The Spring ISD Board of Trustees met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13, in person, and streamed via video conferencing, to address items on the agenda. President Justine Durant called the meeting to order. The Westfield Mustang Army JROTC led the presentation of colors, with Battalion Commander Cadet Maj. Mia Brown leading the pledges to the flags and carrying the U.S. Flag. Carrying the Texas Flag was Cadet Cpl. Nayeli Collazo. The Left Rifle was Cadet Pvt. 1st Class Natally Gutierrez. The Right Rifle was Cadet Pvt. 1st Class Armani Screen. The Westfield Mustang Army JROTC is led by 1st Sgt. Carlo Jackson.

Points of Pride

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.

ABCD Award - Pastor Michael Pender and Pastor Olus Holder of Fallbrook Church

Fallbrook Church, under the leadership of Pastor Michael Pender, has been a longstanding supporter of the district and its staff, students and families. During the meeting, the Board recognized pastors Michael Pender and Olus Holder as recipients of Spring ISD’s Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) Award in recognition of their service to the Spring community, both at the district and campus levels.

Fallbrook Church has supported the district for many years and in various capacities. As members of the Ministerial Alliance in support of Spring ISD, they provide key insight and advice to the Superintendent and Senior Leadership Team on district initiatives and objectives. They have provided input on the district’s strategic plan and its parent and family engagement policy. They have also provided tremendous input and support related to the upcoming 2022 Bond Referendum.

In addition to the church providing input on district initiatives, they also support districtwide projects and events. They participate in the annual Veterans Day Breakfast as well as the National Day of Prayer Breakfast. Most recently, Fallbrook displayed its support of the district by hosting Spring ISD’s Convocation 2022 event at their facility. Their generosity saved the district thousands of dollars on this event, and their staff’s facility-related assistance and technical support helped make the convocation event a success!

Their support of the Spring ISD community extends from the district level to providing direct support to students. Pastor Holder and his team of deacons host Prayer at the Flagpole and they hold district staff and students in prayer weekly. They also serve as mentors to individual students and provide college scholarships to CTE students.

Their passion for sports is exhibited in the many ways they support Spring ISD’s athletic programs. Each year, Fallbrook hosts and funds football and basketball banquets for the Dekaney and Westfield athletes. They also ensure athletes are supported at away games, often traveling by bus to attend the games. It is heartwarming for student athletes to see the community supporting them when they play!

Without a doubt, Fallbrook Church and its leadership are committed to the success of Spring ISD, and the district is thankful for their partnership.

Spring Early College Academy yearbook program receives 2022 National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award

The Board recognized the yearbook program at Spring Early College Academy – overseen by faculty advisor Cassie Landrew – for being named a recipient of the 2022 National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award by Jostens. 

The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes schools that strive to create and deliver an exceptional yearbook to every student. Award criteria include effective project management by yearbook staff, creativity and professionalism, an outstanding finished product, and the successful delivery of a meaningful and inclusive yearbook for all students. 

The 2021-22 yearbook staff produced Spring Early College Academy’s senior yearbook uniquely designed to commemorate the school’s ten-year anniversary. 

Shortly before graduation, yearbook staff were informed by their Jostens representative that they were selected as a recipient of the award for 2022. According to Jostens, only 2% of schools in the state of Texas received the honor this year, with a similarly select group being recognized nationwide for their efforts in producing some of the country’s most outstanding yearbook publications.

The student yearbook staff members who collectively received the award for their efforts were:

• Chelsea Acuna, Editor-in-Chief

• Jesse Gonzales, Photo Editor

• Selena Montero, Design Editor

• Al-Eyah Jabbar, Event Coordinator

• Mihael Mendo, Marketing/Advertising Manager

• Mina Diamande, Photographer

• Sharon Mathew, Staff Writer/Designer

• Henry Tejada, Photographer

• Dariah Berry, Photographer

• Michelle Aguilera, Copy Editor

• Emaan Jivani, Staff Writer/Designer 

Dekaney High School Athletic Trainer Thomas Woods named the 2022 recipient of the Eddie Wojecki Award from the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association (SWATA)

The Board also recognized Dekaney High School Athletic Trainer Thomas Woods, who over the summer was named the 2022 recipient of the Eddie Wojecki Award from the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association (SWATA).

The Eddie Wojecki Award is presented annually by SWATA to a member who has provided outstanding service to the association and to the profession.

Award nominees are selected by a committee of previous winners, then presented for a vote by SWATA membership. Each year’s recipient is announced at the annual SWATA Awards Banquet during the group’s annual meeting and clinical symposium, which this year was held in Arlington, Texas, July 21-23.

At that event, in addition to receiving the Eddie Wojecki Award, Woods presented to symposium attendees on the management of sports emergencies. He also marked the completion of 14 years of service as the SWATA representative to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Research & Education Foundation Board of Directors.

Mr. Woods utilizes the knowledge and skills gained through his affiliation with SWATA, NATA and other organizations to help him provide exemplary health care and athletic training services to the student athletes of Dekaney High School.

Spring ISD Procurement Services Department named a recipient of the 2022 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute

The Board recognized the Spring ISD Procurement Services Department – under the leadership of Executive Director of Procurement Phillip Ellison – for receiving the 2022 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The award recognizes public and nonprofit agencies that demonstrate a commitment to procurement excellence.

The 2022 award marks Spring ISD’s 13th consecutive AEP win. The National Procurement Institute established the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) program in 1995 to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement and to reward organizations that seek continual improvement. The evolving award criteria are designed each year to measure and provide benchmarks for public procurement best practices. 

The award is earned by organizations that demonstrate excellence based on criteria designed to measure innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement best practices, and leadership attributes of the procurement organization. As it has grown over the years, the AEP continues to be recognized as the premier award in the public procurement profession.

Spring ISD is one of 171 agencies in the U.S. and Canada and one of only 17 school districts to receive the award this year.

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

Dekaney High School Automotive Technology Program

The Board welcomed representatives from the Dekaney High School Automotive Technology Program, whose instructors and students have been garnering attention both regionally and nationally for this exciting pathway in the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings.

Program instructors David Almanzan and Steven Seltz were busy over the summer with professional development and industry-related training, and were featured in an interview for MOTOR Magazine, where they shared their input and perspective on the industry from an educator's standpoint during the annual Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Conference, held this year in Frisco, TX.

In addition, a recent graduate of the Dekaney Auto Tech program, Renso Carcamo (Class of ‘22) was included over the summer as part of the Doritos Solid Black campaign featuring Houston-area DJ and philanthropist Mr. Rogers. Among his other philanthropic work around the region, DJ Mr. Rogers has been a contributor and supporter of Dekaney’s automotive program. When he heard about Carcamo's story of overcoming challenges and obstacles to succeed, he wanted to surprise him in an unforgettable way, and was able to do so with the help of the Dekaney program’s instructors.

Because of his training at Dekaney, Carcamo was already working in the automotive industry months before graduating, and has now enrolled in the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) at San Jacinto College. He will be attending automotive courses while also working as a technician at a local General Motors dealership, as part of his internship program while earning his Associate of Applied Science.

State Assessment Performance

Finally, the Board held a special Spotlight recognition for the six district schools whose state accountability ratings went from a rating of “F” to a “B” or “C” rating, including Eickenroht Elementary School, Major Elementary School, the School for International Studies at Bammel, Bailey Middle School, Claughton Middle School, and Wells Middle School.

Established by House Bill 22 during the 85th Texas Legislature, the A–F accountability system is designed to provide educators, parents, and communities with a transparent view of the academic performance of Texas public schools based on three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. This year, to align with Senate Bill 1365, districts and campuses received an A, B or C rating or were assigned a label of “Not Rated: Senate Bill 1365,” both overall and in each domain.

Driven by significant gains in student achievement, Spring ISD has shown tremendous growth since 2019. It is important to note that, due to the pandemic, schools were not rated for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Spring ISD’s overall district rating is now a “B,” attributable to the outstanding overall performance of district schools. The six campuses that went from an “F” to “B” or “C” rating are listed below.

• Eickenroht Elementary School, led by Principal Shanna Swearingen, grew from an “F” to a “B” with distinctions in Comparative Academic Growth, Postsecondary Readiness, and Comparative Closing the Gaps.

• Major Elementary School, led by Principal Kenisha Williams, moved from an “F” rated school to a “B” rated school.

• The School for International Studies at Bammel, led by first-year Principal Shalynndrea Sterling-Teel, advanced from an “F” to a “B” and received a distinction in mathematics.

• Bailey Middle School, led by Principal Shundra Brown, grew from an “F” to “C” rating.

• Claughton Middle School, led by Principal Rodney Louis, moved from an “F” status to a “C” rating.

• Wells Middle School, led by first-year Principal LaQuisha Knowles, moved from an “F” to a “C” rating.

The district is incredibly proud of these and all schools in Spring ISD for demonstrating amazing levels of grit, perseverance, and a focus on student success.

Read more about the 2021-22 accountability ratings on the Spring ISD news blog.

Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa began by reminding everyone about the Success Walk, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17. Administrators, teachers, and community volunteers will take to the streets that morning to directly reach out to those students who may have not yet returned to class this year or who are struggling with attendance. Volunteers will talk to students and their families about the importance of coming to school, as well as address any obstacles they may be facing this school year.

“We are going out into the community to find the students who have not yet made it back to school, and we know there's many reasons out there why they may not have made it back to school,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “We want to be able to talk to the families, talk to the students, and let them know that there's opportunities here in Spring ISD, and that we can certainly work with them to ensure that they are on track to gain their diploma.”

She also reiterated that the district is seeking volunteers from the community to assist in the effort. Volunteers can fill out this form before Saturday.

Dr. Hinojosa went on to mention that she will be representing Spring ISD at the Astros game on Friday, Sept. 16, throwing out the first pitch at that evening’s game. She has worked with baseball players from across the district, including Spring High School, Westfield High School and Dekaney High School, to help sharpen her pitching skills before Friday night’s game.

Over three hundred tickets were raffled off for students and staff from across the district. Tickets are also available to purchase online, with Dr. Hinojosa’s pitch scheduled for 7:10 on Friday evening.

Dr. Hinojosa then mentioned National Voter Registration Day, which is set for Tuesday, Sept. 20. An event is scheduled for that morning at Spring High School, with eligible students from across the district able to attend, where county officials will be on hand to help register eligible students to vote. There will also be a candidate forum for students.

“We want to make sure that our students are engaged, and that they're ready to vote for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 8,” Dr. Hinojosa said.

Dr. Hinojosa then mentioned Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. 

“We are encouraging our district to share how they're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “Use the hashtag #CelebremosSpring and tag Spring ISD. We want you to join in the celebration.”

Community members can also highlight a student, teacher, staff member, or anyone else from the Spring ISD community who deserves a shoutout. Just submit using this Google form.

The superintendent ended her remarks by mentioning that the Bond Steering Committee gathered at last week’s Dekaney High School football game, and reminded the community that games are ongoing – both at Planet Ford Stadium and elsewhere – for football throughout the fall. She also thanked the student athletes for their hard work and dedication, both on the field and in the classroom.

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

Assistant Secretary Rhonda Newhouse opened the trustees remarks by sharing her involvement in Marshall Elementary School’s College Colors Day on Friday, Sept. 2.

“Hats off to Marshall Elementary for a job well done,” Newhouse said. 

Trustee Natasha McDaniel followed up, mentioning that she was also at Marshall Elementary for their College Colors Day.

“After the celebration, they went to their classrooms and set goals for the school year. That's what it's all about,” McDaniel said, “having our kids to really dream big and help them to get to those dreams and goals that they have for themselves.”

She also wanted to recognize the teachers, administrators, and other campus staff who are preparing for Open House events across the district, and commended them for the hard work that entails.

Vice President Winford Adams Jr. began his remarks by highlighting a graduate from Dekaney High School, Litzy Moreno, who received a scholarship from Harris County Department of Education last week.

He went on to mention his involvement, along with fellow trustee Dr. Deborah Jensen, with the North by Northwest Economic Outlook on Sept. 9, hosted by the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce. He said presenters there painted an optimistic picture of the future of Harris County’s economy.

“We have gained back all the jobs that were lost during the pandemic,” Adams said. “They're looking at the economy and thinking that projections are looking pretty good. I, of course, had in mind some of the things I heard about costs during our potential bond [on the Nov. 8 ballot]. So that’s good news.”

President Justine Durant ended the remarks by echoing Dr. Hinjosa’s remarks about the Success Walk on Sept. 17. This is the ninth annual event, and Durant mentioned she has never missed a Success Walk.

“It is one of my favorite events because it is so impactful on our students,” Durant said. “To have an opportunity to just see their faces and their family’s faces when they open their doors and [representatives from] Spring ISD are there – the Board is there, the leadership team, their counselors, their principals – and saying to that student [they are wanted].”

She went on to mention the resources that are available to students in need, including the Achieving Success Alternative Program (ASAP) at Momentum High School. Counselors and social workers are also available on every school campus to offer academic guidance, mental health services, and additional support to assist students that may be struggling. 

Updates

The Audit Committee did not have updates at the time of the meeting.

Board Governance Committee provides update

Vice President Winford Adams Jr. gave a brief update from the committee, which is undertaking the process of matching the advocacy needs of Spring ISD to broader public education needs identified in local and state surveys by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

At its August meeting, the Board voted to appoint Trustee Natasha McDaniel as its delegate to the 2022 TASB Delegate Assembly, coming up Sept. 24 in San Antonio. Trustee Adams will also be attending as the alternate, and he explained that both he and McDaniel would be serving on the assembly’s Legislative Action Committee. 

Adams said that the governance committee would continue its primary focus on legislative priorities that are most relevant to Spring ISD, with additional focus for legislative priorities impacting the general region. 

He also gave a brief update on local board policy updates that are currently underway, and said that the group was working to raise awareness of the Board’s Employee Excellence Award for the 2022-23 school year. The award, typically presented to one district employee each month during the school year, will be aligned with the Spring ISD Leadership Definition.

Board Equity Committee provides update

Vice President Winford Adams Jr. discussed a report the committee received this month from Executive Director of Instructional Services Dr. Marie Mendoza on early outcomes and feedback from professional development over the summer related to cultural awareness.

Adams said the offering had been well received by teachers overall, although some in their feedback had suggested condensing aspects of the material in order to give participants more time to process and reflect during the training sessions. Future offerings will break the training into multiple modules, with each module designed to offer a deeper dive into different aspects of cultural awareness.

The results were already being seen on campuses, where new response methods and intervention strategies were helping teachers deescalate difficult situations in the classroom.

Community Engagement Committee provides update

Board Secretary Kelly P. Hodges thanked members of the Community Engagement Committee, including Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement Tranita Carroll, Bailey School for Performing and Visual Arts Principal Shundra Brown, Spring High School Principal Pablo Resendiz, and community partner Debbie Townsend.

“We are really focusing this year on making sure that we increase our visibility in the community,” Hodges said. “One of the things that we talk about as a board is being able to tell our own story and create our own narrative, and so that's part of what we'll do as the Community Engagement Committee.”

The committee is making plans to host a community resource fair, with an expected date of Saturday, Nov. 5, along with other events over the course of the school year.

Action Items and Presentations

Board approves 2022-23 Campus Improvement Plans

Following a detailed discussion of the district’s 2022-23 Campus Improvement Plans during the Sept. 8 Board Work Session – at which several principals were in attendance to discuss their campus improvement plans for the current school year – the Board offered the opportunity for public hearing on the item, followed by a unanimous vote to approve the 2022-23 plans.

Trustee Winford Adams Jr. noted the progress made in recent years – including that reflected in the district’s improved state accountability ratings – and emphasized that the campus plans are part of a process of continuous growth and improvement.

“I just wanted to say that as part of our strategic plan for the district, and in line with creating a system of great schools as outlined in that plan, I really appreciate the work that has gone into these improvement plans,” Adams said. “I see evidence that what we executed in the previous campus improvement plan obviously has been implemented with fidelity, and it's working for our students.”

Board President Justine Durant noted that the plans were the product of an ongoing and vital collaboration between district administration, teachers and parents at each campus.

“It's a joint venture that creates those plans,” Durant said. “I just want to thank everyone in the district that participated in the development of them.”

Board approves 2022 Tax Rate nearly six cents lower than current rate

Following its final review and discussion, the Board voted unanimously to approve a property tax rate for the 2022 tax year of $1.2546 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The new tax rate is the lowest passed by the district in years, and is down close to six cents from the current rate of $1.3128. During her remarks, Chief Financial Officer Ann Westbrooks reiterated that the lower rate results in part from the increase in overall property values within the district.

The lower rate is expected to help provide relief to local residents – who have seen their property values rise faster since the start of the pandemic – while also taking into account increases in Spring ISD’s expenditures related to inflation, ongoing staffing needs, and the rising costs of goods and services utilized by the district in the course of its day-to-day operations.

The district’s tax rate is made up of two components – a Maintenance & Operations component, which supports the general fund budget, in an amount of $0.8546 for the 2022 tax year; and an Interest & Sinking component, which supports the debt service, at an amount of $0.40.

The district’s proposed projected tax rate was initially posted in the Houston Chronicle on June 1, and a public hearing was held to discuss the budget and the proposed tax rate on June 14. The final rate is based on the certified appraisal roll received from the Harris County Appraisal District on Aug. 31.

Although the tax rate itself is being lowered by nearly six cents for 2022, Westbrooks explained that the new tax rate is considered an effective 11.28% increase in the tax rate based on the “no-new-revenue tax rate” rule as outlined in the Texas Tax Code.

According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, the no-new-revenue tax rate “enables the public to evaluate the relationship between taxes for the prior year and for the current year, based on a tax rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed in both years.”

In response to questions from the trustees, Westbrooks explained that the no-new-revenue tax rate formula is designed as a comparison tool to help residents understand the relationship between fluctuations in property value and year-to-year property tax rates.

“It's really for informational purposes,” Westbrooks said. “It says, ‘What rate would the district have to pass in order to get the exact same tax revenue that we had last year?’”

In other action, the Board approved:

• The minutes from the July 30, 2022 special called session; Aug. 4, 2022 work session; and the Aug. 9, 2022 regular meeting;

• Spring ISD's participation in a disparity study funded by Harris County;

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

• Certification of Anticipated Collection Rate for Spring Independent School District;

• Ratification of the 2022 Appraisal Roll Certification;

• Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-003 - Fire Extinguishers and Ansul Hood Inspections, Service & Supplies; and

• Taxpayer refunds (Recurring item).