Killeen ISD has launched a major districtwide initiative, called District Optimization, focused on improving how the district uses staff, programs, and facilities to better serve students. The ultimate goal is to put more students in the district’s highest preforming schools and highest quality facilities — all while addressing a projected $31 million budget shortfall over the next four years due to a loss of Impact Aid.
District Optimization is about more than just balancing a budget. It’s about making sure resources are aligned to support strong academic outcomes, equitable opportunities, and well-maintained schools across KISD — now and into the future.
The KISD Board of Trustees began this work in early 2025. To help guide the process, KISD has engaged hundreds of stakeholders over the past year, including parents, teachers, staff, and community members. Earlier this year, a Budget Advisory Committee met to evaluate cost-saving strategies and recommend priorities. Based on this and other stakeholder engagement, the board approved five community-driven priorities at its June meeting: Academic Outcomes, High Quality School Facilities, Strong Leadership and Staffing, Family and Student Engagement, and Resources for Student Readiness. This summer, the district launched the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, which will look specifically at how KISD uses its buildings and campuses to meet enrollment and program needs.
On July 9, about 90 participants of the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee gathered at Chaparral High School for the first of seven meetings. The group reviewed enrollment trends, the district’s current budget challenges, and past bond projects. They began applying community-identified priorities to campus-level planning, with the goal of developing recommendations for the KISD Board of Trustees later this year.
“District Optimization is about strengthening our schools and ensuring every decision we make is student-centered, data-informed, and community-driven,” Dr. Jo Ann Fey, superintendent, said. “Everyone can agree that we want all KISD kids to have the best educational experience possible. This moves us forward.”
Initial recommendations will be presented to the Board of Trustees in August. Multiple community meetings will follow so the district can gather feedback on the initial recommendations. The board is expected to consider final recommendations in October.
Families, staff, and community members are encouraged to stay informed and engaged by visiting www.killeenisd.org/optimization.