{
  "id": "2017-01-17_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2017-01-17",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — January 17, 2017",
  "date_display": "January 17, 2017",
  "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": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.430548Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2017-01-17\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-27 21:10 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting\n### January 17, 2017\n\n> **⚠️ 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.\n\n---\n\n## 1. Public Hearing: Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)\n\n**Presenter:** Dr. Null (Academics)\n\nDr. Null presented the annual Texas Academic Performance Report, covering district performance, finances, and student outcomes. Key highlights:\n\n### Academic Performance\n- **2016 Accountability Rating:** Met Standard\n- **2016 Special Education Determination Status:** Meets Requirements (improved from prior year where the state had flagged the district for needed improvement)\n- **Enrollment:** Official enrollment was 58,014 the previous year; current enrollment as of the meeting date was **59,960**, approaching the 60,000 threshold\n- **STAAR Level II (all subjects):** 85% of students met standard; 30% at advanced standard\n- **Progress measures (Index 2):** 68% in math, 64% in reading\n- **English Language Learners:** 61% at Level II\n- **Special Education:** 49% at Level II (all subjects)\n- **Economically Disadvantaged:** 73% at Level II, 13% at advanced\n- **Attendance Rate:** 96.2% — improved significantly since 2011 when the district was below the state average\n- **Dropout Rate:** 0.1% (grades 7–8), 0.5% (grades 9–12)\n- **4-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2015):** 95.7%; 2.1% continued to 5th year\n- **5-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2014):** 96.5%\n- **Recommended/Distinguished Achievement Graduates:** 88.7%\n- **Students taking AP exams:** 36.2% (noted district also has robust dual credit programs)\n- **AP scores above criterion:** 66%\n- **SAT/ACT participation (Class of 2015):** 67.9%\n\n### College Readiness Data (2014 Graduates in Texas Public Colleges)\n- 1,846 students tracked (roughly half of ~3,300 graduates; others in private, out-of-state, or trade schools)\n- Nearly 900 had a GPA of 3.0 or above in their first year\n- 382 students had GPAs below 2.0\n\n### Financial Performance\n- **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)\n- **Instruction spending:** 60.42% of operating budget (above state average; was below state average ~10–12 years ago)\n- **Guidance & Counseling:** Above state average (additional counselors added in recent years, including crisis counselor)\n- **Transportation:** Significantly above state average due to district size (~30,000 miles/day)\n- **General Administration:** Nearly half the state average as a percentage of budget\n- **Teacher average experience:** 11.37 years\n- **Teacher turnover rate:** 13.7% (below state average)\n\n### Campus Incidents\n- Felony controlled substance remains the #1 reportable incident, most commonly prescription drugs from home\n\n### Reportable Discipline Incidents\n- Noted as relatively low given 60,000 students and ~10 million student-school-days per year\n\n**Public Comment on TAPR:** No public comments were made.\n\n---\n\n## 2. Call to Order & Opening\n- **Time:** 6:15 PM\n- **Quorum confirmed**\n- **Invocation:** Mr. Sanders (read the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)\n- **Pledges of Allegiance:** Mr. Williams (Texas and U.S. flags)\n\n---\n\n## 3. Special Recognition: School Board Appreciation Month\n\n**Presenter:** Bethany Medford, Principal, Bozman Intermediate School\n\n- January is School Board Appreciation Month in Texas\n- Students provided cards, posters, banners, drawings, candy, and small gifts\n- Board members expressed gratitude to staff, teachers, principals, and administration\n- Multiple board members commented on the quality of instruction and leadership across the district\n\n---\n\n## 4. Citizen Participation\n\n### Speaker: Kellie Maxwell\n- Raised concerns about **transportation for students attending CISD academies** (specifically in the Oak Ridge and Caney Creek feeder zones)\n- 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\n- Expressed safety concerns about informal carpooling arrangements with unscreened drivers\n- Pointed out that students sent to DAEP receive district-provided busing (passing academy locations along the way)\n- **Requested:** Reliable, district-provided transportation with screened drivers for academy students\n\n---\n\n## 5. Consent Agenda\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)**\n\n*(No items were pulled for separate discussion.)*\n\n---\n\n## 6. Item 4A: Approval of 2017–2018 School Calendar\n\n**Presenter:** Dr. Null\n\n### Key Features of the Approved Calendar:\n- **First day of school:** August 16, 2017 (Wednesday — mid-week start, popular with parents and staff)\n- **First grading period ends:** October 6 (early release day), followed by October 9 school holiday\n- **Thanksgiving break:** Full week off (continued tradition)\n- **First semester ends:** December 20 (84 days of instruction — 5 more than current year's first semester)\n- **Winter break:** December 21 – January 8; teachers return January 8, students January 9\n- **Spring break:** March (with early release on March 9 — 4th early release day added per approved waiver amendment)\n- **Last day for students:** May 31\n- **Last day for teachers:** June 1\n- **First semester: 84 days / Second semester: 94 days** (near-ideal balance when accounting for spring testing)\n\n### Process:\n- District Level Planning & Decision-Making Committee worked since October\n- Started with 8 draft calendars, narrowed to 3 for public input\n- Over **2,300 public comments** received via district website\n- District of Innovation status allowed earlier start date and additional flexibility\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)**\n\n---\n\n## 7. Item 5A: Adoption of Attendance Zones for Oak Ridge Feeder Schools\n\n**Presenter:** Dr. Hines (with Dr. Null)\n\n### Background — New Schools Opening:\n1. **Lucile J. Bradley Elementary** (K–4) — Opening August 2017, at 4200 Falls Lake Drive\n2. **Flex 18 Intermediate** (Grades 5–6) — Opening August 2018, at Woodson's Reserve Parkway/French Lane (~1,000 students)\n3. **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)\n\n### Attendance Boundary Committee Process:\n- Committee formed in October; multiple members recognized at the meeting\n- Three rounds of community forums conducted\n- Over **1,000 comments** received via website\n- Multiple scenarios developed and narrowed based on community feedback\n\n### Approved Recommendations:\n\n#### Elementary — Scenario 2:\n- Falls South, Legends Trace, Rights Landing, Bristol Lakes: Birnam Woods → **Bradley**\n- Creekside: Broadway → **Bradley**\n- Legends Run (west of Birnam Woods Drive): Snyder → **Bradley**\n- The Meadows: Birnam Woods → **Kauffman**\n- Harmony (north of Lexington, east of Rayford): Broadway → **Snyder**\n- No impact on Title I status for any campus\n\n#### Intermediate — Scenario 2.1:\n- All of Bradley feeds into **Flex 18 Intermediate**\n- Snyder feeds into **Flex 18** (due to proximity and traffic patterns)\n- All of Broadway feeds into **Cox Intermediate**\n- The Meadows moves from Cox to **Vogel**\n- Creekside, Falls, Benders Landing, Legends Run, Legends Trace, Rights Landing, Bristol Lakes, Woodson's Reserve: Cox → **Flex 18**\n- Note: Future rezoning anticipated when Flex 19 opens in 2019 in the 242 corridor\n\n#### High School — Scenario 1:\n- Follows current junior high feeder zone pattern with one exception:\n  - **The Meadows** moves from York feeder → **Irons feeder** (to maintain single feeder pattern K–12)\n- 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\n- **Oak Ridge High School enrollment concern acknowledged** — will be smaller than optimal\n  - 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\n  - Oak Ridge's central location provides long-term flexibility\n\n### Transition Policy:\n- Students in their **last year** at a school may finish there (with parent-provided transportation)\n- **Meadows students** specifically offered transition option from intermediate through high school\n- Students currently at Oak Ridge High School will finish there\n\n### Board Comments:\n- Board members praised the transparency of the process, the thoroughness of the committee's work, and the multiple opportunities for public input\n- Acknowledged that not everyone would be pleased but expressed confidence in the quality of all schools\n- Thanked parents and community members who participated\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)**\n\n---\n\n## 8. Item 5B: Capital Improvements Update\n\n**Presenter:** Mr. Foster\n\n| Project | Status |\n|---------|--------|\n| **Grangerland Intermediate Classroom Additions** | Complete — students using classrooms since return from winter break; closing out contract |\n| **Safety & Security Phase 1** | Wrapping up January; Phase 2 to come to board in March |\n| **The Woodlands College Park Robotics Addition** | On schedule for March turnover; weather-dependent (rain causing delays with roofing) |\n| **Network Operations Center** | On schedule; core center in progress; turnover scheduled for July; complex migration from old to new equipment planned |\n| **Lucile J. Bradley Elementary** | On schedule for August 2017 opening; exterior progressing well; interior finishing underway (library, gymnasium, light fixtures being installed) |\n| **2017 Life Cycle Project** | Approved previous month; contractor kickoff complete; work beginning; update expected at February meeting |\n| **Knox Science Classrooms & Woodlands Transportation Facility Expansion** | Contractors mobilized; foundations/infrastructure underway; both scheduled for August 2017 turnover |\n| **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 |\n\n---\n\n## 9. Item 6A: Approval of 2015–2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)\n\n**Presenter:** Mr. Darren Rice; **Auditor:** Kevin Sanford, Partner, Weaver (independent auditors)\n\n- Finance staff recognized: Janice Towers, Cindy Westar, Karen Garza\n- CAFR was reviewed by the Audit Committee and **favorably received**\n- Mr. Sanford thanked the district for the opportunity to serve as auditors and recognized the extensive work by district staff\n\n**Vote: Approved unanimously (all in favor)**\n*(Motion made by Audit Committee Chair)*\n\n---\n\n## 10. Closed Session: Student Expulsion Appeal (Policy FOD)\n\n- **Closed to the public** pursuant to Local Government Code §551.0821 (discipline of public school children/personally identifiable student information)\n- Board entered closed session at **6:59 PM**\n\n### Outcome:\n- **Motion to deny the expulsion appeal as presented**\n- **Vote: 6–0 (approved unanimously)**\n- 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\n\n---\n\n## 11. Adjournment\n\n**Motion to adjourn: Approved**\n\n---\n\n### Summary of All Votes\n\n| Item | Motion | Vote |\n|------|--------|------|\n| Consent Agenda | Approve as presented | **Unanimous (all in favor)** |\n| 2017–2018 School Calendar | Approve as presented | **Unanimous (all in favor)** |\n| Attendance Zones (Oak Ridge Feeder Schools) | Approve as recommended | **Unanimous (all in favor)** |\n| 2015–2016 CAFR | Approve as presented | **Unanimous (all in favor)** |\n| Student Expulsion Appeal | Deny appeal as presented | **6–0** |\n| Adjournment | Motion to adjourn | **Approved** |"
}