FBN Report: Emergency Relief Approved for Another School in Sienna Plantation to Reduce Over-Crowding

Fort Bend ISD Board Votes To Start Now On A New Sienna Elementary School
by Bob Dunn, Mar 26, 2007, 10 35 pm

Fort Bend Independent School District will proceed as soon as possible to build a new elementary school, to relieve overcrowding in existing elementaries in the Sienna Plantation area.

The FBISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday evening to spend up to $17 million from the district’s general operations fund balance to build the school. Plans are to replenish the fund from proceeds of a bond referendum going before voters in November. . .

. . . As for the new Sienna Plantation elementary, it would relieve severe overcrowding at Scanlan Oaks and Sienna Crossing elementaries. According to district figures, Scanlan Oaks has a functional capacity of 738 students, but its actual enrollment is 1,061. Sienna Crossing’s functional capacity also is 738, but actual enrollment is 912 students.

Bryant said he favored building the school and relieve overcrowding, but wanted to make sure “we don’t open a Pandora’s box” by committing money from the fund balance. . .

. . . The board also voted to approve a contract submitted by Sienna/Johnson North L.P., developer of the Sienna Plantation community, under which the district would buy 12 acres northwest of Baines Middle School for another new elementary school. The price on the contract is $601,128, or $50,094 per acre.

And, the board approved a similar contract for a 9.634-acre elementary school site in the Aliana development, along the Grand Parkway, at a price tag of $461,622, or $47,916 per acre. (click the title link above for the entire story)

Background on this can be seen at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/2720/fbisd-trustees-may-pay-for-school-from-fund-balance-spend-1m-for-2-school-sites#c011205

Zoning Picture for Sienna Area Clearing//Bond Election On The Way (is it the best plan?)-click title link for full FBN story

FBISD May Seek $600 Million Bond Issue; Wants New Elementary Now
by Bob Dunn, Feb 23, 2007

In October, Fort Bend Independent School District officials indicated they would tackle challenges stemming from the district’s rapid growth by proposing a May bond issue for about $260 million to finance the building of about eight schools.

Then, a second bond issue would be prepared for some additional building and renovation needs a year later.

On Friday evening, however, FBISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney proposed waiting until November to hold an election on a bond issue that could reach $600 million.

Jenney also proposed borrowing about $15 million from the district’s fund balance in order to proceed almost immediately with plans and construction of a new elementary school in Sienna Plantation. . .

. . .The new elementary would relieve severe overcrowding at Scanlan Oaks and Sienna Crossing elementaries. According to district figures, Scanlan Oaks has a functional capacity of 738 students, but its actual enrollment is 1,061. Sienna Crossing’s functional capacity also is 738, but actual enrollment is 912 students.

Jenney said he has been advised the district can legally borrow from the fund balance, which now contains $104 million.

“And we would immediately pay that back when the bond passes,” FBISD Board President Steve Smelley said.

In the event the bond issue doesn’t pass, Magee said the district’s finances still would be sound with $89 million in the fund.

Get more at http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/2604/in-final-fort-bend-isd-rezoning-proposal-k-6-concept-would-be-delayed and attend the Monday FBISD board meeting!

***Update to this story: Monday nights board mtg. produced a 6-1 vote in favor of the current zoning plan.


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Comment: The zoning proposal still leaves the long-term problem in place. Can the district continue to keep up with the rate of future growth in east FBISD (our area). One group involved in this hasn't been heard from. Will they get involved in the open and help solve this unsustainable growth problem.

Sienna Residents Speak Up Against Split & Over-Crowding in this Chronicle Article (click title link)--

Parents oppose moving students from Hightower

Much of the debate addressed the plan to rezone nearly 600 students from crowded Hightower High to Elkins High. The plan splits Sienna Plantation subdivision along Sienna Parkway, west of which would be in the Elkins zone that also would gobble up Vicksburg subdivision across from Sienna Plantation.
"I think it's a mistake," Sienna Plantation parent Donna Ferguson said of the proposal. "Our neighborhood needs to stay together. Our kids are happy with being at Hightower."

Neighbor Mark Shively said the plan would separate his Hightower sophomore daughter from her best friend who lives on the far southeast side of the district who will continue to attend Hightower.

"It would be emotionally disruptive to my daughter," he said. "She's been on the softball team and knows all the girls and the coach. She doesn't want to leave."

Not part of the proposal but an idea thrown out at a recent school board, a suggestion to use Texas 6 as a dividing line for rezoning this part of the school district also elicited renewed opposition at the forum from parents, including those from Lake Olympia subdivision, who fear that the idea would divide their neighborhood. . .


. . . Scanlan Oaks Elementary School parent and teacher Patrice Hartsfield said, "the district doesn't have a plan" to address long-term needs. She said she is worried about her school, which had an enrollment of 1,061 pupils last October, will have 1,240 pupils this fall and 1,605 in 2011. The campus was built for 820 pupils, according to the district.

"Please, please come up with a plan for our children, and quick," Hartsfield pleaded. . .


--Click the title link above for the full story--


Comment--current 2007 projected functional capacities for Sienna area schools: BBMS 104%+; Sienna Crossing 145%+ and Scanlon Elem. 165%+ (based on district projections).