{
  "id": "2016-12-13_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2016-12-13",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — December 13, 2016",
  "date_display": "December 13, 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": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.425321Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2016-12-13\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-27 21:08 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees\n### Regular Meeting – December 13, 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## Opening\n- Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM. A quorum was confirmed and proper notice was posted per the Texas Open Meetings Act.\n- **Invocation** led by Mrs. Bush; **Pledge of Allegiance** led by Mr. Williams.\n\n---\n\n## Item 2a: Special District Recognition – 2016 UIL 6A Boys Cross-Country State Champions\n\n- **Greg Colson** (campus administrator) introduced the team and coaching staff from **The Woodlands High School**.\n- **Head Coach Juris Green** presented the team, noting this was the school's **19th state cross-country title** and **38th consecutive state meet appearance**.\n- 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.\n- **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.\n- **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**.\n- A plaque was presented to the team.\n\n---\n\n## Item 2b: Special District Recognition – Energy Solutions 2015 Outstanding RMS Partner of Excellence Award\n\n- **Dr. Hines** introduced the recognition.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- Savings equated to approximately:\n  - **$200,000/year** off the electric bill\n  - Equivalent of **4 teacher salaries**\n  - Removing **368 cars** from the road for one year\n  - Offsetting **196,000 gallons of gasoline**\n- Energy Manager **Roger Garvey** and Assistant Director of Maintenance **Dwight Martin** were recognized for their participation.\n- Award presented by **Phelan Ayer** (Energy Texas), **Amanda Cambree** (RMS Program Manager), and **David Rubick** (Program Consultant).\n\n---\n\n## Item 2c: Citizen Participation\n- No citizens registered to address the board.\n\n---\n\n## Item 3: Consent Agenda\n- No items were pulled for separate discussion.\n- **Motion** to approve the consent agenda as presented.\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Item 4a: Consider Approval of District of Innovation Plan\n\n- **Dr. Nolan** presented the item, summarizing the process since October when the board authorized exploration of a District of Innovation designation.\n- 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.\n- **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.\n- **Motion** to approve; **seconded**.\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Item 4b: Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment – Knox Junior High School & Woodlands Transportation Center\n\n- **Ms. Foster** presented the item.\n- **Ramallah Construction** was selected as construction manager at risk in March.\n- **Negotiated GMP: $11,120,157** for Knox Junior High additions and Woodlands Transportation Center renovations.\n- 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.\n- **Motion** to approve; **seconded**.\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Item 4c: Consider Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price – 2017 Life Cycle Projects\n\n- **Ms. Foster** presented.\n- **GTT** was selected as construction manager at risk in February.\n- Projects cover mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and building envelope maintenance items.\n- **Negotiated GMP: $8,167,886**.\n- **Motion** to approve; **seconded**.\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Item 4d: Update on Attendance Zones for Oak Ridge Feeder Zone Schools\n\n*This was an informational update; no vote was taken.*\n\n**Dr. Hines** provided a detailed update on the rezoning process necessitated by three new schools opening:\n\n### New Schools Opening:\n1. **Lucile J. Bradley Elementary** (K–4) – Opening Fall 2017 at 4200 Falls Lake Drive (The Falls); ~1,000 student capacity.\n2. **Flex 18 Intermediate** (Grades 5–6) – Opening August 2018 at Woodson's Reserve Parkway and Tench Lane; ~1,000 student capacity.\n3. **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.\n\n### Process:\n- Attendance Boundary Committee (ABC) composed of principals and parents from affected schools.\n- Six public meetings held to date with hundreds of attendees.\n- Over **850 high school comments** and **~130 elementary/intermediate comments** received, plus several petitions.\n- Two scenarios developed for each school level (elementary, intermediate, high school).\n\n### Elementary Scenarios:\n- **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).\n- **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).\n- **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.\n\n### Intermediate Scenarios:\n- **Scenario 1:** Splits some neighborhoods (Harmony, Birnam Woods area, Lockridge Farms) to maintain walkability to Cox; moves The Meadows to Vogel.\n- **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.\n\n### High School Scenarios:\n- Described as the **most difficult conversations** of the process.\n- **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).\n- **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.\n- **Key discussion points raised by board members:**\n  - **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.\n  - **Portables:** The Woodlands HS has ~14 portables; College Park has 2 — growth pressure is increasing.\n  - **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.\n  - **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.\n  - **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.\n  - **UIL 6A classification:** Question raised about whether enrollment under Scenario 2 could jeopardize 6A status; noted that 2,230 students should maintain eligibility.\n- **Committee is split** on high school scenarios with both well-represented.\n- **Dr. Hines and committee were praised by multiple board members** for their thorough, analytical, and compassionate approach.\n\n### Timeline:\n- Committee reconvenes in early January.\n- Community update meetings planned for January.\n- **Formal recommendation(s) to be brought to the board in January.**\n\n---\n\n## Item 4e: Capital Improvement Update\n\n**Ms. Foster** provided updates on major construction projects:\n\n| Project | Status |\n|---------|--------|\n| **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. |\n| **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. |\n| **Cryar Intermediate** | On schedule; turning over for student use when they return from winter break. Classrooms complete and furnished; technology being installed. |\n| **Lucile Bradley Elementary** | On schedule for August 2017 opening. Structural steel complete; roofing underway; exterior masonry began last month; interior taking shape. |\n| **The Woodlands College Park Robotics Facility** | Underway and on schedule. Roof and masonry about to begin. Weather-dependent; goal is spring break turnover. |\n| **Network Operations Center** | On schedule; office expansion underway. Complex transition of systems to be completed summer 2017. |\n\n---\n\n## Item 5a: Financial Reports\n\n**Mr. Ice** presented the November 2016 financial statements:\n\n- **General Fund Cash & Investments:** ~$156 million total (including $76M in investment pools, $28.8M other investments, $50.9M with TCG Investment Advisors).\n- **Property Tax Collections:** Running approximately 0.5% above the prior year — collections just beginning to roll in.\n- **Revenues and expenditures** trending well across all funds.\n- **2015 Bond Referendum Status:**\n  - Expended/encumbered: $216.3 million\n  - Estimate to complete: $299.7 million\n  - Projected total: $515.9 million\n  - **Contingency remaining: ~$4.3 million** — noted as a positive trend after prior years trending negatively.\n- **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.\n- **Wellness Center:** Averaging ~433 visits/month.\n- **Investment Portfolio:**\n  - Par value: $420.7 million\n  - Combined portfolio WAM: 776 days; yielding ~79 basis points\n  - Benchmark (90-day T-bill): ~46 basis points\n\n---\n\n## Closed/Executive Session\n\n- Board entered closed session at **7:10 PM** per Section 551.071, .074 of the Texas Open Meetings Act.\n- Board reconvened in open session at **8:50 PM**.\n\n---\n\n## Item 8a: Board Member Training Compliance\n- 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.\n\n---\n\n## Item 8b: Board Member Code of Conduct\n- **Dr. Stockton/Ms. Gladys** presented the annual Board Member Code of Conduct for signature — same document as prior years.\n- Covers adherence to board policy, directing complaints to administration, avoiding conflicts of interest with district vendors, etc.\n- Board members asked to sign before leaving.\n\n---\n\n## Item 8c: Delegation of Settlement Authority\n\n- **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**.\n- **Seconded.**\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Item 8d: Reorganization of the Board\n\n- **Motion** to reorganize the board as follows:\n  - **President:** Melanie Bush\n  - **First Vice President:** Datren Williams\n  - **Second Vice President:** Skeeter Hubert\n  - **Secretary:** Ray Sanders\n  - **Assistant Secretary:** Scott Kidd\n- **Seconded.**\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\n- Motion to adjourn was entertained. Board members reminded to sign the Code of Conduct before departing.\n\n---\n\n*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.*"
}