Located in San Antonio, Texas, FBISD (Franklin-Ballinger Independent School District) has been offering educational opportunities for students throughout the state of Texas for over 65 years. As the state’s second-largest district, FBISD Skyward is a vital part of the city’s economic and cultural life, serving as the school district for a wide range of communities and neighborhoods. With an expansive program that offers educational opportunities for students in all grades, the FBISD is a vibrant, diverse, and thriving school district.
Board of trustees
Those wishing to serve on the Board of Trustees of FBISD in the coming year will have several candidates to choose from. They are presently elected to three-year terms. The board is made up of seven citizens of Fort Bend County. Each year, two citizens are elected from each side of the district. These trustees vote on policy issues and the superintendent.
The FBISD Board of Trustees meets every other week. The meetings are open to the public. An agenda is posted 72 hours in advance. The school board has a policy that favors neighborhood schools. This policy also aims to have an ethnic balance. In order to make this possible, the board is careful to not place schools in one-race subdivisions.
Education opportunities for all students
Besides the traditional school curriculum, Fort Bend ISD provides students with the opportunity to take part in a variety of academic competitions. The department also offers a variety of clubs and activities designed to foster student achievement. This includes the SAILS (Special Academic Instructional Literacy Services) program, which offers a comprehensive curriculum centered on life skills.
The department also offers special education services to students with disabilities. These include an inclusion program, which provides special education support to a student in the general education classroom. In addition to in-class supports, special education personnel also provide direct services.
The department also offers an impressive array of distance learning opportunities. One example is the O-LAB Program, which offers students several online learning options. This includes traditional coursework, non-traditional coursework, and even credit recovery courses.
Career and technical education (CTE)
Among the many things Fort Bend ISD does is offer Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in a variety of areas. These programs are intended to prepare students for postsecondary education or the workforce. There are a number of programs in the Health Science, Automotive Technology, and Culinary Arts fields. These programs are a great way to learn about the real world while gaining an education. Most programs have end of program industry-recognized certificates.
The CTE program also offers an opportunity for high school students to learn about early childhood education. The early education lab at the Reese Center is designed to give students a glimpse into what it is like to be a kid in a classroom. It is also a great place for TEA certified teachers to gain hands-on experience.
Fine arts programs
Whether students are aspiring to be a musician, dancer, or theatre artists, the Department of Fine Arts at Fort Bend ISD provides them with the opportunities and experiences they need to cultivate their artistic talent. Students participate in contests throughout the year and are awarded numerous regional and state awards. In addition to providing students with a quality education, the department of fine arts helps students develop their artistic skills, personal strengths, and character traits.
Students learn to develop their personal artistic style through the study of the works of notable painters and cultures around the world. They also explore traditional and contemporary forms and techniques. These techniques will help students learn to appreciate and critique artwork while developing critical-thinking skills.
Security upgrades after the Uvalde tragedy
Almost two months after the Uvalde shooting, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) began security upgrades. The school district conducted a safety audit and worked with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas School Safety Center to implement new security measures.
One of the school upgrades that were implemented included a new visitors entrance at Uvalde High School. The district also installed 7,300 floor-mounted door locks in all elementary portable classrooms. Other bond items included adding security entry areas, more cameras, and GPS devices to buses.
The Uvalde shooting was the deadliest school shooting in Texas in recent years, and the third deadliest in the United States. Twenty-nine children and two teachers were killed, along with 17 others wounded.
