Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
FBISD Announces Dates for Public Hearings on Zoning
FBISD is conducting three Public Hearings on zoning to
listen to community comments regarding proposed changes to district
attendance boundaries that will take effect at the beginning of the
2011-2012 school year. All meetings will take place from 7:00 – 8:30
pm in the cafeterias of the campuses listed below. The FBISD Board of
Trustees plans to take action on the proposed zones at the March 7
Board meeting.
Thursday - February 3, 7:00-8:30 pm – Crockett Middle School
19001 Beechnut, Richmond 77407
Wednesday – February 9, 7:00-8:30 pm – Kempner High School
14777 Voss Road, Sugar Land 77498
Thursday – February 10, 7:00-8:30 pm – Elkins High School
7007 Knights Court, Missouri City 77459
For detailed information regarding the proposed zoning
recommendations, visit the district website at fortbendisd.com
listen to community comments regarding proposed changes to district
attendance boundaries that will take effect at the beginning of the
2011-2012 school year. All meetings will take place from 7:00 – 8:30
pm in the cafeterias of the campuses listed below. The FBISD Board of
Trustees plans to take action on the proposed zones at the March 7
Board meeting.
Thursday - February 3, 7:00-8:30 pm – Crockett Middle School
19001 Beechnut, Richmond 77407
Wednesday – February 9, 7:00-8:30 pm – Kempner High School
14777 Voss Road, Sugar Land 77498
Thursday – February 10, 7:00-8:30 pm – Elkins High School
7007 Knights Court, Missouri City 77459
For detailed information regarding the proposed zoning
recommendations, visit the district website at fortbendisd.com
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
FBISD Board Favors 4C Edited Zoning Plan Which Keeps All New Territory at Sartartia MS
FBISD FAVORS ZONING OPTION THAT KEEPS ALL NEW TERRITORY STUDENTS AT SARTARTIA MS
It was good news at an FBISD workshop last night for New Territory residents who have been lobbying the board for a new rezoning plan that would allow students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to stay at Sartartia rather than being bused to Middle School 14 on Harlem Road next year when it opens. Although they did not take a formal vote, the board agreed they were “in consensus” to adopt the 4C edited option that keeps all New Territory students at Sartartia Middle School. 4C Edited also keeps Telfair at Sartartia and zones Pecan Grove, Waterside Estates, Fieldstone, Waterview, Aliana, Chelsea Harbour and the apartments on FM 1464 to Middle School 14.
“Are we of the consensus that 4C edited is something we are all comfortable with?” asked Board President Sonal Buchar at the November 30 workshop. “Yes”, they all replied. Parents in the audience were surprised but pleased by the statement. “We are cautiously optimistic and think it’s a positive sign that the board has provided guidance to the administration to move forward with 4C edited. We need to keep the pressure up in a positive way,” commented Jon Sturgis who has been leading the New Territory effort in objecting to a previously presented option that divides the community by sending students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to Middle School 14.
The 2.5 hour workshop started with a prologue by Buchar about the financial cuts the board will have to make next year in the face of a $6 billion deficit in the state’s education budget. Depending on the budget adopted by the Texas Legislature next year, FBISD would receive $15 to $27 million less from the state, said Buchar. “We will be faced with passing a budget where there is a deficit,” she said. “When we look at zoning….the board is trying very hard to not break up communities. You have to understand that’s the framework we are operating in. We may have to look at cutting programs and we don’t want to do that. We just became a Recognized District and we are very proud of that. These are not random, malicious lines we are drawing, “ she said of the zoning process.
“Education is not the priority for the State Legislator. They already said Redistricting is their priority and that has nothing to do with children,” said Trustee Marilyn Glover. “We need to look at what we are going to do, facing severe cuts.”
Not only does this mean that the district may not be able to move forward with the construction of new schools, like Middle School 15 in Rosaharon that was approved in the 2007 bond referendum, it also means closing schools, according to board discussions. “Middle School 15 cannot be a reality” for the forseeable future, said Buchar. “Not until the Texas Legislators pass a balanced budget and impose their cuts on us and we see what we are left with,” she said. Middle School 15 is necessary to alleviate severe overcrowding of Baines Middle School in the Sienna Plantation area. The 4C edited plan sends a portion of Sienna Plantation to First Colony Middle School. Superintendent Tim Jenney took the opportunity during the workshop to remind the public that the district planned for growth in this area with the construction of Middle School 15 but the economic downturn and loss of state revenue does not leave them with enough funds to open the school. “We could build it but we can’t operate it,” he said, noting that middle schools cost about $1.5 million a year to run.
The board also discussed closing Colony Bend Elementary School in First Colony which has low enrollment and rezoning students to either Highlands or Commonwealth Elementary Schools. Eliminating one elementary school campus will save the district about $750,000 a year, said Ben Copeland who is the district’s Chief Auxiliary Officer.
Additionally, they may dissolve either McAuliffe Middle or Willowridge High School. In lieu of closing McAuliffe Middle, they could make it into a Technical Education Center or Administrative building for the district, said Copeland.
If they close Willowridge High School, they would send those students to Marshall High School which has the capacity to absorb extra students, said Copeland. Then, they would also have to add a grade level to Missouri City and McAuliffe Middle Schools. Currently, these campuses are only 7th and 8th grades but they would add 9th grades, he said.
Those campuses were housing just two grade levels as a way to reduce class sizes and provide more instructional support to the students who were not performing well, said Superintendent of Middle Schools, Lance Hindt. Scores on recent standardized tests have improved, indicating a positive result, he noted.
“When you have schools that have capacities for 1227 and they are under enrolled by 500 students, it’s time to make some tough decisions and cost is going to be a prevailing factor,” said Glover. “We need to take some bold steps…” she said.
The next workshop will be on December 13, before the regular board meeting. Public Input sessions regarding the recommended zoning options will follow – probably in January, said Jenney. The board will vote on the zoning plans in either their second meeting of January or in February, he said.
It was good news at an FBISD workshop last night for New Territory residents who have been lobbying the board for a new rezoning plan that would allow students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to stay at Sartartia rather than being bused to Middle School 14 on Harlem Road next year when it opens. Although they did not take a formal vote, the board agreed they were “in consensus” to adopt the 4C edited option that keeps all New Territory students at Sartartia Middle School. 4C Edited also keeps Telfair at Sartartia and zones Pecan Grove, Waterside Estates, Fieldstone, Waterview, Aliana, Chelsea Harbour and the apartments on FM 1464 to Middle School 14.
“Are we of the consensus that 4C edited is something we are all comfortable with?” asked Board President Sonal Buchar at the November 30 workshop. “Yes”, they all replied. Parents in the audience were surprised but pleased by the statement. “We are cautiously optimistic and think it’s a positive sign that the board has provided guidance to the administration to move forward with 4C edited. We need to keep the pressure up in a positive way,” commented Jon Sturgis who has been leading the New Territory effort in objecting to a previously presented option that divides the community by sending students on the west side of Hwy. 99 to Middle School 14.
The 2.5 hour workshop started with a prologue by Buchar about the financial cuts the board will have to make next year in the face of a $6 billion deficit in the state’s education budget. Depending on the budget adopted by the Texas Legislature next year, FBISD would receive $15 to $27 million less from the state, said Buchar. “We will be faced with passing a budget where there is a deficit,” she said. “When we look at zoning….the board is trying very hard to not break up communities. You have to understand that’s the framework we are operating in. We may have to look at cutting programs and we don’t want to do that. We just became a Recognized District and we are very proud of that. These are not random, malicious lines we are drawing, “ she said of the zoning process.
“Education is not the priority for the State Legislator. They already said Redistricting is their priority and that has nothing to do with children,” said Trustee Marilyn Glover. “We need to look at what we are going to do, facing severe cuts.”
Not only does this mean that the district may not be able to move forward with the construction of new schools, like Middle School 15 in Rosaharon that was approved in the 2007 bond referendum, it also means closing schools, according to board discussions. “Middle School 15 cannot be a reality” for the forseeable future, said Buchar. “Not until the Texas Legislators pass a balanced budget and impose their cuts on us and we see what we are left with,” she said. Middle School 15 is necessary to alleviate severe overcrowding of Baines Middle School in the Sienna Plantation area. The 4C edited plan sends a portion of Sienna Plantation to First Colony Middle School. Superintendent Tim Jenney took the opportunity during the workshop to remind the public that the district planned for growth in this area with the construction of Middle School 15 but the economic downturn and loss of state revenue does not leave them with enough funds to open the school. “We could build it but we can’t operate it,” he said, noting that middle schools cost about $1.5 million a year to run.
The board also discussed closing Colony Bend Elementary School in First Colony which has low enrollment and rezoning students to either Highlands or Commonwealth Elementary Schools. Eliminating one elementary school campus will save the district about $750,000 a year, said Ben Copeland who is the district’s Chief Auxiliary Officer.
Additionally, they may dissolve either McAuliffe Middle or Willowridge High School. In lieu of closing McAuliffe Middle, they could make it into a Technical Education Center or Administrative building for the district, said Copeland.
If they close Willowridge High School, they would send those students to Marshall High School which has the capacity to absorb extra students, said Copeland. Then, they would also have to add a grade level to Missouri City and McAuliffe Middle Schools. Currently, these campuses are only 7th and 8th grades but they would add 9th grades, he said.
Those campuses were housing just two grade levels as a way to reduce class sizes and provide more instructional support to the students who were not performing well, said Superintendent of Middle Schools, Lance Hindt. Scores on recent standardized tests have improved, indicating a positive result, he noted.
“When you have schools that have capacities for 1227 and they are under enrolled by 500 students, it’s time to make some tough decisions and cost is going to be a prevailing factor,” said Glover. “We need to take some bold steps…” she said.
The next workshop will be on December 13, before the regular board meeting. Public Input sessions regarding the recommended zoning options will follow – probably in January, said Jenney. The board will vote on the zoning plans in either their second meeting of January or in February, he said.
Friday, November 5, 2010
New Territory Resident Meeting on Sunday, November 7
BBEZONE/NEW TERRITORY COMMUNITY MEETING
Sunday, November 7th
3 p.m.
Sports Complex
PAVILION
PLease submit your questions IN ADVANCE to: bbezone@googlegroups.com -- ***Make sure you enter "QUESTIONS" in the Subject line so it is not missed!!!
A few guidelines:
1. Questions should be clear & detailed, but concise.
Also, consider whether it has already been addressed on the site!
2. Bring a PEN & PAPER to take notes on HOW YOU CAN HELP!
3. Come with solutions in hand to the problems YOU see and meet with our CORE TEAM LEADERS to VOLUNTEER!
4. Most IMPORTANTLY, Please remember we are all Moms & Dads volunteering in this effort! Please be respectful when
addressing volunteers and other parents, even if you don't agree with them.
5. Show your support by getting involved in our petition drive! - We have foot soldiers out going door to door, but not ENOUGH! If you can help with petitions, let me or Becky Zaffuta know ASAP! JoeandBecky21@comcast.net Conniejwc@earthlink.net Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER.
6. We are working on possibly selling community t-shirts! $10.00 each. If we can get them done, they will be available for sale at the meeting. Please bring cash!
Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...
MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER!
Don't forget our Community slogan,
"FBISD, Don't Divide New Territory!"
on your rear windshield!
WE CAN WIN THIS THING TOGETHER!
SEE YOU THERE!!!!
Sunday, November 7th
3 p.m.
Sports Complex
PAVILION
PLease submit your questions IN ADVANCE to: bbezone@googlegroups.com -- ***Make sure you enter "QUESTIONS" in the Subject line so it is not missed!!!
A few guidelines:
1. Questions should be clear & detailed, but concise.
Also, consider whether it has already been addressed on the site!
2. Bring a PEN & PAPER to take notes on HOW YOU CAN HELP!
3. Come with solutions in hand to the problems YOU see and meet with our CORE TEAM LEADERS to VOLUNTEER!
4. Most IMPORTANTLY, Please remember we are all Moms & Dads volunteering in this effort! Please be respectful when
addressing volunteers and other parents, even if you don't agree with them.
5. Show your support by getting involved in our petition drive! - We have foot soldiers out going door to door, but not ENOUGH! If you can help with petitions, let me or Becky Zaffuta know ASAP! JoeandBecky21@comcast.net Conniejwc@earthlink.net Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER.
6. We are working on possibly selling community t-shirts! $10.00 each. If we can get them done, they will be available for sale at the meeting. Please bring cash!
Don't let someone else be the reason YOUR kid stays at SARTARTIA...
MAKE YOURSELF PART OF THE SOLUTION AND VOLUNTEER!
Don't forget our Community slogan,
"FBISD, Don't Divide New Territory!"
on your rear windshield!
WE CAN WIN THIS THING TOGETHER!
SEE YOU THERE!!!!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
FBISD: Changing It's Tune on Busing?
In March, FBISD announced the need to cut bus routes as well as the need for students to walk greater distances to bus stops in order to reduce the deficit. New Territory is a master-planned community whose kids can already conveniently walk or bike to it's elementary schools and middle school. Now FBISD is changing it's tune. In 2011, middle schoolers from the west half of New Territory could be bused out of the neighborhood (between 5- 9 miles away) to middle school #14 in Pecan Grove. So now, how is increasing busing throughout the district going to reduce the FBISD deficit?
This article was posted on the Ultimate Fort Bend site on March 13, 2010.
Less bus service, more walking in FBISD?
by Zen T.C. Zheng, published March 13, 2010 6:34 am
It seems innovation and creativity is needed now more than ever in the financially distressed Fort Bend school district.
As officials scramble to look for fat to trim to remedy a $21 million budget deficit, they have discovered a 2.2 million potential savings in transportation operations if they cut back on routes, size up the bus load, let kids take longer walks, and get rid of paid transportation services.
District Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hoke said the state's funding for school transportation has remained flat since 1984.
Chief Auxiliary Services Officer Ben Copeland said low school bus ridership, designation of more hazardous routes than necessary, as well as a heavy task to transport students to and from after-school activities are among the costly concerns.
Proposal to eliminate routes
He proposed eliminating 42 of the 331 regular bus routes those that don't include the 86 routes for special education students to save $1.6 million.
The route reduction could be achieved by ending bus service in areas within two miles of schools, which are designated as hazardous but in fact not meeting hazardous criteria. Officials have identified safe walk paths in service areas for about 10 campuses.
Also, increasing average bus load to 50 secondary-level students per run and 60 elementary-level pupils per run also would result in fewer routes needed.
No more after-school activity runs?
In addition, Copeland proposed doing away with busing for general after-school activities, which currently requires 46 runs for 728 high school riders and 46 runs for middle school riders. Those eliminations would yield $622,000 in savings.
However, he recommended continuing bus service for after-school tutorial programs.
More saving could be attained by cutting back on route mileage while letting students walk longer to bus stops.
In Copeland's proposal, the maximum walking distance for secondary students would be increased from 1,000 feet to a half mile, or 2,640 feet, while elementary pupils would walk up to 1,000 feet to a stop, compared to the current limit of 500 feet.
Bell schedules could change
Another idea is to shift bell schedules - stretching the timeframe in which a driver is able to make trips to more campuses during each run.
Under the proposal, elementary schools will start 8:10 a.m. and terminates at 3:10 p.m. while middle schools' day runs from 8:55 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. High schools' schedule would remain unchanged.
Copeland also suggested canceling a paid transportation program service to students who don't qualify for free transportation but pay a $27 monthly fee to ride school buses.
He said the fee isn't enough to cover the cost of service. Doing away with the program would save the district $20,000, he said.
Some school board trustees expressed concerns about the proposed changes during a recent workshop.
Susan Hohnbaum said she is worried about pupils having to walk more.
Kids are riding the bus obviously they need a ride to the school," she said. If they don't, their neighbors will have to take them or their mom and dad have to take them if their schedule allows that."
Trustee Sonal Bhuchar said safety is a concern.
Hoke suggested enhance campus education on safe walking and practice safe walking.
But trustee Marilyn Glover urged parental involvement.
Parents have the same role in teaching safety. Schools can not do everything," she said.
Copeland said more crossing guards would have to be enlisted if his proposal is adopted.
This article was posted on the Ultimate Fort Bend site on March 13, 2010.
Less bus service, more walking in FBISD?
by Zen T.C. Zheng, published March 13, 2010 6:34 am
It seems innovation and creativity is needed now more than ever in the financially distressed Fort Bend school district.
As officials scramble to look for fat to trim to remedy a $21 million budget deficit, they have discovered a 2.2 million potential savings in transportation operations if they cut back on routes, size up the bus load, let kids take longer walks, and get rid of paid transportation services.
District Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hoke said the state's funding for school transportation has remained flat since 1984.
Chief Auxiliary Services Officer Ben Copeland said low school bus ridership, designation of more hazardous routes than necessary, as well as a heavy task to transport students to and from after-school activities are among the costly concerns.
Proposal to eliminate routes
He proposed eliminating 42 of the 331 regular bus routes those that don't include the 86 routes for special education students to save $1.6 million.
The route reduction could be achieved by ending bus service in areas within two miles of schools, which are designated as hazardous but in fact not meeting hazardous criteria. Officials have identified safe walk paths in service areas for about 10 campuses.
Also, increasing average bus load to 50 secondary-level students per run and 60 elementary-level pupils per run also would result in fewer routes needed.
No more after-school activity runs?
In addition, Copeland proposed doing away with busing for general after-school activities, which currently requires 46 runs for 728 high school riders and 46 runs for middle school riders. Those eliminations would yield $622,000 in savings.
However, he recommended continuing bus service for after-school tutorial programs.
More saving could be attained by cutting back on route mileage while letting students walk longer to bus stops.
In Copeland's proposal, the maximum walking distance for secondary students would be increased from 1,000 feet to a half mile, or 2,640 feet, while elementary pupils would walk up to 1,000 feet to a stop, compared to the current limit of 500 feet.
Bell schedules could change
Another idea is to shift bell schedules - stretching the timeframe in which a driver is able to make trips to more campuses during each run.
Under the proposal, elementary schools will start 8:10 a.m. and terminates at 3:10 p.m. while middle schools' day runs from 8:55 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. High schools' schedule would remain unchanged.
Copeland also suggested canceling a paid transportation program service to students who don't qualify for free transportation but pay a $27 monthly fee to ride school buses.
He said the fee isn't enough to cover the cost of service. Doing away with the program would save the district $20,000, he said.
Some school board trustees expressed concerns about the proposed changes during a recent workshop.
Susan Hohnbaum said she is worried about pupils having to walk more.
Kids are riding the bus obviously they need a ride to the school," she said. If they don't, their neighbors will have to take them or their mom and dad have to take them if their schedule allows that."
Trustee Sonal Bhuchar said safety is a concern.
Hoke suggested enhance campus education on safe walking and practice safe walking.
But trustee Marilyn Glover urged parental involvement.
Parents have the same role in teaching safety. Schools can not do everything," she said.
Copeland said more crossing guards would have to be enlisted if his proposal is adopted.
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