December 14, 2021 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2021-12-14
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 14:11 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting — December 14, 2021
Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions. Please consult official board minutes for the authoritative record.
Opening
- Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. with a quorum present.
- Invocation by Scott Moore, who offered a prayer acknowledging the holiday season and asking for guidance in the board's decisions.
- Pledge of Allegiance led by Stacy Chase (U.S. and Texas pledges).
Superintendent's Holiday Message (Dr. Noel)
- Wished everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
- Shared a heartwarming story about CISD Police Officer Jonathan Guerra at Milam Elementary, who purchased a book for a student at the Scholastic Book Fair when the child didn't have enough money, and told the boy to keep his remaining money to take home to his mother.
- Highlighted the Children and Santa's Dreams Toy Drive, noting that over 600 families were impacted and 1,500 children will receive Christmas gifts thanks to CISD police and community contributions.
Item 2A: Special Board Recognition — Destination Imagination Global Champions
Presented by Chris Reichelt. Conroe ISD had 53 teams participate in Destination Imagination during 2020–2021; three teams won first place at the virtual DI Global Competition:
1. The Timekeepers — Academy of Science and Technology
- Won 1st place (secondary level Fine Arts challenge) for the second year in a row
- Also won the Renaissance Award for exceptional creative artistry, workmanship, and storytelling
- Coaches: Cindy Kim and John Anderson White
- Members: Abram Allen, Neyman Aurora, Marley Bartholomew, Jonathan Kim, Rihanna Patel
2. The D.I. Janes — The Woodlands College Park High School
- Won 1st place (secondary level Engineering challenge)
- Coaches: Rochelle Socon and Kelly Jones
- Members: Emily Jonic, Nanette Socon, Michaela Barnes
3. The Chicks with Kicks — Tom Cox Intermediate
- Won 1st place (middle level Technical Fast Flex challenge)
- Coaches: Marilyn Weisenhunt and Stephanie Hilbridge
- Members: Marie Weisenhunt, Riley Brashers, Natalie Hilbridge, Abigail Sorosick
- Reichelt personally thanked the board for continued support of the DI program, noting it gives students who may not perform on athletic fields a chance to shine academically.
- Board member Mr. Williams congratulated the students, calling them "some of the best and brightest of CISD" and encouraging their entrepreneurial and innovative spirit.
Item 2B: Special Board Recognition — 2021 Lone Star State School Counselor of the Year
Presented by Denis Sapola (Coordinator) and Tiffany Rodriguez (Caney Creek HS Lead Counselor / LSCA President).
- Caney Creek High School received the Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSCA) Gold Award for 2021 and is now in consideration for the national ASCA RAMP Award.
- Ashley Wright, School Counselor at Lucille J. Bradley Elementary School, was named:
- 2021 Texas School Counselor of the Year by LSCA
- One of the top five national finalists for the ASCA 2022 School Counselor of the Year (selected from all 50+ state winners)
- She will be honored at an in-person celebration in Washington, D.C. on February 3, 2022.
- Ms. Wright addressed the board, expressing gratitude and passion for school counseling, advocating for continued investment in guidance and counseling departments and programs.
Item 3: Citizen Participation
Speaker 1: Diane Daniels
- Wished the board Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
- Acknowledged the positive work of CISD teachers and testing achievements.
- Expressed concern about the $64 million in ESSA funding, stating "nothing comes free" and there are likely strings attached.
- Suggested the district consider returning the money if the conditions attached conflict with what parents want.
- Asked the board to listen to parents and be transparent about how the funding will be used.
Speaker 2: Anthony Natuno
- Returned to discuss an issue he raised over a year ago about classroom composition and student accommodations.
- Argued that the 22:1 student-teacher ratio (the "bright line test") does not account for the number and type of accommodations (IEPs, 504 plans) teachers must provide in individual classrooms.
- Used a visual aid to show how some classrooms have 4–5 students requiring accommodations while adjacent classrooms have fewer, creating unequal stress on teachers and risk to students.
- Stated the district is still not monitoring classroom accommodation loads and urged the board to consider this in student placement.
Speaker 3: Lorena Perez-McGill
- Parent of a 5th grader at Wilkerson Intermediate and a junior at College Park High School.
- Thanked board members and administrators who understand their roles are to serve all students.
- Referenced the previous month's meeting where speakers expressed displeasure about perceived indoctrination and expressed negative views about homosexuality and transgenderism.
- Thanked the board for serving all students regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.
- Wished happy holidays and Merry Christmas.
Item 4: Consent Agenda
- No items were pulled for separate discussion.
- Motion: To approve the consent agenda as presented.
- Vote: Approved unanimously.
Item 5A: Planning & Construction — Guaranteed Maximum Price for Campus Renovations 2022
Presented by Mr. Foster.
- Annual project replacing building systems that have reached end of service life (described as an "invasive maintenance program").
- GTT General Contractors serves as construction manager at risk (selected February 23, 2021; has served in this role for several years).
- Design architect: DLR Group.
- Guaranteed Maximum Price: $5,689,000
- Motion: To approve.
- Vote: Approved unanimously.
Item 5B: Capital Improvement Updates (Informational)
Mr. Foster provided updates on multiple projects:
| Project | Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Creighton Elementary (overhaul) | On schedule; completion Summer 2022 | Working on exterior masonry for kitchen/serving line expansion; major kitchen remodel planned for end of school year |
| Moorhead Junior High (new campus, adjacent to Caney Creek HS) | On schedule; opening August 2023 | Structural steel on site; bar joists being installed; building systems progressing through fine arts, CTE, and academic wings |
| Conroe High School (major renovation/reorganization) | On schedule; completion through 2025 | CTE building slab ready to go vertical; athletic venue foundations progressing; new football stadium for JV/soccer underway; structural steel for CTE arriving later in December |
| New Jet Center (north end zone, Woodforest Bank Stadium) | Completion February 2022; district use in spring semester | Windows being installed; interior finishing (ceiling grid, light fixtures) nearing completion |
| Gordon Reed Elementary (new campus, Conroe HS feeder zone, west side) | On schedule; opening August 2022 | Exterior masonry progressing; interior painting with spirit colors underway |
| Oak Ridge High School (overhaul + south county CTE campus) | On schedule; through August 2023 | Underground utility work; major fiber connection completed over recent weekend; foundation and vertical progress expected soon |
| Wilkerson Intermediate (PE classroom addition) | Working toward January opening | Supply chain challenges; contractor on 7-day work schedule; gym expected for PE use in spring semester; kitchen renovations and final connections to follow in spring |
| Conroe High School 9th Grade Classroom Addition | On schedule; opening August 2022 | Exterior masonry nearing completion; roof cap sheet next; interior walls and building systems progressing; exterior courtyard for student dining turned over mid-project for spring use |
- Notable comment: Dr. Noel noted that UIL membership numbers show Conroe High School is now the 4th largest high school in Texas, growing by approximately 200 students per year, underscoring the need for these additions. He thanked voters who passed the bond.
Item 6A: Business & Purchasing — CSP 21-1003 Internal Connections, Gordon Reed Elementary (E-Rate)
Presented by Mr. Streeps.
- Award of internal connections technology project for new Gordon Reed Elementary to Datavox Inc.
- Estimated expenditure: $550,000
- E-Rate project (federal program); Form 470 filed with USAC; advertised on CIC purchasing website and twice in the Conroe Courier.
- Scope includes: wireless access points, routers, switches, racks, phones, UPS, cabling and components.
- Three qualifying bids received; evaluated by technology department and reviewed by purchasing.
- Pricing effective through September 30, 2023; work may begin April 1, 2022.
- Funding from Capital Projects Fund.
- Motion: To approve as presented.
- Vote: Approved unanimously.
Item 7A: Financial Reports
Presented by Ms. Garza.
General Fund (as of November 30):
- Total assets: $603.8 million
- Year-to-date revenue: $130.8 million
- Year-to-date expenses: $94.9 million
Debt Service Fund:
- Total assets: $132.6 million
Child Nutrition:
- Total assets: $6.8 million
Tax Collections:
- Currently at 8.1% of the $507 million levy (first update of fiscal year; bulk expected in December and January).
Self-Funded Insurance:
- November: Revenue $4.5M, Expenses $5.8M — deficit of $1.3 million for the month.
- Believed to be related to elective surgeries postponed during COVID now being completed.
- Fund balance: $7.3 million
- Insurance consultant Gallagher reviewing claims to verify the cause.
- Board discussion: A board member asked about sustainability; Ms. Garza noted that when the plan was set, the board intentionally kept rates low and included a 5% COVID adjustment, choosing to absorb the hit in the fund balance rather than pass costs to employees. December was trending toward a surplus. The expected COVID-related overage for the year was projected at $2.5–3 million.
Investments:
- Par value: $441.6 million
- Pool yield: 0.073%
- Longer-term investments (TCG): weighted average maturity 583 days, yielding 0.828%
- Combined portfolio: 0.186%
- Benchmark (90-day T-bill): 0.045%
Wellness Centers:
- Averaging 358 visits for the year.
Executive Session
- Board entered closed session at 6:53 p.m. under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (legal), 551.072 (real property), and 551.074 (personnel).
- Board returned to open session at 7:17 p.m.
Item 10: Legal — Purchase of Property in Caney Creek HS Feeder Zone
- Board considered purchase of approximately 1.46 acres in the Caney Creek High School feeder zone.
- Contract nearly finalized; board asked to approve the purchase and delegate final signing authority and negotiations to Dr. Noel.
- Motion: To approve.
- Vote: Approved unanimously.
Adjournment
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:17+ p.m.
Summary of All Votes
| Item | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Consent Agenda | Approval as presented | Unanimous |
| GMP — Campus Renovations 2022 ($5,689,000) | Approve and authorize superintendent | Unanimous |
| CSP 21-1003 — Gordon Reed Elementary E-Rate ($550,000) | Award to Datavox Inc. | Unanimous |
| Property Purchase — ~1.46 acres, Caney Creek feeder zone | Approve and delegate authority to Dr. Noel | Unanimous |
These are unofficial notes prepared from an auto-generated transcript. They are not official minutes of the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees.