Vote in the Republican Primary Runoff!
Vote early from May 14 through 18. Election Day is Tuesday, May 22. You may vote in the runoff even if you did not vote in the March 6 Primaries. TriciaKrenek.com • G Tricia Krenek for County Court at Law No. 3 Tricia Krenek is proud to be endorsed by:
State Representative John Zerwas ✯ Precinct 3 County Commissioner Andy Meyers ✯ Mayor Lou Boudreaux ✯ Mayor Rodney & Marie Pavlock Mayor Ernie Stuart ✯ Former Mayor Tommy & Rhonda Kuykendall ✯ Former Mayor Dan McJunkin ✯ and many more of your friends and neighbors
Political advertising paid for by Tricia Krenek Campaign, Sean Bielstein, Treasurer, in voluntary compliance with the limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act
VOL 11 No. 20
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2018
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Education commissioner unveils Tricia Krenek, Harold Kennedy in strategy for better outcome primary runoff for CCL judge no.3
Malisha Patel, left, chairman, Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, Juliette Nessmith, chamber’s director of programs, Jim Rice FBISD trustee and edcucation divison chair and Keri Schmidt, president of the chamber on May 9 during the luncheon at Texas Safari Ranch. By SESHADRI KUMAR Texas students’ performance “in good old days were not that good. It is as good as it gets,” says Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s education division at the Safari Texas Ranch on May 9, Morath sought to change the perception that education standards in Texas has been declining over the years. A large array of 700,000 people who work in public schools in Texas devote all their time and energy to kids’ education, he said. Regardless of what they look like or where they come from, “we give the highest bar to succeed in achieving the American dream,” he said. Presenting the status of student attainment and achievement, Morath said nearly 60 percent of the children are not equipped to be in Kindergarten and in 3rd grade, 48 percent of students meet the grade level in reading and math and in 8th grade, it is 59 percent. Only 16 percent of the students are prepared for college with the SAT/ACT passing rate of 16 percent and the highest high school completion rate has been 89 percent. About 56 percent of high school graduates enroll in college and 24 percent of them finish college in 6 years or less.
Morath points out that there has been no change in high school graduation rate or college graduation rate. In the last 20 years, the level of college readiness (passing SAT/ACT) increased from 20 per cent to 26 percent among non-economically disadvantaged students and from 5 percent to 7 percent among economically disadvantaged students, Morath said. From 1996 to 2017, the number of economically disadvantaged students rose from 45 percent to 60 percent in the state. Describing this situation as the “single most existential issue in Texas,” Morath said “We have got to raise the rate of improvement especially for low income children.” Morath explained the agency’s strategic priorities to ensure that every child is prepared for college, a career or the military. The priorities include “Recruit, support and retain teachers and principals; Build a foundation of reading and math; connect high school to career and college; and Improve low performing schools.” An increase in transparency, fairness and rigor in district and campus academic and financial performance will enable the implementation of the priorities. Ensuring compliance, effective implementation of legislation and informing policy makers and strengthening organizational
foundation will further enable implementation of the priorities, Morath said. Morath mentioned that early childhood education and parent empowerment, professional support from reading academies and excellence teams, and programs and partnerships would be needed to build a foundation of math and reading. Morath vividly described the challenge of a teacher in educating a child by comparing a specialized nurse in the operating room assisting a surgeon operating on the brain of a patient, under sedation. A teacher, on the other hand is helping in managing 20 brains at the same time, all awake and kicking, Morath said. Touching on the theory of action to accomplish the goal, Morath said, “If the agency maintains a tiered campus performance framework to assist school systems in analyzing student outcomes,supports school boards to govern with a focus on student outcomes, and supports the development of district capacity to implement coherent curriculum and assessment strategies and fill school-level talent gaps, supports district-level campus oversight including school improvement efforts and school transformation actions, then we will foster conditions to provide families with access to more A & B campuses and reduce number of D & F campuses.”
By SESHADRI KUMAR Early voting for the Republican and Democratic Party primaries runoff election has begun. Early voting will end on May 18 and run-off election day is May 22. One of the races in the Republican Party primary run off includes County Court at law Judge No. 3. Tricia Krenek and Harold Kennedy are in the runoff. Krenek in her own words explains her platform and says why she should be elected: “As an attorney, mediator, local volunteer, and public servant, I have a proven track record of advocating for others and achieving positive, impactful results, all of which will serve the citizens of Fort Bend County well. As the managing partner of a litigation firm, I have first-hand understanding and respect for the rule of law and experience that makes me the right choice for the bench. I desire to bring my legal skills and keen business acumen to the Fort Bend County judiciary. “County Court at Law 3 handles a variety of legal matters that many citizens will encounter, including probate, guardian-
ships, criminal misdemeanors, juvenile matters, and civil cases. Most notably, County Court at Law 3 is unique in that it oversees an advocacy program close to my heart—the Girls’ Court. Under the present leadership of Judge Susan Lowery, the Girls’ Court provides a caring place for young women in personal crisis and is entirely administered by women committed to making a positive difference in lives of our young girls. This program provides young ladies with discipline, structure, accountability, and direction for their lives, and oftentimes “firm love with a compassionate heart” intended to help guide these young ladies towards making good decisions that will forever change their lives. I will continue this important program for our young ladies as your Judge of County Court at Law 3. “The qualities that set me apart and make me the right choice for judge of this court are my servant’s heart; my commitment to conservative, Christian values; and my dedication to public service. My education, training, and experience provide me a strong foundation to faithfully adhere to a constitution-
ally sound approach of applying the rule of law as it is written, avoiding judicial activism and administering justice in a fair, impartial, and compassionate manner. “The highlights of my educational experience include studying abroad under the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as well as clerking for Judge Jeff Brown who now serves on the Texas Supreme Court. “My passion for public service and my love for community is reflected in my second term as a Fulshear city council member and in my current position as Mayor Pro Tem. Serving in city government has provided me exceptional opportunities to develop skills that blend well with my legal training. “I have helped create sound, conservative, and fiscally responsible policies needed to address issues important to the citizens I am blessed to serve. “As your Judge, I am committed to diligently working for all the citizens of Fort Bend County. I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican primary run-off election and thank you See JUDGE, Page 3
Missouri City approves resolutions for economic development By BARBARA FULENWIDER Three resolutions Missouri City Council members approved at their May 7 meeting will bring the city more revenue and a fourth resolution approved will build a part of Independence Boulevard. The economic development agreement between the city and Century Land Holdings of Texas will include the developer’s Liberty Ridge subdivision, which is in the vicinity of the first segment of Independence Boulevard that is being built. The subdivision will be on 30.30 acres of land north of Court Road, south of Knanaya Homes subdivision, east of StaMo Park and west of Staffordshire Road. The road will be a four-lane divided boulevard 1,400 feet east of Moore Road and will include curb and gutter and drainage improvements. From Scanlin Road to Court Road the boulevard will be concrete with drainage improvements
and shoulders from Scanlin Road to Court Road. The developer will advance the cost and manage the design and construction of certain transportation and drainage infrastructure at the west entrance of the property, according to background information for council members. The entire segment 1 is funded through the city’s capital improvement program and the 2014 county mobility bond funds. The remaining section of the project is now being designed. The city’s 2018 bond funds will be paid to the developer within 90 days after payment has been requested. The funds budgeted are $4,205,000. Road construction is to begin by Aug. 1 and be finished by Dec. 31, 2019. After council approved that resolution, At-Large Position 1 Councilman Jerry Wyatt said, “This will help us get Independence Boulevard built quicker and the development go at the same time. We have a
mechanism to reimburse them that’s a win win for the city.” He asked and was assured that the developer will donate the right of way. The next two resolutions were about tax abatements agreements. The first was with 827 Wanamaker Limited Partnership and pertained to 16.82 acres. The land is north of Willow Oak Drive, south of Buffalo Run, east of Willow Wisp Dr. and west of Fairview Pines Dr., and all of it is in Reinvestment Zone No 18. Joe Esch, Missouri City’s director of economic development, introduced the second and third resolution to council. The tax abatement agreements were between the city and 827 Wanamaker and Warren Valve Co. Esch told council Wannamaker has “two sites in our community and this will be their third expansion in Lake View Business Park.” One of the projects the city See DEVELOPMENT, Page 3