During the December 4th work study meeting of the Katy ISD board, the Naming Advisory Committee for Junior High School #18 recommended to the Board of Trustees that the new school be named after the Nelson family, who have resided in the Katy area for over five generations and who since the 1940s have farmed the land where Junior High School #18 is being built.

The Nelson family history -- presented to the board by KISD Director of Communications Craig Eichorn -- is represented by two patriarchs: Clyde and George Nelson, and their descendants. Clyde’s family moved to Katy in 1938 with their three children, Wesley, Wanda, and David. In 1942 the family purchased the land where Junior High 18 is currently being constructed. The George Nelson family also moved to Katy in the early 1930s. George and his wife, Alice, began a farming and ranching business at that time. The family had three children, George V. (Sonny), Delores and Johnny, and built their home, which still stands today, on Katy Hockley Road. George and Alice were also very involved in a number of organizations throughout Katy, with George being elected to the Katy ISD school board in 1939. In addition, he actively volunteered his time and efforts with the Katy FFA.

A public forum to provide input regarding the proposed name was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, December 6 at the Katy ISD Education Support Complex, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy, after this issue of the Katy Times went to press.

In other action, the board:

· Conducted spirited discussion regarding Senate Bill 763 which governs the employment or acceptance of volunteer services of chaplains by public school districts and whether to adopt a policy authorizing the district to employ, or accept as a volunteer, a chaplain under Texas Education Code Chapter 23. Board member Rebecca Fox raised question regarding how a “volunteer” could be “employed” as stated in the state law. Fox brought up additional concerns about the law, noting that there are no provisions in it which would prevent the chaplain from “proselytizing” at their campus. Board member Lance Redmon, who said that he provides chaplain services for his employees in his own private business, suggested that guidelines similar to those used for chaplains in the military and other settings could be drafted to address these concerns. Board president Victor Perez stated that the purposed of the program was not to provide religious instruction. Perez said that a chaplain program would require the creation of policy and job descriptions and that these factors would be considered.

· Discussed and considered Board approval of the design associated with the first floor of the Katy ISD Merchants Way Building, which is designed to house two special education programs: the Behavioral Learning Program which works with KISD students in grades K through 12; and the Katy PLUS program which works with special needs individuals 18 and older, up to their 22nd birthday.

· Discussed and considered a resolution regarding adequate funding for public schools, drafted and read by board member Dawn Champagne. Champagne said that she modeled the resolution on similar resolutions adopted by other school districts. Perez said that the board

was all in agreement that the board wanted an increase in the basic allotment and an increase in teacher compensation but wondered about the benefit and timing of this resolution at the current time. Champagne replied that it would show a united front for the Katy ISD board but that it would not change anything. Fox added that similar resolutions had been done in the past during legislative sessions. Board member Amy Thieme questioned whether the resolution would alienate lawmakers and objected to what she called its “bullying tone” and “harsh language.” Board member Lance Redmon said that coming out of the Strategic Design meetings, he saw community members discouraged and he felt that this resolution would be helpful. Perez said that if any board member had input or suggestions or changes on the resolution, to email those to him only in the next couple of days and that a new version of the resolution would be drafted.

· Discussed and considered Board Policy CW Local, presented by Redmon, which would modify the campus naming policy, tasking the board policy committee and the administration with clearing up current confusion and adding more robust criteria for honoring namesakes, as well as providing costs for possible renaming of existing facilities.

The next board meeting is a regular Board Meeting, scheduled for December 11.