This Board Meeting recap is a brief summary provided by Access RRISD volunteer scribes in order to help the RRISD community stay informed. It is not an official meeting record. Please refer to the official meeting video and transcript provided by Round Rock ISD if you require clarification or additional context.
Votes
- Weir moves that the Board adopt the order setting a total property tax rate of 0.9190 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation which will be comprised of a Maintenance and Operation rate of 0.7210 and an Interest & Sinking rate of 0.1980 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation. Motion passes 5-2 (Bone & Weston opposed).
- Markum moves that the board adopt the order calling Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election as presented. Motion passes 5-2 (Bone & Weston opposed).
- Weir moves that the Board adopt the resolution approving Travis County voting equipment as presented. Motion passes 5-0-2 (Bone & Weston abstained).
- Harrison moves that the Board authorize the Board President to negotiate a contract with Leon|Alcala for School Board Legal Counsel. Motion carries 7-0.
- Bone moves that in response to federal judge David Ezra’s order, dated July 26th, 2023, which implicates and embroils Amber Landrum, formerly Amber Feller, in 1st amendment violations and violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, also due to her utilization of public funds to pay for individual representation without board approval, and due to these actions the board believes, Amber Landrum cannot place the best interests of the district and students above her individual issues, that the board add an agenda item formally requesting that Amber Landrum resign from her place on the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees and pay back all public funds expended on the federal case for her individual benefit. Motion fails 2-4-1 (Zárate, Markum, Harrison, and Weir opposed. Landrum abstained).
- Bone moves that in response to federal judge David Ezra’s order, dated July 26th, 2023, which implicates and embroils Tiffanie Harrison in 1st amendment violation and violation of Texas Open Meetings Act, also due to her utilization of public funds to pay for individual representation without board approval, and due to these actions the board believes, Tiffanie Harrison has not and cannot place the best interests of the district and students above her individual issues, that the board add an agenda item to formally request that Tiffanie Harrison resign from her place on the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees and pay back all public funds expended on the federal case for her individual benefit. Motion fails 2-4-1 (Zárate, Markum, Landrum, and Weir opposed. Harrison abstained).
- Bone moves that the Board schedule a meeting August 25th, 2023 to consider termination of the Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez on the basis of the Federal Judge David Ezra’s order related to the violation claims of 1st Amendment and TOMA, for his misuse of public funds to represent himself and trustees as individuals in the same federal case without board approval and to discuss that Hafed Azaiez pay back all public funds he authorized to spend without board approval. Motion fails 2-5 (Zárate, Markum, Landrum, Harrison, and Weir opposed).
- Bone moves that the board file a Texas Bar complaint against the attorney for his role in the September 14th, 2021 board meeting that is referenced in the pending litigation federal order. Motion fails 2-5 (Zárate, Markum, Landrum, Harrison, and Weir opposed).
- Weston moves to make public the six contracts for representation signed by individuals on this board and the Superintendent with the law firm regarding the pending litigation on this agenda item tonight. Motion fails 2-5 (Zárate, Markum, Landrum, Harrison, and Weir opposed).
Quotes
- Again, there were references by Bone and Weston referring to this VATRE as “holding teacher’s salaries hostage”
Notes
- Trustees present: Zárate, Markum, Weston, Landrum, Harrison, Weir, Bone
- Travis County Elections requires that the board approve using their voting machines or they will not host the VATRE vote in their county.
- Board interviewed Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, Leon | Alcala, O’Hanlon Demerath & Castillo, and Escamilla & Poneck for new Board Counsel
- Firms gave a presentation and then were asked 7 questions, 1 submitted by each trustee