By Sonal Bhuchar
For bend Independent School District Board of Trustees President
In light of the rapidly evolving and constantly changing financial situation associated with the state’s funding of public education, I feel it is important to communicate with you on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Within the next few weeks, the Board will begin its budget-creating deliberations for the 2011-12 school year. Under the dark shadow of a projected 27 billion dollar shortfall in the State of Texas’ budget, we can all expect that the state’s financial crisis will severely affect public education unlike anything we have ever seen or experienced before. In spite of Governor Perry’s commitment to use a small portion of the state’s multi-billion dollar Rainy Day Fund to reduce the state’s deficit, this unprecedented shortage will equate to a 30 to 74 million dollar shortfall for Fort Bend ISD.
As we continue to wrestle with the inequitable state funding formula created by the Texas Legislature in 2006 and look to the consequences of the imminent state legislative decisions and federal mandates, every School Board member is about to be called upon to make very difficult choices regarding the services and opportunities the district will be able to offer its students and patrons for the coming school year. With the bulk of our budget dedicated to salaries, we may be forced to reduce some workforce positions and eliminate some programs to create the 2011-12 budget. Certainly, it is very distressing for us all, and those decisions will be made with the full realization that there will always be those who are critical of our choices.
Amidst the discussions about financial crises and budget shortfalls shared by many states across our nation, and Texas, in particular, some basic questions about our priorities have emerged. Be assured that we have never taken our eye off the real target – the education of each and every child in this community. While balancing fiscal conservatism with the investment in our children creates a challenging situation, our decisions will reflect our belief in the mission that every child can and must learn … learn not only to read and write, but to succeed as a productive, contributing citizen in a world economy.
Please know that we are in constant contact with our state legislators to learn as soon as possible how much funding we will receive for next year. So far no concrete decisions have been made and we have told them that not knowing this information makes our job of budgeting for next year increasingly difficult. You need to know that we have not been idle during this Legislative Session. Board members have visited Austin multiple times for face-to-face meetings with our elected officials; we have developed a Legislative Agenda; we have provided information to you on how to contact your lawmakers and legislators; we have joined other districts to make our voices stronger.
Five years ago, Fort Bend ISD made a commitment through its five-year district strategic plan to narrow the achievement gap, raise all campuses to a rating of Acceptable or above as rated by the state accountability system, reduce the number of PEG campuses to zero, support all campuses to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by federal standards of the No Child Left Behind Act, and institutionalize a character education program. Fort Bend ISD also made a commitment to becoming “a district of choice” for attracting and retaining highly qualified staff, creating and instituting transparent processes in all its operations, and providing high quality, exceptional learning opportunities for all students.
The journey has resulted in hard work, but we stand with pride today as we are now a “Recognized District” by the TEA, have 100 percent of our campuses meeting AYP, have reduced our PEG campuses from eight to none, have been identified as one of only two school district finalists in the nation as a “District of Character,” have 50 National Merit Scholars, and have five (5) of our high schools listed among the top six percent of high schools in the nation to name just a few of our Points of Pride.
These are truly remarkable accomplishments for any district, especially for one as large, transient, and diverse as ours. I want you to know how proud the Board members are of these achievements. We recognize and honor the involvement every family has had in the successes of their children and pay tribute to all of the district’s staff members for their contributions to these remarkable gains.
We will return to Austin on the 30th of April to be heard again. Our message to the lawmakers each time is the same as it has always been with regard to public education – Do no harm!
Do no harm! – Authorize dipping into the state’s billion dollar Rainy Day Fund to help us save jobs and keep teachers in the classrooms.
Do no harm! – Delay the new STAARS Accountability Program for at least another year until funding for the new instructional materials and training for our staff can be provided.
Do no harm! – Guarantee that Texas school children will receive the public education they deserve for the years to come by honestly “Making Education a Priority.”
We ask each and every one of you to join us in supporting the education and future of our children, because, first and foremost, our main focus is our students and their educational success. We cannot fail them. We must invest in our community and their future.
Thank you for your commitment to our district, our students, and this community.
Recently met a retired school teacher who was voted Teacher of the Year for Texas–she raised an issued I think is important. Why build these architectural wonders for junior high and high school students with multi-colored brick and the most expensive stadium lights? Why not just build a little brick schoolhouse with one color of brick?
I’ve also been told that the ACT list for schools of excellence dropped from 21 to 10.
I think they need to cut administrators, reduce paperwork for the teachers and let them TEACH…that is what they are there for.
Good point enough. Often the last thing these projects become are about the kids. So many of the companies depending on these projects have come to expect that these dollars will always flow to their politicians and their projects. It really is a sad state of affairs. Too many career politicians willing to sell the children out to maintain their perceived power base. I believe too you are correct, that the FBISD “schools of excellence” dropped in 2010. I believe that can be confirmed here on FBN.
Thank you FortBendNow for providing a community forum!
http://www.brucealbright.com
Dear BOT President,
If there is “supposedly” a FREEZE on hiring, then why is there a new and VERY recent job posting for a NEW assistant director of our purchasing department? I bet the base salary is MORE than two first year teacher’s pay. Was this position posted because the NEW DIRECTOR can’t handle the job alone? Who approved this job posting? Many TEACHERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, etc. are having to do the job of more than 1 person, so why doesn’t this department tighten up their girdles and do the same as the rest of the working class, including the director!
How many people are working up there in FBISD purchasing department anyway? Last I heard there was 1 man (supposedly husband of Jenny’s longtime hometown friend and coincidentally a FBISD principal) and a handful of women, who never answer the phone.
By the way, for those of you at home, find out how much our new FBISD purchasing director’s paycheck is – - you’d be surprised how much someone who has NO experience as a director in any area gets paid at our very own Fort Bend taxpayers expense.
Where’s the CFO on this one? Maybe she’s the person who recommended this hiring! If FBISD is supposedly CUTTING BACK, then why are only certain positions being filled?
Need answers!
When my household is expecting a budget cut, we stop spending. The Board knew this cut was coming and yet gave the Superintendant a raise. I realize the budget fiscal years where not the same and I think this was irresponsible. I would not be in favor of any cuts in FBISD until the Superintendent takes a cut. No student or teacher should suffer for a minute while the Superintendant enjoys this raise. When the Board spends money responsibly, I will consider supporting cuts they propose.
Do no harm! – let’s start with our own Board.
Totally agree… it is truly UNBELIEVABLE that
1) the BOT gave Jenny ANY raise at all – in this current recession – and since he’s already paid an OUTRAGEOUS salary $$$$$$$$$
2) the BOT has also EXTENDED his CONTRACT for 5 MORE YEARS ?????????
I agree with the previous post. This is the same Board of Trustees that ignores voter protests against rezoning and goes ahead with a slapdash approach to the problem, which is to gradually move all neighborhoods into Elkins High School including large blocks of First Colony to accomodate the new neighborhoods on the west side. Their approaches to the problem show an inclination to take on smaller voting blocks that won’t affect their re-election chances. Is this the Board you trust to give an even-handed and logical approach to budget-cutting?
I’d like to see a genuine effort by the Board to uncover waste, especially in their administrative and management expenses rather than a “lets do this the easy way” approach by laying off teachers, who form another small voting block.
Bhuchar is out of touch. She is like the liberals who had to go behind closed doors and shut out the conservatives to get Obamacare passed. She sits on committees and then puts on another hat to vote for the recommendation by the committee. Hello Sonal: have you ever heard of “conflict of interest” or do you just not really care about most taxpayers (as you call us “stakeholders”), while you sit in your Taj Mahal living conditions in Sweetwater? As the conservatives said in the National election last November: “It is time to throw the bums out.” I hope taxpayers will not sit at home and let the “good ole boys and girls” win this next board election. 60% of your tax bill goes to the school district and you need a better voice than what you are getting. It’s your money…but the district thinks it is theirs. Vote for change or just be happy wallowing in the mud!
I’m with you Mr. Magee. Jenney’s cut so many backroom deals he can’t keep up with them anymore. I wonder what’s going to happen when those neighborhoods caught in the zoning battles find out they’ve been bartered like foder in some of his backroom dealings to keep his incumbents safe from challenge and that isn’t all he’s barterd away. I guess the joke is on us if they remain in. They will just keep pointing the finger at the state, even though Sonal and Jenney have been here approving these deficit budgets and increasing our district’s long-term debt. Hell they declared 2 financial emergencies already. Even before the state axe comes down. It’s all a very sad shell game if you ask me and yet they keep raising our property taxes every year while cutting services. Some are protected from the RIFs and many others are not. It really stinks to high heaven if you know what I mean!!!
Fiscal Conservatism? Really. $70MM dollar HS, $7MM dollar practice swimming hole, pushed a $26MM Global Science Center, 10th in the state for bond indebtedness out of over 1000 Texas school districts. The state didn’t mandate these expenditures and debt. Ms. Bhuchar absolutely would have proceeded on the science center if not for the tremendous pressure from the public and an important board election in May. Mrs. Bhuchar was on the feasibility committee that pushed this waste and then voted on it from the board side. And who can forget the over $300,000 dollar mistake when the district started designing MS #14 before actually owning the land (http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/09/16/47817). When this board forces the district to stop spending like a drunken sailor, then we can run to the state.
Nothing more needs to be added to concerns post. It says it all. Thank you for the link.
When you look at salary records and see that FBISD has SECRETARIES and OFFICE ASSISTANTS in ADMIN that are paid $80 – 100,000 and HS School Registrars (… yes, REGISTRARS ??) are paid $85,000+ … it’s no wonder the Ship has run aground !!
Total mismanagement and cronyism abounds in FBISD
TxGal, HS Registrars in FBISD are not making $85,000+. I recommend that you check the FBIS website and look at the individual campuses to see who the registrars are by name. Look them up by name on the TexasTribune.org website. They make less than $40,000.
I heard this suggestion a while back and it makes alot of sense. FBISD should sell the Annex Building on Sweetwater. The district does not need two main buildings.