May 16, 2023 — Regular Meeting

Name: May 16, 2023 — Regular Meeting
Start: 2023-05-16

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2023-05-16

Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes

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

Generated 2026-03-28 15:39 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting — May 16, 2023

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

Opening

Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM by Board President Skeeter Hubert
Quorum confirmed; meeting posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act
Invocation: Trustee Datron Williams
Pledge of Allegiance: Melissa Duncan
Color Guard: College Park High School Marine Corps JROTC

Special Board Recognitions

A. STAR Program Graduates (Students Together Achieving Results)

Presented by Mr. Manuel Textador, Counseling Department
176 graduating seniors across seven high schools in the 14th class of the STAR program; 22 representatives present
Program identifies entering 9th graders with academic potential who struggle entering high school; provides a four-year support program including college campus visits
Student speaker: Jordan Adams (Caney Creek High School) shared her personal story of overcoming a difficult childhood, involvement with CPS, and being placed with a guardian who was a bus monitor. She plans to attend Sam Houston State University for music therapy.
Board congratulated all graduates

B. College Park High School Marine Corps JROTC

Presented by Principal Dr. Mark Murrell and Sergeant Major Christopher Combs
Program established 9 years ago with Board and Marine Corps approval
Historic achievement: First team in history to win both the Marine Corps JROTC National Championship AND the All-Service National High School Drill Championship in the same year
Won all four competitions entered during the season (Dayton, Regionals, Nationals in Washington DC, All-Service in Florida)
Number one color guard in the nation; won all-service by over 100 points (compared to 8 points the prior year)
Isabel Martinez named number one unit leader in the nation
Division One Masters national champions in armed rifle
Board remarks: Trustee Odenweller delivered a personal tribute, comparing the achievement to the "Miracle on Ice"

C. 2023 6A Boys Doubles Tennis State Champions

Jose Perez and Emilio Lopez from The Woodlands High School
Presented by Principal Dr. Ted Landry and Head Tennis Coach Brett Kendall
First-ever state champions in tennis from The Woodlands High School
Three-time district and regional doubles champions; three-time state qualifiers
Undefeated 25-0 in spring doubles; named Houston Chronicle All Greater Houston Players of the Year
Perez plans to play at Collin County in Plano; Lopez will attend the University of Texas at Austin
Board remarks: Trustee Nelson congratulated the players and their families

D. NAMM Foundation Best Communities for Music Education Award

Presented by Dr. Bob Horton, Coordinator of Fine Arts
11th consecutive year CISD received this designation
One of 103 Texas districts (out of 1,100+) to earn the distinction — top 9% in Texas
Survey measured budget commitment, qualified teachers, standards adherence, and performance opportunities
Representatives from elementary music, intermediate, junior high, and high school band, orchestra, and choir were present
Board remarks: Trustee (unidentified) noted "all means all" and praised music as a universal community builder

Citizen Participation (Public Comments)

27 speakers signed up. Key themes included school safety/violence, library books, vouchers, teacher support, special education, and general praise for the district.

School Safety & Violence

Eliza Baylor (7th grader, York Junior High): Described being physically attacked in the hallway by a student who had previously bullied her; reported feeling unsafe and having declining mental health; stated prior reports to administration resulted in no action
James Baylor (parent): Stated the assault was premeditated; criticized the board and administration for not being informed of the incident five days later; referenced previous letters sent to the board about violence at York in February and March; called the situation a "leadership failure"
Unnamed speaker (appears to be a parent): Referenced multiple violent incidents across CISD (knife fights at College Park, incidents at Grand Oaks, Westfield, Klein Collins); questioned the board's commitment to safety; noted district and county detention centers at maximum capacity; criticized a 15-day return-to-campus for an assailant at York
Unnamed speaker: Referenced Matthew 18:1-7 about protecting children

Library Books & Content Concerns

Deborah Ferris: Asked the board to remove sexually explicit materials from school libraries; read brief excerpts from a book she identified as inappropriate
Unnamed speaker: Read explicit excerpts from the book Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (audiobook at Grand Oaks High School); demanded removal of such books from all CISD schools
Tina Orbaugh (33-year teaching veteran): Read explicit passages from a book at Grand Oaks High School; urged removal of inappropriate books
Susan Scrubs: Criticized the board's decision to keep Ramona Blue in libraries; described the book's content as inappropriate for minors; specifically thanked Trustees Tiffany (Nelson) and Misty (Odenweller) for voting against keeping the book; expressed disappointment in other trustees
Maria Paulus: Questioned the disconnect between celebrating student achievement and allowing "vulgar, depraved books" in schools; criticized Dr. Noel and the board majority as "unfit"
Delf Ascendant (grandparent): Expressed disgust at book excerpts heard at meetings; rejected the argument that one must read entire books to judge them; urged action
Audrey Warner: Read Matthew 18:1-7 regarding protecting children

Support for Libraries, Librarians & Teachers

Teresa Neiman: Offered a literary adaptation of the "First they came..." poem about book removals
Rachel Walker: Shared observations from substitute teaching in CISD — praised teachers, noted age-appropriate classroom libraries, and stated she has seen "no form of indoctrination or so-called pornography"
Monica Wetzig (CISD librarian): Detailed her TLA (Texas Library Association) conference experience; described sessions on research skills, digital citizenship, AI, copyright, and more; called TLA vital to professional growth
Amber Sullivan: Criticized Trustees Nelson and Odenweller for questioning librarian attendance at TLA and suggesting "Innovative Teachers of Texas" (I.T. Texas) as an alternative; read I.T. Texas statements promoting Judeo-Christian values and liberation from SEL, diversity, and inclusion; called the suggestion "unethical" for a diverse district
Teresa Kinney (owner, Village Books in The Woodlands): Thanked CISD school librarians using quotes from authors including Neil Gaiman, Judy Blume, and Barbara Kingsolver

Teacher Pay & Support

Roberta Sandler: Raised concerns about SB9 and teacher pay equalization; noted that surrounding districts may receive additional $4K per teacher while Conroe's starting salary is comparable; argued for compound interest (raises) rather than simple interest (stipends/bonuses)

Special Education

Mark Fusca: Noted April was Autism Awareness Month with no mention at the prior meeting; cited CDC statistics (1 in 36 students affected); described bullying and lack of support for his autistic son; cited suicide statistics for ASD youth; demanded accountability
Amber Fusca: Described exhaustion of special needs parents fighting for services; urged the board to find root causes of systemic issues

General Comments

Joseph Liu (physician, district resident ~30 years): Commended Sally K. Wright Elementary Principal Megan Burnham and Knox Junior High Principal Joe Dahl for effective crisis management; contrasted with a prior negative experience at Collins Intermediate
Dana Breyers (27-year CISD volunteer/employee at Runyan Elementary): Praised multiple former Runyan staff who went on to leadership roles; vouched for the trustworthiness of CISD staff
Sebastian Duarte (student): Thanked the board for hiring a Spanish-speaking administrator at Oak Ridge High School in response to his March request; thanked teachers during Teacher Appreciation Month
Lindsey Dawson (parent): Praised the three newly elected trustees; criticized the four previously elected trustees for "complacency"; referenced tasby (Texas Association of School Boards) as a "woke lobbyist group"
Alexander Harris: Argued that teaching the Big Bang Theory constitutes teaching atheism; called for restoring "godly foundations"
Betty Doherty: Praised CISD staff, teachers, and Dr. Noel; shared a personal story about Dr. Noel noticing her grandchild's anxiety at a choir concert
Haley King (Oak Ridge High School senior, headed to Dartmouth): Thanked CISD educators; urged the board to focus on substantive issues like tax rates, equitable access, and vaping; called on trustees to oppose vouchers; criticized "virtue signaling"
Trudy (High School speaker): Quoted founding fathers on civic virtue and public education; advocated for parent-teacher alliance
Linda Long: Read from Ephesians 4:17 (Passion Translation); shared a story of a family from Seattle who chose to homeschool rather than enroll in local schools

Consent Agenda (Item 4)

Vote: Approved unanimously (no items removed)

Personnel Appointments (Items 5A–5D)

A. Principal, Suchma Elementary School — Jamie Allman

Dr. Noel noted Suchma Elementary is growing rapidly; praised Ms. Allman as a veteran educator with proven instructional leadership across multiple feeder zones
Ms. Allman shared her CISD history since 1995 and her connection to the Suchma family
Vote: Approved unanimously

B. Principal, Knox Junior High — Dr. Stacy Mosley

Replaces retiring Principal Joe Dahl
Previously served as counselor at Knox and College Park; 28-year education career
Vote: Approved unanimously

C. Principal, Washington High School — Nina Norman

Replaces retiring Dr. Williams
Currently associate principal at Conroe High School
Washington High School is a School of Choice; Ms. Norman has experience in both in-person and virtual instruction
Vote: Approved unanimously

D. Director of School Improvement — Melinda Stewart

Joins the school improvement coaching team
Background as instructional coach serving campuses across the district
Vote: Approved unanimously

Capacity Presentation (Item 6A)

Presented by a district administrator (likely Mr. McCord, facilities/planning)

Key Points:

Current enrollment: 71,460 students; projected 73,394 for 2023-24
District growth has accelerated significantly in the last three years
Programs impacting capacity: Academy for Science and Technology (relocated from Oak Ridge to College Park), special education (~411 classrooms district-wide), pre-K programs
More students in a finite space = more behavioral interactions — capacity directly impacts behavior, discipline, and overall school functioning

High School Concerns:

Caney Creek: ~9% capacity increase in one year
Conroe High (10-12 only): 15% capacity jump in one year
Grand Oaks: Projected 109% to 121% capacity; 10 portables; running out of space for more portables

Junior High Concerns:

Peet and Stockton: Projected to exceed 2,000-2,300 students within 10 years
York: Projected ~2,500 students in 10 years
Morehead: Expansion from 1,050 to 1,600 capacity (new building opening August 2023)

Intermediate Concerns:

Bosman: Projected to exceed 2,000 students
Derichon and Vogel: Growing
Suchma: Approaching 150% capacity — one of top two concerns

Elementary Concerns (Major):

Austin Elementary: Projected 1,700-1,800 students; 17% growth
Buckalew: River's Edge development will add students
Bush Elementary: Covered play area being removed for portable; no answer for where to put a portable in 2024-25 — identified as a major concern
Creighton: At 150% capacity; ~16 portables; running out of room
Oak Ridge Elementary: Portable being placed in parking lot (former wellness clinic parking)
Powell: Limited space without removing trees
Runyan: Very small building (575 capacity) facing growth
Suchma: Approaching 150%
Wilkinson: Trees being removed for development; projected 1,700-1,800 students

Campuses Running Out of Portable Space:

Bush Elementary, Conroe High 9th Grade Campus, Grand Oaks, Oak Ridge Elementary, Suchma, Creighton, Eastinger, Irons Junior High, Powell

Transportation:

56,000 registered for bus transportation; 40,000 ride daily
376 routes; 55.4% ridership rate (very high for a school district)
Concern about bus capacity increasing if routes can't keep pace with growth
Driver recruitment and retention is critical

Capacity Management Strategies:

Outdoor lunch areas with added fencing and tables
Additional lunch periods (one school considering 5 periods)
Non-traditional lunch spaces (libraries, hallways, gymnasiums)
Limiting elementary visitors at lunch
Earlier classroom release from cafeteria
Multiple pep rallies
Staggered bell schedules
Foundations program for coordinated campus operations
Social engineering of hallway traffic patterns

Bond Package Connection:

The draft bond package (to be presented at June Workshop) includes:

- 9th grade campus for Caney Creek

- 9th grade campus for Grand Oaks

- New high school in the Conroe feeder

- Eight new elementary schools

Without the bond, there is no material relief for overcrowded campuses
Bartlett Elementary (opening fall 2024) will help Anderson, Austin, Creighton, possibly others, but cannot solve all problems
First elementary schools from a November bond passage would open August 2025

Student Identification Badges (Item 6B)

Presented by district administration on behalf of the Safety & Security Committee

Current Status:

All 71,000+ students receive a badge; none currently required to wear them
All staff required to wear badges
Conroe High and Caney Creek previously required student badges (discontinued)

Research Findings:

Every surveyed district outside Montgomery County required student ID badges (Katy, Cy-Fair, Klein, Spring, Humble, Tomball, etc.)
Within Montgomery County: New Caney (secondary), Splendora (all) require them; Magnolia, Montgomery, Willis do not

Benefits Discussed:

Quick identification of students by all staff including substitutes
Faster lunch lines (badges used for point-of-sale)
Safety — identifying who belongs in the building
Integration with existing Smart Tag system (bus, cafeteria, library)

Implementation Details:

Elementary (Pre-K–4): Badge on backpack left strap + supplementary plastic card for cafeteria
Secondary: Worn badge incorporating Smart Tag functionality
Cost: $2 per badge (includes badge, plastic cover, breakaway lanyard)
Replacement process already in place on campuses

Board Discussion:

General support for high school implementation; some support for junior high
Concerns raised about:

- Management burden on teachers (dress code enforcement comparison)

- Discipline pipeline impact

- Cost waivers for economically disadvantaged students

- Students passing/sharing badges

- Elementary implementation logistics (largely addressed by backpack solution)

Trustee Duncan requested broader teacher feedback
Trustee Williams emphasized cost-benefit analysis and ensuring the change helps rather than burdens teachers
Trustee Chase supported junior high inclusion due to students leaving campus for extracurriculars

Outcome:

No formal vote required — informational item for feedback
Administration will follow up with principals and teachers; further exploration of high school and junior high implementation

Intruder Detection Audits (Item 6C)

12 audits conducted in May; 10 had no findings
Year-to-date: 50 out of 56 audits with no findings — far above state average
2 campuses with findings will have required safety training before summer (meeting scheduled May 22)
Audits believed complete for the year but district will maintain same expectations through summer school and into fall 2023

Instructional Materials: Phonics Curriculum Selection (Item 7A)

Presented by Dr. Edith Upshaw

Background:

Texas Education Code requires systematic phonics curriculum for K-3 (direct instruction, delivered daily)
Commissioner's compliant list released March 30, 2023 (first list after 4 years of waiting since HB3)
Some programs on the list are not compliant across all grade levels (K-3)
District currently uses three different phonics products; goal is to select one

Selection Process:

Phonics Focus Group formed with representatives across feeder systems (teachers, coaches, principals, dyslexia specialists)
District Showcase with publisher presentations (~20 minutes each) plus one-page deep dives
Two surveys: constituent/instructor survey AND community survey
Community viewing period: Materials available at Jet Center for approximately two weeks with feedback iPads
One-pagers and publisher links (where available) to be made accessible online for community review
Communications through principal newsletters and district channels

Board Discussion:

Trustee Nelson asked about parent notification and community access — Dr. Upshaw confirmed press release issued and principal newsletters would carry information; agreed to post materials online
Trustee inquired about HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), already adopted and on the commissioner's list — questioned whether updating/expanding HMH access could meet the need at lower cost
Dr. Noel noted this is a moving target; if the committee doesn't find a strong match, waiting for additional compliant products may be wise
Estimated cost for K-3 phonics adoption: approximately $3.5-4 million
Concern raised about purchasing something that may only serve 1-2 years if a full ELA adoption is coming
Dr. Upshaw confirmed teacher feedback was the driving force — teachers requested better, less prep-intensive resources

Outcome:

Informational item — committee process underway; recommendation will return to the board for final approval

Construction Project Acceptances (Items 8A–8D)

Presented by Mr. Foster

All four projects accepted as complete with final payments authorized:

|---|---|---|---|

| Runyan Elementary PE Addition | $8,798.53 | $120,870.86 | Unanimous |

| Wilkerson Intermediate PE Addition | $306,666.37 | $113,395.27 | Unanimous |

| 2021 Campus Renovation | $59.13 | $386,457.04 | Unanimous |

Capital Improvement Updates (Item 8E)

Presented by Mr. Foster

| Project | Status |

|---|---|

| Safety & Security (23-24) | On schedule; contractors working nights/weekends; completion December 2024 |

| Morehead Junior High (new) | Opens August 2023; on schedule |

| Hines Elementary (new) | Opens August 2023; on schedule |

| Bartlett Elementary (new) | Opens August 2024; foundations under construction; on schedule |

| Conroe High School renovation | On schedule; CTE building, gyms, and athletic venues ready for August; older buildings to be removed this summer; overall completion December 2025 |

| Oak Ridge High School overhaul | South County CTE nearing completion; ready August 2023; road construction begun |

| Caney Creek High School (6A Craig project) | Interior finishing; open for students August 2023 |

| Collins Intermediate | Gym opened; AC upgrades to begin when students leave; ready for August |

| Eastinger Elementary | Equipment in hand or en route; AC ready for August; some work into fall |

| Veterans Memorial (rebranding from prior use) | Queuing line construction begun; rebranding over summer; reopens August as Veterans Memorial Intermediate |

| Maintenance/Child Nutrition building | On schedule; possession near end of June |

| East County Transportation | Bus fleet parking complete; building work ongoing; open December 2023 |

| North County Transportation | Building pad/foundations under construction; demolition of old structures done; open December 2023 |

Medicaid Collection Services (Item 9)

Presented by Rick Reeves, Purchasing

RFP 23-02-13 for Medicaid collection services (SHARS/CHAR program)
Five vendors responded; top two finalists presented to committee
Recommended vendor: Onward Learning
Fee decreases from 3.75% to 3.50% of actual Medicaid reimbursements
Projected SHARS reimbursements for 2023-24: approximately $11.3 million
One-year term with two automatic one-year renewals
Vote: Approved unanimously

Business & Finance (Item 10)

A. Bank Depository Contract Extension — Woodforest National Bank

Resolution to extend existing contract for two years (through August 31, 2025)
First extension of original contract awarded May 2021; up to three additional two-year extensions possible
Original RFP received four bids
Vote: Approved (Trustee Odenweller abstained due to Woodforest being a sister company to her employer)

B. Financial Report (April 30, 2023)

Presented by Ms. Garza

General Fund: YTD revenues $537.8M; expenditures $353.5M
2019 Bond: $598.4M expended/encumbered; $52.8M remaining
Self-Funded Insurance: Slight April surplus of $80K; YTD surplus ~$2.7M
Investments: Portfolio value $706.6M; pools yielding 5.03%; combined portfolio 4.76%; 90-day T-bill 4.89%
$50M managed by TCG Investment Advisors; remainder managed internally
Informational item — no vote required

Board Policy (Item 11A)

Adopt Revised Board Policy BBB — Board Members Elections

Minor adjustments to position numbers confirmed
Vote: Approved unanimously

Resolution Opposing Vouchers/Educational Savings Accounts (Item 11B)

⚠️ Significant and Extended Board Discussion

Background: President Hubert proposed a draft resolution opposing vouchers and educational savings accounts (ESAs), stating it was intended as a starting point for board discussion and refinement.

Key Positions:

In Favor of the Resolution (Hubert, Williams, Wagman, partially others):

Public school boards should advocate against diverting public funds from public education
As board members of one of the best public school districts in Texas, they owe it to students, teachers, and the community to take a position
Voucher/ESA programs would divert funds from CISD
Studies from states with long-standing voucher programs show no improvement in educational outcomes
Hubert shared personal experience with charter schools lacking resources for his special needs children
Williams argued this is fundamentally about supporting public education and called the voucher system a step toward segregation based on economics and, by correlation, race
Described public education as "the great equalizer"

Against the Resolution (Nelson, Chase, Odenweller, Duncan):

Trustee Nelson moved to remove the item entirely from discussion (motion failed)
Concerns raised that the resolution closely mirrors TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) lobbying language — Hubert emphatically denied any TASB involvement
Cited inaccuracies in the resolution, including: use of the word "voucher" (not in SB8), statements about private school accountability, and characterization of funding mechanisms
Argued the legislation is a "moving target" with constantly changing provisions (hold harmless, foundation funding, general revenue)
Stated the board lacks jurisdictional purview over state legislation
Trustee Chase questioned why this issue warranted a resolution but not others (dyslexia bill, obscenity/pornography bills)
Trustee Duncan expressed concern about signing a resolution pertaining to legislation board members hadn't fully read
Nelson stated she could not sign something with inaccuracies

Motions and Votes:

1. Motion to remove the item from discussion (Nelson/Chase)

- Vote: FAILED (did not achieve majority)

2. Motion to accept the resolution as written (Williams/seconded)

- Vote: FAILED (3 in favor, others opposed/abstaining — did not achieve 4 votes)

3. Amendment to strip all "whereas" clauses except the final two (opposing legislation that diverts public funds to non-public schools)

- Vote: FAILED (did not achieve majority; 2-3 abstentions)

4. Motion to amend resolution to state "CISD supports parental choice as long as it doesn't defund public education" (Nelson)

- Vote: FAILED (2 in favor, 3 opposed, abstentions)

5. Motion to table the resolution to the next board meeting/workshop (June)

- Vote: PASSED (6-1, with 1 opposed)

⚠️ Item tabled to June meeting/workshop for further discussion and potential revision.

TASB Board of Directors Nomination (Item 11C)

Trustee Wagman nominated to continue serving on the TASB Board of Directors, Region 6, representing Conroe ISD
Trustees Nelson and Chase stated they would abstain from discussion/vote (Nelson is not a TASB member; Chase unenrolled upon becoming a board member)
President Hubert noted the value of having CISD representation on the TASB board to provide input and correction
Vote: Approved (with noted abstentions from Nelson and Chase)

Executive Session

Board entered closed session at 11:07 PM
Sections cited: 551.071, 551.074, 551.076, 551.089 (consultation with attorney, personnel, real property, security)
Board returned to open session at 12:43 AM

No action taken from executive session.

Trustee Requests for Future Agenda Items (Item 14)

None

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:43 AM (May 17, 2023)

These unofficial notes were generated from an auto-generated transcript. They are intended to help the public understand what occurred at the meeting but should not be considered an official record. Official minutes are maintained by the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees.