NEWS BRIEFS
MISD chooses site for CTE, agricultural science centers
communications and public relations, said a centrally located area was a priority for the district. “We are very pleased to have secured this location for the future Montgomery ISD CTE and Ag-Science centers,” he said in an email. “Ultimately, we want our students, sta and community to be extremely proud of these facilities. There have been many hours put into the design and planning work to deliver on our commu-
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
The 33.8-acre property for Montgomery ISD’s career and technology center and agricultural science center will be located along Lone Star Parkway between Bualo Springs and Plez Morgan drives, according to the city of Montgomery’s March 14 agenda packet. A due diligence phase in October explored a poten- tial site for the two centers. According to prior Com- munity Impact reporting, the proposed $61.61 million centralized CTE facility will serve both Montgomery High School and Lake Creek High School as will the proposed $21.31 million centralized agricultural science center. Justin Marino, assistant superintendent of
nity’s expectations that these facilities take our district’s already outstanding CTE oerings to the next level.” MISD projects the centers to be com- plete in July 2025. Design for the agricul- tural center will begin in April 2024.
Entergy is working on reliability projects in the Conroe area for consumers.
SITE FOR MISD CENTERS
COURTESY ENTERGY
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PLEZ MORGAN
Entergy continues projects to improve reliability locally
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BY PEYTON MACKENZIE
Entergy, which delivers electricity to customers in Montgomery County, has projects underway around the Conroe area to improve reliability, the company said. Kurt Luker—an operations coor- dinator with Entergy—said Entergy began rebuilding its most aging and problematic sections within Conroe. As of March, Luker said he was working in the area of Avenue M to east of Loop 336 and from Avenue M and FM 3083 north to Hwy. 105. Luker said Entergy is also installing protective devices to help minimize outages when problems—such as storms or public-inicted damages on the system—do occur. “Our newest standards include high-wind mitigation that will help in the hurricane season that we are all familiar with living close to the Gulf Coast,” he said. The projects are slated to nish in late 2023, Senior Communications Specialist Katie Rogers said.
Conroe ISD plans for higher costs, lower tax rate in FY 2023 24
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
to jump $48.35 million, raising the beginning revenue budget to $671.65 million. A large portion of the increase is due to costs for additional person- nel. According to the presentation, $34.7 million will go toward hiring special education counselors, teach- ers and paraprofessionals; additional bus drivers; instructional coaches; and sta ng for two new schools. The budget increase does not include a salary increase or teacher retention stipend as district o cials said they are awaiting the results of
legislative decisions, including Senate Bill 9, which was authored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R Conroe. SB 9 would oer a salary increase of $2,000 for districts with enroll- ment over 20,000 and $6,000 for districts with enrollment under 20,000. That means every district in Montgomery County except CISD would get a $6,000 raise for teachers. “To be clear, we anticipate there to be a raise,” CISD Superintendent Curtis Null said. “We’re just still waiting on Austin to give us the money to do it.”
The Conroe ISD board of trustees held a special meeting April 4 to begin budget discussions for scal year 2023-24, anticipating a tax rate drop from $1.11 to $1.05 per $100 valuation. At the same time, enrollment is expected to increase in FY 2023-24 by 2,600 students, and the district lacks funding to provide employee raises or retention stipends, according to a presentation at the meeting. According to the presentation, expenses in FY 2023-24 are expected
2023 BUDGET TIMELINE Conroe ISD began budget planning in April.
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SOURCE: CONROE ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
April 4: First budget workshop
June 6: Second budget workshop
Aug. 1: Public hearing
Aug. 15: Budget, tax rate vote
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION • APRIL 2023
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