Hundreds of Fort Bend ISD students will be zoned to different schools in the 2027-28 school year after the board of trustees approved new secondary boundaries.

In a nutshell: The secondary boundary changes, which were approved at an Oct. 5 meeting, will impact approximately 1,744 students with the goal of relieving overutilization in Elkins, Austin and Travis high schools.

Middle school changes were approved in a 6-1 vote with trustee Adam Schoof dissenting, while the high school boundaries had two boundary scenario options. 

Board members were originally slated to vote on the second high school scenario, but the motion failed in a 4-3 vote. Board members made a new motion to approve the first scenario—which affects fewer students but provides less release to Elkins—and it passed unanimously. 

By the numbers: Currently, 14 elementary schools split to more than one middle school and 11 middle schools split to more than one high school, per the district website. With new boundary changes, only eight elementary schools and seven middle schools split. 

Missouri City officials gathered Sept. 25 to celebrate the reopening of the La Quinta Golf Course and City Centre at Quail Valley Golf Club after the facilities sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl.

About the project: The golf course renovations aimed to enhance playability and improve the aesthetics of the course, which was originally constructed in 1970 and had no major renovations since, Community Impact previously reported.

The project regraded and reshaped all 18 holes and also added drainage improvements, irrigation replacements and new 7-foot cart paths. A new golf maintenance facilit was also constructed.

Meanwhile, City Centre saw renovations aimed at increasing the Bluebonnet room event center’s seating capacity, expanding the dining area’s footprint and incorporating an open bar, Community Impact previously reported.

• 2880 La Quinta Drive, Missouri City

Fort Bend County residents will choose between Ken Mathews and April L. Jones for Precinct 4 commissioner in the Nov. 3 election.

The details: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been minimally edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Here's what we asked:

• Why did you choose to run for this position? 

• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role? 

• What is your top priority if elected to represent the citizens of Fort Bend County?

• What do you think is the most pressing issue for Fort Bend County, and what will you do to address it?

• How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

• How should the county prepare to address its fast-growing population? 

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."