Graystone Hills residents and spectators are invited to join in an interactive conversation with the community through commenting.
Posted on Sep 9, 2011 | Tagged in: Conroe ISD
Gerald Irons was honored by the Woodlands Township Board of Directors during their meeting on August 18th. After twenty two years of diligent service Mr. Irons is not seeking reelection in November 2012 at Conroe ISD. Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton said, “Mr. Irons is an extraordinary individual who has given tirelessly to the job of governing the district and collaborating with parents, educators, governmental officials and other members of the community. We are going to miss Mr. Irons and sincerely appreciate and thank him for his commitment to the future of every child enrolled in Conroe ISD schools.”
During his 22 years of service, which began May 22, 1990 Mr. Irons served as Senior Secretary and eventually President. It is due in large part to all of his efforts that Conroe ISD is an Exemplary rated school district. He assisted in passing referendums which provided the school district with state of the art facilities, technology, and resources. He encouraged the board to pass many bonds which allowed the district to open 29 school campuses, including the Conroe ISD Nadatorium. Gerald Irons increased Conroe ISD’s employment by over 3,000 jobs and earned a five star rating for the district from the comptroller’s office. During Mr. Irons' tenure on the Board, Conroe ISD has: Become the largest district in the state to achieve the Exemplary rating. Grown by 29,000 students to become the 18th largest in the State. Added 3,300 employees to serve a growing student population. Implemented Board Field Trip Fridays to visit all school campuses at least once each year. Earned the distinction as one of the most progressive school districts in the state in the implementation of instructional technology. Implemented a full day program for kindergarten students. Earned a Five-Star Rating from the State Comptroller's Office for achieving strong student performance while ranking very low in spending.
Mr. Irons and his wife of 41 years, Myrna have raised three sons who are all successful graduates of Conroe ISD. Gerald Jr. graduated from the University of Nebraska, Jarrett graduated from the University of Michigan, and Grant graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
Posted on Sep 2, 2011 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD
After much deliberation the CISD Board of Trustees decided to put changes in place that will save the district money. For the 2011-2012 school year students who’s doorstep is within one mile of their school will no longer be eligible for transportation to and from school. According to a statement released over the summer, walking distance to bus stops for the new school year will be as follows. Prekindergarten to sixth grade students may walk up to 600 feet. Seventh and eighth graders may walk up to 1,200 feet. High school students may walk up to 2,400 feet.
Many parents and guardians may question this decision, however Bobby Burns, Director of Facility and Maintenance Operations explained that several projects were completed over the summer. His biggest example given was replacing the doors with high tech electronic locks and installing a visual system that always the school receptionist a continuous view of everything happening in the entry areas. Each school was uniquely modified with waiting areas so that each person entering the school must pass through and check in with the receptionist. Some other projects tackled over the summer were setting up each receptionist with the ability to run instant background checks on all visitors and installing a complete security video monitoring system that will be fully complete next summer.
To find out what bus your child rides visit the CISD website and click on the “What Bus does My Child Ride?” tab.
Posted on Feb 18, 2011 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD
The 2011 H-E-B Excellence Awards Programs has named Conroe Independent School District as a finalist in the Large District category.
A total of five finalists were chosen for the Large District category, including Mesquite I.S.D., Edinburg C.I.S.D., Brownsville I.S.D., Harlandale I.S.D. and Conroe I.S.D.
The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards “celebrates public school professionals whose leadership and dedication inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities”.
The program offers more than $600,000 in cash prizes and is the largest monetary recognition program for educators in Texas as well as the nation.
Posted on Jan 27, 2011 | Tagged in: events , Conroe ISD
More than 600 students' art pieces portraying western themes were featured at the Conroe Independent School District Western Art Show. The art show was sponsored by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Association (HLSR). The display was prepared by eighty Conroe ISD art teachers and was judged by a team sent from the association. Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 were showcased from each of the 55 Conroe ISD schools.
Some student’s art pieces were selected for exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery at Reliant Center Stadium. These students' art work will also be eligible for the Art Auction as well as other awards that will provide more than two million dollars in scholarships to student artists from the Houston area.
Winners of the western art show were, David Chui of Woodlands High school, Ignacio Garcia of McCullough Junior High, Rebecca Bargainer of Tough Elementary, Allyson Portillo of Oak Ridge High School, Justin Corder of Oak Ridge High School, Jayne Clark of McCullough Junior High, and Garrett Null of Reaves Elementary.
Special Merit awards were given to Robin Beattie, Claire Edelmaier, Amanda Heineman, Paola Herranz, Christina Kent, Carly Krotowski and Michaela Marziale of Woodlands High School and Jennifer Pate of College Park High School.
Posted on Nov 29, 2010 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD
Mark Weatherly, Principal of Peet Junior High School in Conroe ISD and one of four schools serving students in Graystone Hills, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) as a Region VI Outstanding Principal of the Year.
TAASP recognizes outstanding principals and assistant principals from the twenty region Education Service Centers in the state. School administrators are nominated and chosen by their peers within their regions. Nominations are based upon exemplary performance and outstanding leadership.
As a Region VI winner, Mr. Weatherly is eligible to compete for the state title of the Texas Principal of the Year. Peet Junior High is just minutes away from Graystone Hills.
Posted on Aug 10, 2010 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD
The Conroe Independent School District has earned an Exemplary rating from the Texas Education Agency, with 29 of its campuses earning Exemplary ratings. The recently released rankings are based largely on results students achieved on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests.
Among those campuses serving children in Graystone Hills are Geisinger Elementary and Cryar Middle School, both located within the community. Peet Junior High and Conroe High School both earned a Recognized rating and are just minutes away from Graystone Hills.
Exemplary status is achieved by only a small percentage of districts across Texas. Conroe ISD was one of only 239 of the state’s more than 2,600 school districts that earned the Exemplary rating.
Posted on May 25, 2010 | Tagged in: Montgomery County , environment , Conroe ISD
The Conroe Independent School District is joining an initiative that will address the future water needs of the entire Montgomery County area.
According to the county, the school district is one of the top 200 water consumers in Montgomery County and as a result of the school board vote on May 18, they will be joining a contract with the San Jacinto River Authority to meet a countywide mandate that will reduce the use of groundwater by up to 30 percent by the year 2016.
The plan will be paid for via pump fees, expected to add about $2 per 1,000 gallons used to all water bills in the Montgomery County by 2016.
Posted on Jan 25, 2010 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD
Six hundred and fifty Conroe ISD students with artistic talent exhibited their works of Western art at the annual Livestock Show and Rode Western Art Show earlier this month. Among the group, 9 students medaled and received Special Merit awards, including Geisinger Elementary's own Madeline McCollum, whose teacher is Tricia Matthews. Madeline’s rooster depicted an artistic talent beyond her years.
The students' work will remain on display in the Hayloft Gallery of the Reliant Center for the entire duration of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. A committee from Reliant Center judged the works of art, and the winners will be eligible for scholarship money as their works of art continue to compete against others' from various school districts.
Posted on Nov 30, 2009 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD , Conroe
Conroe Independent School District board members recently approved the purchase of 32 acres of land near Texas 242 and Needham road, to move forward in building a new junior high school in the Oak Ridge High School feeder zone. If all goes as planned the new 185,000 square foot Junior High will open it’s doors in August of 2012 and will hold up to 1,200 students.
In order to provide the best possible facilities and resources to students, the CISD continually seeks to make improvements and push forward into the future. With this outlook for growth and renewal in mind a bond totalling $527 million was provided in 2008 which would go to fund two new junior high schools, one new intermediate school, four new elementary schools, the conversion of Peet Junior High School into a ninth grade campus, as well as major additions to Travis intermediate, The Woodlands College Park High School and San Jacinto Elementary school. The bond would also provide for classroom additions to Deretchin Elementary and Tough Elementary, as well as other campus improvements such as safety and security enhancements, across the district schools.
The 2008 CISD bond referendum provided $48.22 million for the land and construction for the new Junior high school project. The total land price totalled $1.52 million, and will be developed by Woodmere Development Company. While there has been some concern about the possibility of subsidence in the new building, others have a positive outlook. “No portion where we would be building would even be close to that 100-year floodplain,” said Dan Cox, CISD Chief Financial Officer. But just to make sure the contract which the board approved is subject to the completion of due diligence lasting 75 days. “During that period, if we choose to not purchase, we can simply walk away. In our due diligence, we will be doing soil testing to ensure the land is suitable for building upon.” Cox reassured. If the district does not walk away then it will close on the property in 90 days.
Posted on Nov 12, 2009 | Tagged in: education , Conroe ISD , community
Wednesday November 11, 2009 marks this year’s Veteran’s Day, a day to honor those living and passed that have so valiantly served our country. Across the nation American’s will gather together and celebrate the service of our soldiers and Conroe residents are not the least among these.
The Conroe Independent School District Junior Reserve Office Training Corps will be hosting their annual military parade and ceremony on Veteran’s day starting at 9:30am with a reception and social, followed by the ceremony at 10:20am. This will take place at Moorhead Stadium behind Conroe High school. Nearly 500 students will march in uniform in the parade which will include Air Force from Oak Ridge and The Woodlands high schools, Navy from Caney Creek and Aldine high schools and Army from CHS.
Debbie Pennington, CISD JROTC program coordinator shared, “It’s just an extra way to thank the veterans for all they do for us. On behalf of the ROTC in CISD, we do want to encourage the veterans to come out so we can thank them for the service they have done and respect them for all they do.” She said that between 75 and 100 veterans attend each year.
