Katy ISD to move some board meetings and change posting rules under new state law; public commenter criticizes trustee conduct
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Summary
The board discussed implementation of House Bill 1522: meetings impacting public posting timelines, a new requirement that board meetings be outside business hours, and changes to public-comment sign-in rules; a public commenter also urged civility and criticized several trustees' conduct at a prior study meeting.
Katy ISD staff told trustees on July 28 how the district will implement changes required by House Bill 1522 and other recent laws affecting board meeting schedule and public notification.
Starting in September, the district will post agendas and supporting documents on a three-business-day basis (for a Monday meeting that will mean posting the agenda Wednesday afternoon and making documents public on Friday at the close of business). Board staff also said certain board meetings must occur outside normal business hours under the new law; the district will move workshops and some previously daytime strategic meetings to evenings to comply.
The district will also change the public-comment sign-in process: the current 2 p.m. sign-up and a 15-minute pre-meeting sign-in requirement will be removed. If a registered speaker is present at the time they are called, they will be allowed to speak even if they did not sign in 15 minutes earlier; the change is intended to increase opportunity for participation while meeting the three-business-day posting requirement.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, resident Tana Weiss criticized the conduct of three trustees at a recent work study, calling their behavior disrespectful to staff and fellow board members and referencing an earlier "informal teacher survey." Weiss said she preferred that school boards be "boring" in order to reduce public conflict and suggested the board rely on staff expertise when appropriate.
Board members asked clarifying questions about which types of meetings must move to evenings and said community advisory committee meetings would remain in daytime hours. The staff presentation will be incorporated into board practice beginning in September to comply with the new posting and scheduling rules.