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Tomball Magnolia Edition VOLUME 15, ISSUE 11 SEPT. 4OCT. 2, 2025
2025 Education Edition
Supporting special education Local districts to see additional funding following HB 2's passage
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
As Christina Webb staples sensory materials on her classroom walls, she has a student in mind. The Tomball ISD special education teacher picks out her supplies based on what she knows her students need to eectively learn, whether that be sequin fabric to touch or a small trampoline to jump. But with more students walking through Webb’s doors each year, more supplies need to be purchased, more sta members need to be hired and trained and more resources, such as dyslexia services, need fund- ing. Teachers like Webb are hoping the newly passed House Bill 2, which provides $850 million in special education funding to schools, can help with that.
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Also in this issue
Impacts: Learn when the new Texas Roadhouse location will open in Magnolia (Page 6)
Events: See what’s going on around Tomball, Magnolia through early October (Page 27)
Community: Read more about the history of Tomball's Sister Cities program (Page 29)
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Christina Webb, a structured learning lab teacher at Tomball ISD, prepares materials for the 202526 school year. Webb said she hopes funding from HB 2 can help with learning and instructional materials for students with sensory or literacy needs. (Iain Cridland/ Community Impact)
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
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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.
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Impacts
2 Cheaters Creamery The ice cream shop serves homemade ice cream alongside other oerings such as milkshakes and cake sundaes. • Opened July 15 • 19003 Windsor Pointe Drive, Tomball • www.cheaterscreamery.com 3 Leading Note Studios The music school specializes in music lessons as well as programs in music theory, rock band and songwriting. • Opened in early August • 32207 Tamina Road, Magnolia • www.leadingnotestudiosmagnolia.com 4 Blue Magnolia The 10-acre venue features indoor chapel seating; a reception hall; indoor and outdoor cocktail areas; scenic grounds and more. • Opened in May
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5 North Meadow Dental and Orthodontics The dental practice’s services include general dentistry, family dentistry, llings and crowns, among other services. • Opened July 16
GRAHAM DR.
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6 ISI Elite Training Creekside The business oers 50-minute certied coach-led sessions along with comprehensive training programs. • Opened Aug. 1 • 25131 FM 2978, Ste. E, Tomball • www.isielitetraining.com/locations/creekside-tx 7 The Learning Experience The learning center oers care and educational programs for children from infants to preschool and kindergarten. • Opened July 30 • 26900 FM 2978, Magnolia • www.thelearningexperience.com
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beers, cocktails and seltzers. • Opened June 28 • 24026 Kuykendahl Road, Tomball • Facebook: Below Deck Bar TX
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8 EoS Fitness The 43,761-square-foot, full-service gym features premium cardio, strength equipment as well as group tness classes. • Opened July 31 • 18359 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.eositness.com Golden Age Honey and Chocolates The online-only business oers a variety of creamed honey and honey-sweetened chocolates. • Opened June 3 • https://goldenagehoney.com
• 14365 FM 1488, Magnolia • www.texasroadhouse.com
Coming soon
Relocations
13 Woodsy Homelife Previously located in Tomball, the business relocated to Magnolia. Woodsy Homelife oers items such as handcrafted fragrances and skincare. • Relocated June 1
• 20555 FM 1488, Magnolia • www.woodsyhomelife.com
14 Steinhauser’s The animal feed store relocated to a new building in Magnolia. The retailer oers pet supplies, fertilizer, clothing and gifts. • Relocated June 30
Coming soon
18 Young Chefs Academy The business will oer weekly cooking classes on a membership program, owner Chris McKelvey said. Students will start with a white chef’s jacket, and can work up to a black chef’s jacket and the title of Young Chefs Academy MasterChef. The business will also host birthday parties, seasonal camps, workshops, eld trips, scouting events and more. • Anticipated to open by September • 1417 Graham Drive, Ste. 500, Tomball • https://tomballtx.youngchefsacademy.com
9 Niky’s Mini Donuts The shop oers mini donuts made to order with a variety of toppings, drizzles and seasonal avors. It also has over 30 small-batch ice cream avors. • Opening by September • 1417 Graham Drive, Ste. 400, Tomball • www.nikysminidonuts.com 10 Preserve Physical Therapy The clinic will oer a variety of services alongside care for back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee and foot pain, and tailored treatments for balance disorders. • Opening this September • 28408 Sweetgum Road, Ste. D5, Magnolia • www.preservept.com 11 Bruster’s Real Ice Cream The business oers fresh ice cream through a walk-up
• 17529 FM 1488, Magnolia • www.steinhausers.com
15 K Marie Boutique The boutique will relocate from 17523 Chaseloch St., Spring, to Tomball. With the relocation, the boutique will move to a space that’s over 3,000 square feet. • Relocating in September • 22525 Hufsmith Kohrville Road, Ste. 4E, Tomball • http://shopkmarieboutique.com
Expansions
be held at Lone Star College-Tomball beginning Oct. 4. Tickets were expected to go on sale Aug. 1. • 30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball • www.tomballstampede.com
16 Lion’s Den Gym The gym has grown to 20,000 square feet, which has allowed the addition of more equipment. • Expanded in May
counter and drive-thru. • Opening in early 2026 • 25555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball • www.brusters.com
Closings
• 21255 Spell Circle, Tomball • www.lionsdengymtx.com
19 Panera Bread Several Tomball-area locations of the cafe franchise have closed amid a bankruptcy ling and lawsuit, Community Impact reported. • A 28403 Hwy. 249, Tomball • B 22521 Tomball Parkway, Tomball • www.panerabread.com
In the news
12 Texas Roadhouse The restaurant is currently hiring for all full and part- time positions. Construction began in April on the 8,319-square-foot restaurant, as previously reported. • Opening in October
17 Tomball Stampede and Tomball Lady Stampede The new semi-professional basketball teams’ games will
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Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN & LIZZY SPANGLER
Tomball German Festivals co-founder Grady Martin dies Grady Martin, who co-founded the Tomball German Heritage Festivals and served as president of Tomball Sister Cities, died July 24 at 82. “Grady’s legacy will live on in every smile at the Tomball German Festivals, in every shared story,” his family said via his obituary. The big picture Born in Mississippi, Martin was an entrepreneur, per his obituary. In 2000, he and his wife Sandra founded the Tomball German Heritage Festivals, which has grown to over 150 vendors, four live music stages and over 30 entertainers. In their own words Martin was known for his kindness, perseverance and dedication, community leaders said.
Magnolia approves proposed tax rate Magnolia City Council approved propos- ing a tax rate of $0.2454 per $100 valuation for scal year 2025-26 on Aug. 12. That is lower than the FY 2024-25 approved tax rate of $0.2509 per $100 valuation. What else? The FY 2025-26 general fund budget’s estimated expenditures is $9.1 million, with $9.5 million in estimated revenues, leaving Magnolia with an estimated general fund surplus of $426,610. Stay tuned A public hearing on the proposed tax rate and budget is set for Sept. 9 at Magnolia City Hall, 1811 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia.
Grady Martin was known for his kindness, perseverance and dedication to the community.
COURTESY AMY MASON
“He was meek, not weak, but polite and friendly to everyone. He had a lot of wisdom,” said Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. One more thing In lieu of owers, Martin’s family is requesting donations to the Grady Martin Scholarship Fund, which supports students studying the German language or international or exchange studies. To donate, visit https://paypal.com/ncp/payment/ V3RRZTYD75DXG
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Government
BY MELISSA ENAJE, RACHEL LELAND & JESSICA SHORTEN
County ocials urge disaster preparedness amid FEMA concerns
Diving in deeper
FEMA funding also provides individual assistance directly to residents a ected by local disasters. Individual assistance can vary from lump sum payments to hotel accommodations for families a ected 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. “The county relies heavily on FEMA funding, especially for large-scale projects like debris removal. Without that support, the nancial burden could hinder our ability to respond to and recover from a disaster,” Brooke Boyett, Harris County’s administration communications director, 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 aect 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
$0
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, GALVESTON COUNTY BUDGET OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Final takeaways
The federal review council has met twice in 2025 to discuss how FEMA currently operates, and there is no deadline on when the nal report will be issued. “Without knowing how things will be resolved on the federal level, we remain focused on the current reality,” said Brian Murray, deputy coordinator over Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management o ce.
County O ce of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 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. “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.”
With the 2025 hurricane season underway, many agencies are focused on maintaining preparedness for storms and see the potential for streamlining FEMA processes. “Montgomery County agrees that there could be many improvements to the processes and procedures by which FEMA operates, [such as] streamlining expense control and response/ resiliency capabilities, but we trust the president’s committee to review these issues and make appropriate recommendations,” Jason Millsaps, executive director of Montgomery
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY MELISSA ENAJE & JESSICA SHORTEN
Residents provide input on transportation plan In one of the nal public meetings of the prelim- inary planning phase, the Houston-Galveston Area Council heard from Montgomery County residents Aug. 12 regarding the agency’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. Attendees were able to draw on county maps and identify which modes of transportation are most important to residents. There was also an online survey that closed Aug. 31. More details As previously reported, HGAC ocials are work- ing on creating the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan for the eight-county region. Public meetings were held in each county to gain feedback. “Planning now will help us create a transportation system that will help keep up with this growth. ... If we don’t plan ahead, trac and travel could get much worse,” said Brandon Mosley, a principal planner for the 2050 RTP.
Precinct 3 looking for sidewalk partnerships Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey issued an open call request in July for stakeholders interested in develop- ing new sidewalks to enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity. Approved sidewalk projects will be funded by both the county and participating partners, ocials said. Dates to know The partnership application deadline is Sept. 5, county ocials said, to allow for any additional sidewalks requests that may populate during the rst few weeks of the new school year. Precinct 3 ocials said their goal is to complete construction of all awarded projects by the fourth quarter of 2026.
H GAC Regional Transportation Plan 2050
The plan will outline improvements to:
Public transit
Roadways
Hike, bike and sidewalk connectivity
Public input helps the organization prioritize how funding will be spent to support:
Regional growth
Safety
Quality of life
Sustainability
SOURCE: HOUSTONGALVESTON AREA COUNCILCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
Education Edition
2025
Community Impact ’s annual Education Edition features a variety of education updates from your local districts of Tomball and Magnolia ISDs. All of the stories featured in this year’s guide were written by our local team of journalists. Additionally, all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news—show them your gratitude by supporting them.
Premium sponsors:
TOMBALL ISD DESTINATION EXCELLENCE
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Tomball ISD www.tomballisd.net (281) 3573100 Tomball ISD students will lead in creating the future. Once again rated an "A" District, Tomball ISD is not just a District but a Destination. #DestinationExcellence
Magnolia ISD www.magnoliaisd.org (281) 3563571
Magnolia ISD: keeping students at the heart of everything we do, oering a variety of career paths, advanced academics, and award-winning extracurriculars, all on a balanced budget.
What's inside
See cellphone policies for the 202526 school year (Page 19)
Read more about TISD’s Hope Squad for mental health (Page 21)
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MISD transportation director discusses start times, safety With the new school year underway, Community Impact interviewed Julie Hrebicek, the transporta- tion director for Magnolia ISD, about what the state of transportation looks like at the district this year. What are some of the biggest challenges when it comes to district transportation? Bus driving isn’t for everybody. It’s a hard job. ... So, being short-staed, that is a challenge. Keeping our drivers and monitors and sta pumped ... that’s the biggest challenge is letting them know that sometimes it feels like a thankless job, but it is not. Can you speak more to the decision to change start times at schools? We did change the bell schedule by about 10
minutes. ... With the growth that Magnolia is seeing, the trac, the student population—it was a challenge last year. This year, we are transporting our junior high and intermediate students together, so that, along with the bell schedule change, will be a huge bene t. What do safety protocols look like on MISD buses, and are there any new safety features or protocols in place this year? As far as safety driving, we have an extensive training program, we continue through our in-services, we do a rodeo-type style training [with] precision driving, we go through student manage- ment courses again. The biggest challenge for safety is student management on a bus. We like to train our drivers around that regard, but we also have an incredible support system through our campuses as well as our [school resource ocers], so the kiddos here know that there will be consequences for disruptive behavior because the drivers need to drive. Do we want them to interact with the kiddos? Absolutely. But rst and foremost, they need to be safe while driving, ... it all just ... goes hand in hand.
Julie Hrebicek, the transportation director for Magnolia ISD, stepped into the role in 2022.
COURTESY MAGNOLIA ISD
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
The categories for 202425 for the National High School BBQ Association included grilled cheese.
Students learn re safety and management, meat trimming, marinating, knife skills and cooking methods while on the team.
PHOTOS COURTESY TOMBALL ISD
TMHS Rolling Blue BBQ team cooks up state win
Members of Tomball Memorial High School’s Rolling Blue BBQ competitive team prepare a dish.
around a camp re while camping,” TMHS fresh- man Tristan Kerrick said. On the menu The categories for 2024-25 for the National High School BBQ Association were grilled cheese, chili, ribeye steak, chicken lollipops and St. Louis ribs. “We spent time playing around with dierent avor pro les for each of these items and it was cool to watch the students discuss which ingredi- ents paired well with one another,” Richey said. Looking forward The 2025-26 menu was posted by the National High School BBQ Association on Aug. 31, and the team will hold tryouts in September.
Tomball Memorial High School’s Rolling Blue BBQ competitive team, which began in the 2024-25 school year, combines culinary arts and agriculture for students passionate about grilling. Respecting the craft In its rst year, the seven-member team competed in a regional and state competition and placed rst in Texas for their jalapeno bacon jam grilled cheese. Team advisor Ashley Richey said the team was awake at 4 a.m. for the state com- petition, lighting res to cook at 5 a.m. and pulled into the TMHS parking lot at 10 p.m. afterward. “My favorite memories from [the barbecue team] were all of our practices and everyone being together. It felt like we were brothers, cooking
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
presentation. The new school will serve students on the south side of the district and allow TISD to expand its early childhood programs to an additional 500 students. Update: Construction is expected to begin this year. • Location: TBD • Timeline: Completion anticipated in 2027
Tomball ISD
Tomball ISD
Tomball West High School Project: The new 542,000-square-foot high school has a construction budget of $241.2 million, according to prior reporting. Update: The high school, which was part of the November 2021 bond election, is still in progress, TISD Chief Financial Ocer Zack Boles con rmed Aug. 11. • Location: 17702 Mueschke Road, Cypress • Timeline: December 2023-August 2026 New Tomball Intermediate School site Project: Part of the $429.1 million 2025 bond package, the intermediate school will be rebuilt on a new site, and the existing building will be repurposed for special programs, according to TISD’s website. Update: Tomball ISD board members approved the architect for the new Tomball Intermediate School during a June 3 school board meeting. • Location: 11211 FM 2920, Tomball • Timeline: Completion anticipated in 2028 Pre-K Center No. 2 Project: Part of TISD’s 2025 bond, the new pre-K campus will be designed like the rst Early Excellence Academy that opened in 2023, according to a TISD
Magnolia ISD
Magnolia Parkway Intermediate School Project: The new school serves up to 1,200 students in fth and sixth grade. Update: The intermediate school, which was part of the November 2022 bond election, opened in August, district ocials con rmed Aug. 22. • Location: 11735 FM 1488, Magnolia • Timeline: June 2023-August 2025 Magnolia Parkway Junior High School Project: The new school serves up to 1,200 students in seventh and eighth grade. Update: The junior high school, which was part of the November 2022 bond election, opened in August,
Athletic facility upgrades Project: Updates include turf installation at all four junior high football elds and turf replacement at Tomball Memorial High School, installing safety netting at backstops for baseball and softball, replacing bleachers in Tomball High School gyms and upgrading lighting systems at athletic elds. Update: Work on these projects is expected to begin this year. • Location: 8711 Creekside Green Drive, The Woodlands; 20247 Cypress Rose Hill Road, Tomball; 30403 Quinn Road, Tomball; 11770 Gregson Road, Tomball; 19100 Northpointe Ridge Lane, Tomball; 30330 Quinn Road, Tomball • Timeline: Completion anticipated in 2029 and 2030
district ocials con rmed Aug. 22. • Location: 11750 FM 1488, Magnolia • Timeline: August 2023-August 2025 This list is not comprehensive.
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18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA & JULIANNA WASHBURN BY HANNAH NORTON & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Tomball, Magnolia ISDs ban cellphone use throughout school day
Key players
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath urged state lawmakers to ban student cellphone use in public schools. “If it were in my power, I would’ve already banned them in schools in the state,” Morath told state senators during a Sept. 18 hearing.
Magnolia and Tomball ISDs approved their cellphone policies for the 2025-26 school year July 14 and Aug. 12, respectively, under the requirement of House Bill 1481. The bill mandates that districts adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices, such as cellphones and smartwatches, during the school day by Sept. 1. TISD and MISD students are allowed to store their devices in a backpack, locker or another secure area during the school day. The districts de ned the school day as the time from the rst bell of the day to the last. “What we’re going to do with that is to say, ‘You can have your cellphone in your pocket. You can have it in your backpack, purse.’ ... We do not need to see it out,” Ben King, MISD’s assistant superintendent of administration, said at MISD’s regular July 14 board meeting.
Cellphone, smartwatch rules for Tomball, Magnolia ISDs
Cellphones turned o
Path to new phone policy
May 20: Texas Senate passes HB 1481 May 28: Texas Legislature sends bill to Gov. Greg Abbott to sign June 20: Abbott o cially signs bill July 14: Magnolia ISD approves local cellphone policy Aug. 12: Tomball ISD approves local cellphone policy Sept. 1: Deadline for school districts to implement cellphone policy
Devices stowed away in lockers or backpacks
No devices to be used from the start of the school day to the end
SOURCES: TOMBALL ISD, MAGNOLIA ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
The bill has exceptions for students with medical needs or special education accommodations. HB 1481 would also not apply to devices supplied by districts for academic purposes.
SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONILNE, TOMBALL ISD, MAGNOLIA ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
‘A ripple eect of kindness’: TISD’s Hope Squad expanding
Skyler Nguyen, a senior at Tomball Star Academy, won’t forget passing out “secret note[s] of kindness” and seeing the happiness on the students she handed the unexpected notes to. “A lot of them had believed that nobody would write them a note, and to see that their peers had written something for them had, quite literally, lit up their faces with joy,” Nguyen said. This is one of the missions of the Hope Squad, a mental health support program that allows students in Tomball ISD high schools to become trained peer supporters. Hope Squad was created in 2024 amid a growing need to address mental health concerns in youth, according to a November 2024 news release. Now, for the 2025-26 school year, the group is expanding to junior high campuses so it can reach students earlier.
Hope Squad, created in 2024 amid a growing need to address mental health concerns in youth, is expanding to junior high campuses this year.
Throughout the last year, TISD’s Hope Squad hosted a mental health awareness week, stress relief activities and passed out kind notes to their peers.
PHOTOS COURTESY TOMBALL ISD
talk about mental health, it sets a foundation that can carry them through high school and beyond,” Director of School Counseling Steve Shiels said.
“We know that the middle school years can be especially tough—emotionally, socially, developmentally—and if we can help students at that age build the skills to support one another and
About the program
What they’re saying
Shiels, who oversees Hope Squad dis- trictwide, said the peer-nominated group of students is trained to recognize signs of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in their peers. “Their job isn’t to solve those problems, but to be a bridge—someone a student can turn to who will listen, show care and help connect them to a trusted adult,” Shiels said. Throughout the last year, Hope Squad hosted a mental health awareness week, stress relief activities and passed out kind notes to their peers, Shiels said.
“It’s helped create a ripple eect of kindness and awareness across campuses. We’re seeing a cultural shift
“It’s more than just a program—it’s a re ection of our belief that every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and never alone.” MARTHA SALAZARZAMORA, TISD SUPERINTENDENT
where it’s more normal to talk about emotions and to ask, ‘Are you okay?’— and that’s powerful.” STEVE SHIELS, TISD DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELING
Stay tuned
Mental health statistics in Texas public schools
“It’s about creating safe, connected school communities early on so students grow up knowing it’s okay to ask for help and that they’re never alone,” Shiels said. Nguyen also said one of the big changes that will happen this year will be the formation of a cross-school committee of Hope Squad members to discuss and plan bigger projects. “I hope that with this, we can further help to challenge the issue of youth suicide and improve our peer-to-peer manner of reaching out to those in need,” Nguyen said.
Shiels said TISD plans to expand Hope Squad to all intermediate campuses over the next two to three years. “Sadly, we’re seeing more and more fth- and sixth-graders experiencing mental health struggles, including suicidal ideation. That’s a reality we can’t ignore,” Shiels said. Shiels said at the intermediate level, the focus will be on laying a foundation that normalizes conversations about emotions, encourages kindness and helps students recognize when someone needs support.
1 in 6 school-aged youth experience impairments in life functioning due to mental illness 421,178 Texas children experience bullying monthly or often 22% of high school students in Texas seriously considered suicide in 2021 Nearly 1 in 3 Texas high school students reported their mental health was not good in 2021
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
21
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
MISD sends $516.9M bond to November ballot Voters will see a $516.92 million bond package for Magnolia ISD on the ballot when they head to the polls for the Nov. 4 election. MISD trustees approved the bond package to appear on November ballots in a 6-1 vote Aug. 11. The package includes propositions for a new high school, two new elementary schools and a natatorium at a time when the district is addressing increasing growth across its schools. “We’re busting the seams—or going to be really quick—so we had a bond committee get together and help us to gure out what we need to handle the growth that was coming,” board President Gary Blizzard said. How it happened The decision to call for a bond came after a recommendation from the district’s facility planning committee, made up of 50 community members,
Thrive Center for Success expands
Lone Star trustees OK $548M budget for FY 202526
MISD proposes tax rate decrease
MISD’s proposed bond
Proposition A: New schools and facilities; safety and security upgrades; land and bus acquisitions: $469M Proposition B: Multipurpose facilities, athletic upgrades: $22.9M
Lone Star College System’s board of trustees passed a balanced budget of $548 million for scal year 2025-26 on Aug. 7. The gist LSCS’ approved FY 2025-26 budget includes $34.95 million in total new revenue, which comes from state appropriations, property taxes and students, among other miscellaneous sources, according to a presentation by Kristy Vienne, the college system’s chief nancial ocer and vice chancellor for nance and administration. What’s changed Since the June 5 meeting, LSCS saw a $13 million drop in the forecasted revenue from the state— from $124 million to $111 million. “Even with the $13 million loss ... nothing that we represented to employees and students that would be in the budget for the next year is going to be aected,” LCSC Chancellor Mario Castillo said.
LSC’s FY 202526 budget priorities
Thrive With Autism, a nonpro t helping children with autism, expanded its Thrive Center for Success location in Magnolia with a 12,700-square-foot facility featuring 14 new classrooms, said Chris Gonzalez, a spokesperson with facilities development nonpro t Blueprint. Students returned to the center Aug. 15. About the project Gonzalez said the expansion will accom- modate the growing demand for free, public autism-focused schooling for students in grades K-8 and eventually through 12th grade as the center continues to add grades each year. The expanded center includes 14 class- rooms, including a multipurpose room, new parking and additional play spaces.
Magnolia ISD’s Chief Financial Ocer Erich Morris recommended a proposed balanced general fund budget of $157.4 million for MISD’s 2025-26 school year at an Aug. 6 workshop meeting. A minimum of 4% pay raises for all sta are included in the pro- posed budget with the help of state funding from House Bill 2. The MISD school board also approved a proposed total tax rate of $0.9583 per $100 valuation for scal year 2025-26 during its Aug. 11 regular meeting. That tax rate is $0.0312 lower than the FY 2024-25 tax rate, which was $0.9895 per $100 valuation, per MISD’s nances website. Also of note The hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate was held Aug. 25 after press time.
Total: $516.92M
3% employee compensation adjustment $9M Hiring Magnolia Center sta, covering operating costs $1.9M Funding for new Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching program $321K Mental health funding to meet increasing need, operate programs $2M
Proposition C: Second district natatorium: $24M
SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
parents, business leaders and elected ocials. District ocials said projects in the proposed bond can be funded with Magnolia ISD’s existing tax rate. The district’s tax rate will not increase as a result of these bonds. “Two bonds in 13 years. I mean, our debt load is about as low as anybody’s,” Blizzard said. What’s next Early voting will begin Oct. 20. Election Day is Nov. 4.
SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEMCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What else? LSCS ocials expect to propose a tax rate of $0.1060 per $100 valuation for FY 2025-26—which is lower than the FY 2024-25 tax rate of $0.1076 per $100 valuation. LSCS trustees will adopt the tax rate Oct. 2.
TOMBALL PARKWAY 28595 Tomball Pkwy (281) 290-7810
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110
SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
Supporting special education From the cover
What you need to know
Special education student enrollment
Magnolia ISD Tomball ISD
Increase between 2018-19 and 2023-24: Tomball ISD +86% | Magnolia ISD +78%
3,000
2,551
Students who require special education increased at Magnolia and Tomball ISDs by 78% and 86%, respectively, between the 2018-19 and 2023-24 school years, per Texas Education Agency data. With the growth, some districts saw a gap between the cost of services and the actual funds available. In a 2023 report, advocacy group Disabilities Rights Texas noted that Texas educational agencies needed $6.3 billion for special education programs in 2020-21. The state paid for $4 billion. Some Texas schools will see relief after Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 2 on June 4, which will spend $850 million on allocating special education funding based on students’ individual needs, rather than the instructional setting. The new funding won’t be allocated until the 2026-27 school year, per the TEA. However, the new funding might not be enough to close the funding gap, ocials said. MISD Chief Financial Ocer Erich Morris said HB 2 will provide the district with an additional $600,000, bringing the total state funding to around $17.3 million. However, the current special education budget is $22.2 million, forcing MISD to nd local funds for the shortfall, Morris said. TISD ocials said they hope to benet from additional funding during the 2026-27 school year, but didn’t provide specics at this time.
2,183
2,500
1,895
1,723
2,000
2,295
1,593
1,371
2,004
1,500
1,748
1,628
1,491
1,000
1,287
500
0
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
Special education teacher positions*
Magnolia ISD Tomball ISD
Increase between 2018-19 and 2023-24: Tomball ISD +37.8% | Magnolia ISD +73.3%
200
149
145
136
150
111
111
86
100
113
99
97
82
79
74
50
0
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
*NUMBERS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER. 2022£23 VALUE PROVIDED BY MAGNOLIA ISD. DISTRICT NUMBERS MAY DIFFER FROM TEA REPORTS.
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Some context
March 24 and May 9, dyslexia and autism are the most common disorders measured in students in the state and in Region 4—which covers TISD, while Region 6 covers MISD. Regions 4 and 6 are education service centers that provide services to school districts. While the rising need for special education services reects broader state and national trends, TISD and MISD ocials said the rise is due to overall enrollment growth in their districts. TISD’s Chief Academic Ocer Michael Webb and Director of Special Services Keri Williams also said the state changes in the assessment method for students with dyslexia and learning disabilities have “signicantly impacted the rapid increase in special education enrollment.” MISD ocials said they’ve seen a rise in the number of students qualifying for dyslexia ser- vices, and the district is in a region where parents have access to outside resources for their chil- dren, which contributed to the overall growth.
TISD and MISD aren’t alone, as TEA data shows that the number of students receiving special education services across the entire state nearly doubled in the last decade. Since removing the cap on the number of stu- dents a district could classify as needing special education in 2017, the number of special educa- tion students has increased statewide, according to previous Community Impact reporting. For the 2023-24 school year, 14% of Texas’ total public school and public charter school students received special education services. The average number of students receiving spe- cial education services nationwide is 15% of all public school students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Previous Community Impact reporting also found that all 28 districts across the Greater Houston area saw a rise in students receiving special education services compared to ve school years ago. According to TEA data released
Number of special education students statewide
For the 2023-24 school year, 14% of Texas’ total public school and public charter school students received special education services.
1M
+71.2%
800K
600K
400K
200K
0
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
24
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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