Dayna Owen and Kelsey Golz sit down with FISD Superintendent Thad Roher to discuss the 2022-23 academic calendar, COVID protocol updates, bond updates, standards-based learning and grading, the first-ever FISD Service Day, the new safety system and hint at a new exciting secret!
Dayna Owen and Kelsey Golz sit down with FISD Superintendent Thad Roher to discuss the 2022-23 academic calendar, COVID protocol updates, bond updates, standards-based learning and grading, the first-ever FISD Service Day, the new safety system and hint at a new exciting secret!
Speaker 1 Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Speaker 2 It turned out awesome. Speaker 1 Yes. Oh, good. Speaker 2 Yeah. So he got that deer mail. And so my Christmas present was that picture. And then I attached to it that he's going to pay for it all by myself. And so I attached check to it. Unknown I mean, what's the name like? Speaker 2 Look, it's just personal preference, really. Speaker 1 Okay, Do what you want. Okay, But can you shoot a deer with, like, two points? Yeah. Okay. It's okay. Mm hmm. I don't know if there was, like, a standard of. Oh, you can't do that. Or you should do that or. Well, welcome back. Thanks. Last time you were on the podcast, it was five months ago. Speaker 2 I went so fast. Speaker 1 It. It. It did. And a lot has taken place since then. And I want you to know you're one of our highest performing podcasts. All right, Try to back that up. Speaker 4 I feel like. Speaker 2 That raw, too. Speaker 1 Yeah. You may not know this, but we've become pretty big staff. This is our first interview. Like we got some. Speaker 2 Great people. Speaker 1 On, some great people last semester. Speaker 2 And you have some good ones coming. Speaker 1 We do see we we do. We're very excited about the interviews that we have coming. Speaker 4 And due to the superb hosting itself, I mean, I think it draws in a lot of listeners right there. Speaker 1 All our listeners want to know when our merch is coming out. Speaker 4 And yeah, I know that we can keep up with the demand at this time. I'm going to have to find another facility to get that running out of. Speaker 1 But you are the superintendent. We thought you'd have have you back on for a back to school, you know. Yes. Speaker 2 Second semester. Speaker 1 Is. Speaker 2 The legacy begins for the spring, right? Speaker 1 It's hard to believe I to believe we're here for the spring. Speaker 4 It went for 2022. Speaker 1 22. That means a new you. I've tried to come up with a little just and keep working on it. Next year it'll be 2023. A new me. There we go. Let's see. This year can be about you and make. Speaker 4 Sure everybody else needs to get themselves together first. Speaker 1 That's exactly. Speaker 4 Right. Model. Speaker 1 After you. I need another year. And so we'll start with the 2022 23 calendar that was just recently passed by the board. So we talk a little bit about the process and the difficulty with creating a calendar each year and just the basic guidelines and parameters that we work around. Speaker 2 Well, I'd say, first of all, the difficulty is you have so many people involved, you know, parents you want to you want to cater to their needs. You have it's an academic calendar. So it's really built on, you know, instructional needs for kids, professional development. All those things are taken into account. And we've, you know, we've in the past gone out for surveys. Speaker 2 And what's been repetitive for us of things that are important. Our midweek starts to start the school year off. That's been very helpful in structuring, getting those classroom management practices in place. You know, that initial very important first day, here's how we do things and then then beginning the instruction, you know, goals, goal three for us is about professional learning. Speaker 2 That's important to work in. So we have those days throughout the year, throughout the year, very important for us structurally and what we believe in. We want to end the first semester at winter break. When that time frame comes. Thanksgiving's important for us to have that two weeks at Christmas is another important things to our community and then ending before, what is it, Labor Day at the or Memorial Day on Memorial Day at the end of the year. Speaker 2 That was important. Speaker 1 To our parents. Speaker 2 It's big to our parents and our graduates too, because so much starts. Yeah, with colleges and the next step for our seniors early. You know what happened so much earlier now than it used to. So to get out and be able to do that. So all those things mixed in and then, you know, we want to say we as friends would as a team. Speaker 2 Now, you know, over the last five years, we've had freezes, hurricanes, days out, you know, throughout every every year of four for the last five years. And so we've built in time to be able to not have to adjust that calendar built minutes in so that we have five days to be able to adjust if need be. So I know we had we were out for a hurricane this year that actually came over Friendswood. Speaker 2 We were out for a couple of days. So that means we don't have to make up that time. So that's important to me. Yeah, and I think important to our community too. But what's the difficulty? Take a a group to Chili's and tell them they need to order one thing off the menu. You know that. That it's hard to meet everybody's needs. Speaker 2 And so that's the overall difficulty. So it's generally choosing what's what's best for the for the whole. And so you always leave some people out. One big thing that's come this this next year is Christmas is on a Sunday. Right. So then what do you do with Christmas break? And we talk to surrounding school districts, meet with them. Speaker 2 What are they doing? What makes sense for us? And in light of that, in light of our needs for the year, based on all those other pieces, because that has to fit in. We have to teach 187 teachers have to be here for 187 contract days. And so, you know, the biggest thing is a midweek, stopping at midweek before Christmas to give time for people to prepare for that. Speaker 2 And also that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday gives us time to do our holiday festivities at different campuses and then coming back. So, you know, a lot of people going back to work. The need to get started for us coming back mid-week. So that was a big piece of this year's calendar. Speaker 1 And some years it works out really well where we benefit from like three weekends or, you know, right. And then sometimes like next year it works out where it seems shorter, but it's that we're losing a weekend. So you think you've lost days, but it's still the same amount of school days. Speaker 2 And take So do you know do you want to go past. Speaker 1 Right. Speaker 2 No Memorial Day. That's what that's that's the choice. And so as we got our feedback back that, you know, we want to still continue to finish finish where we are. Speaker 1 Yeah. So that is that that calendar has now been approved. And so that official start date is August 16th, which which is a Tuesday is our first day back for everyone. The next thing that we need to talk about that I'm sure is on everyone's mind. That seems to be, you know, kind of a current event as the COVID guideline changes. Speaker 1 So there have been some changes with TBA and that happened over Christmas break, correct. Before you go over those guidelines, we talked just a little bit about the process with TBA and how often you meet with TA and who's on that call. And it's not just some random for our district. Hey, let's just make some changes because we think we need to make changes. Speaker 2 So, you know. TBA actually we haven't got a chance to meet with T yet today. We were supposed to meet with them today. It was supposed to be a conference call with the Commissioner. So to answer your call, we have every other Thursday calls scheduled with the Commissioner of Education for every superintendent across Texas. And so at that point he brings us updates. Speaker 2 It's not interactive, but you just hear updates and the rationale behind that. And so a lot of times when when our our people see changes, you know, we make a decision, we roll something out and then we change. That's where most of the time that's where it comes from. So really for us, you know, spent the end of the break on with region for superintendents or Region four, which is basically just Beltway eight big circle school districts all attached to that. Speaker 2 And they're inside of that loop, too. We met we met with the Texas Medical Center professionals. So it's the the doctors and the professionals that are in the Texas Medical Center hospitals heard from them, heard their opinions on the CDC, changes to five days for quarantine and for positive based on this new variant. And so we spent time with that. Speaker 2 And then Galveston County superintendents, I spend time with them. Then our team really, you know, our team, our safety team principals, our our central office team, we sit together and make decisions. And, you know, when I said when you said, what was it, five months ago we were here, you know, five months ago, we've learned everything. We've been through this now, right. Speaker 2 Three, three or four times. I'm talking about these surges. So we learn something from that every time everybody learns through that. And so, you know, as I sit here today, preparing for the spring, knowing the cases are going up rapidly, you know, around us, we just you know, we started in testing, surveying our staff, which is, you know, number one concern. Speaker 2 Do we have enough people? Do we have people to be able to educate our students early on? And so we you know, before we came back, we came back on a we all came back on a monday. The kids came back on Tuesday of this week. We've been testing staff from Thursday on here on campus with our testing team. Speaker 2 And so that gave us good data on, you know, where we were. And you know, as of last, last night we had a dozen that were out. We had we had a a much larger number, almost double that in more that if if had we kept with the ten days would have crept over that timeline. But the five days does Texas medical Center doctors the experts that we you know I listen to that's what they're doing at their hospitals that based on what this Omnia Cronin variant is doing. Speaker 2 And so we are at a our number of students, as we looked real closely Tuesday morning, was up in the, you know, around 94%. So, you know, 6% of our kids. So you know, 300 kids not here, which are typical ideas, 97%, you know, towards the beginning of the school year. And then it kind of decreases down as we get into flu season and into other seasons on a normal, you know, what we would call a normal year. Speaker 2 So those aren't all kids who are still home from COVID. Those are ending vacations. Kids who are have ear infections, all those kind of things. So really pleased with where we are number wise. We have as of last night, we had five students total who came to school and then tested positive or went home with symptoms. So we're that's really our tracker, which right now I know our website's down and they're they're working on that, our outside vendors, you know, trying to fix that. Speaker 2 But that's what the tracker numbers are going to reflect once that's, you know, back up and again that we we reflect daily, we work on daily. So we're really concentrating on what we believe in. And that is we want kids in school, we want them here with us. There's the two lenses. I think I talked about this when were back five months ago. Speaker 2 You know, we want to look through the safety lens, but we also want to look through the the lens of our obligation to educate students, both social, emotionally, for them to be around, to be part of those activities. Those are all really important things for kids to be part of. So we need to keep moving forward with that as best we can. Speaker 2 So our protocols really haven't changed other than the five day time frame. And you know, we are to call got move till tomorrow to answer your question. So after we talk to the commissioner, Mike Morath tomorrow, we'll evaluate what that says. I talked to Dallas County Health Department. I met with them yesterday after school. We were on a Zoom call with with our area superintendents and there wasn't anything new from them either. Speaker 2 The best news is, you know, we've tracked in the same way as the other where the where the variants blew up. So in South Africa that, you know, the numbers went up fast and now they're coming down quickly. You know, the U.K., they're starting to come down. They haven't been far enough. So, you know, a number of he talked about yesterday was three weeks. Speaker 2 So three more weeks next week, I think will be a challenge week for us. You know, may be one of the bigger ones. Speaker 1 Seeing the spike from other places is that what you're talking about? Speaker 2 So when you when you know, when they watched, we would were the where we would be. It would be three more weeks for that spike to start to fall or fall back down. So we've got to work together over the next three weeks through through this, whatever that means, and we'll all adjust. We you know, we've learned through this so we've learned so much through this. Speaker 2 And, you know, there are a lot of other parts of the country that I think could look at Friendswood and in surrounding areas and see what things are being successful and kids still being educated and inactive. Speaker 1 So one thing for parents to know if your child is dealing with this, if your child has dealt with it, you obviously probably have already been through this and know what to do. But if your child starts having symptoms, we just ask that you stay in touch with your school, with your teacher, just keep them updated on your child because our teachers want to make sure that your child stays up to date with everything and they can get you work and keep them caught up as much as possible. Speaker 1 So. Speaker 2 That's right. That's right. And, you know, we messaging to our staff which educators are committed to to a higher calling. So, you know, we all come when we're sick. That's kind of what we do unless you can't. And so it's that reiterating that message yesterday principals you know ask them to all of our all of our staff and directors to if you have those classic symptoms, stay home. Speaker 2 It's time to stay home, you know, And the same thing, same thing for parents. And the good news about this Omnicom variant for the most part is, you know, the symptoms last a short time. And once those symptoms start to improve, then, you know, those five days go fast. Usually a weekend's part of that and we can get them back and get them going again. Speaker 2 And then then they're you know, they've had it. So if they're exposed to somebody, they're they're going to be able to come back. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. Hey, good deal. Let's talk about Bond update. I saw you posted something yesterday from the high school that they've started to pour the concrete on the tennis courts at the high school. Speaker 2 Yes. Went out there yesterday, walked around with Mr. Kreider. And, you know, we should be seeing some cement poured out there, if not the end of this week or the beginning of next. So they have the forms laid out. If you know, if you want to drive by and go look, you'll see the light poles are up. The the poles are being were being dug in. Speaker 2 One of those pictures that I showed was a guy down in a hole digging up the post for the tennis courts themselves. So yeah exciting exciting things in construction starting. And you know, once that concrete is in, it has to set and then the best thing I heard yesterday, Eric told me, he said, this is going to be a sea of blue whenever this is all done. Speaker 2 So blue quartz and a covering over top of that and that that'll be what the poor concrete you have a sit but by March, you know we hope to be moving our tennis team over over to that area so that we can begin on the you know, demo of the tennis court so we can start on that auditorium, start on that competition. Speaker 2 Competition. Jim, over there. And then really the the update was some decisions that we made, uh, after we got the numbers back from our, the company that we contracted for construction, you know, everyone's aware of and we've all been part of increased cost of commodities and construction is a significant one in that. And so the process not to make it very hard, but just imagine if you were building a home and you had your builder have 75% of the plans for your home done in, 25% not. Speaker 2 And at that point in time you had to price out the wood, the pipe, the electricity, all those things from 75% of those drawings. And that's a process that works well. It's called a construction manager at risk. Oftentimes it's good for exactly what we're doing at the high school, which is a, you know, a remodel, essentially. But with that, contractors were having a guess on that last 25% in a market where things were increasing so rapidly. Speaker 1 And. Speaker 2 You just threw a huge number at it. And so we want to get this is this is a shot for us to do, do what we want to do, what our our Citizens Advisory Committee, what our community voted for and not reduce scope and not bring things down. And so we stepped out, you know, step of courage in and re recalibrated, move back a month and went out so that now bids will come in on 100% drawings with other companies and so that will we believe that will make it easier for that price to be more exact. Speaker 2 And then that will help us know, you know, out of that 128 million, what are we going to dedicate to Klein, which will be bid out? First, we'll find out first in February. We'll know how much are we spending for New Klein. Then in March, we will know how much for the high school, and then we'll begin at that point. Speaker 2 So what does that cost us? We had really hoped to be able to have something in the new auditorium in the spring of 2023, and that's not going to happen. So that was going to be a stretch anyway with COVID and the lag time. But now we're shooting for the fall of 2023. So essentially. Klein In the the first phase of the high school, which would be the tennis courts, the auditorium, the gym opening up for our students in the fall of 2023. Speaker 1 Well, that is exciting. I mean, you know, I know it's unfortunate and it's frustrating for our staff, you know, that we're dealing with all of this during COVID, right? Any other time. It's just kind of this weird time that this is happening. But but it's I think it's necessary and it's important that we're kind of slowing down a little bit and going back out for bids and making sure we have the right prices and doing the right thing, you know. Speaker 2 For our staff and even even the last bond, you know, there were pieces that were in there that didn't get put in. And and we really don't want to do that for our staff. We want to honor them and all the work that they've done so far to design and be part of creating, you know, per goal five facilities that promote our call to action and in our beliefs. Speaker 2 So there's exciting things and career tech that are going to be coming. Engineering spaces and culinary spaces and, and some really great things for kids in the years to come. The second phase of that, along with the activities that are going to be able to do so for our staff, I think the disappointment would be what's going to be maybe a month, a few months later, but in the end, the courage of the board to step out and do that really honors them and honors our community in a lot of ways for let's get a competition gym versus just a third gym. Speaker 2 Let's get a gym that when you walk into that place, that's a competition gym you you don't want to go to. Friends wouldn't play in this gym. I mean, that's what that's really what we're shooting for. That was part of the the design, you know, is to make it a home court advantage. And also, I mean, you know, as well as anybody else listening to this and maybe those outside who might listen to it are musicals and all the shows. Speaker 2 Our choir program, Band Wrangler at Spring, they're fantastic. And we want a space that honors that. It's a legacy space, you know? And so I just am proud of our board and our team for taking that step out. And and I hope, you know, next year, let's say we start the spring off with another podcast. You know, we'll be sitting here having lots to talk about in terms of seeing buildings put up and and all that. Speaker 2 So it's exciting. Speaker 4 Very exciting. So how is it like I mean, just the tennis court seeing that starting to come to form after all of the work and the videos and the planning, what is it like to start to see some of it come to life? Speaker 2 You know? Kelsey It was it was really rewarding. You know, it's a small piece, but it's like concrete metal pipes. This is happening to see all those workers out there and to see things and, you know, walk in places and see the different design. It's, you know, the fences are going to be lower so you can bring your lawn chair up and look over the top of this and see tennis. Speaker 2 Well, the middle section is very wide, so going to have a covering. And so it's like, man, I can't wait. That was what my thought was, was I can't wait to see this place full of kids playing and parents enjoying something, you know, something special. So I could just kind of close my eyes and see it, you know, That's what I that's what I thought yesterday. Speaker 1 That's also exciting. Yeah. I don't know if you saw on social media there was a parent. I wish I could remember her name, but they were having to do circles in the air in the airplane waiting to land at Hobby. I don't know if y'all saw this or not. And she took a picture right above Friendswood High School, and I was like, It was fun to zoom in and go, Oh, they've laid the work for the tennis courts and all those homes are gone there. Speaker 1 And so it was kind of cool to see the construction from that high up starting. Speaker 2 You see me standing on the tennis court? Speaker 1 Oh, you were waving. You weren't in that, right? That's all right. So let's talk about some really fun stuff going on with standard based learning and instruction in our schools with our second graders. I don't know if anybody has had the chance to see on social media some of the interviews that we've done with, oh, my gosh, a little second graders. Speaker 1 But to hear them talk through their own learning and know the words of how to be able to explain, well, this is what this number means. And it doesn't mean that I'm not smart or anything like that. It means I haven't gotten there yet. Oh, yeah, You know that. I still need a little more instruction to understand it. Speaker 4 Like more self-aware than most adults with. Speaker 1 At least to me, it is a beautiful thing. It's just saying this is what this number actually means. Speaker 2 And that's the whole concept, right? Is it's learner centered, right? What as a student that what do I know? I read an email this morning from a parent who had sent I remember who they sent it to, but it got forwarded to me just about there. There's their child, their student, who last year was integrated classroom. And even even the behavior side of it is based on our learner profile. Speaker 2 And so, you know, just a checkmark or, you know, I'm sure, Dana, you probably got a little negative sign or four people talking in this. So what does that mean? But but when you talk about, you know, our learner profile, what's grit, what determination, what's what was that cute little girls she talked about one of her things that she was working on that's the best video, I think, at Klein. Speaker 2 But they're aware of it, right? So they're aware of those things and aware of their own learning and will get better as it as we go. Any innovation three years until mastery, right? So so we're working through really what kind of evidence do we pull to be able to communicate with parents What Dana Owen knows as a second grader? Speaker 2 Let me show you what I know, what I don't know. And, you know, we all grew up in a in a numeric system. And, you know, when we brought home our folders and our our kids brought home their folders, we were looking for, are they eighties and higher or not? And but what did it really tell us. Right. Speaker 2 You know, didn't tell us really whole lot anything except that they're doing okay. Well this is a different concept. And so it's it's different than what we were used to. And anything different like that always is, you know, change. What is it? Change is followed by fear. And then, you know, soon followed by growth. And and so it is something different at the elementary level. Speaker 2 So right now we have a a pilot group of second grade teachers that are working through that. And then next year, based on, you know, meeting with our team, talking with our groups, we're going to, you know, finish out the rest of the second grade and we're going to go all the way across the board in third grade so that we're all doing the same professional learning and moving it up. Speaker 2 Yeah, Another grade level. So I know you've put out I think there's on the website, isn't there even a teaching and learning. Speaker 1 Yes. Yes. Speaker 2 Where if someone who's listening to this is like, what is this all about. Can you see those videos. Can read more about it. Yeah, video about it that learning has been part of. Yep. We're going to actually have a board report on it in February. Speaker 1 Right. Speaker 2 So, Lauren, we'll talk more about that. Our assistant superintendent and but yeah, we're excited about what's what we see happening and students knowing what they're learning and the things that they need to to push forward on for the future. Speaker 1 So the power of getting the power of seeing second graders talk about just sitting down and watching them have conference with their teachers. And if you get on our website and go to standard based learning, you can. Speaker 4 See, yeah, teaching and teaching and learning which is under departments, it's in there. Speaker 1 You can see the bank of pictures and videos. It's really go to the videos because they're just so self-explanatory. But the power of a second grader getting to have a conference with the teacher to say, This is what I think I need to get better at this week. And then to actually work on those things throughout the week and then sit down with the teacher and the kid grades themself and then the teacher can agree with that grade or just as a grade number, they can adjust that number and then talk about, well, you gave yourself a three. Speaker 1 I gave you a two. And let me tell you why. This is what I want you to work on a little bit more or agree on the number or whatever that is. It's just really powerful to see. Oh, yeah. Speaker 4 And a lot of the teachers we spoke with actually said they very rarely even have to give a corrective number. Like the kids are pretty spot on most of the time. And that's just awesome. Like to be able to say, this is what I'm doing really well with, this is what I need more help on. And then actually having the opportunity to seek out the help to be able to master that skill instead of just moving on from it. Speaker 4 It's really cool. Speaker 1 I asked one boy. I said, Now, why did you pick why did you pick this to work on this week? And he goes, Because, I don't know. It was I was like, Well, there you go. That's a good reason why you need like I have a growth for you to pay attention more or more in. Speaker 2 And, you know, for our teachers too, it's a change for our teachers. So we're learning about it together and moving forward with it, but also, you know, our grading requirements were things like ten grades by, you know, a certain point in time. And so, you know, if I was a parent who was used to getting all these things home in a Friday folder and then all of a sudden I'm not seeing things, I'd be like, what are they doing? Speaker 2 You know, what's going on? And so I just would encourage, you know, phone calls or emails to to teachers if there's if there's confusion about that, because, you know, what we don't want is just a bunch of worksheets with numbers on. There we go. Sorry about that. Speaker 1 Sorry about that. That's actually you can talk. Speaker 2 About safety here in a minute and we can tell you what that was. Speaker 1 We actually have some drills going on right now. When those drills happen, we get text messages saying that those emergency drills are happening. Right. Speaker 2 So, you know, back to the back to those grades is, you know, you wouldn't see that. But yet we don't want ten worksheets out just so you can get ten, ten grades in grade book. Yeah. You know, especially because we all know Kelsey and Dana are different and you know, Kelsey probably just needs to see it one time and, you. Speaker 1 Know, maybe repeatedly that is twice daily is not for me. It's a good thing I can last myself. Speaker 2 I mean, my own kids. I have two completely different kids and standards based will look totally different from them. Yeah. As they learn to read, as they learn to write. And it would push one further and one would be able to to get stronger, you know, moving forward and get to that place where they're making decisions about what the future looks like. Speaker 1 That's the that's the key right there, though, is both would benefit from this. So that's why we're really excited about that, to see this this happening. So we have I'm excited to talk about this next one. So we have our first service day, April 18th, 2022, and that's goal number one. We've talked about creating a community of of community service. Speaker 1 And so tell us a little bit about the details of the service. Speaker 2 DAY Well, like you said, goal one for us is a culture of community service, and we have that. And I mean, people have been a part of that and they see our our kids and we and you guys highlight a lot of that for them to be able to see, you know, community service going on out. You know, we had the the big water bucket challenge for Marcellus. Speaker 2 Yeah. I mean, we have those things going on, but this is a coordinated day for us on April 18th, which is a an in-service day for us. Right. So professional learning day. So, you know, what we worked on was putting a professional learning time in that that's beneficial for us on on that morning time and then organically and structurally giving the opportunity for teachers, coaches, administrators, schools, groups of of classrooms to make a choice to serve their community some way. Speaker 2 And somehow. So, Dana, you're actually helping coordinate some of the in Kelsey are communications teams coordinating some of the opportunities so you're gathering opportunities if someone wants to you know, the city is going to be a part of that. You know, you'll reach out and have some some opportunities for them. You know, a lot of our our sports teams and in other groups already are connected to a cause, for lack of a better reason. Speaker 2 They could they could go be part of that. Our kids, you know, even at our schools, we have, you know, things that they can shine up or clean up in their own community. So serving their community in some way and somehow. So I know you're a big part of putting that together for us. And stay tuned for more to come on that day and what that's going to look like. Speaker 2 And you know, we're not interested in just assigning community service to everybody or. Speaker 1 Students. Speaker 2 Right? There has to be a why and a heart behind that service and a belief in doing that. And so that's the, I guess, the magic of it, because kids won't be there that day. Speaker 1 Right? We'll get the day. Speaker 2 Off for. Speaker 1 Them. Right. Speaker 2 So it would be a choice for them to come be part of it. But knowing our kids and what they do and what they believe in, in our parents, in our community, it's going to I'm excited about the vision for that. And you were a big, big, big part of a visioning for that, looking at some some different places. Speaker 2 So I'm talking about it, but we've spent a lot of time together kind of dreaming. Speaker 1 Yeah, and it's been fun. We actually have businesses reaching out that have that have heard about it a little bit through the grapevine that are reaching out to say either their business like Hope Village, you know come and be a part Yeah there that we have work for you to do or we have businesses reaching out in our community to say, Hey, we would love to be a part of this as well. Speaker 1 We would love to financially kind of back a little bit of this to help you get whether it's paint or shovels or whatever. So it's a community wide effort and we're excited about it coming to our community and we will be sharing more and more information. But if you're interested in that, whether you're a student or a parent or a business owner, and friends would reach out to me. Speaker 1 Dana Owen, I would love to hear from you and we'll get you on the list as more and more people want to see and know about opportunities to to serve in this community. Speaker 2 It's also a great reminder of how many shopping days you have. Until my birthday, April 18th, is actually my birthday. Speaker 1 So we will. Speaker 2 Turn 54 on the service day, so I may need help with some some, you know, runways to be able to get up and down my stairs now and stuff like that. Yeah. Speaker 1 Walker Little plug in there. Yeah that's right. So I like Kelsey's idea of blowing out on that day. Yeah. You know, having everybody wear blue. But maybe some people can make shirts with Dad's face on it. I was thinking that bar, you know. Speaker 4 We can just go ahead and add that to the orders of the merchandise we're going to be. Speaker 1 Creating of. Yeah, there you go. Right. I took a couple. Speaker 4 Pictures during my so I'll just use. Speaker 1 Those. Perfect. Yeah. The last thing I want to say before we move on to ask you questions, which I know you're probably not looking forward to, but we're going to sneak those in anyway. We have a big secret happening in the fall of 2022, and if you're listening, we just let you in on a pretty big secret. But the bad news is we can't talk about it. Speaker 2 The thing that we can say is circle. Or is it August, August 9th. Speaker 1 August 9th. Speaker 2 Circle, August 9th on your calendar? Yes. And think about a half day off that day. Speaker 1 Yes. In the morning. That morning. Morning. Speaker 2 Think about that. Speaker 1 What? That's the only thing we're going to say. Speaker 2 That's the only thing we're going to say. Speaker 1 But you'll want to be there. Yes, that's it. Nothing else. Speaker 2 More to come or. Speaker 1 To come. Okay. Well, we always in the anything else that that you really wanted to talk. Speaker 2 About, you know, with this alarm going off? Speaker 1 Oh, let's talk safety on. Speaker 2 The alarm with that alarm going off. So as I was sitting here, this is my cell phone going off and it was one of our new systems that we've put in place, visual alert system. It's, you know, one of the kind around Texas and is installed in all campuses, all buildings that basically allows anybody from their phone to be able to call for a lock down or a teacher in need of assistance or a lock out allows us as administrators to be able to do that in and connect to feed so that they are there quickly. Speaker 2 They received the same thing that we just heard on my phone and on yours and on. Kelsey's would have gone to our sorrows and to our officers over at the police department. So they would have gotten the same text that we did that said that was a drill. So that's that's been an upgrade for us. Part of the bond program safety was a section of that. Speaker 2 And so it also allows for visually for people pulling up to the campuses or within the campuses to see and hear an announcement. You know, the campus that this was at, one was at Kline, one was at Winn Song. The one we just heard was at one song. They got on it. They got an announcement over the over the P.A. Once that button was pushed that no one had to get to a system, no one had to make their way so that if we had a real situation, it could have just. Speaker 1 Automatically. Speaker 2 Been very fast. Speaker 1 So when we were named in ranked the safest school district in the greater Houston area, so I just want to throw that out there. Speaker 2 By what group is that? Speaker 1 It's niche. Speaker 2 Niche. Speaker 1 That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, let's move in to let's move into just some great random questions for Thad. And the first question is that I have six for you. Okay. The first question is would you want to learn what people really thought about you? Sure. So as we sit here and as bubbles come up in people's head, like literally bubbles would come up, you would be able to read what people think about you. Speaker 2 Yeah, I think I could. Speaker 1 And you want to know? Speaker 2 I'd want to know. Speaker 1 It's a deeper question, and I think you're giving it. I think that's a hard okay. To me. Speaker 2 I'm pretty reflective. Speaker 1 About Sure, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. I'm not going to argue with you every question about this. Do you have New Year's resolutions? And if so, would you like to share one for 2022? Speaker 2 Yes. To average below an 85 in golf when you when you put all scores together? Uh, between now and the end of the year, the average would be 88 on for 18 holes. Speaker 1 Okay. So you're going to keep up with those every time you play and then we're going to get a winner. Speaker 2 In my last year, my goal was 90. Yeah, and I ended with 87. Speaker 1 All right, well, we can't wait for a recap on that, see how that can be a year from now. And who's your celebrity crush? That's not of better question So legally, Tiger out with your teenage right sleep celebrity wants to know who is that celebrity crush. Speaker 2 Man. Speaker 1 Someone already came to mind. Speaker 2 Jennifer Aniston. Speaker 1 Probably. Yeah she's she's not so she's not only knocked out but she's like funny. Yeah, they need to be funny, right? Yeah, They need to have a great sense. Speaker 2 And have a good time. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. This is this is a stranger. And I have to say, what fictional character would you most like to be friends with? Speaker 2 Is Iron Man? Speaker 1 Oh, that's a good one. Speaker 4 Oh, we have a real life Iron Man. It was just. Speaker 1 Going, Oh, that's right. Speaker 2 I love like Iron Man, the AC DC music. When he comes in, flying in somewhere. Speaker 1 Is the actor that does. Robert Downey is Robert Downey Jr. He's made that really good. Speaker 2 And all that full tech stuff. Yeah. Iron Man. Speaker 1 I think that's a good one. Yeah. Do you have a tattoo? Speaker 2 No. Speaker 1 Okay. The last question is, one thing I know for sure is. Speaker 2 You always ask. Speaker 1 That. Always. That's my last question. Speaker 2 Every time is I wish I would have prepared a little bit more because you caught me unawares and I thought maybe you wouldn't. Speaker 1 You can't. Speaker 2 Review it and ask you when you and ask. Speaker 1 For it. Well, right now for 2022, sir, what's one thing you can say? You know for sure? Speaker 2 Um, I know for sure that we are going to give it all we have for this spring semester to make this experience for our students and our parents and our community, one that they will remember and, and with a smile and say, Remember 2022 how we. We made it through together? That's one thing I know for sure that we're going to give give it every effort we have to to be able to get to that point. Speaker 1 Yeah, well, we know your heart and we know that's one thing I can say that whenever you say that I know that you really mean what you say. It's, you know, it's. You're serious. It that is your heart. That's who you are. And we all benefit from that. And for you being our superintendent, so. Well, thank you. Well, thanks for coming in today. Speaker 1 Yes. Wow. We can't wait to see what the next five months bring. And then. Speaker 2 You know what? In the next five months, Lord willing, I'm going to be a grandpa. Speaker 1 That's right. Do you not do you know at all what you just called? Speaker 2 No, I don't mean yes. Speaker 1 Happy. Speaker 2 I'm going to be. I've kind of been leaning toward Gramps. Speaker 1 Gramps? I like. Speaker 2 Yeah, so crazy. So yeah, Maggie's due March 19th. So, uh, looking forward to to that. That'll be a new chapter for me. I'm looking forward to that. Speaker 1 I might call you. Okay, Well, on that note. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, everybody. Have a great day. Thanks for being. Speaker 2 On.