March 17, 2026 — Regular Meeting

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

View interactive version → ↓ Board Packet PDF

Conroe ISD Board Meeting — 2026-03-17

Regular Meeting — Unofficial Notes

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

Generated 2026-03-28 22:52 UTC

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting — March 17, 2026

Note: These are unofficial notes based on an auto-generated transcript. They may contain errors or omissions. Please refer to official board minutes for the authoritative record.

Meeting Overview

Called to Order: 5:02 PM by Board President Odenweller
Adjourned: 10:56 PM
Quorum: Present
Invocation: Trustee Dawson
Pledges: Led by Scout Troop 589 (Grand Oaks Feeder Zone)

Procedural Changes Announced

President Odenweller announced several structural changes to board meetings aimed at efficiency:

1. Closed session moved to 5:00 PM — to complete legal/personnel business before the 6:00 PM public session, avoiding long audience waits

2. Modified special recognitions — certificates and receptions will be held before the public meeting; seniors and achievements will still be acknowledged during the meeting

3. Streamlined principal/leadership appointments — approved as part of the consent agenda/HR report rather than individual votes

4. Upcoming venue change — Next two meetings will be held at the administration office while the current facility is used for end-of-year student events

Closed Session

Entered: 5:08 PM
Returned to Open Session: 6:31 PM
Sections cited: Texas Government Code §§551.076, 551.071, 551.074

Action from Closed Session:

Motion: To uphold the Level 1 and Level 2 grievance decision and authorize the board president to issue a written determination.

Vote: 7-0, Approved

Special Recognitions

Caney Creek High School Co-Ed Cheer — 2026 USA National Champions

Competed in Anaheim, California at USA Spirit National Championships
Scored 98.6 in finals; also earned silver medal in best overall fight song
Head Coach: Jaylen Jackson; Assistants: Chitty Noazi, Kathy Peara, Peggy Lions
Principal Dr. Jeffrey Stichler present

College Park High School Cheer — 2026 UCA Division 1 National Champions

Competed in Orlando, Florida; UCA Division 1 National High School Championships (Super Large Division 1 Game Day)
Earned automatic placement in finals after day one; won national championship on day three
Head Coach: Abby Constantino; Assistants: Maggie Meadow, Chandler Howard
Principal Robert MacFarlane present
President Odenweller gave extended personal remarks about watching both teams develop and noted the strong supportive relationship between Caney Creek and College Park cheer programs ("coast to coast national championships")

Claire Giden — 2026 UIL Girls Wrestling State Champion (The Woodlands HS)

155-pound junior; won all matches by pin or technical fall (except district meet)
Coach: William Durning
Principal Dennis Muehsler present

College Park High School Wrestling — 2026 UIL State Champions

District champions 8th year in a row; dual state champions 2nd year in a row; 2nd place team at UIL state tournament
Coaches: Eric Spute, Lindsay Spute, Kenneth Mark, Brad Ewing
Individual State Champions:

- Mason Milsaps — 132 lbs, freshman, 40-4 record; two-time US Open national champion, Pan-American champion

- Landry von Gotton — 135 lbs, junior, 42-1 record; third state championship; multi-time national champion; will represent Team USA at Pan-American Games

- Logan Milsaps — 144 lbs, senior, 38-3 record; two-time state champion; team captain; 4.3 GPA; committed to Arkansas Little Rock

Micah Tennyson — 2026 UIL Freestyle Swimming State Champion (Oak Ridge HS)

Junior; won both 100 and 200 freestyle at state
Holds school records in 100, 200, and 500 freestyle
Head Coach: Christine Ross; Assistant: Jeff Spoon
Principal Shawn Almond present

The Woodlands High School Girls Swimming — 2026 UIL 6A State Champions

13th state title; won the meet before the final event
Head Coach: Jeremy Wade; Assistants: Kevin Witt, Marty Miller, Dylan Venter
Special announcement: Brooke Miller named TGCA Swimming Athlete of the Year
Principal Dennis Muehsler present

Citizen Participation (Public Comment)

Palin Lackey (Freshman, Grand Oaks High School)

Advocated for female flag football to become an official UIL sport
Cited safety concerns with girls playing tackle football (176,831 ER visits over 10 years)
Noted Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys are willing to help sponsor school teams
Requested formal district support to take the proposal to the state level

Mark Brooks

Thanked the board for discussing library material reviews in open session last month
Expressed concern that library challenge forms were not released publicly; obtained them via public information request
Noted the challenge form for Ann of West Philly included justifications about lesbian characters, drunkenness, and vomiting that were not discussed in open session
Argued discussions seemed "based on feelings" rather than local policy EFB criteria
Requested the board vote to establish a library advisory council at the next meeting

Kristen Brown (Parent, Oak Ridge feeder)

Expressed concern that the 590-page board packet wasn't available until approximately 3:00 PM the day of the meeting
Noted it would take roughly 5 pages per minute to review in the available time
Referenced previous meetings where packets were posted even later
Urged the district to make packets available earlier for public review

Michelle Taylor (Retired CISD math teacher, 21 years)

Referenced neuroscientist Dr. Jared Horath's testimony before the US Senate about Generation Z being the first generation not to outscore the previous one on cognitive tests, attributed to technology overuse
Noted Sweden is spending hundreds of millions to return to textbooks
Described her 10-year-old grandson's struggles with computer-based testing (dysgraphia, ADHD, anxiety)
Argued students cannot effectively use test-taking strategies on computers (circling, underlining, scanning, skipping questions)
Urged the district to move students off computers and back to textbooks and paper tests, starting with math

Consent Agenda (Items A–J)

Vote: 7-0, Approved (no items pulled for separate consideration)
Note: Principal appointments were included in the HR report within the consent agenda as part of the new streamlined process.

Human Resources — Principal Appointments

All principal appointments were approved as part of the consent agenda. The following individuals were publicly introduced and recognized:

Elementary Principals

Bradley Elementary — Tracy Somerville

Replacing Dr. Christine Butler (retiring after career in CISD since 1999; opened two schools)
Nearly two decades of experience, mostly in CISD
Currently AP at Hines Elementary; helped with new campus opening
Previously AP at Wilkinson Elementary (10 years) and district literacy coach

Suchma Elementary — Nick Crawley

Replacing Jamie Almond (moved to new Casey Arnold Elementary)
Background in Pflugerville ISD and CISD; taught elementary 9 years
Currently AP at Gordon-Reed Elementary
Also celebrating his 50th birthday

Intermediate/Junior High Principals

Cox Intermediate — Valentina Majeski

Replacing Liz Koehler (resigning to stay home with family)
7 years teaching in New Caney ISD; 7 years as AP in New Caney ISD; 5 years as AP at Cox Intermediate

Travis Intermediate — Dr. Denise Coello

Replacing Mrs. Britton (retiring after 34 years in CISD)
Background in Spring ISD and CISD; currently principal at Rice Elementary (4 years)
Bilingual principal

Stockton Junior High — Dr. Jared Hostess

Replacing Dr. Carlton Todd (moved to Timber Mill High School)
Six years of service in US Air Force; teaching background in Sheffield ISD and Midland ISD
Currently associate principal at Stockton
2025 Region 6 Assistant Principal of the Year

York Junior High — Dr. Kelly McWashington

Replacing Mrs. Ardoin (moved to Director of Communication)
15 years teaching in Louisiana, Fort Worth, and Lewisville ISD
Principal at McDonald Junior High in Katy ISD (2 years); previously principal at Macawan Middle School in Denton ISD (6 years)

9th Grade Center Principal

Grand Oaks 9th Grade Center — Sarah Dorsey

21 years in education (Aldine ISD 2005; CISD since 2013)
Has been at Grand Oaks High School since its inaugural year
First principal of the new Grand Oaks 9th Grade Center

Administration

Item A: Casey Arnold Elementary Mascot

School colors: Navy blue and green
Finalists: Owls and Panthers
Students and families voted for Owls (Casey Arnold's sister noted the owl's connection to reading and education)
Motion to approve the Owl as the official mascot
Vote: 7-0, Approved

Item B: Lynn Cartwright Junior High Mascot

Top four nominees from zoned parents and students: Chargers, Colts, Mustangs, Cougars
Cougars received an overwhelming vote
Professional logo design work to follow; renderings expected soon
Motion to approve the Cougars as the official mascot
Vote: 7-0, Approved

Item C: District & Campus Future Enrollment Projections (Zonda Demographics)

Presenter: Rocky (Zonda Demographics) — Information only, no action taken

Key housing/development findings:

CISD closed 3,335 homes last year; ranked by closings (occupied homes)
Housing starts declining; Q4 had just over 500 starts (one of smallest quarters except Q4 2022)
~1,200 homes under construction; ~600-700 finished but vacant
Closings likely to fall below 3,000 next year (possibly as low as 2,800)
88 active subdivisions; 5,350 vacant developed lots; 22,000+ future lots
Interest rates and affordability identified as factors in slowdown
~60% of builders now buying down interest rates for families
Significant multifamily construction: 2,400+ units under construction, 1,500 future units
Hispanic population statewide declined by 60,000 students; CISD's percentage remained stable
Economically disadvantaged numbers slightly declined

Enrollment findings:

CISD experienced first enrollment decline in over 10 years: -150 students last year
Kindergarten enrollment declined by ~200 students
Leavers increased to 7,260; newcomers at 7,499 (differential less than 200)
Cohort growth strong (1.01 across most grade levels); once students enroll, they tend to stay
School of choice, homeschooling, and virtual learning identified as factors in kindergarten decline
Next year projected to bounce back to ~1,000 students in cohort growth

Capacity concerns:

Bartlett Elementary — projected to grow by ~600 students; significant overcrowding anticipated
San Jacinto Elementary — projected to more than double in 10 years; 700-capacity school approaching ~200% of capacity
Austin, Patterson, Stewart — being monitored; may be managed with portables
District is meeting to add portables at Patterson and San Jacinto
Land purchased at Carter Ranch (1484/Milmac), Manvilla, Grand Oaks area, and east side of Gordon-Reed for potential future schools
Campbell Elementary being built in Evergreen

10-year projection:

District projected to be ~71,500–72,000 students in 10 years
High/low enrollment scenarios presented due to voucher/housing market uncertainty
Low scenario: could lose 400+ students if cohort growth stays depressed
Total projected capacity ~4,000 students under total district capacity by 2035

Significant board discussion points:

Trustee questions about what controllable factors the district can address regarding student leavers
Dr. Vinson emphasized virtual learning as a future strategy (referenced Hallsville ISD with 2,000 virtual students in a 4,000-student district)
Student engagement highlighted as critical retention tool
Demographics already used for staffing decisions this year, saving approximately $6.3 million
Discussion of master facilities plan development (expected May/June timeframe)
Board to be asked for "guardrails" regarding facility priorities
Quarterly demographic reports will continue

Item D: Local School Library Advisory Council — TABLED

President Odenweller announced the item was tabled for further research and information gathering
No objections from board members

Item E: Discussion of Commemorative Months and Cultural Celebrations (Policy EM)

Brought forward by Trustee Horton — Discussion only, no action

Trustee Horton noted feedback that not all cultures were being celebrated equally across the district
Dr. Vinson presented possible solutions:

- Heritage showcase events

- Living museums

- Tradition showcases

- Curriculum-embedded storytelling and oral histories

Next steps: potential pilot at a school/campus
Board left implementation decisions to Dr. Vinson and his team

Teaching and Learning

Item A: Library Materials (Texas Education Code 33026 / Board Policy EFB / SB 13) — TABLED

Dr. Vinson requested tabling to allow implementation of newly purchased review software
Emphasized importance of getting the process right
Board expressed support and patience for thorough review

Item B: Academic Progress Data Presentation — Information Only

Extensive presentation covering multiple assessment tools and curriculum implementation

Bluebonnet Learning (EL K-5) Survey Results

Presenter: Dayren Carlisle

Glows (Positives):

Strong parent engagement: 1,501 fall survey respondents; 934 winter respondents
Effective communication: teachers comfortable with Bluebonnet portal resources
Over 50% of parents receiving unit parent letters
Professional development highly praised by teachers and leaders
Web portal well-received by parents

Grows (Areas for Improvement):

Text complexity perceived as too high (addressed as intentional per structured literacy/science of reading framework — listening comprehension vs. reading comprehension distinction)
Teachers creating supplementary materials (anchor charts, sentence stems) especially for emergent bilingual and special needs students
Preference for more student-led vs. teacher-led instructional style
Pacing concerns (180-day curriculum vs. actual instructional days)
Bilingual support scaffolds deemed insufficient
STAAR alignment concerns
Remediation and acceleration resources identified as a growth area for Year 2

NWEA MAP Assessment Results

Presenter: Malinda Stewart, Director of Assessment & School Improvement

Second year of implementation (K-8); piloted previous year
Computer-adaptive diagnostic assessment; administered 3 times per year
Key results:

- 3-point jump in English achievement (BOY to MOY)

- 4-point jump in Spanish achievement (BOY to MOY)

- Median growth achievement exceeds national average

- District growth exceeds national growth

- 52% of students in top two quartiles at mid-year (English)

- 37 of 40 campuses above national growth projections

- One-fourth of CISD students reaching highest quartile

Bluebonnet Unit Assessments

Presenter: Mr. Smith

~10 assessments per grade level (K-5), aligned to units of study
STAAR-aligned; electronic format via Edgehoria platform
Extended constructed responses added in grades 3-5 based on teacher feedback
Results compared to 2025 STAAR:

- Kindergarten: 59% correct (vs. 54% 3rd grade STAAR benchmark)

- Performance across K-5 shows consistency with STAAR expectations

- Spanish assessments trans-adapted by district bilingual team (state did not provide Spanish versions)

- Data suggests students tracking in right direction, though assessments are not designed to be predictive of STAAR

House Bill 3 Progress Measures

Early Childhood Literacy Progress Measure: % of K-3 students reaching MAP growth projection target of 55% by 2030
Current year goal of 51% achieved across all grade levels (K-3)
37 of 40 campuses above the national 51% average

Bluebonnet Feedback to TEA/State

Presenter: Hedith Upshaw

CISD, as the largest district implementing Bluebonnet, has direct communication with curriculum creators. Recommendations to TEA include:

Timeliness of material delivery
Pacing reconsideration (180-day curriculum vs. actual instructional days)
Acceleration and remediation resource gaps (nothing approved by SBOE for Tier 2/3 interventions)
Material packaging improvements
Enhanced bilingual, ESL, and special education supports
Building stakeholder confidence and clarity of purpose

Notable announcement: Hedith Upshaw named to the 10-member Texas Council of Academic Officers

District Academic Strategy & Drive to 90

Presenters: Dr. Vinson, Ted Landry

Goal: Achieve "A" accountability rating by 2027
Curriculum audit underway with Carrie Gain (Deputy Director, Region 13)
Audit examining: district accountability, campus data analytics, CCMR, graduation rates, school improvement framework
Comparison analysis with 10 largest Texas districts; goal to be among the best
Identified areas for improvement:

- STAAR performance optimization

- Dropout rate coding accuracy

- Graduation rate improvements (particularly at Washington alternative campus)

- CCMR coding improvements

- 5th–8th grade math curriculum support (most new material introduced at these levels)

- Principal experience declining (avg. from ~8 years to ~4.5 years)

- Middle school instructional support needs

Future organizational structure:

Single point of contact for campus principals through Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Subject area curriculum specialists by grade level (replacing generalist model)
School improvement staff with vertical understanding for boots-on-ground campus support
Dedicated professional development program for instructional leaders
Elementary instructional coaches being redesigned as interventionists for Tier 2/3 support

Docentus Group Update

Presenter: Ron Morrison

Connected curriculum work to the district's "Value, Voice, Vigor" framework
Noted survey data confirmed the need for system stability and reduced variability
Highlighted that teacher input (voice) is being actively sought
Described the district's progress as moving toward "systemwide consistency, not isolated excellence"

Board Discussion Highlights:

Multiple trustees expressed strong support for Bluebonnet and the science of reading approach
Concern raised about special education documentation burden — district working on guidance documents to help special education teachers navigate Bluebonnet lessons
President Odenweller suggested pushing for state-level solutions to simplify modification documentation
Discussion about direct instruction vs. student-led learning balance within Bluebonnet framework
Board members emphasized the importance of Tier 2/3 intervention resources as "mission critical"
Trustee Stewart noted communication as a cross-cutting theme across many survey findings
Dr. Vinson cautioned about change fatigue and emphasized the need to limit simultaneous initiatives

Business/Finance

Personnel Audit Presentation (Docentus Group) — Information Only

Presenter: Tiffany (Docentus Group), reviewing Mo Casey staffing study

Key Findings from 84-page Mo Casey Staffing Study (2021–2425 data):

Overall: CISD operates with leaner staffing compared to peers (Cy-Fair, Fort Bend, Humble, Katy, Spring ISDs), regional, and state averages

- CISD student-to-total-staff ratio: 7.7:1 vs. peer average 7.5:1

Experienced workforce: Over two-thirds of teachers have 6+ years of experience
Support staff particularly lean: Student support staff and auxiliary staff below peer/regional/state averages across the board
Middle/junior high schools: Student-to-total-staff ratio of 12:1 vs. district average of 7.7:1 — notably lean compared to rest of district
Central administration outlier: CISD has the lowest student-to-central-admin ratio compared to peers — indicates potential overstaffing

- Sharp ratio change in 2022-23 coincided with TEA recoding instructional coaches into central administration category

- CISD's ratio dropped much more dramatically than state/regional averages during the same recoding

Funding: District relies more heavily on local property taxes than regional/state averages
Enrollment grew ~12.9% over five years; demographic profile shifting

Five Recommendations:

1. Multi-phase staffing allocation plan using new staffing data, aligned to programmatic needs, instructional philosophy, and budgetary parameters

2. Attrition-based and reassignment-based reductions if staffing reductions are necessary — implemented in staff-friendly manner with clear communication

3. Reorganize central administration to address apparent overstaffing of instructional coaches and other identified inefficiencies

4. Programmatic review (2026-27) if further reductions needed — objective criterion-based process; classroom ratio adjustments as last step

5. Priority areas for future staff additions: student services, aides, auxiliary staff, and middle/junior high overall staffing

Sample Multi-Phase Staffing Allocation Plan:

Phase 1: March–June 2026 (already underway)
Phase 2: Summer 2026 into 2026-27 school year (semester-by-semester if additional reductions needed)
Underlying principles: honor staff, maximize attrition, clear communication, provide voice and choice

Dr. Vinson's comments on actions already taken:

District-level coaches reallocated; secondary-level coaching positions restructured
Elementary coaches being redesigned as interventionists for Tier 2/3 direct student support
District currently in the budgetary "black" due to cuts and adjustments already made
$6.3 million saved through demographic-informed staffing decisions
Customer service orientation improvements underway for central office operations

Planning and Construction

Item A: GMP Amendment — Irons, Peet, York, and Conroe High School 9th Renovation

Construction manager: Angelo Bryant; Design team: VLK
Guaranteed Maximum Price: $10,095,300
Original construction target: $11,500,000 — came in under budget
Scope: Critical infrastructure (chillers, boilers, freezer coolers, roof repairs, generators, electrical service gear) and 2023 bond safety/security improvements
Savings remain as unspent bond money for other critical infrastructure
Vote: 7-0, Approved

Item B: Accept as Complete — Armstrong, Austin, Birnham Woods, and Broadway Project

Critical infrastructure project
Finished under GMP; returning $639,282.24 to bond funds
Financial audit completed internally; design team certified closeout documents
Vote: 7-0, Approved

Item C: Accept as Complete — Conroe High School Tennis Courts (9th Grade Campus)

Completed January 2025; played on for spring 2025 season
13-14 months to close out due to disputed items with contractor
CSP project; zero change orders
Final cost: $2,355,933
President Odenweller commented on the importance of trust-but-verify on processes, noting the board's awareness of gaps in systems and procedures from prior administration
Vote: 7-0, Approved

Items Tabled or Deferred

| Item | Status | Reason |

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

| Local School Library Advisory Council | Tabled | Additional research and information being gathered |

| Library Materials Approval (TEC 33026/EFB/SB 13) | Tabled | New review software being implemented; administration needs more time to review content |

Summary of All Votes

| Item | Vote | Result |

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

| Closed session grievance decision | 7-0 | Approved |

| Consent Agenda (Items A–J, including HR/principal appointments) | 7-0 | Approved |

| Casey Arnold Elementary mascot (Owls) | 7-0 | Approved |

| Lynn Cartwright Junior High mascot (Cougars) | 7-0 | Approved |

| GMP Amendment — Irons/Peet/York/Conroe HS 9th | 7-0 | Approved |

| Accept Complete — Armstrong/Austin/Birnham Woods/Broadway | 7-0 | Approved |

| Accept Complete — Conroe HS Tennis Courts | 7-0 | Approved |

Future Agenda Items

No new items requested by trustees

⚑ Items to Watch

Library Advisory Council tabled — Public comment specifically requested a vote at the next meeting; item deferred for further research. Worth monitoring for follow-up.
Library Materials (TEC 33026/EFB/SB 13) tabled — Second consecutive tabling; new review software being implemented. Public commenter raised concerns about transparency of the challenge form process.
Board packet availability — Public commenter noted the 590-page packet was not posted until ~3:00 PM the day of the meeting, limiting public review time. Raised as a recurring concern.
Enrollment decline and capacity pressures — First enrollment decline in over a decade (-150 students); kindergarten down ~200. Simultaneously, Bartlett and San Jacinto elementary schools face significant overcrowding projections. Master facilities plan expected May/June.
Central administration staffing — Docentus Group/Mo Casey study flagged CISD as having the lowest student-to-central-admin ratio among peer districts, suggesting potential overstaffing. Reorganization of instructional coaching positions already underway.
Middle/junior high staffing — Study identified middle schools as notably lean (12:1 student-to-staff ratio vs. 7.7:1 district average). Recommended as a priority for future staff additions.
Tier 2/3 intervention resources — Multiple board members flagged the absence of state-approved remediation and acceleration materials for Bluebonnet Learning as "mission critical." District providing feedback to TEA.
Voucher uncertainty — Demographic projections included low-enrollment scenarios tied to potential school voucher impact; identified as a variable in long-range planning.
$6.3 million in staffing savings — Achieved through demographic-informed staffing decisions; multi-phase staffing allocation plan underway with potential further reductions in 2026-27.
Commemorative months and cultural celebrations (Policy EM) — Discussion item with no action taken; potential pilot program forthcoming. Implementation left to administration.

These unofficial notes were prepared based on an auto-generated transcript and may contain inaccuracies in names, figures, or other details. For official records, please consult the approved board minutes available from Conroe ISD.