Willis ISD has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the City of Conroe and secured a temporary restraining order, despite water being restored to Calfee Middle School before the order was signed.
Even with water service restored to Homer Calfee Middle School on Wednesday, Willis ISD is moving ahead with a lawsuit against the City of Conroe seeking more than $1 million in damages.
The district also obtained a temporary restraining order Thursday against the city and Assistant City Administrator Norman McGuire, demanding that the water be turned on. But by the time 418th state District Court Judge Tracy Gilbert signed the order, the taps were already flowing.
Following an inspection later Thursday, the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office issued a Certificate of Compliance for the building, clearing a significant hurdle for the school’s planned opening next week.
“I don’t know why they would file a TRO,” City Administrator Gary Scott said at a news conference. “We notified them that the water was turned on.”
A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for August 21 in the 457th State District Court. Willis ISD declined to comment but pointed to a website the district launched to track the dispute.
The conflict escalated Monday after Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough accused Conroe of holding the school’s water “hostage” and demanding $4 million for infrastructure costs—a claim city officials dispute.
Willis ISD bought the Longmire Road property in 2020, with water service initially provided by Aqua Texas, Inc. Issues arose in 2021 when the district sought Conroe’s annexation of the site. The city agreed to move forward, contingent on the district exiting its Aqua Texas contract before receiving municipal water.
While Thursday’s developments ensure the school can continue preparing for students, the legal battle over how the standoff unfolded appears far from over.
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