G. CALL REGULAR WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TO ORDER (5 P.M. OR LATER) AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM PRESENT

[J.3. Discuss, consider and act regarding WA Resolution 26-03 to approve contracting with Technology Lab to provide Information Technology services to Westlake Academy and authorizing the Head of School to execute the agreement for same. (Dr. Kelly Ritchie, Head of School)]

TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND AUTHORIZE THE HEAD OF SCHOOL TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAME.

DOCTOR RITCHIE. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. SO WE SPENT WE HAD A FOUR-HOUR WORK SESSION.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT OR OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS OR? WE CAN DO EITHER. HOWEVER. T.J CAN WE VERIFY THAT OUR GUESTS ARE ON? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN START US OFF WITH? YEAH. SO WE CAN. [LAUGHTER]. WE CAN KIND OF RECAP THE PURPOSE OF THAT WORKSHOP.

IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS WE PROJECT OUT WHAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, PARTICULARLY TO THE ACADEMY MOVING FORWARD INTO THE NEXT DECADE.

AND LOOKING AT HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE SHARED SERVICE MODEL HAD A WAS A MEANS TO AN END WHEN THE ACADEMY WAS MUCH SMALLER, WHERE NOW A THOUSAND PERSON ORGANIZATION WITH VERY DISTINCT NEEDS THAT ARE RELATED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY, AND HAVING THAT K THROUGH 12 EXPERTISE WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AS EFFICIENT AND AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE, MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ARE THROUGH THE LENS OF SCHOOL BASED DECISION MAKING.

REALLY, KEEPING THE SCHOOL AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND PROCESSES WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.

AND WE LOOKED AT WAYS THAT REALLY THE COST OF, OF THIS KIND OF TRANSITION CAN BE OFFSET WITH THINGS THAT WERE NOT CURRENTLY UTILIZING. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TO DATE. AND SO YOU SAW PRESENTATIONS FROM CHARTER IMPACT AND FROM TECHNOLOGY LAB, THE TWO VETTED GROUPS THAT WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COMPANIES, WHAT THEY CAN OFFER, THESE PARTICULAR GROUPS ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OF THEIR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, THEIR WORK ETHIC, THE CULTURE THAT THEY PRESENT WITH AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT THEY HAVE OFFERED IN THEIR PACKAGES.

AND, AND I GUESS MY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I SAY THIS A LOT.

I THINK I HAVE TENURE UP HERE, BEEN AROUND THE SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME.

TO ME, THIS IS A STRATEGIC DIRECTION ON BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCE AND HOW WE WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR OFFICE FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS TO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD PUT THE SCHOOL UNDER THE TOWN MANAGER.

THE FIRST THING I HAVE DONE. AND YOU KNOW, MY OPINION AND I THINK AND IT'S UP TO COUNCIL WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE VOTES, IS TO CONTINUE SEPARATING TO WHERE WE HAVE TWO HEALTHY ORGANIZATIONS.

THE TOWN RUN BY WADE CARROLL, THE SCHOOL RUN BY DOCTOR KELLY RITCHIE, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUDGETS THERE AND THIS IS A VITAL PART OF THAT. AND I TOLD WADE THIS.

TODAY, I KNOW I TOLD KELLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHAT I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, FOR MY CORPORATE BACKGROUND.

AND WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU GUYS COME TO WITH A SOLUTION.

I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE. SO I'M. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS JUST WE HAVE TO MITIGATE THE IMPLEMENTATION RISK, RIGHT? WE GOT TO MAKE SURE IT'S FLAWLESS WHEN WE IF THESE TWO PATHS WE GO THAT, THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.

AND HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO DO THAT IF WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY.

KELLY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

WE KNOCK IT DEAD. AND LOOK, I, I'VE SPENT TIME WITH BOTH PROVIDERS.

I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT. BUT THAT IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IF WE GO FORWARD.

WE JUST GOT TO KNOCK IT DEAD. YEAH.

SORRY, SORRY. MR. DUANE. ANYTIME THERE'S CHANGE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S ON THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF OUR MINDS.

ANY OF US WHO'VE LED CHANGE, ANY OF US WHO'VE BEEN A PART OF CHANGE, THAT IS THE.

IT'S THE STEPPING OFF INTO THE LEAP OF FAITH THAT THAT THINGS CAN BE BETTER AND WILL BE BETTER, AND THAT YOU'RE PARTNERING WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN.

THAT'S KEY. EXACTLY. TJ. SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU KIM.

[00:45:04]

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT FROM SPLITTING OUT THESE FUNCTIONS.

MY MAIN ISSUE WITH THE ITEM IN THE CONSENT AGENDA IS THAT THERE'S NO WAY I CAN APPROVE A CONTRACT THAT WASN'T EVEN DELIVERED TO US ON A FINAL FORM ANYWHERE BEFORE THE MEETING.

AND SO JUST REVIEWING THE TWO DRAFT COMMENTS, AND I KNOW THE VENDORS ARE ON THE PHONE.

THEY ARE INCREDIBLY VENDOR FRIENDLY AGREEMENTS.

AND I WOULD THE CORPORATE LAWYER IN ME WOULD BE NEGOTIATING VERY, VERY STRONGLY AGAINST SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

I JUST CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE AGREE TO THE PROVISIONS.

SEVERAL OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT, WHICH REQUIRE BASICALLY A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT WITH NO OUT AND NO CAP ON INCREASE IN FEES YEAR OVER YEAR. NO DATA PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO BE MANAGING STUDENT DATA, I PRESUME THERE SHOULD BE SOME FERPA PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT.

I BASICALLY JUST IN A QUICK REVIEW, CAME UP WITH ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT ITEMS IN, IN THAT AGREEMENT, THE CHARTER IMPACT AGREEMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED.

ALSO MISSING CONSIDERABLE REPS AND WARRANTIES [LAUGHTER] ON THEIR PART.

WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IN BOTH AGREEMENTS, $101,000.

$160,000 AND ANOTHER. THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE LIMITS OF LIABILITY FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE WHAT AMOUNT TO BE $1 MILLION OF COMMITMENT FROM OUR FROM OUR INSTITUTION OVER THE COURSE OF THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PROVISION OR THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ARE REQUIRING US TO APPROVE CONTRACTS THAT AREN'T FINALIZED. AND I'M JUST I'M JUST NOT GOING TO DO THAT AT THIS STAGE.

TO BE CLEAR, I AM IN FAVOR OF MOVING TO SPLITTING OUT VARIOUS FUNCTIONS.

I CAN'T VOTE FOR THESE AGREEMENTS AS THEY ARE, AS I'VE SEEN THEM IN DRAFT FORM.

OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES CERTAINLY ISN'T THAT WE'RE SIGNING THESE DRAFTS UNVETTED.

WE HAVE A VERY PROFESSIONAL AND HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED WESTLAKE ACADEMY ATTORNEY WHO'S DEEPLY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT THE ACADEMY'S BEST INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED AND THAT WORK IS ONGOING.

YEAH. I'M WELL AWARE WITH A WITH A VENDOR. AND SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO GIVE UP AS PART OF OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GIVING UP ANY LEVERAGE UNTIL ANYTHING'S SIGNED.

AND WE WOULDN'T. WE WOULDN'T PUT OURSELVES IN A SITUATION TO SIGN SOMETHING THAT HAD NOT BEEN VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL'S ATTORNEY.

YEAH, I KNOW, WE JUST. OKAY. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SESSION WE JUST CAME OUT OF.

BUT SOMETIMES WHEN WE APPROVE THINGS, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT SIGNING THEM, IT STILL PUTS US IN A TOUGH SPOT.

SO. OKAY. JANET, DID YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE TO ANY OF THOSE CONCERNS? NO, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT AGAIN, THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU REVIEWED WAS THE INITIAL DOCUMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE VENDOR.

IT IS IN NO WAY A REFLECTION OF WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WOULD BE WITH REGARDS TO THE TERMS OF A CONTRACT.

DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, MR. DUANE FOR. WE HAVE THE VENDORS ON OUR CALL.

WAS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH TO CLARIFY? I'M NOT SURE OPEN SESSION IS THE TIME TO NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, BUT MY QUESTIONS WERE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE CONTRACT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDORS THAT WASN'T WEREN'T OTHERWISE IN THE PROPOSALS. OKAY.

THERE WERE TWO SPECIFIC THINGS THAT I IT APPEARS TO BE A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. ONE IS FIVE AND ONE IS THREE.

I'M JUST TALKING. I'M SORRY ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT WITHOUT TERMINATION PROVISION AND A NON-APPROPRIATION.

SO LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? YES, SIR. I GOTTA REMEMBER. NOW THAT I STOPPED YOU BECAUSE.

THAT WAS TODD.

WHERE YOU GUYS CAN ENTER INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS NOW AND COME UP WITH A FINALIZED DRAFT CONTRACT, AND THAT YOU JUST BRING THAT FINALIZED DRAFT CONTRACT BEFORE US, AND THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK AT. I MEAN, JUST GET GOING.

I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I WANT TO GET IT DONE.

T.J BRINGS UP SOME GOOD POINTS. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A GREAT LAWYER.

BUT IF YOU GUYS JUST GO OFF AND RUN, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO.

IT'S IT WOULD IMPACT ANYTHING IF YOU JUST GUYS COME BACK AND BRING BACK THE CONTRACTS AND WE GET TO LOOK AT THEM.

BECAUSE IF IT'S THE BEST CONTRACT WE CAN GET, IT'S THE BEST CONTRACT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET. BUT IT KEEPS THE IT CONTINUES TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPPER HAND BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING YOU CAN HOLD OVER THEM.

I HAVE ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION THOUGH. ACTUALLY ON THE LEGITIMACY OF THE PROCESS.

GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE CONTRACT, AT LEAST THE LAST VERSION I SAW, THE COMMITMENT, IF IT WAS A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT, WOULD BE OVER $1 MILLION VALUE OF THE CONTRACT. WE HAVE DONE NO BIDDING PROCESS FOR THIS CONTRACT.

IS THERE ANY OBLIGATION FOR US AS AN ACADEMY TO ACTUALLY PUT THIS OUT FOR AN RFP?

[00:50:04]

SO UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, BECAUSE IT'S A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THE STANDARDS ARE DIFFERENT.

AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY CHOOSE TO USE AN RFP IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE. I GUESS HOW WAS IT SPLIT UP, THOUGH, BECAUSE A CHUNK OF THAT. FOR THE CHARTER IMPACTFULLY GET THAT RIGHT THEY'RE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR TECHNOLOGY LAB. THERE'S A THERE'S A FAIRLY SIZABLE HARDWARE, HARDWARE MANAGEMENT ONGOING LIKE TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT TO IT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THERE IS A THERE IS ACTUALLY A HARDWARE COMPONENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WITH APPLE FOR IPADS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE HAD TO PUT OUT FOR RFP IN THE PAST.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M WONDERING HOW THAT HOW THIS SQUARES WITH THAT. SO AND A PART OF IT IS ALSO YOU'RE AMORTIZING THAT OVER FIVE YEARS.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, ON A, ON A 12 MONTH BASIS AS OPPOSED TO A TOTAL AMOUNT.

JUST WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE TO PUT THIS OUT TO AN RFP? WELL, UNDER THE LAW, $100,000. TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE? NO. OR MONTHLY? PER 12 MONTH PERIOD.

SO THIS CONTRACTS OVER 100,000 PER ANNUM OKAY.

WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS. I JUST HAD ONE MORE. IT'S NOT A QUESTION.

IT'S A REQUEST BECAUSE WE KNOW WITH TECHNOLOGY LAB THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE WHAT WE WOULD WANT GOING FORWARD, BUT WE HAVE CONTRACTS FOR THAT.

SO IF WE CAN'T GET OUT OF THOSE EXISTING CONTRACTS, TECHNOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS AND TECHNOLOGY LAB USE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE CURRENT CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE UNTIL THEY RUN OUT OR UNTIL WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THOSE CONTRACTS.

SO WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING A COST. I THINK, I THINK FOR SURE THE IDEA IS NOT TO DUPLICATE COSTS.

THAT'S PART OF THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY DISCOVERED.

WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR A LOT OF DUPLICATED COSTS.

AND SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED BUDGET WITH THE ACADEMY AND A LOT OF THINGS TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO DO WITH THAT BUDGET.

SO I DO THINK THAT'S ONE OF THEIR KEY PRIORITIES IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING EXPENSES AS WE CURRENTLY ARE.

SO AS FAR AS THE CONTRACTS ARE CONCERNED THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, I THINK, BEHIND THE SCENES CONTRACTS THAT WE ARE ENGAGED IN.

I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE DON'T EXECUTE OUR OUR OWN CONTRACTS ON BEHALF OF THE ACADEMY, AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE GOT, A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE GOT DURING THIS PROCESS DON'T EVEN BY DEVICE, DELINEATE OR SERVICE DELINEATE EXACTLY WHAT IS THE ACADEMY'S RESPONSIBILITY VERSUS WHAT IS THE MUNICIPALITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. SO SOME OF THOSE CONTRACTS NEED TO BE CLEANED UP AND SORTED OUT ANYWAY AS AS PART OF A REAL PROCESS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT US TO MOVE FAST ON THIS BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T HAVE SCALE AS A TOWN TO HAVE EXTRAORDINARY CAPABILITY OF TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS. WE JUST DON'T WE'RE NOT A BIG ENTERPRISE. AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN OUR CORPORATE WORLD.

WE HAD SMALL COMPANIES THAT HAD TO GO OUT, OUTSOURCE CERTAIN THINGS.

AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN DOING THAT. I THINK WE'LL HAVE A MUCH BETTER CAPABILITY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GO FAST AND GET THIS DONE, BUT WE GOT TO DO IT SMART AS WELL. MAYBE YOU'RE SAYING THE SAME THING I'M THINKING TODD.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SCHOOL THAN THERE IS FOR THE MUNICIPALITY, BOTH FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE AND A FINANCE PERSPECTIVE HAVING THEM, HAVING THEM OVERLAP DOESN'T HELP EITHER SIDE.

SO SEPARATING THEM MAKES SENSE. AND I BELIEVE THAT KELLY HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB IN DOING HER DUE DILIGENCE ON BOTH OF THESE COMPANIES.

TOTALLY AGREE. TOTALLY SUPPORT IT ALL. I THINK THE ONLY QUESTION IS, DOES SHE BRING BACK THE CONTRACT THAT JANET AND HER HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR US? AND WE JUST SAY YEAH VERILY IT'S APPROVED OR? OR DO WE JUST LET IT GO AND HAVE THEM DO IT? I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK A BIT ON MICHAEL'S COMMENT ONLY BECAUSE FOR A SMALL ORGANIZATION, WHICH WE ARE AND I KNOW TODD, YOU'VE MANAGED THEM RIGHT HAVING SHARED BACK OFFICES OFTEN IS A HUGE COST SAVINGS, RIGHT? SO THE THING WE'RE NOT INCLUDING IN ALL THIS IS THERE'S THE AUTONOMY OF MANAGING THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THERE'S CONSIDERABLE COST FOR DUPLICATING EFFORTS, RIGHT? SO PUT ASIDE ANY CONTRACTS THAT WERE OBLIGATED TO COMMIT TO FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THIS FROM THE COST PERSPECTIVE OF THE TOWN, BECAUSE AS WE JUST WENT THROUGH WITH THE CHARTER FIRST REPORT, IT'S NOT LIKE THE SCHOOL OR THE TOWN IS NECESSARILY FLUSH. I MEAN, WE HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS PAY RAISES.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW FUNDS THAT WE NEED FOR THE FOR THE ACADEMY.

SO I WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT AND AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE ON THE LAST IN THE LAST SET OF SESSIONS,

[00:55:03]

THERE WAS DISCUSSION AROUND SORT OF AN ACTUAL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT THIS IS. AND AS KELLY JUST MENTIONED, IT'S HARD TO TEASE IT APART RIGHT? THEY'RE, FAIRLY WELL INTERTWINED. SO I KNOW, WADE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON OR IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TECHNOLOGY AND THE FINANCE FUNCTION AND WHAT THE OVERALL COST SAVINGS WOULD BE.

I KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE VENDORS HAVE PRESENTED A VERY ROSY PICTURE ABOUT THE COST SAVINGS WILL BE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE IT NET, NET. YES SIR NET FOR SURE, LET'S PUT IT UP. BUT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE IF THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIVE COST TO SPLITTING IT UP, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A TOWN THAT'S FLUSH WITH CAPITAL, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SURROUNDED BY CAPITAL.

YES, SIR I THINK THAT DOCTOR RITCHIE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH HER TEAM PUTTING THOSE COSTS ASSUMPTIONS TOGETHER.

I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE ALL THE LINE ITEMS THAT THAT SHE PULLED DOLLARS FROM ARE ACCURATE.

THE DOLLARS IN THOSE LINE ITEMS, LINE ITEMS ARE ACCURATE.

ALL THAT ALL THAT WORK WAS DONE EXCELLENTLY. THE THING THAT WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET IS HOW MANY CONTRACTS WE CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT OF, HOW MUCH CONTRACT OVERLAP WOULD BE IN PLACE. AND THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE KIND OF GONE THROUGH DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OR PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS TO KNOW IF, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A COST FOR LASER FISH, FOR INSTANCE, IF IF THE SCHOOL IS NO LONGER GOING TO USE LASER FISH, BUT WE HAVE A CERTAIN CONTRACT OVER A FIVE YEAR, TEN YEAR PERIOD, WHAT'S THAT COST TO GET OUT OF THAT? MOST OF THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE SOME KIND OF AN OUT CLAUSE WITH A COST ASSOCIATED.

SO ADD A NO FAULT CLAUSE. SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH THOSE AS WE BETTER UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE THIRD PARTY WANTS TO UTILIZE AND NOT UTILIZE IN OUR CURRENT CONTRACT SYSTEMS. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I'M KIND OF SO CONCERNED THAT ANY NEW CONTRACTS WE ENTER INTO IN A TOWN HAS A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE ALLOWS US TO TEST THIS OUT AND FIGURE OUT IF TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. YEAH.

CONTRACT THAT THEY WANT, THAT THEY BRING IT BACK IN IN FRONT OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, AND WE CAN QUICKLY MOVE YOU CAN MAKE ANY MOTION YOU LIKE, SIR. [LAUGHTER] IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT RATIONAL? YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE I WANT I WANT YOU TO GET PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD.

[LAUGHTER] I'M PROPOSING IF WE NEED TO GET A QUICK MEETING IN, YOU JUST SET UP A PHONE CALL.

HEARING, T.J, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT.

YOU'RE HEARING WE AGREE WITH THE STRATEGY. AND I WOULD T.J I WAS A OPS GUY MY WHOLE CAREER.

THIS IS KIND OF REVERSE ECONOMIES OF SCALE WHAT WE'VE HAD.

YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WHEN THEY PUT THE SCHOOL IN 22 YEARS AGO I MEAN IT'S WORKED REALLY.

IT'S WORKED REALLY WELL. RIGHT? BUT NOW WE'RE GROWING UP KIND OF LIKE THE TOWN.

WE'RE MATURING. I WANT BOTH OF THESE CEOS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE UNITS TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THIS IS PART OF IT. IN MY MIND IF COST GOES UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE SERVICE GETS SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER AND WE EAT SOME CONTRACTS ON THE WAY, THAT'S JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS TO GET US SOLIDIFIED FOR THE FUTURE AND REALLY GET EVERYTHING GOING.

SO I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT I'LL VOTE ON APPROVING MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS JUST GET.

YOU GOT YOU HAVE THE TERMS THAT COUNCIL'S ASKED FOR.

DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO GET THOSE TERMS. GET THEM TO ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

WE'LL HAVE A QUICK MEETING TOGETHER. AND I ASSUME THE NEXT ONE'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT TOO. WE'LL HAVE A QUICK MEETING TOGETHER, BUT WE WANT YOU TO MOVE FORWARD.

DID I SAY THAT? I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT, T.J, TO GET SOME OF THE COMMENTS WRITTEN DOWN OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. HAND THEM TO HER AND SHE'S GOING TO SHE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AS WELL JANET.

RIGHT? AND THEN BRING BACK WHAT YOU HAVE AND I'LL BE HERE AND WE'LL GET THE QUORUM AND.

IF YOU HAVE THESE POINTS NEGOTIATED READY TO GO.

LET'S GO. BUT WE WANT YOU TO MOVE FORWARD. SO CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS WITH THE ADDED LANGUAGE THAT KELLY AND WESTLAKE ACADEMY ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDED CONTRACT, THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A MEETING TO APPROVE AT THAT TIME? CAN I GET A SECOND? WOULD THAT SUPPORT YOU? WE'RE APPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACTING AND NEGOTIATE IN THE BEST FAITH THAT THEY CAN TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVIDERS WITH A CONTRACT AND SPECIFIC TERMS, AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND BRING THAT BACK IN FRONT OF US? WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS, THOUGH. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH CHARTER IMPACT AND A CONTRACT WITH BOTH OF THEM. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT WE'VE ONLY.

TECHNOLOGY LAB IS THE ONLY ONE WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW. WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE. YEAH. IN MY ONE OF GIVING HER PERMISSION TO GO FORWARD AND NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL THEN THEY'LL BRING THE FINAL CONTRACT,

[01:00:03]

COME BACK WITH A FINAL CONTRACT. HER AND JANET BRING IT FORWARD AND BRING IT BACK IN FRONT OF US.

I WOULD WANT TO GET CONFIRMATION. WE DON'T NEED TO PUT THIS TO AN RFP, RIGHT? THE $10,000 A MONTH FOR THE STUDENT COMPONENT OF THIS, WHICH INVOLVES TECHNOLOGY. IT'S NOT JUST SERVICES.

SO I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO PROVE SOMETHING NOW AND THEN FIND OUT WE'RE GETTING SUED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PUT THIS THROUGH AN RFP.

REQUEST. WOULD JUST SAY THAT KELLY NEEDS TO VALIDATE THAT AS WELL? AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION? I'M SORRY, COULD YOU STATE THAT LAST PART AGAIN? THAT YOU NEED TO VALIDATE THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO GO FOR A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS YEAH, THAT'S IN JANET. TRIPLE CHECK THAT YOUR MOTION AGAIN AND THEN WE'LL GET A.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. WHAT WAS IT J.3? APPROVAL. CAN I GET A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. BUT CAN I JUST. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON THE LANGUAGE.

IN THE MOTION IT'S TALKING ABOUT APPROVING CONTRACT.

WE'RE NOT APPROVING CONTRACT. WE'RE PROVING THAT.

NEGOTIATING. TELLING IS MOVING FORWARD TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE A CONTRACT THAT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE US FOR APPROVAL.

IS THAT IS THAT REASONABLE? NEED TO RESTATE IT.

WE NEED TO RESTATE IT. I AGREE THAT YOU NEED TO RESTATE THE MOTION IF YOU INTEND TO CHANGE IT AS COUNCIL MEMBER YACKIRA SAID.

YOU WANT TO PLAY BACK THE VIDEO? SURE. I THINK I COULD YOU SAY THE MOTION? OKAY. WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVING J-3 RESOLUTION WA RESOLUTION 2603 WITH THE CHANGE OF LANGUAGE TO SAY, RATHER THAN TO APPROVE CONTRACTING, THAT WE ARE APPROVING THE NEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT WITH TECHNOLOGY LAB TO BE BROUGHT FORTH. THE FINAL TERMS TO BE BROUGHT FORTH ON THE 24TH.

JANET, DOES THAT SEEM LIKE A REASONABLE TIMELINE BY THE 24TH? WELL, I MEAN, YES, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET RESPONSES BACK FROM THE VENDOR.

BUT OF COURSE, BECAUSE. VENDORS ON THE LINE, THEY KNOW US, THEY'VE BEEN THERE.

CAN I GET A. JANET. A SECOND? I'M SORRY. MAYOR, CAN I ASK THE ATTORNEY A QUESTION, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM. WHY WOULD THEY APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT? WHY WOULD THEY JUST NOT TAKE ACTION AND GIVE STAFF DIRECTION? THAT IT WOULD BE A CHOICE. I THINK YOU CAN EITHER NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE AGENDA ITEM IS LISTED AND GIVE FURTHER DIRECTION OR SEPARATELY YOU CAN REVISE THE AGENDA TO SAY YOU'RE AUTHORIZING DOCTOR RITCHIE TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.

EITHER WAY. WE'RE ALREADY IN THAT POSITION. SO WHY ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AN ACTION NOW ON THE RECORD WHEN THAT'S ALREADY THE CURRENT STATUS QUO? YEAH. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF KELLY GOING FORWARD 100%.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED ON THE RECORD.

NOW, MAYBE THIS IS A SUFFICIENT RECORD. I DON'T KNOW.

YOU'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION WITH THE VENDOR, SO THERE'S NO REASON TO TAKE ANY ACTION AT THIS POINT. THEY'LL CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATION.

YEAH, I GUESS HERE'S THE FINAL CONTRACT. I'M STILL LEARNING THE MUNICIPALITY AND SCHOOL BOARD WAYS.

SO IF THIS WERE IN MY CORPORATE WORLD, WHICH I SPENT 35 PLUS YEARS DOING, I WOULD TELL DOCTOR RITCHIE, YOU HAVE MY APPROVAL TO GO FORWARD AND NEGOTIATE THE BEST CONTRACT YOU CAN.

BUT WE AGREE WITH THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION, AND YOU'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ON WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE, ON OUT CLAUSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I KNOW WE HAVE, BUT THAT'S HOW I WOULD HANDLE THIS.

I THINK WE ARE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE SCOOTING BOARD DUTIES TO OPERATIONAL DUTIES.

I THINK THOSE LINES GET BLURRED A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK ABOUT HOW WE, YOU KNOW, ON WADE'S ON THE TOWN, THINGS THEY FLY THROUGH.

AND YOU KNOW, WADE BRINGS US A CONTRACT. WE LOOK AT IT, WE GO, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR BUT.

SO, KIM, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, WHICH IS WHY I'M SAYING WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OUR ONLY OBLIGATION IS TO APPROVE A CONTRACT. SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE

[01:05:05]

THE NEGOTIATION DUTIES AND THAT PROCESS TO THIS, TO JANET AND KELLY AND THE ADMINISTRATION JUST TO COME BACK AND BRING THE CONTRACT.

SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK. I THINK OUR VENDOR IS TRYING TO SPEAK, BUT HE'S NOT THERE'S NO JAMES POPE.

JAMES ARE YOU THERE.

OH OKAY. JAMES CAN YOU HEAR THE. SPEAKING. WE CAN'T HEAR.

IT'S VERY LOW.

OKAY. SORRY, WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL. WHAT? WE ALL SAID THE SAME THING. MR. POPE, ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO SPEAK NOW? YES, YES, I'M TRYING TO SPEAK. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. CAN YOU CHANGE THIS? RIGHT. YEAH, YEAH. WE HAVE HIM ON THE PHONE BY CHANCE. MICHELLE, CAN WE GET HIM ON THE PHONE? LET'S JUST CALL HIM AND THEN PUT THAT UP TO A MICROPHONE AND.

AND DO IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY. OKAY.

WHEN DID WE HAVE THE WORK SESSION? JANUARY 14TH.

WHEN WAS IT? JANUARY 14TH. JANUARY 14TH. THE FIRST FOLLOW UP I HAD ABOUT IT WAS ABOUT FOUR DAYS AGO.

I'M SORRY.

HELLO. HEY, JAMES, CAN YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? AND THEN I'VE GOT YOUR. I'VE GOT THE PHONE UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS JAMES POPE WITH TECHNOLOGY LAB. THANK YOU.

YES. ALL RIGHT YOUR GOOD. ALSO CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? OKAY. YES THEY CAN.

YOU'RE FREE TO. OKAY. PERFECT. PERFECT, PERFECT.

YES. ABSOLUTELY. SO I WAS TRYING TO CHIME IN THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN HEAR YOU GUYS, BUT YOU GUYS CAN'T HEAR ME, SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME I WANTED TO THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK WERE IMPORTANT TO, I GUESS, ESTABLISH, MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS SOME CLARITY AROUND.

SO AS FAR AS THE NON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TJ WAS REFERRING TO AROUND GOING OUT TO BID AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO BID AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, THROUGH E-RATE, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR THOSE PARTICULAR PRODUCTS.

SO, SO THERE IS A BIDDING PROCESS THAT IS OPEN RIGHT NOW FOR THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO, I GUESS, MENTION THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT MAY CLEAR SOME THINGS UP THERE ON THE NETWORK HARDWARE SIDE.

I THINK THE SECOND, THE SECOND THING AROUND THE CONTRACT NO OUTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IN 1C OF OUR AGREEMENT YOU'LL SEE, IT KIND OF LAYS OUT THE TERMINATION CLAUSES.

AND SO BASICALLY, IF EITHER PARTY CAN TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT, IF WE FAIL TO FULFILL OUR OBLIGATIONS, WHICH ARE IN THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL THAT THE SCHOOL OR OUR CLIENT WOULD HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO SAY THAT WE ARE BREACHING THAT IS, THEY'D HAVE TO GIVE US A 30 DAY OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY, YOU KNOW, THOSE PARTICULAR BREACHES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION. IF WE DO NOT CURE THOSE BREACHES WITHIN THAT 30 DAY PERIOD, THEN CERTAINLY OUR AGREEMENT STATES THAT YOU'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO BE HELD TO THE AGREEMENT.

SO, SO THERE IS THERE IS AN OUT FOR CAUSE IN OUR AGREEMENT.

[01:10:04]

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THOSE TWO THINGS OUT. HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHEN WE COME BACK AROUND IF WE NEED TO.

BUT THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS I WAS JUST TRYING TO CHIME IN ON.

THANK YOU, JAMES. BOARD, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WHILE JAMES IS ON THE CALL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OR ASK? I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE'RE, AS WE'VE TALKED THROUGH THIS AND I'M SURE THE NEXT ONE WILL BE THE SAME ISSUE.

WE APPROVED THE DIRECTION, RIGHT? I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT'S AGAINST THE DIRECTION.

WE WANT TO SEE THE FINAL CONTRACT AS [INAUDIBLE] NEGOTIATE.

I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION. SO JAMES AND JANET AND CONNOR WILL BE WORKING ON TECHNOLOGY LABS AND GETTING THAT COMPLETELY FINALIZED SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU JAMES. APPRECIATE IT. SO SHOULD WE JUST TABLE THIS THEN UNTIL WHENEVER KELLY HAS IT READY.

AND THEN WE SET UP A MEETING AND GET IT DONE.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT, AND WE'LL DO THAT.

LOOK, I'M VIEWING THIS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

I DON'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN. NEGOTIATE THE TERMS. WE DON'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN. CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SCHOOL AND THE TOWN.

SO CAN I ASK ANOTHER PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION? IF WE TABLE IT? CAN WE TABLE IT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK ON A CERTAIN DATE? I MEAN, ON A DATE CERTAIN. NEXT MEETING. 24TH.

WELL, WE GOT A WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE THE 24TH.

YEAH. I MEAN THIS WAY IT HOLDS EVERYBODY'S FEET TO THE FIRE AND SHE CAN GET GOING ONCE WE HAVE A CONTRACT.

YEAH. KELLY DOES THAT CREATE ANY ADDITIONAL STRESS? NO, I THINK I MEAN, JANET AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ANYWAY, SO WE'LL JUST GET IT WRAPPED UP.

OH, OKAY. I MEAN, THERE'S A NEGOTIATION TO THIS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

OKAY, I MOVE TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL WE YOU BRING BACK THE CONTRACT ON THE MEETING ON THE 24TH FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

AND A SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. J4 DISCUSS CONSIDER AN ACT REGARDING WA RESOLUTION 26-04 TO APPROVE CONTRACT WITH CHARTER IMPACT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO WESTLAKE ACADEMY AND AUTHORIZE

[J.4. Discuss, consider and act regarding WA Resolution 26-04 to approve a contract with Charter Impact to provide services to Westlake Academy and to authorize execution of the agreement by the Head of School. (Dr. Kelly Ritchie, Head of School)]

EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT BY THE HEAD OF SCHOOL DOCTOR KELLY RITCHIE. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS ITEM FOR KELLY TO GET THE FINAL CONTRACT AND BRING IT BACK ON THE 24TH OF THIS MONTH FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DIRECTION WHILE WE HAVE THE CHARTER IMPACT PEOPLE HERE.

DO YOU WANT TO ASK THEM QUESTIONS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YEAH. THEY ARE ALSO I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I'M PRETTY EXCITED.

FOUR HOURS. DETAILS. IS THIS CONTRACT IN QUESTION AS WELL OR CAN CONTRACT? THAT'S CORRECT. THE CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN.

WE DO NOT HAVE A FINAL VERSION OF THE CONTRACT.

MAKE THE MOTION. OKAY. DO I GET A SECOND FOR.

SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT WE'LL WRAP UP THE CONTRACT.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. AND THANK YOU FOR FINDING THESE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. I JUST I'M JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO. YEAH. YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT TO DO THIS.

YES. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. AND THE ACADEMY WILL BE BETTER FOR IT.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED. THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE ACADEMY IS AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT CAN BE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE TOWN ALSO.

I THINK THE TOWN CAN FOCUS ON THE TOWN AS WELL. SO I THINK EVERYONE IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

I AGREE, I THINK IT'S A WIN WIN FOR SURE. OKAY.

OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET BACK ON AGENDA ORDER.

[H. PARENT/PUBLIC COMMENTS]

WE HAVE DO WE HAVE ANY PARENT COMMENTS? WE HAVE SUSAN THURMAN WISH TO SPEAK.

HI, MY NAME IS SUSAN THURMAN AND I LIVE IN FORT WORTH.

HELLO AGAIN. I'M HERE BECAUSE GOD CARES ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

GOD ALSO CARES ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE HURT PEOPLE AT WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HURT BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY ADMINISTRATION IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

[01:15:15]

MANY PEOPLE QUESTION THE ETHICALITY OF THE USE OF NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS.

HOW MANY NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN FOR PARENTS AND OR EMPLOYEES OF THE ACADEMY IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS? WHY HAVE THESE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS BEEN WRITTEN? WHAT IS THE ACADEMY TRYING. ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO HIDE FROM OTHERS? DO NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS FIT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM? I DON'T THINK THAT THEY DO. AND I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

I ASK THAT THE ACADEMY DISCONTINUE THE USE OF NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH PARENTS AND OR EMPLOYEES AT THE ACADEMY.

JOHN, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME, GOORMAGHTIGH.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE IB, AND HE EXPERIENCED THE HORRORS OF WORLD WAR TWO.

HE SPENT SOME TIME IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP. HE BELIEVED THAT EDUCATION COULD BE A VEHICLE FOR PROMOTING TOLERANCE, KINDNESS, AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING.

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. STATED THAT THE FUNCTION OF EDUCATION IS TO TEACH ONE TO THINK INTENSIVELY AND TO THINK CRITICALLY.

INTELLIGENCE PLUS CHARACTER. THAT IS THE GOAL OF EDUCATION.

DOCTOR KING AND THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM SHARE MANY CORE VALUES, BUT HE LIKELY NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM, AS HE DIED THE SAME YEAR THAT THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED.

THIS MORNING, I CAME ACROSS ANOTHER QUOTE FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.

HE ONCE SAID, THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.

OUR TEACHERS ARE THE GREATEST ASSET OF WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

BEING A TEACHER IS VERY DIFFICULT AND IT IS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND, FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A TEACHER.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN A TEACHER, IF YOU IF ONE OF YOUR PARENTS WAS NOT A TEACHER, AND IF ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NEVER BEEN A TEACHER.

MISS THURMAN, YOU'RE AT 3:45. THESE ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES, SO IF WE COULD WRAP IT UP.

WE'LL GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME, OKAY? I APOLOGIZE.

A THIRD PARTY ANONYMOUS SURVEY FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS WAS REQUESTED BY THE ACADEMY 91 DAYS AGO.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE BOARD WAS PROVIDED WITH EVERYTHING NEEDED TO MAKE THAT A SPEEDY PROCESS.

A COMPANY, A REPUTABLE COMPANY, APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS AND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT.

THE FACT THAT ANYWAY, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS.

[K.1. Discuss, consider and act regarding WA Resolution 26-05 Affirming the Constitutional and Legal Right to Choose to Pray in School and Opposing a resolution to adopt a state-organized prayer policy for our district, as contemplated by S.B. 11, 89th Legislature, codified at Texas Education Code § 25.0823. (Dr. Kelly Ritchie, Head of School)]

AGENDA ITEM K1 DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND ACT REGARDING WA RESOLUTION 26-05, AFFIRMING THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS TO CHOOSE TO PRAY IN SCHOOL.

AND OPPOSING A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A STATE ORGANIZED PRAYER POLICY FOR OUR DISTRICT AS CONTEMPLATED BY SB 11, THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, CODIFIED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 25-0823.

DOCTOR RITCHIE, YOU'RE BACK. ALL RIGHT, SO AS STATED IN THIS AGENDA ITEM, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WAS A RESULT OF THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE HAD SIX MONTHS FROM THE PASSING OF THAT LEGISLATION TO DECIDE AS A SCHOOL, IF WE WANT TO ADOPT A A PRAYER/BIBLE TIME THAT WOULD BE INSTITUTED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND KIND OF ADMINISTERED BY WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS ACROSS TEXAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS THAT WE NOT FORMALLY ADOPT THIS TIME.

I AM A PERSON OF FAITH, DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR SOMETIMES AND [LAUGHTER] I BELIEVE IN EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO EXERCISE THAT

[01:20:01]

PRIVILEGE. AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. WE DON'T RESTRICT RELIGIOUS TEXTS BEING BROUGHT INTO THE SCHOOL AT THIS POINT.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON THAT. KIDS CAN HAVE THOSE FOR PRIVATE READING TIME.

BUT TO SET ASIDE A DESIGNATED TIME WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THAT WE MONITOR IT.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PROPERLY STAFFED. WE WOULD HAVE TO INTERVENE IF STUDENTS FELT MARGINALIZED, EITHER BY PARTICIPATION OR NONPARTICIPATION. AND IT SEEMS LIKE NOT A CLEAR DIVISION OF CHURCH AND STATE AT THAT POINT.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS THAT THE BOARD NOT ADOPT THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION.