February 15, 2022 — Regular Meeting

Name: February 15, 2022 — Regular Meeting
Start: 2022-02-15

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-02-15

Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes

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

Generated 2026-03-28 14:18 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting — February 15, 2022

These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.

Opening

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM with a quorum present.
Invocation by Dale Inman; Pledge of Allegiance led by Dayton Williams.

Awards & Recognition

TMEA All-State Musicians (Item 2A)

Dr. Bob Horton, Coordinator of Fine Arts, presented 41 Conroe ISD students named 2022 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Musicians.
Over 320 fine arts teachers impact 68,000+ students in the district.
The TMEA All-State process begins with 50,000+ students statewide; approximately 1,800 are selected (top 3%). Conroe ISD had 41 of those selections.
All 41 students were individually recognized by name.
Board President Moore congratulated the students, noting the effort involved and expressing hope that some would become future music educators.

UIL Sponsor Excellence Award (Item 2B)

Gerald Dillard, Oak Ridge High School Band Director, was recognized as the 2021 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award recipient.
Gabriel Musella from the state UIL music office presented the award.
Dillard has worked at Oak Ridge High School for 20 years, serving as head band director since 2019-2020.
Dillard thanked Dr. Chris Hines, Dr. A.J. Leveski, Dr. Bob Horton, the Oak Ridge band staff, band parents, and his family.
Board President Moore shared personal reflections on the impact of music educators.

Citizen Participation (Item 3)

One speaker: Misty Odenweller, CISD resident, former teacher, and business owner.

Expressed concern about teacher and administrator retention for the 2022-23 school year.
Noted that at least one administrator and multiple teachers have already resigned this school year.
Warned that "the floodgates are about to open" with experienced teachers leaving.
Stated that teachers are exhausted by requirements and duties beyond daily teaching, have less prep time on campus, and are doing more work at home.
Argued that paying more money alone won't fix the problem — teachers are leaving because the joy of teaching has been diminished.
Urged the board and superintendent to talk directly to teachers about what they need.

Note: Per board policy, the board did not deliberate or respond to this comment.

Human Resources (Item 9 — Moved Up on Agenda)

9A: Named CISD Police Department Chief of Police

Dr. Knoll recognized retiring Chief Harness for nearly 50 years in policing, noting he built the CISD police department into the third-largest in Montgomery County and a model for other departments.
Recommendation: Captain Matthew Blakelock to become the next Chief of Police.
Multiple board members praised Blakelock, citing his 23 years with the department, character, and understanding of school-based policing.
VOTE: Approved unanimously (all in favor by show of hands).
Chief-designate Blakelock delivered remarks referencing Sir Robert Peel's policing principles and thanking Chief Harness, the department, and his wife Sarah.

9B: Named Principal of Stockton Junior High School

Recommendation: Dr. Carlton Todd, who had been serving as interim principal.
Dr. Knoll praised his energy, academic knowledge, and the positive impact he has already had on the campus.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.
Dr. Todd delivered enthusiastic remarks, thanking mentors and family, declaring "at Stockton we are one team with one mission."

9C: Named Principal of Wilkerson Intermediate School

Recommendation: Mr. Joshua Hughes, who had been serving as interim principal following Dr. Todd's move to Stockton.
Dr. Knoll praised Hughes' character, noting his response during a campus tragedy as a defining moment.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.
Hughes thanked numerous mentors and his family, pledging to continue making "Wilkerson Wonderland" the best intermediate school in CISD.

9D: Named Principal of Bush Elementary

Recommendation: Ms. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Thompson, who had been serving as interim principal.
Dr. Knoll highlighted her instructional coaching background and warm, engaging spirit embraced by the Bush community.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.
Thompson thanked the board, mentors, staff, and her family (husband Corey Thompson, a teacher at Reading Elementary, and two daughters).

Board President Hubert paused to commend all four new principals, noting their passion and love for students evident in their remarks. The board took a brief recess to congratulate the honorees.

Consent Agenda (Item 4)

No items were pulled for separate discussion.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

Administration (Item 5)

5A: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Update

Congressman Kevin Brady provided an update on federal legislation (H.R. 5834) to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision, which penalizes teachers, police, and firefighters by reducing their Social Security benefits by up to $512/month.
Brady noted bipartisan support with 48 co-sponsors across 18 states.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richie Neal (D-MA) is pushing to advance the legislation this year.
The bill would apply to both current retirees and future retirees.
The legislation breaks even over 75 years in terms of Social Security impact.
Brady also thanked CISD for keeping schools open for in-person learning during COVID.
Tim Lee from the Texas Retired Teachers Association submitted a letter of support (unable to attend due to family COVID case).
This was an informational item; no vote taken.

5B: Gordon Reed Elementary Mascot and School Colors

Dr. Shelly Winkler presented the school colors: navy blue, gray, and yellow (specifically "cheerful yellow").
Over 100 mascot nominations were submitted by future students and families.
Top two finalists: Gordon Reed Tiger Cubs and Gordon Reed Gators.
Students will vote the following week; a recommendation will come to the board at the March meeting.
Noted that the school's namesake, Mrs. Gordon Reed, a Conroe Tiger graduate, had expressed a preference for "Tiger Cubs."
Informational item; final mascot vote expected at March board meeting.

Facilities & Construction (Item 6)

6A: Central Maintenance Project GMP

Guaranteed Maximum Price: $23,012,163 with GTT General Contractors.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

6B: New Elementary in Grand Oaks Feeder Zone GMP

Guaranteed Maximum Price: $35,443,652 with Duratec Inc.
Board discussion noted the price increase from ~$29M for Gordon Reed Elementary (bid one year prior) to $35M, attributed to construction cost escalation.
Mr. Foster confirmed the increase was anticipated within bond program escalation projections.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

6C: Caney Creek High School Upgrade Project GMP

Guaranteed Maximum Price: $11,038,940 with Joris General Contractors.
Scope includes athletic facility upgrades (Caney Creek becoming a 6A school), safety/security upgrades, and a new identifiable front entrance.
Work to begin immediately, with most completed over summer and wrapped up early fall. Disruption primarily to sports programs (temporary alternate dressing facilities).
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

6D: Selection of CMaR for Campus Renovation 2023 Project

GTT General Contractors selected as best value from four respondents for the annual invasive maintenance/renovation project.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

6E: Change Order — Oak Ridge HS / Synthetic Turf for Three High Schools

Change order to the Oak Ridge HS project to install synthetic turf football fields at Oak Ridge HS, The Woodlands HS, and The Woodlands College Park HS.
Amount: $6,664,293 funded from the capital maintenance fund.
Rationale: Road changes at Oak Ridge necessitated field work (avoiding paying twice); equity required extending turf to the other two Woodlands-area high schools so four of six high schools would have turf.
Benefits noted: reduced game cancellations due to weather, allows junior high teams to use fields, reduces maintenance costs (water, mowing, pesticides), fields are lighted.
Goal: Complete all three conversions before football practice begins in August.
VOTE: Approved 6-1 (one opposed, no abstentions).

6F: Kitchen Renovation — JOC Procurement Method & Contractor Selection

Approved Job Order Contracting as procurement method for 2022 summer kitchen renovations at Gladys David Elementary and The Woodlands College Park HS.
GTT General Contractors selected as contractor.
Amount: $812,649.21 funded by child nutrition operating budget.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

Capital Improvement Update (Informational)

Mr. Foster provided updates on multiple projects:

Safety & Security Project: Underway, on schedule, pre-wiring at nights/weekends, camera replacements coming over spring/summer breaks.
Creighton Elementary Overhaul: On schedule; new groundwater storage tank for fire sprinkler system; kitchen expansion planned for summer; completion August 2022.
New Moorhead Junior High: Steel erection complete; on schedule to open August 2023.
Conroe High School Overhaul: JV stadium, new gym/athletic locker rooms, and CTE wing progressing; on schedule through 2025.
New JET Center (Woodforest Bank Stadium): Wrapping up; occupancy expected within weeks; opening spring semester.
Gordon Reed Elementary (Flex 21): Building dry, interior finishes underway; on schedule to open August 2022.
Oak Ridge HS Overhaul: Foundation work for new administration section and central plant; road construction underway; on schedule through August 2023.
Wilkerson Intermediate PE Addition: In use since January; cafeteria connection work planned for spring break; project wrapping up March.
Conroe 9th Grade Classroom Addition: Building dry, interior finishes underway; opening August 2022.

Purchasing (Item 7)

7A: HVAC/Mechanical Services JOC Program

Nine vendors awarded for estimated annual expenditure of $1,000,000.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

7B: Building Automation Services JOC Program

Three vendors awarded for estimated annual expenditure of $125,000.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

7C: Glass and Glazing Services JOC Program

Two vendors (Able Glass and Mirror, Mil-State Glass) awarded for estimated annual expenditure of $50,000.
Board noted appreciation for use of local companies.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

7D: Internet & Data Transmission Service (E-Rate)

Awarded to Wave Media Inc./ICTX for estimated expenditure of $150,000 (two-year term with renewal options).
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

7E: Internal Connections Campus Refresh (E-Rate)

Awarded to Datavox Inc. for estimated expenditure of $3,800,000 for technology refresh at 12 campuses (wireless access points, routers, switches, phones, cabling, etc.).
Funded from capital projects fund.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

Financial Reports (Item 8A)

Cash and investments in general fund: $401.5 million total.
Tax collections at ~83% of budgeted amount (on track for this time of year).
First debt payment of ~$80 million processed that morning.
2019 Bond: $288.1M expended/encumbered; $363.4M remaining to complete; $488M sold of $633.5M authorized.
Self-funded insurance: January showed revenues exceeding expenses by ~$288K, but year-to-date deficit of $1.9M. Wellness center visits averaging ~342/month.
Investment portfolio: Par value $658.1M; combined yield ~18 basis points vs. 90-day T-bill at 15 basis points.
Informational item; no vote required.

Executive Session

Board entered closed session at 8:02 PM under Texas Government Code sections 551.071 (legal), 551.072 (real property), and 551.074 (personnel).
Board returned to open session at 8:51 PM.

Action Items Following Executive Session (Item 12)

12A: Non-Renewal of Term Contract Employee

Board approved the superintendent's recommendation to propose non-renewal of Sonia Trevino's term employment contract for reasons stated in board policy DFBB Local.
Hearing, if any, to be conducted by the Board of Trustees.
Superintendent authorized to provide notice.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

12B: Purchase of School Site — Northern Quadrant

Board authorized the district to pursue purchase of a property in the northern quadrant of the district and authorized Dr. Knoll to execute purchase documents.
No specific details on location or price were discussed in open session.
VOTE: Approved unanimously.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned following the final vote.

These notes are unofficial and based on an automated transcript. For official minutes, please refer to the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees approved minutes.