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)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

FBN: Covers Controversial Glover CAD Board Nomination--click below--

See: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/16/49499

"Many residents have questioned the ethics of nominating the husband of an active board member, and Babb said he has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails concerning the nomination.

There is no mention of Albert Glover’s name in the agenda packet for the meeting. The resolution included in the packet has a blank line where the nominee’s name would be written.

Babb said he abstained from voting because he was unaware that the board already had a candidate in mind. He said he was under the impression that the board would be viewing resumes and discussing possible candidates." FBN


--FBW comment: So this is how it really operates?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Talk of HS Closures Fills BOT Meeting-

See: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/14/49454#comment-16420

More on possible school closings (update 12-16): http://www.fortbendstar.com/121510/n_FBISD.htm

Albert Glover, Husband of BOT Member Marilyn Glover Selected For Possible Appointment To CAD Board (Apparent conflict of interest?)

FBISDWatch was notified a few weeks back about a vacancy on the county appraisal board for a FBISD member. These positions have come under the spot-light over the past few years because of the record number of challenges to property tax appraisals in the district. Recently an appointed CAD board member for FBISD resigned leaving the seat open for several months.

According to inside sources and the district, this position may be filled by a husband of one of the school board members who has been very active in supporting BOT candidates that back the superintendent and many of his spending projects. The real question is, could this present a conflict of interest if he is voted in at the commissioners court meeting today?

Stay tuned, we will update this at intervals...

School closings update: http://fbindependent.com/fbisd-plans-to-close-down-two-schools-p3151-1.htm

(Note: Does it make sense to not utilize existing campuses for student needs rather than to close existing campuses while building several new ones and proposing an additional project costing as much as a campus to operate in the "GSTC"?)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Upcoming Meetings-

Dec. 13 Zoning Boundaries Workshop

Dec. 13 School Board Meeting

Dec. 20-Jan. 2 Winter Holidays

Jan. 10 School Board Meeting

Jan. 17 Martin L. King Day - Holiday

Jan. 24 Budget Workshop

Jan. 24 School Board Meeting


EXTRA Chron: FBISD zoning workshop--still discussing possible school closings...

http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/stories/223764-ktrk-fort-bend-county-to-hold-zoning-workshop-tonight

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

FBN OP/ED: FBISD Bond Steering Committee Politics--click link below for more--

Is the bond debt steering committee process a farse? See what one resident has to say about it in this local FBN editorial....

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/08/49346

and this one (school district still pointing the finger at the state for 3-4 years of budget woes rather than take responsibility for mismanagement)--12-10-10:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/10/49383

"...Despite widespread criticism by school officials about the level of state funding for public schools, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has released a report saying school spending per student has increased by 63 percent during the last decade, outpacing both enrollment growth and inflation.

Fort Bend Independent School District officials, having just faced their third budget deficit in a row, have long blamed the state’s school financing system for their financial woes..." FBN

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Upcoming Meetings-

Dec. 07 Tech. Ed. Expo

Dec. 13 School Board Meeting

Dec. 20-Jan. 2 Winter Holidays

Jan. 10 School Board Meeting


ZONING UPDATE 12-1: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/01/49212

More Budget Problems:

http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/12/02/49243