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Fort Bend ISD considers eliminating K-6 initiative FBISD, continued from page 1
of the 13 schools not making adequate progress for this year. McWilliams partially blamed the programs' decline on the reduction in force (RIF) that occurred in 2010. "The core of the initiative was based upon the addition of staff," McWilliams said. "While it is difficult to isolate what has hurt those K-6 campuses the most, I think the loss of those positions has been tremendous." Trustees were shown a break down of enrollment numbers under the current initiative and what those numbers would look like under a standardized plan. Four elementary campuses would be at just 60% building utilization without sixth grade.
Only Missouri City Middle School would see its enrollment go above its functional capacity with the addition of sixth grade. Justin Silhavy, FBISD's Demographic and Planning Coordinator told the trustees that standardizing the district provides an opportunity to "reconfigure everything to address overcrowding at elementary and middle schools and consider possible boundary changes." The overview of the K-6 Initiative also included survey results of parents and teachers. Among the parents, 68% said they were satisfied with the initiative, 75% were satisfied with their child's overall academic performance and 70% want the program
Over $250M budget adopted explained that commissioners court has “to react to what we Commissioner Grady Prestage, can do, and my problem and who made the motions for the the reason why I will vote salary adjustments, proposed that against this is that I can’t do it for everyone, so I’m not going by April 2013, which is the mid to single out departments that point of the new budget year, a we’re going to do it for.” One District Attorney prosecutor’s of the motions for the budget salary be increased to $102,737. adjustments failed and the other He also asked commissioners court to adjust the Assistant was withdrawn. County Attorney’s salary in the There was also no action amount of $19,630. taken on position adjustments Although sympathetic about in the sheriff’s detention Morrison’s position, Judge and law enforcement areas. Hebert said “if we lose a skilled Commissioner Prestage said drag line operator from the Road there was concern about whether any action taken “would be and Bridge Department,” it also legal.” Prestage was probably hurts the county. Judge Hebert $250M, continued from page 1
to continue. But among the teachers surveyed, 60% said they were satisfied with student achievement, 68% thought students were getting a better education with the K-6 Initiative but just 33% wanted the program to continue with 26% "unsure". Trustees were also told about the difference in Fine Arts opportunities for sixth graders attending K-6 schools compared to sixth graders attending middle schools. McWilliams said the choices are fewer at K-6 schools, students get less instructional time, the Fine Arts teachers are spread too thin and K-6 students are less likely to continue with Fine Arts activities once they get to middle school. "We can't offer anything but art and band at the K-6 campus. referring to whether the action would comply with “the civil service act we adopted earlier this year,” said Commissioner Andy Meyers. Last week, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court also voted unanimously to adopt the county’s 2013 fiscal year budget which totals $250, 277,339. It includes the addition of a $300,000 non departmental contingency increase over last year amounting to $ 1,600,000. It also includes the raises for full time and part time employees, and funding for 2,076 positions, nine of which are newly created. In other action, commissioners court’s set the salaries for elected officials of Fort Bend County
But kids in the sixth grade in middle school can choose from choir, orchestra, speech. That's been a negative (with the initiative) and it has affected us all the way up through our high school programs," McWilliams said. The cost of standardizing the district would be nominal, according to the data compiled by the district. Fort Bend ISD would need to hire one additional counselor at a cost of around $70,000 and temporary buildings would need to be moved at a cost of $35,000 each. Reassigning staff, moving furniture and supplies and transportation changes would be minimal. The board hopes to discuss eliminating the K-6 Intiative at their next board meeting on September 23. in accordance with state law. The county judge’s annual salary is now $107,470, and commissioners will each earn $102,350 per year. Why is it that district judges will not get a raise from commissioners court? “The state district judges’ salaries are set and capped by law and they are currently under the maximum limit allowed under state law,” said Judge Hebert. “It’s not a matter set by the (commissioners) court, but by state law.” Fort Bend County’s tax rate will remain the same for the new fiscal year beginning in October. To review the new fiscal year salary and position listings, see this story online at fortbendstar. com.
ourselves we are smarter than that; we’re not. We have talked with our elderly parents and told them what to do and how to handle a stranger at the front door. We have talked with our children and told them not to answer the door. Yet, all the talking in the world does not undo the lessons to be nice to one another, help thy neighbor and answer the door when the bell rings, heck even the dog runs to the door to see who has come to visit.
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the door know that someone is at home. You never want a crook to On the flip side of strangers grandchildren. Also lost in cases think you are not home and come at the door is the weekly visitors such as these is heirloom jewelry on in, especially if you are inside! who have become a fixture at which is far more valuable to The best information available your home; the cleaning lady, the family than any amount of from law enforcement sources the yard guy, the pool service, money. Documents are lost as is to respond to a knock at the the plumber, the a/c repairman well as cash. Many of the victims door, do not open it for a stranger, to name just a few. While you in these type cases are depression and inquire as to what they or your parents may know these era folks who have lost faith in need. Provide what information the banking system. folks, do they really? They have you choose to impart through been given unfettered access to As victim’s families have the closed door and if you are your home and all your worldly learned, it is always important to uncomfortable, call 911 and tell possessions, including access to develop a plan, especially with police that a stranger is asking any financial information that seniors. That being said, seniors you to leave your home. may be stacked up on a counter are not all that interested in Most importantly, the on laying on a bar. listening to their adult children, community is only as safe as As the families who recently however, there are lessons to the neighbors who look out for lost safes in these nasty burglaries be learned, on both sides, while each other. If you know you have have learned, there is far more developing a working plan. an elderly neighbor, keep an lost than the safe; which have While no one advocates eye on them, if you know there been the size of a refrigerator; being afraid to open the door, are children at home without a hidden in a secret place. it is critical that one is mindful parent, keep an eye out for them Along with the loss of the who is on the other side when as well. the doorbell rings or someone safe itself, these victims lose Fort Bend is a community of knocks. As we have learned it is historical mementos that link neighborhoods. Be neighborly past generations to tomorrow’s also important to let whoever is at and we will all be safer.
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PAGE 7
Missouri City slow to pull trigger on May bond vote
meetings between October and February, which is when the referendum would need to be submitted for inclusion on the May ballot. During the bond referendum discussion, Mayor Owen gave an impromptu update on the city's negotiations with METRO. Owen, who is chair of the METRO Multi-City Coalition, said he is hopeful the city will continue to get a 50 percent return on the sales tax money they send Metro which amounts to around $3 million every year. The METRO funds have to be spent on streets, sidewalks and traffic mitigation issues.
BOND VOTE, continued from page 1
which would be the only major capital project involved in the referendum. Broussard told the council that a smaller bond package for "rehab projects" might be more palatable to residents rather than a more extensive plan with large capital expenditures. "Based on the strategic priorities that you have had, there is a limited amount of money," Broussard told the council. "If you want to consider something higher and something that is going to take a more comprehensive approach, it will take a little more time." The City Council decided to increase the number of bond steering committee members from 11 to 25. They will be responsible for fine tuning the proposal in a series of weekly
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