[Coffee with the CEO featuring Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa ]
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WELCOME TO COFFEE WITH THE CEO.
IT'S PRESENTED TODAY AND BROUGHT TO EVERYBODY BY OUR SPONSORS, GROUP O, COCA-COLA, ONCOR, DALLAS COLLEGE, REGIONAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND SOUTHEAST DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WELCOME TO EVERYBODY JOINING US TODAY.
I HOPE EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD WEEK SO FAR.
THAT SAID, LET'S GET STARTED, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
WE HAVE A SHORTER COFFEE WITH THE CEO BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE FEATURING DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S DR. MICHAEL HINOJOSA.
HE'S SERVED OVER 26 YEARS AT SUPERINTENDENT, CEO OF SIX PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING TWO OF THE 25 LARGEST IN AMERICA.
DALLAS ISD IN TEXAS AND COBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GEORGIA.
HIS CAREER FROM TEACHER AND COACH TO CEO SPANS MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. HINOJOSA.
FOR SOME REASON MY CAMERA IS NOT WORKING BUT I CAN SEE YOU AND SEE THE PROGRAM.
I'M PLEASED TO HAVE SUSANA CORDOVA, MY NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, WHO WILL INTRODUCE HERSELF WHEN SHE COVERS ONE OF THE TOPICS.
YOU SEE HER PICTURE ON THE CAMERA.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE AGENDA, WE HAD ALREADY HAD A FEW ITEMS WE WANTED TO COVER.
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
WE GOT THE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT'S WHAT WE PLANNED TO COVER.
BUT SOME OF THE TOPICS WILL COVER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS SO WE'LL PUT THEM TOGETHER AS WE GO.
AS YOU KNOW, THE LARGEST BOND IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED.
IT WAS A $3.7 BILLION BOND AND 3.5 BILLION PASSED.
THERE WERE THREE PROPOSITIONS FOR OUR REGIONAL STADIUMS FOR OUR SWIMMING POOLS AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT FAILED.
SO THOSE WERE -- HAD TO BE ON A SEPARATE BALLOT.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A TAX RATE INCREASE.
DESPITE, THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE IN THE BALLOT THAT IS REQUIRED TO SAY IT WAS GOING TO BE A TAX RATE INCREASE.
REGARDLESS, WE HAVE HAD GREAT NEWS EVER SINCE THEN.
OUR TEAM WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR ESTIMATES FOR EVERYTHING.
WE WERE CONSERVATIVE ON PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH.
WE SAID WE WOULD HAVE PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH OF 1% IN THE FUTURE AND OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE.
IT HADN'T BEEN LESS THAN 7% IN THE PAST.
INTEREST RATES ARE PHENOMENAL RIGHT NOW AND WE'VE ALREADY SAVED SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS ON THE FIRST SET OF BONDS WE SOLD.
I'M SORRY, THE LAST SET OF BONDS FROM THE 2015 BONDS.
ALSO, THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE COMING DOWN.
SO WE ESTIMATED A HIGHER NUMBER FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE GOING TO NOT NEED ANOTHER BOND ELECTION FOR TEN YEARS.
THIS IS A TEN-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION CYCLE.
IT WILL TAKE US TEN YEARS TO EXECUTE ALL THIS.
WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I START WITH THE 2020 BOND, I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
EVERYBODY JUST THINKS ABOUT -- HIGH SCHOOL.
AND BY THE WAY, WE HAVE HAD QUITE AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON.
SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO PLAY THEIR PLAYOFFS AT CARTER AND SOUTH OAK CLIFF.
RED OAK AND HIGHLAND PARK AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF HIGH SCHOOL.
PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN BY AND SEEN HILLCREST AND PEOPLE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT CARTER.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT.
ALSO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH SEGALVILLE YESTERDAY.
THAT SCHOOL LOOKS ALMOST COMPLETELY NEW.
WE HAVE NORTH DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAS OVER $40 MILLION OF WORK.
WE ALSO HAVE SUNSET HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAS $40 MILLION.
WE HAVE BRIAN ADAMS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WE CAN'T OPEN UNTIL AFTER SPRING BREAK BECAUSE OF THE SNOMAGEDDON AND THE PIPES BURSTING.
SO EVEN BEFORE WE GET TO THE 2020 BOND, WE'RE FINISHING OUT THE 2015 BOND AND
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THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING STUFF HAPPENING.ON THE FIRST ITEM ON THIS BOND, WE'LL HAVE 3.4 BILLION -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ROLLING PHASES INSTEAD OF PHASE I, 2 AND 3.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING ROLLING PHASES.
AS WE'RE GEARING DOWN WITH A PROJECT, WE'RE GEARING UP WITH ANOTHER ONE SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 29 -- CURRENTLY THERE ARE 29 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UNDER WAY AND THERE'S 21 SET TO BEGIN WITH 13 SCHOOLS, 13 BRAND-NEW SCHOOLS ALL OVER TOWN THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT.
THEY'VE ALSO -- OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM, WE HAVE A NEW TEAM IN PLACE AND THEY HAVE PROMISED TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITY AS WE ROLL OUT THE BOND PROGRAM.
ALSO WE HAVE TO HAVE DISCIPLINE AND TELL PEOPLE NO FOR THINGS THAT AREN'T IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
THAT GOT US INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE IN THE LAST BOND PROGRAM WHEN THINGS STARTED ESCALATING BEYOND OF SCOPE OF THE PLAN.
THIS TIME WE TOOK MORE TIME ON THE FRONT END SO WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES ON THE BACK END TO RESOLVE.
SPECIFICALLY PLACES LIKE ROOSEVELT AND SOUTH OAK CLIFF.
WITH THE THOMAS JEFFERSON PROJECT, IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN IN 2022.
THIS BOND WILL PAY FOR MOST OF IT.
INSURANCE PAID FOR A LITTLE BIT OF IT, BUT YOU'LL START SEEING DIRT FLY AND -- I DROVE BY T.J.
THIS WEEK SO YOU'LL SEE THAT PROJECT STARTING TO GET OFF THE GROUND SOON.
WE HAD TO USE UNIQUE WAYS TO GET THAT OFF THE GROUND BECAUSE OF -- THE TRAGEDY WE WERE IN.
WE ALSO HAVE DECIDED THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME IMMEDIATE SCHOOL REPAIRS THAT CAN'T WAIT, THAT -- IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO A SCHOOL FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, CERTAIN ROOFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT CAN GIVE US A PROBLEM, WE DECIDED TO MOVE THOSE TO THE FRONT END AND DEAL WITH THEM AS WE CAN.
WE'LL HAVE A DASHBOARD AND IT'S LIVE NOW.
THE DASHBOARD IS PUBLIC FACING AND KEEPS TRACK OF ALL THE PROJECTS, THE SCOPE, THE BUDGET, THE TIMELINE, EXPENDITURES AND EVEN PICTURES.
SO AT SOME POINT, RICK, WE'LL GET THIS LINK SENT TO YOU SO YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT ANY PROJECT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHO IS WORKING ON IT AND WHERE WE ARE AND SEE SOME PICTURES OF ACTUAL WORK.
THE ONE THING -- DECEMBER 7, 1941 WAS A DAY THAT LIVES IN INFAMY, WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS BOND.
DECEMBER 7, 2015 WAS MY DAY TO LIVE IN INFAMY.
I WENT TO SOUTH OAK CLIFF, GOT REHIRED AND WAS DOING COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND GOT SANDBAGGED.
PEOPLE KNEW I WAS COMING AND THEY KNEW THE MEDIA WAS COMING SO THEY ORCHESTRATED A WALKOUT AND A BIG FIASCO AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF AND IT WAS A DONNYBROOK.
I TOLD -- I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN IN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FOR 26 YEARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED IS THERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT ARCHITECTS ARE GREAT AT CALLED A DESIGN CHARETTE.
YOU GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE VOICE ABOUT WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY LOOKS LIKE.
AS A RESULT THAT HAVE MEETING AND WALKOUT AND THAT BLOWUP, I TOLD PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT WITH US AND THEY WEREN'T.
SO WE TOOK EVERYBODY AND SENT THEM THROUGH A DESIGN CHARETTE AND DESIGNED THE SCHOOL THEY HAVE NOW.
IT WAS VERY PAINFUL GETTING THERE BUT I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS IN OTHER DISTRICTS AND I KNEW THAT WE COULD PULL THIS OFF.
LO AND BEHOLD, WE HAD TO REITERATE AND ADJUST, SPENDING OVER $40 MILLION AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF.
NOW WE HAVE SUBURBS THAT WANT TO PLAY GAMES.
DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL COACH WAS RECRUITING A KID AND WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING, TAKING PICTURES AND SAID THIS WAS THE BEST LOOKING SCHOOL HE'S BEEN IN.
THAT'S WHAT OUR FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE.
I'VE BEEN A SUBURBAN SUPERINTENDENT THREE TIMES AND URBAN TWICE.
THE SUBURB SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE THIS NOW AND OURS HAVEN'T.
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I WAS A STUDENT IN DALLAS AND TEACHER AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT RIGHT BUT WE ARE NOW.WITH THIS BOND PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL -- WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS THAT HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
I'LL MAKE SURE WE GET TO THAT.
LET ME NOW TURN IT OVER TO SUSANA CORDOVA WHO WILL TALK ABOUT HER NWBE ACADEMY.
WHY DON'T YOU PICK THAT UP HERE.
>>> GREAT, CAN YOU Y'ALL HEAR ME? PERFECT.
WELL, FIRST I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M SUSANA CORDOVA, THE NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF LEADING AND LEARNING IN DALLAS.
>> I WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT IN THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BEFORE I JUMP IN TO TALK ABOUT THE BOND ACADEMY I WANT TO NAME WHAT A GREAT PARTNER THE HISPANIC CHAMBER WAS TO ME AT SUPERINTENDENT IN DENVER AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS RELATIONSHIP IS AND HOW MUCH THERE'S A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ASPECT TO THE WORK WE CAN ENGAGE IN TOGETHER.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS I KNOW YOU'RE VERY COMMITTED TO AND PASSIONATE ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF HOW TO PREPARE MORE CONTRACT -- MWBE CONTRACTORS TO ENGAGE IN WORK WITH US AND GET THOSE CONTRACTS.
I WANTED TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE BOND ACADEMY THAT JUST KICKED OFF YESTERDAY.
THIS IS AN AREA OF REAL PASSION FOR THE HISPANIC CHAMBER AND I WANTED TO SHARE WHERE WE ARE WITH IT.
WE KICKED OFF A BOND ACADEMY WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A STRONGER PIPELINE OF MWBE CONTRACTORS READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO TAKE ON PROJECTS WITH DISD AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN IT.
APPLICATIONS WERE OPEN THIS YEAR.
WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE WE SELECTED DIFFERENT FIRMS REALLY LOOKING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED BUT EITHER NOT YET BONDED OR DON'T YET HAVE EXPANDED BONDING CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE JOBS WE HAVE TO OFFER.
SO YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST SESSION OF IT.
WE HAVE SELECTED SEVERAL FROM -- I'LL SHARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE GROUPS PARTICIPATING.
WE'LL HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT SESSIONS THAT GO OVER DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE WORK.
WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE.
I'M PROUD TO SHARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE HAVE THREE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, MALE AND FEMALE, COMPANIES PARTICIPATING, TWO ASIAN AND 13 HISPANIC, MALE AND FEMALE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
WE KNOW AS A RESULT OF THIS, IF PEOPLE AREN'T YET BONDED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BECOME BONDED.
IF THEY'RE BONDED THEY'LL INCREASE THEIR BONDING CAPACITY AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE ACADEMY.
IT'S PART OF WHAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO BUILD THE PIPELINE OF FOLKS WE NEED IN OUR PROJECT.
NOW YOU CAN SEE ME AND IF YOU DIDN'T SEE ME BEFORE, I'M THE GUY WITH THE HAIR ON THE CHIN.
I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH RICK.
THE THIRD TOPIC WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS OUR CAREER INSTITUTES.
I'M VERY PROUD OF SEVERAL THINGS IN MY CAREER.
PTECH, PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY WHERE WE CREATED A -- KIDS THAT WERE IN AB AND AP WERE GOING TO GRADUATE AND GO TO COLLEGE IN SPITE OF US.
AT DALLAS COLLEGE WE CREATED PTECH AND WAS ABLE TO REALLY BE PHENOMENAL.
THERE ARE MANY COMPANIES PART OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER THAT ARE INDUSTRY PARTNERS.
PTECH, IN 2009, WHEN I WAS SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE, ONLY 7% OF OUR STUDENTS HAD ANY KIND OF POST SECONDARY CREDENTIAL, SIX YEARS AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
IN 2021, WE'LL HAVE 10% OF OUR KIDS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE.
BUT WE'RE STILL LEAVING A LOT OF KIDS OUT.
THEY'RE SAYING WHAT ABOUT US? IN FACT TIME I'M PRESENTING -- I'VE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE WORKFORCE -- TEXAS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL AND I'M PRESENTING TOMORROW ON PTECH AND CAREER INSTITUTES.
SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE CAREER INSTITUTES.
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A LOT OF KIDS RAISE AND HAND AND SAY WHAT ABOUT US.THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS THAT APPLIED THAT COULDN'T GET IN AND SOME KIDS DON'T WANT AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE BUT WANT A GOOD JOB.
SO WE WENT AND -- DALLAS COLLEGE WAS A HUGE PARTNER IN PTECH.
CAREER INSTITUTES IS JUST US SO WE HAVE PIVOTED OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
WHAT IS A CAREER INSTITUTE? THIS IS TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE AND NOT JOBS OF THE PAST.
WE HAVE OVER -- IN THE BOND PAST PASSED AND WE HAVE ALMOST $250 MILLION FOR FOUR FACILITIES THAT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS PREPARE FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE.
IN THESE CAREER INSTITUTES, IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE OTHER 50%.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT GOING TO GET? THEY'RE GOING TO GET DEGREES, CERTIFICATES THAT ARE STACKABLE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THEY WILL GET A CERTIFICATE IN.
FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE PATHWAYS IN AVIATION, CONSTRUCTION AND CARPENTRY, ELECTRICAL AND SOLAR TECHNOLOGY, INTERIOR DESIGN, HEAT, HVAC, PLUMBING AND PIPE FITTING, MEGATRON NIX, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND CYBERSECURITY.
AND WHERE ARE THESE FACILITIES GOING TO BE? KIDS IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL WILL HAVE ACCESS.
NOT WILL, ALREADY HAVE ACCESS.
SO FRESHMAN YEAR, ALL OF THE KIDS IN THESE PROGRAMS EITHER TAKE PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION OR PRINCIPLES OF TECHNOLOGY.
THEN AS YOU GO UP, IN ONE OF THESE PATHWAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR OF THEM.
ONE OF THEM IS ALREADY OPEN ACROSS FROM LUBY'S ON MIDWAY.
WE HAD TO RENT A FACILITY SO WE COULD START THIS PROGRAM.
WE NOW HAVE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES AT THAT CAMPUS AND THEY COME FROM THE FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL.
THE KIDS AT THAT CAREER INSTITUTE COME FROM CONRAD, HILLCREST, NORTH DALLAS, T.J.
NOW WE HAVE A SOPHOMORE CLASS.
IN THAT BUILDING -- I WANT RICK TO TAKE PEOPLE TO TOUR THAT BUILDING IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION CLASS THAT IS BILINGUAL.
A BILINGUAL INSTRUCTOR TEACHING PEOPLE TECHNICAL TERMS IN SPANISH FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS.
JOHNSON PARTNERED WITH US AND WITH THE FAA BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY THAT IS YOUNG.
THEY NEED YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE.
THEY GAVE US A FLIGHT SIMULATOR.
IF YOU GO TO THAT BUILDING, YOU WILL SEE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO TEACHES -- WHO HAS TAUGHT DELTA PILOTS IN PILOT SCHOOL.
HE'S INSTRUCTING OUR KIDS ON HOW TO BE PILOTS AND WE HAVE A SIMULATOR THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE FCC OR LOANED TO US.
WE ALSO HAVE MANY OTHER ONES WE JUST DESCRIBED.
OUR KIDS ARE JUST SOPHOMORES BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO GET THESE CERTIFICATES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CAREER INSTITUTES.
ANOTHER ONE IS GOING TO BE -- IS ACTUALLY ALREADY OPEN AND IT'S ALSO IN SOUTH OAK CLIFF AN VILLAGE FAIR, WHERE WE USED TO SEND STUDENTS WHEN WE KICKED THEM OUT OF SCHOOL.
WE HAVE A STUDENT, A LATINO, WHO IS THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND TEACHING KIDS HOW TO DO DRONES.
WE HAVE ANOTHER FLIGHT SIMULATOR AND TEACHING KIDS TO DO DRONES.
THIRD, CURRENTLY OPEN AT LINCOLN.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT TO PLEASANT GROVE WHEN WE BUILD A NEW FACILITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO WHERE WALNUT HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE WALNUT HILL TO WHERE KERRY WAS AND MAKE IT K-8, OPEN IN 2022-23.
THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE ONE IN OAK CLIFF, THE STUDENTS FROM CARTER, ROOSEVELT, KIMBALL, MOLINA, SOUTH OAK CLIFF AND -- AT LINCOLN, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PLEASANT GROVE TO LINCOLN, MADISON, WOODROW WILSON, SPRUCE AND SAMUEL.
THE FOURTH ONE IS WHERE THOMAS EDISON IS IN WEST DALLAS.
WE'LL REDO THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND MOVE THE SCHOOLS LIKE SUNSET,
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ADAMSON, PINKSTON TO THAT FACILITY WHEN THAT GETS OPEN.THAT WILL BE THE LAST ONE BUILT.
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STUDENTS WALKING OUT OF THERE WITH CERTIFICATIONS IN THESE INDUSTRIES.
BY THE WAY, MOST OF THEM ARE LATINO AND BILINGUAL.
SO THIS IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE PIPELINE THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND BE ABLE TO PUT THE MONEY BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO GO OUT OF STATE TO FIND PLUMBERS.
WE HAVE TO GO ALL OVER THE PLACE TO FIND PEOPLE QUALIFIED TO DO THESE JOBS N CYBERSECURITY, THAT INDUSTRY IS GROWING IN A FANTASTIC WAY.
THIS IS A REALITY AND IT'S GOING TO GROW ORGANICALLY AND I'M PROUD OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THAT.
NOW LET'S GET TO THE QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO HAVE SUSANA HELP ME WITH THE WITH QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION WAS -- I'LL TAKE THE FIRST ONE, SUSANA IF YOU CAN LOOK AT QUESTION NO.
2, I'LL TAKE 3, I'LL TAKE 4 AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT 5.
THE QUESTION WE GOT AHEAD OF TIME IS WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE CELLULAR NETWORK, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS OF CONNECTIVITY.
I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU WE'RE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.
OUR SHORT-TERM SOLUTION IS BEING EXECUTED RIGHT NOW.
BUT NOW WE'RE BUILDING THESE TOWERS SO WE CAN HELP CONTROL THAT.
WE'RE PUTTING TOWERS AT SOUTH OAK CLIFF, ROOSEVELT, AT MADISON AND LINCOLN, AND ANY PLACE WHERE WE -- IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WAS NOT STRONG.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY, THE CHAMBERS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CHAMBERS WHO GOT INVOLVED.
SOME OF RICK'S TEAM, SOME OF HIS PEOPLE FROM THAT CHAMBER WERE VERY INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND HELPED US GET THAT LAUNCHED.
WE ALSO ARE VERY PLEASED THAT THE FEDS HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT.
I WAS ON THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE FOR THE STATE.
TO HAVE THIS CONNECTIVITY, THERE ARE THREE ISSUES.
INFRASTRUCTURE, DEVICES, AND BROADBAND.
AND SO INFRASTRUCTURE, DALLAS IS WAY AHEAD BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN DALLAS WITH AT&T AND SOME OF THE THINGS THE CITY HAS, ET CETERA.
WITH -- WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE HAD A MASTER PLAN FOR DEVICES.
THAT'S NOT TRUE FOR THE REST OF TEXAS.
THE CONNECTIVITY PIECE IS WE'RE ALSO WAY AHEAD.
NOW THE FEDS AND SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS ARE OPENING UP SO THE FEDS WILL PAY AT&T AND SPECTRUM AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL PAY FOR OUR FAMILIES.
THE LAST THING WE WANTED TO HAPPEN WAS YOU GET ON AND THEN YOUR RATES GO UP AND YOU GET JACKED UP.
WE PAY $9.99 WHEN YOU GET ON THEN $99.99 AT THE END.
SO WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR GUARANTEE ON RATES.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE IS COMING TOGETHER.
WE SHOULD HAVE IT COMPLETED SOMETIME BEFORE 2022.
THE -- I WANT TO THANK TC BROADNAX AND THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THEY GAVE US $8 MILLION TO EXECUTE ON THIS PLAN THAT WE STARTED.
WE HAVE HAD NO DISAPPOINTMENTS SO FAR ON THAT.
AND IF YOU HEAR OF SOME, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND SO SUSANA, ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE THE SECOND QUESTION?
REALLY GOT INTO GOALS EMPHASIZED BY THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE DISTRICT AROUND THE BOND PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT NEW P.M.
FIRMS, THERE WAS A QUESTION AROUND HOW IS IT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS IN THOSE SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK AT THE PROCESS FOR PEOPLE TO BID ON JOBS WITH THE FOURTH RANKED COMPANY BEING LESS THAN A POINT AWAY FROM IT.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME UPDATES.
TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS WE START NEGOTIATING WITH THE TOP THREE FIRMS. ONCE THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETE WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT SERIES OF VENDORS.
THERE'S NEVER A GUARANTEE ALL APPROVED VENDORS WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR AN EQUAL
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NUMBER OF PROJECTS, AZTEC WAS PART OF THE NUMBER ONE RANKED FIRM AND -- BOTH ARE HISPANIC FIRMS. SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME IS WE'RE APPROACHING THIS BOND PLANNING DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DID IN 2015.SO THE WAY WE'RE APPROACHING IT CURRENTLY IS IT'S A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF STARTING PROJECTS, NOT THE START AND STOP PHASES WE USED IN THE 2015 BOND.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO COME ON PROJECTS AS WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING OUT THE -- BOND.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION, 2020 DALLAS BOND PROGRAM IS THE BIGGEST IN THE HISTORY OF DALLAS AND THE STATE.
THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE GROWTH OF LOCALLY OWNED HISPANIC COMPANIES TO WORK ON PROJECTS THAT WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY.
HOW WILL THE DISTRICT USE THE 2020 BOND PROGRAM AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FAST AND BONDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
SUSANA COVERED THAT IN HER PRESENTATION ABOUT THE ACADEMY.
WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE ALSO -- SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WERE REQUESTING THAT I WAS HESITANT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT ACTUALLY THE BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUE BROUGHT IT TO LIGHT.
YOU ALWAYS TALKED TO ME AND -- ABOUT MOVING MWB OUT OF THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND TO REPORT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I FINALLY AGREED TO DO THAT AND I THINK THAT'S CLEARED THE PATH.
I WISH I HAD DONE IT EARLIER BUT WE ALL LEARN IN THIS BUSINESS.
WITH THAT GENTLEMAN THAT HELPS NAVIGATE THE BUREAUCRACY.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP MWBE DEPARTMENT GET SOME THINGS DONE.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS TALKED TO ME FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINALLY MAKING CHANGES THERE.
THE FOURTH QUESTION IS THOUSANDS OF HISPANIC STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM OUR LOCAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES THAT COME TO DALLAS ISD AND DALLAS COLLEGE WITH DEAD ENTRY LEVEL JOBS.
HOW CAN DALLAS ISD BE MORE STRATEGIC AND GET MORE HISPANIC OWNED FIRMS READY TO HIGHER STUDENTS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE CAREER INSTITUTES AND PTECH ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
I THINK WE HAVE DESCRIBED THIS, RICK, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR PEOPLE TO GO LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY IN ACTION NOW AND IT IS VERY EXCITING.
WE HAVE -- THE SUBURBS HAVE CAREER TECH CENTERS BUT THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED LIKE THIS TO GET ALL THESE STACKABLE CERTIFICATES.
NOW, WHAT'S ALSO -- PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT.
AND YOUR QUESTION IS VERY POINTED BECAUSE WE HAD MADE SOME MISTAKES IN CAREER TECH BEFORE.
WE WOULD PREPARE AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND KIDS WOULD TAKE A LOT OF CLASSES FOR DEAD END JOBS OR WOULDN'T EVEN GET THEIR CERTIFICATION.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A CERTIFICATE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BADGES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CREDENTIALS.
ALSO WORKING WITH GREEN LIGHT, WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WE SHOULD HAVE THIS ON AN APP.
SO A KID GOES TO APPLY FOR A JOB, THEY CAN APPLY FOR A JOB AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HUNT FOR IT.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT PORTABLE.
SO I THINK EVERYBODY KEEPS ASKING THE MAYORS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GROW SOUTHERN DALLAS.
IT'S MOSTLY SOUTHERN DALLAS BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET, NORTH OF I-30, IF YOU GO TO THE BACHMAN AREA OR BROCKBACK AREA OR FIVE POINTS, WE HAVE A LOT FAMILIES SUFFERING THERE TOO.
I KEEP TELLING THE MAYORS, IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOUTHERN DALLAS, YOU GIVE THESE KIDS THESE SKILLS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO MOST OF FROM OAK CLIFF AND PLEASANT GROVE.
NOW THEY'LL HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE, THREE DEMAND YOU HAVE A STARBUCKS, DEMAND YOU HAVE A GROCERY STORE AND THEY'RE GOING TO DEMAND YOU QUIT PUTTING LIQUOR STORES UP BY THEM.
SO I THINK -- THIS IS GOING TO TAKE US A LONG TIME BUT IT'S GOING TO GROW ORGANICALLY.
I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT BY OURSELVES.
BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO BE AN INDUSTRY PARTNER, IT'S LOW RISK AND HIGH REWARD.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE HAVE 88 INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN PTECH.
WE HAVE OVER 30 INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN CAREER INSTITUTES.
WHY IS IT LOW RISK AND HIGH REWARD?
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WE HAVE YOU SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH US.BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU GO TO THE CAMPUS, WE'LL HAVE A WORKPLACE COORDINATOR SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO JACK WITH THE PRINCIPAL, MESS WITH THE SYSTEM PRINCIPAL.
YOU GO TO SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINED TO HELP YOU EXECUTE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET DONE.
SOME KIDS DON'T KNOW THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM AND SEE WHAT YOUR JOB SITE LOOKS LIKE, AND YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE OPPORTUNITIES.
THEN IF YOU WANT TO MENTOR AND GUIDE, THEN IF YOU WANT TO TRAIN OR -- AND THEN -- IF YOUR CURRICULUM IS BETTER THAN OURS, AMERICAN AIRLINES TOLD JOE MAY AND I, BECAUSE OUR EQUIPMENT WAS ANTIQUATED, THEY SAID WE'LL LET YOU USE OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR CURRICULUM.
BUT -- AND THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL.
TEN ADAMSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE AN ENTREPRENEUR WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE US THE TIME OF DAY TEN YEARS AGO.
WE HAD TO BEG FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
NOW THEY'RE FLYING OUR KIDS TO FLORIDA FOR COMPETITIONS.
SO THAT'S THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.
IT'S NOT JUST THEM, IT'S MICROSOFT, THOMPSON REUTERS.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT ACCENTURE IS DOING FOR OUR KIDS.
THIS IS HOW THE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE SO YOUR QUESTION IS ON POINT AND I APPRECIATE IT.
NECK QUESTION IS ABOUT THE -- SUSANA?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH IN THE TRANSITION TO DALLAS IS THE CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY AND THE GOALS.
AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL ONE THING I WILL SAY IS I WAS INSPIRED TO MAKE THIS MOVE.
I HAD RISEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO BECOME SUPERINTENDENT AND WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO MAKE THE MOVE TO DALLAS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAME FROM A SIMILAR BACKGROUND TO ME, WHO, AS A LATINO LEADER WOULD GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SUPERINTENDENT IN THIS CONTEXT.
THE HEART OF THIS QUESTION AROUND HOW OUR RACIAL EQUITY OFFICE PILLAR AROUND LEADERSHIP, OPERATIONS, AND A CULTURALLY COMPETENT, DIVERSE WORKFORCE GETS AT THE HEART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOURSELF IN A ROLE AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WORKPLACE AND MWBE CONTRACTORS AND FRANKLY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
HOW THEY CAN SEE THEMSELF AS SCHOLARS, AS PROFESSIONALS IN THE PEOPLE THEY SEE AROUND THEM.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE MWBE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE AND KNOWS OF THEM.
MANY OF KNOW YOU ARE VERY INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN, SO I JUSTS WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEM.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VERY HIGH PRIORITY ON RECRUITING MINORITY AND WOMEN OWN BUSINESS TO SAY BID ON CONTRACTS WITH US.
WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AS DOC SAYS, WE HAVE LESLIE WILLIAMS WORKING ON THIS WITH US.
ON OUR WEBSITE, THE MWBE WEBSITE, EFFORTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PUTTING INFORMATION OUT THROUGH COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS, COLLABORATING WITH DIFFERENT STATEWIDE AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE WE IDENTIFY CERTIFIED MWBE PROFESSIONALS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS CONTRACTORS, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS.
WE ARE -- THAT DEPARTMENT, OUR MWBE DEPARTMENT IS COLLABORATING WITH PROCUREMENT, MAINTENANCE, CONSTRUCTION TO CONDUCT WEB -- WEBINARS AND TRAINING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE ADDRESS BONDING, CERTIFICATION, UNDERSTANDING PROCUREMENT.
WE'RE WIDENING THAT PIPELINE AT THE FRONT END.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THE SCORING CRITERIA WE USE TO SELECT CONTRACTORS HAS BEEN REVISED TO FOCUS ON EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND AWARD ADDITIONAL POINTS TO MINORITY VENDORS TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE THAT EQUITY GAP THEY FREQUENTLY PHASE, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
DOC, DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON ANY OF THOSE?
I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE LAST QUESTION TOO.
LET ME -- WE'LL SEND THIS IN WRITING BUT WE HAVE A CULTURALLY COMPETENT WITH
[00:35:04]
DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN TRAINING AND NOW LATINO STUDIES ADOPTED BY THE STATE.WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT'S PREVALENT, ALL OVER, MEXICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO STUDIES AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES.
WE'RE HAVING 100% OF OUR EMPLOYEES GOING THROUGH THE CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT WITH MY SENIOR TEAM.
THE BOARD'S BEEN THROUGH IT SO EVERYBODY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAS TO GO THROUGH A CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, CQ TRAINING THAT EVERYBODY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE.
LET ME TAKE THE LAST QUESTION BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST QUESTION.
COVID-19 WILL HAVE A LASTING EFFECTS, HISPANIC STUDENTS REPRESENT A HIGH POPULATION OF STUDENTS IN DALLAS ISD, WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DOING TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS DON'T FALL BEHIND.
I WANTED TO THANK THE CHAMBER BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW THE BENEFIT OF YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WERE ON THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WHEN I WAS HIRED IN 2005, DALLAS HAD FIVE SUPERINTENDENTS AND ONE WENT TO PRISON.
WHEN I WAS HIRED IN 200 A 5, WE HAD 1300 CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BILINGUAL TEACHERS.
JOE MAY STARTED RATTLING CAGES, SO MUCH HE ENDED UP ON LOU DOBBS.
FROM THAT POINT, EVERYTHING STARTED CHANGING.
BUT IT'S ONLY TAKEN US 15 YEARS TO GET HERE.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEN WE HAD A FEW BILINGUAL TEACHERS.
WE HAD TO GET TO PUERTO RICO, TO SPAIN, TO MEXICO, TO RECRUIT TEACHERS.
NOW WE JUST GO TO OAK CLIFF AND PLEASANT GROVE BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN TEACHERS THAT KNOW THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL BE PREPARED TO BE TEACHERS IN THE FUTURE.
DALLAS HAS 72% LATINOS AND WE HAVE -- WE HAVE 46% ENGLISH LEARNERS.
WE HAVE 70,000 ENGLISH LEARNERS.
MORE STUDENTS THAN FRISCO HAS PERIOD.
MORE THAN EL PASO, MORE THAN SAN ANTONIO ISD HAS.
IF WE CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THOSE STUDENTS, WE CAN'T HAVE SUCCESS.
SO I WISH MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ON THE CALL BECAUSE I WOULD SHOW YOU SOME CHARTS BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME.
WE STARTED DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. WHAT ARE THE -- I HAD TO WALK AROUND WITH THIS CARD TO PRAVACHOL YEAR AND THOMAS RESEARCH ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DUAL LANGUAGE.
NOW WHAT ARE THE RESULTS? WE HAVE GROWN -- WE ARE OUTGROWING EVERY URBAN DISTRICT IN TEXAS AND IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE GROWN BY 16 STUDENTS PASSING AT COLLEGE AND CAREER -- AT COLLEGE READINESS IN COMPARISON TO A COUPLE OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT BARELY MOVED THE NEEDLE.
SO WE TOOK THIS ON, WE WERE SERIOUS.
YOU GUYS HELPED US LAUNCH THAT SO SIMILARLY WITH THIS COVID, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S GOT TO BE MORE THAN A CALENDAR.
RIGHT NOW FOR OUR SCHOOLS STRUGGLING THE MOST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STUDENTS STAY UNTIL 6:00 AND HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS IN FRONT OF THEM TO RECOVER.
SUSANA AND HER TEAM REDESIGNED SUMMER PROGRAMMING AND ALSO THE INAUDIBLE ].
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT RICK HEARD THIS PRESENTATION THE OTHER DAY.
MAYBE THE NEXT TIME WE MEET OR LATER WE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT PROJECT LEGACY 2050.
THE BRAIN DEVELOPS FROM ZERO TO 2 AND ZERO TO 3.
80% OF THE BRAIN DEVELOPS FROM ZERO TO 3 AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYBODY OUT OF BUSINESS BUT HELP THEM MAKE SURE THEY'RE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED.
I WAS A 21-YEAR-OLD DAD AND THANK GOODNESS MY EX-WIFE AND MY FAMILY LOVED MY SON SO MUCH THAT WE WRAPPED STUFF AROUND HIM AND HE HAS A HIGHER IQ THAN MY TWO BOYS THAT WENT TO HARVARD AND PRINCETON.
MY WIFI -- WIFE WAS READING TO THEM BEFORE THEY WERE BORN.
THAT'S WHEN YOU START LEARNING.
SUSANA HAS DONE GREAT WORK IN DENVER.
THE FOURTH GRADE READING RESULTS ARE THE MOST IMPROVED IN THE COUNTRY BUT IT'S BECAUSE THEY STARTED FROM THE FRONT END.
[00:40:01]
WE GOT TO GET KIDS PRE-K READY INSTEAD OF KINDERGARTEN READY.I HAVE THREE YOUNG BOARD MEMBERS TO IN 2050 WILL BE YOUNGER THAN I AM NOW.
WE HAVE A 23-YEAR-OLD LATINO ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ANOTHER LATINO WHO IS 32 THAT ARE ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THE CHAMPIONS FOR THE NEW PROJECT COMING FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO BE 94, SUSANA WILL BE 27 BUT I'LL BE 94 IN 2050.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE CLOSE TO THE END OF TIME.
I'LL RETURN IT TO YOU, RICK, AND I APOLOGIZE BUT I HAVE A CALL WITH THE NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS IN TEN MINUTES.
I HAVE ONE FOLLOW-UP THAT WAS TIED TO THAT.
THAT'S JUST THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE END OF THE MASK MANDATE AND WHAT IS DALLAS ISD'S POSITION AS FAR AS GOING FORWARD AND -- AS IT RELATES TO THE SAFETY AND OBVIOUSLY ANY CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE?
>> YEAH, I WAS VERY SURPRISED BY THAT AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY -- EVERYBODY WAS SHOCKED BY IT.
SO LUCKILY THE COMMISSIONER CAME OUT WITH GUIDANCE THAT WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISION.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY GOOD IN AWEING.
BUT WE'RE NOT PRETTY GOOD NOW.
I WAS IN THE SCHOOL YESTERDAY, EVERY -- WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT EVERYBODY TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THEIR MASK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
WITH THINK IT'S WORKING AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT AS WE FINISH OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE WHO STILL WANT TO WEAR THE MASK IN AWEING, WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT BUT NOT UNTIL ALL THE OTHER THINGS COME TOGETHER AND VACCINES AND FINALLY THE TEACHERS GOT PUT IN 1B SO THEY CAN GET VACCINATED.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN VACCINATED, I'M 64 AND HEALTHY BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO GO AHEAD OF THE TEACHERS.
NOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE VACCINE, I'M GOING TO SIGN UP TO GET MY VACCINE.
I HOPE THE LATINO COMMUNITY FOLLOWS ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TODAY, FOR GETTING THAT IN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US AS WELL AS OUR SPONSORS, DALLAS COLLEGE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR DAY AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US TODAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.