Conroe ISD names David Vinson as lone finalist for superintendent post
The Conroe ISD board of trustees named David Vinson as the lone finalist for CISD’s superintendent of schools in a unanimous vote during a special board meeting Aug. 27. The decision follows a three-month search to fill the position.
What you need to know: Vinson has been the superintendent for Wylie ISD since 2011, which has over 19,300 students and 20 campuses. In comparison, CISD serves over 73,000 students across 71 campuses.
How we got here: Superintendent Curtis Null left the district after 25 years to take the superintendent post in Lake Travis ISD, as previously reported by Community Impact at the beginning of May. The Woodlands High School principal, Ted Landry, was named interim superintendent May 19 following a 7-0 vote and began his position June 1. The Superintendent Search Plan, the search process for the district’s new superintendent, began in June.
What happens next: The CISD board of trustees can officially vote to hire Vinson as CISD’s superintendent after a 21-day waiting period, according to the news release.
The Home Depot files plans for work at new site in Conroe
The Home Depot has filed plans for work at a new site in Conroe, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The details: Construction is expected to begin in September 2025 and wrap up in October 2026, according to the filing. The project has an estimated cost of $17 million. Details are subject to change.
With more than 2,300 stores across North America, The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, according to the company’s website
Northeast corner at the intersection of FM 1314 and Hwy. 242, Conroe
Montgomery County approves agreement with Texas Tech University for jail health services
Montgomery County commissioners approved an interlocal agreement Aug. 26 with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to provide professional health care services to adults in custody at the Montgomery County Jail.
In a nutshell: The five-year contract will take effect Nov. 1 and is valued at $8.1 million in the first year, increasing annually to $9.5 million in the fifth year, according to agenda documents. First Assistant County Attorney Amy Davidson said the agreement is nonexclusive and was heavily negotiated.
Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said the agreement will expand services at the jail, including the addition of a full-time psychiatrist, which the facility currently lacks. He said the program is expected to save the county about $300,000 in the first year while improving safety and professionalism.
Doolittle said that working with a state university instead of a for-profit provider will improve stability and help pursue grants and cost-saving projects to support jail operations.
Harris County authorities to crack down on DUIs during Labor Day weekend
An interagency crackdown on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs in the Houston area began Aug. 28 for the extended Labor Day weekend, Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen announced.
The gist: Constable Precinct 1 deputies and officers from other law enforcement agencies will be out across Harris County to find and arrest drivers under the influence, according to a news release.
Notable quote: “The number of people killed or injured by drunk or drugged drivers remains at a scandalously high level in Harris and surrounding counties,” Rosen said. “On this last of this year’s extended summer weekends, due to Labor Day observances, I urge everyone to refrain from this deadly kind of driving, for their own sake and the public’s.”
Amid Democratic criticism, Texas lawmakers vote to overhaul STAAR and launch new tests in 2027
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature have voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system, putting public school students one step closer to taking new exams in the 2027-28 school year.
The details: House Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace it with three shorter tests, which students would take at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.
Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again." The majority of House Democrats and a few Republicans disagreed, arguing Aug. 26 that the bill would increase the amount of time students spend on exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the Texas Education Agency.
Next steps: After state senators passed HB 8 with a 21-7 vote Aug. 27, the bill returned to the House for consideration of a Senate amendment. If House lawmakers sign off on the changes, HB 8 will be sent to the governor.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.
According to an Aug. 21 release, Local Public Eatery opened a new location at Market Street in The Woodlands, marking the concept’s first Houston location and second Texas location. The 5,140-square-foot space features curated artwork, vintage lighting and cozy area rugs, according to the release. The space also offers a screen at the bar for sports and a wrap-around patio with a retractable roof, intimate dining spaces and a central deck bar.
At the bar, customers can find a large selection of beer, wine and hand-crafted cocktails like the Spicy Guava Margarita. Local Public Eatery offers comfort food classics including fried chicken ramen, loaded potatoes and barbecue rice bowls.
🧇 The Waffle Bus now serving waffle sandwiches in Bridgeland (Read more)
😋 2 new restaurants coming to The Woodlands from chefs Austin Simmons and Aaron Bludorn (Read more)
🍖 Fire Craft BBQ brings Texas-style eats to Kingwood (Read more)
🆕 Amanecer Mexican Cafe to add authentic comfort meals to Heights palate (Read more)
The coastal eatery has two locations in Memorial City and River Oaks, with plans for a third restaurant to open in Rice Village this fall. Known for its raw bar selection and seafood, Liberty Kitchen recently announced the opening of its third location off Morningside Drive in an Aug. 6 social media post. A few customer favorites on the menu include the Chesapeake crab balls, buttermilk lobster bites and char-grilled Gulf oysters. The restaurant also offers sushi and sashimi cuts such as tuna poke, citrus chili salmon Scottish sashimi and black truffle hamachi.
