North Forest ISD to merge FB and Smiley.

[HUM398]

Looks like they are going to go ahead and merge the two high schools together...I think you can safely say this is the beginning of the end of this district. Both schools were tremendously horrible as far academic performance...and with this alot of unhappy parents will be looking elsewhere next year to send their kids. With the housing market on a decline, look for alot of these kids parents to move to surrounding districts with affordable housing available (Humble ISD/AISD/Sheldon ISD)..

With a little less then 8,300 Students in the district (and declining), i see a total split up in about 3 years...This will allow development in the area to occur if several more prominent districts take over and give these kids a much better education. The TEA is trying to do what it can to save them...but it will be hard to function a school district with a falling enrollment and almost no tax base.

NFISD GOING TO MERGE SCHOOLS (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/aldine/news/5622344.html)

What does this mean for their football program??? They could be moved to 5a if they are able to scrounge up about 50 more kids. Combined enrollment as of now would be 2038, but school officials are predicting 1700+ students next year...Do to a small and "Balding" Middle school and Elementary student population.

[dada]

I think the should just close both schools....The whole district has been mis-managed from the get go.

[Westfield Fan]

I am a product of NFISD. I attended schools there from '73 to '85 and graduated from Forest Brook aka Da' Brook. NF have had these same management problems for over 40 years and it's a d**n shame to the community and former students that they can't get it together. I think the district should be disolved and taken over by other district(s). The NF community is in need of revitalization and this will not happen with a school district constantly and persistantly firing the Super, mismanagement, low performing, and declining enrollment.

[HUM398]

I think the should just close both schools....The whole district has been mis-managed from the get go.

its only a matter of time, they are currently trying to save face. With Humble ISD to the north, opening a new HS along the beltway...with Humble High School with affordable housing all around...it will be hard to prevent students and their parents from staying. And if they lose their accreditation...you could see a mass exodus to HISD/AISD/Humble ISD.

like i said, i only give them 2-3 years.

[NSMustangsFan]

I was honestly hoping for a complete district shutdown. But we will praise God for this in the meanwhile.

[The Lone Ranger]

They should consolidate on their own terms before the states orders the district to close.

It happened to Wilmer-Hutchins. They all figured the TEA would let them keep going, but instead they merged the district into DISD and now none of the kids go to school within the former boundaries of the district, they are all bused north.

NFISD should merge with Humble before they are shut down. Maybe keep a few of the elementary schools afloat and a middle school, send some MS kids and all of the high-schoolers to Humble High, and HISD would shift more HHS kids into the AHS zone.

It's better than trying to fix something that's already broken beyond repair.

[HUM398]

They should consolidate on their own terms before the states orders the district to close.

It happened to Wilmer-Hutchins. They all figured the TEA would let them keep going, but instead they merged the district into DISD and now none of the kids go to school within the former boundaries of the district, they are all bused north.

NFISD should merge with Humble before they are shut down. Maybe keep a few of the elementary schools afloat and a middle school, send some MS kids and all of the high-schoolers to Humble High, and HISD would shift more HHS kids into the AHS zone.

It's better than trying to fix something that's already broken beyond repair.

You're right, it would work better and more fluidly...And eventually have alot of those kids attending the much closer Summercreek high school being built off the beltway. Those kids just need a better education....The TEA will eventually fire the board and appoint their own, and then decide to dissolve the district or merge.

[Maxthedog]

I hate to see this happen, over and over again. Just like with Wilmer-Hutchins up here in N. Texas. A bunch of ADULTS who can't get their act together, end up dumping on the kids. The kids and their parents feel the brunt of the disorginization and are negatively effected by it. The ADULT fools leave the mess and go start a new train wreck, somewhere else. In the case of WH, it was neglect to the point of being a criminal act. Book'em Dano!!!!!

[nsmustang]

NFISD has had its problems no doubt. Humble ISD will probably get most of the students should that happen. Galena Park ISD and Sheldon ISD would also pull in some. It's a shame. I can remember when Smiley HS was a perennial force in football as was Milby. Sheldon is growing as fast as it can. In 2-3 years I see CE KIng in 5A in a district with NS and Channelview. In fact, they are right at the doorstep of the enrollment requirements this year.

[Magellan]

You're right, it would work better and more fluidly...And eventually have alot of those kids attending the much closer Summercreek high school being built off the beltway. Those kids just need a better education....The TEA will eventually fire the board and appoint their own, and then decide to dissolve the district or merge.

Short of the TEA ordering Humble ISD to absorb those kids and send them to the new HS, I don't see Humble pulling them in. Can you imagine the uproar by all those parents who bought $200,000 houses being told their children will go to school with the kids of NFISD? The saddest thing is that the kids, for the most-part, are good kids- they're just being subjected to the stigma of living in a district that has NFISD's HUGE issues.

I'd put my money on Aldine absorbing the district just because the district has the best reputation for turning around kids, and AISD has the strongest leadership. The fact either campus used next year will lead to it still being under capacity is the fact that most upsets me.

How do you have not 1, but 40 HSs at 40% capacity and not realize there's a huge problem? They're sitting with empty classrooms and half-filled classes while the suburban districts can't build HSs quickly enough.

What e'er happens to the kids in NFISD, I hope they persevere and realize this is a situation that isn't their faults. They just happen to be the ones sitting at the crossroads when the district is having to make difficult decisions.

[HUM398]

Short of the TEA ordering Humble ISD to absorb those kids and send them to the new HS, I don't see Humble pulling them in. Can you imagine the uproar by all those parents who bought $200,000 houses being told their children will go to school with the kids of NFISD? The saddest thing is that the kids, for the most-part, are good kids- they're just being subjected to the stigma of living in a district that has NFISD's HUGE issues.

I'd put my money on Aldine absorbing the district just because the district has the best reputation for turning around kids, and AISD has the strongest leadership. The fact either campus used next year will lead to it still being under capacity is the fact that most upsets me.

How do you have not 1, but 40 HSs at 40% capacity and not realize there's a huge problem? They're sitting with empty classrooms and half-filled classes while the suburban districts can't build HSs quickly enough.

What e'er happens to the kids in NFISD, I hope they persevere and realize this is a situation that isn't their faults. They just happen to be the ones sitting at the crossroads when the district is having to make difficult decisions.

I don't think that the district will be absorb completely by any district. it will be divided...it is simply to large (land wise) and to large population wise for any one school district with the exception of HISD (Houston) could take in at one time...Especially Aldine ISD, Which schools are beyond capacity.

Humble High School or MacArthur would best suit the kids, mostly because of distance. Both schools are compromised with over 60% economically disadvantage students, and have the staff in place to reach the students. You are right though, the Summerwood and fall creek parents would be upset if they had their kids go to school with such a high volume of Economically disadvantaged students. They nearly died when the district proposed that their neighbors across the street (sunset ridge and timber hills) would be attending their Elementary school. and i quote "Do you know what being a Title I school would do to our property value"....its sad. on a side note, Humble is currently not filed to be a Title I, although they have a 64% disadvantaged student body with 54% on reduced lunch. im guessing to make the "rich" happy....the very few neighborhoods in our area that can be considered that..The lines were drawn in such a way to protect most of the upper class neighborhoods...which i think is a crime in itself.

[Magellan]

I don't think that the district will be absorb completely by any district. it will be divided...it is simply to large (land wise) and to large population wise for any one school district with the exception of HISD (Houston) could take in at one time...Especially Aldine ISD, Which schools are beyond capacity.

Humble High School or MacArthur would best suit the kids, mostly because of distance. Both schools are compromised with over 60% economically disadvantage students, and have the staff in place to reach the students. You are right though, the Summerwood and fall creek parents would be upset if they had their kids go to school with such a high volume of Economically disadvantaged students. They nearly died when the district proposed that their neighbors across the street (sunset ridge and timber hills) would be attending their Elementary school. and i quote "Do you know what being a Title I school would do to our property value"....its sad. on a side note, Humble is currently not filed to be a Title I, although they have a 64% disadvantaged student body with 54% on reduced lunch. im guessing to make the "rich" happy....the very few neighborhoods in our area that can be considered that..The lines were drawn in such a way to protect most of the upper class neighborhoods...which i think is a crime in itself.

Logistically, I think it'd be nearly impossible to split up NFISD between two or three districts. But, at the same time, they're still deciding on the carnage of what teachers get to stay and go. If Aldine is over-capacity, shifting a couple hundred students to the North Forest HS might help the over-crowding.
Like I said before, no district is going to welcome NFISD with open arms unless they TEA forces them or offers them a major financial incentive. And, since Dallas didn't exactly get a sweetheart deal when they had to absorb Wilmer-Hutchins, don't count on money.

[HUM398]

Logistically, I think it'd be nearly impossible to split up NFISD between two or three districts. But, at the same time, they're still deciding on the carnage of what teachers get to stay and go. If Aldine is over-capacity, shifting a couple hundred students to the North Forest HS might help the over-crowding.
Like I said before, no district is going to welcome NFISD with open arms unless they TEA forces them or offers them a major financial incentive. And, since Dallas didn't exactly get a sweetheart deal when they had to absorb Wilmer-Hutchins, don't count on money.

Thats not true. The area sits inbetween Sheldon, GPISD, Humble, Houston, and Aldine isd. Splitting the district into 5 pieces is easy, and minimal on all districts.

their are only 8300 kids in the entire district. tax base is no existent. Splitting it up into five pieces allows for more future development areas for areas such as Aldine and Humble...and is less likely to upset any RICH parents. their are only 1700+ HS kids, splitting it up into 5 pieces puts a minimal impact on each district...of course with one or two districts getting the more heavily populated area.

[Magellan]

Thats not true. The area sits inbetween Sheldon, GPISD, Humble, Houston, and Aldine isd. Splitting the district into 5 pieces is easy, and minimal on all districts.

their are only 8300 kids in the entire district. tax base is no existent. Splitting it up into five pieces allows for more future development areas for areas such as Aldine and Humble...and is less likely to upset any RICH parents. their are only 1700+ HS kids, splitting it up into 5 pieces puts a minimal impact on each district...of course with one or two districts getting the more heavily populated area.

Okay, so what are you going to do with the various campuses in the district? I understand their tax-base isn't huge (if it was, everyone would be fighting over it). Splitting it into 5 pieces means you'd end up having logistical nightmares, as neighborhoods would be split up by people who know next to nothing about the district. Just give it to a single district and let them go through a couple years of growing pains before things settle themselves out. And, if I were a betting man, I'd split my bet between Aldine and Houston as to where the area will be annexed.

[HUM398]

Okay, so what are you going to do with the various campuses in the district? I understand their tax-base isn't huge (if it was, everyone would be fighting over it). Splitting it into 5 pieces means you'd end up having logistical nightmares, as neighborhoods would be split up by people who know next to nothing about the district. Just give it to a single district and let them go through a couple years of growing pains before things settle themselves out. And, if I were a betting man, I'd split my bet between Aldine and Houston as to where the area will be annexed.

The district is much to large(land wise) to give to any one district. its 33 square miles, if Aldine were to absorb it, they would move from a 151 square mile district 184 square miles....now, doing so doesn't sound bad...but take this into consideration, they have NO tax base...so the current healthy tax base in Aldine isd (Malls and Airport) would be watered down and stretched. to much burden for to little reward. the TEA won't do it....

It will be split among a couple or several, or not at all...the district will eventually kill itself. next year i expect that the student population of NFISD will be below 8,000.

[Magellan]

NFISD has 1-8th as many students as Aldine. So, even if not a single dollar was brought in from taxes, they'd still be able to sufficiently educate the students; they'd just get more Robin Hood money.

So, back to athletics... what is going to happen with their UIL schedule? Are the schools in that UIL district going to just get a second bye? Or will they be reworking whatever schedule they currently have?

[HUM398]

NFISD has 1-8th as many students as Aldine. So, even if not a single dollar was brought in from taxes, they'd still be able to sufficiently educate the students; they'd just get more Robin Hood money.

So, back to athletics... what is going to happen with their UIL schedule? Are the schools in that UIL district going to just get a second bye? Or will they be reworking whatever schedule they currently have?

I don't think it happens that way if it does happen.

But back to the athletics, Everyone will have to pick up an additional game. I feel sorry for the kids playing football, they will have increased depth, but they just aren't very good.... im wondering who they will choose to keep as the coach...because Forest Brook is down right horrible...and that smiley coach was getting things back together...but i heard he applied for the La marque Job. at first i thought that they were going to be able to make 5a numbers, but they are losing kids fast.

[twhfan#1]

Just a bit of history --- I attended Aldine Jr High in early 60's --there was a conflict beteewn AISD & HISD about some land & which district had tax rights -- wound up judge put the $ involved in escrow until matter solved --- didnt hurt HISD --- but AISD shut down for about a month --we kids thought it was great until had to attend school in June ( no air cond in schools then )

Anyway my parents refused to put up with it -- so we moved to a more "stable" district --- NORTH FOREST ISD ( at the time it was known as Northeast Houston ISD --2 high schools at the time --Smiley & BC Elmore ( segregated black school at the time ) ----- there was no industrial or commercial base then --just middle - lower blue collar people. WE had no problems & didnt want for anything that I was aware of -- I graduated from Smiley with honors & went on to college

My point is -- while the lack of tax base is a problem --it can be dealt with if you have people that want to help the kids -- not to be on a power trip for ego --firing & re-hiring Supts -- ignoring state mandates --& fighting amomg them selves & spending more energy crying about lack of funds than doing the right things

[Magellan]

Just a bit of history --- I attended Aldine Jr High in early 60's --there was a conflict beteewn AISD & HISD about some land & which district had tax rights -- wound up judge put the $ involved in escrow until matter solved --- didnt hurt HISD --- but AISD shut down for about a month --we kids thought it was great until had to attend school in June ( no air cond in schools then )

Anyway my parents refused to put up with it -- so we moved to a more "stable" district --- NORTH FOREST ISD ( at the time it was known as Northeast Houston ISD --2 high schools at the time --Smiley & BC Elmore ( segregated black school at the time ) ----- there was no industrial or commercial base then --just middle - lower blue collar people. WE had no problems & didnt want for anything that I was aware of -- I graduated from Smiley with honors & went on to college

My point is -- while the lack of tax base is a problem --it can be dealt with if you have people that want to help the kids -- not to be on a power trip for ego --firing & re-hiring Supts -- ignoring state mandates --& fighting amomg them selves & spending more energy crying about lack of funds than doing the right things

I agree entirely. It's all about managing what you've got. As I said before, it all boils down to finding a way to have the students not lose out.

Preventing having to make an extra post, the 2 HSs combined make for a good-sized 4A school.

[VincentOMoh]

I am also in favor of merging NFISD into Houston ISD. I am trying to contact my HISD Board representative so I can learn about HISD's position about this NFISD thing. I want NFISD to go.

If I was to make a speech about it I would compare NFISD to Ngo Dinh Diem.

People protesting against Diem said "Diem Must Go" - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874191,00.html

So we should have protesters with "NFISD Must Go" and make a reference to protests against Ngo Dinh Diem.

[HUM398]

I am also in favor of merging NFISD into Houston ISD. I am trying to contact my HISD Board representative so I can learn about HISD's position about this NFISD thing. I want NFISD to go.

If I was to make a speech about it I would compare NFISD to Ngo Dinh Diem.

People protesting against Diem said "Diem Must Go" - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874191,00.html

So we should have protesters with "NFISD Must Go" and make a reference to protests against Ngo Dinh Diem.

welcome...i guess...

[VincentOMoh]

welcome...i guess...

Okay, that post may have sounded a bit strange, but...

1. When I did research on the internet I see many of the same traits in NFISD that I saw in WHISD - Mainly *decades* of mismanagement that manages to stay in place. There are Chronicle articles from the 1980s that talk about North Forest being in danger.
2. The tax base is inherently disadvantaged, with no significant businesses willing to give support to the NFISD schools and low levels of education. I know we have Robin Hood, but...
3. The district is in debt anyway. Even with Robin Hood money finds a way of disappearing.

I have a feeling my family's money is going to NFISD (since HISD is a donor district and NFISD a receiver) - It has been too long that NFISD has been allowed to remain independent.

We know what happened to WHISD, so here is hoping that the same happens to NFISD.

[Magellan]

I am also in favor of merging NFISD into Houston ISD. I am trying to contact my HISD Board representative so I can learn about HISD's position about this NFISD thing. I want NFISD to go.

If I was to make a speech about it I would compare NFISD to Ngo Dinh Diem.

People protesting against Diem said "Diem Must Go" - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874191,00.html

So we should have protesters with "NFISD Must Go" and make a reference to protests against Ngo Dinh Diem.

Let's not make too many parallels between NFISD and Vietnam. They may both be convoluted situations, but no one's dying in NFISD over the issues.

[Magellan]

Okay, that post may have sounded a bit strange, but...

1. When I did research on the internet I see many of the same traits in NFISD that I saw in WHISD - Mainly *decades* of mismanagement that manages to stay in place. There are Chronicle articles from the 1980s that talk about North Forest being in danger.
2. The tax base is inherently disadvantaged, with no significant businesses willing to give support to the NFISD schools and low levels of education. I know we have Robin Hood, but...
3. The district is in debt anyway. Even with Robin Hood money finds a way of disappearing.

I have a feeling my family's money is going to NFISD (since HISD is a donor district and NFISD a receiver) - It has been too long that NFISD has been allowed to remain independent.

We know what happened to WHISD, so here is hoping that the same happens to NFISD.

Good point on the Robin Hood plan- just imagine how long ago this district would have gone under if the Robin Hood plan WASN'T around.

As someone who pays attention to these things, for all the issues people had with the Robin Hood plan when it was rolled out back in the early-90's, it has done a LOT more good than harm in Texas... but keeping NFISD afloat instead of it being forced to fix its issues or merge with a more viable district is one of the down sides. NF would have probably been easily annexed 15 years ago by Aldine, Humble, or Houston ISD and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

[VincentOMoh]

I asked an HISD board member and a secretary e-mailed me telling me that HISD did not plan to get involved with the district. IMO HISD needs to start preparing to take over ASAP. With the internet we know the extent and time of NFISD's crimes.

As for this...

Let's not make too many parallels between NFISD and Vietnam. They may both be convoluted situations, but no one's dying in NFISD over the issues.

I wasn't really comparing it to the Vietnam War (or any predecessor in general) - I just am comparing NFISD to the slogan associated with Diem.

Good point on the Robin Hood plan- just imagine how long ago this district would have gone under if the Robin Hood plan WASN'T around.

As someone who pays attention to these things, for all the issues people had with the Robin Hood plan when it was rolled out back in the early-90's, it has done a LOT more good than harm in Texas... but keeping NFISD afloat instead of it being forced to fix its issues or merge with a more viable district is one of the down sides. NF would have probably been easily annexed 15 years ago by Aldine, Humble, or Houston ISD and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.