FBISD Board Scraps Plan For Global Science Center
By: Jamie Mock on Fri, Jan 21, 2011News
Citing “economic challenges” and several other concerns, the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees has scraped the controversial plans to build a Global Science and Technology Center.
The plans were unveiled in March of 2009 during a presentation that ended with a video by Houston’s PBK Architects showing a 3-D rendering of the “Global Center for Science and Technology” while rock music blared in the FBISD board room.
Administrators offered the science center as a method of “bridging the divide between theory and practice.”
The proposal stirred up controversy in the community, with residents expressing concerns over possible tax increases, the ability of students to actually visit the facility and transportation issues. Many said the center would be a duplicate of the new Houston Museum of Natural Science location in Sugar Land.
District officials now say the goal is to develop a plan that “utilizes technology to deliver daily innovative science content to students through lessons at their home campus site.”
“In response to the economic challenges the district continues to experience and concerns related to the cost of maintenance and utilities for the facility, too little access by students, and transportation expenses, the Board of Trustees chose the new direction for science instruction by adopting a Board/Superintendent goal to make the most of the principles of the proposed science and technology center via technology and distance learning,” said district officials in a statement.
Officials said that by not building the facility, which was projected to cost $25 million and cost at least $500,000 a year to operate, not including transportation, the district will be able to redirect some bond interest money for “more pressing” capital improvement projects.
Officials also said eliminating the plan and using funds elsewhere will mean the district will not hold a bond referendum next November.
Full source: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2011/01/21/50041
