{
  "id": "2022-01-18_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2022-01-18",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — January 18, 2022",
  "date_display": "January 18, 2022",
  "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": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.902108Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-01-18\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-28 14:13 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting\n### January 18, 2022\n\n*These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.*\n\n---\n\n## Call to Order\nThe 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.\n\n---\n\n## Awards and Recognition\n\n### School Board Recognition Month\n- 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.\n- Principals were asked **not** to attend in person due to staffing concerns related to COVID.\n- Students provided cards, posters, banners, small gifts, drawings, and treats for board members.\n- 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.\n\n---\n\n## Citizen Participation (Public Comments)\n\n**Speaker 1 (name not clearly captured):**\n- 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.\n- Received a phone call from Assistant Superintendent Bethany Mefford about an investigation but has not received any follow-up results.\n- Sent a text message on January 2 with no response.\n- Requested a follow-up call with investigation results by the following week.\n\n**Speaker 2 (name not clearly captured):**\n- A former teacher who expressed gratitude and praise for district teachers for their exhausting work during the pandemic.\n\n---\n\n## Superintendent's Message — Dr. Knoll\n- Acknowledged the difficult staffing situation and the community-wide effort to keep schools open.\n- Emphasized the district's focus on thriving, not just surviving, during the pandemic.\n- 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.\"\n\n---\n\n## Consent Agenda\n- No items were pulled from the consent agenda.\n- **Motion to approve:** Passed unanimously by show of hands.\n\n---\n\n## Human Resources (Item moved up in agenda)\n\n### Naming of Principal — Hauser Elementary\n- 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.\n- Dr. Knoll highlighted the district's investment in developing assistant principals and encouraging them to seek new opportunities at different campuses.\n- **Motion to approve:** Passed unanimously by show of hands.\n- Ms. Kahler delivered acceptance remarks, thanking mentors, family, and the board.\n\n---\n\n## Item 5: Administration\n\n### 5A — Attendance Zone Boundary Changes for Gordon Reed Elementary\n**Presented by:** Chris McCord\n\n- **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.\n- The committee reviewed **27 different scenarios** over five months.\n- **Recommended scenario: 7.3.3**, which impacts **557 students** (415 K–4, 142 grades 5–6) — the lowest impact among viable options.\n\n**Key boundary changes:**\n- **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.\n- **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).\n- **Relief provided to:** Stewart Elementary, Giesinger Elementary (projected 1,200+ students by 2028), Crier Intermediate, B.B. Rice Elementary, and Bosman Intermediate.\n\n**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).\n\n**Discussion highlights:**\n- Board member asked about transfer options for 5th graders at Stewart wanting to stay for 6th grade — transfers are possible with parent-provided transportation.\n- Questions about economically disadvantaged (Title I) impact — no significant change anticipated; Stewart may become slightly less economically disadvantaged.\n- Board President Hubert noted positive feedback from affected parents about the process.\n\n**Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.**\n\n---\n\n### 5B — Adoption of 2022–2023 School Calendar\n**Presented by:** Dr. Upshaw\n\n- Three draft calendars were presented to the community for feedback.\n- **Draft 1** received the most support from community, staff, and students.\n- **Recommended calendar (Draft 1.2):**\n  - **176 instructional days**\n  - School starts **August 10, 2022** (one day earlier than 2021–22 start of August 11)\n  - School ends **May 25, 2023** (one day earlier than current year's May 26)\n  - Mid-week start continues to be popular\n  - Full week off for Thanksgiving\n  - Three weekends included in Christmas/winter break\n  - March 13–17 Spring Break; March 20 designated as staff development day / student inclement weather day\n  - **Two built-in inclement weather days**, plus the March 20 date as a potential third\n  - Instructional time now calculated in minutes rather than days\n\n**Discussion highlights:**\n- Board member noted the continued trend toward earlier start dates.\n- Questions about minute buffers for inclement weather — confirmed two days built in, with potential third.\n\n**Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.**\n\n---\n\n## Public Hearing: 2020–2021 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)\n**Presented by:** Dr. Chris Hines\n\n### Key highlights:\n- **Accountability rating:** Not rated (state of disaster declared); met Special Education determination requirements.\n- **Enrollment:** Minimal growth between 2020 and 2021; over 2,000 new students in 2021–22 (projected ~3,000 over prior year).\n- **Demographics:** 84 languages other than English reported; 15,500+ families report Spanish as home language.\n- **Bilingual/ESL:** District outperformed the state in many bilingual categories; bilingual scores actually increased during the pandemic year.\n- **Attendance:** 99% in 2020–21 (due to remote check-in option); currently ~92% in 2021–22.\n- **Disciplinary placements:** Continued 10-year downward trend in DAEP and JJAEP placements.\n- **Dropout rate:** 0.3% for Class of 2020.\n- **Graduation rate (Class of 2020):** 97.3% four-year graduation rate; 0.8% dropout from cohort.\n- **STAAR performance:** 81% at approaches grade level; 58% meets; 32% masters.\n- **College readiness:** Impacted by spring 2020 closures (missed SAT/ACT/AP tests).\n- **Career/Military ready:** 15.9% of graduates.\n- **SAT/ACT:** Average SAT score of 1,147; average ACT composite of 25; 64.6% scored at or above criterion.\n- **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.\n- **Financial highlights:**\n  - Texas Smart School recognition for 12 consecutive years (5 stars)\n  - Third consecutive TASBO Award of Merit in purchasing\n  - Fund balance: $171,399,200 (29% of final amended budget)\n  - Tax rate: $1.70 (among the lowest in the area)\n  - Instructional expense per student: $5,433\n  - General administration spending below state average\n- **Criminal incidents:** 36 reportable incidents at 8 campuses; 31 of 36 were felony controlled substance offenses (majority THC vaping-related).\n- **Counselors and Librarians:** 173 counselors, 65 librarians; all campuses have at least one of each.\n\n### Public Comment on TAPR:\n- **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.\n- A board member requested demographic data on disciplinary placements.\n\n---\n\n## Item 7: Planning and Construction\n\n### 7A — Guaranteed Maximum Price for Safety and Security 2022 Project\n**Presented by:** Mr. Foster\n\n- LS4 Constructors (selected as CMAR in February 2020) with PBK Architects and Leaf Engineers.\n- **Requested amount: $5,156,997** for the 2022 installment of the district-wide safety and security project.\n- Authorization for superintendent to negotiate and execute contract documents.\n\n**Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.**\n\n### 7B — Capital Improvement Updates (Information Only)\n**Presented by:** Mr. Foster\n\n| Project | Status |\n|---------|--------|\n| **Creighton Elementary** (overhaul) | On schedule; expanded kitchen/serving lines focus for summer; completion August 2022 |\n| **Moorhead Junior High** (new, Caney Creek feeder) | Building structure essentially erected; masonry underway; on schedule for August 2023 |\n| **Conroe High School** (major overhaul) | New CTE slab ready; athletic venue foundation underway; on schedule through December 2025 |\n| **JET Center** (north end of Woodforest Bank Stadium) | Wrapping up; substantial completion expected late February 2022 |\n| **Gordon Reed Elementary** (new) | On schedule; interior finishes underway; district occupancy early summer; open August 2022 |\n| **Oak Ridge High School** (overhaul + South County CTE) | Structural steel delivered, awaiting utility clearance to go vertical; on schedule through summer 2023 |\n| **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 |\n| **Conroe High School 9th Grade** (classroom addition) | Roof and masonry ~90% complete; interior work underway; completion expected summer 2022 |\n\n---\n\n## Item 8: Purchasing\n\n### Chromebooks and Chromebook Carts (RFP 21-12-03)\n**Presented by:** Mr. Reeves\n\n- Award to **CDW-G LLC** for an estimated expenditure of **$5,000,000**.\n- Purchase of approximately **14,000 Chromebooks and 100 Chromebook carts** to replace devices that can no longer update to current Google OS.\n- Critical for compliance with state mandate for **online-only STAAR testing beginning December 2022**.\n- 21 vendors submitted responses; pricing firm for one year with two optional one-year renewals through January 2025.\n- Vendor indicates **4–8 week lead time**; purchases to be phased.\n- Funded through **federal funds**.\n\n**Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.**\n\n---\n\n## Item 9: Finance\n\n### Approval of 2020–2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)\n**Presented by:** Darren Rice, Finance; Sarah Roberts, Partner, Weaver (Independent Auditors)\n\n**Audit results:**\n- **Unmodified (clean) opinion** on financial statements — highest level of assurance\n- **No reportable findings** on internal controls (no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies)\n- **Unmodified (clean) opinion** on federal award compliance with no reportable findings\n- **Major programs audited:** Child Nutrition Cluster, ESSER, and Coronavirus Relief Fund (~70% coverage of total federal expenditures vs. 20% required)\n- Total federal expenditures of **$82.5 million** (~$40 million above normal non-COVID year)\n- General fund balance increased ~$17 million, correlated to non-recurring federal COVID funds\n- Unassigned fund balance ratio at approximately **30%**\n- **Note:** Report title changed from CAFR to ACFR per GASB Statement 98 (term change due to cultural sensitivity concerns)\n- Auditor independence maintained; safeguards detailed regarding separate IT general controls engagement\n\n**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.\n\n**Vote: Passed unanimously by show of hands.**\n\n---\n\n## Executive Session\n- Closed session began at **7:28 PM** under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.074 (consultation with attorney; personnel matters).\n- Open session reconvened at **8:22 PM**.\n- **No action was taken following executive session.**\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\n- Motion to adjourn was made and carried.\n- Meeting adjourned at approximately **8:22 PM**.\n\n---\n\n## Summary of Votes\n\n| Item | Result |\n|------|--------|\n| Consent Agenda | **Approved unanimously** |\n| Principal of Hauser Elementary (Liz Kahler) | **Approved unanimously** |\n| Attendance Zone Boundaries for Gordon Reed Elementary (Scenario 7.3.3) | **Approved unanimously** |\n| 2022–2023 School Calendar (Draft 1.2) | **Approved unanimously** |\n| GMP for Safety & Security 2022 Project ($5,156,997) | **Approved unanimously** |\n| Chromebooks & Carts — CDW-G ($5,000,000) | **Approved unanimously** |\n| 2020–2021 ACFR | **Approved unanimously** |\n\n*All votes were conducted by show of hands with no opposition noted.*"
}