School Days

Protesting HISD bus drivers show little remorse over leaving school kids stranded in the cold

Dozens of Houston ISD students were left waiting in Thursday's freezing temps for bus drivers who didn't show up for work in a protest with district officials over pay grievances in a strange turn of events as HISD officials had scheduled, then postponed, a hearing to address those complaints that very day.

About 150 drivers skipped worked, leaving 40 bus routes out of nearly 1,000 completely unstaffed. Substitute drivers and double-duty schedules for others safely delivered students to their respective schools about 15 minutes late, district officials report.

"If it was my kid, I wouldn't want them out there in the cold. But at the end of the day I've got to do what's gonna help me too."

Hundreds of HISD bus drivers have filed a grievance report with the district, seeking compensation when they were not paid as the district closed for two days in the 2013-14 school year due to inclement weather. HISD officials had scheduled a 9:30 a.m. grievance hearing for the drivers on Thursday, "so that the drivers would have time to complete their morning routes," a district statement released that day states.

"Late Wednesday night, more than 100 drivers notified the district that they did not intend to report for duty on Thursday morning because of the hearing," the statement continues. "District officials then decided Wednesday night to postpone Thursday's hearing to avoid disruptions to students' pickup schedules. The district then made late-night phone calls to drivers who had said they would not report for duty to notify them that the grievance hearing was being rescheduled."

Thus, Thursday morning, the coldest day of the year in Houston so far, the cold-weather crisis happened.

The statement concludes, "HISD respects the rights of all employees and has created a grievance process that is intended to ensure that the important work of educating children continues uninterrupted."

"If it was my kid, I wouldn't want them out there in the cold. But at the end of the day I've got to do what's gonna help me too," HISD bus driver Leisa Glenn tells KHOU Ch. 11. "I have to live. All the bus drivers have to live."

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destination-worthy bookstore

Century-old Japanese bookstore authors a new chapter in Rice Village

Courtesy of NewQuest

The Rice Village location will build on the success of Kinokuniya's Katy outpost.

A Japanese bookstore known for its extensive selection of anime and manga is coming to one of the inner loop’s most popular shopping districts. Kinokuniya will open its second Houston-area location in Rice Village this fall.

The store has claimed the former Village Fitness space at 2369 Rice Blvd. for its Rice Village outpost. At almost 5,600 square feet, the store will offer shoppers plenty of room to browse Kinokuniya’s books, stationary, paper goods, and more.

“We’d been looking in the Rice Village area for a long time,” NewQuest managing director and executive vice president Heather Nguyen said in a statement. “We got this one before it could hit the market.”

Kinokuniya opened its first Houston location in the Katy Grand shopping in 2019. The Japan-based chain, which will turn 100 next year, also operates stores across Asia, in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the U.S., including Austin and two Dallas-area outposts in Plano and Carrollton.

In addition to books, the store hosts a variety of events, from book signings to horror storytelling sessions to anime meet-ups. The store's "Makerspace" hosts workshops, presentations, and other interactive experiences.

“Kinokuniya will be a tremendous addition to the Village, given its proximity to Rice University and the neighborhood’s reputation as one of Houston’s most walkable and community-oriented destinations,” Nguyen added. “The bookstore aligns perfectly with the area’s culture of learning, discovery, and appreciation for literature.”

Rice Village has been in an almost-decade long process of upgrading its retail offerings with more national and international brands. Last year, Rice University announced the Gateway Project, a $120 million endeavor to create a seamless, pedestrian-friendly corridor linking the campus to the heart of the Village.

shopping openings bookstores kinokuniya rice village