January 17, 2017 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2017-01-17
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-27 21:10 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting
January 17, 2017
⚠️ Disclaimer: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript of the board meeting. They may contain errors or omissions. For official minutes, please consult the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees.
1. Public Hearing: Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
Presenter: Dr. Null (Academics)
Dr. Null presented the annual Texas Academic Performance Report, covering district performance, finances, and student outcomes. Key highlights:
Academic Performance
- 2016 Accountability Rating: Met Standard
- 2016 Special Education Determination Status: Meets Requirements (improved from prior year where the state had flagged the district for needed improvement)
- Enrollment: Official enrollment was 58,014 the previous year; current enrollment as of the meeting date was 59,960, approaching the 60,000 threshold
- STAAR Level II (all subjects): 85% of students met standard; 30% at advanced standard
- Progress measures (Index 2): 68% in math, 64% in reading
- English Language Learners: 61% at Level II
- Special Education: 49% at Level II (all subjects)
- Economically Disadvantaged: 73% at Level II, 13% at advanced
- Attendance Rate: 96.2% — improved significantly since 2011 when the district was below the state average
- Dropout Rate: 0.1% (grades 7–8), 0.5% (grades 9–12)
- 4-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2015): 95.7%; 2.1% continued to 5th year
- 5-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2014): 96.5%
- Recommended/Distinguished Achievement Graduates: 88.7%
- Students taking AP exams: 36.2% (noted district also has robust dual credit programs)
- AP scores above criterion: 66%
- SAT/ACT participation (Class of 2015): 67.9%
College Readiness Data (2014 Graduates in Texas Public Colleges)
- 1,846 students tracked (roughly half of ~3,300 graduates; others in private, out-of-state, or trade schools)
- Nearly 900 had a GPA of 3.0 or above in their first year
- 382 students had GPAs below 2.0
Financial Performance
- Texas Smart Schools (formerly FAST) Rating: 5-Star rating for all 6 years of the system's existence — only three districts in Texas have achieved this (Conroe ISD, Cy-Fair, and Friendswood)
- Instruction spending: 60.42% of operating budget (above state average; was below state average ~10–12 years ago)
- Guidance & Counseling: Above state average (additional counselors added in recent years, including crisis counselor)
- Transportation: Significantly above state average due to district size (~30,000 miles/day)
- General Administration: Nearly half the state average as a percentage of budget
- Teacher average experience: 11.37 years
- Teacher turnover rate: 13.7% (below state average)
Campus Incidents
- Felony controlled substance remains the #1 reportable incident, most commonly prescription drugs from home
Reportable Discipline Incidents
- Noted as relatively low given 60,000 students and ~10 million student-school-days per year
Public Comment on TAPR: No public comments were made.
2. Call to Order & Opening
- Time: 6:15 PM
- Quorum confirmed
- Invocation: Mr. Sanders (read the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)
- Pledges of Allegiance: Mr. Williams (Texas and U.S. flags)
3. Special Recognition: School Board Appreciation Month
Presenter: Bethany Medford, Principal, Bozman Intermediate School
- January is School Board Appreciation Month in Texas
- Students provided cards, posters, banners, drawings, candy, and small gifts
- Board members expressed gratitude to staff, teachers, principals, and administration
- Multiple board members commented on the quality of instruction and leadership across the district
4. Citizen Participation
Speaker: Kellie Maxwell
- Raised concerns about transportation for students attending CISD academies (specifically in the Oak Ridge and Caney Creek feeder zones)
- Noted that gifted students who qualify and are invited to attend district academies face a transportation burden — families must provide their own transportation or arrange carpools
- Expressed safety concerns about informal carpooling arrangements with unscreened drivers
- Pointed out that students sent to DAEP receive district-provided busing (passing academy locations along the way)
- Requested: Reliable, district-provided transportation with screened drivers for academy students
5. Consent Agenda
Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)
(No items were pulled for separate discussion.)
6. Item 4A: Approval of 2017–2018 School Calendar
Presenter: Dr. Null
Key Features of the Approved Calendar:
- First day of school: August 16, 2017 (Wednesday — mid-week start, popular with parents and staff)
- First grading period ends: October 6 (early release day), followed by October 9 school holiday
- Thanksgiving break: Full week off (continued tradition)
- First semester ends: December 20 (84 days of instruction — 5 more than current year's first semester)
- Winter break: December 21 – January 8; teachers return January 8, students January 9
- Spring break: March (with early release on March 9 — 4th early release day added per approved waiver amendment)
- Last day for students: May 31
- Last day for teachers: June 1
- First semester: 84 days / Second semester: 94 days (near-ideal balance when accounting for spring testing)
Process:
- District Level Planning & Decision-Making Committee worked since October
- Started with 8 draft calendars, narrowed to 3 for public input
- Over 2,300 public comments received via district website
- District of Innovation status allowed earlier start date and additional flexibility
Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)
7. Item 5A: Adoption of Attendance Zones for Oak Ridge Feeder Schools
Presenter: Dr. Hines (with Dr. Null)
Background — New Schools Opening:
1. Lucile J. Bradley Elementary (K–4) — Opening August 2017, at 4200 Falls Lake Drive
2. Flex 18 Intermediate (Grades 5–6) — Opening August 2018, at Woodson's Reserve Parkway/French Lane (~1,000 students)
3. Grand Oaks High School (opening as 9–10 in August 2018) — at 4800 Riley Fuzzel Road; will phase in grades until full 9–12 by August 2020 (~3,100 student capacity)
Attendance Boundary Committee Process:
- Committee formed in October; multiple members recognized at the meeting
- Three rounds of community forums conducted
- Over 1,000 comments received via website
- Multiple scenarios developed and narrowed based on community feedback
Approved Recommendations:
Elementary — Scenario 2:
- Falls South, Legends Trace, Rights Landing, Bristol Lakes: Birnam Woods → Bradley
- Creekside: Broadway → Bradley
- Legends Run (west of Birnam Woods Drive): Snyder → Bradley
- The Meadows: Birnam Woods → Kauffman
- Harmony (north of Lexington, east of Rayford): Broadway → Snyder
- No impact on Title I status for any campus
Intermediate — Scenario 2.1:
- All of Bradley feeds into Flex 18 Intermediate
- Snyder feeds into Flex 18 (due to proximity and traffic patterns)
- All of Broadway feeds into Cox Intermediate
- The Meadows moves from Cox to Vogel
- Creekside, Falls, Benders Landing, Legends Run, Legends Trace, Rights Landing, Bristol Lakes, Woodson's Reserve: Cox → Flex 18
- Note: Future rezoning anticipated when Flex 19 opens in 2019 in the 242 corridor
High School — Scenario 1:
- Follows current junior high feeder zone pattern with one exception:
- The Meadows moves from York feeder → Irons feeder (to maintain single feeder pattern K–12)
- Neighborhoods zoned to Grand Oaks High School include: The Falls, Legends Trace, Benders Landing, Legends Run, Rights Landing, Bristol Lakes, Lockridge Farms, Harmony, Woodson's Reserve, Spring Creek Pines, Discovery Creek Apartments
- Oak Ridge High School enrollment concern acknowledged — will be smaller than optimal
- District plans to address by: creating an Academy program drawing from Grand Oaks; allowing transfers from over-capacity high schools; allowing transfers for JROTC program at Oak Ridge
- Oak Ridge's central location provides long-term flexibility
Transition Policy:
- Students in their last year at a school may finish there (with parent-provided transportation)
- Meadows students specifically offered transition option from intermediate through high school
- Students currently at Oak Ridge High School will finish there
Board Comments:
- Board members praised the transparency of the process, the thoroughness of the committee's work, and the multiple opportunities for public input
- Acknowledged that not everyone would be pleased but expressed confidence in the quality of all schools
- Thanked parents and community members who participated
Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)
8. Item 5B: Capital Improvements Update
Presenter: Mr. Foster
| Project | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Grangerland Intermediate Classroom Additions | Complete — students using classrooms since return from winter break; closing out contract |
| Safety & Security Phase 1 | Wrapping up January; Phase 2 to come to board in March |
| The Woodlands College Park Robotics Addition | On schedule for March turnover; weather-dependent (rain causing delays with roofing) |
| Network Operations Center | On schedule; core center in progress; turnover scheduled for July; complex migration from old to new equipment planned |
| Lucile J. Bradley Elementary | On schedule for August 2017 opening; exterior progressing well; interior finishing underway (library, gymnasium, light fixtures being installed) |
| 2017 Life Cycle Project | Approved previous month; contractor kickoff complete; work beginning; update expected at February meeting |
| Knox Science Classrooms & Woodlands Transportation Facility Expansion | Contractors mobilized; foundations/infrastructure underway; both scheduled for August 2017 turnover |
| Grand Oaks High School | On schedule for August 2018 opening; building structure essentially complete; roofing progressing west to east; interior corridors, admin areas, plumbing, and infrastructure being installed |
9. Item 6A: Approval of 2015–2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Presenter: Mr. Darren Rice; Auditor: Kevin Sanford, Partner, Weaver (independent auditors)
- Finance staff recognized: Janice Towers, Cindy Westar, Karen Garza
- CAFR was reviewed by the Audit Committee and favorably received
- Mr. Sanford thanked the district for the opportunity to serve as auditors and recognized the extensive work by district staff
Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)
(Motion made by Audit Committee Chair)
10. Closed Session: Student Expulsion Appeal (Policy FOD)
- Closed to the public pursuant to Local Government Code §551.0821 (discipline of public school children/personally identifiable student information)
- Board entered closed session at 6:59 PM
Outcome:
- Motion to deny the expulsion appeal as presented
- Vote: 6–0 (approved unanimously)
- A board member made a personal comment to the student/family, encouraging the student to make the most of their time in the Juvenile Justice program (JJP), expressing belief it is one of the best such programs in the state/nation, and encouraging the student to use the experience as a learning opportunity
11. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Approved
Summary of All Votes
| Item | Motion | Vote |
|------|--------|------|
| Consent Agenda | Approve as presented | Unanimous (all in favor) |
| 2017–2018 School Calendar | Approve as presented | Unanimous (all in favor) |
| Attendance Zones (Oak Ridge Feeder Schools) | Approve as recommended | Unanimous (all in favor) |
| 2015–2016 CAFR | Approve as presented | Unanimous (all in favor) |
| Student Expulsion Appeal | Deny appeal as presented | 6–0 |
| Adjournment | Motion to adjourn | Approved |