Bay Area Edition | August 2025

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Bay Area Edition VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2 AUG. 19SEPT. 17, 2025

2025 Education Edition

Finding their voice CCISD looks to alternatives amid national speech-language pathologist shortage

“Due to [the pandemic], there’s just been an overall level of burnout from speech therapists that have worked in the public school setting, and it’s led to … much more of a need for therapists in the school setting.” MATT ALEXANDER, LICENSED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, FOUNDER OF ALEXANDER SPEECH AND HEARING

BY HALEY VELASCO

Clear Creek ISD parent Roxann Zamora said her daughter needed speech therapy stemming from a diagnosis at four years old. When she enrolled her daughter, Zamora said she realized how critical those services could be. “Not having those services to help them navigate ... is just not right at the end of the day,” Zamora said. “They need a voice, and they don’t have one.” Zamora said she’s grateful as a parent for the services CCISD provided. However, a shortage in national speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, remains. As a result, CCISD is searching for ways to bridge the service gap.

CONTINUED ON 24

Also in this issue

Community: Learn more about food insecurity in Galveston County (Page 12)

Dining: Read about the Barge 295 reopening after Hurricane Beryl (Page 15)

Matt Alexander, a licensed speech-language pathologist and founder of Alexander Speech and Hearing in League City, works with a client during a speech therapy session. (Courtesy Matt Alexander)

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Impacts

• Opened July 20 • 1340 E. League City Parkway, League City • www.eluxenailspaleaguecity.com

9 The Healthy Wave The smoothie bar serves lit teas, specialty teas and meal replacement smoothies. • Opened July 13 • 2800 Marina Bay Drive, Ste. K, League City • www.thehealthywave.com 10 Power Fit Eats The business serves healthy meals, fresh juices and protein snacks. Some items include Greek chicken pasta, chicken bacon ranch pizza, cilantro taco shrimp bowls, cold-pressed juices and keto-, gluten- and

SCARSDALE BLVD.

W. FAIRMOUNT PKWY.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

Seabrook

GALVESTON BAY

CLEAR LAKE

2351

BAYBROOK MALL DR.

Nassau Bay

sugar-free desserts. • Opened in early June • 3126 E. FM 528, Webster • www.powerfiteats.com

146

HALL AVE.

W. WASHINGTON ST.

518

SOUTH SHORE BLVD.

528

ANDERS LN.

11 Mr. Taco Texas City The restaurant serves a variety of tacos, including pastor, asada, octopus, birria, carnitas, fish, shrimp and fajita beef and chicken, among other flavors. It also serves appetizers, including guacamole, chile con queso, stuffed jalapenos and ceviche. Other items include bacon-wrapped hot dogs, Colombian hot dogs, mac and cheese burgers, Hawaiian burgers and wings. • Opened July 9 • 3202 13th Ave. N., Texas City • Instagram: mrtaco_txc 12 Sweet Southern Sass TX The business is a boutique that sells clothing such as tops, dresses, bottoms and outerwear, hats and jewelry, among other goods. T-shirts with different themes are

146

Webster

ROYAL TERN WAY

646

League City

E.LEA

646

M A

517

1764

PALMER HWY. 13TH AVE. N.

• Opened July 26 • 4975 FM 1764, Ste. A 100, La Marque • www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com

Now open

1 Resale Therapy The business sells thrifted goods, ranging from home goods, luggage, comics, toys, clothing and appliances, among other items. The store is open from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. • Opened May 31 • 902 S. 1st St., Ste. A, La Porte • Facebook: Resale Therapy 2 Millennium Martial Arts The business offers beginner classes for kids, as well as MMA striking and kickboxing classes. It also offers an after-school program where staff pick up students after school and take them to their classes to train until 6 p.m. Summer camps are also available. • Opened July 8 • 14870 Space Center Blvd., Ste. G, Houston • www.millenniumma.com 3 Casa Matcha The cafe serves a variety of matcha lattes and house- made cold brew, as well as muffins, cake pops, croissants and cookies. • Opened July 26 • 1199 E. NASA Parkway, Webster • Facebook: Casa Matcha 4 Tropical Smoothie Cafe The cafe specializes in smoothies but also sells flatbreads, wraps, salads and sandwiches, among other items.

available as well. • Opened Aug. 9

5 Claro’s Seafood Restaurant Menu previews for the restaurant show some items will include fried oysters, fried shrimp and fried whole pompano. • Opened August 1 • 10904 Scarsdale Blvd, Ste. 252, Houston • www.clarosseafood.com 6 Food Town The grocery store will occupy the space in Santa Fe Junction Shopping Center formerly occupied by Arlan’s Market. In addition to the Santa Fe location, the store has 27 other locations in the Greater Houston area. • Opened July 30

• 4644 NASA Parkway, Seabrook • www.sweetsouthernsasstx.com

Coming soon

13 Lia”s Nails Lounge The nail salon offers elevated nail care and bespoke design through either appointments or walk-ins. • Opening in 2025 • 156 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster • Facebook: Lia”s Nails Lounge Webster 14 Gauchos Do Sul The restaurant serves unlimited cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb, as well as a salad bar and side dishes. Much of the food is served directly at customers’ tables. • Construction to be completed in December • 415 Royal Tern Way, Webster • gauchosdosul.com 15 Ethan Allen The new Webster Design Studio will provide an open floor plan with room vignettes tailored to the area’s clientele. Clients will be able to work with an Ethan Allen interior designer at fully equipped workstations

• 12460 Hwy. 6, Santa Fe • www.yourfoodtown.com

7 SpaceCenter Systems The business is an IT services and cybersecurity company. • Opened July 24

• 116 W. Washington St., Webster • www.spacecentersystemscom

8 E-Luxe Nail Spa The nail spa offers services such as manicures, pedicures, Gel-X, dip, builder gel, head spas, facials and waxing.

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

that feature a large screen, where they can review designer presentations and detailed 3D floor plans as well as fabric, leather and finish samples. • Opening Aug. 28 • 1065 West Bay Area Blvd., Webster • www.ethanallen.com

In the news

Now open

18 Damn Fine Coffee and Fried Pies The business celebrated its five-year anniversary. It sells roasted coffee beans, coffee drinks and fried pies, including peach cobbler, bread pudding, pumpkin and sweet potato.

Relocations

• 910 Hall Ave., Seabrook • www.itsdamnfine.com

16 Edward Jones The finance advisor provides investment services in annuities, insurance, employer retirement plans, education savings, equity investments, exchange- traded funds, fixed-income investments and individual retirement accounts, among other services. • Relocated June 23 • 1150 Clear Lake City Blvd., Ste. 202, Houston • www.edwardjones.com 17 Eternal Aerial Art The business specializes in teaching movement and performance. Students use strength, flexibility and creativity while suspended in the air. • Relocated Aug. 18

19 Huntington Learning Center The center reopened under new ownership in April. It offers K-12 tutoring and standardized testing prep, including ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP and GED. Within its SAT prep are three distinct programs. • 2323 Clear Lake City Blvd., Ste. 170, Houston • www.huntingtonhelps.com/locations/clear-lake-city-tx

21 BearBit ClawMaster The business offers various claw machines to win plushies, toys and other prizes. It also serves ice cream in a variety of flavors, including mango tango and strawberry burst. • Opened June 14 • 3457 Clear Lake City Blvd., Houston • Facebook: BearBit ClawMaster

Closings

20 Texas Artisan The business is a veteran- and women-owned gift and home decor shop. • Closing in August • 2800 Marina Bay Drive, Ste. E, League City • Facebook: Texas Artisan LLC

• 420 Anders Lane, Kemah • www.eternalaerialarts.com

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Government

BY RACHEL LELAND

League City OKs $265K for water meter upgrades League City City Council approved an increase in the city’s investment in water meters by allocat- ing additional funds to purchase new water meters and upgrade existing ones. What happened Water funding

Water study’s second phase moves forward The second phase of developing a flood mitigation plan for the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou watersheds near Friendswood and League City has received approval to move forward. The details A delegation of city and county officials traveled to Washington D.C. in June to seek formal approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2022, League City and Galveston County coordinated with more than a dozen local entities to complete Phase 1, which included small and large projects. The background The study stemmed from flooding in the area caused by Hurricane Harvey.

$265K increase in water meter work $681K total for contract $0.82 increase in water meter $1.52 increase in wastewater meter

The council at its July 8 meeting voted unan- imously to increase the city’s contract with Thirkettle DBA Aqua Metric for water meter work by $265,000, bringing the total contract value to $681,000, according to city documents. The meters feature 20-year accuracy warranties, leak detection alarms and remote data report- ing, and are compatible with the city’s FlexNex communication network, according to agenda documents. Looking back In January, City Council approved higher water and wastewater rates, including adjustments tied to meter size to help fund system improvements,

SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Community Impact previously reported. Base monthly service charges for standard residential meters increased from $8.26 to $9.08, and wastewater charges from $15.32 to $16.84, city documents show. Additional charges apply based on the amount of water used each month. Those rates began April 1 and are scheduled to go up each year in April through 2029, according to the city’s website.

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE, RACHEL LELAND & JESSICA SHORTEN

County officials urge disaster preparedness amid FEMA concerns

Diving in deeper

FEMA funding also provides individual assistance directly to residents affected by local disasters. Individual assistance can vary from lump sum payments to hotel accommodations for families affected by a disaster. Following the derecho event and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Houston region received two presidential disaster declarations. According to funding allocation reports from FEMA, 739,519 applications for individual assistance for home- owners were approved from the two events, totaling nearly $1.2 billion in assistance passed on to residents in 2024 alone. Individual assistance requests from Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Hurricane Beryl and the Houston derecho, and the 2024 severe storms totaled $2.9 billion, according to FEMA. FEMA individual assistance funding for Houston region Housing assistance funding Other assistance funding Hurricane Harvey $1.2B $413M Tropical Storm Imelda $57M $11M 2024 derecho/tornado/severe storm $143M $164M Hurricane Beryl $191M $724M

Abbott was appointed to the special review council in May alongside Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Abbott said the state has historically led disaster response. The biggest concern voiced by local agencies is natural disasters typically cause several million in debris removal and hazard mitigation costs typically reimbursed by FEMA. “I’m confident in Gov. Abbott and Chief Kidd’s leadership and suspect they are looking at ways to streamline processes to make disaster response and recovery easier for our local communities and the state of Texas as a whole,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said.

Following the announcement of a new committee May 20 aimed at addressing the reliability and existence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Houston- area agencies remain uncertain on how the federal FEMA Review Council will affect disaster response in the region. In a July 14 press conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said the main goal of the committee is to streamline processes to provide faster emergency response. “The monetary resources that we are receiving now, they’re much needed for things like … debris removal or search and rescue operations,” Abbott said. “Those will still be funded, but we will have the ability to do it a whole lot faster.”

Immediately following a disaster, local counties seek FEMA funding for public assistance and debris removal. Regional major storm debris removal costs

Galveston County Harris County Montgomery County

Hurricane Harvey

April/May 2024 severe storms

Hurricane Beryl

$40M

$30M

$20M

$10M

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, GALVESTON COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Final takeaways

the current reality,” said Brian Murray, deputy coordinator over Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management office. In the meantime, officials with Galveston County said they are focused on the 2025 hurricane season, calling preparedness for it a “year-round activity.” As it stands, officials with the county said they have no expectation that funding for any existing program will be impacted or clawed back.

“Eliminating FEMA is reckless and will have devastating and deadly consequences,” Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “States already manage disaster response, and rely on FEMA’s partnership, funding, and expertise after major disasters.” The federal review council has met twice in 2025 to discuss how FEMA currently operates, and there is no deadline on when the final report will be issued. “Without knowing how things will be resolved on the federal level, we remain focused on

With the 2025 hurricane season underway, many agencies are focused on maintaining preparedness for storms and see the potential for streamlining FEMA processes. “Anytime we can cut red tape and bureaucracy out of processes and systems, it’s a win for the public and in this case will likely result in faster response and recovery after a disaster,” Henry said. The possibility of FEMA being dissolved still looms over other community leaders who share concerns over the funding provided to local agencies following a natural disaster.

BAY AREA EDITION

Community

BY AUDREY BAKER CONTRIBUTIONS BY JESSICA SHORTEN & KEVIN VU

Galveston County sees increase in food-insecure population

More than 58,000 people across Galveston County are facing food insecurity, according to a May report from Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks and programs. By the numbers Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study provides estimates of local food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district, according to the report. In 2023—the latest year for which data are avail- able—the food insecurity rate in Galveston County stood at 16.4%, with more than 58,000 individuals struggling to nd adequate access to food. The percentage represents an increase from the previous year’s rate of 15.1%, data shows. Galveston County saw a lower rate of food-insecure individuals than the state in 2023. Only once since 2019 has the county exceeded the state’s rate, according to the data. In neighboring Brazoria County, approximately 14.2% of the population struggled with food insecurity in 2023, up from 12.9% the previous year. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of food-insecure individuals in the county increased by more than 13,000, according to the study. As dened in the report, food insecurity occurs when a household cannot access enough food due to lack of money or other resources. Those counted as being food-insecure are the individuals who live in a food-insecure household. “This year’s study shows we still have work to do in creating a future where every child has access to the meals they need,” Melanie Hall, chief research and innovation ocer for Feeding America, said in the report.

The local impact Donnie VanAckeren, president and CEO of Galveston County Food Bank, says the food bank’s on-site pantry serves about 400 families per day. VanAckeren said the food bank’s nutritional education program has also been aected by federal funding cuts. “The best value for food is the most nutritious— fresh produce—and so we really, really push hard for that, and it’s the best dollar value that you can get,” he said. “But a lot of people don’t understand how to cook that. … That’s where that element of the nutritional education part comes in.” Children were especially likely to struggle with access to food. In Brazoria and Galveston counties, food insecurity rates for individuals under the age of 18 reached 18.1% and 21.3%, respectively. The big picture As previously reported by Community Impact , President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, was signed into law on July 4. The bill calls for cutting about $186 billion by 2034 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is a program that provides food benets to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget to aord essential foods. Currently, SNAP requires most people ages 16 to 59 to follow work rules, meaning a person must be working or partici- pating in a work program at least 20 hours per week, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Many individuals struggling with access to food may not qualify for SNAP benets. The study esti- mated that more than half of food-insecure people in Brazoria County in 2023 were not eligible.

Food insecurity rates over time

Galveston County

Texas

14.1% 14.1%

2019

14.1%

2020

13%

13.1%

2021

13.7%

15.1%

2022

16.4%

2023

17.6%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

SOURCE: FEEDING AMERICACOMMUNITY IMPACT

“It just keeps growing. We’re signing up brand-new families every day that have never had to utilize a food bank. ... It’s

a tough economy.” DONNIE VANACKEREN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, GALVESTON COUNTY FOOD BANK

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Events

BY DIEGO COLLAZO

August

Nassau Bay Farmer’s Market This organic-based farmers market will feature locally raised produce and products made from locally sourced supplies. • Aug. 23, 30 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sept. 6, 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission)

• 2332 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.visitbayareahouston.com/ event/nassau-bay-farmers-market

Market on the Bayou This year-round market offers a number of vendors who sell goods that include baked goods, watermelon, tamales, honey and handmade accessories, among other goods. • Aug. 23, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2421 S. Gulf Freeway Frontage Road, League City • www.marketonthebayou.com Elvis Tribute - Vince King & The Vegas Mafia Band Hosted at Jackie’s Bar & Grill, this event will feature songs and music from Elvis Presley. Attendees can buy individual tickets or tables of four. • Aug. 24, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. • $10-$20, $100-$140 for table of four (admission) • 1053 Marina Bay Drive, League City • Facebook: Jackie’s Bar & Grill Music in The Historic District League City residents can enjoy free music at League Park, due in part to the League City Folk Association and League City Historical Society. • Aug. 29, 7-10 p.m. • Free (admission) • 512 2nd St., League City • www.visitbayareahouston.com/event/ music-in-the-historic-district-10 Drone Zone Guests can take this beginner course to learn the basics

Sensory-Friendly Event Space Center Houston is hosting a sensory-friendly event for people with autism and sensory processing disabilities. There will be modified lighting, music, sound effects and a designated quiet room.

• Aug. 29, 6-9 p.m. • $15.95 (admission) • 1601 E. NASA Parkway, Houston • www.spacecenter.org/event/sensory-friendly

• Free (admission) • 1001 E. League City Parkway, League City • www.leaguecitytx.gov/3686/ household-hazardous-waste

of drones. There will be an obstacle course race at the Lone Star Flight Museum for participants to learn and practice. • Aug. 30, 2-3 p.m. • $10-$12 (admission) • 11551 Aerospace Ave., Houston • www.lonestarflight.org/events/drone-zone-3-2-2

Kids Fish Children in Pre-K through fifth grade can fish at Bayside Park for the chance to win gift cards. The top three prizes, $100, $50 and $25 gift cards, will be awarded to kids who catch the biggest fish. An additional $100 gift card will be given for the most unique fish. • Sept. 13, 8-10 a.m. • Free (admission) • 1000 Main St., Seabrook • www.seabrooktx.gov/397/kids-fish

September

Household Hazardous Waste disposal League City will be hosting this event for residents looking to safely dispose of hazardous materials. Residents must bring their driver’s license and a recent water bill as proof of residence. • Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Dining

BY HALEY VELASCO

As Seabrook staple Barge 295 was hitting its groove in late 2023 and into 2024, all operations came to a halt when Hurricane Beryl struck the Greater Houston area in July 2024, causing the restaurant to sink into Clear Lake. Co-owner Michael Robinson said he thought the barge was “done for good.” “We were breaking records and on our way to probably having one of the best years as far as revenue goes,” Robinson said. “Then Hurricane Beryl hit—a major, major step back.” Despite the setback—as well as numerous obstacles from potential city restrictions, insur- ance coverage, delayed disaster loan funding and keeping everything organized during reconstruc- tion—Robinson said Barge 295 was able to come back better than ever. After operating for a year with just an outdoor patio, the business reopened its indoor space June 20. “It’s been a journey, and while very stressful, every one of us is extremely happy with what we have now,” he said. Zooming in Through its reopening process, the owners were able to replace 65% of the steel deck, which is the base structure of the barge. Robinson said this was vital for its reopening, as the barge has been in operation since the 1980s but has deteriorated the deck over time. “If the hurricane didn’t happen, and we never had the opportunity to address that, we would have really been ghting repairs just endlessly,” Robinson said. The history The restaurant originally opened in 1983 as The Turtle Club before Robinson took it over with Michael Hessemer and his brother, Patrick, in 2017. It was then that they renamed the business. Now overcoming two hurricanes, the owners and employees are continuing to serve up an assortment of drinks, including local craft beers and seafood, such as oysters, tuna, lobster rolls, shrimp and po-boys, among other items, according to the restaurant’s website. What’s next The next steps for Barge 295 will be to build a retractable roof system for performances at The Back aoat: Barge 295 reopens with new improvements

Shrimp, oysters and catsh baskets with fries are some of what they serve on the lunch menu.

PHOTOS COURTESY BARGE 295

The restaurant serves a number of seafood dishes.

The business reopened its indoor space June 20.

Yard, Robinson said. The Yard is the business’s outdoor space where they host events such as musical performances. Robinson said he is very content with the turnout of reopening Barge 295. “I just remember sitting here after it sank and even through the construction process and just trying to envision what it was like with people in it again, and now we have people in it again. It’s overwhelming,” he said.

146

CLEAR LAKE

2613½ E. NASA Parkway, Seabrook www.thebarge295.com

BAY AREA EDITION

Transportation

BY RACHEL LELAND

League City sells easement to TxDOT League City has agreed to sell a drainage easement valued at less than $10,000 to the Texas Department of Transportation for the planned $1.9 billion Grand Parkway segment that will extend through the city. What happened League City City Council voted at its July 22 meeting to sell a parcel of land adjacent to the future segment B1 of the Grand Parkway, which will bisect League City and connect Hwy. 146 and I-45. Zooming out League City’s population is projected to increase by nearly 40% from 2020-2030, and more growth could happen as a result of the Grand Parkway extension in 2027, Community Impact previously reported.

FM 518 sidewalk repairs resume in League City The Texas Department of Transportation resumed construction on a $15.4 million project to improve pedestrian mobility along FM 518 in League City, according to a July 16 news release from the city. TxDOT will install a 10-foot-wide sidewalk between Palomino Lane and Williamsport Street. When completed, the sidewalk is expected to provide a safer route for pedestrians and bicy- clists—particularly students traveling to and from Creekside Intermediate and Clear Springs High School, according to the city. What else? Construction crews have completed work along the westbound lanes and are shifting focus to the eastbound side. As a result, drivers along FM 518 can expect intermittent lane closures and traffic shifts over the coming weeks. Concrete barriers

WILLIAMSPORT ST.

518

have been placed along the shoulder to protect workers during construction. Looking ahead TxDOT broke ground on the project in May 2024. However, according to a social media post from the city, delays have pushed back the construction timeline. The project was slated for completion by the end of 2025. TxDOT officials said they are awaiting a revised construction schedule from their contractor before they can provide a new projected completion date.

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BAY AREA EDITION

Development

BY RACHEL LELAND & JAMES T. NORMAN

League City rezones 1.8K acres for planned PUD League City on July 22 gave the first of two approvals needed to rezone roughly 1,776 acres of land on its west side to create a planned unit development for residential and commercial use. What happened A second vote on Aug. 12, which took place after press time, will be needed before the rezoning becomes official. Previously, the League City Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend the zoning request at its July 7 meeting. The land will be used for building Lloyd North, Central and South, which are planned unit developments, or PUDs. PUDs are planned developments that often include residential and commercial improvements. The project initially received approval in 2006, but changes to city code over time necessitated

Intuitive Machines lease adjusted Intuitive Machines is getting an additional 3 acres of land at the Houston Spaceport, along with a lease extension, that officials said will help the aerospace business imple- ment a $12 million expansion. What you need to know Houston City Council approved the amendment to an agreement between the Houston Airport System and Intuitive Machines at its July 16 meeting, according to a news release from Houston Airports. The new land will allow for Intuitive Machines to expand, which will include new production, testing and various support facilities, according to the release. Officials hope the expansion will even- tually service commercial and government entities, according to the release.

First phases of Kemah’s 57-acre park open Phases I and II of Kemah’s 57-acre park and nature area opened to the public July 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a city news release. The details The ceremony included a demonstration of the park’s features, speeches from city leaders and an opportunity for children to explore the new play equipment. The project, which was expected to cost between $5 million and $6 million, broke ground in September 2024, Community Impact previ- ously reported. The goal of the park, which the city hopes will promote the area’s ecotourism, is to provide a habitat for animals, birds and insects that are indigenous to the area, according to the city’s website. It will also be a place where visitors can

5 new murals coming to League City Expanding on its art initiative, League City is adding five murals onto traffic boxes across the city. The full story The murals will each be painted by a pro- fessional artist, according to a news release from the city. Once completed, it will bring the city’s total number of murals to 40.

518

KEMAH OAKS DR.

PARK OAKS ST.

MULDOON PKWY.

Lloyd PUD

146

517

SOURCE: LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

revisiting the item, according to city documents. The land is generally located north of FM 517, south of League City Parkway, documents show. Diving in deeper Together, Lloyd North and South will add a combined 2,637 single-family homes, half of which would have lots at least 60 feet wide, according to city documents. Lloyd South would dedicate a 32.2-acre city park and a 4-acre fire station site near Muldoon Parkway to the city, according to the same documents.

observe and learn about the specific species in the area. Looking ahead While phases I and II of the project are com- plete, the project has additional phases that will be completed within five to 10 years, according to the city’s website. Those will include building boardwalks over wetlands, planting native grasses, constructing an amphitheater-style outdoor classroom and platforms for viewing wildlife.

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LEAGUE CITY 196 Gulf Fwy S (281) 316-2140

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“Our vision is for every child who comes into fos- ter care in Galveston County to have a CASA by their side,” Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Joanna Mendoza said. “We also work to raise awareness in the community about the realities of child abuse and neglect because the more people know, the more they’re likely to get involved.” at involvement can truly change lives. Advocates serve as a steady presence through a child’s often chaotic journey in foster care, gathering informa- tion from caregivers, teachers, doctors and case- workers to make informed recommendations to the court. “A lot of the time, there are new adults coming in and out of the child’s life. ey might be assigned multiple caseworkers and attorneys during their

case, and they may move from placement to placement. is can make them have a harder time knowing who to trust,” CASA volunteer Joshua Farley said. “You become that steady and consistent friendly face who’s always there to look out for them.” at sense of deep responsibility resonates with Susan Douglas, a CASA volunteer. “What really made a dierence to me recently was being in court and realizing that what I said, and what I wrote in my report, inuenced the judge’s decision,” Douglas said. “Once you understand that you’re making a real impact in the children’s lives, it drives you.”...

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY JAMES T. NORMAN, HANNAH NORTON & HALEY VELASCO

Education Edition

2025

Welcome to Community Impact’s annual Education Edition. This year’s edition features a deep dive into Clear Creek ISD’s 2025-26 compensation plan, which totals $18 million. Meanwhile, our cover story this year focuses on a shortage in speech pathologists and how both local and statewide entities are addressing the challenge. Readers can also learn about the old schoolhouse building in League City, as well as recent actions from Clear Creek ISD.

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Clear Creek ISD faces possible shortfall despite new funding from state

HB 2 highlights and CCISD funding

$3.7B for teacher pay across state $1.3B for xed costs across state, such as transportation and insurance $850M for special education resources across state

$430M for school safety across state $55 increase to per-student basic

Despite the state oering an additional $8.4 billion in funding for various school expenses— such as increased teacher pay—school districts, such as Clear Creek ISD, are looking at a possible shortfall

which, for example, covered $12 million of $18 million needed for the district’s new compensation package, Benzaia said. CCISD is facing a projected $13.5 million shortfall for FY 2025-26 as of mid-July, documents show. Zooming out School funding advocates, such as Raise Your Hand Texas, have noted the billions in funding for schools, but believe it wasn’t enough. RYHT Dean of Policy Bob Popinski said the new funding that went toward the basic allotment was carried over from other funding mechanisms. In short, the state opted against raising the funding amount for one area and instead placed it into the basic student allotment. As a result, advo- cates like Popinski have argued that the additional funding isn’t new.

allotment $13.5M*

projected shortfall for CCISD’s 2025-26 budget

for scal year 2025-26. What you need to know

*THE PROJECTED SHORTFALL DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR A BUDGET UPDATE GIVEN AUG. 11, WHICH TOOK PLACE AFTER PRESS TIME. SOURCES: CLEAR CREEK ISD, TEXAS LEGISLATURECOMMUNITY IMPACT

The state addressed a number of areas, such as increasing the basic student allotment, which is the amount of money a district gets per enrolled student. However, CCISD Chief Financial Ocer Alice Benzaia said the state’s funding approach this session was more restrictive than previous ones. “In prior legislative sessions, the funds would have been built into the basic allotment, and then districts could utilize those funds for how they felt was best for their district,” Benzaia said. Still, CCISD ocials highlighted the new funding,

“It’s a really complicated way of saying they froze one program to fund another,” Popinski said. However, lawmakers and dozens of school associations across the state praised the bill, with some calling it a “lifeline” for cash-strapped schools, Community Impact previously reported. Stay tuned CCISD ocials expect to adopt the district’s budget at an August meeting.

BAY AREA EDITION

Education

BY HALEY VELASCO

Clear Creek ISD approves $18M compensation package for employees

What’s next

Looking ahead, the district will continue to discuss its FY 2025-26 budget. As of its discussion July 14, the district is projecting a $13.5 million shortfall for FY 2025-26, Community Impact previously reported. This shortfall is also projected with a tax rate of $0.9690 per $100 valuation of a home—the same rate that was approved last year, budget documents note. Officials met to discuss the budget further Aug. 11. However, updated information out of that meeting was unavailable as of press time. Two more meetings are planned to discuss the budget and tax rate further.

$1,875 increase $2,500 increase $5,000 increase

All Clear Creek ISD employees—including teachers, librarians, nurses and instructional coaches—will receive a salary increase for fiscal year 2025-26 after the board of trustees approved a new compensation plan at its July 28 meeting. Much of the compensation increase will be funded through House Bill 2, which passed in early June during the 89th Texas Legislature. Among $8.4 billion in funding, it provides permanent raises for educators and support staff. Those raises are based on the number of years of experience a teacher has, according to the bill. The district will also receive about $1.4 million from HB 2 for the support staff retention allotment, documents show.

for teachers with 1-2 years of experience

for teachers with 3-4 years of experience for teachers with 5+ years of experience

$64,000 new starting teacher salary

a $2,500 increase from the 2024-25 starting teacher salary

3% increase for all other employees

$18M in cost with state covering $12M

Upcoming dates

Aug. 25: budget hearing and adoption of budget for FY 2025-26 Sept. 22: adopt 2025 tax rate

SOURCES: CLEAR CREEK ISD, TEXAS LEGISLATURE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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