Editor's note: Great Oak School's new campus will feature space for grades pre-K-8 when students move to the campus in September 2020. Read about what is ahead for local districts, private schools and higher education in Tomball and Magnolia in 2019.

Tomball ISD

1. District news

A strategic planning committee and Tomball ISD officials began crafting a new five-year strategic plan for the district in November, which helps guide the future of the district. The strategic planning committee will meet monthly until March, district officials said.

2. Tomball Memorial High School

A $48.3 million expansion of Tomball Memorial High School, funded by the district’s bond referendum approved by voters in 2017, is in the early planning stages, Chief Financial Officer Jim Ross said. The project will expand the available classroom space to keep up with the growing number of students enrolled. Architects began meeting with campus officials in late 2018, Ross said.

3. Tomball Intermediate School

Tomball Intermediate School will receive a $1.5 million redesign of its Main Street front entrance this summer, district officials said. The project is funded by the district’s $275 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2017. The board of trustees authorized finalizing architectural services Nov. 13 with PDG Architects for the renovations. Construction will both start and end in the summer, officials said.

Magnolia ISD

4. District news

Magnolia ISD launched a series of parent and community engagement nights in December with information sessions planned this spring in January, February and April. The series, called TEAM Up—Together Educating All Magnolia ISD—will feature topics such as social media; drugs, alcohol and vaping; and dealing with depression and anxiety. The next session is Jan. 31. The district began a new process for parent-teacher conferences in fall 2018, which will resume this spring, Director of Communications Denise Meyers said. Academic Parent Teacher Teams offer parents the opportunity to review a child’s progress, set goals for the year and learn ways a student can receive at-home academic support.

Private schools

5. Great Oak School

Private nonprofit school Great Oak School is planning to relocate to a property on Lovett Street with the first students attending the new campus in September 2020, Enrollment and Finance Director Zuzana Leckova said. The purchase of land is set to be complete in April with construction beginning in September, she said. The new campus will feature space for grades pre-K through 8. The school, which follows the Waldorf educational method, currently enrolls about 100 students in grades pre-K through 7. Grade 8 will be added this fall.

6. Center for Teaching & Learning

The school will expand to offer high school this fall beginning with grade 9, President Linda Ellis said. Additional grades will be added in the years following. Currently the school enrolls students in grades pre-K-8. Additionally CTL will relocate to 25902 Glen Loch Drive, The Woodlands, in fall 2021.

Higher education

7. Lone Star College-Creekside Center

The center will introduce public library services in January, said Janna Hoglund, director of LSC-Tomball Community Library. Programs will initially focus on early literacy with more services phased in. Children’s story times begin Jan. 28. Patrons can also receive library cards and pick up materials requested from other county library sites.