Rocky superintendent exit, $133M bond shortfall define spirited Fort Bend ISD board races

In the last few months, Fort Bend ISD school board meetings have felt like reality TV episodes to Karina Anderson.

Anderson, whose son recently graduated from Elkins High School, has watched trustees bicker over the former superintendent’s contentious exit , the current superintendent’s rapid selection and a bond that’s running more than $100 million over budget .

In two candidate forums this week, Malone embraced her outspoken role throughout the superintendent shakeup, pitching her actions as a key argument for why voters should trust her. Malone said she’s “at peace” with her actions and will continue to “call it like it is.”

“Even when it’s hard and even when there are sleepless nights over it, I think it is important to have accountability and members on the board who are forthright with information about what’s really happening,” Malone said.

Malone, Tassin and three other candidates in the Position 6 race — Ferrel Bonner, Angel Hicks and Simran Patel — will face an electorate split over the recent tumult.

Missouri City resident Cher Binks fears the board has become “very political” in the last year but thought Malone “stood alone” with her actions during Whitbeck’s exit.

“She was the only one who said, ‘This is not how we do this,’” Binks said. “That got huge accolades from me.”

Sugar Land resident Brad Moon, a Fort Bend County Republican Party precinct chair, walked into a candidate forum this week as a “strong supporter” of Malone. He hoped to learn more about the candidates’ plans to address finance and bond issues, but he left frustrated by a lack of concrete plans and Malone’s frequent allusions to leadership rifts.

“The rest of us were all ready to move on,” Moon said. “But she seemed really bitter. She probably lost my support.”

Monitoring the bond

Candidates in both races also face calls for increased financial transparency, particularly in response to the bond overrun.

District administrators have said the bond issues partially stem from construction cost inflation and labor shortages, issues that have driven up expenses in districts throughout the state in recent years. However, they have also claimed an unnamed former employee in Whitbeck’s administration kept the rising costs secret for months.

District leaders are working to cut construction costs by using cheaper materials and hiring fewer contractors, among other changes. However, they haven’t publicly detailed how they will close the entire shortfall.

Trustees voted in March to order a bond management audit and investigation into the former employee. Malone supported the audit but voted against the probe, citing concerns that the board’s lawyers would conduct a biased investigation.

At this week’s public events, several candidates stressed the need for more clarity on the bond.

“People shouldn’t be having to ask why we’re $133 million over. They should be able to see it,” said Adam Schoof, one of four candidates vying for Dae’s seat. “I think the community is ready for some kind of change.”