WDL-08-2019-1

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Conroe and Magnolia ISDs

Magnolia ISD preliminary budget features 4%-4.5% employee raises, bonus pay

Conroe ISD will finalize a new bond proposal by Aug. 19 after hearing community feedback on the measure that failed to win support in May.

NO TAX INCREASE EXPECTED

DEADLINE

House Bill 3—the school finance reform bill signed into law June 11—made changes in the funding formula, such as removing the cost of education index and shifting districts from using prior-year property values to current-year property values to estimate annual school funding. This caused districts such as MISD to not reap the same benefits as smaller districts, Morris said. “The end product of HB 3 was that each district received varying amounts of funding on a per-student basis,” he said during the workshop. MISD saw a $270 increase in per-student funding from HB 3 changes, totaling $8,451 per student, he said. Morris said he anticipates a $0.07 decrease in the tax rate, bringing the rate to $1.3095 per $100 valuation.

MAGNOLIA ISD Magnolia ISD employees could see 4%-4.5% teacher and staff raises, $500- $1,000 one-time bonuses and a $50 monthly increase in health care contributions in the fiscal year 2019-20 preliminary budget, MISD Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris said at a July 22 budget workshop. In the proposed budget, teachers with five or less years of experience as well as admin- istrators and staff will receive 4% salary increases, Morris said during the workshop. In addi- tion, those same teachers and staff, excluding administrators, will receive $750 and $500 one- time bonuses, respectively. Veteran teachers—those with six or more years of experi- ence—will receive 4.5% salary increases and a $1,000 one-time bonus, Morris said.

PROPOSITION B

PROPOSITION A

Aug. 19 proposals must be finalized

PROPOSAL INCLUDES: • Turf for athletic fields

PROPOSAL INCLUDES: • $44.1 million Oak Ridge High School renovations

• $39.5 million Grand Oaks feeder elementary school

$660 million

$23.8 million

SOURCE:CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER

CISD considers two bonds totaling $683.8M for November

High School ninth-grade campus—were removed, Null said. The updated bond comes after a long wait following the failure of an $807 million bond in May. The bond earned 6,945 votes in favor and 8,314 votes against, or 45.51% and 54.49%, respectively. Null said adding astroturf was a major point of contention with the former bond. If the bond fails, Null said rezoning is an option, although he said it would be disruptive to education. “Education for every child in this district will be affected,” Null said. “And the ability of every teacher in this district to teach.” The board has until Aug. 19 to finalize the bond proposal.

CONROE ISD The Conroe ISD board of trust- ees will propose two bonds totaling $683.8 million bond in November with no tax rate increase anticipated. At its July 29 workshop, the board reviewed drafts of Proposition A and Proposition B. Superintendent Curtis Null presented drafts of both propositions. Proposition A could include $660 million, including $39.5 million for a new elementary school in the Grand Oaks feeder zone and $44.1 million for renovations at Oak Ridge High School. Proposition B is only one item—an additional $23.8 million to add turf to athletic fields. In order to reduce the bond amount, several proposed projects—such as a Conroe

ULTIMATE MAN CAVE FIRST-CLASS LUXURY GARAGE SUITES FOR ALL YOUR TOYS

Enjoy your own fully-customizable space for all of your toys and join our community of like-minded car enthusiasts. It’s the perfect location for man and machine to come together. Ideal for Cars, Motorcycles, RVs, Boats, Hobbies & Small Business Storage.

KATY 1435 FM 1463, KATY, TX 77494 (713) 893-0011

WOODLANDS

18450 I-45 South Shenandoah, TX 77384 7 days a week • 1 1 am�9pm 832 . 764.8286 • mi a s t ab l e .com

FM 1488 & GREENFIELD FOREST DR, MAGNOLIA, TX 77354 (281) 306-5416

Community Impact Newspaper • communityimpact.com