Dr. McGown Quarter 4 Update: Public Education is Patriotic
Dear Klein ISD Family & Community,
As we close out the fourth and final quarter of the 2022-2023 school year, I remain grateful for our hardworking students, dedicated staff, and supportive families.
This school year has seen a multitude of remarkable achievements, with our students taking center stage. Some of these victories have quite literally taken place on grand stages across our country as our students showcased their excellence in Academics, the Arts, and Athletics.
Even still, there are those quiet, unheralded and yet significant moments, often witnessed by none, where our students have realized their true potential and ignited the purpose that will guide them throughout their lives.
Regardless of where and when our students shine, one core belief remains unwavering: Our kids—the future of Texas—are always a worthy investment.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
And so, as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week in Klein ISD (May 8-12), I hope you’ll take time to thank the excellent teachers who invest in our community and the lives of our kids.
Teaching is a challenging and noble profession—many even consider it a calling to serve. I know that you join me in sharing heartfelt gratitude with our 5,000+ classroom teachers for everything they do every single day to contribute to our students’ success.
As I spend time in classrooms across Klein ISD every week, I witness our schools as sacred spaces where our children not only learn to love our great Nation but through a collective commitment to EVERY student’s success, we reveal to them the beauty of America—the refuge she is, the opportunity she offers, the grace she gives to all of us to write stories that transcend the circumstances of our birth.
And to that end I ask, what could be more American than to protect, support, and champion the difference-making, life-changing, transformative work done by educators in schools in Klein ISD and across our Nation? Few things are more patriotic than public education.
Our teachers have shown unwavering dedication, creativity, and resilience throughout this school year, and we are grateful for their commitment to our students, our community, and our country. Let’s celebrate their accomplishments and honor their contributions to our Klein community during Teacher Appreciation Week and always.
THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON KLEIN ISD
Our Texas Legislature has been working to address key educational issues that impact our district, such as student and staff safety, school finance, mental health resources, and early childhood education. We are encouraged by the passage of bills that focus on increasing funding for public education and providing additional resources for safety efforts, including mental health supports. We will continue to advocate for policies that support the needs of our students, staff, and community, and we are committed to providing updates as new information becomes available.
With 22 days left in the session, we continue to advocate for fully funding safety and security needs and increasing the State-determined amount of funding per student. An approximate 17% inflation rate is impacting all Texas public schools, which haven’t received a budget adjustment in the State-determined amount of funding per student since 2019. This historic inflation is straining our ability to provide excellent and innovative learning opportunities for students in the safe and secure environment that our community expects.
In order to keep up with increasing costs due to inflation, we are asking for an inflationary increase of approximately $1,000 per student in the State-determined amount of funding, also known as the Basic Allotment. This inflationary adjustment per student would help us address essential needs like safety and security enhancements, teacher and staff pay raises, and provide excellent educational opportunities and choices for all our students.
Texas currently has an approximately $33 billion budget surplus, providing an unprecedented opportunity to reinvest in our students, teachers, and schools. One such bill we are following is House Bill 100, the best school finance bill we’ve seen so far this session, and we need your help to ensure its passage and improvement. We strongly urge our great state of Texas to address the financial challenges we face and invest in our children’s future. Moreover, we ask for local control over allocated funds, so districts like ours can effectively address specific needs which vary considerably among the nearly 1,200 districts across Texas. Our classroom teachers and school support staff are integral to our children’s success, and they deserve fair and sustained compensation, especially in light of inflation.
EASILY FIND WHO REPRESENTS YOU & CONTACT THEM
Collectively, we have the privilege, the right, and the responsibility to share our voices with our legislators. I ask you to join me in showing support and care for our teachers and students by contacting our elected leaders and asking them to invest in public education.
2022 BOND & SECURITY UPDATES
Thanks to the community’s support of the 2022 Bond and our outstanding school board’s leadership, all 2022 Bond projects marked for safety and security are now complete or actively under construction and nearing completion.
As we head into the summer months, you’ll likely see construction crews hard at work at numerous schools across our Klein community while our students and educators are on break. We’re eagerly anticipating the completion of our Flex School, which will be utilized by elementary students and staff at elementary schools that are 50+ years old when these schools are undergoing total renovations.
Additionally, when students and teachers return next school year, they’ll begin using new classroom technology that includes interactive touch panels, Chromebooks, and iPads.
I’m so grateful to our community for your support of the 2022 Bond and your investment in our students, teachers, and schools. These bond funds are critical in ensuring that our students continue to have excellent and innovative learning experiences in Klein ISD.
As always, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire Klein ISD community for your unwavering support and dedication. Together, we have accomplished great things this year for our Klein kids and community, and I am thankful for each of you.
Gratefully,
Dr. Jenny McGown
Klein ISD Superintendent
Best Public Schools in Texas
Klein ISD has an established 84-year history of excellence and innovation in education with unique pathways for EVERY student in our care to ensure learners are college, career, military, and life ready. With recognition for STEM, athletics, fine arts, and academics from highly-esteemed organizations, it is clear that Our Shared Vision of every student entering with a promise and exiting with a purpose is a reality for EVERY student who walks through our doors.
About Klein ISD
Klein ISD is a school district in Klein, Texas, located in northwestern Harris County. The district spans approximately 88 square miles and serves more than 53,000 students in 33 elementary schools, 10 intermediate campuses, one high school program of choice, and 5 high schools.
Help Us Share Your Story
There are so many incredible individuals in the Klein Family making a lasting impact on our community. We want to recognize and celebrate our leaders and learners that are cultivating talent, building relationships, reimagining learning and making Promise2Purpose a reality daily. Share your story here: https://kleinfamily.net
