FBISD changes course on mask mandates - Page 4
All of the area's high school football teams kicked off their seasons last week. See how they fared on Page 5. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 The Star Office Will Be Closed in Observation of Labor Day
Trever Nehls running for County Judge
More area companies starting to mandate vaccines MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
An increasing number of businesses and organizations in Fort Bend County have begun to mandate that employees and visitors receive the coronavirus vaccine as a term of employment, amid spiking numbers of cases of the delta variant. The trend comes shortly after the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) last week gave full approval to the first coronavirus vaccine, Pfizer’s, which will be marketed as Comirnaty for those over 16 years of age, according to the administration.
Keri Schmidt, president and CEO of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, for instance, told the Fort Bend Star she didn’t have numbers on exactly how many businesses were instituting vaccine mandates, but she’d recently held a retreat with the organization’s newest leadership class at which she required attendees to be vaccinated. The chamber is also hosting a class on vaccine
hesitancy, she said. “I spoke with the leading infectious disease specialist in the area,” she said. “We required a copy of the vaccine card, testing within two days of departure, masks were mandatory for inside events and we had them complete a medical questionnaire the day before we left.”
Familiar face
By Landan Kuhlmann
Nehls
A doctor prepares a dose of the coronavirus vaccine. More area companies have begun mandating it for employees and visitors. (Contributed photo)
By Matt deGrood
LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
There will be at least one challenger to incumbent Fort Bend County Judge KP George come next November. Trever Nehls, the twin brother of U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, announced last week that he has thrown his hat in the ring and will make a run at the county’s top elected position in 2022. Trever Nehls has been publicly flirting with running since at least June, when he announced he was considering a campaign. “The outpouring of support and encouragement has truly been humbling and heartfelt,” he said in a statement on his website, announcing the run. “While I was planning to make an announcement at an event on Sept. 9, I have decided to reschedule that event given the situation with COVID. Today, I am excited to formally announce that I AM IN for Fort Bend County Judge.” Nehls, a Republican, previously served two terms as the Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable and lost his bid for county sheriff to Democratic nominee Eric Fagan last year. In the latter race, Nehls was aiming to succeed his brother, Troy, who served as county sheriff before being elected to Congress last November. Trever Nehls has also worked with the Sugar Land Police Department and is the president of Richmond-based Texas Biotechnology, according to his campaign page. “While I put days and days of thought and prayer into this decision, I didn’t make it alone,” he said. “My wife Kerri and my three children Madison, Wyatt, and Parker all believe in what we want to accomplish in our community, which is bringing common sense leadership that truly puts our resident’s best interest first back to the County Judge position.” County officers are elected in November of evennumbered years for four-year terms, according to the county’s election website. George, a Democrat, was first elected in 2018, and his term ends on Dec. 31, 2022. The general election will take place on Nov. 8, 2022, according to the county’s election website.
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 2
SEE VACCINES PAGE 7
Christie Whitbeck, the lone finalist for Fort Bend ISD's superintendent position, speaks at a previous event for Bryan ISD. (Contributed photo)
Bryan ISD superintendent named lone finalist for FBISD job By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend ISD’s new superintendent will likely be a familiar face for some. The district’s board of trustees late last Thursday announced Bryan ISD Superintendent and former FBISD Deputy Superintendent Christie Whitbeck is the lone finalist for the opening to replace Charles Dupre. “She built trust across the (Bryan) community,” said Dave Rosenthal, president of FBISD’s board of trustees, on why Whitbeck stood out to the team. “Dr. Whit-
Christie Whitbeck, second from right, takes part in a groundbreaking event. (Contributed photo)
beck is not above being part of the solution, and taking on challenges.” The Bryan schools executive has served in her
role since 2017. During her time in Bryan, Whitbeck oversaw two bond elections totaling about $187 million, according
to Bryan ISD. nalist for the district’s Before arriving in Bry- superintendent,” Monica an, Whitbeck worked in Riley wrote Sunday afFBISD for four years and ternoon on Facebook. “I was an assistant super- believe an official conintendent of academics gratulations will be in in Alvin ISD, according order very soon.” to her district biography. But for some other She was also a principal parents, Whitbeck’s seand assistant principal lection and the process in Katy ISD and began trustees followed to get her education career in there were indicative of Alief ISD, according to larger issues in FBISD. the biography. “If the communication Some FBISD parents was better, maybe some took to social media of these decisions would in the days following be more understandthe board’s decision to able,” said Sapna Singh, praise Whitbeck, and an FBISD parent. welcome her back to the “The fact that they district. named a finalist out of “Dr. Christie Whitbeck has been named as the next Fort Bend ISD fi- SEE SUPERINTENDENT PAGE 7
FBISD, LCISD seek to end county’s mask mandate ability By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Late Monday, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees instituted a districtwide mask mandate in a 4-3 vote as cases of the delta variant of the coronavirus spiked. Then, just one day later, attorneys representing the district joined a legal filing with the Texas Supreme Court, questioning Fort Bend
County’s ability to require masks. District representatives on Thursday were silent when asked about the apparent change of face, or who authorized the decision. But Dave Rosenthal, president of the board of trustees, released a written statement. “There appears to be some misunderstanding,” Rosenthal said. “The brief filed on behalf of our district does
not support Governor Abbott’s mask mandate ban.” The statement does not address who authorized the filing. While district officials were mum on the legal filing, County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson wrote about the matter on Facebook. “My office has done its best to save lives,” she wrote. “Superintendents were told masks were needed on Aug.
Rosenthal
12. FBISD and LCISD lawyers challenged the
county’s authority to issue a mask mandate in letters to my office. And, today, their lawyers filed in the Texas Supreme Court to make sure that no county can mandate masks for school districts ever. And the COVID numbers are still rising.” Attorneys representing Lamar Consolidated ISD and Fort Bend ISD
SEE MANDATE PAGE 7
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478