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Superintendent Null Addresses Conroe ISD Status

**Conroe ISD Superintendent Null Discusses Growth, Funding Challenges with Local Garden Clubs, Highlights Recently Approved Bond**

CONROE, TX – Conroe ISD Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null recently provided updates on the “State of Our Schools” to two local garden clubs in October, detailing the district’s rapid growth, ongoing financial pressures, and plans for future development, including the recently approved $1.98 billion bond package.

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, Dr. Null addressed the Magnolia Garden Club at the Magnolia United Methodist Church. He emphasized Conroe ISD’s position as the 9th largest school district in Texas, now serving approximately 70,000 students across 67 campuses. Null highlighted significant growth concentrated in the Montgomery, Oak Ridge, and Caney Creek feeder zones, underscoring the constant need for expanded infrastructure and resources.

A major focus of his presentation was the district’s financial landscape. Null explained that while local property values continue to rise, state funding contributions to public education are simultaneously decreasing relative to expenses. He noted the recent 88th Texas Legislative Session did not yield any substantial increase in the basic allotment for state funding for public schools, nor did it pass legislation that would have provided across-the-board teacher raises without linking them to school choice programs.

Null also delved into the complex issue of “recapture,” often referred to as the “Robin Hood” system. He identified 16 Conroe ISD campuses as “recapture” campuses, meaning they are considered property-wealthy by the state and must send locally generated tax dollars to the state for redistribution to other districts. Null clarified that high property values in these areas do not always reflect the socio-economic status of the student body, with many students on these campuses still qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch programs. In the 2022-2023 school year, Conroe ISD sent over $100 million in local property tax revenue back to the state under this system.

Despite these challenges, Null reiterated CISD’s unwavering commitment to student success and well-being. He spoke about the critical need for facility upgrades and new schools to accommodate the burgeoning student population, referencing the then-upcoming November 2023 bond package. Voters subsequently approved the $1.98 billion bond on November 7, 2023, which will fund the construction of new campuses, renovations to existing facilities, safety and security enhancements, and technology infrastructure improvements across the district.

The Magnolia Garden Club meeting was hosted by Karen Hurlbert, Linda LaBrecque, and Judy Lisenbe. The club’s next meeting is scheduled for November 16, featuring Tina King discussing “Landscaping for Birds, Butterflies, Bees and Other Pollinators.”

Earlier in the month, on October 10, 2023, Dr. Null delivered a similar presentation to the Conroe Garden Club at the First Christian Church in Conroe. Here, he also stressed the district’s dedication to excellence and its ongoing efforts to address the various demographic and financial challenges it faces. The Conroe Garden Club meeting included a plant raffle, with Betty Wolf, Annabel Pettey, Janet Johnson, and Nancy Nelson providing refreshments. Judy Lisenbe serves as the Conroe Garden Club’s president. Their upcoming meeting on November 14, 2023, will feature Lynn Lowrey speaking on “Native Plants of Southeast Texas.”

For more information on Conroe ISD’s growth, finances, or the recently approved bond package, visit the district’s official website at www.conroeisd.net.

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