Judson ISD is looking to close three elementary schools in the 2026-27 school year to curb at $37 million budget shortfall.

The board is considering closing Ed Franz Leadership Academy, Park Village Blended Learning Academy and Rolling Meadows Elementary following a recommendation from district administration during a special board meeting on Feb. 21. Board President Monica Ryan was absent from the meeting.

The board of trustees will have another special board meeting Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. to take action on the elementary schools they are considering closing.

What we know: The recommendation is based on the district-wide distribution of students, school proximity, growth, enrollment projections and future repurposing, according to the meeting presentation.

Although district boundaries would have to be redrawn, the board presentation inferred that students attending Ed Franz would go to the Fine Arts Academy at Olympia or Crestview Elementary. Students attending Park Village Blended Learning Academy would go to Hartman or Paschall Elementary. Students attending Rolling Meadows would go to Selma Elementary.

A Ford dealer in Northeast San Antonio, which has been in operation for over a century, has expanded with a brand-new service center.

What’s happening: Jordan Ford—an automotive dealership located in Northeast San Antonio—officially unveiled a new 50,000-square-foot service center on Feb. 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

What’s special about it? The Jordan Ford Pro Elite Commercial Service Center will service both Ford and non-Ford makes and models, Jordan Ford corporate representatives said at the ribbon cutting.

This includes Class 1-7 commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, and they will be able to drive right into the facility.

Technicians at the new service center will be specifically trained to work on commercial vehicle fleets, allowing business owners easier access to repair services, officials said.

Quote of note: “Technicians are trained specifically on Ford’s commercial platforms, giving local businesses direct access to professionals familiar with the unique needs of fleet-grade vehicles,” the release states.

• 13328 Toepperwein Road, San Antonio

Pinto Ranch, an upscale American Western clothing company, has opened its newest location at The Shops at La Cantera.

The details: Located next to Nordstrom, the store offers custom-crafted cowboy boots, hats, jewelry, furs, and western-inspired brands, such as Stetson, Double D Ranch, and Petite Paloma, a news release states. Additional brands include Black Jack, William Henry, Tecovas and American Hat Company. The store also sells belts, belt buckles, bolo ties, cufflinks, wallets, handbags and scarves.

“It is a privilege to bring the Pinto Ranch experience to The Shops at La Cantera. The center is an exceptional fit for our brand as it allows us to share our passion for Western style with a new multi-cultural audience who appreciates quality, authenticity and timeless design,” Shannon Stephenson, director of operations for Pinto Ranch, said in the news release.

• 15900 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio

Check out this roundup of 16 business updates in San Antonio, from new restaurants to expansions and more.

Now open
Snooze Mattress + Wellness
The mattress seller offers beds, accessories and more, using technology to analyze body position and contact points to fit each customer.

• 13111 San Pedro Ave., Ste. 101, San Antonio

• 13440 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio

• 11267 Huebner Road, San Antonio

• Exact location TBA, Southtown, San Antonio

During an arctic blast last month, the Texas power grid remained stable throughout the storm and the state came away largely unscathed. The Lone Star State has not seen widespread blackouts since February 2021, when millions of Texans lost power and nearly 250 people died.

The response: In Uri’s wake, state lawmakers and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas made changes to restructure ERCOT’s governing board, mandate earlier public alerts during tight grid conditions and require that energy providers “weatherize” their facilities to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Roughly 40,000 megawatts of power—enough to serve about 10 million residential customers—have been added to the grid since 2021 and the state’s energy supply has become more diverse.

Looking ahead: State leaders have expressed confidence that the grid would hold up during “a storm similar to Uri.” Yet some energy analysts caution that rapidly rising electric demand, driven by the construction of new data centers throughout Texas, means challenges may still lie ahead.