CCISD News

League City Council Impedes Building of High School: Ignores Planning and Zoning Committee Recommendations by Delaying Special Use Permit for CCISD

By Carrie Taylor, CCISD Public Information Coordinator

July 27, 2005

LEAGUE CITY, Texas—The citizens of League City have spoken and once again the League City Council has turned a deaf ear. The citizens and city employees who comprise the city's Planning and Zoning Committee voted July 7 to approve a Special Use Permit for the Clear Creek Independent School District. However, during the July 12 council meeting, the council postponed the Special Use Permit for an additional 60 days.

The District requested the Special Use Permit for the District's fourth high school in May 2005. The site is currently zoned for residential use. Texas state law allows for schools, churches and other public facilities to be built in areas zoned for residential use. While the District is not required by state law to have the permit, the District requested the Special Use Permit in an effort to be a good partner to the city.

Due to the city council's postponement of the of the Special Use Permit for an additional 60 days, it does not appear that the district has any other option but to file suit.

This is not the first time the city council has obstructed the construction of a public school in their community. The council created similar roadblocks in the construction of Goforth Elementary, Bauerschlag Elementary, League City Intermediate and Victory Lakes Intermediate. The council has repeatedly refused to build roads, provide building inspectors, grant certificates of occupancy and other much needed city services without the threat of legal action.

By not approving the Special Use Permit, the August 2007 opening date of the high school is now in jeopardy; and due to the city's inability to partner with the District, the council is forcing nearly 5,000 students to attend Clear Creek High School in 2007.

If the construction of the fourth high school is further delayed, the school district will be required to:

• Spend more money if construction of the high school is delayed due to the rising costs of concrete and steel;

• Purchase additional portable classroom buildings at a cost of $65,000 per building;

• Place 35 or more students in every classroom;

• Bus all students west of Highway 3 to Clear Brook High School, which will be more than 30 percent over capacity in 2007 without the addition of the students from Clear Creek High School;

• Deny students the opportunity to drive to Clear Creek and Clear Brook since student parking lots will be required to accommodate portable buildings.

During the July 12 meeting, council members stated that the permit was refused due to concerns about the school's location, the District's traffic management plan and the potential for flooding at the site.

Over the past 10 months the District has made several attempts to communicate with the city council and respond to their concerns. The District hosted a workshop in October and November of 2004. The Board of Trustees has requested additional workshops on several occasions since January 2005 but the city council has never agreed to any additional meeting dates.

On July 8, League City Mayor Jerry Schultz called a special city council workshop for July 11 and requested Dr. Sandra Mossman, Superintendent of Schools, answer their questions about the building of High School #4.

During this meeting Mossman shared with council that the District and Board of Trustees want to be better partners with the city council by holding quarterly meetings to share needs of the school district and the city. Mossman also clarified the history of the land purchase, the District's request to expand Palomino Lane to three lanes to the first entrance to the campus, and the immediate need to proceed in building the fourth high school due to rapid growth in League City.

The primary benefit for the Palomino Lane location is its proximity to Creekside Intermediate School. Throughout the years the District has built numerous campuses on adjacent properties in order to be more efficient with funding for transportation, maintenance and resource sharing. The construction of multiple schools on the same site is a state and national trend because of its efficient use of taxpayers' dollars. In the past, Clear Lake High School Ninth Grade Center and Clear Creek High School Ninth Grade Centers were intermediate schools sharing the same property as a high school.

The District avoids traffic congestion by staggering the beginning of classes for the high schools and intermediate schools. There is an hour and a half time difference between high school start time and intermediate start time. In addition, the District works in partnership with the League City Police Department to manage traffic during large events.

To date, the District has invested more than $800,000 in preparing the land on Palomino Lane for the fourth high school and conducting environmental testing.

Currently, League City is experiencing abundant growth, and will continue its fast-paced growth through 2020. During the last four years more than 5,300 new home permits have been issued in League City, bringing nearly 4,000 additional children to the area. On average the school district is growing by 1,200 to 1,400 new students a year.

Recognizing the need to address the rapid growth occurring in the district, Clear Creek ISD has brought two bond proposals to the community in February of 2000 and 2004. In 2000, the community spoke out in support of the new high school by voting in approval of the bond, and the Palomino Lane land purchase, was made in June 2000. The League City community overwhelmingly approved the 2004 bond by 64 percent knowing the bond would pay for the construction of the new high school on Palomino Lane.

For more details regarding growth in Clear Creek ISD and the District's long range facilities plans call the Office of Public Information at (281)284-0020 or visit the website www.CCISD.net .

Source: CCISD PR-2186 July 13, 2005

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