A Conversation with FISD Superintendent Thad Roher

Speaker 1 Losing to the Orioles, which the first two games we did, which is not good. Speaker 2 Not good at all. Speaker 1 I not seeing it go this year. Speaker 3 I'm seeing them go the whole way. And he says the same thing. He's like, oh, I don't think we're taking it. Speaker 2 Seriously with them. I'm like, I've seen it. Unknown I think I see. Unknown I think they just need a little motivation and. Speaker 2 You need your. Speaker 1 Lacking motivation. Speaker 2 Yeah. I mean, I think it's a 100 game season. They're coming down the end and I mean, they should have motivation because they need this, you know, the win to get in. But I think they light up when the playoff lights go on and they say, yeah. Speaker 3 You know, I don't know if you said y'all watched it yet or not, but the untold the Florida Gators. Speaker 2 I'll show. Speaker 3 Oh, my gosh. Speaker 2 It's I recommend it. Speaker 1 I just I'll leave I had to turn it off when they were they were doing that physical abuse in the weight room. I was like not watching this right now. Speaker 3 Yeah. It's I mean, it's a pretty crazy story, but I don't know about physical abuse. Speaker 2 They were. Speaker 1 It was slapping him in the head was. Speaker 5 Like, no, no, they weren't. He was looking like he said. Speaker 3 He was like wanting everyone to get sick during and people to quit, which happened. But no, I think the coach, when they had interviewed him, he had said something about, you know, I just kept thinking, if we if we could just win, you know, that would be all I needed and like, the pressure would be off. Speaker 2 Then he's like, it was total surprise. It's it's a great view of leadership and, you know. Yeah, I think it's a great view of leadership in terms of satisfaction and and not being driven by that. Speaker 3 Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Speaker 2 Which, which he then, you know, he retired because he's physically unable, then he went on to Ohio State and won national championships. I think a great story would be like, was it different, you know, or were you different? Were you satisfied with who you are and your day to day. Speaker 3 And disaster in the NFL? Yeah, disaster. Speaker 2 Suits faster in the NFL. And now he's a commentator. Speaker 3 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Speaker 2 Same on Saturdays. Speaker 3 Had some of. Speaker 1 That's the coach you're talking about because I've been watching. Speaker 3 Urban Meyer Yeah Shaun he's had some scandals for sure in recent time but yeah he he Shaun was like he I guess kicked the was the kicker he kicked him in the behind when he was bent over or something during a game. Speaker 2 Never heard of it. Never heard that. Speaker 3 It was like the first game of. Speaker 2 The year. If he's listening to this, he's, you. Speaker 3 Know, I'm sure you're accountable, but it's like something like, you cannot do that. Like, you can't kick a grown man. Speaker 1 Like, well, yeah, he's yeah, yeah. Speaker 3 He's let us know. People aren't gonna put up with that. So no anyway. And maybe, maybe some lessons. So learn good and bad from him. Speaker 1 Are we, Roland? Are we good? We're all. Speaker 5 And we're good. Okay. Speaker 1 Welcome to season three, Episode two of episodes, the podcast where Dana Owen That's me and Kelsey goals. Speaker 3 That's me. Speaker 1 Have the pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discussing anything and everything. FISA. Speaker 3 But today we had to settle for No. Speaker 2 That's me. Hey, that's me. Speaker 1 Today we would like to welcome back. Even though he's been back. I think this your third week back? Speaker 2 Yep. Speaker 1 Our superintendent Sanjay Rau. Unknown Yeah. Welcome back. Thank you. So let me start off with this. Speaker 1 So I think some people know why you were out for four weeks. I mean, it's almost like it seemed like a blip. Yeah, I know it. Speaker 2 Amazing how it went by fast for, you know. Yeah. So fast for me. Yeah. I mean. Speaker 1 So give us a little bit of just how are you doing and kind of a little synopsis of what went on, what happened. Speaker 2 I went in for a test at a cardiologist, which I had never been to a cardiologist before. Uh, I've always done a physical as everyone should. Never had any, never took any medication, never had any indications of anything. All my numbers have always been good. I been very encouraged and just had not felt right, you know? And so 55 years old, go get checked and did a calcium test, which I would recommend people take. Speaker 2 And it's like an MRI of your heart. And in it you shouldn't have any calcium. And I did. And in your. Speaker 1 Heart or in your arteries. Speaker 2 In my arteries. Okay. I did other tests and my heart looked great. And they said it was the biggest, most healthy heart they'd ever seen. Just kidding. Oh, I believe in my heart. Speaker 3 Is a miracle. Speaker 2 Last time was. Speaker 5 Yesterday. Speaker 2 They said it was weird because it's blue. But other than that. And so from that, I did a heart catheterization where they go in and really look at they can't see the back side of your heart from that. And I never left. They said, you have blockage in and all your arteries, significant blockage and you're not going. So I stayed for two days, hooked up to a machine hospital and did surgery and had five bypasses done and went through that process. Speaker 2 And really just grateful for our community, our school community, our church just reaching out and praying. And I felt those prayers and I healed very, very fast. And I just feel really blessed to have come back in a short amount of time. And everyone, you know, a lot of people ask me, you know, were you ready to come back? Speaker 2 I, I have a doctor's note that says I was good to go, come back. I didn't just make it up myself, which I think a lot of people wonder about that. But and I feel good. I feel really great. I feel better than I did in April, May. And looking back, maybe maybe some of that was was was some of this. Speaker 2 So I'm good. I'm good. I'm ready role. Yeah. Speaker 1 That's awesome. Yeah. We're glad you're back. Was there a key takeaway like if you know some people learn through other people's experiences we always hope our kids do right? I didn't tend to be that person. Yeah, in life. But if I were to learn from and not, hopefully God will not go through what you went through. Right. What's the takeaway that you would want people to know and realize? Speaker 2 I think one physics you'll take away is just the power of genetics. My dad had a heart attack at 57, went through open heart surgery and subsequently after that went through two different times where he did heart cast and had to get stents put in. And I'm a different build than my dad. My dad is 83, 84 years old and is still just doing great. Speaker 2 But our hearts want to make and want to make calcium work. Yeah, so. Speaker 1 You know, I can. Calcium are the same whenever you take calcium. Speaker 2 Calcium is in that plaque. And so my takeaway that I would share on a podcast so I hope everyone listens to is if you have that genetic background of heart disease for the arteries, like I said, my heart is great, right? But the plumbing is not. And my doctor, you know, shared with me doesn't matter. You know, you eat salads and fish every day. Speaker 2 Your body is still going to do that. And it's hard in this day and time to eat that, you know, that way all the time. So one take away is if you have that, go get this check. It's really simple, not very unobtrusive and, you know, yeah, might save your life. And I was a I didn't realize I was a time bomb walking around. Speaker 2 I'm just so grateful to not have had, you know, been on a podcast and yeah. You know, killed over here and you guys had to do CPR or whatever and then go deal through all of that. That goes with damage to your heart muscle. So go get checked, I guess is one of my learnings from that. And secondly is just having to be still for that long time and a reflection on the job and, and and workplace it holds for me in my life and what what I need to be focused on just it was really a check for me on all of that and the joy of what I do my passion of with Speaker 2 kids and in education and teach instruction. My, my love and just respect for our teachers really just came rushing through though the wide everything else, all the junk gets set aside and that becomes the the thing. And so some things don't seem as important anymore. Not everything's important, you know. And I think I did that to myself in a lot of ways. Speaker 2 So that's what that's something I learned that I think will shape my future. Speaker 1 Good moving forward will not shape your future moving forward. Obviously. Was it just so refreshing and wonderful that first step into the school and just that energy of the kids and being around. Speaker 2 The first place? I came back on Tuesday. It was after the holiday and got to spend the morning with with Cabinet, with you guys. And you know, that was awesome, you know, to sit together in that room again and not really talk about work, kind of talk about what we learned over that time together. And then just like figure out what the heck is going on in Friends, what I ask, because I didn't do anything for that amount of time. Speaker 2 It really focused on trying to get well. And then the next day started my day at Westwood and yes, walking in there. So we also kindergartners and those elementary students and just such a this is why we're here. You know, this is this is it, right? Yeah. And the people, you know, just a good people we have. Yeah. Speaker 2 Just reminder that as I went from campus to campus, I didn't do any. I do have to confess that while I was out, I just couldn't stay away from Friday night. I just couldn't do it, you know? And I felt good. And my nurse, Tina, my wife, I just said, I got it. So I snuck in to the visitor side when we played Texas City. Speaker 1 We didn't sneak in because I heard about it. I was told you were there. Speaker 5 So you got to sneak past. Speaker 2 Every last time I snuck in a way that only a superintendent knows how to sneak in or someone who works there, and to sit on that side and experience just the pride and. And my school, my wrangler, that's cheerleaders band from another sitting in another another. Speaker 1 Oh, yeah. Speaker 2 And just look across and see that that was kind of the first juice of like, you know, it was easy for me to get up and do my hour, walk in the morning to try and try and get better. And so, yeah, I wish everyone could see that, you know what I mean? I yeah, we get focused on on the things in front of us, you know, that are problems and and it's part of what life is and, and it happens to all of us. Speaker 2 But when you sit in a hospital room, you wonder if the next day is going to be your last one. And then you're able to to come and watch kids do their thing and you're sponsors who are focused on them performing really well and they feel all this pressure. It sure feels different, right? Sitting there and just being so proud. Speaker 2 Sure. Of them and all the things in your community, you know, you. Yeah, full stands, full of blue, the whole thing. You know, all of us know what it is because we live it every day. But kind of like when we came back from COVID, remember those first kind of gatherings back together again? It was like that. Yeah. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 3 And you said you went right, You went back to school shopping because when we filmed your your video of I'm back with that. I remember the time when you were you were going to go get new clothes and it was for your first day of school. Speaker 2 Yes, that's right. My first day of school. Did you. Speaker 1 Lose weight? Do all this women we know that's like you go through this and I gained £8. Speaker 5 For whatever reason. Like I have. No, don't go there. Speaker 1 You lost weight. I did. Speaker 2 Wow. I sure did. Speaker 1 That's. There's nothing you said. Nothing positive. Speaker 2 And now? Now I just didn't. Speaker 5 Go to go this go doing this. No, it's not worth. Speaker 2 It. Yeah. It also changes what you think about, you know, when you eat and. Well. Speaker 1 I disagree with you because you have all new arteries. So you can go. Speaker 5 Strongly in that you can. Speaker 2 Eat a steak every day like I used to. Speaker 3 Dance. Speaker 5 Oh. Speaker 1 Yeah. Okay. So because kids, that's our theme this year, right? Right. What a great theme. We're all in agreement. Yeah, it's just a good I mean, you can't go wrong with because kids, what does that mean to you specifically? Speaker 2 You know, as we even as together, we talked about it long time ago, you know, and the timing of it, it isn't just it's always been because kids. Right. Right. But this is the time for us to have that because kids because of, you know, where we are just in the national and state view of public education, where we are in the view of change in instruction and in construct for us specifically construction and all the changes. Speaker 2 I mean, I don't know that we've had as much change as we did in 20 to 23. And friends, what I saw just in construction where people are located, new grade level configurations, a legislature who didn't even a you know, we didn't get to talk about school fine. They didn't talk about school finance. The attack on public education in so many ways that that continues. Speaker 2 We talked in our leadership meetings this week just about, you know, ten, ten, 20 years ago, schools were centered around or committees were centered around the school. And the affirmation and the view of teaching and learning and how now here we are, you know, in 2023, it's different. So all of that back to because kids to where we talked about it as a tattoo when you wear that because kids tattoo it's a battlefield now different than it was before and you have it and you have to wear that tattoo with pride and believe in it. Speaker 2 To be an educator in this day and time and to support education as a parent or as a community member or, you know, an administrator, it means something so much different. It's it's we've always said it's a calling, but it's a choice, you know, and it's a it's a statement. Why do we do what we do? Because kids. Speaker 2 And it's a quantifier. Because kids, we make hard decisions because kids, we change because kids we build relationships. So it's something that I think our community can do, will do, should do. It's different than many other places. And we have the ingredients in place to be different in that in that light so that our 6100 kids this year, our 500 seniors that walk out of graduation next year, because we focus on this because it is our focus, our intentional focus, they're different in their day to day lives, you know, and it takes all of us to do that. Speaker 2 So because kids to me, is a really big deal and it's a rally cry that isn't just, you know, you walk to every school district, that's what they ought to be talking about, a board meeting. What do we do? What we do because of kids. But do you do you really right now, is that what your what your call is? Speaker 2 And and for us, that's our that's our challenge and our our rally cry this year. Speaker 1 And, you know, it's part of what we do. We love kids and we want to grow kids. And then we hope that they, in turn go out and form their own communities and then pour into the next generation. And, you know, that's kind of our role as citizens. And, you know, so. Speaker 2 And I mean, I'll just add this in there, but you know, being in a hospital, I have I don't know that I've stayed a night in a hospital and going through this experience. One of the things that I just, you know, kind of came along that path was, you know, you're in there with nurses and nurses, very similar to teachers are. Speaker 2 I mean, those nurses saved my life. Let's let's just call it what it is. You know, if they're not doing the things that they're doing, I don't make it. And they're doing things that the three of us in here could not do. Yes. I mean, I don't know about y'all, but even trained to do so, I don't know that I could could do that. Speaker 2 And no one. No, I'm I'm watching. No one's thinking. They're not thanked for it. In fact, we all want what we want right now from them to help be comfortable to alleviate pain, to to help us, you know, what we perceive is get better. And I just looked at them and just thought about our staff, you know, so much. Speaker 2 And, you know, the hours that those nurses put in, I mean, talking to them, you know, they're doing, you know, ten, 12 hour shifts for very little pay as well. But yet their whole life in their hands, you know, and I'm just looking at them thinking about what we do, you know. Well, I thought. Speaker 1 It was a great analogy and, you know, it is a calling, but you have to be all in. It does not work totally. I mean, it has to be a calling, but not just a calling. You have to be all in. And I thought it was a great analogy comparing nurses with teachers because there are a lot of similarities. Speaker 3 Yeah, they're healers. They're they have the good medicine, right? They've got the good. Speaker 2 Stuff and they change life, you know? And that's what our, you know, just being in the campuses, the few I was yesterday back at Westwood Bales and the high school, um, and have been to the other ones as well but you just when you step back and look at them from that light, you just see the life changes that they're making. Speaker 2 But it's, it's incremental. It's day by day. And so you don't really like nurses. They don't know how I'm doing, you know what I mean? But they served in that amount of time for me. Yeah. And it's changed my life. And so a first grader, they have 100 and, what, 75 days with them move on and maybe they get to see some of that. Speaker 2 But they have significantly impacted the life of that that life. What more can you ask for? Right. Right. You know what I mean? What in terms of like, am I have I done anything, man? Yes. Right. Yes. You know. Speaker 1 Yeah. Being a teacher, it's a it's a hard role. It's a thankless job. I mean, I do think so many people love our teachers and they love their kids, teachers and but you just don't always feel that in the grind, you know, in the daily grind of of life as a teacher, let's start construction. So we've moved past a lot of construction. Speaker 1 We have opened CLINE We're going to get to the client's dedication ceremony towards the end. We have opened the new wing on Wynn songs, fifth grade wing, beautiful Westwood. There was some stuff that went on at Westwood. Speaker 3 The stage I know that got converted right to the music room. Speaker 1 Oh, yeah, Yeah. Speaker 3 So Belle's outdoor space that was another was outdoor. Speaker 1 Space. Speaker 2 Really beautiful? Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1 Looks great. It does high school. So that's kind of where we still have a couple of things going on at that. Actually a lot going on at the. Speaker 2 High school that's still going on at the house. Walk us through that. And where do I start? I think to start with you know, June 13th, we had a building collapse in an area that was part of the construction zone, but not part of the new construction. They were just getting that that part prepared. And then basically from that point on, we went offline and the time off line, I don't I can't even remember when we were able to different parts came back online as a time came, just everything got pushed back. Speaker 2 So if I'm a parent or someone listen, this podcast, my first question might be like, Well, what's going on in that spot? Speaker 1 Right? Speaker 2 So it's still the exact same the way that it was on June 14th. Speaker 1 And why is that? Speaker 2 Why is that is because basically we have stabilized the area around it. We have isolated that area, but we are not going to do anything in that area or the what we would call the boys gym until we can demo that spot. And we're not going to demo that place with students in that gym locker room, that that building that we'd call the field house, I guess, and so where we sit today and we all know from experience in Friendswood and in construction, those things could change. Speaker 2 But right now the plan, the plans that we have would be to mobilize a demo crew. We have a plan. The plan has been approved by our own independent engineer, as well as engineers for the construction company to demo to demo that whole area, that whole hallway and the locker rooms there and keep students out of that area. Speaker 2 And so the plan would be to begin that the week after spring break would be mobilized. So if I was pulling up to that school, I would see cranes and things moving into place. And then next week, I think it's December 8th. Speaker 1 You said spring break. You mean Thanksgiving? Speaker 2 I mean after Thanksgiving. I'm sorry. Yeah. Speaker 2 Then then they would start the the demo of that area, which would be for the two weeks and four days before Christmas vacation. So after Thanksgiving break, we basically have three and a half week. Right. One of those weeks will be moving students out of there into the new gym locker room areas. The kids who are in football, baseball, that would be kind of what we're looking at as a possibility. Speaker 2 And again, these are draft, right? Speaker 1 This is what we think we're doing. Speaker 2 This is what we think what we're doing right now. Demo that and then begin rebuilding that area back. We would we would hope to have that area then completed by the end of the school year ready for next fall to begin. Well, the new gym is is done except for the floor that was had been installed has been compromised by the water that came when we had the collapse. Speaker 2 A fire line that got broken in the water went in there. So we're waiting on a new floor. Once that new floor is installed, then we're ready to use that gym. And that appears to be in in the December timeframe, return from Christmas break time. And then we would have access to that gym, which would then make the new gym accessible. Speaker 2 The the performing arts center there, finishing that, all the interior exterior working on it. And that'll be us after that will be a spring opening at some point in time, just depending on the ability to get the right trades in there and finalize, get, get, get it say fire, you know, the fire systems and the fire alarm systems all all finalized in there. Speaker 2 And then the other areas that are being right now that are walled off. You know, if you've been in the high school kids that are in the high school, it's all walled off. What we would you know, the auditorium, the the old band hall, the old choir room, the old theater spaces, the old culinary, all that's been walled off. Speaker 2 And it's if you pull those walls back, basically all you have behind there is just open space. So they're finalizing the construction plans for that. Those have all been submitted and that construction will happen through the spring and be ready to open in the fall of next year is what we're being, you know, told. We'd love for that to be maybe a little bit earlier on Some of those we've had the nothing's changed in terms of those spaces. Speaker 2 So we still have a brand new band hall which will be in the auditorium area. We still have a brand new engineering space excuse me, in a brand new choir hall. Culinary has remained the same and the audio visual has remained the same in the same places. They've just moved around a little bit because we had anticipated doing some structural demo, but we're not going to do that while kids are in session. Speaker 2 And actually the square footage has actually grown for all those spaces. In this redesign, we have a few more beams that are in classrooms than what we had had before. But we, you know, to the plans, have student workstations around those where it shouldn't be obtrusive for shouldn't, shouldn't affect instruction. Right. Speaker 1 They work it into the design and make sure it works. Speaker 2 Right, Right. Work it into design. So it's going to be I mean, that's the thing, I think for all of us, we're we're we're all focused. And I say we are construction team and us as a district. And, you know, it's hard for staff. I mean, all that mess is there in different places and it's just it's just hard for staff. Speaker 2 But the thing to remember is this is going to be awesome. Speaker 3 So I think. Speaker 2 It's going to be a great place for kids. Speaker 1 Yeah. So a couple of things come to mind and you addressed one, you know, we had a question that engineer was hearing engineering was hearing that they had lost space because the band hall had grown. But that's not true. You said actually there are bigger spaces in what was originally on the plan. Speaker 2 Most of the spaces are bigger just in general. Their their total square footage is bigger. Some of their the roof over the areas like play fields and you know, areas where we need acoustics are still 20 feet high. There may be some lower ceilings because we haven't demoed those and taken those out. But but yeah, it's going to be it's going to be grade space. Speaker 1 The second thing I thought about, and I don't know why, but if you walk through that high school, there is a white wall and you just said it's all demoed behind that. It is absolutely amazing to me that there is not one pin mark on that. Speaker 2 Why we shouldn't have said that. I'm just doing. Speaker 5 It for all the students who listen to. Speaker 2 This are keeping. Speaker 1 It. I'm telling you, we have not that that makes it great. Kid is not I'm not saying that, but the fact that that wall is not graffitied is amazing now. It's just it's not even a real wall. And the kids know that. So like a graffiti on it, they're not really Yeah, they've not there's not one pin mark on the wall. Speaker 1 It blows my mind. Yeah. The third thing that I wanted to bring up is the going question out there seems to be what is our band? Have a red uniform. Can you talk to that? It just was I mean I seriously I've gotten several and they're like, can you tell me? I'm like, No, I can't. I don't know why. Speaker 2 Well, the band, the the the band, our band. I is fabulous. I will go on record right now saying they will be on the floor of the Alamo Dome marching for a state championship. Okay. I will go on on live radio right now. But to be. Yeah, yeah. Speaker 2 And so let me just say that and I've been to this is my seventh year as superintendent. You before had marching band contest every other year. Now they've moved every year. So every year you have marching contests, but your five was every other year. So I've been to well, I've been to them all and it's a it's a production, right. Speaker 2 Like to win you have to have a production props the uniforms the the whole shooting match. Yeah. The flags. Yeah. You're doing the flag right across from me right. Yeah. Yeah. It has to be the whole, the whole thing. Speaker 1 We don't have twirlers anymore, do we. Speaker 2 Yeah, yeah, yeah. We don't have twirlers. The color guard does. Okay, those things. Okay. Throw rifles and. Yeah, yeah. Batons around. And they're really good. They also went to a state national championship in the real world. Yeah. Yeah, they know how. Why? The worlds are in Dayton, Ohio. I don't know, but that's where they went. Speaker 5 Oh, this is obvious. Speaker 2 So back to your question. The band program this year is a Stephen Sondheim collection, famous like big band music. Speaker 1 Going to church on it when. Speaker 2 It is. Speaker 1 On to I know I believe. Speaker 2 You if you know. Speaker 3 Who that is. Speaker 1 Kelsey Of course I do. Speaker 5 Let's go ahead and move on. You know. Speaker 2 It's like you have no idea. So anyway, it needs to match up with that. It is the showmanship side of that big band piece. Right? So these are their show uniforms are the the red uniforms to match the music that's in the show. And I don't know about you, but I'm a judge. I'm looking out. I remember you're you're remember in the red uniforms right now? Speaker 2 It is. It is. It all comes together in one big piece. Speaker 3 So let me tell you, whenever I was in second grade, I did a science fair project on what color is the most attractive to the human eye using bowls of Eminem's red one. Really? Yeah, it's true. By a landslide. Speaker 1 So they know what they're. Speaker 3 Doing, why they do stop signs and read like anything that needs to grab your attention. Like the yield, anything like that. It's red because it's most eye catching. Speaker 1 You're colorblind, you know that it's red. You don't even know what I can. Speaker 2 Tell this red. Oh, yes, Red. Speaker 5 Dragon, everything. Speaker 1 What letters are your tie right now? What? To make a. Speaker 2 Test. Go on. Speaker 5 Okay. Yeah. Okay. Speaker 2 So I mean, and plus, with what we're doing now, back to the construction along the same lines, you know, the band, they don't have a band hall, so we have a state marching band, right? It's arguably top, you know, five, whatever you want to call it in the state that our practice being in alternative locations, we have air conditioned containers for their instruments. Speaker 2 They're out there. I mean, they they are endless. You know, wake up at 6:00 in the morning, sit on Greenbrier and watch the the stream of cars come in. Yeah. Those kids, those directors, they work so they could wear polka dots for all I care. Right. For for what they do. So I'm sure you know, the the Mustang uniforms are there, but yeah, this is this is the show thing. Speaker 2 And I'm I'm looking forward to seeing those on the floor. And Santonio. Speaker 1 I can't wait. That's awesome. Well, there's your answer to the question. If you're wondering why. Speaker 2 Google Stephen Sondheim and the songs that he has and then listen to the band program, we're back home again here pretty soon. I think we have, what, two more weeks and then we're back again. And you'll recognize, you'll recognize when you look at it. I know you know all about Stephen Sondheim. And when you get the point, when you Google, you'll know where. Speaker 1 So please and whenever we return, which is the first weekend in October, that is our homecoming. Yeah. And that Thursday night, of course, is our parade that everybody loves. That night is our Distinguished alumni banquet, and we're honoring four people. Cheryl Bouillon being one who is our museum curator. Curator. Thank you. Love her. Cannot wait to recognize her and cheer her on our very own president, Tony Hopkins. Speaker 1 Board President Tony Hopkins is another one. Mary Gillespie, which, by the way, not everybody knows this. Mary Gillespie was valedictorian of Friendswood High School. Her husband is being recognized as one Bill. And tell me the fourth. Speaker 2 Vanguard is badass. Yeah, Dan and I graduated together in 1986. Graduate. So I'm pumped to have a fellow classmate in there. Dan and I went to a boys state together in Austin, and he became a I mean, he returned back as a member of the legislature. So he's one of the many Friendswood Irons, who has served in the legislature. Speaker 2 Awesome. He I think he's also served in some agricultural, you know, roles for the state of Texas. So. Great, great. Dude. Um, I'm excited to see him and his family all these. Oh, all four of these are going to be great people to honor that. Speaker 1 Absolutely. That'll be fun to recognize them and honor them. We're actually doing we're interviewing our senior president and senior vice president that will come out our podcast will come out the week of homecoming. And we're going to do we're going to talk a lot about homecoming. Speaker 3 Yeah, that'll be fun. Speaker 1 That will be yes. To senior girls, so that'll be fine. So Vader voter approved tax ratification election. Speaker 2 Right? Speaker 1 What do you want to tell us? What? I'm going to limit you here with two things we go. Speaker 5 It's important. Speaker 1 It's really important. Listen, we could go on and on about school finance and and the frustration things that they put on our plate, but then yet don't pay for. But talk to us later. Speaker 2 Two things. Number one is, you know, the school finance system, the size of the pie, how much revenue you get from the state and how much revenue you get from your local taxes put together makes up the pie of what you use to run the maintenance and operations, the day to day operations of a school district that does that does not change in the school system except for two things. Speaker 2 Two things can change it more students. So you add more students. And that's why we're so concerned about school finance, because the amount you get per student has not changed in four, five years. And we all know what has happened in cost in that time. And secondly is the tax rate, the tax rate charged per every $100 of value. Speaker 2 Um, you can increase that to a ceiling and that's the voter approved tax ratification election. Is the board requesting that our community consider raising it up to what would be the the most allowable tax rate per every hundred of value five more cents and that we have a tremendous decrease in taxes from a year ago from a dollar 20 down to a dollar eight. Speaker 2 So everyone's going to experience a significant reduction in taxes per per hour. Legislatures stepping in to to do that. And so this is asking for a small portion of that back to help gain at $1.2 million to be able to you know, what is it going to be used for would be. The second thing is to be competitive and salaries where you know compared to the districts that touch us were the lowest and it takes great talent to have a great team. Speaker 2 We have a great team and we don't want to lose that talent that we have now. And we also want to be able to recruit those that come here. And so we're utilizing that that method to increase the size of the pie to help care for that, as well as the other costs that have increased tremendously. Our insurance have gone up 40%. Speaker 2 So what will it be used for? That's what it will be used for. Are those things very important? Speaker 3 And I was just going to say, if you want more information, visit our website. My advice dot com slash victory. We've got lots of good helpful things on there and great. Speaker 1 Video as well. Yeah. Speaker 2 And I was just going to say that video, it's short very it's it's very self-explanatory. I think you can watch that video or if someone's like, you know has a question about, well, what is this? And what's this used for? Just it's right there. Just just watch it, show it to, you know, people pull up on your phone while you're sitting there and waiting for something. Speaker 2 You know, waiting for whatever. And you can really get in a in a very short aisle. How long is it? Speaker 3 Like 3 minutes. Speaker 2 You can you can understand it. Speaker 3 Yeah. And just to say so, that video is that web page I just said, but it's also on our home page right now. So two ways to find it. Speaker 2 And there's a place on there to ask questions. If you watch a video and you don't understand. Yep, man, we'd be happy to answer your question. And it helps us shape in our frequently asked questions for people. Speaker 1 People too. And that's always there on our home. Speaker 3 Yeah. So any the district home page and any of the campus web pages, we have a little bar now. This is a new feature we're excited about called Chat with us. And so if you just click on that, it will take you to a form and we promise to get back with you in 48 school hours. Speaker 1 Absolutely. Let us know your questions if have any. So we talked about homecoming ftf sporting clays. We did hear through the grapevine yesterday from ashley. I don't know if it's still true today, but that there were five more team openings or. Speaker 3 They were. Speaker 1 Six. Speaker 3 So they have six less teams this year than they did last year as of yesterday. So they're really wanting to try to encourage more people to sign up. It's a super fun event that you usually shoot in. I know. Speaker 2 I do. I won't be this year, right? Understandably so. Understandably so. Recall of a 12 gauge just makes me feel like I might faint right now, but this is that this is a tremendous place to shoot. I mean, I've seen lot of greater Houston Club and it's you know, you got holes there's a lot of vegetation around. It comes blinds. Speaker 2 You know, it's a really fun day, challenging. Speaker 3 It is, Yeah. Speaker 2 It's run officially. So it's one of those that you can come eat, shoot, go home on a Friday morning. Speaker 3 We get out some prizes. Speaker 2 There's the weather's good, they have good things. It's a good time just to be together. And it isn't a you know, like I said, it's quick, it's fun. Speaker 3 It's enjoyable, It's. Speaker 2 It's relaxed, you know? Yeah. Speaker 1 You're if you are looking for a great team builder out there for your business. Yeah. Speaker 3 Yeah. Speaker 1 You could get four guys together or gals and get out there and just give Ashley Adair or the Education Foundation and. Speaker 2 I mean, and you know this Dana, you've shot in it. You don't have to be like an expert. Excuse me? I mean, you. Speaker 1 Bring money, but for a reason. Speaker 2 I just to say in the teams around you that you saw. Yes, that's exactly right. You know, you you did it. I did. You in It's it's all abilities, is what I'm saying, right? Yeah, It's abilities. So if you want to if you've shot a shotgun or haven't shot a shotgun, you want to come out, just find somebody who has one. Speaker 2 And it's an experience. You'll, you'll be able to go back. Hey, I did this at one point. Yeah. It really does. Speaker 1 Take a golf cart to like each hole. Yeah. And you shoot and then you get on your golf cart and go to the next hole and. Right. Speaker 3 And this might be enticing, but they do squares that you can buy and they, I think they do two trips that they give out like good packages. So they have some awesome things there. So it's a great event to get involved with. Speaker 2 Yeah, Yeah. Speaker 1 It is great. Speaker 2 And October six, October. Speaker 3 Six, Friday. Speaker 1 So make sure you get your team because that's right around the corner. And then the last thing that I want to talk about right now is the Kline dedication ceremony, which is October 10th. And yes, we have opened the doors to students and teachers. But like, think about a lot of grandparents or community members or. Speaker 2 I mean, you voted for this. You know, we can see it. We want you to see it. Yes. Whether you voted for it or not, our promise to you has been to build something you could be proud of and you will be proud of of this space. And we would love for you to come that night and we'll have a little ceremony. Speaker 2 But ceremony or not come walk through. Yeah, we'll have a map. I know Dana's done a great job, Kelsey. I'm sure. Help! Help with that. Put something together for you to be able to walk around and really get to see this amazing, amazing place. The views out of it are great. Speaker 1 Let's just say it's not the elementary schools that I grew up in. It's beautiful. Beautiful. Speaker 3 Almost unbelievable how incredible this is. Speaker 2 Yeah, that's really and the thing that's exciting about it is, you know, as we grow in Friendswood and we look at our older buildings like what the possibilities for for to get excited about. Yeah, I know. One of the things that happened for me in this Bond program was taking people around to other. I get to do that a lot as a superintendent, go see other schools in other parts of the state and taken some people around Houston and going to see some schools is like wow, this is the possibilities. Speaker 2 Yeah, it gets you excited about it, you know? Speaker 1 Yeah. Yeah. It's great. We were just there this week taking pictures of some. Speaker 3 Oh my gosh, yesterday. Speaker 1 But yesterday. Yeah, yeah, just. Just great to be in that building, but really just be with the kids. They're just so sweet and cute. Speaker 3 And yes, I actually had a meeting this morning, too. So our first I don't know if you remember from the spring, but we did a peek inside docu series. We're kicking that back off again this year and Cline will be our first peek inside for the 2023 2024 school year yeah super excited. Speaker 2 About it be great you know to walk my first walk in decline you walk into that learning commons and you can just walk in There's kids working in the learning commons. You look up glass, you can see them working in the lab, in a lab upstairs, in a lab downstairs, teachers meeting in a in a room. Just the, just the learning going on and just impressive. Speaker 3 It's so impressive. Speaker 1 Yes. We would love for you to be there and participate in that. Speaker 2 And I'll highlight two and maybe you could start us off talking about it. We got two kind of cool sponsorship we're doing during the Patriotic Halftime game, which is coming up pretty soon. Folds of Honor. You want to just talk about that just a little bit. Speaker 1 So I can tell you that Folds of Honor, they I do know that we're going to be selling t shirts. Speaker 3 Junior high and high school. Speaker 1 Junior in high school. And then we're also going to be selling shirts, I think, at the stadium. Yeah. Speaker 2 I think pretty soon one of these days. Well, the. Speaker 1 17th and 18th is when we're selling them at the schools. But it is for the patriotic halftime show. Yeah. Where, you know, we honor all of our branches of service and we're going to be recognizing. Speaker 2 So yeah, we're excited to partner with folds of honor for this. And Folds of Honor is an organization that means a lot for me, having someone in the on the armed forces that that actually funds scholarships for veterans kids. And so they they put together fundraisers and have done it for our kids. We we've had friends with kids who've who've benefited from this. Speaker 2 And so patriotism is one of our core values. And we celebrated that night and we want don't miss the patriotic halftime show. It's a great never been to one you come Yeah and we'll have our kind of our typical program that we have for that But also there's folds of honor group we're going to try and red white and blue this place out with with t shirts whose proceeds go towards that scholarship fund. Speaker 2 Yeah. And also just to honor the the veterans of Friendswood and the people who have. Speaker 1 And that's Friday night October 20th. Speaker 2 So I think so yeah yeah I. Speaker 3 Think you mention this but they are selling red, white and blue mustang shirts. Right. So. Right. So if you want to match the new band uniforms you may get after that, right? Speaker 1 Yeah, right. Speaker 2 Yeah. Band Harris Band parents made perfect Riley Red Mustang shirt to wear to San Antonio. Speaker 1 You will not see that very many places. Speaker 3 You got your. Speaker 1 Whole T T-shirt now that's. Speaker 2 Exactly what. Speaker 1 You have questions about that and you would like to know more Just reach out to me or even chat with us and we can get you more information on that. But we'll or we will also be pushing that out on social media and our newsletters and that sort of thing. So what else? Anything else I want to talk about? Speaker 2 And there's just there's I know there's lots of things going on and just grateful to have an opportunity to sit down and talk about some of the great things that are there happen across Friendswood is that you can't go anywhere and and not miss some of the things that are that are going on. Speaker 1 Well, I can I can tell you one thing, Mr.. We're we're glad you're back. Speaker 2 It's good to be back. Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad you're here. So great. And it's fun to be back. Speaker 1 We look forward to a good year. Yeah. Okay. Y'all have a great day. Speaker 2 All right.