Fort Bend ISD hosted a public meeting at Travis High School Tuesday to provide an update on the district's facilities master planning process and to solicit community feedback regarding options for addressing the district’s needs and ensuring schools are adequately utilized.

A school is considered adequately utilized when its enrollment is between 80-120 percent of the building’s capacity, according to FBISD local policy.

Based on reported projections from demographic firm Population and Survey Analysts and assessments, several campuses face current and future challenges based on anticipated enrollment numbers and deteriorating facilities.

District leaders organized a steering committee composed of thirty members and three alternates to research and act in an advisory capacity for strategic planning. The committee has collected data and is considering how best to optimize use for the district’s capital resources.

Options brought forth include rezoning boundaries, repurposing buildings, moving programs, consolidating and building new schools and closing others to accommodating shifting demographics and swelling populations within the school district.

Data indicates Commonwealth Elementary School is currently over utilized at 126 percent, and the rate is projected to increase to 165 percent in five years, according FBISD reports. Other schools such as Parks Elementary, Madden Elementary and Ridge Point High will exceed capacity in the same time frame.

PBK Architects performed facilities assessments and rated them on indices examining two components: physical conditions and educational adequacy, FBISD consultant Scott Leopold said.

“We use a term called the FCI—the facility condition index—a quite frequently referenced process,” Leopold said. “This is the cost to address identified deficiencies divided by the replacing cost of the facility.”

The worse the condition a facility is in, the higher its FCI index value, he said.

“If you’ve got a facility that has a FCI greater than 66 percent, it’s almost more cost effective to just replace the facility rather than renovate it,” Leopold said. “Our big issue here is Meadows Elementary has the highest FCI. It’s in the poorest condition of all the other FBISD facilities.”

One option is closing the school and permanently relocating the students. However, residents from the city of Meadows Place whose children attend the city’s lone elementary school strongly protest the issue, sparking a #SaveME movement on social media.

Meadows Place Mayor Charles Jessup said he urges FBISD leaders to find an alternative solution to closing the school, which is an institution and the heart of his community.

“We’re willing to do whatever we can [to keep the school open],” he said.

Residents have brought up different ideas, including adding space to the school, completing renovations during the summer or temporarily housing students in other facilities until construction work is finished, Jessup said.

“This is the most significant issue I’ve ever faced, period, bar none,” he said.

Leopold said another viable option for Meadows Elementary is demolishing the school and rebuilding it, but this would require alternative accommodations for displaced students during construction.

The steering committee is seeking feedback from the community at this point and will present recommendations to the board of trustees by the end of May, committee member alternate Larry Grant said.

“These options are intended to generate conversation and gather feedback,” Leopold said. “The committee is not limited to these options as it develops recommendations, and the committee will evaluate all feedback ideas.”

FBISD has scheduled additional community meetings throughout April to answer questions and discuss relevant issues. All meetings will take place from 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday, April 4
Marshall High School
1220 Buffalo Run, Missouri City

Tuesday, April 10
Elkins High School
7007 Knights Court, Missouri City

Wednesday, April 11
Austin High School
3434 Pheasant Creek Drive, Sugar Land