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Cypress Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 8 APRIL 9 MAY 8, 2025
Inflation, learning loss linger post- pandemic
INSIDE
18
Rising costs Instructional costs in Cy-Fair ISD are up by $990 per student since 2018-19, a ecting day-to-day operations. The district has seen the following expense increases since 2019:
Technology 52% Construction 25%
General insurance 141%
Health insurance 28%
Transportation 21%
SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, CY FAIR ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Cy-Fair ISD’s annual Da Vinci Day program on Feb. 15 invited HORIZONS gifted and talented students to participate in engineering and technology activities, including a robotic pet vet project.
COURTESY CY FAIR ISD
Also in this issue
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Impacts: Find out what to expect as Via 313 brings Detroit-style pizza to Cypress (Page 6)
Real estate: See where new apartments are planned for your area (Page 29)
55+ Best Li�e Straight Ahead! Cruise into your 55+ best life! Tour an exciting mix of move-in ready and model homes. Buy your new home at Chambers Creek in April and you could win our golf cart giveaway! And, for every home sale, we will make a donation to New Danville, a local nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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CYPRESS EDITION
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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.
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CYPRESS EDITION
Impacts
5 Thunapaha Restaurant & Grocery The business offers Sri Lankan dishes and products. • Opened Jan. 31 • 13337 Jones Road, Houston • Facebook: Thunapaha Ceylon Spices 6 Drunk Taco Tacos, cocktails and more are on the menu. • Opened Feb. 11 • 10609 Grant Road, Ste. A, Houston • Instagram: drunktacohouston 7 EōS Fitness The 40,000-square-foot gym is open 24/7 and offers group classes, personal trainers and more. • Opened Feb. 27 • 22314 FM 529, Ste. 100, Cypress • www.eosfitness.com 8 Second Cycle The community donation center accepts gently used clothing and household items. • Opened March 8 • 28902 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.secondcycle.com 9 Skyland Learning University The center offers curriculum for infants through age 5, and before- and after-school care for ages 6-12. • Opened March 31 • 15221 FM 529, Houston • www.skylanduniversity.com 10 Memorial Hermann- GoHealth Urgent Care The clinic treats patients 6 months old and up for non- life-threatening conditions. • Opened Feb. 24 • 20115 Bridgeland Creek Parkway, Ste. D2-201, Cypress • www.gohealthuc.com/memorialhermann
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3 Yamato Japanese Steak House Hibachi, sushi and ramen are on the menu. • Opened Jan. 10 • 17021 FM 529, Houston • www.yamatohouston.kwickmenu.com
Now open
1 The Farmer’s Counter Season’s Harvest owners Beket and Joanne Griffith have expanded with a second location to offer counter service for grab-and-go food. • Opened March 5 • 17110 House & Hahl Road, Ste. D, Cypress • www.seasonsharvest.farm 2 The Blue Rooster Irish Pub & Grill The bar offers pool tables and indoor and outdoor seating. Menu items include burgers and fish and chips. • Opened Feb. 10 • 19817 Hwy. 290, Houston • www.bluerooster.pub
4 Fika The coffee shop opened at the former location of Cafe Marrese. It serves sandwiches, breakfast scrambles, burgers and rice bowls. • Opened March 1 • 11729 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. A, Tomball • Facebook: Fika
11 MD Cypress Dr. Jonathan Tran offers pain management, sports
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
16 Krazie Kutz The hair care operator is opening at Cypress Village Station. • Opening this summer • 25210 Hwy. 290, Cypress 17 Vintage North Davis Development officials confirmed the apartment complex is under construction in the Vintage Park area. • Opening in August 2026 • 14701 Vintage Preserve Parkway, Houston • www.davisdevelopment.com
medicine and orthopedic services. • Opened Feb. 10 • 7012 Barker Cypress Road, Houston • www.mdcypress.com
Coming soon
In Season Landscaping The Jersey Village-based business offers commercial and residential landscaping across the region. • Opened Jan. 3 • Facebook: In Season Landscaping
Coming soon
12 Mambo Seafood Opening at a former TGI Friday’s, the restaurant serves fried seafood platters, seafood boils, fried rice and cold
Relocations
22 Via 313 Via 313 offers Detroit-style deep-dish pizzas. Specialty pizzas include The Detroiter, with smoked pepperoni under the cheese and natural casing pepperoni on top; and The Cadillac, with prosciutto, gorgonzola, parmesan, fig preserves and balsamic glaze. Via 313 sells gluten-free crust, dairy-free cheese and vegetarian options. Other items include thin-crust pizza, salad and dessert. • Opening this summer • 20725 Tuckerton Road, Ste. 100, Cypress • www.via313.com
18 Ogi Coffee, Gelato & Bakeshop The coffee and dessert shop recently moved from its previous location off Hwy. 6 and FM 529 in Copperfield. • Relocated Feb. 17 • 12828 Jones Road, Ste. 110, Cypress • www.ogitaste.com 19 Heritage Presbyterian Church The church moved from rented space at The Heritage Lodge in Towne Lake to its new campus. • Opened in early March
seafood bar items. • Opening in 2025
• 7728 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.mamboseafood.com
13 Biryani Bliss The restaurant will offer authentic Indian, Pakistani and
Sri Lankan cuisine. • Opening date TBD • 8020 Fry Road, Ste. 110, Cypress • www.biryaniblisstx.com
• 14139 Huffmeister Road, Cypress • www.heritagepresbyterian.org
14 Kids R Kids Learning Academy The 25,000-square-foot location will serve infants as young as 6 weeks old, toddlers and preschoolers. A before- and after-school program will be available for children through fifth grade. • Opening in late May • 18630 Prairie Refuge Crossing, Cypress • www.kidsrkidsbridgeland.com 15 Bob Hope School The charter school is opening for the 2025-26 school year at the current Cypress Christian School campus, CEO and superintendent Bobby Lopez said. • Opening in August • 11123 Cypress N. Houston Road, Houston • www.bobhopeschool.org
Closings
In the news
23 The Door Store Owner Ron Hathaway confirmed the showroom will close and operate as an online retailer moving forward. • Closing April 30
20 Little Explorers Lab Sarah Wexler celebrated the first anniversary of the
Montessori-inspired studio in March. • 11242 FM 1960 W., Ste. 105, Houston • www.littleexplorerslab.com
• 10706 Grant Road, Houston • www.thedoorstore.online
21 Señor Tequila Mexican Bar & Grill Pichurro’s Mexican Grill rebranded and expanded its menu in early March. • 12215 Grant Road, Ste. E, Cypress • Facebook: Señor Tequila Mexican Bar & Grill
24 Forever 21 Forever 21 declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. • Closing date TBD • Willowbrook Mall, 7925 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.forever21.com
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Government
BY RYAN REYNOLDS
Cy-Fair Fire Department embraces technology to serve community As technological advancements continue to reshape emergency services, Cy-Fair Fire Depart- ment o cials are exploring tools to enhance com- munication, streamline dispatch operations and support real-time decision-making in the eld. Community Impact sat down with department leaders Assistant Chief of Administration Mike Clements and Assistant Chief of EMS Justin Reed in March to learn more about the department’s technology use. How does the Cy-Fair Fire Department approach the use of technology? MC: I think as an industry sometimes we’re slow, but I think we’re pretty progressive in testing out stu . ... We’ve got to test it and really make sure it works because you don’t want the rst time we’re using tech to be on a family’s worst day. ... That’s probably why we might be, as an industry, a little bit slower to adoption, but I think we try and do what we can to be on the front end of things. What are some recent innovations the Cy-Fair Fire Department has been testing out? MC: I think one of the big things is we just n- ished using a program that essentially took all our run data and then the population census data, and it helped use predictive analytics to help us nd the best station locations for all the new stations that we’ve been planning for in the last three or four years, and so that program really helps us to project growth and to say, “Hey, this is exactly where we need to build,” ... so we can provide the best service to the community. How does the Cy-Fair Fire Department utilize drones and arti cial intelligence? JR: It’s kind of hard to coordinate resources [during a wild re]. ... We had a large re on the north side of our territory, and we deployed our drone to essentially track resources and ensure that they didn’t get overrun by the re. ... Where it goes from here has many possibilities, from drone delivery of blood products and drone delivery of [de brillators] to just situation awareness. How fast can we nd a wreck on the freeway? MC: Another thing that we do that probably most people don’t know is we’ve got a new system that, when [our dispatcher is] talking to you on the phone, AI is using that and producing written text on the screen so they’re hearing and seeing what
Mike Clements
Justin Reed
PHOTOS COURTESY CY FAIR FIRE DEPARTMENT
you’re saying. So they don’t have to ask you twice about anything, and that’s a pretty cool deal to use the speech-to-text feature on the dispatch side. How does the Cy-Fair Fire Department go about acquiring and introducing new technology? MC: We might beta test with one or two units to see if it works, but also provide them the redun- dant current technology we use. JR: We could sit here in the o ce and test tech all day long, ... and it may work ne ... when you’re calm, you’re not under pressure, you’re able to sort of rationalize and think things through. But [when] you put it into sort of a chaotic environ- ment that our crews operate in, you have to make sure that ... it actually applies to what they’re doing, and it enhances it. How does the Cy-Fair Fire Department identify needs where technology can improve e ciency? MC: If we see something that’s an emerging trend in the industry, we’re going to be on top of it. ... [With electric vehicle res], essentially, the technology got ahead of where the suppression e orts are and where the industry is, and so the whole industry is trying to just battle with electric vehicle res, and so we know that’s an emerging problem. There’s some technology we’ve gotten to help us with that, but we’re on the hunt. JR: One of the opportunities that we had was aviation manufacturing. ... In EMS, your career only lasts as long as your back does. So, how could we actually make it a safer, better environment for them to work in? We reached out to a local
engineering school [for help testing exoskeletons]. ... How can we actually prove the data so the manufacturers can make a better product that is speci cally formulated to us? How does the Cy-Fair Fire Department see technology evolving in the next ve to 10 years? MC: One of the things that we’re watching and testing is satellite internet connectivity. When the derecho storm came through and knocked out a bunch of cell towers, nobody in the community could get cellphone service. ... We purchased some satellite receivers, and we’re starting to really look at satellite connectivity, Wi-Fi, calling and stu like that over satellite. JR: One that I’m huge on is ... autonomous driving vehicles. ... It opens up [the opportunity to add] an additional person to the patient experience during transport. ... Then, other ways that we can essentially make a seamless reporting structure from when you call 911, all the way until you’re discharged from the hospital. What’s the opportunity there for a single record to follow along with you? ... There’s another opportunity that exists, ... [to bridge] gaps and connect a lot of this data that’s already here.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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CYPRESS EDITION
Government
BY MELISSA ENAJE
Harris County seeks 5 additional district courts Harris County moved forward with a request to Texas lawmakers to create five additional civil district courts by 2027 to address the county’s longstanding court case backlog. Commissioners voted 3-1 in favor of the res- olution during a Feb. 27 Commissioners Court meeting. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis dissented while Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained from the vote. State Rep. Mano DeAyala, R-Houston, filed House Bill 3600 on March 3, which would create three new judicial districts in Harris County on Oct. 1 and two additional judicial districts on Oct. 1, 2026. These courts would all focus on civil matters, according to the legislation. How it works Should the additional courts receive legislative approval, county officials said they would plan to
More Harris County news 3 stories we’re following online
“We can’t continue to advertise that Harris County is an economic beacon without investing in a robust justice system where disputes are resolved timely and thoughtfully.” LAUREN REEDER, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, 234TH CIVIL COURT
1 County raises minimum wage Harris County voted 3-1 on March 27 to raise its minimum wage to at least $20 an hour for employees and contractors starting in May and July, respectively. Texas Labor Union President Elsa Flores said she’s proud of the county for raising worker wages from $15 an hour. 2 Downtown building renamed after Sylvester Turner Commissioners voted March 27 to rename Lamar Plaza in honor of the late former Houston mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner. They also approved a resolution honoring the legacy of Turner, who died March 5. 3 County to appoint new attorney Commissioners will appoint a new county attorney after Christian Menefee resigned March 17 with his announcement to run for the District 18 U.S. House position, formerly held by Turner.
keep the courts located in the judicial complex in Downtown Houston. Additional courts are estimated to cost the county at least $2.5 million-$3.5 million for each court, Engineering Department Executive Director Milton Rahman said. Looking back Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said county officials worked with state legislators in 2023 to secure six additional criminal district courts and a probate court to address the court backlog. While the 2025 motion called for nine additional courts, only five were approved.
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Education
BY RYAN REYNOLDS
New report tracks Cy-Fair ISD graduation rates Cy-Fair ISD is using a new report to track high school graduation rates in real time and offering targeted support for those who are not on track. On-track students are active seniors who have passed the required five end-of-course exams, district officials said. Previously, the school district relied on the Texas Academic Performance Reports, which are published each January and include data from two years prior. Christina Cole, CFISD’s chief officer for school leadership, said the new report improves data accuracy and allows the district to better evaluate students’ needs. In a nutshell Cole said high school principals and coordinat- ing counselors collaborated with administrators and staff to develop a strategic plan to raise graduation rates. The district aims to increase its
Record 70 campuses open for transfers Cy-Fair ISD’s board of trustees unanimously approved 70 campuses to be open for student transfers in the 2025-26 school year during a March 3 meeting—the most ever for CFISD. This includes 46 elementary schools, 17 middle schools and seven high schools. The overview Students are assigned to schools based on their primary residence, but the district offers transfer options for those who wish to attend a different school. CFISD Director of General Administration Scott Tucker said the open campus recommendations were based on enrollment projections, historical data, trends and demographic information. CFISD students and children of district employees wishing to transfer can apply through June 30.
Keeping kids on track For the 10% of students who were not on track to graduate as of Jan. 27, CFISD provides:
Tutorials before and after school and on Saturdays
Interventions during the school day
Academic conferences with parents
Plans to recover from excessive absences
Digital credit recovery
Plans for individual grade placement committee
SOURCE: CY-FAIR ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
four-year graduation rate from 92.3% to 95.9% by 2029, targeting a 1% yearly improvement. “A lot of times, public schools have to deal with data after the fact, and you can’t go back and fix things,” CFISD board member Christine Kalmbach said at the March 3 meeting.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY MELISSA ENAJE & DANICA LLOYD
Harris County Precincts 3 and 4 are working to expand sidewalk access in Cy-Fair. In a nutshell Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones kicked off a $20 million initiative last March called Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4, aiming to improve access to schools, health care providers, businesses and parks, and close gaps between existing sidewalks. More than 50 miles of sidewalks have been com- pleted since, including 14.1 miles in Cy-Fair ISD. Precinct 4 officials developed a data-driven sidewalk gap analysis that identified vulnerable sidewalks across 406 square miles. “We prioritized gaps that were close to schools, places of worship and economic centers because, literally, we believe that sidewalks are safety and sidewalks are connection … to educational opportunity and economic opportunity,” Briones said at a March 31 press conference. Remember this? More CFISD students are walking to and from school after the district eliminated 79 bus routes ahead of the 2024-25 school year, leading to a nearly 20% decrease in student ridership year over year, Community Impact previously reported. “As we all know, this school year, we faced a lot of challenges. Budget cuts meant we had fewer buses, which would ultimately lead to more students hav- ing to walk to school without a safe or reliable path,” New sidewalks in progress, recently completed
Schools near sidewalk projects
Completed
Proposed
Under construction
1 CFISD Alternative Learning Center 2 Cypress Lakes High School 3 Cypress Ridge High School 4 Hoover Elementary School 5 Jowell Elementary School 6 Kahla Middle School 7 McFee Elementary School 8 Postma Elementary School 9 Sheridan Elementary School 10 Thornton Middle School 11 Watkins Middle School
HUFFMEISTER RD.
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NOTE: THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCTS 3 AND 4/COMMUNITY IMPACT
schools and Alternative Learning Center West • West Little York Road connecting to Kahla Middle School • Greenhouse Road connecting to Sheridan and McFee elementary schools, Thornton Middle School, Cypress Lakes High School • Kieth Harrow Boulevard from Hwy. 6 to Cairn- leigh Drive • Timber Creek Place Lane from Addicks-Satsuma Road to Berkshire Manor Lane Additionally, Precinct 3 expects to wrap up sidewalks along Huffmeister Road from Fleur de Lis Boulevard to Cypress Corner Lane in the third quarter. A project to construct sidewalks along North Eldridge Parkway from FM 529 to West Road is in the design phase as of press time.
Cypress Lakes High School student Sirron Norris said. “But instead of doing nothing, our school and community came together to find a solution.” The projects While additional sidewalks are coming soon near Hemmenway Elementary School, Hopper Middle School and Cypress Springs High School, these sidewalk connections have been completed through Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4: • Greenhouse Road connecting to Postma Elementary School • Longenbaugh Drive between Weekley Park and Fry Road • West Little York Road and Greenhouse Road connecting to Jowell and Hoover elementary
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Business
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
The business serves dogs, cats and exotic animals.
JOVANNA AGUILAR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Dr. Cheryl Morales said Cypress Lakes Animal Hospital is one of the only local animal hospitals that o ers services for rabbits.
COURTESY CYPRESS LAKES ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Cypress Lakes Animal Hospital o ers specialized care
Procedures are conducted on a heated counter to keep pets comfortable.
After volunteering at an animal shelter in Austin and working for a couple of vet clinics, Morales decided to switch career paths the summer before her junior year to become a veterinarian. What’s special about it? Morales said Cypress Lakes Animal Hospital is one of the few clinics o ering services for pocket pets such as rabbits and hedgehogs. Although Morales said veterinarians often struggle with their mental health due to hardships experienced with their patients, watching genera- tions of pets grow up with their families is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Dr. Cheryl Morales said her family did not allow house pets growing up. However, she often brought stray cats home. Today, she has over 25 years of experience as a veterinarian and has owned Cypress Lakes Animal Hospital since 2013. How we got here Morales, a longtime Cy-Fair resident, said she originally intended to be a chemist, but her path led her to open her own veterinary clinic. “I actually spent a summer in a lab down in the Medical Center doing research, and I quickly found out that I did not like working in a lab alone. I needed that social interaction,” Morales said.
COURTESY CYPRESS LAKES ANIMAL HOSPITAL
CYPRESS NORTH HOUSTON RD.
CYPRESS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE RD.
N
10920 Fry Road, Ste. 750, Cypress www.cypresslakesanimal.com
15
CYPRESS EDITION
Reach out today and we’ll create a care team for you that includes nurses, clinicians, and your primary care doctor — all in one place. Our team will get to understand all the factors that affect your health so they can give you the very best care for your conditions. You get their time, you get their attention, you get the help you need.
Looking for a doctor? Ours are ready to see you now.
• Walk-ins welcome • Same-day appointments • Virtual visits • Extended hours offered at some locations • Medicare accepted at all Village Medical locations
Call 713.589.3999 or scan the code to schedule an appointment today. VillageMedical.com
Three convenient locations to serve you: Two convenient locations to serve you:
Village Medical at Walgreens 14317 Cypress Rosehill Cypress, TX 77429 M-F: 7:30am - 7pm Sat & Sun: 9:30am - 5pm
Village Medical at Riata Ranch 10720 Barker Cypress Cypress, TX 77433 M-F: 8am - 5pm
VM0452-0524
Saturday, April 26th from 10 am - 4 pm Oak Meadow Park.
Join us for wildlife encounters with Corbin Maxey, outdoor fun, food trucks and more!
#NatureFest25
Learn more at: Bridgeland.com/naturefest
16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Dining
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Aguachile verde and other homemade sh dishes are on the menu.
COURTESY BLUE HARBOR SEAFOOD & MARISCOS
The Adame family owns and operates Blue Harbor Seafood & Mariscos, which is known for fried seafood.
COURTESY BLUE HARBOR SEAFOOD & MARISCOS
Blue Harbor specializes in homemade seafood With roots tracing back to Guadalajara, Mexico, Georgina Adame said she and her husband Mario Adame moved to the U.S. in 2002. After years in the restaurant industry, their son Junior Adame opened Blue Harbor Seafood & Mariscos in November 2023.
Adame said she practically raised her son in the restaurant. Years later, the Adame family ventured to the Cy-Fair area to open their own restaurant, Blue Harbor Seafood & Mariscos. On the menu The Adame family specializes in fried seafood, hushpuppies and gumbo. Recipes are crafted by Junior Adame’s sister and restaurant chef, Angela Adame. Crowd favorites include the crab-stu ed jumbo shrimp, seafood cocktails and fried seafood platters. Looking ahead, Georgina Adame said she hopes to grow Blue Harbor’s clientele to continue operating her family’s legacy.
The eatery is located on FM 1960 in Cy-Fair.
JOVANNA AGUILAR COMMUNITY IMPACT
“We started from the ground and worked our- selves up into the industry,” Georgina Adame said. “I started working as a hostess knowing two single phrases: ‘How many?’ and ‘Follow me.” A family a air Mario Adame started working in the restaurant industry in 1990 and worked his way up from a busboy to a restaurant manager in Georgia. As a server with a language barrier, Georgina
1960
STEEPLETOP DR.
N
11037 FM 1960, Ste. A1, Houston Facebook: Blue Harbor Seafood & Mariscos
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CYPRESS EDITION
Inflation, learning loss linger post-pandemic From the cover
The action taken
What’s happening
CFISD is advocating for additional funding by engaging with local legislators during the 89th legislative session, which began Jan. 14. District officials said the lack of funding has led CFISD to establish legislative priorities such as: • Changing the state’s funding formula for the local optional homestead exemption as CFISD’s 20% property tax break results in $91 million in lost property tax revenue annually • An increase in the safety and security allotment • An increase in the special education allotment and the transition to an intensity-based funding formula, which would set student allotments based on required services • An increase in the transportation allotment, which has remained unchanged since the 1980s “We want to concentrate on things like aca- demics. We want to have tutoring programs for our kids, … but it’s going to be very difficult to do when we have to cut other things in the district in order to just make ends meet,” Killian said.
Public schools in Texas receive a base $6,160 per student annually, but this rate hasn’t been increased since 2019, CFISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith said. She said she believes legislators should increase the basic allotment by $1,300 to bring the district’s funding back to where it was in 2019. House Bill 2 proposes a $220 boost to base school funding, changes to special education funding and more. The proposal would invest nearly $7.6 billion in public education, Community Impact previously reported. Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said this would be “a larger investment for Texas public schools and our education system than any other legislation we’ve filed in the history of the state.” Chronic absenteeism in CFISD grew from 5.5% in 2019-20 to 22% in 2021-22 also impacting school funding as well as academics and student engagement, officials said.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education nationwide, and five years later, Cy-Fair ISD is still grappling with the long-term effects of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and 20% inflation from 2019 to August 2024, district officials said. Despite rising inflation, CFISD Superintendent Doug Killian said public schools haven’t received additional state funding since 2019. “We’re going to have to make hard choices if we don’t get enough money to pay for that inflation,” Killian said Feb. 6. To offset the fiscal year 2024-25 shortfall, CFISD cut $58.7 million from the budget, including librarian staff, support staff and bus routes. While district officials said schools are scrambling statewide to absorb the costs, the Texas Legislature is reviewing several bills this session that could potentially increase state funding for public schools.
Cy-Fair ISD per-pupil spending, 2018-19 vs. 2023-24 +60%
Spending breakdown, 2024-25
+40%
+40%
0% +20% +40% -20% -40%
Cy-Fair ISD spending
State funding
+28%
+18%
Safety
$49.5M
$2.4M
-8%
Special education
$99.4M
$577.6M
-56%
-60%
Transportation
Food services
Instruction
General administration
Instructional staff support services
Pupil support services
Student transportation
$8M
$38M
SOURCE: CY-FAIR ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Measuring the impact
CFISD’s STAAR passage rate changes in percentage points, 2019 vs. 2024 Reading Math -20 -30 -10 0 +10
close gaps while keeping pace with new curricu- lum requirements,” Goree said in an email. At the high school level, Goree said academic recovery continues, with performance in biology and U.S. history returning to pre-pandemic levels and English II exceeding pre-pandemic passage rates. Algebra I and English I continue to make progress toward pre-pandemic levels, Goree said. In response to learning loss, Goree said CFISD has invested in professional development, intro- duced student support programs such as free math and reading summer camps, implemented full-day pre-K, and extended the school day by 15 minutes.
While the district continues to exceed the state average in most subjects and grade levels of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readi- ness, CFISD saw lower math passage rates on the 2023-24 STAAR for every grade level compared to 2018-2019, according to Texas Education Agency federal report cards. CFISD Chief Academic Officer Tonya Goree attributed this decline to lingering gaps from the pandemic, the shift to online learning and changes in the STAAR test format. “Foundational math concepts were disrupted during virtual learning, making it challenging to
3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade 7th grade 8th grade
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY RYAN REYNOLDS
What’s being done
What they’re saying
Looking ahead
Teacher experience data from the TEA shows district educators who are new to the field increased by 4.4 percentage points since 2019. CFISD officials said recruitment efforts include: • Recruiting at Texas university programs • Implementing paid-teacher residencies • Hosting targeted events for certified teachers • Providing internship opportunities • Offering a teaching and training program for high school students
“We’re doing a lot more with less, and we really need ... our Legislature to realize that we need more money. If you go through every year cutting, people start leaving a school district. … I really fear for the
Key bills Cy-Fair ISD is monitoring
House Bill 2 Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado Increases basic allotment, transitions special education funding to an intensity-based formula, creates new allotments for fine arts and property insurance, and establishes a grant program that offers additional funding HB 3 Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado Creates an educational savings account program that allocates state funding for students attending private schools or homeschool
future if we don’t get more funding.” DOUG KILLIAN, CFISD SUPERINTENDENT
Changes in educator experience
152% increase in teachers with emergency or provisional credentials since the pandemic 7.6% of educators were new to the field in 2024—up from 3.3% in 2019 177 more teachers not teaching in the subject or field for which the teacher is certified or licensed since the pandemic
“I’m thankful that my school districts, like Cy-Fair, … prioritize this tax relief [via the local optional homestead exemption]
for their residents at the expense of raising additional tax revenue.” STATE REP. LACEY HULL, R HOUSTON
HB 8 Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-University
Reduces the maximum compressed tax rate by an additional $0.0331 for the 2025-26 school year, lowering the amount of property tax revenue available for public school districts Senate Bill 4 with Senate Joint Resolution 2 Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston Would allow voters to approve increasing the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, providing homeowners with tax relief while the state makes up the difference in public school funding Committee Substitute SB 26 Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe Establishes a teacher retention allotment based on district size and teacher experience and increases the amount for each designation in the Teacher Incentive Allotment; provides tuition-free pre-K, liability insurance for classroom teachers and a grant program that offers additional funding
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Taking a step back
“When UPS and Amazon had to increase driver pay because people were purchasing online, they were able to pass on this price increase to the consumer. … We are absorbing the cost with no
Traci Schluter, CFISD director of psychological services, said that immediately post-pandemic, students, staff and families in the school district experienced the same negative effects as the rest of the nation. “CFISD is fortunate to have a wide range of mental health resources available to students who are experiencing challenges,” Schluter said in an email statement. Mental health resources • Guidance and counseling support, and school psychologists at every campus • School-based social workers who directly address mental health needs and connect families with community resources • Mental health intervention team supports campuses and procedures when working with high-risk mental health concerns • Free employee assistance program and wellness counseling program for staff • Self-care, personal management and stress relief workshops
increases in revenue.” KAREN SMITH, CFISD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
“We’re doing everything we can to plug holes on a ship, but we can’t do that indefinitely … These numbers do paint a picture of a school district that needs help.”
SB 260 Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston
Doubles the school safety allotment from $10 to $20 per student based on average daily attendance and for each campus from $15,000 to $30,000
JUSTIN RAY, CFISD BOARD SECRETARY
SOURCE: CY-FAIR ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CY-FAIR ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CYPRESS EDITION
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CYPRESS EDITION
State
BY EMILY LINCKE, JESSICA SHORTEN & AUBREY VOGEL
3 legislative updates from Houston-area lawmakers
The 89th Texas legislative session has passed the 60- day mark, halting bill filing after the March 14 deadline. Houston-area lawmakers have worked on hundreds of the nearly 9,000 bills filed with priorities including flood control, toll road funding and real estate. The session is scheduled to end June 2, unless a special session is called. Check out some of the bills filed by Houston-area lawmakers this legislative session.
3 New bills target corporate, investment firm ownership of single-family homes
2 Bill seeks to distribute toll funds among county precincts Senate Bill 2722 aims to change the way collected toll funds are distributed in counties such as Harris County with populations of 4 million or more. The bill, filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, restricts the use of revenue collected for toll roads to pay off debt related to operating, expanding, maintaining and administering services, according to draft legislation. Toll revenue fund allocations According to draft legislation, the remaining funding should be allocated between: County commissioners: 65% Municipalities
Rep. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed House Bills 2334 and 2910 in February, which would prohibit private investment firms from owning single- family homes and corporations from owning more than 10 single-family homes for rental purposes. The bills were moving through the House’s Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee in late March, with Senate Bill 443 filed as a companion bill. Institutional investor market share of residential purchases in 2021
1 Proposal could expand flood control district’s boundaries
House Bill 2068 would allow counties adjacent to Harris County to request to join the Harris County Flood Control District. The bill, filed by Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Houston, would also remove Harris County Commissioners Court as the HCFCD’s governing body. Under the bill, a five-member HCFCD board would consider requests to join the district from commissioners courts. Requests would need to be approved through an election.
28% 29% 29% 38% 13%
National Texas Fort Bend County Harris County Montgomery County
responsible for 40% or more of a toll road: 30% Misc. road-related projects: 5%
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: MAY 2022 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS STUDY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CYPRESS EDITION
Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
VFW Red and White Gala Support veteran suicide prevention at the VFW Post 8905 Red and White Gala featuring a spaghetti dinner, a comedy show and a DJ. • April 25, 6 p.m. • $10 (advanced tickets), $15 (at the door) • 21902 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.vfw8905.org ‘SpongeBob the Musical’ Playhouse 1960 presents “SpongeBob the Musical,” a youth edition musical about the animated series. • April 26-27, May 3-4, 3 p.m.; April 26, May 3, 7 p.m. • $12 (student admission), $15 (adult admission)
Christ the Redeemer spring festival Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church’s spring festival will feature carnival games, rides, entertainment, silent and live auctions, a raffle, dancing, a flea market and festival food vendors. • May 3, 5-10 p.m.; May 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 11507 Huffmeister Road, Houston • www.ctrcc.com Youth Duathlon Jersey Village hosts its annual youth competition that combines biking and running for ages 7-15. • May 4, 8 a.m.-noon • $30 per participant • Clark Henry Park, 7804 Equador St., Jersey Village • www.jerseyvillagetx.com Bloom Fest Enjoy live music, crafts, vendors and a farmers market at the Living Legacy Center’s Bloom Fest. • May 10, 10 a.m.-noon • Free (admission) • 12527 Cypress N. Houston Road, Cypress • www.livinglegacycenter.com
April
Comicon Comicon at Traders Village will feature several voice actor performances including Christina Kelly, Adam Gibbs and Molly Searcy. • April 12-13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free (admission) • 7979 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston • www.tradersvillage.com Blood drive Join the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center at The Boardwalk at Towne Lake. Every donation saves three lives, and donors will receive a free T-shirt and an IHOP short stack voucher. • April 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free • 9955 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress • www.boardwalktl.com O’Hara Homes spring festival This fifth-annual event features a market, food trucks, face painting and an egg hunt. • April 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • 15855 Mueschke Road, Cypress • www.oharare.com
• 6814 Gant Road, Houston • www.playhouse1960.com
Peel for a Purpose crawfish festival The fifth annual crawfish festival benefiting Boots for Troops—an organization supporting active duty military, veterans and spouses—will feature crawfish and live music at Sam Houston Race Park. • April 19, 2-9 p.m. • $10 (children), $30 (general admission), $60 (general admission and all-you-can-eat crawfish) • 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Houston • www.shrp.com
May
‘The Odd Couple: Female Version’ Watch a female version of the classic play “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon at the Stageworks Theatre. • May 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 7:30 p.m.; May 4, 11, 18, 3 p.m. • $26-$38.75 (admission)
Nature Fest Join Bridgeland for the 17th annual Nature Fest featuring family-friendly activities, a petting zoo, food trucks and wildlife education at Oak Meadow Park. Corbin Maxey headlines this year’s lineup.
• April 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • 7600 House & Hahl Road, Cypress • www.bridgeland.com
• 10760 Grant Road, Houston • www.stageworkshouston.org
CYPRESS ROSEHILL 14315 Cypress Rosehill (281) 373-2999
SPRING CYPRESS 22508 Hwy 249 (281) 379-7383 BARKER CYPRESS 17996 FM 529 (281) 656-4200
HUFFMEISTER 8945 Hwy 6 N (281) 859-5879
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