Water service is back at Calfee Middle School after a high-stakes dispute between Conroe and Willis ISD that nearly delayed the school’s opening.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — The water is officially back on at Homer Calfee Middle School after days of tense back-and-forth between the City of Conroe and Willis ISD over a stalled utility hookup that threatened to delay the campus’s long-awaited opening.
On Thursday morning, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough posted on social media: “Excellent news! School will start on time. Congratulations Calfee Cougars!” In a follow-up post, he added, “The Water is ON! Thank You Conroe!”
The update comes after mounting public pressure and a late-night meeting Wednesday between city officials and Willis ISD leadership. The City of Conroe issued a statement Thursday morning confirming that both sides had a “very productive discussion” with the shared goal of getting the school open safely and on time.
According to the city’s release, water service to the campus was restored Thursday to allow for final rounds of system testing. Willis ISD is bringing in a third-party company to perform backflow testing as required. The city’s Fire Marshal’s Office will conduct fire safety inspections, and a separate third-party inspector will handle the Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance once all testing is complete.
City officials say they are confident the school will open as scheduled next week. Outstanding issues between the city and the district will be handled through continued negotiations authorized by the Willis ISD Board.
The public will get more details this weekend. The City of Conroe says it will provide a full accounting of the situation during a special city council meeting scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m.
This marks a major turnaround in a dispute that had reached a boiling point earlier in the week. Judge Keough previously referred to the impasse as a “water hostage crisis,” and community members questioned whether months of planning would be derailed at the last minute.
For now, those concerns appear to have been addressed.
“Late Wednesday afternoon, City leaders and Willis ISD leaders were able to engage in a very productive discussion with one common goal: to get the Calfee Middle School open on time and safely,” the city said in its Thursday morning statement.
Dr. Tim Harkrider, Superintendent of Willis ISD, has not yet released a public statement in response to the water being restored.
The new Calfee Middle School sits just outside Conroe city limits in unincorporated Montgomery County. The utility disagreement stemmed from city claims that Willis ISD failed to meet the terms of a multi-million-dollar development agreement.
Despite the tensions, both sides now appear committed to ensuring the school year starts on time — for students, families, and staff alike.