Report: Katy ISD may hire up to 605 new campus staff for 2020-21 school year

Editor's note: The Katy ISD board of trustees approved this campus staffing request at the regular March 30 meeting. This story was previously updated to show that the district may hire an additional 40 growth units, which are teachers or paraprofessionals, throughout the 2020-21 school year in addition to the 605 campus staff request.

Katy ISD administration presented a staffing report regarding the 2020-21 school year to the board of trustees at its special March 23 meeting.

Brian Schuss, KISD's chief human resources officer, said the district may need up to 499 new campus staff and 106 new campus support staff. The district may hire an additional 40 growth units—which are teachers or paraprofessionals—depending the district's needs throughout the school year, KISD clarified in an email.

This will be an approximately $24 million expense to the 2020-21 general fund, KISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher J. Smith said.

These staffing needs are based on an expected year-over-year student growth of 5.1%, or 4,244 students, for the 2020-21 school year, Schuss said.

At the March regular board meeting, district administration will recommend this campus staffing request for approval by the board of trustees, Schuss said.

The next scheduled regular board meeting is 5:30 p.m. March 30. Due to the coronavirus, KISD community members can watch a livestream of the meeting on the district’s website rather than attending in person.