Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
TISD hosts ribbon-cutting for new West Intermediate School
Tomball ISD projects $3M shortfall for FY 2025 26
Lone Star College OKs 2026 27 calendar The Lone Star College board of trustees approved the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year on May 1. Diving in deeper Fall semester classes will start Aug. 24, 2026, and end Dec. 13, 2026, according to the approved calendar. Spring semester classes will begin Jan. 19, 2027, and last through May 16, 2027. The calendar includes no-class days for holidays such as: • Labor Day holiday: Sept. 5-7, 2026 • Thanksgiving holiday: Nov. 25-29, 2026 • Winter holidays: Dec. 21, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027 • Spring break: March 15-21, 2027 • Spring holiday : March 26-28, 2027 • Memorial Day holiday: May 29-31, 2027
Tomball ISD expects about $226.5 million in revenue and a $3 million shortfall in the upcoming scal year 2025-26 budget, TISD Chief Finan- cial O cer Zack Boles said at an May 12 board workshop. His May presentation focused primarily on expense projections for FY 2025-26. At a previous meeting on April 15, Boles said revenue is up about 2.8% from the FY 2024-25 budget. The details Boles said TISD is developing its FY 2025-26 budget with a focus on meeting student needs, staying competitive, supporting sta and maintaining facilities. He said the district faces challenges such as a tight labor market, rising costs due to in ation and ongoing supply shortages. At the May 12 meeting, Boles said the district is also working to keep reducing the de cit over time to minimize impacts to TISD’s fund balance— essentially the district’s savings account.
Expenses projection, scal year 2025-26 Instruction: 63.82% Maintenance, technology, security: 12.92%
Tomball ISD held a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 2 for the district’s new West Intermediate School, which is located at TISD’s complex along
“I’m grateful to the Tomball community for understanding that with opportunities and bond dollars we’re able to do something such as
Juergen Road. A closer look
Student support: 11.28% Administration: 11.17% Other: 0.81%
this beautiful facility.” MARTHA SALAZAR ZAMORA, TISD SUPERINTENDENT
District o cials said the new school, which is scheduled to open in August, is TISD’s fourth intermediate school and will serve fth and sixth graders. The nished building is equipped with a new library, gym, cafeteria and collaborative rooms along with a courtyard and rooms dedicated to ne arts. Since the building itself is nished, district o cials said they will focus on moving supplies in to be ready for the upcoming school year in August. “My parents are retired educators, and they both made sure to remind me how lucky I am to have this opportunity because it doesn’t come very often,” West Intermediate School Principal Caitlin
Tomball ISD o cials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 2 for the district’s new West Intermediate School.
SOURCE: TOMBALL ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
JULIANNA WASHBURN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Within the projected budget, Boles said TISD will address the need for 79 new positions to account for districtwide growth, the opening of West Intermediate School and the growth of special education in the district. Next steps The next TISD workshop board meeting was planned for June 2 after press time.
Cain said. “We’re excited to be in the building.” How we got here West Intermediate School was funded by TISD’s 2021 $494.46 million bond package, which also included a high school and an elementary school. West Elementary School opened in the fall of 2024, and West High School is set to open in August 2026, district o cials said.
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THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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