Forest

I missed the meeting last night but I noticed a new doc on the KISD web site about the different construction plans: http://www.kleinisd....%20Abridged.pdf

One thing I noticed on both the option "A" plans is that Kleb is also being leveled and rebuilt at the back of the property. Where are they going to put all the Kleb students while this is going on? At Ulrich??? Or are they going to build the new Kleb first and move them and then level the old Kleb? Was any of this discussed at the meeting last night? After the meeting, which way do you thing the administration is leaning?

After attending the last bond steering committee meeting -- which was basically a one-sided town hall meeting where people were trying to arm wrestle me into signing a petition to "Save Klein HIgh" -- I opted not to attend last night's meeting. I cannot believe the district would consider tearing the stadium etc. to give one high school feeder pattern their way. It's fine to be upset that they may not be able to rebuild Klein High in the original timetable, but it is a ridiculous waste of money to not do the first part that was voted on -- build the new high school and relocate the students there. I think there are plenty of people out there who don't run around ranting or joining ridiculous Facebook groups -- that actually want Dr. Cain and the board to make the hard choice and the most fiscally responsible choices - no matter who is going to be unhappy about it. Klein ISD is a community and it's not about north or south, east or west -- people need to quit fighting and realize your child is getting a good education because this is a quality district.

That said to me, that if Forest missed AYP, Dr. Cain did not have to let Forest students into the other 3 high schools. They could apply for Title 1 funding.

BTW: KF is not the only high school to miss AYP -- Klein Collins missed last year also.

If you haven't passed by Ulrich lately, Nearly the entire building is bricked. The Feild House is being constructed.

BTW: While Ulrich is being built with a wireless network/capability in place -- however, the students will not be issued laptops as they did at Krimmel Intermediate. Instead, the district is continuing to rollout the tablet PCs at the high school level -- Klein Oak & Klein Forest already have them with Collins getting them next year. Klein will get them last -- depending on what happens with construction there.

Well, I shared how I was coming up with 40%. If you correlate the feeder schools to Ulrich, using PASA demographics and AEIS data for economically disadvantaged, you will get between 36 and 43 percent depending on how you marry the PASA and AEIS data. If you have some better insight into the demographics for Ulrich, please share it. If not then what are you basing your opinion on?

My impession is that the district does not automatically designate schools at Title I once they pass that magic reduced lunch or economically disadvantage number because the pool of Title I money doesn't necessarily increase based on how many Title I schools you have, i.e. there's just a single pot of money and I'm sure there are mandates you have to meet. For example, some of the schools in the south end were eligible but were not designated Title I for a no. of years after they passed the threshold. Also, Wunderlich and Klein Intermediate, both Title I, do get some cool programs, like the AVID program and my daughter was able to attend summer school for free and get ahead on high school credits between 7th and 8th grade. So, being Title I is not necessarily a bad thing! Also, I don't think Klein Forest is designated Title I - even tho they would clearly qualify.

Most of us intend to leave here in a hearse, so value does not matter. Those of us who are transferred have a small problem, but most of the time, the company will come to the party. Those of us who are retired and have to move for family reasons are getting hosed. One of the question I have is when does the district close a school due to declining enrollment?

While I sympathize with this issue ... what is ironic is that much of this is caused by your neighbors who trash and the schools and your friendly neighborhood realtor who only feeds this perception by steering potential homeowners away from the zone etc. What has really changed in Greenwood Forest to help with people's worries about the schools was to create the Friends of the Forest group -- these are mostly retirees who volunteer and help at the high school and see firsthand what a great school Klein Forest has become. I am seeing a lot of home school families and ones whose older kids went to Klein Oak for the IB program now attend Forest. Ironically, KF was the only Klein school named to Newsweek Top 1,500 schools in America over the summer.

This bond screw up is really amusing to me. It is funny the amount of uneducated people there are that vote on these things.

First off, the Board has NOTHING to do with the current state of the KISD Bond. Let me say that again, the Board has NOTHING to do with the current state of the KISD Bond.

Anyhow, I can sit back and laugh at this one where all the people who supported Cain for the bond are now getting screwed by their leader. It is truloy ironic.

I appreciate your adding a fresh prespective on this as far as the board's role etc.

Personally, I supported the bond but am glad that they are trying to ratchet things back now that the growth does not warrant five high schools.

Personally, I like the idea of making High School No. 5 -- or as we like to call it 4.5 -- into the new Klein High & I like the idea of using the old Klein High for multi-purpose site. Or another idea I had heard floated but never on paper -- eventually rebuild Klein Hgih as a vocational-technical or career magnet school.

However, the biggest issue here is that the Klein High people are worried that some of them might get rezoned to Klein Forest. What they don't get is that if they rezoned the whole district, the demographics at Klein Forest would change & it wouldn't be struggling with TAKS etc. I'm very happy here in Greenwood Forest because I know that our kids go to Greenwood, Wunderlich and Klein Forest, which I really like a lot.

Alas -- I'm afraid the Klein High hardliners are going to throw such a fit - that they'll wind up rebuilding it with the students on site, which I think is a real shame. What I'm looking forward to is the Gleannloch Farms contingent -- the sleeping giant -- to get involved and weigh in with their concerns -- they really do need High School No. 5 since Klein Oak is a real haul for them and it's getting overcrowded.

Ironically, a lot of people in the south end during the 04 Bond did not want Klein Forest to get the new wing .. which techincally takes our capacity to 4,000. Of course, the North end had no problem with that extra capacity for our school... since we're in the south end of the distirct. Now, our extra capacity might bit them in the butt since we will have room to take extra students.

I agree with everyone else. But will these just be skinny 2-feet wide medians or 8-10 feet concrete filled medians? It will be a huge dissapointment if they're simply conrete filled. The govt should look at this as an investment in the community and add grass and trees, making it more attractive to businesses and taking some pride in their stores/stripcenters.

The Chamber's web site has some good info. about the plans and the benefits of going green and also how to get involved to support the green medians -- also how to donate (looks like they've already raised some money for this.)

http://www.greenmedians.org/

To say that KISD is in decline is a joke. As a matter of fact Klein just became a recognized school district. That is a title that Cy Fair, Tomball, Spring, and any other around KISD can't claim. And I am a KF Grad 1990. While the school is much different than when I went there to say it is crap is just verbal garbage.

BRAVO! Thank you for weighing in on this. It's so ridciulous that people think that Klein is in decline because it has become more diverse and that KF is sub-standard. The courseload and expectations put on my child at KF right now are pretty intense. Many of his teachers have their doctorates or even better -- they've former students who came back to teach and just love the school!

But, if you go to Mittlestadt and they like you and your grades, you can go to Kleb even though you are in the Wunderlich attendance zone.

Someone else mentioned this to me recently: How in the world do they get away with doing this? I know a few years ago the Klein Intermediate students were given the option to go to Kleb or Strack because KI did not make AYP ... but Wunderlich has always made AYP so there would be no reason to allow someone out of their zoned middle school.

Other zoned students arent flocking to KF for the sake of KF.

How do you know? Here are my personal statistics: I know several homeschool families whose children now go to Klein Forest; I know families whose kids would typically go to Klein Oak's IB program and are now at Klein Forest and love it; I know people who didn't move from the attendance zone because they've decided KF is just fine. Of course, these aren't official no.s.... just like your comment above is not supported by official no.s. either.

Why? Do parents not give a damn about their kid's safety or quality of education? Perhaps the kids were set and established at Forest. Klein is a top 15 school in the city. Why parents wouldnt jump on that opportunity to switch their students to Klein I can only write off as blissful ignorance or negligent apathy.

I'm also guessing that zero students volunteered to move to Forest from their home zone.

Maybe none have switched.. but thats not the same as incoming new high school students not opting for one of the better schools.

BTW: Klein Forest currently offers an International Business Academy magnet program that draws students from all of the middle schools -- even the ones that were zoned to Klein High. The students have to apply for the business academy and my impression is that they get some very talented students from all over the district.

All i can say is that based on my research and experience, the Klein Forest district is not one I'd be inclined to look in when it comes down to buying a house.

Please when you're doing your google maps and comparing statistics -- be sure to actually walk in the doors of a few schools. Many times, the data doesn't match -- it doesn't clue you into how many kids have access to too much money and too much free time. The numbers won't show the rampant "affluenza" that can make your child's life miserable. All I can say is many "horror" stories are spread by people who aren't happy in their jobs or maybe there's a new principal who isn't tolerating teachers who are phoning it in. People who work on the front line of administration usually see the "worst of the worst" at all schools -- I've learned over the years to just take what they're saying with a grain of salt. Good luck.

I think most of this trash talk about our area is being done by folks being paid to do it.

Right on!

I've lived in Greenwood Forest since 1997 and have experienced ZERO issues with crime. We all hear about things from time to time that concern us and we are all being more vigilent these days -- again, crime is up everywhere. I don't understand how people can characterize this area as "declining" when it has a Barnes&Noble, Container Store, Carrabba's, Campioni's, Pei Wei, Steinmart etc. Gee, I'll take my 'hood any day

Last I heard, that part of town was experiencing a rise in crime. Surely, part of this is due to some bad apples in the schools up there, but I would be reluctant to limit the source of this to only the bad kids. I would say in general that area is declining rapidly. Ugh.

Actually crime is up all over. I've been getting up very early and walking from one end of our neighborhood that borders FM 1960 to the other end ... we've been doing this for more than three years and the worst thing we ever run into are some skunks and other wildlife. Also, criminals or "bad apples" also know how to cross the street. I always think it is hysterical that people slightly north of 1960 are always dissing things south of 1960 as if the Berlin Wall stands between them and any criminal element.

You do. Who's the more unbiased one here ??

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Full Ranking Methodology for the Children at Risk Local Rankings

As I mentioned in my earlier post -- I am biased. I like the schools. The original question was about how Klein was doing as a district. And I responded as a parent in the district. So, the headline is: "Great things happening at KF. Don't believe everything you hear ... about any school .... anywhere." It really boils down to this: are the children at this school having some fun -- like going to football games, staging plays, participating in a myriad of clubs? Yes. Are the students being given the academic opportunities and does the administration encourage academic excellence in its staff? Yes. Do many of the students have to overcome socio-economic hurdles to succeed? Yes. Are there gangs, drugs and kids who are looking for trouble. Yes --AT ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS ... Not just Klein, not just Spring, not just HISD... but Katy, Cy-Fair etc. etc.

Seems like a pretty ate up way of comparing schools. Let's just rank the students that have a future.

OK, let's get it straight? We like rankings if they make Klein Forest look bad... but if they actually come out ahead on something -- the data is bad.

Back to the originally question -- "how is Klein doing?"

I have one child at Wunderlich and one at Klein Forest so this is a strictly biased opinion from a parent who spends a lot of time volunteering at both schools. I give the district high marks. Yes, the demographics in the district have dramatically changed in the last 10 years. They've gone from not really caring about how to improve the schools south of 1960, to actually putting in great principals and programs to improve these schools.

Things I really like about Wunderlich:

--These middle school kids have "standardized dress," a.k.a uniforms. Even the best middle schools in Klein have had issues with young girls "hanging" out of their clothes at this age ... and also boys with sagging pants etc. It takes a lot of social pressure off the kids to just wear khaki shorts/pants and polos.

--They managed to squeeze in an extra period of math for all three grade levels -- it's one of the only middle schools in the district that have this.

--Top-notch orchestra program -- at one time it was the largest in the district. The band and the band directors are also amazing and have a great program.

--They are very strict with the kids and really don't care who your Mom and Dad are -- my daughter got detention for walking (instead of running) in PE at the end of the year. I like it because everyone is treated equally -- they don't make exceptions.

What I like about Klein Forest:

-Again - fantastic orchestra and band programs -- last spring, the orchestra went to Orlando to record a song for Disney. Band director has won tons of awards and band has been designated as Grammy signature school. Really, all Klein schools have great music programs but just to assure you ... KF is just as good as the others.

--Empahsis from administrators on "how can we help your child succeed." Yes, this includes kids who have had babies or been in trouble but also the middle of the road kids that need a boost.

--The House system -- they break the 3,500 students into 7 or 8 "Houses" so you basically have a "school within a school" ... each House has its own principal and counselors -- basically puts everyone into smaller learning communities

--Great clean facility with a new wing and teaching theater. By comparison, Klein High is a mess ... practically a fire hazard ... I feel like my child is very safe at this school.

--Tablet PCs -- the kids get them in mid-Sept. Klein Oak already has these and KF is next in line.

Wunderlich and Klein Forest may not work for everyone but these schools work great for my children. Even better -- I don't have to drive all over the place -- just a few blocks from my house to get them back and forth to all of their extracurricular activities.

I haven't been there in a while, so I'm curious: how is the Klein area schools doing lately? I know Klein Forest is crap, but I've heard the rest of the district is starting to decline as well.

Wow... what a loaded question/back-handed slam.

Yeah, Klein Forest is a lot different than the other Klein schools -- it was THE ONLY KLEIN SCHOOL that made Newsweek's Top 1,500 Public Schools List this summer. http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160

Wow -- it is terrible the way the graduating seniors at Klein Forest received only $3.6 million in scholarships this past May. And gee, only 786 students took AP tests at the school last year (probably has the largest no. of kids in AP classes in the distrcit). What a shame... what an indication of a "crap" school. Oh, yeah, did I mention that 8 Klein Forest educators were recognized last year for their excellence or that its publications won Gold Keys in the Scholastic Writing contest.

And hey, from a purely fun level -- did you see how the football team just crushed Dallas Carter last weekend?

Sure, Klein Forest's TAKs scores may be lower than the rest of the district -- they have the highest percentage of low-income students than any other school in the district and let's face it.... the TAKS test is really about how well you teach the test or how your school lacks diversity.

But please -- GET YOUR FACTS straight. I hate the way people love to just generalize such things -- and no one attempts to correct them. For example, from what I've heard Klein Oak is now No. 1 for drugs and pregnant teens -- but hey, that is basically a rumor -- I'm sure someone from Klein Oak will speak up and correct me. But, you know, why not spread a bunch of crap about another Klein school since it has become so acceptable to do so about Klein Forest.

Hi all,

I grew up in the Klein district near Acres Homes, right on the edge of Klein and Aldine ISD. But I've been living near Jersey Village the last 10 years. It looks like I might be moving out to a neighborhood near North Hampton up there near 2920 and Kuykendahl. I believe it's right near Klein Oak HS.

Anyway, I went to Klein Forest and never had cause to venture that far out. Mainly hung out around Champions Forest area. Can anyone tell me much about this area? Is it growing? Property values maintaining? I work at Beltway and 45 and plan to drive up 2920 to 45 and down. Traffic pretty bad? Is it better to go small roads?

Appreciate anything you can tell me.

Just a thought-- don't move so far North. Move into an established neighborhood off FM 1960 -- one with lots of trees and quite frankly, established apartment complexes, i.e. you know what you're getting into. Yes, we know ... everyone is too willing to write this area's early obituary .. you'll notice it was not the Randalls at Champions Forest and FM 1960 that had its Wells Fargo robbed recently with reports of shots fired ... it was the one North of us at Louetta. We live in Greenwood Forest with kids headed to your alma mater of Klein Forest and love it -- it's like living in a small town!

Klein pushes so hard to win this bond election, then pushes the projects back. Just another way to piss off Klein ISD residents.

Well... some of us down in the South end of the district have little smiles on our faces today. I'm sorry... but it's just very enjoyable considering how so many people like to criticize our schools ... yet Wunderlich has a brand new, very large, Fine Arts addition that opened this fall from the 04 Bond money ... and Klein Forest got a very nice cafeteria remodel and beautiful new wing from that bond issue also. So, for now, we're good down here. And there's no question where my children will be zoned or if they'll have to spend half of their high school years on a bus to another school etc. etc.

Traffic inside those communites is greatly deminished. Compare that to grid neighborhoods like Greenwood Forest were people drive like maniacs trying to bypass the main roadways. I lived there once, not again.

Actually people do not drive like maniacs in Greenwood Forest because the speed limit is now 20 mph almost everywhere except Champions Forest, which is 30 mph. Our constables have given out hundreds of tickets ths year alone and people have slowed down considerably. Actually, I like the grid neighborhood because it is very easy to get in and out and you don't get lost in here

I meant that it's quieter inside the loop than outside now and no one would have thought that years ago as loop land is becoming high property for high class folks....everyone is being pushed out so they congregate in suburban areas now....

BTW: Many of the neighborhoods off 1960 are very quiet because they actually have an abundance of trres. And just because you live off 1960 does not mean you actually run up and down it all day if you're out running errands. There are lots of back roads to get around so many times I may only be on 1960 for a short part of my errands. I did have to go down to Kuykandahl yesterday and that intersection is a mess but the traffic moves so I don't really get why people think traffic is so horrible. Also, I use to work in the Galleria area and I literally took a "shelter in place" attitude and rarely left the building at lunch.

1960 began ugly and the cancer only spread more and more and more. While working weekends at the FEMA recovery center,we always had to ask each person where they were moved to and 90% said 1960 areas hoods. Truth.

Ok, we have affordable housing .. and some of "those" people we all complain about start out living in those apartments and then become homeowners in these beautiful older neighborhoods. It's not like FM 1960 is the only big ugly street filled with strip centers and apartment complexes in Northwest Houston -- what about Louetta, Spring-Cypress etc. etc. You basically have an issue with this part of northwest Houston -- I'm thinking if you really want control and zoning -- I guess the Woodlands is your best bet. But then again, I knew a family who moved to the Woodlands only to have a less than desireable Katrina family living next door to them ..so maybe not.

But yeah, mostly the 1960 area is becoming more and more urban and run down and that happens everywhere in the world. At least the immediate Champions area (Champions Forest and 1960) is still pretty nice, albeit a very small area.

OK, my thought is this: Imagine FM 1960 without all the nail salons, tanning places and other crap -- which were all there 10 years ago when I moved here so it's nothing new. But let's say you're someone living inside the loop renting an apartment and you want to move out into your first home. Here's your list of what you want and how you can get it by living off 1960:

--To be close to mass transit (Kuykendahl Park & Ride & Seton Lake Park & Ride off Bammel, plus bus service on 1960)

-- You want upscale restaurants you could possibly walk to (Champions Village with Barnes & Noble, Pei Wei, La Mad & across the street from that there's RockFish, Carraba's, Container Store etc.)

--You want great medical care without having to go to the Medical Center or the Woodlands(there's Methodist Willowbrook plus all of the stuff down at Red Oak & Houston Northwest)

--You want trees and not a concrete jungle of new homes (Greenwood Forest, Huntwick, Champions)

--You want to live somewhere without exorbitant fees but with a neighborhood pool and tennis courts (see above)

--You want a diverse neighborhood and neighborhood schools but not just one that is full of only young familieis overrunning the facilities (see above.)

--You want a fairly low crime rate with high Constable visibility (I'm speaking as a Greenwood Forest homeowner ... but we've def. got that one covered.)

--You want an established neighborhood with custom homes that run between $50 and $70 per square foot (see all of the above)

I guess this is really a glass half-full, half-empty thing ... but my belief is that between all of the money in Northgate, Champions, the medical centers, the churches etc... FM 1960 is not down for the count.

OK, parts of 1960 are in decline and I'm hopeful that there are some groups such as Renaissance 1960 that are trying to bring some thought into how we move forward. But to some degree, it's just part of a cycle. Yes, businesses have closed around the monster road construction at Kuykandahl. But Hobby Lobby didn't LEAVE 1960 -- it just moved into the old Target Center down at Steubner. What just opened next door to that in the same center? -- Staples! As someone who lives in Greenwood Forest - I love that there is all of this great shopping at my doorstep - Barnes & Noble; Kirklands, Container Store etc. plus dozens of great restaurants which tend to stay very busy. I find it hysterical that people are folding their tent and moving north -- in some cases just a few miles -- don't you see that 1960 is not the Berlin Wall ... that much of this is just part of living in Southeast Texas? Or building a home in a brand new subdivision in the middle of nowhere is no guarantee that in 10 years your area won't look just like where you left?

When school success eludes the majority of kids in the south end of the district, everybody blames the students and their worthless parents. Coming from a very long line of abolitionist it is my contention that it is the school who is failing the kids. The educrats in the Central office have had years to get ready. They were ready for June and Wards kids.

You make some good points about the extracurricular expenses ... and I think we're more on the same page than you would think. I was mainly referring to people who live near High School No. 5 who view that as "their school" and were PO'd about the Bond issue because they would not get to move into "their school" immediately. They are now painting the issues in the district with a very broad brush and I would hate for someone who is new to the area to simply take their word because emotions are still running high over the 08 Bond.

I have two kids at Wunderlich who are proudly headed to Klein Forest ... I have seen up close how successful these schools can be .. so I disagree with your statement that the majority of the kids are not succeeding in the south end of the district. Wunderlich is a Title I school but it has THE LARGEST middle school orchestra in the district ... there are so many kids whose parents find the money to pay for their instruments and private lessons. One thing we did this year was to find a private donor to match some of the fundraising done by the school's orchestra.

Also, there are great things going on at Klein Forest -- the International Business program makes much more sense to me than dragging up to Klein Oak for the Int'l Bacc. program. I've known some very capable kids who tried that Int. Bacc. program and wound up either back at KF or just didn't finish the program in their sr. year at Klein Oak. Are there problems at KF? You bet but there are also drug, gang and other issues at every other high school in the district. Have we been through a few principals at KF? Maybe but RIGHT NOW we have a great principal who is incredibly committed and was named Principal of the Year. If you're signed up to get KleINTouch emails -- be sure to notice how many times South end students are recognized for their achievements -- you'll be pleasantly surprised.