{
  "id": "2016-08-17_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2016-08-17",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — August 17, 2016",
  "date_display": "August 17, 2016",
  "type_display": "Regular Meeting",
  "types_display": [
    "Regular Meeting"
  ],
  "item_count": 0,
  "has_agenda": false,
  "has_notes": true,
  "pdf_filename": null,
  "packet_url": null,
  "generated_at": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.355320Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2016-08-17\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-27 21:04 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting\n### August 17, 2016\n\n---\n\n*These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.*\n\n---\n\n## Public Hearing: Proposed 2016–2017 Budget (Second Public Hearing)\n\n**Presented by:** Mr. Rice, Chief Financial Officer\n\n### Key Financial Highlights (2015–2016):\n- District voters approved the 2015 Bond referendum\n- Received Texas State Comptroller transparency stars for finances, debt obligations, and contracts/procurement\n- Bond rating upgrades from both Moody's and Standard & Poor's\n- CISD is one of three districts to receive **five stars** (highest rating) from Texas Smart Schools for **six consecutive years**\n- Ranked **6th in the state** by Education Resource Group (ERG) among the 200 largest districts\n\n### 2016–2017 Budget Overview:\n- **Estimated enrollment:** 59,639 students (increase of ~1,400)\n- **Average daily attendance:** estimated at 94% of enrollment\n- **Certified property values:** $32.4 billion (increase of $2.6 billion / 8.66%)\n- **Tax rate:** $1.28 per $100 valuation (no change from prior year); $0.48 lower than 2005–06; $0.19 below peer average\n\n### Revenue:\n- Tax revenue increase: $26.9 million (from AV growth)\n- State revenue: 1,400 new students generate $1.1 million, but \"Robin Hood\" recapture results in a $28.4 million loss, netting a **$17.3 million state revenue decrease**\n- Available surplus from 2015–16: $19.8 million\n- **Total estimated available funding increase: $9.6 million (net)**\n\n### Expenditures:\n- **Salary increases:** $11.77 million total\n  - 3% general pay increase: $9.2 million\n  - Targeted equity adjustments for teachers with 7+ years: $1.5 million\n  - Beginning teacher salary: $51,500 (increase of $1,650)\n  - Police, auxiliary, bilingual, special ed, fine arts adjustments included\n- **New personnel for growth:** 154 positions ($8.17 million), including 93.5 new teachers\n- **Other expenses:** $3.68 million (appraisal district fees, supplies, CTE program, health insurance contribution increase from $428 to $440/employee/month, fuel savings of $750,000)\n- **Total projected expenditure budget increase:** $23.6 million\n- **Proposed 2016–17 expenditure budget:** $447.6 million\n- **Projected surplus:** $5.76 million\n\n### Fund Balance:\n- Projected unassigned fund balance at 8/31/16: $115.1 million (28% of budget, $15.1 million over high-end target)\n- Projected at 8/31/17: ~$120.9 million (27% of budget)\n- Surplus proposal: save in general fund balance for 2017–18 budget; remainder to support capital projects and reduce bond debt\n\n### 2017–18 Pro Forma:\n- Potential shortfall of **$21.8 million** projected for 2017–18; district preparing for upcoming legislative session\n\n### Public Comment During Hearing:\n- **Stuart Shader** asked about enrollment projections and property appraisals over next 3 years. Dr. Stockton responded that enrollment growth is expected to continue at a similar rate; property value growth is projected to decrease (using 6% for 2017–18 projections). Characterized the district's posture as \"prepared, not pessimistic.\"\n\n---\n\n## Regular Board Meeting\n\n### Invocation and Pledges\n- Invocation led by Mrs. Bush; Pledges led by Mr. Williams\n\n---\n\n## Citizen Participation (Item 2A)\n\n### 1. Misty Pin — Benders Landing Estates\n- Thanked the board and staff for addressing traffic/access concerns regarding the new high school\n- Confirmed that Waterberry Cove will be used for **emergency access only**\n- Encouraged the board to investigate other alternatives and include surrounding communities in future discussions\n- Noted strong community support in the room\n\n### 2. Jane Guston — Benders Landing POA Board Member\n- Also thanked the board for collaborative work on traffic concerns related to the new high school\n- Praised the cooperative effort between the community, county, and district\n\n### 3. Anna Hal — The Woodlands High School Graduate (Extended Remarks)\n- Shared her personal experience with a suicide attempt during her junior year\n- Described feeling unsupported by school counselors when she asked to drop AP classes for her mental health; was told it \"would look bad for college\"\n- Praised individual teachers (especially the physics department) for their personal support\n- **Key proposals to the board:**\n  - Increase mental health education/awareness training for counselors and teachers\n  - Improve communication between teachers and counselors regarding at-risk students\n  - Prioritize hiring mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers) on campuses\n  - Make mental health awareness an ongoing effort, not a once-a-year event\n  - Referenced Fairfax County, Virginia's model as an example\n- Expressed concern that the district sends a message that grades matter more than student well-being\n- Board response: **Dr. Stockton** noted the topic is taken \"very seriously,\" that the new assistant superintendent came from Fairfax County, that a crisis counselor was added and another would be added mid-year\n- **Board Member (later in meeting)** echoed support, noted a Monday meeting among community leaders, Montgomery County nonprofits, and CISD's crisis counselor addressing these issues\n\n---\n\n## Consent Agenda (Item 3)\n\nItems A through H, J, and K approved together.\n\n**Vote: Unanimous (all in favor)**\n\n### Item 3I — Award of RFP 16-07-03: Property, Boiler & Machinery and Crime Insurance\n- **Pulled from consent agenda** for separate discussion\n- **President Husbands abstained** (employer involvement); Vice President Kid presided\n\n**Discussion:**\n- Mr. Rice explained:\n  - The district historically has had one of the lowest property insurance rates in the state\n  - Market constriction due to massive flooding and hail losses statewide ($250 million across carriers; affiliated carrier alone had $100 million in losses)\n  - RFP sent to **37 vendors; only 1 response** received (Souls Insurance, the previous carrier)\n  - Actual premium increase was only $32,000, but the new policy included a **5% hail/wind deductible per building**\n  - District purchased a **deductible buy-down** for $384,000 to maintain $100,000 per occurrence per building (with $500,000 max cap)\n  - **Total premium with buy-down: $1,026,400** — approximately **41% overall increase**\n  - District had **no claims** during the April/May 2016 flooding\n  - Rates still favorable compared to Harris County districts\n\n**Vote: Approved (Mr. Husbands abstaining; remaining members in favor)**\n\n---\n\n## Item 4A — 2016 Preliminary STAAR (3–8) and EOC Results\n\n**Presented by:** Dr. Debbie Phillips (Elementary) and Jim Kaker (Secondary)\n\n### Key Points:\n- Number of test items required to pass **increased** this year\n- Despite higher standards, CISD maintained high academic achievement\n- **Elementary highlights:**\n  - 4th grade: Excellent gains in reading and math; writing at 81% (well above state)\n  - Slight dips in some areas mirrored statewide trends\n  - 5th grade science: maintained at 88%\n- **Secondary highlights:**\n  - 7th grade showed consistent results; 8th grade showed gains as students matured\n  - CISD approximately **10% above state average** across content areas at junior high\n  - End of Course (EOC): Strong across algebra, biology, US history; English 1 and 2 noted as challenging\n- Passing standards will be raised again for 2016–17\n- Staff development focused on T-TESS (new teacher evaluation system) and growth mindset\n- District emphasized continuity: \"no new big initiatives — we do what we do and get better every day\"\n\n---\n\n## Item 5B — Naming New Facilities Presentation\n\n**Presented by:** Dr. N (Deputy Superintendent)\n\n- Facilities to be named: **New High School** and **Flex 17 (new elementary school)**\n- Community naming campaign received:\n  - **173 submissions** for the high school (74 unique names)\n  - **126 submissions** for the elementary school (72 unique names)\n- **Policy reminder:** High schools should be named for geographic regions; elementary schools may be named for geographic regions or individuals\n- Board is **not limited** to submitted names\n- **This was an informational presentation only** — formal consideration and vote scheduled for **September meeting**\n\n### Discussion on Process:\n- Board members discussed how to handle the large number of suggestions\n- Historical practice: Each board member brings their top 3–5 names; discussion and nomination process follows\n- Board agreed to use a **nomination process** at the September meeting, with discussion before voting\n- Mrs. Gladus to consult on proper parliamentary procedure for the nomination process\n\n---\n\n## Item 5D — Capital Improvements Update\n\n**Presented by:** Mr. Easy Foster, Director of Planning and Construction\n\n### Project Updates:\n- **Woodlands High School Girls Locker Room:** Complete; facility in use; positive feedback\n- **New High School:** Building slab ~1 month from completion; vertical steel construction underway; crane visible from Grand Parkway\n- **Runnels Elementary (Life Cycle):** Complete; teachers moved in; mechanical, technology, and security upgrades above ceiling; wall-mounted projectors added\n- **Caney Creek High School Roof:** Near completion, ahead of schedule; new turf at Woodforest Stadium complete; sound system upgraded\n- **CTE & Robotics (Caney Creek HS & Oak Ridge 9th Grade Campus):**\n  - Cosmetology lab, welding lab, robotics lab, and construction trades lab all on track\n  - Classrooms ready for teachers; labs ready for students Monday; equipment being installed\n  - Robotics lab epoxy floor installed; smoke evacuation systems in welding labs\n- **Safety & Security Project (Phase 1):** Security vestibules at multiple campuses complete; camera and intrusion detection upgrades continuing in phases 2 and 3\n- **Grangerland Intermediate Additions:** 8 new classrooms on schedule for Christmas break turnover\n- **Flex 17 (New Elementary):** Site taking shape; structural steel in progress; visible from the new high school site\n\n**Total construction value this summer: Over $21 million**\n\nBoard commended Mr. Foster and all contractors/architects for ensuring readiness for school opening. Also noted Mr. Foster is pursuing his Master's degree.\n\n---\n\n## Item 6A — Consider Adoption of 2016–17 Official School Budget\n\n**Presented by:** Mr. Rice\n\n- Recommended approval of the 2016–2017 budget as presented in public hearings\n- Budget format: by function and by function/major object\n- **Total proposed expenditure budget: $447,585,055**\n\n**Board comments:**\n- Pleased with competitive salaries for staff\n- Noted $750,000 fuel savings as return on investment in fuel-efficient buses\n- Proud of tax rate being lower than peer districts\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Item 6B — Consider Adoption of 2016 Ad Valorem Tax Rate\n\n**Presented by:** Dr. Stockton / Mr. Rice\n\n- **Tax rate: $1.28 per $100 of valuation** (no change from prior year)\n  - M&O: $1.04\n  - Debt Service: $0.24\n- Motion language noted this is \"effectively a 6.82% increase in the tax rate\" due to property value increases (8.66%), though the rate itself is unchanged\n- Discussion of \"super pennies\" — the $0.04 above $1.00 in M&O are worth 1.5x each, used to buy down debt service\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Item 6C — Transfer of Unassigned Fund Balance\n\n- **$10 million** transferred to Debt Service Fund (to service debt and minimize tax rate)\n- **$33.3 million** transferred to Capital Projects Fund (to support 2015 Bond referendum)\n- Already accounted for in the fund balance analysis presented during the budget hearing\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Item 6D — Chapter 41 Status: Property Wealth Reduction Option Selection\n\n**Presented by:** Mr. Rice\n\n- CISD wealth per resident student: $436,500 (between equalized levels of $319,500 and $514,000)\n- District **not required to pay recapture** since adopted tax rate does not exceed compressed rate plus 6 pennies\n- **Option 3 selected** (purchase of attendance credits from the state) — administrative procedure; least extreme option per TEA recommendation\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Item 6E — Financial Report (July 2016)\n\n**Presented by:** Mr. Rice\n\n### General Fund:\n- Total cash and investments: $187.47 million\n- Property tax collections: ~99%\n- Payroll remains largest expenditure\n\n### 2015 Bond Referendum Status:\n- Expended and encumbered: $96.4 million\n- Estimate to complete: $296.5 million\n- Total projected forecast: $492.9 million\n\n### Self-Funded Insurance:\n- July: Revenues $3.4M, expenses $3.7M (net loss ~$300K for month)\n- Year-to-date: revenues under expenses ~$1.1 million\n- Wellness center in transition (new computer system); 376 participants in July; appointment times expected to decrease from 30 to 15–20 minutes\n\n### Investments:\n- Par value: $345 million\n- Combined portfolio weighted average maturity: 93 days\n- Combined yield: 66.42 basis points (vs. 90-day T-bill benchmark of ~25 basis points)\n\n---\n\n## Item 9B — Consider Revisions to Local Board Policies CV, FD, and FL\n\n**Presented by:** Mrs. Gladus\n\n### Proposed Changes (first reading — for consideration; vote next month):\n\n1. **Policy CV (Construction):** Increase contract approval threshold from $50,000 to **$100,000** (to match change order approval amount)\n\n2. **Policy FD (Admissions):**\n   - Remove requirement for campuses to annually verify residency for every student (align policy with actual practice; district still tracks via return mail, neighbor reports, etc.)\n   - Add language allowing **district-created tests** (in addition to standardized tests) for placing students from private/home schools\n\n3. **Policy FL:** Remove references to **No Child Left Behind** (expired/replaced by ESSA); no substantive policy changes\n   - Student directory information remains private (longstanding CISD practice)\n   - More policies with NCLB reference updates expected next month\n\n**No vote taken** — informational/first reading only; adoption scheduled for September.\n\n---\n\n## Other Notable Items\n\n- Board discussed the **naming process** for new schools at the September meeting; agreed to allow a nomination process with full discussion before voting\n- A board member publicly echoed support for Anna Hal's mental health advocacy comments and noted ongoing community-level meetings on the issue\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\n\nMeeting adjourned by motion."
}