North Forest Independent School District
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North Forest Independent School District (formerly Northeast Houston Independent School District) is a school district based in northeast Houston, Texas (USA).
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[edit] Catchment area
North Forest ISD covers small parts of northeast Houston (including the neighborhoods of East Houston, Northwood Manor, Dorchester Place, Royal Glen,Fountaine, 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.
[edit] History
Forest Brook High School sustained heavy damage after Tropical Storm Allison [4].
On July 20, 2007, some teenagers vandalized Forest Brook High School with a water hose [5]. Students at Forest Brook began the 2007-2008 school year at nearby M. B. Smiley High School [6]. Forest Brook re-opened in the spring.
In March 2008 North Forest ISD announced that it will consolidate its two high schools and close Tidwell Elementary School, merging it into Hilliard. Tidwell students will attend Hilliard in August 2008.[7][8][9]
[edit] Controversy
In the late 1980s [10], 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 [11].
On March 9, 2007, the board voted 4-3 to terminate Dr. James Simpson, the superintendent [12]. In May, the state ordered the district to reinstate Simpson, citing that Simpson was denied due process [13].
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 [14].
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 [15].
In 2007, 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.[7]
On March 20, 2008 the Northeast Education First community group asked for the state to fire the school board.[22] Governor of Texas Rick Perry did not remove the NFISD school board.[23] On March 26 the district stated that it would lay off 90 teachers to try to reduce its budget crisis.[24]
The Texas Education Agency stated that the district would have a $17 million United States dollar debt by August 2008.[25]
Outside monitors stated that NFISD had poor management and "security violations" related to TAKS testing.[26]
[edit] Schools
[edit] Secondary schools
[edit] Alternative secondary schools
- Learning Academy (8-12)
[edit] High schools
- After Spring 2008 the two high schools will combine into North Forest High School, located at the Forest Brook campus.[27]
AAAA
- Forest Brook High School (Opened August 2, 1972 [28])
- M. B. Smiley High School
Other
- W. G. Smiley Career and Technology Center [1]
[edit] Middle schools
[edit] Primary schools
[edit] Elementary schools
K-5
- Fonwood Elementary School
- A. G. Hilliard Elementary School
- Lakewood Elementary School (Opened 1962)
- W. E. Rogers Elementary School
- Shadydale Elementary School
- Tidwell Elementary School (closing after spring 2008)
PreK-K
[edit] Former schools
[edit] Middle schools
- Northwood Middle School [4]
[edit] Primary schools
- East Houston Elementary (site after renovation became East Houston Intermediate; the campus now houses Hilliard Elementary School)
[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] References
- ^ "City's OK advances N. Wayside housing," Houston Chronicle, August 3, 2006
- ^ "Agreement reached on new subdivision," Houston Chronicle, August 22, 2006
- ^ "Proposal raising home values - and tempers," Houston Chronicle, July 18, 2006
- ^ a b "Forest Brook High School ends an era after Allison," Houston Chronicle, August 26, 2001
- ^ "Police search for school vandals," ABC-13 KTRK-TV
- ^ "Damage forces students to share campus," Houston Chronicle, July 21, 2007
- ^ a b "North Forest votes to merge schools." Houston Chronicle. March 15, 2008.
- ^ "North Forest ISD to merge Smiley, Forest Brook High; Tidwell, Hillard Elementary." KHOU.
- ^ "Board Approves Combining of Schools." North Forest Independent School District.
- ^ "Troubled N. Forest ISD may face uncertain future," Houston Chronicle, December 19, 1988
- ^ "North Forest district shows off its `other' side in tour," Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1989
- ^ "North Forest ISD superintendent fired amidst money mismanagement scandal," ABC-13 KTRK-TV, March 9, 2007
- ^ "North Forest ISD is told to reinstate superintendent," ABC-13 KTRK-TV, May 22, 2007
- ^ "POOR RATINGS, TROUBLED FINANCES," Houston Chronicle, March 25, 2007
- ^ "Monitors came, TAKS scores plummeted," The Dallas Morning News, July 21, 2007
- ^ "Star athlete accused of Forest Brook High vandalism," KHOU-TV, August 8, 2007
- ^ "North Forest ISD hit with second sanction," Houston Chronicle, November 10, 2007
- ^ "Déjà vu vote: North Forest ISD rehires fired superintendent," Houston Chronicle, January 23, 2008
- ^ "North Forest nearing bankruptcy, auditor reports," Houston Chronicle, January 28, 2008
- ^ "North Forest school district's woes grow," Houston Chronicle, January 31, 2008
- ^ "North Forest ISD board rescinds its superintendent choice," KHOU
- ^ "North Forest community group to governor: Oust the school board." Houston Chronicle.
- ^ "Bid to replace North Forest school board denied." Houston Chronicle. March 20, 2008.
- ^ "Troubled North Forest ISD laying off 90 teachers." Houston Chronicle.
- ^ "School district decides to cut jobs." KTRK-TV.
- ^ "Disorder found at Forest Brook." Houston Chronicle. April 27, 2008.
- ^ "North Forest picks name for merged school." Houston Chronicle. May 19, 2008.
- ^ Home page, Forest Brook High School
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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