Conroe - Montgomery Edition | August 2022

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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION 2022

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EDUCATION EDITION

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5 AUG. 19SEPT. 15, 2022

Conroe, Montgomery, Willis ISDs ramp up safety

BY ANDREW CHRISTMAN & ANNA LOTZ

Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs are increasing safety and security measures on district campuses as the 2022-23 school year gets underway, including investing in additional ocers. Conroe ISD police Chief Matthew Blakelock said his department will ll eight vacancies and hire as many additional ocers as it is able to. However, he said the eort to keep campuses safe is multifaceted, and a vari- ety of safety measures have already been put in place, including secure vestibules and new radio systems. Throughout the remainder of 2022, CISD will be completing the third phase of safety and security updates from the $654 million bond approved by vot- ers in 2019, $44.5 million of which was dedicated for security improvements. Montgomery ISD ocials are also launching new security initiatives this year, investing $87,566 in startup costs to launch ID badges for students and sta and debuting a campaign called “Stop the Prop,” encouraging students and sta to ensure all exterior doors remain locked. Stickers are placed on each exterior door about the campaign, Justin Marino, assistant superintendent of communications and public relations, said in an interview. “We want to shift our mindset in the district that the exterior doors on our buildings should be closed and locked at all times,” Marino said. “The expec- tation moving forward is that all the doors will be CONTINUED ON 30

School police ocers in Montgomery ISD met students on the rst day of school Aug. 11. (Courtesy Montgomery ISD)

THE LAST TWO BUDGETS WE HAVE ADDED POLICE OFFICERS. HEATH MORRISON, SUPERINTENDENT, MONTGOMERY ISD

ADDING OFFICERS

Montgomery, Conroe and Willis ISDs have each added ocers to campuses for the 2022-23 school year. MISD: WISD: CISD: o cers added o cer added 8 2 1

ocer vacancies being lled and hiring as many additional ocers as possible

SOURCES: CONROE ISD, MONTGOMERY ISD, WILLIS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

EDUCATION EDITION 2022

Conroe votes to terminate city administrator

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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION • AUGUST 2022

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THIS ISSUE

ABOUT US

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and Pugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 30 hyperlocal editions across the state with a circulation to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM CHRISSY: Another summer break has come to a close. Inside this issue, we have our annual Education Edition. Starting on Page 17, you will nd district data for Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs; bond updates; statewide test scores; and our front-page story on school safety investments. We wish all of our students a great year lled with lots of learning and new adventures. Chrissy Leggett, GENERAL MANAGER

Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

FROM ANNA: As the peak of hurricane season and the fth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey approach, our podcast team spoke with Eric Berger, the co-founder of Space City Weather (see Page 35) about how residents can prepare. At the same time, however, the county is cautioning residents with this year’s severe drought and extended its burn ban another 90 days as of Aug. 2 (see Page 15). Anna Lotz, SENIOR EDITOR

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IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

MONTGOMERY

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LEWIS CREEK RESERVOIR

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PRAIRIE ST.

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Twisted T Farm Store

COURTESY TWISTED T FARM

12A

store. According to co-owner Patrick Turo, the produce is seasonal, and stock as of early August included cucumbers, okra and eggplants. 281-799-1539. www.facebook.com/twistedtfarmtx 5 A new Chick-fil-A location opened Aug. 3. Located at 10057 Hwy. 242 near Harpers Preserve in Conroe, the eatery offers chicken nuggets, chicken strips, salads, wraps and shakes, according to its website. 936-280-0033. www.chick-fil-a.com 6 The Jolly Pirate Ship opened to the public July 29 at 14970 Hwy. 105, Mont- gomery. The attraction consists of a pirate ship that floats on Lake Conroe where attendees can partake in pirate training, sword fighting, water gun battles, a treasure hunt and cannon firing. The crew also performs skits and sings and dances aboard the ship. 936-217-4155. www.1097watersports.com/jollypirate 7 The Joint Chiropractic opened July 18 in Conroe at 1317 W. Davis St., Ste. C-1, according to franchise owner Noah Stone. New patients in the Conroe area can text “Conroe” to 56468 for a free initial visit. The Joint Chiropractic is the largest chiro- practic network in the country and offers chiropractic services to help with lower back pain, sciatica pain and migraines, among other issues. 936-274-8850. www.thejoint.com/texas/conroe/ conroe-28057 8 Kale & Kettle Cafe opened Aug. 1 at 15865 Hwy. 105, Unit 3, Montgomery. Owner Heidi Smith said the takeout cafe offers fresh, plant-based options as well as options with meat. Meals also include gluten free, dairy free and vegan options.

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GRAND CENTRAL PKWY.

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WEST FORK SAN JACINTO RIVER

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MAP NOT TO SCALE

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NOW OPEN 1 Brian Peary and Stephanie Still opened OMG Wings on Loop 336 on Aug. 5. Peary said OMG Wings focuses on the Illinois-style wings the couple are familiar with. Unlike other wing recipes, Illinois wings are fried without any flour or batter, and then seasoned. The restaurant also sells chicken tenders and sides. OMG Wings is at 1201 N. Loop 336 E., Conroe. 936-539-9464. Instagram: omgwingstx

3 MoCo Food Hall opened Aug. 6 at 109 Metcalf St., Conroe. The food hall of- fers restaurant concepts with items such as Cajun food, pizza by the slice, burgers and salads. Coffee and juice bars open at 7 a.m., and all restaurants close at 11 p.m. www.mocofoodhall.com 4 Twisted T Farm Store opened July 30. Located at 8181 County Line Road, Willis, the organic farm offers produce that is mineral densified as well as local vendors that operate out of the farm

2 Seth Dano opened his shaved ice trailer Sno with Dano on July 13 near the restaurant Cork This, Tap That on Hwy. 105 in Montgomery. Sno with Dano serves shaved ice in a variety of flavors such as lemon-lime, blueberry and root beer with cream topping available. The trailer is also available for event book- ings, Dano said. Sno with Dano parks at 26091 Hwy. 105, Montgomery. 832-657-6240. Facebook and Instagram: snowithdano

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Jolly Pirate Ship

The Light Church

COURTESY JOLLY PIRATE SHIP

COURTESY THE LIGHT CHURCH

Weekly menus rotate and can be found on the business’ Facebook page. Popular items include a chicken salad sandwich, an egg salad sandwich, a peach berry salad and wraps. www.facebook.com/ kaleandkettlecafe COMING SOON 9 The bar and golf simulator The Perfect Round Golf plans to open in mid-September, according to owner Michael Downing. Downing described The Perfect Round Golf as a “high-end cocktail bar with a golf simulator” and said it is targeted at people who may not have golf experience. According to The Perfect Round’s Facebook page, the golf bays can be rented hourly and hold up to six players each. The Perfect Round Golf is at 1219 Grand Central Parkway, Conroe. 281-796-4643. www.theperfectroundgolf.com 10 Watershed Counseling Center LLC will have a soft opening Sept. 12 and a family-friendly grand opening celebration with activities 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 24. The business is located at 14855 N. Liberty St., Montgomery. According to owner Larisa Lo- era, the business will offer individual, cou- ples and family counseling. 936-297-5252. www.watershedcounselingcenter.com 11 Porky’s Belly BBQ will be located at 15496 FM 2854, Montgomery. The business will feature typical barbecue offerings, such as brisket and pulled pork, but the menu will also include household Mexican barbecue dishes, such as bar- bacoa and carnitas. According to owner Sergio Nunez, the business began as a catering service for weddings and other events. Porky’s Belly BBQ will open in

November or December. 832-302-5868. www.porkysbellybbq.com 12 Sub sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s will open two locations in Conroe and Montgomery, according to spokesperson Kyle Potvin, whose firm represents the restaurant. A Montgomery location at A 20175 Eva St. will open in the fourth quarter of 2022, and a second Conroe location at B 9662 Hwy. 242 will open in the first quarter of 2023. Jersey Mike’s, which was established in New Jersey in 1956, serves a variety of sub sandwiches. www.jerseymikes.com 13 Owners Jesus Gonzales, Elaine Col- lum and Steven Ripley will open Monkey’s Tail Conroe on Sept. 22 at 2017 N. Frazier St., Ste. A2, Conroe. The business will offer the same things as the Houston location, according to Ripley. The Houston location offers “a funky and modern bar” with beer, cocktails and a food menu, including items such as the Chango burger, pizza and tacos, accord- ing to the business’s website. www.instagram.com/monkeystailconroe EXPANSIONS 14 The Light Church celebrated the grand opening of its 11,000-square- foot children’s building July 17 at 13145 I-45 N., Willis. The building serves children from infants through fifth grade and includes 11 classrooms, a teachers workroom, a nursing mothers room, a kids auditorium and interactive amenities. Children’s ministry is offered alongside adult worship services on Sundays and Wednesdays. 936-856-9500. www.thelightcf.org

United Methodist Church was announced as the first place of worship in The Woodlands Hills community in Conroe.

COURTESY THE HOWARD HUGHES CORP.

FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church bought 8 acres on FM 830 in Conroe, according to a July 14 news release from The Howard Hughes Corp. The church will be in The Woodlands Hills, a 2,000-acre master-planned community, and is the rst place of worship in the community. It also kicks o commercial development within The Woodlands Hills. “The goal is to be an integral part of the live, play, learn and worship component of emerging master-planned communities such as The Woodlands Hills. This new church will represent the second in Conroe, complementing ANNIVERSARIES 15 The Eatery at Hodge Podge Lodge , a full-service restaurant offering from- scratch dishes for dine-in and pickup, will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Septem- ber. To celebrate, beginning Sept. 7, the eatery will extend its weekend hours, add happy hour from 3-6 p.m. weekdays and resume its weekday brunch, which has been on pause since the start of the pan- demic, according to an Aug. 3 announce- ment from the business. The eatery will be open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednes- days-Thursdays and Sundays and from

First Methodist Conroe,” said Je Olive, central north district superintendent of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, in the release. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony in 2023.

TERALYN WOODS PKWY.

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10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It is located at 300 Prairie St., Montgomery. 936-221-5650. www.hpleatery.com NEW OWNERSHIP 16 Sisi’s Spa Treatment Massage reopened April 20 under new owner Sisi Su. The business is located at 12930 FM 830, Willis. Services include Swedish massages, deep tissue massages, hot stones, cupping, Guasha and lymphatic drainage. 936-333-289. www.sisismassage.com

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TODO LIST

August & September events

COMPILED BY ANNA LOTZ & JISHNU NAIR

AUG. 27

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The nonprot Children’s Books on Wheels is hosting its Dress White Linen Party. Live music from Houston jazz band Ray Parsee and the All-Stars will be featured at the event. 8:30-11:30 p.m. $60. 9845 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Conroe. 281-844-7596. www.childrensbooksonwheels.org (Courtesy Taylorized PR)

The Montgomery County Food Bank is hosting its 10th annual Shoot Out Hunger event, a charity clay-shooting tournament. The tournament also features an auction, a rae, breakfast and lunch. 7:30 a.m.-noon. $50 (nonshooting guests), $300 (participants). 11400 FM 2854, Conroe. 936-271-8822. www. mcfoodbank.org (Courtesy Montgomery County Food Bank)

A 9/11 observance ceremony will be held at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park. (Courtesy Taylorized PR) FEATURED EVENT Sept. 11: Observe 9/11 The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park will host a 9/11 observance event that will begin at the moment the rst attack occurred at The World Trade Center in 2001. The event honors the rst responders who died on 9/11. A rst responder ag will be lowered at 8:30 a.m. at the entrance to the park, and Jimmie Edwards, chairperson of the Montgomery County Veterans Commission, will speak at 8:40 a.m. A moment of silence will follow at 8:59 a.m. 1776 Freedom Blvd., Conroe. https://mcvetmemorialpark.org

AUGUST 19 THROUGH SEPT. 5 DINE AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS Diners who eat at participating restaurants during Houston Restaurant Weeks can select from set menus with a portion of the proceeds going to the Houston Food Bank. Conroe-area locations include Saltgrass on I-45 and Black Walnut Cafe on Hawthorne Drive. www.houstonrestaurantweeks.com 27 THROUGH 28 ENJOY AN OUTDOOR LIVING SHOW IN CONROE The Lake Conroe Outdoor Living Show will take place at Margaritaville Lake Resort. Guests can explore a variety of furniture and gardening options for their homes. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (teachers and rst responders with ID), $5 (general public). 600 Margaritaville Parkway, Montgomery. 832-265-2001. www.qualityhomeshows.com SEPTEMBER 01 LISTEN TO A CONCERT The city of Conroe’s outdoor concert series wraps up in September

Park, 2500 S. Loop 336 E., Conroe. 936-522-3900. www.cityofconroe.org 17 RUN FOR CHARITY The Woodforest National Bank Charitable Foundation is hosting its 12th annual charity run at Heritage Place. Events include a 5-kilometer run, a 10-kilometer run and a dash for children. 7:40-10:15 a.m. $10 (children’s dash), $30 (5K), $35 (10K). 500 Collins St., Conroe. www.woodforest.com 17 SHOP TIL YOU DROP The seasonal Margaritaville Market will return to Margaritaville Lake Resort’s Palm Court. A variety of local artisans and vendors will be selling their goods. 4-8 p.m. Free. 600 Margaritaville Parkway, Montgomery. www.margaritaville.com 17 SAMPLE WINES, SUPPORT A LOCAL NONPROFIT Bridgewood Farms is hosting its 55th anniversary celebration with its 13th annual Around the World in 180 Minutes wine-tasting event. Proceeds will benet Bridgewood’s work supporting adults with disabilities. 6-9 p.m. $100. 12244 Serenity Rose Drive, Conroe. 936-856-6460. www.bridgewoodfarms.org

with musician Mike and the Moonpies. Guests can bring chairs and blankets to the outdoor concert at Heritage Place. Food, soda and water can be brought in, but alcohol is not permitted. However, beer and wine will be sold at the event, and food trucks will be on-site. 7 p.m. Free. 500 Metcalf St., Conroe. www.cityofconroe.org 02 CELEBRATE LABOR DAY ON THE LAKE The Margaritaville Resort will host a country music lineup for Labor Day. Texas native Rick Trevino will headline the show with Heather Rayleen, Payton Howie and Je Canada also featured. 6:30-10 p.m. $10 (guests under age 17), $25 (general admission). 600 Margaritaville Parkway, Montgomery. www.outhousetickets.com 10 GO FISHING IN CONROE The city of Conroe hosts KidFish, a nonprot outreach program providing a hands-on shing experience for families. The event is for children age 16 and younger, and participants must register at the event; trophies will be awarded. Guests are welcome to bring their own shing gear; limited shing supplies will also be available for use. 9 a.m.-noon. Free (donations accepted). Carl Barton Jr.

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Find more or submit Conroe or Montgomery events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

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Golf: Friday, October 7; AM & PM Shotguns; Panorama Golf Club

COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

COMPILED BY PEYTON MACKENZIE

UPCOMING PROJECTS 2 Walden Road overlay project An overlay project will expand Walden Road from four lanes to ve lanes beginning at Hwy. 105 and continuing 2.63 miles north into Precinct 1, according to Precinct 1 Special Projects Coordinator Jeery Johnson. The contract was award- ed Aug. 9 and is handled by Montgomery County; however, Conroe is in an interlocal agreement to contribute no more than $867,020. The county is responsible for an estimated $2.75 million, Woolley said. Timeline: TBD Cost: $3.6 million Funding sources: Montgomery County, Conroe 3 I-45 frontage road extension Construction bids have been awarded for a frontage road extension along I-45 between FM 830 and FM 1097 in the Willis area, according to Black. Construction is anticipated to start in September as of an August update from TxDOT. Timeline: September-TBD Cost: $7 million Funding sources: TxDOT, federal funds 4 Old Conroe Road expansion Old Conroe Road will be connected to Sgt. Ed Holcombe Boulevard South with a pair

MONTGOMERY

of bridges across Lake Creek and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River in Conroe. Michael Keck—the project manager for the rm engineering the project, LJA Engineer- ing—said in a July 27 email there has been no signicant changes to the status of the project, which is still under federal review.

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Timeline: 2024-TBD Cost: $221.3 million Funding sources: federal, local

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CONROE TO ADD WAYFINDING SIGNS Tommy Woolley, director of capital projects and transportation for the city of Conroe, said in a July email a project to install 37 way nding signs directing residents and visitors to important places in downtown Conroe was awarded to Sarvicus LLC for con-

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struction in July. The project was awarded

OLD CONROE RD.

for an estimated cost of $285,136 and will take a projected four months to fabricate and install signs. As of July 28, construction had not begun.

ONGOING PROJECTS 1 Hwy. 105 improvements A project on Hwy. 105 to add raised medians, widen the pavement and modify trac signals between FM 2854 and I-45 was 24% complete as of an Aug. 1 update from the Texas Department of Transportation. According to Public

Information Ocer Emily Black, as of Aug. 9 the contractor was experiencing material supply shortage issues, and an updated timeline could not be given. Timeline: October 2021-third quarter 2023 Cost: $9.83 million Funding sources: federal, state

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF AUG. 9. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT COMNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

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GOVERNMENT Conroe City Council divided on pursuing changes to city charter

BY PEYTON MACKENZIE

Existing government in Conroe:

Form of government that could be pursued in Conroe with charter review:

CONSIDERING A CHARTER Conroe is a HOME RULE MUNICIPALITY, which means the number of council members and the form of

Conroe City Council unanimously voted July 14 to cease conversations about changing the city charter and form of government, an issue Mayor Jody Czajkoski said he plans to revisit. Czajkoski initiated discussions in July on changing the city charter to add two council positions and move from a city administrator to a city manager form of government. Czajkoski formed the Charter Review Committee in July to rec- ommend changes to the charter to council members, who would then vote whether to add propositions to the November ballot for citizens to vote on, according to Czajkoski. However, City Council voted July 14 to cease and desist all charter review meetings at the request of Council Members Harry Hardman and Marsha Porter. Czajkoski said in a phone interview he believes a change in the charter would benefit the growing city by providing more representation for residents with a single-member district system for City Council. “Having two additional council members for a total of seven with four being single-member districts would ensure that each geograph- ical location would have a council member that actually lives in that part of the community and knows the issues,” Czajkoski said. Currently, council operates as a home rule municipality gov- erned by its charter, which states council consists of five council members and a mayor. Czajkoski’s recommendations would change

Five council seats

Four council seats that represent specific city areas

and three

council seats at large

A city administrator

do think it needs to be looked at,” Maddux said in an interview. However, Hardman said in an email he does not believe there needs to be a review of the charter. City administrators are used by smaller cities that hire an individual to run their cities with duties that are spelled out in a city ordinance or policy. SOURCES: CITY OF CONROE, CONROE MAYOR JODY CZAJKOSKI, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

A city manager

City managers are usually found in larger cities, and their powers and responsibilities are typically laid out in the charter.

government are determined by the city charter.

According to Hardman, there had been no discussion as of July 28 to bring the topic back to council, and he has received comments in support of the current charter. However, Czajkoski said he plans to

the charter—the document that establishes a municipality’s way of governing—by adding two council seats, making some council seats single-member districts and replac- ing the city administrator position with a city manager. Czajkoski said he would like to see every 25,000 people be represented by one council member who lives within their area. He said most cities similar in size to Conroe have single-member districts—council members representing a specific pop- ulation or district—with some council members at large, or representing the full population. Divided council Mayor Pro Tem Curt Maddux said he also believes a review of the charter could benefit Conroe because the last review of the charter was in 1992. “I mean, it’s been 30 years, so I

He said he believes the current system ensures the citizens have equal represen- tation. Also, he said he believes changing the charter to include a city manager would remove procedural authority from the council and take authority away from the citizens. “I want to keep the

The last review of the city charter took place in

continue discussing the charter and has received calls from the community in support of changes. Czajkoski said if council does not revisit the issue, citizens could form a petition with enough signatures to bypass council and place the item on the November election ballot. “I’ve had multiple citizens call me

1992.

The population in Conroe increased by

180%

from 1992- 2020.

focus of council to be on what’s best for all our citizens, not ‘my’ district,” Hardman said. “A single-member district type system is utilized in Houston, and I believe it lacks proper representation for the citizens in each of those districts.”

SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

about bringing it back,” Czajkoski said. “It’s been a hot topic in every election. It got political, and I don’t know why.”

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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION • AUGUST 2022

GOVERNMENT Flood planning group awaits state water board approval for flood plan

FLOOD PLANNING IN THE HOUSTON AREA The San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group covers 11 Houston-area counties, including Montgomery County, and 15 watersheds.

200,000 structures in the 100-year flood plain expected to be affected The SJRFPG categorized nearly A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

BY JISHNU NAIR

Harris County Flood Control District. Montgomery County was listed as an entity, although the county does not have its own separate flood authority. The San Jacinto River Authority, including Montgomery County, is also named in several plans on the San Jacinto River’s West Fork. SJRA Flood Manager Matt Barrett, who was part of the flood planning group, said the authority reviewed and provided input during the process, such as the 16 large-scale plans that were part of the San Jacinto Regional Master Drainage Plan. which manages surface water resources in several counties, The SJRFPG will meet in Septem- ber to receive further public input and will receive a formal response from the TWDB in October. The final plan will be submitted to the TWDB in January, when the state Legislature will also reconvene.

The San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group unanimously approved a draft regional flood plan for 11 Houston-area counties in the San Jacinto River watershed July 14. The draft will be submitted to the Texas Water Development Board, the agency responsible for compiling a statewide flood plan by 2024. The final plan for the San Jacinto region, also referred to as Region 6, is set to be approved by December. Specific recommendations for flood management strategies include 16 proposals for property acquisitions costing $1.1 billion and eight “critical maintenance” updates costing a total of $16 million for drainage systems. The group does not have the authority to enact any of the recom- mendations it offers. According to the draft document, standards are devel- oped for potential implementation by flood-related authorities, such as the

San Jacinto

Walker

Grimes

LAKE CONROE

with 16,919 in Montgomery County.

Montgomery

WEST FORK SAN JACINTO RIVER

A combined 478 projects, studies, and strategies have been recommended in the plan in the Houston area. The draft plan’s San Jacinto River West Fork measures would remove 1,460 residential structures from the 100-year flood plain if fully implemented.

Liberty

LAKE HOUSTON

Waller

Harris

Chambers

GALVESTON BAY

Fort Bend

Galveston

Brazoria

SOURCE: SAN JACINTO REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING GROUP/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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CITY & COUNTY

News from Conroe, Montgomery & Montgomery County

NUMBER TO KNOW $73.3 billion Montgomery County’s certied property values have increased each year since 2018 as the county’s property tax rate has decreased. The taxable value in the county has increased from $46.19 billion in 2018 to $73.3 billion in 2022, according to county information. CITY HIGHLIGHT MONTGOMERY Patricia Easley was sworn into Montgomery City Council at a regular meeting July 12 by Mayor Byron Sanford to ll a vacancy for Position 5, which became vacant when Sanford— who previously lled Position 5— was elected mayor in May. According to Easley, she was born and raised in the Montgomery area, and after graduating from Sam Houston State University, she worked in the corporate world in Houston before returning to Montgomery in 2000. “Progress is inevitable; we can’t stop it; and a lot of it is good,” Easley said. “But we’ve got to make sure that the citizens have a good quality of life and that the citizens are considered in every decision that’s made.” MEETINGS WE COVER Montgomery County Commissioners Court Will meet at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 23 and Sept. 13. 501 N. Thompson St., Ste. 402, Conroe. 936-756-0571. www.mctx.org Conroe City Council Will meet at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 25 and 6 p.m. Sept. 8. 300 W. Davis St.,

County proposes nearly $0.03 drop in FY 202223 tax rate

BY JISHNU NAIR

DECLINING TAX RATE Montgomery County’s adopted tax rates have declined since 2018, with the proposed 2022-23 tax rate set to continue the trend.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY The county will propose a tax rate of $0.3764 per $100 of taxable property to fund its scal year 2022-23 budget following an Aug. 9 Commissioners Court session. Because the rate is above the county’s no-new-revenue tax rate, there is a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 26. Montgomery County’s property tax rate has decreased annually since 2018, according to county information. According to Budget Ocer Amanda Carter, increases to law enforcement personnel under the Montgomery County Sheri’s Oce and justices of the peace as well as a 5% countywide pay raise contributed to the proposed tax rate exceeding the no-new-revenue rate of $0.3312. Carter also cited lower revenues than the previous year as another reason for the tax rate with county courts still facing backlogs due to the pandemic. According to the Texas comptroller’s oce, the no-new-revenue rate would produce the same amount

$0.50

$0.4667

$0.4312 $0.4475

$0.40

$0.4083

$0.3764

$0.30

2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23*

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER *PROPOSED

of property tax revenue if applied to the same properties taxed in both years. Montgomery County has adopted tax rates either equal to or lower than the no-new-revenue rate since 2019, according to the county’s tax rate history. The county’s FY 2021-22 tax rate is $0.4083.

County extends burn ban amid re risk

Conroe terminates city administrator; CFO resigns

the city for more than 25 years, and Williams served as CFO for 17 years, according to his LinkedIn pro le. During a phone inter-

BY JISHNU NAIR

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Commissioners voted unanimously for a 90-day extension of the coun- ty’s burn ban Aug. 2. The ban can be terminated earlier if conditions improve. As of press time Aug. 16, the ban was still in place. County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams also reiterated the county’s greater preparedness for wildres, describing the available stations as a “network” compared to 2011, when severe wildres struck Montgomery County. “We’re better prepared than we were [in 2011],” he said.

BY PEYTON MACKENZIE

CONROE At a meeting Aug. 11, Conroe City Council terminated a contract with City Administrator Paul Virgadamo Jr. and accepted the resignation of Chief Financial Ocer Steve Williams with whom council was also set to vote on terminating a contract. The vote was 3-2 with Council Members Harry Hardman, Howard Wood and Marsha Porter supporting the motion. Porter and Wood placed the items on the agenda. Virgadamo said he worked for

Paul Virgadamo Jr.

view Aug. 6, Virgadamo said he was unaware of any discussion regarding his termination. During an Aug. 10 workshop, Porter, Hardman and Wood said their desire to terminate Virgadamo was related to a lack of communication between Virgadamo and the council. An interim city administrator had not been appointed as of Aug. 16.

Conroe. 936-522-3010. www.cityofconroe.org Montgomery City Council Will meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 23

and Sept. 13. 101 Old Plantersville Road, Montgomery. 936-597-6434. www.montgomerytexas.gov

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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION • AUGUST 2022

2022 EDUCATION EDITION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS.

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GOLD SPONSOR

Montgomery ISD is located in one of the fastest growing regions in Texas, serving nearly 10,000 students across 10 campuses. In partnership with families and the community, MISD is growing and developing future generations of leaders and productive citizens by oering innovative academic programs responsive to every student’s individual needs. Montgomery ISD aims to prepare all students for the college, career or military opportunity of their choice while ensuring that the workplace culture across the district is one of positivity, collaboration and trust. In May 2022, voters in Montgomery ISD approved a bond referendum to expand Career and Technical Educational opportunities, address a rapid growth in enrollment and make upgrades to every school in the district. The district is grateful for the continued support of our amazing community as we work diligently to

serve each family that chooses to call Montgomery home. To learn more about Montgomery ISD, visit www.misd.org.

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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

DISTRICT DATA

Data and information from local school districts

COMPILED BY ANNA LOTZ

CONROE ISD

MONTGOMERY ISD WILLIS ISD

After enrollment dropped in the 2020-21 school year, Conroe ISD is projected to see an increase again in 2022-23. The district also celebrated the opening of Annette Gordon- Reed Elementary School o McCaleb Road in August to keep up with rising enrollment.

Montgomery ISD is projected to add nearly 500 students from the previous year as the 2022-23 school year begins. The district has seen enrollment grow 8.59% over four years despite a slight drop in the 2020-21 school year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Willis ISD has seen steady enrollment growth since 2019-20, growing more than 9% over four years. The district is projecting more than 100 new students year over year in 2022-23 and is starting work on new campuses called for in its May bond.

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, CONROE ISD, MONTGOMERY ISD, WILLIS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

STAFFING, SALARIES AND SUBSTITUTES

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Total number of teachers* +10.99% -0.21%

Average salary by position, 2021-22

Percentage change from 2019-20:

+10.23%

Statewide

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 0

$346,560 $286,777 $269,418 Superintendent $62,883 $61,899 $59,499 Teaching sta $58,887 $72,358 $69,435 $71,471 Support sta $69,330

+7.28%

+8.59%

+9.27%

2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23*

Starting teacher salary

*PROJECTED

+8.11%

+10.2% +10%

202122 STUDENT STATISTICS

$50,000 $52,500 $55,000 $57,500 $60,000 0

Economically disadvantaged students 40.42%

English learners

Special education students

17.59% 15.73% 2.81%

9.41%

$102,260 $99,818 $98,536 Administrative sta $92,806

56.78% 31.36%

10.45% 10.41%

2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23

Substitute daily pay**

Statewide

*TOTAL IS THE FULLTIME EQUIVALENT AND MAY INCLUDE PARTTIME POSITIONS. **RANGES VARY BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND OTHER FACTORS. $95-$125 $70-$110

$85-$125

60.61% 21.66%

11.7%

STUDENT RACE & ETHNICITY, 202122

REVENUE SOURCES

202122 TOTAL REVENUE:

202223 TOTAL REVENUE PROJECTED:

202122 TOTAL REVENUE:

$586.12M

$119.23M

$73.14M

Statewide

LOCAL

$399.84M LOCAL $186.28M STATE $0 FEDERAL

$98.22M $17.12M STATE FEDERAL $3.89M

$43.28M

STATE

$28.83M FEDERAL $1.03M

CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION • AUGUST 2022

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