Conroe ISD will have a special meeting to interview and potentially vote on appointing a new trustee to the board at 5 p.m. Jan. 13, the district states on its website. 

What to know : The CISD board of trustees on Dec. 16 unanimously approved opening an application process to the public to fill the unexpired term for the vacant trustee Position 1, as previously reported by Community Impact. 

The backstory: The decision comes following the Dec. 9 resignation of trustee Tiffany Baumann Nelson, who was elected to the board in 2022, as previously reported by Community Impact. Nelson is currently campaigning for the Texas State Board of Education District 6 seat in the Republican primary March 3.

Stay tuned: 

• Jan. 13: A special board meeting will be held to interview prospective trustees, and a vote and announcement may occur.

Discovery School of Innovation will introduce a Reggio Emilia–inspired pre-K4 program for 4-year-old students beginning this fall, according to a news release from the school. The new program will expand early childhood education for families in The Woodlands area and surrounding communities, the release said.

What you need to know: The program is grounded in the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, which emphasizes child-led exploration, collaboration, creativity and learning through development of meaningful relationships with nature and the environment, according to the release.

What's next: The pre-K4 program will open this fall at Discovery School of Innovation’s new campus, which will open in August. The school was founded in 2020.

Lone Star College has named Rigoberto J. Rincones Gomez as the next vice chancellor of academic affairs, the college announced in a Jan. 6 news release.

The gist: Rincones will begin Feb. 9 to provide strategic leadership for all academic functions and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal responsibility across the college system. The new vice chancellor joins Lone Star College System from New Mexico State University’s Doña Ana Community College, where he also served as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, according to the release.

Notable quote: “Rincones is a seasoned academic leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing academic innovation, strengthening student learning and supporting institutional effectiveness across community colleges and universities nationwide,” Seelpa Keshvala, LSCS executive vice chancellor of academics, said. "We look forward to working with Dr. Rincones as we continue offering high-quality academic and workforce programs.”

The entertainment lineup for the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was announced Jan. 8 and includes artists such as Lizzo and Tim McGraw.

Read all about it: Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has promoted agriculture and Western heritage through family-friendly experiences, competitions and live entertainment.

This year, Rodeo Houston will run from March 2-22, featuring 20 days of competition in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women’s barrel racing and breakaway roping.

What to expect: On weekdays, NRG Stadium gates for the rodeo open at 6 p.m., with the rodeo starting at 6:45 p.m, according to Rodeo Houston’s website. The entertainer then takes the stage at 9 p.m., depending on the number of rodeo competitors and other production elements.

Less than a month away from when Harris County Commissioners Court will hold a formal public hearing on the Ben Taub Hospital expansion in the Texas Medical Center, members of the Hermann Park Conservancy hosted the first town hall Jan. 7, alongside Harris Health officials, to inform the community about the group’s stance on the proposed land condemnation.

The standing-room-only audience gathered at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at Hermann Park to hear from several city, county and state officials. HPC President and CEO Cara Lambright said Houston already ranks poorly when it comes to park access. 

Quote of note: "Parkland is not replaceable," Lambright said. “It is an endangered species, and once taken, it is generally gone forever."

What happens next?:

• Jan. 29: public hearing of Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code to take place at Harris County Commissioners Court
• February-March: additional review and public comment
• March: Harris County commissioners to vote

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Jan. 5-9.

Latest update: Airport passengers in the Greater Houston area who are also CLEAR members can utilize new biometric eGates aimed at expediting identity verification at both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports, officials announced in December. 

Also of note: Houston-area residents ages 50 and older can explore everything from history and creative writing to hands-on hobbies through Lone Star College System’s Academy for Lifelong Learning, a low-cost program offering classes, activities and social connections across the system’s campuses, as stated in a Lone Star College Dec. 19 news release.

Annual memberships, Sept. 1-Aug. 31, cost $25 per person and provide access to programming across Lone Star College System campuses, the release states.

One more thing: American steakhouse chain Texas Roadhouse is set to bring its menu once again to the Cypress area as construction has began on a new location on West Road near the Grand Parkway.