April 15, 2025 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2025-04-15
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 18:19 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting — April 15, 2025
These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain errors or omissions.
Opening
- Called to order: 6:02 PM
- Quorum confirmed
- Invocation: Trustee Duncan
- Pledges: Led by Trustee Dawson; colors presented by College Park High School Marine Corps JROTC Color Guard
Special Recognitions (Item 2A)
The board recognized four state champions from three high schools:
Powerlifting:
- Kaden Cross, The Woodlands High School — 2025 UIL 6A 242 lb State Champion. Set state records in bench press (555 lbs), deadlift (705 lbs), and total (2,025 lbs). Will lift at Sam Houston State University. Introduced by Coach Craig Smith.
- Nick [last name not clearly stated], Oak Ridge High School — 2025 State Champion in powerlifting. First state champion at Oak Ridge since 2007. Set a regional squat record of 805 lbs with a regional total of 1,955 lbs. Will also lift at Sam Houston State. Introduced by Coach Garrett Langthorp.
- Lexi Hendricks, Grand Oaks High School — Second-ever girls state champion in Conroe ISD history. Set the all-time state bench press record (unequipped division) for her weight class. Four-year varsity powerlifter, two-year team captain, holds 10 school records. Weighted GPA of 4.68; first-team academic all-state. Will sign with Baylor University. Introduced by Coach Aaron Johnson.
Wrestling:
- Riley Ray, The Woodlands High School — 2025 UIL 6A 114 lb Girls Wrestling State Champion. Career record of 215-5, believed to be a UIL record for female wrestlers. Four-time district champion, four-time regional champion, three-time state champion. 54-0 senior season record. Named Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association Female Athlete of the Year and Texas nominee for the National Tricia Saunders Award. 4.25 weighted GPA. Will continue at North Central University in Chicago. Introduced by her father/coach, Jeff Ray.
Public Comments
Susan [last name unclear] — Conroe ISD transportation employee (standby bus driver). Spoke about the desperate need for bus drivers, lack of incentives for standby drivers, and the difficulty of the early morning schedule. Board President thanked her and acknowledged the importance of bus drivers.
Charles Lane — Stated that a month ago an elementary school counselor followed his mother and children to the parking lot and verbally threatened his third grader. Expressed concern that the counselor is still employed.
Jeff Zedler — Expressed strong support for all seven board members. Praised their sacrifice and unpaid service. Made political commentary defending the board against criticism of "fringe-right ideology."
Carolyn [last name unclear] — Expressed disappointment with the board's handling of the Blue Bonnet curriculum. Stated that a teacher review committee meeting was cancelled. Criticized the curriculum as not age-appropriate and predicted it would lead to declining scores. Accused the board of "grooming" children.
Michelle Knuckles — Donated Tuttle Twins book sets for district library review (previously approved by district library coordinator Melody Heiser). Thanked Trustee Tiffany Nelson for purchasing additional sets. Also donated Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier for review, noting it would be the only book in district libraries sharing a detransitioner perspective.
Lynn Greaves — Student speaker. Referenced a Change.org petition with ~1,985 signatures opposing the Blue Bonnet curriculum. Commented on anti-trans legislation, asked the district to do the "bare minimum" on transphobia in policies. Also relayed concerns from friends about bus scheduling issues.
Melody Heiser — District library coordinator. Celebrated National School Library Month and School Librarian Day. Recognized the district's 72 librarians serving 73,000+ students. Shared story of second graders reading 9,000 minutes in two weeks.
Carrie Freemire — Announced the Salute to Education ceremony on Tuesday, May 6, honoring teachers of the year, rising stars, humanitarians, and friends of education.
Note: Two registered speakers (Tama Richardson and Abby Streker) were not present when called.
Consent Agenda (Item 3)
Item 3I (TEAK Certification Form) was pulled from the consent agenda at the request of a board member for separate discussion.
Vote on remaining consent agenda: Approved 7-0 (unanimous)
Item 3I — TEAK Certification Form (Separate Discussion)
Dr. Upshaw explained the document covers English RLA K-5 resources. Blue Bonnet is the primary Tier 1 instructional resource; supplementary resources are listed for the remaining 25 minutes of the literacy block not covered by Blue Bonnet instruction.
A board member requested confirmation that none of the listed Heinemann products appear on TEA's "do not use" list, noting recent updates to that list.
Vote: Approved 7-0 to ratify the district's 2025-26 TEAK certification form, pending confirmation that Heinemann products are not on TEA's disapproved list.
Human Resources — Principal Appointments (Item 5)
5A: Milam Elementary Principal — Shawn Breeden
- 24 of 27 years in education spent in the Caney Creek community
- Previously served as assistant principal at Milam for ~14 years
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
5B: Houston Elementary Principal — Miguel Delator
- 21 years in Conroe ISD
- Previously served as assistant principal at Creighton Elementary; experience at Bozman Intermediate and Armstrong Elementary
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
5C: Grangerland Intermediate Principal — Lauren Rucker
- 20th year in education, 11 years in Conroe ISD
- Previously at Morehead Junior High, Bozman Intermediate, and Creighton Elementary (as AP)
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
5D: Virtual School Principal — Dr. Jenny Lucas
- ~27 years in Conroe ISD
- Experience across three high school feeders (Oak Ridge, The Woodlands, Caney Creek)
- Background in athletics, art, and online instruction
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
5E: The Woodlands High School Principal — Dennis Mesler
- 28 years at The Woodlands High School
- Progressed from teacher to assistant principal, associate principal, and ninth grade campus principal
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
The board took a recess at 7:14 PM and returned at 7:28 PM.
Teaching and Learning (Item 6A)
Blue Bonnet K-5 English Language Arts Implementation Plan
Dr. Upshaw presented the recommended grade-level implementation plan for the Blue Bonnet ELA curriculum.
Key points:
- Blue Bonnet is classified as an OEER (Open Education Resource), requiring a formal transition plan approved by the board
- A District Guiding Coalition of ~87 members (79% teachers) was formed, with representatives from all 52 elementary campuses
- The coalition met March 27 (with TEA Associate Commissioner Dr. Todd Davis) and April 8
- Teachers provided feedback identifying key needs: implementation logistics, ongoing training, clearly defined expectations, differentiation/small group guidance, and teacher voice/choice
- Blue Bonnet provides 120 minutes of Tier 1 instruction in grades K-3, leaving 25 minutes for differentiation within the 145-minute literacy block
Coalition Recommendation: All-in K-5 implementation in Year 1 (rather than a two-year rollout of K-2 then 3-5)
- Vote result: 71% favored all-in K-5, 29% favored two-year rollout
- Rationale: A longer rollout would create dual-curriculum challenges on campuses; a year-by-year rollout would mean fifth grade gets only one year before the next adoption cycle (~2030)
- Teachers expressed strong sentiment of "all means all" — wanting the whole campus on one curriculum
Materials ordering: Clarification received from TEA that materials can be ordered immediately upon board approval (rather than waiting for full transition plan adoption), putting the district approximately one month ahead of schedule.
Vote: 7-0 (unanimous) to approve all-in K-5 implementation.
District Improvement Plan Update (Item 7)
Dr. Medford presented updates on 2024-25 District Improvement Plan goals:
- CCMR (College, Career, Military Readiness): Significant increases reported; district has surpassed its goal (mid-to-high 80s percentage). Driven by improved data tracking, Naviance adoption across junior highs and high schools, increased dual credit and AP enrollment
- Dropout Prevention: Improved through quarterly tracking reports (previously annual), individual student tracking, and campus-level intentionality
- Community Outreach: Updates on migrant student tracking, graduation rate monitoring, and attendance specialist support
- Newcomer Center: Increasing Spanish-language information and connection between home/school/community; monitoring students with interrupted formal education
- Secondary EL (Emerging Bilingual): Tracking progress on 7th and 8th grade STAAR metrics; monitoring walkthroughs and feedback for teachers on high-contributing campuses
Informational item — no vote required.
Planning and Construction (Items 8A-8D)
8A: Oak Ridge High School Master Plan Phase 2 — GMP Amendment
- 2023 bond project; contractor: Pogue Construction; designer: Arcadis
- GMP: $51,357,563 against bond budget of $62,169,000
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
8B: McCullough Junior High Addition and Renovation — GMP Amendment
- 2023 bond project; contractor: Tellepsen Builders; designer: VLK
- GMP: $53,370,164 against bond budget of $59,106,913
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
8C: Conroe High School Master Plan — Final Cost Allocation (Change Order)
- Multi-bond master plan project (2015/2019/2023 bonds); approximately a decade of work
- Final cost allocation: $7,756,521 (bringing total change orders to ~$17.75 million)
- Previous $10 million allocation was approved approximately one year ago
- Funded entirely from 2019 bond contingency funds ($17.7 million contingency line) — not from the general fund
- Improvements include: covered dining/shade structures for outdoor courtyard, safety/security upgrades, office reconfigurations based on staff feedback after living in the building
- Overall cost increase of ~13% against original bid, compared to ~50% construction price index increase over same period
- Described as the final cost allocation to complete the project, expected to finish by end of 2026
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
8D: Capital Improvements Update — New Format
- Monthly construction updates will now be posted on the district website as pre-recorded video presentations by Mr. Foster rather than presented live at board meetings
- Updates accessible via the district homepage under Board Meeting Information > Presentations
- Informational item — no vote required
Campus and Facility Naming Process (Item 7A)
Dr. Blakelock presented information on upcoming naming needs for new campuses and facilities:
Facilities needing names:
1. Grand Oaks feeder 9th Grade Campus (opening January 2027)
2. Caney Creek feeder 9th Grade Campus (opening August 2027)
3. New elementary in Grand Oaks feeder/Woodson's Reserve (opening August 2026)
4. New intermediate for Conroe/Timber Mill feeders (opening August 2026)
5. Grand Oaks feeder Junior High (opening August 2027)
6. Conroe/Timber Mill feeder Junior High (opening August 2027)
7. Virtual School (needs name, mascot, and school colors)
8. Various district facilities (ag barns, etc.) — optional/not urgent
Process and Timeline:
- Community name submissions open April 16 through May
- Names presented to board at May 13 meeting
- Board votes on names in June
- Per board policy CW Local: high schools named after geographic regions; all other facilities may be named after historical figures, landowners, or worthy community members
- Board noted 9th grade campuses would likely follow naming convention of their associated high schools
- The board has ultimate decision-making authority — community submissions are suggestions, not votes
Informational item — no vote required.
Business and Finance
9A: 2025-26 Employee Group Health Plan
Ms. Garza presented the recommendation from the Employee Benefits Committee:
- The self-funded health plan has had no premium increases for four years
- Costs increased ~15% in the most recent plan year due to increased utilization and high-cost claimants
- Recommendation includes medical plan design changes and premium increases
- Additional $3.4 million contribution from the general fund needed to keep the plan solvent
- Detailed plan design changes were presented at the April 1 workshop and are available on the district website
- The district will closely monitor the plan next year and evaluate options (including potential TRS transition) in the fall
Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
9B: Financial Updates (as of March 31)
- General fund, debt service, child nutrition, and self-funded insurance balance sheets and income statements presented
- 2023 bond: $562.9 million encumbered/expended
- Self-funded insurance running a $4.9 million deficit
- Investment portfolio par value: $1.4 billion; pools yielding 4.48%, combined portfolio at 4.49% (benchmark 90-day T-bill at 4.19%)
Informational item — no vote required.
Executive Session (Item 10)
Board entered closed session at 8:39 PM pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.071 (attorney consultation) and §551.074 (personnel matters).
Board returned to open session at 9:35 PM.
Action from Executive Session
Item 12B: Termination of Probationary Contract — Laura Laskey
- Motion to terminate the probationary contract of Laura Laskey at the end of the contract term in the best interest of the district, authorizing the superintendent to provide notice.
- Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)
Policy Audit Discussion (Item 12C) — First Reading
The board received information regarding policy audit recommendations from Texans for Excellence in Education (TEE) and considered changes to the following local policies: AIB, BF, CL, EFA, EFB, EMB, FNA, FNCA, and GKDA.
This was a first reading only — no vote was taken.
Key Discussion Points:
Committee Process:
- The policy committee (3 members: Trustees Dawson (chair), Duncan, and one other) received the audit in mid-March
- Non-committee board members received the document approximately one week before the meeting
- Multiple trustees expressed frustration about limited time to review and lack of involvement in the process
- Trustee Semler questioned whether the committee's authorization of additional TEE service agreements (Policy Services and Policy Connect — free trial through August) should have been a full board decision
- Board President stated she had been previously authorized by the board to sign TEE agreements
Policy Content Discussion:
- Trustee Dawson (Policy Committee Chair): Stated the policies address CRT, DEI, gender ideology, and pornography — core issues the board ran on. Stated TEE's legal experts vetted all policies and they align with conservative values.
- Trustee May raised multiple concerns:
- Questioned whether the committee collaborated with the superintendent, citing Texas Education Code §11.1512 requiring the board and superintendent to "work together to establish district-wide policy"
- Raised concern about domain 3 accountability standards requiring data broken down by race/ethnicity, potentially conflicting with the equity audit restrictions in the policies
- Questioned the "parent consent area" concept for restricted library materials, asking about implementation logistics
- Noted pending legislation potentially updating HB 900 and suggested waiting for session to conclude
- Expressed concern about EFA changes that appeared to shift instructional material selection authority
- Trustee Semler raised questions about specific language changes, removal of professional staff from material selection language, and the EFA policy
- Trustee Horton questioned placing potentially illegal materials in a parent consent area rather than removing them entirely
- Trustee Nelson: Stated she liked the policies' intent but was frustrated by not having equal access to the process. Recommended term limits on the policy committee. Noted she verified with TEE directly that their suggestions were substantially retained.
- Dr. Null (Superintendent) expressed concern about the document construction, noted inconsistencies, and stated he talks to all seven board members regularly as part of his job. Emphasized that the board has hired their own attorney for legal advice on TOMA questions.
TOMA (Texas Open Meetings Act) Concerns:
- Significant discussion about whether routing policies through the superintendent for all board members' input would create a "walking quorum"
- Board President stated she was advised by the board attorney that this could be a TOMA violation
- Multiple trustees and Dr. Null questioned this interpretation, noting it had been standard practice for 2+ years without issue
- Board agreed to seek written clarification from the board attorney on this question
Next Steps:
- Policy committee will collaborate with the superintendent/district on implementation concerns
- Board members may submit track changes and questions
- Dr. Null offered to host a posted working session/workshop where all seven trustees could discuss policies together
- Timeline may extend to June rather than May given the volume of work and upcoming graduations
- No vote was taken; this was first reading only
Additional Policy Items Noted:
- Trustee Nelson has been independently working on Title IX policy language (predating the committee's formation); she may submit it to the policy committee chair or bring it forward independently
- Trustees Horton and Semler had been working on cell phone policy before committees were established; same options apply
Adjournment
- No requests for future board business items were made
- Meeting adjourned at 10:37 PM
All votes taken during this meeting were unanimous (7-0).