Print
E-mail
Comment
Spring ISD Board to hold another hearing about Northgate Forest subdivision
By VALERIE JONES
More than two years after their proposal was rejected by the Spring ISD Board of Trustees, residents of Northgate Forest subdivision will have their case considered again regarding their request to detach from Spring ISD and join Klein ISD.
Tom Matthews developed a petition and also became the spokesperson for the Northgate Forest Petitioners, who shared many of the same concerns he did.
“Approximately 70 percent of Northgate residents, or 160 people, signed the petition,” Matthews said.
Matthews said residents in his subdivision pay more than five times as much in taxes than other homes in Spring ISD. He also said that Northgate Forest students are zoned to attend Westfield High School in Spring ISD, a school he claimed to be “the worst high school around the area, except for Dekaney.”
Matthews said the subdivision is seeking better educational opportunities, something they believe Klein ISD schools can offer.
“Spring ISD and Westfield seem to place no value on education,” he said. “Klein High School and Klein Collins High School, the two closest to Northgate Forest, appear to value and promote education.”
Matthews appealed to the Commissioner of Education Robert Scott and he ruled that the Spring ISD Board hold another hearing.
“Basically, (Matthews) was not entitled to have the commissioner appoint an alternative decision-maker to take the place of the Spring ISD Board of Trustees,” said Regina Curry, Spring ISD associate superintendent of public relations and technology. “The commissioner did, however, rule that the board should hold another hearing and allow the affected persons to present testimony regarding the social, economic and educational effects of the proposed boundary change and the educational interests of the current students residing or future students expected to reside in the affected territory and in the affected disricts.”
The Klein ISD Board of Trustees rejected the initial proposal as well. District representatives said they are aware of the pending hearing in Spring ISD, but declined further comment on the matter.
Spring ISD will host the public hearing Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Gordon M. Anderson Leadership Center.
Matthews said he knew nothing prior about the hearing and no one is subdivision was notified, so he doubts that anyone from the Northgate Forest Petitioners will be in attendance. He also said he will be unable to attend the hearing as well.
Tom Matthews developed a petition and also became the spokesperson for the Northgate Forest Petitioners, who shared many of the same concerns he did.
“Approximately 70 percent of Northgate residents, or 160 people, signed the petition,” Matthews said.
Matthews said residents in his subdivision pay more than five times as much in taxes than other homes in Spring ISD. He also said that Northgate Forest students are zoned to attend Westfield High School in Spring ISD, a school he claimed to be “the worst high school around the area, except for Dekaney.”
Matthews said the subdivision is seeking better educational opportunities, something they believe Klein ISD schools can offer.
“Spring ISD and Westfield seem to place no value on education,” he said. “Klein High School and Klein Collins High School, the two closest to Northgate Forest, appear to value and promote education.”
Matthews appealed to the Commissioner of Education Robert Scott and he ruled that the Spring ISD Board hold another hearing.
“Basically, (Matthews) was not entitled to have the commissioner appoint an alternative decision-maker to take the place of the Spring ISD Board of Trustees,” said Regina Curry, Spring ISD associate superintendent of public relations and technology. “The commissioner did, however, rule that the board should hold another hearing and allow the affected persons to present testimony regarding the social, economic and educational effects of the proposed boundary change and the educational interests of the current students residing or future students expected to reside in the affected territory and in the affected disricts.”
The Klein ISD Board of Trustees rejected the initial proposal as well. District representatives said they are aware of the pending hearing in Spring ISD, but declined further comment on the matter.
Spring ISD will host the public hearing Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Gordon M. Anderson Leadership Center.
Matthews said he knew nothing prior about the hearing and no one is subdivision was notified, so he doubts that anyone from the Northgate Forest Petitioners will be in attendance. He also said he will be unable to attend the hearing as well.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. Comments to stories and articles on the Web site are not edited or pre-approved before appearing online. Readers posting comments are solely responsible for those comments. Comments must be germane to the story to which they apply. Online comments that are libelous, profane or personally attack another site participant can be reported as abuse using the link provided on each comment. Comments reported as abusive will be reviewed and may be removed from view, as will off-topic comments. BE CIVIL. Individuals continually posting abusive comments to the site may have their registrations revoked. |
