Re-Elect Jim Rice, FBISD Trustee Position 3
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
Election Day
May 4, 2019
Jim Rice is Committed to the
Success of Fort Bend ISD
- Quality Education for ALL Students
- Support our Teachers
- Reach out to the Community
- Balance the Budget
Dear Friends and Supporters,
I am pleased to announce my re-election campaign for the May 4, 2019 election.
I am proud of my service as a Trustee on the Board for Fort Bend ISD. During my tenure I have served as Board Secretary and twice as Board President. Currently I serve on the Audit and Governance Committees. My goals have always been to provide a quality education for all students, support our teachers, engage the community, and to maintain a balanced budget. Below are comments on the Role of a FBISD Trustee.
Sincerely,
Jim Rice
FBISD Trustee, Position 3
Political Ad Paid for by the Jim Rice Campaign
THE ROLE OF A FBISD TRUSTEE
School board trustees serve in a governance role that is unlike any other elected position. We are not representatives in the same sense that a city councilmember, or a state representative or a congressman are. That is why we are called trustees. In this governance role we work together with the superintendent as a team of 8 - seven trustees and one superintendent.
No one running for the school board for the first time really understands what the role of a trustee is and won't until they have received required training and gained some experience.
In my role as a trustee I try to listen twice as much as I speak as I realize to speak on issues and take a position on an impending action item before a vote is taken can have a negative impact on the school district and the students I serve.
Public statements made on behalf of the school district should only be made by the board president, so that the governance of the team of 8 is not undermined.
Recently some in our community have questioned board accomplishments. Over the past five years FBISD has accomplished many things including:
- Investing $2 million into the EDGE program at Briargate and Ridgemont elementary schools, which brought both of those schools up to state standards.
- Implementing Restorative Discipline at all schools, which has led to a significant reduction in in-school and out-of-school suspensions.
- Investing in an Early Literacy Center that has significantly closed reading gaps for some of our more at-risk students.
- Investing in an Early Intervention Center that is preparing pre-K students with disabilities for inclusion in regular education classrooms.
- Investing in more special education teachers to support students with disabilities and allow for more inclusion in our classrooms.
- Investing in more college and career programs such as the James Reese Career and Technical Center, which will open fall of 2019, and will offer certifications in food service, hospitality, auto mechanics, cosmetology and more; two Pathways in Technology programs offered at Willowridge High School and Hightower High School; and an Early College High School at Marshall High School.
Instituting a Board Leadership Academy offering community members the opportunity to learn more about Board governance, district operations, school finance and the successes and challenges in public education.
After the Board won the H-E-B Excellence in Education Outstanding Board in 2017, the Board invested some of the $35,000 winnings into leadership programs for middle and elementary school students. Those conferences are taking place during the 2018-19 school year.
The Board adopted the FBISD Profile of a Graduate which will teach skills that will prepare students for success in life no matter what they decide to do. The Profile of a Graduate is being implemented in every school through curriculum at every level.
The Board has approved pay raises or step increases for teachers every year the last 6 years, making us one of the highest paying districts in the area.
Conducting 2 to 3 board listening tours, coupled with board agenda reviews in schools throughout our district. This provides an opportuntiy for us to visit with students, teachers in their school as opposed to the boardroom.
FBISD has a AA+ financial rating with Moody’s and Standard & Poor, meaning the district manages its debt well.
FBISD is one of the only districts in the state with a commercial paper program, allowing the district to delay issuing bonds and, therefore, pay less interest. The district has saved over $1 million in the past 2 years under this program.
That being said we can always improve. Some things we will be working on include:
- Improving community partnerships
- Working with staff and parents to improve our Gifted and Talented student programs.
- Instituting Change management
