KTY-10-2025-Final

Education

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR & AUBREY VOGEL

LCISD superintendent earns state honors Out of ve state nalists from across Texas, Lamar Consolidated ISD’s superintendent was named the 2025 Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards on Sept. 12. The big picture LCISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens was selected for the award by a TASB committee, citing his innovative approach to learning, teacher sup- port and his philosophy of using public education to change generations, according to a Sept. 12

LCISD launches new laptop program Lamar CISD launched a new pilot program Sept. 10 called Bring Your Own Laptop designed to support high school students enrolled in advanced coursework. The details The initiative, dubbed BYOL, aims to enhance instructional access and exi- bility by allowing eligible students to use their personal laptops during designated class periods. Ocials said the usage guidelines, which require devices to join district-ltered networks and prohibit personal communica- tion, are in compliance with House Bill 1481. Be enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement, dual-credit or dual- enrollment course Bring your own laptop guidelines: In grades 9-12 Maintain a 90% attendance rate or higher Complete an Acceptable Use Agreement, co-signed by parent or guardian

“Every day you walk into the boardroom, every day you walk into the oce, every day you walk into the classroom, remember there’s a young

person in there that is thirsty and hungry for you to see them and to help them.” ROOSEVELT NIVENS, LCISD SUPERINTENDENT

• Exceeding state peers in career, college and military readiness Nivens previously earned the Region 10 Superintendent of the Year award in 2019, while serving as Community ISD’s superintendent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. How it started Nivens was named Region 4 Education Service Center Superintendent of the Year in June and chosen from Region 4’s service area, which includes eight counties and 47 school districts. He was nominated for the regional award by the LCISD board. KISD may expand career center amid demand Katy ISD’s alternative disciplinary campus may be downsized in favor of a virtual model. In a unanimous vote, the board approved design services Aug. 25 to repurpose the Opportunity Awareness Center, or OAC, site as part of a long- term plan to expand the nearby Miller Career & Technology Center, which currently has a waitlist of students wanting to enroll. The new site is slated to be open by August 2027. The proposal The new OAC facility will feature 16 classrooms, down from the 37 rooms in the current location, per sta reports. The new campus would allow the career center to expand into the OAC’s existing space to meet increasing demand for career and technical education. Superintendent Ken Gregorski said the new OAC will not include a gymnasium or physical library,

news release. Looking back

Since his appointment in 2021, Community Impact reported Nivens has overseen the district’s “historic growth and academic success” through several initiatives, including: • Expanding career and technical education pro- gramming, including the district’s new center slated to open in fall 2026 • Strengthening professional learning communi- ties to increase teacher retention KISD maintains at tax rate for 2nd year Following approval of a $1.15 billion bud- get in August, the Katy ISD board of trustees unanimously approved a at tax rate for the second consecutive year at the Sept. 22 board meeting. The $1.1171 per $100 of property valu- ation tax rate is set to cover sta raises not subsidized by state legislators, an increased student enrollment and the opening of two new elementary schools, ocials previously said. Digging deeper Chief Financial Ocer Chris Smith said the total tax rate is divided into two compo- nents including: • Maintenance and operations rate of $0.73 • Interest and sinking rate of $0.39

SOURCE: LAMAR CISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

KATY HOCKLEY CUT OFF RD.

FRANZRD.

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Opportunity Awareness Center Miller Career &

Technology Center

with students expected to use online resources instead. The project has a budget at $7.5 million, which would come from interest income from bond proceeds, per district documents. Looking ahead Gregorski said input from sta and stakeholders will be solicited in the months ahead. However, nal design and construction decisions will require further board approval. “We’re not at an ending stage on this program,” he said. “We’re on the 5-yard line, 95 yards to go.”

KATY FULSHEAR EDITION