New Caney ISD bus route times reduced by up to 35 minutes, officials say
New Caney ISD bus route times have been cut almost in half for some schools, thanks to the district’s tag ID system, transportation officials announced Sept. 15.
What’s happening? On Sept. 10, NCISD buses transported the most students they ever have—10,314 students, which is about half of the district’s total enrollment. Even with the growing number of riders, bus routes have been reduced by:
35 minutes for elementary school routes
30 minutes for middle school routes
20 minutes for high school routes
The verdict: The faster bus route times are due to the district’s requirement that all students who ride buses home from school use a SMART tag ID. The SMART tag IDs give bus drivers seating information for students with one scan, allowing them to cut down loading times, he added.
Kroger premiers multi-department makeover in New Caney
A Kroger grocery store location in New Caney marked the completion of its recent remodel with a celebration on Sept. 12, said Shayna Barrett.
Read all about it: Kroger’s remodel includes new decor and upgrades in the floral, bakery, seafood and produce departments. The store remained open during construction.
The remodel of Kroger’s New Caney location—located within Valley Ranch Town Center—began May 26.
Salad and Go officials confirmed via email the salad chain is closing all of its Houston locations by the end of the day Sept. 19 and will continue to operate stores in the Dallas area.
Quote of note: “We're deeply grateful for our team's contributions and commitment to serving our guests. They've played an impactful role in building Salad and Go, and we're working to provide support to those affected by the closures as we move through this transition,” Salad and Go CEO Mike Tattersfield said.
The details: According to the website, Salad and Go is a drive-thru fast food chain offering affordable salads and wraps. Per the email release, the closures will allow Salad and Go to focus on strengthening the brand while improving quality.
Eligible K-12 students receive free school meals after legislature approves funding
This school year, students who are eligible for reduced-price meals can receive free breakfast and lunch at public schools across Texas.
The overview: During the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
What parents should know: Eligibility for free school meals is determined based on a family’s income through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Families can contact their school district to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. Students who are deemed eligible for reduced-price meals will receive them at no cost through the 2026-27 school year.
What they're saying: “Kids who would have paid a small fee for meals will now receive them at no cost,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “[School] is where we know so many kids get their meals—it is a guaranteed place for kids to have access to free and nutritional meals.”
