Fort Bend Independent School District: The Scoop From The Supe (11/9/2021)

Press release from Fort Bend Independent School District:

11/9/2021

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Hello, Fort Bend ISD Parents, Staff and Students, 

One of my key objectives is to keep you informed about items of interest happening in the District, and I would like to do that by sharing community letters like this one -and the occasional video- that provide you with the “Scoop from the Supe.”

At times, what I share may be related to weighty and controversial issues and at other times it may be upbeat and fun. Either way, it is important to me to establish and maintain open channels of communication with you. 

And if you ever want to know what District events and locations I am visiting, please follow me on Twitter where I post about them. I have conducted “walk and talk” tours at several schools with more to come. I have greatly enjoyed myself at fine arts events and athletic competitions -including two homecoming games! I have met with elected officials and held some productive sessions with District leaders. Oh, and I cannot forget the fun time we all had recently at the Fort Bend Education Foundation’s annual Sugar Shindig.

In addition to sending messages directly to you, I will also have them posted on the District website on the superintendent’s page. And now…..the Scoop from the Supe!

Attendance Boundary Recommendations for New Sonal Bhuchar Elementary School

At Monday’s Agenda Review meeting, the Board heard a staff presentation on attendance boundary changes that will result from the fall 2023 opening of the new Sonal Bhuchar Elementary School adjacent to Elkins High School. Bhuchar ES will provide long-term student population relief for Commonwealth and Sullivan elementary schools. 

Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, a link will go live on our website that allows District residents to view the school to which their home address would likely be zoned. Click here to access the Bhuchar ES page. The page also contains a helpful FAQ section.

Natural dividers that will be used for Bhuchar ES include University Blvd., the powerline easement, and LJ Parkway. All of Bhuchar will feed into First Colony Middle School. There will be no changes to high school boundaries.

Please know that boundary changes become a necessity in a growing district like ours in order for us to continue providing our children with quality instruction and programs that cannot flourish in overcrowded conditions. We will carry out this necessary process while giving the utmost consideration to minimizing disruptions to valued connections to schools and communities. The process will take a few months and includes School Boundary Oversight Committee recommendations, public hearings, revised recommendations as needed based on public input, and ultimately Board action. 

Phase 2 of Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project

Next Monday the FBISD Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on an agreement with internationally known MASS Design Group to plan an outdoor learning space and revitalized cemetery area to further memorialize the Sugar Land 95 at the District’s James Reese Career and Technical Center. The $170,000 contract for the project at Bullhead Camp Cemetery would be funded through the 2014 bond package.

The Sugar Land 95 is the collective name given to persons whose remains were discovered during construction of the Reese Center in 2018. Research has concluded the individuals buried there were African American victims of the state-sanctioned convict leasing system which existed after the emancipation of slavery in the United States. Many of these men had been sentenced to unjust, lengthy prison terms and were made to work under inhumane conditions.

As a public school system with teaching and learning at its core, the discovery of the Sugar Land 95 provides the District with an extraordinary opportunity to educate our students, community, and future generations about the discovery and its historical importance. It is our goal to ensure that the District memorializes the Sugar Land 95 with respect and dignity and that we learn about this dark chapter in history to promote knowledge, truth, compassion and justice. 

Controversy Over Certain Books

There is currently a state and national controversy related to parental concerns about books students are assigned to read or have access to at school that some parents may find objectionable. Fortunately, Fort Bend ISD provides a transparent process that allows parents to look online to see the exact book titles that are accessible in the library of their child’s school. This feature is found on the campus websites. There is also a process guided by Board policy EFA (Local) that allows any parent who feels strongly about a resource, to submit their concerns so that staff can review and consider. The policy and the form for submitting concerns can be found on the District’s website using the document titled EFA (Exhibit). I also encourage parents to reach out to their child’s teacher, the school librarian, and/or their campus administrator for guidance in this process. 

5,184 Reasons to be Thankful!

We created our own fall campaign to show our 5,184 teachers how much we appreciate them. Please check out special student videos on social media and the District’s website and read some of the hundreds of messages of gratitude that were sent in by parents, students and staff. Take time to thank a FBISD teacher for making a difference!

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. It is my honor to serve as your Superintendent and I look forward to partnering with you to ensure Fort Bend ISD remains one of the best school districts in the nation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christie Whitbeck

Fort Bend ISD Superintendent 

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Martes, 9 de noviembre, 2021

Saludos a los Padres, Empleados y Estudiantes de Fort Bend ISD,

This press release was produced by Fort Bend Independent School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.