FB Star Covers FBISD TPIA (Open Records) Controversy-

Get the latest updates from the FB Star on this continuing problem with FBISD:

http://www.fortbendstar.com/081209/n_FBISD%20still%20has%20not%20released%20requested%20records%20%20New%20Territory%20resident%20claims.htm

http://www.fortbendstar.com/Columns/skinner_cheryl.htm

From FB Star Skinner Weekly Column:

FBISD and those public records

I am very disappointed in Fort Bend Independent School District for not releasing public records requested by Nancy Hentschel of New Territory months ago.

About three weeks ago, after an attorney general’s opinion was handed down, the district said they had complied and the documents had been released.

Hertschel says that simply is not the case.

Now Nancy is not a tax protester. In fact she says she has no problem paying taxes for services that are for the benefit of the community. She’d gladly pay taxes to reduce the size of the classrooms and give teachers incentives to be the best they can be, she says.

But she is legitimately concerned about a plan to spend $24 million for a Global Science Center when some schools are reporting continual air conditioning and plumbing problems, some classrooms have 30 students and teachers are stressed beyond their limitations, she says.

Not only that, but Nancy wonders aloud how the district would be able to bus 800 students a day to the envisioned Global Science Center when they are having a hard time bussing the regular students to their allotted campuses.

She has some very legitimate concerns.

At first she asked for the records to see if the planned construction was really needed or could be justified.

Now, do to the hanky-panky way this has been handled, she feels there must be something they are hiding or the information would have immediately been released when requested.

I’ve seen this over and over again through the years. A citizen asks a governmental body to provide public records. The governmental body balks or refuses. A simple request becomes a demand. The demand becomes an official complaint. More people join the foray. The governmental body in question eventually complies but by then no one trusts them or believes that they have truly provided unaltered or complete information.

Things would be so simple if our public officials recognized that they are such and that transparency is required by those paying the bills .. the taxpayers.

Stay informed and keep in touch!