At its August 26 meeting, the Katy Independent School District’s board of trustees voted 5 to 0, with two abstentions, to approve a proposed policy update that will eliminate library books with content related to “gender fluidity.” The policy revision also requires all vendors, including those who conduct book fairs at the district, to comply with the new standard.

Board policy FA local already prohibits “gender fluidity” content in classrooms and instructional materials.

The change to board policy EFB local, which governs school libraries, is the addition of this text: “No materials in elementary and junior high libraries shall contain material adopting, promoting or supporting gender fluidity as defined in Local Policy FA. Material in any high school library collection that adopts, supports or promotes gender fluidity requires parental opt-in for student access.” A second new section of the policy – dealing with on-campus book fairs -- is: “All vendors selected by the District shall adhere to the District's library guidelines and Board Policy. This includes vendors and fundraisers selected for book fairs or the distribution of literature.”

The current board policy FA defines “gender fluidity” as follows:

Gender Fluidity -- Any belief, theory, or ideology that:

1. Espouses the view that gender is merely a social construct;

2. Espouses the view that it is possible for a person to be any gender or no gender (i.e., non-binary);

3. Espouses the view that an individual's biological sex should be changed to "match" a gender different from that person's biological sex; and

4. Supports hormone therapy or other medical treatments or procedures to temporarily or permanently alter a person's body so that it "matches" a gender different from that person's biological sex.

During the public comment period, approximately 23 speakers voiced their opinions on the change, with 13 in favor of the revision and 19 opposed. Four other speakers focused on other topics including the proposed revisions to federal Title IX policies, the district budget, the district’s new use of Chromebooks and water usage by the district.

The agenda item for the change to EFB local, originally part of the consent agenda, was pulled from the consent agenda by board president Victor Perez for further discussion. Perez began with an overview of the need for the policy, saying, “The focus and rational for the proposed policy amendments is that gender fluidity materials are complex, potentially confusing and should be addressed with parental guidance and are therefore not educationally suited for the lower grades. The material is difficult to understand and potentially invades the sphere of parents.” Perez also questioned the “age appropriateness” of the materials.

Trustee Dawn Champagne opened the discussion by saying that she didn’t believe in teaching “gender fluidity” but that she was worried that the policy change would potentially bring lawsuits again the district, and that the policy was so broad that it was unclear and subject to individual interpretation.

“Is Winnie the Pooh a boy or girl?” she asked. At her request, Perez read the board policy definition of “gender fluidity” as stated in board documents. Champagne also said that it was unclear how the policy update would be implemented, and Perez responded that he trusted KISD staff to adhere to the policy.

Trustee Rebecca Fox said that the board room was crowded during the night’s meeting with people on both sides concerned about the change and that the subject had received lots of media attention since the work-study meeting on August 19. “The discussion creates headlines and paints Katy ISD in a negative way,” she said. “I am done talking about library books,” she said, calling for the board to return its attention to other matters such as CTE education, the teacher retention bonus program and other priorities. She said that the policy was redundant and not needed.

Both Fox and Champagne abstained from the vote, with trustees Perez, Amy Thieme, Morgan Calhoun, Mary Ellen Cuzela and Lance Redmon voting in favor of the updated policy.

Via consent agenda, the board approved previously discussed design changes to the campuses at Katy High School, Nottingham Country Elementary and Cimarron Elementary. The official budget for KISD for the 2024-2025 school year was also approved, among other items.

The next meetings of the KISD board of trustees are scheduled as follows:

· Work study meeting, September 16 at 5 p.m.

· Regular board meeting, September 23 at 5 p.m.

· Special board meeting (team building), October 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.