The building will host students who have behavioral issues that prevent their success in a traditional classroom, as well as an elective program to provide those ages 18 or older with life and work skill development, board members said.
In a nutshell
In a 6-1 vote at the Dec. 9 meeting, the KISD board of trustees approved Division One Construction LLC as the contractor for up to $10.93 million in renovations to the Merchant’s Way Park Building. The building will house the district’s Behavioral Learning Center and Katy Promoting Learning for Universal Success program.
The building plans were introduced in December 2023 after voters approved Proposition A of KISD’s bond that November, which allocated almost $723 million to renovate and build schools and facilities. The bond initially allocated $5.1 million to expand the BLC and Katy PLUS program, trustees said.
About the project
The BLC will assist students in kindergarten through 12th grade with emotional or behavioral disorders that prevent them from being in traditional classroom settings by addressing environmental factors that interfere with learning and providing therapeutic support, according to the December 2023 board presentation.
The Katy PLUS program is an elective program that will service students ages 18-22 to support skill-building in independent living and self-advocacy after graduating from high school, according to the board presentation.
Located at 21700 Merchants Way, the building will have numerous classrooms to service eight to 10 students and provide labs for real-world and job-simulation training, according to the presentation. The building previously served as corporate office space.
Why it matters
At the Dec. 9 meeting, trustee Rebecca Fox said that while special education populations are already being serviced to fulfill federal and state standards, the renovations would be an opportunity to enhance the program.
“What we have a chance to do now is to do something better than everybody else, that we can provide a service to these people that are 18 that they couldn’t get in other school districts, that makes us a go-to district,” Fox said.
The debate
Trustee Mary Ellen Cuzela was the only trustee who voted against the build-out, saying she was concerned voters wouldn’t support the large increase from the $5.1 million initial allocated amount.
“We are not only asking [for] just a little bit more, which happens. ... We’re talking over double,” Cuzela said. “I would suggest a phase build-out to where we could use what the voters gave us and really respect that and not go all in and over spend by over double.”
Other trustees argued the voters were in favor of these initiatives and that overruns were built in the contingencies of the building budget.
“The vast majority of the people I’ve heard from, and that we have all heard from, support this program,” trustee Dawn Champagne said. “There are also people who voted on the [$5.1 million] and they don't seem to be bothered by trying to support this delicate group of people for more money that would be of boundless benefit to them and to all of society.”
Trustee Lance Redmon voted in support of the contract and said that overruns were not unusual for projects listed under the bond.
“There are overruns on at least 25, maybe 30 projects,” Redmon said. “Our people voted on $722 million that included a behavioral health center.”
What’s next?
District officials didn’t return information on the construction timeline by press time, but board documents show an estimated completion date of December.
