Education
BY DAVE MANNING & KELLY SCHAFLER
Katy ISD board asks state for more funding Due to the state Legislature failing to approve additional funding for Texas public schools in the special session, the Katy ISD board of trustees approved a resolution Dec. 11 asking for more funding—specifically for teacher salaries. The resolution states several bills were passed in the 88th legislative session without sufficient funding to implement the mandates. How we got here Despite the Senate’s Dec. 1 passage of Senate Bill 5 that would have provided $800 million in funding from the state to public school districts for school safety through 2025, the Texas House declined to consider the measure due to the inclu- sion of private school vouchers before the fourth special legislative session ended Dec. 6. Although a fifth session is still possible, many districts face a shortage of funding.
KISD board positions to be on May ballot The candidate filing period for the May local elections opened Jan. 17 and runs until Feb. 16. Multiple positions will be on the ballot, including for Katy ISD. KISD board of trustees members are elected to serve three-year terms, according to the KISD website. The details These positions include: • KISD board of trustees, Position 6, held by Rebecca Fox • KISD board of trustees, Position 7, held by Dawn Champagne, who serves as board secretary The early voting period for the May 4 election runs April 22-30.
Unfunded mandates The state approved multiple bills in 2023 that require districts implement mandates without additional state funds. House Bill 3 : Requires the addition of armed personnel at each campus House Bill 1416: Requires schools to provide high-quality tutoring programs
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Long story short The final excerpt from the KISD board resolu- tion states KISD trustees support and encourage legislators to: • Support an increase in the basic allotment and establish a formula-driven index that allows the basic allotment to increase with inflation • Support an increase in school funding for teacher compensation • Address unfunded mandates placed on public schools
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