February 21, 2023 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2023-02-21
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 15:18 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting — February 21, 2023
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 by Board President Skeeter Hubert
- Quorum confirmed; meeting posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act
- Invocation led by Dayton Williams, who asked for a special blessing for the family of Susan Bond in their time of loss
- Pledge of Allegiance led by Melissa Duncan
- Recognition of Snyder teacher Jo Holston, whose son Ethan (Grand Oaks graduate) became a U.S. citizen that day
Item 2: Awards and Recognitions
2023 TMEA All-State Musicians
Dr. Bob Horton, Coordinator of Fine Arts, presented the recognition of 38 CISD students named 2023 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State musicians.
- Process: Over 70,000 students across Texas audition; only the top ~3% (approximately 1,800 students) are selected for All-State ensembles through a multi-round elimination process across 33 TMEA regions and 8 area auditions
- Students represented schools including Oak Ridge, College Park, The Woodlands High School, and Grand Oaks
- Numerous band, choir, and orchestra teachers were recognized for their guidance
- Students were individually called to the stage and received certificates
- Board President Wagman offered congratulatory remarks and recognized parents for their years of support
- Special thanks to Caney Creek High School Floral Design class for flowers decorating the meeting venue
Item 3: Citizen Participation
26 speakers addressed the board during a two-minute public comment period. Major themes included:
Teacher Support and Retention
- Sarah White (teacher): Thanked the board for a recent stipend; expressed concern about mass teacher exits and urged educators to use their voices on issues affecting their ability to do their jobs
- Emily Kress (13-year educator): Described fear among educators about being misconstrued on social media; cited increasing mandates (Reading Academy, HB 4545, PLC data meetings) as driving teachers away; shared personal story of a former student still reaching out years later
- Sullivan (13-year CISD educator): Said the partnership between educators and parents has broken down; cited organizations targeting educators in Montgomery County; warned the board to plan for significant vacancies
- Christy Jameson (retired CISD teacher): Supported the current opt-out policy, stating that registering a child in the district is already "opting in"; urged the board not to send teachers another message of distrust
Library Books / Book Challenges
- Riley Oberg (College Park senior): Opposed book banning; argued books on heavy topics provide the greatest help to students in need; invoked First Amendment rights
- Sydney Jackson (College Park senior): Expressed fear about attacks on teachers and book removal; challenged the board to use power for the good of all students
- Abigail (Nix) Chapman (student, queer-identified): Shared personal experiences of harassment and bullying; opposed removing books that provide representation for marginalized students
- Dede Fox (40-year educator): Shared story of a prior district removing books with "witch" in the title; urged the board to stop challenging books; noted "in history, the good guys were never the ones that banned books"
- Teresa Neiman: Read excerpts from Margaret Atwood's Atlantic article about book banning
- Justin Dowd (College Park senior): Argued parents have the right to make decisions for their own child but not to "parent me"; noted not all families can afford to buy books on Amazon or access public libraries
- Lawrence (Oak Ridge senior, senior class president): Credited English classes and literary freedom for his academic success and college acceptance; heading to UT Austin on scholarship
- Aaron Bingham: Stated zero CISD educators he spoke with are "pro-porn"; criticized attacks on educators fed by "a local politician"; said board members aligned with those attacks are "doing more damage to this district than you can possibly imagine"
- Rachel Walker: Emphasized books as both "windows and mirrors"; cited statistics that 82% of transgender youth contemplate suicide and 40% attempt it; urged keeping representative books available
- Amy Butler (parent): Opposed opt-in requirements; shared experience of having to intervene when her advanced-reader child was restricted; argued it is a conflict of interest for trustees to sit on book reconsideration committees
- Holly Moore: Cited CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey data showing increases in sexual violence and suicide attempts among youth; noted books were never listed as a cause; recommended strengthening social-emotional learning programs
Speakers supporting book removal/restrictions:
- Carolyn Nene: Cited statistics on youth suicide, sexual assault, and STDs; urged CISD to be "the first district to remove sexually immoral books"
- Susan: Argued some library books meet the legal definition of pornography under Texas Penal Code 43.24; cited a recent Texas child pornography sting operation
- Dawn Bednars: Argued federal law prohibits distribution of obscene matter to minors; called for removal of books depicting minors performing sexual acts
- Kathy Galion: Acknowledged librarians' value but said some library materials are pornographic and can cause addiction, anxiety, and aggressive behavior
- Tina Orbaugh (33-year educator): Expressed concern about effects of explicit content on developing brains; compared to movie rating systems
- Robert LaBelle: Criticized the district (inaccurately, per Dr. Noel's correction) for allegedly sending librarians to a drag show; opposed "all-inclusiveness"
Other Topics
- Marlo Sauceda (parent): Praised The Woodlands High School theater and music programs; urged support for teachers and librarians
- Callie LaHouse (FFA/Montgomery County Fair Queen): Shared information about National FFA Week and the Montgomery County Fair; invited community attendance
- Morgan Salinas (parent): Advocated for continuation of the Conroe ISD Virtual Academy, which has been critical for her daughters who developed dysautonomia after COVID
- Wyatt Soul (5th-grade Virtual Academy student, dyslexic): His mother read his persuasive speech arguing small class sizes and strong teacher relationships lead to better academic outcomes
- Melanie Bush (former board member, 2014-2018): Encouraged respectful conflict among board members; said the board "failed last month to put the personal aside"
- Evan Berlin (CISD graduate): Thanked Dr. Noel for accessibility on bond questions; urged focus on mental health resources
- Diane Daniels: Suggested a mass email to parents for opt-in/opt-out on books; questioned whether stadium funding could have gone to dyslexia/special needs programs
- Seraphim Farias: Advocated for adopting "science of reading" curriculum; suggested creating a subcommittee of administrators and teachers to review reading curriculum
- Alexander Harris: Argued evolution is "the science of racism" and questioned why it is taught in schools
- Courtney McNall (librarian and parent): Described real problems in schools (phones, technology, bus driver shortage, overcrowding) as more pressing than book challenges
- A parent spoke about a due process ruling finding the district failed to identify a student with autism and violated IDEA requirements related to dyslexia and ASD services
Dr. Noel's clarification: Stated definitively that the district did not send anyone to a drag show, correcting a claim made during public comment.
Item 4: Consent Agenda
- Motion to accept consent agenda as presented
- Vote: Approved unanimously
Item 5: Human Resources — Appointment of Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools
Dr. Noel recommended Dr. Jeff Stickler for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools, replacing Dr. Medford (who replaced the retiring Dr. Hines).
- Dr. Stickler is the current principal of Caney Creek High School
- Previously served as principal of Moorhead Junior High, Conroe High School Ninth Grade Campus, and associate/assistant principal at multiple campuses
- Over 15 years of administrative experience across three feeder zones
- Dr. Noel praised him as "a fine man with a giant heart"
Dr. Stickler gave brief remarks thanking his wife Melanie, children Cullen and Kylie, former mentors including Gail Drummond (his 8th grade reading teacher), and the Caney Creek High School community.
- Vote: Approved unanimously
Item 11a: Local Policy Manual Update 120 (First Reading — Information Only)
Legal Counsel Gladys presented the first reading of Update 120, covering multiple policy changes:
- BBB (Board Member Elections): Change terminology from "position" to "seat"; update election cycle years
- CKC: Add train derailments to Emergency Operations Plan (already practiced, now codified)
- DC: Grant superintendent authority to hire teachers and coordinator-level staff during summer months (March through end of summer) to remain competitive
- DEC: Cleanup language related to banking leave days
- FFAC: Allow purchase/storage of fentanyl antagonist medication (Narcan)
- FNG: Clarify that complaints under IDEA, Section 504, or free/reduced lunch programs go through separate processes
- FO (Student Discipline): Add language on restraints of special education students per administrative code
- GKD: Expand superintendent authority to allow support groups more than two free campus events per year
- GKDA: Explicitly exclude campaign materials from distribution on district property
This is a first reading; these policies will return for adoption at the March meeting.
Item 11b: Review and Consider Amending Board Policy EFB (Library Materials)
This was the most extensively debated item of the meeting. Key discussion points:
Context
- Dr. Noel's February 14 email outlined four key points of agreement: (1) librarians want to cultivate appropriate collections, (2) parents should retain decision-making authority, (3) some books clearly didn't meet criteria and have been removed, (4) disagreement exists on other books
- The district proposed minimal revisions to the existing EFB policy
- Trustee Melissa Duncan submitted a more comprehensive amendment proposal based on TEA's April 2022 suggested guidelines
Debate Highlights
- Trustees Duncan and Odin-Weller argued the current policy is too skeletal and vague, leading to the contentious situations of recent months; advocated for comprehensive revision using TEA guidelines as a starting point
- Trustee Williams argued the current policy has worked well for many years; expressed full faith in professional librarians; stated registration in the district constitutes opting in
- President Hubert initially supported an opt-in concept but reversed after meeting with approximately 15-20 librarians and studying the issue; said he now trusts the current system
- Trustee Williams characterized ongoing book discussions as politically motivated and wasteful of district resources: "Tell me how this helps any of [our] priorities"
- Significant tension between board members, with exchanges becoming personal at times; President Hubert and Trustee Bush (during public comments) called for more respectful discourse
- Dr. Noel explained the district's proposed "mature category" as a middle ground: books flagged as mature would be digitally labeled in the catalog; parents would indicate yes/no on a PowerSchool form at start of year whether their child could access mature-themed titles
Motions and Votes
1. Motion (Williams): Reject the district's proposed policy changes and any policy that limits library access; take no action on current policy
- Second: Received
- Vote: FAILED 3-4 (Williams and 2 others in favor; 4 opposed)
2. Motion (Duncan): Spend time to improve the policy by reviewing it against TEA's April 2022 suggested guidelines; make a decision at a later date
- No second received — Motion failed for lack of a second
3. Motion (Hubert): Accept the district's proposed policy changes with the exception of the parental consent form, and add that no board member may serve on the book reconsideration committee
- Second: Received
- Amendment (Williams): Remove the mature categorization from the motion
- Vote on amendment: FAILED 2-5
- Vote on original motion: FAILED 1-6
4. Motion (Williams): Add to procedure that no board member shall serve on any library book reconsideration committee
- Second: Received
- Discussion included concerns about conflict of interest (board members submitting book challenges then serving on the review committee)
- Trustee Duncan asked if a board member could serve in an oversight/non-voting capacity; this was debated but not adopted
- Vote: PASSED 4-3
Net Outcome
- No changes were made to the EFB board policy itself
- Procedural change adopted: Board members are prohibited from serving on library book reconsideration committees (4-3 vote)
Item 6a: Campus Mascot and School Colors — Veterans Memorial Intermediate & Heinz Elementary
Dr. Winkler (Heinz Elementary):
- School colors: Navy blue and cheerful yellow (incorporated into building design)
- 190 mascot nominations received; narrowed to three finalists: Heinz Hawks, Heinz Heroes, Heinz Huskies
- Students and families will vote the following week; recommendation to come to March board meeting
Dr. Medford (Veterans Memorial Intermediate):
- School colors: Red and blue
- ~40 mascot submissions received; narrowed to Eagles and Patriots
- Students will vote; recommendation to come in March
- Board President Hubert noted he is "very much opposed to people as mascots"
No votes required — information only.
Item 6b: Smart Tag Bus Monitoring System Rollout
Mr. McCord presented an update on the Smart Tag system:
- What it is: RFID-based system that tracks authorized bus ridership with near real-time accuracy
- Rollout status: Implemented at Oak Ridge, Grand Oaks, and The Woodlands feeders; College Park feeder launching the next day; Caney Creek, Conroe, and Washington to follow
- Features:
- Students receive an RFID badge (no personal data stored on the badge — only a unique 14-digit ID)
- Samsung tablet readers installed on each bus
- Parent notifications via text when bus is approaching (morning and afternoon)
- Audible cues for drivers to ensure students exit at correct stops
- Additional safety layer for Pre-K/K student release to authorized parents
- Helps substitute/standby drivers navigate unfamiliar routes
- Enables staff to confirm all students have exited the bus
- Security: Data encrypted at rest and in transit; stored in Microsoft Azure cloud
- All students receive badges (not just current riders) because family situations change throughout the year
Notable exchange: Trustee Duncan raised concerns about RFID security, citing that readers can be purchased on Amazon for ~$15. Mr. McCord and district technology staff explained that the badge contains only a meaningless 14-digit code with no student information, and that all cloud data meets the same security standards as other district systems. President Hubert expressed surprise at the security concerns. The exchange became tense, with Duncan stating she was "tapping out" on the back-end security discussion.
No vote required — information only.
Item 6c: District-Wide Intruder Detection Audit Report
- State context: 2,864 Texas campuses audited statewide in fall 2022; 71% had no corrective actions
- CISD results: 92% compliance — 23 of 25 campuses audited with only 2 findings
- One additional campus audited in January had a finding; corrective training was completed February 17
- 10 campuses scheduled for February audits; 5 completed so far
No vote required — information only.
Item 7: Public Hearing — 2021-2022 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
Dr. Taylor presented the annual report covering the 2021-22 school year:
Key Data Points
- District accountability rating: B
- Enrollment: 70,812 at October 2022 snapshot; 71,262 as of meeting date
- STAAR performance: District compared favorably to peer districts at Approaches, Meets, and Masters levels
- Dropout rate: Lower than peer districts
- CCMR (College, Career & Military Readiness): Compared to peer districts for Class of 2021 (military readiness data not yet captured by state)
- Languages: 80+ languages spoken in CISD homes; top non-English languages: Spanish, Arabic, Telugu, Urdu, Vietnamese
- Attendance: 13-year improving trend (2020 anomaly due to remote check-in during pandemic)
- Academic Distinctions: Multiple campuses earned distinctions in growth, closing gaps, reading/ELA, math, science, social studies, and post-secondary readiness
- Staff: Teacher turnover rate lower than state average
- Finance:
- Tax rate 16 cents below peer districts; 16-cent decrease over 4 years
- Spends more on instruction than state average; considerably more on transportation
- Spends less on general administration than state average
- Unassigned fund balance: $173M (with $48.8M designated for land purchase and bond contingency, leaving $124.5M)
- Criminal incidents: 61 reportable incidents at 10 campuses; 55 were felony controlled substances (mostly vaping-related)
Public hearing concluded with no public comments.
Item 8: Planning and Construction
8a: Guaranteed Maximum Price — Bartlett Elementary (Flex School #23)
- GMP of $37,933,268 with Duratech Inc. (construction manager at risk)
- Final new building in the 2019 bond program
- Vote: Approved unanimously
8b: Selection of Construction Manager at Risk — Campus Renovations 2024
- GTT Inc. selected as best value from two respondents (GTT Inc. and Westfall Constructors)
- Final project of the 2019 bond capital plans; replaces aging building systems and adds safety/security upgrades
- Vote: Approved unanimously
8c: Capital Improvement Update (Information Only)
Mr. Foster provided updates on ongoing projects:
| Project | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Safety & Security 2024 (final installment) | On schedule; work continues at nights/weekends |
| New Moorhead Junior High | On schedule; opening August 2023; interior finishes underway |
| East County Transportation Center | On schedule; opening December 2023 |
| North Transportation Center | On schedule; opening December 2023; utility relocation with city cooperation |
| Conroe High School renovation | On schedule; power restored; CTE and Athletic buildings nearing completion; Rotunda and Freshman Annex scheduled for summer demolition; completion December 2025 |
| Oak Ridge High School overhaul | On schedule; new front door in use; CTE building closed in; major interior work this summer; completion August 2023 |
| Heinz Elementary | On schedule; opening August 2023 |
| New Maintenance & Child Nutrition facility | On schedule; departments moving in end of spring semester |
| Caney Creek High School upgrades | On schedule; weight room/locker room expansion; ready August 2023 |
| Collins Intermediate (new gym) | PE gym turned over; HVAC replacement planned for summer |
| Campus Renovations 2023 (Geesinger Elementary) | On schedule; HVAC overhaul planned for summer |
| Veterans Memorial rebranding | Queuing line expansion and rebranding ready August 2023 |
Board members praised Mr. Foster's team for keeping projects on schedule and on budget.
Item 9: Finance — Purchasing Approvals
9a: Furniture for Moorhead Junior High (RFQ 22-1104)
- Not to exceed $1.4 million; split between Indico Sales (administrative) and Educators Depot (instructional)
- 7 vendors responded
- Vote: Approved unanimously
9b: Furniture for Heinz Elementary (RFQ 22-1105)
- Not to exceed $900,000 to Educators Depot
- 7 vendors responded
- Vote: Approved unanimously
9c: Musical Instruments and Supplies (RFP 22-1201)
- Estimated expenditure of $735,000
- 23 vendors responded; covers district-wide needs plus two new schools
- Vote: Approved unanimously
9d: Water Well Service and Replacements (CSP 22-1102)
- Estimated annual expenditure of $60,000
- Awarded to A-Day Drilling, GC Electric, and Texas Operations of Professional Services
- Through Gordian Group job order contract program
- Vote: Approved unanimously
9e: Generator Service and Replacement (CSP 22-1103)
- Estimated annual expenditure of $150,000
- Awarded to GC Electric and Generator and Control Service LLC
- Vote: Approved unanimously
9f: Mariachi Uniforms and Supplies (RGV Mariachi Warehouse)
- Not to exceed $70,000
- For Woodlands High School and Conroe High School mariachi programs
- Purchased through Central Texas Purchasing Alliance (San Antonio ISD contract)
- Board members expressed enthusiasm about the growing mariachi program, noting that the need for Conroe High School uniforms had been raised in public comments a year prior
- Vote: Approved unanimously
Item 10: Financial Statements
Ms. Carlos presented the financial update:
- General Fund: Revenue of $409M+; expenditures of $198M
- Debt Service: $115M revenue; first debt payment of ~$97M processed
- Tax collections: At 80%, on track for this time of year
- 2019 Bond: $543.7M expended; $105.4M remaining
- Self-Funded Insurance: December surplus of $1.5M; January deficit of $2.6M (one large claim triggered stop-loss insurance; reimbursement expected)
- Investments: Portfolio value at $849M; yielding 4.36% (benchmark 90-day T-bill at 4.51%)
No vote required — information only.
Executive Session
Board entered closed session at 10:55 PM under Texas Government Code sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, 551.076, and 551.089.
Board returned to open session at 12:23 AM.
Action from Executive Session
Motion: Authorize and approve the purchase of land discussed in executive session; authorize the superintendent to enter into negotiations, execute, and sign the contract.
- Vote: Approved unanimously
Adjournment
- No future agenda item requests from trustees
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:25 AM (February 22, 2023)
Summary of All Votes
| Item | Motion | Result |
|------|--------|--------|
| Consent Agenda | Approve as presented | Unanimous |
| Dr. Jeff Stickler — Asst. Supt. Middle Schools | Approve appointment | Unanimous |
| EFB Policy — Take no action (Williams) | Reject district proposal; no changes | Failed 3-4 |
| EFB Policy — Review against TEA guidelines (Duncan) | Table for further review | Failed (no second) |
| EFB Policy — Accept district proposal minus form, add no-board-member provision (Hubert) | Adopt modified district proposal | Failed 1-6 |
| Amendment — Remove mature categorization (Williams) | Strike mature category | Failed 2-5 |
| Procedure — No board members on reconsideration committees (Williams) | Add to administrative procedure | Passed 4-3 |
| Bartlett Elementary GMP ($37.9M) | Approve | Unanimous |
| GTT Inc. — CM at Risk for Campus Renovations 2024 | Approve | Unanimous |
| Moorhead Junior High Furniture ($1.4M) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Heinz Elementary Furniture ($900K) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Musical Instruments & Supplies ($735K) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Water Well Service JOC ($60K) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Generator Service JOC ($150K) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Mariachi Uniforms & Supplies ($70K) | Approve | Unanimous |
| Land Purchase (from executive session) | Approve | Unanimous |
These notes are unofficial and based on an auto-generated transcript. For official minutes, please consult the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees.