FBISD Statement On Marshall Academy Still Leaves Its Future In Doubt
July 10th, 2009 | by Bob Dunn | Published in News | 12 Comments
Has Fort Bend Independent School District decided to move the highly regarded Electronic Engineering Academy from Marshall to Elkins High School?
FortBendNow posed that question to district officials Friday morning in preparation for a report on a planned Missouri City rally by community leaders intent on keeping the academy where it is.
At 5:30 p.m., Communications Director Nancy Porter answered the question with a statement - posted on a district web site - that still doesn’t make the district’s intentions clear.
In the web site statement, the district details a comprehensive plan it began two years ago that, among other things “identified an academy focus for each high school.”
“A study of the Electronic Engineering Academy at Thurgood Marshall High School revealed that historically the student numbers for the Electronic Engineering Academy had been low and enrollment by students from across the school district was relatively non-existent, with no change of pattern on the horizon,” the district statement says. “In order to be fiscally responsible, the district sets an enrollment target of 100 students per grade level and the enrollment in the Electronic Engineering Academy was not even close to being met.
“When it was determined that the Electronic Engineering Academy was not attracting the target numbers, the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was developed as a strategy for Thurgood Marshall, which would stand a very good chance of meeting all the goals of the Academy system,” the district said. “Currently, the IB Programme was authorized for Thurgood Marshall High School and will begin in the 2009-2010 school year. It is a challenging two-year curriculum where students may obtain up to 24 college credit hours, a diploma that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities. It is the only IB programme in Fort Bend ISD.
“Ending electronic engineering in the district has never been part of the expanded academy plan; however, relocation has been, because at the same time the district planned to phase out the Mechanical Engineering Academy at Hightower High School,” the district statement said.
Both Hightower and Marshall’s “engineering programs will come together at Elkins High School starting with the 2010-2011 school year as the district’s Engineering Academy with an expanded, more comprehensive approach to the teaching of engineering in the district,” the district statement said.
However, later in the same statement, FBISD Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenny seems to leave the door open to the possibility that Marshall High School can retain the Electronic Engineering Academy.
“On June 16, I met with four citizens and friends at their request - Lee Montgomery, Ron Reynolds, Charles Rencher and Reverend Dr. Dennis Young - on behalf of the Thurgood Marshall High School community,” Jenney says in the statement. “At the meeting, based on many reasons which were enumerated, I said that it would be acceptable to keep the Electronic Engineering Academy at Marshall High School and I committed to ongoing District support. I stand by my commitment.”
No one answered a call to district offices seeking clarification of the statement after it was issued late Friday afternoon.
A perceived ambiguity in the district’s intentions toward the Marshall academy has in part prompted Saturday’s rally, said Fort Bend Pastors Association President Theodore Deaver.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re marching, because we want them to give us a definitive answer,” Deaver said Friday. “They’re saying Elkins won’t be ready for an academy to move until 2010 - but that’s not the end of the sentence. We are trying to get them to end the sentence.”
July 11th, 2009 at 7:09 am (#)
Newly elected FBISD BOT Mrs. Glover fail to answer question in supporting Marshall EE Acedamy. She is voiceless, that leaves voters and students behind.
Mr. Albert Glove her husbent is a member of TIRZ #3 link in government web-site http://www.missouricitytx.gov
July 11th, 2009 at 10:08 am (#)
Re the following excerpt in the article above…“In order to be fiscally responsible, the district sets an enrollment target of 100 students per grade level and the enrollment in the Electronic Engineering Academy was not even close to being met.”
…I guess my question is: Are surveys/forms distributed to parents/students in the various school locations throughout FBISD to ascertain growing (and I emphasize growing) interest by the students in Electronic Engineering in order to fiscally justify the location/relocation of the academy?
July 11th, 2009 at 2:44 pm (#)
To give tou an example of the District’s disengenuousness Marshall Principal Alonzo Reynolds Stated that the departure of this academy was a done dealio.
July 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm (#)
David Reitz(FBISD BOT) was the only school board leader present at the Marshalls march today 07/11/09. Two absents by newly elect FBISD BOT Mrs. Glove has yet to attend a Marshall HS mach.
July 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm (#)
I attended the march this morning. The parents and the community at Marshall want this engineering program to stay. Indeed they put it together and have been growing it with pride and success.
It seems obvious to me that the developer of Riverstone needs the program at Elkins to boost his sales at Riverstone.
July 11th, 2009 at 3:36 pm (#)
Bid-nez friendly FBISD
July 11th, 2009 at 5:04 pm (#)
anything new Joe? this is fbc and missouri city as usual.
July 12th, 2009 at 9:16 pm (#)
“this is fbc and missouri city as usual”
What does Ft Bend Cty and MC have to do with this?
July 13th, 2009 at 1:31 am (#)
I have several friends and associates who are FBISD employees at Marshall High School. I also have a nephew who graduated from the Engineering Academy. When my family and I heard the plans to relocate the Academy I questioned my Marshall counterparts. Each one told me that Principal Reynolds was content with the districts decision, stated that “it was a done deal” and was showing NO support to keep the program at Marshall. It seems that this “token” is destroying Marshall, slowly, but surely. True, the numbers aren’t there, but the program has been introduced and opened to all FBISD students. If parents choose to keep their children away from Marshall because of ignorance (locale and cultural), let them suffer and miss out on a wonderful opportunity. Those students who do choose to attend, allow them to continue their education at Marshall. I congratulate the district on recognizing Marshall for the IB Program, but I as an HISD IB instructor ask, “Is there 100 students per grade level registered?” Of the “100″ per grade level how many are from outside of the Marshall zone? Tisk, tisk!!! Honestly, of the 30-40 students that are in the program, including my daughter, how many are not, like Principal Reynolds, are not a part of the Marshall Community? — TeacherTeacher
July 13th, 2009 at 8:40 am (#)
“If parents choose to keep their children away from Marshall because of ignorance (locale and cultural),”….?
“are not a part of the Marshall Community?”
hmmm I wonder why parents are pulling their kids out of Marshall HS?….time to bring back forced busing.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:02 pm (#)
FtBendConservative, I love your posts, they make me think about what has been written. This thinking includes my own post. You wonder why parents are pulling their kids out of Marshall? Besides disapproval of the current administration, we, Blacks and Hispanics, have a cultural stigma that “White is right”, therefore, flocking to schools where our children aren’t accepted and in most cases won’t reach their full potential. You mention forced busing. Thought!
July 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pm (#)
I have no problem with posters defending their position with facts.