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Humble ISD presents Foster Elementary rebuild survey; majority of respondents prefer underground detention
Summary
Humble ISD staff reported results from a community survey on the Foster Elementary rebuild: 505 surveys were completed and 78% of respondents indicated a preference for underground stormwater detention. District staff said underground detention could delay the school's opening and that cost and permitting details remain under review.
HUMBLE — Humble Independent School District staff told the board that a community survey showed strong support for underground stormwater detention at the planned Foster Elementary rebuild, but officials cautioned that choosing that option could delay the campus opening.
District staff member Jamie Maut presented survey results to the board, saying 505 surveys were completed, roughly half by parents and half by other community members, and that 43 Foster staff members also responded. "78% of the respondents said that they want underground detention as opposed to above-ground detention," Maut said. She added respondents submitted 957 comments in open-text fields and that the most-cited priorities were underground detention and expanded green or play space.
The survey accompanied a May 12 community input meeting and had been emailed to households within the Foster attendance zone and posted on the school's website. Maut and other staff mapped responses and said most respondents live in the front part of Kingwood near the existing Foster site but that some responses came from across the district.
District staff and the board discussed schedule and permitting impacts. Maut said that, with above-ground detention, the campus is scheduled to open in August 2026; if the board elects underground detention the school could open in the spring semester of that school year or potentially be delayed into the 2027–28 school year. Dr. Seibert said the district is working with the City of Houston permitting office to determine whether earlier permitting milestones or re-permitting could speed the timeline; he said there were no firm dates or cost estimates yet because the design was still in progress.
Maut also noted city requirements that certain site components be completed before permanent power is provided. Seibert said the district had recent conversations with the City of Houston about earlier power availability and that the city indicated it may be able to provide power sooner under certain conditions; he called that a new development. The district will obtain permitting, timeline and cost information from the city and the contractor and return to the board when those numbers are available for possible action.
Board members and staff stressed that underground detention could increase cost and schedule risk and that the district would present a clear cost and timing estimate before the board made a decision.
The board did not take action at the meeting; staff said a future meeting will include recommended design, cost and schedule options for the board to consider.
