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“Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” - Ronald Reagan |
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Welcome Welcome to the web site of the Katy Citizen Watchdog$!! We’re glad you found us!! We hope that you will find this site informative and “eye opening”. We hope that you will consider joining us after you have had a chance to see what we are trying to accomplish. Who are the Katy Citizen Watchdog$? We are the parents/taxpayers of the Katy School District. We are ordinary, hardworking Americans from various backgrounds and professions (including the education profession) who believe that school districts should be accountable and transparent to the people that “pay the bills”. We simply want proper representation to go with our taxation. If you will recall your history, this is not a new concept. More Read our 2005 Founding Statement Here
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“Deficit spending creates a de facto tax hike, because deficits can be repaid only by future tax increases.” - Ron Paul/US Representative |
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Merrell Center Running 3-Year Deficit/Watchdog Group Says District Didn’t Consider Operating Costs By Helen Eriksen, Houston Chronicle The Leonard E. Merrell Center has established itself as a resource in the Katy area, bringing in a variety of exhibits while providing a permanent venue for Katy Independent School District Functions. But reports show that revenue growth for the multipurpose center, which opened in spring of 2005, significantly lags behind expenditures. Expenses outpaced revenues in 2004-05 by $343,102, $779,359 in 2005-06 and $577,608 in 2006-07. Supporters say the complex is a hallmark of a fast-growing area, benefits the community and plays a key role in attracting new development. But critics say taxpayers should be wary that the center continues to operate in the red. |
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“Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to. On their good sense we may rely with the most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson |
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GET ON OUR E-MAIL LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Katy Citizen Watchdog$ are the alternative voice in Katy ISD. Why don’t you take the opportunity to add yourself to our email list, so we can provide you with our monthly newsletter, important district news and announcements on upcoming important meetings and events occurring in our district. .
Click Here To Go To Our Sign-Up Page
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In The News!
3 Katy ISD Incumbents Re-Elected
By Helen Eriksen, Houston Chronicle
All three incumbents up for re-election in the Katy Independent School District school board race retained their trustee positions after campaigning intensely over the last month
Cristina Crockett, 50, an attorney and Position 3 board member who was appointed to replace Jackie Birkel, won her first election with 2,671 of the 4,830 votes cast in the race.
Her challenger Kameron Searle, 46, an attorney who was part of a slate of three candidates to be endorsed by the Katy Citizen Watchdogs, received 2,159 votes.
Eric Duhon, 57, a vice president of an information management company won the Position 4 race with 2,278 votes of 4,893 votes cast. His closest challenger, Cynthia Blackman, 56, a former Katy ISD teacher, also endorsed by the Watchdogs, received 2,142 votes, Fred Krenek, 47, a Spanish teacher in Alief ISD netted 148 votes and Ross Raymond, 56, a financial planner got 325 votes.
Judith Snyder, 60, a vice-president of a scholarship management company, beat Watchdogs endorsee Chris Sanders, an advertising professional. Snyder received 2,507 of 4,865 votes cast and Sanders received 2,358.
In last year’s school board election there were 4,294 ballots cast.
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What’s New?
Practice Fields Imperfect For Disabled By Helen Eriksen, Houston Chronicle A complaint alleging discrimination against disabled people could lead Katy school district officials to improve access to football practice fields at a high school campus to comply with federal law. The case involving Cinco Ranch High School could have widespread implications for other school districts with facilities that do not meet federal accessibility requirements. Amid an ongoing civil rights probe, Katy school officials say they are uncertain of the cost, timetable and best method to bring the fields into compliance. “Because our practice fields are very similar across the district, there is a possibility that whatever modifications that will need to be made at the Cinco Ranch High School fields will also need to be made at other district practice fields,” district spokesman Steve Stanford said. Katy resident Joanne Matson claimed in a grievance filed with the Office of Civil Rights that the district did not provide her with adequate handicap parking or an accessible route to six sports fields at the school as required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. The 67-year old disabled veteran, who relies on a walker to get around, said spinal, foot, and bone problems make it difficult for her to walk. She said she had to walk the length of several fields on dirt and grass to watch her nephew play in Houston Youth Football League games held at the school on several occasions. |
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"The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance my deride it, but in the end, there it is." |
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KATY ISD BUDGET INFORMATION
The district’s projected deficit for the 2007/2008 school year is $2.2 Million Dollars.
The district is projecting a budget surplus of $8.3 Million for the 2006/2007 school year. |
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“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force...Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” - George Washington |
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KISD Bond Debt = $1,434,532,535* *Source - KISD Estimates For 2006/2007 |