December 6, 2022 — Special Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-12-06
Special Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 14:57 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes — Conroe ISD Board of Trustees
Date: December 6, 2022
Meeting Type: Special Meeting (Board Reorganization) followed by Board Workshop
Notes: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. They may contain errors or omissions.
SPECIAL MEETING — Board Reorganization (Called to order at 4:04 PM)
Invocation & Pledges
- Invocation by Datron Williams; Pledge of Allegiance led by Tiffany Nelson
Citizen Participation
- No citizens signed up to speak.
Executive Session
- Board entered closed session at 4:06 PM pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.071 and §551.074.
- Board returned to open session at 4:46 PM.
Board Reorganization — Officer Elections
| Position | Elected | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| President | Skeeter Hubert | 4–3 |
| First Vice President | Theresa Wagaman | 4–3 (over Missy Odenweller) |
| Second Vice President | Stacy Chase | 7–0 (unanimous) |
| Secretary | Datron Williams | 4–3 (over Melissa Duncan) |
| Assistant Secretary | Tiffany Nelson | 4–3 (over Melissa Duncan) |
Special Meeting adjourned.
BOARD WORKSHOP (Began at approximately 5:36 PM)
Public Comment
- No citizens signed up to speak.
Workshop Overview
Three agenda items:
1. PASA Demographic Study Overview
2. TEA Facility Standards and Educational Specifications Review
3. Preliminary Bond Committee Process Discussion
Item 1: PASA Demographic Study Overview
Presenters: Dr. Stacy Tepera (President/Owner, Population and Survey Analysts — PASA), Angela Fretz, Tiffany Thomas Rogers. Introduced by Mr. McCord.
District Context
- Conroe ISD is the 5th largest district in the Houston metro area.
- Current enrollment exceeds 70,000 students (over 70,000 this year).
- Over the prior five years (through fall 2021), the district added approximately 8,000 students, with 3,200 added in the most recent year alone.
- An additional ~3,000 students were added this year (2022), representing genuine new growth beyond COVID recovery.
- District demographics: Median income, home values, and bachelor's degree rates are higher than the Houston metro average; median age is slightly older.
Methodology & Key Data Points
- PASA geocodes every student address and aggregates data into planning units.
- Students per household: 0.56 average for single-family homes district-wide (lower than typical suburban due to large retiree population). Some neighborhoods (e.g., Fosters Ridge, Harmony) exceed 0.9 students per home.
- Multi-family: 0.28 students per unit average.
- 70% of growth came from actively developing subdivisions; 12% from built-out subdivisions (family turnover/regeneration).
- Birth rate data indicates kindergarten classes will continue growing for at least the next four years based solely on babies already born in the district.
Housing Projections (10-Year)
Total projected new housing occupancies: ~53,305
- Single-family: ~36,000 units
- Multi-family: ~12,500 units
- Manufactured housing: ~4,700 units (7x the 2018 projection — significant new trend)
- Age-restricted: small number (no students projected)
Key developments driving growth: Artavia, Woodson's Reserve (expansions), Mavera, Evergreen, Silverthorne, Sweetwater Ridge, Grand Central Park, Pine Acre Trails, Timber Point, Spring Branch Crossing
Manufactured housing is a significant new factor — concentrated in far east district; both acreage-type and amenitized communities; can build out quickly with relatively high student ratios.
Economic context: Interest rates have risen significantly (30-year fixed at ~6.5%), making homes less affordable for some first-time buyers. Housing market showing signs of cooling (slowed sales, rising inventory, price depreciation). However, long-term demand for residential development in Conroe ISD remains strong due to location and infrastructure.
Enrollment Projections
| Scenario | 10-Year Projection (by ~2032) |
|---|---|
| Low Growth | Not specified precisely but lower bound |
| Moderate Growth | ~98,000 students (from current ~70,000+) |
| High Growth | Potentially ~120,000+ students |
- Moderate scenario projects ~2,600 new students next year, tapering from ~3.5% to ~2.5% annual growth over the decade.
- PASA emphasized their moderate projections are conservative — closer to the low end than the high end.
- Historical performance: In every year except the COVID year, actual enrollment exceeded PASA's projections. In the last two bond cycles, the district exceeded even the high growth projections.
Campus-Level Impacts (Moderate Scenario)
Elementary level — Areas of greatest projected growth:
- San Jacinto attendance zone: +1,700 new students (could need 2+ new elementary schools; campus is only ~500 capacity)
- Milam: +~1,000 students (manufactured housing communities)
- Austin, Patterson, Anderson, Snyder: Each approaching +~1,000 students
Color-coded capacity analysis provided year-by-year:
- Yellow = >100% capacity; Orange = >110%; Red = >120%
- Broadway and Snyder are currently severely overcrowded (Heinz Elementary opening will provide relief)
- Suchma identified as having no current solution — already stressed despite opening in 2019
Intermediate level:
- Grangerland: +1,800 students projected; Veterans Memorial opening will help but another intermediate still needed
- Another intermediate needed within Bozeman zone and northwest area (Gordon Reed/Crier/Travis)
Junior High level:
- Moorhead: +1,600 students projected; new Moorhead campus will add capacity short-term but another junior high still needed
- Combined Stockton/Pete area could support another junior high
High School level — Major concerns:
- Conroe High School: Currently under construction to increase capacity to ~5,500 total (main + 9th grade). Projections show growth to potentially 7,000+ students. Current construction will not be sufficient. Earliest a new relief high school could open: 2027-2028.
- Caney Creek High School: Projected to add 3,000 students to its attendance zone — this was NOT on internal radar as needing a second high school in this bond cycle. Building infrastructure cannot handle significant overcrowding. District owns a 78-acre parcel nearby but it may not be ideal.
- Grand Oaks High School: Already has 6 portable classrooms with 4 more arriving in January; does not yet have a 9th grade center.
- Total high school need: ~30,000 projected high school students vs. current capacity under 22,000 — approximately 8,000 seats needed.
Projected New Facility Needs (Moderate Growth, 10-Year, by Feeder)
| Feeder | Projected New Facilities |
|---|---|
| Caney Creek | 5 elementary schools, Veterans Memorial + 1 more intermediate, new Moorhead + 1 more junior high, 1 high school equivalent |
| Conroe | Bartlett Elementary (under construction) + 2 more elementaries + 1 K-6, 1 intermediate, 1 junior high, 1 high school |
| Woodlands | 1 K-6 |
| Oak Ridge | 1 K-6 (to relieve Suchma) |
| Grand Oaks | Heinz Elementary + 1 more elementary, 1 junior high, 1 ninth grade center |
Dr. Noel estimated the total cost of projected new buildings alone at well over $2 billion, not including work needed on the district's 67 existing buildings.
Significant Board Discussion During Demographic Presentation
- District currently at 102% capacity district-wide.
- Opening Heinz Elementary (~950 capacity, ~$35M) will help but district will still fall ~1,000 seats behind next year and ~2,000 seats behind the following year.
- Board member Datron Williams raised concerns about school size and student well-being, referencing a mother who spoke after Uvalde about her child being "lost" in a large school. He emphasized the need to consider not just fiscal efficiency but ensuring students feel safe and known.
- Dr. Noel acknowledged Conroe is a "big school district" (among the largest junior highs and high schools in the state) but stated the philosophy has served students well by providing more opportunities. He emphasized the need to keep pace with growth rather than allowing it to outpace the district.
- Dr. McCord and Dr. Winkler discussed how overcrowding impacts teacher satisfaction, instructional quality (loss of conference periods, planning time, specialty spaces), parent experience (long car lines), and campus operations.
- Mr. Foster noted construction cost escalation: Grand Oaks High School cost ~$162M when built; rebuilding it today would cost ~$300M. Morehead Junior High, if rebid today, would be significantly more expensive.
- Board discussed that the district proactively purchased land parcels in Artavia, Mavera, and Evergreen in recent months for future school sites.
- Discussion of inter-district transfers: ~636 students transfer in; ~1,000 leave for charter schools; ~3,600 leave for private schools; ~1,200 leave for other ISDs. Homeschool numbers are unavailable.
Item 2: TEA Facility Standards & Educational Specifications Review
Presenters: Easy Foster (Director of Planning & Construction, CISD), Jennifer Hendrickson and Jen Camper Peeler (Principals, Stantec), with Steve Parker and Denise Rivas
New TEA Facility Standards (Effective November 2021)
The Texas Education Agency updated facility standards for the first time since 2004. Key new mandatory requirements for boards:
1. Adopt a long-range facility master plan (update every 5 years)
2. Approve educational specifications (update every 5 years)
3. Approve method of compliance (quantitative vs. qualitative — how instructional capacity is calculated)
4. Approve level of flexibility (L1–L4)
5. Implement safety and security features in capital projects over $1M
6. Use third-party code enforcement inspectors (new cost)
7. Create certificates of compliance for audit purposes
Trigger threshold: Any project over $50,000 must comply.
Key Changes in Square Footage Requirements
- Elementary classrooms: Now 36 sq ft/student (was 32 for grades 2+)
- At 25 students: Elementary classrooms = 800 sq ft; Intermediate classrooms = 900 sq ft
- Junior high/high school: 32 sq ft/student = 800 sq ft classrooms
- Science lab combinations at junior high/high school: 1,450 sq ft (larger than current)
- Standalone science labs not allowed for Pre-K through 4th grade
- Gymnasium: Must be at least 3,000 sq ft at elementary if included
- These changes mean new buildings will be larger and more expensive
- Impact on flex school model: An additional ~8,000 sq ft per building (~$2.5M more) just for classroom space
Recommendations for Board Adoption
Staff recommended the board adopt:
1. Quantitative method of compliance (used by 99% of districts)
2. L2 flexibility level (standard instruction delivery with some collaborative flexibility)
3. Educational specifications for four facility types
Educational Specifications Development Process
- Over 50 district staff members participated as stakeholders across disciplines (instruction, CTE, nursing, library, PE, special education, etc.)
- Process began Fall 2021, included facility tours, benchmark studies, workshops
- Four Ed Spec documents created (one per facility type):
- Elementary: Baseline 1,000 students
- Intermediate: Baseline 1,000 students
- Junior High: Baseline 1,600 students
- High School: Baseline 3,400 students
Dr. Noel clarified that adopting the Ed Specs is not a commitment to build anything specific — it is a roadmap/reference document for future planning.
Board Discussion
- Several board members expressed concern about the volume of information and requested more time to review.
- Decision: Adoption deferred from December board meeting to January to give board members adequate review time.
- Mr. Foster emphasized the Ed Specs are needed before any new school design work can begin.
- Board acknowledged the late Richard Woodruff (social studies coordinator who passed from cancer) whose photo appeared in the stakeholder group.
Item 3: Preliminary Bond Committee Process Discussion
Presenter: Dr. Curtis Null, Superintendent
Proposed Timeline
- Election Day: November 7, 2023
- Last day to call election: August 21, 2023
- Committee meetings: February through May 2023 (6-7 sessions planned)
- Town halls: May–June 2023
- Board and community feedback incorporated: July 2023
- Final committee recommendation to board: August 2023
Key Changes from Previous Bond Process
- Much larger committee — targeting 100–200 members (previously ~40-50)
- Students to be included (8th grade and up) — new this cycle
- Ultra-transparent process — summary videos posted after each session, multiple board updates
- Forward-facing website prepared for committee signup with categories: business owner, employee, resident, parent, student; organized by feeder zone
- Board members encouraged to recommend individuals for the committee
- School tours planned, including seeing campuses with students present
Financial Context
- Dr. Noel noted projected needs likely exceed $3 billion for new construction alone, plus existing building needs
- Comparable recent bonds: Splendora ($225M) and Montgomery ($327M) proportionally equivalent to Conroe doing $2.5–2.9 billion
- Dr. Noel emphasized the committee will need to make hard prioritization decisions to produce a package the board and voters can support
- Board member feedback requested on tax rate parameters (no increase? 1 penny? 3 pennies?) to guide the committee's work
- Dr. Noel committed to showing financial models comparing bond financing vs. pay-as-you-go (tax rate increase) options
- Bond propositions expected to be broken into 4-5 propositions (A through E) per current legal requirements and common practice
Significant Board Discussion
- President Hubert cautioned against repeating the transparency issue from the last bond where facility assessment spreadsheets (containing items never intended for inclusion) were publicly shared and mischaracterized.
- Dr. Noel acknowledged the lesson learned and committed to only publishing items actually planned for inclusion.
- Board member requested showing the community what happens financially if a bond is not passed (i.e., tax rate increases needed to fund construction from operating budget).
- Board member Stacy Chase asked about adding demographic detail to the signup form (e.g., parent of elementary vs. secondary students).
Board Committee Assignments
- President Hubert asked board members to email him regarding preferences for standing committees (Finance, Audit, Safety, etc.).
Key Outcomes & Action Items
| Item | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Board officer elections | All positions filled (see table above) |
| PASA Demographic Study | Received/discussed; will be posted publicly on district website |
| Ed Specs adoption | Deferred from December to January board meeting to allow review time |
| Bond committee website | Board gave general approval to turn forward-facing and begin collecting names before Christmas break |
| Bond committee process | General consensus on approach; financial models to be presented at future workshop |
| Board training | This workshop session counted as board training hours |
Workshop adjourned at approximately 9:41 PM.