Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Lone Star College enrollment up 5.9% Lone Star College System’s enrollment numbers are 5.9% higher than they were in fall 2024 and 15.9% higher than a decade ago, according to a Sept. 10 news release. “We celebrate the fact that more students are choosing to call Lone Star College Sys- tem home. However, our primary focus is not on boosting enrollment but on improv- ing student outcomes through high-quality education,” LSCS Executive Vice Chancellor Seelpa Keshvala said in the release. More details Per the news release, enrollment is at an all-time high this fall with 97,294 students. “Regardless of their background, we want to help our students get from where they are to where they want to be,” Keshvala said.
Conroe ISD eyes 2 new school boundaries The Conroe ISD board of trustees on Sept. 16 discussed the attendance zones for two new schools in the Grand Oaks feeder zone ahead of their opening. Grand Oaks Junior High School will open in 2027, and Kacy Arnold Elementary School will open in 2026. The approach Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris McCord discussed the zoning process for the two schools, which were part of the 2023 bond, includ- ing the challenge posed by growing enrollment in the Grand Oaks area east of I-45. “We have 2,000 [students] total, 800 seats for the junior high and 1,200 for the ninth-grade cam- pus, and I would like to make a special note that’s all we could afford in bond 2023 for this particular building,” McCord said regarding the future of the Grand Oaks area.
CISD names firm as new general counsel Following the retirement of in-house attorney Carrie Galatas, the Conroe ISD board of trustees on Sept. 16 agreed to use O’Hanlon, Demerath and Castillo P.C., an Austin-based firm, to be its general counsel. What to know Finance Director Karen Garza told the board it had spent $1.11 million on legal expenses within the last three years prior to the approval. The contract with O’Hanlon, Demerath, & Castillo will cost the district a total of $360,000 for non-litigation costs for a term of one year, or $30,000 a month. The board’s previous contract was for $32,000 monthly, meaning it would see a $24,000 annual savings, according to a presentation.
Upcoming schools 1 Grand Oaks Junior High 2 Kacy Arnold Elementary
Tomball ISD’s tax rate history
99 TOLL
1
$0 $0.50 $1 $1.50 $2
$1.29
$1.29
$1.25
$1.23
$1.0652
$1.0629
$1.0629
WATERBEND COVE
LEXINGTON BLVD.
WOODSON'S RESERVE PKWY.
2021-22
2023-24
2025-26
2020-21
2019-20
2022-23
2024-25
2
School year
RAYFORD RD.
STERLING OAK DR.
N
SOURCE: TOMBALL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Tomball ISD approves tax rate for FY 2025-26 Tomball ISD approved a tax rate of $1.0629 per $100 valuation for FY 2025-26 on Sept. 9. Explained The approved tax rate remains the same as last fiscal year, per TISD officials, and goes hand in hand with the balanced general fund budget the
district approved in June. TISD based its tax rate calculation on the expectation that voters will approve Senate Bill 4 in November and, as a result, raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, giving larger tax breaks to certain property owners and businesses. “Should that not happen? Should that ballot measure fail in November? We would have to go back and recalculate everyone’s tax bill back to the $100,000 homestead exemption and send out amended tax statements. Nobody anticipates that to occur,” Chief Financial Officer Zack Boles said.
What you need to know The school may relieve overcapacity campuses in the district, including both Clark Intermediate and Cox Intermediate schools, as well as Bradley Elementary School. It will also help address emerging capacity issues at Hines Elementary School, McCord said. “We would like for the junior high to serve as close as to full capacity of students because the more we can get it closer, the more we can optimize for academic programs, cocurricular, fine arts and sports,” McCord said.
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 FM 1488 3588 FM 1488 (936) 271-9606
RAYFORD SAWDUST 25044 IH 45 (281) 362-9131 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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