The rezoning comes in preparation for the upcoming unnamed Elementary School No. 33, which is slated to open in fall 2020.
According to Robert Robertson, KISD’s associate superintendent of facility and school services, the new campus opening is expected to affect the attendance boundaries of other elementary schools in the district and can therefore be utilized to alleviate future overcrowding.
“We should take the opportunity to balance out our enrollment at these other [elementary] schools,” he said.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, concerns over the rezoning’s effect on school programs, such KISD’s Two-Way Bilingual Pathway program, were raised. The dual-language program, implemented by the district two years ago, is currently offered at Brill, Kaiser, Klenk and Zwink elementaries.
Jennifer Trillsch, a parent of a student enrolled in the dual-language program at Brill, said its enrollment comes with a six-year commitment by both the parent and student enrolled, as students participate from kindergarten to fifth grade.
“Picking up and moving that program to another school or another neighborhood would really affect the stability of the program, and send a message about how [Klein ISD] values that program,” Trillsch said.
Robertson said programs such as these were put into consideration when choosing the preferred option. As the only dual-language elementary school affected by the preferred zoning option, Robertson said the program at Brill is expected to remain intact.
“We have considered—in drawing our attendance boundaries—programs for dual-language bilingual programs, special ed programs and future pre-K requirements that would be reflective in these numbers in the future,” Robertson said.
Public zoning committee meetings were held by KISD on Oct. 30 and Nov. 4, during which seven rezoning options were presented to the public and the board of trustees.
After conducting a review of public feedback, a final recommended zoning plan will be presented for the board’s approval at the Feb. 10 board meeting at 6 p.m.
