Katy ISD’s board of trustees met in a special session on August 31, to start the process of “refreshing” the district’s strategic plan. The district reviews its strategic plan every couple of years, KISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said at the start of the meeting. The original plan was developed over a decade ago, officials said.

Katy ISD’s strategic planning process began in 2017 when trustees identified a need for a community-led process to establish priorities for student learning and district success, session facilitator Julie Moynihan of Engaged 2 Learn said. Through public education summits, community surveys, and focus groups with parents, students, teachers, business, and faith-based leaders, stakeholders shared their hopes for KISD students and helped to create the foundation for the district's first strategic plan. That work culminated in a 100-member committee of families, community leaders, and trustees who identified district goals and measurable specific results or objectives designed to move the district forward.

Since then, the community's review of the strategic planning process has continued each year, resulting in updated strategic plans in 2021 and again during the 2024 school year. Over the past decade, 81 specific results have been identified and realized through KISD's strategic planning process, Moynihan said. Many of the programs and initiatives families and community members rely on today grew directly from the community-driven planning, she said. That includes the district's safety-focused “Speak Up” app, which provides an anonymous way to report safety concerns. The process also resulted in flexible school day programming that provides high school students an alternative pathway to graduation while allowing them to balance work and other responsibilities, as well as many other innovations and programs.

The group discussion among the board members was facilitated by Moynihan, executive facilitator from Engaged 2 Learn, and KISD Chief Communications Officer Andrea Grooms. Board members participated in the roundtable discussion to identify topics to be referred to a committee of community members for refinement.

The discussion was a reflection on progress from 2024 to 2026, said Moynigan, and an opportunity for a community committee to look at results achieved for specific objectives and to identify critical opportunities that they want to seize over the next two years.

Among the topics that board members identified for referral to the committee:

· Creating a sense of community and belonging for students, especially those involved in virtual learning

· “Keeping Katy Katy” by maintaining a sense of community through the schools

· Increasing community engagement, both with parents and with community members who can support campuses through mentorship and volunteerism

· Non-compensation incentives for teacher recruitment and retention

· Viewing KISD as the district that is best in class in deploying technology in a way that enhances critical thinking

· Marketing KISD to potential students in order increase enrollment through a coordinated advertising plan

The board members will now submit nominations for the community committee, which will be comprised of about 100 individuals, including parents, community members, staff members, and students. About 25 percent of the members will be previous committee participants, in order to maintain a historical perspective, Moynihan said.

During the week of September 14-28, a community survey will be sent out to seek feedback on critical opportunities and specific action that needs to happen from those goals, Moynihan said.

The community committee will meet on October 14 for a “refresh day” to go through critical opportunities, and on October 28 to identify specific actions and objectives.

On November 9, Moynihan will come back to the board with the recommendations from the committee.

The next board meetings are scheduled:

· Work study meeting, September 14

· Regular board meeting, September 21