December 13, 2022 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2022-12-13
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 14:58 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting
December 13, 2022
Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript of the meeting. They may contain errors or omissions. Please consult official board minutes for the authoritative record.
Opening
- Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM; quorum confirmed.
- Invocation: Tiffany Nelson
- Pledge of Allegiance: Misty Olden Weller
Citizen Participation (Item 2)
A total of approximately 13 speakers addressed the board. Key themes included:
Special Education / Disability Services Concerns
- Mark Thuska congratulated new board members and criticized the district for what he described as a systemic pattern of underserving children with special needs. He stated the district spent over $100,000 fighting services for an autistic student, that his daughter's dyslexia diagnosis took a two-year fight, and that the same school/principal was involved in both cases. He noted Dr. Noel agreed to a meeting later in December but said it shouldn't take repeated public requests to make that happen. He pledged to continue sharing his story monthly.
- Amber Thuska (Fusca) echoed her husband's concerns, congratulated new board members, and stated that no incumbent board member had ever reached out to their family. She pledged to continue attending meetings and offered to be a voice for other families experiencing similar issues.
Affirmation / Support for the District
- Kyle Watson offered thanks and affirmation to the existing board and Dr. Noel, describing himself as a proud CISD product. He praised Dr. Noel for personally returning his call within 24 hours and handling competing interests during the pandemic. He urged the board to recognize common interests as new members join.
- Evan Berlin (Oak Ridge High School student, 161 days from graduation) spoke in defense of public education, sharing his personal story of going from a family without high school graduates to being accepted at Georgetown and applying to Harvard. He credited CISD staff and urged the board to remember the power and value of public education amid negative rhetoric.
Library Books / Curriculum Concerns
- Scott Nelson congratulated new board members and defended their platform (community values, parental rights, transparency). He listed five specific concerns: (1) critical race theory elements in curriculum, (2) taxpayer-funded employee attendance at an event featuring Ibram X. Kendi, (3) district forms discouraging staff from engaging parents about gender dysphoria, (4) board block voting and lack of executive session transparency, and (5) taxpayer-funded library books with sexual content for elementary/middle school students.
- Alexander Harris discussed library material policies, arguing the district's cited legal codes were incomplete and that some books qualifying as "harmful to minors" were being overlooked even if not technically "obscene." He referenced specific books he had challenged.
- Linda Long spoke about the importance of positive influences on children's minds and expressed concern about harmful content. She distributed materials to board members, including new members.
- Garrett Costello called for greater transparency in the book reconsideration process, asking: Who serves on review committees? Are parents included? Are challenged books listed publicly? He noted a book likely to be removed was still checked out by a 9th grader, and recommended making challenged books "opt-in" by parents during review.
- Teresa Kinney (owner of Village Books) defended librarians' professional vetting of books and spoke in favor of students having access to diverse books at appropriate reading and emotional levels.
Homeschool UIL Participation
- Kane Black (9th grade, homeschooled) requested the board consider allowing homeschool students to participate in UIL activities, citing Texas House Bill 547. He outlined the eligibility requirements homeschool students would need to meet.
Reading / Literacy
- Seraphim Ferius urged the board to examine reading instruction methods, referencing the podcast "Sold a Story" about the failure of cueing-based reading instruction. He advocated for adoption of the "science of reading" (phonics-based) approach, noting Fort Worth and other districts have already made changes.
Unity and Collaboration
- April Kersey urged the board to work in unity and collaboration, called for more open public discussion, and asked the board to focus curriculum on core educational competencies (reading, writing, math).
- Carrie Freemeyer (Texas State Teachers Association, Conroe chapter) congratulated new trustees and urged all board members to set aside personal agendas and work together for students and staff.
Consent Agenda (Item 3)
- Motion to approve: Made and seconded.
- Vote: Approved unanimously (by show of hands).
Administration (Item 4)
4A — Intruder Detection Audit Report (Informational)
Presenter: Mr. McCord
- As of this report, 14 campuses have been audited by the Texas School Safety Center (unannounced inspections per Governor's directive following Uvalde).
- No findings — auditors were unable to gain unauthorized entry at any campus. This is the desired outcome.
- 75% of schools statewide are expected to be audited by May; the pace of audits in CISD is expected to accelerate.
- In response to board questions: Most security measures were already in place; interior door security has been "ramped up with even more fidelity." No campus resistance to changes. Perimeter door hardware maintenance had been ongoing for years. The state may issue additional perimeter security requirements (public comment period closed December 12).
4B — Attendance Zones Update: Grand Oaks Feeder Zone (Informational)
Presenter: Mr. McCord
Key points from the attendance zone committee's work (5+ months, 29 scenarios evaluated):
Elementary Schools:
- Dr. Christopher J. Hines Elementary (new school at 4550 Lexington) — first-ever attendance boundary to be established.
- Primary concerns: Broadway Elementary at 137% capacity; Snyder Elementary at 135% capacity.
- Scenario 7 (recommended for January vote):
- Establishes Hines Elementary zone, drawing students primarily from Broadway and Snyder.
- Hines intentionally set below 750 students to accommodate anticipated growth.
- Small areas (C-57 Grand Imperial Promenade and B-57, currently undeveloped) would transfer from Burnham Woods to Hines as a hedge against future growth.
- Total students affected: 1,094 (one of the lower totals across scenarios).
- Community feedback overwhelmingly emphasized keeping subdivisions together; the committee made this a priority.
Intermediate Schools:
- Clark Intermediate at 115% capacity (and growing); Cox Intermediate at 92%.
- Scenario 1 (recommended for January vote):
- Two areas (western portion of Legends Run and Legends Trace) would transfer from Clark back to Cox — 199 students affected (smallest or near-smallest number of all scenarios).
- Burnham Woods Drive remains the dividing line.
- Described as "flip-flopping the numbers in anticipation of growth" on the east/north/south sides of the Grand Oaks feeder zone.
No vote taken — recommendations to be brought for board consideration in January.
Board discussion noted the rapid pace of development in these areas, with Bradley Elementary (opened 2017 to empty land) now at 1,027 students with 5 portables.
Capital Projects (Item 5)
5A — Campus Renovation 2023 GMP Amendment
- Amount: $8,294,831
- Scope: HVAC renovation and ADA work at Giesinger Elementary; rebranding Moorhead Junior High as Veterans Memorial Junior High (intermediate school); driveway expansion at Veterans Memorial; track work at The Woodlands High School; baseball facility renovations.
- Contractor: GTT General Contractors (selected as CMAR in February 2022).
- Vote: Motion made, seconded, approved unanimously.
5B — Safety and Security 2023-2024 GMP Amendment
- Amount: $10,957,058
- Scope: Final installment of the 2019 bond Safety and Security standalone project. Fully funded by 2019 bond funds.
- Contractor: LSR Constructors (selected as CMAR in February 2020).
- Vote: Motion made, seconded, approved unanimously.
5C — Selection of Architectural, Engineering, Building Envelope, and Commissioning Service Providers
- Pool of service providers established via formal RFQ process (40 companies responded).
- Approval authorizes superintendent to negotiate and execute individual contracts as needs arise; does not guarantee work.
- Vote: Motion made, seconded, approved unanimously.
5D — Selection of Survey, Test & Balance, Geotechnical Engineering, and Materials Testing Providers
- Pool established via formal RFQ process (27 companies responded).
- Vote: Motion made, seconded, approved unanimously.
5E — Capital Improvements Update (Informational)
Presenter: Mr. Foster
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Safety & Security 2022 | Wrapping up; 12 months of installations; finishing on schedule |
| New Moorhead Junior High | On schedule for August 2023 opening; near dry state; finishes underway |
| East County Transportation | Earthwork begun; building pad near complete; ~1 year to completion |
| North County Transportation | Temporary facilities being set up; renovation of existing building + new operations building; ~1 year timeline |
| Conroe High School Renovation | On schedule; new C-wing and athletic facility to open at spring break; fine arts moves to existing gyms; Rotunda/annex/Ag building removal summer 2023; new fine arts/cafeteria/kitchen continue through 2025 |
| Oak Ridge High School / South County CTE Center | New front door/administration scheduled for use after winter break; South County CTE Center progressing; main campus overhaul continues through summer 2023 |
| Dr. Christopher J. Hines Elementary | On schedule for August 2023 opening; finishes working from back to front |
| Maintenance & Child Nutrition Facility | On schedule for summer 2023; main building nearly closed in; second building being skinned |
| Caney Creek High School | New front entry opened at Thanksgiving break; foundation work underway for athletics/PE expansions; on schedule through summer 2023 |
| Collins Intermediate | Gym addition nearly complete (painting, basketball goals, floors next); PE use expected when students return from winter break; life cycle/security improvements continue through August 2023 |
Business & Finance (Item 6)
Financial Reports as of November 30, 2022
Presenter: Mr. Garza
| Fund | Total Assets |
|---|---|
| General Fund | $618.7 million |
| Debt Service | $156.7 million |
| Child Nutrition | $16.9 million |
| Self-Funded Insurance | $9.7 million |
- General Fund Revenue (YTD): $113.1 million — tax collections beginning to come in; first two state funding payments received.
- General Fund Expenses (YTD): $101.9 million
- 2019 Bond Update: $524.3 million expended/encumbered; ~$125 million estimated to complete.
- Self-Funded Insurance: November deficit of ~$100,000 (driven by one large claimant); year-to-date surplus of $526,000.
- Investments: Par value $582.4 million; combined portfolio yield 3.6% vs. 90-day T-bill benchmark of 4.14%.
Executive Session (Items 7–12)
- Board entered closed session at 7:18 PM pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (legal consultation) and 551.074 (personnel matters).
- Board returned to open session at 7:46 PM.
Action on Executive Session (Item 13)
- No action taken.
Other Business
- Board President Hubert acknowledged a suggestion from Trustee Olden Weller to allow board members to suggest future agenda items at the end of meetings. No formal motion was made, but the president encouraged board members to email suggestions to him or Dr. Noel for consideration at future meetings.
Adjournment
- Meeting adjourned with holiday wishes. ("Merry Christmas everybody.")