This letter was presented to the KISD Board of Trustees at the board meeting last night (8/18/2010) [downloadable .doc]

To: Katy ISD Board of Trustees:
Judith Snyder, President, Rebecca Fox, Vice President, Chris Crockette, Secretary, Robert Shaw, Treasurer, Joe M Adams, Sergeant-at- Arms, Eric M. Duhon, Member, Neal Howard, Member
This will affect Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, Firethorne, Grand Lakes, Grayson Lakes,  Pine Mill Ranch, Waterstone, and so many other master planned communities as well as anyone with children attending school in KatyISD. We are aware that the School Facility Referendum Planning Task Force Committee was launched on May 11, 2010.
We thank this task force, presumed to be comprised of 29 Katy community members, who have met once a week over the following six weeks to develop a school facility referendum recommendation for presentation to the district trustees and ultimately to the Katy ISD community. However, as citizen’s we do not feel that we have had ample opportunity to allow the community to gather sufficient information in order to base a decision concerning the proposed bond.
In January of 2007 this board was faced with the challenge of finding a new superintendent. At that time one KISD volunteer, Robert Garza, stated:
In seeking the next superintendent, the school board should look for someone with the credentials and ability to lead Katy ISD through a period of continued growth in the context of a challenging environment in terms of school finance.
Garza said he credits the district's judicious handling of finances as a major reason for success and high academic performance.
We agree; Katy Tea Party Patriots is proud of our community, educator’s and volunteers and applauds these individuals for the tireless job that they perform. It is a delicate balancing act; the citizens of Katy are faced with massive layoffs which will impact our immediate communities. We are quickly facing the reality that we are not immune from the current economic headaches faced by our nation.
Our children’s education is the top priority. However; as individuals we have failed to balance our budgets, and our representatives have failed to reign in unnecessary expenditures in light of the current economic conditions. We as citizens have been so busy living the “American Dream”, that we forgot about America. Fiscal responsibility does not come by “hope”. Fiscal responsibility comes by a methodical process of due diligence and citizen education. We no longer can sit by and assume that financial items will be handled in the best interest of our children. We must take part in the process.  We want to ensure the district’s “judicious handling of finances”.
Katy Tea Party Patriots membership ranges just under 3,000. As evidenced in our most recent primary election, our members vote. We are a conservative group of citizens who promote 1) Fiscal responsibility and less tax, 2.) Adherence to the Constitution 3.) Support of Capital Markets and Free Enterprise.
Because of the size of the proposed bond and the impact on property taxes; (it is our understanding that the current tax rate will hold steady for a year before beginning a 4-cent rise over the next four years. Every cent the tax rate increases corresponds to an additional $10 for every $100,000 of taxable value per year.) We feel that it is in the membership’s best interest to educate the Katy community so they will make knowledgeable choices for their families when voting for or against your proposal.
We are extending a public invitation to the board of trustees to join us for a public information session. Saturday October 16Th 2010. The session will last from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and will be located at the Cinco Ranch Public Library. Some of you are familiar with our formats as you attended debates for school board candidates. If you have not I will give you a brief overview. All questions are formulated from our membership. We post the survey for questions to our website. This is an opportunity for the public to ask questions of you in an organized fashion. You will be allowed a brief opening and closing remark; however, this is not a format that will allow you to “speech write” or “present”. We feel that format does not allow for a true public understanding of information. We have hosted debates for both Congressman in the Katy area; Michael McCaul and Ron Paul. Both offices will tell you that our formats are handled in the most professional manner. We are aware that at times our events host 1000’s. Should the attendance increase we will have a need to change our location and will make proper arrangements at that time.
We must fully disclose to you that a formal invitation was just released to you via email and copied to our current contacts with all major news agencies. Your response will be made public. The invitation is only extended to the Board of Trustees we will not accept representatives on your behalf. This is our standard operating procedure.   
Jennifer Danel Heiden

President