Comments on: Jenney Agrees To ‘Delay’ Global Science Center Opening Until 2012 http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:39:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jaghund http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11131 jaghund Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:10:16 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11131 Very good point indistrict and one not wasted on the public. Generally using these funds for campus based projects would garner support but they seem dedicated to keeping these GSTC funds away from the campuses. I wonder if most even realize that the 1-2 million dedicated each year to keep this building running will be competiting with campus programs and personnel costs on the operations budget? Very good point indistrict and one not wasted on the public. Generally using these funds for campus based projects would garner support but they seem dedicated to keeping these GSTC funds away from the campuses.

I wonder if most even realize that the 1-2 million dedicated each year to keep this building running will be competiting with campus programs and personnel costs on the operations budget?

]]> By: santhony http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11055 santhony Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:26:59 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11055 That's ok "indistrict", we can all just move to the next latest and greatest development and watch as we burn out those taxing districts bonds to pay for the latest and greatest. It's called master planned but it's a master joke on us. After-all it isn't their money, it's free money for the taking, or so many politicians would have you believe. Just follow the money folks to your favorite elected official and see which string is pulling whose arms & mouth and just move across the river as they want so they can "build out" another area! That’s ok “indistrict”, we can all just move to the next latest and greatest development and watch as we burn out those taxing districts bonds to pay for the latest and greatest. It’s called master planned but it’s a master joke on us. After-all it isn’t their money, it’s free money for the taking, or so many politicians would have you believe. Just follow the money folks to your favorite elected official and see which string is pulling whose arms & mouth and just move across the river as they want so they can “build out” another area!

]]> By: inthedistrict http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11052 inthedistrict Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:45:17 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11052 This is such a total waste of money, I don't care if some of it came from donations. Those donations would be better spent elsewhere. Why don't we use some of that "construction" fund to construct classrooms on to our schools so our kids don't have to have class in run down T-shacks where the floors are buckling, heaters and a/c's break down every two weeks, walls are cracked, ants coming up through the floor, and mold growing on the walls!! Why don't organizations donate money for that. This is gross misappropriation of funds! I am very disappointed in the way this district is handling its finances. As a taxpayer, I am disgusted. It would be very interesting to see an investigation showing where all of this money is being spent. One place that costs definitely do not need to be cut is in the direct instruction of the students of Fort Bend. But, of course that is where the higher ups want to cut first, less teachers, meaning more students in each classroom. That is only going to affect the quality of education for the students. Let's face the facts, a teacher can give quality instruction to 17-20 kids per class, not 30-40. I am glad my kids are out of public education, because if my kids were still school age, I would be paying for private school. That's sad, because Fort Bend used to be a great school district. This is such a total waste of money, I don’t care if some of it came from donations. Those donations would be better spent elsewhere. Why don’t we use some of that “construction” fund to construct classrooms on to our schools so our kids don’t have to have class in run down T-shacks where the floors are buckling, heaters and a/c’s break down every two weeks, walls are cracked, ants coming up through the floor, and mold growing on the walls!! Why don’t organizations donate money for that. This is gross misappropriation of funds! I am very disappointed in the way this district is handling its finances. As a taxpayer, I am disgusted. It would be very interesting to see an investigation showing where all of this money is being spent.
One place that costs definitely do not need to be cut is in the direct instruction of the students of Fort Bend. But, of course that is where the higher ups want to cut first, less teachers, meaning more students in each classroom. That is only going to affect the quality of education for the students. Let’s face the facts, a teacher can give quality instruction to 17-20 kids per class, not 30-40. I am glad my kids are out of public education, because if my kids were still school age, I would be paying for private school. That’s sad, because Fort Bend used to be a great school district.

]]> By: 1trueconservative http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11044 1trueconservative Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:40:08 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11044 I seem to remember that last year them saying that they weren't going to open the center until 2012 when it was discovered that the plans for the district science center were almost an exact duplicate of the Houston Museum for Natural Sciences-Telfair satellite campus. I seem to remember that last year them saying that they weren’t going to open the center until 2012 when it was discovered that the plans for the district science center were almost an exact duplicate of the Houston Museum for Natural Sciences-Telfair satellite campus.

]]> By: southerncomfort http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11021 southerncomfort Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:13:30 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11021 Very good observation lewis and probably quite accurate but it does give us at least two election cycles to pull his board out from under him and then they can kill this project. Naturally you will have to watch the money in these races and not just the issues. More than likely you will read more like was heard last cycle. "I can't judge something I know nothing about"....that was a popular theme for the "insider" candidates. Let's hope the public is paying closer attention this time and DOES vote issues as is often not the case and turn-out picks up, otherwise we will keep getting what we've got. Very good observation lewis and probably quite accurate but it does give us at least two election cycles to pull his board out from under him and then they can kill this project. Naturally you will have to watch the money in these races and not just the issues. More than likely you will read more like was heard last cycle. “I can’t judge something I know nothing about”….that was a popular theme for the “insider” candidates. Let’s hope the public is paying closer attention this time and DOES vote issues as is often not the case and turn-out picks up, otherwise we will keep getting what we’ve got.

]]> By: lewiswbennett http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11019 lewiswbennett Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:33:06 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11019 Is he really delaying? If he plans to open in 2012, doesen't it take a couple of years to build a building. This means the district would have to start construction in 2010? Where is the delay? Science teachers are being told to buy soap and papertowels out of budgets meant for science supplies and equipmment. If we are shortchanging students by buying soap and paper towels instead of supplies and equipment, how can the district possibly consider building a 20 plus million building. It does not make sense to me! Is he really delaying? If he plans to open in 2012, doesen’t it take a couple of years to build a building. This means the district would have to start construction in 2010? Where is the delay?
Science teachers are being told to buy soap and papertowels out of budgets meant for science supplies and equipmment. If we are shortchanging students by buying soap and paper towels instead of supplies and equipment, how can the district possibly consider building a 20 plus million building. It does not make sense to me!

]]> By: patriot missive http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11007 patriot missive Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:59:26 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11007 Oh, a hundred million here and a hundred million there and pretty soon you're talkin about real money... Oh, a hundred million here and a hundred million there and pretty soon you’re talkin about real money…

]]> By: santhony http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11002 santhony Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:16:26 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11002 Most assuredly question everything that this superintendent says. Listen very carefully and then double check what he has told you. Very important observation made by many in here who has had direct dealings with him. It's the only way to end the vendor feeding, reduce the debt load and keep the ever increasing taxes in check. Make sure the money stays were it belongs, in the classrooms and on the campuses. Most assuredly question everything that this superintendent says. Listen very carefully and then double check what he has told you. Very important observation made by many in here who has had direct dealings with him. It’s the only way to end the vendor feeding, reduce the debt load and keep the ever increasing taxes in check. Make sure the money stays were it belongs, in the classrooms and on the campuses.

]]> By: jaghund http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-11001 jaghund Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:20:51 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-11001 Actually resident Jenney is again misleading the public as he has been caught several times doing over the last few years. When the funds are in a construction account they can only be used that way, but when they are moved to the "contingency accounts" as they are from the bonds, they can be used for some aspects of the operations budget. As Mr. Cain and many others have learned over the years, it is important to check everything he says. Just a few days ago he was claiming he didn't turn over the information on the foundation contribution because it was not a corporate gift but he knows as well as I that the information requests was not specific for corporations it asked of all major givers. Even if he got away with that one the foundation is a NON-PROFIT CORPORATION. So you see he is being very misleading intentionally. Of course this will be added to the ongoing district attorney investigation as proof he is still with-hold documents ordered released by the Texas Attorney Generals office last year. He also claimed they do not keep financial records on the superintendent but we have seen these with several other districts so we know these records DO exist and so does he. Actually resident Jenney is again misleading the public as he has been caught several times doing over the last few years. When the funds are in a construction account they can only be used that way, but when they are moved to the “contingency accounts” as they are from the bonds, they can be used for some aspects of the operations budget.

As Mr. Cain and many others have learned over the years, it is important to check everything he says. Just a few days ago he was claiming he didn’t turn over the information on the foundation contribution because it was not a corporate gift but he knows as well as I that the information requests was not specific for corporations it asked of all major givers. Even if he got away with that one the foundation is a NON-PROFIT CORPORATION. So you see he is being very misleading intentionally. Of course this will be added to the ongoing district attorney investigation as proof he is still with-hold documents ordered released by the Texas Attorney Generals office last year.

He also claimed they do not keep financial records on the superintendent but we have seen these with several other districts so we know these records DO exist and so does he.

]]> By: viewpoint http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10998 viewpoint Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:09:58 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10998 GOP majority needs to provide first the public school funds, before opening other new school facilities, to pay more school staff employees. We voters need to replace incumbent Gov. Perry for poor misleadership, Perry falsely says State Of Texas has a surplus budget, an FBISD is in $18M debit or going bankrupcy. GOP majority needs to provide first the public school funds, before opening other new school facilities, to pay more school staff employees.
We voters need to replace incumbent Gov. Perry for poor misleadership, Perry falsely says State Of Texas has a surplus budget, an FBISD is in $18M debit or going bankrupcy.

]]> By: patriot missive http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10997 patriot missive Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:38:15 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10997 The GSTC was a bad idea in good times and a worse idea in bad times. It takes a village, not a village idiot) to lead our kids. Let's put our tax dollars into the classrooms, labs, and teachers, and not into big building projects and then claim "the need", because we are not paying attention to reasonable classroom sizes and onsite attention to the students and the teachers. The GSTC was a bad idea in good times and a worse idea in bad times. It takes a village, not a village idiot) to lead our kids. Let’s put our tax dollars into the classrooms, labs, and teachers, and not into big building projects and then claim “the need”, because we are not paying attention to reasonable classroom sizes and onsite attention to the students and the teachers.

]]> By: Resident http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10994 Resident Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:30:05 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10994 Good Post, Jaghund. We do not even need to spend the taxpayer's money on this or any other building. But, if the Board is dead set on spending building funds, there is always another school construction planned, and some of that money can go into labs that make their science program better. And, then the other schools that have deficient lab facilities can be upgraded. The GSC is truly a boondoggle that must be postponed indefinitely. Don't forget folks, the Sugarland Branch of the Museum of Natural History is just down the street. We have to all work smarter these days. Good Post, Jaghund.
We do not even need to spend the taxpayer’s money on this or any other building. But, if the Board is dead set on spending building funds, there is always another school construction planned, and some of that money can go into labs that make their science program better. And, then the other schools that have deficient lab facilities can be upgraded. The GSC is truly a boondoggle that must be postponed indefinitely. Don’t forget folks, the Sugarland Branch of the Museum of Natural History is just down the street. We have to all work smarter these days.

]]> By: conservative1 http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10993 conservative1 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:45:26 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10993 Always go to your employees to figure out how to make more money or save more money, they are on the front lines and they see it in action. It's up the the admin's to make the ideas work within the guidlines. Good luck with solving the deficit. Always go to your employees to figure out how to make more money or save more money, they are on the front lines and they see it in action. It’s up the the admin’s to make the ideas work within the guidlines. Good luck with solving the deficit.

]]> By: 1trueconservative http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10992 1trueconservative Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:02:32 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10992 I just want to congratulate all the individuals and groups that have worked so hard to keep the pressure up on the senior administration to slow or stop this project at this time. It was ridiculous to think of moving forward while proposing to cut over 400 essential employs from the system. Well done all! I just want to congratulate all the individuals and groups that have worked so hard to keep the pressure up on the senior administration to slow or stop this project at this time. It was ridiculous to think of moving forward while proposing to cut over 400 essential employs from the system. Well done all!

]]> By: wadefishin http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10989 wadefishin Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:49:06 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10989 Facts: “Some of you suggested that the money we could save by not building the Center could be used to cover the deficit. That is not possible, as construction money can not be used for general fund expenditures.” From The Houston Chronicle: "Some information requested by Hentschel, such as the superintendent’s financial filings, doesn’t exist, Jenney said, adding that the district recently responded timely to her second request for information. “Guess what? Superintendents don’t file financial documents, school board members do,” he said. “She knows that. It’s game-playing. It’s false, misleading. That seems to be her style.” "“If you would like to go out, you can go out,” Broxson said as his patience appeared to be slipping. A district police officer in the room began to walk toward Calvin. “That’s fine, just another taxpayer thrown out of another public meeting,” Calvin responded as he left the boardroom before the officer reached him." Facts:
“Some of you suggested that the money we could save by not building the Center could be used to cover the deficit. That is not possible, as construction money can not be used for general fund expenditures.”

From The Houston Chronicle:
“Some information requested by Hentschel, such as the superintendent’s financial filings, doesn’t exist, Jenney said, adding that the district recently responded timely to her second request for information.

“Guess what? Superintendents don’t file financial documents, school board members do,” he said. “She knows that. It’s game-playing. It’s false, misleading. That seems to be her style.”

““If you would like to go out, you can go out,” Broxson said as his patience appeared to be slipping. A district police officer in the room began to walk toward Calvin.

“That’s fine, just another taxpayer thrown out of another public meeting,” Calvin responded as he left the boardroom before the officer reached him.”

]]> By: viewpoint http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10988 viewpoint Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:54:30 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10988 Where does Ft. Bend teachers union stand with its new BOT officials leadership,elected officials from previous candidate endorsement selected bt the teachers union of previous annual FBISD elections before 2010 election online todaye Where does Ft. Bend teachers union stand with its new BOT officials leadership,elected officials from previous candidate endorsement selected bt the teachers union of previous annual FBISD elections before 2010 election online todaye

]]> By: southerncomfort http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10987 southerncomfort Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:52:33 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10987 It is great to see the teachers saying the same thing about this incredible waste of taxpayers money just to have a show piece. He finally listened to the community for a change.I wonder if it was because several large board elections are coming up this and next year? It is great to see the teachers saying the same thing about this incredible waste of taxpayers money just to have a show piece. He finally listened to the community for a change.I wonder if it was because several large board elections are coming up this and next year?

]]> By: viewpoint http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10985 viewpoint Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:06:43 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10985 I agree we should propose postponing and delay the opening of new facilities? rezone for travel transportation? I agree we should propose postponing and delay the opening of new facilities? rezone for travel transportation?

]]> By: jaghund http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/02/15/43957/comment-page-1#comment-10983 jaghund Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:33:28 +0000 http://www.fortbendnow.com/?p=43957#comment-10983 Putting this thing on hold is what Ms. Henschel, Mr. Cain, Bruce Albright, Mr. Rosenthal, Lee and many other advocated for all of this and last year. It generated candidates for the '09 elections and now Jenney admits it probably isn't a good time to do this project. Amazing! As far as the construction funds being moved around, technically he is right about that, but the board can repurpose "contingency funds" that they move over from unused portions of the bond elections. They've been doing this for years so once again Jenney is being deliberately ambiguous about all this. Yes THE BOARD CAN REPURPOSE THESE FUNDS AND/OR UTILIZE THE 90 MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE TO TIE THE DISTRICT OVER THROUGH THIS CRISIS!!! Putting this thing on hold is what Ms. Henschel, Mr. Cain, Bruce Albright, Mr. Rosenthal, Lee and many other advocated for all of this and last year. It generated candidates for the ’09 elections and now Jenney admits it probably isn’t a good time to do this project. Amazing!

As far as the construction funds being moved around, technically he is right about that, but the board can repurpose “contingency funds” that they move over from unused portions of the bond elections. They’ve been doing this for years so once again Jenney is being deliberately ambiguous about all this. Yes THE BOARD CAN REPURPOSE THESE FUNDS AND/OR UTILIZE THE 90 MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE TO TIE THE DISTRICT OVER THROUGH THIS CRISIS!!!

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