August 5, 2025 — Special Meeting

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Special Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2025-08-05

Special Meeting — Unofficial Notes

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

Generated 2026-03-28 18:50 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District – Board of Trustees

Special Meeting – August 5, 2025

Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. They may contain errors in names, spellings, or details. Official minutes should be consulted for the authoritative record.

Meeting Called to Order

Time: 4:02 PM
Quorum: Present
Invocation: Trustee May
Pledges: Trustee Horton

Agenda Item 2: Naming of Executive Director for Communications

Recommendation: Dr. Landry recommended Andrew Stewart for the position of Executive Director of Communications, noting Stewart has been with the district for approximately 8 years and has over a decade of experience in commercial and school communications.

Vote: Motion made and seconded.

Result: Approved 7-0

Mr. Stewart addressed the board, expressing gratitude to Dr. Landry, board members, colleagues (Dr. Shellie Winkler, Dr. Sarah Blakelock, Tally Stout, Robert Davidson, Celeste Brown), his wife Mandy, daughters Ainsley and Addison, and his parents. He highlighted his father's career as a communications officer in the Air Force and director of communications for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as an inspiration.

Agenda Item 3: Closed Session (First)

Time entered: 4:08 PM
Authority: Texas Government Code §551.074 (personnel matters)
Time returned: 6:23 PM
Outcome: No final action was taken in closed session.

Citizen Participation

Speaker: Destiny Milton

Raised concerns about financial transparency related to outside legal representation costs.
Stated the board has spent $25,000 on outside legal representation for March, April, and May, and is on track to spend over $100,000 of taxpayer money on services previously handled by the district's legal department.
Criticized Board President Misty Odenweller for signing a contract with attorney Tim Davis from Dallas (firm referenced as Jackson Hewitt), noting:

- The agreement was not immediately shared with other board members.

- Davis was allegedly previously involved in a scandal advising Keller ISD board members to break the Texas Open Meetings Act.

- Davis charges $500/hour, described as nearly double comparable rates.

Stated that board members have requested cancellation of this and other contracts (including "TEE"), but the board president has refused to add the item to upcoming agendas.
Demanded the item be placed on an agenda immediately and that contract terms and invoices be shared with the community.

Agenda Item 7: Consent Agenda

One correction to the minutes had been previously communicated to board members.

Vote: Motion made and seconded.

Result: Approved 7-0 (with the noted correction)

Agenda Item 8: Naming of the Conroe Virtual School

Background: Dr. Landry noted this item had been discussed previously and public input had been received. Trustee May had requested the item be placed on this agenda.

Discussion:

Trustee May expressed enthusiasm for the virtual school, noting the passage of enabling legislation and education savings accounts (ESAs), calling it a "boutique style learning" opportunity.
A board member suggested incorporating "The" in the name — "The Conroe Virtual School" (TCVS) — to align with other district schools (e.g., The Woodlands High School, College Park) and to avoid the abbreviation "CVS" being confused with the pharmacy chain.
Multiple members expressed support for TCVS.

Motion: Trustee May moved to name the school "The Conroe Virtual School."

Vote: Motion made and seconded.

Result: Approved 7-0 (Note: transcript mentions "five" hands initially but states motion carries 7-0)

Next Steps: Dr. Landry confirmed the communications department will immediately begin work on branding, mascot, and school colors.

Agenda Item 9: Public Hearing – Proposed Budget and Tax Rate (2025-2026)

Public hearing opened at approximately 6:23 PM.

Budget Presentation Highlights:

Legislative Context (89th Session / House Bill 2):

Additional $8.5 billion allocated to Texas school districts statewide
$4.2 billion specifically for teacher and support staff salary increases
$2.6 billion for special education, school safety funding gaps
New "basic costs" allotment created to address inflation
$1.7 billion for CTE, teacher prep, and early learning
~$51 billion allocated for property tax relief over the biennium

Property Tax Relief (Pending Constitutional Amendments – November ballot):

Senate Bill 4: Increase homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 (cost: $2.7B)
Senate Bill 23: Increase over-65 homestead exemption from $10,000 to $60,000 (cost: $1.2B)
District will be held harmless for any local revenue loss from these exemptions

Estimated Impact on Conroe ISD:

$41 million in estimated additional funding from HB 2

- $19.6 million – Teacher Retention Allotment (new)

- $2.7 million – Staff Support Retention Allotment (new)

- ~$5 million from $55 increase in basic allotment

District expressed disappointment that special education funding, while helpful, did not close the gap to the extent hoped

Budget Assumptions:

Projected enrollment: 73,500 students
Average daily attendance: 93% (generating 68,355 ADA)
Certified property values: $56.5 billion (1.87% growth)
Proposed tax rate: $0.9496 (no change from current year)

- M&O: $0.6696

- Debt Service: $0.28

Special Education:

Over 2,000 students added to special education in 2024-25 (22% increase)

Revenue Summary:

| Category | Amount |

|---|---|

| Local property tax growth | +$6.7 million |

| House Bill 2 increases | +$41 million |

| Other state funding (hold harmless/growth) | +$9.78 million |

| Teacher Incentive Allotment growth | +$1 million |

| Interest earnings decline | -$1.5 million |

| TRS on-behalf (pass-through) | +$4 million |

| Total estimated revenue increase | +$60.98 million |

Compensation Plan (previously approved July meeting):

Starting teacher pay: $63,500
Average teacher increase (all experience): 6%
Teachers with 5+ years: average 8.2% increase
Teacher compensation cost: $21.49 million
Administrative support, instructional support, auxiliary: 6% increase on midpoint
Police and technology: 4%
Administrative business/education staff: 3.5%
Total compensation increase: $33.1 million

Personnel Changes:

142.75 new FTEs recommended
95 positions are special education (cost: $5 million of total $8 million)

Expenditure Summary:

| Category | Amount |

|---|---|

| Additional personnel | +$8.07 million |

| Employee raises | +$33.1 million |

| Substitute pay increase | +$3.8 million |

| Summer school adjustment | +$0.5 million |

| TIA offset, utilities, fuel, insurance, TRS | Remaining balance |

| Total estimated expenditure increase | +$49.08 million |

Balanced Budget:

Total estimated revenue: $761.05 million
Total estimated expenditures: $761.05 million
Payroll represents 89.3% of total budget

Public Comment on Budget/Tax Rate: No speakers came forward.

Public hearing closed at 6:42 PM.

Next Steps: Another public hearing and formal adoption vote scheduled for August 19, 2025.

Introduction of Contracted Legal Firm

Dr. Landry introduced a new contracted law firm, O'Hanlon, Demerath and Castillo, following the retirement of the district's general counsel.

Kevin O'Hanlon – Founding partner (present in audience); firm has over 40 years of Texas public school law experience.
The partner who will serve as the district's representative at board meetings was introduced.
Board President Odenweller clarified this is a temporary arrangement until the board makes a permanent decision regarding general counsel.

Agenda Item 10: Revision to Board Policy CH (Local)

⚠️ TABLED – Board President Odenweller recommended tabling this item until the August 19th meeting, noting that a related policy coming forward at the next meeting could potentially conflict with proposed CH language. The board wanted to ensure alignment and avoid contradictions with new legislation.

Dr. Landry agreed with the recommendation.

Agenda Item (Legal 10): Revision to Board Policy EMI (Local)

⚠️ TABLED – Board President Odenweller recommended tabling this item until the August 19th meeting, citing a hearing scheduled for August 15th whose outcome could be relevant before making policy changes. Board members agreed.

Closed Session (Second)

Time entered: 6:47 PM
Authority: Texas Government Code §§551.071, 551.072, 551.074 (Items A, B, C, and D)
Time returned: 9:42 PM
Outcome: No final action was taken in closed session.

Future Agenda Items

No new items were requested for the next agenda (deadline: August 6, 2025).

Meeting Adjourned

Time: 9:42 PM

Key Upcoming Dates:

August 15, 2025 – Hearing referenced related to tabled EMI policy
August 19, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting

- Second public hearing on proposed budget and tax rate

- Vote to adopt 2025-2026 budget and tax rate

- Tabled policy items CH (Local) and EMI (Local) expected to be addressed

- Possible discussion/action on BDD policy (general counsel)

⚑ Items to Watch

Board Policy CH (Local) — TABLED to August 19th due to potential conflicts with upcoming policy and new legislation. Constituents should monitor for changes to purchasing/financial policy.
Board Policy EMI (Local) — TABLED to August 19th pending outcome of an August 15th hearing. Details of the hearing and its implications were not elaborated in open session.
Outside legal representation costs — Public commenter raised concerns about $25,000+ in spending on outside counsel, a $500/hour contract with attorney Tim Davis signed by the board president, and allegations that requests to cancel contracts have been refused. Constituents may wish to follow whether this item is placed on a future agenda.
Proposed 2025-2026 budget ($761 million) and tax rate ($0.9496) — Formal adoption vote scheduled for August 19th following a second public hearing. The budget includes $33.1 million in employee raises, 142.75 new positions, and relies heavily on $41 million in new state funding from HB 2.
Special education growth — Over 2,000 students added to special education in one year (22% increase), with 95 of the 142.75 new FTEs dedicated to special education. The district noted state funding still does not fully close the special education funding gap.
General counsel vacancy — The district's general counsel has retired; an interim contracted law firm (O'Hanlon, Demerath and Castillo) is in place. A permanent decision is expected in the near term, potentially under BDD policy discussion on August 19th.
The Conroe Virtual School naming (approved 7-0) — Branding, mascot, and school colors development to begin immediately. Parents interested in the virtual school option should watch for further details.