The Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7–0 on Aug. 25 to adopt a resolution summarizing employee and district obligations under Texas Senate Bill 12 and to distribute that guidance to staff, vendors and the public while a formal policy is developed.
The item drew more than a dozen public commenters, many of them students and parents, who urged the board either to reject the resolution as an endorsement of the law or to adopt it as a practical tool to protect staff from unknowingly violating new state rules.
"You all make it very difficult to say that my school board cares about me," student Adrienne Moore told trustees. "The fact that you would rather jump through hoops to try and interpret the law in a way that allows you to further oppress and dehumanize trans students shows just how little you view your queer students as human beings." Moore identified herself as a Morton Ranch High School senior.
Parent Julie Johnson, who said her child has been recognized as "Adrian" in district records since seventh grade, told the board she has provided documentation and that the law does not bar honoring a parent's request for a chosen name. "Nothing in the law . . . mentions at all that the school district cannot address a student by a chosen name," Johnson said.
Other speakers described harms they attribute to the law and urged trustees not to "celebrate" SB 12. Engineer Paul Van Helmand, who identified himself as the father of a transgender daughter, said the bill ‘‘forbids public schools from authorizing or sponsoring student clubs like gay straight alliance’’ and asked trustees to "speak up in private and in public to students, teachers, and to legislators." Several community organizers likewise urged trustees to vote no.
Board members said they heard the public's concerns but framed the adopted resolution as a communication and protective measure while the district awaits a formal, legally reviewed policy. Superintendent Dr. Gregorski and district legal counsel told trustees the law becomes effective Sept. 1 and that portions of the district's current FA policy conflict with newly added provisions (including references to Texas Education Code §11.401 and §28.0043). Legal counsel said a TASB policy draft likely would not be available until October.
Trustees also discussed the personal and professional risks the law places on employees. Legal counsel told the board that, under the new statutory language, an individual employee who violates the prohibition on "social transitioning" as defined in statute could face disciplinary action, including loss of a teaching certificate.
Trustees approved the resolution to provide staff and vendors a concise summary of requirements and potential penalties while the district develops a full, legally reviewed policy. The board took no additional legislative or policy positions at the meeting.
What this means for staff: trustees and administration said the resolution will be posted and distributed to employees and vendors as an interim guide; a formal policy update is expected once TASB publishes its model language.
The board meeting began at 5 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 7:09 p.m. after a closed session. The resolution vote was taken during the consent/discussion portion of the evening business.
—Reporting by the Katy ISD board room