New instructional calendars
After a presentation from KISD administration that included survey results and a recommendation, the board approved instructional calendars for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
For the 2020-21 school year, the first day of school will be Aug. 19. The last day for seniors will be May 21, and the last day of school for other students will be May 27.
Meanwhile, for the 2021-22 school year, the first day of school will be Aug. 18. The last day for seniors will be May 20, and the last day of school for other students will be May 26.
New staff hires
The board also approved a district administration request to hire 10 additional growth units—which are teachers or paraprofessionals—for the 2019-20 school year.
The budget impact is estimated to be $300,000, said Brian Schuss, KISD's chief human resources officer.
He said three to four of the growth units will be used immediately to hire additional instructors who specialize in teaching students with dyslexia. The remaining growth units will be in reserve for any future classroom staffing needs during the school year.
“One thing that I would like to point out is this is a much smaller request than we had last year.” he said. "Last year there was about 39 units requested. Primarily that’s a function of the way the district handled the enrollment estimation process for [the 2019-20 school year], so that’s a great thing.”
Demographic update
KISD could have a total enrollment of about 105,000 students by 2029, PASA CEO Pat Guseman said in a demographic update presentation to the board.
The district has a total enrollment of 83,611 as of Dec. 17, according to the KISD public dashboard.
“This district has remained high growth even in times of oil and gas price downturns and other challenges,” Guseman said. “A very unique situation.”
The district is about 79% built out, and PASA projects most of the remaining growth will occur north of I-10 and west of the Grand Parkway. Neighborhoods in this area include Elyson, Cane Island, Bridgeland, Camillo Lakes and Morton Creek Ranch, according to a district press release.
“PASA indicated the district will need new campuses to address overcapacity enrollment relief and to balance enrollment across the district, especially in the predicted growth area of the northwest quadrant,” per the press release.
Superintendent Ken Gregorksi said at the 2019 annual State of the District that KISD may look into a 2020 bond to fund additional campuses needed to accommodate the area’s growth.
However, annual enrollment growth is expected to slow down in the coming years as the district reaches build-out, Guseman said.
“Now that [KISD has] become a giant, it lumbers along like an elephant in growth each year,” she said. “It doesn’t leap forward with high growth, but it has consistently strong growth, especially this year.”
