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Tough parents upset with rezoning approval
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By Kassia Micek
A group of Woodlands parents are upset with the Conroe Independent School District board’s decision to rezone their children without looking at additional information provided.
At a Tuesday meeting, the CISD board approved the district’s Attendance Boundary Committee recommendations for rezoning the Conroe, Oak Ridge and Woodlands feeder zones, including a controversial scenario for the Deretchin and Tough flex schools.
Board President Lynda Sasser, Vice-President Mel Brown, immediate past president Gerald Irons, Secretary John Husbands and Assistant Secretary C.J. Haynes voted in favor of the Deretchin/Tough rezoning proposal, while past president Ann Snyder and board member Chris Irish voted against it.
Prior to the decision, six Tough parents spoke out against the rezoning proposal.
“I’m disappointed with the board that so much information was provided that the board didn’t give it even one hour outside the meeting to consider it,” said Laura Moral, who has a fourth-grader and second-grader at Tough and a 4-year-old who will attend school next year.
Most of the parents presented alternative scenarios during their time before the board that critiqued the combined scenario the committee created out of its 22 options presented to parents in October.
“They should have taken the time to review the additional information provided,” said Dan Pollina, who has a third-grader and a sixth-grader at Tough. “That’s not to say they would have changed their mind, but it would have given them time to review it.”
At least one board member agreed.
“I don’t feel that without looking at some of the information provided, I as a board member … can make the best decision for these people affected,” Snyder said. “I think it’s important to make sure this is something for the longevity of the school district. I feel we need to look at everything.”
Before the board made its decision Sasser asked parents to get behind the board’s decision for the benefit of the students.
“The buck stops here,” she said. “We know how important this is. While all may not agree with this decision, we ask you to help us make this transition as easy as possible.”
The parents spoke because the rezoning will move their children from Tough, a kindergarten through sixth-grade campus, to Galatas Elementary, a kindergarten to fourth grade campus, and Mitchell Intermediate, a fifth- and sixth-grade campus.
“Rezoning is an emotional process,” said Deanna Clark, a Tough parent. “This rezoning is unique because it’s the first time you’re moving K though six kids to a K through four school and then an intermediate school.”
Several parents also mentioned their neighborhood was rezoned two years ago.
“The first thing we’d ask you to do is slow down and not put a Band-Aid solution on this problem,” said Pollina.
He pointed to how the district did not extend the rezoning process timeline after Hurricane Ike delayed the process. “… As a last resort, we’re asking the board to make a slight revision to the ABC recommendation.”
All parents spoke about neighborhood’s “crisscrossing” each other to reach the newly rezoned campus. Proximity to a campus was one goal of the ABC parents pointed to.
“It doesn’t make sense to have communities crisscross to get to school,” Pollina said.
Indian Springs south of Woodlands Parkway will be zoned to Galatas Elementary, which is north of Woodlands Parkway, while some Sterling Ridge neighborhoods north of Woodlands Parkway will be zoned to Tough, which is south of Woodlands Parkway.
“It just doesn’t work and it doesn’t make sense,” said Moral. “It’s not logical.”
Jean Stewart, CISD deputy superintendent, spoke on behalf of the ABC and said the committee’s decision to recommend the rezoning option was unanimous.
“It makes sense to leave Indian Springs as a neighborhood and let Indian Springs as a whole go to a new school,” Stewart said.
Irish questioned how the Indian Springs neighborhood population would change in the coming years and wondered whether Tough parents opposed portables at the school. Tough and Deretchin are each slated for an eight-classroom addition.
“With the additions, if we do nothing, we’re still going to have a significant number of portables at each school and the core capacity will continue to be stretched,” Stewart said.
Many parents have asked the district to leave the Tough attendance zone as is, claiming the student population will level out as students grow up since no new development will come to the neighborhood.
“If I had my way, Tough wouldn’t change,” said Sally Selig, Tough parent.
Land: The board voted to enter into a $35,000 contract for approximately 24 acres in the Oak Ridge feeder zone for a new junior high.
Check: Entergy Texas Inc. presented CISD with a $67,350 check for energy saving projects done through planning and construction.
Baseball: The board approved an additional $81,000 to repair the Oak Ridge High School baseball fence.
Buses: An interlocal agreement for 11 used school buses was approved at $11,000 with Tomball ISD.
Agreement: The board entered into an agreement with T-N-T Mechanical for the refurbishment and replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and building automation systems for $3.684 million.
More info
For more information on the Conroe Independent School District rezoning process, visit www.conroeisd.net and click on the “Rezoning” link on the left.
At a Tuesday meeting, the CISD board approved the district’s Attendance Boundary Committee recommendations for rezoning the Conroe, Oak Ridge and Woodlands feeder zones, including a controversial scenario for the Deretchin and Tough flex schools.
Board President Lynda Sasser, Vice-President Mel Brown, immediate past president Gerald Irons, Secretary John Husbands and Assistant Secretary C.J. Haynes voted in favor of the Deretchin/Tough rezoning proposal, while past president Ann Snyder and board member Chris Irish voted against it.
Prior to the decision, six Tough parents spoke out against the rezoning proposal.
“I’m disappointed with the board that so much information was provided that the board didn’t give it even one hour outside the meeting to consider it,” said Laura Moral, who has a fourth-grader and second-grader at Tough and a 4-year-old who will attend school next year.
Most of the parents presented alternative scenarios during their time before the board that critiqued the combined scenario the committee created out of its 22 options presented to parents in October.
“They should have taken the time to review the additional information provided,” said Dan Pollina, who has a third-grader and a sixth-grader at Tough. “That’s not to say they would have changed their mind, but it would have given them time to review it.”
At least one board member agreed.
“I don’t feel that without looking at some of the information provided, I as a board member … can make the best decision for these people affected,” Snyder said. “I think it’s important to make sure this is something for the longevity of the school district. I feel we need to look at everything.”
Before the board made its decision Sasser asked parents to get behind the board’s decision for the benefit of the students.
“The buck stops here,” she said. “We know how important this is. While all may not agree with this decision, we ask you to help us make this transition as easy as possible.”
The parents spoke because the rezoning will move their children from Tough, a kindergarten through sixth-grade campus, to Galatas Elementary, a kindergarten to fourth grade campus, and Mitchell Intermediate, a fifth- and sixth-grade campus.
“Rezoning is an emotional process,” said Deanna Clark, a Tough parent. “This rezoning is unique because it’s the first time you’re moving K though six kids to a K through four school and then an intermediate school.”
Several parents also mentioned their neighborhood was rezoned two years ago.
“The first thing we’d ask you to do is slow down and not put a Band-Aid solution on this problem,” said Pollina.
He pointed to how the district did not extend the rezoning process timeline after Hurricane Ike delayed the process. “… As a last resort, we’re asking the board to make a slight revision to the ABC recommendation.”
All parents spoke about neighborhood’s “crisscrossing” each other to reach the newly rezoned campus. Proximity to a campus was one goal of the ABC parents pointed to.
“It doesn’t make sense to have communities crisscross to get to school,” Pollina said.
Indian Springs south of Woodlands Parkway will be zoned to Galatas Elementary, which is north of Woodlands Parkway, while some Sterling Ridge neighborhoods north of Woodlands Parkway will be zoned to Tough, which is south of Woodlands Parkway.
“It just doesn’t work and it doesn’t make sense,” said Moral. “It’s not logical.”
Jean Stewart, CISD deputy superintendent, spoke on behalf of the ABC and said the committee’s decision to recommend the rezoning option was unanimous.
“It makes sense to leave Indian Springs as a neighborhood and let Indian Springs as a whole go to a new school,” Stewart said.
Irish questioned how the Indian Springs neighborhood population would change in the coming years and wondered whether Tough parents opposed portables at the school. Tough and Deretchin are each slated for an eight-classroom addition.
“With the additions, if we do nothing, we’re still going to have a significant number of portables at each school and the core capacity will continue to be stretched,” Stewart said.
Many parents have asked the district to leave the Tough attendance zone as is, claiming the student population will level out as students grow up since no new development will come to the neighborhood.
“If I had my way, Tough wouldn’t change,” said Sally Selig, Tough parent.
Land: The board voted to enter into a $35,000 contract for approximately 24 acres in the Oak Ridge feeder zone for a new junior high.
Check: Entergy Texas Inc. presented CISD with a $67,350 check for energy saving projects done through planning and construction.
Baseball: The board approved an additional $81,000 to repair the Oak Ridge High School baseball fence.
Buses: An interlocal agreement for 11 used school buses was approved at $11,000 with Tomball ISD.
Agreement: The board entered into an agreement with T-N-T Mechanical for the refurbishment and replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and building automation systems for $3.684 million.
More info
For more information on the Conroe Independent School District rezoning process, visit www.conroeisd.net and click on the “Rezoning” link on the left.
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Reader Comments
BigTexN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:42 AM:
" I love my kid going to "palaces, swimming pools, college football stadiums, etc to get a proper education".
I think I will pay my school taxes early! "
I think I will pay my school taxes early! "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:03 AM:
" Good for you BigTexN
Better idea why don't you be responsible for your children and pay for their education vs. having the rest of us do your job! You made the decision to bring them into the world not the taxpayers! Why should I pay for your decisions . . . . oh you want to spread the wealth. "
Better idea why don't you be responsible for your children and pay for their education vs. having the rest of us do your job! You made the decision to bring them into the world not the taxpayers! Why should I pay for your decisions . . . . oh you want to spread the wealth. "
BigTexN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:35 AM:
" Its a lot more fun to spend YOUR taxes, Tired!
I'll send a letter to Sadler about raising the taxes for you specifically.
You will pay for my decisions because the one with the most votes wins! And, thats not you... "
I'll send a letter to Sadler about raising the taxes for you specifically.
You will pay for my decisions because the one with the most votes wins! And, thats not you... "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:58 AM:
" BigLiberalN
You are right the person with the most votes win but the unfortunate aspect is that people that are not informed or educated get to vote . . .people like you that live off the hard work of others.
Why not move to the Northeast or San Francisco where leeches like you are welcomed with open arms.
But you would have to have a job, be responsible, and driven to move wouldn't you and that is not in you! "
You are right the person with the most votes win but the unfortunate aspect is that people that are not informed or educated get to vote . . .people like you that live off the hard work of others.
Why not move to the Northeast or San Francisco where leeches like you are welcomed with open arms.
But you would have to have a job, be responsible, and driven to move wouldn't you and that is not in you! "
BigTexN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:01 AM:
" I'd hate to move and miss the opportunity to converse with the likes of you! "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:06 AM:
" There is an internet in San Fransisco and the Northeast brain child. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:28 AM:
" I did! I went to Baylor. I worked and saved all through high school and college.
I did not expect anyone to pay my way.
And you? "
I did not expect anyone to pay my way.
And you? "
BigTexN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:38 AM:
" Aww, Tired...sugar lips, I wish I knew how to quit you!
You're just WAY too much fun! "
You're just WAY too much fun! "
perse wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:42 PM:
" Well, I wouldn't want to have contributed to the poor education Tired apparently received anyway.
At least this way he has no one to blame but himself -- well and the apparently insufficient taxpayer-funded basic education he got before Baylor. "
At least this way he has no one to blame but himself -- well and the apparently insufficient taxpayer-funded basic education he got before Baylor. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:31 PM:
" PERSE,
Wrong again oh wise one!
I attended St. Michael's Catholic school and St. Thomas High School.
Both of these school are private Catholic school that my parents had to pay tuition to along with property taxes for public schools.
They wanted me to have a good education vs. the low expectations education you get get from public schools.
Sorry Perse nice try! "
Wrong again oh wise one!
I attended St. Michael's Catholic school and St. Thomas High School.
Both of these school are private Catholic school that my parents had to pay tuition to along with property taxes for public schools.
They wanted me to have a good education vs. the low expectations education you get get from public schools.
Sorry Perse nice try! "
BigTexN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:40 PM:
" Wow Tired, I didn't realize you and I had so much in common!
I went to private Catholic grade schools, a private Catholic high school and put myself through SMU.
You and I must be soul mates...that must be why we think so much alike. "
I went to private Catholic grade schools, a private Catholic high school and put myself through SMU.
You and I must be soul mates...that must be why we think so much alike. "
mrs. do gooder wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:02 PM:
" Big Tex is my new favorite blogger...funny posts! Keep 'em coming! "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:04 PM:
" Mrs do sadler
Funny but factless! You two are two peas in a pod!
At least ya'll can entertain each other . . . what a boring childish conversation that would be! "
Funny but factless! You two are two peas in a pod!
At least ya'll can entertain each other . . . what a boring childish conversation that would be! "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:27 PM:
" bigLIBERALn and Mrs.do sadler remind me of the movie, "dumb and dumber!" "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:58 AM: