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New Caney ISD trustees approve student travel, construction contract, tap fees and one-time staff stipend
Summary
At its April 21 regular meeting trustees approved multiple out-of-state student trips, developer plan changes and utility tap fees for a replacement elementary campus, awarded a middle-school construction contract, and approved a $1,000 one-time retention stipend for eligible employees using additional state homestead-exemption aid.
The New Caney Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 21 approved a package of administrative and operational items including four out-of-state student trips, developer-mandated plan changes and utility tap fees related to a New Caney Elementary replacement campus, the award of Highlands Middle School No. 5 construction to Jermala Construction Company, and a one-time $1,000 retention stipend for eligible full-time employees funded from additional state homestead-exemption aid.
Why it matters: The motions move multiple projects and district personnel and budget items into implementation: construction work and site utilities can proceed on district campuses, and the stipend distributes roughly $2.4 million of one-time state aid to employees for retention purposes. Several of these actions have capital or recurring fiscal consequences for the district.
The board approved out-of-state field trips for Porter High School (CTE/TAFE students to Orlando, June 25–29, 2025, cost cited at $7,584.70), Porter High School Visual Arts (student to represent the district for artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C.; district to cover chaperone, hotel and meals), and New Caney High School (National History Day, College Park/Washington, D.C., June 7–13, 2025). Each trip was presented by campus staff and approved by voice vote with no opposing votes recorded.
The board approved CPR 7 (developer-mandated changes) for the New Caney Elementary replacement campus, accepting site, fencing and landscaping revisions required by the adjoining Friendswood development; presenter Richard Ressa told trustees the changes affected site work, drives and landscape rather than the building footprint. Montgomery County MUD tap fees for the New Caney Elementary replacement campus (domestic/fire combo meter, irrigation meter and installation labor) were also approved.
Trustees awarded the Highlands Middle School No. 5 construction contract to Jermala Construction Company and delegated authority to the superintendent or designee to negotiate, finalize and execute the construction contract. Facilities staff said the project budget target was about $70 million and the recommended bid from Jermala came in under $60 million.
The board approved a proposed one-time $1,000 retention stipend for eligible full-time employees to be paid on the May 5 paycheck. Finance staff (Ms. Christy Gates) said the district received roughly $4.3 million of additional state aid tied to the over-65 homestead exemption for fiscal 2023–24 and recommended allocating about $2.4 million for the stipend while preserving approximately $1.96 million to fund the district's fund balance. During the vote one trustee (Mr. Alters) abstained; the motion otherwise carried.
Trustees also approved the consent calendar, including personnel items presented after closed session.
Votes at a glance (motions, movers/seconders where recorded, and outcomes): - Porter High School TAFE out-of-state trip to Orlando (June 25'025'0June 29'025). Motion by Mr. Trout, second by Ms. Brickrell; voice vote, motion carries. - Porter High School Visual Arts out-of-state travel (Washington, D.C., Cannon Tunnel). Motion by Ms. Sharp, second by Mr. Trout; voice vote, motion carries. - New Caney High School National History Day out-of-state trip (College Park/Washington, D.C., June 7'025'0June 13'025). Motion by Ms. Bridal, second by Mr. Trout; voice vote, motion carries. - CPR 7 developer changes (New Caney Elementary replacement campus). Motion by Mr. Trout, second by Mr. Alters; voice vote, motion carries. - Montgomery County MUD tap fees (New Caney Elementary replacement campus). Motion by Mr. Trapp, second by Mr. Alters; voice vote, motion carries. - Award Highlands Middle School No. 5 to Jermala Construction Company and authorize superintendent to finalize contract. Motion by board president (recorded as the maker on the floor), second recorded; voice vote, motion carries. - One-time $1,000 retention stipend for eligible full-time employees, funded from additional state homestead-exemption aid. Motion by Ms. Harrell, second by Ms. Sharp; voice vote, motion carries with one abstention by Mr. Alters. - Consent calendar, including personnel items (section 9D) approved after closed session. Motion by Ms. Brickrell (consent calendar), second recorded; voice vote, motion carries.
What the motions did not do: The approvals authorized staff to proceed with contracts, travel and disbursements; they did not include additional programmatic policy changes or new recurring salary commitments beyond the one-time stipend.
Next steps noted in the meeting: superintendent or designee to finalize construction contract; travel logistics to be completed by campus sponsors; stipend to be dispersed on May 5 for eligible employees.
(Reporters: motions and who seconded each motion are recorded where included in the meeting transcript; the board took voice votes and did not provide roll-call tallies in the transcript beyond the one recorded abstention.)
