The Spring ISD Board of Trustees met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, in person, and streamed via video conferencing, to address items on the agenda. President Justine Durant called the meeting to order. The presentation of the colors and pledges to the flags were led by local Boy Scout troops in the Iron Horse District, under the leadership of Aaron Havens. The Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America serves approximately 27,000 families across 16 counties in the greater Houston area. The Iron Horse District, which is part of the Sam Houston Area Council, serves approximately 750 families in Spring ISD. 

Since January 1984, the Board has recognized students and staff for major accomplishments beyond the District with Points of Pride awards. ABCD awards are presented to individuals or groups that go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.

Texas Public Safety Association (TSPA) State Competition Winners

The Board honored three Carl Wunsche Sr. High School students for their accomplishments at the Texas Public Safety Association (TSPA) 2022 State Competition in Allen, Texas. During this year’s TPSA state meet, the three students were each 1st Place winners in their individual competition categories, as listed below.

• Maggie Argeta (911 Call Taking Competition)

• Eben Mendoza (1st Responder Competition)

• Sol Reyes (Marketing Portfolio Display Competition)

During her remarks to the Board, Spring ISD Director of Career and Technical Education Cynthia Williams explained that the students had benefited from their time in the EMT, Pre-Law and Criminal Justice career pathways at Wunsche, and had represented the district with pride at the TPSA state competition.

“This association promotes law and public safety, allowing our students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, leadership and growth through real-world career preparation, training and competitive opportunities,” Williams said.

Argeta, who graduated in 2022, was out of town attending U.S. Army National Guard basic training, but Mendoza and Reyes were both in attendance to meet the trustees and pose for a group picture.

In addition to the three top winners at the TPSA state competition, other Wunsche students brought home 2nd place wins in the First Responder and the Firefighter Search and Rescue events, as well as 3rd place wins in the Cell Extraction, Closing Statement, Firefighter Search and Rescue, and Fire Agility events.

“We are so proud to say that our Wunsche students brought home nine awards,” Williams said, “with three of the students winning first place in their events.”

She also thanked Wunsche Principal Dr. Alfred James, who was also on hand to celebrate the winning students, along with Wunsche CTE teachers and TPSA faculty sponsors Lykeitha Collins and Steven Herbert.

Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Michelle Neyrey appointed to National Humanities Center 2022-23 Teacher Advisory Council

The Board next recognized Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Michelle Neyrey, who has been selected by the National Humanities Center to serve on the organization’s 2022-23 Teacher Advisory Council.

Neyrey is one of just 20 educators from across the country selected by the National Humanities Center to serve as a member of the organization’s advisory council for the upcoming academic year. The educators invited to serve on the advisory council represent individual schools, school districts, colleges and universities from across the U.S.

The center’s nationally recognized resources and programs help support humanities teaching and professional development at both the pre-collegiate and collegiate levels. Members of the Teacher Advisory Council help evaluate existing offerings, pilot and provide feedback on new materials, and assist the Center’s education team in raising awareness of the resources and platforms available with their colleagues nationwide. 

The National Humanities Center formed the Teacher Advisory Council to aid in its ongoing effort to provide the most effective resources possible for humanities educators.

Chief Communications Officer Lester Gretsch commented on how honored the district was to have a representative of Spring ISD serving on the advisory council and supporting the work of the National Humanities Center.

Spring ISD Director of Middle School Curriculum Robyn Carrier also participated in the presentation, helping introduce Neyrey and sharing elements from her resume and history as an educator, including her years as a classroom teacher in Louisiana before relocating and beginning her work in Houston-area districts, including in Humble ISD and later Spring ISD, where her current work supports social studies teachers and students across the district.

Dekaney High School Associate Principal Richard Hoard joins the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) Board of Directors

Trustees also honored Dekaney High School Associate Principal Richard Hoard, who was recognized for his selection this summer as a member of the board of directors of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP).

Hoard was selected to serve on the TASSP Board of Directors as the new Region 4-I Representative for a three-year term, beginning this year.

During his introductory remarks at the meeting, Chief Communications Officer Lester Gretsch explained that the TASSP Board of Directors is made up of approximately 50 principals, associate principals and assistant principals based at secondary schools across the state.

“Spring ISD is proud to have Mr. Hoard – one of our very own administrators – serving in support of this statewide organization and its mission to empower educators and positively impact the education of Texas students,” Gretsch said.

Chief of Schools Dr. Miguel Perez introduced Hoard, explaining that the Dekaney administrator had joined Spring ISD in 2016 as a math teacher, going on to work as a campus math instructional specialist before becoming a campus administrator. Hoard has also served as a summer school coordinator and a summer school principal during his time with the district.

“During his time with Spring ISD, Mr. Hoard has developed and integrated successful intervention methods that increase student achievement,” added Perez.

Spring ISD Office of Communications wins 26 National School Communication Awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)

Finally, Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa took to the podium to deliver a Point of Pride recognition to Spring ISD’s Office of Communications. Over the summer, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) presented 26 awards to the communications department as part of NSPRA’s 2022 National School Communication Awards program.

The awards were officially presented during the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar held July 17-20.

The annual school public relations contest draws entries from across the country, including submissions from public and private schools and school districts, educational organizations and business partners. Each winning entry highlights work in education communication and marketing, encompassing print, electronic communications, video, audio, websites and social media campaigns.

In addition to 13 top Awards of Excellence, Spring ISD received six Awards of Merit and seven Honorable Mentions, covering a wide range of projects and media formats, all used to inform and engage stakeholders in the Spring ISD community.

Hinojosa thanked Chief Communications Officer Lester Gretsch and his team for their ongoing commitment to connecting the district and those it serves, especially students and their families.

Read more about the awards on the Spring ISD news blog.

Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa began by reminding everyone that the 2022-2023 school year was set to begin on Tuesday, August 16. She mentioned that teachers returned to schools the previous day, Monday, August 8, but that many of them had been attending training and professional development for the past two or three weeks.

Dr. Hinojosa also mentioned that teacher recruitment from the previous school year to the upcoming one had improved.

“We have done an amazing job retaining our teachers, thanks to the support [of the board,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “That was done by increasing our starting teacher salary, as well as the retention stipends.”

She also welcomed the approximately 450 new teachers that are just starting out with Spring ISD this school year. She also mentioned a new District of Innovation program offered by the district, which allows current staff members to transition into teaching roles and to be certified as teachers, as long as they have a bachelor’s degree. 

Dr. Hinojosa then mentioned that Clark Elementary, which follows an Additional School Day Year calendar, started on Monday, August 8. 

“I had the opportunity to visit with the teachers yesterday in the classroom and welcome the parents,” she said. “Everybody was excited and it was refreshing to just get back into the classroom.”

Dr. Hinojosa then discussed the launch of Momentum High School, which offers an alternative to the traditional middle school or high school experience. That includes smaller classes, personalized learning plans, accelerated credit recovery and career training opportunities.

She then moved on to mention Convocation 2022, which is returning after a two-year absence due to COVID protocols, on Thursday, August 11. Convocation will be attended by every Spring ISD staff member from across the district, and will serve as the launching point for the district’s brand new Strategic Plan. She also thanked Fallbrook Church for hosting Convocation.

Finally, Dr. Hinojosa celebrated the summer graduates from Spring ISD, as well as the ceremony being held on Saturday, August 13. 

“On behalf of the entire district, we are proud of our students that stayed with us to make sure that they graduate,” she said. “Most importantly, thank you to the families that keep supporting our students.”

Trustees Remarks

At each regular board meeting, during Opening Remarks, each board member is given the opportunity to share information with those present.

Deborah Jensen
Position 1

Kelly P. Hodges
Position 2

Justine Durant
Position 3

Winford Adams Jr.
Position 4

Rhonda Newhouse
Position 5

Carmen Correa
Position 6

Natasha McDaniel
Position 7

Board Member Dr. Deborah Jensen opened remarks by discussing the Pastors for Public Education luncheon, which she attended with Assistant Secretary Rhonda Newhouse and Dr. Hinojosa. The luncheon was a multi-faith event for community pastors to hear local school districts speak and discuss the upcoming school year. 

“It was so exciting and energizing to hear various people speak,” Dr. Jensen said. “[People] from all parts of our community who want all our kids to be successful. It was very, very heartening to see what support we have out in the community.”

Assistant Secretary Rhonda Newhouse then welcomed back returning teachers for the 2022-2023 school year, and thanked those who were attending workshops and professional development courses in advance of the new school year. 

“Know that your Board is supporting you and all that you do for our students, because they are going to soar with joy this year,” Newhouse said. 

Vice President Winford Adams Jr. discussed the Back to School Expo, which took place on Saturday, July 30. He thanked all of the community members and organizations who attended to offer support to Spring ISD students and families. The Expo included resources for students like vaccinations, haircuts, school supplies, educational planning, and many more resources offered by both the district and the greater community. 

“It was really good to see our community there to help get kids ready for school,” Adams said.

Updates

Both the Audit Committee and the Community Engagement Committee did not have updates at the time of the meeting.

Board Governance Committee provides update

Trustee Dr. Deborah Jensen announced that President Justine Durant would be leaving her spot on the committee, to be replaced by Trustee McDaniel. 

Dr. Jensen also stated that they worked on several items during their previous work session that would be put on the agenda and discussed at the September board meeting.

Trustee Natasha McDaniel then stated that she was excited to join the Board Governance Committee.

“I actually had the opportunity to complete a fellowship last year around educational policy and another fellowship around equity and educational systems,” McDaniel said. “I'm excited to be able to really put that work into action on the Governance committee, and to continue to innovate our policies, update our policies, and ensure they are equitable for all of our students.”

Board Equity Committee provides update

Vice President Winford Adams Jr. gave an update from the committee’s last meeting, where they discussed two main items.

The first was participating in a disparity study. Harris County is offering funding to help facilitate these studies to a few area school districts, including Spring ISD. Disparity studies are a legal requirement that help a district identify and solve inequities in the awarding of contracts with outside vendors, ensuring that minority and women-owned businesses have a fair shot and representation with a public entity such as Spring ISD. A disparity study aims to show if there are any actual disparities, and then whether or not there were vendors with the capacity to fill the district’s needs.

Previously, the district has been unable to participate in a disparity study due to the cost. But the Harris County Commissioner's Court is now offering funding to move forward with a study.

The other item discussed at the committee meeting was a per unit cost analysis for programs when it comes to the district budget. As Trustee Adams pointed out, there is a possibility that Spring ISD could soon face a budget shortfall, with a need to cut funding and or programs.

“This is easier for the community to engage with,” Adams said. “Instead of talking about these really large numbers that don't mean anything to anyone sitting around a kitchen table, we will be able to break down how we're spending by looking at the cost per child or the cost per student or the cost per school.”

Conducting a per unit cost analysis also allows the budget to be more equitable by being able to see disparities or changes in how much a program costs school-to-school.

Action Items and Presentations

Order Calling a Bond Election to be Held in Spring Independent School District

During the meeting, the Board adopted a motion in favor of calling a bond election to be held within the district on Nov. 8. The vote followed an in-depth presentation made to the trustees by several members from the 2022 Bond Steering Committee, which worked together over the summer to review needs across the district, evaluate potential bond elements, and finalize recommendations to bring before the Board.

The Bond Steering Committee dedicated many hours to reviewing safety, security and facility maintenance needs. Its recommendation presented to the Board also addressed technology and rebuild projects. The committee was composed of parents, teachers, staff, students, current and former board trustees as well as faith-based leaders and community/business members.

The committee members’ full presentation to the Board can be viewed here.

The $850 million bond measure, which will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, will contain three propositions that would include the rebuilding of Spring High School, construction of a districtwide education and performance facility, renovations for several campuses, updates to technology, and safety and security features for all campuses.

After hearing the recommendations from the Bond Steering Committee, the trustees unanimously approved calling the election to seek voter approval for the bond projects.

If passed by voters, the $850 million bond is estimated to require a property tax increase of 5 cents per $100 of valuation. However, that increase is expected to be offset by an anticipated decrease in the 2022 tax rate, with the resulting tax rate being the same or lower than the current tax rate.

Read more about the decision to call for the 2022 Bond referendum on the district’s news blog.

Appointment of One Delegate and One Alternate for the 2022 TASB Delegate Assembly

The Board voted to appoint Trustee Natasha McDaniel as its delegate to the 2022 Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Delegate Assembly, set to take place Sept. 24, 2022 in San Antonio. Trustee Winford Adams Jr. was selected to serve as the alternate.

McDaniel served as alternate for the 2021 TASB Delegate Assembly, when Trustee Dr. Deborah Jensen attended as the main delegate.

The TASB Delegate Assembly supports school boards in part by giving them a larger voice in advocating for Texas public schools, including by allowing them to vote on the upcoming TASB Advocacy Agenda.

In other action, the Board approved:

• The minutes from the June 9, 2022 work session; June 14, 2022 regular meeting; June 25, 2022 special called sessions (morning and afternoon); and the July 25, 2022 special called session;

• Memorandum of Understanding Between Texas A&M University and Spring Independent School District regarding Project X-CEL;

• Memorandum of Understanding Between OneGoal and Spring Independent School District;

• Memorandum of Understanding Between EMERGE and Spring Independent School District;

• Memorandum of Understanding Between Good Reason Houston and Spring Independent School District and Darryl Williams;

• Order and Notice of Trustee Election for Positions 1, 2, and 3;

• lnterlocal Facility Lease Agreement with Aldine ISD for the use of Leonard George Stadium;

• Second Reading of TASB Local Update 117 - Proposed Revisions Affecting Board Policies CH(LOCAL) - PURCHASING AND ACQUISITION and CV(LOCAL) - FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION;

• Second Reading of TASB Local Update 118 - Proposed Revisions Affecting the Following Board Policies:

  • CFD(LOCAL) - ACCOUNTING - ACTIVITY FUNDS MANAGEMENT,

  • CQB(LOCAL) - TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES - CYBERSECURITY,

  • DFE(LOCAL) - TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT - RESIGNATION,

  • EHAA(LOCAL) - BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM - REQUIRED INSTRUCTION (ALL LEVELS), 

  • EHBC(LOCAL) - SPECIAL PROGRAMS - COMPENSATORY/ACCELERATED SERVICES,

  • EIE(LOCAL) - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - RETENTION AND PROMOTION,

  • FDE(LOCAL) - ADMISSIONS - SCHOOL SAFETY TRANSFERS,

  • FEA(LOCAL) - ATTENDANCE - COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE,

  • FEC(LOCAL) - ATTENDANCE - ATTENDANCE FOR CREDIT,

  • FFG(LOCAL) - STUDENT WELFARE - CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, and

  • FL(LOCAL) -STUDENT RECORDS;

• Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-001-Architectural Professional Services (Momentum Academy Project);

• Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-002 -Cafeteria Kitchen Equipment;

• lnterlocal Agreement Between Harris County Department of Education and Spring Independent School District for The Center for Educator Success' Certification and Support Program

• Approval of the Statement of Work between Spring ISD and Battelle for Kids for Data Verification Process Requirement of the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment program; and

• Taxpayer refunds.