HTX-CYP: Impact 11/11/2025

There are several events going on in the Cy-Fair area this holiday season including Festival of Trees and Light of The Towne. Here are a few: 

• Nov. 22, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
• $6 (cash entry)
• 8877 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress

• Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Dec. 6, 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 7, 1 and 4:30 p.m.
• $25-$35 (admission)
• CFISD Visual and Performing Arts Center, 11420 Matzke Road, Cypress

Cy-Fair ISD will offer three virtual learning options to students in fourth and fifth grade and ninth through 12th grade for the 2026-27 academic year, according to a Nov. 6 presentation to the board of trustees.

In a nutshell: The new Virtual Pathways program consists of three options, including full-time asynchronous online learning, partially remote flex learning for high school upperclassmen, and tuition-based supplemental courses taken outside of the school day, per the presentation. Texas Senate Bill 569 allows school districts to receive average daily attendance funding for students in virtual programs, meaning virtual enrollment will not hurt CFISD's annual funding, Virtual Pathways Director Meredith Akers told the board of trustees.

Quote of note: “Something I’m really excited about and proud to share is that our program is not going to be an outside curriculum,” Akers said. “It’s going to be our Cy-Fair [ISD] curriculum, taught by Cy-Fair teachers ... and that’s not what you get with every virtual school out there.”  

The filing period to run in the 2026 primary elections is now open, according to Harris County officials. Here are the positions that will be on the March 2026 ballot.

What we know: According to the Texas Secretary of State, the filing period for individuals seeking to run for public office in the March 2026 primary elections openedon Nov. 8. In Harris County, several local races will be on the ballot on top of races for state representative and state senator, including:

• District Clerk
• County Clerk
• County Treasurer
• County Commissioner, Precinct 2
• County Commissioner, Precinct 4

• Age
• Citizenship status
• Voter registration status

Gov. Greg Abbott announced his bid for a fourth gubernatorial term Nov. 9, laying out an ambitious six-pronged plan to make “out-of-control property taxes finished in Texas.”

The details: Abbott's goals include eliminating property taxes charged by public school districts, which make up the majority of an average homeowner’s property tax bill. Some conservative groups and lawmakers pushed for an end to school property taxes during recent state legislative sessions.

The governor’s plan to limit local tax increases includes:

• Limiting annual local government spending
• Requiring approval from two-thirds of local voters for all tax hikes
• Allowing local residents to petition for an election to roll back tax rates
• Requiring property appraisals to occur once every five years
• Capping appraisal increases at 3% per year, down from 10% today
• Asking voters to eliminate school property taxes