Fourth man sentenced in witness murder - Page 3
Construction on the Fort Bend EpiCenter began with a groundbreaking event last week. Read more about the timeline for the project on Page 2. (Photo by Matt deGrood)
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 13
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Financial concerns loom amidst enrollment shortage By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The 2021-22 school year was supposed to be a return to relative normal for students in Fort Bend ISD, after more than a year of mostly virtual school amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic. But whether because of a spike in cases spurred by the delta variant of
9pm-1am
COVID-19, a concern over a lack of mask mandates in schools or something else entirely, that has not happened. And that fact could have consequences, both for the district’s budget and also for the students who have not yet returned to in-person classes. FBISD's enrollment this year was more than 2,000 students lower than projected, and the
Students are shown in a classroom with Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck. (Photo from Facebook)
district still has about 750 students enrolled in its virtual learning program, deputy superintendent Steve Bassett said during a recent school board meeting.
SEE SHORTAGE PAGE 9
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FBISD hires firm to design Sugar Land 95 exhibit By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Starting earlier this year, advocates in Fort Bend County began calling for a museum to honor the 95 people, known as the Sugar Land 95, who historians said were Black people who were part of a state-convict leasing program to farm sugarcane more than a century ago. Their remains were discovered in 2018. The museum is still in discussion, but Fort Bend ISD’s Board of Trustees late Tuesday took a step toward establishing a more permanent resting spot for the 95 people by approving a $170,000 contract with a renowned architecture firm to design an outdoor exhibit space and cemetery for the Sugar Land 95. “I thank you for the help you’re giving the district, bringing peace and healing for something that was pretty painful,” trustee Kristen Davis Malone said to representatives from the design firm. “My hope is through this, we will all be much stronger and more united.” The district has contracted with MASS Design Group, a Boston-based architectural group that has focused in recent years on museums and exhibits geared toward forgotten aspects of history and racial justice. The firm garnered honors in recent years for its work on the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. Also informally known as the National Lynching Museum, the facility sitting on a 6-acre site overlooking the Alabama state capitol opened in 2018 and is dedicated to the more than 4,400 victims of racial lynchings across the south, according to a New York Times article about the memorial. The facility took as its inspiration such renowned architectural feats at the Holo-
SEE SL 95 PAGE 9
Unmarked graves like this outside the James Reese Career and Technical Center in Sugar Land are currently the only onsite evidence of the Sugar Land 95 . (Photo by Matt deGrood)
A bird is shown carrying a fish in this photo by Trevor Gatus, who won first place in the birds category in the recent Cullinan Park photo contest. The competition was part of "Picnic at the Park," which raised thousands of dollars to help with planned park improvements. (Contributed photo)
Cullinan Park raises $90,000 for park improvements By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
When the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses and indoor activities for many in March 2020, people increasingly turned to parks during their free time. Fast-forward all these months later and, while coronavirus cases in Fort Bend County are on the ebb, that newfound passion for parks remains. And it’s possibly part of the reason the Cullinan Park Conservancy
raised about $90,000 for park improvements during the fifth annual Picnic for the Park – the most the group has ever raised at the event, according to Robbin Mallett, board president for the Cullinan Park Conservancy. “I think a lot of new people discovered the park because of COVID,” she said. “They needed that stress relief, and nature is a great way of finding that stress relief. We had so many visitors during the pandemic that didn’t know we Roger Hutchison's wildlife photo was a winner in the were here. I heard that over and over again.” Cullinan Park Conservancy contest. (Contributed photo)
Like many nonprofits, the Picnic for the Park was the group’s return to in-person events after holding the fundraiser virtually last year, Mallett said. “It was exciting to see local businesses, community leaders and nature lovers all come together in-person again,” she said. Somewhere around 250 people attended the fundraising luncheon, and many others participated in the Cullinan Park photo contest,
SEE CULLINAN PAGE 9
Lady Panthers prowling for first volleyball state title By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The Ridge Point Lady Panthers' volleyball team has become so used to postseason glory in each of the last four seasons that the players' parents might as well purchase a ticket to the UIL state tournament to begin each year. Despite all the wins and accolades, however, the ultimate goal of winning a state title has
remained elusive. Now, they’ll have yet another chance to bring home the firstplace hardware this weekend. The Lady Panthers are headed back to the Class 6A state tournament for the third time in the last four years after defeating Pearland Dawson 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 26-24 last Friday and then taking down Katy 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18 last Saturday to earn a spot. Ridge Point (38-10) will face Keller (31-12) in the state semi-
The Ridge Point volleyball team celebrates after defeating Katy in the regional final on Saturday. (Photo from Twitter)
finals at 7 p.m. Friday at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. “I don’t even know that it’s really hit me yet, because from
SEE VOLLYBALL PAGE 9
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