1. Cy-Fair ISD students to see at least 1 break or long weekend a month in 2025-26 school year
Cy-Fair ISD’s board of trustees approved in a 6-0 vote the Districtwide Educational Improvement Council’s 2025-26 academic calendar recommendation at the Nov. 11 board meeting.
Officials said the recommendation was based on the best interest of students, the preferences of teachers and feedback from a community survey conducted in late October.
The 2025-26 calendar includes starting the school year on a Wednesday; several long weekends and breaks for students throughout the year; a spring break aligned with neighboring districts' schedules; and ending the school year after Memorial Day in 2026.
2. Meet the candidates running for Lone Star College board of trustees District 1
One incumbent and two challengers vied for the Lone Star College board of trustees District 1 position in the Nov. 5 election.
LSC Chair Michael Stoma won his race in the Dec. 14 runoff to serve another six-year term with 63.6% of the votes over his opponent Shashanka P. Ashili.
3. 30-year Cy-Fair ISD teacher fights board’s removal of science textbook chapters
Alicia Royer, who has been teaching science at Cypress Falls High School for 30 years, said she was surprised to see Cy-Fair ISD trustee Natalie Blasingame request the removal of 13 chapters from a list of 25 textbooks the board was tasked to approve in May.
After a brief discussion that did not include input from teachers, the board approved Blasingame’s request in a 6-1 vote on May 6.
Royer filed a formal complaint against the board for violating a policy that states the board should rely on district personnel to select instructional material. At a June 13 board work session, she requested the board either reinstate all chapters approved by CFISD educators or reconvene the science instructional materials committee to discuss the content before making a final decision.
4. Gordon, Martinez win Harris County ESD No. 9 board seats in Nov. 5 election
Two of five commissioner seats were up for election Nov. 5 for Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9—the entity that governs the Cy-Fair Fire Department.
Jaime H. Martinez and incumbent Bevin O'Connor Gordon earned their spots on the board with about 35% and 26% of votes, respectively. David Langenberg and David Farrington also ran in the race.
5. Staff raises, position reductions approved in Cy-Fair ISD’s 2024-25 budget
Cy-Fair ISD officials are anticipating a $77.5 million shortfall in the $1.16 billion fiscal year 2024-25 budget, which the board of trustees unanimously approved June 17. Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith said the district will use reserves to fill the remaining gap.
Budget discussions have been ongoing since Superintendent Doug Killian joined the district in January, and leadership was tasked with shrinking the original $138 million shortfall.
While plans do not include layoffs, the administration cut more than 600 positions and reassigned many employees to other roles for next school year.
The Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3579 in 2023, enabling the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to issue emergency orders halting the operation of any massage establishment where law enforcement or TDLR officials believe human trafficking is occurring.
The first closure under HB 3579 took place in Cy-Fair this summer, followed by at least four other area establishments. As of Oct. 16, the TDLR had issued 13 emergency closure orders statewide, Communications Manager Tela Mange said.
Although trafficking victims may interact regularly with the public, language barriers, emotional manipulation and intensive monitoring can make it difficult for them to reach out for help, TDLR officials said.
7. Cy-Fair ISD’s newest campus officially named Ollie Mae Byrd Elementary School
Ollie Mae Byrd Elementary School is the official name of the 59th elementary school in Cy-Fair ISD following board approval during the April 4 board meeting.
“I am so surprised and thankful for this honor,” Byrd said in a news release. “I always loved children and being where they were. Our family has a passion for education and we would always stress the importance of it to the younger kids growing up. Education is the most powerful tool you can use to make a difference.”
Byrd began her 30-year career in 1957 as an elementary teacher at CFISD's Carverdale School. When the campus closed in 1970, she transferred to Holbrook Elementary School, where she taught second-grade math until her retirement in 1987.
8. Cy-Fair ISD board raises tax rate, discusses reinstating bus service for all students
Local property owners will pay an average of $10.44 more in taxes to Cy-Fair ISD in fiscal year 2024-25 than in FY 2023-24 as the board approved increasing the property tax rate in a 5-2 vote at an Oct. 7 meeting.
This higher rate, which was recommended by district administration, is expected to bring an additional $33.9 million in revenue for FY 2024-25 as CFISD faces an estimated $77.5 million budget shortfall following budget cuts.
Former trustee Tom Jackson, who served on the CFISD board from 2011-23, urged the board to approve the administration’s recommendation.
“Previously this year, you asked teachers to sacrifice with a smaller raise and more work. You asked parents to sacrifice with transit to and from campus being much more difficult. Tonight, ask the taxpayers to sacrifice the least of all to help safeguard academic attainment and the safety for our students,” he said.
9. Incumbents retain North Harris County Regional Water Authority board seats in Nov. 5 election
Four candidates ran for the North Harris County Regional Water Authority board of directors in the Nov. 5 election.
Incumbents Mark Ramsey and Kelly Fessler faced Alan Rendl and Roy Burroughs for districts 4 and 5, respectively, with both incumbents winning their bids for re-election.
NHCRWA provides water for all independent neighborhoods, municipal utility districts, small municipalities and permitted well owners within its boundaries.
The Harris County Flood Control District is making progress on stormwater detention basins planned for the Cypress Creek watershed.
The 2021 Cypress Creek Implementation Plan recommended 22 basins as a flood risk reduction strategy. While the $1.4 million study was covered by the $2.5 billion HCFCD bond voters approved in 2018, the projects recommended were not.
Construction is underway on basins in the eastern part of the watershed near I-45, but the HCFCD must secure funding before others break ground.
“We’ve been able to get started on a few of those, but the reality is there’s not funding to do all of those,” HCFCD Grants Administrator Jonathan St. Romain said.
