BY ANGELA BONILLA & RYAN REYNOLDS
Tomball ISD approves new bus-routing technology The Tomball ISD board of trustees voted unani- mously to purchase new bus-routing hardware and software from Transfinder during a Jan. 14 meeting. According to the workshop presentation, the platforms will provide these enhanced features:
MISD OKs 2025-26 school calendar
Magnolia ISD trustees approved the district’s 2025-26 school year calendar with a 5-0 vote at their Feb. 10 meeting. What to know Planning the calendar began in October and was finalized in January by the district education improvement committee, a group that is made up of parents, administrators, teachers and community members, Assis- tant Superintendent of Administration Ben King said. The following dates are included in the calendar: • Aug. 11: First day of school • Oct. 13-17: Fall break • Dec. 19 and May 22, 2026: Early release • May 22, 2026: Last day of school
Trustees agreed that the new technology will provide greater security, parental controls and customization than Smart Tag. The details Transfinder, TISD’s active bus-routing software, will no longer support third-party systems after June 30. Therefore, the school district had to develop a new solution and contract. TISD will pay $1.2 million to enter a five-year agreement with Transfinder for its Stopfinder and Wayfinder platforms, two additions that TISD Chief Operating Officer Steven Gutierrez said will further streamline communication. Zooming in TISD will purchase the hardware, software and annual site licenses using Strategic Plan 2030 and
Live time updates for parents and staff Improved communication by eliminating third-party vendors Customizable communication
Increased parental controls for notifications
Geofencing capabilities
Turn-by-turn directions accounting for traffic patterns and road conditions
SOURCE: TOMBALL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
local funds. What’s next
TISD will install the new hardware on buses over spring break and perform a pilot test, Gutierrez said.
MARCH 22 Tomball Depot Plaza T MARCH2
TOMBALL DEPOT PLAZA 201 S. ELM ST POKEMON MARCH 8
11 A.M. - 5 P.M. .M. 11 A.M. - 5 P.
HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS APRIL 12
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP Mini Golf Remote Control Train Races Mechanical Bull Rides Photo Ops Bubble Stations Kids Crafts & More! ons s p Bubble Statio E ENTERTAINMEN
FOOD TRUCK UCK
TOY STORY MAY 10
OPENING ACT - REAKFASTA O
S 12:30 TO 2 P.M. AT TIFFANY’S
MOVIES BEGIN AT DUSK
BR
eputation ADLINING - 2:30 TO 4 P.M. BUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT: re HEA ATRI e A I
IN CASE OF RAIN, MOVIES WILL BE SHOWN AT THE TOMBALL COMMUNITY CENTER 221 MARKET ST.
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TOMBALL - MAGNOLIA EDITION
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