Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA, WESLEY GARDNER & CARSON WEAVER
Conroe ISD adopts Bluebonnet Learning Conroe ISD trustees approved adopting the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum Feb. 18. Five board members voted in favor of the curriculum. Trustees Marianne Horton and Melissa Semmler abstained as they said they wanted to hear more feedback from teachers before adoption. The gist Bluebonnet Learning material had garnered some criticism and concerns from parents and educators across the state in 2024 since it includes frequent references to Christianity and the Bible in the materials, as previously reported. However, board members said they believe the curriculum provides material that is relevant for students and helps them to learn. How we got here Bluebonnet Learning was approved by the State Board of Education from a proposal from the Texas Education Agency following the approval of House Bill 1605 during the 2023 state legislative session. HB 1605 includes increased funding for approved instructional materials, per the TEA. Lone Star College, Comcast collaborate on tech programs The Lone Star College Foundation is partnering with cable and internet provider Comcast on programs, which includes a student-led podcast at LSC Montgomery. The details According to a Feb. 10 news release, the $100,000 collaboration also includes the donation of 100 laptops to support income-constrained LSC Kingwood students pursuing a technology-related certi cate or degree. Comcast also donated $50,000 to LSC Montgomery to help fund the creation of “Maverick Minds,” a student-led pod- cast that will provide updates on campus
CISD virtual school future uncertain Conroe ISD o cials said the district’s virtual school has an uncertain future as its funding expires this year following a waiver signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023. What to know The virtual school was among the CISD campuses Deputy Superintendent Beth- any Medford discussed Feb. 5 when she presented A F accountability ratings for 2024. The uno cial ratings were locally calculated and then veri ed by the Texas Education Agency, o cials said. In the presentation, the virtual school received a D as it was considered under the high school label for the rst time. The school o ers fth through tenth grades for the 2024-25 school year, per its website. Students log into their homeroom each morning for a check-in, then attend Zoom classes throughout the day, per CISD. Medford said the district is waiting to see if the school gets authorization from the state for future funding.
Bluebonnet Learning materials include:
Classic literature
Science
Art history
Technology
Culture
Under state law, a public school:
Must include religious literature in curriculum
Is prohibited from religious instruction Can include instruction about religion and religious liberty Can include instruction regarding respect for all religious views
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next The curriculum will be put into place at some campuses in the 2025-26 school year while district o cials work to see if it can be placed in all of the campuses, according to discussion at the meeting.
MISD to buy police vehicles from Tomball During its Feb. 18 meeting, Montgomery ISD trustees approved the purchase of police vehicles from the city of Tomball. In a nutshell The district is purchasing four police vehicles from the city of Tomball for $50,000, according to the meeting agenda. MISD trustees also renewed the district police department’s memorandum of understanding agreement with local law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction within district boundaries. The school district works with local law enforce- ment agencies to coordinate responses in case of emergencies, according to a Feb. 18 news release. Also of note The board of trustees also received an update on projects funded by the $326.9 million bond in 2022.
“ Providing our police department with updated, reliable vehicles equips our o cers to do their jobs more e ectively. This is a win-win situation
for both the city and the school district .” MARK RUFFIN, MISD SUPERINTENDENT
Brad Mans eld, chief facilities and operations o cer, said all projects remain on budget with a target completion date of this summer, and $113.2 million remains left from the bond. Mans eld said: • The CTE and Agriculture Center is 70% completed. • Montgomery High School renovations are 70% completed. • Both the stadium renovations and transporta- tion fuel center are 25% completed.
resources and student life. CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION
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