Education
BY BRADLEY DOUNTZ
Lamar CISD approves rezoning options for new Fulshear schools In preparation for the opening of Williams High, Urbanski Junior High and Dresner Middle schools for the 2027-28 school year, Lamar CISD’s board of trustees approved rezoning options for the new Fulshear secondary schools at its May 19 meeting. The specifics Jonathan Maxwell, executive director of enroll- ment management for LCISD, shared enrollment projections and three rezoning options for each
Schools to offer free summer lunches Katy and Lamar Consolidated ISDs will offer free breakfast and lunch this summer. What you need to know Katy ISD residents will be able to visit six locations from late May to the end of July, while Lamar CISD residents can visit nine locations from early June to mid-July. The sites will be open Mondays through Thursdays and will be closed on Fridays. Notable quote “Our Summer Food Service Program allows us to continue supporting students and families even after the school year ends,” said Alexa Carrier, Katy ISD executive director of nutrition and food services.
school with the board. However, the attendance boundary committee gave their final recommendation of a committee-de- vised, administration-endorsed fourth option. The committee was comprised of parents and stakehold- ers of surrounding affected schools. Committee representatives said the fourth option was created to minimize splitting track patterns and prioritize balanced enrollment across campuses to support LCISD’s growth. Also of note The board also voted to allow rising high school seniors to stay at their current campus instead of transferring for the 2027-28 school year. Students can also apply for a University Inter- scholastic League legacy provision to stay at their current campus if they meet certain criteria.
Option 4 secondary school enrollment projections
Williams High School
Urbanski Junior High School
Dresner Middle School
3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500
3,149
1,802 1,202 573
1,508 793
To see summer meal sites and serving times, visit communityimpact. com .
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School year 2028-29 2029-30 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35
2035-36
2027-28
SOURCE: LAMAR CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Katy ISD faces $15.27M bus seat belt installation cost Katy ISD will see a $15.27 million cost to install three-point seat belts to all school buses that do not have them, Executive Director of Transporta- tion Paul Landis said at a May 11 board of trustees meeting. The report—which the district will share with Katy ISD bus seat belt breakdown
LCISD’s property value growth expected to increase Lamar CISD officials announced proposed property values had increased from 3% to 4.5% at a May 19 meeting. The announce- ment came after officials said in April that the school district would go into the 2026-27 school year with a balanced budget. Additionally, the 2026-27 school year’s total revenue is estimated to be $572.2 million, a nearly $10 million increase from what was provided last month. Also of note Chief Financial Officer Greg Buchanan said officials are considering two potential tax rates for the 2026-27 school year: $1.1351 and $1.1451 per $100 valuation, with the average home value at $424,065.
325: Buses with no seat belts 288: Buses with three-point seat belts 227: Buses with lap belts
the Texas Education Agency—comes after lawmak- ers approved Texas Senate Bill 546 in 2025, which requires school districts to assess how many of their buses have three-point seat belts and the cost to install them. The details Landis reported every bus bought since 2018 has three-point seat belts, although 552—or 65.7%—of the 840 buses Katy ISD operates or contracts are not outfitted with them. The estimated cost to refit conventional pas- senger buses is $40,673, while the cost for special education buses is $15,907, per agenda documents. “Given current and projected budget
SOURCE: KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
constraints, along with the absence of dedicated legislative funding for this requirement, [the] transportation department is not recommending a retrofit at this time,” Landis said. “However, we remain committed to student safety and will continue to monitor guidance and funding opportunities moving forward.” Looking ahead The bill outlines school districts have until Sept. 1, 2029, to introduce three-point seat belts to each bus.
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KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION
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