District Leaders recognized for National Principal Appreciation Month

During the October meeting of the Montgomery ISD school board, trustees approved the guaranteed maximum price of $14.6M for renovations at the MISD Athletic Complex. Prop B, approved in the 2022 bond, will fund the scope of work on the football stadium including flipping the home and visitors sides while adding 2,838 seats and a press box to the new home side. Prop B also adds new concession stands, restrooms, ticket areas, fencing, and an elevator to the home side and replaces the field turf.  

To address other needs outside of the football stadium such as parking and traffic flow, work will be completed to add almost 400 parking spaces while widening and paving the exit road to Lone Star Parkway. Additionally, student-athletes will benefit from renovations to the existing locker rooms and the construction of a new locker room. Safety net upgrades will also be completed at the MHS baseball and softball fields.  

Montgomery ISD Chief Operations Officer Brad Mansfield shared that work at the Athletic Complex will begin at the conclusion of football season and is expected to be complete by the opening of the 2025 football season. PBK Architects created the design for the project, and Stewart Builders will oversee the construction.      

 “We are thrilled that our team was able to develop a plan that is reasonable and conservative while meeting the current and growing needs of our student programs and community,” Board President Matt Fuller said. “The continued emphasis placed on sound fiscal management and scope of work, has continued to allow us to deliver on the projects in the 2022 bond.”  

Mansfield also provided an update on other projects funded by the district’s 2022 bond program. The Phase Two addition at Lake Creek High School and construction of Creekside Elementary are complete with the exception of a few punch list items.  “We are grateful to our partners at Huckabee Architects and Pogue Construction for the thoughtful design and construction of these projects, and to our community for their patience during the construction period,” Mansfield said. “We recognize that this work brought about some temporary challenges and inconvenience, so we appreciate the Creekside and Lake Creek communities for their understanding and flexibility while construction was taking place.” 

Progress at the district’s Career & Technical Education and Ag-Science Center and renovations at Montgomery High School are proceeding on schedule.  Work to modernize the fueling station at Liberty Transportation Center is set to begin this fall.    

Trustees also voted to authorize the purchase of attendance credits should the district be required to pay recapture dollars for the 2024-2025 school year. Each fall, school districts receive notice of whether they owe recapture dollars to the state for the previous school year.  Purchasing attendance credits from the state serves as the mechanism for making a recapture payment. 

School districts that choose not to pay their recapture obligation are subject to the state detaching commercial properties from the district and annexing those properties to neighboring districts, effectively lowering the tax base for a district subject to recapture.   

“Even though the district was not assessed a recapture payment for the 2023-24 school year, discussions around recapture and public school funding are alive and well in Montgomery ISD,” Matt Fuller said.  “In addition to asking our MISD community to consider Prop A to increase our Maintenance & Operations budget on the November ballot, our state lawmakers are returning to Austin for the 89^th Legislative Session in January 2025. We are doing everything in our power to encourage legislative action that will impact school funding. This includes addressing the significant disparity in funding MISD receives per-student versus the state average and increasing the basic per-student allotment to match the current rate of inflation. Our MISD families are dealing with rising costs at every turn, yet the state has not increased the per-student basic allotment since 2019, with a more than $30B state budget surplus.” 

 Trustees also heard a report from MISD Bilingual/ESL Specialist Jennifer DeHart, regarding MISD Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students in 2023-2024. The number of emergent bilingual students enrolled in MISD increased by 14 percent during the 23-24 school year. Emergent bilingual students in MISD continue to make progress in developing English language proficiency, with more students eligible to transition out of the LEP program at the end of the 23-24 school year, compared to years prior. 

“The increase in the number of students able to exit our growing LEP program is a credit to our people, Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “We are fortunate to have remarkable ESL educators who are committed to developing a student’s understanding of English in speaking, reading and writing.”   

Trustees also recognized National Principals Month, thanking MISD’s campus principals for their leadership on campuses and commitment to the district.  

 “As a school board, we love to celebrate our principals,” Trustee Eddie Winn said.  “We are grateful to each of them, for being such impactful leaders, and motivating our students to strive for success. They set a positive tone on every MISD campus, and create a great example for our students, families, teachers and staff members.” 

Montgomery and Lake Creek High Schools recognized for student success

College Board has announced that both Montgomery ISD high schools have been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll for 2024. 

Montgomery High School earned a bronze distinction, with 43% of students taking at least one AP Exam during high school, 26% of students scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 10% of students who took five or more AP Exams. Additionally, Montgomery High School earned the AP Access Award which honors schools that encourage underrepresented minority students to take AP courses.  The AP Access Award demonstrates a clear and effective commitment to ensuring AP coursework is equally available to all students.   

Lake Creek High School earned a silver distinction, with 50% of students taking at least one AP Exam during high school, 36% of students earning college credit by scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 17% of students who took five or more AP Exams.

“We are so proud of our students who take advantage of AP course offerings in Montgomery ISD and for putting in the work to succeed in this impactful program,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said.  “Having both of our high schools named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll acknowledges the outstanding work by our AP kids and the educators who encourage students to participate in our AP programs and support them on their pathway beyond MISD and into college.”

Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. And even for those who don’t earn college credit, advanced coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness.

The Montgomery Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling Proposition A, also known as a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) for Nov. 5, 2024. State law requires that school districts seek voter approval to raise their tax rate above a prescribed amount. Proposition A will allow MISD voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees.

The school district’s total tax rate consists of two parts: Maintenance & Operation (M&O) and Interest & Sinking (I&S). The M&O rate covers general expenses like salaries and instructional costs, while the I&S rate is used to pay off debt for district facilities.

As MISD faces a $4.3 million deficit for the 24-25 school year, Prop A stands to increase the M&O rate by $.0425 which stands to generate over $5.5 million dollars of new revenues to MISD this fiscal year.

The new Montgomery ISD tax rates for the 2024-25 fiscal year are .7169 (M&O) and .3743 (I&S) for a total of $1.0912 per $100 property valuation.  Prior to the 24-25 tax rate adoption, Montgomery ISD has decreased its tax rate every year since 2019, including a $.1802 decrease for 2023.

“MISD is proud that we have decreased the tax rate every year since 2019, even after the passing of the 2022 Bond election. This includes last year’s historic tax decrease of over 18 cents last year and homeowners saw their homestead exemptions increase to $100,000,” Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson said.

“During the 2022 bond campaign, MISD let voters know that a small tax increase may be necessary to support the measure,” Board Vice President Laurie Turner said. “However, due to increased property values, the I&S rate has not increased from the passing of the bond.”

Unlike a bond proposition where funds can only be used for facility construction, renovations, and other capital improvement projects, Prop A would generate revenues for the Maintenance and Operations budget. MISD has never called for a VATRE (Prop A).  

“I want to thank our trustees for the considerable time and effort they’ve committed to arrive at this point – adopting a tax rate that allows our stakeholders to have a voice in the way the school district is funded,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “Prop A provides an opportunity for our community to exercise local control over our funding, something that this district has never done before.”

Prior to calling for Prop A, MISD conducted an efficiency audit that compares revenues and expenditures to 10 peer districts. The findings of the audit provided evidence that MISD receives $1,517 less per student than peer districts and MISD expenditures per student are $898 less than the peer districts.

“The audit findings reinforced what we already knew at MISD. We are already as lean as possible. We get less, and we spend less than other districts,” Board Secretary Eddie Winn said.

The State of Texas has not increased the basic allotment, the amount of money per student, for school districts since 2019, even with inflation at record highs. This puts constraints on the district’s buying power to continue providing a safe, supportive, and secure environment in Montgomery ISD. 

“To be clear, our funding challenges are not limited to the lack of additional funding from the state,” Ruffin said. “Add to that inflation, rising special education costs, and unfunded mandates like HB3 that require districts to have an armed officer on all campuses. Providing officers on all campuses is something we will always commit to, but we received just $240,000 in our safety and security allotment last year, while our MISD Police Department payroll was over a million dollars. We have worked diligently to minimize our deficit without negatively impacting our student programs or our people.”

Of the estimated $5.5 million increase in revenues, 15% comes in the form of additional state aid. Prop A requires the state of Texas to also increase the amount of funding provided to MISD.

MISD has committed to focusing on these three funding priorities for Prop A:

• Recruiting & Retaining High Quality Staff
• Maintaining Student Programs
• Safety & Security

“We are in the people business. Our people are what make MISD the Premier district that it is, and the incredible people within MISD have made an incredible impact on our community over the years,” Ruffin said. “Successful communities go hand in hand with successful school districts.” 

Should Prop A pass, the estimated impact would be $8.85 per month for a home valued at $350,000, the average market value for a home in Montgomery ISD. Taxpayers that are over 65 with a homestead exemption have their school taxes frozen and would not see an increase in taxes due to Prop A.

“I am proud of the dedication and effort of this board,” Board President Dr. Matt Fuller said.  “We are well-informed about the impact of Prop A and the operational costs facing Montgomery ISD. Dr. Ruffin and his team have provided us with a comprehensive overview, presenting all possible scenarios. It’s clear that MISD is not alone in facing financial challenges; many districts across Texas are in similar situations. In 2024, operating costs such as salaries, supplies, insurance, and fuel continue to rise, while state funding for school operations has not kept up—meaning we’re dealing with 2024 expenses but receiving 2019 funding.”

“We truly believe our stakeholders recognize, love, and value the impact Montgomery ISD has on our students and community,” Fuller said. “Our vote tonight to call for Prop A provides those stakeholders a chance to voice in November whether to increase the local revenues for MISD.” 

More information about the Prop A projects, estimated impact, and voting locations will be available on the district website at go.misd.org/PropA.

To register to vote or to find out your registration status, call the Montgomery County Elections Department at 936-539-7843, or visit their website at https://elections.mctx.org/BBM.asp. The last day to register to vote in the November election is Monday, October 7.

Early voting begins Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Cell Phones and DAEP Addressed

At a board workshop this week, MISD trustees reviewed changes to the student handbook for the 2024-2025 school year. As Montgomery ISD students return to school on Thursday, August 15, 2024, there will be a new policy regarding cell phone use on campuses.

“There is ample research available providing valuable insight into the challenges that cell phone use presents to students, teachers, and administrators. After spending the spring listening to teachers, parents, and students, it is clear that we are facing many of those same challenges in Montgomery ISD. Cell phones create a distraction that hinders student learning and academic performance, negatively impacts student discipline, leads to instances of academic dishonesty, and unfortunately provides opportunities for cyber bullying,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “It is our responsibility to ensure that our learning environments provide students and teachers with the best possible opportunity to succeed. Our classroom teachers need help competing with the distractions posed by cell phones, and we believe this policy is a step in the right direction toward reclaiming the learning environment.”

Students in Montgomery ISD will be allowed to have cell phones on campus. However, they are expected to be “away for the day” in backpacks, lockers, or vehicles and turned off to prevent distractions. The cell phone policy update applies to all classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeterias, and any other school property during the school day.

Teachers and school staff will monitor and enforce the policy. Students found in violation of the policy will face disciplinary consequences including phone confiscation, detention, and parental notification.

“As a board, we are confident the new guidelines will limit distractions and disruptions to the learning process, which are often caused by cell phone usage,” Montgomery ISD Board President Dr. Matt Fuller said. “This new expectation empowers our staff to focus on providing engaging instruction and provides academic and social benefits to our students.”

Parents are encouraged to contact the school office in case of emergencies or urgent matters. The school will promptly relay urgent messages to students and ensure they can contact their parent/guardian if needed.

“We understand that in today’s society, our ability to stay connected and communicate with our children provides an incredible sense of comfort for parents,” Ruffin said. “Our goal is to ensure effective lines of communication are available for parents and they feel more confident in the safety, security, and overall well-being of their child.”

This updated cell phone policy aligns with MISD’s 1:1 use of technology in the learning environment. In MISD, every student has access to a district-issued device; they can engage with technology and blended learning without needing their own device. 

Parents will receive information about the policy change via email and are encouraged to talk with their children about the new guidelines before the start of school.      

Trustees also heard updates to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). DAEP is a program adopted by local policy for students in elementary through high school who violate the Student Code of Conduct and are removed from their regular classes and placed in a DAEP.

“DAEP was identified last spring as an area where we need to align our practices to better support our students and staff and ultimately promote an effective discipline management program,” Ruffin said. “Ensuring disciplinary consistency across Montgomery ISD schools is critical. This update will clarify the parameters of a DAEP placement and expectations for students and staff members.”

During a Montgomery Independent School District school board meeting, trustees adopted a $93 million budget for the 2024-2025 school year. MISD leadership anticipates a $4.3 million budget shortfall, which will be paid from the district’s reserves.    

 “Amidst this budget deficit, we have remained committed to protecting the people, programs, and services that make up the premier educational experience for our students. But at some point, something has to give,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “MISD has been negatively impacted by factors outside our control such as inflation, decreases in federal funding through Medicaid reimbursements, a stagnant level of funding provided by the State, and recapture payments we have been forced to send back to the State.”  

The basic allotment, the amount of money the State provides per student, has not increased since 2019, while inflation has risen 22% during that same time period. 

“We have met with our local representatives and legislators about the critical juncture ahead for public education funding heading into the next legislative session,” Ruffin said. “I am thankful that all remain committed to collaboratively working with us to address some of these critical challenges.” 

Earlier this month, the district announced Limited Open Enrollment (LOE) for the 2024-25 school year at select campuses, to generate enrollment-based revenue from the State.  Applications are being considered on a first-come, first-served basis to fill a very limited number of available spaces. Students admitted through LOE are responsible for their own transportation to and from school in Montgomery ISD and must provide documentation of past school attendance and discipline records. “There is only so much of our funding situation that we can control,” Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson said. “The major driver of our state aid is student enrollment.”  

“We knew the budget development process was going to be especially challenging for 2024-2025,” Davidson said. “We have been transparent with our staff, asking every campus and every department to carefully evaluate their spending as we prepared for the new school year. We have worked to renegotiate contracts in our favor and create operational efficiencies across the board. To reduce the budget allotted for substitutes, central office administrators with teaching certifications will be required to serve as substitute teachers once a month. Dr. Ruffin is committed to ensuring we are all in this together.”   

“Because of our past fiscal responsibility, we have been able to absorb these shortfalls without allowing it to take away from the educational experience for our students, ultimately avoiding reductions in force, cutting important programs, or limiting our course offerings,” Ruffin said. “However, if something does not change, there are extremely difficult decisions that we will be forced to explore and consider.” 

Montgomery ISD’s 2024-2025 budget includes a district compensation plan that provides raises for all employees. Individuals on the teacher hiring schedule will receive a $650 raise, and all other employees will receive a 1% salary increase from the midpoint of their position pay grade. 

“I acknowledge that this compensation increase is not as significant as our employees were hoping,” Ruffin said. “I do hope it is understood that in the face of a deficit budget, our board made the decision to continue to support our people. I remain committed to doing all that is possible to provide the resources necessary to ensure an excellent work experience for our staff that results in a premier education for our students.”  

 CFO Ben Davidson pointed to several factors officials had to consider while drafting next year’s budget, including:  

• An existing $2.1 million structural deficit from the 2022-2023 school year   

• Anticipated increases in expenditures due to the opening of Creekside Elementary School  

• Increases to special education populations requiring additional staff 

• A $1.3 million reduction in revenue due to the statewide reduction in Medicaid reimbursements  

“Adopting a deficit budget reinforces our commitment to transparency. It also ensures that from day 1 of our fiscal year we are extremely cognizant and vigilant about our operating expenses and budgetary decisions,” Davidson said. “This budget has been a team effort, and we appreciate the input from our employees and conscientious budget planning from our district leaders.” 

Trustees hear updates on Bond 2022 projects, strategic plan refresh

At the June school board meeting, trustees approved the selection of Dr. Troy Collavo as the new principal at Montgomery High School.

Dr. Collavo has spent the last 10 years in Cy-Fair ISD, most recently serving as the associate principal at Cypress Springs High School for the last 2 years. He has also served as an assistant principal, teacher, and coach within Cy-Fair and Tomball ISD. Dr. Collavo received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was also an all-conference linebacker for the UTEP Miners football team. In 2021, he received his Doctorate in K-12 Professional Leadership from the University of Houston.

Dr. Collavo and his wife Haley have two children, Stella, age 7, and Owen, age 3; they are all excited to join the Montgomery ISD community.

Dr. Collavo’s leadership style is centered on collaboration and data-driven decision making, He believes in working closely with the administrative team, teachers, students, and parents to foster a safe and inspiring learning environment. His dedication to student success is evident in his use of performance data to enhance instruction. He is a strong advocate for educators, ensuring they have the necessary support to provide an excellent school experience for all students.

“Montgomery High School will continue to be a community known for success in and out of the classroom, collaboration and friendship, and understanding that the future is the brightest for those who prepare,” Dr. Collavo said.  “It is and will continue to be a place where students and staff are proud to be a Montgomery Bear.”

“Dr. Collavo is a servant leader who is humble, relatable, and personable which helps him build strong relationships with staff and students,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said.  “At each phase of the interview process, it was clear that his commitment to listening to and supporting staff, ability to connect with students, willingness to be actively involved and engaged in the community, and his leadership experience make Dr. Collavo a great fit to lead MHS.”

The process to select the new leader for MHS included a series of interviews with district leaders and teachers from the school. Parents and staff members were also invited to participate in the search process by sharing their input via a principal’s characteristics survey.

Trustees also heard an update about the district’s strategic plan refresh.

In 2021, Montgomery ISD adopted the Pathway to Premier Strategic Plan. With the input of district stakeholders, the plan was a three-year adoption of performance objectives, KPIs, strategies and initiatives that supported the five goals of the district, in the areas of Academics, School Safety, Finance & Operations, Human Capital, and Communications. 

At the beginning of 2024, MISD set out to refresh the strategic plan. Task Force Committees were again formed around each of the district’s five goals. Staff members, community members and parents volunteered to serve, and members of the original 2021 Task Forces were invited to return. Over the course of the spring semester, the task forces met several times to re-examine district functions and update district performance objectives, key performance indicators, initiatives, and strategies to ensure they are timely and relevant to the students and families MISD serves.

“With an emphasis on transparency and collaboration, the task forces evaluated what has been accomplished and what opportunities need to be explored as we move forward,” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Innovation, Dr. Amy Busby said. “We are grateful for the thorough, thoughtful work of the task force members and excited to share the refreshed plan with our trustees and the MISD community.”

MISD will launch the new plan at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Chief Facilities & Operations Officer Brad Mansfield shared an update about projects funded by the district’s 2022 bond.

Creekside Elementary, the district’s seventh PK-5 campus, and the Phase 2 addition at Lake Creek High School are both nearing completion, on-target to open for the 2024-2025 school year.

“We are very excited to share these bond-funded projects that our community made possible,” Mansfield said. “Students attending our new Creekside Elementary are going to love the safe, innovative learning environment that will be ready for them when we start school in August, and the expansion at Lake Creek is going to make a tremendous positive impact on our students and staff at that campus. We can’t wait for our students and families to see these new spaces.”

New energy efficient lighting and upgraded public announcement systems are being installed at Madeley Ranch, Stewart Creek, and Lone Star Elementary schools this summer. This is the first phase of renovations at these three campuses, with more planned for the summer of 2025. At Montgomery High School, first floor restrooms are being renovated along with several other areas throughout the school. Updated LED lighting is also being installed at MHS. At Keenan Elementary, new flooring is being installed in the hallways and throughout the classroom areas.

The board also approved the purchase of entry resistant security film to be installed at all campuses including the Aquatic Center. The security film is required by the Texas Education Agency and provides a layer of protection to building doors and windows for a prolonged period of time. It also protects students and staff inside the building from flying debris during severe weather events. 

New Principal announced for Stewart Creek Elementary

Two Montgomery ISD trustees were sworn into office during the board’s May 2024 regular monthly meeting.  Montgomery County Judge Wayne Mack administered the oath of office to new trustees Paul E. Cameron IV and Lizzy Ivey, who were elected on May 4, 2024.

Cameron succeeds Trey Kirby in Position 4. Kirby has served on the board since 2015.

“I am honored to have been elected to serve as a member of the Montgomery ISD Board of Trustees,” Paul Cameron said. “I know my education, leadership experience and integrity will lend itself well to the current board and help build a brighter future for our children, teachers and Montgomery Independent School District.  I am excited for this opportunity.”

Ivey succeeds Linda Porten in Position 5. Porten has served on the board since 2018.  

“I am committed to serving our community with integrity, transparency, and dedication,” Ivey said.  “I am eager to work with fellow board members. I intend to seek out and be guided by the input of our educators, parents and community members as we work through important issues that face the district.”

After the administration of the oaths of office, the trustees voted to elect the board leadership positions for the 2024-25 school year.  Trustees selected Dr. Matt Fuller to serve as Board President. Laurie Turner will serve as Board Vice President and Eddie Winn will serve as Board Secretary.

“It is an honor to be selected to lead the Board,” Matt Fuller said. “As Board President, I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees and Dr. Ruffin and continuing our commitment to investing in our people and offering a premier learning experience for all students in Montgomery ISD.”

Fuller succeeds Laurie Turner as Board President, who spent the past year as the Board’s leading officer.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation for Mrs. Turner’s service as Board President,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “Her dedication to our school district is unparalleled. As a former educator, she has a specific understanding of what it takes to work on a campus and support students in the classroom.  She has a heart for teachers and staff, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside her in her capacity as a board trustee.”   

“I also want to express my gratitude to Trey Kirby and Linda Porten for their service as MISD Trustees.” Ruffin said. “As two of our longest-tenured trustees, they have been instrumental in the success of our school district. They have been extremely generous with their time and talent and have worked tirelessly to make Montgomery ISD better for our students and staff members. We will honor all the work they have done and will carry on the standard of excellence they have set, always focused on making decisions to best serve the kids and families in Montgomery ISD.”

Also during the meeting, trustees approved the recommendation of Tiffany Mathews as the new principal at Stewart Creek Elementary School.

“Mrs. Mathews brings to Stewart Creek almost two decades of experience as an educator at all levels K-12,” Ruffin said.  We are confident she will continue the great efforts in place at the campus and use her years of experience to positively impact and support our Stewart Creek students, staff, and families. We are excited to welcome her to Montgomery ISD.”

In addition to serving as a classroom teacher in Alvin ISD, Mathews has an extensive background as an administrator, serving in leadership roles in Alvin, Conroe, Willis and Magnolia ISDs.   

“Throughout my career, I have always prioritized a strong campus culture and building relationships with students and staff,” Mathews said. “Though I am new to Montgomery, I know it is a very special school district, and that Stewart Creek Elementary is an amazing school community that I cannot wait to be part of. I am so excited about the work we will do together.”

Mathews succeeds Michele Salter as Stewart Creek principal. Salter is retiring at the end of this school year, after 28-years in public education, 25 of those as an employee of Montgomery ISD. 

“Mrs. Mathews is an expert in using student performance data to drive instruction and achievement.  She is especially skilled in creating school cultures where data is used as a tool to help both teachers and students succeed,” Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, Carrie Fitzpatrick said.  “We are confident that Mrs. Mathews’ experience and leadership style are going to be a great fit for the Stewart Creek community.”

The trustees also recognized Lake Creek High School senior Julie Moons for earning the title of UIL 5A State Champion in diving. Moons is a 4-Time All American and holds the school record with a score of 502.60. Moons is the first female diver to place first at district, regional and state competitions in the same year and is a member of the National Dive Team.

Additionally, trustees recognized the Montgomery High School MCJROTC Female Raiders Team. This group of dedicated young women placed first in each of their events at the recent MCJROTC Raiders National Competition.