New Sienna School Expected To Open At Capacity: No Relief In Sight (Record School Bond Election Coming)!

From the chronicle:

Construction contract for new Fort Bend school is approved
'Cookie-cutter design' will save millions, trustee says

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Houston Chronicle


Fort Bend school officials on Monday picked a Houston company for the construction of a new elementary school in the Sienna Plantation area with a deal that promises multimillion-dollar savings for the district.

The board of trustees unanimously approved awarding a $12.5 million contract to Brookstone LP, which the district has used for other construction projects.

School officials had previously estimated the campus to cost up to $17 million, including land, design, construction and furnishings. . .

. . . The school will be built on a 12-acre tract northwest of Baines Middle School. The district bought the land earlier this year for more than $601,100.

The school, which will accommodate 860 students, is scheduled to open in August 2008.

"We are experiencing explosive growth in that area, and the new school is critically needed," said Mary Ann Simpson, a district spokeswoman. . .


Comment:

responsible_dvlpmnt wrote:

So let's recap the issues in the excellent article above. First we have "explosive growth" so we need to approve a record setting bond in the Fall to keep up with it. Our school board isn't seeking anything from those responsible for this growth and making a great deal of money off of it. Wouldn't it be wise to seek kick-in on the land in some of these larger master-planned communities that use the schools to attract customers? For these same companies over-developing zoning/tax buster apartments in our county, shouldn't we add an impact fee to help the district keep up with the growth and not just pass the buck along to the taxpayers? Shouldn't we also stop borrowing against the bonds for new schools prior to the voters approval?

It would seem that a double A bond rating is NOT an optimal rating and we need to make some changes in how FBISD (and many FB districts) are doing business. Bring the corporations to the table who directly benefit from this growth while it hurts our schools and families, don't you think? Growth may be good, but unmanaged growth will continue to harm our struggling school system.

Background:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/4881419.html

From the Chron: Candidates Discuss Over-development Stress Hurting FBISD? --get the full story by clicking here--

POSITION 7
FBISD candidates target crowding
Discipline, accountability cited as issues

By CARISSA D. LAMKAHOUAN
Chronicle Correspondent

Candidates for the Position 7 trustee seat on the Fort Bend school district's board all back passage of a fall bond proposal to address campus crowding.

Incumbent Ken Bryant, an attorney, faces Ann Hopkins, assistant principal at Hodges Bend Middle School; Noel Pinnock, an educator in the Houston school district; and David Reitz, who works in management.

According to district policy, Hopkins would have to resign if she wins the election. . .

. . . Pinnock, 33, said he wants to make sure the board is fiscally responsible.

He agreed that by informing the public of bond specifics, the board can build support and trust.

"I want to make certain the community is aware of the details of the proposed bond and what the goals are intended to do," Pinnock said.

To do that, he said, the district needs to rely on more than one method of dispensing information. Although he sees the district Web site as a good information source, not everyone has access to the Internet, he said.

He suggested holding town-hall-style or committee meetings to inform people about the bond-building process. Trustees and the public need to have access to the opinions that result from those gatherings, he said.

"I want to see the output of these meetings," Pinnock said. "In addition to the meetings and committees that might form, we need feedback, and we need to present that feedback in such a way so that the least common denominator can relate to it and not just leave to the Web site to communicate." . . .

. . .Pinnock said he wants to bridge the gap between residents and students in the eastern and western parts of the district.

"There's a perception of disparity with the lower east end of Fort Bend County," he said. "A lot of communities felt they have not gotten their fair share of the pie."

--Click the title link above to get the full story.

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

FB Star Covers Mo-City/District Elections!--click the title link for more--

FBISD & Missouri City have largest number of candidates filed

By Barbara Fulenwider
The candidate filing season for seats on the Fort Bend ISD board and city councils has ended with the school district and Missouri City district council races each attracting the largest number of candidates.

Seven people filed to run for two school district trustee positions, eight filed to run for four Missouri City district seats, five filed to run for four Sugar Land district seats and the only mayor who is running for re-election in an east Fort Bend County town is Leonard Scarcella and he drew one opponent while the three Stafford city councilmen up for re-election all filed and have no opponents.

The two candidates vying for FBISD Trustee Position 3 are incumbent Lisa Rickert and John Robert Broxson. Broxson lists his occupation as consultant, is 50 years old, has lived in Sugar Land for almost 11 years and in the district for nine and a half years. Rickert, 44, lists her occupation as computer consultant and has lived in Sugar Land and the school district for almost 15 years. She is seeking a second three-year term

The five candidates running for Position 7 on the school board are one-term incumbent Ken Bryant, 54, attorney; Daniel Mendez, 36, engineer; David Reitz, 42, manager; Noel Pinnock, 33, educator, and Annie Mae Hopkins, 58, FBISD administrator.

In Missouri City eight people filed to run for four council seats and only one incumbent, Brett Kolaja, who represents District D, filed for re-election and has no opponent. Eunice Reiter, an accountant and the District A incumbent, filed for re-election and will oppose Rodney Leverett Griffin, who is self employed in financial services. Reiter has lived in Missouri City for 43 years and Griffin has lived there almost 27 years.

Candidates for the District B council seat are incumbent Don Smith, a retiree, who has lived in the city for 64 years. He is opposed by Cynthia Lenton-Gary, a professor of sociology and Missouri City resident for 27 years, and Louis Henry Hunter, a mortgage broker and 18-year Missouri City resident.

It’s a two person race for the District C seat with Kevin Dale Tunstall and Barbara Jo Gibson running. Tunstall is a healthcare administrator and resident for almost six years and Gibson is retired and has lived in Missouri City for almost 27 years. Council Member Bob Burton filed for re-election to the District C seat and then withdrew. . .(click the title link above for the full story).


Comment: If you are a Sienna area resident then call/e-mail or contact the challengers in the city race to see if you can help! These council members make decisions for the entire city including the ETJ areas and we need to let them know we count. Remember the current incumbents (without our input) recently ok'd another taxing district in our community and voted in favor of a plan that will increase our MUD debt load. Support the challengers in districts A, B and C and consider being a volunteer in the Arcola races too for Hilton, Rojas or DeVoge who oppose the airport expansion project that will increase air traffic over our community impacting our quality of life.

Contact these candidates to support them: Rodney Griffin (District A), Kevin Tunstall (District C), & Lou Hunter (District B). See their info below:

Missouri City:

http://elect.kdtunstall.com/
kdtunstall@houston.rr.com -- Tunstall

griffin7918@sbcglobal.net -- Griffith

louhhunter@yahoo.com -- Hunter

FBISD Missouri City Area Candidate Noel Pinnock can be reached at -- noelpinnock@gmail.com

Arcola:

Tom Hilton at http://www.citizensforbettergovt.org/ (or call him, he is listed in the Arcola directory).

Rosie Rojas & James DeVoge (or call them, they are listed in the Arcola directory).


--We will continue to update this thread as the election season continues!

Pinnock Announces for Place 7 FBISD School Board

Noel Pinnock, a long-time Missouri City resident, has filed as a candidate for position 7 on the Fort Bend ISD school board race this spring. He has provided the following position statement (May 12th):

"My platform for running in this year's election is to provide a beacon of hope to the citizens in Fort Bend county. It is my belief that every student, every parent, every citizen, and our business community at-large should be integral in the overall proficiency, efficiency, growth, and survival of our communities schools. Schools represent the nesting grounds for the cultivation of non-bias ideas, social matriculation, academic acceleration, and a spring of life's most impressionable and memorable experiences, which define the very fabric and essence of our existence.

It is my belief that every child is capable of success, no exceptions. In adopting this "no exception" belief...I will work diligently and intelligently to move OUR school district in an upward direction with a focus on increased: student achievement, safety, equity of resource allocations, and public confidence.

This will require uncompromisable dedication, motivation, commitment, cooperativeness, creativity and competence. I will dedicate my efforts with my family's supprt with due diligence and involve my fellow citizens throughout the process...membership is NOT exclusive but INCLUSIVE...when FB citizens vote Noel Pinnock...they vote for democracy, equity, efficiency, but most of all...one who will bridge gaps and promote proactive and comprehensive change for the betterment of all, no exceptions!"

Contacts:

E-mail us at noelpinnock@gmail.com

Visit Noel at: http://pinnockforschoolboard.blogspot.com/

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.


___________
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).

From the Chronicle: Sienna School Zoning Gets FBISD Attention--

Fort Bend ISD, trustees get barrage of queries on zoning
Some parents object to repeated rezoning of pupils

By SESHADRI KUMAR
Chronicle Correspondent

The proposed zoning for Elkins and Hightower high schools, which hinges on splitting Sienna Plantation into two groups, is among issues eliciting a large number of comments from parents in the Fort Bend Independent School District.

Other issues are implementing a kindergarten-to-sixth-grade campus concept at nine elementaries and housing only grades 7-8 at Missouri City and Christa McAuliffe middle schools, establishing a gifted-and-talented middle school academy, and zoning for a new elementary in Telfair. . . .

--One resident made a popular suggestion for helping with over-crowding--

. . ."Leslie Bauer of Lake Olympia has two suggestions: one for long term and one for the short term. Bauer said the school district should lobby the Legislature and pass a law to make developers of big master-planned communities donate land and contribute to building schools. This is being done successfully in other states, she said." . . .(click title link above for more).


Don't miss the Hightower zoning meeting Feb. 15th at 6p. at the campus!


--Stay informed and keep in touch!--

From FBN: Zoning Battles Heat Up

Fort Bend ISD Board Gets An Earful From Parents Upset Over District Rezoning Plans
by Bob Dunn, Feb 12, 2007, 11 27 pm

After a Monday workshop in which Fort Bend Independent School District Board trustees made little apparent progress toward a final redrawing of school attendance zones, two groups of parents illustrated the difficulties inherent in that task.

At a regular FBISD board meeting Monday night after the workshop, parents packed the meeting room, and several assailed trustees over preliminary rezoning plans for the district. . . (click title link to get more).

Zoning props available at http://www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/cmf/default.cfm?module=tidbits§ion=parentlinks


Comment: If you are concerned about the over-crowding at our Sienna area schools and the proposed split of the high school attendance zone, then you may want to attend the nearest zoning meeting this Feb. 15th at Hightower. The mtg. will start at 6p.


Stay informed and keep in touch!