North Forest Independent School District

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North Forest Independent School District is a school district based in northeast Houston, Texas (USA).

Contents

[edit] Catchment area

North Forest ISD covers small parts of northeast Houston (including the neighborhoods of East Houston, Northwood Manor, Dorchester Place, Royal Glen, Fontaine, Scenic Woods, Melbourne Place, Kentshire, Henry Place, Baker Place, Glenwood Forest, Royal Oak Terrace, Houston Suburban Heights, Warwick Place, Chatwood Place, Townly Place, Wayside Village [1][2][3], and Settegast) and parts of unincorporated Harris County, including Dyersdale.

North Forest ISD covers 31.5 square miles.[citation needed]

In 2007, of the school districts in urban areas in Texas NFISD had the highest concentration of ex-prison inmates.[4]

[edit] History

The district was originally named Northeast Houston Independent School District.[5]

In the late 1980s,[6] 1990s and the 2000s, North Forest was known for poor academic performance.

On October 12, 1989, the Houston Chronicle printed an article, "North Forest district shows off its `other' side in tour," about the district trying to create a positive impression in the media [7].

Forest Brook High School sustained heavy damage after Tropical Storm Allison [8].

In a 2006 article Todd Spivak described NFISD as "a prime example of how inconsistency can wreak havoc on schools." In the five years before 2006 NFISD had four superintendents. In the years leading to 2006 the Texas Education Agency had indicated financial and governance problems at NFISD. Dr. Robert Sanborn, the president and CEO of the organization Children at Risk, analyzed North Forest ISD during that year. He describes the state of affairs as "inexcusable" as the district managed two high schools at the time; both posted state test scores considered to be poor and SAT scores considered to be the lowest in the Houston area..[9]

On March 9, 2007, the board voted 4-3 to terminate Dr. James Simpson, the superintendent [10]. In May, the state ordered the district to reinstate Simpson, citing that Simpson was denied due process [11].

On March 25, 2007, the Houston Chronicle published an article chronicling the district's woes; for instance, Patty Pinkley, a teacher of "technology applications," did not receive any working computers until March [12].

On July 21, 2007, The Dallas Morning News posted an article explaining standardized test cheating at Forest Brook High School. The article compared North Forest ISD to Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District, a Dallas-based school district that was closed after years of poor performance [13].

On July 20, 2007, some teenagers vandalized Forest Brook High School with a water hose. [14] Students at Forest Brook began the 2007-2008 school year at nearby M. B. Smiley High School [15]. Forest Brook re-opened in the spring. After the vandalism of Forest Brook High School, North Forest ISD decided to merge Forest Brook's population into Smiley until Forest Brook is repaired. Some parents and observers criticized the decision, fearing territorial rivalries would cause tension between Forest Brook and Smiley students. School officials states that the repair would take at least four months [16].

In November 2007 the Texas Education Agency appointed an academic overseer to monitor NFISD; the TEA had sent a financial overseer in March 2007 [17].

On January 23, 2008 the trustees voted to rehire Simpson.[18]

On January 28, 2008 the Houston Chronicle stated that Walter Davis, an independent auditor, told NFISD trustees that the district is nearing bankruptcy.[19]

On January 31, 2008 the Houston Chronicle stated that Texas Education Agency officials investigated the district, checking to see if the district violated laws by using construction funds for general purposes.[20]

On February 4, 2008 Tobie B. Ross, Jr., a trustee, requested to change his "Yes" vote for re-instating Simpson to a "No."[21] The Texas Education Agency denied the district's decision to reinstate Simpson.[22]

In March 2008 North Forest ISD announced that it would consolidate its two high schools and close Tidwell Elementary School, merging it into Hilliard. Pupils formerly zoned to Tidwell started being a part of the Hilliard zone in August 2008.[22][23][24]

On March 20, 2008 the Northeast Education First community group asked for the state to fire the school board.[25] Governor of Texas Rick Perry did not remove the NFISD school board.[26] On March 26 the district stated that it would lay off 90 teachers to try to reduce its budget crisis.[27]

The Texas Education Agency stated that the district would have a $17 million United States dollar debt by August 2008.[28] The agency put the district on probation in June 2008.[29]

Outside monitors stated that NFISD had poor management and "security violations" related to TAKS testing.[30]

On July 31, 2008, Wayne Dolcefino of ABC 13 KTRK, a primary news station, based in Houston, reported on an investigation he had conducted regarding North Forest ISD, for possible finance and election malfeasance and misconduct committed by officials of NFISD leadership. Dolcefino investigated for several months prior to the release of his facts and findings. This investigation could lead to possible criminal indictments, in the future. Also, misconduct concerns from parents of NFISD enrolled children and investigating government officials may lead to petitions for new leadership. Special Education Director, Dr. Ruth Watson, has been removed from her position and given a new one within the district. The move in job position was reported as lateral, in which Dr. Ruth Watson maintained her current salary, despite not being Director of Special Education. Dr. Watson approved and forwarded more than five special federal government grants which were received, for her own family members. These grants are meant for the most seriously disabled special children. It was also exposed that one of the Special Education specialists, in question, had a child with Vice President of the Board of Education for NFISD, Allen Provost. When Dolcefino asked Provost if the board member ignored election laws, Provost shoved a business card in Dolcefino's shirt pocket, while telling the reporter(Dolcefino) to contact Provost's lawyer.[31] The TEA dismissed the NFISD school board on July 31, 2008.[32]

On Wednesday October 15, 2008 the state approved the removal of the board. The board members decided to appeal to federal courts.[33][34]

[edit] Schools

[edit] Secondary schools

[edit] Alternative secondary schools

[edit] High schools

AAAA

Other

[edit] Middle schools

[edit] Primary schools

[edit] Elementary schools

K-5

PreK-K

[edit] Former schools

[edit] High Schools

After Spring 2008 two high schools combined into North Forest High School, located at the Forest Brook campus.[35]

[edit] Middle schools

  • Northwood Middle School [8]

[edit] Primary schools

  • East Houston Elementary School (site after renovation became East Houston Intermediate School; the campus now houses Hilliard Elementary School)
  • Tidwell Elementary School (closed after spring 2008)
  • Langstead Primary School (built in 1968 [37]; closed due damage from Hurricane Allison [38]; later used as a temporary administration building)

[edit] Intermediate schools

  • East Houston Intermediate School (the campus is now the site of Hilliard Elementary School)
  • Keahey Intermediate School (the campus is now the site of Marshall Elementary School)

[edit] See also

Houston portal
Schools portal


[edit] References

  1. ^ "City's OK advances N. Wayside housing," Houston Chronicle, August 3, 2006
  2. ^ "Agreement reached on new subdivision," Houston Chronicle, August 22, 2006
  3. ^ "Proposal raising home values - and tempers," Houston Chronicle, July 18, 2006
  4. ^ Fehling, Dave. "The ex-cons next door." KHOU-TV. Retrieved on January 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "Study Area 4." City of Houston. Accessed October 21, 2008.
  6. ^ Martin, Norma. "Troubled N. Forest ISD may face uncertain future," Houston Chronicle. Monday December 19, 1988. A15. Retrieved on April 20, 2009.
  7. ^ "North Forest district shows off its `other' side in tour," Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1989
  8. ^ a b "Forest Brook High School ends an era after Allison," Houston Chronicle, August 26, 2001
  9. ^ Spivak, Todd. "The Also-Rans." Houston Press. March 2, 2006. Retrieved on April 20, 2009.
  10. ^ "North Forest ISD superintendent fired amidst money mismanagement scandal," ABC-13 KTRK-TV, March 9, 2007
  11. ^ "North Forest ISD is told to reinstate superintendent," ABC-13 KTRK-TV, May 22, 2007
  12. ^ "POOR RATINGS, TROUBLED FINANCES," Houston Chronicle, March 25, 2007
  13. ^ "Monitors came, TAKS scores plummeted," The Dallas Morning News, July 21, 2007
  14. ^ "Police search for school vandals." ABC-13 KTRK-TV. Friday July 20, 2007. Retrieved on April 20, 2009
  15. ^ "Damage forces students to share campus," Houston Chronicle, July 21, 2007
  16. ^ "Star athlete accused of Forest Brook High vandalism," KHOU-TV, August 8, 2007
  17. ^ "North Forest ISD hit with second sanction," Houston Chronicle, November 10, 2007
  18. ^ "Déjà vu vote: North Forest ISD rehires fired superintendent," Houston Chronicle, January 23, 2008
  19. ^ "North Forest nearing bankruptcy, auditor reports," Houston Chronicle, January 28, 2008
  20. ^ "North Forest school district's woes grow," Houston Chronicle, January 31, 2008
  21. ^ "North Forest ISD board rescinds its superintendent choice," KHOU-TV
  22. ^ a b "North Forest votes to merge schools." Houston Chronicle. March 15, 2008.
  23. ^ "North Forest ISD to merge Smiley, Forest Brook High; Tidwell, Hillard Elementary." KHOU-TV.
  24. ^ "Board Approves Combining of Schools." North Forest Independent School District.
  25. ^ "North Forest community group to governor: Oust the school board." Houston Chronicle.
  26. ^ "Bid to replace North Forest school board denied." Houston Chronicle. March 20, 2008.
  27. ^ "Troubled North Forest ISD laying off 90 teachers." Houston Chronicle.
  28. ^ "School district decides to cut jobs." KTRK-TV.
  29. ^ "State puts North Forest school district on probation." Houston Chronicle. June 18, 2008.
  30. ^ "Disorder found at Forest Brook." Houston Chronicle. April 27, 2008.
  31. ^ "Houston Texas ABC affiliate KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino investigates." July 31, 2008.
  32. ^ "Texas education chief to choose new North Forest leaders." Houston Chronicle. July 31, 2008. Accessed July 31, 2008.
  33. ^ Mellon, Ericka and Elliott, Janet. "North Forest ISD loses bid to halt board's ouster." Houston Chronicle. October 15, 2008.
  34. ^ Downing, Margaret. "School Board Gets The Boot In North Forest ISD." Houston Press. Thursday July 31, 2008. Retrieved on September 13, 2009.
  35. ^ "North Forest picks name for merged school." Houston Chronicle. May 19, 2008.
  36. ^ Home page, Forest Brook High School
  37. ^ Window on State Government--NFISD Texas School Performance Review, Chapter 5
  38. ^ "Flood-ravaged schools open in make-do spirit," Houston Chronicle, September 5, 2001

[edit] External links

v • d • e
2009 Texas Education Agency Accountability Rating
v • d • e

 
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