December 13, 2016 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2016-12-13
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-27 21:08 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting – December 13, 2016
These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.
Opening
- Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM. A quorum was confirmed and proper notice was posted per the Texas Open Meetings Act.
- Invocation led by Mrs. Bush; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Williams.
Item 2a: Special District Recognition – 2016 UIL 6A Boys Cross-Country State Champions
- Greg Colson (campus administrator) introduced the team and coaching staff from The Woodlands High School.
- Head Coach Juris Green presented the team, noting this was the school's 19th state cross-country title and 38th consecutive state meet appearance.
- The team won the 2016 state meet by 72 points (scoring 51), despite losing 5 of 7 runners from the 2015 championship team to graduation.
- Team members recognized: Gavin Hawpar (6th place), Noah Wells (7th), Daniel Baker (11th), Jacob Rayford (~22nd), Ethan Marcotte (~24th), Austin Childress (26th). Assistant Coach Chris Bales was also introduced.
- Danny Green, the original/founding cross-country coach, was recognized in the audience — he coached for 30 years and won 15 state championships. Combined with his son Juris's 4 titles in 8 years, the father-son legacy totals 19 state championships in ~38 years.
- A plaque was presented to the team.
Item 2b: Special District Recognition – Energy Solutions 2015 Outstanding RMS Partner of Excellence Award
- Dr. Hines introduced the recognition.
- Conroe ISD received the Outstanding Resource Management System (RMS) Partner for Excellence Award from Energy Solutions/NTX Energy Texas for achievements in energy and resource management.
- District achieved a 3% target savings goal of approximately 80,978,717 kilowatt hours through behavioral changes (turning off lights, adjusting thermostats) — no capital spending required.
- Savings equated to approximately:
- $200,000/year off the electric bill
- Equivalent of 4 teacher salaries
- Removing 368 cars from the road for one year
- Offsetting 196,000 gallons of gasoline
- Energy Manager Roger Garvey and Assistant Director of Maintenance Dwight Martin were recognized for their participation.
- Award presented by Phelan Ayer (Energy Texas), Amanda Cambree (RMS Program Manager), and David Rubick (Program Consultant).
Item 2c: Citizen Participation
- No citizens registered to address the board.
Item 3: Consent Agenda
- No items were pulled for separate discussion.
- Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Item 4a: Consider Approval of District of Innovation Plan
- Dr. Nolan presented the item, summarizing the process since October when the board authorized exploration of a District of Innovation designation.
- The District-Level Planning and Decision-Making Committee developed the plan with input from community members, teachers, parents, and administrators. The plan was posted online for public feedback.
- The plan includes only one element: Flexible School Calendar — allowing the board the option to start the school year earlier than the state-mandated fourth Monday in August (which falls on August 28 in 2017). This is not a mandate to start earlier, but provides the option.
- Motion to approve; seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Item 4b: Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment – Knox Junior High School & Woodlands Transportation Center
- Ms. Foster presented the item.
- Ramallah Construction was selected as construction manager at risk in March.
- Negotiated GMP: $11,120,157 for Knox Junior High additions and Woodlands Transportation Center renovations.
- Clarification provided: The "amendment" is the standard contractual term used to establish the GMP under the master agreement — it is not amending a previous price.
- Motion to approve; seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Item 4c: Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price – 2017 Life Cycle Projects
- Ms. Foster presented.
- GTT was selected as construction manager at risk in February.
- Projects cover mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and building envelope maintenance items.
- Negotiated GMP: $8,167,886.
- Motion to approve; seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Item 4d: Update on Attendance Zones for Oak Ridge Feeder Zone Schools
This was an informational update; no vote was taken.
Dr. Hines provided a detailed update on the rezoning process necessitated by three new schools opening:
New Schools Opening:
1. Lucile J. Bradley Elementary (K–4) – Opening Fall 2017 at 4200 Falls Lake Drive (The Falls); ~1,000 student capacity.
2. Flex 18 Intermediate (Grades 5–6) – Opening August 2018 at Woodson's Reserve Parkway and Tench Lane; ~1,000 student capacity.
3. Grand Oaks High School (Grades 9–10 initially, phasing to 9–12 by 2020) – Opening Fall 2018 at 4800 Riley Fuzzel Road; ~3,100 student capacity.
Process:
- Attendance Boundary Committee (ABC) composed of principals and parents from affected schools.
- Six public meetings held to date with hundreds of attendees.
- Over 850 high school comments and ~130 elementary/intermediate comments received, plus several petitions.
- Two scenarios developed for each school level (elementary, intermediate, high school).
Elementary Scenarios:
- Key challenges: Schools located very close together along Birnam Woods Drive; large neighborhoods difficult to keep intact; goal of not opening Bradley at capacity (~800 target).
- Scenario 1: Populates Bradley from multiple existing zones; splits Harmony neighborhood using Birnam Woods Drive; moves The Meadows from Birnam Woods to Kaufman (which would also change their feeder pattern to Vogel Intermediate, Irons Junior High, and Oak Ridge High School).
- Scenario 2: Very similar to Scenario 1 but splits Harmony at Lexington Boulevard instead of Rayford Road, resulting in fewer students moved; Broadway retains more students; Snyder has more room for growth from Woodson's Reserve. This scenario had significantly more community support according to Dr. Hines.
Intermediate Scenarios:
- Scenario 1: Splits some neighborhoods (Harmony, Birnam Woods area, Lockridge Farms) to maintain walkability to Cox; moves The Meadows to Vogel.
- Scenario 2 (with committee-recommended modification): Moves most of the Bradley feeder zone to Flex 18; keeps Legends Trace (57G) with the Bradley cohort going to Flex 18 instead of splitting them. This produces nearly identical enrollment at Cox and Flex 18 and similar socio-economic balance between the two schools. Committee strongly favored this approach.
High School Scenarios:
- Described as the most difficult conversations of the process.
- Scenario 1: Largely mirrors the current junior high boundary; only change is The Meadows moving to Oak Ridge. Results in ~2,420 at Grand Oaks and ~2,270 at Oak Ridge (in 2020 when fully phased in).
- Scenario 2: Moves Forest Village/Spring Forest (currently Irons JH area) to Grand Oaks; keeps Legends Trace/Legends Ranch at Oak Ridge. Results in a larger Oak Ridge and smaller Grand Oaks. Produces better socio-economic balance (Oak Ridge 33% vs. Grand Oaks 22% economically disadvantaged, compared to 38%/19.5% in Scenario 1). However, ~300 students would attend a different high school than their junior high feeder pattern suggests.
- Key discussion points raised by board members:
- Growth concerns: Mr. Husbands raised concerns about future development along FM 242 and FM 1488 potentially overwhelming Oak Ridge again under Scenario 2, while Scenario 1 leaves more capacity for future growth.
- Portables: The Woodlands HS has ~14 portables; College Park has 2 — growth pressure is increasing.
- Socio-economic diversity: Board member (Mr. Hubert) emphasized the importance of considering diversity and socio-economic balance as a factor in rezoning, not just enrollment numbers. Dr. Hines confirmed the committee has been considering these factors.
- Keeping students together from intermediate through high school: Board members expressed strong support for avoiding splits at the junior high-to-high school transition, noting the social/developmental importance for adolescents.
- No current plans for an academy at Grand Oaks; discussions have occurred about a potential academy at Oak Ridge, which is more centrally located. Air Force JROTC will remain at Oak Ridge.
- UIL 6A classification: Question raised about whether enrollment under Scenario 2 could jeopardize 6A status; noted that 2,230 students should maintain eligibility.
- Committee is split on high school scenarios with both well-represented.
- Dr. Hines and committee were praised by multiple board members for their thorough, analytical, and compassionate approach.
Timeline:
- Committee reconvenes in early January.
- Community update meetings planned for January.
- Formal recommendation(s) to be brought to the board in January.
Item 4e: Capital Improvement Update
Ms. Foster provided updates on major construction projects:
| Project | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Grand Oaks High School | On schedule for August 2018 opening. Main structure nearing completion; cranes leaving soon; interior work underway on ground floor (mechanical, walls); parking lots mostly done. |
| Safety & Security Project (Phase 1) | Nearing completion (by mid-January). Upgrades include security cameras, access control, and security vestibules. Phase 2 to be brought forward in spring. |
| Cryar Intermediate | On schedule; turning over for student use when they return from winter break. Classrooms complete and furnished; technology being installed. |
| Lucile Bradley Elementary | On schedule for August 2017 opening. Structural steel complete; roofing underway; exterior masonry began last month; interior taking shape. |
| The Woodlands College Park Robotics Facility | Underway and on schedule. Roof and masonry about to begin. Weather-dependent; goal is spring break turnover. |
| Network Operations Center | On schedule; office expansion underway. Complex transition of systems to be completed summer 2017. |
Item 5a: Financial Reports
Mr. Ice presented the November 2016 financial statements:
- General Fund Cash & Investments: ~$156 million total (including $76M in investment pools, $28.8M other investments, $50.9M with TCG Investment Advisors).
- Property Tax Collections: Running approximately 0.5% above the prior year — collections just beginning to roll in.
- Revenues and expenditures trending well across all funds.
- 2015 Bond Referendum Status:
- Expended/encumbered: $216.3 million
- Estimate to complete: $299.7 million
- Projected total: $515.9 million
- Contingency remaining: ~$4.3 million — noted as a positive trend after prior years trending negatively.
- Self-Funded Insurance: Total revenues of $11.2M vs. expenses of $9.6M = $1.6M revenue surplus — a positive shift from prior negative trends attributed to plan changes.
- Wellness Center: Averaging ~433 visits/month.
- Investment Portfolio:
- Par value: $420.7 million
- Combined portfolio WAM: 776 days; yielding ~79 basis points
- Benchmark (90-day T-bill): ~46 basis points
Closed/Executive Session
- Board entered closed session at 7:10 PM per Section 551.071, .074 of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
- Board reconvened in open session at 8:50 PM.
Item 8a: Board Member Training Compliance
- Statement read: All board members have completed required state training except newest member Mr. Moore, who was sworn in last month and is on schedule to complete training within the required timeline.
Item 8b: Board Member Code of Conduct
- Dr. Stockton/Ms. Gladys presented the annual Board Member Code of Conduct for signature — same document as prior years.
- Covers adherence to board policy, directing complaints to administration, avoiding conflicts of interest with district vendors, etc.
- Board members asked to sign before leaving.
Item 8c: Delegation of Settlement Authority
- Motion: To delegate authority to Dr. Stockton to negotiate, finalize, and execute a settlement as discussed in executive session, should an agreement be reached in mediation of Cause No. 15-06-06177.
- Seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Item 8d: Reorganization of the Board
- Motion to reorganize the board as follows:
- President: Melanie Bush
- First Vice President: Datren Williams
- Second Vice President: Skeeter Hubert
- Secretary: Ray Sanders
- Assistant Secretary: Scott Kidd
- Seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn was entertained. Board members reminded to sign the Code of Conduct before departing.
Note: All votes during this meeting appeared to pass unanimously by show of hands. The attendance zone discussion (Item 4d) was informational only with no vote taken; formal recommendations are expected in January 2017.