BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN CONTRIBUTIONS BY ANGELA BONILLA
SOURCES: CITY OF CONROE, WILLIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2023
2024
2025
November: Conroe’s staff review site plans and note the CCN issue, advising WISD to obtain a release from Aqua Texas before water service could be provided, per the city.
Feb. 19: Aqua Texas sends a letter agreeing to relinquish the CCN rights for the property to Conroe, per documents from both entities; the transfer process with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or PUCT, is still required, per the city.
March 28: WISD officials file CCN transfer paperwork with the PUCT to use the city of instead of Aqua Texas, per WISD. May 30: Conroe officials tell WISD it needs to provide documentation from the PUCT of the CCN change, not just the release letter from Aqua Texas, per city emails. The school’s general contractor turns on the water meter, per the city, which is WISD’s 1st offense of turning on the water without permission from the city. June 5: Conroe again finds the water turned on without approval, marking the 2nd offense; valves are shut and chained, per the city. June 10: Conroe officials communicate the water violations to WISD, issuing a $5,000 fine. June 12: WISD officials deny turning on the water, but said they would pay the fine for the city’s inconvenience, per city emails. July 29: WISD’s contractor requests that Conroe temporarily open the water for testing; valves are unlocked, per the city. Aqua Texas still has the CCN for the school’s site, per WISD.
April: WISD signs a waiver not to open the water meter, per the city.
April 17: Conroe officials communicate there’s still no change in the CCN’s ownership, per city emails. April 25: WISD is granted tap water services for construction from the city of Conroe, per WISD emails.
until Aug. 7, when the mayor and WISD leadership agreed to release water service ahead of Aug. 13. City officials said WISD’s contractor turned the water on twice in May and June without autho- rization, leading to a $5,000 fine. WISD officials denied ordering the water to be turned on but paid the fine for “the city’s inconvenience.” District officials filed a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order against Conroe on Aug. 6—aimed at restoring water service at the school and preventing its shut-off—which was granted and signed by a judge Aug. 7. City officials said the decision to turn water back on came before the filings and was focused on ensuring safe and legal service. District officials said the school’s opening was never in jeopardy. “The facts remain that Willis ISD has actively pursued the necessary steps to secure water ser- vice and permitting for the Calfee Middle School site for over two years,” Blakelock said Aug. 5. Diving in deeper Conroe city officials claim the district was aware of the CCN issue in the process of construction. The city first noted the problem in a November 2023 site plan review, advising the district to secure a release from Aqua Texas. The dispute was further complicated by cost-sharing talks, according to timelines from both the city and the district. Scott said the city was under water restrictions and turning down some resident requests for service. Providing water outside city limits needed to be balanced with contributions from the district, especially since WISD has multiple projects in the pipeline, Scott said during an Aug. 7 press conference. Also of note Conroe officials said the city cannot be the long-term water provider for the middle school campus during a press conference Aug. 7. It’s not immediately clear what that means for the future of water service at the middle school.
June 26: WISD hosts a groundbreaking for Calfee Middle School.
Aug. 1: Testing is completed; the city turns the water off and re-chains the valves, per Conroe.
Aug. 29: Conroe City Council approved implementing a 120-day temporary development moratorium for the northern portion of the city, which includes the campus site. Dec. 19: Conroe City Council approves directing staff to gather data, develop service agreements, offer development agreements on any qualified properties, set and hold public hearings, and take any action necessary to prepare for final annexation, per City Council special meeting minutes. City Council did not approve the final annexation, per the city.
Aug. 5: Conroe officials say the CCN is granted to the city.
Aug. 6: WISD sues the city and Norman McGuire, assistant city administrator and public works director, and requests a temporary restraining order requiring water restoration to the school, per WISD. Aug. 7: Conroe officials announce the water is on at Calfee Middle School, before Judge Tracy A. Gilbert signed the restraining order at 9:44 a.m. Aug. 7, according to the court document.
A hearing for the TRO was scheduled Aug. 21, after press time, per court documents. In an Aug. 9 video statement, Scott said Conroe and WISD have “things that they can grow from.” “The city ... is committed to moving forward, and from my discussions with Willis [ISD], they also are committed to moving forward,” Scott said.
Aug. 13: Calfee Middle School opens for the 2025-26 school year.
Projected enrollment
939
871
731
WISD officials did not respond to a request for comment prior to press time. This is a developing story. To read more coverage on this and other education news, scan the QR code.
SY 2026-27
SY 2025-26
SY 2027-28
Aug. 21: A hearing in relation to the restraining order was scheduled to occur, after press time.
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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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