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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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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