Houston Chronicle Bellaire News
By Robin Foster | November 11, 2014
Westbury community leaders are asking Houston school district trustees to help fulfill a long-held vision to revitalize Westbury High School and the the surrounding community.
After 2010, when Houston ISD acquired two run-down apartment complexes near Westbury High School, 11911 Chimney Rock, local community leaders felt certain the district was on board to acquire two others and eventually expand the campus to the east, along Gasmer Drive.
The idea was confirmed with the 2012 bond program, which set aside more than $40 million to partially rebuild Westbury High. Now, the property acquisition is not so certain.
"We found out that acquisition of the Gasmer apartment complexes was not specified in the bond," said Howard Sacks, a local activist. "We feel misled."
As a result, a petition drive was started last week to ask HISD to expand the Westbury campus and make it a school of choice. In three days, more than 750 had signed it online at www.change.org.