[mrfootball]

Cy-Fair's new $75 Million Stadium, the Berry Center & Stadium Complex is currently under construction in Northwest Harris County.

This could be the nicest High School football/basketball facility in the country.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 6:17 PM

[houstonsemipro]

Looks great! I was wondering. Is there a High School that has an indoor football stadium? I mean they have High School indoor basketball. Just a thought.

[mrfootball]

I'm pretty sure there are some indoor football facilities up North, and in Alaska. The closest thing we have to it here at the HS level is Southlake Carroll's indoor practice facility.

[houstonsemipro]

I think that's something Houston High Schools need to think about, at lease a district.

[DJ V Lawrence]

mrfootball, on Sunday, February 19th, 2006 @ 5:16pm, said:

Cy-Fair's new $75 Million Stadium, the Berry Center & Stadium Complex is currently under construction in Northwest Harris County.

This could be the nicest High School football/basketball facility in the country.

Most COLLEGES don't have facilities like that!
Here's an article on it...
http://texas.construction.com/features/arc...01_feature4.asp
Yo, can anybody find any renderings to what the inside of the new CY-Fair football stadium will look like?

This post has been edited by DJ V Lawrence: Monday, February 20, 2006 at 7:03 AM

[Kam]

dude. i wish we had that place when i was in high school.

they're going to use that arena for graduation ceremonies. They will no longer have to go to Coleman Coliseum or Reliant arena to do that.

That football stadium looks fugginsgght sweet. I drove past it on Tuesday. I think the Cy-Fair website said it was going to be a double decker like Pridgeon Stadium.

Is that what they're going to call it? Berry Stadium?

I know they're calling in the Richard Berry Instructional Support Center.

I think they're also having a TV studio in there for their Time Warner Channel 16 station.

houstonsemipro, on Sunday, February 19th, 2006 @ 7:28pm, said:

Looks great! I was wondering. Is there a High School that has an indoor football stadium? I mean they have High School indoor basketball. Just a thought.

Well, basketball is usually played indoors.

[mrfootball]

Here are some updated construction pics of CFISD's mammoth new stadium complex, The Berry Center. It contains a new football stadium, arena, theatre, conference center and other amenities:



















http://www.cfisd.net/bond/esc.htm#gen

[DJ V Lawrence]

CFISD's could host a Goodwill or Pan-American Games with them facilities

This post has been edited by DJ V Lawrence: Monday, April 17, 2006 at 4:11 PM

[713 To 214]

Too much money being spent on athletics in this state, if you ask me. In my opinion, school districts in a state like Texas, which is near/at the bottom of just about every educational categoryin the country, should divert much of that money to students learning something other than how to run, jump, catch, shoot, and throw.

[RedScare]

713 To 214, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 5:52pm, said:

Too much money being spent on athletics in this state, if you ask me. In my opinion, school districts in a state like Texas, which is near/at the bottom of just about every educational categoryin the country, should divert much of that money to students learning something other than how to run, jump, catch, shoot, and throw.

Agreed. It's not like Cy-Fair had decrepit old facilities in the first place. Anyone who has seen their "old" football stadium can vouch for that.

Meanwhile, the Legislature just began a Special Session today to try to finance our schools. Imagine that?

[brijonmang]

after coming home for easter...i flew over the stadium on the way home and way out...the thing is massive...its very impressive from the air

[mrfootball]

brijonmang, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 8:30pm, said:

after coming home for easter...i flew over the stadium on the way home and way out...the thing is massive...its very impressive from the air

Agreed...even more impressive from the ground. It's hard to get an idea of the sheer scale of this complex until you see it in person. For example. In the picture below...to get a sense of the scale, find the doors to the building at the top of the stairs:



I think the school funding issue goes much deeper than an argument about this facility. You must keep in mind that there are some 10 High Schools that will share 2 stadiums. This facility was built to encompass all of the District's (The 3rd largest School District in the state with over 85,000 students...and the ONLY 'RECOGNIZED' district of this size) special events, football, basketball, concerts, conventions, conferences, etc.

Additionally, Cy-Fair is a Recognized district because it doesn't cut corners and spends money for quality teachers, facilities, etc. It's a big district, second only in size to HISD and DISD...yet it's run a hell of a lot more efficiently.

I believe its extremely important to foster school spirit, parental involvement, community involvement, and broad-based extra-curricular activities. It promotes a healthier environment for the kids and the community.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Monday, April 17, 2006 at 10:44 PM

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Sports and especially football are a big part of Texas Identity, im all for the stadiums and encouraging the kids to be active in sports. That said, i think the stadium is beautiful and its BIG, just like the great state of Texas

[DJ V Lawrence]

I'd be shocked if we EVER get something like that in Alief

[RedScare]

mrfootball, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 10:33pm, said:

Agreed...even more impressive from the ground. It's hard to get an idea of the sheer scale of this complex until you see it in person. For example. In the picture below...to get a sense of the scale, find the doors to the building at the top of the stairs:



It promotes a healthier environment for the kids and the community.

Yes, instilling the belief in teenagers that the price of the stadium you play in is more important than the effort given on the field promotes a healthy environment. And, $1,000 per student (including pre-K) plus interest, sounds like a prudent amount of money to spend on an extracurricular activity.

I can't wait to see HISD's new $225 million dollar stadium complex.

[BWSchultz]

RedScare, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 8:12am, said:

Yes, instilling the belief in teenagers that the price of the stadium you play in is more important than the effort given on the field promotes a healthy environment. And, $1,000 per student (including pre-K) plus interest, sounds like a prudent amount of money to spend on an extracurricular activity.

I can't wait to see HISD's new $225 million dollar stadium complex.

Is it just a financial decision for all the schools around to here to share sports complexes? What ever happened to home field advantage? Why can't each school build their own modest gym and modest football field? I just don't get it.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

RedScare, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 8:12am, said:

Yes, instilling the belief in teenagers that the price of the stadium you play in is more important than the effort given on the field promotes a healthy environment. And, $1,000 per student (including pre-K) plus interest, sounds like a prudent amount of money to spend on an extracurricular activity.

I can't wait to see HISD's new $225 million dollar stadium complex.

ok, then just have them go play in filth. throw in some broken glass and hypo-needles and tell them the sport is more important, and the field they play on is not important. do your best.........

[RedScare]

Houston1stWordOnTheMoon, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 8:30am, said:

ok, then just have them go play in filth. throw in some broken glass and hypo-needles and tell them the sport is more important, and the field they play on is not important. do your best.........

Nice hyperbole, 1stWord. That's EXACTLY what I was suggesting...that there are only two choices, a $75 million monument to school board excess or a glass strewn field.

BTW, which one do you think this guy played on in high school?

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

RedScare, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 8:42am, said:

Nice hyperbole, 1stWord. That's EXACTLY what I was suggesting...that there are only two choices, a $75 million monument to school board excess or a glass strewn field.

BTW, which one do you think this guy played on in high school?

That school board excess as you call it will go a long way to attracting more affluent tax payers to that area. When people that have families or that are planning on having families, shop for homes, they look at schools and what scholls have to offer. School amenities and facilities are included in the package. Ask around and see if this nice new clean stadium and nice new clean schools play a major role in attracting people that dont mind paying extra for it................Welcome to Texas...the land of new and ever changing..............

[editor]

Nice pictures. Are they yours?

[mrfootball]

Agreed...in the Suburbs...the School District is EVERYTHING.

One only need look at the demise of Spring ISD from an Exemplary school district to what it is now, because of the lack of forsight, idiotic annexing, and slow expansion. In 15 years they went from being one of the best in the state, and are now scratching their heads wondering where it all went.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 2:17 PM

[RedScare]

mrfootball, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 2:12pm, said:

Agreed...in the Suburbs...the School District is EVERYTHING.

One only need look at the demise of Spring ISD from an Exemplary school district to what it is now, because of the lack of forsight, idiotic annexing, and slow expansion. In 15 years they went from being one of the best in the state, and are now scratching their heads wondering where it all went.

What?

Are you saying that because they still play football in that crappy stadium on I-45, Spring ISD has now gone to hell in a handbasket?

Could you explain how Spring's lack of forsight (sic) contributed to their demise?

What annexing was idiotic?

What were they slow at expanding?

I realize that since I moved away from Klein several years ago, I do not understand how these things work, but please humor me, because your explanation went over my head.

[mrfootball]

Try to keep up, Red.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 2:39 PM

[RedScare]

mrfootball, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 2:36pm, said:

Try to keep up, Red.

Is that your answer?

[mrfootball]

Read back through the thread, Red.

Notice where it took a turn and we began discussing school boards, amenities, planning...and their effect on the drawing power of a particular area.

School boards with good foresight protect their property owners and enhance value.

Spring ISD is a prime example of what happens when they don't.

Spring ISD, got greedy and annexed a chunk of Aldine ISD in the early 1990's that included a large swath of land that had commercial property along with even more low-income housing, which then mushroomed and forever changed the demographics of that district.

Whereas they should've built a new HS to take in much of this wild new growth, they instead opted to turn Westfield into an overcrowded Super 5A school. The school became much rougher with gangs and the like, the test scores fell, affluent white families stopped moving in to the school zone, others scrambled to sell...stagnating property values.

They have a really good football and basketball team, though.

Spring ISD is finally opening up a new HS (with another to follow in several years)...about 10 years too late for the residents of Olde Oaks, Northgate, Ponderosa and Westador.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 2:54 PM

[RedScare]

I think you need to read up on your school district history. Spring ISD has had the same boundaries for decades. It's southern border has always been Rankin Road east of I-45, and Greens Road west of I-45, until it butts up against Klein ISD.

During the 70s and part of the 80s, the southern portion was largely empty. As it filled with apartments, the oil crash hit in the mid 80s. Rents on these apartments plummeted, and they became low income, as did many subdivisions inside FM 1960. Westfield HS' makeup became poorer as the southern part of the district became poorer.

There was never an annexation. That would require the Legilature to do so...as well as Aldine's permission.

[mrfootball]

Wanna bet? I was there when it happened.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 3:30 PM

[TJones]

713 To 214, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 5:52pm, said:

Too much money being spent on athletics in this state, if you ask me. In my opinion, school districts in a state like Texas, which is near/at the bottom of just about every educational categoryin the country, should divert much of that money to students learning something other than how to run, jump, catch, shoot, and throw.

Well, it looks to me like they thought about the Band Nerds and the Drama Geeks also when they built this facility. BTW, I have to say it is very very ominous. I was very impressed with the look of it all when I drove by it the other day, friggin Mt. Olympus !

This post has been edited by TJones: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 6:13 PM

[KAHLA FAN 101]

[quote name='mrfootball' date='Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 3:19pm' post='81328']
Here are some updated construction pics of CFISD's mammoth new stadium complex, The Berry Center. It contains a new football stadium, arena, theatre, conference center and other amenities:

The Berry Center is very pretty I been there because my daughter perform at the Berry Center gym


I think that is untrue I mean you have to sacrifice for the students. I mean the Berry Center in Cy-Fair was built because the Pridgeon Staduim is 40 years old. Plus the staduim is far and old. There is a purpose why people build not just spending I will think they have enough commonsense. RedScare

This post has been edited by KAHLA FAN 101: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 12:36 PM

[KAHLA FAN 101]

RedScare, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 5:57pm, said:

Agreed. It's not like Cy-Fair had decrepit old facilities in the first place. Anyone who has seen their "old" football stadium can vouch for that.

Meanwhile, the Legislature just began a Special Session today to try to finance our schools. Imagine that?

I think your wrong I mean you really didn't research this topic. I mean look The Pridgeon staduim is 40 years old. Cy- Fair have common sense if it wasn't for Cy- Fair then my child would have to deal with overcrowded schools. Look I'm not trying to offend you but check this out, children have dreams and if they want to do sports than they should. My child has 8 high school credit and she is only in middle school. So sports is what she wants to do and she can do i it's okay. The staduim is not only for sports if you research and stop getting on people's case then you would have found out that it's for high school graduations. Mainly because percentage of high school dropouts are low!!!! And of course they are going to have Special Session for financing . Almost every School District do that. Why haven't you complain about Houston do that. my daughter research all this. So why can't you

mrfootball, on Monday, April 17th, 2006 @ 10:33pm, said:

Agreed...even more impressive from the ground. It's hard to get an idea of the sheer scale of this complex until you see it in person. For example. In the picture below...to get a sense of the scale, find the doors to the building at the top of the stairs:



I think the school funding issue goes much deeper than an argument about this facility. You must keep in mind that there are some 10 High Schools that will share 2 stadiums. This facility was built to encompass all of the District's (The 3rd largest School District in the state with over 85,000 students...and the ONLY 'RECOGNIZED' district of this size) special events, football, basketball, concerts, conventions, conferences, etc.

Additionally, Cy-Fair is a Recognized district because it doesn't cut corners and spends money for quality teachers, facilities, etc. It's a big district, second only in size to HISD and DISD...yet it's run a hell of a lot more efficiently.

I believe its extremely important to foster school spirit, parental involvement, community involvement, and broad-based extra-curricular activities. It promotes a healthier environment for the kids and the community.

I agree with you Mr. Football 100% people complain but I remember there was 69 schools with only 1 staduim. Now there is 75 schools and it was time for a new staduim >

RedScare, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 8:42am, said:

Nice hyperbole, 1stWord. That's EXACTLY what I was suggesting...that there are only two choices, a $75 million monument to school board excess or a glass strewn field.

BTW, which one do you think this guy played on in high school?

RedScare whatever your name is get your facts before tell me or anybody that Berry Center kind of filthy because it's not you don't think about the children all this staduim doing is helping the students be better I guess you don't care because in this complex not only has a staduim it has conference rooms and all. I ask daughter like the Berry Center she said yes she can't wait to graduate at the Berry Center. So facts straight because apparently really don't think about the children.

[Talbot]

That building truly is mammoth, I was going to Cy-fair college the other day, and accidentally turned into the Berry Centers parking lot thinking it was the college.

[Trae]

Reminds me of the Merrel Center in Katy (where the Katy Copperheads play).

[nmainguy]

KAHLA FAN 101, on Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 @ 12:33pm, said:

I think your wrong I mean you really didn't research this topic. I mean look The Pridgeon staduim is 40 years old. Cy- Fair have common sense if it wasn't for Cy- Fair then my child would have to deal with overcrowded schools. Look I'm not trying to offend you but check this out, children have dreams and if they want to do sports than they should. My child has 8 high school credit and she is only in middle school. So sports is what she wants to do and she can do i it's okay. The staduim is not only for sports if you research and stop getting on people's case then you would have found out that it's for high school graduations. Mainly because percentage of high school dropouts are low!!!! And of course they are going to have Special Session for financing . Almost every School District do that. Why haven't you complain about Houston do that. my daughter research all this. So why can't you
I agree with you Mr. Football 100% people complain but I remember there was 69 schools with only 1 staduim. Now there is 75 schools and it was time for a new staduim >
RedScare whatever your name is get your facts before tell me or anybody that Berry Center kind of filthy because it's not you don't think about the children all this staduim doing is helping the students be better I guess you don't care because in this complex not only has a staduim it has conference rooms and all. I ask daughter like the Berry Center she said yes she can't wait to graduate at the Berry Center. So facts straight because apparently really don't think about the children.

It hurt my head-even made my brain bleed a little-but I read the whole thing. Perhaps the school district could set aside a bit for adult education.
BTW, anyone have pics of the library?

[KinkaidAlum]

LOL.

My thoughts exactly. Long Live Cy-Fair's quality English and composition classes!

[mrfootball]

And long live Kinkaid's Reading Comprehension classes!



I'm pretty sure the person you're making fun of is speaking as a parent and not as an alum.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 11:06 AM

[chamberscreek]

I live in the Cy-Fair district, and what annoyed me about this project was that, when it was up for a vote, they constantly referred to this as an "educational support center," and totally downplayed the athletic facilities. Now, whether or not the athletic facilities were needed is a different debate, but at least have the guts to be honest about what you are planning to build.

[PureAuteur]

mrfootball, on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 @ 2:46pm, said:

Read back through the thread, Red.

Notice where it took a turn and we began discussing school boards, amenities, planning...and their effect on the drawing power of a particular area.

School boards with good foresight protect their property owners and enhance value.

Spring ISD is a prime example of what happens when they don't.

Spring ISD, got greedy and annexed a chunk of Aldine ISD in the early 1990's that included a large swath of land that had commercial property along with even more low-income housing, which then mushroomed and forever changed the demographics of that district.

Whereas they should've built a new HS to take in much of this wild new growth, they instead opted to turn Westfield into an overcrowded Super 5A school. The school became much rougher with gangs and the like, the test scores fell, affluent white families stopped moving in to the school zone, others scrambled to sell...stagnating property values.

They have a really good football and basketball team, though

Spring ISD is finally opening up a new HS (with another to follow in several years)...about 10 years too late for the residents of Olde Oaks, Northgate, Ponderosa and Westador.

I work in the Westfield area, and some of my coworkers are students at Westfield. I've never heard mention of any gangs there. I've spoke to several people who say that they love it at Westfield and they'd never go to any other school. Both of them lived north of 1960 in the only part of Westfield's zoning that should rightfully be attending the school in your opinion. One girl said there were never any fights at the school until some Louisiana people got there, and she also said that the students got along well, regardless of social class. This is an example of a progressive minded student body, and you're over here criticizing it for making the "better demographic" of Olde Oaks, Northgate, Ponderosa, and Westador have to suffer because of all the "district destroying demographics" south of 1960. I didn't realize a school needed upper income white neighborhoods in order to be an exemplary school. I didn't realize that Westfield belonged to those 4 neighborhoods first and foremost. Your posts always seem to reek of class prejudice.

[KAHLA FAN 101]

nmainguy, on Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 @ 10:38pm, said:

It hurt my head-even made my brain bleed a little-but I read the whole thing. Perhaps the school district could set aside a bit for adult education.
BTW, anyone have pics of the library?

I sorry Mr. Main guy i guess i was mad and that was mmy first time writing on the board

[PureAuteur]

Kahla, welcome. First and foremost, not to be rude, but you really ought to read your posts and edit them before hitting the reply button. This is so others can understand what you are trying to say, and can reply to it without being totally confused.

[invincible569]

I love the new Berry Center. Glad its in our area.

[FilioScotia]

invincible569, on Monday, July 31st, 2006 @ 7:35pm, said:

I love the new Berry Center. Glad its in our area.

75 million dollars for an athletic complex the ancient Romans would envy, and CyFair grade school teachers have to pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets. What's wrong with that picture?

I live in CyFair -- a mile and a half from the Berry complex -- and I don't deny the need for another football stadium. CyFair will soon have ten high schools, but until the Berry facility was built, it had only one stadium big enough for UIL football.

Ask most of the other 1000 plus school districts in Texas. You don't need a sports palace to play football. You only need a field that's big enough, and bleachers on both sides big enough for ten to fifteen thousand people. You DON'T need a fiscal obscenity like this monstrosity.

The CyFair ISD board really sneaked this one in. It was part of a huge bond issue that included millions and millions for new schools and other "educational" facilities. I don't remember ever seeing a word in the issue about a sports complex like this one. They knew it would be yanked out if the voters knew what they were really planning.

But, what do you expect in a county that's spent more than two BILLION dollars on sports facilities in the past ten years?

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 8:45 AM

[mrfootball]

When you compare what Cy-Fair got for its money, with a huge special events conference center, Arena (which is going to be managed by one of the world's foremost arena management companies) and an awesome football stadium to be the envy of the highschool football world...I'd say they got a pretty good deal at $75 Million. Compare that the new stadium being built for Conroe ISD in the Woodlands. They're spending big bucks on their stadium project as well. While not as grand a project as Berry, it will be nice. CFISD is lucky to have completed this project before steel and other construction materials went through the roof. It'd likely cost $85-90 million to get a project like this done today.

CFISD spends more on having nicer facilities than most other school districts. They pay their teachers more than most other districts. I'm not sure its that big of a consipiracy.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 9:10 AM

[FilioScotia]

mrfootball, on Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 @ 9:08am, said:

When you compare what Cy-Fair got for its money, with a huge special events conference center, Arena (which is going to be managed by one of the world's foremost arena management companies) and an awesome football stadium to be the envy of the highschool football world...I'd say they got a pretty good deal at $75 Million. Compare that the new stadium being built for Conroe ISD in the Woodlands. They're spending big bucks on their stadium project as well. While not as grand a project as Berry, it will be nice. CFISD is lucky to have completed this project before steel and other construction materials went through the roof. It'd likely cost $85-90 million to get a project like this done today.

CFISD spends more on having nicer facilities than most other school districts. They pay their teachers more than most other districts. I'm not sure its that big of a consipiracy.

But CyFair grade school teachers still have to buy classroom supplies out of their own pockets. My complaint is the misplaced priorities this sports complex exemplifies.

So it's going to make a lot of money for the district. So what? It won't contribute anything to the quality of the educational product in CFISD. Nothing.

But I may as well be talking to the wall. Your signature says everything I need to know about where you're coming from on this.

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 9:20 AM

[mrfootball]

Are you certain of this? How does that compare with other school districts? Do Cy-Fair teachers get a spending allowance? I'm pretty confident Cy-Fair schools have very active and organized PTO's...I think its pretty safe to say, they aren't hurting.

Do you believe that all academic life ought to be spent inside a classroom? Do you appreciated well-rounded development? Do you understand the benefits of team sports? Do you value community involvement?

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 12:50 PM

[Trae]

Cy-Fair only has one UIL school? Katy has five.

[PureAuteur]

I'm not that impressed by the stadium. The architectural design is weak. It's basically the same old same old with a pompous looking front entrance face. They build it way out in the middle of nowhere, and it serves a huge geographical area, so no particular community will be able to "be proud of it". The whole "brick" look with educational/athletic buildings these days is getting really tired, especially with new high school designs.

[mrfootball]

Quote

I'm not that impressed by the stadium.

You should get out more.

It's pretty damned impressive. It's by far one of (if not) the finest high school sports facilities in the country. Nicer than a lot of college facilities.

Quote

no particular community will be able to "be proud of it".

Don't be so sure.

Quote

The whole "brick" look with educational/athletic buildings these days is getting really tired, especially with new high school designs.

What do you recommend? Adobe?

Quote

Cy-Fair only has one UIL school? Katy has five.

Man, there are some uninformed posts today.

All of Cy-Fair's schools are UIL...as are just about every high school in Texas.

Cy-Fair has 8 High Schools for the 2006 academic year (with 2 more under construction).

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 9:00 PM

[invincible569]

It sure is impressive. If you would rather have a house on the prairie type school, then you are living in the wrong area. for the things cy-fair is doing, i sure am damn proud of it. we pay good taxes too.. why not have something to show for it instead of the treasurers pocketing the money.

I hope they keep coming out with great ideas like this one.

I've been bragging about our area to everyone and will continue to do so. Cypress is coming up strong!

[FilioScotia]

mrfootball, on Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 @ 12:48pm, said:

Are you certain of this? How does that compare with other school districts? Do Cy-Fair teachers get a spending allowance? I'm pretty confident Cy-Fair schools have very active and organized PTO's...I think its pretty safe to say, they aren't hurting.

Do you believe that all academic life ought to be spent inside a classroom? Do you appreciated well-rounded development? Do you understand the benefits of team sports? Do you value community involvement?

It's clear that you've bought the myth that team sports "build character" and "teach teamwork". It does neither.

No -- I don't think all academic life should be spent in a classrooms, but it's a good place to start. In Texas, as you may or may not know, athletics supercede everything else. Texas high schools have shown time and again that when fiscal push comes to fiscal shove, football will win every time. All over this state, many small school districts are known to cancel classes on Fridays to free up school buses so the football team, the band and some boosters can travel to out of town games.

The Deer Park ISD suffered a serious budget crunch about ten years ago, and it had to make some major personnel cuts. Several dozen teachers were laid off, and some courses were dropped from the curriculum, but not one penny was cut from the football program, and not one coach was laid off. That says all that needs to be said about DPISD's priorities. It's the same in CFISD.

CyFair is one of the richest school districts in this state but it won't provide classroom supplies for grade school teachers. Why do you think the PTO's are always having fundraisers, and young children are sent out to sell candy and gift junk door to door.

I've protested that practice for as long as I've lived out here but I'm a voice in the wilderness. The schools always tell me they have to do it because it allows them to buy supplies, but CFISD can spend 75 million dollars on an athletic complex that does nothing but provide public entertainment. Am I the only person out here who thinks something is horribly wrong with that picture?

This post has been edited by FilioScotia: Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 10:06 AM

[mrfootball]

Quote

It's clear that you've bought the myth that team sports "build character" and "teach teamwork". It does neither.

Its clear you have a chip on your shoulder.

As someone who played Varsity football, I can attest that your comments are bloated with ignorance. Kids from all walks of life, white, black or brown come together for a common cause, investing hundreds of hours in their team. Along the way picking up good habits like discipline, toughness, physical fitness and competitive drive. For many kids who don't have the luxury of a 2-parent household, coaches provide guidance and direction, filling a role that is absent in many kids' lives. I lost my dad to cancer when I was 15. I know how much I valued my coaches.

The guys I played with went to UT, A&M, West Point, Rice, and other great schools. Nearly every one of our players went on to attend 4-year schools. Some as scholarship athletes, some on academic scholarships, most as regular students.

More than any other school activity, athletics provides a rallying point for the community. Hundreds of kids are involved in a typical Friday Night game, from the cheerleaders to the drill team, to the marching band to the athletics trainers to the actual football teams. Kids who learn how to socialize, work together, and invest in a higher purpose other than themselves.

CFISD is one of the most respected large school districts in the country. They tend to be on the leading edge. I think they were absolutely correct in building this multi-use facility that serves the ENTIRE district, the entire community (some 750,000 people in CFISD territory). Why not build the best?

PS - I drove by the facility yesterday, the parking lot was full as they were having a district-wide teachers conference, so I suppose the 'Educational Support Facility' moniker holds some degree of validity. CFISD wasn't able to host such large events in the past.

Perhaps instead of your whining you could campaign to build up a public endowment for CFISD teacher's classroom supplies. They're doing this at Highland Park ISD and other places. Of course, they've been doing this for years at colleges and university, its only natural that it would work on this level as well. I suspect this is something that would be well received in the area.

This post has been edited by mrfootball: Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 11:24 AM