April 21, 2026 — Regular Meeting

Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees — Regular Meeting

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Conroe ISD Board of Trustees – Unofficial Meeting Notes

Date: April 21, 2026

Type: Regular Meeting

Time: Called to order 5:04 PM; Adjourned 10:48 PM

Meeting Highlights

Summary generated 2026-04-23 00:21 UTC

The board approved the Conroe Virtual School expansion plan for 2026–27, adopting the Subject platform at $300/student (~$90,000 for ~300 students), approved 6–1, with the dissenting trustee citing concerns about combining the platform purchase and full plan into a single vote.
The board adopted the Special Education Homecoming Plan to return students in specialized programs to their home zoned schools, approved 7–0; the plan includes $3.2 million in new special education staffing (15 dyslexia teachers, 4 speech pathologists, 4 diagnosticians, 4 psychologists) and is expected to save ~$800,000 by eliminating 8 bus routes.
The board approved library materials for March and April, including opening-day collections for new campuses Fowler and Arnold, with CFO Dr. Vinson certifying compliance with TEC §33.026, board policy EFB, and Senate Bill 13, approved 7–0.
The board approved the Cartwright Elementary mascot change from Cougar to Colts, following a request from the Cartwright family citing the family's deep ties to horsemanship, approved 7–0.
The board approved the consent agenda 7–0, which included a budget amendment, employment of professional personnel (including new alternative programs principal Marcus Cowart), and the TCEQ-required Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan for the Moorhead/Caney Creek Water Plant Facility.
The board approved annexation of San Jacinto Elementary to MUD 111, authorizing the superintendent to execute documents, which is expected to avoid ~$1.2 million in infrastructure costs and recover land for a parking lot and possible gymnasium, approved 7–0.
The board tabled four planning and construction items 7–0 to allow further research, with items to return at the May 12th meeting.
The board received an informational budget update projecting a balanced 2026–27 budget; a compensation plan vote — choosing between a $695,000 minimum-compliance model and a $2.563 million step-increase model — is scheduled for the June regular board meeting.

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.

Call to Order & Preliminaries

The regular meeting was called to order at 5:04 PM by Board President Odenweller. A quorum was present. Following the invocation by Trustee Gambino and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Scouts from Trinity Episcopal Church in the Woodlands (Troops 777/1777, Sea Scout Ship 777, Cub Scout Pack 777, and Venturing Crew 112), the board recessed into closed session at approximately 5:08 PM.

Closed Session (Texas Government Code §§551.074, 551.071, 551.072): Discussion of a principal candidate, a legal update, and potential sale of a property. The board returned to open session at 6:15 PM. No action was taken based on the closed session.

Special Recognitions

Dedication to Miss Ruby Monty

The board dedicated the evening's meeting to Miss Ruby Monty, a 35-year veteran educator and mother of Trustee May, who passed away the previous day. All educators in the room were asked to stand in her honor.

Powerlifting State Champions

Dr. Murrell recognized three individual powerlifting state champions:

Aaron Quail (Conroe High School, 242 lb unequipped division) — first-ever state champion in the unequipped category; set state records including a 375 lb bench press, 550 lb squat, and 555 lb deadlift (1,480 lb total)
Skyler McEldowncy (Grand Oaks High School, 220 lb equipped division) — 485 lb bench press, 610 lb deadlift, 705 lb squat (1,800 lb total)
Eduardo Barrera (The Woodlands High School, 114 lb division) — 255 lb bench, 470 lb squat, 445 lb deadlift (1,170 lb total); also awarded Best Platform Squat for the region; The Woodlands' ninth state champion

Coaches, principals, athletic coordinators, and families were also recognized.

College Park Boys Soccer — First Team State Championship

Dr. Murrell recognized the College Park Cavaliers boys soccer team for winning the school's first-ever team athletic state championship. Season record: 19-3 overall, 12-2 in district, with 84 goals scored and 22 allowed. The team survived two double-overtime playoff games decided by penalty kicks. Individual honors:

Salem Sheriff (#11) — 22 goals, 12 assists; State Tournament MVP
Alex Harkort (#7) and Sebastian Hernandez (#1) — additional state tournament recognition
Miguel Basera (#9) — goalkeeper recognition

Head coach Michael Jcowick and the College Park family, led by Principal Robert McFarland, were also recognized.

Citizen Participation

Public comment was conducted in accordance with board policy BED (Policy Tracker). Each speaker received two minutes. The board listened but did not engage in discussion during this portion.

Speakers and topics:

Mason Neans (5th grader, Clark Intermediate) — Requested more recess time and fewer computers in the classroom, citing concerns about screen distraction, particularly for students with ADHD.

TJ Herbert (4th grader) — Thanked STEM teacher Miss Gaskins and asked the board to consider expanding the STEM program to all elementary campuses in the future, including his future school, Valor.

Ola Atony (junior, Oakridge High School) — Proposed creation of a Superintendent's Student Council with representatives from each high school and a student trustee position who could attend board meetings and contribute to the public record, at no cost to the district.

Cadence "Sadi Beth" Walker (senior, Caney Creek High School) — Spoke against the district's decision not to renew the Communities in Schools (CIS) contract, citing the program's critical role in meeting basic needs for students at Caney Creek (80% economically disadvantaged). Reported that she collected 1,038 signatures from staff, students, and families in three business days.

Bridget Neans (parent) — Addressed concerns about excessive computer use in classrooms, particularly for students with ADHD and working memory challenges. Advocated for printed math tests as the default rather than an accommodation.

Katie Fischer (parent volunteer, Wilkinson Elementary) — Spoke in support of the STEM program, praising teacher Miss Gaskins and describing the program as a place where every child can succeed.

Laura Mott (parent, Wilkinson Elementary) — Requested the board bring back the STEM program when funding allows, and expand it to all elementary campuses.

Destinee Milton — Criticized the reassignment of instructional behavioral coaches and removal of CIS, calling the board's public celebration of the "balanced budget" insensitive to affected employees. Stated that local businesses had offered to sponsor CIS and that a teacher who offered her own money to support her school's program faced an internal investigation. Asserted that over 26,000 students rely on CIS.

Yoshiko Gaio (parent, The Woodlands High School) — Expressed concern about the district's decision to cancel the Japanese language program at TWHS. Noted that following parent advocacy, Japanese 2, 3, and 4 will continue via College Park's teacher, but Japanese 1 is not being offered to incoming freshmen, effectively phasing out a 36-year-old program. Proposed recruiting more students and applying for Japanese government-affiliated funding.

Courtney Berquette (parent, The Woodlands High School) — Spoke in support of the Japanese exchange program, describing how it had personally impacted her family and her son's future plans to study in Japan.

Megan Gaskins (18-year CISD educator, elementary STEM teacher) — Addressed the board in her own behalf, acknowledging difficult budget decisions but asking the board to bring back the STEM program when possible and to expand it to all elementary and intermediate campuses.

Colleen Duhan (32-year paraprofessional, Oakridge feeder zone) — Expressed concern about the lack of consistent discipline in schools and called on administrators to support teachers more firmly when students are disruptive. Suggested school board or administrators substitute in classrooms to get a firsthand experience with discipline issues in schools.

Katie Moss (PTO president, Wilkinson Intermediate) — Opposed the elimination of CIS and the behavior support program, describing both as lifelines for students at her Title I campus.

Masumi Reed (retired Japanese teacher, TWHS, 1993–2017) — Expressed hope for continuation of the Japanese program and offered suggestions including seeking donations from Japanese companies and foundations.

Amanda Velator Toro (parent and former educator) — Raised concerns about instructional delivery practices, including sit-and-get models, insufficient student breaks, and lack of project-based learning. Asked to know who she could follow up with.

Rebecca Tarvin (staff, Wilkinson Elementary) — Spoke in support of the STEM program and asked the board to restore it when possible.

Section VI — Consent Agenda

The following items were voted on as a group:

VI.A. Approve minutes from a previous meeting
VI.B. Approve amendment to the budget
VI.C. First reading of Board Policy DBD (Local) (Policy Tracker) — Employment Requirements and Restrictions: Conflict of Interest (first reading only; no adoption vote at this meeting)
VI.D. First reading of Board Policy FEA (Local) (Policy Tracker) — Attendance: Compulsory Attendance (first reading only)
VI.E. First reading of Board Policy FEC (Local) (Policy Tracker) — Attendance: Attendance for Credit (first reading only)
VI.F. First reading of Board Policy GC (Local) (Policy Tracker) — Public Notices (first reading only)
VI.G. Receive HR report and approve employment of professional personnel
VI.H. Receive financial reports
VI.I. Approve the TCEQ-required Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan for the Moorhead/Caney Creek Water Plant Facility

Vote: 7–0 (approved)

Human Resources — New Principal Introduction

Dr. Murrell introduced Marcus Cowart as the new principal of DAEP/JJAEP (the district's alternative programs). Cowart currently serves as Associate Principal of Operations at Conroe High School and has also served as Assistant Director of Transportation and Associate Principal of Special Populations. Dr. Murrell noted his experience working with at-risk students and his commitment to the belief that all students can achieve. This was an informational introduction; the employment was included in the consent agenda.

Cartwright Elementary Mascot Reconsideration

Dr. Klapesky presented a request from the Cartwright family to reconsider the school mascot. Background: during the original mascot vote, nominations included three horses and one cougar; the cougar was selected but with limited participation. The Cartwright family — for whom the school is named after Lynn Cartwright, a longtime Conroe High School employee who passed away in 2014 — has deep ties to horses and horsemanship through 4-H, FFA, and rodeo activities. They requested the mascot be changed to the Colts.

President Odenweller moved to rename the Cartwright mascot to the Colts.

Vote: 7–0 (approved)

Senate Bill 546 — School Bus Seat Belt Report

Mr. McCord presented the required report under Senate Bill 546, which mandates that all school buses have three-point seat belts by 2029. Districts unable to meet that deadline financially must report to TEA by May. No board vote was required.

Current fleet status (599 total buses):

279 buses with three-point seat belts
246 buses with no seat belts
74 buses with two-point (lap) seat belts

Cost estimates:

Retrofit all buses needing three-point belts: ~$10 million
Purchase all new buses with three-point belts: ~$54 million
Hybrid option (retrofit 2013+ buses, replace 2012 and older): a middle-cost alternative

Dr. Vinson stated it is not financially prudent to move forward with any of these solutions at this time. He noted that $12 million from Bond 2023 was used to purchase buses, which through grant funding was stretched to cover 19 buses instead of the originally planned 9. The transportation department was publicly recognized, with Juan Melendez and his team acknowledged for significant improvements in fleet maintenance, morale, and operations.

The board was informed of a bus driver recruiting fair on April 29th at the Jet Center.

Key discussion points:

Supply chain constraints make bulk bus purchases nearly impossible even with funding
Seat belt retrofit parts are also in short supply
The mandate has no dedicated state funding attached to it
The district spends approximately $35 million annually on transportation and receives approximately $7 million from the state

Consider and Approve — Conroe Virtual School Plan

Dr. Murrell presented a proposal to revamp and expand the Conroe Virtual School for 2026–27 using a new learning platform called Subject.

Current state: Approximately 250 students in a hybrid synchronous/asynchronous model (grades 5–9 currently, expanding to 5–12). Teachers create all lessons, manage accommodations, mentor students, and communicate with families — described as an unsustainable workload.

Proposed changes for 2026–27:

Move to a primarily asynchronous model using the Subject platform, which provides curriculum for grades 6–12
CISD teachers remain the teachers of record, refocusing their time on mentoring, monitoring, parent communication, tutoring, and support rather than curriculum creation
AI-powered tutoring adjusts to individual student needs
Automated accommodation features for special education and 504 students
Contract is annual (can exit after one year if needed)
Cost: $300/student; estimated $90,000 for ~300 students, plus a district-wide license for remedial/credit recovery at no additional cost
Subject also provides branding and staff development support
Fifth grade enrollment is currently only ~10 students; sixth grade is ~19–20; the board discussed whether to serve grades 5–12 or scale back to 6–12 (Subject's curriculum does not include 5th grade)
Enrollment goal: grow from ~250 to ~500 students in 2026–27, potentially to 1,000+ in 2027–28
Open enrollment (accepting students from other districts) would be considered in 2027–28 pending board approval

Key discussion points:

244 CISD students currently enrolled in Hallsville ISD's Texas Virtual School Network, which is closing after next year; the district hopes to recapture those students
~100 current virtual students are special education or 504 students; anxiety, medical conditions, and scheduling conflicts are common reasons for enrollment
Trustees expressed support for the virtual school as essential for the future while also wanting to investigate why students are leaving brick-and-mortar campuses
Trustee May asked about curriculum vetting; Dr. Murrell confirmed Subject was asked specifically about content compliance with district policies and state law, and that CISD teachers will monitor the curriculum; all district contracts require vendors to comply with board policy and state law
Trustee Duncan raised concerns about attendance accountability; Dr. Lucas noted that Senate Bill 569 will bring clearer attendance rules, and that the school has conducted approximately 1,000 parent-teacher conferences for 250 students this year to address engagement
Long-term plan: virtual school will move to a dedicated space at the new Washington High School campus

Vote: 6–1 (approved)

(The dissenting trustee stated they were "completely okay with Subject" but felt it was a big jump to combine the platform purchase and the full virtual school plan into one vote.)

District Staffing Report

Dr. Vinson and Dr. Landry presented a comprehensive overview of district staffing restructuring. This was an informational presentation; no vote was taken.

Key themes:

Central office is being reorganized to reduce redundancy and improve support to campus principals
Previously, multiple departments gave campuses different guidance; the new model consolidates curriculum, instruction, and school improvement under one aligned structure
Curriculum coordinators will own specific subject areas and grade bands (elementary, middle, high) to ensure vertical alignment within feeder patterns
The counseling and behavioral services structure has been reorganized under Dr. Taylor and Dr. Upshaw; 183 counselors across the district will now have clearer, standardized support and delivery systems
A new MTSS director will design and implement consistent behavior management and classroom management plans across campuses
Financial savings: The central office restructuring resulted in a net reduction of 28.5 FTEs and approximately $1.5–1.7 million in savings
No employees are losing their jobs — all affected staff have been placed in campus positions

Dr. Vinson emphasized that the goal was to impact campuses and classrooms as little as possible and that any sacrifice should start at the central office level. He framed the reorganization as shifting from a scattershot advisory model to a focused, ownership-based instructional support model.

Library Materials Approval

The board considered and voted on approval of library materials for March and April in compliance with Texas Education Code §33.026, board policy EFB (Policy Tracker), and Senate Bill 13. The lists included books for existing campuses as well as opening-day collections for two new schools: Fowler and Arnold.

Staff noted the district has implemented Bookmark, a Texas-specific analytical tool to assist librarians and staff in reviewing library materials for compliance with SB 11/SB 13 and board policy. The tool flags books for human review based on professional reviews, challenge history in other districts, and content concerns — it does not replace human decision-making. Trustees emphasized that the tool assists but does not replace librarians and staff who make final determinations.

Dr. Vinson was asked to certify that the library materials presented comply with TEC §33.026, board policy EFB, and Senate Bill 13. He certified that they do.

Vote: 7–0 (approved)

Special Education Homecoming Project and Plan

Dr. Landry presented the district's Special Education Homecoming Plan, a multi-year structural initiative to return students in specialized programs to their home zoned schools rather than busing them to centralized program locations. The board voted to adopt the plan.

Key details:

This is year 3–4 of a phased rollout; secondary schools have already transitioned; this is the final phase for remaining programs
Not a budget-driven decision — has been in development for years
Students benefit from staying with neighborhood peers and siblings; families benefit from proximity; teachers benefit from greater flexibility
Estimated savings: ~$800,000 from eliminating 8 bus routes; also frees up 8 drivers for unfilled routes
All campuses receiving programs were built to accommodate special education; no new construction is needed
Training timeline: Principal training begins May 4th; parent/student campus orientations by end of first week of May; ongoing training with Region 4 and in-house staff through summer
No students will be cut from services; the district is also investing an additional $3.2 million in special education staff:

- 15 new dyslexia teachers

- 4 new speech pathologists

- 4 new diagnosticians

- 4 new school psychologists

Trustee May raised concerns about the pace of change and praised Dr. Winkler and Dr. Wiggins for their responsiveness. Multiple trustees noted their concerns had been addressed in pre-meeting conversations.
Trustee May also asked about special education staff retention; Dr. Vinson noted that manageability of workload and adequate support are key factors, and that clearer behavior management expectations will help
One-to-one student support paras are assigned to specific students and travel with them; they are not counted in campus allocation ratios

Vote: 7–0 (approved)

Texas Standard — District-Wide Character and Wellness Initiative

Dr. Taylor, Dr. Gorman, and members of the Texas Standard Task Force (including campus principals Dr. Colton Todd, Amber De Bulmont, Laura Collins, and Josh Hughes) presented information on the Texas Standard, a district-wide framework. This was an informational presentation; no vote was taken.

Purpose: A unified, district-wide movement to build student character, relationships, career readiness, and behavioral expectations — connecting to board goals around hope, well-being, engagement, and achievement.

Four core strands:

1. Cultivate Meaningful Relationships — Every student connected to a trusted adult

2. Recognize Strengths and Interests — Personal interest exploration and strength identification

3. Your Future, Your Path — Career exploration ("Future Fridays," industry videos, blue-collar through professional careers)

4. Character Education and Behavior Standards — District character traits (integrity, responsibility, gratitude, resilience); district-wide classroom behavior expectations based on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)

Implementation details:

A 35-member task force including principals, APs, counselors, and teachers has been developing the framework
This is described as a rebranding and systemizing of work already underway at many campuses, not a brand-new initiative
Each campus will retain its own school identity/mascot and behavioral acronym (e.g., Wilkinson's ROAR, Grand Oaks' GROWL), with the Texas Standard as the district-wide overlay
Teacher training guides will be delivered by campus principals
A designated Texas Standard calendar will coordinate recognition events across the district
Standard classroom management best practices will be implemented and monitored across all classrooms

Trustee concerns and discussion:

Trustee Horton asked how results will be measured; Dr. Taylor confirmed that each feeder will have an assigned person monitoring discipline referrals and student behavioral data, with periodic reports to the board
Trustee Duncan emphasized the need for swift, consistent disciplinary consequences alongside positive reinforcement — not just PBIS rewards — to improve teacher retention and campus safety
Dr. Vinson noted HB 6 changes that now allow out-of-school suspension for K–2 students and other stronger consequence tools
Dr. Taylor stated that campus principals behind her "are not giving suckers to kids that misbehave" and that the framework maintains accountability alongside relationship-building

Budget Update — Preliminary 2026–27 Information

Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza and compensation consultant Amy Campbell (TASBY) presented a preliminary budget update. This was an informational presentation; no vote was taken.

Background — The $8 million projected deficit:

In January/February, the district identified a projected $8 million gap: ~$2 million net revenue increase vs. ~$10 million in additional projected expenditures
Since then, the district has completed a staffing study and made adjustments; the board was told a balanced budget is anticipated for 2026–27

Key budget assumptions for 2026–27:

Budgeted enrollment: 72,800 (down from 73,500 this year; decline of ~700 students)
Property value growth assumed at 5% → projected M&O tax rate compression to approximately $0.9348
Tax rate not final until certified values received in July
District retains commitment to 28-cent debt service tax rate (as promised to voters in Bond 2023)

Notable financial highlights cited:

$17 million hold-harmless calculation error by the state (discovered in late 2024) helped bridge prior gaps
Over $7 million in grant funding secured to expand bus purchases beyond bond authorization (12 buses → 19)
~$1 million in FEMA reimbursements recovered from Hurricane Barrel damage (75% of incurred damages)

Revenue projections:

Tax revenue increase: ~$2.2 million
State funding relatively flat; $2.3 million placeholder for special education intensity-based formula funding increase (conservative estimate)
Pass-through items for teacher incentive allotment and TRS on-behalf

Proposed personnel changes (net):

Central office restructuring: -28.5 FTEs, savings of $1.536 million
Campus staffing: -51 FTEs, savings of $4.7 million (driven by enrollment decline, removal of 7–12 instructional coach model, partially offset by new campus openings)
Special education: +34.5 FTEs, cost of $3.2 million
Operations/support (primarily custodians and police for 3 new campuses): +38 FTEs, cost of $2.25 million
Net total: +4 FTEs, net cost of $88,000
11 contingency units held in reserve to respond to enrollment surprises in August
No employees are losing their jobs — all affected staff placed in campus positions

Compensation plan:

Amy Campbell (TASBY) presented a market comparison showing CISD teacher salaries approximately $2,000 below market median
Two models proposed:

- Model 1: $695,000 total — covers only the statutorily required raises for teachers hitting the 3- and 5-year marks under House Bill 2; $673,500 of this is pass-through funding

- Model 2: $2.563 million total — adds step increases for all teachers (locally funded)

Model 2 is currently built into the preliminary budget; the board will choose between models at the June meeting
Compensation plan vote is scheduled for the June regular board meeting

Communities in Schools (CIS):

The $42,000 placeholder for CIS remains in the expenditure budget
Dr. Vinson acknowledged the public concern raised during citizen participation and stated he and Dr. Taylor are working on a plan to fill gaps left by the removal of CIS, particularly at high-need campuses like Caney Creek; discussions are ongoing about how to preserve mentoring and other services

Looking ahead to 2027–28:

Four large new campuses opening (including high schools and junior highs) will add significant costs for staffing, utilities, athletics, and UIL programs
Fast Growth Allotment from the state is declining as enrollment growth flattens; potential loss of $5–9 million in funding
2027–28 is a legislative year — additional funding possible but uncertain

Legislative priorities identified:

Special education funding (15% annual growth; district allocates significantly more than state allotment covers)
Dyslexia funding gap
Transportation funding ($35M district cost vs. $7M state reimbursement)
Safety and security
Staff estimated that fully funding these three buckets alone would provide approximately $58 million in additional annual revenue

Fund balance:

Current unassigned fund balance projected at end of fiscal year: ~$50.8 million
District target (20–25% of budget): ~$154 million
Fund balance is below target primarily due to health fund transfers: ~$8 million planned transfer this year; ~$7 million last year ($15 million over two years)
The district is currently running a ~$5 million deficit through end of March

Planning and Construction — Items Tabled

President Odenweller moved to table planning and construction items A, B, C, and D to allow for further research and information-gathering, with items to be brought back at the May 12th meeting.

Vote: 7–0 (tabled)

Consider and Approve — San Jacinto Elementary Annexation to MUD 111

Mr. McCord presented a request related to San Jacinto Elementary, originally built in 1980 in a rural area with no utilities, requiring the district to build its own water well and wastewater treatment plant. The adjacent Arvilla development now has utilities via MUD 111 that the district could connect to.

Benefits of annexation:

Recover approximately half an acre on the northeastern portion of the property to build a needed parking lot and potentially a gymnasium
Avoid approximately $1.2 million in upcoming lifecycle work on the existing well and wastewater treatment plant
The board action authorizes Dr. Vinson to execute documents and submit petitions for annexation to MUD 111, the City of Conroe (ETJ release), the Texas Attorney General, and the MUD 111 board

Note: Board Policy CV (Policy Tracker) delegates authority to the superintendent to execute public utility agreements for campuses; this board action was required to initiate the annexation process.

Vote: 7–0 (approved)

Adjournment

Seeing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:48 PM.

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.