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When Sam Houston State University finishes its estimated $13 million-$14 million renovation to The Woodlands Center, nearly 25% more nursing students will be admitted per cohort, said Dr. Devon M. Berry, director of SHSU’s School of Nursing.

The gist: Once the expansion is completed in fall 2029, the school’s total enrollment will have grown by around 70%, increasing to a total headcount of around 720—up from 425.

Quote of note: “We’re just responding to the need in Texas for nurses,” Berry said. “For us to be ... responsive to that, we wanted to find a way to increase our enrollment.”

Some context: Texas is projected to need 307,520 registered nurses by 2038, and a shortage in licensed vocational nurses is projected to begin in 2028, per the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.

At this drive-thru only location, customers will be able to enjoy menu fan favorites like the Waygood Latte, James Brown or the Seaside Shakerato, a salted vanilla shaken espresso with an extra espresso shot.

Before you go: Jalili said after its soft opening, the coffeehouse plans to celebrate its new home in the community with “Waygood Week,” a seven-day promotion where customers will be able to meet the team, purchase half-off drinks and participate in prize raffles.

• Opening in late June
• 3713 College Park Drive, Conroe

At their June 23 regular board meeting, the Montgomery ISD board of trustees adopted a balanced budget of $108.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

The breakdown: MISD Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson presented the approved budget for FY 2026-27. As part of the newly approved budget, MISD emphasized key issues, including employee compensation for the upcoming fiscal year.

What you need to know: As previously reported, the MISD employee compensation plan includes a a $2,100 pay increase for teachers and employees on the teacher hiring schedule and a 3% minimum pay increase for all other district employees. Along with the pay raise, the district approved $221,000 in employee stipends.

Also included in the budget are multiple new hires, including:

• Additional assistant principals at Montgomery Junior High, Montgomery and Creekside elementary schools
• Four special education teachers and eight special education paraprofessionals
• A K-12 science coordinator
• A speech-language pathologist

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There are several events to attend in the Conroe and Montgomery area this weekend. Check them out below. This is not a comprehensive list, and events are subject to change.

‘1776’ presented by The Players Theatre Company
The Players Theatre Company presents “1776,” the Tony Award-winning musical celebrating the creation of the Declaration of Independence.

• June 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; June 28, 2 p.m.

• $21-$30

• The Owen Theatre, 225 Metcalf St., Conroe

Melissa DiVietri Book Signing
Author and disability advocate Melissa DiVietri will be signing copies of her books “A Tale of a Service Animal” and “The ABCs of Disability Etiquette.”

• June 26, 1-3 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• Barnes and Noble, 2920 I-45 N., Conroe

America Walk 250: Picnic at the Park
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park will be hosting the America Walk 250 event alongside a community barbecue fundraiser, where all proceeds will help support veteran outreach programs. Face painting, photo booths, barbecue and balloon artists will be among the offerings.

• June 27, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Free (admission)

• 1776 Freedom Blvd., Conroe

In a June 9 special meeting, Montgomery ISD’s board of trustees approved plans for an in-depth renovation project set to take place at Montgomery High School. This moves project developers one step closer to fully maximizing the school’s existing space and updating outdated facilities, according to the showcased presentation.

The details: The now-greenlit plans revealed that the east wing of MHS, or the east campus, will serve as the main sector for renovations, with only a small portion of the west campus involving the installation of a threshold.

The project will address the current conditions of the district’s Education Support Center—the central hub for all functions related to MISD’s administrative and support services—which happens to be near MHS grounds.

Looking ahead: The estimated completion date for construction is mid-October, per officials’ presentation. District personnel and all ongoing operations at ESC are expected to fully transition into the renovated spaces at MHS by the end of 2026.

The May Housing Market Update from the Houston Association of Realtors reports pending single-family home sales in the Greater Houston area are at their highest point since May 2022.

However, there has been a slight decline in closings and total sales since last May, data shows.

By the numbers: Single-family home sales fell by 3.2%, with 8,631 homes sold in May compared to the 8,915 sold last May. Meanwhile, home prices grew 0.4%, bringing the median price to $340,000.