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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 Independent School District 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.
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Reader Comments
DavidT wrote on Aug 3, 2009 1:28 PM:
" Sorry I was on a rant. i am sure some good people are there, but I think you get the point. "
pj9424 wrote on Aug 3, 2009 4:48 PM:
" DavidT, don't use this forum to let your "true colors" show. I have dealt with great schools as well as poor performing schools and there's one element that is present at ALL of them; scum (as you put it). It comes it all shapes, sizes, and colors. This issue is what it is: an upscale neighborhood full of well-off people who purchased homes in a neighborhood with their eyes wide open. Northgate residents knew before they made their home purchase that it was a Spring ISD neighborhood. Now that the Spring schools are performing low, they want out. What they should do is get deeply rooted and involved in their school district instead of attempting to bail out now that it's no longer pleasing to them. "
DavidT wrote on Aug 3, 2009 5:07 PM:
" I agree they should of looked into the school before they made the million doller home purchase. This is the home owners fault, but I bet they were told what a good school it is. now i haven't done any research but from what ive seen and experienced growing up in Houston i am willing to bet that they purposely forgetting to mention the gang affiliations, drugs, drop out ratings, violent crimes, etc. coming out of that school. but know they are stuck with a huge mortgage and cant just pack up in move across the bayou "
salstress wrote on Aug 3, 2009 10:42 PM:
" Spring schools continue to make academic gains & have improved scores, which is shown in a recent article. Also, students have alternative options to their home high school campus, such as Wunsche, which provides career training & highly advanced technological educational opportunities. Those students serious about college often choose this option, which is done through an application process. Spring & Klein both have their strengths, but I don't think one subdivision should be allowed to leave simply because they don't want their kids to go to Westfield. Matthews mentions being able to atten KHS or KCHS instead, both have the same academic rating as Westfield, academically acceptable. The hearing isn't until the 18th, even if there was no prior notification, there is now, & if this is something that neighborhood wants then you would think they'd make an attempt to attend. "
pj9424 wrote on Aug 4, 2009 9:50 AM:
" I am sure Northgate Forest residents researched or paid someone to research the validity of the school/district their children would be attending. Also, at one time Westfield was a great school. However, most of the fault lies within the homeowners. It is up to them to keep informed about the school/district their child attends. It's apparent that many of them turned closed eyes and a deaf ear to the decline of Westfield. Why do I say that? Well, many of Westfield's serious issues were broadcasted on the news or in the newspapers; totally public! Northgate Forest subdivision should remain within the Spring ISD! Surely they don't allow their children to walk off from unfinished tasks/business in order to go on to something that looks better..............or do they? Accountability is a powerful word! "
DavidT wrote on Aug 3, 2009 1:18 PM: