District officials are expected to direct their focus to improving student performance, increasing attendance rates and supporting disadvantaged students in the coming school year. 

McKinney ISD trustees approved the District and Campus Improvement Plan for the 2026-27 school year at an Oct. 19 meeting. 

The specifics: A few goals outlined by MISD officials for the 2026-27 school year are to: 

• Increase the percentage of 3rd grade students who score “meets grade level” or higher on the reading STAAR exam from 62% to 70%

• Increase the percentage of 3rd grade students who score “meets grade level” or higher on the math STAAR exam from 52% to 60%

• Have 90% of graduating students meet one measure of college, career or military readiness

• Increase district-wide attendance from 95% to 96%

• Reduce time students spend out of the classroom due to discipline by 10%

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant Blue Olive Grill is expected to permanently close Nov. 30, owner and operator Waleed Farah said.

The details: The planned closure was prompted by an increase in rent, Farah said. The restaurant has been in operation for 12 years and offers lunch and dinner. Menu items include pita wraps, gyros, kebabs, curries and biryanis.

Also of note: A fundraising effort is underway that would support transitioning the restaurant from a brick-and-mortar location to a food truck, Farah said.

• 2414 W. University Drive, McKinney

Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm election started Oct. 19, while Frisco ISD introduced a new fare-based busing service. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. Frisco ISD introduces fare-based busing at 29 campuses

2. Early voting begins Oct. 19: Here is what Collin County residents need to know

3. Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Place 2 on the Collin Central Appraisal District board

4. Q&A: Meet the candidates running for the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors

5. India Bazaar opens new store on Frisco, Prosper border

6. Avelo Airlines adds 2 more Florida destinations from DTX

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the capitol and in budget documents.

Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.