Convenience Big Store: Is Sugar Land a 'dangerous' suburb? City takes issue with recent report

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Fort Bend ISD starts 2024 with an armed security officer at every school.

Students in Fort Bend ISD are resuming classes today. They will notice an interesting change in their school's security protocols.

All 51 elementary schools in FBISD have an on-site law enforcement officer, in adherence to the legislative mandate, House Bill 3.

FBISD is able to fund this initiative thanks to the successful passage of a voter-approval tax rate election in November.

Not every district can afford to assign a law enforcement officer to each school. This challenge arises from funding limitations and a general shortage of law enforcement officers.

Police department officers were already stationed at FBISD middle and high schools. The elementary security officers are not new hires but supplied through district contractors, the district said.

Do you have a story idea? Write and let us know.

Juhi Varma, Fort Bend reporter

juhi.varma@houstonchronicle.com

Need to Know

The grand menorah is lit at the 2021 Chanukah Spectacular in Sugar Land.

Photo by: Courtesy/Chabad Of Sugar Land

Sugar Land a 'dangerous' suburb? City takes issue with recent report.

"I don't know that anybody would look at a comparison like this, especially people that are familiar with our city, people that live here, and believe it to be true," Adolph said.

Growing Fort Bend

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer

Filipino supermarket chain opens in Sugar Land.

Seafood City Supermarket, founded in California with locations across the U.S. and Canada, expands to Texas with Sugar Land opening.

A rendering of the new Porsche dealership in Sugar Land.

Photo by: Indigo Auto Group

New Porsche dealership opens in Sugar Land.

The 150,000-square-foot campus was built near Highway 90. About 50 employees are expected to work at the new location, which will also offer a Porsche maintenance and repair center.

Education

Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent Mark Henry visits with students in school over the summer.

Photo by: Courtesy Of Cy-Fair ISD / Submitted

See how Fort Bend area superintendent salaries compare to others around Houston and Texas.

Cypress Fairbanks and Barbers Hill ISDs have some of the highest paid superintendents in Texas. Former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck, is in the top 10 in Houston.

All 51 elementary schools in Fort Bend ISD will have an armed security officer on duty Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, when students return from the winter break, the district said in a Tuesday statement.

Photo by: Juhi Varma

Fort Bend ISD starts 2024 with armed security at every school.

Students returning from winter break Thursday will see armed security officers at all 51 campuses, a new development for elementary school students, the district said in a Tuesday statement.

Openings and Closings

Cobblers take center stage at a new dessert shop in Katy. The Peach Cobbler Factory opened Dec. 30 at 1230 North Mason Road.

Shout Out

Congratulations to Fort Bend County's own Ellie Breaux, who will leave for Orlando on Friday to participate in the Miss America pageant. Breaux, 23, a Missouri City native, won the Miss Texas crown in July 2023. The Miss America pageant will be celebrated on Jan. 14, 2024 and streamed on YouTube TV.

One last thing ...

Can Texas critters predict the weather? Meteorologists often use satellite imagery and other tools of modern technology to forecast upcoming weather. If those tools were to somehow not be available, could they look to animal behavior instead? Find out more here.