During its February 23 regular meeting at the Education Support Complex at 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy, the board of trustees of the Katy Independent School district approved the redesign of the Opportunity Awareness Center by a 4-3 vote after contentious discussion. Trustees also heard a detailed report on artificial intelligence and ruled on two library book reconsiderations.

Trustee Mary Ellen Cuzela questioned the redesign of the Opportunity Awareness Center, saying that there were multiple items in play in the project, such as a change in the delivery model with the addition of a virtual option for first time offenders. Because Miller Career Center, where the OAC is currently located, is requiring more space, it needs a new $10 million building to be financed by capital funds, she said. The new plan for the OAC calls for a new staffing model using half of what was previously used, Cuzela said.

Staff not retained at the OAC will move elsewhere in the district into vacant positions, Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. In answering Cuzela’s concerns, Gregorski said that the district, in taking direction from the board to find a way to be more efficient and get to a balanced budget, looked at all programs to identify those where the district could be more efficient and that the OAC was one of those programs identified. The OAC currently spends $4 million per year on staff, but under the new model, staffing costs will be half that.

Cuzela expressed concern about the impact of the changes upon students, as one-time offenders (which account for 60 percent of OAC students) would be able to stay home with no supervision. Cuzela asked about the utilization of other properties such as the Jeanne Coleman building or the Merchants Way building which has 42,000 square feet per floor, with two of the three stories currently empty. That was not an option that was analyzed, Gregorski said; the plan presented to the board offers a $1 million savings, he said. The new OAC design is about 14,000 sq. ft., Gregorski said. Trustee Amy Thieme said that she was voting no because there was no feedback from staff on the new plan. The plan was approved 4-3, with Trustee Morgan Calhoun also dissenting.

Board members heard by presentation from Sanee Bell, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, on the district’s artificial intelligence framework. Such a framework is necessary because AI is already supporting both student learning district operations, and a shared framework ensures consistent use of AI across campuses and roles. “Clear guidance helps protect instructional quality, ethical practice and student privacy,” Bell said.

The framework provides leadership and clarity while preserving both professional judgment and innovation “within guardrails,” she said. The framework is being developed by a cross-departmental design team and will incorporate feedback from the board as well as campus leadership, teachers, students and parents to ensure clarity and “shared ownership.” It establishes a clear purpose for AI, defines expectations for its responsible use and “creates guardrails to protect student and district data,”

Bell said. It includes an oversight and review process as well, she said, and a plan to build AI literacy district-wide, with appropriate content by grade level starting in kindergarten. For district staff, the plan will address instructional planning, workflow efficiency and responsible use of vetted district-approved tools.

During the spring and summer, the AI framework will be completed, and staff will attend mandatory training.

Cuzela urged the district to “use AI less” and questioned the impact of AI on student learning, citing a study that linked digital learning to cognitive decline. “AI is a part of our world, and we need to teach students to use it responsibly,” Bell said. Trustee Dawn Champagne recommended holding classes for parents “so that they would be aware of what’s out there.”

Library books which had been challenged were also discussed. The graphic novel “Cat Kid Comic Club,” which was challenged for its alleged violence, was retained for use in a 7-0 vote. The other Book “Fake News Phenomenon,” written for grades 4 through 8 and challenged for its bias, was relocated to junior high and high schools in a 4-3 vote. Trustee Cuzela recommended its removal from all campuses altogether because she said it did not contain balanced viewpoints and that it overrepresented Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election versus Donald Trump.

The next meetings of the board of trustees will be:

· Work study meeting on March 23

· Regular board meeting on March 30