Houston ISD's state-appointed board is set to vote Thursday on Superintendent Mike Miles' proposal to close or consolidate 12 schools for the next school year.

Why it matters: The proposal comes as the district grapples with steep enrollment declines and aging, underused buildings, Miles says.

• HISD said last fall it would not close campuses next school year, but acknowledged at the time that consolidations could be needed.

Zoom in: Eight schools would close and be absorbed into other campuses; four would be co-located, meaning students keep their school identity but share a building. These would be the affected 12 campuses:

• Elementary: Alcott, Briscoe, Burrus, Cage, Franklin, Hobby, Nathaniel Q. Henderson, Port Houston, Ross
• Middle: Fleming, McReynolds
• High: Middle College High School at HCC Gulfton

State of play: At a board meeting earlier this month, Miles said the selected campuses were based on poor facility conditions, low enrollment and unused building space.

• He told families most students would move to campuses "less than a mile away" and said the district would find ways to honor closing schools.

Yes, but: Most students displaced by closures would move to lower-rated campuses — even though many closing schools are A- or B-rated, per a Houston Chronicle analysis.

What they're saying: "These decisions are never easy. However, they are guided by the clear principle that students deserve a well-rounded educational experience in vibrant learning environments," Miles said in a statement.

• "Closure allows the District to focus investments where they will have the greatest impact—on instruction, student services, and future-ready opportunities."

By the numbers: HISD saw enrollment drop by about 7,900 students this school year, continuing a yearslong enrollment decline. Roughly 25% of campuses are at less than 50% capacity, Miles said.

• Rebuilding an elementary school costs about $75 million; renovations run roughly $40 million, per Miles' presentation.

The other side: Parents have said they feel blindsided by the announcement, with some protesting and calling for more engagement and clarity.

What's next: Families have until noon tomorrow to register to speak at the Thursday meeting.

Zoom out

Production companies are coming to Texas to film and are sticking around for future projects, per Dallas-based nonprofit Media for Texas.

Why it matters: For every $1 spent on incentives, Texas sees about $4.69 in economic return, per the state's Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

The latest: Texas officials are drafting rules for the state's updated incentive program, set to disburse $300 million every two years over the next decade to qualifying projects.

State of film: The phones at Media for Texas "have been ringing off the hook," since the Texas Legislature boosted funding for the program last year, the nonprofit's co-founder Chase Musslewhite tells Axios.

Follow the money: The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program paid around $57 million to 43 projects, including commercials, films and TV shows, in the 2024-25 biennium.

• The state estimates those projects spent $285 million and accounted for roughly 11,700 jobs.

How it works: Productions receiving an incentive from the state must ensure that at least 35% of their paid cast and crew are Texans.

• The Houston Film Commission also has a local film incentive so production companies film in Bayou City.

The bottom line: Producers from LA and New York filming outside Houston recently told Media for Texas staff that they were so happy with their experience that they plan to film their next projects in the state.

• "In Texas, we're primed to take charge in this industry and finally offer a different, unique voice to the equation," Media for Texas co-founder Grant Wood tells Axios.

🚀 Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's guests at tomorrow night's State of the Union will include the crew of NASA's Artemis II lunar spaceflight mission. (Axios)

📄 Camp Mystic parents have sued the state health department, accusing it of wrongfully licensing the camp despite it lacking an evacuation plan before the July 4, 2025, flooding disaster. (Houston Chronicle)

🥯 New York's H&H Bagels will open its first Texas location in Houston's River Oaks area soon. (Houston Business Journal)

• Separately, Connecticut-based PopUp Bagels is also planning its first Houston location.

🎶 Texas country music stars George Strait and Miranda Lambert were inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame. (Austin American-Statesman)

METRO is expanding its 500 Downtown Direct line to include William P. Hobby Airport.

Why it matters: The move boosts airport access ahead of major events like FIFA World Cup games this summer, which are expected to bring an influx of travelers. It also creates a direct public transit link between downtown and both of Houston's major airports.

How it works: The expanded service started Sunday, with a one-way fare costing $4.50.

• The route now features six northbound and six southbound stops. It continues to serve the George R. Brown Convention Center, while adding stops at the Downtown Transit Center and other key downtown locations.

What they're saying: "It reduces stress, improves access and ensures every visitor is greeted with Houston-friendly hospitality in an organized, world-class environment that reflects who we are as a global gateway," Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said in a statement.

Flashback: The direct route connecting downtown with George Bush Intercontinental Airport launched last year.