Look at the demographics of the two schools. Look at the fact that TMHS is underutilized, and that Elkins is over utilized. Elkins could not take another 400 students (100 per YEAR is what we are talking about), and TMHS easily could. So why would FBISD want to make this move?

Look closely at the details and not word-pick an article. Since you are reading this, you are an interested individual. Please take the time and get the facts. You will be rewarded with a genuine curiosity of what is truly going on here.

“I know one thing: If the academy goes, all the volunteers on the advisory team, and those parents, we’re all going,” Davis said, meaning that they would all quit.

So if the academy stays at Marshall, it’s worth working with the kids, but should the academy move to another campus, those kids aren’t worthy of the time or effort? That’s horrible. If one truly cares about the academy, one would stay with it regardless of the campus it is at and do his/her best to assist those kids in their studies.

Our organization is assisting the Thurgood Marshall HS Engineering Academy by developing community support for the program.

The HEAT team’s general opinion is that the Fort Bend School Board has not been sensitive to the inportance of a successful program in the African American community.

We will continue to investigate and participate in the development of an effective and efficient response to the threat of losing an impressive academic success model.

The HEAT program has a three phase operational model. Phase one begins with “Education”, moves to “Negotiation” and when necessary, we move to Phase 3, “Litigation”.

The assumption we maintain is that most students can learn, but circumstances and systems have created a “moveable” educational obstacle that is reflected in high drop-out and low graduation rates.

Statistics for some underperforming groups demand a Katrina-like response. The first responders should be the parents and families.

We maintain that the family is the beginning place for making effective change. Hence, a grassroots, self-funding organization that focuses on “Leaving No Child or Community Behind”.

Errol A. Jones
heat@errolgroup.com

Bob Dunn