The Woodlands edition | May 2022

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Conroe & Tomball ISDs

SCHOOL NOTES CONROE ISD Three administrators were named at an April 19 meeting of the Conroe ISD board of trustees. James Bush was named principal of Grand Oaks High School; Gilberto Lazano was named director of bilingual and English as a second language programs in the district; and Chris Feris was named director of athletics. CONROE ISD As of April 19, construction on the Oak Ridge High School overhaul and South County Career Technical Education building was 23% complete and projected to wrap in July 2023, according to Easy Foster, director of planning and construction. The project is part of the 2019 bond package. NUMBER TOKNOW students can be enrolled in each grade level if Conroe ISD moves forward with a plan for a virtual- hybrid school in the 2022-23 school year, serving grades 5-8. District officials said at an April 19 board of trustees meeting that the school could add more grades if it is able to proceed beyond the initial year with federal funding. New legislation would be needed for further years of a virtual or hybrid school, which is possible through Senate Bill 15, passed in September 2021. 60 The Conroe ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. May 17 at 3205 W. Davis St., Conroe. 936-709-7752. www.conroeisd.net The Magnolia ISD board of trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 16 at 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia. 281-356-3571. www.magnoliaisd.org The Tomball ISD board of trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. June 14 at 310 S. Cherry St., Tomball. 281-357-3100. www.tomballisd.net MEETINGSWE COVER

Conroe ISDeyes virtual school plans for 2022-23 year

BY VANESSA HOLT

state legislation to enable the formation of virtual schools. However, when Senate Bill 15 was signed into law during a special session in September, it created an option for Texas school districts to create one year of a virtual or hybrid school in 2022-23, he said. Hines said $1.5 million in federal Elementary and Sec- ondary School Emergency Relief funds would be allocated for the program. The school would include fifth to eighth grades with a maximum enrollment of 60 per grade level and an application process based on attendance, engage- ment and academic success. Hines said the district learned the virtual environment is beneficial for some students in 2020-21 when it conducted classes virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dedicated program would consist of full-time teachers possibly supplemented with part-time teachers for electives, Hines said. Through SB 15, a virtual school campus number would expire Sept. 1, 2023, after which new legislation would be needed to continue virtual instruction, according to meeting materials. However, once approved and developed, a virtual school could be grandfathered into future programs, Hines said.

CONROE ISD The board of trustees for Conroe ISD took the first step on April 19 toward the creation of a virtual hybrid school offering remote instruction for the 2022-23 school year. The board approved a resolution to submit an applica- tion to the Texas Education Agency for a campus number for a virtual hybrid school. A County-District Campus Number is required to open the new schools, according to meeting materials. “Last year we started the process, but the bill ... didn’t get passed in May, so we ended up not doing the program,” said CISD Deputy Superintendent Chris Hines, referring to REMOTE LEARNING PLANS A virtual or hybrid school offering remote instruction could be funded by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. Grades: 5-8

Funding: $1.5 million in ESSER funds Academic year: 2022-23

Maximum enrollment: 60 students per grade

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Board approves 4%raise for all staff in Tomball ISD

School naming survey open in Conroe ISD

starting teacher salary is now $57,500. The teacher salary sched- ule for the ongoing 2021-22 school year shows the starting teacher salary was previously $56,700. The TISD board of trustees also voted unanimously to approve the salary and benefits book for the upcoming year. “To be able to provide a 4% raise at this time, particularly with inflation the way it’s going, I think that speaks how our teachers, our staff are extremely important to this district, and hopefully that’s recognized by them,” Trustee John McStravick said during the regular meeting.

BY VANESSA HOLT

CONROE ISD An online survey from Conroe ISD opened April 20 to accept name suggestions for new buildings in the district, including an elementary school in the Grand Oaks High School feeder area, according to Sarah Blakelock, director of commu- nications for CISD. Names will be solicited through May 13. Residents can submit name sugges- tions on the district’s website.

BY KAYLI THOMPSON

TOMBALL ISD The Tomball ISD board of trustees voted unani- mously to approve a 4% raise on the midpoint value for all TISD staff for the 2022-23 fiscal year at the regular meeting April 12. According to information from the district, the beginning hourly wage increased from $10.50 per hour to $12 per hour, and the

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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • MAY 2022

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