November 12, 2024 — Special Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2024-11-12
Special Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 17:34 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees – Special Meeting
November 12, 2024
Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. They may contain errors or omissions. Official minutes will be prepared by the district.
Meeting Called to Order
- Time: 5:15 PM
- Quorum: Present
- The meeting was noted as a Special Meeting, not the regular scheduled meeting (which was set for November 19, 2024).
Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
- Invocation: Led by Mr. Williams
- Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Miss Yelden Weller
Agenda Reordering
President Hubert announced that the board would swap Items 2 and 3, moving Special Recognitions ahead of Citizen Participation, consistent with the practice at regular board meetings.
Special Recognitions – Outgoing Board Members
This special meeting was convened to honor four outgoing Conroe ISD Board of Trustees members: Stacy Chase, Teresa Wagaman, Skeeter Hubert (Board President), and Datron Williams. Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null led the recognition of each member.
General Remarks by Dr. Null
Dr. Null described school board service as "the singular most impactful way to serve your community," noting it is a difficult, unpaid position. He emphasized that the real work of the board happens on campuses supporting approximately 10,000 employees and 73,000 students, not just in board meetings.
Stacy Chase (4 years of service)
- Mrs. Chase was unable to attend due to out-of-town business but submitted a pre-recorded video message.
- Dr. Null recalled meeting her when she first decided to run for the board, noting her background as an internal auditor for a Fortune 100 company and her significant impact on the district's Audit and Finance Committee.
- He credited her CPA mindset with improving the focus and quality of the committee's work.
- Mrs. Chase's video remarks highlighted:
- Favorite memories of graduation ceremonies and Ambassador Awards
- Gratitude to fellow outgoing board members (Datron, Skeeter, Teresa)
- Appreciation for CISD employees, calling their impact "invaluable"
- Pride as a former trustee, community member, and CISD parent
- Mrs. Chase's husband and children arrived later and were photographed with the recognition plaque.
Teresa Wagaman (4 years of board service; 20+ years of CISD PTO involvement)
- Dr. Null highlighted her long history with the district, including serving as PTO president through the Woodlands High School feeder system.
- He praised her consistent positive presence at celebrations, thoughtful support for staff, and caring nature.
- Mrs. Wagaman's remarks included:
- Gratitude to principals, teachers, and administrators for the educational foundation provided to her children (son graduated from Texas A&M; daughter is a senior at LSU)
- Extensive praise for Dr. Null's leadership, noting he guided the district through extraordinary challenges, became a community figure ("YouTube sensation," "Reader Man"), and grew as a leader both locally and in the broader educational community
- Thanks to fellow board members Hubert and Williams for helping her grow as a trustee
- Acknowledgment of Stacy Chase
- A message to remaining board members: "This is the largest employer in our community. We have 74,000 customers coming to us every single day. I wish you the best and I hope that you will do the best for our community and our district."
Skeeter Hubert – Board President (10 years of service)
- Dr. Null spoke about Hubert and Williams collectively, noting they are "polar opposites in a lot of ways" but identical in their love for kids and the district. He described watching them grow together and learn from each other's different life experiences as "really powerful."
- Dr. Null shared a personal story: When he was principal of Conroe High School, Hubert and his wife Bonnie (a school counselor) adopted a high school student in need, who became a full member of the family with multiple grandchildren now in Hubert's life.
- Described Hubert as "one of the most pure-hearted and kind-hearted people I've ever met" and "the definition of what I would call a good man."
- Hubert received a commemorative gavel in addition to his recognition plaque for his service as board president.
- Mr. Hubert's remarks included:
- Thanks to his wife Bonnie and his family for their support
- Credit to friends Jim and Nelda De Blair for encouraging him to run for the board in 2014-2015
- Reflections on what he learned during his tenure:
- The importance of being an advocate for the community and for sound finances (balancing the budget and setting the tax rate)
- His guiding principle: studying Jesus Christ's teachings on service – "love thy neighbor... learn and serve"
- "Administrators make decisions based on student outcome" – every decision during his tenure centered on whether children would benefit
- "Teachers love their students" – shared an emotional story about an Ambassador Award recipient teacher who made a quilt for a student whose parent was dying of cancer, all while her own husband battled the same illness
- "Our community loves this district" – noted he constantly hears "We moved here for the schools" and has never heard the opposite
- Announced he will serve as a communication specialist for his church going forward
- Expressed belief that "brighter days are ahead for this district"
Datron Williams (12 years of service)
- Dr. Null noted Williams served an "entire generation of students" – children who entered first grade when he started served through graduation.
- Williams served as board president during COVID, and was instrumental in Conroe ISD being one of the first large districts in the nation to return to in-person schooling.
- Dr. Null praised their ability to disagree cordially while always remaining friends.
- Highlighted Williams' behind-the-scenes service: pulling money from his own pocket for students, dedicating personal time and resources to help individual students in need.
- Noted Williams received more parent emails than any other board member, often because some parent groups felt he was "the only person they could reach out to," and he handled it "with grace and class."
- Dr. Null shared a humorous anecdote about Williams from early board campus visits: when visiting Conroe High School (where Null was then principal), Null served peanut butter and crackers instead of lavish snacks, telling Williams the money was going to kids' textbooks – which convinced Williams of Null's fiscal responsibility.
- Mr. Williams' remarks included:
- Thanks to Dr. Null, calling him "one of the best, most profound, prolific educators that I've ever met"
- Gratitude to those who supported him at the polls and sent encouragement
- Thanks to his wife (a CISD educator for 23+ years) and three sons for sharing him with the district
- A forward-looking message to the district: "When uncertainty encroaches, it is natural for panic to set in, but I ask you to use this opportunity to grow even closer as a school district"
- Urged educators to "continue to be a blessing to our children in our community daily"
- Asked everyone to "believe that our best days in CISD are still ahead of us"
- Acknowledged fellow outgoing members: called Hubert "my brother from another mother," praised Wagaman's patience, and commended Chase's growth and fierceness
- Closed with: "Let us part ways believing that tomorrow will be even a greater day in CISD where all truly means all"
Recess
- Time: Approximately 6:00 PM – The board took a recess for informal goodbyes and photos.
- Resumed: 6:21 PM
Citizen Participation
President Hubert noted that because this was a special meeting, speakers could only address items on the posted agenda, and each speaker was limited to one minute. Approximately 30+ people signed up. Those wishing to speak on non-agenda items were invited to attend the regular meeting on November 19.
Summary of Public Comments
Comments fell broadly into two categories:
Speakers expressing gratitude to outgoing board members:
- Amanda Pritchard (CISD employee, graduate, and parent): Thanked outgoing members for leadership, rational voices, campaigning with integrity, standing up against misinformation about teachers, and making decisions with all children in mind.
- Lorraine Rice: Thanked all four outgoing trustees for their service. Encouraged the community to "set aside differences" and work together. Urged the newly elected board to aspire to "excellence, integrity, and work."
- Erica Falcon (CISD school nurse and parent of four): Shared personal connections – Hubert and Chase each presented diplomas to her daughters. Thanked outgoing members for exemplifying "all means all."
- Mary Ellen Bryant (CISD librarian, 28 years at the district): Called the outgoing members the most approachable board members she had encountered. Had served as librarian to children of Hubert, Wagaman, Williams, and Chase. Thanked Hubert for "stepping out of your comfort zone."
- Teresa Nean: Called the four "the Fab Four." Shared personal appreciation – Wagaman's kindness to her son, and praised Chase and Williams as "personal heroes" for speaking truth and standing up for the unpopular.
- Courtney Egan: Cited district accomplishments: 97.3% graduation rate, increased college/career/military readiness, 41 TMEA all-state musicians, 4,700+ certifications, Community Hero Award, Top Workplace recognition, Best School District 2023-2024. Thanked outgoing members for putting politics aside and running clean campaigns.
- Deborah Leber: Expressed gratitude for outgoing trustees' advocacy, commitment to "all means all," and dedication to academic excellence.
- David Suchma (former teacher): Highlighted CISD's ranking as 37th out of 600 on Forbes' best employers list – the only school district in the U.S. on the list. Praised outgoing members for working with heart.
- Kristen Brown: Thanked each outgoing member individually – Hubert for thoughtful consideration during debates, Wagaman for her calm demeanor, Williams and Chase for their passion and commitment to "all means all."
- Rachel Walker: Told outgoing members they can "hold your head high with dignity." Thanked Wagaman for attending Pride events. Called Hubert "the only Republican I've ever voted for." Urged incoming board to "lead with love and stop fanning the flame of misinformation and hate."
- Stewart Schroeder: Thanked all four for volunteer service to students, community, and taxpayers, noting their "untold hours" of preparation, meetings, workshops, reading to students, athletics, and school dedications.
- Valerie Hannah: Listed academic achievements: 12-time best community for music education, Texas Smart Schools 12 consecutive years, ranked 2nd of 200 large Texas districts for academic performance, 97.3% graduation rate, Financial Transparency Stars from State Comptroller.
- Emily Ho: Thanked outgoing members for "dedication, wisdom, and commitment to inclusivity" and their "refusal to engage in discriminatory behavior." Urged them to continue advocating for equality, justice, and compassion.
- Linda Long: Expressed thanks and admiration for the outgoing board members' service, especially given the unpaid nature of the role.
- Steve Lawrence: Called for grace during the transition. Extended personal gratitude to Mr. Williams for a respectful encounter at the polls despite being on opposite sides.
Speakers expressing criticism or calling for change:
- Pamela Blue (parent of two special needs students): Expressed frustration, stating her children "matter" and questioning treatment by outgoing members. Emotional during her remarks.
- Alex Harris: Referenced past board decisions regarding books he characterized as "sexually explicit," curriculum concerns he described as introducing "atheism under the guise of science," and transgender-related policies. Called for a complete audit of the outgoing board's actions and tightened discipline policies. Stated these issues contributed to the election results.
- Amber Fusa: Characterized the meeting as marking "a long-awaited change." Stated the outgoing board was "met with inaction and indifference" when parents raised concerns, and that voters "chose to make their voices heard through their votes."
- Joe Loetta: Wished outgoing members farewell and prayed for Unity. Stated: "There's a great rebuilding going on in the nation post-election 2024 down to the county level, and let it start here at CISD."
- Kathy Loetta: Noted increased public participation since 2021. Stated the board has "a mandate to be watchmen or gatekeepers" for children. Prayed for healing for the entire community.
- Mark Fusa: Stated parents like him "speak with the vote" and after two elections "there's no doubt we are the majority." Shared a personal account alleging his son was mistreated year after year and the board failed to act. Accused the board of violating the public trust.
- Susan Scruggs: Expressed no anger or malice toward outgoing members, offering forgiveness. Stated that "from tomorrow forward, 74,000 children within CISD have a chance to be protected and looked after in a way that they have not been afforded in many years."
- Carolyn Nene: Referenced concerns she had raised since 2021 including "academic failure, woke indoctrination, inappropriate sexual deviant books, violence in our schools, board's lack of transparency." Expressed belief that certain board decisions contributed to election outcomes for Williams and Chase.
No Votes or Action Items
This was a special recognition meeting. No votes were taken and no action items were considered.
Adjournment
President Hubert thanked all attendees and speakers, then adjourned the meeting.
These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain inaccuracies. For official records, please consult the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees meeting minutes.