NEWS BRIEFS
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Fort Bend ISD
HIGHLIGHTS FORT BEND ISD The district’s 2021-22 Texas Academic Performance Report indicated academic performance surpassed state scores, but also an increase in violent and criminal incidents as well as the high school dropout rate. Lisa Coston—Fort Bend ISD’s director of accountability, assessment and compliance—presented the report during a March 27 board meeting. The TAPR compiles State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness scores; attendance and graduation rates; college, career and military readiness; and student and sta demographics gathered throughout the 2021-22 school year. The district outperformed state and regional averages for the approaching, meets and masters levels in grades 3-8 for STAAR scores, but its dropout rate rose from 1% in 2019-20 to 1.6% in 2020-21. Violent and criminal incidents also rose from six in 2020-21 to 27 in 2021-22, according to TAPRs. The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. May 15 at 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land. 281-634-1000 • www.fortbendisd.com MEETINGS WE COVER
Fort Bend ISD will revisit class rank policies in August FORT BEND ISD The district is considering allowing stu- dents outside the top 10% of their class to view their class rank, as well as revisit its class ranking policy this summer. The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees approved a motion 4-3 during its April 17 meeting to ask Superintendent BY RENEE FARMER REVISITING THE RANKINGS Fort Bend ISD will reevaluate its class rank policies this summer. The board asked for a review of the ranking policy to consider making the following changes: Ranking students’ GPAs against other students’ at the campus their home is zoned to
Fort Bend County considers campaign to challenge broadband internet map
BY DANIEL WEEKS
I do down 50 [mph] freeways,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers joked. Meyers requested the campaign have a social media element, saying he believes it would be easier to communicate the county’s message this way. County Judge KP George indi- cated people would need broad- band access to see the campaign if it was strictly on social media. Fort Bend County previously conducted a feasibility study calling for $36.8 million to improve the county’s broadband infrastructure. George identi ed broadband improvements as a priority for the county this year. Commissioners moved the item to a closed session to receive legal advice on the potential campaign. The discussion was tabled for future consideration.
Fort Bend County commis- sioners are considering moves to improve county infrastructure for broadband internet, including a possible advertising campaign. On April 25, the county discussed the campaign, which would call on citizens to submit a challenge to the Federal Commu- nications Commission National Broadband Map. Challenges to the map could grant the county eligibility for funds from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. The agenda item for the discussion indicated the county could use billboards, a method that was challenged by some commissioners. “Our message is a lot of information to try to get across to somebody driving 60 [mph] like
Christie Whitbeck to work with the board’s policy commit- tee to recommend amendments to the class rank policy and consider allowing more students to view their rank. Trustees Angie Hanan, Shirley Rose-Gilliam and President Kristen Davison-Malone were opposed. The policy committee was asked to consider allowing more students to view their class rank. If the change is approved, students in the class of 2024 outside of the top 10% of their class would be able to request their class ranking. In December 2019, trustees approved the class rank policy, which ranks students’ GPAs in accordance with the campus their street address is zoned to. Students who attend academies or other programs of choice are not ranked against the school they attend but rather the one they were originally zoned to attend. “I see both sides of the coin. But the bottom line is, I struggle to rank children with other children who they’ve never sat in a single solitary class with,” Hanan said. The policy committee will prioritize reviewing the ranking policy and give the board a recommendation in
Not ranking students at academies or other programs against the schools they attend Allowing students inside the top 10% to see their rankings, but not those outside the top 10%
Former Missouri City employee Millie Holi eld (left) was honored for her 33 years of service. (Jack Dowling/Community Impact)
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Millie Holi eld honored for years of service
April 17 Trustees have the superintendent and policy committee begin review of class rank policy.
August The policy committee will provide the board of trustees a recommendation on a new policy.
2023-24 school year If approved, the new policy would allow more students to see their class rank.
BY JACK DOWLING
enact cooperative programs. The rst project she worked on was a groundwa- ter reduction mandate from Fort Bend County, she said. Public Works Director Shashi Kumar extolled Holi eld as a worker with superior dedication. Beyond her service, Mayor Robin Elackatt commended Holi eld for her character, which he described as humble. “It’s going to be a big change,” Holi eld said. “But I’m ready.”
The city of Missouri City honored lifetime employee Millie Holi eld for 33 years of service at its regular City Council meeting April 17. Holi eld, 71, had served in her most recent position as public utilities coordi- nator for 27 years before retiring. She was originally hired in 1990. Her job as public utilities coordinator included providing lines of communica- tion between municipal utility districts, the city and other entities in order to
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
August. A policy change would not happen by August, but rather recommendations as to whether the policy should be amended will be given. “It’s on the agenda so that people know that we’re listening and people know that we want to know more about it,” Trustee Rick Garcia said.
SUGAR LAND 3335 HWY 6 S (281) 313-4446 MISSOURI CITY 5418 HWY 6 (281) 403-0400
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