Planned FBISD Elementary School in Harvest Green Community
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Second Archeological Survey Finds No Human Remains at Site of Planned FBISD Elementary School
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A second archeological survey that included extensive digging at the site of a new elementary school to be constructed in the Harvest Green community, has concluded there is no evidence of human remains or past burials at the site. The land is located on the east side of Harlem Road with its nearest boundaries being Harvest Garden Blvd. to the north and N. Jester Road to the south.
The district took a year to conduct due diligence of the Harvest Green site before closing with seller Johnson Development. Johnson Development previously hired its own firm to conduct an extensive survey of the site. After reviewing the seller’s report, FBISD’s consultant Terracon concluded that the risk of remains being found at the site was very low. Nevertheless, FBISD commissioned Terracon to conduct a second comprehensive archaeological study that included additional fieldwork and digging. That study surpassed the scope of work done by the site’s previous owner. Both teams of researchers and surveyors arrived at the same findings: no evidence exists that human remains are on the property.
Terracon’s final report has been submitted to the Texas Historical Commission for review. The process could take 30 days. Construction on the site will not begin until the district receives authorization from the historical commission.
About the Planned Elementary School
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The new elementary school will be a 130,000 square foot modern learning space that features art and music rooms, spaces for collaborative and large group instruction, plus outdoor teaching areas and fenced in play zones. The campus will occupy 16 acres and cost $46 million using funds provided by the May 2023 bond. The as yet unnamed school will accommodate 1,000 students and is scheduled to open in August of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the address of the new school site?
There is no address for the school yet since the site is raw land, but it is east of Harlem Rd. Nearest street boundaries are Harvest Garden Blvd to the north (past a subdivision that is also north of the property) and N. Jester Rd to the south. Google Maps Link
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Why was this particular site chosen, why not choose another site?
It is often very difficult to find a parcel of land big enough to adequately accommodate the needs of new school construction in the area where the need exists. It would not serve the community well to build a school on property that is outside the community’s boundaries.
Beginning with planning of the 2018 Bond, demographic data confirmed a new elementary school was needed in the fast-growing Harvest Green community to alleviate overcrowding at other schools in the area. -
Has an archeological survey been done on the site for the new school?
Land seller Johnson Development hired the firm Gray & Pape to perform an archeological survey (site digging) prior to Fort Bend ISD closing on the property. The survey was completed this past January. Prior to the archeological survey, an extensive review of subsurface historic records and documents took place and included examinations of historic maps, photographs, narratives, descriptions of buildings and locations, as well as information about known historic archaeological sites.
Their research and site digging has turned up no evidence of human remains or graves.
FBISD hired its own firm, Terracon, to also conduct archeological surveys. Their field work is complete, and their report has concluded there is no evidence of human remains or past burials at the site.
Below are photos of the archeological field work conducted by Johnson Development’s surveyor Gray & Pape. A total of 27 trenches were dug using heavy machinery and 34 deep holes were dug on the school site property. This included an 820-foot-long trench (almost 3 football fields) running parallel to Harlem Road – this is the portion of the property that is closest to what may be the location of an historic cemetery possibly located across the road from the school site.
None of the archeological excavations have turned up evidence of human remains, grave shafts, grave markers, or coffin hardware. Some brick, miscellaneous metal artifacts, glass, ceramics, and animal bones have turned up.
The Harlem Road Prison Cemetery is located near the school site, but its exact location has not been mapped.
The work done by Terracon, the district’s survey consultant, went above and beyond excavations done by Johnson Development. The district has sent the completed Terracon report to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). THC is under final review for approval. FBSID will not start development on the site until the THC has approved/concurred with the report’s findings and recommendations. -
When did the district purchase the land?
The district entered into the contract to purchase the land on June 13, 2022. The district closed on the land on June 14, 2023.
At the onset, the district’s goal was to do as much of its own research as possible on the site to make sure our consultants agreed with Johnson Development’s consultants. Based on the findings from Johnson Development’s studies, FBISD’s consultant Terracon felt confident there is a very low risk that a cemetery is on the elementary school site, and that is why the district proceeded with closing on the property, with plans to subsequently conduct its own archaeological surveys after closing. -
When did the district learn that there might be a cemetery near the property?
Johnson Development informed the district at the beginning of the land purchase process that there might be a cemetery near the property between Harlem Rd. and the creek -which is on the other side of the road from the school site. There is presently no evidence that a cemetery is on the FBISD property.
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Is the district trying to find the exact location of the cemetery?
The district does not anticipate needing land in this area again. However, if the need arises, we will conduct the same due diligence as we are doing this time.
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Is the district trying to find the exact location of the cemetery?
No, it is outside the scope of the district’s mission to find the exact location of the cemetery, and Fort Bend ISD does not have available funds to conduct surveys on properties not owned by the district.
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What if remains are ultimately discovered on the school site, how will that be handled?
It does not appear likely, but if human remains are discovered on the school site, the remains of those individuals will be handled with the utmost dignity and respect, including memorialization.
We would stop construction and proceed to determine if more remains are present. -
What has the district done differently this time compared to its handling of the Sugar Land 95 site?
We have a huge advantage this time thanks to the benefit of lessons learned at the Sugar Land 95 site. At the Harvest Green site, we took a year for due diligence to be done before we closed on the land. We closed only after a comprehensive archaeological study and fieldwork were conducted by the seller’s survey company. Their findings were reviewed by the district’s own survey company, Terracon, which stated there is a very low risk that a cemetery is on the school site. Terracon has conducted its own survey in the field, and their report has concluded there is no evidence of human remains or past burials at the site. No construction will begin until after the district is authorized by the Texas Historical Commission to begin building at the site.