Conroe - Montgomery Edition | January 2023

EDUCATION

OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023

HIGHER EDUCATION EXPANSION

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Sam Houston State University is expanding its College of Health Sciences by building a new Health Professions Building and parking garage next to the growing College of Osteopathic Medicine campus in Conroe.

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Creekside Elementary School

College of Osteopathic Medicine Opened in August 2020 SHSU in Conroe Coming soon College of Health Sciences Construction beginning in 2024 Parking garage Construction anticipated for February 2023-February 2024 SOURCE: SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IMPACT

Montgomery ISD names new elementary school

The Montgomery ISD board of trustees voted to approve naming its newest elementary school at a board meeting Dec. 20. The district’s seventh elementary school was approved by voters as part of the $326.9 million May bond package and will serve 200 students within the Lake Creek High School feeder pattern. The new campus will be named Creekside Elementary School. The school’s mascot, a lion cub, was also approved at the meeting. The school colors will be blue and gold. Although Creekside Elementary is set to open for the 2024-25 school year, according to district ocials, construction is expected to get underway this spring. Districts to approve school calendars for 2023-24 Conroe ISD is considering several scenarios for the calendar for 2023- 24. Because of the days on which some holidays fall, winter break could begin as early as Dec. 15, ocials said. The district gathered feedback through Jan. 6, and the CISD District-Level Planning and Decision- Making Committee was expected to recommend a calendar plan to trustees Jan. 17 after press time. The Montgomery ISD District Advisory Committee is anticipated to recommend a calendar draft to the board of trustees in February for the 2023-24 school year.

COURTESY SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY

SHSU continues discussions to bring College of Health Sciences programs to campus in Conroe

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS

proposed and existing programs, including the relocated Master of Science program in athletic training and Master of Science in dietetics from Huntsville. Roper said proposed programs for Conroe include a doctorate in phys- ical therapy and Master of Physician Assistant; details of the programs are still in discussion. “In the new proposed programs in [physical therapy] and [physician assistant], the workforce demand indicates a very strong, immediate need for these programs as well as a long-term need for health care professionals,” she said. Construction on the Health Professions Building will begin after the coinciding parking structure

is complete in 2024. Roper said a parking garage, which will begin con- struction in February, is necessary to accommodate the new building and the growth of the College of Osteo- pathic Medicine. Thomas Mohr, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said the college is on track to grow from 326 students to 488 students in 2023. The college’s rst class will graduate in 2024. Until then, Mohr said his focus for 2023 is on expanding class sizes, adding additional clinical rotations for students, pursuing research opportunities and increasing con- nections with local hospitals. There is also discussion about creating graduate medical programs.

Sam Houston State University is expanding its College of Health Sciences from its main Huntsville campus to the existing SHSU campus in Conroe. Construction will begin in 2024 on a Health Professions Building adjacent to the College of Osteopathic Medicine, located at 925 City Central Ave., Conroe, according to SHSU o cials. The Texas State University System approved the $65 million project at the quarterly board of regents meeting Nov. 17 in Austin. According to the agenda, design services began in late August. Emily Roper, dean of the College of Health Sciences, said the new building in Conroe will house new,

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