2009 FBISD Tax Hearing (On YouTube)

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2009 FBISD CONTROVERSIAL TAX HEARING (YES THEY ARE RAISING THEM AGAIN--see petition of over 500 district taxpayers asking for board accountability) --In case anyone missed it they raised the property tax rate again (4th time) in 2010 and more than likely will do so again in 2011 facing another projected 15-20 million dollar budget deficit, according to some media reports. ***NEW*** ..Petition TO STOP THE GSTC (Global Science Museum being planned at the district central office--near $30 million dollar project that superintendent Jenney is pushing): http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopthegcst/ (see update below on this apparently ending this project after 2 years)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

From FBN: District re-labels some classes

Fort Bend ISD Board Approves Changes To 20 High School Courses
by FortBendNow Staff, Dec 11, 2007, 07 12 AM

Changes to 20 high school courses were approved Tuesday night by the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Approved earlier by high school principals and reviewed by teachers and the district’s Academic Advisory Council, the changes mostly involved adjusting course titles of foreign language, math and science courses. . .

Follow this link for more: http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/3614/fbisd-board-approves-changes-to-20-high-school-courses


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FBW BOT Monday Meeting Report (We appreciate the FBISDWatch members who attended and provided this report):

Academies Controversy Emerges Over Block Scheduling (see related chronicle piece at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/5368243.html):

Numerous studies will easily refute the above administrative claim on block scheduling. The incremental improvement in student outcomes based on motivational theory, block scheduling, grade improvement and actual increased performance (as well as better job and career prep) isn't questioned in most mainstream educational debate. See these studies and links for more:

http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=Block+scheduling&searchtype=keyword&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b8016c8e3&accno=EJ748014&_nfls=false

http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=Block+scheduling&searchtype=keyword&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b8015fb03&accno=EJ751150&_nfls=false

http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=Block+scheduling&searchtype=keyword&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b801606d5&accno=EJ752870&_nfls=false

http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=Block+scheduling&searchtype=keyword&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b80169f2b&accno=EJ741160&_nfls=false

(many, many more are available)

The primary issue, as reported above is the response given by Dr. Jenney stating that it is a cost factor. Basically, in our opinion, he wants the PR impact of more academies but without the subsequent investment. Without block scheduling the academies become nothing more than additional pre-AP type classes. If you can't support them then don't claim to implement them across the district.

Additionally, FBISDWatch was in attendance at the session and does not support the manner in which the current board president limits public speakers. More involvement by the public was promised during the recent bond elections, but in praxis we are seeing just the inverse by an administration and some BOT members that are being heavily influenced by special interests.

Advice to the BOT/admin:

Keep your word to the taxpayers/families/children or the public will remember when and how often you have not!


TIRZ Participation Requested By Developers of FBISD

In another interesting FBISDWatch report, several watchdog members were concerned about the possibility of a reversal on earlier board practice with regard to the diversion of school district taxpayer dollars to commercial and residential development through a new taxing zone (known as a TIRZ). A large development interest requested on Monday night that FBISD participate in the new Sugar Land TIRZ in the old Imperial Sugar development going in off hwy 90.

Traditionally, TIRZs have been very controversial because they redirect ad valorem and sometimes other taxes to private corporations. School districts in this area have long refused to participate in this process because, they argue, the immediate need for our students outweigh the private corporate developer interests involved in long-term growth. This may have changed recently with the new administration (see recent bond endorsements by the development industry).

We will continue to track this growing and very controversial issue...


Check back at intervals for updates.