WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the May 20, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

The College Station ISD school board decides to add ten minutes to the end of the school day starting this August.

The six to one vote at Tuesday's meeting (May 20) followed more than 35 minutes of comments about the timing of the decision and the potential impact on elementary school students.

The reason for the additional time is to align the class periods at Consolidated and College Station High Schools in order for students from both campuses to take classes when phase two of CSISD's career and technical education center opens in August of 2026.

As for the impact on CSISD elementary campuses, the board majority said it will be up to administrators and teachers to decide what's best for their students.

The additional ten minutes per class day works out to four more days during the academic year. Superintendent Tim Harkrider said teachers will have those four additional days for planning and workdays. Harkrider also said teachers will continue to work on a 187 day contract.

Click HERE to read and download the new 2025-2026 calendar that was approved at the May 20, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

Click HERE to read and download the memo associated with the new calendar that was approved at the May 20, 2025 College Station ISD school board meeting.

News release from College Station ISD:

The College Station ISD Board of Trustees approved an amended academic calendar for the 2025-26 school year during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20.

The updated calendar converts four regular instructional days to teacher workdays/student holidays:

• Aug. 29, 2025
• Nov. 21, 2025
• March 6, 2026
• April 2, 2026

These days were originally regular school days in the approved 2025-26 calendar.

The district is able to designate these days as teacher workdays/student holidays by adding 10 minutes to the end of each school day.

The addition of 10 minutes per school day provides an extra 1,750 instructional minutes, or the equivalent of 3.97 days, bringing the total number of instructional minutes to 77,350, well above the TEA-required 75,600.

The adjustment to the school day allows for A&M Consolidated High School and College Station High School to align bell schedules to maximize student access to the district’s Career and Technical Education Center.

Updated school end times for the 2025-26 school year are as follows:

• Elementary School: 7:40 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
• Intermediate School: 8:25 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Middle School: 8:25 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• High School: 8:25 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Brazos County State Senator Charles Schwertner visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the senate's version of public school funding, the comments from the College Station ISD superintendent, the future of the STAAR test, the possibility of a special session, the Texas Lottery, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast contains comments from the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

The three newest members of the College Station city council heard their first annual update of local street conditions.

Public works director Emily Fisher explained how street conditions are determined.According to the methodology the city uses, Fisher said the city-wide overall condition is excellent.

Fisher also explained the funding sources of more than $10 million dollars that was spent in the last year to maintain 368 miles of city streets. 

The mileage does not include streets that are state highways, which include Texas Avenue and Harvey Mitchell Parkway.She also reviewed projects that are planned through the 2028 fiscal year.

And Fisher issued an invitation to attend the city's third annual street maintenance open house. On Wednesday, May 28, from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at city hall, public works staff will answer questions and take feedback about College Station streets.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

This podcast contains comments from the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

Blue signs around Bryan/College Station directing motorists to local attractions have been in place since 2012.

College Station councilman William Wright wondered at the end of the last meeting about the value of the current wayfinding signs.

Mayor John Nichols and city manager Bryan Woods brought up options for the council to consider.

The signs were a project of the former convention and visitors bureau, of which the city of College Station was a member, before it was eliminated in May 2020 after the College Station council decided to create its own tourism office.

This podcast contains comments from the floor of the Texas Senate on May 19, 2025.

Those wanting to build a high speed passenger train through the Brazos Valley between Houston and Dallas will face more requirements as part of state legislation that is waiting for the governor's consideration.

That's after the state senate on Monday (May 20) passed House bill 2003 by a 22 to nine margin.

Presenting the legislation was senator Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham. On the senate floor, Kolkhorst asked "Who owns the project? At this point, no one's really is even certain."

Kolkhorst also said "With operations halted, it is nearly impossible for east Texas landowners, many of whom have received these eminent domain notices, to ascertain the true status of the project."

Also voting for HB 2003 was Charles Schwertner of Georgetown. The districts served by Kolkhorst and Schwertner includes part of the proposed route of the Texas Central project that began in 2013.

HB 2003 was passed by the House on April 25th by a vote of 127 to nothing. The yes votes includes Trey Wharton of Huntsville and Angelia Orr of Itasca, whose districts also include part of the proposed route.

Click HERE to read and download House Bill 2003.

The legislation, if the governor agrees, requires Texas Central to disclose on the Texas department of transportation website:

• (1) The proposed method of financing of the construction or acquisition of the project, including: (A) the extent to which funds for financing are currently available; and (B) for any securities to be issued: (i) the approximate terms of sale and total fixed charges of the securities; (ii) whether the securities issued will be underwritten by industries to be served by the proposed line; and (iii) an explanation of how the fixed charges will be met;
• (2) a recent balance sheet;
• (3) a present value determination of the full costs of the proposal;
• (4) if construction is proposed, the costs for each year of the construction;
• (5) a proposed schedule for completion of the project, including timeline for permitting, funding, and land acquisition;
• (6) ridership projections and methodology;
• (7) the proposed route;
• (8) an organization chart of the entity ’s management and staff; and
• (9) disclosure of any current or planned foreign investment in the project.

This podcast contains comments from the May 6 and May 13, 2025 Brazos County commission meetings.

May meetings of the Brazos County commission have included proclamations for law enforcement and corrections officers and nurses.

Click HERE to read and download the proclamation for National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Click HERE to read and download the proclamation for National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.

Click HERE to read and download the proclamation for National Nurses Recognition Week.

This podcast contains comments from the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

A new public pool inspection ordinance is in effect in College Station.

This is after the College Station city council approved the regulations at its May 8th meeting.

The inspections, requested and to be conducted by the Brazos County health district (BCHD), affects new pools and the estimated 250 in operation by homeowners associations, apartment complexes, and hotels.

The health district's request to inspect public pools in Bryan was turned down by those council members in February.

Click HERE to read and download the ordinance that was approved at the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

On this week's United Way of the Brazos Valley update, WTAW's Chelsea Reber visits with Peggi Ondrasek, UWBV President/CEO, and Houston Carson from Lions Pride Sports.

This podcast includes comments from city of College Station communications director Colin Killian's May 16, 2025 visit on WTAW's The Infomaniacs and comments from the May 8, 2025 College Station city council meeting.

You are invited to three upcoming events hosted by the city of College Station.

Monday (May 19) evening is the unveiling of the city's new pictorial history book. 

The 160 page, hardbound coffee-table style book that was composed by city employees includes more than 200 images. 

The public unveiling, which is from 6-8 p.m. at the Visit College Station building on Texas Avenue near city hall, includes refreshments, giveaways, children's activities, and what the city previews is "fun photo opportunities". 

The price of the book is $40. For those unable to attend the unveiling, the book can be purchased at the city visitors center starting Tuesday (May 20).

On Tuesday and Wednesday (May 20-21), there will be ribbon cuttings of three parks projects that were funded by voter approved bond issues in November 2022.

Tuesday morning at 10 is the ribbon-cutting for the Anderson Park pickleball and multi-use courts. The $1.7 million dollar addition includes four pickleball courts, two multi-use courts (futsal, bike polo, roller hockey), full LED lighting, and an addition to the parking lot.

Wednesday morning at 10:30 at Bee Creek Park is the ribbon-cutting for the redeveloped tennis courts at Bee Creek and Central Parks. The $1.7 million dollar project features four courts at Bee Creek Park, two courts at Beachy Central Park, new LED lighting, court accessories, bench seating, slab replacement, surfacing and striping of courts, perimeter fencing, and drinking fountains.

College Station Councilman Scott Shafer visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about his background, his role at Texas A&M University, Midtown development, the former Macy's store building, the possibility of a recreation center and a convention center, the no-more-than-four unrelated ordinance, impact fees, Hensel Park, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.