Katy ISD trustees cite board policy as dispute over public‑comment confirmations continues

A procedural dispute over who may speak during public comment consumed a substantial portion of the Katy ISD board meeting Oct. 27, 2025. The district told attendees that the board’s public‑comment policy (BED local) allows only the first 20 people who sign up to speak on non‑agenda items; nevertheless dozens of people said they received email confirmations that they would be allowed to address the board.

Board President Redmond, trustees, and the district’s general counsel explained the board must follow its adopted policy and that an exception could raise legal issues, including potential viewpoint discrimination. "Public comment is governed by board policy BED local," the district counsel said during the meeting. Counsel and trustees recommended that any change to limits be made through the policy‑committee process rather than by ad hoc exceptions during a meeting.

Several public commenters urged the board to honor the emailed confirmations and said the district should make good on its communications; one commenter said 32 non‑agenda speakers and four agenda speakers had been confirmed and that some attendees had made travel plans based on the confirmation. Trustee members debated fairness: some warned that exempting late signatories could be unfair to people who received corrections and then did not attend; others urged grace for those who traveled to speak.

No board action to change the policy was taken on Oct. 27. Trustees agreed to place the matter on the policy committee's Nov. 4 agenda for review of communications and possible policy updates. The board proceeded with the 20 speakers listed per BED local for the meeting.

Clarifying details: The district said it issued an updated notice approximately 1.5 hours before the meeting advising that only the first 20 non‑agenda speakers would be accepted; counsel said that once the error was discovered it was remedied by email. Several commenters said that they had been sent earlier email confirmations that were not subsequently rescinded until less than two hours before the meeting.

Ending: Trustees urged the public that policy changes should go through the policy committee rather than being made at the dais; the board did not set a new public‑comment standard at the Oct. 27 meeting.