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Speakers ask KATY ISD to excuse college/MEPS absences, provide dyscalculia training and recognize Eid al‑Fitr
Summary
Multiple public commenters asked trustees to revise policies for juniors and seniors attending official college visits or MEPS appointments, to offer dyscalculia professional development for teachers and to recognize Eid al‑Fitr as a district holiday or excused absence.
Three community requests were presented during the public‑comment portion of the May 12 KATY ISD board meeting: a teacher asked the board to formally excuse certain college‑visit and military processing absences that affect exam exemptions; a math teacher requested district professional development on dyscalculia; and a student requested the district recognize Eid al‑Fitr as an official school holiday.
Jennifer Skinner, a Taylor High School statistics teacher, asked the board to revise the district’s exam exemption attendance codes so that juniors and seniors who attend official college visits, fine‑arts auditions, visits to military service academies or Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) appointments would not lose the attendance credit required to exempt semester exams. Skinner said MEPS appointments can take a minimum of two days and argued the district’s current coded absences (P, S, V and related codes) do not adequately cover post‑secondary planning needs.
Sofia Peruzzi, a math teacher, asked the board to add professional development on dyscalculia — a learning difference affecting number sense and sequencing. Peruzzi cited studies estimating dyscalculia prevalence at 4–7% of students and told trustees that awareness and targeted strategies are scarce on the TEA Eduphoria portal; she asked the district to provide teacher training and classroom strategies for identifying and instructing students with dyscalculia.
Hera Osmani, a student at Taylor High School, asked the board to recognize Eid al‑Fitr as an official school holiday so Muslim students would not be forced to choose between attending meaningful religious observance and academic responsibilities. Osmani pointed to other local districts that have adjusted calendars and said recognition would reflect district diversity and inclusion goals.
All three requests were presented as public comment; trustees did not take immediate action or vote on policy changes. Staff and trustees asked clarifying questions; speakers said they sought board consideration before the next academic year.
