FBStar: FBISD Bond Report--

FBISD Nov. bond election somewhere between $386 mil-$430 mil

By Barbara Fulenwider

Five Fort Bend ISD bond committee meetings later with numerous questions asked and answered, there’s still a final meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, but the committee has firmed up enough at this point to propose somewhere between $386 million and $430 million, according to Mike Seale, chief operations officer.

“All the committee has officially recommended at this point is $386 million. There’s another $44 million that is still under consideration,” Seale said Monday. . . --get the full report by following the title link above.

FBN: New Sienna School May Open Over Capacity (click title link for full story--just damn good planning, right?)

Rapid Growth Means New FBISD Elementary Will Be Full Upon Opening
by Bob Dunn, Apr 24, 2007

Last month, Fort Bend Independent School District’s board agreed to spend money in the district’s fund balance to bring a new elementary school on line in Sienna Plantation by 2008, to relieve severe overcrowding at Scanlan Oaks and Sienna Crossing elementaries.

Last night, board members and administrators wrestled with the mathematics behind that move, and the stark realization that by the time the new elementary is opened in fall 2008, both it and the other two existing schools will be full to the brim with students. . .

. . .Trustee Stan Magee noted that he’s advocated building larger schools because of rapid population growth in new developments. “Sienna’s explosive,” Magee said. “Aliana is about going to eat our lunch. Telfair is explosive.”

Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney said the district is in its present position because of “a matter of timing. The issue tonight is whether or not we want to open up in 2008 with additional temporary buildings” and then move students to a new, larger Sienna elementary school half-way through the school year.

“We need to start owning some of these drawings,” Trustee Ken Bryant said of architects’ plans for existing schools, “and store them in our file cabinets. We haven’t explored this, Lee. It’s called owning the product.”

“We own this one, Ken,” Smelley replied.


Comment: How about the local districts pushing for developer kick-in on the land. That would save millions and help the schools to keep up with the growth.

MCC Exclusive: Pinnock Garners FBEF Endorsement, An Arm of the American Federation of Teachers!

Just in to MCC:

Noel Pinnock, one of the front runners in the position 7 FBISD school board races, has just been endorsed by the Fort Bend Employees Federation (FBEF), a wing of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest professional teacher associations in the country. Mr. Pinnock resides here in Missouri City and announced in March his intentions to seek a seat on the school board. He is in his second decade as an educator and has a child in FBISD schools.

Pinnock garnered the honor after his performance at the Marriott Hotel at Sugar Land Town Square. SOS, a local community watchdog website, recognized Noels strong showing in the local district races in a recent release. When asked what his three primary areas of concern are in the district Mr. Pinnock stated that "transparency in government and fiscal accountability are essential to efficient school operations and will free up tax dollars for the classroom and help alleviate over-crowding".

Readers can get additional information at the Pinnock virtual campaign headquarters at:

http://pinnockforschoolboard.blogspot.com/


Stay informed and keep in touch!

Chronicle Reports: Relief From Over-Crowded Sienna Plantation Schools On The Way!

Fort Bend ISD trustees approve land purchases for future campuses
Elementaries would be built in Sienna and Aliana areas

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

The Fort Bend school board on Monday approved purchases of two elementary school sites, one in the Sienna Plantation subdivision east of Missouri City and the other in the Aliana development in the district's northern sector.

The planned Sienna campus has been selected on12 acres northwest of Baines Middle School, to be bought for more than $601,100.

The school would be built to an 860-pupil capacity and scheduled to open in August 2008, said Lee Petros, associate superintendent of facilities and planning.

The project aims to lessen crowding at two elementary campuses, Sienna Crossing and Scanlan Oaks, Petros said.

Sienna Crossing, with a capacity for 820 pupils, had an enrollment of 912 last October. Scanlan Oaks, also designed for 820 pupils, enrolled 1,061 pupils in October.

The Sienna project would cost $16.7 million, including the land, design, construction and furnishings, Petros said.

The project will be initially financed through a district fund balance. District officials are considering calling a bond referendum in November to fund new campuses and other improvements, including the planned elementary campus for Sienna, he said.

From the archives of the Houston Press: Up a creek

--Click the link above for an interesting Houston Press article by Brian Wallstin about our primary area creek (Oyster Creek).

Abstract:

Houston Press: Up a Creek

Diverting streams into the Brazos and Posh Amenity lakes has been great for fancy Fort Bend developments. But it's killing Oyster Creek, the lifeblood for legendary Texas cattle ranchers. --Wallstin