{
  "id": "2022-02-15_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2022-02-15",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — February 15, 2022",
  "date_display": "February 15, 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": "2026-06-18T19:45:20.912549Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-02-15\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-28 14:18 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees\n### Regular Meeting — February 15, 2022\n\n*These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.*\n\n---\n\n## Opening\n- Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM with a quorum present.\n- Invocation by Dale Inman; Pledge of Allegiance led by Dayton Williams.\n\n---\n\n## Awards & Recognition\n\n### TMEA All-State Musicians (Item 2A)\n- **Dr. Bob Horton**, Coordinator of Fine Arts, presented **41 Conroe ISD students** named 2022 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Musicians.\n- Over 320 fine arts teachers impact 68,000+ students in the district.\n- 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.\n- All 41 students were individually recognized by name.\n- Board President Moore congratulated the students, noting the effort involved and expressing hope that some would become future music educators.\n\n### UIL Sponsor Excellence Award (Item 2B)\n- **Gerald Dillard**, Oak Ridge High School Band Director, was recognized as the 2021 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award recipient.\n- **Gabriel Musella** from the state UIL music office presented the award.\n- Dillard has worked at Oak Ridge High School for 20 years, serving as head band director since 2019-2020.\n- Dillard thanked Dr. Chris Hines, Dr. A.J. Leveski, Dr. Bob Horton, the Oak Ridge band staff, band parents, and his family.\n- Board President Moore shared personal reflections on the impact of music educators.\n\n---\n\n## Citizen Participation (Item 3)\n\n**One speaker: Misty Odenweller**, CISD resident, former teacher, and business owner.\n- Expressed concern about **teacher and administrator retention** for the 2022-23 school year.\n- Noted that at least one administrator and multiple teachers have already resigned this school year.\n- Warned that \"the floodgates are about to open\" with experienced teachers leaving.\n- 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.\n- Argued that paying more money alone won't fix the problem — teachers are leaving because the joy of teaching has been diminished.\n- Urged the board and superintendent to talk directly to teachers about what they need.\n\n*Note: Per board policy, the board did not deliberate or respond to this comment.*\n\n---\n\n## Human Resources (Item 9 — Moved Up on Agenda)\n\n### 9A: Named CISD Police Department Chief of Police\n- **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.\n- **Recommendation: Captain Matthew Blakelock** to become the next Chief of Police.\n- Multiple board members praised Blakelock, citing his 23 years with the department, character, and understanding of school-based policing.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously** (all in favor by show of hands).\n- Chief-designate Blakelock delivered remarks referencing Sir Robert Peel's policing principles and thanking Chief Harness, the department, and his wife Sarah.\n\n### 9B: Named Principal of Stockton Junior High School\n- **Recommendation: Dr. Carlton Todd**, who had been serving as interim principal.\n- Dr. Knoll praised his energy, academic knowledge, and the positive impact he has already had on the campus.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n- Dr. Todd delivered enthusiastic remarks, thanking mentors and family, declaring \"at Stockton we are one team with one mission.\"\n\n### 9C: Named Principal of Wilkerson Intermediate School\n- **Recommendation: Mr. Joshua Hughes**, who had been serving as interim principal following Dr. Todd's move to Stockton.\n- Dr. Knoll praised Hughes' character, noting his response during a campus tragedy as a defining moment.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n- Hughes thanked numerous mentors and his family, pledging to continue making \"Wilkerson Wonderland\" the best intermediate school in CISD.\n\n### 9D: Named Principal of Bush Elementary\n- **Recommendation: Ms. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Thompson**, who had been serving as interim principal.\n- Dr. Knoll highlighted her instructional coaching background and warm, engaging spirit embraced by the Bush community.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n- Thompson thanked the board, mentors, staff, and her family (husband Corey Thompson, a teacher at Reading Elementary, and two daughters).\n\n*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.*\n\n---\n\n## Consent Agenda (Item 4)\n- No items were pulled for separate discussion.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n---\n\n## Administration (Item 5)\n\n### 5A: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Update\n- **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.\n- Brady noted bipartisan support with 48 co-sponsors across 18 states.\n- House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richie Neal (D-MA) is pushing to advance the legislation this year.\n- The bill would apply to both current retirees and future retirees.\n- The legislation breaks even over 75 years in terms of Social Security impact.\n- Brady also thanked CISD for keeping schools open for in-person learning during COVID.\n- Tim Lee from the Texas Retired Teachers Association submitted a letter of support (unable to attend due to family COVID case).\n- *This was an informational item; no vote taken.*\n\n### 5B: Gordon Reed Elementary Mascot and School Colors\n- **Dr. Shelly Winkler** presented the school colors: **navy blue, gray, and yellow** (specifically \"cheerful yellow\").\n- Over 100 mascot nominations were submitted by future students and families.\n- Top two finalists: **Gordon Reed Tiger Cubs** and **Gordon Reed Gators**.\n- Students will vote the following week; a recommendation will come to the board at the March meeting.\n- Noted that the school's namesake, Mrs. Gordon Reed, a Conroe Tiger graduate, had expressed a preference for \"Tiger Cubs.\"\n- *Informational item; final mascot vote expected at March board meeting.*\n\n---\n\n## Facilities & Construction (Item 6)\n\n### 6A: Central Maintenance Project GMP\n- Guaranteed Maximum Price: **$23,012,163** with GTT General Contractors.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 6B: New Elementary in Grand Oaks Feeder Zone GMP\n- Guaranteed Maximum Price: **$35,443,652** with Duratec Inc.\n- Board discussion noted the price increase from ~$29M for Gordon Reed Elementary (bid one year prior) to $35M, attributed to construction cost escalation.\n- Mr. Foster confirmed the increase was anticipated within bond program escalation projections.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 6C: Caney Creek High School Upgrade Project GMP\n- Guaranteed Maximum Price: **$11,038,940** with Joris General Contractors.\n- Scope includes athletic facility upgrades (Caney Creek becoming a 6A school), safety/security upgrades, and a new identifiable front entrance.\n- Work to begin immediately, with most completed over summer and wrapped up early fall. Disruption primarily to sports programs (temporary alternate dressing facilities).\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 6D: Selection of CMaR for Campus Renovation 2023 Project\n- **GTT General Contractors** selected as best value from four respondents for the annual invasive maintenance/renovation project.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 6E: Change Order — Oak Ridge HS / Synthetic Turf for Three High Schools\n- 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**.\n- Amount: **$6,664,293** funded from the capital maintenance fund.\n- 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.\n- Benefits noted: reduced game cancellations due to weather, allows junior high teams to use fields, reduces maintenance costs (water, mowing, pesticides), fields are lighted.\n- Goal: Complete all three conversions before football practice begins in August.\n- **VOTE: Approved 6-1** (one opposed, no abstentions).\n\n### 6F: Kitchen Renovation — JOC Procurement Method & Contractor Selection\n- Approved **Job Order Contracting** as procurement method for 2022 summer kitchen renovations at **Gladys David Elementary** and **The Woodlands College Park HS**.\n- **GTT General Contractors** selected as contractor.\n- Amount: **$812,649.21** funded by child nutrition operating budget.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### Capital Improvement Update (Informational)\nMr. Foster provided updates on multiple projects:\n- **Safety & Security Project**: Underway, on schedule, pre-wiring at nights/weekends, camera replacements coming over spring/summer breaks.\n- **Creighton Elementary Overhaul**: On schedule; new groundwater storage tank for fire sprinkler system; kitchen expansion planned for summer; completion August 2022.\n- **New Moorhead Junior High**: Steel erection complete; on schedule to open **August 2023**.\n- **Conroe High School Overhaul**: JV stadium, new gym/athletic locker rooms, and CTE wing progressing; on schedule through **2025**.\n- **New JET Center** (Woodforest Bank Stadium): Wrapping up; occupancy expected within weeks; opening spring semester.\n- **Gordon Reed Elementary (Flex 21)**: Building dry, interior finishes underway; on schedule to open **August 2022**.\n- **Oak Ridge HS Overhaul**: Foundation work for new administration section and central plant; road construction underway; on schedule through **August 2023**.\n- **Wilkerson Intermediate PE Addition**: In use since January; cafeteria connection work planned for spring break; project wrapping up March.\n- **Conroe 9th Grade Classroom Addition**: Building dry, interior finishes underway; opening **August 2022**.\n\n---\n\n## Purchasing (Item 7)\n\n### 7A: HVAC/Mechanical Services JOC Program\n- Nine vendors awarded for estimated annual expenditure of **$1,000,000**.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 7B: Building Automation Services JOC Program\n- Three vendors awarded for estimated annual expenditure of **$125,000**.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 7C: Glass and Glazing Services JOC Program\n- Two vendors (Able Glass and Mirror, Mil-State Glass) awarded for estimated annual expenditure of **$50,000**.\n- Board noted appreciation for use of local companies.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 7D: Internet & Data Transmission Service (E-Rate)\n- Awarded to **Wave Media Inc./ICTX** for estimated expenditure of **$150,000** (two-year term with renewal options).\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 7E: Internal Connections Campus Refresh (E-Rate)\n- 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.).\n- Funded from capital projects fund.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n---\n\n## Financial Reports (Item 8A)\n- **Cash and investments in general fund**: $401.5 million total.\n- Tax collections at ~83% of budgeted amount (on track for this time of year).\n- First debt payment of ~$80 million processed that morning.\n- **2019 Bond**: $288.1M expended/encumbered; $363.4M remaining to complete; $488M sold of $633.5M authorized.\n- **Self-funded insurance**: January showed revenues exceeding expenses by ~$288K, but year-to-date deficit of $1.9M. Wellness center visits averaging ~342/month.\n- **Investment portfolio**: Par value $658.1M; combined yield ~18 basis points vs. 90-day T-bill at 15 basis points.\n- *Informational item; no vote required.*\n\n---\n\n## Executive Session\n- Board entered closed session at **8:02 PM** under Texas Government Code sections 551.071 (legal), 551.072 (real property), and 551.074 (personnel).\n- Board returned to open session at **8:51 PM**.\n\n---\n\n## Action Items Following Executive Session (Item 12)\n\n### 12A: Non-Renewal of Term Contract Employee\n- 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.\n- Hearing, if any, to be conducted by the Board of Trustees.\n- Superintendent authorized to provide notice.\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n### 12B: Purchase of School Site — Northern Quadrant\n- 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.\n- *No specific details on location or price were discussed in open session.*\n- **VOTE: Approved unanimously.**\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\nMeeting adjourned following the final vote.\n\n---\n\n*These notes are unofficial and based on an automated transcript. For official minutes, please refer to the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees approved minutes.*"
}