Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | August 2025

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Sugar Land Missouri City Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12 AUG. 12SEPT. 10, 2025

2025 Education Edition

Balancing the imbalance Fort Bend ISD works to stabilize school occupancy through boundary evaluations

New projected FBISD housing by 203435 By the 2034-35 school year, several campuses in the northwest and southern portion of the district will continue to grow alongside high-growth housing developments.

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

Mandy Bui purchased her home in Harvest Green in 2023 with the expectation that her children would attend Neill Elementary School. As Neill’s district coordination chair during the 2022-23 school year, she served as a liaison between the school and Fort Bend ISD’s Collabo- rative Communities and witnessed rsthand the challenges of overcrowding. Neill had reached 101.1% capacity at the time, prompting Bui and other community members to support a $1.26 billion bond approved by voters in November 2023 that allocated $722.99 million for four new schools in high-growth areas in the northwest and southern portions of the district. However, the board voted to defer construction of Elementary School 55 last October due to ina- tion-related cost underestimations. “I bought into the bond big time because I could see it rsthand—the classrooms getting strained, the teacher turnover, the burnout on their faces,” she said. “The teachers think that another school is coming, so they think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” Now, district ocials said they’re working to evaluate campus boundaries over the next three years to even out students across FBISD as 17 schools sit overcapacity for the 2025-26 school year. The changes could result in zoning changes and school consolidation.

Planned housing units by neighborhood

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By the 2034-35 school year, overcapacity campuses could include: 1 Heritage Rose Elementary School 206% 2 Ferndell Henry Center for Learning 191%

3 Thornton Middle School 183.9% 4 Neill Elementary School 151% 5 Crawford High School 114.9% 6 Travis High School 109.2%

SOURCE: 202425 POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS DEMOGRAPHIC REPORTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Also in this issue

Government: Get to know Sugar Land’s new Mayor Carol McCutcheon (Page 9) Business: Find out where your kids can enjoy indoor playgrounds in the area (Page 15)

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Impacts

3 LocalVet Urgent Care The clinic offers after-hour emergency care, surgical procedures, end-of-life options and a variety of other services tailored to the needs of every pet. • Opened July 1 • 9402 Hwy. 6, Ste. 300, Missouri City • www.localvetuc.com 4 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans The business offers several coffee-based drinks, including espresso, tea, iced coffee and energy drinks as 5 Mint Express Car Wash The business offers an exterior automated car wash as well as exterior and interior detailing services. Monthly and annual membership plans and wash packages are also available. • Opened July 4 6 OnMed CareStation OnMed, a hybrid health tech company, has opened a CareStation inside Fiesta Mart aimed at giving community members access to primary and urgent care services outside of a clinical setting. • Opened July 10 • 1530 Independence Blvd., Missouri City • www.onmed.com well as pastries. • Opened July 1 • 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Missouri City • www.pjscoffee.com • 4141 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City • www.mintexpresscarwash.com 7 Skinship Nail Spa The spa provides multiple services including manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements and kids nails services. • Opened July 13 • 8225 Hwy 6, Ste. 200, Missouri City • www.skinshipnailspa.com 8 Hong Kong Food Court The Hong Kong-inspired eatery is the sister restaurant of the Hong Kong Food Street location in Katy. Menu items include casserole, noodle soup, fried noodles and congee.

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SIENNA CROSSING DR.

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2 Ace Hardware The worldwide hardware store chain offers home improvement products, such as tools, grills and smokers, paint and paint supplies, and 16 5

Now open

1 Flip ‘n Patties The eatery combines Filipino and American cuisines through menu items including burgers, egg rolls and empanadas. • Opened this summer • 5870 New Territory Blvd., Sugar Land • www.flipnpatties.com

outdoor furniture. • Opened June 22 • 9320 Hwy. 6, Missouri City • www.acehardware.com

great food from Carnival Midway food trucks and The Tea Room. Take home treats from Aunt Hattie’s.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR, ROO MOODY & AUBREY VOGEL

14 Paris Baguette The French-inspired bakery cafe offers a variety of breads, croissants, cakes, Danish pastries and Lavazza coffee. • Opening TBD • 6266 A Hwy. 6, Missouri City • www.parisbaguette.com 15 Regency at Sienna The development will feature homes available for purchase between $400,000-$600,000 for adults 55-plus, who wish to live in an active community. • Opening spring 2026 • Sienna Parkway and FM 521 Road, Missouri City • www.regencyatsienna.com

• Opened July 15 • 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. F119, Missouri City • www.hongkongfoodcourt.com

Coming soon

9 Black Rock Coffee Bar The Oregon-based coffee chain serves hot or iced coffees, teas, smoothies and energy drinks. • Opened July 25 • 11123 W. Airport Blvd., Stafford • www.br.coffee 10 Crave Cookies The national franchise offers freshly-baked gourmet cookies for pick-up or delivery. Every week, six new flavors are revealed. • Opened July 26 • 9010 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 200, Missouri City • www.cravecookies.com 11 Sienna Eye Care The practice provides personalized solutions for eye conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. It also provides pediatric evaluations and myopia control for children. • Opened July 28 • 2814 Sienna Parkway, Ste. 210, Missouri City • www.siennaeyecare.com

Mia’s Table The casual family-friendly eatery serves a variety of burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads and seafood options. The menu lineup also has chicken fried steak, meatloaf and chicken strips, as well as milkshakes. • Opening January 2026 • Address TBD • www.miastable.com

What's next

16 Acacia Manor A 62,639-square-foot space event center is set open in Sienna Plantation, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration. Construction is expected to finish by August 31. • Opening TBD • 4144 Bees Loop, Missouri City

In the news

Coming soon

17 Sienna Wings The eatery, which sells wing combos and sides, has relocated to The Commissary following the closure of its Harvest Market location. • 4340 Sienna Parkway, Ste. 104, Missouri City • Relocated June 1 • https://siennawings.com 18 East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry The nonprofit is celebrating its 35th anniversary of its Inter-faith Food Pantry, financial assistance program and

Closings

12 Mo City Eatz The eatery will feature St. Louis-style flavors with menu items including burgers, wings and fried fish. • Opening TBD • 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Missouri City 13 H Mart The 64,145-square-foot store will carry an array of international groceries with a focus on Korean products. • Opening TBD • 3665 N. Highway 6, Sugar Land • www.hmart.com

19 Key 2 the Sea Following an abrupt closure of its Harvest Market location, the seafood restaurant is seeking another location in Missouri City. • Closed May 10

• 4603 Sienna Pkwy., Missouri City • www.instagram.com/key2thesea

the Tri-City Churches Resale Shop. • 435 Stafford Run Road, Stafford • www.humanneeds.org

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Government

BY TOMER RONEN

Carol McCutcheon

Sugar Land Mayor Carol McCutcheon reects on rst weeks in oce Following a tight race and runo election, Carol McCutcheon ocially became Sugar Land’s rst female and 11th overall mayor June 17. McCutcheon previously served eight years on City Council. Community Impact spoke with her about settling into the role, her goals and redevelopment plans. What have your rst couple of weeks serving as mayor been like? It’s been great—the outpouring of congratula- tions and support for me as mayor has really been heartwarming. It’s been just a huge amount of support. I’m just really excited to be in the role, and I’m working hard. We have four brand new council members out of the six total council members, so [we are focusing on] just really getting people working

Sugar Land Mayor Carol McCutcheon (center) with City Council members (from left) Robert Boettcher, Sanjay Singhal, Suzanne Whatley, Rick Miller, Stewart Jacobson and Jim Vonderhaar.

COURTESY CITY OF SUGAR LAND

together as a team. What are some of your goals this year? Sugar Land recently bought the Imperial Historic District, and that is going to be our big focus. The rst thing on our plate, with respect to that, is a plan to stabilize and preserve the historic Char House ... We’ll have public engagement to hear what the community would like to be developed there. We’ll hire a designer to design the plan, and then next year, we will enter into agreement with a mas- ter developer to develop the site. It will probably be done in phases ... I would think that they would be breaking ground sometime in 2027. [I am also focusing on] the implementation of

the bond ... and getting the new animal shelter constructed. How does it feel to be the city’s rst female mayor? I do hope that by me being mayor, it will encour- age girls and young women to set goals, follow their dreams and work hard. And I hope it will encourage other women to get involved and get into elected oce, because women are underrepresented, generally speaking, in elected oce.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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Government

BY TOMER RONEN & AUBREY VOGEL

Missouri City begins drainage plan update At a June 16 meeting, Missouri City City Council approved a $450,000 contract with engineering firm Walter P. Moore to update its master drainage plan. The plan was last updated in 2020, Assistant City Manager Shashi Kumar said. A closer look The update aims to focus on “areas with reported flooding concerns” to identify drainage mitigation to include in future capital improvement plans, Kumar said. The update will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Senate Bill 7, Kumar said. The city will be responsible for $28,125. The update began in July and will take nine months to complete.

$2M incentive expected to bring 500 area jobs Applied Optoelectronics Inc., a fiber optic man- ufacturer, is set to expand its U.S. roots in Sugar Land with a $2 million incentive approved July 1 by the Sugar Land Development Corp., a city board aimed at economic growth. The company, which is the largest domestic optical module manufacturer, moved its head- quarters—located at 13139 Jess Pirtle Blvd.—to Sugar Land in 2000, according to a July 1

The agreement will help fund: • Expanding the company’s manufacturing line at its existing headquarters • Adding a new 266,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to cost $77 million The investment will bring 500 jobs to the city, paying an average of $61,240, officials said. Looking ahead The expansion is expected to be operational in late summer, while the new facility is expected to begin services in summer 2026. “We are grateful to trailblazing companies like AOI for investing in our community, creating vital jobs that enhance our role as a regional technology hub and helping further shape our city into the thriving center of opportunity and momentum that it is today.” CAROL MCCUTCHEON, SUGAR LAND MAYOR

news release. The big picture

The 10-year agreement will obligate AOI to a lease at 1111 Gillingham Lane, a building the city has been trying to lease out for years, officials said. The annual $200,000 payments, which will be funded by revenue from its $0.25 sales tax revenue, will begin March 31, 2027.

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Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE, RACHEL LELAND & JESSICA SHORTEN

County officials urge disaster preparedness amid FEMA concerns

Diving in deeper

FEMA funding also provides individual assistance directly to residents affected by local disasters. Individual assistance can vary from lump sum payments to hotel accommodations for families affected by a disaster. Following the derecho event and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Houston region received two presidential disaster declarations. According to funding allocation reports from FEMA, 739,519 applications for individual assistance for home- owners were approved from the two events, totaling nearly $1.2 billion in assistance passed on to residents in 2024 alone. Individual assistance requests from Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Hurricane Beryl, the Houston derecho and the 2024 severe storms totaled $2.9 billion, according to FEMA. FEMA individual assistance funding for Houston region Housing assistance funding Other assistance funding Hurricane Harvey $1.2B $413M Tropical Storm Imelda $57M $11M 2024 derecho/tornado/severe storm $143M $164M Hurricane Beryl $191M $724M

Abbott was appointed to the special review council in May alongside Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Abbott said the state has historically led disaster response. The biggest concern voiced by local agencies is natural disasters typically cause several million in debris removal and hazard mitigation costs typically reimbursed by FEMA. “Since 2017, Fort Bend County has received approximately $48 million in FEMA funding,” Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management officials said in an emailed response. “These funds have supported critical effort such as home elevation projects, property buyouts and demolitions, and disaster assistance grants.”

Following the announcement of a new committee May 20 aimed at addressing the reliability and existence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Houston- area agencies remain uncertain on how the federal FEMA Review Council will affect disaster response in the region. In a July 14 press conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said the main goal of the committee is to streamline processes to provide faster emergency response. “The monetary resources that we are receiving now, they’re much needed for things like … debris removal or search and rescue operations,” Abbott said. “Those will still be funded, but we will have the ability to do it a whole lot faster.”

Immediately following a disaster, local counties seek FEMA funding for public assistance and debris removal. Regional major storm debris removal costs

Galveston County Harris County Fort Bend County

Hurricane Harvey

April/May 2024 severe storms

Hurricane Beryl

$40M

$30M

$20M

$10M

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE, FORT BEND COUNTY, GALVESTON COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: NO FUNDS WERE USED IN FORT BEND OR GALVESTON COUNTIES FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM THE APRIL AND MAY 2024 SEVERE STORMS.

SOURCE: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Final takeaways

there is no deadline on when the final report will be issued. “We have full confidence in the continued partnership and support of the Texas Division of Emergency Management,” Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management officials said. “Our collaborative relationship with the state has proven effective in past disaster responses, and we trust their leadership moving forward.”

The possibility of FEMA being dissolved still looms over other community leaders who share concerns over the funding provided to local agencies following a natural disaster. “Eliminating FEMA is reckless and will have devastating and deadly consequences,” Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “States already manage disaster response, and rely on FEMA’s partnership, funding, and expertise after major disasters.” The federal review council has met twice in 2025 to discuss how FEMA currently operates, and

With the 2025 hurricane season underway, many agencies are focused on maintaining preparedness for storms and see the potential for streamlining FEMA processes. “Our preparations for the 2025 hurricane reason remain unchanged,” Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management officials said. “As always, we are following our established protocols and will continue to stay alert to any guidance that would require adjustments to our approach.”

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Education

BY DIEGO COLLAZO

A group of Fort Bend ISD students is building a 3D virtual exhibit to preserve the history of the Sugar Land 95, African American laborers who died in Sugar Land under Texas’ convict leasing system. The remains of these 95 men and women were discovered in 2018 during construction at FBISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center, Commu- nity Impact previously reported. The background In 2023, a group of four then-sophomores and now rising seniors who specialize in project direc- tion, 3D modeling and programming saw FBISD’s initiative to memorialize the history of the Sugar Land 95 and wanted to get involved after learning Students’ exhibit to preserve Sugar Land 95 history

From left: Kaiser Lee, Aaditya Puttagunta, Rayyan Siddiqui and Ahnaf Yasin stand next to the Texas Historical Marker placed near the burial site of the Sugar Land 95.

DIEGO COLLAZOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

about the individuals during a Texas history class, said Ahnaf Yasin, the project’s 3D director. “We spent just one day learning about the convict leasing system, and some of us were just wondering why we didn’t spend more time on it,” Yasin said. The details The students approached FBISD with the idea of creating a virtual exhibit to document the informa- tion in an accessible and interactive way, project director and lead programmer Aaditya Puttagunta

said. With the backing of FBISD and countless hours of research and dedication, the team has put together a website and 3D exhibit. While not completed, the 3D exhibit currently consists of two scenes: a re-creation of the career and technical center, and a re-creation of Sugar Land in the late 1800s, 3D modeler Rayyan Siddiqui said. Users will be able to walk through the virtual reconstructions from the comfort of their home. See the team’s work at www.sl95.org with more scenes set to come in the future.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business Indoor playgrounds

BY NATALIE JOHNSON & TOMER RONEN

Here are some indoor playgrounds for different ages in the Sugar Land, Missouri City area. This list is not comprehensive.

• www.sugarcreek.net/discover-community/ children/playscape

Missouri City

Play Street Museum The museum offers independent play for children featuring a doctor’s office, house and cafe. • No age limit • $14 (Ages 1-8) • 1912 Wescott Ave., Ste. 248, Sugar Land • www.sugarland.playstreetmuseum.com

Sugar Land

Frog Snails and Fairy Tales The indoor-play space offers several interactive exhibits including a grocery store, doll house and doctor’s office. • Ages 1-9 • $13, plus tax (two hours) • 300 Promenade Way, Ste. 170, Sugar Land • www.fsaft.com Majestkids The business has a toddler play area, foam pit, jumping pillow, ninja obstacle course, imagination playground, rock climbing and indoor play structures. • Preschoolers and under • $12-$20 • 14031 Southwest Fwy, Ste. 620, Sugar Land • www.majestkids.com The Play Space The business has an 18 months and under area, 4 and under area, a full-service cafe and arcade with prizes. • 1 year-13 year old • $17 (weekdays), $20 (weekends, holidays), $3.25 grip socks (required), 6 months under free • 13444 Southwest Fwy Ste. 1A, Sugar Land • www.theplayspacetx.com Sugar Creek Baptist Church playscape The church provides an indoor playscape for children to come in play in a safe environment. • Toddlers to fifth-grade • Free on weekdays • 13333 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land

Missouri City

Gymboree The women-owned business offers classes and hosts birthday parties. • 6 months-5 years old • $99-$169 • 5201 Hwy. 6 South, Ste. 300, Missouri City • www.gymboreeclasses.com We Rock the Spectrum The business offers a an inclusive sensory gym for children of all ages and abilities. • Age 17 and below • Cost: $16 (two hours), $24 (all day) • 4899 Highway 6, Suite 205B, Missouri City • www.werockthespectrumsugarland.com

BounceBounce Trampoline Park Enjoy a trampoline court, arcade, foam pits, bumper cars, zipline, water zone, and more. • Elementary kids focused, 1-12

• $13.99/hour, all day $30 • 9710 Hwy. 6, Missouri City • www.bouncebouncepark.com

Stafford

Richmond

Pump It Up The establishment has an open jump calendar and is

Kiddie Kingdom The business offers indoor-play area with different sensory toys for kids with developmental challenges. • Ages six weeks to 7 years old • $18 (one hour) • 16803 W. Airport Blvd., Ste. 150, Richmond • www.kiddiekingdomtx.com

available to rent out for parties. • Ages 2-12, adults are welcome • $11/child (public play, unlimited time) • 11325 Fountain Lake Dr., Stafford • www.pumpitupparty.com/sugarland-tx

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Transportation

BY TOMER RONEN & AUBREY VOGEL

$195K vertiport study to support potential air taxi service At a June 17 meeting, Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved a $195,674 “vertiport” study with construction company Woolpert aimed at determining the viability of the city’s proposed electric “air taxi service” through Wisk Air. The “veriport” is an area where aircraft can land, take-off and charge. The background The study comes after the city announced a partnership with Wisk Air, an autonomous air- craft company, in February 2024 following a 2021 planning effort with Arizona State University. The air travel program is one of several alterna- tive transportation options the city is consider- ing, including its recently launched microtransit program and gondola-like system.

Hwy. 36A meetings to happen in August Residents are invited to take part in public meetings in late August to learn about potential routes for the southern portion of the proposed Hwy. 36A project. The details The meetings will present eight alterna- tives for the project segment from FM 1994 south of Needville to I-10 West in Katy, said Kristina Hadley, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation.

Potential helicopter stops The partnership aims to improve connectivity by bringing self-flying helicopters to several stops.

1 Sugar Land Regional Airport 2 Downtown Houston 3 George Bush Intercontinental Airport

4 William P. Hobby Airport

5 Ellington Airport 6 Energy Corridor

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Public meetings Aug. 26, 5-7 p.m.

• Leonard Merrell Center • 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy

SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND/COMMUNITYIMPACT

Aug. 28, 5-7 p.m.

Going forward The study is expected to be substantially completed in October.

• Fort Bend County Epicenter • 28505 Southwest Freeway, Rosenberg

Events

BY NATALIE JOHNSON

• www.kiddieacademy.com/academies/missouri-city/ event/storytime-live

August

80’s Party at Little Woodrow’s Dress up in 80’s wear and enjoy live music, photo ops, and have the chance to win a $50 Little Woodrow’s gift card by being the Best Dressed. • August 15, 8 p.m. • Free (admission) • Little Woodrow’s, 16535 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land • www.facebook.com/share/158LcCBoaF Space Cowboys Star Wars Night Support the Candlelighters by participating in a game- worn Star Wars themed jersey auction while enjoying Star Wars music during the Space Cowboys game. • August 17, 5:30 p.m. • $15-$70 • Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land • www.milb.com/sugar-land/tickets/promotions Storytime Live The event will include a meet and greet with Curious George, splash pad, face paint and bounce house. • August 23, 10 a.m.-noon • Free • Kiddie Academy of Missouri City, 3811 Raoul Wallenberg Lane, Missouri City

Scholars and Gamblers Casino Night Enjoy three hours of gambling to support seniors in Fort Bend and Stafford ISD. Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a silent auction will be available. Participants must be 21 and up. • August 23, 7 p.m.-midnight • $25-$1,000 donations • St. Basil Hall-Knights of Columbus, 702 Burney Rd., Sugar Land

• www.rodeohouston.com/events/ scholars-gamblers-casino-night

September

Lunar Beginnings: A New Moon Workshop

The Witcher in Concert Celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt by witnessing the role-playing game’s musical score brought to life with a live orchestra, in-game visuals, and special appearances by Perival, a Polish folk metal band that co-composed the game’s soundtrack. • September 6, 8 p.m. • $31-$182 • Smart Financial Centre, 18111 Lexington Boulevard, Sugar Land

Raise awareness and energy through yoga, intention setting, and a crystal sound bath workshop designed to help participants focus on health, routines and organization. • August 23, 6:30-8 p.m. • $50-$65 • Awakened Yoga Studio, 13809 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land • www.facebook.com/share/19UPNwxjoF

• www.smartfinancialcentre.net/ events/the-witcher-in-concert

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*HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. It’s a standardized system used to measure a home’s energy efficiency. A lower HERS score indicates a more energy-efficient home. HERS is like a home’s MPG label. A lower HERS score means lower energy bills and a smaller environmental footprint. Our average gross HERS score in 2023 was 42. To confirm our position as the #1 energy efficient homebuilder in the US, we looked at the publicly reported average HERS scores during June 2025 for each of the top 30 homebuilders in the US (based on how many houses they sold in 2024) as determined by Builder Magazine’s list https://www.builderonline.com/builder-100/builder-100-list/2025/ accessed on June 6, 2025. Beazer Homes reports our average gross HERS score i.e. without including solar power savings. We don’t know for sure if the other builders report their energy efficiency scores (HERS scores) with or without including solar power savings. Any registered or unregistered trademarks appearing here are the registered or unregistered trademarks of and are owned by their respective owners. Pricing, features, and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for complete details. ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All Rights Reserved. © 2025 Beazer Homes 25_08 BH HOU_1 Featuring over 20 Beautiful Communities in the Houston area — Learn more at Beazer.com

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Education Education Edition

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

2025

Welcome to the annual CI Education Edition!

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This guide highlights Fort Bend ISD’s three-year boundary change study to alleviate capacity issues across the district. The edition also features a look at where Fort Bend ISD transfers are going as well as an-depth analysis on the district’s career and technical programs as statewide workforce demands grow.

Aubrey Vogel Editor Avogel@ communityimpact.com

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What's inside

See where former Fort Bend ISD students are transferring (Page 23)

Find out how Fort Bend ISD’s CTE program has grown (Page 25)

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In line with many school districts across the Greater Houston area adopting changes regarding their personal electronic device policies, Fort Bend ISD ocials are recommending revision to its current policy to align with House Bill 1481. The bill was passed in June by the 89th Texas Legislature to restrict the use of devices during the school day. Per district documents, recommended changes include the banning of cellphone use during the entire school day with devices turned o and stored away from students of all ages rather than allowing older students the ability to use devices FBISD could change personal device policy

What’s in a bill

FBISD current cellphone policy

The bill was passed to reduce distractions in the class after Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath urged state lawmakers in September to ban student cellphone use in public schools, citing concerns about the impact to student learning and mental health. Under this bill, smartwatches, tablets and radios are regulated in addition to cellphones, per the TEA. Students with Individualized Education Plans or Section 504 accommodations are allowed device use if campus authorities approve, per the TEA. Further updates and any changes to the policy will be shared with families and sta as the district receives additional clarication from state education authorities, district ocials said.

District ocials said some policies, adopted in January, align with the state mandate including:

Students in pre-K through rst grade are prohibited from possessing personal telecommunication devices Students in grades 2-12 may bring devices to school but must remain o during instructional time

Trustees also approved the removal of a fee in January, which ocials said led to inconsistent enforcement across campuses.

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

during non-instructional times. The board discussed the recommended changes Aug. 4 and will vote on the revisions at an Aug. 18 meeting, per district documents.

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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Education

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

FBISD approves special ed transportation facility, school repairs Fort Bend ISD administrators will move forward in using $29.3 million in bond funds toward Mad- den Elementary slab repairs and a special educa- tion transportation center, after board approval at the July 28 board meeting. Designated “high need” by administrators, these projects—in addition to remaining funds required for the bond-approved aquatic center and facilities repair—were candidates for the use of $63.6 million in set aside funds to address poten- tial shortfalls from the 2014, 2018 and 2023 bonds. By the numbers The Madden Elementary slab repairs required an additional $12.1 million on top of the $9.5 million allocated through the 2023 bond, while the $8.2 million special education transportation

FBISD to leave board seat vacant

Proposed expenses for bond contingency After the proposed projects, FBISD would be left with $16.9 million in contingency funds. Maintenance for Prop A facilities: $20.1M Madden Elementary: $12.1M Special education

Despite receiving numerous qualified applications, Fort Bend ISD board President Kristin Tassin said the board was unable to agree on a single candidate to fill Position 5, which was officially vacated in May by Sonya Jones. How we got here The board solicited applications from interested candidates in the district’s East Division, which represents the Dulles, Elkins, Hightower, Willowridge, Ridge Point and Marshall high schools but ultimately decided to wait until the May 2026 election to let voters decide on the trustee. Next steps The Position 5 seat election will take place May 3, 2026, with filing in early 2026.

transportation center: $8.2M Aquatic facility: $6.2M

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

center is meant to consolidate staff across three sites into one centralized location on Julie Rivers Drive in Sugar Land. Next steps District staff will begin the design phase with Huckabee Architects for Madden Elementary repairs, while the transportation center design work will begin in the third quarter of 2025. Both projects are expected to go to bid in spring 2026.

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Education

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

In the 2024-25 school year, the Texas Education Agency reported Fort Bend ISD had a net loss of 10.8%, or 9,291 students, who left the district. Most left to tuition- free public charter schools. Students transferred to 25 different charter networks across the Houston area, with most transfers to Harmony Public Schools, International Leadership of Texas and KIPP Public School. In the 2024-25 school year, demographic consulting firm Population and Survey Analysts estimated 7,050 FBISD students attended charter schools with that number expected to grow to 8,912 by the 2029-30 school year. As district officials grapple with stabilized growth that differs from the fast growth of the past decade, they have set their eyes on specialized academic programming. 72% of FBISD transfers went to charter schools

Harmony Public Schools

Where it’s happening

2,708 FBISD students

• Started in 2003 in Dallas • Approximately 41,800 students across 60 campuses statewide • Offers Kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering and math curriculum

The seven elementary school zones with more than 125 transfers were in the northwest portion of the district and correspond to the Dulles, Bush and Kempner high school feeder patterns, per the 2024-25 PASA report. Out of the seven elementary schools with more than 125 transfers during the 2023-24 school year, only Mission West Elementary School received a B for the TEA’s A-F accountability scores for the 2022-23 school year, while the rest were classified as Cs and Ds, Community Impact reported. Out of the nine elementary zones with more than 100 transfers in the 2023-24 schools, six were in the Willowridge and Marshall high school feeder patterns, which have historically struggled with academic performance even being placed on improvement plans several times since the 2014-15 school year, Community Impact reported.

KIPP Public Schools 1,513 FBISD students

• Started in 2003 in San Antonio • Approximately 34,100 students across 56 campuses statewide • Offers Pre-K through 12th grade college preparatory curriculum

International Leadership of Texas

1,068 FBISD students

• Started in 2012 in Dallas • Approximately 22,700 students across 38 campuses statewide • Offers Kindergarten through 12th grade college preparatory curriculum, mastering numerous languages including English, Spanish and Mandarin

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The details

Charter schools where FBISD students transferred in 2024-25 Per the TEA, for the 2024-25 school year most FBISD students transferred to the charter school campuses that were part of larger networks with tens of thousands of students across Texas.

FBISD resident transfers in 2024-25

GEORGE BUSH PARK

Charter 72% Another ISD 26% N/A 1.2%

KIPP Harmony School

99 TOLL

Private 0.4% Virtual 0.4%

International Leadership of Texas School of Science and Technology

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, PUBLIC EDUCATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, 2025/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Proposed Fort Bend ISD specialized elementary school programs

Moving ahead

A language immersion program that promotes learning in both English and a target language A gifted and talented academy to meet advanced academic and creative needs A laboratory school where experienced teachers are paired with teachers in training An international schoo l that uses a globally recognized curriculum

“No longer are we the only option in town,” he said. “We have to begin to think about what our competitors offer our students that we currently don’t.” In the long-term, officials hope to create specialized campuses across the district and they also hope to expand career and technical education offerings at James Reese Career and Technical Center.

FBISD officials believe the key to competing for students is “to get them in the door younger,” Chief Academic Officer Adam Stephens said at the April 14 board meeting. In addition to expanding Pre-K programs for ages 3-4 to 46 campuses for 2025-26 school year, the district will pilot five new “premier opportunities” at select elementary campuses with low-cost field trips, student-led projects and community partnerships embedded within the current curriculum, Stephens said.

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Changing t

Changing the future

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Education

BY AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY TOMER RONEN

Career and technical education is growing in Fort Bend ISD as the statewide need for non-degree jobs continues to soar. FBISD offers over 20 CTE courses, including a new biomedical science program beginning this year, CTE Director Renee Cosby said. The district is also piloting a drone program with the goal of expanding to all high schools for the 2026-27 school year. Additionally, the district is emphasizing career exploration at the middle school level including new middle school electives slated to begin in next school year. “By aligning our curriculum with industry demands, we are actively preparing students to meet the needs of the future workforce, effectively helping to bridge potential skills gaps,” Cosby said. FBISD expands CTE program

Why it matters

Career growth

2022 Number of jobs 2032 Number of jobs

A 2023 high growth report from the Texas Workforce Commission predicts 762,000 jobs will open by 2030 that both exceed the statewide annual median pay of $43,463. This includes 215 “high-wage occupations” within 13 different industries including construction, manufacturing and health care. Texas is expected to add 2.3 million new jobs by 2030, with only 39.3% expected to require some form of postsecondary education or training, the data shows. Professional, scientific and technical services are expected to include a significant portion of these jobs, followed by health care and construction. Additionally, a 2024 Report on Texas Growth Occupation from the Texas Workforce Commission shows Texas is expected to have one of the fastest growing labor forces in the nation at 14.7% by 2032, exceeded only by Utah.

2023 Annual median salary

Sheet metal worker

Pharmacy technician

Chef

Welder

Carpenter

30K

20K

10K

$48,111 $47,240 $47,964 $58,442 $51,607

SOURCE: 2024 REPORT ON TEXAS GROWTH OCCUPATION FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

By the numbers

CTE programs

FBISD offers a number of different courses, some of which include:

CTE student enrollment

FBISD’s CTE program has remained steady over the past five years with an average annual partic- ipation rate of 23,000, or 28%, of its over 80,000 total enrolled students, Cosby said. “By aligning our programs of study with certifi- cations, we ensure that students acquire theoreti- cal knowledge, develop tangible, marketable skills, and earn credentials that enhance their college applications and employment prospects, preparing them for immediate success in their chosen career paths,” she said.

FBISD

Culinary

Automotive

30K

Cosmetology

Welding

23,334

23,188

20K

Law enforcement

Health science

10K

Carpentry

Agriculture

SOURCES: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

2021-22

2022-23 2023-24 2024-25

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Bill breakdown House Bill 20

Looking ahead

The same sentiment was echoed statewide with Gov. Greg Abbott pushing for the expansion of statewide CTE programs during the 89th Texas Legislative session earlier this year. Lawmakers passed two bills—House Bills 20 and 120—which aim to increase access and funding for career- related curriculum.

John C. Kennedy, associate provost for Texas State Technical College in Rosenberg, said he has noticed a recent shift in CTE offerings in local school districts. He attributes this growth to the skilled workforce “aging out” and the shift in mindset that skilled work can directly impact the economic growth of a community.

Filed by Rep. Gary Gates, R-Richmond Creates the Applied Sciences Pathway program which allows students to concurrently earn certificates from higher education institutions

House Bill 120 Filed by Keith Bell, R-Forney

Increases school district funding from $50 to $150 per students for the Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools for course credit

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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