The Woodlands Edition - November 2019

EDUCATION BRIEFS

COMPILED BY ANDREWCHRISTMAN AND ANDY LI

News from Conroe ISD and Lone Star College System

Report: Conroe ISD ahead on safety measures

Tax rate for college system unchanged LSCS The Lone Star College System tax rate will not change under the plan adopted by the board of trustees Oct. 7. The board met Oct. 4 to discuss the proposed tax rate for the fiscal year 2019-2020. Jennifer Mott, LSCS chief financial officer, said this was the second public hearing for the tax rate, which is proposed to be set at $0.1078 per $100 valuation. The rate has not changed since 2017. No public comments were made following the presentation. Mott said local taxes make up 42% of the LSCS revenue annually, with student tuition making up 27% and state funding making up 20%. The remaining 11% is made up of student fees and other sources. Over the past five years, the college has lowered its tax rate three times, LSC Chancellor Stephen Head said, from $0.1160 in 2014 to where the proposed rate is now.

While local taxes make up the largest portion of the Lone Star College System budget, the tax rate has dropped since fiscal year 2014-15 and has not changed since last year. Taxes dominate revenue

“It’s just because of your size— you’re our largest district; you have so much support,” Zemlicka said. “And so you do so many things that some districts haven’t even thought about doing, so I’m giving you kudos.” Zemlicka mentioned new construction requirements will be put in place to ensure safe school buildings. Hines said the district’s newest school, Suchma Elementary School, is already outfitted with new classroom locks, and the older schools will be retrofitted with them as well. Hines also said the district is part of Montgomery County Special Threat Response Group, which develops plans and tactics for all emergency response agencies across the county. Hines said all CISD police offi- cers are trained to deal with mental health. He said the district also offers training programs for students and parents to deal with several issues, including anxiety, trauma, vaping and self-image. As part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s 40 Point Plan for school safety,

CONROE ISD At a workshop Oct. 1, the Conroe ISD board of trustees compared notes on how CISD is prepared to protect its students from dangerous situations, such as school shooters, and on how the laws have changed surrounding school safety. Trustees heard a joint presentation at the workshop from Deputy Superintendent Chris Hines and Brian Zemlicka, deputy director for administrative services for the Education Service Center’s Region 6. Regions serve as a liaison between the districts and the Texas Education Agency. Zemlicka said Region 6 governs 57 school districts. In the presentation, Zemlicka explained recent changes in legisla- tion surrounding safety requirements for school districts, and Hines showed what CISD already has in place. Zemlicka said many of the changes were put into motion following the May 18, 2019 Santa Fe High School shoot- ing. However, he praised CISD for its safety procedures, saying it is the most “progressive” district in the region.

LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEMREVENUE Local taxes Tuition State funding Fees and miscellaneous

11%

42%

20%

27%

SOURCE:LONESTARCOLLEGESYSTEM/ COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

MEETINGS

The Conroe ISD board of trustees , meets at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at 3205 W. Davis St., Conroe. 936-709-7752. www.conroeisd.net The Magnolia ISD board of trustees , meets at 6:30 pm. Dec. 9 at 31141 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia. 281-356-3571. www.magnoliaisd.org The Tomball ISD board of trustees , meets at 5:30 p.m. at 310 S. Nov. 12 and Dec. 10 at 310 S. Cherry St., Tomball. 281-357-3100. www.tomballisd.net

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The Woodlands edition • November 2019

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