Convenience Big Store: The Woodlands takes steps to potentially sell 11-acre campus in Town Center

Conroe ISD's 19 most recently-banned books are causing controversy. Here's why.

Books including "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker and "I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sanchez will no longer be used in Conroe ISD classrooms after the Board of Trustees upheld a decision made by a committee of district educators last week.

Nineteen books have been newly banned from the district's classrooms, leaving dozens of complaints in its wake and causing some district trustees to wonder if the district's book policy has caused "collateral damage" that may prohibit books that are used in Advanced Placement exams. Other trustees say the policy is "racist" and "bigoted" as nine of the 19 books involve Black authors or LGBT topics.

The bans come after Vietnamese-American poet Ocean Vuong offered to send copies of his book "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" to anyone in Conroe after claiming the district banned the book from school libraries. The district said the book was removed from shelves due to low circulation. More on that here.

What do you think of the district's new book policies? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Education

A highlighter on a work desk is photogarphed at Audrey H. Lawson Middle School Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Houston.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer

Conroe ISD second graders will now get standards-based report cards

Three years after starting a pilot program using standards-based report cards, the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees has approved implementing the system for all second-grade students.

Need to Know

The Woodlands Township plans to demolish several buildings purchased from General Electric in 2015 for $15.2M to make way for future development.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

The Woodlands to accept bids on 11-acre property near Town Center

The Woodlands is moving forward on plans to potentially sell the 11-acre former GE Betz building and property it initially purchased for $15 million in 2015.

Woodlands Walmart employees Leischeng Saures and aunt Juanette Villagomez were finalists Walmart's National Talent Search, performing at an Asian American and Pacific Islander month event (pictured) as well as the grocer's Associate Week.

Photo by: Walmart

Woodlands residents showcase Chamorro culture after winning singing competition

An aunt and niece from The Woodlands graced the same stage as Kacey Musgraves and Usher and showcased their culture after winning a Walmart talent show.

Openings and Closings

Craving a gyro or olive oil potatoes?

The long-awaited Niko Niko's is hosting its soft opening in The Woodlands' former Luby's this week. Story to come!

Shout out

Why are so many Olympians from Spring?

Several athletes from the suburb (including, potentially, Simone Biles) are heading to Paris this summer, as well as two-time The Woodlands High School state diving champion Kassidy Cook.

Check out other Houston-area Olympians here!