GSTC Project Vote Delayed For Now!

Staff report

CHRONICLE UPDATE: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/05/to_applaud_or_n.html

After quite a bit of public discussion and fanfare over several workshops and board sessions, the Global School & Technology Project (a duplication of the HMNS-Sugar Land science museum at Telfair) vote was avoided by the BOT for more discussions. Several trustee's appear to be on the proverbial fence regarding this issue and decided to start asking questions last Monday during the workshop session meant to receive the "sales"/feasibility committee report. The superintendent, Jenney, has been pushing the project forward since it was first announced in February.

Early Monday night, during the public comments section, obvious "meeting manuevering" took place to disallow several speakers a venue to air their disapproval of this controversial proposal that would spend an additional 30 to 50 million dollars of taxpayers funds during a district projected, first ever, $10 million dollar budget deficit. Several in attendance did finally get to speak. One defending the HMNS-SL project, due to open this October in Telfair (about 1.5 miles from the proposed GSTC project), urged the district to reconsider this expensive building plan and forge partnerships with the HMNS-SL museum in Sugar Land that won't cost any taxpayer dollars and has been successfully done in other districts for years, including neighboring HISD.

One FBISDWatch speaker reissued several TPIA requests concerning the GSTC process that the superintendent publically vowed to respond to in April, but has since referred them to one of the district's legal vendors, David Feldman, for challenge with the Texas Attorney General. Several of these questions continue to hinge on the concerns over an ongoing FBI investigation involving the regular district vendor PBK and their actions in another TX district involving special favors to some senior administrative district employees and board members including golfing junkets to exclusive California courses. As of this report no decision has come down from the AG's office on these lawful requests...

Stay tuned as we keep this story updated!

Background: http://www.fortbendweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1131&Itemid=101