{
  "id": "2024-07-16_regular",
  "meeting_date": "2024-07-16",
  "meeting_type": "regular",
  "meeting_types": [
    "regular"
  ],
  "title": "Conroe ISD Board Meeting — July 16, 2024",
  "date_display": "July 16, 2024",
  "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": "2026-06-18T19:45:21.345242Z",
  "highlights": "",
  "sections": [],
  "agenda_breakdown_md": "",
  "meeting_notes_md": "# Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2024-07-16\n*Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes*\n*Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.*\n*Generated 2026-03-28 17:13 UTC*\n\n---\n\n# Unofficial Meeting Notes\n## Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees\n### Regular Meeting — July 16, 2024\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 6:01 PM by President Hubert with a quorum present.\n- Invocation by Trustee Dayron Williams; Pledge of Allegiance led by Trustee Tiffany Nelson.\n\n---\n\n## Special Recognitions\n\n### Destination Imagination Global Champions\n- **Presenter:** Chris Reichelt\n- Conroe ISD had **146 teams** participate in Destination Imagination during the 2023–2024 school year.\n- **24 teams** advanced to state; **15 teams** advanced to Global Finals in Kansas City.\n- **Two teams won first place at Global Finals (world champions):**\n  - **DI Veterans from Vogal Intermediate** — Team Manager: Sher Cusano; Members: Garis Bailey, Haley Bahus, Alex Cusano, Chris Masa (absent), Kenzie Miller, Abby Privet, Shan Shukla (absent)\n  - **Martha Team from Knox Junior High** — Team Manager: Tina Patel (second consecutive year at Globals); Members: Benjamin Zhao (absent), Ava Checkman, Hayden Patel, Kishma Pary, Maddie Dillard, Rishab Yadav\n- Teams competed against delegations from around the world (Australia, South Korea, India, Norway, Switzerland, etc.).\n- Reichelt thanked the board for continued support of the DI program.\n\n### Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Winners\n- **Presenter:** Dr. Deborah Creel, Headmaster, Academy of Science and Technology at College Park High School\n- **Justin Wong and Victoria O** (rising seniors) won:\n  - **First place** in Environmental Engineering at ISEF\n  - **Second place overall** (Gordon Moore Award for Innovation) — accompanied by a **$55,000 prize**\n- Their project: Using **ultrasound to filter microplastics from water**\n- They earned their bid to ISEF through the **Texas State Science and Engineering Fair**\n- Both students are working on a **patent** for their project\n- Students credited Conroe ISD education going back to Mitchell Intermediate (6th grade) and sponsor Miss L. Aofe at AST\n- President Hubert praised their accomplishments and humility\n\n### Ambassador Awards — Transportation Department\n- **Presenters:** Chris McCord (Chief Operations Officer) and Juan Melindes (Director of Transportation)\n- McCord reported transportation is in its **best position in many years**, citing improved morale, professionalism, customer service, and equipment\n- **Two new transportation centers** opened (Caney Creek and Conroe)\n- **31 new buses** received last year; **82 new buses** scheduled to arrive November–May\n  - 30 of the 82 are part of a Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grant application; if awarded, could refund nearly **$3 million**\n- **Ambassador Award Recipients:**\n  - **Jamie Heraldo** (Conroe Center, Bus 1021) — ensured safety of a scared 2nd grader\n  - **Telicia Price** (Conroe Center, Bus 1028) — 9-year employee; excels in field trip management and training\n  - **Stephanie Malone** (Conroe Center/Caney Creek router) — 10-year employee; excels in routing and mentoring\n  - **Stacy Broadway** (Caney Creek, Bus 2043) — safeguarded a 1st grader when parent was absent at bus stop\n  - **Caroline Co Pepper & Heather Jones** (Oakridge Center, Bus 4217) — found a firearm (later determined fake) at a congested intersection, followed safety procedures (Jones absent; Co Pepper accepted for both)\n  - **Caesar Moa** (Oakridge, Bus 4062) — not present\n  - **Stella Pearson** (Woodlands Center, Bus 3023) — not present\n  - **John Canary** — left district but recognized for service\n\n### Ambassador Awards — Police Department\n- **Presenter:** Chief Blake Loock\n- **Ambassador Award Recipients:**\n  - **Douglas Stalinsky** (Prevention Control Monitor, York Junior High) — not present (on vacation); goes above and beyond for safety including directing traffic during dangerous storms\n  - **Officer David Branson** — Advanced peace officer, ALERT active shooter instructor; assigned to Washington High School; participated in staff vs. student basketball game\n  - **Officer Dean Beckwith** — not present; recruited from San Diego; assigned to Pete Junior High; newly certified as police instructor and ALERT trainer\n  - **Dispatcher Melissa Holmes** — since 2015; master telecommunicator license; participates in community outreach; known for patience and empathy on 911 calls\n  - **Crossing Guard Miranda West** — Powell Elementary and Mitchell Intermediate; crosses 200+ students daily; greets them by name; active in school events. Her mother is also a CISD crossing guard recognized two years prior.\n\n---\n\n## Citizen Participation (Public Comments)\n\n**12 speakers addressed the board.** Topics included:\n\n### School Safety/Drills\n- **Gwen Melin** asked about drill compliance tracking at Vogal Intermediate, stating attempts to get information from campus administrators were unsuccessful. Administration committed to having someone reach out.\n\n### Books/Library Materials\n- **Alexander Harris** read an explicit excerpt from *The Color Purple* (on the AP list), arguing it is inappropriate for minors. Criticized specific trustees for their positions on the book/materials policy.\n- **Audrey Warner** urged the board to strengthen the materials policy to make it harder for inappropriate content to enter schools and harder for removed materials to be reinstated.\n- **Susan Scrubs** noted 19 out of 5,000 instructional books were removed by a committee; argued this is not \"book banning.\" Cited *After the Ink Dries* as an example of inappropriate content still on library shelves. Thanked Trustees Odin, Weller, Nelson, and Dungan for protecting children.\n\n### Title IX / Transgender Issues\n- **Lindsay Dawson** supported Trustee Nelson's previous resolution against new Title IX changes. Noted a federal judge issued a **preliminary injunction on July 11** prohibiting enforcement of the new Title IX rule in Texas starting August 1. Also noted **HB 3908** (fentanyl prevention training, 2023) has not been implemented. Criticized Trustees Chase and Williams.\n- **Carolyn Nene** cited a 5,000% increase in transgender ideology, referenced the American College of Pediatrics statement against transgender treatment for children, and the Texas Supreme Court's 8-1 decision upholding the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.\n- **Robert Leteel** made comments opposing transgender accommodations in schools.\n- **Deborah Ferris** thanked conservative board members; shared a personal story about a great-niece who identified as transgender briefly but later changed her mind; urged the board to keep sexuality discussions out of schools.\n\n### Teacher/Parent Rights\n- **Reena Beetle** (former Conroe ISD teacher, Grangerland Intermediate) stated that in a 2021 Zoom meeting, teachers were told they must call students by their preferred name/gender and could not inform parents. She said she raised concerns with administrators who confirmed the directive came from the district. She asked the board to create a policy supporting Senate Bill 11 (parental rights).\n\n### General Comments\n- **Robert Holden** made wide-ranging critical comments about DEI, transgender policies, and board performance.\n- **Diane Daniel** urged the board to focus on basics (reading, writing, arithmetic), communication skills, and respect; criticized the board for various perceived failures.\n- **Paul Laskoski** reviewed 11 years of board meetings on YouTube; praised Dr. Null, staff, and Trustees Wagman, Chase, and Williams; criticized the \"mama bears\" group for doubling meeting durations since 2022 with discussions he deemed unproductive.\n- **Cassandra Crow** (staff for State Rep. Steve Toth) announced a Texas House resolution honoring a 12-year-old Conroe ISD student (rising 9th grader at Grand Oaks who skipped two grades); details to come when the student can be present. Called for unity and community spirit.\n\n### Incident During Public Comments\n- **Trustee Nelson** stated on the record that **Trustee Williams** said \"sit your ass down\" under his breath to a speaker during public comments, calling it \"completely inappropriate.\"\n\n---\n\n## Consent Agenda\n\n- **Item D** (Professional Development Plan) was **extracted** from the consent agenda for separate discussion.\n- **Remaining consent items approved.**\n  - **Vote:** Passed (one \"no\" vote noted during voice vote, though the member then clarified they were \"for\" it)\n\n### Item D — Professional Development Plan (2024–2025)\n- Extracted at the request of Trustee Nelson for clarification.\n- Dr. Null explained this item covers **required SBOE annual trainings** (e.g., pest management, sexual harassment, cybersecurity), not the full staff development plan.\n- Key point: Multiple trainings contain **Title IX components**. Given the recent federal judge's ruling blocking new Title IX rules, the district will **revert to the 2020 versions** of affected trainings, ensuring none of the new Title IX tenets are included.\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously** (by show of hands)\n\n---\n\n## Hurricane Beryl Impact and Response (Information Item)\n\n- **Presenters:** Dr. Null, Chris McCord, Karen Garza, Marshall Shrader\n- Hurricane Beryl hit **July 8, 2024**. McCord had flagged it to Dr. Null on **June 29**.\n- **Key points:**\n  - Maintenance team was out the same day the hurricane hit, restoring buildings even as their own homes lacked power\n  - **Supply distribution** coordinated with Montgomery County and Food Bank at Woodforest Bank Stadium, Grand Oaks HS, and Caney Creek HS\n  - **Anti-scaling fencing** (Chapter 61 compliance) sustained significant damage at multiple locations; repair is underway\n  - **Electrical outages** damaged HVAC systems including chillers and air handlers\n  - **Communication challenges** — cell service was out (\"SOS for days\"); higher-powered radios were used by key personnel\n  - **Debris/tree cleanup** costs expected to be \"expensive and significant\"\n  - **Construction timeline** lost one week on already tight schedules\n  - Transportation and maintenance departments provided **diesel to county ambulances** during the crisis\n  - The **Jet Center** served as a rally point; the **Network Operations Center (NOC)** performed flawlessly on generators\n  - **Payroll** was processed on time thanks to Karen Garza's team and Rachel Jimenez working in the building without power/AC\n  - A church displaced from Burnham Woods (no power) was relocated to Bradley for Sunday services\n\n- **Financial Impact:**\n  - Could exceed **$1 million** in losses\n  - Property insurance has a **2% deductible per location** (wind claim) — unlikely to recover anything\n  - District monitoring for possible **FEMA assistance**\n  - For FY 2025–26, the board could consider **disaster pennies** (additional golden pennies allowed by tax code after a federally declared disaster) — could generate approximately **$24 million** — board approval only, no voter approval required, one-year duration\n  - The district used disaster pennies once before during **Hurricane Harvey**\n\n- **Discussion on fencing:** Trustee Nelson raised concerns about recurring damage to anti-scaling fencing (particularly at York JH), the ongoing cost, and whether grant funds can be used for repairs (currently grants allow installation but not repair). Discussion about possibly using 8-foot non-slatted fencing in high-wind areas.\n\n---\n\n## Student Code of Conduct (2024–2025)\n- **Presenter:** Dr. Medford\n- Changes: Removed reference to behavior coordinators; added **nicotine pouches** to prohibited items; defined **electronic devices** in glossary\n- No legislative or case law changes warranting other modifications\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Updated Outside Facility Use Fee Schedule\n- **Presenter:** Chris McCord\n- Facility rental rates last updated in **2016** (effective January 2017)\n- Internal audit (July 2022) recommended cost recovery increase based on CPI (up 22% from Jan 2017 to July 2022, plus another 6.1% since)\n- Nearly **800 general rentals** between August 2023 and May 2024\n- District was running a **negative delta of ~$50,000** (not recovering costs)\n- **Key recommendations:**\n  - General rate increases averaging ~20%, with some categories (e.g., auditoriums) seeing larger increases\n  - **Classrooms will no longer be rented** (only one church currently rents a classroom; their lease ends in December)\n  - Staff support fees increased ~20%\n  - New athletic facility rental rates established (including reduced rates for employee-sponsored camps/clinics per board policy GKD)\n  - Jet Center rental rates established (though rarely rented due to heavy district use)\n  - Rates include custodian and supplies\n  - **Effective January 1, 2025** (to give organizations time to plan)\n- Expected to generate an additional **$200,000–$250,000** in revenue\n- Rates compared with Tomball, Klein, Spring, and Humble ISDs\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## TEA Waivers (Items 6A–6E)\nAll five waivers were presented by Dr. Medford and approved unanimously.\n\n### 6A — Low Attendance Waiver\n- For campuses where attendance fell 10+ percentage points below prior year average due to the **April 8 total solar eclipse**\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n### 6B — Missed School Day Waiver\n- Patterson, Bosman, and Stockton closed **May 17, 2024**; Broadway Elementary closed **May 22, 2024** due to prolonged power outage from severe weather\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n### 6C — Teacher Data Portal / Texas Assessment Management System Waiver\n- Allows use of local system (**Edoria**) instead of state system for assessments, appraisals, and certification tracking\n- **Three-year waiver** (2024–25 through 2026–27); continuation of existing practice\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n### 6D — Modified Schedule for State Assessment Testing Days Waiver\n- Allows non-testing upper-level students late arrival on testing days without attendance penalty\n- Through 2026–27 school year; continuation of existing practice\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n### 6E — Foreign Exchange Student Waiver\n- Limits foreign exchange students to **six or fewer per high school** due to capacity issues\n- **Three-year waiver** through 2026–27; continuation of existing practice\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Capital Improvements Update (Information Item)\n- **Presenter:** Mr. Foster\n\n| Project | Status |\n|---------|--------|\n| **Safety & Security Program (2019 Bond final installment)** | On schedule; inspections disrupted by hurricane but resumed; expected completion end of 2024 |\n| **Bartlett Elementary** | Substantially complete; scheduled to open August 2024; learning materials arriving this week |\n| **Isolde Elementary (Flex School #24)** | On schedule for August 2025 opening; detention ponds and foundations under construction |\n| **Campbell Elementary (Flex School #25)** | On schedule for August 2025; slightly ahead in construction |\n| **Grand Oaks 7-8-9 Grade Campus** | On schedule for January 2027 opening; building pad ~50% complete; developer constructing surrounding roads |\n| **Campus Renovations (4 campuses)** | Affected by Hurricane Beryl (lost a few days); AC coming on this week; ceiling grids going back in; freezer/cooler delayed at Lamar but rental equipment in place; will not affect first day of school |\n| **Conroe High School (phased construction)** | Fine Arts wings turned over before July 4; band students moving in; new dining courtyard turfed; kitchen floor finish delayed by power loss — working on contingency plan with Child Nutrition; \"Tower\" (3-story section) demolition nearly complete; Phase 3 (new front door) scheduled for completion December 2025 |\n\n---\n\n## No Red Ink Purchase Authorization\n- Request to add **No Red Ink** (premium student licensing) to the over-$50K vendor list for FY 2023–24\n- Required by local board policy CH\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## 2024–2025 Preliminary Budget Update (Information Item)\n- **Presenter:** Karen Garza, CFO\n\n### Key Budget Highlights:\n- **Projected deficit improved** from $17.7M (April estimate) to **$11.9M** — improvement of $5.8M\n  - Improvement driven by: modified state calculations for SB 12 hold harmless (over-65 tax ceiling recalculation), and full year of attendance data\n- **Student enrollment growth:** ~1,500 projected\n- **Certified property value growth:** Estimated at **8.5%**, reaching **$55.5 billion**\n- **Projected tax rate:** Overall **decrease of ~1.5 cents** (despite voter-approved 2-cent increase from 2023 bond) due to 3.5 cents of M&O compression; I&S increases from 26 to 28 cents as voter-approved\n- **Tax rate history:** Decreased **26.56 cents** since 2021\n\n### Revenue & Expenditures:\n- Total estimated revenue: **~$700 million**\n- Total estimated expenditures: **$711.97 million**\n- **Estimated budget shortfall: $11.92 million**\n\n### Personnel:\n- **147 new FTE positions** at $10.8M cost\n- Over half (**70.5 FTE / $5.6M**) for special education\n- Special education student count grew from 7,230 (2023) to 9,680 (June 2024) — increase of ~2,450; projected to grow another 1,500\n- No new district-level support positions added\n\n### Fund Balance:\n- Target: 20–25% of budget (~$142.5M)\n- Projected unassigned fund balance at end of FY 2023–24: **$152.23M**\n- After $11.9M deficit: **~$140.3M (19.7%)** — below the 20% target by ~$2.1M\n\n### Looking Ahead to FY 2025–26:\n- Projected deficit of **$17.43 million** (including $12M for new campus staffing, but no pay raises)\n- ~225 positions equivalent to the deficit amount\n- Administration will begin developing a **\"menu\" of potential cuts** internally this fall\n  - Will involve campus principals in prioritization\n  - Will present to the board in **December/January**\n  - Will consider ease of adding positions back if state funding materializes\n  - Special program compliance spending requirements must be maintained\n  - Goal: Assure all current employees they will have jobs (though positions may change)\n\n### Budget Strategy Discussion:\n- **Disaster pennies** could generate ~$24M (two pennies) — board approval only, one year\n  - Could be used to balance the budget and replenish fund balance\n  - Could be combined with a future VATRE (Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election) in November 2025 or 2026 for perpetual access\n- **VATRE** would require efficiency audit by July 5 and November election\n- The November 2023 pay raise (~$15M) is the primary driver of the current deficit position\n- **Esser funds** did NOT contribute to the deficit — all Esser-funded positions were absorbed into regular formulas\n- ADA percentage: Ended year at ~92.4% (budget assumes 92.5%); 1% = $4.5M impact\n- Bond rating agencies are aware of statewide deficit trends; as long as the district has a plan, ratings should not be affected\n\n---\n\n## Tax Assessor-Collector Resolution\n- Resolution designating **Tammy McCrae** (Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector) to calculate truth-in-taxation requirements\n- Continuation of existing practice; now required to be formally designated\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Financial Statements (as of June 30, 2024)\n- **Presenter:** Karen Garza\n- General Fund assets: $291.52M\n- Year-to-date revenue: $554M; Expenditures: $491.3M\n- 2023 Bond: $274.5M encumbered/expended life-to-date; $1.7M remaining\n- Self-funded insurance: June loss of $63,100; year-to-date surplus of $1.6M (averaging $167K/month surplus)\n- Investments: Par value $996.5M; portfolio yield 5.37%; benchmark (90-day T-bill) 5.2%\n\n---\n\n## Local Board Policy Updates\n- **Presenter:** Miss Gadus\n- Policies updated as part of **Update 123**, primarily driven by state agency regulatory changes\n- Policies adopted: **BBD, BBFA, CKC, CKEA, CQ, DCE, DEC, EH**\n- Described as \"benign and rather dull\" changes\n- **Vote: Approved unanimously**\n\n---\n\n## Item 10B — EFA Policy\n- **Removed from the agenda** at the request of the board member who placed it\n- **Trustee Nelson** questioned the removal, noting she was prepared to discuss and make changes; asked if it would be on the next meeting's agenda\n- President Hubert stated the requesting board member asked for removal (similar to past practice by other members); next month's agenda has not been set\n- Trustee Nelson requested **EFA and EFB** be placed on the **next meeting's agenda**\n\n---\n\n## Executive Session\n- Board entered closed session at **9:20 PM** pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.074 (legal consultation and personnel matters)\n- Returned to open session at **9:31 PM**\n- **No action taken** on executive session items\n\n---\n\n## Future Agenda Item Requests\n1. **Trustee Nelson:** EFA and EFB policy discussion\n2. **Trustee Odenweller** (via Nelson): Setting **legislative priorities** for the upcoming state legislative session\n\n---\n\n## Adjournment\n- Meeting adjourned at approximately **9:31 PM**\n\n---\n\n*Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. For official minutes, please refer to the approved board minutes on the Conroe ISD website.*"
}