May 13, 2025 — Regular Meeting
Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2025-05-13
Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes
Based on auto-generated transcript. Not an official record.
Generated 2026-03-28 18:31 UTC
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting
May 13, 2025
Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript of the board meeting. They may contain errors or omissions. For official minutes, please consult the district.
Board Members Present: Five trustees confirmed present (quorum established). Trustee Duncan was absent (illness); Trustee Semler was absent (family emergency).
Meeting Called to Order: 6:00 PM
Meeting Adjourned: 11:52 PM
Opening
- Invocation delivered by Trustee Nelson, who offered prayers for graduating seniors, for community members experiencing loss, and for Dr. Null as he departs the district.
- Pledges of Allegiance presented by The Woodlands Junior Air Force ROTC Color Guard under the direction of Chief Master Sergeant Roger Garcia.
Awards & Recognitions (Item 2)
2A — Students Together Achieving Results (STAR) Program
- Dr. Tanya Merik, crisis intervention specialist, presented information on the STAR program, a 4-year program supporting students who face potential barriers to success.
- 53 graduating seniors participated this year.
- Students visited Lone Star College, University of Houston, Sam Houston State University, a culinary institute, and ExxonMobil.
- Gabrielle Clark, Grand Oaks High School senior, delivered remarks about how the STAR program changed her outlook and gave her options for her future. Board President Odenweller noted she delivered her speech from the heart without notes.
2B — CTE State Champions: Skills USA, FFA, and HOSA
Tally Stout, Director of Career and Technical Education, introduced recipients.
Skills USA:
- The Woodlands High School (teacher Scott Folk):
- Addison Hussy and Elu Valdivia — Gold medals, Digital Cinema Production
- Natalie Mikkelthweight — Gold medal, TV Video Production
- All received $10,000 scholarships to Texas State Technical College; will represent CISD at National Skills USA Championship in Atlanta, GA.
- Conroe High School (teacher Eric Canor):
- Ezra Lugo, Kaylee Pena, Eddie Curado — State championship, Applied Engineering
FFA:
- The Woodlands High School (adviser Rachel Concaid): Eman — Grand Champion Chickens ($10,000 sale); Avery Bennett — Grand Champion Handicraft ($3,400)
- Oak Ridge High School (adviser Ashley Wilson): Abigail Mason — Grand Champion Horticulture
- Conroe High School (adviser Casey Short): Kylie Cantor — Grand Champion Rabbit Showmanship; Avery McCartney — Montgomery County Fair Queen ($3,500 scholarship)
HOSA:
- Oak Ridge High School: Lucy Woo — State Champion, Medical Art Poster
2C–2D — State Athletic Champions (Grand Oaks High School)
Presented by Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator Shawn McDow.
- Tyler Grant — UIL Class 6A Boys Discus Throw State Champion. Threw 202 feet at regionals (furthest in Texas at any level that year), breaking a decades-old record at Midway Waco Stadium. Graduating senior.
- Asher Vargas — UIL 6A State Champion Golfer of the Year. Junior with 4.0 GPA; South Texas PGA Junior Golfer of the Year; AJGA Rolex Rankings #3 all classes; Team USA 2024 Junior President's Cup member; University of North Carolina commit.
2G — Mental Health Awareness Month Recognition
- Dr. Tama Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, acknowledged May as Mental Health Awareness Month and recognized the district counseling team: Tiffany Rodriguez, Janice Lovelace, Dr. Tanya Merrick, Lindsay Taylor, and Maryanne Terubi Artz.
- Trustee Nelson introduced special guests:
- Judge Ekko Hudson (Montgomery County) described "Anchored in Unity," the county's second annual mental health awareness event (May 14 at Heritage Park). She shared statistics: 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health crisis; 50% develop symptoms by age 14; average time from symptom onset to treatment is 11 years.
- Kim Hess (Cassidy Join for Hope) spoke as a mother who lost her 16-year-old daughter Cassidy to suicide in 2015. She urged the district to provide better suicide prevention training for teachers beyond minimum requirements and to place a crisis counselor on each campus daily. She asked: "What could we have done better as a community, as a school district, to save these lives?"
2H — Special Recognition of Dr. Curtis Null
- Board President Odenweller delivered remarks honoring Superintendent Dr. Null, who is departing for Lake Travis ISD. She highlighted his leadership during COVID-19, his commitment to openness and accountability, multiple Niche and Forbes awards for the district, and his recognition as one of America's top executives.
- A commemorative piece was presented — crafted from 70-year-old pine by the Grand Oaks Carpenter program (teacher Nathan Arens, student Miles Taylor).
- Dr. Blakelock organized a card/letter campaign; cards of thanks were presented to Dr. Null.
- Dr. Null's remarks: He thanked the community, acknowledged the difficulty of the role for superintendent spouses, noted his parents will continue to live in the area, and said he would see principals the following morning.
Public Comment
22 speakers signed up; 18 spoke. Absent: Patty Bosman, Charles Lane, Elena Leo Dea Te Dehada, Megan Munos.
Themes and Notable Comments:
Transportation Staffing:
- Susan (Transportation, Woodlands station): Reported driver shortage has grown from ~20 to ~30 since last month due to retirements. Expressed concern about staffing for the coming year given district growth.
Tributes to Dr. Null:
Multiple speakers (Rachel Goodlad, Elaine Wallace, Lucy Kemple, Kim Mann, Linda Evans, Rachel Walker, Stuart Schroeder, Carrie Freemire, Keith Cartwright, and others) praised Dr. Null's leadership, integrity, compassion, and impact on students, staff, and families.
- Rachel Goodlad (Junior League President, CISD graduate) praised Dr. Null as "the number one draft pick" and also expressed concern about "a growing gap" in board preparation and professionalism, urging the board to choose the next superintendent wisely.
- Elaine Wallace (20-year CISD teacher) reminded the board that "all means all" is a core district value and urged them to find the most qualified superintendent to represent the district's diversity.
- Lucy Kemple shared how Dr. Null's mentorship shaped her husband's and her own career in education.
- Carrie Freemire (TSTA Conroe branch president) thanked Dr. Null and urged the board to keep his leadership traits in mind during the superintendent search.
Mental Health / Student Wellbeing:
- Lisa Hernandez (student) shared statistics on teen stress, suicide rates in Montgomery County (16.3 per 100,000, higher than surrounding counties), and described the reality of student mental health struggles. She asked: "Where's the compassion and where is the care?"
- Reese Hunt (student) asked the board to find a superintendent who "truly understands what it's like to be a teacher" and criticized the adoption of Bluebonnet Learning curriculum as damaging transparency.
- Alex Hunt (graduating senior) spoke about losing her best friend to mental health issues two years ago. She criticized the board for focusing on culture war issues rather than mental health policies, referencing the debate over a mental health resolution in September.
- April Kerzy presented data on cell phone impacts on student wellbeing and academic outcomes, urging a phone-free school policy K-12.
Gender/LGBTQ+ Policies:
- Sumi Perui (Woodlands HS senior) criticized proposed gender fluidity policies, citing statistics that 46% of trans/non-binary youth considered or attempted suicide. She proposed amendments requiring compliance with preferred pronouns when parental consent exists and maintaining sex education content required by TEKS.
- Jeff Zedler spoke in support of the board's direction, opposing gender identity accommodations.
Library Books / Curriculum:
- Susan Scraggs asked whether sexually explicit books had been removed, whether town halls had been held as promised, and raised concerns about swim team uniforms at Woodlands HS.
- Lorraine Rice (retired teacher) expressed gratitude that Conroe ISD respects parental rights on opt-outs.
- Lana Lindsay proposed that CISD librarians be given final say on what constitutes educational vs. inappropriate material.
- Brianna Mohler criticized the critical race theory section of proposed policy EM as "dangerously broad" and warned it could restrict teaching of mainstream history content.
Menstrual Products:
- Rashida Najiger (Woodlands HS) requested free menstrual products in all student restrooms, noting other Texas districts (Austin, Dallas) already provide them.
Naming Requests:
- Michael Baker (Conroe HS Class of 1969, attorney) enthusiastically nominated James Howard Moore for naming a center at Caney Creek, Conroe, and Timber Mills feeders, citing Moore's impact on FFA/agriculture education.
- Keith Cartwright urged the board to name a school after his mother Lynn Cartwright, who taught at Conroe High School for 40 years (1964–2004).
Other:
- Tina Orbal encouraged the board to keep God first and focus on children.
- Truly (last name unclear) referenced a list of goals from an unnamed source about controlling schools and softening curriculum.
Consent Agenda (Item 4)
Item 4D (Open Education Resource Transition Plan) was pulled from the consent agenda at the request of several trustees for separate discussion.
Vote on remaining consent agenda items: Approved 5-0 (unanimous of those present).
Item 4D — Consider and Approve Adoption of Open Education Resource (OER) Transition Plan
Extensive discussion regarding the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum transition plan:
Key Discussion Points:
- Trustee Nelson raised concerns about modifying the curriculum, citing Texas Education Code §31.0721(2), which states OER materials may not remain available once amended unless re-reviewed by SBOE.
- District staff clarified they are not modifying the Bluebonnet curriculum itself but creating alternate lessons for students whose parents request religious exemptions under TEC §26.01A.
- Lessons were color-coded: purple lessons are based on religious stories (e.g., parables); others reference religion for historical context.
- Trustee Nelson argued that since the content is Old Testament/New Testament (codified in TEC Chapter 28) and is not proselytizing, no modifications or alternatives should be needed.
- Staff confirmed the content is not proselytizing; it teaches historical events with religious context.
- Board President Odenweller noted that a TEA expert called the plan "exemplary" and said he would use it as an exemplar for other districts.
- Trustee Nelson countered that she also spoke with the TEA contact, who was unfamiliar with the religious coding system, and argued that any modifications would jeopardize the material's HQIM status.
- Discussion about scheduling challenges at intermediate (5th-6th grade) campuses due to the 120-minute requirement, which affects fine arts and other subjects. Staff confirmed this is due to the curriculum change, not a state mandate on minutes.
- Staff clarified that district walkthroughs (twice per semester) would be done alongside principals and are primarily for calibration, not evaluation.
Vote: Approved 3-2.
Item 5A — Names Submitted for New CISD Campuses and Facilities (Information Only)
Dr. Blakelock presented community-submitted names for multiple new facilities:
- Caney Creek 9th Grade Campus: 59 submissions
- Grand Oaks Feeder 9th Grade Campus: 209 submissions
- Flex 27 (Elementary, Grand Oaks feeder): 67 submissions
- Flex 26 (Intermediate, Conroe/Timber Mills feeders): 106 submissions
- Grand Oaks Feeder Junior High: 344 submissions
- New Junior High (Conroe/Timber Mills feeders): 85 submissions
- Virtual School: 24 submissions
- Three AG Facilities: 107, 7, and 3 submissions respectively
The full spreadsheet will be posted online. Board will vote on names in June. Schools opening in 2026-2027 need names for branding/construction. AG facilities naming can be deferred.
Item 5B — Conroe ISD Wellness Plan
Dr. Merl presented the SHAC-recommended wellness plan covering the next three years.
Vote: Approved 6-0 (unanimous).
Item 5C — Attendance Boundary Update (Information Only)
Mr. McCord presented the boundary committee's progress for Timber Mill High School, a new junior high, and a new intermediate school:
High School (2 scenarios):
- Scenario 2.0: Timber Mill occupies northeast quadrant including areas north of Highway 105.
- Scenario 2.1 (community-generated): Areas north of Old Highway 105 stay with Caney Creek HS (12-13 minutes closer travel time).
Junior High (2 scenarios):
- B.1 vs. C.1: Key difference is whether the "scalene triangle" area (where 75, 45, Main, and Pacific converge) goes to Peet JH or the new junior high. C.1 keeps all Armstrong Elementary students together K-12.
Intermediate (2 scenarios):
- Both address Bosman Intermediate being over capacity. Key difference involves Barton Creek Trail assignment.
Timeline: Community meetings June 10 and 12; board recommendation targeted for July 15. All 13 scenarios available on the district zoning website.
Item 5D — District Improvement Plan Update (Information Only)
Dr. Medford presented updates across multiple goals:
- Grangerland improvement: Intervention time goals progressing (low 30s toward 60s at QA3).
- HR Goals:
- 20 emergency permit holders now certified; 28 of 100 DOIs now certified
- Successful job fair held
- 6 additional peace officers hired (2 more in process); district is 24 officers more than when HB3 passed, "very close" to having one officer all day at every campus
- 384 teachers to receive TIA designation payout this summer
- 60 new teachers hired from in-house pipeline (paraprofessionals, substitutes, bus drivers)
- Leadership Development: 25 in principal cohort, 50 in aspiring assistant principal academy; 135 participants in CISD Leads teacher leadership program
- Next Year's Plan: Goal to bring DIP under 100 pages; proposed monthly update schedule by department starting September; final approval targeted for September board meeting.
Construction/Bond Items (Item 8)
8A — East County (Caney Creek) Transportation Center Addition
- GMP: $9,930,326 (budget: $10,900,000)
- 2023 bond project; Phase 2 completing the master plan from 2019 bond
- Includes additional shops, office space, bus parking, pavement repairs at Conroe Center, safety/security upgrades
Vote: Approved 6-0.
8B — Vogel, Wilkerson, and Veterans Memorial Renovations
- GMP: $13,644,561 (budget: $14,067,352)
- Critical infrastructure; 2023 bond project
- Veterans Memorial originally built in 2001 as Grangerland Intermediate
Vote: Approved 6-0.
8C — Mitchell, Cox, and Travis Intermediate Renovations
- GMP: $15,370,014 (budget: $17,540,110)
- Critical infrastructure; 2023 bond project
Vote: Approved 6-0.
Item 9 — Financial Reports
Miss Garza presented the April 30, 2025 financial update:
- General Fund: Revenue $552.9M year-to-date; Expenditures $388.6M
- 2023 Bond: $847.7M expended/encumbered; ~$1.1B estimated to complete
- Self-Funded Insurance: Ran a $1.7M deficit in April (5 weeks of claims settled due to calendar); $6.8M deficit year-to-date against $7.8M fund balance. Additional transfer from general fund may be needed. Heavy utilization months expected over summer.
- Investments: Par value $1.4B; combined portfolio at 4.47% vs. 4.19% benchmark (90-day T-bill).
Closed Session
Board entered closed session at 9:10 PM pursuant to sections 551.129, 551.071, and 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (attorney consultation, personnel matters, interim superintendent candidates).
Board returned to open session at 10:16 PM.
Item 10A — Proposed Termination of Term Contract Employee
Motion: Board approved the recommendation to terminate for good cause the term employment contract of Brian Schultz and authorized the superintendent to notify Mr. Schultz.
Vote: Approved 6-0.
Item 10B — Policy Adoptions and Revisions
BF — Board Policies (Local)
Extensive debate on proposed revisions to the policy governing how board policies are organized, developed, and adopted.
Key Points of Contention:
- Trustee Dawson (policy committee) recommended removing the "Organization" paragraph, arguing TASB legal policies are interpretations, not binding law, and that new TEA-hosted policy services would replace TASB.
- Trustee Semler questioned why the board wasn't informed about policy committee decisions to contract with TEA for Policy Connect and Policy Services.
- Trustee May submitted edits to retain organizational language and add provisions requiring superintendent collaboration in policy development, citing TEC §11.1512 and §11.201(d)(7).
- Debate centered on whether the superintendent "shall" or "may" collaborate on policy, with Trustee Dawson arguing the board has sole authority to create policy and Trustee May arguing statute mandates collaboration.
Motion 1 (Trustee Dawson): Adopt BF as originally revised by policy committee. Failed 3-4.
Motion 2 (Trustee May): Adopt BF with her edits. Failed (no second).
Motion 3 (Trustee Semler): Table all TEE-related policy changes until the board discusses the policy committee's TEA contracts. Failed (no second).
⚠️ Outcome: BF did not advance. No version was adopted.
CL — Buildings, Grounds, Equipment Management (NEW)
New policy addressing use of restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities based on biological sex (per official birth certificate), with language from TEC §33.0834.
- Trustee Semler questioned the placement of this policy under CL (which legally covers energy/building management).
- Trustee Dawson stated board counsel recommended the placement.
Vote: Approved 5-1.
FM — Student Activities
Similar to CL; explicitly states the district shall not allow students to compete in UIL activities as the opposite biological sex per birth certificate. Language drawn from TEC §33.0834 and UIL rules.
- Brief discussion about whether to include language related to the illegality of gender transition for minors; determined not necessary since it's already state law.
Vote: Approved 6-0.
EM — Miscellaneous Instructional Policies (Teaching About Controversial Issues)
Extensive proposed new policy covering: controversial issues in the classroom, critical race theory prohibitions (from HB 3979), social-emotional learning guidelines, gender fluidity/sexual orientation teaching prohibitions, pronoun usage, and sexually explicit material.
Key Discussion:
- Trustee Dawson proposed adopting everything through the pronoun usage section and deferring the "potentially pornographic material" section for further discussion.
- Trustee Nelson questioned whether you can adopt "half a policy."
- Trustee Horton raised concerns about provisions that could limit teaching of historical discrimination and noted edits she submitted were difficult to track given the volume and last-minute changes.
- Trustee May expressed concern about contradictions (promoting critical thinking while prescribing specific aspirations like "spiritual community leaders") and noted the parental religious exemption from current EM legal was not included.
- Multiple trustees expressed frustration with the volume of policy changes and difficulty tracking versions.
Motion to table EM: Approved 4-2. ⚠️ EM was tabled.
FNAA — Student Expression, Distribution of Non-School Literature
Trustee Dawson noted this policy is dependent on EM, which was tabled.
Motion to table FNAA: Approved 4-2. ⚠️ FNAA was tabled.
GKDA — (Related policy)
Motion to table GKDA: Approved 5-1. ⚠️ GKDA was tabled.
Trustee May made a statement encouraging trustees not to be discouraged and suggesting fewer policies be considered at one time in future meetings.
Item 10C — FNC: Student Conduct — Personal Telecommunications/Electronic Devices (First Reading)
First reading of proposed cell phone policy. No vote taken (first reading/discussion only).
Current State: District has K-12 cell phone guidelines (2023) but no formal policy; FNC last updated 2011. SHAC recommends "phones away for the day" K-12 for 2025-26.
Proposed Policy Highlights:
- Devices (phones, smartwatches, tablets) must be turned off and stowed during the entire instructional day
- May be used before/after school
- Staff may confiscate devices; cannot allow phones as rewards or for instruction
- Exceptions for medical necessity or ARD/504 requirements
- Extenuating circumstances with staff permission
Key Discussion Points:
- Texas HB 1481 (phones-away K-12) has passed the House
- Montgomery ISD already implemented phones-away K-12 this year
- Dr. Null raised practical implementation concerns: who takes phones to the office, storage, theft, travel distances in large schools, potential confrontations
- Debate about whether high school students (particularly 17-18-year-olds) should have phone access during lunch
- Discussion of parent communication needs; Dr. Null noted one-to-one device districts have easier time because parents can email students
- District's new "Rooms" communication app is in training rollout (40-50 campuses in May; mass parent invite planned for end of month; full launch after Meet the Teacher in August)
Consensus Reached for Second Reading:
- High school students may use phones during lunch (at least for first year), contingent on final state legislation language
- Campus discretion on disciplinary consequences (rather than district-prescribed consequences)
- District will consult principals on implementation details before the next meeting
Item 10D — Clarify Board President Authority Regarding TEA Contracts
Trustee Semler's item seeking to clarify/limit the board president's authority to execute contracts with Texans for Excellence in Education (TEE/TEA policy services).
Key Arguments:
- Board President Odenweller stated she was authorized by a 7-0 board vote in February, consulted two additional trustees (maximum allowed without TOMA violation), signed free trial agreements, and informed the full board at the March meeting.
- Trustee Semler argued the original vote was presented as discouraging discussion, the full board was not informed of specific contracts before execution, the contracts could incur charges ($40/page) and auto-renew September 1, and Policy Connect involves a major public-facing change that should require full board approval.
Motion (Trustee Semler): All contracts with TEE must be approved by a majority of board members present and voting in session prior to execution by the board president.
Vote: Approved 4-2 (President Odenweller voted against). ⚠️ Board president's unilateral contract authority with TEE was restricted.
Item 11 — Future Agenda Items
No new items requested beyond the tabled policies from this meeting.
Summary of All Votes
| Item | Description | Result |
|------|-------------|--------|
| Consent Agenda (minus 4D) | Various routine items | Approved 5-0 |
| 4D — OER Transition Plan (Bluebonnet) | Curriculum implementation plan | Approved 3-2 |
| 5B — Wellness Plan | 3-year SHAC wellness plan | Approved 6-0 |
| 8A — East County Transportation Center GMP | $9.93M construction | Approved 6-0 |
| 8B — Vogel/Wilkerson/Veterans Memorial GMP | $13.64M renovations | Approved 6-0 |
| 8C — Mitchell/Cox/Travis Intermediate GMP | $15.37M renovations | Approved 6-0 |
| 10A — Termination of Brian Schultz | Contract termination | Approved 6-0 |
| BF — Board Policies (original version) | Policy committee version | Failed 3-4 |
| BF — Board Policies (Trustee May version) | Alternative version | Failed (no second) |
| CL — Facilities/Biological Sex | New restroom/locker room policy | Approved 5-1 |
| FM — Student Activities/Biological Sex | UIL competition policy | Approved 6-0 |
| EM — Instructional Policies | Controversial issues, CRT, SEL, gender | Tabled 4-2 |
| FNAA — Non-School Literature | Dependent on EM | Tabled 4-2 |
| GKDA — (Related policy) | Dependent on EM | Tabled 5-1 |
| 10D — Restrict President's Contract Authority | TEE contract approval requirement | Approved 4-2 |
Items Tabled/Deferred
- EM Local (Instructional policies — controversial issues, CRT, SEL, gender, sexually explicit material)
- FNAA (Non-school literature distribution — dependent on EM)
- GKDA (Related policy — dependent on EM)
- BF (Board policy framework — no version adopted; effectively stalled)
Notable Upcoming Dates
- May 14: Anchored in Unity mental health event, Heritage Park, Conroe (5:30 PM)
- May 16+: High school graduations begin
- June 10 & 12: Community meetings on attendance boundaries
- June Board Meeting: Campus/facility naming votes; second reading of cell phone policy (FNC)
- July 15: Target for attendance boundary recommendation to board