The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees on Monday reviewed student demographic projections and enrollment trends, increased compensation for teachers and principals, and voted to notify the commissioner of education of its plans to vote on becoming a district of innovation.

1. Growth expected in county's edges

FBISD will see explosive growth in student enrollment in the coming years in areas at opposite ends Fort Bend County, according to an analytics firm hired to study population trends. High growth areas include Sienna Plantation to the southeast, with Aliana, Harvest Green and the Bellaire Boulevard Corridor to the northwest. Representatives of Population and Survey Analysts told trustees that a boom in single family housing construction is helping the trend. Student enrollment at FBISD grew by 1,095 students between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years, making it the sixth fastest growing school district in Texas, according to the presentation.

2. Teacher, principal compensation increased for 2017-18 school year

The board of trustees voted unanimously to increase starting salaries for teachers from $50,500 per year to $53,000 per year and principals will see their salaries increase by 6.7 percent annually. The pay increases were recommended in order to keep FBISD competitive with other school districts in the Houston area in terms of attracting educators, according to meeting documents.

3. District of innovation vote on horizon

Trustees approved their intention to vote on the district’s innovation plan—a plan for the district to exempt itself from three sections of the state’s education code. The board set a tentative date of March 27 for the vote. Last week, the FBISD Academic Advisory Council approved an innovation plan written by a 30-member committee. The three state rules specified in the committee’s plan from which FBISD would be exempt are:
  • Rules confining start dates for the district’s school calendar start dates
  • Rules governing teacher certifications
  • Student attendance rules
The district’s innovation plan is on display for public comment for 30 days. It can be viewed here.