Katy ISD trustees review construction reports, a paving contract and operational calendar items; board to consider budget amendments tied to projects

Facilities, construction and operational items were reviewed by Katy ISD staff at the March 24 work study, including capital underspending, a proposed paving contract for Hutsell Elementary, a sanitary‑sewer easement for the Ag Sciences Complex and calendar/attendance items.

Lisa Casman, executive director of facilities planning and construction, told trustees the Hutsell Elementary paving contract scope increased after staff found drainage issues and a fallen tree in the parking lot during design; the project will add parking, address utilities and improve traffic along Franz Road. Casman also presented an easement agreement with Municipal Utility District 495 to accommodate sanitary‑sewer work along the western edge of the Ag Sciences Complex.

Jamie Hines, assistant superintendent of finance, summarized the district’s January financial and construction reports and said the general construction portfolio shows about $22 million in underspending within the 2023 bond authorizations; she noted that number excludes a recent Bear Creek roofing/repair overage and said the underspending figure will change as projects close.

Budget amendments and Bear Creek renovations: Esperanza Rios and Hines described a March budget amendment package that includes capital‑fund adjustments to fund Bear Creek Elementary renovations approved by the board in February. Rios said those capital funds will come from 2023 bond project savings and that the amendment will not reduce the total capital projects balance overall.

Operational calendar and attendance waivers: Director of Student Affairs Sherry Ashhorn asked the board to approve a low‑attendance waiver for several campuses affected by weather and a power outage earlier in the year; she said the waiver removes low‑attendance penalties from state reporting for those dates. Ashhorn also described a continuing practice of converting the district’s last professional development day adjacent to the spring holiday into a four‑day student/staff weekend, and said the administration will present calendar language for board adoption next week with an asterisk noting that the preapproval is contingent on not needing the required extra instruction minutes to make up missed days.

Provenance: Items were presented in the March 24 work study meeting and are recorded in the transcript; trustees asked clarifying questions about underspending figures and which bond authorization will fund the Bear Creek renovation and Flip Lock purchase.