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WEDNESDAY • MAY 23, 2018
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 40 • No. 40
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FBISD board under fire for facilities plan 832-532-0040 Proageinstitute.com
Zoning changes, new schools being considered By Theresa D. McClellan
1235 Lake Pointe Pkwy, Suite 103 Sugar Land, TX. 77479
THERESA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Free Aesthetic Consultation
When the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees gathered for a full board meeting May 14 to vote on proposed facility recommendations, they came with awareness that a fired up community was ready to challenge every move. Indeed, school board superintendent Charles Dupre issued a statement apologizing to the public for leaving some with the perception that their voices did not matter. So in addition to leading with an apology, changes were made to the agenda to accommodate the standing-room-only crowd. That allowed community members to speak before the board entered two closeddoor sessions and then take action in what turned
Sugar Land Police Chief Doug Brinkley has been promoted to assistant city manager, effective June 6. (Submitted photo)
out to be the district’s longest board meeting, which ended at 2:20 a.m. with the board making multiple recommendations. The more than 8.5-hour meeting allowed the public to hear the board members challenge and question the administration and one another as they plowed through difficult decisions. “The revised recommendations were based on feedback. We were trying to address too many issues and challenges at one time. One example was trying to solve the issue of utilization of high schools while addressing GPA and class ranking concerns addressed by parents at host academies. I truly regret our attempts to solve too many issues at once made some communities feel devalued. That was not and will never be our intent. As we present updated recom-
Police chief promoted to assistant Paralyzed Richmond manager From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Sugar Land City Manager Allen Bogard last week announced the promotion of Police Chief Doug Brinkley to the position of assistant city manager, effective June 6. “Chief Brinkley’s promotion reflects the city’s record of consistently developing and internally promoting employees who are ready to take on critically important leadership roles,” Bogard said. Brinkley now oversees the police and fire departments, areas currently assigned to First Assistant City Manager Steve Griffith who plans to retire in January 2019. Brinkley will work closely with Griffith prior to his departure to ensure a smooth transition of leadership in both departments. Internal candidates are being considered for the position of police chief; an extensive assessment and selection process is ongoing that’s expected to result in a final decision in June. Internal candidates are also being evaluated to replace Fire Chief Juan “J.J.” Adame, who also plans to retire in January 2019. The decision on the next fire chief is expected in November after candidates are provided an opportunity to lead the department on an interim basis. Brinkley was promoted to police chief in 2009 after serving as an assistant chief since 2005. Under his leadership, the city achieved the lowest crime rate on record. He achieved this through the creation of a strong police presence, enhanced community partnerships, expansion of public education, a commitment to expanded implementation of technology such as cameras, rigorous training and leadership development. In Sugar Land’s most recent citizen satisfaction survey, police, fire and ambulance service received the highest level of satisfaction from residents at 94 percent. Prior to joining SLPD in 2005, Brinkley spent 15 years in law enforcement in Michigan, where he worked for the Detroit Police Department and the Grand Rapids Police Department. Brinkley has worked in all areas of law enforcement, including narcotics, patrol, special events coordination, traffic, various supervisory positions and vice. He has also served eight years in the United States Ar-
SEE BRINKLEY, PAGE 10
Approved FBISD recommendations The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved several facility recommendations made by a committee. Among them are: • Build a 1,000-capacity Elementary School 51 and make additions for Neill and Madden elementary schools. • For Clements and Elkins feeder pattern schools south of Highway 6, build a new elementary school with additions to Commonwealth, Austin and Settlers Way Elementary. • Expand Fort Settlement Middle School. • Rebuild Meadows Elementary. • Build a new elementary school to relieve Palmer and Park elementary overcrowding and include rezoning. • New 1,000-capacity elementary school for the Ridge Point High School feeder pattern. • Conceptually support rezoning in the Ridge Point area. Want implementation plan for the impact of flexible scheduling. • Include in the bond issue, money for the purchase of land for a future high school in the Sienna area. • Eventually, create boundaries based on community dialog that will be approved by the board. • New 1,400-capacity middle school for the Hightower/ Ridge Point feeder pattern. Answers raised by the creation of the Facilities Master Plan will help the district determine how much of a bond question this year with the understanding they have another 18 months to pursue if it fails. mendations, we refocus on building utilization while
still developing innovation,” said Dupre.
“Leadership means moving to the head of the pack and accepting risks to improve student outcomes. Good enough is not good enough anymore in FBISD,” Dupre added. As a result, the board postponed a vote on proposed innovative programs for elementary schools in the Marshall and Willowridge high school feeder patterns until further information becomes available by the end of summer. Board trustees Addie Heyliger and Grayle James said they didn’t have enough information from the administration. “This is too ambiguous. We need goals and timetables,” said Heyliger. The lack of depth and detail for schools in the Marshall feeder pattern angered parents. “I hear your passion for other schools, for keeping neighborhood schools. Ours are just as impor-
SEE FBISD, PAGE 11
man given chance to scuba dive again By Zach Maxwell FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
In the scuba diving world, having a buddy is priceless. A Richmond man’s story shows that having numerous buddies is even more valuable. Kevin Smith was an offshore oil industry worker until a motorcycle accident left him with paraplegia. One of the passions he refused to part with in this life transition was recreational diving. Enter the Dive Pirates Foundation. This group helps folks like Kevin – the disabled, injured military veterans – link up with dive instructors to get certified and get into the water. The otherworldly environment beneath the waves is a welcome respite. So there’s one buddy; now bring in brothers Russell and Sigmund Potocki, scuba diver instructors who give of their time to help folks like Kevin. And the final link in the chain, Divetech Dolphin Travel, a Heights dive shop that offered time at its specialized indoor pool to get Kevin trained and ready for certification.
Smith recently met up with the brothers at Divetech for his final pool training session before obtaining his Open Water Certification earlier this month. The goal: Getting out of the wheelchair and into the reefs around Cayman Brac in June. “These guys give of their time and talents and volunteer, make all of this accessible, and to me it’s just amazing,” Smith said. “I couldn’t say enough about them and what they do for veterans or people like myself. These guys here get all the credit for doing this.” Divetech is considered a chapter of the Dive Pirates Foundation, a Houston area non-profit that provides gear, training, and a trip for people with mobile disabilities to enjoy the freedom of diving. It’s all part of what divers call their “Pirate Code” of looking out for each other. For Kevin, the opportunity to train at Divetech and travel to the Caymans is a big step on the road to a better quality of life. “I did have a diving background and I’ve always enjoyed it. So after the accident, you’re not always
Dive instructors Russell and Sigmund Potocki assist Kevin Smith, center, in the pool at DiveTech in the Heights. Smith, a paragplegic, completed his scuba diver certification this month with the help of the Potocki brothers and the Dive Pirates Foundation. (Photo by Zach Maxwell)
aware of what you can and can’t do. You wouldn’t think that you’d be able to go do anything recreational,” he said. “You think, ‘It’s a drastic change, your life is over, things will never be the same.’ But that couldn’t be further from the truth.” This effort has numerous challenges specific to his paraplegic condition. The spinal injury Smith sustained left him with no use of his legs, no way to feel injuries below the injury (critical when falling into
water with several pounds of gear strapped to your back) and limited diaphragm usage. To get the wetsuit on, he has to rely on his upper body strength and his buddies. His dive buddies then help him with his tanks and flotation device, and easily roll him into the water. It was not so easy at a lake south of Houston, but Smith said he enjoyed facing the challenges on a platform beneath 20 feet of water – real world conditions similar to
what he will encounter in the Caribbean. “This is where it all starts, you have to get your certifications, you have to get comfortable. From there, there are no limitations. “Once you’re in the water, then its effortless. You don’t even know (the equipment) is there. It’s surprisingly relaxing,” he said. “When you’re in the water, it all goes away.” For more information about Dive Pirates, visit www.divepirates.org.
RC’s Tex-Mex overcomes odds with great food, low price By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Forget the age-old real estate adage, “location, location, location.” RC’s Tex-Mex is a case of “if you build it, they will come.” Given the traditionally high rate of restaurant failures and its obscure location, it’s surprising that RC’s Tex-Mex is around to celebrate its first year anniversary. Yet it is, which is no surprise to owner Ronnie Curnan. “The location motivated me,” Curnan said. The strip shopping center where the restaurant is located is off the beaten path, well north of Sugar Land’s premier locations along the Southwest Freeway and U.S. Highway 90-A. The shopping center is located at the intersection of Eldridge Road and Jess Pirtle Boulevard. Once there, one must pass a McDonald’s, a Subway, Panda Garden, and
RC’s Tex-Mex is located at 939 Eldridge Road.
RC’s Tex-Mex restaurant owner Ronnie Curnan with his wife Amanda, and their three children, Alayna, Reid, and Jace. (Submitted photo)
even Southern Maid Donuts just to find RC’s Tex-Mex squirreled away in a corner.
If that were not bad enough, Sugar Land’s sign ordinance limits what Cur-
nan can do to improve his curb appeal. Yet through it all, his restaurant is not only
surviving a year later, it’s steadily growing. His secret is simple. “We have high quality food at a reasonable price,” he said. Curnan is a 23-year veteran of the Pappasito restaurant chain – 21 years as a manager. He said he learned a lot from his time there, including the importance of good food, generous portions and how to properly manage a restaurant. Yet he knew it would take more than that to be successful.
SEE RC’S, PAGE 5