Kevin O’Connor Kommentary January 30

College Station ISD school board members will consider at their May meeting, adding ten minutes to the class day. The proposal that was made by administrators at the board’s April workshop meeting. Superintendent Tim Harkrider said the recommendation was made in part to allow students from Consolidated and College Station High Schools to take classes together at CSISD’s new career and technology education (CTE) center. Phase two of the complex is projected to be completed for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Phase two includes space for ag mechanics, auto tech, construction, cosmetology, welding, a multipurpose arena, and offices. Ten additional minutes per day equals four additional days over the course of a school year. Harkrider’s proposal to turn those four days into teacher planning and work days will also be considered at the May board meeting. The superintendent also asked the board to consider in May, amending the calendar for the 2025-26 school year to add the ten minutes. Click below to hear comments from the April 15, 2025 CSISD school board workshop meeting. Listen to “College Station ISD school board is asked to add 10 minutes to the class day” on Spreaker.

A Harris County woman is going to prison for the third time for property crimes in Brazos County. In district court on April 11th, 52 year old Gloria Knight of Tomball admitted to identity theft that took place in College Station in August 2022. The College Station police arrest report says Knight used a co-worker’s name, date of birth, and social security number to get internet service at her home. Knight, who was sentenced to three years, previously went to prison for taking more than $33,000 dollars from an elderly person in 2011 and went to a state jail for a forgery that took place in 2007. A south Texas man who admitted to a burglary and theft in a friend’s dormitory room at Texas A&M in April 2016 has been found guilty of violating probation. 27 year old Muhammad Uzair of San Benito is appealing a four year sentence that was handed down on April 3rd. District court say Uzair violated six conditions of his probation. The list includes failing to write a timely letter of apology to the victim, a third DWI conviction, and consuming alcohol or drugs eight times. While bond was set related to the appeal, online records show Uzair was transferred from the Brazos County jail to the Cameron County jail in Brownsville where is he wanted for failing to appear in court on a charge of DWI with three or more convictions.

For the second consecutive year, the Bryan ISD school district’s food service fund has too much money. Instead of return excess funds to the state, BISD school board members agreed at its April 7th meeting to spend $361,000 dollars on new equipment. The district’s retired food service director, Sundy Fryrear, said most of the money will go toward replacing equipment at the Johnson elementary kitchen. That includes replacing fire suppression and exhaust systems that are original to when Johnson was built in 1974 and replacing its more than 30 year old serving line. The purchase also includes at Bryan High School, a reach-in freezer and a heated cabinet and at Houston elementary, replacing a food steamer. Click below to hear comments from the April 7, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Listen to “Bryan ISD school board approves buying more food service equipment instead of returning money to the state” on Spreaker.