Education
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & EMILY LINCKE
Conroe ISD lays out alternative plan for armed security officers The Conroe ISD board of trustees adopted a res- olution Sept. 19 declaring a good cause exception for House Bill 3, which relates to security officers on campuses. Two-minute impact HB 3 passed during the 88th Texas Legislature this year, requiring school districts in the state to provide one armed security officer on all campuses during regular school hours. However, the law allows school districts to claim a “good cause” exception and provide an alternative standard if they are unable to meet the require- ments due to a lack of funding or personnel. Quote of note “It is important to ensure that we weigh any
Willis ISD studying future facility needs
MISD continues superintendent search The search for a Montgomery ISD super- intendent has entered the next phase after focus groups wrapped up Oct. 3. In a nutshell Consultant firm Thompson & Horton LLP—which is leading the superintendent search—said key traits focus group members said they’re looking for in a superintendent include: • Education and leadership experience • Willingness to stay with MISD long term • Strong communication skills • Transparency • Familiarity with Texas laws and finances MISD officials said they hope to conduct the first round of interviews in November.
• At least one commissioned peace officer is assigned to each secondary campus. • Officers will be assigned to campuses clustered within a 1- to 2-mile geographic radius. • CISD Police Department officers will continue to be assigned to each feeder zone. • Patrol officers will remain available at all times within the district’s boundaries. CISD’s campus safety plan
Potential projects In the committee’s first two meetings, priority projects identified include:
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A new transportation center
A day care facility for employees A new high school or addition to Willis High School
Willis ISD formed a Long-Range Planning Committee in August to study the future needs of the district and make a recommendation to the board of trustees as to what’s needed, interim Superintendent Tom Crowe said. The background WISD voters passed a $143 million bond in November 2022. Proposition A, which passed, funded a new elementary school, middle school, fine arts addition at Lynn Lucas Middle School, upgrades to sports fields, playground equipment and future land purchases. However, voters did not approve propositions for a new $62.56 million football stadium and a $19.39 million natatorium. “Willis is growing, and getting people to under- stand the needs when they move in here, it’s not unusual for [propositions] to fail like that,” Crowe
CISD plans for new Bartlett Elementary Conroe ISD’s Attendance Boundary Com- mittee is reviewing zones for the opening in August of Janet K. Bartlett Elementary School at 11225 Cielo Drive, serving the Conroe and Caney Creek feeders. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris McCord said he anticipates bringing a final recom- mendation to the board in January. Community meetings will be held at 6 p.m. virtually Nov. 7 and in-person Nov. 9 at Austin Elementary, 14796 Hwy. 105.
An aquatic center
SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
A district activity center
options carefully to ensure that we are providing the highest quality service to our CISD community,” CISD Chief of Police Matthew Blakelock said in a Sept. 21 email statement. Learn more Blakelock said the district has 78 peace officers and 27 security monitors as of Sept. 21, and the district also has relationships with other law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County to provide additional presence and response to campuses.
SOURCE: TOM CROWE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
said. “One of the things I’ve emphasized with [the Long-Range Planning Committee] is that it doesn’t matter what happened back there; it’s about where do we go from here.” Next steps Crowe said the committee will present to the board in January. If recommended, the last day to place a bond on the May ballot is Feb. 17.
CONROE 1304 W Davis (936) 539-8787 NORTH CONROE 18434 Hwy 105 W (936) 582-5410
MONTGOMERY PLAZA 1420 N Loop 336 W (936) 441-7161
WILLIS 9618 FM 1097 (936) 228-0385
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