Conroe ISD is now accepting public feedback on the development of the district's 2021-22 school year calendar.
The opening of the public comment period follows a Nov. 18 update on the district's calendar planning process from Deputy Superintendent Chris Hines. While the final calendar recommendation is expected to be presented to the CISD board of trustees at its January regular meeting by the District-Level Planning and Decision-Making Committee, Hines said the process will also be guided by feedback from district students, parents and staff. Thousands of survey responses regarding various calendar options have already been incorporated into the committee's draft calendar outlines, he said.
The planning committee currently has two draft calendars available for public review. Those drafts and a public feedback form are now available through the district's website at www.conroeisd.net/about/school-calendar-process.
Posted Nov. 18 1:19 p.m.
The Conroe ISD board of trustees welcomed two new members Nov. 17, and the district board heard updates on its 2021-22 school year calendar and new coronavirus relief funding provided through Montgomery County.
During the board's first administrative item, Deputy Superintendent Chris Hines provided an overview of the CISD District-Level Planning and Decision-Making Committee's development of the calendar for the upcoming school year.
Based on previous public feedback, Hines said some scheduling considerations for the district's 75,600-minute calendar include the popularity of a later start date and earlier end date to the school year; a midweek school year start in August; a full-week Thanksgiving break; and a three-weekend winter break capping the first semester. Nearly 9,500 student, staff and parent responses to a 2021-22 calendar survey will help guide the decision-making committee this year, Hines said.
The committee will post several calendar drafts to the district's website this month for public review and feedback, Hines said, and will present a finalized calendar recommendation for trustees to consider at the board's Jan. 19 regular meeting.
Following the calendar planning overview, Superintendent Curtis Null also shared an update on funding agreements between CISD and Montgomery County providing for millions of unrestricted dollars related to the district's pandemic response.
Null said the county had already provided 25% of a technology order for remote learning students earlier this year—eliminating any cost to CISD for the approximately $1.2 million in supplies through an agreement with the Texas Education Agency—in addition to $40 per student reimbursements for expenses related to COVID-19 through the county's coronavirus relief package funds. Earlier Nov. 17, commissioners voted for an additional $260 per student reimbursement to assist with the district's coronavirus response.
Null said the funding will be used for campus sanitation, protective equipment purchases, support staff hiring and contact tracing, as well as for budget security heading into 2021.
“I think we are the example here of what it’s supposed to look like when government agencies work together for the benefit of the taxpayer and for the benefit of the community," Null said. "This is the example, and I haven't seen any other county across the state that is doing what we’re doing."
New leadership
The Tuesday evening meeting also featured the retirements of longtime trustees Scott Kidd and John Husbands, who were recognized by Null before their departures, and the arrival of two newcomers to the board.
“This is one of those nights that’s bittersweet,” Null said. “We’re certainly proud and excited for our future board members that we will swear in tonight, but we say goodbye tonight from the board to two men that have made a significant impact on the school district and our community.”
Null highlighted Kidd's eight years of service on the board and his focus on assisting students in need during his time as a trustee and Husbands' 16 years on the board with his involvement in a variety of student programming, including career and technical education and international newcomers' classes.
Four trustees, including two returning members and two new board representatives, were then sworn in for four-year terms by 410th District Court Judge Jennifer Robin.
Datren Williams, former board president and incumbent Position 4 trustee, was re-elected to the board after running unopposed. Incumbent Position 7 Trustee Scott Moore won re-election after defeating one challenger in the general election.
New members sworn in Nov. 17 included Theresa Wagaman, who replaced Kidd in the Position 5 seat after running unopposed, and Stacey Chase, who replaced Husbands after winning the Position 6 seat in the general election.
