Katy ISD presents revised options for Elementary 49 boundary; trustees weigh neighborhood splits and road access

Ted Virling, Katy ISD chief operations officer, presented a revised attendance-boundary modification (ABM) option for Elementary 49 in North Sonterra and explained why the district is offering a second map after community feedback. Virling said capacity for Elementary 49 is 1,280 and that the revised map keeps Windward at Youngblood while splitting Anniston, with the western portion rezoned to the new school across Pitts Road. "We tried to keep neighborhoods together... we're trying not to split neighborhoods," Virling said while explaining tradeoffs between capacity balance and travel safety.

Trustees asked detailed questions about safety and connectivity. Trustee Taylor asked whether walking paths were addressed in the new option; Virling said the plan expects children to walk only along routes that meet board policy (0.5 miles as the crow flies plus safe sidewalks/walk paths). Trustee Shipley asked about whether Windward would be rezoned under the revised plan (Virling said Windward stays at Youngblood) and about projected enrollments: under one map Youngblood would hold about 770 students, while the alternate map could leave Youngblood at about 610, a significant staffing impact. Trustees also asked whether Pitts Road would be finished before school opens; Virling said district checks with land and county officials and he does not expect the road to be completed before 2027.

Virling offered to return with a final recommendation if the board wants additional refinement before voting. The district emphasized that maps try to balance numbers, safety, and neighborhood cohesion and that community feedback will continue to inform the final decision.