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Bay Area Edition VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5 DEC. 22, 2023 JAN. 31, 2024
ARPA fund deadlines looming for counties
A stormwater project on Jackson Avenue in Bacli is one of the many transportation projects Galveston County is funding using federal dollars from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.
RACHEL LELAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Galveston, Harris counties spent millions on operations, sta ng and infrastructure
Harris County, for example, still has $158 million of its $915.5 million unallocated. Meanwhile, because this money is a one-time source, any inde nite programs or positions funded by ARPA will have to be supported using other revenue sources or risk going away.
$66.5 million and used the bulk of it on county operations, health, jobs and education, county o cials said. However, deadlines are approaching for ARPA funds, as governing bodies have to allocate it all by December 2024 or risk sending it back to the U.S. Treasury, according to the department.
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
Work continues in Galveston County on a $5.3 million stormwater project along Jackson Avenue in Bacli , which is just one example of a county project that bene ted from federal funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Through the 2021 bill, Galveston County received
CONTINUED ON 14
Also in this issue
Impacts: Galaxy Lights comes to Space Center Houston (Page 6)
Transportation: El Dorado Boulevard work complete (Page 16)
Education: Bay Area has child care gap of about 3,000 seats (Page 19)
Community: University program trains young artists (Page 23)
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BAY AREA EDITION
Impacts
• Opened in early November • 512 Second St., League City • www.soulfreak.com
F
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Seabrook
5 Little Woodrow’s The business opened a new location in Webster, which joins 23 other locations across the state to offer more than 50 beers on tap. They are poured in an outdoor patio environment outfitted with games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, Connect 4 and a slide. • Opened Nov. 13 • 20251 Gulf Freeway, Ste. H, Webster • www.littlewoodrows.com 6 Hawaii Fluid Art The business allows customers to take classes on how to create art by mixing pigments of paint made with different materials together. The various weights and densities of the paints push and pull against each other, creating a final piece of art. • Opened Dec. 9 • 2945 Gulf Freeway S., Ste. E, League City • www.hawaiifluidart.com 7 League City Visitor Center The railroad-themed center provides visitors to the city and other guests a place to grab souvenirs and brochures along with food and coffee. The historic home in which the visitor center is located dates back to the late 1800s. Officials plan to host live music nights, movie nights in the park, art classes and more at the center. • Opened Nov. 25 • Station master house in League Park, 512 Second St., League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov 8 Parlor Doughnuts The business is bringing its baked goods to the Bay Area as the business opened shop next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Opening its first location in Indiana in 2019, the business is known for its layered doughnuts as well as several other baked goods, according to its website. • Opened Dec. 15
RESEDA DR.
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• Opened in the fall • 400 Gulf Freeway, League City • www.tesla.com
NOWOPEN
1 In-N-Out Burger The restaurant serves burgers, fries and shakes; and is one of two new locations opening in the Greater Houston area, which will bring the restaurant’s number of locations in the region to six, according to the company’s website. • Opened Nov. 18 • 122 El Dorado Blvd., Webster • www.in-n-out.com 2 Tesla A former BMW dealership is now a Tesla showroom, offering customers the opportunity to peruse and purchase electric vehicles from the popular brand. The dealership’s opening was delayed earlier this year.
3 Dutch Bros Coffee The business serves various drinks, including flavored coffees, cold brews, Americanos, seasonal drinks, tea, lemonade, soda and smoothies. • Opened in early November • 1721 W. League City Parkway, League City • www.dutchbros.com 4 SoulFreak Serving coffee roasted by Pearland Coffee Roasters, the business has drinks with hints of honey dew melon, dark chocolate, caramel, citrus and other flavors. The business previously operated in Clear Lake Shores.
• 1850 NASA Parkway, Houston • www.parlordoughnuts.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY RACHEL LELAND, JAKE MAGEE & JAMES T. NORMAN
Now open
In the news
9 Dave’s Hot Chicken The restaurant offers tenders and chicken sliders at various spice levels, from lite mild to reaper. The restaurant also sells milkshakes, mac and cheese, and fries. • Opened Nov. 17 • 148 El Dorado Blvd., Ste. 110, Webster • www.daveshotchicken.com
12 Galaxy Lights The event features miles of lights and thousands of strands, said Keesha Bullock, Space Center Houston’s chief communications and marketing officer. There will also be interactive exhibits. It runs Nov. 11-Jan. 7 from 6-10 p.m. and is closed Nov. 13-16, Nov. 23, Dec.
7 and Dec. 24-25. Tickets range from $19.95-$27.95. Those 3 years old and younger are free. • Space Center Houston, 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org/galaxy-lights
14 Ross Elementary Clear Creek ISD held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 13 for the newly completed school, which was part of the district’s 2017 bond project. The renovations include new classrooms, furniture, lighting and new technology. • 2401 W. Main St., League City • https://ross.ccisd.net 15 Whitcomb Elementary Clear Creek ISD officials cut the ribbon on a newly renovated school on Nov. 10, marking the final major project of the district’s 2017 bond program, according to a Nov. 20 news release from the district. The school was built in 1967, with construction on the renovations beginning in May 2022, according to the release.
• Opening date not yet determined • 3729 E. League City Parkway, Unit 130, League City • www.amazinglashstudio.com
COMING SOON
10 Tropical Smoothie Cafe The business specializes in smoothies, but also sells flatbreads, wraps, salads and sandwiches, among other items, according to the company’s website.
IN THE NEWS
13 Elitecare Emergency Hospital The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce named the hospital as Galveston Regional Business of the Year for 2023 in part for the business’ community outreach. The hospital serves residents from Galveston to Beltway 8. • 2530 Gulf Freeway, League City • www.elite24er.com
• Opening February or March 2024 • 2805 Gulf Freeway S., League City • www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
11 Amazing Lash Studio According to real estate company Resolut RE, the studio has leased 1,500 square feet at a new League City location. The business, which has a location along I-45 in League City, has been open since November 2014 and enhances customers’ eyelashes by offering various extensions.
• 900 Reseda Drive, Houston • https://whitcomb.ccisd.net
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BAY AREA EDITION
Government
Harris County approves $11.3M jail contract Harris County Commissioners Court at a Novem- ber meeting approved an $11.3 million contract to outsource a number of county inmates to a private correctional facility in Mississippi. The details Harris County Administrator Diana Ramirez led a November presentation to address challenges within the jail, including the department’s monthly initiative to provide updates, analyses, data and staff-level actions at Commissioners
911 network’s $55.6M budget approved Harris County and Houston officials approved on Oct. 31 the Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Network’s $55.6 million budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The network processes emergency calls within Harris and Fort Bend counties. The breakdown The budget includes a 3%-5% salary increase for the GHC 911 staff as well as increased pay and health insurance costs. • $28.6 million in call center operation costs, including call center employees • $7.6 million for network services • $6.2 million for the 289 staff salaries • $4.8 million in contract services • $8.4 million in other general expenses
Harris County inmate population snapshot, November 2023 Inmate populations reached above 90% of jail capacity at these six Texas and Louisiana facilities.
Percentage of beds occupied Available space
700 N. San Jacinto St. Occupancy at Harris County jail facilities 711 N. San Jacinto St.
701 N. San Jacinto St.
92%
93%
91%
Occupancy at non-Houston facilities (contract jails)
Court meetings. By the numbers
Jefferson County (Beaumont, TX)
La Salle Correction Center (Louisiana)
Dalby Correctional Facility (Post, TX)
Harris County’s 9,300-plus inmate population is housed throughout detention centers in Texas and Louisiana, not including the number of inmates who will be transferred to Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Mississippi.
95%
99%
100%
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Harris County leads country in gas-powered lawn pollution An Oct. 30 report by research center Environ- ment Texas found gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment is putting residents’ health at risk. Experts said volatile ozone compounds can bypass lung defenses, damage one’s immune system and even cause premature deaths. Harris County is leading the charge of producing the most pollution from lawn equipment nation- wide, according to the report. What the experts say “It’s a dangerous and deadly pollution,” Envi- ronment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger said. To lessen pollution, Metzger said landscaping businesses and homeowners could consider switching to cleaner, quieter electric lawn equip- ment. He also encouraged local governments to provide incentives for businesses and residents to purchase electric lawn equipment. Benefits of using the electric equipment include reducing noise pollution, emitting zero emissions
Special election to be held for League City City Council seat Voters will soon have the chance to decide who will fill a vacancy on League City City Council. What’s happening? On Nov. 14, League City City Council approved a special election for Jan. 13 for Position 4 on council. The seat was held by John Bowen, who announced his resigna- tion Oct. 31 and officially resigned Nov. 10, according to agenda documents. A runoff election will be held Feb. 17, if
Gas-powered pollution In 2020, Harris County produced as much pollution from gas-powered lawn equipment as 3.8 million cars, leading other large counties.
4M
3M
2M
1M
0
Los Angeles County, California
Harris County
Cook County, Illinois
necessary. The details
SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT TEXAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
According to the state constitution, any council vacancy with an unexpired term of more than one year must be filled by a majority vote in a special election within 120 days of the vacancy. Bowen didn’t respond to a request for comment.
into the air and saving money over time due to lower fuel and maintenance costs, officials said. On the other hand Texas passed Senate Bill 1017 in 2023, prohib- iting cities and counties from banning the use of equipment based on its fuel source.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY MELISSA ENAJE & RACHEL LELAND
League City selects Justin Hicks as Mayor Pro Tem League City City Council appointed Council Member Justin Hicks as mayor pro tem Nov. 28. The gist Hicks replaced the former Mayor Pro Tem Andy Mann. The mayor pro tem is a council member who assumes the mayor’s responsibilities if the mayor is absent or unable to perform their duties. Every year in December, League City City Council votes to appoint a council member to the mayor pro tem position. In their own words Council members Tom Crews and Chad Tressler were the only two council members out of seven who spoke against Hicks’ nomination and voted to nominate Tressler instead.
Online citizen survey now available to all League City residents League City residents can take an online satisfaction survey to help o cials deter- mine what issues to focus on. The gist To complete the survey, which is given every two years and takes 20-30 minutes, resi- dents need to visit a link accessible through League City’s website and validate their name and address. The survey was rst mailed to 400 random residents in October and is now available to any resident interested in taking it. One more thing Residents in 2021 reported they were overwhelmingly satis ed with League City.
Pictured is Justin Hicks, League City city council member.
COURTESY CITY OF LEAGUE CITY
Tressler said that he felt Hicks was often absent from meetings, particularly at the start of work sessions. “That to me is a logistical challenge on making him mayor pro tem,” Tressler said. “In the inter- est of saying I tried to keep that from happening, I second [nominating Tressler instead].” Hicks defended his meeting attendance record, saying that his attendance record is “almost impeccable.”
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Government
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Tela Goodwin Mange explains role of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation The Texas Department of Licensing and Reg- ulation is the licensing entity for 38 different professions in Texas, ranging from barbers and cosmetologists to electricians and air conditioning contractors. In addition to licensing, the agency ensures these businesses are providing safe condi- tions and accessibility for consumers, Communi- cations Manager Tela Goodwin Mange said. Additionally, commercial projects and other projects such as churches and hospitals must be reported to the agency’s project registration database, which Community Impact uses to identify new openings or business renovations in our communities. The following interview with Goodwin Mange has been edited for length and clarity. Who has to register with the TDLR? If [the project costs] $50,000 or more, they have to register that with TDLR, and they have to provide a full set of construction documents to a person who’s known as a registered accessibility specialist. [We] will review those construction documents to make sure that construction project is going to meet the Texas Accessibility Standards, which is kind of a Texas version of the [Americans with Disabilities Act], because we want to make sure that all Texans are able to access a building. ... If the total project expenditure is less than $50,000, they’re not required to submit that information or that project to TDLR for regis- tration and review, but there are certain times where they still have to meet the accessibility standard. So just because it’s less than $50,000, just because they aren’t required to submit the project, they still have to proceed assuming that they’re going to have to adhere to those standards anyway, because again, everybody should be able to access those areas. What types of industries aren’t regulated by the TDLR? Plumbers are not regulated by us; doctors are not; dentists are not; physical therapists are not. There are a number of industries that we don’t regulate that are regulated by other state agencies.
Navigating the site The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s website has various tools residents can use to learn more about businesses who violated TDLR standards as well as who is licensed with the agency.
Searching for TDLR violators
Go to the TDLR website and select “search site.”
Visitors can search by license program type, company name, licensee name, city, county or ZIP code. Under “search for violations,” visitors can find the list of violators who have been adjudicated for the last two fiscal years.
Searching for TDLR licensees
Go to the TDLR website and select “search site.”
What does registering with the TDLR look like? They have to go through the licensing process, which includes a criminal background check. Certain industries that we regulate require people to provide fingerprints to get their criminal background done; others it’s name based. Certain other industries, we do risk-based inspections, which means if someone has had issues in the past, we will add them to the list of people who absolutely, positively have to get inspected. There are others that we will do an inspection, everything’s fine and we don’t consider them to be a potential risk. ... If a consumer files a complaint that they were injured or that there’s some issue where [the business is] not complying with state law and with the administrative rules, then we will in addition to doing an investigation—often we’ll end up doing an inspection as well. What kind of complaint could someone file about a business? It’s going to vary on the type of license that’s involved. If you were to go to a barbershop or a cosmetology salon and you hate your haircut, ... we’re not going to open a complaint on that. But if you went to a barbershop or a cosmetology salon, and you got an infection that your phy- sician said, ... ‘You got this because that salon or that barbershop wasn’t clean,’ then that’s definitely something that we want to know about, and there would be an investigation. We encourage folks to file a complaint if there’s something that they feel was health and safety related, or if you feel like you got scammed. That’s something that we would want to look
If a business is under the TDLR umbrella but not on the list, call TDLR customer support at 800-803-9202 to get assistance to verify if the business is registered. Under “search licensees,” visitors can find the list of individuals who have a license with the TDLR.
SOURCE: TELA GOODWIN MANGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
into. ... Anytime that you file a complaint, include as much information as you can. ... Consumers who are [going to] hire anyone who is in a profession that’s licensed by TDLR, we urge them to check and make sure, is this person licensed, and have they had any admin- istrative penalties in the last couple of years? ... In certain situations, if you do business with someone who’s unlicensed—like, for example, if you hire an electrician who is not licensed and they end up doing something that burns your house down—the insurance company may not pay your claim because by hiring someone who’s unlicensed, you’re not complying with what the insurance company requires, which is that you hire someone who’s licensed and competent to perform that work. Is there anything else our readers should know? We’re ... not the only licensing entity in the state, but if you go to our website, you can see all the dif- ferent programs that we license. If the service that you’re looking for is included in one of those, please do check and make sure that they are licensed.
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BAY AREA EDITION
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Education
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
CCISD to consider 3 options for new calendar Clear Creek ISD’s board of trustees will decide on the district’s 2024-25 academic calendar at its January meeting and are considering a few options for it, officials said. What you need to know Following a survey that ran through Dec. 22, the district is looking at three options that differ in some key dates, including when teachers have workdays and when the school year begins. How we got here The district ran a survey that was opened for about three weeks to parents, staff and community
CCISD creates online ‘Parent Academy’ Clear Creek ISD officials are launching a new online program aimed at teaching adults the ins and outs of the district’s work, according to a Nov. 28 news release. The gist Titled “CCISD YOUniversity,” topics on the platform will include child behavior, school funding and school safety. There is no cost. Those interested can enroll at the CCISD website.
Calendar options
Option 3 Aug. 5-9, and 12-13: Teachers have workdays Aug. 13: Transition day for prekindergarten, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade Aug. 14: First day of school for all other grades May 22: Second semester ends Aug. 7-9, and 12-14: Teachers have workdays Aug. 14: Transition day for prekindergarten, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade Aug. 15: First day of school for all other grades May 22: Second semester ends Option 2 Aug. 12-16, and 19-20: Teachers have workdays Aug. 20: Transition day for prekindergarten, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade Aug. 21: First day of school for all other grades May 30: Second semester ends Option 1
“We created [this program] to help guide parents as they navigate big feelings and emotions at home.”
members. Stay tuned
CCISD’s board of trustees will have the final say over the school calendar, barring state action or weather, according to a Dec. 1 news release.
ELAINA POLSEN, CCISD CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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BAY AREA EDITION
ARPA fund deadlines looming for counties From the cover
BY MELISSA ENAJE, JAKE MAGEE & JESSICA SHORTEN
Zooming in
What the experts say
Stay tuned
The gist
ARPA funding allocations
Unallocated
Allocated
AS OF NOVEMBER
Galveston County
Fort Bend County
Harris County
One of the major expenses counties may need to cover are employees funded by ARPA. In several counties, a number of employees were hired for positions on mental health teams, law enforcement and general infrastructure projects, such as a contract to expand the Harris County jail-based competency restoration program. During scal year 2023-24 budget workshops, county o cials outlined how to spend the remain- ing funds on new projects and infrastructure e orts, while also considering the salaries which may need to be absorbed by the counties or eliminated once funding is depleted. According to o cials in each county, Harris County’s remaining funds are being targeted toward additional a ordable housing e orts. Galveston County hired ARPA-related positions, such as a grant administrator and accountant. Fort Bend County pushed to help additional small businesses with employee funding and grants.
Thurmond said the one-time federal pay- out was historic for counties and provided an easy way to ll budget holes. While ARPA funding was intended to help replace lost public sector revenue to counties, the responsibility of budget de - cits with county funds fell to the counties themselves, Thurmond said.
During the FY 2024-25 budget workshops next year, o cials with Harris and Montgomery counties said they will need to discuss employee and program needs to determine whether positions and programs have to be cut or if they can be sustained on county budgets or grants.
$158M
$670K
$40M
$915.5M Total
$66.5M Total
$157.6M Total
Local governments are now looking to obligate and use any remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds before an upcoming December 2024 federal deadline. Counties received lump distributions of federal funding in 2021 to ll public revenue losses, invest in broadband and other infrastructure projects, and provide additional pay for essential workers, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury in a news release. Any funding not obligated by December 2024 and spent by the end of 2025 must be returned to the U.S. Treasury. County o cials must decide how to use remaining funding and if they want to continue supporting programs and employees that were funded from ARPA money. “You’ve got to nd some other source to cover that cost. It’s basic budgeting,” said James Thurmond, a professor at the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public A airs.
$757M
$65.8M
$117.3M
Jobs and education
Housing
Health
Justice and safety
County operations
Other
Remaining
$227.3M
$192.8M
Harris County
$141.5M
$147.5M
ARPA funding deadlines
$47.5M
$158M
December 2024 Deadline to allocate remaining funds December 2025 Deadline to spend remaining funds December 2026 Deadline to have all unused funding returned to Treasury
“You just need to be aware when you create a new demand or a new service, is it sustainable with your current revenue? If it’s not sustainable, then
$2.9M
$14.9M
Galveston County*
$960K
$45.3M
*NOTE: GALVESTON COUNTY ALSO HAD $1.7 MILLION SPENT ON NON PROFIT SUPPORT AND ARPA ADMINISTRATION
$670K $1.7M
what do you cut?“ JAMES THURMOND, PROFESSOR, UH HOBBY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
$56.3M
County o cials divided ARPA funding to meet the prioritized needs of each county.
$27.7M
Fort Bend County
$31.8M
$1.4M
$40M
SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY COMMUNITY IMPACT
NOTE: SOME ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EQUAL THE TOTAL AMUNT DUE TO ROUNDING. SOURCES: HARRIS, MONTGOMERY, FORT BEND COUNTIES COMMUNITY IMPACT
BAY AREA 1033 Bay Area Blvd (281) 486-9558 LEAGUE CITY
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196 Gulf Fwy S (281) 316-2140
Transportation
BY JAKE MAGEE
A three-month project to improve El Dorado Boulevard’s road surface is substantially complete, with the road now open to motorists. The gist At the end of August, workers began replacing concrete panels along El Dorado between Torry Pines Road and Seahorse Drive in Clear Lake. Several panels had deteriorated and needed to be replaced to improve road quality, Jessica Beemer— chief of sta for Dave Martin, Houston City Council District E member—said in an email. The project cost $880,000 and came out of the city’s dedicated drainage and street renewal fund, Beemer said. Work nished at the end of November. Stay tuned O cials at Martin’s o ce said they have not been El Dorado Boulevard work complete
A three-month project to improve El Dorado Boulevard’s road surface completed in November.
COURTESY HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT E
alerted of any upcoming projects along El Dorado. However, a new council member, Fred Flickinger, is set to take over the position starting in January after winning the seat in November. Did you know? “Concrete panels are sections of concrete sepa- rated by a seam,” Beemer said. “Concrete panels can vary in size. They are not di erent from other road surfaces made of concrete.”
SEAHORSE DR.
EXPLORATION GREEN
N
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16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Real estate
Number of homes sold
November 2022
November 2023
Residential market data
6 1
4
-83.33%
+200%
77058
77565
Homes stayed on the market longer this November compared to November 2022 in all ZIP codes except 77058 and 77565. In ZIP code 77573, the median number of days on market nearly doubled.
12
18 12
78 79
-33.33%
+1.28%
77059
77573
225
146
11 15
+36.36%
77062
GALVESTON BAY
45
518
Median home sales price
2022
2023
77058
+5.74%
$322,500
$305,000
N
77565 77058
77573 77059
77062
77059
+10.93%
$468,700
$422,500
77062
+4.43%
$330,000
$316,000
Homes sold in Bay Area by price point
77565
-38.44%
$380,750
$618,500
November 2023
77573
-4%
$360,000
$375,000
$800,000+
2
$600,000-$800,000
6
Median days on market
$400,000-$600,000
40
-76.47%
+10.53%
+33.33%
-2.86%
+96.43%
$200,000-$400,000
70
<$200,000
1
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY ALINA ROGERS SPARROW REALTY • 281-961-2944 WWW.SPARROW-REALTY.COM
77058
77059
77062
77565
77573
P-38
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17
BAY AREA EDITION
Education
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
Clear Creek ISD is seeing its enrollment stagnate, and officials are looking for ways to halt the trend. The district’s student population for several years now has sat with little to no growth, and trends suggest enrollment is now dropping, according to district data. Enrollment in the area is stagnating for a few reasons, Chief Communications Director Elaina Polsen said. Some of those include: • Not much room to build more homes in the area • Parents staying in homes after their students graduate, meaning no turnover of new families • Birth rates in general declining in Texas While the trend shows families are keeping their homes, it also means the district is running into issues increasing its revenue, Polsen said. Much of a school district’s budget in Texas is based on how many students are in the district. Combined with the state’s student allotment remaining the same since 2019, if a school district isn’t gaining students, it makes money tighter, Polsen said. CCISD in that regard had a $17.4 million shortfall in its fiscal year 2023-24 budget before voters approved a voter-approval tax rate election in November. “If you’re not increasing your student enrollment, you’re not increasing your budget,” Polsen said. CCISD working to increase enrollment
The approach
responding to it,” Hughes said. The second program will allow certain families who qualify to attend CCISD even if they live outside the district. The hope is the program will accommodate many families who in the past have expressed interest in attending the district, Polsen said. “We have talked about this program in many different forums, and many people are excited about it,” Polsen said.
To combat the trend, CCISD officials are planning to use two programs, Polsen said. The first part of the plan is expanding the tuition-based pre-K program, which has previously been capped, Assistant Superintendent of Elemen- tary Education Holly Hughes said. That cap is being removed, and officials will attempt to accommodate everyone who applies, Hughes said. “We’re trying to get ahead of the need rather than
CCISD schools at capacity
In its new enrollment program, CCISD has eight schools that families will not be eligible to apply for due to them being at capacity, officials said.
Elementary schools
Intermediate schools
High schools
Alternative schools
Schools at capacity
Brookwood Elementary
Seabrook Intermediate
45
ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER
REPSDORPH RD.
Seabrook
2351
Landolt Elementary
CLEAR LAKE
Westbrook Intermediate
146
GALVESTON BAY
Nassau Bay
BAYBROOK MALL DR.
518
League City Intermediate
528
96
SOUTH SHORE BLVD.
Webster
Brookside Intermediate
Goforth Elementary
WALKER ST.
646
45
Campbell Elementary
LANDING BLVD.
League City
517
3
N
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
517
The takeaway
Clear Creek ISD enrollment
said. The cap for the program could also depend on staffing needs. Applications for both programs close Feb. 1, Pol- sen said. The deadline will be a hard one as officials will need to begin working toward accommodating all the families who are interested. “People should apply early,” Hughes said.
CCISD officials said they hope the new enrollment program will bring in about 300 new students, which would help the district maintain where its student population was in the 2022-23 school year, according to district data. While there is room to continue to expand, offi- cials don’t want to overburden the schools, Polsen
*PROJECTED
40,800 41,000 40,600 40,400 0
SOURCES: CLEAR CREEK ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY WESLEY GARDNER & JAMES T. NORMAN
Bay area has child care gap of about 3,000 seats, report nds
seats can be looked at from a couple di erent levels, Cochrane said. One is the infant care shortage itself, which is regulated by state law and can be “cost prohibitive,” Cochrane said. The second is the issue of child care more broadly. Many day care facilities were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t open back up, Cochrane said.
about 3,200 child care spots. For Emmalee Cochrane, director of Primrose School of Clear Lake, the shortage primarily comes down to spaces for infants, which she said she receives calls on “almost daily.” While there is space for those 2 years old and older, those with infants could have to wait until July until they get a spot at her facility. The issues surrounding the number of available
Child care both in Texas and across the Greater Houston area is proving to be di cult for some families to nd, and in the Bay Area, there is a gap of a few thousand seats. In the Bay Area, which includes nine ZIP codes covering League City, Webster, Nassau Bay, Friendswood and Kemah, data from a July 2023 report from research and advocacy nonpro t Children at Risk shows there is a shortage of
Zooming out
A closer look
Although there is a gap in child care for the Bay Area, in Texas, a third of all ZIP codes qualify as a child care desert, according to the report. This occurs when there are three times more children eligible for child care than there are seats available. Some work is going on at the state level to remedy the problem, Kofron said, but some measures, such as an additional $2.29 billion for early child care, have failed. Senate Bill 1145, passed earlier this year, will reduce property taxes owed by eligible child care providers. For Cochrane, she said alleviating the problem comes down to needing more centers. And while her facility isn’t in need of teachers, she knows many that are. “It can be hard to pay sta enough to recruit and retain them and keep tuition at an a ord- able rate,” she said.
Greater Houston early child care availability and demand by ZIP code According to data provided by Children at Risk, the Greater Houston area has 45 ZIP codes that qualify as child care deserts, meaning there are at least three times more children eligible for child care services as there are available child care seats.
Of the nine ZIP codes covering the Bay Area, six do not have enough child care spots within them to meet the needs of the area. The issue of not enough centers is also a problem both in the area and across the state. Prior to the pandemic, there were about 17,000 early child care centers. That number fell to 12,000 in 2021 and has since rebounded to about 14,000 in 2022, said Kim Kofron, director of early childhood education at Children at Risk.
Child care seats available
Zip code
Eligible children
77084 77094 77345 77355 77375 77382 77521 77365 77477
2,660 None
5,705
440 918
23
264 938 338 728 482
1,240 3,110 1,419 3,291 1,791
77058 77598 77565 77586 77089 77059 77546 77062 77573
Child care spots Additional spots needed
138
990
SOURCES: CHILDREN AT RISK, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT
0 1K2K3K6K5K
SOURCE: CHILDREN AT RISK COMMUNITY IMPACT
6640 South Shore Blvd., Suite 100 League City, TX 77573 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org
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19
BAY AREA EDITION
ACCESS Instant
$20K Up to in builder incentives*
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20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Business
BY ASIA ARMOUR
CaseBakes Cookies in Webster nds success in the ‘small things’ Casey Cardona never imagined owning a bakery that ships out more than 1,000 cookies per week or being a nalist on Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge.” What would become CaseBakes Cookies started humbly from the desire to have some decorative sugar cookies for her son’s rst birthday party, Cardona said. She saw some online, but said they were too expensive for her single-income family. So she decided to make her own. This initiative turned into a full-scale business that opened September 2018. Sorting out details Cardona has always had a crafty side, she said. She spent hours designing and constructing the life-size nutcrackers in pink uniforms in the lobby
CaseBakes Cookies rotates its menu based on the season, but the business specializes in the owner’s decorated sugar cookies.
COURTESY CASEBAKES COOKIES
of the sweets shop. “I just like seeing the nished product when it came from nothing and then seeing it completed— the fact that you did it with your hands and it’s original, and it’s unique,” Cardona said. This skill and dedication translates to how she crafts her decorative desserts, she said. “That’s what sells it, is the attention to detail,” Cardona said. “It’s the small things that tie in.”
45
N
100 E. Nasa Parkway, Unit 101, Webster www.casebakes.com
21
BAY AREA EDITION
Events
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Expect photo ops with Mr. and Mrs. Claus this season.
Santa’s Wonderland will o er various snow activities, including snow tubing, ice skating and two snow playgrounds.
PHOTOS COURTESY SANTA’S WONDERLAND
Santa’s Wonderland returns to College Station
such as hay rides, horse and carriage rides, ice skating, snow tubing, train rides, and a meet and greet with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. What else? Santa’s Wonderland will host live music per- formances, classic Christmas music viewing and other themed performances on Frostbite’s Stage. Candies, co ee, s’mores, barbecue, hot dogs, funnel cake, kettle corn, pizza, mac and cheese, and German and Cajun cuisine are just some of the Texas eats and treats that will be o ered at the park all season long. General admission tickets for adults start at $54.95, and parking permits are available for VIP parking lots closer to the entrance.
First opened in 1998 as a drive-thru light display, Santa’s Wonderland has swelled into a holiday attraction with many festive activities and features for families to enjoy. The 26th season kicks o Nov. 10 and runs through Dec. 30. A closer look Located in College Station, roughly an hour from the Houston area, the grounds of Santa’s Wonderland are adorned with millions of Christ- mas lights. This year, the festival adds 50 new light displays, a Texas-sized snow globe and two snow playgrounds. In addition to the Trail of Lights, general admis- sion tickets grant access to the Texas Christmas Village—where guests can participate in activities,
The park is illuminated by millions of lights.
PEACH CREEK CUTOFF
6
N
18898 Hwy. 6, College Station www.santas-wonderland.com
22
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Community
BY RACHEL LELAND
The Art School for Children and Young Adults taught more than 1,000 students in 2022.
UNIVERSITY DR.
B
N
2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston www.uhcl.edu/childrens-art-school
The Art School for Children and Young Adults emphasizes multicultural art education, and learning about pop culture and literature through art.
PHOTOS COURTESY ART SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
University program inspires, trains young artists
In 2021, the school launched classes for autistic children where parents and guardians are invited to join their kids in the classroom. “I think it’s a nice middle ground for some families. I think some parents have reservations about having their kids who are on the spectrum to have that experience,” Moya said. “Then there’s some parents who want this kind of thing, so it’s just one more opportunity to accommo- date families.” One more thing School o cials plan to expand and o er two after-school art classes at UHCL at Pearland by April.
“The reason why our program is here and the reason why it works is that the undergrad- uates here at the university who want to be art teachers work and help run this program to gain experience,” Moya said. Also of note In June, the students collaborated with local Houston artist Jacob Messa, painting a mural called “Transcended Dream” in the Arbor Build- ing at UHCL.
At the Art School for Children and Young Adults at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, young artists from kindergarten through 12th grade learn printmaking, painting and ceramics under the guidance of the university’s art majors. The gist Because college art students aspire to teach art one day, the school’s hands-on classroom expe- rience provides invaluable education, Director David Moya said.
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23
BAY AREA EDITION
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