All news
CCISD Board of Trustees Extends Additional Opportunity to City Council
07/21/2005
CCISD PRESS RELEASE
Clear Creek Independent School District
Office of Public Information
2425 East Main Street
League City, Texas 77573
Contact: Karen Permetti
Public Information Director
(281) 284-0020
cataylor@ccisd.net
July 21, 2005
PR-2188
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CCISD Board of Trustees Extends
Additional Opportunity to City Council
Special Use Permit and over-crowded high school classrooms
are primary worries of the Board.
League City, TEXAS—The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees is asking the League City city council to accelerate a vote on the Special Use Permit needed for the District’s fourth high school on Palomino Lane. The city council meets July 26 and the Board of Trustees would like action taken at that time.
Robert Davee, CCISD Board of Trustees president, said, “We are in a time of urgency. Any additional postponements in approving the Special Use Permit will delay the opening of the fourth high school causing 5,000 students to attend Clear Creek High School in 2007. Because of our concern for our students, the Board asks League City Council to move forward in approving the Special Use Permit.”
During the July 12 city council meeting, the council voted to postpone awarding a Special Use Permit for an additional 60 days. The District had originally requested the Special Use Permit in May 2005 and the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the request July 7.
The site is currently zoned for residential use. Texas state law allows for schools, churches and other public facilities to be built in areas zoned for residential use. While the District is not required by state law to have the permit, the District requested the Special Use Permit in an effort to be a good partner to the city.
“We live together and have the same constituents,” said Dr. Glenn Freedman, CCISD Board of Trustees vice president. “We need to be mindful of the people we serve. As part of community trust, we as a board have heard from our community that they want schools to be built where there are students. Students are in west League City; they will soon be in the east.”
During the Special Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees directed the Administration to develop contingency plans should the fourth high school not open in 2007. The three options and their impact are as follows:
Option One – All 5,000 students to attend Clear Creek High School through the use of extensive portable buildings.
- Increased safety vulnerability due to additional enrollment
- Classes would begin at 7 a.m. instead of 7:20 a.m.
- Classes would begin earlier to extend class passing periods from seven minutes to 10 minutes and to compensate for additional transportation needs.
- Temporary lunch facility would be needed, or lunch would be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Limited academic and extra-curricular course offerings
- Minimum of 16 additional portables needed at a cost of $65,000 per building
- Additional staff would be needed, as well as School Liaison Officers
- Overcrowding at intermediate schools
- Long Range Master Facility Plan had intended Ninth Grade Centers to be converted to intermediate schools to provide relief due to rapid enrollment
Option Two – Bus excess freshmen students to Clear Lake High School
- Temporary rezoning required for one year for freshmen to Clear Lake High School before being placed at home campus
- Clear Lake High School will have an enrollment of more than 3,500 students in 2007 before the additional students are added
- Need for additional portable buildings at a cost of $65,000 per building
- Increased transportation costs due to busing additional students outside their regular attendance zone
- Additional staff would be needed, as well as School Liaison Officers
Option Three – All 5,000 students to attend Clear Creek High School with split high school schedules
- School day divided into two sessions
- Morning session - 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Afternoon session - 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Increased safety vulnerability due to additional student enrollment and extended hours of operation
- Limited academic and extra-curricular course offerings
- Divides campus community
- All teachers will not have dedicated classroom
- Impact on families schedules with students attending different sessions
- Increased utility costs
- Additional staff and administrators will be necessary
The Board of Trustees is hosting two public hearings in August. The hearing dates and times will be set at the July 26 Board of Trustees meeting. CCISD citizens are encouraged to give their input regarding the three contingency options in case High School #4 does not open in 2007.
In a recent letter sent to League City Mayor Jerry Shults and to Council members, Dr. Sandra Mossman, CCISD superintendent of schools, said, “It is my sincere hope, and that the CCISD Board of Trustees, that we can resolve this matter immediately as partners in public service.”
—CCISD—
cataylor
