On Tuesday, June 2nd, Patti Fennessey and I met with Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Brant W. Buck. Also in attendance was Tommy Ellington, Dr. Rocky Brookmole and a representive from Durham School Services.
It was a very cordial meeting and I would like to thank the gentlemen again for their time. We asked if they were aware of the project proposed to widen Morriss Rd to six lanes in the area populated by two large schools. They were aware of the project and are very well experienced on dealing with road construction throughout the very large school district. They stated that during the construction, buses would be used to transport students due to the hazards related to major construction and they have many schools in the district where students cross major roads by use of Crossing Guards.
We mainly wanted to use the meeting as an informational meeting and didn't ask for the District to become involved in our fight. We were pleased to hear they had a good plan in place in the case of impending construction. I wanted to make the point to them that MANY of the parents whose children attend Forestwood and Marcus are VERY concerned about the project, not just the increased safety issues that they were prepared for, but the fact that the project, according to a very large group of parents and other residents, don't think the project is necessary at all. I asked if they had received correspondence not only from parents, but from staff at the schools stating this fact. They were not aware of any complaints. I explained that this group of residents are so vehemently opposed to this expansion project, that it brought over 500 first time voters to the May election and have produced overflow crowds at rallies, forums, and Town Council meetings.
Another fact that came out of this meeting was that the LISD operates over 50 hazard operation areas a day that require buses. Each bus route that the district operates cost $36,000 a year. When Forestwood and Marcus become another "hazard area" it will produce at least an additional six bus routes to be operated by the district at the cost of $216,000 a year! That is staggering! And the town is trying to tell us that there is no cost to the residents and tax payers of the town?
That is almost a quarter of a million dollars a year that won't be spent on education.
We asked if Mr Buck would mind receiving letters and emails from parents and residents and TAX PAYERS of Flower Mound. He said "whatever you need to do."
So, this is where you come in...
Please email Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Brant Buck at
buckb@lisd.net . I'm sure Superintendent Dr. Jerry W. Roy ( royj@lisd.net ) would also like to hear your concerns. Not just about the safety of your children, but why are we going to go to all this expense because of a road project that we clearly don't need. Please take the time and write these gentlemen with your comments.
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Given the fact that this is a Town project and not an LISD one I am left wondering what, if anything, can LISD do about it?
ReplyDeleteEnough parents complained when LISD thought about re-districting for Shadow Ridge near Sphinx road when their chilren would have to cross from the west side of 2499 to the east side of 2499 where the speed limit is 45 mph and then 55 mph & 6 LANES. So make sure your voice is heard within LISD. Email, write a letter or call!
ReplyDeleteKids cross 2499 everyday to go to school, don't they? I think I fail to see what hounding LISD will do in this case. They have no say in what the Town does, at least this is my understanding.
ReplyDeleteKids don't cross 2499 everyday - sorry!
ReplyDeleteThen why are there crossing guards at the corner of 2499 and aberdeen daily?
ReplyDeleteThis is not a LISD issue, however they are an important component in the community. They should know that parents are not pleased with the cities plans. The key fact here is 216,000 dollars to bus kids due to a road project that is not needed. Do you want your money to go towards buses or books? The town cannot continue to tell us that this has no cost effect on the residents of Flower Mound. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteDid Dr. Roy say that if Morriss goes to 6 lanes LISD will raise our school taxes?
ReplyDeleteI think the point is that to send LISD e-mails and phone calls is pointless as they have no say in what Flower Mound does.
ReplyDeleteThe 216,000 dollars has to come from somewhere. Not that the taxes will be raised, but maybe thats 4 teachers salaries. The money has to come from somewhere doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's about 6 teacher's worth of pay.. 6 new teachers that would be cut since I think there's seniority when cuts come.
ReplyDeleteDid Dr. Roy say that any teacher positions would be cut if Morriss goes to 6 lanes?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous why dont you register.. it's not that hard..
ReplyDeleteNobody said anything about cutting teachers, but typically programs get cut after teachers.. either way it's 230,000+ dollars a year we have to pay and will either come out of higher taxes or cuts to school budgets. I'd rather not handicap our kids over a unneeded road expansion.
Why do you care if they register or not? Isn't forcing them to reveal who they are when they don't want to the same as the Town forcing a road on people that don't want it? People(ie. Corey) who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones.
ReplyDeleteAny way we could get a specific town vote on this issue alone? A vote that either says you are for or against the expansion of Morriss/Gerault Road?
ReplyDeleteThis way we can get a definite answer from the town on whether this is a wanted "enhancement" or not.
I keep hearing that certain town officials did not get elected, so the town has "spoken". And that there have been close to a thousand petition signatures obtained opposing the expansion, but the other 60+ thousand must be for the expansion.
A vote of this nature would prove what the town wants on this controversial issue. If more people vote for the expansion, then this is a true statement. If not, then the expansion should not happen.
Is this a possibility?
I agree with Matt on this. Apparently the number of those in the area who voted for opposition canididates does not mean anything. Instead of listening to those who came out to vote they instead try to say we are unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteWhat's so wrong about not building this road? Lets finish the other roads and re-evaluate then. We are in a recession, the only guaranteed thing and that's still iffy is the Hospital. There's ZERO guarantee that any businesses would come to the riverwalk that's worth anyone's time.
If in 5 years we have a congested mess and true traffic studies not "Guesstimates" are done and say we need to expand the road then I will support it. I would not be happy about it, but I would support it.
Who were the opposition candidates that won a seat in the most recent election?
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ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is a gay agenda???? Let me see..... to live in peace, not get harrassed and beaten because of ones sexual orientation, have equal rights......... oh, you mean the same thing women, blacks, and other minorities have had to fight for...... Oh, yes, we better watch out for the gay agenda....we would hate treat all people with respect and dignity.....lol
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