See 8 school construction project updates in Tomball, Magnolia ISDs
Tomball ISD has multiple new schools and facility updates in the works across the district after its $494.46 million bond package in 2021 and a $429.1 million bond package in 2025. Meanwhile, Magnolia ISD has recently opened two new schools.
Creekside Park Junior High School addition Project: This project will expand Creekside Park Junior High School by building a two-story addition for fifth graders in the 2026-27 school year for $39 million. The project is part of TISD's bond package that was passed in 2021.
Location: 8711 Creekside Green Drive, The Woodlands
Timeline: Completion anticipated in August 2026
Magnolia Parkway Intermediate School Project: The new school serves up to 1,200 students in fifth and sixth grade. Update: The intermediate school, which was part of the November 2022 bond election, opened in August, district officials confirmed Aug. 22.
Terrarium Plant House in downtown Tomball to get new mural
A new mural will be painted on the repaired side of Terrarium Plant House’s building in downtown Tomball, owner Emily Wetegrove confirmed.
The details: The mural, painted by artist Hannah Bull Chapman, will feature the shop’s birds Charlie and Finn, alongside a terrarium scene, Wetegrove said. The mural is anticipated to be completed by the end of September.
Montgomery County commissioners approve November election voting locations
During its Sept. 9 meeting, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved voting locations for the Nov. 4 election.
What this means: Registered voters in Montgomery County can utilize any of the 57 polling locations to cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4, according to the agenda item.
Those who will hold elections in conjunction with the county will also use these locations.
‘Please put justice first’: Harris County district judges warn of ‘Harvey’-level court backlog amid budget cuts
An increasing jail population, slower case processing and increasing court backlog delays are among the potential consequences Harris County judges and other judicial officials warned commissioners about Sept. 9 if several initiatives go unfunded.
The context: Harris County commissioners and department leaders are weighing how to offset at least $102 million in cuts before adopting the fiscal year 2025-26 budget on Sept. 18.
More details: Harris County Criminal Court Judge Stacy Barrow serves on the 487th district court and asked Commissioners Court to fund $2.2 million toward the associate judge program, which covers 12 staff positions and serves several court functions, judges said, including assisting with case processing, handling bond cases and covering court dockets during weekends and holiday shifts.
“Our request today is [for] Commissioners Court is to partner with us in progress to fund the felony associate judge program for an additional year in response to the shift in [the] criminal justice landscape," Barrow said.
PREVIEW: Harris Health, Commissioner Ramsey to host Sept. 10 town hall
Harris Health and the office of Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3 Tom Ramsey will host a town hall meeting Sept. 10 to share updates and resources with the community.
The gist: The event will feature updates from Ramsey’s office as well as Harris Health, which will provide information on the $2.5 billion bond projects aimed at expanding access to quality health care in Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods. The Sheila Jackson Lee Center for Accelerating Health Outcomes will also present on current initiatives to address health disparities and access to health resources.
A panel discussion and Q&A session focused on nutrition security and heart health will round out the evening.
The meeting is free and open to the public. It will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Trini Mendenhall Community Center on 1414 Wirt Road, Houston.
Cellphone ban, library materials: 8 new Texas laws impacting public schools
When Texas students returned to school in August, some substantial changes awaited them.
The overview:
House Bill 2 increases state funding for public schools by $8.4 billion.
House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices throughout the school day.
Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for students to receive "medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment" on campus.
Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more oversight of library materials.
House Bill 6 gives teachers more discretion to remove repeatedly disruptive or violent students from class.
Senate Bill 10 requires most schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Senate Bill 11 allows districts to set aside time for students and staff to pray or read religious texts at school.
Senate Bill 965 codifies school employees' rights to "engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty."
The context: The sweeping changes come after lawmakers passed what state leaders have called “transformative” education laws during this year’s regular legislative session, which ended June 2.
