VOL 3 No. 44
Phone: 281-980-6745
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Sugar Land
FBISD seeks more local control, equitable funding By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend ISD board of trustees want local control and the authority to establish its own tax rate above $1.04 per $100 property valuation without seeking voter approval through a Tax Ratification Election. This is one of the several issues contained in the legislative agenda that the school board presented to area legislators at a breakfast meeting recently. Among the legislators who attended the meeting were Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman and State Reps. Charlie Howard and Dr. John Zerwas. Ron Reynolds who defeated Dist. 27 State Rep. Dora Olivo, in the Democratic primary, was also present. Reynolds is expected to win the seat defeating a Libertarian rival in the Nov. 2 election. The legislative agenda and a resolution urging the legislature to “make education a priority” has been prepared by the Texas Association of School Boards, representing 1034 school districts in the state. All school districts are expected to adopt an identical resolution to put pressure on the state to improve school funding “with an attitude where education is found as the highest priority.” While the legislators were inclined to look at removing inequities in the school funding
system, the demand for raising the tax rate without voter approval did not elicit a positive response. While Dr. Zerwas cautioned the board “to be careful about local control on raising taxes,” he later said he would like to understand the history behind the mandate for the Tax Ratification election. Huffman was not sold on the idea and said the issue needed further study. Howard did not endorse the idea either. The school district also wants the school start date to be left to the district’s discretion. Now, the state sets the date. The mandated late start date is a not good idea or in the interest of local control, the district says. On accountability, the school district is concerned about the “excessive testing pressures placed on our district’s students.” The district believes the entire academic record of a student should be considered for graduation and not the 12 endof-course exams alone. The board supports the amendment to the education code relating to student expulsions involving computer related incidents or hacking. Over 25 students in FBISD were involved in tampering with district computers and altering grades, but the district was not
able to expel these students. Currently, school districts may only discipline through removal to an alternative school, but that has not effectively deterred criminal conduct, according to the district. The board opposes any legislation which would endorse, create or permit the use of private school vouchers as the vouchers detract from the funding of the financially-strapped public schools. The school district wants to be exempted form the water district and municipal utility district fees. FBISD paid over $ 2 million to MUDs and water districts for water connection fees to new school campuses in 2007. The district opposes unfunded mandates like the 22:1 ratio in kindergarten through fourth grade. The district wants a relaxation of this policy so that the district can make staffing decisions based upon the needs of each campus. On school finance, the district supports a plan proposed by the TASB. The TASB plan increases the state’s investment in public schools, guarantees all districts new money, and closes funding gaps among districts. The plan would cost the state an additional $47 million in 2011-12, $1.068 billion in 201213, $1.543 billion in 2013-14 and $2.169 billion in 2014-15.
Youth in philanthropy hosts food drive
Top row: David Crowl, Keri Schmidt, Wende Lewis-Buckley, Dee Koch, Kelly Matte; Bottom Row: Chris Breaux, Diane Miller, Theresa Kopnicky, Allison Wen. —Photo by ANDREW WOLF. An award ceremony will gether to research nonprofits, Youth in philanthropy make awards and incorporate (YIP) presents its second an- take place at 2:30 p.m. Show your philanthropic campus participation in volnual countywide food drive on Saturday, Nov. 13 located community spirit donating unteer activities, thus, allowat Sugar Land Town Square. your non-perishable food ing them to see first-hand the Sponsored by H-E-B, the items Saturday from 10 a.m. impact philanthropy has on event will benefit five local – 3 p.m. at either Sugar Land the community. The YIP countywide food food banks; East Fort Bend Town Square or the conveHuman Needs Ministry, Katy nient drive-by drop-off avail- drive is sponsored by H-EB, Planned Community DeChristian Ministries, Mamie able at City Hall Drive. YIP is presented by The velopers, Sugar Land Town George Community Center, Rosenberg-Richmond Help- George Foundation and the Square and Safari Texas. For more information about ing Hands and Second Mile Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to pro- YIP and how to get involved Mission Center. YIP students from 12 Fort vide opportunities for high or provide support, contact Bend High Schools are com- school students to learn the David Crowl at 281-491-2497 ing together to stock the roles volunteering and phi- or david@fortbendcc.org. You can also visit the Fort pantries of local food banks lanthropy play in building a Bend Youth In Philanthropy and organize a canned food better community. YIP brings students to- (YIP) facebook page. sculpting competition.
More than 85,000 vote early
SCOUT TRAILER. Classic Chevrolet has partnered with the Richmond area Boy Scout Troop #1656 to repaint and refurbish their scout trailer. This was done as a community goodwill and was free of charge to the scout troop. The scouts thank Mike Gnader and the Body Shop staff who donated their time and talent. In the picture, left to right, are Mike Gnader, collision center manager, Rene Gonzalez, Troop 1656 quartermaster and Don Kerstetter, owner of Classic Chevrolet in Sugar Land.
Early voting for the November 2, 2010 election ended in Fort Bend County with 14,205 voters casting ballots on the last day. Five sites, Cinco Ranch Library, First Colony Conference Center, Missouri City Community Center, The FBC Rosenberg Annex, and Randalls at New Territory all saw more than 1,000 voters cast ballots. In all, 78,855 voters took advantage of the opportunity to vote early in person. Another 6,732 ballots have been returned by mail bringing the total to 85,587, or nearly 28 percent of the 309,031 registered voters in the county.
Cinco Ranch Library with 9,248 recorded the highest number of early votes, followed by Missouri City where 8,952 voted early.
First Colony finished third with 8,401 votes. For election results, visit www.fortbendvotes.org or fbindependent.com
10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor
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Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.