More than 100 projects studied by KISD committee

School’s out for the summer for most students, but that doesn’t mean Katy Independent School District grinds to a halt. It must account for morethan 3,000 students estimated to be enrolling in the district each year.

The spike will add to the 68,000 student population and stress to the school’s resources. In response, the district is working on plans for a 2014 bond election.

“The goal is to provide for the district’s major capital needs for the next three to four years,” said Tom Gunnell, the district’s chief operations officer. “The main areas of focus are how we respond and how we manage growth, and how we will ensure that, as our facilities age, they are well-maintained and improved to meet current district standards.”

Each year, the district analyzes its projected growth and modifies its long-range facilities plan based on that analyses, Gunnell said.

Such growth is unlikely to slow down either, as the housing market in Houston, and its sur- rounding suburbs such as Katy, continues to be hot. Buyers and sellers are witness to a market experiencing stressed housing inventory and record sales.

Superintendent Alton Frailey recently said that one of the growth factors for Katy, other than the economic boom, has been Katy ISD’s reputation. The students’ STAAR results were among the highest in the region, with an average passing rate of about 91 percent.

“Katy ISD is, and continues to be, a destination district for families and businesses,” he said. “They are moving here from all over the area and country to take advantage of the high quality programs we offer our students and the healthy economy our residents enjoy.”

This coming year, Frailey pointed out that the district will open three facilities, which use funding from a previous 2010 bond. It will cut the ribbon on two new elementary schools. The district also has already broken ground on the Center for Imagination and Innovation, which is slated to open its doors in March.

In the meantime, Frailey said the district will analyze the results of a recent community survey it took and make any plans it will need to respond to input.

Gunnell said a community--

led Bond Committee comprised of 200 district residents is leading efforts to develop a 2014 bond package to meet the district’s capital needs to match its resources to the growth.

The 15 subgroups which each came up with a bond package were to consolidate to five groups June 17 and five possible packages.

Committee members are reviewing more than 100 projects and Gunnell said the district anticipates the bond package will be presented for school board consideration by the end of July.

“A large portion of that package will likely go toward new schools to provide capacity for students, and renovations to bring the older campuses up to the current district standard,” Gunnell said. “Equally important are the component pieces, life-- safety systems and other projects that ensure our students a safe and healthy learning environment.”

The board of trustees will then have until Aug. 18 to call an election.