In a lengthy work study meeting held February 16 at the Education Support Center, Katy ISD’s board of trustees heard recommendations for the naming of the new north transportation center, reviewed plans for the new Opportunity Awareness Center and heard a detailed update on the annual livestock show (see related story, page 1).

Trustees also adopted a resolution affirming students’ rights to religious expression without mandating a district-sponsored prayer period. The board also reviewed two books which have been challenged. No final votes were taken, but several items were set for action at the next regular meeting.

The board heard a recommendation on the proposed naming of the North Transportation Center for longtime transportation director William “Bill” Kyser. Kyser served Katy ISD for more than 22 years, including more than two decades as director of transportation, where he guided the district through a period of rapid growth while strengthening safety, efficiency and service for students and families. A public forum was scheduled on Feb. 18, after the Katy Times went to press for this issue, to gather input from the public on the proposed name.

In addition, CFO Chris Smith presented a budget update, which he said was going to be infused with a staffing plan currently in development. Smith said that the district wants to maintain a balanced budget, maintain the health of the health plan, to put a high priority on student and staff safety and to plan for the opening of new schools. Enrollment, which was expected to increase slightly this year is down at 97,512 students – a loss of about 1600 students -- and is projected to dip slightly next yar to 95,279 students. Lower enrollment means that the district receives less money from the state, Smith said. As a result, the district plans to “right-size” the staff. “Nobody is losing their job,” Smith said. “But there will be positions that are on campuses now that may not be necessary.” While no new campuses will open in the 2026-2027 school year, a new elementary may open the following year, Smith said.

Plans for the new Opportunity Awareness Center were unveiled, presenting a one-story building near Legacy Stadium which will be about half the size of the existing OAC now housed at Miller Career Center. The new 20,000 sq. ft. metal building, which will house the disciplinary alternative education program for the district, will not have a library, gym or cafeteria and food will be brought in for students to consume at their desks. The structure is designed to provide safe circulation, controlled entry points, and a school environment that feels supportive but not institutional, said a spokesperson for VLK Architects. Some students assigned to the OAC could end up serving their detention at home while participating in classes at their home campuses, officials said. The new model for the OAC, which had not yet been presented to the school’s staff, will be replicated at the current building during the 2026-2026 school year, allowing time for modifications to the plan. Trustee Mary Ellen Cuzela questioned the idea of allowing DAP students to serve their detention at home. The OAC is a disciplined alternative education

program, said Superintendent Ken Gregorski. “It's not a suspension program. What we are currently developing with some flexibility from the state of Texas to give us this with some ways we can educate kids is customizing a program. Kids will be treated differently, even though they're all in a DAP.” The facility will be able to seat 360 students, although the average number of students per day is expected to be 180 to 190.

The district is required by Senate Bill 11 to vote by March 1 on the implementation of a school district sponsored period of prayer. Per the law, the prayer period could not take place during instructional time and waivers must be signed by “everyone in the room,” and the district had to provide a room at every campus on every day of the week, said board president Lance Redmon. The prayer period could not be conducted over the campus public address system, he said. “What we have here is a resolution that we believe is a strong affirmation of religious freedom in Katy ISD. Our students already have the right to pray individually, to read their Bibles or religious texts, uh, to meet in faith-based clubs, to live out their beliefs at school.”

Reading from the board’s resolution draft, Redmon said, “It documents our commitment, it complies with state law, it protects students from pressure, labeling division based on belief. It affirms voluntary faith, parental leadership. limited government, and the freedom for every student to believe or not without coercion.” The resolution was written so that a “yes” vote on the resolution would be a “no” vote on the establishment of the prayer period, Redmon said. No vote was taken at this meeting.

Before the meeting concluded, the board had the opportunity to review two books which had been challenged – the graphic novel “Cat Kid Comic Club” and “Fake News Phenomenon.” Cuzela, reading from the documentation submitted on “Cat Kid Comic Club,” said that the complaint against the book appeared to be based on objections to its violent theme. Trustee Morgan Calhoun said that she saw nothing with the book and that her family owned multiple copies of the author’s graphic novels. The second book – “Fake News Phenomenon” – opened with a discussion of “PizzaGate” and was considered by board members to be biased and not appropriate for elementary school students. The board will vote on whether to retain, remove or “retain but modify” the books a a future meeting.

The next meeting of the board of trustees was scheduled for February 23, after the Katy Times went to press for this issue.