The ongoing dispute between the City of Conroe and Willis ISD over water service to the newly constructed Calfee Middle School has reached an impasse, potentially impacting the start of school. Despite scheduled classes to begin August 13, officials confirmed that the middle school is currently without water. According to a statement obtained by ABC13, concerns are rising amongst parents, with Frances Scott, mother of a seventh-grader, expressing uncertainty about the first day of school and the ability for students to familiarize themselves with the new environment.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough has publicly criticized the City of Conroe's decision to shut off water to the school, citing that the district has "worked relentlessly" with officials to secure necessary approvals, as mentioned in a Willis ISD statement. According to ABC13, Judge Keough expressed frustration, stating that all Conroe needs to do is to "move forward, we'll turn on the water." Meanwhile, the City of Conroe has stood firm on its policy that without a Developer Agreement and the resolution of infrastructure fees, estimated to be around $4 million, water services cannot be legally reactivated for the school.
Norm McGuire, City of Conroe Assistant City Administrator, responded to claims by indicating that the district's failure to act in a timely manner has led to the current situation. McGuire emphasized that the City has worked with Willis ISD since 2022 on compliance and proper procedures for obtaining water service. Moreover, the FOX26 Houston report includes his assertion that political pressure from Mayor Pro Tem Howard Wood in 2022, whose children attend WISD, sought to advance the project outside of established protocols, culminating in the present complications.
As the stalemate continues, Judge Keough has stated readiness to inspect the school and awaits Conroe's signal to reinitiate the water service. This bureaucratic standoff has placed the families of Calfee Middle School students in uncertainty, with parents like John Reynosa urging both parties to cease the financial disputes and prioritize the educational needs of the children, as captured in his plea: "Stop playing this game of well, you owe me money, or you should have did this or that should have happened. Nobody cares. The only thing we all care about is getting the kids in school," Reynosa told FOX26 Houston.
