Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | December 2024

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Cedar Park Far Northwest Austin Edition VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 DEC. 12, 2024JAN. 17, 2025

Turning the page

Shannon McCain helps her daughter Ashe use one of the library’s computers. She said exploring the new facility’s resources has quickly become part of her family’s routine.

SAM SCHAFFERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Recently completed Cedar Park Public Library oers more than books

to feel like the community’s living room, not the solitary space that may come to mind. “The library is the great equalizer, because every- body can start from the same place,” Huguley said.

otherwise, such as the internet or science, technol- ogy, engineering and math tools. With specic areas geared toward kids and teens in addition to the traditional stacks, Kristen Hugu- ley, campaign director for the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation, said the library was designed

BY SAM SCHAFFER

The new Cedar Park Public Library, which opened Nov. 1, is more than the classic book shelves that libraries have been historically. It was designed to foster community and give people a space to meet, talk and access resources they might not be able to

CONTINUED ON 26

Also in this issue

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Impacts: Sports club TopShot now oering badminton, pickleball and gym memberships in Cedar Park—continue reading (Page 6)

Community: Looking for senior living facilities in Cedar Park and far Northwest Austin? Learn more about local options (Page 30)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

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Reporters Brittany Anderson Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

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• Holy Communion • Candlelight Services • Christian Education

• Caroling • Christmas Pageant • Prayer

�� BRUSHY CREEK RD. | CEDAR PARK Join St. Julian’s community as we celebrate Advent and Christmas with the hope of seeing the wonders happening all around us. • Daily Advent Reflections • Holy Communion Join the St. Julians community as we celebrate Advent and Christmas with the hope of seeing the wonders happening all around us See our website for • Candlelight Services • Christian Education • Prayer details and more upcoming events: stjuliansaustin.org • Children’s Chapel • Nursery • Lessons & Carols • Caroling • Christmas Pageant Follow us on Facebook

stjuliansaustin.org See our website for details and more upcoming events:

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

2 Mojo Coffee The new coffee shop serves a variety of beverages from locally roasted beans. The business is known for its Mojo Famous Frappe, featuring a frozen blend of milk and espresso. • Opened Nov. 6 • 2875 W. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 100, Cedar Park • www.mojodrivethru.com 3 Remnant Resale The shop sells hand-selected and curated vintage apparel, decor and collectibles, including men’s and women’s clothing. Customers can shop by appointment only. • Opened Nov. 1 • 11520 Hero Way West, Ste. G, Leander • www.remnantresale.com 4 TopShot The business offers badminton, pickleball and gym memberships, which customers can use to book court reservations, participate in training courses and join leagues for each sport. • Opened Nov. 24 • 840 N. Vista Ridge Blvd., Cedar Park • www.topshottx.com Pet Comfort & Clean Spaces Austin resident Juvadee Taoha started a new mobile business offering pet care and home cleaning services. The business offers dog walking and drop-in visits for pets as well as several cleaning packages, featuring a range of services from dusting to plant care. • Opened Nov. 11 • www.petcomfortcleanspaces.com

Leander

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AVERY RANCH BLVD.

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Coming soon

5 Bagel Bear The new bagel shop will serve New York-style bagels with cream cheese as well as coffee, teas and smoothies. The business will make its dough onsite, with options ranging from za’atar and curry-spiced bagels to classic offerings. • Opening in March

Cedar Park & Leander

45 TOLL sandwiches, popcorn chicken, fries, salads, burritos and breakfast sandwiches. The new Cedar Park business is the franchise’s third location in Texas. • Opened Nov. 22 • 3501 N. Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 110, Leander • www.daddyschickenshack.com LAKELINE MALL DR.

Now open

1 Daddy’s Chicken Shack The restaurant serves chicken tenders, chicken

620

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DACIA GARCIA, CLAIRE SHOOP & CHLOE YOUNG

• 12301 W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park • www.bagel-bear.com

Now open

6 Eggs Up Grill The restaurant will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch at its new location in Cedar Park. Signature dishes include corned beef hash, omelets, blueberry muffins and croissant-style donuts. The grill will also serve burgers, salads and melts, and provide catering. The new Cedar Park restaurant is one of several locations franchisees Michael and Rana Boselah plan to open in the North Austin area. A total of eight new Eggs Up Grill locations are planned to open in the greater Austin area. • Opening in March • 202 Walton Way, Ste. 142, Cedar Park • www.eggsupgrill.com

10 Shipley Do-Nuts The Texas-based brand serves fresh, handmade doughnuts, including its classic plain glazed as well as filled, iced and cake varieties. The shop also offers bear claws, kolaches and coffee. The Leander location is owned by franchisees David Howell, Richard Howell and Patrick Smith. The trio plans to open another location in South Austin later this year. • Opened Nov. 11 • 15237 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 702, Leander • www.shipleydonuts.com Leander ISD staff members at a shopping center off Hero Way West, according to a permit filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The clinic will provide LISD staff access to health care services and providers, including same- or next-day appointments. The 3,675-square-foot building will feature a reception area, exam rooms, offices, restrooms and support spaces, per TDLR. • Opening Jan. 1 • Northeast corner of Hero Way West and North Bagdad Road • www.frontierdirectcare.com 11 Blackbird Massage The family-owned business recently expanded as co- owner Michael Gagnon joined his wife, Rachael Gagnon, in offering services at the business. It also leased the

12 Summer Blends Cafe Located at The Crossover, the food truck offers an elevated, salad-bar-on-wheels experience. Customers can choose from options such as wraps, paninis, soups and açaí bowls. Food trucks Coat & Thai and Habibi ATX closed on Nov. 9 at the center. • Opened Dec. 1 • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.crossovertx.com

Relocations

7 Culver’s The North Austin location at 2240 W. Braker Lane will close on Dec. 22, but the franchise will reopen in Leander. The Wisconsin chain is best known for its cheese curds and fresh frozen custard. It also offers a range of burgers, chicken tenders, sandwiches, seafood entrees and salads. • Relocating February 2025 • 1631 Crystal Village Blvd., Leander • www.culvers.com

8 Texas Orthopedics Sports & Rehabilitation Associates

entire building after previously operating out of a single rented room. The business offers traditional massage services, including Swedish, deep tissue, maternity, sports and manual lymphatic drainage massage. • 1464 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 1302, Cedar Park • www.blackbirdmassage.com 13 Shops at Lakeline On Nov. 15, CenterSquare Investment Management acquired ownership of the Shops at Lakeline, a 22,443-square-foot shopping center off South Lakeline Boulevard. Tenants of the shopping center include Morning Sunshine Cafe, Cedar Park Dental and Braces, Domino’s Pizza, Champion Taekwondo, Lakeline Nails

The business closed its office at 1401 Medical Parkway, Bldg. B, Ste. 120, Cedar Park on Oct. 30, and will relocate to Leander. The business offers services including general orthopedics, sports medicine, joint replacement, trauma and fracture management, and spine care. • Relocating in January • 10861 183A Toll, Bldg. 1200, Leander • www.txortho.com

In the news

and Spa, and Beauty Triq Salon. • 115 S. Lakeline Blvd., Cedar Park • www.centersquare.com

9 Frontier Direct Care The primary care clinic will open exclusively to

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

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Far Northwest Austin

Coming soon

ANDERSON MILL RD.

4 Two Men and a Truck Moving into the space previously occupied by Catfish Parlor, the business will service the Austin area and offer local- and long-distance moving with packing services available. • Opening in mid-January 5 Body Harmony The studio will teach classical Pilates through mat work, reformers, chair exercise and towers. Classes will be taught by experienced instructors trained in the Joseph Pilates method. The business will offer memberships, classes for small groups and private lessons. • Opening in February • 12801 Anderson Mill Road, Bldg. 4, Ste. 401, Austin • www.bodyharmonyatx.com • 11910 Research Blvd., Austin • www.twomenandatruck.com

Now open

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1 Dhaba Cafe The mobile coffee cart opened a trailer, which sells drip coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, cold brew, chai, matcha, tea and lemonade. • Opened Sept. 21

2769

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• 7221 McNeil Drive, Austin • www.dhabacafeatx.com

2 Upscale Texas Resale The shop sells luxury items including bags, clothing, accessories and shoes. • Opened Oct. 6 • 12591 Research Blvd., Ste. 101, Austin • www.upscaletexasresale.net 3 Frost Bank The Four Points financial institution offers checking and savings accounts, personal and business loans, investment options and insurance. • Opened Nov. 19 • 8111 N. RM 620, Austin • www.frostbank.com

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Relocations

ROCK HARBOUR DR.

6 TCH Social Texas Card House relocated and rebranded as TCH Social. The card and social club hosts a variety of poker

MAP NOT TO SCALE

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY RICK COFER

RICKCOFER.COM PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 602 W. 11 TH ST., AUSTIN, TX 78701 • 512-200-3801

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

tournaments, and also has a full food menu, draft beer, wine and cocktails. • Opened Aug. 28 • 13530 US 183, Ste. 100, Austin • www.texascardhouse.com

Closings

Now open

8 Pin Seeker’s Golf Lounge The business had four indoor golf bays that could accommodate up to six players each and were rented by the hour. • Closed Nov. 1 • 6001 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 230, Austin • www.pinseekersgolflounge.com 9 Which Wich The chain shop served sandwiches with a variety of bread, meat, cheese, vegetable and sauce options. • Closed in November • 13450 Research Blvd., Ste. 239A, Austin • www.whichwich.com 10 American Freight The discount home retailer is closing 30 of its Texas locations, including its sole Austin store. • Closing date not set • 13435 N. US 183, Austin • www.americanfreight.com

In the news

7 Interstellar BBQ The barbecue restaurant was one of seven restaurants in Austin and 15 in Texas to be awarded a Michelin Star in November as part of the annual Michelin Guide. The restaurant serves a variety of smoked meats and sides, such as macaroni and cheese and scalloped potatoes, as well as offers catering services. • 12233 N. RM 620, Ste. 105, Austin • www.interstellarbbq.com Sushi by Han The restaurant temporarily closed in October as it relocates from K-Pub Korean Cuisine & Karaoke, according to the business’s Instagram account. A representative for the business said it is in the process of negotiating a new lease with another party. The restaurant serves a variety of classic, chef specialty, sashimi and nigiri sushi rolls as well as other rice dishes. • New location not yet available • www.sushibyhan.com

11 PamCakes Bakery The bakery offers a variety of pastries, such as custom cakes, cupcakes, homemade cookies and cookie kits, cinnamon rolls, scones, and banana bread. Owner Pamela Wooten operated the business out of her home for over a decade prior to opening the storefront. • Opened Nov. 16 • 13450 Research Blvd., Ste. 239B, Austin • www.pamcakestexas.com

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Government

Council approves permits for new business, school Cedar Park City Council voted to allow special use permits for a private school and a tattoo parlor at its Nov. 21 meeting. The vote allows Hill Country Christian School of Austin to expand at 3502 Hatch Road and for Don’t Tell Mama Tattoo to open at 401 E. Whitestone Blvd. The details Previously, Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin explained the SUP process was in place for tattoo parlors to ensure they were coming to appropriate places in town. With the approval, James and Brooke Dupper, who own tattoo parlors in Killeen and George- town, can open Don’t Tell Mama Tattoo, Cedar Park’s first tattoo parlor. Hill Country Christian School of Austin was approved to expand operations and operate

Cedar Park bans TikTok on city devices Cedar Park City Council voted to ban the social media app TikTok on city-owned devices at its Nov. 14 meeting. The move follows requirements from Texas Senate Bill 1893 that government entities implement policies prohibiting employees from installing or using the app on city devices, according to agenda documents. The move by Cedar Park follows similar actions by Liberty Hill and Leander. Dig deeper The city amended its human resources manual, but there are exemptions that allow the app for law enforcement or information security purposes, per the documents. In those cases, the department head must mitigate any surveillance risks posed by the use of the app.

Hill Country Christian School of Austin

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private school space on 10.62 acres at 3502 Hatch Road. The property is currently developed for religious assembly, but it will be modified so the school can teach middle and high schoolers. The school currently operates out of Hill Coun- try Bible Church, which is adjacent to the property.

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BY ANNA MANESS & SAM SCHAFFER

Hope Alliance, Yellow House receive $1.3M Two Williamson County nonprofits—Hope Alliance and the Yellow House Foundation—will receive funding after county officials approved an American Rescue Plan Act update Oct. 29. The federal act provides emergency funding for various government bodies, according to a White House fact sheet. At the county meeting, commissioners updated how to spend Williamson County’s ARPA dollars. Two-minute impact Commissioners approved allocating ARPA funds to Hope Alliance and the Yellow House Founda- tion, which are currently located in Round Rock and Cedar Park, respectively. Funding will go toward construction projects, as both nonprofits are in separate phases of opening new Leander locations, a county official said. Each nonprofit will receive $95,000, according to

County health district offers free flu shots The Williamson County and Cities Health District will administer free influenza shots at its clinics throughout flu season for those older than six months. The gist Following a brief exam, eligible patients can receive the vaccine at one of WCCHD’s three clinic locations in Cedar Park, Round Rock or Taylor. To schedule an appointment, call the WCCHD at 512-943-3600 or 512-248-3257. No health insurance is required, and some walk-in days are available. Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday-Sunday: closed

ARPA funds were allocated to several new positions, including: Juvenile security positions A domestic violence investigator

County Attorney positions District Attorney positions District clerk/jury clerk Child Protective Services Project Bluebonnet contract CPS legal assistant

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

county documents. The Yellow House Foundation broke ground on its new permanent location in June 2023, and construction is nearing completion, county officials said. Hope Alliance held a groundbreaking June 28 for its facility in Leander, which will double the amount of people the organization can serve. Along with nonprofit funding updates, commis- sioners discussed the county’s allocated funds for all ARPA projects, which total $1.3 million.

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Government

BY SAM SCHAFFER

City breaks ground on training facility

Dig deeper

The facility will also serve the Oce of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Voters approved funding for the $30 million facility through the 2022 bond program, and it is expected to have: • An emergency operations center • 17,000 square feet of training space with classrooms • Meeting rooms • A 7,700-square-foot apparatus bay • Ofices City Council member Kevin Harris said there’s value in allowing dierent departments to train together, calling it a “win-win” for the city and its residents.

situations ranging from building entries to active shooter simulations for schools, Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon said. “We’ve been using a house here as a classroom for the last couple decades,” Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger said. “This is going to really be able to expand our capabilities, especially our technology, where we can learn and then immediately train on those skills we learn.”

First responders, City Council members and community leaders gathered in Cedar Park on Nov. 6 to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Safety Joint Training Facility. The facility, which is expected to open in spring 2026, will serve as a main training site for police, ire and emergency services in the area, according to a release from the city. The tactical building will give police and ire personnel a dedicated practice space for

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City leaders pick up dirt and toss it with shovels as part of the groundbreaking for the new Public Safety Joint Training Facility.

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SAM SCHAFFERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY SAM SCHAFFER

The New Hope Drive extension from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Sam Bass Road in Cedar Park is now open to through trac. Ocials held a ribbon-cutting Nov. 20. The project will open opportunities for development, according to a city release. The road will connect east and west Cedar Park, City Council member Heather Jefts told Community Impact. Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey said the project shows the city and county working toward improvements voters have repeatedly made clear they want: mobility and safety. “We have designed this area to have some really interesting and cool projects going on, and we needed a road to be able to access the property,” Jefts said. New Hope Drive extension opens

How we got here

Design for the project began in 2017, and construction began in November 2022, Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said. The project is now substantially complete. The 1.8-mile four-lane divided arterial features raised medians, trac signals, sidewalks, shared-use paths, dedicated bike lanes and LED streetlights. It also has the needed water infrastructure $29.5 million, Penniman-Morin said. A 2019 county road bond provided $7.75 million in funding for the project, and $12.4 million came from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, allocating federal funds for the project. Cedar Park’s portion of the funding came from a voter- approved 2022 bond program. for incoming developments. The project cost a total of

1431

Cedar Park council members and Williamson County commissioners stand on the newly opened road.

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Thank You To the 350 Follow The Star Cast & Crew members and our sponsors:

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Concordia starts state’s rst college women’s ag football team

Concordia University Texas formed a women’s ag football program this fall, making it the rst university in the state to do so, per Concordia. The move by Austin’s private, Lutheran col- lege comes as women’s ag football is gaining momentum worldwide. The sport will debut at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 and is being considered by the NCAA through its Emerging Sports for Women program, Concordia’s Director of Athletics Ronda Seagraves said. The setup Concordia launched a pilot program to begin oering women’s ag football under the direction of head coach Keenan Hughes and his son Kaden, who is the team’s assistant coach. The father- son duo lead Texas Fury—an all-girls select ag football program that has teams across the state. The university opened applications for the spring sport in August. The team currently has around 15 players who practice for a couple of hours every week, the coaches said. They hope to grow the team to around 20-24 players and are actively recruiting. In April, Concordia will host a tournament of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference universi- ties with women’s ag football teams. The university expects to oer women’s ag football as a club sport by 2026, featuring more structured competition opportunities. By 2027, Concordia is aiming to oer women’s ag football as a varsity sport, including daily practices and the ability to compete in conference championships, Keenan Hughes said. The background Concordia decided to launch a women’s ag

Concordia University Texas’ new women’s ag football team currently practices at the university’s baseball eld.

COURTESY CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS

football program after joining the Southern Colle- giate Athletic Conference this fall, Seagraves said. Around four of the conference’s 12 universities have expressed their intention to participate in the sport, she said. Meanwhile, conference ocials are continuing to recruit more universities to oer these programs, Keenan Hughes said. The sport has been popular among East Coast high schools for nearly 20 years, he said. Nearly 21,000 high school girls participated in ag foot- ball in the 2022-23 school year, up by 32% from the previous year, per the National Federation of State High School Associations. Despite seeing growth across the country, wom- en’s ag football has not gained much traction in Texas, he said. However, he and Concordia

Concordia student body

Concordia student athletes

40% male 60% female

60% male 40% female

SOURCE: CONCORDIA UNIVERSITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

ocials hope to change that. “We’ve provided a platform for [female athletes] to compete at a high level, promoting gender equity in sports,” Keenan Hughes said. “It’s giving them opportunities that were historically limited to them.”

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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Leander ISD high school bands celebrated historic wins at the 2024 UIL State Marching Band Championships at the Alamodome in San Antonio. This was the rst time all six LISD high schools qualied for the state competitions, Superintendent Bruce Gearing said at a Nov. 7 board of trustees meeting. For the sixth year, the Cedar Park High School band was named the rst place state champion of the 5A high school competition Nov. 4-5. At the 6A high school contest Nov. 11-12, the Vandegrift High School band walked away as the silver medalist in second place. The Cedar Park High School band placed fth, and the Leander High School band placed 12th overall at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis on Nov. 14-16. “The feeling was unlike any other,” LHS percussionist Justin Kelly said about placing third at the state contest. “Because after all the struggles and after all of the pain and sweat that we went through to get there ... we were all just extremely proud of ourselves.” Leander ISD bands celebrate success

State marching band results 5A high school contest

6A high school contest Vandegrift High School band- second place Vista Ridge High School band - fourth place

Cedar Park High School band - rst place Rouse High School band - second place Leander High School band - third place Glenn High School band - 16th place

For the sixth consecutive year, the Cedar Park High School band was named state champion of the 5A UIL State Marching Band Championship. COURTESY LEANDER ISD

The bottom line

What they’re saying

The approach

When reecting upon the recent success, Kelly said he and his bandmates are fueled by a desire to live up to the decades-long legacy of the LHS band. Now, the band wants to leave a legacy of their own for students to come, he said. “Thinking about the legacy that we were going to leave behind really pushed us and really helped motivate us to want to be the best that we possibly could be,” Kelly said. He credited the LHS band’s accomplishments to his band directors who he said are dedicated and understanding while also pushing students to succeed. Leander ISD denied Community Impact’s request for interviews for this article.

Gearing said he believes the success of LISD’s bands was an outcome of the district’s culture of continuous improvement and strategic plan goals. Students in LISD band programs attend band class for 90 minutes each school day, arrive at campus at 7 a.m. to attend master classes, assess their progress on performance goals, and are encouraged to take private lessons outside of school, he said. To prepare for the season, Kelly said he and his LHS bandmates practice for several hours Mon- day through Friday from June through August, during which the heat can push students to their limit, he said. During the school year, the band rehearses after the instructional day four days a week, he said. Being a part of the LHS band has provided Kelly with community as well as a sense of discipline, he said. “The payo comes later,” Kelly said about being in band. “If you’re willing to wait for that payo, and you’re willing to work for that payo, then it makes it even better.”

“For our students to be able to do something like that, especially

to that magnitude ... it literally takes every single one of their teachers to help them get there.” FRANCESCA ROMANS, PLACE 6 BOARD MEMBER

“It’s dierent here, and that’s just a testament to so many people

putting in their blood, sweat and tears into

this program.” CHRISTINE MAUER, FORMER PLACE 3 BOARD MEMBER

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

LISD demographic report projects reduced enrollment growth

Diving in deeper

In LISD, the population of school-aged chil- dren ages 5-17 has declined while the preschool population of students ages 0-5 has declined even more significantly. The district’s largest cohort of students at the high school level will be replaced by smaller incoming kindergarten classes over the next few years, resulting in a loss of around 300-350 students each year. While birth rates have increased in recent years, kindergarten class sizes have still declined due to more students pursuing charter, private and virtual schools, Tepera said. The district has seen a 71% increase in students transferring to these options since 2017 with six new charter schools in the area.

Enrollment growth in Leander ISD is projected to continue slowing over the next decade, according to a recent demographic update by Population and Survey Analysts, or PASA. The decelerated growth comes as older grade levels are being replaced by smaller incoming kindergarten classes, and more students are attending charter schools and other educational options, PASA President Stacey Tepera said at an Oct. 24 board of trustees meeting. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, LISD experienced significant, steady and high enrollment growth that dipped in 2020 and 2021, Tepera said. Enrollment began growing again in 2022 and 2023 but at a slower rate. Until this year, PASA

was uncertain if the district’s slowed growth would be temporary or develop into a larger trend, she said. “Now, I think it’s pretty clear that we can say there are many factors impacting this deceleration of growth in Leander ISD,” Tepera said. With 42,537 students, LISD has around 500 less students than it was projected to have this fall. The district’s enrollment dropped by 56 students since the 2023-24 school year when its enrollment was 42,593. The 2024 demographic report projects the district will have 44,474 students by 2034, which is around 4,800 students less than its projections last year for 2033.

The impact

Student enrollment over time LISD is projected to gain around 2,000 students over the next 10 years based on current data.

Due to housing trends, enrollment is expected to continue growing in the north, stabilize in the central and decline in the southern portions of the district, Tepera said. Tarvin Elementary, Danielson and Stiles middle schools, and Rouse and Glenn high schools are expected to see the most growth. Meanwhile, Camacho Elementary, Canyon Ridge Middle School and Vandegrift High School are expected to lose the most students.

Historical enrollment

Accelerated projected enrollment

Projected enrollment

Reduced projected enrollment

50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 0

SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

Leander ISD explores opening enrollment Leander ISD is considering opening enrollment to students living outside of the district’s boundar- ies as its enrollment growth slows. District ocials provided an update on the work of the Long Range Planning Committee’s open enrollment subcommittee at a Nov. 21 board of trustees meeting. A closer look The district would need to assess how open enrollment would impact its resources and stang, and determine which campuses and grade levels could accept transfers based on their available space, said Mike Howard, LISD director of ne arts and administrative co-chair on the subcommittee. Additionally, LISD would need to determine what the cost-benet of open enrollment would be and what enrollment caps would be needed to

LISD considers digital learning platform LISD is exploring collaborating with Softchoice, an IT solutions provider, to build a digital learning platform for its students. The gist The platform would house students’ academic and nonacademic information that district sta and parents could access. Students could set and monitor goals, display their work, and provide information about their interests and activities. This data could help teachers and parents better support their students and drive decisions for campuses, Softchoice said. Some context LISD’s district improvement plan includes implementing a comprehensive data warehouse tool.

“Our public schools are where it’s at, so if we can provide open enrollment …

that means they’re making a choice to come to a public school, not go to a voucher, not go to a charter school.” ANNA SMITH, PLACE 4 BOARD MEMBER

ensure adequate space for current students. What they’re saying School board President Gloria Gonzales-Dhola- kia asked district ocials to consider only opening campuses below a certain enrollment level and determine when the district might see a nancial benet. Gonzales-Dholakia said LISD could charge an application or registration fee while Place 1 board member Trish Bode asked if LISD had considered charging tuition.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BROOKE SJOBERG & CHLOE YOUNG

Final budget report shows RRISD deficit nearly doubled

14 RRISD campuses score 96% on TEA safety audits Round Rock ISD campuses scored a 96% on safety audits conducted by the Texas Education Agency, a Nov. 6 update from the district shows. These audits are required annually by the Texas Education Code, and 87% of schools had no findings of issue in the 2023-24 school year. What you need to know These audits include: • Determining if campuses are accessible by unsecured or unauthorized means • Finding any unlocked exterior doors • Ensuring accurate and correct records of weekly door checks are kept

Revenue deceases: -$7.4M

Special education funding reimbursement: -$6.5M Property tax collections (current year): -$600K Property tax collections (prior year): -$300K

Expense increases: $10M

Special education stipends: +$3.9M Voter-approved salary increases: +$2M

A final budget update on the 2023-24 fis- cal year from district administrators shows Round Rock ISD’s projected budget shortfall of $19 million nearly doubled to $37 million. What you need to know At a Nov. 21 meeting, Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington said this was due to a variety of factors, including higher than anticipated expenses and reduced revenues. Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said administra- tors will provide more frequent budget updates in the future. What’s next? The board will set a schedule to receive budget updates from administration in December.

Guest educators: +$1.5M

Reading academy stipends: +$700K

Retiree payouts: +$600K

Student competitions: +$500K Insurance deductibles: +$300K Math and bilingual stipends: +$500K

-$8M -$4M

$0 $4M

$8M $12M

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Development

BY CLAIRE SHOOP

The backyard portion of the Bell District includes the playground located outside the Cedar Park Public Library and an event lawn, which will host a variety of programs.

COURTESY ROB SHANDS

RENDERING COURTESY REDLEAF

Rob Shands shares plan for future of Bell District Cedar Park in partnership with development rm RedLeaf is working to build the Bell District, a 54-acre mixed-use project o Bell Boulevard. The master plan for the district includes the new city library, the backyard, multifamily units, retail shops and dining, and oce space. Rob Shands, a partner with RedLeaf, spoke to Community Impact about the vision for the district. What is the history of the Bell District? The vision for the Bell District really goes back to probably 2013 to 2015, when the city was going through the Imagine Cedar Park exercise

and decided they wanted to really focus on this one stretch of Bell Boulevard, which was the old Hwy. 183 that wasn’t growing at the same pace as the rest of the city. ... As [city leaders] started to dream about what the Bell District could be, it became pretty clear that there was an opportunity to do something iconic that would function as Cedar Park’s downtown. What construction has happened so far? The rst thing that had to happen in order for the district to come alive is the road alignment of Bell Boulevard. ... We then started the rst phase of infrastructure—these streets and utilities were built over the last couple of years, wrapping up this year. The new city library, which is phenomenal, [was completed]. And then we’re nishing up the park and green space, which surrounds the library.

What is the timeline for construction? The next vertical construction is expected to start in summer 2025, and it’s an 18-24 month build- out. We’re anticipating that will open in 2027, and then we’re targeting full build-out of Phase 1 to be complete within ve to seven years. What does it mean for the district to be a public- private partnership? [RedLeaf is] responsible for all of the private sector development, which is the apartments, the restaurants, the brownstones, the oces. The city is responsible for the park and the library.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

Happy Holidays!

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681

ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY DACIA GARCIA

• Free (admission) • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.crossovertx.com/events

December

CAN/AM Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament Community members are invited to attend this tournament featuring hockey players ages 14 and under. • Dec. 13-15, times vary • Free • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.canamhockey.com/tournaments Holiday Ornament Workshop Families can decorate five holiday ornaments. • Dec. 14; 10-11 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. • $20 (admission) • 2011 Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park • www.boardandbrush.com Holiday Princess Storytime with Belle Join the Disney princess as she reads to attendees. • Dec. 14; 1 p.m., 1:45 p.m. • $20 (admission) • 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.paperbarkbirch.com Liberty Hill Christmas Festival Enjoy an artificial ice rink, a snow field, photos with Santa Claus, a horse and carriage ride and local vendors. • Dec. 14; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (festival), 6 p.m. (parade) • Free (admission) Christmas Cookie Decorating Class Participants will learn the basics of sugar cookie decorating on premade cookies with guided instruction. • Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, 12:30-2 p.m. • $45 (admission) • 15390 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill • www.bakedbyjoyleigh.com Holiday Bazaar at the Bar Attendees can get in the holiday spirit by shopping with a festive drink in hand at the small business event. • Dec. 15, noon-8 p.m. • 926 Main St., Liberty Hill • www.experiencelhtx.com

Pancakes & PJs Families can come together to enjoy a morning of Christmas crafts and hot pancakes with Santa Claus.

• Dec. 21; 8-9:30 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m. • $5 (admission if eating pancakes) • 11880 Hero Way West, Leander • www.leandertx.gov

Winter Wonderland Dance Camp Children ages 4 to 11 can learn a themed dance and have the opportunity to perform for friends and family. • Dec. 26-28, 9 a.m.-noon • $170 (early bird admission), $190 (admission after Dec. 19) • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.muv678.com Noon Year’s Eve Party Children can ring in the new year without staying up.

Skate with the Grinch For this month’s themed skate, community members can join The Grinch on the ice rink paired with music by DJ Paul Secrest. • Dec. 15, 2-4 p.m. • $15 • 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.crossovertx.com/events

• Dec. 31, 11 a.m. • Free (admission) • 1011 Bagdad Road, Leander • www.leandertx.gov

January

Austin Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Blue Community members can show some local pride by attending the basketball showdown. • Jan. 11, 7 p.m. • $12 and up • 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park • www.hebcenter.com MLK Day March and Celebration The city of Leander will observe and honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with the event featuring performances from dancers and musicians. • Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free

Polar Bear Plunge Community members can participate in this annual tradition of leaping into a cold pool. • Jan. 1, 1:30-3 p.m. • Free (spectators), $10 (participants) • 601 S. Bagdad Road, Leander • www.leandertx.gov New Year’s Renewal Individuals are invited to embrace the new year by completing 108 sun salutations. • Jan. 1, 10 a.m.-noon • $30 • 15050 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 130, Liberty Hill • www.moonshine.yoga

• 105 N. Brushy St., Leander • www.leandertx.gov/mlk

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Turning the page From the cover

Two-minute impact

The new Cedar Park Public Library has interactive play and learning space for children, teen spaces with study nooks, and around 230,000 items— physical and digital—for people to check out, Cedar Park Library Director Julia Mitschke said. Mitschke said expectations for libraries have changed as technology has developed, noting the “shushing spaces” of yesteryear have been made more accessible. While the new facility was designed to keep up with modern needs and technology, there are still some dedicated quiet places for reading. “Libraries have transitioned into being more of a community space where we recognize that learning happens in all kinds of ways,” she said. “Books are a very important resource, but a lot of people learn through either technology, multimedia resources or hands-on learning opportunities, which is where the library’s programming is so vital to what we do for the community now.”

The new Cedar Park library opened Nov. 1.

Expanding capacity

The $40 million facility also has STEM-oriented makerspaces, containing resources ranging from sewing machines and arts and crafts to laser cutters and 3D printers, all available for free. Though it’s been open for just over a month, the new library is two to ve times busier than the previous one. The facility is designed to be the anchor of Cedar Park’s Bell District, a mixed-use district years in the making, Mitschke said.

Old library

New library

25,500 sq. ft.

47,000 sq. ft.

Size

Daily visitors

800-1,200

2,500-5,000

SOURCE: CEDAR PARK PUBLIC LIBRARYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

How we got here

There’s been a recognized need for library space in the city since the early 2000s. In 2001, Cedar Park’s old public library was expanded. The com- munity was much smaller then, and nobody knew how much growth there would be, Mitschke said. Play-based and hands-on learning became more sought after. Additionally, the old library had run out of space to grow its collection, programming and other oerings, Mitschke said. The new library also has multiple meeting rooms that people can reserve.

The road to opening

Jan. 2019 : City Council provides direction to include the new library in the Bell District

March 2021 : Council approves J.E. Dunn Construction Group to build the new library

Nov. 2024 : The library opens

Nov. 2015 : Voters authorize bond funding for a new library

Dec. 2020 : Council authorizes Lake Flato Architects to design the new library

Jan. 2023 : Construction begins

I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. Happy Holidays, neighbors. Felices Fiestas, vecinos. Se Habla Español I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. Happy Holidays, neighbors. Felices Fiestas, vecinos. Se Habla Español Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com

Happy holidays, neighbors. Happy holidays, neighbors.

JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com

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I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ® I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful Like a good neighbor,

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2006051 JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com JT Reisdorph ChFC CLU, Agent 103 N. Bell Blvd Suite B1 Cedar Park, TX 78613 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com State Farm Bloomington, IL 2006051 Bus: 512-219-7295 www.insuremejt.com

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