Latest update: Cuellar signed his contract as SISD’s new superintendent during the trustees’ regular meeting on Sept. 9. He was selected as the lone finalist for SISD’s superintendent position Aug. 18, but districts are required to wait 21 days between naming a lone finalist and hiring a superintendent.
Notable quote: “I’m elated—thank you for your confidence in me during such a critical time for SISD,” Cuellar said. “I want to sincerely thank you for believing in me. To our families: I do not take this charge lightly. I promise you my full commitment to treat every child as if they were my own. We are destined for greatness, and I am both hopeful and excited for the future of SISD.”
Lone Star College enrollment up 5.9% from last year, with more than 97,000 students
Lone Star College System’s enrollment numbers are 5.9% higher than they were in fall 2024 and 15.9% higher than a decade ago, according to a Sept. 10 news release.
“We celebrate the fact that more students are choosing to call Lone Star College System home. However, our primary focus is not on boosting enrollment but on improving student outcomes through high-quality education,” LSCS Executive Vice Chancellor Seelpa Keshvala said in the release.
Breaking it down: According to the news release, enrollment is at an all-time high this fall with 97,294 students. 29,860 students are new to the college, while 32.5% of students are full-time and 67.5% are part-time.
Quote of note: “Regardless of their background, we want to help our students get from where they are to where they want to be,” Keshvala said. “We are striving to remove barriers, increase retention and completion, and embrace innovation to inspire growth and excellence in higher education.”
Houston single-family home sales jump nearly 12% in August, inventory up over 30%
The gist: Single-family home sales rose 11.9% compared to the same time last year in August, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ August 2025 Housing Market Update released Sept. 10. The number of homes available was also reported to be 30.4% above last year’s number. While sales and available homes numbers were higher, home prices didn’t show as much change this August compared to last year. The median sales price remained almost unchanged at $335,000, according to the report.
What they’re saying: “August brought the strongest sales gains we’ve seen so far this year, and that’s encouraging for both sides of the market,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said. “Buyers have more choices and negotiating power than they’ve had in more than a decade while sellers continue to benefit from solid demand. As mortgage rates continue to ease, I anticipate buyer activity will remain solid in the coming months.”
More notice required for public meetings under new Texas law
Cities, counties and school district boards across Texas are required to provide more notice for public meetings under a new state law aimed at increasing public participation in government affairs.
The details: Local government agencies must post meeting notices at least three business days in advance of the meeting, meaning weekends and holidays do not count toward the minimum posting period.
House Bill 1522, which became law Sept. 1, increases the notice requirement from 72 hours.
The law change is part of “an effort to promote government transparency and citizen participation,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said during a May 13 legislative hearing.
The local impact: Some city and county governments across Community Impact’s coverage areas are changing their meeting schedules to comply with the new law, including:
Bastrop City Council
Conroe City Council
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court
Montgomery County Commissioners Court
The Woodlands Township
The new law does not dictate when local governments hold meetings, as long as they meet the three-day posting requirement.
