CPVA MEETING MINUTES

March 20, 2006

7:30 p.m.

Presiding:   Gail Carney, President

Location:    Montgomery County Community College, Rm. B-102

Topic: Conroe Schools

Board Attendance:

Absent:
Pamela Harris

President’s Report: Gail called the meeting to order at 7:40.  Board members received new notebooks and name tags, if needed.  Gail announced that the scholarship application deadline of March 15 had passed.  A committee will review the applicants and select an appropriate winner(s).

Volunteers are needed for Earth Day.  The Woodlands credits College Park for volunteer hours at events such as this, and provides money to the scholarship fund contingent upon the number of hours worked.  Shifts are available in the morning and in the afternoon.  The event will be at the The Woodlands High School, Saturday, April 8.

Volunteers are also needed for the Spring Flea Market, April 29.  Volunteer hours for the flea market are also counted toward scholarship funding.  We need 16 volunteers to man shifts from 4:30 – 8:00 a.m., 8:00 – 11:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Wayne Mulkey received a “VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR” plaque from the Community Associations.  Wayne was selected from volunteers across The Woodlands.  It is a tremendous honor.  Congratulations, Wayne!

TWA Representative Report: The annual TWA meeting was scheduled for Thursday, March 23.  Ted encouraged everyone to attend.  Tapestry Park in Grogan’s Forest officially opened earlier this month.  It is the 99th park in The Woodlands and the fifth for College Park.  A lamp post has been erected at the corner of Donwick and 242.  TxDOT is manning that effort.  At some point the post might contain a light.  And at some point later that light might become functional.  The light is a street light, not a traffic light.

Annexation issues:  Joel Deretchin and Ted will be conducting a meeting with prominent business owners in Conroe; the business owners are in the position to influence Conroe City Councilmen.  Steve Reinmund asked if we could donate some of the funds provided by The Woodlands to the election campaigns of candidates running against current councilmen.  Because of the nature of our organization and regulations on PACs for contributing to campaign finances, we can not.    

Neighborhood Services Report: Alicia Klostermann, representative of the Neighborhood Services team, alerted residents to the presence of aggressive solicitors.  One group in particular, the “Go Do-ers,” has been noted by sheriff’s department as unusually aggressive.  If you are contacted by these people, please call the sheriff’s office immediately.  Alicia also reminded everyone of the CB&I Triathlon May 6.  Enter if you are able, stay clear of the vicinity of the race if you need to commute.  Roads will be blocked, crowds will be dense, traffic will be a challenge to negotiate.

Social Committee Report: Planning is underway for the annual Spring Fling, scheduled for May 20, 12-4 p.m.  The fling includes free admission to the pool.  More details will be provided as the date approaches and during the April meeting.   

Guest Speakers: Bruce Tuft and Chris Hines, of the Conroe Independent School District. 

Dr. Hines began his presentation by mentioning that questions about feeder zones are commonly asked during town meetings and other forums where the school board is present.   CISD has four feeder zones: Oak Ridge and The Woodlands are two of them.  The CISD is finished building schools in The Woodlands; demographic studies show the growth rate of The Woodlands to be slowing, in relation to CISD.  Most of the new growth in The Woodlands is within the boundary of Tomball ISD. 

Transportation to schools is an issue.  It is too costly to send students from College Park north to Hwy. 105, then west for a number of miles to Conroe H.S..  We have a high school within walking distance.  Children in Harper’s Landing will be slated to attend that school.  Imperial Oaks has a large growth rate, as does that of south Conroe.  The short end of the story, though, is that College Park children will attend schools in The Woodlands.

School paths (Powell – Knox – CPHS) are independent of annexation and city limit lines.  Young school children were recently moved from Sally K. Ride to Powell Elementary.  Powell is closer and newer. 

A new athletic facility is being built on the east side of IH-45, off the Research Forest exit.  It will house a natatorium as well as a football stadium and will be utilized by junior high school students as well as high school.  No bus facility will be located there.

Miscellaneous:  Ed Reinhart, commissioner of Pct. 4 of Montgomery County, addressed the group, asking for support in the run-off election.  He indicated he helped bring 5 major corporations to The Woodlands/Conroe area and led efforts to convert Hwy 1314 at 242 into a four-lane road. 

Grady James, candidate and incumbent for judge, also spoke.  He is the lawyer for River Plantation, has been in family law for years, and has a daughter who lives in Harper’s Landing.  He sees serious drug problems in a number of CISD schools, gangs in The Woodlands mall, and growing amounts of crime from juveniles who have been given too many chances.  Judge James said he grants leniency when it is appropriate and frequently gives people a second chance, but he also holds kids accountable for their actions and believes they need to accept responsibility for their actions.   He asks for our support in the upcoming election.

Next meeting:
April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Rm. 102, Bldg. A   Please note change in building from B back to A.
Montgomery Community College
College Park Dr.

March 18: Official opening of Tapestry Park in Grogan’s Forest, 10:00 a.m.
April 8: Earth Day at The Woodlands High School, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Volunteers needed.
May 20: Spring Fling, The Harper’s Landing pool, 12-4.
September 23: Annual trip to the Astros game.  Estimated $11/ticket.  Astros v. St. Louis.
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