State Rep. Sylvester Turner hosts Town Hall meeting at MC. Williams Middle School in Acres Home

The Acres Home Community had a town hall meeting with State Representative Sylvester Turner at M.C. Williams Middle School to discuss the Houston Independent School District bond election and the M.C. Williams –Highland Heights situation.
The auditorium was filled with parents, teachers, principals, local representatives, pastors of churches located in the Acres Home area and Houston Independent School District (HISD) representatives to hear the concerns about the schools. Dorothy Hubbard represented Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Rep. Turner started by discussing the bond proposal that took place in 1998. This bond was to help Wesley Elementary, Highland Heights Elementary, Osborne Elementary, and M.C. Williams Middle schools by rebuilding and renovating these schools. When the bond was passed, it was discovered that these schools did not meet the criteria to get the money that would help rebuild these schools. They were supposedly not stable enough for H.I.S.D to rebuild and renovate. But according to the teachers and the community, the schools were in need of repairs.
Rod Paige who was superintendent of schools at the time said he would give $2 million dollars to the schools to rebuild or what ever that it is needed, but he left and went to Washington D.C. and these schools did not receive money. “I have asked the board for the reports on the engineering on the schools that says Highland Heights needs to be rebuilt and M.C. Williams needs to be renovated. It has been six weeks and I still have not received these documents” said Turner.
HISD wants to tear down Highland Heights and expand M.C. Williams to include the Highland Heights campus. Members of the Acres Home community does not want this and feel it will be unsafe to put these children together in the same school. HISD wants to spend $28 million dollars on this project.

Dr. James L. Henderson, project manager of the Acres Home Charter Schools stated, “the TEA rated Highland Heights and Wesley as ‘exemplary” schools. Osborne is State recognized and M.C. Williams has the highest test scores. This administration has been most accessible to us. We have transformed this campus in one year. I’m on the children side and we have every confidence that the superintendent will do what is in best interest for the children and district.”
“The community without schools and churches is not a real community. There’s enough money to restore M.C. Williams and build a new Highland Heights. I believe this wonderful board has our interest at heart but not our best interest,” said Pastor F.N. Williams.
Dr. Margaret Strouse, Chief School Administrator for HISD stated, “ We did come out with plans for kindergarten through eight grade. It involved two separate schools in a location and a new kindergarten through eight grade structure; to demolished M.C.Williams and to build a whole new structure for Highland Heights.”

Dick Lindsey, project manager for HISD said, “We are listening to you and the concerns about it. The superintendent is willing to readdress and discuss the concerns about Highland Heights and M.C. Williams.” he continued, “We will commit to do the renovation of the schools no matter what the cost. These are all our children too,” stated Lindsey.
It became clear that the community would get a new Highland Heights School for the children in the community but not a new M.C. Williams school. Turner continued, “We can work together but we must put this in writing because we are still waiting for our 48 acres and a mule. If the administration do what it is supposed to do, I will stand with them on the proposal. If they don’t make it clear this month (September) I shall stand against the bond election. We have roles to play, (but) we are not going to subdivide and get mad at each other.” said.
Senator John Whitmire stated, “The people have the final say. The system is working. We must fear the First Baptist, Second Baptist and Presbyterian churches who have taken their money and started private schools.”

The meeting ended with the decision that there will be a new school for Highland Heights but the issue concerning M.C. Williams is still in the air. The community has asked the HISD board to give them something in writing about this bond election and not only about M.C. Williams but about Wesley and Osborne by the end of September.        

“We will not back down on this high school. We want a decision by October. This is about the life-line of our community and the history,” said Roy Douglas Malonson, CEO/Chairman of the Acres Home Citizen Chamber of Commerce. Longtime resident Ruby Mosely said, “Don’t make decisions at our expense, put the bond in writing so we know what the contents are. We are tired of being left out of everything. We pay our taxes too.”