January 15, 2019 — Regular Meeting

Name: January 15, 2019 — Regular Meeting
Start: 2019-01-15

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2019-01-15

Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes

Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.

Generated 2026-03-27 21:49 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

January 15, 2019

Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. They may contain errors or omissions. For official minutes, please consult the district's records.

Opening

Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Board President Williams with a quorum present.
Invocation: Scott Moore
Pledge of Allegiance / Posting of Colors: Woodlands College Park High School Marine Corps JROTC Color Guard (Second Lieutenant Devin Clifton, Staff Sergeant Rheanna Caron, Staff Sergeant Nicholas Watson, Staff Sergeant Ethan Hernandez; under direction of Major Cody Stewart)

Awards & Recognition

Board Appreciation Month

Lindsay Ardoin, Principal of Clark Intermediate, spoke on behalf of all CISD administrators, educators, staff, and students to thank the Board of Trustees during Board Appreciation Month.
Students from across the district provided cards, posters, banners, drawings, candy, and small gifts.
President Williams thanked the campuses and students for the recognition.

Citizen Participation (2 speakers)

Sarah Pounders — Glen Loch Elementary Attendance Boundaries

Expressed concern about the attendance boundary proposal showing Glen Loch's zone at 530 students, while the school currently has 692 students (277 in-zone, approximately 415 out-of-zone due to special programs).
Noted that even after approximately 100 students return to Lamar under the proposal, roughly 177 students from special programs would remain unaccounted for in the headline numbers, appearing only in footnotes.
Pointed out that actual enrollment under the new proposal could be approximately 707 students, straining existing facilities (cafeteria, library, bathrooms, nurse's office) without corresponding expansions.

Emily Hoppel — Bond Support

Expressed strong support for the proposed bond election.
Highlighted the need for dedicated gymnasiums at all elementary schools, noting disparity in PE access between schools.
Acknowledged community concerns about the pool component but emphasized the importance of athletics.
Noted the Board's history of projected tax increases not materializing or being smaller than projected.
Emphasized that strong schools support property values and that the district needs infrastructure investment to accommodate approximately 13,500 additional students.
Urged community members to support the bond on May 4th.

Consent Agenda

No items were pulled for separate discussion.
Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 4: Curriculum

Solution Tree Professional Development Contract

Presented by: Dr. Shellie Winkler, Director of Elementary Education

Proposal to contract with Solution Tree (in conjunction with Marzano Research) for a two-day professional development event for 600 CISD educators.
Event to be held at Grand Oaks High School on June 17–18, featuring keynote speakers Mike Mattos, Dr. Anthony Muhammad, Dr. Tammy Heflebower, and Dr. Phil Warrick, plus nine additional breakout session presenters.
Cost: $163,400
Savings: Sending 600 educators to an out-of-district conference would cost approximately $415,000 in registration alone, plus travel and lodging.
Topics include: Professional Learning Communities, Response to Intervention, student engagement, teacher self-care, and high-reliability schools.
Board member comments praised the value of bringing nationally recognized presenters directly to the district rather than always relying on train-the-trainer models.

Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 5A: Administration — 2019–2020 School Calendar

Presented by: Dr. Hines

Key Details of Approved Calendar (Draft 2):

First day of student instruction: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 (utilizing District of Innovation status to start before the 4th Monday in August)
Staff development days precede the student start date
177 student instruction days / 187 teacher work days
75,600 required minutes of instruction included, with a 430-minute school day (longer at high schools, providing equivalent of two inclement weather makeup days built in)
Fall semester: 84 instructional days; Spring semester: 93 instructional days
Key dates:

- Early release day in October; October holiday

- November 11 — Staff development day (new feature)

- Thanksgiving Break: November 25–29

- Winter Break: Friday, December 20 – January 7

- Spring Break: March 9–13 (earlier break, aligned with Texas A&M, Lone Star College, Sam Houston State, Cy-Fair ISD, and Katy ISD)

- Four early release days (October, December, March before Spring Break, May 28)

- Last day of student instruction: May 28

Calendar assumes continuation of waivers for staff development day minutes (waiver process opens in late spring)
Discussion points:

- November Election Day was discussed but not included; may be considered for future calendars

- Ending school before Memorial Day was discussed but not recommended this year due to AP exam scheduling conflicts and state assessment calendar considerations

- Teachers generally favor the earlier start for the October holiday and better semester balance

- Draft 2 was the preferred calendar by approximately 2-to-1 over the alternative

- Approximately 2,200 public comments were received during the comment period

Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 5B: Attendance Zone Recommendation — Suchma Elementary

Presented by: Dr. Hines

Background:

Suchma Elementary (K–6, 1,000-student capacity) opening August 2019, located south of Highway 242 near Irons Junior High in the Harpers Preserve neighborhood.
Boundary committee met since September, examined 40–50 different scenarios.
Three rounds of public presentations were held for community feedback.

Recommendation: Scenario 1.2

Key elements:

New Suchma attendance zone carved primarily from Oak Ridge Elementary and Houser Elementary boundaries, plus a small section (Zone 33F, ~9 students) from San Jacinto/Grangerland.
Tall Timbers and Gleneagles (north of 242) remain at Oak Ridge due to capacity constraints.
Anticipated opening enrollment: ~850 students.
Zone 58 (south of Sawdust, east of Pruitt): ~103 students move from Lamar to Houser.
Zones 55A/55B (Rayford Crest, Landmark Apartments): ~90 students move from Ford to Houser.
Bilingual program changes: Glen Loch's bilingual program (serving ~240 students from across The Woodlands) will be split — approximately 130 students living in the Lamar zone will return to Lamar for bilingual services; Glen Loch continues hosting bilingual students from remaining schools.
Zone 70A (north side of Timber Lakes): moves from Hailey to Glen Loch (provides relief to Hailey, which has 11–13 portables).
Intermediate level: Only Suchma and Vogel significantly impacted.

Enrollment impacts:

|--------|----------|--------------------|----------------|

| Lamar | 770 | 767 | ~750 |

Pros noted:

Creates boundary for Suchma
Reduces enrollment/crowding at Oak Ridge, Houser, Ford, Vogel, and Hailey
Provides capacity at Lamar for returning bilingual students
Slows growth at Glen Loch
Impacts fewer families than alternate Scenario 2.2

Cons/limitations noted:

Ride Elementary not addressed (currently 12 portables) — committee recommends further study using new demographic data before making changes, to avoid moving families multiple times
Houser drops significantly in enrollment (Montgomery Creek Ranch moves to Suchma)
Residents along the 242 corridor wished they could attend Suchma
Houser becomes a split intermediate campus
Glen Loch crowding (5 portables) not directly reduced
Title I considerations: Lamar may move into Title I status; Suchma expected to open as Title I. Board member asked specifically about protecting Title I funding — Dr. Hines confirmed this was examined.

Board discussion:

Multiple board members praised the committee's thorough work and acknowledged the difficulty of balancing competing interests.
President Williams noted Dr. Hines has become adept at quantifying qualitative and emotional factors in the rezoning process.
Emphasized desire not to move students multiple times.
Numbers presented are geocode-based (where students live), not actual attendance numbers, which may differ due to special programs, bilingual placement, and teacher transfers.

Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 5C: Capital Improvement Update

Presented by: Easy Foster

Suchma Elementary (Opening August 2019):

On schedule despite rain challenges
Building structure complete; concrete nearly complete around building
Roof deck underway; interior work (duct work, piping, wall systems) progressing
Masonry crews running at double the normal rate to overcome weather delays
Site being stocked with materials for efficiency

Austin Elementary Addition:

On schedule; building structure nearing completion
Interior systems (duct work, piping, walls) underway
Will finish earlier in year to allow summer demolition of older building portions and playground/front yard redevelopment along Highway 105

Stockton Junior High (Opening August 2020):

On schedule; building slab complete
Structure advancing; weather no longer a significant obstacle

Conroe High School Addition/Renovation:

New addition now occupied by students (returned from Winter Break)
Current focus: second floor renovation of main building
Demolition of old systems completed over Winter Break
New building systems being installed
On schedule for December 2019 completion

No vote required — informational item

Item 6: Business/Finance — 2017–2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

Presented by: Darren Rice, with Sarah Roberts (Partner, Weaver and Tidwell, independent auditors)

Audit Results:

Unmodified (clean) opinion on financial statements — highest level of assurance
Clean report on internal control and compliance — no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or noncompliance
Clean single audit/uniform guidance report on federal awards compliance
Major programs audited: Child Nutrition, Title II Part A, Hurricane Education Recovery Grants (Impact and Restart grants) — totaling $17.2 million (~half of total federal expenditures)
No material misstatements; no unusual transactions; no difficulties or disagreements during audit; no impairments to auditor independence

Key Financial Highlights:

General Fund expenditures: $478,799,674
Net change in fund balance: Positive ~$3.9 million (after $18.2 million in transfers out to debt service and capital projects)
Unassigned fund balance as % of expenditures: 27.7% (compared to 28.3% in 2017) — represents slightly over 3 months of operating expenditures
Budget variances: Revenues $21.2M over budget (4%); Expenditures $10.4M under budget (2%); Total net change $31.5M over budget
GASB 75 (OPEB) implementation impact: New accounting standard for other post-employment benefits resulted in a $239.5 million OPEB liability on the statement of net position, driving total net position to negative $79 million. Without GASB 75, net position would have shown a positive increase of $5–6 million.

- This impact is consistent statewide and nationally — of 40 sampled school districts, only 1 of 40 retained positive unrestricted net position after GASB 75; of the top 20 Texas school districts by enrollment, zero have positive unrestricted net position after GASB 75.

Audit Committee:

Reviewed the CAFR extensively on January 9.
Voted to recommend approval to the full Board.
Board members praised the finance staff for their work.

Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 9A: Bond Election Order — May 4, 2019

Presented by: Dr. Null (Superintendent)

Context:

Conroe ISD is the 11th largest district in Texas with 62,980 students as of that morning.
Growth of 15,000+ students over the past decade.
Last bond was in 2015 (four-year package); two bonds over the past 10 years.
Over 10 years: 12 new schools built, multiple major renovations, safety/security investments, program improvements — while maintaining the second lowest tax rate in the Houston area.
The Board previously built an elementary school and over $100 million in additions/projects from fund balance (no debt), avoiding an estimated $63 million in potential interest costs.
Demographic study (385 pages, available on CISD website) projects continued growth of 1,300–1,500 students per year, reaching 76,000+ students by 2028.

Facility Planning Committee Recommendation (as modified):

The committee originally recommended $827,476,194.52. The administration adjusted the package based on Board workshop feedback:

Removed: Practice pool
Reduced: Allocations to a few specific line items
Items removed/reduced can be funded through fund balance and future savings

Final Proposed Bond Package: $807 million

Includes:

Three new elementary schools
One new junior high
Major renovations at Conroe High School and Oak Ridge High School
Additions at Caney Creek, The Woodlands College Park, Conroe High School 9th Grade Campus, York Junior High
Safety and security investments
Life cycle/district-wide campus improvements and renovations
Career and Technical Education facilities
District-wide facility and transportation needs
Technology and land purchases

Projected Tax Impact:

Maximum 3-cent increase to the tax rate over the life of the bond
Anticipated 2019–2020 tax rate impact: 1 cent (1%)
Maintains status as second lowest tax rate in the Houston area

Board Discussion:

Mr. Inman proposed an amendment to limit the bond to only growth and safety items (excluding other categories such as life cycle, renovations, etc.). He referenced potential changes in state funding and bond legislation.

The amendment was seconded for discussion/clarification purposes.
An amendment to the amendment was proposed (to accept the full proposed package) but received no second and died.
Mr. Inman's amendment proceeded but was not voted upon — instead, the Board returned to the original motion.

[Note: Based on the transcript, it appears the Board moved back to the original motion after Mr. Inman's amendment did not gain traction, though the procedural sequence was somewhat informal.]

Board member statements in support:

Mr. Sanders: Emphasized 18 years in the district, the link between quality schools and property values, and the district's track record of fiscal prudence.
Mr. Kid: Noted the weight of responsibility for an $807M package but stressed growth is inevitable and facilities are necessary to maintain district excellence.
Mr. Husbands: Emphasized the Board's diligence, that all items in the bond belong there (no salaries, programs, or operational items), and acknowledged the difficulty of asking the community for this level of investment.
Mr. Moore: Reflected on 50+ years in Conroe ISD and called this a critical time for investment in the district's future.
President Williams: Highlighted the district's history of transferring money from MNO to bond side, building projects from cash (including Wilkerson Elementary), and the consequences of deferring maintenance (citing California's $20 billion statewide package).

Vote on $807 million bond election order: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

Item 9B & 9C: Election Services Agreements

Presented by: Ms. Gladys (Legal)

Election Services Agreement with Montgomery County: Engages the county to provide election services for the May 4, 2019 bond election (consistent with past practice).
Joint Election Agreement: Joins with other Montgomery County entities holding elections on May 4 for cost savings and voter convenience.

Vote: Both items approved unanimously (voice vote, taken together)

Executive Session

Board entered closed/executive session at approximately 7:22 p.m.
Topics authorized: Appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, and dismissal of public officers/employees (including superintendent evaluation) and Level 3 appeal hearing for Erin Crocker.
Board returned to open session at approximately 7:51 p.m.

Level 3 Appeal Hearing — Erin Crocker

Mrs. Crocker notified the district the previous day that she would not attend the meeting.
The Board was provided the complete record from Level 1 and Level 2 hearings.
Dr. Null presented three options: (1) decide based on the record alone, (2) go into executive session to discuss before deciding, or (3) go into executive session to hear administration's argument.
The Board chose Option 1 — to decide based on the record alone, foregoing closed session.
Each board member was individually asked and confirmed ability to serve impartially:

- Mr. Moore, Mr. Husbands, Mr. Kid, Mr. Williams, Mr. Hubert, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Inman — all confirmed impartiality.

Motion: To uphold the decisions of the Level 1 and Level 2 hearing officers.

Vote: Approved unanimously (voice vote)

The district will send notice of the Board's decision to Mrs. Crocker.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:51 p.m.

Summary of All Votes

| Item | Description | Result |

|------|-------------|--------|

| Consent Agenda | Adoption of agenda as presented | Approved unanimously |

| Solution Tree Contract | $163,400 professional development contract | Approved unanimously |

| 2019–2020 School Calendar | Draft 2 (start Aug. 14, end May 28) | Approved unanimously |

| Attendance Zones — Suchma Elementary | Scenario 1.2 boundary recommendation | Approved unanimously |

| 2017–2018 CAFR | Comprehensive Annual Financial Report | Approved unanimously |

| Bond Election Order | $807 million bond election for May 4, 2019 | Approved unanimously |

| Inman Amendment (growth/safety only) | Amendment to limit bond to growth & safety items | Did not advance (amendment to the amendment failed for lack of second; original amendment effectively superseded) |

| Election Services Agreement | Agreement with Montgomery County | Approved unanimously |

| Joint Election Agreement | Joint election with other county entities | Approved unanimously |

| Erin Crocker Level 3 Appeal | Uphold Level 1 and Level 2 decisions | Approved unanimously |