Conroe - Montgomery Edition | August 2024

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Conroe Montgomery Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 AUG. 21SEPT. 20, 2024

2024 Education Edition

MISD Creekside Elementary teachers Mary Catherine Hebert, Jennifer Stout and Ashley Corbin prepare for the school year. Despite a budget shortfall, trustees approved $650 teacher raises.

COURTESY JESSICA GRACEMONTGOMERY ISD

Area districts plan around budget challenges

they said that’s not a feasible long-term solution. MISD has a $4.3 million shortfall, and trustees may call for a voter-approval tax rate election in Novem- ber to generate more funding. Willis ISD is expected to pass a balanced budget for FY 2024-25.

public education funding in the 88th legislative session, but measures to provide that funding to schools failed to pass. CISD is expecting a nearly $12 million budget shortfall in 2024-25, and while ocials said the district can cover it by dipping into its fund balance,

BY ANGELA BONILLA, VANESSA HOLT & EMILY LINCKE

Conroe and Montgomery ISDs, like many other Texas school districts, are looking at ways to cover increasing costs and stang needs in scal year 2024-25 despite a lack of funding from the state. The Texas Legislature designated $4 billion for

CONTINUED ON 18

Also in this issue

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Government: Conroe City Council accepts retirements, resignation for city personnel including re, police chiefs (Page 21)

Transportation: FM 1097 in Montgomery County is rebuilt, reopens after partial collapse following heavy rains in late July (Page 26)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Chrissy Leggett General Manager cleggett@ communityimpact.com

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3 Barnes & Noble The store features a B&N Cafe and offers customers a variety of books, games and gifts. • Opened July 17 • 2920 I-45 N., Conroe • www.barnesandnoble.com 4 Southern Avenue Boutique The boutique offers a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories, according to its website. • Opened in June • 10669 FM 1484, Conroe • www.southernavenueboutique.com 5 Pizza Twist The restaurant offers wings, salads, pasta, traditional pizzas and Indian-fusion pizzas. • Opened July 22 • 9662 Hwy. 242, Ste. 300, Conroe • www.pizzatwist.com 6 PureVee Esthetics The business’s services include tailored facials based on clients’ skin care needs and desires. • Opened Aug. 2 • 107 Old River Road, Ste. K, Montgomery • https://purevee.glossgenius.com 7 Willis Mercantile The business houses 22 vendors, which sell items such as indoor plants, candles and food. • Opened July 6

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8 Amazing Grace Quilt Store The store offers quilt fabric for quilters needing blenders, batiks and backings. • Opened July 1 • 302 John A Butler St., Montgomery • www.amazinggracequiltstore.com

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9 Spin In The Wind The business offers a variety of wind spinners, yard art and other garden products. • Opened July 1 • 302 John A Butler St., Montgomery • Facebook: Spin In The Wind Williams Public Relations The public relations firm serves the Greater Houston area, director of operations Lisa Williams confirmed. • Launched July 11 • Serves the Greater Houston area • 832-948-9581

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Relocations

Coming soon

14 Maurices The retail business offers clothing sizes for women ranging from size 0 to 24. Maurices is headquartered in Minnesota with 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada, according to its website. • Opened July 26 • 2912 I-45 S., Ste. 100, Conroe • www.maurices.com

17 Blue Willow Coffee The coffee shop relocated from 109 N. Danville St., Willis, to a location in the same building at the Willis Mercantile shop in mid-July. Blue Willow Coffee offers a variety of drinks including lattes and energy drinks made with natural caffeine. • Relocated in July • 115 N. Danville St., Willis • www.facebook.com/bluewillowcoffee

10 Cottonwood Bridal The bridal store will offer private bridal suites, personal consultants and a diverse collection of dresses. • Opening Sept. 17 • 6421 Hwy. 105 E., Suites B & C, Conroe • www.cottonwoodbridaltx.com 11 The Joint Chiropractic The franchise offers access to chiropractic care. • Opening August 28 • 18784 Hwy. 105, Ste. 300, Montgomery • www.thejoint.com 12 Planet Fitness The new location will feature cardio and strength equipment, massage chairs and fitness training. • Opening this fall • 220 S. Loop 336 W., Conroe • www.planetfitness.com 13 Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care The new location will offer patients 6 months and older treatment for non-life-threatening conditions.

• 10951 Shepard Hill Road, Willis • www.newdanville.org

In the news

15 Henry’s Home Horse and Human Sanctuary

18 Sugar Sugar The sweets store, which sells candy, ice cream, gifts, and novelty items, is under new ownership as of June 1. • 810 Pine Market Ave., Ste. 150, Montgomery • www.sugarsugarstore.com Chuy’s Orlando-based Darden Restaurants is set to acquire Chuy’s for approximately $605 million, the companies announced in a July 17 joint news release. • www.chuys.com

The nonprofit’s founder Donna Stedman retired and Darlene Gagnon, previously the vice president of the board of directors, is serving as interim CEO. • 14638 Perry Road, Conroe • www.henryshomesanctuary.org 16 New Danville The nonprofit community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities broke ground on additions to its facility on July 24.

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA

Education Edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! This guide features the latest updates and resources about local K-12 public school options in your community, ranging from new campuses to budget details to bond elections. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting them. In this issue, you’ll learn more about local results from the spring 2024 administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, as well as recent changes that have impacted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process. Our cover story looks at the budget challenges districts all over the state of Texas—including Conroe and Montgomery ISDs—are facing in the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year. District officials cite a variety of issues contributing to these financial challenges, including high rates of inflation and a lack of additional funding from the state. To read additional public education coverage and keep up with the news throughout the month, visit communityimpact.com/newsletter to sign up for our free daily email newsletter.

What's inside

See the latest construction updates on area school districts’ projects (Page 13)

Chrissy Leggett General Manager cleggett@ communityimpact.com

STAAR scores dip year-over- year in Montgomery County districts (Page 15)

Montgomery ISD to purchase entry-resistant safety glass for buildings (Page 17)

WISD Superintendent Kimberley James discusses the district’s goals, budget

Entering her 35th year working in education, Kimberley James was named the new superinten- dent of Willis ISD in early April. James previously served as deputy superintendent for Corpus Christi ISD. What are the biggest challenges and issues you think Willis ISD faces? I think public education in general has a lot of challenges. And Willis is no different in that, that we want to make sure that parents are valued, that their voices are heard; that our resources are directed in a way that supports our teachers, which support student learning; ... and then making sure that all of our students and staff are safe. What are your short- and long-term priorities? I think No. 1 is making sure that we have really, really good systems that ensure quality instruc- tion, ... [and] important decisions are being made with students first. ... No. 2 [is] making sure that we have the right people sitting in the right places to ensure those systems happen. I think that those are probably the most important things early on. [In the] long-term, it is academic achievement.

What thoughts do you have about the district’s proposed fiscal year 2024-25 budget, which is anticipated to be balanced? First of all, I have so much confidence in our CFO Garrett [Matej], and he has done such a fabulous job over the last four years ensuring that we were positioned correctly for ... growth. ... And he’s even planning for the future, and I just feel like his forward thinking has allowed us to be able to give raises, be able to plan for the future, plan for the needs as far as resources and really [also] the management of our fund balance. We have a really strong fund balance that will help offset anything that were to come our way, should there be some unforeseen catastrophe or so forth. What do you hope to see come out of the Texas Legislature’s next session? House Bill 3 two legislative sessions ago pro- vided districts with opportunities to earn money based on what we’re doing as a district. And so ... I hope that they continue to fund that. No. 2—find more creative ways to increase the funding for our students because we cannot do what we do

without the adequate amount of money and resources to provide ... the teachers. ... It is so difficult to find high-quality teachers that have experience, that know how to really reach our students’ diverse needs, and if we cannot pay for that, if we cannot fund that, if we cannot find ways to support that, we’re just going to continue to go down a terrible road.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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Education

BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR

FAFSA changes, delays lead to decrease in application numbers

Also of note

The delayed rollout of the form in 2023 is likely to impact students from low-income families because affordability comes into question, said Carla Fletcher, a research consultant at Trellis Strategies. “I think we are going to see some impacts on who is completing the FAFSA and then who is moving on to make decisions about their education because their financial aid packages have been delayed,” Fletcher said. “And so that can really impact their decision making. They might not know which school they can truly afford because they don’t know what kind of aid they’re getting.” Students whose parents do not have a Social Security number have also been “adversely impacted” by the recent FAFSA changes, Ashton said. Texans who do not qualify for FAFSA may be eligible to apply for the Texas Application for State Financial Aid. In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1528, which allowed students who are not U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents or eligible noncitizens, who are not eligible for federal aid, to apply for state aid at participating higher education institutions. Learn more about TASFA eligibility at www.highered.texas.gov. While this year’s financial aid application forms were delayed, the U.S. Department of Education has said next year’s FAFSA form is set to open on time on Oct. 1.

Fewer high schoolers have applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid this year than in 2023, according to data from the National College Attainment Network. The form, which usually becomes available Oct. 1, was delayed by almost three months due to changes made to the application. It was not available for students until Dec. 31. In 2022, U.S. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act. The revamped application came with fewer questions, a new way of calculating how much aid students qualify for, and a direct exchange of data between the Internal Revenue Service and FAFSA, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, the delayed application process likely caused a decrease in the number of FAFSA applications, and this will have lasting

FAFSA completion rates in Texas

65%

65% 60% 0% 50% 55%

54.5%

54%

SOURCE: TRELLIS STRATEGIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT *THE FAFSA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT WENT INTO EFFECT IN TEXAS.

effects on graduating seniors, said Bryan Ashton, managing director at Trellis Strategies, a research and consulting firm focused on postsecondary education.

Zooming in

FAFSA completion for seniors through Aug. 2 Class of 2023 Class of 2024

As of the end of June, 54.5% of Texas’ class of 2024 had completed a FAFSA form, down from about 61% at the same time last year. Despite the decrease in total applications completed nationwide and statewide, Texas is ranked sixth in overall applications completed, according to the National College Attainment Network. Ashton said he believes this is in part due to a state law passed in 2019 requiring all graduating seniors to either complete a financial aid application or formally opt out.

Conroe ISD

2,701

-11.7%

2,384

Montgomery ISD

467

-19.7%

375

Willis ISD

262

-9.2%

238

SOURCE: NATIONAL COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA, EMILY LINCKE & CARSON WEAVER

School construction

Work on various projects in Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs are underway, including the construction of new schools. CISD passed a $1.8 billion bond package in 2023, MISD passed a $326.9 million bond in 2022 and WISD passed a $102.7M bond package this past May.

Montgomery ISD

Conroe ISD

Rob Eissler Elementary School Project: The new elementary school, funded by the district’s 2023 bond, will have a 950-student capacity and serve The Woodlands High School feeder zone. Update: Construction is on schedule and retention ponds have been built to control water on-site, district officials said July 16. • Location: 14000 Old Conroe Road, Conroe • Timeline: March 2024-August 2025 Mittie J. Campbell Elementary School Project: The new elementary school will have a 950-student capacity in the Oak Ridge and Caney Creek high school feeder zones. Update: Construction is ahead of schedule with driveways laid as of mid-July, district officials said July 16. • Location: 15895 Stonecrest Drive, Conroe • Timeline: March 2024-August 2025 Houser Elementary School Project: The school is receiving fire sprinkler, heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovations. Update: The project is delayed due to Hurricane Beryl, district officials said July 16. • Location: 27370 Oak Ridge School Road, Conroe • Timeline: Completion before the start of the 2024-25 school year Grand Oaks campus Project: The new school will serve the seventh, eighth and ninth grades in the Grand Oaks High School feeder zone. Update: The construction crew is halfway through pad construction and building new roads for the school, district officials said July 16. • Location: 28075 Woodson’s Grand Drive, Spring • Timeline: March 2024-January 2027 Lamar Elementary School Project: The school is receiving kitchen, roof, heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovations. Update: This project is delayed by Hurricane Beryl, but it will not affect the district’s ability to serve students food on the first day of school, district officials said July 16. • Location: 1300 Many Pines Road, The Woodlands • Timeline: Completion before the start of the 2024-25 school year

combined 189,000 square feet and feature a bistro operated by culinary students, an engineering and robotics lab and an animal show arena. Update: Construction is ongoing, district officials said July 18. • Location: Lone Star Parkway between Buffalo Springs and Plez Morgan drives • Timeline: early 2024-July 2025 Lake Creek High School Project: This $27.88 million project—funded by the district’s $326.9 million 2022 bond—will add capacity for 900 more students. The project also includes an added wing of classroom and lab spaces alongside an additional parking lot. Update: The expansion was completed in time for the 2024-25 school year, district officials said. • Location: 20639 FM 2854, Montgomery • Timeline: May 2023-completed this summer Creekside Elementary School Project: The district’s seventh elementary school— funded by the district’s $326.9 million 2022 bond—cost around $43.49 million to build. Update: A ribbon-cutting event was held at the school Aug. 14, district officials said. • Location: behind Lake Creek High School off FM 2854 • Timeline: May 2023-July Montgomery High School Project: Renovations for the $26 million project— funded by the district’s May 2022 $326.9 million bond—include painting classrooms, replacing the main campus roof and replacing the structured cabling in the ninth-grade campus.

Update: Construction on this project is ongoing, district officials said July 18. • Location: 22825 Hwy. 105, Montgomery • Timeline: spring 2024-summer 2025

Willis ISD

Lynn Lucas Middle School Project: The middle school is undergoing a fine arts addition that is funded by WISD’s $143 million 2022 bond. Update: Construction began in May and the addition is anticipated to open early next year. • Location: 1304 N. Campbell St., Willis • Timeline: May-January 2025 Middle School No. 3 Project: The new middle school, funded by WISD’s $143 million 2022 bond, will be a two-story campus with a 1,400-student capacity. Update: Construction began in early 2024 and the school is anticipated to open for the 2025-26 school year, according to WISD’s website. • Location: 7373 Longmire Road, Conroe • Timeline: early 2024-August 2025 Elementary School No. 7 Project: The new elementary campus, funded by WISD’s $143 million 2022 bond, will have an 850-student capacity. Update: The campus is anticipated to open for the 2026-27 school year, according to WISD’s website. • Location: The school will be located off MP Clark Road, in the future section 6 of The Woodlands Hills. • Timeline: spring 2025-August 2026

Montgomery ISD

Career and Technical Education, Agriculture Science centers Project: The $82.92 million spaces will measure a

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Education

BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR

STAAR scores dip in Montgomery County districts Year-over-year standardized test passage rates declined across most subjects in grades 3-8 in Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs, per the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results released June 14. The state and districts saw little improvement in the rates of students approaching grade level— which is considered passing—in reading and math between the spring 2023 and spring 2024 adminis- trations of the STAAR test. The decrease in math proficiency can be attributed to learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, per a June 14 news release from the Texas Education Agency. “Pandemic-induced disruptions to learning exacerbated students’ difficulties in mastering fundamental math concepts,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said via news release. “As a result, we must keep our foot on the gas to intensify efforts ... to ensure that students obtain necessary foundational skills and concepts and achieve the desired academic outcomes not only in math but across all subject areas.” The STAAR was redesigned in 2023, and new changes were implemented in how tests were graded in 2024, according to the TEA’s website. In 2019, House Bill 3906 mandated a redesign of the test, which was primarily administered online from that point forward. The 2024 tests were graded almost exclusively

STAAR passing score changes, 2023 vs. 2024

by computers, which had human oversight, in an effort by the state to save money and make grading more efficient, per the TEA’s website. What they’re saying In a statement, Chris Summers, MISD’s assistant superintendent of secondary education, said the district outperformed the state when it came to the spring 2024 administration of the STAAR test. “MISD surpassed the state in the percentage of students rated ‘Approaches’ or ‘Meets’ on all tests in grades 3 through EOC. We surpassed the state in the percentage of students rated ‘Masters’ on all but two of the STAAR tests in grades 3 through EOC,” Summers said. “This is evidence that our students, teachers and leaders continue to work incredibly hard; and their dedication to learning and growing each year is at the heart of all we do.” At an Aug. 6 board of trustees workshop, CISD Deputy Superintendent Bethany Medford said despite some decreases since the previous year, the district performed favorably compared to its peer schools. “Math [is] where we’ve seen a lot of gaps as we look at students from those COVID[-19] years,” Medford said. Willis ISD did not return a request for comment prior to press time. Major takeaways The largest decline in passage rates was seen in seventh-grade math. The passage rates from 2023 to 2024 declined: from 45% to 32% in WISD; from 80% to 68% in MISD; and from 63% to 49% in CISD. Meanwhile, some of the largest increases in passage rates was seen in fourth-grade reading. Passage rates from 2023 to 2024 increased: from 75% to 82% in WISD; from 90% to 91% in MISD; and from 86% to 88% in CISD.

Conroe ISD Willis ISD

Montgomery ISD Statewide -10 -5 0 5 10

-15

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding

DID YOU KNOW?

The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.

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Education

BY ANGELA BONILLA, EMILY LINCKE & NICHAELA SHAHEEN

CISD estimates $1M in recovery expenses In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Conroe ISD is looking at the possibility of requesting Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance due to the estimated $1 million in damage from the storm. The details In the July 16 meeting, Chris McCord, assistant superintendent for operations for the district, said the district had prepared for the storm the day prior and day of Beryl making landfall July 8. Antiscaling fencing along schools was damaged, and the district lost power and communications for several days. The dam- age also set the timeline for some construc- tion projects back a week, McCord said. “Debris and tree debris cleanup costs are ... signicantly expensive,” McCord said.

Conroe ISD breaks ground on new elementary school

GULF COAST RD.

1314

Conroe ISD Superintendent Curtis Null, accom- panied by other district ocials, representatives of the Evergreen community and members of the Lake Conroe/Conroe Chamber of Commerce, broke ground June 13 for a new school located near the intersection of Hwy. 242 and FM 1314. What we know The new elementary campus, Campbell Elemen- tary, is set to open for the 2025-26 school year. The 150,000-square-foot school will serve a maximum of 950 students in grades K-6 in the Caney Creek and Oak Ridge high school feeder zones. Campbell Elementary will cost $59 million to build and is one of eight new campuses funded through a $1.8 billion bond referendum passed last November, according to a news release. WISD hosts ceremony for middle school Willis ISD held a groundbreaking cere- mony June 26 for its Middle School No. 3, scheduled to open in 2025. How we got here The new middle school is part of the district’s 2022 bond for $143 million that included funding for a new elementary school and a ne arts addition at Lynn Lucas Middle School, as previously reported by Community Impact. The details The district’s contractor, Houston-based Durotech, is underway with construction on the steel framework. The design was done by VLK, a Fort Worth-based company.

242

Along with the construction of Campbell Elementary and several other new campuses, the bond will also fund: • Existing campus improvements • Technology enhancements “We’re excited to bring the convenience of an on-site school to our growing number of resi- dents,” said Keith Luechtefeld, Houston Division president for Shea Homes, the developer of Evergreen. MISD to purchase $534K of entry-resistant glass Entry-resistant safety glass will be installed at Montgomery ISD buildings after the district’s board of trustees unanimously approved the $533,598 purchase on June 25. The specics About 21,000 square feet of safety glass for exte- rior windows will be purchased, Brad Manseld, MISD’s chief facilities & operations ocer, said on June 25. The glass is not bulletproof or bullet-resis- tant, but it is designed to slow the entry of someone trying to break into the building, he said. “One of the things that we’re able to do because it’s safety-related is we don’t have to specify and exactly dictate [and] say exactly where this is going to go because it’s part of the safety and security that we have,” Superintendent Mark Run said. “We don’t want to be able to put out a blueprint and say, ‘Here’s where all of our entry-resistant lm is and where it’s not.’ ... There’s some common sense to what would be done and what would not be done.” The context The purchase goes above what the Texas Educa- tion Agency requires of school districts via House

“You can’t put enough rounds through [the safety glass] to where you can just shoot the glass out.

... It’s still going to be three [to] six minutes of hacking away at one window to get in.” MARK RUFFIN, MONTGOMERY ISD SUPERINTENDENT

Bill 3, Manseld said. As previously reported by Community Impact , HB 3: • Became law Sept. 1 and was created during the 88th legislative session • Granted Texas school districts $15,000 per campus and $10 per student for school safety initiatives • Requires districts to have at least one armed security ocer—such as a law enforcement ocer, school marshal or teacher licensed to carry a handgun—on school campuses during regular school hours MISD already meets HB 3’s requirements of having at least one armed security ocer at all district campuses, Run said in February.

MP CLARK RD.

LONGMIRE RD.

CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION

Area districts plan around budget challenges From the cover

What’s happening?

Fiscal year 2024-25 budget shortfalls per student

Conroe ISD

Klein ISD

Montgomery ISD

Spring ISD

Tomball ISD

Of the 16 Greater Houston-area school districts covered by Community Impact , officials for 11 districts said they are expecting budget shortfalls in FY 2024-25. Comparing the anticipated budget shortfalls per student, using the Texas Education Agency’s 2023-24 student enrollment numbers, MISD’s shortfall of $439 per student was the fifth- largest in the region, while CISD’s shortfall of $245 per student was the third-smallest. WISD officials do not anticipate having a shortfall in FY 2024-25. CISD and MISD leaders have attributed the budget shortfalls to high rates of inflation and a lack of additional funding from the state’s 2023 legislative session, as well as other factors such as increasing personnel needs due to enrollment growth. “There’s just a mix of things that are really pressuring school districts into having to make and adopt deficit budgets or cut programs, … and that is a big problem moving into not only next school year, but the school year after,” said Bob Popinski, senior director of policy at Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonprofit education advocacy group.

-$245

-$200

-$409

-$400

-$439

-$600

-$678

-$737

-$800

NOTE: 2023-24 ENROLLMENTS AND BUDGET SHORTFALLS FOR FY 2024-25 PRIOR TO BUDGET CUTS WERE USED TO CALCULATE SHORTFALLS PER STUDENT.

Budget surpluses, shortfalls since 2015

Actual budget

Projected budget

Conroe ISD Montgomery ISD

Willis ISD

$40M $60M $0 -$20M -$40M $20M

FY 2015-16

FY 2018-19

FY 2021-22

FY 2024-25

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY; CONROE, KLEIN, SPRING, MONTGOMERY AND TOMBALL ISDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The breakdown

The impact

Conroe ISD’s budget includes:

2.5% raise for all employees

MISD’s general fund shortfall for the FY 2024- 25 budget stems from a $5.1 million increase in expenses, while revenue increased by only about $798,000, according to district leaders’ June 28 budget presentation. On May 7, MISD trustees approved $650 teacher raises as well as a 1% salary increase “from the midpoint of their pay grade” for all other employees, according to a May 9 email. Personnel additions in CISD’s FY 2024-25 bud- get include 147 new full-time positions, which will add $10.8 million to the projected budget, CISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza said. She said many of the personnel additions are in special education, which has seen enrollment nearly double since 2020 because qualifications for eligibility have changed. The preliminary budget numbers include an estimated total revenue of $700.05 million and estimated expenditures of $711.97 million, which reduced the anticipated shortfall from April projections to $11.9 million. This was due in part to increased enrollment projections, Garza said.

To balance the budget in the 2024-25 year, CISD can dip into its fund balance—essentially the district’s savings account—but that is a one-time solution for the problem, Garza said. The fund balance of $152.2 million can be used to cover the shortfall this year, but the fund balance is not a sustainable solution because the district aims to maintain a fund balance of 20% of the budget, or $142.4 million, in case of emergencies, Garza said.

147 new full-time positions, for an added $10.8 million in the budget

27 new special education teachers

Montgomery ISD’s budget includes:

$650 teacher raises as well as a 1% salary increase from the midpoint of their pay grades for all other employees

Conroe ISD fund balance

$1.1 million in increased expenses for new special education positions

Required fund balance: $142.4M

Willis ISD’s budget includes:

$1,500 staff raises with first- year teachers’ salaries starting at $56,000 $500 to $2,500 in retention payments given to returning staff

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

August 2024 August 2025

SOURCES: CONROE, MONTGOMERY AND WILLIS ISDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ANGELA BONILLA, VANESSA HOLT & EMILY LINCKE

What they’re saying

Also of note

On May 7, MISD trustees authorized district leaders to order an efficiency audit in relation to a potential voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, ballot initiative that would be held in November if called. If approved, a VATRE could bring in between $1.4 million-$9 million more in total funding annually, depending on how much

of a tax rate raise the district decides to pursue, according to a May 7 special meeting presentation by MISD Superintendent Mark Ruffin. “We really, truly have reached the point where we either increase local revenues or we begin making really tough decisions that do impact our students and our staff,” Ruffin said in a July 25 interview.

“We’re taking on … over a $4 million deficit budget going into next year with

the intention of it not impacting our kids and our learning experience for them or our teachers or our staff. That being said, we can’t keep up that pace long term.”

MARK RUFFIN, MISD SUPERINTENDENT

May June

Sept.

Dec.

2024

2025

“There has never been a session where public education funding has not gone up, and with the exception of this

May 7: Trustees authorized district leaders to order a VATRE efficiency audit

Aug. 6: Audit results presented to trustees

Aug. 19: Deadline for trustees to call a VATRE to be held this November

Nov. 5: If called, the VATRE will go before voters for consideration

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

past legislative session, it’s the only time it hasn’t kept pace with inflation.” STEVE TOTH, TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 15 REPRESENTATIVE

What’s next?

that stage. “There is ... strong support to pass the school finance legislation I filed last year, which would infuse our public schools with historic new funding and provide an increase to the basic allotment,” Creighton said in an email. “Anyone who asserts that we can’t deliver historic new funding for public schools while also providing school choice is ... grossly misinformed.”

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, filed Senate Bills 1 and 2 during the 88th Legislature in 2023 that would have provided funds for public education and teacher stipends, but also included funding for private school vouchers with up to $8,000 for each student through an education savings account. The bills were sent to the House of Representatives but did not advance beyond

“We should be able to come out, even in January, and tell our

staff, ‘Everyone will have a job. You may not have the job you have today, but … you will have a job.’”

CURTIS NULL, CISD SUPERINTENDENT

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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION

Government

BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN, JESSICA SHORTEN & LIZZY SPANGLER

County expects 202425 $21.68M budget increase In a presentation reviewing the scal year 2024- 25 preliminary budget for Montgomery County on July 23, commissioners were informed of a projected $21.68 million increase in expenditures and more than 100 new position requests. Budget workshops were held Aug. 13-15 after press time. Zooming in Montgomery County Budget Director Amanda Carter said there were 116 new personnel requests from county departments; however, Carter only included 28 of the positions in the budget. Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae will provide proposed tax rates during the budget workshops in August, after

Montgomery eyes term extension At its July 23 meeting, Montgomery City Council informally agreed on sending a proposal to voters this November to extend terms for the mayor and council members from two to four years. In a nutshell The change aims to reduce the frequency of elections and associated costs, City Secretary James Greene said. Montgomery holds annual elections, but the proposed change would shift elections to every other year, resulting in cost savings, per the July 23 agenda packet. If approved by voters, the change would go into eect for ocials elected after the May 2025 election. Council should vote to include the proposal on the November ballot at its Aug. 13 meeting after press time.

Conroe council accepts sta retirements, resignation On July 25, Conroe City Council accepted the retirements and resignation of sta members. What happened

Operational increases include: Economic development

“I have no ill will toward any of these employees. I and my team ran on change. To make eective change, it must be from the top.” SHANA ARTHUR, PLACE 2 COUNCIL MEMBER

$2.99M

two council members must agree on something for it to then be placed on a meeting agenda. In statements sent to Community Impact on July 26, council members David Hairel and Shana Arthur said they agreed to place the retirements and resignation on the agenda. “I am willing to make the hard decisions for what I believe to be changing the city of Conroe for the better,” Hairel said. What they’re saying Coon said he didn’t support the changes. “We’ve lost some good folks,” Coon said. In a statement, council member Marsha Porter said “when new leadership comes in, sometimes change takes place.” “This takes place all the time in the corporate world,” Porter said. Council member Harry Hardman said he wasn’t part of the initial decision to make the personnel changes but respected the opinions of

Jail food service and medical

$2.44M

Utilities

In two separate 4-1 votes, with council mem- ber Howard Wood voting against, Conroe City Council accepted the retirements of: • Fire Chief Ken Kreger • Police Chief Je Christy Council then voted 5-0 to: • Appoint Mike Legoudes, Jr. interim re chief • Appoint Lee Tipton interim police chief • Accept the resignation of Danielle Scheiner, the executive director of the Conroe Economic Development Council • Accept the retirement of Mike Riggens, the parks and recreation director How we got here In an interview July 26, Mayor Duke Coon said

$912,116

Montgomery Central Appraisal District

$734,000

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

“I was advised after the fact and after action had already been executed. I truly appreciate both chiefs and their families.” HOWARD WOOD, PLACE 4 COUNCIL MEMBER

commissioners will need to consider this year is the cost of software upgrades to the Criminal Justice Information System. Funds are no longer set aside in the Capital Improvement Fund for system enhancements, she said. “Renewals are nally hitting the IT budget,” Carter said. “You’re seeing some big increases there. Microsoft has increased their rates across the world. So it’s not just particular to Montgomery County.” Carter said no cost-of-living increases had been factored into the preliminary budget.

press time. What else? Carter said an additional expense

his fellow council members. “Change is never easy, but it is inevitable and necessary to achieve the new vision and goals we have for Conroe,” Hardman said.

CONROE 1304 W Davis (936) 539-8787 NORTH CONROE 18434 Hwy 105 W (936) 582-5410

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