{
  "id": "2017-12-19_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2017-12-19",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — December 19, 2017",
  "date_display": "December 19, 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": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.487641Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2017-12-19\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-27 21:24 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting\n### December 19, 2017\n\n> **Note:** These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript of the board meeting. They may contain inaccuracies due to transcription quality. Please refer to official board minutes for the authoritative record.\n\n---\n\n## Public Hearing: School FIRST Report (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas)\n\n**Presenter:** Darren Rice\n\nThe district's School FIRST report was presented, covering financial data for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2016, and staff/student data from the 2015–2016 school year.\n\n**Key Result:** Conroe ISD received a rating of **\"A – Superior,\"** scoring **100 out of 100 possible points** on all 15 performance indicators.\n\nHighlights from the indicators included:\n- **106 days of cash on hand** (90 required for full points)\n- **Current ratio of 3.13** (3.0 required for full points)\n- **Student membership increased 10.8%** over five years\n- **Debt service coverage ratio of 1.84** (1.2 required)\n- **Administrative cost ratio of 0.0402** — roughly half the acceptable threshold of 0.0855\n- **0% variance** between PEIMS data and the annual financial report\n- All pass/fail indicators passed (timely filing, unmodified audit opinion, no material weaknesses, debt compliance, timely payments to TRS/IRS/TWC, positive unrestricted net position)\n\nThe report and related disclosures are available on the district's transparency website.\n\n**No public comments were received** on the School FIRST report.\n\n---\n\n## Call to Order — 6:07 PM\n\n- A quorum was confirmed and proper notice was posted per the Texas Open Meetings Act.\n- **Invocation:** Mr. Moore\n- **Presentation of Colors:** Oak Ridge JROTC cadets — Commander Cadet Martin, Cadet Simon, Cadet Miracle, and Cadet Ames, led by Sergeant Twine\n- **Pledges of Allegiance** led by Mr. Huber\n\n---\n\n## Citizen Participation\n\nNo citizens signed up to speak.\n\n---\n\n## Item 3: Consent Agenda\n\nNo items were pulled for separate discussion.\n\n**Vote:** Approved unanimously (voice vote, no opposition noted).\n\n---\n\n## Item 4A: Capital Improvement Update\n\n**Presenter:** Mr. Faulkner\n\n- **Safety & Security Project:** Phase 2 completing over the holiday break. Phase 3 design work underway with security department and design engineers; board approval for Phase 3 anticipated around March 2018.\n\n- **Grand Oaks High School:** On schedule for **August 2018 opening**. Practice fields, detention areas, driveways (connecting to the Grand Parkway), and exterior work progressing. Interior finish work proceeding from the top floor down (science labs on 3rd floor).\n\n- **Katherine Johnson Clark Intermediate School:** Also on schedule for **August 2018 opening**. Driveways, building systems, interior partitions, and exterior finishes taking shape.\n\n- **Conroe High School Addition/Renovation:** Central plant structure for mechanical systems nearing completion. Large crane removed; smaller crane finishing structural work. Second-floor concrete work planned over the holidays. On schedule; campus work projected through **December 2019**.\n\n**Board Discussion:** A board member asked about potential Hurricane Harvey impacts on construction costs and labor availability. Mr. Faulkner reported:\n- No significant Harvey-related shortages or cost impacts observed to date.\n- Recent bids for a new junior high school received over 400 bids across 50+ trades, indicating strong participation.\n- Drywall (a concern area) bids appeared unaffected.\n- A similar-sized nearby district reported a comparable experience.\n\n---\n\n## Item 5A: Award of RFP 17-04-05 — South County Sports Facility Naming Rights\n\n**Presenter:** Darren Rice\n\n**Recommendation:** Award naming rights for the **stadium only** to **Woodforest National Bank** for **$1,000,100** (as stated in transcript).\n\n- The previous naming rights agreement with Woodforest National Bank (approved February 2007) expires August 31, 2018.\n- RFP was released October 18, 2017 via the district's e-bidding system, advertised three times in *The Courier*, once in *The Villager*, and on the district website.\n- 113 vendors were invited; 3 responded (2 submitted \"no bids,\" 1 submitted a proposal — Woodforest National Bank).\n- Contract anticipated for up to 10 years with possible extensions.\n\n**Board Discussion:** A board member asked about the low response rate. Mr. Rice explained that the 113 vendors were sent emails, and most simply chose not to bid. He noted a superintendent of a similar-sized district had a very similar response level.\n\n**Vote:** Approved by voice vote. **One abstention** noted (member not identified by name). No opposition.\n\n---\n\n## Item 5B: Financial Reports — November 2017\n\n**Presenter:** Darren Rice\n\n### General Fund Balance Sheet\n- Cash on hand: $13,300\n- Bank deposits: ~$2 million\n- State pool investments: $55.5 million\n- Short-term investments (<1 year): $59.4 million\n- Longer-term investments (TCG Investment Advisors): $51.7 million\n- **Total cash and investments: $168.6 million**\n\n### Property Tax Collections\n- Early in the collection cycle; on pace with the prior year.\n\n### General Fund Projections\n- Projected general fund balance: **$14.9 million** (preliminary; does not yet include transfer to debt service)\n\n### 2015 Bond Referendum Status\n- Total funding: **$520.2 million** (includes $33 million board transfer to capital projects)\n- Project forecast: **$514.8 million**\n- **Remaining contingency: $5.4 million**\n\n### Self-Funded Insurance Plan\n- Total revenues (YTD): ~$12 million\n- Total expenses (YTD): ~$9.7 million\n- **Revenue over expenses: $2.3 million** (favorable)\n- Wellness center participation: 542 visits in November; 1,526 total YTD\n\n### Investment Portfolio (November)\n- Par value: $294.4 million\n- Pool yield: 1.27%\n- Short-term investments yield: 1.45%\n- Longer-term investments yield: 1.24%\n- **Combined portfolio yield: 1.33%** (weighted average maturity: 98 days)\n- Benchmark (90-day T-bill): 1.25%\n\n---\n\n## Item 8A: Board Continuing Education Announcement\n\nAll members of the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees have **completed the training required by law** for the year.\n\n---\n\n## Item 8B: Local Policy Manual Update 109\n\n**Presenter:** Gladys (General Counsel)\n\nAn informational overview of local policy updates resulting from the most recent Texas legislative session. Key changes include:\n\n- **Bullying policy:** Expanded per state law changes\n- **Senate Bill 7 (Educator Misconduct):** Extensive new requirements regarding reporting of sexual misconduct between educators and students, reflected across multiple local policies\n- **Specialized camera bill (tweaked):** Modified definitions for who can request cameras in classrooms; video retention period reduced from 6 months to **3 months**\n\n**No vote taken** — the board will be asked to formally adopt the updated policies in **January 2018**.\n\n---\n\n## Executive Session — 6:24 PM to 6:45 PM\n\nThe board convened in closed session under **Section 551.074** of the Texas Open Meetings Act (personnel matters).\n\n**Upon reconvening at 6:45 PM:**\n- The **superintendent's evaluation** was noted as complete.\n- No other final action was reported from executive session.\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\n\n**Motion to adjourn approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM.**\n\n---\n\n*These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors. For official records, please consult the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees approved minutes.*"
}