Pearland - Friendswood Edition | August 2024

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Pearland Friendswood Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 AUG. 14SEPT. 13, 2024

2024 Education Edition

Abby Williams, a kindergarten teacher at Westwood Elementary in Friendswood ISD, conducts a lesson with her kindergarten class during the 202324 school year.

COURTESY FRIENDSWOOD ISD School districts struggle with teacher turnover

Association of Texas Professional Educators and former Houston-area teacher. School districts, including Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISDs, are also seeing an increase in uncertied teachers looking for jobs.

districts rose by 7% from 2020-23, data from the Texas Education Agency shows. “Teachers all over the state and the country are feeling overworked; in some cases, underappreci- ated; in a lot of cases, unheard and uncared for by those in power,” said Tricia Cave, a lobbyist for the

BY HALEY VELASCO

In a 2023 Texas education poll conducted by the Charles Butt Foundation, 75% of teachers reported seriously considering quitting their jobs in the past year—a 17% jump from the same poll in 2020. Turnover rates for teachers in Texas school

CONTINUED ON 18

Also in this issue

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Government: Pearland looks to clarify accessory dwelling units as part of new comprehensive plan (Page 9)

Business: Great Wolf Lodge opens 92,000-square-foot resort in Webster with ocials hoping it boosts economy (Page 20)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Papar Faircloth General Manager pfaircloth@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

HALL RD.

SHADOW CREEK PKWY.

MCHARD RD.

Pearland

521

W. BROA D W A

518

WALNUT ST.

Friendswood

BAYBROOK MALL DRIVE

M AGNOLIA PKWY.

288

BAILEY A V E .

FRIENDSWOOD LINK RD.

MCKEEVER RD.

GREAT WOLF WAY

274

2351

2403

35 2917

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3 CynFit Integral Fitness The workout studio offers group training classes, including high-intensity interval training, strength training and core conditioning. • Opened May 18 • 8406 Hall Road, Ste. 500, Houston • www.cynfitintegralfitness.com 4 Polygon PT The business specializes in out-patient sports medicine, with each person assessed to determine their rehabilitative goals. The business has five other locations throughout the Greater Houston area. • Opened June 3 • 12155 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 114, Pearland • www.polygonpt.com

5 Venus Lash Studio The studio offers classic, volume and hybrid lash extensions and lash lifts, tints and brow laminations. • Opened July 14 • 2525 Friendswood Link Road, Ste. C, Friendswood • www.venuslashstudio.com 6 Chara Christian Dance Academy The business’ new location will offer dance camps and music lessons, among other services. • Opened July 26 • 1570 Old Alvin Road, Pearland • www.charadance.com 7 Corey’s Kitchen at The Fillin’ Station The restaurant’s menu includes starters such as bone-in

Now open

1 Minivasive Pain & Orthopedics The clinic provides services for different kinds of injuries, as well as other conditions. • Opened July 16 • 11233 Shadow Creek Parkway, Ste. 121, Pearland • minivasivepain.com 2 Aria Suya Kitchen The restaurant serves different variations of suya, as well as lamb chops, grilled fish, and soups, among other menu items. • Opened July 6 • 3300 Business Center Drive, Ste. 150, Pearland • www.ariasuyakitchen.com

Good for business. Good for life.

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wings, burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs, as well as fries, among other menu items. • Opened July 27 • 603 W. Sealy St., Alvin • Facebook: Corey’s Kitchen 8 Whitewater Express Car Wash The business offers different washing services, as well as different packages that members can purchase. • Opened Aug. 1 • 9540 Broadway St., Pearland • www.whitewatercw.com 9 Great Wolf Lodge The resort’s newest location opened in Webster. It is over 90,000 square feet in size and offers 500 rooms, as well as several different water and entertainment attractions. • Opened Aug. 7

• Expanded July 1 • 6202 S. Hwy. 35, Alvin • www.theshopinalvin.com

Now open

In the news

13 U.S. Small Business Administration The agency opened a Business Recovery Center following Hurricane Beryl in Brazoria County. • 116 S. Velasco St., Ste. C, Angleton • www.sba.gov 14 The Chameleon Fourteen months after the business lost its building to a fire, the event space reopened July 27. The building now has a beer garden, food trucks, pool tables, putt pong hill and a place to make art. • 319 W. Willis St., Alvin • www.thechameleontx.com 15 Starbucks One of the global coffee chain’s locations in Friendswood reopened July 30 after it completed a remodeling. • 107 E. Parkwood Ave., Friendswood • www.starbucks.com 16 Jenny’s Bakery The bakery, which makes cakes and other goods at two locations, celebrated its 20-year anniversary on July 4. The business’ other location is in the Bay Area. • 124 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood • www.jennysbakery.com 17 Chuy’s The Austin-based Tex-Mex chain was acquired in July by Darden Restaurants for $605 million. • 20975 Gulf Freeway, Webster • www.chuys.com/locations/webster 18 Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille The steakhouse celebrated its 45-year anniversary in July. Its Baybrook menu offers a number of different steaks, as well as seafood, escargot and Polish sausage,

19 Friendswood Scoop Shop The ice cream shop will serve whimsical flavors inspired by the owner’s personal experiences and Friendswood’s roots. Some flavors include bubblegum, blackberry, creme brulee and fig. The shop also serves sorbet. • Opened July 30 • 901 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood • www.friendswoodscoopshop.com

• 1000 Great Wolf Way, Webster • www.greatwolf.com/webster

Coming soon

10 Challenge Elite The program’s new facility will include volleyball, pickleball and basketball courts. • Opening in August • 14150 Beamer Road, Friendswood • www.challengeelite.org 11 Tamashi Ramen & Sushi The restaurant serves a variety of ramen and sushi rolls, among other menu items. • Opening in August • 9415 Broadway St., Ste. 115, Pearland • www.tamashiramensushi.com

among other menu items. • 700 Baybrook Mall Drive, Friendswood • www.perryssteakhouse.com/locations/tx/houston/ baybrook

Closings

20 Sambal Chef The Malaysian restaurant closed to relocate to Chinatown in the Houston area. • Closed July 5 • 721 Broadway St., Ste. 103, Pearland • www.sambalchef.com

Expansions

12 The Shop The automotive service business will now offer general paint and body services. The expansion’s name, located inside the original business, is called The Body Shop.

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Government

BY RACHEL LELAND

Officials in Pearland are considering a new comprehensive plan to help guide the city in how it will use its remaining undeveloped land, which includes updates to how Pearland regulates accessory dwelling units—a move that has given some officials pause ahead of a possible vote in August. On June 24, Pearland City Council voted to adopt an amended version of the Pearland 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which gives guidance on land use, development and the city’s future appearance. However, a second vote will be needed for it to go into effect. Among the changes, recommendations for the plan call for “clear paths forward” to permit accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, within existing residential neighborhoods, according to city documents. An ADU is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit on the same lot as a single-family home, according to the American Planning Association. Property owners wishing to build an accessory dwelling unit in an area zoned for residential use would need to bring their plans before City Council for approval, Director of Community Development Vance Wyly said. Future land use plans are meant to give city officials a guide when making decisions but are not the same as zoning regulations, documents show. They are also not legally binding and don’t create budgetary obligations. Pearland considers path for accessory dwelling units

Diving in deeper

Examples of accessory dwelling units

Documents in the plan acknowledge the potential drawback of allowing more ADUs would be them not matching the feel and character of a neighborhood. However, with the vast majority of Pearland’s housing classified as single-family, adding more ADUs could help diversify the city’s residential options, according to city documents.

Interior (upper floor)

Attached

Housing by type, 2019

Free-standing, single-family home

10 or more apartments

Other

15.3%

Attached (above garage)

63.9% 73.9% 81%

20.8%

Houston area Brazoria County Pearland

10.1%

16%

11.4%

7.6%

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU’S 2021 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Detached

SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Stay tuned

Since taking the first steps in 2021 to develop the plan, city staff held four meetings and two workshops with the comprehensive plan advisory committee, nine stakeholder meetings and 33 public meetings, according to agenda documents. The city in 2023 conducted online surveys to gauge how Pearland residents wanted to develop the city’s remaining land. Results showed housing affordability and maintaining good public infrastructure were top priorities for residents, according to agenda documents.

The possible issue of ADUs fitting into a neighborhood was highlighted by some City Council members, who passed an amendment restricting them only to certain areas. Others, such as Mayor Kevin Cole, said ADUs were useful in certain circumstances. City Council is expected to hold a second vote on the plan at its August meeting, officials said. Prior to the vote, they can amend the plan.

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Government

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Pearland OKs master plan for cultural arts

Friendswood keeps 5-minute rule for resident comments Friendswood City Council voted July 1 against reducing how long residents have to give public hearing comments. The full story Friendswood allows five minutes for residents to speak at a public hearing and three minutes for general public comment, the latter of which doesn’t have to be about a specific agenda item at a meeting. City Council opted against reducing the amount of time residents have for public comments, which city staff pitched to make it consistent with general public comments. “I think [five minutes] gives everybody ... a chance to really make their points,” council member Joe Matranga said.

Goals of the plan

The plan lays out five key goals, as well as details and tactics to help carry out each goal, according to the master plan. The goals and timelines are:

After more than a year of development, Pearland City Council approved the city’s first master plan for cultural arts at its July 22 meeting. What you need to know The plan, created by the firm Cultural Planning Group, or CPG, lays out five key goals and calls for hiring an arts administrator and a part-time public art manager, according to the plan. It also offers a path to help fund the various art upgrades, namely through dedicating a percent- age of the city’s hotel occupancy taxes to the program, and various types of grants. Officials at the July 22 meeting said they hope the plan will bring a focus to Pearland’s culture scene, enhance the city’s offerings of music and restaurants, help with public art and fund projects, among other things. The Pearland Cultural and Visitor’s Bureau

Bring in staff and funding needed to carry out the program (1-3 years)

Build and expand the city’s public art program (1-3 years)

Expand arts and cultural offerings for residents (3-5 years) Add new cultural centers in town (5-7 years) Expand cultural tourism within the city (3-5 years)

SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

paid CPG around $89,000 to develop the plan in May 2023, according to city documents. Creating the plan took place over a year and included community outreach.

Manvel police ask for personnel, equipment additions Demand for the Manvel Police Department has grown in recent years, and as a result, officials are looking for an increase in the budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The details As part of that growth, Manvel Police Chief adding two patrol officers. If approved, it would bring the police department’s staffing to 47 people, according to city documents.

From FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24, demand for policing has increased in a number of areas. Some examples, based on estimates, include: Rising demand for policing

160% increase in calls for service 160% increase in traffic stops

225% increase in citations 165% increase in arrests

In FY 2021-22, the department had 28 staff mem- bers, according to city documents. If the additions are approved, it would mean a 68% increase in personnel since then. Traylor also requested patrol vehicles and other equipment, totaling $423,600, documents show.

Keith Traylor requested some personnel additions at City Council’s July 1 meeting, which included

SOURCE: CITY OF MANVEL/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Education Edition

2024

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! This guide features the latest updates and resources about local K-12 public school options in your community, such as information on new campuses, budget details and bond elections. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news. Show them your gratitude by supporting them. In this year’s edition, we have relevant news and material for Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISDs. In some of the stories, we hit on specific new changes going on with each district, while in others we branch out and look at certain issues and how they compare to both statewide and national trends. This year, we also are featuring a education-based business from Pearland, which recently opened up a second location in Manvel. As seen on the cover, we take an in-depth look into the ongoing teacher shortage in the state of Texas and how local school districts are being affected. While not shown to be a major problem locally, school districts in the Pearland-Friendswood area are seeing increased amounts of uncertified teachers and teacher turnover. Thank you so much for reading.

What's inside

Alvin ISD launching new esports curriculum for students (Page 14)

James T. Norman Editor jnorman@ communityimpact.com

Friendswood ISD makes changes to its student handbook (Page 15)

SMART Core Labs looks to make learning accessible for all (Page 17)

Local districts target mental health with ESSER funding spent Sept. 30 marks the deadline for school funding from the federal government related to the COVID- FISD ESSER funding

interventionists—have been incorporated into the district’s regular budget, said Stacy Guzzetta, executive director of student operations for FISD. Pearland ISD received $19.7 million across all three ESSER allotments, district data shows. The bulk of the money went to paying employees, learning loss and various student services. Neither district has any more funds to commit ahead of the September deadline, officials said. Diving in deeper Guzzetta said learning gaps stemming from the pandemic have been closed for the most part and are reflected in the district’s testing scores. However, officials said some students are still struggling with mental health issues. Guzzetta said while not a rampant problem at FISD, it’s still one the district is focused on. PISD Coordinator of Guidance Services Chen- dra Moore said school counselors have seen an increase in behavioral and mental health challenges in recent years. Issues include anger management, anxiety and depression. “The good news is that more parents and students are accepting support from school counselors and local mental health therapists,” Moore said.

19 pandemic to be spent, and school districts in the Pearland-Friendswood area have already allocated all the funds they each received. Meanwhile, both Pearland and Friendswood ISDs in the years since the pandemic continue to focus on the mental health of students. What you need to know Friendswood ISD received close to $2.9 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funds, according to district documents. ESSER funds were federal dollars given to school districts in 2020 and 2021 across three separate allotments, also known as ESSER I, II and III. The funds were meant to provide relief to schools, support staff and students, and help schools open back up following the pandemic, according to doc- uments on the Texas Education Agency’s website. For FISD, the bulk of its $2.9 million, which all came from the third ESSER allotment, went to creating around a dozen new positions, includ- ing interventionists and instructional coaches, among others, according to the district’s website. Since then, nearly every position—except the five

Spending breakdown:

Math coaches: $780K

Interventionists: $632K

Total ESSER funding received: $2.88M

Indirect costs: $418K Secondary instructional coaches: $390K Instructional software: $245K College and career specialist: $222K DBC teacher: $190K

NOTE: ALL OF FRIENDSWOOD ISD’S FUNDING CAME FROM ESSER III. SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

PISD ESSER funding

Spending breakdown:

Staff and student programs for learning and emotional issues (ESSER III): $12.83M Staff and creating plans to open schools (ESSER II): $5.71M Staff and supplies to sanitize facilities (ESSER I): $1.18M

Total ESSER funding received: $19.7M

SOURCE: PEARLAND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION

Education

BY RACHEL LELAND

BY HALEY VELASCO

Alvin ISD launching esports curriculum

Friendswood ISD OKs handbook updates Clarification has been added to Friendswood ISD’s 2024-25 student handbook on topics includ- ing library materials and technology after the board of trustees approved the newest version at its July 15 meeting. The overview The 2024-25 FISD student handbook now clarifies that parents will be the primary decision makers regarding their students’ access to library material. This is the first year this clarification was added, according to district documents. FISD follows the Texas State Library and Archive Commission’s standards for school library collection development, according to district documents. The 2024-25 FISD student handbook also includes a new policy on student data and safety in regards to technology.

Election filing begins for Friendswood ISD Filing for Friendswood ISD’s Nov. 5 board of trustees election began July 20 and will continue through Aug. 19, officials said. What you need to know Positions, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are set to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election, according to district documents. These positions are held by Laura Seifert, Niki Rhodes, Rebecca Hillenburg and Tony Hopkins, respectively, according to the district’s website. Applications can be filed through email at tlocklear@fisdk12.net through Aug. 19 or in person at 302 Laurel Drive, Friendswood. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 7. Early voting will be from Oct. 21-Nov. 1. As of Aug. 6, eight candidates have filed to run in November, officials said.

New additions

What else?

Library

The curriculum is based on the Texas Education Agency’s graphic design and multimedia arts program. Although this program doesn’t specifically focus on esports, the school district plans to incorporate that focus, AISD officials said. Mark McMahon, Manvel High School associate principal, who sponsors the high school’s esports club, said he hopes that, in addition to preparing students for careers in gaming and technology, the skills they acquire can prepare them for other high- performance careers, such as air traffic controllers. “It’s actually amazing to watch how they work together to communicate to be able to do this activity,” McMahon said. “A lot of those skills just translate around to other high- performance professions.”

Parents are the primary decision-makers regarding their students’ access to library material.

Esports, where players participate in multiplayer video game competitions, has transformed from a pastime for gamers into a lucrative career path—and school districts like Alvin ISD are preparing students for it. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Alvin ISD high school students can participate in an esports curriculum through the district’s graphic design and multimedia arts program, district officials confirmed. The four-year curriculum will teach students about content creation, esports analytics, digital design and multimedia skills, said Brandy Johanson, director of career and technical education for AISD. The industry’s total market revenue has nearly doubled over the last four years, according to gaming data firm Newzoo. That growth has created myriad jobs and roles, including tournament organizers, talent managers,

Global esports market revenue

$1.87B

$1.38B

Technology

$1.14B

$1B

FISD will require direct parental consent for student use of software meant to conduct various assessments. FISD will require direct and informed parental consent for a student’s use of software, other than software excluded from the consent requirement by law. FISD will install a filter that blocks pornographic or obscene materials or applications before transferring an electronic device to a student. FISD will block or filter students’ internet access to pictures that are obscene or contain child pornography.

FY 2020-21

FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24

SOURCE: NEWZOO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

coaches, sponsors and game analysts. AISD currently has 26 students enrolled in the program’s first course. “It ... gives [students] something that they’re actually interested in and that they can study in school,” Johanson said.

SOURCE: FRIENDSWOOD ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SHADOW CREEK 11023 Shadow Creek Pkwy (281) 977-1027

PEARLAND 10555 Pearland Pkwy (713) 987-9205

ALMEDA 11130 Gulf Fwy (713) 910-3941

FRIENDSWOOD 3126 FM 528 (281) 648-5473

WHEN WE ‘PEAR’ UP, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

$30K Through a community matching program, the Foundation contributed $30,000 to fund mini-grant requests consisting of needed items for campus or classroom learning. All proceeds to the mini-grants program are donated directly to staff requestors. Special thanks to all the donors for supporting this initiative! The application to request funding for the 2024-25 school year is NOW OPEN through August 23, 2024. in Mini-Grant Funding

Apply for Mini-Grants! Campus Staff can submit a mini-grant application here.

Thank you to our community partners and donors for making this possible!

Innovative Ideas

$120,000 in 2024

$836,000 in 10 Years

Nearly 500 Innovative Teaching Grants awarded since 2014

Pearland ISD employees who provide instruction or student support services are encouraged to submit a project for potential funding

has been donated for Innovative Teaching Grants that support “out of the box” educational programs and initiatives in Pearland ISD.

Maximum Award Amount: $7,500

www.pearlandisd.org/foundation

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Education

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Students write code and build robots at this STEM- focused learning facility.

SMART Core Labs provides education on STEM subjects, robotics, web development, articial intelligence and more.

ASIA ARMOURCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SMART Core Labs looks to make learning accessible It’s taken seven years for SMART Core Labs to amass 300 students per week at its Pearland learning facility, owner Hamid Ali said.

Owner Hamid Ali said he is focused on cultivating the student experience at SMART Core Labs.

Python ... is pretty amazing,” he said. The instructors go beyond the STEM subjects to teach web development and articial intelligence, which Ali said are also skills necessary to equip students for a constantly evolving world. The impact Ali said he has considered franchising the business to put locations in more areas of Greater Houston, but right now, he wants to maintain a focus on student experience over rapid expansion. “I don’t want this to become a kind of machine, ... I look at everything as a parent. Would I send my kids there, what do they achieve from that?” Ali said. “For me, for all my instructors and my sta, this is more of a passion.”

His primary focus is providing accessibility to learners of all ages and abilities, as these are the tools needed to excel in school and even further into their careers, he said. What they do SMART Core Labs starts teaching kids as young as ve years old scratch-coding and robotics, Ali said. His curriculums were developed by professionals from NASA and Rice University, he said. His current instructors are educators, with some even trained in special education. “For an eight- or nine-year-old to be coding in

MILLER RANCH RD.

286

BROADWAY ST.

Pearland

MAGNOLIA PKWY.

BAILEY RD.

Manvel

1 2809 Miller Ranch Road, Ste. 401, Pearland 2 10237 Bailey Road, Ste. 105, Manvel www.smartcorelabs.com

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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION

School districts struggle with teacher turnover From the cover

Diving in deeper

The overview

students per teacher for kindergarten through fourth grade, and 19-30 students per teacher for fth through twelfth grade, ocials said. However, Lindsey Foley, FISD’s executive director of human resources, said budgetary constraints—not a lack of teachers available—will lead to increased class sizes this school year.

While turnover rates have increased, Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISD ocials all note they’ve been able to maintain student-teacher ratios, even though these three districts are under the District of Innovation plan, meaning they are not bound by ratios provided by the state. Ratios for AISD, FISD and PISD range from 18-22

Experts and ocials locally and across the state said there are several factors that may cause teachers to leave the profession. Some include low pay, having to complete an abundant amount of tasks, paperwork and spending time working while at home, which all lead to burnout, Cave said. For many teachers, these factors have made leaving the profession a reality. Alvin ISD saw its turnover rate, or the number of teachers who leave their respective districts each year, increase by nearly 12% from 2020-23. Texas saw its turnover rate increase by 7% from 2020-23, according to TEA data. Friendswood and Pearland ISDs have also seen an increase in turnover rates, TEA data shows.

Number of students per teacher

2019-20 2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Alvin ISD

Friendswood ISD

Pearland ISD

+0.5%

+0.2%

-0.6%

-0.7%

+0.5%

+0.2%

Grades 5-12

Grades K-4

Grades 5-12

Grades K-4

Grades 5-12

Grades K-4

NOTE: THE FIGURES COME FROM DIVIDING AVERAGE STUDENT AMOUNTS BY AVERAGE TEACHER AMOUNTS

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Teacher turnover percentages

Alvin ISD Pearland ISD

Friendswood ISD Texas

What they said

25%

20%

“Until kids physically walk in the door, I don’t know what this year is going to look like. The impact aecting class sizes, sometimes you don’t know until that rst week of school.” SUNDIE DAHLKAMP, HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PEARLAND ISD

“We have a long way to go just to keep up with the national average [for teacher pay]. We’re having

15%

22.8% 21.4% 17.3% 17.2%

a hard time in Texas not only keeping teachers but attracting them to the profession as well.” BOB POPINSKI, SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR, RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS

10%

0 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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What else?

What’s next

national average in teacher pay,” Popinski said. There has also now been a rise in uncertied teachers becoming employed in school districts, according to the TEA. Locally, AISD has had the highest increase in hiring uncertied teachers, with percentages climbing nearly 25% from 2020-23, data from the TEA shows. While PISD in recent years has had a lower percentage of newly hired uncertied teachers, Sundie Dahlkamp, human resource services and communications executive director for PISD, said many uncertied teachers are still applying to work for the district. “We get lots of applications, and lots of peo- ple want to be teachers, but nding a qualied applicant that meets the criteria of maybe even a long-term sub is more dicult than it used to be,” Dahlkamp said.

Bob Popinski, the senior policy director for Raise Your Hand Texas, an education policy nonprot, said while retaining certied teachers has become a challenge for the state, he believes the main reason for teacher shortages right now is low pay. He said a “driving force” to low pay for teachers is ination increasing about 22% since 2019. Texas has not raised student allotment funding for school districts, which is $6,160 per student, since 2019. That in part is causing budget short- falls for several Texas school districts, including for FISD, which is looking at a possible $1.4 million shortfall for the 2024-25 scal year. Money from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funding that Texas public schools received in 2020 and 2021 to address pandemic-related learning loss also expires in September. “We are ranked … at $400 [per year] below the

Several institutions and organizations are looking to help bring more teachers into the profession. San Jacinto College in Pasadena launched in spring 2024 its second bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in early childhood education, college ocials said. Meanwhile, education advocates are hoping the next state legislative session, which begins Jan. 14, includes passing solutions recommended in the Teacher Vacancy Task Force, which was created in 2022. The task force is composed of teachers and school system leaders in public education across Texas. It proposed eight solutions for the Texas Legislature to consider in 2023 that revolved around increasing compensation, providing more support and training for new teachers, and helping teachers balance their time. Just one of the solutions passed during the 2023 session. Public education advocates such as Cave and Popinski said they believe passing the task force’s recommendations could help lessen the state’s teacher shortage. “Resources are not being allocated fairly to districts to help them with mitigating the shortage,” Cave said. “I wish that we would treat our teachers like the professionals that they are, and trust their word and allow them to do the good work that they do.”

New hires without a Texas teacher certication or permit

Teacher base pay

Alvin ISD Pearland ISD

Friendswood ISD Region 4

Alvin ISD

Friendswood ISD

Pearland ISD

$69,370

30%

$70K

29.3%

25%

$66,418

20%

$66,084

$65K

15%

$63,917

10%

3.37%

$60K

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Business

Great Wolf Lodge opens in Webster

The impact

City and lodge officials touted the positive impact Great Wolf Lodge could have on businesses and communities surrounding it. “Businesses looking to expand in Houston rec- ognize the incredible [Great Wolf Lodge] market and have shown tremendous interest in develop- ing in Webster,” Vela said. “The city is confident that the lodge will thrive and contribute positively to Webster’s growth.” Barbara Cutsinger, marketing manager for the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, or BAHEP, said it also fills a need as there aren’t many water parks in the area. It will also be one of the few hotels outside of downtown Houston with enough space for conventions. “I think we’ll see more complimentary activities

pop up around the region,” Cutsinger said. “The visitors will want to see what else our region has to offer. Other cities will want to take advantage of the captive audience that [Great Wolf Lodge] brings.” However, officials could not provide data show- ing projections of how Great Wolf Lodge might affect the area long term. Meanwhile, for cities outside Webster like Friendswood, Director of Communications Glenda Faulkner said there is always “a potential for spill- over.” However, city officials said they don’t expect any businesses to come to Friendswood because of Great Wolf Lodge. “Any major development like [Great Wolf Lodge] would increase commercial traffic to the region and that is always welcome,” Faulkner said.

Great Wolf Lodge in Webster opened three months earlier than expected. The resort is 92,000 square feet and has 500 rooms, more than a dozen water slides and a 61,000-square-foot entertainment center. Officials hope it could attract families not only in the Greater Houston area, but from cities several hours out. Katie Vela, marketing and tourism specialist for Webster, called the resort a “landmark project” that city officials hope will be a “tourism magnet.” In addition to the resort bringing in families, Vela said city officials are optimistic it will boost other business as well.

The context

Great Wolf Lodge’s impact

Grapevine’s sales tax revenue jumped by more than 23% in the year after its Great Wolf Lodge opened in 2007 compared to the previous year, according to sales tax data provided by the Texas Comptroller’s Office. However, tax revenue stayed relatively stagnant in the years after, which coincided with the Great Recession. In addition, the resort dating back to January 2022 has drawn nearly 650,000 total visitors, according to city data. Many of those visitors have also gone to nearby attractions, such as Grapevine Mills Mall, which drew in 300,000 of those visitors. “[The resort]’s been an enormous draw,” said Mona Quintanilla, director of marketing and com- munications for Grapevine.”

Grapevine sales tax revenue before and after Great Wolf Lodge opened Before After

increase in economic foot traffic annually for the Bay Area 10%-25% in property tax revenue for Webster and Harris County* $1M+

Opened in December

$40M

$30M

jobs created by the resort 600

$20M

$10M

investment in area by Great Wolf Resorts $200M

$0M

*PROJECTED SOURCES: CITY OF WEBSTER, FLYWAY TEXAS, GREAT WOLF LODGE, HARRIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: TEXAS COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Also of note

The bottom line

Popstroke toward the end of 2024 and restaurant Vida Mariscos, which was scheduled to open in July. Two other lots are listed as under contract, according to the Flyway website. “I think we’ll see money spent around the region … dining out at a restaurant outside of [Great Wolf Lodge], visiting other tourist spots such as Lonestar Flight Museum Space Center Houston, NASA, Kemah, the Battleground and San Jacinto Monu- ment, Armand Bayou, renting a canoe to paddle around our waterways or just having a nice day at one of our parks,” Cutsinger said.

Great Wolf Lodge isn’t the lone attraction in the area. On top of the various tourist attractions the Bay Area has to offer, including Kemah Boardwalk, NASA’s Johnson Space Center and beaches in Galveston, the immediate area around the resort— called Flyway—is seeing new businesses added to the area. Located along I-45, the space has 26 separate parcels across 80 acres, according to a map on the area’s website. In the past year, three businesses have opened or are set to open soon, including Chicken N Pickle, which opened in February,

Keith Furnas, general manager for Webster’s Great Wolf Lodge, said in July he expects the resort to be running at full capacity by September. The resort will start out at around half capacity in August. Looking ahead for Webster, the city will begin to recuperate money from its 2021 incentive agreement it gave to Great Wolf Lodge in exchange for coming to the city. The deal, as previously reported by Community Impact , included giving the resort: • $5 million in a grant package over two years from the city’s hotel occupancy tax fund • 90% of the city’s portion of hotel tax revenue collected from the resort for 20 years • 33% of the sales tax generated for 20 years after Webster retains the first $200,000 each year Neither Great Wolf Lodge nor Webster officials were able to provide estimates on how much in tax revenue the resort will make in that 20-year period. The city also did not say how long it would take to recuperate the $5 million in grants. In 2020, the property Great Wolf Lodge is located on netted only around $200 total in property taxes, Vela said. If the site obtains a $200 million valuation, it would net the city $667,000 before incentives, Vela said. However, Vela declined to give an estimate on how that number would look after incentives.

26 separate parcels

Flyway Development*

Lots available Lots taken or under contract

80 acres

FAIRWAY DR.

Great Wolf Lodge

Chicken N Pickle

Popstroke

Vida Mariscos

Public parking

Plaza

* AS OF JUNE 19 SOURCES: FLYWAY TEXAS, CITY OF WEBSTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY JAMES T. NORMAN

Brazoria County delays road work on 4 streets in Manvel due to hurricane

1128

DOGWOOD AVE.

CHARLOTTE ST.

TANKERSLEY RD.

Work on a handful of roads in Manvel, which will be carried out by Brazoria County, has been delayed until either mid-August or September. What you need to know Manvel is waiting on Brazoria County to carry out overlay work on four roads in and around the Lakeland and Old Manvel Townsite areas north of Hwy. 6, Mayor Dan Davis said Aug. 6. The work was originally expected to begin in mid-July but was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl, Davis said. Last year, Manvel created a street maintenance plan that was expected to run from November to July and included repairs and overlays on around 20 streets in town, according to city documents. Davis said the city has completed the road projects it was responsible for.

Work on the four roads, which are Charlotte Street, Dogwood Avenue, Tankersley Road and Wilson Drive, is part of the street plan from last year and was to be done in partnership with Brazoria County. Director of Public Works Robbie Hall said the city expects the work to take a month once it starts. The total cost of the work, as well as how much Manvel’s portion will be, was not available by press time. What else? Manvel over the past year has been active in allocating funds to build up its roads and side- walks, Davis said. Earlier this year, the city secured $10 million for street work, sidewalks and drain- age. The work will be broken up into four phases, with the first two likely done in the coming months. City officials will then decide what the

WILSON DR.

final two phases will look like. The city is also considering its new budget, which should be approved in September, for fiscal year 2024-25 and is looking at increasing its funding for sidewalk and street repairs, according to city documents. The projected budget calls for $75,000 for side- walk repairs, up from a budgeted 50,000 last year, and $116,221 for street repairs, which is up from last year’s $106,221 but down from the $141,250 budgeted in FY 2022-23, documents show.

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