Special education
In August 2023, the Texas Education Agency notified FBISD that its special education services were in noncompliance for the 2023-24 school year. District officials attributed this to the lack of financial and staffing resources to meet the demand in special education that outpaces overall enrollment.
At an Oct. 21 FBISD board of trustees meeting, district staff reported the completion of all but 43 of 962 overdue evaluations and 465 of 1,137 re-evaluations, with plans to complete all by June 30. As of August, the noncompliance had been corrected and the district planned to form a Special Education Task Force, district officials said in an email.
Bond shortfalls
In May 2023, voters approved a $1.26 billion bond for school construction projects, technology upgrades and a natatorium. However, the board of trustees announced a $132.6 million shortfall last February due to unexpected inflation pressures, and rising material and labor costs.
An April investigation found the inflation oversight occurred between the delay of the bond in November 2022 and its approval, Community Impact reported.
During an Oct. 7 agenda review meeting, district staff recommended deferring funds to build a special education transportation facility, delaying the district’s FM 521 transportation facility, eliminating the construction on Elementary School No. 55, limiting synthetic turf projects and downsizing the fine arts project scope at Hightower High School.
Additionally, the board approved a $22.9 million aquatic practice facility to be completed in June 2027 with contingency funds from FBISD's 2014 or 2018 bond programs at the Nov. 18 board of trustees meeting.
On Jan. 13, the board approved the use of $2.3 million for furniture to convert Fundell Henry Center for Learning from a middle to elementary school to open in the fall. The funds were from the 2023 bond contingency program.
The renovations were initially estimated for $22.8 million in May, after a slight inflationary increase from the bond approval in 2023.
Ongoing litigation
Former Superintendent Christie Whitbeck filed a lawsuit in December following her resignation the year prior. She dropped charges of defamation on Jan. 3, while maintaining the district and several board members were in violation of her Voluntary Retirement Agreement signed in December 2023, according to a news release from the district.
On Jan. 8, board President Kristin Tassin said in a news release that the district will present a brief in hopes of dismissing the remaining claim. Community Impact could not reach Whitbeck’s legal team for comment on how the VRA was violated despite the district’s publishing of a joint statement, granting of full salary and benefits through retirement, and awarding severance.
Texas Education Agency investigation
In late December, TEA officials found FBISD was not in violation of state laws almost a year after investigating allegations in November 2023 of electioneering, prohibited political advertising and bribery by incentivizing students and staff to vote in the 2023 voter-approval tax rate election.
FBISD administration offered staff the opportunity to wear jeans and free breakfast if the campus turnout was over 90% and a form that promised parents a “special prize” if their student brought an “I voted” sticker. Because incentives to vote were not monetary, no particular position was promoted and was upon request of the trustees, district administration did not violate any state laws.
However, the TEA officials said they're still investigating a complaint from a former trustee who alleged some trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act during the dismissal of Whitbeck.
Elections
FBISD will have school board elections May 3, with the candidate filing period running from Jan. 15-Feb. 14, Community Impact reported.
Trustees Rick Garcia and David Hamilton are up for election for positions 3 and 7, respectively. Both have served in their positions since 2022.
Most recently, trustees Adam Schoof and Tassin unseated two incumbents for positions 2 and 6, respectively.
According to the district website, trustees are elected to three-year terms.
