The Katy Community Survey may be found on the KISD web site www.katyisd.org  The survey can be located under "Highlights" on the home page.  I have copied the survey here with my responses and comments. I marked my choices with an X as the other way didn't work in the copied version.  They had a survey with the 2010 bond, they put up the responses and they were quite conservative, but the District didn't pay attention to them.

Katy ISD Community Survey

Dear Katy ISD Community Member,

The community plays an important role in the decisions that Katy ISD makes. Whether or not you have children in our schools, we invite you to participate in a conversation about improving our school district. Your feedback will help us to better understand the community's priorities and shape future plans.

This survey will take no more than 15 minutes to complete and the information is confidential, unless you choose to provide your contact information at the end of this survey.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Sincerely,

Katy ISD


Required Information

Katy ISD Community Survey

How long have you lived within Katy ISD boundaries?

I do not live within Katy ISD boundaries

Less than 1 year

1-5 years

6-10 years

11-15 years

More than 15 years X

To help us better understand your perspective, please select all that apply.
I am a(n) . . .

Parent of a current Katy ISD student

Parent of a former Katy ISD student X

Parent of children who are not yet school age

Community member without children in the District

Employee of Katy

  

Katy ISD Community Survey

District Mission and Goals

MISSION STATEMENT
Katy Independent School District, the leader in educational excellence, together with family and community, provides unparalleled learning experiences designed to prepare and inspire each student to live an honorable, fulfilling life - to create the future.

Were you familiar with the Katy ISD Mission?

YesX

No

Please rate the clarity of the Mission Statement.


On February 25, 2013, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved the following Five-Year True North Goals. 

I.    Student Growth and Success
Each student will be provided engaging, relevant, and meaningful learning experiences, which foster the acquisition of the KISD Instructional Cornerstone Skills (collaboration, communication, creative thinking, critical thinking, information literacy, problem solving and social contribution) that lead to student success.

II.    Safe and Orderly Learning and Working Environment
A safe, orderly, positive and quality learning and working environment will be provided for students and staff.

III.    Community Engagement
Parents and community members are provided a variety of opportunities for active, collaborative involvement, which support student success.

IV.    Effective and Efficient Operations
Resources are allocated in an efficient manner to facilitate quality learning experiences and a positive and effective work environment.

V.    Organizational Improvement
Strategic data points and shared agreements are utilized to make decisions regarding planning, evaluation, and performance needs.

Were you familiar with the True North Goals prior to reading them here?

Yes X How can we not be?  They are posted everywhere.

No

Please rate the clarity of the True North Goals.


We need your feedback on whether or not the District is promoting these core beliefs in our schools and community.  Based on the True North Goals outlined above, please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement below.

Katy ISD . . .

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Unsure

 

Ensures all students can succeed and fosters academic growth.

XX

 

Provides a safe and orderly learning and working environment.

X

 

Provides a variety of opportunities for active, collaborative community and parent involvement.

X

 

Allocates resources efficiently to facilitate quality learning experiences and a positive and effective work environment.

X

 

Utilizes data to make decisions regarding planning, evaluation and performance needs.

X


District Finance

Katy ISD's budget is divided into three funds - a General Operating Fund, a Capital Projects Fund and a Debt Service Fund.

The General Operating Fund pays for the day-to-day expenses of running the District, including salaries and benefits, instructional supplies, day-to-day transportation associated expenses and utilities.  The vast majority (86%) of the General Operating Fund budget is tied directly to salaries and benefits.

The Capital Projects Fund, which includes proceeds from bond sales authorized by voters, pays for the design and construction of new schools, the renovation of existing schools, school buses and technology improvements.  These funds cannot be used to pay the salaries and benefits of teachers or other District employees for normal operations.
That statement is not quite accurate.  There is a limit on the amount that can be utilized in the CPF and DSF, and it cannot encroach on the M&O fund.  BUT if the money is not used for construction and paying off debt, then it most certainly CAN be used for salaries and student expenses.  It's like saying I will give you a dollar, but you can't spend 40 cents of it because you need to use that to pay me back for the money I loaned you last year. However when the money is paid back, then YOU get the whole dollar the next time I give you one.

For example, in 2010, voters authorized a $459M Bond Authorization for Katy ISD.  Major projects constructed with these funds included Shafer Elementary, Wilson Elementary, Wolfe Elementary (rebuild), Wolman Elementary, Davidson Elementary, Randolph Elementary, Seven Lakes Jr. High, and the Tompkins High School Campus and Agriculture Barn.  In addition, this Bond Authorization funded renovations of Katy High School West Campus, Taylor High School, West Memorial Jr. High and Mayde Creek Jr. High, as well as retrofits of all high school performing arts centers.  Technology upgrades throughout the District were also completed with this funding, along with the purchase of school buses.
Please note that they spent the money on buses when they stopped using all the buses that were used to take elementary children to school in 2011!!! Why did they need more buses?

The Debt Service Fund* is used to pay the principal and interest due each year on the District's outstanding debt.  This and related expenses are the only allowable use of these funds.

Katy ISD’s tax rate is made up of two parts - the Maintenance & Operations Tax Rate and the Interest & Sinking Tax Rate.

The Maintenance & Operations Tax Rate (M&O) is the primary resource for the General Operating Fund. The M&O Tax Rate is currently $1.1266 per $100 in value and has been at this rate for the past seven years.

*The Interest & Sinking Tax Rate (I&S) is the primary source for the Debt Service Fund. The I&S Tax Rate is currently $0.40 per $100 in value and has also remained at this rate for the past seven years.

 

Please indicate your level of understanding around this information.

Do Not Understand at All

Somewhat Understand

Fully Understand   X

Revenue for Katy ISD's General Operating Fund Budget comes from local, state and federal sources. The pie chart shows the breakdown of funding from each source.

Please indicate your level of understanding about the District's sources of funding.

Do Not Understand at All

Somewhat Understand

Fully Understand  X

District Challenges

As we plan for the future, we are asking respondents to identify challenges the District may face during the next three to five years.  As our community grows, we want to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality education to all Katy ISD students.

Please indicate the level of importance you feel Katy ISD should place on each of the following potential challenges.

No Importance

Low Importance

Moderate Importance

High Importance

 

Addressing student behavior issues

X

 

Advocating for more state funding for public education

X

 

Building new schools

X

 

Ensuring campus safety

X

 

Improving student academic performance

X

 

Building new program facilities for extracurricular or co-curricular activities, such as an agriculture center or student athletics and fine arts center (agriculture, fine arts, athletics, etc.)

X

 

Meeting the needs of a diverse student population

X

 

Providing opportunities for students to engage in community service

X

 

Providing quality customer service

X

 

Providing students with access to digital devices

X

 

Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers

X

 

Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers who represent the diversity of our District

X

 

Reducing class size

X

 

Reducing costs and lowering taxes

X

Rating things as to "importance" is not the same as rating them as to "desirability."  In the matter of an academic education, having a digital device is nice but not necessary.  In hiring high quality teachers, the "diversity" of that teacher doesn't matter if she/he is a good teacher. Community "service" is not the purview of the public schools.  Service is done when one is moved to perform it--not as a requirement for a course or diploma. I am NOT a customer of the school district.  The school district is not producing a product for me!  So "customer service" is not something that should concern them. Classes in elementary schools are too small.  They should be bigger.  High school English classes should not have more than 25 students.  Other high school classes should not have more than 30 students.

Facilities Planning

Are you aware that the District has a Long-Range Facilities Plan?

Yes X

No

Are you aware that generally after the first 15 years of a school facility being constructed, various levels of renovation may be required?

Yes, X  BUT IT'S LESS OF A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE A GOOD MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT THAT KEEPS THE BUILDINGS UP ALL THE TIME.

No

Are you aware that the District is establishing a Bond Committee comprised of community members to review and determine facility needs for a potential bond referendum for this November?

Yes   And you only have one so that the Board members don't take the heat when you mess up! You already know what is going to be on your next bond referendum and your architect has more to do with that decision than your committee.

No


Strategies for Addressing Increases in Student Enrollment

This past January, Katy ISD hosted a series of "Community Conversations" designed to gather feedback about the status of District programs, outcomes and initiatives.  Many community forum participants expressed concerns about the District's student population growth. Katy ISD is keenly aware of this challenge and is seeking your input about how to prioritize strategies for addressing the rapid increase in student enrollment.  Please indicate your level of support for the following strategies.

Strongly Oppose

Oppose

Support

Strongly Support

 

Modify some attendance boundaries - Change the area of a select group of schools so that they are assigned a number of students appropriate for school building capacity.

X

 

Modify existing attendance boundaries across Katy ISD - Change the area of all schools so that they are assigned a number of students appropriate for school building capacity.

X

 

New construction - Build new schools.

X

 

Temporary facilities - Use portable classrooms at existing school sites that are over enrolled.

X

 

Pure feeder patterns - To the extent possible, all students from an elementary school move to the same junior high school; all students from a junior high school go to the same high school.

X

 

Blended feeder patterns - Student assignment to junior high or high school is not determined by where students went to elementary or junior high school. I'm guessing that opposition to this one will give you an excuse to build more schools.  If you built them in the right place in the first place, that wouldn't be a problem.

X

 

Build new program facilities - As student enrollment grows and new schools are built, there is an increased demand for program facility use. For example, Katy ISD has recently identified the need for a new agriculture facility and stadium to accommodate schedules and events for seven high schools. Rhodes Stadium (our current stadium) opened in 1981, when the District had only two high schools. By 2023, the District is planning to have opened an additional two high schools for a total of nine.

X

Katy ISD Community Survey

Katy ISD Programs

Katy ISD offers numerous academic and extracurricular programs for students. Please indicate the level of importance you feel Katy ISD should place on each of the following programs.

No Importance

Low Importance

Moderate Importance

High Importance

 

Advanced academic programs (Advanced Placement, Dual-Credit enrollment, IB)

X BECAUSE OF IB

 

Career and technical education

X

 

College preparedness

X

 

Digital learning Didn't make clear that this isn't learning about technology--this is replacing a live teacher

X

 

Fine arts programs

X

 

Athletic programs

X

 

Opportunities for community involvement

X

 

Opportunities for family involvement

X

 

Physical fitness and wellness programs KISD should have nothing to do with students' and teachers' wellness.  It's none of their business.

X

 

Second language acquisition (Foreign Language Programs and English as a Second Language) Students need to learn English!!  Period!!

X

 

Service clubs and service organizations These are not the same as special interest clubs.  Once again, the school is getting into areas where it has no business.

X

 

Student activities ( National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America, French Club)

X

The Texas Education Legislature recently passed House Bill 5, which requires school districts to rate the following categories.

How would you rate the overall quality of the following programs?

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Unsure

 

Fine Arts

X

 

Wellness and Physical Education Programs

X

 

Gifted and Talented Services  Ability grouping would do the most for gifted students.

X

 

Community and Parent Involvement

X

 

21st Century Workforce  Providing a "workforce" is not the duty of a public school.  It's job is to provide an academic liberal arts education so that students may become a auto mechanic or a brain surgeon after they graduate depending on their ability, but they need to know the basics of OUR culture.

X

 

Second Language Acquisition We don't need this. Who are you to decide which language a whole group of people need to learn?

X

 

Dropout Prevention    Some students need to drop out if they aren't smart enough to stay in school or they refuse to behave.

X

 

Digital Learning Environment I prefer to have students taught by live teachers!

X

How would you rate the level of your child or grandchild's engagement at his/her school?

I do not have a child or grandchild in Katy ISD X

Very Engaged

Engaged

Disengaged

Very Disengaged

Measuring Educational Excellence

Schools receive various ratings of quality from local, state and federal governments. In your opinion, what should be included when measuring our educational quality? (Select all that apply)

Access to innovative technology and opportunities

X

Amount of money allocated for the education of each student (cost per student)

Community involvement in school

Community perception of school

Comparison to other school district's achievement results (local, state, national and international comparisons)

Condition of the school buildings

X

How well students perform in high school (graduation rate, SAT, AP, etc.)

Number and quality of special programs to meet all student needs (Special Education, Gifted and Talented, etc.)

X

Number of discipline problems/issues

Number of extracurricular activities offered, such as clubs and sports

X

Number of students graduating and enrolling in post-secondary education

Parent involvement in school

Parent perception of school

X

Recruitment and retention of high quality instructional staff

School safety and security with school buildings and school environment

Staff perception of school

Student participation and performance in rigorous, advanced courses such as AP and Dual-Credit courses

Student perception of school

Student performance on District learning assessments

Student performance on state tests

X

Other  

Number of students who can get out of college within 6 years of graduating from high school.  Currently only 35% of KISD students are able

Would you recommend Katy ISD to a friend or family member with school-aged children considering a move?

s can do that

Yes

X

No And MY grandchildren do not live in KISD.

In which of these areas do you feel Katy ISD most needs to improve? [Please select two]

Academic rigor X

Community support for the District

Condition of school facilities

Neighborhood schools

Parent involvement

Quality of teachers X

Resources, such as technology, available to students

Student performance on standardized tests

Success of extracurricular programs

Variety of academic programs

Other  

Communication

What is your preferred method of communication with the District?

Campus eNews/email

Direct mail

District eNews/email

X

District website X

Facebook

Katy Update (Electronic newsletter)

Phone

Text messages

Twitter

Would you attend a community meeting to learn more about facility needs?

Yes

No

Would you be willing to participate in a focus group to better inform the District about the community's reaction to a possible bond proposal?

Yes

No

Do you currently serve on a Homeowners Association or similar Board?

Yes

NoX

Please rate the quality of Katy ISD's current District-level communication efforts (i.e. Katy Update (district enewsletter), emergency enews notifications, Superintendent messages, notifications impacting entire district, etc.).

I don’t receive District-level communications  X

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Please rate the quality of Katy ISD's current campus-level communication efforts (communication specific to issues that affect your child's campus).

I do not have a child in Katy ISD schools X

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor