Students Recognized for National Merit Scholarship Program Achievements
At the regular monthly meeting of the Montgomery ISD school board, trustees heard an update on projects funded by the 2022 bond.
District leadership shared with trustees that, over the summer of 2026, Montgomery Elementary School and Keenan Elementary School will receive updated playground equipment as part of the 2022 bond program. Once these projects are complete, every elementary campus in Montgomery ISD will have received new playground equipment funded through the bond under comparability improvements, fulfilling a commitment made to voters during the informational campaign.
The 2022 bond program included the construction of Creekside Elementary School to address enrollment growth, Phase 2 of Lake Creek High School to align its capacity with Montgomery High School, the development of the new CTE Center and Agricultural Science Center serving both high schools, major renovations at Montgomery High School, upgrades to the MISD athletic complex and stadium, and comparability upgrades and facility improvements across all MISD campuses.
“We are proud to deliver on the promises made to our community through the 2022 bond,” Board President Eddie Winn said. “Montgomery families expect a high-quality education for their children, and our students deserve facilities that reflect that standard. These projects provide safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments across the district, ensuring our campuses are ready to meet today’s needs and support student success for years to come.”
When the district communicated information about the 2022 bond, voters were advised that an increase to the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate would be necessary to support the bond program. Through careful planning, conservative financial assumptions, and disciplined project management, the district has been able to keep the I&S tax rate unchanged. Additionally, the 2022 bond program was completed under budget, reflecting strong fiscal oversight and a commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
“Montgomery ISD takes seriously its responsibility to be accountable and transparent with our taxpayers,” Winn said. “Completing the bond program under budget while maintaining the I&S rate reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility and ensures that every dollar is used wisely to support students and the community.”
Also during the meeting, district leadership provided the board with an update on Goal 2 of the Pathway to Premier strategic plan, which encompasses safety and security. A departmental update on the MISD Police Department was also provided as part of the Goal 2 update.
Montgomery ISD has a dedicated police department staffed with a Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, and at least one full-time officer assigned to every campus. MISD police officers undergo extensive training and carry the same law enforcement authority as sheriff’s deputies, constables, and municipal police officers. Their goal is to create a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff, ensuring that every campus is a place where students can focus on learning and staff can teach with confidence.
“I am extremely proud of the high level of professionalism, preparedness, and dedication consistently demonstrated by the MISD Police Department,” Trustee Shawn Denison said. “Their consistent focus on the safety and well-being of our students and staff is reassuring, and it is always encouraging to see the positive interactions between our campus police officers and students. Those relationships play an important role in creating safe school environments.”
YES Montgomery Recognized For Support of District’s Resource Center
YES Montgomery was honored as an MISD Premier Partner. This designation is awarded to local businesses and organizations that lead with generosity and investment in young people in our community, through support of our schools and educators.
YES Montgomery’s Board President Rich Raun was joined by fellow directors of the organization to accept the Premier Partners recognition for their longstanding support of MISD students.
YES Montgomery is a vital partner of the MISD Resource Center, contributing gift cards to assist students in need through the annual Back to School Bash, donating goods, and offering vital volunteer support—often on short notice.
“November marked the one-year anniversary of the MISD Resource Center, and YES Montgomery has been with us every step of the way,” Community Services Director Courtney Dyer said. “Their partnership has been instrumental in helping us serve families well. From setting up shelving and stocking the food pantry to helping students pick out a new backpack for school, YES Montgomery volunteers can always be counted on for their selfless dedication to our kids.”
In addition to providing consistent support for the Resource Center, YES Montgomery has also contributed funds to cover past-due school lunch accounts. YES Montgomery supports the Specialized Learning Department’s Mission Possible Field Day by providing lunch for all participants. They also partner directly with Creekside Elementary by supplying caps and gowns for Kindergarten graduation, serving as Angel Tree sponsors for 20 families, and offering a tutoring program for approximately 40 students.
National Merit Scholarship Students
The trustees also acknowledged students from both MISD high schools who have earned recognition in the National Merit Scholarship contest.
This competition actually begins in the fall of a student’s junior year, when they take the PSAT. This is their one shot at National Merit qualification.
Nationally, about 34,000 of those students are named Commended Students. About 16,000 are named Semifinalists, resenting the top 1% of test-takers, and will advance to the next phase of the scholarship competition. National Merit Scholars are named each February.
This year MISD has six commended students and one semi-finalist:
LCHS
- Stiles Abbe – Commended
- Julia Louwerens – Commended
- Matthew Fitzgerald – Semifinalist
MHS
- John Hart – Commended
- Elson Chan – Commended
- Luke Chang – Commended
- Brooke Peterson – Commended
The MISD Premier Blog 