VOL 8 No. 34
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Fort Bend ISD kicks off 2015-16 school year with district-wide rallies
Excitement was felt throughout Fort Bend ISD as employees gathered for the 2015-2016 back to school rallies to kick off the new school year. The District hosted 14 mini events August 14 – 20 to accommodate more than 10,000 employees represented at each FBISD campus and facility. Employees enjoyed inspirational messages, spectacular student and staff performances, video presentations, roll calls of participating campuses, dance-offs, and lots of laughter and cheer. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre joined Board Members and members of the Executive Team in wel-
Employees confirm commitment to District and team by proclaiming, “I Am Fort Bend ISD!” coming staff and emphasizing President Grayle James spoke their jobs with an “attitude of chitl Rodriguez spoke of how she was inspired to teach aftheir commitment to working of the importance of forming gratitude.” “Mr. Bostick was great and ter working at a daycare for together as a team to support relationships with students, employees in various roles in saying, “There are many stu- very motivational,” said Jera- homeless children. She also dents coming to you this year, my Graves, ITS Senior User referenced proud moments she the District. has had in hearing the success “We are focused on help- some brand new. I encourage Support Analysis. “He made me reflect on stories of former students she ing teachers deliver, because you to build positive relationthe heart of all we do is in the ships with your students. Doing things that motivate me and taught. She mentioned one in so makes all the difference in celebrate who I am and can be particular, Pedro, who grew up classroom,” said Dr. Dupre. to others – and that’s someone to become a fire fighter. “And teachers and campus their educational experience.” “This was my first year atMotivational speaker Aric with a good attitude who can employees can’t do their jobs without the support of bus driv- Bostick kicked off the rally inspire others to be the best tending the back to school rally and I thought it was wonderers, cafeteria workers, facilities for auxiliary and central office they can be.” During the campus rallies, ful,” said Dawn Dominguez, crews, central office staff and staff at Wheeler Field House. all other employees. We’re one In his usual high-energy de- held at each of the District’s receptionist at Blue Ridge Elteam, and everyone’s job is im- livery, Bostick encouraged the high schools, Assistant Su- ementary School. “Dr. Dupre’s portant in ensuring that our stu- audience to develop traits of an perintendents had audience speech was very inspiring and I engaged employee – being de- members reflect on their own think everyone could relate to dents are successful.” Relationship and team build- pendable, considerate, commit- personal stories as they shared Dr. Rodriguez’s story because ing were underlying themes ted and a team player. He also moments that inspired them we’ve all been in her shoes at throughout the rallies. Board advised employees to perform to become educators. Dr. Xo- one time or another.”
One of the highlights of this year’s rallies was when Dr. Dupre encouraged employees to embrace the fact that they represent Fort Bend ISD. “In everything you do, whether on campus or at a neighborhood grocery store, you represent Fort Bend ISD,” he said. “It’s important that you remember who you are, because we want everyone you encounter to have a positive Fort Bend ISD experience.” Before employees returned to their worksites, they confirmed their commitment to the District and to each other by proclaiming “I AM FORT BEND ISD!”
County calls for $98.6 million facilities bond election By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County Commissioners Court at a special meeting held on Aug. 20 unanimously adopted an order authorizing a bond election on Nov. 3. The ballot will have four propositions totaling $98.6 million. The approval of the bonds is not expected to result in any tax increase. The first proposition of $9.9 million will be for acquisition of land for park facilities, community center and recreational facilities. The projects included under this proposition are 5th Street Community Center Expansion — Addition of new, free-
standing gymnasium adjacent to existing facility; approx. 9,000 sf. —$1.9 million; HCC Sienna Building— Acquisition of existing HCC academic building for future renovation and use as a County annex facility — $8 million. The second proposition is for improving and constructing facilities in the fair grounds for $6 million. Precinct 1 Commissioner Richard Morrison had proposed a multi-use event facility at an estimated cost of $24 million inside the fair grounds, with anticipated participation by the cities of Richmond and Rosenberg and Lamar Consolidated ISD.
The idea did not gain support from commissioners court because the feasibility of the project has not yet been established and participation by other entities has not been guaranteed. Commissioners felt that voters may not approve a future project with no concrete plans for construction and its operation. Morrison felt the bond package provided no benefit to Pct. 1 taxpayers. The third proposition is for county facilities and $19.8 million has been earmarked. The likely projects under this proposition are Missouri City Branch library Expansion and renovation to the existing building — $6.4 million;
Iraq War Hero to get mortgage-free house When Sugar Land Skeeters baseball fans come to Constellation Field on Friday, Sept. 4, they will get more than a great game, a military salute and fireworks in tribute to lives lost during the tragedy of 9-11 and American heroes who helped in the aftermath. Skeeters team sponsor Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land www.classicchevysugarland. com also will introduce the crowd of fans to a group of special military service men and women, veterans of the Iraq war who have sacrificed much defending America’s freedom. Among that group will be the winner—to be announced on the field at the game -- of a mortgage-free, custom-built Tilson Home to be constructed in Pecan Grove, Fort Bend County. The funds that set the gift in motion were generated by Classic Chevy Sugar Land’s Raise a Roof, House a Hero campaign with a Wall of Honor that was raised at the Fort Bend dealership on Veteran’s Day 2014. “Our Wall of Honor bears the signature of each new truck buyer and $250 of the purchase of their new Silverado
New 35,000 sf branch library to serve the expanding north Fort Bend area $13.4 million. Proposition Four is the biggest chunk with an allocation of $62.9 million and it includes additional justice center, Sheriff’s office, and Medical Examiner office. Projects included in this proposition are: Justice Center Expansions— 105,600 sf addition to include permanent space for the District Attorney, District Clerk, County Clerk, and shared meeting space for all building users— $29.2 million. Structured Parking — Parking garage expansion adding 400 cars to accommodate expanding courts in the Justice Center $ 4.7 million. Medical Examiner Administration Building and Morgue Office t o t a l i n g
11,860 sf — $3.4 million Sheriff’s Office — New 48,000 sf facility to consolidate Administration Building numerous divisions in one location $11.3 million. Sheriff’s Office — New 18,000 sf facility Katy Area Sub-Station to better serve the largest projected unincorporated growth area in the County $4.3 million County-wide Parks — Miscellaneous park enhancements and land acquisition and include baseball, soccer / football /improvements, lacrosse multiuse fields, lighting, parking, and other needed improvements — $8 million. EMS Facility — Miscellaneous improvements to existing EMS facilities, various locations—$2 million. The HCC building in Sienna Plantation will be bought by the
county at the appraised value of $8 million. HCC plans to build a new campus in Missouri City adjacent to the city hall on Texas Parkway. The proposed expansion of justice center is to meet the anticipated additional courts in the future and the growth in the population. The Medical Examiner Office, with an estimated operational cost of $750,000 is expected to break even with the possible use of the facility by neighboring counties. Last year Fort Bend County conducted 200 autopsies at the Galveston Medical Examiner’s Office. The cost of an autopsy ranges from $2,500 to $3000. An office in Fort Bend County will spare the huge waste of manpower in commuting to Galveston.
Quail Valley Garden Club awards scholarships
truck benefited OPERATION FINALLY HOME www.operationfinallyhome.org toward a new house for one of our veterans,” said Don Kerstetter, owner of Classic Chevy Sugar Land dealership. “We’ll introduce our hero and present our check of $75,000 during the 4th inning between 7 and 7:30 p.m. at the Sept. 4 game,” he added. “Come see the winner’s shock, awe and surprise!” Without revealing the name, Kerstetter did say the winning military combat veteran will be at the Skeeters game with the other invited guests but doesn’t know he is the recipient. The veteran did three tours in Iraq, holds Global War on Terror
medals, and sustained multiple combat wounds. His wife and two children will be with him and they don’t know about the gift either. Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land is located at 13115 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Owner Don Kerstetter has been named Dealer of the Year by General Motors for the past five years and is known in the Fort Bend community for his charitable giving to the Sugar Land police fund and his annual Classic Chili Challenge. This year at the chili cook-off there were 50 teams and more than 2,500 attending raising more than $30,000 for the SL Police Officers Association.
Quail Valley Garden Club provides friendship, education and opportunities for our community. Providing assistance for college students is our favorite part of the garden club! Come join us for our 2015-2016 Kick-Off, Thursday, September, 10th at 9:30 at the Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center. It is located at 2701 Cypress Point Dr. Judy Ulke from Enchanted Gardens is going to spark our whimsical imaginations! Learn about different Fairy Gardens which include types of containers, dirt, and plants. Open to the public. For more information visit http:// traction.typepad.com/qvgc. Pictured, L-R: Patsy Armbruster, Scholarship Committee: Narietha Carter-McClain, College and Career Readiness Advisor, Elkins H.S.; Mayesh Srivatsay, father of scholarship recipient Aadithya Srivatsav; scholarship recipient Amie Jean and father Andre Jean; Samantha Ray, Asst. Principal at Elkins H.S.; Faiza Smith, mother of scholarship recipient Frances Smith; and Suzy Walters and Judy Belt, scholarship committee members. Not shown is Amny Rose, horticulture student at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.