May 3, 2021 — Special Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2021-05-03
Special Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 13:48 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees
Special Meeting — May 3, 2021
These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript of the board meeting. They are not official minutes and may contain errors due to transcription limitations.
Opening
- Called to order at 6:00 PM by President Hubert
- A quorum of members was confirmed present
- Invocation by Scott Moore, who included a moment of remembrance for colleague Dr. Young and the Harp family on the loss of Chip. He also offered prayers for graduating seniors.
- Pledge of Allegiance led by Stacy Chase
- Public Comment: No one signed up to speak
Item 3: Awards and Recognitions
A. UIL 6A Wrestling State Champions — College Park High School
Dr. Mark Murrell (Principal, College Park HS) and Coach Eric Spute introduced three state wrestling champions. Coach Spute noted the extreme difficulty of the 2020–2021 season due to COVID-19, with the competition season repeatedly delayed (from November to January, then February, then March) and uncertainty about whether a season would happen at all.
State Champions recognized:
- Olivia DiGiorgio (Junior) — Second consecutive state championship; three-time state place winner (5th as freshman, 1st as sophomore, 1st as junior); ranked 16th nationally; has opportunity to become first three-time state champion in program history
- Britton Quirbishley (Senior) — Second consecutive state championship; first-ever four-time state place winner in program history (6th, 4th, 1st, 1st); ranked 2nd nationally; multiple-time All-American; will attend Texas Wesleyan on a wrestling scholarship; notably did not wrestle until arriving at College Park HS
- Jonathan Wurtz (Senior) — Program's first-ever boys state champion; three-time state place winner (4th, 3rd, 1st); plans to wrestle at the collegiate level
Coach Spute noted the girls team finished 4th and the boys team finished 3rd at state (highest-ever boys finish in program history). He also recognized assistant coaches Lindsay Spute and Kenneth Mark.
Board member Williams congratulated the athletes and coaching staff.
B. Special Board Recognition — Healthcare Personnel (COVID-19)
Dr. Heinz presented recognitions for healthcare personnel who played instrumental roles in the district's COVID-19 response, enabling in-person instruction for over 84% of students.
Health Services Representatives recognized:
- Barbara Robertson — Coordinator of Student Health Services (also State Nurse of the Year)
- Dana Fisher — Health Services Specialist
- Campus representatives (nurses and clinic assistants) from:
- Oak Ridge HS: Jackie Baker, Tina Cochran
- Peet Junior High: Vicki Wilter, Elizabeth Bueller
- Cox Intermediate: Margaret Sachs, Darla Darling
- Patterson Elementary: Milo Cobbler (Adriana Sharif unable to attend)
Athletic Trainers and Lead Student Trainers recognized:
| Campus | Lead Trainer | Lead Student Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Caney Creek HS | Chad Miller | Kaylee Najira |
| College Park HS | Jason McDonald | Corina Alfaro |
| Conroe HS | Rob Phillips | Jordan Myers |
| Grand Oaks HS | Todd Matz | Lucy Carr |
| Oak Ridge HS | Rebecca Matthews | Aspen Whitton |
| The Woodlands HS | Katie Ryan | Natalie Wagoman |
Also present: Athletic Director Coach Danny Long, and high school principals/athletic coordinators from multiple campuses.
Special recognition was given to Charlotte LaVerne, lead trainer at The Woodlands HS for 30 years, who is retiring. She was unable to attend due to a family loss. Dr. Noel noted she was personally significant to him as the person who first hired him into Conroe ISD.
Item 4: Consent Agenda
Vote: Motion to approve consent agenda as presented.
- Result: Approved unanimously (no items withdrawn, no opposition noted)
Item 5: Executive Session
President Hubert noted executive session was not held; the board moved past this item.
Item 7: Human Resources
A. Named Principal of Kauffman Elementary School
Dr. Noel recommended Clinton Dolworth as the new principal of Kauffman Elementary. Background:
- Current principal Tina Oliver is moving to Deretchin Elementary (replacing a principal who took a promotion to Tomball ISD)
- Dolworth has served as administrator at Mitchell, Broadway, and currently as AP at San Jacinto Elementary
- Has experience across three different feeder zones in Conroe ISD
Mr. Dolworth thanked numerous mentors including Paula Klepeski, Nikki Conley, and Jamie Allen, and introduced his family.
Vote: Motion to approve.
- Result: Approved unanimously
B. Named Principal of Oak Ridge High School Ninth Grade Campus
Dr. Noel recommended Sean Allman as the new principal of Oak Ridge HS Ninth Grade Campus. Background:
- Currently an associate principal at the Oak Ridge main campus
- Dr. Noel highlighted that every team sport at Oak Ridge HS made the playoffs this year, plus the band reached state finals and cheerleaders placed at state
- Also noted that Jamie Allen (principal of San Jacinto Elementary and Allman's wife) mentored both new principals being named that evening
Mr. Allman thanked his family, including his wife Jamie, four children (noting one is an Army first lieutenant stationed in Hawaii), and expressed excitement about the role. He also noted two former Oak Ridge students were drafted in the NFL Draft that weekend — a first in school history.
Vote: Motion to approve.
- Result: Approved unanimously
Item 8A: 2021–2022 Teacher Hiring Schedule, Employee Raises, Stipends, and Performance Incentive Pay
Presented by Mr. Rice. Key components:
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| General pay increase | 3% on midpoint for all staff |
| Starting teacher salary | $58,500 |
| Existing teacher raise | $1,800 |
| Minimum hourly wage (all hourly employees) | $12.00/hour |
| Bus driver raise | 5% increase |
| Bus driver starting hourly rate | Increased from $17.25 to $18.00/hour |
| Total cost | Approximately $12.5 million |
- Recommended by the TASB compensation group
- Plan is being approved early in budget process to improve recruitment and retention
Vote: Motion to approve.
- Result: Approved unanimously
Item 9A: Update on ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds
Dr. Heinz provided an informational update on ESSER III funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (passed March 11, 2021).
Key Details:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial allocation (2/3) | $43,137,201 |
| Total allocation | ~$65 million |
| Funds available through | September 30, 2024 (~3 school years, 4 summers) |
| Mandatory learning loss spending | At least 20% |
Context: Dr. Heinz noted the total allocation represents roughly 10% of the district's budget spread over three years.
Five District Priorities for Spending:
1. Health and safety
2. Learning recovery
3. Social, emotional, and physical needs of students and staff; equity and engagement
4. Remote learning and digital gaps
5. Communication
Allowable Uses: Very broad — includes activities under ESEA, IDEA, adult education, CTE acts; COVID preparedness; mental health services; educational technology; facility improvements for air quality; summer learning; addressing needs of low-income, special education, English learner, homeless, and foster care students.
Planning Considerations:
- One-time funds with expiration — need exit strategy
- Cannot supplant existing funding; must maintain equity
- Loss of "hold harmless" provisions from the state could mean significant funding shortfalls if enrollment/attendance drops
- Task force being formed; website to be established
- District will be methodical and conservative (Dr. Noel cautioned that some districts may spend aggressively, but CISD will take a sustainable approach)
First planned use: Re-evaluate staffing positions that were cut tight during budget planning; proactively add teaching positions for the coming year to allow principals to recruit from a wider candidate pool. This funding was not included in the previously discussed budget.
This was an informational item — no vote required.
Item 9B: Revisions to District Goals and Objectives (Information/Discussion)
Dr. Heinz presented a review of existing board goals and proposed draft revisions to the district's strategic goals.
Current Board Goals (from Policy AE Local) — 9 goals covering:
1. Exemplary district status
2. Rigorous academic standards
3. Closing achievement gaps
4. Dropout prevention (zero dropouts goal)
5. Safe school environment
6. Parental involvement/community resources
7. Two-way communication within feeder zones
8. Technology integration
9. Recruitment/retention of qualified staff
Proposed Draft — Consolidated from 7 strategic goals to 5:
1. Student Achievement — Graduation, post-secondary success, aligned curriculum, rigorous assessments
2. Leadership & Fiscal Responsibility — Combined leadership and fiscal management
3. Staff Recruitment, Development & Retention
4. Safe & Collaborative Culture — Including social-emotional health, communication, family/community partnerships
5. Effective Instruction — Data-driven instruction, formative assessment, technology integration
Dr. Heinz noted these are drafts for consideration and emphasized that no board action was required. The board could choose to revise goals at a future meeting or leave them as-is. He specifically noted that the standalone "technology" goal may be outdated, as technology is now more of a tool than a goal in itself.
This was an informational item — no vote required.
Adjournment
Vote: Motion to adjourn.
- Result: Approved unanimously
Note: A resolution celebrating School Nurse Day (May 12) was mentioned by Dr. Heinz as an item to be approved later (referenced during healthcare personnel recognition).