FortBendNow.com is hosting an online candidate forum for Fort Bend Independent School District Board Of Trustee Candidates. Questions and the candidates’ answers will be published throughout the weeks leading up to the May 8 election.
The incumbents for both seats declined to seek re-election – Board President Bob Broxson, Position 3, and David Reitz, Position 7.
Two candidates are vying for Position 7 - Police Sergeant Jim Babb, a Missouri City resident, and Sugar Land resident Gerald Hawkins, a physician and medical educator. Hawkins declined to participate in the forum due to scheduling issues.
Two candidates will also face off for Broxson’s seat – Jim Rice and Clay Alumbaugh.
Readers who wish to submit questions for the candidates should e-mail them to jmock@fortbendnow.com.
Candidates’ answers are published as they are received, without any editing by FortBendNow.com.
Question:
Since he has been superintendent, Tim Jenney has led the district into continuing deficit budgets, and now teacher lay-offs. Do you think it’s time for a new superintendent?
Clay Alumbaugh
I have seen many superintendents come and grow. It has always concerned me that we spend to much money replacing superintendents. I don’t believe in buying out contracts or paying them as consultants while someone else is chosen to run the district. Dr. Jenny has a contract and it should be honored until the end. He answers to the board and if the board wants to change the direction he has taken, he needs to follow their direction. If the community is unhappy with the direction the board has taken, they need to change who is on the board. I also believe that there should be no more contract extensions for Dr. Jenny. His tenure should be evaluated at the end of the contract and at that time a decision would be made to offer him a new contract or not. At that time the community should be given the opportunity express their opinions concerning his renewal.
Jim Babb
Wow! What an opportunity to vent. However, it becomes very expensive to buyout a superintendant’s contract and takes at least four board members to do so. At this point, I believe it is best to attempt to work cooperatively to effectively address the challenges facing our district. HOWEVER, I believe the “direction of authority” needs to be re-established. The superintendant works for the board, not the other way around.
Jim Rice
I have spent a considerable amount of time studying the vast amount of financial information available for public review on the district’s website. It is clear to me that our current budget deficit has been created by an inequitable funding formula imposed upon FBISD, and other districts, by the State Legislature. Dr. Jenney was hired after the special session which created the current formula, and I can attest with many other witnesses, that he and our Board of Trustees, have lobbied and communicated with our elected officials in an attempt to correct it.
Unfortunately, until the State Legislature is in session next year, this funding formula cannot be changed and even then any new or modified formula could not go into effect until the following year. In the meantime, just as any company or family faced with a 33% reduction in income would do, the District has been forced to make painful decisions that enable them to live within their means until the current financial situation can be improved. The budget deficits are not the result of one individual. The recent layoffs are not the result of one individual. And similarly, the past and the future successes of FBISD have not been and will not be the result of one individual.
Though the budget deficit and accompanying issues, occupy our attention just now, to be fair, we should also take a moment to look at the success our district has had in recent years. Notable is the fact that in 2009 ALL schools within FBISD were rated as either Acceptable, Recognized or Exemplary. There are no Unacceptable rated schools in our district. This is a testament to ALL FBISD students, teachers, counselors, principals, administrative and support staff, parents, and Dr. Jenney.
As we work together to move forward, our district’s ongoing success rests squarely on the shoulders of each one of us as parents, taxpayers, FBISD staff and concerned citizens to individually do our part to support public education in our community, and by working with our elected officials to help rectify the current inequities in the school funding formula.
“If the community is unhappy with the direction the board has taken, they need to change who is on the board. I also believe that there should be no more contract extensions for Dr. Jenny. His tenure should be evaluated at the end of the contract and at that time a decision would be made to offer him a new contract or not.”
I agree with this position 100%!
Ft. Bend taxpayer writing facts to Ft. Bend Co. Judge for justice to correct any FBCAD appraisal eras effecting state annual ten percent annual limit increase your property values made an printed by CAD 2010 notices or previous years.
Property Tax code 260.
This is the most important question of this campaign that needs to be addressed. I think he should go. I like Alumbaughs approach to force his exit.
http://friendsofalumbaugh.blogspot.com/
http://babb4fbisd.wordpress.com/
Support Alumbaugh & Babb (EARLY VOTING UNTIL TUESDAY; Elec day 5-8)
This just came in on the other paper
http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2010/04/whos-garnered-most-campaign-donation
It confirms the vendor dollars going to a certain Jenney backed candidate
Very interesting article. I like the statements and positions of Clay and Jim Babb. I wish them the best in the voting.
Well it looks like Rice, like the other vendor feeders, wants to blame the state instead of the wholesale feeding frenzy that has been going on for years. You lost a vote Mr. Rice.
Good for you!
Support Alumbaugh & Babb (EARLY VOTING UNTIL TUESDAY; Elec day 5-8)
This just came in on the other paper
http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2010/04/whos-garnered-most-campaign-donation
It confirms the vendor dollars going to a certain Jenney backed candidate
http://friendsofalumbaugh.blogspot.com/
http://babb4fbisd.wordpress.com/
I agree with Golfin Buddy, the district has been growing and growing for the last 10-15 years and the economy final has caught up with the district as they have overestimated the growth. This was all fueled by an overzealous Real Estate market which demanded new schools be built to attract new buyers for homes in the area. Good schools sell houses!!!!!! Well I guess Fort Bend is not so attractive right now.
As far as the Superintendant goes he needs to be accountable to the school board, who are accountable to the taxpayers. This training
that new school board members attend hosted by the “Former Superintendants Club” is nothing more than brainwashing. Just like City Coucil members, school board members to be available to the taxpayers. The current school board needs an overhaul.
Yeah single parent,
Does anyone remember who voted him in? Who was on the board then?
As an educator in Texas for the past 15 years, I KNOW that the issues facing FBISD are NOT solely caused by state funding. In fact, the state has clearly said year after year that their funding issues will impact districts and districts need to plan accordingly. FBISD has over built while some schools sit practically empty. We cave to the rezoning pressures of the public. That is one area I think Jenney is handling well. He is not caving to the pressure being placed on him- even though his approval ratings are dismal. I don’t think the Dr. Jenney is the source of these issues. I think these issues have only come to light because of him and some of his spending habits.
One question I have to the candidates relates to FBISD’s procedures for purchasing. How will you look into our spending habits and patterns?
We spend more money on items simply because a company/vendor has the bid. For example, an Elmo document camera will cost $518 through our bid list. If you look into best pricing, you can find that same item for less or other items (different brands) for A LOT less (approx $150 less). If wanted to buy bean bags for my classroom I would have to do it through the vendor bid list instead of getting the best price. There is no flexibility. And, the bid-list is never current; people in the know have ways around it to get what they way.
Campuses also spend for the sake of spending because “if we don’t spend it, we lose it” is the philosophy. So equipment and materials are bought that are never used. Title 1 programs roll out materials and equipment, without much consultation with those that will have to actually use it. Principals buy things for their campus when a slick sales person comes in with the “best fix” for their problems.
My second question to the candidates, is will you look into HOW we got here and WHY we are all so surprised? There is no conceivable way this situation happened in 2 years. This has been a growing problem that was either ignored, swept under the rug, or exacerbated by the high spending of purchased programs. I mean, do parents and teachers REALLY use the Character Links that FBISD purchased? If you believe the stories in the news about FBISD recently (burglaries and cyber-bullying) I would have to say, “No, that is not working.”
Honestly, if Houston ISD can do a better job that Fort Bend, that makes a serious statement about flawed practices.
Juajita you mention HOW we got here and WHY we are all so surprised?
To answer your question.
We (the voter) could have slow the train by electing the two good guys in the last election that is Albright and Cain.
However,we got shafted by low voter turn out.Less than 2% of register voter in Fort Bend County.
Juajita,I hope that you get out vote and freind s to.
And just like patriot missive is saying that SO TRUE. Dear voters, vote out the incumbents. Seriously, vote them out, all of them. Turn over the tables in the temple of education and city government.
A new superintendent is needed ONLY, if a vendor and developer controlled FBISD board does not choose this next superintendent, at the terrible expense of taxpayers, students, and teachers. I am more concerned with wasteful spending projects than I am with just another developer and vendor-controlled superintendent. A skunk is a skunk by any other name… Dear voters, vote out the incumbents. Seriously, vote them out, all of them. Turn over the tables in the temple of education and city government.
I’ve seen many good ideas here but most of them do mean a change of leadership and since the superintendent didn’t mind exiting so many from the district employment rolls, maybe he should either take a voluntary cut in salary by at least half or walk. Either way I think we can do better.
It most certainly is time for a new superintendent although I agree with Mr. Alumbaugh that it is too expensive to continue buying out contracts and bringing in new people at even higher salaries. That being said, the board needs to take the blinders off. From comments some board members have made on the recent layoffs, it is clear they are not being told “the entire story”. These folks are making decisions without knowing the facts and seem to completely have lost touch with what goes on daily in the schools. FBISD is being systematically destroyed by our current board and superintendent. Once the parents realize how these decisions will affect their children, I predict some healthy outrage will prevail.
I had a campaign volunteer come to our house yesterday and make a similar case. I hope the consensus around the community is to not keep the status quo. It is the worst I’ve seen the district in years.
Nothing better than healthy outrage loulou. I’m all for that, especially given the misuse of our taxes by this administration!
Please read this also Readers flunk school suit http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6980642.html
concerned parent:That is right”blaming the state”is a cop out.Well in that state of mind,I blame my empolyer for not paying me enought to pay my bills.
The property taxes that is collected through out the state.How much goes to the school distr through out the Texas?I do belive about 60%,I could be wrong.
So how much money that Jenny needs.The 100% of property taxes collect,and still not enought.
About Clay Alumbaugh say:His tenure should be evaluated at the end of the contract and at that time a decision would be made to offer him a new contract or not. At that time the community should be given the opportunity express their opinions concerning his renewal.
I total agree with thatand that “The community involve in express their opinion concernind hie renewal.
However Jenny is against it all the way.He does not want you to know how me makes.
Please read http://www.veritas-solus.com/VNS/Archive/jenney_mba13103.htm
Clay Alumbaugh you are on right path with me.
Good luck
Looks like Jim is the only one taking the official Feldman/Jenney line on “point the finger” at the legislature only. I agree that the formula is not fair but it has not been fair for quite awhile. Jenney should have been budgeting from within the revenue confinements and not proposing these huge spending projects like the “GSTC”, etc…
Please support Clay Alumbaugh & Babb for school board. We need knew leadership and less spending on “special projects” that do not positively impact on the campuses and in the classrooms!
End the vendor feeding and save the budget!
Jim Rice’s Response only shows how mis informed , and how little he actually knows about funding or the funding problem.
The current crisis was not caused by the State Legislature, it may have been added too ,but not created. The State Funding formula has bee a moving target for more than 10 years , it didn’t come or go with Dr. Jenny.
Now, heres the real problem:
1) A School Board and Administration that has overprojected student growth for the past 10 years.
2) A School Board and Administration who has continued to spend money knowing that their projections were inflated and infact we have had a flat line student population + or – less than 1,000 for the last 10 years.
3)A School Board and Administration who has continued to build new schools knowing they had a flatline enrollement.
Now, Since the bulk of State funding is determined by The Number of Student(s) population, when you overbuild & overspend becuase of over projected students, you have a SHORTAGE of $$ MONEY, DUH!. It cost money to service added debt, power bills, transportation, staff, insurance, maitenece,
Why would the BOT do this, to please their developer friends who make money off the district selling them property at 100% or more of Market Value and their vendor friends who get paid off the work they do for the district,Greed that’s why. I guess that’s why The Vendors & Developers like to have their candidate on the School Board, it’s good for business!!!!!!
So, When you build building’s you don’t need and have a wealth of “undercapicity schools” you don’t have enough revenue comming in from the State. Now that’s a NO-Brainer folks.
To add insult to injury, you add Administrative Positions to 25% more than they were Pre-Jenny, Spend money for one new programs, to replace the last one that didn’t work (why did we buy them ? why didn’t we make them work?),and other unneeded suurveys,legal cost,etc, etc, , Then you wind up with a $$10 million deficit last year and $$20 million this year.
Oh, also they have made FBISD a Top Ten District in the entire State of Texas, Top Ten in Bond Indebitness.
To top-off being poor stewards of the taxpayer’s money, they think they don’t have to answer to the taxpayers, or anyone else.
How did they get way with it for 10 years?, Easy, as long as 1st Colony continued to grow and build out they could cover up the ugly with the increase in tax base. Now that 1st Colony is built out, the “puppy has bitten his tail”, this as we all know results in pain, or in our case increased taxes.
You can look foward to another tax increase again next year also, and another deficit. They don’t have the student’s to back up all their wild spening and to keep up the debt on the unneeded buildings & their operations.Now that the “puppy has wet the carpet, somebody has to pay to clean up the mess”.
Whats the Fix, Get the vendor feeders off the BOT. Of course, Mr. Rice is a Vendor for FBISD and is associated with numerous contractors,sub contractors, engineers, architechits, all of whom his buiness has personal ties to.
BE SMART VOTE ALAMBAUGH & BABB , non vendor candidates. That’s a great start.
“The current crisis was not caused by the State Legislature, it may have been added too ,but not created. The State Funding formula has bee a moving target for more than 10 years , it didn’t come or go with Dr. Jenny.”
I agree with this point golfin. They have had this funding issue for quite a while and it makes a convenient scape-goat for Mr. Jenney who is now apparently trying to save his job so he can continue to spend us into oblivion!
We need to get everyone out to vote. Please vote against Rice and Hawkins. We need change. Fort Bend ISD is not the great district it once was. WE MUST REPLACE OUR BOARD AND OUR SUPER. IF NOT REPLACE THE SUPER, REPLACE EVERYONE ON THE BOARD. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE RELIEVED.
Please go out and vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
33% REDUCTION IN REVENUE – Mr. Rice – YOU LIE!
I wonder how the county could claim a 10-11% increase in our property taxes last year but are now claiming a drop of nearly 3% county-wide? That is a pretty wild valuation swing. Makes you wonder if last years numbers were correct.
WOW – Hawkins a no show again.
Rice still blaming the state.- Cop out argument – look at the numbers Mr. Rice – the argument doesn’t hold water.
This is a great question and probably why Jenney is pushing Hawkins and Rice so hard. It may be a matter of survivial for him at this point. I believe candidates were calling for his resignation at last years elections and I agree. Anyone that spends us into this problem and pushes for more has got to go.
” I also believe that there should be no more contract extensions for Dr. Jenny.”
I also agree with this statement. NO MORE EXTENSIONS for poor performance.
Thank you for reminding us that the superintendent works for the Board because the current Board members seem to have forgotten that. It appears that as soon as someone is elected to the Board they forget what they promised and no longer work for the “teacher” but are taken in by Dr. Jenney. It is a shame that the current Board didn’t do their homework in the first place and found out that Dr. Jenney was run out of Virginia Beach. Now we are having to put up with him running down our school district because we can’t afford to get rid of him.