The overview
KISD trustees received an overview of the rezoning plan during the board’s Jan. 9 meeting. Trustees will consider formally adopting the plan at the board’s Feb. 5 meeting.
KISD Chief of Staff Dayna Hernandez said the rezoning effort is aimed at achieving the following goals:
- Providing relief to enrollment numbers that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Maximizing the usage of district facilities at 95% utilization or below
- Deferring the timing of future school construction included in a bond election approved by voters in May 2022
A closer look
Hernandez said rezoning efforts have been in the works since March, noting the district has worked with officials from demographic firm Population and Survey Analysts as well as other outside analysts to gather information on current and projected enrollment numbers for each campus.
Additionally, Hernandez said a rezoning committee comprised of 170 parents, students, teachers and principals representing every elementary and middle school in the district met on four occasions. After each meeting, she said the committee submitted a proposed rezoning map that would then be subject to community review.
“We have collected thousands of pieces of feedback, and through that feedback that was collected, we did make changes that were recommended,” Hernandez said. “Feedback can often become emotional in a process like this, and we have to look at that, and we have to take that into consideration.”
As of Jan. 9, Hernandez said the district has reviewed more than 1,600 pieces of feedback from community members.
Learn more
Hernandez pointed to several online tools available to help community members further understand the rezoning process and find out what school their children will be attending based on the current proposal.
With the district’s interactive relief rezoning address locator tool, Hernandez said parents of KISD students can enter their address to view maps showing what schools their children are zoned to attend and what school they would be zoned to attend under the new proposal.
Additionally, Hernandez said proposed zoning maps for both elementary schools and intermediate schools as well detailed reports from each of the committee's meetings can be viewed on the district’s rezoning webpage.
What’s next
Hernandez said district officials will continue to review additional feedback until the final plan is approved. She noted community members interested in submitting feedback should fill out the relief rezoning feedback form included on the district’s rezoning webpage.
Klein ISD trustees will consider formally adopting the proposed rezoning plan at the board's Feb. 5 meeting. If approved, the changes would go into effect beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
