By: SH-FBISD News
The names of new FBISD campuses were approved at the district’s Monday night business meeting with plans for one of the schools to bear the name of a leg- endary high school coach who recently passed away.
The newly constructed campus for Blue Ridge- Briargate Elementary School will be named after George Bush High School Head Football Coach and former NFL player Allen Aldridge Jr. who passed away suddenly in September at the age of 52.
His family was present at the board meeting and said the beloved coach would probably blush to see his name on a school. “He would be happy, but he might have hidden his face,” upon receiving such recognition, the coach’s mother Cleotha Aldridge said. His wife Tajuana agreed, “This is not something he would ever have asked for because he was a very laid-back person, but he would be so proud and excited about this.”
The school names were selected from a pool of more than 1,600 submis- sions that came in from the FBISD community. The new campus for Mission Bend-Mission Glen Elementary will be named Mission Elementary School to commemorate the community’s spirit of empowerment through knowledge, inclusion and commitment to lifelong learning.
The specialty campus Ferndell Henry Center for Learning, which was named after a FBISD high school biology teacher who served the district for almost 40 years, is being renovated and converted into an elementary school. It will become Ferndell Henry Elementary School.
“Before my dad passed away, I asked him if there was anything in life he would have done differently,” Brian Henry said. “He answered, ‘no.’ He said he really enjoyed teaching.” With Brian at the board meeting was his daugh- ter -Ferndell’s grand- daughter- Brynne Henry who teaches art at Sugar Land Middle School. “It is nice to know that since my grandfather was a teacher in Fort Bend, I am continuing in his path,” she said.
All three schools will open in August 2025 and are funded by the 2023 Bond. Student Achievement Beginning of the Year Update Also at the board meet- ing, the Department of School Leadership and Academic Affairs con- gratulated Willowridge High School for its 2023 – 2024 academic prog- ress and elimination of the School Improvement Comprehensive Support and Rating. Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Jennifer Roberts, the campus implemented evidence-based strate- gies to close academic gaps for students.
“Their hard work, passion for kids, and commitment to excel- lence make us extremely proud of the good work they have done and con- tinue to do for our Wil- lowridge students who we expect to soar to even higher heights,” said FBISD Deputy Super- intendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jaretha Jordan.
District leaders also outlined a detailed plan at the board meeting for other FBISD schools where leaders said they are firmly committed to seeing improved academic outcomes. Aquatic Practice Facility The board also voted to proceed with 2023 Bond plans to construct an aquatic practice facility to better serve students on the southeast side of the district. A total of $23 million was budgeted for the facility in June 2023 and any costs above that amount would come from 2014 and 2018 bond contingency funds.
FBISD Financial Rating
In a public hearing held prior to the Board’s Regular Business meet- ing, the Fort Bend ISD Finance Department presented information showing the district has once again earned a rating of “A-Superior Achievement” for managing its finances in ways that directly and positively impact teach- ing and learning in the classroom. The Texas Education Agency releases the ratings annually. FBISD has received a Superior Rating for the past two decades.
The district earned its yearly rating based on 21 different indicators, including its record of paying debts, managing expenses and allocating resources. The TEA rating is called the School Financial Integrity Rating Sys- tem of Texas or FIRST and is indicative of the district’s commitment to strong financial management and transparency.
Additionally, the district’s external financial auditor Whitley Penn recently issued an unqualified opinion in- dicating Fort Bend ISD’s financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects and in accordance with gener- ally accepted accounting principles.
