Fort Bend ISD officials are moving forward with implementation procedures following the March 9 vote to close seven elementary schools in the northwest/central and southeast central areas of the district.
The closures are a part of the district's three-year boundary planning process due to stabilized enrollment patterns, resulting in under- and overutilized campuses across the district with some schools, Community Impact previously reported.
What you need to know
Throughout the implementation process, the boundary implementation team—made of members from multiple departments across the district as well as impacted principals—will focus on student and staff transitions, logistical management and timely communication, said Beth Martinez, deputy superintendent chief of staff for Fort Bend ISD, at a March 30 board meeting.
Ongoing priorities for the team include:
- Initial staff placements
- Fifth and eighth grade decisions
- School walks
- Principal support
- Programming and transportation updates
What else?
During the March 30 presentation, Melissa Hubbard, assistant superintendent teaching and learning, said officials have studied specialized programs and boundaries for 1,500 students involved in dual language and special education programs, and worked with school principals to coordinate placement in order to ratify the program locations.
Hubbard stressed staff wanted to maintain a “human element” when making their decisions by keeping community continuity, having appropriate teacher to student ratios and to make sure “they had the right people in the right place.”
Additionally, Hubbard said there will be no changes made to student eligibility, and services will still be based on the individualized education program and language proficiency assessment committee.
Also of note
District officials said over 500 staff members affected by the school consolidations are set to receive information regarding their new assignments March 31.
Any staff member who does not agree with their new position will be given special access at the April 11 FBISD job fair.
Looking forward
Officials are set to release more information to affected families by mid-April with open houses planned for May.
Meanwhile, officials are set to begin secondary boundary reviews in the coming months with plans to acquire new members for the school boundary advisory committee followed by final recommendations sometime in September or October.
