Public school districts in Texas follow two sets of policies to conduct board of trustees meetings: local and legal. Legal policies borrow from the U.S. and Texas constitutions, state statutes and other sources for legal context. Local policies are made at the district level, according to the Texas Association of School Boards. Legal policy states Katy ISD is only required to follow the stipulations of the Open Meetings Act for its board meetings and give citizens the opportunity to address the board with their grievances. That does have to be in a public forum, but the board must also provide alternate paths for people to submit their questions outside of public comment.

Legal policy makes no mention of trustees responses during public comment. However, local policy says trustees may offer specific factual information or policy in response to questions. They cannot respond to questions about a topic not already included in that meeting’s agenda.