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Local charter school earns approval from state education board Heritage will open for the Fall 2024 school year, according to the email, after its charter was approved in an 8-6 vote earlier this week in their fourth “Our team is overjoyed that our voice, and your voice, was heard as we stood for school choice, for giving students who have no choice an option for tuition-free education,” the school said in an email Friday. Heritage will be a tuition-free public charter school somewhere in the 77092 zip code area of
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
For some, the third time’s the charm. And for a local charter school that has been fighting for approval for years, it is the fourth time. On Friday afternoon, administrators from Heritage Classical Academy announced in an email that the charter school has been earned approval from the Texas State Board of Education to open its doors.
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Houston, though an exact location has not been released. The school will begin with students in kindergarten and first grade classes and would grow each year until it is a full kindergarten through eighth grade school that uses a classical model for learning, according to the school’s website. Heritage has previously been controversial among state board members because it planned to See Heritage P. 7
HISD announces principals for NES schools
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ing of beautiful, upgraded green spaces,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said Thursday. “This is where you spend a lot of your time. If you’re not in school, you can come right on over here to this park.” A list of the first 22 parks
As HISD continues to change and adapt in the wake of its takeover by the Texas Education Agency, superintendent Mike Miles recently named the principals for dozens of campuses that will be New Education System campuses as efforts begin to improve performance and achievement at the respective campuses. On Tuesday, the district announced those who will be leading 28 schools in the district that have been identified as high priority for the district in terms of reforming and i m p rov i n g the schools’ performances. Bettina McKinney Seventeen of the 28 will be returning to their schools, including Highland Heights Elementary School principal Bettina McKinney, who will be back leading the school. The other positions, HISD said, were filled by HISD leaders selected from other parts of the district, or by external candidates. McKinney will return to Highland Heights for her third year at the school after initially being hired in May 2021. Before coming to the area school, McKinney served as new teacher coach, teacher specialist and assistant principal at Dogan Elementary School. She has also served in similar roles at HISD schools such as Patterson Elementary School, Whidby Elementary School and at Key Middle School. “Principals are the backbone of the work we must do to make HISD a district that prepares all students to achieve at the highest levels,” Superintendent Mike Miles said of the appointments. “They are talented, courageous educators and I’m excited to support their work.” The district said the principals hired were hired to help drive “transformation” at their respective schools with regards to aca-
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In charge See who the Houston Parks and Recreation Department has named to head up one of its division.
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Photo from Houston Parks and Recreation Facebook Mayor Sylvester Turner cuts the ribbon on the upgraded Langwood Park last Thursday. The park upgrades were part of the city’s 50/50 Park Partners initiative.
City celebrates improvements to Langwood Park By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Only a couple miles down the road from Delmar Stadium just west of Highway 290 sits a neighborhood park that is essentially the backyard of a local elementary school – a prime gathering place for the community. And that space recently celebrated upgrades to its green space for the community to enjoy. Last Thursday, the city of Houston and officials hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the new and improved Langwood Park at 3975 Bolin Rd., just behind Houston ISD’s Benbrook Elementary School. Part of the city’s ongoing 50/50 Park Partners initiative, the neighborhood park was the fourth to celebrate improvements so far this year. The 50/50 Park Partners initiative is a collaboration between the city and the Houston Parks Board to provide upgrades and improvements to 50 Houston-area parks. It
Honored A former Waltrip football and NFL receiver will be recognized for his accomplishments by HISD’s athletic department.
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Big return In this week’s Art Valet, read about the return of the BAM! Arts Market.
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Photo from Houston Parks and Recreation Facebook Kids play on the new playground equipment at Langwood Park.
was created, the city said, to bring together a public and private partnership to provide funding, in-kind support, ideas, and volunteers for improving selected parks. “There are a lot of things we can do in this city. But parks and green space get more usage than anything else, and our kids are deserv-
City spots ready for July 4 celebrations By Landan Kuhlmann
landan@theleadernews.com Now open Benny Chows is open on Washington Avenue. See that and more in Nibbles and Sips.
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THE INDEX. Public ............................................................. 2 Sports ............................................................ 4 Classifieds ................................................. 7 Local Culture ...........................8
Photo from Facebook The city is gearing up for various Fourth of July celebrations, with many events happening in or around local neighborhoods.
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As Independence Day nears in Houston and around the region, there are several local restaurants, venues, and more that are preparing to celebrate the holiday in style when it comes next week. One of the more prominent local venues hosting an Independence Day celebration will be the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, the house museum for American decorative arts
and paintings for the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston at 6003 Memorial Dr. just a short drive from Memorial Park, during a free event next week. According to the event page, the spot will host its Fourth of July Celebration from 1-5 p.m. and will feature music by Texas Army Fife and Drum Corps, the Lonestar Bluegrass Band, a brass quintet and more. There will also be a chance for attendees to create their own work of art based on fireworks, as well as the opportunity to learn about
the clothing and equipment used by the British and American armies and have the Declaration of Independence read aloud. Admission to the event is free, and the event is open to the public according to the event page. For more information about next week’s event, visit the event page at mfah.org/calendar/ fourth-july-bayou-bend. There are also several restaurants that are getting into the spirt of the holiday by hosting special See July 4 P. 7
Allegiance Bank and CommunityBank of Texas have come together as Stellar Bank. While our name has changed, our commitment to serving our customers and supporting our local communities will stay the same. We look forward to a bright future together.
2222 North Durham | 281.517.8760 Margaret Vandever, Bank Office President Cecilia Rodriguez, Office Manager