Katy Independent School District’s Board of Trustees met Monday, March 18th in a work-study session at the board room at 6301 S. Stadium Lane, hearing updates on the current year’s budget as well as projections for the 2024-25 budget and projected staffing levels.

Chief Financial Officer Chris Smith presented the March budget update to the board – one in a series of reports, this one on the general fund. Smith projected that the current 2023-2024 budget will end with a $8.1 million deficit. He then presented two projections for the 2024-2025 budget – first showing a $32.4 million deficit but showing a second projection that the administration had worked on, finding reductions and cost savings which would reduce the deficit to $13 million. The figures for the 2024-2025 budget do not include plans for salary increases, he said. Smith said that to make up the shortfall, the district was working on raising “average daily attendance” on which state funding is based. A one percent increase in ADA would result in about a $5.5 million increase in state funding, he said. The board is expected to adopt the final 2024-2025 budget in August.

Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Schuss presented preliminary staffing numbers for the 2024-2025 school year, showing the planned addition of 392 new staff members, of which 282 are classroom teachers. Of the new teachers, 207 positions are being created with the opening of two new secondary schools opening in the fall of 2024 – Freeman High School and Nelson Junior High School. The staffing projections are based on an estimated enrollment of 95.505 students or an increase of about 1100 pupils over current levels – a slower rate of enrollment growth, he said. By comparison, the district added 622 new positions for the current school year. The district also increased the student-teacher ratio at the secondary level by about half a student per classroom – a move that reduced the need for about 50 secondary teachers. Student-teacher ratios at the elementary level were unaffected. Reducing the need for these 50 positions will net a cost savings of about $3 million, he said.

Following the board meeting, Katy ISD Superintendent of Schools Ken Gregorski issued the following statement:

“Katy ISD is recognized as a state-acclaimed school district for fiscal integrity and responsibility. Though, like many other school districts, our district is approaching an increasingly difficult task of maintaining balanced budgets year after year. The state’s inaction on school funding has compelled districts throughout Texas to operate on deficit budgets.

“Put plainly, without an increase in state funding for public education, our district is facing a challenging budget scenario that will necessitate future reductions and a renewed focus on revenue-generating programs to achieve a balanced budget for the 2024-2025 school year. With that said, I want our staff and community to understand that as we begin budget planning for the next school year, our priorities are to:

· Retain ALL of our exceptional teachers and staff within our district

· Strategically modify some program models to create greater efficiencies

· Protect core student programs and services

· Phase out programs that have shown limited return on investment

· Ensure all standards for student academic performance remain intact.”

Also at Monday’s meeting the board also discussed potential renovations at various campuses, including track repairs and resurfacing at Seven Lakes High, Tompkins High, Morton Ranch Junior High, West Memorial Junior High and WoodCreek Junior High. Other proposed repairs and renovations included Katy Junior High, Katy High School band and orchestra building, Cimarron Elementary and Nottingham Country Elementary.

The board discussed and considered the naming of the Katy High School baseball field for former coach Tom McPherson, and heard comments from three speakers -- a parent and two former KHS baseball players -- during the public comments session. The board will vote on the matter at the regular board meeting scheduled for Monday, March 25 at 5 p.m.