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Cy-Fair Edition VOLUME 15, ISSUE 12 AUG. 10 SEPT. 11, 2024
2024 Education Edition
DANICA LLOYDCOMMUNITY IMPACT Cy-Fair ISD board, parents grapple with curriculum changes Community members opposed several actions the Cy-Fair ISD board took June 17—including upholding a decision to omit chapters from science textbooks for the 202425 school year.
But Covey spoke out June 17 when six trustees doubled down on a previous decision to omit cli- mate change and vaccine content from textbooks. “There wasn’t a single speaker up there that was in support of them cutting those chapters,” he said.
Two years later, three additional like-minded candidates won their respective seats. Public school boards are nonpartisan, according to the Texas Association of School Boards, and Covey, a 50-year Republican, said he never thought politics had a place in public schools.
BY DANICA LLOYD
Bob Covey served on the Cy-Fair ISD school board for 16 years until he and two other longtime incumbents were unseated in 2021 by candidates who ran on conservative values with endorsements and nancial contributions from partisan groups.
CONTINUED ON 14
Also in this issue Impacts: Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital announces plans for $277.5M expansion to be completed in 2027 (Page 6)
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HEAT AWARENESS & SAFETY TIPS -Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. -Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day. -Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. -Avoid high-energy activities or work outdoors, during midday heat, if possible. -Check on family members, seniors and neighbors. -Use fans to create cross-ventilation and enhance cooling with a bowl of ice.
For more heat tips visit www.cyfairfd.org
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CYFAIR EDITION
Impacts
banh mi sandwiches and other Vietnamese dishes. • Opened June 15 • 12105 Jones Road, Houston • www.biffspholife.com 5 Chi’Lantro BBQ The eatery serves Korean barbecue Tex-Mex fusion. • Opened July 1 • 10850 Louetta Road, Ste. 700, Houston • www.chilantrobbq.com 6 Craftique Studio The business oers yarns and craft supplies as well as classes and workshops, owner Grace Talavera said. • Opened June 22 • 16726 Huffmeister Road, Ste. C200, Cypress • www.craftiquestudio.shop 7 Salad and Go The drive-thru serves salads, wraps and breakfast items. • Opened in July 8 Daiso The franchise oers Japanese-inspired home decor, stationery and food. • Opened June 22 • 12246 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.daisous.com 9 Birchway Perry Road The complex has 462 one- and two-bedroom apartment units with monthly rent from $1,265-$1,595. • Opened in July • 13611 Perry Road, Houston • www.birchwayperryroad.com • 9604 Fry Road, Cypress • www.saladandgo.com
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N TM; © 2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
• Opened in early July • 12904 Fry Road, Ste. 100, Cypress • www.carmelitastx.com
Now open
1 Cheaters Creamery The ice cream store oers scoops, milkshakes, sundaes, oats and doughnut ice cream sandwiches. • Opened June 28 • 8828 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 90, Cypress • www.cheaterscreamery.com 2 Carmelita’s Kitchen & Tequila The restaurant is known for its modern Mexican cuisine and hand-crafted margaritas.
3 Cronos Cafe & Collectables The business features a coee shop and games. It sells comics, vinyl records, trading cards and bobbleheads. • Opened June 21 • 16726 Huffmeister Road, Ste. D-500, Cypress • www.cronoscafencollectables.com 4 Bi ’s Banh Mi & Pho Owner Nykhol Phan said the eatery oers spring rolls,
10 Harbor Freight Tools The business oers various types of tools and equipment in the Willowbrook area. • Opened June 8
• 17713 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.harborfreight.com
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11 Sichuan Pepper Express The fast-food restaurant oers Chinese cuisine with dine-in, takeout and delivery services. • Opened in July • 10843 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.sichuanpepperexpresstx.com 12 7 Day Tire & Wheel The tire shop oers new and used tires, repairs, installations and more. • Opened July 31 • 12026 Jones Road, Houston 13 Planet Fitness Planet Fitness is a chain of tness centers with over 2,500 locations, according to the website. • Opened Aug. 2
17 Home Sense The franchise oers discount furniture, lighting, rugs, art and o¦ce supplies. • Opening in 2024 • 25839 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.homesense.com 18 Tint World The tinting company oers automobile, marine, residential and commercial tinted window services. • Opening in August • 20330 Tuckerton Road, Ste. 700, Cypress • www.tintworld.com
In the news
Expansions
23 Village Green at Bridgeland Central Several new businesses are set to open in Village Green at Bridgeland Central, the initial phase of the future 925-acre urban district. Howard Hughes Holdings conrmed Jonathan’s The Rub restaurant, Sweet Paris Creperie & Café, Crust Pizza Co., Venetian Nail Spa, Teal Poppy boutique and Gelato & Co. will open next year. • Opening by mid-2025 • Bridgeland Creek Parkway and Summit Point Crossing, Cypress • www.bridgeland.com
19 Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital A $277.5 million campus expansion project will add 58 hospital beds and a new six-story tower. • Opening in 2027
• 21155 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.planet¥itness.com
14 HTown Barbell Coaches oer support at the powerlifting gym. • Opened June 14 • 8301 Jones Road, Ste. 110, Jersey Village • www.htownbarbell.com
• 27800 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.memorialhermann.org
In the news
20 Bad Ass Co ee of Hawaii The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shows the coee shop will replace the former PJ’s Coee. An opening date has not been announced. • 11930 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress • www.badasscoffee.com 21 Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille The restaurant celebrated its 45th anniversary in July. • 9730 Cypresswood Drive, Houston • www.perryssteakhouse.com 22 Salt & Sugar Gastro Bar Owner Martin Garcia said the European restaurant celebrated its rst anniversary July 27.
Coming soon
24 Chuy’s Darden Restaurants will acquire the Tex-Mex eatery for $605 million, per a July 17 news release.
15 Mirella Caldwell Communities is building the company’s rst single-family build-to-rent community with 204 units. • Opening by the end of 2024 • 18131 Bluegrass Park Lane, Cypress • www.mirellaliving.com 16 Tim Hortons The Canada-based shop oers cold and hot coee and tea beverages, hot breakfast items and baked goods. • Opening TBD • 11430 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress • www.timhortons.com
• A 20322 Hwy. 249, Houston • B 19827 Hwy. 290, Houston • www.chuys.com
25 Clark Henry Pool A bond for a $10.1 million upgrade to Jersey Village’s city pool could be on the ballot in November. City
Council has until Aug. 19 to decide. • 7804 Equador St., Jersey Village • www.jerseyvillagetx.com
• 16010 West Road, Houston • www.saltandsugarhtx.com
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CYFAIR EDITION
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Education
BY DANICA LLOYD
Education Edition
2024
Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! This guide features the latest updates about local K-12 public schools in your community. Our cover story explores recent Cy-Fair ISD school board elections, actions the newest trustees have taken since being elected and how the community is responding. Flip to Page 14 to learn more. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists, and all of the advertisements are from nearby businesses who support our mission to provide free, useful news.
Premium sponsor:
Danica Lloyd Senior Editor dlloyd@ communityimpact.com
The Met Christian Academy Themetchristianacademy.org (281) 8904879 Education With Purpose
What's inside
Time study breaks down Cy-Fair ISD teacher workloads (Page 11)
Student vaping a top concern in Cy-Fair ISD (Page 12)
Standardized test performance declines locally (Page 13)
Sponsor: Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Cy-Fair ISD reduces 2024 25 bus service
The plan In 2024-25, Cy-Fair ISD’s transportation department will: • Not serve elementary students within 1 mile of their campuses, or middle or high school students within 2 miles of their campuses unless they live on routes with hazardous trafic conditions • Eliminate late bus runs • Eliminate service to alternative learning centers Hazardous trac conditions , as dened by the board, vary between elementary, middle and high school levels but may include: • Crossing a tollway, state highway or FM road • Crossing a moderately or heavily traveled roadway with protected crossing, such as a trafic light or stop sign • Crossing a railroad track • Walking along a moderately or heavily traveled roadway without a safe walking path
Cy-Fair ISD’s board approved a transportation services reduction plan June 17 to save about $4.78 million in the scal year 2024-25 budget. The district anticipates a $77.5 million budget shortfall despite this decision as well as the elimi- nation of more than 600 positions districtwide. “Transportation for general education students is not a required service for public education. This service has been oered in CFISD for years as a benet to the students and community. However, due to budgetary constraints, the district must make dicult decisions, including reducing transportation services,” ocials said in an online FAQ posted June 26. Parents can nd out if their children are eligible for bus service at www.csd.net/transportation. The details Parents and guardians are now responsible for getting their children to and from school if they do not meet eligibility criteria. To determine eligibil- ity, district ocials measured the shortest route from students’ campuses to their homes, meaning some neighborhoods may have both eligible and ineligible students. According to the district’s website, the transpor- tation department regularly buses 75,000 students
and completes more than 4,000 runs between campuses each school day. In their own words Parents at the June 17 meeting expressed concerns about increased trac, potentially dangerous walking and biking conditions, limited access to after-school activities, and a lack of communication of these changes to parents. CFISD ocials said they were working with homeowners associations, municipal utility districts and county leadership to address safety concerns. CFISD parent and teacher Brandy Lee Dawson- Marsh said she believes infrastructure issues should be addressed to maintain safety under this new plan, including sidewalks connecting schools to neighborhoods and bike rack installations on campuses. She said she believes students are at risk of being hit by cars or kidnapped—especially in the fall when it gets dark early. “And nally, with regards to ... Spillane [Middle School] and Cy[press] Woods [High School], these schools both start at the same time. Without added infrastructures and with the increased trac ow, how are parents supposed to drop o students at one school and then navigate the trac to drop o a student at the other?” she said.
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Remember this? This is not the rst time CFISD reduced bus service due to funding limitations. According to district documents, CFISD imple- mented a similar plan in 2009-10 until the 2014-15 school year following the passage of a bond referendum that included additional buses and a new transportation center.
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CYFAIR EDITION
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Education
BY DANICA LLOYD
Study identies how Cy-Fair ISD teachers spend their time
Outside of teaching, Cy-Fair ISD teachers primarily spend time on documentation—such as to comply with special education requirements and to report student behavior incidents— according to a 2023-24 study from market research rm Hanover Research. “That write-up process ... can take about an hour if you factor in writing the write-up, contacting parents, talking to the [assistant principal], sometimes [a] parent conference,” one high school teacher included in the report said regarding discipline reports. Teachers quoted in the report were anonymous. Instructional planning and support, including planning and preparing for lessons and grading, is another time-consuming task, according to the report. Additionally, 73% of secondary teachers reported spending ve or more hours per week tutoring, and 73% of elementary teachers reported spending ve or more hours per week
Time teachers spend per week on tasks in Cy-Fair ISD
1 hour or less
3-4 hours
5-6 hours
1-2 hours
7 or more hours
6% 28% 4% 29%
35%
17%
14%
Lesson preparation Lesson planning Colleague collaboration Grading Professional development
36%
18% 13%
10%
40%
28%
13% 10%
9%
34%
34%
13% 10%
43%
38%
10% 3% 6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
SOURCE: HANOVER RESEARCHCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Hanover’s recommendations included streamlining processes to reduce teachers’ administrative workloads and increasing the amount of time they have to complete tasks through planning periods and teacher workdays.
serving in task-oriented groups. Teachers also discussed the pressure to attend students’ athletic events, performances and community fundraisers, noting supervisors ask about such activities in performance reviews.
Why it matters
Teacher turnover rates
Cy-Fair ISD
Texas
21.4%
“I love working with the kids, but it was everything else—it was the testing, and there’s no time during the school day. You couldn’t even go to the restroom, you know? I [was] bringing hours’ worth of work home,” she said of her time as a teacher. Teacher turnover in CFISD reached 18.3% in 2022-23, mirroring the statewide trend. Data was not yet available for 2023-24.
The Charles Butt Foundation found 75% of teachers considered leaving the profession in 2023, citing excessive workloads and insucient pay as signicant factors. CFISD cut over half of campus librarians for 2024-25, including Kimberly Rains, who taught in the district for years before becoming a librarian. She said teachers are leaving the profession “in droves.”
25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%
16.4%
18.3%
13.1%
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISD¡COMMUNITY IMPACT
Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding
DID YOU KNOW?
The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.
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CYFAIR EDITION
Education
BY DANICA LLOYD
Vaping a top concern in Cy-Fair ISD
Current situation
House Bill 114 went into eect Sept. 1, requiring public schools to place students in a disciplinary alternative education program if they possess, use, sell or share e-cigarettes on campus. First-time oenders in CFISD are placed for at least 10 days. Steven Kelder, a professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health who developed the CATCH My Breath vaping prevention program, said while discipline is the easier route to take, students also need support to help them quit. “Some [schools] are catching so many kids that there’s a waitlist to get into the alternative school,” he said. “And the only reason is because they’re addicted.” Kelder attributes the recent decline in vape usage to multimillion-dollar lawsuits against vape companies and to the COVID-19 pandemic. “[Kids are] often using these substances under the radar of parents and teachers. But they’re doing it together,” he said. “[During] COVID, ... there wasn’t the opportunity to initiate use.”
Although e-cigarette use among high schoolers nationwide declined from 27.5% in 2019 to 10% in 2023, vaping is still a signicant issue for this demographic as marketing is often geared toward young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most e-cigarettes contain the addictive chemical compound nicotine, so vaping can disrupt brain development for adolescents, impacting their ability to control attention, learning, mood and impulses, the CDC reports. Cy-Fair ISD trustee Justin Ray at the June 17 board meeting said he believes this is a major health and safety concern. “Talking with one of the principals, ... vaping is our No. 1 issue,” he said. There were 866 reported cases of vaping incidents in CFISD throughout the 2023-24 school year, the rst year vaping incidents
Drug and alcohol incidents in Cy-Fair ISD 2,500
2,188
2,000 1,500 1,000
796
0 500
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
were formally tracked, ocials said. Overall, drug and alcohol incidents across CFISD were up nearly 30% compared to 2022-23. The district’s eorts to prevent vaping include an email to parents, social media posts, marquee messaging and videos, ocials said.
While vaping can lead to serious respiratory issues and potential lifelong addictions, he said longer-term e ects aren’t clear yet. Lea McMahon is the chief clinical ocer at Symetria Recovery, which has locations in Houston including in Jersey Village. “Many of my younger patients admit that vaping is partially more alluring due to its seemingly ‘less serious’ complications than other substances such as prescription drugs and alcohol,” she said. “Also, many teens
can access e-cigarettes without stringent complications due to online sites and peers who already have access to such items.”
What parents should know
Public health ocials have made “great strides” with the teen smoking rate, Kelder said. Today only about 3%-4% of teenagers smoke traditional cigarettes, he said. “Then here comes along another source of nicotine that tastes like fruit avors and candy. ... That’s a key reason why kids want to use it,” Kelder said.
Resources for parents are available at
www.catch.org/ program/vaping- prevention.
Preschool & Mother’s Day Out 2 to 5 Day Options
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR
STAAR performance dips in Cy-Fair ISD the state standardized test, including an emphasis on writing skills, the TEA’s website states. The STAAR has primarily been administered online since 2022-23.
Passage rate changes, 202324 The data shows the change in percentage points of students who passed the STAAR between the spring 2023 and spring 2024 administrations. Cy-Fair ISD Statewide -10 -5 0 +5 +10
Year-over-year standardized test passage rates declined across most subjects in grades 3-8 in Cy-Fair ISD, according to the State of Texas Assess- ments of Academic Readiness results released June 14. The state and district saw little improvement in the rates of students approaching grade level— which is considered passing—in reading and math between the spring 2023 and spring 2024 adminis- trations of the STAAR test. Statewide, students are still struggling with their math scores. The decrease in math prociency can be attributed to learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a June 14 news release from the Texas Education Agency. In case you missed it The STAAR was redesigned in 2023, and there were changes implemented in how tests were graded in 2024, according to the TEA’s website. In 2019, House Bill 3906 mandated a redesign of
The 2024 tests were graded almost exclusively by computers, which had human oversight, in an eort by the state to save money and make grading more ecient, according to the TEA’s website. The breakdown CFISD saw the biggest increase in passage rates in fourth-grade reading with 84% approaching grade level this year compared to 79% in 2023. The largest decrease in year-over-year perfor- mance in CFISD was on the fth-grade math test and on the eighth-grade science test. CFISD high school students showed no change in end-of-course exam passage rates in Algebra I and U.S. History. However, the district showed slight improvement in English II and Biology with a slight dip in English I passage rates.
3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade 7th grade 8th grade 3rd grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade 7th grade 8th grade
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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CYFAIR EDITION
Cy-Fair ISD board, parents grapple with curriculum changes From the cover
Meet the players
In a nutshell
Campaign nance reports show 2021 and 2023 elections featured tens of thousands of donation dollars from political action committees, including both local nonpartisan groups as well as conserva- tive groups such as CyFair4Liberty, Conservative Republicans of Harris County and Texans for Educational Freedom. Community Impact reached out to these groups but received no response. In the 2019 election, three of the four open posi- tions were uncontested. The contested candidates each spent $1,500-$2,900 on their campaigns. According to campaign nance reports, most fund- ing for 2021 and 2023 elections came from PACs. Local nonpartisan PACs have supported Julie Hinaman, among other candidates, in recent years. Friends for CFISD raised about $29,000 in 2019; ALL4CFISD raised about $76,000 in 2023.
Conservative Republicans of Harris County endorsed Blasingame, Henry and Scanlon in 2021 and spent nearly $25,000 on advertising for them. PAC support grew in 2023 with CyFair4Liberty pouring more than $78,000 into the election, supporting candidates including Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray and Christine Kalmbach. The organization is focused on “[taking] back our republic and [preserving] our liberty … [by ghting] to win every election from MUDs and HOAs to school boards, Texas House and U.S. Congressional districts,” according to the website. Most CFISD trustees have prior experience run- ning for oce, including serving on municipal util- ity district and homeowners association boards, at the city level, and as previous candidates for school board or state representative seats.
House Bill 1605, passed in 2023, permits school boards to adopt instructional materials that aren’t approved by the State Board of Education. CFISD’s board voted to remove chapters from textbooks approved by the majority-Republican state board and by CFISD educators. “Education is supposed to be about providing the very best up-to-date and factual information to our students and [making] sure that students are able to make decisions and be critical thinkers,” trustee Natalie Blasingame said June 17. Emily Witt, senior communications and media strategist at public education advocacy group Texas Freedom Network, said many policies passed by local school boards start at the state level. Library book policies and school chaplains, among other issues, have also been discussed in response to 2023 bills. “[If] school boards see it at the [Texas] Legislature, they certainly know that they have allies above them,” Witt said. Since Blasingame, Scott Henry and Lucas Scanlon were elected in 2021, the board has changed the way meetings are run, selected a new superintendent and altered several district policies. Per board operating procedures updated in May, media requests must go through Henry, the board president, who did not respond to an interview request. The board’s in uence Nov. 2021: Natalie Blasingame, Scott Henry and Lucas Scanlon are elected. Aug. 2022: The board adopts CFISD’s new character education program. Jan. 2023: A new policy requires educators to categorize all books by age level. Nov. 2023: Nonpartisan incumbent Julie Hinaman is re-elected alongside new conservative trustees Todd LeCompte, Justin Ray and Christine Kalmbach. Dec. 2023: Trustees create ve subcommittees, allowing them to discuss business outside of public meetings. March 2024: In a 5-2 decision, the board votes against allowing chaplains to be employed by the district. May-June 2024: The board approves budget cuts, science textbook omissions, and policy updates clarifying the board has ultimate authority over library books.
Campaign nance breakdown
Donations from individuals
*PAC contributions
Natalie Blasingame Elected: 2021 Previously ran in 2015, 2017 and 2019 Scott Henry Elected: 2021 Has served on MUD and HOA boards
$8,300
53.7% PAC
$7,142.34
Total: $15,442.34
$10,788.38
63% PAC
$6,332.34
Total: $17,120.72
Lucas Scanlon Elected: 2021
$10,338.38
60.1% PAC
$6,858
Total: $17,196.38
Todd LeCompte Elected: 2023 Previously ran in 2021
$25,485.24
85.9% PAC
$4,191.02 Total: $29,676.26
Julie Hinaman Re-elected: 2023 Currently serving second term
$5,750
49.1% PAC
$5,971.16
Total: $11,721.16
Justin Ray Elected: 2023
$26,682.54
88% PAC
$3,625
Former Jersey Village mayor; previous Texas House candidate
Total: $30,307.54
Christine Kalmbach Elected: 2023 Previous Texas House primary candidate
$14,719.94
81.6% PAC
$3,328.32
Total: $18,048.26
SOURCE: PRIOR COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORTINGCOMMUNITY IMPACT
*PAC CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE BOTH DIRECT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND INKIND DONATIONS LISTED IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY DANICA LLOYD CONTRIBUTIONS BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR
How we got here
What they’re saying
About 55,000 voters cast ballots in 2023 for the highest turnout for a CFISD board election in recent history—16.81%, according to the Harris County Clerk’s Oce. At the same time, 83.19% of registered voters in CFISD did not cast ballots. Witt said she believes despite their importance, many don’t pay attention to local school board elections. Harris County GOP Chair Cindy Siegel said she believes more conservative candidates
being elected is a result of conservative parents feeling their perspective isn’t being considered. The Harris County GOP has endorsed all current CFISD board members except Hinaman. “The concern—[for] a lack of better words, it’s overused—but [the] more woke agenda,” Siegel said. “That their children are being exposed to things that they haven’t wanted them to be exposed to; that ... their viewpoints should be heavily weighted in how their kid is educated.”
“[Parents] felt like their school boards weren’t listening to them. … We would hear concerns about
curriculum and how the dollars were being spent and what was in the library for their kids.” CINDY SIEGEL, HARRIS COUNTY GOP CHAIR
Voter turnout trends Cy-Fair ISD conducts board elections in o-cycle election years when midterm and presidential elections aren't taking place.
Cy-Fair ISD board elections Federal and state elections in Harris County
“[Trustees] say you want transparency. You talk about parent rights, but yet you take actions that show just the opposite
100% 75%
68.14%
61.33%
of what you say.” DEBBIE BLACKSHEAR, FORMER CYFAIR ISD TRUSTEE, AT THE JUNE 17 BOARD MEETING
52.86%
43.54%
25% 50% 0%
16.81%
16.41%
13.46%
11.04%
4.44%
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022 2023
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT
Why it matters
“Today I stand before you as a former teacher of this district that I grew up in and dedicated 21 of my 26 years of teaching to. I left because of you. You let me down, and you let down our students,” she told the board June 17. “Your lack of transparency and obvious lack of content knowledge showed that you had already made up your minds in order to further your own agendas.” Also on June 17, the board approved budget cuts for scal year 2024-25, but CFISD is still expected to have a $77.5 million shortfall. Public schools did not receive an increase in state funding last legislative session as Republican leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, pushed for a voucher bill that would allow taxpayer dollars to cover private school tuition, eectively taking funds away from public schools, o©cials said. “My job is to make sure we get across the nish line a piece of legislation that will return mom and dad to being in charge of their child’s education,” Abbott said during a March 2023 visit to Cypress Christian School.
This spring, Blasingame led the eort to omit “controversial” chapters from science textbooks for the 2024-25 school year. “When we teach our children ideas like uncontrolled human population growth can deplete resources, ... it’s important that we make sure that we look at what do we know and what is the evidence before us,” Blasingame said June 17. The board heard from dozens of parents, educators and students during the meetings in which these eorts were discussed. None vocalized support for this motion, but the board voted 6-1 with Hinaman opposed. Megan Costello, a former Cypress Lakes High School teacher, served on the curriculum writing and instructional material committees that approved the textbooks. She said she felt the board did not value her expertise and resigned from the district just weeks after the board awarded her a “Bringing out the Best” award—a monthly recognition a handful of employees received this year.
Dates to know Nov. 5: Election determines who will represent Cy-Fair at the state level Jan. 14, 2025: 89th Texas Legislature convenes in Austin July 19-Aug. 18, 2025: Candidates can le to run for a seat on the CFISD board Nov. 4, 2025: Three CFISD board seats are on the ballot; winners serve four-year terms
SOURCES: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE, CYFAIR ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
CFISD Superintendent Doug Killian said he encourages parents to be involved in their children’s education by establishing relationships with their teachers and campus administrators. “It’s really important to understand where the challenges are in the school district so you can get involved and help or be an advocate one way or the other,” he said in an interview with Community Impact .
15
CY FAIR EDITION
Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
• Sept. 14: Loaded Dan, 6:30 p.m. Creekwood Grill
August
Live music
September
Cy-Fair Ten Pin Challenge The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual bowling event. • Aug. 23, 12:30-4 p.m. • $425 (team of four) • Copperield Bowl, 15615 Glen Chase Drive, Houston • www.cyfairchamber.com CFEF Sporting Clay Tournament The event will beneit the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation with an afternoon of clay shooting. • Aug. 29, 11 a.m. • $1,500 (starting sponsorships for a team of four) • Westside Sporting Grounds, 10120 Pattison Road, Katy • www.thecfef.org ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ Playhouse 1960 is presenting “Bonnie and Clyde,” a musical based on the American bandits. • Aug. 30-31, 8 p.m., Sept. 6-7, 13-14, 8 p.m. • $22-$25
The Backyard Grill 9453 Jones Road, Houston www.thebackyardgrill.com • Aug. 17: Matt Sebastian, 7 p.m. • Aug. 23: Randy Hulsey, 7 p.m. • Aug. 31: Drewbadour, 7 p.m. • Sept. 6: James Garland, 7 p.m. • Sept. 14: Cody Taylor, 7 p.m. The Barn at Frio Grill 16416 Mueschke Road, Cypress www.friogrill.com • Sept. 6: Shotgun Sally, 6 p.m. • Sept. 7: Mike Gilbert, 6 p.m.
Caring for Parents and Seniors Led by social worker Donna Wrabel, this event is for anyone supporting and caring for a senior facing the challenges of aging. • Sept. 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Free (admission) • Avalon Memory Care, 15505 Tuckerton Road, Houston • www.avalonmemorycare.com VFW Post 8905 steak night VFW Post 8905 is holding a steak night. Plates include steak, baked potato and salad with xings and dessert. • Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. • $20 (per plate) • 21902 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.vfw8905.org Putting for a Purpose This charity golf tournament is designed for beginners and professional golf players to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. • Sept. 11, 11:30 a.m. • $800 (team of four) • BlackHorse Golf Club, 12205 Fry Road, Cypress • www.jillsmithteam.com
12710 Telge Road, Cypress www.creekwoodgrill.com • Aug. 11: Second Sunday ft. John Ebdon, 6 p.m. • Aug. 16: Jeff Canada, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 17: Nate Gordon and Daryl Skeeters, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 31: Juba Normand, 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 6: Mark Ward, 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 8: Second Sunday ft. John Ebdon, 6 p.m. The Grove at Swanny’s 6224 Theall Road, Houston www.swannysgrill.com • Sept. 7: Fab 5: Beatles Tribute, 7:30 p.m. • Sept. 14: ESCAPE: Journey Tribute, 7:30 p.m. • Sept. 27: Double Vision: Foreigner Tribute, 7:30 p.m.
Back to school JAM at CAM Cypress Assistance Ministries is holding a back- to-school drive-thru distribution event to provide students in the community with a free backpack and school supplies. A photo ID and proof of address is required. • Aug. 10, 9 a.m.-noon • Free • 12930 Cypress N. Houston Road, Cypress • www.cypressassistance.org
Loaded Dan is performing at Brew:30 Taphouse on Sept. 14.
Brew:30 Taphouse 15914 Telge Road, Cypress www.brew30taphouse.com • Aug. 16: Evitts & Terranova acoustic duet, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 23: Matt Sebastian, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 24: Righteous Cause Trio, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 30: Marcus Breidenthal, 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 31: Streeter Brothers Music & Magic, 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 7: John Steele, 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 13: Evitts & Terranova acoustic duet, 6:30 p.m.
COURTESY LOADED DAN
The Hidden Cellar Wine Bar 16518 House & Hahl Road, Cypress www.hiddencellarcypress.com • Aug. 15: James Roosa, 7 p.m. • Aug. 16: Rick Marcel, 7 p.m. • Aug. 17: Scott Byers, 7 p.m. • Aug. 23: Nik Rincon, 7 p.m. • Aug. 24: James Roosa, 7 p.m. • Aug. 29: Juba Normand, 7 p.m.
• Aug. 31: Bryan Scott, 7 p.m. • Sept. 5: James Roosa, 7 p.m. • Sept. 6: Nik Rincon, 7 p.m. • Sept. 7: Mike Casey, 7 p.m. • Sept. 12: Leo Mendoza, 7 p.m. • Sept. 13: Pete Scaidi, 7 p.m. • Sept. 14: Mike Amabile, 7 p.m.
• 6814 Gant Road, Houston • www.playhouse1960.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Government
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas’ rst statewide ood plan says 5 million people at risk
Over 5 million Texans live or work in areas vulnerable to ooding, according to a draft of the state’s rst ood plan. State lawmakers tasked the Texas Water Devel- opment Board with creating the plan in 2019, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The 267-page draft, published in early May, recommends over $54.5 billion in funding from various sources to reduce ood risks. The board discussed the plan during a May 30 public hearing in Austin. Board members are expected to adopt a nal ood plan in August and submit it to the Legislature by Sept. 1. The details The plan includes ndings from 15 regional ood planning groups, which have been working since October 2020, and makes several recom- mendations for state and local ood policies. “Although ooding has certain benets, like recharging groundwater and providing vital
nutrients to ecosystems and agricultural lands, it remains a signicant threat to the health and safety of Texans,” the plan reads. “Each of the state’s 254 counties has experienced at least one federally declared ood disaster, proof that oods can aect all areas of Texas.” The plan noted roughly 70% of ood-related deaths occur on roadways, particularly during the night and at low-water crossings. The planning groups identied nearly 64,000 miles of roads in areas susceptible to ooding. The board asked the Texas Legislature to expand early warning systems for oods, create minimum building and infrastructure standards to reduce fatalities and property damage, improve low-water crossing safety, and enhance dam and levee safety programs. “We want to put out a state ood plan that does what it is tasked to do, and that is to save lives and save property,” board Chair Brooke Paup said.
Flood risks Around 1 in 6 Texans live or work in ood- prone areas, the Texas Water Development Board found. Over one-fourth of Texas’ land area is vulnerable to ooding.
5.22M people
1.66M buildings
63,900 miles of roads
1.29M homes
12.65M acres of agricultural land
6,258 hospitals, EMS departments, re stations, police stations and schools
SOURCE: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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19
CYFAIR EDITION
LYNDON B. JOHNSON HOSPITAL MAGNET ® -RECOGNIZED FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE
20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Environment
BY WESLEY GARDNER, EMILY LINCKE & AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY JOVANNA AGUILAR, MELISSA ENAJE, VANESSA HOLT, DANICA LLOYD, JESSICA SHORTEN & HALEY VELASCO
Entities respond to Hurricane Beryl
Beryl by the numbers
18 people in Texas died as a result of Hurricane Beryl, as of July 30 reports.
distribution lines throughout the area. In the seven ZIP codes that make up Com- munity Impact ’s Cy-Fair coverage area, 121,613 CenterPoint customers were without power at the peak of the outages. Other eects of the storm included: • Loss of internet service for around 420,000 Xnity and Comcast customers • Lack of phone service • Gasoline, propane and food shortages • Excess debris from fallen trees, limbs and fences In addition, at least 18 people have died as a result of Beryl, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. “Our hearts grieve for all the Texans impacted
As the Greater Houston area recovers from the eects of Hurricane Beryl, local entities are working to restore communities back to prehurricane status. On July 8, Category 1 Hurricane Beryl brought high winds and rainfall to Houston, leaving trees scattered, rising oodwater and 2.2 million CenterPoint Energy customers without power. The storm also stripped resources as residents scrambled to nd food and gas. In response to widespread damages, Harris County issued a disaster declaration. Addition- ally, President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for Texas on July 8 to provide federal assistance for debris removal and emer- gency protective measures, according to a July 9 news release from the Texas Division of Emer- gency Management. Harris County Precinct
10 power transmission lines were downed during the storm in the Greater Houston area.
4,400 homes damaged in Harris County and 50% Houston-area trees aected by winds 2.2M CenterPoint customers in the Greater Houston area were left without power on July 8. $28B-$32B is the preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss from Beryl in the U.S.
Historical peak wind gusts Cypress area George Bush
Intercontinental Airport
73 mph
Hurricane Beryl (July 8) Derecho (May 16-17) Isolated thunderstorm (June 2023) Hurricane Harvey (August 2017) Hurricane Ike (September 2008)
83 mph
by Hurricane Beryl, including our fellow Texans who tragically lost their lives or were injured,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a state- ment July 9. Looking ahead Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, said state agencies will work with local utility
62 mph
“I take personal accountability for the areas where we fell short of customers’ expectations. ... While we cannot erase the frustrations and diculties so many of our customers endured, I and my entire leadership team will not make excuses.” JASON WELLS, CENTERPOINT ENERGY CEO
3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey on July 15 said his precinct is still recov- ering from the debris after May’s derecho, or wind storm. “There’s still derecho debris on the streets in Harris County, so that needs to be understood.
91 mph
41 mph
82 mph
Historical two-day rainfall averages
Cypress area Harris County
And two, this storm, Beryl, put a lot more debris, a lot more spread out throughout the
9.7 in.
Hurricane Beryl (July 8)
12 in.
companies to strengthen infrastructure. At a July 15 press conference, Gleeson announced an investigation into CenterPoint regarding the company’s response during Beryl. CenterPoint executives laid out a resiliency and communications plan July 25 with a focus on: • Resiliency investments that use predic- tive modeling to deploy crews for work assignments; targeting more line miles with higher-risk vegetation; hardening nearly 350 distribution line miles to the latest extreme wind standards of 110 mph • Strengthened partnerships, including increasing backup emergency generators and engaging with local emergency management o¤ces for response capabilities for critical facilities and infrastructure • Customer communications, including launching a new cloud-based outage tracker on Aug. 1, and incorporating daily press briengs, press releases and social media to inform customers during major storms
county,” he said. What happened?
May rainfall event (May 1-2)
12.7 in.
Hurricane Beryl initially formed as a tropical depression over the Atlantic Ocean on June 28 before strengthening into the rst hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season the fol- lowing day, according to the National Weather Service. The hurricane traveled through the Gulf of Mexico before turning northeast and making landfall for the third time July 8 as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda. According to NWS data, wind speeds reached as high as 73 mph in Cypress. Additionally, Beryl dropped 9.7 inches of rain in the Cypress area. The impact In a July 9 news conference, Lt. Gov. Dan Pat- rick said more than 2.2 million residents in the Greater Houston area were still without power after the storm toppled 10 power transmission lines in addition to a bevy of trees and power
Hurricane Harvey (August 2017)
35.2 in.
Hurricane Ike (September 2008)
15.5 in.
Historical peak power outages in the Greater Houston area Hurricane Beryl (July 8)
2.2M
Derecho (May 16-17)
930,000
Outages during Harvey totaled 1M
Hurricane Ike (September 2008) Hurricane Harvey (August 2017)
270,000
2.2M
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY, CITY OF HOUSTON, CENTERPOINT ENERGY, ACCUWEATHER, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT
21
CYFAIR EDITION
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