An overtime policy change that has drawn the ire of public safety employees continues to be a topic of conversation among city leaders and the police and firefighters associations.
After a lengthy conversation on November 11, it remained unclear whether the council would consider reversing all or part of a new policy that city staff say was designed to create clarity in pay plans and control over overtime costs.

“The big picture (is) we want a pay plan and policies that are transparent to the public, our elected officials and our employees,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “This is about how we pay — where I want to be is we have that pay built into our base play plans.”

The city on September 18 announced changes to its FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) practices, including not counting benefit time toward hours worked as it had in the past.

“This change will enable us to more easily compare (pay) with our competitors in the market, greater control of our budgetary dollars we include in the budget for overtime and reduce the potential for what we’ve seen in our overtime budget,” Epperson said.

A large increase in overtime during a budget amendment last year, he said, prompted an internal review.

“One of the identified reasons was the practice of counting vacation and comp time as hours worked,” Epperson said, “so if they worked other shifts, anything over their (Fair Labor Standard Act) hours would be counted as overtime.”

This method makes it challenging, staff said, to manage and budget for overtime.

But the new policy also means officers or firefighters must work when they have emergencies, said PPOA member Scott McReynolds, who emphasized that most overtime is mandatory.

“Life is not so simple as to schedule when one needs a day away from the job,” he said. “We should not lose earned overtime because of a prohibitive policy adopted by the city manager’s office. We’re out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week doing this — we’re not here 9 to 5.”

“The biggest issue is communication,” Councilman Tony Carbone said. “We roll out this raise, and then, ‘Oh, by the way we’re doing a policy change.’ It feels like it’s us vs. them.’”
The city administration has been meeting with both associations and will continue to do so quarterly, Epperson said. Compensation will also be among the topics at a February workshop for city leaders and staff.

“We don’t want to hurt anybody. We want to pay fairly and equitably,” Mayor Kevin Cole said. “At the same time, there is a taxpayer attached to all this — we’ve got to thread that needle. We have a fiscal responsibility to look after the taxpayer.”

Dismayed by soaring costs, Pearland ISD trustees balked at one of the bond projects on the board’s consent agenda on November 12.

“I’m going to use the restroom at the Rig as an example of where I have a hard time with this,” board vice president Sean Murphy said, referring to a $333,000 quote from three companies. “I think we’re overpaying, but I’m just one person.”

Superintendent Larry Berger said bond costs so far have been under projections, and quotes for work are received from a cooperative.

“The cooperatives and bid processes are set up to protect districts so we’re not gouged, not overpaying,” Berger said. “But it is the board’s money. It is the community’s money with the bond.  The votes will determine if this passes and if it doesn’t, we’ll go back out and figure out what we can do.”

The item was among four that trustees pulled for discussion and a separate vote from last Tuesday’s consent agenda, a group of items generally approved with one vote. The AC item failed to pass the board after no trustee motioned to approve it.

Others wondered if such an expense was the best use of district funding.

“We’ve been in existence in Pearland ISD since 1910 and we’ve never heated or air conditioned our restrooms at the stadiums,” Trustee Crystal Carbone said. “I understand that it’s a creature comfort, but the costs of the short amount of times that we use those facilities, I’m not sure this is a good investment of our money.”

“In 1910, it wasn’t 90 degrees in November,” Trustee Toni Carter responded. “I think it’s a little more than a creature comfort.”

Traditional Elegance meets Whimsical Charm is spot on for the Hilary and Gerry Murphy home showcased in the upcoming Heritage Gardeners Annual Christmas Home Tour. The event is on November 23 and 24 (Saturday and Sunday) in Friendswood.

The home on Melody Lane is 5,600 sq. ft. and was built in 1994. The Murphys moved there in 2020 from the Heights area in Houston. The house is beautiful, with a very tall, two-story family room that opens into the backyard with a pool view.  The house is decorated in neutral cream colors with touches of blue.

A decorative Gingerbread Village is set up in the dining room, and the stair railing with a decorated tree at the entrance is full of wonderful holiday ideas for traditional and whimsical decorations. Hilary is joined in the preparations by a friend/decorator, Kelly Ceoreo.

The Murphys have three children, a five-and-a-half and two-and-a-half-year-old twins. Hilary opened a new storefront this month in Friendswood, Victory Home & Gifts in Stones Throw Shopping Center. The new store was part of the recent Shop Hop event. The store offers vintage home decor, seasonal finds, and fresh floral arrangements.

Tour tickets are available at Friendswood Chamber of Commerce, One Glance Jewelry Supply and Design, Friendswood Frame and Gallery, Silver Bee Boutique, Lary’s Designs, Marrone Market,  Phoenix Cleaners,  Two Friends Gifts,  Wild Birds Unlimited of Pearland, Wild Birds Unlimited of Clear Lake, Friendswood Scoop Shop and  Blue Goose Plant & House. Tickets are also available at the garden clubhouse at 112 W. Spreading Oaks.

The clubhouse and its gardens are also part of the tour. Tour tickets are good for both days.

The Saturday/ Sunday tour of homes is always held on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Heritage Gardeners was organized in 1966, and the tours began that year. They have been held consistently every year since. The event has become a Friendswood holiday tradition.

Along with the tours will be a Holiday Market of 60-plus vendors offering holiday gifts for friends and family of all ages, Santa’s Bakery Shop of items that can be purchased to serve immediately or saved for Thanksgiving, and exciting raffle items. The market and bakery will be open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. The location will be 112 W. Spreading Oaks in Friendswood.

To get a sneak peek of the homes and to find out what vendors will be selling, follow Heritage Gardeners on Facebook.

Growth in the Alvin ISD student population appears on track to hit 36,000 students in the next decade, according to a November 2024 update.

Currently enrolling about 30,000 students, the district has been growing by about 750 students per year, though next year’s forecast is 585 added students, according to Rocky Gardiner of Zonda Demographics.

“We’re seeing a lot of homes,” he said. “About 750 students per year, I think you’ll be pretty close to 36,000 students in 10 years.”

To accommodate forecast growth, Alvin ISD voters on November 5 approved a $380.1 million package for new campuses and expansions of existing ones.

“We have a lot of districts that are top-heavy; they may be a lot of housing but if they have 1,000 more seniors than they do kindergartner students, they end up with a negative enrollment trend,” Gardiner said.

Kindergarten enrollment in AISD has been trending upward.

Most of the new development is on the west side of the district, he said, but there are also a lot of infill areas set to be developed.

“Massey Oaks is one where they’re adding more lots. We’ve had over 1,100 that are going to be built there. The student yield is fairly low there. We should see that accelerate.”

Apartment occupancy has declined over the last few years due to the number of new units being built, and since many of the newer units are one or two-bedroom, they don’t tend to draw as many families with school-age children. About 3,400 of the district’s students live in apartments or mobile homes.

This year, students from Dawson, Pearland, and Turner College and Career high schools collectively boasted 1,032 awards:

AP Scholars with Distinction: 391 (average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams)

AP Scholars with Honor: 174 (average score of at least 3.25 on all exams and scores of 3 or higher on four exams)

AP Scholars: 397 (3 or higher on three or more exams)

AP Capstone Diploma: 67 (scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing)

AP Seminar and Research Certificate: 3 (3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP)

Note: National AP Scholars automatically qualify for the AP Scholars with Distinction Award.

Because AP courses offer more depth and complexity than traditional high school classes and increase college readiness, Pearland ISD opens enrollment in Pearland Advanced Program classes as early as fifth grade and Advanced Placement classes as early as ninth grade. Through early exposure to college-level material, students from different grade levels and GPA brackets build the complex thinking skills needed for higher education.

For many students, success in Advanced Placement can result in college credit with significant tuition savings; for others, it may provide an advantage for admission to elite college programs or scholarships. Advanced Placement is rigorous coursework Pearland ISD provides, and the exposure to rigorous curriculum, expected success, and practical experience with college coursework prepares students for what comes next. Increasing numbers in Advanced Placement achievements indicate that we are improving the odds for success when our students graduate from our high schools.

Friendswood ISD (FISD) has announced the launch of its annual FISDCares Mustang Santa Christmas Fundraiser, a heartfelt initiative to support children and families in need within the district this holiday season. FISDCares, a project of the non-profit organization The Alliance for Youth & Families, works closely with campus counselors who make family referrals, enabling Alliance staff to connect with and directly support these families.

This year, FISDCares has teamed up with The Stable, Friendswood High School’s (FHS) student-run merchandise business, to launch a special collection of Christmas-themed Mustang apparel. FHS design students who operate The Stable have created this holiday line to raise funds for the FISDCares Mustang Santa project, which provides holiday gifts for children within the FISD community.

The initiative not only supports FISDCares’ mission to help local families but also provides a unique opportunity for high school students to contribute to their community while gaining real-world business and design experience. With dedication and hard work, the students at The Stable have crafted holiday Mustang attire perfect for festive wear and for supporting a worthy cause.

FISD and FISDCares are calling on community members to support the Mustang Santa project by purchasing holiday items from The Stable’s collection, available now at thestableshop.org. Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 24, to ensure timely delivery and the maximum impact of fundraising efforts. All donations to this cause are tax-deductible, with 100% of proceeds going directly to FISDCares Mustang Santa.
“We’re excited to bring together our students, families, and community to make a real difference for those in need,” FISD Superintendent Thad Roher said. “This fundraiser captures the spirit of Friendswood and offers a meaningful way for people to support each other during the holiday season.”

For more information about FISDCares and the Mustang Santa project, please visit fisdcares.com.

The Brazoria chapter of Texas Master Naturalist held its monthly meeting on November 13 at the AgriLife building in Angleton. November’s speaker was Ron Weeks, co-author of A Birder’s Guide to the Texas Coast and Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast.

Weeks instructed the chapter on using the eBird and Merlin birding apps on our mobile devices and desktop computers. The apps are a must-have for birders of all levels.  The Merlin app is an excellent way for beginning birders to identify and learn about the birds they see and hear.

In other chapter news, Melanie Hollenshead, intern training director, reported the winter intern class will begin in January, with a date to be determined. For more information, please contact the Training Director, Melanie Hollenshead, at theladyspath@hotmail.com or 979-292-5084.

John Boettiger, membership, reported Barb Whaley attained the 500-volunteer hour milestone. The following members are certified: Sarah Castillo, Nicole Lochmann, Katie Mattox, Emily Matula, Donna Rich, and Betty Taylor. The recertification was done by Patty Brinkmeyer, Kimberly Calhoun, Mel McKey, Linda and Ken Sluis, and Betty Taylor. Members must have 8 hours of advanced training and 40 volunteer hours to recertify.

Through October, members impacted 8,417 adults and 33,886 youth through outreach programs and educational programs such as the “Birds of Prey” programs presented at area schools, Brazoria County Summer Library Programs, and the Discovery Environmental Education Program for area 4th and 7th graders at Brazoria NWR. The next meeting is at 8:30 AM on December 11 at the AgriLife building, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton.  The public is welcome to attend.

The program helps provide gifts to Pearland ISD students by having community members sponsor a student. Sponsors are anonymous and will shop for students and drop off gifts to counselors between Dec. 2-6. Christmas gifts are distributed to recipients just before the holiday break.

Those interested in sponsoring a student should email wynna@pearlandisd.org or visit pearlandisd.org/community/angel-tree

“This project consists of reconstructing and expanding the Barry Rose wastewater plant to 5 million gallons a day and collapsing the Longwood wastewater plant,” City Manager Trent Epperson said. “These are all normal construction phase services that are part of the overall project budget.”

The engineering contract was awarded to Freese and Nichols, the firm that designed the project.

The city’s largest single construction project to date, the $260 million Barry Rose Water Reclamation project broke ground on July 31.

Pearland City Council on November 11 approved a $1.43 million design and engineering contract for the project with Ardurra Group Inc.

“The project will widen Hughes Road to its ultimate four lanes east of Pearland Parkway and it does include the second bridge over Clear Creek,” City Manager Trent Epperson said.

The project is being jointly funded through 2023 bonds and a partnership with Harris County Precinct 2.