[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6570230,"mediaKeyId","3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863","parentId",3248142,"title","Votes at a glance: Spring ISD board actions, May 8, 2025","audioSeconds",9842,"startMs",7982000,"endMs",17824000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863&start=7982&end=17824","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863/thumbnail_7982000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6570230/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Spring-ISD-board-actions-May-8-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570230-6f8190dc458ba17482750d1b07fe5607/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674184&Signature=IeNr4Gv-XSn4S4g3kxC5VYBFa3Ciz7IXNsBo11hF5hBHQz~C57f8nB8Yi2Du5xRUMLPj7cHZSasitAbE3C522DYqrygJ1OSoNOW6uKUMtXSwWZAc5AG~Z1ejzceSN1UhhBu1LQVGjBQFSu-qNVYvxFcmqGwT-2-J8ULGq9zrC2~dSg0JwTj--j2WrdVApbouwCbp-2cN1WXGEDryHE0xWfclW5w3TZMlygR6y9Y~ln4-UK~1n9HFT5k~XpsXK7-2AXWZi5upax5PdPFZBhcf7ANizUU~H~l18BlAMRX-c2ZxD3DWeG7rkHrEIybt9Lh58OhRAavPEQ7JgnH4fPdybQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-09T04:20:01Z","article","The Spring Independent School District board of trustees conducted multiple formal votes during its May 8, 2025 meeting. The key actions and official outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes are summarized below. Each motion was recorded in open session with the clerk's announcement of the tally.

- Motion: Adopt a resolution approving a contingent-fee legal services contract and the related findings required for submission to the Texas Attorney General for expedited review (legal citation noted in packet).
Outcome: Approved unanimously. Mover: Trustee Adams; Second: Trustee McDaniel. Administration to submit agreement and request to the Texas Attorney General for review.

- Motion: Enter into contingent-fee legal services agreements with named firms to represent the district in social-media litigation (law firms named in packet).
Outcome: Approved unanimously. Mover: Dr. Jensen; Second: Trustee Correa. Action contingent on AG approval.

- Motion: Approve the corrective action plan from the Texas Education Agency regarding Individual Graduation Committee documentation and compliance.
Outcome: Approved unanimously. Motion recorded and carried. Administration will centralize documentation in Laserfiche, run internal desk audits and provide monthly updates to the board.

- Motion (executive-session result): Approve a voluntary retirement agreement between the superintendent and the district on terms discussed in closed session, effective 05/08/2025.
Outcome: Approved unanimously in open session after reconvening. Mover: Trustee McDaniel; Second: Trustee Correa.

- Motion (executive-session result): Approve superintendent's recommendations for renewal of one-year term and probationary employment contracts for the 2025-26 school year, as discussed in executive session.
Outcome: Approved unanimously. Mover: Trustee Hodges; Second: Trustee Newhouse.

Other routine approvals noted in the meeting included first readings of TASB policy updates and informational items (grant reports, construction GMP packages) that did not require final action at the May 8 meeting.

If you need the exact wording of any motion, the board packet and minutes attached to the meeting record provide the full text and recorded roll-call results.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Work Session - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees approved participation in social-media litigation, TEA corrective action plan for IGCs, superintendent personnel actions and other items in unanimous votes; key motions and outcomes are listed below.","taxTitle","SPRING ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14159,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6570237,"Spring ISD board approves TEA-prescribed corrective action plan after audit of individual graduation plans",1149,8345000,9494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863&start=8345&end=9494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863/thumbnail_8345000.jpg","/articles/6570237/Texas/Spring-ISD-board-approves-TEA-prescribed-corrective-action-plan-after-audit-of-individual-graduation-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570237-fe7367cfccaadee5332d4e792e20eb20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674184&Signature=n4H6anUVtAPtlCCLEry6Ayom~DB5qe1UbOtCQ5TEU~8JabAE8s7nopc6o75SwknM5PF73qeppFfTRK-Qv1IF4WTQ1PgLm4Wdte5DyQugKDySIEaNrjt3Lza1xtkmHafGVJrXkOgn0QP2h0-mDhJvZJne2Ounq4G9o4OjFfoLsjrZEAT6zwflKONr1fEjv9M3Stc300F~P4-KBMZyOXDHhAgPinqXnOs9l4tZl5o6ut-Yw581gPWxqUeA4-BB4GT3J865ikWH6ojifGEwQgIwUDmbFXc3VV16bB1CxvzSdr~lTRWCw2ltS2EPnPZ7Kwt4ySaY8MAdS~XLdCE1oOs8Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spring Independent School District trustees voted unanimously Thursday to approve a Texas Education Agency-prescribed corrective action plan after the agency audited the district's use of Individual Graduation Committees (IGCs) and found incomplete documentation in a sample review.

Administrators told the board the state requires districts to keep IGCs within a 10% cap of each graduating class and that the TEA performed a sample audit of two campuses after the district exceeded that threshold in TEA's reporting. Dr. Craig Cuellar, chief of academics and school leadership, said the agency requested specific evidentiary items ' parent conferences, signatures and work products ' and the district could not produce complete records for all sampled students at one campus.

The corrective action plan supplied by TEA prescribes a checklist of steps and documentation controls. Administration said it has already begun centralizing IGC documentation in the district's Laserfiche system, assigned ongoing oversight responsibilities, and begun internal desk audits at multiple campuses to locate and standardize missing records.

Alicia Bell, who leads school improvement oversight, told trustees that the district now runs biweekly reports to identify campuses approaching the 10% threshold, triggers principals and assistant superintendents when forms are submitted, and will generate parent notifications and centralized files to prevent future documentation gaps.

Trustees asked whether the specialty campus model creates exceptions; administration replied the 10% cap remains a state standard and the district must ensure documentation for every student approved under an IGC. Board members requested monthly reporting so trustees can monitor campus-level percentages and corrective steps.

The board then moved to approve the corrective action plan as presented; the board chair called for a vote and the motion carried unanimously.

Ending: Administration said it will submit the corrective action plan to TEA per the agency's timeline, continue internal audits and report monthly to the board on compliance with IGC documentation and campus percentages.","Trustees unanimously approved an action plan to address a Texas Education Agency audit of Individual Graduation Committees after the agency requested documentation for two campuses; administration said it has centralized documentation and begun implementing the required steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6570242,"Spring ISD board unanimously approves joining multi-district social media litigation and contingent-fee counsel",430,7694000,8124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863&start=7694&end=8124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863/thumbnail_7694000.jpg","/articles/6570242/Texas/Spring-ISD-board-unanimously-approves-joining-multi-district-social-media-litigation-and-contingent-fee-counsel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570242-639af631589b60d76573fa3fd91e3aa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674184&Signature=ddk5-3Fb2E2eHUE5H~hA8qhvU1id0RFL~2ybVDhb2-dhOVOsAk7ABrH2j~91e~nqcA1q44rhVE5R9tkuQ5264vRbTSA6PYkQxvi5jQW2ofvC333-9xnWco0AO-5CDEk1fypvB1BKPR57QXG-zE3nhQ7X2Yd20ff5zffzSmli36RvCkKhTJ3JEoH3HQSoBwZJNODMSf0UMKvfvdtDejHy9ItcQ~r-RWLn4226snxe2iFjnCUN2mEkXkcTvlH6j4isZXlK1IBQeCBUj1c5FWCo5Yj1gbpfXc4VT1MaEbh2lMpAa7A-c9fUZKcfEQ5P~5OfLEcK~rw4BtpsM67H2ueNxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spring Independent School District board unanimously voted Thursday to join a multi-district lawsuit arguing that major social-media companies have designed addictive algorithms that harm children and to approve contingent-fee legal agreements with outside firms to pursue the matter.

Outside counsel David Thompson of Thompson & Horton told trustees the harm to children and school operations is widespread and that hundreds of districts nationwide have already joined litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Thompson described remedies the litigation will seek as both monetary damages for past costs and injunctive relief to change platform behavior.

Trustee Adams moved that the board adopt a resolution approving a contingent-fee legal services contract and find the statutory criteria required for submission to the Texas Attorney General (the motion referenced the Texas Government Code citation recorded in the meeting materials). Trustee McDaniel seconded; the board voted and the motion \"carried unanimously,\" the clerk announced.

A second motion by Dr. Jensen to enter into contingent-fee legal services agreements with named law firms ' including Thompson & Horton LLP and other local counsel listed in the packet ' was seconded by Trustee Correa and likewise carried unanimously.

What the board approved: The board directed administration to submit the contingent-fee agreement and request for expedited review to the Texas Attorney General as required for this type of contract. Counsel said the AG has been granting approval to other districts that have sought to participate.

Why it matters: If the litigation succeeds either in settlement or judgment, the district could recover funds to offset costs that Thompson described as related to student mental-health supports, discipline, technology filtering and academic impacts. The board recorded no dissent during the public action; staff emphasized Attorney General approval is required before final participation and fees become effective.

Ending: Trustees thanked counsel for the briefing and approved the resolutions. The board packet and staff minutes list the participating counsel and the motions recorded by the clerk.","Trustees voted unanimously May 8 to authorize participation in pending federal multi-district litigation over social media's harms to children and to sign contingent-fee agreements with outside counsel pending Texas Attorney General approval.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6570246,"Spring ISD expands STEM elementary pilot to four campuses with corporate partners funding robots and kits",511,3574000,4085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863&start=3574&end=4085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863/thumbnail_3574000.jpg","/articles/6570246/Texas/Spring-ISD-expands-STEM-elementary-pilot-to-four-campuses-with-corporate-partners-funding-robots-and-kits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570246-77b1309556e8d245b7865711560a5362/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674184&Signature=AFObMtU6vPuDtVYl8bvwc3Vx90q1WTyLnrfDcacRTjTM4Sn6NACc8Te1syupt58cGD6Lx-J2Q~2sliTyvgEe-9S7rzAMi8EUt5OyAe728OWVgP0WzbzKAgjBPdAadSw5pMbO2H--zBw5aI-Q3AZhiuuOfPNMo6aXyzbtvGgbXhq1v9q1BpF11wI8lOuxcmKJkmCIh~HOAbGjgwunqjpMhsS6qN~fB4Lr6fJzS~pLoae0MnSMW9E8oLmWrcCqN0cXso-Uv-9xFpwo8BQfEiwMV5wFDeHGkF1LXd8UCfeIFJ-Wzzf-y63G1bdEIRkNkoro6jA0imcb4IZfMqMp7VAjqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spring Independent School District trustees received an update Thursday on the district's STEM elementary pilot that the administration is expanding to four campuses and supporting with outside partnerships and curricular materials.

Dr. Eric Tingle, director of strategic innovation, told the board the effort aims to build a K'12 STEM pipeline beginning at the elementary level to retain students and strengthen feeder relationships into high schools with STEM programming. \"STEM education is something that our parents are interested in,\" Tingle said, summarizing the initiative's goals.

What the pilot includes: The district is using the Project Lead The Way curriculum for hands-on, project-based learning; Deloitte provided \"Smart Rover\" robots and training for library media specialists free of charge; ExxonMobil is funding first Lego league robotics teams including kits, event transportation and shirts; and Deloitte University supported procurement of telescopes for family telescope nights.

Campus updates: Principals from Reynolds, Heritage, Clark and Thompson described classroom and extracurricular activities.
- Clark Elementary (principal identified in materials as \"Miss Shaq\") plans to expand robotics to third grade, increase fidelity of Project Lead The Way lessons and designate a dedicated STEM teacher at the 3-5 grade levels so science instruction occurs routinely rather than as an occasional rotation, district staff said. The principal reported a notable decline in student behavior after STEM activities were put into rotation.
- Heritage Elementary described a first-year robotics team that competed in three events and hosted a STEM day in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; leaders said they will add STEM clubs such as gardening, chess and Science Olympiad next year and ensure weekly hands-on science lessons aligned to the HMH curriculum.
- Reynolds Elementary said Project Lead The Way activities are generating student engagement, collaboration among teachers and greater parent turnout at events such as telescope night.
- Thompson Elementary described an approach that integrates STEM across primary grades and campus spaces'including an outdoor \"Spark Park\" and science vocabulary pillars to normalize regular science instruction from kindergarten upward.

Administration emphasized sustainability: staff said grant and partner funding for kits, robotics and training are secured for next year so campuses can sustain programs without one-off purchases.

Why it matters: Trustees said such programs can make school more attractive to families and help retain students who might otherwise transfer to charter schools. Board members asked how the STEM playbook and lessons would be shared with other campuses; administration said a written STEM playbook already exists and will be a conduit to scale practices across the district.

Ending: District staff said the pilot continues into the 2025-26 year with a full launch planned for 2026-27; staff asked trustees to help publicize events and noted the district's STEM trailer and CTE partnerships can support outreach and summer programming.","The district presented a spring update on STEM elementary pilots at Clark, Heritage, Reynolds and Thompson elementaries, citing Project Lead The Way curriculum, corporate-funded robotics and media-maker partnerships and planned family engagement events including telescope nights.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6570251,"Spring ISD outlines 'Spring Strong' optimization plan as demographer warns housing, enrollment slowdowns",445,657000,1102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863&start=657&end=1102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248142-0c76902215853414483f16ef23301863/thumbnail_657000.jpg","/articles/6570251/Texas/Spring-ISD-outlines-Spring-Strong-optimization-plan-as-demographer-warns-housing-enrollment-slowdowns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570251-52c3208dfec3587496d56863966413ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674184&Signature=oYHBC5qb-6FIZMJsIvRfhNHMGCr0LTmvRBkS1DQWAjVFVoZ4Df3hETPHPCbKlPTKgcQl6TD77eVHvKhCLP9HJngUFpXC~hLhwoMDJpLEjRu0vnIqIMkEPnB~qzYJF2ItFENN1EUyQm50y-w7v68mXPJSoHqjB~QxfFY3Cwky0oBE3CTSIHRtoGson9bErhFS1bEXgAN4ytLxjQQc32UBem6zIgowVl2QAd-Ckuc68PiF-LyMkGOBoWyIbdyNdqtv~w6jZLmt2Ve~sjcE0AWX1776xPBpJD4RPs9lg2kZ6ioIILSAoIeHOu2szsnjF-jABLB5gBzFZFyNDA1XnUzU1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spring Independent School District trustees heard a detailed update Thursday on the district's Spring Strong \"future-ready\" optimization plan and a demographer's spring housing and enrollment report that together shaped possible boundary changes, school consolidations and program reviews.

District Chief of Innovation and Student Success Dr. Matt Parasau told the board the optimization work is intended to increase instructional return on investment, improve operational efficiency and align boundaries so resources are distributed more equitably. \"The goals of optimization are about improving and enhancing our educational outcomes, looking at the resource allocation,\" Parasau said.

The presentation described three primary \"gears\" for the work: an instructional resource and program ROI review, school consolidation where necessary, and boundary alignment to better match students to nearby campuses. Parasau said the engagement timeline will wrap community input gathered from January to May into recommendations this summer, with proposed boundary and consolidation recommendations scheduled to be brought to the board in September and implementation targeted for the 2026-27 school year.

Why it matters: Trustees and staff framed the work as a response both to long-term enrollment shifts and to an immediate budget gap. Chief Financial summaries cited a roughly $13 million deficit; trustees were told that closing an elementary campus would yield about $1 million in operational savings and a middle school about $1.5 million, not enough alone to close the shortfall.

Demographer Rocky Gardner of Sondag Education presented the spring housing and enrollment analysis in a recorded segment included in the board packet. Gardner described a strong Houston-area housing market overall but flagged a slowdown in new home starts that he said will pressure future closings in Spring ISD. He reported that starts and closings have tightened since earlier interest-rate-driven disruptions but that some subdivisions have dropped substantially in starts. He said Spring ISD had about 1,174 new-home closings in 2024 (fourth-quarter-based data) and that a slowdown in starts could reduce closings next year.

Gardner and district staff discussed student yields in new subdivisions, noting mixed yields by project (for example, a 0.434 student yield in one large Winship-area project). The demographer also highlighted 17 active subdivisions and roughly 5,600 lots in planning stages that could add students in coming years if deliveries proceed.

Enrollment trends and transfers: The district reported it opened the year with a snapshot enrollment of 33,590 students and that shortfalls versus forecasted cohorts have appeared in several grades. Gardner and district staff highlighted a notably low eleventh-grade retention figure (capturing 83% of last year's 10th graders into 11th grade) and unexpectedly lower second-grade cohorts. Board presenters warned those cohort shifts affect immediate seat needs.

Trustees and staff placed special emphasis on transfers to charter schools and to other districts as a major factor reducing Spring ISD's market share. Administration materials cited an estimated net loss of roughly 3,500 students over eight years from the district's residential market, driven by lower births, transfers to other public districts and rising charter enrollments. Board members and staff noted that some charter reporting anomalies (an undercount in a prior year by one charter) distorted year-to-year bars but did not change the broader upward trend in charter enrollment in the area.

Board context and next steps: Trustees asked how the state's pending voucher program (scheduled to start in 2026-27, according to board discussion) might further affect enrollment; Parasau said the demographer's current figures do not include voucher impacts. The district said community input from 10 engagement sessions and hundreds of online responses will be folded into the ROI and boundary recommendations this summer. Administration emphasized that consolidation alone will not erase the budget deficit and must be paired with program and operational changes.

Board members said they expect to see recommended boundary maps, school-consolidation options and the ROI analysis in September and asked for follow-up analyses on likely student impacts at affected campuses. Parasau and staff said district teams and partners, including ERS (Education Resource Strategies), are supporting the ROI work and that a task force of more than 50 staff and campus leaders has been advising the effort.

Ending: The district will return to the board with firm recommendations in fall 2025; meanwhile staff will continue community outreach, refine ROI analyses and update trustees on demographic and housing developments as they occur.","Spring ISD leaders laid out a multi-gear optimization plan and demographic update May 8, citing falling new-home starts, uneven student yields from new subdivisions and growing transfers to charter schools as drivers of enrollment pressure and the district's $13 million budget gap.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Spring ISD board actions, May 8, 2025

Spring ISD board approves TEA-prescribed corrective action plan after audit of individual graduation plans

Spring ISD board unanimously approves joining multi-district social media litigation and contingent-fee counsel

Spring ISD expands STEM elementary pilot to four campuses with corporate partners funding robots and kits

Spring ISD outlines 'Spring Strong' optimization plan as demographer warns housing, enrollment slowdowns