February 17, 2026 — Regular Meeting

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2026-02-17

Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes

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

Generated 2026-03-28 19:34 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting — February 17, 2026

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: 5:01 PM
Quorum: Present
Invocation: Trustee Semmler
Pledge: Trustee Gambino
Meeting Adjourned: 12:57 AM (February 18, 2026)

Board Workshop: Construction Update (Information Only — No Action)

Mr. Foster provided a comprehensive construction update covering all active 2023 bond projects and remaining 2019 bond work.

Key Highlights:

Overall Bond Status (2023 Bond):

37 proposed contracts total
8 contracts substantially complete (2 new campuses opened August 2025; 17 existing locations completed)
20 contracts in construction (6 new campuses, 29 existing locations)
4 contracts in design; 5 on deck for future design

Conroe High School (Final 2019 Bond Project):

12-year master plan project; total cost approximately $232 million
Original board chose to preserve the legacy/historic building rather than build new
27-foot elevation change within the building footprint; 33 retaining walls
Substantial completion: August 3, 2026 for the 2026–27 school year
New front entry, auditorium, and black box theater under construction
Moving to 7-day work week; cranes arriving in ~2 weeks for final steel erection

Fowler Intermediate (Opening August 2026):

Building progressing well; road/utility permitting from FM 1314 authorized that day
Sewer connection work underway with developer commitment for mid-July readiness
Road is a private driveway (district expense); city requested a gate

Casey Arnold Elementary (Opening August 2026):

Neighborhood site with utilities already connected
Substantial completion expected May 2026
In good shape for the timeline

Grand Oaks 9th Grade/Junior High Building:

9th grade side opens January 2027; junior high side opens August 2027
Same physical building with separate entrances

Timber Mill High School (Opening August 2027):

On schedule; masonry and track work progressing
Current construction contract: just under $308 million

Cartwright Junior High (Opening August 2027):

Shares site with Fowler; near 100% dried-in
On schedule

Caney Creek 9th Grade (Opening August 2027):

Approximately $3 million over original bond budget (due to site infrastructure costs)
Private utility provider engaged for water/wastewater
General contractor: Duratech (also on Cartwright)

2027 Opening Summary:

Four major buildings opening: Timber Mill HS, Cartwright JH, Caney Creek 9th Grade, Grand Oaks JH

Renovations & Gym Additions Completed:

Buckalew, Hailey, Ford, and Creighton gym additions — opened January 2026 (substantially complete; punch list work ongoing)
Hailey and Ford also received capacity additions (~100 seats each)

The Woodlands High School Renovation:

Auditorium scaffolding removed; new acoustical treatments visible; seats being reinstalled
Goal: auditorium usable during spring semester
Ground floor work continues through December 2026

Oak Ridge High School:

9th grade campus major renovation ongoing; completion expected summer 2026
Phase 2 (fine arts) building pad under construction; structural steel in Houston ready to ship; completion mid-year December 2026
Phase 3 (athletics) identified for potential future bond referendum
Trustee May raised concern about aged furniture not being replaced during renovation; Mr. Foster noted renovation budgets historically did not include furniture but committed to working with Ms. Garza to assess needs

Lighting Upgrades:

Most campuses have been or will be upgraded to LED by end of bond program
Galatas Elementary is the one exception requiring additional work
Trustee Odenweller emphasized lighting impacts learning, safety, and atmosphere

Knox Junior High:

Major renovation including new admin section and library (swapping positions within building)
On schedule for August 2026 completion

McCullough Junior High:

Gym addition (3rd gym), classroom additions, library relocation
On schedule for August 2026
Trustees Odenweller and Horton noted concerns about inconsistent finishes (flooring, wall textures) in renovated hallways; Mr. Foster indicated the team is exploring options within budget

Washington High School:

New building being constructed on same property; move-in targeted December 2027
Will also house the district's virtual school
Board and Dr. Vinson discussed vision for revitalizing the campus and community, potential ESA implications, and separating the alternative discipline campus
Mr. Foster emphasized need for a plan to decommission the existing building (expensive to operate)

Agricultural Facilities:

Three sites under construction (Bootie Road, Conroe/fairgrounds site, Robinson Road)
Bootie Road awaiting water well permit (on Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District's March 10 agenda)

Caney Creek Transportation Center:

Expansion from 2019 bond; contractor looking to turn over early summer

Critical Infrastructure Projects:

Multiple campuses receiving roofing, HVAC, safety/security upgrades
Safety/security upgrades include: interior secure doorways, exterior cameras, 100% card reader access on exterior doors (moving toward keyless operation)
All campuses will have standardized safety/security upgrades by grade level upon completion

Remaining Projects:

Final projects include admin building (Sadler), Hawk, testing/assessment, Woodlands Transportation, police command center, Caney Creek wastewater treatment plant
Student facilities prioritized before faculty/admin facilities

Special Recognitions

TMEA All-State Musicians

31 students named 2025–26 Texas Music Educators Association All-State Musicians
Selected from top 2.7% of 68,000 students statewide who initially auditioned
Schools represented: Conroe HS Choir, College Park Band & Orchestra, Grand Oaks Band, Oak Ridge Band & Choir, Woodlands Band & Choir
Robert Horton, Director of Fine Arts, presented
Board and President Odenweller praised the students and their teachers

New Principal Appointments

Casey Arnold Elementary — Jamie Almond (Principal)

Currently principal at Suchma Elementary; 30-year CISD veteran (since 1995)
Inaugural principal of the first PreK–6 campus in Grand Oaks feeder zone
Vote: Approved 7-0

Janine Fowler Intermediate — Amber DeBeaumont (Principal)

Currently principal at Veterans Memorial Intermediate
Read an emotional letter to the Fowler family honoring Janine Fowler's legacy
Vote: Approved 7-0

Veterans Memorial Intermediate — Dr. Tiffany Jerabek (Principal)

Returning to the campus where she began her administrative career (formerly Moorhead JH)
Recognized in the packet; formal approval noted as included

Timber Mill High School — Dr. Carlton Todd (Principal)

Currently principal at Stockton Junior High
Delivered an impassioned speech about his vision, family, and the "Loop" identity
Vote: Approved 7-0

Citizen Participation (2-minute public comments)

12 speakers addressed the board on the following topics:

SB11 (School Prayer Policy) — Multiple Speakers Opposed:

Danell Cass: Opposed SB11; distinguished existing silent prayer rights from organized religious reading; cited low student performance in core subjects
Adriana Ruiz: Called SB11 religious overreach; urged focus on education over political signaling
Deborah Leiber: Person of faith opposing the policy; cited administrative burden, consent form requirements, and legal risks
Laurel Stevens: Christian opposing the policy on pluralism grounds; urged preserving religious freedom
Destiny Milton: Criticized lack of transparency by labeling the item with a vague statute number; raised logistical concerns and litigation costs; noted Paxton's promise to cover legal costs has not materialized (district spent ~$100,000 in legal fees since October)
Ashley Hurley: Supported students' existing right to pray; urged focus on academics

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) — Multiple Speakers in Support:

Wayan Harter Ley: SEPAC executive committee member; asked board to support formal creation
Dominique McLelen: Board-certified special education advocate; cited research supporting structured parent advisory councils
Haley Haynes: Former educator and CISD parent; urged yes vote, noting it signals unity with families
Amber Fusa: Urged formal structure for parent collaboration; emphasized systemic improvement over reactive correction
Nikki Whitlow: Parent of twice-exceptional student; shared personal story; advocated for transition-to-life program and SEPAC support

Consent Agenda

Items A through G approved in one motion.

Vote: 7-0

Note: A member of the audience objected that sign-up paperwork for public comment had been removed during the meeting.

Administration Items

7A: Casey Arnold Elementary — Mascot & Colors (Information Only)

Colors: Navy and green
Top mascot nominations: Alligators, Armadillos, Owls (also nominated by Casey's family), Panthers
Community vote to follow; final vote expected at March meeting

Cartwright Junior High — Mascot & Colors (Information Only)

Colors: Burgundy (Timber Mill) and gold (Conroe High) — split campus feeder
Mascot nominations: Chargers, Colts, Cougars, Mustangs (Cartwright family favors Colts)

Grand Oaks Junior High — Mascot & Colors

Recommendation: Orange and royal blue with Grizzlies mascot (matching Grand Oaks HS feeder)
Vote: Approved 7-0

Timber Mill High School — Mascot & Colors

Colors: Maroon, Columbia blue, and gray
Mascot: Stallions (matching 7–12 feeder alignment)
Vote: Approved 7-0

7E: SEPAC — Special Education Parent Advisory Council

Kendra Wiggins presented the proposal for a board-recognized advisory body
District special education statistics: 11,163 special ed students (16%); 6,175 504 students (7.8%); combined 23.8% of district
Noted significant funding losses in special education
Structure: Advisory capacity only; board-appointed parent members; quarterly meetings; annual board reporting
Timeline: Board approval → planning/recruiting → finalized plan by June 1 → official launch August 31
Multiple trustees expressed strong support; discussed selection process, policy development, and learning from failures in other districts
Trustee Gambino read prepared statement emphasizing partnership, trust-building, and structured collaboration
Vote: Approved 6-0-1 (one abstention)

Teaching & Learning: Math Curriculum Adoption (K–12)

Background:

Current math materials do not meet HQIM (Highly Qualified Instructional Materials) criteria
7th grade math identified as a district focus area
Guiding coalition of 127 members (112 classroom teachers) conducted review
Community feedback: 71 responses K–6; 34 responses 7–12 (board members noted this was not a statistically representative sample)

Process:

Materials reviewed December 9 through January 27
Educator surveys, publisher presentations, community review periods, virtual showcases
TEA "Science of Math" principles shared with coalition (instructional hierarchy, direct explicit instruction, automaticity with math facts, spaced/interleaved practice, conceptual + procedural learning)

K–6 Recommendations from Guiding Coalition:

1. Savvas Learning Company — Envision Plus Texas Math (1st recommendation)

2. Accelerate Learning — STEMscopes Texas Math (2nd recommendation)

Key discussion points:

Envision Plus Texas is a brand-new product (not the same as current Envision Math 2.0)
Received perfect IMRA scores in all grade levels and rubric areas
Features: AI planning tools, MAP Growth integration, Canvas/Eduporia integration, robust emergent bilingual supports, Brainingcamp Live digital manipulatives, parent portal, blended print + digital options
STEMscopes: Also perfect IMRA scores; 5E model; Texas-based company; QR code video tutorials; but limited language support beyond English/Spanish, no direct MAP integration, heavier lesson prep
iReady Texas was highest-rated in educator survey but not recommended by coalition due to requiring navigation of two separate curricula, lower IMRA scores, no MAP integration

7–12 Recommendations:

Savvas recommended as 1st or 2nd choice for all courses except 7th grade (where STEMscopes was 1st and McGraw Hill was 2nd)
Coalition members cited concern that Savvas appeared too similar to current materials (though many were unaware it was a completely new product)
Advanced courses: Separate publisher recommendations for AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB/BC, and Multivariable Calculus

Financial Considerations:

Savvas offers 15% discount for vertical K–Algebra 2 adoption (over $1 million savings on 4-year contract)
4-year contract recommended over 2-year for cost savings
Curriculum auditors confirmed recommendation would be to implement HQIM materials

Votes:

Savvas K through Algebra 2 (4-year contract):

Vote: Approved 6-1 (Trustee Dungan opposed, citing desire to wait for additional data)

McGraw Hill for Pre-Calculus + Cosenza & Associates for Algebraic Reasoning (4-year contract):

Vote: Approved 7-0

AP/Advanced Courses — DFW (AP Statistics), Pearson (AP Calculus AB & BC), Savvas (Multivariable Calculus) (4-year contract):

Vote: Approved 7-0

Library Materials Approval

Dr. Vinson certified all materials comply with TEC 33.026, EFB, and Senate Bill 13
Monthly list covering December and January acquisitions (donations and new catalog items)
Vote: Approved 7-0

Board Policy — Second Reading (Action Items)

Items A through H (State-Mandated Updates):

Policies: CH Local, CKC Local, CKE Local, CL Local, DGC Local, EIA Local, FFAC Local, FFB Local, FFB Local

Board noted these are state-mandated changes from the legislative session, not district-initiated
Discussion about future process: putting routine legal updates on consent agenda; Dr. Vinson committed to providing small group review and board brief previews
Motion included authorization for non-substantive grammatical changes
Vote: Approved 7-0

Item I: FFG Local — Student Welfare, Child Abuse and Neglect

Two amendments made:

1. Removed reference to "member of the governing body of an open enrollment charter school" (not applicable to ISD)

2. Expanded mandatory reporting training requirement to include both "professional employees" and "employees" (broadening to cover student teachers, interns, etc.)

Amendment vote: Approved 7-0
Amended policy adoption vote: Approved 7-0

Board Policy — First Reading (Discussion Only)

GKD Local — Facility Rentals

Mr. McCord presented a comprehensive overview of the current facility rental program and proposed changes.

Current Situation:

District currently operates at a net loss of ~$148,000 on outside facility rentals
Additional $72,000 loss from expanded free campus use by PTOs/booster clubs (changed from 2-free-events limit in 2023)
Electricity costs are the primary driver of losses
District rental rates are comparable to surrounding districts

Proposed Changes Discussed:

Clearly defined terms in policy
Insurance requirement for all renters (except PTAs/PTOs/booster clubs), naming CISD
Extended rental window (currently 3 months out)
Reduced rental period for after-school extracurricular businesses (2 hours → 1 hour)
Allowing teachers to conduct for-profit tutoring after contract hours
One unified rental website (currently separate portals)

Financial Concerns:

Reducing after-school rental from 2 hours to 1 hour = ~$100 net loss per event
Potential 50 new after-school setups could mean ~$180,000 additional annual loss
Possible need for additional FTE ($65,000 burdened cost)
Teacher tutoring at market rates ($75–85/hr) could draw away district-funded tutors ($30/hr)
Surrounding districts split on allowing teacher tutoring on campus (Klein, Spring = yes; Tomball, Humble, Katy = no)

Board Discussion:

Trustee Dawson: "I'm not okay using taxpayer funds to subsidize for-profit companies."
Trustee Semmler explained original intent was to lower costs for families and provide after-school access, especially for less-privileged students
Trustee Horton raised concerns about total potential losses ($300K–$400K) and where funds would come from
Board requested workshop with different scenarios showing cost recovery options
President Odenweller emphasized need for a policy the district can actually comply with and that doesn't lose money

No action taken — first reading only. Workshop with financial scenarios requested.

Closed/Executive Session

Board entered closed session at 11:21 PM under Texas Government Code 551.071, 551.072, and 551.074

Motion to Move Library Material Discussion to Open Session:

Trustee May motioned to move library challenge discussion and legal counsel out of closed session
Discussion about waiving attorney-client privilege
Vote: Approved 4-3 (library material discussion moved to open session)

Board returned to open session at 12:22 AM

Open Session Action Items (Post-Executive Session)

Library Material Challenges

Motion: Trustee Dawson moved to not accept the book challenges on both Ann of West Philly (by Ivy Noelle Weir) and Angry Spirit (by Anita Cray), keeping them in their current library locations.

Discussion:

President Odenweller expressed concerns about age-appropriateness of both books at PreK–4 campuses

- Ann of West Philly: Noted relationship themes; suggested 5th grade and above would be more appropriate (TEKS relationship instruction begins in 5th grade)

- Angry Spirit: Described ghost illustrations as "extremely graphic" for young children; confirmed by Dr. Winkler's assessment

Trustee Semmler argued Ann of West Philly is the same story as Anne of Green Gables in graphic novel form
Trustee Dungan raised broader concerns about library cataloging systems and age-appropriate book placement
Dr. Vinson acknowledged the concern and committed to finding solutions for categorization
Discussion about whether library software (Follett) could restrict checkouts by grade level — currently not implemented at that granularity
Motion to call the question approved

Vote on not accepting the challenges (books remain): Approved 5-2

SB11 — School Prayer and Bible Reading Policy

Motion: Trustee Dawson moved that those not in favor of adopting the resolution show by raised hand (effectively a motion to reject the resolution).

Discussion:

Trustee Dawson cited two points:

1. State-mandated instructional minutes (435 minutes for 3rd grade) leave no time for a dedicated prayer period

2. Read directly from SB11 noting it explicitly states students and employees can already pray and read religious texts during non-designated periods — "We are free to pray now. This bill does not change that."

Trustee Semmler concurred: "I was shocked to read this bill in detail and see that it did nothing more than really reiterate what's already in existence."
President Odenweller: Students already have the ability to pray; parents accept the charge of faith in the home

Vote to NOT adopt SB11 resolution: Approved 7-0

Montgomery Trace 4 — Annexation/Detachment Hearing

Motion: Move hearing from March 3 to March 2
Vote: Approved 7-0

Board Job Duties — Reimbursement Standards

Trustee Gambino motioned to set clear standards in board policy for reimbursement of advocacy and training expenses for trustees

Significant exchange occurred:

President Odenweller raised concerns about Trustee Semmler's taxpayer-funded trip to TASB's Federal Advocacy Conference in DC without informing the board president or having board-approved legislative priorities
Trustee Semmler responded that she received superintendent authorization, attended educational sessions, transmitted notes to the district, and discussed removing DEI-based performance standards with legislators
Trustee Semmler then cited instances where other board members (including President Odenweller) acted without full board authorization: signing in as CISD board president at a Senate hearing, directing purchase of Ten Commandments posters, and accommodating SEPAC with district resources
President Odenweller disputed characterizations and noted she was representing the district when attending the cheerleading event
Motion to end discussion approved

Vote to develop clear reimbursement/advocacy expense standards in board policy: Approved 5-2

Future Agenda Items / Upcoming Business

March 17 Board Workshop (5:00 PM):

- Mid-year MAP data presentation

- Bluebonnet curriculum update

- Curriculum audit update

GKD workshop with financial scenarios for facility rental cost recovery
TEKS ratification needed (March deadline noted)

Summary of All Votes

| Item | Action | Vote |

|------|--------|------|

| Consent Agenda (A–G) | Approved | 7-0 |

| Jamie Almond — Principal, Casey Arnold Elementary | Approved | 7-0 |

| Amber DeBeaumont — Principal, Janine Fowler Intermediate | Approved | 7-0 |

| Dr. Carlton Todd — Principal, Timber Mill High School | Approved | 7-0 |

| Grand Oaks JH Mascot & Colors (Grizzlies, orange/royal blue) | Approved | 7-0 |

| Timber Mill HS Mascot & Colors (Stallions, maroon/Columbia blue/gray) | Approved | 7-0 |

| SEPAC Authorization | Approved | 6-0-1 (1 abstention) |

| Math Curriculum: Savvas K–Algebra 2 (4-year) | Approved | 6-1 |

| Math Curriculum: McGraw Hill Pre-Calc + Cosenza Algebraic Reasoning (4-year) | Approved | 7-0 |

| Math Curriculum: AP/Advanced Courses (4-year) | Approved | 7-0 |

| Library Materials (Dec/Jan) | Approved | 7-0 |

| Board Policies A–H (State-mandated, 2nd reading) | Approved | 7-0 |

| FFG Local Amendment | Approved | 7-0 |

| FFG Local Amended Policy | Approved | 7-0 |

| Move library challenge discussion to open session | Approved | 4-3 |

| Library Challenges — Not Accepted (books remain) | Approved | 5-2 |

| SB11 Prayer Resolution — NOT Adopted | Approved | 7-0 |

| Montgomery Trace 4 Hearing Date Change | Approved | 7-0 |

| Board Job Duties — Reimbursement Policy Standards | Approved | 5-2 |

Meeting adjourned at 12:57 AM on February 18, 2026.

⚑ Items to Watch

SEPAC Authorization (6-0-1): One trustee abstained on creating the Special Education Parent Advisory Council. Parents should monitor the planning timeline (finalized plan by June 1, launch August 31) and the member selection process.
Math Curriculum: Savvas K–Algebra 2 (6-1): Trustee Dungan voted against, citing desire for additional data before committing to a 4-year contract. This is a significant district-wide instructional materials adoption affecting all K–Algebra 2 students.
Library Challenge Vote (5-2): Ann of West Philly and Angry Spirit remain in libraries, but the split vote and discussion about age-appropriate placement at PreK–4 campuses signal this issue may resurface. Dr. Vinson committed to exploring library cataloging solutions.
Motion to Move Library Discussion to Open Session (4-3): The narrow vote to waive attorney-client privilege and discuss library challenges publicly reflects ongoing board tension about transparency in executive session.
Board Reimbursement Policy Standards (5-2): Contentious discussion about trustee travel and advocacy expenses revealed significant disagreements about board authority and individual trustee actions. New policy standards are being developed.
GKD Facility Rental Policy (First Reading — Deferred): Current facility rentals operate at a ~$148,000 net loss; proposed changes could increase losses to $300K–$400K. Workshop with financial scenarios requested before second reading. Impacts after-school programs, tutoring access, and PTO/booster club events.
Caney Creek 9th Grade Campus: Approximately $3 million over original bond budget due to site infrastructure costs — worth monitoring for budget implications.
Oak Ridge HS Furniture Concern: Trustee May flagged that aged furniture is not being replaced during renovation; administration committed to assessing needs with Ms. Garza.
Washington High School Redevelopment: Board discussion touched on ESA implications, separating the alternative discipline campus, and decommissioning the existing building — significant long-term planning decisions ahead.
SB11 Prayer Resolution — Unanimously Rejected (7-0): Despite significant public comment, the board unanimously declined to adopt the resolution, noting existing prayer rights are already protected. District has spent ~$100,000 in related legal fees since October.
Public Comment Concerns: Multiple speakers raised transparency issues including vague agenda labeling, library challenges discussed in closed session, and a $7,000+ public records cost estimate. A member of the audience also objected that public comment sign-up paperwork was removed during the meeting.