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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5 AUG. 9 SEPT. 6, 2023
EDUCATION EDITION 2023
“TIME HAS RUN OUT. THIS IS THE LAST GENERATION OF CHILDREN THAT WILL GO THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION BEFORE THE
New Fieldings concept coming to River Oaks
6
Walk audits target Washington Avenue
SKILLS GAP IS LOCKED IN FOR
THE NEXT 30 YEARS.” MIKE MILES, HOUSTON ISD SUPERINTENDENT
Transportation
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Park’s namesake remembered for generosity
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EDUCATION EDITION 2023
New Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, appointed to the position by the Texas Education Agency on June 1, speaks at a community event at Marshall Middle School on July 13. Miles is ushering in reforms at the district, but some of his proposals are sparking outrage and concern among community members. (Shawn Arrajj/Community Impact)
HISD to begin school year under state-appointed leadership
District data
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Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
board of trustees in June, replacing them with a new board of managers and superintendent. The new HISD superintendent is Mike Miles, who formerly served as superintendent of Dallas ISD from 2012-15 and also founded a public charter school network that spans several states. He’s been tasked with helping HISD improve
its accountability ratings and board governance across the district. He said his top concern is pre- paring students for a future where he predicts a “locked in” skills gap between those who develop read- ing, math and technology skills and those who do not. “Time has run out,” Miles told the CONTINUED ON 20
Another school year is set to begin Aug. 28 for students at Houston ISD, but this year will look di erent from any in the past. The Texas Education Agency, the branch of state government that oversees public school districts, ousted former HISD Superinten- dent Millard House II and its elected
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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THIS ISSUE
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Jay McMahon SENIOR EDITOR Shawn Arrajj CITY HALL REPORTER Leah Foreman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jatziri Garcia ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Blake Gomez METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schafler COPY EDITOR Adrian Gandara SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CONTACT US 16300 Northwest Freeway Jersey Village, TX 77040 • 281-469-6181 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES hrmnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING hrmads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM JAY: It’s that time of the year when we see students and educators return to campus for the 2023-24 school year. Our August issue includes our Education Edition, and our front-page story discusses how Houston ISD will look very different this year under state-appointed leadership as directed by the Texas Education Agency. Jay McMahon, GENERAL MANAGER
FROM SHAWN: In addition to our front-page story on changes being rolled out at Houston ISD, our paper this month also includes data on HISD enrollment, salaries and demographics, as well as a story from Reporter Leah Foreman on efforts being carried out by the city of Houston and Houston ISD to improve literacy rates among children and adults. Shawn Arrajj, SENIOR EDITOR
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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pany’s rst Texas location at Montrose Collective, 888 Westheimer Road, Ste. 152, Houston. The golf apparel brand o cially opened June 30 and o ers men’s, women’s and youth clothing, such as polos, dresses, hats and gloves. Shoppers can enjoy cold beverages, fun playlists, comfortable seating and watch golf on a TV. 832-501-1933. www.badbirdiegolf.com 5 The rst Houston location of modern beauty brand Skin Pharm opened July 17 at 3720 Westheimer Road, Ste. 650. Founded in Nashville by nurse practitioner Maegan Gri n in 2017, the business o ers microneedling, gold infu- sion and Botox. Guests can also book skin consults to receive personalized skin care advice. 713-301-3551. www.skinpharm.com 6 A new Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care center opened July 17 at 1911 Taylor St., Houston. The center serves patients ages 6 months and older. Services include treatment of non-life-threatening conditions, on-site X-ray services, COVID-19 testing and u vaccines. Patients have access to Memo-
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NOW OPEN 1 The latest restaurant concept from Berg Hospitality Group is now open, serving up an American spin on Chinese food. Called Benny Chows , the eatery opened June 28 at 1818 Washington Ave., Houston. Menu items are rooted in Can- tonese tradition, with some incorporating elements of barbecue and comfort food. 346-888-1818. www.bennychows.com
2 Workspace provider Industrious opened a second Houston location July 10 at 1301 McKinney St., Ste. 300. The 23,489-square-foot area has 60 o ces, 277 desks, 10 phone booths and confer- ence rooms of various sizes. The location also o ers amenities, such as daily break- fast, weekly happy hours, o ce supplies, a wellness room and a tness center,
3 Heyday Skincare , a nationwide skin care brand that specializes in customized 50-minute facials, opened a River Oaks location July 13. The brand o ers facials and microdermabrasion, among other treatments. The shop at 2024 W. Gray St., Houston, marks the brand’s third location
in Texas. 346-483-1713. www.heydayskincare.com
among others. 281-612-1390. www.industriouso ce.com
4 O cials with Bad Birdie held a grand opening July 22 to celebrate the com-
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or avors, high fructose corn syrup or preservatives in its ice creams. 346-867-6146. www.ilikelick.com 10 Artistry , a concept by Houstonians Christine Crossin and Andrew Vanden- berg, is set to make its debut at Finn Hall, 712 Main St., Houston, in August. The concept fuses the elements of a Europe- an cafe with the culture of the state of Texas. The cafe will o er Texas-inspired avors, such as the barbecue and Cubano panini, as well as more Euro-centric dish- es, such as camembert and ratatouille. 11 Three Keys Co ee will open at Finn Hall at 712 Main St., Houston, in Sep- tember. Three Keys Co ee is owned by Q-Arabica co ee graders Tio Fallen and Kenzel Fallen, and will be the concept’s rst shop. The name Three Keys comes from the three valves of a trumpet and draws inspiration from the connection between art, music and co ee. 12 O cials with medical spa Vitalyc Medspa will host a grand opening Sept. 7 for a new Houston agship location in Uptown at 1800 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 6130, Houston. The cele- bration will run from 6-8 p.m. The new 2,510-square-foot facility includes seven private treatment rooms for patients. Vitalyc’s services include Botox, dermal llers, CoolSculpting, microneedling and IV therapy, among others. 713-983-1403. www.vitalyc.com 13 O cials with Kido International Pre- school and Daycare said they are aiming to open a new school this fall in the Heights at 1307 Yale St., Houston. The new 12,000-square-foot school o ers indoor and outdoor play areas along with a soccer eld. The school will o er Span- ish and English curriculum in addition to the company’s proprietary art, literacy, and science, technology, engineering and math, programs. The school accepts children from 6 weeks old to 5 years old. 713-542-6647. www.kidoschools.com RELOCATIONS 14 The juice bar and gluten-free kitch- en concept Green Fork and Straw opened July 10 at 3601 Westheimer Road, Hous- ton, following the closure of a Shepherd Drive location. Green Fork is known for its health-focused menu options and its
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Fielding’s Culinary Group co-founders Edelberto Goncalves (left) and Cary Attar plan to opening a new restaurant in River Oaks in fall 2024.
Montrose Grace Place
COURTESY MONTROSE GRACE PLACE
COURTESY FIELDING’S CULINARY GROUP
FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON A new restaurant concept from The Woodlands-based Fielding’s Culinary Group is set to debut in River Oaks in fall 2024. O cials describe the unnamed concept as an “upscale” eatery that will o er chef-driven, housemade menu options, including seafood, pastas, pizzas and steaks sourced from 44 Farms. A beverage program will o er spirits, cocktails, bottled and draft beer, and a selection of wines available by the glass. The new eatery will be located in Novel River Oaks, 2511 Willowick Road, grab-and-go approach, meant to make healthy food more accessible. 504-881-6050. www.greenforknola.com 15 Due to unsuccessful negotiations in extending their lease, o cials with Frank’s Americana Revival announced the closure of the Westheimer Road location of the eatery June 30, prior to a planned relocation to the Alexan River Oaks, 3015 Weslayan St., Houston. Construction started this summer. The new location will feature patio dining, ex- tended bar service hours, private dining and a morning co ee cafe. Frank’s o ers regional dishes in uenced by modern American cuisine, with fan favorites such as buttermilk fried chicken, jumbo lump crab cakes and cranberry-walnut bread pudding for dessert. 713-572-8600. www.frankshouston.com
rial Hermann’s network of care, and elec- tronic medical records can be accessed by caregivers across the network. The new center takes walk-ins and appointments. 346-327-8553. www.gohealthuc.com/ memorialhermann 7 O cials with the tech training non- pro t Per Scholas announced July 17 the company’s debut in Houston, bringing tuition-free training to the Ion District in Midtown. The campus, at 4201 Main St., Houston, is being made possible by an in- vestment from Rice University, BlackRock and Comcast NBCUniversal. The nonpro ts o ers 12- to 15-week courses designed for individuals, communities and companies. The rst training program, an IT support course, will begin in October. www.perscholas.org 8 A med spa and antiaging clinic, 4Ever Young opened July 10 in the Heights at 550 Heights Blvd., Ste. A, Houston. Run by franchise owner Jason Po , the clinic o ers aesthetic and wellness treatments through an approach that is personal- ized according to each patient’s health and designed to be proactive instead of reactive. O erings include injectables, bioidentical hormone therapies, medi- cally supervised weight loss plans and IV therapies. 713-893-8064. https://4everyoungantiaging.com COMING SOON 9 Lick Honest Ice Creams will open a new location in August at Autry Park at 3737 Cogdell St., Houston. The shop uses locally sourced and sustainably grown and harvested ingredients in a wide range of avors, including vegan options. The company also doesn’t use arti cial colors
Houston. It will feature a welcoming lounge where live music will be staged, an open wood- red kitchen and two dining rooms speci cally designed for intimate occasions. Guests will also be able to sit on two patios. www. eldings.com
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RENOVATIONS 16 O cials with the nonpro t Montrose Grace Place celebrated the completion of a beauti cation e ort in June of its main operating space at 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston, including new murals. The non- pro t partnered with professional services rm Deloitte to brighten up the space, which is also the fellowship hall at Kindred Church. As part of Deloitte’s annual day of service, the company provided the funding and crew for the beauti cation project. Montrose Grace Place has been serving youth of all genders and sexualities expe- riencing homelessness, including by pro- viding family-style dinners, and access to technology and legal aid. 832-239-0824. www.montrosegraceplace.org
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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TO DO LIST
August & September events
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AUG. 16 19
NIGHT COURT THE HOBBY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
AUG. 19
VIBE ARTISAN MARKETS POST HOUSTON
Night Court, an all-lawyer theater company, performs the group’s annual, original musical comedy. The show “The Law Files” will include themes and characters from “The X-Files,” “Stranger Things,” “Men In Black” and “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” and feature the greatest hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Proceeds go toward Houston nonpro ts, including Houston Volunteer Lawyers. 7:30 p.m. $45-$49. The Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St., Houston. www.nightcourt.org
Texas-based Vibe Artisan Markets hosts a market featuring products from more than 120 local artists, creatives and makers. The event also features music by DJ Lifted, an art gallery with work from local artists and a professional photo booth. Guests can also enjoy complimentary cocktails and food from more than 15 restaurants. Noon-7 p.m. Free (admission). POST Houston, 401 Franklin St., Houston. www.vibeartisanmarkets.com
COURTESY NIGHT COURT
COURTESY VIBE ARTISAN MARKET
31 LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A DOCENT Learn more about becoming a docent for the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center at an informational breakfast. Prior experience is not required to be a volunteer docent, who will be trained to engage with visitors of the trails. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free (registration encouraged, 21 and older). 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston. 713-681-8433. www.houstonarboretum.org
AUGUST 10 THROUGH 13
SEPTEMBER 02 RELAX IN A NIGHT OF MUSIC Mercury Chamber Orchestra will perform well-known pieces by Mozart, such as “A Little Night Music,” accompanied by visual elements. The “Mozart by Moonlight” performance will also be livestreamed on Miller Outdoor Theatre’s website, YouTube and Facebook. 8 p.m. Free. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston. 832-487-7102. www.milleroutdoortheatre.com
younger. 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston. www.animematsuri.com 19 HUNT FOR LOCAL TREASURES Attendees can support local artisans and small businesses at Discovery Green’s Flea by Night. Visitors can buy vintage, handmade and recycled goods while enjoying live music and food trucks at the open-air market. It is located on the Grace Event Lawn.
EXPLORE ANIME AND
JAPANESE POP CULTURE Anime Matsuri, an annual anime and Japanese pop culture convention, comes to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Activities include a formal dance, cosplay contest, sumo slam, karaoke battle and concerts, among others. 4-11 p.m. (Aug. 10), noon-4 a.m. (Aug. 11), 10 a.m.-4 a.m. (Aug. 12-13). $45- $375, free admission for children 5 and
6-10 p.m. Free (admission). 1500 McKinney St., Houston. www.discoverygreen.com
Find more or submit Heights, River Oaks and Montrose events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Group hosts audits along Washington Avenue to improve walkability
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & LEAH FOREMAN
COMPLETED PROJECT
A series of audits are taking place throughout the Washington Avenue corridor over the summer with the goal of improving walkability and making more informed transportation planning decisions. The overview: The audits are being conducted by the Citizens’ Transporta- tion Coalition, a Houston-based group engaged in transportation planning. The coalition is partnering with the Houston Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons, Super Neighborhood No. 22, and the Greater Houston Coalition for Complete Streets to carry out the audits. The details: A total of 10 walk audits will take place throughout the Wash- ington Avenue corridor to identify potential locations for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements. Organizers said they are looking to recruit older volunteers, students, and residents from the a ected civic clubs and the Super Neighborhood.
WALKING WASHINGTON
Ten walk audits will take place along Washington Avenue over the course of the summer, with weekly audits running through Aug. 26.
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Washington Avenue at Westcott Street roundabout Work wrapped up in July on improve- ments to the roundabout at Washing- ton Avenue and Westcott Street. The project improved drainage to mitigate ponding, raised crosswalks to improve visibility and reduce driver speeds, and added new markings to refresh signage. The project was supplement- ed by $100,000 from the o ce of Abbie Kamin, District C Houston City Council member. Timeline: May-July
SILVER ST.
Aug. 12 audit: Sawyer Street to Silver Street Aug. 19 audit: Silver Street to Houston Avenue Aug. 26 audit: Houston Avenue to Bagby Street Completed audits
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SOURCE: CITIZENS’ TRANSPORTATION COALITION COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s being done: Once completed, project leaders will host community meetings that will allow audit partici- pants to discuss results with residents, business owners and the city o cials, said Dexter Handy, chair of the Citizens’ Transportation Coalition. The discussions will also include how to incorporate the results into future planning, Handy said.
Get involved: The audits will take place on weekends through late August. Each audit will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and last 90 minutes. Water, a snack bar and other beverages will be provided by the AARP and the CTC. A walk audit training webinar is slated to take place Aug. 23. Individuals can learn more at www.facebook.com/ctchouston.
Cost: roughly $100,000 Funding source: District C discretionary funds
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF AUG. 2. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT HRMNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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HISTORY George Hermann G eorge Hermann’s legacy is found throughout Houston more than 100 years after his BY LEAH FOREMAN
Park's namesake remembered for generosity
behind Hermann Park being estab- lished,” McKinney said. According to McKinney, three months before his death on Oct. 21, 1914, Hermann made a public announcement at the City Audito- rium, which was located at the corner of Main and McGowen streets. He said he would be donating 285 acres of land to the city of Houston for the establishment of Houston’s own Central Park. Hermann also shared that the rest of his fortune—$2.5 million, which equates to over $76 million in
death in 1914. Hermann, born in Houston on Aug. 6, 1843, was a lifelong bachelor, said R.W. McKinney, commonly referred to as Mister McKinney, a local histo- rian and owner of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston, an open-air historic tour experience. “He justi ed it, I think emotionally and mentally, by saying it was too
Hermann Park’s donation celebration honors George Hermann, on June 7, 1914, in the City Auditorium, the current site of Jones Hall. Hermann is seated in the rst row just to the right of the speaker.
COURTESY JOHN P. MCGOVERN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS AND RESEARCH CENTER, HOUSTON ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER LIBRARY
A PARK FOR THE FUTURE Hermann Park Conservancy President Doreen Stoller said Hermann Park, which spans 445 acres, is continuing to grow—including a 26-acre project called The Commons, set for completion in 2024—while honoring the park’s namesake. “We have a number of cancer patients that come and sit in the Japanese Garden after they’ve had chemo treatments just as a place to restore and refresh,” she said. “So The Commons is sort of an extension of all those themes.”
expensive to have a wife,” McKinney said. McKinney said Hermann knew loneliness and sadness, but also wealth, from an early age.
“ HERMANN DID BELIEVE IN THE
2023—would be put toward the establishment of a hospital to serve the poor for free. A little more than 10 years after
CONNECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND HEALING.” DOREEN STOLLER, HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY PRESIDENT
“He fought in the Civil War, and when he came back, both his mom and dad had died,” he said. “At this particular point, his other siblings would also pass away, and he would inherit all of their holdings as well.” Hermann’s wealth accumulated through investments, which included the Humble Oil elds. Hermann was diagnosed with ter- minal stomach cancer and would go to Baltimore to receive treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In his early 40s, he traveled, including a trip to New York, where he saw Central Park. “That’s when he really got inter- ested in Houston needing a Central Park, just kind of touring that area. And that was kind of a nucleolus
his passing, Hermann Hospital was built on prairie land that is now part of the Texas Medical Center. The Medical Center also includes 133 acres of land originally endowed to Hermann Park that was approved for use by M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research in the 1940s. In 1915, landscape architect and planner George Kessler was tasked with the design of Hermann Park. Today, Hermann Park is a 445-acre urban park that welcomes roughly six million visitors each year. Hermann Park Conservancy President Doreen Stoller said the park maintains Hermann’s legacy to this day. “He did believe in the connection between nature and healing,” she said.
A rendering shows a series of live oak trees in a forthcoming section of Hermann Park called The Commons, slated to debut in 2024.
RENDERING COURTESY HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY
Hermann Park 6001 Fannin St., Houston 713-524-5876 www.hermannpark.org Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
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HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
CITY & COUNTY
News from Houston & Harris County
Harris County Commissioners Court will meet for its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Aug. 29 at 1001 Preston St., Ste. 934, Houston. Meetings are livestreamed at www.harriscountytx.gov. Houston City Council will meet for public comment at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and regular business at 9 a.m. Aug. 16 at City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston. www.houstontx.gov/htv. MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY O cials led a lawsuit against the state of Texas July 6 in an attempt to allow the courts decide how it should run elections—a direct challenge to Senate Bill 1750, a recently passed law that eliminated the county’s election administrator system. SB 1750 is set to go into e ect Sept. 1, weeks before early voting in the November elections that the county is hosting. If the court temporarily blocks SB 1750, it would allow the county’s election administrator to manage elections and voter registration until a nal decision is reached. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, wrote the legislation on SB 1750 and in a news release called the county’s lawsuit “frivolous.”
Houston City Council approves 2-year contract for 100 mini murals across city BY LEAH FOREMAN
County considering a ordable housing tax exemption policy HARRIS COUNTY A policy that will consider property tax exemptions for a ordable housing owners is moving forward after a unanimous Commis- sioners Court vote July 18. BY MELISSA ENAJE $20,000/year $35,000/year $50,000/year $75,000/year HOUSING COST BURDEN A countywide housing needs assessment and 10-year strategy in October 2021 found nearly 500,000 families are paying more than they can a ord for their homes.
Houston will soon need a new area code because of growth
Larry Green. Prior to the July 26 authorization, the program had resulted in more than 360 new murals in the Greater Houston area. The cost: The e ort will cost a maximum of $395,000 over the course of two years. The rst $197,500 will be paid from the city’s general govern- ment fund in scal year 2023-24. What they’re saying: District H Coun- cil Member Karla Cisneros said she applauded the diversity of the artists employed to create the pieces. “Up Art has really helped democ- ratize art, to get it to many parts of our city ... where there was nothing like that,” Cisneros said at the July 26 meeting. District K Council Member Mar- tha Castex-Tatum said the art has improved aesthetics around the city’s trails and parks.
HOUSTON More color is coming to the city of Houston. On July 26, Hous- ton City Council members approved a contract for two years of citywide art projects provided by Up Art Studio. The overview: This project entails 100 miniature murals that are to be painted on tra c signal control cabi- nets throughout the city of Houston. The backstory: According to city infor- mation, Houston’s rst tra c signal control cabinet mural was installed at Spring and Sawyer streets on April 15, 2015, and was sponsored by the Washington Avenue Arts District. Beginning in May 2015, several traf- c signal control cabinet art projects were created throughout District K— located in southwest Houston to the south of the cities of Bellaire and West University Place—in a pilot project sponsored by then-Council Member
BY DANICA LLOYD
Annual household earnings Families paying more than they can a ord
HOUSTON The Greater Houston area is outgrowing its four existing area codes. The North American Number Planning Administrator projects area codes 281, 346, 713 and 832 will run out of numbers by the third quarter of 2025, according to a July 6 news release from the Public Utility Commission of Texas. As of press time Aug. 2, the PUCT was slated to accept public com- ments through Aug. 5 on a petition by NANPA for a new area code to accommodate population growth in the Houston region. Adding a fth area code would not a ect existing phone numbers, PUCT o cials con rmed. The new area code would overlay the metro’s existing area code map, including in the city of Houston.
Why it matters: An existing Texas tax code already provides exemptions to certain organizations that meet low-income housing requirements, but each local governing jurisdiction has to approve the tax exemption and specify the allowed threshold amount, said Mary Lawler, the CEO of Avenue, a Houston-based nonpro t a ordable housing builder. “We are struggling right now with rising costs for our apartments and our ability to keep our rents a ordable to working families and seniors who are really in need,” she said. How we got here: In April, commis- sioners directed several county depart- ments to establish a policy related to the approval of tax exemptions for
• 128,767 renters • 46,849 owners
• 124,019 renters • 44,083 owners
• 58,109 renters • 35,582 owners
• 27,751 renters • 34,462 owners
A mini mural can be found on a tra c signal control cabinet at Collingsworth and Elysian streets in Houston.
Occupations • Fast-food and counter workers • Home health and personal care aides
• Retail
• Truck drivers • Administrative assistants • Bookkeepers
• Elementary school teachers • Skilled trade workers
COURTESY CITY OF HOUSTON
salespersons
• Cashiers • Customer service • Waiters • Medical assistants
“[Up Art] has really transformed a lot of the infrastructure that just looks like concrete and metal boxes into beautiful pieces of art across the city, really contributing to the fabric of the culture of our city and improving spaces that traditionally just look like regular concrete,” she said at the meeting. What’s next: The Mayor’s O ce of Cultural A airs will be reviewing rec- ommendations for potential locations of the miniature murals.
representatives
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, KINDER INSTITUTE FOR URBAN RESEARCH, TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
certain low-income housing projects. O cials presented a preliminary policy to commissioners in July, and the nalized exemption policy is projected for completion by the end of August.
What else: Thepolicy could make it more nancially feasible for organi- zations to build a ordable housing. A 2021 study found nearly 500,000 households in the county are paying more for housing than they can a ord.
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ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE REAL ESTATE EDUCATION COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. VISIT
DISTRICT DATA
Data and information from local school districts
COMPILED BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
English learners Economically disadvantaged students STUDENT STATISTICS, 2022 23
SOURCES: HOUSTON ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Enrollment is projected to fall in Houston ISD, with the district starting the 2023-24 school year with an estimated 184,099 students. Enrollment has fallen by 6.5% since the 2020-21 school year, and the number of teachers has been cut by a similar amount over that time. HOUSTON ISD
Special education students
37%
9.2%
79.5%
Statewide
62%
23.02% 12.74%
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Percent change from 2020-21 6.5%
TOTAL TEACHERS AND SALARIES
Total number of teachers*
-6.6%
13,000
11,000
9,000
7,000
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24*
5,000
*PROJECTED
0
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
REVENUE SOURCES, 2020 2024
*PROJECTED
*TOTAL IS THE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT AND MAY INCLUDE PART TIME POSITIONS.
Starting teacher salary
+13.1%
2021 22
2022 23
2023 24*
2020 21
$90,000
$70,000
$2.139B TOTAL REVENUE:
$2.107B TOTAL REVENUE:
$2.21B TOTAL REVENUE:
$2.225B TOTAL REVENUE:
$50,000
$1.816B LOCAL $228.7M STATE $61.2M FEDERAL
$1.923B LOCAL $217.5M STATE $69.5M FEDERAL
$1.966B LOCAL $196.7M STATE $62.5M FEDERAL
$1.815B LOCAL $295.7M STATE $27.7M FEDERAL
$30,000
$10,000
0
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION
BUDGET BINDS In ation in Texas has gone up by nearly 20% between April 2019-April 2023—the most recent data available. However, the per-student allotment, which sits at $6,160, has yet to be increased in that time, tightening school district budgets around the state.
School districts await budget help from special legislative session
Projected allotment with in ation
Allotment per student
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
$7,313
$7,500
of their operations. Budget documents reviewed by Community Impact indicate some of those items a ected by in ation include: • Fuel for buses • Supplies for schools • Teacher pay • Property insurance • Food On the state side, many funding bills failed because of e orts to tie them to a private school voucher program as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s goal to make private institutions more a ordable to families in Texas. The program lacked support from both sides, blocking many bills from passing that otherwise might have had the needed votes, Popinski said. Put into perspective While they wait for potential state action, school district o cials this summer are approving new budgets— some of which are still anticipating help from the state—and many are predicting shortfalls this upcoming 2023-24 year. Houston ISD, which is in the middle of a takeover from the state, approved a $2.2 billion budget June 22 with a $168.5 million shortfall, Community Impact previously reported. Up north, Dallas ISD is expecting a $157.4 million shortfall, according to the district’s proposed budget. The story rings much the same at Cy-Fair ISD—the state’s third-largest school district—which passed in June a $1.21 billion budget with a roughly $138.6 million shortfall, Community Impact previously reported. Many are also expecting shortfalls in the coming years too, according to sev- eral districts’ budgetary documents. “Let’s just hope and pray that Austin comes up with something that can help us out here,” Grapevine-Col- leyville ISD board member Tammy Nakamura said. “We don’t have anything at this point.” What they’re saying In recent months, school district o cials from across the state have not been shy about sharing their feelings on the state’s role in this year’s
School districts across Texas are facing budgetary issues and are waiting to see if help might be coming as the state gets closer to wrapping up this year’s legislative session. The state entered the 88th Legis- lature with nearly $33 billion in its reserves and a list of funding plans for public schooling. However, beyond a few small examples, larger funding bills have yet to materialize, said Bob Popinski, senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonpro t education advocacy group. “It was a session out of balance,” Popinski said. “It was absolutely sur- prising. ... All the recommendations ended up failing.” The overview Multiple school districts across the state are either proposing or approv- ing budget shortfalls for the 2023-24 school year. This is due to a number of economic factors, such as in ation, which has driven up operating costs, as well as state and federal money tied to the COVID-19 pandemic drying up, Popinski said. On the other side of that issue is an ongoing national teacher shortage with budget issues making it more di cult to increase compensation and retain teachers. Nearly all proposals aimed at increasing school funding in the legislative session ended up on the cutting room oor, Popinski said. Among those included proposals to increase teacher pay and the per-student allotment funding given to school districts. The per-student allotment sits at $6,160 and has not been increased since House Bill 3 passed in 2019, Popinski said. The state would need to add roughly $1,000 this year to the allotment to match in ation that’s happened since the last increase. How we got here Due to high rates of in ation in recent years—totaling about 18.5% from April 2019-April 2023, according to the Texas comptroller’s o ce—school districts have had trouble keeping up with rising costs
$6,969
$7,000
$6,437
$6,500
$6,160
$6,180
$6,000
$6,160*
$6,160
$6,160
$6,160
$6,160
$0
April 2019
April 2020
April 2021
April 2022
April 2023
WHAT OFFICIALS ARE SAYING School districts around the state are proposing shortfalls in their budgets this year and are pinning much of the blame on the lack of action from the state Legislature this session. NOTE: ALLOTMENT WITH INFLATION USED A CALCULATOR FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. *THE $6,160 ALLOTMENT WENT INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER AND WAS REFLECTED ON BUDGETS FOR THE 2019 20 SCHOOL YEAR. SOURCES: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
LEE MCLEOD, TOMBALL ISD BOARD PRESIDENT “[Our legislators] are betraying public ed, in my opinion. ... There are school districts that are absolutely broke. They have no money.”
“We’re funding education where it’s a race to the bottom ... and that’s not acceptable for this state.”
NANCY HUMPHREY, PLANO ISD BOARD PRESIDENT
“As everybody knows, the governor’s holding all of the money hostage just for vouchers. ... He’s not doing what’s best for the state of Texas or doing what’s best for public education.”
ERIC WRIGHT, HAYS ISD SUPERINTENDENT
budget-making process. Board Secretary Lynn Boswell at Austin ISD, which passed a $2.1 billion budget with a $52.25 million shortfall in June, said the state did not help in the district’s budget this year, prompt- ing o cials to make “painful choices that impact our students.” CFISD Superintendent Mark Henry said his district’s newest budget was the most di cult to prepare in his 32-year career. “It’s irresponsible and insidious what the state is doing to public education right now,” Henry said at the district’s June 20 meeting. Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, said in a July 6 emailed statement to Community Impact that more money will be available to districts when the state passes the school choice legislation, adding it’s an e ort to “empower parents.”
“Gov. Abbott has prioritized public education funding and support for our hardworking teachers throughout his time in o ce,” Mahaleris said in the statement. What happens next? Despite many school o cials’ comments throughout the state, there is still time for the state Legis- lature to pass something. The state is working through special sessions right now, which could include some school funding bills, Popinski said. In the meantime, with shortfalls and a growing need to increase teacher compensation, many districts will likely be dipping into their reserves to make ends meet, Popinski said. “School districts are in a pretty tough position going forward,” he said.
17
HEIGHTS RIVER OAKS MONTROSE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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