On May 5, the Magnolia ISD board held a budget workshop, during which it reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget and expenses. The board also reviewed new ways to support teacher retention, including a new 401(a) plan and a teacher pay raise described as “aggressive” by Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris.

Breaking it down: A 401(a) program is an employer-sponsored retirement account that holds employee contributions similarly to a standard 401(k), Morris said. The employer would set certain parameters to qualify and contribute money to the program. This, in turn, helps motivate employees to prepare for retirement and stay loyal to their position in the organization, Morris said.

Morris said that once an MISD teacher reaches 10 years of employment with the district, they would automatically be inserted into the district's 401(a) program. 

Morris said the district, going into FY 2026-27, anticipates a balanced budget. Next year's district tax rate is estimated to decrease by around $0.042, to a total tax rate of $0.9163 per $100 valuation.

A new bookstore, The Peddler's Pack Book Co., is set to open its doors along Main Street in Tomball, owner Jacky Schaaf confirmed. Schaaf, who is a Tomball resident, said she wants to be part of what makes Tomball “cozy and memorable.”

The details: The Peddler's Pack Book Co. will carry a variety of new and used books, alongside gift items such as mugs, tote bags, stationary and vinyls. Schaaf also said they are going to be working through the permitting process to be able to provide coffee, tea and eventually prepackaged snacks.

Quote of note: “This is intended to be a community space, I encourage folks to seek me out in the shop and chat about what they would like to see stocked. ... Let's make it great together. As much as this is me realizing a dream, it's about building something to bring people together in a space that's comfy and inviting,” Schaaf said.

• 408 W. Main St., Tomball

The city of Tomball will sell four police vehicles to Montgomery ISD’s Police Department following Tomball City Council approval at its May 4 meeting.

Some context: This is the third time the city has sold vehicles to MISD—in 2024, six vehicles were sold to the district, and in 2025, four vehicles were sold to MISD.

More details: The vehicles will be sold for $3,000 each for a total of $12,000, per the agenda packet.

Graduates of Lone Star College System's fall, spring and summer courses for the 2025-26 school year will receive diplomas at ceremonies to be held May 9-16, according to a May 4 news release from the college system.

The overview: Eleven graduation ceremonies will be held for LSCS's Class of 2026 students, according to the release. Graduates will be receiving diplomas and certifications such as:

• Baccalaureate
• Associate
• Workforce and certificates
• GED completion
• Early College High School completion

As health care costs continue rising in Texas and across the nation, state lawmakers are working to understand the factors that make health care unaffordable and what can be done to rein in prices.

The big picture: About 5.2 million Texans, or 16.7% of the state’s population, did not have health insurance in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

For years, advocates have called on Texas lawmakers to pass laws to drive down health care costs and improve access to health insurance. During a two-day hearing April 30 and May 1, a Texas House committee examined why health care costs are rising. Lawmakers will discuss potential policy solutions later this year, committee chair Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said.

What's happening: Yale University professor Zack Cooper said that since 2000, U.S. health care spending has grown three times faster than inflation. The average health insurance premium for a family of four is $27,000 per year, he said.

“Every family is basically buying a new Toyota Corolla worth of health insurance," Cooper told lawmakers.