The City of Conroe, which had shut off water amid a disagreement with Willis ISD, called a special council meeting to discuss the situation.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — Landscaping crews and others continue to get the new Homer Calfee Middle School ready for its inaugural year.
It’s something that excites a father of two Calfee students, whom we met while doing his yard work.
“The kids will be able to walk to school or bike if they can’t get the bus that day,” said the dad who didn’t want to be identified because of his spouse’s close ties to Willis ISD.
“I’m not too concerned, but there is that little thing in the back of my mind saying, ‘Is it going to open on time?” said the dad.
Basically, it all boils down to Conroe city officials claiming Willis ISD failed to live up to its end of a multi-million-dollar agreement.
It prompted the city to shut off water to the school, which, technically, sits just outside the city limits in unincorporated Montgomery County.
“And here we are in our third day of our water hostage crisis,” said County Judge Mark Keough in a new social media post calling out the city which, after intense criticism from Keough and others, scheduled a special council meeting to address the situation.
But it isn’t supposed to happen until Saturday.
“Turn the water on,” said Keough. “Worry about all of the financial stuff later, worry about the legal stuff later or whatever’s associated with this. Let’s just please get these kids in this school.”
Conroe Mayor Duke Coon posted on his own Facebook page Tuesday night.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you, Judge Keough, and getting some real facts and solutions on the table,” Coon wrote.
Meanwhile, many families hope it’s all just water under the bridge.
“It looks bad for us if we are planning on this the whole summer and something got messed up that the parents have no control over,” said the dad who spoke with us. “And now they’re going to be stuck with the consequences.”
The special Conroe City Council meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. Right now, Willis ISD appears committed to opening on schedule next week.