Education
BY DAVE MANNING, HANNAH NORTON & KELLY SCHAFLER
Katy ISD could face projected $13M shortfall Katy ISD officials must make budget reductions as the district moves toward the 2024-25 school year, a move spurred by lack of state legislative action to increase public school funding. During the board work study meeting March 18, district staff told KISD trustees the district could face a projected $13 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget. “[Like] many other school districts, our district is approaching an increasingly difficult task of maintaining balanced budgets year after year,” Superintendent Ken Gregorski said in a March 19 email to parents. “The state’s inaction on school funding has compelled districts throughout Texas to operate on deficit budgets.” Inflationary pressures, federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding expiring, enrollment growth and changes to state program funding also contributed, officials said.
School vouchers still priority for Abbott Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed confidence lawmakers will approve a private school voucher plan next year. Speaking March 20 at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual conference in Austin, Abbott said school voucher supporters were “on the threshold of success” after several anti-voucher Republicans were unseated or sent to tight runoffs in the March 5 primary election. Looking ahead Patrick said he expected lawmakers to adopt a voucher plan in February 2025. The 89th legislative session is scheduled to begin Jan. 14. Vouchers were one of Abbott’s seven emergency priorities for the 2023 session.
Taking action
Katy ISD staff plan to take several measures to offset rising expenditures, including: Modifying some program models to create efficiencies Phasing out some programs District staff will prioritize: • Retaining all teachers and staff • Protecting core student programs and services • Ensuring standards for academic performance remain
SOURCE: KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The context KISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher Smith said district staff can offset the shortfall with the general fund balance. However, Smith said he’s hopeful the district will recover that deficit and even have a surplus after a property value audit is completed. What’s next KISD trustees will meet over the next few months regarding the 2024-25 budget. Trustees will adopt the budget in August.
Katy ISD OKs $23M in campus repairs, renovations
Upcoming renovations
The nine projects are funded by 2021 bond funds.
LLC will renovate Katy High School, and Cimarron and Nottingham elementary schools. Meanwhile, Beynon Sports Surfaces Inc. will resurface tracks at five campuses: Seven Lakes and Obra D. Tompkins high schools; and Morton Ranch, West Memorial and WoodCreek junior high schools. Projects are set to be completed by August 2024, per district documents.
Katy ISD trustees approved $23.07 million in campus repairs and renovations for nine facilities to be funded by the May 2021 bond. The details District officials chose Anslow Bryant Construc- tion LTD Katy Junior High renovations, which include adding more science classrooms and pro- viding new spaces for programs. Stewart Builders
Total: $23.07M
Track repairs at five campuses: $2.19M Four campus renovations: $20.88M
SOURCE: KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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