'M HERE EVERY DAY, AND SO WHEN YOU SPEAK, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK LIKE YOU GO TO THE MEETINGS EVERY DAY AND THERE'S NOTHING EVER PREVENTING ANYTHING FROM THE AGENDA.

EVERY MEETING AT THE END OF EVERY AGENDA, I ASK, DOES ANYONE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO AGENDA? YOU CAN WATCH EVERY VIDEO.

NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING.

YOU CAN WATCH LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, SAYS THE EXACT SAME THING, THE VERY END.

NOT ONE WORD OPENED UP.

SO THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING TODAY BECAUSE WE HAD REACHED A CONCLUSION TWO WEEKS AGO OF WHAT TO DO, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT PEOPLE MET ON THE SIDE AND SURE ENOUGH, AND THAT'S WHERE I'LL LEAVE IT AT.

ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? LET'S DO IT NOW. IF NOT, DAVID.

NO, BUT CAN WE CLOSE OUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION JUST SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD? SURE. WE'LL CLOSE OUT OPEN PUBLIC SESSION AND WE'LL GO UPSTAIRS HERE.

FOLKS, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO AGAIN, OKAY, WE'RE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER THE TOWN COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ANNOTATED

[01:00:08]

DELIBERATION REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE REGARDING WESTLAKE ACADEMY HEAD OF SCHOOL.

ARE WE READY? WE'RE BACK IN SESSION AT 7:31, JUST FINISHED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[E. TAKE ANY ACTION, IF NEEDED, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS]

CAN I GET IT FIRST? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

CAN I GET A SECOND.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES. THANKS.

THANKS. WE'RE ADJOURNED 7:32.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.