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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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Katy Citizen Watchdog$ Say Farewell To Xpediant!! By Katy Watchdog Staff On Friday, August 22nd the Houston Chronicle posted an on-line story stating that the district has terminated Xpediant’s employment with Katy ISD. The Katy Dogs were thrilled with the news. In a formal press release issued this morning (August 25th), Watchdog Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, had this to say: “The Watchdog$ want to commend the district for its decision to terminate the employment of Xpediant. This is a decision that has been long overdue in our opinion and we are very glad that the taxpayers of this community will no longer have to fund their costly contracts. We believed that this group’s contract should have been cancelled in 2005 after it was discovered that Xpediant had not paid its state franchise taxes. As it turns out the Xpediant contract was a no-bid contract; something that the Watchdog$ have been objecting to for years. The Watchdog$ offer kudos to Superintendent, the district and our Board for finally ended this technology relationship. The Watchdog$ sincerely hope that the district has learned a lesson about contractors such as Xpediant. Click here to read the complete Press Release. |
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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!
Katy ISD Halts Contract With Technology Firm Citing “Contractual Disputes”
By Helen Eriksen, Houston Chronicle
The Katy school district says that because of “contractual disputes with management,” it has ended its relationship with Xpediant, a company to which the district has paid millions of dollars for technology services.
A school watchdog group, among others, often criticized the controversial six-year deal with Xpediant, which was inked under a no-bid contract. Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said Friday that district official told all Xpediant employees Thursday not to return to work at any site in the district.
Katy ISD’s Spending Plan Wins Trustees’ Support
By Helen Eriksen, Houston Chronicle
Katy school trustees unanimously endorsed a spending plan Monday for 2008-09 that they say is fiscally responsible and supports district goals. It includes $524.9 million in expenditures with the proposed tax rate the same as last year, $1.52 per $100 of valuation. That includes the $1.12 maintenance and operations tax rate plus 40 cents for debt service. A vote to adopt the tax rate will be held during the September board meeting in the Education Support Complex, 6301 S. Stadium Lane. The board will meet in a work study session Sept. 15 and regular board meeting Sept. 22.
The budget underwent last-minute modifications because of $4 million in additional revenues the district received from the state Monday, said district chief financial officer Bill Moore. The revenues were previously included in the proposed 2008-09 budget because district officials anticipated receiving the funds after Sept. 1.
“The money arrived today and we amended the budget to recognize the funds in 2007-08,” Moore said.
The Watchdog Stadium Report
By Katy Watchdog Staff
Unbeknownst to most of the Katy area the district has been meeting to discuss plans for a new football stadium; something that Rusty Dowling says is needed once we build our next high school (projected for opening in 2012). According to Mr. Dowling school districts need two (2) football stadiums once that district has seven (7) or more high schools.
Watchdog Co-Founder, Kevin Tatum, was asked by the district to sit on this committee and to date he appears to be the only voice of reason in the group. What we will do from this point forward is try and bring you a report of meeting events. Kevin was kind enough to provide us with his notes from the last meeting.
So here we go…….
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What’s New?
The Katy Sun Interviews KISD Superintendent Alton Frailey By Wes Swift, Katy Sun Editor’s Note: Alton Frailey came to the Katy school district a little more than a year ago. Since then, he’s presided over a district that’s had a fair amount of success and a share of controversy. In an interview with Sun Editor Wes Swift last week at the district’s central administration building, Frailey discussed his first year as superintendent. This is the first part of the interview. Click here to read the interview in its entirety.
The Watchdog$ Respond To The Frailey Interview By Katy Watchdog Staff We hope by now that you have had a chance to read the interview that the Katy Sun interview with Superintendent Frailey (above). Did you think that some of his negative comments were directed at the Watchdog$? Quite frankly, we found some of his responses to be a bit concerning and therefore felt the need to respond. The Watchdog$ asked Mr. Swift, at the Katy Sun if he would allow us a chance to express our concern via an editorial. Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell prepared the response and submitted it to the Katy Sun for consideration. The Katy Sun recently published the response in its entirety. Click here to read that editorial.
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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 approximately $7.5 Million Dollars.*
*Source - KISD. The district’s 2007/2008 budget year ends on August 31, 2008.
The district’s projected surplus for the 2008/2009 school year is approximately $397,086.00.**
**Source - KISD. The district’s 2008/2009 budget year ends on August 31, 2009.
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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 = $1,431,460,620* *Source - KISD thru 8-31-07 (Figure shown as principal & interest) |