Policy DP: Personnel Positions | Conroe ISD Policy Tracker

Conroe ISD Board Policy DP – Personnel Positions governs the establishment and oversight of school chaplain roles within the district, including both paid and volunteer positions.

Local Changes (4)

2026-07-21tabled · Meeting notes

This update to DP (LOCAL) substantially revises the Principal Qualifications section by replacing the existing 7-item list with an expanded 11-item job description framework tied to the District's evaluation instrument and Strategic Plan; restructures the School Counselors section to remove Board approval of staffing exceptions and vest authority directly in the Superintendent; adds a new Campus Behavior Coordinator Duties section with defined responsibilities; and makes minor clarifying edits to the Chaplains section.

Added

The principal's job description shall include the following qualifications, and the District shall evaluate each candidate against these qualifications prior to employment in addition to any requirements in Texas law or regulation. A principal shall have at least:
1. The ability to implement and monitor high-quality instructional materials and curriculum delivery with a high degree of fidelity and consistency across classrooms.
2. The ability to implement and monitor high-quality instructional practices to ensure that the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are taught at grade level or above in every campus classroom.
3. The ability to establish and sustain a high-quality campus culture and ensure compliance with behavior and discipline standards.
4. The ability to adopt, monitor, and report annual goals and performance metrics for student achievement on standardized assessments and other measures at the campus level, including goals required by Texas Education Code §§ 11.185 and 11.186 (H.B. 3, 86th Texas Legislature).
5. The ability to guide, evaluate, and continuously improve the campus instructional program and teaching effectiveness.
6. The ability to manage campus budgets, evaluate personnel based on performance metrics, and coordinate campus operations.
7. The ability to implement and ensure compliance with state and federal law, Board Policy, and District procedures.
8. The ability to monitor and interpret student performance data and adjust instruction to improve student outcomes.
9. Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively engage students, staff, parents, and community members.
10. The ability to align campus goals with the Superintendent's evaluation criteria and the District's Strategic Plan.
11. Any other qualifications deemed necessary and consistent with the District principal evaluation instrument.
The Superintendent shall develop a job description for the school counselor that includes 80% of work time on the CSCP and the duties the school counselor is expected to perform in the remaining work time.
The Superintendent shall report to the Board any substantial changes to the school counselor's job description or duties under this Board Policy.
District (replacing 'process and' in Chaplains screening language)
Campus Behavior Coordinator Duties section header (new section heading in red underline)
Each campus principal shall designate a single individual to serve as the Campus Behavior Coordinator. The designated individual may be the campus principal or another campus administrator selected by the principal.
The Campus Behavior Coordinator is primarily responsible for maintaining student discipline and the implementation of this Board Policy and District procedure. Other school personnel may assist the Campus Behavior Coordinator in carrying out the duties; however, the Campus Behavior Coordinator shall retain ultimate responsibility and shall personally verify the completion of all duties and responsibilities assigned to the position by Texas law, Board Policy, or District procedure.
In addition to any other duties assigned in Texas law, Board Policy, or District procedure, the Campus Behavior Coordinator (CBC) shall:
1. Monitor all student disciplinary referrals submitted on the campus;
2. Report to the campus's Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Team when required by Texas law, Board Policy, or District procedure
3. Ensure a parent or person standing in parental relation to a student is notified in accordance with Texas law, Board Policy, or District Procedure of certain disciplinary actions.
The District shall adopt procedures regarding the implementation of this Board Policy.
4. Meet the requirements for a service provider under CJ(LOCAL). (new chaplain qualification item)

Removed

In addition to the minimal certification requirement, a principal shall have at least:
1. Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction;
2. The ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness;
3. The ability to manage budgets and personnel and to coordinate campus functions;
4. The ability to explain policy, procedures, and data;
5. Strong communications, public relations, and interpersonal skills;
6. Prior experience in instructional leadership roles; and
7. Other qualifications deemed necessary by the Board and included in the job description.
If the Board approves a determination by the administration that due to District or campus staffing needs or other reasons a school counselor is prevented from spending 80 percent of the counselor's work time on duties that are components of a CSCP, the
Board shall direct the Superintendent to
revised job description for the school counselor that addresses the percentage of the school counselor's time that shall be spent on duties related to the components of a CSCP
The Superintendent shall report to the Board regarding adjustments to a school counselor's duties under this Board Policy provision.
process and (in Chaplains screening language)
or Texas Education Code § 37.0012 (from CBC responsibility clause)
student that may violate the health or safety of students, employees, or other individuals, including students who engage in conduct that includes the elements of criminal offenses; (old CBC duty #2 language)
in writing of the removal of a student from a classroom for any disciplinary reason. The written notice under this provision may be delivered via email. The written notice shall provide: 1. District or campus contact information, 2. An explanation of the requirements for the Return to Class Plan under Policy FO(LOCAL) and FOA(LOCAL), if applicable; 3. Reference to the provision in the Student Code of Conduct the student is asserted to have violated, 4. Relevant timelines, and 5. Other information as determined by District procedure.
The District shall adopt District procedures regarding the notice and implementation of this Policy. (old closing line — 'District' and 'notice and' removed)

Legal Compliance Summary

AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.

Principal Qualifications Expanded: The district replaced a 7-item list of principal qualifications with a new 11-item framework tied to its own evaluation tools and Strategic Plan. No state law required or directed this change — it reflects a local decision about how to define the principal role.
School Counselor Work Time: State law TEC §33.006(d), updated by S.B. 179, requires that school counselors spend at least 80% of their work time on counseling program duties. The policy reflects this legal requirement.
School Counselor Staffing Exceptions: Under TEC §33.006(e) (S.B. 179), state law allows districts to set a policy permitting exceptions to the 80% counseling time rule. The updated policy removes the requirement for Board approval of those exceptions and gives that authority directly to the Superintendent instead.
Campus Behavior Coordinator Required: TEC §37.0012, updated by S.B. 1871, requires every campus to have one designated Campus Behavior Coordinator. The policy adds a new section to reflect this legal requirement and defines the role's responsibilities.
CBC Parent Notification Duty: TEC §37.0012 (S.B. 1871) requires the Campus Behavior Coordinator to make sure parents are notified of certain student disciplinary actions. The policy implements this requirement and also extends it to cover actions required by local Board Policy and District procedures.
CBC Personal Verification Standard: The policy requires the Campus Behavior Coordinator to personally verify that all duties assigned to the position are completed. This specific accountability standard is not found in TEC §37.0012 or any other state law — it is a locally chosen requirement.

Legal Compliance Details Mixed

AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.

Principal Qualifications—11-item job description framework (Items 1–9, 11) Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The district created an expanded 11-item job description framework for principals. No statute in the analysis requires or expressly authorizes this specific list of qualifications. The district exercised genuine local discretion in defining, expanding, and codifying these qualifications in board policy.

Principal Qualification Item 4—ability to adopt, monitor, and report goals required by TEC §§11.185 and 11.186 Mixed

Statutory basis: TEC §11.185 and §11.186 (H.B. 3, 86th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statutes impose planning and reporting requirements at the board and district-administrator level, not at the principal level. Embedding these statutory obligations as a principal qualification criterion is a locally discretionary design choice. The reference to the underlying statutory goals is legally grounded; the decision to make compliance a principal job qualification is local.

Principal Qualification Item 10—ability to align campus goals with Superintendent's evaluation criteria and the District's Strategic Plan Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: No statute in the analysis requires or expressly authorizes aligning principal qualifications to the Superintendent's evaluation criteria or a District Strategic Plan. This is entirely a local policy design choice.

School Counselor job description—80% of work time on CSCP duties Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §33.006(d) as amended by S.B. 179 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None—the policy implements the statutory requirement.

School Counselor—Superintendent develops job description and reports substantial changes to Board Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: TEC §33.006 requires the board to adopt a policy on counselor work time but does not mandate delegation of job description development to the Superintendent or require the Superintendent to report changes to the board. Both elements are locally chosen governance arrangements.

School Counselor—removal of Board approval requirement for staffing exceptions, authority vested directly in Superintendent Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §33.006(e) as amended by S.B. 179 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute permits the board to adopt a policy allowing reduced counselor time on counseling duties but does not require board approval of individual staffing exceptions. The prior policy's Board-approval mechanism was a local addition; the new policy's delegation to the Superintendent is also a local structural choice consistent with—but not compelled by—the statute.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—mandatory designation of one individual per campus Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None—the policy directly implements the statutory mandate.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—designation may be principal or another campus administrator selected by principal Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None—the policy mirrors the statutory permission.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—primarily responsible for maintaining student discipline and implementation of Board Policy and District procedure Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The policy extends the responsibility to 'this Board Policy and District procedure,' which is consistent with but broader than the statute's reference to 'this subchapter.' The extension to local policy and procedure is a locally discretionary addition.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—ultimate responsibility and personal verification of all duties Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The requirement that the CBC 'retain ultimate responsibility and shall personally verify the completion of all duties and responsibilities assigned to the position' is not found in TEC §37.0012 or any other statute in the analysis. This is a locally chosen accountability standard.

Campus Behavior Coordinator Duty 1—monitor all student disciplinary referrals Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute expressly authorizes district policy to establish specific CBC duties. The monitoring of all disciplinary referrals is a district-defined duty exercised under that permission; it is not independently mandated by statute.

Campus Behavior Coordinator Duty 2—report to Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Team Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute authorizes district policy to establish specific duties. Threat assessment reporting is a district-defined duty under that permission. No independent statute in the analysis mandates this specific CBC duty.

Campus Behavior Coordinator Duty 3—ensure parent notification of certain disciplinary actions Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The policy generalizes the requirement to 'certain disciplinary actions' in accordance with Texas law, Board Policy, or District Procedure, which is consistent with the statute. The generalization rather than verbatim specification is a locally chosen drafting approach.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—new service provider qualification under CJ(LOCAL) (Item 4 in added language) Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The requirement that the CBC meet service provider requirements under CJ(LOCAL) is a cross-reference to a local policy, not grounded in any statute in the analysis. This is a locally chosen qualification.

District shall adopt procedures for CBC implementation Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012 as amended by S.B. 1871 (87th Leg., R.S.)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None—the district is exercising the express statutory permission to establish CBC duties through district policy.

Chaplains section—minor clarifying edit replacing 'process and' with 'District' Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: This is a technical drafting clarification. No statute in the analysis mandates or expressly authorizes this specific textual edit.

2026-06-16first_reading · Meeting notes

This update to Policy DP substantially revises Principal Qualifications by replacing the prior seven-item list with an expanded eleven-item job description framework tied to instructional fidelity, campus culture, performance metrics, and alignment with the District's Strategic Plan. It also streamlines the School Counselor section by shifting responsibility for revised job descriptions directly to the Superintendent, adds a new requirement for the Superintendent to report substantial changes to the Board, and introduces a new Campus Behavior Coordinator Duties section establishing designation requirements, responsibilities, and detailed written parental notice requirements for student classroom removals.

Added

The principal's job description shall include the following qualifications, and the District shall evaluate each candidate against these qualifications prior to employment in addition to any requirements in Texas law or regulation. A principal shall have at least:
1. The ability to implement and monitor high-quality instructional materials and curriculum delivery with a high degree of fidelity and consistency across classrooms.
2. The ability to implement and monitor high-quality instructional practices to ensure that the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are taught at grade level or above in every campus classroom.
3. The ability to establish and sustain a high-quality campus culture and ensure compliance with behavior and discipline standards.
4. The ability to adopt, monitor, and report annual goals and performance metrics for student achievement on standardized assessments and other measures at the campus level, including goals required by Texas Education Code §§ 11.185 and 11.186 (H.B. 3, 86th Texas Legislature).
5. The ability to guide, evaluate, and continuously improve the campus instructional program and teaching effectiveness.
6. The ability to manage campus budgets, evaluate personnel based on performance metrics, and coordinate campus operations.
7. The ability to implement and ensure compliance with state and federal law, Board Policy, and District procedures.
8. The ability to monitor and interpret student performance data and adjust instruction to improve student outcomes.
9. Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively engage students, staff, parents, and community members.
10. The ability to align campus goals with the Superintendent's evaluation criteria and the District's Strategic Plan.
11. Any other qualifications deemed necessary and consistent with the District principal evaluation instrument.
The Superintendent shall develop a job description for the school counselor that includes 80% of work time on the CSCP and the duties the school counselor is expected to perform in the remaining work time.
The Superintendent shall report to the Board any substantial changes to the school counselor's job description or duties under this Board Policy.
District (replacing 'process and') procedures [in Chaplains section]
4. Meet the requirements for a service provider under CJ(LOCAL). [Chaplain Qualifications]
Campus Behavior Coordinator Duties [entire new section, including]: Each campus shall designate a single individual to serve as the Campus Behavior Coordinator. The designated individual may be the campus principal or another campus administrator selected by the principal.
The Campus Behavior Coordinator is primarily responsible for maintaining student discipline and the implementation of this Board Policy and District procedure. Other school personnel may assist the Campus Behavior Coordinator in carrying out the duties; however, the Campus Behavior Coordinator shall retain ultimate responsibility and shall personally verify the completion of all duties and responsibilities assigned to the position by Board Policy, District procedure, or Texas Education Code § 37.0012.
In addition to any other duties assigned in District procedure, the Campus Behavior Coordinator (CBC) shall:
1. Monitor all student disciplinary referrals submitted on the campus;
2. Report to the campus's Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Team, consistent with Policy FFB(LOCAL), any student that may violate the health or safety of students, employees, or other individuals, including students who engage in conduct that includes the elements of criminal offenses;
3. Ensure a parent or person standing in parental relation to a student is notified in writing of the removal of a student from a classroom for any disciplinary reason. The written notice under this provision may be delivered via email. The written notice shall provide: 1. District or campus contact information, 2. An explanation of the requirements for the Return to Class Plan under Policy FO(LOCAL) and FOA(LOCAL), if applicable; 3. Reference to the provision in the Student Code of Conduct the student is asserted to have violated, 4. Relevant timelines, and 5. Other information as determined by District procedure.
The District shall adopt District procedures regarding the notice and implementation of this Policy.

Removed

In addition to the minimal certification requirement, a principal shall have at least:
1. Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction;
2. The ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness;
3. The ability to manage budgets and personnel and to coordinate campus functions;
4. The ability to explain policy, procedures, and data;
5. Strong communications, public relations, and interpersonal skills;
6. Prior experience in instructional leadership roles; and
7. Other qualifications deemed necessary by the Board and included in the job description.
If the Board approves a determination by the administration that due to District or campus staffing needs or other reasons a school counselor is prevented from spending 80 percent of the counselor's work time on duties that are components of a CSCP, the [Board shall direct the Superintendent to] develop a revised job description for the school counselor that addresses the percentage of the school counselor's time that shall be spent on duties related to the components of a CSCP and the duties the school counselor is expected to perform in the remaining work time.
The Superintendent shall report to the Board regarding adjustments to a school counselor's duties under this Board Policy provision.
process and [in Chaplains section, 'process and' replaced by 'District']

Legal Compliance Summary

AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.

Principal Qualifications Expanded: The district replaced a seven-item list of principal qualifications with a new eleven-item framework covering areas like instructional leadership, campus culture, budget management, and data skills. These qualifications are local choices — no state law requires districts to use any specific set of criteria when evaluating principal candidates.
Campus Performance Goals: One of the new principal qualifications requires principals to adopt, monitor, and report campus goals tied to Texas Education Code §§11.185 and 11.186. Those annual performance reporting requirements are set by state law, but making them part of a principal qualification is a local decision by the district.
Campus Behavior Coordinator Required: State law under Texas Education Code §37.0012 requires every campus to designate a single Campus Behavior Coordinator. This policy puts that requirement into place and specifies that the role may be filled by the principal or another administrator the principal selects.
Behavior Coordinator Responsibilities: Texas Education Code §37.0012 also requires the Campus Behavior Coordinator to be primarily responsible for student discipline and for carrying out duties under state law and board policy. This policy adds a local requirement that the coordinator personally verify that all assigned duties are completed.
Parent Notice for Classroom Removals: When a student is removed from a classroom for disciplinary reasons, state law requires that parents receive written notice. This policy assigns that duty to the Campus Behavior Coordinator and adds five specific pieces of information that the notice must include, along with an option to deliver it by email — details the district chose to add beyond what state law spells out.
School Counselor Job Descriptions: The policy shifts responsibility for developing school counselor job descriptions from the Board to the Superintendent and requires the Superintendent to report any major changes back to the Board. No state law requires this specific arrangement — it is a local governance decision.

Legal Compliance Details Mixed

AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.

Principal qualifications—expanded eleven-item framework replacing prior seven-item list (items 1–3, 5–9, 11) Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: All qualifications related to instructional fidelity, campus culture, communication skills, budget management, data interpretation, and alignment with the District Strategic Plan are entirely local choices. The statute analysis contains no statute requiring the district to establish specific principal qualifications beyond minimum certification.

Principal qualification #4—ability to adopt, monitor, and report goals and metrics including those required by TEC §§11.185 and 11.186 Mixed

Statutory basis: TEC §11.185 and §11.186 as enacted by H.B. 3, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943, Secs. 2.002–2.003

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: Embedding statutory goal requirements into a principal qualification item is a local framing choice. The underlying statutory goals for annual campus performance metrics are legally required; the decision to make them a principal qualification criterion is locally discretionary.

Principal qualification #10—ability to align campus goals with Superintendent's evaluation criteria and District's Strategic Plan Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: No statute requires alignment with a Superintendent's evaluation criteria or a district Strategic Plan as a principal qualification. Entirely local.

Requirement that district evaluate each principal candidate against stated qualifications prior to employment Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: No statute in the analysis requires a pre-employment qualification evaluation framework. This is a locally chosen administrative process.

School Counselor job description—Superintendent (not Board) shall develop description specifying 80% CSCP work time and remaining duties Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute analysis contains no verbatim statutory text requiring this specific governance structure (Superintendent developing the job description) or the 80% CSCP time allocation. The 80% CSCP standard may have a basis in TEC §33.006 or TEA rule not included in the provided analysis; absent a supporting quote, this is classified as locally discretionary per the grounding rule.

Superintendent shall report substantial changes to counselor job description or duties to the Board Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: No statute in the analysis requires reporting of counselor job description changes to the Board. This is a local governance choice to preserve Board oversight.

Chaplain qualifications—addition of requirement to meet service provider requirements under CJ(LOCAL); word substitution of 'District procedures' for 'process and' Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute analysis contains no provision governing chaplain qualifications or cross-referencing service provider standards. These are local policy choices.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—designation of a single individual at each campus Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(a)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None. Policy directly implements statutory mandate.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—may be campus principal or another administrator selected by principal Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(a)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None. Policy implements the statutory permission.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—primarily responsible for maintaining student discipline and implementation of Board Policy and TEC §37 Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(b)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: Policy extends responsibility to 'this Board Policy and District procedure,' which is a permissible local expansion consistent with the statutory authorization to establish duties by district policy.

Campus Behavior Coordinator—retains ultimate responsibility and shall personally verify completion of all assigned duties Mixed

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(b) and (c)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: Statute establishes that CBC is primarily responsible for discipline and bears default duties. The specific requirement for personal verification of completion of all duties is a locally added accountability standard not expressly mandated by statute.

CBC duty #1—monitor all student disciplinary referrals submitted on campus Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: No statute in the analysis mandates CBC monitoring of all disciplinary referrals. This is a locally established duty, authorized by but not required by TEC §37.0012(c) ('specific duties may be established by campus or district policy').

CBC duty #2—report to campus Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Team any student who may violate health or safety Locally Discretionary

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(c)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The specific duty to report to a threat assessment team is not mandated by the statute analysis. This is a locally established duty exercising the district's permission to define CBC duties by policy.

CBC duty #3—ensure written parental notice of student classroom removal for disciplinary reasons Required by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: Parental notice of classroom removals is a duty imposed under TEC Chapter 37 (subchapter) and delegated to CBC by statute. Policy specifies that notice may be delivered via email and mandates five content elements (contact information, Return to Class Plan explanation, Code of Conduct reference, timelines, and other district-determined information). These content specifications are locally added requirements beyond what the statute analysis quotes require.

Written parental notice content requirements—five specified elements including email delivery option Locally Discretionary

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: The statute analysis contains no verbatim text mandating the five specific content elements or authorizing email delivery of parental notice. These are local specifications. Note: the statute analysis provided does not include TEC §37.009 or other specific notice provisions; per the grounding rule, absence of supporting quote requires locally discretionary classification for these content details.

District shall adopt procedures regarding notice and implementation of CBC policy Permitted by Law

Statutory basis: TEC §37.0012(c)

Verified via: verbatim statute text

Local additions: None. Policy adopts implementing procedures pursuant to statutory authorization.

2025-09-16adopted · Meeting notes

This update to Conroe ISD Board Policy DP (Local) – Personnel Positions adds an entirely new section establishing a framework for school chaplains, including their approval process, responsibilities, qualifications, opt-in participation requirements, background check compliance, and sex offender disqualification provisions. No existing policy language was removed.

Added

Chaplains: The District may approve a chaplain to provide student support, services, or programs on a volunteer basis. The Superintendent shall determine an application and screening process for chaplain candidates. All chaplains are subject to final approval by the Board.
Responsibilities: A chaplain shall: 1. Be available for any student who may seek such chaplain's help or care. 2. Be a visible, integral member of the assigned school or campus working to develop positive, supportive relationships based on compassion and mutual respect with any eligible students that so desire. 3. Be present and visible both in the various activities in which students participate during the school day and the areas of the school or campus at which students are found. A chaplain may refer eligible students to other resources and personnel the District provides that might assist the students in any given situation. 4. Not proselytize or disparage any religion, belief, lack of belief, or faith group. A chaplain's provision of care, help, or counsel consistent with his or her beliefs or convictions to students who seek such care, help, or counsel is not proselytization or disparagement. 5. Not have disciplinary authority over students or student groups.
Qualifications: For purposes of this policy, a chaplain shall be a person who obtains an ecclesiastical endorsement from his or her faith group certifying that such chaplain is: 1. A minister, rabbi, priest, imam, lay leader, or similar functionary of the faith group; 2. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally to serve as a chaplain for the District; 3. Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all students.
Opt-In Participation: Parental or guardian consent shall be required before a student may participate and deemed eligible in any support, service, or program provided by a chaplain. The District shall distribute consent forms at the beginning of each school year. Consent shall be valid only for the school year in which it is signed and may be revoked at any time by the parent or guardian. The District shall provide notice to the parent or guardian each time a student receives support, services, or participates in a program provided by a chaplain.
Prior to beginning service, a chaplain shall comply with all applicable requirements of Texas Education Code Chapter 22, Subchapter C.
The District shall not employ or accept as a volunteer any chaplain who has been convicted of, or received deferred adjudication community supervision for, an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

2025-08-19first_reading · Meeting notes

This update to Conroe ISD Board Policy DP (Local) – Personnel Positions adds an entirely new section governing the use of volunteer chaplains in the district. The new language establishes chaplain eligibility, responsibilities, qualifications (including an ecclesiastical endorsement), opt-in parental consent requirements, background check compliance, and a prohibition on employing or accepting chaplains who are registered sex offenders.

Added

Chaplains section header: 'The District may approve a chaplain to provide student support, services, or programs on a volunteer basis. The Superintendent shall determine an application and screening process for chaplain candidates. All chaplains are subject to final approval by the Board.'
Responsibilities section header and list: 'A chaplain shall: 1. Be available for any student who may seek such chaplain's help or care. 2. Be a visible, integral member of the assigned school or campus working to develop positive, supportive relationships based on compassion and mutual respect with any eligible students that so desire. 3. Be present and visible both in the various activities in which students participate during the school day and the areas of the school or campus at which students are found. A chaplain may refer eligible students to other resources and personnel the District provides that might assist the students in any given situation. 4. Not proselytize or disparage any religion, belief, lack of belief, or faith group. A chaplain's provision of care, help, or counsel consistent with his or her beliefs or convictions to students who seek such care, help, or counsel is not proselytization or disparagement. 5. Not have disciplinary authority over students or student groups.'
Qualifications section header and list: 'For purposes of this policy, a chaplain shall be a person who obtains an ecclesiastical endorsement from his or her faith group certifying that such chaplain is: 1. A minister, rabbi, priest, imam, lay leader, or similar functionary of the faith group; 2. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally to serve as a chaplain for the District 3. Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all students.'
Opt-In Participation section header and text: 'Parental or guardian consent shall be required before a student may participate and deemed eligible in any support, service, or program provided by a chaplain. The District shall distribute consent forms at the beginning of each school year. Consent shall be valid only for the school year in which it is signed and may be revoked at any time by the parent or guardian. The District shall provide notice to the parent or guardian each time a student receives support, services, or participates in a program provided by a chaplain.'
'Prior to beginning service, a chaplain shall comply with all applicable requirements of Texas Education Code Chapter 22, Subchapter C.'
'The District shall not employ or accept as a volunteer any chaplain who has been convicted of, or received deferred adjudication community supervision for, an offense requiring registration as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.'