Katy ISD hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at the Education Support Complex, during which six community members and KISD parents voiced their concerns regarding the district’s future to the Legislative Priorities Advisories Committee. The 16-member committee was created to represent KISD’s interests during the state’s 85th legislative session, which convenes on Jan. 10, 2017. The committee includes two school board members and 14 community members. Each speaker was given five minutes to address the committee. Concerns included needs for:
  • Increased recess and less homework
  • Cameras in special education classrooms
  • School-choice vouchers for special education students
  • An end to the state’s percentile cap for special education and gifted and talented students, which gives lower rankings to school districts with percentages above the cap
About 30 community members attended the open meeting. Kim Gutierrez, an LPAC member and opponent of the District of Innovation, said she hoped more people would have attended to speak against the district pursing the designation. The District of Innovation option, which was adopted during the 2015 state legislative session, gives districts more flexibility on local control and certain state statutes. However, Gutierrez added she was pleased the district hosted the open forum. Henry Dribell, school board member and LPAC member, said the committee will discuss the community members' concerns at its meeting next week. “We really wanted to hear from the community before we formed legislative priorities,” he said. “We want to hear what people are concerned about.”