Trustees approve revised Katy Elementary renovation plan

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 12/16/21

Trustees

Katy school trustees Monday approved a revised renovation plan for Katy Elementary School, 5726 George Bush Dr.

At the heart of the revised plan was a stronger focus on preserving the …

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Trustees approve revised Katy Elementary renovation plan

Posted

Katy school trustees Monday approved a revised renovation plan for Katy Elementary School, 5726 George Bush Dr.

At the heart of the revised plan was a stronger focus on preserving the campus’s history. The school opened in 1964 and was renovated in 1994. The red brick color will be consistent with the rest of the bricks on campus and more of a gable will be placed over the entry.

The entry lobby core door will be renovated, with the school bell being moved so it can be seen from both the inside and outside of the school. It will also have a recess on one side featuring an image of the original campus, along with some of the school’s original furniture.

Officials presented an initial renovation plan to trustees last month, which was approved.

“We thought there were some great things in that design,” Ted Vierling, the district’s chief operating officer, said. “We got some feedback from the board and the superintendent. It gave us an opportunity to come back to you tonight.”

At last month’s meeting, Ryan Wotipka, district project manager, told trustees that the renovations would include a new roof, restroom and kitchen updates, along with mechanical, electrical and plumbing updates.

Portable buildings will be removed and replaced with a new two-story structure in the north eastern corner of the campus. The new structure will also add student capacity to the campus, and be used mostly by fourth and fifth-grade students.

Wotipka is managing the project with feedback from Beth Grimet, school principal, and her staff.

Kirksey Architecture prepared the designs. Satterfield and Pontikes Construction will do the construction work. Both companies are based out of Houston.

Construction documentation is now expected to be developed by the end of January, and a costume will be presented to trustees at their March 2022 meeting.

Other actions taken

In other action Monday, trustees:

  • Purchased property for a future school facility.
  • Adopted local policies included in Board Policy Update 118.
  • Approved the November 2021 board meeting minutes.
  • Heard a report on the uses of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER II & ESSER III).
  • Heard a report on supply chain situation and its impacts on the district.
  • Approved an amendment to the Stewart Builders, Inc. contract related to the comprehensive renovations and addition to Diane Winborn Elementary School.
  • Approved the October 2021 district financial reports.
  • Approved the December 2021 budget amendments.
  • Approved stop loss insurance for Health Plan Year 2022.
  • Approved closed campuses for intra-district and inter-district transfers for the 2022-23 school year.
  • Approved the purchase of new election equipment for Katy ISD elections that contains an auditable voting system as required by revisions to the Texas Election Code.
Katy Independent School District, Katy Elementary School