Local business leaders had the opportunity to hear from area school superintendents on August 27 as the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “State of the Schools” luncheon at the Community Rooms at Legacy Stadium, 1830 Katyland Drive in Katy. The annual event assembled business executives, community leaders and elected officials to discuss student success, workforce development and the role strong public schools play in supporting a thriving community.

Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski joined Royal ISD Superintendent Megan C. Pape and Lamar CISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens spoke at the event. Each district leader was invited to address a topic of particular interest to their school community and to highlight their district’s strategies for advancing public education in the year ahead. The individual presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Robert Long III, director for board development services at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

Gregorski spotlighted his district’s innovative approach to navigating a changing public education landscape, outlining strategies to retain current students, to attract new families and to expand opportunities across Katy ISD.

“Public education is changing, and our district is committed to adapting while maintaining the excellence in education our families expect,” Gregorski said. “We are creating more choices, more flexibility and innovative pathways for students because we want families to see Katy ISD as the place where every child has access to multiple opportunities to succeed.”

As public school enrollment growth slows or declines in parts of Texas, Gregorski emphasized that school districts must adapt to an increasingly competitive education landscape. For Katy ISD, that means giving families more reasons to choose the district and more reasons to stay.

At the heart of that strategy is KISD’s Innovative Pathways, a suite of programs and initiatives designed to strengthen student retention, attract new families and expand educational opportunities for students. By creating greater choice within the public school system, the district is positioning itself to respond to changing family needs while strengthening enrollment and the funding that follows students.

Gregorski highlighted several Innovative Pathways initiatives, including expanded Career and Technical Education programs developed in alignment with local business and industry partners. In high-demand fields, students can pursue career-ready credentials and enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Programs such as the district’s Water Operations Licensing and Underground Utilities connect students directly with industry needs while building partnerships with businesses committed to hiring program graduates.

The district is also expanding flexibility for families. Its flexible school-day option gives students greater ability to balance school with work and other obligations, while Remain-in-Place transfers allow students

to continue attending their Katy ISD schools even when their families move outside the district’s boundaries. Katy ISD is also extending its reach beyond traditional attendance boundaries through its Legacy Virtual High School and High School Limited Open Enrollment, giving more students access to Katy ISD programs and creating new avenues for families to choose the District. The demand for flexible learning is already evident, as this past summer, Katy ISD served more than 7,600 students through more than 10,000 enrollments in virtual courses.

Throughout his presentation, Gregorski underscored the importance of responding to the evolving needs of students, families and employers. “There's a clear connection between innovation, opportunity and enrollment,” he said. “When we respond to what families and employers need and create compelling reasons for students to choose Katy ISD and stay, we strengthen enrollment and generate additional funding to invest in our classrooms, programs and the learning experiences of the 94,000 students we serve.”

Pape, who is beginning her second year as superintendent for Royal ISD serving the Brookshire-Pattison area, described her district’s explosive growth, from 2,287 students in 2018 to more than 3,000 students this year. A recent demographic study projected that the district will have over 10,000 students by 2034, but Page said that the district is already on track to exceed that number, and the district is ordering a new demographic study in order to update the growth trends. After opening its second elementary school, RISD recently broke ground for a new high school which is expected to open in 2029 and to serve 3,000 students. A new CTE expo center also opened recently. Pape also detailed the history of RISD’s successful bond elections, celebrating the passage of a second attempt to pass a bond to replace the district’s aging stadium, which is located over four miles from the new high school campus. Voters also approved a bond to acquire land for future campuses, she said.

Nivens, who leads Lamar CISD, focused on …LCISD current has more than 50,000 students (up from 37,000 in 2021) and more than 6,000 employees on 62 campuses. The district – which is projected to exceed 60,000 students by 2033 and is classified as a “hyper-growth” district by TEA, Nivens said. The district opened five new facilities this year and plans to open six more next year, he said.

LCISD’s new CTE center, which opened this year, now offers a number of industry-based certifications, from graphic design to pharmacy to veterinary care, among others. New CTE enterprises open to the community are the bistro, nail salon and auto shop, where community members can receive affordable services while helping students learn.

A highlight of Nivens’ presentation was the introduction of the Bright Futures Academy at Beasley, which exclusively serves students with autism spectrum disorders. The campus, which is a “choice” school chosen by parents, provides individual learning levels, including level 1 for students who can be mainstreamed, focusing on social skills development. Levels 2 and 3 focus on compliance and social skills development. Nivens said that the campus offers half-day classes on Wednesdays, allowing time for parents to take students to therapy and medical appointments, often accompanied by a school staff

member for support. “Our goal is to provide a structured and nurturing environment where every child can learn and grow at their own pace,” Nivens said.

Nivens said that LCISD is in good financial shape and that the district was able to provide employee raises this year, and to avoid an increase in health insurance premiums.

During the panel discussion, the trio discussed the importance of student attendance, noting that “state funding follows the student.” The superintendents also addressed the issue of teacher recruitment and retention. Nivens said that he believed in “the power of referral,” wanting LCISD teachers to be so happy that they would “tell their friends.” LCISD also offers a wellness program for employees and employees also have the option of taking one “mental health day” each semester without impacting their regular leave time. Gregorski pointed to the importance of campus leadership by principals, also urging luncheon attendees to help turn the tide of attacks on public education. Fewer college students are now wanting to become teachers, he said, and negative public opinion about teachers could be a factor. Pape echoed the importance of campus leadership and the consequences of negative rhetoric about educators.

The superintendents also discussed the accountability ratings issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), with Pape calling for measures that more accurately reflect the work done by districts. Nivens said that he would like to see the current statewide formulas replaced by locally developed testing which would be approved by the TEA, contending that local educators know best what is right for their communities.