School Board Report (FBN & Chronicle)-

FBISD Trustees Approve Redistricting Plan
by John Pape

Fort Bend ISD trustees approved an attendance zone redistricting plan to accommodate new elementary schools 39 and 43, but leaving a group of about 25 students living in Oyster Creek Plantation zoned to Lexington Creek Elementary School after parents raised safety issues with the first version of the zoning proposal.

The plan, originally presented by district administrators in January, was developed to provide attendance zones for the two new Missouri City-area elementary schools while reducing the number of students going to currently-overcrowded campuses. Adjustments were also made to several middle and high school attendance zones.

In his briefing to board members, Executive Director of Support Services Lee Petros noted that during the process of developing the proposed zones, focus was primarily placed on natural boundaries, feeder patterns, overcrowded schools, neighborhood schools and supporting academic achievement for students.

Elementary school no. 39, which will open this fall, is located on Lexington Boulevard just east of FM 1092 and north of Fifth Street. Elementary schools affected by the redistricting to this school are Dulles, E.A. Jones, Quail Valley and Palmer.

Areas rezoned to the new school include the portion of the Dulles attendance zone east of FM 1092, the portion of the E.A. Jones zone west of Staffordshire Road and the part of the Quail Valley attendance zone north of a line extending west from Court Road to FM 1092.

Also affected by the rezoning is a portion of the Palmer attendance zone located in the Quail Valley subdivision. Those students will instead go to Quail Valley Elementary.

A group of about 25 students in Oyster Creek Plantation that were originally scheduled to be shifted to Quail Valley from Lexington Creek will instead remain zoned to their current school. Changes were made in the plan after a number of parents appeared at board meetings to voice their objections to the proposed change.

The parents cited safety issues caused by children having to cross busy FM 1092 to get from their homes to school. Reza Sarahani addressed trustees on behalf of the Lexington Creek parents to express their appreciation for the reconsideration. . .

Get the full stories at:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=20181-FBISD-Trustees-Approve-Redistricting-Plan&widget=push&article-FBISD-Trustees-Approve-Redistricting-Plan%20=&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/5569944.html

Related chronicle blog piece: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2008/02/fbisd_trustees.html (BOT members attack taxpayers/families who spoke up, log your opinion)

Comment:

FBISDWatch wanted to thank the BOT watchers who attended and shared their perspectives with us on last nights meeting.