Tomball ISD has disclosed its required report on the district's bilingual language program and student progress. Emergent bilingual students currently make up 14% of the district population.

About the department: The district offers one- and two-way dual language tracks for grades K through 6, with the one-way path also available to pre-K students. It also offers content-based English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for grades PK-8, and ESL pull-out for grades 9-12. More than 77 languages are spoken throughout the district, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Urdu and Arabic.

Program enrollment and campus breakdowns include:

• 384 students at Canyon Pointe Elementary School

• 338 students at Tomball High School

• 315 students at Rosehill Elementary School

• 243 students at Tomball Memorial High School

• 143 students at Early Excellence Academy

Based on STAAR test scores, 76% of bilingual students in the district scored at or above the approaching level in all subjects.

Magnolia will solicit bids from accounting firms to conduct an in-depth audit of its spending, with officials expressing hope that the review will provide clues for how to strengthen Magnolia’s financial footing and prevent future use of utility money to balance the budget.

How we got here: The city council approved moving forward on the audit at its Oct. 13. meeting. Council member Raymond Gaskin called for the examination after expressing concern at the city’s last council meeting that Magnolia for several years has been balancing its budget using transfers from water and wastewater utility funds.

Items worth mentioning: Mayor Christopher Blair said the council intends to leave a position on the city council vacant until Magnolia's next council election in May.

In a 3-1 vote Tuesday, the council approved asking the city’s economic and community development boards to review whether Economic Development Director Rachel Steele violated any ethics policy for failing to provide detailed financial records council member Gaskin requested.

American Express announced plans on Oct. 8 to expand and renovate its existing Centurion Lounge at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The details: The project will nearly triple the lounge's current space from 8,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet and is expected to be complete by 2028.

Upgrades at the Houston airport lounge will include:

• A new Blue Roast by American Express Coffee and Wellness Bar

• A specialty dining area with rotating plated dishes and a signature buffet

• A second full-service bar with craft cocktails and a curated wine selection

• Refreshed restrooms, premium shower suites and various seating areas

Some context: This expansion is part of a larger investment by American Express. The company also plans to expand and upgrade its lounge at Philadelphia International Airport, open a new lounge at Newark Liberty Airport and open a second lounge at London Heathrow Airport.