Flour Bluff ISD is proud to announce the expansion of its wetlands preserve through the purchase of an additional 16 acres. The Flour Bluff ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the $760,000 purchase, which was fully funded from the district’s fund balance. This acquisition secures the northern border of the district’s existing 52-acre wetlands, ensuring the continued success of Texas’ longest-running outdoor education program and providing even greater opportunities for students to learn and explore in a real-world environment.
FBISD Oceans program provides hands-on learning experiences for students, allowing them to engage directly with the environment through fieldwork in ecology, marine science, and conservation. The newly acquired land will allow Flour Bluff ISD to further expand educational opportunities while preserving this vital ecosystem.
“This acquisition reflects our Board’s strong commitment to preserving the wetlands and providing our students with unique learning experiences that will shape their understanding of environmental science,” said Superintendent Chris Steinbruck. “We are thrilled that our district and community supports this initiative as it ensures its long-term sustainability for future generations.”
Exciting discoveries continue to emerge from the wetlands. Recently, students and professors from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) found six juvenile snook in the wetland pond, highlighting the ecological importance of the preserve as both a habitat and a research site.
FBISD would like to extend our sincere thanks to Charlie Knoll of Coldwell Banker Realty Padre Island for his invaluable assistance in helping us with this very important initiative. His support played a crucial role in making the wetlands acquisition a reality, and we are truly grateful for his help. Additionally, FBISD wants to thank Kamran Zarghouni and KM Premier Real Estate for working closely with Flour Bluff ISD and helping to see the educational value that the wetlandcome to fruition.
Flour Bluff ISD is proud of this milestone and looks forward to engaging even more students and community members in the protection and study of our wetlands. The best is yet to come!
In addition, Flour Bluff ISD has recently been awarded the Texas Clean School Bus Program grant, which will fund the purchase of five new buses. The total cost for these buses is $730,550. Thanks to the grant award of $633,080, the district will only need to cover the remaining $97,470. This grant comes at a crucial time, as the district’s current fleet has an average age of 18 years old, making the new buses a vital upgrade for safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation. Special thanks go to Dr. Ris Ford for her invaluable assistance in the grant application process and the Transportation Department for providing the essential information needed to secure this important funding. The wetlands and this recent funding not only underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship, but also reflects FBISD’s dedication to providing safe and reliable transportation for our students. As Flour Bluff ISD multitasks across these vital initiatives, we remain focused on fostering a sustainable future while ensuring our students have the resources they need to thrive.