Cypress‑Fairbanks ISD trustees reviewed a proposed partnership with Communities in Schools (CIS) of Houston at their May 1 work session and discussed pilot placement of full‑time student‑support specialists on Title I high school campuses.

Chris Hecker, presenting for Communities in Schools of Houston, told the board the national organization works inside thousands of schools and that the Texas Education Agency lists CIS of Texas as a dropout‑prevention program. Hecker cited statewide aggregate research showing attendance and achievement improvements where CIS services are in place and described the organization’s model of onsite, consent‑based casework, family engagement and connections to community partners.

Christina Cole and several high‑school principals briefed trustees on campus interest. Staff said CIS student‑support specialists would be selected through a collaborative process: CIS pre‑screens candidates, principals interview finalists, and principals make final hiring decisions. The district said campuses could allocate Title I dollars to pay the campus share; CIS staff indicated the organization typically contributes a majority of the specialist’s cost.

Trustees asked about cost and scope. CIS representatives and district staff told the board a single student‑support specialist would cost a campus about $50,000 per year; a campus could hire two specialists for about $100,000. Trustees were told that Title I budgets vary by campus and that the district’s initial focus would be on high schools where Title I budgets are larger and where attendance and on‑track graduation measures could yield the largest near‑term fiscal and academic benefit.

Trustees and staff described expected activities: outreach to improve attendance, small‑group academic supports, behavior interventions, targeted case management for at‑risk students, coordination with parents and community services, and assistance focused on ninth‑grade on‑track metrics. Trustees emphasized data reporting and asked for regular updates on attendance, credit recovery and graduation‑on‑track metrics for students served by the pilot.

No final board vote was recorded during the work session. The agenda item (7c) will move forward for consideration at the regular meeting; staff said campuses that opt in would use campus Title I funds and that CIS would partner on candidate selection, training and data reporting.

Trustees requested quarterly progress reporting if campuses move forward with CIS agreements.