'To be the best is not a surprise': Katy, Lamar Consolidated ISDs lay out plans for continued academic success
Katy and Lamar Consolidated ISD officials have recently unveiled plans to build on gains in their state ratings, with the districts scoring an 88 and tying as one of the top five largest districts in the state, per the Texas Education Agency’s 2024-25 A-F accountability scores.
LCISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens said at the Aug. 26 board meeting that the goal is to raise campus ratings until “all campuses are A campuses,” while officials laid out plans to implement improvement plans at campuses rated C or lower.
KISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said the district’s success is the result of targeted interventions and a districtwide commitment to student growth.
"To be the best is not a surprise, but it’s also not taken for granted,” he said at the Aug. 18 board meeting.
Some context: KISD grew from 77% to 83%, while LCISD grew from 64% to 95% in the percentage of campuses earning a career, college and military readiness credit from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Looking ahead: Both districts have begun district intervention at low-performing campuses.
TIRR Memorial Hermann celebrates grand opening of Katy pediatric center
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Memorial Hermann celebrated the grand opening of its pediatric outpatient rehabilitation center in Katy on Sept. 10.
Zooming in: The 5,000-square-foot pediatric center, located in Medical Plaza 3, has already started bringing rehabilitation services to children and families in the west Houston and Katy area, said Rhonda Abbott, TIRR Memorial Hermann senior vice president and CEO.
The facility, which can accommodate 20 to 30 children at a time, has a full interdisciplinary team that can provide comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation for a plethora of conditions, including:
Neurological conditions
Oncology-related rehabilitation
Developmental delays
Genetic conditions
Multitrauma recovery
Post-orthopedic surgery care
Sensory integration disorder
Spina bifida, torticollis, dysautonomia and medically fragile conditions
Notable quote: “The ability to bring this type of specialized pediatric rehabilitation to the Katy community, which is where my family also lives, is just so important to the patients and families in the area,” Abbott said. “They don't have access to this type of care and now it's right here, able to meet their needs.”
‘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.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.
Local Spot has opened its doors next to Adventure Island Pool in Cross Creek Ranch.
The new venture from Eat Local Concepts, which owns several Local Table locations in the Greater Houston area, aims to provide casual fare, classic bar bites and craft cocktails as well as menu favorites from Local Table, Community Impact reported.
🌮 Tacos El Sabor Callejero now serving Mexican cuisine in Kingwood (Read more)
🆕 Missouri City gets a taste of Hong Kong with no tipping required (Read more)
😋 Margarita Jones looks to open by end of September (Read more)
🍕 Bite Pizza Co. brings South Asian fusion to Sugar Land (Read more)
Designed to remind customers of a Parisian evening or a Bordeaux tasting room, Chateau Bellecru serves a curated selection of wines from vineyards across France, according to the business’s website.
The chateau sits near the intersection of I-10 and Studemont Street, hosting wine tastings and private celebrations, among other experiences.
The menu posted online states that a selection of red and white wines is updated weekly. The wine bar also offers rosé wines and nonalcoholic options as well as a selection of appetizers, including pastries and charcuterie boards.
