January 18, 2022 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-01-18
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 14:13 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting
January 18, 2022
These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM with a quorum present. Invocation was delivered by Scott Moore; Pledge of Allegiance led by Dale Inman.
Awards and Recognition
School Board Recognition Month
- Principal Paula Krapeski of Mitchell Intermediate spoke on behalf of all CISD administrators, educators, staff, and students to recognize and thank the Board of Trustees for School Board Recognition Month.
- Principals were asked not to attend in person due to staffing concerns related to COVID.
- Students provided cards, posters, banners, small gifts, drawings, and treats for board members.
- Board President Hubert acknowledged the heroic efforts of teachers and substitutes, noting that over 1,100 teachers were unable to come to work the previous Friday due to illness, with substitutes stepping in to fill the gaps.
Citizen Participation (Public Comments)
Speaker 1 (name not clearly captured):
- Followed up on a complaint from November 16, 2021 regarding a CNN video shown in his grandson's classroom about the Pfizer COVID vaccine authorization for children ages 5–11.
- Received a phone call from Assistant Superintendent Bethany Mefford about an investigation but has not received any follow-up results.
- Sent a text message on January 2 with no response.
- Requested a follow-up call with investigation results by the following week.
Speaker 2 (name not clearly captured):
- A former teacher who expressed gratitude and praise for district teachers for their exhausting work during the pandemic.
Superintendent's Message — Dr. Knoll
- Acknowledged the difficult staffing situation and the community-wide effort to keep schools open.
- Emphasized the district's focus on thriving, not just surviving, during the pandemic.
- Played a KHOU Channel 11 news story about 7-year-old Andrew May, a student with Down syndrome at Buckalew Elementary, whose classmates helped him make a basketball shot during recess. The story highlighted the school's culture of inclusion, kindness, and support modeled "from the top down."
Consent Agenda
- No items were pulled from the consent agenda.
- Motion to approve: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
Human Resources (Item moved up in agenda)
Naming of Principal — Hauser Elementary
- Dr. Knoll recommended Liz Kahler, currently Assistant Principal at San Jacinto Elementary, as the new Principal of Hauser Elementary, replacing Angela Lozano who departed for family reasons.
- Dr. Knoll highlighted the district's investment in developing assistant principals and encouraging them to seek new opportunities at different campuses.
- Motion to approve: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
- Ms. Kahler delivered acceptance remarks, thanking mentors, family, and the board.
Item 5: Administration
5A — Attendance Zone Boundary Changes for Gordon Reed Elementary
Presented by: Chris McCord
- Gordon Reed Elementary is on schedule to open August 2022 at 2045 Michaela Broad, with a capacity of 950 students, serving Pre-K through 6th grade in the Conroe High feeder zone.
- The committee reviewed 27 different scenarios over five months.
- Recommended scenario: 7.3.3, which impacts 557 students (415 K–4, 142 grades 5–6) — the lowest impact among viable options.
Key boundary changes:
- Elementary: Areas north of FM 2854 transition from Giesinger to Gordon Reed; area south of FM 2854 (currently no students) transitions from B.B. Rice to Gordon Reed; remaining areas come from Stewart Elementary.
- Intermediate: Students feed cleanly — Stewart Elementary students go to Stewart Intermediate; Gordon Reed Elementary students go to Gordon Reed Intermediate. Some areas transition from Crier Intermediate to Gordon Reed. Sections 14B and A-15 transition from Bosman to Travis (no current students in those sections).
- Relief provided to: Stewart Elementary, Giesinger Elementary (projected 1,200+ students by 2028), Crier Intermediate, B.B. Rice Elementary, and Bosman Intermediate.
Community engagement: ~100 feedback comments received; two Zoom presentations and two in-person meetings held (one had 8–10 attendees; one had no community attendees).
Discussion highlights:
- Board member asked about transfer options for 5th graders at Stewart wanting to stay for 6th grade — transfers are possible with parent-provided transportation.
- Questions about economically disadvantaged (Title I) impact — no significant change anticipated; Stewart may become slightly less economically disadvantaged.
- Board President Hubert noted positive feedback from affected parents about the process.
Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
5B — Adoption of 2022–2023 School Calendar
Presented by: Dr. Upshaw
- Three draft calendars were presented to the community for feedback.
- Draft 1 received the most support from community, staff, and students.
- Recommended calendar (Draft 1.2):
- 176 instructional days
- School starts August 10, 2022 (one day earlier than 2021–22 start of August 11)
- School ends May 25, 2023 (one day earlier than current year's May 26)
- Mid-week start continues to be popular
- Full week off for Thanksgiving
- Three weekends included in Christmas/winter break
- March 13–17 Spring Break; March 20 designated as staff development day / student inclement weather day
- Two built-in inclement weather days, plus the March 20 date as a potential third
- Instructional time now calculated in minutes rather than days
Discussion highlights:
- Board member noted the continued trend toward earlier start dates.
- Questions about minute buffers for inclement weather — confirmed two days built in, with potential third.
Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
Public Hearing: 2020–2021 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
Presented by: Dr. Chris Hines
Key highlights:
- Accountability rating: Not rated (state of disaster declared); met Special Education determination requirements.
- Enrollment: Minimal growth between 2020 and 2021; over 2,000 new students in 2021–22 (projected ~3,000 over prior year).
- Demographics: 84 languages other than English reported; 15,500+ families report Spanish as home language.
- Bilingual/ESL: District outperformed the state in many bilingual categories; bilingual scores actually increased during the pandemic year.
- Attendance: 99% in 2020–21 (due to remote check-in option); currently ~92% in 2021–22.
- Disciplinary placements: Continued 10-year downward trend in DAEP and JJAEP placements.
- Dropout rate: 0.3% for Class of 2020.
- Graduation rate (Class of 2020): 97.3% four-year graduation rate; 0.8% dropout from cohort.
- STAAR performance: 81% at approaches grade level; 58% meets; 32% masters.
- College readiness: Impacted by spring 2020 closures (missed SAT/ACT/AP tests).
- Career/Military ready: 15.9% of graduates.
- SAT/ACT: Average SAT score of 1,147; average ACT composite of 25; 64.6% scored at or above criterion.
- Post-secondary enrollment: 1,786 graduates from Class of 2020 enrolled in Texas public colleges; top destinations: Lone Star Montgomery, Texas A&M, Sam Houston State.
- Financial highlights:
- Texas Smart School recognition for 12 consecutive years (5 stars)
- Third consecutive TASBO Award of Merit in purchasing
- Fund balance: $171,399,200 (29% of final amended budget)
- Tax rate: $1.70 (among the lowest in the area)
- Instructional expense per student: $5,433
- General administration spending below state average
- Criminal incidents: 36 reportable incidents at 8 campuses; 31 of 36 were felony controlled substance offenses (majority THC vaping-related).
- Counselors and Librarians: 173 counselors, 65 librarians; all campuses have at least one of each.
Public Comment on TAPR:
- Savannah Eldridge, Criminal Justice Chair for the local NAACP, commended the board and district for declining numbers in DAEP and JJAEP referrals and commitment to restorative practices.
- A board member requested demographic data on disciplinary placements.
Item 7: Planning and Construction
7A — Guaranteed Maximum Price for Safety and Security 2022 Project
Presented by: Mr. Foster
- LS4 Constructors (selected as CMAR in February 2020) with PBK Architects and Leaf Engineers.
- Requested amount: $5,156,997 for the 2022 installment of the district-wide safety and security project.
- Authorization for superintendent to negotiate and execute contract documents.
Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
7B — Capital Improvement Updates (Information Only)
Presented by: Mr. Foster
| Project | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Creighton Elementary (overhaul) | On schedule; expanded kitchen/serving lines focus for summer; completion August 2022 |
| Moorhead Junior High (new, Caney Creek feeder) | Building structure essentially erected; masonry underway; on schedule for August 2023 |
| Conroe High School (major overhaul) | New CTE slab ready; athletic venue foundation underway; on schedule through December 2025 |
| JET Center (north end of Woodforest Bank Stadium) | Wrapping up; substantial completion expected late February 2022 |
| Gordon Reed Elementary (new) | On schedule; interior finishes underway; district occupancy early summer; open August 2022 |
| Oak Ridge High School (overhaul + South County CTE) | Structural steel delivered, awaiting utility clearance to go vertical; on schedule through summer 2023 |
| Wilkerson Intermediate (classroom addition) | Gymnasium complete and in use; cafeteria conversion complete over winter break; supply chain delays managed; basketball striping completed over recent weekend |
| Conroe High School 9th Grade (classroom addition) | Roof and masonry ~90% complete; interior work underway; completion expected summer 2022 |
Item 8: Purchasing
Chromebooks and Chromebook Carts (RFP 21-12-03)
Presented by: Mr. Reeves
- Award to CDW-G LLC for an estimated expenditure of $5,000,000.
- Purchase of approximately 14,000 Chromebooks and 100 Chromebook carts to replace devices that can no longer update to current Google OS.
- Critical for compliance with state mandate for online-only STAAR testing beginning December 2022.
- 21 vendors submitted responses; pricing firm for one year with two optional one-year renewals through January 2025.
- Vendor indicates 4–8 week lead time; purchases to be phased.
- Funded through federal funds.
Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
Item 9: Finance
Approval of 2020–2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
Presented by: Darren Rice, Finance; Sarah Roberts, Partner, Weaver (Independent Auditors)
Audit results:
- Unmodified (clean) opinion on financial statements — highest level of assurance
- No reportable findings on internal controls (no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies)
- Unmodified (clean) opinion on federal award compliance with no reportable findings
- Major programs audited: Child Nutrition Cluster, ESSER, and Coronavirus Relief Fund (~70% coverage of total federal expenditures vs. 20% required)
- Total federal expenditures of $82.5 million (~$40 million above normal non-COVID year)
- General fund balance increased ~$17 million, correlated to non-recurring federal COVID funds
- Unassigned fund balance ratio at approximately 30%
- Note: Report title changed from CAFR to ACFR per GASB Statement 98 (term change due to cultural sensitivity concerns)
- Auditor independence maintained; safeguards detailed regarding separate IT general controls engagement
Board member comments: Board member publicly thanked Mr. Rice, Ms. Garza, and the entire finance team, encouraging the public to read the annual report's detailed notes to understand district spending.
Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.
Executive Session
- Closed session began at 7:28 PM under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.074 (consultation with attorney; personnel matters).
- Open session reconvened at 8:22 PM.
- No action was taken following executive session.
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn was made and carried.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:22 PM.
Summary of Votes
| Item | Result |
|------|--------|
| Consent Agenda | Approved unanimously |
| Principal of Hauser Elementary (Liz Kahler) | Approved unanimously |
| Attendance Zone Boundaries for Gordon Reed Elementary (Scenario 7.3.3) | Approved unanimously |
| 2022–2023 School Calendar (Draft 1.2) | Approved unanimously |
| GMP for Safety & Security 2022 Project ($5,156,997) | Approved unanimously |
| Chromebooks & Carts — CDW-G ($5,000,000) | Approved unanimously |
| 2020–2021 ACFR | Approved unanimously |
All votes were conducted by show of hands with no opposition noted.