[1.CALL TO ORDER ]
[00:00:03]
I'M LAUREN TYRA, BOARD PRESIDENT AND PRESIDING OFFICER.
NOTING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS WORK SESSION OF THE PLANO ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT 5.30 P.M.
ON THE BOARD'S BEHALF, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK SUPERINTENDENT DR.
THERESE WILLIAMS TO PLEASE VERIFY THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT REGARDING THE NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING.
I VERIFY THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
WILLIAMS. THIS SEGMENT IS BEING RECORDED IN COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS SENATE BILL 413, WHICH AMENDS SECTION 11.0621 OF THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE.
THE MINUTES OF THIS MEETING WILL REFLECT EACH MEMBER'S ATTENDANCE AND THEIR VOTE ON ANY ITEM.
ADDITIONALLY, THE APPROVED MINUTES, ANY ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS, AND THE RECORDING OF THIS MEETING WILL BE POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE NO LATER THAN SEVEN CALENDAR DAYS AFTER TODAY'S MEETING.
BOARD MEMBERS, I WILL NOW PROCEED WITH THE ROLL CALL.
KINDLY PLEASE RESPOND WHEN YOUR NAME IS ANNOUNCED.
LOOKS LIKE TRUSTEE MICHAEL COOK MAY BE HUNG UP IN TRAFFIC.
WE WILL ANNOUNCE HIM WHEN HE ARRIVES.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE STAFF SEATED AT THE DAIS.
TO MY LEFT, SUPERINTENDENT DR.
CELINDA FREEMAN, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONS.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS, EMPLOYEE SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY, LISA WILSON, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, DR.
PATRICK TANNER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, DR.
COURTNEY GOBER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, AND IVAN CANTU, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STRATEGY AND INNOVATION.
[2.PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION - AGENDA ITEMS ONLY ]
ITEM 2, PUBLIC COMMENT, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.AT BOARD MEETINGS, THE BOARD PERMITS PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS. AGENDA-RELATED COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD AT THIS TIME.
FREEMAN, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS? PRESIDENT TYRA, WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING.
IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO HOLD THIS MEETING IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER, THE PUBLIC WILL ABIDE BY THE RULES IN BOARD POLICY BED LOCAL.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE BY SIGNING UP ONLINE IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
IF A SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT WHEN CALLED UPON, THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WILL BE FORFEITED.
FAILURE TO LIST THE AGENDA ITEM BEING ADDRESSED WILL RESULT IN THE PRESUMPTION THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, WHICH WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
SPEAKERS WHO FAIL TO ADHERE TO THE TOPIC THAT THEY LISTED UPON SIGNING UP ARE OUT OF ORDER AND WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551.074, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION WILL NOT BE USED TO VOICE A COMPLAINT INVOLVING THE NAMING OF SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE NAMES OF DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OR STUDENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, NO INFORMATION THAT MAY REASONABLY BE LINKED TO AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON MAY BE SHARED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALL CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES DGBA, FNG, AND GF.
TONIGHT'S SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH.
IF YOU ARE NOT FINISHED SPEAKING AT THE END OF YOUR TIME, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO STOP.
SPEAKERS WHO FAIL TO STOP SPEAKING WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO ARE OUT OF ORDER AND THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF.
SPEAKERS HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXPECTATIONS OF PATRONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS A REMINDER TO ALL, IT'S A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO DISRUPT A LAWFUL MEETING.
IF, AFTER AT LEAST ONE WARNING, AN INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THE MEETING, THE PERSON WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE AND MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IF NECESSARY.
IF WE HAVE TO STOP FOR A DISRUPTION IN THE MEETING, THE CLOCK WILL BE STOPPED AND THE TIME REMAINING WILL BE REINSTATED ONCE ORDER HAS BEEN RESTORED.
FINALLY, THE DISTRICT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF SPEECH SPOKEN AT THE PUBLIC PART OF OUR MEETINGS.
WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU RESIDE IN THE DISTRICT.
FREEMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST SPEAKER? OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHELLE PISENKA, PLANO ISD PARENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE A ONE-MINUTE WARNING? YES, PLEASE.
MY DAUGHTER IS A JUNIOR AT PLANO SENIOR HIGH.
FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN PROVIDING SUPPORT AND DIRECTION FOR OUR DISTRICT AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND FAMILIES.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 5.5.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ALL ARE REVIEWING A DISTRICT EMPLOYEE, AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A FEW POSITIVE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THAT EMPLOYEE.
COACH GIESEN HAS BEEN OUR HEAD SOFTBALL COACH FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH HER HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
SHE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE TO MY DAUGHTER AND THE PLAYERS, AND I FEEL THAT SHE HAS REALLY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF OUR PROGRAM.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE JUST A FEW
[00:05:01]
EXAMPLES OF HOW I REALLY FEEL SHE'S GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.FIRST, SHE CREATED A PLAYER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.
AND THIS HAS REALLY PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR OUR TEAM DISCUSSIONS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT'S ALSO PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DEVELOP SOME LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
MADE AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO HELP THE GIRLS DEVELOP SOME CORE VALUES FOR THE TEAM.
THEY COULD EACH COME UP HERE, I'M SURE, AND SPOUT THEM OUT FOR YOU VERY QUICKLY.
BUT TO SUMMARIZE, SHE WANTED TO INSTILL VALUES OF RESPECT, INTEGRITY, WORK ETHIC, COMPASSION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND SO THESE GIRLS HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE SPORT OF SOFTBALL AND SUPPORT IN THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS.
BUT SHE'S ALSO REALLY HELPING DEVELOP THEM AS YOUNG WOMEN AND FUTURE FOLKS WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE CREATED A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHERE SHE PAIRED.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 45 SECONDS.
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE TIMER HERE, BUT 45.
SHE CREATED A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WHERE SHE PAIRED UPPERCLASSMEN WITH UNDERCLASSMEN.
AND REALLY THIS, I THINK, HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTAL IN CHANGING OUR PROGRAM IN A POSITIVE WAY.
AND IT'S HELPED THE YOUNGER STUDENTS REALLY TRANSITION INTO BEING A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
IT'S HELPED THEM FIND THEIR WAY AS A PLAYER ON THE PLANO SOFTBALL TEAM AND REALLY GIVEN THEM THAT DIRECT SUPPORT PERSON TO HELP ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
WHILE I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS OF YOUR REVIEW, I DO KNOW THAT SHE HAS BEEN SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES, AND I FEEL THAT WE REALLY ARE ON A POSITIVE TRAJECTORY.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER REMAIN IN THAT ROLE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SORRY ABOUT OUR TIMER MALFUNCTION.
WE HAD IT SET FOR THREE HOURS, APPARENTLY, NOT THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
FREEMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DARBY DEGENE, PLANO ISD STUDENT.
I PROMISE I'LL GET THIS RIGHT THIS TIME.
DO YOU WANT A ONE-MINUTE WARNING? SURE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
I'VE BEEN IN THE SOFTBALL PROGRAM FOR...
AND ON VARSITY FOR ALL FOUR YEARS AND I'VE PLAYED FOR GIESEN FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING A NEW SET OF COACHES MY JUNIOR YEAR, BUT I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT GIESEN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST ADDITIONS TO THIS PROGRAM.
INSTANTLY SHE CAME IN AND CHANGED THE MOJO AND VALUES OF THE TEAM AND SHE LED EVERY PRACTICE WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE, WHICH WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE HAD FROM THE COACHING STAFF IN A WHILE.
SHE CARED NOT ONLY FOR THE TEAM'S RECORDS BUT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ACTUALLY WERE.
EVERY LESSON I LEARNED FROM HER WAS ABOUT LEADING WITH YOUR HEART AND BEING THE BEST TEAMMATE POSSIBLE.
SHE TRULY WANTED US TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT SHE BELIEVED THAT BEGAN IN HOW WE SUPPORTED EACH OTHER.
I'VE NEVER FELT SO SUPPORTED BY A COACH THAN I HAVE WITH GIESEN, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW THE WHOLE PROGRAM FEELS.
GIESEN IS AN AMAZING COACH AND PERSON FOR PLANO SOFTBALL.
THOUGH I'M GRADUATING, IT MAKES ME SAD TO THINK THAT SOME GIRLS MIGHT NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE COACHED BY HER.
SHE BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM OUT OF ITS FUNK, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN COACHED BY GIESEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
FREEMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? TAMMY NICKENS, PLANO ISD PARENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE A ONE-MINUTE WARNING? GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS TAMMY NICKENS, AND MY DAUGHTER IS ON THE VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM AT PLANO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF...
COACH GIESEN, WHO HAS MADE A LASTING AND POSITIVE IMPACT NOT JUST ON MY DAUGHTER, BUT SEVERAL OF THE GIRLS ON THE TEAM AND THE FAMILIES.
COACHING IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN WINS AND LOSSES.
IT'S ABOUT LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AND HELPING PLAYERS GROW BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
A GOOD COACH TEACHES DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, RESILIENCE, AND RESPECT, VALUES THAT STAY WITH ATHLETES LONG AFTER THE SEASON ENDS.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH COACH GIESEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
COACH GIESEN HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN DEDICATION, INTEGRITY, AND A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY PLAYER ON THIS TEAM.
SHE'S CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE GIRLS FEEL ENCOURAGED, SUPPORTED, AND MOTIVATED TO DO THEIR BEST.
SHE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND FOSTER A SENSE OF UNITY WITHIN THE TEAM.
[00:10:01]
A TRUE CHARACTER IS REVEALED, AND THROUGHOUT, COACH GIESEN HAS DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM, PATIENCE, AND CARE.THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAS BUILT WITH THE PLAYERS AND FAMILY SPEAK VOLUMES AS TRUST ISN'T GIVEN LIGHTLY AND IT'S CLEARLY BEEN EARNED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE FULL PICTURE OF SOMEONE'S CONTRIBUTIONS.
ONE MOMENT OR ACCUSATION DOES NOT ERASE THE COUNTLESS HOURS OF HARD WORK, POSITIVE INFLUENCE, AND THE DIFFERENCE SHE HAS MADE IN SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG LADIES.
I STAND IN SUPPORT OF COACH GIESEM BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE REPRESENTS, COMMITMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND A PASSION FOR HELPING OUR DAUGHTERS SUCCEED NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD BUT IN LIFE ITSELF.
THE IMPACT SHE HAS MADE DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED, RESPECTED, AND DEFENDED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
FREEMAN, PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
JASON MILES, PLANO ISD PARENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE A ONE-MINUTE WARNING? I THINK I'LL BE UNDER THAT.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JASON MILES.
MY DAUGHTER RILEY IS A SENIOR ON THE PLANO SOFTBALL TEAM.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COACH JORDAN GIESEN ON AGENDA ITEM 5.5.
SHE'S TRULY CHANGED THE CULTURE OF THE PROGRAM.
YOU HELPED ME FIND MY LOVE FOR SOFTBALL AGAIN IN A WAY I HAVEN'T FELT IN A LONG TIME.
YOU TAUGHT US THAT WINNING ISN'T EVERYTHING, BUT GIVING OUR BEST EFFORT IS.
SHE'S EVERYTHING A ROLE MODEL SHOULD BE.
WHEN SHE CAME IN, THE CULTURE OF THE PROGRAM SHIFTED.
I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNITED WITH ALL GRADES, FRESHMEN TO SENIORS.
THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME, SUPPORTING ME, AND HELPING ME BECOME A BETTER PLAYER IN PERSON.
SHE BELIEVED IN ME WHEN I DID NOT BELIEVE IN MYSELF.
SHE PUSHED ME TO GROW, NOT JUST AS AN ATHLETE, BUT AS A HUMAN BEING.
THESE ARE A FEW QUOTES FROM THE POSTSEASON BANQUET.
FROM THE SENIOR SPEECHES LAST WEEK ABOUT COACH JORDAN GIESEN.
MY WIFE AND I ARE 21-YEAR RESIDENTS OF PLANO AND PROUD PARENTS TO OUR 2025 GRADUATE NOW PLAYING COLLEGIATE BASEBALL AND OUR DAUGHTER RILEY, A 2026 GRADUATE, GOING TO PLAY COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL.
RILEY'S OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY COLLEGE SOFTBALL CAN BE MUCH ATTRIBUTED TO COACH GIESEN.
WHEN SHE TOOK OVER THE PROGRAM, SHE CHANGED THE CULTURE.
SHE BUILT A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, AND HARD WORK.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF WINS EACH SEASON.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, COACH GIESON HAS BECOME A MENTOR TO THESE YOUNG LADIES AS THEY GO OUT TO CREATE THEIR OWN PATHS IN LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
COACH GIESON'S KIDS FELL IN LOVE WITH OUR DAUGHTER RILEY.
RILEY HAS A CERTAIN KNACK WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, AND THEY GRAVITATE TOWARD HER.
WHEN SHE WAS APPROACHED ABOUT BABYSITTING FOR COACH GIESON AND RACHEL, SHE IMMEDIATELY CAME TO ASK AND ASK WHAT WE THOUGHT.
WE SAW THIS AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RILEY AND HER DEVELOPMENT AS A YOUNG ADULT.
AND FULLY SUPPORTED HER IF IT WAS SOMETHING SHE CHOSE TO DO.
WHEN RILEY WOULD BABYSIT, WE WOULD ALMOST ALWAYS GET A FACETIME VIDEO BECAUSE THE KIDS WANTED TO TALK TO RILEY'S MOM AND DAD.
AFTER HER FIRST TIME, BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS OF COACH-TO-PLAYER CONTACT, WE FOUND IT WAS EASIER FOR RILEY TO HAVE RACHEL'S PHONE NUMBER, AND WE AGREED WITH THAT.
THAT WAY THEY COULD KEEP IN TOUCH WHEN BABYSITTING WAS OCCURRING OR SET SOMETHING UP FOR FUTURE BABYSITTING ARRANGEMENTS.
MY WIFE AND I WERE FULLY AWARE THAT RILEY AND RACHEL WERE IN CONTACT, AND WE MONITORED THAT, ENSURING THAT THE CONVERSATIONS WERE AROUND BABYSITTING.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID WE EXPECT FOR THIS TO COME BACK ON OUR DAUGHTER AND COACH GIESON THE WAY IT HAS.
I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT A RATIONAL PERSON WOULD SEE THAT THESE ALLEGATIONS VERSUS THE TRUTH AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES DO NOT EQUATE.
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMAIN AS HEAD COACH OF PLANO SOFTBALL, JORDAN GIESON WILL BRING YEARS OF SUCCESS TO THIS PROGRAM IN WAYS PLANO HAS NOT SEEN IN SOME TIME.
WITH A TEAM IN OUR HANDS, THE TRUE BENEFITS WILL COME FOR THESE YOUNG LADIES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, COMING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN THE COMING YEARS, THAT WILL LEARN ABOUT HARD WORK AND DEDICATION FROM A MENTOR THAT WILL MAKE THEM A BETTER PERSON.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
FREEMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR NEXT SPEAKER? ANDY EVANS, PLANO ISD PARENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE A ONE-MINUTE WARNING? I DON'T THINK I'LL PROBABLY NEED IT.
I'M A PARENT OF A PLANO SOFTBALL PLAYER.
MY DAUGHTER'S A SENIOR WHO'S GRADUATING THIS YEAR.
SPECIFICALLY THOUGH, I'M A BIGGER SUPPORTER OF JORDAN GIESEN. YOU KNOW, ON APRIL 3RD, MY DAUGHTER WAS CALLED OUT OF CLASS AND WAS INTERVIEWED BY A COUPLE OF FOLKS FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE AND FRANKLY A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT AS WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANY OF THIS WAS GOING ON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.