[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6070170,"mediaKeyId","3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236","parentId",3060354,"title","Katy ISD board approves employee contracts, consent agenda and campus staffing plan; staffing questions linger","audioSeconds",285,"startMs",5970000,"endMs",6255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236&start=5970&end=6255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236/thumbnail_5970000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6070170/Texas/Katy-ISD-board-approves-employee-contracts-consent-agenda-and-campus-staffing-plan-staffing-questions-linger","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070170-be8e84df0c55901f2ef658f0938010af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575132&Signature=IhPzPbJi~JZiMWsokCV0-Of4jCnY-EO~obKPd7C2NUbUs-qk-5nKT6KfxaDFHs5zjdpkPiUXvGVm8V-b0k8w3qF~o2tpF~fsjH0Q-E9ECz-ZWttRcBDn2KJh8-iNjXM0Tyqyhs0BjfDLiM9wW2GfqFm8OF0mAEmbV9qVtLsTgPi4L4250gKXfAjU2KHcK9mUdRAlbZNNZ5RJ8QIYSV77qTkRpu6I931KXvezG-95oxZZay9OdEhVgeMV~enJE8iVJGoYc87sRJbrZmDJvy2EFSBTCTH88fbDo12S05~na4geyNUzhGHbkjwr-VxlmAkk2M-RVRGocq0~zJWtKB7FyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Katy ISD","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","The Katy ISD Board of Trustees on Monday approved multiple routine personnel and staffing items, including recommended employee contracts for 2025–26 and the district’s campus staffing plan for the next school year.

Trustees voted 7–0 to approve the agenda motion covering employees recommended to receive probationary and term contracts for 2025–26. The motion as read included one‑year probationary contracts, one‑year term contracts and two‑year dual‑assignment term contracts for the 2025–26 school year, with exceptions for employees who have resigned or are the subject of separate nonrenewal proceedings. The motion passed following a second and a roll-call-style keypad vote.

Later the board approved the consent agenda items (8.1 through 8.12) by a 7–0 vote after Trustee Rebecca Fox asked that item 8.11 (the campus staffing plan) be removed for separate consideration. After brief discussion about thresholds and exception rules, the board approved item 8.11 — the campus staffing plan for 2025–26 — by a 7–0 vote.

Trustees and staff discussed how staffing thresholds are applied to allocate positions at elementary, junior high and high school campuses. District staff explained fine‑arts staffing at elementary campuses is triggered at 800 students, and assistant principal allocations change at established enrollment breakpoints; staff said they review campus-by-campus situations and sometimes approve exceptions when enrollment trends or operational concerns warrant them.

Trustees asked for more clarity on the process for appeals and short‑term exceptions. Several trustees said they want the district to build a clearer written policy describing when exceptions are granted and whether short-term funding/positions can be retained for a specified period when campuses fall below thresholds.

The board also discussed teacher planning time concerns raised in public comment earlier in the meeting. Trustees said administrators will convene a focused set of principals, teachers and staff in coming days to review planning-period implementation and legal compliance with state and district policy.

All motions related to personnel and the staffing plan passed unanimously. No additional personnel changes were taken at Monday’s meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Katy ISD Board Meetings\tMar 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved personnel contracts for 2025–26, cleared the consent agenda and passed the campus staffing plan for the coming school year. Trustees discussed staffing thresholds and promised additional review of elementary staffing appeals and teacher planning time.","taxTitle","KATY ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14169,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6070175,"Trustees debate use of outside counsel after invoices total about $52,700 over 17 months",1380,6116000,7496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236&start=6116&end=7496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236/thumbnail_6116000.jpg","/articles/6070175/Texas/Trustees-debate-use-of-outside-counsel-after-invoices-total-about-52700-over-17-months","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070175-0a73929f4e41c1b665077d3325398e58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575132&Signature=XLnMxvdnJMZq6QreNMhoPHrlTfnz0G1N6LPWj4OgF-cQ0-rXvqzEW3MInyrcA4ewEpQkVnvVd2m9HjniMq8fPS0Uf3YiGSw9~HZHchiaxjpOgoPpUPqigP0ok~KLNP7j7TAoxxebHJn1Gzm3Lk867x6DvtnwYpsimBSxvvJGBiG3N~cdc38Mw-FQnLxIuJxz8VrmAmCYXEg3wETyZdmNeQ4Xvzltb7RBu6UF5sTOj~0Kv6m51N2feZ4-qxZoZ8kY9QCasTQBW30cIXuoL8p7rK4OAeFunj5gRu4LkvIXsIm5-p7~wTMNYigc5uQSt1ElY6NrbScRtWuMD-0TIrujJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees spent a substantial portion of Monday night’s meeting debating the board’s use of outside counsel after trustee Rebecca Fox requested a discussion of frequency and cost.

Fox said she and two other trustees followed board procedures to place the item on the agenda but were surprised to find it scheduled as a closed-session item; she said she did not intend to discuss privileged matters but wanted transparency about money the district has paid to outside counsel. \"Our ongoing relationship with the external lawyer and the value for the taxpayer money expended thus far,\" Fox said, summarizing her concern.

Trustees reviewed invoice totals for the outside firm covering the period August 2023 through March 2025. Trustee Don Champagne calculated the invoices totaled about $52,683 for that span — an average of roughly $3,100 per month — and described that average as roughly $100 per day.

Champagne and President Victor Perez both defended retaining outside counsel, saying the in-house general counsel reports to the superintendent and that outside counsel can provide advice directly to the board in situations that might present a conflict of interest or require independent counsel. Perez said at the outset that the board had interviewed and approved the firm and that outside counsel is used for issues that in-house counsel may not be able to address objectively.

Fox said much of the invoiced work appeared to relate to matters she believes in-house counsel could have handled and asked that summaries or privileged briefings be shared with trustees. \"For that $52,000, I should know something about something that's said in here,\" she said, and asked that work product be provided to the entire board under attorney‑client privilege when appropriate.

Other trustees said hourly billing for outside counsel is common and that costs will vary year to year depending on the volume and type of legal work. Trustee comments noted that other district legal expenses in past years have been larger, including a prior, more costly district investigation that several trustees said they opposed.

The board did not vote on any changes to its counsel arrangements. Trustees asked staff to consider whether board operating procedures should be revised to clarify who may request outside counsel and what information should be shared among trustees when the board engages outside legal services.","Board members raised questions about the board’s use of outside legal counsel and the level of information shared with trustees. Trustee Rebecca Fox said invoices show substantial billing for counsel and asked for greater transparency; others said outside counsel serves a distinct legal role and hourly billing varies.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6070180,"State board member briefs Katy ISD trustees on Bluebonnet learning materials as public debate continues",6742,2021000,8763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236&start=2021&end=8763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236/thumbnail_2021000.jpg","/articles/6070180/Texas/State-board-member-briefs-Katy-ISD-trustees-on-Bluebonnet-learning-materials-as-public-debate-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070180-62e2a7911de9bfb32e8745f7db2342dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575132&Signature=ZD16wvmvufhVYVBX9Z3Xq--NgKiLQALNbarSLhRD1~cnOzPEKG1FLFzDL7--Py475KIJVt4ibcC39G72nuJxn-yvCgcHHPbDGodvrLeD5KWyY1di4jxT6NxLgqekJ3abohs8dQ4HfuwHjEnafnplUtfL8o0ahymRv8PaehgyBkSjHPiTlmiSbnXnKbRMJHeK7-vMv2E4wO~lOOoWlSXNk1iF4VfJ6lglnnC2yEZUxyylsy3IZkpsD-Dog23OqVhwomnPlGwVDkEzVg5ZVzBQEML2bbnZSKx00z7L-JM069V96w~wqusRHxDbNK6umrwgMSkYHNEoLYMgTqYn3FMgqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Katy ISD board received an update on Bluebonnet — a set of state-produced, open‑education instructional materials — from State Board of Education (SBOE) Committee on Instruction chair Audrey Young on Monday, as parents and students filled the meeting room to argue for and against the set of materials under review.

Young said House Bill 1605 directed the state to develop open-education resources (OER) and that Bluebonnet materials are now undergoing Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) for possible district use in 2025–26. She described the materials as “100% TEKS aligned” and said the materials provide deep teacher guides, integrated knowledge-and-skill strands and a modular, customizable curriculum districts can adapt to local values.

A major focus in public comment was whether Bluebonnet’s lessons that reference religious texts and traditions are appropriate in elementary classrooms. Critics told the board the lessons put Christianity ahead of other faiths and risk violating the separation of church and state. \"If parents want this material for their children, they can attend a private school,\" said David Long. \"Public school is for everyone and all religions.\"

Other speakers, including Young and several parents, said religious-source material accounts for less than 10% of Bluebonnet content and is included for literary and historical value, not to advance any faith. Young said the curriculum explicitly references multiple religions where relevant and provides teachers with context and guidance. \"Including content from or about religious source material... is included for the literary and historical value of the content and its connection to creating a strong background of knowledge for students,\" she said.

Young also described the funding and logistics tied to the state program: House Bill 1605 set aside funds to support high-quality instructional materials — including a printing stipend for districts. The State Board’s IMRA rubrics and public review process are available online, she said, and school districts retain local authority to adopt or exclude specific lessons or chapters to reflect community standards.

Trustees and the public asked about timelines and next steps. Young said math and social-studies TEKS updates are underway; materials tied to those updated standards will follow. For 2025–26 the English-language Bluebonnet materials (K–5 RLA and select math grades) are in the review process and Spanish-language materials are scheduled for the following year.

No board action was taken; trustees received printed sample materials and Young offered to provide additional binder sets to the district for review. Several speakers said they will return to future meetings as the district considers whether to pilot or adopt any Bluebonnet materials.","A State Board of Education committee chair updated trustees on the Bluebonnet open‑education curriculum under statewide review; public commenters both endorsed and opposed the materials, particularly religious-content lessons.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6070185,"Katy ISD students showcase robotics, board hears Shaw Center report ahead of state competitions",638,2670000,3308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236&start=2670&end=3308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236/thumbnail_2670000.jpg","/articles/6070185/Texas/Katy-ISD-students-showcase-robotics-board-hears-Shaw-Center-report-ahead-of-state-competitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070185-3d5e6885e8e3c21b0bb30ceed86216cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575132&Signature=jirZRiA~0l2yMTTSRW055iu1IT2cr8pj9PNen-h8Ypk6dLP3Reai6uDkFR4BLZHFSVEnx5ZcXR3Pq6GKDGb4EmkAbEVJiQluWNGdCwrWjlGlKMDWc0uYgwnXjmTnr2bNAJ8FajueA9cUOpih6fwS5tzr6VgyjWPFcO0gM2lZSBPC423tNQmWqiZIU4~s1EfYI5F7hvT~p1aocghF5cLVj8uTTgnEzufVhm9NFZkPme~Pgtt4HgB8PdcJxcGQPYozm102AFuX-uW~FRFEiN4Cl8li0cyxCa2UsRVNa7hEkiw1dDhhoXsaK1G3Udw89B1gaixwl2uADlM92mtoPJmucg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Katy Independent School District trustees heard a presentation Monday on the Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM and watched robotics teams from across the district introduce robots they will take to state competition this week.

Steve Adams, facility coordinator for the Shaw Center, told the board the center celebrates its 10th anniversary and provides field-trip experiences for third- and seventh-graders and workspace and support for high school robotics teams. \"Even as we speak, they're back there building robots,\" Adams said.

Student representatives from teams at Cinco Ranch, May Creek, 7 Lakes, Tompkins, Jordan, Martin Ridge and other high schools briefly described technical features of their robots and acknowledged shared resources at the Shaw Center. Cinco Ranch students noted a newly redesigned end effector; Martin Ridge emphasized structural integrity and use of custom C&C parts; Tompkins presenters highlighted programming and autonomous routines.

Several student speakers said the Shaw Center’s collaborative environment — teams can see and assist one another in the glass‑walled work areas — has accelerated new teams’ learning curves. \"As the newest team in Katy ISD, we rapidly grew into an organization with over a hundred students because access to the Shaw Center enabled our team to learn from more experienced teams,\" said Mei Chen, Golden Warriors Robotics strategy officer.

Trustees praised the students and the mentors. Board members said the center’s facilities and volunteer mentors — some of whom have supported teams for decades — have helped the district produce teams that compete regionally and at world events. Trustee comments referenced a recent mentor-of-the-year recognition and ongoing construction to add four new bays at the center, which the board funded through a voter-approved bond.

The board did not take formal action on the report. Students immediately returned to work at the center and many teams are scheduled to compete at the George R. Brown Convention Center and other regional events later this week.","Students from multiple Katy ISD high schools demonstrated robots, highlighted the Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM’s role in team growth and thanked the district for support; trustees heard a brief report and recognized students headed to state competitions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6070190,"Parents, students and teachers urge Katy ISD to restore Miller film program after sudden removal",156,2603000,2759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236&start=2603&end=2759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060354-d531a672061674eb6ac1b6fad1050236/thumbnail_2603000.jpg","/articles/6070190/Texas/Parents-students-and-teachers-urge-Katy-ISD-to-restore-Miller-film-program-after-sudden-removal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070190-c011291cc18bcd7ccce643c970486b64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575132&Signature=WAqczvr84BcaYnipU0UHtQiiM3uIpJK2AFqtVUXyF8pv4sWmVb7WqBCuXlCzJrBzb3Lte-HAb1k0T1Nj38gKKOqTfEUQHVqtAg1GTB3qM8nOq2hKo0aCgF7mlc3SdC~gUuC-buQF~0j-0yQoMQePcx~4K2wPafjP2mWT~ClhkeLz6qnkZjCcgG-efBzD1GHJmFbcbBSA2eRNQpB17dlGwsGdqVdkrMeG-wnLWojzWl-dpVBXXzo04iO3QxzmZ758GjIEygjRW9cIUfiCyO5VAZ1tbXXy5jChhT79E84W5tKuQ-1YeEdVjunWhQZi-yK~ppEA904NsZVuN-Jd6KGdew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of students, parents and former Miller film students urged the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees on March 31 to reverse a principal’s decision to remove the Miller Career & Technology Center film pathway, saying the program provides career-ready skills and hands-on training.

Supporters said the program prepared students for internships and jobs in film and media and that the district did not give the pathway a fair opportunity to enroll students before removing it. “How can a class meet its numbers when students weren't even given the full opportunity to sign up?” said Jay Van Dyke, a Miller student and film practicum participant, describing the course’s removal days before the enrollment portal closed.

The appeals came during the board’s public comment period. The most detailed presentation came from Dr. Stephanie Serone, who identified herself as a Miller advocate and former district educator. Serone presented enrollment and outreach figures she said show the program had been set up to fail: \"With a 24 student cap, Film 1 had 24 commitments and Film 2 had 12, representing all eligible juniors... [but] the principal removed the courses from the course planner 4 days before the enrollment deadline, artificially lowering the numbers to justify cutting the program,\" she said.

Speakers described the Miller film pathway as a source of in-district vocational training, production for school events and an inexpensive provider of audiovisual services. Serone told the board that hiring outside professionals to replace the student film crew for events such as graduations would cost the district about $271,000 compared with $67,000 when the Miller students handled production — a gap she said amounted to a 303% increase in event-production costs.

Former students and alumni gave examples of career outcomes they attribute to Miller’s film instruction. Eduardo Reguelta said Miller staff mentored him into Adobe Premiere certification and jobs at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; he said the program “isn't just about cameras and editing. It's about unlocking futures.” Several speakers described last-minute changes to the course listing and a lack of district communication to students and families as central grievances.

Administrators or board members did not propose or take any formal action on the film program during the meeting. No motion to reinstate the Miller film courses appeared on the agenda; board members later entered a scheduled closed meeting. The board packet included no formal vote on the film pathway itself.

Several parents and students urged the board to reopen the process and restore film offerings or provide equivalent courses at Miller. Speakers asked the board to consider preserving the instructor position and a classroom or to authorize a portable room and additional staffing so current students can complete their pathways. Attendees also asked for clearer communication of course‑planning deadlines and for the district to share the data principals used to cancel the classes.

The board did not announce a timetable for responding to requests about the Miller film pathway. Several speakers said they planned to follow up with trustees and to present petition and attendance data to district staff.","Dozens of students, alumni and teachers told the Katy ISD board Monday night that the district’s decision to remove the Miller Career & Technology Center film pathway deprived students of career training, and several speakers alleged enrollment numbers were manipulated to justify the cut.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Katy ISD board approves employee contracts, consent agenda and campus staffing plan; staffing questions linger

Trustees debate use of outside counsel after invoices total about $52,700 over 17 months

State board member briefs Katy ISD trustees on Bluebonnet learning materials as public debate continues

Katy ISD students showcase robotics, board hears Shaw Center report ahead of state competitions

Parents, students and teachers urge Katy ISD to restore Miller film program after sudden removal