Principal Dr. Terri Benson formed the Principal Advisory Council of teacher recommended students on March 20 with intent to receive direct student feedback on campus decision making. The council meets every other week on Thursday.

“The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to provide an avenue for student voice to guide the principal in decisions that affect the students of Caney Creek High School,” Benson said. “Student-led change at Caney Creek that enhances the school experience for all students is the ultimate goal for this committee. This is the most efficient and effective way to use the student voice to make change for the better.”

Discussed Topics

Today the council held their second meeting where they addressed student rezoning, 9th grade campus allocation and lunch line reduction. The meeting first discussed the student rezoning following the Timber Mill High School’s opening in August 2027.

Caney Creek and Conroe High’s feeder zone will be distributed to Timber Mill feeder. As of now Caney Creek is at about 2,700 students, while the estimated capacity is only 2,600. Under scenario 2.1.1, Caney Creek is projected to rezone about 700 students, which would drop the school from the 6A district to 5A. 

“It’ll definitely help with hallway traffic and lunch lines like, that’s a problem on its own,” Council member Riley Blanks said. “However, it’s sad to think about how we’re actually doing okay right now in 6A. We’re putting in a ton of work to compete in 6A. So to be dropped down to 5A is just kind of devastating.”

The introduction of the ninth grade campus is scheduled to open that same month. Ninth grade level teachers will be relocated to the building, no new staff are expected to be hired. What classes are to transfer and what are to stay was highly debated. English I teacher Josie Kline who’s kids attended a ninth grade campus looks forward to the move.

“It was more quiet, there was less hustle and bustle,” Kline said. “And they’re just kind of with their friends, and I feel like it was a necessary step before high school. I think they felt safe, they felt comfortable, and they kind of didn’t have to experience peer pressure (from upperclassmen).”

Ninth graders will have shuttle buses available to the main campus during the first and seventh period, intended for extracurricular activities not offered at their building. However, some extracurricular activities discussed holding freshman-only teams in the new campus instead of shuttling, including band; which council member Addison Blanks argued against.

“Freshmen will not grow as musicians until a year later,” Blanks said. “Because they’re not surrounded by people to compete with, they’re going to be stagnant. I believe one of the greatest ways to get better is to have people pushing you.”

Benson plans to simulate these changes through next school year’s schedule. Freshman will be restricted to the ninth grade wing of the school, which will now hold all classes offered at the new campus. Additionally, Sophomores who failed a ninth grade class will retake the class from volunteering 10th grade and higher teachers.

The meeting wrapped up by addressing student complaints of long lunch lines. The council offered Benson solutions such as barriers to prevent line cutting and relocating snack purchasing to a mobile cart, away from the primary lines; all are yet to be decided.

Students are encouraged to give their feedback on discussed topics via the forum here.