Ken Gregorski, Katy ISD superintendent

George Slaughter

Our teams have made minor adjustments to bus service, menu options, and campus maintenance schedules when needed. And, yes we are experiencing shortages among our teaching personnel, though, we continue to mitigate this matter to ensure the quality of instruction for our students remains uncompromised.”

Ken Gregorski, Katy ISD superintendent

The Katy Independent School District has sent a letter to parents and staff acknowledging both staffing shortages and a growing number of COVID-19 cases as school resumed Jan. 4.

In the letter, Superintendent Ken Gregorski said the shortage involves over 200 absences due to illness and another 250 vacancies. Gregorski said the hardest hit employee groups are bus drivers, custodians, food service employees and skilled trades.

“Our teams have made minor adjustments to bus service, menu options, and campus maintenance schedules when needed,” Gregorski said. “And, yes we are experiencing shortages among our teaching personnel, though, we continue to mitigate this matter to ensure the quality of instruction for our students remains uncompromised.”

The district last August adopted a return to school plan that includes a five-stage range of severity. Under this plan, Stage 5, prevention, is the best scenario. Stage 1, district closure, is the worst-case scenario. In his letter, Gregorski said the district was at Stage 3, modified operations.

Stage 3 recommends all staff and students wear masks when indoors, on buses, and at indoor after-school events. The plan said large group indoor events may not occur during an instructional day. Officials can reschedule those events when conditions improve.

Gregorski said officials meet daily to identify immediate needs and make needed adjustments.

“I understand this is a difficult time, though I truly believe that the way we get through these challenges is by working together, and demonstrating patience, grace and understanding,” Gregorski said.

As of Jan. 7, the district said it had 1,718 active cases. Of these, 1,197 cases are students, and 521 are faculty or staff.

The letter comes as the district announced that it is hiring staff.

The district will host its annual Certified Teacher Job Fair on March 26 at the Leonard Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane.

At the fair, elementary campus leadership will meet interested candidates between 8:30-11:30 a.m., and secondary personnel between 1-4 p.m.

Candidates interested in any Katy ISD position may apply at bit.ly/ApplyKatyISD.

“From educating our students, keeping our campuses clean and safe, and providing transportation to and from school, these men and women are essential to the success of our school district,” Brian Schuss, chief human resources officer, said. “Katy ISD offers competitive compensation and benefits packages to those interested in joining our team.”