Fort Bend ISD is conducting a five-year comprehensive study to include a facilities master plan, a strategic master plan concerning school curriculum and a study of the district's school boundaries. The board of trustees and district administrators plan to engage the community in the process through a series of discussions beginning in September.
The facilities master plan will determine which campus additions or improvements are needed in the next five years, and the strategic master plan will ensure consistent curriculum is offered.
"This is a very comprehensive approach unlike anything we have undertaken in this district before," FBISD superintendent Charles Dupre said. "We have a good plan, and we will be monitoring each step of the way."
A preliminary decision already to come out of the study is the postponement of Elementary School No. 46 near Aliana.
As part of the comprehensive master plans, FBISD administrators and partners will look at the existing facilities, curriculum and planning throughout the district. They expect to recommend a demographer as early as September to analyze the community and individual campus needs. A 30-40 member steering committee of community volunteers will be selected to study and present their findings and recommendations to the public.
"The planning process will include significant community engagement that will enable all of the district's stakeholders—parents, community leaders, students and district staff—to engage and be part of the actual development of this plan," communications director Nancy Porter said. "The community's voice is critical to support our instructional programs and to provide the best outcomes for our kids."
Data collection for the master plans conducted by Jacobs Engineering and consultation firm DeJong–Richter is nearing completion. The plans are expected to be presented in spring 2014.
"My hope, and our goal, is that this process will be thorough and that the community will be engaged," Dupre said. "Anything and everything is up for discussion. The community needs to have that dialogue."